Thursday, December 28, 2006
Thursday, December 21, 2006
Good Article
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/21/opinion/21taylor.html?ex=1167368400&en=b39a1a1752db407f&ei=5070&emc=eta1
Thursday, December 14, 2006
Farce has returned, please be seated
Alas I have been gone for a bit - it's not that I didn't care for or even love dearly the throngs of people who visit this blog - I was simply busy trying to finish up my semester. Two 4,000 word papers and a small book project later I am a one to two page 'manifesto' away from being done. Of course, what does 'done' really mean anyway? I am now doubly busy trying to put together a portfolio and Curriculum Vitae for the academic positions that I am going to apply for. These applications are all due by January 5 or so which leaves me little time to breathe considering that I am also preparing the background work for my Master's Design Study (thesis) which I will work on throughout the Spring semester.
Sad news on the grades homefront - I was working on a perfect 4.0 and was convinced that graduate students received only A's, that is until this semester. I am expecting 1 or 2 B's and an A. This during a semester that I intentionally took no design studio so that I could have an easier time of it. I know this is petty stuff but if you saw my grade reports from undergraduate school you would understand why it was important to me to prove that I could be a good student. We'll see.
I am making a frame for my parents that will have my photomontage "redgreenblue bennyboo" inserted into it (luckily they don't read this blog). Emilie and I are in the making mood (not baby-making though)this Christmas so don't be stunned if what you open doesn't have a corporate logo on it.
The boys are good. I am lucky.
Oh, and I played two 15 year olds in basketball the day before yesterday and won all four games. (and if you're thinking that I was beating up on younger kids you have to remember that I am an old man with old bones that don't work the way they use to and one of the kids is on the high school basketball team) - but I am still crafty after all these years. I suppose that's why I was always known as "Tricky Rick" - I think 'Papa Bear' made that one up.
Sad news on the grades homefront - I was working on a perfect 4.0 and was convinced that graduate students received only A's, that is until this semester. I am expecting 1 or 2 B's and an A. This during a semester that I intentionally took no design studio so that I could have an easier time of it. I know this is petty stuff but if you saw my grade reports from undergraduate school you would understand why it was important to me to prove that I could be a good student. We'll see.
I am making a frame for my parents that will have my photomontage "redgreenblue bennyboo" inserted into it (luckily they don't read this blog). Emilie and I are in the making mood (not baby-making though)this Christmas so don't be stunned if what you open doesn't have a corporate logo on it.
The boys are good. I am lucky.
Oh, and I played two 15 year olds in basketball the day before yesterday and won all four games. (and if you're thinking that I was beating up on younger kids you have to remember that I am an old man with old bones that don't work the way they use to and one of the kids is on the high school basketball team) - but I am still crafty after all these years. I suppose that's why I was always known as "Tricky Rick" - I think 'Papa Bear' made that one up.
Thursday, November 30, 2006
Monday, November 27, 2006
FWZ
This is a small building I designed for the Fort Worth Zoo - was working on construction administration when I left Nader's office. Mackenzie sent me the pictures today - I thought it turned out pretty well.
Wednesday, November 22, 2006
Movie Review
Saw 'Borat' tonight. I was really disappointed. The premise seemed like it could be funny but overall I would say it was poorly done. The entire film was lewd. There were a few moments that were funny but the rest of the film didn't have any redeeming qualities. 'Fast Food Nation' is still on my list of films to see.
Looking forward to Thanksgiving festivities tomorrow!! Mmmmmmmm..........yummy!
Looking forward to Thanksgiving festivities tomorrow!! Mmmmmmmm..........yummy!
Monday, November 20, 2006
Wednesday, November 15, 2006
Movies
I saw a pretty good film the other day called 'I love Huckabies' (not new). I really want to see 'Fast Food Nation' http://www.apple.com/trailers/fox_searchlight/fastfoodnation/trailer/
(coming out Friday !!!!)
I would also like to see 'Bobby'
http://movies2.nytimes.com/gst/movies/movie.html?v_id=334717
Other than that, I have been trying to decide what to do for my Master's Design Study. I have been thinking of doing something with the trinity river vision project. I am thinking I want the project to site itself in Fort Worth; we'll see.
