Auditory Lust

I would like nothing more but to be in a dark space, with walls of sound permeating my skull. Abundances of distortion, fuzz, ethereal guitar loops, DRONING and general cacophony are vastly overdue. I just want to be taken to my happy place. Somewhere between my pineal gland and last night's nightmares would be great, thanks!

It has been far too long since I have been to a show that rocks the teeth out of my skull.

I want to feel every cell in my body vibrate.

Continuous chills traveling the landscape of my spine like a CESSNA gliding over the shifting surfaces of a rugged scene.

An oratory experience.

I have been consumed with dredging along in the monotony of everyday life.

I need to escape.

Take me away.

  

Insects and Angels

Look for me in this issue of Insects and Angels Magazine with the lovely, twisted Dr. Mangor.

I am in one of his shots they featured.

Enjoy!

¡El Pueblo Unido, Jamás Será Vencido!

"The people united, will never be defeated!"

Tension building like a coil about to spring.
Proverbial spasms riddle collective consciousness.
Something just isn't right.
Nightmares every night,
Waking up drenched in acrid sweat.
With a heavy heart,
Sighing in poignant unison.
Leaders come and gone.
Ephemeral memories of empowerment held in our hands,
Hearts,
Minds,
Voices.
Now it's time to speak.
Si se puede!
She's ready.
Ready to shake us off like a case of bad fleas.
There are those of us who can sing,
Who can feel,
Who know.
Time is of the essence.
Sands slipping between the unforgiving fingers of time.
This isn't a game.
Chilling grip encroaches upon delicate, succulently vascular cavernous lungs.
Bags filled with arbitrary gasses, flesh and blood.
Unsuspecting with each capricious breath.
Chemical exchanges between paper-thin tissues.
Engorged.
Pink with of red and blue tinges- like a ruby or a rose petal,
So perfect you could just...
Tear it up.

Balarama Heller

Technicolor Paints Prismatic Ballet

I started working at Technicolor in their Worldwide Marketing and Branding department as of a couple weeks ago and it has been a great experience so far.

I had the opportunity to help edit, write the blurb and title the front page article on technicolor.com this past week and it just went up yesterday.

It is a piece on Aronofsky's, Black Swan. 

Check it out here!

My team liked my input and has since said that they see me getting my feet wet in copywriting. I don't mind whatsoever. I let my manager know how much of a treat it was for me to have this project given to me and let her know to not hesitate anytime she has any writing or editing project to send my way.

William S. Burroughs was a copywriter before he went on to write his novels, after all :)

All I Want for Christmas is a Xoloitzcuintli

These are one of the most ancient dog breeds on record. They gave the Aztec's companionship. They were though to have healing powers... but also would be sacrificed sometimes. In some parts of rural Mexico their meat is still eaten due to the belief that it contains healing powers, Can't say I'm on board for that part, but nonetheless. A Xolo!

Xolo's are said to not be susceptible to disease due to their rich gene pool and have an incredible temperament. Loyal, lapdogs, moderately active, obedient, very intelligent, good with kids, and protective (something that I would look for in a dog).

I find them to have a regal appearance and actually prefer the hairless variety. Normally I don't care for hairless animals, so that's a change. 

I like that they are solid like a pit bull without being too stocky. Xolo's still have the graceful necks of a hound and a nicely shaped head.

If only, if only. 

Can't have a dog where I'm at right now. Maybe in a few years. I'll just have to hang tight until then.

Jewell

Growing Out Your Hair Really Can Be a Bitch

An uncommonly trite post about girly things is warranted time and again, right?

So, I am in the middle of the painful process of growing out my hair. I have been on this journey for the past year (as of February).  Attempts to do this before ever since I hacked off all of my locks into a crop in '08 have been with no avail. Seeing that I am of the curly variety of our diverse species, this process is much longer then preferred then that of the fine, straight haired breeds. Not an expedient process in the least.

Here's a short walk down memory lane. Pun intended.

Pre-hair-being-non-existent:

My hair was down to my mid-back and was like a lion's mane. That was it's nickname in fact, my "mane." It really personified my personality well and was a good juxtaposition to my diminutive stature. 

Then I had the impulse to chop it all off. So I did. I don't regret it, but man, it is a PROCESS. Observe.

2008 when I had a boy cut. This is actually my boyfriend Chrix and I's first date (sort of) on Catalina Island!

2009: A year later to my bob phase...

And into February of this year, 2010 which was the last time I cut my hair. I shaved the sides of my head too. I loved having them shaved, honestly. Chrix hated it, but I was obsessed. I think once I reach my goal length I will probably shave them again.

Present day. This is the longest my hair has been in almost three years. It's crazy to think about but it will definitely make me think twice before I hack everything off again. I wouldn't mind going back to a sculpted, rounded bob, EVENTUALLY. But as of now, I am on the daunting, arduous road to getting back to where I was circa 2007. Once there, I will be chilling with the length for a while.

Anyway, now that I am feeling an immense sense of guilt for spending half an hour of my time writing about my god damned hair, I'm going to go back to being a news hound or look up some inspiring material.

I-shake-my-fist-feebly-at-you-Catholic-upbringing-despite-the-fact-that-I-reject-and-resent-everything-you-are-and-represent-Catholic-upbringing!

With love and dissent,

Jewell 

The Boxer Rebellion

Given, this news is a bit dated, but in case you didn't know, Barbara Boxer and Diane Feinstein came to speak at the Grand Salon at CSUN on October 29th.

I covered the event photographically and journalistically, capturing some key points Boxer made. Though the election has since passed, I feel that the issues are still pertinent and we should all give a sigh of relief that California made the choices it did at the ballot box.

The Boxer Rebellion

Boxer greeting audience after rally

Barbara Boxer came to rally the troops October 29th at CSUN's Grand Salon.

Her messages emphasizing relationship building, creating and retaining jobs, fighting for women's rights, and the environment all appeared to strike a chord with everyone at the space. "This election is such a clear choice," Boxer said to those sitting loyally in front of her.

She said she passed legislation the saved 16,000 teacher's jobs without adding a penny to the deficit. All done by trimming tax breaks from companies who ship jobs overseas, she said.

"What is disgraceful about making sure our children have teachers in the classroom? It's not disgraceful. It's critical," Boxer said to the crowd cheering.

Boxer reiterated her position on abortion rights. "I have been a champion for choice my whole life," she said. Prior to Roe v. Wade these women did not have the right to choose. Women's right to their bodies may come under fire if she lost her seat in the Senate, she explained.

The crowd chanted, "Boxer! Boxer! Boxer!" As she walked to the microphone, she had a sense of energy and confidence.

There was a young man in the crowd proudly donning a shirt with the words, "Repeal Don't Ask Don't Tell."

Fiorina, the Republican opponent was mentioned in the course of her speech. "She supports tax breaks to millionaires and billionaires and shipping jobs overseas," she stated "She wants to drill off our coasts," Boxer said. She said it is not just an environmental issue, but also an issue about jobs. She explained how our ocean supports 400,000 coastal economy jobs. "Those jobs would be lost," she said plainly when discussing the reality of an oil spill like the BP accident happening off the coast of California.

"This election is about the future of America," Boxer stated. The energy of the audience was tangible as Boxer went on, "This isn't about partisanship, it's about the greatest country in the world."

Photo: Jewell