Aesthetics Cafe

Happy Summer 2015!

2015-06-24T01:56:00.001-04:00

The widest point of the Hudson river, frozen

Today the sun began its southward journey so the days are going to get progressively smaller, and this makes me unhappy as I enjoy the outdoors and sunlight. It's been a brutal, long winter here in the northeast; I had cabin fever and got sick of dealing with bad weather, the mountains of snow, slush, and bitter cold. I like all seasons, but this kind of winter would be fine if I didn't live and work where I do.

Anyway, I also feel bad because it was one year ago to the day that I wrote my last post here. Of course lots has happened in one year's time, but didn't get around to posting. It also makes me realize, again, how fast time moves. I know time is relevant to the physical environment--did you see the movie Interstellar? it deals with this concept--but also its subjective nature as to how we experience it. They say as we get older time moves faster, damn it!

The Mid-Hudson bridge over a frozen river. Only a thin navigational line is kept open

Even though the sun is moving south, there's a lot of summer left and I intend to take advantage of it. I've got extra time--ha, time--as I decided to work less this summer, a lot less. And, when I work, I'll do mostly interesting stuff. I'm so lucky to be able to do this. I mean I sacrifice money for leisure and choose to not do work that's stressful. OK, I understand, realistically speaking 99.91% of the jobs people do aren't ideal, but there are huge variations in personal satisfaction, stress, and difficulty.

There have been many days since the better weather arrived around here that I've been taking day trips around the gorgeous Hudson valley, NY. I've put several thousand miles on my motorcycle already. Riding is more engaging experience, not only because there's more to do and watch for, but it's like being in a movie instead of watching it through a glass. Convertible/open air cars come close to this kind of experience. We bikers totally understand why dogs who ride in cars put their heads out of the window!

Speaking of dogs, I'm thinking of getting one. I've been approved by the local pound/shelter as a responsible person. But, it's is a big responsibility and I do like the freedom to roam around without having to come home by a particular time to take care of a pet. They're fun though and they're great companions, if they're trained and are kept in an conditions appropriate for their breed and needs. I'll let you know. I'm sort of postponing visiting the shelter, because I know I'll be tempted right away....

Awaiting for the solar company to finally get their act together and show me some progress. We've been going back and forth since February; everything, they say, is in order....

Here are a couple recent pictures from the annual Mermaid Parade in Coney Island. They hold the parade rain or shine on the closest Saturday to the summer solstice. It was a very humid, cloudy/rainy day this year.

It was a hot day...

This is worth attending if you're in NYC; every year is different and fun for the whole family. Coney Island has been undergoing lots a transformation. It used to be a happening place many years ago, then if fell into tough times and much dilapidation. It has gotten a face lift in the last few years. I think it beats most other attractions by the sea in the tri-state area. OK, it's tacky, but so are the other places that cater to summer crowds. At least, CI doesn't pretend, and it has free access to the beach!

Less than a mile away on the eastern, Brighton Beach is now home to many Russians, Ukrainians and some other groups from the former Soviet Union.

Coney Island at night; it was a humid, foggy one. [click on the pictures to ..embiggen them]

Colorful Start of Summer 2014

2014-06-23T14:23:00.003-04:00

Happy Summer Solstice and may all have a great summer ahead. It was a beautiful weekend here in the northeast with great weather and events happening all over. The summer solstice fell on Saturday this year, so the longest day of the year had to spent outdoors as much as possible, especially with this gorgeous weather of temps in the 80s but with low humidity.

Ah, Coney Island!

It looks like a parade of something...

Mermaids on land?!

Where are these two happy maidens going? Hey, nice conch!

They're looking for some good seamen

A mermanish and his four maids

I know spring and fall are also very pretty with their colors, but summer is colorful too. Part of it is colorful attitude I see in people. Longer days make more opportunities to do stuff outside. I think creating memories--even small ones--is what life is about. The more chances we have, the more creative we are, the better. Find opportunities every day to do something interesting, fulfilling, memorable.

I'll be back here this summer as I've dusted off my dslr, got a new zoom lens and will be shooting. See ya soon.

Happy Holidays, 2013!

2013-12-24T21:16:00.002-05:00

Merry Xmas! There, I said it. And, happy holidays to all. This is a nice time of the year to be spent with friends and family, as there are several common days off. I hope you had a nice winter solstice (Dec. 21st). Festivus, Humanlight, New Year, Kwanza, and whatever else you desire to celebrate may all come with good times and health! Let's eat, drink, hang out with the good people around us, and enjoy.

Humans have tried to make sense of the natural world but in the absence of knowledge they made up stories about spirits, gods, and thought they knew the order of the universe through revelation. Slowly, we grew up--well, some people who asked questions, sought evidence, applied reason, and were able to revise in the face of conformity and tradition.

