The Guardian talks to Rem Koolhaas who is suddenly getting all nostalgic for older housing options... interesting, it sounds very Portlandish. We like our neighborhoods but are also starting to add some interesting architecture like the Aerial Tram. Still it is the interesting residential projects like the Lair Condominiums that are also proving to be very compelling here. We aren't reinventing Brasilia, LA or Manhattan in Portland. New projects by Skylab could further demonstrate how Portland can have the best of both worlds, vibrant non-homogenized neighborhoods and interesting design. Um... and how about Calatrava doing the new pedestrian, bicycle and light rail bridge across the Willamette river?

Koolhaas provides somewhat of an example for Portland, which has to own it's contradictions without resolving them in a tidy way.

On Artnet Ben Davis dives headlong into the question of whether the art market(s) need a new form or forms of critique. I agree the Marxist critique does seem terribly inadequate. Art markets are places where contradictions find consummations. I suspect the high prices of key AbEx artists wont fall much even if there is a correction... they are too historically important, rare and central to understanding America to be effected much. Living artists selling for millions will have a different story.