tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83820612455099349332024-02-07T03:44:28.836-08:00Jacopo "Apo" Bordin"Make people dream things they've never dreamed before, and they'll never forget you."the Apopotamushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05645574746651091710noreply@blogger.comBlogger230125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8382061245509934933.post-52335650395552512622011-03-26T21:11:00.000-07:002011-03-26T21:11:00.713-07:00JMB moved<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Join Me for Breakfast officially moved to Tumblr.<br />
<a href="http://www.joinmeforbreakfast.tumblr.com/">Take a seat at the new table</a>.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-a3BYfARWgD8/TY64pQ-7rTI/AAAAAAAAApE/faNmpXFdTYs/s1600/Picture+1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="343" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-a3BYfARWgD8/TY64pQ-7rTI/AAAAAAAAApE/faNmpXFdTYs/s400/Picture+1.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://joinmeforbreakfast.tumblr.com/">New JMB</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table></div>the Apopotamushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05645574746651091710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8382061245509934933.post-1355961882072739502011-03-22T15:32:00.000-07:002011-03-22T15:32:35.547-07:00Happy to be in advertising<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">I'm about to see Matt Ridley talking about "Deep Optimism", and the last talk he gave at TED is remarkable. He talks about the importance of communication and collaboration rather than IQ, and that's what advertising is ought to be: a collaboration and communication of ideas in order to solve problems, and lead innovation.<br />
Make sure to watch the "Advertising Worth Spreading" after Ridley's talk.<br />
Enjoy it.<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><object height="326" width="446"><param name="movie" value="http://video.ted.com/assets/player/swf/EmbedPlayer.swf"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"/><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><param name="bgColor" value="#ffffff"></param><param name="flashvars" value="vu=http://video.ted.com/talks/dynamic/MattRidley_2010G-medium.flv&su=http://images.ted.com/images/ted/tedindex/embed-posters/MattRidley-2010G.embed_thumbnail.jpg&vw=432&vh=240&ap=0&ti=915&introDuration=15330&adDuration=4000&postAdDuration=830&adKeys=talk=matt_ridley_when_ideas_have_sex;year=2010;theme=the_rise_of_collaboration;theme=a_taste_of_tedglobal_2010;theme=technology_history_and_destiny;theme=tales_of_invention;theme=what_makes_us_happy;theme=the_creative_spark;theme=unconventional_explanations;theme=the_power_of_cities;event=TEDGlobal+2010;&preAdTag=tconf.ted/embed;tile=1;sz=512x288;" /><embed src="http://video.ted.com/assets/player/swf/EmbedPlayer.swf" pluginspace="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" bgColor="#ffffff" width="446" height="326" allowFullScreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" flashvars="vu=http://video.ted.com/talks/dynamic/MattRidley_2010G-medium.flv&su=http://images.ted.com/images/ted/tedindex/embed-posters/MattRidley-2010G.embed_thumbnail.jpg&vw=432&vh=240&ap=0&ti=915&introDuration=15330&adDuration=4000&postAdDuration=830&adKeys=talk=matt_ridley_when_ideas_have_sex;year=2010;theme=the_rise_of_collaboration;theme=a_taste_of_tedglobal_2010;theme=technology_history_and_destiny;theme=tales_of_invention;theme=what_makes_us_happy;theme=the_creative_spark;theme=unconventional_explanations;theme=the_power_of_cities;event=TEDGlobal+2010;"></embed></object></div></div>the Apopotamushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05645574746651091710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8382061245509934933.post-57878492383432546712011-03-18T18:56:00.000-07:002011-03-18T18:56:54.295-07:00Sarah Kay at TED<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">One of my favorite spoken word poet, Sarah Kay, talks about the importance of poetry and how she's implementing it into education with her project <a href="http://www.project-voice.net/about-us/">VOICE</a>.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><i>"There is this piece of wall in Hiroshima, that was completely burned black by the radiations; </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>but on the front step, a person who was sitting there blocked the rays from hitting the stone. </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The only thing left now is a permanent shadow of positive light. </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>After the A Bomb specialists said it will take 75 years for the radiation damaged soil of Hiroshima City to ever grow anything again; but that spring, there were new buds popping up from the Earth."</i></div></div>the Apopotamushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05645574746651091710noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8382061245509934933.post-79131888139696291232011-03-11T14:33:00.000-08:002011-03-11T14:34:24.784-08:00Do Not Invite the Host<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Essay due for John Dobson's History of Aesthetics class.<br />
Experience a constructed landscape [Golden Gate Park, Yerba Buena,...] and compare it with an experience in Nature [beach, hike on a mountain,...].<br />
<br />
Comparison: Tuscany's Hills vs. Golden Gate Park<br />
<br />
Excerpts:<br />
- "And that’s where I lost myself. Drawn in such beauty and freedom, I, from there, never departed..."<br />
- "So, by keep building cities and cover the land, are we covering these answers as well?"<br />
- "...it is interesting to think how we sometimes need to go to beautiful places in order to get out of them."<br />
- "It felt like I had opened the door of an elementary classroom and all the kids had run outside for recess."<br />
- "...because we cannot find all the answers, our thoughts become purer, we lose any social constructs that block our imagination, our childish brain, and so we explore..."<br />
<br />
SPOILER ALERT:<br />
A constructed landscape is a place where we can break from reality, and go where we would like to be. A natural landscape is a place where we can break from our self, and go where we once were. Pythagoras believed that by thinking we allow the soul to travel back where it used to be. I bet he would love Tuscany’s hills.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><b>“Do not invite the Host”</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>It’s a warm summer and two friends with no directions are about to enter the most beautiful hills of Italy. They crossed the border in the morning, and they drove; through the one country where first was culture and then was the nation, yet never the people.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://joinmeforbreakfast.blogspot.com/2011/03/do-not-invite-host.html"> [read more]</a></div><a name='more'></a><br />
They saw threads of haze levitating above commanding arches, that history are there to represent. It was a sight to observe Gothic needles penetrating that wreck of threads, <i>“What a wonder it is! So grand, so solemn, so vast! And yet so delicate, so airy, so graceful!” [Mark Twain]</i>.<br />
They still had four hours to go, and more admiration to provoke. Poetry was all around them and names were there to testify it as they drove along the <i>Autostrada del Sole</i> [“Freeway of the Sun”] towards <i>Piacenza</i> [“to please”], and believe me the experience and the soul were pleased indeed. <br />
