Found on Myspace

I found this picture on Myspace and I'm amazed it's absurdity and seriousness.

No Right Turn

The MA in Photography and Urban Cultures at Goldsmiths College is having an exhibit and here is the flyer

SITAC V - 2006

This is the flyer for the "Fifth International Symposium on Contemporary Art Theory that takes place in Mexico City. It should be quite interesting.

While going for a walk...

Francis Alys (there are two dots above the y in his last name) recently had an exhibit in Mexico City and one of the displays showed his magnetic dogs that pick up detritus while walking through the city. He has done many interesting things including moving mountains and seeing how long it would take to get arrested while carrying a loaded gun in the street.

Dear Visitor

As you may know in Mexico there is ongoing disagreement about the outcome of the July 2nd Presidential Election. Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador is contesting the preliminary results. To put pressure on the decision makers he has gathered supporters to block one of the main arteries of the city, Paseo de la Reforma. This has caused a dramatic drop in the number of tourists, who are a major source of funds for the city. In order not to frighten them too much they have put out this notice of awareness.

Chairs

Here are 6 blended polaroids of 3 chairs that are in our apartment.

Year of the Snake

When I was a teacher in Japan I experienced a different way of 'clocking' in at work. Each teacher had an 'inkan' or a stamp with their name on the bottom. Mine is pictured here and I was lucky because most of my 'Gaijin' (foreign) friends had their names in 'Katakana' (Japanese writing of foreign words) whilst I had mine in 'Kanji' (Chinese characters). I wish I could say that I wrote the characters that you see here, but they were written by the friendly librarian, with whom I remember drinking black coffee and eating tiny cookies.

On a personal note, it is my birthday today and I was born in the year of the snake.

Something Related to BP's Closure of its Alaskan Pipeline

This a postcard that I bought in a San Francisco thrift (charity) shop that commerates the opening of Alaska's first pipeline. The accompanying text is from the rear of the postcard and touts the engineering feats and private investment (hmmm).

Un Cigarillo Mas Por Favor

Here is a news item that was in the Reforma Newspaper the other day that is humourous and disturbing.

A paper bag worth keeping

This is a paper bag that is used by a small corner grocer in Amsterdam. The colo(u)r, and texture of the bag combined with the simple shapes of vegetables printed on the outside, make for a European souvenir that contains memories of shopping and personal interaction. (If I remember correctly, I bought some cheese)

Wilkum

Welcome to the Exploration of the Affable Excess, where you will find many different types of posts, but all related to everyday occurrences.