Tag: Culture

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Armonk Blue

Speaking of the color. Here’s a magazine that was thrown out by some professor at my college:

IBM Systems Journal Volume 21 #4 1982:
“With the use of the computer as the art tool, our cover symbolizes the interaction between man and machine. Two of the papers in this issue discuss usability considerations for the design and development of interactive systems”.

There is no credit for the cover art, but my guess that it would be attributed to J.F. Musgrave who is listed as Art Director.

Screen closeup:

I like a lot of things about this picture. The sleeveless white shirt, the ugly tie, the beer gut, the coffee mug, the expression on the headcount’s face. The ASCII art on the screen. The eery transition effect in the background.

Don’t you think that “Armonk Blue” would be a good name for a Benjamin Moore paint?

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Perky Stuff

I’ve made coffee in almost every which way, except percolated. I also never owned a percolator. Alt.coffee news group FAQ which I always regarded as the highest authority in all things caffeinated, seriously disses the French-invented percolator. On the other hand, people who actually drank percolated coffee usually have good things to say about it. Because of that I think I’ll hunt for a nice percolator specimen on eBay. A glorious Art Deco instrument in chrome and Bakelite. Even if I won’t like it’s coffee making characteristics, it will remain in my collection as a sculpture.


(This particular auction seems to be reflectoporn free.

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The Building

Believe it or not, I finally visited my favorite building. My earlier detailed article about the building is here. And here are some photographic notes (a lot of the pictures did not come out well because it was already dark):

From the ground you do not get the same airy, soaring feeling because the massive base hides the true proportions of the tower. But there are redeeming features up close, like this dramatic and unusual triple flagpole:

Once you get closer, other beautiful details come into view, like this stunning art deco lamp:

The lobby is Deco elegance itself:

Later we had dinner at a restaurant in the South Street Seaport. The food was so-so, but the view was amazing:

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Correct Form Of Mythology

just loves to rant about how the majority Americans are ignorant, uneducated and not worldly at all like his beloved Europeans.

He would not let me live down the following hilarious comments from the excellent post in :

: “i took this with my picture phone, so in case you can’t tell: it’s a dog with boys (maybe men, but definitly of the male gender) sucking on it’s nipples. a very angry looking dog, i might add.

eta: so apparently this is from a story in greek, er, roman mythology. thanks for the info kids. but i still think its ugly. :B”

: “someone not study greek mythology in ancient history class as a kid?”
…

: “Ten bucks eh? I’d bid on it, just because I like the story of Romulus and Remus. Woot, greek mythology”

: “Even more w00t: saying the correct form of mythology. It’s Roman (founders of Rome), not Greek”
…

: “And incidentally, that statue looks more like a hyena to me, but ancient civilizations aren’t known for their realistic art I suppose.”

Having gone to one of the 12 toughest schools in New York I think it’s much more important to learn how not to have a photo phone stolen than to learn about “non-realistic Greek hyena statues”.

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Who Is The King Of New York Metrosexuals?

So, I sit down in my favorite seat on my favorite train and open the Fair und Balanced newspaper, ya? And what do I see? “Dmitry Paperny spends $60 a month more on grooming than fiancee Laura Rohrman.” And a full page photo of and his fiancee as an illustration to the article about metrosexuals. Yes, yes, according to the article is a full-on flaming metrosexual.

I have to say that being a closeted metrosexual myself, I mostly spend my money on books, electronics, bay items, tools, fishing stuff and cigars. I do have some Zirh “products” in the bathroom. So, , you go boy!

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The Dark Tower III

One of my ongoing photographic projects is the creation on a full Tarot deck. So far “The Tower” has the most candidate photos.

This is a smokestack of the Brooklyn College Heating Plant. It’s a very beautiful art deco structure. I’ll take more pictures later.

A security guard hassled me when I took pictures of the Plaza Building. I need some good impressive looking paper to ward off clueless security guards. Or a copy of rules and regulations.

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Now I Know Where Sinner Programmers Go When They Die

writing in smashing :

“~ You are searched thoroughly at the end of every shift. You can’t put your coat on until you’re outside the store, and a manager has to search it first. Once outside, you’re patted down and may be asked to remove your shoes to make sure you’re not hiding any jewelry.
…
~ Being “friends” with anyone you work with is frowned upon, …
…
~ Any shopping bags/personal belongings/reading material/clothes discovered by the district manager will be thrown out immediately.
~ No “ethnic food” may be eaten on your break because it makes the store smell bad. You may only eat food that does not smell like anything.
~ No one with piercings or tattoos may be hired.
~ Avoid hiring anyone who is “aesthetically unpleasant” (e.g. ugly, fat, deformed, etc.) because they don’t “project the appropriate image”“