Post #100

The refusal to subscribe to the "golden age" myth, if you think about it, is the fundamental difference between a progressive and a conservative. Conservative thought always posits a bygone halcyon era: Some manage to find it in Reagan's eighties, some would rather return to the pre-boomer values of the fifties. A progressive, on the other hand, carries no such burden. The whole outlook is predicated on the idea that the best days are, in fact, ahead.

—"Look on the Bright Side" | Michael Idov | NYMAG 11.15.10

A friend of mine once said that she refused to believe that life "peaks" in your 20s. She'd be damned if life did because then you'd always be reminiscing back on a few unruly dazed years. Sure, the excerpt is about our current socio-political climate, but I read it like pessimism v. optimism approaches on life. How coincidental that this is what I'm choosing to post as my 100th post(!) I've had other blogs, but this one is the only one that has stayed with me.

Looking back, I have to say that it's been a pleasure creating 100 posts documenting four years. More of the "good" than the "bad". More of the "happy" than the "sad". More of the "happy" times than the "bored" times. I look forward to the next 100 posts, knowing the best days are ahead.

Bust Craftacular 2010

It's that time of year again! BUST CRAFTACULAR! For me, Renegade Craft Fair is the half-year big fair, and Bust is the end-of-year big fair. Good deal. It's interesting to see what vendors are up to and what they're not up to—considering that some of the vendors sell at both fairs and bring in new goods. (I think Renegade is more regionally diverse though.) Some vendors from MakerFaire NYC 2010 were there too.

I didn't get a chance to go to Bust Craftacular 2009, so I don't know how the crowds and atmosphere compared, but the 2008 event was PACKED. Maybe it's because they introduced a second floor of vendors that the Metropolitan Pavilion wasn't so packed this year.

Thoughts? Less of a crazy free for all with the repetitive (generic) "crafty iconography"—flora & fauna, bicycles, mustaches/beards, diamonds, etc. There were a few new vendors with CAD jewelry and laser cut metals/prospects, but nothing too exciting. In fact, I thought there would be more of that stuff since there was just so much of it in the past couple of years (but hey, production may be getting expensive.) I also saw a few vendors selling shit that tries to play off the whole "craft" culture—GUYS, PRINTING UNCREATIVE CLIP-ARTY ICONS ON PREFABRICATED PRODUCTION LEATHER GOODS IS NOT WHAT THIS CRAFT NATION IS ABOUT!!

Maybe this over saturation of similar goods and the crumbling of our economy will force people to diversify and not just pump out junky shit that's indistinguishable from one cutesy "brand" to another. AND be the cause of the end of shitty prints on flimsy tote bags that sell for an unjustifiable $15+!! (Which I surprisingly didn't see any of, so I'm counting that as a good thing.)

And now to the spoils!

3 samples for $10: Butter Cookie, Nefertiti's Garden, Peppermint Patty


Magician coins!


Other stuff I liked. (Glass shit by another successful Alfred graduate!)


Unrelated. But isn't he so adorable?!

Oh Yeah, Thanksgiving!

So my MBPro was out of commission for two weeks as the logic board light blew out. Thank goodness for AppleCare, right?

Thanksgiving is that magical one time of year where our family uses disposables.


Let's get together multi-cultural family and friends! And yes, how I reminiscence of past friends who've come over Thanksgiving. (Yes you, Annie, Jac, and Yumi!!)


No, I'll pass on the wine. I gotta finish this.


Thanksgiving feasting is only followed up by Black Friday coupon sharing.


...And comparing nail polishes while studying up on Black Jack.

American Human Development Index

[LISTEN]
The Brian Lehrer Show: The American Human Development Index - WNYC


[GO]
Ken Prewitt, Dalton Conley, Kristen Lewis, and Sarah Burd-Sharps | Lessons from The Measure of America - NYU Institute for Public Knowledge


[EXPLORE]
Mapping the Measure of America - American Human Development Project

Congressional District 29, which includes Alfred, where I went for Undergrad: [Population] 90.7% White | Asian American 2.1%

eXtReMe Apple Picking!

Dr. Davies Farm Stand in Congers, New York is where it's at! It's one hour outside of NYC and for $34, you get a bag and a stick (get $1 back when you return the stick) to get all the apples your heart desires. We got a good amount of apples. $33 worth? I don't know. I have no idea what apples cost. Chinese fruit shops usually sell apples by unit quantity, not weight. Worth the drive up? YES—FALL FOLIAGE, people.

Let's go in eXtReMe style!!





eXtReMe STICK.


eXtReMe PICKIN'.






















Fried calamari at "American Dream Diner".

Pumpkin Drop

A blast from the past! (Fitting for the Fall season.) I won a pumpkin carving contest back in Alfred 2006. The prize was the privilege to throw all the pumpkins off the 4th floor balcony of Harder Hall. Dude, this was 4 years ago. Shit.

Did you see that intense flipping of the scarf? That's the flip of a champion.

Yair's Big 3-5!

