这张照片摄于１９１５年五月。Cunard游轮公司的S.S.Lusitania号正离开俏西码头（Chelsea Piers）。这是她的最后一次航行。Lusitania号客轮不久就在爱尔兰南部被德军鱼雷击沉，近１２００人遇难，包括１２４名美国人。这一事件导致了美国公众对美国进入一战的支持（同珍珠港事件让美国进入二战类似）。近景中的马车群显然是出租车的前生。Cunard游轮公司现仍在营运，是美国唯一一家提供跨越大西洋游轮服务的运营商。
(Photo source: public domain)
Monday, June 15, 2015
Friday, June 12, 2015
俏西码头的老照片
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| 人们聚集在俏西码头，等待着载有“泰坦尼克” |
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Carpathia号在５９码头放下“泰坦尼克”
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Tuesday, May 5, 2015
牵着尼姑的手
几年前有一段顺口溜说：“牵着小姐的手,好像回到十八九；牵着情人的手,一股暖流涌心头；牵着老婆的手,如同左手牵右手。” 有个更“豪华”的衍生版，包括的类别更多：“牽著姑娘的手，彷彿回到十八九‧ 牽著小姨子的手，後悔當初牽錯手‧ 牽著老婆的手，就像左手拉右手，一點感覺都沒有‧ 牽著情人的手，什麼煩惱都沒有‧ 牽著女同學的手‧後回當初沒下手‧ 牽著女同事的手，該下手時就下手‧ 牽著前妻的手，光瞪白眼不開口‧ 牽著情敵的手，捏到斷掌去餵狗‧ 牽著窮酸的手，言不由衷直擺頭‧ 牽著長官的手，感覺自己像條狗。”
两年前街拍时，无意拍到这样一张，似乎是说“牵着老婆的手,哈欠连天直张口。”
可不管哪个版本的“牵手”种类，都没有包括我上月在广州拍到的一张：牵着尼姑的手。:)
两年前街拍时，无意拍到这样一张，似乎是说“牵着老婆的手,哈欠连天直张口。”
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| 牵着老婆的手（August 7, 2013; 50th St. West, New York） |
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| 牵着尼姑的手（April 19, 2015; 广州 六榕寺） |
Wednesday, April 8, 2015
楼梯
纽约是这样一个地方：一条陌生的街也会可能给人带来意外的惊喜。
昨天去二十三街第五、第六大道之间的Timer Warner Cable商店办事，出来后路过一家大门紧闭的门面，我无意透过玻璃门往里瞟了一眼，就看见这个美得让人想莫名流泪的老式楼梯。我推门走了进去，里面坐着位保安，他好象是印度籍，人挺和蔼的。在我向他说明我想随手用手机照几张相的来意后，他微笑着用手势告诉我“请便”。保安只知道这栋楼是私人的，有几层租给了一个大学，现在正在维修。
这段楼梯似乎静浮在某个诡异的多维空间里：它的两头连结隐在黑暗深处的过去，同时又漫不经心地在“现在”的时间维度中显现一段。谁曾经在这段楼梯上每天走过？谁的手曾经抚摸过它的扶拦？楼上的房间里曾经发生过什么故事？楼梯的颓废是否在它华丽登场时就已注定？
昨天去二十三街第五、第六大道之间的Timer Warner Cable商店办事，出来后路过一家大门紧闭的门面，我无意透过玻璃门往里瞟了一眼，就看见这个美得让人想莫名流泪的老式楼梯。我推门走了进去，里面坐着位保安，他好象是印度籍，人挺和蔼的。在我向他说明我想随手用手机照几张相的来意后，他微笑着用手势告诉我“请便”。保安只知道这栋楼是私人的，有几层租给了一个大学，现在正在维修。
