Herbert Can Be Ever Ready

Here is where it is likely that a daydream will have more to do with the history outside on the sidewalk than the view inside of one’s own mind. It all tends to move around here, rather spectacularly, and rather quickly, gaining traction as the days turn into nights. The most complex theories of art and science and political revolutions have been discussed here, and the air is still thick with the conversations taking place even before WWI. However, unlike most places where the cafe conversations turn to art, science, and politics, at Cafe Odeon in Zurich , these talks happened for the very first time.

If there were no Cafe Odeon, it might be necessary to invent it, and across the street is another spectacular invention, Cafe de la Terrasse , and the two have a lot to talk about when the guests have stumbled home, lost in thought, and the night inhales and prepares for another day. In Zurich, the hotels are always prepared for late nights and early mornings, and no idea is too unfathomable. The city is one of the most livable on the whole continent, and there are reasons that go far beyond quality of life, cleanliness, and an easy transportation system.

Einstein lectured his students here at Odeon, while across the street, Huelsenbeck and Ball were waiting for Tzara, while Emily Hemmings began to hum a new poem in the back of her mouth. Russian revolutionaries were making plans, while Trotsky sat daydreaming about Frida Kahlo’s haunting eyes, and Hermann Hesse was making a tone poem novel about magic theaters, and turning a way of life into a philosophical treatise. These are the conversations that are dreamed on, dreamed on by people who like to talk, and everyone here likes to talk. Zurich has ghosts all over the streets, but the ones here are particularly passionate about ideas that might change the world, because here, they did.

Filed by Herbert Jones at 4:10 pm under Culture
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Walk into almost any classroom and you will most likely see a collection of world maps decorating the walls. While world maps are by far some of the oldest maps in existence, they have also changed with technology. There are world atlases, world globes, even world maps that are printable . Even though they are old, we have still have many uses for them today.
Today if we want to get directions or see where we are going we use a road atlas , or if you are really technologically savvy a Garmin GPS . However, in ancient times they didn’t have maps that would mark out the roads they needed to take. The first sailors didn’t have maps that would show them that there was land on the other side of the ocean. World maps and their development are an important part of our history. They help us to realize where we came from and appreciate what we have today.
World maps unite us. Looking at world globe brings a new perspective to our existence. You don’t see each individual people or cities or countries, instead all of the continents and how we are all in the position here on this planet we call Earth. Somehow China doesn’t seem quite so far away.
Many of us in junior high or high school had to do a report on another country. The country that I was assigned to was Estonia , a place I had never heard of before. But after finding it on a world map and researching their climate, culture, and daily life I feel a much stronger connection to them. I watch for them every two years at the Olympics . World maps help us appreciate one another.
With all of our new technology it is easy to forget about all of the people and land that exist outside of our own personal worlds, but I would encourage you to pull out that old world map you have buried in the back of your closet and take a look–you might be surprised what you discover.

Filed by Herbert Jones at 4:10 pm under Culture
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Palmdale, California is generally considered to be part of the greater Los Angeles urban area. And while almost every aspect of that region continues to grow, Palmdale itself is one of the fastest growing cities in the country. This is due to many reasons, though one of the common ones is that people who are currently living and working in LA are recognizing this city as an attractive residential option and are leaving the larger urban area for its calm and quiet neighborhoods. Of course many other people are drawn to Palmdale and are coming from other parts of the country. In addition, it has become a popular tourist destination in its own right and is recognized outside of its relationship to Los Angeles. You can look here to find great information on where to stay if you’re planning to visit Palmdale.

The Palmdale Playhouse is just one of the entertainment and cultural attractions that entices audiences from in and outside of the city. The actual theatre was constructed in 1993, or that is when the ground was broke which began its construction. It was established as an effort to convert the older building that was the Maryott Auditorium into a complete performing arts center. This was spearheaded by the Palmdale Repertory Theatre and the Desert Opera Theatre. The result was this 348 seat performance space and a company that produces entertaining and sometimes provocative productions for an engaged and supportive audience. The new performance space also features an orchestra pit, workshop and office spaces.

The company has entered its 16th season and is proud to continue its established tradition of quality productions. In addition to great performances, there are various workshops, lectures and classes that take place in the playhouse. Some of the performances that will be occurring throughout the remainder of March are specifically intended for children, while others are oriented toward adult audiences. Of course there are also some family shows and the upcoming production of Harvey serves as good example. However, it won’t be opening until April, but it’s still a nice option for family entertainment. Meanwhile, Winnie the Pooh continues through March 13th and an Evening of Musical Inspiration will take place on March 24th.

