Backups and Minimizing

This morning and afternoon, I spent some time archiving and organizing my backup hard drives. This is a process I don't enjoy and one that I'm not adept at. My process is like this: often while procrastinating from doing something productive, I find myself anxiously poking around in my computer's folders, wondering if I backed up that document and this document, and if the backup is backed up, all while hoping none of my hard drives ever fail me.

My Macbook laptop contains two hard drives. The primary drive or 'main' drive, runs the operating system. I use this drive to work, write, browse the internet, and run audio editing software. The second drive contains storage for audio, photo and video projects I am working on.

I have four external hard drives of varying capacity and speed. Two drives are used for backup of documents, photos and videos, while another two are used for audio backup. In addition to these drives, I have three thumb drives for handily storing my music and sample libraries.

The work I completed today consisted of moving some documents around, renaming files and folders and deleting redundant files. I downloaded freefilesync, an openware file managing app which can compare two folders, identify the differences in files, and add the missing files to the second folder. This will help enormously as I was previously managing this by 'eye'. I prefer not to use a backup app, such as Time Machine, as I haven't found one that suits my needs best.

I have poor data organizational habits; this is an area I struggle in. I did some Google and Reddit researching. I have to see how other people do it, then consider what is best for my needs and create my own system.

Goals for this project:

To create a simple, easy-to-use method of organizing, archiving and backing up my digital media, thus minimizing my digital footprint.

Minimizing has been on my mind lately. With some time off from work during the holidays, I've found myself minimizing clothes, books, papers, and now digital files. When something is becoming a source of anxiety and distress, it's time to minimize. To me, minimizing means simplifying (and sometimes procrastination).


Written Sunday, Dec. 26, 2021

Battle Hill - Greenwood Cemetery

Battle Hill, located within Greenwood Cemetery, is the highest natural point in Brooklyn at 220 feet above sea level. Visitors entering Greenwood through the main entrance at 25th Street and 5th Avenue can follow markers to the hill.  At the top, beside the Altar of Liberty, stands a statue of the goddess Minerva arm stretched in salute towards the Statue of Liberty standing in New York Harbor. A plaque memorializes the 300 American soldiers from Colonel Huntington's 17th Continental (Connecticut) Regiment who fought to keep the hill from falling to the British during the Battle of Brooklyn, the first and largest battle of the American Revolutionary War. 

In early 1776, General George Washington moved his army from Boston to New York, correctly predicting that British forces would attempt to capture the city. Fortifications and redoubts, including Fort Putnam near present day Fort Greene Park, were built along key roads and hilltop passes to slow the British advance. Washington's headquarters was located at Brooklyn Heights.

The British landed in Staten Island in June. On August 22, only a few weeks after the Declaration of Independence was signed on July 4th, the British landed their forces in the Gravesend Bay area and camped at Flatbush.

American intelligence reports of the British numbers were inaccurate. The British were 27,000 strong - the largest force the empire ever assembled and the largest naval landing in history until D-Day during World War Two. The Continental Army numbered only 10,000.

Battle of Long Island map, 

Library of Congress

The British launched a three pronged attack. General Grant headed west along the East River and launched a diversionary attack near Greenwood Cemetery. A second diversionary force of Hessian soldiers travelled to Flatbush Pass in Prospect Park. With the main force of the British army, Generals Clinton, Cornwallis, Howe, and Percy launched the primary attack. From their camp at Flatbush, this force marched east towards Jamaica Pass, near today's Broadway Junction, and then marched west and flanked the Americans.

On the morning of August 27, the battle began when patriot soldiers encountered the enemy in a watermelon patch at the Red Lion Inn, near today's Greenwood Cemetery. Continental Army under the command of General Stirling formed a line and met General Grant's forces. 

Once fighting broke out, General Stirling spotted a tall hill to the east and sent a detachment of 300 men to capture it. The British had already taken the hill and attacked the Americans. The small American force captured the hilltop and repelled two British attacks before they were ultimately outnumbered. Many Americans were captured or killed but the small detachment inflicted heavy British casualties. Today, this hill is named Battle Hill, located within Greenwood Cemetery.

In the second diversionary attack, Hessian soldiers travelled northwest on today's East Drive in Prospect Park and captured Flatbush Pass, now known as Battle Pass. A monument marks the spot near the old Dongan Oak tree, which was felled to stop the British advance. Further up the hill, a plaque in a large boulder marks the site of the American defensive line.

Unknown to the Americans, the third and primary British force, some 16,000, performed a flanking maneuver and approached from the east. After marching from Flatbush to Jamaica Pass, the British then moved west towards the American defenses. This force marched around the second highest point in Brooklyn at today's Mount Prospect Park and took control of the Vecht house (or Old Stone House), near the Gowanus Creek. 400 Maryland soldiers tried to hold the house and launched an attack on the British which allowed time for American soldiers to fall back. Here, General Stirling surrendered. On 3rd Avenue between 7th and 9th Streets, is the burial site of the 250 Maryland troops who died trying to hold the house.

Fighting was over by mid-day on August 27th. The Continental Army, surrounded and outnumbered, fell back to Brooklyn Heights. 2,000 Americans were killed, wounded or captured, while the British had 388 casualties. General Howe chose to rest his army on August 28th rather than advance on Washington's Brooklyn Heights headquarters.

