When Warming Is A Good Thing.

Diane Ackerman's book An Alchemy of Mind:

"We safely trade bits of self with loved ones all the time. Couples pick up some of each other's mannerisms, accents, habits, ideas. But we also absorb people in more visceral ways. When we pass along a flu or cold sore, for instance, viruses pack some of our proteins and lipids in the viral envelope and release them inside another person, who will store some in his or her lymph nodes. Retroviruses - such as AIDS, for instance - can install pieces of someone else's DNA in one's chromosomes. But we're probably swapping gene fragments with people all the time, imperceptibly, through infection and lovemaking because 'over the course of an intimate relationship, we collect a lot of pieces of someone else... Until one day what remains is truly and thoroughly a mosaic, a chimera - part man, part woman, part someone, part someone else.' Little by little, as bits of DNA make it to our chromosomes, intimate relationships help shape the immune system's cameo of us, and modify the brain, altering the self whose continuity we cherish. We don't just get under each other's skin, we absorb people. Everyone we've ever loved remains with us, and we're invisibly changed for having known them. That will make some people feel queasy, I suppose, but it warms me."

<sigh>

I Like Circles.

I mentioned yesterday that one of my courses this summer is Motion Graphics 2. Well my other course is my last Liberal Arts class, The Power of Signs: Semiotics & The Visual Arts. If you are a fan of my blog from back in the day (ummm... like last September), then you might remember me posting about the History of Aesthetics class quite a bit. Well this is the same professor, and once again he's got my little wheels a-turnin'. Last week our lecture was on The Preferential Shapes Test, and as interesting as biosemiotics may be (bio-huh?), this was actually something I thought others might be interested in.

From the lecture:

The Preferential Shapes Test provides a window into individual experiences and needs, as well as clues to the direction of future growth. It is not intended as an index of character flaws. The processes revealed by the shape preferences are a part of everyone's experience. The potentials symbolized by each shape are present in everyone, although the shapes' expression within any individual is always unique.

I'm not exactly sure I can reproduce the entire test here, as I Googled it and only got references to a book. So to ensure not getting sued or anything ridiculous like that, I'll just pimp the book instead.

The "test" was created by Angeles Arrien, a cultural anthropologist and student of Joseph Campbell. Through cross-cultural study she identified five symbols that she says occur in art and decoration around the world with similar meanings. The five symbols are:

• Circle - symbolizing wholeness
• Equidistant Cross - symbolizing relationship
• Spiral - symbolizing growth and change
• Square - symbolizing stability
• Triangle - symbolizing goals, dreams, and visions

In the Preferential Shapes Test, she asks people to first draw the shapes and then rank them 1-5 with one being the most preferred shape and five the least.

The five ranked positions also have meanings:

1. where you think you are
2. your strengths
3. where you really are
4. your motivation
5. what you are avoiding or in denial of

The test interpretations are lengthy, but really interesting, if you're into this hippie dippie new-agey kinda thing like me. I found some pretty accurate, some surprising, and some quite insightful. I'm always down for some self-reflection, and if anything, this test encourages that.

Plus any test that only compromises of drawing a few simple shapes is awesome in my book.

I Love Me Some Big Glass Of Half Full

"Joy, where have you been?" you may be asking.

Well, with only six classes left at Academy of Art, I decided to tackle two of them this summer. Which is pretty crazy. What is normally a 16 week course is condensed into 8 weeks. Which means two assignments due a week. And being that one of my courses is Motion Graphics 2 (basically creating cool motion graphics in AfterEffects), equals the pretty crazy part. Actually, make that very crazy.

Add to that that the BlogHer annual conference is July 18-20 (1000 attendees; sponsors such as GM, Intuit, and TNT, to name a few; and a party at Macy's in Union Square) and well, you have me working pretty much non-stop.

Again, very crazy.

The last few weeks have definitely been a good lesson in time management. I'm trying very had to balance work and school with, well, a life. I guess this is always an issue for the working American. We live in a culture that seems to get off on burning the candle at both ends. When did this cultural shift happen? Or is that what this nation has always been about?

I guess I am partly to blame for the craziness. Had I not decided to become a rave bunny in the 90s, I would have finished my undergrad at Santa Clara in my early 20s. But when I start to think about what my life would have been, my head starts to spin. How could I even know. How could I even make a guess. It's one of those Sliding Doors kinda things. I may not have ever found out that I wanted to do design; I may have never met my husband; I may have never experienced all the bizarre and wonderful things that have made me who I am today.

So, in my 30s, and after a kick-ass winding road, I'm here working my ass off.

With a little life mixed in every chance I get.

01SJ Festival - Better Late Than Never

Last week marked the 2nd Biennial 01SJ Global Festival of Art on the Edge, and I really did have good intentions to blog about. Instead I went and enjoyed too much wine and forgot to. So, you get a recap instead of a plug.

In case you are unfamiliar with it, 01SJ is:

North America’s newest and largest festival of digital arts, and a great deal more. From a hip hop, multi-media meditation on Antarctica to robot art, from conversations with artificial intelligence to operatic performances of Google headlines about the environment, from avant-garde cinema to new musical forms - well over 100 artworks, performances, screenings, talks, and workshops will be featured at 01SJ. Festival organizers expect it to be a perspective-altering experience that entertains, enlightens, educates and involves attendees in a new understanding of our changing world.

