Newsgroup: it.cultura.linguistica.inglese
Titolo: He hove a big sigh, and said...

Well, I'm going to try again. Now, after ditching my Dell and grabbing an
iBook, I'm about ready to rejoin the world. With no small changes, however.
I tried in vain to find a Mac version of 40tude. Here I am, then, using a
Pineapple (Macs have such cutesy names, don't they?) and willing to suffer
through the adjustment period.
I see in a past thread that Sebapop wants to walk from Inwood Park to Battery
Park the next time he's in New York. Better, Seba, you should run, at least
halfway, say, until you get to Columbia University. Not that Inwood is unsafe;
Lord Knows, no part of Manhattan is unsafe under the guidance of Micky B. (the
Mayor) but just in case, bring a pair of roller blades. (If they get stolen,
you can still run, as long as you have your shoes. What? They were stolen,
too? Take the subway! Cabs, by the way, have gone up in cost and are no longer
the wonderful deal they were. Your former roommate is pleased about that, no
doubt.)
All kidding aside, New York is still just as wonderful as ever, with the
exception of the huge influx of tourists (good for the economy; bad for
getting around Midtown) and the ever-escalating rents.
FB, I understand from those who have seen it that Pride and Prejudice (the
movie) is horrendous. As one of my clients (a stolid member of JASNA*) put it:
THEY'VE TURNED IT INTO A LOVE STORY!
At any rate, forgive the rant. I hope it's not considered OT. It is, after
all, decent English. I think.
PS: as for the subject line, only when one wants to sound erudite does one use
this somewhat archaic past tense of "to heave." But I know at least one reader
who will take joy in it. I won't divulge his name, but his initials are FB.
*Jane Austen Society of North America
Two of my clients are past presidents; many of them are members. I can't tell
you how off-ten I'm reminded of previous discussions from this newsgroup.
-- 
Joey DoWop Dee
Remember: It is To Laugh

 who will take joy in it. I won't divulge his name, but his initials are FB.
Uhm, I wonder who that could be? [1]
Gotta go back to fixing the sleigh, now. Sorry.
[1] Why is it that I've never ever heard or read "I wonder who that
*might* be"? It's perfectly logical, and "might" is not that rare, and
yet... I also don't understand why "that", not "be", is usually stressed.
At least, I think so.
How do you pronounce the surname "Alito" (incidentally, you know it means
"breath" in italian, as in "bad breath", for instance)?
Bye, FB
-- 
"Come, dear, we have already missed five, if not six, trains. To miss any
more might expose us to comment on the platform."
("The Importance of Being Earnest", Oscar Wilde)

 "breath" in italian, as in "bad breath", for instance)?
It's always pronounced a-LEE-to, which drives me crazy. I've pointed out 
the "correct" pronunciation and the meaning to several people, only to 
have them look at me as if I were insane or pompous or anal-retentive.
It's not the only name: I've mentioned that a lot of Italian surnames 
are pronounced differently here. I have a friend whose last name is 
Caputo. To him, it's ca-PYOO-to, leading me to call him "Joey Computer." 
There are thousands of es-po-ZEE-tos in the US. Another Joe, surname 
Napoli, calls himself na-PO-li. Oy.
So it's on to Thunderbird for news; can't get the darn Pineapple to 
receive. Drat. And I thought I was a geek...

 receive. Drat. And I thought I was a geek...
Soup seems to be popular. I, for one, still use my pc for usenet.
Bye, FB
-- 
Just as I thought. Another test that could have cost us our lives, saved
only by the fact that I am enormously well-bred.
(Murder by Death)

