Post Secret

These will inspire you: read here.

Reading these makes me feel more connected to the world. Its like you hear someone's thoughts and see it in your friends or in yourself or in your family.

If you sent a message to post secret what would you write? 

Some are sweet, some make you think these people are fake, pretending to be something they are not.

Zachary Booth

I remembered the presentation on Booth today, specifically the video SAVE THE BABY.  It made me think of my own mind and what I think about.

"The best way to win is to not play."

I don't like not playing, and I'm not sure most people would rather sit out than play. But I guess it is the smart way to go through life, or the safest, maybe not the smartest. We all make dumb choices, but wouldn't you rather make them and learn, then not have done anything? Its like that other quote, better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.

Mouse Troubles

In February I bought a sleek wireless mouse after my simple optical mouse died. I did some research and found one that was higher rated than apple's mighty mouse. I liked the brand that I had for my old mouse so I decided to stick with Kensington again. It promises to have great response, and even doubles as a presenter tool with a scrolley wheel on the base. I've been using it for the past five months, and sure it looks good, but I hate it. It went through batteries like butter and never responded to my clicks and movement. It was the worst mouse I've ever used. I use the computer in all four of my classes and this mouse made working so frustrating. Besides that I spent $60 to make sure I got a great product with the latest wireless technology.

After all that I have decided that its time to let go of the stylish mouse and go for something practical. I went to Best Buy and bought a RocketFish optical mouse for $20. When I used it for the first time I felt so much relief, I almost wanted to cry. All I need is a small simple device to help me do work. I'm so glad to finally have a reliable object to work with again.

I can't believe how such a small thing has affected my life.

Focusing on Stelarc and Viola

I think out of all the presentations I saw this week I felt the most connection with StelArc. His work sticks out in my mind, much like the artist I researched, Bill Viola's did. First of all his ear on his arm is so revolutionary, suggesting human beings are not complete, we need to be more developed. I also thought his third hand was amazing. The third hand is connected to his second hand, but functions completely separate. I don't understand how his brain can signal ithe third hand without effecting his second. Its like when you raise your ring finger, your pinky also raises. I don't understand how he can solve this problem of simultaneous movement. I find his work fascinating.

Likewise, Bill Viola is an artist that really speaks to me. I love his work. It is so elemental and simple, yet complex having many influences into his work. His work is much different than many artists I've seen and I think it has to do with the fact that he has worked in the same medium for 35 years. He started with silent black & white film then moved onto sound and color.

men are no different than robots

Our class discussion today was so interesting. Jason came in to start if off recommending the restaurant Grezzo on Prince St in the North End of Boston. I have been looking into foods lately and found this extremely interesting. I found it fascinating that the cheapest foods are sometimes the most natural. I used to go to Whole Foods because everything there tastes better. Its just a higher quality of food that we seem to have lost. Food used to be more local, and with globalization, we've lost that. Like we said in class, we want our apples, year round so we import them.

We also talked about marriage and going somewhere to find your mate. My boyfriend and I met at Wentworth when I created a duck tour for one of my RA events. We would never have met if we both didn't move to Boston for school. A lot more people are traveling to find love too if they don't find it in their hometowns. It a lot like produce, we import things to where we need them.

Virtual Classroom

Today we had our class online. I figured it would be a little chaotic with so many people typing at the same time, and it turned out to be that way. I had a headache after the first 20 minutes of trying to keep of with everyone's thoughts. It was also frustrating that first we had to type what we thought, we couldn't just say it. I wonder what it would be like if we had microphones & cameras set up as well. I think we would have to use the "raise hand" tool so we wouldn't be talking over one another. It would be more organized I think if we did this.

We talked about BNW, the ICA, Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum and Second Life. I've been reading BNW even though we haven't had the time to talk about it much in class and I think it posses a lot of interesting questions. We talked abut if our society puts people into classes. I think it does, but some disagreed. I think we are born into a certain situation and thats the opportunity you get. There are some that get lucky or are talented and can grow beyond the situation they are brought up in, but for the most part I think there are expectations (either positive or negative) placed on us before we are born. It is a lot like the Alphas vs. the Gammas in BNW.

I was on YouTube while I was eating lunch today and came across an interesting phenomenon. People were painting with light. It was a Japanese video that was playful and entertaining about lightheartedness and it made me feel happy while I watched it. Here is a video link to the movie. This is also another link that explains how it works and it is even a toy for toddlers so instead of using crayons on the wall they use light!

What is this weird universe?

I registered for 2nd Life, did all the tutorials, and I am so frustrated with it. I don't see the fun of it. I don't understand the PURPOSE to it.

Most games have goals or levels you have to achieve. There are so many possibilities with where to go, that it seems limitless. I've been tele-porting to a lot of places and some are deserted and some are hopping. The events page is interesting to find other people, but they aren't real people and I'm not seeing any benefit for being logged in. For example, right now I'm signed in dancing a waltz with a bunch of people that taught me how to do it because they're chatting with me. Is this just weird to me because its new or is it weird because it scares me. Is this the way communication is going? Cell phones and texting is impersonal enough, but to be communicating anonymously with virtual people? Really? I would rather have a class than play this game more. I feel like I'm wasting my time when I could be with my friends or getting my homework done. Maybe I need to give it another chance, but I don't see all the hype its supposed to be.

