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Friday Open Thoughts - Slant

by: slksfca

Fri Jan 07, 2011 at 09:30:19 AM EST

Photo credit: Håkan Dahlström

Welcome to Friday Open Thoughts, brought to you by the House of Representatives - which, as of this week, leans (more) to the right.

slksfca :: Friday Open Thoughts - Slant

Do I need to point out that, in reality, it's the street that leans ... to the left?

Photo credit: Håkan Dahlström

Didn't think so. :-)

Every point of view is a bit skewed. Share your own slant on the week's events, public or personal, in the comments (if you're so, er, inclined).

Tags: open thoughts, photography, point of view, (All Tags)

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Friday Open Thoughts - Slant | 20 comments

Tips (15.20 / 5)

This kind of photography is not unpopular here on the crazy streets of San Francisco. A quick-and-dirty search yielded these, among others:

Photo credit: Dan Ng

Mr. Ng has a whole gallery of similar shots, which can be seen here:

The Streets of San Francisco ... But Flat?

Thanks for reading!

-Scott

There are, in every age, new errors to be rectified, and new prejudices to be opposed. ~Samuel Johnson (1709-1784)

by: slksfca @ Fri Jan 07, 2011 at 14:40:00 PM UTC

san fran... (15.25 / 4)

"Indeed, if a poor man will spend a year in prison for stealing out of hunger,
how high would the gallows need to be to hang the rich man?"
~The Patrician in 'Snuff' by Terry Pratchett

by: RiaD @ Sat Jan 08, 2011 at 01:17:07 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

That preview image... (14.50 / 4)

...was shot from the observation tower of the de Young Museum in Golden Gate Park. The three major buildings seen are the University of San Francisco on the left (surrounded by trees), the Bank of America tower in the center distance, and on the right the (gorgeous) St. Ignatius Church.

Here's the museum:

I think it's a hideous monstrosity. :-)

There are, in every age, new errors to be rectified, and new prejudices to be opposed. ~Samuel Johnson (1709-1784)

by: slksfca @ Sat Jan 08, 2011 at 01:42:11 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

I don't think it's THAT bad (11.33 / 3)

...that tower thing on the right is kinda cool & the building being long & flat seems to echo its surroundings. But it's not the most beautiful building I've ever seen, either.

English usage is sometimes more than mere taste, judgment and education - sometimes it's sheer luck, like getting across the street.
E. B. White

by: Youffraita @ Sat Jan 08, 2011 at 06:33:30 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Two comparisons I've heard a lot: (11.67 / 3)

Aircraft carrier
Nuclear power plant

To be fair, the building is entirely sheathed in copper - the idea being that with time the verdigris will make it better harmonize with its setting. We'll see. (And I should add that it's nicer on the inside.) :-)

Still, I think it's a failure. Other cities from Bilbao to Denver, to cite two examples, have recently built museums that are themselves stunning works of art.

There are, in every age, new errors to be rectified, and new prejudices to be opposed. ~Samuel Johnson (1709-1784)

by: slksfca @ Sat Jan 08, 2011 at 15:30:52 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

i dunno (14.33 / 3)

i guess they are architectural masterpieces

however i think they waste a LOT of material doing that weird stuff
& i like the way those really old buildings in europe look
(there a beautiful church in spain- i cant recall the name of)
that are just as beautiful & just as much works of art
but look like buildings
just my humble opinion

"Indeed, if a poor man will spend a year in prison for stealing out of hunger,
how high would the gallows need to be to hang the rich man?"
~The Patrician in 'Snuff' by Terry Pratchett

by: RiaD @ Sat Jan 08, 2011 at 18:17:44 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Waste of material (15.00 / 1)

I take your point - but imho that idea gets rather sticky: one could extend the argument to imply that art itself is a waste of material. (I don't think you believe that, though!)

Anyway... I usually prefer old buildings myself, but cultural institutions are in a special class I think (see the Sydney Opera House), even when I don't like them (i.e. my home town museum). :-)

p.s. That church in Spain... are you thinking of la Sagrada Família in Barcelona?

There are, in every age, new errors to be rectified, and new prejudices to be opposed. ~Samuel Johnson (1709-1784)

by: slksfca @ Sun Jan 09, 2011 at 14:03:50 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

i guess you're right (15.00 / 2)

and Art is subjective & personal after all.

i think that is the onei'm thinking of but i can't be certain.
the wiki entry doesn't sound quite right.
& building for 100+yrs certainly isn't using material wisely is it ;-)

here''s a video of it:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wi...

i like those column that look like trees.

"Indeed, if a poor man will spend a year in prison for stealing out of hunger,
how high would the gallows need to be to hang the rich man?"
~The Patrician in 'Snuff' by Terry Pratchett

by: RiaD @ Sun Jan 09, 2011 at 15:11:39 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

i agree (14.67 / 3)

it looks like something htat belongs in a prison

"Indeed, if a poor man will spend a year in prison for stealing out of hunger,
how high would the gallows need to be to hang the rich man?"
~The Patrician in 'Snuff' by Terry Pratchett

by: RiaD @ Sat Jan 08, 2011 at 12:45:53 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Hey, Ria, OT but (14.00 / 3)

I just read that the south is supposed to get a snow/ice storm -- is it headed your way too? Or will SC dodge the bullet?

