Giants Game

This past weekend, Susan and I finally got a chance to witness a live football game at a bar in the city. We went to a Giants game that was playing on Sunday, and surprisingly we ended up enjoying ourselves and learning more about the sport. We went to a bar that was recommended to us called Landdown Tavern located in Hells Kitchen. This bar was cool because there were multiple screens all around the bar that were playing different games all day long. Most of the people however at the bar were all Giants fans. By the end of the game, the bar was packed with people. Overall, it was a fun experience and I now want to actually go back again and even go to a live football game one day. These are a few pictures and video from the bar.

Football Fans Part2

After reviewing many of the character profiles, we thought it was interesting that many of these fans are not season ticket holders and have not been to actual games. Their way of watching football is usually through a television.
Here are a few more Character Profiles of football fans that Susan and I asked:

1. Name: Eugene
2. Age: 24
3. Hometown: Hacienda Heights, CA
4. status: Single
5. occupation: Law student
6. how long have you been a fan of football: 8 years
7. do you actually play the sport: No, I can't stand pain.
8. how much of your day revolves around watching/playing football: On Sundays I usually keep the TV playing in the background and check in. Monday nights get my undivided attention.
9. do you play fantasy football? If so, how much in a day do you play: No, I haven't found the time.
10. do you think you're part of the sport/football culture: Yes.
11. are you a season ticket holder: No--too expensive.
12. do you support a specific team: Yes, the Minnesota Vikings
13. who are your favorite players: Randy Moss because of his arrogance and talent
14. have you gone to actual games: No--too far.
15. did you grow up being a fan of the same team you're a fan of currently: No. I liked the Cowboys previously.
16. how did you become a football fanatic: My friends got me into it.
17. do you have any rituals you do before a game starts: Order pizza.
18. where do you typically watch the games: Friends' houses
19. do you think you can go a full day without any football: No, I manage to at least watch a few minutes of it or read up on it everyday. I try to catch up with the scores and standings.
20. do you have a favorite bar you like watching the games at: No.
21. do you have a favorite type of food that's a must have while watching football: Pizza
22. what do you do if you happen to miss a live game: Youtube



1. Name – mike chun
2. Age - 28
3. Hometown – los angeles, ca
4. status - single
5. occupation – singer/musician
6. how long have you been a fan of football - most of my life
7. do you actually play the sport - just recreational every once in a while, nothing organized
8. how much of your day revolves around watching/playing football - weekends 3-6 hrs, weekdays 2-3 hr
9. do you play fantasy football? If so, how much in a day do you play – played for one season then dropped out because didn’t have enough time or energy for it
10. do you think you're part of the sport/football culture - definitely
11. are you a season ticket holder - nope
12. do you support a specific team - UCLA, miami dolphins
13. who are your favorite players - zach thomas, dan marino, warren sapp, maurice jones-drew, marcedes lewis
14. have you gone to actual games - yes
15. did you grow up being a fan of the same team you're a fan of currently - yes
16. how did you become a football fanatic – my friends got me into it when I was younger. It was a gradual process. It’s a part of who I am
17. do you have any rituals you do before a game starts – for bigger games, my friends and I always take a shot with one another
18. where do you typically watch the games - at home, someone’s house
19. do you think you can go a full day without any football – yes, but I like reading up on the scores online
20. do you have a favorite bar you like watching the games at - nope
21. do you have a favorite type of food that's a must have while watching football – chicken wings, pizza, beer, sweet potato fries
22. what do you do if you happen to miss a live game - check espn



1. Name - Simon Ha
2. Age - 25
3. Hometown - Busan, Korea & South Pasadena, CA
4. status - Rich HAHA jk single
5. occupation - Consultant
6. how long have you been a fan of football - 6 years
7. do you actually play the sport - only for fun, and usually in a very disorganized manner
8. how much of your day revolves around watching/playing football - depends on the day. saturday, a lot (like 4-6 hrs). sunday, maybe 1. monday, maybe 3.
9. do you play fantasy football? If so, how much in a day do you play - yes... err i play a normal amount
10. do you think you’re part of the sport/football culture - yes
11. are you a season ticket holder - no
12. do you support a specific team - the UCLA Bruins, Jacksonville Jaguars and the Indianapolis Colts
13. who are your favorite players - Maurice Jones Drew
14. have you gone to actual games - Only UCLA football
15. did you grow up being a fan of the same team you’re a fan of currently - no
16. how did you become a football fanatic - UCLA football, in college
17. do you have any rituals you do before a game starts - no
18. where do you typically watch the games - on TV or the Rose Bowl
19. do you think you can go a full day without any football - yes
20. do you have a favorite bar you like watching the games at - no
21. do you have a favorite type of food that’s a must have while watching football - beer + beer food
22. what do you do if you happen to miss a live game - read on it later


