The Design of Dissent Democracy.

I haven't been talking about school much in this space, mainly because this semester is a complete 180° from last semester. I'm taking two design classes, both of which are rather low-stress and practical (although I do need to get cracking on my presentation for my color theory class). My digital design class -- which was billed as both "advanced" and "includes InDesign," but is neither -- has been a bit ho-hum as I am light years ahead of most of my classmates and the class functions as a lab. Meaning no lectures, discussions, or critiques, just us sitting at our stations doing our work.

Our "work" is to complete 5 projects by the end of the semester. One of the project ideas given to us was to create these "Vote" posters: posters to inspire the 18-25 crowd to take part in the voting process. To be a bit rabble rousing, if you will. I've made several posters. But just today I stumbled across something very cool.

Power to the Poster.

Very cool. I can't wait to see what else they come up with as the site grows.

April 22 is getting closer!

Bob Casey, I knew I voted for you for a reason.

Typecasting

Apparently, I am Helvetica. I don't think that description sounds like me at all, but whatever. My love interests are American Typewriter and Stencil. Thank god it's not Comic Sans.

Love is in the air...

Spring is such a nice time, and so much seems to be happening or beginning. For example, a darling dear friend of mine had her baby early this morning! Or as Stephanie calls it, "her John Hurt experience." Either way, it's very exciting! And I have no less than 3 other friends who are currently expecting so that means I am trolling internet sites for cute little baby-sized things and oh my god, none of my other friends are allowed to get pregnant anytime soon because I am going to be broke. I can't stop buying these kids crap and they're not even born yet! Guess who's going to be the adopted aunt who spoils them rotten? Me, that's who.

It also seems as though everyone is getting married or proposed to these days. In a few months Kittastic and Timmy-Too-Tall are tying the knot! I'm starting to get nervouth because, you see, I'm going to be photographing their wedding! I KNOW. That's such a responsibility, and I've never done it before. I am also excited, because yay!

Also getting married (although not for a little while) are Haven and Mikey Likes It. They asked me to take their engagement photo. I don't know what I expected when I said, "yes," because it quickly went from this:



To this:



For serious. I think we got, oh, 4 or 5 traditional shots in and then it all went on a direct road to silliness. But that's Haven and Mikey Likes It for ya, they're two of the most ridiculous and fun people I know. I think I spent more time behind the lens giggling than I did taking pictures. Is it wrong that I really kind of hope they use this shot?



Well fine then, I don't want to be right.

"Urbane Tomboy"

Wow. Renee says it so, so well. Fuck yeah.

Oh Puzzles!

You guys. Puzzles has passed away!





Goodbye quiet, gentle giraffe!

Tally

5 years.

4,000 U.S. military deaths.

174 U.K. military deaths.

A conservative estimate of between 82,349 to 89,867 Iraqi civilians dead.

An estimate of over 576 amputations performed to U.S. soldiers as a result of the Iraq war; over 725 amputations performed to U.S. soldiers as a result of military action in Afghanistan.

An unknown number of U.S. military personal who have been injured or fallen ill as a direct result of the conflict in Iraq because the number is too great to count. In 2005 it was estimated that the number was 1 in 4. It is generally agreed updon that this number has risen.

A conservative estimate of $505,277,178,411 spent on the war to date

A conservative estimate that over $2 trillion will be spent before all is said and done.

Dick Cheney's response to the report that the majority of Americans are not happy that we are fighting in Iraq: "So?"


My three questions:

AND FOR WHAT?

HOW MUCH LONGER?

WHY ARE THESE FUCKERS STILL IN OFFICE?

Observations at 2:38 a.m.

• Regardless of anything and everything, I had a really good time tonight.
  
  
• I came for "one set" to "drop off a CD" and yet spent the entire night there.
  
  
• When the frontman of the band catches sight of you and waves excitedly because he completely did not expect to see you -- that feels really good.
  
  
• It also feels kind of rad when three people demand of you, "Where the hell is your camera? Because your photos are awesome!"
  
  
• Having guy friends in a band is across the board fun. (Not that I didn't before, but...you know.)
  
  
• So is making friends with all of their girlfriends who demand you a) drink more, and b) dance more.
  
  
• Making fun of the little groupies that gather at the end of the night may make you feel slightly bitchy, but you get over it.
  
  
• I am so, so glad I didn't puss out because I thought none of my friends would be there. Turns out, Jim and Stephanie came for a bit and later Justine made it to the last set. And even if they hadn't, it still would have been OK.

