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Archive for the 'venting' category

Just keep walking

Aug 30 2016 Published by under exhaustion, venting

Ugh. Again yesterday some yahoo wrote an article about "How to approach women wearing headphones". I'm not gonna link to it because...well, because you just SHOULDN'T interrupt a woman (or anyone) wearing headphones. Other times not to approach a woman (a non-exhaustive list): she is reading a book, she is working on a laptop, she is on the phone, etc. It is rude to interrupt. That includes waving your hand in front of her face (WTF), or passing her a note. Just keep walking.

The simple fact is that you are not entitled to her attention. Think - why is your desire to talk to her more important than her desire to be left alone? SPOILER: it's not. Just keep walking. "BUT!" You may be saying (because someone is always saying - I have seriously had this conversation more than once on twitter). "I just want to say something nice!" or "How are you supposed to meet anyone" or "But she is cute!". I don't care. Leave her alone. Seriously, just keep walking.

I like to work in coffee shops and sometimes bars. That does not mean that I want to talk to random people. I have a pretty decent RBF, and I use a lot of common behaviors to keep folks from talking to me: headphones, laptop, avoiding eye contact, ignoring folks that approach anyway, etc. All women do this. In part because we all know that it is often safer to avoid interacting with someone (especially a guy) than to have to "reject" him in some way that could escalate. Yes, all women. So PLEASE, just keep walking.

When I am open to talking to folks, you can tell. I won't be staring at a screen, avoiding breaking focus even if you sit right next to me. You'll see that I make eye contact with my fellow humans. I may even say "hi" as you sit down or walk by. These are common social cues that let you know it is OK to approach a stranger. If you just MUST talk to someone, I recommend that you take Captain Awkward's advice and greet a nearby dude instead. Or, you know, just keep walking.

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Of course there is bias in peer review, jackass!

Jun 08 2014 Published by under grants, venting

So the NIH has decided they want to try to minimize the effect of bias in peer review. That doesn't sound like a shitty idea, right? No. But apparently a lot of jag-offs couldn't stop themselves from starting in on the comments section. Many were "insulted" that anyone would accuse them of bias. Or wanted to make sure everyone knew that the only real bias was the kind that ended up tanking their proposals. Sigh. I don't even know how this could be a thing. Peer review is done by humans. Human are biased because of their previous experiences and their interactions with the culture and society in which they live. You don't have to be a fucking psychologist/sociologist to know this. You just have to have a few working neurons that can fire coherently and generate thoughts. Seriously, if this is hard for you then you DEFINITELY need to head over to DrugMonkey's blog to read the guest post by MyTChondria (who has a shit-ton of very active and coherent neurons, ftr).

I just have a couple things to add to some of the commenters over at Rock Talk. Beyond the obvious "pull your heads our of your assess, people!", of course that is addressed so well by MyTChondria.
1. If reviewers are repeatedly making "factual errors" when they review your grant, you might want to reconsider how you are writing your grant. Sure, reviewers will make mistakes (they are human, remember?). But it is a hell of a lot easier for a reviewer to be confused if you writing is jumbled, rambly, or incoherent.
2. There are not enough people with more than 3 R01 that limiting the number of awards would make a big difference. And if someone is smart enough and has enough ideas and resources to manage more than 3 grants, then why would we discourage them? There are a lot of places where it takes 2 R01 equivalents to run a minimal lab (soft money positions in particular). I know DrugMonkey has gotten into this before (for example, here).
3. Full-time reviewers. Seriously?!?!??! Who would take this job? No doubt they would never make mistakes. I assume that no one will be complaining about these "professional reviewers", same as everyone loves the non-academic journal editors. Can't have it both way, folks.

I just can't even understand how so many "scientists" can get their collective undergarments so twisted up over this topic. Come on folks. We're better than this.

12 responses so far

Actual emails in my inbox

May 13 2014 Published by under venting

This, folks, is what makes me want to delete my entire inbox.

subject: Dr. Z(urgent)-regard to peptide synthesis

Dear Dr. Z,

    Greetings from Wuzheng, Wish you have a nice day.
I have sent several emails to you before, I think you might be busy, so do not reply me.

    Please excuse me to take the liberty of writing to you again that we pay much attention to cooperate with you, If you need peptides in your research, you could try to compare(price, quality,service and delivery time) us with your supplier,

there may have been more. I had to quit reading  because it was making me want to lash out at other humans without any sort of specificity. 2 min of my life I can never get  back.

5 responses so far

On bullying and being outed

Jan 20 2014 Published by under exhaustion, venting

Hello again. I've missed you guys. But, there are things* happening in Real Life that have stopped me from spouting off here. And yet, I can't stop myself from commenting on events of the past week or two that, for me, demand comment. These events all share an "outing" quality that I think needs to be highlighted.  I will not comment on any of the things that have happened specifically, but I want to talk about how hurtful "outing" is.

Outing someone is bullying. It is spiteful, hateful, and hurtful. It has consequences for the person that is outed - being outed can fuck with your career, your personal life, and your safety. There are reasons that folks are not out. There are good reasons to blog with a pseudonym. This is a topic that comes up over and over. I could spend the rest of the day finding the links for the many people who have written about this in the past. But you can google that shit yourself. There are good reasons to not be "out" about your gender identity, orientation, and about a million other things.

Outing someone doesn't just fuck with the person that is outed. It is a violation of an entire community. When a bully outs someone, it is a display of (real or perceived) control and power. It is a warning to everyone else that they, too, might be outed. It is an affront to a sense of safety in that community. It quiets those of us that may have very good reasons not to be out.

People should be able to define themselves. Full stop. The fact that someone is not out is not their problem. The biases and judgement and power structure of society makes it unsafe to be out. If everyone could trust that they were safe and accepted for who they are, then getting outed wouldn't be an issue. We aren't anywhere close to this. If someone doesn't feel comfortable being out then that is their decision. And I think it is up to all the rest of us - those of us that want the society to be better - to totally support them in this. We have to step up, because they can't. If you talk to someone and you learn they are female, then fucking believe them. Use fucking female pronouns. If someone wants to interact with the community psuedanonymously, then respect that. It's really not hard, I promise.

When someone threatens to out a member of our community, we need to stand up and make it clear that is wrong and it won't be tolerated. There need to be consequences. It needs to be clear that it is wrong and hateful when journalists out a trans* person for fun. Nature needs to hear that when their editors decide to maliciously out someone that they betray the trust of all of us. Everyone has to decide for themselves how they can respond. Maybe you can go on twitter and forcefully push back against the bully. Maybe you cut ties with the bullies, or boycott Nature. Do what you can, how you can. But don't sit by and pretend that nothing is going on.

Outing someone is stealing control over someone else's life. Stealing their ability to be safe and happy. Telling a story that isn't yours to share. It is the cowardly act of a bully. I know what it is like to be outed. I am, right now, IRL, dealing with threats of being outed, and even having people that I love be outed in some weird fucked up collateral damage scheme. It sucks. It hurts. It's scary. And its fucking wrong.

22 responses so far

Just when I thought it couldn't get any worse...

