Bad Day

I know Daniel Powter can relate to these two words as expressed in his song. It is so amazing to me how bad things seem to happen all at once. It starts out with something small and before you know it a domino effect has occurred. One bad thing leads to another and you don't think anything else could possibly go wrong and then BAM! one more thing to add to your list of "this was probably one of the worst days of my life". That is definitely how my day was today and it's still not over. I had to seriously consider if I was being punk'd. I cannot wait to wake up and have a fresh start in the morning. I hate dwelling on the past so tomorrow is truly a new day.

Fun ads

I found a couple of fun ads that remind me of some ads that we had viewed in class. They are witty and unique and have a shock value. What a perfect combo!

Introducing KOR Water

People use water bottles everyday. They are a staple at SMU because everyone totes them to class. The problem is that not everyone is recycling them and all the plastic is becoming an issue. Also the results of recent studies state that multiple contaminants have been found in water bottles. Some of these contaminants are cancer-inducing. The KOR One water bottles is referred to as a "hydration vessel". It has an incredibly slick design that catches the eye. It is made of BPA free plastic and is reusable. It can be washed in the dishwasher and it can be opened using only one hand. This makes it ideal for workouts or running errands. It also only costs $29. The only thing I find a little unnecessary about this "hydration vessel" is that you can insert a small disc with an inspirational message that appears when you drink it. It is supposed to be a type of motivation, but I think that might be pushing it a little bit. I would definitely consider investing in one though because it is so environmentally-friendly and the design is very chique.

Why are chopsticks so hard to use?

I love sushi but the task of handling chopsticks proves to be too much sometimes. I feel like a complete spaz when I try to use chopsticks. It takes me about fifteen attempts to pick up my sushi and another 5 to actually get the sushi into my mouth. I am not opposed to using a fork to eat my sushi or noodles instead of chopsticks. Plus, most of the time the sushi roll is too big to fit in my mouth so it would be great to have a fork and knife to cut it in half and then just use a spoon/fork to scoop it up. Not to mention usually when they hand me the chopsticks I end up breaking them instead of separating them... the whole situation is really just embarassing. I credit the Japanese for mastering the art of eating with chopsticks. But, on my new favorite website (5min.com) they have a video on how to properly use chopsticks!

How to Use Chopsticks

Tell Us How You Really Feel

I have been noticing lately on the news and in multiple commercials that younger celebrities are encouraging teens to vote and make a difference. All of the commercials I have seen are in support of Obama...and I don't really know how I feel about that. I do not want to discuss the way I feel about the election, but I find it very interesting that almost all of young Hollywood is democratic. I think this probably will have a big impact on 18-19 year olds who are trying to figure out who to vote for in the upcoming election. If they are really passionate about a certain celebrity they might be more influenced to listen to what they say instead of thinking about their own personal feelings. Here are a few commercials I have seen recently in support of Obama.



Hayden Panettiere was also EXTREMELY vocal about her feelings towards McCain. While she did a very sarcastic commercial, I think many people will find it offensive. **There is some foul language in this video!**

Pixar animation

It all began with "Toy Story". Later came "Monster's Inc", "Finding Nemo", and "The Incredibles". These were some of the first movies made using Pixar animation. Most of this animation is designed using sculptures and models and then placed into a computer to complete the actual film. This type of animation is very cutesy and easy to watch. Younger children adore this because it is pleasing to the eyes. There is a 14 step process to this type of animation before it is complete and ready to be made into a movie.
1. Pitch an idea
2. Summarize the main idea
3. Draw storyboard and incorporate voice talents
4. Make reels and the art department creates the look and feel of the characters through sculptures and web designs
5. Sets are built in 3-D
6. Virtual camera then creates shots and then the shot is animated
7. Software programs begin to shade certain shots to create efficient drawings
8. Incorporate digital light
9. Computer data is "rendered"
10. Add finishing touches and VOILA the animation is complete!

This is just a fun, cute video using Pixar animation.

Intertextuality

A great example of intertextuality is the old Gap commercial for the comeback of "The Skinny Black Pant" featuring Audrey Hepburn. It refers to the past by using Audrey Hepburn's dance scene from Funny Face and by making a reference to the old skinny black pant. By using Audrey's iconic dance moves, Gap makes the new skinny black pant an irresistable "must-have" buy. This uses horizontal intertextuality to show old and new cultural texts within the genre of clothing.