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Well, it's nearing the end of finals week. There are still a few things to wrap up... but the end is in sight! This has been a whirlwind year, with lots going on, but on the whole I think it was a good one.
I am home now, and tomorrow I start work at my summer internship. I'm really looking forward to it! I hope that everyone has a great summer, and I'll see you in the fall! :)
In case you haven't heard yet, we are starting a social activism club on campus! Our name is We Are Responsible (W.A.R.), UNE's Social Activism and Awareness Club. We have a small group of very dedicated students... and of course, we want more! (Hint: if you're interested, let me know.)
One of our goals is to get the UNE community talking about international humanitarian issues. But why wait until next year? Here's something I learned in the New York Times last week to get you thinking:
The Sudanese government has been flying planes loaded with weapons into Darfur... planes that are painted to look like UN property.
People on the ground have no way to tell the difference between the two.
What repercussions do YOU think this will have on the situation in Darfur?
Today is Earth's E.C.O.'s Earth Month Speaker! Dr. Paul Mayewski will be speaking at 5 p in the St. Francis room.
The topic of the speech will be Climate Change and his travels in the Antarctic and Arctic regions. I'm really excited!
In relation to this, I've been reading the New York Times recently (since they're free on campus) and today there was a very hopeful article on Global Warming... at least by my standards. The Unitied Nations Council is considering adding Global Warming to its agenda!!! Britain has said that because climate change presents severe security issues and promotes conflict over resources, it falls under the United Nation's jurisdiction. Of course, China is very against any UN involvement, but the mere fact that one of the major politcal powers in the world has brought climate change up in the UN makes me VERY happy.
Come see our speaker tonight!
The student art show is up in the Campus Center, the art department, and Stella Maris! There are some beautiful peices there and I highly reccomend you check things out. (psst- that's a hint to all you students coming up on Saturday for the UNE Day activities!) My independant study stuff will be going up in Marcil on Tuesday, so if you're here then feel free to have a look! :)
Well, I went to a presentation at noon today about Van Gogh in Arles, given by Dr. Beaupre- a retired UNE faculty member. It was VERY interesting, and catered with free yummy food. :) We saw slides of Van Gogh paintings, and then of photos from the actual site. We learned all sorts of interesting factoids...
* In order to paint at night, Van Gogh would attach candles to his hat so he could see.
* He only cut off an earlobe... not a whole ear.
* Van Gogh died a pauper because no one would buy his paintings... desipite an art dealer's best efforts.
* The art dealer was his brother, who paid for everything Van Gogh needed. On the list of requested items a flat broke Gogh sent back? Paint and canvases.
* Van Gogh died at age 39... and painted thousands of canvases. That's not even counting all his drawings.
* While in Arles the entire community thought Van Gogh was a crazy nutter to be avoided... except the postmaster.
* The postmaster was Van Gogh's only friend while in Arles.
* Van Gogh was very influenced by Japanese art.
* Rembrandt did the "globs of paint" thing before Van Gogh took up the style.
* In his painting "Stary Night" (and some other works), Van Gogh depicted the sky as having movement, in accordance with the bible his minister father had taught him.
* Van Gogh only turned to painting when he was turned down for a position as a minister.
Finally...
* Like most stressed-out people in a capitalist world, Van Gogh lived on coffee.
Of course, there was much much more. It was a great presentation!
Well, while everyone was at the semi (annual dance) I decided to go see a movie at Smitty's... specifically 300. (Smitty's is a movie theatre with tables in the theatre that you can order dinner at, to eat while wathcing the movie. Pretty good buffalo tenders and non-alchoholic Strawberry Daquaris) I have to say that it was AMAZING! For those of you who don't know, the movie tells the story of 300 spartans against the persian army... essentially. The cinematography was wonderful. The filming actually focused on the things that an oral retelling of the story in ancient greek style would have, from the battle movements to the spear dripping blood to the kohl eye-makeup on one of the character's faces. The dialogue was just what a storyteller would dream of, and the narrator was the guy who played Faramir in LOTR. The narrator actually ADDED to the story, instead of just rambling. If you like movies where the filming is art, and you like Greek history or mythology, this is a MUST see... in my opinion. What do you think?
