tagged w/ Culture
-
Remember the parable about the woman who heard the sounds of horrible monsters right outside her house and frantically ran around locking all her doors and windows, only to discover that the monsters were really inside the house, specifically inside of her? Well a similar tale is played out in “Réflexion,” a poetic, funny and absurd animated short film produced by the Parisian group Planktoon in association with Disney animator Yoshimichi Tamura. “Réflexion” is a tribute to Disney films from 60-to-70 years ago, which is built around the concept of reflection. What happens when one’s inner conflict becomes a version of the Evil Queen mirror? Just watch and find out!!
This piece includes colorful pictures and the delightful animated short film.
http://disembedded.wordpress.com/2012/04/26/reflexion-a-frightening-tale-of-evil-spirits-within/Remember the parable about the woman who heard the sounds of horrible monsters right... more
-
-
Mingora: Answering the prayers of little broken hearts, Khpal Kor Foundation began its good work 16 years ago. Rebuilding the lives of orphans in Swat, Khpal Kor, which means ‘our home’, provides children the kindness, support and wisdom of a good parent. The facility that started with five orphans and a room has turned into a highly sought after boarding
http://merapassionpakistan.com/english/a-place-called-home/Mingora: Answering the prayers of little broken hearts, Khpal Kor Foundation began its... more
-
-
Faisalabad: “God made me perfect”, says Mohammad Qamar Nizami, a 30-year-old senior accountant who was born with a physical handicap. “Out of the millions of people God created, if He created me a bit different, He also gave me the strength to work with my condition. Disability is a state of mind, not a physical flaw” he adds.Faisalabad: “God made me perfect”, says Mohammad Qamar Nizami, a... more
-
-
Are you a Liberal or a Conservative? You may be wired that way.
A very interesting article. While I have always tried to avoid the potential trap of defining people by their genes, I can see based on the description in this article how slight nudges in behavior created by genes, for example a heightened sense of caution, or fear of danger can guide a person to make certain choices in life statistically more often. What was once a natural defense mechanism to enhance survival now helps nudge certain people toward xenophobia, fear of any change, and a desire to protect one’s self with firearms. This fills in a very interesting piece of the puzzle.
http://reason.com/archives/2012/04/10/born-this-wayAre you a Liberal or a Conservative? You may be wired that way.
A very interesting... more
-
-
Chitral: Making statements the world over, artwork by ‘GupShup’ is a conversation starter. A project by Mogh (Ltd) and Polly and Me, GupShup was an international art exhibit held in 2008 that generated a life changing amount of Rs 4.2 million, over Rs 3 million in profits, for the 22 women who contributed their embroidered pieces.
http://merapassionpakistan.com/english/lets-talk-shop/Chitral: Making statements the world over, artwork by ‘GupShup’ is a... more
-
-
In a surprise move, Academy Award-winner Jennifer Hudson was called as the prosecution’s first witness in the Hudson family murder trial in Chicago. The award-winning singer and actress broke down and cried on the witness stand Monday as she recalled the brutal 2008 murders of her mother, brother and young nephew, allegedly at the hands of her jealous brother-in-law, William Balfour. “It was always me and my Tugga Bear,” she told jurors of her beloved 7-year-old nephew Julian King.
Balfour is accused of killing Jennifer Hudson’s mother, brother and 7-year-old nephew in the Southside Chicago home where the Hollywood star grew up. Balfour allegedly killed Hudson’s mother, Darnell Donerson, in the living room, then shot her 29-year-old brother, Jason Hudson, twice in the head as he lay in bed. He then drove off with her sister’s son, Julian King, and later shot the boy, nicknamed “Juice Box,” in the head as he lay behind a front seat, authorities say.
It is anticipated that Jennifer Hudson will attend the entire trial. She was accompanied to court today by her fiancé, the professional wrestler David Otunga. Following her 30-minute testimony, she joined him in the fourth row of the courtroom.