On the night of August 29th, General Washington quietly began the evacuation of his forces to Manhattan. Due to an unfavorable wind, British warships were unable to sail up the East River, allowing Washington to escape. When the British marched into Washington's camp on the morning of August 30th, they found it was abandoned. The battle for New York would continue over the next few months, with the British winning control of the city until the end of the war. The British evacuated the city on November 25, 1783.                                                                                                                                                 

Battle of Long Island
August 27, 1776:
Brooklyn Historical Society.

Today, Brooklyners can visit remaining battle sites and imagine soldiers marching on the hills and meadows of colonial Brooklyn amid the sounds of musket and cannon fire. Battle Hill in Greenwood Cemetery, relatively unchanged, stands at the highest point in Brooklyn - a reminder of the strategic importance it played during the American Revolution and the valiant efforts of the patriots who fought for America's independence.

Resources

https://theoldstonehouse.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/walking-guide.pdf
https://www.green-wood.com/2013/commemorating-the-battle-of-brooklyn/
https://www.green-wood.com/about-history/
https://www.battlefields.org/learn/revolutionary-war/battles/brooklyn
https://bklyner.com/explore-the-battle-of-brooklyn-with-the-old-stone-house-southslope/

https://www.nypl.org/blog/2009/05/22/battle-brooklyn-1776

https://www.britannica.com/event/American-Revolution/Washington-takes-command#ref330049

Maps
Map of Battle of Long Island, Library of Congress
Battle Map overlaid with present-day map of Brooklyn
Greenwood Cemetery Map

Collecting New Yorkers stories with NYC Dept. of Records

31 Chambers Street. NYC Municipal Archives.

Earlier this year I volunteered to assist with the Neighborhood Stories project, an oral history initiative by the NYC Department of Records & Information Services (DORIS). I conduct interviews of people who have lived or currently live in New York City and invite them to share their stories. The interviews are recorded and preserved in the Municipal Archives & Library for the purpose of documenting local history and personal narratives.

I enjoy meeting with fellow New Yorkers and hearing everyone's unique and individual story. Every time I speak with someone, I learn something new about this city we call home. I believe this is an important project as it gives New Yorkers a voice and a chance for their story to become part of history. I'd like to encourage anyone willing to share their story to sign up and schedule an interview. I've heard some amazing stories and look forward to conducting more interviews.

What is DORIS?

DORIS is responsible for preserving and providing access to NYC's government records as well as operating the Municipal Archives, Library and Record Center. 

-https://www1.nyc.gov/site/records/about/overview.page

What is the Neighborhood Stories project?

Neighborhood Stories aims to gather and permanently preserve the stories of New York City community members by connecting local history with the records of City government maintained in the collections of the Municipal Archives and Library. The project endeavors to "put the community in the archive" by empowering local residents to provide their own rich historical narrative and to encourage them to reflect on how the past connects to their lives, their families and their future. Through Neighborhood Stories, DORIS aims to paint a more accurate portrait of our city, with its diverse communities, vibrant neighborhoods, and interesting people. 

-https://www.archives.nyc/neighborhoodstories

What is oral history and why is it important?

Oral history collects memories and personal commentaries of historical significance through recorded interviews. An oral history interview generally consists of a well-prepared interviewer questioning an interviewee and recording their exchange in audio or video format. Recordings of the interview are transcribed, summarized, or indexed and then placed in a library or archives.

-https://www.oralhistory.org/about/do-oral-history/

 

Here are some other NYC oral history projects.

 

What is a typical interview like?

Typically held virtually via Zoom, an interviewer asks questions about the participants life experiences including background, school, work, friends and family. The interviewer simply invites the participant to share their experiences as a New Yorker.

Where will my interview go once it has been recorded?

The interviews are preserved by DORIS within the Municipal archives. Some interviews may be shared online if the participant gives their consent.

 

Sign up and schedule an interview. Please reach out to stories@records.nyc.gov if you have any questions.

If you would like to volunteer, please visit here for more information or email: volunteercoordinator@records.nyc.gov.

If there's anything I can help you with, please feel free to reach out to me:
kwalpoleny@gmail.com.

Camping Trips

This morning as I woke up, the quiet neighborhood, cloudy skies, and the low but still rising sun brought me back to my childhood, when we'd all get up early and pile into the family Winnebago. For most family vacations, we traveled in our RV across much of the East coast, from Massachusetts to Florida, and stayed at campgrounds overnight. During the day, we'd visit the local sights, usually museums or historical locations.

Around dawn, Mom would wake us up and with sleepy eyes, my brother and I would take our seats in the back of the camper's cab - me on the left, my brother on the right. It always seemed so early; the neighborhood was still asleep, the roads quiet. When Dad finished his preparations and loaded the last of the supplies and food, he'd start up the Winnebago and we'd be on our way. The familiar smell of diesel would fill my nose, a reminder of previous trips.                                                                                                                                                        

The Winnebago in Shenandoah National Park.

Camping allowed us to save some money and also have the conveniences of traveling with a full bathroom, kitchen, and beds. Prior to any trip, Dad would spend weeks making necessary repairs to the camper. I'm sure it took a lot of work to maintain the RV, but Dad liked to do his own work. Mom always brought so much stuff. We still joke about her giant suitcase full of every medicine-cabinet item imaginable. 

