The Manrilla Blog | Life. Art. Religion. Culture.

Today was a busy day. Had to register for Fall classes. Change Summer course line up. Receive furniture. Write a paper on the fly and oh, yeah, drive through North Philly to take some pics! I wouldn’t recommend it to many - it’s pretty hot up there but if you’ve got some street smarts there’s a lot of great imagery up there. I will be making some more future forays into the Badlands as they’re called.

Homeless Cart, Center City

Construction Workers, South & 13^th

Elevator Man, Samson & Broad

Doorway, Samson & Broad

City Hall: East, Center City

The Empty Quarter, North Philly

Old Warehouse, North Philly

Utility Post and Shadow, Juniper & 15^th

Wall of Shadow and Light, 15^th & Spring Garden

Street Sign and Blossoms, Center City

Enjoy.

School’s had me seriously drained. I am so fatigued I feel as if my body’s made up of old potato parts from a McDonald’s deep frier. Okay, so that’s a bit extreme and weird but to put it simply, I feel exhausted. But, that never stops the awesome furry of my point and shoot camera! Here are some shots on my way and returning for a meeting in West Philadelphia of Muslim leaders.

God’s Help, West Philly

The Lonely Tree, West Philly

Relax Your Mind, 62nd & Haverford Ave

Old Street Vendor’s Shop, 60th & Haverford Ave

Boarded Houses, West Philly [Haverford Ave]

The Heart of Armenia, West Philly [Haverford Ave]

Lone Row House, West Philly [Girard Ave]

The Lonely Tree, West Philly [Girard Ave]

Door and Vent, West Philly [Girard Ave]

Philadelphia, From the South Street Bridge

All That Jazz, South Street [above Broad Street]

Church and Sky, 21st & Christian

Entrance, 21st & Washington Ave

Enjoy.

Still taking the train out to Jenkintown for my day gig. As always, my camera is by my side.

Regional Rail Road Ticket Office, Suburban Station

Waiting For The Train, Suburban Station

American Flag And Clouds, Jenkintown

Light Pole And Clouds, Jenkintown

Danger - Old Reading Rail Road Sign, Jenkintown

Temple Train Station, North Philly

Enjoy

Without a doubt, all praises belong to God, Lord of the Worlds. Today, my long time friend Naeem, his son Halim, gave birth to a healthy 8lbs. 6oz. 20-inch boy. الله أكبر. Naeem and I go way back - he was there at the beginning with me when I first took shahadah. So, mabruwk (congratulations) to Halim, Naeem and the whole family. May God continue to bless your family.

ألسلام عليكم صفيان ابن حليم ابن خضر نعيم

I went to see V For Vendetta this weekend. I may comment on that later but for now, here’s a few shots I took to and from the theatre. Enjoy.

Underpass, Dickinson & Front Street

Pipe, Dickinson & Front Street

Grate, Dickson & Front Street

Tower At Sunset, Wilder & Front Street

Enjoy

The idea of tensions between different ethnic groups in Islam is nothing new. We have seen or heard recenlty about the confrontations in California between Blacks and Arab store owners. To Blackamerican Muslims this is not a new topic but it may be newsworth to the general public. On NPR’s News & Notes with Ed Gordon, Gordon discusses this problem by looking to Detroit to see how problems between Arab and Blackamerican both flared up as well as how the two communities have tried to reach out to one another. The broadcast will be available after 4 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.

I’ve had my day gig out in Jenkintown for this week. It’s been a little rough, trying to jet back and forth to work and then back to Center City for classes. Took the camera along the way to snap a few. It’s so strange. You catch the R3 from Center City. You go through North Philly [Tha’ Ghetto…] and then you exit into Jenkintown - whitesville. The disparity is sad and alarming. But…, we’re not gonna let that stop us from documenting our little trips back and forth. So enjoy anyway.

Going to City Hall - Temple SEPTA Stop, North Philly

Bench - SEPTA Stop, North Philly

Train Line [R3], North Philly

Train Tracks, Noble Station

Train Tracks, Noble Station

Sky, Noble Station

Danger, Noble Station

Power Lines, Noble Station

High Voltage, Noble Station

Setting Sun, Noble Station

Self Portrait - “Waiting For The Sky To Fall”, Noble Station

Listen - Junction Box, Noble Station

Enjoy.