Nov 30, 2015

City Planning News





A blog by Craig Hullinger MPHS Jan 66


City Planning News





A blog by Craig Hullinger MPHS Jan 66


Military Analysis

Military Analysis - a blog by Al Linsenmeyer MPHS Jan 66

militaryanalysis.blogspot.com




Military Analysis

Military Analysis - a blog by Al Linsenmeyer MPHS Jan 66

militaryanalysis.blogspot.com




Richard Haas Murals in Homewood, Illinois






In addition to a unique and quaint downtown area, Homewood now boasts the largest collection of Richard Haas murals anywhere in the world. Haas, a world-renowned painter specializing in large, illusion murals, was first invited to Homewood in the early 1980’s. Since that time, Hass has finished 14 murals and is scheduled to complete his final mural in the fall of 2014.

The time-lapse video above captures the magic of one of his recent murals being created. “Homewood has a special place in my 35 years of doing public work,” said Haas. “This project has allowed me to expand my work in many ways. In Homewood, I was given the freedom to design and execute a new series of works that tells an even larger story, not only about Homewood’s history but about the region in general. Homewood now has the largest concentration of my works in one area and I hope people will discover and enjoy these works for a long time to come.” “Homewood is a great home for the arts,” said Homewood Mayor Richard Hofeld. “We sought Richard out specifically for his realistic style as well as his artistic and history vision. Residents have given us very positive feedback about seeing the blank canvas of the side of a building become transformed into a work of art.”




These murals are very interesting.  I have viewed them and they really catch your attention.

Richard Haas Murals in Homewood, Illinois






In addition to a unique and quaint downtown area, Homewood now boasts the largest collection of Richard Haas murals anywhere in the world. Haas, a world-renowned painter specializing in large, illusion murals, was first invited to Homewood in the early 1980’s. Since that time, Hass has finished 14 murals and is scheduled to complete his final mural in the fall of 2014.

The time-lapse video above captures the magic of one of his recent murals being created. “Homewood has a special place in my 35 years of doing public work,” said Haas. “This project has allowed me to expand my work in many ways. In Homewood, I was given the freedom to design and execute a new series of works that tells an even larger story, not only about Homewood’s history but about the region in general. Homewood now has the largest concentration of my works in one area and I hope people will discover and enjoy these works for a long time to come.” “Homewood is a great home for the arts,” said Homewood Mayor Richard Hofeld. “We sought Richard out specifically for his realistic style as well as his artistic and history vision. Residents have given us very positive feedback about seeing the blank canvas of the side of a building become transformed into a work of art.”




These murals are very interesting.  I have viewed them and they really catch your attention.

"The Martian" Movie Review


I saw the movie "The Martian" last week and thought it was an excellent fictional story about an astronaut who is stranded on Mars after his fellow crew members thought he had been killed in a storm. I almost didn't go because it stars Matt Damon, who is an outspoken twit on various political issues. But in the end, the promise of a good story won out. Plus, I'm a sucker for good space or science fiction storylines.

After the show, I read a small article in the local paper about Andy Weir, who wrote the book on which the film is based. I was surprised to learn he grew up in Davis and is now a computer engineer in the Silicon Valley area. The story about how he came to write his novel was also interesting.

Weir is both a sci-fi fan and a scientific geek who was trying to write a scrupulously researched, technically accurate novel. He started publishing it, chapter by chapter, as web posts. As he progressed, he invited other scientists -- IT engineers, rocket scientists, exo-biologists, astronomers, etc. -- to comment and help him tweak the scientific details. It didn't hurt that NASA's Ames research center is based near Silicon Valley. His online following eventually grew and, as he completed the story, people began asking him to publish the full novel as an Amazon e-book.

Shortly after it was on Amazon, it jumped to near the top in unit sales for self-published e-books. That caught the attention of a literary agent, who within a couple of weeks got him a deal with a major publisher. In the same week he signed with the publisher, a Hollywood producer offered to buy the film rights.

Great personal success story, as well an an interesting space yarn.

My stepson saw the movie two nights ago and rated it as one of the best space movies he's seen -- right up there with the dramatization of the Apollo 13 mission starring Tom Hanks.

