This is not my illustration.

People are still talking about this Pepsi redesign. I absolutely love this interpretation the most out of everything I've read so far. It's hilarious. Let's face it, most people hate change. No one is really responding to this in a manner that is relevant though. The majority of people are all "eh I don't really like it." Who cares! I'm more interested in how this affects the future of design. I appreciate the fact that Pepsi is going minimalist. I think that's a smart choice. I hate the look of products that are cluttered with information as most of them are designed without much thought. I think breaking something down into it's simplistic form is often times one of the hardest things a designer can do. It's about being sleek and quick and instant. Now, with a big brand like Pepsi they can't really do too much wrong. We know the brand. Even with this change it still says Pepsi no question. Obviously this multi billion dollar company decided they wanted this change. Who's to say they're wrong? I'm sure for certain that others will follow in their lead, not counting all the products under the Pepsi brand that are already seeing this makeover take effect.

I read one place that it looks like a design student won a contest to create this. I take offense to that! And maybe the A-hole should check his history. A "design student" is the creator of the infamous NIKE SWOOSH–which she was only paid 35 bucks for. yes. So keep hating. Another article talked about how it's very Obama-esque. True that! And the silly thing is, I have never heard one person mock the damn Obama horizon logo, because frankly it's the best presidental logo that's ever been created.

As for Pepsi, I say just give it time. Everyone will learn to live with it and eventually might even like it.

a feeling-based entry

I am a firm believer that when someone you love starts to grow distant is when you must reach out to them even more. I’d rather go out of my way being wrong that someone doesn’t need me or want me anymore in their lives than to be right that they did need me and I wasn’t there. Sometimes a cry for help is one of silence. Sometimes the quietest cry is the one that is the most desperate. It’s that inner feeling that even if you were to cry, not even that would ease the hardship in your heart. The feeling that you can’t even waste a cry on yourself anymore because you have given up. Giving up is the easy way, especially giving up on someone else when they give you ever reason to leave them alone. Giving up on yourself is the greatest failure of mankind.

2009: A year for change

A new year can be a time for new beginnings, new resolutions, a new president, a new hair-do, a new you. A new year is a reason to change, and make this one better than the last. But how do you move on when you're grappling with the past, and struggling as to who and where you want to be in the future. The only way I stay in the present is due to the magnetic opposing forces of my past and future. I feel like I'm at a stand still frozen in my time with life and death happening all around me. I'm hopeful, and fearful, guarded but a go-getter, confused and yet certain. It's not hard to be two opposing views. You can call it moderate, indecisive, or on the fence if you like. I know in many areas of my life I'm about to plunge into new waters so right now I'm weighing all of my options...my balance is equaled until I know where my chips should go.

I've felt more strangely awkward in the past few weeks than I have in a while. I can't find the right words to say, the right emotions to bare, the right sense of self. I wish I could look me up in the dictionary, but I know it's impossible to define a person as none of us are finite...we are infinite beings whether we realize it or not. Some of us struggle with resumes and profiles, even a handshake. Others give off an aura, are open and easily liked, while others may be harder to read. How do you best show you?

My wish for the new year is to embrace myself and my life wherever it takes me. To be kinder and more loving, understanding, and understood. "my roots are planted in the past, though my life is changing fast...who I am is who I want to be..."

Life isn't measured in minutes, but in moments

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button was quite the movie. There were a lot of noteworthy lines and moments in the movie that just grabbed your emotions, and for a fantasy, I was left thinking how real it felt. One of my favorite parts of the movie is when Benjamin (Brad Pitt) comes home after one of his excursions and briefly narrates what it feels like to come home. He describes it as being the same, the smells, the sounds, the people...and then you realize what is different...you are. I find that so real and true it hurts. It's like when you first come to the realization that you're growing up, you're moving on, and change is certain. Change in the form of place or people can be very exciting, but it's when your own mortality hits you that you start to question your life and your choices. Who wants to make the wrong choice in a life that while may be long for some is very short for others. Recently, I've been starting to fear moving on in my life, and the vital role that people I know have played thus far in my timeline. I fear years passing between seeing a friend I love, or coming home. Missing people is what keeps me up at night. And when dreams I dream are of people I haven't seen in far too long, I don't like waking up. It's hard to live each moment as if you'll never have it again, because if you did you'd stand still in it while life passes you by. It makes you wonder what heaven is like. Is it a second chance?

