Posted in Misc, tagged brooklyn, Christmas tree, manhole, metrotech, nyc sewer, photography, picket fence, sculpture, tom otterness on December 3, 2009| 7 Comments »
When I walked past, I didn’t think the lights were turned on – this is a somewhat understated tree, despite the bows. The picket fence seemed a little suburban, but nearby is a Tom Otterness sculpture of a manhole alligator with its jaws wrapped around a smaller creature. We are in an alternate universe here in Metrotech.
Posted in Misc, tagged brooklyn, cast iron, india, made in india, manhole, mittal, photography, richest people, sewer, steel, tycoon on April 7, 2009| 1 Comment »
About 25 percent of the NYC manhole covers are made in India, where manufacturing them is 20 to 60 percent cheaper than it would be in the US. Other than saving money, it’s far from an ideal situation. Following publication of a NY Times article in 2007 showing Indian iron workers, barefoot and mostly goggle-less handling molten metal, the city vowed to contract only with businesses adhering to safety practices. Meanwhile, Indian steel tycoon Lakshmi Mittal, king of the sweatshops, is among the top ten richest people in the world.
Posted in Misc, tagged brooklyn, cab, film, filmmaking, manhole, nyc, photography, steam, taxi on January 18, 2009| Leave a Comment »
In NYC, manholes allow excess steam and vapor to escape the pipes below. Steam, along with the yellow cab, have come to visually symbolize New York, as every low-budget filmmaker knows. If you happen to be one, I’d recommend the full atmospheric effect – a nighttime shot with the cab driving through the billowing steam.
As we know from recent experience, a really cold day = more steam coming from the manholes.
Posted in Food, Misc, tagged brooklyn, cold, cookie, manhole, photography, snow, winter on January 15, 2009| 1 Comment »
Rather than dwell on the weather and my frozen fingers, I’m thinking that this manhole looks like a giant cookie, the bottom of an Oreo with the top half and frosting removed.
Pix and other images 