"These people don't think of themselves as terrorists."

Following my entry about blowing state symbols, I've been wondering:

[A] If a country's people really hated a state building, feel that the building has no value to them whatsoever, blew the building up--in the process not hurting anyone--despite their representational government's disagreement, is that terrorism?

&

[B] If a country's government really hated a state building, feel that the building has no value to them whatsoever, ripe the building apart--in the process no hurting anyone--despite their constituents' disagreement, is that terrorism?


(Taken from Kontraband.)

"Mum seems cares more about brick and mortar than she does about people."

In this episode of Brothers & Sisters, the Walker family has to grapple with the fact that they have to liquidate their company, including sell the family office and warehouse building, in order to recover enough money to help their laid-off employees tide over.

In the early part of the show, mother Nora Walker learns that the prospective buyer is a carpark complex developer who intends to bulldoze the office building over to erect a complex to accommodate the many residential lofts that were growing in the area. Nora has a row with her daughter, Co-President of the family business:

SARAH WALKER
You told him to go away?

NORA WALKER
Yes, I sent him away, Sarah. How can you even consider selling the place to someone who just wants to tear it down?

SARAH WALKER
Because he made the best offer.

NORA WALKER
But Sarah, this building is the only thing left to show that we ever here, that the company even existed. How can you sell it to someone who just wants to scrape it off the face of the earth?



SARAH WALKER
You think I want to?

NORA WALKER
Did you even try to find someone else?

SARAH WALKER
Of course, I did, Mum, we're damned lucky we found this guy.

NORA WALKER
There has to be someone.

SARAH WALKER
It's a building, for god's sake. While it might hold some sentimental value for us, I can't let that keep us from making the right deal.

Failing to convince Sarah, and looks to finding potential buyers. Nora considers selling the building back to the originating architect, who has since then become a famous builder:

NORA WALKER
I was thinking, our building was one of the first buildings...

ROGER GRANT
The very first.

NORA WALKER
The first? That's perfect. I think you should buy the building, then you can keep it safe and protected from any horrible person who wants to tear it down.

ROGER GRANT
Are you kidding? I'll pay someone to do that.

Nora, I'm glad the building has been there for your wonderful business for many years. But it's never going to make the Roger Grant architectural tour, I mean it's just a pastiche of all the other buildings downtown. I was copying other buildings back then. The truth is, I'm more interested in where I've gotten to.



NORA WALKER
Yes, I see, you are now into newer, younger, more modern designs. Sleek and smooth. Yes, yes, perfectly clear.

ROGER GRANT
I have no idea you take my dating a younger woman so seriously.

NORA WALKER
I don't give a rat's ass about your girlfriend. It's the disdain you have for your own history that bothers me. You just want to plaster over all your imperfections of your career, as if you can botox your whole past away.

Look, I don't love my wrinkles and I'm certainly not fond of my neck. But I'm not ashamed of them, it's a record of the life I've lived. Our building is humble and simple, and I love it. And I'm just so sorry for you that you don't.

("Lights Out," Brothers & Sisters, Season 4, Episode 23, 9 May 2010.)

"You really think that blowing up Parliament is going to make this country a better place?"

"V for Vendetta" (2005).

V
People should not be afraid of their governments. Governments should be afraid of their people.

EVEY HAMMOND
And you're going to make that happen by blowing up a building?

V
A building is a symbol, as is the act of destroying it. Symbols are given power by people. A symbol, in and of itself is powerless, but with enough people behind it, blowing up a building can change the world.

FINCH
Why are you doing this?

EVEY HAMMOND
Because he was right.


FINCH
About what?

EVEY HAMMOND
That the world needs more than just a building right now. It needs hope.

Tampines residents say, "Our homes are more important than yours!"

(Something from a while back, which I'd been meaning to post:)

Tampines residents unhappy over planned rental flats
By Satish Cheney, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 09 February 2010 2337 hrs

SINGAPORE: MP Sin Boon Ann has assured some Tampines residents, who were unhappy that HDB rental flats will be built right in front of their block, that the quality of their estate will not be hurt nor the peace be disturbed.

The MP for Tampines GRC will work with the HDB and residents to debunk the perception that rental flats are old, dirty and bad for image of the estate.

A block of rental flats will soon be built in front of Blk 885, Tampines St 83.

Bernard Fernando, a resident living in one of the units in that block, met HDB officials and MP Sin recently to express his unhappiness over the development.

"They shouldn't build a towering block of 14 stories right beside our 12-storey block. It doesn't really make sense. It will cut off the light and cut off the ventilation. If there is a need to build, we don't object to it, but build a lower block," said Mr Fernando.

Other residents are equally upset. "Most of the rental flats, normally, problem families will stay (there). Once got problem, anything will happen," said a resident.

"You will lose everything. You block the air, the wind and everything," said another.

Mr Sin said it is important to have the rental flats near amenities, and that the government has the final say over where the rental flats are sited. He said efforts will be taken to make things smooth for residents.

He said: "We'll be working very closely with the contractors, HDB and town councils. We'll be forming a committee, which also will comprise residents, to (find ways to) mitigate the effects of the noise pollution (during the construction of the flats).

"The new flats will be of the new-generation type, which will blend very nicely within the community itself, such that I don't think one can visibly pick out these flats as rental flats."

Some residents are concerned that the value of their homes will go down once the rental flats are up. However, property agents said this is highly unlikely.

Eugene Lim, associate director of ERA Asia Pacific, said: "For example, in Bukit Merah, you see resale flats that are next to rental flats still fetching very high resale prices."

Some observers said public housing may be one issue debated at the next General Election.

- CNA/ir

Quick recipe to create Upset Residents at Block 885, Tampines Street 83: season with stereotypes, massage with pinch of exaggeration, stir in handful of shaming, poach in boiling broth of judgementalism, remove sympathy while hot, and reduce empathy over flames of hell. Additional stereotyping for distaste.

You annoying people at Block 885, I hope your holiday season stinks of uncrisp love letters! UNCRISP, STALE, TASTELESS LOVE LETTERS!!!!

You know what would make a really awful neighbourhood? A few blocks of all of you, most judgemental assholes.

Gary Chang's "Domestic Transformer".

Renowned Hong Kong architect, Gary Chang's "Domestic Transformer" is a 32 square-metre apartment that has movable walls decked with functional features to match a specific home programme. One wall reveals the kitchen, another reveals the bed, etc.


(Taken from AFP.)
It's a really cool concept, except that obviously this tight spaces requires a certain discipline of function. It will not be possible to, after some prep work in the kitchen, have a quick rest on the bed. There're all sorts of permutations of concurrent needs that make a home much more habitable than we are aware of.

Still, this is a very cool house.