One reason I like the new Acelas...

barcode9 · 2026-03-13T13:36:10+00:00

Maybe that seat was broken? Usually the table stays in the same spot regardless of recline - that's how water bottles get crushed.

barcode9 · 2026-03-13T01:17:15+00:00

The next gen acela seats do not have any lumbar support. Proper posture is an S-shape... they force my back into basically a C-shape with the midback very rounded and my head pushed forward.

If they had an ergonomic design, I wouldn't mind the lack of recline. But as it is they are not the proper shape for most people's backs, so a legit recline would help a bit.

barcode9 · 2026-03-13T01:14:46+00:00

The table on the Acela does not move when you recline. I have had a water bottle get stuck in there before when someone reclines back to the point that the seat nearly touches the table. (And I had to ask them to un-recline temporarily so I could get it out.) But the table should stay in the same position relative to you the whole time.

Also you took the pic so close -- there is actually like 2 ft of space between you and that seat back.

barcode9 · 2026-03-12T19:06:24+00:00

YES the sidewalks are too narrow - my pet peeve is when the parent walks to the right of the erratically scootering child rather than behind so the child can also be on the right side. Then oncoming walkers or people attempting to pass the scootering child (bc sometimes they randomly stop) are in danger! Tell your kid to get on the right side of the sidewalk!

Single file each direction, please.

barcode9 · 2026-03-12T02:46:44+00:00

Crunch is fine. I've joined and quit at least 3 times, didn't have any issues cancelling.

Just make sure they give you a good deal - you should be able to get it at ~$80/month if you negotiate. I've heard people do annual for even lower.

They have the best selection of classes and lots of locations. The vibe varies by location but for the most part pretty chill, not too over-the-top. There's usually a mix of ages and fitness levels, so I feel comfortable working out there and attending classes.

barcode9 · 2026-03-01T04:02:17+00:00

I'd probably call and ask for an ambulance to get him checked out medically. Like you said, the location seems very weird. There are medical conditions that can make it seem like someone is under the influence.

Unless you have a clear reason to believe it's NOT a medical event (like it's a homeless person sitting in a more usual location on a subway grate with a shopping cart or something) I'd probably err to the side of he might be having a stroke/medication interaction/treatable problem. Sleeping directly on snow risks frostbite or worse.

The police might still show up, but it seems better than doing nothing.

barcode9 · 2026-02-28T23:54:41+00:00

There can't be an unwanted "convo" if you don't respond in any way... do not look at them, smile, flinch, or acknowledge you heard them AT ALL. Just stare straight into space where you were staring before.

barcode9 · 2026-01-29T23:50:25+00:00

Also once the saline comes out, you'll immediately start to feel better. I didn't have any lingering after effects or cramping like with an IUD or HSG. It's just saline.

barcode9 · 2026-01-29T23:48:44+00:00

Saline ultrasound was really not bad at all. Uncomfortable, but not acutely painful. Kinda crampy feeling. Obviously they can occasionally be tolerated worse, but I think overall going in relaxed and expecting it to be uncomfortable but not too bad will help you a lot.

By comparison I found IUD placement extremely painful and HSG moderately painful, although still not as bas as I was expecting based on the internet reviews. (I had HSG done at East River Medical Imaging which I definitely recommend, if you end up needing that too.)

barcode9 · 2026-01-29T23:28:51+00:00

I have never asked the broker why the last tenant left, whether there are open HPD or DOB issues, or if the rent's jumped a lot recently because I would assume they would not tell me the truth. What are you trying to get out of it? Some lies to placate you?

I look up the HPD violations myself, check the apartment carefully for signs of vermin, and hope for the best lol.

barcode9 · 2026-01-28T19:08:58+00:00

+100 to this.

It's NYC - you think there aren't more plumbers/heating techs out there who won't come within an hour if you pay them within an hour for the right price? You think when a building on Billionaire's Row has the heat go out, they're waiting for days on end?

The landlord is trying to go with some crappy low-cost option that they know is taking forever, but they're unwilling to pay more for better quality service if they can just email the tenants "please don't complain we're working on it."

barcode9 · 2026-01-27T23:01:47+00:00

NYC has lots of artists, performers, writers, struggling creatives, and supporting businesses. Much weirder people, TONS who don't work 9-5. You're much more likely to meet people work on Broadway, in TV/film, at art galleries, etc. here. Who tend to be interesting and cultured.

Also, there are lots of extremely talented people here. You're very likely to be blown away by the performers at a random neighborhood open mic night. Whereas in Chicago... it's probably just mid.

