Good Riddance 2010

Is anyone happy that this year has finally come to an end? I sure am. Pick your poison 2010 had it all.
Besides two exceptional bashes in the family (though I have come to boastingly believe that my family is an exception when it comes to almost anything) 2010 was one of the less rewarding experiences for me. There is not much I'll cherish nor much of a source for nostalgia.

The holiday monsoon-turned-blizzard which stranded many while doing equal damage across the country last week was a fitting end. Although it wouldn't even raise an eyebrow when you look at the year as a whole. 2010 hosted some of the worst natural disasters.
Earthquakes in Haiti and Chile, Floods in Pakistan, The BP Oil spill (human error gets a bogey on that one) and many others. I sure hope 2011 goes a bit easier on us.

Politically 2010 wasn't smooth sailing either. Things can't be good when Jon Stewart (who is coming to be the most reliant news source) is forced to hold a 'Rally to Restore Sanity.' The media likes to think that as a country we are completely polarized (because its good for ratings.) Obama's liberal base began to lose hope. And on the other side the most popular character is a grizzly wrestlin' woman who everyday sounds more and more like Stephen Colbert with the one difference being critical; she's serious he isn't.
Say what you want about the lame duck session, but I bet most American's would choose to describe their government in 2010 as "extremely frustrating."

All I want is a high speed rail line on the east coast that doesn't cost 150$ each way. So I don't have to sit on a smelly bus in traffic on the ugly ass New Jersey Turnpike while going from Penn Station to Union Station. Is that really hard people? Come on.



Also for 2011 I'd like for everyone to get along better and really try to think and more importantly put into action ways to make the world a better place.

I plan on finishing my Masters Degree in Architecture so some think that's good for the world. But if there's anything Ive learned, its that the hypothetical can only be valued as a possibility and holds no water when compared to the gratification and understanding accrued from physically making or doing something.

I plan to drink and get merry and wash away 2010 on NYE with some good friends. I'm looking forward to it, and more so 2011. I hope everyone has a great and safe holiday. See you in 2011, lets do it.

KIIPIS!

I'm really happy for all my friends who just finished up their degree project thesis this past weekend. I wish I was there to celebrate with them, we've been through a lot together and have traveled great distances.

I was supposed to be on the same schedule and time-line but due to my self disciplined TO from school, I'll have to wait till Spring to join them in there rank as Master.
I wish them all luck in their diversity of paths, and look forward to keeping in touch.

Enjoy some Partner photo's from their future firms.

Don't VOTE! (For him)

As opposed to my previously patriotic contribution this one's less rosy. Although I have to say that my supposed beverage of choice 'Hater'-ade (as noted by some friends) doesn't come unwarranted. Its usually brewed from a high-dose of frustration that's pretty common.

This Saturday all college footballs big personalities and previous winners of the sports ultimate prize will crown a new Heisman Trophy winner here in New York. This season has some incredible student athletes vying for the individual achievement, and some not so incredible.



In case you haven't heard anything about the front runner, either on or off the field, here is a little bit about Cam Newton, or as my brother has coined more appropriately Scam Newton:

"Newton again violated the university's honor code by putting his name on another student's paper and turning it in. Newton was caught after the instructor asked the real author of the paper why he had not turned in his work. Newton turned in a second paper to the instructor, but that paper was later found to have been purchased off the Internet."

0 for 2 buddy. But before the University of Florida had the chance to academically discipline Newton, he had already withdrawn and skipped town enrolling at a junior college in Texas. Which served as the negotiating table for his 'pay for play' options to re-enter a major conference. His pops said just a scholarship wasn't gonna do it, try 6 figures, and then he got convicted for shopping his son. But due to the NCAA's stone age legal process they can't think of how son Cam had anything to do with it. BS.
It's inevitable that he'll get caught, so why vote for him now when there are other more incredible candidates out there? Here are the letters I just mailed out.

Dear Sam Bradford, Archie Griffin, OJ Simpson, Roger Staubach and all Heisman Winners,

Don't vote for Cam Newton. A vote for him would compromise the quality of the amazing piece of history which you worked so hard for and deserved. Voting for Scam sends a terrible message to student athletes and promotes misconduct.

