natecooper.net

Our most recent positing on Craigslist elicited an odd reCaptcha moment:

To add a bit of context: our posting on craigslist was for a room in our apartment. We were using my girlfriend’s computer. She is jewish. So the “random generation” was all the more to the point and bizarre in it’s hilarity. [The room is still available and open to one of any faith]

Perhaps her computer is just sending her messages in general. Here’s what iPhoto had to say about her:

Living in New York, one’s mind might be lent to wonder about the legality of street advertisement. They are literally everywhere. I’m not just talking about billboards (though their omnipresence is also very hard to dismiss), but on every barricade, construction site (New York has many) and even just on empty walls.

According to this article on Rocketboom, most street ads are totally illegal. A group called Public Ad Campaign decided to do something about it. They reclaimed visual space with white paint and put wonderful street art in place of the ads.

Video Below:

Though I’m sure it must be an incredibly difficult job for only the top in the field, I can’t shake the impression that the people who work for the New York Public Library, must sit around coming up with truly nerdy things to do and then execute them. Take this as evidence. It’s a very thoroughly researched Google map of significant literary spots in the west village. It must have taken hours to put together.

I hope they do this on the clock. It’s marvelous to think that someone gets paid to be this nerdy.

(via NYPL Blog)

And Brooklyn cheers (though the sign equally applies to Williamsburg).

(via eyeonspringfield)

What I did yesterday. Didn’t fight but it was fun energy.

YouTube - Wall Street Pillow Fight 2009 Including Arrest

Pics also here and while you’re at it follow me on Twitter.

Video by Jay Rohrs. You should follow him on Twitter also.

Wow, with a history of successfully resisting Robert Moses and prohibition laws, Broad Channel (or little Cuba) sounds like a pretty interesting place and only a few stops down the A. Looking at Google street-view it reminds me of Santa Cruz a little.

(via nypl.org)

I’m not sure if this sign is FAIL or incredibly awesome.

I totally need an experience, babysitter.

This list of fire department maps of New York City from the 19th and early 20th century is like porn for cartophiles.

(via NY Public Library Blog)

Now:

Three days from now:

I read with some interest i09’s assessment of Clinton era Sci-Fi. Never really thought about it but the 90’s did have some great Sci-Fi.

The Obama election has to be hugely significant for people of my generation. Specifically those around 30 years of age. The first election I was able to vote in 2000 saw a great amount of quashed optimism. The second election in 2004 was sort of confusing and frustrating at the same time. No question we weren’t happy about Bush but at the same time there wasn’t a solid candidate to rally behind.

This year was different.

The night of the election an assembly of poor hipsters gathered at the Orphanage (our aptly named Bed-stuy home) and there were those who simply refused to believe that anything good could come of the election — even though they were fervent Obama supporters. My roommate turned to one and said “Just because we’re used to being disappointed doesn’t mean we can’t be happy for a bit.”

Indeed it is a bit bizarre to be even cautiously optimistic about politics for once. Obama is like a touchtone icon for America’s hope and promise for a better future. He also seems refreshingly (at least for now) like a unifying figure after eight years of the country within and world outside wedging itself apart. Perhaps it’s simply the fact that I’ve only ever lived in blue states but I can’t ever remember seeing pictures of our president (elect) posted up in corner stores and apartment windows. Daily online you’ll find ridiculous but hopeful headlines about the future utopia to come.

Here are a few to ponder over: Does an Obama Win Mean a Dark Knight Oscar? Can Obama Save the Auto Industry by Greening it on Day One?

The best and most all encompassing has to be Kottke’s When Obama Wins which randomizes promises of a better future with Obama.

If you find any other overly optimistic headlines about Obama’s presidency post them in the comments.