reindeergames03

School has always been a restricting force in my life. My older sister set the bar high for me, and my parents have always expected more than 100% in my school performance. It was never a question of whether or not to go to college, but rather which four-year college I wanted to attend. This prompt was difficult for me to process, seeing as my life has revolved around school.

The college environment has been something very different than anything else I've ever experienced. Most of the time I like things to be clear and straightforward. So far, college has been like walking through a fog; hazy and uncomfortable. An unsure feeling has stayed with me since my first day at the University of Minnesota. Close to all of my classes have been extremely vague, which is difficult for me. Theory classes have never been my strong suit.

Last semester, Architecure 1281: Design Fundamentals 1, was mostly project oriented. Going through the entire process of having an idea to materializing that idea is an amazing feeling. Ever since I was young I have been interested in the project aspect of things. From crocheting blankest to sewing purses to designing and putting together my own outfits, I have always had a love for bringing my thoughts to life. Even without the restrictions of school and the architecture program, I would still want to use this creativity in my everyday life.

If school, and money for that matter, wasn't a factor I think I might like teaching. Possibly an elementary school art teacher. The idea of projects is still there and the opportunity to work with children who, for the most part, aren't yet affected by the restrictions of the world would be something that I could find daily enjoyment in. Being able to express myself, as well as help young people express themselves, would be rewarding. Seeing as I haven't yet picked my major I might want to rethink architecture, but well see what happens.

Posted by rudol091 at 5:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

The Global Fund
To fight AIDS, tuberculosis, and Malaria
raises money

ONE
The campaign to make poverty history
(AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria) sending tratment and preventative supplies to needy regions

Red Cross
focuses on education

Malaria No More
sends bed nets to Africa

Posted by rudol091 at 6:10 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

"Four hundred thousand South Africans are dying every year of AIDS. This makes the war in Iraq look like a birthday party." -Jeremy Cronin, SACP deputy secretary at the Satawu Congress in Johannesburg

As I surfed the internet for information about HIV/AIDS and other diseases I was surprised at the amount of comedic and sarcastic responses I came across. With issues as serious as the AIDS epidemic in Africa, as well as the rest of the world, I would've expected a more morbid outlook. The truth of the matter is that it is an extremely serious matter. "Over 22 million people have died from AIDS," and "Over 42 million people are living with HIV/AIDS'" . Comedy in response to an issue this extreme can only mean one thing: the inability to comprehend the severity of the problem. In one instance " the populist ANC politician Peter Mokaba, and Parks Mankahlana, who served both Madiba and President Thabo Mbeki, denied the existence of AIDS" . Ironically, both men were living with HIV.

The images i found told a different story. Many promoted awareness while other showed the visible products of the AIDS virus on the body. This picture of an AIDS patient beings assisted by a nurse is one of many disturbing visions associated with the disease. Many people, especially in developing countries, don't have access to this kind of health care and therefore must cope with the full force of the illness.

One, if not the most, disturbing image I came across was an advertisement advocating HIV and AIDS awareness. The picture emphasizes the severity of the disease.

the push for AIDS awareness extends to the music industry also. Salt N' Pepa, an R&B group popular in the early 90's, released and album with a track titles "I've Got AIDS" in order to further their fight againgst the disease and to encourage their listeners to think safe when making decisions about sex. Other songs, like "Everyone Has AIDS" by Team America exaggerate and make a parody of the issue.

One song that has had a personal affect on me is Sarah McLachlan's "World on Fire". Although it doesn't focus on AIDS in particular, the music video depicts the struggles other countries are facing from finding safe drinking water to the absence of health care to a lack of available education. It juxtaposes issues in developing countries with the unnecessary frivolity of American entertainment. I was amazed.

Posted by rudol091 at 3:44 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

One of the biggest design issues I've been personally affected by here in the Twin Cities is the set-up of the city. The paths of the roads have no set pattern throughout the cities and therefore have made it extremely difficult to navigate. As i become more and more familiar with the area it becomes easier to map out routes and directions, but it has been a serious challenge for me.

In one somewhat comical instance i was lost in the city for over 3 hours. Of course it was not long after i had received my drivers license and i had no prior knoledge of the city, but it was a traumatic experience nonetheless.

The road set-up does not help the driver. With one major highway that loops around the city, there are a mere few entrances and exits to and and from the downtown areas. The names of the streets are also no help to drivers. Some have numbers while others have names, but they're not alphabetized or in any predictable order.

The ability to change this in any way is near impossible. Changing the road locations and/or names is completely out of the question. I think that the city is beautiful, but its an intimidating place. The only way to avoid confusion in the city is to study it before attempting to navigate it.

Posted by rudol091 at 1:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Andy Goldsworthy focused his ideas about energy and flow through a natural environment. He used only things found in nature to capture his ideas and bring them to life. While nature has its own flow, the city, although manmade, also has a theme of flow and energy.

The idea of giving back to the environment and contributing to nature's cycle that Andy Goldsworthy used when sculpting his ideas is completely opposite of that in the city. Even though the city doesn't contribute to nature, and often times plays an antagonistic role, it has its own sense of a natural cycle.

If the city is looked at as a seperate environment, it has a lot of things in common with nature. It has its own type of transformation. Just as nature changes with the seasons, constant work is being done in the city. From road work to extraction of new buildings to the destroying of old ones, the city is under construction at all times. The sense that there is always something to be done in the city, the persistent hustle and bustle, also relates back to a natural environment. The one-way flow of rivers and streams relates back to the city also. With one-way roads binding the city, it is similar to the rivers and streams connecting the oceans and lakes.

The entire landscape, although some parts may differ, works in uniform. The city mirrors nature in a seperate, but similar way. The idea of all things having a way of creating their own energy and flow is a way to look at the world through movement.

Posted by rudol091 at 1:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)