History's Full Circle

One of the riveting effects of working at the Library of Congress is the everyday realization that knowledge is a transformative intellectual tool that is useful to all, really. Learning about history of peoples and things it is not a solitude exercise. Certainly, the notion that history is something detached or removed from everyday life, and that the study of certain subject matters belong in a time capsule because of the assumption that history is not entertaining, useful or simply a general topic of conversation is an absolute mistake.

I have given in to this assumption many times before. But working at the Library of Congress has changed that. This is how history’s tentacles work.

I decided to attend a public lecture given by one of the fellows in residence at the Center where I work. Timothy Rohan has dedicated his career to studying, curating and interpreting Paul Rudolph’s works, a 20th century American architect. Rohan discussed how the fellowship at the Center, has given him wide access to Rudolph’s entire works, now housed at the Library of Congress, under the Paul Rudolph Collection at the Prints and Photographs Division. He also discussed the exhibition he curated at Yale University, running until January 23, 2009 at the newly rededicated Paul Rudolph’s Art and Architecture Building.

I really enjoyed Rohan’s insightful interpretations of Rudolph’s influence on post World War II architecture, especially in urban planning. Rudolph was famous for reinterpreting urban landscapes and redeveloping existing structures in order to make buildings relevant to contemporary aesthetic needs. Rohan explained how Rudoph’s committed patronage helped test his ideas of structural expression, monumentality, urbanism and prefabrication in many campuses and cities across America.

At the end of the lecture, Rohan personally thanked and pointed at C. Ford Peatross, the curator of Paul Rudolph’s Collection at the Library of Congress. When I got home, I instinctively pulled out the book on Rudolph my husband, an architect, owns titled Paul Rudolph: The Florida Houses. Curious to find out who had written it, I learned that the preface had been written by Peatross, who collaborated extensively with the authors. The book was published in 2003. In the book’s dedication, the authors rightfully thanked many colleagues, including Rohan, the young architectural historian, who is becoming a forceful authority on Paul Rudolph’s works. The perk is that I get to ask Rohan and Peatross to sign the book, but most importantly the book has greater meaning and equitable value now that historians like Rohan are reinterpreting Rudolph’s works in history. This is how history makes its full circle, even if it is a tiny one. By the way, the book’s cost in Amazon is around $800 for a used copy. I tell you, got to love history.

The Holidays

You have been bitten by the holiday bug
If you suddenly feel the Christmas rush
You can run and hide from the cheerful hum
But you cannot ignore the holiday buzz

‘Tis the season to be jolly
Fa la la la la, la la la la…

For some unpredictable reason
Christmas starts early this season
Black Friday¹ has become
A nation-wide symbolic spur
We can’t believe our eyes
When we see the sales arrive

Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer
had a very shiny nose…

In a time when consumer choices
Trigger global warming causes
The best way to feel redeemed
Is to recycle your Christmas tree²

Joy to the world, the Lord has come
let Earth receive her King…

At Christmas time,
Christians and non-Christians alike
Make the holiday festivities
The center of their lives
After all, unto us a child is born
So is the need of improving our souls
Something we all constantly seek
Regardless of our religious beliefs

Chestnuts roasting on an open fire
Jack Frost nipping at your nose…

Bountiful feasts abound everywhere
Around fireplaces, children will play
While others instinctively will discern
That kindness and grace will not wane
When the spirit of the season fades

City sidewalks, busy sidewalks
dressed in holiday style…
Soon it will be Christmas day

Wherever we find ourselves
Excitement is everywhere
Winter wardrobes are on display
As scarves and mittens warm up our days
In city centers, windows are dressed
Holiday lights beaming away
While holiday music fills the air
In dreams, children gaze at the Polar Express
And parents hide their holiday stress

Frosty the snowman
was a jolly, happy soul

The holiday spirit is a funny one
Debts are forgiven and people have pride
On the things they offer in a generous fashion
For free smiles are a contagious reaction

In the meadow we can build a snowman
then pretend that he is Parson Brown

The holiday spirit is put to the test
When family members celebrate
One of the things they truly enjoy
Seeing their children play with new toys
But old Charlie Brown was wise,
Christmas has been compromised
By commerce, greed and bottom lines

Good king Wenceslas looked up
on the feast of Stephen

Wouldn’t it be nice if for once?
Instead of maxing up our cards
We do something small and nice
And give to charity with open hearts
The generosity of giving souls
Fulfills our dreams and hopes

Silent night, holy night
all is calm, all is bright….