RYAN COOMER Age: 34
Hometown: Detroit
Status: Single
Occupation: Apple Store
How long have you been a fan of football? 25 Years
Do you actually play the sport? No
How much of your day revolves around watching/playing football? 1 day a week
Do you play fantasy football? If so, how much in a day do you play? No
Do you think you’re part of the sport/football culture? Yes!!
Are you a season ticket holder? No :(
Do you support a specific team? Yes; Detroit Lions
Who are your favorite players? Barry Sanders Have you gone to actual games? Yes
Did you grow up being a fan of the same team you’re a fan of currently? Yes
How did you become a football fanatic? Watching TV
Do you have any rituals you do before a game starts? No
Where do you typically watch the games? Bar
Do you think you can go a full day without any football? Yes
Do you have a favorite type of food that’s a must have while watching football? Nachos
What do you do if you happen to miss a live game? Watch it on ESPN

Football Fans

This week, Rudya and I interviewed a few people we thought would be considered a part of the football culture. Here are the interviews:

ANTHONY

Age: 23
Hometown: LA
Status: Single
Occupation: Apple Store
How long have you been a fan of football?
10 Years
Do you actually play the sport?
Yes
How much of your day revolves around watching/playing football?
Minimal
Do you play fantasy football? If so, how much in a day do you play?
Yes, 1 hr a day
Do you think you’re part of the sport/football culture?
No
Are you a season ticket holder?
No
Do you support a specific team?
San Francisco 49ers
Who are your favorite players?
Jerry Rice
Have you gone to actual games?
Yes
Did you grow up being a fan of the same team you’re a fan of currently?
No
How did you become a football fanatic?
I was forced to
Do you have any rituals you do before a game starts?
No
Where do you typically watch the games?
Home
Do you think you can go a full day without any football?
Yes
What's your favorite way of watching football?
At home
Do you have a favorite type of food that’s a must have while watching football?
Doritos
What do you do if you happen to miss a live game?
ESPN

DAVID
Age: 31
Hometown: Chicago
Status: Married
Occupation: Technician
How long have you been a fan of football?
All my life
Do you actually play the sport?
No
How much of your day revolves around watching/playing football?
None
Do you play fantasy football? If so, how much in a day do you play?
None
Do you think you’re part of the sport/football culture?
No
Are you a season ticket holder?
No
Do you support a specific team?
Bears
Who are your favorite players?
Brian Urlacher
Have you gone to actual games?
Ye
Did you grow up being a fan of the same team you’re a fan of currently?
yes
How did you become a football fanatic?
I grew up in Chicago!
Do you have any rituals you do before a game starts?
No, but i drink beer
Where do you typically watch the games?
Home
Do you think you can go a full day without any football?
Yes
What's your favorite way of watching football?
Bar
Do you have a favorite type of food that’s a must have while watching football?
Beer and Wings
What do you do if you happen to miss a live game?
Go on with my life, maybe watch the news recap

JAISETH
Age: 21
Hometown: Glendale
Status: Single
Occupation: Apple Store
How long have you been a fan of football?
13 years
Do you actually play the sport?
Yes
How much of your day revolves around watching/playing football?
3.5 hrs
Do you play fantasy football? If so, how much in a day do you play?
Yes; 30 min. a day
Do you think you’re part of the sport/football culture?
Yes
Are you a season ticket holder?
No
Do you support a specific team?
Buffalo Bills
Who are your favorite players?
Marchawn Lynch
Have you gone to actual games?
Yes
Did you grow up being a fan of the same team you’re a fan of currently?
Yes
How did you become a football fanatic?
Playing the sport
Do you have any rituals you do before a game starts?
No
Where do you typically watch the games?
At home
Do you think you can go a full day without any football?
Yes
What's your favorite way of watching football?
Drunk
Do you have a favorite type of food that’s a must have while watching football?
Beer
What do you do if you happen to miss a live game?
NFL network

JOHN ROMAN
Age: 26
Hometown: Odessa, Texas
Status: Single
Occupation: Apple Store
How long have you been a fan of football?
Since 1988
Do you actually play the sport?
Yes
How much of your day revolves around watching/playing football?
Depends if its a game day; usually all of it
Do you play fantasy football? If so, how much in a day do you play?
No
Do you think you’re part of the sport/football culture?
Yes
Are you a season ticket holder?
No
Do you support a specific team?
Dallas Cowboys
Who are your favorite players?
Emmit Smith
Have you gone to actual games?
Yes
Did you grow up being a fan of the same team you’re a fan of currently?
Yes
How did you become a football fanatic?
My dad
Do you have any rituals you do before a game starts?
No
Where do you typically watch the games?
Home
Do you think you can go a full day without any football?
Yes
What's your favorite way of watching football?
At the stadium/Bar
Do you have a favorite type of food that’s a must have while watching football?
Pizza and Wings
What do you do if you happen to miss a live game?
I cry

Designer Culture [Handicraft]

