lets take a closer look
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Economessage
Yesterday I could not help but notice the latest one person movement using the downtown Square of the Jar as a stage for their bully pulpit. Just before I made these images I had been deeply engrossed in a Pulitzer Prize winning non fiction book that I have been working on for a few weeks. To my left sat a senior Merrill Lynch financier who had an air of monetary authority about him and his young Ivy League colleague who although ten years my junior reminded me of a class of folks I used to know. Their conversation I could not help but to hear. "As bad as things are the bottom is about to drop, it is really getting ready to happen." Then the discussion turned to active understanding that all the ways that they used to make money by having cash as an inventory, a commodity, something to buy or sell are gone. The government has moved in and taken away those ways so now the idea has to shift, we have to figure out ways to make the money with 90 percent less choices. The younger had an idea that he communicated which involved big money and the bad assets of this nation but was spoken quietly in a language I did not understand so I cannot convey to you what he was really saying other than it sounded desperate and on the verge of the new illegal moral code in justification for ones own gain of more than what they need. Not one word about the nearly 1million Chinese human beings that died last year caused by unsafe working conditions while employed making the crap that the world is buying no longer. The dominoes are falling in full Globo style. The truth may be found in the signage below in the bottom left hand side of the frame.
lets take a closer look
lets take a closer look
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
T'WIT(Tiny Warrior In Training)-Monday Night Trail
I hope you like the new header image. Military Ops over the Jar. I shot it on my way home Friday with the little big lens hours after the incident with Carter's Secret Service. In the digital tray I adjusted film grain, saturation and tint to present the above composition. When I heard them coming over the trees I thought that perhaps they finally got tired of me popping up on their radar as someone who was paying attention so they were coming for me in a full scale Black&White Op to take me to the new Gitmo in Onslow County. Whew, thanks be to Jesus that was only a thought stemming from my hyper active imagination. There were 3 more choppers in the sky that did not make the image but by the time I had identified them and gotten my camera out this is what I saw. The empire on it's way in to the Jar from the east dropping out of the sky as if they were landing at the big buildings but were prolly headed for the Toon International Airport where the military is always welcome.
Last night after work ZooZoo and I headed out to the local Single Track for just over an hour PT(physical training)ride/run at her pace. She gets so excited when she sees me loading up the mountain bike equip that she can hardly contain herself. A little howl and some happy dance all the way to the car. On the drive over she calms down a bit and goes to that mental place where she harnesses her internal strength for the game about to take place. Nose in the bag-o-treats.
On the First Double track out of the single Zula came running wide open, no slowing right by for a pic. Can you hear her bell ringing that I fashioned for her collar out of an aluminum spacer and her ID tag?
Mush, Mush. She mainly follows my rear wheel but sometimes likes the lead position. I will follow and command her to mush, her ears lay back while she trots down the trail waiting to hear more from me.
We came upon some new wood burbles most recently built into the trail. These Wurbles were a nice surprise well constructed solid and offering something new to think about. T'WIT went over them the first time and you can see her coming back around on the right for more.
A closer inspection of this fine new feature of Sherman Branch Trail, thanks whomever was responsible you made fine usage of what was lying around in that area.
Mandatory stop at the bigger pond watering hole for the kid.
Of course some fresh hydro replacement is key after a physical effort and I am always willing to share with this little instinctual creature.
Last night after work ZooZoo and I headed out to the local Single Track for just over an hour PT(physical training)ride/run at her pace. She gets so excited when she sees me loading up the mountain bike equip that she can hardly contain herself. A little howl and some happy dance all the way to the car. On the drive over she calms down a bit and goes to that mental place where she harnesses her internal strength for the game about to take place. Nose in the bag-o-treats.
On the First Double track out of the single Zula came running wide open, no slowing right by for a pic. Can you hear her bell ringing that I fashioned for her collar out of an aluminum spacer and her ID tag?
Mush, Mush. She mainly follows my rear wheel but sometimes likes the lead position. I will follow and command her to mush, her ears lay back while she trots down the trail waiting to hear more from me.
