Vladimir Bukovsky, the former dissident, secretly copied and eventually published on the internet Soviet era Kremlin archive. There is a treasure trove of information that no one wants to touch. The archive can expose multiple politicians that did business with the communist Russia. Similar archive of the Gorbachev era have been copied electronically (not yet revealed, expect in bits and pieces) from the Gorbachev Foundation by Pavel Stroilov who was granted political asylum in Britain because of the archive.
Baroness Ashton was just appointed to the post of High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy in the new EU parliament, equivalent of the European Foreign Ministry. Watch Nigel Farage take Catherine Ashton to task in the EU parliament yesterday. This is a great theater. ►►►read more
1530-1569 After the dissolution of the monasteries, Canonbury Tower was occupied by Thomas Cromwell, Earl of Essex; John Dudley, Earl of Warwick and afterwards Duke of Northumberland; and Thomas, Lord Wentworth. Thomas Cromwell, Lord Privy Seal, lived in Canonbury Tower from 1533. His residency ended abruptly in 1541 when he was beheaded by King Henry VIII. Sir Francis Bacon, King James I’s Lord Chancellor, lived in Canonbury Tower, 1616-1626.
There is a great energy to this building. It’s a spiral on the curve of the square. In the photos the sky bright reflective windows make the surface of the walls appear even darker and more mysterious.
Thomas Cromwell that lived in this tower was a great-uncle of Oliver (1599–1658) who was descended from Thomas Cromwell’s sister Catherine. I sometimes imagine Menasseh Ben Israel, Spinoza’s Rabbi, meetings with Oliver Cromwell, perhaps not in this tower.
Solomon Alexander Hart, R.A. 1806 - 1881. Study for 'Menasseh Ben Israel before Oliver Cromwell'
Images licensed courtesy of Picture Library of the Royal Academy of Arts.
I am fascinated by this project – The Empty Fourth Plinth in Trafalgar Square:
“This summer, sculptor Antony Gormley invites you to help create an astonishing living monument. He is asking the people of the UK to occupy the empty Fourth Plinth in Trafalgar Square in London, a space normally reserved for statues of Kings and Generals. They will become an image of themselves, and a representation of the whole of humanity.
Every hour, 24 hours a day, for 100 days without a break, a different person will make the Plinth their own. If you’re selected, you can use your time on the plinth as you like.”
A classical ceremonial European square as a stage for the exceptional talent of the ordinary people, not an elevated monarchical symbol. The creativity imagination and the latent genius of every human being. The creative process lifted up on the pedestal, how deservedly so.
Watch the live feed!
The Guardian Plinth Watch 2009 group on Flickr
by Ben Atlas on 04.11.2009.7:49pm · 1 comment
This Queen Mary’s Graduate Facility, Mile End, London by the Surface Architects resembles the current colors scheme of this blog. (Photo Manuel.A.69 on flickr)
More importantly so great to see the Suprematist ideas of El Lazer Lissitzky, the greatest designer on the last 100 years, finally finding its shape in buildings.
El Lissitzky, Proun 30t, 1920. Sprengel Museum Hannover
