Music That Gets Me Going

Ok, I'm just gonna ignore how long it's been since my last post and get right back into it.  Here we go.   So lately what's really getting my thought wheels turning is running.  I get on that treadmill, zone out to some good music and the thoughts just flow.

It's so counter-intuitive because you would think that something so meditative wouldn't generate such a good flow of thoughts but that's just what meditation is.  It let's you roll through your thoughts instead of dwelling on them.  Anyways, I digress just a tad.

So while I add onto the miles the music that is best conducive of this state is interestingly enough not high-tempo stuff.  You'll see in some of the tracks listed, it's pretty loungey, instrumental/ ambient, groovy.  This is the kind of music that really gets me going, that myself connects with and when I'm running really gives me that umph.

Again, interesting 'cuz this is in essence, me.  I'm laid-back and calm.  Cool yet chill, not over-the-top, obvious, or obnoxious.  And that groove, well that's just my style baby.  Anyways, here's some old goodies that I like to jam to sometimes, and some new good running chill-out, awesome meditative, thought provoking music.

Tracklist:

1.  UKO- Sunbeams 
2.  Hol Baumann- Handwritten Notes
3.  Jimi Hendrix- The Wind Cries Mary
4.  Queen- Crazy Little Thing Called Love
5.  Bonobo- Nothing Owed
6.  Mount Kimbie- Carbonated
7.  Bonobo- Pieces ft. Cornelia
8.  Nightmares on Wax- Passion

Tu Parles Francais?

I do my best thinking on the treadmill.  And when I really tune in to myself I find myself really connecting with a tune I am jamming to while I run.  Not sure which comes first but it's definitely refreshing, meditative.  Two things I love about this one: the poetry and loungey feel.

Quantic- Life in the Rain

"Sometimes I wonder if i know where i'm going. I go for a walk like this. 
And it seems I have been walking for years and years and years. 
And i don't know where i'm going. I hear the Sound leading me on. 
And i don't know where it is taking me."



I heard another tune on this new radio station I discovered, The Lounge Channel on TuneIn Radio.  A woman sang in French.  I didn't understand a word of it but it was so beautiful and soothing.  I took French in high school for this reason; such a romantic and sexy language.  French music, art, and aesthetics really moves me (not to mention- food, but we will save that for a whole 'nother world of delicious posts).  Of course this Lounge Channel is located in Monaco.  Lovely!

Oh!  Just watched Head in the Clouds with Charlize Theron and Penelope Cruz today.  So romantic and set in Paris for a good portion of it.   Beautiful movie.  Another one that comes to mind now is Amelie.  Beautiful French movie, actually in French; romantic, cute, endearing, and thoughtful.  Must see if you're a hopeless romantic like me.  

TED to me

TED inspires and encourages my soul.  As an artist, I like being challenged by seeing creatives pushing the envelope, promoting innovation.  Here's a little TED playlist for me this week.

The interspecies internet? An idea in progress...

Kate Stone: DJ decks made of paper.

Cloudy with a chance of joy

When I started watching this one, I have to admit I was a little dismissive..."oh great a feel-good talk about cloud spotting".  But I watched it through and I have to say, I was inspired.  Living mindfully, in the moment and doing nothing is such a simple yet alien idea to us.  But we need it.  We need to stop thinking sometimes.  Stop worrying, stressing, doing, and being "perpetually busy".

Doing nothing is good for our ideas and creativity.  So so true.  "Keep looking up and keep living with your head in the clouds".  Inspiration for those of us feeling a bit- or maybe a lot bogged down by the everyday.  Then see what comes from such a state of mind.  Limitless possibilities. 

Welcome To My World

I have been thinking about how people- individuals interact with others and connect on one level or another.  I imagine a sphere of being: a richness of likes, dislikes, pet-peeves, desires, goals, history, family, ideas, mistakes, memories, tastes, amongst a vast array of facets that make us who we are.  Where my "sphere" and another person's intersect, gives us a point of interaction upon which we build a relationship.  To me that means I welcome you into my world and vice-versa.

I absolutely love this song on the new Depeche Mode album "Delta Machine" - Welcome To My World.  It is hauntingly romantic and beautifully sad.  Makes me think of this idea of human interaction and no matter how short or long these moments last, they add to the "World" of individuality that we all possess and expand every day.  Now I tone it down just a tad and say this goes out all the people in my life now and have shared with in the past- so beautifully written by Depeche Mode:


"And if you stay a while 
I'll penetrate your soul
I'll bleed into your dreams
You want to lose control

I weep into your eyes

I make your vision see

I'll open endless skies

And right your broken wings

Welcome to my world"

I guess it is Welcome Back!  After such a long hiatus it's refreshing to be able to write and share again.  Cheers!

