From the Editor's Desk | #9
CONNECT + INSPIRE
CADET is a bi-annual magazine about West Point culture.
Highly independent, quite unofficial, aggressively dedicated.
Based in DC @chrisWpestel @carolinepestel
Things from the Desk of the Editor-in-Chief
CADET - THE MAGAZINE
RESEARCH LIKE AN ARTIST creating a magazine takes you a lot of places. Physical places to interview and photograph, mental places in creative problem solving, even emotional places, but also some cool internet places. VOL III of CADET is about INDEPENDENTS - the self, self-knowledge, solitude, freedom…oneness. I was drawn this week to the story of Icarus and Daedalus mainly because we have a few “flight” related components of VOL III. Research can be a lot of fun - going to have to add Seth Godin’s The Icarus Deception to our reading list.
FOR EVERY HEART IN GRAY
BANNER WEEK It was another banner week for the USMA community. Check out the The Gold Oar Run tribute from the Crew team - excellent work on this video from plebe, yeah thats right, plebe Kade Caroll; The Thayer Leader Development Group took home impressive honors, yet again; AOG’s massive “On This Day” endeavor cruises along with this interesting story of the Grey Ghost; we’ve reached the portion of the year when there is a Founders Day event lurking around every corner; We found that old gads just LOVE doing PT and posting about it; it’s not everyday that a softball team has a FaceTime call with an astronaut, but Army Softball sure did; Cadet-Athletes Lynne Mooradian (track) and Madison Hovern (basketball) are raking up the accolades and destroying the academy record book; yeah, so is Women’s LAX; And its always invigorating and inspiring to see tweets from grad and Army Football fullbacks coach Mike Viti; #BEATnavy
RADIO GA GA
21:30 CLUB we finally got our butts to DC’s 9:30 Club where we got to hear opening act David Ramirez (from Austin, TX) set the stage for Citizen Cope - we were concerned about his health, he didn’t look or sing very well. We enjoyed the show, nonetheless. A couple of things of note, he was from DC, yet didn’t mention it AT ALL - that’s odd, right?…and I’m pretty sure I owned (during my cadet days) the trench coat leather jacket he had on.
HAUNTING as I said above, researching VOL III has led to some great finds and here is one of my new favorites: Burl Ives rendition of the cowboy classic Ghost Riders in the Sky.
For YOUR EYEBALLS
SEASON MEH season 3 of True Detective was better than season 2 but still couldn’t quite match the magic of season 1. Mahershala Ali was great, however.
FILMMAKING IS HARD check out this breakdown of a memorable scene from the classic Silence of the Lambs.
THE MATRIX
POTENT POTABLES here are a few things that crossed our paths in the past week that made us pontificate: Val Valiant Thor’s tenure at the Pentagon; this video on Starship Troopers and Fascism; even more Werner Herzog
ROWE, ROWE, ROWE, ROWE, ROWE the West Point Center for Oral history closed out their tribute to Black History Month with a great post on the Rowe Family…so many Rowes.
WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH the Pestel women kicked-off women’s history month by attending a luncheon last Saturday highlighting women in the military with keynote speaker Elizabeth Dole.
The Design of Things
THE FULL SPECTRUM this video on writing women in movies delves into 4 movies with female leads - Alien (ambiguous gender), Silence of the Lambs (female in a male world), Kill Bill (woman as male action hero) and Lady Bird (the every woman) to look at 4 particular ways women can be written as movie characters. This selection shows how the full spectrum of the human/female experience can be explored on the big screen. A great primer prior to setting your sights on Captain Marvel.
West Point 100
ARCHITECT WANTED each week I have conversations with West Point creatives. Some are recurring conversations, others are first time conversations. Some lead me to new connections. That happened last week. This time it was a USMA grad architect - USMA 1984’s Vincent Bandy. I am really excited to learn more about Vincent bandy, especially because last week I spent time listening to a 99% Invisible episode on Usonia, a concept for modern living by Frank Lloyd Wright…in which I was reminded of the design & art principle/definition - To Inform & Delight
PODCAST FROM THIS WEEK
FREAKONOMICS CREATIVITY SERIES - you should check it out.
How to Be Creative
Where Does Creativity Come From?
Where Do Good Ideas Come From?
A Good Idea is Not Good Enough
Next Time: How to Fail like a Pro.
