Image upload test 2

Well, it seems the image of Hagrid and I in front of the library came out just fine.He was all like "Now don't be doing magic outside of the library Harry!" and I was going "I'm not Harry!" and he was like "Dumbledore will be upset with you if you act the like a wanker!" and then he mumbled something about gringets or something and wandered off. Man, tall people are weird.

Cleveland 2006 SPARX Gallery Hop

Before I post pictures from the library, which I went to and was indeed happy with how the whole thing came out, I will first post some news about a weekend event you might be interested in because there will still be time on the morrow to do something with this information.

SPARX in the city Gallery Tour 2006 .

This is the fourth year that this has been going. Basically a bunch of galleries around and in the city have "happenings" which you can go to, either via your legs (lots of walking), your bike (lots of peddling), your car (you better carpool), public transportation via GCRTA, or the take the special TROLLEY for 5 bucks. Here is a pretty nice map that you can download/print out/memorize and plan your trip out on a lazy Sunday after watching the Browns trounce the Bengals. If you are into that sort of thing. Which I am.

Today I just went to the chalk festival at the Cleveland Museum of Art (oh GOD when are they going to reopen?) and even though it was the first day you could already feel the EXCITEMENT in the air. Also, seeing a bunch of families hanging out while the kids drew was pretty neat-o.



Just a couple of pictures whilst I try to figure out what the heck I am doing.

Breathing earth

I thought this was pretty neat-o.

"This presentation displays the carbon dioxide emission levels of every country in the world, as well as their birth and death rates - all in real-time."

Breathing Earth

It is Flash based page.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. I know. Dru is all about the doom, save the planet, hug a tree, yadda yadda yadda.
Tomorrow is my birthday
and I do what I want.

Steve Litt likes me and he doesn't even know it!

On the 9th of this month (the 9th month!) Mr. Steven Litt, architecture critic for THE Cleveland Plain Dealer wrote a pretty nice article about a project I got to work on. The CHUH library, which I had linked to before is now open to the general public. There was a special invite for library employees and other people related to the project but I wasn't invited anymore since I no longer work for the architecture firm that handled it.

All I can say is that I am really happy for Marc and Jim and hope them the best in capitalizing on this good exposure. I admit I was pretty upset since I spent a LOT of time and EFFORT designing that damn walkway and don't even get to taste the fruits of that labor but hopefully it will push design in the city of Cleveland a little bit further down that modernist road and away from that damn "Western Reserve" crap so many people think is proper. Criminy. (As for full disclosure I also partook in a western reserve style building while employed at Studio Techne that turned out pretty nice).

To be honest I was worried that Mr. Litt would actually hate the walkway but now that I find out he liked it, all I can say is "HOORAY!" and "I will do even better next time!". Anyway, I have that article clipped and saved in my portfolio.

Also, the structural engineer I got to work with, Miklos Peller PE, was wonderful and even though I think I am geeky enough to want to learn all I can about something and some people find that annoying, I think Mik really enjoyed talking to a designer who was that interested in how things really work. He even brought me in some books and articles.

I should also be nice and include the Studio Techne Architects link. I am probably still on the employee list.

ps. I will probably swing by tomorrow to check it out. Look forward to some pictures if I am not to lazy to post them.

You can't blame the Sun for everything?!

Yet another lame excuse for not accepting human contribution to global warming has started to lose even more credibility. A recent report of a study undertaken by scientists in the United States (I didn't know we were allowed to study the environment!), Germany and Switzerland is stating that over the 11-year sunspot cycles the sun's brightness has only varied by .07%.

They looked at records going back to the 1600's and concluded that there was little solar warming or cooling and that sea sediment suggest that there have been no "dramatic shifts" in solar energy output for the past 1000 years.

Basically, the report says that you can't blame the sun for the recent trend in global warming. That leaves us with cosmic rays, UV radiation or even possibly the emission of greenhouse gases though the burning of fossil fuels. Who ever would have thought?

Cite Your Source

Aim for the CEO's cause we got plenty of regular unemployed folk.

In a bold move to attract new business by pandering (can I just come out and say pandering?) to CEOs the Ohio Business Coalition has come up with a new slogan to revitalize our appeal to business by attracting their bosses. In a vein similar too but much worse then the wonderful "Believe in Cleveland" slogan which does a fine job of getting the "at least we are trying, right?" point across the new "Build your business build your life" pretty much comes right out and says it all. We only care about the folks with the cash money.

I get the import of such an ad campaign. Ohio is in desperate need of business to replace our decaying manufacturing base (blame yourself sprawl-marters) but why are we creating a campaign based upon CEO's? Is a major company going to open a branch office here because of a pamphlet of some guy in a suit jumping off of steps with a coffee in one hand, waving a PDA in the other, while young kids watch in awe going to convey that we can offer a style of exciting and wondrous life you really can't get anywhere else?

