firehose

Historical Map: Elevated Rail Lines in Manhattan and the Bronx, 1893-1903, Drawn c. 1955(?)

Another great map from the New York Public Library archives. What was there before the advent of the subway? Familiar routes, perhaps, but above-grade rather than underground. As the legend says, “Except as noted, all lines are on iron viaducts over public streets.”

nyplmaps:

Manhattan railway company track map of elevated lines in Manhattan & the Bronx 1893-1903

The Electric Railroader’s Association’s 54 x 41 cm hand drawn map shows the various elevated railroad lines and rail yards that existed in Manhattan and the Bronx 1893 -1903, before the construction of NYC’s subway system.

Nailed it

Submission - New BART (San Francisco/Bay Area) Map with Oakland Airport Connector

Submitted by long-time correspondent, Edward Russell, who says:

Finally got a chance to see the updated BART map with the Oakland Airport Connector in person (see Edward’s photo above). Unlike the online map, they do depict Coliseum station as a transfer point with circles instead of just a dash.

[Editor’s note: BART’s simpler online map has now also been updated to show the OAC transfer at the Coliseum station in the same style as this map, so at least they’re consistent now.]

However, they shade the circles slightly - compared to white for other transfer stations - and do not use a circle for the actual OAC terminus. I’m of the opinion that a transfer is a transfer and there’s no need to depict the Coliseum station a different colour than other transfer points. I also think the OAC line should have a circle as well. Thoughts?

—-

Transit Maps says:

I totally see where Edward is coming from, but I actually think there is a difference between the two kinds of transfer stations, even if it’s only very slight and not actually explained that well on the map itself.

First off, let’s look at why certain stations are designated as transfer stations in the BART system – as all the trains stop at all the stations, you could technically transfer between the different lines at any of them. However, it’s not necessarily advantageous to do so for the rider: you might have to wait a long time for the next train, or you might have to go up to the concourse and down to another platform. As I understand it, each of the five “white” transfer stations in the BART system were specifically chosen because they’re the most convenient for riders. MacArthur and 19th St/Oakland stations even denote this reason on the map: they offer timed cross-platform transfers to other lines (in one direction at each station). Balboa Park is designated as a transfer station over Daly City because it offers better connections to Muni services. Bay Fair and San Bruno are a little less useful than the others, simply being the last stations before two routes diverge, but at least that’s pretty logical.

My theory is that as Coliseum station is not the preferred transfer station for the three “main” BART lines that pass through (Bay Fair fulfills that role) but is only for transferring to the OAC, a visual distinction is made between the two “types” of transfer to reinforce that concept. In short, “Transfer here ONLY for the OAC”.

However, I definitely agree with Edward that the Coliseum end of the OAC route line should be a “transfer circle” instead of a “terminus bar”. I guess the map could be trying to suggest that riders emerging from the OAC “choose” one of the circled main line routes, but I’d prefer consistency in the approach to iconography myself.

Side note: it’s really nice to see these newer in-station BART maps acknowledge the other rail transit options in the Bay Area – Muni Metro (even the historic F line!), Caltrain and Amtrak are all shown (but not VTA light rail or the cable cars).

Source: DearEdward/Flickr

St. Louis County police are claiming that the Rams apologized for five players who made the gesture prior to Sunday's game. The team's VP denies that.

St. Louis County police claimed Monday night that the Rams vice president and chief operating officer Kevin Demoff apologized to them for five players from the team who made the "Hands Up, Don't Shoot" gesture in support of Ferguson demonstrators during introductions during the game on Sunday against the Raiders. However, Demoff later said that he did not "apologize" for the players' actions, but he did "express remorse for how those actions were construed," according to ESPN.

The police department countered back that it was an apology, going as far to quote a dictionary definition for apology. They released a statement in response to Demoff on their Facebook page:

Regarding statements on an "apology" from Rams COO Kevin Demoff:

Chief Belmar was contacted today by St. Louis Rams COO Kevin Demoff. The Chief never asked for anyone from the Rams to contact him. He said the conversation was pleasant. The Chief sent an email to his police staff and used the word "apologized." Mr. Demoff is quoted in the St. Louis Post Dispatch story saying "I expressed to both of them that I felt badly that our players' support of the community was taken as disrespectful to law enforcement." He further stated "I regretted any offense the officer's may have taken."

