Ice Diving

This looks kind of terrifying. Isn't this how Houdini died? (Ok no, he died from trying to "absorb" some punches to the stomach. That didn't work out so well). But anyway, losing hold of the safety line that leads you back to the hole in the ice...sounds like no fun. It is gorgeous though. These photographs come from an ice diving trip to a lake in Kazakhstan famous for it's "underwater forest."

Lovely Little

From Mark Mothersbaugh.

Yikes

Good Morning

In the Coming Quarter

I just realized that registration for Spring quarter is March 1st (at least for me--being a senior I register on the first day, natch). I spent about an hour going through course descriptions and timetables to see what I might want to take in the next to last quarter in my undergraduate schooling (gulp). I've decided that for next quarter I'll be taking:

1. Young Adult Literature

The text list doesn't seem to be set in stone yet, but it's certain that we'll be reading Twilight (ugh), The Book Thief, Speak, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian (Sherman Alexie!), and a few undetermined others. I'm stoked because my senior-seminar and anime class friend Rachel is taking it with me, so it should be a great class.

2. Introduction to Language

This is the dreaded course of the English major. Most English majors hate that we have to take a sentence diagramming, husher and velar memorizing, fact-based course. I'm trying to be optimistic about it, and I think I know a few people in the class so...hopefully it won't be so bad. Maybe I'll learn something really interesting about the ways language has developed, and the cross-cultural differences in communication. That could be cool.

3. "Walking" (the amazing Fairhaven College class)

I found out about this course this morning as I browsed through the Fairhaven offerings for the Spring. Here is the wonderful description written by the professor:

"We rise from war to walk across the earth around our house both stunned that sun can shine so brightly after all our pain" —Audre Lorde

 

To walk may be an act of survival. Or it may be a pilgrimage, a saunter, a stroll. Or merely the cheapest and most available way to get from here to there. It may be forced or chosen, an act of protest or unity. One step at a time, we will explore the literature of walking (poems, stories, songs, essays, journals), write our own walking narratives and songlines, and take weekly excursions afoot. We will also examine the motion of walking, and how the cadence and rhythm of walking shape what we see, how we think, and the pace at which we experience the world around (and underneath) us. There are historic walks and marches to consider, sometimes for freedom or peace, sometimes at gunpoint, and sometimes as a means to exploration, discovery, or cross-cultural encounters. We will spread out and explore the many diverse perspectives on walking, historical and contemporary, using the class as a place to come together, to share our discoveries, and to see what other paths are out there. Our group walking excursions will take us through alleys, forest paths, city streets, streams, and along beaches. We will also take a 3-day walk in mid-to-late May, learning by experience what it means to walk for a long time. There will be weekly writings, a fair amount of reading, and lots of discussion and walking.

 

Texts: WANDERLUST: A HISTORY OF WALKING, by Solnit; THE LONG WALK, by Rawicz; ANNAPURNA: A WOMAN’S PLACE, by Blum; PLANETWALKER, by Francis.

 

Credit/Evaluation: Presence in class; completion of weekly writing assignments (poems, songs, personal essays, reflections, event maps); active participation in discussions on readings and in group work; completion of a Walking Essay, a Three-Day Walk Project (including a map, journal, reflection, creative response, and presentation), and a Group Walk Reflection; taking all six class walks and a three-day walk; and marching in at least one group walk or march.

So yeah, I emailed the professor right away to see if I could get into the class (not being a Fairhaven college student I needed an override to get in, and they're highly competitive). I tried to write the most compelling and articulate email I could, being careful to explicitly explain why I wanted to take the class. Suffice it to say, he let me in right away! So "Walking" is my third course!


And the best part? I don't have classes on Mondays and Wednesdays!


And I've also decided to take the 100 series of French over the summer. So...that's an entire year of college-level French in 9 weeks. I'm so excited!!

No Idea

Seriously, I have no idea what to say about this. Apparently this is the "Sect of Gadget Hackwrench" in Russia. Here is their mission statement (manifesto?):

She is the divine being, the most untouched and perfect sibling of the great God on Earth”, say one of the participants. “Why I love her? It’s stupid question, how I can’t love the Godess?”. “She is strict, cute, optimistic and her level of technical knowledge is unachievable for a mortal being.

So yeah...I have no words.

Behind-the-Scenes-Head

There are just so many awesome things going on here, I might have a kind of film-nerd flip-out if I tried to talk about them. Suffice it to say you absolutely must watch Eraserhead, even if only once. If you hate it, don't tell me about it. If you love/loved it, we'll gush. (By the way, this is David Lynch providing Jack Nance direction on the Eraserhead set, in case you hadn't picked up on that.)

Whale Belly Store

This is a photograph of the gift shop of the Blackgang Chine Bazaar at the Isle of Wight's Blackgang Chine Amusement Park (established in 1843). I need to go.

Next Book Is...

