design geekery

This picture upsets me.

Not in the “I can’t believe it” upset but more in the “What is wrong with me” upset. I was looking through my art folder this evening and I came across this painting. I had forgotten about it, it’s unfinished. As I was looking at this, I don’t remember where I was going with this… from the technique I used it was started quite a while ago (I can mostly tell from the hair which isn’t fully visible here as this is a 50% crop from the whole image). I don’t even have the reference image that I was probably using at the time. Now why does this upset me? because it’s rather good for being incomplete. I just don’t know why I stopped working on. I then began to notice that my art folder was full of this unfinished pieces… so good, some really good and some really awful ones. But the point is… why can’t I finish a painting? I get so exciting when I’m starting then just like that I stop and don’t look at it again for years on time. If you’ve been following me you know I’ve posted some work in progress but never the finished versions. Those are still sitting in that folder still untouched. I just don’t understand why I create such beautiful pieces only for them to not be finished and be hidden away till even I forget about them. I need to change that. I need to be the artist I am and I’m meant to be and stop putting underestimating myself. I need to stop convincing myself that I’m not good at art and embrace the god given talent that I’ve been given. 

I’m tired of selling myself short in every creative venture I do. I feel it’s time to take back my art and let it shine.

thisischanelle:

washingtonpoststyle:

Words Americans use to describe the federal budget debate.

The opinion-poll numbers are here.

And this is exactly why I can’t stand US politics. As long as public debate lingers in the shallows of melodramatic and sentimental bipartisanship, policy will go nowhere.

US government is consistently stymied by a culture that passes insult-throwing as political debate. Frustrating? Confusing? Fair enough. But nobody has any right to call any politician in good faith pathetic, stupid or disgusting. You may not agree with their policies, but when was the last time you took a practical step to change the world in which you live? When did you have the guts and conviction to put your reputation on the line for a cause?

The problem can only cease when Americans stop identifying themselves as ‘Republican’ or ‘Democrat’ and begin to recognise policies for what they are: ideas. Not ‘liberal’ ideas or ‘conservative’ ideas. Not socialist or fascist. Just ideas, from minds which are probably more dynamic than yours, from people who want to make your country a better place, just like you. 

That’s perspective. And when perspective begins to settle in the polity, maybe then the rest of the world will stop despising your country.

You judge American’s based off our media and assume that’s the attitude of everyone. I don’t know where you are from, but I know it would be wrong to judge you based off what I gleamed from your media outlets. People make assumptions about cultures all the time “The French are Dirty, The British have Bad Teeth, Jew’s are greedy, Irish are drunk etc” How many of these sterotypes are correct? Very few, so why is it ok to sum up American’s in the same way?

Sure some people criticize the government, it’s the given right to criticize. You would have a critical eye if the people you elected to take care of you and your country can’t look past their noses to agree for what’s best for everyone. Also it’s better that people are being this critical because it shows that they are finally caring. Which in turn can result in better people being elected. This is not a phenomenon that is isolated to US politics either, you will find these attitudes everywhere there is an organized government. So how about stop reading The Washington Post or NY Times and thinking “This is US Politics” because you’re only getting half the story. 

“I’m not racist. I just don’t believe in mixing the races that way.”

Keith Bardwell 

How is this not racist? Also does he know what children of mixed race couples feel? I have to say I’m very grateful to be of mixed heritage, it allows me to take and mix all my heritage to make a complete new one. I never once thought I was suffering because of my mixed nationality. I find mixed children to be among the most beautiful in the world. It breaks down so many boundaries and cultures. I really wish these people would stop justifying their racism by saying they have “black friends.” So what? Just because you have something doesn’t mean you like it. 

Long Rant Warning: It’s amazing how a photo can capture your feelings. It is said a picture is worth a thousand words. This one is no different. This flag reminds me of my feelings towards America as of late. With ignorance and intolerance running rampant… does the flag mean anything anymore?

Although the flag didn’t have any meaning when it was created. The colors it was based off of did. White signifies purity and innocence, Red hardiness and valour, and Blue vigilance, perseverance and justice. There are 13 stripes to represent the original colonies and a star to represent each state in the Union. 

I’m not this big patriot person. But I do live in the US it is my home. However I’m ashamed that so many people are being spot lighted who shouldn’t be. Such as the Tea Party, Newt Gingrich, Glenn Beck, and Bill O’Reilly. These are the people who are the face of US right now. Why? Why are we constantly giving these bigots the time of day? 

Why is it suddenly acceptable to let people’s ignorance run rampant in the name of “taking back America.”  What exactly are they taking America back from? Is it the right to choose? The right to freedom of religion? The right to love whoever you want? The right to Freedom? If these people have their way that’s exactly what they are proposing that is taken away. 

The Tea Party is:

Disproportionately composed of individuals who have higher than average incomes. It’s also disproportionately composed of men. And disproportionately composed of white people. And disproportionately composed of self-identified conservatives.

Matt Yglesias 

The Tea Party claims they speak for the majority of the US. 

Other facts about the Tea Party:

• A speaker at a Washington State tea party called for Sen. Patty Murray to be lynched.
• Roy Moore at a convention had called for homosexuals to be executed.
• There’s a sort of patriotism towards the stars and bars at some Tea Party rallies. Even to Confederate flag
  
• Ana Puig thinks that Obama is turning America into a Banana Republic and that he is also a Marxist dictator.
• New Gingrich claims Obama is a “Kenyan Anti-colonialist”

That’s only a few of the idiotic actions of the Tea Party… the list keeps growing.

The saddest part is that the dominant people in charge now are all stemming from the Baby Boomers era. But now is the time for Generation X to start taking over. When will this generation stand up for what is right. It’s the rebellious generation and has the power to really make a difference. We have to realize that we are not helpless, we do not have to settle with what are parents told us is the way. We can fight back. It’s 2010 bigotry, racism, homophobia, sexism have no place in this world anymore. We do not have to settle for gender or social binaries anymore. No longer do we have to be or do something because it’s society’s norm. We are human beings. People. Individuals. Who are capable of thinking for ourselves. Let’s stand up now so that our children will not be ashamed of us when they are older.

(Photo via We Have A Problem)

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