Current Mood: 
drunk
drunk2 BELIEVERS | MAKE ME FEEL IT
Her heartbeat's a busy tone
06 August 2009 @ 08:24 pm
26 July 2009 @ 04:00 am
Ok so following the death of Michael Jackson, big-top news media was delivered another juicy current event to put their spin on.
I'm talking about the arrest of African American professor Henry Louis Gates Jr. outside his home by Massachusetts police 2 weeks ago.
Here's the story: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090724/ap_o
Before I reply to this let me just make these points clear:
1. I do not believe myself to be a racist or bigot of any other sort
2. I have in the past & will continue to support Barack Obama as U.S. president
3. I do not believe law enforcement are 100% infallible in every instance
That being said, I believe that Henry Louis Gates Jr. was wrong, and the police officers who arrested him took the correct course of action.
My whole take on what went down is this:
A then unidentified Professor Gates was seen by neighbors with another unidentified man attempting to enter his home and making quite a great deal of noise while doing so. Cops show up in responce to a 911 call made by neighbors and asked him for identification & proof that that was in fact his residence. Professor guy got angry and began mouthing off to police officers at some ungodly hour of the night. Gates was being verbally abrasive, uncooperative and the like so naturally he gets arrested. Sure it was outside of his home, but if you're being a complete & utter ass-hat, the police won't hesitate to arrest you regardless if its on your own property or not.
The police officers acted accordingly, not "stupidly" as a very misinformed Barack Obama put it.
There was no racism involved whatsoever, just a serious case of refusing to apply common sense and respect towards interacting with a police officer. They're the ones with the authority in that situation, if he wasn't too busy having an elitist attitude and a smart mouth I doubt he'd find himself in the position that he's currently in. I'd be more willing to believe the incident was predicated on race had there been any actual physical or verbal abuse incurred upon Professor Gates. Barring that, the officers were completely in the right, more power to 'em.
People like this professor who play the race card in common sense situations (in addition to name-dropping his connections with Obama in order to spin the blame) are pretty low and the fact that the media would puff up such a non-story just goes to show you how foregoing all common sense in favor of political correctness leaves us at quite a disadvantage.
And Obama misspoke without having ANY facts about the situation. He was biased, he was misinformed. He's human. Get over it.
I'm talking about the arrest of African American professor Henry Louis Gates Jr. outside his home by Massachusetts police 2 weeks ago.
Here's the story: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090724/ap_o
Before I reply to this let me just make these points clear:
1. I do not believe myself to be a racist or bigot of any other sort
2. I have in the past & will continue to support Barack Obama as U.S. president
3. I do not believe law enforcement are 100% infallible in every instance
That being said, I believe that Henry Louis Gates Jr. was wrong, and the police officers who arrested him took the correct course of action.
My whole take on what went down is this:
A then unidentified Professor Gates was seen by neighbors with another unidentified man attempting to enter his home and making quite a great deal of noise while doing so. Cops show up in responce to a 911 call made by neighbors and asked him for identification & proof that that was in fact his residence. Professor guy got angry and began mouthing off to police officers at some ungodly hour of the night. Gates was being verbally abrasive, uncooperative and the like so naturally he gets arrested. Sure it was outside of his home, but if you're being a complete & utter ass-hat, the police won't hesitate to arrest you regardless if its on your own property or not.
The police officers acted accordingly, not "stupidly" as a very misinformed Barack Obama put it.
There was no racism involved whatsoever, just a serious case of refusing to apply common sense and respect towards interacting with a police officer. They're the ones with the authority in that situation, if he wasn't too busy having an elitist attitude and a smart mouth I doubt he'd find himself in the position that he's currently in. I'd be more willing to believe the incident was predicated on race had there been any actual physical or verbal abuse incurred upon Professor Gates. Barring that, the officers were completely in the right, more power to 'em.
People like this professor who play the race card in common sense situations (in addition to name-dropping his connections with Obama in order to spin the blame) are pretty low and the fact that the media would puff up such a non-story just goes to show you how foregoing all common sense in favor of political correctness leaves us at quite a disadvantage.