The Winnebago couldn’t go much faster than 60 mph. On our CB radio, we'd hear truckers making fun of us and radioing other truckers so they knew to pass us as we struggled to get up a hill. Once or twice we broke down and had to stay overnight at a hotel while the camper was being fixed.

One year, my parents gave me my first journal, a thin, glossy black notebook with a globe on the cover. I liked the journal so much that I really didn’t even want to write in it. Wherever we were camping, I sat at our campsite's picnic table and recorded the day's events: visiting the battleship USS Massachusetts in Boston, Colonial Williamsburg in Virginia or Kennedy Space Center in Orlando, Florida.

These camping trips were an important part of my childhood. I still love roadtrips and camping and over the years I've visited some of the great National Parks of the American west. Whenever the weather gets warm, and summer is near, I get the urge to travel.

Originally written on May 26, 2021.

The Ultramarathon

Course map.

In May 2019 my brother Eric and I attempted to run an ultramarathon - a 50-mile trail run through Bear Mountain State Park. Organized by The North Face, the race contained cut-off checkpoints which racers must meet in time. With about 9 miles from the finish line, we came in too late at the last checkpoint and were forced to stop. I had fallen asleep standing up. Eric’s feet had stress fractures. We ran 41 miles.

Back in 2018, I began running the trails at Alley Pond Park in the mornings before work, with newfound energy thanks to a plant-based diet. I ran my first 10k that year. The allure of an ultramarathon had already hooked us. Eric ran a 35-mile race along the Shawangunk Ridge. By the beginning of 2019, we had a training plan in place to tackle our first 50-miler.

We ran as much as we could. During the week, I ran laps at nearby parks in Brooklyn. I'd get up at 5am and run for 30-45 minutes then commute to work. Eric and I would meet on the weekends at Alley Pond Park and run longer distances. We ran through snow and ice in the winter months, heat and mosquitos in the warmer months. We spent countless hours running laps. Soon we were running distances that seemed impossible to reach before: 10 miles, 15 miles, and finally our first marathon. Prior to the race, we had two training runs along the race course in Bear Mountain, each a marathon distance.

No music or podcasts to keep ourselves occupied. We knew this race would test us. I became familiar with my angels and demons and learned to use them to my advantage and how to block them out. Starting any run was always the hardest part. Once I started, all my thoughts and anxieties quieted and I'd settle into a rhythm and the miles melted away.

The night before the race, Eric and I slept in the back of my Honda Element in the parking lot of Anthony Wayne Recreation Area. On Saturday May 4th, we woke up at 3:30 am and got ourselves together for the 5:00 am race start time. A school bus shuttled runners from the parking lot to the start/finish line located near the Bear Mountain Inn. I wasn't nervous or anxious - I just wanted to start running. I wasn’t thinking about the finish line. Our plan was just to make it to the first cut-off checkpoint in time, around mile 20.

We ran the first hour or so in the dark with our headlamps. This was a difficult section because the trail was narrow and all the runners were packed together. The course was muddy from recent rains. My headlamp was completely inadequate for running in the dark but I managed.

We passed the first two aid stations, at miles 4 and 8, without stopping. The next section was difficult with rocky trails and steep ridge climbs. My pace was way too quick but I felt strong. We took a short break at aid station #3 (mile 14.2) and after loading up on drinks and food, we got back out on the course.

We were hustling from aid station #3 to aid station #4 (mile 19.8) to make the first cut-off checkpoint in time. We weren't familiar with this section of trail from our training. We made it to the checkpoint in time but our pace was exhausting. I had trouble filling my water bladder at the aid station. A volunteer asked if I was ok. I shrugged it off.

Time checkpoints.

Somewhere between aid station #4 and #5, I stopped to relieve myself and almost fell over. It didn't occur to me until later that I must've fallen asleep. While I was running, I noticed that I was also nodding off. This happened once or twice before I realized that I really needed to eat more.

I was bonking - running out of energy. I was able to stay hydrated but after running so many miles I really didn't want to eat anything. But I had to eat. I hadn't experienced this kind of energy depletion in training and had to figure it out while racing. I stuffed my pockets with bananas and potatoes and kept munching on them every few minutes, forcing myself to eat. Soon I felt better but I wasn’t in great shape from here on out.

Eric and I were mostly together until the first cut-off checkpoint but then I fell behind and we separated. I remember a man running past me and he said to keep going, don’t give up. Suddenly my legs found some hidden energy and I began moving a little quicker. I wasn't ready to give up just yet so I kept putting one foot in front of the next.

I was alone, struggling and coming up on the second cut-off checkpoint (mile 29). I was at the back of the pack. Other runners were also struggling and getting injured. I wasn't sure if I was keeping pace to make the cut-off. I wasn't ready to give up but I left the rest up to fate. If I made the cut-off I would continue. Eric was waiting for me at the cut-off checkpoint (mile 29). Seeing him gave me such a lift. I made it to the checkpoint in time. We continued together but I couldn't match his pace and soon fell behind again.

