Clever Title here

Lauren Mickel BCSC 102 BC11

[trybalfire]

Firedart

[lauren-bcsc]

Here's a little more of the fire dart. Check out this glimpse.

-Lauren 

[andispins]

Kalama Twirling Fire meetup/jam 11/23/14.

[lauren-bcsc]

Lemme tell you about Fire Jams. They are probably one of the best things EVER. You get a bunch of flow artists together with fuel, fire, and props, and you get a heck of a good time. Check out these guys.

-Lauren 

[firetoys]

mini hoop mayhem!

the hoop hooligans have been wrecking up the place with minihoops.

click through for the full video

[lauren-bcsc]

There's so much you can do with hoops. Hooping isn't all about seeing how long you can keep it on your waist! Off body hooping is amazing! Look at the crazy patterns these two are creating. 

Fun fact: A lot of patterns in flow stem from floral patterns. If you've ever seen the Flower of Life or the Seed of Life, you'll see what I mean. 

A lot of patterns are created on imaginary planes around the body. That's why it look so consistent and "flowy". 

- Lauren 

[dayglow-world]

Fire Hoop by CP Uniform on Flickr.

[lauren-bcsc]

A little bit of fire hoop makes my day

-Lauren 

[dreadedgrape-deactivated2016101]

poi spinning at oregon country fair

[lauren-bcsc]

Sometimes you don't always need fire to look stellar. This is awesome

-Lauren 

[lauren-bcsc]

Publicity done right in an anti-rape campaign: double-page spread, pages glued to one another. After the reader forcefully separates them, the image above is revealed with the caption “if you have to use force, it’s rape" - Imgur

Imgur is home to the web's most popular image content, curated in real time by a dedicated community through commenting, voting and sharing.

A clever ad. If it's forced, it's rape. 

Take a look

[lauren-bcsc]

Boy, do I enjoy funny comics. 

After doing my usual daily browse on Imgur.com, I came across this gem. Morgues are creepy, and how creepy would it be that the dead body next to you is alive (?).  

As you can see, in the last frame, the mortician is running like mad. I'd probably do that, followed by screaming. Or just assume it was a coworker and then regret opening the body bag. 

The goofy expression on the mortician's face just adds to the humour expressed in this comic. It's cheery and funny, but also a tad dark, considering there are dead bodies involved. 

This image was accessed through imgur.com

http://imgur.com/gallery/fGKR9

[lauren-bcsc]

Continuing the whole Post Modern music video thing, let's look at Grimes. 

Grimes is one of my favourite Canadian musicians. Her style is weird, somewhat futuristic, and has a electronic, dreamy sound to her music. 

Why do I love Grimes? Besides the fact that she's a successful Canadian musician, I find that her music is unique. Yes the whole electronic thing is huge in the younger generation, especially with ravers in the EDM scene, but Grimes has a different spin on things. She even describes her sound as "ADD music". Her music is random, with strange sounds that somehow all mix together to produce beautiful noise. 

Alright, so we got her sound down. Now what about the music video? We got some interesting clothing styles, we have lots of weapons including katanas and a mace. But can we take a look at Brooke Candy? She's the gal with the long pink dreads and the outrageous metal suit. Grimes actually met Brooke at a party in LA and was so drawn by her presence, she asked Candy to be the star of her video. Grimes also describes Brooke Candy as a contemporary muse and the Ryan Seacrest of indie culture. 

Grimes and Candy are both magnetic ladies and in this video, the music adds to their power which just makes viewers want to see more. 

Excuse me as I hit the follow button on Brooke Candy's instagram. 

This video was accessed via youtube through Grimes's music channel. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1FH-q0I1fJY

[lauren-bcsc]

Many first impressions are based on the type of clothing one wears. Personally, I like clothing that can be a little "out of the ordinary".

Voodoo Girl is one of my favourite clothing brands that features odd designs on many of their t-shirts, sweaters, pants, etc. The theme of their clothing is a sort of... cheerful grunge. Many of their products are featured on various clothing websites like PLNDR and DollsKill. 

Looking at the photos above, we can see some interesting tshirts that I actually just recently purchased online through PLNDR. They fit damn well and have soft, breathable fabrics that basically feels like I'm wearing a cloud. 

