Architects.In.Making

REVIVE THIS!!!

2010-01-27T07:13:00.000-08:00

Yo guys, what say you we revive this blog the moment we get back to college?

its seems such a waste that we let this awesome blog title go to waste... T.T

Lets redo this with a new blogheader, new posts n most importantly new stuff to blog about.

It can be anything to do with the architecturing world n also our college life.

Anyone with me?!

still love ya guys xD

2009-06-04T10:53:00.000-07:00

Overall through out the whole project, we had created a strong bond between one another as an innovative and creative group.

To accomplish our respectively duties in each assignment given by our dedicated lectures, Pn.Yati and Mrs. Charles, we had been through hardwork, spending sleepless night making the class exhibition a success. However, most importantly we understood everything we had done are worth every drop of our hardwork

During the class exhibition held at The Gallery, we as a group sold drinks - Pina Lacarda (mocktail aka cocktail without alcohol) and managed to raised a certain amount of fund for orphanage. Nevertheless, we as part of the class helped out in selling the biodegradeble bags and also the class exhibition's preparation.

As for "The Tree of Hope", we had created an ark, rehab centre and a bird nest as the answer we provide for solving animal extinction.

-The Ark represent the Noah Ark, transfering endangered animals to The Rehab centre.

-Around the Rehab centre, there is wind mill to generate wind power. Even animals conserve mothernature :D So we got to do our part too, we can make a difference.

-Bird nest represent us providing the animal a warm & healthy home. On the surface of the birdnest, we had installed solar panel, to generate solar energy.

Benjamin and Leonard installing our creation onto "The Tree of Hope"

Preparing for class presentation about our art sculpture.

Lastly, we had done a great job in our the video presentation !!!! Hopefully you all enjoyed it :)
To watch the video, please scroll down to the next few posts below. Thanks You :D

Tee-Hee

Till Then, everyone.

Bye :P

Sustain and Improve Human Life and the Ecosystem.

2009-06-04T09:12:00.000-07:00

But what can we do to improve and sustain the quality of human life and our planet’s ecosystem?

By sufficient preservation of forest and the conservation of the earth resources, we can effectively upkeep our ecosystem. Having said, these solutions may be proposed repetitively ALL THE TIME by everyone, but these can answer to the issues in so many ways that the outcomes are greater than you think it is! Forests act as carbon sinks by absorbing carbon dioxide from the air through photosynthesis. This is one of the natural ways to reduce carbon-containing chemicals in the air, and thus reduce global warming. Carbon sinks remove carbon dioxide (an example of greenhouse gas) from the atmosphere is known as CO2 sequestration or carbon sequestration. Tropical reforestation can mitigate global warming until all available land has been reforested with mature forests. You may as well know that the plants are vital in the ecosystem as they are the producer of energy in the food-chain, thus a healthy amount of greenery can definitely sustain human life and the ecosystem.

PUTTING IN THOUGHTS FROM THE SIX HATS..

The WHITE hat:

The improvement or sustainability of the human life and ecosystem can be viewed scientifically. We can save the flora and fauna by breaking through in genetic engineering. Now that we have advanced tissue culture technology, cloning of animals is possible. To avoid extinction of the animals, scientists can deepen their research on the species, provide rehabilitation services and also apply appropriate genetic engineering methods, ALL done by using their knowledge and facts about the issues.

The RED hat:

Heeding gut feelings can be practical in saving the environment. Based on experience and intuition, we are able to avoid making the same mistakes in sustaining the environment.

Like Al Gore, he’s passionate and emotional about his role as to create awareness, by stretching his influence across the globe. Clearly, he has successfully caused an impact in human lives, at least we do WAKE UP and realise the urgency of his message through his thorough research and analysis.

The YELLOW hat:

“YES! WE CAN DO IT! CHEERS AND LIFE IS GREAT because you know YOU can be part of it!”

The desire to make things happen is essential. After all, thoughts come before actions. THOUGHTS becomes ACTIONS! See how it works?! The Secret has taught us how to think positively in order to get desired outcomes. In saving the environment, EVERYONE has to think positively that global warming would somehow cease, that animal extinction would somehow come to an end, that human life would somehow prolong and improve. We can HOPE together as a group, this would generate stronger positive vibes.

