Better Slate than Never

Is there anything better than a new magazine?It's sleek, attractive, cutting edge and hasn't yet had the opportunity to disappoint you with its banalities. Slate.com offers readers real content everyday and surprisingly without all the fluff. This convenient, online news magazine boasts over 30 contributing columnists and writers. Slate also contracts dozens of freelancers, so you're never stuck reading the same ten writers. The magazine was created in 1996 by a division of MSN and Microsoft and was bought by the Washington Post Company in 2004. In 1998, the Website garnered some attention when it attempted to be the first online publication to charge yearly subscription fees. The plan was not a success and Slate has returned its content to free. Since 2008, Slate has been by managed by Slate Group which manages other web-only publications.

This Website is simple in its layout. If you want Arts just hit the the tab and the seven or eight most recent postings come up. The date is April 24th the most recent posting in the Arts is from early this morning. That is up to date. With things constantly going up on this Website you have to wonder are they good or just slapped together for the purpose of upping readership? The content here is pretty solid, none of that dry, textbook voice that can sometimes annoy even the most regular readers of the New York Times. The site offers much more than pop culture. There are additional tabs for News & Politics, Business & Tech, Science, Podcast & Video and Blog. The site loads quickly and without being overburdened with ads. This is a clean Website which blends the hands-on newscasting of 2011 with the old school journalism of years ago, but not without stunning daily photography. It was a pleasant surprise to see all those old Magnum prints adorning the site like seeing old Warner Bros. cartoons late at night.

With today being a holiday and all Slate published a fascinating response to the question why Easter hasn't turned into the commercialism of Christmas. This is an edgier article that you wouldn't see in the front section of any major newspaper because of the demographic of newspaper readers. The author James Martin, supposes that the basic story surrounding Easter is grizzly and hard to not think about where as Christmas' story is about birth and suggests more of a warm and cuddly feeling. He also continues to say that it is on the idea of Christ's return to life that Christians differ from other religions limiting this holiday to only true believers. This article is written with a lot of energy and clever sentences. It never points the finger and never criticizes any religious groups or ideas but clearly forms an opinion on a topical issue. Again, most newspapers are aimed at a suburban audience, where an article like this would almost certainly offend someone. It has a place on Slate because of the interesting nature of their publication.

This news magazine despite being almost twenty years old, is still closer to the direction of modern journalism than any other news source. The articles are fresh, well written and nicely layed out, even the name suggests the kind of cool work Slate produces.

A New Era Continues

2012 may not bring the end of the world, but it certainly may be the end of reality TV. In just the last few years major networks have made great strides to the improve programing rather than rely on all-too-easy reality. Whether these reality replacements are worth watching may be debatable however it’s the effort that should be applauded. On the major networks like ABC and NBC the reality format is even parodied in shows like The Office, and Parks and Recreation, this sort of satirical attack can only mean that Americans no longer want to watch that sort of programing, that we may be bored with the old laugh-track but too smart for wiggly cameras and overblown confessionals. The new sitcom seems to borrow the filmed-on-location look of HBO series and yet keeps the lightheartedness of the sitcom glory days of the 1990s.

ABC premiered a new titled Happy Endings which marks another effort for the network to shy away from dying trends and go back to sitcom roots, a la Modern Family. What this show has to offer is a group of early 30s, Chicagoans dealing with the issues of being single, married and the in-between. The characters are not terribly deep yet, but show the groundwork for development. The pilot opens with a wedding at precisely the moment when Alex, the wife-to-be is to deliver her vows but is interupted by her second thoughts and an unexpected protest. Alex skips the wedding leaving her jaded fiance Dave. Along for the ride are best friends Max, Brad and Penny as well as Alex's settled sister Jane. The rest of the episode finds the friends dealing with Alex and Dave's separation, played by Zachary Knighton and Elisha Cuthbert.

In our PC world this show, akin to other network sitcoms, has its bases covered. There's the openly gay sidekick, Max play by Adam Pally as well as an interacial marriage between Alex's sister Jane and her husband Brad, played by Eliza Coup and Damon Wayans Jr. With distinct characterization this show has the ability to make the characters even more unique as well as flush out compelling and humorous plotlines each week. The show itself is quite funny, the dialogue is fresh however in further episodes the writers would benefit from smoothing out dialogue that occasionally becomes too cluttered.

