Bliss Not Ignorance

In 1742, Thomas Gray wrote, "Where ignorance is bliss, 'tis folly to be wise." For some, no truer words were ever written. It's easy to be ignorant, willfully or not. But, bliss would seem to indicate a heavenly state where everything is roses and unicorns. But, as our history would seem to say, ignorance leads to fear. Ignorance leads to intolerance. Ignorance leads to subjugation of others less powerful. Its caused witch hunts and worship of golden calves. Its created cycles of hatred that are almost impossible to shake. I saw this sign on 3rd Street and 2nd Avenue and it stopped me dead in my tracks. How wonderful to have this erroneous phrase finally put to rest. So I share this sentiment with you today and leave you with this imperative. Learn. Learn everything you can about every subject you can. Be a dabbler. Because ignorance should not be a state of being you can hide behind, and it's certainly not paradise.

Shoes Growing On Trees

It's easy to see shoes hanging from trees and light posts all over the city. But, this tree on 3rd Street, between 2nd and 3rd Avenue always cracks me up. Granted, it doesn't compare to some others out there. But, it's got a little something going there. So, it leads me to the inevitable question: why? Why would someone feel the need to throw away a perfectly good pair of sneakers? I understand the mass-madness caused when someone sees a place that others have left their mark inspiring them to do that same thing; thus negating that unique impulse. But, what caused that first impulse. Is it the mark of a teenage boy celebrating his loss of virginity? Was it a cruel joke played on a small teen by other bigger teens? Was it purely a sense of frustration at a pebble being stuck in the lining that made someone pull off their shoes, string them together and thrust them in the air? I honestly don't get it. But, I think that's why I love it. The mysteries of humanity. I hope people always surprise me and make me smile.

Would You Boycott Hollywood for China?

People post more than graffiti and stickers in random places in NYC. You can spot fliers for guitar lessons, guys with vans that want to help you move, and police department notifications stapled and taped to parking meters, street lights, trees, bike ramps, and anything else that's rooted in place. I spotted this on a street lamp on West 3rd and Sullivan. Not sure if you can read the whole thing, but it seems to be a rambling rant claiming facts without sources. According to this, Hollywood (specifically Tom Hanks and James Cameron) is willfully ignoring genocide. I guess the author of this flier wants a movie made about Korea and communist China. But, I can't begin to imagine how many genocides have yet to have major motion pictures made about them. Central America, the former Yugoslavia, Africa; there are entire continents that deserve to have their stories told. But the sad truth is that most people don't care, or can only be depressed by so many movies in one year. I wonder if this person isn't simply a jilted actor or screenwriter. But, I put this question to you. Do the atrocities performed by the Chinese in Korea deserve a movie treatment? Would you watch such a film?

What Does BNE Stand For?

I've been wondering lately when I would next see this graffiti artists' mark. This sticker is on some scaffolding on 6th Avenue at 39th Street. I see these stickers, and ones like it, more often than you might think. And if you've not read the New York Times piece about this person, I highly recommend it. That reporter got a serious scoop, because this person is wanted for defacing public property all over the world. Here's just one chunk from the Times.

"The postcard-size stickers bearing the three simple black letters are affixed to mailboxes, phone booths, signs, walls, parking meters and streetlights, mostly in New York and Japan, but also in Bangkok, Prague, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur. He goes through 10,000 stickers a month."

No one officially knows what BNE stands for, but some people consider what he does to be artwork. This person's initials seem to mundane, and breaking-and-entering seems to me to be a wholly different crime. I think these three letters could stand for any one of these...
* Bought New Ears
* Bahama Newcomer Excited
* Bright North Enemy
* Blue Nasty Evening
* Buffalo Nicks Everything

What do you think BNE stands for? Leave a comment below.

Damages Film Shoot

The film business is alive and well in NYC, it would seem. Spotted the remnants of a Damages TV shoot today on Broadway and 3rd St. I know someone who works on the show, he seems to think I'd enjoy the programming. And I do love Glenn Close. But, the last thing I need is yet another TV drama addiction. However, now that I know they're shooting in my hood, maybe I'll have two keep my eyes open.

