Advice for an aspiring architect, in 1931

Advice for an aspiring architect, in 1931

Finally an interesting site. And yes, this is because it is textual. It is also oh very real; I'm tired of repeating myself - this is what our education is for.

For those who want to browse www.lettersofnote.com - the link to the particular letter is above; I am also pasting the content for I want it in all its visual glory:

Wednesday, 10 March 2010

Advice for an aspiring architect, in 1931

In December of 1931, as the Great Depression took hold, a young man by the name of Richard Crews wrote to a number of prominent architecture firms in the city of Chicago. Soon to enter the profession himself, Crews was curious to learn about an established architect's typical working day, and so sent letters to local masters of the trade to find out from the best possible source. Four incredibly gracious responses arrived, including the one below; a letter filled with honest, sage and extremely quotable advice from Charles Morgan, a highly regarded architectural artist who in the '20s and '30s providedrenderings for a number of large firms such as Frank Lloyd Wright. Had he written it today, I'm sure much of the advice would remain.


Many thanks to F.A. Bernett Books for allowing me to show the letter (which, incidentally, can be bought at their website along with the other three).


Transcript follows.

Source

Transcript

CHAS MORGAN A.I.A
ARCHITECTURAL ENGINEERING
thirty third floor 333 north Michigan Ave
CHICAGO


telephone Randolph 6014


MODERN DESIGN
Architectural
Perspectives
Mural
Mosaics


Richard Crews
4524 Malden Avenue
Chicago, Illinois


Dear Richard Crews:


I am sorry to be delayed these few days in answering your letter of Dec. 21st but I shall hasten and do it before the new year.


Of course, you would be more interested in what an architect does in a day's work in normal times, than now. So if you will excuse the liberty I shall make the discussion, or at least the answer, on what an architect should do in a day's work.


An architect should, unless it is impossible, answer his mail the first thing in the morning. Then his mind is free to plan and design upon the problems of his clients. He goes to work planning from within outward just as truly as from the ground upward. There are very few real architects who get big jobs because it is only the politician who gets big jobs, and the politician never has time to be an architect. So by all means the architect should learn to do small jobs well, because of the very fact that if he is sincere he shall probably never get big ones.


The architect should always remember that Jesus was an architect and that to be entitled to the same name he should love truth and beauty above all else.


An architect is too busy to bother much about luncheon. A sandwich at noon is enough. He draws or builds models most of the day because that is an aid to his imagination. Imagination is the only quality that is creative.


Above all else the artist must not copy. Imitate nothing except principle. That is best understood by reading such as Henry Thoreau's "Walden" and of the lives of great people.


A real architect like a good man in any business does not waste any time whatever doing things of which he might be ashamed. He must above all be a sincere artist.


I congratulate you upon your choice and sincerely wish you much strength and happiness. Make no compromise from that which you know is right.


Sincerely yours,


(Signed, 'Charles Morgan, Chicago Associate of Frank Lloyd Wright.')


December 30, 1931
CLM-M

Cavafy:'nough said

HALF AN HOUR

I never had you, nor I suppose
will I ever have you. A few words, an approach,
as in the bar the other day—nothing more.
It’s sad, I admit. But we who serve Art,
sometimes with the mind’s intensity,
can create—but of course only for a short time—
pleasure that seems almost physical.
That’s how in the bar the other day—
mercifully helped by alcohol—
I had half an hour that was totally erotic.
And I think you understood this
and stayed slightly longer on purpose.
That was very necessary. Because
with all the imagination, with all the magic alcohol,
I needed to see your lips as well,
needed your body near me. 




http://www.cavafy.com/poems/list.asp?cat=4

Teacher and Pupil: New Year's

Another Idol

The wise have always said the same things, and fools, who are the majority have always done just the opposite.
Arthur Schopenhauer

Read more:http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/a/arthur_schopenhauer_4.html#ixzz1hyLim62R

Yeah, I know. But consider that Swift is nowadays merely watched, merely by kids.

Catcher in the Lie

A good day for anniversary as any..