thanks gramps

Last year at this time was so much fun. I had one of the best birthdays...21 is a big deal. I went out with the micos from carrabbas, and out with my closest friends from home. Shortly after was Christmas which is exciting yet melancholy when it actually hits. It was the first Christmas without my grandpa Musyt, which also meant a birthday without him. Every birthday of mine was special to him and our family because each birthday marked another year that he was out of Hershey medical center. He almost died when I was born and I'm left wondering how I would never had known twenty years with such a wonderful and fun man. He called me a tuffy from a young age, and a little cowboy when I took him for a drive shortly after I got my license. I would tease him and sing songs, go for walks with him down vaughn st., and catch him when he was sneaking chocolates. The last time I saw him was in a rehabilitation center and he was doing so well. He showed me my dad and brother how good he was at using the exercise equipment. We were sure that he was going to be well again, because he had been through so much worse. He always made it. He was invinsible especially in my brother's eyes. I was the one who had to tell my brother that he died. He didn't believe me.
I didn't want to believe it either but actually telling someone else and hearing yourself say it aloud makes it more real. Not until now did I see the irony of my 21st birthday when my friends took me to Hershey Park. I certainly didn't make the connection then, but now see it as a gift that will remain even more special in my heart.

Victory.

Today I victoriously unscrewed a triangular screw with a flat screw driver.
Wow. That's going in my top ten.

I love being inspired.

How do you define inspiration? For me, it's that sensational feeling that makes you feel empowered; makes your insides stand up, your body and mind tingle with pins and needles that are engraving that moment, that memory into who you will become. I've had many moments like this in my life. My earliest memory of that feeling takes me back to Christmas, to a young age where music by the carpenters and the snow falling outside grabbed a hold of my soul. It's incredible and fleeting. You forget how good it feels to feel good until you are once again taken back into that emotional state. Art does this. And while I've had a hard time trying to put words to why I'm endeavoring on a journey in the arts, I think I've found it. The answer is not in words it's in feelings. It comes from your heart and is more powerful than what your mind tries to define. Dreams. I love that longing and realization that you have so much more to give, that there is still such a beautiful journey that lies ahead for you, even if you can't see it, can't describe it, but you merely believe it. Belief in that higher power. It's religion. It's the searching and searching deep inside yourself for what makes your soul light up inside. Sometimes it takes a whole lifetime to find, and sometimes it is never found. But the belief that it's out there for you, makes the journey just as valuable. You can find yourself in others, in love, in giving. All it takes is a moment to change your life. Maybe all it takes is a stranger telling you "you can" and to believe it.

Tonight I had the privilege of hearing Wintley Phipps perform at Ohio State University. It was as if I forgot how much I love a good performance. How much art- a movie, a painting, a song can impact your life, can give you hope, can remind you that all things are possible. Art, in the most broadest of terms is that creative outlet, without which much of our lives would lack meaning. Art is a release of the soul, and however you take it in is a personal experience between you and the artist. Art has no right or wrong answer. Art is whatever you need it to be for you, but most importantly it is for you. Art is a gift that is given openly and is free. Art is freedom.

Be free.

Happy Halloween

Miss Pomegranate

It all started with a pomegranate tootsie pop and from there it just escalated.
At the store I was confronted by a new orbit gum flavor—pomegranate!
I thought this was the end of the phenomena. But no!
When I got home my mom exclaimed "Jenna I got you a new drink—pomegranate tea!"
Oh and then on the dining room table a postcard from Mike,
and what was on the stamp but a pomegranate!
Pomegranate this pomegranate that!
Either I'm being too observant or the pomegranate gods are trying to tell me something.
Did you miss the pomegranate memo? Well if so let me be the first to tell you
Miss Pomegranate is the new "IT" girl. Watch out!

And apparently there is also pomegranate 7up just fyi.

Tell me all about your latest pomegranate discoveries.