 halfway, say, until you get to Columbia University. Not that Inwood
is unsafe;
Three years ago we spent Christmas in NYC, in a hotel near Times
Square.
On Christmas morning about 8 a:m I walked over to Times Square to get
my morning coffee at Dunkin' Donuts.
As I was walking down the street, a man walking nearby asked me if I
could see the time on a big clock in front of us as we walked. I told
him what time it was, and he proceded to relate a harrowing tale. He
was a doctor from Israel doing research at Columbia University, and
the night before he had left the campus late at night, and was mugged
on his way to the subway. He lost his laptop, his wallet, and his
glasses were broken. He was just on his way back to his hotel, after
spending most of the night at the police station and the hospital. He
vowed never to return to NYC.
Columbia University has an indoctrination for freshmen, in which they
learn how to avoid getting into situations such as this, but I guess
foreign students don't get the same information.
Maybe Seba should continue running until he gets to Hunter College. Or
maybe the New School?   :>)
Joe from Massachusetts

 vowed never to return to NYC.
Insomma, ha avuto una serata un po' vivace. Forse l'hanno preso di
mira per l'aspetto da forestiero? Addirittura gli occhiali distrutti!
Che modi! A Roma i ladruncoli nella "subway" agiscono con maggior
destrezza, il portafoglio scompare che nemmeno te ne accorgi. ;)
Ma Rudy non aveva fatto pulizia?


That's a sad story; I don't even think about things like that happening these
days, but I guess they do. When I worked at Manhattan School of Music (122 St
and Broadway, between Columbia and Harlem (I say this for those who don't know
the area; Joe, I know you know it) I never worried about working late or
walking from 122 to 116th to the subway, mostly because of the security around
Barnard and Columbia.
So, Seba, walk in the daylight. Bring a friend. Or several. BEST: Take a Cab.
Enrico: you mentioned the pickpockets; same thing here. The work in packs. One
jostles you, maybe shoves you into another cohort, and before you know it,
your wallet is missing. I always carry it in my front pocket, but I've been
doing that for years, long before moving to New York.
One thing that is a dead giveaway: When someone wears a backpack in the front,
it's an open invitation to be mugged because it screams "I AM A TOURIST. I AM
AFRAID OF GETTING MUGGED."


 doing that for years, long before moving to New York.
I should think they are attracted by wealthy-looking tourists and
women or old people, in particular... In fact, I mind my pockets but
feel perfectly safe in Rome at day and night.
In Naples, on the other hand, bag snatchers on motorbikes are quite a
curse, and can be a real hazard as they may yank you abruptly and make
you fall down.

 wrote in message
news:kne4tn3pnnij$.dlg@news.lillathedog.net...

I guess that in order to get around in any big city you have to have
some "street smarts".
I never had a problem in New York, Seoul, Milan, Rome, or Naples.
During my 3 years in Naples, I drove a big American car, and never
had it stolen or vandalized. I had friends in some of the "dangerous"
areas of Naples, but never had any problems. I often left my car in
the custody of the unofficial "parking attendants" in downtown Naples,
and they always took good care of it.
I often heard of women having their purses snatched from the front
seat of their cars when stopped in traffic with the windows open, but
this happens in every big city.
Joe from Massachusetts

"Joey DoWop Dee" <joe...@nomail.com.invalid> wrote in message
news:PM000406A...@iBook.Dynasty18...

I once worked with a high-school student from Newton, MA,  who was
interning at the place where I worked here in Massachusetts. He got a
scholarship to Columbia, and went down to NYC for his freshman
orientation prior to the start of his first semester. Upon his return,
he recounted the warnings about security that he had received, and he
seemed almost fearful of living in the dorms in NYC. I explained to
him that it was all just common sense, and that New York was probably
the best place in the world to go to school. The change from Newton,
MA (considered one of the "safest" cities in Massachusetts, and in the
country) to New York City is a drastic change, and requires some
change in behavior patterns.
When I go to the Bronx Zoo, I often take the Lexington Avenue or
Seventh Avenue subway from downtown, and think nothing of it, even at
night at this time of year when the Zoo is illuminated at night for
the Christmas season. Some of my friends who aren't familiar with the
city  would never consider taking the subway to that area at night,
but it is second nature to me and my family. Once, after leaving the
Zoo, we went to a McDonalds not far from the Zoo. The rest rooms were
locked, and the manager explained that it was a measure used to
discourage drug users and traffickers. Five percent of the people in a
neighborhood can give the neighborhood a bad name, but the other 95
percent of the people are hard-working and responsible. You have to
learn to differentiate between the 5 percent and the 95 percent,
whether it be in NYC or Napoli.
I used to frequent a "restaurant" in Naples near the Port called the
"Pizzicato", which was full of unsavory characters late at night, but
they had inexpensive pizzas, and were open late at night.  I never
had any problems there either. Maybe they thought I was just another
unsavory character.   :>)
Joe from Massachusetts

