In My Blog...

10 Endangered Animals You Never Knew Existed

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 11:30:29 -0700

10 Endangered Animals You Never Knew Existed: Just a reminder that we are NOT the only living...

Remembering: The 45 Most Powerful Images Of 2011

Mon, 01 Apr 2013 15:30:09 -0700

Remembering: The 45 Most Powerful Images Of 2011: Dug this up out of my bookmarks. Photographs...

Ghost Marriages: Corpses 'Married' In Centuries-Old Chinese Tradition

Sun, 31 Mar 2013 19:52:29 -0700

Ghost Marriages: Corpses 'Married' In Centuries-Old Chinese Tradition: from my western perspective,...

What do you REALLY want? (An inspiring video)

Sun, 31 Mar 2013 19:51:16 -0700

What do you REALLY want? (An inspiring video): Just wanted to share this…it’s really one...

Floating Plants Could Be New Biofuel

Sun, 31 Mar 2013 19:36:18 -0700

Floating Plants Could Be New Biofuel: I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: nature...

Treasure Hunters in Uniform: 'Monuments Men' Remembered - NYTimes.com

Sun, 31 Mar 2013 19:28:17 -0700

Treasure Hunters in Uniform: 'Monuments Men' Remembered - NYTimes.com: If you didn’t read this...

Never lose your keys again This is really cool…but gotta...

Sun, 31 Mar 2013 19:20:26 -0700

Never lose your keys again

This is really cool…but gotta say that you could, then, just as easily stick onto a PERSON, no?

likeafieldmouse: Mohamed Babu “Dr. Mohamed Babu of Mysore,...

Sun, 31 Mar 2013 18:26:58 -0700

likeafieldmouse:

Mohamed Babu

“Dr. Mohamed Babu of Mysore, South India, noticed something strange about the ants scurrying around on the floor of his kitchen: after drinking some spilled milk, their abdomens turned white. Realizing the insects’ bodies were transparent, he got an idea for a stunning set of photographs.

Mixing different varieties of food coloring along with sugar, water and a waxy base, he set out small droplets of liquid on a white plastic sheet outside in his garden and let the ants do the rest.

‘As the ant’s abdomen is semi-transparent, the ants gain the colors as they sip the liquid,’ he said.

Striving to get the best possible photos, Babu ran into an unexpected problem: too many ants. ‘I really toiled to get a photo. The crowd always used to become unmanageable within a few minutes and while I managed my camera with my right hand, my left hand was busy removing the extra ants.’ After a number of repeated attempts, he finally got the photos he was looking for.

‘Curiously, the ants preferred light colors—yellow and green. The darker green and blue drops had no takers, until there was no space around the preferred yellow and green drops.’ Some of the ants even wandered between the colors, creating unique mixtures of different hues inside their own stomachs.”

"In pop culture, girls who crush hopelessly on guys they can’t have are painted as just that –..."

Sun, 31 Mar 2013 18:26:14 -0700

“In pop culture, girls who crush hopelessly on guys they can’t have are painted as just that –...

18 obsolete words, which never should have gone out of style | Death and Taxes

Sun, 10 Mar 2013 00:00:00 -0800

18 obsolete words, which never should have gone out of style | Death and Taxes: This is a hoot. I...

"As I indicated at the outset, this is the beginning of a serious conversation. We won’t be taking..."

Sat, 22 Dec 2012 15:00:36 -0800

“As I indicated at the outset, this is the beginning of a serious conversation. We won’t be...

"samandriel: In the most astonishing plot twist of all time, Twinkies are the only ones that did not..."

Sat, 22 Dec 2012 12:00:35 -0800

“samandriel: In the most astonishing plot twist of all time, Twinkies are the only ones that...

nslayton: It’s Dec. 22, 2012. It’s the 10-year anniversary of...

Sat, 22 Dec 2012 07:41:02 -0800

nslayton:

It’s Dec. 22, 2012. It’s the 10-year anniversary of the death of Joe Strummer. Born John Graham Mellor, he had one of the most fascinating lives I’ve learned about. He died a decade ago due to a heart defect. And he is one of my heroes.

