Architecture

I'll be leaving for summer school this Friday. A six week architecture studio awaits

What this summer will mean to me is two things:

one, to see if i have any continued interest and talent in architecture

and two, as an experience for me to look back on. to never say 10 years from now, "what if i did that summer studio. would i be an architect now?" to say instead, "that was awesome and rewarding" regardless of what i'll be doing 10 years from now.

i've taken other architecture courses before. the professors i've had are incredible characters. i get intimidated, which seems to blind me from seeing what's important. this time, regardless of how well i'm doing, i definitely need to have fun with it. ride the wave whether i'll wipe out or reach a paradise shore.

as to what my "architecture" style will be like in studio, i don't know. call me unsophisticated, but i've been skeptical and confused when i see some comtemporary architects' work. here are some designs that either won competitions or have been built

New Port House in Antwerp [wtfuzzy?!?!]

CCTV Building [nicknamed the "Boxer Shorts" building]

it seems like architects purposely go for something boldly remarkable. sure the buildings will become famous, even notorious. then again it's probably very hard to create something so balanced, something iconic and romantically inspiring, while at the same time sensible and cost effective.

but hey, it's just my first studio. i don't need to start solving the world's problems just yet. let's see what happens.

cowabunga

Book List

Rather than inundate this post with long lists, I'll try to keep it short: 3 books I will read, and 3 books I will recommend for all you bibliophiles.

To-Read list:

The Fabric of the Cosmos by Brian Greene:

Since I read an excerpt in high school, I have wanted to read the whole thing. It's a physicist's attempt to explain relativity with accessible metaphors and terminology.

Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain:

After watching No Reservations for a while, I now want to read what made Anthony Bourdain legendary: his outlook on the restaurant business as a dishwasher who rose to the rank of chef. Maybe his awesome writing style will rub off onto me...

iWoz by Steve Wozniak

The auto-biography of Apple's co-founder, the other Steve. I've already started reading and it's pretty interesting.

Recommendations:

Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami

First book I read by HM. Great story. Unlike his other novels, this one is short and relatively unsurreal, but equally awesome. If you want more surrealistic stuff, Hard Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World is amazing as well.

A Whole New Mind by Daniel Pink

This book offers an interesting view on how traits like empathy and creativity are becoming more valuable in today's economy. Whether or not you will agree with this, this books does offer a good collection of other books to read, places to visit, and things to do.

Small Gods by Terry Pratchett

It's part of a series set in a place called Discworld. You don't need to know much about the series to read these novels though. Unlike a lot of fantasy books I've read, the Discworld series is witty and funny. The best Pratchett book I've read so far.

Really though, I've written this post to give a general idea of my tastes. Now I'd like to hear what you would recommend. Suggest away.

Wedding Dress

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6uthxUVMcYw

Not to say that you are "in" or "out," but I'm sure many have seen this music video. Taeyang's song Wedding Dress describes his longing to marry a friend, who is instead marrying another man. I've had two incidences involving this music video and I'd like to hear what everyone else thinks about it.

The first moment started when a friend of mine came by my dorm room, where I was coincidentally watching the video. Not that I obsess over Taeyang or anything (<.<)

We end up watching the video, not understanding a single word of Korean, just looking at the scenes. And then at 4:10 into the video, it happens.

"What the hell?" my friend asks.

"What?"

"Just like that? She just accepts a proposal from this random guy who has been cockblocking Taeyang this entire time. I would just punch the guy's face."

Rewatching the video just now (again I am not obsessed), I can see how Taeyang is actually kind of a creeper. Shadily dragging the lady out of the bar. Fumbling in his pocket. The other guy appears. She smiles.

Still, we are lead to side with Taeyang, the main man. That other guy's a bastard. He doesn't deserve her. And that girl's a bitch. Can't she see Taeyang is the more talented guy? Has she even seen him dance? If only he had a partner...

But I digress.

Then today I discussed my friend's reaction with other Taeyang fans. Expert fans as they are (meaning they're girls), they offered this perspective: It seems reasonable to favor the more mysterious guy. Plus the other guy is tall and handsome. Taeyang is short.

Now, I don't remember the specific way things were said. Maybe my sources will read this and clarify. But it seems like there are two things that seem to matter for relationships: the quality time spent, and the overall sense of the person. What matters more? Or is this even reflective of reality?

What do you guys think?