The Secret Life of Bees

There are certain movies that have the ability to touch your heart. Sometimes you know beforehand, and that’s the reason you travel to see the movie, and others are unexpected, an absolute surprise because probably you went in assuming it wouldn’t be any good. This movie was the prior. I knew at the preview that I’d fall in love with The Secret Life of Bees. So I guess you can say I went in with a biased view. I thought the cast choice was great and because I had the preconceived notion that the movie would be wonderful, I never searched for the flaws. Maybe because of this I missed the flaws, but I’m starting to realize more and more that it’s much more enjoyable if you search for the goodness. I appreciated the story, the book was great, and I don’t like comparing books to movies but I thought the interpretation came off very well. It was a great role for Dakota Fanning too. She is just the right age for that part. The vision was certainly there.

The above was written a few days ago.
The below was written today.

I’m kind of mad because my friend Kristen was telling me that Dakota Fanning had the opportunity to also star in My Sister’s Keeper and turned it down because she wouldn’t shave her head. Now who am I to tell a girl to shave her head? Well I guess that’s unfair but nonetheless she should’ve shaved her head or worn a bald cap?! Don’t we have the makeup ability to just fake it? Oh well, I guess everyone has to draw the line somewhere. It’s definitely good to ask yourself what are some things you would never do. Dakota Fanning will never shave her head. But Dakota Fanning will take part in a rape scene. Good to know.
End Dakota Fanning nonsense.

What about Jennifer Hudson?
The news of the murder of her mom and brother, and her missing nephew is beyond words. I was shocked, stunned, appalled. Who could do such a thing? Celebrity or not, no one can come to terms with that magnitude of news. How can you take away someone’s family? Their past, present, and future life? No one has that right. I wanted to say because of this I believe in death penalty, because what other possible punishment can alleviate this situation? But as I am reading and typing this I realize that the death penalty is giving power to someone else to take away a life. Is this the same in essence? I am so torn on this, but it’s hard not to want justice for such an act of violence. It’s hard not to be angered and feel the need to battle crime with punishment. This turned into a political issue…I know but what is right? Ghandi said an eye for eye makes the whole world go blind? Is capital punishment like an eye for an eye? I guess everything just comes down to personal interpretation. It’s worth thinking on though.

To end on a lighter note…
Are regular dvds being phased out? I’m worried.

And I’m sorry that this entry is so compartmentalized.

Next time,
Jenna

Wow, we really do exist!

The first image EVER taken by Google's new Geo Eye high-definition satellite was of KUTZTOWN UNIVERSITY! That's about the most insane thing ever. Everyone on my campus feels like our school has been noticed for the first time. Kutztown is a place! especially if proclaimed by Google and the best image capabilities out there. My car and possibly myself is in that picture. Incredible! More on this later when it all sinks in. However the link to this article is on Kutztown University's home page and you can view the image at http://www.geoeye.com/CorpSite/gallery/Default.aspx or just search for it on Google!

V names

Did you ever notice that people with V names usually go by a nickname?

Maybe it’s just me. Maybe I’m wrong. But I’ve got a friend named Veronica that goes by Nika. I have never ever once thought of her as a Veronica. In fact I never knew that was her real name until about a year into knowing her. There’s a Victoria sitting in front of me­–goes by Tori. No one would ever ever call her Victoria. Is Tori Spelling a Victoria? I guess. The only Victoria I know sells underwear. There is still something risqué attached to that one. Maybe as a society we try to avoid the letter V, at least when naming things. Currently, I’m doing a poster for the Vagina Monologues at my university, and let me tell you there’s some issues there. Maybe it’s the letter V’s fault.

Advanced Web Deux

Like my image? I found it on the computer I'm working on. Sounds like I'm just learning how to create sentences. This post is great. I love to blog. You should blog too. It would be fun. I like to learn. Learning is cool. This post takes away my credibility as an intelligent college student. It will soon be deleted. For now, it lingers in cyberspace. Enjoy.

Advanced Web

For advanced web class today we're creating blogs at blogspot.

Notice my heading. It is coded with html using a simple head tag. This type uses a paragraph tag.

You're gonna make it after all.

This is courtesy of last year's ad class...a self promo piece. And since this is the first week of senior year I thought it would be an appropriate time for a throwback. The following is basically an essay on how I see myself symbolically.

