COOL OR NOT COOL: STRAY CATS TO MANAGE OUR RODENT PROBLEM?

Greg and I just got back from a 10-day trip to Israel. And while it was inspiring, educational and Jew-y (in a good way) in the realms of history, politics and religion, I learned something else that was verrrry interesting: there are pretty much no mice or rats in the holy land.

How, you might be wondering? Stray cats, that's how.

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Cool Or Not Cool: The Doorman Parking Ring on Montgomery Place?

Rando Zombie Doorman

If only this was the worst problem anyone had...

Montgomery Place residents are claiming that the doormen of 27 Prospect Park West, who are paid to move their residents' cars on street cleaning days, are running a parking ring scheme. The doormen are allegedly parking cars so that they take up 2 spots, then when it comes time to park the next car, they move those cars up, creating a new spot -- basically making it difficult for anyone else to park on that block on street cleaning days.

Via The Brooklyn Paper:

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Cool or Not Cool: Not Letting Churches Operate Out of Public School Buildings?

Photo by James Estrin/The New York Times

I never knew that a Presbyterian Church held services inside of John Jay High School. Well, it did. But as of this Sunday, it’s gone. 

A federal court ruling upheld city policy that doesn’t allow religious services in public schools. This includes the Park Slope Presbyterian Church and dozens of other congregations across the city that rent space in public schools for their services.

This has been a topic of debate for years (big fucking surprise there). Those in favor of upholding the policy argue that churches shacking up in public school buildings is a violation of church and state. Some of their other complaints include that it confuses children and imposes beliefs.

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Cool or Not Cool: Using the YMCA free daycare while you run errands?

Photo by Flickr User Betty Blade

One of the great things about the Park Slope YMCA is that they offer totally free daycare for parents who want to work out, but don't want to pay a babysitter while hitting up that spin class. The "child watch" system, as it's called, is simple: parents drop their kids off in a designated supervised area, work out, and then pick them up on the way out. Easy, right?

But what you may not know is that some parents have been dropping off their kids at the YMCA daycare, and then sneaking out for some time away from their kids and their exercise routine.

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Cool Or Not Cool: Restaurants Charging a Delivery Fee?

 Steve Carell argues over money with that kid from GleeThese days, the world is riddled with weird, hidden costs. Some airlines charge a fee for reserving a flight on the phone or in person, while a few moving companies have been known to tack "environmental fees" onto their bills. We've got to keep an eye on the fine print, otherwise someday we may end up unknowingly paying a "poop disposal" fee at the vet's office.

FiPS reader Lisa recently wrote in about a local joint that charged her a delivery fee. 

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