Pushing the Pause Button on Social Media

I'm about to get on an airplane tomorrow, to visit relatives in Holland and Germany, and I've decided to push the pause button on social media updates for the next couple of weeks. No facebook, no twitter, no elenabella. Instead, I'll slip into the comfortable obscurity of a face-to-face life, camera, sketchbook and journal in hand. This is an experiment: I'm sure there will be much to say about the trip. But I won't always have ready access to the web, so I've made the decision to (try to) put the internet out of my mind. My focus will be on direct conversation, biking, hiking, sleeping, relaxing, and experiencing the chance to explore a few places that are now deeply familiar landing spots over in Europe. I'll be sharing some highlights after July 7th: come back in two weeks and find out what we did on our summer vacation! Bon voyage! Auf wiedersehen! Abientot j'espere..

And now, just for fun, that heroic moment when Obama swatted a fly. I like the fact that he slaps his own hand while smashing the fly: it's a double whammy, a calculated risk.

Human Adornment: Photography of Hans Silvester

I received two messages yesterday that juxtaposed themselves in an interesting way. One was a video of images by photographer Hans Silvester, who has collected pictures of the Omo and other African people, in books such as Natural Fashion: Tribal Decoration from Africa. The other was the poem here, by John Caddy, of the Morning Earth website, accompanied by this photo of a gorgeously adorned webworm, the natural kind.

Of all the images I've seen in my life of human adornment, I find those by Silvester to be the most intriguing and beautiful – not least because the humans here seem to show such a profound connection with and appreciation for the natural world. At the same time, such pictures make me somewhat uncomfortable, as they so clearly objectify those resources, both human and natural, that are increasingly exotic and vulnerable. What happens next to these people? And don't they put the rest of us to shame, not least because their artistic sensibility seems so sophisticated and contemporary, without exposure to the latest trends in either art or fashion? Here's a review from the New York Times that touches on these issues.

Caddy's poem catches some of this ambivalence for me, from the perspective of the humble worm. If the poem had begun "You say I'm lovely" it would echo the comments viewers make of the portraits in Silvester's books. The question "So how am I different from you?" seems so relevant in both instances. I think it's a real question, not just a rhetorical one.

There are several videos of Omo photos at YouTube, but I liked the one here best, not least for the music that accompanies it. I'm not sure what the music is, though, or who is making it. Watch the video, and let your eyes and soul be amazed.

You say I’m unlovely

but I know I’m fine.

I’m bristly and blue
with round yellow spots
in patches of black.
My long stripes of blue
are bordered in gold,
my skirt of orange bristles
is fit for a Chinatown dragon.

I hatch in my webs
by the thousands
and graze all the leaves I can find.
I am blessed in my beauty,
my manifold colors, I know I am chosen.
So how am I different from you?

A Toy, or Poster, or Art Card-A-Day

The web has spawned a number of blogging projects that impose the discipline of daily practice, including elenabella. A remarkable site in this regard is Toy-A-Day, by Joe – someone relatively anonymous who has created a downloadable template for making paper figures, like Pikachu, the Mario Bros., or anyone else you'd enjoy toying with.

I love the idea of Toy-A-Day, but was really impressed when I found that Joe also gives us a Poster-A-Day, such as the one here. He designs and uploads posters (not every single day, but regularly), based on a quote by a famous artist. The posters are created in hi-resolution and are available on the site for anyone to download and print. Each includes a little bio about the artist, such as this one:

Arne Emil Jacobsen (11 February 1902 – 24 March 1971) was a Danish architect and designer, exemplar of the 'Danish Modern' style. In addition to his architectural work he created a number of highly original chairs and other furniture. He received several international distinctions and medals.

Not only that, but Joe also makes art cards, over at 1000 ACEO, a new project. ACEO stands for Art Cards, Editions and Originals. These cards have one defining condition - they are 3.5 inches by 2.5 inches, the size of a trading card. Take a look at the creative challenges this guy has set for himself, and the gifts he's throwing out on the web. Hey, Joe – I'm a fan!

World Naked Bike Ride Protests Indecent Exposure to Auto Pollution

Last Saturday, June 13 2009, was World Naked Bike Day (the same day as the Queen's Birthday Parade, Trooping the Colour). In cities around the world people rode naked in peaceful protest against oil dependency and the dominance of car culture.

The ride is an imaginative way to demonstrate the vulnerability of cyclists on the road, and to comment on our "indecent exposure" to pollution generated by motor vehicles.

The first World Naked Bike Ride was held on 12 June 2004, when 58 cyclists rode naked through London's Hyde Park. The police were tolerant, there were no arrests, and viewers – no surprise here – found the event to be an enjoyable spectator sport. Remember the hysteria over Janet Jackson's "wardrobe malfunction"? This event offers a nice counterweight regarding views of the human body. There's some great use of body paint and self decoration.

This event has continued to grow, drawing over 1,000 riders in the 2008 London ride. Now there is a wiki where people in cities around the world can plan their own rides. Nothing in the Twin Cities yet, or Bloomington, Indiana, or Pittsburgh: still time to get the wheels rolling for 2010. Here's a WordPress blog with links to posts about the ride in various cities.

World Naked Bike Ride has its own film, World Naked B, a "movie about people, suspense, intrigue, love and the potential of environmental catastrophic collapse." Here is what the filmmakers say:

Our group of highly entertaining movie makers has set upon a world wide mission to interview as many of the WNBR organizers as possible and uncover their personal motives and ambitions for world domination. You can help us with this project by helping us release this movie in your home town.

