pnt-blog

Timeless Design - Alvar Aalto

2009-09-26T19:14:00.000-07:00

Looking through the photos from my last trip to Finland.
Beautiful city of Jyväskylä, Alvar Aalto Museum.

Building designed by Aalto himself (originally for city museum):

Beautiful interiors:

A lot of examples of great design:

However, one exhibit grabbed my attention - stool with L-shaped legs (designed in 1933):.

I remember such stools from my friends' kitchens in Kiev (my hometown). Stool was more convenient that regular square stools, however I've never thought about it as about something "designed". Just a stool.
Aalto didn't design things to be exclusive. All his pieces are simple and very functional, all of them are things for everyday life.
And museum took this approach.

Stools below are not exhibits (and not from 1933, of course). They are regular furniture for visitors' convenience:

How better designer's work could be recognized?

Just Timeless Design.

See all photos here.

Photo Inspiration

2009-08-29T19:26:00.000-07:00

Couple of year ago, when walking near Copper Harbor (Upper Michigan), I found this survey sign from 1864.
Last week I've received email form another Flickr user about this sign:
"Just returned from CH [Copper Harbor], and after much hunting found the rock! I have been on edge waiting to get back up there after seeing your photo AFTER our return from a prior trip. I see that you noted that it was a survey mark from 1864, do you have any more information on the markings? I assumed it was the United States Lighthouse Service, but the mark pre-dates them. If you have any info please shoot me an email."

Nice when your photo inspired someone :-)

My answer:
"I don't know purpose of this sign for sure (and people in the Fort Wilkins didn't know either :-) ), however I think, there are two possibilities.

Version #1:
First light tower has been built in 1848. Current lighthouse building has been built in 1866, current light tower has been built in 1930s.
So, I think you are right: survey is related to the construction of lighthouse - just two years difference (1864 - 1866).

Version #2:
It's not possible to get to the CH port directly from the lake - too many underwater rocks. Boats (even now) have to go close to the shore in the area of lighthouse, and after this go along the shore to the port.
When you are looking at the survey sign, there is navigation sign (large white board) behind your back. Survey could be related to this navigation sign.

Actually, I think that both versions could be right same time: survey done by United States Lighthouse Service to build navigational infrastructure there.

I didn't know about survey, I walked around taking photos, and it was very nice surprise when I've noticed this sign.
Copper Harbor and around is amazing place. I've been there once, and I definitely will visit this place again."

My Twitter Psycho Profile

2009-06-15T12:19:00.001-07:00

Tried TweetPsych (http://tweetpsych.com) to get my psychological profile based on my tweets:

Cognitive Content

1. Positive emotions
2. Senses
3. Time
4. Present tense
5. Similes
6. Number
7. Education
8. Tentative
9. Past tense
10. Motion

Primordial, Conceptual and Emotional Content

1. Constructive behaviors
2. Oral fixation
3. Abstract thought
4. Visual sensations
5. Affection
6. Glory
7. Social behavior
8. Temporal References
9. Cold sensations
10. Order
11. General Sensation
12. Restraint
13. Taste Sensations
14. Hard sensations
15. Positive affect

Enjoying

2009-02-21T13:12:00.001-08:00

Fin_swim_Jan_09_11_m1_screen
Originally uploaded by pntphoto

Saturday morning. Weather is not really optimistic. Salad for breakfast helped to improve mood.
Let's share salad info.
Ingredients: red tomato, green lattice, red reddish, olives, red onion, alfalfa sprouts, red bell pepper (marinated in white wine left in the bottle in refrigerator + leftovers of balsamic vinegar + water + a little bit salt).
Dressed/seasoned with flax oil, lemon juice, apple cider vinegar, Bragg Liquid Aminos, Bragg sprinkle seasoning, kelp, Celtic sea salt, flax seeds, celery seeds and a little bit of horseradish.
With slice of sprouted bread.
NICE.

