August 13, 2009 @ 12:36 pm
In a move I can hardly understand, the Customs and Border Protection agency is choosing to dismantle a brand-new, beautifully designed sign at the United States-Canada border because they believe it attracts “undue attention” and risks the lives of the employees working at the border station.
The sign in question, consisting of large yellow letters that spell out “UNITED STATES”, are hidden partially by the architecture of the border station which was designed by Smith-Miller & Hawkinson. The building itself will remain standing and serve as the border station between Canada and the U.S. and it is just the large signage that will be taken down. I don’t understand how this is going to make it safer for employees and less conspicuous to terrorists. I mean, could this building be anything other than a border station?
Fast Company has a few more words with the designer of the sign, Michael Bierut, and why he thinks it’s being dismantled by the government.
November 7, 2008 @ 2:57 am
I currently own the Kryptonite New York Fahgettaboudit chain and lock and it’s the most important part of my daily biking routine. As a cyclist in the city, there’s nothing more devastating than having your bike stolen (and I’ve already had that happen once), so when I heard that Kryptonite makes the strongest lock and even named the lock after the city with some of the highest bike thefts in the nation, I splurged and got me one just in case.
But pretty soon, my Fahgettaboudit chain and lock will be replaced by an even more robust product from Kryptonite called the New York Legend. The 15mm rounded links made of 3T tempered steel provide the utmost security from bolt cutters, saws, chisels, filers, and hammers, among other traditional chain-cutting tools.
The New York padlock itself sounds impressive, as it comes armor-plated to deter the craziest of thieves who might even bother to try and break this lock and chain combo.
But perhaps the best thing about this new chain is that it comes with hook-and-loop retention strips to keep the nylon chain casing from slipping away. I sometimes find it very annoying that the chain sleeve slips off so easily and this small addition to the sleeve is greatly appreciated.
Like all Kryptonite locks, the New York Legend comes with a theft insurance guarantee as part of the $160 pricetag that comes with owning the 3-foot chain (5-foot version is $210).
October 12, 2008 @ 2:52 pm
I was riding the Q46 bus in Queens the other day and on the ceiling of the bus were CCTV cameras! And not just one, but at least 5 that I could see! Up until that point, I had never seen a CCTV camera on any MTA city bus, and I don’t normally ride the bus, so I’m not sure if this is a new thing or not. But having a single city bus with at least 5 CCTV cameras looking at you really can make you paranoid.
I took the photo above of three CCTV cameras towards the front of the bus, and if I remember correctly, there was one above me and another towards the back.
