The man's got a point

"THE HISTORY OF ART IS SIMPLY A HISTORY OF GETTING RID OF THE UGLY BY ENTERING INTO IT, AND USING IT. AFTER ALL THE NOTION OF SOMETHING OUTSIDE OF US BEING UGLY IS NOT OUTSIDE OF US BUT INSIDE OF US. AND THAT'S WHY I KEEP REITERATING THAT WE ARE WORKING WITH OUR MINDS. WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO IS TO GET THEM OPEN SO THAT WE DO NOT SEE THINGS AS BEING UGLY OR BEAUTIFUL BUT WE SEE THEM JUST AS THEY ARE."

John Cage

( actually this man has got four points and a comma )

Oh bother where art thou... ?

" Even in literature and art, no man who bothers about originality will ever be original, whereas if you simply try to tell the truth ( without caring twopence how often it has been told before ) you will, nine times out of ten, become original without even having noticed it. "

- C.S. Lewis

Statement!

I would rather want to know everybody's questions than to know their answers.

The Baader Meinhof Phenomenon

You may have heard about Baader-Meinhof Phenomenon before. In fact, you probably learned about it for the first time very recently. If not, then you just might hear about it again very soon. Baader-Meinhof is the phenomenon where one happens upon some obscure piece of information– often an unfamiliar word or name– and soon afterwards encounters the same subject again, often repeatedly. Anytime the phrase "That's so weird, I just heard about that the other day" would be appropriate, the utterer is hip-deep in Baader-Meinhof.

Most people seem to have experienced the phenomenon at least a few times in their lives, and many people encounter it with such regularity that they anticipate it upon the introduction of new information. But what is the underlying cause? Is there some hidden meaning behind Baader-Meinhof events?

The phenomenon bears some similarity to synchronicity, which is the experience of having a highly meaningful coincidence… such as having someone telephone you while you are thinking about them. Both phenomena invoke a feeling of mild surprise, and cause one to ponder the odds of such an intersection. Both smack of destiny, as though the events were supposed to occur in just that arrangement… as though we're witnessing yet another domino tip over in a chain of dominoes beyond our reckoning.

Despite science's cries that a world as complex as ours invites frequent coincidences, observation tells us that such an explanation is inadequate. Observation shows us that Baader-Meinhof strikes with blurring accuracy, and too frequently to be explained away so easily. But over the centuries, observation has also shown us that observation itself is highly flawed, and not to be trusted.

The reason for this is our brains' prejudice towards patterns. Our brains are fantastic pattern recognition engines, a characteristic which is highly useful for learning, but it does cause the brain to lend excessive importance to unremarkable events. Considering how many words, names, and ideas a person is exposed to in any given day, it is unsurprising that we sometimes encounter the same information again within a short time. When that occasional intersection occurs, the brain promotes the information because the two instances make up the beginnings of a sequence. What we fail to notice is the hundreds or thousands of pieces of information which aren't repeated, because they do not conform to an interesting pattern. This tendency to ignore the "uninteresting" data is an example of selective attention.

In point of fact, coincidences themselves are usually just an artifact of perception. We humans tend to underestimate the probability of coinciding events, so our expectations are at odds with reality. And non-coincidental events do not grab our attention with anywhere near the same intensity, because coincidences are patterns, and the brain actually stimulates us for successfully detecting patterns… hence their inflated value. In short, patterns are habit-forming.

But when we hear a word or name which we just learned the previous day, it often feels like more than a mere coincidence. This is because Baader-Meinhof is amplified by the recency effect, a cognitive bias that inflates the importance of recent stimuli or observations. This increases the chances of being more aware of the subject when we encounter it again in the near future.

How the phenomenon came to be known as "Baader-Meinhof" is uncertain. It seems likely that some individual learned of the existence of the historic German urban guerrilla group which went by that name, and then heard the name again soon afterwards. This plucky wordsmith may then have named the phenomenon after the very subject which triggered it. But it is certainly a mouthful; a shorter name might have more hope of penetrating the lexicon.

