NY Times: Today’s Lab Rats of Obesity: Furry Couch Potatoes

Published: February 19, 2011

Laboratory tests are now being done on monkeys to study the "twin epidemics of obesity and diabetes" and to test new drugs aiming at treating those conditions. Some of these monkeys are kept individually in cages for months and even up to a year and are allowed to eat as much as they want -- meant to mimic humans who are lazy and eat high fat foods with no exercise. These monkeys gain up to and sometimes even more than two times their normal weight. Once some of these monkeys die from these conditions, their brains and pancreases are examined. Mice, I understand being used for testing... granted, many time they do not mimic human reactions, but, putting innocent monkeys through this testing seems inhumane, and in my opinion, too harsh. Humans have caused themselves to become overweight... nobody and nothing else. If the monkeys weren't kept in small cages alone, and were allowed to roam free in some manner, it might lighten the situation. Although I fully understand that science, experimentation, and studies are necessary to improve our human race, I don't exactly agree with this "furry coach potato" imitation study with monkeys. Poor monkeys :(


http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/20/health/20monkey.html?src=ISMR_AP_LO_MST_FB

NY Times: In Morocco, Fears of Chaos Temper Calls for Change

Published: February 20, 2011

"You have to listen and accelerate change, because these kids want better things, not bad things.”

I think this protest going on in the Middle East has been a long time coming and I completely support this whole movement. A country where the population is dictated, manipulated, and sheltered from the outside, with technology where it is today, it was bound to happen. Internet or no internet for five days, (which shutting it off was an absolutely ridiculous attempt at demolishing contact with the outside world and was merely temporary), when such a large people so badly want change and decide the time is now, there's little that will stop the fight for it. I'm proud of the youth that have lead this protest -- the time IS now.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/21/world/middleeast/21morocco.html?ref=world

NY Times: Lawsuit Says the Military Is Rife With Sexual Abuse

Published: February 16, 2011

As designers, social issues are extremely important to be aware of -- so much of what we do and create influence and impact others. Social issues are always going to have some kind of an affect on us, and as long as they do, we should be aware of what is going on around us... if not just for the awareness, then for the influence that many of our designs may cast.

"You should not have to be subjected to being raped or sexually assaulted because you volunteered to serve this nation" ... or for any reason at all for that matter. Seventeen plantiffs are filing a federal lawsuit against the Department of Defense for being sexually assaulted and sexually harrassed by federal military personnel while serving duty. I think this is absolutely and completely outrageous, despicable, and unacceptable in every aspect. As if the world doesn't have enough hate and crime, our military is supposed to be made up of those who have nobly volunteered their lives to protecting our nation and the families and loved ones in it. To hear that they are abusing and harrassing one another, when they are supposed to be standing side by side as one is disgusting. The fact that women in the military are being sexually assaulted by their fellow male counterparts is terrible ... they are trying to help in protecting our country, not to be tortured by "their own kind." I really hope something is done in creating a safer environment in the military regarding this issue. The article discusses on providing more education and better practices, but I don't know how much this would help. I think drastic measures should be taken on this issue, which most definitely is not a light one. Not to be pessimistic, but I guess there really is corruption everywhere. It's like a disease. I hope my children are able to grow up in a society far from the one we live in.

Blood Diamonds

When I think of Blood Diamonds, I mainly seem to think of the wasted, barren, empty, dark, and dirty land and lives that suffer so terribly from mining of the blood diamonds. For my Blood Diamonds project, I have created designs that interpret this idea as well as more literal designs. These are based around the veins of the enslaved minors who are abused, mutilated, and murdered all for diamonds to fall into the hands of naive consumers to satisfy their materialistic desires. Whichever direction I choose to take, my pieces will be wearable, which I think appropriate to the issue -- taking form as either a series of brooches or a large, uncomfortable ring/"handpiece."

A good article on Conflict Diamonds from Ethical Metalsmiths webpage:
http://www.ethicalmetalsmiths.org/ConflictDiamonds.html

"There is a great power when a community discovers what it cares deeply about." --Rev. Dr. Steven Koski

http://ethicalmetalsmithsblog.blogspot.com/

An interesting and informative article I found on Eco-Jewelry:
http://greenlivingideas.com/2007/12/17/eco-jewelry/
"Glamorous gems, shiny silver, glitzy gold—how can we feel free to flash these around when so many bear the mark of harm to humanity and our planet? Fortunately for us, today there are many ethical and ecologically responsible alternatives to jewelry that is sourced in destructive and unsustainable ways." Awesome!

Casting!

Hello all! :)
I'm back in action this semester and I'm taking a casting class! I am a complete amateur when it comes to anything regarding metalsmithing in the form of casting. However, I am extremely excited to learn all the different techniques and methods that this process entails! Just by doing the cuttlefish casting sample, I can't wait to get my hands on wax to start really learning lost wax casting. A classmate ordered some supplies in bulk from Rio Grande so everything would be cheaper, so I'm still waiting to get all of that, hopefully tomorrow in class! We have already dove into our first two projects both using lost wax casting. Our first project, "Skeleton to Skin," explores the transition from a skeletal form to a solid form, one asymmetrical and one symemetrical, totaling eight pieces. Although they don't have to be wearable, I intend to make mine wearable, probably in a brooch form. Our second project is based on Blood Diamonds, interpreting our view on the issue, in any form from any direction. After a lot of research and sketching, I have come up with several solid ideas for this project as well. I think this is going to be a really good semester, not to mention a lot of work, but I am definitely looking forward to broadening my "horizons" with metalwork!
Cheers to a great semester! :)