Joe Strummer was born into a life of privilege. He was the son of a British diplomat, he went to private school, but became interested in the plight of the underprivileged and downtrodden. He became a musician and joined the first punk wave scene, forming The Clash. He wrote extremely complex punk rock songs denouncing racism, fascists, oppression, and the decay of modern society. He flirted with violence but came to realize it was a pointless, self-destructive idea. He created some of the most powerful songs about society that I have ever heard. After The Clash, he kept writing, forming The Mescaleros and creating more songs that are as relevant as they beautiful. He was a social activist and a voice of sanity in an increasingly crazy world. It’s a shame he isn’t around now.

I really discovered The Clash and, through them, Strummer, when I was a teenager. I was somewhat of a blank slate trying to throw as much paint on myself as I could. I didn’t have a style, I didn’t know what I was doing with my life. I’d spent my childhood trying to make friends and only getting bullied. I was a goth for a bit, but I wanted something more. I was learning more about current events, history, and the nature of society, and I found myself at odds with a very stagnant conservative culture I found myself in. I was a Los Angeleno fascinated with society and stuck in the South. The Clash and its music spoke to me. It introduced me to what punk is: empowering, questioning, ever-growing. It’s not reactionary, it wasn’t self-destructive. It was about finding what worked for you without any falsehoods. I fell in love with all sorts of punk bands, but The Clash, and Strummer’s work in particular remains to this day one of the biggest influences on my life.

So in honor of Joe Strummer’s death, and in honor of a man I truly admire, here’s “Johnny Appleseed” from The Mescaleros. If Charlie Chaplins’ final speech in The Great Dictator is a celloliod version of my worldview, and Bruce Lee’s musings a philosophical take on it, this song in particular is a musical example of what I think.

RIP Mr. Strummer, you taught me to always grow and make the world a better place.

youwontlivethisonedown: Last week, as part of a cultural...

Fri, 21 Dec 2012 12:00:14 -0800

youwontlivethisonedown:

Last week, as part of a cultural discovery project for one of my classes, I spent three days wearing ‘girls’ clothes while going about my day. I wanted to explore the general reaction and preconceptions that people in my city have to clothing, especially in regards to gender. To me, the idea that a piece of fabric or accessory can be so intertwined with who are in our conscious is perplexing. I didn’t want to show off, or offend anyone by my act of curiosity. Rather, I wanted to act as a meticulous observer of the times, to see if the community around me was really as open-minded as I wanted to believe that it was. After all, if such things really only had a place in the realm of high-fashion and in Scottish tradition, then something bigger must be at work.

On the first day, I wore a long-sleeve pink top cropped at the collarbone. I received many compliments, a few glares and even a free Venti gingerbread latte. On the second, I rocked a pink blouse with a high-waisted belt. Again, the same amount of well-wishes, questions and passing eye-rolls. These things were to be expected, as it isn’t necessarily the norm to see someone like me wearing things like these. I felt collected and confident in these modest outfits, seemingly convinced that the world around me could care less about the clothes someone wore. Most affirming was the response to my nails, which were almost always met with a cheerful grin, a high-five and a few words of encouragement.

What happened on the third day changed my perspective on humanity forever. I dressed myself as I normally would; band t-shirt, cardigan, plain Vans, etc. However, instead of black jeans, I complimented the outfit with a plain black skirt and matching set of tights. For me, this was a huge step in self-image. Years ago, I was barely confident enough to leave the house for school. These days, the opposite couldn’t be more true. As I set off about my day, the absolute worst in people came out in a full-force flurry of expletives and discomfort. I was ridiculed in whispers. I was mocked in glances. I was obnoxiously and filthily cat-called by a construction crew who, from behind, couldn’t tell that I was a man. Stopping by a bathroom before a lecture, a frat-bro went out of his way to shove me into the adjacent wall after eyeing me up and down on his way out. Expletives and names that might induce me to vomit were I to repeat them, were casually thrown in my direction with almost zero passing thought. By day’s end, I feared a full-on breakdown, unable to stand up for myself or what I believed in to maintain the integrity of the observer’s perspective. In a way, I had no right to feel that way, mostly because of the realization that this is the way that many have to live their lives. I fought back tears as every stare and ill-formed word engrained themselves in my sub-conscious.