After small fractions, big factories, and few trucks, the sign on the road announced another city, another history, another dialect and other beauties. They call this one <i>La Dotta, La Grassa, </i>o<i> La Rossa</i>. Home of the first University, mother of Tortellini and Tagliatelle, splashed with red roofs sheltering history and culture. In the XIII century Guido Guinizzelli and his Dolce Stil Novo walked these narrow streets, with the mind floating in desire and expression; the vision of such was worthless to put in word, for the dream itself used a language of a too greater level. Like the <i>Padre</i>, so, one of the two friends, once left his heart in this city of Bologna, and gentle it was because such love had been returned.<br />
It’s a warm summer and two friends with no directions are about to enter the most beautiful hills of Italy. They have no idea where they’re going, they just know that the destination is a village by the name of Lajatico, Tuscany. As they open the door of Tuscany, the imagery of the landscape overcomes their eyes. A vast blanket of colorful fields, sunflowers, vineyards, and cypresses appear, grandly, softly. The intensity of the city has left air for the country, nature, and raw beauty. They turn the page, and the street sign reads<i> “Firenze 5Km”</i>; in the chapter are the Galleria degli Uffizi, Il Duomo di Firenze, Il Palazzo Vecchio, La Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore, whose dome’s shadow was believed to cover the whole Tuscany. But in the textbooks they’ve never felt so small compared to such amount of culture, art, history, and personalities. They ask for direction to “an old man, hoary with the hair of eld”, his poetic choice of words resounds in their ears, gently; grateful, they proceed. Approaching the historic neighborhoods they see <i>Il Poeta</i> encountering Beatrice for the second and last time. Few blocks away is Leonardo, observing nature. They sit next to him and acknowledging their presence, he spoke:<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><i>“I roamed the countryside</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>searching for answers to things I did not understand.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Why shells existed on tops of mountains</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>along with imprints of coral and plants and seaweed</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>usually found in the sea.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Why the thunder lasts a longer time than that which causes it,</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>and why immediately on its creation</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>the lightning becomes visible to the eye</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>while thunder requires time to travel.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>How the various circles of water form around the spot</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>which has been struck by a stone,</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>and why a bird sustains itself in the air.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>These questions and other strange phenomena</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>engage my thought throughout my life.”</i></div><br />
Feeling more and more inferior, yet enriched, the two friends keep driving towards Lajatico.<br />
After soft turns among splendid hills, they spot a little village composed of few medieval houses surrounded by a wall of trees. Right before entering the town, a poster on the street reads “<i>Teatro Del Silenzio </i>→”. They follow the directions, which will lead them to the event they came here for: an appreciation of music, art, and opera organized by tenor Andrea Bocelli. They enter deeper and deeper into the hills, the asphalt ends and the street becomes a strip of dirt with smooth and wavy hills on both sides. The sun reveals all the different shades of green, yellow, brown, and our friends are now immersed in nature. No houses on sight, no people, no cables, just them and Nature.<br />
They get off their car, and walk on the grass towards the gentle slope of the hill. They lie down, far apart, and start enjoying. <br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><i>“Every man, woman, and child alive should see these hills one time before they die.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Nothin' at all for miles around.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Nothin' but grass and colors and plants and blue sky.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Not a soul in sight.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>No sirens.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>No car alarms.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Nobody honkin' atcha.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>No madmen cursin' or pissin' in the streets.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>You find the silence out here, you find the peace.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>You can find God.”</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>[25th Hour rmx]</i></div><br />
And that’s where I lost myself.<br />
Drawn in such beauty and freedom, I, from there, never departed, and still today I sometimes go back and lie down on that soft hill. I remember the feeling of carefree, joyful, sparkling excitement as I gazed through the landscape. The words of Leonardo were still echoing in my mind, and my thought wondered on how this happened. How and why so good, so tastefully, so beautifully. A beauty that if described would merely sound pretty and cute, unless such ears had previously lived the lovely noise of those hills. A beauty that cannot be understood, but simply enjoyed for what it is. A beauty which incites dilemmas into the curious’ mind, and which often leaves the latter questioning and formulating beliefs, ideals, ideas. I keep moving my hands to feel the grass, the soil, to feel the dearest of the Mothers.<br />
There is no wonder why the greatest man of the history used to come on these hills to borrow Nature’s inventions and apply them to humans. The answers are in Mother Nature, they are out there, for the ones who can observe and contemplate.<br />
So, by keep building cities and cover the land, are we covering these answers as well?<br />
I remember having this train of thoughts and as I realized where I had arrived with it, I felt extremely light, and fresh. It took me out of the present environment and uplifted me. I had completely forgot about the presence of my friend, nor I was actually looking at the panorama.<br />
It was great and it is interesting to think how we sometimes need to go to beautiful places in order to get out of them.<br />
Another great element of experiences in Nature like the one I had in Tuscany, is that it allows continuous and random thinking. It felt like I had opened the door of an elementary classroom and all the kids had run outside for recess.<br />
