"Its The Editing and the Producers"

Is it really ? Lets be honest - reality TV is here for a reason.  Its entertainment and a platform to launch chefs, fashion designers, interior designers and/or anyone who is addicted to attention (ie. most of the girls on Rock Of Love Charm School, the "Housewives" ladies), to name a few. Reality TV and the blogs that come with them are brutal, and contestants on these shows need to have a thick skin going in, or they will crumble.  

But if you are going to launch a new "character" on one of these reality shows - admit to that fact that you are doing it for "camera time".  I find it disappointing when on "fallen contestants" websites and blogs, they constantly blame producers and editors for portraying them in a certain light.  The material has to be there for the show to use it.  Are they embarrassed and ashamed of the way they acted.  Has an enormous mirror been held up to them?  If there must be blame - why not split it.  Half to the producers/editors and half to the contestant, themselves.

The support of mean-spirited and insecure behaviour on these shows by bloggers, is the most surprising to me.  Comments are left commending them on their conduct.  "Friends"  and supporters leaving messages as to what a kind and talented person they really are, and how badly they were portrayed.  Thats just plain sycophantical.

In the end, shows are won on merits rather than dismal personalities.

The Weekend

Have a great one.  Don't buy too much!

Obama time

Los Angeles - 12:45pm

Blog Action Day 2008 : "The Beggars Song"

I always go from gate to gate,

soaked to the bone and all burned up;

All of a sudden I'll lay my right ear

in my right hand

Then my own voice sounds to me

as if I had never known it.

Then I don't know for sure,

who it is that's screaming

me or just somebody else.

I'm screaming about next to nothing, really.

Poets scream about more.

Finally, I close my face

with both eyes shut;

which looks as if it's in my hands

with its whole weight, and resting.

That's so that they don't think 

I don't have a proper place,

to lay down my head.

~ Rainier Maria Rike, The Beggars Song, excerpt from The Voices, translated by Cliff Crego

Many of the blogs I read are participating in this today.  Here are a few of my favorites: Pia, Hidden In France and My Sister's In Darfur.

Are You In?

One of my fave bloggers, the lovely Pia, made me aware of this.  Next Wednesday October 15 is Blog Action Day.  This year's subject is Poverty.

Click on this link to find out more.  Also don't forget to register your blog.  This has a "hands around the world" feeling.  You don't have to be a writer to be a part of it all.  Even taking the time, to be involved, is enough.

The US, where I live, is one of the richest countries in the world and yet 12% of the population live below the poverty line.  This site brings it all back into perspective.

Scary storytelling

I can't vote as I'm a resident "alien" but I have lived in the US for more than 18 years.  I'm very interested in this election.  Its a monumental time that will go down in history.   

I have one question: why was John McCain speaking in hushed tones, last night at the debate.   It was like he was telling a very scary story to a group of school children.

Day 3 - POUL KJAERHOLM

"I consider steel a material with the same artistic merit as wood and leather"

Graduated from Copenhagen's Schooel of Arts and Crafts in 1952.  He designed furniture primarily for E. Kold Christensen but also did a few designs for Fritz Hansen.

Best known for the "PK25" chair. Its minimal steel structure combined with a thin wicker seat. 

He won many awards for this inventive design.

"PK20" chair.

"PK61" coffee table.  Satin finish stainless steel with tempered glass.

What really fascinates me about him, is he had two very different modes of design.  The architectural ie. the PK 25 chair, sometimes made with cane, canvas or leather, and the more sculptural forms like the PK20 chair and the PK9 chair (not shown) which was more like artwork.

Fritz Hansen took over the manufacturing rights for most of his work, although PP Mobler also has some of Kjaerholm's designs in production.  Precise manufacturing is required for his work, so the prices are HIGH!

All images: Courtesy of Fritz Hansen

Mulligatawny anyone ?

As the song goes, "It Never Rains In Southern California" - well today it did.  Sort of, for maybe an hour.  Enough for puddles.  Was also a little chilly for LA standards.  I know, I know.....its not like we live in the Arctic here but its great to have even a small seasonal change.

Got me thinking about SOUP.  I came across this amazing website "Vintage Recipes".  One recipe is more enticing than the last.  Not only covering vintage food recipes.  Buts there's recipes for Acid Salt - to remove ink stains, although I must admit, it initially sounded a little more sinister.  Here's another:  Thieves' Vinegar, invented by 4 London thieves in 1665.  It supposedly warded off the plague.  The thieves were able to remain in the city, and loot, while others were fleeing.

Think I'll start with the Mullatawny Soup, and go from there.  

Image: from foodireland.com.

Day 2 - NANNA DITZEL

"Beauty is a superpower that should not be underestimated"

Born in Copenhagen, Nanna initially trained as a cabinetmaker.  She was interested in obscure shapes, strange curves and continued to focus on those throughout her career.  

Not only a furniture designer for adults and children, she also designed jewelry, interiors, and fabric.  Many of her designs including her award-winning Hallingdal fabrics, can still be seen in airports, hospitals and houses around the world.

"Hanging chair" - probably her best known designs worldwide.  There have been many imposter designs, but none can match the perfect simplicity of the original.

"Sausage" chair.  

Many of her pieces were made with rattan, fiberglass, foam rubber and textiles.  I love the fact that she designed furniture for children.  Even now, there is very little groovy nursery and toddler furniture.  Nanna's designs became very popular in the '50's and '60's especially the toadstool table (not that I was alive then).

I love the idea of the Egg Chair but I have never really been that comfortable relaxing in one. I'm always afraid that either the chain is going to break, or its going to pull out of the ceiling.

Day 1 - CINI BOERI

"When I propose something with a very new shape in a new use....it's a very big joy"

Best known for her looser, freeing living.  Sofas made out of polyurethane foam, furniture from bent glass.  Her shapes were and are, revolutionary even now.  Its no wonder why pieces designed by Cini Boeri appeared in the 1982 film Bladerunner.

In this photo, Cini is sitting in her infamous "Ghost" chair.  Designed in collabration with fellow designer Tomu Katayanagi.  Made from a single piece of toughened 12 millimeter-thick glass.
 

"Bobo Divano" sofa.  Released by Artflex in 1967.  This became the first mono-block seat/chair/sofa with no internal structure.  Completely ahead of her time.

This is from the "Strips" line of furniture from 1972.  As you can see vaguely from the photo, there are huge visible zippers which makes the upholstery easy to remove.  The cover can be used as a duvet, if necessary!

"Lunario" desk/dining table.  Two-part weighted, with a chromed steel base with interior weights to support the tempered glass top.  How ingenious.

Cini is now in her '80's but hasn't slowed down.  She has taught at various universities around the world, and in 2007 she released an aluminium shelving system called To the Wall.

Cini Boeri's pieces are still readily available.  The smaller pieces start at $3,000. 

I'm in love with so many pieces.  Everyone has their passions and mine is this modular furniture - so stylish!