Rachel's Challenge

I went to a lecture tonight about this girl who went to Columbine High School - the same time I was in high school actually - and she was the first to be shot by the boys who shot the school up in '98.  Anyway, her family has put together this organization and lectures.  It was really amazing.  I wish everyone in Salt Lake could have been there.  I think what stands out most about the whole thing is the compassion given, whether to the boys who did the shootings or others in her life.  It's an awesome message in a time with a lot of finger pointing.  Who created what problems, who's to blame.  It's a nice counterpoint to the meanness that goes around.

Now I can't say that the graphic design is the best (not like that matters, but this stuff stands out to me), but the concept of all of this is really nice, and a lot of the information about it can be found on the web site www.rachelschallenge.com.

Venus & Jupiter

Has anyone else noticed the amazing stars and moon scenario that's been going on? Got some amazing views of it over the weekend in the desert and turns out it's Venus (larger lower one) and Jupiter. Plus the moon has been pretty sweet too. Here's to being a nerd!

Martinez Design Project

Leslie Martinez was introduced to me by my old room mate Caroline.  They studied together at Cooper Union in NYC.

Leslie graduated last spring and lucky for us she has gotten her web site up and running

She does a lot of these intricate folk art-ish pen drawings that are so beautifully detailed.  I wish I could have her talk me through each of them and what it all means.

Now she's making these rad hand painted tote bags too - you can check em out on her site

Deep Thoughts for a Thursday Night

I just started reading Grapes of Wrath.

"...but it's our land. We measured it and broke it up. We were born on it, and we got killed on it, died on it. Even if it's no good it's still ours. That's what makes it ours-being born on it, working it, dying on it. That makes ownership, not a paper with numbers on it.

We're sorry. It's not us. It's the monster. The bank is not like a man.

Yes, but the bank is only made of men.

No, your wrong there - quite wrong there. The bank is something else than men. It happens that every man in a bank hates what the bank does, and yet the bank does it. The bank is something more than men, I tell you. It's the monster. Men made it, but they can't control it."

Just wanted to change the view for possible passers by . . . don't want to scare no one.

Old Color Photography

The Library of Congress has a flicker sight where they have an album of color images from rural America in the 1930's & 40's.  I think they're so beautiful.

Homesteader in Montana

Railroad in New Mexico

Farm near the Catskill Mountains in rural New York

Railroad in outside of Santa Fe

Bikrim

***I'm pretty sure the first time I saw this image I felt kind of weezy - so I won't blame you if you don't make it through this post.

I stole the pic from Mandy, which is only fair since I stole the concept from her too. Mandy went on about the magical "Bikrim" yoga while I was in Boulder so I thought I'd try it out myself. Having done it I have a whole new respect for Mandy and this creepy lady. That 110 degree heat doing yoga stuff is tough! I seriously thought I would pass out and that my heart would pound completely out of my chest - but then it didn't, and then I kind of liked it. Anyone in SLC should come join cause now I want more!

pS turns out tons of hot ski guys are into this if that's any insentive (and some amazing hard body chicks too, they're my idols)