Elizabeth Hurley: Ah, My Goddess!

Photo: MacAddicts.

Cheeta, 75 years old

Who, at older age, can forget this great friend and mascot of Tarzan, who saved him from many woes? Well, this chimp is doing well and thriving. He is 75 since April 9 and enjoys watching his old movies with his grandson, paints and plays the piano but cannot eat sugar, due to a diabetes condition. C.H.E.E.T.A., a sanctuary for primates in CA. cares for him, as you can see in the photographs. According to Guinness he is the oldest known chimp in the world, exceeding the life expectancy of his species by 25 years. Cheers!
Images: C.H.E.E.T.A.

Ars Tatuandi

"Luis Francisco Alfaro Orozco, aka El Smurf, of the 18th. Street gang, and Carlos Alfredo Guzmán (not in the photograph), are held in custody at a precinct in Colonia Alameda, Zone 18 of Guatemala. Both young men were detained at El Cerrito slum". Over his chest and shoulders the tattooed lettering reads, "I do not trust anyone, least in whores!".
Prensa Libre, 01132007, image, Kattia Vargas.

The incredible art of Carlos Thomas de la Cerda

Mesoamerican artist Carlos Thomas de la Cerda (Chiapas, México, 1985) knew since his childhood that art is his way. But it was not until two years ago that he decided not to try it but to explore it. After a brief period studying Biotechnology, at the prestigious Mexican Instituto Tecnológico de Monterrey, he continued with his true passions: Architechture, Humanism, and History, albeit in an informal fashion, as he has developed his art so far.

The result is an impressive array of sculptures, made from wire and aluminium, deeply rooted in the traditions, mythology and history of the ancient cultures of the peoples of Mesoamerica. Also, in his work, we can see details that suggests the inevitable cultural sincretism between them and the legacy left by the Spanish conquerors.

I found two things specially enticing in his work: The meticulous, baroque and realistic details in each sculpture, and the big dimensions. Per instance, to use an ancient way of saying it, Lord Pacal, of Palenque, can be clearly seen in the big jaguar head, and in Tecun Uman´s headdress (Guatemala's national hero, but probably a mythological one), a small Christian cross perhaps suggests the fatal destiny of his people (they became slaves of the Spaniards and their culture was destroyed to impose the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church).

Thomas de la Cerda knows his personal history, his roots (he is a descendant of one of Guatemala's former presidents, Manuel Lisandro Barillas), and loves Manga and Anime, as well as the Moon and its symbolism. He also knows which way he has to take in order to go on. His work, however, shows an undeniable pristine side, a nubile kick I find very difficult to define. When I asked him about HR Giger or Arcimboldo, without hesitation denied knowing about them. So, if you try to find something similar between them and Carlos work you will fail, as I did, because his work flows spontaneously from him, and that's the way to look at it, to get the most from his beautiful volumes, his intricate quasi baroque detail and his love for the ancient Maya, as well as his love for the environment, another one of his passions.

Raíces y Mallas will be at the Guatemalan Museo Miraflores until the end of September (María Li, thanks for the tip). Images, 2007.

I shan't be perplexed

Not at all. The Army Times revealed that a US B-52 bomber carried an unnoticed cargo of 6 cruise missiles armed with nuclear bombs across the US. Now, they say that this will go up even to The President of The United States. Good, I think the highest authorities will deploy a vast operative to catch what happened and why the mishap leaked to the Press. As chilling as it is, I frankly don't believe this is the first time for such an event. It is even possible that nuclear devices are routinely moved from one place to another within the US, as easily as you can take carrots from the grocery to your home. Only that this time it went to the news.
Image: Defense Industry Daily.