We came upon some new wood burbles most recently built into the trail. These Wurbles were a nice surprise well constructed solid and offering something new to think about. T'WIT went over them the first time and you can see her coming back around on the right for more.
A closer inspection of this fine new feature of Sherman Branch Trail, thanks whomever was responsible you made fine usage of what was lying around in that area.
Mandatory stop at the bigger pond watering hole for the kid.
Of course some fresh hydro replacement is key after a physical effort and I am always willing to share with this little instinctual creature.
Friday, January 30, 2009
An Open Letter to Jimmy Carter
Photo: Beebe
Dear Mr. President,
Due to the infinite powers of synchronicity our paths crossed just a minute or 2 before 0830hrs this morning at the 200 block of South Brevard Street in Charlotte North Carolina where I have been honestly employed as a bicycle messenger since July 3, 1998. This morning I picked up US Mail for 2 of my clients which has been the daily routine for 8 of the last 10 years that I have done this job. As I rode towards the One Wachovia Building to deliver the first of the 2 drops I realized that I was perhaps 10 minutes ahead of my normal schedule but could not figure out exactly why. I pedaled west on East Trade Street passing the taller than life Mahatma Gandhi statue who sees me most mornings and I acknowledge his presence with a happy yell. Up a few blocks just as I was making my left onto South Brevard the first of the 3 black and tinted SUVs in your motorcade travelling East on Trade was making it's right onto South Brevard. As I straightened out then came the second dark SUV, which wound up immediately to my right as we both occupied separate lanes of the 2 lane one way street. I looked into the back seat of the big suburban which was being dramatically illuminated by a low rising sun from left to right across my frontage and in through your window. From 3 meters away at about 18 to 20 forward miles per hour I saw your spectral form sitting almost in the middle but more behind the front passenger. Just as I recognized your human form you glanced over your left shoulder in my direction but I am truly not sure if you ever saw me. At that instant the SUV directly behind you came fast hard left to intercept me while putting itself between you and I. Still rolling the secret service agent with light eyes had the window down and was all over me with degrading language that honestly made me feel marginalized and in his emotional vice. I became defensive as I looked right into his eyes and yelled, "Sorry, this is my job I do it every day!" Less than 18 inches to my right moving forward his verbal barrage continued as did my response. Your SUV had just crossed 4th Street when agent angry swerved across my front wheel and off ahead to catch up with you. Then the 2nd sedan of the 3 behind the SUVs which appeared to be being operated by perhaps a high ranking Georgia State Highway Patrolman came across the lane right for me at a high rate of speed with window down on my right to give me more loud aggressive verbiage about what I am supposed to be doing. Within seconds of him hearing my profane response he too accelerated off to the front to catch up with your group. Mr. Carter I realize that you are indeed the 39th President of this fine country in which we dwell but please let your guys know that anger is not something that should be perpetuated. They made me scared for my life and that immediately put me in endangered instinctual mode which once someone goes there it is hard to come back. I felt extraordinarily shocky for the rest of my day through the now. Your presence and our fleeting shoulder to should meeting has given me transfer on a new level and I am compelled to let you know that I too hope for peace in the Middle East. I am aware of what is going on there and I know that the only way my 9 year old daughter has a chance on this globe is for it to stop and really change. You were here promoting that new book of yours which I respect but hope that you can convey to your Secret Service agents to open their eyes and be careful how they address humans out in the world for to have hope in peace anywhere, peace must me initiated.
Honestly and Respectfully,
Billy Fehr
Vicky is Not So Secret
This true story happens every once in awhile when you are me. Every morning I pick up the mail for 2 firms at the US Main Post Office in town. As it so happens there is usually 2 tubs sometimes more, they are each nested inside each other. I make a quick call for a fellow ambassador to meet me at the side door of One Wachovia in 4mins and then roll out to make the drop to them leaving me with the other tub on the bars to deliver 4.5 blocks away. Yesterday after dropping that first one I looked down to see the latest Victoria's Secret Catalogue cover model who I immediately thought was Liz staring right at me. At first I thought Liz said with a smooth tan skinned giggle, "Wow Billy, you are soooo hot!" but then I realized that I was day dreaming in traffic. Pull it together Billy, get out the camera and your newly refurbished mega shutter button, your blog readers need to see this really happens and it does not happen often so document. 
