Solar System Address Book

April in New York

Broadway

Broadway was originally the Wickquasgeck Trail, carved into the brush land of Manhattan by its Native American inhabitants. This trail originally snaked through swamps and rocks along the length of Manhattan Island. Upon the arrival of the Dutch, the trail soon became the main road through the island from Nieuw Amsterdam at the southern tip. The Dutch explorer and entrepreneur David de Vries gives the first mention of it in his journal for the year 1642. The Dutch named the road "Heerestraat". In the mid-eighteenth century, part of Broadway in what is now lower Manhattan was known as Great George Street. In the 18th century, Broadway ended at the town commons north of Wall Street, where Eastern Post Road continued through the East Side and Bloomingdale Road the west side of the island. In the late 19th century the widened and paved part of Bloomingdale Road north of Columbus Circle was called "The Boulevard" but on February 14, 1899 the name "Broadway" was extended to the whole old road.



Broadway runs the length of Manhattan Island, from Bowling Green at the south, to Inwood at the northern tip of the island. South of Columbus Circle, it is a one-way southbound street. Starting in 2009, vehicular traffic is banned at Times Square between 47th and 42nd Streets, and at Herald Square between 35th and 33rd Streets as part of a pilot program; the right-of-way is intact and reserved for cyclists and pedestrians. From the northern shore of Manhattan, Broadway crosses Spuyten Duyvil Creek via the Broadway Bridge and continues through Marble Hill and the Bronx into Westchester County.



Broadway was once a two-way street for its entire length. The present status, in which it runs one-way southbound south of Columbus Circle, came about in several stages. First, on June 6, 1954, Seventh Avenue became southbound and Eighth Avenue became northbound south of Broadway. None of Broadway became one-way, but the increased southbound traffic between Columbus Circle and Times Square caused the city to restripe that section of Broadway for four southbound and two northbound lanes. Broadway became one-way from Columbus Circle south to Herald Square on March 10, 1957, in conjunction with Sixth Avenue becoming one-way from Herald Square north to 59th Street and Seventh Avenue becoming one-way from 59th Street south to Times Square. On June 3, 1962, Broadway became one-way south of Canal Street, with Trinity Place and Church Street carrying northbound traffic. Another change was made on November 10, 1963, when Broadway became one-way southbound from Herald Square to Madison Square and Union Square to Canal Street, and two routes - Sixth Avenue south of Herald Square and Centre Street, Lafayette Street, and Fourth Avenue south of Union Square - became one-way northbound.

Times Square (III)

The theaters of Broadway and the huge number of animated neon and LED signs have long made them one of New York's iconic images, and a symbol of the intensely urban aspects of Manhattan. Times Square is the only neighborhood with zoning ordinances requiring building owners to display illuminated signs. The density of illuminated signs in Times Square now rivals that of Las Vegas. Officially, signs in Times Square are called "spectaculars", and the largest of them are called "jumbotrons."
Notable signage includes the Toshiba billboard directly under the NYE ball drop and the curved seven-story NASDAQ sign at the NASDAQ MarketSite at 4 Times Square on 43rd Street and the curved Coca-Cola sign located underneath another large LED display owned and operated by Samsung. Both the Coca-Cola sign and Samsung LED displays were built by LED display manufacturer Daktronics. Times Square's first environmentally friendly billboard powered by wind and solar energy was first lit on December 4, 2008.
In 1992, the Times Square Alliance, a coalition of city government and local businesses dedicated to improving the quality of commerce and cleanliness in the district, started operations in the area. Times Square now boasts attractions such as ABC's Times Square Studios, where Good Morning America is broadcast live, an elaborate Toys "Я" Us store, and competing Hershey's and M&M's stores across the street from each other, as well as restaurants such as Ruby Foo's, the Bubba Gump Shrimp Company, Planet Hollywood Restaurant and Bar and Carmine's along with a number of multiplex movie theaters. It has also attracted a number of large financial, publishing, and media firms to set up headquarters in the area. A larger presence of police has improved the safety of the area.
In 2002, New York City's mayor, Rudy Giuliani, gave the oath of office to the city's next mayor, Michael Bloomberg, at Times Square after midnight on January 1 as part of the 2001–2002 New Year's celebration. Approximately 500,000 revelers attended. Security was high following the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, with more than 7,000 New York City police on duty in the Square, twice the number for an ordinary year.
From August 14, 2003 to August 15, 2003, the lights of Times Square went dark as a result of the 2003 Northeast blackout, which paralyzed most of the region and parts of Canada for over 24 hours. Power was finally restored to the area on the evening of Friday, August 15.



