Archive for the ‘NY 11103’ Category
uneasy voices
Quite the hullabaloo over in Astoria last Friday.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Rainy, last Friday evening, a sudden explosion of sirens and a characteristic strobing of red and white light announced that members of the Fire Department had arrived to pursue their occupation. I grew interested when Rescue 4 showed up, which I understand to be a sort of mobile command post and which I’ve only seen when the situation is truly serious.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
There were two crewed trucks, a hook and ladder unit and an engine unit. In addition, the Rescue 4 truck and this “Haz Tac” unit arrived on scene along with a couple of ambulances. The setting is Broadway in Astoria, by the way, between 43rd and 44th streets.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
There were enough FDNY personnel down there to start a soccer team, but they all seemed to be milling about, rather than the rushing around and “crash bang” action which normally describes the pursuit of their occupation.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
NYPD sent an ESU (Emergency Services Unit) truck as well as a highway patrol and several ordinary unit cars, and being the nosey sort, this motivated me to throw the filthy black raincoat on and find out what was going on.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
The municipal employees were tight lipped, as usual, but my network of local Croatians had already created a cogent narrative. The whole thing revolved around this van.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
As transmitted to me by the Istrian witnesses, there was an accident. A typical fender bender with no injuries, the driver of the van nevertheless fled the scene and abandoned the vehicle.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Some unknown municipal threshold must have been achieved, in terms of ascertaining the threat posed by the vehicle, and the FDNY began to pack up and leave. NYPD got busy with traffic cones and redirecting traffic. One wonders, however, what triggered this massive response to an abandoned van.
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inevitably drawn
Where oh where can I find the direction home?
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Everybody is going somewhere, coming from someplace else, or running errands. A humble narrator has no direction, no destination, no desire. All I want is to acknowledge Newtownian physics and prove that objects in motion tend to stay in motion until they encounter a force strong enough to arrest or alter their movement. Also, energy cannot be created nor destroyed, but that’s a longer term project that involves hanging odd charms from string in a series of bottles, and I’m still collecting the necessary glassware.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
The world only makes sense when you force it to do so. This statement is something I constantly convince myself isn’t true, but unfortunately its diabolical truth is proven to me time and again. Tendencies to reticence and a desire to “trust,” which is a vainglorious attempt to believe in humanity as a whole, seem to be my metaphorical achilles heel. Experiences amongst the monkey tribes over the last few years argue against the mendacity of these apes, and one such as myself can only laugh his scary laugh and retreat back into the night.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
I aspire to be “nice,” struggle with notions of absolute morality, and attempt to keep my true nature under some sort of control. Most of those who have long populated my life know this side of me, understand what it is that I keep chained up in the attic and basements of the soul, and have learned how unpleasant things can get when the fetters are loosed. Do not push a creature like me, as you will find the road you’ve entered upon to be quite a bumpy one.
“follow” me on Twitter- @newtownpentacle
not inefficient
Action figures found.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Our Lady of the Pentacle has a weird affection for those 99 cent stores, which seldom have dollar items on sale, which you find peppered about in Astoria. Gewgaws and doodads are the stock in trade for this sort of establishment, and while following her around last week, I encountered what seemed to be the entire cast of RC Comics available as limited articulation action figures. They had the big guy, and all the supporting players on sale.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Idolatry notwithstanding, these were actually piss poor as far as the moldings and likenesses side of things go. DC and Marvel figurines often amaze with their clever construction and quality of verisimilitude to the licensed character, but these RC figures were frankly reminiscent of the sort of things kids were offered back in the 70’s.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Still, a complete set of Saints with the Big Guy clothed in all three identities is hard to turn down. It would be cool to have the entire Justice League displayed, but I’ve got to find a 99 cent store where the Injustice Society is available as well. I doubt they’ll only be $1.39 a piece, instead their cost will be probably be diabolical.
“follow” me on Twitter- @newtownpentacle
fortified places
Another one from the Archives
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Almost dug out from under the blanket of obligations, lords and ladies, and nearly ready to return to presenting fresh material. For today, however, another shot from the archives- this one of St. Joseph’s RC Church from the rooftops of Astoria- a view familiar and loved by those who hail from the ancient village.
“follow” me on Twitter- @newtownpentacle
once noble
An archive shot from 2007.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
We call them “Shwarma Joe” but that’s not their name. This food cart has been operating at the corner of 34th Avenue and Steinway Street in Astoria for as long as I’ve lived here. They do a Halal menu, and offer one of the more affordable lunch options in the neighborhood. I favor the Chicken Kabob wrap myself, sans white sauce. This is an archive shot, as mentioned, captured during the heady days of the second Bush administration. Shwarma Joe never called their offerings “freedom fries,” however.
“follow” me on Twitter- @newtownpentacle
The Newtown Pentacle 