I've decided that I simply must read this book. I think it will be my Spring Break project (aside from sewing). It sounds really different and strange. Reminds me of Ye Olde Curiosity Shoppe on the pier in Seattle, without all the stinky fish smell and tourists.

Here's the review from Amazon:

In the non-Aristotelian, non-Euclidean, non-Newtonian space between the walls of the Museum of Jurassic Technology in Los Angeles exist bats that can fly through lead barriers, spore-ingesting pronged ants, elaborate theories of memory, and a host of other off-kilter scientific oddities that challenge the traditional notions of truth and fiction. Lawrence Weschler's book, expanded from an article for Harper's, is, at turns, a tour of the museum, a profile of its founder and curator, David Wilson, and a meditation on the role of imagination and authority in all museums, in science and in life. Mr. Wilson's Cabinet of Wonder is an exquisite piece of "magic realist nonfiction" that will prove utterly captivating.

 I really wanted to find some of the illustrations used in the book, but apparently it's too new for people to have scanned them in yet. Oh well, here's the place to get it. I'll tell you how awesome it was when I'm done!

Revealed

This is the saddest thing I've seen all day.

Christian Photo Retouches...Russia Style!

Okay, more Russian stuff today, because I am endlessly fascinated.

Here is possibly the most heinous photo-retouching/photography company ever. Seriously.

 

Oh yeah, it's that bad. But wait! What's that you say? They do weddings? Oh, we must see:

 

 

 

Oh how lovely! We really must see one more instance of strange clip art and backgrounds inserted at random into photographs. I insist. That should be a trend.But this is nice too:

 

See them all here. I know you want to.

 

That's It...

I absolutely must live in Russia at some point. Seriously...eagles are trendy pets in Moscow. EAGLES.

 

Translated quote from source site: "Lately numerous occasions of people with eagle pets have been reported from the centre of Moscow. Looks like this becomes trendy?"

Law and (Dis)Order

Apparently there is some strange phenomena regarding the Law and Order theme song. Dogs can't stand it.




There's actually an entire website devoted to videos of dogs howling in reaction to this. Here.

So I'm a Little Late...

But I recently heard of Alexander McQueen's (far too early) death, and thought I'd continue his online legacy. His work was always completely innovative and new.

So It's As Easy As That...

Now we know what we're doing wrong! Right?

For Caitlin

Real Life Lichtenstein

A photoshoot for MAC cosmetics recreated a Roy Lichtenstein painting to great effect. I think it's lovely (and looks like fun!).

See more of the shoot process here. 

A Short History of Nearly Everything

An awesome flipbook project that, as the title says, shows everything.

It's fun.

Long ago...

Oh long lost blog, I have come back to you!

For various reasons I have been either too busy or too distracted to post here. But no longer! I have received requests from several avid fans (read: Caitlin and Ana) to continue, and continue I shall.

Expect photo updates on my costume progress for the upcoming Sakura-Con, as well as other tidbits and such that are "me."

Here are the two costumes I'll be working on and (hopefully) completing!

Faye Valentine from Cowboy Bebop:

And Fran from Final Fantasy XII:

Yes, they are crazy. Yes, I am crazy for doing them. 

Will post more details later! Off to watch Grave of the Fireflies!

PSD

The original photoshop disaster?

Bad Kitties

Seattle

I miss my city. Luckily, I'm headed home in just a few days! Don't have any anticipation of seeing the market, but it is lovely to look at.

Christmas #3

Been a long time since my last post. Still recovering from finals and GRE nightmares. This installment of the Christmas pics is a wonderful snowball fight in Times Square. Those east coasters are at least attempting to make the best of their horrible snowstormy weather.

Christmas #2

Though not strictly a "Christmas" image, it still evokes thoughts of chilled Norwegian winters and sleigh rides. This is the Fantoft Stave church in Bergen, Norway. The church was built around the year 1150, and burned down by a Norwegian black metal band in 1992. Thankfully it has been fully restored. An image of the church post-burning was used for the cover of black metal band Burzum's album "Aske" (ashes).

For Christmas #1

Trying to find weird and cool Christmas pictures to post (one a day) until the holiday arrives. (I *love* Christmas, and am about to rush out to get my tree in a few moments. Will post pictures of its glory later.)

First up:

Mr. T and first lady Nancy Reagan. A Christmas memory we shall never forget.

Also...

Found this wicked bed. Doesn't quite knock the racecar bed from my top choices in retro-chic bedframes, but very high up there indeed. Reminded me of Caitlin.

Be Adam

I wish I could see this in person.

Recreation of the Sistine Chapel ceiling on the side of an elevator puts you in the role of Adam! My dream come true!