We got another inch last night, and about the same the night before. Haven't checked weather.com yet to see if there's more coming.

Anyway, wishing y'all the best.

English usage is sometimes more than mere taste, judgment and education - sometimes it's sheer luck, like getting across the street.
E. B. White

by: Youffraita @ Sat Jan 08, 2011 at 17:13:00 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

yup (15.50 / 2)

looking at maybe getting some more.
but people here long for snow & often call for it (i think) hoping to wish it into existance

"Indeed, if a poor man will spend a year in prison for stealing out of hunger,
how high would the gallows need to be to hang the rich man?"
~The Patrician in 'Snuff' by Terry Pratchett

by: RiaD @ Sat Jan 08, 2011 at 18:19:38 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

heh...we were supposed to get (8.67 / 3)

some flurries from late afternoon/early evening until about 9 or 10 p.m. Well, there were some flakes around 3...nothing stuck, it was over in about 30 minutes or less, and tomorrow's supposed to be sunny.

Hope that storm misses you.

Feel better, RiaDear. I seem to have caught the cold that's going around. My favorite coworker has it, too (I suspect I may have caught it from her last weekend, before she even knew she had it) and we were working together tonight, miserable as we were. By the end, we didn't even care whether the store was ship-shape or not, we just wanted to get outta there. Locked the doors & were finishing up when she comes racing out of the back room: "There's somebody in the bathroom!"

Me: "Are you sure?"

J: "Yes! He's singing in there! No wonder there's still a car in the parking lot...."

We hadn't exactly decided what to do so went back to end-of-the-night chores. Soon enough, the guy emerged, very well-dressed, & thanked us. He said he'd been driving for four hours without using a restroom...& we had a last-fifteen-minutes rush & I'm sick, can't keep track of everybody...

LOL!

English usage is sometimes more than mere taste, judgment and education - sometimes it's sheer luck, like getting across the street.
E. B. White

by: Youffraita @ Sun Jan 09, 2011 at 07:06:06 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

We got some intermittent snow flurries, as well. Just a dusting of snow....no big sweat! (15.00 / 2)

I attended a big post-season Sign of the Dove pot luck party out in Newton Highlands, Ma just afew hours ago. Puzzled, if you're listening, I tried out your "cocaine" cookies, and they were a big hit at the party, and, they were also a big hit with my family, when I tried it with them, over a late lunch the day after Christmas, especially the young kids.

thanks for posting that recipe, puzzled!

The more things change, the more they stay the same.

by: mplo @ Sun Jan 09, 2011 at 08:07:21 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

snow expected tonight (15.50 / 2)

they're saying 3-5"
but as i said they always seem to exagerate.
we'll see.

"Indeed, if a poor man will spend a year in prison for stealing out of hunger,
how high would the gallows need to be to hang the rich man?"
~The Patrician in 'Snuff' by Terry Pratchett

by: RiaD @ Sun Jan 09, 2011 at 15:14:38 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

i love these (12.40 / 5)

looking at things differently, from a different perspective, has often been a good thing for me.

i still have a meager migraine so i'm off the puter & back in bed til it's gone.
the puter & tv make it worse
:(

"Indeed, if a poor man will spend a year in prison for stealing out of hunger,
how high would the gallows need to be to hang the rich man?"
~The Patrician in 'Snuff' by Terry Pratchett

by: RiaD @ Fri Jan 07, 2011 at 15:58:23 PM UTC

Oh Ria, (12.00 / 4)

I feel for you (I suffer from barf-inducing migraines myself). I hope when you get around to reading this that you're feeling better!

{{{ a very gentle hug }}}

There are, in every age, new errors to be rectified, and new prejudices to be opposed. ~Samuel Johnson (1709-1784)

by: slksfca @ Fri Jan 07, 2011 at 16:30:08 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

thanks (15.50 / 4)

feeling better. the crashing has stopped & the whitehot icepick behind my eye.
but i still got a niggly ache at the base of my skull.
& i just feel worn out even though i slept most of the day.
so i'm heading to bed again.

after all....tomorrow is another day

"Indeed, if a poor man will spend a year in prison for stealing out of hunger,
how high would the gallows need to be to hang the rich man?"
~The Patrician in 'Snuff' by Terry Pratchett

by: RiaD @ Sat Jan 08, 2011 at 01:23:49 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Love it Scott (13.80 / 5)

but I would hate to be walking up and down all those hills. I can feel my calf muscles tightening just at the thought. ;)

by: Alma @ Fri Jan 07, 2011 at 16:29:30 PM UTC

LOL (13.00 / 5)

Believe me, I understand. (I used to live on the hill pictured above, about a block from that cable car.) But like most things in life, one gets more or less used to it.

Now I live in a relatively flat part of town - and it's probably no coincidence that I'm not in quite as good physical condition as I used to be. :-)

There are, in every age, new errors to be rectified, and new prejudices to be opposed. ~Samuel Johnson (1709-1784)

by: slksfca @ Fri Jan 07, 2011 at 17:13:36 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

What great photographs, Scott! (14.50 / 4)

I love 'em, and the way they speak volumes about your outlook, in a humorous way! Every point of view's a bit skewed, and mine's no exception! LOL!

The more things change, the more they stay the same.

by: mplo @ Sat Jan 08, 2011 at 04:44:56 AM UTC

Friday Open Thoughts - Slant | 20 comments

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