Hyponotic monkeys are eyecatching, unusual, and will definitely hyponotize you all to look at my great shirt. 

Secondly, who doesn't love adorable bone pentagrams on a lovely pastel pink? I promise I'm not a satanist. 

These photos were accessed via the Voodoo girl facebook page

https://www.facebook.com/vodoogirlcouture/photos_stream

[lauren-bcsc]

Creative and surreal artwork is the best kind of artwork in my opinion. 

Here, we have an interesting hobo-house-man who is quite flexible apparently. With lovely pastel colours, this piece of artwork screams girly, delicate, with a hint of  "what exactly am I looking at" . Long story short, I'd definitely put this in my room. However, according to Danielle Arden O'Malley's facebook page, this record painting lives in the bedroom of a wee 4 year old mini human. 

Danielle Arden O'Malley is a surreal artist based in California. A lot of her work consists of strange characters with spaced apart eyes and wide mouths, along with lighter colours. Her artwork is quite unique and fairly endearing once you go through all of her creations. Way to go O'Malley. You found the key to my heart. 

This image was accessed via O'Malley's facebook page.

https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/t1.0-9/482537_580499128700019_607743762_n.jpg

[lauren-bcsc]

Alright, so being someone with a ridiculous sweet tooth and a love for all things unusual, Voodoo Doughnuts was an obvious franchise for me to adore. 

Back in February, I went to a Model United Nations conference in Portland, Oregon and discovered heaven, aka Voodoo Doughnuts. 

This doughnut shop is not like any ordinary doughnut shop. After waiting in line for a good 20 minutes, I finally was able to eat my doughnut. It was covered in chocolate and chocolate chips, with a very delightful satanic pentagram draw in frosting. Other doughnuts include Voodoo Doll shaped doughnuts, doughnuts covered in bacon, doughnuts with frootloops, penis shaped doughtnuts. Basically any kind of doughnut you could dream of exists within the bakery in Portland. 

I'm not done yet. Did I mention you can also get MARRIED LEGALLY within these doughnut shops? Well you bet your keester you can. When the day comes for me to get hitched, I know where I'm hosting my wedding. Who needs traditional weddings anyway?

Yeah, still not done. Voodoo Doughnuts also has a record company! Mind you... they don't produce a ton of stuff, but the fact that this even exists is pretty stellar on their part. Plus, the songs produced are songs about doughnuts. 

These photos were taken via the Voodoo Doughnut facebook page and the Voodoo Doughnut Records facebook page.

https://scontent-a-sjc.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc3/t1.0-9/1451507_452458244860517_1072829894_n.jpg

https://scontent-b-sjc.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn2/t1.0-9/1485080_621501604592743_1791001875_n.jpg

The last photo was taken by me when I was in Portland. 

[lauren-bcsc]

Dramatic and powerful. The photographs taken by James Nachtwey capture world events like no other. 

These photo's were taken in 1994 for Time magazine where photo journalist, James Nachtwey, witnessed the horrors of the Rwandan genocide.  

Imagine 800,000 people killed in the most brutal ways. Hacked to death with hoes and machetes, heads bashed in, impaling, shot, raped and murdered. The Rwandan genocide was devastating and looking back on these horrors, how can be believe that human kind is capable of such disaster and bloodshed?

We constantly preach and fight for peace and love, but we as a race are still full of hatred. We are hypocritical and as much as we try, it's hard to get over our differences. 

I applaud the work of James Nachtwey, not only for his talented photography, but also his ability to withstand experiencing some of the most awful tragedies in history. 

The photos above feature a young man with scars along his face. Permanent reminders of the hacking and slicing during the war between the Hutu's and the Tutsi's . The second picture is of a group of skeletal corpses. During this time, the streets were littered with the decaying bodies of this massive genocide. 

These photos were accessed via lightbox.time.com

Photography by James Nachtwey 

http://lightbox.time.com/2011/04/06/when-the-world-turned-its-back-james-nachtweys-reflections-on-the-rwandan-genocide/#4

[lauren-bcsc]

Ever wanted to experience a far away place but never had the chance? More specifically.. the hustle and bustle of Tokyo City in Japan?

