Why should the rest of MetaFilter care about a train delay here?

November 1, 2005 7:58 AM

I'm from New York and I don't give a shit. Why should the rest of MetaFilter care about a train delay here?
posted by Captaintripps to MetaFilter-Related at 7:58 AM (78 comments total)

I'm going to start posting my local news.
posted by monju_bosatsu at 8:02 AM on November 1, 2005

I think that all of us Londoners should start making FPPs for weekend Tube shutdowns. We'd own this place.
posted by veedubya at 8:04 AM on November 1, 2005

The Tube is supposed to run at weekends?
posted by Frasermoo at 8:09 AM on November 1, 2005

New York's all right. If you like saxamaphones.
posted by loquacious at 8:22 AM on November 1, 2005

I think the FPP in question is an excellent example of the right way to do newsfilter. Lately, we've had far too many posts consisting simply of one link to a newspaper article of limited interest to anyone outside of--

Oh, wait.

Never mind.
posted by dersins at 8:28 AM on November 1, 2005

It is always thus:

The L train is the cool valve for New York City. Manhattan too cool? pause the L train and keep the hipsters in Williamsburg (which according to real estate agents now comprises everywhere north of Fort Green and south of Long Island City) . Manhattan not cool enough? Let em in for the weekend, yoga mats and wristbands and all. If you imagine the repair work of the MTA like Ignacious J Reilly bouncing up and down on his filthy bed, wailing to Fortuna to turn her wheel and free his Pyloric valve, it all makes sense.
posted by Divine_Wino at 8:32 AM on November 1, 2005

Why should the rest of MetaFilter care about a train delay here?

Contemporary art in the United States has its center in New York, and contemporary art in New York has moved to Williamsburg. The L train closing could permanently shutter weekend galleries that can't survive two months without Manhattan traffic. Not the greatest post, but there's your story, snark-face.

Did you read the article before posting this?
posted by eddydamascene at 8:34 AM on November 1, 2005

Yeah, I was 45 minutes late for work this morning because of L train. I don't want to read about the L here unless there's a plan to replace it with handcars.
posted by 4easypayments at 8:35 AM on November 1, 2005

and contemporary art in New York has moved to Williamsburg

I thought it moved to DUMBO and is now moving to Gowanus?
posted by spicynuts at 8:39 AM on November 1, 2005

Last I heard, it was wandering around the South Bronx grumbling about the lack of services.
posted by Armitage Shanks at 8:46 AM on November 1, 2005

Gowanus is the new Mott Haven?
posted by eddydamascene at 8:49 AM on November 1, 2005

SEPTA is on strike again. City-based Philadelphians can't get anywhere by public transportation at all. Consider yourself lucky, NYers.
posted by Rothko at 8:52 AM on November 1, 2005

Go ANUS! Rah, rah, rah!

(sorry, I'm a former F-trainer. Let me know when that gets messed up so I can reminisce properly).
posted by KevinSkomsvold at 8:54 AM on November 1, 2005

i heard it moved to beltbuckle, tennessee and is now painting velvet elvises and clown faces
posted by pyramid termite at 8:55 AM on November 1, 2005

Last I heard, it was wandering around the South Bronx grumbling about the lack of services.

Then it was found on Gun Hill Road with a knife in it's back minus it's wallet and pants.
posted by jonmc at 8:57 AM on November 1, 2005

eddydamascene: The L train closing could permanently shutter weekend galleries that can't survive two months without Manhattan traffic. Not the greatest post, but there's your story, snark-face.

I say good riddance to them. Not to many of them are serving the needs of Williamsburg artists anymore I would bet. There were plenty of good galleries and private lofts and studios with amazing art in Williamsburg back when the whole commercial art world did not have to come here to prove how cool they are. And I say good riddance to the vampiric Real Estate brokers and the grossly greedy overpriced whole foods wannabe shops.
posted by Skygazer at 8:57 AM on November 1, 2005

...
posted by fire&wings at 8:59 AM on November 1, 2005

Then it was found on Gun Hill Road with a knife in it's back minus it's wallet and pants.