It’s hard to articulate in words who I really am. I think words are very powerful but to someone who has never met me, my word is hardly a credible source. One can look through a lifetime of photo albums and still not know me but, if I had to present one word to describe myself it would be empathetic. I feel the word empathy is a very deep soulful word. Empathy is so different from sympathy in that you truly try to put yourself in the other guy’s shoes and feel what they are feeling. It is not just feeling sorry; it’s about sharing the sorrow. Empathy involves true understanding, awareness, and sensitivity. Unfortunately often times people associate this word with weakness, and weakness is far from who I am. An image that symbolizes who I am would be tied lace. In all aspects of my life I try to be strong. The knot in the lace represents my mental, emotional, and physical strength. In order to walk out the door without slipping out of your shoes you need to know how to tie a good strong knot that will last throughout your day. The two loops in the lace stand for the balance between my professional life as a student and transversely my personal life. I think it’s understandable that sometimes one loop is bigger than the other, but I always maintain my core knot-who I am. I pride myself in being a very dedicated student and friend. I love being organized and squared away. I’d sooner do too much than not enough. I’d sooner tie a double-knot just to be safe. Sometimes I plan ahead more than I should- but it's because I have high esteem for my future. I find it necessary to always re-examine where I’m at in my life and if I’m headed towards my dreams. Teach me a new way to tie my laces and I will certainly try it but I will maintain my core (knot) principles.

Sometimes laces get overlooked. I know that also holds true for me. I feel I’m a person worth getting to know, but I don’t try to force anyone to know me. I believe in being modest, and I’d sooner hang back and listen to you, than stand up and speak about me. This doesn’t mean that I don’t stand up for what I believe in or cast a vote to make a change. It means that before I make such decisions I hear all sides involved. I put myself in their shoes and exercise my word, empathy. I try to pull both loops of shoe lace to make sure the knot is tight. I draw from my personal and professional experiences when faced with a big decision or change.

The knot on your laces is not made from one side of the lace alone, it is made from a binding of the two. You must understand and except this if you wish to keep the knot tied. Keeping that knot tied is not always easy and it takes effort and practice to know how to make right. Success is a joint effort. Any success I have is not my success alone, but a collaboration of all of those who have helped me along the way. My belief in doing good for others is reflective of this; this is how I put effort into keeping my knot tied, and knowing others. I always try to stay awake in my surroundings and I love learning new things. I believe that any task, favor, or even just a kind word can make a positive impact in someone else’s life. I get enjoyment out of putting money in other people’s parking meters, and writing letters to people just to let them know I care. I really try to keep the peace in my life and in the lives of those around me. I don’t like to cause the problem, I like to solve it. I like being genuine and easy to get along with. I appreciate a really good sense of humor and I generally I listen more than I speak.

A simple shoelace my not seem like a big deal but it still matters very much and in a sense it symbolizes that the little things matter. Anyone can make an impact, even in the small accomplishment like learning how to tie your shoes. I think the problem today is that we get so caught up in our daily routines we forget the simple things in life; we forget to exercise a little understanding and empathy for the other guy. At times I can be a little bit of an uptight person, but I think it’s just because I’m so structured with myself. I don’t believe in failure, and I don’t settle for less than what I know I am capable of. I also get frustrated when I know people around me are not living up to their full potential. i I think in order to achieve greatness you have to be able to see that within yourself first. If you are content with mediocre than that may all you will ever be. Learning how to tie your laces is about not giving up. It is about facing a challenge and conquering it. With each success you build confidence in yourself and find yourself stepping up to the next challenge.

In the next five years I hope to just be a better version of who I already am. I value the person I am at present and I don’t feel like a great change is necessary. By that time I’ll have finished my degree and I hope to be working at a job I enjoy without a great deal of stress—expcept for eustress of course . I haven’t ruled out going back to school for a master’s or doctorate because I know the more knowledge one gains the more understanding they aquire. Knowledge once gained, is something that cannot be taken away and is essential in creating the change you want to see in the world.

My design employs a limited color palette and because of that is bold and easily understood. Even though I normally like to pack a lot of elements into my designs, it’s always simplicity and minimalism that works best in coveying a message that is clear, direct, and clean. I think the symbol may not be well understood at first glance, but that is exactly who I am. You need to look a little closer and find the person behind the picture; you might even need to read a little. In the design I’m using the laces as reminders. They are reminders of what it takes to be a good designer and reinforce the fact that I don’t forget who I am. I tie my laces everyday. I don’t just slip them on. If you slip your shoes on enough the knot gets weak-you forget what it is that makes up your core. I take the time to think about me and to not settle for less.

