The Ridiculous CJMemay

Reflectorman's Bittersweet Arrival in Manayunk

2008-09-19T16:03:00.011-04:00

It finally happened. I thought Reflectorman would never make it to Manayunk, but he has finally arrived... as a sticker??? On a PW box???

After all this time, its just not how I wanted it to happen, is all.

PARK(ing) Day

2008-09-19T16:03:00.003-04:00

8th & Chestnut St:

Skared-e Kitty Sez

2008-09-12T14:55:00.002-04:00

Goodbye Grandpop

2008-04-12T21:26:00.003-04:00

R.I.P.
Joseph R. Meyers
1928 - 2008

Heath Ledger Died?

2008-01-24T11:56:00.000-05:00

Heath is dead

The Greatest Lunch of All Time

2008-01-10T14:20:00.000-05:00

Honestly, one of the greatest meals I have ever had today, and I enjoyed it right here at National Mechanic's.

Here are the details:

Michael Cera vs. Zach Galifianakis

2008-01-09T00:47:00.000-05:00

Sorry for not posting much. Thinking about switching over to Twitter for things like this, meh.
Zach Galifianakis has been one of my favorites for years now, sometimes he's on, occasionally, he is off, but in this interview with Michael Cera he frankly blows my mind.

Honestly, some of the funniest material I have seen since Space Ghost: Coast to Coast circa 1994-1995 (the golden era of what I consider to be possibly the funniest television show of all time), and the same format to boot.

No Justice. No Peace. (or is it Know?)

2007-09-21T00:10:00.000-04:00

OR: WTF is 3, 10, and 6?

After a pretty long day, I was heading up Market to catch the 61 bus home. On the 400 block of Market, I heard something; from about a block ahead, right in front of Independence Hall, I heard cheering, and people clapping. I was pretty confused. It was after 9pm, and it sounded like alot of people. The sound was similar to people rallying, like at a high school sporting event, and then it faded.

I slowly came to see huge crowds of people standing in the street, and realized something strange was going on. From as far away as I was, it sounded like people were calling out "3, 10, and 6!" But I doubted that this many people suddenly became this passionate about the Philadelphia area affiliates of the major TV broadcasting networks.

I started marching double-time to catch up and find out what was going on. And as I got closer to the interesection at 6th and Market, I realized that traffic had stopped, and there was well over a hundred people in the road. In the meantime the chant had switched to "No Justice, No Peace", and I had no opportunity to figure out what "3, 10 and 6" meant. But I wanted to know.

So I ran.

I ran about a block, to catch up to the middle of the crowd. They were filling the eastbound lanes of Market, and marching through red lights. At first I thought I sensed tension in the air, the sidewalks were, after all, filled with other people who were, in general, just as curious as I (but, looking back, probably less confused). I soon came to realize, the tension I was feeling was my own nervousness. Its not everyday you find hordes of people marching down Market Street.

I soon came to realize the atmosphere was pretty light-hearted. There were groups of people holding hands, and many with raised fists, some seemed angry, but many seemed happy. The crowd was predominantly black, but not entirely. Bicyclists blocked off intersections to ensure the crowds could cross safely. At this point, my curiousity had overtaken my shame for not knowing what had brought these people to the point that they felt they must interrupt traffic in Center City, so I asked someone what "this" was: "To free the Jena 6."

"Oh," I replied, approvingly. "Of course it was," I thought to myself, "THANK GOD I know what the Jenna 6 is." But more appropriately, I should be thanking Mos Def.

I ran ahead and took some pictures, and followed the crowd back to City Hall, chatting along the way with a couple people, and yearning desperately, to conduct a couple proper interviews, and write down some notes and names. Like a real journalist would. I didn't.

The event, as far as I saw, went off without any trouble, and all in all, the marchers, drivers, and bicyclists seemed to be pretty courteous, patient, and respectful. As they crossed, 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th. It was then that I first realized I had YET to see a single police officer. I have NEVER EVER been in Center City Philadelphia for longer than 3 minutes without seeing a cop on Market Street. Not at 1:30pm, 9:30pm or 3:30am. That was truly eerie.

I wondered, "Did the police know?"
How could they not? People were stopping traffic.

"They must know and not care."
Which is weird. We tend to think of police as people who want to be there, not only in case of trouble, but often to arouse it. On one hand, I am glad for the marchers sake, that the police weren't there harressing anyone. On the other, I wonder what would happen, if an argument broke out, and the police weren't around to witness it. It truly felt like there were no police in the city.

Anyway, things wound down once the crowd reached City Hall. I was talking to a couple girls from New Jersey who had come over to march. They weren't affiliated with any groups, they just felt it was an important cause. I didn't get their names.

As the chanting faded and the crowd gathered around at City Hall, marchers mixing with the guys on motorcycles who hang out at City Hall at night, I scrambled to get the last few shots on my cameraphone that would capture the crowd's size and atmosphere. I realized I had been shooting in a low resolution setting, more appropriate for text-messaging than for capturing atmosphere, and my phone reminded me for the 3rd or 4th time in 5 minutes that my batter was low. It was precisely at this time that I realized the shot I wanted, framing the crowd with the massive City Hall behind them. Something in my head forced me to spin around.