Sincerley, James and the World


Soon ESPN will start airing promo's with the jolly tune "Its the most wonderful time of the year" in reference to Bowl season of course, while showing highlights and upcoming matches making all us pigskin cravers warm and jiggly inside like holiday egg nog. But as much I love it, it get's me drunk off Haterade how corrupt of a system the NCAA has gifted its national championship to.
The BCS is terrible. Football is the only sport where the NCAA does not crown its champion, and CEO's of the BCS bowls rack up yearly salaries of 500,000$ (for operating one game) while nickeling and diming the schools participating. There has been many a written why the BCS is terrible so I wont indulge, lets just hope it changes.

GO DUCKS!

Vote for Andrew Luck. He is the best QB in the country and is an ARCHITECTURE MAJOR! (Told you architects are smart)

Although we'll see how far he gets with that degree considering he's only a sophomore but is expected to be tops in the draft.

Infra[Fail]ure

The Oak beam's at Oxford's New College Dining Hall were replaced in 1860, using trees 500 years old. The trees were from an Oak grove on campus which was planted when the College was first developed.

When a local tri-stater thinks of the George Washington Bridge they don't appreciate it, they dread it. The fear of making a 10 mile trip on the Cross Bronx Expressway and over the Hudson in 40 minutes, has caused us to render the structure as awful. (I do agree in some part, because going to Jersey is nothing to be excited about.)

But wait a minute, heaven forbid we even have that bridge.

That dread we have is a result of NOT DOING, of not building and not enhancing our infrastructure to adapt to our GROWING population. When the GWB was built in 1930 the population of the metropolitan area was 8.6 Million. In 1960 when the bridge expanded to two levels (which luckily the engineer had accounted for when initially designing) the Metro Population was 14.4 Million. Today it's nearly 20 Million.

This past month the LIRR temporarily cut service drastically in order to make way for its self proclaimed "Modernization" campaign. While I am happy to see investments in our physical infrastructure its dumbfounding to hear that the main "modern" adjustments made were to replace a switching system that was 100 years old.
100 YEARS OLD? It takes us THIS LONG to invest in our infrastructure? And I truly doubt the new system will last half of 100 years.

Things that are infrastructure are what people blindly take advantage of.

We have become so accustomed to the bold initiatives of past governments and society, that instead of seeing them as great marks of our country and economic strength, they are instead a burden for taxpayers to maintain.
We are so close-sighted that the future (when it actually does get some attention) looks glum and lagging. Why are we the only advanced country without high speed rail? Why is our energy technology so outdated? Why is it now that we are just starting to TALK about this?

Recently New Jersey's Governor Christie pulled state funding from a rail tunnel between NJ and Manhattan, killing 6000 jobs and the largest U.S. public works project under construction. I'm sorry to tell you this Mr. Christie, but the demand for transit infrastructure and the population of your state isn't shrinking.

We need our infrastructure to parallel the innovative minds of our country.

VOTE!

I don't like to write about politics because unfortunately it divides us more than unites us. Which is an oxymoron considering we elect people to work together to advance our country, but instead they just end up in Washington bickering like stubborn teenagers. Uhh yeah so with that said... Just disregard that and don't let this discourage you, cause today is Election day! So get out and Vote!

Look at all these passionate Americans and voters who went to the Rally to Restore Sanity this past weekend. All are passionate about how great our country is, and want to make it even greater by working together with others no matter what walk of life they come from.



We need ideas that will advance us
(duh... Architects in the US would have it way easier w/Metric)

But we should never exploit our fear.

While we might take offense from others' beliefs...

We have to focus on what unites us.


Aww Hell Yeah. LI represent!


So go out and Vote! All you sane peoples' voice must be heard. (Atleast I think everyone who reads this is sane.) And as Jon Stewart says:
"We live in hard times, not end times. We can have animus without being enemies."

Farewell

Sorry to throw out this buzzkill to all of those contributors, dancers, and supporters of CCB, but the Wedding Issue has concluded.
It's time for us to enjoy our beautiful Fall weather and set assail on our various courses.




Charles and Karen!



I had a great time, but need to lose some weight.
Looking forward to seeing everyone around the holidays.

I mentioned this before but I do have these photos at greater resolution and lots of others so please don't hesitate to contact me if you would like some.

Round Due

L+C:

Site of Ceremony and Reception at Gainey Vineyards, accessible via Hayride.


