PixelCouture.com: Intellectual Property

RoboBar

2005-12-02T16:24:00.000-08:00

No more hooking up with the hot bartender in the future. It despenses drinks afterscanning ids - its called RoboBar!

"You select on the screen what you want to drink, like beer, wine or soda," said Ron Potter, senior director of emerging technologies at Motoman, RoboBar's manufacturer. "Then it'll bring up the choices you've got for that, so there might be eight or nine different liquors, you know, vodka, whiskey, etc., and then you choose the mixers."

It would have to be implemented in yucky places because no four star resteraunt I know of would go for this. I think I want one in my house though!

"What a horrible idea," laughed Rob Bookman, counsel for the New York Nightlife Association. "We're in the hospitality business — we do more than just serve drinks. You can stay home if that's all you want."

"Part of going out is — whether it's to a bar or a restaurant — the human connection and the atmosphere," he said. "I think the bartenders at our establishments are the highlight in many cases and the heart of the establishment."

Does he still like me?

2005-12-01T03:12:00.000-08:00

People always blame fading love on boredom, but a Psychoneuroendocrinology journal just published a study by Italian scientists about the "social chemistry" of the chemical NGF. Though it is not known why higher levels of the chemical are present in failing lovers, a correlation has been drawn.

The powerful emotions that bowl over new lovers are triggered
by a molecule known as nerve growth factor (NGF), according to Pavia University researchers.
The Italian scientists found far higher levels of NGF in the
blood of 58 people who had recently fallen madly in love than in that of a group
of singles and people in long-term relationships.
But after a year with the same lover, the quantity of the 'love molecule' in their
blood had fallen to the same level as that of the other groups.

American Girls = Lesbianism?

2005-11-29T08:12:00.000-08:00

People are freaking out over American Girls' so-called new pact with the devil. The popular book series promotes feminine strength through traditional roles. They are written from the perspective of young girls throughout US history. I remember the magazine form that I wanted my parents to sign in fifth grade. The interesting thing being that it was from Girls Inc. That was ten years ago, so get your facts straight, haha, straight. People have a problem with the company because they offer resources on lesbianism and choice. They aren't telling girls to be lesbians, but offering such young girls positive role models can only be good for society. They are saying that lesbians can't be wholesome and the word American in the title means they must be Christian and therefore, pro-life.

"Parents associate American Girl dolls with wholesome American family values, yet Girls Inc. contradicts parents' most basic moral beliefs," Scheidler said. "We're encouraging parents, grandparents and other family members to write and call American Girl President Ellen L. Brothers to object to the company's support for Girls Inc."

Treating developing young girls like they are bad because of the way they experience love is sick, not the other way around. Some people seem to not like anybody, so when they've sent everyone away...they'll be left with themselves, which they won't enjoy either.

Trash Friday

2005-11-28T09:08:00.000-08:00

Black Friday, indeed. I suppose you have all heard about the person that was mauled down in a Walmart store trying to get a laptop for less...crazy.
I was out shopping the day before Thanksgiving and a very (too) peppy salesgirl started going off on her post-holiday shopping plans.

I didn't think about it again 'till Black Friday afternoon when my neighbors stopped by, sporting 2 new MP3 players, boots and ect. Word on the street is that Best Buy had EMacs for 150 dollars.
I guess I was raised on another planet, because we always tried to avoid the holiday rush, not be trampled down by it. God, what a disgusting consumeristic society we live in. I'm sure the "Black Friday Walmart Scare" will double sales for next year...everybody wants to be part of the action...its like we were talking about in class, companies manufacture lifestyles - and we buy into it. P.S. Do NOT shop at WalMart...unless you want to continue outsourcing and obliterate the American labour practices that we've established.

CNN, Busted Again...

2005-11-21T17:41:00.000-08:00

CNN should change their logo to "Old News". Yet again, they missed the memo on what's "new". I guess the fact the Pope was wearing red Pradas was national news, but they should, at least, get their facts straight. They thought it would be cute to mention the book "The Devil Wears Prada", that was published in 2003. They actually described the book as "brand new", like they have frequently done incorrectly with many other trends. Everyone slips, but they should prompt the girl giving the story on dates so she can sound somewhat coherant. Click here to see that the book is not currently on the best NYTimes best seller list.

What's the harm in believing?

