I kid!!!
It's nice listen to the new mayor (whom I voted for) talk intelligently about technology. She talks of bloggers as almost neighborhood captains (constituency, point of view, etc). Avoidance of most local news means I hadn't seen much of the mayor on TV. I'm liking what I'm seeing in terms of her realism and insights.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
New On Flickr: The University of Houston Digital Library
The University of Houston Digital Library now has an additional internet presence, a new Flickr page. While the World Famous Red Headed Widows, ca. 1909 postcard not there yet, the Flickr page is only a few days old, so it will be interesting to see how the digital library uses it. Personally, I'd like to see all the historic Houston photographs placed on an available map.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Friday, February 05, 2010
Graffiti is Italian: Graffiti in Italy
First impressions taking the train from Leonardo da Vinci Airport to Roma Termini?... there are a lot of kids with loads of free time and lots of paint in Rome. Seemingly, every abandoned train platform and track-side structure was tagged with graffiti. Also truly unexpected, the abundance of aged and abandoned buildings that scattered the landscape, within view of the rail line running from airport to central. Years-long decay of structures and the defacing of buildings didn't impress this first-time visitor. Italy sells itself on historic ruins, so the toll of nature and patina of age is expected in picturesque roman buildings. It's the more contemporary neglect that was shocking. Leaving Rome, there was lovely countryside to take in (looking a lot like Southern California), but even then graffiti gravitated to any building near the rail line..
The Florence is heavily affected by rampant tagging. The official tourism board has a page dedicated to historic graffito, but for obvious reasons, there is not mention of the current plague that affects the many of the city walls. The Travelers Notebook touched upon Florence's graffiti issue in June '09 article, Florence Defaced By Graffiti, Declared Ugly and Depressing.
Outside the Accedemia, look for the block-plus long scrawled massages by those waiting in line for the David and other works. In the barely populated off-season street, I didn’t understand why so much graffiti lined the walls until I noticed a simple message “4 hour.”
Being neither fluent in Italian nor of Florentine opinion, its impossible to know the local sentiment. I heard from a local that the new, young mayor is working on the task. As a visitor who was only in the city a few days, I can only imagine what those who live with this daily.
Greetings from Baden, Ontario Stencil Graffiti - Florence, Italy, originally uploaded by Mr. Kimberly.
The Florence is heavily affected by rampant tagging. The official tourism board has a page dedicated to historic graffito, but for obvious reasons, there is not mention of the current plague that affects the many of the city walls. The Travelers Notebook touched upon Florence's graffiti issue in June '09 article, Florence Defaced By Graffiti, Declared Ugly and Depressing.
Outside the Accedemia, look for the block-plus long scrawled massages by those waiting in line for the David and other works. In the barely populated off-season street, I didn’t understand why so much graffiti lined the walls until I noticed a simple message “4 hour.”
Being neither fluent in Italian nor of Florentine opinion, its impossible to know the local sentiment. I heard from a local that the new, young mayor is working on the task. As a visitor who was only in the city a few days, I can only imagine what those who live with this daily.
Greetings from Baden, Ontario Stencil Graffiti - Florence, Italy, originally uploaded by Mr. Kimberly.
Wednesday, February 03, 2010
Wednesday Night Photo Post: Shots From the Italy Trip
Exhaustion.
A cold.
Poor sleep.
Yup, all of those came back with me, mostly. There was an ideal trip to Italy and this just wasn't quite the one. Why no blog entries while on vacation? Google and Blogger decided not to join us abroad. Gmail, nope. Google maps, nope. Google search, nope. Blogger, nope. Had to use a poxy service just to get them kind of running. The rest of the internet, just fine.
There were some good times had and here are some pictures as proof. More stories and images to come this week.
Museo di Firenze (Local History Museum) Biblioteca delle Oblate - Florence, Italy, originally uploaded by Mr. Kimberly.
Reproduction of David, Piazzale Michelangelo - Florence, Italy, originally uploaded by Mr. Kimberly.
Officina Profumo-Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella - Florence, Italy, originally uploaded by Mr. Kimberly.
A cold.
