Pictures:
One of the many views as I walked down...
Wednesday, 20 July 2011
Highline New York
The New York Highline is a cool concept... a pavement/sidewalk like balcony combined rooftop garden style hangout above the roads...
Sunday, 17 July 2011
Homeless in New York
New York City is an amazing city to live in... However, one of the things that did strike me as not only tragic but shocking were the amount of homeless/displaced persons living and begging on the streets (and subways) of NY....
...these unfortunate individuals are far more visible when your not a tourist in this bustling city...
From my observations so far, the great majority of street dwellers/ displaced persons (how ever you may wish to address them), appear to be generally:
1. Male
2. Aged between their 20s to late 50s.
Stand in Grand Central for a few minutes and you may be approached by a person begging for money.... Its not that London doesn't have such individuals, but those individuals are more often than not drunk or drug addicts wanting their next fix. These individuals more often than not are just hungry.
I live in Manhattan, in the upper East bordering Harlem. The amount of displaced persons found sleeping underneath the Metro North Railway on 125th is shocking. The predominating smell of urine is the next thing to hit you...
Some interesting stats:
Street Homelessness in Manhattan
• An estimated 1,482 individuals are living on the streets or in other public spaces in Manhattan according to the annual Homeless Outreach Population Estimate (HOPE 2004).
• HOPE identified locations with higher concentrations of street homeless individuals. These include
transportation hubs such as Penn Station and Grand Central Station, and neighborhoods such as
North Riverside Park, Morningside Heights, the Lower East Side, and Union Square/Greenwich Village.
• The majority of street homeless individuals surveyed in Manhattan through HOPE were male,
ranging in age from 21 to 55.
• Manhattan outreach teams have an average of 4,388 contacts (engagement conversations)
with street homeless people every month.
Its a shame that such a powerful Global Financial hub has so many destitute people sleeping on the streets....
Friday, 15 July 2011
NYC vs London
To me, (my personally observation), living within the Big Apple is very similar to living in London...
The Similarities:
1. Time Sq is a bigger version of Piccadilly Circus/Leicester sq
2. NY's financial district is a bigger version of Canary Wharf / Sq Mile
3. Lond & NY have a SoHo with a similar alternative party scene (perhaps NY's Soho isn't as seedy though)
4. Greenwich Village reminds me of Camden and Brick Lane combined
5. Brooklyn reminds me of Islington / Angel
6. 5th Avenue shopping - Bond St equivalent
7. Central Park is a bigger version of Hide Park
8. Grand Central Station = Kings Cross St Pancras (Only Grand C is beautiful and famous despite the Harry Potter films).
...and there are many more to list... however, there are also loads of differences, specifically:
1. No Palaces, Castles, Abby in NY (basically less historical buildings)
2. a much better Classical music scene in London (most classical concerts are expensive here, however, in London St Martins in the Fields has tickets for GBP6.00!!!)
3. London Underground Transport system is significantly more cleaner, safer and efficient.
4. In NY there are very few CCTV cameras in comparison to London
5. Less homeless/ displaced persons on the streets in London. And not as many people begging.
...and many more!
The Similarities:
1. Time Sq is a bigger version of Piccadilly Circus/Leicester sq
2. NY's financial district is a bigger version of Canary Wharf / Sq Mile
3. Lond & NY have a SoHo with a similar alternative party scene (perhaps NY's Soho isn't as seedy though)
4. Greenwich Village reminds me of Camden and Brick Lane combined
5. Brooklyn reminds me of Islington / Angel
6. 5th Avenue shopping - Bond St equivalent
7. Central Park is a bigger version of Hide Park
8. Grand Central Station = Kings Cross St Pancras (Only Grand C is beautiful and famous despite the Harry Potter films).
...and there are many more to list... however, there are also loads of differences, specifically:
1. No Palaces, Castles, Abby in NY (basically less historical buildings)
2. a much better Classical music scene in London (most classical concerts are expensive here, however, in London St Martins in the Fields has tickets for GBP6.00!!!)
3. London Underground Transport system is significantly more cleaner, safer and efficient.
4. In NY there are very few CCTV cameras in comparison to London
5. Less homeless/ displaced persons on the streets in London. And not as many people begging.
...and many more!
