User talk:Jim.henderson

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Dogging your footsteps... again?

My wife wants us (renters) to buy an apartment. I want to stay relatively close to where I am (Flatiron District), and she keeps looking in the Upper East and Upper West Sides, which I'm really not interested in. To appease her a little, I said Brooklyn Heights might be OK (which she, of course, has managed to expand to Carroll Gardens, Cobble Hill and Boerum Hill -- next is Fort Greene. She'll be looking in Coney Island if I don't stop her) We've been going over on weekends, and, to make it more interesting for me, I've started taking my camera along - and she appeases me by allowing me to take shots. Of course, when I come back to upload them, I find that you've been there before me, many of the same subjects, often the same shot (as the best one available). So, sometimes I upload mine, sometimes not if they don't offer anything different from what you've already done.

That's all by the way of saying that (again) I'm not deliberately dogging your footsteps, it's really just coincidental - we're in the same area and many of the subjects (churches, landmarks) are inevitably going to be covered. Before I go over next time I'll try to take a look to see what you've already done and try to skip some, maybe look at the less obvious places you haven't hit yet (if I can find any).

I hope things are going well for you, and the New Year's rolled in nicely. Best, Beyond My Ken (talk) 03:14, 11 January 2013 (UTC)

Delighted to be chased. Many of my pictures, I look and say, well, it's bad but it will do until someone gets a better one. This morning on Castleton Avenue the biker in front of me evinced surprise at a synagogue styled like a Greek temple, to which I replied that again the Sun is at a miserable angle and anyway our tyrant was setting too fast a pace to let me reshoot my miserable photo of two years ago, so she promised to try it if she ever visited it at a slower pace. After pancakes at the north end of Bayonne I quit the gang to guide a few to the trolley so they could rush home, and in northwestern Hoboken I slowed down for some decent pictures to be uploaded whenever I get the time to process them. So much opportunity for fun; so few hours in a lifetime and when it's a beautiful day with tough biker gang (majority female), who wants to be indoors at the computer?

Boerum / Cobble / Carroll I know well from escort duty for little girls in the 1990s. Those little girls have long been smarter than me and now they know it and they're stronger than me, too. Park Slope, Ft Greene, Bushwick and Coney, I mostly know just from photo expeditions. Many nice people; much photo game not yet hunted to extinction by photographers less rushed than me. Totally unlike Manhattan, that way; almost as much a happy hunting ground as Hoboken. Jim.henderson (talk) 04:28, 11 January 2013 (UTC)

I like it when I go out of town for a week or so and get to roam around a new place in between rehearsals. Of course, the density of interesting things isn't as high as in the city, but at least I can feel like I'm not repeating the work of 50 other photographers. And, a week away makes coming back to the city better than ever. Beyond My Ken (talk) 04:46, 11 January 2013 (UTC)

Only place beyond NY suburbs in recent years has been Pittsburgh, and much out there has been snapped up. Crossing the river from The Bronx my companions sometimes ask, "What, no pictures?" "Harlem is all fished out, and much of South Bronx too," is my answer. I finally looked at those Brooklyn church pictures, and indeed you got a better Borromeo than me; for the others mine are more harmed by trees and less by cars and I don't have a strong preference. So, tomorrow is Ft Greene, Bushwick, central and western Queens with another, perhaps slower biker gang, and Tuesday northern Yonkers afoot. Meanwhile unrelated computer diddling has kept me too busy for picture processing. Jim.henderson (talk) 00:48, 13 January 2013 (UTC)

If you're doing Yonkers, you might try to get the derelict power plant near the Glenwood train station. It's a fascinating building. I have a couple of shots of it, but I made them though the window of the train, so they're not great. You have one, but the building is blocked by a tree. It's on my list to go up and get a good full-body shot of it, but I've just not had the opportunity. Beyond My Ken (talk) 02:26, 13 January 2013 (UTC)

I did a show about Bushwick a few years ago, but never went out there. I think there are some old brewery buildings? Beyond My Ken (talk) 02:28, 13 January 2013 (UTC)

Hmm, yeah your winter early afternoon close shots of Glenwood are better than my long one a couple hours earlier in summer, but that's faint praise. I hadn't planned to get off the train (or bus) so far south because otherwise there aren't many unbagged targets nearby. However, it only doubles the length of my walk to Consumer Reports and the addition is all flat, so I'll see how early in the day I get off my butt. Speaking of butt, it's getting time to put on my biker togs and pedal down to City Hall for a 5BBC tour including places near Newtown Creek, one of the few remaining working factory areas in the city. Some of the Bushwick brewery buildings are landmarks or whatever, and the pictures we have are mostly mine and mostly poor to middling. Jim.henderson (talk) 13:43, 13 January 2013 (UTC)

No Bushwick; biker gang stayed north of there and weather was poor anyway. Didn't get to Glenwood or Greystone; had to take rails straight from a meeting at McSorleys to Grand Central to Hastings to taxi to Consumer Reports. Nice lab tour but others got better pix than me. Jim.henderson (talk) 02:05, 17 January 2013 (UTC)

