Be open minded

Posted on December 18, 2013 by Jonathan

To whom it may concern,

Being the this class made me look at Brooklyn totally different. Before I came to this college I thought the college was located in Manhattan. I hadn’t made too much research on my college I just knew I was accepted and that was it. When I found out it was located in Brooklyn , I didn’t like it at first. I had a bad image of Brooklyn, I thought it was a bad city. When my professor Rosen told me we had to walk around the college and see a place that interested us that was near the college, I didn’t like the idea at first. I was used to coming out of college and going straight home. But as soon as I started walking around I started to notice the city was beautiful, i was looking at a totally different image of Brooklyn, like the unknown part of Brooklyn . I never imagine viewing this city the way I was looking at it for the first time. It had its nice view of the east river, I could see the tall and colorful buildings. I saw people eating outside of the restaurants I enjoying the view the city had to offer us. Like the saying goes “Don’t judge a book by its cover.” I learned that wit his city of Brooklyn. And after they told us to go visit the place where we choose to talk about in our persuasive speech , I didn’t have a clue where the Brooklyn bridge was. I had a friend that had to guide me towards the bridge. That shows I was really new to the city. My friend told me it was easy to walk towards the bridge but I still wasn’t sure on how to get there. So he walked me there, when I got there I was amazed on seeing such a breathtaking view. I hadn’t imagine seeing the bridge, the way I seeing it was. It showed me I need to explore the world more. My advice to any student sitting in my seat next year is, be opened minded, give this city a I chance to inspire you in your life. That’s what I learned in this opportunity that was given to me.

Summary of The Visions of the Brooklyn bridge

Posted on December 18, 2013 by Jonathan

The Brooklyn bridge was and still is a historical landmark, that many don’t appreciate it. Many don’t know the usefulness that bridge is to both cities New York and Manhattan . It made it easier for people to go across the east river. Before the bridge was built , they only could get across by taking the ferry, and even there sometimes there was no space. And when it snowed , it was impossible most of the time to use the boat. The east river would freeze , but not solid enough to walk across. They were many ways of looking at the new bridge that was constructed. The Bridge gave many people visions on how the bridge could of been useful to themselves. One of those who had their own vision of the Brooklyn bridge was the biggest showman in the 19th century P.T Barnum who wanted to use the bridge to promote his business and also display how safe the Brooklyn bridge is. Washington Roebling son of John Roebling also had different visions of the bridge. His vision was to make it easier for people to get across from one city to the other. Although both had different visions ,They wanted the bridge to be a success.

