Brain Food

Normally my posts have little to nothing to do with anything even vaguely intellectually stimulating but today is a day of change. Instead of my visual feast of designy goodness, I'm pausing today to bring you something far more valuable and self-investing. You see my friends, I recently rediscovered the joys of MIT's free OpenCourseWare and feel obliged to pass it on.

I remember when MIT first started releasing a few of their courses for free public access back when I was still in highschool (or shortly thereafter, I can't remember exactly) and how thrilled I was at the chance to explore alternative sources of information. I've always had a wide range of interests and narrowing down my education (lolartdegree?) was extremely difficult for me. Now that I've been through the rigors of my BFA and come up a bit disappointed in that choice it's even nicer to be able to explore other areas of specialization sans commitment and/or charge.

The website itself isn't exactly the most aesthetically pleasing or easiest to navigate, but you can find full courses on just about anything you might be interested in, and that's really the true purpose for it. Ever wanted to take a foreign language class? MIT's got French, Spanish, German, even Japanese and Chinese (and not just beginning levels) for free. Interested in Psychology? How about Computer Programming? They've even got strange courses on self-help and kitchen chemistry. If you've ever wanted to take a college course in something but haven't had the money or time to dedicate to it, MIT's OpenCourseWare is a great way to get your feet wet and your jump started.

A Love Letter For You

Well known or not, I'm a big fan of graffiti art when its properly done (not this tagging garbage you see everywhere). I'm an especially big fan of Banksy (he even featured my doppelganger's photo on his website many years ago when I was across the pond) and I've recently come across another artist whose fan base has been bolstered by yours truly. His name is Steve Powers and if you've been to Philadelphia the past few months you've probably seen some of his murals.

The project is titled 'A Love Letter For You' and is essentially ~50 love-themed murals on rooftops and buildings throughout Philly with an old-school signage twist. It's not the graffiti you're used to seeing and I'm enamored with it to no end.




He's also made a book about the project and is having a release party this weekend complete with tattoo-shop takeover and guided tour of said murals just in time for Valentine's Day. Whether or not I make it down there will depend heavily on the weather and the company willing to join me, but for any interested parties in the Philly area here's the info:


More info on his site.

Geekdom Reigns

Being a self-proclaimed nerd, fan of all things Diggworthy, and an avid gamer it's not difficult to see why products aimed at technophiles like myself appeal to me. Over the past few years I've stumbled across some fantastic DIY and/or hand-made shrines to the geekdom so dear to my heart.
More recently I ran across a few handmade tidbits from Etsy that made me smile. The first is a Pacman inspired set of rings:

In general I'm a fan of the multi-finger ring trend. Nothing says 'Awesome' quite as perfectly as the word spelled out across your hand and who doesn't love limiting the independent range of motion of two or more fingers at any given time? Even though this set (by luckydot) is technically separated the illusion remains the same, and who doesn't smile at the iconic image of a pizza-shaped anomaly devouring miscellaneous dots? I feel like it would've been vaguely more fun if the dots were white instead of black, but that's just me.

The second piece I ran across yesterday..

Anyone with the times of the interwebz can immediately recognize what "less than three" really is and if you aren't up on your internet jargons I suggest you google it. Though it was amusing telling my mother that '<3' was a conundrum and made no sense to anyone. Smug me is smug.

The last tidbit I'll share with you is something I came across a few years ago and still to this day aspire to one day make for myself.


The above is a fully functioning NES controller/coffee table/storage chest handmade by Kyle Downes who does a fantastic job of cataloging his design and process. With the right tools it's easily reproducable just by looking at his instructions and I WANT ONE. Alas, I'm not much of a carpenter. Maybe one day..

The Loves of My Life

It may strike you as strange to think that some people have accused me of being less than forthcoming about my feelings and emotions. I mean, who could say that about someone as friendly and exuberant as myself? Nonetheless, whether you know it or not, there are a few things I hold truly dear to my heart. Things I lean on every day, that make me smile at the mere mention of them, that give me butterflies in my stomach and a heady rush at the thought of holding them near.
I am, of course, speaking of caffeine and the plethora of sugared goodness this vast planet of ours has to offer. Starbucks coffee/tea and a scone is how I start my day every morning, they've been with me through the good times and the bad. Through the hard nights at work on finals and the long hours in the office they've kept me going, constantly propelling me to greatness. But alas, something tragic has occurred in the world of Jess. For you see, this past week, I decided to give them up. Though my love for them still burns inside me like the Olympic torch, their absence from me is beginning to cause physical trauma. The first few days brought on not only a deep aching in my chest, but also in my head (why must I miss you so, caffeine?) and for the first time today the vacancy felt from sugar's departure was palpable. Add to this the late nights and early mornings I've had this past week and its plain to see I'm struggling with their loss. I yearn for the day that we shall be reunited, star crossed lovers once again held in a warm sugary embrace. Until then, my friends, please excuse me if I begin to wail abruptly or if the gnashing of teeth emanating forth from me is overwhelming. I am, after all, in mourning.

