JozyAltidore

  • Subscribe to our RSS feed.
  • Twitter
  • StumbleUpon
  • Reddit
  • Facebook
  • Digg

Saturday, August 28, 2010

Tokyo!!

Posted on 1:39 AM by Unknown
If you know me, and there is a small chance you might, you know that I uphold the grand tradition of Kanto/Kansai static. And not without a basis, I have seldom had a good experience in Tokyo. No CHUDs have ever approached me, but I am quick, elusive, and crafty. This time however, the benefits of marriage came to fruition and I had a bit of a better experience with my native tour guide.

IMG_3168

People ask about the fights when you are married. We don't fight much, but a recurring one goes something like this, "I don't care where we eat, I just don't want to keep walking around talking about it in this 100 degree heat." So that is how two Kansai residents found themselves in an all you can eat okonomiyaki place in Harajuku.

IMG_3170

It was a good call.

IMG_3173

IMG_3186

This is Harajuku

IMG_3189

IMG_3190

Gwen Stefani nowhere to be found.

IMG_3192

The Tokyo subway map in all of its glory.

IMG_3194

Tokyo tower versus the moon from Roppongi Hills.

IMG_3208

It is Japan after all.

IMG_3212

Usually the crowd attracts itself and you just have to move somewhere that they forgot.

IMG_3216

I think this sentiment is both accurate and says a lot. This approach will get you far in life in Japan.
Read More
Posted in japan, photo, urban design | No comments

The National Art Museum

Posted on 1:07 AM by Unknown
I had to run up to Tokyo earlier this week. The up side was that I had some free time and got to go to The National Art Center. I had been told that it was an Ando Tadao creation. It was only after I had gotten home that I found out it was designed by the late Kurokawa Kisho, whose books had propelled me through my college architecture classes. One of Kurokawa's quotes that always stuck with me was his saying that when he sits down to conceive of a building he draws out the door handles at the same time he plans the overall layout. That attention to detail shows in all of his buildings including this one.

IMG_3336

IMG_3338

IMG_3342

This fairly normal apartment building is directly next to the museum complex. It looks like it was probably there since before construction began. Can you imagine your good fortune to have this be the view off the back of your balcony?

IMG_3345

The museum is part of a larger complex which features a policy school.

IMG_3349

The majority of the building has this curved texture that has the natural feel that Kurokawa went for.

IMG_3288

IMG_3291

Fortunately they were having a Man Ray exhibit as well.

IMG_3298

IMG_3303

This are actually transitions well into the Roppongi Hills complex. My main concerns when writing papers for my urban planning degree dealt with what is an area when it wasn't built for consumers, and how can it be approached. Strangely, this section of Tokyo does a good job of addressing that question. Roppongi Hills is essentially a shopping mall with a tuxedo on it. But it works. It is an interesting place and can be experienced without being a consumer. It also lends itself to the neighborhood as a whole.

IMG_3312

I believe that all of the chairs in the museum where designed by several prominent Scandinavian designers. They sit nice.

Kurokawa, you are dead, but lots of dead people built less good buildings than you.
Read More
Posted in japan, photo, urban design | No comments

Monday, August 23, 2010

Fujinomiya Gogome 6PM

Posted on 2:35 AM by Unknown
This is the sky from halfway up Mt. Fuji.

IMG_3163

I would have to say that the sky, both night and day, was the greatest thing about the hike. The peak and its eerie fog that shrouded everything like a thought starved horror movie and thinned to reveal a giant volcanic crater, and the way the light showed that every dark barrier you had been pitted against was actually red volcanic sand, would have been moments of epiphany if not for the onset of hypothermia, real or imagined, and the insensitivity of my travel companions. Climbing a mountain is a truly revolutionary folly.

IMG_3158
Read More
Posted in friends, japan, photo | No comments

A Little Arjy-Bargy Goes a Long Way

Posted on 2:08 AM by Unknown
I have read and watched a fair amount about hooliganism, yet I don't feel that it is something that I can really get a handle on. It is a discussion that I have frequently with my British band-mates, who are fellow fans of the footy. America is a terribly violent nation in so many ways and our sporting culture verges on the cromagnon at times. How then have we seemingly avoided this tumor of numskullery? Is our senseless violence already sated in gang warfare, racial hatred and school shootings? I am not going to pose any theories just state the question. I had the good fortune to attend the University of Alabama, whose football rivalry with Auburn University is often described as the largest sports blood feud in America. I attended several Iron Bowls, and while they were raucous affairs, complete with a temporary jail within the stadium, neither team had factions seeking out violence. Most of the police presence was to protect drunken fans from themselves. I don't know if I am more surprised that this dark undercurrent lies in British society or that it has never reared its head in ours.
Read More
Posted in friends, sports | No comments

Sunday, August 22, 2010

Florida

Posted on 1:46 AM by Unknown
IMG_2931

Florida requires lots of dredging equipment. It is what makes a barrier island into a harbor.

