Oil Spill - Take Action

You have heard about the accident that leaded to the largest oil spill in American history, right?

You have heard about the horrific consequences for the environment, right?

You can track its growth here. I'm in awe of the extent of its taint.

Here you can read about National Geographic photographer Joe Sartore's experience when visiting the site. (Thank you Debra, for the thought provoking link!)

These are the US government initiatives to contain the disaster.

What can we do to help?

Phyl Good wrote a post in her bookish blog that pushed the start button of an engine in my head. There are people, good people, taking action to contain or remedy its impact.

All illustrations you see in this post were taken from the Ripple Project blog. This is an incredible initiative by illustrator Kelly Light to raise funds to help animal victims of the oil spill. Each drawing is a card that can be purchased by only $10; all income goes straight to two non-profits: The Institute for Marine Mammal Studies and The International Bird Rescue Research Center.

You can take action by purchasing something beautiful.

"I can't draw", you say, "and I'm short on cash." Well, I'm on the same page, but you can help in other ways.

For instance, Jim Bronyaur has an awesome project that demands no disbursement from you. All you have to do is read and comment on a given list of blogs and websites. He will donate $10 to each 50 comments in the sites of the list.

One of the included links is a fantastical story (literally) that takes place in the post-Katrina New Orleans: Devil's Blood.

He is also recording an album which income will go to the same goal. You'll be able to download it from his website. Watch his blog for further news!

You can take action by supporting other actions.

You can spread the word, like I'm doing. You can be inventive.

We live in a oil-based society, so, even if only indirectly, we're all responsible for the problems risen from the extraction, processing and usage of its by-products.

Be responsible. Take action.

Note: Here are the links for the illustrations featured in this post, by order of appearance. The name of the illustration leads to its post on the Ripple Project Blog, and the illustrator names lead to their website (when available). Visit them, show your support. This is also a good and inexpensive way of taking action!

>> We Will Emerge, by Danielle Gaudet

>> Swiss Ripple, by Jart Studio Gallery

>> Etegami Set: Moon Jellies, by Deborah Davidson

>> Hope for New Life, by Karen Erasmus

>> Sea Life, by Amalia Hillmann

>> All the Seas Were Ink, by Kathleen Jennings

>> Save Them, by Ginger Nielson

Random Cool Things #4 - Kazuki Takamatsu

This is the work of the astounding Japanese painter Kazuki Takamatsu.

Believe it or not, his artwork is produced with acrylic and gouache. So, if you need further confirmation, no, it's not 3D computer made illustration. Crazy, eh?

His themes range from beautifully psychedelic, as seen above, to a curiously disturbing social criticism,

reaching the peculiar Japanese sensuality.

Yes, you did not misunderstand it. They do have a thing about panties. ;)

Different cultures, different mind sets, eh?

What I didn't quite understand is his fixation with lamps. You can see more of his work here, or on his website, Distanfeerism.

If you get the lamp thing, would you come back here and tell me? I'm rather curious, heh.

Note: He changes periodically the artwork showcased in his website, so I'd advise you visiting him often. ;)

Random Cool Things #3 - Zélia Duncan

When thinking on how put into words the Traveling Souls post, I came across this song Não Vá Ainda or literally translated Don't Go Yet composed and sang by a fabulous Brazilian artist, Zélia Duncan.

By the way, she's on Twitter, in case you want to get in touch with her. ;)

The song has nothing to do with my musings, directly anyway, but the idea of someone leaving reminded of the nomad lifestyle I've never had. (and don't intend on having, just sayin', heh)

Here's an excerpt of the lyrics, poorly translated by me. I hope you'll be able to see my point.

Me diga como você pode viver indo embora, sem se despedaçar

Por favor me diga agora, ou será

Que você nem quer perceber?

Talvez você seja feliz sem saber.

Tell me how can you be always leaving, without falling apart

Please tell me now, or is it

That you don't even want to know?

Maybe you're happier unaware.

I gather this might make not much sense, but the music is good anyway. Don't you agree? ;)

Traveling Souls, Opening Eyes

I'm reading Cape Wrath to Finisterre, by Björn Larsson. This is not a usual novel, like his famous Long John Silver; it's more a collection of thoughts and reflections. This book is so rich that in the third chapter I had to stop and write this post.

Larsson's life circles around the sea, his travels, and of course, his writing. He met many people in his wanderings: a guy who wanted to build his own boat; a man who worked on a nuclear submarine spending six months under water, and when he came out he'd say that the surface reeked of putridity; an Irish couple who lived a very simple life and were happy, he was the type of sailor who would go out for a "ride" in a storm that kept everyone else at home; a captain who had a heart attack the day after paying Larsson and his wife a visit, clad in full uniform to honor the couple's nautical abilities, and whose faith is unknown, as of numerous other friends they have made on their traveling.

