a good read from the flyover blog on culture and whatnot in america and beyond:

"The role of culture, however, must go beyond economics," Gioia said. "It is not focused on the price of things, but on their value. And, above all, culture should tell us what is beyond price, including what does not belong in the marketplace. A culture should also provide some cogent view of the good life beyond mass accumulation. In this respect, our culture is failing us."

How did we get to this point? Gioia places blame squarely on the writers, artists and thinkers he wants everyone to celebrate. Since the 1960s, academics have gotten good at taking to each other about arcane ideas but bad at talking to the general culture, a position also argued persuasively by Greg Sandow in his provocative (his word) assessments of the future of classical music.

One of things that academics have gotten good at talking about among one another is the ideology of multiculturalism. This was touched on briefly in a recent Times piece by Edward Rothstein concerning the ubiquitous indifference to the plight of orchestras and the decline of classical music among average Americans.

"Why, in other words, should we care?" Rothstein writes. "After decades of arguments asserting that different cultures just have different ways of expressing themselves, that distinctions and assertions of value are tendentious, and that Western art music deserves no pride of place in a multicultural American society, it may be that even the problem is no longer clearly seen."

read on here.

SFLM7-10v8c1

conceptual animation relating to public installation under development

Modv3Obj_m1

cardboard model of modular component in larger installation that is currently under development.

SFLM7-10v8c

conceptual animation relating to public installation under development

moyers links

sorry, forgot the links...

more on the impeachment http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/07132007/watch.html

and then, last nights...http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/07202007/watch.html

BILL MOYERS JOURNAL | Impeachment Panel Excerpt | PBS

google kingdom...

if'n you didn't see it...Google is waxing philanthropically with wireless bandwidth...

"In January, the FCC will hold a public auction of the vacated radio spectrum -- it's known at the 700 MHz frequency -- and traditional communications companies such as AT&T and Verizon are salivating at the chance to grab up the space.
The 700 MHz airwaves will be used for data; wireless companies talk of a fast, robust, nationwide wireless Internet -- but that's exactly what's so worrying about the prospect of the spectrum going to the telecom firms, which have not generally favored openness on their networks. On today's cellphone networks, wireless companies won't let people run the applications or devices they choose -- all major carriers, for instance, prohibit their customers from adding Skype to their cellphones, and they frown upon letting you use phones that also do Wi-Fi (because if you're using Wi-Fi, you're not ringing up minutes on the cell data plan). "

lighters, matches and scissors oh my!!!

the closing lines of this article today concerning the lifting of the ban on lighters from domestic flights...just made me crack up...

"Congress has permitted the change after initially ordering the lighter ban. It is set to be lifted on August 4. Torch lighters, which burn hotter and tend to be used for pipes and cigars, will still not be allowed in the passenger cabin.

Reid, convicted and serving a life prison sentence, tried to light explosives hidden in his shoes on a transatlantic flight with matches. They have never been banned from commercial aircraft."

they banned lighters but allowed all smokers and for that matter anyone else to continue carrying matches...and now they decided its a waste of time, and have lifted the ban...I love it...if it were Orwellian doublespeak it couldn't be better...its all just so unbelievably hilarious...the next administration if there is one, is going to have so much junk to deal with it'll be a wonder if anything gets done at all....

blatant self promotion...

but whatev, I haven't done this in a while, seeing as I sorta exhausted things with the Aven Project...nonetheless, I digress, go check out the Crackle page, I am going to use if from now on as the format is a lot cleaner, and channels are easier to navigate...so look for videos there, watchem, postem, rate-em and just have fun.

after all, according to Vonnegut you're kidding yourself if you think otherwise...

cheers folks,

Modv3_Obj10_v3

something worked on last night...also trying out a new video share...

From Crackle: modv3obj10v3

Crackle's a Sony corp, but the layout is fairly clean. as for the animation, you may recognize a few things, but as usual, am thinking in circles again. enjoy

Richard Serra Talks with Charlie Rose

site maintenance and other things

have updated a few things on the site, started a video page and uploaded a few other things to the youtube page. this one is a bit of teaser, it is only 20 seconds, but hopefully, if'n I get my act together, I should have a one or two minute version available soon. As I'll probably be loading things twice with the low-res going on youtube, feel free to subscribe to that page. nonetheless, any and all comments are appreciated...there will be more to come in the next few weeks if all goes well with the studio practice...

cheers,

Object10

sorry about the quality, had to change up the format for youtubers...the original can still be accessed through main page...cheers.

45% say impeach

a poll of americans on whether or not to impeach Bush.

read on here.

mainstream gets wise

NY Times Editors ask for an end to the war in Iraq.

many of us already have this opinion, but is it refreshing to finally hear it from the bastion of the mainstream press...

"This country faces a choice. We can go on allowing Mr. Bush to drag out this war without end or purpose. Or we can insist that American troops are withdrawn as quickly and safely as we can manage — with as much effort as possible to stop the chaos from spreading."

read the article here, and if that link doesnt work try here.

this made my sunday...hope it does yours.

cheers.

berlin

the search for a center...perhaps there is none. from an article on the art scene in berlin:

"The zeitgeist these days is more commercial. Galleries serve sushi amid prattle about hedge funds and economic indexes. Berlin has become a production center for works sold from Portugal to Dubai. Rents are going up. The dilettantes have departed. The foreign purveyors have nestled in. What remains is less the innocent verve of the past than an atmosphere that — although aesthetically adventurous and more open to experimentation than in most cities — has matured with a shrewd eye toward marketing."

read on here.

art in second life

"With over 7m registered users, Second Life—an online virtual world complete with land, residents and a growing ­economy—is developing one of the largest art communities on the internet. "

read on here.

and they decided to say that video games aren't addictive...strange.

news from the lake

view from the lake....

the day after...

for those who were a bit confused about the symbolism of yesterday...

"History shows that people will tolerate injustice they are accustomed to, rather than doing what it takes to get rid of a familiar system which oppresses them. Amen. And so it is with the dim, fading shadow of this formerly great nation. As long as we have our couches and our TVs, we will do nothing about tyranny in this land. So long as we are enslaved in comfort, we do not resist."

read more here.