"I have a feeling that you're riding for some kind of a terrible, terrible fall.  But I don't honestly know what kind.... It may be the kind where, at the age of thirty, you sit in some bar hating everybody who comes in looking as if he might have played football in college.  Then again, you may pick up just enough education to hate people who say, 'It's a secret between he and I.'  Or you may end up in some business office, throwing paper clips at the nearest stenographer.  I just don't know..
Among other things, you'll find that you're not the first person who was ever confused and frightened and even sickened by human behavior.  You're by no means alone on that score, you'll be excited and stimulated to know.  Many, many men have been just as troubled morally and spiritually as you are right now.  Happily, some of them kept records of their troubles.  You'll learn from them - if you want to.  Just as someday, if you have something to offer, someone will learn something from you.  It's a beautiful reciprocal arrangement.  And it isn't education.  It's history.  It's poetry."  ~J.D. Salinger, The Catcher in the Rye, Chapter 24, spoken by the character Mr. Antolini

Hu Shih (1891-1962)

It's all ordinary experience, 
All ordinary images. 
By chance they emerge in a dream, 
Turning out infinite new patterns. 

It's all ordinary feelings, 
All ordinary words. 
By chance they encounter a poet, 
Turning out infinite new verses. 

Once intoxicated, one learns the strength of wine, 
Once smitten, one learns the power of love: 
You cannot write my poems 
Just as I cannot dream your dreams. 

Gustafi: "We Shall Dream in Yellow," 2009

I have always associated party music as escapist. Must be all those lousy teen parties, ha. The one here, by Gustafi, is a prime example.
I don't feel like translating it; suffice it to say that they are all going to heaven, where they shall dream in colours and dance with naked angels and ten hookers. "Nothing is sacred, the world is without mud" - and they shall also dream of - "freedom."
It does seem so true. It must be that every freedom fighter, be this freedom national or personal, will agree. But I have also always been repelled by those cynical that use this as an excuse - the conclusion should not be premeditated, so to speak.

When a stupid man is doing something he is ashamed of, he always declares that it is his duty.

Shaw

Let's sing lewd songs and dance into the New Year!

An Exercise in Grotesque

Dječaci: Lovrinac, YouTube audio clip just a few posts down.

I do realise it is Christmas, but the song actually has great, if morbid, lyrics, definitely worth translating. I love when kids surprise me! Even though their almost utmost say with language is rhyme and joke, this is a true mirror to contemporary Croatian tendencies. And so catchy. Would love to dance to it.
So:

Mali Ante iz Spinuta 
živija je preko puta 
jednu noć u kasni sat 
dućan iša opljačkat 
pa je vlasnik izvadija 
PA PA PA PA 
mali Ante sad živi 
NA LOVRINCU 

Ante kid from a nearby hood

all thought he lived just as he should

in wee, dark hours of one night

a gone wrong heist was his plight

so the owner, he pulled one out

BAM BAM BAM BAM

Ante now is merry at 

cemetery 

Mali Stipe iz Varoša 
srednju školu nije proša 
jednu noć u kasni sat 
ženu iša silovat 
al je žena izvadila 
PA PA PA PA 
mali Stipe sad živi 
NA LOVRINCU 

Stipe kid, another one cool

dropped out early from his high school

in wee, dark hours of one night

his rape wish came to bare light

so the woman, she pulled one out

BAM BAM BAM BAM

Stipe now is merry at

cemetery

Mali Gogi s Mertojaka 
pričalo se da je maka 
nekoj babi iša vrat 
sa nožinom prerezat 
al je baba izvadila 
PA PA PA PA 
mali Gogi sad živi 
NA LOVRINCU 

Gogi kid was a bit lazy

and a lot more just plain crazy

a hag he pulled by her warm coat

wanting to slit her old throat

but the granny, she pulled one out

BAM BAM BAM BAM

Gogi now is merry at

cemetery

Mali Duje sa Kmana 
svi su znali da je đana 
dilera je iša zvat 
da mu dug neće dat 
diler doša izvadia 
PA PA PA PA 
mali Duje sad živi 
NA LOVRINCU


Duje kid, a darling monkey
all knew him as just a junkie
his dealer he called one day
said he didn't want to pay
so the dealer, he pulled one out
BAM BAM BAM BAM
Duje now is merry at
cemetery


REF. 
na Lovrincu, na Lovrincu 
cili Split je na Lovrincu 
kriminalci, mafijaši, lupeži i 
drogeraši na Lovrincu. 
Tu je disko, svi smo mrtvi 
umrli smo, psihopati, pedofili 
na Lovrincu Split je cili 

cemetery, cemetery
all of Split at cemetery

all of criminals, the mafia, all of theives and all of addicts

at cemetery

one great disco - we are all dead - we croaked, we died

the psychopaths, paedophiles

all of Split at cemetery

Mali Joke s Kocunara 
prokocka je masu para 
iša je provalit stan 
liku šta je domobran 
onda se iz stana čulo 
PA PA PA PA 
mali Joke sad živi 
NA LOVRINCU 

