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Things We See
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| photos by Patrick Rapa |
"There's an old saying in the hobby: Whoever owns the cap, owns the pen."
—Vendor speaking to a potential customer (overheard)
I've been to some small lame conventions before (ahem, Kaiju-Con), so I was expecting the 2009 Philadelphia Pen Show to be miserable, nerdy and tiny. I was right about nerdy. The Sheraton Hotel mighty ballroom, site of last year's Henri David Halloween party, was wall-to-wall with tables. And miserable? Nah, for a pen show, the place was kind of happening. Not really. But, there were a lot of people there, anyway, and they were pretty enthusiastic. There was guy customizing fountain pen nibs and somebody else doing engraving. Lots and lots of tables bragging about rarities and reconstructions. Here's what I didn't realize going in: There are pen collectors.
I could see spending good money on a pen. Even though they're messy and fickle, I dig a good fountain pen. To write with. The ink just can't wait to get out. But some people at the PenCon were spending insane money on pens. $100? Nah. $300, $500, $1,000, more. Some were titanium monsterpieces of unchewable mass, some came in ornate boxes built for proud display. I picked one oaken pen up out of its cradle and considered its weight in my hands. Oh yes, I could kill a man with this. "That's a $10,000 blah blah blah," explained the vendor. I put it down. You know what's crazier than paying that much for a pen? Every table had pads of paper for test-writing. As in, people are using these things. As pens.
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More pics after the jump.
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| Wow! Exclusive Lunar Soil Simulant! |
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Philly, get ready to fall in love with Gayle Quinnell of Shakopee, MN. Gayle is the Reality-Challenged 75-year-old woman who, last Friday at a McCain rally, insisted that Barack Obama was an Arab. John McCain patiently explained that this was not correct, and Gayle quietly sat down.
So does Gayle still believe that Obama is a secret A-rab? Oh, you betcha!
And where did she learn about baby-eating-cyborg Obama's secret life? At her local McCain Headquaters, of course!
Gird your loins for the best "He's still got Muslim in him" interview ever!
When the bigoted ignorant old woman, Quinnell, told McCain she had heard Obama was an Arab whom she did not trust, McCain said, "No ma'am, he's a decent family man." While McCain is correct in this assessment of Obama, is McCain inadvertantly implying that Arab's are not decent or family-oriented people? Because this would seem to be the case. If this is so, then McCain has mistakenly and clearly shown his own bigotry at the same time disrespecting thousands upon thousands of fellow American Arab citizens (of whom I'm sure McCain or the old fool Quinnell would not consider American). Why isn't the media shedding more light on McCain's response?
John McCain has been playing with fire by stirring up hatred and creating a mob mentality among his followers. Let's just hope and pray that his misguided attempt to link Obama with terrorism does not have tragic results. Any candidate that is so out of touch with our historical and cultural roots that he could use these type of devisive tactics in his campaign doesn't deserve to lead this nation. McCain's campaign has tried to capitalize on the ugliness that still exists in our country much to his shame.
Someone should remind Ms. Quinnell that "Arabs" are some of the USA's best friends, at least in George Bush's estimation. The most deplorable part of her saying "oh he's an ARAB" was McCain's reply, "no--no--he's a decent, family man." Talk about horrible responses! His first instinct is to equate "Arabs" with the opposite of "decent, family men?" Why in the world couldn't he say, "look, people of Arab descent are not automatically bad people....and by the way, Barack Obama is an American." Why couldn't he at least TRY to educate some of his most misinformed, misguided supporters? God almighty this makes me furious.
Are all Muslims Arab? Are all Arabs Muslim? Are all Arabs terrorists? Are all Muslims terrorists? Are all Christians non-Arab? Are all Christians non-terrorists? These are the questions I'd ask that woman
Now you know why the Dakota War happened.
You are mistaken. Only part of her information came from another volunteer at the local McCain headquarters; she got the rest at the local "liberry."
Anyone who thinks "terrorist" = "Arab" = "Muslim" needs to be reminded of them good ole white boys who blew up the federal building in Oklahoma City.
Quinnell has the same low level of intelligence, and inability to think for herself as do those who are persuaded to become terrorists.
Tania is absolutely correct... the most pliable and prone minds are the illiterate, isolated, and un-educated. As Ronald Reagan once put it:
"One man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter"!
The ignorant, un-informed (or in this case, mis-informed) have always been the pawns and foot-soldiers of the clergy and political/professional elite. This has been, and continues to be a sad consistency throughout history, in all lands, races, and cultures, and is still being used effectively by those in power, or authority wannabees. Put another way, "You're either with us or you're with the terrorists"! Thanks Gorge W. ("Dubya"). How sad that we haven't progressed much as a race, despite the huge & dizzying advances of technology. God help us; that seems to be the only hope.