(coming out Friday !!!!)
I would also like to see 'Bobby'
http://movies2.nytimes.com/gst/movies/movie.html?v_id=334717
Other than that, I have been trying to decide what to do for my Master's Design Study. I have been thinking of doing something with the trinity river vision project. I am thinking I want the project to site itself in Fort Worth; we'll see.
Friday, November 10, 2006
Wednesday, November 08, 2006
Here Comes the Sun
On the Democratic victory yesterday:
'The end of a six-year nightmare for the world,' EU parliamentarians say.
Ain't that the truth.
Now, let's hope that the Virginians finish the job.
'The end of a six-year nightmare for the world,' EU parliamentarians say.
Ain't that the truth.
Now, let's hope that the Virginians finish the job.
Tuesday, November 07, 2006
Victory for the Democrats
Show the warmongering, dictatorial, environment polluting, corporate whipping boy republicans you don't like their games - VOTE FOR THE DEMOCRATS.
Here's a promise...if the democrats win I will 'limit' my derogatory comments about george bush and his evil little cronies. That is my promise to you america.
Here's a promise...if the democrats win I will 'limit' my derogatory comments about george bush and his evil little cronies. That is my promise to you america.
Thursday, October 19, 2006
The Devil's Dictionary
Lawsuit: A machine which you go into as a pig and come out of as a sausage.
Faith: Belief without evidence in what is told by one who speaks without knowledge, of things without parallel.
Fork: An instrument used chiefly for the purpose of putting dead animals into the mouth.
Ocean: A body of water occupying about two-thirds of a world made for man - who has no gills.
War: God's way of teaching Americans geography.
Faith: Belief without evidence in what is told by one who speaks without knowledge, of things without parallel.
Fork: An instrument used chiefly for the purpose of putting dead animals into the mouth.
Ocean: A body of water occupying about two-thirds of a world made for man - who has no gills.
War: God's way of teaching Americans geography.
Friday, October 13, 2006
"Family Values"
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/us/AP-Ney-Corruption.html?hp&ex=1160798400&en=1f7a46a339e273fc&ei=5094&partner=homepage
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/09/washington/09foley.html?n=Top%2fReference%2fTimes%20Topics%2fPeople%2fF%2fFoley%2c%20Mark%20A
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/13/us/13awol.html?ref=us
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/09/washington/09foley.html?n=Top%2fReference%2fTimes%20Topics%2fPeople%2fF%2fFoley%2c%20Mark%20A
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/13/us/13awol.html?ref=us
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
Iraq War
Iraqi war deaths estimated at 655,000. Shame on George Bush and all who continue to support him.
http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/10/11/iraq.deaths/index.html
http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/10/11/iraq.deaths/index.html
Wednesday, September 20, 2006
History of the pledge
The Pledge of AllegianceA Short History
by Dr. John W. Baer
Copyright 1992 by Dr. John W. BaerSee also www.PledgeQandA.com
Francis Bellamy (1855 - 1931), a Baptist minister, wrote the original Pledge in August 1892. He was a Christian Socialist. In his Pledge, he is expressing the ideas of his first cousin, Edward Bellamy, author of the American socialist utopian novels, Looking Backward (1888) and Equality (1897).
Francis Bellamy in his sermons and lectures and Edward Bellamy in his novels and articles described in detail how the middle class could create a planned economy with political, social and economic equality for all. The government would run a peace time economy similar to our present military industrial complex.
The Pledge was published in the September 8th issue of The Youth's Companion, the leading family magazine and the Reader's Digest of its day. Its owner and editor, Daniel Ford, had hired Francis in 1891 as his assistant when Francis was pressured into leaving his baptist church in Boston because of his socialist sermons. As a member of his congregation, Ford had enjoyed Francis's sermons. Ford later founded the liberal and often controversial Ford Hall Forum, located in downtown Boston.
In 1892 Francis Bellamy was also a chairman of a committee of state superintendents of education in the National Education Association. As its chairman, he prepared the program for the public schools' quadricentennial celebration for Columbus Day in 1892. He structured this public school program around a flag raising ceremony and a flag salute - his 'Pledge of Allegiance.'