Sliding House - Suffolk U.K.

The Sliding House was designed by London architects dRMM, built in Suffolk, U.K. The exterior shell slides on rails over the glass house and guest house. This design allows for variable degrees of privacy and sunlight along the axis. The shell also provides shelter for the pool to be added down the road at the end of the axis.

I was initially hesitant with the general design of the simple "house" motif. But I am taken by the simplicity in design and its flexibility to allow the user to control the design based on varying desires- whether that be degrees of privacy, weather, or even mood. Modern-chic. There are some great spaces created; my fav is the rooftop bath. I could just see myself laying out on the deck here, sitting in the bath on a nippy fall evening. Lovely.

Korean in the mainstream?

Something I've noticed lately is a lot of Korean food and culture being brought to the forefront of media today. I mean, let's face it (not that it's a contest or anything), Japanese culture has long dominated people's imaginations. But the other day I was watching- yes one of my guilty pleasures lately- Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern. They did a feature on South Korean foods. It was quite entertaining actually, and I'm glad he seemed to like a lot our foods. Take a look at the episode and article. Seoul is fast-becoming a robust metropolitan city in respect to the arts and architecture as it has long been rich with culture and foods.

Anyways, again I found myself reading a feature about South Korea on Wallpaper. Here's a cool slideshow from the article. Case and point: It seems Korea is the new up-and-coming culture that westerners are paying more attention to these days. Oh yes! don't forget all the Korean fusion food trucks that are making their way around the L.A. area these days; like Kogi. Kogi's enticing menu features such items as "Kimchi Shortrib Caesar Melt" and "Shortrib Tacos/ Burritos". Mmmmm!

In any case, it's exciting to see people getting excited about Korea. Being of Korean descent, but never having been to Korea as an adult, I can only appreciate this burst of enthusiasm with everyone else. Someday I will be able to enjoy Korea in person. Until then bring on the Kogi trucks and travel blogs. :)

Cute Shoes!

I need these shoes! Adorable. My Cherry Blossom Girl rockin' 'em in style. Love it!

La Carmina!

I'm sure you're all aware of the J-pop scene/ culture in Japan: i.e. the crazy Japanese fashion scene- the best way I can explain it is "out there". It's a mix of goth, hello kitty, cutsie, weird, costumey and goofy. Take a look at La Carmina's blog. Entertaining to say the least. I was intrigued by her book Crazy Wacky Theme Restaurants: Tokyo. I never knew these things existed the way they do in Tokyo. It's like Halloween everyday of the year! It is my dream to someday experience Tokyo and I will definitely hit these restaurants up, for sure. Check out the book and explore the world of crazy cooky theme restaurants in Tokyo!

Cute flowers!

Love these flower arrangements. A delicious way to share some love with someone special. I am all about "just because" gifts. What better way than flowers a la cupcake!

Tree Lights!

Ingenious! Taiwanese scientists have discovered a way to use trees to emit light- thus eliminating the need for street lights; reducing carbon emissions while using a natural resource to light our public spaces. The very resource that absorbs carbon dioxide! Brilliant! By implanting gold nanoparticles, they were able to cause the trees to glow red. How cool would this be?? Check out the full article here.

Portable Vinyl Player

For all you guys with vinyl. This can really come in handy. Digitize all your records or just listen to 'em on the fly. There's a USB port out of this handy portable record player. I want one! Oh did I mention, great gift idea for that DJ in your life. Find it here.

Lea T- Transgender Model

Can't miss this headline this week: Lea T now on cover of Lurve mag. After being on the Fall 2010 Givenchy ad campain, this transgender model is now on the cover of Lurve magazine.

I have to say this is not a big jump in the world of high-fashion modeling. I think that the allure of these models is their androgynous looks. Most high-fashion models look very bizarre and asexual; so Lea T's blast into the spotlight isn't that big of a deal. She has the look.

I think what makes this a headline is the fact that her gender, one that is so socially unacceptable, is now in the spotlight. Take it or leave it- that's what she is and she is successful. I am glad she can be open about it. And I have to say, I especially love the Givenchy photos that she's in. Take a look. They are beautiful.

Zip-it Necklace

Love these zipper necklaces. Find it here.

I want! Fab shoes and hat.

Found the most fabulous shoes today. I must have these heels by Marc Jacobs. Found it on the lovely blog Taghrid.

Okay and the other must-have for the Fall is this hat; so versatile and so sophisticated. Love it. Gotta love Fashiontoast.

