Ponderings & Wanderings.

More words from Kenneth.

Thu, 11 Oct 2012 10:07:10 -0700

More words from Kenneth.

Je marche dans tes ruesQui me marchent sur les piedsJe bois dans...

Fri, 24 Aug 2012 12:29:00 -0700

Je marche dans tes rues
Qui me marchent sur les pieds
Je bois dans tes cafés

Je traîne dans tes métros
Tes trottoirs m’aiment un peu trop
Je rêve dans tes bistrots

Je m’assoie sur tes bancs
Je regarde tes monuments
Je trinque à la santé de tes amants

Je laisse couler ta seine
Sous tes ponts ta rengaine
Toujours après la peine

Je pleure dans tes taxis
Quand tu brilles sous la pluie
C’que t’es belle en pleine nuit

Je pisse dans tes caniveaux
C’est d’la faute à Hugo
Et j’picolle en argot

Je dors dans tes hôtels
J’adore ta tour Eiffel
Au moins elle, elle est fidèle

Quand j’te quitte un peu loin
Tu ressembles au chagrin
Ça m’fait un mal de chien

Paris Paris combien
Paris tout c’que tu veux
Boul’vard des bouleversés
Paris tu m’as renversé
Paris tu m’as laissé

Paris Paris combien
Paris tout c’que tu veux
Paris Paris tenu

Paris Paris perdu
Paris tu m’as laissé
Sur ton pavé

J’me réveille dans tes bras
Sur tes quais y a d’la joie
Et des loups dans tes bois

J’me glisse dans tes cinés
J’me perds dans ton quartier
Je m’y retrouverai jamais

Je nage au fil de tes gares
Et mon regard s’égare
J’vois passer des cafards sur tes bars

J’m’accroche aux réverbères
Tes pigeons manquent pas d’air
Et moi de quoi j’ai l’air

Paris Paris combien
Paris tout c’que tu veux
Boul’vard des bouleversés
Paris tu m’as renversé
Paris tu m’as laissé

Paris Paris combien
Paris tout c’que tu veux
Paris Paris tenu
Paris Paris perdu
Paris tu m’as laissé
Sur ton pavé

Je marche dans tes rues
Qui me marchent sur les pieds
Je bois dans tes cafés

Je traîne dans tes métros
Tes trottoirs m’aiment un peu trop
Je rêve dans tes bistrots

Says it all.

Wed, 11 Apr 2012 08:58:48 -0700

Says it all.

Too many guys think I’m a concept, or I complete them, or...

Thu, 15 Mar 2012 10:25:21 -0700

Too many guys think I’m a concept, or I complete them, or I’m gonna make them alive. But I’m just a fucked-up girl who’s lookin’ for my own peace of mind; don’t assign me yours.

It’s been too long. Chats with Kenneth.

Mon, 12 Mar 2012 17:25:07 -0700

It’s been too long. Chats with Kenneth.

Want.Need.Now. From: http://inthralld.com/2012/03/giant-birdsnes...

Wed, 07 Mar 2012 09:37:00 -0800

Want.Need.Now.

From: http://inthralld.com/2012/03/giant-birdsnest-bed-by-oge/

I have always had a weird obsession with abandoned mental...

Thu, 01 Mar 2012 10:46:00 -0800

Buffalo State Hospital, NY

Patient Suitcases, Bolivar State Hospita

Autopsy Theater, St. Elizabeth's Hospita

lectroencephalograph Machine

Matteawan State Hospital, Beacon, NY

Patient Dresses, Clarinda State Hospital

Straightjacket, Logansport

Typical Ward, Buffalo State Hospital, NY

Unclaimed Cremation Urns, Oregon

Cemetery, Connecticut Valley

I have always had a weird obsession with abandoned mental institutions. These photos are incredibly eerie and oddly beautiful. Here’s where I got the photos: http://www.chrispaynephoto.com/asylum.html.

Put the phone machine on hold Leave the dishes in the sink do...

Tue, 28 Feb 2012 16:35:20 -0800

Put the phone machine on hold

Leave the dishes in the sink

do not answer the door…

Even if things get heavy, we’ll all float on.

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 10:06:49 -0800

Even if things get heavy, we’ll all float on.

I don’t know how I’m meant to feel anymore.

Thu, 23 Feb 2012 14:26:00 -0800

I don’t know how I’m meant to feel anymore.

WANT: White Pod. Véritable concept d’éco-tourisme au cœur des...

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 11:08:48 -0800

WANT: White Pod.

