New York Times finds that New Yorkers cuss a lot and don't even really notice

Clyde Haberman takes a look at "fucking" in the Times today (uh, the word):

The reality is that this vulgar word has been tossed about with such abandon in public for so many years that New Yorkers tend to tune it out. Its endless, and mindless, repetition left them numb long ago. By now, the word is no longer shocking, just tedious.

Through frequent use, “a word like this begins to be less of a curse word,” said Ricardo Otheguy, a sociolinguist at the City University of New York Graduate Center. “The more you use it, the less dirty it is.”

You routinely hear Wall Street suits use the word at high decibels in the subway. Police officers bounce it casually among one another, no matter who else is around to hear. Teenagers use it all the time. Some people walk around with the word screaming from their T-shirts — an insight, perhaps, into their capacity for self-degradation.

But for how much longer? I wouldn't be surprised if legislation was passed making it illegal to swear in New York City. At least indoors. If we want to swear, we'll have to go outside -- as long as it isn't 500 feet from a school or place of worship. And they'll be a steep swear tax. And landlords will begin offering apartments that allow swearing. That will jack up rents by $400 a month...

P.S. Thanks Sue Simmons!

Related (kind of!): Joan Acocella's essay in Smithsonian Magazine on why New Yorkers seem rude -- and smart!

[Via Gawker]

There are so many great New York movies

Though this isn't one of them -- Hercules in New York, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger. Still, a hoot to watch. At least the highlight reel below.

Celebrating Arthur Russell

Happy to see so much press this week for something worthy of the attention — Wild Combination: A Portrait of Arthur Russell, the debut feature from Brooklyn-based filmmaker Matt Wolf. I had a chance to see a screening of this captivating documentary. I was only vaguely familiar with Russell, a talented player on the fringes of the downtown New York scene in the 1970s and 1980s. As many writers have noted in discussing this film, it's difficult to characterize what Russell was all about. (Part of what makes him so intriguing, of course.) He had a passion for all things related to music. He was a native of Oskaloosa, Iowa, who wore trucker caps long before they were, you know, ironic. He later became a Buddhist. He was an avant-garde composer and cellist. He liked the Modern Lovers and the Ramones. And he loved disco.

Upon arriving to New York CIty from San Francisco in the early 1970s, he collaborated with everyone from Allen Ginsberg to Philip Glass. Russell and his longtime partner, Tom Lee, lived on East 12th Street next door to Ginsberg. Richard Hell lived in the same building. (Lee, who first met Russell at Gem Spa on St. Mark's, still resides in the same building.) Going by Dinosaur (one of several monikers that he used), Russell wrote and produced “Kiss Me Again,” the first disco single released by Sire Records. Russell was later a co-founder of Sleeping Bag Records, which released hip-hop and oceanic dance music in the early 1980s. He wasn't afraid to admit that he wanted to be famous.

Russell died of AIDS in 1992. He was 40. He left behind thousands of partially finished songs that spanned every genre. His catalog was overlooked until recent years, when a series of reissues and tributes garnered the attention of a new generation. I hope the movie creates even more Russell fans. There are screenings of the movie tomorrow night at the Kitchen. It's sold out, but there are a few tickets available at the door, I'm told. The Kitchen is also hosting a celebration of Russell's music this weekend.

The Wild Combination blog has all the links to the recent articles as well as information on other screenings this summer.

Here's a trailer for the film:

Checking in on "the dildo of darkness" and other sun-blockers in the neighborhood

The good people at East Village Podcasts bravely took to the streets this past weekend for a video update on the 2,398 hotels and condos sprouting up in the neighborhood. (They call the Cooper Square Hotel the "dildo of darkness." Like it!)

Here's what they found:

The New York Post doesn't take kindly to cussers

Today's front page, from the arbiters of good taste.



So you just watch your mouth, OK? No more swearing people!

Report: A Big Apple coming to 23 Wall Street

"The Corner" is the iconic former home to JP Morgan & Co. at 23 Wall Street that sits across from the New York Stock Exchange and Federal Hall. Now it looks like the luxurious space will become home to ... an Apple store.

According to the New York Post:

Sources tell us that Apple is seriously negotiating for the entire 12,500-foot building at 23 Wall St.

It's now an empty building connected to its tall residential and luxury condominium neighbor at 15 Broad St., which has an Hermes shop on the Broad Street side, facing the New York Stock Exchange.

Lovely.

More from the Post:

Recall that 23 Wall also serves as the quirky Philippe Starck and Yoo Development-designed rooftop terrace for the residents of 15 Broad St.

It has tremendous windows that we're sure Apple CEO Steve Jobs will enjoy illuminating with neon Apple logos.

My office is nearby...so I walk by this area quite often. I'm sure the folks who sit on the steps of Federal Hall taking in the city's history may be lured to go buy an iPod.

Meanwhile, Forgotten New York has the story on the bomb that exploded in front of 23 Wall Street in 1920 that killed 33 people and injured some 400 people.

So what's the worst thing to ever happen to the Brooklyn Bridge?

Being torn down to make way for a floating bank/Starbucks/Duane Reade!

Oh, wait. That happens next year.

OK, OK...As we celebrate the 125th birthday of the Brooklyn Bridge, I wonder...what's the worse thing to ever happen to the Brooklyn Bridge? I'm thinking movies now. I Am Legend? Cloverfield? War of the Worlds?

NO! Getting blowed up by aliens or zombies would be sweet, sweet relief instead of being a plot point in Eric Schaeffer's heinous If Lucy Fell, in which the characters played by Schaeffer and Sarah Jessica Parker agree to jump off the bridge if both of them don't find true love by the time the time they turn 30. Or something.

Let's keep it clean, people

(Shh! It's a secret!)

I've said this before. I've seen these posters up around the neighborhood advertising the May 15 hillbilly extravaganza at Madison Square Garden. Whatever. But! What about the "with surprise appearances by" Rev Run and Peter Wolf part? How can it be a surprise if they're telling you they'll be appearing?

Reminder!

There 's an Informal Celebration of the Tower of Toys tonight from 7-9 at the 6th Street and Avenue B Community Garden.

The Villager has an article about it this week.

[Props to Jeremiah for having the original scoop. He has an update here.]

I'd love to be there, but I'll be far away at a family function. I look forward to hearing about it.

(And if you're new to all this, swing by Sophie's to take a look at some of his other pieces of art.)



Meanwhile, Alex has a great post at Flaming Pablum on another iconic piece of Avenue B that disappeared some 13 years ago....