Andrew Seger

New blog

Sun, 10 Mar 2013 11:27:06 -0700

New blog:

For those interested you can follow my Peace Corps exploits at the new blog.

осень

Sun, 18 Nov 2012 11:22:57 -0800

A few pictures from fall, which seems to have ended abruptly last Tuesday. Ah well, it was nice while it lasted.

Looking towards the 1980’s expansion of the town

Main city park

The bathrooms for the park. Just holes in the ground, in case you’re wondering

The main fountain hasn’t worked in a very long time

A loan goat keeping the grass trim

Outdoor movie theater

Projection room

My classroom. (at Долинська)

Fri, 19 Oct 2012 03:00:40 -0700

My classroom. (at Долинська)

Львів з фото

Sun, 07 Oct 2012 06:51:00 -0700

Here are some photos of L’viv with some brief commentary. My favorite city in Ukraine and one I hope to visit often.

This is the old market hall in the heart of L’viv. It’s medieval core is pretty much intact and was somehow spared the ravages of the 20th century. While the city is ringed by the usual towering blocks of Soviet apartments the core is still very pretty. My favorite of any of the cities I’ve been to in Ukraine, by far.

Surrounding the market square are these three story apartment blocks. The city is slowly being restored and the powers that be are, for the most part, finished here.

Inside these apartment buildings are a mix of restaurants, museums, hostels, coffee shops, and apartments where people still live. For instance here is the courtyard of one apartment building right on the main square:

Unlike cities like Prague where the downtown has been almost totally turned over to tourists L’viv is still a city where Ukrainians live. There are certainly some tourists, and the tourist infrastructure to go with it, but it doesn’t feel like an overwhelming number yet. There is a nice mixture of different church styles as well, befitting the cities long history at a crossroads.

Scattered about are a few soviet blocks, such as this hotel near the center:

Surrounding it are a great many well preserved older buildings which are much more attractive.

Near the center is the Opera House, done up in the Hapsburg Style. One of these days I’ll actually go to a performance.

A quick walk up the greenspace from the Opera is the obligatory statue of Taras Shevschenko, national poet of Ukraine and very famous here.

Every town in Ukraine has a Shevchenko statute but I think the one in L’viv is amongst the best. It’s the author conjuring up different works that seems to rise in a wave behind him. Also surrounding the Opera house are some turn of the century Art Nouveau buildings. In this case an influence from the time when L’viv was ruled from Vienna.

So there are some pictures of L’viv. Over time there will not doubt be many more.

bike under grape vines outside of church #ukraine

Sat, 02 Jun 2012 23:23:26 -0700

bike under grape vines outside of church #ukraine

Fetching water from a well for the first time. #peacecorps

Wed, 25 Apr 2012 07:16:31 -0700

Fetching water from a well for the first time. #peacecorps

Bike rack in my village. #ukraine #peacecorps

Thu, 22 Mar 2012 10:02:31 -0700

Bike rack in my village. #ukraine #peacecorps

Programming Note

Thu, 08 Mar 2012 21:54:24 -0800

This underutilized public tumblr is where I’ll post the public stories and pictures from my Peace Corps life. Since all public blog posts must be approved by Peace Corps before posting I have a separate password protected tumblr for any that want to read about the more unfiltered and unflattering side of being a volunteer. Drop a line if you’d like to read that one as well.

The littlest zoobomber #pdx

Sat, 07 Jan 2012 12:50:58 -0800

The littlest zoobomber #pdx

"A lot of deer get hit by cars west of Crown Point on U.S. 231. There are too many cars to have the..."

Tue, 25 Oct 2011 01:33:41 -0700

“

A lot of deer get hit by cars west of Crown Point on U.S. 231. There are too many cars to have the deer crossing here. The deer crossing sign needs to be moved to a road with less traffic.

- Tim Abbott, Crown Point

Contemplating this letter to the editor may lead to wisdom about U.S. transportation policy

-Michael Andersen, @portlandafoot

”

- http://www.nwitimes.com/news/opinion/mailbag/article_c3a6319b-8e09-5a70-8814-e1c56d754a9b.html

samadamspdxor: Today, Portland, Oregon USA starts making a new...

Sun, 16 Oct 2011 18:34:15 -0700

samadamspdxor:

Today, Portland, Oregon USA starts making a new shopping habit: Bring Your Bag! http://www.bringyourbagpdx.com

single use plastic bag bag+start of home composting. October’s a good month for Portland.

peacecorps: The sign that hung at the original Peace Corps...

Wed, 21 Sep 2011 15:55:48 -0700

peacecorps:

The sign that hung at the original Peace Corps office in Ghana, the first country to host Peace Corps Volunteers.

NYPL Wire–The New York Public Library: NYPL and Coney Island Brewing Company Create George Washington's Beer

Wed, 04 May 2011 12:39:59 -0700

NYPL Wire–The New York Public Library: NYPL and Coney Island Brewing Company Create George Washington's Beer:

nypl:

To toast the 100th birthday of its landmark Stephen A. Schwarzman Building, the Library has partnered with Coney Island Brewing Company in Brooklyn to create George Washington’s personal, handwritten beer recipe (a porter), which is located in our Manuscripts and Archives Division along with…

Photo

Wed, 23 Mar 2011 22:35:19 -0700

"The nerds shall inherit the earth. And they will say, “let there be safe and equitable mode..."

Thu, 30 Dec 2010 22:19:33 -0800

“The nerds shall inherit the earth. And they will say, “let there be safe and equitable mode share.””

- http://bikeportland.org/2010/12/30/transportation-wonks-take-note-two-big-events-tuesday-night-45155#comment-1694525

Americana, circa 1944

Thu, 21 Oct 2010 03:51:19 -0700

Americana, circa 1944

data/presentation

Sat, 25 Sep 2010 23:44:51 -0700

The city of Portland has much information available to the public. @Maxogden seeks to clarify here. Various things are avalaibe: food carts, bike staple racks, &c. By far the most interesting is to scroll down and discover where the city approved 1938 redlined neighborhoods were.

Still seeking a map of 1938 Portland to better understand the geography.

(via Lost Oregon)

Its peculiar brand of excessive architectural ornamentation...

Sat, 28 Aug 2010 00:10:27 -0700

Its peculiar brand of excessive architectural ornamentation grows every time I cycle past it. A modern Baroque tribute/rebuke to the all knowing Robert Moses style of city planning.

***

And it isn’t the hideous (mercifully foliage shrouded) Portlandia Statue.

matthew:

Oh, the Portland Building! It’s been too long.

(via travisekmark weirdfriends oldchum)

A traditional Romanian string band from Palatca. The bass and...

Fri, 09 Apr 2010 16:10:00 -0700

A traditional Romanian string band from Palatca. The bass and violas both use three strings tuned in a different way than usual.Recorded at the 2010 Táncháztalálkozó. Video found here.

"Is there really someone who, searching for a group of wise and sensitive persons to regulate him for..."

Wed, 07 Apr 2010 01:43:45 -0700

“Is there really someone who, searching for a group of wise and sensitive persons to regulate him for his own good, would choose that group of people who constitute the membership of both houses of Congress?”

- Robert Nozick