Madame X

MAY DAY!

2009-05-02T01:02:00.004-04:00

So today was May Day, and if you have a job, you should care. If you want a job, you should care. If you're an immigrant, documented or not, you should care.

Anyways, so like in many other cities around the world, NYC had it's May Day march. May Day is generally a day for celebration of labor and workers but is also a day about demanding workers' rights (especially for immigrant workers.)

Last year had a great turnout and I met some cool anarchists who marched in the parade. I still regret not having my camera on me that day...ugh.
This year was pretty great minus the rain, which probably/most definitely affected the turnout (though it rained last year too). I met a sweet chick who had recently become documented and was excited to finally be able to participate in immigration protests. Until recently, she couldn't speak out for others like her for fear of what police or other governmental officials could do.

In her spirit I feel I should mention the DREAM Act. It is basically a bill that seeks to allow undocumented youth to earn (through college attendance or military service) conditional permanent residency. (there are other stipulations to the bill, but I'm trying to be brief.) The bill has been neglected in the past couple of presidential terms which has been recently re-introduced. I hope this does get more coverage because so far, it seems like something positive and something I'd support.

Anyway!
Here are some shots from the march!

No to NAFTA flu

Sweet tunes...

don't deport my family!

don't punish hard work (one of my favorite signs actually)

on the move - down broadway

Time for the spectators!

Some more sweet beats

Stop Dividing Families

Hope more folks come out next year!

While In Transit

2009-04-27T16:41:00.003-04:00

Ooh a post that makes sense!

Anyway. You know how people say 'everything happens for a reason'? Well they do.

Coming home from brooklyn via the ever-service-changed D train, I got off at Atlantic to switch to the N which was waiting across the platform. Though I didn't need to switch it would have saved me a lot of time. Nope. Some girl decides to walk into me (though the platform is pretty empty) we do a little in-eachothers-path dance and the doors on the N close. Thanks, you slow walking fool.
Oh well. I wait on the platform for a few minutes until I decide to walk all the way across the station to the Q.
*(quick note.. even though I waited on the platform a while, I still somehow got up the platform stairs before the girl did - she is THAT slow.)*

But everything happens for a reason right?
Yes. There is a light at the end of the subway tunnel thanks to MoMA.
Atlantic/Pacific takes over the ad space in the Atlantic/Pacific St. stations and replaces them with recreations of great works of art. We have Monet, Dali, Lichtenstein... abstract painters, pop artists, photographers. They're all there.
Sweet!

Nan Goldin

Cindy Sherman

Andy Warhol

And then, the Q was just fun...

and and and! Who doesn't love Bill Brand's Masstransiscope?
(if you watch it, put it on HQ.. it looks like poo other wise. I'll get a better shot later)

Delayed Reaction!

2009-04-27T15:30:00.004-04:00

So, my typical tardiness regarding doing anything I WANT to do (rather than things I NEED to do) has prevented me from posting more regularly... again.
Anyway...
Since this summer, like many previous summers, is said to be the last that Coney Island will be the Coney Island we all know and love, I dragged down Pete to enjoy a day in the sun.

The vibe down there is somewhere between mourning the loss of a friend and warming your body with sunshine and fresh seared hot dogs. Fans of the "island" trekked about with their dSLRs slung around their neck while children ran past their parents to the nearest bumper cars.

hey.. joey!

strength machine... note how low "girl" is

you could be a the most pimp matador ever

now the freak can hide behind the crane too

I'll go back and shoot depressing nostalgic pictures when I want to.
But when you're old and you're remembering the dog you had when you were 12, you look at pictures of him happy, not dying.

soon enough..

2009-02-05T02:35:00.001-05:00

So...

...I will do a post soon about the snow in New York. Maybe Today, maybe tomorrow.
Snow in the city is the city at it's best.
Screw what the news anchors and businessmen think. Bring on the blizzards.

Inauguration Time!

2009-01-22T18:29:00.003-05:00

So this past Monday Tony, Gonz, Pete and left at 2am to head down to DC to see our lovely president elect get sworn in (so he can officially rock this nation!)
You'll get to see just how disorganized but fun it was. And hey, it's also history.

Trip Fun Facts-
1- Use hotel shuttles even if you aren't staying at a hotel!
2- Remove yourself from a crowded train to avoid panic attacks.
3- If the metro is trying to accomodate 2 million people, stay away from the platform edges.
4- Be friendly to those around you at the immigration style security checkpoints; you'll be next to them for the next 2 hours, and they won't want to shove you out of the way as much as they would have wanted to.
5- Dress warm and prepare for the wait! Let's face it- politicians are old and their health could jeopardize your wait time & warmth.
6- Check out the Archives; their bathrooms aren't stinky blue porto-holes and the parade is shown in the theatre!
7- Have fun!

And now for the photos!

Victory!

Mob on the Metro & someone gets hit by a train

Security Checkpoints - ain't Washington organized?!

we welcome you too!

camoflage

spot the sniper!

Michelle and her daughter

the middle signature proves not all could read and write... though i don't know what business he had signing it then...

Capitol

Apparently i am the only one who thinks this looks like Star Wars...

like i said... have fun.

Palestine Protest

2009-01-13T19:16:00.003-05:00

Photos taken Jan. 11 near Columbus Circle.
Palestinian protest on Gaza invasion

Happy Belated...

2008-12-05T03:47:00.004-05:00

Halloween!

if you see something, say something

brains....

a view from above

would smoke pour out his neck?

...Funsgiving!

Popping the Blog Cherry

2008-12-05T03:21:00.001-05:00

So this is where it all starts