Mar 13 2013 Published by under queer, venting

OMG you guys. O M F G. I thought that I couldn't be surprised by stupid, homophobic things said out loud anymore. BUT...BUT...THIS IS JUST SO FUCKED UP THAT IT IS BLOWING MY MIND.

You may remember that in Minnesota there is an on-going debate about marriage equality. The voters actually became the first to reject a constitutional amendment against marriage equality (YAY, MN!). And now the Minnesota State Legislatures have even advanced a bill legalizing marriage equality! Holy progress, Batman!

And that is where shit gets fucked up. In a public hearing on the marriage equality bill, a "concerned father" decided to "enlighten" the lawmakers on what actually happens when TEH GEYS get married. And guys...I hope you are sitting down. Because, well...THIS dude is out of his fucking mind. Seriously. See for yourself, if you are drunk brave enough to watch.

I...just...but...OH FOR FUCK SAKE. You can read a transcript of this dude's fucked-up-beyond-belief testimony here.

There is too much stupid here to unpack it all. But holy fuck. The dude seems to think it is a big shock to the legislatures that gays have sex. FOR REAL. And he is really freaked out about this idea of "ejaculation inside the colon". Not to mention the fact that he clearly doesn't have the faintest idea of what an enzymes are, not to mention how they are different from viruses (like HIV, which causes AIDS) and bacteria (which you treat with antibiotics). Way to take stupidity + homophobia to a whole 'nother level, dude.

24 responses so far

My own path...was not straightforward

Jan 24 2013 Published by under queer, Uncategorized, venting

My IRL life has been pretty...unsettled recently. I hope to blog about this a little more in the future. But one thing that has fallen out is that I've been thinking more about the immediate reaction to Jodie Foster's Golden Globes "coming out" speech. As I process these IRL events, I can't avoid thinking more about my own coming out process. And there is a lot of stuff that keeps running around in my I'm gonna try to get them out on by writing them here. BE WARNED: this is going to be a little personal and navel-gazing. If that sort of things bothers you, now is the time to click away. But, if you would like to see what else I have to say about being queer as a tt-asst. prof, look here.

IME, when you are openly queer, someone will inevitably ask "when you knew". I've struggled with this question. On some level I always knew...but at the same time I really didn't know. It took me a Really Long time to admit to myself that I was gay. Being lesbian wan't an option that I was aware of growing up. Maybe because I grew up in a big-red-flyover environment. Not to mention that I didn't even know any queer folks (that I was aware of). Whatever the reason, the whole idea was off my radar. I felt a lot of pressure to act straight - to BE straight. And honestly,  I BELIEVED I was straight. But...then folks I knew started having sex , and I didn't know how to react. I felt weird and isolated. Like I was failing somehow. So I tried to be straight the only way I knew how. I slept with guys - as many as I could. Not because I really wanted to, but because I felt like it was expected of me. That if I did that, then I would be "normal" and everyone would accept me. I went off to college and kept up with the whole dating (and sleeping with) dudes thing. I wanted to fit in. But still, something wasn't right. I didn't feel good about myself. At some point, I started to meet real, live queers - classmates, teammates, co-workers.  They were my friends. They were great people, and I loved them. I asked a bunch of questions that are, honestly, embarrassing when I think back on them*. "How did you know...?", " does it work?" etc. My friends were awesome: patient, kind, and so open.

I wasn't ready to answer those questions for myself. It was too hard. It was half-way through grad school that I was able to admit that I was queer. To realize that sleeping with guys to "pass" made me feel cheap and fake. That it was self-destructive. When I finally admitted to myself that I was gay it felt like a huge burden lifted. I felt...more comfortable with myself. It wasn't "easy" - I could have kept on pretending to fit in. That would have been easier on many levels. Hell, I was terrified coming out to my family and friends. Every time I had the "coming out" conversation I had to prepare myself for the possibility that the person I was talking to might decide to cut all ties with me. It was (is) always possible. And that is really fucking terrifying. It still is.

Sometimes, I look back and wish that I had done things differently. That I had been strong enough to stand up for myself earlier. I think that us LGBTQ* folks are good at telling our coming out stories. These are awesome, empowering stories. And I love to hear them. But it is harder (at least for me) to talk about how destructive it was for me during that period when I tried so hard to fit in. When I actively denied my own truth. I am still working to understand the effects of that period of my life. I wish I could be as patient and understanding with my younger self as my fantastic queer friends were with me. I'm working on it, because this is my history. It's what makes me who I am today. I would never judge anyone else for behaving the same way in the same situation. I would cheer that they survived. I would give them a hug and tell them that IT GETS BETTER. It totally sucks that I have internalized so many negative judgements about what I did when I was younger. I know that I did the best I could back then. And the younger me deserves a lot of love and respect for making it through really hard circumstances.

Sure, I was goofy and somewhat misdirected as a youngster. THAT'S WHAT YOUNG FOLKS DO. And honestly, my life is pretty fucking amazing right now. I have a fantastic daughter. Being a mom is teaching me so much about patience and acceptance - and the process of growing up. I have a job that I love, where I don't have to hide who I am. I don't let anyone assume that I have a husband, or that Mini-G has a "Daddy".

And that is why I make an effort every day to be as out as I can.  I want anyone else that may be going through their own struggle to know that they are not alone. To see that others have made it through. That it can be fantastic, even. And that is why I encourage anyone that CAN come out does, following the Rachel Maddow model and the slightly more..colorful.. version by Dan Savage. Being visible in the community not only helps younger folks that may be struggling, but can help gain support of straight allies. But no one can tell another person when they are ready to come out, or how they should do it. I don't care if you are Anderson Cooper, Jodie Foster, or a stick figure on the interweb. Everyone has their own journey to get to the place they feel safe and comfortable enough to make their statement. The journey is important, too.  And every single person that does come out is fucking courageous as hell.

*I'm embarrassed now, but at the time these questions were very important to me. And really, they are not embarrassing questions. I would (and do) answer these kinds of questions pretty regularly.

33 responses so far

Grant writing RBOC

Sep 20 2012 Published by under academia, exhaustion, venting

There have been a lot of things bouncing around in my head that I have thought "I should write a post about that"! But I'm also in the middle of writing a grant so I've been a little, well, preoccupied/sleep deprived/distracted from blogging. Such is life. Anywho...look at these things that caught my attention when I was too fried to write on my grant anymore tonight:

  • Did you all see how our good friend Abel Pharmboy had to deal with this person who was very, very upset that the NC museum of Natural Sciences did not outright ban scientists from companies that sell GMO (go here and here).
  • Chick-Fil-A said that they would stop giving money to hatey orgs!! Yay! was not true. Equality Fail.
  • OMG the students are back. For REAL. I have given lectures to the new grad students, and we'll see how they make the transition. There are also undergrads around, but I'm ignoring that because it just reminds me I have to start teaching the Big Class soon.
  • DADT died a YEAR AGO! My favorite thing that I have seen about this so far is when Barney Frank was on Maddow tonight. When asked what he would say to those *cough* McCain *cough* that predicted doom and gloom when this happened he replied "nyanya". I love that dude.
  • I have finally had to start sitting through MY OWN STUDENTS taking their qualifying exams. This is both awesome and extremely stressful. FTR, my grad students kick ass. Like, a lot.
  • The fucking NHL is in a lock-out. gah.
  • I don't know what my h-index is, and I will not be taking the time to figure it out. It is stupid enough that this is used by some places as a metric for evaluation. But using an "algorithm" to predict the future is just stupid.
  • Who is in charge of the timing to make sure that the reviews for papers that you submit come back right when you are working on a grant deadline? Because that sucks.