Véritable concept d’éco-tourisme au cœur des Alpes suisses, Whitepod constitue une incroyable forme d’hôtellerie, dotée d’un confort absolu tout en intégrant complètement l’environnement.

My mind is somewhere else.

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 15:18:43 -0800

My mind is somewhere else.

thomas czarnecki: from enchantment to down

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 11:42:06 -0800

thomas czarnecki: from enchantment to down:

Love love love these photos.

The French and their Breakfast - the one exception

Sat, 24 Dec 2011 03:26:00 -0800

Here’s a little note about the French, table manners, eating, and an observation about breakfast - the one exception.

During my extensive stays in France, I’ve noticed something peculiar. The French throw all the rules out the window when it comes to breakfast.

Food, the preparing and consumption of it is quite possibly the great French pastime. It’s practically a national sport. They get years of training from their parents and grandparents, there rules to doing it, and special techniques to follow. For example, have you ever noticed how a French person uses both a knife and a fork at the same time? Knives are wielded expertly and forks are never held the American way. If you don’t know how to cut your meat, you’re frowned at and how dare you cut your salad. Watching a French person expertly eat is truly a unique experience.

HOWEVER. When it comes to breakfast rules are thrown out the window.

During breakfast…

Plates are not necessary: simply eat your “tartine” (bread with some kind of spread on it, we anglo’s call that …toast) right on the table. No, you don’t need to prepare it on a separate plate or cutting board, grab that bread, a knife, nutella, slap your bread down on the bare table and spread away. Ignore crumbs.
Bowls are for drinking out of. Having milk with your breakfast? Think like a cat. Pour milk into a bowl and drink away! Better yet, dip your crumbly “tartine” into it!
Cups can be used to eat cereal. Or as the French like to call it…”cereals”. (Don’t worry, I too enjoy eating both TJ’s shredded mini wheats AND Honey Nut Cheerios). Your bowl is too busy being used as a cup? No worries, use your OJ cup (once you’ve finished of course) as a cereal bowl! …problem solved. According to the French.

So next time you’re in France and at the breakfast table, t’inquiète pas, eat with your hands, sans plates and sans rules - you’ll be just fine!

Bon App!

Je me souviens exactement...

Thu, 20 Oct 2011 22:48:00 -0700

C’était le 15mai… le printemps tardait, la pluie menaçait, et je criais..

J’ai quitté Boston pour emménager à Paris, un petit appartement dans la rue du faubourg Saint Denis. Tu m’as montré notre cartier, tes bars, ton école. Tu m’as présenté à tes amis, à tes parents. Tu as écouté les textes que je répétais, mes chants, mes espoirs, mes désirs, ma musique. J’ai écouté la tienne, ton Italien, ton Allemand, tes brides de Russe. Tu m’as donné un walkman. Je t’ai offert un oreiller et un jour… je t’as embrassé. Le temps passé, le temps filé, et tout paraissait si facile, si simple, libre, si nouveau et si unique. On allait au cinéma, on allait danser, faire des courses, on riait, je pleurais, on nageait, on fumait, on se rasait. De temps à autres je criais, sans aucune raison, ou avec raison parfois… Oui avec raison parfois. Tu m’accompagnais au conservatoire, tu révisais tes examens, T’écoutais mes exercices de chant, mes espoirs, mes désirs, ma musique. Je écoutais la tienne, nous étions proches, si proches, toujours plus proche. Nous allions au cinéma, nous allions nager, rions ensemble, je criais avec une raison parfois et parfois sans. Le temps passait, le temps filait. Tu m’accompagnais au conservatoire, tu révisais tes examens, je t’écoutais parler Italien, Allemand, Russe, Français, tu révisais tes examens, je criais… parfois avec raison. Le temps passait, sans raisons. Je criais sans raisons, tu révisais tes examens, tes examens, tes examens, tes examens, le temps passait, je criais, je criais, je criais. T’allais au cinéma.

September Resolution

Thu, 25 Aug 2011 22:20:58 -0700

Write.More.

Finish: Hey France, I comprends pas.

Start: this layout/design is boring.

Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs Applied to Coworking

Tue, 28 Jun 2011 22:10:00 -0700

Thought I would try my hand at translating an article originally written in French. Cross posted from faberNovel’s posterous and pariSoma’s blog, adapted and translated by..moi!

Recently OWNI, a French blog and a form of datajournalism, posted an article applying Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs to Coworking. The result was a thought provoking and buzz-worthy piece - in French. So here’s the piece translated and adapted in English.

