Big Apple Blog

On Sunday I rode my bike and I did not even need full fingered gloves. It was a beautiful day. The bad news is that on my ride, I passed two Ghost Bikes. I took a picture of one of them.

What is a Ghost Bike? A Ghost Bike is a memorial to a cyclist who has been killed in a collision with an automobile. It’s a somber reminder that cyclists and cars should respect one another. Unfortunately, the equation is pretty one sided in the Big Apple. The above picture memorializes a cyclist who was run down by a drunk driver – on a bike path.

Virtual Resistance says Ghost Bikes are now appearing in different cities. I hope you do not have the chance to see one, but if you do, take a moment to ponder the responsibility that comes with driving or pedaling.

A mix of work obligations and visitors from out of town have led to me walking around and using the subway a bit more lately. I noticed that just about wherever you turn in the city, you are told not to do something. It seems kind of ironic to me that even though New York City dwellers have that tough attitude stereotype, most of the signs are related to things that are pretty much common sense. Either New Yorker’s sense of toughness replaces common sense, or all the signs are directed at tourists.

I’ll sprinkle in pictures of the signs in the coming weeks.

I don’t really need affirmation that I am hip, but every now and again it’s nice to be reminded. In reality an over 6 foot, skinny white guy who enjoys a little hip hop can feel left out at times. But fear not, whenever I feel like I’m not in the “in crowd,” I now have a yet another picture to show people how hip I really am.

First there was me chillin’ with U2. So they were on a flatbed truck being pulled through Manhattan for a music video – I still was in same area and Bono did wave at me. I know he did, never mind the 100’s of other people around and the sunglasses he was wearing – I know he was looking right at me. But I am definitely stepping things up. See for yourself . . .

Yep, that’s right, that’s me chilling with Ludacris – rapper and actor extraordinaire. Ludacris visited a class where I work to discuss the AIDS awareness campaign, “Kick Me.” Ludacris has received a lot of negative press over his lyrics, but it looks like he turned a corner in terms of social responsibility when he took a trip to Africa. He was inspired to use his fame to try and reach out to young people in a positive way.

When it was time to socialize where did the handling manager direct Ludacris? My office of course: “the closet of cool” as I am now calling it. Okay, so it was not really socialization, it was more like my boss coming in to tell me she asked his body guard detail if he would step in for a picture. But hey, I touched him . . . I know because I can’t forget the no nonsense, steely look on his body guards face. Like, “Watch it tooth pick, or I’ll break you in half.”