#5 From Meth to Meat

AMMONIA: used for EVERYTHING from meth to meat. I don't know about you but I would really like to keep it out of my mouth in ANY form. Tonight while "kid-sitting" a 12 year old he asked what a euphemism is. A euphemism is what makes the difference in imagery when the U.S.D.A. uses "lean finely textured beef,"  as opposed to "pink slime." 

WORDS-NOW GIFT WRAPPED!

A euphemism normally makes a HARSH truth sound polite and often makes the truth easier to accept. Euphemisms are used most often with children. Instead of telling a child that their favorite pet DIED, it is preferable to say that it, "went to a farm" or "swam to the ocean" or "went to a better place." 
The point is not to LIE but to PROTECT. The U.S.D.A. is NOT a loving parent seeking to lessen the burdens of life, they are a department that is RESPONSIBLE for regulating MANY aspects of agriculture in the U.S., long explanation short, the department does not have our best interests at heart. The department helps major food companies turn a profit and that blurs the vision of what is important.

"Until or unless the links that bind public nutrition policy to the interests of agribusiness are broken, we can expect with even greater confidence that there will be something very cheesy about our pizzas, and something a bit fishy about dietary guidance." -Huffington Post

Without being explicit about how appalled I am... I will just be vague and say that if something seems too good to be true, it is. You're not getting a "certified, pre-owned vehicle," ladies and gentlemen, you are getting a LEMON. 

What is in a name? that which we call "lean finely textured beef"  still is the ammonia puréed pink slime.

The 411

Chatty classmates, I must say I am impressed by the new posts and comments around our little BLOGOSPHERE. I was off the grid, to say the least, but now I am back.

My shell is complete, it is pretty legitimate, the fact that I can "hear the ocean" helps. 

I made a siren whistle directly after, complicated, and worth the beautiful outcome. Her high pitch is exactly what I was aiming for...less Little Mermaid and more Pirates of the Caribbean or even Peter Pan. 

Aunt Josie is turning the big 9-0. Her card is on the way out and I am mauling my way through what she last sent in. A book on the "relations of neurology and emotions." New York Times Bestseller and all. After struggling through the introduction of bragging rights the author has, it's been OVER a month and no progress can be reported. I abide by the "don't judge a book by it's cover" rule even if this book is blatantly a "self-help" book. Great protagonists have that moment of uncertainty. 

However, This book LOOSELY translates to an Edna Mode slap upside the head. I will continue staring at it and keep you updated. 

#4 Food Baby

I love food whether it is Mexican, Asian, Greek, or Italian. When I REALLY love my food, I get what many of you know as a "FOOD BABY,"the term itself is a self-explanatory euphemism for eating past a healthy limit. My friends and I even NAME our food babies based on the food's heritage, stereotypically Juan Pablito, Toni, or even Nemo. 
As horrible as we sound, it lessens the burden of guilt involved with eating the serving size that was given to us. I usually pick the healthiest thing on the menu, such as a completely vegan bowl at Chipotle, or a pasta-free dish at Olive Garden, yet I still fall VICTIM to the "finish your plate" mentality. It may be just the Depression-era "waste not want not" ideals handed down, or the inconvenience of taking home a doggy-bag but I find that a "food baby" is a popular predicament. Most if not all Amero-centro holidays thrive on the idea that our eyes are often bigger than our stomachs. 
It doesn't help that most food served is either SALTY or sugary and served with soda or worse. Healthy choices are promoted at many restaurants, many menus now include calorie count, ingredients and point out vegan, "glutard" and or "lactard", friendly. 
With all the eating disorders developing, allergies becoming more dominant, and dieting becoming necessary, restaurants have changed their menus to create a "safe environment" for those looking to stick within a certain lifestyle. However what most do not account for is portion control. 

It may seem that these "healthy alternatives" to fast-food or the freezer section are really helpful and harmless but be prepared to think again. As a society, we have developed an EMOTIONAL relationship with food. We all have our "comfort food" whatever it may be, our "e'ry day" choices, and the late night "munchies."Eating should be an ENJOYABLE yet simple underlying foundation to life yet somehow it has become a showcase event. Taking into account that food companies, no matter how TASTY the product, are still businesses has greatly changed the way I consume food on a regular basis. Falling into a unhealthy relationship with food now seems like a cultural rite of passage in our country, but it SHOULD NOT and DOES NOT have to be that way.

