American Madness

This is kind of a sad one (2).

The remains of Hedviga Golik were found last month in her apartment in Croatia. According to reports she had made herself a cup of tea, sat down in her armchair to watch some tv, and must have passed away.

Having been born in 1924, there is nothign too surprising about all of this. In fact it isn’t much of a story until you start to get into the details. Golik was reported missing and was last seen by a neighbor… back in 1966. Although officially reported missing, apparently either no one ever did anything to try and locate her, or in their search for her the police did not enter her apartment.

Fast forward 42 years to May 2008 and the police and some bailiffs are busting down her door to try and help figure out who owns the apartment only to find Golik in her armchair dead now for as long as she had lived.

Besides a few cobwebs, her apartment appeared just as it had been in 1966, a virtual time capsule, with her cup of tea still on the table in front of her.

According to the authorities: “So far, we have no idea how it is possible that someone officially reported missing so long ago was not found before in the same apartment she used to live in.”

Okay, I thought I was done with this, until I did a search for a picture and found the CNN article, which isn’t exactly the same story.

(more…)

Ever have trouble finding a parking space? Well, this Friday it is about to get worse, at least for the day.

Friday, September 21st is Park(ing) Day.

Back in 2005 an art collective called Rebar took over a metered parking space and turned it into a mini park for the day . They got such a positive response from the project that they have turned it into an international event, in cities across the US and around the world (which, I guess is a bit redundant since I already said it was an International event…).

Anyway, the basic idea is to find an empty metered spot and set up your park, just remember to feed your meter, as you are “leasing” the spot on an hourly rate (possibly one of the best deals in the city). (more…)

New Yorkers are just soulless about real estate. Not a single one of you commented or emailed to help Veronica find an apartment.

We understand. New York real estate is cutthroat. But come on, people? You’ll get another chance….we’ll see how you do then. But that’s it. Two chances. This ain’t baseball, people. This ain’t Hinduism. Better make the next one count.

Oh, and she found an apartment. In Brooklyn. With a garden.

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ORIGINAL POST:

We at American Madness are big believers in Community Service, so occassionally we’ll appeal to you, our loyal readers, to aid a fellow human being, be that person poor, hungry…or even the brave Inwood dweller desperately looking to move back to her roots in Brooklyn.

Please, if you have any soul at all, take a moment to consider the needs of Veronica, friend to American Madness, who hath reached out for our help in her hour of need and who hath written her request in the craigslist real estate lingo we all love:

Looking for a spacious below-market-rate jewel in the heart of any of Brooklyn’s most sought-after areas (Park Slope, Carroll Gardens, Windsor Terrace, Williamsburg, Greenpoint, Fort Greene, just to name a few).

One bedroom or studio will do. Hardwood floors a must. Near major subway station a must (i.e. no “shuttles” please).

Any person with information leading to a signing of a contract will be generously compensated with food and drink–and good company.

AmericanMadness can attest to the quality of the company. Please send all suggestions/deals/secret tips to: JFPress @ (GEE MAIL DOT COM.)