Simeon Jackson

Why the Olympics were good but bank bailouts were bad

14 August, 2012 – 4:29 pm

When I saw the an edited billboard from the London 2012 Games thanking the Great British taxpayer for the games, I started to question the other side of the equation.

Posted in Economics | Comments (3)

How do humans evaluate?

22 July, 2012 – 1:41 pm

As human beings we do ascribe a value to things, but how do we do that, and why can one person’s valuation of something be so different from another’s?

Posted in Value | Comments (2)

Discussion: Let us look at the first (noun) definition of the word “value” at oxforddictionaries.com: “the regard that something is held to deserve”. Does this definition not imply an action of evaluation by some party or other? In fact, for something to have a value in this sense, then someone would have had to apply […]

Posted in Value | Comments (2)

What should Transition Norwich be?

6 June, 2012 – 11:22 am

Observation: There has been concern from various corners of late as to the condition of Transition Norwich, its support and following, its structure, and its membership. Discussion: Transition Norwich was “unleashed” in October 2008 at a meeting of approximately 400 citizens of Norwich, who formed a core group and working groups to take action forward. […]

Posted in Transition | Comments (24)

The patterns of a low-carbon life

24 May, 2012 – 11:55 pm

First published on Transition Norwich’s Blog “This Low Carbon Life” on 23rd January 2012. This book, A Pattern Language, has been a huge inspiration to me ever since I first saw it. It has helped me to gain perspective and insights into what is wrong with the world, in specific and practical terms, and what good design […]

Posted in A Pattern Language | Comments (1)

I am the very model of a modern general majorer!

3 May, 2012 – 9:09 pm

My sister sent me an email a few days ago, commenting that I hadn’t made my academic achievements clear enough on this website, so I’d like to just point out that: I hold a First Class Honours Master of Engineering degree in Architectural Engineering (International) More information about my degree can be found here, but […]

Posted in Education, University | Comments (0)

Review: Quiet: The Power of Introverts…

23 April, 2012 – 1:16 am

This post was written for This Low Carbon Life. For the past week I have, uncharacteristically, been racing through a book, not able to put it down. That book is “Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking” by Susan Cain, who I first heard of from this TEDTalk, and just […]

Posted in Book Reviews | Comments (2)

Local Economics Survey

23 February, 2012 – 5:37 pm

Posted in Economic Regeneration | Comments (0)

In defence of the church

30 January, 2012 – 11:06 am

I seem to spend at least as much of my time defending the church as I do expressing my own, atheistic understanding of the world. There are two benefit spheres of the church, arts and community. Religious belief, however, is a detrimental effect of the church on society.

Posted in Religion | Comments (8)

So I’m a Transitioner, am I?

3 November, 2011 – 1:04 am

Thanks to Mark, who’s allowed me one of his blog spots this week on the Transition Norwich Blog. It’s about my experience of transition so far.

Posted in Blogging | Comments (0)

Part-Time Occupations?

26 October, 2011 – 8:13 am

Even when they are not on the streets, “99%ers” are still actively involved in the movement, and are not “part-time occupiers”.

Posted in Political | Comments (0)

Secondary Glazing in a Listed Building

7 September, 2011 – 9:54 pm

My family moved into our three-storey Georgian house in the country when I was four, and we all saw it as a great investment, but at the time, energy efficiency wasn’t really a concern. To help, we installed secondary glazing. This is how we did it.

Posted in Blogging | Comments (6)

Thought as Entertainment

28 May, 2011 – 11:52 pm

Embrace the idea that the best entertainment is participatory, and may involve intense thought, creativity, engagement and commitment. Do not deny the mind the opportunity to think and make decisions for itself, rather than consuming (and reinforcing) the opinions and ideas of the international entertainment producers.

Posted in Well-being | Comments (1)

Final Year University Project

11 May, 2011 – 11:58 pm

Those who know me well will know that in the month or two leading up to last week, I was a social recluse as my final year project neared its deadline. I’m proud of the result, and rather than try to explain it in words, here’s what it actually looks like!

Posted in Sketchup Modelling, University | Comments (0)

Pickles’ Plan for Planning

3 June, 2010 – 6:50 pm

Mr Pickles’s plan for scrapping regional planning strategies could improve quality of housing developments.

Posted in Architectural Review | Tagged developments, Enquiry by Design, housing developments, planning, Planning Portal, policy, Prince's Foundation for the Built Environment, regional planning strategy, sustainability, sustainable | Comments (0)

Print nothing that you do not know to be informative, or believe to be entertaining

13 May, 2010 – 6:31 pm

William Morris once said “have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful.” Why should that same not be true of print?

Posted in Information & Publishing | Tagged beautiful, entertaining, Information & Publishing, informative, magazine publishing, useful, William Morris | Comments (0)

Anish Kapoor’s ArcelorMittal Orbit

3 April, 2010 – 6:27 am

Anish Kapoor’s ArcelorMittal Orbit doesn’t look as though it will stand up. Why?

Posted in Architectural Review | Tagged ArcelorMittal Orbit, art, Kapoor, london 2012, Olympic sculpture, unnecessary sculpture | Comments (1)

14/15 Eldon Terrace, Leeds – Update!