The Vision’s of the Bridge

Posted on December 1, 2013 by Jonathan

The Brooklyn Bridge was an amazing accomplishment from both father and son, one did the design and the other finished that construction after the bridge was finished many saw the bridge in many different aspects, many saw the bridge as a death instrument other saw it as one of the wonders of the world. Two stories was first, the crossing of the circus animals, the show he displayed, and the showman’s vision of the bridge. The other was the vision the Roebling family had on the use the Brooklyn Bridge, and what is could help many people. The vision the circus showman had and the Roebling family had were different in some ways but also were similar.
John Augustus Roebling was born June 12, 1806 in Germany. He was a German-born U.S. civil engineer. He was in that time, world’s most trusted bridge builder. John A. Roebling noticed one winter that when the east river froze, there was no way of crossing towards Manhattan. (History)The ferry usually would cross between the two cities trying to make it possible for people to cross. But when it was winter, the river would freeze up and it would be impossible for the ferry to travel. So John A. Roebling noticed a bridge was in need of building , he started designing the building, after a while a bad accident happened and he died shortly after, he died July 22, 1869, in Brooklyn Heights, New York . He died into the construction of the Brooklyn Bridge. His son Washington Roebling continued with his dad’s vision. But he later too, got sick with a horrible disease, a disease called “caisson disease.” The term “caisson disease “means a sometimes fatal disorder that is marked by neuralgic pains and paralysis, distress in breathing, and often collapse and that is caused by the release of gas bubbles (as of nitrogen) in tissue upon too rapid decrease in air pressure after a stay in a compressed atmosphere. (Merriam-Webster) This disease left him motionless, he couldn’t walk, so from his building he observed the work and sent his wife, Emily Warren Roebling to give out the orders, She kept records, answered the mail, and represented her husband at social functions. On the day that the bridge opened Washington Roebling didn’t come out of his house to celebrate with everyone.
When the bridge had recently been finished, many started to create rumors, many started saying the bridge wasn’t going to hold, and that it wasn’t safe. Six days after the bridge was opened to the public, a rumor quickly spread that the new bridge was about to collapse. The resulting panic caused such a massive stampede that 12 were killed in the crush. The tragic incident started the afternoon of May 30, 1883 when a woman tripped and fell descending the wooden stairs on the Manhattan side of the bridge. This caused another woman to scream at the top of her lungs, which caused those nearby to rush towards the scene. The rumor started throughout the whole bridge that the bridge wasn’t safe. As more and more people panicked and mobbed the narrow staircase, creating a massive pileup. Thousands were on the promenade, quickly turning the situation deadly. (untapped cities)After the terrible incident, many were really scared to cross the bridge, many started to really doubt the strength of the bridge. So Phineas Taylor Barnum, 19th century New York’s biggest showman made a proposal. To test out the bridge, Phineas Taylor Barnum offered, he’d walk his troupe of elephants across the Brooklyn Bridge, but authorities turned him down. But a year later, on May 17, 1884, he finally got approved to do this and his elephant and other creatures as well crossed over the Brooklyn Bridge.
These people had their own vision of the usefulness of the bridge. They were similar but I at the same time they had their differences. John A Roebling and his son Washington saw the bridge as a easier and faster way for people to travel across. They wanted to connect these two cites and furthermore it became a cultural meaning, a representation of New York and its possibilities that could happen in this city. Many immigrant would see this bridge and observe its Beauty and it would send them a message, a message that in this place anything was possible, that their dreams were possible. Now, New York’s biggest showman Phineas Taylor Barnum used the Bridge for another reason, as stated before the bridge was getting doubted by many, so he used his heavy animals to prove that the bridge was indeed safe and that there was no reason to doubt the strength the bridge carried. At the same time, Barnum used this opportunity as part of a big promotion to his show. He used the bridge to get more audition to attend his shows. These were some differences these men had, but there were similarities as well. Some similarities were, they both wanted to make the Bridge a successful and useful tool, they wanted people to be secure in what was built. They both had the vision in trying to make people’s lives better. The Roebling’s wanted people to cross the bridge easier, and the Showman wanted to display that people didn’t need to be frighten by this new bridge. These were some similarities they displayed.
“It would be unreasonable to say that the two greatest works of the architecture in New York are things that are not buildings at all – Central Park and the Brooklyn Bridge. “(Goldberger 34) what the author is explaining here is that for him and many others this is one of the worlds recognized and beloved icons. It’s a inspiration symbol to many. The bridge gave many different kinds of visions the Bridge was useful, or great towards their own use. Some saw the bridge of a way to get across the two cities faster, and other saw it as a way to get themselves notice. There’s were ways people saw the bridge useful to them, whether it was for a good cause or a bad one, like suicide and other things. The bridge was, is and will continue being useful to many and future generations.

Work Cited

“Building the Brooklyn Bridge.” About.com 19th . N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Nov. 2013

Haw, Richard. The Brooklyn Bridge: A Cultural History. New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers UP, 2005. Print.

“Ephemeral New York.” Ephemeral New York. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Nov. 2013

“Brooklyn Bridge.” History.com. A&E Television Networks, n.d. Web. 30 Nov. 2013

“Become a Contributor.” Untapped Cities. N.p., 23 Oct.2013. Web 30 Nov. 2013

Summary – 10/28/13

Posted on October 29, 2013 by Jonathan

Since it was a double session for both classes, we observed other students give presentation including myself. We learned about many places and their historical background. After everyone finished giving their presentation. We were informed about how important it is to register for you classes for the spring semester. Professor David explained of the importance to plan ahead, to think of what classes you are required to take, and what classes not to. He explain we should review the classes we want with our advisor. After that announcement, we were told, the students that went up today for presentation should go check on Openlab to check out their video of how they did in their presentation and to afterwards fill out their informative speech self evaluation. The students who didn’t bring those sheets in weren’t going to receive back their grade for their presentation. We were also told by Professor Rosen to make sure we answer one of the 3 question she wrote and to answer in a summary. We have to read “Reading Lucy”, at the end Professor Davis said, it would be a “good idea” to start reading chapter 9.