I was beyond physical pain now. My legs felt numb. The only question in mind was 'Are you going to stop?' It seemed that every minute, for hours, the question of quitting kept popping into my mind and I continued to say 'No'. Nothing else mattered except moving and eating. I had nothing left in the gas tank and had to will myself over climbs.

Eric was waiting when I made it to aid station #8 (mile 35.2). I drank some much needed vegetable broth which gave me nutrients as well as hydration. We separated once more and I returned to my shuffle - I could barely manage a run but I had to keep moving.

I reached the last aid station (mile 38.6) before the final cut-off checkpoint. I had been running by myself for a long time, struggling to keep moving, but somehow I didn’t give up. The aid station volunteers informed me that I'd have to run 2.6 miles in 28 minutes in order to make the next cut-off. I started down the path. I was familiar with this stretch of trail having hiked it several times. I knew that the terrain was not difficult but I just couldn’t bring myself to go any faster. My pace was more of a quick walk than a run. When I crossed the bridge and came into the Anthony Wayne area, I was shocked to see that Eric also hadn't made the 4:23 pm cutoff. Our race was over. We had been running for 11 hours and a total of 41 miles.

I collapsed in the back of my car and just sat there. I didn’t have energy to talk. I endured longer than I thought I could. My feet and legs were destroyed but I believe we could have continued to the finish even if it took all night. Fortunately for us, though, the race made the decision for us and we were eliminated. 

I laugh thinking back to the strange sort of existence I experienced during this race; running long miles alone through woods I can hardly remember, my mind constantly testing my will to finish, looking for vulnerabilities. Where did the time go? My entire universe was running and eating. After all my energy was gone and my legs were numb, I thought about people enduring real pain and suffering and how I couldn’t even make it up a hill. I used these thoughts and emotions for short bursts of energy, while more positive thoughts, like gratitude, offered more sustained energy.

Over the two years since the race, running has taken a backseat to other things in my life, but when I really need to get outside and clear my head, I run. I know the amount of work it will take to run another ultramarathon and I have no doubts about attempting another someday. But next time, maybe just a marathon before another 50 miles.

Thank you to my brother Eric for running with me and to my family and friends for their love and support.

Pandemic Lockdown Diary

During the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic here in New York City, I began taking notes in a section of my notebook I titled "Lockdown Diary". I periodically updated this section with brief descriptions of my life, observations, and current events throughout the pandemic. By the time New York City met N.Y. State's Phase-1 regulations and started reopening, we found ourselves in the midst of social and political turmoil following the death of George Floyd; as a result, my lockdown diary became more of a protest diary.

Lockdown Diary

March - June 2020

Early March
I cannot see the pandemic impacting our lives seriously. The calm before the storm?

Week of Mar. 9

The crisis and the media coverage seems to be amplified. Trump stops travel from Europe. S and I joked about a possible lockdown.

Thurs Mar. 12

The situation seems dire. Stores packed. People panicking that everything will shut down. There was a feeling in the air - fear; panic; paranoia. I am not ready. After I gave the situation some thought, I calmed down.

Fri Mar. 13

Long lines in grocery store. People rushing and grabbing as much as they can. Again, I was flustered. I heard a father tell his son that everybody is getting crazy but "soon enough we're gonna find out everything's OK". I wonder if he is also telling himself this. Close friends and family now working remote.

Sat Mar. 14

Quiet weekend. Roommates moved out. Did lots of cleaning. Relax into the space that's been created.

Sun Mar. 14

E and I played music. V cooked dinner. We had dinner together.

Mon Mar. 16

Crazy day at work. Everyone knows this is serious and things will change. We had a meeting - we will WFH until further notice.

Tues Mar. 17 - Thurs Mar. 19

I'm trying to stick to my routine but I am getting up late and working late. Tuesday was the quietest day I've seen; the weather was cold and rainy. Work is busy. It's great to focus on work.

Fri Mar. 20

Office is closed for the foreseeable future. Warm 70-deg weather today. Everybody is out - New Yorkers need to keep moving! My walks are essential.

Tues Mar. 24

Had a phone interview which went well. Went for a walk. The parks are packed. Makes me second guess going out.

Wed Mar. 25

Cloudy, didn’t go out much. Lazy. Busy at work. More reports of healthy, young people getting very sick. E feeling better - hope he's OK now.

Mon Mar. 30

V's job terminated. I know my job could also be in danger.

Tues Apr. 7

Fourth week of quarantine. Bernie drops out of presidential race.

April, unknown date

Saw a man DJing out of his 2nd floor apartment window, two speakers pointed towards the street, on the Northeast corner of Leonard and Grand.

700pm 'cheer' for essential workers - getting louder each day with more people clapping; Sinatra's New York, New York can be heard throughout the neighborhood, as well as cowbells and other noisemakers. The sounds reverberate between the buildings.

I saw a man enter Bushwick Inlet Park with a flagpole. I thought the flag read "I love you, keep on going" or something similar. Whistling proudly, he marched straight to the beach and looked out across the river with a hand raised to shield his eyes. Maybe someone across the river was watching him with binoculars? He walked to the edge of the beach and walked out the other side. It made me cry, wondering if he was doing it for a loved one.

Sat Apr. 11

31st birthday. Did laundry by hand - put on some Moroccan music and had some fun. Zoom with E and C, then later with parents.

