Random Thoughts in My Crazy Head

I'm not the common blogger. Most of the time I only write blogs when there's an idea stuck in my head for a longer time and I just need to get it out. Or I just post random things like videos, pictures, quotes that inspire me. Being a graduate student I try to keep these things at a minimum, but hey I'm only a human being ;)

[francyblogs-blog]

Day 7: Vast Lands

We didn't do much else than driving on August 27, 2011. And with parts like this it was pretty hard for me to not just fall asleep in the passenger seat--I gave in eventually.

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Day 6: Somethin' Is Wrong Here

Of course, we didn't try to drive a car like that. Our rental car was actually all shiny and white (and probably the car driven by most US Americans, a Chevy Impala).

While staying at Mammoth Lake we went to Bodie, a former mining town. It boomed some time in the late 1800s. Now, the town is left in a state of "arrested decay" as the official website calls it.

Walking through the streets was a little eerie, yet also interesting. Just imagine, a town with previously up to 2000 building and up to 7000 inhabitants, being left behind.

For this day, I had to choose two pictures because we left a little trace of ourselves at Mono Lake. I wonder if the sticker is still visible now?

[francyblogs-blog]

Day 5: From the Big City to Pure Nature

After staying on San Francisco for three days, overcoming our jet-lag, we finally went on our way east. A lot of driving, including many stops at Yosemite National Park with spectacular views just like the one in the picture. This picture still is one of my overall favorites.

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A Little Delay - But Now I'm Getting Started

In my last post I announced my decision to post a picture of last year's US trip each day for the next three months. There's a slight problem with that, though: I'm currently without internet at my place.

That's why I'll summarize Day 0 to Day 4 in this post, now.

And here they are, the first "Photos of the Day:"

Day 0

In the afternoon of August 20, 2011, all our bags were packed and we headed off to Berlin with our parents. It was tough fitting all my stuff into the suitcase and staying under the weight limit at the same time. I still don't know how I did it.

Day 1

This picture captures the total exaustion I felt after the flight from Berlin to San Franciso. The time we wasted because things at the car rental station didn't work out as expected didn't help much in that department.

Day 2

The first real day of our trip. We did things we hadn't done before, including a trip to the Twin Peaks. Since the American Studies Leipzig Newsletter carried that name, it was a trip long overdue.

Day 3

Where are the fairies? Looking at the picture now, that's the first thought I had.

I remember how quiet it was at Muir Woods last year. We were pretty much on our own in this part of the park. The contrast was even bigger since we had visited the Berkeley campus before. Orientation had just begun so there were a lot of freshmen running around.

Day 4

Nothing much to day about this picture, except for: Our first In-n-Out burgers during the trip. Since we left San Francisco the next day, it was another two months till we had the next ones.

You know, seeing that last picture is pretty mean 'cause I'd do a lot to actually get my hands on of these burgers just now.

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A Year Already?

Okay, I would be lying if I said, I just realized it's been a year since Katja and I headed of to our tvrip through the US. The thought has been stuck in my head for the last month or so. Still I can't believe it has been a year already. This time last year, we were packing (and re-packing) our bags. I know, it's a little weird that I can remember what happened twelve months ago but that's just how my brain is working. And knowing me, I'll be having thoughts of what was going on a year ago on a daily basis for the next three months. That's why I decided to post a photo taken during the trip each day, starting tomorrow. It's gonna be a "Photo of the Day"-kinda thing. Some might say that that's living in the past but that's not the case. I'm just so grateful that I had the chance to make all those great memories with my sister and I'm pretty sure I wouldn't be where I am right now without it. And that's why I want to this, to celebrate the amazing three months! So, look out for the photos (accompanied my a line or two) and drop me a line what you think of them.

[francyblogs-blog]

Life Without Social Media: Yes or No?

I don't know about you, but in my life Social Media plays quite a big role. Okay, I really want to work in that area so I better be on top with all developments and be a recent blogger, tweeter, facebooker, etc. Yet, I sometimes wonder what it would be like to not be constantly connected to the rest of the world. 'Cause let's face it, that's what Facebook, Twitter & Co. do to us.

I like browsing through blogs or my Twitter and Facebook feeds searching for interesting articles or small gimmicks putting a smile on my face. At the same time, I look forward to the days I spend at my parents' house simply because I am not connected the whole time. Except for once or twice a day I don't go online as much. At the same time I feel like I might be missing out on some exciting, shocking, surprising (and so on) news or development. 'Cause when I do get online, the amount of information is just too much to read it all. Yet, I'm  just as happy to have a more constant access the moment I'm back in Leipzig.

Now, I just read about a challenge initiated by Mashable: "Can You Survive Without Social Media for Two Weeks?" My initial reaction to it was, "Sure, I could do that," but thinking about it, I'm not so sure I'd really be able to stay off Facebook and Twitter for such a long time. I know I can do a day or two (I have done it before) but two weeks? That would be tough.

Mashable defines "disconnecting" as follows:

In our challenge, disconnecting from social media limits you to: emailing, SMS texting and content consumption via a news site or an embed video. This means you are not allowed to create or share any type of content. Actions like writing blog posts, uploading videos, commenting, Liking a comment, posting status updates, sharing a post, checking in, playing social games, chatting online, video chatting, or anything related to those actions are not allowed.