 but it is second nature to me and my family.
How is that? I mean, you're not saying danger is in the eyes of the
beholder, are you?
[...]
Bye, FB
-- 
"You must have had a most happy childhood there."
"Er, it was terrific."
"I'm so glad."
"No, I didn't mean it that way."
"I'm so sorry."
(The Philadelphia Story)


Aren't there areas in Milan where you would go, because you are
familiar with the city, but would advise tourists to avoid, because
they might stray into a more seedy area nearby? I know that in Naples,
I might not send an unwary tourist to Forcella, although I might go
there myself.
Joe from Massachusetts

 there myself.
You mean because you know exactly where you can go and where you'd better
not?
Bye, FB
-- 
Does one go to hell for plonking God?
(Default User on alt.usage.english, answering a message from a troll
called "God")

 change in behavior patterns.
I grew up in Newton, MA and you're right about it being safe, although I
suspect things are different now. We never locked our door except when the
last person went to bed; for the most part, in fair weather it even stayed
open -- not just unlocked, but open wide -- all the time.
I moved from there (back) to Dorchester (where I was born, now a part of
Boston proper) and almost every night I was awakened by some shenanigans or
other: my own car was broken into several times; two of my friends had cars
stolen from in front of my apartment (two different occasions); one night
while I was going to sleep someone tried to come into my apartment -- through
my bedroom window! -- where I should have been asleep if I weren't so worried
about break-ins and car theft.
Another night I heard strange sounds outside and went out to find someone
trying to climb the fire escape to get into an upstairs apartment. It was NOT
the person who lived there.
This more or less prepared me for my move to NYC, but in truth I feel safer
here than anywhere now. I've never had a problem in NY except for one
attempted pocket-picking on the subway. "Attempted" because there was nothing
to get in the first place, but the pickpockets didn't know that.
I try to look like a slob most of the time; that way they leave me alone. (So
does everyone else, for that matter, but that's okay, too.) :-)



Esatto.
And I would avoid Agnano after a football match, especially if Napoli
lost.  :>)
Joe from Massachusetts


Exactly, just as I would avoid Agnano after a football match,



They say if you blend in and look like you know where you're going,
you won't run into problems.
I remember when I was in High School and under-age, drinking nickel
beers on Friday night on the Bowery, when it was still lined with flop
houses and populated by men desperately in need of a 12-step program,
and who carried all their belongings in a brown paper bag. I fit right
in. :>)
Joe from Massachusetts

 open -- not just unlocked, but open wide -- all the time.
A thing that always strikes me in American movies is how easy it is
for anyone to break into a house. Any security doors/windows in the
States? ;)

 this happens in every big city.
Dunno. I guess Naples is city of its own! :)

 parking lot. ;) 
You are from Naples, I'm not, but I don't suppose you're necessitated to
pay them. You might just want someone to look after your car... I'm not
implying they steal cars themselves---though it might well happen, for all
I know---but rather that you and the unofficial parking attendant both
know cars get stolen there.
[...]



I remember one area near the Port where I often parked for an hour or
so, where there were about 50 parking spaces on the street, if half
the cars were double-parked. The only way to make full use of all the
spaces was if someone had the keys to all the cars, and could shift
them around whenever someone who was blocked in wanted to leave. This
was not a parking lot, just street parking.
Joe from Massachusetts

 States? ;)
Nah! That would just show that we were afraid!
