Sand-tastic!

Pure talent! This woman draws the history of Germany's invasion of Ukraine with sand and a light box in 8 minutes. wow.

"THE COVE" -DOLPHIN MASSACRE

On my flight home today I watched an amazing documentary called "The Cove". This gripping documentary opened my eyes about the gruesome dolphin slaughters occuring in Japan. It also made me very angry. ANGRY that I couldn't do anything about it...but I guess writing this blog helps me get the message out and inform more people (maybe even YOU) that this IS going on and that this is a problem the world must attempt to fight.


In a hidden and highly secretive cove in Taiji, Japan, 23,000 dolphins are brutally massacred each year. The dolphins, who naturally migrate to this area every year, are trapped by fishing nets. The fishermen proceed by inducing stress through making loud "bang" vibrations in the water. Because dolphins are sensitive to sound, they become disoriented and become separated from their families. Next, the fishermen inhumanely stab the creatures repeatedly until they die. The dolphin "meat," which is toxic because of the high levels of mercury, is often mislabeled as another type of fish" and sold to the unknowing Japanese public.

I knew this slaughtering was happening from previous media stories but I guess as the saying goes, "Ignorance is bliss". Until we see images of proof, we generally ignore the reality of what is really going on. I saw the horrific images for myself; Baby dolphins being slashed, pods being separated and murdered, splashing in seizure-like manners until they just eventually all sink and disappear. The most unforgettable image is the footage of the blue water in the cove gradually turning into a savage red.

We all love dolphins because they are proven to be highly intelligent- They understand human SIGN LANGUAGE for heaven sake...I don't even know sign language.
We also hear many stories of dolphins protecting surfers from sharks or helping during other dangerous situations in the ocean.
Just like humans, they are curious, intelligent, value their family and have fun by playing or "surfing" in the waves.
If we generally like these peaceful creatures, and their toxic meat isn't even edible, then WHY is this happening? Sometimes this world just boggles my mind.

If you like a little "Ocean's Eleven" or a little covert operations then you should also watch this film. Not only are you being informed, but you get to see activists being secretly followed and chased by Japanese police and dangerously planting secret cameras around the "forbidden cove".
Lets face it, exams are over and holidays are here which usually means a lot more free time...and I know we all have a little more room for learning :)


Here is a link to the actual MOVIE I found online if you are too lazy to make it to a blockbuster ;)
Sidenote: If you have any problems with what I am saying, please refer to the video for answers. I am merely a (highly opinionated) interpreter, not an "expert" about dolphins.

Feel the vibrations

I need to go back in time so I can experience Woodstock. Let me know if you ever invent a time machine. It will be greatly appreciated.
Peace and music, what more can you seriously ask for?

Snake Therapy

A spa in Israel, owned by Ada Barak, offers a "snake massage". Barak believes that snakes offer a high degree of relaxation and peace for customers. I don't know about you, but I'm pretty sure I would pass out/ have a heart attack from my fear of snakes, which would then send me to a "peaceful" and UNCONSCIOUS state. But I guess whatever floats your boat right? Read more about this in the TIME Magazine Article .



Watch the video report:

Take a Trip Down Trippy Lane

"Pogo" from Perth, Australia makes catchy and mind-bending music by sampling from popular childhood movies.
The videos are so TRIPPY.
For extra trippy-ness, put on some headphones, turn off the lights, turn up the volume, and lie in bed to experience the extreme psychedelic realm (yes, I said psychedelic).

Alice by POGO


Expialidocious by POGO

Obsessed

Cudi might be my new Kanye.
(Bring it, I am ready to be yelled at)

LISTEN to Cudderisback at Hype Machine
Up Up and Away is also AMAZING. Makes me so happy.

Instructions: Click, Play, Repeat, repeat repeat...

Pursuit of Happiness

I've been listening to this song on REPEAT. it's like a DRUG. Make sure you put on a good set of headphones and listen to it loud... that way more music and vibrations of happiness will flow through your bloodstream. The Song is called "Pursuit of Happiness" Kid Cudi featuring MGMT and Ratatat... umm... YESSSS.

The chorus is the best line:
"I'm on the pursuit of happiness and I know everything that shine ain't always gonna be gold hey, I'll be fine when I get it...I'll be good"

Wise words Kid Cudi.



