Happy Holidays

So for anyone who was following the pre Christmas news (aside from the MTA strike that is), you may have heard about the ongoing debate between retail stores and religious people who are offended by the greeting of “Happy Holidays” and want retail stores to return to the greeting of “Merry Christmas” when greeting shoppers who enter the store post Thanksgiving until December 24.

Those who are offended feel that by losing the “ Merry Christmas” , you are losing the “reason for the season.” Religious groups have even tried to enforce a boycott at such locations. This topic even became a conversation for debate within my family on Christmas Eve.

As a child of a mixed faith marriage, I personally would like to commend the companies that continue to use “Holidays” over “Christmas.” By using this term, you are being all inclusive (and thus non-offensive) to the people who do not celebrate Christmas. The phrase “Holidays” includes Hanukkah, Kwanza, and even the Winter Solstice for the practicing Wiccan, and whatever else my be practiced at this time (apologies for any that were not directly mentioned).

While I am far from being a Nationalist, the great thing about the United States is that we do not have a national religion. (if someone could remind our president of this again, things might be a little easier). We are a country that allows people to practice whatever they believe in, and even allows the halfies out their to celebrate their Christmakkah in peace (and current popularity).

To those who are offended- go lock yourself in a bomb shelter. You will probably be safer there until whatever cosmic event you believe in happens. While in there, you can teach your children your exclusionary ways. Best part is, since it is just you locked in there, they will never have to actually practice to be a bigot.

In New York, we have people excluding others due to race, income, housing, clothing & even haircuts sometimes. In a season meant to celebrate miracles of all kinds, let’s all become a little less sensitive. Otherwise, next year, retailers will just greet you with “Happy New Year”.

So on that note "Happy Holidays' to all of you out there. Hope your occasions were happy & that you don't pass out before midnight on New Year's.

xoxo
m

Day 3 & life goes on…

So it is now day 3 of the MTA strike and, well as the title suggests, life is going on.

New Yorkers are adapting, as they always do. Traffic was still heavy this morning, but I was lucky enough to get a cabbie who though charging me $15 to get to midtown was crazy. So he only charged $10. Which resulted in him getting a tip, which I have not been giving anyone who charges me the standard rate. (if I was going from the bottom of one zone to the top of a second, then I could understand the full charge. But not to go from half of one zone to half of the other.) anyway, my trip was quite pleasant, although long. My driver & I, along with 1 other passenger (they were not enforcing the 4 person rule as stringently) had a lively debate about the strike & the union workers, etc.
It looks as if the end of the strike is looming. We will see what happens.
Will the Transit Union go bankrupt?
Will they get everything they wanted?
And even better- will they get rid of Roger Toussant? He seems like an old school union worker who thinks that a scalding tongue will win the people over. Instead, they just hate him & view him as a nasty man.

Till day 4….

traffic sucks and so does the MTA

so the MTA transit strike is now in day two. what does that mean to all the transit reliant New Yorkers? Well, day one of the strike meant- work from home! To most new yorkers this is like the snow day that you get as a kid (or live in the suburbs). but when you live here, you get shafted, since the subways run...well underground.
but now day two of the strike has come & gone. what does this now mean?
-$15 cab rides (at least for me)
-arriving either early or last to work & either leaving early or late
-delayed christmas shopping (if you are still trying to do it like me)
-missed dinners & awful holiday goodbyes
-stressful trips trying to get to the airport

I personally do not agree with the tranist worker union striking. Even low level workers make more than I do (and I definately make a decent living as a corporate whore), and they get to retire at 55. 55! What are you going to do after you retire at 55 and still live in NYC? um, get another job? and you don't want to pay into your health insurance plan? Why not? Everyone else does!

I agree, you may not have a glamorous job. But at least you are working. at least you are capable of working. and striking. so suck it up, be fair, and help out your fellow new yorkers in the meantime.

Mis-Shaped

The downtown New York dance scene was capped off when the party Misshapes was created, hosted at the West Village gay bar Luke & Leroy’s. Hipsters from Brooklyn, the east village & beyond use to travel the 1/ 9/ A/C/E & F lines every Saturday night to get a spot into this party which hosted guest DJ’s from across the world.

You knew Misshapes was getting a little to big when it make the top 100 list on a trendy men’s magazine. And then Madonna showed up to launch her new album. So of course the fire marshall was going to show up & count how many underage hipster kiddies were hiding under the bar.

So alas, Misshapes moved to a bigger venue. Don Hills. Now I will admit that I have never seen a show at Don Hills, but I hear it use to be great. But that is besides the point.

Misshapes use to say they charged a cover of $5. However, that was a very indefinable $5. Basically, if you did one of the following:
- Knew Thomas the door guy
- Got there early enough
- Were a guy with at least a semi attractive girl
- Dressed out of the Urban Outfitters catalog
- Waited on line long enough
You were not charged. I fell in at least one of those options each time I attended (except for the guy one). It would be crowded, sweaty & smoky, but you danced you ass off & generally got cheap drinks.

Well, the Misshapes that we once knew is now debunked. The change in venue has caused the party to become a bit more exclusive- not only are they charging $10 a person (although the door guy right after Thomas is willing to make you a deal if you try hard enough), but they are now only comping their friends (still 90% of the attendees, but still..)

New York is too big, there are too many bars & there are too many good DJ’s to charge a cover! And this isn’t Chelsea. So it is the end of an era. Or at least Misshapes. Besides, I wouldn’t pay $10 to see a L.Lo movie. Why would I to see her in real life?

Go out Friday night instead. Hit Ultragrrl’s party at Orchard bar instead. Or Trash at Rafiffi. Saturdays always sucked anyway.
xoxo