Crazy days = Brain overload

Okay. So here's the deal. I posted yesterday my post for Halloween right? Since my internet was down I couldn't do it on the right day. So then I was going to do a 2nd post later on at some point. Well obviously I didn't manage that. I had this massive paper due today, and despite starting it well in advance it still came down to the wire for some finishing touches and editing. So before I realized it, it was a new day and I hadn't done my second post. I chose sleep (key to success) over doing another post. So I figured I would play catch up today and write two posts. Well that's seems pointless because by the second post I would have nothing to say. So I'm just going to put both videos into this one post. Got it? Plus, I don't have much to say anyway because it's getting to that point in the semester where life is hectic and my brain is on overload. Can you tell? Oh, and Happy Hump Day.

30-Day Challenge #1: TED Talks
Days 18 & 19

Okay so this first one goes with my whole environmental theme. I was talking to some people today about my passion for the environment so this seemed kind of fitting. This one is interesting because it is a talk by Mitchell Joachim about combining biology and architecture to make organic, green homes. It is a very interesting concept. I love biology (I do have a degree in it after all) and I am fascinated by architecture (my brother is an architect) so I find it fascinating to combine the two. Enjoy!




Okay so for this second talk, I chose a talk by Derek Sivers about how to start a movement. It's kind of interesting because he includes some rather interesting footage to support his ideas on how to start a movement. It makes valid points, and is pretty entertaining. Enjoy




Now, I promise that every thing will go back to the daily normalness (except for my hectic life right now, that won't change.)

The High Line

30-Day Challenge #1
Day 7
Ever heard of the High Line? Or of High Line Park? The High Line was a railroad freight line in New York City that was built high off the ground to make it safer. Freight trains were no longer used in NYC after the 80s, so in more recent years the city was gearing up to tear it down. This talk given by Robert Hammond is about how he wanted to preserve the High Line, and came up with the idea of making it into a park. So the High Line Park is born. It's located in Manhattan on the West Side, and is partially completed. It's pretty awesome from the video and what I've seen online. It looks like it adds a lot of beauty to the city, and it will be really spectacular when all the sections are completed. I haven't been to the High Line Park yet, but hopefully the next time I am back home I'll get a chance to check it out.




I think that turning it into a park was a really unique idea. It adds beauty. It attracts tourists who boost the economy. It's green. It's sustainable. It's innovative. I like that they held a design competition to find the right design for it. That gives architects and landscape architects and urban designers a chance to have their work seen and for them to work on such a great project.

Sometimes we take for granted the world around us. We don't always enjoy nature as much as we should or would like to. So take some time and go for a stroll in a park. You'll get some exercise and I'm sure it will make you feel refreshed and less stressed.

I hope you enjoyed the talk. If you're in NYC sometime you should consider taking a stroll through High Line Park.