Happy Birthday YAIR!! Back to the spa where mostly everyone gets smashed, laugh a lot, eat merrily, and ride a fucking big duck.

Look how happy Yair is!! (He laughs this crazy evil laugh for a good long minute or two. I forgot what was so funny.)


Toes!


The steam room is sooooo steamy—time for a break!


Let's get smashed!


And ride this duck!

Happy Halloween

Oh yeah, Happy Halloween guys.

DON'T COME AROUND OR YOU'LL GET BUSTED!


THAT'S RIGHT! AND STAY OUT!!

10 Precepts of Environmental Protection

A few weeks back, I went to a massive vegan banquet dinner as invited by my mom via her boss. I came home with this a postcard that read "10 Precepts of Environmental Protection". It was printed by GreenCompassion.US, but the site is in Chinese. The list made me realize that I could be more conservative in lessening my carbon footprint. I know that for some items, it takes more effort to "do the right thing" than to go the easy route and waste, but if we collectively and consciously waste less here and there, we're contributing to our environment and our personal well being. These are just 10 precepts you can follow:

1. To reduce greenhouse gases, refrain from buying bottled drinks. Prepare fresh water and fruits when going on outings. As less sugar and preservatives are consumed, you will stay healthier and slim.
   
   

2. To help save our Earth, do not purchase any food and merchandises packaged in Styrofoam. Be a responsible merchant or consumer, support the "Green Environment Manufacture Index" of U.N., never buy any product which produces high carbon or packaged with excessive synthetic materials.
   
   

3. One single AA used battery discarded without proper disposal can pollute 600 tons of water and permanently destroy 1 square foot of earth. Use rechargeable batteries for all electronics. Used batteries should be disposed of properly. Identify used battery collecting stations in your local communities, such as Staples stores or local pharmacies. Organize collecting stations within your neighborhood.
   
   

4. Water is the most precious resource on our Earth, only 2% is fresh water and just 0.007 of it is fit for drinking. 13,000 liters water to produce 1 kilogram of beef. The harm of wasting tons of water can never be reversed. We should choose Organic Vegan Diet. Otherwise, the worldwide water sources could run out very soon!
   
   

5. Reducing the water flow from faucet is a good habit. Flushing water at gushing speed is terrible wastage of water! After washing the vegetables, reuse the water for plants and toilet flushing.
   
   

6. Merchant and consumers should refrain from use of plastic bags except for wet products. Encourage use of plant fiber environmental bags. Develop the habit of having several environmental bags on hand for shopping use.
   
   

7. Except using the dinnerware in restaurants, a true responsible environmentalist should keep on hand a simple set of eating utensils and take-out containers. One should also refrain from using one-time disposable chopsticks and dinnerware.
   
   

8. Sterilization for pets or donation to promote and help the sterilization for homeless dogs and cats are the most merciful actions for reducing carbon. Please visit the websites:
   

   The Humane Society of the United States
   NYC Feral Cat Initiative
   

9. Advocating extraneous consumerism greedily is pushing our Earth to extinction. A simplified lifestyle of adequate consumption with content and gratifying spirit will save our Earth!
   
   

10. Seek out and be familiar with your local farmers. Work together and try the best effort to develop the farming of organic vegetables and fruits.
    
    According to the German Annual Food Report 2008: The dietary habit of an individual as compared to CO2 generated by a mid-size car as follows:
    

    DIET	MILES	CO2 REDUCTION
    Meat Eater	2956	0%
    Vegetarian	1508	50%
    Vegan	391	87%
    Organic Vegan	175	94%

    
    

Ziplining at Hunter Mountain

Who's ready to ZIPLINE?


We are!!


I'm doing it in fashion.


This pro waves half way.


Safety first!


Wedgies second!


Ziplining is effortless...except for this bridge.


Steph lands a perfect 10 every time!


YEEEEEEEEEEEAH BRO!!


French onion soup at Last Chance Antiques & Cheese Cafe. It was murder for them to seat all 11 of us.


They have really creepy and weird decor all over the place that you can purchase.


MEEEEEOOOOOWWWWW!!

Maker Faire NYC 2010

MAKER FAIRE 2010!! Nerds, hobbyists, and inventors UNITE! We get there and this lady offers us tickets for $15 a pop. TAKEN. I really have no idea what's at the fair, but the website said:

What can I expect?
To have the time of your life! You'll be surprised and intrigued with every corner that you turn.

Deal!

FISHBIKEZ!! Never would I have imagined that I would one day ride a FishBike! Remember when I posted about them in my Whoa, June! post?


As you can see, I'm struggling and there's only one side of the fish. Why? Because I'm the idiot who fell over and broke the fish door! :( They were cool about it and were really happy that I would try again.


So cute!


Coolest thing ever! We rocked this hamster-wheel-bike-travaganza.


Jenine makes beads!






Free-form thread illustrations!




Pupusas and tamales from Red Hook's Soler.


Alginate molds!


We trade creepy gross thumbs.