Thursday, December 3, 2009
Rodman's CultureJam - For UT students to ponder
A classmate of mine has created a memorial to six fallen soldiers who have recently been posthumously awarded for selfless bravery in the line of duty. The memorial will be on display today in front of the main building. If you're over that way, go check it out. Whether you are for, against, unsure, whatever about the war we are currently involved in, the stories of these six men are meaningful, tragic, and beautiful all at the same time. Something was so important to these individuals that they were willing to die for it - freedom, liberty, love, family, comradeship & fellow human beings, the American Dream. Go check it out, it's a culturejam worth viewing and pondering on.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
No minarets for you, Swiss citizens.
Question from Daniel:
Rachelle, I have a very important architectural question. If a structure which is structurally identical to a minaret is placed on a building with no muslim religious purpose or connection whatsoever, is it still a minaret?
R: I'm sort of conflicted about that. I feel like I've studies things with imitation minarets that may have still been called minarets, but at the same time I think the minaret itself is defined as being a tower specifically designed to call people to prayer. So I would say, yes, it is specific, but only with about 95% certainty. Out of curiosity, why do you ask?
D: Because apparently a bunch of people in Switzerland are trying to ban the construction of minarets on the grounds that they symbolize militant Islamic encroachment or something. It's really rather ridiculous. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minaret_controversy_in_Switzerland
D: Thank you for clarifying for me though. I hope school's going well for you.
R: ooohh! thanks for the article - gonna post it on my blog. I'm gonna ask my architecture prof. cause now I'm curious. wikipedia though??
D: Sorry, it's just the first source that came to mind. I'm sure it has handy links at the bottom though, right?
R: yeah - i'll check. i use wikipedia all the time, i just don't like to admit it :P
So here it is...
The proposal to ban minarets is controversial by its very nature. On the one hand Swiss citizens are sovereign and act as the ultimate supreme authority. By their will they may seek via popular initiative to enact, revoke or alter such, and any, constitutional provision as they see fit. On the other hand there are so-called material bars to Swiss constitutional amendments—such as human rights—arising from the provisions of international law. Not surprisingly, these material bars to absolute sovereignty are fiercely contested because they mean either greater or lesser powers to the citizen and, indirectly, to the political parties.
The popular initiative to ban minarets raises not only questions in respect of the relationship between domestic and international law, but also appears to challenge the legal architecture of Switzerland. The initiative may be held invalid by the Swiss General Assembly (henceforth 'General Assembly' or 'Assembly') on the grounds that it breaches the peremptory norms of international law. If this proves to be the case, the Swiss people will not be given the opportunity to vote on it. Arguably, such interference is feasible only if the material bar to initiatives is widened beyond its originally accepted scope. Apparently, the powers of the Swiss Sovereign became thereby unequivocally curbed. The relationship between Swiss domestic law and international law is pivotal also should the General Assembly declare the initiative to be valid. The people would as a consequence of the Assembly's decision possess the right to vote either for or against the initiative. But regardless of the poplar vote's outcome, the second option prima facie implies that the sovereignty of the Swiss citizens has been upheld, and concessions need only to be made by those who are either for or against the proposed ban. Yet in its international context the matter is more complex and more far-reaching than that.
The first part of this paper concentrates on the question of whether it is advisable for the General Assembly to compromise the people's sovereignty by widening the original scope of peremptory norms. The second part explores what a popular vote in favour of the ban on minarets could mean in law.
In order to raise the awareness of the subject matter beyond its legal dimension, the introduction and conclusion of this paper will shed specific light on the rule of law as a philosophical doctrine.
Is a minaret a minaret, or what? I'm tired of people bashing Islam, basing their opinions on the actions of just a few extremists. I am in no way excusing those actions, but I would like people to pause before profiling. Islam's basic principles and foundation not are not that alien to those of Judaism and Christianity, yet Islam gets bashed non-stop. Seriously, can't we all just get over ourselves? I'm not asking anyone to sit around singing Kumbaya, I'd just like people to be telling the truth when they say they consider "all of Gd's children equal". It's a tower. It doesn't symbolize militancy or destruction. It represents a reminder of Islamic purpose - prayer, community, Allah. It's architecture, it's art, it's CULTURAL EXPRESSION.
Rachelle, I have a very important architectural question. If a structure which is structurally identical to a minaret is placed on a building with no muslim religious purpose or connection whatsoever, is it still a minaret?
R: I'm sort of conflicted about that. I feel like I've studies things with imitation minarets that may have still been called minarets, but at the same time I think the minaret itself is defined as being a tower specifically designed to call people to prayer. So I would say, yes, it is specific, but only with about 95% certainty. Out of curiosity, why do you ask?