Sexy Wall Lighting

Found these lighting fixtures on Dornob today. The beauty of it is it is flexible in its design so you can make your own design. Take a look at the photos. I love design that is approached this way; simplicity and versatility.

New Print Factory

So I was flipping through HowDesign magazine the other day and a bulky insert fell out. It was an insert for New Print Factory, a specialty print company. This immediately caught my eye as there were a few business card samples and a die cut piece as well. Very beautiful ink-work, embossing, quality paper, and amazing designs; I would definitely market my product/business with New Print Factory. These products really set themselves apart from your ordinary business card. They also do postcards, stickers, brochures, flyers, etc. Take a look.

Rijsttafel - A who and a what now?

A Dutch word for the type of Indonesian cuisine made popular in the Netherlands. Pronounced: RY-stah-fell. Literally translated it means "rice-table".

The first thing that I thought of was a typical Korean meal. If you've ever had Korean BBQ, it looks a lot like the picture above. A lot of different side-dishes and meats with rice and kim-chi. Back in the day, the Dutch colonialists brought together an array of small side-dishes from Indonesia and called it Rijsttafel. I would love to try this. Obviously all the rage in the Netherlands. Apparently it's gaining popularity in the U.S. as well. The familiarity to Korean cuisine, at least in presentation is very appealing.

Augmented Reality

Augmented (hyper)Reality: Domestic Robocop from Keiichi Matsuda on Vimeo.

We think that the commercial world is the purveyor of our private lives now...the future is bleak. Augmented reality will be a new platform through which we will once again be bombarded by the ever-present hand that is capitalism.

Keiichi Matsuda, an architecture student in Berlin posits more optimistic possibilities. It is the kind of imaginative ingenuity that conceives a very plausible near future; innovation at its best. The possibilities are very exciting!

This technology may seem a bit overwhelming but it is the future. Read the original post on Dornob (see an additional cool video)- I agree that we would probably have thought the internet would be an "information overload", had we been presented with it a few decades earlier. I mean, WOW! My kids will be interacting this way decades down the line. Crrrazy!

Chic-y Monday

I absolutely love the lushness of the Victorian aesthetic. It embodies chic, rich luxury. From the rich textures and patterns to the dainty details, it appeals to my design aesthetic so romantically. What excites me even more is the fusion of Victorian style and modern sensibility. The juxtaposition of modern edginess and Victorian romanticism creates a very pleasing palette. Above is a collection of inspirations with this in mind. They invoke chic-y luxury to me.

a: Sofia Loren 1972 (from Fendi's photo gallery)

b: Fendi dress (Fall/Winter 2010-2011)

c: Classic & modern design beautifully illustrated (decorating ideas)

d: Japanese inspired waves wallpaper (Foulards Kanagawa, Elitis)

e: Beautifully decorated interior, love the color palette

f: Philippe I: mini collection (Gueridon by Sam Baron)

g: Quilted textured wallpaper

Super sexy tiles.

Here's a new twist on wall tiles. Kale brings some new life to wall tiles. I especially love the round ones. Very chic and modern. I like that it brings some depth and texture to tiles that can otherwise be drab and boring. Home decor on the next level!

Balmain Punk

I was checking out the runway photos from Paris Fashion week Spring collections. I love the styling of Balmain's line. What's weird is it doesn't seem much ahead of the curve, if anything a bit recycled. The punk style somewhat modernized but worn well today and well it's nothing new. I love it, don't get me wrong, but it's interesting seeing a new runway collection that's already being worn. Very ready-wear of course, but I don't know if this is a bad criticism.

Balmain obviously pulls off this sexy punk-rock look beautifully, and within the context of today's green trends, it may speak to the acceptance of recycled design. Conceptually I think it works, but most people are apprehensive to seeing something that is recycled (on the runway anyways). Personally, I think he could have put a fresher spin on the designs, but like I said I do not mind the collection since it was pulled off so impeccably.

Thanks Knight Cat for the great photos.

Pure Green Living E-Mag

Let's talk green living. The name of this magnificent new e-mag I found called Pure Green Living. Couldn't be greener than a magazine that is paperless. Paper publications in general are a dying breed and e-mags are becoming more and more prevalent. Thanks Simply Grove for the great find!

Pure Green Living has some great ways to live green and design with a mind for recycling, and reinvigorating spaces with reused, revamped objects. Right up my alley. There's some great articles about organic cooking as well as being a great resource for natural / organic products. Enjoy!

The Rasterbator!

I found this awesome site the other day - It's called the Rasterbator! It rasterizes an image of your choice into a larger image to specifications. You choose the overall size of the image, the individual paper size and voila! You got your rasterized image. I love it.

