Gary 9/5

Ahhh...downtown Orlando on a beautiful breezy night. A facade of newly created architectural genius, or maybe architectural confusion? Is there a central theme that will unite this city in it's attempt to mimic the other cities across our nation? Or will the architecture continue to follow its current path of confusion? I'm not sure exactly what Orlando is trying to become or what direction it has decided to take. The growth and construction is at a frenetic pace, but will they regret these designs 10, 15, or 20 years down the road? Most urban renewal draws from the past, or is a reflection of its inner core, but I get the feeling Orlando architecture has become an experiment or a contest.

The Bank of America building is definitely a shrine to American capitalism, and it makes no attempt to hide it. I found some amusement with the marble slab out front that had "Bank of America" carved into it, only to be defaced by a sticker that read "People before Money" Surprising that someone did not pop out of a Disneyesque type tunnel to immediately remove that left wing liberal smear in this right wing conservative city.

The Jameson lecture was what I needed to explain some of his confusing thoughts. They are only confusing to my brain because I'm not near the same level of his language skills or intellect. I have a new found respect for him when Dr. Rog told us that he wrote this in 1984! His thoughts during this period really reflect many things of today's culture.

"Frantic economic urgency of producing fresh waves of ever more novel seeming goods" How true is this? Last months model is discarded for this months model. I need to have it because everyone else has it. Introduce it to the consumer and market it as the newest, and they will buy it. Why would you have the XBox when the XBox 360 is now available?

We have become a society of replacement. I can point a finger at others, but it eventually comes back to me. I'm guilty.....I use the phrase "Throw away electronics" all the time. Why fix it or keep it when we can buy another one that is better and $cheaper$. Our global economy has made this a reality. I bought a DVD player/Recorder last week for $69. I'm sure it was built in China, probably by some 12 year old kid....but $69? C'mon. NAFTA....I protested against it. I know it will cost American jobs, increase the trade deficit beyond its already astronomical level, but $69 bucks for a fully loaded DVD recorder.....Guilty as charged.