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Man busted in city-wide manhole cover thefts
(source: NYPost)
The man behind the theft of manhole covers has been uncovered.
Andrew Modica, 46, was arrested yesterday in connection with the numerous stolen manhole covers across the city, law enforcement sources told The Post this morning.
Cops pulled Modica over in a stolen pickup truck near his home on 67th Street and 21st Avenue in Brooklyn after they tracked him down through a license plate and parking summons, sources said.
Modica has been charged with criminal possession of stolen property and criminal impersonation.
Modica admitted to some of the manhole thefts from the streets across Brooklyn, Queens and The Bronx, but claimed there were others he did not commit, sources said.
He said he was selling the 320-pound, cast-iron lids to scrap metal yards for between 12 1/2 to 15 cents per pound in order to feed his drug habit.
Modica said he uses crack, cocaine and heroin, sources said.
The covers measure up to 32 inches across and cost Con Ed about $200 to replace, Con Ed spokesman Allan Drury said last week.
Stealing them creates a hazard to motorists and pedestrians. Con Ed says it tries to replace covers right away, although sometimes, the holes are temporarily covered with metal plates.
Scrap-metal prices peaked in the summer of 2008, but then plunged in the wake of the financial crisis, said Bryan Berry of the Web site MetalPrices.com.
Since then, prices have been rising steadily, Berry said.
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The above is what the MSM is claiming as the explanation. We know better.
– The Flat Earth Society, to make scale-models of the globe.
– The Men in Black, to plug wormholes that predatory little green men would otherwise be crawling thru.
– British Petroleum, to keep handy as plugs for the next time they drill in the Gulf.
MiddlePath-
If you prefer not to publish on the web, that’s of course your right, but IMO it’s good enough that people would enjoy it.
nitpicker-
You’re right that my comment was only about your “part 1” – that was the only part posted when I commented. Your parts 2 and 3 are also quite good, but 1 is my favorite. Its word usage, rhyming, cadence and message are all outstanding.
SaysMe-
That was excellent.
You put into words what I’m sure many people are thinking about wishing they can help folks who are having a difficult time.
kapusta-
Luna Lovegood-
? ? ? ? <– Take as many as needed. (If only it was that easy.)
MiddlePath-
SaysMe-
Thank you for the kind words.
M1A1 is for everyone who posts here.
I honestly think it’s a bit of a mess – it doesn’t read smoothly, the story isn’t told well, the lesson is a bit kludged and as subtle as a brick thru a window, it’s awkward, it’s inconsistent, and it’s less a poem than lines of differing lengths that have a rhyming last word – so if anyone would like to attempt a “clean up” they’re welcome to do so.
M1A1
The Iraqi army, strong and battle tested
Swiftly conquered the country of Kuwait
The war was over, now they proudly rested
With their strength shown beyond any debate
They’d just finished fighting an eight year war
Against Iran, their bitter old arch-foe
Now greedy Saddam still wanted yet more
For a gleaming palace or a new chateau
Recall quite well just how it all turned out
The U.S. -led rescue, by any gauge
Was less a battle than a convincing rout
You see, Iraq had made a huge mistake
And their armor corps would quickly break
The Abrams was a huge and fearsome tank
It s turbine engine quiet, smooth and fast
Next to it, the other tanks just crawled
Their effectiveness now vanished in the past
But the M1A1 , big and mighty though it was
Had a problem in that arid desert land
The battle wagon that had the whole Mideast abuzz
Every hour or two each tank had to stop
And get its filter cleared by another tank
When the first tank was done they then would swap
Each unit helping the next one at its flank
Despite its fearsome might, it needed help to run
And it worked just fine once that help was received
Some may complain, their sad refrain, they just want to get by
Being human is what makes us who we are
Robert runs really rapidly.
Really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really rapidly.
?
wanderingchana-
ZeesKite-
sof davar-
not a mod-
Luna Lovegood-
More good ones!
nfgo3-
OneOfMany-
Thank you.
Sam2-
Uh-oh, looks like I’m busted.
Yes, absolutely, Uncle John’s. The above story is written in far more detail in (IIRC) either “Uncle John Plunges Into History” or “Uncle John Plunges Into History Again”.
In the early 90’s there was another popular series of books by David Feldman, which included “Do Penguins Have Knees?”, “When Did Wild Poodles Roam the Earth?” and several other titles.
