Postcard From Livingstone #2

~ Intergalactic time traveler, Livingstone Cook is living the high life in New York City, and has taken time out from partying to send some happy snaps back to Shummy-Shum (as he affectionately refers to his mother).

Livingstone is already well travelled, having come from beyond the Pavo constellation. Unfortunately, he did get caught up in some recent sun spot activity which has caused major malfunctions to his internal guidance systems.

The other side effect of this incident is that it has left him with a body mass that has become extremely soft and pliable, giving him the appearance of a soft toy made from wool with black beads for eyes. However, as Livingstone likes to say, "Looks can be deceiving". This transformation from an inter-galactic, state of the art, robotic alien has its benefits since it means he is now incredibly light and can fit into almost any space, which makes it east to tote him around with me wherever I go.

Written by Livingstone himself, here in his own words is a report of his second riveting week of international travel.

...

Hello, mommy Shummy_Shum. It too hot in Noo York City, especial if you come from ice-berg planet like me do. Me be getting out and over with Uncle JimJim – when he can be bother take me with he.

Here be wat Me do since Me be go from you, and go with Uncle JimJim.

Image: Livingstone getting chummy with Jake the cat

Me be meet with Jakey caat. Jakey like to play and jump. He roll me over and over, and tikkle me fit to get busted. Midnight caat, she don’t like to play. She be play cool, but Noo York too hot to play cool.

Image: Livingstone counting 5 to the 5th power

Me be play with Jakey caat. We be play hidey_hidey. Wen Me count five to fifth power, Jakey go to sleep_asleep. Jakey caat no fun to play with. He be a boo_boo!

Image: Livingstone backpacking the Highline

Uncle JimJim take Me walkies. He pack-back Me so Me not get over tire. This day we walk Highline Park. This be one old railways line. Trains no more runs here. Now railways line be pritty garden. Me likes pritty garden.

Image: Livingstone waiting for Macys July 4th fireworks display

This big day in Noo York City, and big day all over this one country. We wait and wait and wait. Me be sleep_asleep in hot sun and Me be melty all over, but Uncle JimJim say we stay to see big bangs. I say I already see Big Bang, but he say I be SillyBilly. Me no SillyBilly. Me want to go home!

Image: Livingstone catching up on some reading

Me like be Madhatten. Big tall house look like rocket ship to home. Me want to go home! Uncle JimJim say may be we go to Cape Canaberal to see big sky ship. Catch sky ship to home. Me think Uncle JimJim make bad fun. Not funny JimJim. SillyBilly!

Image: Livingstone getting some fresh sea air on the cruise to Bear Mountain

We go for sail on water ship. Me no like water ship, Me like sky ship. Uncle JimJim make play and hang me over side. Uncle JimJim be too silly. Make Me sea sick. Me go hidey_hide.

Image: Livingstone hiding in life bouy

Me be hidey_hide in life boy. Me feel safe now. Uncle JimJim say Me be careful of be like Captain Ahab. Me no kno who be Captain Ahab. Me no care! Me want to go home! Me want talk to Mr. Speelberg.

Pleese, scuse Me poor inglish. Livingstone inglish is get better but not best yet.

Luv U, Shummy_Shum. By-bye.

Livingstone

...

Well, there you have it. Thankfully, the New York heat has addled his brain somewhat over the past couple of weeks and the doctor has recommended lots of bed rest, which required Livingstone's abscence from my explorations of the city. However, I took pity on him having seen the corrosive influence of hours of daytime television on his circuits. So you can look forward to another update in a week or thereabouts. Sorry.

Take Me Out to The Ball Game

Image: Coney Island Wonder Wheel and apartments

A couple of weeks before I left Australia, I attended my first Australian Football League (AFL) contest in the birthplace of the game, Melbourne. More commonly referred to as Aussie Rules (or just, footy), our version of football sees two 18 man teams take to the field in a game that is always fast, aggressive (mostly in a competitive way, but often in a physical way as well), exciting to watch, and entertaining to observe.

Yesterday, I attended my first baseball game. Ever. I headed out to Coney Island during the afternoon to take in the sights, and stayed to catch a game between the Brooklyn Cyclones and the Staten Island Yankees at MCU Stadium.

Both teams play in the minor league competition – the Australian equivalent of state football teams. With a total crowd attendance of 8,813 the turnout to watch the games was on a par with, if not better than attendances at many state Aussie Rules games.

Now, if you are expecting a ball by ball account of the game, you will need to go to another source for that information. Apart from the bare minimum, I don’t pretend to know anything about the game and its rules; the players, or their positions, roles and individual histories; and neither do I know where each team stands in the overall competition rankings. I was just there to watch my first baseball game and take in the atmosphere, and hopefully enjoy the whole experience.

Of course, it is also pointless trying to compare baseball with Aussie Rules football. Like comparing apples with oranges, as the well-worn cliché would have it. However, it was interesting to observe and compare the rituals taking place throughout the game, and the behavior of the crowd.