This piece includes photographs and two news videos.
http://disembedded.wordpress.com/2012/04/23/hudson-family-murder-trial-begins-jennifer-hudson-breaks-down-on-the-stand/In a surprise move, Academy Award-winner Jennifer Hudson was called as the... more
-
-
Muzaffargarh: Laying the foundation to build a better community, Pakpur Foundation’s model settlement Pakpur Noorghazi is more than a residential project. The Indus floods that left thousands of people homeless also stripped them of their livelihoods. Pakpur did more than give these people shelter; they gave them the tools they needed to rebuild their lives.
http://merapassionpakistan.com/english/an-extraordinary-neighbourhood/Muzaffargarh: Laying the foundation to build a better community, Pakpur... more
-
-
Bubb Rubb, Oakland, California. West Oakland, California. Twenty-first and Myrtle. I was born at the mansion, Granny Pearl's house. I grew up in, uh, West Oakland, Laurel Bottoms, Cyber Village, Acorn, Camel Village, Seventh Street down there - You know, the Boondocks.
Projet En Vue: What's the best advice you ever got?
Uh, the best advice I ever got was, uh, do it real live. Whatever you do, do it real live!
You know, I bumped into KRA and Channel 4 News, aired that, and I was on Tribune, I did a Playstation commercial, been on BET, did videos, I finna be on Tosh two-point-oh, did a whole bunch of songs, I rap and all kinds of shhh you know... Oakland celebrity. Didn't make it too far with T-shirt, Bubb Rubb, all of that. That's my big bruh right there!
Big Bruh: Howdy, howdy!
You know... You know I got famous off the woo woo!
Big Bruh: Tell it like it is!
All the time! If I don't get it right I don't know who will. But I'ma get it right.
You didn't hear it from me, you heard it from Bubb Rubb. And, you know, I evolve like Pokemon, so my name is now Toyoshi Cold Bubblebath.
To listen to the audio from this interview, visit http://projetenvue.org/subb-Rubb-aka-Toyoshi-Cold-Bubblebath
To learn more about Projet En Vue, visit www.kck.st/HOhPv2Bubb Rubb, Oakland, California. West Oakland, California. Twenty-first and Myrtle. I... more
-
-
www.kck.st/HOhPv2
I was born in Arlington, Virginia and then I moved to Montana when I was four. I've always been obsessed with wildlife, so that was awesome. My mom is totally nature-obsessed. And so growing up she would refuse to get a dog. We were the only Montana family without a dog, because Montana's very dog-oriented. And my mom refused to get one because she never wanted to fence our back yard, um, because we had deer that nested in our yard. And (laughs) there are deer all over the place in Montana, but my mom is Chilean and she wasn't used to them. But she would get so excited by every deer that we saw. She'd, like, pull the car over and be like, 'Deer! Deer!' People thought she was totally nuts, but anyway we had all these deer that ended up growing up in our yard because we were the only yard without a fence. And that's very Montana to me.
I love Montana. I think it is one of the most magical places. It's so big and there are so few people, uh, but it's also so small. I mean, it's a very tight community that I left, and a lot of people don't leave because it's so comfortable. But I knew I had to. We - Turner and I graduated school together and we knew we had to leave soon before we fell into a rut of comfortability. And truthfully it was either Portland or Oakland.
What's the first thing you noticed?
In Oakland? Oh my gosh this is funny! So, there are no earthquakes in Missoula, and we had kind of spaced the fact that there were earthquakes here. And then the day we pulled into Oakland we were like, 'Oh my gosh there are earthquakes here.' And then we were laughing about it. And then that day two earthquakes happened and we were like, 'Oh my gosh! They're way more common than we thought!' That's my first memory of Oakland.
What are you passionate about these days?
Juice boxes. Nah, I'm just kidding. Although I feel I have been a lot, very passionate about childish things. Which is funny, 'cause I feel like I should be growing up but in a lot of ways I'm regressing. But I felt (laughs) - Um, I'm super passionate about literature. I studied literature and I have always been the most avid reader, but it feels so good to be reading on my own time now. I never stop. It's like, if I am separated from reading material I feel funny.
What are you most proud of?
