UP YOUR ARCHITECTURE

blahblahologist:dontstopbereaving:drinkyourjuice:theduty:thefeelo...

Fri, 18 Feb 2011 16:02:17 -0600

blahblahologist:dontstopbereaving:drinkyourjuice:theduty:thefeeloffree:

The U.S. House of Representatives has just voted to bar Planned Parenthood health centers from all federal funding for birth control, cancer screenings, HIV testing, and other lifesaving care.

Click through to sign the letter fighting this bill.

Sorry to reblog so much stuff today, but if you have a functioning brain organ and know anyone with a penis or a vagina, you probably want to sign this letter.

Really super fucking not cool. In addition to above comments, you should also sign this if you have or ever plan on having sex during your lifetime.

hi. hello. this is important. !

IKEA to employees: Have a bike - Dec. 10, 2010

Fri, 10 Dec 2010 16:30:10 -0600

IKEA to employees: Have a bike - Dec. 10, 2010

SEED Competition

Wed, 08 Dec 2010 15:46:43 -0600

SEED Competition

HHF Architects | | Basel, Switzerland | designvanguard |...

Wed, 08 Dec 2010 15:43:00 -0600

HHF Architects | | Basel, Switzerland | designvanguard | Architectural Record

University Design-Build - Emerging Architects - Architectural...

Wed, 08 Dec 2010 15:41:47 -0600

University Design-Build - Emerging Architects - Architectural Record

LEED Gold Now Required for Federal Buildings | News | Architectural Record

Wed, 08 Dec 2010 15:39:41 -0600

LEED Gold Now Required for Federal Buildings | News | Architectural Record

38 credit hour Masters of Science Community Design and Development Certificate course list - TTU College of Architecture

Fri, 22 Oct 2010 17:24:55 -0500

38 credit hour Masters of Science Community Design and Development Certificate course list - TTU College of Architecture

Critic’s Notebook - In Arabian Desert, a Sustainable City Rises...

Fri, 22 Oct 2010 16:42:36 -0500

Critic’s Notebook - In Arabian Desert, a Sustainable City Rises - NYTimes.com

Mauer's future -- not behind home plate | StarTribune.com

Wed, 20 Oct 2010 15:46:42 -0500

Mauer's future -- not behind home plate | StarTribune.com:

Mauer’s future — not behind home plate

Posted by Howard Sinker

Joe C. offered his perspective on Joe Mauer’s 2010 season and it brought out the cyberthugs who launched into their accusations about Mauer’s lack of heart, soul and might. (Yes, I’m sampling some Old Testament verse. That’s Deuteronomy, Ch. 6, ft. the Lord.)

Look at the numbers and the level of sourness is unwarranted.

Watch the way that Josh Hamilton has recovered from his late season injuries and jealousy is understandable.

Mauer is going to be a Twin for the next eight years and — at this point — if you think that’s not a good thing, I think you’re very, very wrong.

That being said, 2011 is the time to begin transitioning him to another position. By the midpoint of his contract, he should no longer be catching.

As good a defensive catcher as Mauer is, the Twins didn’t sign him for $23 million per season because of his defensive skills. They signed him for his batting prowess, which would be considered extraordinary under any circumstances and has been otherworldly because of the numbers he’s compiled while catching.

Keep in mind that his contract was enhanced by a few million per year based on his off-the-charts 2009 numbers. As cordial looking as those negotiations appeared last winter, if the Twins hadn’t shown Mauer the money, we’d be preparing to watch a free-agent frenzy play out and the population would be outraged. Bet on it.

That Mauer got hot at the right time and forced the Pohlads to dig deeper into their vault bothers me not one bit. If Mauer’s contract causes the Twins to do business differently (read: more cheaply), it will be because the Pohlads will have changed their operating philosophy and that would be shameful.

OK, enough preamble.

In seven seasons with the Twins, Mauer has been significantly hampered by injuries in four of them. He missed almost his entire rookie season in 2004 with knee injuries, a month in the ‘07 and ‘09 seasons and chunks of this season despite the fact that he didn’t go on the disabled list. He was sidelined enough last season that he actually had 22 fewer plate appearances in 2010 than he did in ‘09.

That track record is enough evidence for me that the Twins can expect more of the same — if not even more problems — as Mauer gets older.

In addition, his career month-by-month regular-season statistics show a significant decline in September/October in on base-plus-slugging percentage (.846) compared with any month from May through August (.880 to .959 for those four months). I’ll use that as evidence that the demands of catching wear him down when the Twins need him most. A statistic wrinkle here is that his 2009 September was excellent (.958 OPS), but because he missed the first month of the season (as well as spring training), that was still “August” on Mauer’s baseball calendar.

And if you want to accuse me of cherry-picking a statistic, I’ll counter that OPS is disproportionately significant for the third batter in your order.

I want Mauer playing 155 games per season, not 135.

I don’t want Mauer to be durable by catching standards; I want 700 plate appearances every season without him wearing down more than other players.

I want to see Mauer be like Josh Hamilton in the postseason, not Nick Punto. (Mauer in the postseason: .286/.359/.314; Punto in the postseason: .286/.375/.333.)

And this winter — when the Twins are facing a combination of interesting roster decisions and uncertainty — is prime time for the hard discussions to take place and the options to be vetted. If you want to lose sleep over the second-base situation, that’s your option. But that’s way down on my list.

A few options, in quick-hit form:

*If the Twins are as (privately) pessimistic about Justin Morneau as I am, Mauer and Michael Cuddyer would make a fine first-base share for 2011. Cuddyer would be a better trade candidate if he wasn’t making $10.5 million in 2011, but that’s another story. Have Mauer catch 90 games and play first base in 60.