I used to play the Sims when I was a kid on my home computer. That was a very similar idea, except that you control everyone's mind and their personalities are already chosen. It however, is fun. You try to improve them financially through their job and their skills. Everyone on second life seems to have no family, no reason to be logged in. Imagine all the time spent on this program and what other good it could've been doing.

I found the registration process difficult but I was surprised to see a list of Community Standards. How can these possibly be enforced? Are there 2nd life police officers?

Second Life Registration Confirmation

Second Life Registration Confirmation

In Ford we trust...

The book Brave New World is at the same time both creepy and a tell tale sign of our future. What I am finding particularly interesting is the amount of drug use in the society. Soma is taken constantly throughout the day and is used to avoid any negative feeling. Most often it seems to be used so that no one feels uncomfortable. It helps them stay relaxed. It seems to have the same effects that alcohol has.

We are living in exponential times. Refer to this link.

Will robots inherit the earth?

This article was so interesting to read. All our thoughts about reproduction and life span were questioned. I remember thinking in high school Biology class that life wasn't forever. I've always wanted to live forever. Experiencing life is the best thing I think, but I don't know otherwise. I don't think I'd want to die even if all my friends and family were gone, I'd find new friends! I thought it was strange that people in the article surveyed individuals that said they would rather die than outlive their friends.

It is also interesting that intelligence seems to indicate how long we live. Since our primates live about half as long as we do and not many animals outlive us it would seem like size and our brains have something to do together.

The other day in class we were talking about beauty. I remember a Dove movie I saw a little while ago with a regular woman who gets makeup and hair and photoshopping done and looks like a supermodel. The makeup and hair doesn't bother me so much because I do the same thing, but the photoshop was really scary. So much was changed about her proportions: the neck, shoulders, eyes, face, hair... everything was altered to the correct proportions. Its really disgusting, but she does look good after, but it doesn't look like her. Go here to see it.

Al-Jazeera

Al-Jazeera

Different perspectives on the world are getting harder to find as the media filters. I found two videos on women in Egypt and in China that were interesting about the veil and Sex in the City respectively.

The Veil

Sex in the City China

Visit to the MFA

 

Fracois Boucher, French

Return from Market 1767

Paul Gauguin, French. Where Do We Come From? What Are We? Where Are We Going? 1897-1898

Peter Paul Rubens

Head of Cyrus Brought to Queen Tomyris 1622-23

Our visit to the MFA was a huge timeline from Egyptian tombs through modern painting. The Egyptians had their own language written on their drawings. They were into magic and animals. The Romans on the other hand focused on proportions of the human body, virtue & reason. Then we saw some Catalonian art from Gothic times. I really didn't like these paintings, the people were painted strange colors, like grey or greenish and had un-human like body parts (ex. fingers or eyes). They were a little creepy from what is acceptable in my mind. I wouldn't want a painting like that just because it doesn't seem like something I would want to see or remember everyday. I really enjoyed the Rubens paintings in the large hall. I remember studying his work in high school drawing class and imitating his portraits. His way to deal with light and shadow upon facial expressions is exceptional. The painting about the Head of Cyrus Brought to Queen Tomyris surprised me. I'm not used to these types of scenes by Rubens telling a story. The painting is really exquisite in detail. It is not from the time, it is a myth from the past telling a story. Then the Return from Market painting is much different in that it is supposed to be propaganda for the times. With the French Revolution just a few years away the citizens are poor, not happy and full like they seem to be in the painting. Gauguin's painting asking life questions from the modern era is a different subject matter. It is also telling a story but not attempting to gloss over details or "glam up the scene". It is a more primitive subject with simple ideas of how humans live and survive.

Man Made Earthquakes?

So we've talked about creating man made weather patterns... but earthquakes? Its possible. According to WIRED magazine, villain Lex Luthor tried to create an earthquake to separate California in Superman. But according to Christian Klose from Columbia's Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, "25 percent of Britian's recorded seismic events were caused by people.

5 Top Ways to create an earthquake:

1. Build a Dam

2. Inject Liquid Into the Ground

3. Mine a lot of coal

4. Drill a gusher dry

5. Create the worlds biggest building

The Taipei 101 building weighs more than 700,000 metric tons. Geologists claim that it was triggering earthquakes in a dormant fault in Taiwan. Crazy how much our own ego could be destroying us.

Starting Frankenstein

I started the first 30 pages of Frankenstein yesterday. It started off with so many letters and introductions to the book. Its really a lot shorter than I thought it would be. The first 30 pages started off as a boy who grows to love amazing writers who thrill him to discover new things. He then goes away to college and meets a chemistry professor who goes to another country and learns more and more. His knowledge expands and he becomes intensely involved in his work. He starts to build a monster and creates a giant creature. It then terrifies him and he starts to go crazy. I think in the next section he'll probably go home to Switzerland, but we'll see. Okay time for class. Toodles.

