What is Digg?Sponsored by Best Buy
Meet Keith: Best Buy Employee and Possible Singing Sensation. view!
www.youtube.com/bestbuy - One employee proves he has the chops and the passion to star in Best Buy's holiday campaign.
86 Comments
- kremvax, on 10/12/2007, -1/+16So when was the last time you were menaced in central park? 1978? Or do you base most of your real-world assumtions on old movies and bizarre prejudice?
Central Park is primarily filled with a) joggers, b) families with small children, c) tourists, and d) people taking wedding photographs. It's a lovely spot, clean considering how many thousands of people per day use it, and in one of the most expensive neighborhoods on the planet. In the safest-per-capita large city in the country.
You should really try to get out more. It's a great big world out there. - kremvax, on 10/12/2007, -1/+16You don't happen to work for Verizon, do you?
Are the "free" drinking fountains in the park taking money away from the $2 / bottle water vendors?
Are the large shady trees picking the pockets of the umbrella manufacturers?
Why do you hate parks so much...? - UGM2099, on 10/12/2007, -11/+24using != and == in place of english does not equal cool.
- kremvax, on 10/12/2007, -2/+10Right. But increased useage and value resulting from the service (added at a cost that will be a tiny fraction of the maintenance budget of a park this size) will result in increased local business sales and .: sales tax revenues.
NYC has long demonstrated that civic promotions like this, public art exhibitions, even parades generate revenues well in excess of their initial expense. It's a benefit to the community and the community coffers both.
Or were you just expressing some sour grapes because rural Mississippi hasn't been able to pull something like this off yet? - aplusplus, on 10/12/2007, -1/+7I think you're forgetting that Wi-Fi can be used for more things than just laptops. Plus, every geek needs some fresh air every week or two.
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6I just spent 2 weeks in NYC and I loved the park. I don't know how useful wireless is going to be there though - I couldn't even see my psp screen, didn't try with my notebook but I would imagine that would be at least as bad.
- ThinkBox, on 10/12/2007, -3/+8I can see another digg headline now ---
Google Maps + New York Park Maps + Local Pedifile Information + AJAX.... - hijinks, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4you really don't know central park do you.. i live 3 blocks from it.. sure in the 70's as soon as you step in you might get robbed but now the only time you'd have issues is like 3am.. I've walked crosstown through the park at 1am with no issues.
- nyccharlie, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4If you don't live in NYC and base your ideas about central park solely on old news stories, then don't comment. Central Park is safe. There have been no incidents aside from the odd mugging in Central Park in quite awhile.
- bpapa, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5stupid foreigners who don't know these days Central Park is safe as anything
- MattL920, on 10/12/2007, -2/+6Um... me? Seriously, you're an idiot if you're anywhere in central park late at night let alone a bench, but aside from that it's a safe and really nice place to be. I can't wait to take advantage of this.
- DareD, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3Guys, NYC has had wireless hotspots for free at tons of different places. NYC Wireless organization has been there for a long while now. They're a great group and do great work!
http://www.nycwireless.net - aplusplus, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4This is the part where everyone has a blank stare.
- GreenTentacle, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2So now that both Central Park and Bryant Park will have WiFi, I can hope and dream that Central Park also gets Bryant Park's awesome bathrooms.
- orangetiki, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Don't people just look for that chalk sign for free wifi?
- kremvax, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3Spoken like a teenager that has never ever been to New York.
- drunkenoaf, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2There are already free wifi hotspots in parks in New York. I know, as I've used some of them. Beats paying Starbucks $7 a pop
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2It is so nice, check out these pics I took (I'm not a good photographer though lol)
http://quick.imgfree.net/47954
http://quick.imgfree.net/47955
http://quick.imgfree.net/47956 - smergs, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Well it's about damn time. Nashville, TN has had free Wi-Fi in the park for over a year now.
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Actually, none of the would-be-attackers (I'm not trying to absolve them of any wrongdoing) brandished weapons. They surrounded him and one of them said "give me 5 dollars"). Goetz then stood up, pulled his weapon, and fired on them. He then tried to chase them down on the subway car to "finish them off".