Mrs McCaffrey, and the Bridal Party in thought


Its funny meeting cousins' cousin's while celebrating more cousins.


The diverse, unique and frankly weird California landscape never fails to impress. Being from Long Island the topography in CA is well appreciated and all the funky things that go along with it are just great, like the shrubs, the hawks and rocks formations. Morro Rock and Guadalupe Dunes were my favorite. Let alone, ocean is awesome as well.

J+B:

The Shisle is more familiar terrain for me, considering Steve and Lu have a house there and we visit every summer. Still a beautiful setting. The sunset made for a terrific golden hour, or as others persist 'magic hour.'

This is cousin Al in the middle. I haven't been able to get in touch with him since the wedding. I just get his agent who keeps telling me "he's busy."
Al's best man toast at the dinner was... well... it'll be pretty hard to beat.
Following a quota of funny stories he put Bobby's whistling talents on the spot, making him whistle for Jen. Of all songs in the world, Bobby picks "Bicycle Built for Two" who knew he would pick that? Well after Bob's recital, Al asks us to serenade them and tells us to look under our seat cushion lyrics to Bobs jingle. This was followed by a collective "Oh no he didn't."
Whereto Al responds during our ensemble with a "Hell yeah I did" while doing a lap inside the tent on his gift to Jen and Bobby. A Bicycle, built for two.
I was marveled. I heard one person fainted. If you read this Al, I miss you.


Decadent and delicious dinner with two long tables. To each section there own cheese ambassador.

Ca and Re showing how it gets done... and who brought this guy?

Round 1

Enough strategizing about how to write about these killer blowouts.
The point is Food + Family + Booze + Dance = Yay.

I had to make the file size smaller in order to upload these photos. Feel free to ask if you would like the original photo.

J+B:



Hey Sista's


Finally after a combined 4 hour and 3 day travel delay the Dunn's made it!




I haven't quite figured out the best way for night/dancing shots. I think I have the shutter speed and ISO settings down but its hard to focus. Hopefully I will figure it out soon.

L+C:



Christy took us to this awesome creekside BBQ/Pub place for some post wedding Tri-tip





I cant wait till either my sister brother or I get married, there would be an epic dance-off between Team Steve-0 and Danny Mac versus the Patton Ladies. On second thought it could get pretty ugly.

Bi-coastal Rave

Consider this the "cocktail hour" post of the wedding issue. The Santa Ynez valley and Shelter Island couldn't be more far apart. Both incredible places for incredibly unique throwdowns.
After a week of detox its hard to put these moments in the past, but I couldn't be happier for my family.

Jen and Bobby are a big basket full of bright ideas



Lauren + Clark with no sweat pulled off the wickedest party

Actually everything about both of them was perfect. Well except for one thing... stupid American Airlines, who tried to put a buzzkill on my sister and cousin's party wheels. If airlines were smart at all they would have sponsored these weddings, considering how fun they were and all the brilliant execution that went into them.

Wedding Blitz

Welcome to the Chocolate Covered Bacon Wedding Issue!



Weddings are fun, cousins are awesome. A cousins wedding is probably the wildest, craziest, best thing in the world.
We traveled to two corners of the great USA in the past six weeks to revel in matrimony, and celebrate new cousins.

Much more to come on the tale of these two epic bacchanalia.

Graphic Overload

I have been brainwashed by architecture. Everything we see is designed. Fonts, lineweights, and swatches program every billboard, packaging label, Espn score chart, and hot dog vendor.
As a designer we wanna be the best, if not then really really good when it comes to graphics and artistic expression. Personally, I often feel overwhelmed and nauseous. Cheese and rice, I even wonder what the spacing ratio is on the Helvetica bold label for the MTA Subway signs. Thanks architecture.



I mean how can I not get jealous of say this guy... heywookchan.com Hey's a good guy and student at WashU. He does everything. I claim music is a passion of mine, he makes it.

Also, I recently found the blog notcot.org via Jordys links. Its the conglomerate Meccah of cool stuff from the internets. If I didn't value my personal time I would probably go through every single one of those pages, picking things out saying "ooh cool Modern Minimalist" or "that's a nice color set I could use." How did I get this way?
Where does this get us? Maybe this is teaching me to not care so much about graphic stuff... (Which I should be doing in the first place.)



