Tag: Technology

My First Time Buying Glasses Online

For the first time in my entire life, I ordered glasses frames online. I loved what I got so much, I felt the need to share them with you. In this video, I share details about the frames and how I found them.

Now, let’s talk about these fabulous glasses. As you may now know, I have been wearing glasses all my life. Due to that, glasses have always been more of a utility. Growing up. my prescription evolved to be quite thick. Thus, back then, frames were not designed as jewelry and there was a limit to the style one can use with a thick prescription. Now, thanks to technology and fashion, there are more choices. The red frames you see me in now have been on my face for about 6 years. So, I have been itching for about a year and a half now for new frames, but had yet to find any in stores that catered to my personality. Thanks to now having extra time at home, I made it a project and treat for myself to explore different online eyewear stores.

First, Vint & York creates “eyewear for the modern nostalgic.” They take vintage trends to design stylish frames.

This is “Ella.” I chose the pink design and absolutely love them. Do you see the engraved details? They are elegant and edgy as well as discreet. The vintage design reminds me of My Fair Lady. They feel light weight on my face and are really comfortable.

This is “Zelda 2.” I chose the Belize Blue design and really love them. The design reminds me of African print and Vibranium. They are bold and sophisticated. This design reminds me of Afrofuturism. In terms of size, this might be the biggest in my history of eyewear. But, due to the design, I like that it does not swallow my face. Rather, it still accentuates my eyes. They also feel light weight and comfortable.

Next, Voogue Me tag line is “born to be unique.” They have a variety of styles that are classic, bold, and trendy.

This is “Eleni.” I chose the orange design. It reminds me of blaxploitation movies, like Cleopatra Jones, and R&B music in the early 2000s, like “Dip it Low” by Christina Milian or “Call on Me” by Janet Jackson. It also makes me think of anime. I really love this design. It is bold and funky. They are also light weight and feel good quality.

This is “Sydney.” I chose the black and white design. It reminds me of the Hollywood Glamour era with Audrey Hepburn, Eartha Kitt, and Dorothy Dandridge. I love this design’s twist on the cat eye shape. It is elegant and retro. They also feel good quality.

Finally, UBlins provides a variety of eyewear frames that are good quality and affordable.

This is “Anna.” I chose the black design and tortoise design. They both have a professional feel with personality. Elegant and discreetly edgy with the gold accents and cut-out on the sides. They are light weight and feel comfortable.

Overall, I am so pleased with my purchases. This was my first time hearing about any of these companies and I am really glad my online search lead me to them. I am really glad to see how eyewear design continues to evolve. It is encouraging to have so many options to choose from, if you take the time to search for them. Also, creating mini-lookbooks for each frame was a lot of fun.

Which eyewear design is your favorite? Which look was your favorite? Share with me in the comments.

Also, remember to connect with me on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. I love hearing from you.

May 30, 2020
The Teddy Riley vs Babyface IG Live Battle & Protecting the Culture during the Live Stream era

Let’s talk about the historical, monumental, and hysterical Instagram Live battle between Teddy Riley and Babyface. This was the most anticipated battle of pandemic era time. Nostalgia for 90s R&B and New Jack Swing plus block parties brought around 500,000 people to watch this epic dual of music producers. They had to bring the hits, the shade, and the legends. In this video, I recap on how the battle went down and discuss what this live stream era means for culture.

Now, let’s dive deeper. As I mentioned in the video, this was such an enjoyable virtual experience. It was so cool to feel connected to everyone who is feeling the same nostalgia and joy in music and teasing each other. Taking note of how crisp Teddy Riley’s individual live stream, this is a really exciting time to see how virtual experiences evolve.

Looking to Instagram Live for music entertainment began with DJ D-Nice and his DJ sets coined “Club Quarantine.” In March of 2020 he set the record for the most live stream viewers in the history of Instagram while playing 9 hours straight. This was encouraging and uplifting because, if you read his story, he has been in the entertainment business for a long time without fully being recognized for his talent. He started in the mid-1980s as a member of a teenage hip-hop group Boogie Down Productions. He released a solo album in 1990 and 1991, which were produced by him, sold half a million copies, and reached #1 on Billboard’s Hot Rap Tracks chart. In spite of that, Hip Hop was considered one hit wonders by the main stream music industry, so his record label did not renew his contract. He later added photographer and DJ to his high-profile collection of hats. Fast forward to the stay-at-home order in L.A., DJ D-Nice decided to share his gift and live stream his DJ sets while sharing stories and shouting out people who were watching. You can read more about his story in this LA Times article.

