I hate to sound repetitious. But Miami Beach does have parking issues. However, let us praise when something works right.
I had my car at a lot today from 9:37 AM until almost six. A lot full of cars. I overstayed a few minutes, guess what, I got a ticket. Yes, parking enforcement is efficacious in Miami Beach, although not so much when it comes to fining business owners who park in unloading zones for hours on end. I don't know why that is.
But they were sure efficient today, giving my US$18.00 ticket, because I overstayed a few minutes after paying 8 bucks.
I do understand the need to make revenue for the city, however, I believe parking enforcement should also make sure that those sun-powered parking ticket dispensing machines work. FOR MOST OF THEM DON'T. At a day and age when carrying cash seems to be an evidence of criminality, and most ATMs basically charge as much as 10 % a day interest on your money, it seems that these stupid machines should be accepting credit cards at all times. I had to go to several machines today to get the one ticket that got me a fine. For it said "Full time allowed" which let me to think I was good until next morning.
Sure, I know nothing will be done, so I am not going to Court to dispute this, but at least I got this off my chest. Until the next ticket.
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Friday, September 28, 2012
Area Code 55 Churrascaria
Brazilian style churrascarias have become quite famous in the USA as of late, basically due to the success of the Fogo do Chao and Texas de Brazil chains. A few other restaurants of the type have appeared all over the country, in cities where probably no Brazilian individual has ever set foot.
I suppose they are filling up with non-Brazilians as well. Americans love them churrascarias.
The only problem is that although they are "All you can eat" affairs, Churrascarias have become awfully expensive for what they are. 50 bucks a pop to eat beef dressed only by kosher salt seems a tad out of the realm of reasonableness.
Sure, they have wonderful salad bars (most of them do, anyway), and some even offer sushi. However, if you eat too much from the salad bar, there goes the room for the beef. And you end up paying 50 bucks to eat salad!!!
There are people that can put away huge quantities of food, of course. That is why here in the good ole USA we have the largest number of fat people on the world. Really obese. Pros!
If you do not put away industrial loads of food normally, you end up over-eating at the the churrascaria, to compensate the huge tab, and if the meal has taken place at night, you will definitely need about 10 omeprazoles. Or sleep sitting down.
If you have a couple of drinks, a dessert, and coffee, the bill can easily border 100 bucks a head, after taxes, tips and whatever.
I am not an attorney, doctor, entertainer, CEO or professional athlete, so I basically cannot afford dinners at Fogo do Chao and Texas de Brazil anymore.
Area Code 55 actually offers a good option, which is reasonably priced meals for about 20 bucks for lunch, including on Saturdays until 4 PM. The old owners ran the house down, at one point serving copious amounts of bread on skewer, instead of meat, but Area Code 55's owners have restored the place.
I still find Brazilian churrasco better than the Argentine, multiple cut all you can eat equivalent like The Knife (the one at Bayside is terrible), and of you take the day time offer, much less expensive. Plus, you will be able to sleep at night, without the 10 omeprazoles.
http://www.areacode55.com
I suppose they are filling up with non-Brazilians as well. Americans love them churrascarias.
The only problem is that although they are "All you can eat" affairs, Churrascarias have become awfully expensive for what they are. 50 bucks a pop to eat beef dressed only by kosher salt seems a tad out of the realm of reasonableness.
Sure, they have wonderful salad bars (most of them do, anyway), and some even offer sushi. However, if you eat too much from the salad bar, there goes the room for the beef. And you end up paying 50 bucks to eat salad!!!
There are people that can put away huge quantities of food, of course. That is why here in the good ole USA we have the largest number of fat people on the world. Really obese. Pros!
If you do not put away industrial loads of food normally, you end up over-eating at the the churrascaria, to compensate the huge tab, and if the meal has taken place at night, you will definitely need about 10 omeprazoles. Or sleep sitting down.
If you have a couple of drinks, a dessert, and coffee, the bill can easily border 100 bucks a head, after taxes, tips and whatever.
I am not an attorney, doctor, entertainer, CEO or professional athlete, so I basically cannot afford dinners at Fogo do Chao and Texas de Brazil anymore.
Area Code 55 actually offers a good option, which is reasonably priced meals for about 20 bucks for lunch, including on Saturdays until 4 PM. The old owners ran the house down, at one point serving copious amounts of bread on skewer, instead of meat, but Area Code 55's owners have restored the place.