Well, that will clear up my mood

SURPRISE PUPPIES IN THE OFFICE! KTHXBAI!

Internal argument

Voice 1: "I don't have a snowflake's chance in hell."

Voice 2: "Stop it. This is precisely your problem, you know."

Voice 1: "Whatever. My gift is realism. I know what the score truly is."

Voice 2: "I said, STOP IT. This is exactly what we reflected on at Ostara. What did we say binds us?"

Voice 1: "Fear and self doubt."

Voice 2: "And what energy did we concentrate on when we danced the winter away? What seeds did we plant?"

Voice 1: "Creativity. Travel. Passion."

Voice 2: "And what did we say we needed to do to break the bonds?"

Voice 1: "It's just that--"

Voice 2: "WHAT DID WE SAY?!"

Voice 1: "That I needed to put myself out there more. Take risks. Not be afraid to flaunt myself a little."

Voice 2: "That's right."

Voice 1: "But...I doubt myself for a reason. I've stumbled enough times. I've seen others succeed where I've failed so that I know exactly what my assets are, where my faults reside. I don't dream them away. I'm fucking practical."

Voice 2: "You're fucking cynical. And cynicism? It isn't attractive on anyone."

Voice 1: "Oh, so sorry. Guess I can't do anything right."

Voice 2: "Piss off. Dr. McCormick thinks you're talented enough and smart enough to start your own magazine. The Doc thinks your ideas are unique and interesting enough to get to Cardiff for that conference. Liz wants you to submit your stories to publications. On Saturday, Haven said that you're too hard on yourself. These are not people who compliment lightly or blow sunshine up your ass for the fun of it."

Voice 1: "..."

Voice 2: "So why can these people see these things and you can't?"

Voice 1: "I just don't like being rejected."

Voice 2: "Well who does?"

Voice 1: "At this stage in the game, I honestly don't think I can handle the disappointment."

Voice 2: "Disappointment is a part of life. It happens, you deal, you learn from it. Remember what Renee said, 'We all are fully in charge of our own happiness.' What are you going to do? Spend the rest your life on the couch with Dill?"

Voice 1: "No. I'm going to spend the rest of my life safe."

Voice 2: "Fuck safe. You're only going to get what you're willing to take. That's what YOU said on Sunday."

Voice 1: "I did?"

Voice 2: "Yes. What happened to that confidence, that kick-ass behavior?"

Voice 1: "It...dwindled."

Voice 2: "..."

Voice 1: "What? Why are you looking at me that way?"

Voice 2: "..."

Voice 1: "Stop it! You're creeping me out."

Voice 2: "Are you fucking kidding me with this?"

Voice 1: "What?"

Voice 2: "It DWINDLED?"

Voice 1: "Yeah."

Voice 2: "No. Cojones like that? They don't just dwindle."

Voice 1: "Um...they don't?"

Voice 2: "NO. They don't. Whatever the outcomes, you rocked this weekend AND you had fun. That confidence? That power? That 'balls to the wind' behavior? That's lurking away inside of you."

Voice 1: "Ok, yeah. But--"

Voice 2: "But nothing!"

Voice 1: "One word: Alcohol."

Voice 2: "SHUT UP."

Voice 1: "It's just that--"

Voice 2: "SACK UP, HO."

Voice 1: "But what if--"

Voice 2: "Oh, wah, wah, wah, wah. What if the other kids on the playground don't like me? What if McCain wins the presidency? What if zombies attack on Christmas Eve? What if the world ended tomorrow? You can't base anything on 'what ifs.'"

Voice 1: "Zombies attacking on Christmas Eve? That was the best you could come up with?"

Voice 2: "Shut up. You know what I mean."

Voice 1: "No, seriously? Zombies attacking would be kind of cool. I know exactly who I would have on my Zombie Attack Force."

Voice 2: "Stephanie, Mikey Likes It, Renee, Dave."

Voice 1: "Exactly!"

Voice 2: "CAN WE GET BACK TO THE SUBJECT AT HAND?"

Voice 1: "Oh. Right."

Voice 2: "The point is, you're never going to get anywhere if you're second-guessing yourself. Cynicism, self-doubt, and timidness aren't helping you. You've held onto them long enough. They're not working. They're not attractive. You know what does work? You know what helps? You know what is attractive? Confidence. Proximity. Boldness."

