Friday, September 30, 2005
de youngest museum in san francisco
The other day we were up on Parnassus and looked out over Golden Gate Park. We'd been hearing about the replacement de Young
museum over the last few years as the old earthquake damaged structure was replaced by the new. But to see it rising above
the tree canopy is amazing.
So we headed into the park to take a closer look.
The signature tower is twisted on it's own vertical axis like plasticine.
The skin of the structure is perforated copper. It will be interesting to watch it age and take on the sheen of verdigris.
The interior is broken by densely glazed lightwells that connect interior with exterior. The landscaping is very much a part
of the event and should evolve well - the over-riding theme is a reflection of the dune forms that pre-dated the park on this
site.
Friday, September 23, 2005
Rita
I've been following Hurricane Rita tonight through the lens of the blog issued by the staff of the National Weather Service
Forecast Office in Lake Charles, Louisiana. These people are near the eye and doing their job.
10:06 pm pdt
Thursday, September 22, 2005
A Planted Bianca?
Today, President Bush spoke to the press following a briefing at the Pentagon. He called on several reporters for
questions during which this occurred:
"THE PRESIDENT: Bianca. Nobody named Bianca? Well, sorry Bianca's not here. I'll be glad to answer her question.
Q I'll follow up.
THE PRESIDENT: No, that's fine. (Laughter.) Thank you though, appreciate it. Just trying to spread around the joy of
asking a question."
And later:
"THE PRESIDENT: Are you Bianca?
Q No, I'm not. Anita -- Fox News.
THE PRESIDENT: Okay.
Q Just a quick question --
THE PRESIDENT: Okay. I was looking for Bianca. I'm sorry."
Later on Thursday, there was this exchange during the White House Press Briefing
"Q Who makes up the list of reporters that he is allowed to call on?
Q Yes, where's Bianca? (Laughter.)
MR. McCLELLAN: Who makes up the list? It depends on the reporters that show up. I don't think she had a question. But
the President --
Q Who is Bianca, anyway?
MR. McCLELLAN: I think the President had his most recent press conference this afternoon just a short time before I was
out here, took questions from I think everyone who was there.
Q -- you count that as a press conference?
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, I think it was a 30-minute briefing and several questions taken. I think I would call it a press
conference.
Q Does anyone know who she is?"
So who is this Bianca? Bianca Jagger? She'll be at an anti-war demo in London Saturday?
Friday, September 16, 2005
Putin is also a flyer
"Well....Vladimir......I knew I was in real trouble when we dropped to twenty five hundred feet over Lake Pontchartrain
......."
9:45 pm pdt
Arresting Developments
Coast Guard Vice Admiral Thad Allen to Bush:
"George Walker Bush, it is my bound duty to place you under arrest by order of the United States Congress and to transport
you to a place of detention where you will be held until a time and place has been determined by the Congress for a Proceeding
of Impeachment, where you will answer to the charge of High Crimes and Misdemeanors. Please step this way....."
Friday, September 9, 2005
Everyone feels the pinch
Yesterday, by Executive Order, President Bush suspended - for the Gulf coast States - Subchapter IV of Chapter 31 of
Title 40, United States Code, which dictates paying prevailing wages on all Federal contracts over $2000.
The reason given:
"The wage rates imposed by section 3142 of title 40, United States Code, increase the cost to the Federal Government of providing
Federal assistance to these areas."
No doubt when Halliburton and other contractors get the reconstruction contracts, their guaranteed profit margins will
be reduced by the same factor?