Time was controlled by the sun, so the perception of the first quickly faded, leaving me happily in the present [which, with no awareness of time, can be virtually prolonged, or perceived prolonged, as it happened]. And what was even more exciting is that the whole purpose of the journey was yet to start, Il Teatro del Silenzio [The Theater of the Silence]. Del Silenzio, yes because when I found myself immersed in the beauty I’ve been trying to describe so far, words were not enough and in such cases, I rather let silence talk for them.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><i>“Because words are inert, they’re just symbols, they’re dead. And so much of our experience is intangible. So much of what we perceive cannot be expressed, it’s unspeakable. And yet, when we communicate with one another, and we feel that we have connected, and we think we are understood, I think we have a feeling of almost spiritual communion. And that feeling might be transient, but I think that’s what we live for.” </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>[A Waking Life]</i></div><br />
I find this excerpt, from one of the most beautiful movies ever written, extremely relevant to the moments I was living. When my mind came back to Tuscany, and I looked at my friend, I comprehended something I’ve never thought about. Because when I turned my head and found my friend’s eyes, the only word that came out of my mouth was “WOW”. Wow is a term that is often used in similar situations, where words can only ruin the experience you’ve lived and that you’re now trying to explain. I started to wonder why does this word come out in such situations, how it originated, and so on. Until I finally realized that, as written before, in instances where language cannot translate feelings, and therefore only silence should be allowed to talk, we can still use one word, a no-word: WOW, WithOut Words. My appreciation for this word grew instantly, and so its value, its weight, and its use, therefore, ought to be carefully chosen, for the abuse of it would make it futile, and as we must know, silence is all but futile.<br />
<br />
One last thought about Nature is that it is natural. We don’t decide whether to have it or not, nor how we want to have it. It is something we join. On the other hand, a constructed Nature is an attempt to invite Nature to its own party: Nature will come because it is its house, but its presence will never be as spontaneous and pleasant as if we were invited to its party, as it did with me in Tuscany. <br />
<br />
I took a walk in the Golden Gate Park, and I admit it is beautiful. Getting lost in the trails among tall trees, and the dirt scent evoke a gorgeous feeling. But the awareness of being surrounded by buildings, cars, streets, signs, does not allow my mind to reach places high as the ones I can explore when immersed in natural Nature. No wonder why the greatest thinkers of all time would formulate ideas and philosophies meditating on top of mountains, in the middle of the sea, at the bottom of hills, or in their dreams. These are places that we don’t know fully, and we can’t know fully. And it is only once you don’t know that you can discover, enlighten, aspire and get inspired. <br />
In a constructed landscape we have the obstacle of certainty. The mind is not allowed to wonder by looking at Nature because we know where the trees are coming from, we know why there is a pond on top of a hill, and we also know that whatever happens we can easily [usually] get out of it and come back to our safe, known reality. But in natural Nature this does not happen. There, our minds are encouraged to find answers; and because we cannot find all the answers, our thoughts become purer, we lose any social constructs that block our imagination, our childish brain, and so we explore paths never walked, seas never sailed, and peaks never dared to touch before, aware that there is no good or bad answer, no “right” answer, no answer: WOA. <br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><i>“The pursuit of truth and beauty is a sphere of activity in which we are permitted to remain children all our lives.” [A. Einstein]</i></div><br />
A constructed landscape is a place where we can break from reality, and go where we would like to be. A natural landscape is a place where we can break from our self, and go where we once were. Pythagoras believed that by thinking we allow the soul to travel back where it used to be. I bet he would love Tuscany’s hills.</div>the Apopotamushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05645574746651091710noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8382061245509934933.post-74841281739305105492011-03-11T13:47:00.000-08:002011-03-11T13:47:50.208-08:00Typography - Brush<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Assignment for <a href="http://jayvigon.com/">Jay Vigon</a>'s Typography class.<br />
"With a thick brush and ink, explore abstract figures and apply type to them."<br />
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</div>the Apopotamushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05645574746651091710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8382061245509934933.post-13927590144124670992011-03-07T17:08:00.000-08:002011-03-07T17:09:46.484-08:00BYOM 2011<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">BYOM is back with the first edition of the new year:<br />
<a href="http://bringyourownmusic.blogspot.com/2011/03/back-at-byom.html">BYOM 2011</a><br />
Some of the artists featured are The Chemical Brothers, Gorillaz, Lady Gaga, Seu Jorge, and Thom Yorke,<br />
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Enjoy it and send requests for the following sessions at byomsf@gmail.com<br />
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</div>the Apopotamushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05645574746651091710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8382061245509934933.post-18963787447903266532011-02-07T22:11:00.000-08:002011-02-07T22:12:23.240-08:00Flickr Update 2.7.11<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">While I'm still waiting to gain back my original domain, I've been <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jacopobordin/">uploading</a> some pictures I took lately around the Bay.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tribute to J.L. [<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jacopobordin/5426859241/sizes/l/">view large</a>]</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Breaking Free [<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jacopobordin/5427462344/sizes/l/">view large</a>]</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hob Art [<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jacopobordin/5426847447/sizes/l/">view large</a>]</td></tr>
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.joinmeforbreakfast.blogspot.com/">http://www.joinmeforbreakfast.blogspot.com</a></div><br />
</div></div>the Apopotamushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05645574746651091710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8382061245509934933.post-18313626511957448662011-01-27T00:26:00.000-08:002011-01-27T00:26:19.971-08:00Fall 2010 - The Art of Presentation<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Taught by career coach Luke "LukedIn" Kreinberg, this class was a sort of part 2 of "The Importance of Relationships" [led by Stella Humphries and Charlie Kouns]. In fact, both classes focus more on the body and the mind, rather than simply I.Q. <br />
I've found this to be true in most all of the other classes and activities I do in my life. <br />
The 15 classes included mindfulness exercises, guest speakers from different industries, group discussions, strangers' encounters, journaling, eye contact, stances, gestures, voice, and so on.<br />
But more than all these great notions, what Luke's, Stella's, and Charlie's classes made me realize is that:<br />
<br />
- The school system is outdated, limited, and in strong need for change;<br />