(pause) My heritage I think. I - another funny thing about being from Montana is that there's no diversity. I am a Chilean Jew and it's amazing. There's a lot of - It's just a fun - It's a rich history. And I was always, like, the Cultural One in my friend group at home. And it kind of made me embrace it more. Like, my mom was the one who taught Spanish to my friends and also who taught us what Hanukkah was when I was a little girl and who made us latkes.
You were talking a little bit ago about how you feel like you're regressing even though you feel you feel like you should be growing up.
I've made a lot of friends just by being kind of childish and forward and that sort of thing. But it hasn't seemed to be very negative in my life. I've become really more passionate about animals. Like, I want to cry sometimes when I see bums with dogs. And I've always been really emotional about animals, but I feel like that's a childish reaction to have, almost, that I should have under control. And for some reason it's gotten a lot stronger here.
Maybe it's 'cause I've always been small. (laughs) When I was born I had tiny hands and feet, and the doctors told my mom I was gonna be a midget and she didn't believe it. And they're like, 'No, she really is going to be. Her hands and feet are proportionately really unproportional. They're very small.' And my mom's just like, 'Psh. Whatever.' And I wasn't. But maybe part of that.
I'm not very good at a lot of things. I'm not very good with my hands, like, doing um... You know, manual labor and that sort of thing. So I've relied on people a lot in my life for those things. And maybe that's kind of stunted my ability to grow up in some ways. But I don't think it's been - Done irreversible damage in any way.
What's the hardest thing you've ever gone through?
I feel really lucky. I feel like maybe I haven't had a hardest moment yet. Truthfully. My parents had a really unhappy marriage, but it never affected me as much as it should have maybe. I have an older sister and she left and she didn't see any of it, really - Or, she didn't see the divorce. So I think looking back on it, seeing how unhappy my mom was, was probably the hardest thing that I've gone through. It's just that it didn't register until later. So, you know, I think if it had registered as serious as it does sometimes when I think about it now it would have been really really hard then. But I was going through a totally self-centered adolescent phase when it was all happening and, um, I didn't get it. But now when I think about how unhappy my mom was and I was the only one there to see it, that was definitely difficult.
I have become really sick of how disillusioned people are about love and about relationships. Um, because it seems like everyone I talk to had parents who were in an unhappy marriage and now they're all sick of it. And none of them want to try it. And I do. I want - (laughs) I feel the opposite. I really want to make it work. I want to prove that people can be happy together. And that it can be cute. And people can be really healthy for each each other, and I just hope that that doesn't become a trend in the world. I think a lot of people put barriers between themselves and who they have feelings for just because they don't think it can work, you know. And I want to prove that wrong. I think allowing yourself to trust someone and to be happy with someone is amazing. It's a beautiful thing.
To see more interviews, go to www.projetenvue.org
To help us create a photo book featuring fifty portraits of Oakland residents, visit www.kck.st/HOhPv2www.kck.st/HOhPv2
I was born in Arlington, Virginia and then I moved to Montana... more
-
-
http://i2.crtcdn1.net/images/spacer.gif
My name is Dillan Anthony. I was born in Vietnam, in 1990. In Saigon. My dad is an immigrant from - So from Vietnam we flew to the Philippines and then from the Philippines we moved to North Dakota and I lived there for a little time. We moved to Long Beach, California when I was about two.
Um, I’m passionate about modeling. That’s what I want to do, to be honest, with my life. Um, but, it’s hard to try to break into the modeling industry if you’re not tall and skinny, so I’m just trying to find my niche.
When I was in high school, I believe, I went to, like, this modeling school and everything and my dad paid for it. And I was all, like, this is what I want to do with my life. Because, being a model you don’t have to think or talk, you just kind of have to just walk down the runway and look pretty and that’s the only thing I’m good at. (laughs) Sad to say. Maybe I think it’s just who I am. I didn’t really have any, uh, support when I was growing up, so I guess I’m just not that confident but that’s kind of, like, an oxymoron since you have to be confident if you’re a model and you have to strut down the runway.
My dad was a working dad. He had to support three kids and my mom left my family when I was, like, in third grade, so I kinda had to take care of the family and, um, I barely saw my dad. And I kind of just was on my own, basically. I didn’t really have any guidance. Basically I became the mother, so...