Contemporary art is dead!
posted by Armitage Shanks at 9:02 AM on November 1, 2005

Long live contemporary art?
posted by eddydamascene at 9:09 AM on November 1, 2005

*looks frantically for wooden stake and silver bullet*
posted by jonmc at 9:09 AM on November 1, 2005

Thing is, most people I know who buy contemporary art don't ride the subway... they have thier people ride the subway for them.
posted by R. Mutt at 9:12 AM on November 1, 2005

That's a real stretch eddy.
posted by Captaintripps at 9:13 AM on November 1, 2005

Best thread derail ever.
posted by spiderwire at 9:19 AM on November 1, 2005

hey, wait a minute ... how can it be contemporary art if it's already been painted?
posted by pyramid termite at 9:20 AM on November 1, 2005

BTW, would it be possible to sidebar the L train post?
posted by R. Mutt at 9:22 AM on November 1, 2005

Lame, so lame.
posted by cows of industry at 9:26 AM on November 1, 2005

My commute home!! It looks ok now, but WAIT TILL 5PM..LOLers.

There is so much contemporary art in Woburn, MA.
posted by tpl1212 at 9:33 AM on November 1, 2005

Remember, the "D" in the D train is for Dancing.
posted by klangklangston at 9:46 AM on November 1, 2005

Contemporary art in the United States has its center in New York...

Twenty years ago, maybe. The epicenter has moved West, man.
posted by mr_roboto at 9:48 AM on November 1, 2005

Remember, the "D" in the D train is for Dancing.

Now you know why I liked the "F" train.
posted by KevinSkomsvold at 9:50 AM on November 1, 2005

The "F" in the F train is for Farting.
posted by Armitage Shanks at 9:51 AM on November 1, 2005

What about my "N" train?
posted by jonmc at 9:53 AM on November 1, 2005

I always thought it was for Ninjas, which is why I avoided it. I ain't gettin' killed for public transit.
posted by klangklangston at 9:56 AM on November 1, 2005

What about my "N" train?

It's not contemporary, bra. It's more like Pointillist/Abstract Expressionist.
posted by spicynuts at 9:58 AM on November 1, 2005

It's not contemporary, bra. It's more like Pointillist/Abstract Expressionist.

That would explain Blind Eastern European Accordion Guy and fuckin' Floyd the Missing Fingers Crackhead "basketball coach."
posted by jonmc at 10:01 AM on November 1, 2005

Unfortunately I almost never use that line jonmc. I'm equidistant from the N/W and G/R/V stations.

I did cover the few blocks over to your end of Astoria on Saturday.
posted by Captaintripps at 10:20 AM on November 1, 2005

That accordion guy has such a deep voice, too.
posted by Captaintripps at 10:21 AM on November 1, 2005

I am a blind musician!

Can I get a smile?

// end N train references.


Now, if MattD's post was some kind of commentary on the state of newsfilter itself...
posted by safetyfork at 10:26 AM on November 1, 2005

Contemporary art in the United States has its center in my basement. I was uneasy about the arrangement at first, but Contemporary art always pays its rent on time, keeps quiet and has surprising few visitors. And it could've been much worse; Hipster wanking in the United States has its center in an apartment upstairs from one of my co-workers, and his place has become basically unlivable.
posted by aaronetc at 10:27 AM on November 1, 2005

Floyd the Missing Fingers Crackhead "basketball coach."

I'm having a Park Slope flashback...
posted by jokeefe at 10:28 AM on November 1, 2005

That's a real stretch eddy.

