Paula

Commerce

A very humane Veterinarian

Yesterday my vet examined my cat, who was recently diagnosed with cancer, for over a half hour, discussing with me when it's time to send him to "cat heaven", and he did not charge me at all. I thought this was a very uncommon kindness, especially since I hadn't asked for it.

Bedford Hills, New York

Meatloaf

Behavior

Longer line for food

This is probably a predicted indicator of economic hardship, but still the change is so clear. We have a 26 year old soup kitchen in east village and our guests call us meatloaf (we serve over 350 meatloaf meals every Saturday). Starting late last year, we've seen longer and longer line for both breakfast and lunch. Guests want to take a second or third meal home to feed other family members or themselves on other days. A longer line creates more tension in the line as well. We’ve made a decision to increase our meat order even though other costs are increasing while revenue remains flat. Another interesting point is that I'm seeing many guests who I have not seen for many years. They have come back with sad stories of losing their jobs (delivery, dish washing, giving out flyers etc.). It’s been a difficult winter for us.

dimitri

Bright

W N Whaa C

Your show used to be ripe with tales of the best dog parks in NY, hidden eateries, unique walking tours and other miscellanea, but for the past couple months every story has been focused on the spiraling economy. We get it already, its bad, now how about some of the regularly scheduled irregular programing

varick st and vandam st, ny, ny

Leta

Behavior

Subway Musicians

Last night I took the R Train home from 34th Street to Brooklyn. In the half hour I was on the train four separate musicians stepped into my car to play for change.

34th Street and 6th Ave

Leigh

Behavior

An Upscale Dumpster Dive

Last night in front of a high-end grocery store in Brooklyn Heights I saw a group of women going through the thrown out produce in front of the store. They were all seemingly well dressed. One of them asked the other one if she saw any bananas for her family.

Remsen St, Brooklyn, NY

David Hodgson

Behavior

Netflix top 100

@ # 3 in the top 100 Netflix film list
The Pursuit of Happiness
Will Smith (in an Oscar-nominated role) and his real-life son Jaden star in this tearjerker about a struggling single parent determined to build a better life for himself and his child

barbara hillenbrand

Commerce

A carriage ride in Central Park

During a stroll in NYC, I noticed an excessive number of horses, carriages and horseman awaiting passengers at the entrance to Central Park. I asked one of horseman whether demand for a ride in the park had declined? He confirmed that it had --in fact, since December demand has dropped off precipitously, he said. And, just for your information, the price for a family four- - $34.50; which is cheaper than taking the family (of 4)to a movie! And depending on the day of the week you go, and where you ask your driver to drop you off you might tack onto a free museum admission for all (or if your feeling generous, add your total cost the price of a donation to the museum).

James

Employment

Prostitutes as a proxy for competitiveness

I thought you'd find this blog post quite interesting - it basically uses the relative price of prostitutes in different European countries to measure labor competitiveness and the risk that a country will have to devalue:

http://brontecapital.blogspot.com/2009/03/polish-hookers-dont-cost-too-much.html

The indicator was spot-on in the case of Latvia and some other East European economies

http://brontecapital.blogspot.com/2009/03/polish-hookers-dont-cost-too-much.html

Wendy Grinberg

Employment

Take my card, please

My mom went to the doctor (in Maryland) and he gave her his card. He said if she knew anyone looking for a doctor, to please pass on his name. I guess people aren't going to the doctor if they don't have insurance.

Andrew

Commerce

The Strand

After more than a decade of dealing with snobby, bratty, aloof Strand book sellers/shelvers, the bookstore has suddenly become a warm, friendly environment! There is even an employee, Walmart-style, greeting shoppers at the door.

Broadway and 12th

Heather

Bright

wacky travel fares

Air fares have been much lower in general this year, but today I booked a one-way from NYC to D.C. on JetBlue for less than half what it would cost to take Amtrak.

