philly

Broken Glass

Ah fuck. You know... I toil away taking photos of shit. Pick a few here and there to print out, which don't come cheap. Buy a nice frame. And then the fucking glass breaks before I can even get the photo into it. Fuck me.

Looming SEPTA Strike

The SEPTA stike looms closer and closer. I bought what could be my last TransPass for a little while today. It'll get me through the week for my ~40 block commute to work. Tulin at Politics Philly has a roundup of stike-related info.

As much as the stike is going to suck balls for me as far as getting to/fro work, look at what they're up against. I guess I'm gonna bundle up and bike it to work. I guess it's time for thermals?

The Transit Workers Union Local 234 webpage.

The original story from the Daily News.

Alan Lee at Friends Select

Alan Lee, one of the men behind the amazing images from Lord of the Rings will be speaking at The Friends Select School co-sponsored by Joseph Fox Book. He'll be discussing, I presume, the art behind The Lord of the Rings and his new book The Lord of the Rings Sketchbook.

The event starts at 7p and should go until about 8.30p or so. Rain or shine, I'll be there. I'm such a geek about LOTR. Will I be geeky enough to bring a copy of one of my three extended edition DVD sets with me for him to sign? Would he even sign it if it's a book event? I think that he would, but I wonder if he has a handler who would be there telling him he's not allowed. I think I'm gonna bring one. Which one? I think The Fellowship.

Anyone gonna geek out with me?

Giants!

What a great thing to watch after carving pumpkins. We got home at exactly the two-minute warning in the fourth. The GMen were down six. Giants Stadium was rocking in the background. I could feel something. When Shockey made that grab on his out route, I knew. And then Toomer snagged the six and I let out a yell, loud enough for Lady to yell back from downstairs that she was trying to do get some work done. But what can I say?! The GMen just won on a last second TD capping off 80+ yards to win!

The GMen are 3-0 at home and sitting pretty atop the NFC East baby!

Chuck O'Lantern

Today was spent first stepping outside with my new gigantor lens and shooting around the neighborhood a bit, but that came to an abrupt end when it was 1. too cold outside in a t-shirt and cargos, 2. the basketball court by my house is closed [the rims were all taken off] and, 3. we were off to Pat and Jodi's for a pumpkin carving.

I saw the Chuck Pennacchio pumpkin template [.pdf] for a Pennacchio Pumpkin. I downloaded it and there it is above. It didn't take long to do and it was a blast to carve out a pumpkin, I can't remember the last time I did it.

Here's a Flickr set of the afternoon with friends and some before/after shots of the Chuck O'Lantern.

Good Korean Eats

We just had a great dinner Friday night at a new Korean restaurant, Miran which is at 2034 Chestnut St. I haven't had a real sit down meal at a Korean restaurant here in Philly in the seventeen or so months I've been here and it was great to find one that's close, well priced and yummy. Yes, Tampopo has some great Korean food, but it's not really a sit down restaurant, more of a quick lunch / take-out place. Miran is a nice little place that was full [about 12 tables], but not too crowded feeling.

Me at Ted Adams' Show

There I am at Ted Adams's show from two weeks ago at Kelly Writers Hosue Art Gallery at UPenn. Ted took the shot of me while Tony, Ted and I were talking towards the end of the night. And behind my gigantic noggin are two of Ted's gorgeous prints. And yes, I carry my camera with me everywhere; it's either around my wrist, over my shoulder or in my bag.

New Glass

So, I got a new piece of glass earlier today. Big glass. 80-200mm f/2.8D ED AF Zoom-Nikkor.

Some Dirt on PA GOP and a Few Dems Too

Got a little tip from Left Independent on Pennsylvania memers of the U.S. Congress who co-sponsored the bill to protect gun manufacturers from civil lawsuits:
Senators Arlen Specter-R and Rick Santorum-R
Representatives: Rep Dent, Charles W. [PA-15] R, Rep English, Phil [PA-3] R, Rep Gerlach, Jim [PA-6] R, Rep Hart, Melissa A. [PA-4] R, Rep Holden, Tim [PA-17] D, Rep Kanjorski, Paul E. [PA-11] D, Rep Murphy, Tim [PA-18] R, Rep Murtha, John P. [PA-12] D, Rep Peterson, John E. [PA-5] R, Rep Pitts, Joseph R. [PA-16] R, Rep Platts, Todd Russell [PA-19] R, Rep Sherwood, Don [PA-10] R, Rep Shuster, Bill [PA-9] R, Rep Weldon, Curt [PA-7] R.

Also the list of PA GOPers who accepted money from DeLay: Charles Dent, Phil English, Michael Fitzpatrick, Jim Gerlach, Melissa Hart, Tim Murphy, Donald Sherwood, Bill Shuster, Curt Weldon.

Thanks!

Two of Internets Down

Is your internets slow today? Here's why, two of the internets are dead right now.