Remembering Auxiliary Police Officers

I know I'm a day behind the times here, but on March 14, 2007, two auxiliary police officers were gunned down by a crazy person just a block from my apartment. I just wanted to take a few moments to remember them. These images were taken around the corner of Bleeker and Sullivan on the spots where Nicholas T. Pekearo and Yevgeniy Borisovitch Marshalik were killed.

I've always been very disturbed by this event, and have felt close to it. I had met the crazed gunman, now deceased, before all this happened, when he was working as a bartender at Raccoon Lodge. And my brother-in-law attended school with one of the officers. Plus, living so close by, I could easily have been caught in the crossfire that day.

I wish I had something profound to say about death, life, and the brevity of it all. It's a mystery I don't expect to solve in my lifetime. But, violence aside, the fear of death is something that we all live with every day. It's scary and sad, but mostly for those of us that are still here when someone passes away. And I'd love to believe that Nicholas and Yevgeniy were some place better now, but faith is a whole different ball of confusion I won't solve in my lifetime. For now it just makes me sad that four lives (including the pizza parlor cook who was gunned down first) were snuffed out so senselessly.

Film Shoot: Jingle Jangle Morning

Made famous by Bob Dylan and The Byrds, Mr. Tambourine Man is a film in progress, and it's shooting in my neighborhood. The posters are up between MacDougal and 6th Avenue on 3rd street, which may prove to be a problem for the bums that sit there every morning and maurading the hood every evening. Maybe they can make some dough as extras?

Although I can't seem to find anything on what this movie/TV show/video is online, I'm sure someone out there knows. Perhaps it's about those bums. Are they really our pied piper's of the village, come to lead us out of town? Regardless, it's got the following lines stuck in my head. So, now I'm sticking them in your head.

"To dance beneath the diamond sky with one hand waving free, silhouetted by the sea, circled by the circus sands, with all the memory and fate driven deep beneath the waves, let me forget about today until tomorrow."

Butt Wait

This unusual ashtray on Thompson in front of a barber shop has me thinking about smoking. The ban on smoking in bars and restaurants has me torn. It's helped an awful lot of people stop smoking. And it helps make sure we all smell better. But, it does seem too invasive of an area of the government, telling businesses how they can be run. But OSHA protects people against unhealthy working conditions all over. Also, the taxes are extraordinarily high, but, again, helping people quit. Anyway, since I can't seem to make up my mind about the government's role in people's private life, I decided to turn to the facts.
* Last May New York City reached its lowest rate of smoking on record (15.8%), with less than 1 million adult smokers here.
* Cigarettes still kill more than 7,000 New Yorkers every year.
* The NYC Quits Smoking Facebook page has 5,039 fans.
* A cigar bar it must have opened prior to December 31, 2001, 10% of revenue must come from the sale of tobacco products, and 60% of revenue alcohol sales.
* New York City's bars and restaurants with tax receipts went up 12% between March 2003 (when the law was enacted) and May 2005.

Update: Still Stupid

You just have to love how industrious some people are. Not two days after I posted about the stupid campaign in the West 4th Street station, someone took it upon themselves to paper on top of every Stupid poster with a sticky photo paper of their own. Not sure you can make it out, but this sticky photo paper is a picture of a Diesel jeans price tag that says $330. Ouch! You really would have to Be Stupid to spend that much on denim.

Stupid is as Stupid Does

Not normally a philosophy I adhere to, but this ad campaign for Diesel jeans that's been in the West 4th Street station for a while has me considering it. I hate to fall victim to these ads, but they do make me smile and then I'm puzzled. Why does being stupid appeal to me?

Is it because no one ever asks stupid people to do anything substantial? It may be a relief to be relieved of any responsibilities, but that is actual a strike against this state of being in my book. I love the sense of accomplishment that comes from doing something that means something, and doing it well.

Is it because stupid is synonymous with easy? If it's stupid anyone can do it, right? But, to borrow a good movie line, it's the hard that makes it great. If it was easy everyone would do it. Life is hard, but it's conquering that hard that makes me want to get up in the morning.

It's got to be because stupid sounds fun, silly, young. But, then why not just say that? Why encourage what could be misconstrued as either of the not-so-desirable states I mentioned above? Some things about advertising I'll never understand, because this one continues to make me smile and fills me with a desire to Be Stupid.