daily decibel

All-American Road Trip

2007-08-15T17:15:00.000-05:00

Rainbow in the Petrified forest, Arizona.

Petrified wood in the Petrified Forest.

Greg getting ready to dip his own bottle of Maker's Mark.

Plateau in the Grand Canyon.

1000 ft. above the Colorado River, Grand Canyon.

Sitting atop a boulder in Grand Canyon.

Grand Canyon.

Lyle in the Petrified Forest, Arizona.

Salsipuedes, Baja California.

Entering the eye of the storm, Arizona.

Top of the Grand Canyon, Arizona.

Grand Canyon at dusk.

Hiking the Grand Canyon.

Roasted duck in San Fran. Chinatown.
San Fran. Chinatown.

Classic SF view atop a hill.

Lombard St., SF.

Salsipedues Beach, Baja California.

Driftwood in Shortsands Beach, Oregon.

Fallen Tree in Redwood Forest, California.

Trees so old even President Bush can't get them cut down.

A little break during the Highway 101 drive down California.

Cliffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean, California.

Bowl of water in Mount Hood's Gorge.

Lyle jumping from a cliff, Oregon.

Mount Hood waterfalls.

Gourmet meal cooked by Drew during a camping trip. Roast lamb & sweet potatoes.

Fog tumbling in at dusk in Shortsands Beach, Oregon.

Ridge walls at Moab, Utah.

Only place you can find rest in the desert. Stay cool or die.

Naturally formed Delicate Arch at Arch's National Park, Utah.

Resting after a long day of hiking the desert.

Fourth of July fireworks in Utah.

Smelly pigs transported to be made bacon.

We had to speed to make it across the train tracks or we would have waited hours for the train to pass, Wyoming.

Most beautiful sun set I've seen, Wyoming.

Approach to Delicate Arch in Moab, Utah.

Hiking through the desert, Utah.

Camping in the Rocky Mountains, Colorado.

Snow caps in the Rockies, Colorado.

Group photo with the Rocky Mountains.

Playing in the snow in the middle of July, Colorado.

Water rushing down the stream from the snow melting, Colorado.

Straddling a boulder while climbing red rocks in Boulder, Colorado.

A little break after bouldering up rocks, Colorado.

Free style climbing in Boulder.

Hard work all worth it for the view, Colorado.

A little off roading for our trusty vehicle, Colorado.

Tubing down a stream, Colorado.

Approach to the red rocks, Boulder.

Foot of the rocks, Colorado.

Addie exploring her surroundings, Boulder.

Making our way to the top.

Kansas is a long way from nowhere.

Sticking your head out the window is a guaranteed way to lose a pair of sunglasses.

As much wheat to last you the rest of your life and your children's and their's and etc, Kansas.

Abandoned gas station in Kansas.

The way things are transported in middle America.

Classic ballpark, classic game, Chicago.

Cubs against the Rockies.

Cub fan being escorted after charging the field to have a word with the pitcher. The relief pitcher game up 6 runs to make the game 9 - 8. Soriano hit a double in the 10th inning to give the Cubs a win.

Nelson-Atkins Museum designed by Steven Holl; Kansas City, Missouri.

Trucker motel in Kansas City, Kansas with a pool around the back. Make sure to stop here if you want a "Not from around here" stare.

First hike on our trip through part of the Appalachian Trail.

Pavilion designed by Frank Gehry in Millennium Park, Chicago.

Our mascot 'turtle' hanging out by the docks in Chicago.

Turtle eating deep dish pizza in Chicago.

Trying to find Cubs tickets in a local bar.

2007-04-02T14:49:00.000-05:00

More on Vertical Farming. Columbia Professor Dickson Despommier believes that we need to create urban farms to curb global warming and provide food for the increasing population of the future.

New York Magazine

2007-03-28T17:40:00.000-05:00

Walmart admits defeat. After several efforts to open Walmart stores in NYC, Walmart has abandoned its campaign citing “I don’t think it’s worth the effort.”

