ABOUT THAT TERM “PROOF”
As every College kid knows (Hopefully) 40 percent = 80 proof. But
here’s the deal with the term. In the good old days, when sailors got a tot of
Rum each day, they had to test it to see if the Captain (or Purser) was
cheating them by putting too much water in the Rum, they would mix it with gun
powder. The concoction would only light it was higher than about 57% alcohol, a
ratio the earned the distinction of “overproof”. Rum won’t explode? It’s underproof (and
you’ve been ripped off). This is serious and maybe time to mutiny?
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| HANKER |
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| HORTA |
YARD SALE
I was perusing a Garage
sale a few years ago when I came across a print of an architect that seemed to
be foreign. It was just a few dollars so I snatched it up, Just because. Later,
Looking closer, it was a small poster
add for a Belgian Architect, bent over his drafting board (standing) with a
cigar and a wonderful beard. (See above). I discovered his name , Paul Hanker,
who was a student of Victor Horta, the Master of Art Nouveau Architecture in Brussels. We visited
both their works while in Belgium.
MODERNE DESIGN
I came across a swell little book "MASTERPIECES OF MODERN
DESIGN" published with the Modern Museum in London, it identifies
outstanding designs in pretty much all categories, including typography. I was
excited to see ow many of these items figured in my life somewhere. I couldn't
help but identify with such places as 'Ronchamp Chapel of Corbu’s and Pompidue
Center Museum in Paris, we always tried
to stop in to see important works on our travels. But I got serious when they
identified early autos, especially if I had assisted the their development by
purchasing them when they were kind of an unknown product. Beginning with the
early Volkswagen car with the "rabbit ear turn signals, no gas
gauge, etc.to the early version of Porsche 356, still revered by affectionados,
with an interim of owning a Citroen 2CV (The term means two horses!). usually
it was more like 13 HP. Of products, we
can't forget my Moka Expresso maker, long before we all had our own
Nespresso automatics machines. I always
cherished my small nifty Olivetti portable typewriter. Add Smart Car to
list above. Somehow Sun Maid Raisons
& Coleman's Mustard are included, most for their longevity. And packaging. Must not forget the Sopporo Beer Can,
a sensuous stainless steel container with beer better than most breweries. In
1959 I had to have the Nikon F camera,
when I realized the Japanese surpassed the Germans in the design &
manufacture of quality cameras. A surprise was the inclusion of the movie "Barbarella",
although I remembered it for the great strip tease Jane Fonda did during the
credits while floating around in zero gravity. However, it seems the sets were a
mélange of inflateable furniture, etc. and included more for that.
HOMELESS PROBLEM
It appears here are primarily 3 types of folks who live on the
street or in their car (The lucky ones). Drug addicts, Crazies, and Veterans of
our wars. Maybe there are a few of them that lost their lease and can't afford
the security deposits and maybe we don't build small, low rent $600 per month?)
studios. Not much you can do with a total drunk or Heroin addict but there
should be someplace for our veterans to live? ?While we're on that subject,
couldn't vets that have lost a leg or arm or something major wear a badge or
something to denote they gave all for their country (Right or Wrong!?). Another
major point ; Don''t just give these folks something for free. They will not
have an investment in it , therefore can walk away from whatever you gave them
Housing, etc..The Architect, Donald McDonald, designed some swell plywood
containers, big enough to sleep in & keep a few miserable belongings but
where do up you put them? Who could buy one? (He also designed your new
multi-Billion dollar bridge to Oakland).
TALIBAND DICTIONARY
A fundamentalist religious group who believe beheading is an act of love.
HOPALONG CASSIDY
Most of us think of the slick, clean cowboy do-gooder on a super
white horse from the movies but let me illuminate you about the origins of the
real ‘Hopalong’. Originated by Clarence
Mulford in about 1910, Hopalong was a lame cowboy probably from some horse
landing on him This critter was dirty,
always cursing, but a dead shot and an outstanding cow puncher. He was also a
really swell guy, always fair.
MAKE AMERICA GREAT
The first thing is to
change our national symbols. Forget the Egyptian obelisk on the mall of America,
celebrate the St Louis Arch (by
Saarinan, an intruder). The obelisk is a
bit of fakery with a steel skeleton, etc. But the Arch is a magnificent piece
of structural as we'll as Architectural design. Let's make a statement. What if
we have to move it to the Mall? Or how about moving the Mall to St. Louis? Think big!
THE BARBIE
No , not the doll but the origin of the word for our favorite
food time; barbecuing. The term originates from the Central America's as they
had a huge grill that they could put on a poor prisoner if they needed some
information or just to have some fun. It was called 'Barbeqoa' or something
like that. And we worry about water-boarding. I suppose we got the word
'Grilling someone for information came from that.
I HATE FASHIONS
There are a couple of fashions currently going around, other than
these idiotic ones perpetrated on us by the gurus of the fashion world (Is'nt
the richest guy on earth involved with this?)
The one that really got me was the blossoming of facial hair by nearly
every Ball player (Base, basket & foot). Not only that, some of these dudes
have long dreadlocks. We,, maybe our new president will put a stop to that.
Let's move on. What is it about the elevation of cooks into a
semi-Devine area if they know how to make your salad a wonderful tiny work of
Art? If they tell us to eat gold plated ants , we flock to their sanctuary and
chow down on it.
Looking in on the Real Estate section, I notice the Realtors nowdays
always have a smiling photo of 'The Realtor' in each add. Usually. It is a
gorgeous young blond who is hawking this particular deal. Maybe I can get a date with her if I buy the
property?
