April 27, 2008 Through Weegee’s Lens

The world of the internet, the window to the world at our finger tips. Looking through some photographs related to a New York Times article titled Through Weegee’s Lens got distracted in learning about Jill Freedman. Some of her work can be seen here and here. A couple thoughtful quotes:
"There are days I walk down the street feeling its ugliness on my skin like a sunburn," Ms. Freedman wrote of those times in an unpublished manuscript, "other days when I can hardly catch my breath for the beauty of it."
and
In 1988, Ms. Freedman was found to have breast cancer and had no medical insurance or a regular income. She was successfully treated and then moved to Miami Beach in 1991. "I found that I lost my passion," she said. "I thought, I've got to get away from this place because if I lose this, then I've lost it all."
Below are photos by Jill Freedman. Show her range of interest or her interest to urban activities. For sure, her photography reflects her interest in admiring the reality of her world. The quality of her photography, composition, color, texture, mood, light, is superb. Source of the photos jillfreedman.com.

Coursing

Shorty Sees Giraffes

Might vs Right

Fucking Legs

Jumping Rope

Dancing Dogs

Macdougal Stoop

The article presents a recent photo of Jill Freedman and her view returning to New York as presented below.
Photo: Michael Falco for The New York Times - Five years ago, Ms. Freedman returned to the city, homesick for what she described as "the smart talking and corned beef." She barely recognized the place. "When I saw that they had turned 42nd Street into Disneyland," she said, "I just stood there and wept." Presumably much more is out there to be captured by her Leica. "I'd like to find what's left," Ms. Freedman said.

April 20, 2008 New York, The Pope Blessed Ground Zero

Following three pictures and related text were published by the New York Times. It is a significant gesture of recognition for the Pope to bless the site where 2,600 people were murdered. It also makes me wonder if this is the only site where that many number of people have recently been murdered. The photo of the people standing on the tables is superb, an unexpected motion in "making a stand."
Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Image. The clouds hung low at ground zero before Pope Benedict XVI would bless the site where more than 2,600 people were killed in the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center more than six years ago.
Photo: Tyler Hicks/The New York Times. People paused to catch a glimpse of the pope's visit to Ground Zero.

Perhaps it is not about the number of people murdered at the World Trade Center but what it represents. Following is a list of massacres that occurred since 1980s as listed by this site. In it the following statement can be found, in reference to the last quarter of the 20th century:
Average: During this period, throughout the world, wars, genocide and oppression killed approximately 3,300 out of every 1,000,000 people. (0.3% of the world.)
El Salvador 1980-92 / 60,000 people
Nicaragua 1980s / 30,000 people
Liberia 1989-93 / 150,000 people
Congo 1998 / 2,000,000 people
Angola 1975-95 / 600,000 people
Burundi 1993-96 / 150,000 people
Mozambique 1975-92 / 1,000,000 people
Rwanda 1994 since / 1,000,000 people
Uganda 1982-85 / 300,000 people
Somalia 1980s / 300,000 people
Ethiopia 1962-91 / 1,500,000 people
Sudan 1983 since / 2,000,000 people
Gulf War 1991 / 10,000 people
Lebanon 1975-90 / 150,000 people
Bosnia 1992-95 / 150,000 people
Kurds 1980-92 / 300,000 people
Iran-Iraq 1980-1992 / 1,000,000 people
Afghanistan 1980-1989 / 1,500,000 people
Perhaps the significance of the World Trade bombing is that it is the first massacre in North America in a very long time.

March 11, 2008 New York, Spitzer given two days to resign

Photo and excerpts from The Guardian Unlimited. Amazing that a person in office thinks that he is above the law or public moral standards. At what point in time do public officials realize that they have to be role models? And to all due respect to the ladies who "stand by their men" - does it make it better for the wife to stand behind the man who disregarded their relationship? What are they thinking?
New York Governor Eliot Spitzer addresses the media with his wife Silda Wall Spitzer at his side. Photograph: Shannon Stapleton/Reuters
The consequences...
"New York governor Eliot Spitzer was given two days to resign or face calls for his impeachment by New York Republicans yesterday, after federal investigators linked the corruption-fighting politician to a high-price prostitution ring."
As a result of...
"Spitzer was caught on a federal wiretap arranging to meet a prostitute from a call-girl business, according to law enforcement officials."
His reasoning?
"'I have acted in a way that violates my obligations to my family and violates my - or any - sense of right and wrong," he said. "I apologise to the public, whom I promised better.'"
Interesting to know the expectation that elected him to governorship...
"Spitzer was elected with a historic margin of victory, and took office January 1 2007, vowing to stamp out corruption in New York government in the same way that he took on Wall Street executives while state attorney general."