$20 + $3 shipping. This includes full public or television screening rights, as well as the right to copy and distribute an unlimited quantity of the original. These can be sold as a fundraiser for local rides.

Exploring Pittsburgh

Pineapples and mustard-colored bridges in Pittsburgh, and a perpetually pouring Heinz ketchup bottle. I found this to be a wonderful city, the original home of Andy Warhol. Just back after several rich days of conversation, idea-sharing, and taking in textures and sounds.

Did you know? In 2009, The Economist named Pittsburgh the most livable city in the United States and 29th-most-livable city worldwide. It was a pleasure to see the sister bridges, the brick facades, neighborhood enclaves, and hills and rivers of this intriguing place. Lots of visual drama in those steep inclines!

Click here to learn how Pittsburgh almost lost – and then regained – its "H".

Twin Cities Milk Producers Association

I bid on – and won – a disk of images from the Twin Cities Milk Producers Association, at the Howard Bowers Fund Silent Auction at CCMA, the 53rd annual meeting of the Consumer Cooperatives Management Association. Stuart Reid, of Food Co-op 500, found the photos and offered them to this event.

The disk contains images from the early 20th century of cooperative creameries in Minnesota, showing various facets of milk production. They're beautiful and evocative, and indulge my fascination with creameries. Look at the lovely diagram of confined cows, with those grain-tailed arrows indicating the escape of methane gas? Andy Warhol would have loved these pictures.

Go, Penguins...and Tigers!

Okay, so I am in Pittsburgh, Steeler country. Penguin country! Whoo hoo: after the Pens won the Stanley Cup last night, a lot of us cooperators went outside and whooped and hollered, doing a call and response with the passing taxi drivers, who were, of course, blasting their horns.

And then the Detroit Tigers won their game against the Pittsburgh Pirates: it was a double D-P night, with the winning Pitt game away, the D win here. (And the Tigers are staying here at the Westin!) Certainly more sports in one day than this blogger usually takes in. Here are some images from the sports stores along the Strip.

DeLuca's in Pittsburgh: Road Trip Breakfast

From the Streamliner Dinner on Bainbridge Island, to DeLuca's on the Strip in Pittsburgh: that's the story of my search for the best local breakfast during recent trips. We were told to go to DeLuca's because rumor had it that Obama had eaten there, but the truemor is that Obama was at breakfast rival Pamela's. (Get the full story here, at the very informative Obama Foodorama, A Daily Diary of The Obama Foodscape, One Bipartisan Byte At A Time.)

We thought the breakfast was terrific – and so was the ambience: bustling, friendly, evoking years of morning-meals-out-with-friends gone by. Here are just a few pictures.

I tracked down a piece called "The DeLuca Paradox" by Bob Steigerwald about why he thinks DeLuca's is a great place. The Feisty Foodie weighs in here. This review, by Regis Behe, says:

"the long, low counter, with accompanying swivel stools attached to the floor, allows diners to watch the kitchen staff whip up a variety of breakfast favorites. The booths are small but cozy, and a Greek-themed mural and an ancient clock on the front wall are relics from bygone eras. The service is friendly, efficient and quick. A first-time diner immediately feels welcome.

Of course, you get a lot of these comforts (not to mention some of the same ambience) at your Aunt Betty's house."

Yes, but who is lucky enough to have an Aunt Betty anymore? (If you have one, please let me know.) That comment reminds me of the CD by Bloomington musician Carrie Newcomer, Betty's Diner: I bet Carrie would appreciate DeLuca's.

East Local, America! Challenge, and LIFE Farm

There's an Eat Local, America! Challenge going on through the National Cooperative Growers Association: click over to participate in the momentum around local foods. I'll be blogging there occasionally, along with Katie Zukof, who works both at Bloomingfoods and for the Local Growers Guild of south central Indiana. You can set your own local food commitment, and learn how to make Garden Chimichurri (chimichurri, I think, is the new pesto).

Right now I'm on a road trip to Pittsburgh, traveling with Martha, grocery manager of Bloomingfoods East, and Art Sherwood, co-owner of LIFE Certified Organic Farm. We are heading to CCMA, the annual gathering of the Consumer Cooperative Management Association. It's going to be fun to visit a new city, and we've been having great conversations.

Here are a couple of photos from LIFE Farm, taken by Ann Schertz. Art was our Local Food Hero at Bloomingfoods in 2007. He works on numerous agricultural projects in education and business, both in the US and abroad. He's kind of a ubiquitous fellow for a farmer, cropping up everywhere!

FRESH, the Movie: with Will Allen of Growing Power

There's a new movie, FRESH, by Ana Joanes, that is causing a lot of buzz: here is the trailer. You'll see Will Allen of Growing Power, and (in the film itself) other inspiring food activists, like Joel Salatin. I have to admit, I teared up when I saw this trailer.

I'm not the only one. There's an interview with Ana Joanes over at Cheese Slave, a blog celebrating "the love of cheese. And bacon. And butter. And raw milk. And all those other things we’re not supposed to eat." The author, annmarie at realfoodmedia.com (use the @ sign), says she gets teary-eyed, too, when she sees it.

Reference to FRESH is popping up all over. Click here to go the blog of The Beginning Farmer, where he mentions it, too. And the film showed to sold out audiences last week in Minneapolis, with more screenings coming across the land. Here's a story about Ana Joanes at the Huffington Post. It's exciting, this momentum in the direction of reclaiming our land and local food economies.