What I'm Reading

Just finished two books this week--Hunter S. Thompson's Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas and J.M. Barrie's Peter Pan. I know it sounds like an odd combination, but if you know me you'll see how fitting it is. I'd never read either of these texts, though I've sorely wanted to for some time. Thompson's text made me feel...kind of like I was crazy or delirious. His language is harsh and lovely, and I've certainly found what is to be "my" quote for some time to come:

"A flashing of Knives and Green Water"

and also perhaps (in a different context):

It seems like a lifetime, or at least a Main Era — the kind of peak that never comes again. San Francisco in the middle sixties was a very special time and place to be a part of. Maybe it meant something. Maybe not, in the long run... but no explanation, no mix of words or music or memories can touch that sense of knowing that you were there and alive in that corner of time and the world. Whatever it meant... 

History is hard to know, because of all the hired bullshit, but even without being sure of 'history' it seems entirely reasonable to think that every now and then the energy of a whole generation comes to a head in a long fine flash, for reasons that nobody really understands at the time — and which never explain, in retrospect, what actually happened

My central memory of that time seems to hang on one or five or maybe forty nights — or very early mornings — when I left the Fillmore half-crazy and, instead of going home, aimed the big 650 Lightning across the Bay Bridge at a hundred miles an hour... booming through the Treasure Island tunnel at the lights of Oakland and Berkeley and Richmond, not quite sure which turnoff to take when I got to the other end... but being absolutely certain that no matter which way I went I would come to a place where people were just as high and wild as I was: no doubt at all about that...

There was madness in any direction, at any hour. If not across the Bay, then up the Golden Gate or down 101 to Los Altos or La Honda... You could strike sparks anywhere. There was a fantastic universal sense that whatever we were doing was right, that we were winning...

And that, I think, was the handle — that sense of inevitable victory over the forces of Old and Evil. Not in any mean or military sense; we didn't need that. Our energy would simply PREVAIL. There was no point in fighting — on our side or theirs. We had all the momentum; we were riding the crest of a high and beautiful wave...

So now, less than five years later, you can go up on a steep hill in Las Vegas and look West, and with the right kind of eyes you can almost see the high-water mark — that place where the wave finally broke and rolled back.

Thompson's language here is just...beautiful and haunting and incredibly fitting for the text and the context. I encourage everyone to read it. Also, for those of you who accompanied me on my previously-alluded-to Vegas trip--the carousel bar in Circus-Circus is totally the same one from this book/movie. Just thought you should know. I'm sad I didn't know this when I was there, or I'd have a picture.

Peter Pan, on a different note, is completely enchanting. None of the film adaptations I've seen has quite captured the feeling this book gives you when you read it. It's full of the romance and thrill that I almost remember my childhood encapsulating. I can't even quote from it because I feel you should be in your own right place when you sit down to read this for the first time. And you all should. (It's short!)

Incidentally, the illustration above is part of a collection of lovely Peter Pan illustrations I've found online. See them here, you won't regret it!

What I'm watching

In addition to the papers I should be writing, I've been catching a few films here and there. Two recent ones were Federico Fellini's Amarcord, and Ingmar Bergman's The Virgin Spring. Fellini's film was riotous and hilarious, and made me want to buy vintage hats and romp around the cobblestone streets of Italy. Bergman's was dark, beautifully photographed, and haunting. It also featured one of the brutal rape scenes I have yet seen in a film (apart from Irreversible, which I cannot recommend you view, though it is important.) I enjoyed both of these films, though Bergman's made me want to hurt something at the injustice of it all.

Finals week

New favorite people

I just realized how completely awesome Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi are. Seriously. They're beautiful, eloquent and strong advocates for gay rights. Completely awesome people. I saw a clip of Portia's appearance on The View and was blown away by how smart and wonderful she is.

Here is that clip:

Lollight

Stumbled upon this lolcat version of Twilight: New Moon. Not so much a fan of the series of books or fandom or whatever...but this is funny. Read here.

Pretty Shoot

The photos of Crystal Renn in the January issue of Elle Canada are simply stunning. Seriously. Check them out here.

I have few words...

This ad is just all kinds of wrong. But you know how I love vintage photography and advertising...right?

Gentlemen of Bacongo

I wish I could find more photos from this upcoming photobook online. It seems really, really cool. Kind of like the Japanese street fashion book "Fruits" for the Congo maybe? Anyway, I'm a total sucker for photobooks. I spend far too much money on glossy covers and ridiculously oversized tomes.

Rotating Kitchen

This art installation by Zeger Reyers started rotating last Friday, and will continue to rotate until February 28th, 2010. It's quite strange and interesting, and I'm still not sure entirely what to make of it. Thoughts?

Embroidery!

I've been practicing my hand-embroidering, even though my sewing machine has an embroidery function. I just think it's clever and sweet to have things embroidered by hand. Such a wonderful tradition of old. Anyway, my first few attempts were too...interesting...to post. This one turned out pretty well though. And from the subject I suppose you can tell what I'm reading at the moment. (Or just finished I guess.)

Another (close-up) picture after the jump.

Roles Revisited

Possibly one of the cooler photoshoots I've seen. This is from Empire magazine's 20th anniversary issue--they had film stars photographed in creative recreations of their (arguably) most famous roles. I can't find all of the photos, but you can see the ones I've found after the jump.