This lead to the next wave of Instagram Live Stream trends: R&B producer battles. Swizz Beats and Timbaland host Verzuz beat battles on Instagram Live. In this series, two prominent producers pair up on IG Live to prove who has the better catalog. The live viewers decide who wins. Similar to the original DJ battles in Hip Hop history. Read more about who won the battles so far in this Vulture article. This series has been really cool because you get to enjoy the music while also getting insight on how many people are involved in creating a song. I think it is also an interactive way to celebrate history and culture.

Currently, these experiences are a way to cope and connect. I feel we should also be proactive in archiving these experiences and protecting the content. At the moment, live streaming is free and convenient. It will become the new normal for education, entertainment, and services. What does that mean for documenting and protecting culture? There are so many platforms to focus on. For example, during the Teddy Riley vs Babyface Verzuz battle, there was a lot of activity in the live comments and social media. There were also numerous reaction videos and articles. How could this be archived for a future exhibit?

This got me thinking about the future of museums and experiencing curated history and culture. Will we feel comfortable again to enter a room with a large group of people to enjoy an exhibit? Can the things and people needed for exhibits travel reliably? Is there enough funding to maintain the industry as is? I am someone who loves to take my time in museums and galleries in real life. As of yet, virtual tours of exhibits cannot create the same ambiance. I am excited to see how some museums and galleries are being innovative in thinking outside of the box. For example, the CFHILL gallery in Sweden is currently hosting their new exhibit BLACK VOICES / BLACK MICROCOSM to illustrate the “fragile intersection of art and race, gender roles and beauty and socio-economic, as a miniature representation of what it is to be human and black right now.” The exhibit features artists and artworks from 15 cities on 3 different continents. It includes a digital show opening, live streaming, guided 3D tours, artist talks, and video footage made by the artists in their studios. This is so neat!

“But,” you may ask, “what about the money? How do we monetize these collections?” Well, Black Art In America, an arts media company based in Georgia, is currently hosting a Black Art Auction virtually. Their website includes an online catalog, bidding account, and in person previews via Facetime.

When it comes to archiving, celebrating, and protecting the culture in the live stream era, we need to focus more on impact instead of likes and follows. Do we need platforms owned by people who represent the culture? Absolutely! Do we need people who represent the culture sitting at the table with established brands, platforms, and institutions? Absolutely! This is an opportunity to level and expand the playing field. Whether it is a live stream Hip Hop battle, carrot bacon, or Tik Tok dance challenge, we are once again setting the trends. This time, let’s own it.

Have you watched any of the IG Live sets or battles? What did you think of the Teddy Riley vs Babyface session?

Do you enjoy museums and galleries? How would you like to experience exhibits now?

Share with me in the comments. I love hearing from you. Feel free to reach out on Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook.

May 1, 2020
Why Does Technology Steal All My Time

In a world where immediate satisfaction is almost faster than the speed of light and privacy is a joke from a 1990s comedy, are our lives better with technology and social media? Or better yet, do you really think what you think? Or is it a product of what you are consuming?

Whenever another headline is published announcing a data leak, bulk password breach, or digital ownership rights, I always wonder if we are really using technology to the best of its ability. Don’t get me wrong, I am not about to advocate for banning smart phones and/or the internet. Rather, I want to discuss how we can use these powerful tools to further enhance our lives in a positive way.

Take for instance the film and book The Circle. I will admit I have only seen the movie, props to Tom Hanks and Emma Watson. That story is set in the not so distance future where your entire existence is attached to a cloud server for everyone to interact with. One of the messages the characters were debating was whether transparency is true democracy or just creepy. I feel that depends on what the information is being used for. Scrolling through someone’s feed cannot substitute active communication with the person when you are trying to get to know them. Neither is scrolling through meme’s and videos for hours at a time the most productive use of your time. So, how do we improve this?