- The way society is evolving requires and gives the chance for an essential look at our “selves”;<br />
<br />
In the past generations, people were directed since their childhoods to achieve roles in society considered privileged and respected [ask your grandma, or mom, what they dreamed you could be: a doctor? a lawyer?]; my generation, however, is discovering that there isn't such a "better" job than the other. More and more, the idea of “passion” is growing in us; the desire and belief that no matter what I do, as long as I love it, I can do it, be great at it, and be respected for it.<br />
But then I look at how school makes us grow and I see nothing but walls blocking us from looking at our selves to think and ask who we are, where we come from, what makes us tick, what our strengths and weaknesses are, what kinds of talents we have, what passions we are developing, and THEN realizing how and where to apply such interests. Wouldn’t be that healthier for us and the world?<br />
<br />
I consider myself extremely lucky to be "only" 22 and having got the opportunity to think about this.<br />
At the same time, I wonder if at 22 I should be spending this time discovering this, or spending it to apply this theory into my life [relationships, career, education].<br />
I see most of us adapting to a certain job previously chosen, rather than putting our selves into a job that we decide once we clarify who we are; and I wonder.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_v_88SmBrh_A/TUErq0NWDhI/AAAAAAAAAnM/TAkoyQP7WHE/s1600/815563899_e5e5cd8881_b.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_v_88SmBrh_A/TUErq0NWDhI/AAAAAAAAAnM/TAkoyQP7WHE/s400/815563899_e5e5cd8881_b.jpeg" width="270" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Credit: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/cochese/">Justin Donnelly</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Thanks <a href="http://www.artsystarsky.blogspot.com/">Starsky</a> for the collaboration</span></div>the Apopotamushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05645574746651091710noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8382061245509934933.post-73169807427530839452010-12-26T02:49:00.000-08:002010-12-26T02:49:53.274-08:00Fall 2010 – International Cinema in an Age of Change<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_v_88SmBrh_A/TRcD58r3zUI/AAAAAAAAAm8/ksVzNgiQ8Vs/s1600/PA110023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_v_88SmBrh_A/TRcD58r3zUI/AAAAAAAAAm8/ksVzNgiQ8Vs/s320/PA110023.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Neighbor at Golden Gate Park</td></tr>
</tbody></table>And another semester has come to an end. Another remarkable one.<br />
All the four classes I took have been important in shaping my thinking and my growth as a person and student. For my Liberal Arts, I took International Cinema in an Age of Change [60s+70s], which turned out to be quite great. With a main focus on Jean-Luc Godard’s work, we watched parts of movies from all over the world, discussing styles, ideas, contexts, and meaning. I’ve always heard about Godard, but I had never watched his movies, nor pondered about his art. Now, after 15 weeks, I can say he’s one of my favorite movie directors, and thinkers. I suggest anyone to watch his movies, focus on his words and actions, and you will find a lot of truth, poetry, and in full honesty I see Godard’s work much more relevant to nowadays’ society than Hollywood’s studio films. He depicts simple reality with touches of philosophy and art, giving meaning to situations that might be not even considered otherwise. He let us enter his personal life through his characters and isn’t this what people are looking for on YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, …?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_v_88SmBrh_A/TRcJEUvBKdI/AAAAAAAAAnE/S8njd2qA5D8/s1600/youtube.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="135" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_v_88SmBrh_A/TRcJEUvBKdI/AAAAAAAAAnE/S8njd2qA5D8/s320/youtube.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Besides being a great filmmaker, Godard is also a great writer and here are some of my favorite quotes of his:<br />
<br />
<i>“Our thoughts are not the substance of reality, but its shadow.”</i><br />
<br />
<i>“Language is the house man lives in.”</i><br />
<br />
<i>“What is art? Form becoming style; but the style is the man; therefore art is the humanizing of forms.”</i><br />
<br />
Thank you Jay for showing us such great movies, and thanks Godard for inspiring and provoking my thoughts.<br />
These are 5 minutes of the movie "Le Mepris", where two of my favorite characteristics of Godard are displayed: the always beautiful opening credits and the long shots driven by conversation and subliminal messages.<br />
<br />
<object height="385" width="400"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/v_m85eoa-8s?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/v_m85eoa-8s?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="385"></embed></object><br />
<br />
<br />
Two or Three Things I Know About Her [Coffee Scene]<br />
<object height="385" width="400"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/e4LWwhFJoUw?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/e4LWwhFJoUw?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="385"></embed></object>the Apopotamushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05645574746651091710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8382061245509934933.post-73394998661573937242010-12-13T16:11:00.000-08:002010-12-13T16:11:52.126-08:00Join me for 3From a little dorm room on Nob Hill to the StarMotel in the Marina to the 3rd floor of a brick-wall apartment overlooking the Golden Gate Park, JMB has been a mean to share interests, ideas, and thoughts of mine.<br />
<div><br />
</div><div><div style="text-align: center;">Today, December 13th 2010, Join Me for 3 years of Breakfasts.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_v_88SmBrh_A/SyWr1I7FgwI/AAAAAAAAAdk/ntixrLvZZB8/s1600-h/jmb+hippo.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414923056399614722" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_v_88SmBrh_A/SyWr1I7FgwI/AAAAAAAAAdk/ntixrLvZZB8/s400/jmb+hippo.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 400px; width: 322px;" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">-the Apopotamus</div></div>the Apopotamushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05645574746651091710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8382061245509934933.post-54747839682666082922010-11-27T01:29:00.000-08:002010-11-27T12:48:32.610-08:00Perfervid Alana StewartFor the past two weeks, I've been watching <a href="http://alanastewart.wordpress.com/">Alana Stewart</a>'s new music video "<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3GIcGOynq3I">Perfervid</a>".<br />
The art direction and the music is wonderful. I met Alana on my first semester at the Academy. We were in the same drawing class and during the first class, I paired up with her and learned about her passion for music.<br />
