February 2012
1 post
1 tag
January 2012
2 posts
The easy way out
“Kodak was so confident about their marketing capability and their brand, that they tried to take the easy way out” by choosing “partner or buy its way into new industries” whereas “Fujifilm realised it needed to develop in-house expertise in the new businesses”.
This is an extract from The Economist’s Schumpeter blog, about Kodak’s fall. I struck...
3 tags
The changing urban structure in and around Paris
Paris is one of the most expensive cities in the world, and real estate there has quite consistently gotten more expensive over the last few years. As I have been using the transportation system (subway & trains) since the end of elementary school, I also noticed that it has consistently become worse.
The reasons are multiple, but I believe it has a lot to do with the change in the commuting...
December 2011
2 posts
3 tags
Two things I like
If I had to choose only a few things that I would like to accomplish in life, I’d say: build beautiful living places and run delicious, cosy restaurants with a lovely staff.
The first thing is related to my deep wish to offer people a nice place to live in. It’s not only the house: it’s also the urban organisation around. And, in a way, a lifestyle.
The second one derives from...
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Back in Paris
Paris is always the same, but I have changed. I just came back from 8 months straight in Asia, and for the first time I really felt that culture shock that everyone is talking about. Of course I have experienced a mild culture shock before: first time I came back in France after moving to Tokyo, I was annoyed at hearing people complain again, and the day of my arrival Paris was stuck under piles...
November 2011
1 post
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Hidden pride and self-doubt
My enormous ego and equally huge amount of self-doubt are colliding into colourful fireworks.
I am proud. I was raised to be an independent, self-sustained and ambitious individual. My parents almost never congratulated me for my academic results. I have done most of my life-changing choices myself—although one might say that choosing a field of study and a country to study abroad isn’t...
October 2011
10 posts
A beautiful eulogy. →
Mona Simpson’s eulogy for her brother, Steve Jobs.
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More about the immigration issues in France
Re: France rejects its foreign students
This article [FR], written by an American woman who studied, graduated and lives in France, is one more example of how visa regulations can change someone’s life.
The more I look into the subject, the more I realize that among other developed countries, obtaining or renewing a visa can be a real hassle, and that the situation in France is far from...
Student visa issues in UK too →
OK, well, come to think of it, I don’t see why we’re shocked by the latest events in France, because obviously it’s the same everywhere.
We should be shocked by every anti-immigration measure, then.
On a side note, I’m still thinking over the fact that studying abroad is meant to be a temporary stay for study only, and that the student is generally meant to go back home...
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France rejects its foreign students after having...
This summer and in early September, several steps have been taken by the French ministries of Interior and Labor to “apply rigorously” immigration regulations to limit immigration, and to strengthen the conditions of issuance for student visas (such as increasing the minimum required monthly revenue).
Most articles are in French, I could only find this one by the NYTimes, but...
1 tag
The Danger of Helping Elderly People
In this post, but also many others, we read about reports of people who die because passers-by ignore them.
This particular story is about a 2-year-old girl, who was run over by a van and left unaided on the street for more than 5 minutes. The other story I read was about an old man who was discovered dead, about two hours after he fell down in the street. Both were in China, but I’m sure...
1 tag
Architectural myopia: designing for industry, not... →
This article on Shareable Cities is a bit harsh on architects, but I believe they are right when it comes to architectural school. I do remember that the project that scored the best was an industrial prowess, with a really strange shape and all. Granted, it was great, and it showed an enormous amount of work, but it would have definitely looked a bit strange in the middle of the campus. Even my...
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13 Steve Jobs quotes →
I think my favourite is that one from his Stanford Commencement speech:
“When I was 17, I read a quote that went something like: “If you live each day as if it was your last, someday you’ll most certainly be right.” It made an impression on me, and since then, for the past 33 years, I have looked in the mirror every morning and asked myself: “If today were the last...
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The inefficiency of school administration
This is going to be a rant against my school’s registration process. As a double-degree student, I belong to two institutions, and as such, need to be registered at both. At the University of Tokyo, it’s easy: I filled a lot of paper during my first week, but since then it’s been smooth. At my French school, it’s difficult. Because I need to pay tuition fees every year,...
September 2011
9 posts
11 tags
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UIA 2011 World Congress of Architecture
Today, I left my bed early in the morning to attend a theme session of the 24th World Congress of Architecture organized by l’Union Internationale des Architectes (International Architects Union). Unfortunately, some university obligations prevented me from staying for more talks, but I will surely remember this one.
The subject was “Possibility and Responsibility of an environmental...
4 tags
Engineering.... And being a token minority.
Don’t know if anything I’ll say will actually add to the debate - but I guess this situation is pretty much the usual situation with most girls in engineering or any male-dominated field, who tend to get along better with boys than other girls.
In high school, I had two female best friends, and a group of male friends. My class was mostly made of guys and having to deal with them...
