Carlos

Swindlers

BX40/ BX 42 THE BRONX

Greetings all, I work as an Inspector for the City and I get paid for my observational skills. So one thing I've observed as being a Chronic issue these past 5 years is the amount of people who skip the fare in the routes of the BX40 & BX42. I have called 311 repeatedly, spoken to the drivers, made referrals...nothing seems to deter the fare skippers... they come in through the rear entrance of the bus and is such common place that no one seems to notice anything out of the ordinary. This would not fly in most other parts of the City.

East Tremont, The Bronx, NYC

John Crowley

Swindlers

Illegal Property Seizure

The 5th wealthiest woman in the US is using an obscure NYS law to steal 2 acres of my property where she had illegal utility poles and wires placed, which constiutes criminal tresspass. She and her lawyers intend ot use "Adverse Posession" to steal my land where her illegal poles were placed. Plus it splits my property in 2 and threatens my ability to sell my house without a town waiver on subdivision ordinances

Mink Hollow, Woodstock, NY

Alice Garrard

Behavior

The Parking Lot

As a long time resident of Redding, CT, I have been working out at the Wilton Family Y for well over 15 years. Wilton is a tony town with most houses in the seven figures range and many earning their living on Wall Street or at the brokerage houses/hedge funds in Lower Fairfield County.

The “Y” parking lot had always been filled with late model high-end vehicles with a smattering of more pedestrian Toyotas, Fords, and Hondas. Lately I’ve noticed the reverse – there are only about 10-15% late model expensive vehicles and the rest are average cars during the weekdays. However, on the weekends, the BMWs, Audis and Lexuses still occupy half of the parking spots. Weekends are the days when the men work out.

The conclusion I draw is that the women are doing the economizing and the men are holding onto their images.

404 Danbury Road, Wilton, CT

Lisa

Swindlers

Cab scam

For the most part I think cabbies in NY are pretty reliable, mostly honest, maybe a little nuts, but generally fine people. Last night I took a cab home, and the fare was $19. I needed to break a $20 bill to give him a tip, so gave him another $20, he gave me change, and I gave him $3 extra. I was about to get out of the cab when suddenly he accused me of not giving him the $20. I distinctly remembered giving it to him, so I argued, insisting that I gave him the fare, plus another $20 bill to get change from. He got really angry and slightly aggressive, threatened me with karma, god, shouted at me and berated me until I grew weary of his nonsense. In the end he made me question myself so much that I just gave him the money to save myself the hexing he was about to give me. I told my sister the story the next day and she said that this has happened to her twice before and she just left the cab knowing he was trying to rip her off. I definitely got scammed. Lesson learned: don't question yourself when you know you're right.

West Village, To Astoria

Yvette

Bright

Uncommon Bartering Opportunities in the New Economy

We all know someone who does something we would like to do--maybe it is a skill we would like to know to improve our job prospects, or a creative pursuit we would like to invest our time in. Instead of buying these things which we can't afford during these days of uncertainty, I am going to find partners to barter with me. I will be giving language lessons to a pianist who will help me improve my playing in return. As a researcher on obesity in minority populations, II will be baking healthy food for a soup kitchen, and offerring nutritional counseling to the homeless who come there. I will donate my new music skills to children or seniors by playing in schools and nursing homes. I hope to help myself and others by giving and getting something of value in return--learning by community service, friendship, new acquaintences, and a feeling that I am lifting someone's spirits when the times seem bleak.

18 Nielson St. New Brunswick, NJ 08901 , 96 Lipman Drive, New Brunswick, NJ 08901

Terry Jennings

Employment

Exploitation

According to Indeed.com on online job search website, the average salary for a Website content writer is $54,000 or about $30 per hour. Employers are trying to take advantage of the terrible job market to reduce hourly pay to as little as $15 - $20 per hour. This is less than the average salary for an administrative assistant in NYC (approx. $25 per hour). Two recent postings by NYC companies include one from Demand Studios (offered writes $15-20 per hour) and one from the American Technion Society (offered writer/editorial assistant $19/hr.

Andrew Magnes

Behavior

Theft

I've lived in NYC for 11 years. I remember in the 80's, hearing reports from relatives, of the frequency of muggings. Seems like everyone got it back then, at one point or other. Until recently, I have been living in a different NY then back then. In the last month, I have had a backpack stolen in a bar and I have had 50 dollars taken from me from a counter in a store (this was actually caught on video tape). I have also seen someone getting caught for shoplifting and I have seen someone get busted for taking money out of a deli cash register. And now, a friend of mine had his office robbed. It's hard to believe this is a coincidence or a sting of bad luck.

Flat Iron District

Beth

Behavior

Proust for the Unemployed

With nothing, nothing at all, but time on my hands, job searching for over a year, I've been able to read/re-read/finish abandoned books. So far in 2009, this includes: War and Peace, Anna Karenina, The Magic Mountain (Mann), and just this past week, La Recherche du Temps Perdu (complete) and other contemporary novels. A rare opportunity!

West End Avenue

Nick

Behavior

Evidence-based finance

My uncommon economic resolutions for 2010:

1) convert dollars into tangible assets, such as metal tools and weapons, food, water, gear, livestock

2) learn how to make a bandage out of moss

40 Seaman Ave. , New York, NY 10034

James

Commerce

Public transit from the airport.

I always took either a taxi or private bus to or from LaGuardia Airport. This weekend I took an MTA city bus from LaGuardia to the city and it cost $2.50 and was an easy ride.

LaGuardia Airport

Suko Tahari

Behavior

New Year's Resolutions 2010

I used to just write down a list of my goals but invariably I failed to follow through. This year, I'm going to make it a point to actually construct a real plan to achieve my resolutions. I've been using a new site called mySomeday.com to do this and its actually working quite well. It lets me build or borrow step-by-step plans and I also get to track my progress. I'm also going to make it a point to schedule these 'Somedays' like any other day by putting dates in my blackberry.