While the Mashable challenge is already over and the result have been published already, I still consider trying to stay off all Social Media for the next two weeks. On the one hand, I'd like to know, or rather remember, what it is like to not be connected like that. After all, I grew up with the early stages of online communities such as fan boards and chat rooms, a time when you were not constantly connected. On the other hand, I'm looking for a job in Social Media so maybe it's not the best timing to do it now. Then again, if I really get a job, there's no way I can stay disconnected for two weeks at a later point.

What do you think? Could you stay completely disconnected for two weeks? Do you even want to? And do you think I should try it so I could write about the experiences afterwards? Let me know!

[francyblogs-blog]

While browsing through my twitter feed, I came across one by Mashable referring to one of their articles. Centering around Jonah Lehrer's book Imagine (including an interview with Lehrer), ittalks about how creativity is not a God-given gift but something you can learn--or rather something you can re-learn as every child is creative by default.

I'm thinking about ordering the book. If I do, I'll write about it when I'm done reading.

[francyblogs-blog]

Of the Search for Jobs, the German Job Center, and Growing Up

The most important thing first: I don't really want to grow up completely but with my MA Thesis handed in and my official graduation drawing close, I don't have much of a choice but to act all grown up and search for a job. A task that may sound a lot easier than it actually turns out to be.

I try to stay positive but, at times, it can be a little devastating. I'm a university graduate with a MA degree which means that I studied for the last five years. I'm also 25 years old which means I went from high school straight into higher education. Yet, that doesn't seem to be enough to get a job. Most of the job announcements I find have one thing in common: they look for someone with something between two to five years of experience. Even some announcements for entry-level jobs or internships request this. Can you believe that?

Every time I see something along those lines, I want to scream: "Hello, how am I supposed to do that? You want me to be as young as possible, have the highest possible degree, and the experience of someone who has worked for twenty years already. Can't you decide for one of these things?" This especially happens with Social Media jobs: How is someone supposed to have five years of experience in that field? If you've got an answer for this, please feel free to share.

Despite the limitations, I apply to some of these jobs, keeping in mind something Dennis Loy Johnson, founder of Melville House Publishing, said during this year's Book Fair in Leipzig. He explained that for him hope was more important than experience when founding his company. As an artist and a blogger he didn't know much about publishing and still he went for it. His company turned 10 last year and they are successful. I try to keep this in mind at all times. (So far I haven't gotten any feedback on my applications)

As if the job search isn't difficult on it's own, there's something else I have to deal with at the same time: the German job center. In general, I think it's a good idea that Germans have social security but it's just annoying that everyone is treated the same. It doesn't matter if you're a recent graduate who really wants to work or someone who hasn't had a proper job in years--everyone has to go through the same motions. At least, this makes me want to find a job even faster so that I don't have to deal with all this official stuff too long. That's actually one reason why I try not to be too picky about where I send applications to. The sooner I get a job, the better.

Overall, all this diminishes my wish to grow up completely further. Let's hope I find something soon so I can stop doing it (growing up, that is).

(BTW, if any of you comes across job announcements you think I might be interested in, let me know ;) )

[sirinthada]

[francyblogs-blog]

Good question...

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Isn't this the sweetest doodle one can imagine for Valentine's Day?

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I'm surrounded...

...by aliens!!!

No, just kidding. I'm surrounded by my own thoughts--not that there's much of a difference to it.

As some of you might know, I'm in the final stages of writing my thesis (Yeah!). Since there's so much going on in my head I find it hard to keep track of everything--or to put short: My mind's a total mess.

That's why I had to find a way to get everything out when it hits me without having thousands of post-its flying around my place. Turns out, windows and mirrors (and every other surface that is easy to clean) are great to scribble down thoughts, ideas or simply brainstorm.

So that's what I've been doing the last weeks, resulting in notes being almost everywhere I go.

You don't believe me? Well, here's some proof:

[sirinthada]

Oh the choices you make… And what they reveal.

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Mine is filled with water, what about yours?

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The real (not virtual) version of Photoshop. By Brett Amory (www, fb).

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A new global treaty could allow corporations to police what we do on the Internet. Last week we successfully pushed back the US censorship bills -- if we act now, we can get the EU Parliament to bury this new threat -- add your voice now!

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US States I've Been To

I know I shouldn't be procrastinating but I just felt the urge to check how many US states I've been to already. With last year's trip the list got considerably longer.

If I didn't forget any (or didn't count them correctly) it should be it should be 32. Not bad, right? Okay, some of them I didn't really visit but just passed through but still... I've seen quite a bit of that country. And I'm looking forward to see more of it in the future (hopefully).

Anyway, here's a little map showing where I've been to exactly. (Just as a little note: I didn't make it up the west coast this time. I've been to Oregon and Washington during previous trips.)

My Visited US States

Get your own Visited US States Map from Travel Blog

[laughingsquid]

The Joy of Books, A Stop-Motion Animation of a Bookstore Coming Alive at Night

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It's just adorable...