Phillipe the Tourist

I'm trying to get a bunch of pictures of the City before I go away, for a few reasons. First, I want to go to all the places that I haven't gone, because I want to experience them. Second, I want to be able to compare parts of the City now, to the future, whenever I come back, in a year or four. So today I took the Ferry to SI and back, then walked up the East River to South Street Seaport [Pier 17]. After that I headed to the Brooklyn Bridge, walking to the train. I had a lot of fun in my first installment of Phillipe the Tourist - the Staten Island Ferry / Lower Manhattan. Here are a few of my favorites. Enjoy the rest here.

How Co-op City has Changed

Co-op City - I have lived here for 15 years and I have seen this community become younger and younger. By that I mean more and more young couples moved in, had children, who in turn have been raised here. When I moved up here from the South Bronx in '94 it was basically filled with people who were in their later years and most of them were of the same ethnicity, white. Now a bigger percentage of the people growing up and living here are hispanic or black. They added more bus lines, I don't remember this many of them coming up this way. Also Bay Plaza has changed profoundly in these years. There's probably a website that has information on all of that. Specifically Section 5 in Co-op has gone through soo much landscaping that it's completely irrecognizable, honestly. Nothing like it used to be, but I wouldnt say it's worse. Theres a bigger and better greenway with a mile long bike/walk-path for people to use. There's also an outdoor calisthenic area. People have differerent opinions on Co-op but to me, it's moving in the right direction.

photos by martin fuchs

Unlocked Sidekick Slide

I think I may have the only Sidekick Slide that's unlocked and running on AT&T. How sick is that? This is a real screenshot straight from my phone. Be jealous all you AT&Ters that wish they could have a sidekick.

Barack Obama Loves the Bronx

Anyone who hasn't been living under a rock has heard about President Barack Obama nominating Sonia Sotomayor for the Supreme Court Justice position that needs to be filled this summer. This caught my eye in particular because of two reasons: 1. She's from the Bronx, and 2. She's Latino. Here's a small bio on her I found online. Sotomayor was born in the Bronx borough of New York City. Her father, Juan Sotomayor, a tool-and-die worker with a third-grade education who did not speak English, was from the Santurce area of San Juan. Her mother, Celina Sotomayor, a nurse, was from the neighborhood of Santa Rosa in Lajas, a still mostly rural area on Puerto Rico's southwest coast. They left Puerto Rico, met, and married during World War II after Celina served in the Women's Army Corps. Sonia was raised a Catholic and grew up in the South Bronx, a short walk from Yankee Stadium. In the 1960s the family moved to the Bronxdale Houses housing project and then to Co-op City, both in the East Bronx. Sonia was diagnosed with Type I diabetes at age eight. Her younger brother is Juan Sotomayor, who is now a doctor in Syracuse, New York. Sonia's father died at age 42, in part from heart complications, when she was nine years old. After this was when Sonia first became fluent in English. She was inspired to go into a legal career and become a judge by watching the Perry Mason television series. Sotomayor has credited her mother as being her "life aspiration".

This is the second person I know of that's Hispanic and from the Bronx that Obama has had his eye on. Earlier this year our President appointed former Bronx Borough President, Adolfo Carrion Jr. Here's a bio: on him. Adolfo Carrion knows a thing or two about city life. In addition to serving two terms as New York City's Bronx Borough President, he has a degree in urban planning and job experience as a minister and public school teacher in the Bronx, which is why Barack Obama has tapped him to serve in a newly created executive branch position — White House Director of Urban Affairs. Carrion: Has been president of the Bronx since 2001 and was re-elected in 2005. Is 47 and married to a lawyer. They have three daughters and a son and live on City Island in the Bronx. Born in Manhattan; his family moved to the northern borough when he was an elementary school student. His father was a minister and Carrion followed in his footsteps, working briefly as an associate pastor. He also worked as a public school teacher before going to graduate school. Majored in world religions and philosophy at Kings College in Westchester, N.Y. and has a master's degree in urban planning from Hunter College in New York City. Before his two terms as president of the Bronx, worked for the New York City planning department and served as a New York City Council member.
[i love the bronx.]

JOBS!

Oh! Let me also say that, I'm looking for a job. I have an interview-type thing for a doorman job this Tuesday, so wish me luck. Other than that, I filled out 24 job applications for retail jobs at American Eagle, Express, Armani Exchange, Urban Outfitters, Starbuck's, Uniqlo, Journeys, Lids, Billboard, Petland, Gap, Old Navy, Banana Republic, Levi's Store, and I know there's more. [The reason I wrote them all out is because I wanted to see if I can remember them. Oh well.

AIDS Walk 5/17/2009

Last Sunday was sooo much fun, I had the opportunity to trek around New York City for the Aids Walk. Traveling ith my great friends from YouthAction NYC, this was the first time I've ever done it. Although through most of it we were running away from the impending rainstorm, we made the best of it and had SOO much fun. Can't you tell? lol.
In other news, I made a Twitter account, I guess I fell into the fad. I also need some dress shoes for graduation! Knee Update: 3+ months. Feeling great, no pain, very little stiffness. I'm starting to jog short distances, aka running top speed for the bus. Sorry for the delay in a post, for those who actually check my blog frequently for updates.

NBA Predictions.

I'm feeling a little bit ambitious with these picks. I usually root for the underdogs anyway. I really don't like the OVERRATED Boston Celtics and the Lakers would be better off out of the playoffs. I like the young Hawks team, but frankly I think this is LeBron's year to actually get his ring. MVP and the Championship in the same year? Sounds about right.

Magic over Boston in 6. Cavs over Atlanta in 4. Rockets over Lakers in 7. Denver over Dallas in 5.

the horizon

everywhere you look there's silence.
the blinding sound sends shockwaves through your soul.
and the only glimpse of hope is when
you gasp and the breath of life awakens you.
stepping forward through the sand,
on the brink.
where the waves of reality crash
on the shores of your dreams

the happiness that awaits on the horizon
requires you to battle the riptide.
the weightless moment when your feet
no longer reach the ground
and your arms bear the burden of your motion
is the beginning of your acceptance of your challenge.

until one day reaching the horizon.

--
by Phillipe Chatelain

Obama's First 100 Days

I don't really know what to make of these statistics. I tried when reading them to think of perhaps an example of a certain subset, maybe predict why the number could have gone up or down. Frankly I think it was too too much information jumbled at once. I mean, for me at least, it would have been more productive and easier to analyze if the information would have been paralleled with some type of blurb about the changes in that particular area made by Obama. For example - the statistics about domestic issues, regarding the federal deficit, it would give a better picture to the reader about why the number had gone up so much. In general, a statistic I see loud and clear is his higher approval rating. I found another interesting article comparing Obama's 100-Day rating to Bush's. Well, you can click and find that bit out.

I'm a supporter.