D: Because apparently a bunch of people in Switzerland are trying to ban the construction of minarets on the grounds that they symbolize militant Islamic encroachment or something. It's really rather ridiculous. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minaret_controversy_in_Switzerland
D: Thank you for clarifying for me though. I hope school's going well for you.
R: ooohh! thanks for the article - gonna post it on my blog. I'm gonna ask my architecture prof. cause now I'm curious. wikipedia though??
D: Sorry, it's just the first source that came to mind. I'm sure it has handy links at the bottom though, right?
R: yeah - i'll check. i use wikipedia all the time, i just don't like to admit it :P
So here it is...
The proposal to ban minarets is controversial by its very nature. On the one hand Swiss citizens are sovereign and act as the ultimate supreme authority. By their will they may seek via popular initiative to enact, revoke or alter such, and any, constitutional provision as they see fit. On the other hand there are so-called material bars to Swiss constitutional amendments—such as human rights—arising from the provisions of international law. Not surprisingly, these material bars to absolute sovereignty are fiercely contested because they mean either greater or lesser powers to the citizen and, indirectly, to the political parties.
The popular initiative to ban minarets raises not only questions in respect of the relationship between domestic and international law, but also appears to challenge the legal architecture of Switzerland. The initiative may be held invalid by the Swiss General Assembly (henceforth 'General Assembly' or 'Assembly') on the grounds that it breaches the peremptory norms of international law. If this proves to be the case, the Swiss people will not be given the opportunity to vote on it. Arguably, such interference is feasible only if the material bar to initiatives is widened beyond its originally accepted scope. Apparently, the powers of the Swiss Sovereign became thereby unequivocally curbed. The relationship between Swiss domestic law and international law is pivotal also should the General Assembly declare the initiative to be valid. The people would as a consequence of the Assembly's decision possess the right to vote either for or against the initiative. But regardless of the poplar vote's outcome, the second option prima facie implies that the sovereignty of the Swiss citizens has been upheld, and concessions need only to be made by those who are either for or against the proposed ban. Yet in its international context the matter is more complex and more far-reaching than that.
The first part of this paper concentrates on the question of whether it is advisable for the General Assembly to compromise the people's sovereignty by widening the original scope of peremptory norms. The second part explores what a popular vote in favour of the ban on minarets could mean in law.
In order to raise the awareness of the subject matter beyond its legal dimension, the introduction and conclusion of this paper will shed specific light on the rule of law as a philosophical doctrine.
Is a minaret a minaret, or what? I'm tired of people bashing Islam, basing their opinions on the actions of just a few extremists. I am in no way excusing those actions, but I would like people to pause before profiling. Islam's basic principles and foundation not are not that alien to those of Judaism and Christianity, yet Islam gets bashed non-stop. Seriously, can't we all just get over ourselves? I'm not asking anyone to sit around singing Kumbaya, I'd just like people to be telling the truth when they say they consider "all of Gd's children equal". It's a tower. It doesn't symbolize militancy or destruction. It represents a reminder of Islamic purpose - prayer, community, Allah. It's architecture, it's art, it's CULTURAL EXPRESSION.
Monday, November 30, 2009
Foam Sword Friday - It's finally heereeeee!
from email...
Is the stress of your looming final exams too much for you?
Do you need a release for all your pent up anxiety?
Then come join the UT School of Architecture in its bi-annual FOAM SWORD FEST!
Show up on Friday the 4th at 12:30pm at the crosswalk in front of the Co-op, grab a sword, and go crazy!
Rules:
1. Only fight on the crosswalk while the light is red. Failure to comply could result in trouble with the law.
2. Keep the intensity to a fair level, we don't want anyone getting hurt
3. Have fun!
See yall on Friday!
Is the stress of your looming final exams too much for you?
Do you need a release for all your pent up anxiety?
Then come join the UT School of Architecture in its bi-annual FOAM SWORD FEST!
Show up on Friday the 4th at 12:30pm at the crosswalk in front of the Co-op, grab a sword, and go crazy!
Rules:
1. Only fight on the crosswalk while the light is red. Failure to comply could result in trouble with the law.
2. Keep the intensity to a fair level, we don't want anyone getting hurt
3. Have fun!
See yall on Friday!
Culture Jam = A SUCCESS!!
Think, your independance depends on it.
Steve makes me think until anurysmmmm?
Be as positive as a proton
Not everything makes sense. Refridgerator
I notice the world around me.
Live to cruise the American grid.
Correspondance, not coherence.
I was supposed to do something?
You can't make me!
There's now nine nights per week.
Says who??
Speak or be spoken for!!
Where are we going for BEERS?
Get a haircut, pay taxes, die.