Why so many humans are still in the dark ages after dawn of the Enlightenment is amazing. We have a modern state, with relative stability, affluence, education & access to information, plus a good amount of scientific knowledge, and yet, so many choose to live by edicts and observations of small-minded ancestors of the bronze age! Why isn't obvious that the god in the Bible, Koran, and any other "holy text" is so outdated. It's so clear that what's in those books came from the mind of people who were ignorant, superstitious, homophobic, genocidal, misogynistic, slave holders, and fearful of nature.

It bothers me to high heaven when modern people have their opinions informed by those ancient texts. And, they draw some perverse morality from those. The vile rant of the clan leader of Duck Dynasty, the reactions of conservatives against same-sex marriage (the same cons who applaud Uganda's capital punishment for homosexuals), are all informed by passages in the Bible. Ridiculous, simply ridiculous.

But, I love the federal judge's ruling that Utah's banning of same-sex marriage is unconstitutional. This is a strike at the heart of a very religious state and against the efforts of the Mormon church that has spend lots of money, even out of state, to defeat equal treatment under the law. It is about equality. Progressives aren't threatened by this change of tradition, only the conservatives are.

Back in 2004, I wrote in this blog that there would be a clash between the progressive forces and the reactionary conservative/religious forces. I hoped that the former would prevail, and I'm happy to see that it's happening. Not at the pace I'd like, but we've come a long way in the last quarter of a century, indeed in some 10 years since I wrote that post.

So, let's celebrate our progress and look forward to a new year ahead when we can do much more; we do have to keep fighting for a system that delivers for the 99%, and for a society that promotes the good life, access to opportunity and conditions that allow for an individual to fulfill their own potential.

Best,

George

The Spectacular Autumnal Colors on Full Display this Year in the Northeast

2013-10-15T23:44:00.002-04:00

While the political world in our nation's capital is very dysfunctional these days, we're having a wonderful season here in the northeast. The weather has been great, with warm days and cool nights, but the most important aspect is the beautiful autumnal colors. It's shaping to be a great Fall this year.

I've been taking day trips in the surrounding areas, but I'm hoping this coming weekend I can drive up to the Berkshires in Massachusetts if the weather holds. These pictures are from last weekend as I rode my motorcycle in Harriman Park, NY. The Seven Lakes Drive goes through some of the most gorgeous landscapes.

The Foliage Network has frequent reports on the leaf/color situation. As of Oct. 11th, we're in "high color" which is a tad below "peak color". Depending on the weather, dramatic changes can take place within a couple days. So get out and enjoy, especially if you live in an area that offer such a spectacular natural display. The northeast US is great for this. We're so lucky, for the most part, because there have been several years that the display isn't as magnificent due to weather conditions. Sometimes the leaves fall before they go through much of color change, or that the colors aren't as bright and diverse.

Summer's Gone (for practical purposes) But Memories are Reinforced by Pictures (isn't what many pictures do?)

2013-09-21T10:56:00.002-04:00

Marconi Beach by the Atlantic ocean where erosion from last year's storm ate lots of the cliffs. The Marconi station is long gone, swallowed by the sea, but the pavilion was removed earlier this year as it hung close to the cliff. Cape Cod has been shaped by the retreating glaciers (23,000 and 19,000 thousand years ago) and by the ocean currents and the fierce winds.

Very few places on the Eastern seaboard of the US get to experience sunsets over water, but Cape Cod has it. This is Rock Harbor beach at high tide. At low tide you can walk for a mile or more from this vantage point.

These "trees" mark the channel into the harbor but it's passable only when the tide is high enough.

Rock Harbor

Wellfleet

Lots of places to kayak all over the cape. You'd need several summers to say you've done most of them.

Some of the rustbuckets in Wellfleet harbor. Fishing and clam harvesting is a staple on the cape.

Summer 2013 Continued... [I don't know how I got into politics here]

2013-08-01T22:45:00.002-04:00

The widest point of the Hudson river. There are many places around where the night sky is visible as light pollution isn't bad.

***

This summer is fleeting as far as I'm concerned. If I were a lifeguard, I'd be having the winter blues about now. OK, I promised myself to take any opportunity available this August, which just started, to do something interesting and create memories. Yes, we are who we are to a great extend by the experiences we have and our memories. Even if all else remained the same--disposition, character, intelligence, etc--without the particular memories I have, I wouldn't be the same person, for better or worse.

Anyway, I've been engaging in all sorts of projects and thus haven't taken many pictures, which is one of my favorite hobbies. But, I do keep my eye on the surroundings and I make frames in my mind. Much of photography is about framing. The focus, the emphasis, the point of view.

From a recent gallery exhibit in Beacon, NY, titled "the XXX show" or something like that.

Photography has changed humanity, because this technology has enabled us to capture moments that many can't be replicated. A camera can be seen as a time machine. Recording, documenting, and ultimately reinforcing our memories.

The visual often has a greater impact on people's minds. Human rights abuses, civil rights movements, natural phenomena & catastrophes, for example, sensitize a greater number of people.

