Curation Update 2!

Curation is still not a word...

Remember how I talked about having a website for you about my topic...Well it took longer than I thought it would, and it's not even done yet! But anyways here is the link-
http://www.i-m.co/XDani15/Curation_Self-Defense/home.html

Please check it out!

I don't have a FAQ page yet but some of the questions that I would like to answer are:

How can you learn self defense online?
Does this really work?
How can this work for small people? Big people? Girls? Boys?
Is this even useful?
Is this practical?

I'd love it if people commented or asked questions or gave me ideas for new techniques. Right now it is the bare minimum.

People who want to learn more, please feel free to message me here on blogger (comment) or something. I'll try to get back to you asap!

I'd like to thank IMcreator for helping me make this website.

Enjoy!

Ted Project

AHHHHH!!!! This was due a LONG time ago...

I was looking through my blogs when I noticed that this blog was never posted...

Anyways, here it is.

4/9/2013
We were shown a partial presentation today by a student in my class: Emma N. She was telling us about a woman who lived in a Biosphere and was cut off completely from the rest of the world. Jane Poynter was her name. She lived in two Biospheres. The first is Earth. The other is Biosphere 2. She lived in Biosphere 2 for a total of 2 years and 20 minutes.

I thought that, that was AMAZING!!! I have always wanted to try and see what life without modern interaction would be like.

Now, she had a telephone and fun tools to help her harvest food and what not, but it was all hard work. She said in her talk that it took about four months to make a pizza. FOUR MONTHS. For one measly pizza. Now that is telling us something about our world today.


We have life easy. But life in the Biosphere 2 seems very hard. In her Biosphere, they had a miniature earth. Each section with a different environment or 'feel' to it. There was a savanna, rain forest, marsh, desert, and even a coral reef.

I believe that that is amazing. One big step for science. It really reminded me of the Disney Channel movie Zenon. That movie is all about a Biosphere on the MOON! Jane was talking about how the scientists on the team wanted to make it possible to do the same thing.

If I were to ever be able to live in such a place, even as a test, I would love to try and see how I could live. I want to be a scientist on a future project like this. I'd be the electrical (electricity) supervisor for the whole thing! That would be AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

But not only that, I liked the way in which Emma presented the speaker. She seemed excited and always told us the interesting parts of the talk. She always connected the ideas of the speaker to things that normal students could relate.

All in all, I loved the speakers, both of them, I liked how both were excited about what they were talking about. I wish I could do something like that.

Here is the Biosphere!

Curation...isn't even a recognized word

For my Humanities class, I need to do a curation project. Curation...is not recognized by google as a proper word...neither is google apparently. Anyways I have decided to curate a website about self-defense. Or rather, how to defend yourself from an attacker with little or no damage done to yourself. 

The people I hope would be interested in my type of website are people who have an interest in defense. But not only that, I'd like parents to look at this site and decide to teach their children what I am demonstrating as a defense technique. I would like to aim this site towards girls who are on the smaller side. But the techniques I will describe will work for everyone. 

To some who might say "How do you know these techniques will work? What proof do you have?" I reply "I am a black belt in Shaolin Kempo and have actually used these techniques in real life and they have produced the results I've been looking for. If you don't believe me, look on my website (when I'm done) and try these out on WILLING friends."

I would love to put a link to my website on this post right now, but I can't because I'm still designing it. But as soon as it's done, I'll put the link in.

Thanks,

As for something funny...in my opinion

Who do you think will win?

A Girl Ponders Rilke

Rilke and friends mash up

1. To die would be an awfully big adventure
2.  But to die one would lose a life of love
3. Young people
4. are not yet capable of love
5. I love you without knowing how. 
6. I love you simply, without problems or pride.
7. Always trust yourself and your own feeling
8. Criticism is only self-doubt
9.  So am I to trust my doubt?
10. The worst enemy to creativity is self-doubt
11. doubt can become a good quality
12. doubt can turn into criticism
13. People ask you for criticism, but they only want praise. 
14.  And yet criticism is mostly bad
15. Patience is everything
16.  Creativity does not come through patience
17.  If you trust in Nature
18. your Solitude will be a support and home for you
19. but in solitude I am alone
20. we are solitary
21. One can acquire everything in solitude except character 
22. One cannot find patience in nature
23. How strange that Nature does not knock, and yet does not intrude
24. Indeed
25. Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience
26. and the pace of my life will flow with it.
27. If I find peace and patience,
28. my self-doubt with disappear,
29. my criticism will be of help,
30. Love will find me,
31. I will find me in solitude for
32. the monotony and solitude of a quiet life stimulates the creative mind.
33. And
34. The great man is he who in the midst of the crowd keeps with perfect sweetness the independence of solitude. 