However it came to be known by such a name, it is clear that Baader-Meinhof is yet another charming fantasy whose magic is diluted by stick-in-the-mud science and its sinister cohort: facts. But if you've never heard of the phenomenon before, be sure to watch for it in the next few days… brain stimulation is nice.

Via Damn Interresting

Also see the Serial Position effect

About us

We will always marvel at the things resulted from infinite patience.

Form follows idea ...

" If only we could get all our systems in place... then everything will work and everything will be fine. Time spent managing the process has overtaken the creative activity of actually generating something.

Filing is now more important than forming. This is turn reflects a culture that lacks autonomous self-confidence and willingness to trust in risk. ' A culture increasingly defined by rule serving and form filling accountancy rather than rule questioning.'

Organizing is a preparatory and retrospective process not a generative one.

It is useful when consolidating that which, in general, has already been proved to work, but it does not function well as a device for the generation of new ideas."

by Maxine Naylor & Ralph Bell

Domnul Abramovici

Dimineata,in drum spre serviciu, un evreu vede in statia de tramvai, un domn bine facut si foarte bine imbracat. Prezenta lui il intriga. Un domn astfel imbracat nu se duce la serviciu la aceasta ora a diminetii; daca nu se duce, inseamna ca vine; de unde poate veni in zori de zi un domn astfel imbracat dect de la o dama; un domn bine vine de la o dama bine; la noi in cartier sunt trei dame bine: Natasa, care-i insa plecata la Leningrad, Rashela, dar de la ea vin chiar eu, si sotia mea. Sotia mea are trei amanti: directorul ei (firesc), directorul meu (normal), si pe un oarecare domn Abramovici.

- Buna dimineata, domnule Abramovici!
- Buna dimineata. Dar de unde ma cunoasteti?
- Simpla deductie......

de architectura...

Arhitectura " ...se naste din practica si din teorie" [ex fabrica et ratiocinatione]; "cei ce s-au increzut numai in calcule si scrieri , par a fi urmarit o umbra, nu un lucru. Dar cei care le-au adancit pe amandoua, ca inzestrati cu toate armele, au atins [...] ceea ce si-au propus."

Vitruvius - cartea I - 1,1,1; 4-5


" emaque esse proprietatem diuitiarium maxime nihil desiderare. "

Vitruvius

ambele citate fac parte din introducerea scrisa de Traian Costa ( prefata editiei 1964 ) - Traducere - G.M. Cantacuzino

Cineva spunea ...

"...Crezi ca nu-mi face bine sa gandesc prea mult?"

Interlocutorul i-a raspuns :

"Eu nu sunt de parere ca ti-ar face rau sa gandesti. Mai sunt de parere ca nu exista termenul de ‘ prea mult ‘. Exista doar un singur factor care decide cat este prea mult si cat este prea putin – acel factor il cunosti foarte bine si l-ai amintit in scrierea ta … acel factor esti tu. Singura problema apare cand impartasesti anumite lucruri cu cineva care te va eticheta in functie de sistemul lor de referinta – iar frica sa nu sochezi acea persoana sau acea masa de personae tot tie ( fauritorului acelui gand sau idee ) iti apartine. Frica si respectiv noi insine suntem inamicii nostri cei mai mari.

Eu spun – da-I bataie – si macina ce ai acolo, dezvolta – si impartaseste….

Imi vine in minte o chestie ce i-a zis-o X lui Y acum ceva vreme: “Stiu tot ce spun dar nu spun tot ce stiu.” – mie mi s-a parut foarte buna dar in acelasi timp si foarte rea – asadar interpretantul acestei zicale este arhitectul / fauritorul destinului propriu si o foloseste cu si dupa rationamentul lui momentan.

Suntem oameni – Suntem stapanii propriului nostru univers – Suntem constienti de existenta altor oameni( respectiv infinitele universuri ce ne inconjoara si cu care interactionam inevitabil) – Suntem creatori - Suntem capabili de orice –Suntem copii si suntem fericiti..."

....