It's the generations after the late 1980s or more likely the 1990s that have their lives documented so much in pictures and videos, oh, and emails, and other social media. The older among us know that it wasn't always like this. We don't have many pictures from our earlier life. I grew up with film photography. I learned the art working with a totally manual camera--all the settings had to be adjusted depending on the conditions--which meant I had to understand what aperture, speed, ISO, clouds, sun, flash, etc, all did. The film had 24-36 frames and it had to be developed; no instant feedback nor gratification.

It got to be very expensive and my Olympus SLR was getting old. Needed new expensive lenses. I dropped this hobby for many years until the new digital technology arrived.

I got my first digital camera in the early 2000s, and a good one (for its time) in 2004 while working for a US presidential candidate in Cleveland, Ohio, as part of the media team. Once I made the transition I was elated I could take up my old hobby and enjoy it even more. So many more options and possibilities. Easier to share too.

***

We've heard how the TV played a major role in the election of 1960. By that time almost every household in the US had a TV set. That period marked the transition from party politics to media politics. The candidates increasingly relied on TV images to get their message out and attract votes. The party power decreased as a result. Nowadays, it's the candidates themselves that raise most of the money, decide when to run and on what issues.

Under the George Washington bridge on the Jersey side

By the way, one of the problems in our system is gridlock, divided government is often the norm, that is, different party blocks control power; one the Executive and another the Congress (or one of its Houses) so there's gridlock.

What's stranger is that the members who can cause dysfunction come from areas of the country that are far from the mainstream. For example, the Senate Minority leader--whose stated priority has been to make Obama a failure under any cost--comes from very conservative Kentucky. His political fortunes depend on representing this brand of backward conservatism, because the votes for his (re)election come from there. As conservative as he is, he'll have an even more conservative [I say, a wingnut tea partier] challenger in the Republican primary!

I shouldn't have started on politics, but maybe there's no free will as Sam Harris (among others) contends, so I steered into the political sphere inadvertently.

The Bear Mountain Bridge I cross often

Looking south from Bear Mountain, NY. The Hudson river is very interesting!

The Glorious Days of the Beginning of the 2013 Summer

2013-07-09T23:54:00.002-04:00

There many things I like about the summer and one of them is the long days. I like it when I have to wear sunglasses past 8 pm! Even though it's been oppressively hot and humid the last several weeks, the summer days are enjoyable. I have more free time to do so many activities that create worth-while memories.

I haven't been keeping up with this blog, but I've got lots of new pictures from some new places and some new places. If I like something, it doesn't get old for me. I'm there, immersed, experiencing, living the moment.

There's time to read books, peruse scientific journals and posts, listen to favorite podcasts, and work lots around the house. As a homeowner there's no perfect state--always there's something that needs fixing, improving, and just being busybody around the house.

Oh, the earth just reached the farthest (perihelion) distance from the sun in its orbit. But we're having the hottest days of the year. I know. It's not the distance but the angle of the rays hitting the surface. Our planet is wobbling like a drunkard, some 23 degrees off the axis. Oh, and the moon is going away at about one inch a year. Even though most of the galaxies are moving away from each other, our neighbor Andromeda is on a collision course with our milkyway.

Before I become too philosophical, let me show some pictures from this summer so far.


New York harbor, looking north. Lady Liberty on the left and the new WTC tower almost complete.

The above picture is from a recent (and almost frequent) sailing around the harbor. This is one experience that won't get "old". The harbor is busy and this picture doesn't include the areas of Brooklyn and Staten Island.

There are strong currents with the tides. The navigation channel that goes up to Albany is deep, 50 feet and more. Yet, outside of it, the waters are shallow. We're probably floating on 12 feet. Even by Coney Island it's 12-18 feet. And, yes, there are lots of wide and high waves past the Verrazano bridge.

The Main Stage of the Clearwater festival in June 2013.

The two-day Clearwater music festival was well attended, even though its pricey--some $80 a day--at the Croton Point park. Lots of music, and, as expected, progressive activism. I saw several bands and of course a national treasure--Pete Seeger. I feel fortunate to see him 3-4 times a year, performing. He lives nearby, a few miles north by the Hudson river.

Clearwater Festival

Speaking of the Hudson and summer, here's what I see many times a month as I go down by the river, a stone's throw from my house:

Notice the bench were I sit frequently (bottom left)

Hudson sunset at the widest point of the river

On the closest Saturday of the Summer solstice, the annual Coney Island Mermaid parade takes place. This event began 32 years ago as an improvised event. It kept growing. Now it has grown to some one thousand marchers and 700.000+ spectators. There were fears that it wouldn't happen this summer as CI was devastated by Sandy. But, it did happen and here are some pictures.

This is a fun event for all ages. Get your shades, lots of sunscreen, comfy shoes and loose clothing, and enjoy the colors, the costumes, the socio-political commentary, and inhale some ocean breeze. Coney Island is getting better I think. Give it a try.

A Day At Coney Island in March 2013

2013-03-31T23:22:00.000-04:00

Devastating storm Sandy hit Coney Island particularly hard. That was many months ago and the damage is still visible as many establishments are still boarded up. Yet, there's life as I discovered a few days ago.

