Monthly Archives: May 2012

Modern Art & Otherworldly Jews (The Steins Collect, at the Met)

Posted on May 31, 2012 by zjb

Went to see The Steins Collect at the Met yesterday. The exhibition exhibits the gobs of art collected by the Stein siblings —Leo, Gertrude and Michael Stein, and Micahel’s wife, Sarah. Moving to Paris in the early 1900s, they apparently couldn’t … Continue reading →

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Posted on May 31, 2012 by zjb
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Tolerant of Your Beliefs — Judgmental of Your Shoes (NYC & Enlightenment Reason)

Posted on May 31, 2012 by zjb

I would prefer to be judged by my shoes. I saw this on a drive down the FDR on the way to the Brooklyn Bridge, and thought it was funny. I like how it sums up with such concision the … Continue reading →

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Insular Attention (Talmud & Aura)

Posted on May 30, 2012 by zjb

I think the form of attention particular to a tradition based thing like Talmud is fundamentally “endogymous” Avert the gaze. Don’t look at the beautiful furrow. Don’t look at women. Don’t even pay too much mind to God. Stay fixed … Continue reading →

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Columbia University (Bad Neighbor)

Posted on May 30, 2012 by zjb

What used to be a historic brownstone on 115thSt. between Amsterdam Avenue and Morningside Drive. Columbia University needed the space for something important. I’m sure it will be some towering, high tech, glass and steel job. In the meantime, a parking … Continue reading →

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“Angels in New York” (Random Attention)

Posted on May 29, 2012 by zjb

  I spotted these pretentious little sh%ts on a walk past the ABC offices around W.66th Street between Central Park West and Columbus the other week. I can’t recall what it was that caught my eye from street level, why … Continue reading →

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American Flag (Color)

Posted on May 29, 2012 by zjb

I like flags in general because they are both colorful and emblematic –and made of fabric. I especially like big American flags, because I think they are funny. Is the ginormous flag a uniquely American idiom? This one caught my … Continue reading →

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Remember Your Dead-Book of Ruth-Berserker God (Yizkor) (Shavuot)

Posted on May 28, 2012 by zjb

(On Kawara, One Million Years) I wanted to say Yizkor for my father. I don’t usually observe second day of holiday. During the school year, it’s one more day of holiday (chag) that I can’t afford to take off. But … Continue reading →

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“Religion & Society” (Bruno Latour, Reassembling the Social: An Introduction to Actor-Network Theory)

Posted on May 25, 2012 by zjb

I finished reading Bruno Latour’s Reassembling the Social: An Introduction to Actor-Network Theory. I wish I could better assess this book’s importance. I read it fast because I think it’s a mess of a book, but there’s a lot of … Continue reading →

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High Tech High Jinks Cynicism (Tom Sachs Space Program: Mars at the NY Armory)

Posted on May 24, 2012 by zjb

I went to see Tom Sachs Space Program: Mars in the cavernous Drill Hall at the New York Armory. Sachs has assembled all the equipment that a successful mission to Mars will require: space modules, mission control panels, communication system, … Continue reading →

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