这段楼梯似乎静浮在某个诡异的多维空间里：它的两头连结隐在黑暗深处的过去，同时又漫不经心地在“现在”的时间维度中显现一段。谁曾经在这段楼梯上每天走过？谁的手曾经抚摸过它的扶拦？楼上的房间里曾经发生过什么故事？楼梯的颓废是否在它华丽登场时就已注定？
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| Dilapidated Staircases (23rd St. b/w 5th & 6th Ave. New York, NY; iPhone) |
Saturday, April 4, 2015
Saturday, March 28, 2015
法官晚宴
几千律师同时出现在一房间内会发生什么样的事情？
这听起来象（或许也是）个有关律师的笑话，但在这儿的答案是：他们参加了华道夫酒店的晚宴。
每年一度的美国荣耀法官的庆祝晚宴（简称法官晚宴）自１９２２首届主办以来，今年进入了第九十三届。晚宴的目的有三：以吃喝玩聊的方式庆祝法官们对美国司法届（即对美国乃至世界）的贡献（尽管法官在台上发言时数千律师也会同时发言）；与客户一起吃喝玩聊；与同事一起吃喝玩聊。
法官晚宴对着装要求非常正式，通常需穿黑色礼服。我印象中我有几届因为开庭或公务旅行没有参加，但记不清要几届没有参加了。在晚宴的那天我把我的黑礼服从西服袋里取出，见上次干洗的收据还别在上面呢。仔细一看时间：２０１１年。自上届中间已经过了四年了？我吓了一跳。“这礼服我还能穿得进去么？”我在颤抖。四年的变化多大呀？！华道夫酒店去年已经易主了，如今被中国人掌控了。我的身体虽然没有完全易主，但估计掌控它的最大的股东已经是脂肪啦！
带着跳入黑洞的恐惧，我闭上两眼、屏住呼吸地把两腿伸进裤子。由于我作好了最坏打算（穿不下裤子大不了再跳过一届）、并作了最大的努力（通过吸气与收腹我的前后肚皮在久别之后彼此通过肚脐眼短暂地对视了一眼对方），我终于穿入了阔别四年的裤子。好，今晚得好好喝几盅庆祝一下。
今天晚上的演讲嘉宾是美国前国务卿Madeleine Albright。她有关她作为移民的小故事非常有趣。但她同法律界的关系是通过她女儿与女婿（均为律师）建立的。
晚宴结束之后大家通常会去自己律所的包间里继续聊天吃喝，并在那里遇见前同事、现任同事及未来同事。这次我遇见了有八年多没有见面的Ａ律师。Ａ生得人高马大，作为诉讼律师他是非常成功的。他向我介绍了他的新女友－一位南美大胸女。当年Ｋ由于各种原由离开了本所而加盟另一个律师所。有个原由据说是因为同他的女下属（也是我法学院的同学）Ｂ相恋而遇到当时本所掌门人的痛斥。对此他心怀不满，遂生反心。他离开后试图拉走一批律师及客户（也拉走了几名）。但我以他的行为同我的道德准则不符为由婉拒了他的邀请。Ｂ当时追随他去了，不过不久据说两人就分手了。尽管在分手之前数月，Ｂ还高兴地给我看过Ａ送给她的一个漂亮的钻石戒指。显然Ａ对我当年拒绝加入他的“叛逃”不但记忆犹新，而且还耿耿于怀，所以我们寒暄不到二句他就旧事重提，并发泄估计憋了八年的不满。幸好没说几句他的旧女友Ｂ也带着她的新男友正好来了。于是Ａ又去忙着向他的前女友介绍自己的现任女友了。我一下置身事外了，仿佛在看某部经典好莱坞电影中的一段。…
Irish Cream在餐后加冰块的味道真不错。
这听起来象（或许也是）个有关律师的笑话，但在这儿的答案是：他们参加了华道夫酒店的晚宴。
每年一度的美国荣耀法官的庆祝晚宴（简称法官晚宴）自１９２２首届主办以来，今年进入了第九十三届。晚宴的目的有三：以吃喝玩聊的方式庆祝法官们对美国司法届（即对美国乃至世界）的贡献（尽管法官在台上发言时数千律师也会同时发言）；与客户一起吃喝玩聊；与同事一起吃喝玩聊。