His original Pledge read as follows: 'I pledge allegiance to my Flag and (to*) the Republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.' He considered placing the word, 'equality,' in his Pledge, but knew that the state superintendents of education on his committee were against equality for women and African Americans. [ * 'to' added in October, 1892. ]
Dr. Mortimer Adler, American philosopher and last living founder of the Great Books program at Saint John's College, has analyzed these ideas in his book, The Six Great Ideas. He argues that the three great ideas of the American political tradition are 'equality, liberty and justice for all.' 'Justice' mediates between the often conflicting goals of 'liberty' and 'equality.'
In 1923 and 1924 the National Flag Conference, under the 'leadership of the American Legion and the Daughters of the American Revolution, changed the Pledge's words, 'my Flag,' to 'the Flag of the United States of America.' Bellamy disliked this change, but his protest was ignored.
In 1954, Congress after a campaign by the Knights of Columbus, added the words, 'under God,' to the Pledge. The Pledge was now both a patriotic oath and a public prayer.
Bellamy's granddaughter said he also would have resented this second change. He had been pressured into leaving his church in 1891 because of his socialist sermons. In his retirement in Florida, he stopped attending church because he disliked the racial bigotry he found there.
What follows is Bellamy's own account of some of the thoughts that went through his mind in August, 1892, as he picked the words of his Pledge:
It began as an intensive communing with salient points of our national history, from the Declaration of Independence onwards; with the makings of the Constitution...with the meaning of the Civil War; with the aspiration of the people...
The true reason for allegiance to the Flag is the 'republic for which it stands.' ...And what does that vast thing, the Republic mean? It is the concise political word for the Nation - the One Nation which the Civil War was fought to prove. To make that One Nation idea clear, we must specify that it is indivisible, as Webster and Lincoln used to repeat in their great speeches. And its future?
Just here arose the temptation of the historic slogan of the French Revolution which meant so much to Jefferson and his friends, 'Liberty, equality, fraternity.' No, that would be too fanciful, too many thousands of years off in realization. But we as a nation do stand square on the doctrine of liberty and justice for all...
If the Pledge's historical pattern repeats, its words will be modified during this decade. Below are two possible changes.
Some prolife advocates recite the following slightly revised Pledge: 'I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all, born and unborn.'
A few liberals recite a slightly revised version of Bellamy's original Pledge: 'I pledge allegiance to my Flag, and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with equality, liberty and justice for all.'
Bibliography:
Baer, John. The Pledge of Allegiance, A Centennial History, 1892 - 1992, Annapolis, Md. Free State Press, Inc., 1992. Miller, Margarette S. Twenty-Three Words, Portsmouth, Va. Printcraft Press, 1976.
by Dr. John W. Baer
Copyright 1992 by Dr. John W. BaerSee also www.PledgeQandA.com
Francis Bellamy (1855 - 1931), a Baptist minister, wrote the original Pledge in August 1892. He was a Christian Socialist. In his Pledge, he is expressing the ideas of his first cousin, Edward Bellamy, author of the American socialist utopian novels, Looking Backward (1888) and Equality (1897).
Francis Bellamy in his sermons and lectures and Edward Bellamy in his novels and articles described in detail how the middle class could create a planned economy with political, social and economic equality for all. The government would run a peace time economy similar to our present military industrial complex.
The Pledge was published in the September 8th issue of The Youth's Companion, the leading family magazine and the Reader's Digest of its day. Its owner and editor, Daniel Ford, had hired Francis in 1891 as his assistant when Francis was pressured into leaving his baptist church in Boston because of his socialist sermons. As a member of his congregation, Ford had enjoyed Francis's sermons. Ford later founded the liberal and often controversial Ford Hall Forum, located in downtown Boston.
In 1892 Francis Bellamy was also a chairman of a committee of state superintendents of education in the National Education Association. As its chairman, he prepared the program for the public schools' quadricentennial celebration for Columbus Day in 1892. He structured this public school program around a flag raising ceremony and a flag salute - his 'Pledge of Allegiance.'