I've been looking at ways to decorate with a mind for money, as art is so expensive...home decor in general is very expensive. Here's a personalized way to add a chic piece of art to your home. Enjoy!

Update: My Purse

As a follow-up to my last post: here's a snapshot of my purse contents. Nothing put in or taken out. Let's see 'em. I'd like to see what others' looks like. E-mail me a snapshot of your purse or pocket at any given moment and I'll compile them here. I won't post any information from who it was from, just the picture. If you'd like to participate, send to ruthyeum@gmail.com.

A Snapshot of Ourselves in Our Pockets and Purses

Francois Robert's series "Contents" gives us a literal "snapshot" of who we are by the contents of our pockets or purses.

Check out some more from this series here.

Photographer Francois Robert asked family, friends, and total strangers to participate in this project by displaying the contents of their pockets or purses on a sheet of paper. No one was given forewarning and they were all given the option to edit and take out what they wished. Very few edited the contents for display and only one out of 120 people declined.

This is a very interesting social experiment; you would think that the majority of women especially, would opt not to show their private belongings, much less have them photographed. As a woman, the things in our purses are very private and personal. But, being creatively inclined, after a second thought, I personally would probably go ahead and display my "Contents".

Another idea comes to mind: 15 minutes of fame. Although one might be hesitant to participate in this project, the prospect of being on film, dwarfs almost any embarrassing outcome. In the end, this project is intriguing to me most of all because it explores these juxtaposing social ideas and interactions. Plus it gives a voyeuristic peak into people's identities that is humorous and even perplexing.

Beetle Kill Livens Local Economy

I ran across this material - Beetle Kill Pine- a few years ago when I was working at abe Designworks. It is a result of millions of acres of forest killed by mountain beetles; Colorado is especially known for these deforestations. The wood from these trees have characteristic blue streaks which makes this resource tied locally to Colorado.

An example of one of these businesses taking advantage of Colorado beetle kill pine is Corbin Woodworking. A Colorado entrepreneur Corbin Clay started this woodworking shop to take advantage of this abundant beautiful resource to create beautiful designs. Read more here. Conceptually it is what green is all about - home-grown materials for a quality local product that supports the local economy. And not only that, there is attention to design that makes these works both beautiful and functional.

Also check out his Blu-Chairs.

Minimal Mixes For the Soul

"Me, I can't usually get
'em 'cause my girlfriend's a
vegetarian. Which more or
less makes me a vegetarian,
but I sure love the taste of a
good burger."
- Jules, Pulp Fiction

I have my own little stints of musical preferences, but likes Jules oh-so-beautifully explains, couples tend to take-on each other's likes and dislikes. This is purely anecdotal but it is true that couples tend to become more alike, sharing characteristics and demeanor. But I digress -

Lately I've been picking up on some really sexy minimal techno Mick Finesse has been introducing me to. Here are my top two favs of late:

























FACT mix 182: FourTet
FourTet: I've been a fan of FourTet since my college days. His chillout style has got me through some rough nights in studio. Check out the link above for the mix; great article on the artist as well. The mix is only up for three weeks though so get it quick.



Labrynth SSGS Special Mix: Steffi
Steffi is a new gem for me. She's gettin' a lot of praise for her mixes and performances as resident at Panorama Bar at Berghain- acclaimed by some as the best club in Berlin. Berghain defines techno for Berlin. I hope to make the pilgrimage here someday. Definitely on my list of places to experience.

Both articles have tracklists as well. Enjoy!

Lovely

Love love love Yvan Rodic's photo blog. This picture caught my attention on my stroll through his latest entries. Love the blouse, and the overall look is just down my alley. Simple yet chic.

Kinetic Wall - Ned Kahn

Ned Kahn's "kinetic wall" which is proposed to be built along the side of Australia's Brisbane airport - car park bulding. Check out the article here. Not only is it a visual art installation, the aluminum panels that sway in the wind functions as passive cooling for the car park interior.

I think it is an ingenious way to tie form and function; it creates a visual rendering of nature by means of thousands of aluminum panels. This paradox created from the man-made materials and the kinetic / organic design is a beautiful marriage. Plus it functions as a passive cooling system for the program it serves (a car-park), which by conventional means is for the most part always so dull and massive and plainly depressing artistically.

I would love to see this installation in person some day. It just looks so natural, like the ripples in a lake, but metal, and vertically oriented. It stimulates my senses architecturally and artistically.