法官晚宴对着装要求非常正式，通常需穿黑色礼服。我印象中我有几届因为开庭或公务旅行没有参加，但记不清要几届没有参加了。在晚宴的那天我把我的黑礼服从西服袋里取出，见上次干洗的收据还别在上面呢。仔细一看时间：２０１１年。自上届中间已经过了四年了？我吓了一跳。“这礼服我还能穿得进去么？”我在颤抖。四年的变化多大呀？！华道夫酒店去年已经易主了，如今被中国人掌控了。我的身体虽然没有完全易主，但估计掌控它的最大的股东已经是脂肪啦！
带着跳入黑洞的恐惧，我闭上两眼、屏住呼吸地把两腿伸进裤子。由于我作好了最坏打算（穿不下裤子大不了再跳过一届）、并作了最大的努力（通过吸气与收腹我的前后肚皮在久别之后彼此通过肚脐眼短暂地对视了一眼对方），我终于穿入了阔别四年的裤子。好，今晚得好好喝几盅庆祝一下。
 |
| 法官晚宴（华道夫酒店）(iPhone) |
晚宴结束之后大家通常会去自己律所的包间里继续聊天吃喝，并在那里遇见前同事、现任同事及未来同事。这次我遇见了有八年多没有见面的Ａ律师。Ａ生得人高马大，作为诉讼律师他是非常成功的。他向我介绍了他的新女友－一位南美大胸女。当年Ｋ由于各种原由离开了本所而加盟另一个律师所。有个原由据说是因为同他的女下属（也是我法学院的同学）Ｂ相恋而遇到当时本所掌门人的痛斥。对此他心怀不满，遂生反心。他离开后试图拉走一批律师及客户（也拉走了几名）。但我以他的行为同我的道德准则不符为由婉拒了他的邀请。Ｂ当时追随他去了，不过不久据说两人就分手了。尽管在分手之前数月，Ｂ还高兴地给我看过Ａ送给她的一个漂亮的钻石戒指。显然Ａ对我当年拒绝加入他的“叛逃”不但记忆犹新，而且还耿耿于怀，所以我们寒暄不到二句他就旧事重提，并发泄估计憋了八年的不满。幸好没说几句他的旧女友Ｂ也带着她的新男友正好来了。于是Ａ又去忙着向他的前女友介绍自己的现任女友了。我一下置身事外了，仿佛在看某部经典好莱坞电影中的一段。…
Irish Cream在餐后加冰块的味道真不错。
古人为啥长得都一样？
小时看《水浒传》古本插图，就注意到里面的人物虽然穿着、动作各异，但人的五官、脸形等几乎是一模一样的，就象小孩玩的芭芘娃娃：有各类发型、衣服，但长相却雷同。
如果现在有人想去通过中国古画去了解中国古人长得是啥模样，他肯定会得出这样一个结论：中国人在古代长得都差不多，差别甚至远远小于现在外国人看中国人的差别。这个结论，显然是不符常理的。它甚至也不合乎逻辑：因为它预设了中国古画家笔下的人物能够真实反映当时人物形象这样一个前提。而这个前提，在写意重于写实的国画传统中，是不成立的。如果这是一个原因的话，那它只会是一个原因。更重要的原因，或许与画家对个人差异的重视程度有关。
古代中国对个性发展是压抑性的。在社会观念上，个体只是附属于整体（自然、朝廷、社会、社区或团体）的一个微不足道的部分。所以对个人细节刻画的忽略就自然不奇怪了。古代中国对个性的压抑在清代到了顶峰，这点似乎在当时的一些艺术作品中得到了反映。在下面这幅人物众多的图中（取自《清孙温绘全本红楼梦图》），人物的的面部几乎是一模一样的，人物间的差别唯有通过服饰才能反映出来（见局部放大图）。我不得不认为这是孙大师（１８２６－？）呕心沥血三十六载（１８６７－１９０３）所完成的一套精品（共２３０张）中的一个瑕疵。
当然中国绘画中对人物的描绘似乎一向不是特别重视，部分原因还可能是因为人往往是点缀山水景物的一部分。在有些情况下，这种观念并不错误。比如北宋《清明上河图》图中的八百多人虽然几乎没有可区分的面部特征，但很少有人会争辩这种区分的必要性。
这类重物轻人意识长期发展的积累效果，就自然造成了人物绘画的敷衍化及程式化。所以即使在象唐朝《八十七神仙卷》、五代《韩熙载夜宴图》这样中国古代人物绘画的巅峰作品中，仍然可以看到严重的人物描绘程式化的痕迹（比如“次要人物”包括仕女、宾客）。从唐到清又过了一千年左右，人物绘画水平不进反退，从中国文化发展的角度而言，这是很可怕的。其原因，与其因归于中国艺术家的能力或艺术表现方式的限制，不如部分归因于受当时社会意识的束缚。
