The Real Zombieland Photo Request

The corner of Kensington Avenue and Allegheny Avenue in Philadelphia is literally the city's "ground zero" for the fentanyl-opioid crisis. As someone wrote in his own words, "if you look up videos of the worst of the opioid epidemic, you will see Kensington's "zombies." "People seem to fall asleep standing up, lingering under bridges and near subway stations". 

In 2016, my first year into photography, I took a couple of pictures of SEPTA's Metro L train station building of Kensington and Allegheny Avenues. I've always liked the architecture of this building, in addition of being the train station I took to work to the Health Center every day.

A couple of weeks ago, I received an email from the editor-in-chief of a magazine called Novellum Magazine. He said they came across one of the images I took of the corner of Kensington and Allegheny in Philadelphia (Ground Zero of Philly's Opioid Crisis) and asked for permission to use my image as a cover picture for their magazine. 

After reviewing the magazine, I agreed to their request. The top picture is a copy of the corner of Kensington and Allegheny Avenues train station building; the bottom image is a sample of their magazine cover.

Real Women Fart

They say that everyone farts between 10 and 20 times a day. Sometimes it may be loud and odorless, or smelly. Sometimes it's really smelly, sometimes it's silent but deadly.

One of the great inconveniences of riding public transportation is that you are at the mercy of people. Sometimes you take the bus or the train, and its so crowded that it feels like you are inside a pack of sardines.

On this particular day, I was running late for a health center staff meeting. I hopped on the crowded Market Frankford Line, politely made my way toward the middle of the train and grabbed the overhead grab rail to keep myself from bumping into people. There was no room to move.

And then it hit me ....

A well-dressed elegant woman standing in front of me farted. The foul smell resembling the smell of rotten eggs was so intense that the stench burned my nostrils and made my eyes water. I looked the other way to try to get away from her, and to prevent myself from fainting. I could barely breathe. 

The train was so packed with commuters that there was no room to move anywhere. I thought her silent deadly fart was peeling the paint off the walls. Interestingly, people around us totally ignored the rotten smell and no one seemed to notice.

It was the longest most uncomfortable train ride of my life. Just another day riding the infamous Philadelphia Market Frankford Line.

I Hate Winter. I Wasn't Made For This Weather.

I Keep Proof Of My Citizenship Stapled To My Forehead

Yesterday, ICE agents raided and detained an elderly U.S. citizen out into the freezing cold while he was wearing just underwear and a blanket. They questioned him in a vehicle for an hour before returning him home.

The elderly man is a U.S. citizen with no criminal record, and armed ICE agents "broke down the door" of his home without a valid warrant, "pointed guns at the family" and handcuffed the grandfather in front of his 5-year-old grandson, who "woke up crying in fear."

"He was taken outside in freezing weather wearing only underwear and Crocs, placed into an SUV, and driven around for nearly an hour while being questioned. Only after fingerprinting and running his information did ICE confirm what should have been known from the start, he is a U.S. citizen and had NO criminal record. He was dropped back at home with no apology and no explanation."

Continua Cayendo Nieve en Filadelfia

Pienso que el haber pasado las tres ultimas Navidades en Puerto Rico me ha hecho un tremendo daño psicologico; me ha afectado la psiquis tremendamente. El calor de Puerto Rico me hace falta mas que nunca. 

En 43 años viviendo en Estados Unidos, este es el invierno que mas me ha estresado. Estoy contando los dias para irme de este jodio frio. A menos que ocurra algo que este fuera de mi control, este sera mi ultimo invierno viviendo fuera de mi isla.

Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins : Let Them Eat a $3 Dollar Meal

This week, Trump’s Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins said in a FoxNews interview that a practical and achievable realistic budget for the average American family is one piece of chicken, a piece of broccoli, and one corn tortilla. Who can feed their family on $3 dollars?