- netant, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2The whole point of the laws is policy. The majority of the NYC populace does not want gunfights in the subway, particularly by untrained citizens. (Really understandable when you've seen/met some of the crazies out there, particularly the suburban commuters.) It sounds like a great idea to the gun-nut, until an innocent bystander is killed by that "Truth, Justice, and American Way" ubercitizen in a gunfight. It makes law enforcement more difficult, because cops now have to shoot at law abiding citizens because they are brandishing guns, and the cops firearms do not deactivate when pointing a "good guy".
It is screamingly obvious Goetz is not shooting in self-defense when he puts a bullet into the back of a fleeing mugger. On that basis, I would have no problem convicting him for illegal use of a firearm, or manslaughter if the perp died. On the other hand, if Goetz had only shot the muggers as they faced him, I would not had a problem with a jury nullification decision exonerating him. People have a right to be safe from criminals, but sometimes you need to exercise common sense, and that gets expressed in the law. Goetz is the precise reason for having a handgun ban in NYC.
If I have to rationalize Goetz was a hero, and not a vigilante, then I'd have to rationalize the punks who tried to mug him would be upstanding citizens later in life. - quaispalm, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3Yes, this guy is ignorant about NYC and crime. But let's cut him some slack, just by watching the NYC news or reading the nypost, one could get the idea that the city is overrun by criminals. His ignorance is a product of crappy news coverage, more than anything. Not everyone is lucky enough to live here. ;-)
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Hey, dummy, Central Park is as safe as any other public area during the day. Its full of NYU students and tourists and joggers.
Muggings won't be as bad as you are hoping for because a laptop is still difficult to run with, no matter how small. Plus, as long as you stay in the large, open populated areas like the Great Lawn or Mutton Field, you should be fine. My laptop will be as safe as my wallet. - orangeRam, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3Bernard Goetz shot four people on a subway; one of whom he shot a second time while defenseless on the ground, paralyzing him...not the same as defending yourself
- bdigit, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1http://www.publicinternetproject.org helped get bryant park with wifi for a couple years now
- mikedpirone, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1I'm not positive but wasn't the ESB lit yellow? Atleast it was on Monday.
- recon16, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Could they still use a MAC address? I dont know, just wondering... no sarcasm...
- jutendouji, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2Well, you are right that I cannot be sure about the reality of the situation, I can only base my knowledge on what I read on the mass media, it's not my fault that stuff gets misreported or blown out of proportion. It seems I touched some "buttons" with most of you because I've been -dugg a lot. Funny.
Ho well, I guess not all of you have the wide perspective that the poster above has. Pity. - geekee, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1sounds like a good place to go to download free music anonymously
- lovelylad80, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1One of the best things in New York (Central Park) is getting even better!
- UGM2099, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1* fingers crossed for McCarren Park in Brooklyn *
- shadedream, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1They're talking about doing this too in Houston (cept across the whole city)... except they're planning to charge for it (though its not supposed to be that expensive...)
- astrotrain, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Philfadelphia? LOL..won't be free if John Street and Ed Rendell have anything to do with it. They will somehow figure out how to tax it.
Hot Spots are all over in Philly, just need to turn on your Radio and start walking ;) - smartalecks, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1wi-fi is coming to alot of campgrounds too ^_^ (lots in VA)
http://www.linkspot.com/ - kremvax, on 10/12/2007, -2/+3Frankly, I don't believe you. Unless possibly by "New York" you mean a rural farming community north of Saratoga.
The only folks who think of NYC in terms of gangs and vigilantes ( as opposed to thinking of NYC in terms of obnoxious trust fund hipsters and insane rents / real estate prices ) these days are people from small towns who just haven't been there in a long long time.