Upon visiting another venue in which local and young designers sell and create their own product lines, we wanted to ask a series of more targeted questions regarding the idea of handicraft and personal production versus mass produced generic products. What we found was a commonality amongst the designers that we chose to interview, was their passion to create their original designs by hand, making them one of a kind, unique and special pieces- a really great point to protest to a prospective customer, informing them of the ideals that they have an a designer. The venue that we visited, EdgeNY*Noho, at 65 Bleecker Street, is organized in a similar way to the young designers market, but is open 7 days a week, and houses many different designers. The designers that we chose to interview mainly crafted jewelry, but we also found a young girl who focused on beading and tee shirt design that incorporated eco-friendly production and materials. We asked the designers why they made their pieces by hand and if that was an important aspect of their design process. All of the designers informed us that they felt it was extremely important for them to personally construct these pieces to give a unique quality to every piece. Even though many pieces were duplicated, not one was ever exactly the same. They really stressed the idea of creating a one of a kind piece that someone could own, knowing it was special and that no one else had the same thing. Often times when it is slow, designers will begin constructing new pieces during the venue hours, and if a customer wants a specific design with a specific stone, etc., the designers often carry their materials with them so they can do so. They want to engage their customers in their design process and are willing and happy to make a custom piece for anyone who asks. A general comment in regards to production was the idea that many designers are now becoming "machines," something to which they want to avoid. They feel that designers should personally imagine, create and sell their own products for it to be truely theres. The idea of designing something, and having someone else produce it for you defeats the purpose of actually personally owning your designs and takes away the innovation and uniqueness of a product. They really enjoy and pride themselves on being able to directly communicate with their customers that their pieces were created 100% by their own hand and even though they may not be as successful as mass produced designers, they find happiness in doing everything themselves. This is their passion, and success and money is definitely a desired issue, but it isn't at the forefronts of their minds when they are creating. They are more interested in an honest relationship with their customers and involving them/keeping them in mind during the start to finish of their design process.

**Megan and Dilhan**

Designer Culture [Handicraft]

Ohana means Vamps

Due to the blow on our Wednesday expedition, Stella and I went out again last night in hopes for better results which we did. We met a 28 year-old self proclaimed Vampire outside of a club on First Ave. He came up to us, curious of our nature, and we decided that he was a good candidate for our studies.

We used the empathetic approach by leading him to believe we were beginner Goths and we needed someone to help lead the way.

We also shadowed him for most of the night, to witness his interactions between his fellow vampire "family"

Lastly, we also behavior mapped the rest of the vampire crew as much as we could without looking odd.

Casper, the vampire, was drowning us in his infinite rhetoric on his perspective on life, sex, and vampirism. Casper informs us about the different hierarchy in goth culture. Back in his day, there wasn't really any, but as time went on, many sub-cultures were developed (like cyber goths which he despises) and now, like the 70s, Goth is dead but the fashion lives on. He encourages us to be who we want to be, stay focused in what you want and not to let anything such as people or sex to bring you down. He speaks to us like he is an elder. Someone of higher knowledge and experience. This behavior is the reason why many of his friends say he is or wants to be "the father."

This leads us to vampirism, which is not what it seems. It is not about literally being a vampire as in drinking blood, but more about a second family. Every friend he has has been an outcast in their own family. Not being accepted in their own household, they found each other and created their own family, their own sanctuary that they can feel safe and loved. He said " We are all different, but it is the difference that has made us all the same." It is to note that there are many different vampires, but in Casper's world, Vampires just means his family.

Most of the goths/vampires were outside the club, which is where we were. The club was oddly playing hip hop music at the time, which maybe why they were standing outside. However, it seems clear later that despite the wrong music, they were really outside waiting for everyone to arrive. People walked back and forth around the block greeting each other with great passion. Casper has been in the scene the longest, so everyone knows him and seem to love him. Guys will give him special handshakes, yell out each others name, and sometimes hug. Girls kiss him and give him "bear hugs" and are ever so excited to see him. They all dressed the part (corsets, spikes, tights, mini skirts, mainly all black) and their conversations consisted of normal things (from what we heard) like family, work, and sex. No one, besides Casper, gave us any eye contact. It was almost like we were invisible because we were not part of the family. Even when Casper grabbed a hold of his favorite sister, Menadina, to have her tell about "the scene" Menadina would constantly look away, even while talking to us; making sure our eyes would never meet. It was clear that there was love amongst each other, but when it came to us newbies there was a clear protective stance.

It is good to note that everyone in the scene was older, married, and some with kids.

Weirdness at the end of the tunnel

As we mentioned in class, Moira and I were going to "Weird" a goth club event that was suitable for "the new meat." Upon arriving to the place, it looked very promising. We had to walk down metal stairs to a mysterious room with appropriate, dirty, musty chandeliers dangling above us. However, to our disappointment, "Weird" was weird for all the wrong reasons. There were no Goths. Potentially 2-3 Goths, but we cannot be sure. Most of the place was filled with "day crawlers" and a few drag queens. These "day crawlers" sat mostly around the bar or leaning on the adjacent wall. Despite its more dark and eerie decor, they flashed strobe lights and multi-colored streak lights while playing some synced electro. We felt that we could of had a chance bumping into Goths with the sounds of electro music, but as the night went on we were met with disappointment. However, behavior to note was, no one was dancing, and most people tried to stay out of the dancing side of the room. We were not sure if it was because the music wasn't right which meant maybe beginner Goths that look like day crawlers? Or could be just shy day crawlers? However later in the night, more people went to the dance room floor. We thought they went to dance, but to our wonderment, they weren't. They all stood still staring at the DJ who was just spinning records and pressing 2 or 3 keys on the keyboard. Bizarre as it seems, it did prove that just being weird surely does not make you Goth.