Is a slick ad campaign going to retain start up companies in the area or will they stay because of the community ties, their friends and family and the solid client base that allowed them to become a start up in the first place?

Shouldn't we concentrate on bringing in business by actually offering something that benefits everyone? Show off our infrastructure (the highways are ALWAYS under construction, they have to be doing SOMETHING out there!) or our schools or our activism or our ingenuity. Heck, show off something!

I don't know. Personally I am just wondering how long the "Be leavin' Cleveland" effect hits this slogan. I will accept any suggestions to the bastardization of this new one.

Winning the Oil Endgame - Video

Amory Lovins, founder and CEO of the Rocky Mountain Institute, a non profit that

"...shows businesses, communities, individuals, and governments how to create more wealth and employment, protect and enhance natural and human capital, increase profit and competitive advantage, and enjoy many other benefits—largely by doing what they do far more efficiently..."

recently spoke at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The topic? How to utilize existing technologies to get people and businesses to change their habits and halt our dependence on oil. By 2040.

The video is an hour and half long but probably worth it if you read this far into the post anyway. So, if you love new ideas, the idea of getting petroleum out of our life, business strategies or Amory Lovins you will love watching Winning the Oil Endgame.

Special thanks to the fine folks at MIT for hosting the vid.

Cleveland to get MORE lakefront property!

That is right, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's 2006 management plan for Lake Erie states that even though an exact prediction is difficult, new climate change models show that the Great Lakes could drop nearly 3 feet overall, losing 15% of their volume.

"Oh HUMBUG!" you yell in my face, "That just means more beaches for me to show off my pasty white skin and ample man-boobs!"

(Sorry, that was uncalled for)

But this IS serious. This would affect not only the city's livelihood in terms of shipping (already container ships are having to lighten their loads, some up to 4,000 tons less then a few years ago, costing up to $12,000 a trip) but what about park marinas, our illustrious and historic river or power plants that use the lake? Heck, this could even affect our supply of potable water!

Oh yes, as my buddy always says, CITE YER SOURCE!

NPR link with MP3

EPA 2006 Lake Erie Management Plan Report: see section 11.

Great Lakes Environmental research Laboratory: Great Lakes Sensitivity to Climatic Forcing.

Great Lakes Environmental research Laboratory: Lake Erie water levels since 1860 (graph).

Anyway, I found this even more humorous after hearing a report about how some school board (I think in Ohio) was going to let kids choose to learn about global warming or not. Not as in a "oh man, I don't want to learn about this science noise!" but as if it wasn't actually happening or still just a theory. You know, like evolution.

Also, An Inconvenient Truth will be released on DVD November 21st. Too late for my birthday but just in time for an early Xmas gift! I don't remember really if I already posted about how amazingly well done that docu-movie was, but it was AMAZING.

It shall be rare

...that I am either inebriated or foolish enough to reiterate upon these pages some sort of internet cartoon or "webcomic", but, simply because I AM inebriated or foolish OR perhaps always actually concerned with "Tom and Jerry" and the legalities involved with such a primitive and basic cartoon I offer such as a following.

Remember kids, you too can go to jail. Perhaps this should be under the "why I never became a teacher" heading.

Gimme 2 for windpower Tuesday

In a twist on ironic happenings meeting non-ironic conclusions the US EPA has become the first (and only) US federal agency to run on green power. Well, sort of, it plans to purchase 100% of it's national usage from green power providers, which is close to almost sort of the same thing. Why is this in a windpower heading? Mostly because there is a pretty picture of wind turbines on the EPA page that this statement was released on. I suppose, to be fair, that some of their power would have to be from wind too. It can't all be hydroelectric. Is nuclear considered green? More importantly, does the EPA consider nuclear energy "green"?

This little "note" made me shudder a bit though.

NOTE: Federal "cap and trade" programs in the United States set a maximum level, or “cap,” for total power plant emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx) in states approximately east of the Mississippi, and sulfur dioxide (SO₂) nationwide. These programs distribute a fixed number, or the capped level, of tradable emission allowances—the right to emit one ton of the pollutant—to electric generating plants. Renewable energy generating plants typically do not receive allowances, though there are some exceptions. Only by receiving and retiring allowances do such facilities reduce capped pollutants.

Nevertheless, the 299 million kWh of green power purchased annually by EPA reduces demand for conventional power generation and increases demand for the generation of renewable energy. If generated by conventional means, the amount of renewable energy purchased by EPA would emit 1,159,498 pounds of NOx and 1,511,453 pounds of SO₂ (these figures derived by applying national average emission factors).