9/11 2010

As everyone is aware, there has been a huge political shitstorm leading up to this year's 9/11 anniversary. All I have to say is let's remember those that so tragically lost their lives that day. This is not about where a mosque should or should not be built or the childish reactions of a hateful pastor in "Po-dunk" Florida. Michael Daly of the NY Daily Times sums it up gracefully:


"Ground Zero is a mosque.

It is also a church and a synagogue and a temple and an ashram on ground made holy by those of all faiths who died there.

The God of this hallowed place is the one to whom I heard even atheists appeal as the towers burned and innocents trapped in hell on high leapt to certain death"... read more.

Inspired

"The quality of life can directly lengthen your life." Watching Nightly news tonight there was a segment about cancer patients and a study done on a group of cancer patients who lived an average of 3 months longer than patients who were not part of a program that focused on improving the quality of their daily lives. Palliative medicine is this new approach to medicine and quality of life. I could not explain it as well as the professionals do but you get the idea. A more comprehensive, integrated approach to health and medicine which is proven to actually extend the lives of people.

I have to say I've been quite in the dumps lately; I tend to be a worrier and with a little one on the way and our economic situation where it is, I have found myself lost in worry - I'll be washing the dishes thinking about how to stretch our last few dollars as long as we can, and the next minute I'll be in tears. I keep telling myself I can't keep doing this. Stress is one of the worst things I could pass onto little Aston. I try my best to keep my hopes up and I've got my adoring husband Steve to thank for most of it. I am luckier than lucky to have someone that is always so positive. I tell him he's my rock, and he is.

So here it is. I've been inspired to look at things differently. The phrase "Quality of Life" keeps resonating in my head. What are the things that make me happy? This is a good opportunity to explore this question and question the things that keep me going or not. I've always thought I was a vain person; now it's time to really delve into the idea. More to come. Aforementioned news segment below.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Update

So it's obviously been way too long since I've posted last...
A lot has been going on. Or rather, not enough - depending on how you look at it.

First off, I'm pregnant! Crrrrazy! I never would've thought I'd be here, nor was it in my initial plan but things never go as planned. Suffice it to say, I have not been more happy with anything in my life. I can't wait for little Aston to join this happy little family. I have come to terms with the pregnancy a few weeks in and have bonded emotionally with the little one. I'm due on Dec. 23rd so it should be an amazing Christmas!

I could go on indefinitely about my experience so far with the pregnancy but that is for another page. So I'm trying to figure out where to start with my first post back. I'll just pick up where I am now; which is craving sweets! Ahhh! I find myself going back to this baking blog Bakerella nearly everyday. The cake pops look so delicious and cute, I've decided to make them for the baby shower. :D

Greg Wilson: Electro-funk.

So I am in love with Greg Wilson lately. His aesthetic lifts my spirits and I am immediately in a happy mood. Check out some of his mixes below and here's a very interesting bio on 2020Vision. I love when I come across gems like this.


2020Vision mix.
WMC 2010 mix.
Resident Advisor mix.


Sidenote: I think it's interesting to watch the progression of the type of music I progress into. I've not been as diligent to document that here but I plan to in the future. Happy listening!

Picture of the day.

London. April 1-7th. Yvan Rodic's visual diary.

Socialism V. Capitalism

Very profound article on Adbusters about the difference in mindset for someone who grew up in a socialist culture. It definitely puts some perspective on the "economic crisis". It's sobering how much (or lack of) worth is put on "things" and how much pride is taken in furthering the whole. I agree that there is a "void" that capitalism creates; one of selfish entitlement that breeds cynicism and complacency.

Kiss Me Deadly

One of my favorite artists. Fellow alumni Shepard Fairey.

Bodum tea kettle - Clara

Beautiful. Functional. Great design. Bought this the other day and thought, there is no way the handle will not get too hot to use. I was wrong. It gets a little warm but only a tad. I love it - plus it has a whistler.

"Keep Off" - Mr. C

My fav song at the moment: "Keep Off" by Mr. C. Video is quite cool. Check it out. Here's my most recent mix. Great minimal techno. Enjoy!

Creative Bentos

Those Japanese. So creative, so cute. Now they've taken the bento box lunches to the cutest extreme. Ran across this post on boingboing.net about the new book Face Food by Christopher Salyers. Love it.

Bodum Coffee Press

Love this! Got a 3-cup Bodum coffee press a few days ago and I love it. I'm not a regular coffee drinker so I don't want or need a hunky coffee maker taking up counter space.

The coffee press makes about 1 1/2 small coffee cups of coffee and it is deeeeee-licious. Makes an amazing cup of coffee; plus no need for those wasteful paper coffee filters.