Talking about some freaky stuff

Hey everyone, since the last post, there has not been much change. I am busy doing different kind of stuff (mostly baking & experimenting in the kitchen but also some independent projects), so I won't be updating that often. Don't worry, deep down I am still the very geek that can't bear to be away from her world wide web connection too long. If you are interested to find out what I have been up to or the stuff that I have been reading then just follow me on my twitter JuliaBanana. The ease of sharing is just too addictive for me ;-)

Now, I present you one of the wackiest and coolest video that I have watched in the last couple week: Muzorama. Muzorama is a short 3D animation film based on the universe of french illustrator Muzo. Produce in 2008 with a six weeks production time. Directed by Elsa Brehin, Raphaël Calamote, Mauro Carraro, Maxime Cazaux, Emilien Davaux, Laurent Monneron and Axel Tillement.

Muzorama from Muzorama Team on Vimeo.

Ooo and I promised to share the result of some of my kitchen alchemy on the next post :-)

Headache and item not as described

Since the last couple weeks I have been contemplating to go back to Jakarta. Europe is still reeling from the economic crisis and it is quite obvious that the future is in Asia so I thought that may be it is time to return so I can catch up in time. However, this business of returning is so complicated, at least I don't have any mortgage obligation, but there are still enough headache. The problems range from mobile phone contract (that ends next year grrr), legalising all sorts of documents, last minute trips around Europe as well as selling my furnitures (and some wardrobe). eBay and Craiglist are of course on the top of my mind, but whee it is difficult and troublesome! Anyway, out of boredom I was browsing around and somehow I accidently found itemnotasdescribed. A website dedicated to share some terrific ads with offers that people can't refuse! You really need to check it out and here are some excerpts from the website.

Lazy me

I had a semi wonderful long weekend. It was the warmest in Holland for awhile so most people used the opportunity to go out and have fun (which I so DID). However there is only a certain amount of options to do before the boredom and lethargy set in. I have been appropriately uninspired and neglectful when it comes to updating the blog. There were many lists in my head but in the end my laziness won! and I must say that I have been hooked on micro-blogging (read: twittering like mad) hehehe anyway despite this stupid rambling, I am here to share another wonderful execution to commemorate Olympus's 50th anniversary. You know me, I love my camera ;-)

My First Dictionary

Feeling a little bit blue from the constant rain, I tried to entertain myself reading through My First Dictionary. The blog has a darker approach in interpreting our not so blue sky world. It is fascinatingly macabre.

Hey folks, I am back from Berlin. Cheers!

Lets be more optimistic

Download this Mozilla Firefox and replace the word of 'crisis' with 'opportunity': See-the-opportunity.com

Spectrum of online friendship

Mike Arauz, a strategist from Undercurrent, is sharing his thoughts on the idea of online friendliness. To him, the online friendliness are divided into several levels such as: passive interest, active interest, sharing, public dialogue, private dialogue, advocacy, and investment. Although I do not agree with him 100%, I still think that the article is quite interesting. Read more about his conclusions here.

Passive Interest e.g. repeat visits, blog readers, fans, followers, etc.

Active Interest e.g. people who leave comments on your blog, wall comments, @replies on Twitter, etc.

Sharing e.g. social bookmarking, retweeting links, posting links and content to my own sites and profiles, etc

Public Dialogue e.g. public @replies, referrals in a blog post, and references posted to our various sites and profiles, etc.

Private Dialogue e.g. exchanging email, TXT messages, IM, and direct messages on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Flickr, etc.

Advocacy e.g. same tools as Sharing, but different language; usually entails recommending the person or brand, and not just a specific piece of content

Investment

Dollar van Demos

In this difficult time, any free love would be appreciated. And I really respect the idea of Dollar van Demos, an alternative transportation with a twist for the resident in Brooklyn. The concept is that passengers can use the van service throughout various routes in the borough while local musicians, rappers and comedians give live performances. These performances are then recorded and posted onto the group's You Tube page.



From the Borough of Brooklyn comes Dollar Van Demos: a showcase of talented musicians, rappers and comedians performing inside a dollar van with real passengers.

Dollar vans provide a much-needed transportation for neighborhoods under-served by mass transit. Typically operated by West Indian drivers, the ride is cheap, adventurous and now immensely entertaining with the addition of performers singing their hearts out.

Please email dollarvandemos@gmail.com for consideration as a performer. Please include links to your music.

GET IN THE VAN.
DO YOUR THING.
GET OUT OF THE VAN.

