It always amazes me when I stumble upon a street fair here in the city. Somehow they magically happen in the absence of my knowledge of them and mesmerize me much like when I was a kid immersed in Marvel’s cartoon series.
Street Fair
Very cool looking mobile cafe.
Interesting signs indeed at Union Square
All images are the property of THEJNSREPORT.com (c) 2014.
On yet another recent photo walk day out in the city I decided I’d revisit the Highline before Summer officially ended and catch some shots of what the Highline looks like with green things growing on it.
All images are the property of THEJNSREPORT.com (c) 2014
It’s hard to believe that 13 years have past since the worst terrorist attack in U.S history took place. Us New Yorkers are especially aware of it when we think back to that awful day.
Everyone remembers where they were. I awoke that morning thinking I was watching a movie it was so surreal.
I remember my sister and I waking to the local news channels because the signal for the other stations were knocked out due to their broadcast coming from the antenna at the World Trade Towers.
My thoughts immediately turned from shock to horror when I saw the Towers fall. Psychologically, it was a devastating blow to see those massive buildings and all those lives lost in one moment.
Retribution was called for and in the blindness of people’s rage and desire for someone to pay, we the American people were deceived into waging two wars in two different countries (Afghanistan and Iraq) simultaneously.
A non substantiated link was fostered by the media utilizing public outrage to invade a sovereign country in Iraq. It seemed “2 birds with 1 stone” was the strategy of the day. To this day no “Weapons of Mass Destruction” were ever found in Iraq. Government apologists stepped forward to say what we “did and didn’t know at the time” in the aftermath.
All we kept hearing initially, was Osama Bin Laden and his terrorist organization Al Qaeda did it. Then it became Al Qaeda is Iraq too. “Let’s go get em in Iraq”. Those of us who said hold on, wait a minute, let’s think this through were vilified and labeled as anti-American or non patriotic.
This is the danger when we surrender our ability to think and process information rationally and logically. Information is power and those who control the information have the power.
Misinformation allowed the U.S to go further into debt to oppress other people in the name of “freedom” and at the same time weaken the protections of the citizens rights here at home.
Since then we have seen the widespread abuses of our government against us the U.S people it is supposed to serve and protect. We are no longer secure in our persons.
We have no expectation of privacy when all of our communications are sifted, screened, and stored by our very own government intelligence agencies.
Eric Snowden’s exposure of this widespread surveillance proves that. His having to flee from the supposed “Land of the Free and Home of the Brave” tells us what’s really happening when the perpetrators of abuses into our privacy and lives can make him the bad guy for revealing the evil they are doing in the dark.
A steady disarm the public campaign has been underway leading to increased purchases for guns and ammunition. Problem, Reaction, Solution has not stopped it is continuing and getting stronger each day. We now live in Orwellian times.
The foot prints of the two World Trade Towers are visual and visceral reminders of a horrible day in American history. The new “Freedom Tower” erected in their place gives others a sense that we have built back better and stronger than before the attacks.
In my mind I see two towers symbolic of world financial power destroyed as the precursor to the unveiling of really what it has been all along, one power source. The design of the building shows this if you look at it closely. The two buildings are merged together as pieces forming one structure.
Today Isis or “The Islamic State” is emerging as the new most dangerous enemy and “face of terror” on the world stage.
The destruction of ideology today is at the forefront on the news. You can’t kill an idea or can you? Bombing people breeds a self defense ideology, it breeds those who would quickly join up with an extremist group to exact retribution.
Indiscriminent bombings overseas don’t get as much notice as it should. Many of us citizens are unaware of what our troops are doing overseas. Many of us don’t see the cost of war, we’re comfortable, and as long as we are safe, generally we don’t care.
Since 9/11 a massive war on the American people has steadily been waged. Our civil liberties have been chipped away at and disregarded as relics of an ancient and primitive people.
We are being conditioned to accept whatever “authority” tells us simply because they are in a position of power. The narrative as to whom the enemy is constantly changes. There’s an ever present atmosphere of fear permeating throughout the world (not unlike that in the film The Lord of THe Rings).
