Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Oscar Wilde Bookshop turns 40!
On Tuesday, November 27, the Oscar Wilde Bookshop, the world's oldest gay and lesbian book store, will be offering 40% off any book price $40 or less. This offer is being extended for in-store and telephone purchases. I highly recommend the graphic novel Fun Home: a Family Tragicomic by Allison Bechdel to anyone and everyone. If you've never read a graphic novel before but have been meaning to do so, this is a great place to start. The bookstore is selling it for $13.95, so if my math is correct, you can buy it for $8.37 plus tax.
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
Design flaws in Frank Gehry's Stata Center at MIT
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is suing architect Frank Gehry over serious design flaws. According to the New York Times article "MIT Sues Architect Frank Gehry,"
"The school asserts that the center, completed in spring 2004, has persistent leaks, drainage problems and mold growing on its brick exterior. It says accumulations of snow and ice have fallen dangerously from window boxes and other areas of its roofs, blocking emergency exits and causing damage."
Looks like the Los Angeles firm didn't take into account that in Boston, it's not always sunny like in Southern California (and Bilbao?).
Unfortunately, it doesn't surprise me that there are engineering problems in Gehry's building because Gehry doesn't know how to use a computer(!) Whimsical creations of the mind are all well and good on paper, but when people will be using the buildings, you better really look at the structural features.
Maybe Gehry needs to brush up on his Architectural Registration Exam (ARE) basics. He can come to the Mid-Manhattan Library and use the entire set of the Kaplan architectural exam preparation books. (The current year's edition is for reference only, and past years' editions can be brought home.) He can also check out the books we have on construction in the 690s.
"The school asserts that the center, completed in spring 2004, has persistent leaks, drainage problems and mold growing on its brick exterior. It says accumulations of snow and ice have fallen dangerously from window boxes and other areas of its roofs, blocking emergency exits and causing damage."
Looks like the Los Angeles firm didn't take into account that in Boston, it's not always sunny like in Southern California (and Bilbao?).
Unfortunately, it doesn't surprise me that there are engineering problems in Gehry's building because Gehry doesn't know how to use a computer(!) Whimsical creations of the mind are all well and good on paper, but when people will be using the buildings, you better really look at the structural features.
Maybe Gehry needs to brush up on his Architectural Registration Exam (ARE) basics. He can come to the Mid-Manhattan Library and use the entire set of the Kaplan architectural exam preparation books. (The current year's edition is for reference only, and past years' editions can be brought home.) He can also check out the books we have on construction in the 690s.
Tonight at the library: Slide lecture on Georges Seurat's drawings
Wednesday, Nov 7 — 6:30 PM on the 6th floor
The Museum of Modern Art @ the Library presents: "Georges Seurat: The Drawings," with Jennifer Kantanic.
Georges Seurat's mysterious and luminous works on paper played a crucial role in his short, vibrant career. This slide lecture will feature a comprehensive overview of the art and life of Georges Seurat (1859-1891).http://www.nypl.org/branch/central/mml/programs.html
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