The Pros and Cons of CSAs
Washington Leads the Country in Troubled Banks
Seattlest Pix 09Nov08
Seattlest Pix 09Nov09
Seattlest got the news from a coworker yesterday: an explosion in midtown Manhattan had resulted in a collapsed building (MSNBC); then that no, in fact, it was a transformer that exploded, leaving a nearby building "shaky" (CNN).
What in fact happened was that a steam pipe burst, sending what the media is--we think amusingly--calling a "geyser of steam and debris" (and, we should add, asbestos) into the air. What's more terrifying than a burst steam pipe in midtown Manhattan in the middle of midweek rush hour? A geyser in midtown Manhattan!
Police almost immediately released the news to the public that it most certainly was not a terrorist attack, which we think is just sad and unfortunate, because that's the kind of world we live in. Because that's what Seattlest, who watched 9/11 unfold from the corner of 23rd and Broadway, would have thought, had we been in Manhattan yesterday. Because New York City is one big terrorist target after another. A journalist friend mused yesterday that there is nowhere in Manhattan where a "geyser of steam and debris" could go off without it being somewhere near something that could be considered a terrorist target. In this case, the geyser ripped through midtown, near Grand Central Station. We figure the reason the cops knew it wasn't some sort of attack before doing any investigation is because, if you're a terrorist, why hit a couple blocks away from Grand Central when Grand Central is right there?
See, and this, our friends, is one upon many reasons that we packed our little Volkswagen bug and got the hell out of New York in 2002. If a pipe bursts in Seattle, the media announces that a pipe burst. Nobody thought for a second that the flash flood that took place here this spring had anything to do with anything other than a burst pipe. Nobody called it a geyser or even a flash flood. It was a burst pipe. Traffic was diverted, people bitched and moaned, but nobody ran away screaming in a frantic panic, because the city of Seattle is not overwrought with post-traumatic stress.
Granted, our pipe bursting incident didn't send a geyser of debris and asbestos into the air, but it did swallow some cars.
We feel for our New York friends, and we so dearly love Manhattan. We love Crif Dogs and South Street Seaport. We love Battery Park and all the junkies in Thompkins Square. We love the Sidewalk Cafe and McSorley's Pub. But damned if we're not happy as a clam living here in Seattle, where we can't get a bacon-wrapped hotdog with avocado anywhere we know of (well, also, we're vegetarians now). Where we can't be entertained every morning on public transit by a guy dressed like a horse. And where, when a pipe bursts, it's just a steam pipe bursting and not a tragic reminder that we are still so full of fear and anxiety.
For a less media-mocking, snarky assessment of the situation, please refer to Gothamist's coverage.
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Are you aware that someone DIED and 30 people were injured? Do you have any idea of the scale of the explosion? It was unbelievable and thousands of people were running, screaming in Midtown yesterday.
Thanks for your condescending support.
There aren't junkies in Tompkins anymore.
McSorley's is a tourist trap.
That's like comparing a busted bathroom pipe with a gas oven exploding. I think there is a great deal of difference in the two events you are comparing.
See, and this, our friends, is one upon many reasons that we packed our little Volkswagen bug and got the hell out of New York in 2002
New York doesn't need Panties like you. Please, don't ever come back.
Needless to say, I also share your glee that you no longer live in New York, and I'm sure you'll understand if I react the same way you have when Seattle is finally hit by THE BIG ONE.
yes , we are a bit sensitive as a possible target for terrorists sometime, again. Why proclaim your love from afar, weinies, now that you have fled... The joys of living and working here with one's fellow assembled MANIACS ( new Yorkers ) far outweighs any fear or post traumatic stress. Al Quaeda WON in your case and you don't sound so happy to me as you revel in the throes of NORMALCY... Enjoy all that peace and quiet, quietly why don'tcha.
The only place I've ever had a bacon-wrapped hot dog with avocado was Tijuana. Maybe that's where you lived, because it sure sounds like you don't know New York very well.
For everyone that rolls their eyes at the cliche "New York isn't for everyone" - i give you this writer as Exhibit A for the cliche's existence.
The guy two up (at the moment) is right - please don't come back. God knows we can use the space. And be careful with that coffee, kid - don't want you to burn your tongue or anything.
Since you are a self claimed New Yorker who does not know how to spell Tompkins - we're glad you left. But could you please return and take all the Starbuck's Shops with you?
It was pretty rough, man. And the air was foul. and all the cars driving by had weird brown debris splattered all over them, like a building actually did go somewhere.
