I'm sorry, I just couldn't resist posting.
I like how fearless he is.
12.17.2011
12.07.2011
Money,Money,Money Must Be Funny, in a Rich Man's World
I've been thinking a lot about money lately. Not so much the, "I REALLY WANT MONEY RIGHT NOW SO I CAN GO BUY A CAR AND AN iPAD AND DESIGNER CLOTHES OMG!!!" but more about why we're so dependent on it. The reason for this is that this whole semester I've put all my money towards my school supplies, I'm in a Family Finance class, and I've listened to a few different people boast about their or their loved one's riches.
This is what I've realized:
I don't want to be rich.
I really don't.
This is why:
Houses
When my family went to New York for Thanksgiving, I realized why I love upstate so much-- the houses. They appear small but are comfortable inside, they are built with quality craftsmanship, and they have history to them. They are unlike many of the large, ridiculously over-sized houses in the States, especially in Utah. Did you know Utah has the largest average home size in the nation? Why? We may have larger family sizes, but that's no excuse to built a 10 bedroom, 3 bath complete with a 3 car garage. Not to mention a lot of those types of houses around here are cookie cutter homes, which I despise.
My biggest beef with ridiculously large homes is the energy waste and the ability to collect more junk. Large homes use more energy, which means more energy waste. Our world foolishly runs on fossil fuels, so wasting more electricity, heat, and gas just makes the world a little bit more complicated. I always joke about having a room for clocks and lamps when I own a home, but really, when you have more space, you want more stuff to put in it. Americans already own too much junk (I know I definitely do), and it's sickening to think that garages and sheds are full of old toys, books, trinkets, etc. and we continue to obtain more and more useless junk.
Cars
One day I want to own a car that doesn't make creaking sounds when I brake and that doesn't have a large dent in the hood. But I don't want an insane car that cost more than I make in 5 years, and I certainly don't want an expensive sound system (because we all know that sound systems in cars are a waste, unless you're Dave and have sub woofers to blast Coldplay. That's acceptable). I always thought of nice cars as something you buy after you've paid off everything you want and as a sort of "retirement present" to yourself. Okay, maybe you don't have to wait until you're senile to buy a Viper, but nice cars are quite unnecessary. I honestly would have a reliable car that lasts me a long time than a flashy, expensive one. However, this reasoning might stem from my fear of all things car-related, so you might think differently.
Technology
Before I explain, I have to say that I appreciate new technology. I like having fancy gadgets to play around with. I like the idea of one day owning all the photography equipment I need to shoot what I want, includinga few camera bodies, expensive lenses, lighting equipment and accessories. That stuff can be expensive, especially lenses which can run upwards of $20,000 each. Anyways, I like the non-dinosauric computers and the tablets. I like the smart phones and fancy t.v.'s. But the thing I've realized is that, with the exception of photo equipment, I don't really need any of it. I will need a new computer eventually, but do I really need the top-of-the-line computer that can cook two meals a day for me? Do I need that intense iPhone when I hardly text or call anyways? Do I need an $8,000 camera body at this moment in time? The answer is no. Definitely not.
Sometimes I think that having expensive technology will make me happier or that it will make me a better photographer. Certainly having nicer lenses creates a crisp photo and reduces noise (speckles), but my skills should never depend on a piece of glass. How often have you longed after a piece of technology and thought that you'd be happy with life after you got it? We get what we want so badly, then in a few months' time it's not interesting anymore. After a long enough time, we complain that what we have isn't good enough and start the wanting all over again.
Everything else
I'm sure that we would all like the freedom to buy what we wanted when we want it. Sometimes I just really want a pair of new shoes. It's nice to get something you want, but why? Will those new shoes increase my quality of life? Unless all my shoes have giant holes in the soles or the heels have broken off, those new shoes won't do much for me.
The biggest realization I've come to these last few months is that too often we turn wants into needs. My Family Finance class has addressed this issue many times, and it's kind of pathetic how we try to reason our way into buying things. It's wasteful, often covetous, and doesn't make us happier. Ask anyone who's lived in a third-world country and they'll tell you people are happier there. The humble understand that happiness is much more than worldly riches.
I'm sure all of you know this-- money can't make us happy. But it isn't bad. I know several people who are incredibly wealthy but help out people in their wards, communities, and charities. Many rich people donate to charities, but the ones who are genuine about helping others are the happiest about it. In Family Finance we talked about studies that have shown that the more a person gives, the higher their income becomes. But the higher their income becomes, the more they give. It doesn't seem to make sense, but it works. God blesses us with the ability to help ourselves and help others, and that's what we should do.
