School

There is only 18 more days of school YES!!!!

race

Hey Everyone,
I got this email from Will Bates he has to do with 350??? (sorry if i am wrong) well there is this race going on for the oil spill . I dont really know how to explain this and i thnk its for collage students well the races teams are. but please cheack this site out. www.greatpowerrace.org It will provide any questions

Claire's Orenco Station Conference Outing Summary 05.06.10

Orenco Station Conference Outing

1. At 9:00 a.m., our conference group walked to the 15 Belmont bus stop on Belmont. We road the 15 Belmont bus to SW Morrison and 17th (PGE Park) where, after observing the transit stop, we boarded the MAX Blue Line (MAX being the light rail system in Portland). While riding to Orenco Station the experts and I noted changes from downtown Portland to the suburbs of Portland. Once we arrived in Orenco Station we jotted down our first impressions. Afterwards, we separated into our expertise groups. The Housing Group (today consisting of Heath, Junior, Amy, and I) walked along a residential street and a multi-use street, observing the housing in Orenco Station. Approximately twelve minutes later, the experts gathered to share what each group observed. Barbara, a manager, then gave us a tour of New Seasons Market (the Friendliest Store in Town!), the organic, locally grown, lush foods tantalizing our ravenous bellies (riding in a train apparently causes immense hunger). Thankfully, we were able sample sharp cheddar cheese and eat our lunch at New Seasons. I had a warm spanakopita and a cool kumquat fizzy drink. On the walk back to the Orenco Station MAX stop Julian Smith, another expert, offered BBQ (barbecue. I know. What a peculiar—and very American as I have learned—acronym.) flavored sunflower seeds. Thinking they were pumpkin seeds, I tossed a generous handful into my mouth. Julian, Levi (Food and Health Safety expert), Haven (Food and Health Safety expert), and Lisa (Economics expert) gaped in astonishment. Levi exclaimed, "You're not supposed to eat those!" I am sure my eyes visibly widened. "You're not?" I asked. "No!" I ran to the trash can and spat the shards of sunflower seeds out of my mouth. For the remainder of the walk, Julian and Levi coached me the (proper) way to eat sunflower seeds. We arrived back at the SES Conference Headquarters at 3:00 p.m.

2. A Mixed-Use Urban Center is a town focused around amenities. Orenco Sation encircles the main street that consists of everyday use businesses like restaurants, grocery stores, public transportation, and health facilities. By designing a community that centers around a dozen businesses versus a community built around several business areas, Orenco Station can keep in mind the Urban Growth Boundary (UGB) and avoid sprawl. I like the Portland metropolitan area idea of creating a number of small towns along the light rail system because I think this method of expanding the city will better control urban sprawl. By having quite a few towns based around everyday businesses I think stronger communities will be established at a lower cost.

3. I think people choose to live in Orenco Station for different reasons. Some people may not like living directly in a city because of the noise, smells, and tighter spaces, but like having easy, quick (30-ish minute) access to a city. Others may work in Portland but cannot find housing or do not like the housing in Portland, therefore live in a suburb. Benefits of living in Orenco Station include the quiet environment, walkability, nearby open spaces, five minute access to public transportation, daily needs and additional businesses within walking distance (grocery store, restaurants, florist, dry cleaner's, dentist, accountant, pet store, wine shop, optician, and more), and convenient access to Portland, by MAX or car. Challenges of living in Orenco Station could be the lack of close-by (less than five miles) libraries, a variety of restaurant cuisines, sports leagues, and multiple of the same kinds of businesses (if I do not like this dentist, I will be making the choice to commute to another dentist's office). But, in my opinion, while it may not be über-convenient to get to some places, the light rail system is within walking distance and the freeway is close by, meaning access to places in or along the way to Portland are convenient.

4. I think successful achievements by the urban planners of Orenco Station are the walkability, the close proximity to everyday businesses, the greenspace, the amount of diversity (in my opinion, better than the typical suburbs I have seen), the access to public transportation, and the tight community feeling. Compared to other suburbs I think Orenco Station has a remarkable amount of community feeling. This feeling was achieved by small front yard space, alley garages, mini sidewalks that create alternate paths, and the businesses located within a couple blocks.

Orenco Station could be improved by adding bike paths and ways of encouraging people to bike. I did not see a play structure or any sports facilities, which could definitely attract the youth of the community, a vital component of having a diverse area. Maybe we were just in Orenco Station at a quiet time but I only saw two mothers with their little ones and four people walking their dogs, three of the four dogs the dog size "small". I think Orenco Station would flourish one hundred percent if more people were outside.