Sorry to hear that. Is McSorley's your regular meeting place, or was that just incidental? (I've never actually been inside, although I lived 2 blocks away for 5 years or so.) Beyond My Ken (talk) 02:09, 17 January 2013 (UTC)

This is the usual place for a reunion every couple months of retired local telephone workers. Once or twice a year it's dinner in a real restaurant. I don't usually attend, and wouldn't have done this time if I hadn't broken a promise to show last time. A couple hours later in the sleek, modern Yonkers conference room they wondered why I was tipsy and had sawdust on my sweater. Totally different ambiance though I can appreciate both. Alas, that day I was slightly slowed by approaching illness which is now keeping me quiet and indoors. Perhaps this is the bottom and full power will return in a few days. Certainly I'll be up and ready for Wikipedia Day a few weeks from now. Jim.henderson (talk) 13:32, 18 January 2013 (UTC)

GPS fix

Jim: Can you fix the object location for File:Lehigh Valley Red Hook jeh.JPG. The camera location seems correct - in Red Hook - but the object location in on the Hudson River somewhere south of Fort Lee. Thanks, Beyond My Ken (talk) 05:10, 21 January 2013 (UTC)

Done. A bot tagged it according to the barge's location in Edgewater when it got the NRHP designation. Thanks; somehow I missed it when it happened. Jim.henderson (talk) 10:46, 21 January 2013 (UTC)

No prob. Beyond My Ken (talk) 12:11, 21 January 2013 (UTC)

Bronx & Staten Island neighborhood categories

I don't know if you've noticed, but I've added a lot of categories for Neighborhoods in Staten Island, New York City lately. More need to be made, as well as some Bronx Categories. Just thought you might be interested in this, since you've got so many pics in these boroughs. ----DanTD (talk) 01:09, 2 February 2013 (UTC)

Yes, it has enlivened my watchlist. With similarly welcome work by other minds more precise in this field than mine, reviewing every change and finding many old errors of my own has further subtracted from time already made scarce by good weather and other reasons for being outdoors. Tuesday I was seeking in vain the Sedgwick Avenue IRT, Wednesday visiting Brooklyn, Thursday resisting high winds to snap bits of NY Westchester & Boston RR, Friday attending an astronomy meeting and wake, etc. After shopping carefully for a small new computer and big bicycle (can't get by with only one size of each) I hope to find time to renew processing my picture backlog. Oh! Does someone want to make and fill categories for a few more Outer Boro roads? Victory Boulevard, Fulton Street, Main Street and two Metropolitan Avenues come to mind though I'm sure this list is not comprehensive and perhaps not even entirely correct. Jim.henderson (talk) 23:00, 2 February 2013 (UTC)

Good going; several new categories are properly filled. I have patience for some things, but not for making precise and clear names of files and categories. Incidentally you might want to be a bit more daring in lengthening filenames for greater clarity, as long you are renaming one of my pictures for a more important reason. Jim.henderson (talk) 21:37, 6 March 2013 (UTC)

Did I rename any of your pictures recently? I don't remember. ----DanTD (talk) 00:49, 12 March 2013 (UTC)

Hmm, what could I have been thinking, last week? This week I have the excuse of wits thickened by injuries from my Sunday evening bike crash. Anyway, thank you, all you industrious and thoughtful curators. Jim.henderson (talk) 18:58, 13 March 2013 (UTC)

You should take a picture of this place: Anals Restaurant at 935 E 163rd St, Bronx, NY. --Scottandrewhutchins (talk) 20:20, 15 April 2013 (UTC)

We'll see. I did Longwood in June; no plan to return this year. Many places have more unillustrated articles. Jim.henderson (talk) 00:44, 16 April 2013 (UTC)

Mentioned you

I wanted to let you know that I mentioned you here. Beyond My Ken (talk) 05:39, 5 March 2013 (UTC)

For the benefit of any friendly stalkers, we put on an interesting and informative 3-way conversation about geotagging, there. Jim.henderson (talk) 21:37, 6 March 2013 (UTC)

Jim convalescing

Some of you know I got hurt a week ago, so you can skip this paragraph. Sunday evening after a pleasant Wikipedia teaching session at Brooklyn Public Library and a too big dinner with fellow Wikinuts, I was in a rush to get to the Brooklyn Bridge before dusk increased the danger of bicycling. I hastily unlocked and unfolded my little bike and secured my cargo. Unlike the other thousand times I've done this, I neglected to fasten one of the two twiddlies that secure the joints. Shortly after crossing Eastern Parkway, the frame folded and collapsed, throwing me forward onto the sidewalk. My reflexes were not quick enough to twist my body appropriately, so my face and left hand took most the impact which would not have much hurt my helmet and shoulder had those been hit harder.

