New York, New York...

I love living in New York City, but it is truly a redonkulous place in both good and bad ways.  On the one hand, you have the best of everything at your disposal.  On the other hand, you have to work a million hours to pay the exorbitant costs of all of these amazing things.  On top of that, New Yorkers live in these expensive, teeny, tiny, little spaces that realtors like to call "cozy."  My parents paid less for their 4 bedroom house in Minnesota than I do for my one bedroom apartment (even though I rented during the worst recession this country has seen since the Great Depression).  A few days ago, I came across this quiz (yes, quiz, kinda, sorta like the kind you used to take in Seventeen magazine*) about whether someone belongs in New York City (apparently, the key is to be unhappy and to want to be unhappy).  Then, N sent me the below video (with accompanying article) about a woman who pays $700 to live in a 90 square foot apartment on the Upper West Side.  Redonkulous.  But...like most of you reading this blog, I'll continue to live here and be unhappy.  But I guess that's ok because I want to be unhappy. 



*Apparently, I can be Justin Bieber's Prom date.  Can you?

Crazy Taxi Medallions

I took cab to LaGuardia once with a Russian immigrant cabbie who proceeded to tell me all about his life here in America, beginning with his gradual purchase of 8 taxi medallions over the span of 30 years and ending with sending his daughter to law school last year.  It was quite the inspiring story.  Then, as I began to crunch the numbers he was giving me, I realized that this cabbie had a higher net worth than 8 of my lawyer friends put together.  Each New York taxi medallion was worth approximately $641,000 and since he's only required to actually drive the taxis part time, he could rent out the remainder of his medallions and make rental income.  According to this USA Today article from 2009, New York taxi medallions have out performed every index imaginable.  Oh the American dream...at least for those fortunate enough to own a medallion...there's much to be said for the plight of those who scramble to lease a medallion and then must work to make enough to cover rent, but today, I'm all about optimism so I'll just leave it at that.

Wikipedia-ing New York

I never think to Wikipedia (verb) things that are familiar, like New York City.  Tonight, while waiting for someone to get back to me at work, I did.  Most of it is what you'd expect.  New York is the most densely populated city in America, 800 languages are spoken in New York, there are five boroughs in New York etc.  Nothing too spectacular, until...about a quarter of the way down there is a really really long panoramic picuture of Manhattan.  I've tried to save the picture to put on Dos Orange but this is how small it has to shrink in order to fit: 



Click to see the full picture.