2005-11-16T14:31:00.000-08:00

Maybe its not advisable to be an optimist after the age of 30. Maybe pessimism is something we have to start applying daily, like moisturizer, otherwise, how do you bounce back when reality batters your belief system and love does not, as promised, conquer all? Is hope a drug we need to go off of, or is it keeping us alive. What's the harm in believing? - Carrie Bradshaw in Original Sin

Savage Michael

2005-11-15T18:30:00.000-08:00

Early in my college career, I started listening to Michael Savage during my long commute to school. His badly designed website has a picture of a beheaded little girl, first thing on the agenda and proceeds to bitch about France, China and his other usual garbage. He has ads on his site for a company that sells tucker hats, skinny 'lil tank tops and even baby bibs & onesies with phrases such as: "Even on drugs, Bush is right", "My heroes have always been cowboys"(with 2 pics of John Wayne), "Enjoy capitalism", "The second ammendment, America's original homeland security"(with numerous rifle pics), "Peace though superior firepower" and "Actually these colors do run the world"(with a US flag). He admitted, himself, on the air today that he doesn't know anything about economics. Now tell me please, because I'm curious, what a person that doesn't have a clue about economics is doing leading masses of people on cultural issues? I understand, Michael, that you are trying to preserve what is left of a fading culture. You are standing up for your rights, which is your duty as a citizen of the United States, but your mass generalizations sound uneducated. You stand up for your rights, I'll stand up for everyone's and we'll see what future generations will think of us.

Hidden Cultural Imperialsim

2005-11-15T13:57:00.000-08:00

Bush Tries to Strengthen U.S. Influence: So, I guess Bush wants to strengthen his reputation in Asia now that China is becoming a world power. "Bush wants Japan to play a stronger role in Asian security issues, perhaps as a counterbalance to China's growing strength, vast army and designs on U.S. ally Taiwan." A counterbalance to China's growing strength? Sounds to me that he's scared, but what's to fear? Everyone's talking about "China Rising", but do people really think that they'd be anything other than benevolent? It's North Korea that has us tagged, not China. State Minority leader, Harry Reid said that, "China's non-democratic government has taken actions and pursued policies that understandably stoke concerns and fears in America." I suppose some Americans fear that their un-democratic-ness is a threat to their way of life, but...Wait. Sweden is a model western country these days and they're socialist! They pay 50% in taxes but work fewer days and less hours a day! There are virtually no homeless, have high net worths and everyone gets a few months of vacation. They are very socially progressive, as well. All I am attempting to do by saying this, is to explore the social taboo in this country about non-democratic countries. The U.S. seems to be hiding their cultural imperialism behind philanthropy. Please call a spade a spade, then you'll earn my respect.

Trading Controversy

2005-11-15T03:32:00.000-08:00

A recent Trading Spouses aired showing a new-agey and a bible-thumping family walking a mile in each other's shoes. What an accurate portrayal of the polorization of US politics. The show always chooses opposites, so as to create a more interesting charade, such as a vegetarian and a carnivorous familiy in a previous episode. What I really liked about them showing the Perrin family was how real and significant their situation is. (They made the right-winger really crazy) I was raised Catholic, study and recognize the importance of religion but there are alot of ignorant people out there making spirituality look BAD, and Mrs. Perrin is one of them. For family bios and an episode rundown please click here.

A scratch ticket and some emergency contreceptive, please?

2005-11-15T01:35:00.000-08:00

Audit Faults FDA on Morning-After Pill : Emergency contreceptives over the counter? Here's the lowdown on the emergency contreceptive option, known as "Plan B". Many confuse it with RU-486, the abortion pill. The Morning-After Pill must be administered within 3 days of unprotected sex because it prevents pregnancy instead of terminating it. It's really a high dose of progestin (birth control pills) to trick your body into thinking its already pregnant so the egg does not attach, the same way traditional birth control works. An alternative to abortion seems like a good thing, but what about allowing "over the counter" sale? Many think it would be a good idea, because patients have problems getting a prescription in time. It may not be such a good idea to deregulate the substance for a few reasons. Ordinary birth control pills aren't even over the counter substances because of the risks. If a patient does not react properly to the substance, many complications and liabilities could occur. It is definatley an issue pending an answer.

Presidential Pucker!

2005-11-14T10:10:00.000-08:00

Arabs, doggies and...Oprah? With the growing economic divide & national debt, an uberlow approval rating and everyone pretty much hating us, its a good thing W. can relax.

Political Economy

2005-11-11T19:30:00.000-08:00

I liked the discussion in class about Bourdieu. It doesn't seem boring anymore because I understand it better. This scheme was very significant for my perspective. Especially when he was talking about how Clinton and Bush are the same.

Disgruntled Hawaiians?

2005-11-04T02:48:00.000-08:00

http://www.realhapas.com/

"Several reasons California Wanna Be Hapas feel they can steal a Hawaiian term are because they have the numbers (more than 3,000,000 mixed Asians in California to 401,162 or so total Hawaiians see Census 2000 Table 4;) more power; and more money than Hawaiians do. See Asian Population Demographic Data According to the Census 2000. They also have mixed Asians who have Ph.D's yet these professors perpetuate the lie that "hapa" means "half or mixed Asian." Hawaiians are rarely represented in doctorate programs."