The Neo Classical Shred Violinist

For this week I decided to go out and find out more about a musician of who i had seen and tried speaking to but was unable to do so with any success as he has just started with his performance some twenty minutes ago that first evening we saw him. There was tremendous energy in his performance as he played in this relatively darker corner on grand central on 42nd street as he constantly swayed and danced to the music blasting out of his amp.
This week, when even I finally did manage to locate him and speak to him, he told me to wait till he took a break.
Michael Shulman looks like he belongs in a heavy metal band with his long straight hair and clothes to match. His violin he informed me, was a shred violin and its particularly interesting to look at. Its almost as though somebody stripped a violin bare to its structural bone. Michael then told me his story of coming to New York many years ago from Moscow with his shred violin and a dream to make a career from the same.
He told me he had started studying violin when he was 8 years old but hadn't really been serious about it till much later. He then told me he'd been playing in the subway soon after he reached New York but he's also working on his music album and has local gigs every now and then, although he admits the shred violin isn't necessarily a popular instrument in bars so his venues are selective.
I ask him about his influences since his music sounds far removed from Classical Violin and I tell him "It reminds me more of bands like Megadeth(dark heavy metal band), no offense."
Michael beamed at me telling me that while personally he does prefer the heaviest and darker genres of metal he does incorporate elements of pop or alternative rock into his music but said he was happy that I could recognise where he was coming from. Hereafter he started talking about his music and opened up unexpectedly. He told me he makes decent money to work on his private projects, is also in a band and that people a almost always encouraging "down here" and then I smirk and jokingly tell him i've been watching him perform for forty five minutes the two times i've seen him and the money looks more than decent. He smiles mischievously and tucks his long strands of hair behind his ear (that reminded me of so many rockers interviews i'd seen on tv). I ask Michael of his relationship to people underground and he tells me that people are usually encouraging and he's become friends with some of the other musicians who play underground. He then proceeds to show me these little lights on his shred and he tells me he adjusts them to different colored settings every few songs, shows me how he does it and then tells me he has to go back and play but that i should check out his website http://www.blackviolin.com/ which features many videos from youtube and his mysapce links.

because linden dollars makes the world go round

hey guys! i did post a picture of my avatar attempting to buy some rather skimpy clothes.... i found the interface quite complicated to navigate and i couldnt even figure out how to change real money into linden dollars. unlike jill i did not have a sugar daddy to help me out, so i thought id type about the SL economy today. There are many ways to make money in SL, for example u could do the whole real estate thing, u could design skin/clothes/accessories/hair for avatars and open a store, or u could get a job. i thought the job aspect was really interesting, and ive posted a screenshot of the SL jobforums which is a website where SL users can post/look for jobs.

here is a very intriguing excerpt from one of the job ads....

Temptation Lounge is one of SL's premier ladies only establishment and with a recent move to a new location, we currently have a few openings for dancers, hostesses and dj's. We do not require that you be 30 days old, but we do have requirements and we are looking to only hire the best of the best and we will not settle for less. If you feel that you meet these requirements and that you are the best in your field, we want you!

Ability to emote well as well as friendliness and a great sense of humor are a must! You must be a team player with no prejudices against male interaction during stripping. You also need a good grasp of the English language. Dancers/Hostesses- experience is preferred, but not a must. DJs - MUST have own stream.

Please contact me IG for an application and interview.

An interview? for a job as a virtual hostess/dancer? sounds pretty serious to me. I talked to several people on SL and they said the same thing as what jill said in her post regarding "camping". basically, when people are not online, they park their avatar at a club or bar (similar to the one advertised above) where they "work" by dancing or stripping. they get paid a certain amount of money every hour and they can get tips as well. brilliant!

on another note, the third picture that i posted is from the SL forum as well, this topic was about SL users who planned to meet up in real life. Unfortunately if u read the posts properly, u can see that there are many people (guys duh right...) who abuse SL and use it for all the wrong reasons...

The Saw Lady

Natalia Paruz, known to many as simply "the saw lady" is one of the most devoted musicians who can be found in the New York City subway. She has been playing the musical saw for twenty years and underground for 14. Although she is a working and acclaimed musician she considers the subway her "preferred venue". Her life's dedication is raising awareness and appreciation for the saw, which she does by performing in high profile venues (such as Lincoln center), on the radio (NPR's A Prarie Home Companion), on television programs (Good Morning America) and closest to her heart on the streets for everyday people. 

Natalia on street performing: 

"Since the emergence of whimsical court jesters and the strolling minstrels of the Middle Ages, audiences have been enthralled by the unique blend of mysticism and magic that buskers have used to entertain. Busking (the Shakespearean term for street performance) stages have varied from royal courtyards to sidewalk benches. While kingdoms and monarchs have long since disappeared, this unique form of entertainment thrives globally. 