Since then, I haven't seen her anymore. I listened to her songs on MySpace, and kept in touch only once, but after this video I felt I had to send my congratulations. It's great to see friends and classmates creating art, and following their passions. To Alana and all my friends, all the best for your projects:<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><object height="385" width="400"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/3GIcGOynq3I?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/3GIcGOynq3I?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="385"></embed></object></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><i>"Consider your origin; you were not born to live like brutes, but to follow virtue and knowledge."</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Dante, Canto XXVI</i></div>the Apopotamushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05645574746651091710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8382061245509934933.post-22990151094048361092010-11-26T11:56:00.000-08:002010-11-26T12:01:28.491-08:00BYOM - Music to ponder byFor Thanksgiving, my friend Gavin shared his 12-pack of music at <a href="http://bringyourownmusic.blogspot.com/">BYOM</a>.<br />
His theme is <a href="http://bringyourownmusic.blogspot.com/2010/11/gavin-music-to-ponder-by.html">"Music to ponder by"</a>, a soft listening through Jazz, Bossanova, Choir, and bumpin grooves.<br />
Check it out!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_v_88SmBrh_A/TPAQyrtbLEI/AAAAAAAAAmk/MKN5XG5UOeA/s1600/P9210002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_v_88SmBrh_A/TPAQyrtbLEI/AAAAAAAAAmk/MKN5XG5UOeA/s400/P9210002.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gavin playing guitar during BYOM at his apartment in North Beach, SF</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<object height="385" width="400"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/FJAAFx7PQ04?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/FJAAFx7PQ04?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="385"></embed></object>the Apopotamushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05645574746651091710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8382061245509934933.post-59104831262021816052010-11-22T16:59:00.000-08:002010-11-22T17:00:13.121-08:00Tripping safelyEvery time I talk about my <a href="https://www.tripping.com/profile/info/index/memberid/11143">Tripping</a> experiences with my friends or travelers, the first questions I always get are:<br />
<br />
"Isn't it dangerous?"<br />
"How do you know if you can trust the host/guest?"<br />
"Aren't you scared of hosting people you don't know in your room/house?"<br />
<br />
Obviously, safety is the first concern to come up when talking about hosting and meeting strangers, especially if this happens out of your hometown or country, and for free.<br />
Personally, I've never had problems, only great surprises like the bonfire and <a href="http://www.joinmeforbreakfast.com/2010/04/mexico-day-1.html">house party in San Diego</a> organized for my 3 friends and I during our trip to Mexico; like <a href="http://nature-vs-people.blogspot.com/">Vanessa</a>, from Canada, and the inspiring stories of all her trips around the world; like Carolina from Spain, Tim from New Zealand.<br />
However, at Tripping, the mission is to offer a service free from fears and doubt about safety.<br />
In fact, tonight at midnight, the website will release a new system to get the "validated" badge. Through a one-on-one interview over Skype, Tripping operators will verify the identity and state of being of the users and its place, and make sure they can be labeled as "safe" or "verified".<br />
<a href="http://news.cnet.com/8301-19882_3-20023609-250.html#ixzz163LucYwU">CNET dedicated an article for this</a>, if you want to know more.<br />
Meanwhile,<br />
Keep Tripping.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_v_88SmBrh_A/S8tbN2aEqTI/AAAAAAAAAiM/e872a2Fpu3w/s1600/Catherine+all+sleeping+bag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="205" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_v_88SmBrh_A/S8tbN2aEqTI/AAAAAAAAAiM/e872a2Fpu3w/s400/Catherine+all+sleeping+bag.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Catherine [host]; Ted; Luke [host]; Noah; Matute; Apo || Tripping at Catherine's</td></tr>
</tbody></table>the Apopotamushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05645574746651091710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8382061245509934933.post-61425036396632611812010-11-17T11:20:00.000-08:002010-11-17T11:21:32.886-08:00Take me back to MexicoLast semester, my friends and I went for a road trip to Baja California.<br />
<a href="http://www.joinmeforbreakfast.com/2010_04_01_archive.html">5 days from Tijuana to Cabo San Luca</a> passing through deserts, ghost towns, and army stations.<br />
Last week, <a href="http://thecitylightsin20.blogspot.com/">Noah</a> made a montage of pictures and videos from that trip.<br />
Makes me want to go back to Mexico.<br />
<br />
<object height="385" width="400"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/OQM0RPSfbFs?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/OQM0RPSfbFs?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="385"></embed></object>the Apopotamushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05645574746651091710noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8382061245509934933.post-55412297577524323102010-11-16T11:00:00.000-08:002010-11-16T13:31:36.792-08:00Music to get arrested toA new episode of BYOM is out at <a href="http://bringyourownmusic.blogspot.com/">BringYourOwnMusic</a>.<br />
Our dear friend <a href="http://bringyourownmusic.blogspot.com/2010/11/sophia-music-to-get-arrested-to_16.html">Sophia brings a 12-pack</a> of music she'd like to get arrested to.<br />
Check it out, and watch out for iguanas.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_v_88SmBrh_A/TOLTXLRRBYI/AAAAAAAAAmg/CWTg_tnPMBc/s1600/Sophia.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_v_88SmBrh_A/TOLTXLRRBYI/AAAAAAAAAmg/CWTg_tnPMBc/s400/Sophia.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sophia and Matute @ 652</td></tr>
</tbody></table>the Apopotamushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05645574746651091710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8382061245509934933.post-71044832633636025862010-11-08T15:54:00.000-08:002010-11-08T15:54:46.058-08:00Meet Maria, 103 year old Tripper<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_v_88SmBrh_A/TNiNMuYp5_I/AAAAAAAAAmY/-EivouGP5N0/s1600/Picture+1.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_v_88SmBrh_A/TNiNMuYp5_I/AAAAAAAAAmY/-EivouGP5N0/s400/Picture+1.png" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<br />
Before the summer break, Jose and I had the luck to meet with Maria, the oldest <a href="https://www.tripping.com/profile/info/index/memberid/8551">Tripping host</a> and probably the oldest social networker in the world; at 103 years of age, she is one of the most beautiful ladies I've ever met.<br />
<br />
"When Maria was born, San Francisco was still recovering from the 1906 Earthquake. Few families had telephones, the first radio broadcast had just happened and tv wouldn't be invented for another 20 years. Cars were new too - the streets were still filled with horse-drawn carriages - and there were no planes in the sky. It was a totally different world." [<a href="http://blog.tripping.com/meet-the-worlds-oldest-hospitality-exchange-m">Tripping Blog</a>]<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_v_88SmBrh_A/TNiNdiB9kYI/AAAAAAAAAmc/zPG83L4WHcM/s1600/To+Be+Sorted+2++(June+2010)+1882.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_v_88SmBrh_A/TNiNdiB9kYI/AAAAAAAAAmc/zPG83L4WHcM/s200/To+Be+Sorted+2++(June+2010)+1882.jpeg" width="200" /></a>Getting to know a person of this age with such energy is inspiring and it makes you think how much potential we have and how much of it we waste. If you live in San Francisco, make sure to find her Tripping page and get a good dose of proper storytelling, you'll thank her.<br />