The BLACK hat:

It is very judgemental and logical. It is easier to be destructive than constructive. The methods we have proposed to save the ecosystem have its own pros and cons. By thinking critically and negatively, some methods might pose more negative effects compared to its positive effects. Putting on the black hat, you pin point the problems in our environment and the flaws in our approach to save the ecosystem. It makes us ponder more, for instance, all the advertising and money spent just to create awareness for the Earth Hour, is it worth all that or is it too commercialised? Will people forget about it soon? Could the money be spent on any better use, like funding the environmental organizations? These show the study on the negative side.

The GREEN hat:

Innovation is very much needed in this field. To improve and sustain human life and the ecosystem, we have to be creative and imaginative. THINK of what other possibilities and alternatives are there while emphasizing only on one issue. Like what Ahmed and his group have proposed through the Tree of Hope, we can construct buildings that can cure the environment by certain process. Maybe we can avoid deforestation by using entirely recyclable building materials or even construct smart condominiums above roads in future to preserve the forests. By then, no monkeys would even bother to break into your house to steal bananas when they have the forest to themselves.

The BLUE hat:

Looking at the big picture, we have to care about every aspect of what our actions can cause. By careful observation and overview, we keep the group focused and clear in directions. In the environmental field, we have international organisations that take different aspects into account. It is important to have a organised and centralised association to carry out environmental-loving campaigns. For example, in large scale, the World Wildlife Foundation has combined efforts to save the animals from extinction. While in small scale, our creative thinking group, A.I.M is doing this. =)

“Para Hacer un abrigo de piel se necesitan 120 crías.”
“In order to make a fur coat, 120 young animals are needed.”

Ad by: f.a.a.d.a. (Fundación para la adopción, apadrinamiento y defensa de los animales),

the Spanish animal rights organisation.

Presenting...

2009-06-04T06:47:00.000-07:00

Our videos that show some solutions to this problem!

Architects In Making (Vol. 1) - The 'Leather' Bag

Architects In Making (Vol. 2) - Energy Saving

Enjoy! :)

Damages caused, and how we may be able to overcome it.

2009-06-03T21:27:00.000-07:00

The global issue that our group has chosen is the extinction of animals. The extinction of animals by humans began in year 1651 when the last Dodo bird was killed. Since then, other species of animals have been facing extinction. Some examples are the Bali tiger and the Golden Toad.

One example of the damages caused by the extinction is the loss for certain generations to appreciate the widlife animals that God has created. It also causes an unstable ecosystem due to the extinction,

Other damages that might happen in the near future is the reducing food we have in this world to accomodate for everyone. Then, there is also the fur and cloth reduction from the extincting animals. The future will be chaotic, and many of us will lead an unhealthy life because of the fact that the animals, our food, are being polluted. Resulting in us polluting ourselves.

We, as the new generation can help this problem by creating an awareness that is able to reach out to all kinds of people. The war we now fighting is to save the world, and saving the animals are a part of it. We can make a difference by awaring the public and by also leading a different lifestyle from our past generations. We will put everything into consideration and make a choice for the greener good of the Earth.

Among some creative solutions to saving the animals is to stop using fur products! Many animals are killed just because of their fur and nothing else. Another solution is to build rehabitation centres for exticnting animals. Not only that, animals should be treated with care because they are still living things just like us. The last solutions is to stop eating exotic animal meals like shark fin soup. The way the kill the animals just to make special delicaies is a torture to the animals and will only lead them to extinction.

Someone has to take the lead for the rest to follow. Let us all do what we can (for the animals) !

2009-06-02T03:24:00.000-07:00

According to the majority of biologist, in the past two centuries, they had witnessed the accelerated rates of animal extinction and endangerment that has took place alongside the rapid growth of the human population.

But when the question of what and whom to blame for this cause arise, not many seem to care. However it's us, who cause god's creation to suffer due to our overwhelming demands.