NYTimes Article

2007-03-23T15:01:00.001-05:00

DON'T CLICK.IT

2007-03-23T13:36:00.000-05:00

In the competitive world of architecture, it seems to become further difficult after you physically cease to exist in this world. Recently, Paul Rudolph's work have been in danger of demolition. Currently, the renowned American modernist has several works under debate for destruction. Like many architects of his time, he has decided to design with inspiration rather than practicality. Many of his roofs leak and some of his designs disorient its users. Although Rudolph's work may seem unruly at times he defined a generation of architecture that is important to America's culture. He identified American modernism and shared it with the rest of the world.

NYTimes Article

2007-03-22T13:51:00.000-05:00

The problem with critical architecture and sustainable architecture is the laws that regulate the morphology of each. Architecture can surely be a form of expression and this is evident in Tom Mayne's work, but when an architect whose expression leads his design tries to design a sustainable building, many issues and shortcomings may arise. The new Morphosis' structure has encountered this problem, Mayne is inexperienced in sustainable architecture, but concerned and required to build with this intent, must realize how creativity and sustainable design reside together.

LATimes Article

2007-03-22T09:56:00.000-05:00

After more than 30 years of civil war, ending in 1998, the Cambodian government destroyed 125,000 weapons across the country. In this time Neil Wilford, a small arms specialist with the European Union, and British artist Sasha Constable, saw an opportunity, and decided to create The Peace Art Project Cambodia (PAPC) in November 2003. The Peace Art Project Cambodia was a sculpture project turning weapons into art as expressions of peace. In Cambodia this is the most beautiful way to get rid of weapons - transform them in furniture.

2007-03-22T09:27:00.000-05:00

Frank Gehry's first building in NYC is winding down to its opening day. The IAC head headquarters reminds us of flowing sails in the middle of the Atlantic. Genhry seems to be holding back in his design of the building, as he had forgotten his deconstructed, curvilinear forms. Although his younger days are over and his designs seem to cater to higher end clients, his spirit of uncertainty and last minute resolutions are prevalent in the building.

NYTimes Article

2007-03-21T13:43:00.000-05:00

The long anticipated Second Avenue subway line has hit more bumps along the road. It has been released that the project will have an increased budget forecast due to the increase of New York City real estate prices. The revised estimate of the project will be around $350 million if completed on schedule. THE MTA must also purchase five Upper East Side buildings to be removed for utilities and station entrances. The first phase of the project will be built from 96th Street to 63rd.

NYTimes Article

2007-03-21T13:40:00.000-05:00

Far East Organization, Singapore’s largest private development company, has commissioned the Office for Metropolitan Architecture for OMA’s first architectural project in Singapore – a 36-story residential high-rise.

The 153 meter tall tower will be located at the intersection of Scotts Road and Cairnhill Road, in close proximity to Orchard Road, Singapore’s famous shopping and lifestyle street.

Dezeen

2007-03-20T12:26:00.000-05:00

In Tejon Valley, developers are playing an enigmatic game of Sim City. There is 270,000 acres, 60 miles north of Los Angeles, that the developers have allocated to create into a thriving community. Population increases have created overbearing pressures on communities near LA, leading to higher real estate prices. LA has tried to mitigate these problems by creating a denser downtown and have re-invited their citizens to inhabit LA. Tejon Valley is another solution, which was and is popular in California; sprawl out and build unclaimed land. A good example of this is Irvine, CA, which has currently become a self sustainable community in which workers enter the neighborhood to work and return to outer ring neighborhoods where they reside. Tejon Valley will take about 20+ years to build and most of the developers involved in the project will not even see the fruition of their work.

NYTimes Article

2007-03-20T12:18:00.000-05:00

In Chicago a notoriously famous housing project, Cabrini Green, is slowly being torn down. The problems of a decade ago are still present and Chicago's Housing Authority is trying to destroy the blemish, which has made it a mockery in the nation. But where will the residents go? They are currently being displaced into other segregated communities in the west and south of Chicago. Will these public housing mistakes ever end or will Chicago forever be known as the city with the worst Housing Authority.

NYTimes Article

2007-03-17T13:07:00.001-05:00

Many nations have no tradition of free speech, and in those contexts, blogging can be extremely dangerous. How can those bloggers protect themselves, and how can we help them?