How you doin'?

...in a mobster voice and accompanied by a "head nod" is probably one of THE most quotable pick-up lines.

For my Communication class I had to bring in less popular yet used pick-up lines. My class is taught by an older(retired) male professor and on a good day, seven of twelve classmates will show. I know everyone's name and life story by now yet saying pick-up lines in front of them would be uncomfortable. This was magnified by the specification made that I was only to use lines that I heard or I used.

I settled on two equally cheesy and safe lines. 

“I'm Mr. Right, someone said you were looking for me?” 

“Do you believe in LOVE at first sight? Or should I walk by again?” 

When I got to class the guys had plenty of dirty lines that would have made ANYTHING I brought in seem normal. I shared my two lines and was content with a clean slate assignment. I would not normally care so much about my assignment but my professor is always trying to share his "worldly wisdom" on dating and relationships. To be clear, I really did NOT need the casual yet obvious, “Oh you’re single? Oh so is so-and-so! How interesting...” comments that follow. Pick-up lines are dirty, cheesy, over-used, and above all AWKWARD. 

I started to think about makes people resort to pick-up lines and if talking to strangers of the opposite sex, has always held such an inept connotation. 

I could pin this on the "use of technology" and "the decline of social interaction" but I REFUSE to believe that genders have communicated without misunderstanding and difficulty EVEN BEFORE the internet. 

Pick-up lines are commonly used when a man thinks he is "out of his league" or desperate. For instance, older men to younger women or the Barney-Stinsons of the world to normally decent women. 

But all too often, instead of coming off with “moves like Jagger,” they comes across as Urkel.

The example one of the men in my class gave was, 

“Great legs, what time do they open?” 

While typing this I’m laughing, if someone came up to me and said this I would smack them or look for the NEAREST security. 

So what works? 

Honestly, if someone was interested yet a stranger, a simple SMILE, and, “Hi my name is _____,” is all that is needed. It leaves little to interpretation, if there is suddenly a lack of CHEMISTRY in the conversation, one can walk away unscathed, and there’s a better chance of walking away with a number instead of a slap to the cheek. 

I’m no, "Dear Abby" but even the internet cannot justify the serious use of pick-up lines. 

John Stamos tried, but could not cure the Urkel.

This post is very female minded and female to male, and I apologize for anyone who can’t relate but I can only speak from experience but please comment and share your experiences!

#3 Hypnosis

Walle is a satirical movie, even though most of the movie is silent, and the movie was originally intended for children, the truths presented are targeted towards ADULTS. The robots in the movie seem more personable than the actual humans in the movie seem. Walle is frantic to find Eva, talk about ROBOT LOVE. Sweet as this pursuit may be, it is calling attention towards the emotional relationships that the humans are lacking.

Don't stare too long.

The scene in which the people are rotating around the "cruise ship" with robots attending to their needs reminded me of an home for the elderly. Choices seem to be non-choices, preference decisions without a significant impact such as what color shirt to wear. 
The technology used allows the characters to transcend the PHYSICAL reality.
This is paralleled to today's use of technology to tune out the physical world and tune into ourselves. 
We are enchanted and even hypnotized by technology. A hypnotic state happens when one's mind transcends reality. That is what listening to music all day or constantly being on the internet does is send an individual into a state of hypnosis.
Maybe it's nice to slip into a state other than the usual RUSH and stress of everyday life, whether that is tuning into headphones and tuning out the world or CRAWLING into a dark movie theater for "shelter." Watching this movie and maintaining my grip on the lens of reality made me think twice about sitting behind my screen all day.

Failure to Comment

Our classmates are writing topical posts while I just write about myself. Compiling a well-developed database of all personal thoughts and information, such as Facebook, or "please-stock-me.com" is highly APPLAUDED by society. 

If you do not know what this is from,
 Please, CREEP this way.