I’ll also read other trivia books, but nothing matches the breezy light and humorous style of the “Uncle John’s” series, and most other books have many more mistakes.
(The UJ series also has some mistakes, and rumors presented as facts, but overall they’re very accurate.)
Additional data sources are:
– Reading “Today in history” sites on the web.
– Interests in sports, history, science, politics and how things work.
– Print and web-based news, sports and business sites.
– Lots of time spent reading, especially as a kid.
All of the above are fun to read and good for trivia games, but not useful for much else.
The Goq-
Thank you.
If you ever need useless info, I’m your man ?
nitpicker-
Wow – that was fantastic!
When I grow up, I want to be able to write like that ?
Seriously, you make a very good point, too.
People should be careful not to lower their guard and reveal some personal information they may be sorry they let slip.
from Wikipedia
He was one of the most foolish and gullible people in history, yet he made a huge fortune.
– People jokingly told him to “ship coal to Newcastle”, which he did, and through sheer luck there was a miners’ strike going on at the time, and his cargo was sold at a premium.
– At another time, practical jokers told him he could make money shipping gloves to the South Sea Islands. His ships arrived there in time to sell the gloves to Portuguese boats on their way to China.
– Someone told him to send warming pans (used to heat sheets in the cold New England winters) to the tropical West Indies – an unlikely market. However, his captain successfully sold them as ladles for the area’s burgeoning molasses industry, and again Dexter made a significant profit.
What does Timothy Dexter have to do with this thread?
At the age of 50 he wrote a book about himself – A Pickle for the Knowing Ones or Plain Truth in a Homespun Dress. He wrote about himself and complained about politicians, clergy and his wife. The book contained 8,847 words and 33,864 letters, but no punctuation, and capital letters were seemingly random. At first he handed his book out for free, but it became popular and was re-printed in eight editions. In the second edition Dexter added an extra page which consisted of 13 lines of punctuation marks. Dexter instructed readers to “peper and solt it as they plese”.
Luna Lovegood-
Very good!
Your style seems to be to think a lot about what you write.
MiddlePath-
It’s very good.
Hatzlocha raba putting it to music and publishing it.
Syag Lchochma-
This one from a couple of months ago was excellent at describing how we miss people who are no longer here, and how we try to hold on to our memories of them:
http://www.theyeshivaworld.com/coffeeroom/topic/att-poetry-people/page/19#post-358009
moskidoodle-
Syag Lchochma-
LemonySnicket-
squeak-
crazybrit-
not a mod-
All good!
“Nabisco started selling jumbo oreos.” had me lol’ing.
Shticky Guy-
Thank you.
Sure, why not.
1) They are being used as satellite dishes in Yugoslavia.
2) They are really flying saucers that were spuing on us. Now that they have collected enough data and flown back to the mother ship, expect an invasion any day.
3) They haven’t been stolen. Global warming caused the holes to expand, and the covers simply fell in.
4) Papa John’s ran out of pizza trays.
5) A giant magnetic asteroid passed by and sucked them all up.
6) A previously unknown race of giants is using them to play checkers.
7) Occupy Wall Streeters decided that the 1% didn’t deserve manhole covers.
8) The DOT did it, thinking that unrepaired potholes would look small by comparison.
9) It’s all a vast right-wing conspiracy.
10) The U.S. Olympic squad ran out of practice discuses.
11) Mayor Bloomberg took ’em out. They slow traffic better than speed bumps.
squeak-
LOL
I’ll have to check if wearing one on Shabbos is considered carrying, or do we say that ?? ???? ?? ???? ?
yitayningwut-
Thank you ?
After those great hints, I couldn’t resist jumping in, but didn’t want to give away the answer and ruin the game for those who had been playing the entire time.
(for what it’s worth, snopes claims that the Kennedy didn’t really influence men’s hats going out of style.)
yitayningwut-
Is it bad luck if one crosses your path?
Shticky Guy-
Interesting observation – here’s a theory.
Most people will go to their right when they have a choice of two different ways to go.
That’s why a recommendation I read somewhere (I forget where) was that if you’re going to a crowded amusement park in the morning, go to your left instead of your right, as there will be fewer people there.
Turning clockwise is also turning right.