World Changing

2007-03-16T15:27:00.000-05:00

Only in China do things like this happen. A development company decided to dig around a resident after he refused to leave. The tenant will not leave until the company pays the asking price [$1.3 million]. The development company wants to build a £40 million project including apartments and a mall.

Ananova

Another image of a building owner refusing to move.

HoopChina

2007-03-03T20:04:00.000-05:00

Something I have talking about for a while has come into development. Harnessing energy from elliptical machines is finally being used at California Fitness a gym in hong Kong. The owner has set up elliptical machines so that the energy produced by from the workout would power the lighting within the room. Further developments have been made with energy collecting floors, in which the striking of the heel produces energy to be conserved for later use.

WSJ Article

Can't Find My Glasses

2007-02-24T13:22:00.000-05:00

Lunar New Years Fireworks

2007-02-23T11:33:00.000-05:00

Pictures from the Lunar New Years Fireworks.

Here are a couple of links to video clips of the actual fireworks.

(4.30 minute clip - this is the best one!)

(55 second clip from a balcony - really nice)

And here is a link to a flickr site of my friend Jodi.

Recycling At A Grand Scale

2007-02-11T10:20:00.000-05:00

Formed in 2004, Wind Energy Systems Technology (WEST) is on track to commercialize offshore wind power well ahead of more established and better funded contenders with greener credentials. At $240 million and 150 megawatts of peak output—enough to power 45,000 homes—the project is modest. But the eyes of the alt-energy world are upon it.

In December, though, one of these platforms, stripped and refurbished by a local startup, returned to sea with a new mission. The first of a flotilla to come, it carried wind-monitoring equipment as well as radar for tracking migratory birds. Those that follow will be topped not by drilling rigs but by windmills. The turbines are bound for an 18-square-mile area roughly 10 miles off the coast of Galveston, Texas, where the first offshore wind farm in the US is under construction. That’s right: The flower of sustainable energy is blooming in oil country. Get ready for the Great Texas Wind Rush.

Wired Article

2007-01-30T12:12:00.000-05:00

Radin has something to say...

Matthew and Yukari's Birthday

2007-01-28T13:13:00.000-05:00

2007-01-18T16:55:00.000-05:00

Mr. Kankaanpaa put up a concrete cast middle finger toward his neighbor after he was revoked a building permit for his new house construction. He explained that there had been a previous feud and he was pissed off at Ms. Allen for taking him to court and exasperating his time and funds.

Herald Sun Article

2007-01-18T15:46:00.000-05:00

Mr. Doug Aitken creates tension between the idea of film and video art, by projecting his vignettes on the new Taniguchi MoMa's exterior wall. Some have called this work archivideo. The exhibition is five (5) short pieces interconnected by actors (Donald Sutherland, Chan Marshall, etc.) droning through their everyday mudane lives. The actors represent everyday jobs and work that continues to be repetitve, although at the end they all progress toward similar moments of private reverie. Ultimately, the shorts all collaborate into geometric abstractions that reestablish that fact that the audience is watching video art.

NYTimes Article

MoMa

2007-01-10T22:28:00.000-05:00

Whales & Orgies is an intimate portrayal of Dave Choe, a Los Angeles graffiti artist. The documentary exposes the artist's talent, philosophies, and excitement for graffiti art. Viewed as "destructive" and a "nuisance" by mainstream society, graffiti art and its significance are demonstrated and explained through Dave Choe's perspective from the underground.

iFilm

STUDENT DEBT PETITION

2007-01-03T16:58:00.000-05:00

Average student debt levels have more than doubled in the last decade and more students and their families are finding themselves buried under the burden of debt. The good news is that incoming House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has publicly committed to cutting student loan interest rates in half within the first 100 hours of the new Congress as it convenes in early January.

Tell your representative that you support action to reduce the burden of student debt.