I think last year, July the Fourth was the first time I dressed up as a woman and went out to a party. It was July the Fourth and me and my friends were going out to a celebration for the Independence Day. And I was wearing my friend’s - Annie. I was wearing her Bare Mineral makeup. And I borrowed a dress from my roommate, and it was, like, a Little Bo Peep dress. (laughs) And I was so terrified to walk out the street because I thought that I was going to get gay bashed or hurt in some way. But, you know, walking down - My friends were all supportive and they said, ‘You know, no one’s gonna even notice that you’re a boy in a dress. You’re just so beautiful that people will think you’re a girl. And I just walked out the door and walked to the party and everyone was really surprised to find out that I was a boy when I got there, so I was - I was really satisfied with the reaction I got from the public.
To read more of Dillan's story, visit www.projetenvue.org/dillan-anthony
To learn more about Projet En Vue, visit www.kck.st/HOhPv2http://i2.crtcdn1.net/images/spacer.gif
My name is Dillan Anthony. I was born in... more
-
-
Click here! http://kck.st/HOhPv2
Projet En Vue is documenting the unseen faces and unheard voices of Oakland through 35mm photography and audio interviews.Click here! http://kck.st/HOhPv2
Projet En Vue is documenting the unseen faces and... more
-
-
Camilo José Vergara has spent more than thirty years documenting poor, urban and minority neighborhoods across the United States. His projects emerge from a large archive of images he has made since 1977 of the nation’s largest ghettos. His exhaustive research has taken him to Camden and Newark, New Jersey; Chicago, Illinois; Detroit, Michigan; Gary, Indiana; Maine; New York; and Los Angeles. Vergara takes his camera to places plagued by the drug trade, and to neighborhoods filled with homeless shelters, prisons, and drug treatment facilities. He is a prolific photographer who continues to live in New York City. Vergara has been the recipient of a MacArthur Foundation Genius Grant.
Vergara describes his approach as interdisciplinary, using techniques from fields that include sociology, architecture, photography, urban planning, history and anthropology. He has focused upon the gradual erosion of urban neighborhoods by photographing the same structures repeatedly over decades in order to capture the process of of urban decay. The photography presented here is from Vergara’s project entitled “Invincible Cities.” He returned to the same intersection in Harlem and photographed the changes in one building for 38 years. The images create a composite, time-lapse portrait of one of New York City’s most vibrant and distinctive areas.
This piece includes a number of color photographs, a photo-gallery and a documentary short film.
http://disembedded.wordpress.com/2012/04/21/invincible-cities-harlems-painted-lady-on-east-125th-street/Camilo José Vergara has spent more than thirty years documenting poor, urban... more
-
-
Author David Talbott suggests that all of human history can be seen as just two stories. First, came the story of ancient mythology, when towering gods were said to have ruled the world. Then came the story of science, emerging from a growing distrust of the myths and a new emphasis on direct observation and reason. But a third story is possible, according to Talbott, one that sees the underlying provocation of the myths in extraordinary electrical events occurring close to the Earth. That discernment will lead to a new perspective on modern science as well. Today, a third story IS possible. But it requires a reconsideration of both human stories—that of myth and that of "settled science"—seeing both through the fresh lens of the Electric Universe."Author David Talbott suggests that all of human history can be seen as just two... more
-
-
Buner: Born blind in an underprivileged background, Mohammad Iqbal struggled for a normal life and now has it all down including a Facebook presence! With no means to facilitate him, Iqbal grew up under his parent’s supervision and learned everything he knew, including English, by listening to the radio and television.
http://merapassionpakistan.com/english/believing-before-seeing/Buner: Born blind in an underprivileged background, Mohammad Iqbal struggled for a... more
-
-
Is it possible to reach the top when you’re heading downhill in full speed? Medalist skiers Ifrah and Amina Wali claim it is. Bagging medals on a national level and winning gold and silver at the likes of the slalom skiing events at the South Asian Winter Games in India.
http://merapassionpakistan.com/english/the-ski-to-success/Is it possible to reach the top when you’re heading downhill in full speed?... more
-
-
Levon Helm, legendary singer and drummer for the Band, died on April 19th in New York of throat cancer. He was 71. He passed away peacefully surrounded by his friends and bandmates, A very sad note signed by his daughter and wife had appeared Tuesday on the official website for multiple Grammy winner Levon Helm, the drummer-singer of the acclaimed and influential rock group, the Band. “Levon is in the final stages of his battle with cancer,” says the note. “Please send your prayers and love to him as he makes his way through this part of his journey. Thank you fans and music lovers who have made his life so filled with joy and celebration…he has loved nothing more than to play, to fill the room up with music, lay down the back beat, and make the people dance! He did it every time he took the stage.”
