August 16, 2007

New York changes -- first in a series.

Take less crap. Many comments deleted today. New policy: If I think what you wrote is crap, I'm deleting.

61 comments:

Telecomedian said...

Can't say I blame you. You've had some pretty crappy commen...hey, where'd all mine go?!?

EnigmatiCore said...

Does it then follow that if you did not delete something, you think it was not crap?

LutherM said...

REGARDING THE PRESENT WALL STREET
DISORDER
A FEW OF THE NAMES HAVE CHANGED

Excerpts from Other Peoples Money by Louis Brandeis 1913
Web Version: http://library.louisville.edu/law/brandeis/opm-ch1.html
The dominant element in our financial oligarchy is the investment banker. Associated banks, trust companies and life insurance companies are his tools. Controlled railroads, public service and industrial corporations are his subjects. Though properly but middlemen, these bankers bestride as masters America's business world, so that practically no large enterprise can be undertaken successfully without their participation or approval. These bankers are, of course, able men possessed of large fortunes; but the most potent factor in their control of business is not the possession of extraordinary ability or huge wealth. The key to their power is Combination—concentration intensive and comprehensive—advancing on three distinct lines:
First: There is the obvious consolidation of banks and trust companies; the less obvious affiliations—through stockholdings, voting trusts and interlocking directorates—of banking institutions which are not legally connected; and the joint transactions, gentlemen's agreements, and "banking ethics" which eliminate competition among the investment bankers.
Second: There is the consolidation of railroads into huge systems, the large combinations of public service corporations and the formation of industrial trusts, which, by making businesses so "big" that local, independent banking concerns cannot alone supply the necessary funds, has created dependence upon the associated New York bankers.
But combination, however intensive, along these lines only, could not have produced the Money Trust—another and more potent factor of combination was added.
Third: Investment bankers, like J. P. Morgan & Co., dealers in bonds, stocks and notes, encroached upon the functions of the three other classes of corporations with which their business brought them into contact. They became the directing power in railroads, public service and industrial companies through which our great business operations are conducted—the makers of bonds and stocks. They became the directing power in the life insurance companies, and other corporate reservoirs of the people's savings—the buyers of bonds and stocks. They became the directing power also in banks and trust companies—the depositaries of the quick capital of the country—the life blood of business, with which they and others carried on their operations. Thus four distinct functions, each essential to business, and each exercised, originally, by a distinct set of men, became united in the investment banker. It is to this union of business functions that the existence of the Money Trust is mainly due.
The development of our financial oligarchy followed, in this respect, lines with which the history of political despotism has familiarized us:—usurpation, proceeding by gradual encroachment rather than by violent acts; subtle and often long-concealed concentration of distinct functions, which are beneficent when separately administered, and dangerous only when combined in the same persons. It was by processes such as these that Caesar Augustus became master of Rome. The makers of our own Constitution had in mind like dangers to our political liberty when they provided so carefully for the separation of governmental powers…
The goose that lays golden eggs has been considered a most valuable possession. But even more profitable is the privilege of taking the golden eggs laid by somebody else's goose. The investment bankers and their associates now enjoy that privilege. They control the people through the people's own money. If the bankers' power were commensurate only with their wealth, they would have relatively little influence on American business. Vast fortunes like those of the Astors are no doubt regrettable. They are inconsistent with democracy. They are unsocial. And they seem peculiarly unjust when they represent largely unearned increment. But the wealth of the Astors does not endanger political or industrial liberty. It is insignificant in amount as compared with the aggregate wealth of America, or even of New York City. It lacks significance largely because its owners have only the income from their own wealth. The Astor wealth is static. The wealth of the Morgan associates is dynamic. The power and the growth of power of our financial oligarchs comes from wielding the savings and quick capital of others. In two of the three great life insurance companies the influence of J. P. Morgan & Co. and their associates is exerted without any individual investment by them whatsoever. Even in the Equitable, where Mr. Morgan bought an actual majority of all the outstanding stock, his investment amounts to little more than one-half of one per cent. of the assets of the company. The fetters which bind the people are forged from the people's own gold…

EnigmatiCore said...

