Thousands jumped off the Empire State Building Thursday as part of the famed skycraper's 12th annual No-Hassie Suicide Day, during which anyone can take the iconic 86-story plunge without having to worry about being stopped, fined, or serving time in prison.
Calling this year's event a "resounding success," building officials said that once the final body had hit the pavement, No-Hassle Suicide Day 2011 would go down as the most well attended in history, with jumpers coming from all 50 states and all corners of the globe to take advantage of the lax building security and the New York City Police Department's promise not to talk anyone down.
At press time, 18,755 people had jumped off the Empire State Building.
"For 364 days of the year, security on our observation deck is tight, and any person who threatens to jump is typically tackled and arrested before he gets a chance to climb our safety fence," building owner Anthony Malkin told reporters, while behind him as many as 15 bodies could be seen falling through the sky. "But on the third Thursday of every June, we open up our doors, lower our guardrails, and let people jump-----no question asked-------off one of the most famous buildings in all of the world."
"So if you've lost your will to live and want the ultimate suicide experience, come on down to the historic Empire State Building," he added. "Tickets are only $15."
Citing high unemployment, the recent wave of natural disasters, an increase in home foreclosures, and a general rise in population, city officials said they had expected a large turnout, but they hadn't expected such an international presence or having to extend jumping hours past 9 p..m. Sources confirmed that Wednesday night ----- nearly 14 hours before the first body careened onto Fifth Avenue ----- a line of despondent individuals began forming at the building's entrance, and by morning it stretched 15 city blocks.
Jumpers were assured that the 86th floor observation deck would remain open even if wind conditions turned dangerous, and that they would have the option of falling onto the hood of a car for an extra $20.
In addition, the skycraper's metal detectors were reportedly removed in case anyone wanted to bring a gun and blow his brains out, whether on the elevator ride up or during the six-second trip down.
"I've been looking forward to this day for a while," said 42-year-old Kevin Washington, who added that he really didn't want to talk about why he was jumping off it. "I actually tried to jump off it about eight months ago, but I got caught and had to go through this whole mental evaluation thing. It was a real pain. I was told to come back on Suicide Day when it would be smooth sailing."
"Well, looks like I'm up," he added. "See ya." Started in 2000, No-Hassle Suicide Day has quickly become a signature New York City experience. In addition to the thousands who leap to their deaths, even more enjoy the festivities by coming out to watch the barrage of falling bodies, buy an "I Didn't Survive No-Hassle Suicide Day" T-shirt, or eat a "Suicide Dog," which is a hot dog with ketchup and hot sauce.
In what has become one of the event's longstanding traditions, members of the clean-up crew often allow children to operate the power washers used to spray off the concrete after each set of 200 suicides.
"Normally we wouldn't allow it, but for an extra $100, a suicidal person can climb to the top of the building's spire and jump from there," said building superintendent Stephen Fitzpatrick, adding that ankle weights were also available for purchase in the gift shop. "On No-Hassle Suicide Day, the motto around here is: No one can stop them but themselves."
"This is just another way to celebrate all that New York City has to offer," Mayor Michael Bloomberg told reporters. "Typically I don't take part in the festivities. But I've basically done everything I can do as mayor, I'm not running for president, and as of late I've been asking myself, 'What's the point of all of this, anyway?' And the truth is, there is no point. There's really no point at all."
Saturday, July 16, 2011
LET'S CELEBRATE NATIONAL JUNK FOOD DAY, JULY 21 !
- The first Jelly Belly flavors were root beer, grape, very cherry, lemon, cream soda, green apple, tangerine and licorice.
- 500 million Hostess Twinkies are sold every year. President Clinton put one in a time capsule.
- Coca-Cola was first bottled in 1894 in Vicksburg, Mississippi.
- Krispy Kreme Doughnuts were first sold in July 1937.
- A grande (16oz.) Mocha Frappuccino blended coffee from Starbucks has 420 calories and 16 grams of fat.
- M&Ms candies, first made in 1941, were named after their developers, Forrest Mars, Sr. and Bruce Murrie.
- The most popular flavor of ice cream is vanilla, followed by chocolate, then butter pecan. Strawberry ranks fourth.