Have I missed anything important?

4 responses so far

More than a sandwich

Aug 02 2012 Published by under exhaustion, queer, Uncategorized, venting

Yesterday, a lot of people apparently went to stand in a long line to buy a fast-food chicken sandwich. Some of these people claim to be supporting "The First Amendment" against "Intolerant Liberal Thought Police". Or something. But really, they just wanted to make a point that they hate The Gays.

First, let's clear somethings up:

1. This has nothing to do with free speech. Dan Cathy can say whatever he wants, and he (and THE COMPANY) can give their money to whomever they please. And anyone can go to Chick-Fil-A anytime they want (except Sunday), though that is probably not the healthiest choice. No one is suggesting that either of these activities  should be made illegal.

2. Boycotts are widely used as a mechanism for consumers to demonstrate that they disagree with a stand that a company takes. Some "christians" have urged a boycott of Starbucks after they publicly supported marriage equality. This is their right, just as it is my right to advocate a boycott of CFA because they fund hate groups.

3. Intolerant. I'm not sure that folks understand what that means. If someone gives money to a group that works to limit my rights (and the validity of my family), I may express outrage. I am not the intolerant one in this scenario. There is a great post on the Owldolatrous Productions that one of my Actual Friends* posted on FB.

Asking for “mutual tolerance” on this like running up to a bully beating a kid to death on the playground and scolding them both for not getting along. I’m not trying to dissolve Mr. Cathy’s marriage or make his sex illegal. I’m not trying to make him a second-class citizen, or get him killed. He’s doing that to me, folks; I’m just fighting back.

If you went to Chick-Fil-A yesterday to "show support", think about what you actually did. You gave money to a company that will turn around and give some of their profits (your money) to groups that work to make it illegal to be homosexual. Not just to oppose marriage equality. The hate rhetoric that regularly flows from these organizations goes way beyond just opposing marriage equality. And if you go on twitter or FB to gloat about what you did, you have just told your gay "friends" that you went out of your way to stand in a long line for a shitty chicken sandwich as a demonstration of how much you despise them. And trust me, you have gay friends. They may not tell you (can you blame them?), but you most certainly do.

Think about this next time you want a chicken sandwich, or waffle fries or whatever. In effect, YOU are giving money to these groups. Groups that make it fucking hard for ACTUAL PEOPLE, including me and my family. Groups that work to ensure a culture and policies that contribute to high suicide rate in GLBT kids that have to grow up in this environment. I haven't eaten at CFA in many, many years. But I can't imagine any chicken sandwich being so good that it is worth this. There is no piece of food so awesome that it could ever convince me to give money to the KKK or any other hate group.

For me, it's personal. The boycott of CFA isn't about the first amendment. It isn't about religion, or however you define "traditional" or "biblical" marriage. It's about my family. I hope they fucking go out of business. I hope society stands up and says "this is not OK". I hope that people who care so much about the bible pay more attention to the "do unto others as you would have them do unto you" part. I'm not optimistic that will happen.

Here are some other perspectives, from someone else that got upset with their FB feed yesterday, and from a CFA employee. I wish that everyone that worked at CFA and felt this way would quit, even though I understand that this might not seem like a viable option.

*I grew up in a big red state. I have quite a few posts on my FB timeline gloating about going to CFA. These people obviously don't value my friendship.

7 responses so far

This week in crazy

Jul 19 2012 Published by under exhaustion, This week in crazy, venting

UPDATE: When I wrote this, I was pissed off at how idiotic everything seemed. About the meanness. This morning I woke up to news of the Aurora theater shooting. Now I'm just sad, and kind of at a loss. My thoughts are with everyone affected by this tragic event.

I don't know what the hell is going on, but it seems that the heat is starting to get to people. Or maybe it is just getting to me. In any event, there was a lot of crazy stupid shit in the news this week. So today I'm gonna do a modified Fuck You Friday* to make you all share the pain.**

The first openly-gay engineer at the University of Kansas doesn't get tenure, and is left to wonder whether it is because the Dean is a stupid-ass homophobe.

The Lt. Gov. of Florida is accused by a former-staffer of being caught in a "compromising" position with a female colleague, but claims that this is impossible because she doesn't even look like a lesbian. What in the name of all fuck?! From Jezebel:

Get out your Awful Things To Say Bingo Cards and go right ahead and put a chip on the "Single bitch is just jealous of my awesome husband and life," "Lesbians all look the same," and "Marriage proves that I am moral and just" icons. Also, put a chip on the "Accuse someone of being a lesbian like it's an insult" card, because the crap is flying from both sides, folks.

For the record, Lt. Gov. doesn't actually deny the alleged lesbian encounter. Saying that "generally" women than look like her don't have relationships like that is both stupid and vague. I mean, generally, folks that look like her aren't Republican, but what-the-fuck-ever. Perhaps she is retroactively straight?

Dear Prudie decides that a PhD doesn't earn you the title of "Doctor".

It is not bragging to use Dr. if you are an physician, ... I have more of a problem with people with Ph.D.s using the Dr. title, which I think is better reserved for those with medical degrees.

Dear Prudie: STFU

Clorox's multi-cultural team comes up with bleach designed especially for Latinos. Because white folks like Lemon scented bleach, but the Latinos really dig the "Fresh Squeezed Lemon". Sigh. The new line is named Fraganzia, making everyone wonder what the "crack team" was smoking when they came up with this marketing strategy.

Some dude in Idaho used Craiglist to try get his wife raped.

Two GROWN MEN brutally beat the shit out of a TEENAGE GIRL while yelling anti-gay slurs in front of a church in Kentucky. Real fucking brave, assholes.

Zimmerman claims it is "God's plan" that he killed Trayvon Martin.

Fuck all this shit. What is fucking wrong with people? And how am I supposed to finish this manuscript if I can't stop swearing??

Pretty much the only redeeming thing about this week is that Sarah Silverman offered to scissor Sheldon Adelson in a bikini bottom (to fruition) if he would give his cash to Obama instead of Romney. If you haven't watched the video yet, DO IT NOW.

So there you go. Consider this a kind of open thread where you can bitch about the crazy in your world. Or share examples that might help restore my faith in humanity.

h/t to @drrubidium and an anonymous friend (that bought a pitcher of beer) for their help with this post.

*don't you miss Hermitage?

**Sweet baby jeebus, it is only Thursday and I can't take it anymore. I'm posting early, in the hopes that closing this post will make the crazy stop.