Coney Island has changed over the decades, but more rapidly in the last 10 years as more modern-looking buildings, new businesses move in replacing the very old and crusty one.

I never lived near CI so I don't know what's better. For most of us, CI is a destination a few times a year. Yes, it's nice to see the very old and "traditional" but I don't know what experience the people who live there have. To put it another way, I do find it interesting when, say, visiting remote village somewhere where its inhabitants basically have a daily life unchanged for hundreds of years. I never assume they should play the part or remain as such for the tourists. It should be their choice.

As for Coney Island, there has been an ongoing debate in the last decade as to how to proceed with revitalizing the area. For many decades CI didn't change much. [Here's a link to CI pictures through the ages]

The CI museum and place of odd attractions (it's the blue building with the face on it) has been one of the few old edifices still operational. It's worth the small price of admission to see artifacts and an occasional freak show.

CI is in Brooklyn, which is one of the 5 boroughs that comprise New York City. Yes, NYC isn't just Manhattan, but Queens, Brooklyn, the Bronx, and Staten Island.

Brighton Beach

About a mile east, it's the Brighton Beach community, where a strong population of Russians, and I suspect many others from the old Soviet Union, have settled. Most of the language heard on the boardwalk and in the adjacent streets is not English. The area under the elevated train looks very similar to other neighborhoods in Queens (that I'm familiar with) like Jackson Heights and Astoria where there is a strong ethnic flavor.

A portion of the boardwalk in Coney Island, looking West.

On a good summer day, especially during holidays and weekends the boardwalk is mobbed by people. It's many miles long and connects CI and BB.

Brooklyn is the westernmost part of Long Island [see map]. I can't say I know this borough well, even though I spent many years of my youth in Queens and the rest of the "island." I intent to revisit some of my old haunts this summer, and venture all the way to the "forks", the easternmost part of LI. It's a different country over there, though it's very familiar to me. Staten Island is the most ..remote borough and the oddity in NYC as it leans Republican.

Luna Park opened for the season a few days ago. Very thin attendance though.

Next to the new Luna Park there are a few old establishments for cheap entertainment

The beach, which is still free and open year round. I expected much more beach erosion. Sandy Hood looms in the distance.

Foggy Afternoon by the Hudson River

2013-01-12T22:43:00.002-05:00

The river was absolutely placid at low tide. A couple hours earlier the fog was so dense that I couldn't see across and not much was visible to take pictures. As I was driving home late in the day, the fog had enveloped everything. Very thick. The cars' headlights piercing the veil only a few yards.

In the distance, the Bear Mountain bridge barely visible

Fishing pier in Peekskill

From an overview on 9A

Croton Point park south

Croton Point north

......
And, these from Harriman Park, NY, during sunset.

Awaiting for the World to End, Dec ? 2012...

2012-12-20T22:43:00.003-05:00

Update 12/31/12

OK, here are a few more pictures I took recently after the snowstorm. Once again, the world didn't end, I guess. Why people believe this nonsense is beyond me. OK, give it time, it'll happen naturally, maybe in a billion years when the sun will begin to behave differently, or that humans will destroy their environment, but this is science as compared to astrology, superstition, and all sorts of other crap humans come up with.

Beacon, NY


Winter Garden, World Trade Center

Bryant park, 5/6 Aves

Times Square

Bear Mt bridge


Bear Mt & Hudson river

*****

The arc and the holiday tree in Washington Square park.

The weather hasn't been all that bad, so walking around the city is enjoyable, though one must avoid the usual bottlenecks, like Rock Centre, Times Square, etc. I don't think I'll be taking that many pictures of the holiday-decorated city as I've taken tons in the prior years.

Haven't done much either this season, not yet anyway. I'm looking forward to the break coming up.

I thought this collection of shops in the East Village was interesting. Part of the NYC experience is the variety (and often far out) shops, the different & distinct neighborhoods, and of course the people. Oh, yeah, the food too!

As some people are awaiting the end of the world in a few hours, I'm sort of preparing too, by drinking this:

Actually, I got home just a short while ago, tired and having "homework" up to my chin. It's the end of the semester and it's a very busy time. I'm also trying to finish as much as possible by Sunday, so I don't have to work during Festivus or during the first light of the winter solstice!

Glorious Autumn 2012

2012-10-25T00:45:00.002-04:00

Yeah, good colors this autumn in the northeast, with several weeks of stunning natural beauty! Plus a reasonably good weather as a bonus, especially on the weekends when most people can get out to leaf peep!

The Hudson north of Bear Mountain bridge

I've done several road trips around the glorious Hudson valley and even parts of the Delaware river by Port Jervis and Pennsylvania. Work has been heavy for me with 12-hour work days often the norm. Various commitments and, of course, the elections are demanding the bulk of my time. Yet, taking personal time off is (should be) a priority. Haven't taken as many pictures as I'd have liked though. Here are a few:

Countryside

Croton dam

A Rare and Free Shakespeare's Globe Theate in Pleasantville, NY

2012-09-30T10:59:00.002-04:00

Occasionally some of the best things are free, as this was the case with the troupe from the famous Shakespeare's Globe Theatre that is performing Hamlet in the US. Over the weekend--including today, Sunday, as I'm writing this--these fine actors are on Pace University's campus.