Yeah, I know, but I needed the "art world collapses" angle to make it seem important.
posted by eddydamascene at 10:32 AM on November 1, 2005

Yea, but its those guys that do the team gymnastics in the subway cars that make me cringe. You KNOW they aren't up to date on thier liability insurance payments.
posted by R. Mutt at 10:33 AM on November 1, 2005

"stretch eddy" sounds like either a very ill concieved action figure or a rather perverse and dangerous party game.
posted by jonmc at 10:39 AM on November 1, 2005

I'm almost tempted to retract this whole notice simply on the strength of humour located in the comments section.
posted by Captaintripps at 10:50 AM on November 1, 2005

Contemporary art in the United States has its center in New York, and contemporary art in New York has moved to Williamsburg. The L train closing could permanently shutter weekend galleries that can't survive two months without Manhattan traffic.

Ah ha ha ha ha ha! Excuse me, that's not nice, I'm sure it would be a disaster if a few Williamburg galleries.... Ah haha HA hahahahaha! Ha ha HAAH hahaha...


I'm almost tempted to retract this whole notice simply on the strength of humour located in the comments section.

Yes, I deplore the post's existence and am grateful to it at the same time.

Is Floyd the Missing Fingers Crackhead's team still about to make the playoffs?
posted by languagehat at 11:11 AM on November 1, 2005

Contemporary art in the United States has its center in my basement.

Yes, but it is about to move to my pooper. Which has just been vacated by the contemporary uzbekistani art center. They were a fun bunch.
posted by spicynuts at 11:12 AM on November 1, 2005

Is Floyd the Missing Fingers Crackhead's team still about to make the playoffs?

Of course. I've got my pom-poms handy.
posted by jonmc at 11:13 AM on November 1, 2005

Yes, but it is about to move to my pooper.

Big mistake. Nobody's going to visit a gallery in that shithole.
posted by Armitage Shanks at 11:28 AM on November 1, 2005

Ba-dum-bum-tsch! I'd like you all to try the veal and tip your waitresses.
posted by klangklangston at 11:42 AM on November 1, 2005

I'm going to tip the veal and try the waitresses, thanks.
posted by Ethereal Bligh at 12:29 PM on November 1, 2005

*considers trying the tip and vealing the waitresses*
posted by mr_crash_davis at 12:35 PM on November 1, 2005

I've already vealed the waitress. So you'd be re-vealing her.

Which I'm all for.
posted by papercake at 12:47 PM on November 1, 2005

Why should the rest of MetaFilter care about a train delay here?

because he's tom's railroading brother and part of the vast right-wing conspiracy
posted by pyramid termite at 12:54 PM on November 1, 2005

Well duh, of course you have to tip the waitresses before you can try them.

the waiters, however, are good to go standing up...
posted by GhostintheMachine at 12:55 PM on November 1, 2005

unless it's a waiter at a&w ... then you have to take the roller skates off first
posted by pyramid termite at 1:01 PM on November 1, 2005

Contemporary art in the United States has its center in New York...

Twenty years ago, maybe. The epicenter has moved West, man.

Are you suggesting that the repetitive juxtapoz-style bullshit that seems to continually leak out from LA's rectum somehow makes that city a world-class art player?

Because if you are, sir, we perhaps might have to agree to disagree.

Respectfully yours,

fishfucekr, esq.
posted by fishfucker at 1:15 PM on November 1, 2005

fishfucker : "Are you suggesting that the repetitive juxtapoz-style bullshit that seems to continually leak out from LA's rectum somehow makes that city a world-class art player?"

I don't know what maps you're using, but my maps show Los Angeles as being distinctly southwest. West of New York is, of course, Lincoln, Nebraska.
posted by Bugbread at 1:26 PM on November 1, 2005

Speaking of which...wow, I've never tried extensively scrolling a map while zoomed in; it gives a new perspective by removing the "big picture". I would never have otherwise imagined that New York City is at roughly the same latitude as Salt Lake City.
posted by Bugbread at 1:32 PM on November 1, 2005

"I would never have otherwise imagined that New York City is at roughly the same latitude as Salt Lake City."

The difference is in the longitude.

And the altitude.

Perhaps the attitude.

Could even be the comfort food.