5. After being in Orenco Station, I feel that Brownsfields would flourish if the designers keep in mind the successful outcomes of a compact community: skinny streets, small front yards, allies, businesses with in walking distance. What better way to get to know your neighbors than being situated ten feet away form them—opposed miles of golf-course replica, manicured lawns away? Walkability is also key. When walking outside I know I am more likely to stop if something or someone I see interests me, whereas when driving, it is a major inconvenience to pull over my car and spend ten minutes finding a parking space. By creating a walkable community the result is exactly that: a community.

6. On the MAX ride from downtown Portland to Orenco Station in Hillsboro the most notable change was the progression of larger, more frequent greenspace as we traveled towards Hillsboro. After our trip to downtown Portland last week, I know that besides the Park Blocks and Waterfront Park most of the community spaces are blocks with pavement, seating and fountains, opposed to grass. As we traveled away from downtown I realized there is an abundance of grass and forest alongside the freeways and in the suburbs. The office buildings also seemed to go through a smush and stretch Photoshop effect. Unlike the towering buildings of downtown the buildings on the way to Hillsboro were lower and wider. The overall change was the increase of space and the decrease of height.

Wow......

WOODEN GANGSTER HOUSE, ARCHANGELSK, RUSSIA

WONDERWORKS, ORLANDO, FLORIDA, UNITED STATES

THE UFO HOUSE, SANJHIH, TAIWAN

THE TORRE GALATEA FIGUERES, SPAIN

THE BASKET BUILDING, OHIO, UNITED STATES

Architecture in Dubai

I couldn't find the exact date of my other article so I decided I would just show different architecture in Dubai.

-Kaia

More Wow Buildings

RIPLEY'S BUILDING, ONTARIO, CANADA

HANG NGA GUESTHOUSE A.K.A CRAZY HOUSE, VIETNAM

FOREST SPIRAL—HUNDERTWASSER BUILDING, DARMSTADT, GERMANY

FERDINAND CHEVAL PALACE A.K.A IDEAL PALACE, FRANCE

ERWIN WURM: HOUSE ATTACK, VIENA, AUSTRIA

BikePortland.org

This website has all kinds of information about biking in Portland. It has everything from stolen bike info to places to post their stories about crashes and close calls.
http://bikeportland.org/

-Abigail

Buildings That Might Defy Your World of Architecture

KANSAS CITY PUBLIC LIBRARY, MISSOURI, UNITED STATES

THE CROOKED HOUSE, SOPOT, POLAND

NAKAGIN CAPSULE TOWER, TOKYO, JAPAN

HABITAT 67, MONTEAL, CANADA

CUBIC HOUSES, ROTTERDAM, NETHERLANDS

Claire's Conference Outing: the Mt. Tabor Area Field Study Summary—in English

PORTLAND, OREGON U.S.A.: Conference Outing Summary: Mt. Tabor, Green Streets, Upper Hawthorne Avenue 04.06.10

At approximately eleven in the morning I and other transportation, housing, parks and art, economics, and health and safety professionals boarded the Trimet bus "15 Belmont" . We arrived at Mt. Tabor Park and walked to the top to see a spectacular view of downtown Portland. Most prominent was Hawthorne Avenue, which lead to the Willamette River and the West Hills. Frank McGowen, one of the conference leaders and tour guides, pointed out OMSI (Oregon Museum of Science and Investigation), the Coin Building, the Markham bridge, and the Mt. Tabor reservoir. On the way back to Sunnyside Environmental Center, the main building the Brownsfield Conference is being held in, our group was shown many different ways of making a city "livable". Components that make Portland a livable city include dog parks (apparently abundant in Portland), bioswales (a landscape element that helps clean storm water before it is infiltrated back into the earth or piping), and nurseries (to help populate the parking strips with trees). I was especially impressed with the diverse feel of the neighborhood. Through the eyes of a non-architect I would not have guessed there are so many different chicken coop designs, planters, and garden art. Being in Portland I am pleased with the variety of houses and apartments compared to, for example, places in Pheonix, Arizona and Washington (State). Frank is a suburb leader and I was satisfied with the quality of my first day in Portland, Oregon.

Through a planner's eyes I question elements of Portland with judgement of efficiency, beauty, sustainability, and walk, bike, and public transportation success. When I don my architect's spectacles I can see that the public transportation system in Portland (Trimet) is organized and easy to decipher. If you have access to Trimet's website there are helpful resources like "Trip Planner" and "Transit Tracker" to make your ride practically effortless. I have noticed that the bus shelters are planned with thought: the seating often discourages homeless people and encourages bus riders, offers protection from the rain, and sports maps and timetables. From a planner's perspective I see a little more of the story and purpose to features of cities.