Friday, 25 February 2011
conformity....
from wiki
"Conformity is the act of matching attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors to what individuals perceive is normal of their society or social group."
For example, some women who wear the hijab - tell me - they're not "conforming" by not having to worry about their appearence. But ironically the woman who said that to me spends 30mins longer on getting dressed than I do. (It takes me 10 mins max on an average day (quick shower and then drag my clothes on).)
An acquaintance mentioned that she's refusing to "conform" by wearing what she wants. But I've noticed that she spends far too much effort choosing a dress sense that would make her look "different", which is conforming to the "alternative" (you may ponder - alternative to "what"??? AND is there realy an "alternative"???)
Many people dress to look "stand out" and some people dress to "blend in" and some people are just indifferent (with me it depends on my mood).
I don't care if every other girl "has it", or no one follows it.
My dress code is usually "comfort" but when its not, it can also be a form of expression. Hence, I refuse to limit myself by labelling my choice. Or rejecting certain styles (hey you might even see me wear.... UGGS - eekk!).
It changes with my mood and how I feel. Not whom I follow, or what sect, group or society I belong to. I'm far too whacky a personality to be "recognised" by "what I wear"....
"Conformity is the act of matching attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors to what individuals perceive is normal of their society or social group."
When you profess to be "different" or decalre that you refuse to "conform" to soceity's expectation... I've found (in my limited experience) it usually means you're simply rejecting one standard and following another.
For example, some women who wear the hijab - tell me - they're not "conforming" by not having to worry about their appearence. But ironically the woman who said that to me spends 30mins longer on getting dressed than I do. (It takes me 10 mins max on an average day (quick shower and then drag my clothes on).)
An acquaintance mentioned that she's refusing to "conform" by wearing what she wants. But I've noticed that she spends far too much effort choosing a dress sense that would make her look "different", which is conforming to the "alternative" (you may ponder - alternative to "what"??? AND is there realy an "alternative"???)
Many people dress to look "stand out" and some people dress to "blend in" and some people are just indifferent (with me it depends on my mood).
Dressing up can be Art.
I don't care if every other girl "has it", or no one follows it.
My dress code is usually "comfort" but when its not, it can also be a form of expression. Hence, I refuse to limit myself by labelling my choice. Or rejecting certain styles (hey you might even see me wear.... UGGS - eekk!).
My dress sense doesn't dictate me.
I refuse to let it "define" me.
Tuesday, 22 February 2011
The Problem with being a Bengali Male…
1. if you belong to the “streets” – then the style of choice is to resemble an
incapacitated monkey, which usually necessitates wearing jeans hanging down to
your knees… this may look ALMOST ok on TALL broad-shouldered black boys BUT
GET THIS – you’re Bengali and a dwarf.
2. Sporting a beard, praying 5 times a day and avoiding “Khafir’s” while you claim
benefits does NOT make a worthy person. You’re a “Daily Mail” subject matter.
3. Fathering a child in your early twenties while your wife pretends to be a SINGLE MUM (in order to grab a council house and claim housing benefits) is NOT “settling down” – it means - GET THIS - you’re a LOSER.
4. if you’re a professional with a few letters after your name – that DOES NOT ENTITLE
you to think you resemble John Abraham, Brad Pitt or Wentworth Miller.
5. if you’re taller than 5 foot 7 that does NOT equate to being TALL. (Please stand
beside a non-Bengali if you don’t believe me.)
6. if you’re taller than 5 foot 9 that does NOT equate to being 6 foot.
7. Street Boys (again) - saying “All&h-douh’wai amar maar-khos’um” and “Wal’laahee”
after every sentence does not convince me you’re telling the truth. Particularly
when you follow this religious dialogue with profanities or speaking about your next
drug heist
7. I’m sorry guys, but let me break this to you gently…. DRIVING a BMW does NOT
make YOU a BIG MAN …. or a “Gangstaa blud”
8. Driving with your seat back (and only the top of your head showing above the
dash board) – looks STUPID not MANLY.
9. Having your name on the Title Deed of 5 houses (situated in East London) does
NOT equate to wealth…. Dude let me let you in on a secret… YOU’RE IN DEBT.
