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Heideggerian phenomenology

"to let that which shows itself be seen from itself in the very way in which it shows itself from itself"

Ever wondered what it would look like if someone shone green lasers at the Gherkin to make it look like it was being err fondled?! Well now you know.

Most of the time I am capable of holding back the bouts of physical disapproval when it comes to experiencing the effects of the ineptitude of British politicians. However, should the National Media Museum, a beacon of culture and knowledge in the North, be forced to close due to imposed public austerity i think i may be forced to gesticulate at least a single and admittedly feable fist-shake-to-the-air. I mean, what an appalling disgrace that we should have to lose such an astounding gift due to the bloody-mindedness and absolute inefficacy of 'our' politicians.

The forthcoming government cuts to the Science Museum Group's (SMG) annual funding will have a massive impact on the daily running of four of the UK's most visited Museums. Led by the Science Museum in London, the SMG also includes the National Railway Museum in York, the Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester and the National Media Museum in Bradford. Ian Blatchford, Director of the Science Museum Group has stated that a further 10% cut in funding in the next round of government spending proposals meant "almost certainly" one museum would shut. Out of the four Museums the National Media Museum in Bradford has the least visitors annually and is the most at risk to closure. BBC News - Science Museum Group says cuts put museums at risk: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-22781573 Revealing interview with Ian Blatchford on Radio 4's The World at One: http://audioboo.fm/boos/1433319-science-museum-director-ian-blatchford-on-the-world-at-one-bbc-radio-4 The National Media Museum is a unique, world-class visitor destination and constantly delivers a range of inspiring events, exhibitions and galleries in one of the poorest Cities in the UK. The Museum gives visitors a rare opportunity to experience many world firsts and is home to over 3 million objects that track the history of photography, film, animation, television and videogames. The film and festival programme is an exciting offer that welcomes many award-winning filmmakers and artists to the UK. The Museum is the heart of the cultural community in Bradford and its closure would have truly tragic consequences for the cultural, economic and tourism offer of the City and the Region. The National Media Museum may have fewer visitors when compared to its family members in Manchester, York and London but at more than 500,000 visits in 2012 the Bradford attraction is still a popular visitor destination. There is no other public building in the UK that offers this combination of free galleries, temporary exhibitions, cinemas, events and workshops for all types of audiences - schools, families, students, community groups, photographers, film and television lovers, historians and enthusiasts - we can't lose this British gem of an institution. 2013 marks the 30th anniversary of the National Media Museum. Millions of visitors have benefited from the heritage, knowledge and inspiration found within its walls. Don't let this institution close and allow these opportunities slip away from future generations. The aim of this petition is not to ask to save the National Media Museum and close another Museum within the SMG. All of the SMG institutions are vital to their Cities and area of expertise. The aim of this campaign is to highlight the individual support for the National Media Museum and Bradford and urge the government to not allow any of the Museums in the SMG to close their doors. The Bradford Telegraph & Argus newspaper also has their own petition to help save the National Media Museum. We have agreed to pool both petitions together so don't worry about which one to sign. We're both pulling in the same direction. And of course, as well as signing these petitions the best way to show your support is to pay the Museum a visit in the next few weeks. Visitor figures are its life blood. http://www.nationalmediamuseum.org.uk/

The Shard is currently London's tallest skyscraper. No doubt its appearance is quite different from any regular commercial building but does it achieve Piano's aim of overcoming the 'phallic' nature of tall buildings?

#the shard #phallic #skyscraper

Commodity consciousness - Zizek

The crucial paradox of this relationship between the social effectivity of the commodity exchange and the 'consciousness' of it is that - to use again a concise formulation by Sohn-Rethel - 'this non-knowledge of the reality is part of its very essence': the social effectivity of the exchange process is a kind of reality which is possible only on condition that the individuals partaking in it are not aware of its proper logic; that is, a kind of reality whose very ontological consistence' implies a certain non-knowledge of its participants - if we come to 'know too much', to pierce the true functioning ofsocial reality, this reality would dissolve itself.

#zizek #commodity #marxism #psychoanalysis

motherjones

Appropriate today, from “The North West London Blues”:

Some people owe everything they have to the bank accounts of their parents. I owe the state. Put simply, the state educated me, fixed my leg when it was broken, and gave me a grant that enabled me to go to university. It fixed my teeth...

#bless

John Holloway...enough said.

An amazing and different outlook on finance and credit after capitalism...

She speaks the truth.

#debt #canada #victoria grant

Socialism in Europe

France and Greece have both elected socialist leaders. This means one of two things: either these countries and other western countries will change the way they operate economically or nothing will change at all. Either result is significant in that if nothing happens then it shall act as a warning that the democratic political system in the west in, at it's core, flawed.

#socialism #france #greece #democracy

Drive - Surprising truth about motivators in the workplace.

#economics #rsa #animation #motivation

I think this is a pretty honest and apt conclusion on the investigation into the riots.

#uk riots #riots #youth #unemployment

RBS is owned 85% by the British public after their epic fail of 2008 yet feel it is appropriate to pay it's CEO a £1m bonus while the rest of the British public suffers under austerity measures.

#capitalism #austerity #RBS #bonuses #bankers

#wikileaks #assange

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