当然这种“千篇一律”的人像表现方式并不仅限于中国绘画。日本浮士绘（如歌川 国貞的Artisans Making a Woodcut c. 1857）、西洋绘画中的天使（包括拉斐儿的笔下天使），都有类似的处理方式。所以或许还应该考虑的一个可能因素：绘画的效率。
“效率”虽然从来就不是艺术追求的目标，但对艺术家而言，创作众多表情迥异的人物显然不是件很容易的事。达芬奇《最后的晚餐》中只有十三个人物，但花了四年时间。挂在我墙上的Jacques-Louis David的作品The Death of Socrates (La Mort de Socrate) 中也有十三个人物，也是花去了数年的时间。能想象浮士绘艺术家用这种创作速度去制作、销售糊口么？创新固有的难度而现存素材的方便也会导致对“千人一像”的结果。
对次要角度的雷同化或许是一种艺术考量。侍女、宾客、天使、神仙助理、市民甚至山间隐士，如果他们只是背景、点缀、陪衬，但又让他们形象生动变化，会不会喧宾夺主？有可能。但Michelangelo的Last Judgment 似乎提供了一个否定的答案。这幅作品在人物造型的丰富性并没有冲淡、反而突出了主题。
或许，古画中的人像，只是当时“平均人”的样子？
如果现在有人想去通过中国古画去了解中国古人长得是啥模样，他肯定会得出这样一个结论：中国人在古代长得都差不多，差别甚至远远小于现在外国人看中国人的差别。这个结论，显然是不符常理的。它甚至也不合乎逻辑：因为它预设了中国古画家笔下的人物能够真实反映当时人物形象这样一个前提。而这个前提，在写意重于写实的国画传统中，是不成立的。如果这是一个原因的话，那它只会是一个原因。更重要的原因，或许与画家对个人差异的重视程度有关。
古代中国对个性发展是压抑性的。在社会观念上，个体只是附属于整体（自然、朝廷、社会、社区或团体）的一个微不足道的部分。所以对个人细节刻画的忽略就自然不奇怪了。古代中国对个性的压抑在清代到了顶峰，这点似乎在当时的一些艺术作品中得到了反映。在下面这幅人物众多的图中（取自《清孙温绘全本红楼梦图》），人物的的面部几乎是一模一样的，人物间的差别唯有通过服饰才能反映出来（见局部放大图）。我不得不认为这是孙大师（１８２６－？）呕心沥血三十六载（１８６７－１９０３）所完成的一套精品（共２３０张）中的一个瑕疵。
 |
| 孙温（清）《红楼梦》插图之一（局部放大图） |
当然中国绘画中对人物的描绘似乎一向不是特别重视，部分原因还可能是因为人往往是点缀山水景物的一部分。在有些情况下，这种观念并不错误。比如北宋《清明上河图》图中的八百多人虽然几乎没有可区分的面部特征，但很少有人会争辩这种区分的必要性。
这类重物轻人意识长期发展的积累效果，就自然造成了人物绘画的敷衍化及程式化。所以即使在象唐朝《八十七神仙卷》、五代《韩熙载夜宴图》这样中国古代人物绘画的巅峰作品中，仍然可以看到严重的人物描绘程式化的痕迹（比如“次要人物”包括仕女、宾客）。从唐到清又过了一千年左右，人物绘画水平不进反退，从中国文化发展的角度而言，这是很可怕的。其原因，与其因归于中国艺术家的能力或艺术表现方式的限制，不如部分归因于受当时社会意识的束缚。
当然这种“千篇一律”的人像表现方式并不仅限于中国绘画。日本浮士绘（如歌川 国貞的Artisans Making a Woodcut c. 1857）、西洋绘画中的天使（包括拉斐儿的笔下天使），都有类似的处理方式。所以或许还应该考虑的一个可能因素：绘画的效率。
