tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695598.post788782970508682698..comments2023-12-17T19:35:07.459-08:00Comments on Bouphonia: Friday Hope BloggingPhilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15849261651028725772noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695598.post-69438250462643310422010-09-02T14:15:11.160-07:002010-09-02T14:15:11.160-07:00Sam,
Gottfried Helnwein. It's based on painti...Sam,<br /><br />Gottfried Helnwein. It's based on painting by Casper David Friedrich.Philahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15849261651028725772noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695598.post-71609610110906123122010-08-31T20:59:01.939-07:002010-08-31T20:59:01.939-07:00hey there, who painted that top freaky jagged iceb...hey there, who painted that top freaky jagged iceberg?<br /><br />thanks!?Sam Brandhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02003021378652941888noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695598.post-80193327060566013322010-08-31T20:58:12.230-07:002010-08-31T20:58:12.230-07:00hey, who painted that top iceberg work?
thanks!?hey, who painted that top iceberg work?<br /><br />thanks!?Sam Brandhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02003021378652941888noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695598.post-53504596362242054622008-11-02T21:58:00.000-08:002008-11-02T21:58:00.000-08:00I confess to having read the Echidne post beforeha...<I>I confess to having read the Echidne post beforehand. I was thinking 'broad' rather than disjointed. Nothing is unconnected of course, but between urban planning, sociopolitical psychology and the founding tenets of capitalism (banking and real estate), I, uh, wasn't sure where to pivot ;- )</I><BR/><BR/>Me neither. I'd been working on a different angle the previous weekend, but then several semi-related stories popped up at once, so I figured I'd either have to toss it out there as-is and see what people had to say, or scrap it entirely. <BR/><BR/>In a way, there's a bit of self-reproach involved in that piece, because I tend to daydream about similar issues, and I am (or try to be) paranoid about the element of escapism in theory.<BR/><BR/>Geoff Managh once asked whether H.G. Wells' novels might ultimately be better textbooks for architectural theory than "A Thousand Plateaus." My answer: a resounding yes.<BR/><BR/><I>I mention this because the present circumstances with respect to the economic decline may in fact offer the best opportunity for progress on some of the big fronts, eg. reducing individual c-footprints, rise of alternative fuel industries, fixing or at least improving the grid &c.</I><BR/><BR/>I think it does, but that's precisely why it's somewhat unlikely to happen, IMO...at least in this country, where reactionaries are extremely good at destroying or diverting any momentum for change. <BR/><BR/>It can be done, all the same, but it'll take leadership and public involvement of a kind I've only read about. <BR/><BR/><I>I'm open-minded about BO. I think, at heart, anybody who aspires to the job of prezz is fairly twisted, just on basic principles, so my expectations are always tempered. I do think his ability to inspire and his cool demeanour are sufficient characteristics to be at least mildly optimistic.</I><BR/><BR/>That's my position exactly, on presidents and on Obama. I haven't been a passionate supporter by any means, and I've even been pretty hostile at times. But despite all that, I've come to accept that there's a real chance that he could accomplish some incredible things. Though I have to add that at this point, I feel like <I>any</I> progress is basically miraculous.Philahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15849261651028725772noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695598.post-91948464890813782852008-11-02T18:33:00.000-08:002008-11-02T18:33:00.000-08:00I confess to having read the Echidne post beforeha...I confess to having read the Echidne post beforehand. I was thinking 'broad' rather than disjointed. Nothing is unconnected of course, but between urban planning, sociopolitical psychology and the founding tenets of capitalism (banking and real estate), I, uh, wasn't sure where to pivot ;- )<BR/><BR/>One of our Prime Ministers in the '90s, Paul Keating, (although he may have been treasurer at the time) announced at the release of some particularly unwelcome economic figures that "this is the recession we had to have" and has been pilloried for it, off and on, ever since.<BR/><BR/>I mention this because the present circumstances with respect to the economic decline may in fact offer the best opportunity for progress on some of the big fronts, eg. reducing individual c-footprints, rise of alternative fuel industries, fixing or at least improving the grid &c.<BR/><BR/>If the decline in demand and the credit squeeze lead to massive or least widespread dislocation (as it appears to be doing, although not on the 1929-30 scale to be sure) then, while the injection of federal capital into alternative energies may well have been - depending on one's level of cynicism - simply a political move on BO's part to shore up the lefty base, it may actually be about to manifest in the only environment, economically speaking, where it could have a significant impact. An impact wider than the mere injection of capital and provision of employment I mean. Market forces may well follow the govt. lead if smokestack industries feel the pinch and see an opportunity opening. No doubt this is all accidental, but it will be interesting to look back in a few years time, if, say, there is some marked progress, and speculate as to whether the policies suited the circumstances or the reverse.<BR/><BR/>I'm open-minded about BO. I think, at heart, anybody who aspires to the job of prezz is fairly twisted, just on basic principles, so my expectations are always tempered. I do think his ability to inspire and his cool demeanour are sufficient characteristics to be at least mildly optimistic.<BR/><BR/>(speaking of disjointed. aarrgh.)peacayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03997731249622552311noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695598.post-80371534312656067952008-11-02T14:44:00.000-08:002008-11-02T14:44:00.000-08:00thanx for the pix. those pinhole snaps were amazin...thanx for the pix. <BR/><BR/>those pinhole snaps were amazing.<BR/><BR/>sarah and barack debating in 2012, and she wins.<BR/><BR/>it could happen, only in america.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695598.post-48429301469466706622008-11-02T12:40:00.000-08:002008-11-02T12:40:00.000-08:00but resocialising everyone to reject Mcmansions et...<I>but resocialising everyone to reject Mcmansions etc etc and reduce their individual C-footprint is where the real difficulties lie I suspect.</I><BR/><BR/>Absolutely. And I remain unconvinced that Obama is up to the task.<BR/><BR/>Then again, I never believed he had a hope in hell of winning, and it's quite possible he'll surprise me again. I'm pretty awestruck by his political skill at this point. What he'll choose to do with it is another question entirely. <BR/><BR/>I just wrote a long, disjointed piece on "resocialising everyone to reject Mcmansions." A tall order, definitely.<BR/><BR/><I>[Why is it that I feel Palin becomes more rather than less scary as time goes on? </I><BR/><BR/>'Cause you're sane? Whatever happens with this election, the fact that she's a plausible candidate is deeply disturbing. No matter who wins, I think the next four years will be amazingly ugly even by American standards.Philahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15849261651028725772noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695598.post-49284403214820457402008-11-02T02:56:00.000-08:002008-11-02T02:56:00.000-08:00re: the electricity grid / deficit / energy indepe...re: the electricity grid / deficit / energy independence<BR/><BR/>One wonders whether BO is going to go all out with some early depressing speeches next year about the total lifestyle changes that people will need to be making. I know he liberally splashes around the ideas of 'difficult road ahead' and the somesuch but, naturally, he has kept within the bounds of electorally successful commentary up to this point. <BR/><BR/>Green cars, sure, that's a little thing to be getting on with, but resocialising everyone to reject Mcmansions etc etc and reduce their individual C-footprint is where the real difficulties lie I suspect.<BR/><BR/>I remember seeing his list of priorities and thought they were in an interesting order. Umm... was it war, energy, medical insurance, in that order? In any event, if he thinks the road to victory in the election was difficult, he ain't seen nothin' yet. (thank gawD it's him that will be driving the bus, though)<BR/><BR/>[Why is it that I feel Palin becomes <I>more</I> rather than less scary as time goes on? Embarrassment and mockery are not the social tools for idiots in public they once were, eh?]peacayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03997731249622552311noreply@blogger.com