And Obama misspoke without having ANY facts about the situation. He was biased, he was misinformed. He's human. Get over it.
26 July 2009 @ 02:43 am
Howdy kids! I love cereal & I've got very specific dining methods (read Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) when it comes to eating them. Before we get into the tutorial let's first introduce my favorite flavors...
You've got to hand it to Kellogg's they made bran fun ag... well, for the first time ever really!
#2-Kellog's Rice Krispies
The cereal that doubles as a miniature reenactment of the audio recording from the Foley studio used during the fireworks scene in Mulan. Rice Krispies are good, and they're also pretty damn versatile. Slap this together with some marshmallow paste & butter inside a saucepan (whatever the fuck that is) and you've got those delicious little puffed rice briquettes the kids always seem to go so crazy for.
#3-Whole Grain Cheerios by General Mills
Every Quadragenarian's favorite Cholesterol buster, Whole Grain Cheerios.
Simple, unspoiled natural oat flavor in a pebble-sized O. Perfect for teething babies or a crap substitution in-lieu of pasta (or Froot Loops blechh!) for macaroni art. But its high soggy factor leaves much to be desired. One and a half minutes in milk will turn your breakfast into a gummy, inedible mess.
Part 2: How To Eat Cereal
-Raisin Bran
The Method:
Open up one of your many boxes (since you can only purchase Raisin Bran in triplicate), and eat handful after seemingly endless handful at 2 AM as you slowly sob yourself to sleep.
-Rice Krispies
The Method:
Mix 2 parts cereal to 1 part milk into your best eatin' bowl. This 2:1 ratio serves a dual purpose: Primarily, it is designed to prevent the sogginess from occurring too soon, and additionally, the volume of cereal here yields an awesome, "lightly milk-kissed" result and a heartier puffed rice flavor. Its good.
-Cheerios
The Method:
Fill a bowl with Cheerios, let stand. While those dry Cheerios are standing, pour a glass of milk & grab a sturdy, non-bendy neck drinking straw*. This part is important, anything other than a simple vertical straw will delay the milk from reaching your mouth, irreparably affecting the result. Anyway, grab a handful of the dry Cheerios and pack them into your mouth; make absolutely certain that you don't chew 'em yet. Next while not choking to death on all those Cheerios you've got in there, take a sip of the milk using your straw. As soon as the dry ingredients meet with the wet, crunch down and enjoy. This way is a perfect method for those who enjoy the milk+cereal taste of Cheerios but who also want to bypass their quick rate of deterioration into a soggy lifeless goop had you mixed the milk into the entire bowl from the onset.
Well, that's it for now... Happy Eating chums!
Part 1: Meet The Players
#1-Kellogg's Raisin Bran
Not to be confused with that Post or Total amateur hour bullshit. Kellogg's Raisn Bran is the holder of that oh so refutable claim, "Two Scoops of Raisins In every Box!". No matter, this cereal is delicious, which is pretty much expected considering the fact that its packed with sugar covered raisins. Other than the addictive sugary-sweet taste, this guy makes it to the top of my list due to its short term health benefits. If I'm looking to get regular, I reach for the bran baby- through the lips, past the gums, look out colon here it comes. Additionally, I've seen it work wonders with the bane of your existence and mine, the common cold. Whenever I start to feel sick I pick up 2 boxes and binge, somehow it seems to stem off the onset of rhino virus; don't ask me how, I'm not a scientist, I just LOVE cereal.
#1-Kellogg's Raisin Bran
Not to be confused with that Post or Total amateur hour bullshit. Kellogg's Raisn Bran is the holder of that oh so refutable claim, "Two Scoops of Raisins In every Box!". No matter, this cereal is delicious, which is pretty much expected considering the fact that its packed with sugar covered raisins. Other than the addictive sugary-sweet taste, this guy makes it to the top of my list due to its short term health benefits. If I'm looking to get regular, I reach for the bran baby- through the lips, past the gums, look out colon here it comes. Additionally, I've seen it work wonders with the bane of your existence and mine, the common cold. Whenever I start to feel sick I pick up 2 boxes and binge, somehow it seems to stem off the onset of rhino virus; don't ask me how, I'm not a scientist, I just LOVE cereal.
