An elephant in Brooklyn and other NYC sights

Some images from a memorable weekend in NYC.

My hotel was conveniently located on W 71st, only two blocks from the subway and only $70 a night. Real bargains can be found if one can get over the American tourist need for bigger and more extravagant. I didn't care that my room was no bigger than a postage stamp and that the bathrooms were shared. There are far more interesting places to be in NYC than in a hotel room.















Two "miraculous" appearances of Jesus in NYC -- one in Times Square and the other on beans in the subway.











I wish I'd had more time to spend at the DUMBO (Down Under the Metropolitan Bridge Over Pass)Arts Festival. Every building seemingly was stuffed with artists' studios and all were open for public inspection. Live music and performance art could be found on every street, which were jammed with people.

























The pink Found fliers were posted everywhere in and around the festival streets. You will note that nothing is listed as actually having been "found," so the deduction is that it is either a religious come-on or a work of interactive performance art.

This poor elephant had just been run through his tricks when we came upon him and his handlers. I will not go to any circus that has elephants as part of its "entertainment." They obviously are not happy captives. Those sharp-hooked prodding and controlling devices that humans use upon elephants say everything we need to know about this exploitative relationship.

A weekend for the planet!

Lots of worthwhile events this weekend!

Kick off a global call for peace tonight at the opening of Yoko Ono's art exhibit at the Meyers Gallery, University of Akron. Details here.

Rock the world for global warming awareness by holding or attending a Party for the Planet. Not only do you get to watch Al Gore's Live Earth in a friendly setting, you will also get to see video footage of the presidential candidates answering Moveon.org's questions about the environment. Members will be polled to see which candidates are winning the votes for their environmental stances. More info here.

And let us not forget the National Solar 2007 Conference in Cleveland. Sunday is the day I'll be attending. Public Day for the conference will feature a trade show with over 130 clean energy vendors. I'm going to do some comparison shopping to see if a single school teacher with an old home and low mortgage can afford to go solar. Public Day will also feature consumer presentations, job recruitment, and a Green Energy Ohio public forum featuring congresswoman Marcy Kaptur speaking on the latest green energy initiatives.

Sunday, July 8, 2007
10:00 am - 5:00 pm

Location: Starts & Ends from the Cleveland Convention Center
(500 Lakeside Ave, Cleveland, Ohio 44114)

Imus and Hip Hop

The ABJ's music critic, Malcolm X Abram, gets my vote for most insightful column about the relative significance of Imus' rude words and the hip hop members of the he-man woman haters club.

I agree that comparing the patriarchal sins of an old man to the posturing of many contemporary rappers is not very useful. Abram points to:

"The bulk of rappers who deal casually in misogyny are young black males from communities where toughness -- or at least the illusion of toughness -- is a necessary survival trait, and emotions and trust are signs of weakness. It's not a mature outlook, but in the tough guys' world, the odds are stacked against them. They don't fall in love and they sure as hell don't rap about it (unless they think it will be a hit song on ``blazing hip-hop and R&B!'' radio). The attitude that tough guys ``don't love them hos'' (though you better not say anything about their mamas or sisters) is in part a defense mechanism that has become the standard posture of the ``gangster rapper'' and has proven to be very financially rewarding."

Of course, kids will choose the music and lyrics that are guaranteed to set adult teeth on edge. They dress and speak in ways that separate themselves from main stream culture. There is sad immaturity in the posturing and demeaning words found in too many hip hop lyrics. Abrams points to the exploitation of young artists, many who grew up with nothing, and then find themselves paid lots of money to produce "what sells." He urges more conversations among all interested parties.