Let us give thanks for progress reports

I have appointments to interview and photograph Jason Scott and Christina Sardinha this week.

Christina on Tuesday

Jason on Wednesday

Consider yourself updated.

New plan of attack -- Tattoo artists talking about their favorite piece

Sandy, I just talked with you about what I will do.

To let everyone out in internet land know, I'll explain.

From the Mouth of the Master -- I would like to get local tattoo-shop owners to describe their favorite tattoo. I might have to expand this to local tattoo artists because there is a lady that works around here and I think it would be good to get a lady's voice in there.

This will be in their words, no additional narration. Just pictures and their voices.

I'll ask them about the standard questions; what is it, describe it, why do you like it, who did it, etc.

I am NOT going to comment on tattoos in general for a couple of reasons.

I don't need to comment on the tattoo culture. It's been done, and done, and done some more.

Those wretched shows like Miami Ink made everyone think that tattoos HAVE to have meaning -- some do have meaning, some don't. But this is not a rant about popular misconceptions about tattoo culture.

I just want to get the artist's viewpoint about their favorite piece.

Simple, no beating around the bush. I don't want to do some sort of in-depth investigative thing. I just want to do something that looks cool, that's sounds cool.

Something creative.

I will contact the following shops:

Hobo's (already set something up with Jason)

Tattoo Junkies, specifically Stina

Ironworks, the owners Jason and Jeremiah

Trevor Marshall at Oceanic Tattoo

If any of you artists google yourself and come across this post, don't be afraid. I won't bite. I am cool. I just want to chat with you for, maybe 30 or 40 minutes and take a few pics of your favorite tattoo.

Chuck it all in the river!

I am ready to chuck my project in the river.

Are you ready for the "Bad Attitude Comment of the Day" ?

I don't care about milk. Or milk production. Or organic milk. Or the process of making organic milk.

There doesn't seem to be much of a story surrounding the UNH organic dairy.

I can force a story out of it. Like a good college student, I could make something of nothing.

I was thinking about using the farm as the hub and then describing the research that goes on there.

blah blah blah.

So like a pro-choicer, I am relying on Plan B.

I am going to do a thing about tattoos.

And a thing about my dad.

Tattoos:

I am going to ask some local artists to describe their favorite 2"x 2" section of their favorite tattoos.

Nothing fancy; I am not commenting on the state of the scene, or the social relevance, or the personal statement. NO.

Just, in their own words, what's your favorite? Who did it? Why do you like it?

That's it. Color photos and audio.

My dad:

I helped Britteny work on her piece last night, and I was deeply moved.

I was about to say, "Let's do me now." But her camera died at the one hour mark.

I have never talked very openly about my father's death and I think this would be as good a chance as any to do something about him, my relationship with him, and how I carry him with me.

Details to come on this one.

status report 11-16

I interviewed the super intendant of the Burley-Demeritt farm this morning.

I now have a better idea of what I am going to do for my project.

The farm will be the central character; stories and research of the work going on around the farm will bring it to life.

The farm is the hub of a lot of research. A bunch of people in the Life Sciences and Agriculture department have research going on out there. I think there will be enough info and content to fill the requirement. I am a little shaky about the "so what" question.

I don't want to just make it a "rah rah rah, look at how cool UNH is" profile piece.

On the other side, this kind of progress and research is the foundation of a land-grant university.

But still, there's the "so what" that is bugging me.

I am really bad at seeing the "so what", but I might just be getting edgy because this project counts for the bulk of our grade.

IMMEDIATE Status update

Carmelle at Stonyfield quickly replied.

Possible new-ish angle;

Organic Dairies Watch the Good Times Turn Bad

But, I don't need to tell a story that has already been told....

Hmm...

I'll keep hunting. Don't worry Sandy.

Status Report

As per Lord Sandy's instructions, here is my daily project update.

Emailed Stonyfield Communications manager 10 minutes ago.

Emailed UNH fellow about UNH Organic Dairy 12 minutes ago.

So far, no replies.

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On an amusing note, a friend of mine that works at Stonyfield sent me a message saying that she read my blog.

I asked, how did you find it?

She said that a blog aggregator found my blog from my previous post because it mentioned Stonyfield Farms, and that that report (which presumably contained a lot of internet sources that mention their company's name) was distributed around the office.

Weird.....

Who knew this internet-thing could do that?

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So when I know more, you'll know more.