Starting with the rituals for example, there was a lot more razzamatazz associated with the baseball game, than with Australian football. Partly this is because of the way baseball is played. At the end of each innings (of which there can be up to 10), the team taking to the playing field has a few minutes to practice their throwing skills, while the pitcher and catcher do the same. During this time, some sort of entertainment or activity is taking place around the periphery of the game. It might be a rendition of Happy Birthday for a few select fans in attendance who are celebrating their birthdays at the game; it could be a special appearance by a celebrity (baseball, musical or whatever); it might be a short competition; or even a chance to practice the home team dance routine along with the team cheerleaders.

Image: Another tribute wall to 9/11 emergency service members

However the most important ritual was reserved for the start of the game, and the singing of the National Anthem. After a few preliminaries: the ceremonial pitching of the first ball; a walk on role for the Fire Department of New York (FDNY) Pipes and Drums Band, and such, Regina Wilson stepped forward to sing an a’capella version of the national anthem, and everyone – including myself – immediately stood and faced the American flag flying high above the playing field.

Here was the first major difference between this event and an Australian football game. During my attendance at the ‘major league’ football match between Collingwood and Melbourne, I remember someone sang the national anthem – but I can honestly say I didn’t see anyone rise and stand for the occasion. Australians have a clear disregard for the pomp and ceremony of this ritual, and a healthy disregard for the nationalist fervor some would like us to adopt during official renditions of Advance Australia Fair.

That doesn’t mean we never stand for the anthem – just that we prefer to do so when an important occasion really demands it, and not at the so called, ‘drop of a hat’.

The other striking difference between the codes of sport was the behavior of the crowds.

As I wrote in my entry about the football game mentioned above (see Two Tribes), Australian football fans “…are not afraid to give voice to their anger, frustration, and gratuitous advice, with which they liberally shower their team and coaches (and the opposition team and coaches with).”

I also wrote: “I suspect Australian football fans are no different from British, American or any other national sporting fans you care to name. We are passionate, vocal, rude, outrageous, and make no excuses for being so.”

Well, based on my observations of last nights game, I must say American baseball fans, while passionate and vocal, are certainly not rude or outrageous. In fact, I never heard a cross word, let alone anything resembling abuse, during the whole evening. This was a wholesome family affair, and the mood was upbeat, celebratory, and friendly all night.

Image: One true Cyclones fan…

Seventh Innings Rituals

The game was proceeding along very nicely with the home team, the Brooklyn Cyclones well in control of the game, when out of the blue (or so it seemed for a complete baseball virgin like myself), Regina Wilson again appeared on the playing field to sing, God Bless America at the start of the seventh innings. Both teams walked out of their team bunkers onto the field, the whole crowd again stood and faced the flag, and God Bless America was duly sung. As the last notes of the song died away, the crowd broke out into loud cheers, voicing their obvious patriotic pride in their country.

Take Me Out to the Ball Game

In 1858, the first known baseball song, The Base Ball Polka! was written. It was not quite as famous as Jack Norworth's 1908 classic, Take Me Out to The Ball Game, which was written on some scrap paper on a train ride to Manhattan. Norworth then provided those paper scraps to Albert Von Tilzer who composed the music, and before the year was over, a hit song was born.

Jack Norworth was a very successful vaudeville entertainer and songwriter (over 2,500 songs, including Shine On, Harvest Moon), and spent fifteen minutes writing this classic which is sung during the seventh inning stretch at nearly every ball park in the country.

"Take me out to the ball game,

Take me out with the crowd.

Buy me some peanuts and cracker jack,

I don't care if I never get back,

Let me root, root, root for the home team,

If they don't win it's a shame.

For it's one, two, three strikes, you're out,

At the old ball game."

I’m writing about this because at the conclusion of God Bless America, the chorus to Jack Norworth’s song blared out over the loudspeakers, and the whole crowd took up the refrain and joined in heartily throughout.

The reason why the song is sung in the seventh innings has been lost to time. No-one seems to know, but it has become a tradition to at least sing the chorus to Take Me Out to The Ball Game during the seventh innings, at virtually every baseball match in the country.

Mind you, not everyone thinks singing Take Me Out to The Ball Game is a good idea, as this quote attests:

"In the seventh inning fans all get up and sing 'Take Me Out to the Ball Game,' and they're already there. It's really a stupid thing to say and I don't know who made 'em sing it. Why would somebody that's there get up and sing take me out to the ball game? The first person to do it must have been a moron." - Pitcher, Larry Anderson [Source: The Baseball Almanac website]

And yes, you can still buy "peanuts and cracker jack" at the game.

At the conclusion of last night’s game, the crowd was to be entertained with a fireworks display. However, due to prevailing weather conditions, the fire marshall in attendance decided that it would be safer to set the fireworks off early.

I have no idea of what the prevailing weather conditions were, apart from the fact that it was a slightly overcast, balmy, humid night – but maybe they were expecting a storm front to move through. No matter. As the seventh or eighth innings – I forget which – got underway, we were treated to the double spectacle of a minor league baseball match taking place to the sound and fury of a fireworks display booming loudly overhead.