Petition Now

2007-01-03T16:18:00.000-05:00

Greenpoint residents and environmentalists have been saying for decades that there is some truly nasty stuff underground thanks to the huge Greenpoint oil spill. I have examined the intense fumes rising from Newton creek during a boat ride and also noticed oil gurgling from the contaminated creek. Thirty years after the spill was discovered, environmental studies are finding the locals aren't paranoid. Tests forced as part of Riverkeeper's lawsuit to speed a cleanup of the 17 million gallon spill (way more than the Exxon Valdez dumped) have found a toxic stew underground, including benzene, which is a carcinogen, and explosive methane gas. The "product plume" is still spreading underground, but the epicenter of the "potential hazard" is around Bridgewater Street and Norman Avenue (the orange color on the map above). The Department of Environmental Conservation asked for the tests, which were done for ExxonMobil, after Riverkeeper's own tests found vapors.

Bloomberg Article

2007-01-02T16:34:00.000-05:00

The most devastating and embarrassing moment for an architect is when he allows himself to be held accountable by the law. Building unsafe architecture and putting individuals in danger is possibly the greatest ethical mistake an architect can make. This brings upon an interesting question, if an architect builds a structure that is not structurally sound and collapses, killing many people, does this call for the death sentence? Certain negligence and illegitimate construction is plausible for legal action and I believe architects should be sentenced to prison time for building structures they know are not safe.

Hidetsugu Aneha was accountable for this mistake as he faces 5 years in prison.

Reuters Article

2007-01-02T15:46:00.000-05:00

While most people were out getting drunk and kicking trash cans over, some housing advocates in Paris slept in tents near Canal St. Martin. In December 2005, Doctors of the World began distributing nylon pup tents to the homeless individuals of Paris, and recently the movement has caught popularity in cities such as Toulouse and Lyon. Paris has roughly the same amount of homeless individuals as Los Angeles [86,000]. President Chirac has commented on the demonstration and has even proposed to fix the problems, but many activists are skeptical of his promises. When media attention is diverted, police forces come and break up the encampments. Hopefully, through the non-violent demonstrations Paris can set an example for housing the poor.

NYTimes Article

2007-01-02T12:47:00.000-05:00

Happy New Years! I have pictures from the New Years weekend, which includes a bucalo, some west african music and no taking pictures in the deli.

Back in LI

One day out of the year I make amends with the parents and go to church, probably the worse day of the year

Happy Birthday Radin

Me and Bucalo

I believe this was the warning shot

And this one got us kicked out of the deli

An amazing pinot noir from Oregon, which I picked up when I visited Drew

Getting lost and ending up at Zebulon

Very nice strings

Band leader

2006-12-29T16:50:00.000-05:00

Life in Iraq seems to be getting worse and worse. Violence is rampant and housing is at shortfall. Since the invasion of Iraq by the US government land lords have been raising their rents due to restrictions lifted under Saddam's rule and have left tenants homeless looking for alternate housing. This has led to shantytown's similar to favellas in Brazil. Others have taken refuge in bombed and abandoned airbases.

NYTimes Article

2006-12-29T15:00:00.000-05:00

To some Frank Gehry is considered the American Architect of our generation because of his popularity and commissions, but as most people in their profession recognize, popularity does not deem one a virtuoso or a genius. On the contrary, popularity creates a personality that can manipulate and mold an identity which creates an individual the populace can marvel at. With this in mind, Frank Gehry further reiterates his lack of architectural theory and solely defends his design through childish model making.

His interview describes his ability to work through people and create architecture through images and dreams. I ask where and when does he consider the program and the public necessity of these projects.

In some ways this interview, is a dark conversation with Frank as they discuss the effects of age on an architect and the problems Frank faces because of his ineptness with technology. These concerns and his consideration for his employees are slightly heartwarming, but do not justify his greatness in the field of architecture.

Consider this, Frank Gehry the amazing architect of our generation that creates engineering marvels, but does not know how to use computers and does not know much about structural integrity.

To give Frank some credit, Frank was an amazing architect when he worked in smaller scales. His deconstruction and questioning of materials have propelled him to his current status, but they fail at many levels when built in the scale that he does today. To me, Frank's talent has been constantly diminishing since the construction of his house and the experimental constructs he developed through it.

