At 5PM Eastern time, a  7.0 magnitude earthquake rocked Haiti, the impoverished Carribbean country. The epicenter was 10  miles southwest from the capital,  Port-au-Prince, according to the United States Geological Survey.

There is widespread damage and panic is spreading; a large number of casualties are expected.  There were two aftershocks — of 5.5 and 5.9 magnitude — that followed in the last hour, and more were expected, according to David Wald, a seismologist with the US Geological Survey.

Here is a report from Gary Pierre-Pierre, who runs The Haitian Times, a newspaper for the Haitian community in Brooklyn:

A major earthquake shook the capital city to its core and left Port-au-Prince into a smoke haze. At this moment, the number of death and people injured are not known. People could be heard screaming and crying. The metropolitan area is home to two million people in an area originally planned for 200,000. Houses are poorly constructed with lax codes, if any. “The earthquake registered at 7.0- with an aftershock of 5.9. The palace has been severely damaged said, Frank Williams, national director for World Vision in Haiti. “This is a catastrophe of major proportions, said Raymond Joseph, Haitian ambassador to the United States, on CNN The Situation Room. “The place is really bad now.” Joseph made a plea for the world to come to Haiti’s rescue at this moment of intense grief.

Hopefully things will go more smoothly this week. I think everyone has found the new OTBKB and those who want the RSS feeds have them. If not, see the info below.

We are still working hard to get out the kinks in the design and functionality of the blog and will keep you posted about all that. Importantly, the Blogroll will be returning soon.

So I for one am hoping things will be a tad smoother this week. Thanks for hanging in there.

Over at the American Can Factory, that artist loft building on Third Avenue and Third Street in Park Slope/Gowanus, the Makers Market is getting better and better.

Today there’s a farmer’s market in addition to an unusual selection of artisans selling jewelry, knitware, home goods and other items. I loved the rings made of vintage buttons, shells and other baubles by DanaMade (pictured above) and the spiral hoop earrings by Franco.

There was also an interesting vocal/electric piano, bass and drum trio playing cool music. As always, a woman sells homemade lunches and coffee in the back of the space.

Oh yeah: I bought some Indian simmer sauce and Red Lenti, Bulgur & Mint Soup from Calcutta Kitchens, who makes specialties from India.

Every Sunday 11AM until 5PM

I’d like to thank the fabulous Hugh Crawford for making the OTBKB make-over possible. This site was originally developed by another paid programmer (who will not be named). That person disappeared in midstream. Grrrr. She said she was done but she wasn’t really done at all. And things were a really klugy mess.

In other words: I got screwed.

Hugh had to pick up where she left off which isn’t always the easiest thing to do. So thank you Hugh for the programming, the design, the Internet smarts, the programming genius, the stamina, the jokes, the putting up with the anxious blogger, the being there when I need you the most.

I’d also like to thank Elizabeth Reagh of Good Form Design for the design of my beautiful logo. I love it.

Thanks to the Brooklyn and Queens Conservatory of Music for advertising with me. And thank to the readers of OTBKB for their loyalty and patience during this transition.

Yay. We have a link for those of you requesting RSS feeds!
http://onlytheblogknowsbrooklyn.com/feed/

If your feed reader is picky, OTBKB is offering feed urls for RSS, RSS2 and atom:

http://onlytheblogknowsbrooklyn.com/feed/
http://onlytheblogknowsbrooklyn.com/feed/rss/
http://onlytheblogknowsbrooklyn.com/feed/rss2/
http://onlytheblogknowsbrooklyn.com/feed/rdf/
http://onlytheblogknowsbrooklyn.com/feed/atom/

What is an RSS feed? RSS (most commonly translated as “Really Simple Syndication”) is a family of web feed formats used to publish frequently updated blogs and websites. It  contains either a summary of content from a blog or the full text.

Please let us know if you have any difficulty getting your RSS feed. And thanks for your continued patience.

Don’t miss this special contemporary music event curated (and featuring) acclaimed pianist Simone Dinnerstein:

The PS 321 Neighborhood Concert series presents: Bach and Beyond, featuring Simone Dinnerstein and the American Contemporary Music Ensemble (ACME)
Sunday, January 10, 1020, 2:00 pm
PS 321 Auditorium

Tickets are $15 and are available at www.ps321.org

Brooklyn-based pianist Simone Dinnerstein gained an international following because of the remarkable success of her recording of the Goldberg Variations, released on Telarc in August 2007. Her latest recording, the complete works by Beethoven for piano and cello with cellist Zuill Bailey, received the Classical Recording Foundation Award and was released by Telarc in 2009. ACME was founded by cellist Clarice Jensen and is dedicated to the outstanding performance of masterworks from the 20th and 21st centuries in programs that are both avant-garde and archetypal. PS 321 Neighborhood Concerts is a concert series at the Brooklyn public elementary school that Ms. Dinnerstein’s son attends and where her husband teaches fifth grade. The concerts, which feature musicians Ms. Dinnerstein has admired and collaborated with during her career, are open to the public and raise funds for PS 321’s PTA.

