29 August 2008

Staten Island: Part of New York City, or not?

If you've ever taken a ride on the Staten Island Ferry, you'll know that the ride lasts 25 minutes from end to end, at the blazing fast average speed of about 12.5 miles per hour. If you look at any of the boats they use for this service, you'll notice that three strings of text are emblazoned on each side.
  • Staten Island Ferry (Duh!)
  • Dept. of Transportation (The agency which operates the Ferry.)
  • City of New York
However, I found something interesting aboard the Spirit of America, one of their newer boats.

A bus map of Manhattan, with a label which reads, "NYC Bus Map."
A bus map of Manhattan. Note, however, that the label on the lower left reads, "NYC Bus Map." If it were really a NYC bus map, it would show all 5 boroughs on it, not just Manhattan!


You Are Here sign, identifying the ends of the boat as "Staten Island End" and "New York City End."
Second, one of those "You Are Here" signs on the boat. Note that it identifies the ends of the boat as the "Staten Island End" and the "New York City End."

Isn't Staten Island part of New York City? If so, why doesn't it say, "Manhattan End" at the end of the boat opposite the Staten Island end?

Looks like someone needs to look at a map of New York City! Either that, or just give the whole island to New Jersey. That's closer, anyway!

28 August 2008

About This Blog

This blog will eventually be the home of the Gallery of Absurd Stuff (GAS), currently located here and here. I've decided to convert the gallery into blog form so I don't have to bother with writing all the HTML code myself. This also gives me a chance to upload better versions of the photos currently in the GAS, as well as add some new stuff (and let me tell you, I have a LOT of new stuff). So sit back and enjoy!

NOTE: As I add some of the old stuff onto the blog, you may notice the date of these so-called "new" posts being from several years ago. I will be using the date the photo was taken (or the date the film was developed for photos I took using film) to set the date and time of the blog post.

27 August 2008

Rameedial Speling, Pleez!

In order to even enroll as a student at Queens College, you need a high school diploma or a GED. Apparently, that requirement isn't necessary to advertise rooms for rent to Queens College students. In fact, it seems that anyone with a word processor and a printer can hammer out a message, print it out, and post it wherever they please. It doesn't matter if the message looks like it was written by a kid who failed second-grade spelling, like these two.

One Bedroom for Rent. A nice building with security guard, elevator, laundry, and parking space in Kew Gardens. Tow blocks away from Quess College. No pets! For more information please contact me: (917)…
How many blocks away from where? First off, tow is not a number. It's what happens to your car if you're parked on the street where you're not supposed to. Then there's Quess College. Where the heck is that? It's certainly nowhere near where this sign was posted. You couldn't get the spelling of the institution, despite the myriad signs bearing its name, as well as its proper spelling. Grade: C+.

APPARTMENTS FOR RENT FULLY RENEVATED WITH BALCONY 2 BLOCKS AWAY FROM QWEENS COLGE NEER SHOPPING AND PUBLIC REANPORTATION FOR MORE INFO CALL 718-…
Let's see… One, two, three… SIX words misspelled here, including two of the most important ones: the name of the institution. QWEENS COLGE? Nope, don't know of any "qweens colge" around here. Maybe you should try again when you get a good English dictionary. Grade: F.