Running Pilot Project :-)

2008-10-28T15:37:00.001-07:00

_Hotels_Map_Reykjavik_m1
Originally uploaded by pntphoto

Running pilot project.........
You have to do everything below (and much more) just by YOURSELF:

listen to users
generate idea
provide design (useful, not cool)
develop everything
test (it's VERY IMPORTANT)
provide documentation for users
provide training, if necessary
analyze results
prioritize
be polite
be agile
listen to users (again and again)
document everything (wiki)

"Twittering" in Enterprise - 2

2008-05-10T18:41:00.000-07:00

After one year of micro-blogging in our department, I brought Russian style "hard bagels" to celebrate . Point of celebration? Micro-blogging in work environment with only 30-35 potential participants is useful, and after one year and about 900 posts, still alive :-)
See my blog post about this: http://pnt-blog.blogspot.com/2008/05/twittering-in-enterprise.html

Actually, there were other goals. "Hard bagels" have been served in floor kitchen, so people from other departments could enjoy them. Also I was curious how many people (if any) would ask us about our "twitter".
http://www.flickr.com/photos/pntphoto/2481294834/in/photostream/

Hour or so later unexpected things started to happen - posts directly on the bagel box.
First post: "IGNORING". Ignoring "Hard bagels"? I don't think so - they were pretty tasty. Ignoring our "twitter"? Ignoring whole idea of sharing? OK......
A little bit later - second post. Link to one of the Beatnik Turtle songs, probably somehow related to the fact of ignorance :-)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/pntphoto/2481295214/in/photostream/

I think it's just great that people had something to express about the subject.
This IGNORING individual actually has not ignored :-) . He/she POSTED something to let others know about his/her opinion, whatever opinion is.... :-)

Going back to my goals: one person from other departments asked for access to our "twitter".

My blog post about "Twittering" in Enterprise:
http://pnt-blog.blogspot.com/2008/05/twittering-in-enterprise.html

"Twittering" in Enterprise

2008-05-10T18:07:00.000-07:00

One year ago we (3 guys from one of the groups in our department) started “something-like-twitter”. We didn’t have any specific goal, just wanted to try how idea of micro-blogging could survive in work environment with very limited amount of potential participants (something around 30-35 people).
It took almost no time to set simple SharePoint list, and first post has appeared. There was no question “What are you doing?”, there were no “friends” and “followers”. Only available options: post and get notifications (RSS or email alert – both provided by SharePoint). From beginning we decided not to tell anyone, we wanted to create initial content, so new participants (if any) would see something (instead of blank page). Plan: “Let see in 3 weeks” . We posted interesting links, question to each other, notes about current projects, etc. To our surprise it was useful even for 3 people.
Two weeks later we have been discovered through our intranet search – and we’ve got 4^th participant (post content looked interesting to him). At this point we’ve sent email to everyone in department about our “something-like-twitter”. Nobody joined.
Three more weeks later we’ve got 5^th participant. After our email she started to read posts, and at some point started to post herself (“this was so 2 weeks ago... i know of this technology but i thought it was a bit "stalkerish".. TRG Twitter just rolls off the tongue. ”).
And so on, and so on (“so on” still within 30-35 people department).
During one year 17 people posted at least once. However, most of content have been created by 5-7 participants. We’ve got about 900 posts.
What is in content:
-- interesting links and other internet findings (somehow technology related);
-- very few posts about current projects;
-- general notes, opinions, etc.
-- several discussions started there, and have been moved to email or in-person conversations (where you can put longer content );
-- very few “What I’m doing now” info;
-- blog posts announcements;
-- jokes and links to funny stories/photos/videos;

Conclusions:
-- micro-blogging is useful even with very limited amount of potential participants;
-- group of enthusiasts is “mast have” condition;
-- initial content (I prefer “Engaging content”) is extremely important.