Oh boy. I smell an attack on those NY money men. By someone going by Luther M.

I know what kind of person posted that!

So, Luther, how do you feel about Adam Sandler?

EnigmatiCore said...

Yet she'll get laid tonight if she wants, and you won't, AJD.

Life sure ain't fair, is it?

Bissage said...

Althouse said: I’m blogging here! I’m blogging here!

Bissage said...

AJD said: fap, fap, fap, fap, fap, fap, fap, fap . . .

Paddy O said...

I think a vlog on the psychology of trolls would be interesting. It's not a left or right wing thing, it's a certain kind of personality. Ego driven and deficient at the same time.

Be a very interesting psychological and historical study really. Obsessing over what you dislike. Occurs in a lot of settings. Theology has many people who hate God.

Maybe you could do a diavlog with Dr. Helen.

Simon said...

I think that's a healthy policy change. I know some commenters have been put off by the increasingly poisonous nature of some of the more insistent representatives of anti-althousiana. Some weeding won't go amiss. :)

Simon said...

I second Paddy's suggestion of a diavlog with Helen about troll psychology, hat would be fascinating.

Trooper York said...

Welcome to Brooklyn prof..let it rip and keep it real. But stay away from Montague St and vist the real bklyn

Anonymous said...

I would like there to to be a post or a vlog on what brought about the change. What crap pushed you over the edge?

Having said that, I think it's a great policy. Good luck keeping up...

Mortimer Brezny said...

I'm still available for dinner. That should be the new challenge. Forget egg salads. Dinner with Mortimer.

Revenant said...

Good luck in NYC. :)

Latino said...

Ann moved to NYC? I missed something.. when? where? for good? No more Madison?

ricpic said...

I f I write it by definition it's pure gold.

Anonymous said...

Yeah. Pick on Palladian. That's the guy you want to single out for atrocious posting. No humor. No wit.

And this coming from a Mary...

rhhardin said...

So it's like what W.F.Buckley said about corrections in the N.Y.Times : the trouble is that they imply that everything else was correct.

Simon Kenton said...

I've read through most of today's comments, and your crap detector is apparently set stratospherically high. Much of what sure seems like crap has passed through it undeleted.

It's a good policy; honor it in the observance not the breach.

Tim said...

"I'm still available for dinner. That should be the new challenge. Forget egg salads. Dinner with Mortimer."

Maybe Ann could defray the cost of moving with the challenge donations...with a surcharge for the actual, you know, opportunity cost of having dinner with Mortimer.

Original Mike said...

Wow! One day in New York and already an attitude.

Ann Althouse said...

"Welcome to Brooklyn prof..let it rip and keep it real. But stay away from Montague St and vist the real bklyn."

What's wrong with Montague Street? You're talking like it's all glamorous. But how is that?

Anyway what do you recommend? (I used to live in Park Slope... on 3rd Street.)

Jennifer said...

Good to hear.

Jane said...

My mum and dad and I are coming to New York next week. We will be there for five days.

Any last minute suggestions? Are there any odd, out-of-the way sorts of places that tourists usually miss but might enjoy?

Ruth Anne Adams said...

Welcome to EDT. I bet you'll miss having the late night shows come on at 10:35.

Dan from Madison said...

Outstanding news, great to hear.

Gahrie said...

Bissage:

Damn..you got there first!

That was my first reaction when I read Althouse's post!

Simon said...

Joe said...
"Ann moved to NYC? I missed something.. when? where? for good? No more Madison?"

She'll be visiting faculty at Brooklyn Law School this academic year. Madison again occaisionally this year and again (presumably) by this time next year.


Mortimer Brezny said...
"I'm still available for dinner. That should be the new challenge. Forget egg salads. Dinner with Mortimer."

I'll consider contributing a couple of bucks to that - but in New York, that'll buy you a glass of water. ;)

Ann Althouse said...

"Welcome to EDT. I bet you'll miss having the late night shows come on at 10:35."

I'll miss my TiVo more.

I wonder if I should switch the time on the blog to EDT.... I guess so.

Ruth Anne Adams said...

