Still Spinning Our Wheels

Recently at the L.A. auto show, Ford unveiled the U.S. version of the internationally successful car, the Fiesta. The 2011 Ford Fiesta will be available in coupe and hatchback forms but only in 1 engine option. A weak 1.6 liter 4 cylinder gas engine will be the only option while the rest of the world enjoys their 6 engine options. Show me the diesel! Though you may be mocking the Fiesta for its previous failures, the Fiesta is actually what BP Abu Dhabi world rally team uses and does very well. Swedish driver Kenny Brack used a Fiesta in the X-Games 15 this summer, and beat out more experienced drivers in the popular Impreza and the powerful Lancer Evo. So, though we may be getting somewhere, were not doing it in great speed, style, and were getting bad gas mileage on the way. But, progress is coming.

Blog Culture

Why do we blog? After much thought I have decided that perhaps for me it is a way to fulfill my social interaction needs. Would we blog if well designed social spaces were more abundant in the city? Does any one care what celebrity you were able to sculpt from the lettuce on your burger last week? If you meet someone new at a concert do you feel the need to blog more or less? Are there people who blog every day and never receive a virtual visit from a single reader? Am I more educated now that I've read about all the meaningless garbage you/I found so important today? Why do you blog?

Futsal as a culture

There are dozens of sports in the world that go unnoticed in the U.S. which is a shame really. (I blame vicarious dream living through college football and NFL obsession) Rally racing, Sepaktakraw, Cricket and Futsal are just a few sports that are very popular that we cannot view without very special satellite programming. I am not hating on the U.S. media, I am sure somebody somewhere is whining in a similar way about how they don't have monster trucks. Any way, Futsal is basically indoor soccer on a basketball court with smaller goals and a deadened ball. There is even a World Futsal Cup as well as a UEFA Futsal Cup. Futsal players have a style of their own and typically are soccer fans who are looking for a friendly way to play their favorite sport instead of just spectating it. It is loads of fun, give it a try.

(photo by Mona Hoobehfekr)

Objectified items are art we need.

Gary Hustwit is the creator of the documentary film Helvetica. It is becoming very apparent with his new movie Objectified that he is becoming one of the best video journalist of our time. Objectified permits the viewer to see design from enough different angles to leave you thinking about your own design beliefs in a more educated way than before. If you are the slightest bit conscious of the embodied energy that is in the items you use every day, you will enjoy Objectified. See the trailer here until i can get a copy of my own.

Los Leñateros

In the past five years I have visited the southern area of Mexico on four different trips. The mountainous San Cristobal de las Casas of the state of Chiapas is one of my favorite places. In San Cristobal there is a group of Mayan artisans that run a workshop called Taller Leñateros. The artisans make beautiful block prints and screen printed works of all shapes and sizes. Their books should be considered for global book arts prizes and are examples of historical Mayan literature preservation. They also make the books and prints from the wasted paper products of San Cristobal. I own a copy of the pricey Incantations that is filled with various Mayan literature and block prints for illustrations. you can order products by Taller Leñateros here.

(photo of one of my photos because my hard drive crashed a while back.)

Kickflip Kulture

The kickflip is a skateboard maneuver that has been popularized through various forms of media. Skateboard culture has been on a roller-coaster rise and decline pattern since its spotlighting in the 80's. Since the progression of "sidewalk surfing" of the 60's, a sub-culture of diverse people has managed to survive. Nowadays the skateboard industry has become a billion dollar market with millions of skaters across the globe. Skate culture is so big it now has cultures within itself; alt, hipster, preppy, hesh, fresh, and mashup mixtures of all the styles. One great thing about true skate culture is that its all about skating. Every one is generally on the same team. Despite the existence of the skateboard culture there has been a lack of places to purchase skateboards, wheels, trucks, and clothes. For a few years there has been no where to buy gear in bountiful, but now there is a shop called Annex. It opened its doors on black Friday and I hope it will be here for the skate culture of years to come.

We made a website in class, and this was mine

file:///Volumes/cpack/Sites/PackCslcslotcar/index.html

A car we cant have, but should.

As the U.S. auto industry hangs pathetically on by their nails, I can't help but to wonder why foreign auto makers are not allowed into our capitalist country. Citroen, a french based car company has a variety of cars that would sell vary well in the states. The C4 is a sedan platform with several engine options and is also the car they successfully race in the WRC. One particularly interesting version of the C4, is the 1.6 HDI 110 VTR+. Its well crafted diesel engine enables it to get an average mpg of 60.1. that means on the freeway it gets above 70 mpg. Ford UK also makes a variety of high quality hyper milers but for some reason we are not offered these cars.

Bosozoku

Bosozoku is the culture of ridiculous motorcycle mods and street domination. From what I can find on the web that is in English, Bosozoku members ride rampart through city streets with the intention to disturb whoever they can. There is some great info about Bosozoku here (Wikipedia) and a blog here. Though they may not be the black and orange, chrome clad biker gangs of this continent, they are definitely a force to be reckoned with. These guys deserve some credit if not for their effort than at least for their ability to hook a banana chair to the back of a bike. Genius!

Chirps & Dabs

I met two distinct friends in my youth, one that introduced me to turntablism and the other introduced me to painting. Both of these things have enriched my life. This week in Utah there are excellent opportunities to see both a World renowned DJ and a local painting genius. On Sep. 19th, 3 time D.M.C champ DJ QBert will be cutt'in it up at club sound. Previously that same evening you can see some paintings by Brian Kershisnik at David Ericson fine Art from 6-9 p.m. Saturday night will be a great for seeing some of the best artists in these two mediums, paint and turntables.

http://www.davidericson-fineart.com/ http://www.djqbert.net/

Conceptually Good.

Ack!, Is what usually comes to mind when I think about something dissatisfying or less desirable. The purpose of this blog is to inform followers and visitors of material that will evoke the opposite of ack! Small simple things in life can enrich our lives and make us healthier people, and I hope as you follow this blog you will find amusement in the presented artwork, car, and culture.

Cameron D Pack