Thanks <a href="https://www.tripping.com/profile/info/index/memberid/1">Jen</a> for putting us in contact with Maria and watch the video <a href="http://itseemslikeitdoes.blogspot.com/">Jose</a> edited of our meeting with Maria.<br />
Also, read the <a href="http://blog.tripping.com/meet-the-worlds-oldest-hospitality-exchange-m">Tripping post</a> about Maria to know more about her.<br />
<br />
<br />
<iframe frameborder="0" height="265" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/15067170" width="400"></iframe><br />
<a href="http://vimeo.com/15067170">Untitled</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user3693321">Jose</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.<br />
<br />
<br />
Keep smiling,<br />
JMBthe Apopotamushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05645574746651091710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8382061245509934933.post-79122112190684650832010-11-07T13:25:00.000-08:002010-11-07T13:25:57.332-08:00BYOM - Music we've seen<a href="http://bringyourownmusic.blogspot.com/">BYOM</a> is back, with a theme episode: <a href="http://bringyourownmusic.blogspot.com/2010/11/music-weve-seen.html">"Music we've seen live"</a>.<br />
Check it out!the Apopotamushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05645574746651091710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8382061245509934933.post-62835043544375911602010-11-03T17:55:00.000-07:002010-11-04T10:31:32.977-07:00Intention: Create and ProduceIn my last “Art of Presentation” class, we were discussing about intentions.<br />
Our personal intentions.<br />
Whether they were short term, long term, grandiose, or small.<br />
My intention for the rest of this Fall semester, is to create and produce more.<br />
I want to design more, build more, film more, write more, and execute more projects.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_v_88SmBrh_A/TNIAqNCuErI/AAAAAAAAAmI/CHdUHKoxEUk/s1600/Pastabook.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="163" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_v_88SmBrh_A/TNIAqNCuErI/AAAAAAAAAmI/CHdUHKoxEUk/s200/Pastabook.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />
The first one started last month, when I tried to build sketchbooks out of Barilla boxes. I’ve never done it before, so I decided to make a couple to practice and understand how it all works.<br />
<br />
The next ongoing project is <a href="http://bringyourownmusic.blogspot.com/">Bring Your Own Music</a>, with my friend <a href="http://itseemslikeitdoes.blogspot.com/">Machin</a>. We recently recorded a new session of BYOM where we shared 6 songs each, but this weekend, two great girls and fun characters, <a href="http://sandrawhyhong.tumblr.com/">Sandra</a> and <a href="http://sophiavictoria.tumblr.com/">Sophia</a>, will bring their own 12-pack of songs and spend some time together.<br />
I’m loving BYOM, it’s fun and it pushed me to do and learn things I would have never tried otherwise; plus it is an evolving process, which makes it even more fun.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_v_88SmBrh_A/TNLtwJXA_NI/AAAAAAAAAmU/7eBpccwCD2k/s1600/2764541242_37e28efedd_b.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_v_88SmBrh_A/TNLtwJXA_NI/AAAAAAAAAmU/7eBpccwCD2k/s320/2764541242_37e28efedd_b.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
The third one is the one I am talking about in the<a href="http://www.joinmeforbreakfast.com/2010/11/when-i-grow-up-i-want-to-be-truck.html"> previous post</a>. I’ve always been fascinated by truck drivers and taxi drivers, so I decided I wanted to do something with them. As soon as I’ll be able to find a truck driver willing to collaborate for this idea, I will send her/him a digital camera with which they’re gonna take videos and pictures of their route [whether is across a city, a state, or a country]. At the end of their trip, I will ask them to send back the memory card and keep the camera as a present for the collaboration. I would love to see what <i>they</i> see while driving, why they love their job, and maybe one day I’ll be able to take the pictures myself, seating on the passenger seat of a custom Peterbilt.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
The fourth project that I am starting is with Machin. We’re still planning it and thinking how to do it.<br />
I’ll post updates as soon as we start it. <br />
Meanwhile, keep an eye on the mailbox.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_v_88SmBrh_A/TNIET9OuiyI/AAAAAAAAAmQ/ln4qL7gXr4k/s1600/8474890_e6987415f0_o.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_v_88SmBrh_A/TNIET9OuiyI/AAAAAAAAAmQ/ln4qL7gXr4k/s320/8474890_e6987415f0_o.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>the Apopotamushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05645574746651091710noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8382061245509934933.post-25536736201435547642010-11-01T19:11:00.000-07:002010-11-01T19:14:37.703-07:00When I grow up I want to be a truck driver.When I was 5, I had two dreams: becoming a truck driver and becoming a taxi driver.<br />
17 years later I still dream of being a truck driver and a taxi driver.<br />
Probably because of these reasons, and because my grandfather used to be one, I've always had a lot of respect for these jobs.<br />
There is also something about them that fascinates me, thus I am starting a project involving truck drivers.<br />
I am trying to get in touch with drivers willing to collaborate for a "Journey Diary", so if you happen to know any driver, or if you have suggestions on where to find some, please send me an email or contact me.<br />
<br />
This is the trailer for The Big Rig, by Doug Pray [director of <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLfvmiB4edI">Art&Copy</a>], where he explores the lives and souls of American truck drivers.<br />
<br />
<object height="385" width="420"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/naLtlUuZ9es?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/naLtlUuZ9es?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="420" height="385"></embed></object>the Apopotamushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05645574746651091710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8382061245509934933.post-65538745442794689532010-10-26T22:17:00.000-07:002010-10-26T22:17:38.041-07:00Journey through notesInspired by Gregory Colbert's <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gSX444hQ5Vo">Ashes and Snow</a><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Journey through notes</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">I had a dream of going back to Bardot and keep dancing with Porto Rican ladies.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Enjoying female voices singing words of foreign languages</div><div style="text-align: center;">Flying me into new dance floors where</div><div style="text-align: center;">Notes become words</div><div style="text-align: center;">Words become steps</div><div style="text-align: center;">steps become dances</div><div style="text-align: center;">dances becomes games</div><div style="text-align: center;">games becomes journeys</div><div style="text-align: center;">journeys through glances</div><div style="text-align: center;">journeys through eyes</div><div style="text-align: center;">journeys through touches</div><div style="text-align: center;">journeys through feelings</div><div style="text-align: center;">journeys through notes.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Notes to words</div><div style="text-align: center;">Words to steps</div><div style="text-align: center;">Steps to dances</div><div style="text-align: center;">Dances to games</div><div style="text-align: center;">Games to journeys</div><div style="text-align: center;">Journeys through notes.</div>the Apopotamushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05645574746651091710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8382061245509934933.post-51461540391458228882010-09-29T14:13:00.000-07:002010-09-29T14:13:52.427-07:00Fall 2010My summer ended in New York, in August, when I visited my friends Luca, and Andrea.<br />