To express my concern for YOUR boredom as a reader I have catered this post to IMPROVEMENT, so comment, criticize and critique! 

Because you cannot "POKE," "STALK," or "CREEP."

I noticed that I am not alone under the, "FAILURE TO COMMENT" label. I read your blogs sporadically, scout's honor, but I have NOTHING to say after reading, a rare event. 

If you write about something in which YOU are invested, it is indubitably stupendous, and I commend you. 

IF I do not comment:

A. I am LITERALLY speechless.

B. Word vomit has been spilled on your blog.

C. I was LOST in interest jargon and no longer feel qualified to comment.

 D. I want to replace the title with, "#AssignedBlogPostNumberIHateYou."

E. I could not "prove" that I am not a ROBOT.

To quote my professors, "If you don't WANT to write it, I don't WANT to READ it," at all, EVER. 

Write about something YOU like or even how much you hate my blog, I DARE you.

#2 Technologic Zombies

Technology runs OUR lives, from the transportation one uses to the medical care one receives. All this innovative technology is seemingly futuristic.Feeling the need to keep up, individuals buy into each upgrade thinking it is BETTER than the last(think Apple products). Being a Girl Scout(laugh now, then think of the cookies)one of the many montras was to,"leave everything BETTER than you found it." The definition of better seems to have changed since I learned that. 

Better used to mean 

"improved," 

now it seems to mean,

"self-serving regardless of the consequences." 

I think there will always be WAR, violence and genocide until it ends us. But with all this "improvement" our waste is literally TRASHING the planet. As if we have another planet that could sustain our lifestyles. Contrary to popular belief, I am no better than this, I am no better than you. 
The fact that I am typing this on a Mac, may make you think so but then again what is your definition of better?

In the article by Robert Samuels, "Breaking Down Borders..." I found his idea that,

"there are new rules for how to act in public places and how to socialize with and around one another" 

was completely relatable to my own experiences. He attributes it directly to technology,

"none of these changes would have happened without new technologies to break down borders." 

This statement led me to question what borders we are PUTTING UP in place of these technological ones. The idea of making basic eye contact with a passing person has

been OBLITERATED. I feel society has developed a social border against anyone face-to-face, it seems everyone in person is on a need-to-know basis. Is this better? 

I am partial to the positive convenience of technology. I feel that society is moving so fast, that even a week seems like an eternity(just imagine a week without your most beloved piece of technology). Everything in person seems replaceable by content online. 
I love having access to endless libraries of art, music, and writing by people who are in history books or just next door, directly at my fingertips. Call me a "hipster" or a "purist" but I don't watch T.V., I don't listen to the radio, I stick solely to the internet and I buy into convenience. Fortunately I still have a few redeeming qualities left, the main one being that I am human. I'm sure you think I live behind this screen however, I love live music, breathing the not-so-fresh Phoenix AIR, and saying "hi" to random strangers. I wouldn't trade the human experience for the virtual experience. Even if it is less "awkward" for some. Here's the video. 

One Less Sad Robot

I'm writing again.

I'm not entirely sure whether it's because it's a rainy day or my Aunt Josie wrote me back.

The tangible aspect of objects is incredible, it's unequivocally incredible HOW MUCH a physical letter can mean compared to an e-mail or even a phone call. 
I fear that when this generation is dead and gone, all that will be left are of it are phones, computers, and Facebook pages. 
I am so much more than my hours in front of screens and self-pictures.
Believe it or not, you are too.
That's why these letters are so precious. It's a piece of someone else, that was literally given to me, to keep forever. 

There's this movie Jim Carey (and Kate Winslet) star in, called, "Eternal Sunshine of an Absent Mind." It's sort of an artistic film for him to be in, but I liked it. It's about a couple, who break up and decide to have the other one erased from their mind, it's a sad concept. This movie was long enough ago (2004)that the couple had to turn in keep-sakes from the relationship. Not only did they have PRINTED photographs, but notes, letters and DRAWINGS... so much more than that old box of t-shirts and boxers. As an artist and a writer, I have many self-produced items that I HAUL around in each move because it reminds me of my personal history. I'm not referring to events per say but more my growth as a person. It's more VISIBLE in my own journaling, drawings, even high school papers than it is in ALL my computer content COMBINED.

