I am currently reading the book, Collapse. It talks of how societies choose to fail or to succeed and highlights past societies that have failed, such as Easter Island, the Anaszi and the Mayans. It also talks of past societies that have survived and current societies in peril. The author highlights the five factors that are involved with any societal collapse. Four of the five factors that may or may not prove significant to societal collapse are:
Calatrava, inspired by the “dramatic, original building by Eero Saarinen, …the topography of the city” and Frank Lloyd Wright’s Prairie-style architecture.
"Thanks to them, this project responds to the culture of the lake: the sailboats, the weather, the sense of motion and change.”
The structure incorporates both cutting-edge technology and old-world craftsmanship. The hand-built structure was made largely by pouring concrete into one-of-a-kind wooden forms. It is a building that could have only been done in a city with Milwaukee’s strong craft tradition.
Windhover Hall is the grand entrance hall for the Quadracci Pavilion. It is Santiago Calatrava’s postmodern interpretation of a Gothic Cathedral, complete with flying buttresses, pointed arches, ribbed vaults, and a central nave topped by a 90-foot-high glass roof.
The hall’s chancel is shaped like the prow of a ship, with floor-to-ceiling windows looking over Lake Michigan.
The Museum’s signature wings, the Burke Brise Soleil, form a moveable sunscreen with a 217-foot wingspan. The brise soleil is made up of 72 steel fins, ranging in length from 26 to 105 feet. The entire structure weighs 90 tons. It takes 3.5 minutes for the wings to open or close. Sensors on the fins continually monitor wind speed and direction; whenever winds exceed 23 mph for more than 3 seconds, the wings close automatically.
According to Santiago Calatrava, “in the crowning element of the brise soleil, the building’s form is at once formal (completing the composition), functional (controlling the level of light), symbolic (opening to welcome visitors), and iconic (creating a memorable image for the Museum and the city).”
Hundertwasser once said, "If man walks in nature's midst, then he is nature's guest and must learn to behave as a well-brought-up guest."
Paolo's conception of Arcology is a visionary of cities designed to maximize the interaction and accessibility associated with an urban environment; minimize the use of energy, raw materials and land, reducing waste and environmental pollution; and allow interaction with the surrounding natural environment.
Why has it taken so long for man to start building communities in this way? Imagine a community where everything was accessible by walking, biking or alternative transportation. A community that shared gardens and grew all the fruits and vegetable they needed. A community with recycling & composting programs and education of sustainability. A community connected with the environment... and why not make this a reality?
Here are some of his quotes I found interesting:
"The photosynthetic veneer, the vegetal world, must not be overlaid by a man-caused opaque veneer."
"The real is the present. The practical is in most cases the past, a frozen imagery of the real not fully becoming. The American dream is the present as practicality rather than the present as real."
If everyone lived the "American dream", it would take over 20 planets to support us...
"That which can be described can become obsolete."
A community in the current era, the first LEED Platinum Community in British Columbia called the Olympic Village:
Last Thursday was the Boulder stop for the Cricket Campus Rail Jam. They didn't come to Fort Collins so it was off to Boulder! Images of two-sevs on and frontboards filled my head... until the guys went in Heat 1. No one was really landing anything and I knew the setup was way too steep and flat landings were inevitable.
Depicts the 1,000,000 plastic cups served on US flights every 6 hours. 
The largest monument made by man? A landfill.
Last Wednesday, a good person in this world passed away. Devon Arnold was one of the most genuine, light-hearted and intelligent people we knew. He never was seen without a smile and made the lives that he had touched so much better. He has left us with so many good memories that will never be forgotten. He will be missed dearly, but we also know that he wouldn't want us to mourn over his death. We must celebrate the life he had lived. With that said, "Cheers Devon! Thank you for all that you have left us and may you occupy the hearts and souls of many."
We all take advantage of what is given to us until it is taken away. Here are some amazing people that were living lives just like the rest of us when they hit a major roadblock that indefinitely changed their lives. That didn't stop them though...
I grew up with horses. They were my first love. I especially love Paints. This one is my dream horse. A Paint that loves to jump!? I never thought I'd see the day. Now if only I had that $9,000 and a life to devote to this one. Oh well... good luck Charolette!http://http//www.platinumfarms.org/charolette_for_sale.html
These girls had quite the epic season from the looks of it. All done without the big hype and money. They're defnitely pushing the sports to a new level. Check it:
Merten Design presents a new sustainable development north of Fort Collins. 