I still find Brazilian churrasco better than the Argentine, multiple cut all you can eat equivalent like The Knife (the one at Bayside is terrible), and of you take the day time offer, much less expensive. Plus, you will be able to sleep at night, without the 10 omeprazoles.
http://www.areacode55.com
Friday, September 21, 2012
Unreliability of internet tools
It is a bit frustrating that internet tools, which purport to be reliable, robot, real time driven, are so flawed.
Take Alexa, for instance, which ranks sites according to popularity. The information there is basically all bogus. Either that, or it gets updated every six months. Which makes one wonder about the efficacy of such a tool, given the internet world is supposed to be ever changing.
One thing is for sure. People believe Facebook is such a wonderful place to make blogs and such popular. This is also bogus. I have over the limit of 5000 friends in FB, and whenever I post a new blog entry, I might get 2 or 3 visits, tops!
Plus, links in Facebook do not do anything at all for one's google ranking. The system is closed, so whatever you get from there, that is it.
There is so much baloney going on the internet (and it has been so since day one), that it gets disheartening sometimes.
Take Alexa, for instance, which ranks sites according to popularity. The information there is basically all bogus. Either that, or it gets updated every six months. Which makes one wonder about the efficacy of such a tool, given the internet world is supposed to be ever changing.
One thing is for sure. People believe Facebook is such a wonderful place to make blogs and such popular. This is also bogus. I have over the limit of 5000 friends in FB, and whenever I post a new blog entry, I might get 2 or 3 visits, tops!
Plus, links in Facebook do not do anything at all for one's google ranking. The system is closed, so whatever you get from there, that is it.
There is so much baloney going on the internet (and it has been so since day one), that it gets disheartening sometimes.
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
Street owners
The streets are supposed to be public places, and the rules should apply to everybody.
Yet, here in Miami Beach, it seems some people think they own the street.
Owning a business, no matter how big it is, should not entitle one to privileges. Any type of regulation concerning public areas should look after the public good. Yet, some people think because they own a street level business in Miami Beach, that entitles them to special favors.
Worse yet, they seem to get the special favors!
A few business owners simply park their cars in front of their establishments for hours on end, in spite of yellow lines, and clear signs indicating LOADING ZONE, TOW AWAY ZONE.
The repetition of the misdeed is outrageous, for this is often done all the time, day after day.
LOADING ZONES do not belong to the business owner, and should not be used for parking of any type. That much is clear to me.
The arrogance is such that some of these business owners go as far as parking their cars with logos splashed all over, sure of impunity.
Adding insult to injury, MB PARKING ENFORCEMENT, which is always so eager to dispense tickets in public parking, a few minutes after expiration of meters, or calling TREMONT or BEACH TOWING to tow vehicles that are in clear (or unclear) violation of parking rules, does take this type of LOADING ZONE violation very lightly. Extremely lightly.
Food for thought.
Yet, here in Miami Beach, it seems some people think they own the street.
Owning a business, no matter how big it is, should not entitle one to privileges. Any type of regulation concerning public areas should look after the public good. Yet, some people think because they own a street level business in Miami Beach, that entitles them to special favors.
Worse yet, they seem to get the special favors!
A few business owners simply park their cars in front of their establishments for hours on end, in spite of yellow lines, and clear signs indicating LOADING ZONE, TOW AWAY ZONE.
The repetition of the misdeed is outrageous, for this is often done all the time, day after day.
LOADING ZONES do not belong to the business owner, and should not be used for parking of any type. That much is clear to me.
The arrogance is such that some of these business owners go as far as parking their cars with logos splashed all over, sure of impunity.
Adding insult to injury, MB PARKING ENFORCEMENT, which is always so eager to dispense tickets in public parking, a few minutes after expiration of meters, or calling TREMONT or BEACH TOWING to tow vehicles that are in clear (or unclear) violation of parking rules, does take this type of LOADING ZONE violation very lightly. Extremely lightly.
Food for thought.
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
WASTED MONEY IN MIAMI BEACH, MISUSE OF PUBLIC SPACE
There are things that look nice, as if the government is thinking and taking care of us, but once you analyze it deeply, you can see it was (or is) just a waste of time and money.
The problem is not always the government, but the poor mentality of the users. For instance, the people that live or cut across Miami Beach everyday.
I suppose drawing bike lanes on 71 Street did not cost millions of dollars, however, I bet it has cost more than a person's yearly salary, considering the high price of public contracts. I remember the street being closed, trucks here and there, tons of possibly highly paid slow workers, police, inconvenience and all that. This deployment of equipment and people does cost money, taxpayer's money.
The idea is excellent, however, most of the people that do use bikes as a mode of transportation in Miami Beach do not use such lanes. They continue to ride their bikes at full speed, on the sidewalk.