Yes, I feel like a hipster-robot combination.

My parents used to save newspaper clippings, not that long ago. Without all these THINGS, these small trophies of accomplishments and failures; I worry that I will forget. I'll read one of my favorite books,then, some cliche movie will be made out of it. The mass public will LOVE this movie and people will FORGET the story, and I'll forget it with them. 
Beloved books sold like pirated goods: cheap, degraded, and mass produced to the point of forgetting what it all was about. I may love the movies even, but I still FORGET what I loved about the books. 
Words are a precious thing that we can save, REPEAT, and write. Words will never lose their meanings simply because someone put them on another sheet of paper. It's the reason tattoos are more often quotes rather than pictures these days. People are realizing that quotes are personal to all, while pictures are only personal to some. For instance, if you come across a picture of say, this lady here: 

WHO is that?

Right?

Versus hearing this quote: 

"I want to TASTE and GLORY in each day, 

and never be afraid to EXPERIENCE pain;

and never shut myself up in a numb core of non-feeling,

or stop QUESTIONING and CRITICIZING life and take the easy way out.

To LEARN and THINK:

to THINK and LIVE;

to LIVE and LEARN:

this always, with new insight, new understanding, and new love.” 

This is Sylvia Plath. 

This is the woman who seemed so HAPPY, so normal on the outside, yet stuck her head in her oven with her children STILL in the house. 

Words can tell us everything IF we listen. 
Have you ever heard the biblical term, "Brother's keeper"? If you haven't it basically refers to the concept of taking care of someone and caring for them so DEEPLY, even though it is not your responsibility. It's burden of choice.
This Valentine's Day, I encourage you to send positive thoughts to your "brothers" whether that be a classmate, or the cat lady next door, we ALL have felt alone. 
And what if YOU are alone? 
Well, from someone who knows THAT feeling, true happiness comes from within. 
No one can make you feel miserable unless YOU let them. 
No one can tell you that you're wrong.
You can choose to be happy, to be right, to be YOU. 
If you are waiting for that special someone to come along and make everything better, it's not going to happen. When your happiness depends on the presence of an individual, you are not truly happy. 

On that note,
If you're looking for a non-chick-flick romance story, you can find Eternal Sunshine of an Absent Mind on Netflix. 

If you do like the sappy stuff, any Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan combination will make you content: Sleepless in Seattle or You've Got Mail.

A Handful of Dust

My life lately.

Why HELLO there,

Of all the blog joints, in all the towns, in all the world, you clicked on mine.
Lucky for you I have much to say.

Since my first post, it seems a lot has happened. I saw Cavalia's Odesseo and I am almost finished with my first ceramics project.

The fact that this is just clay that 
I molded with my bare hands, AMAZES me.

Somehow with all this ACTION trying to maintain some semblance of a life, my course work has been PILING up and I have started to SHUT myself in my room. 
I have been writing papers mainly and I started to think about how much I can accomplish when I am ALONE. 
There is a lot to be said for self-reliance, 
whether it is the entrepreneur,
the single parent, or the child who learned to read. 

FREE WRITING: painfully grasping 
an idea until it injures

I have a DEEP respect for those who are self-taught.




Writing my whole life story for my other classes has murdered any desire I had to write. 
I am trying to "free write" and trust me, it hurts when you are over-thinking every word.
Over-thinking is when I have an idea, and I analyze it until everything that I loved about it is GONE for some reason or another. It is what I do when doing assignments because I often worry about what the teacher will say or how they will grade it. 

When my high school art teacher noticed my fault in over-thinking, she stopped me to say that, 

"Whatever art you do needs to be for yourself. There's so much more behind those eyes than just a GIVER, you need to take so that when you give you have something left." 

Simple things people say have always stuck with me.

My Communication teacher seems to believe that there are categories of people:"introverts and EXTROVERTS" and different kinds of learners:"auditory, visual, and kinesthetic." 

Although this may apply to some, 

I categorize myself as an introvert who functions as an extrovert; a learner who 

need to SEE,HEAR,and FEEL everything to fully digest it. 