Mining the vernunft to fuel verstand.
Where is the box? Abandon it!
Three's company. Six words. Nine lives.
Cannot compute.
Steve makes me think until anurysmmmm?
Be as positive as a proton
Not everything makes sense. Refridgerator
I notice the world around me.
Live to cruise the American grid.
Correspondance, not coherence.
I was supposed to do something?
You can't make me!
There's now nine nights per week.
Says who??
Speak or be spoken for!!
Where are we going for BEERS?
Get a haircut, pay taxes, die.
Mining the vernunft to fuel verstand.
Where is the box? Abandon it!
Three's company. Six words. Nine lives.
Cannot compute.
I BREAK THE STATUS-QUO: CULTUREJAM!
Once grandiloquent, he now gesticulates garrulously.
Headache. Tylenol. Headache. Gunshot. No Headache.
Hide. Walk-in freezer! Seek. Dinnertime! ……Uh-oh.
Heart surgery finally opened his heart.
Turkey: stuffed. Us: even more so.
Tombstone shakes. Cries heard from within.
“Do I look fat?” Yes! “No.”
No Comments
Tropical depression quits Zoloft, becomes hurricane.
The Shark swam faster than him.
Sign in Andromeda: ROSWELL NEXT EXIT
Warning shot. Candelabra falls. Oops, suicide.
Awoke from dream; still living nightmare.
Artistic Civilization: Accountant cuts off ear
Night foggy. Lookout groggy. Titanic soggy.
Headstone: “Told you I was ill”
Surprise 100th birthday party… bad idea.
They attacked April 1st. Nobody suspected.
Time traveler kills himself. Ruled homicide.
President trips! Accidentally presses red button…
And my favorite...
Hide! Here comes Beyonce, she's pissed.
The very first short short story. In the 1920s, Ernest Hemingway’s colleagues bet him that he couldn’t write a complete story in just six words. They paid up. Hemingway is said to have considered it his best work.
FOR SALE: Baby shoes. Never worn.
Says lots in very little words.
Headache. Tylenol. Headache. Gunshot. No Headache.
Hide. Walk-in freezer! Seek. Dinnertime! ……Uh-oh.
Heart surgery finally opened his heart.
Turkey: stuffed. Us: even more so.
Tombstone shakes. Cries heard from within.
“Do I look fat?” Yes! “No.”
No Comments
Tropical depression quits Zoloft, becomes hurricane.
The Shark swam faster than him.
Sign in Andromeda: ROSWELL NEXT EXIT
Warning shot. Candelabra falls. Oops, suicide.
Awoke from dream; still living nightmare.
Artistic Civilization: Accountant cuts off ear
Night foggy. Lookout groggy. Titanic soggy.
Headstone: “Told you I was ill”
Surprise 100th birthday party… bad idea.
They attacked April 1st. Nobody suspected.
Time traveler kills himself. Ruled homicide.
President trips! Accidentally presses red button…
And my favorite...
Hide! Here comes Beyonce, she's pissed.
The very first short short story. In the 1920s, Ernest Hemingway’s colleagues bet him that he couldn’t write a complete story in just six words. They paid up. Hemingway is said to have considered it his best work.
FOR SALE: Baby shoes. Never worn.
Says lots in very little words.
Says Victoria:
Although this doesn't really go with the theme of books discussed, Rachelle you talk about your brother having to call you for help with Animal Farm...what do you think about having GT english students read books WAY above their reading level? Is it helpful because it pushes them to reach beyond what they currently know and understand, think outsie their box if you will? Or is it instead detrimental to their overall strength as a student becuase the books they are reading are so far above their level that they can't appreciace or even really understand them?
I remember this happening to an exent with me. There were so many books that we read in middle school that I not only didn't understand; but as result, I didn't like them. Many of those books are the very books you have discussed here: Fahrenheit 451, Animal Farm, 1984, Canterbury Tales, Beowolf, and even To Kill a Mocking Bird and Shakespeare. It wasen't until I got into high school and for some of them college, that I decieded that I should give them another chance and reread them. How many students do that though? With reading rates falling and kids becomming more and more interested in other forms of entertainment; what happens to the kids who just never learn to appreciate that kind of literature? They give such interesting commentary on history, what happens if they never hear it?
Also, does forcing our students to read literature they are not cognativitly ready for encourage or discourage reading? If, as educators, we are supposed to be promoting reading, wouldn't it be more advantageous to select books more on their level and save the heavy reading for high school and college? I'm all for pushing students to be the best they can be, however if they can't grasp the novels put in front of them then doesn't that risk turning them off to reading in general?
