realization

today i went to the feria de libros and was looking around at all the books and i realized something...i always gravitate towards the books on design. always. and surprisingly i know A LOT about design history and historical significance of modern architecture and furniture design (thanks to jan jenning's class senior year and paul's furniture studio) and i really like it. and then i thought to myself...why do i get such a kick out of this stuff?

its because these things are the tangible products of the designer's vision and creativity. some things may just look like a house but that house could have started a resolution or made a statement the changed the course of their society. so you know what? thats what i want to do. i want to build a design portfolio by taking some classes while i work the next couple of years, then apply to the design leadership grad program at cornell (i know i should diversify, but this program is the only one of its kind at the moment and its EXACTLY what i want), and go from there. i have the creativity to make a kick ass portfolio...now all i needs are the skills. 

ps: one great thing colombia has taught me is patience...which is the main thing im going to need in order to complete this plan. patience. 

what scares me the most.

"My hunch is that it was the result of outmoded attitudes and boneheaded budget cutting. Still, Ms. Palin has been governor for under two years, and she’s running for vice president largely on her experience as mayor of tiny Wasilla — a far superior credential, she’s told us, to being a community organizer. On the rape kits, as on other issues, she owes voters a direct answer." [NY Times]

honestly, all we want is an explanation because then we can base our opinion on fact rather than here-say. but after watching this, i dont think that explanation is going to come any time soon. THAT is what scares me the most. 

goals for medellin

i really want to work my hardest and produce real results for CINDE. i believe if i do that i can extend my internship and get an even more amazing experience. i just have to throw myself into it...no hesitation...no questions. 

aaaaaaaaaaaaand go.

localism.

so this is not a research based post at all. this is purely word vomit from my brain:

our economy is collapsing and its making me think about shit long and hard. how do we let economies get like this? its because the majority of us dont understand exactly what goes on and therefore see the problem as too big to get involved in. this forced apathy and helplessness is not only true of us on a national level, but on a state and local level as well. i just think about how ridiculous my hometown's schoolboard budget is (we've gotten rid of so many AP classes over the years and invested most of our money in sports and building parking lots) and how every year it passes because if it doesnt pass the first time things are just delayed and people just get frustrated and apathetic so they vote it in the second time. after talking to abbey's next door neighbor he brought to my attention why this is...its because the majority of my town is employed in new york city. this revelation made me realize that therein lies the problem; my town is a commuter suburb, a place for people to just live in their house, not be a part of or contribute to the community. so how do we solve this issue?

apply basic design principles to create a more localist society. redesign jobs structures so that the majority of the town's inhabitants are based in town, redesign neighborhoods to become sociopetal so that everyone recognizes their neighbors and understand when something or someone is out of place, redesign the city planning so that investment is made in sidewalks leading to schools and town instead of paved parking lots and wider roads. im not saying absolute localism is the way to go; there is a huge interdependence on large centralized industries for the livelihood of suburban communities. but we need to approach things differently so that we can protect ourselves and our communities when national plunders such as this bloody monday occur.

putting it out there.

i realized something today as i was talking to my dad about politics; i realized that im scared. im downright terrified of sarah palin and her legitimate chance of being in the white house. after reading more and more about her beliefs and vision for the country, i realize that how she sees the united states is not how i see it. thats all fine and dandy, but here is where the concern lies: 

(a) there is a one in three chance of her taking over the presidency in the next 4 years if the 72 year old mccain is voted into office 

(b) if she were to be in office, she has the potential to appoint supreme court judges that could very likely take away my right to protect myself and my future daughters

(c) she has rallied way more people behind her and her running mate than i really thought was possible

reading the following sunk my heart into my stomach and further perpetuated the sense of dread due to sarah palin's growing popularity:

A plea.

I was raped at age 18. I was not impregnated but had I been I believe I am owed the choice to decide on motherhood. Palin stands for the destruction of choice. She is a contradiction in every aspect of the word. Please do not elect this woman as VP.

Please.

-A. T., 19, Santa Fe, NM (womenagainstpalin)

i dont like standing against something. during the 2000 elections i did not believe the reason to vote for kerry was because he "wasn't bush" (i really dont want to discuss this election because that year i really felt hopeless for my country). that kind of mentality doesnt fly with me. i really believe in standing FOR things and tend to dismiss those who stand purely in opposition of something. but this issue is too important to too many people (not only women, but to fathers, husbands, and brothers as well) that i am taking a stand against palin in the white house. 

at the same time i stand against palin in the white house i feel confident standing for obama/biden. that allows me to sleep easier and not feel like our country is losing all hope. hopefully this sense of dread only lasts until november 4th.

too many low blows to be taken seriously

i finally got a chance to watch the GOP convention speeches, and you know what...

sarah palin's kind of a bitch and mccain is one of the worst public speakers ever. 

ps: i would just like to make known that i am not a republican NOR a democrat. i just say it like it is.

something to consider

moving to boston. i never felt so instantly comfortable in a city. i also know way more people than i realized, and all of those people are just fantastic and uber supportive. and so after i get back from colombia boston may be my place of settlement :)