Bring out the welcome wagon: there’s a new blog on the block and this one has some serious Brooklyn ambitions and talent.

It’s called Brooklyn the Borough and it has bunch of names on the masthead that I recognize  like editor and publisher Nicole Brydson, who has written about politics, real estate and culture for the New York Observer, BlackBook, New York Press, Playgirl, the New York Post and the Brooklyn Paper. She writes: “When people still had real jobs, she worked for the House of Representatives, the New York State Senate and Fun City Tattoos.”

I also recognized this name from WNYC: David Bukszpan, a co-founder of Novel-T, a literary clothing line that offers book lovers a way to “wear your read.” Formerly, he was an editor and publicist in literary publishing and later worked in publicity at WNYC Radio, the nation’s largest public radio station.

Here’s a little blurbage from BTB.  It sounds like an interesting place. Check it out.

Brooklyn the Borough is nnovative news website, melding the sensibilities of literary print journalism with the digital platform in a magazine feature format. This approach to local reporting is unique to Brooklyn’s internet landscape and intends to shed light on the borough’s subterranean cultural movements in fashion, music and art.  Contextualizing the borough’s political and sociological landscapes is key to this website’s mission.

Welcome to the neighborhood Brooklyn the Borough! Great to have you here.

The Gowanus Canal Conservancy will be hosting the first annual “Gowanus a Go Go” benefit concert. The even will feature some of the best bands of the New York City music scene, bringing them together to play at The Bell House in the Gowanus Canal district.

Featuring:
*Plushgun
*PaperDoll
*The Flanks
*Gramercy Arms
*DJ Spiritbear

Monday, January 25th, 2010
Doors open at 6:30pm

Tickets are $20.00 and are available at http://www.thebellhouseny.com or Other Music (15 East 4th Street NYC – (212) 477-8150).
The concert is sponsored by Aguayo & Huebener, Brooklyn Creative League, National Grid, Other Music, and Verizon. To become a sponsor, please call the Conservancy at (718) 541-4378.

On Wednesday at the New York City Council,  Christine Quinn was chosen to continue in her role as Speaker and new council members were sworn i

That means Brad Lander and Steve Levin are  officially, City Councilmen for District 39 and 33 respectively. They take over for Bill diBlasio who is now NYC’s Public Advocate and David Yassky.

During the swearing in event, Brooklyn Councilman Charles Barron argued that he should be speaker.

“For us to be the new majority, and not a single black or Latino is in a powerful position in a citywide position, in this city, is unconscionable,” he said.

According to WNYC:

Barron’s supporters in the galleries shouted “sellout” at black and Latino council members who voiced support for Quinn. Barron also argued that the office of speaker has too much power, but ultimately he wasn’t able to get any votes except for the one he himself cast.

From the New York Times via the new Gowanus Lounge:

Irish writer Colm Toibin was named novelist of the year Monday in Britain’s lucrative Costa Book Awards for his emigrant saga ”Brooklyn.”The judges praised Toibin’s ”poised, quiet and incrementally shattering” story about a young Irishwoman in the 1950s caught between a new life in New York and the pull of her homeland.

The following is from the Better Business Bureau which wants to help people learn how to tell the difference between a U.S. Census worker and a con artist

For years, the Better Business Bureau has educated consumers about not giving out personal information over the telephone or to anyone who shows up at their front door.  With the U.S. Census process beginning, BBB advises people to be cooperative, but cautious, so as not to become a victim of fraud or identity theft.

The first phase of the 2010 U.S. Census is under way as workers have begun verifying the addresses of households across the country.  Eventually, more than 140,000 U.S. Census workers will count every person in the United States and will gather information about every person living at each address including name, age, gender, race and other relevant data.

“Most people are rightfully cautious and won’t give out personal information to unsolicited phone callers or visitors, however the Census is an exception to the rule,” said Steve Cox, BBB spokesperson.

“Unfortunately, scammers know that the public is more willing to share personal data when taking part in the Census and they have an opportunity to ply their trade by posing as a government employee and soliciting sensitive financial information.”

The Census data will be used to allocate more than $300 billion in federal funds every year, as well as determine a State’s number of Congressional representatives. Households are actually required by law to respond to the Census Bureau’s request for information.

