Admiration Station

I'm beginning a new feature on my blog called Admiration Station. Basically, I'll highlight people who I look up to, for whatever reason, whether it be for what they've accomplished, what they're attempting to achieve or even the mistakes they've made that pose as a valuable lesson.

So, here's the first nominee of Admiration Station: Adam Greenberg and Tonight's Watercolor. I was lucky enough to meet Adam when he interned at TOMS in spring 2009. Before arriving in Santa Monica, Adam had participated in AmeriCorps and been a member of BioTour. Take a moment to research those organizations and you'll see that Mr. Greenberg is a little slice of amazing. But those marked achievements are not what I'm focusing on. Instead, it's Adam's current project of Tonight's Watercolor:

"Every day this year I'm going to pain a new watercolor and post it here that night; that's it. Not saying they'll be awesome, but this will be with intent for my own "me time" of meditation each day. I invite you to do the same."

Considering my conventional understanding of New Year's resolutions, a daily watercolor seemed a bit odd. But, as I followed Adam's daily creations on the Tonight's Watercolor Facebook page, I realized how truly daring this project actually is. I can barely make myself do anything every day, besides eat, poo and (maybe) brush my teeth. Adam's goal to dedicate time each day to creative expression is amazing, and unfortunately all too rare in today's world of jam-packed schedules of work and other "priorities."

Each day I look forward to seeing Tonight's Watercolor and feel inspired by Adam's dedication and creativity. Along with the original goal, Adam started selling his watercolor artwork to raise money for relief efforts in Haiti. Thus far, he's raised $400. Pure genius and pure bliss in a daily dose of art.

Thanks Adam for being the first individual highlighted in Admiration Station. Please join Tonight's Watercolor Facebook page to follow his goal and the awe-inspiring art.

Here's my favorite piece yet: Wed. 3, Mar. 2010, Vacuum Typewriter

And because I make it a point to never just appreciate the actions or ideas of others without incorporating these values into my life, I am committing to blog more. More is a relative term, especially since I went months without a single post, but I feel dedicated and inspired to express my thoughts and write more often and about the variety of topics that are scattered throughout my head. So, the first goal retained from Admiration Station: blog bitch.

How I got PTSD

I've never really had a horrible experience with a hairdresser. For the most part, I have been able to find amazing artists who end up doing great things with my do. Unfortunately, this is not the case for my last visit and it has left me with hairdresser PTSD. I am now terrified to go to anybody besides my trusted miracle man in L.A., Jefferson. It only takes one time to be scarred for life:

I'll be wearing a beanie for the next six weeks until this grows out a bit.

Organize the world

Anyone who knows me can attest to the claim that I am an organized person. Very organized. OCD organized. This may have something to do with my recent infatuation with data collection and organization. Considering all of the receptacles for information in our contemporary world, with social networking and SEO technology, there is a great deal of data, with exponentially more being produced each day. According to The Economist's recent article "The Data Deluge," humans will create 1200 exabytes (1 billion gigabytes=1 exabyte) of data this year. I am unable to fathom the amount of information that is, but I'm quite sure it's a lot.

I want to focus on the attempts to make sense of and organize information in a meaningful way. For a better explanation of what I'm getting at, just watch Hans Rosling's riveting TED Talk where he "Shows the best stats you've ever seen."

GOOD's Transparency department aims to organize information into evocative and beautifully designed diagrams, so the assembly of statistics into excel sheets and cliche pie charts becomes obsolete.

And the most lofty goal concerning data is none other than that of Google. Their mission statement boasts their attempt "to organize the world's information and make it universally accessible and useful." Not a single company, country or cause, but the world's information. That entire world. That's amazing and I want to have a part in it. Whether production of data, organization or (hopefully) synthesis, I want to be involved in this massive human experiment that has seemingly unimaginable implications.

Venting about elementary respect

Walking around L.A. I would receive an occasional cat-call or honk from the typical drooling gardner or construction worker. Annoying, but not impossible to ignore. Who knew that moving to the "holy land" and my subsequent travels would result in the fiercest sexual harassment I have ever received.

Wikipedia defines sexual harassment as "intimidation, bullying or coercion of a sexual nature, or the unwelcome or inappropriate promise of rewards in exchange for sexual favors."