I mention this because I've listened to a girl in one of my classes and a few other people talk about riches for a while now. It's always a new iPhone, lens, designer handbag, designer shoes ("They're cheap! Only $150 a pair. I bought three different colors."), expensive promises, or just plain showing off. At first I wondered if I was jealous of their fortunes, but then I realized that I don't like rich people if they don't do any good with it. Sure, it's nice to buy your family expensive gifts, but they don't need them. Donate the money to charity or help someone in your ward with groceries. There's always a need for service.
I'm definitely not saying that money is inherently evil or that we should just use it as toilet paper, but it shouldn't be a motivator for our lives. It shouldn't control our decisions, especially life-changing ones (marriage, anybody?). We should be able to use our money to free ourselves from any debt or serious problems. Sure, I would like enough money to pay off my student loans, pay for housing and food, and buy school/art supplies. But as of right now, I am very happy with what I have. I don't want any more, and more importantly, I don't need any more. I love the feeling of not wanting anything; it's great.
If this seemed lengthy, I'm sorry, I've spent a whole semester thinking about it. Or maybe it's because I'm an artist and I'll just be poor forever.
This is what I've realized:
I don't want to be rich.
I really don't.
This is why:
Houses
When my family went to New York for Thanksgiving, I realized why I love upstate so much-- the houses. They appear small but are comfortable inside, they are built with quality craftsmanship, and they have history to them. They are unlike many of the large, ridiculously over-sized houses in the States, especially in Utah. Did you know Utah has the largest average home size in the nation? Why? We may have larger family sizes, but that's no excuse to built a 10 bedroom, 3 bath complete with a 3 car garage. Not to mention a lot of those types of houses around here are cookie cutter homes, which I despise.
My biggest beef with ridiculously large homes is the energy waste and the ability to collect more junk. Large homes use more energy, which means more energy waste. Our world foolishly runs on fossil fuels, so wasting more electricity, heat, and gas just makes the world a little bit more complicated. I always joke about having a room for clocks and lamps when I own a home, but really, when you have more space, you want more stuff to put in it. Americans already own too much junk (I know I definitely do), and it's sickening to think that garages and sheds are full of old toys, books, trinkets, etc. and we continue to obtain more and more useless junk.
Cars
One day I want to own a car that doesn't make creaking sounds when I brake and that doesn't have a large dent in the hood. But I don't want an insane car that cost more than I make in 5 years, and I certainly don't want an expensive sound system (because we all know that sound systems in cars are a waste, unless you're Dave and have sub woofers to blast Coldplay. That's acceptable). I always thought of nice cars as something you buy after you've paid off everything you want and as a sort of "retirement present" to yourself. Okay, maybe you don't have to wait until you're senile to buy a Viper, but nice cars are quite unnecessary. I honestly would have a reliable car that lasts me a long time than a flashy, expensive one. However, this reasoning might stem from my fear of all things car-related, so you might think differently.
Technology
Before I explain, I have to say that I appreciate new technology. I like having fancy gadgets to play around with. I like the idea of one day owning all the photography equipment I need to shoot what I want, includinga few camera bodies, expensive lenses, lighting equipment and accessories. That stuff can be expensive, especially lenses which can run upwards of $20,000 each. Anyways, I like the non-dinosauric computers and the tablets. I like the smart phones and fancy t.v.'s. But the thing I've realized is that, with the exception of photo equipment, I don't really need any of it. I will need a new computer eventually, but do I really need the top-of-the-line computer that can cook two meals a day for me? Do I need that intense iPhone when I hardly text or call anyways? Do I need an $8,000 camera body at this moment in time? The answer is no. Definitely not.
Sometimes I think that having expensive technology will make me happier or that it will make me a better photographer. Certainly having nicer lenses creates a crisp photo and reduces noise (speckles), but my skills should never depend on a piece of glass. How often have you longed after a piece of technology and thought that you'd be happy with life after you got it? We get what we want so badly, then in a few months' time it's not interesting anymore. After a long enough time, we complain that what we have isn't good enough and start the wanting all over again.
Everything else
I'm sure that we would all like the freedom to buy what we wanted when we want it. Sometimes I just really want a pair of new shoes. It's nice to get something you want, but why? Will those new shoes increase my quality of life? Unless all my shoes have giant holes in the soles or the heels have broken off, those new shoes won't do much for me.
