Anyone see the Pace Picante sauce commercial where the cowboys made fun of the "new guy," the guy from New York? The new guy spray painted a tag on his cow rather than using a branding iron ("must be the kind of guy who gets his sauce from NEW YURK CIT-TAY!")

Sorry to wreck any city native's perceptions of the Midwest but cow tipping is a myth. However, after the MTA cracked down on subway graffiti, a number of graffiti artists moved to the country and started tagging cows. This, and not the greater efficiency of the process, is what led to our current state of factory agriculture, where cows are raised in feedlots instead of being allowed to roam free on the range.

that's a real clever idea, unfortunately it would be unnatural. it's a local phenomenon... born, bred, and still somewhat unique to this culture. it sets nyc apart and helps define its character. you don't see any value in it, i do.

Always glad to liven things up. Maybe we can start a fund and send some rejects to the midwest where they can "decorate" your hometown? Then your mom doesn't have to travel so far to admire their work.

oh good... it's nola.

i thought maybe the conversation was getting a bit too civil.

First of all, rented trucks and warehouses are owned by someone. Just because it isn't you doesn't give someone the right to deface them. They are not public property.

Subway cars and bridges may be public property but the vast majority of the public (who pays for them) prefers them clean. A handful of twits that didn't get enough attention from mommy don't have the right to cover them with their sorry attempts at self-expression.

I may not be crazy about billboards either, but the fact that they are legal is a pretty significant difference. Do you really need something that obvious explained to you?

What's better than going to Gothamist and seeing your old crew prominently featured right on the front page. That's an NVS up there in the S of my boy SEGE's fill in. I love it. Thanks for the extra fame Gothamist, we don't even have to write anymore.

http://theybnvsblog.blogspot.com/2004/08/anti-graf-task-force-attempts-to.html

Well, to me, it's not a mater of legal or not but rather respect for other people's property.

To me, Painting on apparently Abandoned property is still wrong.

well cow-tipping can actually severely injure a cow and would be hard to describe as a form of expression.

sympathies to private home-owners... yeah, that's pretty disrespectful and dumb. but i don't see how tagging bridges, subway cars, rental trucks, or delapidated warehouses actually hurts anyone. denying its cultural significance sounds elitist. even my midwestern mother commented on how beautiful it is when she visited. in addition to all the landmarks, she took photos of graffiti.

if it's not art or culture, then is it really that different from billboards and mural ads beside the fact that ads are legal? they're only permitted because they are selling something and have big corporate backers that want to make more money.

I grew up in queens and have taken the 7 train for as long as I can remember, so I can appreciate that there's definitely a redeeming quality to some graffiti. But I've also seen neighbors have to paint over the same tags over and over again. For some it's art, for others it's marking their territory, as well as a sign of disrespect.

"have you ever had your property tagged?"

Me? No, My neighbor on the corner, yes. Someone thought his new white vinyl fence was fair game. That yard was his work or art and whomever did that to him should be ashamed of him/herself. Ever see an 80 year old man cry? It's not a pretty sight. Several people helped clean up the fence and repaint it, but it's never going to be the same. He's now thinking of moving to Long Island or Florida (Who can blame him?)

As for being a part of city culture, I say "bah". I've plenty of family from all over the city (Spanish Harlem, Alphabet city pre gentrification, Jamaica, I'm from Hollis, etc) and none think this was a cool thing to do. IMO, repeat, IMO: This isn't culture and saying that it is is just excusing people who have no respect for other people.

Finally, I've hear "Cow Tipping" is part of midwest culture....

"A 'Tag' Is far from art..."

in your opinion. i can see why you'd be pissed as a home-owner (have you ever had your property tagged?), but it's still part of nyc culture. it really is one of many reasons i was attracted to the city in the first place.

a friend once parked a panel van in greenpoint for months with the hope of getting a custom paintjob but nobody ever touched his big white canvas.

yeah, you've discovered the kind that sucks. maybe you've also noticed the rest.

Maybe being a Homeowner skews my perception, but I agree: This is vandalism, nothing else. If someone want's to paint a Mural, ask permission.

A 'Tag' Is far from art...

Right... "art" like when kids scrawl "King Ballz" on someone's garage? or on the side of someone's house? If it's not their property, it's vandalism.

i think grafitti is the free public art gallery for those too 'uncultured' to fit into the increasingly elitist art industry. i see it as an equal opportunity, democratic venue. it can turn blank panel trucks and steel gates vibrant. i wish they wouldn't waste my tax dollars fighting it. although some of it really sucks... maybe we need nypd curators.

"He asked for copies. We respectfully declined the opportunity."

You have to be kidding. What self-respecting writer doesn't have an album of his own work? Amateurs.

I think his "Crew" should be called WAI, Meaning We Are IDIOTS!!

"Camacho begged for copies"?

Why? Why does he have to be from QUEENS?!!!!

(sigh)

While I suspect that Mayor Mike *is* going after "Quality of Life" Crimes for the election, I'm glad the police are arresting these people.

IMO, Grafitti is NOT Art, just vandalism.

BTW, in another Odd quirk of the legal system in NYC, People getting a Marriage license go into Queens Borough Hall via the same entrance as people Awaiting Trial.

What's the message here?

Under control? Has anyone else felt that the homeless population has increased by a noticable amount in the past couple of years?

Anyone else notice how the mayor seems to ramp up the quality of life issues as the election approaches?

On the one hand, I'm glad that seemingly trivial issues make news, because it implies that other problems common to city life(crime, drugs, etc.) are under control.

But on the other hand, there are so many other big stories that need coverage, like education.