17 responses so far

Yeah. So, this happened. FML

May 18 2012 Published by under exhaustion, venting

I sit in my office, alternatively staring at my computer screen, drinking coffee, and typing in bursts. I'm a little sleepy and highly caffeinated. My office is attached to my lab, and the door is open. Because I am an accessible fucking PI. There is a little knock on the door...but it is not anyone from my lab. It is a postdoc from another lab. Here is the exchange (not verbatim):

Me: Hi.

pd: Hi.

Me: What's up?

pd: Soooo...I am trying to do an experiment that is tangentially related to things that people in your lab do. With a reagent that you have used.

Me: OK. I used the reagent basically the same way that was published by Other Lab.

pd: I used it in a totally different way, and I'm confused about why it didn't work.

Me: But...that reagent won't even work for the experiment you want to do. That reagent detects process A, but you are trying to look at process B.

pd: Huh. what reagent should i use?

Me: [blink]

pd: [stares]

Me: I don't know. I have never tried to study process B. Maybe you should ask the other people in your own lab that study B.

Please explain to me the following: Why? What have I done wrong? Am I too nice? Is that why it should be my job to help postdocs from other fucking labs? AAAAARRRRRGGGGHHH.

Please, students and postdocs of the world. Try to think about what you are saying when you interact with faculty members, especially those that are not actually your mentor. I actually like chatting about your project. But throw me a bone here. It is not my job to do your work for you. I know that perhaps most folks don't know that the next NIH deadline is June 5. That will not stop me from being even more cranky about this interaction because I'm in the midst of grant writing.

Get off my lawn.

that is all

18 responses so far

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Two news events got people talking recently.  One was that Casey was deemed not guilty of killing little daughter Caylee ( “O.J. all over again”, I heard repeatedly).  I must admit I was rather surprised….

The second was the results of two new studies that were published in the Archives of General Psychiatry.  One of them stated that environmental factors during pregnancy might contribute as much as genetics in the development of autism spectrum disorders.  The 2nd study conducted by Kaiser Permanente Northern California found a 3 times higher risk of autism if the mother took antidepressants in the first trimester of pregnancy.

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Review of the Downtown Aquarium- Denver, Colorado

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For the first time since I have lived in the Denver area, I visited the downtown Denver Aquarium with my family and work colleagues.  This is a place that if you plan to go more than twice in a year, I highly recommend a membership.  The regular price for kids over 3 is $9.99 and adults are $15.99!  Talk about pricey.  On Friday nights, the Aquarium boasts a family fun night.  This is basically a reduced admission ($2.00 per ticket for adult tickets discount) and $5.00 for kids 3-7.  Kids under 3 are free all the time.  But to get this reduced rate, you have to eat at the restaurant which is quite a pricey place.  Check out their menu by clicking the restaurant link above.  But if you eat there you get free parking ($7 value) and the entire restaurant is surrounded by a fish tank… and divers often go in and do a show for the kids who flock to the tank window.  It is fun and keeps the kids entertained which may be worth the $$$.   If you are a small group and want to sit in an area completely surrounded by the fish tank, make that request ahead of time.   There is a contained area before you enter the main restaurant that is surrounded by the entire fish tank which is quite cool

Reservations are a must if you are planning to eat in the restaurant.  And if you are a member, you can get a 10% discount on just the adult entrees on Friday nights.  There is no discount on drinks.  Here’s another important point to remember.  Happy Hour is 3-7pm but you cannot order Happy Hour items in the restaurant or vice versa.  The Happy Hour area is in the Dive Bar which has only a small tank visible and the tables/sitting area are smaller than the main restaurant area.   The Happy Hour menu looks the cheapest so get there early to snag a table if you want your kids sitting near the fish.  The bar area is not for large parties and the space is quite limited.   The drink specials are quite good at the Aquarium but if you plan to only do happy hour, do not park in the $7 lot because parking is not validated.  Note: The entertainment book for Denver has buy one get one free admission and also has a $5 off $20 purchase so use that on your next visit.  If you want to do Family Fun Night but not going into the main exhibit, you can exit from the doors of the restaurant near the kitchen and enter this play area which is free!  It is like a mall play area where the kids can run around without socks and shoes on and climb on fishes, octopuses, etc… it’s fun and gets the kids exhausted.  Use the Purell hand gel on the wall though.

The Aquarium is one of those attractions in Denver that is quite pricey and they sure do nickel and dime you no matter how many people you bring along so, if you are going to be a frequent visitor, it may be worth getting a membership.  Military discounts at the aquarium compared to other museums and attractions in the Denver metro are quite pathetic.  For example, you get $2.50 off adult admission and $2.00 off kids’ admission.  Whereas, at the Denver Nature and Science Museum, military members and their families are completely free!  At the Children’s Museum, it is almost a 50% discount for military and their kids.  So, I am not sure how much your kids are “into” the fish and how often you plan to go but like I said, if you plan to go as a family more than twice a year then a membership may be for you.  The best part that little kids love about the aquarium (based on my kids’ experience) is the petting of the sting ray, seeing the fish in the tanks (which can be done from the bar and restaurant) and the Sponge Bob 4D adventure can be fun if your kid does not get motion sick.  There is face painting and other fun stuff once you get into the exhibit so enjoy…. Go Fish!

6 thoughts on “Review of the Downtown Aquarium- Denver, Colorado

  1. The Zoo and Museum are owned and funded by the city of Denver. The Aquarium, however, is owned by Landry’s Restaurants. Therefore, the military discount is obviously not going to be as good as the others.. I also reccomend a membership it is worth it for the price you pay. People like this don’t have all the details… just have to see it for yourself.

  2. LOLing about the “use the Purell hand gel on the wall”

    I have been there twice and totally agree that a membership is totally necessary for more than one trip. It’s nice, but you can only see so much for that much $$.

  3. Jenn I think it’s the same 4D show. Yes it’s a great attraction but sooo pricey. Ah well! If we like it enough we will have to get a membership. Come visit us in Colorado sometime!

  4. Sounds like a nice and fun place, although pricey. Curious
    about the Spongebob 4D…wonder if that is the same one that used
    to be at Jazzland / Six Flags New Orleans….

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Tag Archive: deep medi

Mala interview for Sound Motive [Audio]

August 1, 2016

Mala's discusses early influences from jungle to Augustus Pablo, his perspectives on the emergence of dubstep, his relationship with the dance floor and club culture, and how the future looks.

Routes 005: Compa

November 17, 2014

Episode five of our Routes series comes from fresh Deep Medi signing Compa, covering everything from dubstep classics to cinematic soundtrack scores.


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Blueberry Scones Raw June 21 2012

Over the weekend I made blueberry scones. Since they turned out so good, I thought I’d dedicate an entire post to them.

I found the recipe on one of my favourite baking blogs, The Brown Eyed Baker. Seriously, she makes some of the most amazing things. You should definitely check her out.

Blueberry Scones June 21 2012

The recipe was pretty simple to follow. The only thing I had some trouble with was cutting the scones. I found it tough trying to cut them into so many pieces and at the same time getting them about the same size. As you can tell from the above picture, some are definitely smaller than others. The next time I make them I think I’m going to just make a few less than the recipe says and just make sure they’re all the same size.

