Talk to me

I'm glad I started this blog, because it has led people in the community who are working on issues I care about to contact me. If you are one of this people who happens to stumble across my blog, feel free to email me and let me know what organizations are out there. I would love to learn more.

I've just spent the last two hours reading articles about urban planning (the pros and cons of condos, the issues of gentrification, the issues of transit, the issues of poverty). Does anyone have good solid NON BIASED books that I can read? It seems like a lot of the blogs and arguments are too one sided for me to make my own judgments. I have read some solid articles, but want more! I don't want someone to tell me what to think.. I want facts, examples, truth.. so I can formulate my own opinions.

These are my opinions so far.. I'll let you know if they change.

Condos are ugly and built cheaply. As an aspiring architect, I do not think the condos are aesthetically pleasing. They look like the pre-made sheds you can buy at Home Depot. Why do we want to fill our cities with ugly buildings?! But, further than that, why are we tearing down good homes to build these ugly buildings?! The are built cheaply and not built to last. How is this environmental when they aren't built to stand the test of time?

People say condos are good because the same amount of land used can house more people, because they are built taller. Is this true?
The two houses across the street both housed college students. Now, the two houses are being turned into three town homes. The two houses each housed atleast 6-8 people each.. so 12-16 total. Since the town homes are targeted to young married couples... that would probably mean 2-3 people would live in each town house.... which makes 6-9 people instead of the 12-16.

I understand that it's different because I live in a university neighborhood where all the statistics are thrown off. But, why are we building condos here? Why are we targeting buildings for married middle class couples instead the students? Why are students being forced to live farther north and commute in?

I keep seeing problems with the the world around me, but I want to try to figure out answers. Urban planning is complex and I don't know enough to start to even guess at the answers, which is why, I need to read more. There are so many issues out there that I want to know more about, but I think I need to start narrowing down, so I can study the subject more intensely.

I've learned more in the past month through discussions with people, and reading from various sources than I have through my entire school career. I have always loved school because I love learning, but I am realizing that I don't feel like much of what I am learning is of consequence anymore. I'm done regurgitating information and am ready to start thinking on my own.

the power of a smile

I read an article today about studies done on the power of a smile. It talked about an artist who made a painting, put it in a public spot, and put a sign on it that said you could take the painting if you, in payment, would smile at strangers for the rest of the day. People avoided the painting, until one woman came up, saw the painting, laughed loudly to herself and beamed as she carried the painting off. Little acts like this make me happy. On the other hand, I find it odd that our society tells people to smile at customers and if you're down just keep smiling. Is it right to tell someone to pretend to feel a certain emotion even if they don't? Is it right to tell people to put up a front around others? But, that's a whole new topic. Back to my point... I want to do something similar to this. We should combine our creative powers and make some art. Invest our emotions into art which we will leave on buses, on a bench, or sitting on the grass. Maybe.. instead of telling them to smile.. leave two art pieces.. and tell them to give one of them to a stranger that seemingly is having a bad day. What do you say? Will you join me? I'll start a facebook group on this if you're interested!

Monster Sightings!

In the middle of March, a monster was sighted in the University District of Seattle. This monster appeared to be terrorizing a house of ailing health.

Due to the failing health of the house, the nature of the death is in question. The monster was seen hovering over the remains and showed little remorse. Local officials did not take the monster into custody.

Only two days later, the monster struck again at the house just next door. It appears that the motive for this murder was greed. The act itself was committed in daylight hours and had many observers. None of who tried to stop this horrendous act.

In the aftermath, one man sat there mourning the loss of the two houses. No ceremony was held, but memories of these houses will be forever be remembered when the monuments of condos are erected in their honor.

Puget Sound Community Change

I stumbled across this program that tries to create a community based movement of consumers, nonprofits and businesses who align daily economic activities with sustainable values. Take the time to check it out. It saves you money too.

Volunteer to Raise Money for Leukemia Research while Killing the Environment

I went to volunteer at a event to help raise money for leukemia. It was a fun run, which means there were plastic water bottles handed out everywhere. Okay, I understand people need water... I wish they could use their own personal water bottles... but, I understand. I keep my position leading and organizing groups of people to start the run.

After a couple hours into my shift, a head volunteer coordinator approaches with a trash bag filled with paper, wrappers, various debris, but mostly full of the before mentioned plastic water bottles. Normally, I am not a confrontational person. For some reason, perhaps because of the conversation with the couple from the night before, I spoke out. I asked her if they had recycling bins and if they planned on recycling the plastic bottles. She looked at me blankly. She didn't know if the building had recycling bins and no, she did not plan on recycling the bottles. At this point, she hands me the plastic bag and tells me to take care of the plastic bottles if I want, but she doesn't have time to do it.