EXTRA: Elvis Costello Full Interview
PHOTOGRAPHY
DC DIVAS FOOTBALL football has played a large roll in my life as well as my creative endeavors. I have photographed youth, high school, college and professional football. Last week I came across the all-female DC Divas. I was thoroughly impressed and will be spending some time capturing this team as their season begins next month.
SOCIAL MEDIA
Did your softball team talk to an alumni-player-astronaut today?
— CADET (@cadetissue) February 28, 2019
No, didn’t think so. 🇺🇸⚔️🏴 https://t.co/PMZNqwhIuB
Cracking the Top 40 again and again. @TLDG_WestPoint is no one-hit wonder! 🇺🇸 https://t.co/ClEGxkXX5x
— CADET (@cadetissue) February 28, 2019
Thanks for reading. If you like this and want to support US, forward it to a frienD.
Things from the Desk of the Editor-in-Chief
Promotions + Posters + Promos + Pencils + Periodicals
Things from the Desk of the Editor-in-Chief
The Stunning Army Football Images of Dustin Satloff + Be a Responsible Army Football Fan + What I’m Reading + A Good Old Fashion Army-Navy Conspiracy Theory + Our Small Print Collection is Selling Out
Things from the Desk of the Editor-in-Chief
Army Boxing + Empathy + Understanding + Compassion
Things from the Desk of the Editor-in-Chief
The ODIA Mixtape + We Are Sell Outs + The First Century of Cadet Living + Our COVID-19 Media Diet + Has the Corps? + New Gig Poster + USMA 2003 Legacies + Uncle Rico played Sprint Football? + Small Prints, Polaroids, & Hats
Derek kept a war journal. Within its pages he foreshadowed his fate. He also seemed to ponder his legacy, but not in a selfish way. He merely wanted the sacrifices of his men to matter. He wanted their, and ultimately his work to matter. He wanted it to last. He wanted to live on.
Things from the Desk of the Editor-in-Chief
Maps + USMA Maps + Old USMA Maps + Even Older USMA Maps + A Yearling Map-Maker + Map Videos + DIY Map Making + USMA Dept of Drawing + West Point Points West + What I’m Reading + Even More Map Stuff.
It’s here. The most requested Mess Hall recipe in existence - often replicated, never truly duplicated. The almighty Chicken Crispito, superstar of the Great Chicken Crispito Riot of 2006. We decided to give a copycat recipe our best shot. Attention All Cadets, today for lunch we will be having Chicken Crispitos.
Things from the Desk of the Editor-in-Chief
Worth A Million + The Dark Side of West Point + How to Surf the Old School USMA Web + Our Latest Newsletter + Today’s Most Beautiful Thing + Beat Navy is Catching On + Crypto Cartel & Excavation Pictures Updates + Poems and Pictures + Impact of Maggie Dixon + Eye Candy
Things from the Desk of the Editor-in-Chief
Pre-Order Yourself Some VICTORY + 3 Army Football Players Branch NFL + 1997’s Mr. Irrelevant + A Graduation Think-Piece…Not What You’re Thinking + 1930’s Michie Stadium in Color + Turning Two + The Super Fun History of C-2 “The Flying Circus” + 2008 SOSH Run + The Art of Cool - Did James Dean Go To USMA? + Last Call For What’s In Your Trunk + These Cards Are FOR Humanity + Long Read: Ranger School
In response to re-sharing our recipes for Spicy Chicken Patty, Coooooorn Chowder and Congo Bar, we fielded a request for a recipe for another Mess Hall classic - the Blueberry Scone. If this were truly a “copy cat” USMA recipe, we’d have to provide guidance for how to produce the driest scones on Earth. However, we figured we would spare you the pain of that. Instead, below you’ll find a simple guide to the most perfect blueberry scone. It may not conjure the same nearly-choking-it’s-so-dry-and-crumbly dining experience you may recall from your cadet days, but we hope it will trigger some positive nostalgia (or least an enjoyable snack) nonetheless.