Even though Mr. Demoff stated he never apologized, the Chief believed it to be an apology and the Chief sent the email to police staff to let them know about the call, after he told Mr. Demoff he would share his sentiments with his staff.

The entire situation started after the St. Louis Police Officers Association issued a statement Sunday after the game calling for the players to be punished and demanding an apology from the team and the NFL. The NFL and the team declined to punish the players for making the "Hands Up" gesture, but officials from the Rams met with police representatives on Monday.

Following that meeting, St. Louis County Police Chief Jon Belmar informed the police department about the apology via email. The Post-Dispatch obtained a copy of the message from Belmar.

Members of the Department,

I received a very nice call this morning from Mr. Kevin Demoff of the St. Louis Rams who wanted to take the opportunity to apologize to our department on behalf of the Rams for the "Hands Up" gesture that some players took the field with yesterday.

Mr. Demoff clearly regretted that any members of the Ram's organization would act in a way that minimized the outstanding work that police officers and departments carry out each and every day. My impression of the call was that it was heartfelt and I assured him that I would share it with my staff.

It didn't take long for Demoff to respond. He told Nick Wagoner of ESPN that he did not apologize for the actions of the Rams players.

"At no time in any of the conversations did I apologize for the actions of our players." -- Kevin Demoff to me just a moment ago.

— Nick Wagoner (@nwagoner) December 2, 2014

While he did not "apologize" for the players, he did hedge in what he told the police.

Demoff said he expressed remorse about how the actions of the players were construed but did not apologize for the actions themselves.

— Nick Wagoner (@nwagoner) December 2, 2014

On Tuesday, Demoff clarified his stance through MMQB's Peter King:

Rams COO Kevin Demoff: "We believe it is possible to both support our players' right to free speech and support our local law enforcement."

— Peter King (@SI_PeterKing) December 2, 2014

Demoff2: "They shouldn't have to be mutually exclusive."

— Peter King (@SI_PeterKing) December 2, 2014

The two sides are basically arguing over the semantics of what was said that sounded like an apology but maybe wasn't, PR speak in other words. The Rams are in a difficult spot here, painted into a corner by the letter from the police association they received Sunday.

The players explained their actions after the game, telling reporters that they planned to make the "hands up" gesture during introductions as a show of support for the community.

"We wanted to let the community know that we support the community," Kenny Britt told Wagoner after the game.

Head coach Jeff Fisher echoed his support for the players' right to make the gesture during his Monday afternoon press conference. "[The players] made the choice to exercise their free speech," Fisher said.

The Rams and the police officers group will meet again this week to discuss the issue, according to the report. Until then, their spokesperson said, the police union will not comment further on the situation.

Prior to Demoff's response, the Rams issued a statement after the story broke on Monday night. It reads:

We had positive discussions today with St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department Chief Sam Dotson, St. Louis County Chief of Police Chief Jon Belmar and representatives from the St. Louis Police Officers' Association and St. Louis County Police Association during which we expressed our respect for their concerns surrounding yesterday's game. What has transpired over the past four months is a tragedy that has impacted our entire community. Together we are beginning a healing process that will require time, energy and honest dialogue. The Rams will continue to build on what have always been strong and valued relationships with local law enforcement and the greater St. Louis community as we come together to help heal our region.

In the post–"Fifty Shades" world of erotic fiction, there should be a corollary: If something doesn’t exist, there is an erotica ebook about it. Not just vampires (that’s kid stuff), but Santa, the Yeti, the Loch Ness Monster, Leprechauns, even the Sphinx.

Vox Media, the company behind high-profile sites including The Verge, SB Nation and Vox, has raised $46.5 million in a round led by General Atlantic. The funding gives Vox a post-money valuation of about $380 million, according to people familiar with the transaction.

Quick, someone tell Dan Snyder what the Internet is and how much it hates him.