(if you can't tell...I'm a teacher :))
Stuff I read in school: Their eyes were watching Gd, Frankenstein, Fahrenheit 451, To Kill a Mockingbird, Biography of Malcom X, America Day by Day...... etc. ("Etcetera? Etcetera?? Is that some sort of secret code??")
Stuff I read on my own: Vanity Fair, The Golden Compass, pasta recipes, The Three Little Bears, the backs of DVDs, fashion blogs, A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian. As soon as I have time to finish it anyway.
Hmmmmm. Good thing I read in school or I'd be pretty vapid.
I don't think its likely that kids are going to read Canterbury tales on their own, regardless of what happened in their 6th grade english class. Though I'm sure my 7th grade self would come up behind me and smack me with The Yearling (aka HEAVIEST BOOK EVER), I think its great that our teachers force as we cry and wail, on paid of death, to read Crime and Punishment (which was sort of like a crime. And a punishment) because eventually we might return to those books because we know we have the intellectual capacity to handle them. The kids reading these books are in GT classes, and probably read lots of other stuff anyway. Just because I hated A Separate Peace (mostly because he dies at the end - whoops. sorry) didn't stop me from reading Harry Potter. And the few people who would have been 'turned off' from reading wouldn't have been one of the ones who go back to read stuff later anyway. I never would have read half the stuff I did if I hadn't had to. Turns out I love Le Mis. Almost as much as I love Shakespeare. It kind of helps that Joseph Finnes is really really hot. But I digress. Forced reading good, no reading "baaaad". Reading this type of book in middle school helps prepare you for stuff like Tale of Two cities, aka The Most Confusing Book I Ever Remember Reading, and Siddhartha. Imagine reading THAT after reading "See Spot Run" in junior high. Even if you don't understand the books, as I usually didin't or even still don't, my vocabulary improved and I could tell people that I had read all this intellectual stuff.
What about the selection of the books themselves? I'm thinking about what gets on the lists and what doesn't and why? What do people freak out about their kids reading? brave New World? When is it right to expose kids to literature with that kind of content? Is America reading the right books? Other countries? Harry Potter and Twilight? Holy rollers vs. soccer moms and pre-teens. Who decides what we read in school, what we choose to read on our own? What constitutes and "American Classic" and why? What should we be reading? What gets published and what doesn't.
Banned books v. boycotted books? Nothing really gets banned in the US anymore (First Amendment). Half the stuff we read in secondary school USED to be banned - Fahreheiht 451, Brave New World, Animals Farm, Grapes of Wrath (I know!!). but literature gets essentially banned in different ways - boycotted by groups against free speech, certain ideals presented in the books, pro-religion, anti-religion, whatever. Thoughts?
Although this doesn't really go with the theme of books discussed, Rachelle you talk about your brother having to call you for help with Animal Farm...what do you think about having GT english students read books WAY above their reading level? Is it helpful because it pushes them to reach beyond what they currently know and understand, think outsie their box if you will? Or is it instead detrimental to their overall strength as a student becuase the books they are reading are so far above their level that they can't appreciace or even really understand them?
I remember this happening to an exent with me. There were so many books that we read in middle school that I not only didn't understand; but as result, I didn't like them. Many of those books are the very books you have discussed here: Fahrenheit 451, Animal Farm, 1984, Canterbury Tales, Beowolf, and even To Kill a Mocking Bird and Shakespeare. It wasen't until I got into high school and for some of them college, that I decieded that I should give them another chance and reread them. How many students do that though? With reading rates falling and kids becomming more and more interested in other forms of entertainment; what happens to the kids who just never learn to appreciate that kind of literature? They give such interesting commentary on history, what happens if they never hear it?
Also, does forcing our students to read literature they are not cognativitly ready for encourage or discourage reading? If, as educators, we are supposed to be promoting reading, wouldn't it be more advantageous to select books more on their level and save the heavy reading for high school and college? I'm all for pushing students to be the best they can be, however if they can't grasp the novels put in front of them then doesn't that risk turning them off to reading in general?
(if you can't tell...I'm a teacher :))
Stuff I read in school: Their eyes were watching Gd, Frankenstein, Fahrenheit 451, To Kill a Mockingbird, Biography of Malcom X, America Day by Day...... etc. ("Etcetera? Etcetera?? Is that some sort of secret code??")
Stuff I read on my own: Vanity Fair, The Golden Compass, pasta recipes, The Three Little Bears, the backs of DVDs, fashion blogs, A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian. As soon as I have time to finish it anyway.
Hmmmmm. Good thing I read in school or I'd be pretty vapid.
