Check this out

I went to a screening of "Zeitgeist" last night at the local cinema next door.  This documentary attempts to out the truth behind 9-11, the war in Iraq and how the media is just a distraction to the frightening events going on behind our backs.  And apparently there is no law stating that one has to pay a federal income tax!  Who knew?  Watch it for yourself and make a judgment.  It does seem like propaganda against propaganda, but it really helped me realize just whos behind America.  Also go watch the movie "Network," and get mad. Get really, really mad.

Visit their website to see the entire movie for free.  I'm including a clip for convenience.  There are also parts of the movie on youtube.  

WARNING:  Graphic and intense emotional scenes are included, and the video is very anti-religion also.

Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday to me

Happy Birthday to me

Happy Birthday to me and Corinna...

Happy Birthday to me!

I'll be celebrating my 19th with cupcakes, sushi and some movies.  Then its back to homework and projects for the rest of the weekend!

image courtesy Chockylit

Seattle

Seattle was lovely, the weather was PERFECT, not a cloud in the sky and it was bright, sunny and cool (see above).  We went to Pike's Place Market,  I took some pictures, we walked around, had some tea and crumpets. haha :)  It was fun.  But...I must say I do like Portland much better.  Less people, more DIY and granola.  Have I turned into a hippy?  Who knows, but not being around them sure makes me feel like one!  The drive was nice, long, deserted roads and then all of a sudden theres a tiny little town.  I think I'll only live in cities in America, the rest just doesn't seem very fun.  Its a little depressing actually.  Here are some pictures...the rest you can find on facebook and my flickr site.  Enjoy :)

This is all you see...for 200 miles.

Yum, too bad I don't like seafood.

and I just thought this was funny...

Surprise!

So last night I was in my room talking to my neighbor when my phone rang.  It was my older sister back home in Hawaii, but I didn't answer it.  Luckily she called my sister and she picked it up because my sister CAME TO PORTLAND last night and surprised us!  Its really nice to see her and she rented a car (sweet!) and tomorrow we are all heading up to SEATTLE!!  I haven't been to sea-town since sophomore year and can't wait to revisit it again.  It's gonna be great getting out of Portland since spring break doesn't seem promising for much adventure.  

In other news, I got a job at a Starbucks several blocks from me!  My wish has come true!  I'll be working again, back to the bucks. (literally AND pun intended).  Now I just need to get my tax returns so I can get some outfits and shoes for work.  Hopefully this store will have some cool people and cool customers.  The store also doesn't serve oven-heated food! Hallelujah!!  No more 1st degree burns from molten sugar anymore :)  I'm hoping the transition back into the Starbucks world goes alright, so many standards and rules to get back into!  I'm also going to be doing mostly opening/morning shifts...so no more sleeping in for me! eep!  That means i'll have to be there at 4:15 AM. Oh. holy. jesus.  Oh well, at least that means I get a paycheck, TIPS, and free coffee.  My life is coming together!  I also have to be cautious of what classes I'll be taking (thank god I took so many credits this term! ).  I'm hoping this will all be good and I'll be able to handle it all.  

Pictures from Seattle will be coming up as soon as I get back to PDX.  Yay!

ZINEster

Today in my mentor session there was a presentation about zines (we're going to be making zines in groups!)  So after seeing the many different types of zines and how I can do one and have it on a shelf in a store the next day, this zine thing seemed pretty cool.  I already own a couple zines–one is a vegetarian recipe book and the other a review of books.  Maybe I could start my own zine and sell it at Reading Frenzy and possibly make a few extra dollars.  Here are some cool resources for zine making!

WikiHow

The Independent Publishing Resource Center 

DIY Zine Guide

and heres a lovely little video on how to make one!

It could be really cool to make a zine based on this blog or post some really good recipes (like the 3 and 4 ingredient cookbook! amazing stuff) because I really want to do some DIY stuff during spring break when I have the time for it. Enjoy!

Signs

I am learning about urban landscapes as well as perceived ones (last night's lecture from the Center for Land Use Interpretation was really cool.  check out their website for a database of interesting places around America)  and I've been noticing that there have been many instances of an image of a spiral that appear again and again.  Robert Smithson's Spiral Jetty is the most common, but this image of a spiral has come up numerous times throughout the week.  Could it be a sign that all my hardwork could be paying off?  Today I received a call for a job interview on friday.  I couldn't be more happy–I have sent out 6 applications and heard from none until this afternoon.  AND its for Starbucks.  Is my life like a spiral?  Continuous and always connected?  It definitely doesn't seem to be linear at this point in time.  I just thought that was a cool symbol for life...

image courtesy hawaii.edu

V-Day

Happy Valentine's Day to all the lovers out there.  Love and be loved, but please do NOT buy anyone any of  these:

because nothing says "I Love you" like stale pink carnations with baby's breath and a predictable teddy bear that can only be truly relevant for ONE DAY.  Plus, what woman actually WANTS a stuffed animal these days?  Hello, this isn't kindergarten.  Women really want this stuff:

Okay, maybe I went too far on that last one.  What really matters isn't the fact that Valentine's Day is for cheesy card companies to make a profit or single people to drown their sorrows in a bottle of cheap wine and cry while watching Bridget Jones' Diary (as I might do tonight), its a reminder of our power to love and be loved by one another.  Friends, girlfriends, boyfriends, families...love is universal.  Who cares if you don't get a rose or a balloon or even a box of those terribly chalky candy hearts?  Go and celebrate the fact that you are loved at this moment, and that you can love others too.

The Moral (to take a quote from Hugh Grant, who I'm sad to say will not be my valentine):

Love actually, is all around.