I can't believe this doesn't already exist, but if it does, nobody seems to know about it. I want a modern, well-designed, free (ad-supported) website for cooking. Not just a list of recipes. Not even a searchable list of recipes. I require a site that does for food what delicious does for links, or what last.fm does for music.
If you have a room to keep a chair in your closet solely for the purpose of putting on your shoes, your closet is too big.
I didn't leave work until 10:00 tonight. Somehow the idea of being alone at work was less repugnant than being alone at home. I wish you didn't live so far away, but it's not even that: I would happily drive down to see you. I'm not sure you want to see me, though. Well, not that you don't want to see me, but that you need your alone time while I want nothing but together time. Drives me crazy. It's enough to make me jealous of married folks.
it's been a little while since I wrote much of anything. I really need to keep reading and writing, but the world offers so much to look at that reading and writing get short shrift. And there's been too much to do, even now that school is over. Rebecca is so much fun to hang out with that it's difficult to want to do anything else; maybe she and I can institute a shared sunday morning reading time. We could probably be doing that right now if she wasn't visiting AJ.
Go placidly amid the noise and the haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible, without surrender,
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even to the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons;
they are vexatious to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain or bitter,
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs,
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals,
and everywhere life is full of heroism.
Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love,
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment,
it is as perennial as the grass.
Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.
Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be.
And whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life,
keep peace in your soul.
With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.
strange new problem. this weekend was virtually perfect, except for that one little thing. wonder what the deal was.
Met my love on midsummers night
Moon shining bright and I told her
I loved her
truly
We made love until morning light
Heaven was ours and she told me
She loved me
too
Girl go to sleep, you are safe in my arms
I'll keep watch until the morning comes
girl close your eyes,
you are safe in our home
I'll be waiting when morning comes
said our goodbyes under twilight stars
tears filled your eyes
girl don't worry
said I'll be home soon
by waters edge I kissed your lips
so long ago
girl I'm lost and so lonesome without you
- The Smart Brothers (unsigned)
the centerpoint complex in downtown tempe is a textbook case of bad site design. Retail is pushed up against the street (mill ave) (which is good), and backed primarily by class B office (also not bad), but all of the building entrances occur on the perimeter of the site and there's no reason for anyone to use the pathways between the buildings on the interior of the site (the paths don't go anywhere, and there's nothing on the interior of the site itself to attract users). I'm in the coffee plantation fronting mill ave, and the spring arts festival is happening less than 50 feet away from me right now; there are thousands of people on the street, and there is virtually no one on the interior of the site behind me.
It occurred to me that I hadn't stopped to write anything down in a while, and since I've been all over the country in the past couple of weeks it might not be a bad idea to save a few notes.
When a man loves a woman
Can't keep his mind on nothing else
He'll trade the world
For the good thing he's found
If she's bad he can't see it
She can do no wrong
Turn his back on his best friend
If he put her down
When a man loves a woman
Spend his very last dime
Tryin' to hold on to what he needs
He'd give up all his comfort
Sleep out in the rain
If she said that's the way it ought to be
Well, this man loves a woman
I gave you everything I had
Tryin' to hold on to your precious love
Baby, please don't treat me bad
When a man loves a woman
Down deep in his soul
She can bring him such misery
If she plays him for a fool
He's the last one to know
Lovin' eyes can't ever see
When a man loves a woman
He can do no wrong
He can never own some other girl
Yes when a man loves a woman
I know exactly how he feels
'Cause baby, baby, baby, you're my world
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All designers should be taught to think like developers! Now that I've been taught to see architecture through the developer's lens, it amazes me that the curriculums of design schools so willfully ignore the realities that will face their graduates. I believe in the power of good design, and the value of beauty in our built environment; so aren't we doing a disservice to society and to ourselves as designers by ignoring the kinds of projects that make up 90% of our cities? The kind of project we tackle as students does not reflect the kind of work that most will see as professionals. This is a miserable mistake and a missed opportunity for educators to effect real positive change in the environment.
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What is the difference between dogs and cats that cause them to react so differently sometimes? For instance, why do dogs generally respond to their names, while cats seem not to? Is it possible that dogs can learn their names because they have a concept of self or a social convention of names among other dogs, that is then adapted to their human "pack"? Do cats lack the social facility of naming, or do they lack a concept of self altogether? Or do they simply view their human owners as "others" and not part of the social group? Worse still, I think the truth is probably that they have all the same facilities as do dogs, and they really are just insolent little brats. But it's interesting to think of the cognition and language-parsing skills required to learn and recognize one's own name, and to consider why some animals (other than humans) might have evolved these abilities.
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Need to re-watch The Departed, now that I've been to Boston. Maybe Good Will Hunting too. It's an interesting city, somehow more in touch with its history than New York (a benchmark mainly by virtue of being my only other eastern seaboard adventure). It's too bad that the collective academic mass of Boston's 90-some universities was gone on spring break; I would like to see how the Cambridge campuses feel when they're humming with scholastic activity.
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It was incredible to see the work going on at the World Trade Center site, and a treat to tour Seven World Trade and speak to the management team. Probably the best part of the trip, and it's a shame we couldn't stay longer. I can't believe that after two trips to NYC, though, I still haven't gotten to spend time in either the Met or Central Park. I guess I'll have to go back again.
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A fire pit and a movie projector showing old surf films on the side of your neighbor's house is probably the perfect recipe for a fun house party in San Diego. What a great night.
In an evolving world where mass-produced items are driven to the very margin of profitability and end up as disposable commodities, this article about design as craft suggests an alternative path for designers who seek to produce unique, heirloom-quality work. I don't buy the idea that your grandkids are going to want a heirloom cellphone or iPod, but there are industries, both new and old, where the modern production process has neglected an important qualitative element that niche designers could leverage into a successful business strategy. Technology and automation can enhance the fine crafts, not just substitute for them.