Poor sleep.
Yup, all of those came back with me, mostly. There was an ideal trip to Italy and this just wasn't quite the one. Why no blog entries while on vacation? Google and Blogger decided not to join us abroad. Gmail, nope. Google maps, nope. Google search, nope. Blogger, nope. Had to use a poxy service just to get them kind of running. The rest of the internet, just fine.
There were some good times had and here are some pictures as proof. More stories and images to come this week.
Museo di Firenze (Local History Museum) Biblioteca delle Oblate - Florence, Italy, originally uploaded by Mr. Kimberly.
Reproduction of David, Piazzale Michelangelo - Florence, Italy, originally uploaded by Mr. Kimberly.
Officina Profumo-Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella - Florence, Italy, originally uploaded by Mr. Kimberly.
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Ungrateful in Florence: Mark Twain as Good Company Abroad
The month of pre-flight stress, the hours of plane and train travel, the jet-lagged and cold early mornings have all conspired to make me feel grumpy, achy and not receptive to an unfamiliar city. Fortunately yesterday, one of the missus' professional lunch companions recommended another who was felt the same after his trip as well.
Mark Twain literate cynicism about travel might be the perfect antidote to my current fatigue. I hope last night's rest, more of Mr. Clemens' wit and a good breakfast will get me on a happier path.
"How the fatigues and annoyances of travel fill one with bitter prejudices
sometimes! I might enter Florence under happier auspices a month hence
and find it all beautiful, all attractive. But I do not care to think of
it now, at all, nor of its roomy shops filled to the ceiling with snowy
marble and alabaster copies of all the celebrated sculptures in Europe--
copies so enchanting to the eye that I wonder how they can really be
shaped like the dingy petrified nightmares they are the portraits of."
Mark Twain literate cynicism about travel might be the perfect antidote to my current fatigue. I hope last night's rest, more of Mr. Clemens' wit and a good breakfast will get me on a happier path.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Monday, January 18, 2010
The Italian Job: Blogging About The Big Trip
Florence, Italy.
T-minus 4 days and counting.
With a long month behind us and the promise of a great trip ahead, I'm counting the days until we are on a plane to Italy. Like most trips, I have been scouring the internet for photos, stories and places to visit. And in a unique twist, this research got me an invitation to guest-blog for ArtTrav.
Which is perfect, since it has been a vicarious and internet-only experience so far with an actual visit coming soon.
My first post, Traveling Strange: A Collector of Eccentric Attractions Comes to Florence was published earlier today. I'm hoping for at least one more pre-trip post with a few while in the city.
So, once again, the internet has thrown more unexpected opportunities my way, and I've been happy to capitalize on them as best I can. Oh, internet, you and I were made for each other.
T-minus 4 days and counting.
With a long month behind us and the promise of a great trip ahead, I'm counting the days until we are on a plane to Italy. Like most trips, I have been scouring the internet for photos, stories and places to visit. And in a unique twist, this research got me an invitation to guest-blog for ArtTrav.
"Arttrav is an art, travel, and Italian lifestyle magazine. My goal is to freely provide you not only with quality travel information about Italy, but also with a vicarious experience for the internet-based traveler."
Which is perfect, since it has been a vicarious and internet-only experience so far with an actual visit coming soon.
My first post, Traveling Strange: A Collector of Eccentric Attractions Comes to Florence was published earlier today. I'm hoping for at least one more pre-trip post with a few while in the city.
So, once again, the internet has thrown more unexpected opportunities my way, and I've been happy to capitalize on them as best I can. Oh, internet, you and I were made for each other.
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Florence, Italy: An Author's Impressions
Research regarding our latest trip unearthed the following:
In the late 1920's (best guess) author Aldous Huxley described Florence, Italy as "a third-rate provincial town, colonized by English sodomites and middle-aged Lesbians."
Never read that in the tourist guides.
In the late 1920's (best guess) author Aldous Huxley described Florence, Italy as "a third-rate provincial town, colonized by English sodomites and middle-aged Lesbians."
Never read that in the tourist guides.
