Per an official decree, English-speaking Catholics will now recite certain portions of the mass that are closer to the original Latin translation, in the most earth-shattering changes to Mass since its English translation more than 40 years ago. Some are upset because the translation was meant to fulfill the goal of a more "shared liturgy" with other Christian denominations. Plus, it kind of snaps you out of your peaceful trance when the same thing you've been incanting for four decades is changed. But according to the Times, Corpus Christi Church in Morningside Heights has been giving the ecumenical finger to the Vatican since the 60s, and in effect, the church is catching up to them. Who's the cafeteria Catholic, now? more ›

Politicians win elections and earn their salaries by promising their constituents things and then explaining later why those promises were broken. This is in the Constitution, or Federalist 35 or something. But what happens to voters when they've been pushed to the very brink of insanity by a corrupt, inane political system and a rotten economy? According to new polling by the ABC News/The Washington Post, we're about to find out in 2012! The data shows it will involve a lot of misery, culminating in a campaign that is "a dramatic shift from the hope-and-change enthusiasm generated by Obama's first run for the White House." more ›

After successfully securing their place in Zuccotti Park and seeing more violent reactions from the NYPD, the Occupy Wall Street protesters will take their message worldwide. 951 cities spread over 82 countries will feature marches and demonstrations in an effort to enact "Global Change." New York City will host several events, beginning with a march on Chase Bank at 11 a.m. and culminating in a 5 p.m. meet up in Times Square. more ›

In a major speech tonight, President Obama is announcing a jobs and growth package that could top $400 billion, CBS reports. Excerpts of the speech were given to the press, and in addition to signature soaring rhetoric, Obama is outlining specific spending increases and tax cuts that he hopes will, among other things, lead to the hiring of one million unemployed construction workers. According to a copy obtained by CNN, Obama will tell the American people and Congress: more ›

Spring isn't just about pretty flowers, warm weather, and outdoor dining. It is also, apparently, when New Yorkers like to kvetch about restaurants stealing their change. Last year there was the guy moaning about a neighborhood bistro stealing four of his pennies and this year we've got another gentleman complaining, to the Department of Consumer Affairs no less, about an East Village joint stealing his four pennies. Why can't these penny pinchers understand that restaurants in this modern era we live in just don't like making change? more ›

Major League Baseball has approved at least three potential investor groups to make bids on the financially unsound Mets. The Mets owners' investment company, Sterling Equity, is in the midst of a complicated lawsuit stemming from perceived Madoff "profits"; the Wilpons have already agreed to sell a minority share of the team to offset any fiscal problems caused by the suit. But even if they sell 49 percent or less of the team, there's still a chance they may be forced to sell the team in the near future. more ›

Sometimes there are white whines, and sometimes there are valid complaints. Today CityRoom's Complaint Box is filled with the latter, as one gentleman finally shines some light on this outrageous scam being pulled on innocent New Yorkers at restaurants citywide: the round up. You probably haven't even noticed it's happening, but some establishments have started to stealthy round-up bills when customers pay in cash. more ›

Toll collectors on the New Jersey Turnpike were the subject of 550 letters of complaint in 2008 and 2009, including one from a woman who was told she'd have to be cuffed and strip searched after getting in the wrong lane and another driver who was told to "get on the road and die" by an attendant after attempting to pay his toll with a $20. Numerous collectors allegedly preferred a silent attack: spitting on their fingers before handing back change. more ›

In our advanced age, street pay phones are often thought of as grimy relics of a bygone era—something between a public toilet and a closet-sized museum. Still, measured up against touch-screens and T9, they seem incredibly romantic. One pay phone outside of a Queens courthouse still swallows its fair share of quarters, and a Times reporter spent a week eavesdropping from the sidewalk. As one might expect, lots of people called after their run-ins with the law. “I do drugs,” said one man. “I got caught with them.” Others conduct their shady dealings. “Nah,” one young man said after hanging up, “you didn’t see me use that phone.” “Loneliness, loneliness, loneliness,” responded another man when asked why he was calling. He'd tried to reach his son, but was met by an automated response. See a map of the city’s payphones by zip code after the break. more ›

In the wake of America's first fatal airline accident in 30 months, the Times takes a look at how the FAA has responded to other crashes over the years. Perhaps unsurprisingly, reporter Matthew Wald's tour of the FAA sausage factory concludes that the bureaucracy is a tad "cumbersome." The National Transportation Safety Board, which advises the FAA on regulations, currently cites 429 "outstanding recommendations" which have still not been acted on by the FAA. 146 of them are more than five years old, such as a proposed fix for the malfunction that caused the explosion of T.W.A. Flight 800 (pictured) over Long Island in 1996, which investigators concluded was caused by an electrical flaw in the fuel tank. (Many others have speculated that a shoulder-fired missile took down the plane.) After some 12 years of debate about a solution, the FAA now reports that airlines should finally have the problem fixed... in another eight years. more ›

Manhattanite Mame McCutchin has been picking up your loose change and blogging about it. Her Found Money blog isn't the only one in town, however. The Daily News reports that there are dozens of change bloggers nationwide, all trying to fill up their piggy banks for rainy days. In New York, there's also Barbara Humphrey, a Staten Island mom whose gotten the whole family involved and records her findings at Change Pot. So far this year she's already up to $47.05, and has saved over $1,000 since starting three years ago. The paper notes that "Oddly, in wealthy Manhattan neighborhoods, they rarely find anything," which may explain why McCutchin is only up to $16.63 since last June. That could be up one cent by the end of the day, however—she wrote on her blog earlier: "Today I found a penny but it was frozen solid into some dirt near the base of a tree. I can't decide if I should go back with a cup of hot water or a screw-driver." more ›

Orthodox Jewish fitness buffs are outraged that the Kosher Gym in Flatbush, Brooklyn was sold earlier this month to non-Jewish owners who plan to open the gym on Shabbos and make other non-Kosher changes to the facilities. According to the Jewish Press, gym members recently received a letter announcing the sale, for $2 million, to a "national fitness group that focuses on gender specific clubs." more ›

Since opening last November, the 2,000 square foot Radegast Hall in Williamsburg has been packed with patrons enjoying the massive mugs of beer, the hearty food, and the debate about the old world dirndl peasant dresses worn by the waitresses. (Humiliating or part of the ambiance?) One group strongly opposed to the vintage Czech ensembles are the employees themselves, who say the tight bodices and short skirts are provoking come-ons from grabby drunken tools. Not cool, bros! more ›