Public health survey

2008-05-04T13:13:00.001-07:00

public health survey
Originally uploaded by pntphoto

On my walk to vegan store (to get rejuvelac) I've been asked to participate in survey conducted by University of Illinois at Chicago School of Public Health. Quite interesting combination of questions: from safety of water activities in Chicago river to gastroenterology to contact lenses... Best part - 15 dollars gift card and nice T-shirt at the end :-)

San Jose airport and yoga

2008-02-14T14:25:00.001-08:00

See on Flickr

Spotted this yesterday in San Jose airport, on my way back to Chicago.
This lady looked much more comfortable than most of other laptop users in the airport (sitting on the floor in inconvenient poses, sitting in the airport chairs which are not exactly designed for people with laptops, etc.).
I think she practices yoga, and looks like yoga training and yoga equipment (yoga brick in this case) are helpful!

San Jose

2008-02-09T18:59:00.000-08:00

ODC 2008 begins tomorrow, so today I had several hours to walk around. Weather was just great, 60++ F, sunny, very nice. I got my shorts, sandals and camera, and started to enjoy life.
Streets almost empty. Beautiful St. Joseph cathedral - white on bright blue sky background. Cathedral gift shop - many religious souvenirs, religious and classical music. Very interesting, unusual, modern-design cross (http://www.flickr.com/photos/pntphoto/2253465607/). Very polite man agreed that cross is quite unusual and explained that cross is from El Salvador (“…there are many interesting things from El Salvador… ”). I asked how far is downtown (crowd, troops of tourists, traffic, etc., etc., etc.). Man in the store looked at me silently for approximately 12 seconds. Answer: “You ARE in downtown. Right in the middle….” Yes…… OK…... February, definitely off-season.
Streets of San Jose look nice, but there are not so many really distinctive buildings (my very subjective possibly wrong opinion just after several hours in the city). Really great City Hall, Beautiful example of modern architecture.
Went to the Art Museum. Exhibition of Goya and Picasso graphics – absolutely great. Three chandeliers by Dale Chihuly in the museum lobby, very similar to chandelier which I’ve seen in Columbus, IN visitors center (http://www.flickr.com/photos/pntphoto/2137283494/in/set-72157603417353853/).
Little vegan café. Two vegetarians with tattoo all around the visible parts of their bodies (arms, elbows, shoulders, necks, etc.) sit in the corner. I got green tea and two healthy vegan deserts. Very tasty.
From all possible directions ladies and gentlemen are heading to hotel. Crowd of limos, tuxedoes and very nice evening dresses. Soft piano music in the lobby: Fransis Lai, Michael Legrand, “Stranger of the Night”….. Smell of Chanel #5 and/or something else very nice, all around the hotel lobby. My shorts, sandals, backpack and camera look not exactly……. I ‘m moving to my room and now I’m blogging about my first ½ of day in San Jose, California.

What else?..... More than 100 photos have been taken. Hope to upload them to Flickr soon.

Social Networks Surprises

2008-02-08T15:08:00.000-08:00

Recently I registered on www.odnoklassniki.ru (it's russian clone of www.classmates.com).
Of course, found some of my high school and college classmates. It was great to exchange messages with people who I've not seen many (MANY) years, very positive emotions.
My last name (Trebukov) is not very common in Russia and Ukraine, I've never met anybody with last name who is not known relative. Just today another Trebukov contacted me through odnoklassniki.ru, absolutely unknown for me person from Russia. Would be very interesting to "investigate" possible connections. Social Networks definitely work!

Poor news coverage

2008-02-07T15:09:00.000-08:00

Colleague from Bogota has sent those photos:

http://img249.imageshack.us/my.php?image=marcha05jb2.jpg

http://img176.imageshack.us/my.php?image=marcha10qb1.jpg

http://img167.imageshack.us/my.php?image=marcha16nj6.jpg

http://img292.imageshack.us/my.php?image=marcha20xb4.jpg

10 millions Colombians (25% of country population) marched against drug cartels and against terrorism in Colombia. Quite amazing. It was four days ago.
I don't remember any mentioning in international news.

Starting blogging again

2008-02-06T19:15:00.000-08:00

Third attempt to start blog........ Lets try to keep blog alive this time...