M.T.A. Study Confirms That Stations Are Dirty

A study conducted by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s own advocacy organization for transit riders found that nearly half of the subway stations examined “need more attention,” and that the worst stations had decrepit conditions, including water damage, exposed wires, rodents, foul odors, clogged track drains and general filth.

I'm glad that there was a whole study done to figure out that our subway stations are dirty.  I could've told you that for free! Hey MTA, quit wasting your money.  If you did away with shit like this, maybe you wouldn't need to implement so many rate hikes!

New faves: 
1. At Mt Zoomer, Wolf Parade (duh!)
2. Because of the Times, Kings of Leon
3. When Life Gives You Lemons, Atmosphere 
4. Teknochek Collection, Slavic Soul Party 

Albums I want to get into/Albums that will soon be new faves:
1. Walk It Off, Tapes n Tapes
2. Applause Cheer Boo Hiss, Land of Talk
3. Arm's Way, Islands
4. The Distant Future, Flight of the Conchords
5. None Shall Pass, Aesop Rock 

I went to see one of my favorite bands play at the new Bowery Presents midtown venue, Terminal 5 on Friday.  With regards the the venue, it is definitely the least favorite of all the bowery presents venues (except music hall of williamsburg because I haven't gone).  Wintersleep (the opening band) was okay as far as opening bands go, I've heard worse and I've heard much better.  The show however was amazing!  I had listened to their new album, At Mt Zoomer a bunch of times in the weeks leading up to the show and was impressed that they were able to put out an album that sounded as good/better than(?) Apologies to the Queen.  Most of the songs they played were off their new album, but they got in all the great ones from Apologies too.  Hands down, the best thing I heard that night was the transition from I Am A Runner directly into Fancy Claps which they didn't do on Thursday night.  Here's the setlist from what I remember/could get off the internet.  I know that I'm missing one of the encore songs...

* You Are a Runner and I Am My Father's Son
* Soldier's Grin
* Call It a Ritual
* The Grey Estates
* Dear Sons and Daughters of Hungry Ghosts
* Language City
* An Animal in Your Care
* Shine a Light
* Bang Your Drum
* I am a Runner
* Fancy Claps
* Fine Young Cannibals
* California Dreamer
* This Heart's on Fire
* Kissing the Beehives

* ENCORE: It's a Curse
* I'll Believe in Anything

Favorite songs from At Mt Zoomer: California Dreamer, Bang Your Drum,  Soldier's Grin

Admittedly, I enjoy tuna on occassion when I am dining at a sushi restaurant.  Regardless, this photo still got me mad when I came across it on eater.  This is a 400 pound bluefin tuna being delivered at Bouley.  Market price is around $45/pound making this baby (and by baby i mean, juvenille as adults grow up to 12 feet and weigh as much as 1,500 pounds) is worth ~$18K by my calculations.  Seeing this photo reminded me of Charles Clover's "The End of the Line: How Overfishing is Changing the World and What we Eat"  I highly recommend the book as it opened my eyes about the state of the world's fisheries.  Here are two passages that I really enjoyed and found relevant:  

Nobody, I believe, should be knocking out a dozen servings a night of bluefin tuna, which is already in the anteroom to extinction. Least of all should anyone be treating the small and dwindling western Atlantic bluefin population as an unlimited resource. To put another way, how would you feel about a slice or two of mature endangered orangutan, served raw? If high-end restaurants did that I believe most movie stars would walk out rather than pose with the chef.

David Bouley was for many years New York's favorite chef, opening Montrachet, which rated three stars, in Tribeca in 1985 and the reliable Bouley in 1987. The latest version of Bouley has on its menu seared swordfish (though it doesn't say where these are from), Maine baby skate (can't he wait until they have spawned?), and Nova Scotia halibut (ICUN status: vulnerable). However much you admire Bouley for turning one of his restaurants into a canteen for Red Cross workers at ground zero in the wake of the Twin Towers atrocity, you do wonder if he has had time to catch up on other aspects of the news...

 Besides Bluefin tuna, here is a list of other popular fish you should avoid:

• Chilean Sea Bass/Patagonian Toothfish
• Atlantic Cod
• Haddock (trawl)
• Orange Roughy
• American Plaice
• Salmon (farmed)
• Shrimp (imported wild & farmed)
• Skates
• Swordfish (Imported)
  
• Tilapia (China & Taiwan farmed)
• Albacore Tuna (except Hawaii longlined)
  
• Bigeye Tuna (except US Atlantic longlined)
  
• Yellowfin Tuna (longlined)