Architecture books of interest

I've been reading through a couple of books on the history of modern architecture. One covers, for the most part, everything of note since 1900, and the other is about the works Le Corbusier. For those that may not know, he is arguably the other most famous architect of the 20th century, with the first being Frank Lloyd Wright.

For anyone who might be interested in learning more about architecture, I can easily recommed these books:

Modern Architecture Since 1900 (Curtis)
Le Corbusier Alive (Lyon)
Architecture, from Prehistory to Postmodernity (Trachtenberg)

That last book is still on the way, and it should also be, "like, totally RAD", but since I don't have it, yet, I cannot really say. (Actually, I flipped through this third book while at the Columbus Museum of Art, and I can say it will be awesome!)

Enjoy.

Welcome to the conversation, Captain Obvious!

Unless you are blind or clearly too preoccupied to notice such things, the template for this blog has changed. Not that there was anything particularly wrong with the previous template (I rather liked it), just that it was too damn popular. As an individual, I have a need to be different, just like everyone else. Yes.

"We are all individuals!" said the crowd in unison.
"But I'm not," said a lone individual, plaintively, in the back.

Perhaps the template for this blog will become like socks. That is, something that will be changed every so often. (In truth, my personal hygiene is much better than that. To which you should answer: I would hope so.)

Let's run with this kewl primary-color-based design for the nonce. Until I get bored or find something better. In today's world, that should take about 5 minutes.

Fish All Intransigence, part 2

I must be in a really good mood, or something. And all I can say is: please, Lord, let it continue.

In thinking about the fact that this blog has no apparent purpose or subject, I decided that indeed I could do something--write a blog--that actually does have a subject and a purpose.

I have a name for my new blog, and it's shown above (sans the "part 2", of course). It's going to be a place where I will write things. That is, it will be writing and about writing, and I will use it as a vehicle to tell stories, make observations, philosophise, and explore the wonder (and the idiocy) of the world around me.

No, I won't be discussing religion or politics, at least not directly. What's the point in that? I'm not looking for an argument or a debate, though I expect some of the things I write will spur thought. And thought, as we know, eventually finds its way into our mouths (or our fingers). Run with me on this metaphor, OK?

But Robin L. Ashwood, my nom de plume alter-ego will write "Fish All Intransigence", as he (or is he a she?) has the best perspective on things. Who I am in "real" life, after all, is mainly inconsequential. I'd much rather be invisible in most respects, but not invisible in the areas of my choosing. That's the point.

I tell stories well. I amaze myself (no, I am not bragging) that I can form thoughts on paper in such a concise, logical fashion. My pages hang together particularly well. All I need is practice to form a more fluid style. Since I've already written a rather long novel (part 1 is about 320,000 words; part 2 is at 200,000 and still being written; about 500,000 words have been written and discarded already) I would have thought my style should be developed, but I'm not so dense or ignorant to think that writing is ever a goal or an end to be achieved.

It's a process; an evolution; dare I say--a journey. Yeah, I know I'm being cliché, but the thing about clichés--they're true.

Well, I've exceeded my "quota" for today. Visit my new blog. It might be interesting.

Society Revealed in Search Terms

I was perusing a blog called "Eclectic Thinkers" wherein the author was decrying the state of society as evidenced by the most popular recent internet search terms. An extremely large number of searches were s*xu@l in nature. It seemed to me that more than half were ostensibly for p0rn0gr@phy. ( I exchange the letters to keep this post from being botted inappropriately).

While I am not encouraged by these data, my first off-the-cuff hypothesis for this "disturbing trend" is that there are a very large number of 14 yr old boys surfing the web, and they are, of course, quite horny.

The web has been around, generally speaking, since about 1993, or so. I remember that back then I told people I thought the web was a passing fad that would not last or make a lasting impression, but of course I was really wrong about that. That's OK, I can't be right about everything. It's just too much pressure.

Anyway, my point is that the web seems, even right now, to still be "new". It's still just being discovered for the first time (see my previous post, re: blogs). Why wouldn't a person new to the web want to satisfy their curiosity about online p0rnogr@phy (especially since the web is so anonymous)? We all like s*x. We all want more--or rather, we all want more of what we like the most.