A busker is someone who can turn any place into a stage. It's a gutsy business to be sure-- but buskers are gutsy to begin with. They're the traditional performers who bring entertainment to the street. 

A lot of people feel sorry for buskers, thinking we perform on the street because we can't get gigs elsewhere, but they've got it all wrong. We love the street."

I have been asking subway riders for their opinion on buskers and it is true, as Natalia says, that most of them assume these are people who aren't capable of performing anywhere else. They're often viewed as just a few steps above beggars. 

Natalia genuinely appreciates every donation she receives in the subway but mostly because she views them as signs of encouragement and appreciation. She says "no one has to like you, and if they do it's genuine appreciation, an honest reaction." In fact it is the unexpected donations, not the monetary  ones that bring her the most joy. Her donation box, which she has proudly painted gold and bejeweled with rhinestones, has been the recipient of many odd and exciting gifts such as a swiss army watch, a stuffed bear wearing a yellow sweater, packages of coffee, herbal supplements, cat food, books, poems written in appreciation for her, flowers, flags, notes, candy and jewelry. 

Natalia is the epitome of a dedicated street performer. She values "the thrill of knowing you're doing something you wouldn't normally do" and stresses the magic and joy of unexpectedly adding music into peoples days. She is one of the most widely known performers, and a bit of a gem of new york- many local publications such as the village voice have placed her on their best of list. Her passion for the musical saw and sincere love of exposing it are as beautiful as her music. 

Hey, Give Me Some Skin!

This is a screenshot of the USD translation of monthly property rental to Linden Dollars from the SL website.

A screenshot of different avitars located on the SL website.

My new hair!

This is me after I put on my skin...Cross explained next time we meet I will get a 'shape' which will make me look more 'real'

Cross and I after my final outfit change (he told me he didn't like this hair with my makeup)

For this weeks' assignment Kevin and I choose to focus on Second Life commerce and usage of the 'almighty' Linden Dollar. We hoped to further explore how money was spent inside this secondary reality because we feel it to be a vital part of SL culture. We began our investigation with a list of questions:
How is money transfered?
Who spends money?
What do users purchase?
How much to do they purchase?
How does one make money?
How much do things cost?
In order to gain an insiders perspective on the answers to these questions we choose to use a a few different methods:

Behavioral Mapping- to follow or 'shadow' a frequent Second Life-er in their space, making and/or spending money and ask them questions about why and how they do it.

The Empathetic Approach- to actually purchase and attempt to make Linden Dollars and then spend them accordingly.

Real Life Interview- Find someone through Craigslist in the NYC area who is an avid SL-er and is willing to talk with us. (I have yet to get a response!!!)

(after compiling the data from each of these methods we hope to draw conclusions and make a RL AND SL Character Profile of the average SL'er and draw out a conceptual map of their real and virtual lives.)

After finalizing the method of achieving our research I then got 'in-world' and got to work. I met up with a friend I made my first time on SL named CrossRotunno a RL 39 year old married cell phone store manager who says he likes helping 'newbies' (in SL he looks more like a tattooed body building 20 year old) .
He explained that he spends most of his money on body modifications- ie.clothes, skin, hair, shoes (the more "real" something looks the more it costs- this is also true with homes, homes close to the "ocean" cost more because they are more "scenic"). He then added that a large portion also goes to tipping virtual strippers. The most he has ever spent at one time is about $100 USD which translates into $25,000 Lindens. (1 Linden Dollar = .31 cents USD)

Cross said the most common way to make Linden dollars is to do something called "camping" in which you essentially put your avitar on pause and sit or dance at a certain location- whoever owns the location pays you a small amount of Lindens for each hour you do this. He said its not good money which is why stripping is so popular- not only do you make a "camping" rate at the club but you also get tips. He says you can get other jobs in SL but they are all basically glorified "camping".
Cross then sent me a teleport invite to a shopping mall and became instantly my virtual 'sugar daddy' by giving me about $750 Linden dollars (the equivalent of about $3 USD) to spend on whatever I wished.
He first told me I needed some skin- which would give me the appearance of nipples when I was naked as well as makeup and more a more tan look. He showed me where I could purchase this and explained that some skins ran much higher than $500 Lindens (the more realistic the more pricey) but this would do. I bought "TAN SKIN WITH SEXY MAKEUP".
Then I purchased hair- short and blonde and long and brown (equaling out to $50 Linden)
Cross then gave me a little more money explaining that I couldn't wear my 'newbie' clothes anymore- he picked out a sexy little lilac number for me. I looked good if I do say so myself.
As simple as it sounds actually buying and wearing the clothes was quiet complicated in terms of the user-experiance. Things were "packed" and "rez-ed" and I had to somehow undo that to become dressed- luckily I had my new-found sugar daddy to help me.

With the help of Cross I was able to use both the empathetic and behavioral mapping approach- I followed him as he did his shopping and also purchased some things getting in that experience. (without having to pay any real money I might add!)

raw food: there is more to raw food than food

"Let me share my vision with you: I see the world without sickness, 

sorrow or mental disturbances in which we are living in perfect balance and abundant health and harmony."

