Earlier we learned that The New York Times opened up their archives for free. A thread was started where we could post interesting finds. The people at Mental_Floss magazine are showcasing the first time various famous places/names/things/ etc were mentioned in the Times. From simpsons, through Starbucks, Silicon Valley and more! picked by 2manyusernames 2 years ago

Vents in New York sidewalks blow gusts of air up to street level each time a subway train goes past. So if you attached an inflatable animal to the vent it would stand up with each gust. Watch it - it will make sense.

Part 2, which is more involved, in the comments. picked by pocksucket 2 years ago

In what is one of the worst calamities to hit bat populations in the United States, on average 90 percent of the hibernating bats in four caves and mines in New York have died since last winter.

Wildlife biologists fear a significant die-off in about 15 caves and mines in New York, as well as at sites in Massachusetts and Vermont. picked by 2manyusernames 2 years ago

A huge wave crashed into the New York City region 2,300 years ago, dumping sediment and shells across Long Island and New Jersey and casting wood debris far up the Hudson River. picked by Ankabout 7 months ago

If you want the perfect itinerary for a week in New York with your teenager, look no further. From sights to see and places to eat, this guide covers the best of New York wonderfully. picked by musicgirldani 3 years ago

Time has been studied by philosophers and scientists for 2,500 years. Astronomer Carl Sagan had it right when he said that time is “resistant to simple definition.” Lots of us think we know what time is, but it is hard to define. You can not literally see or touch time, but you can see its effects. The evidence that we are moving through time is found in everything – our bodies a... read full post picked by kakana 5 months ago

Spending time behind bars in New York City might turn out to be good for your health.

*Next to be offered, mandatory Pilates. picked by dollyllama 2 years ago

If only the world of Willy Wonka were real, with skyscrapers made from caramels, chocolate rivers and cities built of shortcake and whipped cream. Living in an edible world is only a dream, but these 10 examples of architecture made from food show that smaller scale versions can be almost as fun. picked by AutumnLotus 8 months ago

Adobe's insane pricing policy means that it would be cheaper to fly from London to New York, grab a copy of the software, spend the night in a hotel, and fly back to London the next day! picked by BernardBlack 1 year ago

Stalinist architecture (also referred to as Stalin's Empire style or Socialist Classicism) is a term given to architecture of the Soviet Union between 1933, when Boris Iofan's draft for Palace of Soviets was officially approved, and 1955, when Nikita Khruschev condemned "excesses" of the past decades and disbanded the Soviet Academy of Architecture. picked by wookiee 2 years ago

New York City agencies issued 9,955,441 parking tickets from July 2007 to June 2008. Here is an interactive map of them. picked by bernardblack 1 year ago

They feel that New York, known as The Big Apple since the 20'suse of an apple logo will cause harm and confusion regarding their company. picked by 2manyusernames 2 years ago

Architecture comes in all shapes and sizes and these are strangely unique buildings. picked by huffy 2 years ago

Even if you've never lived in New York (like me), you'll find something interesting here. Lots of photo stories on old, odd, and forgotten aspects of New York. I found the forgotten cemetaries particularly interesting! picked by BrownTrout 3 years ago

At one demonstration in New York in 2004, he recalled, an antiwar protester, who was white, used a racial slur against him, and black demonstrators with the protester kept silent.

Mr. Ivory said he was incensed that blacks would ignore such a slur because it was aimed at someone with opposing political views. picked by JoshSF49 1 year ago

The New York Sun's made an inaccurate attempt to draw ties between Senator Barack Obama and Islamic extremism in Kenya picked by bernardblack 1 year ago

This post is not about religion, it’s about architecture. Not just architecture, but unusual architecture, and to be more exact - unusual churches. picked by AutumnLotus 1 year ago

A mere 41k residents of New York City make up nearly half of the income tax revenue received by the city. A little over 19k makes up 40% of the revenue. Changing the city's tax code to soak the rich even more may result in some of those leaving, ending in lower tax revenue over all. picked by 2manyusernames 9 months ago

Sometimes they swing, sometimes they miss. The best, and worst Time covers reveal how we looked at news and ourselves in peacetime, war, depression and boom. picked by mobase 2 years ago

(lots of reading)

alternately theres HowStuffWorks on time travel picked by camro77 3 years ago