225 Park Avenue South, 10003

Caitlin

Behavior

Just a reminder for us all...

Near my apartment in Bed-Stuy, someone has printed out signs that say "IT DON'T COST MONEY TO GET TO HEAVEN" and hung them around the subway stop.

corner of Fulton and Franklin Aves

Seth Guthartz

Behavior

Toll Free Out of NYC

We live in Northern Manhattan and leave the city at least once a week for getaways. Recently I noticed myself finding the toll-free exits from Manhattan. We live near the Dyckman entrance to the Henry Hudson Pkwy and then usually go through Riverdale to go north. I have been going to the Deagan/Mosholu and traveling up Broadway through the Bronx to avoid the HH bridge toll.

I don't do it all the time, but I thought it might make a small difference. We just got our latest statement and it is half of what we have spent in the past.

Dyckman St, 10034

Lily Shoulberg

Swindlers

Public School Student

I am an 8th grader (going in to high school next year) and I have been in public school for practically my whole life. I can vouch for the fact that NYC public schools provide a wonderful education, not at all inferior to private schools. I do have friends in private school (one is at Horace Mann) and many friends at Hunter, which is highly selective and a great opportunity. I was offered the option to take the exam but decided against it because I was so satisfied at the public middle school I was currently attending. I just completed the high school admissions process a few days ago, and am next year attending the second best school in the city (also the #29 in the COUNTRY). Public school (at least in NYC) is a great option. I would advise your friends from-not-Horace-Mann to choose Hunter.

333 West 17th street, New York, NY 10011

PJ Vogt

Commerce

Uncommon Economic Indicators: Atlas Shrugged Sales

Hi guys,

From the Economist: "...[Atlas Shrugged's]]30-day average Amazon rank was 127 on February 21st, well above its average over the past two years of 542. On January 13th the book’s ranking was 33, briefly besting President Barack Obama’s popular tome, “The Audacity of Hope”.

Tellingly, the spikes in the novel’s sales coincide with the news (see chart). The first jump, in September 2007, followed dramatic interest-rate cuts by central banks, and the Bank of England’s bail-out of Northern Rock, a troubled mortgage lender. The October 2007 rise happened two days after the Bush Administration announced an initiative to coax banks to assist subprime borrowers. A year later, sales of the book rose after America’s Treasury said that it would use a big chunk of the $700 billion Troubled Asset Relief Programme to buy stakes in nine large banks. Debate over Mr Obama’s stimulus plan in January gave the book another lift. And sales leapt once again when the stimulus plan passed and Mr Obama announced a new mortgage-modification plan."

http://www.economist.com/finance/displaystory.cfm?story_id=13185404

Kenneth Neuman

Employment

How To Write a Resume

Having recently lost my job of 22 years on Wall Street, I needed for the first time since 1987 to write a resume. I went to the local library to get a book on resume writing and they were all checked out already

Bergen County NJ

rainer ganahl

Bright

credit crunch art works - > tshirts

check these tshirts
www.ganahl.info/tshirts.html

since you are talking about graffiti
on I love NY tshrits

Deidre Trama

Commerce

Trash for cash

These gold jewelery parties in the Cranford/Westfield area here in New jersey are all the rage. They work out real nice because instead of asking your friends to come to your house to BUY something (like the candle parties) they can bring over their old jewelery like that old tri-colored stuff from the eighties or those old big chains that never get worn. What they don't tell you is that you can get more money from the "We Buy Gold" shops than the parties.

07016, cranford, nj

Marjorie Blum

Bright

No More Junk Mail!

I've noticed that for the last several weeks, the quantity of mail I have been receiving is noticeably diminishing. Of course, I am still getting my bills, but the number of unsolicited junk mail and catalogues is way down, and that is a welcomed byproduct of the economic times.

16 Arlington Drive, Croton on Hudson, NY

Clyde S Dale

Behavior

Recession Themed Grafitti

Holland Tunnel Entrance, Lower Manhattan