As you might know, NYC is so big, there's never a simple answer. and nycers are normal people too under the web of urban skills and ways, and have to care for themselves in a city of constant chaos when cnn has no answer yet (how dare they)for why our gotham's sky is ruinously dark. We all do the best we can, right? (you know you miss it.) :)
Truly unbelievable how callous you sound...and how very wrong you are. For starts, I hope your illusion of being safe and sound tucked away in the Pac Northwest is never shattered. Some folks in Oklahoma City might tell you not to make too many assumptions. Second, just because you felt the need to hide from the worlds problems behind the fools veneer of overpriced caffeine doesn't mean we're all without heart and fortitude. Let me guess, you weren't born in NY?
okay okay since there are so many haters from nyc on here, i'll try to reiterate the fact that i'm not mocking manhattan by any stretch. this entry was to mock the media coverage of the "geyser," which was a utility failure. the fact that it's been turned into a focus of fearmongering is silly. the fact that al qaeda came up in these comments is silly.
the person who died did so from a heart attack, not from any injuries they suffered from the "geyser," at least according to all the news accounts i've read. i had bacon-wrapped avocado dogs at crif like three times a week. you should give em a try. there were still bums in tomkins square when i was there this may.
and, finally, starbucks sucks. i wouldn't take their coffee with me anywhere, thank you very much.
get a load of all the overly angry, arrogant, aggro nyc a-holes. that bougie shopping mall of a city is more trouble than it's worth.
HEY - she wasn't knocking Manhattan, or even belittling the seriousness of the event in the least. If you read her post, it mocks the media coverage and oversensationalizing of pretty much anything that happens in NY these days.
I can't blame you all for being sensitive, but before you lash out at someone who isn't even attacking you, you oughta read more closely.
When Mt. Rainier erupts (and it WILL) like Mt. St. Helens did, and takes Seattle with it, where will she run with her tail between her legs then?
Bums don't equal junkies.
T-o-m-p-k-i-n-s
"Police almost immediately released the news to the public that it most certainly was not a terrorist attack, which we think is just sad and unfortunate, because that's the kind of world we live."
If something explodes in NYC, it's important to NYers to find out if it's terrorism. Explosions during rush hour aren't the norm here, al qaeda caused or otherwise. The implication that the police and citizens of NY overreacted is the reason for the "haters." You owe NYC an apology.
i agree it's very important for them to tell people it's not a terrorist attack. i think it's sad and unfortunate that we live in a world where that's important.
Judging from the reactive misreadings of the post and shift to personal attack, it certainly does look like PTSD is still making the rounds in NYC. Good call, Kim.
Come on people, don't be so damn sensitive! We're New Yorkers! My goodness... Can't you just enjoy the satirical cynicism and move on?
If you seriously can't tell what's being made light of, joked about, poked at, criticized or simply pointed out in this article, then here ya go:
It's gotten to a point that people/gov't/media report on happenings and sensationalize it before getting the big picture - merely to get ratings, excite, remind us that we're in a terrorized world, and keep us under the big governmental thumb of fear.
Sensitive little babies! Go out to the Hamptons with ya and your gobshite! Hee hee, wow... yeah, take it easy, man.
And for the record -
I don't know when the last time any of you people went there, but I see junkies, yes junkie, in Tompkins quite often. You know the lil green hill? You think they're sober? Really? Come on! Quite junked up, ohhhhh yes, quite.
Sorry Kim, I may be reading it wrong, but "nobody ran away screaming in a frantic panic, because the city of Seattle is not overwrought with post-traumatic stress." does not seem like you are mocking coverage.
That behavior would seem normal; In fact, no different than packing a little Volkswagen bug and getting the hell out of a city.
The fact is it was not just a "geyser" but a huge explosion beforehand in a densely packed area. A little different than a water main break, we there are in NY as well. I suspect the reaction would be much the same in Seattle.
Boy, Are We Glad You Don't Live in New York Anymore
the person who died from a heart attack was stricken feet from the explosion!
I was 5 blocks from the explosion.
It was quite a scary sight.
However, at the intersection that I was at (Lex/46), everyone was very calm and collected, and people were helping divert the rush hour traffic to let the emergency vehicles through. Actually I think people acted much more calm and logically than would be expected in any other city BECAUSE they had experienced 911.
As for the people that were at the scene of the explosion, sure they were running.
Wouldn't you? The "geyser" was spraying debris and steam (that's 1000 degrees underground)higher than the 77 story Chrysler building!!
It was not just a small leak in a pipe, as you seem to think.
@15 - rainier will take out tacoma, not seattle. so i think we're good, but thanks for playing! we look forward to seeing you riding the ducks downtown with the rest of the east-coast tourists. don't forget to try the fish!
At least this was an actual explosion. Having moved here back in May after spending 7 years in Boston, I recall vividly a few months before one cold winter day where I arrived several hours late to work because the city was shut down by, essentially, strategically-placed "lite-brite"-looking devices:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2007_Boston_Mooninite_Scare
#25 wins best post by far
can we all agree to hate on Boston instead of each other? haha
Living in NYC, every now and then I read gothamist for some redux news and since I'm heading over to Seattle/ Everett later this week I just wanted to check if there was anything worth seeing here (and check the weather, but that link is suffering "fatal error" right now.) Something about the tone of this post is wrong... it's not offensive or clever enough to be funny, and the undercurrent of cloying sincerity makes me think the author is way more conflicted than they should be about leaving and probably thinks more about terrorism daily than most native NYC straphangers. Why did this get posted? Oh well, I'm still gonna have a great trip.