“效率”虽然从来就不是艺术追求的目标，但对艺术家而言，创作众多表情迥异的人物显然不是件很容易的事。达芬奇《最后的晚餐》中只有十三个人物，但花了四年时间。挂在我墙上的Jacques-Louis David的作品The Death of Socrates (La Mort de Socrate) 中也有十三个人物，也是花去了数年的时间。能想象浮士绘艺术家用这种创作速度去制作、销售糊口么？创新固有的难度而现存素材的方便也会导致对“千人一像”的结果。
对次要角度的雷同化或许是一种艺术考量。侍女、宾客、天使、神仙助理、市民甚至山间隐士，如果他们只是背景、点缀、陪衬，但又让他们形象生动变化，会不会喧宾夺主？有可能。但Michelangelo的Last Judgment 似乎提供了一个否定的答案。这幅作品在人物造型的丰富性并没有冲淡、反而突出了主题。
或许，古画中的人像，只是当时“平均人”的样子？
 |
| (Image Source: the Internet) |
Thursday, March 26, 2015
纽约大楼垮下来
昨天晚上家里聚会的那家小小餐馆，是小女儿选的，离她校舍很近。位于曼哈顿东第二大道6街及7街之间。
今天下午第二大道7街附近就…
不清楚建筑倒塌的原因是什么，因为我昨天晚上并没带定时炸弹去那（所以可以排除饭毕把它忘在那的可能性），说话声音也不大，更没有拍桌子。估计同纽约建筑普遍过于老旧有关。纽约再不修治，若干年会，没准会有首儿歌，用从前London Bridging Is Falling Down（伦敦铁桥垮下来）的调子，歌词为“New York building is falling down, falling down...My Fair Lady”。
还有，以后我去过的地方，最好不建议别人去了。否则弄不好有生命危险…
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| Hot Kitchen (by iPhone) |
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| （Image Source:New York Post） |
还有，以后我去过的地方，最好不建议别人去了。否则弄不好有生命危险…
Wednesday, March 25, 2015
巨型“娃娃书”
晚上在纽约一餐馆里同太太及两个女儿聚餐。
我很好奇日本人的书是如何描述中日之战的。会不会象我们“
粗翻了一下，目前尚未看到丑化中国军队的画幅。对八路军、
这是国军（蒋委员长在阅兵）－－
而被“丑化”的往往是皇军。而且手法象我们从前看到的：
里面还有张地图提到汉口。
（待续）
Thursday, March 19, 2015
个板板的
武汉有句俗语叫“个板板的”。有个外地朋友问我它是什么意思。以下是我自以为比较准确的解释：
“个板板的” is a local expletive and expression of exclamation, often used in a contentious, especially highly confrontational, situation (see Example 1), but also used among friends as a sign of intimacy (see Example 2).
“个板板的” is a local expletive and expression of exclamation, often used in a contentious, especially highly confrontational, situation (see Example 1), but also used among friends as a sign of intimacy (see Example 2).
