One Month To Go

Today is 21 of November or 2012. We have exactly one month till the end of the world, smile :)

Related links:

A playlist I made called The Final Countdown.

My End of the World Blog.

My End of the World T-Shirts.

Can you tell that this subject fascinates me?

I don't know what I'm going to do without the end of the world, I'm going to miss it SO MUCH :'(

I have little to say, but three nice things to share :)


How to pronounce street names in Danish, a very nice project by Momo and Andrew. Via The Inspiration.

A very nice article written by Peggy Orenstein about Caitlin Moran and her book "How to be a Woman" in Slate Magazine.

The latest Greenpeace Campaign. They have fooled a few with this one.


Top photo is from the park near my house, one of this amazing "winter" days we've been having around here last couple of weeks. Bottom photo is from a German restaurant called Hermann. So beautiful!

Yesterday / Today

Yesterday the skies were incredibly blue and the day was cold but gorgeous! Today started with a light rain and now is pouring and altogether an awful day. Since I skipped last year's winter, apparently I forgot this season can be really so... wintery. (I'm sick. I'm allowed not to make sense).

Anyway, to avoid any more comments like the last one, I better share with you some links and call it a post.

- Apparently the Higgs Boson exists and this day will be remembered forever in the years to come as one of the greatest days for science. In The Guardian there's a minivideo about the Higgs Boson and the Higgs Fields for kids and science fans with regular brains and Science Museum's interview with Peter Higgs.

- Since is 4th of July, here's a selection of photographs of the American flag in the New Yorker. I love the Mitch Epstein one.

- Sim você fala português, pode lêr 5 histórias surreais sobre o Cemitério da Recoleta no blog do meu amigo Túlio.

- Finally, you probably all know by now, but just in case: there are two new songs by Blur, Under the Westway and The Puritan.

Of Maps and Totes

 

I.

I love maps. I really, really do. My first grown-up job was in a dull office and one of the things I remember fondly was the DHL's map that I stared to everyday looking/picking a new imaginary destination for an imaginary trip. I that map I discovered some places I didn't know existed, like the Sandwich Islands.

II.

My friends V & O got married a week ago in London. Their wedding was really awesome and included a boat trip, a ninja band and a picnic. I couldn't attend but they asked me to design the wedding souvenirs and I was truly happy because it was the first time outside of school (where I used to draw the maps of that country formerly known as Venezuela) that I get to draw/imagine/create a map. They post the map on their web and printed a simplified version on canvas totes.

III.

Mr. Phill, also a friend of V & O, was the photographer at their wedding and he took the photos that you see in this post, along with some other awesome wedding pics. He also wrote on his blog a really nice story about the whole day. Have a look at his page and his blog, you'll enjoy it :)

As warned I'm in the retro-post mood. So this is what happened one year ago: I walked around the Southbank*, visited the Tate Modern and had several trouble with the focus of my camera (yes, even before I started drinking).


* In the webpage you can see right now the Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela playing in the Southbank Centre this past Saturday. It is truly beautiful, worth having a look.

This weekend I barely leave the house. I tried really hard to work, but failed almost miserably (I did get something done, like a 17%). While trying and failing today though, I listened to a very awesome selection of punk (and its close cousins) in a BBC6 Music special. One of the programs I heard was called A punk tale of two cities and it's brilliant. Loads of information and great tunes. You can listening by clicking the link.

Photo was taken exactly a year ago at my friend Lorena's ex flat (the next two months probably are going to be unbearably retro, I warn you), it is slightly out of focus, but I like it. Hope you all have had a happy weekend.

PS. I've 'refreshed' the design of my blog, do you like it?

These last couple of weeks the weather its been very peculiar over here. Really cloudy, grey and altogether discouraging in the mornings, and then right before sunset some spectacular sun rays shine with a very warm, lovely light, for like 30 minutes tops. As my friend Túlio would say: there is hope.

Some random discoveries/links:

- A video made for Canal Digital in Norway called "The Man Who Lived in a Film". It is inspiring (for us working in TV) to see how the same old idea can be redone in a very simple, funny and brilliant way. (I found it via The Inspiration).

- Notes on Metamodernism a webzine recommended (and edited) by Hila. Very, very interesting.

- No need of explanation for The Skartorialist, right?

- Finally, after I send a magnetic calendar to Norway (first time one of my Objetitos goes to Norway, at least that I know of), I relisted it on my Etsy Shop.

 Photos were taken in NYC, back in 2007. It's been so long since the last time I travel to NY, I kind of miss it, and the city is calling now. Can you hear it?

My Friends: Pian

It's been a while since I don't post anything about my lovely friends in the blog, and I guess that the end of one of the most hectic weeks of my life could be a good moment to continue that tradition. I mean, why not?

This time I'd like to introduce you to my friend and imaginary (for now) business partner: Andreína Pian Restrepo. Photographer, artist, designer, skate enthusiast, embroiderer to be, and all-in-all a clever and wonderful girl living in Brooklyn.

The photos featured here were taken in the Argentinian Patagonia and are part of a project called: Back to Basics. If you want to see more of her photographic work (or buy it!) please pay a visit to her Page, Behance, Flickr or her Etsy... I'm sure you're going to like what you see.

Instagramers Anonymous III

Hello there!

I haven't been around here much lately. Who ever said "be careful what you wish for" was an idiot... but he also was right. I spent the first three months of this year complaining because I didn't have enough work, well, now I have a little bit more than I can handle. Oh, the irony.

Well, here I am sharing some recent photos of my Instagram, my favorite App so far. Hope Facebook does not ruin it all. A pool party, Sunday Easter Brunch, lights, shadows, Buenos Aires falling slowly into the Autumn mood and colours.