Social media is a great tool to reach more people and ideas then you would without it. Take it as an introduction to the person or idea. As you consume information about people, events, culture, and news, take the time to develop what you think about what you are seeing. How do you feel after watching that clip? What do you already know about that topic? If you were having a discussion with that person or about that topic, what would you contribute? Make an effort to look beyond the sound bites and the viral comments.

Privacy and social media is also an interesting balance. The way things are going, it seems like we only have two choices: one, make every effort possible to remain off the grid by living in an underground laboratory, or, two, accept that every aspect of your life is accessible for entertainment and capitalism purposes. Not much of a balance, is it? I remember there was a time when my friends and I would freak out if we searched for our name on Google and there was one search result that showed some obscure web page from a newspaper or school post. Now, it is common for private information that the Yellow Pages never listed to be accessible with a click or small subscription. Is that a big deal? If we are not all members of a secret ninja society, should we care if this information is floating around? I still find it concerning.

What does this mean for networking and opportunities? Even if you do choose to make your social media accounts private or under alternative names, does the overload of private information help or hinder your prospects? Does it create more biases or openness? Ideally, it should give us space to be more inclusive. If you are building a team you want to be proud of, it could make sense to know what everyone’s opinions, struggles, passions, and dreams are to better understand how everyone will grow within what you are building. To better understand how to push it forward.

Ok, let’s get back to using social media as a positive tool. I love that Twitter now has a bookmark feature. It is better than messaging myself links to things I want to take the time to indulge in later. One of things I finally got a chance to see is Alex Wolf’s mini-documentary “Attention for Sale.” As she spoke about how advertising and technology continues to influence our attention span, rapid clips of various pop culture history flashed across the screen. I find it fascinating to take note of how social media continues to influence human and consumer behavior, which Alex did a wonderful job breaking down. If you have not seen it yet, you should definitely check it out. I love how she concluded with, “we are people of the heart living in a world made for the eyes.”

Do you notice how normal it has become to have everyone and everything pushing for your attention? How difficult it is to decipher between distractions? How naked and anxious you feel when you forget or lose your phone? This goes back to paying attention to how you feel. Maintain the autonomy of your opinions and emotions.

Now, time management. Why does it feel like we have less time in a day? That is because a lot of our time is unaccounted for. Can you honestly pinpoint what you did with your time in the hour before you started reading this post? What about this morning? What about yesterday between 2:15pm and 3:21pm? What about last week? When I hear people complain about time or ask for advice on how to better manage their time, I always respond asking them what is their relationship with time. Most would say they feel time slipping from them or imposing restraints on them.

When it comes to your relationship with time, I feel it is better to view it as something you flow with. As in, you are in control of what you choose to do. The timing of how things happen is what you need to trust. If you choose to use your time sitting instead of running, can you really say time is slipping from you? If everyone is supposed to focus on the speed of their race in their lane, what determines when you choose to sit and when you choose to sprint?

Among other things, technology can be part of it. Maybe you are comparing your chapter 3 to someone else’s chapter 34 on social media. Maybe binge watching certain shows encourages you to remain in your comfort zone. Maybe playing certain video games takes your mind off of boredom or loneliness. Maybe swiping through profiles tricks you into feeling you are making progress. Maybe participating in trolling debates convinces you that you think for yourself. How are you holding yourself accountable?

I feel the key is to stay grounded. Get clear on what you want to accomplish and where you want to go. Keep an open mind as you explore new perspectives and connect to new people. Direct your time. Feel free to use some of your time to rest, to sprint, to delegate, to give, to receive, and anything else you might need. Technology is not the enemy. It really should be the tool that pushes our evolution further and enhances our reality.

So, what is your relationship with technology and social media? How is it enhancing or hindering your time management and overall lifestyle? I would love to hear from you. Let me know in the comments.

Also, remember to connect with me on Instagram and Twitter. I would love to hear from you.

