This year, it seems, the tableau outside the Humboldt County Courthouse has served as a Rorschach test for local residents. Some look at the huddled Occupy protesters and see a righteous social movement — stallwart defenders of justice. Others look at the same scene and see wastrels. Social rot.
Some look at hand-drawn signs tied to the chain-link fence and see the First Amendment in action; others see vandalism.
Then there’s the courthouse building itself: Is it the ugliest government building in Humboldt County, or is it the ugliest in the state?
Today the Journal received via email two photos from courhouse employee/bicycle commuter Rodney Brunlinger, along with the following message:
NCJ,
My friend, photographer Kenton Davis Armstrong, took these photos this morning next to the Courthouse on I Street.
This bike has been locked up for more than one month. Last week, the seat disappeared. Last night, the wheels followed.
For me, these photos represent the social, political, and financial rust of America in 2012.
Lean back, rub your chin in a thoughtful manner and tell us what you see.
This article appears in Congress: The Dating Game.
A similar stripped bike can be found in front of the McCrea subaru dealership.
It’s just like a Zen koan that turns out to mean nothing… eternally.
Or a photo of a cruiser no one cared for, balanced by primary colors.
But I don’t think Goldman Sachs had anything to do with it.
1. Remove the front wheel
2. Place next to rear wheel
3. Put loch around wheels, rims, frame and sign post.
Sorry, can’t help with frustrated thieves who will slash our tires when they cant steal them.
Hey, those handle bars still look good.
Lost key? I’m not a fan of the U lock, heavy and doesn’t fit around wheels, frame and bike rack or sign post.
Quick release seats and wheels definitely have their drawbacks, see above.
As far as the handlebars, doubt the thieves have the right size allen wrench…
I see a reminder not to leave my bike locked up for a month. (Leaving a bike outside in Humboldt is a recipe for disaster, especially for long periods of time. If a thief doesn’t get it, the weather will destroy it.) Bikes should be ridden, not sitting without use. The frame still looks alright, not all is stolen from the original owner. This seems more a case of someone abandoning the bike and someone else adopting the tires and seat rather than stealing them.
My main thought; Where did the person go who owns the bike?
In all likelihood, the owner/rider of this bike had a court appointment as was taken into custody. Not sure.
You guys are all high. I see a stolen bike that the local eur-tweekins have had a field day on.
Sadly this is a far too common occurrence in Philly too. I took a bunch of pics for the past month. http://strippedbikes.tumblr.com/
That is one of the great things about art-life. Some people see a puddle, some see an ocean. Depends how deep one looks.
Surely a perfect piece of writing! We’ve book marked it and sent it out to all of my friends since I know they’ll be intrigued, thank you very much!