Thursday, July 5, 2012

Consumerism

“All over the place, from the popular culture to the propaganda system, there is constant pressure to make people feel that they are helpless, that the only role they can have is to ratify decisions and to consume.”

― Noam Chomsky


I am grateful for my new career. I cannot imagine working for a company or an ideal that propagates consumerism, making people feel that their lives would be richer if they were to purchase more unnecessary things or have a life that is distinctly of a stereotypical "culture". I believe that it is a shame for such talented and creative individuals to waste their efforts on making large global corporations millions upon millions of dollars, if not billions, to create a semblance of what life is "really worth" in material goods.

This false security causes us to be blind to the pain and suffering of others because why bother truly caring when we do small minimal acts of "charity" and "good will" when we just do all of it to make our selves feel as if we are "giving back"? This is delusional. Why in the first place create systems of eventual suppression only to pretend that the way we live our lives makes up for such inequality?

Dishonesty and self-denial, cowardice, is at play. It doesn't have to be that way if we only embody the courage that already resides in us to take a stand against such blatant oppression and conduct our lives in honesty!--to not feed THE MACHINE.

Friday, June 8, 2012

Life on/in the Interwebs

Last night, it came to my attention that I have been "ONLINE" for more than half my life—that is, I've had an internet presence since 1997 (good ol' AOL days, INSTANT MESSAGING, anyone?). It's pretty mind-blowing to know that I've been a part of this realm longer than I have not. Besides my outstanding okay-mediocre grades and such, it's funny how I got into ART SCHOOL with print outs of my puerile website/blog layouts. (All done by HTML, so old school, so blurry.) Here are some dazzling (mediocre at best) layout blurbs.













Tuesday, June 5, 2012

I Know You're Not That Cool

Which is the plain truth, but the good thing is that I live in Brooklyn, I willingly sleep on the couch when you are in town, I'll take you to some FAT eats, AND fulfill your "things to do in NYC while I'm here for the weekend" list (75%+), which although not an expert, I'm pretty good with the subway and Google Maps on iPhone. Welcome to your vacation, Conrad.


Lomzynianka.


Jimmy's Diner.


Skyline.


Rooftop after a long day of shopping.


For $10, you not only get to listen to live music the whole night, but you get 2 drinks. After 2 double whiskey's, all I can remember is: COOL DANISH GIRL! PIZZA! WALK! TURN THIS WAY! WHAT?


PING PONG? BEER! LET'S GO HERE! DIRTY VODKA MARTINI! EVERYONE HAS THE SAME TATTOOS! LET'S EAT MORE!! HOW'D I GET HOME?!


"Owned by Italians who hire Polish." You learn something new everyday.


We hit the beach, "snack" on fish tacos, and walk by a lot of houses with bulldozers in front. Looks like someone decided to work from home today.


Yup, that's the most interesting ad for a new condo on the subway!