Conan : thesis research trajectory

Dewey : thesis research trajectory

True Story of the Dewey

One frigid Midwestern winter night in 1988, a ginger kitten was shoved into the after-hours book-return slot at the public library in Spencer, Iowa. And in this tender story, Myron, the library director, tells of the impact the cat, named DeweyReadmore Books, had on the library and its patrons, and on Myron herself. Through her developing relationship with the feline, Myron recounts the economic and social history of Spencer as well as her own success story—despite an alcoholic husband, living on welfare, and health problems ranging from the difficult birth of her daughter, Jodi, to breast cancer. After her divorce, Myron graduated college (the first in her family) and stumbled into a library job. She quickly rose to become director, realizing early on that this was a job I could love for the rest of my life. Dewey, meanwhile, brings disabled children out of their shells, invites businessmen to pet him with one hand while holding the Wall Street Journal with the other, eats rubber bands and becomes a media darling. The book is not only a tribute to a cat—anthropomorphized to a degree that can strain credulity (Dewey plays hide and seek with Myron, can read her thoughts, is mortified by his hair balls)—it’s a love letter to libraries.

Sometimes the grudging process of thesis research produces heart-warming nibblies that take you back down to earth.

Campaign ads: taking it to higher levels

6 days to the Big Tuesday. Possibly the most stirring ad in the American elections history. Directed by David Guggenheim of Al Gore’s The Inconvenient Truth fame. In the style of The West Wing ( omg… one of the best tv series out there during its first 4 seasons ).

$1million per network on 7 tv networks, prime time pre-game to the baseball World Series. Only ABC refused to air it.

“I will not be a perfect president,” said Mr Obama. “But I can promise you this – I will always tell you what I think and where I stand.”

MG came across many Americans who were actually annoyed. But I’m certain this is one of those classic examples of targeted ads for the battleground states where the undecided voters need the roundup closing speech. Besides, those who already support Obama would not switch their vote because they were upset at a blitz ad.

What do you think?

from the republican machine

“As a child, Ms. Palin’s father, Chuck Heath, taught her how to hunt. Left, Ms. Palin with one of her daughters and a caribou she shot.”
Photo: Heath Family, via Associated Press

Fro the NYT article: Little-Noticed College Student to Star Politician

*Sarah Palin has just poked you

Lol…

NYT “The Measure of a President”

Yay to NY Times and OPEN N.Y. for producing this graphic comparing the sizes and heights of some American presidents. Boo to the American voters for choosing candidates based on physique, attractiveness, and ‘mainstreetness’ over intelligence and policy.

ICA – The obligatory Boston photo-op

Everybody loves to hate Diller+Scofidio (and Renfro too I suppose? ). I say give them a break, the building isn’t that bad. Though, there *are* some really ugly detail moments but I’ll spare them for now. Someday somebody’s going to detect my shoddy detailing ( an intern to be fired… ) and I’ll have no where to run. More ICA Boston pics … enjoy!

Bye

Paul L. Newman
January 26, 1925 – September 26, 2008

Libraries – awe?

Trinity College, Dublin. Photo by Candida Höfer, Libraries

Supposed to be working on some research for libraries and came across a photobook on library porn. Seems like Candida captured a kind of unexplained awe or je ne sais quois found in most great libraries where books are glorified and knowledge is sacred. It is almost as if we are forced to ignore its questions of impracticability and instead revere this space as a temple for nostalgia and symbolism. Do we continue to build libraries like that? Well, really we can’t, because it would then just be kitsch and cosmetic, and conjure up a false sense of historical importance.  So, what’s next ?

Amsterdam Cheese

One of the delights of a quick layover in Amsterdam. On the way back from Hashim’s Istanbul trip in Oct 07, we scrambled out of Schiphol for 5 hours to do some obligatory architectural touring ( and additional 2 hours for security checks, bum patting, and crotch grabbing – it’s the Malaysian passport you see….). Nothing will complete a Dutch trip if you don’t taste some Gouda.