Coolth Pays

The other day while downtown (which we here in the City of Brotherly Love call "Center City", as if it were someplace else) this young man was busy trying to adjust his engine. Using an array of tools from a very fancy wooden chest just visible on the trunk in back, he tinkered away, blocking the bus lane.
Moments after this picture was taken, an world worn geezer in a wheelchair came out to provide guidance to the young mechanic (who seemed to be completely capable on his own) and blocked the second lane of 8th Street at Market. This is not a quiet intersection, especially during the work day.

 



What is notable about all this is that nobody honked their horns, nobody screamed at these guys in English, Spanish or Ebonics, nobody even made obscene gestures. They just waited and gazed at the cool car, and traffic just stopped, including SEPTA's Mighty 47.
Being cool pays.
(some time ago in a similar circumstance, a bus driver, noting a distraught tourist in a failed rental blocking the street, called for volunteers from the passengers, and led a crew to shove the car out of harm's and the bus's way; that car was uncool)

But is it really Art??

So while heading off to New York to visit offspring, gazing out the train window, we caught the work shown below, just past the yards of AMTRAK's 30th Street Station in the Quaker City. Look closely, and especially the person in the center. And the adjacent title to his right - "SZONE". Clearly this mural was thoroughly planned and laid out.

 

Now lots of folks feel that anything called "graffiti" is a disgrace to our society, damage to property and generally an outrage. Unlike murals which appear here and there sponsored and executed by respectable citizens and organizations, much street art is really stupid and ugly.

 

Some street art, however is worthy of admiration. Enlarge this picture and check out the expression on the guy's face - a perfect rendition of the expulsion of viscous matter by rapid pressurization. And note the man's eye, following the trajectory of his discharge, making sure it is accurately delivered to some unshown target.

 

Think also about the logistics of creating this painting. Along railroad tracks carrying AMTRAK and SEPTA trains night and day, some within inches of the painter's canvas. And how much stuff the artist had to lug to the site, probably a couple of gallons of paint at least. One must admire the courage and stamina of the artist, regardless of one's opinion of his (or hers) artistic accomplishment.

 

This piece is so much more than a simple scribbled tag. It is a true work of art. If it was just some crappy graffiti it would look like this-

 

 

 

Wilderness Creeps In

Just a day or so ago, we were visited by a pair of Turkey Vultures, never before seen by anyone we know in our fair city. Usually they populate rural places, where they clean up carrion.

One morning a couple of weeks ago a deer appeared right downtown, perhaps having got off the wrong subway station. Caught by the cops, the deer escaped and headed to New Jersey (so often a bad idea) where it was killed on the bridge by a texting driver.
And we have had three, count 'em three black bears captured or killed in our nearby burbs.
Not to mention giant worms.
What next? Spotted Anchelins??