I was sitting on the half-empty 7 line on my way to Manhattan around 12pm and playing Sudoku on my Nintendo DS portable video game system. 20 minutes into my ride, two middle-school-aged black kids (12-14) boarded the train and were standing about 5 feet away from me across from one another on either side of the train, blocking the doors. They were talking loudly to each other across the train. I was engrossed in my game but became distracted when one of them kept saying "just get it!" loudly and glancing in my direction. I immediately became suspicious because I've seen kids steal other kids' gameboys on the subway once before. I immediately shut off my DS, put it inside my bag and clutched it close to me, and glared at them. As soon as I did that I heard one of them say "shit!" and they turned away and got off the train at the next station.

The one time I've seen a GameBoy theft, two kids boarded the train and watched their target - a boy similar in age to them who was engrossed in his game - while plotting with each other at the other side of the train. When the train doors opened at the next station, one ran to the end of the train while the other ran and grabbed the Gameboy out of the unsuspecting victim's hands. (He wasn't wearing a wrist-strap.) They both ran out of the train and the doors closed behind them, too late for the victim to chase after them.

They usually come in pairs; one causes a commotion while the other robs the victim. They prey on people who are not paying to their surroundings and choose easy targets (those who are holding their game systems loosely in their hands, or too deepy involved, or who have tiny hands, like me). So be aware at all times and do not let yourself get too engrossed in your game! Watch out.

EDIT: It is not my intention to offend anyone by describing the race of those involved.

Anyone who has answered the main line if an office knows that there are 86327630743 solicitations a day. A lot of them are very slick, and will casually ask for the CEO by first name,
Caller: “Hey there is Bill around?”
Me: “No he’s unavailable right now, can I take a message?”
Caller: “Oh, when is he back....?”
Me: “He’s unavailable right now, can I take a message?”

Basically it’s the standard trying to schmooze you into thinking they’re a personal friend of the bigwig....yeah asshat if you’re his buddy, how come you don’t have his direct line or his cell?

Well anyway, this person claimed to be from the Patrolmen's Benevolent Association raising money for families. My bullshit meter went off. So I took the guy’s name and number and called the PBA and they directed to to Internal Affairs where I have them all the info. I also used *67 to call the 800 # the solicitor gave me and some chick answered..”blah blah blah fund raising”.
It’s probably once of those shady set ups on 34th Street where they rent an office to anyone and there’s rows of folding tables and phones and they pack up and leave at a moments notice.
Well the PBA and IAD told me:

THE PBA NEVERT SOLICITS!
If someone calls your claiming to be from the PBA they’re LYING!
If you get a call, check your caller ID for a number. Try to get as much info as you can, a name, number make them think that you’re really busy at the moment but would LOVE to donate to the PBA.
Then call IAD at 212-741-8401 (it took a while but they will pick up).

Please if you can , make a report. Fraud is common but when it comes to NYPD and FDNY it gets me PISSED. How dare they use that to scam people.

I hope they get ass cancer. Fucking scumbags.

Luckily I got a little sick again so I sold my ticket to a friend, but my brother and a bunch of our friends went to Blood Manor last night... and had a HORRIBLE time.

First off, they all bought their tickets online... however when they got there, they told me there was a line around the block, and what's more is that the non-ticket holders were mixed in with people who bought their tickets beforehand. So non-ticket holders could buy their tickets at the door if they wanted. The thing is, all over the site and on your ticket it tells you that the ticket is only good for the night you purchased it for! Total fucking scam!

Anyway, they got there around 9 (doors open at 8) and were on line till 1 am, when doors close. They didn't even get a chance to go through the damn thing, and basically wasted their Saturday night. There *was* a line for ticket refunds, but it was almost as long as the line to get in. So they didn't even get their money back, they were just cold and cranky and wanted to go home.

This place is a total rip, so I warn all of you to stay away from it!

Also, where can he make complaints to that'll get the people running this mess in trouble? Thanks!

In the news today...

Yankee Stadium Fan Plunges From Upper Deck

He told his friends he was going to test if the net below him would hold his weight, and then jumped. Unfortunately he doesn't qualify for a Darwin Award, because the nimrod survived.

For context refer to this post by brooklyngirl.



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Reported from CNN:

New Yorkers coping with high temperatures in the 90s and high humidity have turned on their air conditioners, breaking a record for electricity usage.

I sense another blackout is to follow soon. We all are trying to stay cool, but there are other ways to. Go to the park, keep your windows open or moderate ac usage during the day. Those who have breathing problems, dependents who do, pets, get off work late and can't help the circumstances for their apartments being furnaces can ignore this.

A story and a lesson for other NYers, particularily the women:

I got on the train the way I always do and started reading. I was pretty engrossed in my book when I was annoyed by the guy standing next to me (I was sitting) who's knees kept bumping mine. It was highly annoying, and I wondered why he didn't stand up straighter because the train wasn't too crowded. I noticed he was leaning over, but yeah, I was sitting in front of the map and he was looking at that.

Whatever, the guy doesn't understand personal space.

The girl next to me got up and he sat down and he elbow was awfully close to my stomach. I was highly annoyed, but not alarmed.

I got off the train at my stop and guess who also did. Now, I was on alert, but not quite nervous yet. When I walked up the stairs, he was right behind me. RIGHT behind me. Uncomfortably close. Where did he come from?

I was nervous so I crossed the street in the middle of traffic and breathed a sigh of relief.

For about 5 steps when guess who also crossed the street in the middle of traffic. I kept watching him out of the corner of my eye, and tried to keep him in front of me, but wouldn't you know it, he have to stop to look at the street sign or something and end up behind me. I think at this point, I was reasonably freaked out and looking for any store to go into that had a good view so I could make sure he wasn't waiting for me, and that had people in it.

So, a block and half later, my attempt to keep him in front of me failed and he was RIGHT behind me, again, UNCOMFORTABLY behind me, so I stopped short, backed up against the wall of the building, and looked him in the eye.

He crossed the street a few steps later, and half a block later, and I kept going, but looking bhind me. A truck went by and I didn't see him after that.

I stopped in a bank with big big windows and watched for him and never saw him. There was a police officer in there, so I told him my story and asked what I should do. The guy got a discription and basically told me that what this guy had done was a misdemeanor and if I wanted to, he encouraged me to go to the presinct and give them a discription and look for his photo in the perp book because maybe this guy has a history of crap like that and maybe he needs to be stopped. (and since it happened on the subway and continued to the street, it took place in two separate presincts and I could report it to both, or one or the other)

The cop also walked me home because I was pretty upset and nervous, and told me that if it ever happens again, make a big scene, flail your arms, yell "get away from me" whatever. Worst thing that can happen is people think you are crazy. But I guess the MO of those guys is if they don't get a reaction, they keep pushing further and further til they cross a sexual abuse or molestation line. Well, that is good advice to know.


Anyway, maybe you all can learn what I learned or share some creepy being followed or touched in appropriate stories.

And i do not mean to minimize it.
And i know that we would go on alert in this kind of situation,but canine units ,activation terrorism command ,all anti terrorism units put into action .. for NYC..
.........
They are acting as if we WILL get hit and there has been a definite threat ..but they are just not telling us

Does anyone else get this impression,or am i over reacting to their over reacting ..
Or is it we are now at this point

They didnt get this excited for the train bombing in Spain or anything, else as far as i can remember...

DON'T DRINK THE WATER for the next day or so.