Tap Water Sales May Tap Out

A local entrepreneur is trying to tap into a fortune. Craig Zucker, an Ohioan transplant since 2003, is bottling NYC’s tap water (eliminating chlorine and impurities through reverse osmosis) under the name Tap’d NY. Reports from around the city indicate his water bottles aren’t exactly flooding the market. New York City's water is considered to be one of the best waters in the world. It’s what makes our local pizza taste so good too! Zucker’s intentions to provide New Yorker’s with the best water possible is honorable. He believes import water is an insult to New Yorkers. Perhaps his sales are at a "slow drip" because selling water New Yorkers get for free is an insult to our intelligence.

S And M Spanked In No-Fun City

Bad girls. Bad girls. Beep, beep. A Tribeca S and M "pleasure palace" was busted after a dominatrix offered sex to an undercover cop. The Manhattan club, Rapture NYC was closed with the owner and pain management domme now charged with prostitution. Whether the charge is true or not, a jury may decide. A sign in the establishment states, “We do not engage in any form of prostitution whatsoever, so don’t even ask!” Other signs are posted stating that sex isn’t permitted. Who knows what really went on behind their closed doors? Let's get real, people. It's 2008. What one defines these days as "prostitution," another might define as "pleasure for payment' with both partners regarding the sex as a "business arrangement" or "mutually consensual." Was this act so despicably different from a "date" where the male or female willingly engages in sex after money was spent on them? Who are the victims in either situation? Activities at this club were going on behind closed doors. This is not to defend hookers selling their wares on city streets. Actions of that sort have a far greater negative impact than an S and M club or even a house of prostitution. Perhaps it’s time to re-examine privacy rights and the definition of what constitutes criminal behavior in our society. Maybe we should consider that if a woman has a right to abortion in America, she should also have the right to use her body as she chooses, for her own reasons. Once again, the stipulation being that our New York society and neighbors shouldn't suffer as a result.

Fun City Is Condom Capitol

New Yorkers are getting screwed again and again and again! The Mayor’s Management Report states that the city Health Department gave away 39,070,000 male condoms during the 2008 fiscal year. That’s more than double what was handed out the last fiscal year. It far surpasses that of the next municipality too with a similar type of program. The cost was a little over $1 million, not counting the cost of female condom products that were also given out though in lesser supply. That price is significantly cheaper than the estimated $350,000 lifetime cost of medicating a single AIDS patient. It's a good investment for city residents/lovers on many practical levels. This year, the goal is to distribute 51 million male condoms. Legitimate, distribution organizations (In other words, no eBay entrepreneur types.) may request as many as they can put to good use. Finally, a good city government program being put to good use. What a rarity. Let’s keep it up New York!

The Nuke-Not NYPD

The Police Department received a $29.6 million anti-terrorism federal grant that will help complete a radiological detector “ring of steel.” This network of high-tech devices is supposed to prevent radioactive materials and nuclear weapons from entering New York City (I wonder if these security measures prevent these things from leaving the city if they’re already here.). Let’s pray the new equipment will work as well as the NYPD has since 9/11.

The Card King From Kings

To be a poker champion is not in the cards for most players. Brooklyn’s Ylon Schwartz, 38, has proven to be an ace among jokers, however. He’s become a recognized and successful tournament player. A former chess master at 23, he did poorly in school. Yet, because of his "gambler’s" reputation, he received several lucrative Wall Street jobs offers; each of which he declined (I wonder if Wall Street institutions still like to hire gamblers after the stock market collapse.). In the 1990’s Schwartz took up and subsequently mastered poker too. This year alone, he’ll earn over $1 million. Not bad for the Park Slope native who once hustled chess games in Manhattan's Washington Square Park.

Kings And Pawns In Queens

It’s the best of times. It’s the worst of times. There’s an obvious divide in the city between those with money in their pockets … and those with gaping holes. Councilman Eric Gioia (D-Queens) believes Mayor Bloomberg’s proposed 5,000 apartment public housing project along the Long Island City waterfront is an opportunity to do more for the middle class and poor. His vision of the plan provides more apartments for middle and lower-income families. Perhaps the recent decline in the stock market ends his argument before it’s raised. The line between all New Yorkers has been narrowed. In this instance, it's probably not a good thing.

The Return Of Squeegee

Years ago, Rudy squeezed them out of the city to benefit our “quality-of-life.” Rudy’s gone. Now, street window-washers have returned. Several have been spotted "cleaning up" near the Lincoln Tunnel wiping windshields for tips, much to the dismay of drivers. These wipers were known to pursue their cleaning chores in an aggressive manner, leaving motorists intimidated … and with a dirty windshield. Some drivers report the same behavior. New York entrepreneurs should be admired. New York "squeegee guys" should be arrested. Hot dog vendors aren’t allowed to shove their wieners down your throat. Nobody should be permitted to force their wet wipes on your windows either.