I know you can’t see it in the picture cause of the lighting, but the tops of the scones were nicely browned thanks to an egg wash. They were a really pretty color, and the pops of blue from the berries made them pretty tempting.

While it’s suggested they be served warm, I made them Saturday and we had them the next day for breakfast for Father’s Day. I popped them in the microwave for a few seconds before adding a little butter. Mmmm.

For the recipe click here.

Blueberry Scones

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• Get Hoisington
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Are they doing the haunted house again this year? When does that start?
Guy Cooper
NC Kansas
Hoisington Explorations
Learn more about Hoisington by following the links below:

Hoisington Bird Sanctuary

Address: Southwest side of Bi-Centinnial Park on 2nd St.
Hoisington, KS 67544

About this Exploration:

Bird Sanctuary
On April 21, 2001 Hoisington was hit by an F4 tornado leaving many vacant lots. Since some of these lots were in the flood plain, homes could not be rebuilt. One such lot is now home to the Hoisington Bird Sanctuary.

The city acquired the lot shortly after the tornado.  A local citizen suggested the lot be cleaned up and used for something beneficial to the community and environment - so the idea of a bird sanctuary was born.  The HHS Environmental Science Class was in charge of developing and implementing the plans.  The class did research, with help from Rob Penner with the Nature Conservancy and also the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks.  During the school year they planted trees and shrubs, put in a drip irrigation system, along with a brick sidewalk.  Birdhouses and watering stations were installed as well. Dylan Donovan built the benches as a part of his Eagle Scout project.  Shawn, Justin, Robert and Veronica Ludwig built the gazebo. Bird seed was donated by United Ag Service and the City of Hoisington was instrumental in helping complete the project.
Maintenance is jointly done between the City of Hoisington and the HHS Environmental Science Class.

contact info
Kristi Lovett, Chamber of Commerce
123 N Main
Hoisington, KS 67544
Phone: 620.653.4311
Fax: 620.653.4311
Hoisington Main Street
115 N Main
Hoisington, KS 67544
Phone: 620.653.2208
Fax: 620.653.2208
Kansas Sampler Foundation   Kansas Department of Commerce - Travel Kansas   Get Rural Kansas


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Tuesday, 18 October 2011

Snow & Ice Cream!

We started our Social Studies co-op unit on First Nations ("Canada's Natives Long Ago" by Donna Ward) today and read about the Inuit in the Far North.

To set the Arctic scene we played with some snow .....

It looked like snow and sort of felt like snow....

...but it was really Instant Snow Polymer (fun stuff!).

Then we started to get hungry and read about what the Inuit ate.  We learned that, for a very special treat, they loved seal skin stuffed with small birds that had been left under the rocks until everything had the consistency of cheese.  Deciding we weren't hungry enough for that we stuck with the cold theme instead and made ice cream in a bag.

First we put some cream, sugar & vanilla into a small bag ....

Then we put it into a big bag full of ice and salt ...

and shook it .....

Yum, the sweet taste of success!

  1. Oh what delicious fun! Yay for homemade icecream. Mrs D

  2. That was such a fun afternoon!


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James List

James Nellis is Your REAL ESTATE Resource for Friendly Hills, Whittier, CA

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Friendly Hills, Whittier, CA

*An affiliate of the "Nellis National Real Estate Lists" - a network of top real estate agents dedicated to providing home buyers & sellers the best resources and services to make your dreams come true!

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Buying or selling a home is one of the most important transactions of your life. You deserve the absolute best real estate experience, which means you need the best real estate professional to be your guide.

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IN Friendly Hills, Whittier, CA

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1900 Area
2car Garages
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HOMES FOR SALE IN Friendly Hills, Whittier CA

Friendly Hills, Whittier is known for its numerous beautiful scenery, historical grounds, urban living and natural surroundings that make it a perfect place to live. Whether you are looking for a contemporary home, a condo or any other type of house for sale; you can find it in Friendly Hills, Whittier.

Condos for sale in Friendly Hills, Whittier

More people today are opting to live in condos and Friendly Hills, Whittier has a high number of condominiums.  Condos attract the modern persons who really don't mind living in a building regardless of how high it may be. When purchasing a condominium in Friendly Hills, Whittier, you need to thoroughly check the condo unit and get professional assistance in inspecting the condo to ensure that it is in good state and that it will give you value. It is also important for you to note that in Friendly Hills, Whittier, all newly purchased condo units also require registration with your local Real Estate Board. You need to fill and submit an application form together with any other required documents. It is also important to note that there is a fee you will be required to pay upon filing of the application for registration.

Townhouses for sale in Friendly Hills, Whittier

Townhouses in Friendly Hills, Whittier, have today increased in demand with more people opting for townhouses as opposed to single family houses. One of the reasons as to why most people opt for townhouses to single family homes is due to the low maintenance. However, real estate market in Friendly Hills, Whittier is generally growing and becoming desirable to many home buyers today. When looking for a townhouse in Friendly Hills, Whittier, CA you need to consider the location of the townhouse. You can choose to purchase a townhouse that is near a metro stop or one that is in close proximity to a major highway giving you an easier commute.  Townhouses that are near a major highway also increase the value of the property making it a great and safe investment. There are two types of townhouses in Friendly Hills, Whittier; interior unit and an end unit. Many home buyers hunting for townhouses always opt for the end unit townhouses since they provide you with a better resale value, offer more privacy and bigger space to enjoy outdoor activities.

Factors to put into consideration when looking for houses for sale in Friendly Hills, Whittier

There are so many factors that many home buyers in Friendly Hills, Whittier need to consider. Some of the most common factors that you should put into consideration when purchasing a house anywhere is your budget, the location of the house and your personal requirements. These factors are great and can be of great help to you when looking for an ideal house for sale in Friendly Hills, Whittier. However, there are more detailed factors that you also need to put into consideration to make your search for a great house in Friendly Hills, Whittier easier and fun. One of these factors is a garage. It may seem less important but it is so important for you to choose a house that has a spacious garage especially if you have several cars. A spacious garage can also be of help when your friends or relatives visit. A garage also provides an additional resale value to your property. The number of bedrooms and bathrooms may also be an important factor to consider. I know you think that this is common sense but when looking for a house; things can get a little confusing that most people settle for what does not match their needs and requirements. Another factor to consider is the basement; if you love a house with a basement you need to look for a house that has a basement with walkout level and separate entrance. This provides a good resale value since most people looking for houses for sale in Friendly Hills, Whittier prefer homes that have a direct access to an outdoor patio or deck. It is also very important for you to learn about the current Friendly Hills, Whittier real estate market situation and mortgage market place so as to make an informed decision on the right time to buy a house and the best home opportunities in Friendly Hills, Whittier and where to find them. The information can also help you know whether to choose regular sales or distressed property sales. If you do not have any knowledge about the current Friendly Hills, Whittier real estate market situation or you find it hard to find an ideal home of your choice by yourself; you can get a skilled real estate agent to assist you. A good real estate agent as the one noted on the top of this landing page will be able to assist you get an ideal house for sale in Friendly Hills, Whittier that suits your needs and requirements and is in a strategic location. Remember to learn about regulations in the area to keep you in the loop about what to expect in the process of purchasing the house.