Filed by Herbert Jones at 4:52 am under Culture
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Sought-out sights in the world have always included the architecture inspired by spirituality, such as great cathedrals of Europe and ancient temples in China.  In the case of the island city-state of Singapore, you’ll find the oldest and most prominent is the Thian Hock Keng or the Temple of Heavenly Bliss.   Built in 1839, around twenty years after Sir Stamford Raffles founded Singapore as a simple trading post on the Singapore River and about one hundred and seventy-one years from today, this Hokkien Temple was constructed to honor the Chinese Sea Goddess Mazu or Mat-Su.

The story behind Mazu is a fascinating one, in which a girl is transformed into a goddess.  There is history about this girl contained in immensely old edicts from the government, from court documents, and even shipping logs, as well as Taoist scriptures, that describes Mazu as a young girl and the goddess she became.  Even to this day, she has fifteen hundred operating temples and about a hundred million followers.  Folk tradition for Mazu describes how in times of trouble if you call upon her by name, Mazu, she will come to your aid; however, if you address her in a more formal manner, such as the Empress of Heaven, then your rescue will be postponed as this means she must delay in order to put on more formal attire.  The goddess is based on a woman named Lin Mo Niang to which people attribute miracles during her brief lifetime.  She knew Chinese medicine and came to be known as a healer; some of the miracles, though, were about stopping seastorms, and this established her as a protector of sailors and travelers.

The temple’s history is contained in granite tablets which reside on the wall of the Entrance Hall; there’s an inscribed plaque also inside which Emperor Guang Xu of the Qing Dynasty from 1907 gave to the temple, a sign of how important people considered this site.  The plaque reads, Bo Jing Nan Ming, which means Gentle Waves over the South Seas.  The building is composed in from the traditional form of Southern Chinese architecture.   There were no nails used in its construction, and is considered a masterwork of architecture which uses tiles and wood, stones, statues of dragons and phoenixes, and intricate carvings and sculptures amidst the columns.

This temple is only one of many sights available to a traveler in Singapore.  All one need do is to arrange for a flight and to stay in one the hotels in Singapore, and begin exploring.  If you go to Singapore, be sure not to miss this building, which has been declared a national monument of Singapore for the last  thirty-seven years.

Filed by Herbert Jones at 1:36 pm under Art,Culture,Entertainment,People,Travel
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All though it is fabulous, your hotel room in San Francisco won’t be able to keep you from mysteries that lie out on the Island of the Pelicans. The intense prison, Alcatraz, is to much of a lure to keep you in the perfectly divine spa all day. Your going to have to get out into the ocean sea breeze and cross that bay with all the other curious people to see if you really can hear the walls talking in what was once the toughest prison in the United States. The Island of the Pelicans was a harmless piece of land in the middle of the bay when it was first explored and over a few hundred years it became many things. Not much in the beginning, then turned into a military site and then turned into a crazy prison with the most intense inmates. Now it stands as one of the most visited places in San Francisco. People come from all over the world to see Alcatraz and they get there tickets and reservations months in advance.

The island was once owned by Julian Workman who was given the land in 1846 by the then Mexican governor Pio Pico. He was to build a lighthouse on it for navigating around the bay. Some how a Francis Temple had the island and ended up selling it to the United States government through John C Fremont for 5000.00 in 1846. United States President Millard Fillmore had the island set aside to be used for military purposes in 1850 when the U.S. gained California from Mexico after the Mexican-American War. Fremont was to be reimbursed for the purchase of the island but the government never paid him and a battle went on until the 1890s. The military did end up using the island first as a way to protect the coast from any unwanted intruders

Filed by Herbert Jones at 11:20 am under Culture,People,Travel
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Singapore is a spectacular place for culture vultures looking for the next big thing.  It’s also a splendid place for travelers to visit an entirely unique place, with a spectacular blend of cultural influences that inform what seems to be a very exciting moment in time.  There is always something happening in Singapore, but today there seems to be an explosion of new art and ideas.  It’s difficult not to find something very lovable about the city state that holds so many secrets, and also offers a sumptuous and exciting surface.  The secrets probably begin with the food, and when traveling in Singapore, food can guide you to all sorts of amazing attractions.

You’ll no doubt notice that Malaysia, India, and China have a very substantial influence on the cuisines here, and there are plenty of restaurants that specialize in these foods.  There are many other influences from all over the world, in the food and in the culture at large.   The local culture seems uniquely flexible in absorbing trends and styles from all over, and it’s making for some very exciting music.  Hiphop has always had a place in the hearts of the urban population, and its sophisticated means of blending and remixing beats and melodies is particularly suited to this place.  It’s very much alive and well here, with young talents like Phathell rising on the scene.

He’s worked as a dj and a producer, and all of these come into play in his fantastic hiphop stylings.  He’s also getting to be very fluent in drum and bass these days, and can even be seen trying his hand at the theramin. This kind of dexterity is not only necessary in a very competitive industry, but it speaks to a certain heart at the center of Singapore culture, making it exceptionally unique and world-class.

Filed by Herbert Jones at 5:52 pm under Culture
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