WSJ Opinion

2006-12-29T14:42:00.000-05:00

The High Line project is reminiscent of a certain gentrification that happened pre-1980s, the development of SoHo. New projects have swarmed Chelsea and developers are locked in to cash out. Through all this turmoil planners, architects and city agencies have worked to keep the High Line a public entity and have helped to divert privatization of the elevated park.

NYTimes Article

2006-12-28T13:35:00.000-05:00

Los Angeles has started a nascent trend toward re-urbanizing their city, due to the irremediable traffic and commute. This has driven the younger population to live closer to their occupations and has therefore increased the density of LA. In response to this new trend, the city of LA has recognized the need for innovative, contemporary architecture. Architects Frank Gehry and Thom Mayne [2005 Pritzker Award] have rejuvenated west coast architecture and are redefining the city of LA.

NYTimes Article

2006-12-28T13:33:00.000-05:00

Radin has commented on the noticeable differences between my comments and the clips from the articles, so I will write more of my opinions.

2006-12-24T10:33:00.000-05:00

An influx from California helped make Arizona the fastest-growing state, displacing Nevada for the first time in nearly two decades, according to census figures released yesterday.

Refugees fleeing Hurricane Katrina cost Louisiana 5 percent of its population, swelling the count in Texas and Georgia. As a result, Louisiana is likely to lose one of its seven seats in the House of Representatives, according to a study by Election Data Services, a Washington consulting firm.

NYTimes Article

2006-12-24T10:21:00.001-05:00

MADRID (Reuters) - A renowned Spanish surgeon has been rushed to Cuba to treat ailing leader Fidel Castro, a Spanish newspaper reported on Sunday.

Jose Luis Garcia Sabrido, an intestinal specialist, traveled to the Caribbean island on Thursday aboard an aircraft chartered by the Cuban government, according to Spain's left-leaning El Periodico de Catalunya newspaper.

The plane carried medical equipment not available in Cuba in case the leader needs further surgery due to his progressively failing health, the newspaper reported.

Garcia Sabrido will carry out tests on Castro to see if he needs another operation after undergoing emergency surgery for intestinal bleeding in July, the newspaper said.

Officials at the Madrid hospital where Garcia Sabrido works declined to comment on the report. Cuban embassy officials were not immediately available for comment.

Cuban officials say Castro is not dying and will return to public life. His absence from the public eye has fanned speculation he is too ill to govern the country he has run since toppling dictator Fulgencio Batista in a 1959 revolution.

© Reuters 2006. All Rights Reserved.

2006-12-24T10:17:00.000-05:00

Two of the nation's largest timber companies, Weyerhaeuser and Plum Creek Timber, have polished their public images for years by participating in a program that certifies that their logging is environmentally friendly.

But in separate challenges this month from the far corners of the United States, environmental groups in Washington state and in Maine are accusing Weyerhaeuser Co. and Plum Creek Timber Co. of using the forest industry's green-labeling program as a cover while they log in ways that harm endangered spotted owls in Washington and violate forestry laws in Maine.

Washington Post Article

2006-12-23T15:31:00.000-05:00

On Archis an individual proposed a project called "bullet lights." It is to create empathy and realization of the devastation in Beirut.

"All across Beirut you can find walls covered with bullets holes. Reminders of past violence, conflict and war. Moving through the city they are an all too familiar backdrop for any urban scene. This proposal that I called ‘bullet lights’ is reversing the meaning and experience of the ‘bullet hole wallpaper’ at diverse locations in the city. Introducing unexpected poetic moments of beauty. Beauty, ambivalently mixed with the physical testimonies of violence. The project doesn’t want to make a point it just invites people to look at things differently. Seeing things from more than one perspective is the starting point for empathy."

Unbuilt

2006-12-23T15:29:00.001-05:00

2006-12-23T13:30:00.000-05:00

A state oversight board voted on Wednesday to approve the Atlantic Yards project near Downtown Brooklyn, knocking down the last regulatory hurdle for the biggest real estate project in Brooklyn history.