On my opinion, were all made equally despite what and who we are, no creatures are made to "dominate" the Earth.

Unfortunately, this fact isn't widely understood by many. So does the fact that animal extinction effects our daily lifes.

Animal extinction is usually caused by destroying their habitat, in this case, deforestation. Animals are like any other living creature, they can't survive without food and a home. The same things apply to us, we can't survive without sufficient amount of food provided by both animals and plants. Imagine other dominating creatures destroyed our home, how would you feel? Are you going to stand up for yourself, for your entire race?

If yes, would you think animals could stand up for themselves? They can't even communicate with us! As the destroyers and also the saviors, we must stand up for their behalf, for their right to keep living on this Earth.

It's their home, It's our home.

Then why are we still killing them, destroying their homes, ruining their lives ??

Without them ...

1. Plants wont be able to transfer their pollen grain to other places and spread their population to other parts of the world, as some rely on animals. Which indirectly leads to no.2

2. Lack of food.

3. Lack of inspiration ( You have to admit animals are human's inspiration for some aspect)

Inspired to fly by birds.

Signing off. Mling

White Tigers!

2009-05-14T20:30:00.000-07:00

The white tiger (also known as the Bengal tiger) is about 3 meters long, and weighs approximately 180-285 kg (400-569 LB). It’s coat lies flatter than that of the Siberian tiger, the tawny color is richer and the stripes are darker.

White tigers are white colored bengals, they are not albinos and they are not a separate subspecies of tigers.

They have blue eyes, a pink nose, and creamy white furr covered with chocolate colored stripes. White tigers are born to tigers that carry the unusual gene needed for white coloring. Wild white tigers are rare species.

Fascinating fact about white tigers:

- The white tiger is a good swimmer, but a very poor climber.

- They may be slow runners, but they are stealthy enough to catch any prey in their sights.

- Because they are solitary animals, they hunt mostly at night

- White tigers are born to Bengal tigers that carry an unusual gene needed for white coloring.

- The other four sub-species of tiger are Siberian, South China, Indochinese, and Sumataran. There are only approximately 5,000 to 7,400 tigers left in the wild.

"There's more bad news from Kanha Tiger Reserve. Tragically, yet another tiger was found dead in Kisli Range, yesterday morning. It was a beautiful adult male, in his prime. The animal was lying in a pool of water with head injuries that had apparently been inflicted by another tiger."

Why are these happening around us? White tigers are like one of the most exotic animals on Earth. It should be protected and not slaughtered for its fur.

There are only around 200 of the white tigers left in the world. White tigers are an Asian species, found from the frozen tundra of the Soviet Far East, south to the humid jungles of Malaya and Indonesia, and west to the hot, hardwood forests of India. There are five living subspecies; three others are already extinct. Current estimates put the world population of wild tigers at about 5,000-7,000, the most numerous race being the Bengal race, distributed among some 18 tiger reserves and sanctuaries of India (and a half-dozen in Nepal and Bangladesh), accounting for over two-thirds of all wild tigers.Tigers are a protected species all over the world. Even though it's completely illegal to hunt them, people are still slaying these beautiful creatures.

The history of White Tiger

During the last 100 years, merely 12 white tigers have been spotted in the wild in India; giving an approximate proportion of 1 white tiger for every 10,000 normal pigmented (orange) tigers.

The white tiger's origin was recorded in India during the start of the HB Mughal period from 1556 to 1605 A.D.

The first "modern" case of a white tiger being captured was in 1915. He was caught by the local maharajah who kept the tiger until its death.

The recent spotting of a white Bengal tiger in the wild was in Rewa (Central India) on 27, May 1951. This male tiger was captured by the Maharaja Martand Singh of Rewa and was named Mohan - it is from this animal that all white tigers in captivity today are descended.

In 1960, a two year old white tiger in Rewa, Mohini, was bought by a businessman for US $10,000.00 and given to the National Zoo in Washington D.C. On 5th December 1960, Rewa appeared on the USA White House lawn with then president, Eisenhower.