Over Lapping New York – Dumbo Beach

Posted on October 16, 2013 by Jonathan

Many of our texts this semester depict how New York can be viewed as an ever changing global city, with relics from different eras and different communities co-existing and edging each other out. We had to observe overlapping New Yorks, we had to look for places where we saw different New Yorks overlapping in close proximity. Coming out of the subway, I usually don’t look around to see what’s interesting. I go to where I need to go and end of story. Many just walk where they need to go and don’t stop and observe what’s surrounding them, what history is around them. Many walk around the Brooklyn Bridge and they don’t even know the story behind it. A place that seemed interesting to observe was Dumbo Beach, I didn’t know the name of that specific place until I went for a walk and arrived there. The place was interesting to me because I found it odd to find a beach kind of place in a busy kind of neighborhood.

Once I stopped walking at York Street, and started observing what was surrounding me. So many things there were in close proximity, so many buildings, some were under construction, others were brand new buildings, Brand new restaurants as well as old ones, but they all were right next to each other, something about that gave it a great view to observe. In every corner of a Street you would never know what lied ahead, in one street you might see a huge bridge and many car on it, in another you might see this recreational place to relax, in another you would see buildings and cars being busy as they are in Manhattan. So many overlapping views of New York. Down on Jay Street there seemed to be a kind of beach, From where I saw it you could see all the busy buildings and people down the aisle. At the very end you can see this Blue water moving calmly while everything around it moved at the speed of light. I decided to walk towards there. While getting there I passed several great and interesting places and it motivated me to get more curious about Brooklyn.

Juxtapositions can include old and new things, residential and commercial, historic and replaceable, natural and man-made, constructed and under-constructed, well maintained and in disrepair, celebrated and forgotten, on ethnic group and another ad etc. From what I saw it seems like the place was Man made, it didn’t seem to have that natural kind of feeling. There are buildings and these electrical things around it, all these places are Juxtaposition towards the Beach. When I got to the Beach there was a few benches to sit on and a umbrella to cover you from getting sun burn, there were a few kind of plants that I hadn’t seen nor heard of. Solidago Sempervirens, Rosa Virginiana, Pinus Virginiana, Ammophila Breviligulata, Opuntia Humifusa all these were there and they gave you a description of each one. While sitting and taking in the view I felt as if I was in my own New York and started thinking of what the author of the story city limits wrote. “The New York City you live in is not my New York City” (Colson Whitehead) I felt clam relaxed sitting in a bench enjoying the view, but in that instant moment there were many other individual in their own New York. Some were doing hard labor jobs lifting Heavy wood, metal and other things, other were jogging around the Block, others were going into work with Business outfits, and others that were sitting outside a restaurant eating and watching others work. This authors quote explains so much in one simple quote and makes us observe and think:” what’s my New York City look like?”. The directions towards Dumbo Beach are very simple. You start out at City Tech, The main building and you walk towards the Brooklyn Bridge. Its one direction but you have to pass several streets. Chapel St, Concord St, Nassau St, Sands St. Then you cross the street towards Prospect St. Walking towards the beach I saw on Front St. a beautiful Art painting in a wall, it was a Mexican Restaurant you continue walking until to reach the Beach.

“The New York City you live in is not my New York City” , “Maybe we become New Yorkers the day we realize that New York will go on without us.”(Colson Whitehead) As I was explaining one of these, these quotes had hidden messages and its up to the reader to find it. They easily got my attention because they have a special meaning. “The New York City you live in is not my New York City” what I found in this one was, the Memories we have of New York City, no one really knows how we see them except us. This quote relates to what I’m talking about because the walk I took, the emotion I felt and the thoughts that went through my mind aren’t going to be the same as another individual. “Maybe we become New Yorkers the day we realize that New York will go on without us.”this one explains of how much of a value New York City is to us and how of a minor value we are to New York City. This one is relatable because I notice we are influenced by New York City. New York City is our role model, we want to be involved in it, we want to be someone in New York City, and we rely on it. New York doesn’t need us to functions. And when we aren’t there anymore, New York City will continue on without us, and leave us behind.