Thurs Apr. 16

Starting to settle into a routine which keeps me motivated and energized.

Wed Apr. 22

Our 3-year anniversary. 50 years Earth Day. While we waited for takeout the restaurant gave us a free beer.

Sat May 3

Third visit to Fort Tilden.*

Sun May 4

Woke up at 4am - neighbors dancing in the street, giving each other salsa lessons.

Tues May 12

Visited parents on Mother's Day, first time seeing them since lockdown started. Kept our social distance. Work - will not return to office for at least 90 days. News - virus came from a Wuhan lab? 

Thurs May 14

Lettuce livestreams listening party for new album Resonate.*

Fri May 15

We got margaritas to go and walked around the neighborhood.

Fri May 29

Still in lockdown. This week a cop killed George Floyd. Riots in MN. Protests in NYC.

Mon Jun. 1

Lockdown still happening. Many protests throughout country. Trump making it worse. Curfew in place throughout the city.

Wed Jun. 3

We went to McCarren for protest and marched down Union past the precinct. Lots of videos of police brutality against protestors: pepper spray, rubber bullets. This feels like the real deal, like a revolution.

Mon Jun. 8

8pm curfew lifted. City starts Phase 1 of reopening.*

Jun. 9, 10

50-A repealed. Went to McCarren gathering both days. Street artists finished a mural of George Floyd on the wall of the corner bodega. The mural reads "Know Justice, Know Peace".*

Sat Jun. 13

Went to Washington Square Park protest.

Tues Jun. 16

Attended McCarren gathering. Marched down Driggs to Washington Monument.

Throughout the remaining days of summer I would continue to take notes and audio recordings of some of the protests I attended. I will post these recordings at a later date. 

Life events including birthdays and anniversaries happened during the lockdown. I learned new words to describe our new world. Looking back, I realized that before the lockdown was officially 'over' we were also under an 8pm curfew due to protests throughout the city.

Footnotes:

• Frequent visits to Fort Tilden during lockdown served as the inspiration for my essay on the fort's history.
• Lettuce listening party livestream. This album release and the subsequent listening party provided a lot of feel-good vibes through a rough time.
• Lockdown began on March 20, 2020 and continued until June 8, 2020. For more information visit: NYS and NYC COVID-19 pandemic wiki page.
• NYS legislation 50-A repealed.
• To see more photos of the BLM protests in New York City, visit vanessahock.com.

Gnawa Nova show recap

On the night of Thursday May 6th, I headed to Nublu on Avenue C & 10th street to see Gnawa Nova. This was my first proper show in a physical venue since before the pandemic. Gnawa Nova is fronted by guimbri wizard from Agadir, Samir Langus, and drummer Daniel Freedman, joined by Jason Lindner on keys, David Lizmi on electric bass, Gustavo Di Dalva and Nizar Dahmani on percussion with Arta Jekabsone and Carolina Mama backing up vocals.

Shortly after 7, Linder headed to the stage and set the mood with some spacey synth parts. The sound of qraqeb, large castanets used in Gnawa music, started up backstage. Langus led the parade of musicians to the stage, beating a large bass drum slung over his shoulder. The hypnotic rhythms of the qraqeb and drums shifted the atmosphere in the room. I had the sense that something sacred was about to happen - live music. Langus played a few low, resonating notes on his guimbri and the band kicked off the set.

Traditionally, Gnawa music is played by the Gnawa people, descendants of slaves in Morocco and Algeria. Over the past 60 years or so the music has spread to the rest of the Moroccan community. Healing rituals called lilas are guided by a Maâlem (master musician) who plays a three stringed lute called a guimbri. Several percussionists play qraqeb and respond to the Maâlem's call and response chants. Lilas may last several hours and people in need of spiritual healing can clap and dance to long jams designed to allow a trance or hypnotic state.

Over the course of an hour and a half the band played a number of long, repeating melodies and created different textures by weaving instruments in and out or by varying tempos. During vamps the band would improvise by listening and responding to each other. Langus seemed calm and relaxed as he sung lead and beat out the song's form on his guimbri. Freedman's solid playing added a soulful groove. Linder punctuated sections with stabs on the rhodes or synths. Di Dalva and Dahmani, on djembe and doumbek respectively, added both West and North African flavors. Lizmi's electric bass supported Langus's guimbri and gave the groove a more western low-end feel. The backup singers echoed Langus's vocal refrains. Several musicians shared qraqeb duties, their polyrhythms creating a shaky-sounding but steady pulse. At times Langus or Freedman signaled to the rest of the band to pick up the tempo, which the audience gladly clapped along to, and the band brought the tune to an intense climax.

The band's set was food-for-the-soul: a satisfying fusion of traditional Gnawa music, African rhythms and Western influences. The long jams allowed me to focus on the groove and vibe the band created. The audience itself was part of the performance, our claps spurring the band forward. As I looked out across the room, I saw a lot of smiles, dancing and clapping; it was clear to me that we all needed the healing power of live music.


Sources
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gnawa_music

https://daily.bandcamp.com/scene-report/gnawa-bandcamp-list

Five Bullets on Creativity from artist Tom Sachs

 

"The void. Negative space. The existential abyss. A blank piece of paper. 