The appearance followed the secretary’s Thursday boast that her team ran “1,000 simulations” and found Americans could eat healthily and cheaply on a diet of “a piece of chicken, a piece of broccoli, a corn tortilla, and one other thing.” It is important to note that this is the same Secretary of Agriculture who when people were concerned about the price of eggs, suggested the American people ought to raise chickens in their backyard. She’s basically telling us to starve and be grateful.

"Let Them Eat Cake", as the story goes, was French Queen Marie-Antoinette response upon being told that her starving peasant subjects had no bread. Because cake is more expensive than bread, the anecdote has been cited as an example of Marie-Antoinette's obliviousness to the conditions and daily lives of ordinary people.

Show Me Your Papers !!!!

Illinois U.S. Senator Dick Durbin wrote to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem today, telling her he was outraged at “repeated targeting and racial profiling” of American citizens by her agents carrying out “citizen checks.” “To state the obvious, we are not a ‘papers, please’ country,” Durbin wrote. “American citizens do not have ‘immigration documents’, and to require them to carry such documents to avoid being violently stopped or interrogated by federal immigration agents is absurd and unconstitutional."

If you're a citizen, you're now demanded to show your papers to any ICE agent who decides you're a problem, a threat, or just don't look white enough or Trump-supporter enough. ICE is even harassing and arresting Native Americans. 

Already there have been many US citizens who didn't have proof of citizenship on them and were arrested and taken away, often violently, only to be released later with no charges once their citizenship was confirmed. Do you seriously think that's acceptable? 

Maybe the Trump fascist government can come up with something that people can put on their clothes to identify them, like yellow stars. [insert sarcasm here]. 

American citizens should not have to show proof of citizenship or be assaulted by ICE. It is unconstitutional, yet here we are.

Troops Have Arrived In Greenland

Troops from Denmark, Germany, France, Sweden, U.K, the Netherlands and Finland have arrived in Greenland to boost security.

In reality this move is a symbolic one. If the United States chose to invade Greenland, there is not much anyone can do. Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen said: "Greenland is not for sale. Greenland does not want to be owned by the United States. Greenland does not want to be governed from the United States. Greenland does not want to be part of the United States.”

The idea of NATO countries having to protect someone from the United States shows what a global embarrassment we are right now. It is ironic that these troops SHOULD BE defending Europe from Russia, not the United States.

Donald Trump To Pardon Puerto Rico Ex-Governor Wanda Vazquez

ESPAñOL : (this will repeat in English)

El Presidente Trump indultara a la exgobernadora de Puerto Rico Wanda Vazquez, quien se declaró culpable ante el Tribunal en un caso de corrupcion y soborno federal. El perdon presidencial tambien seria otorgado a los otros implicados en el caso. Tal para cual, un convicto federal defendiendo a otro.

ENGLISH:

President Trump is issuing a pardon to Puerto Rico's former governor Wanda Vazquez, who was previously indicted and plead guilty in a federal corruption and bribery case. Trump's presidential pardon includes her co-defendants found guilty on the case. Birds of a feather flock together.

I Back Up My Files Religiously, I Pray Nothing Happens To Them

Life Is Like Ice Cream. Enjoy It Before It Melts!

No Tripods Allowed! Enter The Platypod ...

I would not be surprised if people are sick and tired of listening to me, talking about Platypod. The fact is that I have not used or carried a tripod to take pics since 2024; so no more worries about the tripod police telling me that tripods are not allowed. 

Platypod Ultra and Platypod eXtreme have been quite reliable pieces of gear used for my photography or vlogging needs. Platypod is a compact alternative to bulkier and heavier tripods, especially for low angle and travel photography. It works great when used on my DSLR, my GoPro action camera, and my cellphone. In my personal opinion, Platypod Rules. 

The Trouble With Winter And Old Age

Eagles vs. 49ers Predictions

Tomorrow at 3:30 pm at Lincoln Financial Field, the Eagles face the 49ers in the NFC Wild Card playoff round. It is a win-or-go-home matchup for the 11-6 Eagles. 

The Philadelphia Eagles are the current NFL champions, having won SuperBowl LIX in February 2025 . This year they are strong contenders for another Super Bowl run, and they are playing at home.