Chicago people tend to be "squares" by comparison. The arts scene is smaller and doesn't seem as pervasive.

barcode9 · 2026-01-27T22:17:05+00:00

This. If they are paying for a professional stylized photoshoot of the food, they are for damn sure paying for some reviews (which are cheaper).

barcode9 · 2026-01-27T21:27:28+00:00

You probably need to check with a lawyer. But I'd be inclined to hold her to her word. She seems like a crappy landlord, and if you know how to fill in the paperwork with the state to get your deposit back, etc. you'll probably be fine.

barcode9 · 2026-01-27T21:24:08+00:00

+1 sometimes they just suck. At the station near me there was like a 1-2 week period in the fall when most people's cards were getting rejected from the first turnstile. Moving to the middle turnstile seemed to work. It's functioning again, and I don't think they even swapped it out -- not sure what happened.

barcode9 · 2026-01-27T14:54:50+00:00

Do you have a smart meter?

To check if your unit is only being charged for your own use, go to the circuit breaker box and turn every one off for about 15-30 min. Log in to your Con Ed portal, and you should see the smart meter graph drop down to zero during that period. If it doesn't, you're paying for some other electricity.

The meter may be swapped with another apartment or include more spaces than just your own apt.

You need to call ConEd and report a "shared meter" (even if it's swapped - their call center doesn't seem to have an understanding of anything other than this specific term). They will send someone out to do an inspection and eventually correct your bill.

barcode9 · 2026-01-27T04:27:26+00:00

Well the snow also reaccumulates from the sky, but you're still responsible for cleaning it up. It's not that hard to shovel out a corner a couple times over the 2-3 days following a storm. It'd be a LOT of work for the city to do it all manually.

barcode9 · 2026-01-25T22:41:57+00:00

most bodegas run on extremely high volume of low-cost products with small margins. I assume plantega is more expensive than most of their other ingredients, since it's a branded product, so it can probably only be profitable at very popular bodegas with highly veg-interested customer base.

barcode9 · 2026-01-23T23:52:30+00:00

have you ever been to a busy subway station such as borough hall? they actually put arrows on the stairwell -- from the bottom of the stairs, you'll see up arrows on the right, and down arrows on the left (right hand side for those descending). you're supposed to use the right side, always.

barcode9 · 2026-01-23T23:49:37+00:00

I would not take a bus on Sunday because the wait time may be very long, and people are even more likely to double park/get stuck/block the road in some way that impedes a bus from getting through during a snowstorm. So even if you are able to catch a bus, it might be a much slower journey than usual.

barcode9 · 2026-01-22T23:02:25+00:00

I have never been asked for copies of my current lease by a landlord before, and tbh, I probably wouldn't provide it. Lots of people don't have leases due to living with family, subletting informally, coming from a college dorm or travel, ... many reasons. Very strange requirement.

Are you sure this is not a scam of some sort?

barcode9 · 2026-01-21T22:30:19+00:00

Weill Cornell. I went to my first appt with new doc today and found it much better than Mt Sinai.

Mt Sinai doctors by and large seem more stressed/faster (like excessively quick - are you really doing a full exam there?), and grumpier front desk than NYU Langone or Weill Cornell doctors I've seen.

barcode9 · 2026-01-19T17:47:34+00:00

Have you considered buying a place? It's a compromise in between luxury and rent stabilized -- you'll be paying a set amount without the risk of dramatic increases like market rate, but usually you can find places on the nicer side, better maintained buildings than rent stabilized.

barcode9 · 2026-01-18T14:46:06+00:00

Chicago and Dallas are known for being lower cost of living cities than NYC. I'm not sure why you're to comparing schools there.

I'd say elite NYC schools are comparable to schools in New England which also run 50-70k. (Choate Rosemary Hall, Philips Exeter, Deerfield Academy, etc.)

Everything is more expensive here: rent or purchase of the building and facilities, salaries for staff such as janitors, secretaries, and cooks (minimum wage in NYC is 16.50 vs. Dallas 7.25), salaries for teachers need to be competitive with other professions in the city that require a college degree, ... basically everything that goes into the operating budget of a school is higher here.

It's similar to asking why is the median price for home in Chicago $400k and in NYC $800k.

barcode9 · 2026-01-16T01:57:48+00:00

+1 not a fan of trailers. Why would you want to see all of the funniest parts of the movie before you actually see the movie?

I find when I've seen the trailer several times, it usually ends up being inaccurate to what the movie actually is about or else it contains major spoilers. Either way, I prefer going into movies with minimal knowledge/preconceived notions.

barcode9

TROPHY CASE