Funny how those mobs down South are calling Obama a terrorist, then start chanting "Bomb Obama!" oh yeah, deffinatly the cream of American society down there, thats for sure
Helo young codswallopers, let me explain to yuo why Mrs. Quinnell called Obama an arab. Because he is an ARAB! His father and mother wer both full blown iraqistanis! We must all stop him from election! Its right there in the Bible, God doesn't want a Muslim president of the good 'n fine US of A! who is with me?
@ Frannie Shays Says: October 22nd, 2008 at 8:12 pm You are ignorant beyond the worst ignorance. Even if your statement was correct( which it is not) do we rid the USA of all Arab. I understand why you support McCain/Palin. Your news comes from partial talking points. You referenced the bible but your ignorant a$$ couldn't even support your statement with chapters or verses. Your last statement said who is with me? Please summit your address and phone so we can begin the sign up process. But please also practice these words....Yes, President Obama Obama / Biden 08
ya want my email an address eh? how dare you speak to a woman of my age like that! Tell ya what. I'll give you my address an phone number if you do one thin for me. Say "Obama's an Arab"! then you can send me all the mail you lik! White Power! Frannie Shays
I, for one, agree with Mrs. Shays! Obama is the worst of terrorists! an AMERICAN terrorist. I can't believe our great president hasn't deported that towel head! Down with arabs and muslims! down with the Jews! down with the Blacks! WHITE POWER! P.S. If you want to be educated *properly*, you can email me at lex_darby@georgeschool.org, it seems I'm the only *sane* one at my school White power! Lex
Frannie Shays, learn how to spell, write a sentence and how to prsent a quote of you are going to use one. It's simple minded, uneducated, low life people like you who foster hate. You disgust me. May God have mercy on your soul. Do me a favor learn to love like Jesus did. Power to all people. And as for you Lex Darby, get a life, because you seem to be a loner too!
Hey Frannie Shays and Lex Darby-how about this-NOONE is with you, we do not agree with you, and you sound a little bit insane, better take your meds. It is great that we live in the US and can give our opinions, but when you try to incite hatred, you have a lot of hatred in your heart, and should get therapy for it, and please realize, the majority of us DONT feel the same way as you. You will see on election day-Please get help, and try to get that hatred out of your heart-by the way-where did the hatred come from-your parents? your friends? try to break that cycle, and you will be alot happier!!!
Sure, casual observers might see it as just another Mormon Temple, but cosmopolitan types like to think of it as the best little Mom & Mom & Mom & Pop store this side of Kolob. Be the first one on your block (unless, of course, you live next-door to Mitt Romney or Donnie Osmond) to exchange your holey underwear for a pair of holy underwear.
Be sure to ask about the Bigfoot = Cain special.
How crass. Please find another outlet for your venom. There are things that are sacred to each of us. I wouldn't profane what you believe; why do you to others? The temple is the Lord's house--hope you'll visit it during the open house and rethink your antagonism. Best to you
Things We See happens when we take pictures of weird things with our cellphones. Not to be confused with Jeff Deeney’s “Today I Saw,” which has actual societal value.
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| There's a Kooza at the end of that rainbow |
Photo | Brian Howard |
Yes, this is a very old photo because as you and I both know, Cirque Du Soleil's blue and gold Kooza tents have long since vacated their Broad and Washington digs. But I stumbled upon the shot while cleaning out my camera phone and thought, what with the big tops, the rainbow and Ray King's Philadelphia Beacon, it was too sweet not to post just because of it being five weeks old or whatever.
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Things We See happens when we take pictures of weird things with our cellphones. Not to be confused with Jeff Deeney’s "Today I Saw," which has actual societal value.
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| Corin, Carrie, Janet |
| Photo | Brian Howard |
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| Deacon left, Deacon right. |
| Photo | Brian Howard |
I realize I'm a little late on posting these pics from Popped! two weekends ago, but I was on vacation last week, so shut up. Above you'll see what is very nearly the coolest bag ever: Sleater-Kinney rendered as Lego figures (photo was snapped near the front of the stage during the Mates of State set).
At right is freak-out electronicat Dan Deacon (in the blue T-shirt) entering the human tunnel he instructed crowd members to create. He says, sadly, he was told he had to cut his set short by about 10 minutes which prevented him from closing with crowd favorite "Wham City." (which you can hear here as performed at his Starlight Ballroom set last year). Attentive viewers will spot Inquirer music critic Dan DeLuca at right preparing his Popped! reports.
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