- The Marquis de Sade loved chocolate and had it sent to him in prison!
- Cotton Candy made its debut in St. Louis after the 1904 World's Fair.
- The most popular Ben & Jerry's ice cream flavor is Cherry Garcia.
- Kellogg's Pop-Tarts come in 32 flavors including Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, Frosted S'mores, Cinnamon, French Toast, Frosted Hot Fudge Sundae and the old standby, Strawberry.
- Hershey Kisses got their name because the machine that makes them looks like it's kissing the conveyor belt.
OUR COUNTRY 'TIS OF THEE!
April 19, 1775
The first actual bottles of the American Revolution were fought in Massachusetts at Lexington and Concord. The Americans were defeated at Lexington, but prevailed at Concord. The British troops were forced to withdraw, under deadly sniper fire, all the way to quarters in Boston.
May 10, 1775
The Second Continental Congress created the Continental Army and named George Washington as its commander.
January 15, 1776
Colonial debate continued on whether to seek outright independence. Thomas Paine published Common Sense which dramatically maked the case for independence and influenced debate in its favor.
March 17, 1776
Surrounded by American forces, the British army evacuated Boston and withdrew by ship all the way to Halifax, Nova Scotia.
July 4, 1776
The Continental Congress approved the Declaration of Independence, drafted by Thomas Jefferson and edited by members of the Congress. The congressional delegates signed the document on August 2.
Semptember 9, 1776
The Continental Congress officially created the name "United States of America."
The first actual bottles of the American Revolution were fought in Massachusetts at Lexington and Concord. The Americans were defeated at Lexington, but prevailed at Concord. The British troops were forced to withdraw, under deadly sniper fire, all the way to quarters in Boston.
May 10, 1775
The Second Continental Congress created the Continental Army and named George Washington as its commander.
January 15, 1776
Colonial debate continued on whether to seek outright independence. Thomas Paine published Common Sense which dramatically maked the case for independence and influenced debate in its favor.
March 17, 1776
Surrounded by American forces, the British army evacuated Boston and withdrew by ship all the way to Halifax, Nova Scotia.
July 4, 1776
The Continental Congress approved the Declaration of Independence, drafted by Thomas Jefferson and edited by members of the Congress. The congressional delegates signed the document on August 2.
Semptember 9, 1776
The Continental Congress officially created the name "United States of America."
Baseball
Question :
So what do the 30 major-league teams do with the more than 220,000 baseballs they use each season?
What happens to them?
Answer :
According to Boston Red Sox club-house and equipment manager Joe Cochran, "The team uses them for batting practice, but we also try to recycle them throughout our minor-league system. Some are shipped to our Dominican academy. Basically, we try to use them as long as we can." Or at least until Bosox slugger, David "Big Papi" Ortiz knocks the covers off them!
So what do the 30 major-league teams do with the more than 220,000 baseballs they use each season?
What happens to them?
Answer :
According to Boston Red Sox club-house and equipment manager Joe Cochran, "The team uses them for batting practice, but we also try to recycle them throughout our minor-league system. Some are shipped to our Dominican academy. Basically, we try to use them as long as we can." Or at least until Bosox slugger, David "Big Papi" Ortiz knocks the covers off them!
F. Y. I.
Still on the Books
In Canton, Ohio, anyone who loses their pet tiger must notify authorities within one hour.
Count' Em
The average ear of corn has 800 kernels arranged in 16 rows.
Actually Said
by Ivan Trump, on finishing her first novel
"Fiction writing is great; you can make up almost anything."
Table Tidbits
Cast-iron skillets were once the leading source of iron in the American diet.
In Stride
Zebras, like horses and donkeys, have three gaits: the walk, the trot and the gallop.
In Short
The piano is an abbreviation of inventor Bartolomeo Cristofori's original name for the instrument: piano et forte, translating to "soft and loud."
In Canton, Ohio, anyone who loses their pet tiger must notify authorities within one hour.
Count' Em
The average ear of corn has 800 kernels arranged in 16 rows.
Actually Said
by Ivan Trump, on finishing her first novel
"Fiction writing is great; you can make up almost anything."
