Rebel Relabel - Convenience ®

Overall I felt like my project achieved the look it was going for. However, on the bus and in class, I realized that from other people's reactions to the "Feeling down?" line at the top, Convenience ® appeared to be making a statement specifically towards anti-depressants.

My aim instead was to show that people are always looking for convenience, whether it is at school, at home, at work, in the grocery story... Essentially everywhere. I feel that this inclination is so ingrained in our society that most people are unaware of its presence. And what better way to achieve ultimate convenience (blissful ignorance through the dissociation with reality) than to take a pill? Even if the directions were complicated..and the possible side effects dire...Would you do it for ultimate convenience?

...After writing all that, I'm almost thinking it could be sold with the packing style of a protein powder or shake or something...

I will update with an edited version soon.... Most likely the same Claritin-style box as before, but with a different message. Hopefully I'll be getting the Adobe package deal on campus sooon...

NASA: APOD

NASA: Astronomy Photo of the Day

This website is AMAZING! PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE LOOK AT IT.

I hope it rattles your brain/blows your mind like it has mine.

& this photo - yesterday's photo of the day - is simply breathtaking.

ENJOY!

Learning to Blog

Right now I am trying to teach a group of teenagers how to blog. [Unfortunately my reasons for doing so are due to the pressures of a national hierarchical system whose messages and intentions are ridden with miscommunications, that by the time they reach me, i have two and a half weeks to complete 8 different projects with these teens...including the blog...and did i mention teenagers these days have NO MOTIVATION!??!?!?!]

I thought it would be easy. It sounded simple. For me, to be expected to write about what I'm thinking/making/looking at seems very self-explanatory and open-ended.

HOWEVER... when dealing with adolescents/young adults who have learning disorders on top of other issues that affect those who live in poverty..such as being homeless as several are.. something that seemed so basic, suddenly become difficult. Nearly impossible. Like I said, no motivation. Plus their critical thinking skills are so low that the simple task of writing a couple sentences on what they think about some topic takes them f o r e v e r.

I don't know what the point of THIS blog entry of mine is... Seems like nothing more than vent session... Yet I feel like there is an issue, much larger than myself & these teens, of which I cannot name yet. (oh the joys of worrying about work outside of work hours) I guess it irritates me that people in high positions of that national system really do not understand what goes on in the lower levels. I guess that's part of the "big picture/issue" that I am trying to describe, without going into too much detail and bashing my employers...

But I suppose that's just the story of humanity right?

My future camera

Since 2010 began, I made a resolution to save money and get a camera. Three years ago I absentmindedly set my camera down while hanging out in downtown Napa and simply walked away from it :(

Now I have stopped spending my money frivolously, and have enough dollars in savings to get this guy...

My choice really only has to do with the fact that this is the camera my mom has, (the one I used while in Napa) and it has the color function where you can pick a color and have everything but that color show up as black/white.

My budget is about $400....if anyone has any comments/suggestions, I'd appreciate it!

Hess Collection

While in Napa, I partook in my first wine tasting experience at Hess Winery, thanks to my brother now working there. But apart from that, we spent time checking out the Hess Collection. Sadly no pictures could be taken of the exhibit (which my mom had issues - mostly memory related haha- understanding), but there were some very interesting pieces.

For example, there was this carved wooden lady, with a very round torso, like a pregnant woman, with four spider-like legs. There was something about that piece that really made me think about the tantalizing effect 3D art can have - it really pulls you in and makes you want to examine it in a physical, tactile way.

Unfortunately we got there late & didn't have time to go on the Audio Tour (which I think is a couple hours long =/ ) - BUT if you are ever in Napa, I recommend it for sure!

Here are some photos I took of the winery itself:

Spring Break in Napa

Unfortunately it was rainy and overcast the whole time. Otherwise I would have actually gotten OUT of my car and taken photos.