Maybe they were just trying to keep the Staten Island Yankees out of the game. If so, they need not have worried. The Brooklyn Cyclones finished clear winners, and just before 10.00pm, after three entertaining hours, the game came to a sudden end in the ninth innings.

Image: the scoreboard says it all: Brooklyn Cyclones clear winners… this time

If I can get a ticket, I will attend a Major League baseball game between the New York Yankees and Kansas City at CitiField, Queens this coming week.

Baseball Almanac website...

New York on $20 a Day

Image: Staten Island pilings at St. George

Recently I spent around ten hours out and about in New York City and to my surprise, and delight, only expended $20 during the whole outing. Here’s how I did it.

New York during summer is awash in free events and activities. From Summer Stage in Central Park to the River to River Festival across the Downtown area of the city; from the numerous free events in Bryant Park and the Lincoln Center, to the free outdoor screenings of popular movies across a number of locations; from the free ride to Staten Island on the Staten Island Ferry, to the Celebrate Brooklyn events in that borough – the list goes on and on.

My planned schedule of events and activities for Wednesday, July 21 included: Paul-Andre Fortier: Solo 30x30 (one of a series of thirty, 30 minute dance works); the Henry P. Warner Jazz Quartet (at Trinity Church); a trip to Staten Island, where I planned to spend at least 2-3 hours; a walking tour of the South Street Seaport; and finally, a performance by the Jamaican recording artist, Burning Spear. All of these events and activities were free. As if that wasn’t enough, I had also penciled in a visit to an open mic night at Coogan’s Bar to round out the day!

In the end, I missed the dance performance, but instead caught 30 minutes of music from two Columbian twins who perform under the name Gimagua. Although jazz is not my forte, I enjoyed the excellent set from Henry Warner and his associates at Trinity Church, before walking down to the ferry terminal for the free 30 minute trip to Staten Island. And for reasons I am about to explain, I also missed the South Street Seaport walk and Burning Spear – and somewhere in my overheated, sweat soaked condition completely forgot about the open mic.

Image: Staten Island Ferry up close

Now you have to understand that 99.9 percent of visitors taking the trip to Staten Island do so because it is free, and because it allows them to get excellent views of the Statute of Liberty. An added bonus is that you also get great views of the bottom end of Manhattan as the ferry crosses over to the island and when it makes the return trip. Having reached Staten Island, this 99.9 percent then disembark, walk back around to the main hall, and wait to board the same ferry back to Manhattan! And that is the extent of their visit to Staten Island. The other 0.1 percent of visitors like myself (these are my guestimates, I should point out), actually decide to at least explore a little bit of St. George, the main town on the island – and that is what I preceded to do.

Since it was by now around 2.00pm and I hadn’t eaten since breakfast, I went in search of sustenance. I found a little café and ordered a Mexican Wrap and a coffee. For some reason the coffee was free, which was fine by me, and I didn’t refuse the offer a top-up from the owner who also gave me a small bottle of water – also for free! My bill for this Wrap, two coffees and bottle of water was $7.00.

Having recharged my cells, I headed off into the humidity to explore St. George. I walked up and down a couple of ‘main’ streets, and eventually discovered a thrift shop. On a whim, and looking for something to do, I went in and after browsing around for ten or fifteen minutes walked out with a five dollar t-shirt. I don’t know why I bothered really, since a few days earlier I had bought three t-shirts for $10.00, but I felt a need to spend money on something.

I then looked at a map of Staten Island and decided it was time to jump on a bus and ride it to the end of the line. The longest route across the island seemed to be on the s74 bus, from St. George to Tottenville. To my surprise, the trip was longer than anticipated, which I suppose is another way of saying the island is a lot bigger than it looks, and after a journey lasting well over an hour, I alighted in Tottenville.

Image: Pretty as a picture - manicured lawns on Main Street, Tottenville, Staten Island

I spent 20-30 minutes walking around Tottenville, when wouldn’t you know it – along came an s78 bus making the return trip to St. George. To my delight, the return trip ‘up’ the island took an alternate route to the previous one, so I got to see different scenery on the drive back. However, this bus run also took over an hour to complete. By the time I reached the Staten Island ferry terminal at St. George and was able to board the next ferry back to Manhattan it was 8.00pm, and my initial 2-3 hours of explorations had turned into six hours!

By the time I reached Manhattan around 8.30pm I was more than ready to call it a day, and headed straight for the subway for the long ride up Manhattan to the 181st Street station.

Which I completely missed.

Which meant I had to get out at 191st Street and walk back down to my digs at 186 Street.

Now with the time approaching 9.30pm and me approaching meltdown, I stopped by a local Chinese take-away and ordered chicken and black bean sauce with rice ($5.00) and stumbled back to the apartment to eat.

Thus ended my excellent adventure for another day in the Big Apple. I had spent a total of $17.00. If I include another $3.00 to cover for my use of the already purchased MetroCard (30 days by $89.00 = $3.00 per day), then my total outlay for the day was just $20.00.

Not bad, even if I do say so myself.