Here's a good/bad news kind of report: Google scans your GMail and targets advertising based on keywords found in your message. I asked a neighbor (via email) for information on a plumber, and I got ads for plumbers appearing next to her replies. I suppose (since my GMail account gets notified of these blog posts) that if I use the "correct" magic words, I will get targeted ads for things I'd rather not have Google targeting me for.

The nice thing about paranoia is that it's real.

Arggh

I've been viewing other blogs, lately. Mainly this is just to see what others are posting, and to get a (very non-scientific) sampling of blog society/culture.

It's interesting, to say the least. Here's some of what I've found:

1. A very high percentage have just started their blogs. I'd say about 25% have made fewer than 3 posts. Ever.
   
2. A large number are younger than 21. I just saw a 10 yr old's blog (apparently for her and her friends to exchange cryptic assemblages of letters. It could not be called English, anyway).
3. While I'm sure no one can say what this blog is about, I can say with confidence that no one can categorize most other blogs, either. At least in this, I am not alone.
4. One blog contained explicit pictures of attractive black women. And nothing else. (Well, to be fair, he did categorize them with short, descriptive phrases that I will not repeat.)
5. A few blogs have been young (mostly single) women with children, trying to make some sense of this world. But, who is their audience? Indeed, who is my audience?
6. A significant number are classroom assignments. Some are vocal about their displeasure over having to write things for their blog. Others seem indifferent.
7. A very small number have actually been intelligently constructed and interesting. I won't comment about where I might think my blog rates.
   

So, what's the point of this post? And why the "Arggh" title? Well, if you've read this far you deserve an answer. And this would be observation #8: Too many, way too many blogs have used the same template that I have chosen. Or they chose the "other" template with the same graphics and a gray color. So much for any shred of originality, I guess.

Oh, and the Sporkster's blog template is even more popular than mine. He probably doesn't care, though, and I probably shouldn't care that mine is so popular, either. But I do.

I've been considering designing my own blog template, but time and desire have conspired against me. It just isn't that important--yet. And furthermore, who would know or care, for that matter?

That's the thing about the web and this phenomenon called a "blog": Everyone and no one sees it at the same time.

Fish All Intransigence

I was tooling through a site called the "Grammar Curmudgeon" today, and came across a humorous article discussing the limitations of spell checking software. The following sentence struck me as particularly funny: "The pogrom lax art and fish all intransigence." Damned if I can even figure out what it's supposed to say. But, the phrase "fish all intransigence" sounds very much like one of those random spam titles. Or a rock band name.

Incidentally, is "spam", used in reference to unwanted commercial email, an acronym or some virtual alliterative reference to the "sound" it makes when it hits your inbox?

Well, we have a phrase everyone can add to their jargon repository: "TLA acronym". That's when the final word of an acryonym is frequently repeated, like PIN number, or ATM machine. We have"Three Letter Acrynym acronym". The Sporkster and I like to claim we made up this term (he may have originally thought of it--I can't say for sure), and we would appreciate if all of you would start using it, and give us the credit. I'm about 14 minutes and 58 seconds short of my 15 minutes of fame. I could use the line time. He's already "famous".

On a completely different subject, check out Guided By Voices' latest (and perhaps last) effort entitled: "Half Smiles of the Decomposed". What I can't figure out is why they aren't playing it on the radio. I have other current favorites, which do not include Franz Ferdinand (can anyone say "coaster pop"?). I thought I would like it, perhaps, but even though many bands always sound alike on every song, they irritate me.

I'm going back to my cave, now. All skate.

PS: Who is old enough to know of (and have heard) the term "all skate"?

When I was a kid in junior high, we used to have roller skating parties at the local roller rink (which is no doubt long gone by now). They would have periodic "couple's skate" intervals that were soon followed by these words: "all skate". But, I do remember the girl who lived down the road from me. Her name was Vickie. I think she liked me, but of course at the time I wasn't really "tuned" into girls. I may have been 13 or 14. Girls were soft, and they smelled good, but they were generally only interested in older guys--not short little geeks like me. My point (about time you got to it!) is that she would always skate with me during those couples' skates, which, because it meant I could stay out on the floor during that time, I viewed as an advantage.

*sigh* Alas, when someone asked me if we were going steady (and this was asked while she stood there next to me), I answered "no". She never skated with me, again.