Simplifying things, I really enjoy just making stuff, like crafting furniture or as categorized 'Industrial design.' I take great comfort in the physical construction and the process of making. My friend Jono said to me once "drawing by hand is great because you are always working with the final output." Which I found quite, well relaxing really. Its less stressful when you have part of the end product right in front of you.
I have a number of ideas for building/making things, mostly keeping in the same spirit as my trusty (although could be more functional) Muffler Lamp.

In this wake of a graphic overload, its healthy to focus on design that has more depth than my 1/4-inch thick laptop screen.

King Chimes

Its easy to start to feel old when someone younger than you produces incredible work.

I guess architecture requires maturity as opposed to naivety considering the "work" involved is realized in something way more complex that of a canvas or mp3 or film. A building has a lot of consequences, its beauty isn't in its temporariness.

With that being my academic approach, architects are also artists and its impossible to not appreciate other realms of artistic expression. Russ Chimes has been a favorite of mine for the past year or so and his latest electro addition is no disappointment. Its a new EP and film featuring an incredibly talented and young (-er than me) director named Saman Keshavarz (samankeshavarz.blogspot.com.) I was inspired to write a dissertation on "The Glorified Idealization of the American Landscape built by European Social Constructs." But we'll see how far I get.

http://www.russchimes.com/



Part 1: Never Look Back is the first in a 3-part series from Russ' forthcoming EP. Each tune and respective music video release simultaneously. The next one should be posted this week. The trailer is awesome as well.

The Ocean

The famed 'Lido Torpedo' strategizing

Preferably colder is more refreshing. Jump in and swim real hard, get close to the bottom and try to not move at all, while hoping no waves break close above up on the surface. Listen for silence without even the ringing in the ears. Waiting for that moment of just complete nothingness before the air in your body pulls you up to the surface.

That's the greatest feeling on earth. Floating in free space while concentrating on silence is ultimate relaxation therapy. You're trying to clear your mind with no distractions, while your body is suspended in neither tension nor compression.

Our bodies are 70% water, similar to the earths surface. I'm sure there is some research or writing on the therapeutic power of the ocean. Real estate values obviously benefit from the oceans proximity. But for me its just something I can't live without.

Smallest World

After spending an entire semester "mapping the world" talking about connectivity and globalization with a professor from Holland but was more present in Holland than the US via his iPhone, we believe the world is shrinking.

Except when you visit a place as remote as Shelter Island, you begin to appreciate how big the world is. Shelter Island is a quiet harbor island between the two forks out on Long Island. Its about a hundred miles east of New York City and is only accessible by ferry. The residents never built a bridge because they don't want the congestion and development that goes on out east, just south of Shelter Island in the Hampton's. So it is a very quaint relaxing landscape, not to say that quaint and relaxing doesn't also attract the high-end real estate market.

When I was biking around after a day at the beach I spotted a sign for an Open House/exhibition featuring paintings from a contemporary artist and a house designed by contemporary architects for sale. My sense of schmoozing curiosity couldn't say no, so I biked around the bend and after ladies entered in with sun dresses I followed with bathing trunks and wet hair (both equally appropriate for the Island.) The house was very sleek and contemporary. And after meeting one of the polite hosts we started a quick conversation. She said "have we met, you look familiar?" As often as I hear that in elevators and bars and respond in disappointment, I had never been more certain, there was no way I was in someone's memory all the way out here on Shelter Island.
Continuing conversation, she mentioned she received her MArch from Columbia and when I discovered she was Korean I started explaining my semester in Seoul... till she cut me off "You were on that tour of the Urban Hive and Boutique Monaco in Gangnam." [Seoul] Where to I responded perplexed "Uhh, yeah... and you were also."


House on Shelter Island for sale by architects Morris + Sato (Corcoran)

7,000 miles away... Urban Hive and Boutique Monaco

...

11:48:23 EST Time...

I just calculated on our DVR that one second after the referee of the England - Slovenia match blew his whistle ending the game, crowning England group champions and Slovenia the runner up... justice... finally... prevailed.

Perseverance has never been greater, justice will never be more moral.