Yikes!

The second part for today is the wonder that is the information age via Amazon.com. Besides being able to purchase books DVD's you can also buy yourself a 12v 400w wind turbine for only $800.00!

You know, I love the internet.

Once I dreamt I was a teacher...

In fact, before I started the long arduous journey or architecture, I was in fact, actually concentrating on education as my primary major. Things were going swell until I started thinking about having to deal with parents. It wouldn't be the kids that would get to me. It would be lazy and lackluster and self righteous parents that would drive me bananas.

My mother, who is an educator, tried to tell me that parents usually aren't that bad and that you can usually understand their point of view rather easily.

I don't always listen to my mother.

During architecture school I had maybe 4 teachers that really stood out in my mind as "good". One who would give direction but argue with you if you followed it strictly, forcing you to understand more of the intent on why she made suggestions rather then giving you an excuse to mimic what you thought she wanted and float through. I loved that. Two were ingenious in the way that they were contrarians to everything I ever said. They were probably right but back then I just wanted to know why I was wrong and we would argue back and forth, quietly, passionately, like gentlemen. One was bold enough to let us go and do what we wanted, then he would stand and argue for us when we were confronted with other faculty. He wanted us to create an idea and run with it, commit to it, for better or worse take it to the end. No random flipping of the structure to make us rethink program, no sudden improvisation in client particulars that would change the focus, just a slight hand on the reins as we researched and developed our dreams. I had him for at least 2 semesters and they were my favorite semesters by far. If anyone had molded me, or allowed me, to become the person I am today, it was him.

Anyway, they always got me thinking about teaching, about how in architecture you can practice and create but also teach design studio, interact with youthful, innovative, foolish ideas and give something back. Perhaps enough to actually make a difference.

Someday, I do plan on teaching. After I finish my license. After I feel I have that important balance of knowledge and passion, then I will be able to pass something on. Until then I sometimes come up with random lesson plans, try to figure out how to incorporate new technologies and ideas into assignments. Much as I will never stop creating design problems and challenges for myself to solve, I hope to never stop creating them for those imaginary classes that I hope to sometimes lead.

This all bubbled to the top today when I read Those Who Can, Teach.1000 words of advice for design teachers. by Allan Chochinov. It made me sad in that I realized that I am still not ready to teach, but proud that at least I was aware of that.

Learn About Treating Cleveland as a Region

For quite some time now, there has been much discussion regarding how Cleveland and it's surrounding communities must stop wasting resources fighting each other for businesses and jobs and funding and combine forces to bring economic livelihood back to the area as a whole. This idea is know as Regionalism and works on the premise that a large group of communities working together and sharing resources can form a stable and powerful entity that can attract businesses and centralize infrastructure lowering overhead costs.

Another idea that sounds so damn logical.

Recently an organization names Voices and Choices launched an online survey called Choicebook ..."that will describe the tough choices facing Northeast Ohio and give you a chance to express your preferences about how we should invest our resources to turn Northeast Ohio's economy around."

It takes about 15 minutes to complete a section and there are 6 sections. However, you can save completed sections and come back later to finish the entire book, you also don't have to complete ALL the sections, just the ones that you want. It is like taking the SAT's when you were already accepted at the college of your choice. Well, no, it isn't like that at all.

I thought it was a great way to learn about what the issues were that other people felt were important.

Cleveland, OH - Public Meeting: Central Viaduct Bridge

A Public Open House is planned for Wednesday September 13th, 2006 from 4 pm to 8 pm.

Public Notice/Flyer: as .pdf.

Get Adobe Acrobat reader

See the four bridge type options here.

I bring this up because the day I learned about this I was riding the train into the city and looking out the window and thinking about all the cool bridges that this city has and how they are becoming sort of an iconic image. I was lucky enough to get to work on a pedestrian bridge in Cleveland Heights at the University Heights main library and I personally feel that if we are going to spend a ton of money to reroute traffic through/around Cleveland by constructing a gigantic new bridge, we might as well do it right and create something wonderful that really shows off our ingenuity and acts as a proper gateway for the city. Heck, even if you are just commuting to your dead end job, you still deserve a smile, right? Besides, the way that ODOT is going to totally screw up downtown by getting rid of the innerbelt exists on Prospect and Carnegie they OWE US SOMETHING NICE!

So get off your duffs and go to the meeting and raise hell. Holler out words such as "grace" and "beauty" and "tax dollars" and "Calatrava", gnash your teeth, wave your arms and get your voice heard. Do what you can to make this city pretty.

(as a side note, when I ran spell check, it suggested I replace ODOT with IDIOT)