Dark Days For Energy Efficiency – Yahoo! News
Across the board, federal funding for energy efficiency is taking a major hit. In the White House’s proposed 2007 budget, efficiency spending is down 17% overall from 2006 appropriations, and 25% from levels in 2002. The cuts are deeper for individual programs. Research to help industry reduce energy use is slated for a 30% decrease, and some programs are being shut down.
Is that smart? I don’t think so.
Thanks Salma
Ichi-go ichi-e – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ichi-go ichi-e (一期一会, literally ‘one time, one meeting’) is a Japanese term that describes a cultural concept often linked with famed tea master Sen no Rikyu. The term is often translated as ‘for this time only,’ ‘never again,’ or ‘one chance in a lifetime.’Ichi-go ichi-e is linked with Zen Buddhism and concepts of transience. The term is particularly associated with the Japanese tea ceremony, and is often brushed onto scrolls which are hung in the tea room. In the context of tea ceremony, ichi-go ichi-e reminds participants that each tea meeting is unique.
Thanks Y.
Nice photo by MC. Click on the photo to see more of his pics.
I am very happy with the three solo performances I gave this weekend. I made some silly rookie mistakes – for example I did not repeat the questions people were asking me, which meant that people in the back were left wondering what I was talking about – but the overall result was good, much better than I expected in fact. I enjoyed playing solo very much (no, it won’t ever replace performing with a band because it is completely different) and the audience was so receptive both to my music and my words that I am looking forward to doing more solo shows, either later this year or in 2007.
My next experiment? I want to add a slideshow from my laptop, connected to a video projector. I would show my photos: Santa Fe, New Mexico, landscapes, skies, macro etc… I would also create a series of words and sayings that would be projected while I am talking – maybe even while I am playing guitar… Cleverly used, words could sometimes contradict and sometimes underscore what I say. They could add background to a story, serve as an explanation, or even present a different angle altogether. I would come up with a few dozen “sayings” or word-combinations which could play at random behind me. This adds another element and of course this new element will either distract or enhance.
I will just have to try this sometime and see it in action in order to come to a conclusion. On one hand I love the simplicity of performing with just a guitar and a microphone, on the other hand it might be nice to bring my own photos to the performance. Distraction or enhancement…
Memory from Seattle: after midnight, before taking the elevator up to a room above the club, I looked over at the stage one last time. In the middle of it remained a lone chair.
Beyond the Beyond
Luigi Colani is a sculptor, painter, flight engineer, technical designer and city planner by occupation, but aerodynamicists, 3-D and form philosopher from passion.A Colani Design Centre with a large Colani Research Centre was opened in Karlsruhe, Germany, in April 2002. His automobile, industrial and furniture designs have won many coveted prizes all over the world.
He is currently professor at the Tong-Ji University, in Shanghai.
Colani was my hero when I was in artschool in the Seventies. With him teaching in Shanghai I am keeping my eyes peeled for a Chinese design revolution.