I enjoyed that week, I can't wait to move [hopefully] to New York once I graduate and find a job there.<br />
I also had the luck to meet with Domenico Vitale from <a href="http://www.pic-nyc.com/">PIC</a>, a solution company that I'd love to join in the future.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_v_88SmBrh_A/TKN1rP--PUI/AAAAAAAAAl0/gm5Xkt1x8T4/s1600/DSC_0151.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_v_88SmBrh_A/TKN1rP--PUI/AAAAAAAAAl0/gm5Xkt1x8T4/s400/DSC_0151.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Now I am back to school and I like my classes: Art of Presentation, Int'l Cinema [late 50s - early 70s], Successful Storytelling, and Creativity with the great <a href="http://www.dorkbrand.com/roland/">Roland Young</a>.<br />
I also keep volunteering at Tripping.com, [they now added Facebook Connect so you can sign up and log in with one click] which has been a great experience so far. Both working and using their service. During the last semester I hosted a couples of Trippers and it's been fun. It felt like traveling at home.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_v_88SmBrh_A/TKN6Jke7lrI/AAAAAAAAAl4/Ig8xN9JYS1Q/s1600/Picture+1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_v_88SmBrh_A/TKN6Jke7lrI/AAAAAAAAAl4/Ig8xN9JYS1Q/s400/Picture+1.png" width="400" /></a></div><br />
I'm planning to host some more this semester, after two friends from Switzerland will be here to visit.<br />
Last, Tripping is competing for the Mashable Awards as Most Promising New Company, so if you like traveling, and want to help people to travel, <a href="http://mashable.com/awards/">vote</a> [it takes 10 seconds].<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_v_88SmBrh_A/TKOq4OEvIuI/AAAAAAAAAl8/KViQul2BBZs/s1600/Picture+1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="53" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_v_88SmBrh_A/TKOq4OEvIuI/AAAAAAAAAl8/KViQul2BBZs/s400/Picture+1.png" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Until then, keep Tripping.<br />
<br />
<object height="295" style="background-image: url(http://i4.ytimg.com/vi/wpxxuUJLxYg/hqdefault.jpg);" width="415"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/wpxxuUJLxYg?fs=1&hl=en_US"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/wpxxuUJLxYg?fs=1&hl=en_US" width="415" height="295" allowscriptaccess="never" allowfullscreen="true" wmode="transparent" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object></div>the Apopotamushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05645574746651091710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8382061245509934933.post-35786367848989484682010-09-13T11:19:00.000-07:002010-09-13T11:19:13.256-07:00BYOM Europe - AxelThe first <a href="http://bringyourownmusic.blogspot.com/2010/09/axel-italian-pizza-delivery-guys.html">Euro episode</a> of BYOM is finally up.<br />
Our guest is Axel, good friend from Lugano, Switzerland, who will share his choice of 12 songs and walk us through them with metaphors, poems, and anecdotes.<br />
<br />
"Although inspiring and poetic at first, the episode will slowly degenerate into a talk between two pizza-delivery-like guys who realize they still speak english as when they left Switzerland, years ago."the Apopotamushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05645574746651091710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8382061245509934933.post-49096766962157378382010-08-12T01:04:00.000-07:002010-08-15T05:44:51.309-07:00Make sure you spend more time thereI'm back in Switzerland, and I am already missing Greece.<br />
But this morning I received an email from <a href="http://www.theideabook.org/fredrik_01.html">Fredrik Härén</a>, author of <a href="http://www.theideabook.org/ideabook_01.html">The Idea Book</a>.<br />
Most likely, you've already heard people talking about it, especially if you're studying in a creative environment, where ideas are often at the center of everything you are working on.<br />
But still, I found it very <a href="http://interesting.org/">Interesting</a>:<br />
<br />
---------------------------------------------<br />
<b>Where do you get your best ideas? </b><br />
I have asked more than 100 000 people this question: "When do you have your absolutely best ideas?" <br />
<br />
The most common answer is: <br />
- In the bed <br />
- In the shower <br />
- when traveling <br />
- when exercising <br />
and <br />
- when i am with friends in a bar <br />
<br />
Virtually no one says "When I am sitting at my desk at work"! <br />
<br />
And still that´s where most people tend to work. <br />
<br />
I never understood why. <br />
<br />
So 3 out of the last 4 weeks I have spent on a island writing my next book. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_v_88SmBrh_A/TGOqn4itQWI/AAAAAAAAAlU/eT-E3vnPIus/s1600/liten_island.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_v_88SmBrh_A/TGOqn4itQWI/AAAAAAAAAlU/eT-E3vnPIus/s320/liten_island.jpeg" /></a></div>For two reasons: <br />
<br />
1) The island is amazing - as you can see - and I want my life to be as full of amazing moments as possible. <br />
<br />
2) I know that I do my best writing when I am: <br />
<br />
a) Close to water <br />
b) Isolated <br />
c) Relaxed <br />
<br />
So sitting on an isolated island while writing tend to make my writing much better. <br />
<br />
Where do you do your best work? <br />
It might not be on an island, and then of course you should not work from one. But I am pretty sure it is not when sitting at your desk at work. <br />
<br />
So think about that today: What does your perfect creative environment look like? <br />
<br />
Then make sure you spend more time there. <br />
<br />
Fredrik<br />
---------------------------------------------<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;">EAVB_OURVOHSZDZ</span></span>the Apopotamushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05645574746651091710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8382061245509934933.post-75660073341120882062010-07-03T15:25:00.000-07:002010-07-03T15:25:07.440-07:00Spend some time with people you care, ALONE.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_v_88SmBrh_A/TC-2zpmj8KI/AAAAAAAAAlM/iUIdtAqPj00/s1600/DSC_0080.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_v_88SmBrh_A/TC-2zpmj8KI/AAAAAAAAAlM/iUIdtAqPj00/s320/DSC_0080.JPG" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">Last minutes in San Francisco before the summer</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><br />
<br />
From the day I left San Francisco [June 20th ?], I had the chance to spend time with people and in places that I missed and enjoyed.<br />