His original Pledge read as follows: 'I pledge allegiance to my Flag and (to*) the Republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.' He considered placing the word, 'equality,' in his Pledge, but knew that the state superintendents of education on his committee were against equality for women and African Americans. [ * 'to' added in October, 1892. ]
Dr. Mortimer Adler, American philosopher and last living founder of the Great Books program at Saint John's College, has analyzed these ideas in his book, The Six Great Ideas. He argues that the three great ideas of the American political tradition are 'equality, liberty and justice for all.' 'Justice' mediates between the often conflicting goals of 'liberty' and 'equality.'
In 1923 and 1924 the National Flag Conference, under the 'leadership of the American Legion and the Daughters of the American Revolution, changed the Pledge's words, 'my Flag,' to 'the Flag of the United States of America.' Bellamy disliked this change, but his protest was ignored.
In 1954, Congress after a campaign by the Knights of Columbus, added the words, 'under God,' to the Pledge. The Pledge was now both a patriotic oath and a public prayer.
Bellamy's granddaughter said he also would have resented this second change. He had been pressured into leaving his church in 1891 because of his socialist sermons. In his retirement in Florida, he stopped attending church because he disliked the racial bigotry he found there.
What follows is Bellamy's own account of some of the thoughts that went through his mind in August, 1892, as he picked the words of his Pledge:
It began as an intensive communing with salient points of our national history, from the Declaration of Independence onwards; with the makings of the Constitution...with the meaning of the Civil War; with the aspiration of the people...
The true reason for allegiance to the Flag is the 'republic for which it stands.' ...And what does that vast thing, the Republic mean? It is the concise political word for the Nation - the One Nation which the Civil War was fought to prove. To make that One Nation idea clear, we must specify that it is indivisible, as Webster and Lincoln used to repeat in their great speeches. And its future?
Just here arose the temptation of the historic slogan of the French Revolution which meant so much to Jefferson and his friends, 'Liberty, equality, fraternity.' No, that would be too fanciful, too many thousands of years off in realization. But we as a nation do stand square on the doctrine of liberty and justice for all...
If the Pledge's historical pattern repeats, its words will be modified during this decade. Below are two possible changes.
Some prolife advocates recite the following slightly revised Pledge: 'I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all, born and unborn.'
A few liberals recite a slightly revised version of Bellamy's original Pledge: 'I pledge allegiance to my Flag, and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with equality, liberty and justice for all.'
Bibliography:
Baer, John. The Pledge of Allegiance, A Centennial History, 1892 - 1992, Annapolis, Md. Free State Press, Inc., 1992. Miller, Margarette S. Twenty-Three Words, Portsmouth, Va. Printcraft Press, 1976.
Wednesday, September 13, 2006
School
School is going well though I am not pleased with being away from my family four nights a week. I also end up missing all of Topher's practices. Am looking forward to a somewhat more normal life. Thought the other day that America primarily practices what I call 'Outpost Architecture' as if we are not planning to stay very long.
Friday, September 08, 2006
Venice School TA Job Topher TexasOState God
Back from Venice, delightful. School is going to be really enjoyable this semester - three theory classes no studio. Am doing a TAship for a drawing class - class is composed of first year (first-professional) grad students, interesting. I must find a job - orders directly from the General. Topher has a ballgame tomorrow - his team is the polar opposite of last season - meaning emphasis not on winning - thank goodness. Texas Ohio State tomorrow night - I am so ready. I think God must be a female - more on that later....
Sunday, August 06, 2006
golf today venice tomorrow
shot an 87 today after double parring the first hole with an 8. 1 birdie. have been hitting the ball pretty well lately - mostly hanging around mid to low 80's.
trying to finish up a house addition for some people - then maybe will make a book or two with christopher - was thinking about entering a competition - then it's off to venice!!
trying to finish up a house addition for some people - then maybe will make a book or two with christopher - was thinking about entering a competition - then it's off to venice!!
Wednesday, August 02, 2006
Why does Donald Rumsfeld still have a job?
TIKRIT, Iraq (AP) -- A U.S. soldier testified Wednesday that four of his colleagues accused of murdering three Iraqis during a raid threatened to kill him if he told anyone about the shooting deaths.