You've got to hand it to Kellogg's they made bran fun ag... well, for the first time ever really!
#2-Kellog's Rice Krispies
The cereal that doubles as a miniature reenactment of the audio recording from the Foley studio used during the fireworks scene in Mulan. Rice Krispies are good, and they're also pretty damn versatile. Slap this together with some marshmallow paste & butter inside a saucepan (whatever the fuck that is) and you've got those delicious little puffed rice briquettes the kids always seem to go so crazy for.
#3-Whole Grain Cheerios by General Mills
Every Quadragenarian's favorite Cholesterol buster, Whole Grain Cheerios.
Simple, unspoiled natural oat flavor in a pebble-sized O. Perfect for teething babies or a crap substitution in-lieu of pasta (or Froot Loops blechh!) for macaroni art. But its high soggy factor leaves much to be desired. One and a half minutes in milk will turn your breakfast into a gummy, inedible mess.
Part 2: How To Eat Cereal
-Raisin Bran
The Method:
Open up one of your many boxes (since you can only purchase Raisin Bran in triplicate), and eat handful after seemingly endless handful at 2 AM as you slowly sob yourself to sleep.
-Rice Krispies
The Method:
Mix 2 parts cereal to 1 part milk into your best eatin' bowl. This 2:1 ratio serves a dual purpose: Primarily, it is designed to prevent the sogginess from occurring too soon, and additionally, the volume of cereal here yields an awesome, "lightly milk-kissed" result and a heartier puffed rice flavor. Its good.
-Cheerios
The Method:
Fill a bowl with Cheerios, let stand. While those dry Cheerios are standing, pour a glass of milk & grab a sturdy, non-bendy neck drinking straw*. This part is important, anything other than a simple vertical straw will delay the milk from reaching your mouth, irreparably affecting the result. Anyway, grab a handful of the dry Cheerios and pack them into your mouth; make absolutely certain that you don't chew 'em yet. Next while not choking to death on all those Cheerios you've got in there, take a sip of the milk using your straw. As soon as the dry ingredients meet with the wet, crunch down and enjoy. This way is a perfect method for those who enjoy the milk+cereal taste of Cheerios but who also want to bypass their quick rate of deterioration into a soggy lifeless goop had you mixed the milk into the entire bowl from the onset.
Well, that's it for now... Happy Eating chums!
17 July 2009 @ 10:20 am
I burned a pea-sized fleck of skin off my right shin because the shower water was too hot this morning. Luckily enough, the rest of me was unscathed. But damn if this little bugger doesn't hurt like hell...
10 June 2009 @ 02:30 am
This week computer monitors are to me what a blanket draped over a cage is to a parakeet.
I've tried to write this entry a few times before the one you're currently reading. First idea was for a short story/poem, the second was a personal inventory of my life so far, but during both those attempts I got barely five words in before passing out for two hours. Naturally the topic has evolved to what you read here today, which seems to be one of the more pressing phenomena in my life lately. I simply cannot seem to stay awake in front of the screen!
I've tried to write this entry a few times before the one you're currently reading. First idea was for a short story/poem, the second was a personal inventory of my life so far, but during both those attempts I got barely five words in before passing out for two hours. Naturally the topic has evolved to what you read here today, which seems to be one of the more pressing phenomena in my life lately. I simply cannot seem to stay awake in front of the screen!
20 May 2009 @ 02:58 am
I do not want to live an unrequited life. There is no greater failure than to will yourself out of joy and happiness due to uncertainty. Don't plan for activities and occasions, just do them. Who knows if you'll be afforded the chances you have today or this very instant in the next moment? There are key life experiences that we cannot afford to pass up. Take advantage of every opportunity, of every avenue, don't suspend thoughts or actions based on uneasiness or criticisms. Embrace the good. If there is negative energy that drains your motivations, reject it. Nullify it. Keep levity and those gifted enough to never take themselves too seriously all around you. Your heart will thank you for it.