Joke kid, he would get his dash
gambling every dime of his cash
went to burglar a wrong flat
of a veteran jumpy as cat
so the neighbours heard from the flat
BAM BAM BAM BAM
Joke now is merry at
cemetery

Mali Zlaja sa Bača 
doma se u zoru vraća 
radia je noćnu smjenu 
kumu svome jeba ženu 
pa je kum izvadia 
PA PA PA PA 
mali Zlaja sad živi 
NA LOVRINCU 

Zlaja kid that sails with tourists
he certainly hated purists
fucked his own best man's young wife
every night to spice up life
so the best man, he pulled one out
BAM BAM BAM BAM
Zlaja now is merry at
cemetery

Mali Zvone iz solina 
našmrka se kokaina 
reka ćaći da je glup 
ćaća ti si glup ka stup 
pa je ćaća izvadia 
PA PA PA PA 
mali Zvone sad živi 
NA LOVRINCU 

Zvone kid from the near Solin
snorted quite a lot of cocaine
told his father he was thick
Dad, you're as silly as my dick
so his own dad, he pulled one out
BAM BAM BAM BAM
Zvone now is merry at
cemetery

REF. 

Dear Mr Obama

I was much exhilarated indeed by your inauguration but, as much as I hate stating it, it does seem you, "who had been all things to all people" – did not reach the promise. 
Even though I devote but a slim and intermittent portion of my time to politics, especially US, a Hollywood actor spoke against you today too. I know you will allow me a joke: yes, I realise postmodern Washington recruits among those as well.
If I were in your shoes, I'd actually help what Wiki proved to be an especially dangerous part of dealing: behind-the-scenes not-plain dealing.
I say opt out and write a book. You may be wiser. In my country, elderly people fear a 'worse' evil.
Best regards.

Abstruse Killing Joke

I come to your server, seeking equality.

Davor Juricic

ps
Not to worry, we're not mad about you either.

In Case You Missed It

Diocletian's Palace, Split, Croatia.

As I was taught in an art history course, the arch is avant-garde. The classical Greek architecture knows but of a square triangle on top of columns.

Photo taken from http://www.croatiatravelblog.com/diocletians-palace/

The Peace of Cabbage

"At Carnuntum people begged Diocletian to return to the throne, to resolve the conflicts that had arisen through Constantine's rise to power and Maxentius' usurpation.^[183] Diocletian's reply: "If you could show the cabbage that I planted with my own hands to your emperor, he definitely wouldn't dare suggest that I replace the peace and happiness of this place with the storms of a never-satisfied greed."^[184]

He lived on for three more years, spending his days in his palace gardens. He saw his Tetrarchic system implode, torn by the selfish ambitions of his successors."

Slime

Small wonder most are quite limited and opposite of altruistic.
But the bottom of the pit is inhabited by those journalists that expose misery for holiday season. Or prominent ones visiting massacre scenes once a year, as in case of Vukovar or Srebrenica.
Croatian press these days is full of such stories, and I guess the rest of the world exhibits much the same.
However, what is really surprising is that there are so few office holders who decide to simply drop out, away from this depravity. Publicly, I mean.
I do have to finally read that biography of Diocletian's.

Quote of the Month

There are a terrible lot of lies going around the world, and the worst of it is half of them are true.

Sir Winston Churchill (1874 - 1965)

Das Unbehagen in der Kultur

Tkbdwkbc kdjsbck kdbcjhkb dcbdwcv scfeesfefccxsfsc merc vrkiroovo rvcfdbnvcjikdv nmdsnxcdncbd zduczcudrc mdfc mdf cf dfmc hfdchhcbdhbshxbhdx dcndjkcnrridic cdhcjebwjxc nbedmc e cjheh eh bejcb ec cjjecnmmmmmmmmcdbhbchd vdcvzbchcbezhcb djcbhcbdhcbdhcb snnwnwmqajdcbcjcn, ehcezhcbz dcbjhc uefheiei 1 jdbcjdbnc djcnnmmm ekfjikjvci dmcndjncdj ms. Ajbjrb irufhur jncjne ejkncencn (kkjcbke ejvkvbke, cbherhcbzier ejhcvbev) - uwjkecbjeb ecbvhebvc ieucheuichvce hdbxsbh nbxbu zeg!

Ugly Jelena

More Kids from Croatia

Comic Relief; Best for Holiday Season

Isn't this great? I guess you really have to be blase and cynical not to simply adore it..

Happy New Year!