例１：你个板板的想搞么事啊？What the heck do you want to do?
例２：他个板板的还蛮傲来！ He son of a gun surely is pretty good!
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| My Childhood Compound Demolished and Under Construction (Wuhan, 2014) |
Wednesday, March 18, 2015
Miracle on 45th Street
Last night, for no reason at all, a frame leg came off from my eye glasses. It looked liked a tiny screw was lost, or, worse, the metal wire somehow snapped.
I had had a pair of spare glasses with me in bag for months, last year, or maybe a year before. But after spending so many uneventful days on so many trips, the use for the spare ones faded. They are now left at home.
With my craftsmanship, or the lack of it, I knew I could not put back the separated pieces back again. I was keenly aware of my limitations, set by my willingness to repair anything. Clearly, I had to look elsewhere for a fix.
But to look without my glasses? I quickly found myself in a very strange world. Everything all of sudden lost its resolution. And everything I could manage to see--or try to see--was of very low definition, and blurry like the effect of Gaussian Blur from Photoshop. I had to sniff the computer monitor, as if only through the coordination of my noise and eyes could I see again. Several times, forgetting the cause of my predicament and attempting to get out of it, I tried to grab my glasses in order to see again, only to be reminded that there was nothing there to help me. I fumbled into a few random drawers, hoping to find another extra pair that may have been left there, forgotten. I only came across a Lenscrafter case, into which I placed my now disabled glasses.
I had very few options: taking a trip back home to retrieve my spare glasses--but that would take hours at minimum; visiting a local store to see if they could be repaired--there was no likelihood of success; getting a new pair--that would require an eye exam and at least a week of waiting period for the new pair to arrive; and replacing the frame--but there is a very low possibility finding a frame in which would my glass pieces would fix, as my past experience had clearly informed me.
After a very long, dark night, I walked into the chilly Spring morning. Even in low resolution the sky was beautiful. Time Square, like in a typical day, was filled with crowds even if it was still morning. To me the crowds appeared to be an endless parade of expressionless, moving bodies in assortment of human garments. But I knew my way around and where I was going.
Soon I found myself on 6th Avenue, between 45th and 46th Streets. But where is the Lenscrafters? I knew it could be just across the street, right before my eyes, but I could not see the sign. I took my iPhone and looked at the street address again. I could make out the big street numbers, 1166, on the east side of the avenue. This must be it.
A lady warmly greeted me; her look and expression made no difference to me today. She had me seated and it was not long before another lady came. Her body shape made no difference to me either. Whether I was speaking with human or a robot would have made no difference to me because I could not see the difference anyway and I just wanted to have my vision restored.
It took only seconds for me to learn that the frame was beyond repair and I would need a new pair of glasses. "What about a new frame that could use my current lens?" I asked out of desperation.
"That would be impossible unless ... we have the exact frame as yours." Quickly came back the voice. "Let me take your frame and see if we have your model number here." The lady offered.
She came back with a new frame, announcing "we have your frame!" I could not believe it! Better still, the frame actually cost a few hundred dollars less than the one I had purchased in my home state a couple of years ago. As a final nice touch: I received a matching case and a matching cloth.
Within minutes, the Lenscrafters lady before me became so gorgeous and attractive, as if just fully developed out of a color film. But I was anxious to get back to the street, to once again see this forever amazing world in vivid, fine resolution.
There was an old movie named "Miracle on 34th Street." And I happily declare my experience today a "miracle" on 45th Street.
I had had a pair of spare glasses with me in bag for months, last year, or maybe a year before. But after spending so many uneventful days on so many trips, the use for the spare ones faded. They are now left at home.
With my craftsmanship, or the lack of it, I knew I could not put back the separated pieces back again. I was keenly aware of my limitations, set by my willingness to repair anything. Clearly, I had to look elsewhere for a fix.