James Nellis
887 Client Reviews

Call: 703-436-9842

ATG Title


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James List

James Nellis is Your REAL ESTATE Resource for Fruitvale Middle, Fruitvale, TX

Homes for sale

Fruitvale Middle, Fruitvale, TX

*An affiliate of the "Nellis National Real Estate Lists" - a network of top real estate agents dedicated to providing home buyers & sellers the best resources and services to make your dreams come true!

Best Real Estate Experience.
Best Real Estate Professionals.

Buying or selling a home is one of the most important transactions of your life. You deserve the absolute best real estate experience, which means you need the best real estate professional to be your guide.

FEATURED Homes for sale

IN Fruitvale Middle, Fruitvale, TX

4 Baths
4 Beds
3000 Area
3car Garages
2 Baths
3 Beds
1600 Area
1car Garages
3 Baths
3 Beds
1900 Area
2car Garages
4 Baths
5 Beds
3400 Area
3car Garages
4 Baths
4 Beds
2200 Area
2car Garages
3 Baths
4 Beds
2000 Area
2car Garages

HOMES FOR SALE IN Fruitvale Middle, Fruitvale TX

Fruitvale Middle, Fruitvale is known for its numerous beautiful scenery, historical grounds, urban living and natural surroundings that make it a perfect place to live. Whether you are looking for a contemporary home, a condo or any other type of house for sale; you can find it in Fruitvale Middle, Fruitvale.

Condos for sale in Fruitvale Middle, Fruitvale

More people today are opting to live in condos and Fruitvale Middle, Fruitvale has a high number of condominiums.  Condos attract the modern persons who really don't mind living in a building regardless of how high it may be. When purchasing a condominium in Fruitvale Middle, Fruitvale, you need to thoroughly check the condo unit and get professional assistance in inspecting the condo to ensure that it is in good state and that it will give you value. It is also important for you to note that in Fruitvale Middle, Fruitvale, all newly purchased condo units also require registration with your local Real Estate Board. You need to fill and submit an application form together with any other required documents. It is also important to note that there is a fee you will be required to pay upon filing of the application for registration.

Townhouses for sale in Fruitvale Middle, Fruitvale

Townhouses in Fruitvale Middle, Fruitvale, have today increased in demand with more people opting for townhouses as opposed to single family houses. One of the reasons as to why most people opt for townhouses to single family homes is due to the low maintenance. However, real estate market in Fruitvale Middle, Fruitvale is generally growing and becoming desirable to many home buyers today. When looking for a townhouse in Fruitvale Middle, Fruitvale, TX you need to consider the location of the townhouse. You can choose to purchase a townhouse that is near a metro stop or one that is in close proximity to a major highway giving you an easier commute.  Townhouses that are near a major highway also increase the value of the property making it a great and safe investment. There are two types of townhouses in Fruitvale Middle, Fruitvale; interior unit and an end unit. Many home buyers hunting for townhouses always opt for the end unit townhouses since they provide you with a better resale value, offer more privacy and bigger space to enjoy outdoor activities.

Factors to put into consideration when looking for houses for sale in Fruitvale Middle, Fruitvale

There are so many factors that many home buyers in Fruitvale Middle, Fruitvale need to consider. Some of the most common factors that you should put into consideration when purchasing a house anywhere is your budget, the location of the house and your personal requirements. These factors are great and can be of great help to you when looking for an ideal house for sale in Fruitvale Middle, Fruitvale. However, there are more detailed factors that you also need to put into consideration to make your search for a great house in Fruitvale Middle, Fruitvale easier and fun. One of these factors is a garage. It may seem less important but it is so important for you to choose a house that has a spacious garage especially if you have several cars. A spacious garage can also be of help when your friends or relatives visit. A garage also provides an additional resale value to your property. The number of bedrooms and bathrooms may also be an important factor to consider. I know you think that this is common sense but when looking for a house; things can get a little confusing that most people settle for what does not match their needs and requirements. Another factor to consider is the basement; if you love a house with a basement you need to look for a house that has a basement with walkout level and separate entrance. This provides a good resale value since most people looking for houses for sale in Fruitvale Middle, Fruitvale prefer homes that have a direct access to an outdoor patio or deck. It is also very important for you to learn about the current Fruitvale Middle, Fruitvale real estate market situation and mortgage market place so as to make an informed decision on the right time to buy a house and the best home opportunities in Fruitvale Middle, Fruitvale and where to find them. The information can also help you know whether to choose regular sales or distressed property sales. If you do not have any knowledge about the current Fruitvale Middle, Fruitvale real estate market situation or you find it hard to find an ideal home of your choice by yourself; you can get a skilled real estate agent to assist you. A good real estate agent as the one noted on the top of this landing page will be able to assist you get an ideal house for sale in Fruitvale Middle, Fruitvale that suits your needs and requirements and is in a strategic location. Remember to learn about regulations in the area to keep you in the loop about what to expect in the process of purchasing the house.

James Nellis
887 Client Reviews

Call: 703-436-9842

ATG Title


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Crucial Tips You Need To Apply While Buying Air Cylinders

Buying air cylinders is bit easy decision to make as there are many people to guide you out. People have been using this particular pneumatic system for a while and now it is your turn to make most of it. Yes in order to get best out of the pneumatic system, you need to make the right call and best the most appropriate air cylinder. If you still have many doubts in your mind and not sure about the type of cylinder which you need to select, there is nothing better than follow the tips mentioned here.

The first thing which you need to take into account is the application of online stores while buying air cylinders. It is mainly due to presence of many saving deals along with different companies offering quality cylinders. When you use the quality online store, you are not even required to take a step out of your home in order to buy the cylinder. It is all about selecting the most appropriate option and the cylinder will be delivered to your desired address.

When you have selected the best online store from where you will buy the cylinder, you need to decide the purpose. What you want to do with the air cylinders will only help in making the best possible decision. It would be ideal to search around and compare the options which meet the demand of your purpose. Just remember price is not everything as you need to get the air cylinder which is highly durable and reliable. While buying the cylinder, you must get all required pneumatic accessories in order to make most of it. With right tools in your hand, you can easily complete your project and can get best outcomes.

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Ghostbusters Wiki

Brenner's Apartment

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"The prime motivator is a demon named W(h)at."

This article is about a character or concept that has no name. The name used is decided by Admins. For issues of what name, please raise it on the talk page.

Brenner's Apartment is a 24 floor apartment located on Central Park.

Professor Brenner unknowingly brought Shanbahac home with him. It took root with a potted plant and attacked Brenner. Somehow, Brenner was able to make a call to the Extreme Ghostbusters before he was encased in a pod. Roland Jackson cross referenced the caller I.D. through an online reverse phone directly and found Brenner's address. After escaping from plants in the building elevator, the team forced their way into Brenner's room and confronted Shanbahac. It escaped and flew down to Central Park.