1. J.M. Barre

3. R.M. Rilke Letters to a Young Poet (68)

4. R.M. Rilke Letters to a Young Poet (68)

5. Pablo Neruda

6. Pablo Neruda

7. R.M. Rilke Letters to a Young Poet (23)

10. Sylvia Plath

11. R.M. Rilke Letters to a Young Poet (102)

13. W. Somerset Maugham

15. R.M. Rilke  Letters to a Young Poet (25)

17. R.M. Rilke Letters to a Young Poet (33)

18. R.M. Rilke Letters to a Young Poet (44)

20. R.M. Rilke Letters to a Young Poet (87)

21. Stendhal

23. Emily Dickinson

25. Ralph Waldo Emerson

32. Albert Einstein

34. Ralph Waldo Emerson

This project took many days of compiling quotes and researching many interesting people and seeing what they had to say on some of Rilke's more interesting quotes. One of the hardest parts for this assignment was the way I would put these quotes together to make one continuous coherent 'chapter'. But now that it is over with, I find that I should have spent more time making these lines flow better. I especially like the ending where I try to tie everything I had talked about previously into one nice, clean ending. I ended with an Emerson quote because I feel that Rilke is a transcendentalist in disguise. He always talked about nature and solitude...Transcendentalist ideas...So all in all, I could have done better, but I am happy with what I have achieved in one week of work. 

And now an inspirational...quote?

The Wheels in my Head Have Been Turning

I've had quite a while to think about what I was going to say for this post. Appropriation. Originality. What do they mean?

I don't know.

Appropriation: "In the arts [it] is the use of pre-existing objects or images with little or no transformation applied to them." (Wikipedia)

Originality: "The aspect of creating or invented works by as being new or novel." (Wikipedia)

Eh...Sure those definitions work. But I would like to point out some things that are not touched by those definitions. Originality and appropriation are connected. Nothing is completely original. Nothing ever was. Every 'original' piece is actually an appropriation of different pre-existing ideas and spoken images. (Spoken images are ideas that are spoken out loud. Defined by me.)

I mean no one ever had an idea without another person, thing, happening playing a part.

No drawing is original because it is a drawing, on paper. Paper was something made by a person who wanted something to write on. They got the idea from writing on walls. They got the ideas from shadows on walls (probably). But it was always an idea from someone before you. You take little things from other people and make it your own. Everything is an appropriation. Everything is 'unoriginal'.

Yet, invented works...new or novel. Everything is novel. Everything is not like the last. A recreated Mona Lisa is not like the very first Mona Lisa. "Oh, but that is a fake, it is not original. It's just a copy of a great works."

But it is still different. An original. Not painted by the same artist. But an original nonetheless.

This brings me to a point made by a fellow blogger, Kristina. She recently talked about Remix culture and the originality of remix. One such way she described originality through appropriation was with a parody music video that a boy made.

She made the point that "[the] boy and his friends put so much effort into their version." She went on to say "I don't think anyone can just look at something like that and say it's worthless or demeaning." 

In my opinion, as this entire blog is, I believe that to be original it has to be made through hard work. Originality is not just the idea, but the making of the object from that idea. By working to perfect what you want, you have created art. You are the artist. You labored through the ups and downs and finally got what you wanted through your own blood, sweat and tears (exaggeration). That is what it means to be an artist. To have originality, to be original. 

Thierry Guetta (aka Mr. Brainwash) considers himself an artist. A Street artist to be exact. I do not. He is NOT original. He has made nothing. He has done nothing. He claims to have created art. He hasn't. He had someone make it for him. Yes he paid them. Yes they knew what he was doing, sort of. Yes he claimed it as his own. No I do not appreciate him. No I do not like his work ethics. No I do not think he is an artist. Neither should you. 

Guetta is original in his thoughts. Not his art. For one thing all he does is tell his designers I want this random picture to look like Marilyn Monroe. He splatter paints the same exact picture in different ways and says the are masterpieces worth thousands. It took him almost no time to create 'original' works of "art" that would have taken others, hours, days or weeks to work on.

