5th Avenue Frogger

Frogger parodies could easily be justified as designs we've seen a lot, but this is a clever, imaginative take on the franchise. The arcade box uses real-time web-cam traffic feeds (and some clever coding) of New York's 5th Avenue to simulate the car obstacles in the Frogger universe.

Man On Wire

Man On Wire Documentary

I finally watched Man on Wire, a film documentary based on Philippe Petit's 1974 illegal high-wire walk between the Twin Towers of New York's World Trade Center. Amazing to see the thought-process, passion and effort of an artist to create his masterpiece.

MAN ON WIRE Movie

Making A Photo Uniquely Yours: An Initiative

While everyone else was taking photos of the White House, I took this textured photo
of the brick from the park across the street. This is a singular experience. -wdsiemer

Making A Photo Uniquely Yours: An Initiative
William D. SIEMER II

Everybody takes photos of statues, monuments, historic buildings and landmarks. There are probably millions of people with similar photos of Times Square or the Washington Monument. On my recent trip, I took some photos like these for keepsakes, but I find myself doing it far less often. I want to experience a trip through my own eyes, not a camera viewfinder. Therefore, when I take a photograph I feel the scene was important enough for me to want to share its beauty, ugliness or message.

So, next time you go to take a photo of something famous, think of turning the camera around and taking a photo of the unimportance of its surroundings, of a piece of chewed gum sticking to the wall, or of the simplicity of the ground you are standing on. It will make the photo unique to you. It will make you unique...

To say--"I visited the Eiffel Tower, but instead I give you a photo of a strange bug at its iron feet." Everybody has seen photos of the Eiffel Tower, and can easily access them online, but not everyone has seen a photograph of that exact bug.

You capture a singular moment; a mystery that is otherwise easy to solve. Only you know the answers, reasons, feelings or location behind your image. Give it a try!

NY Legislature legalizes gay marriage

NY Legislature legalizes gay marriage
By MICHAEL GORMLEY, Associated Press – 7 mins ago
[READ ARTICLE]

A step towards the deserved equality for all regardless of nationality, religion, race, class, gender or sexual preference.

NYC Pride, Greenwich Village Flag. -wdsiemer

Yotel Hotel Review (New York)

Outside Yotel. wdsiemer ii

Yotel Hotel Review

Times Square, New York

I recently stayed at the new Yotel Hotel at Times Square in New York City. Actually, the Yotel (10th and 42nd Street) is a few blocks from Times Square (7th and 42nd), but is less than a 10 minute walk. Its rooms are larger than those in capsule hotels but are very small relative to traditional hotel rooms.* It's marketed as high-tech at an affordable price.

New York's Yotel Hotel

Yotel Hotel Review [click here] 

New York's Yotel Hotel at Times Square

On my East coast excursion, I'll be staying at the new Yotel in New York at Times Square. I'll take pictures and give a quick review when I return.

Yotel: High-style, low-priced hotel to open in NYC
By Barbara De Lollis, USA TODAY
|Read the USA Today Article|

NYC taxis to get suburban look, Japanese nameplate

NYC taxis to get suburban look, Japanese nameplate (article)

Cincinnati

Cincinnati will never have a Times Square or Central Park, but the city's image and urban planning are improving drastically as highlighted by this Sunday's Cincinnati Enquirer. Cincinnati's downtown is once again becoming a place to shop, gather, eat, and enjoy the arts. This, in large part, is thanks to young, eager, charismatic business owners, artists, planners and architects.

It's nice to see the resurgence and additions of restaurants, condos, the Horseshoe Casino, Fountain Square and riverfront development, featuring The Banks. Time will dictate their successes, but things are definitely looking up.

Image is one thing--we must continue to improve racial/class relations, housing and employment. But, so does everywhere else. This is a fun and exciting to be a Cincinnatian.

Times Square is the happening place to be; Cincinnati is getting there.
(Image from my 2010 visit)