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Donald Trump proposes subterranean White House visitor screening centre
by Tom Ravenscroft Architecture studio AECOM has unveiled designs for a subterranean visitor screening centre as part of US president Donald Trump‘s revamp of the White House in Washington DC. Recently submitted by the White House to the National Capital Planning Commission, the proposed permanent security screening facility would be built under Sherman Park – a small park to the southwest of…
Washington Commanders share new stadium renderings by HKS
Daniel Jonas Roche | The new renderings give a sense of what the fan experience will look like on the ground. Visuals reveal the stadium’s perimeter shrouded in vegetation and a new spherocylindrical, capsule-shaped grass lawn for tailgating, concerts, etc. The lawn feeds into a plaza that fronts the main entry. New renderings show the perimeter shrouded in vegetation. (Courtesy Washington…
"The proposed White House ballroom is wholly incompatible with the site"
by Charles A Birnbaum UPDATE: The National Capital Planning Commission has postponed its final vote on the White House East Wing Modernization Project to April 2, 2026, after receiving over 32,000 written comments and having more than 100 people registered to testify during the public hearing on March 5, 2026. Opposition to Donald Trump’s White House expansion plans has focused on the building…
HKS releases first design of colonnaded Washington Commanders Stadium
Ben Dreith Architecture studio HKS and NFL team the Washington Commanders have revealed images of a “monumental” stadium wrapped in a colonnade, set to be built in Washington, DC. With a capacity of more than 70,000, the Washington Commanders Stadium at the RFK Campus was designed by HKS to be monumental, both in its sheer size and impact on the Washington DC skyline. It will be wrapped in a…
White House considering "one-storey addition to the West Wing" with updated ballroom plans
Ellen Eberhardt Architect Shalom Baranes has presented an updated, “more-graceful” design of the proposed White House ballroom and suggested adding a storey to the West Wing for symmetry. Baranes explained that, after taking over the project from original architect McCrery Architects, his studio will build upon the previous scheme. Baranes’ plans include placing a 22,000-square-foot…
PSA Pathos, Day 6
In the whimsical world of childhood, moments of grandeur are often conjured up in the most unexpected ways. Little girls dream of their Sweet 16s, where they are showered with love and affection, becoming the belle of the ball. For Jewish children, the anticipation of a Bat Mitzvah brings forth visions of spiritual growth and communal belonging.
*this plays*
The excitement of a quinceañera resonates deeply within the hearts of young Latinas, as they stand on the precipice of womanhood, surrounded by vibrant traditions, colorful dresses, and a court of honor that celebrates their journey.
Take Rosana, for instance.
In the eponymous 1996 Ad Council and National Crime Prevention Council PSA, she talks about her special day with the excitement and enthusiasm of any teenager planning the most important party of their life. Her eyes sparkle with hope as she describes her gorgeous hairdo and her stunning blue formal dress.
The music, the food, the laughter of friends and family – all the ingredients for a perfect celebration are meticulously laid out in her mind. Rosana's excitement is palpable, as she imagines herself at the center of it all, basking in the love of her chosen court of honor – the damas and chambelanes who will escort her through the festivities.
The quinceañera, a cherished tradition in many Latinx cultures, is a time when a young girl is celebrated for her transition into womanhood. The day begins with a thanksgiving mass, where she is presented with a rosary or a necklace bearing the image of the Virgin of Guadalupe – a symbol of faith, protection, and purity.
The religious ceremony is followed by a reception filled with joyous rituals that honor the quinceañera's new status: the waltz with her court, the changing of the shoes from flats to heels, and the sharing of her first dance with her father.
It's a rite of passage that signifies not only her growth but the love and support of those who have watched her blossom.
But, the mood of the PSA shifts dramatically when Rosana says, "If I got shot, I want to have a nice funeral." Her words hang in the air, a stark reminder of the harsh reality that faces many young people in communities plagued by violence.
The camera pans to a white casket, adorned with a somber floral arrangement and a wreath, resting under a window that symbolizes the world of opportunity and life she was denied. The juxtaposition is jarring, a stark reminder that for some, the dreams of a quinceañera are replaced by the cold, hard reality of a funeral.