Now that I just had a little time to check my blogroll I saw this video about a cat name Henrí in  Hila's blog. Brilliant! Also she is participating in a blog contest. Have a look at her lovely blog and if you like it, vote for her ;)

This weekend I will be working, of course, but I'll really try not to be apart from the blog world for so long. I miss it!

Have a nice weekend everyone! x

Bye Bye March

March and one of the most hectic weeks of the year are over. I'm thankful because a lot of things went well. Lots of good news about my family and friends, yay. Keep the good things coming!

Bite size links and info:

-The photo is from my Lomography page. I posted photos of my bday there (it was in December but I uploaded them this week).
- I've been listening to this song non stop this week.
- If you want to see some amazing images of the Universe, here's the link for the Hubble Legacy Archive.
- There's free shipping in Society6 until Sunday, if you're looking for an iPhone case, have a look at mine :)

Sometime during the week I heard someone say that March was the new January, and I totally agree. I feel that things are finally in motion. What do you reckon?

Photos, Links and Mean Reds

Manor House's Window.

Always wanted to go in. Never did.

  Victoria & Albert Museum.

Photos in Jamie Hewllet's Studio.

Ryan's, amazing Bloody Marys. Church St. Stoke Newington.

Camden Market.

Stoke Newington High Street.

Notting Hill (duh) unknown street.

Lovely chairs.

Camden Town canals.

This past couple of weeks have been very rollercoastery. I've been happy, tired, bored, excited, uninspired and everything in between. I have a lot in my mind. Holly Golightly used to call this 'the mean reds'. Hopefully the weekend sensation (for me, as a freelance that doesn't have to go to an office everyday, the weekend exists, but it no more than a sensation) will wash this feelings away.

Randoms from the week:

- The photos of the post are from London, of course. Lovely, far away, not so close, London.
- Writing an article yesterday I discovered a funny geek guy called Garth Sundem. He makes mathematics equations for solving everyday dilemas suchs as: How many drinks should I have at the conferences hotel bar tonight? Fun.
- I've been listening to this nice mixtape from Sincerely Hana. You should have a look at her photographic work. She have a couple of awesome projects going on.
- Yesterday when I was reaching the top of the mean reds so I went out to grab a coffee and I spotted a girl with one of my totes. That made me happy. I took a photo of her like a papparazzi.
- Finally, Charlie Brooker on Kony2012. Genius.

Happy Leap Day

Images from Wikipedia.

So, I learn something new today: the folk traditions of the Leap Year and Leap Day. It turns out that in Ireland and Britain the Leap Year is the year when traditionally women propose marriage to men. Allegedly the tradition was initiated by Saint Bridget and Saint Patrick, but is in the 19th Century when the tradition widely spread. Other legends says that by law if a man refuses a proposal he should pay a fine that consists of: a pair of leather gloves, a single rose, £1 and a kiss.

Finland and Denmark have the same tradition with different compensations, but in Greece instead getting married in a leap year is considered unlucky.

Here in Latin America we don't have any tradition associated with this particular date... as far as I know. If any of you gentle readers knows something that I don't, please speak now... or be forever silent.


More about the Leap Year in this BBC Article.

-

Hoy aprendí algo nuevo: las tradiciones populares del año y día bisiestos. Resulta que en Inglaterra e Irlanda el año bisiesto es tradicionalmente el año en el que las mujeres le proponen matrimonio a los hombres. Supuestamente la tradición fue iniciada por Santa Brígida y San Patricio, pero fue en el siglo XIX en el que se hizo popular. Otras leyendas dicen que, por ley, si un hombre rechaza la propuesta debe pagar una multa que consiste en: un par de guantes de cuero, una rosa, una libra y un beso.

Finlandia y Dinamarca tienen la misma tradición pero con multas diferentes, pero en Grecia, en cambio, casarse en un año bisiesto es considerado de mala suerte.

En Latinoamérica no tenemos tradiciones o mitos o algo especial asociado a esta fecha ¿no? Si alguno de ustedes, queridos lectores, sabe algo que yo no, por favor hable ahora... o calle para siempre.

Demencia dosificada

"En tren de recomendar, recomiéndese también una Psiquiatría Constructiva que procure a cada uno el grado y tipo de locura que ayude a vivir ilusionado; un 10 % de demencialidad, euforia y analgesia por mitades, que nos deshorrorice algo el vivir, que nos desperfile la fiereza del encaramiento que nos propone la Vida; en lugar de perder el tiempo en inútiles clasificaciones forzadas y ya que nada curan de la perfecta salud mental, lucidez que es una condena, súplannos una dosificación útil de demencia."

Poema al astro de luz memorial (fragmento).

Macedonio Fernández.


--

Note: It is really hard to translate poetry. I only dare to translate this phrase so you have an idea: "It should be recommended a Constructive Psychiatry that supplies each and every one of the degree and type of madness that help us live with illusions". If you want to know a bit more about Macedonio Fernández, Jorge Luis Borges's inspiration, you can have a look at this article in The Quartely Conversation.

The New Yorker Cartoons

Last night I had a fun time looking at the Facebook Page of The New Yorker, they have a nice selection of their cartoons, so I thought I could share some of my favorites. The last one is brilliant!

Punta in Film

More things that happened on December 05:

I developed this photos from Punta del Este I took with a disposable camera. I'm currently into that type of cameras, they are really nice :)

The Morran's Book Project is ready, if you wanna find out what is it about please visit the previous link or Camilla's Blog.

And last but definitely not least an Earth-like planet was recently discovered, is called Kepler 22-b. I posted a couple of articles in my 2012 Blog. Does someone fancy to join me on that interstellar trip?