I realized that not everyone thinks like I do or does anything like I do for that matter. 
I don't think we fit into these categories that we're shoved into.

No matter how I try to communicate everything that is HAPPENING in my life or in my head, 

I can't. 

I can't capture the picture for you. 

Maybe the issue is that it happens all too FAST, or all at once, that it is 

indescribable, or that it doesn't exist in the world. 

SO DO COMMENT. 

If you were here before, I've updated my blog quite a bit with small improvements here and there such as the TAB feature so you can distinguish from my assigned posts and my self-generated ones. 

#1 Sunday Morning, the first assigned post, came out pretty nice, if I do say so myself. 

If you have not noticed, my LINKS are casually placed throughout my posts in RED. 

If for some reason it does not work or you have any suggestions, let me know. 

Become one of "The FANTASTIC People Who Read My Blog" 

by clicking "Join this site" below. 

#1 Sunday Morning

It's okay to STOP pedaling and LET go.

An appetite for life can inspire others to CRAVE the ground beneath their feet. There are few  people who can raise this need to live life to the FULLEST through a blog. However, I have found them. I will discuss three very different blogs today; 

Google, 

The Pioneer Woman, 

and 

Catalog Living.

1. GOOGLE: 

This blog is corporate, attracting suits and skirts alike but also the common "Googler." It is what one would expect from ONE of the most successful companies in the world. The blog markets to the reader their many "products" while calling out that inner muse. My attention was held through their graphics which include videos, photos and graphs of the company's latest actions. The layout is simplistic and clean so that the reader can focus on the content. The most recent post which has been trending on social media is Google Map's filming of the Grand Canyon so that,

"You’ll be happy you’re virtually hiking 

once you get to the 

STEEP inclines of the 

South Kaibab Trail." 

 I highly recommend taking a glance at this blog, simply reading it made me feel more productive.

2. THE PIONEER WOMAN: 

 A little awkward,right?

Ree Drummond is the blogger who established this creative piece which incorporates all the aspects of her busy life. Her blog is very ATTRACTIVE because of her down-to-earth personality, accessible posts, and relatable content. She has a variety of topics each approached with different yet appropriate tone. Reading her off-beat and sometimes awkward quips, I would have never realized she is somewhat famous.

The most interesting aspect of this blog was that the REAL people in her life are featured, explained, and incorporated into her updates. 
The blog even features her husband, "THE MARLBORO MAN," not only his chaps, but his link-worthy writing. 

Even though her blog would seem catered towards, "desperate housewives," I found her cooking section is definitely for both genders and her CHARM carries throughout the whole blog, no matter the topic.

3.CATALOG LIVING:

"We already had a
'Martha Stewart intervention'
with you!"

If you've ever walked into a model home, or even Ikea, and thought, "Who would buy this, WHY?" this page is for you. 

It's funny, short and conversational.

Yes, it appears the bear could not hold it.

Unfortunately, the blog as a whole is highly disappointing. It is almost TOO short for a blog and seemingly unprofessional based on it's casual yet inconsistent tones.

I was initially drawn to this blog based on my shared belief that RIDICULOUS things that are made by home decor places and then taken into homes and placed randomly among their things.To give you a better idea, think of that animatronic Bass fish now found in garage sales EVERYWHERE. 

There's videos if you were not
scarred enough
by this image.

This blog stood out because it has two writers that converse back and forth through their image captions. Out of the three blogs, I liked Catalog Living the least. 

WHAT made Google and Pioneer Woman so CAPTIVATING for me was the imagery. 

Both were successful in placing the reader in the moment. 

The writing became personal and interactive within each post. 

J.M. Barrie, the author of Peter Pan said,

“The reason birds can fly

 and we can't 

is simply because 

they have 

perfect faith, 

for to have faith

 is to have WINGS.” 

Through this idea, he was able to give generations of children the ability to fly.

WRITING, no matter the audience, is intended to reach out to the reader on an individual level. 

Forming this connection is what allows us to live VICARIOUSLY through writing and take leaps in our own REALITY. 

BLOGGING, believe it or not, can do precisely this.