6 tags
Food, obesity and famine issues, and a book review
This news prompted me to write something about food, in our daily lives and in the world. A report from the Red Cross, published Sept. 22, warns that
Obese people now outnumber the hungry globally, but hardship for the undernourished is increasing amid a growing food crisis
The numbers are incredible. 1.5 billion people are obese, and 925 million “only” are undernourished,...
Music
Lately, I’ve been craving for some new music to listen to. I have turned my iTunes library upside down, and looked up the new albums of some of my favorite artists. Although I don’t have the money to buy them all, so I’ll wait a little bit (yeah, I’m one of those who actually BUY their music, even if I’m broke).
I’ve discovered some videos of Corinne Bailey...
theme change
Just changed the theme of the blog. Some technical issues but I guess I’ll just leave it as it is. It fits better with my current mood.
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Can architecture save humanity? →
Great article on Architecture for Humanity, Cameron Sinclair’s and Kate Stohr’s work, in Haiti, Japan, and elsewhere. This is the kind of stuff that makes me want to keep studying, and wish that I can pursue these kinds of goals in my professional life.
August 2011
1 post
4 tags
Life after graduation?
After a busy month of August, doing lots and nothing at the same time, I am trying to finally go back to a daily research and work routine. To start off my week (yes, my week started today, before that I was dying from my sore muscles post-Mt Fuji climbing), I did my usual tour of the Internet and my multiple accounts: Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn.
Right after LinkedIn, I stumbled upon this...
July 2011
3 posts
2 tags
Etre francais? →
Les détails du droit de la nationalité. J’en ai appris pas mal… notamment que je fais partie de ceux qui vont galérer pour prouver leur nationalité. Mais si je ne suis pas française, je ne peux pas non plus ne pas l’être puisque je n’ai pas d’autre nationalité… Oo
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Lessons From March 11 (NHK World) →
This is the footage of our symposium! And OMG, you can hear me TALKING in it. Available for a week starting today.
June 2011
11 posts
5 tags
Seminars on East Japan earthquake & tsunami:...
Phew! Today was the last day of the 3-day symposium on the Tohoku earthquake & tsunami. We had 3 days full of very nice and interesting lectures from various eminent professors from the department of civil engineering, University of Tokyo.
Today, a team from NHK came to film, record, interview participants. I also had been suddenly invited to participate to a panel discussion, in order to...
4 tags
Just a dream idea.
My new crazy idea: I want to organize a lecture about Architecture for Humanity at the University of Tokyo. Still pondering about the possibilities, who to contact, what to do to organize such things in a place that is not my home country. But how I would love to make it happen. So that I can spread the good word about AFH, and to make people design like they give a damn.
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Chinois de France, cont. (in French) →
The only sound article about the demonstrations in Belleville. This kind of event is really difficult to cover, it seems. The organizers admitted they weren’t ready for the web, of for the media (no website, no press release).
7 tags
Another demonstration by the "Chinese people of...
How cool is that name: “Chinois de France”, that is to say the “Chinese people of France”. Again this year, some associations decided to demonstrate, asking for more safety for Chinese/Asian people in Paris. Like last year, it’s all about the fact that they’re easy targets for thieves and other violent assaulters.
Rant: same as last year
Main reasons that are...
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Emma Watson's new day →
Vogue meets Emma Watson. A truly inspiring figure.
5 tags
Symposium on March 11 Japan Earthquake
Some foreign students in my department (Civil Engineering at University of Tokyo) have organised a symposium/seminar on the March 11 Tohoku Earthquake and tsunami.
The event will be entirely held in English. This symposium is made by foreign students, for foreign students, and it seems to be the very first one to be so.
Information on the symposium can be found...
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Hitler and the Chinese Internet Generation →
Article about the popularity of Hitler on the Chinese web. Seems like the young Chinese generation is totally misled here. This is one of the reasons why China urgently needs to reform education and people’s historical culture (I mean, really? Hitler being raised by Chinese? Wanting to support China because he admired them? C’mon guys…)
May 2011
7 posts
“Wikipedia trivia: if you take any article, click on the first link in the...”
– xkcd.com
(Actually, playing around for a shameful number of minutes, it appears to work quite often - 100% success for every article I tried on en.wikipedia.org actually).
2 tags
Identite nationale, again →
Beautiful article, in French, from Slate Afrique. About how being French doesn’t mean being white, and becoming French doesn’t mean forgetting about one’s origins.
Vous allez rester plus de 2 minutes sur cette... →
Great e-shop :D
thomasbertrand:
La boutique en ligne de Hema (Pays-Bas).
5 tags
Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother
This book, by Amy Chua, has been a source of scandal a few months ago (see this article on Time.com, among others). I heard about it indirectly, through Twitter and other social media. And strangely (or not), it tickled the little Chinese in me.
I have just happily finished reading it (it was pretty quick; less than 250 pages and large line space, and a very fluid, easy-to-read style). And I...
April 2011
5 posts
1 tag
“Starting today, no more useless shopping for at least a month.”
– myself, April 25th, 6:58PM