To me, "livable" mean something is enjoyable to live in, in addition to being fit for living. In my opinion cities are livable when they have the necessities of the 2010 human standard (able to support housing, office buildings, streets, electricity, TVs, computers, telephones, cellular phones, airplanes, trains, grocery stores, etc.) plus sustainability like recycling and things that bring people together to create a stronger community, like art installations.

Bioswales benefit Portland. Rain is abundant in the Portland area and when the storm water and sewage pipes fill with too much water (and waste), they overflow into the Willamette River. Storm water from impervious surfaces, like sidewalks and paved roads, run into the bioswales and the plants inside love it. The water is cleaned by going through the plants and soil and as a result the water takes longer getting to the pipes or is able to infiltrate the soil. I think bioswales are a super-technology because they have a efficient purpose, they are nice to look at, and they can boast that their home is becoming a green place, already a green place, or becoming a greener place.

World Architecture Website

I found this website with worldwide architecture events, news, stories, projects, etc. Inspiring for an architect like me to look at!

http://www.worldarchitecturenews.com/index.php?fuseaction=wanappln.showhome

-Claire

Science Fiction Books

Here is a website with good book recommendations, categorized by genre. Here is the link to the science fiction collection: http://www.readingrants.org/category/gen-x-files/ Some of my favorites.....

Hunger Games—Suzanne Collins (one of the best books I have ever read)

Before I Fall—Lauren Oliver (ditto)

Impossible—Nancy Werlin (ditto ditto. Also, I own this book so someone can borrow it.)

Forest of Hands and Teeth—Carrie Ryan (I own this book so someone can borrow it.)

Shiver—Maggie Stiefvater

The Fetch—Laura Whitcomb

How to Ditch Your Fairy—Justine Larbalestier (Australian and incredibly hilarious—laugh out loud, pee your pants, cause major class disruption funny.)

Bliss—Lauren Myracle (disturbing)

The Adoration of Jenna Fox—Mary E. Pearson

A Great and Terrible Beauty, Rebel Angels, and A Sweet Far Thing—Libba Bray (This is a trilogy, listed in order. I have Rebel Angels and A Sweet Far Thing that can be borrowed. Also some of the best books I have read.)

Book of a Thousand Days—Shannon Hale

-Claire

Amazing art

If you go on to google (under images) and look up chalk art you will see amazing art

-Zara

good books

Okay I f you dont know a good book to read over spring break then you should read the Uglies by scott Westerfeild


-Zara

i sent my history alive article to franks.core@gmail.com because it would not post on the blog.

another intresting fact

here is another cool fact a couple days ago scientists found an all black penguin in Antarctica.
-Sadie

snow in the mediterranean

I just wanted to share this, because I find it really interesting how we barely had any snow, yet the Mediterranean is receiving huge blasts of it!
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8557570.stm

FS summary

On Tuesday we went to a blacksmith’s shop. It was very cool and enlightening to see how real iron work is made. I personally thought that it was interesting to see how difficult and long it takes to make a piece of art. The most interesting thing was how patient you have to be and how strong and skilled you must be to do that crafts work. When I stepped up to swing the hammer it was heavy and you really had to have good aim to hit the small piece of metal. I definitely won’t forget this time going to a blacksmiths shop and I hope no one else will too.

-Rowan

I really liked this trip. Not very often are we offered the experience to watch and join in on a blacksmith's work. To my surprise it is a lot like they show in the movies. Like in pirate movies when they have the blacksmith making swords. Although Aaron doesn't make very many swords the process is similar. Using heating and cooling to form the iron, using a forge, anvil, water and a hammer. Aaron's studio was very calm and had a earthy vibe, espically with the presence of his dog, Wiley. It felt like a spot where you could be very creative and still get a lot done. I also enjoyed hammering the hot metal, at first I was a little nervous; I dislike hot things. But as I started it was a lot of fun and I had nothing to worry about. It was intresting to see the plain iron form into a hanger in the course of 2 hours. It was a long a process and I can't imagine working with metal all day everyday, but it was a fun experience. And wow, Aaron must be strong. It's quite the workout. Overall I really enjoyed being involved with a blacksmith's work. I had a great time thanks to Aaron, Zach, Wiley, Frank, our chaperones and our class!