Midnight Ramblings

As an aside, what with the current politics and statements by prominent officials and would-be officials ranging from war in Europe to Middle East, there's room for NG and History channel paranoia more than ever.
Are we indeed to reveal the final Apocalypse chapter?
***
I was at a party yesterday; this guy insisted world could be much, much worse off.
"Some people get by with a little understanding,
Some people get by with a whole lot more.
Oh, I don't know why you gotta be so undemanding -
I want more!"

What Would You Say to World at Large, aged 38?

All your fault; nobody else's.

What Would You Say to 16-y.o. You?

The secret is you must not know the secret.

Miroslav Artić

WORD

I travel

from word to word,

looking for a word

more wordy and different

than all other words.

NEITHER WEAKNESS NOR FEAR

This weakness of mine

fear has not engendered,

nor is fear

child of my weakness.

The case is they both feed on my being.

And every day

foster my being.

Fear and weakness,

day in and out.

Marijan Alaniz

It is a rare moment indeed when I discover some astounding contemporary Croatian poetry.

(I am mostly used to words like 'cunt' rhyming with 'whiskey' - as in case of this poetry competition I participated in some ten years back; this was the winner.)

So, without any further ado, Marijan Alaniz in English, translated by myself:

MY SUMMER

The scent of rancid figs announced the death of yet another summer. And they say, only what is dead is truly ours. It is but memory that can boast eternity and always visit what it remembers. This is why I shall bid good-bye to summer with a smile, summer soon to become just mine. I am already looking forward to our meetings when we are alone, without any disturbance. My summer and me, me and my summer, and when all have left, there will be the two of us.

¢ 2000

I LOVE YOU NOW AND THEN

I love you now and then

and don't be sad to hear this confession.

I don't think there is love

that lasts for more than a moment.
This after all wouldn't be love,
perhaps habit at best..
Feeling is born and lives in the moment
of its existence.

And the moment is forever.

I love you now and then
and whoever says that because of this
I don't love you – is lying!
This awareness of momentariness
affords this splendid opportunity
to fall in love with you again,
each time differently
and every time as if for the first time.
Whoever says they love differently,
blending moments into one,
loves insipidly and
takes love lightly..
As if it were here to last for good,
as if we were meant to have it.

And so, please allow me
to love you now and then,
leaving the time in between these moments
just to me,
so I can imagine this moment
when I will fall for you again.

¢ 15 Nov 2000

Objects of Desire

We've craved others as things forever I think, submission, violence and all too, but contemporary capitalism has introduced wanting things - almost sexually.

Today, I eavesdropped on adolescent conversation: it was all about mobile phones. No idea in sight. Phone dictionary thus got to replace command of English. Whee, it knows every word.

Glad as I am that I climbed trees, I now also have a daily changing, and exhaustive, list of things I want. It is important to note the realms of dreams and reality overlap here: thus I do not yearn for a Porsche but a VW. It's also time I upgraded to a tablet; and I do like that shirt-like jacket and need a new motorcycle.

Of course, there's a book on this. Marc Auge would have it "quickly changing life itself is attracting the attention of anthropologists."
Still, with a personal goal of wanting to experience for the sake of it, I say I'm really glad I left paper notes on desk and also that I got to experience instant communication.

One of the wisest things I have ever heard came from an English girl I met whan I was 16: "You can't undo it."

20 Years Later

I never know which is more unsettling: when foreigners basically have no idea where they are at all, and avoid local matters, or when the few bizarre, inquisitive ones broach the subject of the recent war.

6 December 1991 was the peak of the Serb and Montenegrin assault on the Dubrovnik region, with literally thousands of shells hitting the Old Town.

I am usually all in favour of problematizing the issue of the collapse of a complex state - but it's just the warring, drunk mob stole, burned and killed everything in sight, even the airport equipment which they then just installed across the border.

The following photo was taken that day. I was 18 at the time and lived. This 23 aged young man did not.

The Win

Well, this HDZ party that more or less ruled Croatia since the end of socialism lost the elections heavily.

Their main blunder, apart from robbing the country of its vast share of wealth, is never learning the difference between party and state, just one of the ancient habits that was superimposed on what was proclaimed as new, all adorned with newspeak lingo.

The Social-Democrats had one 4 year mandate back in early 2000s but failed to implement any changes. To do this, I am afraid, you do need to render a few officials jobless. These people anyway live imitations of real lives and it is high time they went to the market, I say.

This would enable the left to recruit those shamelessly opportunistic. It was eerie to watch those mentally unstable go mad ten years ago using official HDZ propaganda as their starting point - yes, the followers must be won over.