These are some of his works:  

The first picture up top is Thierry Guetta with his camera. He took the picture but hired someone to make a stencil of it then he plastered it all over Los Angeles. The next picture on the left side is another stencil of Guetta. The bottom right corner of this stencil says MBW or Mr. Brainwash. Finally on the lower right is the pictures that were all made by people Guetta hired to make his 'art'.

*Sigh* anyways, I'll stop my rant. I hope you get the point. Originality is all about appropriation. Art has to be made by yourself in order to call it your own. Whether a picture, drawing, painting, sketch, song or whatever. If it was not made or taken by you, it is not yours. If it is things made/taken by others but you make it your own in your special way with work and effort put into it then it is yours, it is original. 

Speaking of original...

Is the song 50 ways to say Goodbye by Train not original because of the chord progression similar (in my opinion identical) to that of Phantom of the Opera

I beg to differ.

Networked Knowledge and Combinatorial Creativity

Einstein

I like this picture.

I like this picture very much.

I like this picture because Einstein is and has always been a role model to me. When I was younger I would read biography after biography of Einstein that would help me piece together his life, his work, his family. All of it was interesting to me. He is the person who inspired me to want to become an engineer and now with college approaching fast, he will be the person in the back of my mind rooting me on.

But not only that. He taught me that it was okay to steal ideas. He took many different theories and ideas and old problems that stumped their creator and worked to turn them to reality, solve them. He took the ideas and problems to a new level.

 It's not that I'm so smart, it's just that I stay with problems longer. 
Albert Einstein 

Einstein was only considered brilliant because of his GRIT. He never gave up even through criticism and harsh words. Einstein believed that imagination trumped all the schooling he could have ever had for 

Education is what remains after one has forgotten what one has learned in school. 
Albert Einstein 

That quote is important to me mainly because I am in school. Right now. Right this very moment. Typing this blog post. From reading this quote I feel like much of my life (my whole life) has been wasted. Wasted with school work that I honestly forget right after the final test. But that doesn't make me want to quit school. No. It makes me want to try harder to retain all that information and prove Einstein wrong. 

By proving him wrong and by taking his work to a new level, I feel that Einstein would be proud at my tenacity. I like the idea of proving things wrong or right...that's why I want to be an engineer. I get to prove this and that almost every day!

I understand that stealing is wrong. In some cases but I also feel that stealing can be great, if you turn what you stole into something amazing. Not just change it, but redesign it, remake it. Make it your own. As Einstein did with all the ideas and theories he brought to life. 

I want to be just like Einstein...But my own self. I want to keep his ideas alive and well and maybe change a few of the messages he was trying to create for as Austin Kleon said Imitation is NOT flattery. Transformation IS flattery. By transforming Einsteins work and creating newer greater projects I will be a copy cat. But I will also be an innovator. 

An as an innovator I give you this!

True Grit

No, not the movie.

Hello there!

It has been quite some time since I've visited this place. Well anyways, Grit. The basis of all things amazing. I mean it's not like someone could just will the first computer or song into being. It is all a matter of grit.

What is Grit you ask? Well I'll tell you. From the merriam-webster online dictionary Grit is

firmness of mind or spirit : unyielding courage in the face of hardship or danger

Grit. The word itself sounds harsh. 

But without this Grit, this courage, this unyielding power, there would be less progress, less wonderful things happening every day. Without Grit, people would give up at the slightest chance or resistance. No one would try new things. No one would want to do anything. No one would make a mistake, even if they could learn from it. 

Grit is what makes us humans such hard creatures to set astray. 

Grit is what makes artists try harder to reach new heights.

Grit is what makes scientists work harder to solve a big mystery.

Grit is what makes a mother carry and care for her child until grown.

Grit is what makes a person an individual. Without this Grit, a person would be monotonous and the same as all else for not trying anything or persevering.

Grit is what helped Joshua Bell, famous violinist, live through the 'embarrassment' of being ignored while playing famous and amazing tunes at a train station. Grit is what this young man had as he watched passerby ignore and rush by him.  

He did not like being ignored, but that only made him play harder, faster, stronger, better. That unyielding courage to keep on going even when no one cared. That ability to get over the crushing emotion and go for the win. That faith in the people who surrounded him. Grit at its finest. 

He grit his teeth and got through the hardship. Finally someone recognized Joshua Bell and acknowledged him. One out of a thousand. 

Speaking of one out of a thousand. There are many stories that involve grit. One of which is much like the story of wonderful Joshua Bell.