"BUT are the Hawaiian Hapas powerless to the exploitation by both the California Wanna Be Hapas and elite mixed Eurasians? Today they are but with proper leadership and activism, Hawaiian Hapas can easily regain their culture, identity and history from the colonizers. They need to hold protests at all universities which approved charters to these so-called Hapa organizations. We predict this will happen in the next couple of years. Hawaiian Hapas should also contact other activist organizations and build a network to fight these colonizers and regain their cultural identity and terms. The days of the California Wanna Be Hapas and elite mixed Eurasian dominance are now coming to an end."

The Silent Scream

2005-11-02T16:44:00.000-08:00

The Silent Scream

by Gerrie (me!)

You walked in the room

And chill ran down my back

The convo was insane

Like we were both on crack

Speaking to me normally

And looking in my eyes

Fills me with disgust

Cause I can smell your lies

I can sense it like an animal

The vibe I got don't lie

You're so damn obvious

It makes me want to cry

When I say some words

I can see it when you flinch

I'd rather watch the movie

To kick it with the Grinch

If you really don't like me

Then please don't tell a lie

But you're so damn obvious

It makes me want to cry

I can sense it like an animal

The vibe I get don't lie

You're so damn obvious

It makes me want to cry

One day I went out on the town

To get something to drink

I wanted to just loose myself

But someone made me think

She told me all the stuff you said

That sounded real insane

I'd rather stare at puke

than know the contents of your brain

I can sense it like an animal
And the words I heard don't lie

You're so damn obvious
It makes me want to cry

That Conceited Girl

2005-11-02T16:40:00.000-08:00

That Conceited Girl
by Gerrie (me!)
All the boys are lookin' at me
Lost in a fantasy
Take a picture if you want
Cause I got my shit to flaunt
I see the girls, theyre lookin' at me
They see a girl that they could never be
They can hate me if they want
Cause I got the shit to flaunt
Everyone's always lookin' at me
Cause they have eyes and they can see...
Be jeaulous if you want
Cause I love the shit I flaunt

My Favorite Shoes

2005-11-02T02:55:00.000-08:00

My Favorite Shoes

By Gerrie (me!)

I was so afraid

I didnt know what I should do

My whole world was spinning

I was so damn pissed at you

You were such a bitch

I didn't know what to believe

Then I asked Miss Cleo

And heres what she said to me

Don't you be afraid

I see a bright road here for you

Let the world stop spinning

Let me tell you what to do

If she's such a bitch

Why is she easy to believe

Just focus less on her

And send twenty bucks to me

So then i said

That this has been

The worst day of my life

Its like they stole my favorite shoes

And shred them with a knife

Not only has my world come down

But no one gives a fuck

I cant find my favorite shoes

And i lost twenty bucks

I was so pissed off

I didn't know what I should do

My whole world was spinning

I was so damn pissed at you

You were such a bitch

I didn't know what to believe

I guess ill focus less on you

And get some shoes for me

He Made Me Feel Like a Princess

2005-11-02T02:44:00.000-08:00

He Made Me Feel Like a Princess

By Gerrie (me!)

He made me feel like

I was a fairytale princess

Like he came to rescue me

From my crystal tower

He knew how to make me happy.

It was like a movie

Starring Katherine Hepburn

Wearing big glasses

Or Mariyln Monroe

On the wrong side of the track

I felt so damn pretty

There was nothing I could do

But completely fall for you

Cause you made me feel

Like I was fairytale princess

Like you came to rescue me

From my crystal tower

You did things to make me happy

Then it was like

We went from watching a movie

To playing a card game

Aware of every little move

You have to play the strategy

To really really get to me

Otherwise i wouldn't have cared

But you caught me unprepared

Because you made me feel

Like i was fairy tale princess

Like you came to rescue me

From my crystal tower

You made me so unhappy.

Party Girl Problems

2005-11-02T02:17:00.000-08:00

A long time friend and I got into a fight...and it got brutal. She posted all of this exagerated stuff about me on MySpace and I wanted to die. We were friends forever...anyway, it's helped give me perspective and a reality check on friendships...it's not just the new ones that are vapid and shallow, it's the old ones too...

Innocence Wild

2005-10-21T01:15:00.000-07:00

Metamorphose Elegant Gothic Lolita Fashion has quality clothes in the Japanese Lolita Style trend that has become popular all over the world. I love this pink dress. LolitaSnap -- The Gothic Lolita photo community has message boards and photos.