Sad as it is, it’s worth mentioning
An ugly side of holiday bliss
Our furry friends³ may stray away
Others will be left in the rain
Nights could turn into despair
If we fail them in good care

¹In the US at least, frenzy consumers fill the stores to slaughterhouse capacity the day after Thanksgiving.
²Not only are we putting our lights earlier this year, a weak economy means Christmas tree sales could spark as more people stay home for the holidays.
³Millions of pets end up in the streets during the holiday season, victims of abuse and neglect.

How to economize without losing your head

By now you should be aware that it’s official: The National Bureau of Economic Research said the US has been in recession since Dec. 2007. However, like many, I have managed to survive the recession so far. Here are my tips for calling the shots and saving my pockets this holiday season:

1.Rethink your expenses. This is a must. Start off with your credit cards. Don’t use them unless it’s an emergency. If you can’t buy something with your debit card, it means you cannot afford it on credit. Make sure that you are paying at least the minimum, that way your credit is not affected. Once you are able to stave off this crisis, you can increase the monthly payments. If you have any other monthly charges which you can live without, get rid of them. These are dry cleaning bills, house cleaning bills, and pet grooming (you can groom Fido yourself). Also seek different shortcuts or bargains for those expenses you don’t want to skimp on, like manicures (who needs a pedicure in this weather) and haircuts. For some people it’s a trade off. I rather keep my monthly donations (ASPCA, WWF, etc) than get expensive manicures and haircuts.

2.Sacrifice your mode of transportation. This is for city commuters. Don’t take that taxi unless is absolutely necessary, use the metro or subway, have an umbrella at all times and walk more. You will be glad you did. It is healthier and you are forced to do more thinking, which in many cases, helps you sort out problems and tackle your next big plan.

3.Personalize and budget gifts. This holiday season, put extra care and thought on the way you give. Survey those friends and family members you are planning to gift, and ask them to rate the gifts they would like to receive. You can send an email asking them to return it to you. Possible choices to include in the survey are gift cards (specific stores), itunes certificates, books (make sure you know their taste), kitchenware, clothes, home accessories, or things you already have in mind for them. The point is to save money by hunting for the special gift and giving them something they want and find useful. Make holiday shopping a good experience. Hit the stores early in the morning, wear something comfortable and have your IPod on. Enjoy, the holidays are only once a year.

4.Eat in. That dinner will cost you more than a week of groceries. So make a list and buy food you can prep at home. Buying vegetables and greens for salads and wraps it’s a healthy way to keep calories on check. Having a bowl of healthy cereal, a banana or an apple and coffee in the mornings helps control your hunger and stabilizes your metabolism. Don’t be afraid of trying a little cooking too, like rice, beans and grilled fish. Make it fun by drinking a glass of wine while preparing food and listening to music. This ritual twice a week warms up your place. Invite friends over for holiday cocktails, all you need is a few appetizers, wine and good conversation. There are plenty of websites you can check to help guide you through one of this fetes as well as channels like the Food Network. In harsh economic times, your home should be your retreat, so make it inviting.

5.Who hasn’t Netflixed? It’s nice to go to the movies with friends and make it a social gathering, but I suggest Netflix for regular moviegoers. The savings are big. For about eight dollars a month you can view up to 5 movies at a time. Invite your friends over, ask them to make a small contribution, and you can enjoy any movie of your choice with wine, some popcorn and something sweet. You can also rotate houses and make movie suggestions as well. This, of course, is for serious movie buffs.

