<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<?xml-stylesheet href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~d/styles/rss2full.xsl" type="text/xsl" media="screen"?><?xml-stylesheet href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~d/styles/itemcontent.css" type="text/css" media="screen"?><rss xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:wfw="http://wellformedweb.org/CommentAPI/" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" version="2.0">

<channel>
	<title>A Commonplace Book</title>
	
	<link>http://www.ianwhalen.com</link>
	<description />
	<pubDate>Mon, 07 Jul 2008 17:21:13 +0000</pubDate>
	<generator>http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5</generator>
	<language>en</language>
			<atom10:link xmlns:atom10="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" rel="self" href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/IanWhalen" type="application/rss+xml" /><item>
		<title>FIGMENT 2008</title>
		<link>http://www.ianwhalen.com/2008/07/07/figment-2008/</link>
		<comments>http://www.ianwhalen.com/2008/07/07/figment-2008/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 07 Jul 2008 17:21:13 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Ian</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.ianwhalen.com/?p=107</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Last week the Action Arts League, in conjunction with some friends of mine, organized the second annual FIGMENT arts festival.  With the exception of some late-day rain on Saturday, which I managed to avoid by leaving early, it was a beautiful day and the whole event seemed to go off amazingly well.
Groovehoops provided hoola [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Last week the Action Arts League, in conjunction with <a href="http://lowconcept.blogspot.com">some</a> <a href="http://kostumekult.com">friends</a> of mine, organized the second annual <a href="http://figmentnyc.org">FIGMENT</a> arts festival.  With the exception of some late-day rain on Saturday, which I managed to avoid by leaving early, it was a beautiful day and the whole event seemed to go off amazingly well.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.groovehoops.com">Groovehoops</a> provided hoola hoops for the dance &#8220;floor&#8221;, Kostume Kult gave out costumes to kids, and there were sculptures and active installations all over the island.  My only real regret? I failed to hit the mini-golf course.  Maybe next year.</p>
<p><a href="http://flickr.com/photos/ianwhalen/sets/72157606026601126/detail/" title="Figment Arts Festival 2008"><img class="center" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3078/2645064960_f14ce71051.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="Figment Arts Festival 2008" /></a></p>
<p><a href="http://flickr.com/photos/ianwhalen/sets/72157606026601126/detail/" title="Figment Arts Festival 2008"><img class="center" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3005/2643970173_d87135e38c.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="Figment Arts Festival 2008" /></a></p>
<p><a href="http://flickr.com/photos/ianwhalen/sets/72157606026601126/detail/" title="Figment Arts Festival 2008"><img class="center" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3121/2645106286_0716c46e15.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="Figment Arts Festival 2008" /></a></p>
<p><a href="http://flickr.com/photos/ianwhalen/sets/72157606026601126/detail/" title="Figment Arts Festival 2008"><img class="center" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3121/2644181881_007044830d.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="Figment Arts Festival 2008" /></a></p>
<p>Full set of pictures <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/ianwhalen/sets/72157606026601126/detail/">here</a>.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.ianwhalen.com/2008/07/07/figment-2008/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Nick Walker Puts Up in NoLita</title>
		<link>http://www.ianwhalen.com/2008/06/30/nick-walker-puts-up-in-nolita/</link>
		<comments>http://www.ianwhalen.com/2008/06/30/nick-walker-puts-up-in-nolita/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 30 Jun 2008 18:54:08 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Ian</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.ianwhalen.com/?p=106</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Came across this excellent piece on Elizabeth Street by Nick Walker a few weeks ago.


There&#8217;s also another piece by him (I&#8217;m pretty sure) in Williamsburg on the outside of Roebling Tea Room.  And in case you&#8217;re wondering what his process is&#8230;

]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Came across this excellent piece on Elizabeth Street by <a href="http://web.mac.com/nickwalkerz/iWeb/Nick%20Walker%20Art/Welcome.html">Nick Walker</a> a few weeks ago.</p>
<p><a href="http://flickr.com/photos/ianwhalen/sets/72157601612709176/" title="Nick Walker Street Art"><img class="center" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3214/2616664209_142bc0f1d9.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="Nick Walker Street Art" /></a></p>
<p><a href="http://flickr.com/photos/ianwhalen/sets/72157601612709176/" title="Nick Walker Street Art"><img class="center" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3126/2616666897_b9ea7c534f.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="Nick Walker Street Art" /></a></p>
<p>There&#8217;s also another piece by him (I&#8217;m pretty sure) in Williamsburg on the outside of Roebling Tea Room.  And in case you&#8217;re wondering what his process is&#8230;</p>
<p><object width="500" height="410"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/E7N82mQzj9M&#038;border=1&#038;color1=0x3a3a3a&#038;color2=0x999999&#038;hl=en"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/E7N82mQzj9M&#038;border=1&#038;color1=0x3a3a3a&#038;color2=0x999999&#038;hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="500" height="410"></embed></object></p>
]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.ianwhalen.com/2008/06/30/nick-walker-puts-up-in-nolita/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>An Icelandic Trifecta</title>
		<link>http://www.ianwhalen.com/2008/06/26/an-icelandic-trifecta/</link>
		<comments>http://www.ianwhalen.com/2008/06/26/an-icelandic-trifecta/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 27 Jun 2008 00:09:29 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Ian</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[music]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.ianwhalen.com/?p=104</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[9 days ago I went to this.

About 5 days ago I received my order of this.

And then 2 days ago this dropped.