Performing Shakespearian theater al fresco!

The stage was erected on the lawn, in the open, with no amplified voices, and no artificial lighting. Thus, the weather is part of the show. I watched the play on Friday, much under very dark clouds and occasional drizzle. But, this is how much of theater was experienced in Shakespeare's time, indeed in the ancient world too.

By the way, if you ever happen to go to Greece and the Peloponnese, visit the ancient theater in Epidauros whose acoustics are amazing. It hasn't been modified in terms of seating or major renovations so when you sit all the way up you can still hear people's voices "on the stage", that is, down in the center of this amphitheater.

Hamlet has a dark theme but it's a classic, of course. The Globe Theater actors are all great. I've seen quite a bit of theater on/off Broadway and their performance is professional and engaging. It may a few minutes to grasp some of the old language expressions but it's easy to follow the dialogue and the plot.

Pace university brought the Globe Theater to Pleasantville, in Westchester for thee free performances. I guess the catch is, bring-your-own-blankets/chairs, and take a chance with the weather. The actors perform in all weather, they said, though probably they meant light rain and wind, not a nor'easter.

In the following week, they'll take their stage and apply their trade indoors, in Pace's downtown campus, at the known Schimmel Center for the Arts with tickets priced at $35-55. But, it'll be indoors with comfy seating. For me, it was a real treat to experience it outdoors. Bravo to Pace for bring us this.

Found Gold in Cape Cod

2012-08-08T18:49:00.001-04:00

There's gold if you know where to look for it; it's true in Cape Cod and many other wonderful places. It's also having the right attitude towards life and those around us. Obviously, experiencing moments of awe are best with the right company, don't you agree?

Rock Harbor "beach" at low tide, which every time I've there is around sunset (summer).

RH is not technically a beach (hence it's a no-fee place). During the day there's sufficient water (depending on the tides) for swimming but as you can see from these two pictures you can walk for a mile out during low tide.

This area, inside the cape is far away enough from the mainland (MA) that sunsets over water are possible on the eastern coast. Also, there is a long stretch of many miles called "the flats" because there isn't much depth. On this general location there's the First Encounter beach--which is where the Mayflower Pilgrims encountered the natives in 1620. Most people don't know that the Mayflower hit Cape Cod first and anchored in Provincetown for 50 days before moving to the mainland and establishing the colony at Plymouth.

Changed the camera settings a bit, from "program" to "scenes/sunset" to get a slightly different pictures, but both are golden in my book.

Rock Harbor at high tide, around 11 am when the boats can finally leave the pier and go fishing.

South of the pictured old Coast Guard station

I took this picture above after hiking for a couple miles under a very hot sun to Indian Rock. This rock was used by the natives to sharpen tools and polish stuff. Those grooves and shiny surfaces are evident of that. This modern human used it to dry his soaking t-shirt--which was accomplished in a couple minutes given the high heat. [Disclaimer: this rock is exposed to the elements and laying a wet cotton shirt on it didn't damage it, so please no complaints, thank you.]

Chatham beach, at the eastern part of the cape, looking at the Atlantic ocean

Chatham is at the easternmost Cape Cod; seems more upscale with expensive country clubs and estates. But, the best deal is at the Fish Market Pier where I had the best fish & chips ever--a big chunk of very fresh cod cooked to perfection! Twin lobster (steamed free) for $9/lb!

Nice seafood can be found in Wellfleet too whose oysters are world-famous. Nice little town with galleries and stuff.

A Day Trip to the Gunks and New Paltz

2012-07-27T14:58:00.000-04:00

It felt on top of the world

The Mohonk gatehouse.

On the top of the Awosting Falls. Usually there's lots more water.

Tree roots from a local artist's collection.

The explanation of the origins and early use of tree roots (click on pix for larger size)

Unauthorized swimming in Lake Minnewaska

The Four Knots Fest 2012: An Underwhelming Experience that Shouldn't Even Be Associated with the Siren Music Fests

2012-07-16T22:23:00.001-04:00

I've attended the Siren music fests since 2008 in Coney Island. Great experience they were all. Then the Village Voice that put them together moved the fest to South Street seaport last year and renamed it Four Knots. Many of us were disappointed by this decision and I didn't go as many of my friends didn't either. They took a successful event from CI and moved it to one of the worst locations in NYC.

If you could go into a zen mode shutting out the distractions, the music was good and the scenery (sans the tourist crowds) was nice. But, still this ain't no Siren music fest.