Then as I continue down the ave the wind blows into the tub, the pages lift turning rapidly creating more distractions for now they are moving and changing as if they are coming to life on the paper before my eyes. Eeek gads, watch out for that jack ass car driver looking at me as if I am not paying attention....
Then as I continue down the ave the wind blows into the tub, the pages lift turning rapidly creating more distractions for now they are moving and changing as if they are coming to life on the paper before my eyes. Eeek gads, watch out for that jack ass car driver looking at me as if I am not paying attention....
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Interview with Boots
Along time ago early on in my career as professional bike messenger in the QC a crazy fellow rolled up to me on his fixed geared machine(up until that day I had not really seen one) wanting to know why in the hell I had a bag on my back yet I was free wheeling(if you are out of the loop that means coasting). Enter into my life Chandler Snyder who turned out to be Boots before long. Back then Chandler had previously worked the streets of Denver Colorado and had come back home to Charlotte to get a job here working for Mercury Messengers as well as bust all of our balls and get us rolling the way we should. After his stint here and tolerating the stash as long as he could he moved back to the mile high shitty, got married, had a kid that smiles with his entire body and has recently started being a courier all over again. I had the chance a couple of years ago to do a 4 day road ride out in Colorado and Wyoming, on the way home from Denver I got stranded flying Non-Rev so Boots let me crash at his place and buy him dinner. Every time he comes back east to see his family he stops by to say hello. It is sort of top secret but I have just given you all clearance, Boots is on the way back to the Jar to help drive sales for one of the best local bike courier services in town. In this faltering economy the messenger which has been around for over 6,000 years or the time of the Greek Gods is about to flourish. I warn you all now his second coming is going to change all of your lives forever, get ready Boots is back and he has some major support.here is a recent email interview I did with my friend Boots.
1. What is your favorite salsa?
Well William, I like that question, cause I need to know if you're referring to store bought or restaurant style. For store bought it has to be Religious Experience Medium! Its so yummy! Im not sure you have it out there, but it may make it down that way soon. Quite chunky and the medium would be considered Hot for your part of the country. As for restaurant, im pretty much a fan of most salsa that is served at any number of wonderful Mexican places we have in Denver. Im going to have to find some places in Charlotte after we move, because I've become a fan of Green Chili here. Gotta find a great place to have a "smothered green chili burrito"!
2. Tell us about your messengering career from rookie status to vet status back to rookie status all over again and in two major cities.
Hmmmm...its a bit strange to be talking about my "career". You know im not going to touch the "rookie" status "all over again" part of your question. Once you've earned your "stripes" you never go back to being a rookie. A seasoned vet in a new city is worth 5 rookies who grew up there any day of the week.
Now, my start. I moved to Denver on a whim after graduating from UNC-Wilmington in the 2000. An old college friend had moved out here a couple years before me and kept saying how awesome Colorado was and how there were bikes everywhere and no humidity. My parents bought a ticket for me as a graduation present. I came to Denver, and in the first week here I was humping packages for a local company named Speedy(aka "Bleedy" due to the size of the paychecks for the amount of work you do). It didn't go well. I quit after 2 weeks due to getting into it with my dispatcher because he thought my knowledge of the city sucked. The irony of that situation was that he was fired a week later for running off every new rider they hired, and had been for weeks.