24 April 2009 @ 04:14 am
Imagine if you will, stumbling upon a fresh piece of unsullied canvas tacked to the wall of the art lounge with a note next to it which reads "work on me" and just about the most pathetic excuse for a stereotypical smiley face drawn onto the right side. Thankfully this insult to the entire history of drawing was no larger than a nickel, and it was quickly dispatched.
I followed the directions and got to work, clocking in at 10pm and out at 4am. 6 straight hours of arting as best I could over the bulk of the surface which spanned about half the length of the wall. It took 5 permanent markers and there are still some spots that could use work but this bad boy is done in one go. I capped it all off in bold red letters with a statement that expresses my feelings in regards to art and artists that occupy our department at the moment.
Crappy cellphone pics to follow:
Left Side
I followed the directions and got to work, clocking in at 10pm and out at 4am. 6 straight hours of arting as best I could over the bulk of the surface which spanned about half the length of the wall. It took 5 permanent markers and there are still some spots that could use work but this bad boy is done in one go. I capped it all off in bold red letters with a statement that expresses my feelings in regards to art and artists that occupy our department at the moment.
Crappy cellphone pics to follow:
Left Side
23 April 2009 @ 07:13 am
Yesterday I attempted to make rigid supports for a few of my cardboard paintings. I was able to get about 8 of my larger sized (18" x 24") pieces done, thanks to help from rainbowlion and a few of my other colleagues.
( Read more... )
Current Mood: accomplished
08 April 2009 @ 11:54 pm
This quarter I'm taking a class which focuses on the professional practices of art. Topics include everything from resume development, promotion and selecting a niche market for your artwork. It's a shame that these things aren't stressed until your senior year, and the fact that they're all consolidated into one class makes it impossible to cover any of these topics to their fullest extents, but for now I'll just deposit my gripes into my trusty meh bucket and proceed. Our first assignment was to write a biographical statement and present it orally to the class. I was really worried that I wouldn't have anything compelling to say about myself. Considering it was only half of the required 2 page length, and messily slapped together in minutes before a spur of the moment burrito run at Chipotle, my fears were warranted. Thankfully, my presentation was well received by my peers and I gained some thoughtful feedback. Here's the bulk of what I wrote, assuming a single page can really have bulk...
The work I’ve been making for the past 3 years have been mixed media paintings. Popular culture fascinates me to no end and in particular the cartoons from my childhood, as I first developed my drawing ability from imitating those classic shows from the small screen. Comic books play another important role in the development of my style as I represent things graphically with stark black & white line renderings. The outlines of my figures are frank and unapologetic- I am not ashamed of my outlines and I find it comforting that they convey such strength as to impose on the viewer’s space. Recently I’ve focused on refining my vocabulary of images and arranging them into compositions I call clusters. The renderings are stylized yet complex, so any prejudices you may have regarding cartoon imagery do not apply when viewing my art. My work reflects my own immaturity in the modern mile-a-minute world. Experience is consolidated into one unified meld of imagery and encounters. Oftentimes, my subjects are depicted meeting their violent end. I enjoy this juxtaposition of a cheekily rendered almost comic character handling sinister circumstances. An underlying theme throughout my work is the death of childhood by the encroaching fears and catastrophes of the real world.
I'm glad that I was finally able to write about my art making process. Its quite a task to concisely and logically state a method of working which many consider as arriving before thought, so kudos to me. Big day Saturday, 3 art shows all occurring at the same time. The most important of these being Sakura Ichi's opening of Father Bill Moore's artwork. It's Alex's first official event as the curator for Sakura Ichi restaurant/gallery so he could use a big turnout. Sakura Ichi will be open until midnight so there's plenty of time to stop by after visiting the rest of the art walk.
( Read more... )
The work I’ve been making for the past 3 years have been mixed media paintings. Popular culture fascinates me to no end and in particular the cartoons from my childhood, as I first developed my drawing ability from imitating those classic shows from the small screen. Comic books play another important role in the development of my style as I represent things graphically with stark black & white line renderings. The outlines of my figures are frank and unapologetic- I am not ashamed of my outlines and I find it comforting that they convey such strength as to impose on the viewer’s space. Recently I’ve focused on refining my vocabulary of images and arranging them into compositions I call clusters. The renderings are stylized yet complex, so any prejudices you may have regarding cartoon imagery do not apply when viewing my art. My work reflects my own immaturity in the modern mile-a-minute world. Experience is consolidated into one unified meld of imagery and encounters. Oftentimes, my subjects are depicted meeting their violent end. I enjoy this juxtaposition of a cheekily rendered almost comic character handling sinister circumstances. An underlying theme throughout my work is the death of childhood by the encroaching fears and catastrophes of the real world.
