Two years later; still in New York

It's hard to believe I am in 2008, and still here in New York. And sadly, I haven't really pursued what I came to do, which is use Google Earth to remind me firstly, of "where I've been", (second) within the context of history (buildings and city plans do change), and the context of my personal history (where i've been + who I am). Should I describe a bit about who I am, in the context of this project? OK.

My parents met at the NSA, where my father was involved in early satellite technology, star wars, and all the elements of cold war politics during his early career. He is still a staunch liberal and has a resume to prove it, as I like to think. He met my mother there, where she was a code-breaker. They were both Catholic - a city mouse and a country mouse. End (not quite) of story (for now).

My father's fascination with satellites continued throughout his life. I didn't realize until I was in my early 20s, but my father loved maps. He also spent a lot of time teaching me about chess, the night sky and constellations. Later on he went onto develop a patent:

US Patent 5559520 - Wireless information system for acquiring location related information

which is summarized as such:

"Abstract

An information system for automatically providing mobile vehicles with
information related to their geographical location and to provide routing
control information downloaded from a broadcasting or directed cellular
call source includes a GPS receiver and associated data storage unit. A
cellular packet data receiver is included to receive data with location
markers from a transmission source. The data from the data storage unit
and the received data with location markers is coupled to a controller
module which includes stored program controls to select data relevant to
the present geographical location and to provide centralized alerts and
local readout in the mobile vehicle of this information. "

It isn't GPS, but GPS for a moving vehicle... i.e NYC taxi cabs can thank him and a few developers at AT&T for this.

So, here I am. A close up of where I live. A voyeuristic peek into my habitation- prior to my actual habitation (I can tell by the color of the blinds). Where I am typing this blog post, and hopefully many more. This is not an invitation other than to view my world from a different perspective... hope to be back online and google earthing my whereabouts soon. Perhaps I have to thank my father for this ability. Perhaps I like to think there's some creativity behind the patent, some chance for art and exploration, and an opportunity to understand the complicated emotions of an inventor who freely gave away his ideas to a company so I could be here, looking at myself from a map. Thank you dad.

7/23/2006: Mehanata 6:30

Who knew that after having been completely battered and bruised on a sunny day filled with some raucus moshing and friendly beer sharing, I would be driving Pedro to a meeting at Mehanata, to discuss the imminent closing and excommunicado of the forever legendary gypsy cultural establishment. Pretty soon I was in radio, supposing to do things, and make changes. Well..... I guess we all tried, but in the end, the Community Board were a bunch of self-congratulatory asses.... more on that later.

7/23/2006: Summer Stage Central Park

I was there on Sunday at SummerStage. It was amazing, my favorite probably the combines efforts of Konono no.1 followed by Maldita Vecindad. Firstly, for someone not knowing anything of what to expect, except for the abundance of Mexican rockers standing on line with some luche libre masks on, apparently popularized (I'm guessing if unexposed to the tradition or sport) by the ever so hilarious StrongBad (see classic animation "Trogdor") I soon became awash with great energy and very very talented and dedicated musicians. On top of it all, I got to go in the mosh pit, something I secretly love to do.

7/21/2006: Lolita's on the Lower East Side

What is Lolita's? Just another bar, offering some nice seating, exposed brick walls, unobtrusive tunes, an artsy professional crowd, who enjoy $5 -$10 cocktails, new art, and sharing a bathroom. For the relaxed evening with friends crowd.

7/21/2006: The Frank Smith "Experience" at the Living Room

When life gets exciting, or adventurous, I go places. Like the Frank Smith Show at the Living Room, an oddly ambient and ambiguously designed small venue featuring a roots-rock urban cowboy menage-a-six, where oddly enough, the deisel button-down western plaid trucker hat wearing adidas pumping crowd was no-where to be found..... except, at every table. Despite the annoying person behind me keeping the beat with his toe slingers on my chair, the band easily took me into wonderland.....

"Are these guys good?" I thought to myself. Well, after trying to get past the foggy cloud of cool air and new york snobbery, I found a humble pie band of talented and dedicated musicians, of all ages and unique personalities. While I tend to seek exhibitionist performaces at their most garish (see Scissor Sisters), I equally found myself tapping my foot and exploring the good lyricism and musicianship, amongst the tortured, apathetic, and equally energetic banjoings.

"Will I see them again?" Probably not until they work on making their sound a bit more edgy. Frank Smith delivers a purly rock-cowboy alt-country sound addled with a little hard rock (thanks to the influence of the drummer mayhaps?) and seems too influenced (see Dylan and Mark Lanegan) yet to break ground for the daring ear, but it doesn't mean their sound is crisp, their lyrics great, and their talent universal. These guys should be watched carefully. Hopefully they will refine like a nice bottle of malt over time.

7/21/2006: 538 Hart St. Apt. #1

This evening Greg and I found our fledgling selves at 538 Hart St., an unpromising but up-n-coming neighborhood bordering Bushwick and E. Williamsburg. While I would say we were initially turned off by the sign for the exterminator visit, the tweaked out woman on the corner, the suspiciously empty plastic twenty baggie in the hallway, and a broken wine glass in the corner hall, the apartment was magnificent. See for yourselves. Go to my Flickr Page.

7/21/2006

Today involved my new Friday routine. At the gorgeous City Hall of NYC. On the 25th Fl, I begin my in studio journey into public radio, hoping and wishing that I can survive the competition, and keep up with the buzz.