made me happy

because everyone should hear this

yesterday evening, i read this brilliant article over at the new york times... to sum up, america's single greatest national shame: education. it is so refreshing to finally hear people on a national level start to talk not just about a broken american educational system, but to actually hear them talk about new and innovative ways to solve the problem. these two videos are just a couple that i have watched and been inspired by.

both from the videos and the article, i feel heartened and i am starting to hope that maybe we will find a way to repair our educational system so that kids can start to reach their full potential because of the schooling they are getting and not in spite of it. 

my father is an incredible teacher. i want to be a teacher/professor, eventually... and i can only hope that i will be one of those top quartile teachers... the kind that can get people excited about learning. yes, i may be a little (a lot) nerdy, but i am just fine with that.

can you imagine what amazing results we would get if all of the teachers or people who want to be teachers in america - in the world, actually - were as inspired as the people at KIPP? can you imagine how far we could go as a people if everyone was receiving a great education? if everyone was engaged in the learning process?

i just gives me so much hope, it's almost unbearable (but in a very, very good way).

the tool list that every architect dreams about

i got this in the mail today, and i think that any and every architect/engineer/planner/designer i know dreams about having just such a tool list. 

hey, a girl can dream, right?

heads up people!

ART1:ITALY IS A DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC [...]

comparisons

some differences are a matter of fact...

who's the genius who made this? you're my hero!

tee hee

what would your dream closet look like?

video from TBWA, neboko for heineken, january 2009.

crafty christmas

pip-squeak chapeau inspired neck warmer via ellybeth

hand-printed fleece scarves via curbly (found at design*sponge)

i have been trying to get into the habit of giving (mostly) handmade gifts this year. given that my wallet looks slightly anorexic this year, i think that my time and a (hopefully) well-crafted/well-thought-out gift at least demonstrates that though i may not be able to give the fanciest things, they still come from the heart.

time to get crafty!

images via ellybeth and curbly, respectively.

holiday parties

image via stan and ergo

Jingle bells...remixed!

it makes me laugh and it makes me happy!
btw, can anyone send out a Gap striped scarf??! :)

..just a normal day!

Remind Me on Vimeo.

love royksopp!