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Official Organ of an American Muslim in Malaysia

James Van Sweden

28 January 2005 No Comment

Gardening With Nature by James van Sweden, the foremost american landscape architect of the day along with his partner Wolfgang Oehme. In the first chapter he describes his main influences then goes on to tell how he got started back in l971 when he asked Oehme to help him landscape the backyard of his old two-story victorian rowhouse in the Georgetown area of Washington DC. “Almost immediately my garden became a showplace. No one had ever seen anything quite like it… the high canopy of the Ailanthus altissima gives the space a tropical quality…” And a few pages later he says “the scent of Magnolia virginiana blossoms perfume the terrace in the cool of the evening while the cicadas sing from my Ailanthus altissima.”

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Agripleasure # -
An article about Three Roods Farm by Garrison Benson.

When Dr. Greg uses the verb "observe" (which is often), he means a willful action, not a passively received effect. Once, for instance, we delivered a cartload of dead leaves to the adolescent chickens, to "stimulate their instincts," and Dr. Greg suggested that we observe them. We sat in silence for ten minutes (that’s a third of a TV show, for most of us) watching the chickens stand still and nervously eye the leaves. "Well," he said eventually, "We can come back later."
Rebel Sell: Why the Culture Can't be Jammed # -
Interesting critique of consumerism, counter-culture and the culture-jamming movement:

So here we have the paradox of anti-consumerism. The major remedy of the consumer society which has been adopted almost without question by the Left and by the radicals more generally has been one of the most powerful forces driving consumer capitalism. The Adbusters sneaker is just the latest and most extraordinary example. This is also why counter-cultural rebellion is not a threat to the system, but rather has become the system.[Update: link fixed]

[Via]

Vaguely related in ways I can't fully articulate to themes in Yursil's ongoing series on Suburban Capitalist Islam.
Brass Crescent Awards # -
Eid Mubarak, Selamat Hari Raya Korban! The 6th Annual Brass Crescent Awards have been announced. Congratulations to all the winners. If you haven't subscribed yet to Islam in China, Muslimah Media Watch and Seekers Guidance, you ought to do it right now. I'm very happy to be mentioned along with Folio, Al-Miskeenah, and the Manrilla, honorable people all. Keep your eyes on TalkIslam and AltMuslim to take part in the contest next time. Thanks to everybody who voted.