Adrian Parsons
@adrianparsons
Software Engineer searching for next thing. Previously at Capsule8→Sophos, Etsy, and Meetup Mapping vacant lots at empty.nyc
The NYPL's Stavros branch had this Short Story Dispenser on the 5th floor.
Dutch Kills in Long Island City has this little take-a-number machine. Complete with custom-designed tickets. It makes a very startling *ding!* sound when you hit the lever.
The Brooklyn Public Library in Greenpoint has a machine that dispenses free tampons and pads
Ok, moving on to NYC: This machine on the street in Bushwick primarily services bicyclists with tubes and parts (and Red Bull).
This machine at a church in Rome would play an audio recording over the two attached handsets. (IIRC a prayer or blessing)
At a parking garage in Pisa, Italy I picked up one of these little city maps. Widespread use of $1+ coins in the U.S. would be great for things like this.
In the Berlin Staatsbibliotek (state library), everything you need for a research session: clear bags (library policy), locks (for lockers), highlighters, notebooks, Stabilo pens, and more.
In the Berlin subway: books available as well as snacks to pass the time. "Bored on the train? Dive in!" the machine beckons
Also at Sam's Town: A vending machine that only sells those ink dabbers for bingo
🧵 of weird vending machines I've run into. Starting with: The sock vending machine at the Sam's Town bowling cener in Las Vegas.
Yeahhhh it's definitely just missing data. The Department of Finance site shows sales and tax history. I might work through @beta.nyc to get more background.
An interesting/puzzling find: 671 parcels in NYC that according to public data... do not have owners!? Dan Lu (holistudio.github.io) came across this recently. The "Owner" field on NYC Planning's site is also missing.
I also want a shirt with the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant logo. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waste_I...
By far the best placard I've seen in NYC. Potentially the only acceptable one. paging @placardabuse.bsky.social
Agreed, it was super cool. Here's @ecalifornica.bsky.social talking about ATProto and @outerweb.org
Both of these banks across the street from each other in Fort Greene have a handful of parking spaces. It's a surprising use of space. I don't know how to find parking spaces like this in existing NYC data sets, but I'd like to map out this kind of surface parking. (430 Myrtle & 164 Clinton Ave)
Watching this adorable video of a sleeper bus trip through Japan I did not expect the creator to apologize for their "fat feet". www.youtube.com/watch?v=E1sx...
The Cayman Islands turtle is just charming. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coat_of...
The Republic of Botswana Zebras go hard. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coat_of...
The Turks and Caicos flamingos and pelican are a little chaotic, but fun en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coat_of...
Awesome coats of arms (of countries) that feature animals: The Anguilla dolphins are my favorite so far. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coat_of...
Just ran across this metal band logo map/visualization: renecutura.eu/metalvis/