Eagles are predicted to beat the 49ers tomorrow. For that simple reason, my prediction is (Eagles 20) and (49ers 17).

You Know Who Else Shot Civilians In The Street? NAZIS

Parte 4: Restauracion de la 1978 Kawasaki KZ 1000

Llegaron los Reyes Magos. Finalmente, tras varios meses de una intensa busqueda de un tanque de gasolina para convertir mi 1978 Kawasaki KZ1000 LTD en una Kawasaki KZ1000 A2 modelo estándar, consegui un tanque de gasolina usado en el estado de Kansas.  No hace apenas un mes que compre el aro de la rueda trasera de 18" pulgadas de la 1978 Kawasaki KZ 1000 A2 en Buffalo, New York.

El tanque de gasolina se encuentra en excelente condicion, y gracias a Dios lo compre a un precio razonable. Lo consegui en uno de los grupos de Facebook y espero tenerlo por correo este proximo fin de semana, a mas tardar al principio de la proxima. La compra se concreto el dia de la vispera de Reyes.

Me imagino que el proximo paso ahora es comprar los emblemas/calcomanias de los colores originales del tanque, y conseguir un buen hojalatero en Mayaguez o en los pueblos limítrofes que pinte la moto completa. Lo mas dificil fue conseguir las piezas de la moto, y gracias a Dios ya las tengo. Ahora a esperar estar viviendo en Puerto Rico, para empezar el proceso de restauracion poco a poco de la moto.

La 1978 Kawasaki KZ 1000 LTD ha estado guardada en un garage sin usarse ni prenderse desde el 2010. Espero entretenerme restaurando este vejestorio de moto. 

Donald Trump Has Opened A Pandora's Box In Taiwan And In Europe

Methinks removing Maduro from Venezuela will embolden China to attack Taiwan and remove its president. Just last week China was rehearsing 10 hours of military blockade and live-firing rocket drills around Taiwan. Since 1945, the People's Republic of China has claimed Taiwan as its territory. 

Trump just created a bad precedent and justification for Putin to remove any European president he does not like or agree with in Europe. And Trump is opening the door for Xi Jinpin to invade and take over Taiwan. 

Who is going to stop Russian president Vladimir Putin and China's president Xi Jinping from invading their neighbors and kidnapping their leaders on "Trumped-up charges?"

Our Self-Proclaimed "Peace" president, Imposed Regime Change in Venezuela

Once again, in typical American tradition, Donald Trump, our self-proclaimed "peace" president has attacked a sovereign nation. And invaded their land to depose their leader and impose regime change. For those of you keeping score, the United States have a imperialistic history of expanding its political, economic and military influence globally, by any means necessary. 

How many times have the United Stated toppled foreign governments around the world? Starting with the overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy in 1893, the United States has not hesitated to overthrow governments that stood in the way of its political and economic goals. 

Many of those interventions directed at regime change, have had disastrous long-term consequences for the United States and for the people of those countries. In many instances, the United States replaced their democratically elected leaders with our puppet leaders, and most of them turned out to be despots and tyrants.

Recommended Reading: 

OVERTHROW: America's Century of Regime Change from Hawaii to Iraq.  

Author: Stephen Kinzer.

Blog Visitors: Where Do They Come From? How Do They Find Me?

Last year, I decided to install a Live Traffic Feed on my personal blog to find out where my blog visitors are coming from. My blog posts combine English and Spanish language, primarily to reach a broader audience.

This morning, I was surprised to learn that no one from the United States or Puerto Rico appear listed in the Live Traffic Feed. At least in the last 24 hours.

In order of appearance, the last 24 hours I've received visitors from these 12 countries : Pakistan, India, Argentina, Singapore, Turkey, Egypt, Mexico, Brasil, Venezuela, Uzbekistan, Netherlands and Bangladesh.

I wonder why my blog posts are attracting an international audience, how do they find me? Is it possible they may not be real visitors but spam bots, crawlers, VPN users from foreign countries? Inquiring minds want to know.