Solar Power

A company "Novothink" has the first Apple certified solar charger cases for iphones and ipods.

Farmville Addiction

Got Farmville Addiction, if your studio work is interrupted so you can harvest your crops, feed your pigs, or find black sheep then it might be time to sell the farm or maybe not. This and other "tech addictions" have filled our generation and taken our time hostage. One after the other they develop and we become infatuated with them. Our dependency on them directs and molds our culture and social state. Our need for more though is eventually conquered by our desire for better and our addiction serves as a motivator for furthering our advancement. So are they bad, there is no answer, there is only limit.

The Garden State

On November 3rd New Jersey will be holding state elections. Along with voting for governor, state assembly leader, and state senators, voters will be asked to vote "yes" or "no" to the public question regarding the Green Acres, Water Supply and Floodplain Protection, and Farmland and Historic Preservation Bond Act of 2009. If your looking for information on the act I found some great information and facts on the ANJEC site, explaining why to vote "yes".

Freestyle Sketch Thursday

This first sketch I did while studying for construction.

This second sketch displays how much I enjoyed learning about brick positions.

Why Blog?

So lately I have been asked the question, "Hany, why do you have a blog?" The question at time catches me off guard, I am unsure whether the question is meant to undermine my pursuit to have a blog or if it is a simple inquiry. Either way I do enjoy the question, there is a part of me that enjoys defending or selling my perspective, whether it comes to a decision I make or a design I create. I'm given the opportunity to express myself and it is this permission to voice my thoughts that I look forward to the most. That would mean the start of my blog was initiated by my desire to communicate, share my knowledge and thoughts, and/or other information I come across. Of course I would have thought the title said it all, "Reflections", but I guess one should never assume.

To the visitors of my blog, in Steve's words, I become like an "online newspaper" and that sums it all up. I don't expect the blog to grow to worldwide recognition (even though it is possible), but I do expect those related to the field of landscape architecture, or design, or one of the many other topics I may discuss on the blog to find their way to my site. I especially reach out to my colleagues, who may either be attracted by my posts and gain some insight they may have otherwise not come across or to the stalkers, with just the simple curiosity of what I'm up to.

The blog also provides me with time to do something else I enjoy and that is - to write. Words are among our most powerful tools, they invoke levels of emotion, modes of persuasion, and imagery through description and the list goes on. For me this opportunity to write is one of the greatest reasons of why I choose to blog.

Of course I may just be blogging so I can get rich.

Small World

Came across this data put together by researchers at European Commission’s Joint Research Centre in Ispra, Italy, and the World Bank that mapped out how long it would take to travel to the nearest city of 50,000 or more people by land or water. Most of the world is accessible in under 24 hours, even places one wouldn't expect. I found two the of the maps particularly interesting the first map illustrated the web of roads that have consumed our planet and the second the railway network. These maps really put into perspective a view of our Earth I know I didn't have prior to looking at them.

Great Streets

Our conventional idea of the streetscape and vehicle focused designs have proved unsustainable. But what does make a great street? Walkability, stormwater management, walking space, sitting space, bike lane space, plant space, pervious concrete, block sizes, how should these and more be addressed? Design Workshop has been working with places like St. Louis, as part of the Great Streets Initiative to design a sustainable and a Complete Streetscape. The seniors had a preliminary crit yesterday for their community designs, which all looked great, and as they continue to work I hope these are a few of the elements they further consider and explore.

10 Google Commandments

A recent article I found on Money.CNN.com discusses the 10 Things Google Has Taught Us. Google has proved itself as an iconic symbol for companies in this 21st century and their unorthodox methods have proved successful and appealing. There is a lot to learn about the way this company has designed, and continues to design, itself.

This is another really good article I read on Forbes.com, http://www.forbes.com/2009/10/22/wealth-greed-success-leadership-careers-managing.html. I post this one for the people that always seem occupied with thoughts of money and getting rich as soon as they graduate.

Climate Action Day

Ages varied, Race was diverse, but the goal was the same. The more people that are educated, the more people that are inspired, the closer we get to real change. I met people today that truly care; they care about their communities, about their planet, about the future. I plan on increasing my involvement with such groups and I encourage all others that are interested to contact me and I will be sure to keep constant updates on the blog about events. Check out the out come world wide: http://www.350.org/350-action-gallery

350

350.org is an international campaign dedicated to inspire the world to rise to the challenge of the climate crisis. October 24th (today) is the chosen date for the international day of climate action where people around the world were called upon to organize an action on October 24 incorporating the number 350 at an iconic place in their community in order to lift public awareness. The number 350 represents the 350 parts per million CO2 in the atmosphere that is the safe limit for humanity. Currently we are at 387ppm.






350

Climate Change Aftermath Video

I came across this funny yet very serious climate change aftermath video.


(of course it had to take place in Cairo, Egypt)
As extreme as the scenario in video is it still speaks a powerful message.

Climate Change Map

Here is a new and interesting interactive map displaying climate change developed by Met Office Scientists. The map represents a 4 degree Celsius rise in global temperature.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/interactive/2009/oct/22/climate-change-carbon-emissions
The map was displayed at the London Science Museum's new Prove It Climate Change Exhibition that you can check out here: http://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/proveit.aspx
You can even play the game to save the Earth: http://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/antenna/climatechange/CarbonLifeStyles/CarbonLifeStyles.html

More Freestyle Sketch Thursday

doodles are sketches of what we see in our mind


This sketch was done by April Maly, she titled it "Geometric Island." This is all about interpretation and I see something pretty unique when I look at this sketch, it kind of reminds me of Cape May County's barrier islands.

Jersey Shore Gallery

The Mason Gross Gallery at Rutgers University will be hosting photographs by "Paul Moakley" entitled "Shore Points" until November second. As Ibrahim Bouzine, my source to this event, points out,"it screams JERSEY SHORE" and "delivers a sense of place." It might be interesting to check out during my free time and maybe yours. Thanks Ibs.

Google Road to Hell

Click the arrow to move towards the wall... if you dare...
http://streetviewgallery.corank.com/tech/framed/google-Street-View-Car-Hits-a-Wall-and