I spent one night in New York at Philippe's house, met for an awaited and beautiful lunch with Martin, and immediately left for Switzerland.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_v_88SmBrh_A/TC-xJ8bb7YI/AAAAAAAAAkc/x-BVoDrpUNA/s1600/Martin+NYC.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_v_88SmBrh_A/TC-xJ8bb7YI/AAAAAAAAAkc/x-BVoDrpUNA/s320/Martin+NYC.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Lunch with Martin at Frying Pan, NYC</div><br />
There I spent two days with my family and the day after [24th] my dad and I were on a plane for <a href="http://maps.google.ch/maps?q=corfu+greece&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Korfu,+Griechenland&gl=ch&ei=Q7cvTKraHJGAOL6XpIcC&ved=0CCMQ8gEwAA&ll=39.627375,19.919586&spn=0.332652,0.723724&z=11">Corfu</a>, Greece.<br />
It's been 3 years [if not my whole life] that I hadn't spent more than 2 days alone with my dad. Because of his work, and now because of my distance, we felt the need to get closer, catch up, and relax in our favorite place on earth.<br />
And so we left home to enjoy the boat, the sea, and our conversations. I came back tonight and while organizing the few pictures taken, I decided to write this post to tell everyone who reads this:<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">"Spend some time with people you care, ALONE. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Go for an adventure, for a talk, for a walk. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Be open, honest, and curious."</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>My father has always been the greatest example in my life, and listening to stories of our ancestors, tales from his past, and finding myself more and more similar to him, built an even stronger and deeper relationship between us. Together we set up projects, we discussed opinions, and shared fears and joys.<br />
We both came back motivated, fortified, full of ambitions for our future, and believe it or not, I wish I was back in Lakka, having dinner with him, laughing and crying, agreeing and disagreeing, asking and sharing, until the sun rose; I wish I was still there when the bar closed and we took our little tender and sailed back to the boat where we drank one last glass of wine and went to sleep, knowing we'd just spent one of the most beautiful times of our lives, together.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_v_88SmBrh_A/TC-vpzZJs8I/AAAAAAAAAkU/DCA9C9LOV6U/s1600/3741637691_68bf0cba6a_b.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_v_88SmBrh_A/TC-vpzZJs8I/AAAAAAAAAkU/DCA9C9LOV6U/s320/3741637691_68bf0cba6a_b.jpeg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Lakka, Paxos, Greece</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">For the rest of our week, we sailed around few harbors, rode scooters in Corfu, and met all kinds of people, from fishermen, to tourists; from friends, to new friends. With them we shared stories of our sailing adventures, but even more we got to listen to beautiful stories of people still sailing just by looking at the stars, fishermen predicting the catch by studying the moon phases, and all sorts of stories that I could not imagine possible in 2010.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_v_88SmBrh_A/TC-zyHYX7xI/AAAAAAAAAkk/bCGzo79q_J8/s1600/Panaiotis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_v_88SmBrh_A/TC-zyHYX7xI/AAAAAAAAAkk/bCGzo79q_J8/s320/Panaiotis.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Panaiotis, former crew member in Onassis' Christina, and fisherman in <a href="http://maps.google.ch/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=de&geocode=&q=syvota+greece&sll=39.627375,19.919586&sspn=0.332652,0.723724&gl=ch&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Syvota,+Thesprotia,+Griechenland&z=12">Syvota</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_v_88SmBrh_A/TC-0lTHxNTI/AAAAAAAAAks/UvvsLUD2rsE/s1600/P1000333.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_v_88SmBrh_A/TC-0lTHxNTI/AAAAAAAAAks/UvvsLUD2rsE/s320/P1000333.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">Sunset in Syvota</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_v_88SmBrh_A/TC-1G0Pt7rI/AAAAAAAAAk0/EcCHz24cuCk/s1600/P1000347.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_v_88SmBrh_A/TC-1G0Pt7rI/AAAAAAAAAk0/EcCHz24cuCk/s320/P1000347.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">In <a href="http://maps.google.ch/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=de&geocode=&q=marmaro+greece&sll=39.611309,19.778481&sspn=0.041591,0.090466&gl=ch&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Marmaro,+Parelia,+Korfu,+Griechenland&z=13">Marmaro</a>, on our way to Ermones, planning the ride</div><div><br />
</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_v_88SmBrh_A/TC-1rRi4ItI/AAAAAAAAAk8/hR7yE0pESAM/s1600/P1000361.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_v_88SmBrh_A/TC-1rRi4ItI/AAAAAAAAAk8/hR7yE0pESAM/s320/P1000361.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">[Most beautiful] Lunch in <a href="http://maps.google.ch/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=de&geocode=&q=ermones+greece&sll=39.743923,19.933534&sspn=0.020756,0.045233&gl=ch&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Ermones,+Parelia,+Korfu,+Griechenland&z=14">Ermones</a> with my dad.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_v_88SmBrh_A/TC-2NzdEJ6I/AAAAAAAAAlE/0KymrjO7BDE/s1600/P1000394.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_v_88SmBrh_A/TC-2NzdEJ6I/AAAAAAAAAlE/0KymrjO7BDE/s320/P1000394.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://maps.google.ch/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=de&geocode=&q=kalami+greece&sll=39.743494,19.94379&sspn=0.039862,0.090466&gl=ch&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Kalami,+Kassopei,+Korfu,+Griechenland&ll=39.743923,19.933534&spn=0.020756,0.045233&z=15">Kalami</a> Beach, Corfu, Greece</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In two weeks, I'll ride a Vespa <a href="http://maps.google.ch/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=lugano+switzerland&daddr=Bassano+del+Grappa,+Italia+to:Ancona,+Italia&hl=de&geocode=FYf1vQIdNZ6IACnjYEfgji2ERzExE1aUJ8fWMA%3B%3B&gl=ch&mra=ls&sll=44.76521,11.22366&sspn=4.906261,11.57959&ie=UTF8&z=7">to Ancona</a>, jump on a ferry, sleep under the stars and in the morning I will be back in Corfu to enjoy a couples of days alone on the boat, until my brother and his two friends will arrive for a week that sounds like it is going to be fun, and dangerous... :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">to be continued...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div>the Apopotamushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05645574746651091710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8382061245509934933.post-30158536163574773192010-06-22T04:33:00.000-07:002010-06-22T04:33:41.660-07:00BYOM #2 - Eric is on a boatSecond episode of <a href="http://bringyourownmusic.blogspot.com/2010/06/eric-wilson-i-am-on-boat.html">BYOM</a> with Eric Wilson.<br />
Living on a houseboat in South of San Francisco, Eric prepared a nice 12-pack of songs for us.<br />
Check it out and enjoy it: I'm on a boat!<br />
<a href="http://bringyourownmusic.blogspot.com/2010/06/eric-wilson-i-am-on-boat.html">http://bringyourownmusic.blogspot.com/2010/06/eric-wilson-i-am-on-boat.html</a><br />
<br />
ps: BYOM is a side project where my friend <a href="http://itseemslikeitdoes.blogspot.com/">Jose</a> and I invite people to share stories through a 12-pack of songs.the Apopotamushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05645574746651091710noreply@blogger.com0