— Dr Ann Wigmore

(Dr. Ann Wigmore, a pioneer in the use of wheat grass juice and living foods 

for detoxifying and healing the body, mind, and spirit)

the ann wigmore institute for health offers classes that will "transform peoples lives". the institute's classes provide information about Life Food and natural practices to achieve optimal health. the classes provide the students with knowledge they need to counteract against human social programing and bad habits. the ann wigmore institute teaches classes such as: self- 

evaluation, twelve-step program, re-evaluation counseling, conscious living, relaxation techniques, introduction to meditation, communication. and affirmation (positive stroking). all classes are taught with the "declaration of intention" 

Declaration of Intention
The Power of Your Words Shall Make It So

I am here to love myself. I am here to reestablish a relationship of gentleness and kindness with myself. As I do this for myself, I do this for all others.  I am here to rediscover 

that I am born free from guilt, I am worthy and whole. 
As I see this in myself, I see this in all others.I am willing to let go of who I've thought I should be.
I am willing to let go of the

 security of my past self-image. 
I am willing to enter the adventure of who I really am. 

I am willing to raise the lantern of self-love so that I may see my inner beauty, 

my original innocence, and genuine gifts. 

As I rediscover these in myself, I rediscover them in all others. 

I am here to know the truth.
I am an offspring of Divine Love

, Born in the image and likeness of God. 

As I see the Divine within myself, I see the Divine in all others. 

The power of my words shall make it so!

Talkin 'Bout My Generation

Ashley and I went to the park in the middle of the Bushwick Puerto Rican community to get a sense of the generational gap between the older men and women we had already talked to, and their children's generation. What we found was that overall the younger generation (we targeted high school-age kids) are much more ethnically integrated and less tied to their heritage than their parents. In the handball and basketball courts, the neighborhood kids all congregate and everyone seems to more or less know everyone; cliques are ethnically mixed between Puerto Ricans, Dominicans, and blacks. Around the baseball field, however, a general survey we made of the older generation showed that almost everyone was Puerto Rican, and groups congregated very much according to ethnicity.

The high school kids' clothes were typical Hip-hop-urban fare, sometimes with red-white-and-blue touches. Their parents, by contrast, dress more conservatively, typically in polo shirts and shirts for men and a T-shirt and shorts for women. Accross the generations, there are usually touches of bling - stud earrings or gold chains for men, sometimes name-pendant necklaces or earrings on women. Kids seem to listen to all kinds of music, while you'll usually hear latin salsa blasting from a car radio or from a storefront where men are sitting outside; the kids also speak mostly English and not much Spanish (though it differs case to case), while the older men and women all converse in Spanish.

Profiles:
We asked students a number of specific questions. Here are their answers.

Peter Torres, 18 yrs oldWere you born here? Yes, born in Brooklyn.
What kind of music do you listen to? Hip Hop, Reggae, Salsa. Currently listening to G Unit.
What kind of clothes do you like to wear? Abercrombie and Hollister.
Who lives with you? My mother, stepfather, and sister. My grandparents live nearby but don’t visit often.
Do you eat Puerto Rican food at home? Yes.
Do your parents teach you about Puerto Rico? My parents want me to learn Spanish because they think it would be useful living in America. I don’t celebrate 3 Kings Day.
Who are you friends with and who do you prefer to date? In high school everybody hangs out with each other. I'd date anybody but would prefer to date a Puerto Rican.
Do you speak Spanish? No.

Jonathan Gonzalez, 16 yrs old (far left)
Born where? Born in Brooklyn.
Music? Everything except bluegrass and country. Currently listening to NERD.
Clothes? Wears anything that is comfortable and cheap (Modells/ Graham Ave stores)
Live with whom? Lives with mom, dad, and sister. Grandparents live in the same building and he sees them a lot.
Eat Puerto Rican food? He eats Puerto Rican food every day.
Taught about Puerto Rico? He celebrates 3 King Day and his parents would prefer him to date a Puerto Rican because they believe she would understand him the best.
Friends with? Everybody, meets people through school and church. Likes to date Hispanics, whites, and Asians, but would prefer a Puerto Rican.
Speak Spanish? Yes


Daisy, 17 yrs old (left)
Born where? Born in Manhattan.
Music? Listens to alternative music. Currently is listening to Lincoln Park.
Clothes? Says she likes to wear dresses.
Live with whom? Sisters with Erica, but was adopted by a Puerto Rican woman living in Brooklyn. She currently lives with her mom and siblings. Also has family who live two blocks away.
Eat Puerto Rican food? Her mom cooks Puerto Rican food everyday but she goes and gets pizza because she says she doesn't like it.
Taught about Puerto Rico? Does not celebrate 3 Kings Day. Family not that traditional she says.
Friends with? Hangs out with mostly Puerto Ricans and would prefer to date Puerto Ricans.
Speak Spanish? No.

