What Things May Come

A Small July Post

kingmikeip — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 19:58:41 +0000

It’s been a hot summer thus far. Here are two pics from July that I like.

Children cool off in the Washington Square Park fountain on July 6, 2010. Temperature hit 102 degrees.

Lady Gaga performs at Rockefeller Center during the Today Show on July 9, 2010.

Long overdue update

kingmikeip — Fri, 21 May 2010 02:19:43 +0000

It’s been over a month since I’ve updated this blog. So here are a few favorites since I last updated.

Dariana Casado practices with her teammate, Tiffany Chen, at the Kingsway Gym on W. 28th St. on March 23, 2010.

Casado competed in the 152-weight class championship at the 2010 Golden Gloves at Madison Square Garden on March 26, 2010. She ended up losing to La Tarisha Fountain by decision.

A church member holds up his palm during Palm Sunday mass at the Most Holy Trinity-St. Mary’s Church in Brooklyn. March 28, 2010.

The following pictures are from the Five Boro Bike Tour which occurred on May 2, 2010. These pictures were all taken in Queens.

Bikers come into Queens via the Queensboro Bridge.

Pillow Fight! April 3, 2010. Union Square.

kingmikeip — Sat, 03 Apr 2010 21:41:16 +0000

New York City’s Fifth Annual Pillow Fight took place on April 3, 2010 in Union Square. Hundreds of pillow-wielding gladiators proceeded to pummel anyone within arms reach of them.

Prior to the battle, three girls decorate their pillows.

As the battle began, anyone with a pillow became fair game.

A battler winds up to unleash his pillow fury.

This guy has his battle face on.

There were hundreds of simultaneous battles taking place.

This girl tries to protect herself.

Union Square was inundated with pillow fighters.

These two girls decided to have a one-on-one battle up in the air.

This guy tried to fend off a whole crowd.

Sitting on top of a friend’s shoulder made this girl an easy target.

Bravo Battery

kingmikeip — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 15:06:35 +0000

On March 5, 2010, Bronx-based Bravo Battery, 1st Battalion, 258th Field Artillery of the N.Y. National Guard headed down to Camp Blanding, Fla. to conduct their annual training. Their mission was to conduct training on a new cannon weapon system and gain certification on them.

Soldiers watched movies on the charter bus during the bus ride down to Florida.

Soldiers gather their equipment after it was downloaded off the bus upon after arriving at Camp Blanding.

Soldiers are convoyed out to the training area in Humvees.

Spc. Woodard sets up his tent upon arrival to the training site. This would be his home for the next 12 days.

Tent city – Bravo Battery’s home in the field.

The Bravo Battery Headquarters tent.

Capt. Lindemann shaves with the assistance of a Humvee mirror.

Sgt. Mateo enjoys some early morning coffee while sharing a joke with fellow soldiers.

Soldiers are served breakfast just as the sun begins to rise.

With limited electricity, soldiers have to share an outlet to charge their cell phones.

After heavy rainfall, soldiers dig trenches to drain the water from their living area.

Sgt. 1st Class Suarez screams out data he reads off his gun laying and positioning system.

Cpl. Owens takes a breather after a long training day.

Spc. Veloz practices some map plotting.

Soldiers speak to an artillery instructor on how to properly use their cannons.

With only the assistance of Humvee headlights, soldiers try to ready themselves for the training day.

A group of soldiers race on the road for fun.

Soldiers organize an ad hoc game of football.

Lavatory facilities were limited to only porta-johns.

Soldiers look on as their colleagues fire their cannons.

A soldier collects up unused gun powder during a heavy rain storm.

As part of his initiation into the battery, Pfc. Marte is thrown into a muddy pit.

Cpl. Lenehan packs his belonging as he prepares to leave the field.

Staff Sgt. Brown does a celebratory dance as the unused gun powder is burned on the road. The powder burning signified the end of training.

Rain Dancers – Feb. 25, 2010

kingmikeip — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 07:41:21 +0000

The wintry snow-rain mix once again greeted New York City on Feb. 25, 2010. As usual pedestrians did their normal rain dance. Here’s my version.

Blizzard in Central Park – Feb. 10, 2010

kingmikeip — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 05:10:33 +0000

New York City was hit with a huge blizzard on Feb. 10, 2010. I decided to take a stroll in Central Park. This is what I saw.