11. Bragging is a PUT OFF.
12. Wearing designer labels does not make you CLASSY
13. Wearing SUPERDRY does not make you TRENDY
17. Going on holiday 2 times a year does NOT give you “world traveller” status
14. Just because you can name a few musicals, have watched a few black and
white French movies, and know who Chaucer, Alexander Pope, EM Foster, Oscar
Wilde, George Orwell, Charles Dickens or Jane Austen etc is… does NOT make thee
cultured…
15. Randomly quoting Aquinas, Descartes, Aristotle, Chomsky or Hume won’t make
you sound intelligent…
16. Telling a girl that you “might consider marrying her” (as though bestowing a
huge honour) is the biggest JOKE to date.
17. Marrying a virgin won’t hide the fact you’ve got a small…. And your performance
is cr*ap… Coz even virgins can measure up without using a comparison…
18. Lastly, at the enormous risk of causing offence… telling your girlfriend to wear
a hijab and cover up (now that she’s dating you) is like me asking you to acquire a
brain…
incapacitated monkey, which usually necessitates wearing jeans hanging down to
your knees… this may look ALMOST ok on TALL broad-shouldered black boys BUT
GET THIS – you’re Bengali and a dwarf.
2. Sporting a beard, praying 5 times a day and avoiding “Khafir’s” while you claim
benefits does NOT make a worthy person. You’re a “Daily Mail” subject matter.
3. Fathering a child in your early twenties while your wife pretends to be a SINGLE MUM (in order to grab a council house and claim housing benefits) is NOT “settling down” – it means - GET THIS - you’re a LOSER.
4. if you’re a professional with a few letters after your name – that DOES NOT ENTITLE
you to think you resemble John Abraham, Brad Pitt or Wentworth Miller.
5. if you’re taller than 5 foot 7 that does NOT equate to being TALL. (Please stand
beside a non-Bengali if you don’t believe me.)
6. if you’re taller than 5 foot 9 that does NOT equate to being 6 foot.
7. Street Boys (again) - saying “All&h-douh’wai amar maar-khos’um” and “Wal’laahee”
after every sentence does not convince me you’re telling the truth. Particularly
when you follow this religious dialogue with profanities or speaking about your next
drug heist
7. I’m sorry guys, but let me break this to you gently…. DRIVING a BMW does NOT
make YOU a BIG MAN …. or a “Gangstaa blud”
8. Driving with your seat back (and only the top of your head showing above the
dash board) – looks STUPID not MANLY.
9. Having your name on the Title Deed of 5 houses (situated in East London) does
NOT equate to wealth…. Dude let me let you in on a secret… YOU’RE IN DEBT.
10. Working class Bengali Boys – having children “young” so that you can avoid
being an “old dad” won’t be appreciated by your offspring if it means:
a. you’re not financially or emotionally ready to be a dad
b. not mature enough, and
c. use their child benefit money to pay for your Sky subscription or fags –(TRY and save it. Please.)
being an “old dad” won’t be appreciated by your offspring if it means:
a. you’re not financially or emotionally ready to be a dad
b. not mature enough, and
c. use their child benefit money to pay for your Sky subscription or fags –(TRY and save it. Please.)
11. Bragging is a PUT OFF.
12. Wearing designer labels does not make you CLASSY
13. Wearing SUPERDRY does not make you TRENDY
17. Going on holiday 2 times a year does NOT give you “world traveller” status
14. Just because you can name a few musicals, have watched a few black and
white French movies, and know who Chaucer, Alexander Pope, EM Foster, Oscar
Wilde, George Orwell, Charles Dickens or Jane Austen etc is… does NOT make thee
cultured…
15. Randomly quoting Aquinas, Descartes, Aristotle, Chomsky or Hume won’t make
you sound intelligent…
16. Telling a girl that you “might consider marrying her” (as though bestowing a
huge honour) is the biggest JOKE to date.
17. Marrying a virgin won’t hide the fact you’ve got a small…. And your performance
is cr*ap… Coz even virgins can measure up without using a comparison…
18. Lastly, at the enormous risk of causing offence… telling your girlfriend to wear
a hijab and cover up (now that she’s dating you) is like me asking you to acquire a
brain…
The Problem with being a Bengali Female…
1. Gossiping is NOT a recognised hobby. GET A LIFE (you know who you are)
2. Just because you’ve married a total LOSER does NOT mean your friends who
are single are FUSSY. Not everyone can sustain torture.
