I was reading news on my computer when the image of a charming little building caught my eye. Clicking on the irresistible piece of architecture in the corner of my screen led to a true experience of what targets we have all become and why the Internet is “free.” It made me wonder if the National Security Agency could think I am dying. Here’s what happened:
When the weather turned pleasant I decided to make a pilgrimage to Woodlawn Cemetery and the graves of Herman Melville and Nellie Bly. Having visited Père-Lachaise, Novodevichy, Forest Lawn, and Greenwood in Brooklyn, I expected Internet searches to produce tourist-friendly information about public transportation, the visitors’ entrance gate (Jerome Avenue or Webster Avenue?) and a map of notable resting places. Since I would lead a friend through the 400 acres of this National Historic Landmark in the Bronx, and I had the energy for only a few relevant ones, I kept going back to the website, checking the directions, and studying the MTA trip planner. I googled Woodlawn Cemetery many times.
At the last minute, I went alone to the Bronx. While I did not have a map, I did have one particular experience – the sight of a miniature Parthenon set in the middle of an oval of velvet green lawn maybe 60 feet in diameter. It was the resting place of none other than Jay Gould. I was brooding over his robber baron ways, his capture of 19th century railroads and corner of the gold market, when I stumbled badly. I found that my foot was buried in a rare hole on that smooth expanse of lawn. I limped away, a wounded sophisticate unwilling to believe that the wily Gould had reached out to a disapproving mortal.
Hole is obscured to the far right
Woodlawn Cemetery fascinated me and inspired more research into various mausoleums and their contents and architects while I iced my ankle back at home.
Soon thereafter the charming image appeared in the corner of my computer screen. My click detonated it into an ad exhorting me to “Prepare for Eternity.” The charming dwelling, a cross between a folly and an arboreous weekend retreat, was in fact a little house of death. For weeks a mausoleum border appeared on every site I visited. It was on the New York Times, the Guardian, the Telegraph. Whatever site I visited, I was greeted by the same call to “Prepare for Eternity.” Swimoutlet.com had been insistent too, but I had bought their goggles. Turns out that mausoleums are products too. One even erupted into my face on a pop-up ad.
I can live with mortality, but I don’t like being stalked. Death haunts us all, but algorithms hunt us down. Research “Woodlawn Cemetery” and “mauseolum” fifteen times in three days and see what happens. You’ll be preparing for something too.
Present In The City by Kathleen Brady 
Ok, that is down right frightening (big brother computer is watching).
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I wouldn’t mind that if I could design my own mausoleum whatever way I want and still afford it.
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There is a business opportunity in designing one’s own mausoleum — at least a DIY book. I am happy to hear from you.
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I’m happy to have something to read. Good luck getting the ads to stop appearing.
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If I type in “Woodlawn Cemetry, NSA” do you think the NSA will be haunted by the same image?
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That made me giggle. I already enjoy searching for random things to keep internet ads confused.
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NSA is National Security Agency…get it right…they are watching you, and boy, do they get pissed when someone gets their acronym wrong ; )
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Thank you so much — this is why I value editors. Now that I have fixed my error maybe they will track me down.
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: )
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Very unnerving. And aggravating.
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Reblogged this on Drizzles and Lightning.
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Very interesting situation; it is very unfortunate but probably 100% true that someone is always watching. How do you think Big Brother will be able to sensor people leaving their legacies up in Microsoft cloud storage?
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Ha! Great read!!
Eyes ARE everywhere.
And right now they are on you. =-)
Congrats on getting pressed!!
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Love your blog…I can’t keep a plant going on my dark NYC windowsill. Are those your fingernails around that cantaloupe? The nail shade looks like Essie Sew Psyched.
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Thanks!
Yes, my nails. Can’t remember color, but got it at Walmart.
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I have to say, with Halloween being so close to your encounter, this is absolutely frightening! I’m extremely superstitious so if this was me, I would be freaking out! The world has such a weird and mysterious way of working and something like this makes you wonder who the “force” was that was able to mess with you while you were surfing the web. There’s so many ways of evaluating this. It’s almost like a plea to stay away and never go back again. At least if I were you, I would stay far away! But it also makes you wonder if it is just a coincidence since you were doing so much research about the same place in such a short period of time. I guess you’ll never know… Happy Halloween!
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God, you’re good at writing 🙂 I aspire to reach that level. At the moment my writing is convoluted to the point at which it all becomes cloudy. Your work is clear and concise. Great read 😀
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Now where are your manners? It seems that the NSA has been gracious enough to give you a ‘nudge’ and to start you to thinking about making some provisions for your final affairs and details. Where’s the gratitude? Now you have gone ahead and given them more of a reason to handle those for you…so now, they are actually breaking ground…and more than just your foot will be easily accommodated, the next time you come through…
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Someone is always watching!
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