Levon Helm had reached the final stages of his battle with cancer, which was first diagnosed in the late 1990s. He recovered, but it took him many years to recover his singing voice. At last Saturday’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony in Cleveland, former Band guitarist and songwriter Robbie Robertson told the audience, “We all need to send out love and prayers to my Band mate Levon Helm.”
Mr. Helm, a native of Arkansas whose father was a cotton farmer, was an important member of the Band, lending his steady beat and weathered voice to the group’s signature hit songs, such as: “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down,” “The Weight,” “Rag Mama Rag” and “Daniel and the Sacred Harp." The Band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994.
This piece includes photographs, slide shows, two music videos and a documentary short film.
http://disembedded.wordpress.com/2012/04/19/legendary-levon-helm-drummer-and-singer-of-the-band-dead-at-71/Levon Helm, legendary singer and drummer for the Band, died on April 19th in New York... more
-
-
Buner (Pakistan): Who says you need to be an electrical engineer to light up the darkness? Zahir Shah Malang proved that all you need is positivity and a hydropower station.
http://merapassionpakistan.com/english/a-nightlife-in-elam/Buner (Pakistan): Who says you need to be an electrical engineer to light up the... more
-
-
A very sad note signed by his daughter and wife appeared yesterday on the website for Levon Helm, the drummer-singer of the acclaimed and influential rock group, the Band. “Levon is in the final stages of his battle with cancer,” says the note. “Please send your prayers and love to him as he makes his way through this part of his journey. Thank you fans and music lovers who have made his life so filled with joy and celebration…he has loved nothing more than to play, to fill the room up with music, lay down the back beat, and make the people dance! He did it every time he took the stage.”
Levon Helm, the drummer and singer with the Band, has reached the final stages of his battle with cancer, which was first diagnosed in the late 1990s. He recovered, but it took him many years to recover his singing voice. At Saturday’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony in Cleveland, former Band guitarist and songwriter Robbie Robertson told the audience, “We all need to send out love and prayers to my Band mate Levon Helm.”
Mr. Helm, a native of Arkansas whose father was a cotton farmer, was an important member of the Band, lending his steady beat and weathered voice to the group’s signature hit songs, such as: “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down,” “The Weight,” “Rag Mama Rag” and “Daniel and the Sacred Harp.” The Band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994.
This tribute to Levon Helm includes color photographs, a slide show, a music video and a documentary short film.
http://disembedded.wordpress.com/2012/04/18/a-tribute-for-levon-helm-with-prayers-and-love/A very sad note signed by his daughter and wife appeared yesterday on the website for... more
-
-
While most want to see the world, Asad Mahmood, from the small city of Okara, Punjab, wants to see the universe. It was 18-year-old Mahmood’s passion that inspired him to seek the moon and stars and his determination that drove him to make the 6th most powerful telescope in Pakistan.
http://merapassionpakistan.com/english/reaching-for-the-moon-and-stars/While most want to see the world, Asad Mahmood, from the small city of Okara, Punjab,... more
-
-
Arbab Landaye: The sky’s the limit for the Qazi brothers who didn’t let their fears, lack of finances or education interfere with their passion. Hailing from a town so small and short of facilities that you can’t even Google it, Qazi Sajjad attempted the extraordinary. He built his own version of a plane he saw in a 60’s Bond film using bamboo and a scrapped Suzuki engine!
http://merapassionpakistan.com/english/pakistan%E2%80%99s-own-wright-brothers/Arbab Landaye: The sky’s the limit for the Qazi brothers who didn’t let... more
-