Let’s go back to high school psychology class - Remember Maslow and his Hierarchy of Needs? This hierarchy was visually represented by a pyramid shape and allowed for a dynamic classification hierarchy of human needs. The pyramid is organized as such: the needs situated at the base of the pyramid are the largest and most fundamental and at the top is the need for self-actualization. According to the theory, the most basic level of needs must be met first before the individual can even begin to desire the higher level needs.

Physiological needs. These needs are the basic needs of a human being for survival like air, food, water, clothing and shelter. If these needs are not met humans cannot function.

Safety Needs: Personal security, financial security, health and well-being, psychological well being (rights of man), and physical safety (no threat of war, natural disaster etc).

Love and Belonging: Friendship, intimacy, family, integration in a group.

Esteem: Self-esteem and self-respect. A need for the respect of others, status, recognition, fame, prestige and attention. Need for strength, competence, mastery, self confidence, independence and freedom.

Self Actualization: When a person learns their full potential and then realizes it.

Applied to coworking, Maslow’s hierarchy shows that coworking spaces (and coworkers) must have basic needs met first in order to allow spaces and coworkers to progress up the pyramid and reach their full potential. Coworking responds to needs such as:

I need a place where I can be professional for my clients “Not sure the kitchen is the best place for a meeting..”
I need a place where I can be at ease working, home is cramped. “I need an actual place to work - not my livingroom!”
I need people that I can share my professional joys and pains with. “When’s happy hour?!”
I need to be in a more dynamic and creative atmosphere. “I have no one to bounce ideas off of.”

Thus, “Coworking à la Maslow” gives us:

Basic Needs: The basic needs are similar to the physiological needs of an independent worker who does not have a real working space available. Above all a coworking space must provide the following to allow for positive working conditions:

Functioning wifi
Comfortable work stations
Standard office equipment: printers, scanners, fax machine
Storage space (lockers)
An eating area both within the space and in the neighborhood
Meeting and conference rooms
Proximity to the home of the coworkers

Security Needs: To be an independent worker is a choice that inevitably means challenges in planning for the long term. Good bye fixed and predictable incomes from the time when you were a salaried employee, hello heavy and taxing responsibilities and daunting choices. Furthermore you cannot ask for advice from your boss or your colleagues when you are confronted with a delicate situation - this insecurity is a common burden shared by independent workers which can alleviated by coworking.

Financial Security (coworkers have the option to only pay when they’re present at the space and not a fixed rent with a contract)
An atmosphere of confidence
Relaxed atmosphere
Possibility to benefit from the advice of others

Need of Belonging: Gone are the days when Renaud sang, ” to be free, is often to live alone”. A coworking space is above all a community united by common values and shared ways of life. A coworking space worthy of its name allows itself to be a part of a team who lives, works, and acts together. This is manifested through:

Professional events and festivities that bring the community together
The development of friendship between members
A coworking visa that makes you a member of the international community of coworkers
The birth of collective initiatives among members

Need of Esteem: A functioning workspace, a structured environment, a community that suits and supports you. Thus the framework is in place to allow for self expression for each member. As a member of a community of coworkers, it becomes possible to:

Be recognized for your expertise,
Become a participant in the community
Have an audience for your project

Need of Realization: This is the highest stage to which we all dream of achieving! Moreover, joining a coworking space can be useful. A coworking space will help:

Creativity & collaboration: coworkers feed off eachother’s creativity and collaboration
Learning: Never stop learning! Continue to progress upward through training and daily exchanges between coworkers
Live and work in accordance with your personal values and coworking values
Share knowledge

Original article by William Vandenbroek, taken and translated from OWNI’s post: La Pyramide de Maslow Appliqueé au Coworking by Stephanie Ng from The pariSoma Innovation Loft & faberNovel.

From the Cindy Files. Friday is Canada Day. Cindy finished...

Mon, 27 Jun 2011 20:00:23 -0700

From the Cindy Files. Friday is Canada Day.

Cindy finished with, “well at least we don’t have to put our stupid hands on our hearts like some PEOPLE”

Priceless.

Love shoes, love art history. love the combo!!! flavorpill: Art...

Sat, 25 Jun 2011 10:48:31 -0700

Love shoes, love art history. love the combo!!!

flavorpill:

Art History Classics Sell Shoes in Gorgeous Reenactments

The Man, The Myth, The Legend. Kenneth. [at urban outfitters,...

Tue, 21 Jun 2011 22:51:00 -0700

The Man, The Myth, The Legend. Kenneth. [at urban outfitters, trying on the latest trend]