I went for a ride in Brooklyn a while ago and took a few pics obviously painted by folks who are a little skeptical of all that capitalism has to offer.
Archive for February, 2006
Corporate Snides
Monday, February 27th, 2006The Times Grows
Thursday, February 23rd, 2006As each day passes, the new New York Times building grows. Fortunately, it looks like we’ll at least have about a 75% view of the ESB once it’s complete.
The top picture was taken back in October. The bottom, just a few days ago.
It’s a Small World
Tuesday, February 21st, 2006As I have grown older the world seems to continually grow smaller. The links and relationships that sprout up in conversation and now through the Internet amaze me. For example, the person who made it possible for me to join pintglass.org, Brendon, taught in Korea in the same city I did at the same time but we never met in Korea, we met when we started our graduate program back in the states.
In another graduate school small world scenario, my friend Blue worked about 15 feet from my wife for about a year before Blue and I met in our graduate program. Weirdness.
Anyway, the latest small world story involves a lost bag. Back in December Blue and I were riding up the west side of Manhattan and stumbled upon a pannier bag in the pathway. We searched the bag for a piece of identification but were only able to find a receipt with the name Josh Rosenblum on it. I posted an entry back in December with the name hoping that someone might randomly stumble upon it so we could get Josh his bag back. Well, it is a small world after all.
About two weeks ago I got an email from Josh. He said his Mom had been doing some searches on his name and ran across my blog entry. So last Saturday Blue and I met up with Josh, who lives in Connecticut, to give him his bag back.
But the small world scenario did not end there. Josh had plans in Manhattan the day we met him to visit a museum. There are hundreds and museums in Manhattan and wouldn’t you know it, Blue’s wife works at the Museum Josh was going to visit. Not only that, but Josh is moving to NYC and entering the same teaching program that Blue is just finishing. Makes Twighlight Zone music start to play in your head huh?
Say, I have an idea for a TV show. Yes, call the show It’s a Small World and feature real world vignettes. If any network wants to hire me, feel free to send me an email.
Subway
Monday, February 20th, 2006A few shots from the Seoul subway system. I still can’t imagine a fish tank existing in an NYC subway station.
This idea has got to make it to NYC. If NYC is the media capital of the world, why are there no digital advertising boards anywhere underground?
Coffee cups seem to find their way into any city setting it seems.
Snow Shots
Thursday, February 16th, 2006A few shots of the snow storm taken from our apartment window. Most of the snow is gone now that temps have crept up. It’s amazing how something so beautiful can devolve into something so disgusting. With all the trash, dirt, and dog waste in the the city, what is left after a day or two are large piles of what I guess you could call a city snowcone; brown snow piles littered with trash and colored yellow near the bottom from all the dogs stopping buy to mark their turf.
Letter Collage via Flickr
Wednesday, February 15th, 2006I ran into a pretty cool Flickr tool the other day. I have always been into collages and the tool takes whatever you type in and pulls pictures of the individual letters. An example is the current header for my blog. If you don’t like the way one of the letters appears, just click it and it will automatically update the letter to a new picture. Pretty cool. Click here to try.
26.9
Monday, February 13th, 2006Yep, 26.9 inches of snow dropped on New York City in a 24-hour period . . . and wouldn’t you know it would have to occur on a Saturday-Sunday. The one thing I have really grown to hate over the years is all of the “Storm Coverage” on news stations. Yes, I know it’s snowing, I have a window. I don’t need a reporter standing in the snow to tell me it’s snowing. Just please give us the major delays and then go away.
One thing you should not do during a snowstorm, park your bike on the sidewalk.
Bikes, the Police, and You
Thursday, February 9th, 2006Interested in the legal ramifications of riding bikes in mass? Here’s a forum for you!
Cardozo Law School
55 Fifth Avenue (at 12th Street)
February 22, 2006 – 6:30 PM
Room 206
The New York City Chapter of the National Lawyers Guild and FreeWheels are pleased to announce a panel on the last 17 months of police repression of Critical Mass in New York City. It will be all you ever wanted to know about the practical and legal struggles faced by cyclists. Since the Republican National Convention, over 315 people have been arrested for riding their bicycles on Critical Mass. Over 80 people have tried to fight their charges to trial, come hear howthey’ve faired.
In January, the Honorable Judge Harris ruled New York City’s parade permitting scheme is unconstitutional, but found all the riders guilty of disorderly conduct. The City is appealing the ruling. Come hear why the ruling is important. Learn about the City and the riders’ appeal.
Each month the NYPD does something new and inventive to arrest peoplefor riding their bikes. Come hear a month by month break down on policing tactics and an overview of the disproportional response byour City to a peaceful bicycle ride. Come learn about what’s happening on our streets.
Come learn about why all those police officers have video cameras. Find out what TARU is. No, it’s not something on a bike tire. Hear from attorneys who are suing the City over their surveillance tactics and unconstitutional arrests.
Moderator : Dave Rankin
Short Video Presentation
A few sections of CM footage
FREEWHEELS Critical Mass Update
Mark Taylor (FreeWheels)
HANDSCHU UPDATE
Marty Stolar (President of the New York City Chapter of the National
Lawyers Guild) – Handschu Attorney
CRIMINAL CASE UPDATES
Gideon Oliver (National Lawyers Guild) – Attorney for a huge number
of arrested bicyclists.
CIVIL CASE UPDATES
Rose Weber (National Lawyers Guild) – Noted police misconduct attorney
and counsel for many bicyclists.
KNOW YOUR RIGHTS ON A BIKE
Emily Compton (National Lawyers Guild) – Attorney with the NYC Mass
Defense Committee
Q + A
FreeWheels is in the midst of raising money to help fund the fight against the City’s Appeal of the parade law ruling. If you can help, please click through to:
http://www.bicycledefensefund.org/donate.html
For more information see:
Little Things
Wednesday, February 8th, 2006It does not take too much to make me happy. Sometimes the smallest thing brings me the greatest satisfaction. While in the Tokyo airport I got a cup of coffee and a huge grin spread across my face immediately. Here is what I was looking at:
Yes, it’s a simple sticker placed over the sipping hole in the lid. Genius! I can’t tell you how many times I have got a cup o’ joe and slowly spilled it all over me while walking. This simple sticker solved that problem as I strolled across the airport to my gate. Starbucks please take note!
Super Slow
Monday, February 6th, 2006Did that Super Bowl seem like it was played in slow motion or was it just me? Regardless, the result was sweet. Maybe Seattle will get a taste of the big show in another 30 years. The commercials were a major disappointment. For the best campaign ever, click here for the pain train.