*Corner outfield. That would have to be part of an overall outfield overhaul. If a Delmon Young/ Jason Kubel combo is in left field and Mauer in right, the Twins would have to expect significant defensive improvement from Denard Span (unlikely) or get a center fielder who can truly run the outfield and make up for the shortcoming/inexperience in the corner outfield positions.

*Third base. That’s if Danny Valencia isn’t nearly as good over time as his excellent half-season. If Valencia levels off to a .275 hitter with a .325 OBP and 12 to 15 home runs, is that good enough for the future?

Of those three options, I hope I’m wrong about No. 1 and that Valencia answers No. 3 with continued solid play. That leaves No. 2 as the most likely outcome, and will require some additional moves to go with it.

Tough choices, but that’s the price of the confluence of success and questions that are the story of the Twins today.

I want to see Mauer batting third and playing regularly when he’s 40.

I want to see his 3,000th hit … and his 3,500th hit.

I want to see Mauer in the second car (behind the manager) in a World Series parade or three over the next few years.

I want the Twins to figure out the Mauer issue as they figure out the other puzzle pieces they need to transcend the divide from winners of a weak division to World Series contender.

I want, I want, I want.

But I’m not wanting anything unreasonable.

A New Chinese City, With Everything but People - NYTimes.com

Wed, 20 Oct 2010 13:51:00 -0500

A New Chinese City, With Everything but People - NYTimes.com

axo: Biosphere Sustainability Centre | Paul Raff Studio

Wed, 06 Oct 2010 09:52:30 -0500

axo:

Biosphere Sustainability Centre | Paul Raff Studio

Photo

Wed, 06 Oct 2010 09:46:53 -0500

fuckyeahthebeatles: I don’t think I could ever get sick of this...

Tue, 05 Oct 2010 16:32:35 -0500

fuckyeahthebeatles:

I don’t think I could ever get sick of this picture.

Design Within Reach - Magazine - The Atlantic

Sat, 02 Oct 2010 14:48:49 -0500

Design Within Reach - Magazine - The Atlantic

Photo

Sat, 02 Oct 2010 14:23:18 -0500

thefranticsearch: spending the day in bed with my...

Sat, 02 Oct 2010 14:16:12 -0500

thefranticsearch:

spending the day in bed with my dictionary.

Winner

bethlehems: markcoatney: nightline: Thirdway.org proposes a...

Sat, 02 Oct 2010 12:59:09 -0500

bethlehems:

markcoatney:

nightline:

Thirdway.org proposes a taxpayer receipt. The IRS breaking down how the check you sent them was spent. Although that’d be one more receipt to keep track of.

Here’s what it would look like for FY09.

(via Ezra Klein)

This is very smart, because it expresses the information in a way that’s a lot easier to understand; it especially shows how Afghanistan and Iraq are just sucking the life out of the federal treasury.

I’m sorry, but why does NASA get more than public housing? I don’t have much else to quibble with on here because, like, I can’t change any of it, but seriously?

“Please Don’t Call Them Twinkies” — A...

Fri, 01 Oct 2010 15:03:05 -0500

“Please Don’t Call Them Twinkies” — A Minnesota Twins Tribute (via kien0030)

AutoCAD WS: AutoCAD’s mobile app for iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch...

Fri, 01 Oct 2010 14:55:03 -0500

AutoCAD WS: AutoCAD’s mobile app for iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch | ArchDaily

So hot.

Community Planner Job at GCCDS

Mon, 27 Sep 2010 16:04:33 -0500

The planner will work in the Gulf Coast Community Design Studio on a range of community planning projects at regional, city, and neighborhood scales.

Duties will include:

* Leading planning and urban design projects.

* Organizing and participating in community planning meetings.

* Using GIS mapping and other planning tools.

* Supervising the work of design interns.

Qualifications:

* Professional degree in planning, urban design, real estate, architecture, or landscape architecture.

* Five years of planning experience.

* Proficiency with MS Office, Adobe Creative Suite, and ArcGIS Desktop. Salary Range: $52,000 – $60,000 per year

About the Work: The Gulf Coast Community Design Studio’s work is based on a conviction that design is a community building tool that engages the public in imagining and visualizing better places, as well as a decision making activity that should be accessible to people of all social and economic backgrounds. Community planning projects are approached with multidisciplinary teams and often combine planning, landscape and building design components. Internally, the planner will identify new projects and apply for funding opportunities, manage and conduct data analysis, lead and manage project teams to analyze needs and opportunities and develop solutions.

Externally, the planner will provide data and mapping assistance to partner organizations, organize and facilitate meetings with residents, local government officials, and other stakeholders to gather information, educate, and seek feedback on planning proposals. Some projects require the ability to produce programming and development feasibility studies to explore land-use alternatives.

Applicants should have excellent communication skills and demonstrate leadership and project management capability. The position requires writing skills to produce grant applications, reports, media releases and website text, and presentation skills to create and use outreach educational materials. The position offers opportunities to publish and present work at professional and academic conferences.

About the Organization: The Gulf Coast Community Design Studio (GCCDS) is a professional outreach program of Mississippi State University’s College of Architecture, Art + Design. The staff is made up of 15 professionals with backgrounds in architecture, planning, and landscape architecture. The GCCDS was established in Biloxi, Mississippi in response to Hurricane Katrina to provide architectural design services, landscape and planning assistance, educational opportunities and research to organizations and communities along the Mississippi Gulf Coast. The GCCDS works through close, pragmatic partnerships with non-profit organizations, local governments, universities and developers, putting professional expertise to work in order to shape vibrant and resilient Gulf Coast communities.

Contact: For more information about the Gulf Coast Community Design Studio and the planner position applicants can visit gccds.org and are welcome to contact the director, David Perkes: dperkes@gccds.msstate.edu Applications should be completed on Mississippi State University’s Human Resources website www.jobs.msstate.edu