I’ve heard people say they believe we the people should “give up our liberty for freedom”. That in an off itself is repugnant and dumb at best because liberty is synonymous with freedom. America today in only a few ways resembles the great country/nation the founding fathers envisioned.
I pray to God to guide our leaders going forward. I pray for the families of the victims of 9/11 and I pray for us human beings in the world as a whole. We are lost without God. Proof is in the pudding. Look at what is happening everyday all around us.
Still believe the Devil isn’t real or that God doesn’t exist? Think again.
Welcome to THEJNSREPORT’S: The Brick Lane Curry House Experience 2014!!
Location: Manhattan, NY
ETA: 1:30pm
I remember years ago watching one of my favorite Travel Channel Shows to watch “Man V Food” with host Adam Richman.
On one of the episodes Richman visited Brick Lane Curry House in Brooklyn, NY. The show showcased the Indian cuisine Brick Lane is known for.
Being a lover of Indian food I said to myself one day I’m going to eat at Brick Lane and see whether it delivers on the enthusiastic endorsement of its cuisine and the hottest curry on the planet known as Phaal.
Now, while I enjoy spicy food my threshold is far lower (not to mention wiser) than those who would try to eat Phaal. In my visit to Brick Lane there would be no thought of attempting the Phaal challenge.
Instead I went to my go to favorites when dining on Indian Cuisine. Chicken Tikka Masala, Naan bread, A biriyani, Basmati rice, and some Samosas.
Behold Brick Lanes Chicken Tikka Masala. This is very good I must say. The spices and flavor were pretty spot on. The last time I had really good Chicken Tikka Masala was in San Fransisco over a decade ago.
The Chicken Biriyani: To me this would have been perfect if they could have forgone the cilantro on top.
Naan: This bread is good and reminds me of pita bread with olive oil drizzled on it. However, I prefer Dhal Puri Roti skins to Naan.
Basmati Rice
Samosas: These yummy minced meat deliciosities were had in a few bites.
Yogurt dip for the naan bread.
I of course ate the chicken tikka masala with both rices before completely devouring my samosas. If you’ve never had indian samosas you’d definitely being doing yourself a favor by having this as an appetizer. Brick Lane offers both vegetable and meat samosas.
The decor of Brick Lane (Manhattan location): is not too shabby. Overall I enjoyed my stay and the afternoon atmosphere was quiet versus say a night dining out. The wait staff was very polite and attentive.The rear of Brick Lane
Pricing $$$ is what you would expect for a Manhattan location but the food is worth the price in my opinion. Overall I give Brick Lane Curry House 4 out of 5 dinner plates OOOO. I’ll have to continue my search of good to great Indian Cuisine restaurants in the city. Till next time this has been THEJNSREPORT’S: Brick Lane Curry House Experience 2014!!
All images are the property of THEJNSREPORT.com (c) 2014.
Welcome to THEJNSREPORT’S: Knee Defender: The Next Great Invention!!
Recently while perusing Twitter I came across the story of a fight on a flight that had to be diverted due to two passengers arguing over the ability and/or right to recline an airline seat.
Apparently a man was sitting in economy plus and in the middle seat (nuff said). Knowing how uncomfortable flying coach can be this man bought an ingenious invention the “Knee Defender” a device that prevents a seat from reclining backwards into one’s knees.
The woman sitting in front of him tried repeatedly to recline her seat unsuccessfully into his knees. When she realized it was because of his device and he wouldn’t remove his protection, she and the man exchanged words.
The result ended up being her throwing a cup of water in his face and the continued argument causing the flight to be diverted from its original flight path to Chicago where both were removed from the plane.
Personally when I read this story I felt for the guy and agreed he should be able to use the Knee Defender. I’m sure most of us have been there where the stress of travelling and annoying kids/adults gets to you. The last thing one needs is to have what little personal space there is encroached upon by someone else.
Before the Knee Defender one had to resort to the use of the knees to prevent the unwanted recline or the occasionally kick to the back of the chair to let the person in front know, NO! I like my knees. Now (In the voice of those late night infomercials) introducing the Knee Defender.