Some commenters who comment from, say, the Eastern Time Zone, may appreciate the plausible deniability of a blog they frequent being located in the, say, Central Time Zone...

reader_iam said...

So, maybe I shouldn't comment anymore. Roughly 65-75% of what I write is crap. Not exactly a great ratio, after all.

reader_iam said...

Don't switch the time of the blog. Add a tagline, or something, instead. More interesting and kaleidoscopic, that approach--and, really, aren't those two adjectives rather intrinsic to the vision of your blog, and even yourself?

Only suggestin'.

reader_iam said...

I'll try this again:

Seriously, Ann/Althouse (that construction is deliberate): If it's not too late, don't change it.

You've been at pains to make the distinction. The blog is the blog: Althouse. You are Ann.

Unless and until YOU move permanently, in which case the weight of argument would rather obviously lean toward synchronization, why not keep that distinction, and with a twist?

Plus, it's more interesting. And etc.

As I said--and meant--seriously, Althouse. Ann.

reader_iam said...

Whoops! Cut off my last sentences after "As I said--and meant--seriously, Althouse. Ann.": If it's not too late, don't change it. Or at least consider it, and maybe even blog about the choice you ultimately make.

Zeb Quinn said...

The new New York rules! Frankly, I'm surprised you took so long get there.

Unknown said...

Montague Street sucks. Not one good restaurant. Crappy bars. Crappy retail. The only good part is the end of Montague where you hit the promenade. In fact, avoid Brooklyn Heights at all costs when it comes to dining and drinking, although for housing it's hard to do better.

For dining and nightlife, venture outwards, but you don't have to go that far. Smith Street. Cobble Hill and Carroll Gardens. Columbia Street, Red Hook, Dumbo.

But Montague Street sucks as you will soon learn.

Ann Althouse said...

DTL: I agree about Montague Street. I was really surprised at how uninteresting the storefronts and restaurants were. It all looks like it did 25 years ago, and it looked old fashioned then. Why isn't there an upscale food shopping place like Whole Foods in Brooklyn Heights... or even a decently modern grocery store? Key Foods is depressing. And tell me, where can i buy a down pillow within walking distance? I'll bet the answer is: nowhere.

Unknown said...

Try garden of eden on Montague for upscale food. Personally I like Lassen and hennigs deli. They make good sandwiches and it is authentic New York.

Down pillows - Can't help you there. I'd venture into Manhattan.

demian said...

Bravo, Professor. This isn't a wall where anyone can leave graffiti.

If a post ain't in good taste -- and we know who the arbiter is! -- yank it.

Helen said...

Ann,

I think that's a great resolution, why provide space for trolls to insult you and your readers on your own blog? Troll psychology--I wonder if in a few years that will be a new specialization in my field? The way the trolls are springing up lately, I'd say signs point to "yes."

Latino said...

Outstanding news. Thanks, Simon, for the update.

TJ said...

The fact that LutherM's spammy and OT comment is the third comment to this particular post and is still here cracks me up.

Original Mike said...

I'll miss my TiVo more.

Why didn't you bring your TiVo?

amba said...

That's right in the spirit of New York.

Trooper York said...

Downtownlad is on the money...Monatgue St was fun for about a minute in 1974...Smith St is the Restaurant Row of Brooklyn...for fine dining try Saul or Chestnut...for fun pizza and light fare try Caserta Veechia, Savoia, and Panotecca...for old school Itailan hit Casa Rosa, Red Rose,215, Marco Polo or Queen restaurant....for Thai try 4D up on Court St between 3rd and 4th..and for the best hero's try Joes Supprette and be sure to order the brusecatta balls they are the amborisa of the gods....for pillows and house furnishings..your best bet is Century 21 on 86th or the downtown Manhattan one which is across from the pit on Broadway...two subway stops away

Ann Althouse said...

Helen wrote: "I think that's a great resolution, why provide space for trolls to insult you and your readers on your own blog? Troll psychology--I wonder if in a few years that will be a new specialization in my field? The way the trolls are springing up lately, I'd say signs point to "yes.""

