Wednesday, May 21, 2008

Anti-Aesthetics

Here's a little college book I occasionally pull off the shelf --The Anti-Aesthetic: Essays on Postmodern Culture by Hal Foster (1983 Bay Press). It includes Kenneth Frampton's essay "Towards a Critical Regionalism: Six points of an architecture of resistance." Do I remember reading Frampton's essay? Nope. Like most things you're required to read in school, you don't appreciate them until much later in life.

Book Review: The Mysterious Disappearance of Bay Press by Charles Mudede [The Stranger link]

Detail - Tree Planting, Typ

Ok, so yeah, this is the city's Standard Plan No. 100a for planting a street tree--in case you have an eagle-eye for recycled detail drawings. Hey, it's public domain. I have made a few improvements, however. I've added instruction to keep mulch clear of the tree graft. Also, I visually tried to show "slack" in the ties, although, the tree still looks like it's in handcuffs...

Wednesday, May 14, 2008

Frugal Google

Loyal from their beginning (over a decade, which is like ten to the one hundredth power in tech time), I've decided to give up on Yahoo! I'm switching to Google. See, Google has this great buy-up called "Blogger" and well, Google has perfected the Really Simple Syndication reader. You'd think this would be easy for any web-based email provider. It's supposed to be simple.

Sorry Yahoo, K.I.S.S.

Tuesday, April 22, 2008

Green Product

Earth Day warrants a post about a green product. I like Teragren for bamboo flooring. Teragren has flooring choices in many colors and durability for home or commercial installation. Their Signature Naturals are a good choice in natural and caramelized bamboo, also in flat grain or vertical grain. These floorings are also made with low-VOC (volatile organic compounds) laminating glues and finishes. They meet LEED® IEQ (indoor air quality) Credit 4.4.

Bamboo is considered a sustainable timber because it grows so quickly. It grows and can be harvested in pace with the demand for products made from bamboo. It is the fastest growing woody plant in the world—it spreads by underground rhizomes and can grow three to four feet in a single day. It is native to hot tropical regions like East Asia, northern Australia, and India.

Teragren’s website has a glossary of terms which is helpful if you want to learn more. Their product is locally available at Ecohaus.

Tuesday, April 15, 2008

Flat Tires

On Saturday, I got my bike out to commute to the U-Dist Farmers Market for a Plant Clinic errand and then the P-patch for a garden work party and discovered... flat tires. I couldn't figure out the air pump either. Sigh.

I mention this to make use of a timely metaphor. Right now, my professional website has flat tires. It's been sitting, neglected, in the corner of the room, gathering dust. And worst, I'm not being "transported" by it. I think I need help. Of course it needs air. It needs... filler. I need to show more projects and I need to define my Design Philosophy. It seems an impossible task, right now, to prioritize it. I need to try taking shifts with the website air pump.

A good friend, Courtney, has given me inspiration to keep up with my blog. She recently wrote about using her blogging as a way to commit to her business and be disciplined in setting aside time for her art. I'll take her cue. You'll find her work at The Healing Nest and Quiet Girl Gallery. Thanks Courtney.

Saturday, March 29, 2008

Raisin Pie

House & Garden (December 1963) James A. Beard

3 egg yolks
1 cup buttermilk
1 tablespoon vinegar
3/4 cup sugar
2 tablespoons flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon grated orange rind
1 tablespoon grated lemon rind
2 1/2 - 3 cups sultana raisins plumped in hot water flavored with lemon juice
Rich pastry for 2-crust pie
1 egg beaten with a little water

Beat the egg yolks and beat in the buttermilk and vinegar. Add the sugar, flour, salt and grated rinds and mix well. Drain the raisins and add to the mixture.

Line a 9" pan with pastry and add the filling. Top with crust and cut a vent. Brush with beaten egg. Bake in a 450°F oven for 10 minutes. Reduce the heat to 350°F and continue baking until the crust is nicely browned. Serve while still warm.

Sunday, March 23, 2008

Found My Religion

Ok. I'm compulsive about filling in all the blanks. Today, I added a religion to my Facebook profile: Humanist. Just once I would love to see only "yes" or "no" on a form next to "religious affiliation." And "none" isn't an acceptable answer for me. Tomorrow I'll probably change my profile, but for now, it's Humanism [Wiki link].