Citigroup Center

You probably heard about the possible targets of attacks on financial institutions in Washington, Newark and New York. Among the five targets is Citigroup Center.

When I first visited the Citigroup Center, I was in awe of its accomplishment in building an enormous skyscraper. You may recognize it with its strange ending on its top, but not many people knew what it looked on the bottom of the building. It is difficult to describe what it looks like at the bottom of the Citigroup Center. Perhaps, these two pictures will tell better than I do.


Looking up ...

Looking down ...

The bottom of the building contains St. Paul's Lutheran Church, several restaurants and stores on its first four levels. Is that all? Nope. It also is the hub of Lexington Ave/53rd & 54th Street Subway Station. It was reported that 57,000 commuters came through this particular station everyday. The Citigroup Center is simply beautiful.

Last Christmas, after my workplace's Holidays dinner in Midtown on 58th Street, I believe, we were in a group with James, Cynthia, Web and who else I cannot remember. I vividly recalled telling James that the Citigroup Center is most beautiful skyscraper next to my personal favorite, the Lipstick. But I also mentioned that it is also vulnerable to some kind of terrorist attacks should it happen because it is so easy to target.

Little did we know ... I expect the worst, but I hope for the best. This building is something that everyone else in the world should value and cherish. God, please leave it alone.

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The Critical Moments

How was my weekend? I get to watch some movies over the weekend. I watched Gangs of New York, Something's Gotta Give, and Matchstick Man.

In Gangs of New York, I was horrified to learn that the gangs, the Natives and Dead Rabbits, battled for the control of Five Points. The battle scene were brutal, vicious and horrifying. I think it was pitiful that guys prayed for their sins then fight (some got killed, of course) and got maimed badly. Then a gang won the control of Five Points, life goes on.

Needless to say, I was curious to know where the Five Points is since it is located in Manhattan and hello! I am in Manhattan! Char and I tried our best to find it -- apparently, it is not there any longer. According to IrishInNYC.freeservers.com, Five Points was the intersection of Mulberry, Little Water, Anthony and Orange streets along with the Paradise Square on it. It was located in the western part of Chinatown, just north of City Hall. Paradise Square has been altered and changed to Foley Square, probably to halt the repeated gangs' battles. Today, it serves the most ironic of all -- the Foley Square is littered with many courthouses, issuing the laws or rulings for the city of New York.

It was common knowledge that a clumsy tourist gets in that area is unlikely to come out alive. It was not just poor area, it was deeply impoverished to a point where people are just ... savages. Yes, Irishfolks were ruthless, barbaric and stupid. The area was clogged with too many Irish immigrants who fled the famine in Ireland -- it was not 100% Irish folks that did it, African Americans, Chinese and Italians contributed to the problem as well -- but the majority of perpetuators are Irish. Mainly because the majority of them emigrated from Ireland in a quick succession.

You have to read the history of Five Points. Suffice to say, I'm glad that it is gone. It is an embarrassing testament to Irish's barbaric activities in New York. I am 1/2 Irish. Before you could yell at me about my current name. Taylor is English, obviously. But is it really mine? No. You see, my father's parents lived in a community owned by a coal mine company in Big Stone Gap, Virginia. Back then, there were no Social Security, pensions, retirement funds et al. My grandfather was killed in an accident related to Coal Mines explosion (which is very common back then), my grandmother knew that in a short time, the company will evict her from her house because it is owned by the company. You see, the company owned the community. It is common that in a community owned by the coal mine companies, men outnumbered women. My grandmother quickly married another man whose last name is Taylor in order to have a place to live and raise my father and my aunt. It was such a hard life for my grandparents, stucked in the midst of nowhere in the Appalachian Mountains.

If not for my grandfather's death, I would be Ricky Callahan. Not bad, eh? I don't like Taylors, though.

Anyway, back to the Five Points, I was pretty embarrassed at the atrocities. The Irish gangs even hosted the betting on "bull-baiting", that is to chain the bull and let the dogs attack the bull, to see how many dogs the Bull would kill before it succumbed!

Basically, the film made me curious and dig the dirts on the 'net -- I find it very interesting. It is no secret that New York is the melting pot. The melting pot is rarely peaceful, it takes violence to become cohesive to make what New York is all about.


New York in 1940

Modern NYC in Pre-9/11

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Remember Ilana Wexler!

Anyone But Bush. That is the goal.