I managed to meet a few heads and got in good enough with a group who worked for a company named Velocity couriers. This was in September of 2000. The company was pretty new, and was located inside a repro-graphics company's office downtown. The graphics company...CTS...had partly funded the start up costs and as part of the contract with Velocity, we had to do all their courier work...both car and bike work. I knew I wasn't in "Kansas anymore" on the first day when I walked in, and the now defunct owner Johnny Gaitan said its "work WHITTIE day"! Well, Johnny held up his end of that statement real quick. Myself and the other "white" guy, Winston, were somehow always doing the grunt share of CTS work, which for the most part were construction drawings that for the most part weighed anywhere from 10-40lbs! it wasn't uncommon to roll out the door with multiple rolls on my back. At that time in Denver, there were lots of messengers, over a 100 id have to say, and plenty of companies around. After proving myself through the winter, which was a pretty nasty one if memory serves, I started getting some gravy runs(runs that tended to be easier and paid a helluva lot more). Back then, you did have to prove yourself. There were always fair weather kids who thought being a messenger was cool, but didn't realize that it meant showing up no matter what the outside conditions were, and no matter what your internal conditions were from the night before. Yeah, we partied hard back then!
After working for Velocity for a while, I moved back over to Speedy, as my friend Byron who was a rider got bumped up to dispatcher. I got pretty sweet runs and got paid fairly well. Keep in mind that the amount of work out there was huge! An average day with Speedy, or with anyone at that time, was around 60-70 runs a day, and as far as I know I still have the second most tags on a day record at 89, right behind my buddy Winston who worked out a whopping 95 in a day. These were real runs, not the kind where you walk into a building and pick 20 tags from one company. These were one by one, from different companies around town.
I swapped around to a couple more companies, before in 2003, I moved back to Charlotte for a year after going through a divorce with my first wife. I ran into you guys back then. Ill let you give that story...I think your version will be better. Of course I will say that I thought I was rolling up on some kids from the country side when I met you in downtown Charlotte that day a the fountain by the library! I know you remember that!
In Jan of 2004 I moved back to the mile high shitty. After dealing with emotions and out of control ways of living from my divorce the previous year, I decided to give Denver a second shot. It was a different city to come back to, even just a year later. The effects of 9-11-01 were being fully felt in the courier world here. Most of the courts had gone to a mandatory "e-file" system, and increased security kept us out of some business we'd been doing work for for years. Companies were downsizing the courier numbers and some courier companies had folded. Humping for a living meant doing about 20-30 runs a day, and then were the "new kids on the block"...aka the Hipsters...aka the Pozengers. Now for those of you reading who ARE NOT messengers and ride around looking like you are, on your cool single speed, or fixy, with the bag, the pants rolled up, the super tight pants, which for some unknown reason to me is cool to have your junk stuffed up there like Silence of The Lambs guy, yes this is going to hurt a bit. If you want to be a courier...GET A JOB!!! Quit running red lights, yelling at cars, running from cops, riding on sidewalks...and my list could go on...why??? BECAUSE WE GET THE HEAT FOR IT!!!! Seriously, its happened 3 times in the past month here in Denver. Cops come up to us hanging out and start telling us about "one of your buddies on the whatever color bike that we're looking for him". We look at them and say "um, he's not a courier". The cop then looks at us and says, but he had "one of those bikes and a bag on"! So...if you want to emulate us, cool, but have a brain about it and realize that your actions DO HAVE consequences.
So, back to my "history". In 2005, I decided to try leaving the "brotherhood" that is messengering. I went to work for a couple of high end bike shops in the area and had a great time doing it. Unfortunately I always got itchy feet after a few months of doing this work. I missed being outside in all the madness that is couriering. So, when I was recently hit the string of bad luck that has helped turn my family's decision to move back east, I turned to the streets again. Currently Im working in Denver for peanuts a day. The company Im working for is quite corrupt from the top down, and I struggle daily to tell myself Im doing this out of good karma deposits that I will one day reap.
I think that is just about covers it. Its a brief history, and there's plenty of stuff to add but, i think more direct and pinpoint questioning on your part William will help bring that out.
