Hacking and Other Thoughts  Thu, 21 May 2009  Beaux-Arts and
kernel hacking...  My recent hobbies have included an intense
study of New York City architecture, and in particular the
facinating stories behind the city's two most prominent train
stations. That being Grand Central Terminal and the arguably
infamous Pennsylvania Station .  McKimm, Meade, and White's
masterpiece at 42nd Street and 3rd Ave.  In the second half of
the 19th century and on towards the first half of the 20th
century, any American architect worth his salt studied at the
Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Paris.  If you had a degree from that
school, you were at the top of the pile for selection on all of
the interesting commisions of the time. The school presented the
student with a challenging and fast paced curriculum.  Firstly,
for these American students attending in Paris, the first
challenge was just getting in. The entrance exam (of course)
required at least some proficiency in French. Several of the
most notable American architects had the