Just thirteen years old, a violinist protege, Justus Rivera, was playing one night on the streets by a park. Noticed by an onlooker, the famous Ashton Kutcher, filmed and praised the boy on his wonderful music. After putting his video on youtube this little boy became famous. Asked on to the Ellen Show and recognized now as people walk by. Justus Rivera had Grit.

He decided to play the violin at the age of about twelve. He decided that the lessons were moving too slowly so he taught himself. Now just a few months later, he is writing his own music and performing it on the streets. He works hard everyday for money and the correct inspiration for a new song. 

His Grit gave him the ability to face whatever was thrown his way, that made him famous. Grit is many things, but Grit will always be the one thing you can rely on when you need it most. Grit gives us hope. An embodiment of Grit can be a Japanese Daruma Doll, "you may knock me down many times, but I will always stand back up." 

And like the Daruma Doll, Grit can only be complete once you have accomplished your goal or task. If you wish to learn more on the Daruma Doll please click this link here.

All in all Grit is great. Grit will help us achieve our goal. Only you can have Grit for yourself. Only you can make your dreams come true. Only you can achieve the standard of Grit you wish for. 

Grit is the basis of progression.

Now as always the funny picture...

 That's not the type of Grit I was looking for...

Now which one was it again?

Sophie's World, or is it?

Welcome back!!!!!

It has been quite some time since I have added anything to this blog. Today I will talk about a philosopher from Sophies World by Jostein Gaarder. Alright let's begin.

From here on I shall refer to the person I am talking about as 'he' for safety of the person.

You know what really annoys me? 

Stupid people. 

Yes that is a harsh thing to say, but is it really? By stupid people I don't mean people who have a disease or something restricting their learning. By stupid people I mean regular people who have no interest in knowledge or at least don't act like a supposed knowledgeable person is supposed to act.

By acting a certain way I mean, you know, responsibly. I know that people can be really smart and act irresponsibly when they know they shouldn't. But at least more often than not, they know when to be serious and when it is Okay to goof off. They know when to listen to other people and learn from their ideas. They know when to look to others for reference on how to act in a certain situation. They know when to stop talking and think before they speak.

Stupid people do not. He might be smart. He might be rich. He might be poor. He might be important. He might be nice. But he does NOT know how to act. He does not have an open mind. He might say that he is SO philosophical but in reality, he is in the cave of Plato’s story. He only believes what he sees and does not want to listen to others who know the truth or who know a different side of the world. 

He lives deep within the white rabbit’s fur, so deep that he is in his own made up world, one where everything revolves around him. He never tries to climb upon the fine hairs of the rabbit to see the world around him, he does not even try to escape the cave in which he has been confined. 

Through Socrates we learn that "One thing only I know, and that is that I know nothing."(69) From hearing this I want to learn more and be open-minded much like Socrates. I wish to have a village plaza in which to walk around and converse with the people and having debates in which I learn more than I could have on my own.

He might hear those words and claim, "Well if I know nothing than I shall make up for it by spouting my false fantasies and tell all to believe them." He does not wish to further his learning or open-mindedness. Nothing like Socrates or any philosopher ever born, he calls himself a philosopher by sitting in his room all day, discussing over Facebook arguments in which he has no control over, nor does he try to fix the problem. 

He talks big. He talks loud. He talks grand. He talks. He talks. He talks. He says nonsense and ignores the truth. He hates to be corrected. He works no harder than that of a tamed cat. He expects all to fall into his lap smoothly.

The world is not like that. 

Da Vinci worked hard all day and all night to perfect his machines. Socrates talked for hours towards his death, working a philosophical question into all who observed. Paul, disciple of Jesus, traveled the world spreading his philosophical belief. Jesus died on the cross for speaking words unheard of in his time. 

"It troubled him that he knew so little."(69) It troubles all philosophers that they know so little. Then why does it not trouble him? Through Socrates teachings and the recordings of his followers this person I am speaking of might finally listen. If he listens to the false books of unwise one sided people, then he must need to listen to this knowledgeable man.

He speaks of philosophers as if best of friends but he does not know the truth. The less knowledgeable you are, the more knowledgeable you wish to be. He does not acknowledge how stupid he is and does not wish to progress. That is why I hate stupid people. 

Socrates was a man of great wisdom; although stubborn as he was he made an impact on many. Through the teachings of Socrates the person of which I speak might finally change. He might finally become smart and well rounded. He might work for what he wants, not just sit and debate all day with no action.

For if that is all he does 

He will end up like this