Pfc. Bradley Mason, speaking at a hearing to determine whether the four must stand trial, also said that their brigade commander, a veteran of the 1993 ''Black Hawk Down'' battle in Somalia, told troops hunting insurgents to ''kill all of them.'' Mason is not one of the accused.
The alleged killings May 9 near Samarra, 60 miles north of Baghdad, have dealt another blow to the reputation of U.S. soldiers over their conduct in Iraq and fueled anger against their presence.
U.S. soldiers and Marines have been accused of a string of civilian deaths in Iraq, including the alleged massacre of dozens in Haditha. Another hearing is scheduled later this month over allegations that five U.S. soldiers raped and killed a 14-year-old girl.
What a fucking mess. Thanks George.
Pfc. Bradley Mason, speaking at a hearing to determine whether the four must stand trial, also said that their brigade commander, a veteran of the 1993 ''Black Hawk Down'' battle in Somalia, told troops hunting insurgents to ''kill all of them.'' Mason is not one of the accused.
The alleged killings May 9 near Samarra, 60 miles north of Baghdad, have dealt another blow to the reputation of U.S. soldiers over their conduct in Iraq and fueled anger against their presence.
U.S. soldiers and Marines have been accused of a string of civilian deaths in Iraq, including the alleged massacre of dozens in Haditha. Another hearing is scheduled later this month over allegations that five U.S. soldiers raped and killed a 14-year-old girl.
What a fucking mess. Thanks George.
Wednesday, July 26, 2006
great cnn article
Unfortunate 6 years for the progress of this country.
http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/07/25/dobbs.july26/index.html
http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/07/25/dobbs.july26/index.html
Friday, June 30, 2006
How to Spot a Terrorist
Read this funny piece in another blog so am reposting:
How to spot a terrorist
I really had no idea how to spot a terrorist until I studied the manuals published by the Phoenix FBI, the state employees of Virginia, and the Texas Department of Public Safety. Now that I have absorbed these manuals, I not only know how to spot a terrorist, but I have discovered that I probably am a terrorist.
The Phoenix FBI manual was published while Clinton was still president. The Joint Terrorism Task Force was formed to "help preserve the American way of life." Its flyer requested that citizens contact the task force if they saw any of the following:
Defenders of the U.S. Constitution against federal government and the UNGroups of individuals engaging in para-military trainingThose who make numerous references to the U.S. ConstitutionThose who attempt to police the policeLone individualsRebelsThe Phoenix Sheriff's Office did not care for the flyer, and it had a short life.
On to Virginia...This manual tells us to beware of the following people:
Members of anti-government and militia movementsProperty rights activistsMembers of racist, separatist, and hate groupsEnvironmental and animal rights activistsReligious extremistsMembers of street gangsAccording to the authorities in Virginia, terrorists stand out in the crowd because of the stuff they carry:
Sketch pads or notebooksMaps or chartsStill or video camerasHand-held tape recordersSCUBA equipmentdisguisesAnd finally, there's Texas, whose manual shares with us some characteristics of terrorists:
Focused and committedTeam-oriented and disciplinedFamiliar with their physical environmentsEmploy a variety of vehicles and communicate by cell phone, email, or text messagingTry not to draw attention to themselvesLook like students, tourists, or businesspersonsTravel in a mixed group of men, women, and childrenAvoid confrontations with law enforcementUse disguises or undergo cosmetic surgeryWell, there you are. Could someone pick you out of the crowd as a terrorist? As an emailing, camera-toting, focused and committed animal rights activist who sometimes looks like a businesswoman, frequently references the Constitution, and still has some leftover costumes from my years in New Orleans, I'm as good as gone.
How to spot a terrorist
I really had no idea how to spot a terrorist until I studied the manuals published by the Phoenix FBI, the state employees of Virginia, and the Texas Department of Public Safety. Now that I have absorbed these manuals, I not only know how to spot a terrorist, but I have discovered that I probably am a terrorist.
The Phoenix FBI manual was published while Clinton was still president. The Joint Terrorism Task Force was formed to "help preserve the American way of life." Its flyer requested that citizens contact the task force if they saw any of the following:
Defenders of the U.S. Constitution against federal government and the UNGroups of individuals engaging in para-military trainingThose who make numerous references to the U.S. ConstitutionThose who attempt to police the policeLone individualsRebelsThe Phoenix Sheriff's Office did not care for the flyer, and it had a short life.