Known ResidentsEdit

Extreme Ghostbusters

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16 April 2015

Personalized Chic teal and black chevron stripes Cutting Board

 A modern, eye-catching and stylish personalized glass cutting board with teal and white chevron zigzag pattern and a black and white striped pattern background with customizable text for your monogram initial and name in coordinating colors in an oval accent.

»visit the giftsbonanza store for more designs and products like this

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Texas Comptroller Susan Combs Joins Legislative Leadership to Announce Government Transparency, Pension Legislation
Feb 14, 2013 | 1036 views | 0 0 comments | 10 10 recommendations | email to a friend | print

AUSTIN – Texas Comptroller Susan Combs joined legislative leadership to announce the filing of legislation aimed at improving government transparency and empowering taxpayers to make informed decisions about taxes and public debt.

Senate Bill 14 and House Bill 14, authored by State Senator Tommy Williams and State Representative Jim Pitts and focused primarily on government transparency, would provide taxpayers with vital information about government spending and debt.

Senate Bill 13 and House Bill 13, authored by State Senator Robert Duncan and State Representative Bill Callegari and focused primarily on public pensions, would require increased reporting for all public pension systems and calls for essential actuarial information to be posted online so it is readily available and easy for taxpayers to find.

“People need to know what their government is doing, and how it spends their money,” Combs said.  “We need to implement common-sense changes that put vital information about government spending and debt in front of the public.”

“For government to be held accountable for efficiently providing essential services, Texans need to be able to track how and where their hard-earned dollars are spent,” said Texas Governor Rick Perry. “I applaud Comptroller Combs’ efforts to work with the Legislature on bills that improve accountability and provide more information to taxpayers.”

“We all want transparency in government, and with the number one economy in the country, Texas should be the national model for financial transparency,” said Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst.

“Government becomes more accessible and accountable when the public understands how their money is spent,” said Texas Speaker of the House Joe Straus. “This legislation will increase transparency and help local governments better communicate with taxpayers.”

Most voters don’t know how much debt they are carrying, and how much debt service they are currently paying before they choose to vote for more debt. This transparency legislation would require that additional information be included on the ballot when new debt is presented to voters for approval, such as total debt outstanding, debt service, and existing per capita debt obligation.

The transparency legislation would also put limitations on certificates of obligation (CO) which governments use to issue debt without voter approval.

“Senate Bill 14 will ensure the CO process is not abused and will give the power back to the taxpayers, the people who are actually paying the freight, by requiring governments to tell voters how they can petition for an election, and by also reducing the number of voters required to petition for an election,” Williams said.

Finally, the transparency legislation would require all taxing entities to post financial information online, including revenues and expenditures and detailed information on long-term debt obligations.

"When we write the budget each session, we require transparency and access to information,” Pitts said.  “Texas taxpayers deserve the same level of transparency and openness, and House Bill 14 will deliver just that.”

The pension legislation would require public pensions across the state to publicly report actuarial information, including net investment returns for each of the last 10 fiscal years, as well as one-year, three-year, five-year, 10-year, 30-year and since-inception rolling rates of return.

“It is important for taxpayers to feel confident that public pensions in Texas are being managed properly to ensure long term financial health,” Duncan said. “Senate Bill 13 aims to give citizens the information they need to feel secure about public pensions.”

In addition to increased reporting requirements, the pension legislation also calls for mandatory education for public pension system administrators.

“House Bill 13 is aimed at protecting the taxpayers who foot the bills for public pensions and the employees who deserve to know if their retirements are financially secure,” Callegari said.

Both the transparency and pension legislation call for measures similar to the recommendations Combs recently outlined in her series of reports titled Texas It’s Your Money.  Each of the reports focused on financial obligations of taxpayers and provided suggestions on how governments could provide more transparency regarding those obligations.  For more information, please visit: www.texasitsyourmoney.org.

Go to Facebook Join the discussion and connect with the Texas Comptroller on Facebook for the latest economic news, surveys and more.

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Friday, November 30, 2012

Today's Mutts

Mutts by Patrick McDonnell has always been one of my favorite comic strips. Today's perfectly summed up my life right now.

Thursday, November 29, 2012

'The Hobbit' Making-Of Video: Post Production

This isn't necessarily art related. Actually it has a lot more to do with editing, which is what I do for a living right now. But you know what?! I'm going to go ahead and share it anyway, yes I am.

Somehow I was unaware that they were even making these 'production diaries,' which is a shame because now I have a backlog of eight 15-minute videos to watch. Anyway, this is a lot like what I do for a living... except about 10,000 times more awesome. (There is some concept art in there though! I had no idea that concept artists stayed on all the way through POST production... a complete revelation to me! Although it makes total sense with such an effects/greenscreen-heavy film.)

To draw a parallel - I feel like a lot of what I've been going through this year, especially how I've become so invested in this drawing thing, has to do with trying to reconcile my personal/artistic aspirations with the place I'm at right now career-wise. I definitely don't want to be editing reality TV forever. BUT I'm also so grateful for this job - and I've made a realization, too. Whether you're a concept artist, a character designer, a screenwriter (my original major in college), a reality TV editor, or the editor of The Hobbit - your job is basically this: storyteller. Almost all creative crafts come back to this - one of the oldest forms of creativity there is. Any book that you read, any art that you look at, any tv show or film that you watch - it affects you because it tells a story that people connect with in some way. You have to know how to make the characters relatable, when to do exposition and when to pull back, what makes a story intriguing. How to create a world that people want to spend time in and know more about. Even a single image or illustration should tell a story, should grab people, make them want to walk into it.

I like my job. I love that it's creative, and I love the act of editing; of finding and putting together the story. I love pretty much everyone I work with. But ultimately I'd just like to work on something I'm passionate about. (Peter Jackson, I know the movie is done, but don't forget you've got two more to make!! I could DEFINITELY pull a few all-nighters for the sake of J.R.R. Tolkein... and I could double as an editor AND concept artist... two employees for the price of one!! Just think about it...)

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Dynamic Sketching Week 5 & 6

Class sketchbook roundup!

Week 5 - Animals
Most of these were done at the zoo and then colored later.

Week 5 Redesign
Hanglider based on bat anatomy.

Week 6 - Cars, Tanks and Planes
These are all from reference - toys or internet photos.

We were supposed to do 6 pages that week, but Lauren and Justin were visiting that week so I only got through 4.

This week is cars again - last class we went to the Nethercutt Classic Car Museum in Sylmar, which was actually awesome. In general I'm liking vehicles more than I thought I would. I tend to draw more organic things usually. But I enjoy the straight lines and the perspective and the shape variation. Learning to appreciate the design of vehicles more.

To be honest, the part of the class I'm having the hardest time with is the redesign projects. Everyone else's are always so good, they come up with such creative things and seem to really enjoy exploring them. I can never seem to think of anything that I get really excited about. We're supposed to do several pages of design work before coming up with a final version - but I'll draw a few different versions and then get stuck about where to take it next. Not sure why that is. It's discouraging because I love drawing from imagination, and that's really what concept design IS, being able to conceive of many different versions of something and then take it to a finished design. But I feel like I do my best work when I'm drawing from life.

