New York Today: Soccer in the Sauna

Will this update lessen delays and increase access for the city’s low income residents?

What better song cue for watching soccer in a Brighton Beach sauna: "the group passed around a bottle of Glenlivet and offered up toasts during halftime. 'I couldn’t ask for a better father-in-law,' said Aron Yushanayev of Fresh Meadows, Queens. 'L’chaim!' " tune of "To Life, To Life, L'chaim!" To life, let's drink to Brighton To Brighton - L'chaim, to life! We're all here sweating out by the Beach Bottles of wine in reach Drink in Brighton, long life! I just subwayed here to Brighton and the score has got me scared out of my wits Somehow I feel much less frightened with a fine merlot while sweating in a shvitz. All right, all right, don't sweat it. But pressure is taking its toll. And though surrounded by "Oys" and "Oohs" Booze helps us if they lose Drink to Brighton - Goooooal!

I am certain that Hillary will welcome the new system.

On Saturday, the Liberty will be hosted by the defending champion Minnesota Lynx at 8 PM and that will be televised on both NBA TV and MSG+, though I can't understand why the Liberty have been omitted lately when mentioning NY sports schedules.

FOOD & DRINK IN THE POOL AREA ONLY DURING WORLD CUP

While your guide to watching the World Cup was very interesting -- I'd suggest all those wanting to watch the German matches find a nice Biergarten somewhere outside and don't forget to shout 'TOOOOOOOR!!' instead of GOOOOOOAL!

GRUMPY FATHER'S DAY My father was known at I.M. Stern, And sternness was his cause, Demanding both his kids adhere To his exacting laws. Ignorance was no excuse. He stressed day in, day out, And coming up the slightest bit short Was the mark of a no-good lout. So on a typical Father's Day When I gave him two new ties, He went to the mirror, tried one on, And bellowed, "Not my size!"

"Mr. Trump is being sued by the New York attorney general, but his bigger problem might be with the Internal Revenue Service." Well, the GOP-controlled house and senate have been steadily eroding the IRS. The IRS doesn't have enough staff to go after tax-cheats. And Donald Trump has the power to cripple it altogether. All those who voted for Bernie Sanders and the other liberal spoilers -- all of whom were supported by Russian trolls, as I began to suspect while reading the curiously ESL-styled, frantic, and aggressive anti-Hillary Clinton comments in The New York Times -- can thank themselves for helping to elect Mr. Trump. If they placed their trust in our system of checks and balances, they were sorely mistaken.

I'm old enough to remember tokens and 35 cent bus fares. Having had a lot of swipe issues with the Metrocard, I won't miss it. I'll welcome anything that works.

These systems have been in use around the world for decades. It’s about time NY caught up.

I am wondering how this will work for riders who are entitled to a reduced fare.

This has been a week with so many heavy, important themes. Glad you're getting a fun one to end off the week! Are these saunas gender-neutral? I remember when I was growing up, the Brighton Beach Baths on Coney Island Avenue near the Boardwalk was for both women and men, just the usual separate locker areas. I think even the saunas were co-ed. But there was no liquor in the sauna. (I think! It was a while ago; Mrs. Stahl's Knishes was still there across Brighton Beach Avenue.)

I'm surprised they haven't implemented smart cards earlier - the PATH system has used these cards for years. I'm curious why they don't just combine the two systems and allow for a single card to be used on both systems, since a good number of people in the area rely on both.

PATH trains use either tap and go smart cards or metro cards. I prefer the smart card because they seemed to work more reliably. If you're worried about theft, I would just get a smart card even if you have a smart phone. They might also be easier for people who can't grip metro cards that well since you can just keep smart cards in your palm instead of having to use a pincher grip.

Really? The budget is being spent on replacing fare scanners that currently function?!? How about fixing the actual subway equipment that is causing all the lengthy and frequent delays?!?

I'm often worried about technology preceding the public's abilities. Perhaps the MTA's own cost saving should not take precedence. I do not have a smart phone, opting for a flip phone, which meets my needs. I also have a debit card instead of a credit card. I'm not unsophisticated, or afraid of technology, but choose to remain electronically simple. I'm not as much of an exception as you might imagine. Others may not have the required technology because of an economic situation, or a cultural/language issue. Especially in this city, which is a home for a diverse economic and social population. I'm not familiar with a " smart card", so perhaps that is of a lesser technology and makes by concerns moot. But my point is that the MTA not be cutting-edge or drive technology--but to wait until all manners of people are comfortable with it, and it is easily accessible to all.

As someone who lives in what used to be called a two fare zone, I hope the new system will allow me to see how much money is left on my account. With no subway station near me, sometimes you're not sure if you have enough left on your card for that morning bus ride.

one hopes that the mta has allocated funds for the new scanner system AND for better security. currently, there are issues with criminal behavior on the mta's buses & trains. if the new scanners can only be implemented by using bank cards or smart phones, passenger theft will most likely rise significantly.