I saw a quote in the men's bathroom in a gay bar. It reads:

"You are not voting for John Kerry, you are voting against George W. Bush."

This is good for people who are undecided about John Kerry. The motto is ... Anyone But Bush. That is the goal.

On other hand, remember this 12-years old girl, Ilana Wexler! Ilana, you rock!


Ilana Wexler, the founder of Kidsforkerry.org
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Politics and Bullshit

Last night, I watched the segment of Democratic Party National Convention. I noticed something interesting. Too many thumb-up signs. Calm down, John Kerry and John Edwards! Don't overuse it like everyone else is doing with ILY sign! I squeal when Edwards repeated the sign.

You know, in some countries, that thumb-up sign is very offensive. So be careful.

Since we are on the same wavelength, let's look at this -- Democratic Party Convention took place in Boston. This time, for Republicans, they are swarming into New York for the first time in 150 years, primarily because they chose NYC as a way to gain some kind of support of what happened during the 9/11 tragedy. In fact, they pushed the dates to August 29 - September 2.

The majority of Manhattanites are not happy with the fact that Republicans will swarm in this city. They are bringing many problems to Penn Station, Penn Station is located right below the Madison Square Garden, the site of RNC. In an attempt to control people and terrorism, they decided to close the entrances to the Penn Station and leave one open. This is going to be a huge mess for the commuters.

Republicans want to close the roads around MSG, lots of people are suing to keep it open. So much drama. Now with this website running to let the Republicans know that they are not welcome in this magnificent town. I am looking forward to the event on September 1st that might disrupt the Republicans' time in New York. They certainly deserve it very much. They disrupted our lives from time to time, now it's their turn.

Now on a different story, I read this article -- the Sharapova-Myskina tugfest reminded me of the days before at Gallaudet when Heather Whitestone won Miss America, the media quickly flocked to Gallaudet campus and asked some students about their opinions of Heather Whitestone.

Most of our reactions were, "She's not really deaf." Suddenly, a lot of drama ensued in the next few days to a point where Heather Whitestone had to show up and spray us with her voice, "I a m H e a t h e r W h i t e s t o n e a n d I c a n s p e a k v e r y w e l l - - s o c a n y o u ! !"

Gawd.

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Where Are You, My Mennonite Hunk?

When I saw the reality show, Amish In The City, it brought an old flashback of mine from the ancient past.  Enjoy.
 
When I was 11 or 12, I think I was very attractive.  I used to sport a tail -- about 5-inch long of thin hair that stands out from the rest of your hair in the back, very typical of a teenager boy in the Appalachian Mountains, I'm afraid to tell. 
 
I was on a school field trip to Eastern Mennonite University to visit the Planetarium, see the dome?  Yes, that.  However, some students from my deaf school were taking classes in Earth Science and Biology.  Off we go to visit the Biology Department and the Planetarium. 
 
There was a student assistant who works with some professor.  He is hearing.  I still distinctly remembered his name, Paul.  Yeah, Paul.  Paul himself is Mennonite.  It is somewhat a notch below the Amish beliefs, I guess.  But Paul is extremely cute.  I was incredibly infatuated by his presence.  I kept on smiling at him repeatedly when he stared at me inside the dome in the Planetarium.  He was probably 19 or 20.  He was perfect man, just for me.  Dark brown hair with curly ones, not so thin, not so big.  Just athletic with a humility look.  Whew.
 
Later in this very room which many PETA members and vegetarians would die of heart attack, the room is fittingly called "Head Room", as you can see the picture on the right, there is tables all way to the top.  I sat in the back ... on waaaay back right after the episode in the Planetarium.  Paul was busy closing up the Planetarium right after we left, I guess.
 
Then he came in and sat behind me, he played with my tail from behind as I watched the interpreter signing for 30 to 45 minutes.  That time was absolutely bliss.  He gently played with my tail and rubbed his hands on my neck.  We knew we'd click.  But that was not to be.
 
After leaving EMU, I never saw him again.
 
*sigh*
 
There goes my 300th posting.
 
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299th Post, Xanga, Roz & Update with the Malzkuhns

Xanga.com absolutely sucks.

It is irritating to read someone's comments that also attached too many smiley faces.  It makes them look so stupid.  So easy for me to laugh at them through their comments.  You want to comment on them?  Register first, fuck it.  So it sucks, period.

If you want to express yourself, do it with words.  Smileys are so yesterday, thank you very much.