Summary of Brooklyn historical society

Posted on September 30, 2013 by Jonathan

My walk towards the Brooklyn Historical Society was a good experience, I enjoyed the walk and learned about several places and people. I had the opportunity to go inside the Brooklyn Historical Society and the inside looks nothing like the outside, the inside is a totally different place. While we were there we learned about several people. One thing that got my attention and left me thinking was a sculpture that they had of a girl named pinky. At first I thought it was a simple sculpture , but then they pointed out we had to also observe the details and we noticed there were poison leaves surrounding her. That small but important detail was interesting, she looked like an innocent slave, and then I learned that – that kind of leave was surrounding her made me think of her as a girl that no one wanted to mess with. Later they explained it was a symbol of the topic of women rights and that no one wanted to touch upon that topic. Another thing that was great to learn was the obsession in taking care of the historic books they have in there. They have several rules, and many might think their not that important but in all honestly those rules are a crucial part in keeping those books in a good condition. The place has so much wooden detail and sculpture wise as well. Over all the place was a great experience and left me wondering what other things there are to learn about.

Location Choice

Posted on September 30, 2013 by Jonathan

My Location Choice is Dumbo Beach

The directions:

You start out at City Tech. The main building and you walk towards the Brooklyn bridge. You have to pass several streets to get there:

Chapel St.

Concord St.

Nassau St.

Sands St.

Then you cross the street towards Prospect St

York St.

Front St. – There’s a beautiful Art painting in a wall, its a Mexican Restaurant

Water St.

Plymouth St.

John St.

All these streets are With Jay street, so you go straight down on Jay Street towards John St.

The Quotes I’m Choosing to use are from the Article City Limits:

“The New York City you live in is not my New York City”
“Maybe we become New Yorkers the day we realize that New York will go on without us.”

I choose these Quotes Because they have a special meaning. One means the Memories we have of New York City no one really knows how we see them except us. This quote relates to what I’m going to write because The walk I took, the emotion I felt and the thoughts that went through my mind aren’t going to be the same as another individual. And the other one explains of how much of a value New York City is to us and how of a minor value we are to New York City. This one is relatable because I notice we are influenced by New York City. New York City is our role model, we want to be someone in New York City, we rely on it. New York doesn’t need us to functions. They are both interesting quotes the Author used in his Writing.

A walking in New York City

Posted on September 25, 2013 by Jonathan

The first walk I remember taking to New York was when I was 12 or 13 , I was going ice skating and my family and friends decided to go towards Manhattan. It was an excited feeling since I never had ice skated and hadn’t gone to the city in a while. At first there were mixed feelings since we were going in the subway and I didn’t like going on the train. I had memories of the subway and its congestion and the not being able to always sit down, I always hated the subway. But when I went on it-it was actually not as bad as I thought, but afterwards it started filling up. I had to get used to it , I notice the subway was a busy transportation. When I got to the stop which was Bryant Park, we got off and as soon as I got off the subway, It was crowded. So many people walking and I had to keep close to the group. Since there were so many walking in different directions we had to walk at the speed of light, everyone was walking fast and we had to keep up. Getting out of the subway, The view was mesmerizing, So many tall building, and since we went in the afternoon we saw the sun hitting the Glass windows. So many different kind of people, some with business clothing others with jeans and sweater and many more. There were so many Stores to go Shopping. At first It was an exciting feeling but after I started getting mixed emotions, I was feeling intimidated, so many tall and good looking people , it felt like I didn’t fit in. The feeling was that i wasn’t worth being there, everyone was in a higher class than me. The Ice skating experience was a Good one, had my slips and falls, but what was really kept in my mind was the view, the places, and the People that live in Manhattan. I do remember I had other walks before in the City but I was too young to remember, This was the memory I mostly remember of Myself and the Confrontation I had with The City that never sleeps.

Reading Images

Posted on September 10, 2013 by Jonathan

Images #2

Three ladies seem to be enjoying the day , maybe eating lunch
They seem to be wearing elegant clothing
Two of the three are looking at the photographer while he takes a picture
The one girl not looking at the photographer seems camera shy
Picture looks old, it has an effect
Picture seems like it was taken a while ago
the boarders of the picture are fading
All three girl look relax
Maybe this picture is representing something with Woman’s Rights
There’s a jacket of a girl on the ground, maybe she took it off

Being in Brooklyn

Communicating on the OpenLab

Author Archives: Jonathan