On Campus - Monday, March 1, 2010 9:00 - 0 Comments
“Disastrous Decisions” Panel on Citizens United v. FEC Tonight
NYU Brennan Center counsel Mimi Marziani and Democracy Matters founder Joan Mandle will both be discussing the political implications of a recent, controversial Supreme Court case tonight at 5 p.m. in Kimmel room 908. Organized by NYU ULS and NYU Democracy Matters, the event — officially titled “Disastrous Decisions for Democracy” — will address Citizens United v. FEC, which ruled in January that the government cannot limit corporate political spending.
The NYU ULS Facebook event quotes President Obama during his State of the Union address (which prompted this unusual response from Justice Alito):
“Last week the Supreme Court reversed a century of law that I believe will open the floodgates for special interests — including foreign corporations — to spend without limit in our elections.”
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City - Friday, February 26, 2010 14:40 - 0 Comments
City: Don’t Walk Near Trees, Especially in Central Park
After a falling tree branch killed a 46-year-old man and an entire tree fell onto a bus yesterday — both in Central Park — the City Parks Department is advising people to avoid parks during extreme weather and “use caution near street trees.” Or to be completely safe, never go outside.
Yesterday’s fatality is eerily reminiscent of an incident last January, when a Google engineer suffered serious brain and spinal damage after a branch struck him in Central Park. Moral of the story: avoid Central Park when it snows. Unless it’s really, really pretty.
According to Gothamist, Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe gave this nature lesson: “Nature can be very beautiful. It can also be dangerous and tonight this is unusually heavy snow. I can’t recall a storm of this magnitude with trees coming over like this because of the snow. The winds were not that heavy yet.”
The Parks Department also advises residents to report fallen trees at 311.
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City - Wednesday, February 24, 2010 10:00 - 0 Comments
Bloomberg Won’t Help Suddenly Militant Stuy-Town Tenants (Again)
According to the NYDN, Mayor Michael Bloomberg told residents of Stuy-Town — NYU’s unofficial 25th dorm — that the city wouldn’t help them buy the property. “That’s not what we’re here to do,” Bloomberg said. “We want to make sure that whomever does take it over has a profitable deal.” Mmm… profitable deals.
Of course, Hizzoner offered the same condolence to tenants in 2006, when Tishman Speyer Properties beat out residents who pleaded for the city’s help. Now, with even bigger developers (including, yes, Donald Trump) eyeing Stuy-Town, tenants shouldn’t be so optimistic that the Mayor will change his mind.
On Campus - Tuesday, February 23, 2010 8:50 - 0 Comments
NYU SHARP Lecture on Middle East Dissent Tonight
In the first NYU SHARP Lecture of the year, Cyberdissidents.org founder David Keyes and Syrian human rights activist Ahed al-Hendi will discuss the history and future of Middle East dissidents. The lecture, officially titled “Living Under Repression: The Plight of the Middle East Dissident,” will be moderated by Wagner profesor Michael Doran. The event begins at 7:30 p.m. in 19 West 4th St., room 101 (with refreshments!).
According to the advisory, Cyberdissidents.org is an organization dedicated to supporting human liberty by promoting the voices of online dissidents. Keyes will be discussing the current climate of democratic reform and liberalization in the Middle East, specifically focusing on Arab and Iranian dissidents.
Al-Hendi will speak about his experience as a student in Syria, where he was imprisoned and tortured for political activism.
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City - Monday, February 22, 2010 10:00 - 19 Comments
NYC Tip: Other Songs About NYC Besides “Empire State of Mind”
Like you, we’re quite tired — exhausted, annoyed, sick — of Jay-Z’s ode to New York that, upon closer inspection, wasn’t really about New York at all. While “Empire State of Mind” still makes its requisite appearance in bars, clubs, and random cars with stereos, here are some other lesser known, more authentic anthems devoted to the concrete jungle (where dreams are made of). So please, reconsider that request for the final song of the night:
“New York Groove” – Ace Frehley
I don’t listen to KISS much (or at all) but lesser known guitarist Ace Frehley might have created my favorite New York tune. Listen to this while stomping to the beat around the city, but just try your best to avoid looking like you’re crippled.