3. Some people say being a bike messenger is one of the most rewarding jobs in the world, do you think so and why?
Yes/No! Hahahaha...how ya like me now?! I think its rewarding for the right person. Just like there are people suited to do every job out there, there are people who are suited to be messengers. In the true sense of the word, yes it can be rewarding as hell. I get to see the world move and change around me, from the weather and the physical world of nature, to the steel and man made environment that is created and destroyed daily, weekly, monthly, yearly....forever and ever. Watching the myriads of people, cars, cranes, animals, etc moving around and us moving in between them, at time seemingly like the speed of light, and at other times like the slow crawl of a tortoise racing its hare, its a rewarding job to be sure.
Then there's the physical aspect personally. I can feel when my body gets stale and rusty with non-use and slackness. So, knowing I will be going out in weather that others would cringe at...say -19 degrees F with 3 feet of snow on the ground, to 105 degrees watching my tires melt on the asphalt, is an experience I can never share with anyone else except my messenger brothers and sisters. Feeling my bike gain 10 extra pounds from snow and ice, and watching my body dissipate in the summer as I sweat all my extra weight off, are freeing and life giving experiences.
4. Have you ever ran into a car?
On other words...have you ever been fucked up by a car? Well, the simple answer is NO! The complex and "real" answer is YES!! hahaha. In my first 5 years of messengering I had a shattered Patella(knee cap) and now have 2 titanium screws in it. Had 2 broken wrists...actually have an old photo of me in a cast working....i had the caster at the hospital mold it so I could ride my fixy. Ive had 4 cracked ribs and a possible cracked collar bone.
All of those were done while avoiding being hit by the car. Id rather take a broken bone, than to lose my life....period.
I have been aimed at by cars, by buses, by taxis, had stuff thrown at me, been chased by police(which im 2-0 at so far), been chased by pedestrians, knocked off my bike by pedestrians, fallen in slush and snow and slid half a block, yelled at to get off the sidewalk, yelled at the get off the streets, spit on, laughed at, whistled at, and im sure other things I cant remember.
5. What about those Denver cops and Federal Marshalls, do they bust balls?
Denver Cops...fuckem! They stop us all that time. Back in the 90's J-Bone actually got cases taken to court and to the Mayor for harassment issues from the cops on messengers. He won...period. We get hassled for any number of offenses. Hell, we even get ticketed for riding on the sidewalk on the same block we're delivering to! Those cases have gotten laughed out of court by the judges lately....which is pretty sweet.
Federal Marshalls...gotta lovem! They are the coolest security type people out here. They know they have bigger fish to fry.
Bottom line either way is...you get back what you put out. If you go into a court house or get pulled by the cops and give them attitude, you're asking for trouble. You have to pick your battles and realize that to a certain extent you have to work within the system to buck the system.
2. Tell us about your messengering career from rookie status to vet status back to rookie status all over again and in two major cities.
Hmmmm...its a bit strange to be talking about my "career". You know im not going to touch the "rookie" status "all over again" part of your question. Once you've earned your "stripes" you never go back to being a rookie. A seasoned vet in a new city is worth 5 rookies who grew up there any day of the week.
Now, my start. I moved to Denver on a whim after graduating from UNC-Wilmington in the 2000. An old college friend had moved out here a couple years before me and kept saying how awesome Colorado was and how there were bikes everywhere and no humidity. My parents bought a ticket for me as a graduation present. I came to Denver, and in the first week here I was humping packages for a local company named Speedy(aka "Bleedy" due to the size of the paychecks for the amount of work you do). It didn't go well. I quit after 2 weeks due to getting into it with my dispatcher because he thought my knowledge of the city sucked. The irony of that situation was that he was fired a week later for running off every new rider they hired, and had been for weeks.