Thanks. I like the image of a troll coming in seeking help. I wonder if there are people who just can't stop trolling and need Trolls Anonymous. "I am a troll." Admit you have a problem...

"Why didn't you bring your TiVo?"

This place is completely furnished, down to the dishes and linens. I just flew in with 2 suitcases full of clothes, 2 laptops, and little else. Actually, I think there is a TiVo-ish thing here, but I can't figure it out. It's an "Explorer 8000." ???

Ruth Anne Adams said...

Have you found a good place for coffee yet?

Original Mike said...

Ann, looks like the Explorer 8000 is a Digital Video Recorder (which is what a TiVo is). Here's the user guide:

http://www.grandecom.net/site-file.php?fid=47

MadisonMan said...

Did we hear who took possession of Silvio? Parked for 9 months can't be a good thing for a car designed to mooove.

kentuckyliz said...

Divine Miss A., if you like shopping, okay, but if you are like me and hate it, order a feather pillow online and have it delivered.

I would gas up the car online if I could.

Go to www.qvc.com and search "Northern Nights down pillow" and surf the results.

Anonymous said...

My experience in New York has been that you never think you can buy anything anywhere but, once you look around for it, you find that, really, it's everywhere.

PeterP said...

One day a Yorkie and she's already so aggressive! And rude of language. Does not bode well.

Though actually Althouse the Thuggie is kinda sexy too, so I'll let it ride.

Ann 'Make My Day' Althouse - you gotta admit it's a turn on.

PeterP said...

"How aweya joy'k? Yous wanna gosum? Okays, dawn crap yus pants. Goes terlit fur dis juice. Meeme cawna fish treet fer poppiwitashmear un chalklit sodah yous mudder."

...Now that's a luncheon offer I simply cannot refuse. Thank you Ann.

Ruth Anne Adams said...

Peter Palladas: Can you translate that for the Brooklyn impaired?

reader_iam said...

So, did you change the time zone of your blog or not, Althouse?

State it plainly, I say.

Ann Althouse said...

Trooper York said...Downtownlad is on the money...Monatgue St was fun for about a minute in 1974..."

I'd have to agree, based on my old habit of understanding the world through Dylan lyrics. From his 1975 album, "Blood on the Tracks":

I lived with them on Montague Street
In a basement down the stairs,
There was music in the cafes at night
And revolution in the air.

Ann Althouse said...

I tried changing the Time Zone, but it redid the times on all the old posts. Seems you have to pick a time zone and stay there. You can tell in my "6 a.m." photo on Saturday. It's posted at 5:13.

PeterP said...

Can you translate that for the Brooklyn impaired?...

"Well, hello there old chap! Long time no see. How are you? You're looking rather grand it must be said! Fancy a spot of luncheon? Can't be much I fear so don't get too excited, but pop along with me now to good old Harvey Nicks and we'll dash down one of those funny bagel things, plus some yummy hot choccie."

reader_iam said...

It'd sure be nice if Blogger could append CST or EST to posts and give some flexibility. This would be perfect for someone like you, who is now located within a different time zone for a while (or for a traveler), or for people in co-blogging situations in which the bloggers live in different time zones. The blogger I joined had a pre-existing EST blog, so I'm out of phase most of the year. It would be great if our posts could reflect where each is in time. On the other hand, I can see where this would be confusing with regard to comments, so ... . I suppose it mostly doesn't matter anyway, although on at least one occasion I was accused of purposely changing the time on a post when I didn't.

Oh, well, time is just an illusion anyway, isn't that what the wise say?

Trooper York said...

The Dylan lyrics is exactly spot on...there was a cheesy old film called the Wanderers with Ken Wahl and Karen Allen...and Ken was a ethnic meathead just like me ...all dowoop on the corner and rumbles in the schoolyard...but he walks past this bar and hears this folksinger (who is obviously Dylan)and he starts to question his whole deal...exactly the same thing happen to me...on Monatgue St in 1974... but after about a half hour we just when on to Montero's for a few more drinks and we forgot all about it...but it was pretty cool in 1974.

Emy L. Nosti said...

Layin' down the law, are we?