counting the uncounted, y'all

one week till final review, and it's time to figure out how we got where we got, and where we need to go. the project explores the potentials of mapping an unampped demographic [the homeless] through the lens of GIS. in an attempt to pin down the patterns of a migratory population, we find the census's current procedures for counting transient populations produce numerous discrepancies/inaccuracies. this reveals gis's tendency to concretize the temporal. by working with TINS [relational data sets] and re-inputting new time sensitive data collected about the ameneties relevant to a certain population, GIS can be used to identify LATENT COMMUNITIES.

the drawing shows latent HOTSPOTS, or areas of the city particularly rich with amenities of use to the homeless. the green tin is derived from the amount of time soup kitchens open through the year relative to proximity of vacant parcels in the city. the chartreuse is based on bus route proximity to public parks.

the next step is to clarify what all this means for the way we think about the city in general, as well as what types of urban proposals we might suggest based on our findings.
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WEATHER UPDATE: SPRING HITS CENTRAL NY

it's currently 72 degress in syracuse, ny. there are people in the streets, the porch is clean, and i've been dreaming lately of the couches/old wooden chairs i'm going to find on the street and lug up to my balcony. i even heard we might get a thunderstorm tonight! heat wave! now back to my 'seasonal depression has lifted' bean salad. Continue

where's my purse?

it's time to pay a visit to LATENT CITY. it's the studio blog of the 3rd installment of the su soa's transdisciplinary media studio, a collaborative design studio that encourages the use of new techniques in digital media. this work is the result of the first workshop with mclain clutter, who developed these techniques along with mark linder in a past GIS workshop. what you see above is a TIN or TRIANGULAR INTERPOLATED NETWORK of data collected from census data in syracuse, ny.
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this is an old manufacturing depot that faces one of syracuse's major highways, 691. this is just moments away from downtown, and along the same path the erie canal used to follow. we're talking a perfectly good platform RIGHT by the interstate, elevated 30 feet in the air. right now, there is a lame mural of trains (in order to honor the history?) and a series of white mannequins in various positions on the waiting platform. sometimes they sport hawaiian leis. naida and i always talk about how neat it would be to be able to access it. you could imagine an intervention that must create some sort of hyper-protective (yet still transparent) space. protection against cars moving at unnatural speeds, transparency for the spectacle of that very speed.

i'm not sure if i'm forming a thesis here, or if i am inviting everyone to offer ideas as to a possible project proposal. i'll be sure to get more on this when i actually return to syracuse.
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i was excited to share this video tour/info session of the creek with you guys!
around the 4:30 mark, they begin the stretch of the creek that extends through downtown syracuse. Continue

a small creek--inaccessible and severely polluted--runs through downtown syracuse from onondaga lake, like a secret.
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bones festes!

it's christmas time in tha s.y.r. (or at least in one corner!).
also, a photo of the new bike [check out flashy triangle reflector]!
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my try!

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after a good night's snow...

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this ain't no semantics.

Movin’ on up from pixilated flowers and over-worked acrylics (offense intended).

Publication found on top of the trash can @ SYRA-JUICE, the best local campus eatery. Features a dank chicken burrito and chicken Caesar wrap… serves chips and salsa with everything. Anyway, these people know what’s up.

[Jerk Magazine is the premier student-run monthly publication at Syracuse University. The first of its kind, Jerk has set an unparalleled standard for campus magazines. In our efforts to “jerk” people out of their apathy, we have created a distinctive voice that is passionate and uncompromising, coupled with the visually arresting work of student artists.]

Mr. bolton‘s article “I’m not gay” (hit home) and ms. Holloway’s article “Cover that up” (on women in politics) are must-reads. All are online.

See their blog here.

http://jerkmag.wordpress.com/

http://www.jerkmagazine.net/

[Warning: would like to point out that they posted lady gaga’s bad romance as well, but with a judgemental review and only two lame comments, one of which claiming her “attempt to be weird is really not unique”. Wtf. Has anyone forgetten the bitch can sing?]

The publcation is divided into the sections:

Bitch(opinions)

Gawk(style and design)

Smut (features)

Noise (art and music)

(((((Photo above by a ms. Courtney zapor, who apparently knows what the hell is up. (this one turned out kind of good, the rest are here (http://www.jerkmagazine.net/gawk/the-lovers-of-fashion.html))))).

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digital dinner with dylan

...and kitties. (or ditties for alliteration's sake)

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new space!

all the 1st year kids took the window seats. bitches.

i'm mildly excited about the studio space. got in a row with people i like, and there are way more windows than they had in last year's space.


just as a note, the desks are arranged differently than the ones in the architectural plans. which i think is kind of funny.

renovation by garrison architects out of new york.
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i'm here.

talk about diamond in the rough. netherlands architecture, anyone? 

Syracuse's main talent is being seriously sketchville on one block while competing with the world stage on the next. This building is feirce, and it's not even done yet. This sucker is LEED PLATINUM, bling bling. It's some sort of sustainable research mecca, located a 10 minute drive from my place. Think it will be ok if i just go hang out there? Design work done by Toshiko Mori.

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