Last Wednesday night was the opening ceremonies, and my friend Amii and I (who was my companion to the event last year), went to check it out -- specifically the lighting of City Hall's Rotunda. Of course we were both a bit hungry and thirsty when we got there, so started off the evening with some wonderful wine and appetizers at Bella Mia. Feeling satisfied and toasty, we then walked down to City Hall to meet up with our friend Mariah to check it out. I have to say, although there wasn't smoke and lots of lights projected everywhere like last year, this year's installation was much cooler.

Incursion 37:20:15.71” N - 121: 53:09.51” W continues Craig Walsh’s series of large-scale projection installations occupying specific sites and responding to contrasting environmental contexts. These urban interventions provide surreal visions of nature dominating architectural sites and altering their perceived function. This new project for 01SJ will continue this strain of enquiry whilst considering the impact technology might have on these simulated clashes between Nature and the built environment.

I got to take some really cool, interesting photos -- which is always a plus.

Friday night Trip, Amii and I went to SubZero, a huge block party on south First that celebrates unique and emerging arts movements ranging from contemporary music, street performances, Do-It-Yourself and interactive, on-the-edge art installations. As always Anno Domini was displaying an interesting artist, and I still love the huge mural they have on the side of the building -- something I shot a while back for a web site project. But it was the Fingerbangers turntablism (is that even a word? it should be) that provided the most entertainment, and the biggest draw.

Oh, I should mention that Friday started out with dinner at La Pastaia, in the Hotel De Anza. Absolutely fantastic meal with a lot of vegetarian options. I highly recommend the fried artichokes and the asparagus risotto to start, and the cappellini con salsa fresca for your main course. And the wine list was great :)

So if you didn't check it out this year, make sure you get out to 01SJ next year. Hopefully the City Hall Rotunda installation continues - and continues to progress - as it really is a very very cool concept.

Reason #386 Why I Love My Husband

Trip and I have been blessed with hummingbird visitors year round, mainly because they love our sugary-sweet hummingbird feeder concoction (and by "our" I mean Trip's). We've been talking for some time about getting a birdhouse, in hopes to keep them as permanent residents. So I was thrilled when I received an email from Design Within Reach today advertising a kick-ass birdhouse, and quickly forwarded it on to Trip. Our exchange:

ME: Oh my God I want it! $95, though.... :(

Close up of email

TRIP: and it makes a great home for tits! :)

ME: [laughing hysterically] you, sir, are HIL-AR-IOUS.

(End scene)

Blue canary in the outlet by the light switch
Who watches over you
Make a little birdhouse in your soul
Not to put too fine a point on it
Say I'm the only bee in your bonnet
Make a little birdhouse in your soul

-They Might Be Giants

Today's Small Step: Forgive and Forget.

A few months ago I subscribed to the newsletter of one of my favorite Food Network stars, Ellie Krieger. She hosts a wonderful show called Healthy Living with Ellie Krieger, where she often cooks vegetarian dishes (although not entirely, she is the best option for a vegetarian that loves cooking shows).

The focus of the newsletter is mainly cooking and eating healthy, but she also writes about living a healthy life in general. This recent issue really resonated with me, so I thought I would pass it on.

The poet Alexander Pope said: "To err is human, to forgive divine." Medical research has shown that forgiveness is good for the heart as well as the soul. One study found that when people dwelled on slights from their past, their blood pressure, heart rate, and muscle tension all increased, indicating that their bodies were physically stressed when they were in an unforgiving state. Harboring a grudge or resentment against someone or something can only have a negative effect on your health. Forgiving someone can release this negative energy and positively affect how you feel. Today, I'd like you to perform an exercise in forgiveness.

Forgiving someone when he or she has hurt you can be extremely difficult. But true forgiveness can set the stage for a deeper relationship, help prevent disagreements about inconsequential things, and improve your health.

Many people find that writing a letter to the person who hurt them is helpful. So today, get out all your feelings and frustrations on paper. Pretend you're facing the person who hurt you, and tell him or her how you feel. Then rip the letter into tiny pieces or burn it to symbolize that you are putting the incident behind you permanently. (Alternatively, you can try talking to someone close to you about what happened — this may allow you to vent and gain perspective.) Then make a conscious effort to let the incident go — don't keep bringing it up. Dwelling on it, especially with the person you've forgiven, may prevent you from really forgiving and moving on.

Is That A Banana In Your World's First Fully Bonded Bodysuit...

I'm sure Speedo’s new LZR Racer (pronounced "Laser Racer") is as wonderfully high-tech as it sounds, with its paper-thin nylon and Lycra blend. And I really do hope it helps Michael Phelps win a bunch of gold medals.

But every time I see an athlete modeling it, they just look so uncomfortable. Not in the, "this thing is killing me" kind of uncomfortable. More in the "Oh my gosh I can't believe I'm out in public wearing this thing" kind of uncomfortable.

And for good reason. Let's face it. The goods are pretty much on display here folks.

Michael Phelps doing his best Vitruvian Man impression.

How much do you want to bet NBC does a whole lot of tight face shots during the swimming competitions? And will the cameras shift down if ratings aren't great?

I do have to say, one cool thing is that Speedo is collaborating with designer Rei Kawakubo (of Comme des Garçons) on a more colorful version for the Olympics -- most likely the standard red, white and blue.

As long as they keep the see-through butt crack, I'm cool with it.