candles and posters are an inescapable presence downtown. i forgot to say that saturday night, headed home from the blogolicious festivities, i passed the little memorial on avenue a between 5th and 6th streets, right in front of the nuclear power plant on that block. a policeman was standing watch in front of it. i live on that block and am generally one of those bleeding heart liberal commie pinkos that don't like cops, but i thought it was cool that he was making sure that nothing happened to those candles, or to that block, or whatever he was guarding. so i thanked him, hey, thanks for taking care of this (pointing to memorial) and this block, and he said no problem, and then i went home.

tonight i went for a little walk after the gym and passed by caav (committee against anti-asian violence) and saw some acquaintances standing outside. i didn't know that it was located on 3rd street and i didn't know they were members. everywhere you go you run into familiar faces lately—i love it. then i walked to tompkins to see if there were any dogs allowed in the dog run after dark (there aren't) and saw the large chalking and memorial there. there was one candle that was still lit; the religious kind in the tall glass holders that you can get in all the bodegas here. that one candle, damn.