Links (most recent first) that caught my eye, but did not warrant full-blown blog entries ….
- Cheating report confirms teacher’s suspicions – CNN.com – Not to condone teacher/administration test cheating (and what it does to the kids), but, c’mon, folks – when you incent through bonuses and raises and accolades unrealistic increases in test scores, and disincent through threats and demotions and firings lack of those unrealistic increases … guess what a lot of teachers and their principals are going to do?
- Why did Japan surrender? – Boston.com – It’s an interesting hypothesis — though the firebombing of Tokyo was a massive effort, whereas the nuking of Hiroshima was the result of a single plane, and while the resultant destruction and mass death, the apparent ease of the latter would, I think, have still been a contributing factor.
- Who pays for meth lab cleanups? : The Pump Handle
- Fischer’s New Definition of “States’ Rights” – “So it turns out that “states’ rights” doesn’t mean that the states have the right to decide the issues as they see fit, but rather that the majority of the states have the right to decide what the minority must do.” Riiiiiight. Tell it to South Carolina.
- Michele Bachmann is worried about the Renaissance – latimes.com – Why, yes, of course we should reject the Renaissance (the Enlightenment goes without saying). Then we can party like it’s 1399, like Jesus meant us to.
- 64% Of Americans Can’t Pay For $1,000 Emergency – I could. And I know (even more now) how fortunate that makes me. So why are we, as a society, willing to let so many people get overwhelmed by so little? Personal greed? Fear? Apathy?
- Dream Bedrooms – My problem with this kind of thing is that some of these look clever, while others just look plain impractical. Which is one of my problems with most “design” setups.
- “This is as unacceptable as how Egypt’s government… – Um … no … the con staff was not beating, shooting, or imprisoning folks seeking tickets. Except, kinda, in lines. Yeesh.
- (Ac)tually, You can explain that – It’s difficult to say whether folks who make the same inane comments against evolution say them because they are truly ignorant, or willfully ignorant.
32 view(s)
Dream bedrooms:
First, there’s that whole concept of “Dream houses”, which are put together, it seems, between designers, who don’t have to test or to live in their creations, and favored vendors who must have been seen at trade shows. One year, I went to the Sunset Dream House. Certainly was big. I think there were a few Lady Banksia white roses, but there were over two dozen Sunset Celebration roses, which made a sort of bland complement to the similar color of the outside paint scheme.
The private bathrooms had no counterspace, nor outlets. Yeah. Bright idea, guys.
There was a social space by the kitchen, but there was a huge stainless steel “prep area” in the center, with barely enough room to get by. Most of that prep area was inaccessible: no one has arms that long. A screened off potting area was about the only positive thing (aside from the kitchenside social area) I came away with.
Now, as to these bedrooms: cozy nook beds may be all the rage, but ease of getting in and out of them seems to have been forgotten. The next several, aside from the lime green room, leave me cold, a few quite literally. I do not want a bed area, I want a room, where I can be private if I want, not subject to the sound and lights and gazes of just anyone. Think migraines, think kink. Right.
Now the one that resembles a suite at the Madonna Inn might seduce me, were it not for the fun of finding high quaality round sheets. Were I a young lad, I’d go for that Harry Potter room. It’s certainly not so stark or lurid as some of the other offerings.
I’m sorry: I am not sleeping under an aquarium. Distrust and claustrophobia, speak thy names!
I hate metal furniture, and I don’t want to deal with the sound issues of inside brick walls. Is there a gate to the stump bed? I’m sorry, even as a girl, I wanted (and still have not had) a four-poster bed with drapey things around it, not a bed in the round.
I love the color and the architectural elements in the room with the swimming pool, but the constant work against mildew would drive me nuts. On the next one, beautiful views you have there: what do you do to protect from the inevitable storm damage?
The next one: you may call it a bedroom, but I couldn’t possibly comment. No teen girl had anything to do with this niche-y design, and only a very devoted Hello Kitty fan could stand the one after that. The last one? I would be making certain assumptions about the resident’s employment field and not surprised to see (choose your gender here) at Folsom Fair weekend, or at any Pride Parade.
Me, picky? Snarky? Yes. I want a cozy place, not a showroom. I didn’t see any books anywhere, or the idea that one did anything besides show people around and maybe sleep, in most of them.
I’ll make separate comments, if any, for the other articles.
When form overcomes function, when presentation is more important than practicality, then the designer has lost me, whether in rooms, clothes, or food.