Some may think this explanation is a bit broad, but as a girl any sort of unwanted attention from men, in whatever form, can be the most uncomfortable and frustrating interaction. And these past few months in Jerusalem have shown me just how jarring it can be.

Walking around in East Jerusalem is not as peaceful as it should be with nearly every man honking, screaming and starring. Now, I don't want to stereotype, but most of the time these are Arab men and their culture of objectifying women is reflected in their social interaction with even complete strangers. Going to the grocery store or for a jog can be an emotionally traumatizing experience when you hear "sweetheart," "slut," and even "I want to fuck you" screamed every few moments.

Now, living in East Jerusalem and dealing with sexual harassment is difficult, but on my trip to Morocco I encountered the mecca of Arab men "swooning" for my female attention. On my 100 meter walk from the hostel to the center of town in Marrakech me and my friend Margaux were harassed by at least fifty men. And these guys were the worst: with the most sexually disgusting remarks, physical gestures and even pulling at us! Morocco was beautiful, but the men and their behavior leave something to be desired.

Although I know this blog will most likely not reach the ears and eyes of those exhibiting such behavior, I just felt the need to write it. Whether for my own personal gratification or just to explain such experiences to those on the web. I just hope that respect for women can be valued more in all cultures, and some day a female's walk to Mr. Zol in Jerusalem won't include a barrage of sexual comments from creepy men.

Me+This is the World We Live In

Here's my post on This is the World We Live In about my thoughts on human rights and the Arab-Israeli conflict and my experience in Israel and with Rabbis for Human Rights.

"Human Rights from the Bottom Up"

Rabbis for Human Rights

By only reading this blog you'd probably assume that I was some empty, LA girl studying in Israel-eating too much challah and having too much fun. Thankfully, I do have other concerns and decided to focus my energy into volunteering for a cause that I care all-too deeply about: the Arab-Israeli conflict.

With an organization called Rabbis for Human Rights, I periodically go to the West Bank to assist Palestinians cultivate their land. See, since the second Intifada they are unable to work on their property without notifying the IDF. This can be a difficult and convoluted process, so the rabbis help the Palestinians coordinate with the IDF and the local police and then accompany them to their property. Their work not only allows the Palestinians to continue to live within the structure of the Israeli occupation, but it also helps to protect them from settler violence. Although this isn't the case with most Jewish settlers in the West Bank, there are a few violent settlements that have created a great deal of fear within the Palestinian communities living in Area C of the West Bank. But, when accompanied by Rabbis for Human Rights and their Israeli/American/Canadian/etc. volunteers, the Palestinians are less likely to be attacked or harassed and can go about their normal agricultural work.

The first time I went to the West Bank with Rabbis for Human Rights I wasn't sure what to expect, but thought I'd be helping a family from Nebi Salah plant olive trees. That's until the settlers confronted us.

This video shows the intimidation we faced from the settlers and how rabbi Yehiel handled things in a peaceful manner.

Since this initial incident, I have been to the West Bank with the organization several more times. I will periodically post photos and stories of other, successful visits and what I've learned from my experience.

Not in Israel

For the nauseatingly long seven week break, I decided to go to Spain and Morocco. Spain, because I wanted to visit a few friends, and Morocco because I had never been and my travel companion, Margaux, wanted to go.

Overall, Madrid was great but Morocco...Well, let's just say that the food was good.

Plaza Meyor in Madrid. This was just a few minutes away from my friend Ariel's apartment. In my opinion, the most beautiful part of Madrid.

Nothing in Spain is Kosher. NOTHING.

The Ku Klux Klan have infiltrated Segovia

Pantone apartments in Cuzco

My favorite thing about a culture is their desserts. Spain offers churros and a cup of melted chocolate. Freaking delicious.

Reina Sofia that I visited a few times. And by a few, I mean six

After Madrid we went to Marrakech and Fez

We soon realized that there wasn't much to do in the day and at night even less, considering our status as young, American girls. So, we got a job serving at the local food stall. I'm not kidding. Here's our work

We were paid in olives

Me and Margaux doing our favorite activity in Morocco: eating

We ordered everything in the restaurant. It cost 3 euros

One of the 45 mosques I visited in Fez

Let's just say we weren't so sad to leave Morocco

And we were even happier to return to Israel