Too much Sigur Ros?  No such thing.
]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>9 days ago I went to <a href="http://www.moma.org/calendar/poprally/23_sigurros.php">this</a>.</p>
<p><a href="http://flickr.com/photos/lyndsey_matthews/sets/72157605689609610/" title="Sigur Ros at MoMA"><img class="center" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3070/2591179375_23d1c30959_d.jpg" alt="Sigur Ros at MoMA" /></a></p>
<p>About 5 days ago I received my order of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Heima-Dean-DeBlois/dp/B000W1USNQ/">this</a>.</p>
<p><object class="center" width="500" height="404"><param class="center" name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/RZYIfUdIyfs&#038;hl=en"></param><embed class="center" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/RZYIfUdIyfs&#038;hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="500" height="404"></embed></object></p>
<p>And then 2 days ago <a href="http://amiestreet.com/sigurros">this</a> dropped.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.ianwhalen.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/r-1377702-1214335413.jpeg" title="Sigur Ros"><img class="center" src="http://www.ianwhalen.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/r-1377702-1214335413.jpeg" width="500" height="500" alt="Sigur Ros" /></a></p>
<p>Too much Sigur Ros?  No such thing.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.ianwhalen.com/2008/06/26/an-icelandic-trifecta/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Vegetables, Homework, Women</title>
		<link>http://www.ianwhalen.com/2008/06/06/vegetables-homework-women/</link>
		<comments>http://www.ianwhalen.com/2008/06/06/vegetables-homework-women/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 06 Jun 2008 14:41:47 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Ian</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.ianwhalen.com/?p=100</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[This morning on 3rd Street, somewhere near Avenue A, I noticed an ad about spousal abuse.  It seemed a bit odd at first glance and continued to bother me for another avenue or two.  The text was simple, reading &#8220;Eat Your Vegetables.  Do Your Homework.  Respect Women.&#8221;  Pictured was a [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>This morning on 3rd Street, somewhere near Avenue A, I noticed an ad about spousal abuse.  It seemed a bit odd at first glance and continued to bother me for another avenue or two.  The text was simple, reading &#8220;Eat Your Vegetables.  Do Your Homework.  Respect Women.&#8221;  Pictured was a young boy.  Finally, somewhere around the subway entrance I realized what was grating at me.</p>
<p>I&#8217;m sure the public agency sponsoring this ad had its heart in the right place.  My issue is with this being a pretty poor ascending triad, and in this case &#8220;pretty poor&#8221; is a bloodless euphemism for &#8220;grossly misconstructed.&#8221;  No little boy really wants to eat his vegetables and no little boy wants to do his homework.  He&#8217;ll (hopefully) understand the importance of these both at some point in his future, but until then the truth remains jammed away in some unused crevice of his conscience.</p>
<p>So do we really want public advertisements comparing respect towards women with carrot sticks and problem sets?  In this itemized list, all three collapse into a pile of healthy obligations ignored in pursuit of teenage rebellion.  Maybe I&#8217;m overestimating the impact of some poorly designed, publicly financed ad campaigns on 3rd Street, but this is probably the exact wrong comparison to draw.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.ianwhalen.com/2008/06/06/vegetables-homework-women/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Thousands of Years Old, Huh?</title>
		<link>http://www.ianwhalen.com/2008/06/05/thousands-of-years-old-huh/</link>
		<comments>http://www.ianwhalen.com/2008/06/05/thousands-of-years-old-huh/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 05 Jun 2008 15:14:25 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Ian</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[politics]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.ianwhalen.com/?p=99</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Via The New York Times,

In Texas, evolution foes do not have to win over the entire Legislature, only a majority of the education board; they are one vote away.
Dr. McLeroy, the board chairman, sees the debate as being between “two systems of science.”
“You’ve got a creationist system and a naturalist system,” he said.
Dr. McLeroy believes [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Via <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/04/us/04evolution.html?ex=1370318400&#038;en=40884a0ce2dfccd1&#038;ei=5124&#038;partner=permalink&#038;exprod=permalink">The New York Times</a>,</p>
<blockquote><p>
In Texas, evolution foes do not have to win over the entire Legislature, only a majority of the education board; they are one vote away.</p>
<p>Dr. McLeroy, the board chairman, sees the debate as being between “two systems of science.”</p>
<p>“You’ve got a creationist system and a naturalist system,” he said.</p>
<p>Dr. McLeroy believes that Earth’s appearance is a recent geologic event — thousands of years old, not 4.5 billion.  “I believe a lot of incredible things,” he said, “The most incredible thing I believe is the Christmas story. That little baby born in the manger was the god that created the universe.”</p>
<p>But Dr. McLeroy says his rejection of evolution — “I just don’t think it’s true or it’s ever happened” — is not based on religious grounds. Courts have clearly ruled that teachings of faith are not allowed in a science classroom, but when he considers the case for evolution, Dr. McLeroy said, “it’s just not there.”
</p></blockquote>
<p>The amount of either intellectual dishonesty or honest stupidity on display by Dr. McLeroy here is incredible.  If the article is correctly structured to represent his argument, then McLeroy is justifying belief in a thousand-year old Earth by referencing the incredibilitiy of Jesus&#8217; birth?  I tried to narrow down which <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_fallacies">logical fallacy</a> Dr. McLeroy commits here, but the closest I could come was &#8220;Argument From Surrealist Incoherence.&#8221;</p>
<p>Then Dr. McLeroy suggests that his failure to understand evolution has no relation to his religious beliefs.  After justifying his &#8220;Young Earth&#8221; belief system by referencing the baby Jesus, that&#8217;s a tough sell.  So this is the Chairman of the Texas State Education Board?  Lord knows we&#8217;ve got our problems up here in the Northeast - the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kitzmiller_v._Dover_Area_School_District">Dover case</a> went to trial in a Pennsylvania courtroom.  But it&#8217;s still difficult not to chuckle a little when I read articles like this.</p>
<p>Then I cry.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.ianwhalen.com/2008/06/05/thousands-of-years-old-huh/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		</item>
	</channel>
</rss>