Voice 1: "Well isn't that just so easy for you to say? Isn't that so easy for everyone else to tell me? How very fucking convenient. Them in the perfect relationships, with their perfect jobs, their perfect little plans falling just into place."

Voice 2: "Oh, you know what? You can eat it, wanker. No one has the perfect relationship, job, or plan falling into place -- no matter what it may seem from the outside. You know what they do have? The sense to take a risk, to fucking try something instead of silently wishing for it. The sense to fucking work on it."

Voice 1: "It shouldn't be this hard."

Voice 2: "It shouldn't be too easy either. The only things worth having are the things you've worked and struggled for. If you fail, you're no worse off than you are now."

Voice 1: "..."

Voice 2: "You know I'm right."

Voice 1: "....Yeah."

Voice 2: "It's time to get your ass in gear. Get moving."

Voice 1: "Ok. Hey...?"

Voice 2: "Mmm?"

Voice 1: "I'm scared."

Voice 2: "Me too."

It's that time again...

The Philadelphia Film Festival!

Who wants to go see some movies with me?

The Machine Stops

It was sort of a photolicious weekend for me. I decided to do a bunch of self-portraits after Ostara, since I never take my own picture and since for once I was feeling sort of pretty -- with thanks to Miss S for putting flowers in my hair and drawing pretty designs all over my face.

Saturday I went to the Conshohocken St. Patrick's Day Parade with Justine, Renee, Luke, Leslie, Matt, Krista, Kit, Haven, and Phil. I had intended on going to the parade and taking a few pictures, hanging out a bit and then going home. But then....Justine and Renee had an inflatable sombrero filled with margaritas, and well...I voted instead for hanging around.

Even more fun: Matt's band was playing that night and Justine invited me to tag along. And then I got really photo crazy:





I have to say, the lighting in that bar was pretty horrendous, not to mention the fact that my auto focus was being a whiny little bitch. It led to a lot of photos like this:



I choose to believe that they were ROCKING OUT so much that I just couldn't capture them. Or that I was being purposefully arty. Yeah, that's it. I was being arty. Still, there are some shots that I really like:











The band, by the way, was really good. You should check them out. They're having another show this Friday in Phoenixville, you know.

More photos of the band are here.

Beannachtaí na Féile Pádraig oraibh!

Tabhair 'om póg, is Éireannach mé!

Sin sin, níl aon scéal eile agam.

Sláinte chugat.

After Ostara

Open Letter

To the Blond Ho-bag at the Bar:

STEP OFF. He's either mine or Krista's. Just because you have blond hair and a teeny-tiny waist doesn't mean anything. Because here's what you also have: a beat face, a fake tan, and zero personality. Unless that personality is "whore."

Krista and I may not have blond hair and I certainly don't have a tiny waist, but you know what we do have? Intelligence, talent, wit, and legs that go all the way down to the floor, my dear. I also have (and correct me if I'm wrong) a rack that doesn't quit. Krista's got a wagon she's draggin' that makes straight girls holler. We also both possess a certain amount of self respect.

Which is why -- really -- you need to sit your sorry, wasted ass down. And also, it's why I felt the need to be a bitch and cut in on you and said gentleman. Because the two of you together was making my upchuck reflex hit overdrive. And of course, I was trying to be all up ons. Go find a vapid man to fit your vapid personality.

Bitchily,

8K

P.S. - I firmly believe that the 5 minute conversation he and I had was more stimulating to him than anything you said all night.

Upon reflection this morning, I realized that this letter was less than charitable. Thinking about it and remembering the conversation Krista and I had in the bathroom I came to the realization that the girl (annoying and cock blocking though she was) probably suffers from the same sort of insecurities that I do. So I feel kind of bad having posted this just because I was frustrated and I didn't get my way.

Only pretty ring time

I know I'm jinxing myself by saying this, but it's so nice and spring-like outside right now! I'm beginning to feel the slothy hibernation of winter subside and the jazzy activity of spring begin. Already I feel much more active and cheerful. I've started the annual Run-around-without-a-coat-on parade. I've had yearnings to -- get this -- go to the gym. Fresh vegetables have found their way into my fridge and my freezer is devoid of starchy heavy foods.

In short, I'm happy the seasons have turned and we're (mostly) putting winter behind us, even if it was a pretty mild one.