The vote by the Public Authorities Control Board capped three years of bitter battles between opponents and supporters of the $4 billion project. The version approved today — 8 million square feet over 22 acres along Atlantic Avenue — includes a huge residential housing complex with about 6,400 market-rate and subsidized apartments, a basketball arena for the New Jersey Nets, and a smattering of office space, with the design punctuated by elaborately designed towers that dwarf nearby residential neighborhoods.

NYTimes Article

2006-12-23T12:58:00.000-05:00

OMA wins bid for Stock Exchange building in Shenzhen. The 250m-high building will be OMA’s second biggest project in China after the vast CCTV building in Beijing, which is under construction.

I don't completely understand Rem and OMA's design philosophy for the project, as it is in the initial stages of development, but I found the building unfamiliar with OMA's vernacular. It is a disappointment when a firm such as OMA, that is culturally and politically aware, creates a phallic building that is the capacity of SOM.

Dezeen

2006-12-23T12:41:00.000-05:00

Great article about Francois Jousse an engineer that lights 300 monuments of Paris. The article discusses the nuances between Lyon and Paris school of lighting. Lyon has a pointillist approach hat uses small spotlights to highlight the details of its Baroque architecture for dramatic effect. The Paris thought, by contrast, takes a holistic approach that bathes the structures in warm, even light.

NYTimes Arcticle

2006-12-22T23:17:00.000-05:00

Thursday I had the opportunity to go to the Big Apple Circus. I explained to some people that I never went to the Circus or the Zoo as a kid and I went to the aquarium once with the school, they told me I was deprived as a child. The circus must be a better experience when you younger, because I didn't find it very interesting. I noticed that there were several groups with mentally challenged people, I suppose these organizations believe they like circuses and clowns. For the show I wanted to reenact a childhood dream and bought myself a box of popcorn and soda, the popcorn was stale and it sucked.

They don't do anything small at the Big Apple Circus

Cowboy climbing up a pair of rope

Trapeze with harnesses

Frenchmen riding a small bike through a ring of fire

Chinese arcobatics

Finale

2006-12-20T19:01:00.000-05:00

Under the new regulations, all private construction of at least 50,000 square feet must meet the minimum criteria of the United States Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design standards for new projects.

While other governments have adopted the association’s standards for private construction, Boston is believed to be the first city to revise its building code to adhere to them.

NYTimes Article

Another One Lost

2006-12-16T10:29:00.000-05:00

Last night, Lake Trout recorded live at the Mercury Lounge. They performed two sets, one rock and one ambient. They rocked out like only Lake Trout can, and as always I don't remember the set list. I will tell you this, I am still recovering from last night, from all the head banging and thrashing about. At one point I think I scared off a skinny Japanese girl, whose friend had been trying to bring into the middle of the crowd all night long. Obviously as soon as this happened she was overwhelmed by the energy that is Lake Trout. Oh and there was no smoke machine this time.

Woody setting up

Beginning of the set

James playing the caveman bassline

Another one lost

Lyle and I agreed that Michael does not drink beer or party, he just practices drums all the time with one hand

Crowd enjoying the show; Radin's hiding somewhere

Apparently there was also some video recording of the event

A little disheveled from the performance

Radin/Steve; Greg do you not like pictures?

Me/Steve; Steve likes pictures

Ambient set

2006-12-14T01:35:00.000-05:00

My friend Amy's husband's band, Chavez, will be performing this Saturday at the Warsaw located on 261 Driggs Ave. Come check them out the cover is $15 and the doors open at 8PM.

Chavez was an indie rock band active in the New York club scene in the mid to late '90s. Formed in 1993 from the ashes of Wider, the band owed much to the sonic approach of math rock pioneers Slint and the post-punk outfit Mission of Burma, utilizing angular, asymmetrical riffs, dramatic dynamic shifts and a brutal sonic attack.

Guitarist Matt Sweeney went on to join Smashing Pumpkins frontman/guitarist Billy Corgan and Slint guitarist David Pajo in forming Zwan in 2001. Most recently, Sweeney teamed up with Will Oldham (under the moniker Bonnie 'Prince' Billy) for the 2005 album Superwolf, as well producing and playing on Early Man's debut record for Matador, Closing In. Clay Tarver has kept himself busy directing various television commercials as well as writing the script for the movie Joy Ride.