It represents the first step in the creative process. 

Confronting it is an irrational fear we all experience. 
Be afraid and do it anyway. Put pencil to paper. " 

-I.S.R.U. Week 2: Get Started "Pencil to Paper"

 

Writer's block. Not knowing what to work on or where to start. Not feeling inspired. These are familiar problems to creative people. Developing techniques for putting pencil to paper can help confront the 'existential abyss'. In his I.S.R.U. video series, artist Tom Sachs discusses his 'bullets' on overcoming writers block and being creative.

I.S.R.U. Tom Sachs ©

If you are familiar with Sachs' work then you might have guessed that I.S.R.U. is a NASA term. I.S.R.U. (In-Situ Resource Utilization) describes the process of generating products with local materials. As humans go deeper into space, resupplies will become more difficult and crew members will need to become self-sufficient by using what is readily available.

At the beginning of last year's quarantine in New York, Sachs and his studio team began working at their personal spaces. Through a series of Instagram stories, Sachs and team shared their workspaces and art as well as their progress in physical fitness and productivity challenges. Following the practice of I.S.R.U., the team uses the tools and the space they have at hand to get their work done.

Sachs says "there's no secret to creativity… Think about art as a problem-solving exercise". The way to overcome problems like writer's block is "finding mechanisms and tricks to fool yourself into working better". Week 2: Get Started "Pencil to Paper" contains five 'bullets' - strategies which Sachs uses to put pencil to paper. 

• Output before Input

Write, draw, sing, dance. First thing in the morning, before you look at your phone.

• Get your setup

Getting your setup means having the tools and the space you need to work. "For me it’s the right pencil, the right emotional environment and a good hard surface", says Sachs.

• What to do

"Sometimes you don't know what to do and you want to just busy yourself with activity". Cleaning and knolling your workspace "allow you to meditate on a problem while you're occupying your body and mind. This connects your body and mind with your work environment so that you have a greater flow when the moment of inspiration strikes."

• Be a thief.

Make a gift for someone but instead keep it for yourself. Use this as a way of just getting to work.

• Do what you love

"Never in these first moments of waking spend time doing things out of duty and obligation. You spend most of your day doing that." Steal a chunk of time and use it for yourself to write, draw and work on your art. 

 

Be selfish and steal these tricks, says Sachs, the next time you're dealing with a logjam of creativity. You might find that working at night is a better time to let your creativity flow. Write a letter to someone but don't send it. Try out your own tricks for overcoming writer's block and find what works for you. However you do it, confront the abyss and put pencil to paper.

"The reward for good work is more work." - Tom Sachs 

Links

https://www.tomsachs.org/

ISRU youtube playlist

Ten Bullets by Tom Sachs

More movies by Tom Sachs

NASA ISRU overview

Alley Pond Park continued

Recently I returned to Alley Pond Park in Queens to explore the northern wetland section of the park and, of course, to revisit the Giant. Though I've walked many of the other trails in the park, I've yet to walk the yellow-blazed trail which circles Alley Creek. I parked my car in the lot nearest to the southern terminus of the marked trails and headed north on the white trail first then picked up the orange trail. I thought this trail would be the most direct route to the Giant. I followed an unmarked trail back to the white trail and exited the woods near the intersection of West Alley Road and 233rd Street.

I crossed West Alley Road and then the overpass above the Long Island Expressway (LIE). I re-entered the park at Horace Harding Expy. and E. Hampton Blvd., following the purple-blazed Tulip Tree trail. The trail turns south towards the LIE. I looked towards the area of the Giant and spotted the tree quickly – it's the only one in the valley with a fence around its base. I followed the trail along the edge of the LIE to the opposite side of the hill from the Giant to get a good view of it and then descended into the valley for a closer look.

From the other side of the valley the tree already looked bigger than the rest, though several are quite large as well. Once I stood near the tree, I noticed the tree's large trunk, perhaps two times the size of the other trees. Though not nearly as large, the tree's size compared to the surrounding trees reminded me of the giant redwoods and sequoias of California.

The Queens Giant from the opposite side of the valley. 

The valley edge behind the giant is at street level.

After visiting the Giant I continued along the purple trail which parallels the southbound side of the Cross Island Parkway (CIP). Looking to the east, I could see the Alley Creek section of the park. Continuing north, I crossed Cloverdale Boulevard to have a quick look at Oakland Lake before continuing east on Northern Boulevard towards the Alley Pond Environmental Center (APEC).

Oakland Lake from Cloverdale Blvd.

APEC was completely under construction and a sign directed me to a detour to the yellow trail. I went south on the trail, along the northbound side of the CIP. Once I reached the east side of the trail, away from the noise of the highway, I was immersed in the natural sounds of the area: wind moving through the reeds, flowing streams and springs, and bird calls.

South-looking view of the Alley Creek wetland section of the park. 

The part of the trail furthest from the highway is quiet and must be a birder's paradise. I spotted several species of birds and possibly a beaver, which quickly hid in a stream as I approached. Walking among the high reeds and other vegetation gives the area a 'wild' feeling, that nature is allowed to do (mostly) what it pleases. I only saw a handful of people on this cool, sunny March morning. As I walked back from Little Neck bridge, past Oakland Lake, past the Giant, and through the woods near the parking lot, I was grateful for being able to witness this remaining wilderness so close to my hometown.