Cosby's resignation came as the school's trustees were prepared to meet and discuss his ties to the the university.

On-demand ride company Uber has hired Goldman Sachs to raise money from the bank’s high-net-worth clients, Fortune has learned.

Russia’s federal communications agency ordered Internet providers to block Vimeo on Monday after the video hosting service initially ignored a request to remove a feature-length ISIS film.

“I think that it might say millennials really aren’t that different from the rest of us non-millennials,” he argues. “Human beings still like to congregate with other human beings, even if at the same time we’re looking at our phones and texting the person two people down that we don’t realize we can actually reach out and touch.” “We’re all so fascinated by millennials and it’s a huge demographic, obviously, but they’re not so different from us when we were their age,” he says. “What did you do? You wanted to go to the mall, you wanted to hang out with your friends, and that’s not a bad place to do it.”

Former NBA star Charles Barkley recently called Ferguson looters "scumbags," praised police officers who work in black neighborhoods, and said he supports the decision made by the grand jury not to indict officer Darren Wilson in the Michael Brown shooting. "The true story came out from the grand jury testimony," Barkley said, adding that he was made aware of "key forensic evidence, and several black witnesses that supported Officer Darren Wilson’s story..." He continued, "I can’t believe anything I hear on television anymore. And, that’s why I don’t like talking about race issues with the media anymore, because they (the media) love this stuff, and lead people to jump to conclusions. The media shouldn’t do that. They never do that when black people kill each other. "

You are now equipped to lockpick, charm, and hack your way to getting to 100 speech, 100 science, 100 lockpick, and 100 medicine. You'll have to let Benny betray you and run away with the chip, but you can sprint past the army of death robots awaiting you beneath Caesar's camp (indeed, this is my favorite part of the game if you've got I Am The Doctor blaring out of your speakers). You can, and will, defeat the endboss through conversation.

I have known the name of the policeman who killed my son, Michael, for ten years. And he is still working on the force in Kenosha. Yes, there is good reason to think that many of these unjustifiable homicides by police across the country are racially motivated. But there is a lot more than that going on here. Our country is simply not paying enough attention to the terrible lack of accountability of police departments and the way it affects all of us—regardless of race or ethnicity. Because if a blond-haired, blue-eyed boy — that was my son, Michael — can be shot in the head under a street light with his hands cuffed behind his back, in front of five eyewitnesses (including his mother and sister), and his father was a retired Air Force lieutenant colonel who flew in three wars for his country — that’s me — and I still couldn’t get anything done about it, then Joe the plumber and Javier the roofer aren’t going to be able to do anything about it either.

littlebastardreviews:

• Before the Hogwarts Express, some young wizards and witches made their way to Hogwarts on broomsticks and in enchanted carriages
• There are other fractional platforms at King’s Cross station. Try 7 1/2 for a trip to wizard-only villages in Europe. 
• It took five and a half minutes for the Sorting Hat to decide whether to place Minerva McGonagall in Gryffindor or Ravenclaw
• Several Hogwarts students have caused mayhem at King’s Cross by dropping suitcases full of newt spleens or biting spellbooks all over the Muggle Station.
• Peeves the poltergeist caused a three-day evacuation of Hogwarts in 1876 after escaping a trap set for him armed with several dangerous weapons. 
• The one exception to the general magical aversion to Muggle technology is cars. Even the Ministry of Magic owns a fleet, modified with various useful charms. 
• Many wizards were unhappy with the invention of the Muggle-like Knight Bus, and refused to use it when it first hit the streets. 
• Headmasters and headmistresses of Hogwarts can teach their magical portrait to act and behave exactly like themselves. 
• Sir Cadogan’s most famous encounter was with the Wyvern of Wye, a dragon-like creature, whom he accidentally killed with his broken wand. 
• Only one non-magical person has ever managed to get as far as the Hogwarts Sorting Hat before being exposed as a Squib. 
• Of the Eleven wizarding schools in the world, the African school of Uagadou is the only one to select pupils by Dream Messenger, leaving a token in the child’s hand whilst they sleep. 
• The 1809 Quidditch World Cup final turned into a human versus tree battle when one of the players managed to jinx an entire forest to attack the stadium. 
• The Hufflepuff ghost, the Fat Friar, was executed after senior churchman became suspicious of his ability to cure the pox by poking peasants with a stick. 
• Every year St. Mungo’s Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries treats at least one injury caused by homemade Floo powder. 
• Before she became a teacher at Hogwarts, Minerva McGonagall used to work for the Department of Magical Law Enforcement at the Ministry of Magic. 
• Part of the process of becoming an Animagus requires you to carry a leaf from a Mandrake in your mouth for an entire month. 
• A Dark wizard called Raczidian was devoured by maggots that appeared from his wand when he unsuccessfully attempted to cast the Patronus Charm.
• Any part of a person’s body can be added to the Polyjuice Potion to allow the consumer to take their form, including hair, toenail clippings, dandruff or worse…
• Remus Lupin’s father, Lyall, was a world-renowned authority on magical creatures like poltergeists and Boggarts. 
• It took 167 Memory Charms and the largest mass Concelment Charm ever performed in Britain to modify a muggle steam engine and create the Hogwarts Express. 
• Students from the Russian Wizarding school, Koldovstoretz, play a version of Quidditch where they fly on entire, uprooted trees instead of broomsticks. 

