Blogs from Manhattan, New York, New York, United States, North America - page 218

"Dude, you're on TV!" Thus said my fellow protestor Tom as we watched CNN Headline News at close to midnight. For a few fleeting seconds my face and wide-brimmed Tillie hat stoud head and shoulders above a crowd of thousands of people participating in the Pro-Choice March across the Brooklyn Bridge. The footage must have been taken early in the day, because by the end of the day I was considerably less enthusiatic after spending 12 hours on my feet in 90 degree heat with a camera bag over my shoulder, at which point my clothes were entirely soaked through with sweat and I was craving salt on anything, "I'll have an order of fries, please. They come with salt, right?" I doubt that I will ever be able to forget the sublime joy of marching ... read more

I left Newport News this morning on the Amtrak train to New York City, and along the way I read several chapters in "Lies My Teacher Told Me," by my Vermont homeboy James Loewen, which follows up quite nicely on a conversation I was having with my boss Mary. Yesterday she half rhetorically asked, "Why don't more Americans know about the terrible atrocities our goverment has done?" I replied, ''Education. Or a lack thereof." My homeboy James Loewen offered up a quote by Helen Keller that extrapolated upon the American tradition of willful ignorance. Helen Keller pointed out, "People do not like to think. If one thinks, one must reach conclusions. Conclusions are not always pleasant." It is not pleasant to consider that, for instance, the United States has not promoted democracy in the Middle East. In ... read more

We arrived in Manhattan at 3 pm. During the fifteen minutes that we were parked out in front of our hotel while we were checking in, we received two parking tickets…one for $115 and one for $90. New York City doesn’t waste any time. It’s really a busy city. Our hotel had a nice view of the Empire State building. We took the obligatory trip to Times square at about 2 AM and walked the streets of the city until 6 AM when we finally made it back to the hotel.... read more

Another thing I figure I oughtta do before leaving this world is to spend new years eve in Times Square New York City. So after having gone to foreign countries 2 years in a row, I figure its time to get to know America a bit too. So, Big Apple here we come! What I remembered most about New York City is the fact that they actually have places to eat open later than 9pm! Boy thats a nice change from the Bay Area I tell ya. We could actually go back to our place at any hour during the night, and still buy some meatballs and sandwiches from the deli/grocery store around the corner. Very nice! ... read more

With a new job and life in London secured it meant that the means were at last there to seriously think about a big trip, and also a friend with enough money and commitment to join me was a help. In January 1990 I wrote in my diary that my big ambition for the year was to 'go to America'. Didn't do it in 1990, in fact didn't leave Scotland but at least over 13 years later I got to achieve an old ambition. To keep costs down we flew in a budget way so it was Air India return on a 747. Shuttle from JFK to our hotel the Arlington on 25 Street West just round the corner from iconic Flatiron building. Went straight out that night despite being shattered and were soon atop the ... read more