On February 26, 2009, Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced that traffic lanes along Broadway from 42nd Street to 47th Street would be de-mapped starting Memorial Day 2009 and transformed into pedestrian plazas until at least the end of the year as a trial. The same was done from 33rd to 35th Street. The goal is to ease traffic congestion throughout the Midtown grid. The results will be closely monitored to determine if the project works and should be extended." Bloomberg also stated " he believes the street shutdown will make New York more livable by reducing pollution, cutting down on pedestrian accidents and helping traffic flow more smoothly."
The original seats put out for pedestrians were inexpensive multicolored plastic lawn chairs, a source of amusement to many New Yorkers. They lasted from the onset of the plaza transformation until August 14, 2009, when they were ceremoniously bundled together in an installation christened "Now You See It, Now You Don't" by the artist Jason Peters. They were shortly replaced by sturdier metal furniture, and on February 11, 2010, Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced that the pedestrian plazas would remain permanent.

Times Square (II)

Before and after the American Revolution, the area belonged to John Morin Scott, a general of the New York militia where he served under George Washington. Scott's Manor House was at what is now 43rd Street, surrounded by countryside used for farming and breeding horses. In the first half of the 19th century it became one of the prized possessions of John Jacob Astor, who made a second fortune selling off lots to hotels and other real estate concerns as the city rapidly spread uptown.
In 1904, New York Times publisher Adolph S. Ochs moved the newspaper's operations to a new skyscraper on 42nd Street at Longacre Square. Ochs persuaded Mayor George B. McClellan, Jr. to construct a subway station there, and the area was renamed "Times Square" on April 8, 1904. Just three weeks later, the first electrified advertisement appeared on the side of a bank at the corner of 46th Street and Broadway.
The New York Times, according to Nolan, moved to more spacious offices across Broadway in 1913. The old Times Building was later named the Allied Chemical Building. Now known simply as One Times Square, it is famed for the Times Square Ball drop on its roof every New Year's Eve.
Also in 1913, the Lincoln Highway Association, headed by entrepreneur Carl G. Fisher, chose the intersection of 42nd Street and Broadway, at the southeast corner of Times Square, to be the Eastern Terminus of the Lincoln Highway, the first road across America, which originally spanned 3,389 miles coast-to-coast through 13 states to its Western Terminus in Lincoln Park in San Francisco, California.
As the growth in New York City continued, Times Square quickly became a cultural hub full of theaters, music halls, and upscale hotels.

Times Square (I)

Times Square is a major intersection in Manhattan, a borough of New York City, at the junction of Broadway and Seventh Avenue and stretching from West 42nd to West 47th Streets. The Times Square area consists of the blocks between Sixth and Eighth Avenues from east to west, and West 40th and West 53rd Streets from south to north, making up the western part of the commercial area of Midtown Manhattan.
Formerly named Longacre Square, Times Square was renamed after the Times Building in April 1904. Times Square, nicknamed "The Crossroads of the World," has achieved the status of an iconic world landmark and has become a symbol of New York City. Times Square is principally defined by its spectaculars, animated, digital advertisements.
The intersection of Broadway and 42nd Street, at the south-east corner of Times Square, is the Eastern Terminus of the Lincoln Highway, the first road across the United States of America.

Ocean Parkway

Ocean Parkway extends over a distance of about five miles, running almost north to south from the vicinity of Prospect Park to Coney Island and Brighton Beach. The parkway runs roughly parallel to Coney Island Avenue, an important commercial avenue several blocks to the east. It consists of a central bidirectional avenue of seven lanes, the middle lane being for left turns or a painted median, two small parallel side streets, and two medians with trees, benches, and pedestrian paths. The west median also has a bike path, part of the Brooklyn-Queens Greenway. The parkway is designated New York State Route 908H, an unsigned reference route.

Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux suggested the Ocean Parkway to Brooklyn park commissioners in reports prepared during the 1860s. They drew up a plan together for the parkway, inspired by boulevards in Berlin and Paris. In 1868 the land was acquired by the City of Brooklyn; work began in 1874 and was completed in 1880. The resulting parkway was similar to the Eastern Parkway, with a central roadway, a grassy median and pedestrian path, and a commercial road, with a total width of 210 feet. Trees, playing tables, and benches lined the pedestrian path and boulevard. The parkway began at Park Circle, and passed through Windsor Terrace, Parkville, and other neighborhoods. As time passed, new neighborhoods were built along its route. The Prospect Expressway, built in the 1950s, replaced the northernmost half-mile of the parkway, and in 1975 the parkway was designated a landmark by the city to prevent any additional alterations.