Check out their music here.

2006-12-14T00:56:00.000-05:00

I worked on this chair design for my architecture portfolio. This chair is going to get me into a master's program, I think. The idea was to create a transportable, sustainable, disposable and recyclable chair. Cardboard seemed to be the best material to tackle these tasks. Click on the images to have a better view.

This is the contents page of my portfolio.

2006-12-13T14:29:00.000-05:00

Greg has informed me that there will be meteor showers tonight. Scientists have stated that tonight will be the best day of the year to watch meteors and the beautiful trails they create. Meteor watching is a patient sport and requires a decent amount of attention. If you do not have these abilities, please conduct yourself with caution, you may injure yourself.

Clarion Ledger Article

2006-12-11T12:29:00.000-05:00

At 7pm in the back room at Teddy's Bar & Grill (corner North 8th and Berry in Williamsburg), Transportation Alternatives is showing their film, "Contested Streets." It's about how other cities are dealing with traffic and re-making their streets and public places into spaces that better serve the needs of their citizens.

Also, this is the first night of Teddy's toy drive. PLEASE bring an unwrapped toy, which will be given to local children of formerly-homeless families.

2006-12-09T11:19:00.000-05:00

After the exhibition I went to Admerasia's holiday party. Lets hope that everyone forgets what happened last night by Monday.

Why is there always limbo at Asian parties? Thank god there was no karaoke

Sally's wife Michael

Michael; Sally

All the girls love Michael

Designated dancers

Sally hiding

Now $#%& is hiding [sorry I forgot your name again]

...

Evening makeout sess

Fucking rockstars

I don't like that, thank you very much

$#%& and me

Even Suzie is dancing

The only picture of me and Michael the whole night, and thats how it turned out. I guess the camera couldn't handle the combination

2006-12-09T11:01:00.000-05:00

Friday, Radin and I went to check out the blockbuster at the Guggeneheim; Spanish Painting from El Greco to Picasso: Time, Truth, and History. It displayed great masters from the 16th century to the modernists of the 20th century. The reason I call it a blockbuster is because of the line-up, which include Velasquez, El Greco, Picasso, Miro, Goya, Ribera, and many more.

During the exhibition Greg and I pontificated on the reason why the Spanish masters would draw still lifes. Greg with his expert knowledge of art, reasoned that maybe they just wanted to paint vases and dying produce, contrary to the contrived explanation of immortality and profound fascination of death.

Anyways, the best way to the do the exhibition is top down, because everything at the bottom is not really worth seeing, and the cubist items are all crap, especially some of the Picassos. The real reason to see the exhibition is to see some of the rare Spanish master's at work, although some of the paintings are second rate. Although, the overall theme was nonsense and there were not many correlations between the traditional painters to the modernists it is worth seeing the exhibition.

Picasso's interpretation of Zubaran's study of skulls

Miro and his exquisite detail to forms and line

For some reason I took a lot of pictures of Picasso, I guess I really am a modernist, although I really do feel that the 16th century work was the pinnacle of the exhibition.

2006-12-09T10:49:00.000-05:00

This Thursday the Nikhil Yerawadekar Quintet played at Rose, and he put on a Nikhil type performance.

Nikhil pose

In action

Piano_man

I think Nikhil is giving some encouragement to the band

My perspective

2006-12-08T15:20:00.001-05:00

The Boston ICA is finally opening on December 10. I have always appreciated the work of Diller/Scofidio and am glad that they finally have an identifiable and permanent piece built.

Designed by Diller Scofidio & Renfro of New York, its taut glass-and-steel forms at the edge of Boston Harbor are a startling expression of public-spiritedness. Conceived as an extension of a 43-mile boardwalk along the water, its ability to interweave art and civic life makes it the most important building to rise here in a generation. It is also a milestone for Elizabeth Diller and Richard Scofidio, a duo who have dwelled largely on the fringes of the architecture profession since they opened their practice in the 1970s.

