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Troy Swain: Black Box Miasma
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| Learning from Japan |
[Nov. 10th, 2009|10:15 am] |
"Learning from Japan" is a theme I keep coming back to, a sermon I keep preaching. Opposed to the crude view I call "Japan Original Sin" (people who harp on about research whaling, war criminal shrines and textbook lacunae, and with whom one eventually, inevitably, ends up playing a futile game of Atrocity Snap), the "Learning from Japan" meme simply suggests that Japan's difference from Western practice is valuable, precisely, to the West. We can't learn anything from people who think as we do. For the same reason, men can learn more from women than they can from other men.
The architecture world will get a chance to learn from Japan -- and from a woman -- in 2010; SANAA's Kazuo Sejima has been chosen as the curator of The Venice Architecture Biennial. I'm pretty sure she's the first Japanese to get this job; she's certainly the first woman to do so. A clue to her focus comes in a brief statement she's released saying that "a significant point of departure could be the concept of boundaries and the adaptation of space... it could be argued that contemporary architecture is an afterthought and perhaps an easing of borders themselves." That's a fresh thought already; architecture as an easing of borders in a time when they're generally stiffening.
I blogged last week about a new book from Lars Müller, The SANAA Studios 2006-2008. Learning from Japan: Single-Story Urbanism. My title today comes from there. The blurb explains: "During three spring seasons between 2006 and 2008, Kazuyo Sejima and Ryue Nishizawa taught at the School of Architecture at Princeton. The SANAA Studios explored Japan's contemporary society as a context for architecture and considered its particular perspective on space, the personal and the public realm. Design exercises were situated within the specific demographics and social variables of three distinct sites in Japan...
"As an overall thematic it asks: What can we learn from SANAA?" Browsing the book at Pro-qm, I got the strong impression that what we can learn from SANAA is something to do with a relaxing, elegant lightness and understatement, something to do with minimalism and gentleness, and something to do with a feeling of calm that permeates Japan very noticeably whenever you spend time there. Iwan Baan's photographs of SANAA buildings filled with schoolchildren or middle-aged culture tourists made me think of Alasdair Gray's excellent maxim: "Work as if you live in the early days of a better nation." |
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| (no subject) |
[Nov. 9th, 2009|11:32 pm] |
Tonight was the federal by election in the neighboring riding. I have been working for and supporting my friend Diana as the Conservative candidate since before she won the nomination. June or July was our first meeting.
We lost. I guess I knew we would. She got trashed in the papers over the weekend for not attending an all-candidates meeting and for avoiding the press. Three weeks ago, the Ottawa group came in and took over the campaign and in my opinion, they lost it for her.
I'm sad and disappointed. But one of the upsides to having a minority government is that you know the next election is right around the corner. I'll be there for her again if she chooses to keep at it. And I believe she will.
The team we had was so full of great people, it's hard to feel anything but pride in our efforts. I have made good friends with people, amazing people I never would have known.
It's ok. It would have been better if she had won, but it's ok. |
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| I really hope |
[Nov. 9th, 2009|10:56 pm] |
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That I can go see TOTALLY MICHAEL this Friday instead of seeing a play |
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| Welp |
[Nov. 10th, 2009|01:21 am] |
| [ | music |
| | Captain Beefheart & Frank Zappa ~ "Orange Claw Hammer" | ] |
It was bound to happen sooner or later...
Actually, I'm not sure if that's even true or not. But say hello, regardless, to "Youtube Kacke."
Yep. German Youtube Poop.
I'm real sorry. I'll get to actual content eventually. |
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| (no subject) |
[Nov. 10th, 2009|04:08 pm] |
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What's your favourite meal to make that doesn't involve or minimises the use of a stove/oven? |
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| speaking of funk 45s |
[Nov. 9th, 2009|08:12 pm] |
a. my best friend since 1978 is moving to Zurich, so he sold his record collection to b. my best friend since 1983 today, as b owns record stores. I dropped by with a's bass guitar liberated from my storage space, as a is planning to sell that too, and while I was there I made my minimal selection from a's collection, 2 45s including this one, the live Flipper double w/ promo kit and an Augustus Pablo lp all for $60.
Bootsy....wildness. |
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| I am the Christina Yang of HLD |
[Nov. 9th, 2009|03:04 pm] |
Our goal handle times are 5 minutes.
Mine has averaged 4 minutes 11 seconds for the past 3 months.
That includes rate quotes and research time.
That makes me a rock star... |
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| Fords. |
[Nov. 9th, 2009|04:06 pm] |
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| Zombie |
[Nov. 9th, 2009|11:28 am] |
Zombie
Originally uploaded by wring
Alex left an easter egg at work |
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| Don't mind me |
[Nov. 9th, 2009|12:28 pm] |
| [ | music |
| | Tenhi ~ "Kuoppa" | ] |
Just fucking around with video-capturing software. Okay, actually I'm just seeing if the "snapshot" thing works on VLC.
Turns out...it does!
This one was very worth it.
Since he spends almost all of the show shouting, scowling or grinning evilly, I wanted to capture the happier side of him. Robotnik needs to feel happy now and again. |
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| (no subject) |
[Nov. 9th, 2009|11:13 am] |
I don't really have an update- I am feeling better, today just mellowing out and working. Love Mondays.
This is also so happy making, as is this entire playlist. Just spent the entrity of the Romeo And Juliet swooning like a schoolgirl. LOL
Oh Oh Oh! ![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif) mcmute's scarf came in. Can I give gifts or what?! LOL
It is SO soft, too, I am really glad I opted for the pricier yarn. :) |
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| Volunteer Legal Assistance for Artists (VLAA). |
[Nov. 9th, 2009|08:23 am] |
Behind the email is an I got from Volunteer Legal Assistance for Artists (VLAA). VLAA is a pro bono organization comprised of law students and local attorneys, partnered in a joint effort to provide free legal guidance to local artists in all genres
Theare having some sort of Art Auction fund raiser on Thursday. I might go check it out.
( The email ) |
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