By dressing up like babies, the Lolitas are attempting to hang on to the carefree days of childhood, she says" (Parker). For others, Lolita style is a way of connecting with the past, specifically an innocent, beautiful version of the past. "I'd like to go back in time, like to the era of Marie Antoinette, says Yoko Oguchi, a 24-year-old nurse who attended a pop concert in Tokyo wearing a red pinafore, a gigantic white bow in her hair and white high-heeled Mary Janes. "I wish the whole world were like this" (Parker).

"Atsuko Takagi, 23, who recently visited Tokyo from northern Japan, walked around in a ruffle-covered, black-and-white dress and says that the Lolita style gives her a sense of power. I normally look down at my feet, but when I'm wearing my Lolita outfit, I'm more confident, she says. "This is the real me" (Parker).

For Akiko.

2005-10-20T23:34:00.000-07:00

This is for Akiko in my Women's Issues class. She was curious about some pop culture I was telling her about. This is a Gangura Girl. In Japan, they use a load of fake tanner and peroxide to come up with this pop culture look. Theyre seen wearing frosty white eyeshadow and Hawaii/California type accessories. Many sources have said that this trend is a rebellion against conformity by playing the opposites of ideal Asian beauty, which is black hair and pale skin. Click here to check out another popular trend: Lolita. Click here to see pics of Kawaii: The Cult of Cuteness. The site also has many other Japanese trends you can check out.

A quote from the paper I wrote last term: One source read: "At the beginning of the twentieth century Western culture appeared fascinated by exotic cultures from around the world. At this turning point in our culture musicians and artists inherited the use of "the other" as exoticism, the realm of the forbidden." (Duke).

Ketchup.

2005-10-20T03:49:00.000-07:00

I breached that stress point where everything is accumulating and you have-to-take-charge-of-the-situation-or-wind-up-a-helpless-bum today, so I made a list of all the things that were stressing me out (i.e. the things I have procrastantated on) and started checking them off one by one. I always feel more in control after I've completed a book and two papers, don't you?

College Wisdom.

2005-10-17T09:47:00.000-07:00

As a senior, I believe that I do have a few years of college partying under my belt. Here's the obvious things you should know.

1. Don't puke in public. No, really, this is important.

2. Drama really is stupid, I know there are these songs saying it's stupid, but it really is in RL too. Don't get caught up in it. (this is easy if you're dramatic, stick to broadway & give your social-life a break)

3. Don't wear shoes that fall off. You'll loose 'em. Especially if you're nuts like me.

4. Know your friends, and stick with 'em.

5. Doing guys gives other people ammo...

6. Pre-set your tab amount, GOOD LORD, everyone over 21 has had some insane drunk-tab-signing experience.

7. Don't require all the attention...blend a little, but sparkle, subtlety is key. Really...no one wants a big yellow flasher on their ass, and that's what hanging out with the attention-whore is like.

8. Don't be obnoxious to get a dude's attention, they really don't like it.

9. Cut some of that high-school "everyone's-gotta-fake-super-goody-to-please-the-'rents-garbage" out. I'm not your mommy.

10. Always consider yourself a politician-in-training. If you wouldn't want it on the news, you probably shouldn't do it. No one wants their Mardi Gras flashing escapades as everyones cell wallpaper.

That's it baby. Don't party too hard, it's unwholesome. P.S. If you're thinkin', hey Gerrie...I've seen you do all this stuff, my answer is simply: "they don't call it wisdom for nothing".

Have a Sexy Halloween.

2005-10-17T08:56:00.000-07:00

So, this is the outfit I'm wearing for Halloween! My friend Kristi and I are going to go barhopping...I think we'll have fun...catch us around P-Town. She's going to be sexy Red Riding Hood. Dontcha just love fairy tales? I do.

Sad Songs.

2005-10-16T22:44:00.000-07:00

Was listening to Waltz #2 (Patrick's Song) and became a little somber so I had to put on Justin Timberlake. There's nothing like hearing a hot guy sing "Senorita, I feel for you, you deal with things that you don't have to" that perks you up. Don't tell anybody.

Right Now's Playlist

2005-10-16T22:08:00.000-07:00

Annie Lennox - Into the West
Ricky Martin - Livin' la vida Loca
Pussycat Dolls - Don't Cha
New Found Glory - Head on Collision
Ciara - Oh
Ciara - 1, 2 Step
Nelly - Over and Over Again
Lil' Jon & Ect. - In Da Club
Kid Rock & Sheryl Crow - Picture
Justin Timberlake - Senorita
Eminem - Mocking Bird
Elliot Smith - Waltz #2
DHT - Listen to Your Heart
Destiny's Child - Soldier
Christina Augilera - Walk Away
50 Cent - Candy Shop