Rewa was used to try and breed more white tigers in the USA (with normal orange tigers) but her offspring had various physical defects.

At the beginning of this century it is estimated that there were 100,000 wild tigers, today the number is less than 8,000. Simply put, tigers are disappearing in the wild. The main threats to tigers are poaching, habitat loss and population fragmentation.

Habitat & Range

Tigers usually dwell in an area from about 10 to 30 square miles where there is enough prey, cover/shelter and water to support them. Territory mainly depends upon the amount of prey which is available. The more concentrated the prey the smaller is the area that a tiger needs to survive.

If we want the next generation to be able to see such beautiful and amazing animal, WE GOT TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT! Save the Bengals!

The Day After Tomorrow

2009-05-13T07:28:00.000-07:00

Our Earth is getting warmer, I doubt that its capacity for heat is unlimited.

Being the major contributor for greenhouse gases, we obviously hold more responsibility to rectify the problems we have created. Our group had chosen to emphasise on the hazardous effects of environmental issues on the animals because animals are impeccably CUTE! Yeah! We're all animal-lovers! Apart from that, they do not deserve to suffer from our man-made causes (but sadly, imo, we do deserve it since we benefit from it). Some of the exotic animals are about to be extinct, while some ALREADY are. They are victimised. They are hurt. WE SHOULD SAVE'EM!

Giant Panda, the emblem of China a.k.a PANDA.

It is easily recognized by its large, distinctive black patches around the eyes, over the ears, and across its round body. The Giant Panda is a conservation reliant endangered species. According to the latest report, China has 239 Giant Pandas in captivity and another 27 living outside the country. It also estimated that around 1,590 pandas are currently living in the wild. However, a 2006 study, via DNA analysis, estimated that there might be as many as 2,000 to 3,000 Giant Pandas in the wild. Though reports show that the numbers of wild pandas are on the rise, the International Union for Conservation of Nature believes there is not enough certainty to remove the Giant Panda from the endangered animal list.

"Though the Giant Panda is often assumed to be docile, it has been known to attack humans, presumably out of irritation rather than predatory behavior." - Wikipedia.

In spite of being labelled as a carnivore, a normal panda has a diet of a herbivore. Oh, how gentle. So, save the panda!

Punk Rocker

2009-04-23T10:01:00.000-07:00

Benjamin representing our team to talk on global issues as a Punk Rocker.

Polar Bears.

2009-04-22T07:05:00.000-07:00

Polar bears live in a very specific habitat. They need the cold, ice and snow to live. That is why they are called "polar bears", and not "summer bears". Polar bears have very few natural threats in the polar region. They are on the top of the food chain and there are no other animals in the north that will threaten the polar bears. So why are the polar bears now on the threatened and endangered species list?

The main cause of the depleting number in this majestic creature is global warming. Global warming is caused by the human race. We have invented millions and millions of new products in the past century that contribute to the thinning of the ozone layer, causing the earth to heat up, melting the polar bears' homes - the sea ice in the north pole.

Polar bears eat mostly seals and other fatty marine mammals that they hunt from the ice. As you can see, these innocent polar bears don't know what is happening to them. As the ice climate gets warmer, ice is melting early in the summer and freezing later in the winter. Polar bears spend less time on the sea ice, which means they have less time to hunt seals and build up fat reserves. This can mean female polar bears have trouble providing milk for their young. If female bears don't reach a minimum weight, they won't give birth at all. On top of that, the bears will eat one another when they cannot find enough food to fill their tummies. :(

Oil spills from tankers also threaten polar bears' lives. When their fur is covered with oil, the fur loses its insulating properties. The oil spills will also contaminate the food sources of the polar bears. That will make the polar bears ill or even die of poisoning.

Today, polar bears are also hunted by native Arctic populations primarily for food, clothing, handicrafts, and sale of skins. Polar bears are also killed in defense of people or property. However, Hunting is government-regulated in Canada, Greenland, and the United States. Hunting is currently banned in Norway and Russia.