Though I may not know you, I think that it’s important that we all come to understand why these things happen. In my book, cat-calling, shaming and harassment are among the worst actions we can engage in. As a heterosexual male, I will never truly know the fear that women may experience while walking home from work, going see a friend for lunch, or being sized-up in public based on their clothing. I will never truly know the gut-rot that a transgender individual may feel while being eyed up and down at the store or in class, strangers seeming to think as if the clothing they see before them begs a legal invitation of ridicule. I will never truly know the plights of these people, but as an ally and a human being invested in true equality, it is now my obligation to stand up for them as if I did.

What scares me the most is not the glances, mixed emotions, or 10-page paper that will inevitably come as a by-product of this project. No, what scares me is that this is the world we live in. We exist in a place where individuals living their truths can be subjected, directly or otherwise, to fear simply for living those truths. We live in an age where feeling ‘normal’ in your own clothing can create unfathomable contention with strangers, despite them having zero investment in their lives. We live in a world where the material, the fabric, the pieces that adorn you are somehow allowed to say more about who you are than the convictions in your heart and the sincerity in your deeds.

I don’t know about you, but I refuse that world. I refuse to let these things overcome the passion and genuine honesty that I’ve been so fortunate to bear witness to in my time. I refuse to let backwards, unprogressive mindsets stifle the glow and drive of those who are undeservingly robbed of it. Don’t say it can’t happen to you. If it happened to me, under the most average of circumstances on the streets in a progressive-leaning city, it could happen to anyone, and that is something I truly do not understand.

After all, it’s just a skirt.

What is it about a piece of inanimate, plain fabric that scares you so much?

Photo

Fri, 21 Dec 2012 10:03:56 -0800

kickstarter: Butterflies over New York. The Butterflies of...

Sat, 15 Dec 2012 10:02:00 -0800

kickstarter:

Butterflies over New York.

The Butterflies of Memory aims to become one of the largest public art projects in New York City.

A site-specific installation on little known Roosevelt Island in the East River, the artist’s giant butterfly sculptures are rigged to skinny metal poles, extending from the roof of the ruined smallpox hospital on the tip of the island.

Serving as physical manifestations of inspiration, these golden-winged creatures will be visible to millions of New Yorkers every day.

Anyone who knows Feng Shui knows that this is a no-brainer. The...

Sat, 24 Nov 2012 10:00:15 -0800

Anyone who knows Feng Shui knows that this is a no-brainer. The energy from anything electrical or machine is harsh, and perpetuates an uncomfortable existence for our bio-rhythms. I myself have learned not to use my computer in my bedroom, NEVER put a TV in the bedroom, and just generally keep electronics separate from the more sacred spaces in my life.

This simple adjustment in how you interact with technology can really make a difference. Try it.

Getting in Bed with Gadgets: Your Technology is Keeping You Awake

world-shaker:

Among the key findings:

90% of 18-29 year olds sleep with their smartphones

95% of people use the phone for something just before going to bed

Half of people check their phones immediately if they wake up during the night

FJP: Those key findings are all too familiar.

Recycled Film Roll Magnets

Fri, 23 Nov 2012 15:00:00 -0800

Recycled Film Roll Magnets : I love these. From $7-$15 dollars. I love it when people can see past...

An homage to books, literature, and the power of...

Fri, 23 Nov 2012 12:00:35 -0800

An homage to books, literature, and the power of words.

via joncozart

TODAY’S ENTRY FOR “THINGS THAT SEEM SO...

Fri, 23 Nov 2012 11:14:26 -0800

TODAY’S ENTRY FOR “THINGS THAT SEEM SO “DUH”, WHY DID IT TAKE US SO LONG?!”

(I.E. Awesome Things)

kickstarter:

Women on two wheels.

Ann DeOtte’s designs solve a basic problem: Can you bike in comfort and dress with style?

Her clever answer is Iva Jean, a line of functional clothing for women cyclists that works on and off your ride. DeOtte’s pieces employ just a few clever nips and tucks to seamlessly transition from road to office.

Take the Reveal skirt, pictured above. The tailored skirt unzips in the back to expose additional fabric for easy pedaling, and features a high-waisted cut for comfortable coverage. It’s safety first and fashion forward at the same time — and it’s also our Project of the Day.