Spiders

So unlike my previous apartment in Savannah, my new one has a distinct lack of insects. Which overall is usually a good thing, right? I sort of have to assume that because I live on the third floor and it's upstate New York in the middle of winter that most of the insects are just dead and maybe I'll see a few bees or something as it warms up. I do, however, have a large population of quarter-sized spiders, and I can't quite figure out where they're coming from.

My first two altercations with the spiders occurred shortly after I moved in. It was mid-October and I figured it was just a fluke, plus I saw them both on the same day, and squished them both mercilessly with my shoe. My next spider run in was only a few weeks ago and was far more heinous. He was on my wall, behind my desk, to the left of my computer, but when I went to grab something to smack him with, he bolted. There is nothing quite as frightening in this world as a fast spider. He appeared again maybe an hour later, skittering across my desk - and again I missed the chance to end his miserable existence. I did ultimately find him.. in my bed. Curling up to bed in my white sheets I turned to my side and noticed a dark black spot. Instantly I knew it was my nemesis. This time, he didn't stand a chance and was swiftly smushed and flushed.

I hadn't run into any others recently despite having thoroughly scoured my apartment with bleach and dusting spray, annihilating any dirt I came to and disrupting a few webs along the way. I was lulled into a false sense of security. For 'lo and behold as I went to turn on the lamp in my bedroom tonight I ran across this sucker..

I'm not sure the photo captures it right but he's clear (or.. was) and extremely vile. Where are all these demon spawn getting into my apartment from?

Cleanliness is Next to Godliness

So for the first time in the ~3 months that I've lived in this apartment, I cleaned. I mean sure the place has been dusted off and picked up but I spent my night bleaching, scrubbing and dusting the place into submission like never before. I feel like every place you live in needs a good floor to ceiling scrubbing relatively soon after moving in. That way you can be sure that the build up of dirt and grime accumulating during the rest of your residency is your own, not someone else's. It's less disgusting when it's your own dirt.

Well now that the process is over, I felt it deserved photo documentation. And since no one but my parents and the few poor souls who helped me move in have even step foot inside it I feel like I should share it with someone! Who better than the anonymous masses of the interwebs! Thus I bring you, Casa de Jessington.

Living Room:

Dining Room: (complete with missing bowl currently residing in the dishwasher!)

Kitchen:

Bedroom:

Bathroom:

My bathroom also contains some of my niftier things, which I've chosen to share with you as well.

These include my super-awesome plastic grass toothbrush holder, the World's Best Nightlite, and some frightening man on a postcard courtesy of my cousin's trip to Korea.

And there you have it, the briefest of tours through my tiny but superb apartment. Maybe now that I've cleaned I'll get around to painting and Blik-ing... the less clutter on the floor the more obnoxious the bare walls become. And since only a select few (IE: family members) have seen what you've just seen that makes us almost like family now! So uh, can I borrow 50 bucks?

Motorbikes: Revisited

Remember this post a mere two posts ago? Upon reading it my good friend 'M' (that zany paranoid-innocent) found a way to crystallize exactly why I found the video and subsequent rider of the NighShadow so strangely unfitting. You see, it's a design flaw that makes this poor fellow (and the bike itself) so unfortunate in action. Simply put, the seat is too far back. This ultimately causes the rider to stretch ridiculously in order to reach the handle bars and places him/her in a very.. disadventageous.. position behind the beast, if you catch my drift. Had the seat been put say, closer to the back of the panther, or maybe even if the rider was wearing black pants or something to help blend him more into the design of the bike, perhaps things would look a little more correct. As it is though, the NightShadow is certainly a wonderful example of beautiful design with an unfortunate, and fatal (imo), flaw.