IMG_2933

If all you looked at was this photo, not much would have changed since I was growing up.

IMG_2932

But then you have this "Peter Boss abortion." As Wes F. put it.

IMG_2934

This line of waves is just from the tide running. This is about 10 feet off of the beach, at most. And people wonder how tourists drown every year.

IMG_2937

Deep Water Horizon power pack.

IMG_2940

When I was a little kid, I though the jetties were a natural formation.

IMG_2946

Sea life with oil?
Read More
Posted in florida, photo | No comments

Saturday, August 7, 2010

Campamus. Scenes from AICL 2010

Posted on 1:05 PM by Unknown
I got a new camera as a wedding present. I am trying it out. I am sure it will change my life like the new J Crew catalog.

IMG_2491


Two super geniuses at work.
IMG_2513

Commander Dan
IMG_2516

Captain Mustache
IMG_2519


Ms. Mustache

IMG_2521

Princess Hotstuff

IMG_2522

Ghost of Dave Kyser

IMG_2523

The Mush

IMG_2524

Micah and John

IMG_2541

Old Yankee

IMG_2546

IMG_2548

Dr. Foxy

IMG_2549

Dance Wars

IMG_2556

IMG_2557

Mr.Me

IMG_2558 - Copy

M.Bensey

IMG_2561

IMG_2562

DJ Wooly Willy

IMG_2564

Our Mikoshi

IMG_2566

Dirty Hippy

IMG_2606

Eco Dorm

IMG_2643

George Going Beefcake

IMG_2655

Musical

IMG_2667

Jeff and Juno

IMG_2675
Read More
Posted in camp, friends, photo | No comments
Newer Posts Older Posts Home
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)

Popular Posts

  • Worst. List. Ever.
    Apparently blogging once a year is the new thing. That and working on your master's thesis is not conducive to blogging, especially when...
  • All Hail Rail
    I am not very happy about the new (Republican) budget that President Obama has proposed. I am excited about the $53 billion plan for high s...
  • Good On You Packers
    I am constantly going on about pro-athletes having strong unions and expecting fans to understand but not coming out to support other unions...
  • It Wasn't Not Capitalism!
    Thank you David Cay Johnston for pointing out what anyone with a cursory interest in economics- which we all should have as we are pulled a...
  • The (Red) Welfare State
    Back to what I was saying before. I am starting to think that we should let the red states secede. If they did, it certainly appears that...
  • Lower the Retirement Age
    If you have missed out on it for the last few months, James Galbraith has been talking up his plan to lower the retirement age. Most headli...
  • Kick Ass
    I finally got a chance to see Kick Ass in a tiny, alternative movie theater in an upscale department store in Kyoto. I don't have many ...
  • Still February in Kyoto
    Kiyomizudera Jinrikisha- Higashiyama-ku Kiyomizudera Old voodoo doll tree- Kiyomizudera
  • New Banksy
    Banksy has some new LA stuff up . Is this his Oscar push?
  • And the Oscar Goes To...
    Not believing that Oscars and good movies go hand in hand I have spent the rainy week watching best picture nominees anyway. The Hurt Locker...

Categories

  • books (11)
  • camp (4)
  • florida (21)
  • food (8)
  • friends (75)
  • haiti (1)
  • health (25)
  • hiking (6)
  • japan (163)
  • kyoto (46)
  • kyoto advice (12)
  • language (24)
  • lists (1)
  • miyazaki (24)
  • mma (63)
  • movies (18)
  • music (65)
  • osaka (38)
  • osaka advice (1)
  • photo (80)
  • politics (189)
  • school (51)
  • science (6)
  • soccer (34)
  • sports (115)
  • surfing (4)
  • travel (2)
  • TV (85)
  • urban design (26)
  • work (41)
  • writing (6)
  • youtube (121)

Blog Archive

  • ▼  2012 (1)
    • ▼  June (1)
      • Worst. List. Ever.
  • ►  2011 (28)
    • ►  June (1)
    • ►  March (9)
    • ►  February (13)
    • ►  January (5)
  • ►  2010 (171)
    • ►  December (14)
    • ►  November (4)
    • ►  October (7)
    • ►  September (10)
    • ►  August (10)
    • ►  July (5)
    • ►  June (13)
    • ►  May (15)
    • ►  April (23)
    • ►  March (20)
    • ►  February (21)
    • ►  January (29)
  • ►  2009 (213)
    • ►  December (9)
    • ►  November (19)
    • ►  October (17)
    • ►  September (12)
    • ►  August (6)
    • ►  July (13)
    • ►  June (11)
    • ►  May (19)
    • ►  April (24)
    • ►  March (24)
    • ►  February (20)
    • ►  January (39)
  • ►  2008 (87)
    • ►  December (40)
    • ►  November (47)
Powered by Blogger.

About Me

Unknown
View my complete profile