I don't think its likely that kids are going to read Canterbury tales on their own, regardless of what happened in their 6th grade english class. Though I'm sure my 7th grade self would come up behind me and smack me with The Yearling (aka HEAVIEST BOOK EVER), I think its great that our teachers force as we cry and wail, on paid of death, to read Crime and Punishment (which was sort of like a crime. And a punishment) because eventually we might return to those books because we know we have the intellectual capacity to handle them. The kids reading these books are in GT classes, and probably read lots of other stuff anyway. Just because I hated A Separate Peace (mostly because he dies at the end - whoops. sorry) didn't stop me from reading Harry Potter. And the few people who would have been 'turned off' from reading wouldn't have been one of the ones who go back to read stuff later anyway. I never would have read half the stuff I did if I hadn't had to. Turns out I love Le Mis. Almost as much as I love Shakespeare. It kind of helps that Joseph Finnes is really really hot. But I digress. Forced reading good, no reading "baaaad". Reading this type of book in middle school helps prepare you for stuff like Tale of Two cities, aka The Most Confusing Book I Ever Remember Reading, and Siddhartha. Imagine reading THAT after reading "See Spot Run" in junior high. Even if you don't understand the books, as I usually didin't or even still don't, my vocabulary improved and I could tell people that I had read all this intellectual stuff.
What about the selection of the books themselves? I'm thinking about what gets on the lists and what doesn't and why? What do people freak out about their kids reading? brave New World? When is it right to expose kids to literature with that kind of content? Is America reading the right books? Other countries? Harry Potter and Twilight? Holy rollers vs. soccer moms and pre-teens. Who decides what we read in school, what we choose to read on our own? What constitutes and "American Classic" and why? What should we be reading? What gets published and what doesn't.
Banned books v. boycotted books? Nothing really gets banned in the US anymore (First Amendment). Half the stuff we read in secondary school USED to be banned - Fahreheiht 451, Brave New World, Animals Farm, Grapes of Wrath (I know!!). but literature gets essentially banned in different ways - boycotted by groups against free speech, certain ideals presented in the books, pro-religion, anti-religion, whatever. Thoughts?
Cell Phones - Communication Abominations?
Had my final review for design this morning. I'm in the middle of presenting and reviewer #1's cell phone rings. Obviously we needed a "Please silence all phones, pagers, and small children" sign in the review space. R-U-D-E. So then he actually pulls the phone out of his pocket, looks at it, and says "Do you mind if I get this?" all seriously. Um, YES. YES I DO MIND. But I say "Sure" all sweetly cause what else am I supposed to say? Then I turn around to admire my perspective drawings. They really turned out quite nice if I do say so myself. I sort of had to fabricate a few lines to that one vanishing point that went 4 feet off my page. But whatever, I really like the little scale figures wearing those big brimmed, fuzzy rabbi hats. So, I'm waiting to hear reviewer #1 answer his phone and start yakkin', but there's nothing. I turn around. Apparently I am not good at sensing humorous statements because apparently he was KIDDING. Apparently. And I've been sitting there for 15 seconds admiring my scale figures with them (the reviewers, not the scale figures, cause that would be creepy) staring at my back, and I'd rather people not do that when I'm wearing horizontal stripes. The effect is not very flattering. Anyway, I got kind of frazzled after that. It's already hard enough to stay clam while defending what has basically turned into my entire life for a semester. I never want to see another t-square again. well, at least not for a few weeks...
But about the phone, somehow we got along without them until a few years ago. And now the little devices are attached to our hips. No really. My mom wears hers on her pants because when it rings she could never find it in her purse. I see little third graders walking around with phones. I don't think I even knew what a cell phone WAS in 3rd grade.
So, cell phones... good, bad, ugly? convenient communication or just harbingers of DOOM? Texting, car crashes, rude people in architecture reviews, kindergartners with phones, grandpas who can't work phones and hate them yet are only reachable on that line, moms who just can't work phones and have stopped pretending that they hate them. Everybody has a cell phone!! What happened to smoke signals? Morse Code? Dot Dot Dot Dashhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!
Thoughts?
But about the phone, somehow we got along without them until a few years ago. And now the little devices are attached to our hips. No really. My mom wears hers on her pants because when it rings she could never find it in her purse. I see little third graders walking around with phones. I don't think I even knew what a cell phone WAS in 3rd grade.
So, cell phones... good, bad, ugly? convenient communication or just harbingers of DOOM? Texting, car crashes, rude people in architecture reviews, kindergartners with phones, grandpas who can't work phones and hate them yet are only reachable on that line, moms who just can't work phones and have stopped pretending that they hate them. Everybody has a cell phone!! What happened to smoke signals? Morse Code? Dot Dot Dot Dashhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!
Thoughts?
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Equality 7-2521 and John the Savage
quoting Rvreader on my '7' Suggestions post...