Saturday, January 16, 2010
The New Art in Houston: Temporary and Permanent
Last week was one of art installation.
Installation of Aurora Robson's Commission "Lift" for Rice University's Barbara and David Gibbs Recreation and Wellness Center - Houston, TX, originally uploaded by Mr. Kimberly.
"Lift" (Detail) - Installation of Aurora Robson's Commission "Lift" for Rice University's Barbara and David Gibbs Recreation and Wellness Center - Houston, TX, originally uploaded by Mr. Kimberly.
That's not me up on the genie lift, I was part of the ground crew. The artist is Aurora Robson, the piece is called "Lift", it looks gorgeous, and you can find it here.
Local arts blogger Robert Boyd found some pre-installation pix from NYC blog C-Monster.
Also, helped with installing some of the Houston Center for Contemporary Craft's Iron: Forged, Tempered show. I'll spare the adjectives, just go see it. Plan on enjoying the metal works, be pleasantly surprised by the other great exhibitions.
Installation of Aurora Robson's Commission "Lift" for Rice University's Barbara and David Gibbs Recreation and Wellness Center - Houston, TX, originally uploaded by Mr. Kimberly.
"Lift" (Detail) - Installation of Aurora Robson's Commission "Lift" for Rice University's Barbara and David Gibbs Recreation and Wellness Center - Houston, TX, originally uploaded by Mr. Kimberly.
That's not me up on the genie lift, I was part of the ground crew. The artist is Aurora Robson, the piece is called "Lift", it looks gorgeous, and you can find it here.
Local arts blogger Robert Boyd found some pre-installation pix from NYC blog C-Monster.
Also, helped with installing some of the Houston Center for Contemporary Craft's Iron: Forged, Tempered show. I'll spare the adjectives, just go see it. Plan on enjoying the metal works, be pleasantly surprised by the other great exhibitions.
Thursday, January 14, 2010
New Car? = New Possiblities, Texan Style
We've been a one car family for over a decade now. My last car was 1975 Olds Delta 88 convertible. 18 feet long, one working brake, a leaky canvas top that invited New Orleans rainstorms in, and damaged front struts that left a mechanic so shaken he told me to store the car as close to his shop as possible since I couldn't afford the needed repairs.
I still miss that car.
Time passes, people get married, they fool around, give the grandparents a grandaughter to love. Obligations and a kid make the idea of another car sound nice. Recently, my pop made an offer of possibly giving us his used car. A big ass old-people Buick. It has no sexy in it what so ever. Something would be done, and I was daydreaming/searching on my iPhone on how to buy steer horns to mount on the front of this yet-unowned car. At dinner, I tell my wife these thoughts, that maybe the car would have horns on the outside, and a indians and cowboys diorama on the inside dash, illustrating Texas history in little scenes.
She says to me, if we have that car you should probably make an art car. And you should put a recreation of Caddilac Ranch in the rear window deck. Holy Great Ideas! I just got the green light for an art car. No discussion, just you should do it!
Where's my sketchbook?... In the meantime Bumsteer seems to be the place for my cow-using car alterations.
I still miss that car.
Time passes, people get married, they fool around, give the grandparents a grandaughter to love. Obligations and a kid make the idea of another car sound nice. Recently, my pop made an offer of possibly giving us his used car. A big ass old-people Buick. It has no sexy in it what so ever. Something would be done, and I was daydreaming/searching on my iPhone on how to buy steer horns to mount on the front of this yet-unowned car. At dinner, I tell my wife these thoughts, that maybe the car would have horns on the outside, and a indians and cowboys diorama on the inside dash, illustrating Texas history in little scenes.
She says to me, if we have that car you should probably make an art car. And you should put a recreation of Caddilac Ranch in the rear window deck. Holy Great Ideas! I just got the green light for an art car. No discussion, just you should do it!
Where's my sketchbook?... In the meantime Bumsteer seems to be the place for my cow-using car alterations.
Saturday, January 02, 2010
So Public, So Misspelled: Fine Dining in North Texas
We just had to pull over, it had to be seen up close to believe. After the photo was taken, we snarked for miles about the sign and the general state of education in Texas.
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