The biggest realization I've come to these last few months is that too often we turn wants into needs. My Family Finance class has addressed this issue many times, and it's kind of pathetic how we try to reason our way into buying things. It's wasteful, often covetous, and doesn't make us happier. Ask anyone who's lived in a third-world country and they'll tell you people are happier there. The humble understand that happiness is much more than worldly riches.
I'm sure all of you know this-- money can't make us happy. But it isn't bad. I know several people who are incredibly wealthy but help out people in their wards, communities, and charities. Many rich people donate to charities, but the ones who are genuine about helping others are the happiest about it. In Family Finance we talked about studies that have shown that the more a person gives, the higher their income becomes. But the higher their income becomes, the more they give. It doesn't seem to make sense, but it works. God blesses us with the ability to help ourselves and help others, and that's what we should do.
I mention this because I've listened to a girl in one of my classes and a few other people talk about riches for a while now. It's always a new iPhone, lens, designer handbag, designer shoes ("They're cheap! Only $150 a pair. I bought three different colors."), expensive promises, or just plain showing off. At first I wondered if I was jealous of their fortunes, but then I realized that I don't like rich people if they don't do any good with it. Sure, it's nice to buy your family expensive gifts, but they don't need them. Donate the money to charity or help someone in your ward with groceries. There's always a need for service.
I'm definitely not saying that money is inherently evil or that we should just use it as toilet paper, but it shouldn't be a motivator for our lives. It shouldn't control our decisions, especially life-changing ones (marriage, anybody?). We should be able to use our money to free ourselves from any debt or serious problems. Sure, I would like enough money to pay off my student loans, pay for housing and food, and buy school/art supplies. But as of right now, I am very happy with what I have. I don't want any more, and more importantly, I don't need any more. I love the feeling of not wanting anything; it's great.
If this seemed lengthy, I'm sorry, I've spent a whole semester thinking about it. Or maybe it's because I'm an artist and I'll just be poor forever.
12.02.2011
11.15.2011
untitled
So much to do in three and a half days' time.
(shoot self-portrait film, develop film, make contact sheets, make print, spotone print, mount print; 2D design texture project; art history quiz; English powerpoint; feed the missionaries; clean bathroom and bedroom; pack...)
I just can't wait for this Friday.
(shoot self-portrait film, develop film, make contact sheets, make print, spotone print, mount print; 2D design texture project; art history quiz; English powerpoint; feed the missionaries; clean bathroom and bedroom; pack...)
I just can't wait for this Friday.
11.06.2011
this week.
Highlight of the week: Getting 100% on my Art History paper and having my professor request to use it as the model sample paper for future classes (also, in her comments she implored me to be an Art History major).
Lowlight of the week: Staying in the photo lab for an extra 2 hours waiting for a Lab Monitor to return, and right before I decided to leave, I put my prints in the flattener. I left. It was over an hour later that I realized I'd left them in, which sent me into full-blown panic attack mode. For those who don't know, if you leave your prints in the machine for over 3 minutes, they can catch on fire and/or melt. So I may have melted my prints and set the art building on fire in the process. I still don't know-- I'm too embarrassed to go back.
Lowlight of the week: Staying in the photo lab for an extra 2 hours waiting for a Lab Monitor to return, and right before I decided to leave, I put my prints in the flattener. I left. It was over an hour later that I realized I'd left them in, which sent me into full-blown panic attack mode. For those who don't know, if you leave your prints in the machine for over 3 minutes, they can catch on fire and/or melt. So I may have melted my prints and set the art building on fire in the process. I still don't know-- I'm too embarrassed to go back.
10.30.2011
10.22.2011
hear, hear
Hello.
He-HELLO?!
Guess what? I'm pretty sure I lost a lot of hearing in my left ear. I have no idea why, because I'm such a grandma when it comes to volume. I don't listen to music loudly in my car, and I hardly ever use headphones. I also wasn't near a jet engine recently, either.
How annoying.
But I'm not kidding-- I seem to have lost a significant portion of hearing in my left ear, and I feel super unbalanced. I hope it goes away, but then again, it's been like this for three days now.
I do not approve.
He-HELLO?!
Guess what? I'm pretty sure I lost a lot of hearing in my left ear. I have no idea why, because I'm such a grandma when it comes to volume. I don't listen to music loudly in my car, and I hardly ever use headphones. I also wasn't near a jet engine recently, either.