Now, why do go-cart tracks and skating rinks almost always run counter-clockwise? I don’t know, but it may be that it’s because traffic is moving to your right as you enter the track from the outside.
writersoul-
You’re absolutely right – I confused the two “victims” in different short stories.
I, too, read and enjoyed Sherlock Holmes, but I finished them all quite a while ago and I see my memory is far from perfect.
By pointing out that I got a fact wrong you are doing me a favor – now I will (hopefully) stop making that mistake.
Thank you for the correction.
OneOfMany-
Thank you ?
kapusta-
Do you listen to a cappella?
I’m not much into music myself, but I have family members who are. If you’re interested, I’ll ask for recommendations and post them here.
Also, if you’re having a really tough time, maybe ask a shaila about whether you can be maikil with music.
SaysMe-
Wow.
I’m not sure if this is the type of praise you want to hear, but you certainly have the talent of expressing yourself in writing ?
Right now you’re quite down – some of what you describe are symptoms of depression – but I’m positive things will improve; the only question is how fast that will happen.
If nothing else, take a walk outside and enjoy the beautiful weather we’re now having (well, when the rain clears up anyway) – that’s usually good for a pick-me-up.
oomis1105-
Congrats, you got most of them.
I actually gave the answers higher up on the page.
Your answer to #6 is better than mine (and I like the pun, too).
The Goq-
Thank you.
Hair, Thair, Everywhair – Answers
The Amish (writersoul)
3) All bearded U.S. presidents had this trait in common.
They were all Republicans [Hmmmm, should Romney stop shaving?]
4) How Caesar (supposedly) hid his baldness.
Laurel wreath (writersoul).
5) A near miss with disaster is sometimes called this.
A close shave (writersoul)
6) An audacious, dangerous and risky act is sometimes metaphorically referred to as this.
“Bearding the lion in his own den”.
7) A famous Sherlock Holmes short story references this fictional group.
8) This garment is worn by religious fanatics to make them physically uncomfortable.
A hair shirt. (writersoul)
Supposedly, an eagle mistook his bald head for a rock and dropped a turtle on it in order to crack its shell. (writersoul)
10) This is what camel-hair brushes are really made of (usually).
11) Edward Teach was better known and feared by this nickname.
Blackbeard, the pirate. (writersoul)
12) Recommended cure for a hangover.
The Catfish. (SaysMe)
The rhinoceros. (OneOfMany)
15) By law, food service workers must wear these.
A hairnet. (writersoul)
16) This soldier’s safety device may not fit bearded men properly.
A gas mask. (writersoul)
Her suit. [Say it out loud if you don’t get it. Sorry, I just had to add that groaner.]
blabla-
There’s nothing like Shabbos to get away from what has to be put up with during the week (school, work, etc.)
Have a gut Shabbos – hopefully things will improve.
TheMusicMan-
Hi.
“Both have no meaning (the authors insisted on that)…”
Google “MIMSY WERE THE BOROGOVES, by Lewis Padgett”, read the short story, and decide for yourself ?
Hair, Thair, Everywhair
3) All bearded U.S. presidents had this trait in common.
4) How Caesar (supposedly) hid his baldness.
5) A near miss with disaster is sometimes called this.
6) An audacious, dangerous and risky act is sometimes metaphorically referred to as this.
7) A famous Sherlock Holmes short story references this fictional group.
8) This garment is worn by religious fanatics to make them physically uncomfortable.
10) This is what camel-hair brushes are really made of (usually).
11) Edward Teach was better known and feared by this nickname.
12) Recommended cure for a hangover.
15) By law, food service workers must wear these.
16) This soldier’s safety device may not fit bearded men properly.
chocandpatience-
I’m right here ?
Thank you for asking.
MiddlePath-
Thank you for the kind words.
oomis1105-
SaysMe-
Thank you, too.
bly-
Your posts are well written and I like the positive theme(s).
blabla-
I hope things are OK with you and your friend has (or, better yet, already had) a refua shelaima.