When the sidewalk is wide, as in front of the theater, I reckon sharing it with a racing bike is not a problem. The trouble arises when you are leisurely walking on the bridge after Bay Road. The sidewalk there is narrow, and cyclists seem to love startling passersby. They will certainly curse and wave their hands at you (or give you the finger) if you point out there is a bike lane.
Maybe they have not been properly educated, or they fear being hit by a car. However, I have walked on that bridge many times, and have seem elderly folks, often carrying groceries, working through the bridge. Plus small children and small animals. One of these days, a raging Lance Armstrong wannabe will definitely hit an old lady and throw her down the bay. Then what?
Is the use of these bike lanes optional? If not, I suppose the police should start looking into these bikers, lest the city be hit with onerous lawsuits from injured pedestrians. Because that is what is going to happen
Talking about the elderly, small children, and small animals...There is a gym on 71s Street, a cross fit gym near Collins Avenue, which uses the sidewalks as its private race track. Part of the training, I suppose, is racing around the block once.
This is another accident waiting to happen. These people run, sometimes carrying weights, with no regard whatsoever for the people who are walking on the street. At the corner of Harding and Seventy First, they race very close to the wall when making the turn (see the picture below, taken from their own site!), and I have nearly been hit a few times. Some of these dudes are huge, and getting hit by one of them at full speed, carrying weight, is similar to being run over by a small truck!
Additional trouble is, there is a store at that corner, and I can surely envision another elderly lady carrying groceries being stampeded by people who care much for their bodies, little for anything (or anybody) else.
The restaurants at Collins Avenue, which, by the way, pay an arm and a leg for rental, must also love the sweaty, high speed people almost crashing into their patrons.
I could understand if this were a neighborhood without parks, or proper venues to practice sport. But the fact is, one short block away from the gym, there is a wonderfully wide promenade built for running, which could be used by these folks without endangering the lives of old folks, small children or just regular adults.
Will anything be done?
PICTURE FROM THE GYM'S SITE
The problem is not always the government, but the poor mentality of the users. For instance, the people that live or cut across Miami Beach everyday.
I suppose drawing bike lanes on 71 Street did not cost millions of dollars, however, I bet it has cost more than a person's yearly salary, considering the high price of public contracts. I remember the street being closed, trucks here and there, tons of possibly highly paid slow workers, police, inconvenience and all that. This deployment of equipment and people does cost money, taxpayer's money.
The idea is excellent, however, most of the people that do use bikes as a mode of transportation in Miami Beach do not use such lanes. They continue to ride their bikes at full speed, on the sidewalk.
When the sidewalk is wide, as in front of the theater, I reckon sharing it with a racing bike is not a problem. The trouble arises when you are leisurely walking on the bridge after Bay Road. The sidewalk there is narrow, and cyclists seem to love startling passersby. They will certainly curse and wave their hands at you (or give you the finger) if you point out there is a bike lane.
Maybe they have not been properly educated, or they fear being hit by a car. However, I have walked on that bridge many times, and have seem elderly folks, often carrying groceries, working through the bridge. Plus small children and small animals. One of these days, a raging Lance Armstrong wannabe will definitely hit an old lady and throw her down the bay. Then what?
Is the use of these bike lanes optional? If not, I suppose the police should start looking into these bikers, lest the city be hit with onerous lawsuits from injured pedestrians. Because that is what is going to happen
Talking about the elderly, small children, and small animals...There is a gym on 71s Street, a cross fit gym near Collins Avenue, which uses the sidewalks as its private race track. Part of the training, I suppose, is racing around the block once.
This is another accident waiting to happen. These people run, sometimes carrying weights, with no regard whatsoever for the people who are walking on the street. At the corner of Harding and Seventy First, they race very close to the wall when making the turn (see the picture below, taken from their own site!), and I have nearly been hit a few times. Some of these dudes are huge, and getting hit by one of them at full speed, carrying weight, is similar to being run over by a small truck!
Additional trouble is, there is a store at that corner, and I can surely envision another elderly lady carrying groceries being stampeded by people who care much for their bodies, little for anything (or anybody) else.
The restaurants at Collins Avenue, which, by the way, pay an arm and a leg for rental, must also love the sweaty, high speed people almost crashing into their patrons.
I could understand if this were a neighborhood without parks, or proper venues to practice sport. But the fact is, one short block away from the gym, there is a wonderfully wide promenade built for running, which could be used by these folks without endangering the lives of old folks, small children or just regular adults.
Will anything be done?
PICTURE FROM THE GYM'S SITE
Saturday, August 25, 2012
Whatever happened to you are welcome?
