What do Matzoh, Gefilte Fish, and ad hoc iPhone development camps have in common? They're all scheduled for tomorrow. As the sun sets and Jews around the world begin to celebrate Passover, the festival of freedom from slavery, pale iPhone developers will be crawling back to their rocks after joining together at Polytechnic University for a free iPhone development event.

The event runs from 10AM to 6PM at the Brooklyn Campus at 6 Metrotech Center, Brooklyn 11201. Bagels and/or pizza will be served. Note that you cannot just show up at the event without notifying organizers via the website -- security has a list of attendees.

Let me tell you something about people from Brooklyn: we are, by nature and environment, edgy risk-takers who live life like we're driving a Maserati down the PCH. Or a Camry up the BQE. Anyway, you don't want to mess with us -- and specifically, you don't want to mess with Mike Solomon, a creative director who's apparently got cojones the size of Jonathan Ive's awards cabinet.

What did Mike do that earns him the title of Mac Jock Extraordinare? Faced with a weekend on-site video editing project that would require 20 GB of space and only having 10 GB free on his laptop, he didn't bow to the conventional wisdom -- send a production assistant to Staples for a new 500GB drive, or weed out his Downloads folder. No, he decided the best way to free up the needed space was to out-and-out delete his 65 GB iTunes library, the media addict's equivalent of flushing your stash when the cops show up. Then, when he returned home later, he simply restored his library from Time Machine -- no muss, no fuss.

Mike, we salute you and your outside-the-box approach to capacity management. Next time, though, might we suggest a portable drive?

[via Macenstein]

Every urban neighborhood has its characters and unique personalities that add to the flavor of the place. In Sunset Park, Brooklyn, where I live now, the accordion guy who plays Spanish folk tunes near the subway is a fixture, and he gives a friendly nod or a "Buenos Diaz" every morning. Back in the old 'hood -- Park Slope, PRB (people's republic of Brooklyn) -- one of the local folks has apparently been contributing a rather bitter taste.

The New York Times City Room blog tells the story of the Park Slope sidewalk ranter, a dedicated Mets fan who, from his seat in front of a deli, would harangue passing Yankees fans with racial epithets and slurs. Nothing seemed to quiet this guy down. Nothing, that is, until a distinctive pair of white earbuds appeared... and now there is peace and quiet.

Only in New York. At least, for the sake of everyplace else on earth, I hope that it's only in New York.

[via Fake Steve]