On to Virginia...This manual tells us to beware of the following people:
Members of anti-government and militia movementsProperty rights activistsMembers of racist, separatist, and hate groupsEnvironmental and animal rights activistsReligious extremistsMembers of street gangsAccording to the authorities in Virginia, terrorists stand out in the crowd because of the stuff they carry:
Sketch pads or notebooksMaps or chartsStill or video camerasHand-held tape recordersSCUBA equipmentdisguisesAnd finally, there's Texas, whose manual shares with us some characteristics of terrorists:
Focused and committedTeam-oriented and disciplinedFamiliar with their physical environmentsEmploy a variety of vehicles and communicate by cell phone, email, or text messagingTry not to draw attention to themselvesLook like students, tourists, or businesspersonsTravel in a mixed group of men, women, and childrenAvoid confrontations with law enforcementUse disguises or undergo cosmetic surgeryWell, there you are. Could someone pick you out of the crowd as a terrorist? As an emailing, camera-toting, focused and committed animal rights activist who sometimes looks like a businesswoman, frequently references the Constitution, and still has some leftover costumes from my years in New Orleans, I'm as good as gone.
Thursday, June 22, 2006
New Orleans Abandonment
Emilie and I saw 'An Inconvenient Truth' a week or so ago - I highly recommend it.
We have been studying a great deal about New Orleans; not only the cause of the disaster after Katrina but also possible solutions. It is abundantly clear to me that electing George Bush is the absolute worst thing that could have happened to our country. In terms of New Orleans, he refuses to fund a plan that has been agreed is appropriate by just about everyone who knows - its cost, 14 billion (about 1 1/2 months in Iraq). He is putting the wetlands that surround New Orleans in jeopardy by blocking all funding for restoration that does not have corporate interests as its impetus. The wetlands that surround New Orleans (besides preserving wildlife (I know - only hippies care about that) help protect the city from storm surge. For every mile inland of wetland storm surge is reduced by a foot. To cite an example - the wetland loss that has occured between 1940 and the present would have reduced the Katrina storm surge about 7.5 feet, greatly reducing the impact of the storm.
The New Orleans issue fascinates me because I think it epitomizes a global current (or at least a national one). The disaster in New Orleans was/is the result of an attempt to control nature (levees), a willingness to neglect nature (wetlands), a feeling of human dominance over the natural world, and a lack of critical care for the region. I am continually amazed at the antics of the Bush Administration.
http://dir.salon.com/story/opinion/blumenthal/2005/08/31/disaster_preparation/index.html
We have been studying a great deal about New Orleans; not only the cause of the disaster after Katrina but also possible solutions. It is abundantly clear to me that electing George Bush is the absolute worst thing that could have happened to our country. In terms of New Orleans, he refuses to fund a plan that has been agreed is appropriate by just about everyone who knows - its cost, 14 billion (about 1 1/2 months in Iraq). He is putting the wetlands that surround New Orleans in jeopardy by blocking all funding for restoration that does not have corporate interests as its impetus. The wetlands that surround New Orleans (besides preserving wildlife (I know - only hippies care about that) help protect the city from storm surge. For every mile inland of wetland storm surge is reduced by a foot. To cite an example - the wetland loss that has occured between 1940 and the present would have reduced the Katrina storm surge about 7.5 feet, greatly reducing the impact of the storm.
The New Orleans issue fascinates me because I think it epitomizes a global current (or at least a national one). The disaster in New Orleans was/is the result of an attempt to control nature (levees), a willingness to neglect nature (wetlands), a feeling of human dominance over the natural world, and a lack of critical care for the region. I am continually amazed at the antics of the Bush Administration.
http://dir.salon.com/story/opinion/blumenthal/2005/08/31/disaster_preparation/index.html
Friday, June 09, 2006
Monday, May 22, 2006
Venice Biennale
Just catching up. Semester finished up nicely - final review went very well. Have been invited to the Venice Biennale (http://www.labiennale.org/en/index.html) team at UT. The project is a study of the situation in New Orleans and surrounding region and an attempt at possible solutions. Have learned a lot already. Trying to get a free trip to Venice, Italy out of it - we'll see.