Here is the link for the ADDICTIVE dance remix mixed by Steve Aoki

The Things We Learn From Pure Boredom

I didn't know being bored could be so tiring. I gave myself the pleasure of taking the last three days off...I figured I owed it to myself (yes... because I am THAT special)

It's so bizarre when you suddenly STOP. It's like running on a treadmill and the treadmill suddenly turning off and your knees painfully lock. OR it's like being in a horrible tornado- everything is windy and pieces of debris are flying everywhere and life is significantly stressful and you're trying to look for safe cover... but then suddenly you find yourself standing at the eye of the storm. You have no idea how you got there but everything becomes so silent, so peaceful, so wonderful...

Until, of course, you discover how BORING the eye of the storm is (Especially when ALL your friends are studying for exams).

SO what have I done for my last three days of boredom?
1) Slept in as long as I could force myself
2) Watched UP, Harry Potter, Super Size Me, How I Met Your Mother and Food, Inc
3) Browsed the Internet for Christmas gifts
4) Watched many episodes of What Not to Wear
5) Ate tasty desserts to fill in time
6) Attempted to go out to the bar, but failed miserably and fell asleep instead
7) Walked to Shoppers Drug Mart with my roomie to get "fresh air"
8) GYM, GYM, GYM

Yes, being bored is tiring...because you need to find things to occupy yourself with. But don't you worry, I will be back in the middle of the crazy storm again... this was just a momentary break.

So you must have learned SOMETHING from your three days of boredom, you say.
and you're right, I have...

Ice cream DOES taste better with a fork. Try it out for yourself.

Her Morning Elegance

Amazing Oren Lavie song/ Stop Motion music video



Click HERE to listen to more Oren Lavie on myspace .

Hi God, I mean Ronald...

So I am doing a paper on McDonald's and have been finding wonderful facts that I want to share with you. I have McDonald's overload and this is my perfect outlet

1) In 1997 with the Happy Meal/ Beanie Baby campaign, McDonald's in America sold over 100 million Happy Meals within 10 days

2) The "golden arches" is the second most known symbol after the Christian cross

3) 96% of children in America can recognize Ronald McDonald second to Santa Claus

4) 1983 Hamburger University (with capacity for over 750 students) was opened by McDonald's to train employees

5) In McDees early days, a scientific laboratory was set up in Chicago to test how to make the perfect McDonald's fry; an automated "potato computer" resulted from these experiments

6) An annual "Big Mac Index" is used indicating purchasing power of global currencies based on the price of the Big Mac

7) hahaha- How bizarre and how similar, yes?

IKEA HEIGHTS

My friend ALIA told me about this seriously funny internet film series called "IKEA HEIGHTS". Everything is filmed inside an IKEA within the separate displays. Genius. pure genius. I wish I was the first to think of doing this!





Here is the link for more episodes .

AND go to ALIA's blog for more fabulous finds...you won't regret it :)

A letter to McDonalds

Dear McDonalds,

I loved you when I was little. I smiled every time I got a strawberry milkshake and I bothered my mother for happy meals so I could get the Disney toys that came with it. Ronald McDonald kind of creeped me out, but I accepted him simply because I loved you.

I loved the taste and smell of your beautiful, crispy fries... but I didn't realize that it was actually cooked in BEEF fat shortening until this exact moment as I am researching for my university propaganda paper. I loved the jingles on the commercials that constantly stuck in my head throughout elementary school and adolescent dreams. It rang over and over in my head, "badaabababa, i'm lovin it". I loved that I could go through your drive through at any time, even if it was 3 am in the morning. I loved that you were always there to comfort me even if I was driving on an isolated highway to the middle of nowhere. I loved that adding "Mc" to everything made all words sound infinitely more cool- MClovin, MCdreamy etc.

But I didn't love you when you didn't let me order food when I fake drove through in my invisible, fake car. I even fake-rolled down the window and you still didn't accept me. That's just not fair.

What I'm trying to say is our relationship ended a long time ago. I use to Mclove you, but I guess not anymore. I started Mchating you when you started making America and Canada overly obese with your seductive techniques. We grew apart.

it's YOU not me.

I'm sorry.

PS: I can't believe you opened a $40 million HAMBURGER UNIVERSITY in 1983 and didn't tell me. You had classrooms and auditoriums that fit over 750 students. You even had 28 member faculty and 154 room lodging for students to live. Did you really think you could hide all this from me? It's like I don't know you anymore.

MR W.

Thanks Germany, this commercial is brilliant.
Oh the suspense...