Field Trip!

Today we got to experience how art & technology are interconnected first hand over in JP at Axiom Gallery. The small gallery connected to the subway station at Green Street had major work to boast about. This installation by Andy Zimmerman reminded me of one that I saw in Vienna, Austria in March. Isn't it crazy how similar ideas can be happening concurrently across the world? The exhibit in Vienna is a sort of glass pyramid with mirrors as a base. The pyramid appears to mirror itself go into the floor and creates amazing reflections in the piece as you move around it. It also contains florescent lighting, illuminating the inside of the pyramid. Zimmerman's dome shape without glass is a little different. It uses a projector and sound to illumnate wire mesh along with a corresponding audio track. The exhibit in Austria is more flat as far as interaction with viewers. It has a visual attraction with the mirrors and the ability of people to walk 360 degrees around the object. The piece at Axiom however has 360 views and sound and moving light. I don't think either is more successful, they are different, but I do like the pyramid in Austria much better. The craftsmanship is superb. However, the Axiom piece is as post-modern as it gets as far as art goes.

In addition to all the other pieces in the show we also saw a random video clip with headphones for sound of two artificial intelligent virtual robots vying for control of sensors. Jack Backrack's Consensus is a simulation of a stand alone feature. The AI model relates to politics with two leaders competing for control of the masses. The tentacles they have send signals out to the other figures and control the beings to follow. Its all random and can be applied to the confusion of what is the current situation in politics. Backrack is married to a dancer and also does other medias with a camera and creating visual reflections of dance. I think this piece is absolutely brillant. It takes something current in our society and makes it artistic and technical. It makes it fun and scary at the same time. Are we all just little robots listening and deciding who to follow? Is this a natural thing or are we inferior in some way to these powers? Is it good to follow along? I think we need leaders in society for a sense of control and order.

Stressed and thinking too much...

Life Questions

I <3 the weekend!

This weekend has been so great. It was good to see all my friends again this week after getting back from the semester in Berlin, but I was kind of on sensory overload. Its been good to relax a bit and enjoy all that Boston has to offer again.

On Friday night I joined up with some of my friends at the Squealing Pig and went to a gallery opening at pinkcomma gallery in the South End. I like to go to first friday's in the south end for the art shows all the time and one night happened upon pinkcomma. It actually just opened this past year and its run by one of the professor's in the architecture department at Wentworth. This time I knew about them though and was planning ahead to go to the exhibition. This time they had a show with 12 different young architecture firms that put together a parti wall outside the gallery on Wareham street. Its made from a plant like a chia pet and hung on metal supports. It came out well and was also very well attended. If we can change the orientation of how plants grow... (out instead of upwards) can't we change the weather patterns in the sky with the help of some more tools?

Click to read article on weather altering

Strange huh? Yeah. I think its an amazing phenomenon. I hope this could be used to protect every part of the world from hurricanes and tornados and tsunamis. I'm moving to Miami in August to go to grad school at Univ of Miami, and I'm nervous about the hurricanes. I flew down there last week to visit campus and went on a campus tour. The campus is beautiful, I was really impressed with what I saw especially in the architecture dept, but when we got to the freshman dorms, I was a little scared out of my mind. The dorms are 12 stories high and look like they were built to survive WW3. But they were built to survive hurricane force winds. The tour guide told me that when storms come they have the top six floors go and live with the bottom six and they play games, order pizza and have a big party while the storm goes through. This didn't make me feel very safe since the apartment I just put a deposit down on would probably get blown away in a storm. I really don't know what to expect down there, but I wish this weather technology could be put into practice sooner so I wouldn't have to worry about hurricanes.  It really could do so much good for everyone. I don't know if it could prevent floods, earthquakes, or mudslides, that might be more tricky to perfect. Curing a drought or altering a rainy season might to more good to the world and make everyone more profitable in the long run. I like to think there would be no consequences because the energy taken away from stopping rain in some cloud could be moved to another to make it rain. I guess only time will tell.

what is this semester about?

I came to class today a little bit uneasy of what was going on. I noticed the class title had changed from Sociology to Art & Technology. Why? idk. I guess we'll find out. I never took Sociology in high school so I thought it would be good to give it a try, but it turns out its not anything like I thought it would be, its a mix of art history with technology and just a bit more applicable to today's culture.

I love going to art shows and galleries especially first fridays in the south end. I think i'll be able to get my art fix in class as well as outside.

Today's class got me thinking about the future and what we expect to happen. I always try and avoid movies like War of the Worlds or Cloverfield, even I Am Legend. I try not to think about diseases making all of us into zombies or everyone fighting for their lives. Its really no good living in an age of terror. Its so wasteful to think about things that might happen that you don't pay attention to what is happening. But at the same time, 1984 by George Orwell happened with CCTV cameras. The first CCTV camera was installed in Germany during 1942 to observe V2 rockets being launched. From then on they've been installed world wide. After the London bombing in 2005, the city installed thousands of cameras. The government uses them to find missing children, to report traffic violations and to prevent crimes before they even occur.