May 08, 2008
Hey Food Critics, Restaurants Are More Than Food!!
Via Matta Restaurant, Boston
From Metropolis Magazine:
Why don’t prominent food critics write about the entire experience, graphics and all? By Steven Heller, Posted April 15, 2008As a rule, restaurant critics focus on cuisine, service, and décor, while graphics—type and image—are usually dismissed as promotion or marketing. But I’d argue that inferior graphic design speaks volumes about an overall commitment to quality. A restaurant’s logo, sign, menu, business card, matches, and even check holder—especially the check holder—should be as appetizing as everything on the table. So I am astounded that many restaurateurs aren’t as demanding about their typographic standards as they are about their napkins. Design is often such an afterthought that the receptionist does it on her PC.
Perhaps there would be more reason to stress graphic design if critics paid attention to it. But they never mention graphics and, truth be told, barely assess the architecture (even when designed by Pritzker Prize winners). And while I savor the tasty prose of gifted food writers, if I were a critic, my readers would be treated to a regular menu of cuisine and design in an attempt to right the imbalance. So I’m offering some alternative reviews based on recent experiences, just in case food editors are looking for a fresh voice.
. . .But why, when reviewing Michael Schlow’s Via Matta (meaning “crazy way”) in Boston, was the wild fusion of graphic motifs that establishes this restaurant’s identity so stubbornly ignored in the local paper? There was certainly a valid way of approaching Via Matta’s logo: designed by Daren Bascomb of Proverb, it is constructed from five stacked diamonds in the shape of an M, which upon closer inspection also reinterprets the highway signs of Italy, forming a V and an M. The harmonious combo of burnt sienna and chocolate brown separates the V from the M but also binds them together. It could also be noted that the large surrealist wall canvases by Alexander Gorenstein, a Broadway set designer, play illusionist games with diners. Moreover, the waiters, who strike a pose of informal formality—black vests over white casual shirts, with Puma sneakers—fit appropriately into a space that is at once elegant yet homespun. Now how hard was that?.
This is such a good point. The design of a restaurant is some much of the experience of dining, yet food critics tend to ignore this important component. Maybe food critics don't "get it" because they don't know enough about design to connect the food? I dunno? This is kind'a strange because many restaurant, club, and lounge owners do. Often, that's what we're paying for anyway. Come on critics, pay attention (and I want your job, by the way).
Algunas ideas, caballeros?
Dark Opera Voices
I've written before about the power of the Enemy's voice (Jn 8:44). Well, I've got an entire dark, multi-scene opera going on at the moment. The lies are very, very loud. Totally missing my Grand Rapids band of brothers at Mars Hill (you guys offered the counter-voice from heaven and were the safest brothers I've ever been around).
May 07, 2008
Japan-China Summit: The New World Order?
From the BBC News:
China and Japan have signed a historic deal agreeing a "new starting point" in relations, after summit talks in Tokyo. China's President Hu Jintao and Yasuo Fukuda of Japan agreed a blueprint for future ties - including a yearly summit between the nations' leaders.The deal comes after years of strained relations, caused by rows over wartime history and offshore resources. Mr Fukuda also urged Mr Hu, on his first state visit to Japan, to continue trying to resolve the crisis in Tibet.
The world's political, economic, and social axis continues to shift toward Asia. One the world's strongest economies (Japan) meets with the fastest growing economy, and one of the most globalizing nations, on the planet (China). This is awesome. As these new alignments gain political and economic leverage I wonder if the anti-globalization crowd will start protesting against the East homogenizing the world?
I'm excited. Homies, thoughts?
Clinton, Call It Quits: You're Spliting Your Party and Wasting Money
(CNN) -- Sen. Hillary Clinton will narrowly win in Indiana, CNN projects, edging out Sen. Barack Obama by a 2-percent margin.There were 115 delegates at stake in North Carolina and 72 in Indiana.
With 99 percent of precincts reporting, Obama held a 14-point lead over Clinton.
"Some were saying that North Carolina would be a game-changer in this election. But today, what North Carolina decided is that the only game that needs changing is the one in Washington," Obama told supporters in Raleigh, North Carolina. Video Watch Obama thank his supporters »
Obama took an overwhelming 91 percent of the black vote in North Carolina, according to exit polls, while Clinton claimed only 6 percent.
Clinton took 59 percent of the white vote compared to 36 percent for Obama, according to the polls.
Hmmm, seems like blacks have (rightly) completely abandoned the Clinton's. I still can't believe that there are black democrats that actually support the Clinton's. For what reasons? It doesn't make any sense.
Ok, here's the question? Why won't she quit? Why? Why? Why?
May 06, 2008
May 05, 2008
Teens Cell Phone "Sexting": Primarily Girls
High school boys do not need the internet to look at porn because their female class mates are sending sexually explicit pictures via the text-message feature on their cell phones.
PORTLAND, Ore. -- The popularity of cell phone text messaging has led to a new and controversial trend for students and parents on Portalnd-area high schools.Teens told Portland TV station KPTV that many of their classmates are using cell phones to take and send explicit photos. They said "sexting" is a major problem at most campuses in Portland.
Anton Bogan, a local high school student, said "9.7 times out of 10, it's a nasty photo."
In the news story I watched teens admitted that it was mostly girls sending photos to boyfriends (stupid), for example, and they quickly get distributed throughout the school with the use of the forwarding feature.
Guys, thoughts?
May 02, 2008
Europe's Socialism Doesn't Pay: Why Is This News?
Anne-Laure Renard, a teacher, and Guy Talpot, a postal worker, sold one car and bought a bread maker to cut expenses. Prices have risen four times as fast as salaries in France in the last year.