I managed to meet a few heads and got in good enough with a group who worked for a company named Velocity couriers. This was in September of 2000. The company was pretty new, and was located inside a repro-graphics company's office downtown. The graphics company...CTS...had partly funded the start up costs and as part of the contract with Velocity, we had to do all their courier work...both car and bike work. I knew I wasn't in "Kansas anymore" on the first day when I walked in, and the now defunct owner Johnny Gaitan said its "work WHITTIE day"! Well, Johnny held up his end of that statement real quick. Myself and the other "white" guy, Winston, were somehow always doing the grunt share of CTS work, which for the most part were construction drawings that for the most part weighed anywhere from 10-40lbs! it wasn't uncommon to roll out the door with multiple rolls on my back. At that time in Denver, there were lots of messengers, over a 100 id have to say, and plenty of companies around. After proving myself through the winter, which was a pretty nasty one if memory serves, I started getting some gravy runs(runs that tended to be easier and paid a helluva lot more). Back then, you did have to prove yourself. There were always fair weather kids who thought being a messenger was cool, but didn't realize that it meant showing up no matter what the outside conditions were, and no matter what your internal conditions were from the night before. Yeah, we partied hard back then!
After working for Velocity for a while, I moved back over to Speedy, as my friend Byron who was a rider got bumped up to dispatcher. I got pretty sweet runs and got paid fairly well. Keep in mind that the amount of work out there was huge! An average day with Speedy, or with anyone at that time, was around 60-70 runs a day, and as far as I know I still have the second most tags on a day record at 89, right behind my buddy Winston who worked out a whopping 95 in a day. These were real runs, not the kind where you walk into a building and pick 20 tags from one company. These were one by one, from different companies around town.
I swapped around to a couple more companies, before in 2003, I moved back to Charlotte for a year after going through a divorce with my first wife. I ran into you guys back then. Ill let you give that story...I think your version will be better. Of course I will say that I thought I was rolling up on some kids from the country side when I met you in downtown Charlotte that day a the fountain by the library! I know you remember that!
In Jan of 2004 I moved back to the mile high shitty. After dealing with emotions and out of control ways of living from my divorce the previous year, I decided to give Denver a second shot. It was a different city to come back to, even just a year later. The effects of 9-11-01 were being fully felt in the courier world here. Most of the courts had gone to a mandatory "e-file" system, and increased security kept us out of some business we'd been doing work for for years. Companies were downsizing the courier numbers and some courier companies had folded. Humping for a living meant doing about 20-30 runs a day, and then were the "new kids on the block"...aka the Hipsters...aka the Pozengers. Now for those of you reading who ARE NOT messengers and ride around looking like you are, on your cool single speed, or fixy, with the bag, the pants rolled up, the super tight pants, which for some unknown reason to me is cool to have your junk stuffed up there like Silence of The Lambs guy, yes this is going to hurt a bit. If you want to be a courier...GET A JOB!!! Quit running red lights, yelling at cars, running from cops, riding on sidewalks...and my list could go on...why??? BECAUSE WE GET THE HEAT FOR IT!!!! Seriously, its happened 3 times in the past month here in Denver. Cops come up to us hanging out and start telling us about "one of your buddies on the whatever color bike that we're looking for him". We look at them and say "um, he's not a courier". The cop then looks at us and says, but he had "one of those bikes and a bag on"! So...if you want to emulate us, cool, but have a brain about it and realize that your actions DO HAVE consequences.
So, back to my "history". In 2005, I decided to try leaving the "brotherhood" that is messengering. I went to work for a couple of high end bike shops in the area and had a great time doing it. Unfortunately I always got itchy feet after a few months of doing this work. I missed being outside in all the madness that is couriering. So, when I was recently hit the string of bad luck that has helped turn my family's decision to move back east, I turned to the streets again. Currently Im working in Denver for peanuts a day. The company Im working for is quite corrupt from the top down, and I struggle daily to tell myself Im doing this out of good karma deposits that I will one day reap.
I think that is just about covers it. Its a brief history, and there's plenty of stuff to add but, i think more direct and pinpoint questioning on your part William will help bring that out.