Or else. We're gonna have more of what this comic clip is parodying:

It begins with "Let the crooks in!," goes through "Now let's agree that half the members of HDZ will join the ranks of SDP," and finally ends with "Then you give it all back in four year's time."

Btw, I love these WWII stunts. My favourite moment is one of Hitler: the Downfall moments when two scared young women listen to raging Adolf behind a closed door, one of them subtitled as: "Don't worry; I arranged visa for Bosnia." Hilarious.

Commentary

Croatia is having parliamentary elections on Sunday.

This won't go well with non-Croatian-speaking audience but I guess Google translate will do for these few words.

FT was the only paper worth reading during the past 20 years or so, but it had to go.

On How It Is

credits: a net person

"Prayer"

There's an old quotation about opera: "If it ain't worth saying - you sing it."

Well, these days I'm using photos. The idea for this one came from S. (featured); the venue is the Dubrovnik Art Gallery terrace; shot in BW:

Then, there's another one: "Art is science made clear."

Back to Roots

Good ol' rock'n'roll, straight out of Croatia, on the eve of 2012; naturally, with a touch of nihilistic postmodernism (rating 4 out of 5):

World Clock

Mid-Way

When I was from Cupid's passions free, my Muse was mute and wrote no elegy.

Ovid, Amores
Roman poet (43 BC - 17 AD)

Radio Winter

Settling in in my old-new Dubrovnik.

Preps for the new amateur Radio show on UNIDU 97.50 MHz are underway: www.egotrip.com.hr

1. show will deal with Marc Auge (we need to study the everyday);
2. Gadamer (method);
3. micro-environment (the Philosophy of Small Places by the unfortunately now late Konstantinovic);
4. Belles lettres? (Death in Venice or the nuts who write); and
5. the contemporary (sexuality: Michel Schneider).

There will be 10 shows more but I plan a break after each five. The broadcast should start some time after New Year's.

Vis

Quote of the Month

My ideal relaxation is working on upholstry. I spend hours in junk shops buying furniture. I do all the upholstery work myself, and it's like therapy.
Pamela Anderson (1967 - )

OSs

I spent three days transitioning.

First of all, I'm resting from a tiring summer and this is reason enough to be in bed for three days, installing different things, why not. Incidentally, due to lousy connexion I also discovered the Download Manager.

Well, this is how it is: on old desktop I am running W7 and Jolicloud; dual boot. Very impressed with the cloud: not merely the technical stuff - this, I would say, requires some further polishing but with the design. Most Linux systems actually acutely lack solid graphic designers.

The little HP Mini 2133 unfortunately cannot stand much of anything so I opted for the EasyPeasy version of Ubuntu.

The third in line is the proper laptop. I cannot sacrifice Windows here because I do need Office for real translation work, and I have invested in W programs a little over the years too.
However, I will also try to squeeze MeeGo in. Again, design! It's so cute and would be my very first choice.

That's it - a boring post really - no philosophy whatsoever.
Now I'm off to the island of Vis for three days. Check it out on the map - it's smack in the middle of the Adriatic. And it's one of the places, apart from Bol on Brač that I indulged myself in while I was loaded, I've always wanted to visit. There'll be photos.

Off the Beaten Track

It's time to see what you didn't this summer.
The extravagant fountain and garden are hidden behind a modest summer villa - the whole idea is not to be ostentatious about one's wealth.

Now, these would not remain secluded if I told you right away the whereabouts, would they?

Quiet Time

Life is a strange bugger.
Sometimes you have to move 500 kilometres or invest $700 for a new TV set or monitor to be able to see a documentary at peace.
No doubt the process has been accelerated during the past 20 years.
So I discovered my quiet place. Even the design feels and sounds quiet.
So let me take you there.

This Year's Banned Commercial

I have somewhat of a dislike for Bono's highfalutin One 'concept' - but he made a fucking good commercial. It is true - true obscenity is to be found in Gvmt and overgrown private policies.

Why on Earth people have to suffer so that brawn could raise a couple of weaklings of own blood - is beyond anyone's comprehension.

Well, I say: let them wallow. And be damned. A slim hope remains that we are all resonsible for sins of doing and omission.

I do like juicy cursing and swearing peppered with sophistication, or vice versa; it is indeed part of any real life culture. And if you have a problem with that, I'll just quote here:

"You shall be true to them who're false to you."

And if so highbrow and asceptic, you let me know where this is from - without googling it, of course.

