mon amour

Why deny the obvious necessity of remembering?

Listen to me. I know something else. It will begin again. 200,000 dead and 80,000 wounded in nine seconds. Those are the official figures. It will begin again. It will be 10,000 degrees on the earth. Ten thousand suns, people will say. The asphalt will burn. Chaos will prevail. An entire city will be lifted off the ground then fall back to earth in ashes.

New vegetation rises from the sands...I meet you. I remember you. Who are you? You're destroying me. You're good to me. You're destroying me. You're good to me. How could I know this city was tailor-made for love? How could I know you fit my body like a glove? I like you. How unlikely. I like you. How slow all of a sudden. How sweet. You cannot know. You're destroying me. You're good to me. You're destroying me. You're good to me. I have time. Please, devour me. Deform me to the point of ugliness. Why not you? Why not you in this city and in this night so like other cities and other nights you can hardly tell the difference...

Hiroshima Mon Amour, de Alan Resnais: Je t'adore. 

in da haus

A sunny afternoon was recently spent at the downtown public library, floor-sitting in the midst of so many rows of so many pages of human connections. Stumbling upon a handwritten note within the pages of Bauhaus, I pretend to see all the fingertips of those who have come before me––equally inspired by these pages. I lean against a metal shelf, close my eyes, and listen to the communal hum of so many minds just thinking...Support your public libraries, yo. Get away for a spell, and realize the impact of so much information, accessible to all. 

wear english leather

This Saturday marks the birth day of my Grandpa Lee. My dad phoned him earlier in the week to ask him what he wanted. Grandpa had but one small request. "You know, I don't want much, but it'd be really great if you kids could just pool your money together to buy me a bottle of English Leather." Ah, Grandpa, thank you for the reminder of simple pleasures. English Leather: available in fine stores across the nation. Wear English Leather or Nothing at all. 

what else is there?

Royksopp presents, Karin Dreijer Andersson, such a terrifyingly beautiful creature. I can't wait for her solo work, to be released here sometime in March. It was me on that road, but you couldn't see me...My body aches. It's back to bed...

inventing kindergarten

A man by the name of Friedrich Froebel invented Kindergarten back in the mid-19th century, when he founded the Play Activity Institute in 1837. He was a pioneer in early child education, and a strong advocate for the importance of free play in childhood. His Kindergarten classes were structured around a series of "gifts," designed to be given to a child in order to inspire innovation and self-directed activity. See a full gallery of Froebel's Gifts here. 
Activities in the first Kindergarten were focused on "free work" and games, and included singing, dancing, gardening, and self-directed play with the Froebel Gifts. Check out the Kinder-garden, above! (Unidentified kindergarten, Los Angeles, circa 1900)
Some late-19th century "beauty forms" from anonymous kindergartners made with the fourteenth Froebel gift (paper weaving). Look familiar? It is no coincidence that the first generations to graduate from this new Kindergarten grew up to become those radical adults that formed the modernist movement:

"There was...an international force for change of dramatic potency that never appears in discussions about the roots of modern art and is only rarely mentioned as an influence on the movement's pioneers. The Victorian childhood of the seminal modernists and their audience coincided with the development and widespread embrace of a radical educational system that was a catalyst in exploding the cultural past and restructuring the resulting intellectual panoply with a new worldview...It was the seed pearl of the modern era and it was called kindergarten." 

-Norman Brosterman, Inventing Kindergarten

happy heart

The secret to a happy heart? Punny jokes, jelly beans, and a little Jens (apologies, this video may be a repost, but often lovely things are worth repeating). Happy Valentines Day, dear friends. And, thanks, mum, for the jelly beans for breakfast. 

spaced out

Disturbing images via Time's Animals in Space photo gallery. Both of these animals were launched into space before humans. Neither survived the journey. And the monkey looks like this guy. Such a poor little fellow. 

a quiet fire

Today marks the birthday of Ms. Roberta Flack, a mighty strong lady and a true talent. This woman's got soul (and an amazing 'fro!). See her and Lauryn live it up, above. 

the little house

"Once upon a time there was a little house way out in the country. She was a pretty little house and she was strong and well built... "

A recent find in the depths of an antique store basement: The Little House by Virginia Lee Burton from 1942. Yum, so classic. 

my desk(s)

Dear Kindra, Thank you for tagging me with the request to show my desks. Here they are: colorful clutter, at school and at home. Can I tag someone now? Okay: Sami Foust, you are it.

meet me tonight in...

Atlantic City? The Hold Steady covers an old favorite from Bruce Springsteen. And it makes me feel a bit weak-kneed. I have stumbled upon some lost pool of memories of my 18-year-old self. Embarassing, unnerving, but quite enjoyable, to say the least.  

Part of War Child: Heroes, an album of covers to be released in the states on February 24, wherein 15 "rock legends" got to choose one of their songs, along with the person(s) to cover it. Proceeds of the album go to War Child International, a network of organizations working around the world to help children affected by war.