-Don Martensen MPHS Jan 66

"The Martian" Movie Review


I saw the movie "The Martian" last week and thought it was an excellent fictional story about an astronaut who is stranded on Mars after his fellow crew members thought he had been killed in a storm. I almost didn't go because it stars Matt Damon, who is an outspoken twit on various political issues. But in the end, the promise of a good story won out. Plus, I'm a sucker for good space or science fiction storylines.

After the show, I read a small article in the local paper about Andy Weir, who wrote the book on which the film is based. I was surprised to learn he grew up in Davis and is now a computer engineer in the Silicon Valley area. The story about how he came to write his novel was also interesting.

Weir is both a sci-fi fan and a scientific geek who was trying to write a scrupulously researched, technically accurate novel. He started publishing it, chapter by chapter, as web posts. As he progressed, he invited other scientists -- IT engineers, rocket scientists, exo-biologists, astronomers, etc. -- to comment and help him tweak the scientific details. It didn't hurt that NASA's Ames research center is based near Silicon Valley. His online following eventually grew and, as he completed the story, people began asking him to publish the full novel as an Amazon e-book.

Shortly after it was on Amazon, it jumped to near the top in unit sales for self-published e-books. That caught the attention of a literary agent, who within a couple of weeks got him a deal with a major publisher. In the same week he signed with the publisher, a Hollywood producer offered to buy the film rights.

Great personal success story, as well an an interesting space yarn.

My stepson saw the movie two nights ago and rated it as one of the best space movies he's seen -- right up there with the dramatization of the Apollo 13 mission starring Tom Hanks.

-Don Martensen MPHS Jan 66

Nov 27, 2015

Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Mate



Tom and Karen Schildhouse Vacation in Australia


Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Mate



Tom and Karen Schildhouse Vacation in Australia


Our Castle



Our Castle.  How cool is that?  Each your heart out, other schools and neighborhoods.

103rd and Longwood Drive

Cultural Connections: Chicago's Only Castle | Chicago ...


chicagotonight.wttw.com/.../cultural-connections-chica...
Sep 7, 2011
We have the remarkable story of a 19th century Beverly landmark. ... The Irish castle was originally built ...


    THE IRISH CASTLE

    www.prairieghosts.com/irish.html

    The Commission for Chicago Landmarks has named the house Chicago's only ... Beverly, and the Irish Castle, are located on the south side of Chicago at 1044 ...

    Chicago's Only Castle - Home

    chicagosonlycastle.org/

    Chicago's Only Castle: The History of Givins' Irish Castle and Its Keepers.
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    Givins Castle

    www.dupontcastle.com/castles/givins.htm

    In addition to being one of Chicago's most unique structures, Givins Castle has ... both for the castle and to view spectacular homes in this historically Irish and ...

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  1. The Haunted Castle of Chicago, Irish castle, Beverly Unitarian

    phantasmagoriaphoto.blogspot.com/.../haunted-castle-of-chicago-irish-ca...

    Jun 20, 2011 - Robert C. Givins, a successful real estate developer, drew the Irish Castle in Chicago entirely from memory. The three-story castle was built in ...

    Chicago's Only Castle: The History of Givins' Irish Castle ...

    https://www.facebook.com/.../Chicagos...Castle...Irish-Castle.../13467762...

    I have completed another draft of the book on Chicago's Only Castle: The History of Givins Irish Castle and Its Keepers. It will be just about 270 pages with over ...

    Cultural Connections: Chicago's Only Castle | Chicago ...

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    Chicago Tonight
    Sep 7, 2011 - Chicago's Only Castle is a medieval-looking building that sits on a hill at the corner ... The Irish castle was originally built in 1886 and 1887 – as ...

    Givens' Irish Castle - Not For Tourists

    www.notfortourists.com › Chicago › Southwest › Landmarks

    Address: 10244 S Longwood Dr, Chicago, IL 60643 (Cross street: W 102nd St) ... Beverly Unitarian Church bought the Irish castle in 1942 and now rents it out ...

    Chicago's Only Castle: The History of Givins' Irish ... - IMDb

    www.imdb.com/title/tt2124764/

    Internet Movie Database
    This feature-length film tells the exciting stories of the five keepers of the Castle, which was built by Robert C. Givins in 1886/1887. These stories unfold against ...