Impressionist on the Express Bus

Rainy night approach the toll at Brooklyn Battery Tunnel on the X10. What can I say? I'm no J.M.W. Turner.

Forever Green (May You Stay)

Green on red

I like it when messages are fingered into the dirt and grime on the back of trucks. Sometimes it's just a nickname or initials. Sometimes a waggish "Clean me!" This one seems to offer a political message: Verde pa' [para] Siempre = "Green forever." Ironic? Sincere? What about the hearts? Who knows? Now I'm trying to track down what the A/N logo with the castle turret stands for.

All in the Timing

Eye on the job? (Photo: Getty Images)

The BTB candidate for the Holy See? Hold onto your kippah... It's Mike Bloomberg.

Look, it's not as far-fetched as it seems.

On the plus side: He's available (soon). He's not married (don't ask questions). No Latin, put passable Spanish.

On the morality/sin index, he's taken on Sloth (bicycle lanes), Gluttony (beverage container size limits), Greed (err, not so much). Still, two out of seven's not bad.

Potential negatives? Only one: He's a Jew. But who knows Catholics better than the Jews?

Civil Rights, Pepsi Lite

Mexico City, 1968:

Brooklyn Queens Expressway, 2013:

A lot more than 20 ounces of gall there.

Slip Slidin' Away

Boston traffic (Photo: Joe Sartore)

I decided to forgo the bottleneck onramp at 43rd St. and take my chances with Greenpoint Avenue bridge. I had just about reached the left turn onto McGuinness Boulevard. Just one Rav4 between me and easy sailing. The traffic coursed through the intersection. The light went yellow. As the Rav4 pulled out, I cut a hard left and shadowed the him on the driver's side. No problem. 'Boston slide.'

When I searched for 'Boston slide' later on the Internets, I couldn't find reference one. Reader, am I the only one who remembers this term for the classic Masshole driving move? (I do claim credit for a synonym, the 'moving pick' from RI days.)

MTA or PhD?

For good, I hope

You may have noticed that the MTA's Poetry in Motion program is back, bringing the likes of Billy Collins' "Grand Central" to subway cars (and buses?). This poster on a 7 train confirms it:
"Many of you felt parting was not such sweet sorrow. So we're bringing it back in a very artful way. Hopefully, you'll feel transported."

Does this suggest we felt the suspension of the program was not so sweet? Or not so sorrowful? Bitter sorrow? Sweet relief? Damn you, MTA, I don't pay you $104 a month to make me think! Actually, given what the authority is proposing for its next fare hike, we ought not just to feel transported, but actually be transported (a la Star Trek).

State of the Expressway

"My fellow Americans, the state of our Brooklyn Queens Expressway is strong. [Standing ovation] Who am I kidding? It's f*cked. [Shocked silence] Perhaps not as badly off as it was last year--by short term measures, that is: The repairs on the viaduct over the Gowanus are dormant for the moment. The potholes in the stretch through Greenpoint are filled. But let's face it, our beloved BQE needs work, serious work, costly work. A replacement for the Kosciuszko Bridge, wider lanes, safer on-ramps, structural repairs of all kinds. Like generations before us, we could bite the bullet, spend the money, endure the delays and rerouting. Or we could kick the can down the road, down the expressway. Whatever..."