Erica, 19 yrs old (right)
Born where? Born in Manhattan.
Music? Hip-hop and RB. Currently listening to Lil Wayne.
Clothes? Likes to wear t-shirts, jeans, whatever is comfortable and cheap.
Live with whom? Was adopted into an Italian family living in Staten Island.
Eat Puerto Rican food? Says she eats Italian food mostly but likes Puerto Rican food.
Taught about Puerto Rico? Mom is Italian but has Puerto Rican family members who have married into the family as well as friends who are Puerto Rican. They don’t celebrate 3 Kings Day but her mom tries to educate her about Puerto Rican culture.
Friends with? Hangs out with Puerto Ricans and blacks mainly because of the area she grew up in in Staten Island. Says she has dated both types of men but would prefer to date a Puerto Rican.
Speak Spanish? No.

Street Art Vendors - Forms of Transportation

This week Alexa and I decided to focus on the ways of how the artists transport their merchandise. We went out around 10 am to document. As you can see, the artists use carts to transport their carefully packaged items and foldable tables. Some artists were already set up by the time we got there. Most of the artists came from 10am to 11am. None of them seemed to be in a rush to set up - and alot of them were cheerfully talking to their neighbors while they started up their business for the day.

Young Designers Market Culture

The Whys of Goth

I was very lucky to have a bit of an intimate interview with Michael's friend Meg. She's very into this culture and very much feels that she is a part of it. With her kind heart she was able to spend her time answering the "why" questions in goth.

The main question is really why the darkness? This was the center of most of the interview. The darkness meaning why all the black? why the vampirism? the darker fetishism?

She basically traced back to the 1970s horror films which really created the look of goth culture. the films were based on the gothic literature written during the romantic periods around 1850. The films were such a popular hit that there were followers that has trickled down into the culture, which is why black and Victorian attire is still seen in the modern goth culture.

Meg also mentioned that German industrial music is a big part of goth culture. Their music is very melancholy and dark mainly because during the time it was written Germany was in a dark place which is why there was such dark music and this is also another main reason why goths are always associated with the dark.

Theses were the main reasons why for the darkness and theres further details to come during our presentation! cheers!

music underground

Our basic method of research was to find and talk to musicians in the subway. Our research including our usual pattern of questions was similar to the shadowing method from the IDEO cards. After having interviewed many musicians in the subway some similarities began to emerge. One of the first things that struck me was that barring two, all the other musicians were extremely friendly. By that I mean you could stop them mid performance to talk to them if you wanted to, and the musicians would respond almost gladly respond and answer every question with a little bit of their own unprovoked personal history. These musicians had all claimed to be playing for anything between two to twenty years. The two musicians I mentioned earlier who were harder to talk to were always respectful, never rude but curt . One of them was playing this really cool electric violin and made $35 odd and gathered a substantial crowd in the first 20 minutes of starting his performance so i can quite understand why he didn't care. All the musicians I spoke to with Anna as well as without, either spoke of their relationship with regard to the authorities, the commuter public as well as fellow musicians or sometimes I was lucky enough to observe some of these interactions first hand. Fellow musicians whether or not playing underground almost always were encouraging both monetarily as well as vocally. Some of these commuter musicians/enthusiasts had even developed acquaintances with these musicians. It is important for me to mention that during research we also discovered that the MTA conducts auditions for a limited number for permits to play legally and we only encountered one with a permit while the rest all played anyway. The local station authorities are usually cautious but even there relationships are cultivated. Joseph from west fourth told me about the advice he was given by another subway musician after being told to leave many times by the authorities, when he first started playing in the subway. He was advised to always be polite and keep going back to his spot (perseverance was his exact word of choice). Eventually the situation got so friendly that the cops or MTA officials at the station would give him a heads up when superiors were due for inspection so he wouldn't get a ticket.
All these musicians when asked of their motivation to play in the subway usually did acknowldge money but it was almost always preceded by their simple intention of getting people to hear their music or the joy it brought them while proudly pointing to their websites or myspace addresses cards and some claimed to have another job or of performing gigs at bars and clubs. Most carried CDs of their work which were either for sale or free with $10 donations. Among some other interesting musicians I met were this old man who told me he spoke little english in an accent unrecognisable as well as hard to comprehend , but intriguingly said he was from portland and had been doing this for 20 years playing three different instruments depending on his mood after his day job.
Another very interesting person we met was called Victor. Victor said he left Nigeria and that Jesus meant for him to come and play music here to speak of him. While I will leave the GOD discussion of delusion vs faith for philosophers or anyone else who cares but what was really interesting came soon after. Victor said that leaving his country to get where he was, was a struggle but once he knew he was here to play music everything simply worked out for him and he's been playing since.
Unknowingly Victor had told me that he was easily accommodated and probably helpfully too, assimilated into the world of these underground musicians.

