Some more cool stuff from the internets today. If anyone else is into stencil art, here is an
absolutely amazing set from C215, a Pais-based stencil artist, set in Karol Bagh, India. He may be the first stencil artist to have stencilled the streets of India... but either way his work is absolutely awesome.
According to Anchorage Daily News,
"A legislative investigation has concluded that Gov. Sarah Palin abused her power in pushing for the firing of an Alaska state trooper who was once married to her sister, or by failing to prevent her husband Todd from doing so."
For those that are not so clued in on this story called
Troopergate
"Branchflower was investigating Palin's involvement in an effort to get state trooper Mike Wooten fired. Wooten was involved in a nasty divorce from Palin's sister. Palin and her husband, Todd, have accused Wooten of threatening Palin's father."
A recent symposium called
al-Qaeda 3.0 has established some worrying facts about the situation with al-Qaeda these days. The general consensus around
the Washington establishment is that the Surge and the recent "successes" in the war on Iraq have weakened al-Qaeda but it seems that this is hardly the case.
Check this from
the Wonk Room's Matt Duss
:
"Because of the redirection of focus and resources to Iraq, Al Qaeda’s top leadership was allowed to escape to Pakistan, from where they continue to support insurgency in Afghanistan, and continue to plan attacks on the West. Also reiterated at today’s event was the extent to which the invasion and occupation of an Arab Muslim country has served to confirm bin Laden’s propaganda, which appeals to a sense of grievance among many young Muslims. Another consequence of the Iraq war — one which has yet to be widely reported but which I think is going to become extremely important in the next few years as its effects become more apparent– is the phenomenon of fighters leaving Iraq, bringing their ideology and experience and establishing new fronts in other countries."
Considering that the Washington Establishment is so misguided about the impact of this War, or, at the very least, is so eloquently and elaborately continuing to try to pull the wool over the eyes of the American people (and the People of the World), what will it take to end this? Many of the people that started this war and continue to be proponents of it now serve as advisors on the McCain campaign. When will people wake up?
Labels: art, india, street art, US Elections 2008, world happenings
I love the Guardian. They somehow manage to make sarcasm cool again and not 'the lowest form of wit' as it has often been accused of being... I call bullshit on that one. Sarcasm is awesome. Here is
an excellent blog entry written by Steven Wells that calls Sarah Palin out on the pop tragedy, tabloid fodder, shock politics that she bloody well is. Respect.
"The pop tragedy that has been Sarah Palin's gloriously entertaining fortnight in the limelight will no doubt be compared by lesser scribes to the crash'n'burn trajectories of Buddy Holly or Mama Cass. They do the story a disservice. It took Jesus Christ 33 years to be born in a blaze of media hype, have an entire nation hanging on his every word, and then be crucified in front of a jeering mob. It took Sarah Palin just two incredible weeks, making her not only more rock'n'roll than Jesus, but more rock'n'roll than rock'n'roll itself."
In fashion-related news we have
a very rough critical appraisal of the Givenchy show at Paris Fashion Week, from Cathy Horin at NYT. Which is good, I never liked those bastards anyway. The fact that they are selling discount wallets for 50 Bahraini Dinars (ard $150) at shady looking outlets in forlorn corners of Seef Mall, hawked by Egyptian sales assistants that don't speak English, is proof in the pudding really... how far you have fallen, I predict Givenchy will be the next Pierre Cardin.
"I don’t think the explanation for last night’s rambling Givenchy show is that Riccardo Tisci just has too many ideas and doesn’t know how to “focus.” I’m beginning to wonder if he has any ideas at least that are original...
There was not much design value in the clothes, and some things showed surprisingly little finesse..."I agree with the lack of finesse comment. I mean if you look at each of the pictures I've posted here, you can see what he's trying to do but I can see these clothes stretched onto 15 year old Marias at whatever shitholes they are passing off for clubs now at Crown Entertainment Centre. Granted, Givenchy will probably still appeal to the nouveau riche crowd, particularly loaded Russians that need to flaunt their recently liposuctioned legs and whatnot. And none of this is a good thing.
Robin Derrick is a creative director at British Vogue and is also a photographer. His latest work, dealing with cut flower arrangements is pretty cool. Although minimalist in a way, his combination of colourful, chaotic-yet-systematic flowers arranged over a black canvas, I personally find quite visually powerful.
According to
Wallpaper* online:
"The post-production phase on each image took around 100 hours, and it shows. Up to 15 original transparencies were shot and then combined, in part, to elicit the sharpest elements for the final print."and it shows.
Labels: art, fashion, photography, US Elections 2008
I've been blogging a great deal about fashion and the US election so it's time to switch it up somewhat and blog about both... combined... in the same paragraph. I have seen the "Fuck Palin" t-shirt but this is something a little more subtle and not-so-partisan... I (well actually, the trouser makers
Bonobos) present to you... the Obamas and the McCains!
Firstly the McCains:
"We respect mavericks, in all shapes and forms. We hope that you continue to be willing to swim against the current and lead with your best instinct rather than with the special interests that are destroying our nation.
The McCains are our first pair with a liner that doesn't show through the back: as conservative as we get. Navy outside, with a supersoaker liner. No contrast color cross-stitching on the belt loop, either. You asked for the clean cut, you got it. Check out the Obamas for more signature Bonobos flair."
And the Obamas:
"Barack - it's more of a love affair we have with you amigo. You are young, strong and thoughtful. You give us hope for a better America, one where our President is a global citizen.
The Obamas target our charismatic customers - the magnificent tile-style floral mosaic liner screams open-minded, well-traveled, gregarious. In contrast, the McCains offer this highly desired navy trouser with a quietly confident subtle finish."
Despite the fact that it's clear which President I vote for, I think I prefer the McCain trousers... does this mean I'm conservative?
In other news, it seems that Saudi Arabia is having a fashion show...
a men's fashion show... it's first... and of course it's in that liberal bastion of the Red Sea, Jeddah. Oh how I'd love to go to Jeddah. Maybe one day, after I either convert to Islam or work for a big oil company, neither of which is very likely at this point but hey, you never know...
Anyone who's every been to Taiwan knows about betel nut girls. They're the chicks in skimpy clothing, specifically mini-skirts, and tops that look like they involved the deaths of many pink records or crylics (whatever they are) to make, that hawk the apparently addictive and possibly mildly hallucinogenic stimulant betel nut. Apparently there is a new art installation in NY by artist Annamarie Ho, which will recreate a betelnut booth with a hired actress. Her goal is to explore the class and gender dynamics of the betelnut girl phenomenon... no really. Here's the link to
their site.
Labels: art, fashion, US Elections 2008