I'm glad that I was finally able to write about my art making process. Its quite a task to concisely and logically state a method of working which many consider as arriving before thought, so kudos to me. Big day Saturday, 3 art shows all occurring at the same time. The most important of these being Sakura Ichi's opening of Father Bill Moore's artwork. It's Alex's first official event as the curator for Sakura Ichi restaurant/gallery so he could use a big turnout. Sakura Ichi will be open until midnight so there's plenty of time to stop by after visiting the rest of the art walk.
( Read more... )
19 March 2009 @ 09:29 pm
Finals are over but I'm still not feeling very confident about my performance in either of my art history classes. Hopefully my professors will be merciful in their grading... I felt the onset of rhino virus Wednesday morning but thankfully I had the soundness of mind to snag up a 64 ounce Naked Juice green machine blend. After chugging two-thirds of the container from the onset, I immediately feeling better. I highly recommend it for staving off illness during cold season. With all of that nonsense going on, finals week got pretty hectic. Thankfully I discovered Open Season, Feist's 2006 Remix/Collaboration album riddled with fifteen tracks perfect for helping one decompress and retain one's sanity during life's little rollercoaster dips. I've had this amazingly mellow, yet dancey tune looping for two days now-
My classmate Lee gave me one of her beautiful ceramic pieces. Its so tightly sculpted and elegantly painted, I admire how gifted she is with detailing her clay pieces, it's definitely something I wouldn't have the steady hand to make myself.
Currently I'm obsessed with watching Tokusatsu, otherwise known as those old costumed hero shows that were bastardized as the Power Rangers franchise here in the states. The choreography and stuntwork in these old shows can get pretty addictive. As dumb as it may seem, I can't stop watching this clip from Carranger.
On the art front, I've got another exhibition in the works, this time at a vintage clothing store in Claremont. It was arranged by a local Pomona artist and former Cal Poly alum & it should take place around the first week of June. I also can't forget the Senior Show which continues to loom overhead. Between those shows, the comic project I've begun,and graduation, Spring quarter looks to be quite the busy time for me. Here's to hoping my head won't explode from the pressure.
Currently I'm obsessed with watching Tokusatsu, otherwise known as those old costumed hero shows that were bastardized as the Power Rangers franchise here in the states. The choreography and stuntwork in these old shows can get pretty addictive. As dumb as it may seem, I can't stop watching this clip from Carranger.
On the art front, I've got another exhibition in the works, this time at a vintage clothing store in Claremont. It was arranged by a local Pomona artist and former Cal Poly alum & it should take place around the first week of June. I also can't forget the Senior Show which continues to loom overhead. Between those shows, the comic project I've begun,and graduation, Spring quarter looks to be quite the busy time for me. Here's to hoping my head won't explode from the pressure.
Current Mood: Non-head-explodey
13 March 2009 @ 04:22 pm
Just finished this painting today. It's called Maker's
Current Mood: accomplished
09 March 2009 @ 11:11 am
A set of intros and commercial break bumpers were made when the 1992 U.S. X-Men cartoon was broadcast in Japan. Very very stylish.
07 March 2009 @ 11:24 pm
I finished reading the Watchmen graphic novel. Pretty exceptional stuff. That makes two of the most compelling and layered narratives I've ever experienced (Moore's Watchmen novel & the game Killer7 by Goichi Suda), both originating from media that are considered by most to be "low art".
I loved Ozymandias, you've just got to respect a guy who can orchestrate something that far-reaching, and get away with it. Plus he knocks the other supers around like rag dolls AND he's got his own action figure line, there's no contest.