3. Some people say being a bike messenger is one of the most rewarding jobs in the world, do you think so and why?
Yes/No! Hahahaha...how ya like me now?! I think its rewarding for the right person. Just like there are people suited to do every job out there, there are people who are suited to be messengers. In the true sense of the word, yes it can be rewarding as hell. I get to see the world move and change around me, from the weather and the physical world of nature, to the steel and man made environment that is created and destroyed daily, weekly, monthly, yearly....forever and ever. Watching the myriads of people, cars, cranes, animals, etc moving around and us moving in between them, at time seemingly like the speed of light, and at other times like the slow crawl of a tortoise racing its hare, its a rewarding job to be sure.
Then there's the physical aspect personally. I can feel when my body gets stale and rusty with non-use and slackness. So, knowing I will be going out in weather that others would cringe at...say -19 degrees F with 3 feet of snow on the ground, to 105 degrees watching my tires melt on the asphalt, is an experience I can never share with anyone else except my messenger brothers and sisters. Feeling my bike gain 10 extra pounds from snow and ice, and watching my body dissipate in the summer as I sweat all my extra weight off, are freeing and life giving experiences.
4. Have you ever ran into a car?
On other words...have you ever been fucked up by a car? Well, the simple answer is NO! The complex and "real" answer is YES!! hahaha. In my first 5 years of messengering I had a shattered Patella(knee cap) and now have 2 titanium screws in it. Had 2 broken wrists...actually have an old photo of me in a cast working....i had the caster at the hospital mold it so I could ride my fixy. Ive had 4 cracked ribs and a possible cracked collar bone.
All of those were done while avoiding being hit by the car. Id rather take a broken bone, than to lose my life....period.
I have been aimed at by cars, by buses, by taxis, had stuff thrown at me, been chased by police(which im 2-0 at so far), been chased by pedestrians, knocked off my bike by pedestrians, fallen in slush and snow and slid half a block, yelled at to get off the sidewalk, yelled at the get off the streets, spit on, laughed at, whistled at, and im sure other things I cant remember.
5. What about those Denver cops and Federal Marshalls, do they bust balls?
Denver Cops...fuckem! They stop us all that time. Back in the 90's J-Bone actually got cases taken to court and to the Mayor for harassment issues from the cops on messengers. He won...period. We get hassled for any number of offenses. Hell, we even get ticketed for riding on the sidewalk on the same block we're delivering to! Those cases have gotten laughed out of court by the judges lately....which is pretty sweet.
Federal Marshalls...gotta lovem! They are the coolest security type people out here. They know they have bigger fish to fry.
Bottom line either way is...you get back what you put out. If you go into a court house or get pulled by the cops and give them attitude, you're asking for trouble. You have to pick your battles and realize that to a certain extent you have to work within the system to buck the system.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Jar Snaps
It was quite reassuring to have my camera back in my bag yesterday while I rolled around doing my job. For those of you who have not been in the Jar for let's say the past 6 months or so I have put together this little document of some of the new construction under way and some recently finished.
Lets start with this 100 Block of N College Street view looking up. From left to right these 2 new pedestrian bridges cross from the back side of the BOA corp Center at Flounders(that's right Flounders) Hall to the new BOA Conference Center and Hotel Complex. Every morning I ride directly under these new monstrosities and consider the future when they will be jammed with Buckets marching to and fro.....this BOA construction project is well worth the million a day they must be spending, good times ahead.
here we are now one block south on College to the newly opened Charlotte Epicentre which has been built on top of the site where the old Charlotte Convention Center was. During this hard economic time for our country a combined humanitarian project between the city and private business has offered sanctuary with a new facility called Mez(like dez) where your broke ass can come and as adverted eat, stay and play. Life is Good in the Jar. This place should be jammin!
right around from Mez is this corridor of intelligent design where you can walk down the faux cobbles and shop in the quaint Euro Market or dine and drink in celebration of what a great life you have here in America. You must understand that as authentic as this new old street appears it is not. I had to really get in there shoulder to shoulder with all the real people to make this picture, the crowd enjoying this new section of town was overwhelming.