-Lisa

Claire's Altility Art Studios Field Study Reflection

1. After taking a nice tour of multiple Trimet bus routes, we arrived at Altility Art Studio on Mississippi (near the waffle place that sent enticing aromas over to the studio, teasing my tummy). We were welcomed by Wiley, a black, wolf-y, amber-eyed, white speckle footed dog. Aaron then introduced himself and his friend Zach. He showed us the project he his currently working on for an art series in Cannon Beach. The “canvas” was an approximately seven foot tall rock with a circumference of three feet and a shape that reminded me of the pinky finger sized crystal I got at a place I remember sold yoga movies and smelled of incense when I was four-ish years old: a rough thin main length tapering at the end, like the way my dad slices baguettes when we have guests over. The rock looked like it might be about to go rock climbing; it was harnessed and rigged so it would stand up straight, pointing to the ceiling. It looked heavy—I cannot make weight estimates but it was probably heavy enough to kill you if it fell on top of you. Winding around the rock to the top and back down were metal salmon. Aaron said he was collaborating with a Native American woman who was going to be adding carvings of the salmon life cycle to the rock. I think the end product will be riveting.

After surveying Aaron’s current project he showed us how we would make three hooks. First he heated a kiln to 2100 degrees Fahrenheit. He then balanced three two-foot long iron rods with an inch circumference inside the kiln. While waiting for the kiln to heat the rods, he explained most blacksmiths make their own tools and showed us the tools he made, describing that the circular ended hammer evenly spread heated iron when pounded and the narrow, rectangular ended hammer spread heated iron in the direction the pressure was applied. Aaron also showed us a three-foot long anvil and how pounding iron on different planes of the anvil resulted in different shapes. Once the iron rods were heated to a glowing yellow-orange much like the color of the sun when it seems to sink into the ocean at sunset or a farm-fresh egg yolk being lit from the inside by a 400 watt light bulb (using my imagination hear, wouldn’t suggest experimenting), students took turns pounding the rods with the different hammers (don’t worry parents, we wore gloves and safety goggles). I thought it was grueling and fatiguing work to pound the rod, especially because there is only a few minutes the rod can be beat into shapes before it cools too much. After each student pounded the rods Aaron and Zach fashioned the rods into hooks, the kind you might mount onto a kitchen wall and hang a tea towel from (although they looked strong and tough enough to hold a fifty pound tool belt in a dark basement). The whole process took about two hours, with the pounding and reheating repetitions. The final result was a square hook, a hook with the tea towel holding part curling inward, and a hook with the top back part curling inward as well as the tea towel holding part. The experience was interesting and I had a fresh respect for Aaron’s work after I tried it myself, especially after flipping through his binder of other projects he has done, much more complicated looking then our simple hooks.

Our class was ravenous after our laborious blacksmithing and the majority of the class snacked as we wait for the bus—bus #1. We took another tour of a handful of Trimet bus routes on our way back to SES, gobbling food whenever possible. Arriving back at SES around later-then-expected, we collapsed exhaustedly into our chairs, guzzling any leftover food. The life of blacksmithing. Ah…

2. The Steps of Blacksmithing: To shape iron, it must be heated to at least 1650 degrees Fahrenheit. When struck repeatedly, iron will become brittle and crack, so it must be heated and cooled, heated and cooled many times. This process is called annealing. Fire, water, earth, and air is used in blacksmithing: ore from the earth, fire to heat the metal, air to increase the heat of the fire, and water to harden the metal. An anvil is used to shape heated metal. Almost any iron can be used. Hammers are an important tool used to shape metal in the blacksmithing process. The striking surface of a hammer causes the heated metal to spread in different directions. The blacksmithing process is a long one, and requires patience (something I have learned personally by trying blacksmithing).

3. (My object is a teacup.) Making a teacup using the blacksmithing process would take a long time. I imagine it would take hundreds of repetitions of heating and cooling a piece of metal to form a cup—with a handle. Today, there are efficient machines that construct teacups but I have made teacups from clay before and know it is a slow process. Making a teacup from clay is not a quick project, because one must be careful to construct the cup with no holes or cracks or else a tea-drinker will not be especially pleased when their scorching tea leaks onto their fingers. Having the opportunity to try blacksmithing made me think more about the time and process it takes to make a seemingly simple object.

i decided to put pictures on other things that blacksmiths make. I found these pictures the first one is of a hook like we made on tuesday. the second one is of a horse shoe that  blacksmiths can also make. The third one my favorite is if a hook with a leaf one it that looks like the leaf has a bit of color on it.