And if you can’t say it best, say it with a quote.
(give credit where credit is due)

"All your life you are told the things you cannot do. All your life they will say you're not good enough or strong enough or talented enough; they will say you're the wrong height or the wrong weight or the wrong type to play this or be this or achieve this. THEY WILL TELL YOU NO, a thousand times no, until all the no's become meaningless. All your life they will tell you no, quite firmly and very quickly.
AND YOU WILL TELL THEM YES."

Our lives are not determined by what happens to us but by how we react to what happens, not by what life brings to us, but by the attitude we bring to life. A positive attitude causes a chain reaction of positive thoughts, events, and outcomes. It is a catalyst, a spark that creates extraordinary results.

I will act now. I will act now. I will act now. Henceforth, I will repeat these words each hour, each day, everyday, until the words become as much a habit as my breathing, and the action which follows becomes as instinctive as the blinking of my eyelids. With these words I can condition my mind to perform every action necessary for my success. I will act now. I will repeat these words again and again and again. I will walk where failures fear to walk. I will work when failures seek rest. I will act now for now is all I have. Tomorrow is the day reserved for the labor of the lazy. I am not lazy. Tomorrow is the day when the failure will succeed. I am not a failure. I will act now. Success will not wait. If I delay, success will become wed to another and lost to me forever. This is the time. This is the place. I am the person.
"Do all things with love."
"Treasure the love you receive above all. It will survive long after your good health has vanished."
-Og Mandino

The master in the art of living makes little distinction between his work and his play, his labor and his leisure, his mind and his body, his information and his recreation, his love and his religion. He hardly knows which is which. He simply pursues his vision of excellence at whatever he does, leaving others to decide whether he is working or playing. To him he's always doing both.
-James a Michener

I cannot believe that the purpose of life is to be happy. I think the purpose of life is to be useful, to be responsible, to be compassionate. It is, above all to matter, to count, to stand for something, to have made some difference that you lived at all.
-Leo Rosten

trippin the light fantastic.

subtitle: all bottle caps must be removed for the safety of thom yorke.


Wow. Talk about trippy. Thom Yorke is an amazing guy and mirroring his vocals was an insane light show that was non-stop throughout the show. Combined with video and light panels, colors rained down on the stage while glowsticks were constantly pouring into the crowd. The audience, myself included just became entranced in the atmosphere whether it was from the hypnosis of the light show or the clouds of pot I'm not sure. probably both. It felt a lot like Woodstock...or at least how I would imagine Woodstock, but of course on a much smaller scale. My friend Nika and myself did not stray from our island of lawn blankets and gently pushed falling dancers from our space. At times I felt dopey, and dizzy; silly and serene. The ages of our new companions varied. Behind us was a girl of about fifteen with her mom and dad. To our left was couples in their mid-thirties. In front of us, some twenty-somethings, and to our right a bunch of blazed teens.

While watching the show I thought of how it compared to performance art...a happening. Could the same feeling being reproduced in a museum in an installation? No. I don't think you could ever recreate it in an identical fashion. It was once in a lifetime, never to be duplicated the same way again. This might not make sense considering that concerts are essentially a show that is practiced and performed over and over again with the same set list. But the audience, the atmosphere, the sky, the stars, will never be the same. I valued the moment while I was in it, and that's not something that happens very often. Usually it takes reflection on a experience to judge and compare it to others, and then decide how you would rate it in your mind.

Sometimes still, sometimes swaying, you didn't have to know the words to be moved by the songs. This concert fantastic and in case I didn't say it enough...a "trip."













While I'll save it for another entry I think the study of light will always be interesting to me. Some artists spend their whole lives observing and trying to make sense of it. Light can change everything and while I'm currently beginning my website I thought it interesting that for my splash page I chose my abstract light photography.

disturbia

(49 years © jenna palermo 2008)

I feel that my new undertaking warrants a post after I spoke about it a little bit with Brittni. And while my intent was to keep the "assignment" under wraps it doesn't really matter since this blog is fairly unpopular. Don't be swayed by the title of this post, it merely stands because of the fact that that Rihanna song has played about 100 times today alone and disturbia versus suburbia...I don't know go with it.