AMAZING book!!! I remember really hating it when I read it in Middle school and then I reread it last year (or was it the year before?) and I really loved it!
"Man is the only creature that consumes without producing. He does not give milk, he does not lay eggs, he is too weak to pull the plough, he cannot run fast enough to catch rabbits. Yet he is lord of all the animals. He sets them to work, he gives back to them the bare minimum that will prevent them from starving, and the rest he keeps for himself."
My dad read me Animal Farm as a fourth grader and I remember being like "I... don't get it." I thought I was hot stuff because I had read some intellectual "grown-up book". Yeah, not so much. I juts thought it was about some random farm animals. My brother has just finished reading it for his 7th grade English class and kept calling me at college to ask for help on assignments. Because I apparently MUST remember the whole book even though I read it like 500000 years ago.
Here's basically what i remember... Commentary on corruption of the revolution by its leaders, how wickedness, indifference, ignorance, greed, etc. undermine any progress towards a Utopia. Talks about corrupt leaders as the flaw in revolution rather than the revolution itself. ignorance and indifference to problems within a revolution allow horrible stuff to happen to nice farm animals. Awww.
I'm currently reading another Orwell - 1984. BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING. So far its kind of creeping me out. And reminding me A LOT of Brave New World and Anthem. All written within about 12 years of each other - why? Early 30s thru mid 40s. Depression causing leftist ideals to surface, looking at repercussions of a Utopian society? People thinking capitalism has failed them but have just witnessed the disasters in Mexico, China, Russia? Spanish Revolution? Anyone read? Thoughts?
So far I'm pretty much failing at blogging. Hurray.
AMAZING book!!! I remember really hating it when I read it in Middle school and then I reread it last year (or was it the year before?) and I really loved it!
"Man is the only creature that consumes without producing. He does not give milk, he does not lay eggs, he is too weak to pull the plough, he cannot run fast enough to catch rabbits. Yet he is lord of all the animals. He sets them to work, he gives back to them the bare minimum that will prevent them from starving, and the rest he keeps for himself."
My dad read me Animal Farm as a fourth grader and I remember being like "I... don't get it." I thought I was hot stuff because I had read some intellectual "grown-up book". Yeah, not so much. I juts thought it was about some random farm animals. My brother has just finished reading it for his 7th grade English class and kept calling me at college to ask for help on assignments. Because I apparently MUST remember the whole book even though I read it like 500000 years ago.
Here's basically what i remember... Commentary on corruption of the revolution by its leaders, how wickedness, indifference, ignorance, greed, etc. undermine any progress towards a Utopia. Talks about corrupt leaders as the flaw in revolution rather than the revolution itself. ignorance and indifference to problems within a revolution allow horrible stuff to happen to nice farm animals. Awww.
I'm currently reading another Orwell - 1984. BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING. So far its kind of creeping me out. And reminding me A LOT of Brave New World and Anthem. All written within about 12 years of each other - why? Early 30s thru mid 40s. Depression causing leftist ideals to surface, looking at repercussions of a Utopian society? People thinking capitalism has failed them but have just witnessed the disasters in Mexico, China, Russia? Spanish Revolution? Anyone read? Thoughts?
So far I'm pretty much failing at blogging. Hurray.
Friday, November 27, 2009
Foam Swords and Lipstick
This is NOT my projects. Done in a past semesters.
Culture jamming final project for Housing America: An Ideological Critique of the American Dream, a course taught by Stephen L. Ross at the University of Texas School of Architecture.
All photographs shot in Austin, Texas, on November 26th, 2008.
Concept, photography, and presentation: Saul J E San Juan.
Music: Parce Mihi Domine by Cristóbal de Morales (c. 1500 - 1553), performed by Jan Garbarek and the Hilliard Ensemble.
FOAM SWORD FRIDAY!!!
Culture jamming final project for Housing America: An Ideological Critique of the American Dream, a course taught by Stephen L. Ross at the University of Texas School of Architecture.
All photographs shot in Austin, Texas, on November 26th, 2008.
Concept, photography, and presentation: Saul J E San Juan.
Music: Parce Mihi Domine by Cristóbal de Morales (c. 1500 - 1553), performed by Jan Garbarek and the Hilliard Ensemble.
FOAM SWORD FRIDAY!!!