Egotrip

I'll quote myself: "A new idea for a new year." So I'm doing another show for UNIDU, a local student radio station - this time a talk show. It will present reads and ideas. Should be lots of fun.

Meanwhile, I enabled online listening of the first eleven music shows @ http://www.zvuchi-drugachije.com.hr/

Storm Season

Finally starting to relax. I have but one more weekly batch of tourists coming in and we will soon have the place to ourselves.
They seem to be having this great unlimited cake offer at the Hilton during afternoon, all acompanied by a piano player.
It's raining - a sensation for eyes sore because of all the sunshine and temperatures that went as high up as 37 in August.
If a tourist, check out what you are missing:

SOLOMON BURKE & DE DIJK: GOOD FOR NOTHING

I’m hard up, broke and busted 
And I never hold a job 
I know I’m bound for trouble 
I won’t ever reach the top 
I sure ain’t mother’s finest 
I always find a way to slack 
If you lend me twenty dollars 
You’ll never get it back 

Don’t think I could ever change 
If I did it wouldn’t last 
I guess it’s too much of a hassle
I’m just getting nowhere fast 

I’m just a good-for-nothing 
Just a zero out of ten 
But baby don’t you know I’m able 
To love you like nobody can 

I would keep you waiting 
But I couldn’t wait myself 
All I think about is me, 
I put the blame on someone else 
I mess it all up big time 
Would not admit it when I’m through 
When you give me your love, babe 
I just don’t know what to do 

Don’t think I could ever change 
If I did it wouldn’t last 
I gues it’s too much of a hassle
I’m just getting nowhere fast 

I’m just a good-for-nothing 
Just a zero out of ten 
But baby don’t you know I’m able 
To love you like nobody can 

A Tired One on University Reform

Yes - idiots think nothing should be for free; yes - West charges for tuitions as well.
This pretty much produces unequal societies, where one's chances are determined from his birth (in a nutshell) - the opposite of the idea of the American Dream.

(Perhaps this will one day be rectified too - once we have realised, I assume, that benevolent and bright ones should have advisor roles.
The latter is my idea of a check on power; I would never consent to power. Plus, as an aside, this would hinder me too much since I loathe imitations of life, such as you can observe when idiots are being kept safe by a number of other idiots.)

Well, I have learned today I should switch to a doctoral programme. What this entails is two semesters more, at the cost of $5,000. This is no problem, except for the money for the time being, I hope - it's just that the last two semesters are about this mentor-only programme - and my mentor does not really deign to answer my emails, even though I am an all A student.

This is what happens I guess when you combine greedy capitalism with nonsensical socialism: they start charging for nothing, "because nothing is for free." What worked rather okay for 50 years must now be charged, even though you get an absolutely same thing. 

But does anyone even care for "benevolent and bright ones" in academia? Judging from the article I read the other day - nope. So let me quote a little:

‎"Science [scholarship] should, instead of being conservative, Ostojić continues, orthodox and closed, once again become open to questions, arguments and counter-arguments. Open debate is but seemingly allowed. If you denounce a better known scientist today, the thinking of whom is based on the consiousness described, if you touch his dominant and untouchable ego, you will get a horrifying burst of counter-attacks. Science today has no possibilities for a more open debate and for offering arguments and counter-arguments. There is a definite system for subtle filtering of knowledge. I beleive the goal is, on one hand, to promote existing dogma, and a fear exists on the other to divulge any information that could jeopardise the system as such. For it is better to have nothing going on in a controlled state, than to have an unmanageable something. Knowledge is power, so system control is paramount in itself, where we, ordinary valuable folk, are but collateral damage of the overall human degeneration." 


Sounds like "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" all over again indeed. 

"I guess, amid all the shit, what's really important is to experience as much as you can, do what little you can - and not consent to circumstances that squander your life away for too long."

You can quote me on this one.

Quasi-Elite

So they're having this "OSCE PA" conference in Dubrovnik, a tough acronym for the parliamentary assembly of this European security organisation.
About the wisest in this respect are Slovenes - they choose this castle outside of any urban or village centres and hold their high profile meetings without any interference with common folk.
In Dubrovnik - oh no - they opt for a hotel at the far end of the town, and disturb just about everyone in the town at least twice a year. I have myself witnessed the polite yelling of a rough-cut policeman at an elderly person trying to cross the road just minutes before his rulers would storm by in their bullet-proof cars. It is absurd - even tourists are complaining.
Just before I turned adult, I even had some respect for the word meeting: I thought this entailed very serious stuff. However it turned out it's mostly a bunch of almost-morons "assemblying" things.
Not to mention that this security facade would most probably crumble to pieces at the first mention of anything like crisis in Europe. Don't take my word for it - just watch and see.
And the dumbwits? They - literally - think they own the world.

