David’s posterous

Contributors



September 23, 2008

Creatures in Rome

I was reminded recently that there are reptiles in some abundance in Rome. But, as you can see from this collection, there are also arachnids and other fine specimens of earthly life.

Geckos abound amid the apartments, and in the parks are found fine other lizards. I have seen only one snake in Italy so far, and none in Rome.


             

Click here to download:
Spidery.zip (387 KB)

Loading mentions Retweet
Posted by David Sloo 

Comments [2]

September 21, 2008

Collections of things

I was talking to my herpetologically inclined whilom colleague John Sullivan today about geckos and half-blind cats, and he asked if I had taken pictures of anything in Italy this year, since last year I had made a collection of utility covers, flood markers, and (especially) motorcycle carburetors. 

Well, I thought, I suppose I did. I took pictures of a few clocks, because there are quite a few clocks in Italy, and I commend the nation on its general sense of rhythm. 

Here are some of the pictures. I've interspersed non-clocks to keep the horologically obsessed on their toes. Yes, there are cats. 

                                                                 

Click here to download:
Archive.zip (1406 KB)

Loading mentions Retweet
Posted by David Sloo 

Comments [0]

September 21, 2008

Shopping for stocking stuffers

I've been keeping my eyes open for good presents to give my staff in the upcoming Hallowe'en gift-giving season. These fine barrels caught my eye.

Loading mentions Retweet
Posted by David Sloo 

Comments [0]

September 21, 2008

Steamroller printmaking

This weekend we went to the Center for the Book 's steamroller printmaking shindig, the premier west coast event for the growing trend of combining heavy construction equipment with blockprinting. Reminiscent of the 1960s galas where serigraphy was mixed with underwater salvage techniques, the steamroller printmakers hold their event at the foot of Potrero Hill on a section of De Haro. cordonned off for the purpose.

As depicted in the image below, cut and inked linoleum sheets are carefully aligned parallel to the curbs of De Haro St. 

Felix decided to buy one of the prints, as it depicts one of San Francisco's finest: the Vaillancourt Fountain, a tremendous and often damp manifestation of the global contribution of Quebec artists. 

The main, steamroller driven part of the fair was only part of the excitement. Book artists from up and down the spine had tables set up with their work, much of it for sale. Inside the center itself, we also had a chance to print with real live type set up in a frame. Well, Felix did, and we got to watch. The card he printed is herewith depicted. 





     

Click here to download:
Steamroller_printmaking.zip (217 KB)

Loading mentions Retweet
Posted by David Sloo 

Comments [1]

September 18, 2008

When you eat out, it should be like at home only better

A friend told me that a high compliment for an Italian chef is for a patron to say that the food is like at home. This seems an interesting way of judging food. But sometimes it makes really good sense.

Here is the mapo dofu I had tonight. Very homey, simple food. But yummy. And better than I make it at home. I had it at 百家宴 'hundred family feast', which is pronounced like New China Delight, in Mountain View.

Loading mentions Retweet
Posted by David Sloo 

Comments [0]

September 13, 2008

The S-L pad

Our friends Cassia and Julep recently got a pretty house along the bike path in UNDISCLOSED LOCATION. You can tell that they haven't moved in yet because the self-darkening LCD windows aren't turned on and there isn't an astronomical globe in the front window. My understanding is that they chose the city of UNDISCLOSED LOCATION on account of its nightlife. As one of the Rough Guides says about a different city, "Hardcore clubbers will appreciate the multi-room venues, but there are also several disco-type places more popular with students where a round of drinks won't break the bank."

You can see on visiting the place that C+J already had one of their favorite installation artists install galvanized steel sculptures around the trees. The sculptures are at their best when seen on a moonless night, so I didn't include them in the photograph.

Loading mentions Retweet
Posted by David Sloo 

Comments [0]

September 10, 2008

What could they possibly have been thinking?

There is something pretty frightening about the caduceus, I think. A lot of people are bothered by snakes, and the caduceus necessarily involves snakes. (If you still think I'm talking about the caduceus after reading the Wikipedia article, you need new glasses. Yes, there is something frightening about the Rod of Asclepius.)

Now imagine you are the person responsible for marketing a pharmacy. You choose a nice, comforting name, with 'care' at the end. Granted, it says 'pharmas [which means pharmaceutical companies] care', which is certainly a stretch. Never mind the Care Bear Stare. The care part seems comforting. 

And then you add a Rod of Asclepius. But you tone down the snakes so they are mere suggestive sinusoidal lines. You add a mortar and pestle, suggesting maybe the Bowl of Hygieia, and you feel pretty good about yourself.

So you come up with this. Pharmascare. If that doesn't frighten the willikers out of your patients, I don't know what will. 

Loading mentions Retweet
Posted by David Sloo 

Comments [0]

September 10, 2008

Herr Handdryer v. Prince Pantaloons

At the airport this morning, I met the hand-dryer from Planet Tomorrow. I often wonder at the existence of hand-dryers in public washrooms. They seem like a solution to a problem that doesn't really exist. In most climates in most seasons, isn't the external atmosphere and a little patience up to drying your hands?

And aren't your pants good enough in other situations?

But I had to try it. It was so, well, Dyson, after all.

Loading mentions Retweet
Posted by David Sloo 

Comments [0]

September 8, 2008

Everything that you need to know about finding a job

you can learn from your dishwasher.

Loading mentions Retweet
Posted by David Sloo 

Comments [0]

September 7, 2008

This year's harvest

This year, since we were away during much of the summer, we didn't put
in any summer vegetables. Fortunately, one of our tomato plants
decided that it wasn't dead after all, and the chile de arbol plant,
although it looks pretty sad, came up with a few good peppers.

Loading mentions Retweet
Posted by David Sloo 

Comments [0]