October 19, 2019
How Sustainability Has Evolved In Lifestyle and Fashion

The discussion behind the future of our lifestyle and the environment has evolved. It is fascinating to look back 5, 10, or 20 years ago and compare what we thought the future would be to what we are planning for today. The two things I notice the most is the shift in who we consider should participate in this future planning and, ironically, what we expect fashion will look like in the future.

I studied international affairs in college and I remember experts and colleagues arguing that so-called 3rd world countries could not be expected to leap-frog over the entitled industrial age to help save the planet. It seemed like only the 1st world power countries had the privilege to create a sustainable future and somehow only those countries would benefit from it. In spite of stories of inventions and innovation across the planet, it was not considered valued or beneficial across the board.

Now, the opinion has shifted to claim all countries can now pay attention to the health of the planet. I am encouraged by this because I do not think you can restrict sustainability to certain regions and expect it to make a substantial impact. To illustrate this, you should check out the recent collaboration Shell did with artists from around the world: Best Day Of My Life. I will admit, the song is a little corny, but the visuals give the message that this initiative should be a global priority. It got me wondering if, as a planet, we could really come together to work towards this goal. Are not wars and poverty a bigger priority for most? or are they more of a distraction? The Shell video also made me think about how we as individuals and citizens of the world can contribute to this initiative. The conversation about climate change and clean energy should not be political. It should not only feature Leonardo DiCaprio as the sole brand ambassador. We can do more. The question is, what really makes a difference? I would love to hear your thoughts on this.

Regarding the future of style, it seems like it has changed with our impression of what the future holds. My introduction to the future was through the movie Zenon: Girl of the 21st Century. The wardrobe in that movie was bright and colorful. Next, I was exposed to The Jetsons (and here is why The Jetsons still matter according to the Smithsonian). Their wardrobe was bright and colorful. Now, I am not sure if this started with Star Wars, or maybe was emphasized through The Hunger Games and Divergent, but we are anticipating a dreary future. There is no color. In all three of those series, the wardrobe sticks with a black, brown, and grey palette that is always prepared to battle aliens, demons, or evil parents. We also cannot forget the zombies.

The fusion between fashion and technology is really exciting. I am not just talking about jewelry that tracks how many steps you walk. From temperature control to mini computers, we are inventing some pretty neat stuff. If you are interested in this kind of innovation, you should check out FashNerd.com. They post all about it.

Maybe with time, we will bring the color back to the future of style. Once we get all the upgrade glitches fixed, we can add bold patterns and hues to the fabric. Maybe we will not need climate-changing-body-armor or wearable weapons. This could possibly help us to not accept a dreary war-torn future, but instead take initiative in creating a bright united future.

What do you think about how the sustainability narrative is evolving? What are you most hopeful for in how we contribute to a brighter future? Let me know what you think in the comments below.

Also, remember to connect with me on Twitter and Instagram. I would love to hear from you.

Please note the links I shared in this post are not affiliates. They are articles and websites I think you would enjoy…because sharing is caring.

Wearing: Rahyma via Zuvaa jumpsuit; Michael Kors heels; Rachel Stewart earrings

October 24, 2016
Why I Do Not Trust Data Storage

Cyber-security breach and data leaks seem to be normal occurrences these days. The question of privacy seems to be naive when all information and communication is monitored and hackable. Maybe it is because I recently (read…finally) saw the new Jason Bourne movie or because I work with a variety of data and media, but I have been thinking a lot about how data storage is evolving. Space and convenience is not the issue. Security and longevity is what we still do not get.

Gone are the days when we would “search on Google” for our name and possibly freak out if there was one obscure mention of a link. Now we are all encouraged to have a professionally branded – but still personal – presence online. We are encouraged to sync all of our devices. We are made to believe the best way to back up precious memories, important documents, and big files is on virtual clouds and drives. It is funny how our discomfort in seeing our names pop up outside of the Yellow Pages has become hesitantly open to every device upgrade. On the one hand, that is the beauty of technology. It is constantly changing to push our potential and innovation further. On the other hand, values and concerns should be respected.