As the PSA progresses, we see the familiar face of McGruff the Crime Dog, a symbol of safety and protection, reminding us of the sobering message behind this poignant narrative.
The Ad Council and the National Crime Prevention Council (NCPC) used this powerful imagery to raise awareness about the alarming issue of gun violence and its impact on the most vulnerable members of society – our children.
The PSA's profound impact is magnified when juxtaposed with the stark statistical landscape of gun violence that ravaged the 1990s. CDC data reveals a chilling truth: by 1998, firearm fatalities among children and adolescents had plummeted to 10 per day, down from a harrowing peak of 16 in 1994. Yet, in 1996 alone, a staggering 34,040 souls were claimed by gunfire in the U.S., with homicide accounting for a staggering 41 percent.
These grim numbers painted an especially alarming picture for the youth. Between 1984 and 1993, the firearm homicide rate for the 15- to 24-year-old demographic skyrocketed by a harrowing 158 percent. Over the same period, the number of teens brutally slain by firearms doubled, while the count of 15-year-old males facing murder charges escalated by an astounding 217 percent.
The PSA's narrative crescendos with the haunting image of a pure white casket, nestled beneath a window that allows daylight to bleed into a somber room. This poignant tableau underscores the gravity of Rosana's words, as the scene of anticipated joy shifts to a grim reality.
The white casket, a symbol traditionally linked to youthful purity and innocence, now stands as a chilling emblem of lives extinguished too soon by the scourge of gun violence.
The sudden shift from Rosana's optimistic narrative to this mournful image creates a jolting visual and emotional contrast, mirroring the capricious, shocking nature of gun-related tragedies. The light of day piercing through the window is a stark reminder that such horrors are not confined to the shadows but invade the very fabric of our American communities.
This PSA aired at a pivotal moment when NCPC, the organization behind it, was navigating the fine line between the familiar, whimsical McGruff campaigns and the gravity of pressing social issues such as gun violence. Recognizing that one size does not fit all, NCPC tailored its messaging to resonate with diverse audiences and the severity of the crimes they faced.
The "Rosana" PSA became a beacon in the annals of public service advertising, pioneering a narrative strategy that would become a blueprint for future campaigns tackling weighty social ills. Its power derived not solely from the shock value but from the humanization of statistics, giving them a face, a voice, a poignant tale to tell.
Regrettably, the PSA's message remains eerily pertinent in the present day. Current statistics are a grim reminder that firearms have ascended to become the number one cause of death among American children and teenagers.
Each year, over 4,300 young lives are lost to gunfire, translating to approximately 60 children and teens shot every single day—a figure that is six times higher than the daily average presented in the first airing of the PSA.
This PSA is a masterstroke of emotional storytelling, using narrative sleight of hand to deliver a poignant message about the devastation wrought by gun violence. It transcends the cold, hard facts by weaving a relatable, human tale that touches the heart, leaving an indelible mark on the viewer.
Rosana's narrative, initially brimming with excitement over her quinceañera, morphs into a heart-wrenching eulogy, compelling us to confront the harsh truth that for many American youth, the line between a celebration of life and a mournful farewell can be as thin as the trigger of a gun.
The PSA's enduring strength is in its capacity to render impersonal statistics into a deeply personal, human tragedy, serving as a constant reminder that every number represents a life like Rosana's, a future cruelly stolen by the relentless tide of gun violence.
Not one more lost life. Not one more grieving family.
Nigeria’s Year of Restoration: Bishop Adegbite Declares 2025 as a Year of Hope
Bishop Stephen Adegbite, the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC), has proclaimed 2025 as a pivotal year for Nigeria’s restoration. In his heartfelt New Year message, Bishop Adegbite shared an optimistic vision for the nation, asserting that Nigeria will recover its lost glory and rise to prominence among global nations. He stated that Nigeria’s destiny is one…
ACOTP: Elaboration
-ACOTP stands for A Convo of the Past
-ACOTP stars PC and NC.
-PC is from the past and NC is from the future.
Q and A that literally no one asked for
Q: are u gonna be adding more characters
A: mayhaps >:))
Q: how does NC time travel?
A: using their watch
Q: what is bros gender?
A: I don't know, it's confusing
Q: what do they look like
A: not sure yet