Broad Street lay stretched out before us all, as far as the eye could see. Low and worn, it was a very long road before us. I ran closer to City Hall and put my back against it, I lifted my camera to take a picture of the back of the crowd, all looking out at Broad Street like a part in the sea that is North Philadelphia. My battery died.

Oh well. I briefly walked next to a crowd full of people who believed so much in something, they marched for it. And I didn't even have the courage to ask anyone their name.

ReflectormanMan reads teh intarweb?

2007-09-20T18:57:00.001-04:00

Woah! It looks like maybe the guy putting these Reflectorman's (or as I call him, ReflectormanMan) everywhere, has been paying attention to all the press he has been getting. Why else would he paste THIS on the side of a city paper box?

I spotted "Paper-Cutout Reflectorman" when I went to take a shot of the fella below at the North-South crosswalk at 6th and Market, on the west side of the intersection. I had just missed the light to cross, so I decided to check out the fruit salad/smoothie cart (Strawberry-Lime is DELICIOUS!!!), and I noticed this guy peeking out from around the corner. The nice ladies that made my smoothie seemed intrigued as to why I would want to take this young man's picture, but deep in their hearts, I could tell they understood.

Oh and now, every time I find a new Reflectorman, I can hear Brian Hickey writing his little cat greeting: "Oh haiz!!! I waz juz livin onna sidda dis box."

Reflectorman: 12th and Filbert

2007-09-19T10:14:00.000-04:00

[photo | Phil H.]

I was going to post two today, this one, and one from 6th and Market, BUT sometimes you have to talk to the Financial Aid department for hours instead of going to work.

...

...arrrrgggghhh!

I'll Give You All The Looove You Need...

2007-09-14T19:42:00.001-04:00

Cause...How can a nice girl like you, fall in looove with a bad guy like me?

He's BACK!
WHAT!?!? In New York?!?!?

Sorry, Cressman, it looks like our man may have moved on.

Ewwwwwwzinater

2007-09-12T02:16:00.000-04:00

At work today, someone showed me this awful commercial for this awful product from Hasbro, called the Super Soaker Oozinater:

Good. God. If you think THAT was horrible try watching on my QUAD-monitor setup at work:

And if you listen carefully at the end, you will hear them note: "Major Pumping Required".

Oh, and just for giggles, The AV Club did a little sketch about it:

Reflectorman #00177

2007-08-16T20:52:00.001-04:00

UPDATE: 08/16/07
AND ANOTHER ONE!!!
8th and Market same side.
I think maybe tomorrow I will walk from Front to Broad checking all the crosswalks for ALL the Reflectormans.
Doubtful.

New Reflectorman (Stickman) Sighting

2007-08-15T22:26:00.000-04:00

Now that I have a job (at least temporarily) in Philadelphia proper I get to enjoy exciting things like...
...
well, I get to look for things that I see in other Philly blog's like The Clog's: Mysterious Mysteries. Like this Reflectorman, (or Stickman, depending on who you ask). This one was sited (by ME!!!) on the crosswalk between the 600 and 700 block, on the north side, of Market Street.

Is this really a new sighting? I have no idea. Who knows maybe I will become a famous stickman locator? Anyone?

Man Changes Name to Optimus Prime, Not Total Loser

2007-07-07T12:07:00.000-04:00

Okay, so he probably is a loser. But, at least he is kind-of a likable loser.

Watch that video, until the end, because that is the best part.

A Beautiful Painting

2007-06-11T00:14:00.000-04:00

There was nothing to do today.

For Sale: 2007 Suzuki Forenza [Absolute White]

2007-04-24T14:30:00.000-04:00

This car is practically brand new!!!
My insurance company has gone on record as saying: If this car were to be ruined by some sort of animal that would be a lose-lose situation, in effect, a total loss.

... or something to that effect.

Hello Again. ?

2007-04-04T08:15:00.000-04:00

Jay Purdy of The Extraordinaires at Geno's Steaks in S. Philly

I Just Do What I'm Told

2007-02-10T00:48:00.000-05:00

Inspection? I Laugh in Your General Direction: The Aries Rides Again

2007-02-08T14:37:00.000-05:00

I don't want to talk about why it was out of commission, or what was corrected, just know this:
260,000 miles of experience under this MoFo's belt.
Can't nobody take my pride.
Can't nobody hold me down.
Oh no...
I got to keep on moving.

Update: Saving A Life

2007-01-31T22:38:00.000-05:00

The plant stunk something awful.
I have abandoned the rescue operation.

Falling Bomb Whistling Sound, Followed By Explosion

2007-01-30T23:28:00.000-05:00

Guess whose car didn't pass inspection????

"I'm Not Saying This Car is Crappy, But..."

2007-01-31T17:18:00.000-05:00

Jobs for Josh: First Posting

2007-01-31T15:46:00.000-05:00

Jobs for Josh is where I try to find a new job for my friend Josh. He works at a bank, but I know that he needs to break out of that stuffy bank environment and find something truly liberating.
Like this:

Is That Human Blood on the Bumper?

2007-01-30T23:26:00.001-05:00

What an excellent specimen of a Toyota Cressida 300:
Here on Craigslist

Gorgeous, in fact.