During the U.S. Census, households will be contacted by mail, telephone or visited by a U.S. Census worker who will inquire about the number of people living in the house. Unfortunately, people may also be contacted by scammers who are impersonating Census workers in order to gain access to sensitive financial information such as Social Security, bank account or credit card numbers. Law enforcement in several states have issued warnings that scammers are already posing as Census Bureau employees and knocking on doors asking for donations and Social Security numbers.

The big question is – how do you tell the difference between a U.S. Census worker and a con artist? BBB offers the following advice:

• If a U.S. Census worker knocks on your door, they will have a badge, a handheld device, a Census Bureau canvas bag and a confidentiality notice. Ask to see their identification and their badge before answering their questions.  However, you should never invite anyone you don’t know into your home.

• Census workers are currently only knocking on doors to verify address information. Do not give your Social Security number, credit card or banking information to anyone, even if they claim they need it for the U.S. Census.  While the Census Bureau might ask for basic financial information, such as a salary range, it will not ask for Social Security, bank account or credit card numbers nor will employees solicit donations.

• Eventually, Census workers may contact you by telephone, mail or in person at home.  However, they will not contact you by e-mail, so be on the look out for e-mail scams impersonating the Census. Never click on a link or open any attachments in an e-mail that are supposedly from the U.S. Census Bureau.

For more advice on avoiding identity theft and fraud, visit www.bbb.org

Six years in the making, the  the Long Island Rail Road’s new Atlantic Terminal Pavilion opened on Tuesday with many politicians on hand.

At a cost of $108 million, the three-story limestone, granite and glass structure at Flatbush Avenue and Hanson Place has a  customer waiting area, ticket offices and restrooms.

It’s like a real train station. Wow.

The Atlantic  LIRR station connects to five bus lines and 10 subway lines – the B, D, M, N, Q, R, 2, 3, 4 and 5 trains. It is estimated that 57,000 commuters come through the station daily.

You can even take the train to Montauk from there if you are so inclined .

The name will be changed to Atlantic Terminal in March.  This video is a promotional video produced by the MTA.

Here’s the first missive of the New Year from writer/designer Scott Turner, who, among other things, runs the Thursday pub quiz at Rocky Sullivan’s in Red Hook. This post is, as always, brought to you by Miss Wit, the t-shirt queen of Red Hook.

Greetings Pub Quiz Bundle-Uppers…

Is it cold?  Or is it just Winter?

The Daily News had a scintillating story this morning…page 2, where stories of great import appear.

“N.Y. cold snap to rival horror winters of ’70s” was the real eye catcher.  Forget for a second that it reads like a 1950s B-movie sci-fi headline (“Martians to destroy humanity”).  The News must have sensed that underwear-bombers just weren’t scary enough.

It’s bad enough to add every Yemeni to the No Like List.  Another entirely to add the weather.

The article delves into the meteorological community’s (meaning two guys from Accu-Weather quoted in the News‘ piece) belief that this will be a Day After Tomorrow winter.

The Daily News and Accu-Weather’s prediction for the next two months — and New Yorkers’ reactions

Big storms heading from the Plains states (those frakkin’ Nebraskans!), Arctic air swooping down from the North Pole, and reminders of the winter of ’77’s two consecutive storms that dumped 31″ on the city.

I expected a third Accu-Weather expert to say “and don’t forget, New York dug out from that last ice age 11,000 years ago!”

All of this would have exactly the kind of stultifying woe-is-us effect that stupid baseless reporting usually aims for — except for that graphic that accompanied the story.  The three-day forecast’s horror temperatures are 33, 36 and 34 degrees.

Really?  Above-freezing temperatures to prove the point that we’re all about to freeze to death?

The Daily News really does think we’re idiots.  All the papers do.  But really…a story about the winter conditions not seen in a generation accompanied by a graphic that completely contradicts their point?

Well, this is a paper that’s lobbied hard against bodegas selling alcohol-punch drinks called “nutcrackers” but has kept silent about Bruce Ratner getting $750 million in public money for his Atlantic Yards basketball arena for a team owned by a Russia‘s wealthiest man.

which of these will hurt New York more?  Wait!  Let, the Daily News make the call!

Still, it’s good to start the morning with a laugh.  That’s why everyone should at least glimpse Mortimer “Yes, Mortimer” Zuckerman‘s Newspaper of Lost Opportunities.  In a town with a paper whose biggest concerns are the GNPs of Central Asian nations and another whose reactionary politics make Sarah Palin look smart, eloquent and kind, the Daily News could actually do what journalism is supposed to — report the facts, give its readership a voice, and offer a platform for truth.  Instead, it takes the easy way — weeks of Tiger Woods covers and coddling of rich real-estate FoMs — Friends of Mortimer.

