Art Deco

This New Year's eve will be a nice quiet one (other than the children running around later at my uncle's house). I started the day by rearranging my bookshelf on this beautiful Saturday morning. Okay, I was initially gonna skate, but I woke up late and had a heavy breakfast of Jwee Kuay (some oily flour cakes topped with salty veggies is the best way to describe it for you non-local folks), so there was no way I could skate till later. Anyways, why would I want to rearrange my bookshelf? Well, I wanted to find out more about Art Deco, but my book on architecture (yes, I do have a book on architecture, and one on art too, despite the nerdy engineer that I am...) was quite inaccessible, and I guess it's about time to make way for my recent purchases, and upcoming purchases. Why do I suddenly go shopping for books at this time of the year? That's because the Economist is taking a break from printing and there's suddenly a dearth of material to read; but still there's so much for me to learn, and since I'm shopping, and there's a big xmas sale at Times and MPH (20% off xmas catalog items!), I'm just stocking up on all kinds of reads.

So what's the big deal about Art Deco? Well, as previously mentioned in my blog, I visited the lovely wine place at Parkview Square recently, and enjoyed the atmosphere while sipping a 2000 Chablis Dom Simmonet. I didn't even realise the design was called Art Deco (shame on me!) till I read it in RT's blog. After going through my book on architecture, I realised why this form of architecture never really caught my attention: Art Deco is almost an aberration. (Wah, I'm using complicated cheem words now huh?)

Art Deco grew out of the era called Modernism, which lasted approximately from 1900-1965. This era saw buildings that were "spare and square", with free form (abstract, geometric shapes), free plan (less boundaries for better interior flow) and free facade (no ornamentations, unpainted), yet inspired by the age of science (revolutionary materials and techniques). We do see some elements of this at Parkview Square, especially the free form, free plan (wine bar on the ground floor is "columnless"), unpainted exterior, and the numerous statues paying tribute to Darwin, Freud, Dali etc. However, Art Deco is an aberration to Modernist architecture because it champions the use of ornaments protruding from the facade, which gives it an eerie, almost Gothic feeling. In fact, some people mistakenly consider Parkview Square Gothic. How can it be true Gothic without the spires, pointed arches and flying buttresses? A classic example of Art Deco is the Chrysler building in Manhattan: sleek modern skyscraper with its aluminium spire and protruding gargoyles. Perhaps the "Gotham City" look may sound like "Gothic" to the uninformed, which would explain their mistaken belief that Parkview Square is Gothic...

Three Wise Men

Here's an interesting take on the Three Wise Men:

The story of the Three Wise Men and the birth of Christ is one of the world's most told tales. It's also one, which, for women, illustrates all of the male species' traits that frustrate them. First of all, they simply assumed the heavens revolved around them - the star shining in the East had been put there expressly for them to follow. Secondly, they didn't arrive at the stable where Jesus was born until more than two months after the event, most probably because they refused to stop on the way and ask for directions. Thirdly, what possible use would a newborn baby and his exhausted new mother want with gifts of gold, frankincense (a resin used for fumigation) and myrrh ( a strong-smelling plant oil used for embalming the dead)? And, finally, Three Wise Men? Who's ever seen such an unlikely sight?

Imagine if the story had starred Three Wise Women. They would have asked directions, arrived in time to help deliver the baby and brought practical gifts, like nappies, bottles, toys and a bouquet of flowers. They would then have put the animals outside, cleaned the stables, made a casserole, stayed in touch by mail, and there would be peace on Earth for ever more.

Note: Moses wandered in the desert for 40 years. He wouldn't ask for directions either.

Discovery Channel

Don't you sometimes think life is much easier on the Discovery Channel? I just read this in a book:

"A woman needs to know but one man well to understand all men; whereas a man may know all women and not understand one of them." - Helen Rowland

We are the only species that has continual trouble with the mating ritual, courtship and relationships - other species have it all worked out and get along fine. Even the Black Widow spider and the Praying Mantis, who kill their mates right after mating, know the rules of the mating game and stick faithfully to them. Take the octopus for example. It's a simple animal with a tiny brain. But octopi never argue about male and female differences, sex or the lead up to it. The female comes on heat at a certain time and the male octopi all come around waving their tentacles; she pciks the one with the tentacles she likes best and gives him the green light. She never accuses him of not paying her enough attention, and he never worries whether it was as good for her as it was for him. There are no interfering in-laws giving advice, and the female octopus doesn't worrry whether she looks fat, and she never years for a mate with a 'slow' tentacle.

I love to eat octopi. Especially the cold dish at wedding dinners. Yum! Wait, there's more good stuff in this book:

They say it's great to be a man because motor mechanics tell you the truth, wrinkles add character, your underwear costs $4.95 for a six-pack and chocolate is just another snack. People never stare at your chest when you're talking to them and you don't have to leave the room to adjust yourself.
They say it's great to be a woman because you can talk to the opposite sex without having to picture them naked, taxis stop for you and you can scare male bosses with mysterious gynaecological disorders. You don't look like a frog in a blender when you dance and if you marry someone 20 years younger, you're aware that you look like a cradle snatcher.
Maybe one day, men and women will be like each other. Perhaps women will love watching racing cars drive in a circle, shopping will be considered an aerobic activity and men will have to spend one month a year in a PMT simulator. Maybe all toilet seats will be nailed down, women will only talk during commercials and men will only read Playboy for its literary value.

Do women really want all toilet seats nailed down? I'm not so sure about that.....

Genetically Modified Crops / Jesus the businessman?

Today scientists use thermal neutrons, X-rays, or ethyl methane sulphonate, a harsh carcinogenic chemical - anything that will damage DNA - to generate mutant cereals. Virtually every variety of wheat and barley you see growing in the field was produced by this kind of "mutation breeding". No safety tests are done; nobody protests. The irony is that genetic modification (GM) was invented in 1983 as a gentler, safer, more rational and more predictable alternative to mutation breeding - an organic technology, in fact. Instead of random mutations, scientists could now add the traits they wanted.
... (Feeding a growing population) will mean either better yields or less rainforest - which is why fertilisers, pesticides and transgenes are the best possible protectors of the planet.
- The Economist, Dec 24th 2005

Sure, organically grown crops are most desirable for subsistence. But can sustainable farming exist if not for "modified" crops? Let's not forget that the world would not be what it is today if not for the "modifications" brought about by the "Green Revolution" which started in the 70s.

Here's another interesting food for thought from The Economist:
Bruce Barton, an adman turned evangelist, pictured Jesus as a savvy executive who "picked up twelve men from the bottom ranks of business and forged them into an organisation that conquered the world". His parables were "the most powerful advertisements of all time".

Complacency

Some people have said to me that there's no point complaining about what our society is lacking, it's just too depressing. Instead, they say, we should focus on being contented with what we already have, since there is no such thing as a perfect place. They call it a "having a postive attitude". Well, I tend to think of it as "complacency". Here's a nice quote from this week's double issue of The Economist:
"...were Americans not so incurably discontented with their lot, their great country would not be half as dynamic as it is."

Rejoice, for Christ is born!

Have a blessed and merry Christmas everyone! I had my fair share of Christmas parties today, had a great time meeting up with everyone, and I hope your Christmas will be filled with love and joy too!