Thursday, April 27, 2006
Monday, April 24, 2006
100 million loose screws
Bush's approval ratings slide to new low
Poll: Only one-third say he's handling his job well
Poll: Only one-third say he's handling his job well
Sunday, April 23, 2006
hm.
A retired CIA official has accused the Bush administration of ignoring intelligence indicating that Iraq had no weapons of mass destruction and no active nuclear program before the United States-led coalition invaded it.
http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/04/23/cia.iraq/index.html
http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/04/23/cia.iraq/index.html
Wednesday, April 19, 2006
Friday, April 07, 2006
citycraft
citycraft products available for the entire family at http://www.cafepress.com/nspress/1341302.
get yours while they last!
get yours while they last!
Saturday, March 18, 2006
Wednesday, March 15, 2006
Saturday, February 25, 2006
Your Democracy
Great article by Bill Moyers.
http://www.tompaine.com/articles/2006/02/24/restoring_the_public_trust.php
http://www.tompaine.com/articles/2006/02/24/restoring_the_public_trust.php
Tuesday, February 21, 2006
George Bush is talking alternative energy - we're screwed
You know when oil lover George Bush is harping on alternative forms of energy (finally) that there is an energy crisis in the works. We're screwed.
Saturday, February 18, 2006
CITYCRAFT
Had a good meeting with my client (first official) today about the house addition I am working on for them. They loved the plans I put together (though we changed 50% of them) and we had a good schematic design working session. I think I enjoy smaller, more personal jobs. I have heard, and know from experience that they are more difficult and you make less money but there is something about the satisfaction you see on people's faces or their excitement that makes it worth my while. That is not to say that I won't get sued by these people (Logan reading this licking his chops) but still - for now it is fun. My company name is 'Citycraft' unofficially - Chi and I are not taking it too seriously and just seeing where it goes. Spread the word - the ship is afloat.
Thursday, February 16, 2006
The Trials of Teaching
As many of you know I am TAing for a class called Architecture and Society. My duties include teaching a seminar to two different classes each week. It is interesting how different one class can be from another. I have the same amount of students (27) in each class but it seems to be a lot harder to run a good section on thursday night. I have three students in the class that are 'bad apples' and they seem to be tarnishing the bunch. One of them came to me at the end of today's session and asked if we could get an evening study group together to prepare for the quiz (it's no coincidence that he was late for class and had not read the material). I told him that we had just finished with our study session - it in fact is the whole point of the seminar. I am having fun however and the majority of the students are interested and are there to learn.
In other news:
It has been four days since the vice-president shot anyone in the face. Yeah!!
Benny got his hair buzzed! Cutie.
Christopher is a creative genius I think - scary.
Emilie is wonderful at just about everything - and even loves me a little still.
Saw Brokeback Mountain - was good but I sensed some homosexual overtones (hehehe - jk) - no really, it was very good. Now I know why cowboys wear tight pants.
In other news:
It has been four days since the vice-president shot anyone in the face. Yeah!!
Benny got his hair buzzed! Cutie.
Christopher is a creative genius I think - scary.
Emilie is wonderful at just about everything - and even loves me a little still.
Saw Brokeback Mountain - was good but I sensed some homosexual overtones (hehehe - jk) - no really, it was very good. Now I know why cowboys wear tight pants.
Friday, February 10, 2006
Communism - and Presidential Blow Jobs
I am doing a tremendous amount of reading for 'Soviet Architecture, Art, and Film'. Consequently, I think I am becoming a communist. I learned for instance that Lenin, on his deathbed (early death too, 42 I think) wrote a letter to the soviet governmental council begging that they be careful and not elect Stalin as the next president. Stalin intercepted that letter and the rest is history. Trotsky would have taken over the presidency from Lenin (Trotsky's views were more in line with Lenin's) had the letter not been intercepted and Russia would have had an entirely different history. To put it in distinctly American terms:
Lenin was a good guy (who did what he felt was right for his country)
Stalin was a bad guy (who killed a lot of people)
Trotsky was a good guy (similar to Lenin)
No communism ever existed in Russia - what they had was a dictatorship that was a modified capitalist system (similar to what we presently have but with more concern for the working poor).