How annoying.
But I'm not kidding-- I seem to have lost a significant portion of hearing in my left ear, and I feel super unbalanced. I hope it goes away, but then again, it's been like this for three days now.
I do not approve.
10.12.2011
screenshots
I take screenshots and forget about them. But I rediscovered them today. Here are some of them:
 |
| No, her song isn't called "Coutndown." |
 |
| Canadians should be offended by this job application. |
 |
| Canadians aren't that bad (Tara, this is for you). |
 |
| Worldwide Twitter trends after I came home from Deathly Hallows Part 2. For those of you who don't know, when something trends on Twitter, it means a lot of people are talking about it. |
 |
| U.S. Twitter trends. |
 |
| My family used to have a Russian Blue cat (Moke). |
 |
| And finally, Netflix captioning for 3rd Rock From the Sun. |
10.03.2011
How To Be a Great Photographer
How To Be a Great Photographer:
1. Buy a super fancy camera. We all know that having a handy-dandy Nikon D3 is all that it takes.
2. Make sure to only use a shallow depth of field. The only thing that people want to see in focus is one little bit of the picture anyway, so don't ever worry about using an aperture smaller than F1.4. Who cares about crisp backgrounds?
4. Go ahead, add a watermark. Even if your pictures are taken from your phone's camera, you deserve a professional mark on your image.
5. With the watermark, make sure you have a genuine, creative name for your copyright. A good rule of thumb are these unique formulas:
First Name + Last Name + Photography
(make sure it's in fancy script!)
or
Photography Terminology + Studios
or
Purposely Misspelled Word + Pix/Foto
or
Color + Your Favorite Animal + Imagery/Pictures
6. Don't ever worry about the technical camera stuff, Photoshop fixes everything.
7. Most of your people pictures should not contain their faces. This is especially true with wedding photography. Capture their feet, their rings on a flower, their Uncle Alfonso's wrinkly wrists; but try really hard to avoid their faces.
And finally,
8. Never take criticism. If your mom says your pictures are perfect just the way they are (like you), then don't try to progress at all.
9.25.2011
9.22.2011
The Idaho Cherry
 |
| Jenna really knows how to make me look good... |
 |
| "Why do you keep taking surprise pictures of me? I'll pose!" |
 |
| I-DUH-HO. |
 |
| "YOUR LOVE, YOUR LOVE, YOUR LOVE... IS MY DRUG" |
 |
| I collect magnets. I should've gotten this to commemorate the occasion. |
 |
| Ugh ew. They look gross, but they're not. |
 |
| The faithful driver, Katy. |
 |
| Jenna, looking at this picture: "Ugh. Why is my body contorted that way?" |
This is delayed. By almost a week. Sorry.
For those of you with a Facebook, you've seen these. For those of you who don't have one, I will explain.
First off, this was supposed to be a "Big Lebowski" movie party. Jenna and Jared agreed to watch it with us as long as they got to drink White Russians (a recurring drink in the movie). So we let them. Two and a half hours later and with only 30 minutes of the movie watched, Jenna suddenly shouted, "Jack in the Box! Let's go to Jack in the Box! Tacos. Tacos, tacos, tacos!" She wouldn't let the idea go. Then Jared (remember?) wouldn't let it go. So we had two drunk people yelling for tacos. My roommate Katy and I were debating on whether to take them or not, and since I hate driving, I left it up to her. She took us.
Secondly, until last Friday, I'd never been to Idaho. I was promised all last semester a trip to Idaho by Jared with Jenna and Shelly. I've also been told that I need a Jack in the Box taco. Repeatedly. So, this trip was killing 1.5 birds with one stone (I say 1.5 because Shelly didn't come with us, so that left the mission incomplete).
Thirdly-of-all, the nearest Jack in the Box is in Pocatello. That's about 1 hour 40 minutes away from Logan. That's the equivalent of driving to Salt Lake to get In-N-Out (which, by the way, is our next trip). But Katy drove us. I am still amazed that she did that, because I would
Quadruply, Jack in the Box was good. Good in that terrible way where you know it's just a taco with an American cheese slice in it smothered in a slightly spicy sauce. But before you realize it, you've eaten four tacos and you're splitting a sourdough burger with Jenna. Hey, before you judge, we all got four tacos. Except Katy, because she only got two.
Time arrived home: 3:30-3:45 am.
Total miles traveled: 208.6.
Total trip time: about 4 hours.
Was it worth it?
YES.
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