energy sufficient and efficient housing is IMPORTANT

So I'm on the internet looking at various things catching up on websites that I used to visit regularly and I realize something as I look at showcase after showcase of a new design for a new house that is energy independent and it hits me. So many think that these projects are starting points when in fact they are the very ends to the argument and the discussions that are not being had about these very same interventions.

That is: we as the general populace that do not seek governance politics or even corporate dominance have to have a healthy distrust of those who do, because like history teaches us over and over again, that quest to be the best, to build and sell the best product, hire the best minds shifts to profit and loss, bonuses and greed and unfortunately the people that suffer worst of all are the people who are in it to get to where they need to be in the world and are satisfied (or not... its a personal choice) with making sure the families are happy and provided for, period. But my point is, Energy has become fundamental... well not become it has always been fundamental since we discovered how to manipulate it... it has further driven everything that we do. So what happens when a few of the world's so called "leaders" want to squeeze each other and play who will blink first with crushing embargoes on food and energy (necessities). The general polluce at least for the developing world suffers through the rolling black out, lack of food and clean drinking water.

What these designs show us, is that, we may have given way too much power to our governing entities, at the end of the day we decide what is going to happen so why not make more of an effort to control the way we use the single most influential thing in our world that governs our everyday. Our energy, especially in our own homes. I mean if you are ever on dwell.com, there are countless projects that have been designed to capture, store, reuse and manipulate our natural energy. And it has become as easy as getting a computer or walking into you local public library and find out how it works and who can provide it for you. The day of information allows this to happen. So why not, get off the grid, so that the next time the government that you elected to keep the peace and make you secure sides with and angers another government and gets some embargo placed on you and your neighbor all you do is ride it out and find a way to stay sane.

This of cause is not the be all end all. There are several issues that I can think of that can affect my little kumbaya, world peace moment, but it is about time that people everywhere realize that energy should not be a commodity, especially if development is what we all want (and peace). It should be a right just as the sun rises every morning and is there whether we turn it on or off.

my two cents.

Mistakes I made as an undergrad

For the most part I went through my four years at the university of virginia thinking to myself, my lord... all this work, why am I here, what am I doing? This is very interesting? mmm... thats fantastic. I think i completely missed the boat... I was in a prestigious school surrounded by faculty that were the movers and shakers in my industry that were respected and well, hind sight is 50/50 am I right. There is so much that I should have done and so much I should have pushed for and the messed up part is that I only realize this now.

yes people this is another self involved commentary but I promise it is my last. I do not want to be as vain as I seem. So after this I am shifting my focus.

I mean it is amazing to see what I left behind versus what my issues were. I completely failed to see while I was doing my bachelor's the importance of where I was and all I want to do now is to go back. I am not too pride full to admit that I made a terrible mistake and I see why things are not coming together as I have wanted. But you know what. It is time to change that.

So to my professors and fellow A-Schoolers (Class of 2007)

I am writing because it has taken me years to realize this after going through the motions with my experiences in the University of Virginia: looking to what had happened instead of my own role in shaping what should have happened. I realize that I made some decision and even conducted myself in a manner that made it hard to reconcile my words with my actions. I see that cycle repeating over and over and over again and so I am writing this to apologize for putting you in that position and to recognize what I had done myself in an effort to change that about myself. I have never been too proud to admit that I need to change so, I will start from there.
I should have been doing all that I could to make life long connections with the most talented professionals I have ever had the honor of being around but instead I was flaky and terribly inconsistent. I do not request or want anything from you but a chance to reach the perceptions that you have about me, maybe so I can start to change them. You all offered me something invaluable and I was to consumed in God knows what to see it. Opportunity after opportunity I had, but somehow, I stood waving at the cars as they passed by semester after semester.

So for me, these are my steps... or I can call it my penance. It may be a harsh word but I owe to my parents, myself, my professors and the friends that I should have had to do this.
- A private hand written letter to each of my professors
- A complete porfolio of my work in each studio class starting with my 2nd year, 1st semester: bond and mailed to each professor (I am not asking for a grade or even a comment) it is what I have to do.

I have to complete this by the end of this year 2009, by Dec. 30th 2009. And I hold only me accountable. Time has been lost and I have to make sure that this never happens again because the great thing about being a teacher is the idea that you can share and give and expose regardless of the acception.

My Professors:
Jason Johnson
Anselmo Canfora
William Williams
Peter Waldman
Phoebe Crisman (my advisor)

Now I understand why they say that those are to be the best years of your life. The mind is a terrible thing to waste.