Favorite Words
minutiae
travails
immutable
laissez-faire
preponderance
amalgam
russet
disquisition
vicissitudes
albeit
disported
fortuitous
tepid
illicit
irreverent
eradicated
indigent
foil (melissa)
contrived
typecast
personae
and my personal favorite....
patois
travails
immutable
laissez-faire
preponderance
amalgam
russet
disquisition
vicissitudes
albeit
disported
fortuitous
tepid
illicit
irreverent
eradicated
indigent
foil (melissa)
contrived
typecast
personae
and my personal favorite....
patois
College Students and Poverty in America
So last year I took this UGS class - Poverty in American in Fiction and Film. We had to create a short documentary on Poverty. I wanted to expose how ignorant college kids are about a very prevalent issue facing society today. It was really fun to shoot, really time consuming to make, and really hilarious to watch afterwards. "Are we talking dollars? Euros? Yen??"
*doing complex math right here*
*doing complex math right here*
Moulding young Minds
Told my little cousins that this is why there are no unicorns. I love Thankgiving break.
The Unicorn
A Poem by Shel Silverstein
A long time ago, when the Earth was green
There was more kinds of animals than you've ever seen
They'd run around free while the Earth was being born
And the loveliest of all was the unicorn
There was green alligators and long-necked geese
Some humpty backed camels and some chimpanzees
Some cats and rats and elephants, but sure as you're born
The loveliest of all was the unicorn
The Lord seen some sinning and it gave Him pain
And He says, "Stand back, I'm going to make it rain"
He says, "Hey Noah, I'll tell you what to do
Build me a floating zoo,
and take some of those
Green alligators and long-necked geese
Some humpty backed camels and some chimpanzees
Some cats and rats and elephants, but sure as you're born
Don't you forget My unicorns
Old Noah was there to answer the call
He finished up making the ark just as the rain started to fall
He marched the animals two by two
And he called out as they came through
Hey Lord,
I've got green alligators and long-necked geese
Some humpty backed camels and some chimpanzees
Some cats and rats and elephants, but Lord, I'm so forlorn
I just can't find no unicorns"
And Noah looked out through the driving rain
Them unicorns were hiding, playing silly games
Kicking and splashing while the rain was falling
Oh, them silly unicorns
There was green alligators and long-necked geese
Some humpty backed camels and some chimpanzees
Noah cried, "Close the door because the rain is falling
And we just can't wait for no unicorns"
The ark started moving, it drifted with the tide
The unicorns looked up from the rocks and they cried
And the waters came down and sort of floated them away
That's why you never see unicorns to this very day
You'll see green alligators and long-necked geese
Some humpty backed camels and some chimpanzees
Some cats and rats and elephants, but sure as you're born
You're never gonna see no unicorns.
The Unicorn
A Poem by Shel Silverstein
A long time ago, when the Earth was green
There was more kinds of animals than you've ever seen
They'd run around free while the Earth was being born
And the loveliest of all was the unicorn
There was green alligators and long-necked geese
Some humpty backed camels and some chimpanzees
Some cats and rats and elephants, but sure as you're born
The loveliest of all was the unicorn
The Lord seen some sinning and it gave Him pain
And He says, "Stand back, I'm going to make it rain"
He says, "Hey Noah, I'll tell you what to do
Build me a floating zoo,
and take some of those
Green alligators and long-necked geese
Some humpty backed camels and some chimpanzees
Some cats and rats and elephants, but sure as you're born
Don't you forget My unicorns
Old Noah was there to answer the call
He finished up making the ark just as the rain started to fall
He marched the animals two by two
And he called out as they came through
Hey Lord,
I've got green alligators and long-necked geese
Some humpty backed camels and some chimpanzees
Some cats and rats and elephants, but Lord, I'm so forlorn
I just can't find no unicorns"
And Noah looked out through the driving rain
Them unicorns were hiding, playing silly games
Kicking and splashing while the rain was falling
Oh, them silly unicorns
There was green alligators and long-necked geese
Some humpty backed camels and some chimpanzees
Noah cried, "Close the door because the rain is falling
And we just can't wait for no unicorns"
The ark started moving, it drifted with the tide
The unicorns looked up from the rocks and they cried
And the waters came down and sort of floated them away
That's why you never see unicorns to this very day
You'll see green alligators and long-necked geese
Some humpty backed camels and some chimpanzees
Some cats and rats and elephants, but sure as you're born
You're never gonna see no unicorns.
Yay
This is me. ^ Happy happy happy. Happy that you're ready my blog. Also happy that I had Mexican food for lunch.
Yay.
Winner of the Mediocrity Award
http://www.utexas.edu/news/1999/11/16/nr_blanton/
Here's what we lost:
Herzog and de Muron, Larry Speck as Dean, our dignity.
Here's what we gained:
Terra cotta blandness.
Here's what we lost:
Herzog and de Muron, Larry Speck as Dean, our dignity.
Here's what we gained:
Terra cotta blandness.
What's it all about...?
Ok, so I'm starting a blog. Here's what it's about...
