You heard it here first: Michael Arad is one lucky bastard. First he bests a field of 5,200 to win the competition for the Ground Zero memorial. Now, after beating even greater odds in a fiercely contested raffle at the AIA convention, he's going to be leaving Las Vegas with...A NEW CAR!!! AIA President Douglas L. Steidl made the announcement before a crowd of 3,000-plus at the final general session of that perverse gathering. But except for the ironic glee of certain surviving 'snipes in the room, there was zero reaction. Zero! And less recognition that lightning had just struck twice. "The winner of the cherry red Cooper Mini convertible is Michael um...A...a...er...rad? rod??" Steidl said. "Well, Michael, whoever you are, I hope I'm pronouncing that correctly."

Posted in The Provinces