Some things:

• Vindication. Thanks to some vocal people and management finally catching a clue, Skirtgate has been completely and officially resolved. Thank you guys for being completely supportive and wonderful.
  
  
• It's almost St. Patrick's Day! St. Patrick's Day on a Monday kind of blows, but whatever. I'm looking for a party that night. Who's up for one?
  
  
• Photography, photography, photography. Uh, I've been doing a lot of it lately. Some noteworthy stuff:
  
  
  Furthering my position as crazy cat spinster lady, I took a bunch of pictures of Dill one night after catching the end of a Henri Cartier-Bresson documentary. I got all inspired and the only subject at hand was Dill, so we had a bit of a photo shoot. More are here.
  
  
  
  My company held their annual Chinese New Year Lunch and asked me to take photos. I had a lot of fun doing it. The above portrait is of my coworker Emma, who organizes the lunch every year. What started as 11 people in a tiny room has now (10 years later!) become a good portion of the company taking over the entire restaurant. More photos from that day are here.
  
  
  
  Kelly and I went to the St. Patrick's Day Parade on Sunday and I took about a million pictures. Bonus! Men in kilts! More are here.
  
  
• Operation: Get Published Along the same lines, I've begun posting more of my photos over at JPG Magazine. I had submitted photos to themes over there twice and felt very intimidated by the other "amateurs" over there. Not to mention I wasn't accepted for publication either time. But going through the latest issue and looking at some of the bios of the photographers, I realized that a great number of the contributers really were amateur and felt sort of silly about all of my intimidation. So I stopped worrying about if my photos fit in "themes" and just began posting photos to build my profile. Oh my goodness! The response I've gotten has been very gratifying. So many nice comments from really talented photographers (ones who have been published) and I'm getting "favorited" a lot. So I'm going to continue posting my best photos over there and if one should happen to fit a theme of publication, then so be it.
  
  
• Oh Fortuna... On Saturday, the Doc and Dr. McCormick took me to the orchestra as a thank you for helping with the Folk Art Exhibit and with one of the Doc's papers. We heard Camina Burana, and wow. It's a piece I've heard a thousand times before, but nothing compares to it live. If it comes to an orchestra near you make an effort to go, because it was nothing short of incredible.
  
  
• While we're talking about Doc... Fuck you, Health Insurance Company. I fucking hate you and your ass face. You suck. Stop being such douchenozzles.
  
  
• Catholic Pagan Unitarian Peace Mission Quaker Tomorrow night is Ostara and I am really looking forward to it. I'm ready to dance the winter away.
  
  
• One last picture This time of the Face of Boe, Jim and Stephanie's cat, who, yes is named after a Doctor Who character. Shut up. She's awesome and cute and I may kidnap her one day. Shh, don't tell Jim and Stephanie.
  

Good and Bad

The good part of having whooping cough:

• Everyone is all impressed with your exotic disease. People keep asking if you'll be diagnosed with scurvy next.
  
  
• You can one-up everyone else in your office who is sick. "Well, I see your influenza and raise you WHOOPING COUGH."
  
  
• Fun puns all around! "Can I get a whoop, whoop?" "Don't piss me off, lest I open a can of WHOOPING COUGH on your ass." "Well if it's a WHOOPIN' you're wanting, you've come to the right place!"
  
  
• Dropping two pounds because the antibiotics make you completely uninterested in food.

The bad part of having whooping cough:

• Actually having whooping cough, which, for the record, sucks.
  
  
• People who back away from you and hide under their shirts all, "OhmyGOD, are you CONTAGIOUS?" and then having to launch into the whole explanation about how you were, but aren't anymore.
  
  
• Feeling as though your entire lifeforce has been zapped from your body.
  
  
• Missing out on cool activities since you've been convalescing.

The Best News: I think I'm finally Whooping Cough free! Well, mostly. I still have a residual cough. But I'm done with antibiotics and I feel pretty normal. This concludes the Whooping Cough Blog of '08, may I never mention having whooping cough here again.

Happy Monday!

It's my first day of not feeling like complete ass since I've been diagnosed with the whooping cough and I was doin' all right. Woke up on time, managed to get myself dressed and situated with little drama. Looking forward to a breakfast of banana bread and hot tea. The weather is lovely -- it's a sunny, cool day, with the promise of warmth in the afternoon and spring on the horizon.

Then I made the mistake of leaving the house.

In the middle of the night, some sodding wanker hit my car and knocked my side mirror off.

Fucking hell.