Yes, these are all canon. Thought I’d type it up to have it as a text reference. Enjoyyy. 

A terrible GPS system and crummy hourly rate while the company reaps huge profits? No more. I’m out.

If their past work is any indicator, this will be charming and wonderful.

RT @PolarBearFarm: Awesome :)

Monochome is a new clothing line that lets you order apparel that has been custom printed with a map of the location of your choice. Customers can select any location covered by OpenStreetMap, and can adjust the map’s scale and design scheme as well. The Monochome line currently includes a tank top, flare skirt, and pencil skirt. Monochome was created by data visualizer Rachel Binx (previously), who is also the co-creator of the custom jewelry line Meshu and the GIF card brand Gifpop!

images via Monochome

via Rachel Binx

Everybody acknowledges the huge influence that writer J.G. Ballard continues to have on science fiction and our visions of the future — but we don't pay enough attention to one of Ballard's own main influences. Over in The Arts Desk, there's a great look at the visual artists who influenced Ballard.

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Thanksgiving is over. Crashing from the artificial highs induced by the consumption of turkey and cranberries, millions of Americans are returning to work from their four-day weekends, bleary-eyed and directionless. Strong medicine is needed to counteract such an epidemic, and Mylo the Cat creator Adam Schleichkorn has synthesized just such a curative with two potent ingredients: the Muppets and ’90s hip-hop. Specifically, Sleichkorn has created a video mashup in which Kermit, Fozzie, Beaker, and even fabulous special guest star Lena Horne appear to be lip syncing to Naughty by Nature’s “Hip Hop Hooray,” the song that launched a million high school pep rallies. As with Sleichkorn’s previous Muppets/Beastie Boys conflation, precise editing is the secret star here. Drawing both from The Muppet Show and The Muppet Movie, Schleichkorn has created a very convincing synthesis of Henson and hip-hop, even speeding up the puppet-based footage to match the ...

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An anonymous reader writes Sussex and Surrey police plan on fighting drunk driving with the help of twitter this Christmas. The police say that they will tweet details of accused intoxicated drivers, including: where, when, and who was stopped throughout December. From the article: "They're cruising the streets for embarrassing tweets. It's no secret that every year, the number of people driving under the influence of alcohol shoots up around Christmas. As part of its yearly crackdown, police in Sussex and Surrey are taking to Twitter to document the alcohol-related arrests they make on the road. Each snippet mentions where and when the motorist was pulled over, but also, more importantly, their name if they're eventually charged. Those who were stopped last year aren't getting off lightly either; officers are reportedly putting up posters to show exactly where motorists were caught over the limit."

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

How to support an artist you love by Austin Kleon

neilcicierega:

I found this awesome JEDI JOURNAL at a flea market. Thought I’d share some scans of its glory.

On some of the pages, the author practiced his cursive signature. So I looked up his name, found a match, and this happened: