sophisticated battery

Tempura is a food technique that dips a morsel into batter and then deep fries it to a searing crisp.

Jesuits from Portugal brought this technique to Japan in the mid 16th century. (the word tempura comes from the Latin tempora, which references a time in which meat can not be consumed, thus tempura's fish and vegetable base)

Yoshikawa Tempura is known for Kyoto’s most renowned tempura presentation. Every bite is custom-made while you watch.

The 100 year old building is in an architectural style designed for Japanese tea ceremonies dating back to the 17th century.

There’s a view of the garden behind glass from every room.

Dessert is served on the floor, on tatami.

This is an elegant process, from a more civilized time. Westerners take note.

http://www.kyoto-yoshikawa.co.jp/

when we do it

The United States invented the internet, 

you knew that already, right?

First, it was academic ARPANET before defense stepped in.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ARPANET

ARPANET, was renamed the (U.S.) Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) in 1971. (wiki)

www.computerhistory.org

That change, by the way, was as big a shift in culture as any in human history. Now the military was networked on the internet. Hmmm.

http://www.usmilitary.tv/

The WELL grew in San Francisco and meme’s got started for some reason. The Whole Earth 'Lectronic Link was early in 1985. 

People of a certain age who remember the “WholeEarthCatalog” should also know http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stewart_Brand

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_WELL

Now our internet is big enough for world government to make its bid. That is what is happening now.

So today in the news the United States announced it would reject any proposals to surrender control of the internet to the United Nations.”  Well duh.

It’s still bad bad news.

http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2012-08/03/us-rejects-un-internet-control

If you think the UN taking over the internet won’t change it much, I think it will.

http://goldenmeantx.wordpress.com

But this’ll take awhile.

I’m just telling you that it’s happening.

there's always

this takes the cake

The Japanese sure do love their gizmo’s.

We saw this insanely complicated, Rube Goldbergian, (Google it) automated cake making machine.

It fills the cups, it flips the cakes, it even hot-brands the name of the shop.

So cool. Have a great weekend!

sobro sunset 8.1.12

head for the sun

hooray for Hollywood, New Jersey

When Hollywood was still largely orange groves, Fort Lee in the early 1900‘s was the center of American film production. Thomas Edison had a lot to do with this. In fact the term “cliffhanger” originated here, the cliffs being the New Jersey Palisades.

http://clocktowertenants.com/2011/03/200-million-years-ago.html

D. W. Griffith, Mack Sennett, Mary Pickford and Theda Bara were all famous names closely associated with filming in Fort Lee.

wiki 

So why did it move to Los Angeles in the 1940’s?

guardian.com 

For one thing, it rarely rained out west. And the lighting was much more pronounced because it was closer to the equator.

But best of all, scenery to depict much of the world’s exteriors was all within about one days drive of Hollywood.

Paramount Studios, 1927

With no unions, better natural lighting and naturally varied scenery, it’s no wonder. 

treehugger.com

Besides, the squirrels in Central Park already had agents by then. lol

NatGEO

sidewalk sings the blues

Longtime readers may remember when CTT featured south Bronx bluestone sidewalks about 2 years ago.

http://clocktowertenants.com/2010/08/going-going.html

I keep an eye out for these antique surfaces when I’m out on my bicycle.

This beautifully preserved strip is along Gerard avenue, just north of 146th street.

I love the color and texture, and I like that we can walk on the same 19th century surface folks walked on about the same era as our ClockTower.

But the bluestone is vanishing fast. It spalls. See the flaked off corner?

That’s called “spalling.” Water seeps in, freezes in winter, expands and pushes a layer of stone off. Spalling can reduce a stone to ruin.

Plus, bluestones eventually sink into soft earth.

Concrete is fast taking its place. Take photos.

the fine is a killer

Osaka