3. Wearing a hijab does not equate to “practising”
4. You’re slim, have full lips, are fair-skinned (with foundation on) and wear green
contacts… and all of a sudden you’re Aishwarya Rai
5. Giving birth to kids is not an “accomplishment”
6. Buying designer clothes for your kids is not giving them a “good life”
7. You’re slim, fair-skinned and have an oval face… and now you think you’re
Katrina Kaif (someone needs to go Spec Savers!)
8. Dragging your kids with you to social gatherings is only allowed by Vicky
Pollard.
9. If the “quality” of men available decreases as a woman gets older…. Than…
(you women who married at a young age) – what happened to your husband?
10.Not ALL “hijabi’s” are “undercover”
11. Being SINGLE is not the worse thing you could be… There is much
worse… like being married to a typical Bengali male (that’s 75% of the
population)
12. Its takes more than having kids at a young age to be a good mum.
13. You always put an extra inch or two on your height. Just because you can
get away with being 5 foot 4 or 5 foot 5 - does NOT mean you are.
14. Wearing a hijab while dressed in jeggins and wearing full-on make up is
FUNNY.
15. Listening to Jay Sean or Mumsy Stranger is not RnB.
16. Constantly discussing your matrimonial problems (what your mother-
inlaw or husband said) is TEDIOUS. Seek counselling.
17. You have a Drivers Licence and now your Jeremy Clarkson
18. You’re a size 6 and so weight is a topic in every conversation, particularly
when men are within the vicinity
19. The TV is not a child minder
2. Just because you’ve married a total LOSER does NOT mean your friends who
are single are FUSSY. Not everyone can sustain torture.
3. Wearing a hijab does not equate to “practising”
4. You’re slim, have full lips, are fair-skinned (with foundation on) and wear green
contacts… and all of a sudden you’re Aishwarya Rai
5. Giving birth to kids is not an “accomplishment”
6. Buying designer clothes for your kids is not giving them a “good life”
7. You’re slim, fair-skinned and have an oval face… and now you think you’re
Katrina Kaif (someone needs to go Spec Savers!)
8. Dragging your kids with you to social gatherings is only allowed by Vicky
Pollard.
9. If the “quality” of men available decreases as a woman gets older…. Than…
(you women who married at a young age) – what happened to your husband?
10.Not ALL “hijabi’s” are “undercover”
11. Being SINGLE is not the worse thing you could be… There is much
worse… like being married to a typical Bengali male (that’s 75% of the
population)
12. Its takes more than having kids at a young age to be a good mum.
13. You always put an extra inch or two on your height. Just because you can
get away with being 5 foot 4 or 5 foot 5 - does NOT mean you are.
14. Wearing a hijab while dressed in jeggins and wearing full-on make up is
FUNNY.
15. Listening to Jay Sean or Mumsy Stranger is not RnB.
16. Constantly discussing your matrimonial problems (what your mother-
inlaw or husband said) is TEDIOUS. Seek counselling.
17. You have a Drivers Licence and now your Jeremy Clarkson
18. You’re a size 6 and so weight is a topic in every conversation, particularly
when men are within the vicinity
19. The TV is not a child minder
My bio-data if you're interested
Name: Miss Wishing-for-John-Abraham Choudhry
Age: 21 for the past 10 yrs (everything works - that’s enough)
Height: If you’re Bengali you’ll need a ladder regardless
Occupation: Waiting-To-Be-A-Wife, otherwise Director of Communication & Retail
This entails emailing my friends all day, gossiping, checking out guys and online shopping
Employer: Idiots PLC (they assume I work)
Education: Masters in Shopping, Eating Out, and Enjoying Holidays Abroad.
Email: pure-hotstuff&gagging-for-it@hotmail.com
Family Details:
Father’s Name: Mr Can’t-Be-Asked Choudhury PhD, PSS-TAKE, Msc
Occupation: Retired Benefits Cheat & former Restaurant Owner (which made no money)Grandfather’s Name: He’s dead – why get him involved????