But to look without my glasses? I quickly found myself in a very strange world. Everything all of sudden lost its resolution. And everything I could manage to see--or try to see--was of very low definition, and blurry like the effect of Gaussian Blur from Photoshop. I had to sniff the computer monitor, as if only through the coordination of my noise and eyes could I see again. Several times, forgetting the cause of my predicament and attempting to get out of it, I tried to grab my glasses in order to see again, only to be reminded that there was nothing there to help me. I fumbled into a few random drawers, hoping to find another extra pair that may have been left there, forgotten. I only came across a Lenscrafter case, into which I placed my now disabled glasses.
I had very few options: taking a trip back home to retrieve my spare glasses--but that would take hours at minimum; visiting a local store to see if they could be repaired--there was no likelihood of success; getting a new pair--that would require an eye exam and at least a week of waiting period for the new pair to arrive; and replacing the frame--but there is a very low possibility finding a frame in which would my glass pieces would fix, as my past experience had clearly informed me.
After a very long, dark night, I walked into the chilly Spring morning. Even in low resolution the sky was beautiful. Time Square, like in a typical day, was filled with crowds even if it was still morning. To me the crowds appeared to be an endless parade of expressionless, moving bodies in assortment of human garments. But I knew my way around and where I was going.
Soon I found myself on 6th Avenue, between 45th and 46th Streets. But where is the Lenscrafters? I knew it could be just across the street, right before my eyes, but I could not see the sign. I took my iPhone and looked at the street address again. I could make out the big street numbers, 1166, on the east side of the avenue. This must be it.
A lady warmly greeted me; her look and expression made no difference to me today. She had me seated and it was not long before another lady came. Her body shape made no difference to me either. Whether I was speaking with human or a robot would have made no difference to me because I could not see the difference anyway and I just wanted to have my vision restored.
It took only seconds for me to learn that the frame was beyond repair and I would need a new pair of glasses. "What about a new frame that could use my current lens?" I asked out of desperation.
"That would be impossible unless ... we have the exact frame as yours." Quickly came back the voice. "Let me take your frame and see if we have your model number here." The lady offered.
She came back with a new frame, announcing "we have your frame!" I could not believe it! Better still, the frame actually cost a few hundred dollars less than the one I had purchased in my home state a couple of years ago. As a final nice touch: I received a matching case and a matching cloth.
Within minutes, the Lenscrafters lady before me became so gorgeous and attractive, as if just fully developed out of a color film. But I was anxious to get back to the street, to once again see this forever amazing world in vivid, fine resolution.
There was an old movie named "Miracle on 34th Street." And I happily declare my experience today a "miracle" on 45th Street.
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| Miracle on 45th Street |
Tuesday, March 10, 2015
Thursday, March 5, 2015
New York Snow Continues...
The city received a few extra inches of snow today. I started to have some fun shooting in the snow this morning as I walked to work as usual. It was not too cold so bare-hand operation of my camera was bearable. I walked a total of over 3.5 miles today and felt good afterwards.
A City of Two Images
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| Manhattan Viewed from Gantry Plaza State Park (New York, NY) (Photographed April 14, 2011) |
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| Manhattan Skyline by Idylle H. (b. Switzerland) (Purchased Feb. 26, 2015)(iPhone 5 Reproduction) |
街头艺术家及他们的作品
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| 秘鲁街头艺术家及他已被出售的作品 （２０１４年七月秘鲁Custco广场）(Nikon D3S) |
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| 纽约艺术家及她已被出售的作品 （２０１５年二月２６街曼哈顿十四街地铁站）（by iPhone） |
Wednesday, March 4, 2015
Messy New York City
Today showed the first sign of a break in the long, lingering Winter. New York City had been battered by an apparently never ending succession of relentless on-slaughters of snow, hales, windchill, cold rains.
The cold rain last night may very well be--or at least so wished by many--the last one in Winter. Overnight, and throughout the day, snow piles along the streets that had menaced pedestrians and cars for weeks were melting, and the filthy water accumulated in the web of potholes that sprawl across Manhattan, was gradually disappearing.