Another pedestrian bridge and a reverse angle view of Mez where you can eat-stay-play. Notice the newly installed Black Finn Tuna dining facility where regular Americans with or without a job can dine for about 50 American In False God We Trust Units a pop. Life is Good while we go through these tough times as a Nation together.
My personal Fav-The soon to be open 50million Dollar project that is at least 20 million over budget of city tax payer monies that I did not vote for....Ladies and Gentlemen I present the now and future NASCAR Whore-o-Fame. That's right more money well spent so that everyone except me and you can have their hands in it. This place when open will offer tons of diesel transported meat from birth to the grinder and on your plate as well as plenty of styro waste to fill the dumpster on the daily all for the low, low price of whatever you have in your wallet and soul. I cannot wait for this one to open for if it is still holding together I plan to bring you photos of real Americans living the real American dream. The huge hotel behind the Whore-o-Fame is there to support the masses as they venture from prolly around the globe to come and see authentic NASCAR artifacts......
Lets start with this 100 Block of N College Street view looking up. From left to right these 2 new pedestrian bridges cross from the back side of the BOA corp Center at Flounders(that's right Flounders) Hall to the new BOA Conference Center and Hotel Complex. Every morning I ride directly under these new monstrosities and consider the future when they will be jammed with Buckets marching to and fro.....this BOA construction project is well worth the million a day they must be spending, good times ahead.
here we are now one block south on College to the newly opened Charlotte Epicentre which has been built on top of the site where the old Charlotte Convention Center was. During this hard economic time for our country a combined humanitarian project between the city and private business has offered sanctuary with a new facility called Mez(like dez) where your broke ass can come and as adverted eat, stay and play. Life is Good in the Jar. This place should be jammin!
right around from Mez is this corridor of intelligent design where you can walk down the faux cobbles and shop in the quaint Euro Market or dine and drink in celebration of what a great life you have here in America. You must understand that as authentic as this new old street appears it is not. I had to really get in there shoulder to shoulder with all the real people to make this picture, the crowd enjoying this new section of town was overwhelming.
Another pedestrian bridge and a reverse angle view of Mez where you can eat-stay-play. Notice the newly installed Black Finn Tuna dining facility where regular Americans with or without a job can dine for about 50 American In False God We Trust Units a pop. Life is Good while we go through these tough times as a Nation together.
My personal Fav-The soon to be open 50million Dollar project that is at least 20 million over budget of city tax payer monies that I did not vote for....Ladies and Gentlemen I present the now and future NASCAR Whore-o-Fame. That's right more money well spent so that everyone except me and you can have their hands in it. This place when open will offer tons of diesel transported meat from birth to the grinder and on your plate as well as plenty of styro waste to fill the dumpster on the daily all for the low, low price of whatever you have in your wallet and soul. I cannot wait for this one to open for if it is still holding together I plan to bring you photos of real Americans living the real American dream. The huge hotel behind the Whore-o-Fame is there to support the masses as they venture from prolly around the globe to come and see authentic NASCAR artifacts......
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Charlotte is Bike Friendly
This will be the last photo essay from the past for awhile but a goody indeed. I shot this series of dedicated bicycle riders on Commonwealth in front of the Rue de Grit near the corner of Cool and Cool in March of 08. I was on my way east towards the house in the early part of my commute when I ran into this band of dedicated riders who were out earning their merit badges to become part of a new local bike club. Everyone knows being part of a bike club is one of the only ways that one can actually ride a bike, unless of course you are someone with an identity.
Check them out, smooth transition on to their steeds with matching attire....
in my book anyone with a spoke card has to be hard core.....
I'm not sure but one of you may be......
Who brought the tools and how far from home are we?
Wait up you guys I am falling OTB, what does OTB mean again?
Check them out, smooth transition on to their steeds with matching attire....
in my book anyone with a spoke card has to be hard core.....
I'm not sure but one of you may be......
Who brought the tools and how far from home are we?
Wait up you guys I am falling OTB, what does OTB mean again?
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