This past Saturday we decided to check it out against our initial resistance. We were right. This is a horrible location, not conducive to an alternative rock scene. It definitely does not feel right in any way shape or form. The crowds were mostly rushed tourists and shoppers, and people who usually go to the seaport to experience an overpriced outing of banality in NYC. So, yeah, if most people present at an event are not there specifically for it, while the area is specifically designed to grab tourist dollars, then there's a problem.

The VIP crowd on the Peking

Don't get me wrong, the bands were just as good as the ones I've seen before in CI, but they just didn't sound the same amid the noise of the FDR Drive and the cacophony of the tourist throngs. The second state seemed like an afterthought, crammed on the side between a restaurant and the Peking ship, right smack in the pathway of the crowds waiting to board the sightseeing boats. Tsk.

To top it off this disaster, Pier 17 had a fire [link to video] and the pier was closed though the fest went on after a long delay.

That went on for 4 hours, closing most of the pier for the day.

The vendors were fewer and generally not interesting. I got a couple t-shirts though.

The Four Knots fest was named for the speed of the water current in the area. I don't know how fast the currents moved that day but the long lines of touring groups following their leader's flag had about that speed. Unless these hordes clashed with the crowds from the water taxis, and the sightseeing ships getting on-off the boats.... Never mind that we were there to experience a music fest not be knocked around like flotsam in the New York harbor.

4th of July 2012 Fireworks from the Skyway & Mid-Hudson Bridge

2012-07-07T14:41:00.000-04:00

Through local activism and good leadership an old rail bridge was restored into walkaway that connects the towns of Poughkeepsie and Highland in Dutchess county, NY. [NYS Parks link]

You can click on the images below to make them bigger...(at least it works in my IE & Firefox browsers).

The Mid-Hudson bridge around 9pm, looking south.

Standing on the walkaway (an old refurbished rail bridge which is higher than the pictured Mid-Hudson bridge) watching the fireworks on July 4th, 2012. There was a question whether people would be allowed on this because of the moving lightning storm in the area.

Lots of fireworks, on the Hudson river and on the banks near Poughkeepsie, NY.

There was a big lightning storm to the south that was going on throughout the late evening.

This is a great experience for those who want to walk at 212 feet (70 meters) high over the Hudson river. It's about 1.6 miles long but you don't have to do the whole thing. I've done it a few times and it's great. I found the best is to leave the car on the Highland side and walk towards Poughkeepsie, and then back.

At dusk in June near Highland, NY

Depending on the time of day and season, the views are different and of course fantastic.

Mermaids of Coney Island 2012

2012-07-07T13:24:00.001-04:00

On a very beautiful but hot day in June, Coney Island held its annual Mermaid Parade and this one didn't disappoint. Even if you've seen this parade before, every year has something different. Plus, if you stand on Surf Avenue, as I was this year, you can see floats, and all sorts of vehicles. If you stand on the boardwalk, then the parade is a lot closer and personal.

Peanut butter and jelly(fish)! She's been doing this for at least 5 years and every year she has something new and creative.

This guy shows up in every parade in NYC, dressed in drag, along with his dog and the parrot on his head (it's a real parrot!)

Yeah, I know....


Colorful for all ages

It is a family affair attended by many thousands of people. I can see though why such a parade wouldn't be allowed in ..Kansas.


Bubbly time


Small mermaids and the obscured Mets mascot

Miss America circa 1951. She still looks gorgeous!

Zombie mermaid. Sure, why not?

Hanging out at the boardwalk

Mean mermaids?

She looked revealing from the front. Where do I have that picture?....

Look at the camera this old-timer has!

I learned to take pictures on a totally manual camera where I had to calculate (or guess) all the settings and hope for the best. It was trial and error, lots of errors. Slow learning too because film & development was expensive so I rarely shot a complete roll of 24 or 35 exposures. Sounds crazy in this digital age where capacity of exposures runs in the hundreds. But back then when I finished the film I didn't know what I had done until I got the prints back. Oh, and if someone wanted copies, oh boy...

The good thing was that I got an understanding of how picture-taking works, the fundamentals, but I do appreciate having an advanced digital camera. I shot these pictures with a Nikon D5100 and two lenses, 18-55 and 55-200.

One man band. Lots of entertainment on the boardwalk after the parade

This a great "gypsy" band. I only recognized its leader whom I'd seen a couple times before. His name is Salvatore Geloso and the band is Up Up We Go. He travels all over the US, but I know you can catch him in New Orleans during Mardi Gras. If you can spare $10 buy their cd. The guy below is playing a handsaw like a violin!

Here's a song on YouTube

One more song, on YouTube, "Colin's Song", in NYC

The First Snowfall of this Winter, 2012

2012-01-22T00:52:00.004-05:00

We just had our first snow of this season. I had begun to wonder whether we'd see snow, because we've had decent weather so far. It's a pain to shovel but this wasn't the wet & heavy snow, and a few inches of powdery stuff isn't so bad.

It hasn't been that cold and we hadn't large amounts of snowfall, but I've seen ice forming even at this spillway, where water from the reservoir is rushing down the gorge.

