Thursday, May 01, 2008

An odd little number!


Today is the 1st of May and on top of being the day we celebrate Labour throughout Europe (by non working!) it also happens to be, like every 1st of the month, a theme day within the City Daily Photo bloggers community. Today's theme is... Numbers. I have tried to look for something more unexpected than a set of numbers like the ones I posted here and I remembered that last weekend I came accross this guy. He would stand at a traffic light near Porte Saint-Martin and every time the cars would have to stop at the traffic light he would perform his juggling number! (Then save some time to ask for a little retribution of course...).

As always, more and more people participate in this monthly worldwide communion (181 this month)! Check if someone has posted an even more far fetched photo than mine(!) on each blog (see below) or visit our portal (now there is even a theme day page, where you can follow the progression throuhout the day).

Albuquerque (NM), USA by Helen, American Fork (UT), USA by Annie, Arradon, France by Alice, Aspen (CO), USA by IamMBB, Athens, Greece by Debbie, Auckland, New Zealand by Lachezar, Austin (TX), USA by LB, Avignon, France by Nathalie, Barrow-in-Furness, UK by Enitharmon, Barton (VT), USA by Andree, Belgrade, Serbia by Bibi, Bellefonte (PA), USA by Barb-n-PA, Bicheno, Australia by Greg, Bogor, Indonesia by Gagah, Boston (MA), USA by Sarah, Whit, & Leyre, Boston (MA), USA by Cluelessinboston, Bucharest, Romania by Malpraxis, Budapest, Hungary by agrajag, Buenos Aires, Argentina by Karine, Busan, Korea South by iamnbinb, Canterbury, UK by Rose, Chandler (AZ), USA by Melindaduff, Chateaubriant, France by Bergson, Cheltenham, UK by Marley, Chesapeake Daily Photo (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Chicago (IL), USA by Focused Light, Christchurch, New Zealand by Michelle, Clearwater (FL), USA by Smaridge01, Clearwater Beach (FL), USA by Smaridge01, Cleveland (OH), USA by iBlowfish, Cologne, Germany by April11, Concordia Sagittaria, Italy by Patrizia, Coral Gables (FL), USA by Jnstropic, Corsicana (TX), USA by Lake Lady, Dallas (TX), USA by turtle, Darmstadt, Germany by Elsch, Dunedin (FL), USA by Smaridge01, Durban, South Africa by CrazyCow, East Gwillimbury, Canada by Your EG Tour Guide, Evry, France by Olivier, Forks (WA), USA by Mary, Geneva (IL), USA by Kelly, Glasgow, Scotland by Jackie, Greenville (SC), USA by Denton, Gun Barrel City (TX), USA by Lake Lady, Hamilton, New Zealand by Sakiwi, Hampton (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Helsinki, Finland by Kaa, Hobart, Australia by Greg, Hong Kong, Hong Kong by Rachel A., Hyde, UK by Gerald, Inverness (IL), USA by Neva, Ioannina, Greece by Christos-Ioanna, Jackson (MS), USA by Halcyon, Jefferson City (MO), USA by Chinamom2005, Jogjakarta, Indonesia by Jogja Portrait, Joplin (MO), USA by Victoria, Katonah (NY), USA by Inkster1, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia by Edwin, Kyoto, Japan by Tadamine, Larchmont (NY), USA by Marie-Noyale, Las Vegas (NV), USA by Mo, Le Guilvinec, France by ds2944, Lisbon, Portugal by Sailor Girl, Lisbon, Portugal by Maria João, Lodz, Poland by ritalounge, London, UK by Ham, London, UK by Mo, Mainz, Germany by JB, Malaga, Spain by Paula, Manila, Philippines by Heyokity, Maple Ridge, Canada by Susan, Marseille, France by Alex, Medan, Indonesia by KT, Melbourne, Australia by Mblamo, Melbourne, Australia by John, Memphis (TN), USA by SouthernHeart, Menton, France by Jilly, Mexico City, Mexico by Poly, Mexico City, Mexico by Carraol, Minneapolis (MN), USA by Mitch, Minneapolis (MN), USA by Greg, Minsk, Belarus by Olga, Misawa, Japan by misawa mama, Monrovia (CA), USA by Keith, Monte Carlo, Monaco by Jilly, Monterrey, Mexico by rafa, Montpellier, France by Marie, Moscow, Russia by Irina, Mumbai, India by Kunalbhatia, Mumbai, India by Magiceye, Nancy, France by yoshi, Nashville (TN), USA by Chris, Nelson, New Zealand by Meg and Ben, New Orleans (LA), USA by steve buser, New York City (NY), USA by Ming the Merciless, New York City (NY), USA by • Eliane •, Newport News (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Norfolk (VA), USA by ptowngirl, North Hampton (NH), USA by Amy, Norwich, UK by Goddess888, Nottingham, UK by Gail's Man, Ocean Township (NJ), USA by Josy, Omsk, Russia by Nataly, Orlando (FL), USA by OrlFla, Oslo, Norway by Lothiane, Owasso (OK), USA by Jennifer, Paderborn, Germany by Soemchen, Paris, France by Eric, Pasadena (CA), USA by Petrea, Pasadena (CA), USA by Can8ianben, Penang, Malaysia by Maltelda, Perth, Australia by Elevation7, Phoenix (AZ), USA by Cheryl, Pilisvörösvár, Hungary by Elise, Port Angeles (WA), USA by Jelvistar, Port Elizabeth, South Africa by Sam, Port Townsend (WA), USA by raf, Port Vila, Vanuatu by Mblamo, Portsmouth (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Prague, Czech Republic by Honza03, Quincy (MA), USA by Cluelessinboston, Rabaul, Papua New Guinea by Jules, Ramsey, Isle of Man by babooshka, Riga, Latvia by Riga Images, Rollag, Norway by Stormel, Rotterdam, Netherlands by Ineke, Saarbrücken, Germany by LadyDemeter, Saigon, Vietnam by Simon, Saint Paul (MN), USA by Kate, Salem (OR), USA by jill, Salt Lake City (UT), USA by Eric, Salt Lake City (UT), USA by atc, San Diego (CA), USA by Felicia, San Diego (CA), USA by Zentmrs, San Francisco (CA), USA by PFranson, San Francisco (CA), USA by Louis la Vache, Seattle (WA), USA by Kim, Seattle (WA), USA by Chuck, Selma (AL), USA by RamblingRound, Seoul, South Korea by Phil, Sesimbra, Portugal by Aldeia, Setúbal, Portugal by Maria Elisa, Sharon (CT), USA by Jenny, Singapore, Singapore by Keropok, Sofia, Bulgaria by Antonia, St Francis, South Africa by Sam, Stanwood (WA), USA by MaryBeth, Stavanger, Norway by Tanty, Stayton (OR), USA by Celine, Stockholm, Sweden by Stromsjo, Stouffville, Canada by Ken, Subang Jaya, Malaysia by JC, Suffolk (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Sunshine Coast, Australia by bitingmidge, Sydney, Australia by Julie, Székesfehérvár, Hungary by Teomo, Tacloban City, Philippines by agnesdv, Tel-Aviv, Israel by Olga, Terrell (TX), USA by Jim K, Terrell (TX), USA by Bstexas, Tokyo, Japan by Tadamine, Torun, Poland by Torun Observer, Torun, Poland by Glenn, Toulouse, France by Julia, Turin, Italy by Livio, Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina by Jazzy, Twin Cities (MN), USA by Slinger, Vichy, France by Delphsnl, Victoria, Canada by Benjamin Madison, Vienna, Austria by G_mirage2, Virginia Beach (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Wailea (HI), USA by Kuanyin, Washington (DC), USA by Rachel, Wassenaar, Netherlands by Rich, West Paris (ME), USA by crittoria, West Sacramento (CA), USA by Barbara, Weston (FL), USA by WestonDailyPhoto, Williamsburg (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Willits (CA), USA by Elaine, Yardley (PA), USA by Mrlynn,