Anyway this project I'm going forth with is personal. It's about me getting to know me and what I am capable of, and me getting to know people and what they are capable of–I guess. Would you trust a random stranger, a passerby? Would you trust a stranger that wanted to take your picture? If the tables were turned on me I would definitely answer no to both of those questions....but since I'm the one asking them it's an entirely different matter. I recognize the fact that I am a non-threatening looking individual. I don't think I look abnormal or crazy or like a paparazzi out to exploit. I look like a kid taking pictures, and generally that's what I am. I don't really have any intentions other then what I said...getting to know people and getting to know myself by breaking barriers. I'm trying to talk to strangers because I know it's something that isn't easy for me. I want to learn about this big city that I have spent the past 21 years living in. I want to discover something that I didn't even realize I was looking to discover before I leave it all behind.

After one day of this adventure I was surprised at how kind people were to just let me snap a photo and to wish me well with my endeavors. Strange. Strangers. What is a stranger anyway...just someone you've never met? The word stranger has such an automatic negative connotation. A stranger is someone that gives kids candy and lures them into their truck. But that doesn't have to be the case. If you tell someone you are their neighbor you are no longer a stranger to them...yet you still do not know that person any better. However it takes away some of the threat and some of the questioning about what you're walking around aimlessly. If I said, "oh it's just a personal project with the hopes of being enlightened somehow by my surroundings" I think I'd be looked at rather oddly. But if I say "oh I just live down the block and I'm taking photos for a school assignment" the furrowed brow becomes a little more relaxed. Then again, like I said I don't look very threatening in general. It just feels awkward to take someone's picture without their knowledge. It seems invasive. It's someone's personal space. It's a part of them. Some cultures believe that taking their picture is like taking away a part of their soul. It's just something you don't do. I mean would I be mad if I found out some random person had just snapped a picture of me while I was crossing the street? I don't know but these are the questions I've asked myself before I've released the shutter.

For the most part I just see a shot that has an interesting aesthetic, a good composition, a story, and it becomes important for me to have that moment. It's about the individual but it's also about everything else. However, with this project I've decided that most of the photos will not be entirely candid. The subject will know that their picture is taken, because I'm asking their permission and whether or not they choose to pose or stay how they were is up to them. Shots that don't directly involve someone's face are a little different. I really wanted this picture of this girl running out into traffic. It was just a good photo, not something that could be thought about too much before taking the picture. Some have to be instant, spontaneous...or you miss it. As you can see I'm not exactly sure on where I'm going with this. There's not a lot of rules. There shouldn't be, because it would complicate things too much. I want this to fall into place a little bit on it's own. I want it to be a story that tells itself. I'm trying not to ask too many questions other than asking for a photo, because I find it all to interesting on what someone will just tell you willingly. I don't like asking people for their names or ages or anything like that. It's slightly more anonymous. But only as anonymous as the subject wants.

Take this for whatever you choose because like I said this is for me. This is through my eyes. Maybe one day it will be for everyone else, but as for right now just think on these things as I will. The less people you consider strangers the safer this world may be.

Learn. Explore. Grow.

sweet dreams are made of these.

Ok maybe it's because it's getting closer to "back-to-school" time that my mind is already racing with dreams of being late and turning in projects...but the past couple of nights has just been nuts. A few days ago I fell asleep in the living room while watching tv and I had a dream of putting on a powder mineral foundation, only to find it being advertised on tv when I woke up. That's the first time I can actually say I've been aware of television affecting my dreams. So after this I've been making sure to fall asleep in my dark and silent room with no subliminal ads playing in my mind. HOWEVER last night my dream was filled with product placement and one in particular; Febreze Noticeables. While I woke up knowing that Febreze was a real product I couldn't seem to remember if Febreze Noticeables was real, or if I made up the Noticeables part. I remember being mad at the ads for it on tv, because I thought they made no sense, so in my dream I made up a better ad. Immediately after waking up I wrote it down and let me tell you I have a new product idea for Febreze.

What does this all mean? Am I watching too much television? Am I being sent messages from a divine force that need to be spread to the world about products that mask odor and eliminate 99.9% of bacteria from the air? Or have advertisements just gone subliminal?
To be continued...

Hello World.