Cool By Association

So, I officially have the awesome-est/ coolest/ most intelligent friends ever. Firstly, Liz is now officially a much music VJ. fantastique, non? She definitely deserves it. Secondly, my stunning and smart friend Keren just landed a job at GOOGLE in San Fran.
Jealous of these two? YES. Cool by association? DEFINITELY. But don't worry, I have something up my sleeve to be just as equally awesome... just you wait ;) .

So Google is probably the best place anyone could work. Apparently, Google thinks their employees should have a a kitchen every 100 feet. In SF The Google building has four gyms, ping pong tables everywhere, and my favorite- A BALL PIT. It's like reverting back to childhood.

Google in Mountainview Headquarters also has GOATS to mow their lawn .
"Instead of using noisy mowers that run on gasoline and pollute the air, we've rented some goats from California Grazing to do the job for us (we're not "kidding"). A herder brings about 200 goats and they spend roughly a week with us at Google, eating the grass and fertilizing at the same time."

Officially the coolest place to work. officially have the coolest friends ever.
and i'm officially significantly cool by association. (or at least that's what I hope ;) )

GO LT GO! Almost at the finish line...

My beauty of a friend LIZ TRINNEAR is top 3 for MUCH MUSIC VJ search. Tomorrow is the big day where they announce whether or not she makes it! She is so ridiculously right for the job, they are absolutely silly if they don't pick her. She is the hardest worker I know: She's in undergrad, has 2 jobs while in school, is on MIT Student Council AND is doing Much Music VJ competition on the side. Only a super-human (or something not from this planet) could achieve that... and trust me, she's definitely superhuman...
I am so excited. No matter what the outcome though, she will be a star.
Tune in Friday at 5 on MOD. No luck needed.




UPDATE: LIZ WON. she is OFFICIALLY your next much music vj! Get ready for some style, funk and awesome at Much.
:D could not be happier!

Please, don't take my soul

My apartment is on the 5th floor. Not very high right? But for some reason the wind is so ridiculously loud. It actually sounds like a portal to hell- if you listen really closely you can hear people screaming. If I could imagine what the sound would look like it would be that scene from little mermaid in Ursula's cave with the creepy and sad little mermaid souls. It's freaking me out.


Thanks to youtube, I can show you what kind of noise i'm talking about

The Day Your Mom Suffered

Every year I get stressed out for my birthday. It's almost like "new years" because there's this unbelievable PRESSURE to have the time of your life. Don't you feel the same? I know this is weird, but sometimes i'd rather just skip my birthday, pick a completely random day in the middle of the year and have a "lets celebrate "me" for absolutely no reason day"- this way= no pressure. Good idea?

Anyway, just wanted to wish my amazing friend, Keren, a happy, happy birthday.
Below is a list of reasons my roommate Nicky and I have come up with about why we just think she's the bestest.

1: She tells you the truth about everything without hesitation
2: She would make a great Magic 8 ball (example, "Should I buy a lottery ticket today?" ***** Ans "No, you're an idiot"
3: She loves being half Jewish (and uses this as an excuse for celebrating all holidays)
4: She is probably one of the smartest girls I know
5: She has such cute wittle dimples
6: She is one of the most loyal friends I have
7: She has legs that go to the moon and back- watch out boys!
8: Her stress over social obligations is a constant source of comedy
9: Her house in Vancouver has the best candy drawer ever

Love Always,
juels and nick

Happy Birthday girl! remember NO PRESSURE to have fun (but we know you will ;) )

bet you wish she was your friend now don't you?

Exams? What Exams?

I was in my geography lecture today when my professor put up a slide with funny test answers he had just photocopied from his last batch of marked tests. One of them was probably the best answer of life.
"What are Vibrations?"
Ans: There are bad vibrations and good vibrations. Good vibrations was discovered in the 60s.

As I sit through my Propaganda in Media class and as my Professor is powering through the Vietnam war to 9/11... I have managed to zone out and find these hilarious test answers for my (and your) enjoyment.

This one took me a while to figure out, until I figured out the beautiful mer-man. The "No" is probably the best part.









Message from the Prof: There were two possible answer choices: A (True) and B (False). You chose C for all 100 questions in an obvious attempt to get lucky with a least a quarter of the answers. It’s as if you didn’t look at a single question. Unfortunately, this brings your final grade in this class to failing. See you next year!

like.

I sifted through my friend Steph's "like" album and took out a couple of my favorites. Enjoy below.
D Yee



Khoung Nguyen


Google Classic

By Poh jalainen