On Campus - Monday, February 22, 2010 9:28 - 0 Comments
Prominent Iranian Revolution Activist Delivering Lecture At Wagner Today
Mohsen Sazegara, a former Deputy Prime Minister of Iran during the early Iranian Revolution, will be delivering a lecture at 12:30 – 1:30 p.m. in the Puck Building (2nd floor) today. Sazegara is regarded as one of the most important figures influencing U.S. foreign policy toward Iran.
Admission is free for students, but an online RSVP is required. Here’s some more information about Sazegara from Wagner:
Dr. Sazegara is one of the most important figures influencing U.S. policy toward Iran. During the early years of the Islamic Revolution, Dr. Sazegara held several high-ranking political positions before becoming disillusioned with the government in 1989 and pushing for reforms. In 2001, he applied to become a candidate for President of Iran in the 2001 election and was refused. His reformist policies clashed with the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, and eventually resulted in his arrest in 2003.
On Campus - Monday, February 22, 2010 9:13 - 0 Comments
NYU Students for Haiti Concert Tomorrow
The NYU Student Senators Council is organizing an NYU Students for Haiti benefit concert tomorrow in the Skirball Center at 8 p.m. Acts will include NYU Local favorite Nyle, Grammy-nominated and Haitian-born singer Katia Cadet, and Ghanian hip hop artist Blitz the Ambassador.
Tickets are $10 for students ($30 general; $50 VIP) and can be purchased on the Skirball website. All proceeds will go to UNICEF’s “Haiit Relief Fund.” See the Students for Haiti website for more info.
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City - Friday, February 19, 2010 10:30 - 0 Comments
I Lego N.Y. Returns
Remember that wildly popular Times blog post last year titled “I LEGO N.Y.”? No? Well here’s a link to that, and here’s the video created by artist Christoph Niemann. Ah, this city seems much cuter when reduced to plastic easily-ingested toys.
Entertainment - Thursday, February 18, 2010 10:15 - 9 Comments
How to Make It in America Debuts, Has A Lot of Hipsters
I was annoyed by the Urban Outfitter-esque ads enough to finally watch HBO’s new comedy series How to Make It America, which debuted last Sunday. The first episode is still available on iTunes for free, which is crucial because I probably would never pay to see another episode.
Don’t get me wrong: the show doesn’t seem terrible and might even have some potential, but if I wanted to watch 20-something hipsters talk about partying in New York, I think I’d know where to go (hint: NYU).
Even HTMIIA’s opening credits are predictable — a montage of trendy young people and “real New Yorkers” in various parts of the city. At least the song (“I Need a Dollar” by Aloe Blacc) beats Jay-Z and Alicia Keys.
The show itself follows two Brooklyn bro-hipsters (Bryan Greenberg, Victor Rasuk) trying to “make it” by hustling New York’s fashion scene. Although their wardrobes and apartments are quite snooty, they sell fake designer jackets in SoHo and bargain sketchy vendors for jeans.
Of course, the only problem is that Ben (Greenberg) works at Barney’s, or according to the loquacious Cam, “the man.” Sell out! Cam has his own problems, however, when his Latino thug cousin (Luis Guzman) comes back home from prison. And guess what? He owes him money! And if he doesn’t give him that money? He’s probably going to get killed!
City - Thursday, February 18, 2010 8:30 - 7 Comments
City Calendar: Menya, Patch Adams, Jersey Shore, Dr. Dre, Taliban, Wu-Tang, Jess and Josh & More
THURSDAY
- Menya + TVTV, Lion of Ido @ Webster Hall The Studio — 7 p.m.
NYU-bred electropop trio produce catchy songs with catchier videos, including this Justin Bieber cover that suggest we all make babies. What hath Bieber wrought. - Dre Day NYC 2010 @ Music Hall of Williamsburg — 10 p.m.
Celebrate Dr. Dre’s birthday straight outta Compton Brooklyn. - Method Man, Raekwon, Ghostface Killa, & Others @ Club Imperial — 12 a.m.
Dr. Dre not your thing? Well Wu-Tang Clan ain’t nothing to… [kudos to whoever finishes this in the comment box]. - Bruschetta Takedown with Cathy Erway @ Bell House (Brooklyn) — 7 p.m.
Cathy Erway is all the rage nowadays — she created an NYC food blog about eating in (not out), and then wrote a book about it. I know, I know, I loved Julia & Julia too! - Tom Green @ Comix — 7:30 p.m.
Oh, look. Everybody’s favorite comedian is back. For an entire weekend. Roflmao.
