Bella Traición (Beautiful Treason)

Here is the link for the story of Gabreila Vargas, the victim of her own Beautiful Treasons. Please follow the link below and listen to her story. Listen intently. And please enjoy.

Beautiful Treason -->we ask that you pause the recording in between buildings or destinations. Here is also a map to help you on the way.

If you are feeling any distress in your life please don't hesitate to call. I've seen people become consumed with troubles that could've been easily resolved if they had've reached out and picked up a phone. Kids Help Phone 1 - 800 - 668 - 6868. 

Embodiment Seminar Whoo!

Please just follow the link to MediaFire site where the presentation is available for download.

Embodiment Seminar

Mini Assignment WHooo.

Here's the beginning of our project, check it out. 

Click Here To Download

Jobs For The Group.

     I'm in a group with Mauri and Pablo. Mauri and I are acting as the writers of our fantastical story, Pablo is our head recorder and recruiter of interviewees as it were.

     Mauri and I are expanding on an idea I first came across while reading a book called 13 Reasons Why by Jay Asher. He was actually inspired by walking audio tours and based his teen novel off of the suicide of a girl, whose suicide note was recorded on a number of cassettes and sent around town. Now Mauri, Pablo and I are currently researching through the York's data base to see if any relevant information or particular cases come into light.

     In the mean while Mauri and I are writing, composing a story loosely based on this concept. Pablo is our director of recording and is bringing in different voice actors/actresses to be recorded. If any new information comes up concerning real historic events that happened at York, new posts will  be put up.

The Sounds of Murmur.

      On March 6th, I took a trip down town Toronto to listen on the "[hear you are] murmur" project. I took the Yonge-University-Spadina Line down to St. Andrew's station. I walked down on Spadina until I stood outside the Bright Pearl dim sum restaurant (apparently the best dim sim in the GTA). I noticed on of the murmur ears posted on the streetlight post right outside the restaurant. When I dialled the number and gave the extension the voice I received was that of Dave Fingurt who started off by detailing the architecture of the building.

     He then further explained that the restaurant used to be the original Labour Lyceum, which has since moved to a street near by. As well he explained some political actions that occurred at the street corner in the 30's concerning a political feminist, activist.

    This woman, Emma Goldman who gave a speech called "Youth In Revolt" concerning the position of the youth of Toronto in politics. She was actually American born but got "kicked out" of the U.S. for her activist work and lived the remainder of her life out in Toronto. He described that a few of the posters from the original event are still lying around in odd places. The event, he said, was put on by a group called Arbiter Ring which is still in existence as well and is associated with the lyceum and other political events such as those.

     The information all in all was very fun and informative, although with all of the comings and goings of the surrounding Chinatown, it made it a little hard to hear what he was saying. As well the wind wasn't too friendly on that day either which added itself as a distraction. My plan was to, after listening to murmur, eat at the Bright Pearl (cause its apparently the best dim sum in the GTA). As I'm walking up the side entrance a sign reads, "CLOSED FOR RENOVATION!" Just my luck, all the same though, I had lunch at a neighbouring restaurant called "Taste of China" it was very good.

     All in all it was an enjoyable experience and I would love to stumble upon more murmurings of people who know the history, or just have interesting stories bout the great city of Toronto.

Embodiment Assignment

This is F.R.E.S.H. figuratively and literally. Check it out.

This is the PDF poster. The SketchUp model is available for download in the Google SketchUp 3D warehouse under the name 'F.R.E.S.H. Embodiment' created by the user jeffT.

     The back hood of the sweater has with it, a hollow layer (capable for inflating). This will be done via who micro fans that sit at either side of the hood, attached to it. These fans (when activated) are will circulate air thus inflating the sweater's hoodie for a comfortable portable pillow. 

     Both fans have separate activating mechanisms, bot located in the drawstrings of the hoodie. The drawstrings act much like those of any ordinary hoodie, they run themselves through the top collar of the hoodie. However, unlike most drawstrings, these are hollowed out allowing the necessary wiring to run through the to the buttons that activate the fans as well as the fans themselves.

     The drawstring buttons use rechargeable batteries, similar to coin cells, in order to function, however, these may eventually loose power depending on the use of the sweater. In the eventuality that these batteries do loose power, you may unzip the hoodie and plug them into the portable charger that comes with the sweater. The charger may operate via AA batteries or via usb key plug in, into a computer. 

     The sweater also come with a zipper capable of detaching the fans, and drawstring activators without damaging the mechanism at large. this allows for the rest of the sweater, which is common fleece fabric, to be washed without causing harm to the electronic mechanisms. 

P.S. As well, the sweater is offered in a variety of fall and spring colours, wearable for any location.

P.P.S. The only part of the model what was downloaded from Google SketchUp 3-D Warehouse, was the male model. This being: the face, arms, legs, shirt (NOT INCLUDING THE ACTUAL HOODIE OF THE SHIRT), and pants. 

In Response to Mark Hansen "Bodies in Code"

For this week we had a reading done by Mark Hansen entitled "Bodies in Code" in which the primary focus was defining the relations to the body on a personal level as well on a technological level. Terms such as "body schema"or body images and its phenomenology were introduced and explained.

On the basis of where my relationship is to my won body, it is one that is defined by the "for me" system as I am conscious of my body's whereabouts within the world as well as it's functions that it performs. As well I believe it functions on Merleau-Ponty's conception of the body as being a displaced object in the world allowing access to the world through and via the body. On the basis of my body in relation to technology, I believe that it operates only as an extension of the conscious being that is myself. the technological aspect is not aware of its own functions let alone its relation to my body and thus can be used by the body that is "for me" as a tool for operating different executable tasks.