While there are good reasons to read the News — Mike Lupica, the I-Team sports investigators, David Hinckley and the city’s best daily comic section — it’s good to remember what the worst transgression of the news media is.  It’s not lying.  It’s ignoring the things that hurt people the most.  Second most important?  Being beholden to the people, not your advertisers and friends.

It helps nobody in this town to spend energy and ink on bodega drinks, Tiger’s paramours and breaking-news that winter is, it can now be reported, cold.

The Daily News sporadically wages up-with-good/down-with-bad campaigns against MTA fare hikes, dopey legislators up in Albany, and city children’s agencies failures.  Big deal.  My dogs know those things are wrong.  When it comes to doing the hard work — reporting on the many frakk’d-up elements of Michael Bloomberg‘s New York that, if the mayor were shoved against a wall by an angry citizenry, could change — the Daily News is a cowardly lion, without even the desire to go get some courage.

Mayor Bloomberg and Mortimer Zuckerman (r.): peas in a rather stanky pod

There are good reporters and workers at the News.  But their hands are tied by Mortimer, his minions and the various ranks of editors, lawyers and advertising-account hacks.

It’s not an awful thing to read The Daily News.  I do, daily.  It still aims to care more about this city than the Times or the Post.

That’s a way-low hurdle, though.  This much is clear: the Daily News is the poster child for everything wrong with newspaper journalism today.  A newspaper that refuses to dig under the rocks that conceal Bloomberg, Ratner and others’ malfeasant acts can call itself a lot of things.

“Newspaper” isn’t one of them.

I think most of you have probably found the new OTBKB by now but you may have landed on a weird old page with a story aabout coffee or something. That shouldn’t be happening.

The new url is: otbkb.com or onlytheblogknowsbrooklyn.com

Tell your frieds who maybe haven’t visited OTBKB in a while that there’s a new OTBKB and a slightly different way of getting to it.

If you’re using an old bookmark, you might be having problems. You should bookmark the blog anew

What about RSS feeds? Yikes I  just remembered about RSS feeds. Any feedback on that would be appreciated.

Some people aren’t seeing stuff that’s supposed to be there. Like the boxes that say Contact, Tips, Advertisement, and PS 100. Are you seeing them?

The category tabs aren’t working perfectly yet. We’re still working out the kinks. I mean, genius fabulous Hepcat is.

How does it look on your browser. Do you use Firefox? Safari? Internet Explorer?

The thing is: it’s much harder to transfer an old blog in its entirety (12,000 posts) to a new system than starting a brand new blog.

Onward and upward and thanks for hanging in there.

Today’s weather from the Feldman family weather tower in the center of Park Slope.

That’s an ad for the Brooklyn and Queens Conservatory of Music, which has signed on as a sponsor of OTBKB.

In addition to my old button ads on the right hand side of the blog, there is now space for horizontal and vertical banner ads. If you are interested in advertising on OTBKB let me know.

Go here for information

Those are the new categories of OTBKB.  Every post will fit into one of these categories. This should make it easier for you to search for content on my blog and find something that interests you.

This won’t change your daily or weekly OTBKB reading habits. It’s just where these posts will be archived.

Civics and Urban Life: This category will include  posts about neighborhood news, politics, transportation, education, development, street life, slice of urban life, geography, urban planning and all that fun stuff. It’s also where you’ll find Greetings From Scott Turner.

Arts and Culture: This is where you’ll find OTBKB Film by Pops Corn, OTBKB Music by Eliot Wagner, poetry by Verse Responder Leon Freilich and all posts about art, local museums and galleries, music, theater, local cultural venues and film. This will also be the location for photographers  Tom Martinez and Efrain Gonzalez.

Food & Drink: This is where you”ll find all things related to food and drink.

Shop Local: This is where you’ll find all  things related to local shopping.

Smartmom: This category will be a catchall for all parenting posts and of course where you’ll find my weekly Smartmom column.

No Words Daily Pix: This is where you’ll find Hugh Crawford’s fabulous photos.

Does this make sense? Am I leaving something out?

Ahhhh. Good question.

That beloved — and necessary — convention of blogs seems to be missing from this iteration of my new site.

But don’t worry: that all-important list of blogs I recommend will soon be restored to the left or right column of the blog very soon.

Today we are rolling out the redesign of Only the Blog  Knows Brooklyn. The next few days may be a little bumpy. Please be patient as we iron out the kinks.