Things from the Desk of the Editor-in-Chief
What’s in Your Trunk? + USMA Black-Out Poetry + Get Skills + What Cadets Create + Army Student-Athletes are Different + Old Grads 155-Years Ago + From the Notebook Page to the Magazine Page + USMA 2008 & MITs Ventilator Effort + Doc & Glenn Long Read
Things from the Desk of the Editor-in-Chief
The Lonely Comm + Creative Cadets Making Art + A Howitzer IG Account?? + Faces & Facades + Crypto Cartel is on Amazon + We Love Victory (Journal) + From Our Blog x5 + Mess Hall Recipes + We Need our Help to Complete VOL V of CADET (Coming in July 2020)
Today we present something little different - a list of West Point books that may not be on your radar, these are all of the FICTION variety. In this list are stories of ghosts, controversy, social change, epic poems of early USMA history and contemporary novels, there’s a comic book and a wonderful collection of satire and humor.
Laura Walker died on August 18th, 2005 in Afghanistan, many miles removed from Arvin Gym, the Cadet Barracks, the Mess Hall and trip sections. Laura was an Army-brat, Captain of Women’s Team Handball, and a member of the class of 2003–our classmate. I did not know her very well. And that fact stung me with a sense of dread as I arrived at West Point on the morning of Friday, March 27, 2015.
The CADET team went down the rabbit hole that is Amazon and turned up some USMA finds to quench your pressing need to keep the Army spirit going strong during these times (when even toilet paper is next to impossible to find).
Amidst the chaos of the unforeseen circumstance presented by COVID-19, many of you have likely found yourselves teleworking, cooped up at home, unable to travel, and running out of ways to keep you and your families stimulated. We’ve assembled here 20 things you might consider doing to keep things interesting - Watch penguins swim remotely at the aquarium! Take a free Ivy League, yoga, or cooking class! Virtually tour that museum you’ve been wanting to check out! Write a poem and submit it to CADET magazine for Volume V! Watch a live streamed concert! The list goes on…
Our most recent offering, VOL IV, again weaves together 6 decades of the Long Gray Line to bring you a survey of West Point culture and creativity. We have the esteemed honor to highlight grads old and new, current cadets and a West Point community member - we are thrilled to have the opportunity to share their talents with you.
Here’s a look at the contributors who are helping make VOL IV of CADET our best and most ambitious effort yet.
Things from the Desk of the Editor-in-Chief
Those Mischievous Uglies + An Old Friend + Books + Cannons + Lead by Example + Mysterious Bricks + Missing Michie + A Lovely Logo + A Record Album That Doesn’t Exist + USMA 1891 + Long Lines of Gray
A few weekends ago we took a much needed mini vacation, and decided to spend it in the Hudson Valley. We made @thethayerhotel our home base, and between our suite, sunset drinks on the Hudson at Zulu Time and their must-go Sunday Champagne Brunch, we couldn’t have had a more enjoyable stay.
BEAT NAVY
We love imagery. We love the Army-Navy Game. And we love this "most wonderful" time of the year. So, to celebrate, here are the Top-10 Army-Navy prints from our shop.
Things from the Desk of the Editor-in-Chief
West Point Women Portrait Project + Low (Maintenance) Does Not Equal No (Maintenance) + West Point Drawings from @RYNO.ART + Sunsets & Wonder + Ken Burns & Conan O’Brien + Many Articles on Grit (TL;DR We’re SOOO Gritty) + Unknown West Point Watercolor Artist’s Paintings
Things from the Desk of the Editor-in-Chief
An Army Fan + 1st Captain Portraits + Michie on Game Day + Adorable LAX photo + Weekly Curation Inspiration + Time Marches On + Henry O. Flipper Art + BEAT AIR FORCE!
Things from the Desk of the Editor-in-Chief
Something Grand + Some Ghosts + Vietnam Soundtrack + The Classic Train Station/Hair Cut Combo + Always Beat Navy + A Letter You’ve Probably Heard of + Iconic Architecture + A Weekend Trip to the Hudson Valley.
