Energy consumption
The power of visual ( and of Hans Rosling/Gapminder) shows, for those who still do not understand, that going to poor/developing countries and starting the sustainable blabla has no much sense.Stay home and turn the AC off.
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The third man
Italy has a new target of complain: Mario Monti. After seeing in him the savior in last December and hoping he was the man that could save the country’s economy, he is now probably the most hated man in Italy (at least until the national football team will loose because of a referee decision).
Mr. Monti rises only taxes and does not cut the huge cost of public administration, many say. He is a man protecting bank (has anyone read his cv? was there someone who thought he was some sort of extreme left revolutionary?).
Unfortunately few forget to mention that the economy problem started at least 3 decades ago, few forget to mention that when politician say they would cut taxes everyone jumps happily and no one wonders where that money that is not collected will be taken from.
Others forget to mention that italians still perceive the res publica (the common thing) as something that can be taken for private advantage.
Others forget to mention that it is considered smart (furbo in italian) to avoid paying taxes, to get early retirement money, to pretend to have physical handicap. Because at the end we all know that is always only the referee’s fault.
New critics?
Lately the most interesting news do not come from CNN or BBC or any other western media but from the counter power http://rt.com/ and http://english.aljazeera.net/
Looking for prophets: Ludwig II
Undeniably there is an international development kitsch style. A style made by man with few and confused ideas. A style where copy, emulation, skin, style, form prevail. Where did it all begin? What if Ludwig II is one of the greatest prophet in this?
Country-front: the strange case of Namyang
Being on one of the last true borders, Tumen offers a unique point of observation.
On the other side of the river, Namyang represents the last strongholds of North Korea. The small town is quite isolated from other parts of the country and it is there as a possible connection to Tumen and almost as a showcase, a country-front.
On the other side chinese tourists (and foreign ones) come to see from a distance one of the last forbidden lands.
So here is the strange case of Namyang: isolated but left alone in front of the foreigners.
Teachers! Atto 3
Mendini lo scrisse non pochi anni fa: questi sarebbero stati gli anni del dilettantismo universale. Cosi’ tutti scrivono, filmano, fotografano, senza necessariamente aggiungere nulla.
In questo ciclone espressivo mi voglio unire anche io e, considerando il tempo a disposizione che ho ora, voglio scrivere alcuni appunti su quello che accade qui come se fosse uno spettacolo.
Titolo: Teachers!
Personaggi: 4 insegnanti della scuola di Tumen.
Atto 1
Atto 2
Atto 3. Scena 1.
Ambientazione: sul lato sinistro del palcoscenico : parco di Tumen. Gradinata in assi di legno che scende verso il fiume. Poca acqua scorre tra cespugli quasi secchi. Un barcone e’ attraccato. Ad esso altre piccole zattere a motore sono attaccate. Su ognuna diversi sedili per trasportare turisti.
Sul lato destro, al di la’ del fiume, colline secche. Dei palazzotti bianchi in lontananza. Delle case basse con i tetti alla coreana.
Domenica pomeriggio. Il parco e’ pieno di bambini e famiglie che camminano. Alcuni fanno volare aquiloni, altri bambini guidano macchine elettriche. Anziani avvolti in abiti in polyestere seduti sui gradini parlano, affacciati verso la Corea del Nord.Un calmo disordine riempie il parco. Michelin legge sdraiato sul prato. Dall’altro lato, al di la’ del fiume, tutto e’ immobile e silenzioso.
Atto 3. Scena 2.
Domenica mattina. Michelin si sveglia con la testa fasciata da una melodia. La riconosce: Concerto in gusto italiano di Bach. Quasi illuminato, l’infedele Michelin, stampa la partitura e inizia a studiarla al pianoforte. Ripete in maniera disciplinata le prime battute. Una mano alla volta, soffermandosi sui passaggi piu’ difficili. Aumentanto la velocita’ di volta in volta.
Ambientazione: salone vuoto con pianoforte cinese a fianco del palco. Dalle finestre si vedono i tetti piatti delle case circostanti.
What if…..apeirophobia?
There is something unbearable in a flat landscape: the lack of a limit at the horizon. If it was a numerical fraction that would mean having a denominator equal to zero. The ratio is undefined and we loose meaning.
Therefore the limit is what add sense. There is perhaps one word that defines a related interesting situation ( even if not sure how exact it is) which is apeirophobia. This unfortunately describes the relation with infinity as a phobia but could there be a light version?
Could we feel a need, an addiction to the finite? This line of thought becomes even more interesting if we apply it to life: could we have a need to know that there is an end? Otherwise everything loses values ( as in the numerical fraction).
Wouldn’t be ironic if, in the era of extreme freedom and extreme possibilities, we would desire clear limitations?