Table Tidbits
Cast-iron skillets were once the leading source of iron in the American diet.
In Stride
Zebras, like horses and donkeys, have three gaits: the walk, the trot and the gallop.
In Short
The piano is an abbreviation of inventor Bartolomeo Cristofori's original name for the instrument: piano et forte, translating to "soft and loud."
Sunday, July 10, 2011
POP QUIZ ( JUSTICE THURGOOD MARSHALL )
Twenty years ago this week, Justice Thurgood Marshall announced his retirement from the U.S. Supreme Court.
See what you know about his life and times.
1. How long did Marshall serve on the high court?
a) 30 years
b) 24 years
c) 18 years
d) 12 years
2. Which president appointed Marshall to the court?
a) Ronald Reagan
b) Jimmy Carter
c) Richard Nixon
d) Lydon Johnson
3. When nominated to the Supreme Court, Marshall was serving in this position.
a) Attorney general
b) U.S. District Court judge
c) Solicitor general
d) Chairman of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
4. Which justice did Marshall replace?
a) Tom Clark
b) Abe Fortas
c) Ramsey Clark
d) Felix Frankfurter
5. Who replaced Marshall?
a) David Souter
b) Clarence Thomas
c) Ruth Bader Ginsburg
d) Antonin Scalia
6. After graduating from Frederick Douglass High School in Baltimore in 1925, Marshall attended this Pennsylvania school.
a) University of Pennsylvania
b) Cheyney University
c) Temple University
d) Lincoln University
7. Marshall would graduate from Howard University Law School after this school rejected him because of its segregation policy.
a) University of Virginia
b) University of Mississippi
c) University of Maryland
d) University of Alabama
8. At 31, Marshall won his first U.S. Supreme Court case. Name the case.
a) Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kan.
b) Chambers v. Flordia
c) Loving v. Virginia
d) Gideon v. Wainwright
9. As chief counsel for the NAACP, Marshall argued against segregation in public schools. In what year was the famous Brown v. Board decision handed down?
a) 1964
b) 1960
c) 1954
d) 1950
10. True or False? Before being named to the Supreme Court, Marshall had no judicial experience.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Answers : 1. b ; 2. d ; 3. c ; 4. a ; 5. b ; 6. d ; 7. c ; 8. b ; 9. c ; 10. False - President John Kennedy appointed Marshall to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.
See what you know about his life and times.
1. How long did Marshall serve on the high court?
a) 30 years
b) 24 years
c) 18 years
d) 12 years
2. Which president appointed Marshall to the court?
a) Ronald Reagan
b) Jimmy Carter
c) Richard Nixon
d) Lydon Johnson
3. When nominated to the Supreme Court, Marshall was serving in this position.
a) Attorney general
b) U.S. District Court judge
c) Solicitor general
d) Chairman of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
4. Which justice did Marshall replace?
a) Tom Clark
b) Abe Fortas
c) Ramsey Clark
d) Felix Frankfurter
5. Who replaced Marshall?
a) David Souter
b) Clarence Thomas
c) Ruth Bader Ginsburg
d) Antonin Scalia
6. After graduating from Frederick Douglass High School in Baltimore in 1925, Marshall attended this Pennsylvania school.
a) University of Pennsylvania
b) Cheyney University
c) Temple University
d) Lincoln University
7. Marshall would graduate from Howard University Law School after this school rejected him because of its segregation policy.
a) University of Virginia
b) University of Mississippi
c) University of Maryland
d) University of Alabama
8. At 31, Marshall won his first U.S. Supreme Court case. Name the case.
a) Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kan.
b) Chambers v. Flordia
c) Loving v. Virginia
d) Gideon v. Wainwright
9. As chief counsel for the NAACP, Marshall argued against segregation in public schools. In what year was the famous Brown v. Board decision handed down?
a) 1964
b) 1960
c) 1954
d) 1950
10. True or False? Before being named to the Supreme Court, Marshall had no judicial experience.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Answers : 1. b ; 2. d ; 3. c ; 4. a ; 5. b ; 6. d ; 7. c ; 8. b ; 9. c ; 10. False - President John Kennedy appointed Marshall to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.
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