Walking around the building, I find several recycling containers that the security guards were taking out at a regular basis. Talking to other event coordinators, I managed to gather a group of five or so volunteers to pick up bottles lying around, empty the contents, wash the bottles if needed, and empty them into the proper recycling receptacles. Easy.

Why wasn't this happening? Why do people think that keeping the environment clean doesn't affect peoples health and lives? They raised a million dollars for research at the expense of thousands of plastic bottles lying in mounds on top of a landfill or dumped into our ocean. OUR ocean OUR land... we all share in it.

Being hesitant to speak out is one of my negative traits, which I need to work on. Which leads me to my next point, I want to start a lunch or dinner club. More specifically, I want to start a lunch or dinner club, where people who are passionate about the environment can talk to each other, inspire each other, and find ways, no matter how small, to make a difference. Let's go buy some local produce, cook some delicious food, but most importantly, Let's start a conversation.

Conquering with Love

Vibrations of unrecognizable dance music course through me. Amidst eyes laden with alcohol and sounds rushing from mouths unhindered by sobriety, I watch. My hand twirls a glass full of wine, which I have no motivation to consume. I feel anxious. Anxious to figure out what I'm doing with myself.

Lists fill my head...
one. find more plastic bags. two need to finish art project. three. remember to wake up early to volunteer. four. need to figure out time to work out amidst work, school, and volunteering. five. sophie needs more dog food. six. it's still six right? fix my car. but, I need to figure out medical bills. Medical bills... I need to go to the doctor about my tumor. Money. oh yeah.. taxes. finances.. should i graduate next quarter. School. my art isn't good enough. will I be okay in the real world? should I travel? should I move? am I just running away? I really need to make more time for friends. seven. sophie should go to the vet. eight. how are these girls so skinny? I work out six days a week. does it... Hi.

A boy with a kind face approaches. I recognize him as the vivacious girl's boyfriend. He seems more reserved, but their commonality is an important one. They both seem to exude love. This is hard to explain. Imagine a hippy. Now, take away the drugs, unkempt hair, and mismatched clothes, but keep the altruistic aura. I have a knack for first perceptions.

The conversation started as most do. I hear you go to UW. What's your major? Architecture and art. Really. I was told I should be an architect, but I'm studying film. I am really interested in green architecture.

I stand at hearing this. Does he mean this or is he just another person who thinks green architecture is merely using somewhat recycled materials to justify tearing down perfectly good houses to build condos? The conversation progresses and within a few minutes, I found myself completely enlivened. We began speaking of how awe-struck we were of the upcoming visit by the Dalai Lama. A symbol of such love.. in front of us.. live.. inspiring.. filling us with hope.. changing lives. Talking about how we are torn by finding out our childhood dreams aren't our current dreams. No longer do I want to build big buildings and big houses that will make my famous at the expense of the environment.. no longer does he want to make big films in Hollywood at the expense of people closing their eyes to the world around them. There has to be more. We can use our professions to make a difference. We lament about our surroundings and the destruction of this beautiful earth. How can we change the culture to care less about what is profitable and more about what is right. His girlfriend approaches and drifts seamlessly into our discussion. I am overjoyed to find that she is just as passionate. We talk about things I only write about, because I don't feel like people want to listen.

This is what I am missing right now. This is the cause of my hollow core. I need to find more people who are passionate about important matters and are ready to talk about it. We are so caught up in our own lives that the meaningful issues are pushed aside. People like them are my inspiration and hope. They are both passionate, but aren't hardened by the problems around them. Instead they exude love and from that love they try to help the world. I can only imagine the inspiration that will seep into my pores when I am in the presence of the Dalai Lama.

End note: This wasn't meant to sound pretentious or that I don't think my friends are amazing people. I think this may be how religious people might feel if they don't have many people who feel as strongly as they do about their beliefs. It doesn't mean I don't respect people who don't share my beliefs... you wouldn't be my friend if I didn't respect you. This blog was merely about how I met some people whose love and passion I want to aspire to embody.

Pretty night

I want a manual camera...

UW bike racks remind me of cathedrals.




The above two are from the CMA.. where my art studio is.. That night we turned on some spot lights, drank some beer, danced around, and played some volleyball. The top picture is my instructor and a grad student dancing... the psychedelic nature of the photograph matches my instructor well. The second one.. is the volleyball area empty while everyone was taking a breather. I like the community of the art studios.