More photos below. 

The Tulip Tree Trail parallels the north side of the LIE.

The only item, aside from the fence,

distinguishing this tree from the others:

a statue placed at the base of the tree.

The enclosed base of the Giant.

Vertical panorama of the Giant.

No wildflowers present this time of year 

at the Oakland Lake Wildflower Meadow. 

Behind APEC, the trail is marked with informational signs.  

Boards make up some sections of the trail.

Alley creek near the northbound side of the CIP.

View of the trail heading north on the east side of the wetlands Yellow trail. 

Alley Creek flows under Northern Blvd at the Little Neck Bridge. 

View of Alley Creek and wetlands from the Little Neck Bridge.

The unmistakable shape of Creedmor Psychiatric Hospital,

near the south section of the park, is visible in the distance.

Sources:
https://www.nycgovparks.org/pagefiles/145/AlleyPond-Trails-2019__5dde87a3ebb41.pdf
https://ny.curbed.com/2016/6/9/11891372/nyc-parks-alley-creek-queens-photo-essay
https://longislandsoundstudy.net/2012/10/alley-pond/

The 'Queens Giant' - NYC's tallest tree

In the woods of Alley Pond Park in Queens stands the tallest tree in New York City. At 134 feet tall, the tulip poplar dubbed the 'Queens Giant' is estimated to be between 350 and 450 years old. In fact, the tree may be the oldest living thing within the city. I grew up near the park and often visited for school trips and little league games. I didn't learn about the tree until I began exploring the parks trails several years ago.

Created in 1929, Alley Pond Park occupies 635 acres and is the second largest park in Queens. The park borders Bayside to the west, Douglaston to the east, Little Neck Bay to the north, and Union turnpike to the south. The Grand Central Parkway (GCP) and the Long Island Expressway (LIE) run east-west through the park, while the Cross Island Parkway (CIP) runs north-south. 

Alley Pond Park is home to old growth forest, glacial ponds, a lake, wetlands, and many species of animals. Further to the north, Alley Creek flows through marshlands into Little Neck Bay. The Alley Pond Environmental Center (APEC), located near Little Neck Bay, is a nonprofit environmental education organization which works to educate and conserve this diverse ecosystem. I can recall visiting APEC on an elementary school trip.

The park contains ballfields, tennis courts and wooded trails. A paved bike/walk Greenway follows the route of the old Vanderbilt Motor Parkway, a private highway built in 1908 by William Kissam Vanderbilt. Following a series of connected Greenways through Queens, I've biked from Alley Pond Park to Flushing Meadows Park.

 
Visitors seeking the Giant must follow the Tulip Tree Trail which descends into a valley near the intersection of the LIE and the CIP. The location is marked on the park's trail map as well as on Google maps but there are no signs to aid visitors in finding it. Stepping off the path and searching around reveals the Giant's trunk, protected by a fence.

I spent many years walking, running and biking the park's trails before I visited the tree. Several years ago, I made my way down into the grove around dusk; the thick vegetation made the area darker. Aside from the expressway noise, I was alone in the woods. I searched around a bit before locating the tree. I was surprised to see a fence around it. I remember feeling that I owed the tree an apology, for not visiting sooner.


Sources
https://www.nycgovparks.org/parks/Q001/history
https://www.nycgovparks.org/parks/Q001/highlights/19645
https://www.nycgovparks.org/park-features/hiking/alley-pond-park
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alley_Pond_Park
https://www.alleypond.org/mission--history.html
https://ny.curbed.com/2016/6/9/11891372/nyc-parks-alley-creek-queens-photo-essay
https://naturalareasnyc.org/map
https://www.boweryboyshistory.com/2009/06/where-are-new-yorks-oldest-living-trees.html
https://untappedcities.com/2015/02/20/this-is-the-oldest-and-tallest-tree-in-nyc-the-queens-giant-in-alley-pond-park/

Fort Tilden

During the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown last March, I began making regular trips to Fort Tilden, escaping my apartment and enjoying this natural preserve only a 30-minute drive away. I visited the area once before but now I had the chance to roam the trails and discover the fort's history, hidden from the beach under overgrown vegetation. Below is a brief description of the fort's history.

Fort Tilden Plan
http://www.fortwiki.com/File:Fort_Tilden_Plan.jpg

Fort Tilden, once a functioning military fort, is today part of Gateway National Recreation Area. Located on the Rockaway peninsula in Queens, N.Y., the fort is bordered by Jacob Riis Park to the east and Breezy Point to the west. The area is a popular beach and fishing destination for many New Yorkers, as well as a marine habitat preserve. Beaches, sand dunes, and maritime forests make up the interior of the park. Hidden from the beach stand two towering artillery batteries, their 16-inch cannons long since removed. Visitors who stick to the beach may be unaware of the fort's 57 year history of protecting New York City.