Excuse me before I come unglued.
posted by mr_crash_davis at 1:55 PM on November 1, 2005

the repetitive juxtapoz-style bullshit that seems to continually leak out from LA's rectum

Yes indeed, the Los Angeles art scene has always purveyed the same old second-rate shit. No decent artists or innovative work has ever come from out of here.
posted by scody at 2:08 PM on November 1, 2005

Bah! Hawkinson is alright, Flick has some nice stuff (but reminds me too much of an artist I can't place right now, who did elaborate polaroid montages like that and is now a crappy painter), but I never liked Pittman. And really, speaking as a disintrested observer from the Midwest, that great breadbasket that all famous artists have fled, do you really want to get into a pissing contest with NY over the number of name artists?
posted by klangklangston at 2:33 PM on November 1, 2005

do you really want to get into a pissing contest with NY over the number of name artists?

Not the point -- of course there's more big name artists, galleries, and museums in New York than L.A. (Um, duh?) I just wanted to point out that the lame old "all L.A. art sucks" refrain (which fishfucker was trotting out) is made from the shit that came out of a bull.

Hawkinson is alright

Have you ever seen any of his work in person? I was only mildly interested in his work until seeing his mid-career retrospective earlier this year (the one in the Whitney link; it also came to LACMA, which -- full disclosure -- is where I work), and I was blown away -- I came away from it convinced that he's one of the best American artists working today.
posted by scody at 3:08 PM on November 1, 2005

Yea, that Hawkinson show at the Whiney was alright. I agree with Klangklangston.
posted by R. Mutt at 3:21 PM on November 1, 2005

Yeah, that Hawkinson show at the Whitney was just amazing. It's been a long time since I was that purely excited (like, little kid excited) at an art exhibition.
posted by spaghetti at 3:23 PM on November 1, 2005

...is made from the shit that came out of a bull.

i <3 scody
posted by cortex at 3:46 PM on November 1, 2005

Yeah, I don't get why this was FPP'd. People in Brooklyn don't matter. They're not even really people. Now what is FP worthy is how they're fucking with the 2 on the weekends. Such disregard isn't acceptable for us Manhattanites. We're real people, dammit.
posted by nixerman at 4:09 PM on November 1, 2005

cortex, that really has become my favorite saying lately!
posted by scody at 4:10 PM on November 1, 2005

*glee*
posted by cortex at 4:31 PM on November 1, 2005

We should have a meetup of Astorians. No snotty Brooklynites allowed.
posted by Vidiot at 6:12 PM on November 1, 2005

lame old "all L.A. art sucks" refrain

I did not see that. I was merely asking a completely non-inflammatory question about LA's bowels in the style of that (possibly late) great institution, Coagula magazine, who, for what it's worth, is of the opinion that "Most Art Sucks".

Totally not trolling AT ALL.

you're so sensitive. *poke poke poke*
posted by fishfucker at 6:23 PM on November 1, 2005

We should have a meetup of Astorians. No snotty Brooklynites allowed.

Yeah, trucker hats will be forbidden. Hair gel, souvlaki and Mets caps will be compulsory.
posted by jonmc at 6:55 PM on November 1, 2005

People still wear trucker hats? Is this some kind of ironic revival of 2004 or something?
posted by arto at 7:07 PM on November 1, 2005

yes, people still wear them ... but in the midwest, you see, we wear them for different reasons ...
posted by pyramid termite at 9:40 PM on November 1, 2005

mom! fishfucker's poking meeee!
posted by scody at 12:47 AM on November 2, 2005

Suspending the L Train won't shut down Williamsburg.

Closing all the Western Union offices would, though. How would the hipsters ever be able to get their rent money?
posted by Civil_Disobedient at 5:14 AM on November 2, 2005

Holy crap, the thread is still there. Clearly, MattD has discovered a way to make threads invisible to admins. Someone get this man a Nobel Prize!
posted by Godbert at 6:16 AM on November 2, 2005

Only if he shares his research first.
posted by rocketman at 10:14 AM on November 2, 2005

Suggestions for MattD's next research topic?
posted by Captaintripps at 11:21 AM on November 2, 2005