Archive for 2016
muffled conversation
There was quite a hullabaloo, here in Astoria.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
One received a text from a neighbor on the night of October 30th that there had been a vehicle collision involving the local gendarmes here in Astoria, so I grabbed the camera and headed down to take a look at what happened.
The NYPD unit involved was from the local precinct, the 114, and they had collided – at speed- with a civilian vehicle at the intersection of 45th street here on Broadway.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Given that I’m a “yenta” and the whole neighborhood knows it, the neighbors began relating the story to me.
Apparently, the NYPD unit was in one of those big hurries that they periodically display, the kind when they don’t have their sirens or lights on. My understanding is that this is procedure when they’re trying to catch someone surreptitiously by sneaking up on them, or they’re enroute to assist another officer who is in a dicey situation.
Observationally, when Cops blow a light just cause they want to, they perform what could be best described as a rolling stop while doing so. They can also park pretty much anywhere they want to, and I see both as perks.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
One of the local Greeks informed me that he had witnessed the incident. The cops were moving through a red light at the corner of 45th street and Broadway at a considerable velocity when they contacted the front end of a sedan which was proceeding at speed through the green light. They tore the front end of the civilian car up, but neither car’s occupants were seriously hurt. That’s what the Greek guy said.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
That’s the bumper of the sedan, which was being operated by a fairly young guy who had two passengers with him. They were instructed to park around the corner, and seemed – to me at least – as quite anxious. On Broadway itself, there were multiple NYPD people investigating the event. There were ambulances, looking loo civilians like me, and the usual emergency crew that the City’s got.
Of course the three kids were anxious, how would you feel if you had just rammed a cop car?
– photo by Mitch Waxman
I ran into a couple of officers from the 114 a couple of days later (long story) and inquired as to the condition and health of their comrades. They informed that the two officers in the unit were fine, but had taken a couple of days off to recuperate nevertheless. No word on the three kids, however.
My personal belief is that all five participants in the accident probably had to go shopping for new underwear.
“follow” me on Twitter- @newtownpentacle
abominations and blasphemies
Fight.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Gaze upon the Newtown Creek. Currently an EPA Superfund site. Is it going to be one for long? Will there be an EPA this time next year? Would this be a good place, instead, to site a black and gold casino? I’ve been considering the Trump victory, and its implications. I’ve been reading a bunch of stuff written by people like myself, who thought the Presidential Election would be a logical slam dunk in favor of the more qualified candidate. All of us “lefties” have had to admit that we were wrong in our assumptions that our fellow Americans would actually vote in their own economic and cultural interest.
C’Est la Vie.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Early thoughts on the “new normal” involve trying to take advantage of it, which is the American Way. Should Mr. Trump make good on his promise to build a wall across the narrow part of the North American Continent, rebar and Portland Cement futures look like they’ll be a promising investment. Also, I’m planning on finding out who the leading players in immigration law are, and whether or not they are publicly traded companies.
It’s the EPA thing that we’re all talking about on the Creek, I would mention.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
It’s going to be a very interesting few years, I think.
Mainly, because the Republican Congress is likely going to eat the new President for lunch. Those are shark infested waters down in the District. Let’s face it though, all that Donald Trump actually wants to do stand in front of the cameras while cutting the ribbon on all the “bridges to nowhere” and crony projects they’re going to be building.
The game just continues.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Personally, and as I’ve often opined – National Politics is way above my pay grade. I’ve got other, more decidedly local problems to worry about.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
One has been on a Newtown Creek vacation for the last month, and it’s time for me to get back on the job.
“follow” me on Twitter- @newtownpentacle
maximum diameter
Well, that sucks.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
One is dismayed at the results of yesterday’s election results, and I’m in fact struck dumb by them. I was hoping that the United States wouldn’t succumb to its baser instincts in this election, but I’ve been disappointed before. It always strikes me as odd that working class people across the country continually vote against their own interests – which is what a vote for either one of the major parties ultimately turns out to be.
Saying that, as I’ve opined several thousand times in the last year – the National level stuff is above my pay grade, and that the only thing we can really have any effect on are the local issues.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
I can offer you predictions – based on having lived through several rightist swings in the White House about what the next half decade holds. There will be war, and recession, an unregulated corporatist nirvana, and the very same rural and rust belt people who voted the new administration into power will be the ones most impoverished by its policies.
This is nothing new, of course, and it hasn’t been so since Marius and Sulla.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
The mistake made by the leftists in this election was in the choice of a technocrat candidate who seemed to be awaiting a popular voter enabled coronation to the Presidency – despite being remarkably unpopular. The national level party bosses repudiated, and destroyed, the chances of the populist wing in their own party structure in the name of ensuring this coronation. As the Book of Revelations says – you are neither hot nor cold, you are lukewarm, and I spit you out.
They ran a 20th century campaign in 2016, and lost.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
The rural/urban divide is something I’ve been talking about for a long time, incidentally. I’m of the belief that we are headed for a second Civil War in these United States, one that isn’t based around a North and South divide, but instead one that is based around whether you live in a City or a Town.
Cities are internationalist, towns nationalist.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Beyond all of that, one is absolutely speechless and sort of terrified. Apoplectic is an appropriate word.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Thing is, this election came out of NYC.
“follow” me on Twitter- @newtownpentacle
lustrous balustrade
A few odds and ends, in today’s post.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
An ex-Cat, this skeleton was observed in Long Island City up on the Montauk Cutoff tracks about a week ago. There were raccoon tracks surrounding it, which probably explains a lot about where the rest of the cat is. Pretty gross shot, I guess, but there’s a whole lot of existential reality all over LIC when you peek into its shadowed places.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
A renewal of my previously stated opinion that the 7 line is far and away the most photogenic of NYC’s subways is offered. A comparison to Michelle Pfeifer in the movie “Scarface” would be made, but it’s inappropriate.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Finally, did you know that the “King of Shwarma and Falafel” food truck people have opened a brick and mortar storefront on Astoria’s Broadway at 31st street? Practically under the El? I do, which is why I was waiting for Our Lady of the Pentacle on that instersection recently, and I cracked out this noirish shot of the N/Q stairs to pass the time.
Mmm… Shwarma.
“follow” me on Twitter- @newtownpentacle
inhuman squeals
Shots from Halloween 2016, Astoria.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
As stated, my plans for Halloween involved taking up station at the neighborhood pub and waving the camera about at people in costumes while Our Lady of the Pentacle and my pal Death handed out candy. This is sort of an annual tradition for us, and for those of you outside of NYC – hereabouts the trick or treaters don’t ring residential door bells for their candy, instead they go from shop to shop along the “commercial” streets like Broadway here in Astoria, Queens.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
The fellow above should have won some sort of award for his pumpkin themed business suit.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
There were a lot of superheroes about. We counted around five Harley Quinn’s, dozens of Batmen, Jokers, and other comic characters. Supergirl was quite popular this year, I’m happy to report.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Astoria goes “all in” on Halloween, whether it be just the kid or her mom too.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
That’s my buddy Death.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Every few minutes, you’d hear bunches of people sighing “awww-wwuuhh.”
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Some kid’s parents let him buy the inflatable dinosaur suit seen above, which is something I would have sold my soul for when I was 6 or 7.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
There were lots of grown ups all done up as well.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Awww-wwuuhh.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
This kid pretty much won Halloween.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
So did these two.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
When I pointed the camera at this family, Captain America there jumped right in front of the lens. Great thing about Halloween is hamming it up, I guess.
“follow” me on Twitter- @newtownpentacle
The Newtown Pentacle 