Sunday, May 19, 2024

PARA - Parametric Architectural Research Agency (recursive acronym)

Here is the list of 50 words containing "para," with short meanings provided next to each entry:

  1. Paragraph - A distinct section of writing.
  2. Parallel - Two lines or surfaces side by side and having the same distance continuously between them.
  3. Paradox - A statement that seems contradictory but may be true.
  4. Parachute - A device used to slow the descent from an aircraft.
  5. Paralyze - To cause a person or part of the body to become immobile.
  6. Paramedic - A healthcare professional who provides emergency treatment.
  7. Parasite - An organism that lives on or in a host and gets its food from or at the expense of its host.
  8. Paranoia - An irrational and persistent feeling of being persecuted.
  9. Paraphrase - A rewording of something written or spoken by someone else.
  10. Paralegal - A person trained in legal matters who assists lawyers.
  11. Paragon - A model of excellence or perfection.
  12. Paramedical - Related to services and professions that supplement and support medical work.
  13. Paraplegic - A person affected by paralysis of the lower half of the body.
  14. Paracetamol - A medication used to treat pain and fever.
  15. Parasol - A light umbrella used to give shade from the sun.
  16. Paranormal - Beyond the range of normal experience or scientific explanation.
  17. Parapet - A low protective wall along the edge of a roof, bridge, or balcony.
  18. Parachuting - The activity or sport of descending by parachute.
  19. Paraglider - A person who engages in paragliding.
  20. Paragliding - The sport of flying paragliders.
  21. Parathlete - An athlete with a disability who competes in sports.
  22. Parastatal - A government-owned corporation or agency.
  23. Paraffin - A flammable, whitish, translucent, waxy solid used in candles and polishes.
  24. Parachutist - A person who jumps from an aircraft and descends with a parachute.
  25. Paraprofessional - A trained aide who assists a professional person.
  26. Paramilitary - Organized similarly to a military force but not part of the formal armed forces.
  27. Paracord - A lightweight nylon rope originally used in the suspension lines of parachutes.
  28. Paranoiac - Relating to or suffering from paranoia.
  29. Parabola - A symmetrical open plane curve formed by the intersection of a cone with a plane parallel to its side.
  30. Paraclete - A title of the Holy Spirit, meaning advocate or helper.
  31. Paracrine - Referring to hormone action where hormones are released from cells and bind to receptor cells nearby.
  32. Parakeet - A small, slender parrot with a long tail.
  33. Paraleipsis - A rhetorical device of emphasizing a point by seeming to pass over it.
  34. Paralegal - A person trained in legal matters who performs tasks requiring some knowledge of the law.
  35. Paramilitarism - The state or condition of being paramilitary.
  36. Paramilitaries - Groups organized similarly to military forces but not part of the formal armed forces.
  37. Parallelogram - A four-sided plane rectilinear figure with opposite sides parallel.
  38. Paranthropoid - Resembling or relating to a paranthropus, an extinct hominin.
  39. Paratrooper - A soldier trained to parachute into an operation.
  40. Paratroops - Military units consisting of paratroopers.
  41. Parastasis - Another term for metastasis, referring to the spread of disease.
  42. Parterre - A level space in a garden or yard occupied by an ornamental arrangement of flower beds.
  43. Parvis - An enclosed area in front of a cathedral or church, typically surrounded by colonnades.
  44. Parochial - Relating to a parish; having a limited or narrow outlook or scope.
  45. Parodist - A person who writes parodies.
  46. Paronym - A word derived from the same root as another word.
  47. Paronymous - Related to or derived from a word with the same root.
  48. Paronomasia - A play on words; a pun.
  49. Paronomastic - Relating to or characterized by puns.
  50. Parabasis - In ancient Greek drama, a point where the chorus addresses the audience directly.

This list focuses on more commonly understood terms and avoids highly technical jargon.

Questions/directions moving forward:

 Wow. Nearly 10 years since the last blog post.


Questions/directions moving forward:

1. Economics - Understanding architectural economics in Singapore

2. Practice - Understanding position of Architectural practice in Singapore

3. Identity/Branding

3a. PARA - Parametric Architectural Research Agency (recursive acronym)

3b. Various companies - PARA-llel (architectural support), PARA-cles (education), PARA-llax (visualisation, AI?)

4. Technology 

4a. AI - Lora models, Stable Diffusion

4b.

5. Education

- Skillsfuture

- PGD(HE)

- PHD