This bridge is some 100 years old. Closed to vehicular traffic, it's a very nice walkaway now.

The bridge in at the end of the dame, where the spillway is located

Of course, after clearing the driveway and getting the car out, I took a drive and shot some pictures at the nearby reservoir and dam. All within a few miles of where I live. The daylight was getting short, so I didn't take that many pictures. I hope that I have many other opportunities this season. By Monday, it'll warm up (into the 50s) so this snow will melt away.

The park bellow the dam is nice, though on occasion it gets too crowded for my taste. But, I've taken some great pictures there throughout the year.

Happy New Year, 2012.

2011-12-29T22:15:00.002-05:00

The sense of time is relevant as Einstein observed, though he had motion and mass objects in mind. He theorized that the faster the object the slower the time. Amazing concept. I think the scientific discoveries are truly more fascinating than fiction, especially the fiction we were given as truth when we were kids.

Scene at Rockefeller Center with the famous xmas tree on the left

Yet, it's nice to have occasions to celebrate, and this is a good time to do so. Since the early days, humans celebrated the winter solstice, when the sun was being reborn and the days began to get longer. It was a time when little could be done outside due to the weather, and apparently beer was readily available!

A NYC landmark, Radio City hall, view from 6th Avenue.

From my perspective, time moves faster or slower according to the mood and the particular circumstance I'm in. One thing for sure--and I think the older among us will agree--time is way too short and way to fast. In a few hours, we'll mark the passing of another year and celebrate the arrival of a new one, because it's what we make of time!

In 2004, the year I got my first digital camera, the Hudson River froze in December.

Nothing really happens at midnight Saturday. It's not a solstice nor any special point in our revolution around our sun. It's us who give meaning to time... and, that's a good thing.

Happy new year to all, and I hope 2012 is exciting, rewarding and fulfilling.

Maybe Lady Gaga Is Controlling Our Weather

2011-12-14T23:38:00.001-05:00

This past weekend we've had some nice weather, in the 50s, though when the sun goes down the cold returns as a reminder that this is winter. But, for New York, it's been very mild. It feel a bit weird actually. Like lady Gaga's outfits. The windows at Barney's (Madison/61St) are all Gaga!

I know NYC is consumerism central, but some of the stores' windows are nicely decorated for the holidays.

Do you know that all this glitter, the expensive shops, the $30 hamburgers, and the overall extravagance in NYC is supported by tourism and about 65,000 people of the super wealthy elite? Yeap, most NYorkers can't afford most of the expensive stuff. NYS and particularly NYC have the worst wealth & income distribution in the US, and among the worst in the world! Something to keep in mind when you hear that NY has streets paved in gold...

Thanksgiving 2011 in NYC

2011-11-25T13:06:00.001-05:00

Thanksgiving is a special holiday, because it's not religious but rather inclusive. I don't think it's about the Pilgrims and the natives and all the other made-up "history." It's about thinking of the good people we have in our lives and the good things that surrounds us.

The World Trade Center new tower under construction (view from Broadway)

There's a crowd Thursday afternoon at Zuccutti park

It's also a nice time to be in NY city, as it's the most quiet and fan to walk around day in all of the year. If the weather is good--we're having unusually warm weather for this time of year--a walk in Central Park or the various neighborhoods of this great metropolis is particularly rewarding; it doesn't feel rushed or too noisy.

Great folk band got the people dancing at the park

Trinity Church interior. This church has been helping OWS.

Northern Central Park

The Rumble in Central park.

It's been a tradition of mine to forgo invitations for bigger gatherings, especially out of the city, and spend the day in NYC. This year, I paid a visit to the Occupy Wall Street Liberty square. There were lots of people there. The kitchen group prepared and handed out some 3,000 meals on Thursday!

In a frenzy consumerism, many stores are opening midnight to boost holiday sales. I think it's crazy that people can't wait for a few more hours before going shopping. It's the stores competing to capture early sales, but if people didn't rush to shop... Besides, I wouldn't want to be an employee who has to skip Thanksgiving dinner to work the 11 pm Thu to 7 am Fri.

Actually, it feels liberating to me not to have to go shopping. I give gifts throughout the year and I refuse to be part of this insane holiday shopping activity. I expect no gifts either during this time. Well, material gifts--you know, the ones you buy from the stores--but otherwise, yes, it's a nice time to be exchanging and appreciating the gifts that really matter.
;)

Autumnal Snow in New York

2011-10-29T14:39:00.000-04:00

This is highly unusual. One day it's sunny, nice kinda autumn weather, and today it's snowing heavily! I've been waiting for the leaves to turn around here so I could take some pictures but it seems it won't happen. The colors aren't as spectacular this season and with the early arrival of snow it's the end of the autumnal colorful spectacle in the northeast.

From this picture in my backyard:

To this today:

It's pretty nevertheless, but I already can see the problems coming if this continues for a few hours. This is a very wet snow and it's catching on the leaves. Many of the branches are bending dangerously; trees will come down because of the weight. The next thing will be power lines coming down. I can't be without electricity for too long....

