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There is a good blog that gives an insider view of what’s going on in China around the Beijing Olympics over at Time. They posted the above picture of some Free Tibet protesters yesterday. Getty also has a large crew of editors and other folks out there getting everything ready for the ensuing chaos and posting some pre-event images that are worth a look here.

I also read that they have placed a ban on any ‘professional cameras’ for any audience members. This seems like a largely undefined category or do they mean SLR? Having noticed at the mermaid parade this summer that most people are now sporting a DSLR rather than a point and shoot, it seems that China will have to get more specific at the games. Here is their official statement… (thank god they clarified the grenade policy!)

And finally Bush says something intelligent in Thailand today, “America stands in firm opposition to China’s detention of political dissidents, human rights advocates and religious activists. We speak out for a free press, freedom of assembly and labor rights — not to antagonize China’s leaders, but because trusting its people with greater freedom is the only way for China to develop its full potential.”

And here is the trailer for a movie about Ed Burtynsky’s “Manufactured Landscapes” where they follow him through mainland China.

Justin turned 30 today, and in true Justin girlie style he has claimed the whole gosh darn weekend for celebrating (obviously I am having a hard time accepting the challenge of drinking all weekend). We’re havinig drinks at Rope tonight and last night we had a big meal at our house where we sat around in Justin disguises and talked about Justin things like cameras or Nebraska, and then said “du-doo-di-doo-di-doo” at the end of every sentence. (Stella is trying to zap him with her laser beams!)

And then there is this Pepsi commercial

My Grandmother used to ride a tricycle everywhere she went around Cheltenham until some young ‘hooligan thugs’ stole the thing. I’m sure it was a blessing in disguise for her, nonetheless I was disappointed to see the classic mode of transportation gone. Here is a British company called “Pashley Cycles” that is keeping the dream alive with some handmade classic bikes.

They even have a bike accessory that will safely store your favorite teddy bear or doll

And here is a classic bike with an even better name, “the Guv’nor.” ($1,795)

And here is a music video from the British band called “The Feeling” who used Pashley bikes in their music video for their new single “Join with us.” The music video was created in 24 hours from drawing board to completing all the post production. (Hopefully theit new album took longer than that?)

It was recently in the news that Picasso’s “Guernica” has undergone too much damage in previous trips to ever move the painting again. It is currently situated at the Reina Sofia, Madrid (left MoMa in 1981) and is 11′ x 25.6′ wide. The attempt to lock in the paintings location is thought to be because of regional struggle between Madrid and the Basques. I saw the painting during the summer of 2001 while on a semester abroad in Burgos, Spain. It is one of the most incredible paintings I have ever seen and I spent almost an hour in front of it (and even went back a few times just to see it again). If you have ever walked through a gallery with me, you would know that anything more than 2 minutes is a long time for me to spend looking at one thing. For all of the details and history behind the painting go to the wiki page here. I had first heard of the painting when I was 12 and a guest lecturer came to my school in London and spoke for over an hour about the work. I can still remember being amazed at how interesting the person was and how fascinated I became by the idea of not only being an artist and making work, but also the significance one work of art can hold.

Unfortunately as with so many great things, it has to be digitized and turned into a slick animation.

And here is an interesting observation from the man himself - “Everything is a miracle. It is a miracle that one does not dissolve in one’s bath like a lump of sugar.” Pablo Picasso. How miraculous would he have found a 3D rendition of one of his greatest works of art?

Being back at work and not incredibly busy, I have been browsing through the usual blogs and photo websites that I have bookmarked. There has been some interest in this site that shows a large amount of student work from the UK. I didn’t really find anything too amazing there, but enjoy reading the always verbose and often cliche artists statements. I have however greatly enjoyed reviewing the work included in Seesaw online magazine much more. They have a great page of links to other British photography based websites.

“Country Schools, Estonia” by Katrina Tang

“Terminus Riga, Latvia” by Iveta Vaivode

“Little Chef, England” by Liam Eyers

Eat fresh Lobster with good friends at their family house in Eastham, Massachusetts.

Drink large amounts of various beverages (very quickly!)

Play with incredibly large insects that want to buzz around your head while you sleep

Take silly pictures of the stars at 3am after plenty of Pappy Van Winkle 15 year.

Go to the beach with the dogs and watch them eat sand and sea water.

Keep the largest and friendliest dog in the whole world from trying to scratch his way to freedom and ruin the house.

Luke and few other friends have updated their iPhone to the new 3G. It doesn’t seem too different, but certainly feels a little nicer to hold. It has inspired me to search through the new applications and add some new stuff to my now old phone. The new wordpress app allows me to blog from my bed in Cape Cod. Has that really made my life better? Or worse!

If you didn’t see the post about supporting street dogs in India, these were the canines I cried (like a little baby) over while there. They were far sadder in person as they were shaking and starving, they deserve all your help Here and here

I have never seen so cool a Jewish person in Brooklyn. (See the Palm trees on the yarmelke - Scott B Lyons - this is for you!)

Sometimes Often I wish I was able to do stuff like this.

And if you are in the mood for a great, beautiful, sad and incredible music video, check out Rey’s recommendation by The Cinematic Orchestra - “To Build a Home” This Radiohead video below is an oldie but a goldie. Watch it to the end if you haven’t seen it before (which I find hard to believe)

And while everyone else is talking about the new radiohead , I think our hats should be taken off for almost all video work that they are affiliated with.

  Stick to the acting Scarlett, this whole Tom Waits thing isn’t for you

I have been socialising with a few Koreans recently. Pratt has a very high count of its MFA students as Korean. They are all pretty nice, fairly quiet and perfectly well mannered normally. This article about Samsung countering the suicide rate of its employees by having funeral training doesn’t do them any favors as a race. Apparently they also believe that sleeping with a fan pointing at you while you sleep can lead to death (see this article on wikipedia). Imagine reading this in the Financial Times.

South Korean companies are sending employees on ‘fake funeral’ courses to help prevent suicide.Participants sit at candlelit desks and are told to write their last will and testament.Attendees are prompted by questions such as: “If you died today, what would you tell your family”? Many of those in the room become emotional as they read out their wills.

Before they are “buried”, participants are asked to pose for their funeral portrait. Participants (then) enter a “death experience room” where they choose a coffin and put on a “death robe.” Course members get into their coffins and a flower is laid on each person’s chest. Funeral attendants place a lid on the coffin and dirt is thrown on the casket. Participants are left in the closed casket for five minutes and some start to cry in the darkness. Once the lids are opened the resurrected trainees are asked how they felt.

Thanks Justin