Expired film, cheap plastic camera, rusty Worlds Fair site, abandoned parkway, really bad scans:

Can you imagine being the poor slob who was responsible for London’s portion of the closing ceremony of the Beijing Olympics?

Beijing: We have 15,000 acrobats and $1 billion worth of fireworks. You?

London: We have a bus that turns into a hedge.

On August 27, 1776, one of the first major engagements of the Revolutionary War took place on the hill where my apartment now stands. Earlier today I walked up to the top of Battle Hill in the Green-Wood Cemetery to survey the scene on this anniversary weekend. The cemetery was filled with history buffs, community groups and spectators commemorating the Battle of Long Island.  As I type this with my windows open, I can hear gunfire as the reenactors fire their rifles.

In some ways, Brooklyn still represents the early idea of America – A place of hard-working immigrants and other wanderers who came to chase an idea, follow some dream, scratch an itch, or march out of step. This bizarre experiment owes its existence to the thinkers and writers who advanced democracy, and the revolutionaries who fought that war.

Lots more info about the battle, including a good map, at the Old Stone House site.

on my bike ride to work this morning…

Coworker: How’s Baltimore’s second-favorite son?

Me: Do you mean me, or Phelps?

Daily News: NYC Transit planning to experiment with seatless subway cars at rush hour.

Subway cars with no seats? Sorry, I can’t get behind that.

Dear blog readers, nothing makes me happier than sharing with you something cool I know you’re going to love – especially something you can enjoy free.

First, you’re going to love the new David Byrne & Brian Eno album “Everything That Happens Will Happen Today.” You can stream the whole thing online. Play it now, before it’s playing in every single coffee shop.

Second, you’re going to love this Donald Miralle photograph from the Olympics. An instant classic.

We just redesigned the PDNOnline.com site. Check it out here. I did an interview about the site with my friend Rachel at Photoshelter’s Shoot the Blog.

Waterfall and thunderhead, seen from the Manhattan Bridge

“I’ve gotta love Phelps. He’s a Baltimore guy.”

At random times in casual conversation, I’ve actually started telling people that I’m from Maryland! Eight gold medals… Michael Phelps has way more cachet than the Ravens ever did.