Good People

I've so far avoided this topic on my blog, leaving it mostly to my roommate to explore. However, tonight, right as I got home from my weekly happy hour, as I was getting my mail, I was stopped by a Hasidic Jew on the sidewalk, who engaged me in a conversation about rents in the area. I didn't think much about it, since, as a recent friend visiting NYC pointed out, New Yorkers love talking about four things: neighborhoods, subways, bars, and housing (I might be making up the fourth to fit my thought, but I think it's true). Very soon in, he dropped this on me: "i have a property a few blocks over there, and I was told that it would sell for -x- amount. now, i'd like to get good people... like you [subtle smile].. you know, not black people off the street... what would you say I should charge for this place?"

Now, I don't really have anything constructive to add to the debate that this comment conjures up. Aside from the jarring racism of the speaker, I suppose it was a very in-your-face (literally) reminder that I am part of the change enveloping the area I live in. An area which cabs wouldn't dare venture into 10 years ago, is now being re-paved, renovated, and refurbished. A few cafes have opened nearby, a new bar, and things just seem cleaner, even in the 6 months that I've been here. And while this most assuredly will help the Hasid I talked to sell his property, it will also be a marked change from the prevailing culture and way of life in the area. And, you can bet that many more "people like me" will move into the area in the next year or two and beyond. They already have, according to a friend of mine who lived in the area last summer. I mean, I'm here, so I guess that says something.

It's tough to know what one can do, as an individual. As my roommate points out, our very presence, as "good people," is a contribution to the "destruction" of the neighborhood as it exists or existed. But, at the same time, is the better alternative for us to move to somewhere like the upper east side or park slope, to preserve the racial and cultural homogeneity both there and here? I tend to agree with him that there's very little that an individual of our background can be expected to do in this situation. He argues that one should understand one's surroundings and context. I suppose I might argue that another option is to just try to stay out the way and not mess things up.

(Edit: Confirmed with my source last night - the four things New Yorkers love talking about are actually: food, subways, bars, and neighborhoods/housing; so I was almost right..)

Bluetooth

I saw a woman with a blinking blue bluetooth in her ear last night on the bus, and she looked like an android. People with cell phone headsets always look like they're talking to themselves, because you never see them holding a phone up to their ear. So using a bluetooth makes you seem like a crazy android. I suppose we'll just have to get used to it.

Recession Spending

Whoops! Been a while since I posted.

I've been working on two websites at work. I just launched both of them a little while ago:

www.rmimusic.com
www.arieldanziger.tv

I'm slowly learning what I like and don't like in my job (and in jobs in general). I think one of the most important things for me is to have a very project-structured job. Projects help the day go by very quickly, assuming you get very involved in them. They give tangible goals that are achievable in the short term (also helps the day go by). And it's probably best to have a good combination of challenging and easy projects. It's important to have the challenging ones to feel like you're progressing at something, but you can't always be 100% focused, so it's good to have some easy ones so you can coast and regenerate.

I'm looking forward to a few more weekends in town, finally. This past weekend I went to a Yankees game. I haven't been to Yankee Stadium in many many years. It was a nice sunny day. The hot dogs were plentiful, as were the home runs.

I'll finally get around to doing some "spring cleaning" this upcoming weekend. I can see the dust gathering on my desk, which is usually how I gauge when it's time to clean. Keeping my room sort of clean is even more important because I have absolutely no source of continuous ventilation (no windows, no vents). It's getting close to the point where I'll need to invest in a fan.

Speaking of things to invest in, I have decided to do my part to re-invigorate the American economy. I got my tax refund back, and I will probably use part of it to buy a small TV for my room. I will also probably invest in an acoustic pickup. And a video game. I feel that these purchases will go a long way towards boosting consumer spending, and I encourage everyone else to invest in things like TVs, video games, and instruments, to help the greater good.