I am not sure if security will ever become a full guarantee as we progress in this cyber direction. From the recent Dropbox breach to apps discreetly linking information, ahem Facebook and WhatsApp, it seems that no information is secure. Nothing is hack-proof, regardless of good intentions behind passwords, two-step authenticity, fingerprints, and any other secret codes. Since this is the case, I urge you to be mindful of where you save your stuff. A printed copy saved in a locked drawer or a box under the bed is not silly. It will probably save you a headache. Regarding future developments in security, maybe we should not only focus on better passwords or bigger servers.

Since I have been working with media for a while, technology upgrades are bitter-sweet. Remembering how much time it took to convert footage from a Hi-8 tape to a DVD, I thought it would save those memories forever. What happens when DVD players join VCRs? With all the photos I diligently archive on external hard drives, what happens when USB ports join floppy disk drives? It is kind of scary to think about. A project I hope to start soon is to create a series of photo albums, I mean really old-school photo albums, for the majority of my photos. As convenient as Google drive and external hard drives are, I want to be able to share these memories with my children 10 years from now and my grandchildren 30 years from now. There is something about sitting around a table with family with an old suitcase full of photos in envelopes and albums that is really special. Watching a slide show on a screen does not compare to that.

I am intrigued to see how data storage and cyber-security evolves during my lifetime, but I do not think I will ever fully trust it. How do you think we can improve on this? How are you keeping your data safe? Let me know in the comments below.

Also, remember to connect with me on Twitter and Instagram. I would love to hear from you.

Wearing: New York & Company blouse; Woodin skirt; Michael Kors shoes

Photography: It’s Sofia Emm

September 11, 2016
What We Sacrifice for Beauty and Pollution

I love vintage and futuristic cars. I appreciate the art behind their detailing, colors, and gadgets. Actually, I plan to collect classics when I am mature and fabulous. I visited the Sculpted Steel exhibit at the Museum of Fine Arts Houston and was really impressed by the sculptures. It got me thinking about the need to balance this kind of beauty against the pollution it can cause. I started wondering how technology is protecting and hindering the environment.

It is no secret that our planet is suffering. Pollution caused by car emission is one of many issues. When you think about how many fumes we are spewing into the air on a daily basis, since the Industrial Age, it might seem amusing to think we could make any difference to the inevitable. Regardless of which side of that debate you are on, I think we all should make an effort to make an impact on this.

There are alternative means of energy. The variety of alternative fuels and rechargeable energy should be as convenient as finding gas stations in Texas. However, the source of energy for alternative energy should not be coal and oil. That is kind of counterproductive, don’t you think?

Let’s talk about what we are doing globally and individually to protect the beauty of our planet. We can manipulate the weather. Not only can we make it rain, but we can reduce the number of hurricanes that occur each year. Actually, in 2009, Bill Gates applied to patent technology that would cool the water before hurricanes develop. In 2014, the United Nations published a report showing how the hole in our ozone layer is shrinking thanks to removing certain chemicals from refrigerators, air conditioners, and aerosol cans in the 1980s. However, the substituted chemical apparently contributes to global warming. In 2015, the Dutch opened the world’s first smog-free tower. It is like a jumbo filter that collects polluted air and returns smog-free air.

I am sharing these examples not only to encourage the younger members of my community to explore innovation in STEM courses and industries, but also to show how technology is helping to protect our planet. There are plenty of ideas like these that need to be supported. I feel we can maintain a balance between tech upgrades that enhance our lives and those that hold our lives hostage. Those movies about smart houses and robots catching feelings and making decisions on their own, like iRobot, Eagle Eye, and Smart House, are not fiction. We already have “smart devices” for our homes growing in number and size. Look at the power of your cell phone! I might not be the first to have a robot assistant, but I will be having the ultimate Sonos speakers experience in my home.

What I love about technology and science, sometimes, is how it always keeps the bigger picture in mind. It puts in perspective what we sacrifice for beauty and pollution. We can do better.

What are you doing to protect the beauty of our planet? What do you think of technology’s role in this issue? Let me know in the comments below. Also, remember to connect with me on Twitter and Instagram. I would love to hear from you.

Wearing: New York & Company blouse & skirt; Michael Kors heels; Kashmir VII clutch; Charming Charlie earrings

June 22, 2016