In conclusion, we must all do our part to reduce our carbon footprint in the world. That way, polar bears may survive till the next century. :)

2009-04-22T03:12:00.000-07:00

Prepared to be AMAZED, ladies and gentlemens ... or not.

Guess It's my turn to contribute something... so hold your breath and once again... Prepare to be amazed by the fantasy of animal kingdoms.

I present you... Hallucigenia

I assume no one heard of it existense, neither do I.

It because it an extinct animal !!!!!

We never seen it, so does our future generation.

Which is sad.

Hallucigenia bring us back to date more than 500 million years to a time known as the Cambrian Period when most of the major groups of animals first appeared. The Cambrian Period was also a time of evolutionary experimentation in which countless bizarre body plans were tried out and then left behind in the primordial soup. One particularly odd set of fossils come from an area of the Canadian Rockies known as the Burgess Shale, including a strange little arthropod named Hallucigenia.
Hallucigenia gets its name from its body plan, which appears to have been designed by someone under the influence of psychedelic drugs. It has an elongated body with a row of tentacles on one side and a string of stiltlike spines on the other. At first, researchers had no idea which way to orient the animal — on its tentacles or on its spines — but chose the spines since the tentacles appeared to have mouthparts on the end of them. However, recent evidence suggests that Hallucigenia's tentacles were actually paired appendages used for walking and that the spines were most likely for protection from predators. Based on this discovery, Hallucigenia was finally turned right side up.

Okay, maybe 500 millions years ago extinction has nothing to do with our human selfish act towards mothernature. So I ll be realistic ... on the next article Im gonna present to you all :D

P/s :Its not something cute.

Who knew pigeons could be extinct? we see them everyday.

The earliest settlers in the New World were amazed by the passenger pigeon, a bird with flocks so huge that it would take days for them to travel overhead, blackening the sky as they passed. Any farmer who had the misfortune of hosting passenger pigeons for a meal would quickly find his entire crop decimated within the blink of an eye. Then, virtually overnight, the most abundant bird in North America suddenly disappeared from the planet.

The extinction of the passenger pigeon is an example of nature coming into direct conflict with man. Its population numbered an astounding 3 to 5 billion when the first Europeans arrived in America. However, there was not room enough in the New World for both species. Passenger pigeons were soon wiped out due to merciless hunting, deforestation and other factors related to humankind's ever-expanding range. The extinction was only becoming apparent at the start of the 20th century; by 1914, the last known bird was dead.

Mling signing off :P

The Lone Wolf...

2009-04-21T21:45:00.000-07:00

So, here's the thing...

As a group project, we... My team... Myself, Rach (pronounced r-a-phlegm) , Mei Ling, Mark, Ray (dunno whether this name sticking anot... If not.. then its Yi Rui) and Leonard... Are suppose to make this blog..

TAADAA!!!

this is it la...

And we're suppose to bring to your attention...

EXTINCTED ANIMALS!!!
or "almost" extinct, anyways...

So, I, personally have gone with the coolest of cool animals...

The SUPER AWESOME...

ARCTIC WOLF!!!

We all know that Arctic Wolves live in the Arctic.... Hence their name...
D'uh...

a.k.a the Polar Wolf or the White Wolf, is GOING to be endangered to extinction if global warming continues to strive.

Actually, I'm doing this post just cause they look really really cool... =D

And they look really really cute when they're young!!!

OMG!!! TOOO CUTE~~!!!

Till next time, PEACE OUT!!!

2009-04-21T01:34:00.000-07:00

Our group, A.I.M. stands for Architects In Making.

The group is made up of Jay Min, Benjamin, Rachel, Mei Ling, Yi Rui and Leonard.

The main purpose of setting up this blog is (well, duh. We've got no choice) to touch on a global issue and ways to overcome it.

Well, the global issue that we have finally chosen after much consideration is the extinction of animals. Animals play an important role in maintaining the ecosystem. All animals contribute to the food chain, which further leads to a balanced ecosystem. However, humans have been selfish killing animals irrationally. Extinction of animals has long been a serious environmental issue, but some people fail to recognise the danger of it.

The extinction of the dodo is one good example.