Football Culture

This week, Susan and I researched and learned about online fantasy football and how sport fanatics not only watch and keep up with games but also create their own football teams and choose their players. It was interested to find that fantasy football seems real in some ways. Once, you join, you get to choose actual real football players to be on your team. You're matched up with other teams until Superbowl time. So this goes on for the actual entire football season. There is also a ring you get if you win if you're playing on yahoo fantasy football which I thought was funny. There are rules, managers, different leagues, updates on live football games playing each week so you can be up to date with everything. There is a section where you can check which players are injured for the season or for the time being. I was really surprised to find all this information and how intense fantasy football actually is.

What's in Mofongo?

Ashley and I went up to Spanish Harlem and asked around to find good Puerto Rican food. Here's where the neighbors sent us. A few guys outside said that the restaurant had been here at least 30 years, and that people come from all over to eat here. A vendor said that if you're visiting NYC from Puerto Rico, its a sure stop. Inside, we talked to a man who said he lived in Long Island and eats here whenever he's in the area.

Inside, people sat on stools at the main counter or at one along the wall behind. There was a steady crowd coming and going (mostly ordering takeout) the whole time we were there, and we were assured that on weekends there's a huge line that snakes out the door. We had to have a couple order for us because we had no idea what to get or what anything was, and the men behind the counter spoke very little English. Plus, when I asked what something that looked particularly good (or safe) was, it turned out to be Bacalao. I know enough from Italian-style Christmas traditions that Bacalao is codfish, so there you go.

Next to us, two Puerto Rican girls ordered takeout. One of them was eating Taco Bell, though they both said that "The food here is so good, you'll love it." She told me she just was addicted to Taco Bell. So our food arrives: an order of Mofongo (the tall mounded dish in the bottom picture) and sweet fried plantains. "What's in Mofongo?" we ask: "Mofongo!" the guy behind the counter tells us. Pressed a little further, he said it's plantains with pork skin all fried together. Up and down the counter, everybody was eating it. It was pretty good. There were two pieces of very hard pork on the side, and Ashley and I wondered if we were given overcooked meat because they didn't want us there. We also weren't sure if the wait staff was being rude. Afterwards, we agreed that it was just that our expectations of the food and service were different. And everyone's pork looked 'overcooked'.

While it wasn't a home-cooked Puerto Rican meal (that's for Wednesday night), this was a definitively New York-Puerto Rican experience. The fact that this restaurant is a neighborhood landmark, but not necessarily a social gathering space, attests to the unique meshing of culture here.

Puerto Rico

Gothic Culture: Dancing Take Two

The Opium Party is a new monthly event that takes place at Horus Lounge every second Sunday of the month. It is an event with gothic bellydancers, snake charmers, and burlesque noir.

Stella and I decided to attend this event to see a different side of the gothic culture. We had already danced and lip synced at Pyramid, so we decided to try something different but still in the scene. Upon arrival to Horus Lounge, we already noticed a few beautifully dressed goth ladies standing outside. Talking amongst ourselves off to the side for a bit, one of the tall ladies approached us and warmly greeted us, putting her arms around us. She asked if we were coming in and was delighted to hear that we were. Her name is Jeniviva and she actually hosts the party. She is a bellydancer, as well as a goth, and her aim with this event is to combine the two scenes/cultures so that they can be both be enjoyed and appreciated in a new way.


Upon entering, we received lovely cat stamps (designed after Jeniviva's cat!) and entered. The venue itself was small but the atmosphere was nice. There were a handful of people at the bar and sitting in the hookah areas, mostly goth although there were a few who were not. We took some seats off to the side to observe the atmosphere and see how people interacted. The music was spinning and soon enough there were dancers. Two of the dancers were close to us and we commented on how great she danced (the way she moved her hips was unbelievable..) and she was enthusiastic about our comment and explained that she was a dancer..as the night went on and more people danced, we worked up the nerve to join in among all the skilled dancers. Jennifer, the MC, and as we later learned, creater of Morbid Outlook magazine, was open and friendly, giving us tips on the scene, on fashion, and dancing when we told her we were new to the scene. Everyone was happy to have us dance and join in with them, even though it was clear we were very new at this. Everyone was receptive and welcoming, it was so nice to feel as if we were joining in and not interviewing! We danced and mingled until it was time to clear the floor for performances.

First us was Mya, doing a burlesque bellydance. The music was more rock than traditional bellydancing music, and her costume mixed gothic elements with traditional, making for a very unique but beautiful dance. After Mya came the next dancer, who did a beautiful graceful dance with fans and fabric, also combining traditional and non-traditional elements. After a DJ dance break, Mya returned to dance, but this time with a snake! This danced appeared more traditional in terms of music and movement, but became a very unique experience. After all the performances, everyone applauded, and the dancers joined the less skilled (like us! :) on the dancefloor, sharing, and smiling.




Below are a few videos of some of the dancers...enjoy!






After the performances, Jennifer (Mistress McCutchan) took up the DJ duties. Earlier in the night she was telling us about her online zine called Morbid Outlook (morbidoutlook.com) and gave us very informative tips and explanations and told her to check out the site (which is great!) The best part was that she offered all this herself without us asking or interrogating..she was just willing to help. Check out the website, it's very interesting!


(Sorrry for the incomplete post earlier - for some reason, only the video was showing up!)