UPDATE 10/31/11. Happy Halloween! Except it has been canceled in my town due to the continuing blackout and unsafe conditions! Booooh. It's been like winter camping in the house! No damage though other than several big branches that broke off trees in my backyard. My neighborhood, however, has suffered lots worse.
It takes a situation like this to be reminded how important electricity is...

UPDATE, 11/3/11: With power restored and nicer days, this is what I'm seeing out of my window:

Where Did the Summer of 2011 Go?...

2011-10-09T09:10:00.000-04:00

I can't believe it's been months since I posted here; not that I forgot but it wasn't the best summer I've had. Nothing too seriously wrong, just too many loose ends and stuff. So, I looked into my Summer picture folder and found a few pictures worth posting.

Some weird performance in the Lincoln Center reflection pool

Lincoln Center had several free, open air events this past summer.

A view of Jersey City from Battery Park City. NJ is building its own skyline now.

On the ferry to Governor's Island with a view of the financial district and the 3 East river bridges.

A great summer day on Gov's isle.

The Staten Island ferry is free and a great way to "sail" the NYC harbor.

As I'm writing this, the leaves are starting to turn. I hope this autumn is spectacular, though I hear it may not be. If it its, I'll take a drive up to Vermont, or at least up to the Berkshire mountains--one of the best places in the country to see the magnificent nature in the autumn.

Soon....

From the Finger Lakes to Lake Ontario

2011-07-23T00:50:00.001-04:00

Recently, I took another trip upstate New York and camped in the Finger Lakes region. I've done the Watkins Glen hike before. It's about a mile or a little more, uphill & stairs; not bad though. A few people (probably because it's not well known this option is available) park at the top rim, hike down and take the shuttle bus back up. Haven't done it, so basically it takes 2-3 hours to go back and forth from the parking lot at the lower end.


Watkins Glen

I'd recommend this hike as it's easy for anyone with moderate physical ability. Bring some water to drink and, of course, your camera. You'll probably get a little wet because of the proximity of the paths to the waterfalls, but it's not a problem.

Watkins Glen


Watkins Glen, NY


Watkins Glen

Seneca Falls, meeting place for American suffragettes.

Chimney Bluffs state park, NY

On the shores of this great lake, there's a park (free admission!) where there are a few trails that take you either along the shoreline or through the forest to the Chimney Bluffs. There are soft rocks eroded by the weather, standing tall over the lake. Ontario lake is very big, because even on a clear day you can't see Canada on the other side. As a matter of fact, you can see the curvature of the earth between the two countries!

Chimney Bluffs, lake Ontario, NY

Taughannock Falls, by Cayuga Lake (near Ithaca, NY)

These falls are part of a state park on Cayuga Lake. There's camping (nice one) and a marina. From this campground, you can explore many other beautiful places nearby--within 1 hour of driving. However, going north to Lake Ontario will take longer, having to drive through many little towns on secondary and tertiary roads... but, that's a good opportunity to see that region up close.

The big highways are very useful in covering long distances, but even a mile of a detour can take you through a very pretty town, like Owego, NY that we discovered by accident. Later I learned that Owego was voted the "coolest town" in 2009! So, there you go!

Summer Solstice 2011. What's Next? Lots of Summer Left!

2011-06-23T10:18:00.001-04:00

I like all seasons, and I live in a part of the globe that I can experience the whole range of them. The earth wobbles as it goes around the sun and it's this tilt that makes the seasons. The sun just reached the northernmost point and now will go south, reaching the equator on September 23, 2011. [here's a more comprehensive explanation]

There's lots of summer left though. This season is special to many people and it's not just the weather. We all probably have fond memories from our childhood when this was the season we could enjoy the most since, well, school was out! How many discoveries and experiences we had this season especially.

The Naked Cowgirl

Anyway, last Saturday, as it happens on the closest Saturday to the summer solstice, Coney Island had its annual Mermaid parade. I've seen a few of them over the years, each one being different. This one and the Village Halloween parade are worth attending every year.

Of course, I had my camera with me, I took lots of pictures that I can't possibly post them all here, but here's a good sample.

The Queen Mermaid and King Neptune cutting the ribbon to start the summer!

The festivities begin at 2 pm and continue on for about 3 hours, which is the parade itself, but it doesn't end until the Mermaid Ball later in the eve/night.

The boardwalk is buzzing on any summer day, but on this one it's even more active. Lots of music too, as you can see from an impromptu concert on the beach.

This year the Queen Mermaid was Cat Greenleaf and Adam Richman (both notable TV celebrities).

This band (below) of young musicians set up on the beach after it marched to protest the new development of CI.

The event takes place rain or shine, but this 29th Mermaid parade was favored by good weather--not too hot, and a nice ocean breeze. It's the largest "artistic" parade in NYC and I'd guess in the country.

Having fun protesting...

This traveling troupe from New Orleans was doing burlesque on the boardwalk. They were really good!

The new Fear amusement park in Coney Island