The pedestrian path was split in 1894 to create the first bike path in the United States. Around 1900, homes were constructed along the perimeter of the parkway, and during World War I, many mansions were built. Buyers came to Ocean Parkway from Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn Heights, and Bushwick. In the 1920s, apartment complexes and one- and two-family homes were constructed; the northernmost portion of the parkway became the site of luxurious, elevator-equipped apartment buildings.

history of Ocean Parkway

Roast Beef With Pan Gravy

-- 4- to 5-pound boneless rump roast
-- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
-- 1 teaspoon granulated garlic
-- 1 teaspoon onion powder
-- 1 teaspoon paprika
-- 1 tablespoon coarse-ground black pepper
-- 2 teaspoons coarse salt
-- Adjust the rack to the bottom of the oven and preheat to 450°F.

Prepare the Roast:

FIRST, blot any excess moisture from the roast using paper towels. Rub the Worcestershire sauce over the entire roast; allow the roast to sit for a few minutes, turning it several times so that the meat can absorb the Worcestershire.

SECOND, combine the granulated garlic, onion powder, paprika and coarse-ground pepper in a small bowl; sprinkle the seasoning mixture evenly over the roast, pressing it into the fat and meat just enough to stick. Allow the seasoned roast to stand at room temperature for 20 to 30 minutes before roasting.

THIRD, rub the roast with the coarse salt and place it fat side up in a shallow roasting pan. Roast for 15 minutes, then lower the oven temperature to 325°F. Continue to cook until the internal temperature reaches 5 to 10 degrees below the desired serving temperature, about 2 hours. (Note: Allow about 20 minutes per pound for medium-rare.) When the roast is done, carefully remove the pan from the oven and transfer the roast to a clean cutting board. Allow the roast to stand for 20 minutes before slicing.

Pan Gravy:
-- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
-- 2 cups beef broth
-- Salt and pepper to taste

Make the Gravy:
Use a spoon to skim all the fat from the liquid that remains in the roasting pan. Reserve about 4 tablespoons of fat in a small mixing bowl and cool until it is just barely warm, 4 to 5 minutes. Whisk the flour into the fat to form a roux. Scrape the drippings from the bottom of the pan, add in the beef broth and stir over medium heat until the broth begins to simmer. Whisk in the roux and bring to a boil, then simmer for 4 to 5 minutes. Add a little water, a tablespoon at a time, as needed to achieve the desired consistency. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Present the Roast:
Use a sharp carving knife to cut thin slices against the grain. Arrange the slices on a decorative platter and pour the irresistible juices left on the cutting board over the meat. Pass the gravy alongside in a gravy boat.

My own recipes!

1. STEAK IN CREAMY MUSHROOM SAUCE

4 beef top loin steaks (approximately 1 1/2 lbs.)
1 tbsp. butter

SAUCE:
1/2 lb. fresh mushrooms, sliced
1 tbsp. butter
1/2 c. onion, chopped
2 tbsp. flour
1 1/2 c. half & half
2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp. garlic powder
Salt & pepper to taste

Trim steaks and allow to sit at room temperature for 2 hours.
Meanwhile prepare sauce: In a heavy skillet saute mushrooms in butter until they are slightly brown; add onions and continue to saute until onions are golden and transparent; sprinkle with flour and stir to blend. Add half & half, stirring a little at a time, simmer until thick and creamy. Add Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, salt and pepper.
In another skillet, brown a tablespoon butter; add steaks and brown slightly on both sides. Reduce heat, cover and allow steaks to simmer for a few minutes in their own juices. Pour mushroom sauce over steaks and continue simmering for a few more minutes until they are tender and done to your liking. Serves 4.


2. BROILED STEAK WITH MUSHROOM WINE SAUCE

2 tbsp. butter
1/4 lb. mushrooms, thinly sliced
2 tbsp. finely chopped onions
2 tsp. flour
1 clove garlic
1/4 tsp. salt and pepper
2 tbsp. tomato paste
1/2 c. dry red wine
1/4 c. water
2 lb. boneless sirloin steak

In small saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Add mushrooms, onion, and garlic; saute until onion is transparent, stirring frequently. Remove from heat.
Stir in flour, salt, pepper and tomato paste. Blend in wine and water. Bring to a boil, stirring frequently. Cover, reduce heat and simmer about 20 minutes. Meanwhile, broil steak to desired doneness. Serve with wine sauce. Makes 6 servings.