The Off Season Plans

Losing the Tie

Well, I have predicted long ago suits would become disgrace signs one day.

That we need a fresh start has been only too apparent for quite a while now. I even wrote to Mr Obama a few years back, urging him "to lose the tie," in terms of his promises. For example, green energy.

But I also advocate more reason and brains. However, there's little room for optimism: my greatest two disappointments were (1) realising but other bad things bothered me in the US, in contrast to my home country, and (2) realising the person who is wrong would never admit so.
About the greatest regret is (1) not living in an age where things get better day in and out.

So, hooray for the new American revolution! - they have themselves incited one too many around the globe.

About the worst thing that can happen to a human being is believing nothing can be done about anything - and this is crippling for many. So let us support this peaceful discontent. Even if we know those in power would rather lead us to something quite dismal first before we see new light.

It was to them that Virginia said: "If things are so okay, why do we have a war every 50 years?"

To Youth, With Love

Can't be absolutely sure about this one, but I actually think I got pilfered on the net the other day.
In 2008, I created and put online ever since this project for attracting youth into the Zagreb Lisinski Concert Hall - http://minijaturist.net/18.pdf. In one of funnier passages, I said Lisinski people had not been contemplating giving away tickets to youngsters but obviously intended to introduce an ER team.
The idea called for selling cheap tickets just before concerts to high-school and university students.
Something just like this was announced on 28 Sep 2011 - http://www.lisinski.hr/article.php?id=33, albeit in a less elaborate form, much to my glory.
The coincidences seem too much though I'm not arguing absolute surety. Actually, this way or another, I'm glad the project came to life and hope it will not be still-born.
The sole purpose of life, I think, is to apply what one has learned. To apply without learning is ridiculous - a fallacy often entertained.
That said, I would have enjoyed to have been mentioned, especially taking into account all my work is online. I condone and encourage non-commercial use with no alteration, having quoted the source.
On we go. A more daring idea - here: http://minijaturist.net/13.pdf.

Quote of the Month

Just in case I fail :p

"I hope that when I die, people say about me, 'Boy, that guy sure owed me a lot of money.'"

Jack Handey (1949 - ), Deep Thoughts

The Mix

I also talked to a mongrel today - a nice lady that is half foreign and half Croatian. Any out-of-ordinary displacement affords direct impetus for thinking so I tried my luck: I tried explaining the greatest issue for present day citizens of Dubrovnik is their lack of education opportunities, better jobs accordingly, and poor chances for participating in the cut.
Now, the debate about free education or otherwise is by now global. Unfortunately, the idea calling for the Dubrovnik University has for the time being failed, parents do not have enough money, and there is no market for all those new BAs anyway. As an aside, I'm just glad the idea of a private university that charges exorbitant amounts, owned by the ex-minister roumored to have been nicknamed Mr Ten Per Cent, has failed as well. Again, we just cannot afford it and it's not that good to attract those that would rather be part of the top-400 list.
So what exactly is happening in Dubrovnik? Perhaps you will be surprised if you read here that the population of the Old Town has dwindled by half. People are selling, yes. And lack of any wise policy also practically moved the administrative and shopping centre elsewhere. We, needless to say, also dislike crowds. This even got twice to the absurd point when the mayor asks the locals to refrain from the Old Town on a given day on account of cruiseliners.
The horrid truth reveals as well hotels are foreign-owned and foreign-frequented. Ditto for festivals and restaurants any day now. Locals cannot afford the above. Small wonder they protest against the planned golf park. Why on Earth would they surrender more to somebody else?
This is all sad but so was Cuba. The rest was history. I hate to think what will happen to the country when vultures have their go once again.

So, What's New?

So this would be your typical Croatian greeting - a counterpart to the American What's Up? Literal translation does do wonders sometimes.
So, my earliest memories go back to I would say 1978 or 9. Back then, both for good and bad, things were different. I will not now argue for an enlightened version (in contrast to poorly upheld and dogmatic) of self-governing - I know foreigners are more than scared when they hear the word socialism. Suffice it to say standards were somewhat low, say, in tourism.
But tourists then veritably came over to discover a different country. So they did not dwell excessively on what they could not have and was abundant at home. What they were after was something genuine.
This is not saying we should forget to rise up to sound standards or that we should not strive for better. All I am saying this is, naturally, a process that is taking place, and time, and that most employees in tourism genuinely want their guests to feel comfortable.
So what I'm arguing against is it is somewhat paradoxical to look for London or NY in downtown Dubrovnik. Definitely do not take just anything but think about what you might be missing as well.