Reading about these people who live by and for the sea, casting anchor only to gather supplies for their journey, triggered a frequent contemplation of mine.

Once again I come to realize how many worlds there are in our World.

We hear frequently about the "sea people" -- sailors, travelers, merchants, etc. -- but we never get to feel what their life is like. In this book, there's a hit of that feeling, which is one of the most precious things to me, because these fleeting impressions can teach us more than many believe.

You can learn a whole different way of seeing life, of thinking, an unlike set of desires, fears and goals. You get to feel it too. I could almost smell the scent of a storm by his description of a moment in someone else's life; I could feel the urge of moving forward, never remaining in a place for long --even though my personal needs are diametrically opposite -- I could taste the salty wind in a bright day.

His tales also brought back the memory of my own encounters with people of various cultural backgrounds: a friendly man who lives in Eastern Island, where the natives still live by the standards of their ancient culture, with hints of modernity provided by television, alcoholic beverages, and internet; a black man with the hardest gaze, filled with suffering and danger; a Japanese man who fell in love with a foreign land where he felt free, but had to go back to his own country for not being able to get a visa; Chinese people and their sons and daughters born abroad, who struggled to live by contradicting codes of conduct and honor; an Italian family who lives practically the same life of their ancestors, although being in the 21st century and benefiting from its technology.

Each of these people live in their own world. My world is not that of deep waters and passing shores, the world of a native from Easter Island is not the one of bucolic and static landscapes (although their scenery is gorgeous), the world of a refugee is not the one same of a man of the country he immigrated to.

What conclusion do I reach with this? That every and each of us see things from a singular perspective. We're the same, yet we're unique.

I don't know about you, but I want to be introduced to as many cultures and viewpoints as possible. I want to feel their viewpoint, not only understand it. Since I'm not the nomad type of person, I read, I talk to people, and I observe. And of course, I write about it.

Now, why don't you tell me about your own world?

Note: The painting are these, in order of appearance:

Lonely Sailing Ship, by Peter Pavlov

A Sailing Boat off Deal, by Joseph Mallord William Turner

Smooth Sailing, by Robert Bisset

Sailing Boat, by Ginger Lovellette

On The Sailing Boat, by Caspar David Friedrich

Sailing at Sunset, by Lissa Friedman

Random Cool Things #2 - Sigur Rós' Angels

Sigur Rós, or Victory Rose, is a band from Iceland that I got to know through my friend Anon-Claudio, who pointed me to other good info in this post's comments.

If you're puzzled, what might help you connect the dots is knowing that Vanila Sky ending song "On the Roof of Skycraper", or Njósnavélin (aka The Nothing Song) is theirs.

But this is just introduction babbling to the video below. Watch it, and then tell me how do you feel, or what you think about it?

Venice Carnival: Pink-Headed Girls and Clowns

It all started with a clown.

You see how he's enveloping me, with his busy hands working his magic?

It worked.

Well, it must have, because I became clown-obsessed.

I started to follow them.

See the fuzzy first photo? Now picture me running like a mad woman, pass the normal people, to take the second shot. (uh)

After my success with clowns I decided to stalk other interesting people, who were wearing the most stunning costumes.

You know what?

They actually liked it.

Not the stalking part, but the (nicely) asking to take a picture.

Some were proud, some were gentle, but they all smiled, even behind their masked faces.

So I got bolder.

I started stalking whole foreign families, splendidly well dressed, -- man, are they tall or what? -- and even little girls!

But hey, I promise their feline (really) mother allowed me to, and they liked it! Check out their faces.

But then -- there's always something, isn't there?

Can you spot something, err, foreign, to this picture?

Oh, yes, the pink-headed girl started showing up in all my photos.

Psst! Check out Cinderela's step sisters. Hilarious, no? heh

After hours of strolling around Venice I got a bit tired.

So I decided to try a pizzetta (a small pizza) from a peculiar bar I'd never been to.

Guess who was there?

But I kept firm on my intent, recording all wonderful things I saw there, for your very own delight:

In case you're feeling confused, this is exactly what it looks like: three people with -- literally -- brilliant costumes, and small bluish lights hanging on their backs.

My hand is not very firm, I know, but the final effect came out quite nice, no? :)

It was night when I finally decided to confront the pink girl.

Note: This is the Grand Canal, seen from the Rialto Bridge. Well, part of it anyway.