About Depersonalization...

Depersonalization (or depersonalisation) is a malfunction or anomaly of the mechanism by which an individual has self-awareness. It is a feeling of watching oneself act, while having no control over a situation. It can be considered desirable, such as in the use of recreational drugs, but it usually refers to the severe form found in anxiety and, in the most intense cases, panic attacks. Sufferers feel they have changed, and the world has become less real, vague, dreamlike, or lacking in significance. It can be a disturbing experience, since many feel that, indeed, they are living in a "dream".
In social psychology, the term depersonalization has a different meaning. In this area of research, depersonalization refers to a switch to a group level of self-categorization in which self and others are seen in terms of their group identities.
Depersonalization is a subjective experience of unreality in one's sense of self, while derealization is unreality of the outside world. Although most authors currently regard depersonalization and derealization as independent constructs, many do not want to separate derealization from depersonalization. The main reason for this is nosological, because these symptoms often co-occur, but there is another reason of great philosophical importance, namely, that the phenomenological experience of self, others, and world is one continuous whole. Thus, feelings of unreality may blend in and the person may puzzle over whether it is the self or the world that feels unreal.
Chronic depersonalization refers to depersonalization disorder, which is classified by the DSM-IV as a dissociative disorder. Though depersonalization-derealization feelings can happen to anyone subject to temporary severe anxiety/stress, chronic depersonalization is more related to individuals who have experienced a severe trauma or prolonged stress/anxiety. Depersonalization-derealization is the single most important symptom in the spectrum of dissociative disorders, including Dissociative Identity Disorder and Dissociative Disorder Not Otherwise Specified. It is also a prominent symptom in some other non-dissociative disorders, such as anxiety disorders, clinical depression, bipolar disorder, borderline personality disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, migraine, sleep deprivation, and some types of epilepsy.

Individuals who experience depersonalization feel divorced from their own personal physicality by sensing their body sensations, feelings, emotions and behaviors as not belonging to the same person or identity. Often a person who has experienced depersonalization claims that life "feels like a movie" or things seem unreal or hazy. Also, a recognition of self breaks down. Depersonalization can result in very high anxiety levels, which further increase these perceptions.
One way to describe the physical manifestation of the feeling is to compare it to a film technique called the vertigo shot or, technically, a dolly zoom. In this technique, the subject of the picture stays fixed within the shot while the surrounding background is pulled away, providing a sense of vertigo or detachment. People may perceive this feeling in a cyclical manner, where the feeling is experienced back-to-back in succession.

The symptom of depersonalization is the third most common psychological symptom, after feelings of anxiety and feelings of depression. Depersonalization can also accompany sleep deprivation, migraine, obsessive-compulsive disorder, stress, and anxiety; it is a symptom of anxiety disorders, such as panic disorder. Interoceptive exposure is a non-pharmacological method that can be used to induce depersonalization.
A study of undergraduate students found that individuals high on the depersonalization/derealization subscale of the Dissociative Experiences Scale exhibited a more pronounced cortisol response. Individuals high on the absorption subscale, which measures a subject's experiences of concentration to the exclusion of awareness of other events, showed weaker cortisol responses.

more about Depersonalization

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German Black Forest Cuckoo Clocks

Black forest cuckoo clocks have been in existance for around 400 years. They started in the Black Forest region of Germany and are still produced today from the same region.
The chalet style of the German clocks originated at the end of the nineteenth century in Switzerland and at that time they were regarded as Swiss souvenirs. During this time, three styles of chalet clocks were born - the Swiss chalet, Black Forest chalet and the Bavarian chalet. With the Bavarian chalet, came the incorporation of a Swiss music box of which the most popular melodies were "Happy Wanderer" and "Edelweiss" and this is why today you will most often see these songs in German chalet and cuckoo clocks.