55 comments:

  1. Amazing! This one is just amazing!
    He's going to die in front of us! ;)

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  2. Or he is going to be sued for damaging a car.

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  3. I wrote my first feeling without reading the comment, and actually I like what I saw first!
    He's rooted to the spot, in the middle of the road, the cars are running fast, one of his skittles is falling down, he knows he will have not enough time to take it before the cars come...

    I think this picture is one of my favorite. It looks so different from the "true story".

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  4. Very clever, Eric, as always. I would never have thought of that "an odd little number" but you are right, quite odd... Hopefully not too dangerous... Happy 1st of May to you!

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  5. Sued? That guy is probably judgment-proof. I'd like to see someone stop him and say "Hey, Mister, let me see some proof of liability insurance and do you have a license for that?"

    Yeah, right. ;)

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  6. Ah, zut, j'ai complètement oublié du coup! Et le muguet, alors, on n'a pas droit au muguet? Awww...

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  7. It does look as if he's about to be run over. Anyone remember a movie "King of the Gypsies"? A guy made a living from walking in front of taxi cabs, getting hit, and collecting insurance.

    5 days...

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  8. La même chose ici. Labor Day we don´t work and the malabaris.
    Malabaris is the name we give for this kind of number some guys & girls perfom at the traffic light. We can see them all around here.

