Joost Blog

This morning, on my way to work, I walked past Washington Square Park. If you’ve watched any movie or TV show set in New York, chances are you’re familiar with Washington Square Park because you’ve seen the arch that sits at the top of the park, where Fifth Avenue ends.

After years of litigation, the Parks Department has just begun to renovate the park. Included in the renovations are plans to move the fountain in line with the arch – right now, it’s about 20 feet (my rough calculations put that at about 6 meters) off center.

To me, this is one of the more insane uses of money. The park has been around for 200 years, and the 20 feet never really bothered anyone … nor did the fact that the fountain didn’t actually have any water. Well, in a couple of years, and after the project has probably gone way over budget, the arch and the fountain will line up, and the fountain will spew water high in the air. I’m sure it’ll make for pretty pictures and movie shots, but there already WERE pretty pictures and movie shots.

In honor of this undertaking, I offer these videos, which highlight questionable decisions and ideas.

This show epitomizes what I’m talking about. I’ve never understood what propels people – let’s face it, it’s usually guys – to do this kind of stuff. I don’t know who could participate and realistically think these are good ideas.

You know those free papers that are there for the taking at some bars and restaurants? The ones with the extremely shading dating advice and the Darwin Award-winning criminals? Here’s a rundown of some of the most failing criminal exploits.

I don’t know when playing with sharks became cool ... or why, for that matter. Is it the rush? The chance that you might die doing what it is you do? If that’s the case, shouldn’t you be a firefighter? At least then you’re doing something for the public.

Admittedly, I don’t watch a lot of horror films. My friends refuse to go to scary or suspenseful movies with me because I actually scream out loud in the theater. I can’t help it – I startle easily, even when it’s obvious that something is going to happen. My question here is how do people come up with these scenarios and ideas?

I’m not even going to get into the fact that these kids are getting married – I hope it works for them. What I’m really curious about here is the living situation. Lauren, the bride, is moving into a house that’s literally in the backyard of the mother-in-law. When would this ever be a good idea?

The Martial Arts Channel: Cage Fights – Unleashed: Holly Thomas v. Kelly Coldbold

Ultimate fighting, cage fighting and MMA in general are sports that I don’t appreciate as much as I maybe should. Perhaps it’s an element of self-preservation – nothing could compel me to purposely walk into a situation where I’m pretty likely to get beat up. I guess it makes a little bit more sense to me to see two guys kicking the snot out of each other, but two women? That’s a first for me. The Q&A at the end is truly priceless. “There’s just not a lot of women willing to step up to this.” Uh, no kidding.