A good idea:
I think as an apology to Bill Clinton the republicans should allow him to take office for a third term. The republicans can make deals with him like, "if you balance the budget for us like you did in your first presidency we will allow you 5 free blow jobs", or "if you help us pay down this outrageous national debt that Bush has created we will allow you ten free blow jobs etc." Imagine what he could accomplish!!
Lenin was a good guy (who did what he felt was right for his country)
Stalin was a bad guy (who killed a lot of people)
Trotsky was a good guy (similar to Lenin)
No communism ever existed in Russia - what they had was a dictatorship that was a modified capitalist system (similar to what we presently have but with more concern for the working poor).
A good idea:
I think as an apology to Bill Clinton the republicans should allow him to take office for a third term. The republicans can make deals with him like, "if you balance the budget for us like you did in your first presidency we will allow you 5 free blow jobs", or "if you help us pay down this outrageous national debt that Bush has created we will allow you ten free blow jobs etc." Imagine what he could accomplish!!
Monday, February 06, 2006
Barcelona and Bush Bashing
Been a long while. Saw Francie this weekend and she inspired me to write in the blog again.
Quick update since last we spoke: Texas won football national championship (due to my influence as a student of course), I am a teacher's assistant and have two classes of 27 that i'm responsible for (I know what you're thinking - "HIM?"), did well last semester, 4.0 for those interested - first time since 3rd grade I think (I was also class president then!! I am on a ten year cycle of achievement), I just got my first 'big/little' job as an independent practicioner of architecture, I am in the Barcelona studio here at school - segway...
We traveled to Spain for 8 days tromping through the wonderful streets of Barcelona. By our estimations we walked btwn 15-20 mi/day...my old bones felt it - but I kept up with the younguns. We are working on a project for the 'Mies van der Rohe Foundation' across from the Barcelona Pavilion, a famous and instrumental work of the early 20th century. Hard project. A little america bashing is in order here - we are very very far behind socially. A professor told us an interesting statistic the other day: 98% of America's wealth is held by 2% of its population. Of course, I think he is a communist (not sure). That just blew my mind.
Made two books over the christmas holidays - still a goal of 500 books before death. School and work are getting in my way though.
Bush wants another 70 billion for Iraq. I thought his initial estimate was 80 billion total. Aren't we at 300 billion now - and counting? I would like a list of the people who voted for him - they should be paying for this war. So much for the liberals being the spenders. Republican Americans are a strange lot - they seem to care more about eliminating adulterous sex then about mass murder and violence. and they thought there were 'rape rooms' in Iraq before we invaded........
Quick update since last we spoke: Texas won football national championship (due to my influence as a student of course), I am a teacher's assistant and have two classes of 27 that i'm responsible for (I know what you're thinking - "HIM?"), did well last semester, 4.0 for those interested - first time since 3rd grade I think (I was also class president then!! I am on a ten year cycle of achievement), I just got my first 'big/little' job as an independent practicioner of architecture, I am in the Barcelona studio here at school - segway...
We traveled to Spain for 8 days tromping through the wonderful streets of Barcelona. By our estimations we walked btwn 15-20 mi/day...my old bones felt it - but I kept up with the younguns. We are working on a project for the 'Mies van der Rohe Foundation' across from the Barcelona Pavilion, a famous and instrumental work of the early 20th century. Hard project. A little america bashing is in order here - we are very very far behind socially. A professor told us an interesting statistic the other day: 98% of America's wealth is held by 2% of its population. Of course, I think he is a communist (not sure). That just blew my mind.
Made two books over the christmas holidays - still a goal of 500 books before death. School and work are getting in my way though.
Bush wants another 70 billion for Iraq. I thought his initial estimate was 80 billion total. Aren't we at 300 billion now - and counting? I would like a list of the people who voted for him - they should be paying for this war. So much for the liberals being the spenders. Republican Americans are a strange lot - they seem to care more about eliminating adulterous sex then about mass murder and violence. and they thought there were 'rape rooms' in Iraq before we invaded........
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