Funny times we live in.
One of the most beautiful expressions in the English language is replying "you are welcome", when somebody thanks you. You can embellish if a bit using "quite", "very", "very much", between "are" and "welcome". It shows appreciation, deference, respect to your fellow being, even love for humanity. All positive things, things that could make society better, if practiced on a daily basis.
Yet, I noticed that the respectful, loving, appreciative "you are welcome" is now being replaced by a nasty "no problem", and variations thereof, such as "sure, no problem", etc..
It seems that the generation of LOL, omg, lmao, believes that "you are welcome" is a cheesy, old style, unassertive response to thanks, and has replaced it with the now ominous "no problem". This "no problem" seems to me a tad passive aggressive, and even worse, it gives the person who utters it an air of superiority. In other word, the very reverse of "you are welcome". It seems to be short for "no problem this time, but don't try me".
If "no problem" were used with a smiling face, that showed some physical semblance of appreciation where words fell short, ok. However, people who use this expression have an air of arrogance that would make Madonna and Lindsey Lohan blush.
I wonder if they are being taught this is good customer service?
One of the most beautiful expressions in the English language is replying "you are welcome", when somebody thanks you. You can embellish if a bit using "quite", "very", "very much", between "are" and "welcome". It shows appreciation, deference, respect to your fellow being, even love for humanity. All positive things, things that could make society better, if practiced on a daily basis.
Yet, I noticed that the respectful, loving, appreciative "you are welcome" is now being replaced by a nasty "no problem", and variations thereof, such as "sure, no problem", etc..
It seems that the generation of LOL, omg, lmao, believes that "you are welcome" is a cheesy, old style, unassertive response to thanks, and has replaced it with the now ominous "no problem". This "no problem" seems to me a tad passive aggressive, and even worse, it gives the person who utters it an air of superiority. In other word, the very reverse of "you are welcome". It seems to be short for "no problem this time, but don't try me".
If "no problem" were used with a smiling face, that showed some physical semblance of appreciation where words fell short, ok. However, people who use this expression have an air of arrogance that would make Madonna and Lindsey Lohan blush.
I wonder if they are being taught this is good customer service?
Friday, August 24, 2012
Facebook, the new twitter, a whole lotta sex and celebrities
I do not hide my dislike for twitter. To me, it is the greatest waste of time EVER. Sure, there might be some good uses for certain businesses. By and large, though, it is full of celebrities, or celebrity wannabes, offering little or no content of real interest to humanity.
A lot of titillation, sexual innuendo, waste of grey matter. No real interaction is offered. And people are deceived into thinking that most celebrities are actually posting things, when it is really PR people. What a waste!
The problem is that Facebook is becoming the same.
A few years ago, before twitter began to be promoted as the "next" internet thing, Facebook was a place where there was true interaction among real people.
The problem is that now it is cluttered by a celebrities galore, some true, others fake. Plus the hundreds of thousand (millions?) sexy profiles that were supposedly prohibited, but spring about all over.
People are so silly. They believe that the celebrities are really posting things, when in most cases, it is PR people. Silly, silly, naive people! Celebs are out having a ball with the money you give them, not interested in what you think about their supposed latest action!
When a celebrity "writes" an update in Facebook, immediately, dozens if not hundreds of likes, comments and shares ensue.
If you are a nobody, forget it, unless you put a silly picture, a baby, animal or sexy woman photo, you get no feedback.
Thus, celebrities have by their sheer volume, destroyed another good Internet platform.
It may be time for me to just walk away from the thing.
A lot of titillation, sexual innuendo, waste of grey matter. No real interaction is offered. And people are deceived into thinking that most celebrities are actually posting things, when it is really PR people. What a waste!
The problem is that Facebook is becoming the same.
A few years ago, before twitter began to be promoted as the "next" internet thing, Facebook was a place where there was true interaction among real people.
The problem is that now it is cluttered by a celebrities galore, some true, others fake. Plus the hundreds of thousand (millions?) sexy profiles that were supposedly prohibited, but spring about all over.
People are so silly. They believe that the celebrities are really posting things, when in most cases, it is PR people. Silly, silly, naive people! Celebs are out having a ball with the money you give them, not interested in what you think about their supposed latest action!
When a celebrity "writes" an update in Facebook, immediately, dozens if not hundreds of likes, comments and shares ensue.
If you are a nobody, forget it, unless you put a silly picture, a baby, animal or sexy woman photo, you get no feedback.
Thus, celebrities have by their sheer volume, destroyed another good Internet platform.
It may be time for me to just walk away from the thing.
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