I've avoided electronic writing for as long as electronic writing has existed. Maybe it was a fear of exposing too much, or perhaps a fear of seeing too much of others due to their self exposure. Wait-- I think it was actually poemophobia. You know, being forced to read every body's really bad poetry on their MySpace and blogs and wherever else they can post it. There's so much of it that even the good poetry in the mix starts to wear on me. However, thanks to a multi-media course taught by Dr. Sarah Pace, I have overcome my fears and have learned to appreciate all forms of the written arts.
Friday, October 16, 2009
I've avoided electronic writing for as long as electronic writing has existed. Maybe it was a fear of exposing too much, or perhaps a fear of seeing too much of others due to their self exposure. Wait-- I think it was actually poemophobia. You know, being forced to read every body's really bad poetry on their MySpace and blogs and wherever else they can post it. There's so much of it that even the good poetry in the mix starts to wear on me. However, thanks to a multi-media course taught by Dr. Sarah Pace, I have overcome my fears and have learned to appreciate all forms of the written arts.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Life Out of Balance
After watching "The Virus Hunters: It's Alive!" on the National Geographic Channel, I wonder if another species could have taken our place in some ways. The documentary is all about how viruses have altered life and actually sped up the process of evolution. Some findings of theirs were sheep which were not able to carry offspring to term without a certain virus, and rodents that were promiscuous and which happen to be just one virus away from behaving exactly like their monogamous cousins. The researches found that the males in one species of vole would mate until they killed themselves. Animal Plant actually has footage from "Animals Behaving Badly"of the little exhausted critters falling out of the trees and twitching on the ground, then going stiff-legged on their tiny backs. The cousin mated for life. The difference was a virus enabling receptors in the brain to function similar to the human brain in terms of its complex emotions. By giving the virus to the ever-mating vole, he became like the monogamous vole.
So, if another species had developed a different virus, would they in fact have been more emotional, devoted, and moody than humans? Maybe. I just wonder if an evolutionary virus gave us the privilege of being the Earth's heart and veins. Since it may have been a virus that developed us into what we are, then maybe we are indeed also the disease.
My point is that I hope we can find balance, because I do not feel like we have balance in the world. Maybe technology will allow us to find ways to achieve a better harmony with the planet and all its inhabitants. Maybe the next genetically mutating virus will actually make us care that we have life out of balance.
(DNA image from: www.3dscience.com)
(Vole image from: www.bio.davidson.edu)
(Brian scan from: www.nyas.org)
(Virus image from: www.guardian.co.uk)
Check out the viral/genetically altered playboy rats:
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Dixie Talk
My Mom named her Delta Dixie Jo Marshall, the first three names having to do with the show Designing Women. So, in character with the actress, Dixie Carter, my Dixie is a southern diva. And like all southern divas she needs her rest, lots of tasty treats, plenty of pillows, a full coordinating wardrobe, and some attitude. This attitude I speak of is what makes her hate all other animals, because she is not an animal. How dare those vermin sniff her-- especially there! She chases the neighbor's 60 pound dog, and tends to pick fights with cats, even her own cat, Lucy (we got Lucy to keep the other dog company, but Lucy hates him so we say she's Dixie's kitty). They really have cheerleader style fights, though. There's a lot of fussing, swatting in the air, nasty looks, and grudges held.
Dixie is my "head nurse" as my husband says. She has that great doggie sense when something is wrong. She sleeps next to me, or on me, and makes sure that everything is OK. Whether it's migraine headaches, tummy aches, or post-surgery, she is right there with me and ready to make it all better.
So, this is Dixie, doing one of the adorable things she does, which is telling that obnoxious alarm clock just what she thinks (if I can make the video work).
This is a fun site about Yorkie astrology. Dixie is a Pisces.
Teach Your Baby to Read... Or In My Case, Bribe
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Cyborgs, Explants & Hybrids
This technology is being developed for the soldiers returning from war who are amputees. If you have the time to watch it, watch all the way till the end. It will completely amaze you to see such a true-- and in this case, wonderful "cyborg" development. This is a great example of not hurdling into a cyborg infested future in which we will all be destroyed or plugged into the "Matrix" (although, if I were plugged into the Matrix I'm not sure I would know the difference). If the future is anything like this report, then I'm thrilled to live in a time where man and machine intertwine. I wonder if Turing ever imagined something like this!
I've cried every time I've watched it. I hope you enjoy it as well.
Watch CBS Videos Online
Thursday, April 16, 2009
My Space Friends
I understand this song because I can't keep up with the 20 friends I have on Facebook. I am a Facebook failure. How do we know when someone is writing on our wall and not someone else's? The email notifiers about people writing on the wall is sort of a band aid for me. It doesn't fix the problem of me being confused.
How do people have enough time to create My Space pages that play songs, play videos, display awful poetry, and allow the creator to argue with people making comments? How can anyone keep up with the chatter on Facebook? I am not the best time manager, but seriously, anyone who has an answer-- please let me know what I'm doing wrong. I haven't hung up clothes for 2 weeks; I still have fencing not attached to fence posts; I'm running on 5 to 6 hours of sleep when I need 9; I haven't cooked anything since Christmas; I haven't had enough time to get a haircut in about 8 months; and I still have a mini-Christmas tree from early December that I haven't planted. I have no idea how it's surviving in its tiny plastic cup. I am completely amazed at how people are able to use these networking systems to such a great extent.
But really, anyone out there who works, goes to school, has a non-computer based social life, yet still has time to do My Space, Twitter, and Facebook, please let me know your secret. The laundry is piling up and I'm wearing the same 5 outfits all the time; the fence is unstable; I'm constantly irritated from lack of sleep; my hair is heavy; my husband is hungry; and my tree is going to die.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Lobotomy Movies
My husband says that I like "lobotomy movies." He says they are: "The movies you can watch without ever having to think about anything." Well, I usually tell him that he likes overly dramatic "art films," designed to make people feel like going to their doctor for a prescription of psychotropics.
He also hates fantasy movies because they are unrealistic, and have a bunch of unnecessary parts and graphics to them. We were watching "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest." He saw Davy Jones and said, "Bill Nighy is such a good actor. I don't understand why they have to put all the graphics on him." I don't really care if the guy has a squid on his face. It's entertaining, colorful, creative, and visually stimulating.
Luckily we don't really ever argue, but the closest we've gotten to an argument in a long time, was whether or not "The Transformers" movie could be art.
He says no.
I say yes.
The dialogue isn't advanced, and there is some juvenile humor in there, but the story is well thought out and the acting is decent. Besides that, visually-- it was art. The scene where the marines are in the desert being attacked by the scorpion Deceptacon had a beautiful use of monochromatic color, balance, and movement. The marines run down a sand dune at an angle that balances the scorpion's twisting of its body and weapons, which mimics the way the sand flies through the air. Yep...art. (photo from IMDb.com)
For me, regarding movies or literature, I like the creativity of the settings and characters in fantasy. I also like being in another world for a while. After a full day of advising and schedule building, arguing with students' parents, and typing on the SIS system-- I can't wait to see some elves romping through a beautiful forest. Today, I fought apathy,irresponsibility, and saved a schedule from disaster in Beaumont. I wish I were fighting the Orcs in Gondor, saving Middle Earth.
I guess my point is, good stories deserve visual icing. I don't see it as not using my imagination. I see it as appreciating someone else's vision. That's why I have enjoyed all of our assignments and the sites we've discovered on the web. Writing and images... I still say yin and yang.
All things Hobbit, Elf, Dwarf, Wizard, etc...
http://www.tolkientown.com/about_us.php