Saturday, September 04, 2004
Covert political actions at Philadelphia's First Friday
The "First Friday" of each month brings swarms of people to the "artsy" galleries in the Old City area of Philadelphia. Few parking spots but good people watching times. Everything and everyone strolls about (well, except for maybe the people who could really afford the prices posted on some of these pieces; I've never noticed them around. Maybe because you have to walk and can't be chauffered?) First person who caught my eye today was dressed in a flowing wizard's tunic, outlined in florescent red/pink fabric marker. He even had a black "beard", cut from plastic and outlined in the same colored florescent marker.
There were couples on first dates. You can tell because the girl is wearing a hip dress with heels while the guy is wearing shorts and a short-sleeved button down shirt that isn't tucked in. I don't think I've ever seen the reverse; that is, a guy dressed nicely (at least khakis and tucked in shirt! anything extra is a bonus) accompanied with a too-casually dressed female. Groups from work eating al fresco. And those who used to be called "the hip". I'm showing my age, I don't even know what the cool descriptive terminology is anymore.
Of course several (young) folks on corners with flyers and placards on behalf of Klueless and Konniving Kerry. Several of the "art" galleries had derogatory images of the POTUS. Then I saw someone selling T-shirts with pictues of George Washington and GWB. Under Washington's picture was the statement, "Couldn't tell a lie." Under Bush, "Could". So I asked him if he had one with Clinton that said "Did" and one of Kerry that said "Does." Not truly effective but I was outnumbered and surrounded by hostile forces. (Nah, they weren't really hostile, just astounded someone would/could disagree with them I think.) Maybe I should market the Clinton/Kerry shirts myself. Wish I could stand on the opposite corners with Swift Boat Vet flyers but the state government agency I work for probably bring me up on charges. (I'm serious about that; they claim I'm not even allowed to write letters to the editor of local papers about anything. I'm supposed to get their permission to be on the recycling committee of a condominium association! The KGB is alive and well and ensconced in Trenton NJ, all branches of government.)
Additional digression: The T-shirt was able to say only "could" about GWB. The worst thing the media could ridicule/attack Quayle with was his misspelling of the word "potato". What an incredible legacy to hand to his children to exit a political career unsullied with dirty dresses, strange bank loans and colleagues who maybe committed suicide or who maybe had some help.
As an example of the dichotomy between the First Friday attendees and the galleries, there was a rather nice table in one gallery that specializes in "artistic furniture". The table wasn't that large but not too small, maybe mahogany, and the price tag was over $47,000!!!! It was the most expensive item I've ever touched (besides a house, my acquaintance pointed out). I've never even touched a car that cost that much! If I were a gallery owner, I'd be freaking out with worry that some nincompoop klutz (if the shoe pinches. . .) might nick or knock something. (I should mention that many of these galleries have receptions on First Friday, with alcohol and munchies, open to the public. Which is truly the big drawing point I know.)
There were couples on first dates. You can tell because the girl is wearing a hip dress with heels while the guy is wearing shorts and a short-sleeved button down shirt that isn't tucked in. I don't think I've ever seen the reverse; that is, a guy dressed nicely (at least khakis and tucked in shirt! anything extra is a bonus) accompanied with a too-casually dressed female. Groups from work eating al fresco. And those who used to be called "the hip". I'm showing my age, I don't even know what the cool descriptive terminology is anymore.
Of course several (young) folks on corners with flyers and placards on behalf of Klueless and Konniving Kerry. Several of the "art" galleries had derogatory images of the POTUS. Then I saw someone selling T-shirts with pictues of George Washington and GWB. Under Washington's picture was the statement, "Couldn't tell a lie." Under Bush, "Could". So I asked him if he had one with Clinton that said "Did" and one of Kerry that said "Does." Not truly effective but I was outnumbered and surrounded by hostile forces. (Nah, they weren't really hostile, just astounded someone would/could disagree with them I think.) Maybe I should market the Clinton/Kerry shirts myself. Wish I could stand on the opposite corners with Swift Boat Vet flyers but the state government agency I work for probably bring me up on charges. (I'm serious about that; they claim I'm not even allowed to write letters to the editor of local papers about anything. I'm supposed to get their permission to be on the recycling committee of a condominium association! The KGB is alive and well and ensconced in Trenton NJ, all branches of government.)
Additional digression: The T-shirt was able to say only "could" about GWB. The worst thing the media could ridicule/attack Quayle with was his misspelling of the word "potato". What an incredible legacy to hand to his children to exit a political career unsullied with dirty dresses, strange bank loans and colleagues who maybe committed suicide or who maybe had some help.
As an example of the dichotomy between the First Friday attendees and the galleries, there was a rather nice table in one gallery that specializes in "artistic furniture". The table wasn't that large but not too small, maybe mahogany, and the price tag was over $47,000!!!! It was the most expensive item I've ever touched (besides a house, my acquaintance pointed out). I've never even touched a car that cost that much! If I were a gallery owner, I'd be freaking out with worry that some nincompoop klutz (if the shoe pinches. . .) might nick or knock something. (I should mention that many of these galleries have receptions on First Friday, with alcohol and munchies, open to the public. Which is truly the big drawing point I know.)
