the times they are a-changin'

"Richard Nixon, if he were alive today... would probably also feel vindicated (and envious) that ALL the crimes he committed against me -- which forced his resignation facing impeachment -- are now legal."

-- Daniel Ellsburg, in an interview with CNN

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_Ellsberg

“There's a battle outside and it‘s ragin'.

It'll soon shake your windows and rattle your walls.

For the times they are a-changin'.”

just do as we tell you and

126th Street and First Avenue

Beautiful, history-rich, New York Harbor

In 1524 explorer Giovanni da Verrazzano anchors in the area now spanned by the bridge bearing his name where he was met by a welcoming canoe party of Lenape Native Americans. Things did not go well for the Lenape.

In 1609 Henry Hudson arrives and sails across the harbor to explore several miles of the river that now bears his name. He sails for ten days up river, reaching roughly where Albany is located today. By 1611 his crew would mutiny and set Hudson, his son and a few others adrift, never to be heard from again. I hate when that happens. 

In 1624 the first permanent European settlement by the Dutch was started on Governor’s Island and eight years later in Brooklyn. The first harbor ferry was launched to link the two settlements. To this day neither NYC nor NYS has any idea what to do with this prime piece of island real estate.

In 1648 Peter Stuyvesant, director of the Governor’s Island settlement, completed construction of the first Manhattan wharf near what is now Pearl and Broad Streets. The South Street Seaport is located just north of that first-ever Manhattan pier. The area between Pearl and Broad downhill to the current coastline is composed of artificial fill. Don't ask.

Within another hundred years by about 1750, the settlers would begin planning their revolution (1775-1783) to secure our independence from England and a constitutional right to grill, drink and party on the Fourth of July.

Where do they go?

Look through any window, yeah

What do you see?

Smiling faces all around

Rushing through the busy town.

Where do they go?

Moving on their way

Walkin' down the highways and the byways.

1965

wisdom of the Villagers

Confucius say: 

“Many hands make light work.”

But this is New York.

All we need is a bad attitude, a lift and a powertool.

This ain’t China, y’know. 

You gotta problem with that?

12th and Sixth

3-way street

“By summer 2010, the expansion of bike lanes in NYC exposed a clash of long-standing bad habits — such as pedestrians jaywalking, cyclists running red lights, and motorists plowing through crosswalks.

By focusing on one intersection as a case study, my video aims to show our interconnection and shared role in improving the safety and usability of our streets.”

ronconcocoacola.com

28th and Park Avenue South

Ridin’ Ol’ Paint

Did you know there was once a wall that ran along Wall Street? 

It’s true, to keep the Indians out.

Westchester Avenue in the Bronx follows an Indian horse Trail from the 1700’s and the 6 train is elevated over that. 

We owe the Native American’s for the path of the Bronx 6.

Go figure.

This elevated section near the Morrison Avenue Soundview stop debuted in 1919.

And probably hasn’t seen Ol' Paint since.

American Paint Horse Association

http://www.apha.com/breed/coatcolors.html

Internet Censorship Secret Planning Meeting

“hot wax you from front bumper to rear end”

Bluebrain knows where you are

Imagine a record album that isn’t linear in the way it plays, but rather one that constantly reconfigures itself to where you are and what you are looking at, sort of an everchanging custom soundtrack on the fly.

It’s called “The National Mall.”

The GPS in your iPhone is how they do it and its free in the Apple APP store.

The album plays exclusively and only within the geographic confines intended by the composer, but the path you choose to walk and the things you decide to look at are what determines the music you hear.

At the moment there is an album for the National Mall in Washington DC and only for the iPhone, but Android and iPad versions are coming as are other albums for Flushing Meadow Park in Queens and a stretch of California’s famous Highway 1.

From SOCKETS Records

http://www.bluebra.in/

unless, y'know, they gave all that up for Lent

From Wikipedia:

“ManhattanHenge is a semiannual occurrence in which the setting sun aligns with the east–west streets of the main street grid in Manhattan. This year it occurred on May 31 at 8:17 p.m. The term is derived from Stonehenge, when the sun aligns with the stones on the solstices.”

StonehengeSolstice by Pete Glastonbury

StoneHenge has become a religious symbol for Neo-Druidism, in appreciation of the Druid’s early practices of human sacrifice, sorcery and reincarnation. 

East 45th Street @ Third Avenue

Sounds a bit like Wall Street.