Rather than ask the kind bystanders to call an ambulance I put my left spectacle lens in my pocket, inspected for major broken bones, finished folding the bike and took the IRT subway home. Kind fellow passengers gave me a seat, and tissue paper to stanch the dribbling blood. Next morning my regular doctor said the lip was neatly cut and already healing, and everything needed time but no work except my clearly broken hand. Across town the sports medicine doc's X-ray confimed the proximally fractured 4 and 5 metacarpals and he put me in a cast. Day after that I got the eye exam for my new glasses, and my wonderful dentist replaced the broken off corner of my buck tooth. Not as strong as the real thing, he warned.

Since then, been spending a week sitting and watching TV when I want to be biking or at least trotting around town. Saturday my new glasses came and I no longer need two rubber bands and cellophane tape to see the screen. Walked down to Times Square Sunday morning for the Half marathon but an arm in a sling and other lesser but still somewhat painful injuries limit my ability to seek good camera angles.

Some of you have offered help, and I thank you but I'm managing. Washing dishes without wetting the plaster cast is so difficult, I've been eating out once a day and using paper plates at home. The cast leaves room for my workable fingers to work, so simple cooking only takes about twice the time. Laundry loads must be smaller than normal. The hardest chore is bathing myself, but any of my friends who might hope to have their hot little hands on my battered bodily beauty will not get that excuse.

Day by day my mouth hurts less and otherwise I gradually improve. Perhaps a week from now I'll be stong enough to trot most the two miles to the fracture healing progress inspection. If it's going well, then more jogging, unbalanced due to the weight, ought to partially restore my wind, preparing for the day in late April when a free hand will let me hit the road again. Might even be strong enough for the 5 Boro Bike Tour in early May.

Jim: I hadn't realized that you were quite so banged up, and I'm sorry to hear it. I hope you make your goal. Beyond My Ken (talk) 04:36, 19 March 2013 (UTC)

Aerobic exercise is limited by a previously unnoticed cracked rib. Still have only one hand for typing. Otherwise progress is progressing. Pining for the open road is the heaviest burden. Jim.henderson (talk) 17:48, 27 March 2013 (UTC)

Mending continues. Cracked rib, no longer painful. Trotting a little. Physical vigor and brain power have returned to, alas, pretty much the usual.

Hotcat and Cat-a-lot have proven able to do much with mouse alone. The latter is a powerful blaster that leaves much pick and shovel work to be done, at least the way I've been using it. The two cat wrangling projects to which I've applied these tools may be a bit too much, namely diffusing Category:Manhattan, New York City which has too many pictures and Category:Broadway which has too many subcats. They might not leave enough time to catch up on my backlog of unprocessed pictures before a free hand gives me the power of the open road again. So many nice things to do; so few years in which to do them. Jim.henderson (talk) 18:42, 4 April 2013 (UTC)

Any chance you might've recovered at this point? Below I suggested a site in the South Bronx you might be interested in capturing, but if you can't, and I can't, maybe I could pass the suggestion to someone else. --DanTD (talk) 15:24, 9 May 2013 (UTC)

Commons:Categories for discussion/2013/03/Category:Demolished buildings

So sorry to read of your accident. I wish you swift recovery. FYI, a suggestion has been added to the above page. All the best. Hamblin (talk) 12:07, 24 April 2013 (UTC)

NYW&B Category

I see you decided to add Category:New York, Westchester and Boston Railway to my category for East 180th Street (IRT White Plains Road Line) station. I didn't think that applied to the whole station, but I won't complain. What I will do is give you a tip; Evidently, what some people might think of as a mini-mall on the Hunts Point Avenue bridge over the Harlem River and Port Chester Railroad main line near the Bruckner Expressway is actually the former Hunts Point (NYW&B) station. I don't know if you or anyone else has ever taken pictures of the place before, but you should. I've got another trip to the New York Tri State Area scheduled for June 2013 myself, but I'm not sure if I'll make it to any of the Five Boroughs, let alone the Bronx. If you don't make it part of your agenda, I'm going to consider it a long-term plan of my own. ----DanTD (talk) 15:21, 9 May 2013 (UTC)

Yeah, I thought about it for a moment and it struck me as right. Ooh! Perfect timing! Tuesday morning, the day after the cast came off my hand, I biked around Central Park with Beth Brody, former chair of the East Coast Greenway Alliance and made a date for tomorrow (Friday) morning to pedal to the Bronx River for the ribbon cutting ceremony of Starlight Park. My strength is still only partially recovered, but she's a dozen years older and probably this time I won't have difficulty keeping up. Yes,

Object location	40° 49′ 11.00″ N, 73° 53′ 23.00″ W	View this and other nearby images on: Google Maps - Google Earth - OpenStreetMap - Proximityrama	(Info)

is on the way and if we have time I'll stop for a pic and if not, stop alone on my way to the retired dingaling meeting in the East Village.

All righty I'm still tired, sunburned and hung over from yesterday (acting as guide I got us lost in East Harlem and again in West Farms) but after some morning errands I'll open the camera and upload the Hunts Point Av pix, probably without my usual selecting, cropping and color adjusting preliminaries. Jim.henderson (talk) 11:44, 11 May 2013 (UTC)

Done. Perhaps I'll get lucky and someone will beat me to cropping them. Jim.henderson (talk) 13:54, 13 May 2013 (UTC)