The Occupation

For a few days now I've been hoping to compose a lengthy post about Occupy Wall Street and the global uprising but haven't had the chance. I will hopefully get to put my thoughts together soon, after all I spent years down in that area of Manhattan and particularly Zuccotti Park (mentioned here a while ago), went to school right next to Wall Street and the Brooklyn Bridge, my experiences down there are even one of the meanings behind the title "A Building Roam." It's highly significant to me that this communal flowering of awakening and dissent has blossomed from a spot on the map that has played such a huge role in my life and growth.

I spoke to my sister on the phone today, she's living about as glamorous a life as any 23-year-old could right now, staying in her friend's brownstone on the Upper West Side, commuting to work by way of strolling through Central Park. I asked her about Occupy Wall Street and she said "you mean that protest thing?" She had heard of it, seen it on the news but rather aggressively told me "I don't care."

Well, I am thankful that there are so many people who do care.

Right Here All Over (Occupy Wall St.) from Alex Mallis on Vimeo.

The Brooklyn Bridge

Having spent four years attending college at Pace University in downtown Manhattan, I spent a lot of time looking at and pondering the Brooklyn Bridge. Today I came across a surprising tidbit on the front page of Wikipedia. When the Brooklyn Bridge was completed (after 14 years of construction) in 1883 it was not only the longest suspension bridge in the world but its towers were the tallest structures in the western hemisphere.

Here's a picture from when it was first built

 

Comparing that to a more recent photo from a similar angle creates a perfect snapshot of modern industrial and economic growth.

There are plenty of other fun Brooklyn Bridge photos like this one from when it used to have trains running across or, always my favorite, the ones with construction workers nonchalantly sitting on the suspension wires like this:

 

I highly recommend taking a look at the BB's Wikipedia page, lots of interesting facts.