NYTimes Article

2006-12-08T14:48:00.000-05:00

Portland's Chinatown is combining traffic engineering, urban planning and behavioral psychology, to inspire a new design trend known as "psychological traffic calming," or "shared space." Upending conventional wisdom, advocates of this approach argue that removing road signs, sidewalks, and traffic lights actually slows cars and is safer for pedestrians. Without any clear right-of-way, so the logic goes, motorists are forced to slow down to safer speeds, make eye contact with pedestrians, cyclists and other drivers, and decide among themselves when it is safe to proceed.

Seed Magazine Article

2006-12-06T16:27:00.000-05:00

This Thursday my friend Nikhil and his band, Nikhil P. Yerawadekar Quintet, will perform at Rose in Williamsburg. For those who don't know, Rose is a hip place (one of the few in that part of town) with a nice deck out back, an excellent alcohol selection and a reputation for booking good music. He will be gracing the stage at 9pm for a $5 cover.

Rose is located at 345 Grand Street between Havemeyer and Marcy.

He guarantees a good time and execllent music.

2006-12-06T16:14:00.000-05:00

A couple of days ago, a person I knew, Eric Ng was hit by a drunk driver and killed on the West Side Highway bike path. Apparently, a drunken asshole, coming out of Chelsea Piers, drove his BMW onto the bike path for several miles and didn't stop until taking a human life. Details are in the NYTimes article. This has not been the first time a person has been killed on the bike path. It seems preposterous that anyone should be hit by a car on a bike path, which would be the safest place to ride your bike in NYC. There will be a memorial bike ride this Saturday, starting at Washington Square Park to the West Side Highway, please join if you know Eric, or want to create awareness for safer streets in NYC.

2006-12-06T16:07:00.000-05:00

We should all learn transportation alternatives from Calvin.

Substance Induced Weekend

2006-12-06T15:10:00.000-05:00

This past weekend was one of the best weekends I had this year. I don't remember having this much fun, it was mostly celebration and friends.

FRIDAY
Radin, Lyle and I went to give tribute to Fela Kuti, an amazing african musician, at Northsix. Although we were not able to go to the show that most of the afro-beat fans attended, the musicians at N6 gave an amazing performance.

Afro-beat musicians

Percussion section

Lyle and Radin enjoying themselves as usual

SATURDAY
The day after was Jared and Alyona's birthday. Lyle, Steve, Greg and I went to Black Betty's to buy some drinks for Jared and celebrate his existence.

Jared doing his rap thing; Radin

Jared and Lyle

After Jared left, Lyle and I decided to go to Galapagos and see Alyona. We were fairly inebriated at this point, but we were ready to party. Alyona greeted us and the night never ended. The night took a turn for the worse when Alyona got sick and had to be taken cared of. She seems to be ok now, but we were worried about her.

I think this is how Lyle felt that night

Gangi rocking to the music

This is the second time I met Annette, she seems to be enjoying herself

High Line Update

2006-12-06T15:02:00.000-05:00

The portion of the High Line above 30th Street, which has largest open space will now be designed.

Without a plan, direction, or powerful sponsor (or Olympic bid, for that matter) to interfere, the Rail Yards seems ripe for another fresh-faced entrant, and FHL appears to be eager to garner political and popular support for this important piece of (potential) public space.

Friends of the High Line will be holding a public gathering, where they will present possibilities for this portion of the High Line, as well as gather comments from the public. Oh, and serve their famous High Line cookies and cider. Chelsea Market Community Space, 75 Ninth Avenue, 6.30pm Thursday December 7. RSVP required, contact community@thehighline.org or 212.206.9922.

2006-11-16T00:36:00.000-05:00

Its quite amusing when you wonder where inspiration comes from. You believe they are the things to your proximity, but sometimes they can come from far a way. Talking to a friend of mine, Ian, probably made me start this site, and it helped him to progress in his work. My friend Greg and I also had a discussion and he suggested that I create a blog as well, it was his response to my constant sending of emails. Possibly a good excuse to start writing to the public and try to adhere an audience. Ian says maybe this will help me sort my ideas out.

Create an audience that you are not aware of to gain criticism, which is ultimately internal to determine the course of your work.