Fortifications in New York Harbor began in 1807, with the Second System coastal defenses. Prior to the War of 1812, clashes with the British prompted President Thomas Jefferson to build fortifications on America's coasts. Forts were built on Manhattan Island as well as today's Governor's Island, Ellis Island, Liberty Island, and Staten Island. These forts, known as the Second System defenses, were constructed of earth and wood . The smoothbore cannons which could fire up to 1 mile, keeping enemy battleships from striking distance. Between 1817 and 1867, the forts were updated with cannons with a range of 3 miles. This allowed construction of Fort Wadsworth on Staten Island and Fort Hancock in Sandy Hook, NJ, which guarded the southern entrance of New York Harbor. A blockhouse was also built on Rockaway Peninsula, establishing the first of many military installations on the Peninsula.

In 1917, the United States entered World War I and fortifications on the Rockaway Peninsula began. Camp Rockaway Beach was constructed as well as the Naval Air Station (NAS) Rockaway, located in today's Jacob Riis Park. Camp Rockaway Beach was later renamed Fort Tilden after Samuel J. Tilden, former governor of New York and 1876 presidential candidate. The East and West Batteries were built, each with two 6-inch guns.

Brooklyn Daily Eagle newspaper Friday September 13, 1935
Source https://www.facebook.com/forttilden

Fort Tilden's Battery Harris was built in 1924. Two 16-inch M1919 cannons were added, operated by the Army Coast Artillery Corps. The cannons were the largest used in seacoast defenses and had a range of up to 26 miles. The shoreline defenses, East Battery and West Battery, were renamed to Battery Fergusson and Battery Kessler.

By 1941, the United States entered World War II. Fort Tilden's detachment increased to 1,000 men and barracks were constructed. In 1943, Battery Harris's cannons were casemated with concrete and disguised with sand to protect against aerial attacks. The concrete structure also included a railway system which moved ammunition from the adjacent magazine buildings and then loaded the one-ton artillery shells.

One of the casemated Battery Harris cannons. 
Photo copyright https://www.facebook.com/forttilden

After World War II, Fort Tilden's coastal defenses were no longer needed. In 1946, parts of the facility were converted to apartments for Army veterans and their families. These families vacated in 1951 as Fort Tilden was once again needed during the Cold War. As sea attacks were no longer a danger, the 69th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion was stationed to man anti-aircraft batteries. Soon these batteries became obsolete and surface-to-air missiles were emplaced to defend against Soviet jet bombers.

Nike launch Area, 1965
Copyright US Army
https://www.nps.gov/gate/learn/historyculture/coldwartilden.htm

Under the threat of the Cold War, Fort Tilden became a Nike Missile site (NY-49), one of 19 sites within the New York City area. This site protected the area from 1954 until the fort was decommissioned in 1974. The missiles were purely defensive and could intercept enemy jets out at sea. The Nike Hercules system was designed to carry a nuclear warhead, though the army never confirmed whether or not Fort Tilden's missiles carried nuclear material. During holidays, the missiles were on display, pointed towards the sky. Due to the SALT treaty with the Soviet Union, all Nike sites were decommissioned and in 1974 the army transferred Fort Tilden to the National Park Service.

Today, Battery Kessler can be seen from the beach and many military support buildings still remain. An observation deck above Battery Harris East offers 360 degree views. The Nike missile site is closed to the public but is easily found with the help of Google Maps. The concrete launch area is visible. Visitors can wander trails through the park's interior, past the giant concrete bunkers of Battery Harris which now stand as a reminder of Fort Tilden's role in protecting New York City.

Sources

http://www.fortwiki.com/Fort_Tilden
https://www.nps.gov/gate/learn/historyculture/samuel-tilden-biography.htm
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Tilden
https://www.nps.gov/gate/index.htm
https://www.nps.gov/gate/learn/historyculture/2ndsystemforts.htm
https://www.nps.gov/gate/learn/historyculture/newyorkharbordefenses.htm
https://www.nps.gov/gate/learn/historyculture/forttilden1917-45.htm
https://www.nps.gov/gate/learn/historyculture/coldwartilden.htm
https://www.nps.gov/gate/learn/historyculture/nike-missile.htm

https://www.nps.gov/gate/learn/historyculture/upload/Willis-lt-colonel.pdf

A Note on Journaling

I've adopted a new habit over the last few months. I've journaled every day for the last 80 days. This wasn’t much of a conscious decision, but an attempt to write more. I journal in the morning while having breakfast. After some stretching and meditation, journaling is the next thing I do.

I have been journaling regularly over the past three years, but I didn't make a daily entry. Sometimes I'd journal every other day, sometimes once a week. Sometimes not at all for long stretches of time, which necessitated a simple entry detailing recent events but not much about what's happening now. Reading over some old entries, I felt my journaling had become hollow. I wanted to get inside my head. Once I began journaling every day, I found that I could write more about how I was feeling that day, without too much detail about 'this happened, then this'.

Now, my daily morning entry has become an essential part of my routine. As I sit down for breakfast, I consult my planner for the day's event and log bullet points on the events of the previous day. Next, I open my journal and write about what I'm thinking and feeling. When I look back on these entries, I am able to remind myself of my headspace that day. This has more substance and meaning for me than simply writing about what's happening. Journaling every day also allows me to explore ideas or thoughts I'm having in the moment.

I plan to continue journaling daily. It's part of my routine now. I look forward to it. I write and get my thoughts down first thing in the morning. I find my mind is clearer after journaling.