Wheeler Ave

I think it was February 2001. It must have been, because that’s the anniversary month for one of the most terrible shootings of my lifetime to take place in New York City.

As an aspiring and naïve freelance journalist, in between waitering gigs, I decided the anniversary of such a terrible event warranted my presence and some first-hand revisiting. I had never really been to the Bronx, not that I could remember anyway, and I was eager to see the spot, observe the people, smell the air, learn what I could learn; about what had changed since Amadou Diallo was shot 41 one times by police officers.

Somebody rode part of the way with me, but eventually I was on my own and further up the subway line than ever before. I got out and followed my little hand scribbled map that would guide me to the street, to his home. I pictured people standing around. Maybe praying. Maybe a bunch of flowers or statues of saints or something. I wondered if the street would be closed off, maybe because of some big rememberence vigil. I honestly didn’t even know if I had the right day, my only thought was to see what I could see, and share it with those that had chosen to forget the sadness and the pain.

Of course, as usual in life, nothing was as I’d imagined. Nothing exciting happened. No exciting feeling came over me. The air on Wheeler Ave didn’t feel any more or less desperate than the rest of the Bronx. No candle light vigil. No police blockade. Nuthin! A second thought, there may have been some dried out flowers and almost extinguished candles, but nothing that stands out in my memory.

I walked around the block a few times and grew increasingly tired. Heading back to the subway, I glanced one more time towards the house, and pictured that young man standing there. Those final moments. The shots.

I never wrote a single word about it. I think I told a few people the story, but being so uneventful, even the story faded from my story telling.

Why mention it? Obviously with the shooting of Sean Bell, 50 times- who doesn’t think back to it? And the fact that even back in 2001, there wasn’t so much remembering, not that I saw.. maybe that says something. Not much seemed to have changed on Wheeler Ave back then, just like nothing seems to have changed when a young man, the night before his wedding, gets 50 shots fired at him by law enforcement professionals.

Winter Tidying

Sometimes when a journey ends, you get a fever. I think that’s what I have. So not too many words today, but mostly recommendations. Oh and before I recommend other media, I should point out that I’ve resorted my blogroll which you can see on your left. Still organized in a bizarre way, but oh well, I have a strange thought process. Also, on the right hand frame, beneath my tip jar which always welcomes a few dollars, there’s a handy little google calender tool where you can see where I am or where I’m travelling to in the coming month. Not that I need the whole world to know everything, but it allows people like my moma in Jersey or my friend badhareday in Lisbon to know where I am just by checking the blog.

On to the important stuff. It is saturday, and as such, you should sit back and enjoy some very creative and entertaining media… like the latest episode of Bonjour America. Season two just began and Vinvin is actually naked in this episode, maybe that’s tempting for you.

My other recommendation is a text blog of a friend I haven’t spoken to in ages. But she is the very person who helped me get my most prized possesion and it doesn’t hurt that she is an insane writer. Insane in a good way.. go read Present Imperfect.

I have a post coming up on Sean Bell, he who was shot 50 times in NYC recently. It involves a personal memory as a journalist wandering the bronx several years ago… more will come later so maybe hold the comments on this topic.

bm170 Venice and the Crusades

The idea behind this podcast begins in the alleyways of Venice, only a few days ago. When observing the buildings and reading the history, one particular period stood out for me as significant to everything happening today. Listen to my amateur-armchair history summary and hear the shocking list of parallels between the Venice of 1200 and the Venices of today.

Links:
Univ of Wisconsin archive on the Crusades
Wikipedia, if you can stand it

bmtv30 Final Slovenia Vlogging (p2)


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Part 2 of my vlogging in Slovenia. This time from high above Ljubljana as well as lost somewhere in the south of the country. Folk music as always. And this is my goodbye to a country that I hereby love.

Sleepy Low Budget Return

Just because a plane flies to and from it, and you have a metal detector.. does not mean it is an airport.

Or maybe it does.

Either way Treviso “airport”, also known as a hotdog stand, had me laughing all the way to the gate.. err.. back door number 1.

I’ll spare you the details and instead provide you with a photo.. which may no longer be worth the 1,000 words like they used to be, but at least it is worth a post.

Tomorrow.. audio.. and other fun.

Today I recommend you listen to this amazing Open Source Episode. I’m ashamed to say I had never heard of this Daniel Barenboim, but his manner of speaking and expressing himself represents much of the type of person I aim to be. Too bad I suck as a conductor.

Venice the Menace

Imagine a world with no cars, buses, metro’s, scooters, or even BIKES.

Now throw in water everywhere, buildings dating back to 1000 something, and a couple of hundred thousand tourists.

Doesn’t it sound appealing?

Strangely enough, I kid Venice, but I like Venice. I often thoughtlessly refer to it as a tourist trap, but it is really much more than that. – It’s a sinking tourist trap with overly expensive food. HIYOO.

But seriously folks, despite all the useless and neverending trinkets Venetians are trying to push on everyone. Even though certain canals stink like a pile of wet garbage. While it may feel more like disneyland than italy sometimes, complete with stereotypical loud talking American tourists. Despite all these factors that a unemployed snob like myself might never enjoy.. the truth is.. I like it.

YES thats right. I admit to liking Venice. There is this feeling in the air… like the Venetian republic is still alive and they still rule the adriatic sea. You can put away the tourist map and just walk and follow your instincts… to find something unexpected and wonderful. No matter how crowded it seems, you pick a path and end up completely alone with your thoughts and the deep history that pours out of the walls here.

And while it may soon be lost to sea – probably in my lifetime – it still seems like a place where people are making the most of the present. And setting up beautiful lowcost hotels with feewifi, breakfastl and reasonable staff . Yes Venice is good for the soul.. I’ve made up my mind.