6.Do little things around the house. If you cannot live without candles, then don’t, just buy in bulk. Tealights are a good choice and are not messy. Things like, putting the shower liner in the wash cycle and hanging it back to dry are cheaper, than buying a new one; turning off the TV and lights helps reduce electricity bills, especially if you are having the heater on this winter. The point is to be conscious about consuming less. Once you get into this state of mind, the rest is easier.

7.Find innovative ways to make money. Tools like E-bay, and craigslist are great places to sell your unwanted things. Also, if you speak another language, you can offer classes, or if you like pets, you can consider pet-sitting. For ex., this month I am going to bake brownies and sell them at my job’s cafeteria. Just be creative and don’t stress either.

8.Consider brewing your own coffee. I started doing this and it is so much cheaper. Brew coffee in the morning and just take it in a thermos or sealable cup to work. You will have fresh coffee the whole morning without even leaving your desk. Now that’s awesome.

9.Some reading materials are not created equal. Consider free newsprint. In major cities, they are everywhere. Also I rather subscribe to certain magazines than buy them in the stands. Yeah, it’s nice to stop at a newsstand and buy a magazine on your way to work, but believe me, if you have a defined choice of read, it’s cheaper to subscribe. I receive Time Magazine and save about 66% off the cover. I am now considering an Oprah Home subscription for about $10 a year, or 50% off the cost if I were to buy it in the stands for the same period. Now that’s a good splurge.

10.And finally, be thankful that you still have your job this holiday season. With unemployment at a 16-year high, you should not be complaining. Thousands more will lose their jobs this month. Ouch.

America leads again

Under the watchful eyes of the world America has once again made history. For an overwhelming majority, Obama’s victory creates the possibility for a ‘new’ America. One that is no longer white, homogeneous and singular; but rather multi-racial, heterogeneous and pluralist.

“We as a people” are part of a historic moment in our lives, Obama
said, that glorious night in Grand Park, IL recounting America’s brightest threshold moments from Lincoln’s Inaugural address to the fall of the Berlin wall, Americans have been at the center of all these transcendental events, and Obama’s victory will go down in history as the day America finally ‘evolved’.

Many of our allies in the world have yet to see a moment like this take
place on their own turfs. As the perpetual light bearer of the world, America has shown the ability to startle the world with our passion, our optimism and our sense of renewed hope. It is a place, finally, where the content of our President’s character is more important than his cultural background.

Obama's economic policy team: two thumbs up

Now that the United States is experiencing the biggest economic crisis in modern history, it is safe to say, that America’s best choice is Senator Barrack Obama. After eight years of irresponsible management and low-grade politics, the obvious choice is the Democratic ticket. But instead of capitalizing on the downfalls of the Bush administration and the offspring they have produced, here is why Obama's economic plan is the best option for America.

When it comes to improving the economic prospects of this nation at this critical time, the Obama economic team has highlighted the necessary steps for recovery, reform and renewability desperately needed in the unconscientious American financial system.

Heading Obama’s economic policy team is Jason Furman, a 39 year-old centrist economist and fiscal policy expert from Harvard University. Obama has also enlisted other top-notch economists and academics including Alan Binder, a Princeton University economist and former Federal Reserve Chairman; Austan Goolsbee, senior economist at the Progressive Policy Institute and columnist for the New York Times; Jeffrey Liebman, a pension and poverty expert at Harvard University; and David Cultler, a Harvard University health economist. Other prominent advisors come from The Brookings Institution, The Center for American Progress and Citigroup.

But the most exciting, un-official advisor and supporter comes in the form of an unpretentious billionaire named Warren Buffet, solidifying Obama’s bid for the Presidency. Buffet has held fundraisers for Obama and has rallied entrepreneurs, economists, and union leaders to back him, stressing the fact that it’s about time for tax reform and healthcare reform, specifically shifting the tax burden away from the middle class to the upper rich. In Buffet’s words, it is called social justice.

Finally, someone with enough guts has finally called McCain’s bluff. It’s not socialism you swiftboating morons, it’s social justice.