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Let it be known that this is 299th entry.  Wow.  The 300th entry is coming up next with a secret that will make everyone else smile today or laugh at me.  Or amused.  Whatever works for you on that day.

* * *

I got an email from a friend of mine who knew that I'd advocate for Dr. Roslyn "Roz" Rosen.

She is a Deaf woman who worked at Gallaudet for many years, she was the Vice-President of Academic Affairs before the current administration discretely drove her out.  I am so glad that there are some professors who are working to organize the plans to nominate Dr. Roslyn Rosen for Emerita recognition by the university.  I'm all for it.  Anyone wants to do this should get in touch with Dr. Berdichevsky.

Dear all:

Please join Tom Baldridge, Rita Jenoure and me in nominating Dr. Roz Rosen for emerita recognition by Gallaudet University.  We are gathering letters of support  from all over the campus and the deaf community and would like to include one from you.  Feel free to comment on any of Roz' accomplishments and contributions to deaf education and to the welfare of deaf communities local, national and international.

Pllease send your letter of support by August 10. You can send it via E-mail to this account (cristina.berdichevsky@gallaudet.edu) or mail it to:

Dr. Cristi Berdichevsky
Foreign Language Department
HMB S 236 H
Gallaudet University
800 Florida Ave, N.E.
Washington DC 20002

Many  thanks. - Tom, Rita and Cristiri

* * *

Now with this update, I have the link to the website.  Please be sure to check out the video as well.  I wonder how the Matriarch of the Malzkuhn clan felt about this.  Here is the Pyramid Scheme Targets The Deaf.  Don't anyone else agree with me that Robert Roth is cute?  *dreaming mode on*

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The Malzkuhns

Lots of people are in awe of Mary Malzkuhn who is a professor, teaching Government to several thousands of students for more than 20 years. 
 
I do not find her to be awesome or anything like that.  I find her to be rude and arrogant at times.
 
One time, my good friend told me that a student who is not well known was in her class.  When Malzkuhn lectured, that student just stared and nodded a little.  It was not bad but a habit of that person to nod, just to affirm what Malzkuhn was lecturing.
 
Then Mary Malzkuhn shot the student down, "Did I ask you for your approval?" 
 
Then she went back to the lecture, left the student to his own demise.  Suffice to say, he withdrew the class after that.  Now, is that nice what you did to the student, you little trollop bitch?
 
On another hand, another situation happened in London.  I was there.  Long story.  To make it short, there was another professor who had a crush with my father.  My father ultimately rejected her.  She was devastated.  She ended up being good friends with my grandmother's sister.  Blah, blah.  My grandmother and her sister occasionally fights with each other but still loves each other, no matter what.  It is just typical of deaf family members to argue then make up, I guess.  Somehow, my great aunt told this "professor" about what kind of person I am.  That "professor" told Mary.  At that time, I personally never met Mary.  My opinions toward her was reserved.
 
That is until, I encountered her abrasive comments in London.  It was raining hard, we were lost.  We were supposed to visit the Royal National Institute of Deaf (RNID), we went back and forth on the same road, looking for some building.  I was getting tired, irritated with being wet.  I told Mary that the RNID building "probably is on the other block over there."
 
Mary then screamed at me, "I AM NOT STUPID!  I HAVE DOCTORATE DEGREE, DO YOU?  DO YOU?  DO YOU?"  I was appalled.  Then later, she told me that the "professor" told her to watch out for me because I'd criticize her ass.  I told her that, "Honey, you just fell for the oldest trick in the books, too bad you are too old to figure it out."
 
Trust me, she's that old to a point where she actually can pass as a man.  Since that fateful day in London, I absolutely have no desire to interact or deal with the Malzkuhns.
 
Of course, I was horrified to see three offsprings coming in Gallaudet in the next few years with Mary's grandchildren running amok ... Matt, Mez and Megan.  All are much different from each other.  All possessed their own characteristics but like their grandmother, very outspoken. 
 
Matt never bothered me, he is nice, I *think*. 
 
Mez thinks she's all that.  She thinks she's above the world.  Too bad, she was banned from attending the graduation ceremony recently.  That says a lot about herself, though.
 
Megan is just different.  I actually enjoyed chatting with her.  She may be lost in her own ways but she is just cool gal.  You rock, Megan. 
 
But reading about the articles regarding the pyramid schemes among others perpetuated by the Malzkuhns did not surprise me about this family, though.
 
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