100 Jay Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201

Daniel Parietti

Behavior

A Boost for Recreational Ice Hockey

A quantum jump in the number of participants at the Wednesday morning adult recreational ice hockey session at Riverbank State Park. More people are working part time or are currently unemployed. Also, at the evening sessions, most of the conversation in the locker room is about trying to find employment.

679 Riverside Drive, 10031

Sondra

Behavior

It's become very hard for the workers at a local ShopRite to keep its displays of free newspapers tidy. As soon as the bins are refilled, it seems, shoppers rush to rummage through the papers for their coupon inserts.

1080 McDonald Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11230

Jax

Behavior

Resolutions

Since recessions occur at least once EVERY DECADE, I will start preparing for the next downturn.

I will continue to cook gourmet vegan dinners (cheaper than meat and diary), bag lunch, and keep obligations to a minimum.

I will seek business brokering opportunities online, and diversify my income streams.

I enjoyed this Best Recession Ever!

Molly

Commerce

retail discount codes - now by phone!

We are all used to getting e-mails from mail order companies with discount codes.

For the first time this week I got a voice mail from a large apparel company with an offer for a substantial discount and free shipping.

This tells me they are going to new lengths to try and drum up holiday business.

Queens, NY

Natalie

Employment

Post-MFA Life

I am a Queens-based artist (www.nataliebeall.com) and part-time art teacher. Since last year, I graduated with my MFA in Visual Art from Columbia University. I am now making art out of a small home studio, teaching after-school art about 10 hours a week, and looking for additional work in the arts. When I first graduated, I thought I would work part-time in order to be able to spend time in the studio. Since various grants and other opportunities fell through, I am considering full-time employment for the health benefits and the financial security as I begin to pay back student loans this month.

I have had one interview since beginning my job search in August. The position was at a non-profit arts organization, and the interviewer told me she had received over 200 résumés. She was only able to look at the first 100, and about 10 people were interviewed (I did not get the job). I am looking forward to another interview next week.

In some ways, I feel I am back to square one after getting my Master's. I had much less trouble finding a job when I originally moved to the city with virtually no experience in 2004, and the jobs for which I am interviewing are essentially the same low-paying, administrative jobs I have always held. HOWEVER, I have been able to spend two exciting years on my art full time, I have received helpful feedback and encouragement from respected artists and critics and met many exceptional artists who I now count as friends. Overall I am hopeful and looking forward to future projects.

4718 44th St., Woodside, NY 11377

Thomas Kim

Behavior

A Change of Attitude

I was laid-off in May 2009. I luckily made a 2009 resolution to save more money and I am happy that I did. My lifestyle and attitude of consumerism happened months before my lay-off. Having worked in the retail industry, I saw monthly sales trends (from my previous employer and other companies) fall steadily and then crash in September 2008.

One of the biggest changes in my life is to ask myself, "Do I really need to buy this?" I wanted to reduce the amount of things I owned for a few reasons: to save space in my small apt., moving and hauling things is expensive and heavy and last most things I just did not need.

In my industry, management always asks "How much more can we sell next week, month, year?" I am challenging this idea of capitalism - to always provide a desire to buy more. I often recall President Bush Jr. telling us to "go out and shop" as a means to recover after 9-11. How stupid.

I reduced my consumption tremendously. I canceled my cable TV, my expensive gym membership (I now work out in the park and at home), reduced my bar nights (I "pre-game" at home with home brewed beer), ride my bicycle instead of using the MTA, cook most of my meals at home (I bought a cookbook on sale and now I know what goes in my food, most satisfying and some dishes are very delicious, a new found talent).

The NY Times has a section "Frugal Living" and from there I learned and suggested many ideas to live frugally. Next on my list is to learn how to bake my own bread. I also use the public library more and more.

My new attitude on consumption has saved me money, introduced me to new activities, embraced an environmentally responsible attitude (canvas bags, reuse bottles, jars, use less in general, etc.). I actually have some money to save from unemployment benefits.

I do miss the benefits of making a good salary. When I get a job, I will save more money and keep this new lifestyle. Treat myself once in a while and most of all, give to charities and organizations that keep the needy in mind.

My time off has made me more aware of politics. Most people do not have "time" to keep up with politics. I used to listen to the Brian Lehrer show all of the time and when i was working full-time, I never had time.

That's all I can think of and I hope this is 200 words or less.

Bedford Avenue & Greene Ave Brooklyn NY 11216

Elena

Commerce

No more fleas at the flea market

My husband and I visit the local flea market almost every weekend. Lately we noticed that the amount of available parking spaces has dwindled, and the vendors are starting to sell high quality goods for bargain prices. There was a vendor there a few weekends ago that was selling his collection of Omega watches because his wife lost her job and they needed the money.
Uncommon indicator: Precious possessions up for sale at the flea market.

Sunrise Flea market, Sunrise highway, Valley stream, NY

Michael Ludwig

Commerce

No line for credit card use

I was shopping at Century 21 in Westbury today (11/25/09) and waiting in a longish line when one of the cashiers said, "Anyone paying with a credit or debit card." No one budged (except me). When I got to his register I mentioned how funny I thought that was--that everyone paid with credit. He said, "No, they can't afford the fees and interest." As someone who pays his credit card in full every month, that never occurred to me but it made total sense given the condition of the economy and the unemployment numbers: don't spend what you don't have!

Westbury, NY

Francyne Pelchar

Behavior

Question

An Oct.27 submission by Dank L said that the salt and pepper grinders sold in supermarkets can be opened with a pair of pliers? Is this the McC brand peppercorn medley ginder? How is this done?