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  9. This man is still providing entertainment, I am enjoying looking at it so much. I love the way you caught the pins and the shape it takes in the air.
    I remember yrs. ago in New York, there were men who would force window washing on your car at a light(straight forward work=money).I think this man has a more European, artistic mentality about collecting HIS money.

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  10. Monica, you posted while I was writing. What kind of performance do they do at your traffic lights?

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  11. Jeff, I remember that film. Funny that you should think of it -- we certainly have our share of gypsies in Paris. Maybe he is a gypsy prince. They always have some angle for getting money. I remember when I was a little girl, we had a home in the country for a while, and in a field by a stream, there were gypsies living in tents. I wanted to visit them. I found them to be unique creatures. However, my mother said, no, absolutely not!

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  12. Eric: It appears that, like this juggler caught in motion, you were mentally poised between "remuneration" and "contribution" when you wrote "retribution", which actually means punishment. Unless you were inferring that, thinking himself to be an awful juggler (which I'm sure he's not), your subject, once finished, was willing to set aside a little time to be run over by his unappreciative audience! LOL

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  13. Great vantage point for this photo Eric! Looks like that bottom pin might hit the ground before he catches it though. Not that I’d ever be driving in Paris, but if I saw this guy perform, I’d give him a few Euros! Unless he dropped a pin on my car.

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  14. This has nothing to do with today's photo. I have to tell you what Eric's pilgrims to Lourdes photo instigated -- I am so thrilled that I am bursting. You may recall that I did a search and found a religious pin made in Lourdes. I bought it and it is beautiful. However, also in that search came up jewelry designed by Matisse. I ADORE Matisse (the wild beast). I bought one of the pieces -- it is a brooch -- a painters palette, and it is signed by the artist. It was only US$40.00. Anyway, it arrived in the mail and it is stunning. Now I own a Matisse. I never would have guessed it in a million years. It made my day, no my month, no my year. I'm in heaven. I was telling a friend of mine -- a writer from the Beat generation (she has a book on sale at the City Lights bookstore) about how this all happened, and happened because of Eric's photo! Thank you Eric. bisou bisou

    Lucio and Katie, you are too funny!

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  15. Lois: Thanks. We're playing Radio City Hall next week as part of a Blogger's Review. Needless to say, the only thing we'll be juggling are our seemingly irrepressible bon mots! LOL

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  16. Correction: Radio City MUSIC Hall.

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  17. May...May..the lusty month of May!! Les Muguets s'il te plait!!!

    I love the glimpse of Spring in this photo..the trees are in bloom...Parfait!!

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  18. Wonderful photo! It must be great to be in a place where things happen on a daily basis. (life here is a little slower)

    Bonjour to May! It is so nice to think that in a few weeks the leaves will be on the trees. They are budding now and the daffodils are out and the tulips will be blooming soon. Magnifique!!

    Have a lovely day everyone!

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  19. err is that guy ok up there? haha.

    juggling on the pedestrian crossing in front of the cars.

    Happy Theme Day Paris!

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  20. Chistie, you are such a Flower Child. Are you sure you aren't from the 60's?

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  21. Phx, hi! The performance is the same as this man from Eric's photo.
    They do it for money too.
    Some of them are very good, some of them... comme ci, comme ça...

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  22. this is a cool site! keep up the good work. very VQUZESHUF !!!

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  23. superbe photo et choix pour ce theme.
    j'espere que le jongleur n'a pas ete ecrase ;o).

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  24. Ah, now that's an original take on the word number. I'd have expected no less from yuo Eric. And anyway you do have the car numberplate in the photo! Cool!

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  25. What a number ! Eric, how clever you are :)
    I love this phote, it's so full af action in a very simple way.
    I always wonder if these street performers make enough money to make it worth all the efforts or if it's not for the money they do it ?
    Were you in the street too, Eric ?

    We have labourday too, but this year it coincide with a national relegious holiday, Ascension day, so I'm not quite sure if we will see all the socialist demonstrations with the red flags. Thinking about it;ofcourse we will. The whole health and service sector is on strike in Denmark. Except from me, because I'm in the private sector.
    BTW I wont be in any demonstrations this year, because I'm going to a party all day. There will be a french chef to do the cooking and we shall only have french wines.
    Anyone envious ??? ;)

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  26. I thought for sure that the daily photo bloggers had gone mad and selected "juggling" for their theme.

    THEN...I thought Eric had gone mad and forgotten theme day all together!

    THEN AGAIN...I thought Eric was confused..."Numbers"? "Juggler"?

    AND NOW...I know it tis I that needs some sleep and just can't keep up with this mad, mad world of PDP.

    (So, ya think he ever loses a juggling pin smack dab onto a car and windshield now and again?)