1 February, 2010 – 11:28 am

In a previous article on Eldon Terrace, I commented on the state of repair of two terraced units on Woodhouse Lane, Leeds. In this article, I want to give a bit of an update of what’s been happening since then.

Posted in Architectural Review | Tagged Architectural Review, derelict, Eldon Terrace, Leeds, Woodhouse lane | Comments (1)

Nicholas Vanburgh Website

29 January, 2010 – 8:53 pm

If you would like to consider my services as a web designer, please send me an email.

Posted in Graphics and Web Design | Tagged css, design, html, javascript, nicholas vanburgh, web design, website | Comments (0)

Head Row 2009/2010

14 September, 2009 – 10:37 pm

Plan to re-start barbershop group Head Row.

Posted in Head Row | Comments (0)

Return of the Heads?

13 April, 2009 – 4:48 am

I haven’t finally decided yet, but I’m thinking of re-establishing Head Row when I return to Leeds next year. It would be a completely new set of men and I may or may not sing with the group during performances, since when it continues, I won’t be there beyond next year.

Posted in Head Row | Tagged barbershop, Leeds, music, University of Leeds | Comments (0)

Secretary of Jazz and Blues Society

26 March, 2009 – 12:41 am

I have recently been elected as the Secretary of the Jazz and Blues Society at University of Leeds. Quite an achievement considering that those who were voting were in a different country to me and some had never met me. However, I had my introduction announced at the AGM and they obviously thought this evidence […]

Posted in Jazz and Blues Leeds | Tagged jazz & blues, jazz and blues, Leeds, LUU jazz and blues, secretary, society | Comments (3)

Eco-Town have your say… or have your click, at least

2 March, 2009 – 8:23 pm

I recently went back to researching something that I haven’t really looked into in a while. That is the proposed eco-town developments in the UK. There are 14 sites that have been identified as potential locations for new eco-towns and they are currently at the stage of a communities consultation. However, I’m largley disappointed by […]

Posted in Political | Tagged community development, eco-towns, social architecture | Comments (2)

Dublin skyscraper refused planning permission

24 February, 2009 – 8:25 pm

I usually skip over my online subscription to WAN – World Architecture News newsletter when it comes into my inbox each week, but something caught my eye this time, something that I’m always pleased to see in architecture news – “Dublin skyscraper development refused planning permission by local council”. The refused proposal was for Jurys […]

Posted in Architectural Review | Tagged architects, design, dublin architecture, dublin council, dublin skyscraper, glass skyscraper, henning larsen, jurys berkeley court, loses, planning permission, refusal, refused permission | Comments (0)

Portfolio: CAD

20 February, 2009 – 10:37 pm

I have found that my course hasn’t put much of an emphasis on CAD skills during the first couple of years, which is a pity, since its such a commonplace tool in modern Architecture and Engineering. I believe it should be taught from the beginning and I’m glad that The University of Leeds is now […]

Posted in University | Tagged AutoCAD, CAD, Portfolio, renderings, Revit Architecture, skill, skills | Comments (0)

Reflection on Election

11 November, 2008 – 4:22 am

This article is a reflection on the US Presidential Election in 2008, written shortly after. The election is over, and all the newspapers are hailing this historic moment when America elected an African-American as its next president. However, let’s not blow this race issue out of proportion. It’s a great achievement of America to have […]

Posted in Political | Tagged election 2008, Opinion, policy, reflection, US | Comments (2)

14/15 Eldon Terrace, Leeds

27 October, 2008 – 5:00 pm

Ever since I first arrived at Leeds University, these two units on Woodhouse Lane have been derelict and bare. It’s time something was done about it.

Posted in Architectural Review | Tagged derelict, development, Eldon Terrace, Leeds, opposite, Parkinson Building, STA travel, Woodhouse lane | Comments (3)

Architecture of Penn State

17 September, 2008 – 1:34 am

The first thing that struck me about the architecture at Penn State when I first arrived was that any building was really really hard to date from its architectural style!

Posted in Architectural Review | Tagged Broadcasting Place, imitation, late-forties architecture, Leeds, McElwain Hall, Neo-Georgian, Opinion, Penn State architecture, PSU architecture | Comments (0)

A Cappella in the USA

16 September, 2008 – 9:41 pm

A cappella is a lot bigger in the USA than it is in the UK. There are numerous groups at each university and they all compete in the many competitions, as well as performing their own events. It was this competitive nature that meant that I didn’t get into any of the groups that I […]

Posted in A Cappella | Tagged a cappella, a cappella in UK, a cappella in USA, new, singing groups, starting an a cappella group, university | Comments (0)

A Cappella Arrangement of Fat Bottomed Girls

26 June, 2008 – 9:53 pm

The 30th April saw the Annual Showcase 2008 of the Leeds University Union A Cappella Singers. The show also featured Head Row, whose first mp3 is featured on this website. The show was fantastic, and the night was enjoyed by all, especially those of us who had put so much work into it and glad […]

Posted in A Cappella, Music Composition | Tagged a cappella, choir, fat bottomed girls, LUU, LUU A Cappella Singers, LUU A-capella Singers, queen, Singing, vocals, voice | Comments (10)