Vill: It’s deserted – why bother???
Post: Jognathpur, Sylhet
Mother's Name: Mrs Always-Thinking-Of-Shom’maan Begum
Occupation: S Chanel & Bangali TV critic; actively participates in Local News (when having tea at neighbours house). Occcasionally works for the Bengali CIA, which entails spying at girls through windows.
Maternal Grandfather’s Name: Mr Doesn’t-Want-To-Know Miah (no letters sorry)
Vill: Some backwards sh*it.
Post: This is getting boring
Family Composition: 2 brothers, 1 sisters
1. Eldest Sister: Mrs Bhoutlee Khan
Occupation: Eats-All-Day & Watches TV
Martial Status: Married
Spouse: Mr Bhoutlaa Khan BSc in BSing, (from Stupid Bari, Sylhet)
Occupation: Control Freak Bank
2. Eldest brother: Mr Boi-thaal Choudhury
Martial Status: There's a freshie waiting for him (fash'fort baby!)
Current Occupation: Head of Dealing – Class A Drugs, Whitechapel, London
Education: Masters in Class A Substance Abuse
3. Brother: Mr Loser Choudhury
Current Occupation: Occupant of HM Belmarsh Prison, London
Education: Bachelor of Arts in Breaking & Entering
There's 8 more siblings to go... I think we'll end it there
Age: 21 for the past 10 yrs (everything works - that’s enough)
Height: If you’re Bengali you’ll need a ladder regardless
Occupation: Waiting-To-Be-A-Wife, otherwise Director of Communication & Retail
This entails emailing my friends all day, gossiping, checking out guys and online shopping
Employer: Idiots PLC (they assume I work)
Education: Masters in Shopping, Eating Out, and Enjoying Holidays Abroad.
Email: pure-hotstuff&gagging-for-it@hotmail.com
Family Details:
Father’s Name: Mr Can’t-Be-Asked Choudhury PhD, PSS-TAKE, Msc
Occupation: Retired Benefits Cheat & former Restaurant Owner (which made no money)Grandfather’s Name: He’s dead – why get him involved????
Vill: It’s deserted – why bother???
Post: Jognathpur, Sylhet
Mother's Name: Mrs Always-Thinking-Of-Shom’maan Begum
Occupation: S Chanel & Bangali TV critic; actively participates in Local News (when having tea at neighbours house). Occcasionally works for the Bengali CIA, which entails spying at girls through windows.
Maternal Grandfather’s Name: Mr Doesn’t-Want-To-Know Miah (no letters sorry)
Vill: Some backwards sh*it.
Post: This is getting boring
Family Composition: 2 brothers, 1 sisters
1. Eldest Sister: Mrs Bhoutlee Khan
Occupation: Eats-All-Day & Watches TV
Martial Status: Married
Spouse: Mr Bhoutlaa Khan BSc in BSing, (from Stupid Bari, Sylhet)
Occupation: Control Freak Bank
2. Eldest brother: Mr Boi-thaal Choudhury
Martial Status: There's a freshie waiting for him (fash'fort baby!)
Current Occupation: Head of Dealing – Class A Drugs, Whitechapel, London
Education: Masters in Class A Substance Abuse
3. Brother: Mr Loser Choudhury
Current Occupation: Occupant of HM Belmarsh Prison, London
Education: Bachelor of Arts in Breaking & Entering
There's 8 more siblings to go... I think we'll end it there
Why??
Questions…
21. Why do Bengali male Doctor’s always feel this need to mention their job in almost every conversation? (YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE)
22. Why does the average Bengali Boy assume it’s normal to be fixated by one’s mother? Dude – “mummy boys” are seriously unattractive
23. Why do Bengali Boys working within IT in banking think their a “banker”? Dude you’re a geek servicing bankers… Duh.
21. Why do Bengali male Doctor’s always feel this need to mention their job in almost every conversation? (YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE)
22. Why does the average Bengali Boy assume it’s normal to be fixated by one’s mother? Dude – “mummy boys” are seriously unattractive
23. Why do Bengali Boys working within IT in banking think their a “banker”? Dude you’re a geek servicing bankers… Duh.
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