Oblique Lorea Caffé

• 7

I guess signs appeal to humans because they speak to our senses as well as to our intellects. In general, signs do not have meanings per se. It's people that have meanings for signs. Thus signs are differently perceived by different people. This filigree café logo, however, had a distinct meaning and appealed to me in several ways. One very simple reason was my desire for coffee that was about to be satisfied. Coffee was within reach!
Another reason was the logo was so helplessly squeezed between these two monstrous air conditioners, so I had to photograph it. Not to worry poor little sign, I recognized you. (;

• I'm reading: Oblique Lorea Caffé

Stencil Mass Media Critique

• 16

The shit of today is the fertilizer of tomorrow. Wow, what a strong statement and so many ways to interpret the message behind the stencil. The bottom line seems clear enough, nothing is as bad as there isn't something good in it — be it just to serve as raw material to produce a good fertilizer. In my understanding the stencil refers to the concentration in the mass media landscape and the uniform opinion that comes with it. Those newspapers ain't good for nothing but to work up a massive ****. What's your comprehension?

• I'm reading: Stencil Mass Media Critique

Pouring Rain

• 9

Rain is not only a simple matter of pouring water splatting and drooling down over heads and rooftops. Rain is precious, making Buenos Aires so calm and peaceful. The sound it creates mutes the noises of the ever so hectic city at least for a brief moment. I enjoy this transient silence. Abruptly, nobody is out there anymore except for cars. The streets get cleaned, pedestrians look for shelter and vehicles compose this distinctive watery melody. As soon as the rain stops, the city recovers to the former bustle.

• I'm reading: Pouring Rain

Chess and the City

• 7

Besides football, chess is a very popular leisure activity in Argentina. For those who love to do this mental sport in public places, there are plenty of possibilities in Buenos Aires. In many parks you will find chess boards placed on park benches or tables. So all you need to play this subtle game of kings and pawns are the chess pieces, a ruthless strategy and tactics and most importantly a chess mate. Also worth mentioning is that Argentina has spawned several notable world class chess players like grandmasters Oscar Panno and Julio Bolbochán that brought fame to the country and popularity to chess.

• I'm reading: Chess and the City

Argentina Jeopardy

• 11

You are looking at the third-largest city in Argentina which is only five car hours away from Buenos Aires. The city that lies on the Parana River in the province of Santa Fe is considered the cradle of Argentina's national banner. A great way to observe the cityscape is from the tower of its famous landmark, a patriotic monument that was built to honor Argentina's flag and its creator General Manuel Belgrano. What else do we know about this city? The famous/infamous Ernesto 'Che' Guevara was born here. Students appreciate the opportunity to choose from more than ten national colleges and enjoy the vivid nightlife that comes with them.
Have you guessed the city yet?

¿oıɹɐsoɹ sı ʇɐɥʍ

• I'm reading: Argentina Jeopardy

The Frugal Society

• 9

I suppose the frugal society is an ideal breeding ground for sustainability. Sustainability, in a nutshell, is the principle of an economic system that suits the demands of today without burdening future generations. In most high-tech societies where the maximization of revenue is the strongest economic impetus the buy and trash cycles become shorter and shorter. Hence, times are tough for the traditional gadgets. Not so in Argentina. It is truly fascinating what large numbers of old machinery you can find in daily life in Buenos Aires. Traditional machines that surely have seen better days which are still kept functioning and resilient like this old printing press. For sure, a certain adversity has unintentionally built a frugal society and forces people to be more prudent and more rational in their planning and spending.

• I'm reading: The Frugal Society

T-Bone Steak BIG as Hell

• 15

Argentina is where steaks are an art form. What you definitely can expect from Buenos Aires are prime steaks and meats in a lot of restaurants. This BIG one on the plate is the classic T-bone 800 gr. (1.76 lbs) garnished with some French fries. That grilled T-bone steak is BIG enough to feed a family of four hence you can imagine how hard it is to eat it all alone. What a waste! What else can I say? Size does matter and BIG is king when it comes to steaks! There's something else BIG to report: the estimated beef consumption. Well, the average Argentinean eats 68 kg (150 lbs) of red meat per year which makes Argentina the most carnivore nation on earth.

You may have already guessed it by now - this month's theme day topic is BIG. Click here to view thumbnails for all participants

• I'm reading: T-Bone Steak BIG as Hell