Graphic Fashion

So I'm no super trendy fashionista (though I've been accused of being a "hipster" on occasion) but I like all things from the design world and there's a strangely intriguing trend bubbling up in fashion that caught my attention. Hate them or love them there's no denying that the leggings and funky colored tights of the 80's have made a comeback. But now there's a new guy on the block, the tattoo tight. The trendy screen printed t-shirts of yesterday have inexplicably migrated downward and are now plastered on the legs of a growing number of fashion forward "hipsters".

I first caught wind of this trend a few months ago when these Twitter-ific tights made a splash in the fashion world. Made by Etsy vendor 'post' (who specialize in "tattoo socks") they're perfect for any rabid 'Tweeters' who feel the need to be e-stalked by everyone they walk by. Post also has some other interesting ones including an octopus and peacock feather.

Taking the trend to a whole new level (yay, color! [?]) is Les Queues de Sardines *broken link, sorry! who have made much more trendy (see: bold graphic prints) and vaguely creepier versions of the tattoo tights.



I must admit that possibly in another life where I actually wore something other than jeans and might actually be fashionable I could possibly see myself attempting to pull something like this off, if only for the amazingly weird factor. Alas, jeans and sneakers have been my trusty fall back to this point and will likely not change any time soon. But take note you more fashion-forward hipsters, tattoo tights are making a stand so get your gams in gear.

woof

by jezikalyn.

Motorbikes

As a teenager I must confess to a keen longing for a motorcycle. Why exactly I wanted to straddle an engine and rocket down the street with minimal external protection I can't really explain, but I wanted a Ninja 250 like nobody's business.

Luckily I only got a taste of bikes on my uncle's Buell, and that was only that one time. Who knows the catastrophic flaming death I would've had had I ventured farther into the world of two-wheeled vehicles. Maturing aside, I love a good example of quirky imaginative design and had to pass this on.

This is the NightShadow (and unnamed bull-version) by Massow Concept Cycles.




Nifty concept vehicles that actually drive are always fun, especially when so design-y and slick (super-high gloss paint ftw). The Jaguar also has the interesting detail of its headlamp in the mouth of the beast, though it looks a bit ridiculous in motion. Whether thats because I feel like such a slick machine should be driven by someone more... je ne sais quoi.. or because of the design itself is hard to tell.

Junk of the Day

So I went to my parents this evening to help rid them of some of my childhood clutter. If you've ever done this, or subsequently had children who are currently doing this, you'd understand just how much junk kids/teens can accumulate. For the past 8 years of my life I've collected garbage and thrown it into boxes in my parents basement. Unwilling to throw it away, but there was only so much room for clutter upstairs! I literally spent a solid hour wading through diaries, sketchbooks, pictures, and shoeboxes filled with even more memories of my childhood and can honestly say I've never wanted to torch my past as much as I did for that hour. Perhaps I'm not the nostalgic type but there's something about teen angst and tween camera-frenzy that makes me feel like sanitizing myself with bleach for the next eternity.

I did, however, rise out of the ashes with one of the single most amazing things I've ever had the privilege of owning. And here it is:

Now if you aren't familiar with the Sailor Moon series you may be wondering wtf this is, but I can assure you it is the single most fantastic (and ridiculously Japanese) thing I've ever acquired in my lifetime. I was a HUGE [see: frenetic] fan of Sailor Moon when I was younger and this lovely little alarm clock was gifted to me (by my grandmother I believe) back in the day. It has the loudest and most obnoxious alarm that consists of blaring the Sailor Moon theme song with a high pitched child's voice chiming "Good Morning!" intermittently throughout. I'm in love. I fully expect to throw it against my wall within the week and break it into pieces, but at least I have it for now.

I also found these lockets amidst the clutter and chose to keep them. Not because they hold pictures dear to my heart, in fact they have nothing inside, but because.. well.. how often do you see lockets anymore? I figure I might never have anything to put inside them, or even the desire to wear them, but the miniscule part of me that somehow holds on to things wouldn't let me throw them out. Go figure.

In other news I have some of the most fantastic frozen yogurt I've ever had courtesy of my cousin and Jeni's Ice Creams. I'm not even entire sure what a black currant is but it's extremely tasty and will make a great closer to the night.

This clock ticks ridiculously loudly. Consider its expected lifespan severely shortened.

Sidenote: If you appreciate good alternative music on your computer I highly recommend EQX's live stream. They're an epic independent radio station up around here and have some seriously rad music.