Shreddable Society (Hells Kitchen, Manhattan)

A chapter of the AARP held a "Shred Fest" for 3 hours on 43rd Street, and the line went down the block. I'm trying to figure out what this says about society. That the fear of identify theft has reached epidemic proportions? If so, people could shred their credit card and bank statements using personal-sized shredders at home. So are people too lazy to do it? Or too cheap to buy the shredders? Or do they keep jamming, like mine used to do? There's something poignant about seeing so many people sharing the same moment--all equally inundated with boxes and cans and laundry bags of paper, all equally fearful it might fall into the wrong hands.

I Hate Cars (Ancram, N.Y.)

 

The woodchuck had looked much worse. It was sprawled in the middle of the road with an eye dangling from its head. My husband's aunt pushed its body to the edge of the pavement with her foot, inadvertently reassembling it in a position that looked more serene. But the blood in the road tells the story of the sudden violence that ended its life.

Primary Day, but Don't Call it an Election (Upper West Side, Manhattan)

It's primary day in New York State, and for the first time in decades, a primary election in New York can actually help determine who the nominee will be for both major parties. For some reason, the smaller, less populated states go first in the primary season and by the time New Yorkers vote, the election is usually settled. But Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders have mixed things up enough that the outcome is still an open question.
It's probably not accurate, however, to call what we're doing today in New York an "election". We vote but the power to select each party's nominee is in the hands of delegates and each party follows different rules. The Democrats have Super Delegates who aren't beholden to any vote but can pick whomever they please--a clearly undemocratic process, which is why I think calling the primary an "election" is a misnomer

A Day at Summer Camp (Puyallup, Washington)

I directed and edited this video about a very cool program created and run by the Puyallup Tribe of Indians. I had a lot of help putting it together. My colleagues at the Center for Court Innovation, especially Adelle Fontanet and Leah Russell, played invaluable roles as co-producers, and the team that runs the Tribal Justice Exchange provided crucial advice and feedback. The video features the natural wonders of the Puyallup community's tribal land as well as the talents of cinematographer Juan Carlos Borrero. Composer and musician Dawn Avery scored and performed the fantastic soundtrack. But at the heart of the video are the folks who created the amazing GREAT Camp, both staff and students. They welcomed us into their lives and moved us with their stories. For their kindness, honesty and friendship, I will be forever grateful.

Below is a photo of Juan Carlos, me and Adelle interviewing a group of counselors during last summer's shoot .

The Wonder of Neon (the Loop, Chicago)

They don't make old timey neon signs like this any more, do they? I think neon is magical. Not only is it beautiful but the idea that it's made from gas--and an element among an elite group that has earned the moniker "noble"--makes it extra thrilling. I suppose it's only fitting that this old-time sign promote the wares of a business that itself has changed dramatically. Nothing underscores the obsolescence of cameras more than the fact that I took this photo with my phone.