Ever since last year I was pretty indifferent to news of the film release but the flashbacks and book pacing is just remarkable. Now that I've truly experienced Watchmen, I can't ignore just how incredible it is. The book succeeds at wholly immersing the reader into its alternate 1985 America. After having a few hours to reflect I've resolved to abstain from seeing the new movie, at least for a few months or so, to postpone what I'm guessing will be my eventual dissapointment.
In other news-
I had just about the most amazing day at my friend's house and got to interact more with an acquaintance I'd met last Halloween. She actually became my unofficial babysitter, and her lap, my unofficial headrest, following a few too many sips of libation that night. Fun time phazers and razor sharp wit rifles were cocked and loaded tonight, believe me. The day boiled down to art-making, joke delivering, cookie baking, and rocky horror picture show viewing. With heavy doses of random insanity thrown in for good measure.
I loved Ozymandias, you've just got to respect a guy who can orchestrate something that far-reaching, and get away with it. Plus he knocks the other supers around like rag dolls AND he's got his own action figure line, there's no contest.
Ever since last year I was pretty indifferent to news of the film release but the flashbacks and book pacing is just remarkable. Now that I've truly experienced Watchmen, I can't ignore just how incredible it is. The book succeeds at wholly immersing the reader into its alternate 1985 America. After having a few hours to reflect I've resolved to abstain from seeing the new movie, at least for a few months or so, to postpone what I'm guessing will be my eventual dissapointment.
In other news-
I had just about the most amazing day at my friend's house and got to interact more with an acquaintance I'd met last Halloween. She actually became my unofficial babysitter, and her lap, my unofficial headrest, following a few too many sips of libation that night. Fun time phazers and razor sharp wit rifles were cocked and loaded tonight, believe me. The day boiled down to art-making, joke delivering, cookie baking, and rocky horror picture show viewing. With heavy doses of random insanity thrown in for good measure.
Current Mood: 
jubilant
jubilant05 March 2009 @ 07:51 am
This was my first attempt at replicating wood-grain using clay & I'm really happy with how it turned out. Painted with 3 coats of Liquitex cadmium yellow acrylic & water mixed with a dollop of Liquitex Gloss Gel medium, followed by brown paint rubbed in the grooves to bring out shadows. This also was my first try at incorporating gloss gel into the paint, it gives the perfect plastic quality to the piece along with a bit of luster. Here's some out-of-focus pics and one with a Dronkey baby for fun. The base is about 10 inches long by half an inch high.
( Photos here... )
( Photos here... )
Current Mood: productive
Current Music: Illmatic Buddha MC's - Top of Tokyo
04 March 2009 @ 12:46 pm
03 March 2009 @ 10:58 pm
01 March 2009 @ 01:04 pm
As I went about campus today, I couldn't help noticing just how many birds I encountered. I'm not an ornithologist, but thanks to google images I was able to identify the different species I witnessed.The first sighting, and one of the oddest, was a duck sitting behind the loading area for the library. Of all places for it to be, a lone duck, just sitting in the shade of the building. As I passed by it again, I tried to snag a photo and inadvertently frightened him away. Next was a dead lark with yellow plumage on its breast strewn atop one of the metal planter grates by Starbucks. There were about four other people in the area, and it must have looked odd that I'd stopped my gait to kneel down and inspect it. I don't know how they could have missed it though, the feathers flagged me down from quite a distance away. At the bookstore, part of a nest had broken off from its perch and landed on the sidewalk below it. Lastly, I spotted a large crow among two brown skylarks in the tree branches near the construction site. Keep in mind that all of this occurred within an hour's time. I wonder if there's any meaning to these, it just strikes me as odd that I was so cognizant of nature today. Maybe it's the weather...
Current Mood: 
confused
confused25 February 2009 @ 12:11 pm
I made this base in my ceramics class. When I first began making these pieces I intended them as expressive wall pieces of artwork but I came to the idea yesterday that they could have a dual function as bases. These pictures show a base that's been painted with two coats of acrylic paint with a few turtles posed on top. I may add more coats and seal it with fixative later on to give it a more finished look.
( Photos here... )
( Photos here... )
Current Mood: Late for ceramics class