Times Square New Years – The Aftermath

kingmikeip — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 21:14:25 +0000

Times Square New Years celebration is one of the world’s biggest – if not the biggest. It is certainly the most well-known one. All the broadcast and cable news channels always focus on the before and right after the ball drops, however, here’s a tiny peek into what Times Square looks like after the celebrators have dispersed.

A street cleaner cleans up confetti and other trash left behind, while a hot dog vendor heads home.

Broadway is littered with confetti and trash.

A street vendor fulfills the appetite of a couple hungry guys.

MTA Budget Shortfall

kingmikeip — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 03:52:32 +0000

An MTA budget shortfall of almost $400 million threatens to affect bus and subway service. One of the lines that was proposed to be cut was the W train, which provides local service in Astoria and in Manhattan on Broadway. Currently the plans are to discontinue W train service leaving just the N train in Astoria. No additional N train service will be added which will create possible crowded trains and delays.

Passengers leave an N train at Broadway Station in Queens on Dec. 16, 2009. If proposed cuts are approved, the N train will be the only train serving Astoria.

The W train’s days may be numbered.

Joe Napolitano is concerned that additional N train service will not be available.

Jamell Frasier takes the W train to work every day. He is worried about overcrowding.

High School Football – #5 Curtis stuns #1 Fort Hamilton – Nov. 21, 2009

kingmikeip — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 00:01:25 +0000

Fort Hamilton, the #1 high school football team in New York City was supposed to breeze through the playoffs. They were 11-0 going into the semi-final game against #5 Curtis. Fort Hamilton had previously beaten Curtis earlier in the season and entered the game with high hopes. Curtis, however, had a chip on their shoulder.

Led by Penn State bound defensive end Dominique Easley they did everything within their power to prevent a second loss to Fort Hamilton. Curtis struck first, but Fort Hamilton was able to control the tempo of the game. With just minutes to go and vociferous crowd behind them, it looked like Fort Hamilton would end up victorious 19-12. Then the unthinkable happened.

Curtis mounted a huge drive bringing them within Fort Hamilton’s 10-yard-line. Curtis quarterback Kelvin Ruano got a bad snap on 4th down. He unhesitatingly picked up the ball, found an open lane and rushing in for a touchdown. Curtis coach Pete Gambardella decided to go for the two-point conversion – and the win – and it paid off. Ruano found a wide open Jevon Gardner in the end zone to seal the upset.

Curtis defensive linebacker and Penn State bound Dominique Easley was a defensive force in the game.

Fort Hamilton quarterback Frank Laino tries to avoid Curtis defenders.

Curtis running back Jevon Gardner rushes for a few yards.

Curtis’s Wesley Foryoh returns a punt for a touchdown.

Fort Hamilton’s Brandon Reddish has a leaping catch.

Fort Hamilton’s Alton Richardson pierces Curtis defenses.

Fort Hamilton’s Brandon Reddish runs for a touchdown in the second half.

Curtis defensive back Adebowale Godwin returns an interceptions in the second half.

Fort Hamilton defenders can’t prevent Curtis quarterback Kelvin Ruano from rushing for a touchdown in the fourth quarter. This touchdown led to a two-point conversion which sealed the victory for Curtis.

Curtis defensive lineman Krenar Suka hugs Sharon Irwin after their win.

Curtis cheerleaders go wild.

Dominique Easley #58 leads the post game celebration.

2009 NYC Marathon

kingmikeip — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 19:32:22 +0000

The NYC Marathon was held on Nov. 1, 2009. At 26.2 miles, it is the ultimate challenge for distance runners. The marathon stretches through all five boroughs; starting in Staten Island and ending in Central Park. Here are some highlights.

Magdalena Lewy Boulet from California. Boulet, the top American female finisher, clocked in 2:32:17 and sixth overall.

Meb Keflezighi from California, originally from Eritrea. Keflezighi, the first American to win the race since 1982, finished in 2:09:15.

Jaouad Gharib from Morocco finished third with a time of 2:10:25.

Ryan Hall from California, the second American to finish, placed fourth with a time of 2:10:36.

Abderrahime Bouramdane from Morocco checks his time. Bouramdane finished fifth with a time of 2:12:14.

Mike Sayenko of Washington finished 14th with a time of 2:16:38.

Fans bundled up to cheer on the runners during the brisk November afternoon.