I believe the Devil is in the details also.

From today’s Los Angeles Times Magazine I bring you some pullquotes from an article about the Pelican Hill Resort in Newport Coast. The whole article is worth reading: Heaven is in the Details

Marie Friedlander, Certified YogaGolf Instructor
“Breathe through your nose,” says Friedlander in smooth, even tones. High atop the course at the Pacific View Tee, three middle-aged male golfers stand barefoot on mats with their arms stretched overhead and palms together. “Become aware of your stance. Stack your spine. Stare at your drishti.” The two-hour session concludes with the men remarking how much more flexible and relaxed they feel. One golfer, who had complained of lower back pain, heads to a canvas tent, where his swing is videotaped. He compares it with a previously taped swing playing on a nearby laptop. He smiles.

I’m not sure how a 5000-year-old Indian religious practice works with the conspicious-consumption ritual sport of the American executive, but I bet both can be done pompously. A brilliant move, though; now they can sell yoga hours to the men and not just the women. —Ed.

As for the attention to detail, it’s as if all the veteran hospitality professionals brought on board sat in one room and asked themselves, What detail would I like to add? What would contribute to the perfect experience? That’s why there are five types of coffee in each villa, a choice of soaps and Villeroy & Boch china; why no guest will ever have to request toothpaste, a razor or shaving gel; and why such touches as orchids in the sitting rooms and expansive patios with chaise lounges and tables contribute to the feeling that you’re staying at a close friend’s vacation home. The details go beyond the guest rooms: Risotto is finished in a 28-inch wheel of Parmesan and served in individual silver dishes; the spa features temperature-controlled beds and a waiting room full of art books; and the lobby is a study in opulent minimalism.

(The print edition has a photo of a chef spooning a saffron-rich risotto into a hollow that has been cut into an entire wheel of parmigiano. If there is a purpose here other than excess for its own sake, I’d love to hear it. —Ed.)

(Also, the phrase “opulent minimalism” deserves an award or a terrible punishment, probably both. —Ed.)

It can be done, so it must be done?

Yes, you can ship your twitter updates daily to Livejournal. But why? What is being accomplished? Tweets are ephemeral by design. If you said “my boyfriend’s bringing me cake” at 1300 and “anyone at UCLA know if Parking Log 3B is full?” at 1500 and “Goddamnit I forgot to buy beets” at 1800, why should everyone know about all of these at once the next day?

Can anyone explain why you’d want to post your list of tweets to your Livejournal?

Delicious LiveJournal Links for 2-7-2009

Tagcloud from insane site

ultra wack job psychoceramic website http://www.think-aboutit.com/ has explanations for everything! just look at their tag cloud below.

scalar time earth energy world weapons mind space tesla waves years american bearden reality russians technology cancer secret nuclear human light body control nazi military america government shuttle transmitters power cells hashish create beams brain bank matter electromagnetic aircraft grid form particle quantum thyssen information aspartame knowledge life research evidence explosion beings death nazis germany bush rabelais scientists watchers satellites soviets angels head radar self underground disease blood base anti giant think creation pulse destroyed hemp cannabis weather program ufos effects systems alien south british free white experience missile german north planet ground money frequency real crowley water physical awareness spirit taken present ocean sufi japan truth intelligence brazil americans higher nature destroy consciousness enoch “the kurdistan hyperspace templars history union magnetic believe alchemical tree earthquake family radio plane earthquakes engineering unknown question transmitter mankind moon president interference western illusion died children dead antarctica race science haarp toxins natural cosmospheres israel dutch religious university universe project ancient thousands universal radiation conscious financial produce love china columbia culture news food society young aware thoughts speed gravity physics levels australia mason missiles frequencies attacks tradition mysterious change language published advanced true media alchemists hand united detected pantagruel discovered occurred medieval press flying exist word electrical data mass worked forces scientific fulcanelli aspects killed realities reference hidden region moving health disaster drug crops diseases oxygen equipment king machine launched alchemy experiment heat experiments department term star infinite start bird stone montauk problem wide shell common current washington globes deep plasma church reason described

Grim Meathook Present

I’ve been to the pharmacy twice in the last two days, once to leave off a prescription and once to pick one up. Both days the line has been at least 15 people long to pick up and about half that to drop off. This is maybe 3 times as long as usual.

The employees said “sorry, our hours are cut.” When I came in today I turned around and walked out because I didn’t have an hour free to wait. Fortunately I didn’t need the prescription right away.

If upper middle class people with good benefits in a resort town in Southern California are now waiting an hour to get their prescriptions, because the drugstore chain has cut hours way down, what’s it like right now in Wal-Mart land? My guess: not so great.

I’ve also noticed discounters like Target carrying less inventory and less variety. If I don’t get to Target before noon on a Saturday the chance of finding the lightbulb I need is halved.

Something went down at the bank in the same shopping center the other day and they have an armed security guard now. That’s new.

It’s not the end of the world, especially here. But if I can notice the quality of everyday life slipping here? It must be getting really special in poorer bits.