As you may have heard, Randy Pausch of Carnegie Mellon University passed away this Friday of incurable cancer. He gained recent fame and headlines for his now famous last lecture and the book that followed it. While watching his lecture on YouTube it's sometimes easy to forget that this is a dying man, and however morbid that may be to some people, the person that it should be affecting most, Mr. Pausch has completely accepted his fate and is truly living his life in spite of knowing the outcome. I don't think most people, myself included could be given only a few months left to live and come to terms with it. He decided he had to do what he could to spread awareness on pancreatic cancer by meeting with congress, giving a public service announcements, and most importantly leave a lasting image of himself for his young children.

"Wait long enough and people will surprise and impress you"
His lecture is packed with life lessons, how to find your dreams, and how to help others with their own dreams. Most of Pausch's childhood dreams came true for him, such as experiencing zero gravity, winning large stuffed animals, and working with Disney's imagineers, and that was because he was unrelenting.

I believe too that if you know your dreams and recognize opportunities you can achieve great things. I tried my hardest to think about what I longed for as a child. Did I want to be a doctor, an astronaut, a trapeze artist? No. I wanted to fly in a plane, go to disney world, be friends with mary-kate and ashley, swim with dolphins, toss a pizza, learn to juggle, ride in a hot air balloon, drive across the country with my friends, understand my religion, find true love...Most things simple; most easy to accomplish (minus maybe the last two). As a grew I knew I wanted to make things, to use my hands, to help people. I valued friendships, I was a peace-maker among friends and held on tight to those that despite my efforts drifted away from me. I still do. I'm still learning that some things are not within my control, and not everything can be as neat and tidy as I want it to be. Each day is an experience, a lesson, an imprint. I know I have an insatiable desire to succeed, to accomplish my goals, and to always be striving to do better for myself and for others. While I would like to make an impact on the world, I want to still be able to be happy with just making an impact in my own immediate world.

Passion and knowledge are driving forces that when spread create change, and cause a ripple effect. Randy Pausch proved that. He is one example that did not think his message would spread the way it did, did not think he was deserving of such attention. Success for Mr. Pausch was just in being able to dream big, whether or not all of the dreams came true, and to be able to convey that message to his kids. Live your life regardless of your circumstances. Anyone has the power to be successful in their lives; it's all about how you define success.

It's actually pretty disgraceful.

I came across this quote on TV today and was pretty shocked that this is how some young women of today represent themselves and their gender. Way to go Brooke.

“You know what? I am actually not that much into voting. I think it’s kinda crazy that a woman is running, because I think that women deal with a lot of emotions and menopause and PMS and stuff. Like, I’m so moody all the time, I know I couldn’t be able to run a country, ‘cause I’d be crying one day and yelling at people the next day, ya know?”—Brooke Hogan, when asked who she’s voting for by a potential roommate on her series Brooke Knows Best.

I definitely don't approve of all of the exposure they get in order to make themselves look bad. In a few years I'm sure they're going to see themselves on air and feel pretty stupid about the whole thing. Our society loves this stuff though. It's like we can get enough of it, like fast food and eventually we're going to need a detox of television...just like we needed a mandate against trans fat. Reality television is truly cellulite for the brain and you can quote me on that. Even though we know it's bad though we still can't help but watch the train wreck; seeing others crashing and essentially making us feel better about ourselves. And the other motive of tv is to just make us more materialistic and product driven. Whatever the goal it's not something we should be proud of.

I'm not saying that this is representative of all of young Hollywood, but there are certainly quite a few that are outshining the rest—and not in a good way. VH1 recently aired the 40 dumbest celebrity quotes ever and while I enjoy when they poke fun at celebs just as much as the next guy, they air a lot of the shows that produce those quotes...so I don't know what that really says about them considered most of reality tv is scripted. Here's a few of my favs anyway:

Jessica Simpson - "Is this chicken what I have, or is this fish? I know it's tuna but it says Chicken, by the Sea"
Tara Reid - "I make Jessica Simpson look like a rock scientist"
Paris - "What's Walmart, do they sell like wall stuff?"
R.Kelly - "All of a sudden you're like the Bin Laden of America. Osama Bin Laden is the only one who knows what I'm going through."
Brooke Shields - "Smoking kills, and if you're killed, you've lost a very important part of your life."
Britney Spears - "I've never really wanted to go to Japan, simply because I don't really like eating fish, and I know that's very popular out there in Africa."