COOL OR NOT COOL: Pornography at the Barber?

One of our lovable FIPS writers was recently sharing with me that on his last trip to the barber, he glanced over during the 5 minute wait before his haircut and happened to notice a Playboy magazine lying around (see exhibit A above). 

I guess Playboy is considered a fairly tame, barely classified as pornography type of mag nowadays, but still: it makes me go "hmm." Especially when I think about the equivalent. Like, for instance, I show up to Lin Lee for a nice mani/pedi and as I go to sit down on the massage chair before dipping my toes in the pedi bath, I notice a Playgirl mag on my seat. I WOULD BE FROZEN. Probably unable to speak for hours. Maybe even days. 

But as we all know, I'm a fucking moron. 

So maybe this is now a thing? Cool or not cool?

COOL OR NOT COOL: NYC Cab Drivers Who Don't Know How To Get Anywhere?

I'm not sure why, but there's nothing that activates my rage valve quite like a NYC cab driver who has no clue where the fuck he's going...and then asks ME FOR MOTHERFUCKING DIRECTIONS. 

I mean, am I alone here??

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COOL OR NOT COOL: CHRISTMAS TREES HANGING FROM A WIRE OVER 8TH AVE?

via Drucie Belman

It's a bird! It's a plane! It's...three dead Christmas trees hanging from a wire above 8th Avenue? What...how...why???? Is this a prank? An art installation? A protest against pagan rituals? I do think it looks sort of beautiful, but I sure as hell wouldn't want to drive under them. Didn't the people who did this ever see that public service video in elementary school where the vandals drop a rock off an overpass, and it hits a car windshield and blinds the lady driving and causes a multi-car pileup?

Despite the beauty, I think it's too dangerous and very uncool. What say you?

Cool or Not Cool: Publishing the Names and Addresses of People With Gun Permits?

Following the tragic shootings in Newtown, CT and the recent cold-hearted shooting of two volunteer fire fighters upstate on Monday, folks in this country are all fired up about gun control. Sane people think we need to do more to make owning and using fire arms more difficult. Crazy people think we need to arm everyone even further because clearly, we as a nation need to solve the problem of guns with guns. Others are finding some unconventional ways to call out gun owners, like the lower Hudson Valley's paper, The Journal News. 

According to Gawker, the small newspaper has published the names and addresses of all those who have gun permits in both Rockland and Westchester counties. Not only that, they created an interactive map that shows exactly where each of those permit holders live. And according to the Freedom of Information Act, it's completely legal. 

Dwight R. Worley, The Journal News reporter, explained how this is possible: 

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Cool Or Not Cool: Canceling Potentially Upsetting Movie Screenings in the Wake of Tragedy?

For the sake of this post, I’m going to assume that everyone is aware of the recent, incredibly horrific tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary, and just get right down to the nitty gritty of this thing.

We recently received an email from an irate BAM member, who was upset that the organization cancelled recent screenings of John Waters' Female Trouble and Silent Night Bloody Night out of respect for the victims of Newtown, Connecticut. When this particular BAM member asked why the screenings were cancelled during a film series meant to depict “dark visions of the holiday season,” this was the reply that he received:

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