The clever minds at Paz Arquitectura have proven that urban design and eco-friendly living can go hand-in-hand.
Their latest project, Casa Luza in Guatemala City, incorporates sustainability into its modern aesthetic. Note the juxtaposition between the home's industrial elements (tempered glass and exposed concrete) and its natural surroundings.
In life you will realize that there is a purpose for everyone you meet. Some will test you, some will use you, and some will teach you. But most important are the ones that bring out the best in you. Those are the ones worth keeping around.
He's only 22 years old, but Nicolas Jaar has already released some major tracks and also owns a record label, Clown & Sunset - all while attending school full-time. Clearly, the dude is brilliant.
Tim Jonze, Music Editor at The Guardian, interviewed Nicolas Jaar about his philosophy on music and the spaces in which it is experienced. Here's an excerpt from the interview:
What do you think of the commercial dance music that's now big in America?
I'll be in a taxi in New York and the radio will be on and I'll just be dumbfounded by the fact it's all club music. I'm still surprised – I shouldn't be because it's been this way for a while, but I am. I think it's all tied to the fact that, if you go to a rock concert and you see a band play, you have a couple of beers, and then hang out for an hour and a half and then you leave. If you go see David Guetta or a DJ you're gonna go to a club, drink five drinks, then get drunk and buy even more and stay for seven hours. So in the end it's a better business.
Really? You think the sound has been shaped to sell drinks?
Absolutely. I think to a certain extent the main idea of the music industry, at least in America, is to push what sells and this crazy trance-pop music is not only selling but also helping the economy. In a way it's the epitomy of capitalism having reached its peak in music. Now all pop is trance and I've no idea where we can go from here because it feels like we're at a summit. It feels like it can't get any harder, it can't get any faster and it can't get any cheesier. But we'll see …
You once said that "everyone in a club is heartbroken". What did you mean by that?
It's equating loneliness with going out to a club. Most of the time, I want connection in a club, and I want people to forget their problems. These are the same things you want when you're heartbroken.
It's difficult to classify Jaar's musical genre, but some have described it as deep house/downtempo/ambient. Whatever it is, it's definitely addictive as hell. Take a listen:
The video "Call Me Hope" is the second installment of a campaign to change the way we in the Western world conceptualize humanitarian work. Mama Hope is the nonprofit organization behind the campaign. Since 2006, they have been dedicated to creating systemic change in the African communities where most of their work is focused (Kenya, Tanzania, Ghana and Uganda). Their ultimate goal is to develop sustainability through microfinance projects.
Nyla Rodgers and Amy Vaninetti, Mama Hope's founder and operations director respectively, are dedicated to creating long-term solutions that empower all members of a community. In an interview with the Huffington Post, Rodgers explains their philosophy: "They own it, and they know it. These are not our projects. At end of day, if most of the villagers don't even know that Mama Hope was involved, then we're happy. We want to be like angel investors, not CEOs" (full interview here). I think this is a great strategy as it encourages active participation and group collaboration, which contribute to a stronger social fabric. Leadership qualities are nurtured and community members are given a sense of purpose.
Mama Hope is unique in that they approach the topic of international development and aid work from a different perspective - one that is entirely optimistic. Whereas other campaigns seek to elicit feelings of immense sympathy and guilt, Call Me Hope attempts to inspire social activism by pointing to the fact that, as human beings living on the same Earth, we are all connected. The campaign re-frames the issue by demonstrating that we are all members of a global village. Although certain boundaries may exist (racial, geographical, socio-economic, etc.) it's important for us in the West (who are relatively privileged) to recognize that these are arbitrary; at the end of the day, we share the same Earth and breathe the same air.
I recently fell in love with the work of a UK-based artist named Jonathan Darby. Like many street artists, Darby uses his talents to challenge accepted modes of behaviour and enact social change. Working mostly with acrylic and spray paint, Darby creates portraits of individuals suffering at the cruel hands of capitalism. His subjects (typically children) appear to be victimized, their innocent faces superimposed with corporate logos that are ubiquitous in today's society. His work suggests that individual freedom is being compromised in favour of capitalist endeavours.
Darby is currently working with a grass roots organization called Awareness & Prevention Through Art (APTA) to raise awareness of the dangers of HIV and AIDS among youth in Mozambique. Information about this initiative and more of the artist's work can be found on his website:jonathandarby.com.
"Men are not prisoners of fate, but only prisoners of their own minds"
- Franklin D. Roosevelt
I'm a huge believer in the power of positive thinking. I learned several years ago that life can take many twists and turns, and for this reason it's important to clear your mind of any negativity. A pair of rose-coloured glasses can make any experience much more enriching and allow you to grow as a person. No matter how tragic the event, there is always something positive to be gained.
If you want to live a happy and fulfilling life (and who doesn't?) you must constantly be aware of your inner dialogue. Realize that your thoughts have the power to transform your life. I recently came across a great article on the Positivity Blog (positivityblog.com) titled, "Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Top 5 Tips for Building the Life You Want." I encourage everyone to take five minutes to read this article and be inspired. Remember that there is nothing stronger than a positive mind and a clear set of goals.
Read the article here: http://www.positivityblog.com/index.php/2010/08/19/arnold-schwarzeneggers-top-5-tips-for-building-the-life-you-want/