If you live in New York, tell me the 3 ways of getting to Rosevelt Island, and what color the ESB was last night, otherwise, well, clean up your language and try not to fib so much. - ShrimpCrackers, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1This sounds great, just like Bryant Park here in NYC; except for the fact that Verizon then blasted their wireless (from their adjacent building) totally interfering with anyone who tried to connect to the free wifi, replacing it with their subscription trash.
- SmeRndmGy, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Anything that gets nerds out of their stuffy apartments is a good thing. Hell who knows, one or two of them might even speak to a member of the opposite sex! Not likely, but it could happen if they dare to look away from WOW for a second or 2.
- kremvax, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2That was really the crux of his trial, though, wasn't it?
If he was just a bystander who happened to be armed, and reacted to being robbed, or if he was a weapons fetishist that had planned to go out hunting muggers as an act of revenge.
The first would be the actions of a reasonable person. The second would be an action with criminal intent.
I never met the fellow, wasn't there, didn't attend the trial, etc., so I couldn't tell you with any accuracy which it really was. Very few people could. Maybe the jury.
But one course of action is pretty clearly wrong, and the other is pretty clearly right.
And "teaching the criminals a lesson" sounds great, but just doesn't work in real life. Most criminals, aside from those in congress of course, aren't people who plan ahead, think about the consequences of their actions, weigh the risks and benefits, etc. A reasonable person would think twice about a crime if the possibility of punishment is severe, but most people in that position aren't known for being particularly reasonable. - kremvax, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2Sure, given a little time somebody could look it up.
But the Rosevelt Island question would be tough for someone who's never been there. (I do miss the tram. On a night off, It's a great fun ride for the cost of a subway fare. (except for those folks that got stuck there, of course.))
Sounds like Otherland does live here. I'm not so sure about you ...(heh) - ZMoney, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1I was in NYC two weeks ago and stayed in the Bryant Hotel and the Bryant Park below (the one with the fountain in tv show "Friend's" intro) had free Wifi from Google
- zelig, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1If you sit in the right place, you can already get free wi-fi in Central Park. Just be near any building.
- Matt23, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Kremvax: Not that I agree with Otherland, but I live in Manhattan and I couldn't answer all of those questions off the top of my head. I certainly don't make note of the color lights on the ESB every night. Besides, couldn't anyone with a little bit of research skills just look it up?
- ,,|,_, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Austin TX is putting in something similar. Austin Energy (the local electric co-op) got grants from a bunch of companies who's executives attended the World Congress on Information Technology (including the company I work for). They're using these grants to put in a wireless network that covers all of downtown and stretches from UT north of downtown (who has their own wireless network) to Zilker Park south of downtown. I can't wait to see what this does for gonzo coverage of the ACL Festival this year.
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Armed? they were holding screw drivers. Unsharpened ones at that. My brother is a construction worker and carries sharper things than that on the subway everyday. Does that make him dangerous? Goetz never saw the screw drivers, so how can they be used to justify the shooting?
And what the attackers did afterwards has no bearing on whether or not Goetz was right to shoot them. All that matters is what Goetz knew right then and there. If one of them did show a weapon or put a hand on them, then I'd be ok with him going for his gun. But the fact is all they did was stand around him and demand money. - kremvax, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Yeah.
The thing about Goetz is, while stories of revenge are always sort of interesting, and its satisfying to hear of a citizen who'll stop a crime in progress, he took it too far. Confused justice with revenge.
Two wrongs just never make a right. (At least under any belief system I've observed.) - DS513, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Finally! A reason to go outside!
- kremvax, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1A MAC address can be changed in software (or at least filtered in software ) on most operating systems via a number of freely available network utilities. (Windows, Mac, Linux)
- recon16, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Im for anything that gives people free internet access...
- kuchino, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1I love the idea, about time. i will have a reason to visit the park more, besides the biking. Play some Nintendo DS online :D
- netant, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1They are great, but I don't get good wifi coverage in Central Park. I'm all for the City helping to provide it. Penn Station would be nice too; what little is available are all pay sites.
-
Show 51 - 86 of 86 discussions
© Digg Inc. 2009
— Content created and posted by Digg users is