Spread the word!

If I drop dead tomorrow, please send me off with better style?

The Lost Tribe of New York

The Lost Tribes of New York City from Carolyn London on Vimeo.

Thank you a*******

Courtesy to The Zimbabwean Newspaper.

Eatphabet: taking a food diary to the next step

For more go to Luiza's FlickR stream.

Visualizing our daily water consumption

GOOD magazine in one of their latest transparency article featured a handy graphic that visualizes our water consumption, comparing various activities and decisions that we undertake on a daily basis. Remembering that clean water is is the next unsustainable source, it is good to learn to be wise early on. Just like my old man always say, life is about making good decision.

How China see the world

New Math Equation for Modern Life

Just a drip of inspiration...

For more visit New Math

Signs

I haven't been inspired lately and in terrible rut of bad mood, so I need something positive. Here is Sign, a short movie directed by Australian director, Patrick Hughes. The movie touches the issue of depression and social isolation in urban environment. Narrating the story between Jason and Stacey, Sign is a beautiful film about communication and worth your 12 minutes.

Globalization versus local language

The Economist reports that a third of the world's languages are at risk.

AROUND a quarter of the world's population speaks just three languages: Mandarin, English and Spanish. But out of the 6,700 of the world's identified languages, nearly 2,500 are deemed at risk according to UNESCO, the UN's cultural body. The imposition of a colonial language long ago in big countries such as Brazil and America is still endangering the diversity of native tongues. In America, 53 languages have become extinct since 1950, more than in any other country.

I feel a bit sad when I read this article however I believe that in the end it is inevitable. There are many purists that would argue for the notion to preserve the originality of languages however I think that language is an organic thing. It is supposed to change and evolve following time. So in the next decades I imagine that there would be more text/tech slang being used as daily or more adaptation from Mandarin/Hindi/English/Spanish into local language. In a way language is a tool of showing cultural (which is tied with economy) superiority. And we need to remember that the basic use of language is to communicate between 2 or more individuals. As long as it serves its purpose, I don't see the problem, and may be in not so distant future, we will all communicate in one global language. What do you think?

FML!

I am a person that tends to lean towards the 'half empty' mindset compare to the ever optimist Da Fonz. Even on occasion he would complain that I am all too wound up. All works and no play turn J into a dull kid. There are times, especially after an extra shitty day, I would moan and moan "If only I do this differently", "if only X is less of an beep". However, reading FML, I learned to be less anal with myself. Hey, if half of these anecdotes are true then my life is not half that shabby. Here are some funny anecdotes to brighten up your day. Click to zoom.PS: FML is a recollection of everyday anecdotes likely to happen to anyone. They are published on the site and written exclusively by their users. The site is a place to “let it all out” and unwind by sharing those little things that screw with your day; it allows you to realize that you are not alone :-D

Modern twist of traditional proverb

I really enjoy Nikki's take on our modern Western mentality. They do hit a bit too close for comfort but they make me smile nevertheless. I can totally imagine Kremers saying, "Be cynical baby, be cynical!"

Confession of an online addict

I work in an advertising industry... surprise...surprise... In the past, I have always thought that I will be working in media or fashion industry, but somehow I stumbled upon advertising and started to like it. However I suspected that I am turning into a prissy online addict because of my job. I guess that would still be a prissy online addict if I work in media or fashion industry, but the very idea of not having my trusty laptop and internet connection horrifies me. I realise that it is almost turning into a problem (my smart phone is not helping my addiction), may be I am in a denial phase, but I believe that I am not that bad yet.

Now what is the connection between my job and my addiction? Well, it is quite direct. My position as a creative junior planner (ex-trendwatcher) demands me to be informed all of the time, which means being connected at least 17 hours per day (no compromise with beauty sleep). Frankly I love to be connected; however a habit is turning into a problem when one experienced a cold turkey! Typical withdrawal syndromes are as followed: anxiety of missing the latest news (however small), fretful from not checking email (or facebook or other similar social media), and uneasiness from not having information at the tip of fingers (google or other similar site).

Good news is that I am not a special case, online addiction is a very modern phenomenon, some have it worse, and some are better coping with it. My inner hippy natural girl assured me that I would be able to survive without all of these technologies and connectivity. I would even have better quality of life (less stress and pressure do wonder to skin!), but just like every other addict, I will say that there is always another day.

Julia, the hopeless addict, can be found in blogspot, facebook, friendster, and flickr. She is still weighting the benefit of twitter.