Thanks to the New York Times for exposing what Hayek, Von Misses, Sowell and others, tried to explain decades ago. A centrally-planned, government "run" economy does NOT work. Would someone please wake up the Keynesians and point them to Europe right now.
Since government attempts to manage the economy stifles growth, middle-class Europeans are now suffering because the economies cannot perpetually support the various welfare states (and it's causing inflation). In France people can't afford bread. Hmm, haven't we seen this before (Soviet Union). I wish people would STOP pointing to socialist economies in Europe as the direction the U.S. should head.
There's is no such thing as "free health care" and "universal health care" requires massive funding that comes from individual's wages. The high taxes used to "universally" pay for all sorts of social services is moving to middle-class to living on welfare. Oops, maybe government paying for everything isn't a good idea.
Please forward this story to McCain, Obama, or Clinton supporters since all three essentially view the role of government in the economy the same way (include Bush too with his weird "stimulus package" which included the government (borrowing money) to give to the rest of us to spend to boost the economy. What?
For Europe’s Middle-Class, Stagnant Wages Stunt Lifestyle
By CARTER DOUGHERTY and KATRIN BENNHOLD
Published: May 1, 2008
LES ULIS, France — When their local bakery in this town south of Paris raised the price of a baguette for the third time in six months, Anne-Laure Renard and Guy Talpot bought a bread maker. When gasoline became their biggest single expense, they sold one of their two cars.Anne-Laure Renard, a teacher, and Guy Talpot, a postal worker, sold one car and bought a bread maker to cut expenses. Prices have risen four times as fast as salaries in France in the last year.
Their combined annual income of 40,000 euros, about $62,500, lands Ms. Renard, a teacher, and Mr. Talpot, a postal worker, smack in the middle of France’s middle class. And over the last year, prices in France have risen four times as fast as their salaries.
At the end of every month, they blow past their bank account’s $900 overdraft limit, plunging themselves deeper into a spiral of greater resourcefulness and regret.
“In France, when you can’t afford a baguette anymore, you know you’re in trouble,” Ms. Renard said one recent evening in her kitchen, as her partner measured powdered milk for their 13-month-old son, Vincent. “The French Revolution started with bread riots.”
The European dream is under assault, as the wave of inflation sweeping the globe mixes with this continent’s long-stagnant wages. Families that once enjoyed Europe’s vaunted quality of life are pinching pennies to buy necessities, and cutting back on extras like movies and vacations abroad.
High Gas Costs Surge Compact Car Sales
As Gas Costs Soar, Buyers Are Flocking to Small Cars
By BILL VLASIC
Published: May 2, 2008
Ahhh, heck yeah. For the first time this ever, I literally considered getting rid of my car after spending $60 bucks filling the thing up (91 octane).
Here's the story from the New York Times:
DETROIT — Soaring gas prices have turned the steady migration by Americans to smaller cars into a stampede.In what industry analysts are calling a first, about one in five vehicles sold in the United States was a compact or subcompact car during April, based on monthly sales data released Thursday. Almost a decade ago, when sport utility vehicles were at their peak of popularity, only one in every eight vehicles sold was a small car.
The switch to smaller, more fuel-efficient vehicles has been building in recent years, but has accelerated recently with the advent of $3.50-a-gallon gas. At the same time, sales of pickup trucks and large sport utility vehicles have dropped sharply.
In another first, fuel-sipping four-cylinder engines surpassed six-cylinder models in popularity in April.
“It’s easily the most dramatic segment shift I have witnessed in the market in my 31 years here,” said George Pipas, chief sales analyst for the Ford Motor Company.
The trend toward smaller and lighter vehicles with better mileage is a blow to Detroit automakers, which offer fewer such models than Asian carmakers like Toyota and Honda. Moreover, the decline of S.U.V.’s and pickups has curtailed the biggest source of profits for General Motors, Ford and Chrysler.
How are you guys adjusting to the soaring gas prices? What changes are y'all making, if any?
May 01, 2008
Incestuous Father of Seven In Austria: Sick
Josef Fritzl admits raping his daughter and fathering her seven children.
A 73-year-old man accused of holding his daughter captive underground for 24 years often spent entire days and nights in the cellar where he kept a secret family imprisoned, his sister-in law said in an interview published Thursday.Police say Josef Fritzl confessed to keeping his daughter Elisabeth in his basement for 24 years, where he repeatedly raped her and fathered seven children with her -- six of whom survived.
"Every day at nine in the morning Joseph would go into the cellar. He said he was drawing engineering plans that he would sell to companies," Fritzl's sister-in-law -- identified as Christine R. as told Austria's Oesterreich newspaper.
"Often he would stay there all night" and his wife was not even allowed to bring him coffee, said the woman that the newspaper identified as Christine R. She is the sister of Fritzl's wife.
Austrian authorities said the imprisoned children, who for years had not seen the light of day, were slowly adapting to sunlight. Officials also debunked reports in a few British newspapers that some of the children could not walk or speak in sentences.
The story of the family's imprisonment began to unravel a week ago, when Elisabeth Fritzl's oldest daughter, Kerstin Fritzl, fell seriously ill with convulsions and was hospitalized.
This is so sick. Leviticus chapters 18 and 19. Sick. This went on for 24 YEARS!!!
Yeah, 24 YEARS!!!! How? If I didn't believe highly in the rule of law, I'd be willing to gather some friends to pay Mr. Fritzl a visit. Just to say "hello" in an Old Testament kind of way. Did his family know about this but failed to act? If so, his family is complicit and may need to be prosecuted as well.
Thoughts?