One of my good friends, Brian Hutson, is an aspiring videographer from Seattle, Washington. Recently, he took a trip to Tokyo and decided to share his experience in such a different culture. 

Food, lights, people, everything about Tokyo seems similar but at the same time, so difference. The lifestyle and culture of living in Tokyo is striking. After watching this video, it made me feel warm. I felt like I was experiencing Tokyo too, and all I want to do is book a flight to Japan. 

They say pictures say a thousand words, so videos must say more. And that they do... that they definitely do. Comparing Tokyo to Edmonton... what a difference. 

If any of you get a chance, I highly encourage you to check out more of Brian's videos. He's very talented and I love supporting friends :) 

This video was accessed through Brian's vimeo webpage. 

http://vimeo.com/brianhutson

[lauren-bcsc]

Dita Von Teese, the ultimate woman. She is the epitome of sex appeal and class. She is the glamorous, vintage vixen that many women aspire to be.

This lady has conquered the world with her exceptional burlesque talent, perfume times, and recently, her very own lingerie line labelled "Von Follies".

Pictured above is Von Teese at the launch of Von Follies at Debenhams, Oxford St London. She is standing next to two styles of lingerie within her line, both featuring delicate femininity and ornate lace patterns.  

This image was accessed via the Von Follies facebook page.

https://scontent-b-sea.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc3/t1.0-9/533510_234587333337875_1089402501_n.jpg 

[lauren-bcsc]

Anyone who knows me, or has me on facebook, will know of my obsession with Cheerios.  It's a good cereal! What can I say?

Naturally, I would have "liked" the facebook page for Cheerios and this came my way. As a promo for the Muppet's Most Wanted, Cheerios have created this neat art of Kermit the Frog! Creative and tasty! Now before you start sending me messages, indicated that these are probably "froot loops", you are wrong! Cheerio's makes fruity cheerios too! 

How creative can you be with cereal?

This image was accessed via the Cheerio's facebook page 

https://scontent-a-sea.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/l/t1.0-9/541912_10152278291679826_99369403_n.jpg

[lauren-bcsc]

Visual Communications is such an interesting class where we can openly talk about torture porn and bdsm. So why not blog about it!

Here we have an adorable illustration of a ball gag which is frequently used in bdsm sex. BDSM stands for Bondage, Discipline, Sadism, Masochism. Basically... really kinky sex. Oh stop blushing, you've all heard of 50 shades of grey! 

Go back 50, 60, 70 years ago and this type of stuff was a big No-No. Engage in this type of sexual activity and prepare for the label of satanic freak, forever shunned by your ultra-conservative neighbors. But here we are in the present, and everything in the media, throughout western culture, is all about "doin' the dirty". People are a lot more open about their sex lives, but maybe it's a good thing.

Many sex-positive initiatives have began to take action, as well as encouraging safe sex and proper information about contraceptives. Way to go people! 

Super Orange is a strange online store that sells all things adorable and potentially quite sexual. 

This image was accessed via Deviant Femme's tumblr blog. http://deviantfemme.tumblr.com/post/80790147819/superorange-cutie-ball-gag-by-superorange-i

[lauren-bcsc]

Ahhh... here we go. Offensive comics! I apologize for posting this as I don't intend to offend viewers. 

As someone who has no religion, this is a common thought of mine. Growing up with a mother who is quite Catholic, I've definitely heard this saying a few times. "It's all part of gods plan". Normally, I would get this answer when my mom couldn't really answer my questions. 

Me: Mom? Why do people die?

Mom: It's just part of God's plan.

Me (a few years later): Mom? Why are good people in other countries dying, and rich jerks not? 

Mom: It's just part of God's plan!

What plan? 

There's a constant battle between religion and evolution. Check out the debate with Ken Ham and Bill Nye for a riveting experience and take on this issue.

Anyways, as an athiest, I can say that this answer really doesn't make sense to me. Obviously, the artist seems to feel the same way. It was a good comic that made me giggle and I'm sure many others. Light-hearted but still with that sarcastic zest. 

This image was done by John McNamee and accessed through his tumblr blog.

http://piecomic.tumblr.com/post/78680666729