Dingyao Porcelain - Chinese traditional art

Ding porcelain refers to the porcelain made by the Ding kilns in ancient China. Many Ding kilns have been found between the Tongtain River of Beizhen and the foot of West Mountain near Yanchuan Village in Quyang County. In ancient times, this ten kilometer region in the Hebei Province was known as Dingzhou, hence the name ‘ding porcelain’. Today, there are many craftsmen who specialize in imitating the ancient styles and techniques of ding porcelain.
The Dingyao kilns were first built during the Sui (581-618) and Tang (618-907) Dynasties. Early Ding porcelain was single coloured with limited decoration. The Ding kilns became one of the major porcelain kilns during the Song Dynasty (960-1279), along with the Junyao, Ruyao, Guanyao and Geyao kilns. Each kiln supplied porcelain ware for the royal court which was used within the imperial household or by high officials. It was famous for its off-white glazes, finely detailed engravings and imprinted patterns. After its widespread success in the Song Dynasty, the production of Ding porcelain began to decline in the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368). Approximately twenty kilns and four ancient porcelain workshops have been uncovered in the ancient Dongzhou region.
Dingyao porcelain wares were produced through unique upside-down firing which created no glaze at the mouth of the body. The unglazed rim called “Mang Kou” was usually decorated with gold, silver and copper.
Ding porcelain comes in many unique shapes and colours and is known for its well-proportioned shades and hues. It is usually categorized by its colours which include white, black, purple, red, green and yellow. The black porcelain is pitch dark and reflects natural images from its surface. The red and purple are similar in shades and produced in small quantities. The green porcelain is the rarest type of Ding porcelain while the yellow porcelain is the most commonly found. The white porcelain is the most cherished type as its cream complexion has been given the reputation of “Ding white ware is the most beautiful white colour in the world”. Of the five famous Song kilns, Ding Kilns were the only ones to produce white porcelain.
Ding white porcelain was the most famous ceramic ware from Dingyao. There were three main styles of white porcelain which were distributed throughout China during the dynastic periods. Incised patterns were mainly used to decorate vessels from the Ding kiln’s early development. Incised curves were carved into the vessels using fine bamboo slips once the clay was nearly dry. Engraved patterns were omplemented by incised decorations. They were often used together to create contrasting, elegant designs. Impressed patterns were popular during the Northern Song Dynasty (1127-1279). Impressed designs were used for decorating inside bowls and plates.
There are many porcelain wares which were created from the Ding kilns including bowls, tubs, jars, vases. Tea pots, burners, Bodhisattva figurines, Buddha figurines and toys. Each porcelain ware is handmade with the greatest care to avoid any flaws.
The Quxian County in the Hebei Province has been successful in creating elegant imitations of porcelain from the ancient Dingzhou kilns. The craftsmen have been able to reproduce over fifty varieties of Ding porcelain wares such as plates with dragon and phoenix patterns, plates with four season flowers and exquisite vases with two handles.
Ding porcelain is acknowledged for its important part in the developmental history of Chinese porcelain. Its unique firing techniques and smooth and spotless designs have influenced many modern porcelain styles seen today. It has been regarded as one of the most famous ancient porcelain styles not only in China but within the world. In 1988, Ding porcelain was nominated as a key cultural relic under state protection by the state council. The amazing porcelain wares from the Ding kilns of the Song Dynasty are now ancient artifacts, however, imitations influenced by Dingyao porcelain ware has become an art form within itself. Craftsmen are gradually uncovering the amazing and original secrets from the Ding Kilns.

MATRESHKA - handmade Russian nesting doll

First russian nesting doll was of 8 pieces nesting doll made by woodcarver Zvezdochkin and painted by artist Malutin in 1890. "Matryona" or fond Matryosha was popular women name in old Russia. It became worldwide known when it got gold medal on World Exhibition in Paris in 1900. There were many clever artists those times who originated a new style in applied art of nesting dolls designing. Thanks to V. Ivanov, I. Busigin, I. Prokhorov, M. Vrubel, N. Bulichev and many others, nesting dolls were so popular in the beginning of 20 century that some foreign entrepreneurs started to produce these dolls. At the same time there formed centers of nesting dolls in Russia. First of them was dolls making center Sergiev Posad. Later babooshka dolls were made in Polhovsky Maidan and in Semenov too. In Soviet Russia nesting dolls were mass-produced with standardized designs. But since Perestroyka of M. Gorbatchev individually designed nesting dolls have got the second wind. Until the late ninetieth of 20 century, nesting dolls were customary to paint only with the several variant of the designing manner and to use a simple set of depicting means; the whole of doll was then lacquered. Author nesting dolls, however, are made in many painting ways - for the front and for the back. Often the facial expression and position of the arms are tokens of the artist. By varying the color palette of the flowers and the miniatures of the front side, a single type of nesting dolls can be given many different expressions. Gold foil , aquarelle and manifold decorative furnishings add the nesting dolls peculiar visual effect.

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