Hi all. So as you may have noticed, I have not been posting with any regularity lately. I’m actually beginning to think that I no longer have the drive (or the time) to keep up a regular blog– it’s pretty draining, actually. Not to mention that life lately has been fairly unremarkable. There’s just not much major stuff to talk about! For the little things which come up, I keep a Tumblr; I’ve always felt that posting unimportant things on here seems like a waste. Maybe that’s kinda weird, but that’s how I feel about it.

So, having said this, I am going to try something different for the next little while at least. I’ve had a running list of things which I like forming in my head for a while now, and I thought it would be good to get some of it down. So here it is: The Like List. It’ll be updated whenever I think of new things. You can give me ideas too, just keep in mind that the things which you like may not be the things which I like, but it doesn’t hurt to try, right?

A few last things: My official portfolio site is now up and constantly being updated, so the school and personal works which are on this blog will likely be taken down at some point. Check it out at http://www.silverstreaked.net. Also, I came across Bruce Mau Design’s Incomplete Manifesto for Growth the other day, and I found it truly inspiring for both design and otherwise. Here are a few of my favourite points:

1. Allow events to change you.
You have to be willing to grow. Growth is different from something that happens to you. You produce it. You live it. The prerequisites for growth: the openness to experience events and the willingness to be changed by them.

9. Begin anywhere.
John Cage tells us that not knowing where to begin is a common form of paralysis. His advice: begin anywhere.

14. Don’t be cool.
Cool is conservative fear dressed in black. Free yourself from limits of this sort.

17. ____________________.
Intentionally left blank. Allow space for the ideas you haven’t had yet, and for the ideas
of others.

18. Stay up late.
Strange things happen when you’ve gone too far, been up too long, worked too hard, and you’re separated from the rest of the world.

33. Take field trips.
The bandwidth of the world is greater than that of your TV set, or the Internet, or even a totally immersive, interactive, dynamically rendered, object-oriented, real-time, computer graphic–simulated environment.

43. Power to the people.
Play can only happen when people feel they have control over their lives. We can’t be free agents if we’re not free.

>> Full Incomplete Manifesto for Growth.

So, immediately following this post will be the initial writings for The Like List. Read, enjoy, comment!

Cheers,
Tamara

Hi all. Didn’t expect to see me again so soon, did you?

So it is now midway through my first week back at school. Yesterday was my first Design and Authoring II class, and thank goodness I ate on the way there. Nothing was open at Algonquin (they don’t go back until next week, lucky students). The prof is quite funny, and he has a lot of practical experience in the design industry which is a huge plus, especially after our last rather bad D&A I prof. Unfortunately, there is also the possibility of all of the Algonquin profs going on strike in the next week. We are all hoping that this won’t happen. The strike vote is next Wednesday evening, so I guess we will find out at that point. We have an interesting mix of people in this class this semester. Someone has already expressed interest in working with me (possibly), so it is also possible that I will be working with some new people instead of the same old 3-4 from before. It’s going to be a really cool class, I think– the prof teaches well and knows his stuff, he’s funny, there is a good mix of other IMD people, and also the assignments sound really interesting and relevant. I think I will start looking forwards to Mondays after all =]

So today. Today I only had (and will continue to have) only one class– Judaism. I originally got into this class for the sole reason that I couldn’t fit anything else (and I do mean ANYTHING– I seriously went through the entire course calendar) into my schedule and I needed another half-credit class to maintain full-time status. I was actually rather dreading this class, especially after going through the syllabus the other day, but it turned out alright after all. The prof has decided to focus more on the modern issues and practices of Judaism instead of on the history and I definitely rejoiced when she said that . I’m not much of a history person. That being said, I think the keyword of the class is going to be ‘CRITICAL EMPATHY!’ Any religion/poli sci/philosophy-type course inevitably has its share of very strong-minded people with loud opinions. We were not introduced to our resident ones today, though, but I’m sure they will turn up at some point.

Hebrew learned today:
HALAKHA (n.)– The Jewish law
HALAKHIC (adj.)– Lawful
MINHAG (n.)– A custom

I can’t pronounce these words properly. And I tried transcribing the way the prof said them into the IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet), but my Linguistics has deserted me almost completely. How I miss you, Linguistics! (I tried to get into any and all LALS courses this semester, but to no avail). Sigh. The prof is actually kind of interesting in herself– she is a Reformed Jew, and also a feminist. She also does not like answering questions– she doesn’t always answer what the student is asking, and tends to not give the student any chance to clarify before moving on. But thus far, I like her. I just am not sure whether or not I will like her assignments…

The other course which I am in this semester, Design Studio I, begins on Thursday. Normally I would have a lab for this class tomorrow, but since it is the first week, there are no labs. The prof sent us all an email though, basically just describing the course and also giving us a list of possible projects. MAN they’re complicated! But I mean, since this project is what we’ll be doing all semester and not anything else, I guess I can understand the complexity. I just am not too sure about the whole group aspect of this thing. Hopefully I will have good group members who are willing to work hard.

In other news, I still have no groceries. I just have not got around to going shopping. There is one package of Sidekicks in my cupboard left before I will definitely be forced to go and get stuff. The good news is that since I do not have a DS1 lab tomorrow, I can go shopping right after I wake up. I also will, for once, not be in a rush in the morning, so I will be able to have more than just a hurried 5-minute practice. Yay =). I’ve been really tired since coming back; it’s probably mainly jet lag. Alright, I’m hungry. I’ll stop here.

Have a good night! =]
T

Hi all!

Welcome back to this blog! So I am officially back in Ottawa after spending an awesome two weeks with family and friends, and it feels a little strange to be back. Firstly, I am currently the sole occupant of this house, which is odd in itself. Paschat was very happy to see me, though. Also, I stood in a super long line today at the Rideau Centre for my OC Transpo semester pass– I joined the line at 3:15pm and got my pass at 4:50pm (the place closed at 5, so I’m glad I was able to get it after all). While I was there, the temperature dropped pretty drastically, and it is now -18 with wind chill. It feels colder than that. I need groceries still, but that can wait until tomorrow after class when hopefully the weather is a little better.

Speaking of class, I was flipping through the course syllabus for my Judaism class, and it is going to be a very intense class! I think I will be spending quite a bit of time in the library because of it. Does anyone happen to have a Hebrew Bible (with English translation)?

On a random note, I have officially been introduced to The Postal Service. It’s like Death Cab for Cutie met Metric and Stars and they all had a love-child together. Check them out if you haven’t already . So I will end here. I suspect that my blog posts for this semester will be much shorter than they used to be, but maybe they will be more frequent? We’ll see.

Cheers
T