Month: June 2008

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Bowl Of Noses

Introduction to Bowl Of Noses

My son helped me come up with this name.  It refers to one of his favorite drawings of mine, which is, of course, a bowl of noses.  I have been sending a “Kids’ Stuff” email blast around for some time now, and I have gotten some nice responses.  This my attempt to end the unidirectional nature of it and allow for comments.  And of course I would like suggestions for additions.

Bowl Of Noses is a tool for sniffing out the fun stuff for kid related activity.  It’s also a bit NYC-centric as I am too.  For the time being I will mix posts from the pasts with new selections, so if you think you have seen it all before, please check back and I will do my best to add something new.
This is the second of a planned series of blogs of mine.  Please check out TheNextGoodIdea also at Blogger.com
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The Next Good Idea

NYC Subway Stair Congestion Problem

You’d think people would recognize that when there is a swarm of people coming up the subway stairs, it means that a train has recently arrived.  Which also usually means that same train has left the station, so there is no reason for them to go down the stairs until everyone else has exited.  But the people don’t seem to realize this and it just isn’t going to happen.

I have a few ideas on this subject (being the subway problem not the realization one),  but a simple (and inexpensive) solution would probably be to just paint a yellow line down the center of the stairs.  People would presumably get it that one side is for up and one side is for down.  If they need some help, an arrow could be painted on each side to indicate up or down.  If they need further help, arrows could be painted on the corresponding wall.
I recognize that this is not the most efficient use of the stairs as all the space is not being used for the most pressing need (i.e. for going up on exiting, or down when a train is arriving), and I have a few good ideas on how that could be better done too.
There’s got to be an MTA suggestion space somewhere…
Categories
The Next Good Idea

An Alternative Energy Policy For The United States

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a great piece in the May Vanity Fair.  Check it out via the link, or if you want a hard copy, your neighbors should be putting the issue in their recycling bins now.  


A carbon cap-and-trade system designed to put downward pressure on carbon emissions is quite simply a no-brainer. Already endorsed by Senators McCain, Clinton, and Obama, such a system would measure national carbon emissions and create a market to auction emissions credits. The supply of credits is then reduced each year to meet pre-determined carbon-reduction targets. As supply tightens, credit value increases, providing rich monetary rewards for innovators who reduce carbon. Since it is precisely targeted, cap-and-trade is more effective than a carbon tax. It is also more palatable to politicians, who despise taxes and love markets. Industry likes the system’s clear goals. This market-based approach has a proven track record.      
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The Next Good Idea

NYC Park Litter Collection

It’s a beautiful day in New York.  We like everyone else, seemed to be out walking.  We went through quite a few bottles of water.  And then just threw them in the trash.

How come NYC subway stations and parks don’t have trash containers that separate paper, bottles, and general garbage?  Would it be that hard to do?  Are there good examples of how other cities do it?
It was also just pointed out to me that the MTA has started a campaign to discourage people from leaving their paper on the train — a practice that I was always appreciative of (unless I found the bubblegum surprise stuck in the middle).  The absurdity of this campaign however is that instead of providing recycling bins, the MTA tells you throw the papers in the trash (along with your bottles and bubblegum).
Categories
The Next Good Idea

Future CIties Panel at World Science Festival

An excerpt: “When contemplating the world’s environmental problems, it’s sometimes hard not to feel like humanity is screwed. But then you attend an event like Future Cities, a panel of sustainability experts held last night at the World Science Festival, and it seems like we might just figure out how to thrive on this planet after all.”

The link …

(thanks  to Rick Lopez)

Categories
The Next Good Idea

Room To Move

Eventually you will be able to find out everything about anything, and someday you won’t even have to work hard to find it.  Not that I want any life other than Even More Knowledge, but part of me already feels like we are in The Days Of Too Much Information.  Maybe my mind is playing tricks on me and  a little more ignorance wasn’t bliss, but studies have shown that those that don’t accept basic facts (that we are destroying the planet, our freedoms are being reduced, opportunities are being diminished — that kind of thing) are far happier than those of us that do.

I think THIS site is a really good idea nonetheless.  Presumably Tripkick is designed to keep you out of that hotel room by the service elevator and the one that overlooks trash alley.  The miserablist in me relishes it for when you can only get a specific room and you want to know just how bad the trip is going to be.  Of course though, like most things, it’s only catering to the high end of life, so unless your life is consistently in high six figures you are stuck still with the luck of the draw.