A word to the wise about Mononucleosis: the kissing disease.
1) You can get it by sharing drinks, sharing food, or otherwise swapping spit with someone who has had mono within the past year and a half.
2) Some people can carry mono without showing symptoms.
3) It takes about 2-6 weeks for symtpoms to show up. First you get tired, then your throat is very messed up, and then you go to the doctor and they do bloodwork. If you turn out to have mono, you MUST REST. It can take weeks, or even over a month, to get back on your feet. The more you rest, the quicker that will happen. Oh, and don't lift heavy stuff for a while, your spleen could rupture.
4) Many highschools and colleges are seeing lots of cases. Chances are someone you know will get it. You might get it (if you haven't already had it. Apparently Mono is like Chicken Pox, once is usually it). Sorry.
So, this weekend, my friend and I decided to have some FUN. And we certainly did...
We went to PORTLAND!!!
We both really like looking at art, so we planned a tour of as many art galleries in Old Port as we could reach. And, may I suggest that it anyone likes abstract art check out Greenhut Gallery at http://www.greenhutgalleries.com/ . They're doing an exhibit right now on Encaustic Art... which is essentially painting with wax. It was AMAZING!!! Check out the exhibit at: http://www.greenhutgalleries.com/artists/artist.html?name_last=Encaustic%20Artists ... and if you even THINK you like the looks of these and you're in the area go check them out! These are really 3-D works, so seeing them on the computer screen doesn't compare.
After the Greenhut, we tried to find another one of the galleries on our list... and wound up checking out the art in a sneaker store. I have to confess, we liked some of the artwork in the shoe store even better than some of the gallery-work we has just seen. It was very geometric, and the t-shirts had some awesome cartoons.
We hit a few more galleries (one of them had a lot of glass, and an entire display devoted to glass depictions of Greek mythological figures!), and then drove around looking for a place to eat.
We found Margarita's.
Now, I've been looknig for a place with good nachos since I came up here last year. Margarita's fits the bill. YUM!
Then, after Margarita's, it was time to get ready to go dancing! We went to Flatline, an all-ages goth dance party at The Station in Portland. We got there when it started at 9, and didn't stop having a great time until 12:50, when we left the parking lot. Everyone was just sitting around talking, people-watching, and dancing when the mood struck them. Apparently it's a monthly event... we're going back. :)
By the time we parked the car and came back it was 2 AM and FREEZING. But Security gave us a ride back from the parking lot (they drive around late at night and pick up people at the parking lots when they see them, so that we don't have to freeze on the way back... nice of them...), and then it was bed-time.
So, a great afternoon and evening in Portland. Now, back to work... :)
Hello everyone! Sorry I dropped off the face of the earth. Vacation was WONDERFUL, and I'm just getting back into the swing of things. My classes are wonderful... I actually look FORWARD to my 8 am class. I'm a night owl, so that never happens. Earth's E.C.O. is starting to take off, and I'm working part-time analyzing more invertebrate data. And my independant art study is a blast! I spent 5 hours last Friday preparing a few canvases... and I get to practice painting and call it HOMEWORK. WOOHOO! :)
There isn't that much unusual to report, so I'm gonna have to end here. But if you have any questions, please feel free to ask!
Well, I've been a bit behind lately. I'm slowly catching up though... hence this entry.
The workload of death still stands. The workload of death starts at midterms (right before Thanksgiving break) and ends after finals. At which point you have a month to let your brain rot.
My independant art study has been officially approved!
Earth's E.C.O. is doing a Books for Africa drive. If you're on this campus, donate your used textbooks in one of the boxes you'll see around starting next week. There will be one by the bookstore, for those books you thought you could sell back but refused to let go for $3.60. All the books donated go to support literacy and education in Africa, and I'm not above begging. See? Though we are cut off from eachother visually I am groveling, begging that you add your books to the drive. I throw virtual chocolates at your feet. I eat them.
Apprently my brain is malfunctioning. Off for a nap before the all-nighter! Ah yes... final projects.
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