The Ruined Pants
His wife wondered silently why he was in such a good mood
His wife asked him about his day as she prepared his food
And so he happily told to her the story of his day
And so his anger poured forth, and he had this to say:
The bagel store guy dropped my drink, spilling coffee when he tripped
The deli store guy dropped my food, ruined my sandwich when he slipped
My work day was mundane, no unusual events
It was a normal day, neither laid-back nor intense
But while I was driving home, my front tire got a flat
But on my return commute, I hit a nail and that was that
Yankel, the repair guy, was in quite a good mood
Yankel, the repair guy, was crabby and quite rude
He fixed my flat in no time and sent me on my way
He said he was off-duty, come back another day
On my way home I saw Shimon, so I gave him a lift
I started my long walk home, feeling very miffed
We schmoozed as we drove home, and I mentioned our daughter
On the long walk in the rain home, I was splashed with dirty water
I tripped and tore my new suit pants, and gave my knee a bad scratch
Yankel, the repair guy had been upbeat all day long
These famed words of the wisest of all men are true in so many ways
The story above is fictional, perhaps a bit unsophisticated
But the value of kindnesses that you do cannot be overstated
Everyone here is human; we all have our bad days
That you still come to cheer up others is worthy of our praise
May all of us be zoche to tranquility and peace
Our understanding of the issues is interesting to discuss (personally, I don’t see the difference between an elevator motor working harder to lift me, or my refrigerator/air conditioner working harder to cool my food/family), but this has been discussed extensively by people who know halacha and the science of elevator workings better than most of us here.
Please see the links below for a halachic discussion based on the way elevators work.
(editor/moderator – please allow the links below, since this is purely halacha and applicable for the discussion at hand)
http://www.megavolt.co.il/articles_H/elevator1.html
http://www.megavolt.co.il/articles_H/elevator2.html
The pun in the original post is clearly not meant to offend or minimize the tragedy of 1,500 lost lives.
The “Titanic” disaster has entered the mainstream dialog in many ways – in 2007 people were referring to the New York Mets’ collapse as the “Met-tanic Disaster”, and “hitting the iceberg” or “not seeing the iceberg” are also expressions I’ve heard used.
Along the same lines, I’ve also seen a concession stand named “Custard’s Last Stand”, a soft drink called “Alexander the Grape”, and an arcade (or the like – I don’t remember exactly) called “Attila the Fun”.
It’s commendable to be sensitive, but in this case I don’t see the OP as objectionable.
P.S.
Full disclosure – I can be considered equally guilty of the same offense in this post: http://www.theyeshivaworld.com/coffeeroom/topic/inspiring-quotes#post-12372
ZeesKite–
?
It’s funny how our SNs sometimes interact with the thread titles.
Jothar–
Please read the following post to see the tremendous good you’ve done in at least one case:
(Since I don’t know if “Jothar” even reads threads here any more, it would be appreciated if a moderator can email him the above link.)
soliek-
That was an excellent post, and your writing was professional quality.
While it may be quite long (2,806 words according to my word processor ?), it’s well worth reading.
A frum guy who went OTD and is now taking drugs is a tragedy and should get whatever he needs to help him, including sympathy and support.
Jothar-
Nobody is perfect. The best we can do if we make a mistake is learn from it, apologize (if appropriate), and move on.
You’ve clearly done the first two, but not yet the third.
Your perspective here is missed, and I, for one, would appreciate your return.
SaysMe–
blabla–
Think first–
Once again, very well put and an admirably optimistic way of looking at things.
No One Mourns The Wicked–
That was a very nice tribute to a special young man whose petira came far too soon.
MiddlePath–
Tizku lemitzvos for the encouragement you consistently give other posters.
The Goq–
A tip of the hat to you for the way you handled and are handling the difficult challenges you were given.
If your shelf is currently pine, plywood will be stronger – I’d try “ItcheSrulik”s idea first.
Depending on your bookcase’s construction, you may be able to try one of the following ideas:
1) Attach a 2×4 to the back edge of the shelf for additional rigidity (a 1×3 or other piece of wood can also be used, but will add less strength). Go thru the top of the shelf into the short side of the 2×4.
2) Use an angled brace to support the shelf from the middle. This may only be feasible if you can screw into a stud behind the bookcase, since the backing itself usually doesn’t have much strength.
3) Use a double thickness shelf. You can use two layers of pine or plywood. If you glue and screw the layers together they will be stronger and more rigid.
4) Attach a piece of angled metal that’s used as a corner piece for metal shelving along the back edge of the shelf. (Sorry, I don’t know what this piece of metal is called, but it’s quite strong – I see it used to support air conditioners in the top of windows.)
There are 3/4″ and 1.5″ widths of molding sold in all shapes (half round, flat, beaded, etc.) that can conceal plywood edges, joints, etc.