Building Buildings

I saw an interesting film by the Japanese filmmaker Teshigahara yesterday evening. Actually, I saw two interesting films by him, but the one that got me thinking most was called "Antonio Gaudí­." It was a visual essay of the Catalan architect's buildings in and around Barcelona, showing his influences, style, works, etc. Other than a small bit of narration at the end, it was just images. But the images were so visually interesting that nothing more was needed. Seeing the film did a couple of things to me. Firstly, it made me want to go back to Barcelona. Secondly, it reminded me of my first view of Gaudí­'s Sagrada Familia. I'm not sure if I had seen pictures beforehand, though I assume I had. I was walking down a street, following a not very good map, heading in the general direction of the temple, when I turned a corner and there it was, in all it's absurd, ridiculous and yet somehow majestic glory. As I stood on that corner looking at it, I started laughing, probably out loud (as only crazy people do when they're alone.) Remembering that tonight got me thinking about architecture. Now, I live in a city which many people would say is beautiful, but if I think about it what is beautiful about it? The mountains? The ocean? Did we build those? The geography surrounding Vancouver is beautiful, but what of the city itself? There are maybe 5 buildings in Vancouver that are noteworthy or visually interesting and I'm being generous in case I've forgotten a few. Sure, there are plenty of nice houses but nothing in the urban landscape here stands out, nothing is visionary or interesting or even absurd. Like this:


When I first saw this building I hated it, but the more I think about it, the more I love it. It is different, it stands out, and yes, it is crazy but you can't pass by without noticing it. It makes you aware of your surroundings. I've been in a few beautiful cities around the world, a few ugly ones, and a whole lot of mundane ones. I don't think Vancouver is ugly, but why can't our architecture be brilliant? Why can't we have structures that make me want to look at them, study them, love or hate them, talk about them, but most of all, not be oblivious to them? Sure, buildings need to be functional, but why can't they be fun and exciting too? Maybe I need to switch careers, become an architect and start designing the types of buildings I want to see. But then who would build them? Maybe I just need to move to Barcelona.

Desmond Dekker R.I.P.

Jamaican music legend Desmond Dekker died yesterday, a week before his next show.

Obituary

Trojan Records Tribute Page

As always, the music lives on...

Damn You, Hot Oven!

Last Christmas, Laura and I were given a pizza stone. For those unknowing, a pizza stone is a slab of super compressed sand that you put in your oven and bake pizza on. They're fantastic. Since we got ours, I've been making pizza a couple of times a week, minimum. Fantastically delicious pizza a couple of times a week, that is. I love the thing. I'm always going on about the thing. I'm a pizza-making fiend.

We're going camping this weekend, so I made pizza for dinner tonight, knowing I wouldn't have it again for a few days. It was a simple yet tasty affair with roasted red peppers, sun-dried tomatoes, olives, garlic and tofu.

Tragedy of all tragedies, sorrow of all sorrows, when I took the pizza out of the oven, this was the sight awaiting me:


The horror. The pain. The ecstasy of a freshly baked pizza mingled with the agony of knowing it could be the last one. I'm going to try to use it with the two chunks just pushed together, but I worry for both my future pizzas and the continuing integrity of the stone. This crack could, I fear, lead to many more, resulting in the eventual demise of my whole little pizza making enterprise. And I'm just not sure if I can deal with that right now.

Living A Cliché

I was walking down the street yesterday when I saw a dried banana peel lying on the sidewalk. It reminded me that I know two people that have actually slipped on banana peels. I am one of those two people.

Hairy Upper Lips

I'm not sure who came up with the idea, but this month at work has been declared "Moustache May." I guess that means I have to grow a moustache.

More Pictures

For those of you who actually look at these things, I've added a whack of Mexico City and Cuba pictures to my Flickr pages.

You can see them here.

Spurs Food Poisoning Update

Apparently the chicken and cow were fine, it was the lasagna that was dodgy.

Fourth Will Do Nicely!

Another happy football moment today. Arsenal went into the last day of the league season in a somewhat precarious position. They were 5th place, one point behind Tottenham Hotspur, the scum, Arsenal's main rivals. So Arsenal needed a win combined with a Spurs draw or loss to pip them into 4th place, which is the final Champions League spot for next season. (Unless Arsenal win the Champions League this season, then 4th place wouldn't matter, as the winner of the European Cup trumps whichever team has the lowest league position to qualify for the following year's tournament. And I've got to say, there would have been something very satisfying about the Scum getting 4th spot in the league and then being knocked out because the Gunners won the European Cup. But that is now neither here nor there.) Anyhow, Arsenal in their final game at Highbury, beat Wigan 4-2, with Thierry Henry (EPL top scorer, yet again) leading the way with a hat-trick. As for Spurs, apparently they ate some bad chicken or cow the night before, a number of them had food poisoning, and they lost to West Ham today. Maybe an Arsenal or West Ham supporter worked at the hotel where they had their dodgy buffet (the 2 teams are their 2 main rivalries); apparently there will be an investigation. Whatever. What it all comes down to is this: Today is now St. Totteringham's Day. For those unfamiliar, St. Totteringham's Day is the day when it becomes impossible for Spurs to finish the season with more points than Arsenal. Sure, it came very late this year, but it still came. A friend asked me a while ago if Spurs fans had an equivalent holiday. I'm not sure, but I do know this. If they do, it's been a bloody long time since they celebrated it. Happy St. Totteringham's Day folks.

Linocut #2

Spring Storm & Maypole Dancing

On my way to work this morning, as I passed an intersecting side street, a big gust of wind came my way and I was caught in a blizzard. Except it wasn't snow, it was soft pink cherry blossoms. Visibility was limited, yet pleasant. This is the time of year when Vancouver looks like it has pink snow in the gutters as the blossoms fall from the trees and gather there.

Happy mayday folks! I hope all of you workers of the world are out there uniting, and all you pagans are out there getting your freak on, baa-cha-bam!