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  27. its even a car from the trade PEUGEOT advertised as a 'un sacre numero' [a wicked number] .. i bet this was not on purpose ... or was it ..
    inge

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  28. Very clever, I like your twist.
    Is he getting some benefit doing this? Well good fun for audience.

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  29. Such a clever choice of a photo for our theme day!! And a great shot too! You never let us down, Eric. Have a great day!!

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  30. That guy must be a Republican.

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  31. LOL Abraham! Not sure in which sense you mean it, but I can think of several. Very funny.

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  32. bettina, I'm envious! Sounds like "Babette's Feast".

    Eric, you always manage to find the edges of the world - always something different.

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  33. I've heard before about people who juggle with numbers!

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  34. How neat is that! A little entertainment while you wait for the light to change!
    Happy Labor Day!

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  35. He seems pretty good at what he does - juggling pins and traffic!

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  36. Great photo!

    I didn't see that he was juggling until I read the text underneath - I thought you'd just been very quick off the mark photographing someone dancing accross the road!

    I like how you're not afraid to photograph people. I was in the town centre today and I was worried I'd be stopped or shouted at or something.

    At one point I went into a branch of Timpsons (key cutting and show mending) and, after enquiring about getting my car keys cut, I asked if I could take photos there as part of my project and got told that I'd have to speak to Head Office for permission first!

    I'm surprised there's not a Birmingham (UK) Daily Photo. I could do it, but I don't think I'd find enough exciting things in Birmingham for one per day!

    Anyway, thanks for another good quality post :-D

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  37. A very differnet choice for a numbers theme. Accountants, Gerald not Juggers, juggle numbers.

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  38. That's just what I need when stopped at a light - some entertainment! Although, in Los Angeles, he'd probably get run over by some road-raging lunatic...

    Clever, Eric - I thought the "numbers" would relate to how many things he was juggling - I like your use of this synonym!

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  39. Pont Girl, I'm still laughing "he'd probably get run over by some road-raging lunatic..."

    and you too Michael, "THEN...I thought Eric had gone mad and forgotten theme day all together!"

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  40. Very well captured! (What did he see to drop them...???!!!)

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  41. What a great interpretation of the theme! The best I've seen :)

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  42. Great pic, Eric. These juggling clubs are in my kitchen right now (well not these ones exactly!) as my son does it too! I think drivers must get irritated with him holding them up though?

    I am late commenting today; it's been a big news day and i'm tired out. Totally forgot all about theme day too... sigh.

    shutterspy are you kidding me? there's lots you can post in Birmingham! Why, you can start with Selfridges, then various suburbs, the Mailbox, there's the jewellery quarter - oh my! I'm counting on you to start one...! Can't wait.

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  43. I chuckled at all the double entendre's posted today.As Chuck said, Well done!

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  44. Bettina,

    Yes I was in the street too,; just behind the guy! Funny...

    Strikes in Denmark?! That makes me feel good! Denmark is always shown to us by politicians as THE country where there is a long social dialog tradition, where all reforms go smoothly, bla bla! ;)

    How was the party BTW? Good I suppose, there was a French Chef ans French wines LOL!!

    Michael, moral of the story: one should always read the post titles before reading the caption!!

    Lynn: what big news?!

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  45. Lynn : what big news : are you coming to the PDP picnic ???? Are you? ;)

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  46. Eric, I love it! Great unique take on the theme.

    Here in Seattle and Tacoma today and at every port on the US west coast workers went on strike to protest the Iraq war. All the longshoremen and dock workers didn't show up for work, so it was absolutely quiet at the normally noisy freight loading areas. Many of the workers instead took part in a parade of protest this afternoon. I wasn't able to go down to photograph it, but really would have like to. It ended at Pier 66 on the waterfront, and it's a spectacular sunny day here, so I'm sad about not being able to go.
    Happy May Day!
    -Kim
    Seattle Daily Photo

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  47. Yep, this one's for the books! The things people will do for attention (and probably money)! Now if you'll excuse me, I'm heading down to my local bowling alley as we speak to get the tools for my new employment! :-)

    ptowngirl
    HamptonRoadsDailyPhoto.com

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  48. This little odd number is very clever to take advantage of a captive audience like that. And he provides some entertainment for everyone.

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  49. How fun! And a great original theme day shot!

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  50. Eric & Corinne: he he! Only just got your message sorry. Not personal big news, sadly. That could be fun! No, work news as in tv news - i've had a long research project running (i'm only in the background really) and yesterday was hugely busy. Still ongoing but yesterday my feet didn't touch the ground! A bit like Eric.

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  51. Thanks Lynn for your answer and then congrats : TV news, really good!!!!! I think you did expect that kind of news! So bravo!

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  52. Very clever idea Eric!!! It's very interesting how many DP bloggers came up with unique ideas for this theme day.

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