Things from the Desk of the Editor-in-Chief
Center For Oral History + Put the Biscuit in the Basket in Belfast + USMA 2003’s Charity + Christmas Wrapping Paper + 1999-2019 Army Fandom + American Music Playlist + Pennant to Every Corner of the Country + The Thayer’s Got a Magazine + Simply Rustic Photography
Things from the Desk of the Editor-in-Chief
Spice Up Your Watch Party + Reunion Weekend + Hours Hype Video + Next Week at Arlington Cemetery USMA 48 + Where the Rabbit Holes Are + The Art of the Mascot Heist + 2019 is 75% Complete + A September to Remember + Buh Bye + Old Grad Artisans
Things from the Desk of the Editor-in-Chief
Let’s Pick on Air Force + Who’s Getting Ready to Beat Navy? + A TON of News from Us + AOG brilliantly invokes Sister Corita Kent + Collaboration News with DCA and The Thayer + Joint Service Academy Ball + We Were Featured in a Magazine + Finnish Designers and Skateboards and Columbus, IN + Book List + Change is Inevitable + The Last of the Pennants
Things from the Desk of the Editor-in-Chief
NYFW & Buzz + Army Football Cartoons + Pennants are Selling Out +Waiting Sucks + Army Football Fathers & Sons + 9 Old Men + Buy the Ticket, Take the Ride + VOL IV Update
Things from the Desk of the Editor-in-Chief
A Michigan Band Honor Violation? + West Point Society of Annapolis + Our New Pennant Collection + Glorious Pershing Barracks + 2003 - Protectors of the Rum + Our Series on How to be a Responsible Army Football Fan
In VOL II of CADET we ran a photo essay on graduation. Those photos are now a decade old. When I photographed them in 2009, there was no instagram. Twitter was text only and sharing too many photos on Facebook was highly, highly suspicious. The social sharing landscape was minimal and ineffective. But today we have the tools to present and venues to share. So, enjoy!
11 inches by 17 inches
215 gsm
Printed on durable card stock with extra durability for a crisp, polished look.
High-quality poster with colors that really pop
Perfect on walls, doors, or bulletin boards
11 inches by 17 inches
215 gsm
Printed on durable card stock with extra durability for a crisp, polished look.
High-quality poster with colors that really pop
Perfect on walls, doors, or bulletin boards
A SELF-PUBLISHED, BI-ANNUAL MAGAZINE DEVOTED TO THE INTERSECTION OF ART AND WEST POINT CULTURE.
- 100 Pages
- 8.5x11 in. Soft Bound Book
- Cover: 80# Semi-Gloss
- Interior: 80# Matte Text Paper
Well, we’ve decided to push the envelope from here on out.
Get a visual punch-in-the-face with bold graphics, engaging photography, and a depiction of the West Point community that you’ve never seen before. Best of all, VOL II was proudly created with the help of 10 Old Grad creators. The result is a beautifully crafted 104-page artifact full of Long Gray Line tradition and legacy with a modern twist.
CADET IS A SELF-PUBLISHED, BI-ANNUAL MAGAZINE DEVOTED TO THE INTERSECTION OF WEST POINT CULTURE AND CREATIVITY.
104 Pages
8.5x11 in. Soft Bound Book
Cover: 80# Semi-Gloss
Interior: 80# Matte Text Paper
CADET IS A SELF-PUBLISHED, BI-ANNUAL MAGAZINE DEVOTED TO THE INTERSECTION OF WEST POINT CULTURE AND CREATIVITY.
104 Pages
8.5x11 in. Soft Bound Book
Cover: 80# Semi-Gloss
Interior: 80# Matte Text Paper
CADET IS A SELF-PUBLISHED, BI-ANNUAL MAGAZINE DEVOTED TO THE INTERSECTION OF WEST POINT CULTURE AND CREATIVITY.
100 Pages
8.5x11 in. Soft Bound Book
Cover: 80# Semi-Gloss
Interior: 80# Matte Text Paper
CADET IS A SELF-PUBLISHED, BI-ANNUAL MAGAZINE DEVOTED TO THE INTERSECTION OF WEST POINT CULTURE AND CREATIVITY.
100 Pages
8.5x11 in. Soft Bound Book
Purchasing this digital gift card creates a unique code. The gift card recipient can enter this code at checkout to subtract the gift card value from their order total.
This gift card never expires.
Whether you have taken the field with the Army Team or have always wanted to...with this print you'll get so close to it all that you can smell the turf, you can hear the squeal of those bag-pipes, you can breathe in the excitement of the Corps and you can feel your heart pound harder and harder as you get set to take the field. It's finally here. It's finally time to BEAT NAVY!
Brighten up your day with this rendition of the world famous West Point Million Dollar View. You walls will thank you.
Things from the Desk of the Editor-in-Chief
Grant Hall Oil Painting + Old School Pins + 1-Year of Beautiful Things + West Pointers in the Arts FB Group + A List of Iconic Army Football Moments + What I’m Reading