Culture, culture jamming, pop culture, contradictions, government, art, architecture, music, films, religion, opposing stereotyped roles, books, banned books, opposition to the status quo, finding art in everything, finding freedom within unfreedom, finding 'what limits thinkable thought', fish, accordions, big bands, big business, itunes, ipods, Iraq, Iran, Herzog and de Muron, Monsanto, independent contractors, eating local, local eateries, fisheries, hatcheries, fish for dinner, how we came from fish?, the five missing links, cuff links, belt buckles, people who wear belt buckles on their hats, Pilgrims, smallpox, self-righteousness, scientology, samurai swords, shoes, Weird Al, Siddhartha, The Third Ward, Madonna, Texas, Texans, Texadelphia, Crawford, TX, holy rollers, the American Dream, Adam Shepard, literature, media, magazines, friends, parents, friends' parents, parents' friends, the 80s, the 1880s, Albert Einstein, Einstein's Theory of Relativity, Einstein's theory why relatives drop by and won't leave, universities, pre-schools, holidays, consumerism, Aldous Huxley, poetry, the big bang theory, theory vs. fact, fact vs. fiction, evolution, devolution, de-constructivism, high fashion, low fashion, in between fashion, anything that was, is, will be, should NEVER be fashionable, drawing, sketching, kvetching, kangaroos, Australia - the country, the continent, the movie?!, Minnie Mouse, what's a house?, Animal Farm, chickens eating genetically engineered grain, me eating chickens, me eating cows, cows eating cows, mad cow disease, mad about disease, I'm mad, you're mad, get mad, Get Glad!
Here's what it's NOT about...
Bashing people, my 9th grade yearbook photo.
And no, I won't make any concessions about the yearbook photo.
Culture, culture jamming, pop culture, contradictions, government, art, architecture, music, films, religion, opposing stereotyped roles, books, banned books, opposition to the status quo, finding art in everything, finding freedom within unfreedom, finding 'what limits thinkable thought', fish, accordions, big bands, big business, itunes, ipods, Iraq, Iran, Herzog and de Muron, Monsanto, independent contractors, eating local, local eateries, fisheries, hatcheries, fish for dinner, how we came from fish?, the five missing links, cuff links, belt buckles, people who wear belt buckles on their hats, Pilgrims, smallpox, self-righteousness, scientology, samurai swords, shoes, Weird Al, Siddhartha, The Third Ward, Madonna, Texas, Texans, Texadelphia, Crawford, TX, holy rollers, the American Dream, Adam Shepard, literature, media, magazines, friends, parents, friends' parents, parents' friends, the 80s, the 1880s, Albert Einstein, Einstein's Theory of Relativity, Einstein's theory why relatives drop by and won't leave, universities, pre-schools, holidays, consumerism, Aldous Huxley, poetry, the big bang theory, theory vs. fact, fact vs. fiction, evolution, devolution, de-constructivism, high fashion, low fashion, in between fashion, anything that was, is, will be, should NEVER be fashionable, drawing, sketching, kvetching, kangaroos, Australia - the country, the continent, the movie?!, Minnie Mouse, what's a house?, Animal Farm, chickens eating genetically engineered grain, me eating chickens, me eating cows, cows eating cows, mad cow disease, mad about disease, I'm mad, you're mad, get mad, Get Glad!
Here's what it's NOT about...
Bashing people, my 9th grade yearbook photo.
And no, I won't make any concessions about the yearbook photo.
The Seven Suggestions
1. Whatever goes upon two legs is an enemy.
2. Whatever goes upon four legs, or has wings, is a friend.
3. No animal shall wear clothes.
4. No animal shall sleep in a bed.
5. No animal shall drink alcohol
6. No animal shall kill any other animal
7. All animals are equal.
----------------------------------------------
1. Whatever goes upon two legs is an enemy.
2. Whatever goes upon four legs, or has wings, is a friend.
3. No animal shall wear clothes.
4. No animal shall sleep in a bed. with sheets
5. No animal shall drink alcohol. to excess
6. No animal shall kill any other animal. without cause
7. All animals are equal. but some animals are more equal than others
2. Whatever goes upon four legs, or has wings, is a friend.
3. No animal shall wear clothes.
4. No animal shall sleep in a bed.
5. No animal shall drink alcohol
6. No animal shall kill any other animal
7. All animals are equal.
----------------------------------------------
1. Whatever goes upon two legs is an enemy.
2. Whatever goes upon four legs, or has wings, is a friend.
3. No animal shall wear clothes.
4. No animal shall sleep in a bed. with sheets
5. No animal shall drink alcohol. to excess
6. No animal shall kill any other animal. without cause
7. All animals are equal. but some animals are more equal than others
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