In that one second England goes from winning the group to its runner up.
Slovenia goes from qualifying to elimination.
And Team USA goes from elimination, from a tie; a tie that lasted for 11 days; a tie that would have lasted another 4 years; a tie that was worldly, historically controversial; to a 1-0 lead and becoming the greatest defiers of adversity in all of sports, advancing, winning their group.

Just when doubt was too painful for their own country to endure, and the rest of the world started to get a bit comfortable. Team USA reminded us who we are, and what we are capable of.

So take that Slovenian players head-locking Clint Dempsey, hugging Michael Bradley for dear life, who still can't prevent a beautiful, deciding, American goal. Take that Komam Coulibaly. Take that England. Take that FIFA. Take that World.

The USA is here to stay and is roaring.

May the wings of Liberty never lose a feather. Here's to America's colors, the colors that never run... and Landon Donovan who never stops. GO USA!!

...of the Subconscious

In the presence of architecture reviews and finals it's easy to begin to:
A. Doubt your idea's
B. Lose Confidence
C. Constantly ask yourself 'What the hell am I doing.'

But when you get into a good rhythm with working/designing it can feel somewhat zen almost subconscious. This track from Yppah is not new, but recently discovered. I find it quite helpful for my working methods. It helps me relax and focus.

Yppah - Gumball Machine Weekend

It also has a beautiful tint of summer being right around the corner, which seems so far away right now. California here I come... eventually, well for my awesome cousins wedding. But this song is pretty California also.

Two Doors Up

Not sure how long they have been around but I am enjoying what I am hearing now. Two Door Cinema Club from Ireland just released there album "Tourist History" Tuesday! Its great. I was needing a band and album refresher, been listening to too many singles released lately, and I really found this band to be quite the pleaser.



"Something Good Can Work" (MP3- right click to save) Is the perfect pick up if you need one.

Catch them live they are touring across the states pretty soon, some of the shows are with Phoenix should be great... unfortunately it looks like there is a detour around Saint Louis. myspace.com/twodoorcinemaclub

Artist of Summer 2010

As you know and as I have broadcasted on many occasions my affection for music, here is my effort at being a stockbroker for talent.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pwnefUaKCbc

I have never been so certain before of an artist that will become famous. Janelle Monáe is the most incredible new artist you will hear this year. Artist as in singer, songwriter, performer, and story. She does everything. Her narrative is quite odd and bold at times but is very poetic and really ties everything together with a nice pro-active jab for equal rights and opportunities.

I first came across her in Fall 2008 when I found her crazy but incredibly well done video and song "Many Moons." Since then I've become a big follower. I actually got to see her for free last summer on my birthday outdoors in Brooklyn, boy she does not hold anything back. She staged dive a couple of times and was painting on a canvas throughout her entire performance, until the end when she gave it to a young fan. Knowing her talent I have always said to myself 'when'... when will she explode on a national scale.

Janelle Monáe - Tightrope (ft. Big Boi)
(right click and save for MP3)

Now with the new video and date set for the release of her album, I am convinced her reign will begin soon. The fact that she is on the cover of Eleven, the cooperative music magazine from the Colleges throughout St. Louis shows that she's really gaining momentum. Her album drops on May 18th. So after that expect her to skyrocket.

CCB takes leave... back into SLo MO

I guess this concludes (for now) the journey of life and its quest for meaning.
James and brother gringo John are both suspended domestically now, but for only an indefinite amount of time. I'd like to keep exploring of course.

Its funny how you discover and learn things most when you don't think and just do. If there is anything I learned this past year, from living abroad. Its more about the amount of knowledge I don't know. I really don't think you can ever learn anything about yourself or the world, unless you change your lifestyle and challenge yourself every once in a while.


The lifestyle back here in Saint Louis is rather well uninspiring frankly. And if there is anything I have learned about being here it is that I am not a school person. Some peolpe just don't do well at school, not because they are dumb or lazy but because of the system. School doesn't really decipher talent or skills. It just further categorizes us. Sure it can be a place to expand your boundaries and challenge your ideas, but what does that mean if you don't work well within the hierarchical system? If you can't tell I'm starting to get burnt out.

I am currently scheduled to be finished in December, till then I'd have to put my life on hold. Well with a little summer fling of course. It be an injustice to the rotation of the earth and seasons if summer wasn't taken fully advantage of.