We were tired and it was time to go home.

So, who's the pink girl after all?

She's my sister, and we had a blast together in Venice's Carnival!

*

I hope you had fun joining me on this dream-like day.

Please feel free to shout out your opinion on the comments. I'd love to hear it. :)

Wait, I'm not done yet!

Instead of making shameless self promotion, I want to promote this fantastic-al event, of which I could enjoy very little; although you saw how worthy it was. ;)

Obviously, the Italian carnival is not dying. Here's an interesting (and recent) article about it, published on Time magazine.

And if you like to know the origin of things, here's some interesting historical information about it.

Finally, here are some of the many events of Carnivale di Venezia that called my ludicrous attention:

Circus San Polo, telling the most intriguing tales for kids. (like me?)

And an escargot slurring itself in the middle of Piazza San Marco. (eh?)

So, why don't you tell me some experience of yours in Venice? Maybe you have an amusing tale as well? If it has to do with the carnival, even better!

Also, do feel free to link up to your travel blog, your personal blog or webpage on the comments. Let's share our experiences, shall we?

Final note: Please be courteous and tease us before sharing your link, if it's the case, ok? Thanks!

Random Cool Things #1 - George Steinmetz's Camels

Do I need to say anything?

Nah, just click on the picture to enlarge it. ;-)

Note: I found this on Stumble Upon. If you've never heard of it, you might want to check it out. Great stuff there! Join in and give a thumb-up to my stuff, ok? heh ;-p

Ah, you can also Digg it. (See that thing below my profile, saying Share This? There you go, heh.)

I've Decided to Change the Blog's Name

Yes, this blog continues being random, the posting will keep being erratic, and there will still be articles, stories and reflections in here.

It will also maintain the autumn theme, and I'll restlessly point you to pretty things, for yours and mine delight; such as this painting below:

"But if all remains the same, why change the blog's name?" you ask.

Well, maybe my lawyer-self have influenced me when I came up with the previous name,

"Random Articles, Reflections and Stories, by Mariana N. Blaser".

Sounds a bit pompous, no? (uh)

Besides, even not knowing if there's such thing as the word "randomities" in English, I rather like it. So I'm keeping it, ha! ;-P And the blog is new, about a month old, so I feel comfortable changing things that I wouldn't in a different situation. (when I'll have a huge audience and a name changing would confuse way too many people, heh)

Finally, I wanted the blog's title to be as warm and personal as the content. The idea here is to interact, -- that is, make good conversation with you -- exchange information, and show you good stuff that I relate with, and I think you might be interested in too.

Now, why don't you tell me what you think of the new name? :)

"mariblaser's randomities"

Note: That superb painting up there is the "Poplars on the Banks by the River Epte in Autumn", by Claude Oscar Monet, which I found here.

Beware, I'm Drooling a Bit

This is a quick post to show you this gorgeous illustration that I came across when browsing the web.

So, if you liked the one illustration I shared here, go visit the Artsy, Craftsy website. They do wonderful things inspired by Fairy Tales and Myths.

Did I ever mention that I love fairy tales and mythology in general? No? But I do, and I also love the fairies themselves, goblins, elves, werewolves, talking birds and all those fantastic things, which I find truly fantastic. (Sorry for the pun; it was intended, heh.)

Pay them a visit and afterwards come back to tell me what you thought, ok? :-)

Autumn and Credits

If this is not your first visit, you might have noticed that I've changed some colors and the head figure of this thing here (the blog, that is). Well, since I have great respect for author rights, as mentioned on my profile, it's more than right to give full credit for that wonderful picture up there, which was taken by the photographer Danny Beath. That particular image I found at this BBC page.

This one below, on the other hand, was taken by Simon Wong. I love it!

He's shared a lovely poem with it, which I couldn't resist reproducing here:

On a cold autumn day

my heart is drenched in wine

as I walk in fields of red

And since we're talking about pictures, the whole blog is autumn themed and all, I thought I'd tell the reasons why I chose this particular season as main theme. But you know what? I won't bore you with that. The blog title mentions articles and reflexions, people tend to get a bit more introspective in the fall... there, you got my point.

Here's one final picture, a painting actually, that I fell in love with:

This was painted by the wonderful Connie Tom. (so loved her blog!) I chose it because it'd be nice to end this post with something cheerful. After all, not every moment of introspection has to be sad or philosophical, eh? ;-)

Now, why don't you tell me what these images bring to you?

Note: I almost forgot! If you scroll down a bit, you'll find wonderful autumn pics on the side bar. Enjoy!