The Guru Thing

Sometimes I chat and sometimes people complain I jump around ideawise. I think it's a whole method. A rounded exercise - here: http://clueless-rambler.blogspot.com/2006/07/wrapping-up-chapter.html
A tiny addition below. It's high time I wrote something. There's just so little free time until November - I will have to postpone the 365-posts a year for 2012..


We all know happiness is complex.
Capitalism, which we all know as well is far less than perfect, introduced this occupation known as the personal shopper. (Capitalism I actually think must be combined with socialism, but that is a whole another post.) But I have often advocated the personal life advisor for some of my friends. On the other hand, it's such a shame so few nowadays opt for real tutors for their kids.
Your name and surname should really act as your reputation card, while best results are actually attained by individuals. The phenomenon does have some macabre overtones in mass suicides that occur in the US, for example.
However, another useful perspective is the one which states dumbwits are so full of confidence while those introspective are indecisive. So just how do we get valuable ideas across, how do we separate wheat from chaff - especially if we stop to consider marketing is by and large unnatural madness?
Well, none quite know. (It would also be sound to inculcate mystery and sense of awe in children for all those great, ineffable questions.) They joke about God playing dice or otherwise. I find they roll without a quiet moment. The rule of thumb must be if somebody wants you to follow, you're safest walking away.

Hi, Welcome

So I'm trying hard to become a good tourist rep for these three months. It has already taught me a lot: real work, working class conditions and politeness. I even smile more.
I represent three British brands and do Brits only. If you want to study different cultures, just get one plus a Croatian - and watch for three days. I did pick an obscene, juicy local joke about a paedophile - just can't find anyone to tell it to.
I have a pretty good story about the town and tourists like me though I make them say local words or explain "locals are warm and open, though some have hardened due to daily onslaught of tourism."
It's inevitably also a study of human nature. So I did some math, and in about 120 people you will have your 3 loonies. But absolute ones. So you accept you yourself botch some things up, but the former simply cannot be helped.
Then Harry did Hvar. God, if as an interpreter I wished to do a high political summit, this would be your ultimate tourist rep thing. I'd make an extra effort to muddle his royal head.

Julian Rachlin

Well, we have this new festival. That about sums it up - it's new. New broom sweeps well, yes, but these days just about anyone is complaining about new things.
What bothers me with Rachlin is he is inventing hot water, as the vernacular has it. After all we have had the Dubrovnik Summer Festival for some 50-odd years now, so the whole situation resembles the one when marketing "experts" teach philosophy PhDs. Professors do actually learn something but the irony is the other guy never will.
Rachlin does have a somewhat obnoxious feel though he plays well and does serious classical music. I also welcome just about any new event in the town, especially off-season. But tonite was for kids - it's just that adults mostly attended.
The British Queen would say something like: "Well, it's quite postmodern." I say much the same thing in a single word - disgusting.
They dressed the local, poor help as pirates and, acting poorly, performed mediocre musical sketches. Like literally answering the phone hidden in the piano or playing Chopin and Oči černe at the same time. But then something appalling happens - a thundering applause.
I have this music show at the local student radio though I can't actually read music and have often wondered during the past six months whether those people that have neither breath nor sophistication can recognise good music or idea if they mostly perform poorly? It's strange, judging from the world of ideas I would say yes, but from music - they seem to go back.
I'm sure Julian has his side of the issue. He does sell well, y' know. But I'd rather he taught a few not to clap in-between movements.
I guess it's all for the best. But the synchronicity would have it I also heard my young waiter friend say today he's mean to common folk. Bad, bad day.

What's the Word?

Well, there isn't one. The more interesting ideas you get from concepts your language does not cover - actually, in this case, both of my languages.
The first idea comes from the Greek word KAIROS. Kairos is "the art of choosing the opportune moment;" in a nutshell, what to do when, how much to do it etc. Something like the Biblical salt and the skill is to be found in a couple of percentage of the population. Hard to define and hard to master, it mostly goes undetected and unutilised in the ways of the world. It is also acutely lacking, to complete this perfect maze.
The second I found in Bosnia, borrowed from Turkish. SEVAP designates "an act that is dear to God." If we can't be intelligent, it would be good that we are meek, but alas we are not that either. You do sevap when you selflessly help. So if you see a kid's ball on the street, toss it back!