It's been a long time since I had to use my brain in this way. But it's great practice for sure. Overall I've definitely seen a huge improvement in my own work since the beginning of the class. I feel like I'm beginning to draw forms instead of lines. I think that's why I love drawing cars so much, actually - it's much easier to see the forms. It's just boxes and cirlces. And everything's symmetrical. What is on one side will be exactly the same on the other.

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Disney's Multiplane Camera and other stories

Sorry again for the lack of posts lately. I know I'm really disappointing the 3 people who read this on a regular basis.

Once life returns to a more normal schedule, I'll have lots of new sketches to post, but in the meantime, I thought I'd share this delightful and informative archive Disney video.

I love this little video for a lot of reasons, but mainly because it seems like Disney, and those around him, put as much thought and effort into the making of his how-to, behind-the-scenes videos as he did into his actual movies. This film, which could easily have ended up very technical, has a story and a soundtrack. Even some acting (around 5:45 - I cracked up at this part). The Disney company in that time was full of master storytellers and artists. And still is - although it's obviously changed a lot!

It also strikes me how much a real work of art those old films were. Hand-drawn cels and oil-painted glass backgrounds that someone would manually wheel to the side in increments. If you dropped one of those sheets of glass while loading it up for the camera, hours of someone's hard work was gone instantly. The finished film was the result of tens of thousands of hours of creative people bent over desks, painstakingly DRAWING and painting, frame by frame. Those films were created by a small group of people and they took a long time to do it. Nowadays we have inconceivably large crews, so long that the end credits take 15 minutes or more on most animated films. They work on computers, creating intangible files on hard drives and backed up online. And animation companies produce a film every other year. "The world went and got itself in a big damn hurry."

Speaking of Disney, I wanted to point anyone interested to another incredible art blog - Deja View, by Andreas Deja, an animator who started at Disney in the 70s and was part of the Disney revival in the 80s and 90s, working on such films as The Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast, all the way through Lilo & Stitch. His posts are always fascinating insights and tidbits from the Disney archives - he collected and saved much of the art from the earlier days of the studio, films like Sleeping Beauty, Robin Hood, Lady and the Tramp. Here's a great sample post with rough sketches for 101 Dalmations. And another one about the challenges of tough poses that animation presents.

Post-Script: Disney's latest animated film, Wreck-It Ralph, is in theaters now and it's GREAT. Do not miss. Lots of cool easter eggs for those of us who love videogames - but the real power of the film is in its story and characters, which are universal even to those who have never stepped in an arcade or held a controller.

"I am bad, and that's good. I will never be good, and that's not bad. There's no one I'd rather be than me."
Post-post-script: I just found out yesterday that Linds Redding, the writer of 'A Short Lesson in Perspective,' died recently and that's why his post is gaining so much traction lately. Very sad.

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Dynamic Sketching Week 4 - Insects

I feel like I'm having real problems with rendering light and shadow... and I have trouble figuring out how to depict pattern as well as texture and shadow, and have it not be confusing.

I wasn't too happy with my redesign. I started out with this idea of a culture of native american-type people who worshipped and/or had a symbiotic relationship with giant scorpions... ended up having them use the exoskeleton of the scorpions as armor... just tried to do too much in too little time. Working on scaling back this week.

Not to mention, I know of no one who would ever stand like that. Ever. I can't wait to take some figure drawing classes.

Post-script: Today is the first day in a long time that I feel truly proud to be an American. The trend towards social justice and fairness in yesterday's election is extremely encouraging. "The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice" - MLK Jr.

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

A Little Perspective

"You know what I'm craving? A little perspective. That's it - I'd like some fresh, clear, well-seasoned perspective. Can you suggest a good wine to go with that?" - Ratatouille

Latest drawings from class are forthcoming - it's been a busy few weeks and it will only get busier from here. But there are two things that have me thinking lately that I wanted to write about.

A Short Lesson In Perspective, by Linds Redding
 - You should know before going into this that it's written by a man who has been off of work for 6 months getting chemotherapy for a probably-incurable cancer. I know it's long, but it's worth the read.

I have never worked in advertising - I can only bring my knowledge of the TV and film industry (and really, only the reality TV industry) to this discussion. And on top of that, I've only been in the workforce for 3 years now, so I voice my opinion with the knowledge that I really don't know anything. But I see the same thing happening to the TV and film industry that Linds observed happening in advertising. The pace of life that modern technology has forced us into favors quantity over quality (I feel like 24-hour news networks are a great example of this). I've had a few people tell me now that even as recent an invention as reality TV used to be different - one producer and one editor got together with their footage and had a year to cut a show. The business model that I entered was more assembly-line inspired, with many editors, sometimes more than 10, brought in to cut a show within two, three months. Speed is key. A fast turnaround is a must. Time is everything. And a 10-hour day is standard. (I've worked on a few shows where 9 hours is the norm... it feels like an extravagant luxury.)

I'm happy to be employed, working creatively, doing what I studied, with good people. And I'm even proud of the shows that I work on. But I do think, in this and in many creative fields, that quality is increasingly being exchanged for quantity and speed, that artistic risk is becoming endangered in favor of what's already tested well with the target demographic, and a healthy work/life balance is falling by the wayside.

The second thing I wanted to talk about was the recent death of my aunt Kathy on my mom's side. (Originally I wasn't going to write about this since this is an art blog - but it's my art blog, darnit, and I'll write what I like.) She was one of the kindest people I've ever met in my life, with a warm, quiet demeanor, and her early departure from this earth was shocking as well as deeply saddening. But her death also had an impact on me that I didn't anticipate.

When I started getting back into drawing earlier this year, I think I actually became so obsessed with the subject of art and with making myself a better artist that I got into a bad place about it. Everything that wasn't art-related was taking time away from my passion - including people. I started to meticulously plan out every minute of my free time so that I could devote the maximum amount of time to drawing and learning about drawing, and anytime something came up last-minute, I got stressed. You get the idea... Anyway, I had already been starting to get this under control recently, but when I found out my aunt died, the change was immediate. I instantly thought of how long it had been since I'd called or written. And I couldn't attend the funeral either due to hurricane Sandy - but I felt the grief and the love in the coming-together of the Hanlon family from across the country. Since then, I've realized that no matter what you're doing with your life, the only thing that really matters is the people around you. You could have the best job in the world, but the only thing that makes it worthwhile is who you share it with - and likewise, friends and family are what make the unbearable things just a little more bearable.

Like Linds said in his essay, "If you're reading this while sitting in some darkened studio or edit suite agonizing over whether housewife A should pick up the soap powder with her left hand or her right, do yourself a favour. Power down. Lock up and go home and kiss your wife and kids."

Finally, one last word from Anton Ego.

(I rewatched Ratatouille recently and this part of the movie always makes my heart soar... I think it might be my favorite Pixar. Besides The Incredibles. And the Toy Storys. And Wall-E.)