Well, the video of the Point of View event of a couple of weeks ago is now available. Click here for streaming media. There’s a problem, however. While my opening off-the-cuff remarks are utterly unimportant, and so it is not a big deal that the audio of that is poor, … Click to continue reading this post
It is on the list of my top five all-time favourite feelings. But I know of no word for it in English that properly captures it. This is strange, since so much of our society relies on things that probably came about in accompaniment with this feeling. I’m sure you know what I’m talking about. Sometimes it come on so strongly that it feels like a switch has been flicked inside my head, with an almost audible “click”, often accompanied by a smile, an oral exclamation, or even a moan. Why can I not think of a word for it? Perhaps my vocabulary is failing me, but if there is not such a word, then we should set about forging a new one, since it is so important.
What am I talking about? […] Click to continue reading this post
I remember UK newspaper headlines like that from the 1980s when you’d have an unseasonably warm day. I wonder if they still have them? (The headlines, I mean, not unseasonably warm days…) Anyway, we had a day like that yesterday, with the high temperature in the mid 80s for a while. It came about all of a sudden, seemingly out of the blue.
So of course every other person in the city (and their dog, blades, bike, etc.,) went to the beach. (Or at least at times it felt like it was half the population…)
I wonder if the other half went to the mountains?
Here are some shots from my point of view of last night’s speakers putting their points of view about the theme “Point of View”. The event was a reasonable success, in that people seemed quite engaged, and lots
Tomorrow sees the next in the series of events here on the USC campus that science writer KC Cole and I have arranged. They’re in the style of the Categorically Not! events I tell you about from time to time (held each month over at the Santa Monica Art Studios) but are over on the USC campus instead, 
as part of the Provost’s Visions and Voices events. You can read more in the links at the end of this post.
The theme is “Point of View”, and we’ll have an anthropologist, a journalist, and a film maker each give their take on the topic. Here’s an extract from KC’s poster about tomorrow’s event (held at 7:00pm at the Gin Wong Conference Center here on the USC campus): […] Click to continue reading this post
The time: Saturday just past, just before 4:00pm. The location (wide): The the splendid old May Company building, at Wilshire and Fairfax. It’s now the LACMA West building. (LACMA: Los Angeles County Museum of Art. Image: Carol M. Highsmith) Isn’t the building just great? So utterly LA: The location (zoom … Click to continue reading this post
Sorry, but it is just funny to me. There’s a history here, which adds to the humour. Start with the description by captain Todd Rogers: “Vera walked down the aisle and used the pad of papers she was holding in her hands to kind of — the term I use … Click to continue reading this post
It is an awful pun, but I’m pleased to see it all the same:
[image]
(Click for larger.) Third and Fairfax.
Wanna see my new car? Well, ok, I’ll grant you a glance: […] Click to continue reading this post
All very mysterious. Can’t tell you anything about it until it is all over. Maybe not even then. Lots of meetings to take place at a hotel or hotels. Locations undisclosed until the last minute. Got the call to pick up my instructions and briefing data from an office. Large white sealed package with just my name on….[…] Click to continue reading this post
Chuck Stevens’ visit went very well indeed. The talk was excellent, and well attended by faculty and students from both Physics and Astronomy Department, and the Neurosciences Research Institute. I’ll tell you a bit more about what he said in a subsequent post, along with pointing to video and slides from the talk, I hope. (Click on left for larger view.)
By the way, when I got to the Steve Reich concert venue, there was a huge line of people waiting to get in. They eventually turned a lot of us (myself included) away due to lack of space.
So I got on my bike and cycled rapidly up Figueroa Street to downtown and found the restaurant where some of my colleagues had taken the guest for dinner. Excellent conversation instead of excellent music. A good trade.
Here’s something I passed on the way to the restaurant. Took a picture while waiting […] Click to continue reading this post
Beverly Hills, that is. The Da Camera Society (a chamber music society I mentioned last year) arranged a concert by the Janaki String Trio in the Beverly Hills Women’s Club. Click the (no-flash, not-while-they-played) photo for a larger version. I’m a Beethoven nut, and so having two of his string … Click to continue reading this post
Ok, it’s really the evening – 7:00pm – but I could not resist the post title. Most of you won’t know (let me know if you do) what I’m playing with in the title, but that’s ok. I’m really, really pleased with it. Amazingly, we have a free concert tomorrow … Click to continue reading this post
Have these always been these way everywhere and I just did not notice before? Or is it just a Venice Beach thing? The cycle icons in the lanes along the beach are wearing little helmets! Good for them: (Click for larger view.) Oh, this reminds me. Some time ago, I … Click to continue reading this post
You can tell it was a bleak MidWinter day at the Hollywood Farmer’s market last week. People are actually dressed for outdoor weather for a change. They’re wearing