Is this the long-waited the sign of Spring? Possibly. The streets, however, are still as chaotic as ever: littered, muddy and messy. And the homeless, although fewer by the number, are still dire and helpless.
The cold rain last night may very well be--or at least so wished by many--the last one in Winter. Overnight, and throughout the day, snow piles along the streets that had menaced pedestrians and cars for weeks were melting, and the filthy water accumulated in the web of potholes that sprawl across Manhattan, was gradually disappearing.
Is this the long-waited the sign of Spring? Possibly. The streets, however, are still as chaotic as ever: littered, muddy and messy. And the homeless, although fewer by the number, are still dire and helpless.
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| A mixture of dirty water and melting snow typical in Manhattan streets, with a usual splash made by a driving-by car |
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| A homeless person behind a carrier containing personal belongings (51 St./Broadway, New York, NY) |
Tuesday, January 27, 2015
Monday, January 26, 2015
The Juno Blizzard
虽然纽约市长在忽悠大家说这场将至的大风雪是历史罕见的，但大家都在以高兴的心情迎接Juno的，因为学校停课、企业停产，大家可以呆在自家里，毕竟还是很让人兴奋的。有时我会“邪恶”地想，自然如果没有了这类“邪恶”，世间会缺多少乐趣呀。…
签证照片
天朝在２０１４年底开始对美国人发放十年有效的签证了。这项举措的历史意义很明显：由于一签就是十年，申请签证用什么样的照片就很重要了。它不应再是临时凑合的，而应具有历史的厚度，甚至接近“永恒”的意义。
从前办护照及签证的照片，都是去Ｃｏｓｔｃｏ就地解决的。４.９９美元，快速省事。可那样的拍摄方式当事人无法过多参与，对表情、着装、发型等更是无法考究，报得到的照片更是不能被ＰＳ。所以护照照片上人的表情，多同罪犯无异，有的还近于死囚。但如果自己拍护照照片，这类“囚徒问题”就可以很好解决了：最起码人的表情，即使仍象囚徒，却可以是接近刑满释放时样子，充满希望与欢乐。而且，据说自拍用于十年签证的照片还可挣钱。Ｃｏｓｔｃｏ４.９９美元的护照套餐才４张，平均每张１.２５美元。而如果自己制作，一次可以通过４Ｘ６印６张，才０.１３美元，平均每张０.０２美元、节约１.２３美元。如果这样印８００张，回国的机票钱就出来了。
于是在一个风雪交加、日月无光的日子，我就在家里开始准备自拍护照像了。既然是拍摄人物肖像，主光灯、背景灯总是不可缺少的，加上块反光板，引闪器等，一个“极简”板的签证照片拍摄系统就产生了(见图)。既然照片是具有历史意义的，相机肯定得用全幅的－否则无法体现全心全意、全力以赴的精神。
通常有历史意义的事件往往也有现实意义的。十年签证政策也不例外。在自己开拍护照照片之后，投资上万的摄影器材于数年之后终于开始“盈利”。在那一天，才花了四小时（准备场地、拍摄及后处理），就照了两组签证相片，并“节约”１０.４９美元之多（８Ｘ１０一张１.４９美元，二套照片，每套各８）。
签证照片其实并不印在签证上，也不出现在护照的任何一页上。所以相片照的如何，本无区别。人世间的许多事情，好与坏，多与少，说到底其实也无别。尽管如此，人在混沌到虚无之间，仍喜欢自作聪明、机关算尽地折腾一场。
Saturday, January 24, 2015
邻门除雪
周末下了一场大雪。周六上午睡了个懒觉，醒来躺在床上，打开手机里的一个应用，想通过监控镜头，看看家外的雪下得如何了。结果从一个镜头里看到邻居在替我扫雪呢。顿时泪奔汗流。有这样的邻居，想学坏都难啊！
Friday, January 16, 2015
Thursday, January 8, 2015
Wednesday, January 7, 2015
Thursday, January 1, 2015
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