The acting, while probably not going to garner any emmy nominations, isn't going to offend any ABC fans enough to boycott. Some may remember Casey Wilson from a few seasons back on Saturday Night Live, who's contract was not renewed by the show after her only season. This show could be her second chance at a television career. The actress playing hopelessly single Penny tended to stand out for her comic delivery technique. What this cast will hopefully work on in subsequent episodes is the honest delivery of lines, occasionally the comedy of what the actor was saying was lost in how they were saying it. The show could also keep in mind that the sister characters often look too much alike to be completely distinct, which comes down to wardrobe.

This show is easy to watch in that it's fast paced, funny and a little bit dirty. It's also a show that you won't find yourself lost if you missed last week. The themes are relatable to a vast audience and shouldn't have a problem maintaing a viewership because of its later timeslot of 10 pm. How long can this show last? Well, that's a question for the writers and the talent, how long can any show go for? We've all seen the shows that go on too long and we've all seen the good shows that went off too soon. It’s a little early yet to tell but the rest of the season looks promising.

ABC has truly made a turn around in the past few years with their single-camera, sitcom genre. They may not be throwing in the towel just yet on the overdue Bachelor but Happy Endings is a step in the right direction for the network. What it comes down to is the watchability. For awhile the network struggled with their larger-than-life epic series like Lost and time will only tell what the next genre-of-the-week will be, but for now ABC has a lot of great comedies with a lot of potential.

More than Bricks and Mortar

Victor Hugo once wrote ,"architecture has recorded the great ideas of the human race. Not only every religious symbol, but every human thought has its page in that vast book." Though American architecture is nowhere near as old as Hugo's Paris, it is still an exciting industry. In just the past century America has built it's most notable urban monuments and through preservation they will continue to thrill tourists and citizens. Chicago has always been a city with a taste for iconic buildings, the home of The Seers Tower, The John Hancock, The Bean and now The Aqua.

The art of designing a building can seem like a thankless job. How often do we look at the buildings that are not iconic and think about their history or even their future. America tends to be a culture that has no issue knocking down its history, think of all the stadiums that have come and gone. Even just in the past few years Chicago has considered tearing down one of its most notable creations, Wrigley Field, in order to put a brand new stadium in. Some things so Chicago-centric are not even safe, the L has even faced demolition ideas. To quote Joni Mitchell, "they paved paradise and put up a parking lot." As downtown Chicago continues to modernize and its many diverse neighborhoods become more gentrified, we should consider the trendy architecture verses historical landmarks and what that says about our culture. Aqua is a nice symmetry between artful construction and the demands of Chicago residents thus promoting longevity in an unsentimental culture.

Located just south of the Chicago river, this new building by designer Jeanne Gang is the first skyscraper her firm has created and also the biggest project ever created by a female architect. The building functions as a hotel, office/retail, condo and apartment complex, a hybrid which is a first for downtown Chicago. A big goal for this building is to promote sustainability, which is a major concern in today's market. The terraces were specifically designed to enhance solar shading, energy-efficient lighting and rainwater collection are also important features. The top floor of the building is a green space and the largest in Chicago.

The magnificent design of this building is influenced by its proximity to Lake Michigan. The title is also a reflection of the lake. The building can be seen in its glory from the right bank of the Chicago river in Streeterville. This skyscraper is uniquely distinguishable by it's pattern of recessed terraces, forming a pattern of waves, hence the name Aqua. One could drive right over the Link-Bridge on Lake Shore Drive and completely miss this new addition to the skyline but those fortunate enough to see it in a hazy three o'clock sun will never forget to look for it. The orange light reflecting off the water bathes the white limestone in gold and refracts in the black waves of the Aqua and it's as breathtaking as the Seers Tower on a foggy spring day. Chicago can be proud of its architecture and with new ideas popping up all over the city it's hard to imagine where the future will take it us.

More architectural firms should be following the example of Studio Gang Architects. The mission with this new building is entirely clear. Aqua blends perfectly with the needs of Chicagoans, the taste of the skyline and the necessity remain modern in an ever changing world. Architectural enthusiasts from all over will love this piece of art and residents of Chicago will continue to be enchanted when catching it on a great day. Next time you find yourself cruising down Lake Shore Drive, keep your eye out for Aqua.