I love traveling, but I hate planes. I have long legs and knee problems, so cramming into seats made comfortable for those averaging 5 feet or those skilled in contorting is not an enjoyable experience for me, no matter the destination or the mediocre quality of the in flight movie. However, right now, I wish my legs were cramping and I wish I was being fed rehydrated astronaut food. Instead I am in the airport waiting for the end of my 20 hour flight delay. What a great start of a soon to be wonderful trip. However, if I was in the mood to be a glass half full kind of person, my response would be - I am so glad they took 20 hours to fix the plane instead of sending us into the air in an unstable steel can.
So here begins my study abroad program in Rome, two goodbyes later.
Despite the road bump, I am thrilled to be returning to Rome 9 years after I awkwardly threw a coin into the Trevi Fountain. (Leah knows how awkward). I am enrolled in a 5 week Italian program in Rome, but I am staying in Europe for an extra week in order to visit some friends in other countries.
Until next time, hopefully I will be in Rome by then.
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Things of interest>
The American Stonehenge! I never wanted to visit the bible belt, but I will for this mysterious New World Order stone thing. I may be a rational university student, but I am fascinated by the paranormal and the mysterious. I did a physics project in high school on the Bermuda Triangle, I own the complete X-Files box set, I have taken a class about espionage and intelligence... so, when I picked up this Wired issue about the unexplainable I was thrilled. Road trip anyone? PS this current issue of Wired is guest edited by J. J. Abrams. Another shout out to Star Trek? Yes!!
I have always enjoyed Paul Rudd, even back in his Clueless and Friends days, but this video sold it. I am in love now. It's odd that Sesame Street would do that. Well, they tend to make good things overly cute. Like when Feist was on:
Anyways back to dreaming about Paul Rudd. That video is amazing because -
1. He is wearing an earth costume (GO GREEN!) that only reveals his forearms making his limiting dance moves absolutely adorable. 2. His lip snarl and sexy rendition of "Earth Rocks" trumps those muppets by far. 3. His comedic genius. His subtle actions are priceless. The Huffington Post put it well - "infectious joy and self-deprecation can't help but make you laugh."
His sexy dancing can even make Jon Stewart laugh, a lot.
Random thoughts >>
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Stop the drama over the Obama dog! There are bigger issues at hand. Ahhhh I hate the media. I almost cried during the Inauguration when one station spent a good half hour with a writer from Harper's Bazaar in order to discuss Michelle's outfit. We have a new president and you want to talk clothes? Or remember when Obama was in his "honeymoon" period and several stations covered his diet and his exercise routine. Jon Stewart had a nice response to this earlier this year:
Random News station: "Obama likes herbal tea, trail mix, and guacamole" Jon Stewart: "We have all been to a grocery store, this isn't news. This is news - Barack Obama eats only bugs."
Thank you. Trivial news is pointless especially during our current situation. Well, then again, this trivial stuff is more entertaining than the economy, and actually it is helpful because the economy runs on confidence and if all the public sees is economic failure then things will spiral out of control. But current news - Pirates! Not awesome, but then awesome.
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So, Sir David Attenborough, the narrator of BBC's brilliant series Planet Earth, has recently become more vocal about the need to reduce the population to help protect wildlife. Predictable but too funny. I do agree, a continuously growing population does have ill-effects on the environment, but their proposals are in line with China, the only different is that they are requesting not mandating a limit to family size. Also, this organization, Optimum Population Trust, is focused in the UK. I am pretty sure that island is not the biggest threat in terms of population and environmental damage. Their three aims all start with the phrase "to advance," but how have I never heard of them before? Hmmmm
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Worst case scenario - you have swallowed the Higgs Boson, the God Particle, what do you do? Follow Michael Rottman's 10 steps or die. This is a real threat. Be prepared.
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Nooooo I followed a link and it was to something entertaining on Twitter!! My hatred is dwindling. I was convinced that the triviality of Twitter was worthless (kind of a redundant statement but true), even for an internet addict like myself, but things of interest/value can be found. Damn. Ahhh I love MythBusters. I am glad they keep only "human food" in their fridge.
I have always been a fan of products that are both practical/functional and designed. It can add delight and beauty to the monotony of some products, and in my case often humor as well. I believe it makes life fuller and more enjoyable. And as Oscar Wilde so brilliantly stated, "life is too important to be taken seriously."
For example, I own a Das Kapital safe and a tape dispenser man.
I don't claim to only own designed items that are functional because I do have perfectly useless but INCREDIBLE items like my Mickey Mao (I have it in red).
But there are certain items that everyone needs, like ice trays. So why not buy an Ice Invader Tray? The only reasons not to is if you don't know what a space invader is, you don't like space invaders, or style scares you. My point - if you need it why not go a little farther and make it special? Being a designer, I am all about personalization. It's great for self-expression.
Now on to totally worthless designed items (excluding my Mickey Mao, because it really is brilliant). This Monday, the HRP-4C humanoid robot was revealed at Japan's fashion week. Yes, not a tech conference, fashion week, because this robot has been designed to be a runway model. According to the director of the humanoid robot engineering, "Our robot can't move elegantly like the real models that are here today." No kidding, that half squat below is really sexy... However, Darth Vader would totally buy what ever clothes are going to be modeled on that rigid metallic frame.