"...Am sters deja 2 inceputuri de scrisoare pe care vroiam sa ti le scriu. Cu sinceritate nu stiu cum sa iti raspund la ceea ce mi-ai scris – stiu doar ca imi doresc sa iti raspund… faptul ca nu imi gasesc cuvintele necesare este o alta treaba ( limitata doar de grai si limbaj – insasi o limitare de-facto a ceea ce numim noi oameni ). De miscat – sunt miscat si voi continua sa iti comunic prin alt Mediu ceea ce simt…

Pot doar sa merg inainte cu capul sus si cu bratele deschise sa intampin cu taria unui Copac de fier si cu fluiditatea unei salcii ceea ce va urma. Un numitor comun au ambele exemple … radacina.

Doresc sa iti multumesc pentru aceasta radacina puternica… ea va ramane pe veci in adancurile mele si de ea ma voi agata la vremuri … evitabile si inevitabile. "

The secret of happiness

" The difference between happiness and misery is 1 Pound...

... If you earn 100 Pounds and spend 99 --> happiness.
If you earn 100 Pounds and spend 101 --> misery."

Charles Dickens ( Celebrated English writer )



It could be 10 cents, 1 second, 1 breath, 1 year, 1 book ... think about it.

Lumi(ni)le de la capatul Tunelulu..."O" - ferimituri

"...dintr-o alta regiune a fiintei fac parte Lumile Posibile. In orizontul ambiguu al fiintei or fi putut sa se desfasoare altfel, si nimic nu exclude ca ar putea fi acolo o lume in care nu sunt astfel de granite intre specii, in care granitele sa fie altele sau de-a dreptul sa nu existe - o lume adica, unde sa nu existe genuri naturale, si unde incrucisarea unei camile cu o locomotiva sa poata sa nasca o radacina patrata. Cu toate acestea, daca eu ma pot gandi si la o lume posibila in care sa fie valabile numai geometrii ne- euclidiene, unicul meu mod pe care-l am de a gandi o geometrie ne-euclidiana este sa-i fixez regulile, si deci limitele. "

U. Eco - Kant si Ornitorincul ( Pontica 2002 )

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" Pentru magistrul care poseda un atat de fin simt artistic al secretelor expresiei si un treaz simtamant de educator in cunoasterea caracterelor, existau de multa vreme anumite caracteristici fizionomice pe care se bizuia instinctiv, fara a-si fi construit din ele un sistem; asa, de exemplu, pentru el exista un fel specific castalian si unul specific lumesc de ras, de zambet si voiosie, ca si un fel specific lumesc de suferinta si tristete. "

- Text extras din 'Jocul cu margele de sticla' ( Hermann Hesse ), descriind abilitatea fantastica al lui Magister Ludi de a cunoaste si re-cunoaste diferitele caractere pe care le intampina zi de zi.

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" - Un labirint al simbolurilor, m-a corectat acesta. Un invizibil labirint al timpului. Mie, englez salbatic, mi-a fost dat sa dovedesc aceasta taina fragila. La capatul a mai bine de o suta de ani, amanuntele sunt irecuperabile, dar nu-i greu sa presupun ce s-a intamplat. Ts' ui Pen ar fi spus odata: Ma retrag pentru a scrie o carte. Si alta data: Ma retrag pentru a construi un labirint.Toti si-au inchipuit doua lucruri; nimeni nu s-a gandit ca labirintulsi cartea erau un singur obiect. Pavilionul Purei Singuratati se inalta in mijlocul unei gradini de nepatruns; faptul acesta poate sa le fi sugerat oamenilor un labirint fizic. Ts' ui Pen a murit; nimeni, pe dilatatele pamanturi care-au fost ale sale, nu a gasit labirintul; confuzia romanului mi-a sugerat ideea ca acesta ar fi labirintul. Doua imprejurari m-au facut sa ajung, direct, la aceasta solutie. Una: ciudata legenda ca Ts' ui Pensi-a propus un labirint care sa fie absolut nesfarsit. Alta: un fragment dintr-o scrisoare pe care am descoperit-o.