Forever taking pictures of my puppy. She's just too beautiful of a subject to resist.

uhm.. I think I liked how the colors jumped from the shadows and how the rust on the car blended into the shadows. I don't think I really captured what I wanted, but I'll learn.



My manual settings on my camera are horrendous. The ISO settings are merely High and Low.
Anyhow, it's not about the camera.. it's about the photographer and I still have plenty to learn.

Architecture?!

So, as many of you know, I've wanted to be an architecture since I was a lil tyke. But, I'm having my second thoughts. It's not that buildings don't fascinate me, but I don't know how much of an impact I can have by building houses. Do we really need more buildings? Why are so many good buildings being torn down to put up townhouses. Why do people feel the need to live in identical boxes filled with identical furniture. Sure, I can design buildings which break away from this tradition.. but, I don't want to make huge buildings.. I want to make efficient and small spaces... which means.. nothing that has any profit. I really love vernacular architecture. I am definitely interested in learning about straw bale architecture. I think I just need to find a very good sustainable architecture firm. A firm that will let me be creative and not just sit at a computer all day designing window treatments.

Self

So, I'm making an art piece about the skin and body we live in. It made me start to wonder how people picture themselves. When I think of myself, I don't think of my body. It's to a point that when I dream, I'm not usually in my own body. I have strange dreams where I often time switch between characters. Young and old. Male and female. I find it unsettling to look at my own eyes in the mirror. But, to analyze and look at the rest of my body is fine because I feel detached from that. Eyes, however, are all too personal. If you're reading this and have some insight on how you view yourself.. please leave a comment, it will help me with this art project. Thanks.

Disbelief

So, I figured out a good reason to keep a blog. To talk about the things, which I don't bother people in "real life" with. Not because the things are unimportant. They are just.... too serious.... for most people to enjoy.

It was an unusual event on Sunday. My brother, mother, and I were planning to have dinner together. This hasn't happened in 5 years or more and for good reason. After meeting at my house, we spent half an hour driving around trying to find a Chinese restaurant we used to frequent. Finally, we spotted the familiar building complete with it's graffiti and flickering neon lights. The inside is just as we remembered. Empty. We sit at a booth and stare at each other for awhile. Suddenly, a huge grin splits across my brother's face as he begins to update us about his old friend's adventures. I recall the boy he mentions as a handsome boy with ambitions of modeling and, like most of my brother's friends, completely engulfed in the world of drugs and theft. I was happy to hear that the boy started to straighten up his life. He was engaged, has a good job, and just finished up the army with honorable discharge. Then, horror overtook me, when my brother recounted the videos his friend took in Iraq. Videos of this handsome boy driving army vehicles at dangerous speeds and shooting the vehicles that got in his way. Videos of this boy, who used to tussle my hair, playing target practice on any pedestrians who happen to be along that road. My brother ends the story with a laugh and a comment somewhere along the lines of "good ol' Alex." My mom chuckles as I stare at both of them in disbelief.

Are we really that desensitized? I understand that I'm a pretty sensitive and empathetic person. But, this isn't normal... is it? I have stopped reading political magazines at the Y, because I have sprouted tears on a couple occasions. Yeah, I know that it's easy to be oh poor Iraqis while I'm paying money to stand on a machine that simulates running. Running in my puma pants and Nike shoes that are probably made in some sweat shop. What do my tears mean when the next moment I am guzzling the gas that we're fighting this war for. Paying taxes to a country that tries to break their soldiers down until they lose their humanity. People laugh at me when I talk about these things... why worry about things you can't help... you cannot let something like that effect you or you'll get burnt out. Yeah, I probably can't change how soldiers are trained. But, I can't help but feel. I haven't been broken. Yet.

Also, I understand that a lot people don't like this whole Seattle-lite.. I want to change the world... idealist sentiments. But, that's why it's here on my blog and a word of warning... there will be more to come.

Photography

I would like to get into photography. I think I will take a photography class next quarter. You'll see more random photography by me and hopefully it'll look less amateur as time progresses.

Sophie and her personalities

Rain=pretty reflections

Blog

What is the purpose of blogs.. publishing my thoughts for all to see?

Hoping someone will care?
Keeping in touch with friends?
Having a forum to vent and gush thoughts?

Why is this so hard to do in person that we turn to a virtual world?

Whatever the reason, I feel compelled.