With 2 million dollars in production it is a little disappointing, actually no, really impressive, but why for fashion?! Sometimes I feel people develop technology just to say they developed it, but it's totally unnecessary (kind of like the new shuffle). There are some things that artificial intelligence can not replace. The research director says that another 20-30 years is needed before this robot is perfected. I think that is science wasted. However, it can easily be applied elsewhere and I never like to frown on research because any progress in science is fantastic.
The only thing this "model" could possible wear is this new clothing line that was inspired by the recent UFO sightings in China...
If I was an alien, China would be the last place I would land. Plus with all their surveillance projects I would be quickly discovered and destroyed. Unfortunately, You-Tube is banned again in China, so my brilliant alien discovery would never be broadcasted and poor Moulder would still be left believing.
The next event is March 6th. It starts at 5:30/6 with a tour of the "fish" collection. Sounds boring I know (really, fish?), but they are bringing out their most bizarre creatures, like the anglerfish or another sharped tooth beast that tempts you with bioluminescence. After the tour, there is a discussion and book signing. The live music begins at 7 and ends at 10. I am particularly excited for the DJs in the African Mammal Hall. How cool is it to party in a museum!!? Ahhhh! Ben Stiller, you have nothing on First Fridays!
The rain prevented a lot of things this weekend, like swimming, wearing shorts, absorbing vitamin D, and stilt walking - but I did accomplish a lot of things while staying in my apartment because I am a chronic multitasker (besides when I read - I need utter silence). During my multitasking, I had HBO on in the background. At one point The Deer Hunter came on. I had never seen this movie before!!! I was a little shocked because I pride myself in my movie knowledge. Lisa, my roommate last year, called me her personal blockbuster. So, quickly getting over my disappointment in myself, I watched the movie. INCREDIBLE! De Niro, Cazale, Walken, Streep... a great cast! I am still particularly amused by the Can't take my eyes off you bar scene. There was definitely enough cow bell.
I also watched the Grammys in my dry apartment. The Grammys is always an entertaining, but seeing the Trojan Marching Band play with Radiohead was incredible. I am so happy to be a Trojan. (FIGHT ON!!) If only I was in the marching band, because that experience would almost make my life complete. Too bad I don't play an insturment. I did try to, kind of - a little guitar here, a little piano there, almost a little flute and harp there, but nope no success.
When it was dry this weekend I did manage to make it out to an art show and a movie at the Grove.
The art show was AIGA'S EMERGE LA Student Design Exhibition, and I was featured in it. AIGA is the professional association for design. The show displayed student designs from 13 different schools. Is was quite an honor to be in the show. Also, a bunch of my friends came to support me which made my weekend. I didn't think they were coming so it was quite a surprise when they arrived. Unfortunately, they arrived after the awards ceremony so there was no suspense in finding out that I didn't win, but my friend John did... CONGRATS!!!
PS - That's my poster in the background!
At the Grove, I saw Taken. It has been out since January 30th and it is currently second at the Box Office.
So what I thought...
AhhhhhhHAHAHAHAHAHAhahaha...
I laughed during most of the movie due to the ridiculous plot and Liam Neeson's bad-ass-ery. I like unrealistic action thrillers, but this was too much.
Here is this script - literally word for word, I promise! :) (warning spoiler - but if you can't figure out the plot from the poster you are an idiot)
Happy Birthday daughter. Thanks dad for the Karaoke machine. Oh, nvm, my step-dad just got me a pony!!! WEEEEEEEE Dad, can I go to France? Only if I can embed a GPS chip into your head. Ok, too much, but a cell phone will do. Heyyy cute French man! Oh no, there are people in the apartment! Daddy help. The next part is difficult. They will take you. AHHHHHHHHHHHH. I WILL KILL YOU. Where is my daughter? ** 5 hours of Liam Neeson punching, chasing, killing, shooting... the entire Albanian sex slave ring. Daddy, you came for me! Of course, I love you. Now take some singing lessons with a celebrity. Do you love me more than your step-dad now?
Neeson, (aka Qui-Gon Jinn, aka voice of Aslan, aka Jean Valijean, aka GOD), gives any movie credibility, even this cliche action explosion. It is an entertaining movie, but this retired "preventer," was an unstoppable force that had almost no legal issues after making a mess in France (so absurd). Granted, after taking a class on Espionage and Intelligence I have become a harsher critic of intelligence films, but sometimes it really is too ridiculous. Sorry if you were in my theater and heard me and Andrew laugh the entire time.
That was my weekend, minus being up late Sunday night to begin campaigning for Undergraduate Student Government elections. I have been helping Owen + Maya in their campaign for president and vice president. I am their "design/events person." Check out some of the pictures from the big night.
With the two candidates (both on the right) in the shirts I designed.
All the volunteers that showed up last night.
The platform cards I designed.
One more thing...
Bill Gates unleashed a swarm of mosquitoes at the TED conference. Bwahahaha.