Albert s-a ridicat. Pentru cateva clipe, mi-a intors spatele; a deschis un sertar al biroului aurit si innegrit de timp. S-a intors cu o hartie care avusese candva culoarea purpurei; acum era rosietica, subtire si patrata. Renumele de caligraf al lui Ts' ui Pen era indreptatit. Am citit cu nedumerire si fervoare cuvintele urmatoare, pe care cineva din sangele meu le-a transcris cu o pensula, minutios: Las mai multor viitoruri ( nu tuturor ) gradina mea cu poteci care se bifurca...."

Jorge Luis Borges - Gradina potecilor ce se bifurca - Fictiuni 1944 ( editura univers 1999 )

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"CARIATA :

-adica ciuruita si friabila, sau chiar rizomatica, un Nod de serpuiri ce se pot reparcurge potrivit unor optiuni diverse la infinit, ca un labirint "

Gianni Vattimo - ... despre fiinta ...


"O"

The I inside

Forever and always people were questioning what changes and what is remaining over time. (Almost)None of them have drawn the conclusion regarding this matter, and thankfully - that is the first big(and important) step, because you cannot draw a conclusion, not in paint, moving image nor in words. These are all limited expression mediums (they are just expression mediums) . Even talking about this here feels like I'm drawing the portrait of God by adding meaning to a line i drew on a white surface. It's self-inflicting to think so but it's also self-indulgent if you don't think at all. If you think in words the limit appears already in our minds. If we are limiting ourselves by nature and change over time - we are then defined only by the white space we leave between the words we speak and think, and the pauses in our actions. But as a friend of mine said a while ago... Life is although.

PAUL RAND ( 1914 - 1996 )

Being one of the most influential figures in Graphic Design and Communication I wish to dedicate this post to Paul Rand. I myself was reminded by Steven Heller from his Daily Heller emails I receive in my mailbox. Thank you Steve.

Interview with Miggs B - 1


Interview with Miggs B - 2


Interview with Miggs B - 3


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Conversations with Paul Rand


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Steve Jobs on Paul Rand


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Steven Heller & Paul Rand Interview - part 1


part2


part3


part4


part5


part6


part7


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Some tribute movies on Paul Rand





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" Everything is Design, Everything. "

" Design is relationships. Design is a relationship between form and content. "

"It is important to use your hands, this is what distinguishes you from a cow or a computer operator. "

All the three quotes are from a Paul Rand conversation with students held at Yale in 1993

ABOUT SPACE

" Space, for Lefebvre, does not exist prior to the things that occupy and fill it. Space is, indeed, produced, offering three dialectically related processes, three different aspects of space.

On the one hand, Schmidt explains the triad of spatial practice: representation of space and spaces of representation.

On the other hand. there are concepts of percieved, concieved and lived space.

This double helix emphasizes a dual approach one which is at once phenomenological and linguistic."

Excerpt from the book SPACE FIGHTER by MVRDV/DSD ( 2007-ACTAR ) - page 109

Back

I am back from a long break. Actually to be honest it wasn't actually a break, I kept writing, not here... but in my 'physical' journals. Even now and here - at this particular point ( when I have to continue this sentence/statement )I am thinking about - deleting this post or pressing the 'PUBLISH POST' button. ...It is a pretty hard edge on the tree of the leaves that leaves some trees onto the hills of the fallen leaves. The Hills Billies are leaving the hard trees alone in the fall to pretty up their leaves for the hill after the Lone Peak. I peaked through one leave that left me tree less under the hill while Billy was hard edged. When Hilly came to the tree my leave disappeared into the trees and went on the peak of the mountain where trees are free and hills are not bills. The bills were summoned by the hillbilly and the trees offered him their leaves in exchange for a peak at the Lone Peak Mountain. While being there the leaves cried out of happiness because they were together with the trees on the hill where Bill was sending his letter to the hill.The letter arrived after two seasons ... the trees were beautiful and strong, the leaves were green and soft in the morning light on the Lone Peak. The hillbilly took a moment alone to contemplate and the trees answered with infinite wisdom. The truth was heard only by Bill and as he disappeared over the hill, we will never know what the trees told Bill.

I hope that this is proof enough that I am back ( especially for my future self ).

All the best

Love to the rest