martin klasch

Illustration: School book stickers

If I had a kid (or knew one) of the right age and if I, or rather the kid, was anglophone there would be absolutely no reason left not to get these print out school book stickers (pdf)! They are illustrated by the brilliant French illustrator Marc Boutavant whom I have briefly covered before. I sure wish his children's books would be published in my language!

The stickers link was found at The Small Objects, worth a post or two of its own (coming!). Actually it was found at its old address.

PS. I wonder if this Japanese commercial is made by Boutavant...

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Art: How about getting an owl?

"Friend Owl" silk screen paper print by Heather Amuny-Dey can be ordered here.

Via Design Milk

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Blog: I'm Learning To Share!

A little bit of everything with a taste of yesterdays - visit I'm Learning To Share!

There is no way you'll be disappointed at these great shares.

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Fun: I was going to recommend you...

...to visit this picture thread (LOL80s) where quite outrageous pictures of 80s pop bands are shown; what 80s pop band didn't look outrageous?! However, the main idea seems to be attaching a "funny" little text to them and I think it ruins the whole thing. Why can't they get that the pictures are funny as they are? So I won't recommend it, but sure do swing by if you have nothing better to do! ;)

By the way, name the band. Anyone?

Via Grow-a-brain

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Art & illustration: Mope the Onion & Company

Have you seen Dan Goodsells parade of mini watercolors? No? They are really charming and they are displayed on his Flickr site so why not pop over there and have look.

It's been raining all day so I kind of feel like Mope the Onion... waiting...

Dan Goodsells blog: a sampler of things
His personal art site: The World of Mr Toast
...and: Tick Tock Toys

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FYI: mod*mom is getting a make over! (edit)

No, the excellent blog does not need a make over! OK, here's the deal: mod*mom thinks she needs a make over and she's among the final few to win one (over here). If you know her stylish blog you might also know that she has been fighting breast cancer for a while now. So if she says she needs a make over I'll believe her.

UPDATE:
Voting is over - MOD*MOM WON!!

Thanks for voting for her!

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Le Jukebox Français 4: Sylvie Vartan

Le Jukebox Français is back! As if you would care! Anyhow, this time it's finally time for a lady. She is one of the most famous yé-yé girls and her name is Sylvie Vartan.

Other artists found in Le Jukebox Français:
Michel Fugain
Jacques Dutronc
Michael Polnareff

Thanks to the artist and to those who uploaded the videos to YouTube!

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Commercial: Japanese yé-yé clothes in 1967

Vintage ads: Take me to the cleaners!

Vintage cleaners ads from public transport in Stockholm. Click the images to enlarge!

From a book called Reklam i rörelse (Advertisment in motion) published by Trafik-Nostalgiska Förlaget (in Swedish)
Buy "Reklam i rörelse" here. It's a great book with loads of images and it only costs about eight bucks!!

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Animation: Die Abenteuer des Prinzen Achmed

"Die Abenteuer des Prinzen Achmed, aka The Adventures of Prince Achmed, (1926): directed by Lotte Reiniger and Carl Koch, with the collaboration of Berthold Bartosch and Walter Ruttmann, based on the character Prince Ahmed, from the book 1001 Arabian Nights."

"It is the oldest surviving feature-length animated film, and it featured a silhouette animation technique Reiniger had invented..."

I would have had to post about ten images from this movie to give you an idea of how brilliant it is; it must be seen. Now it has been made possible by Videos with Bibi.

UPDATE:
This video is unfortunately no longer available. You have to be quick when things like this comes along!

UPDATE:
Stephen of ASIFA wrote to remind us of these articles:
Reiniger's Adventures of Prince Achmed Part One
Reiniger's Adventures of Prince Achmed Part Two

Thanks!

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Arboriculture: About a tree

Immanuel Kant - the famous philosopher - was born in the East Prussian capital Königsberg (Koenigsberg). He allegedly never traveled more than a 100 miles from his hometown and died there in 1804. Around that time a tree was born in Königsberg. It is still standing - in Kaliningrad - the administrative center of the Russian exclave Kaliningrad. However, you might say it uses some help standing up...(more)

(You might say this post didn't have much to to with arboriculture. You'd be right of course. The drawing was found here.)

UPDATE:
About "Kant" check this old post out!

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Fact: I hate memes

I recieved a mail from Lex10 - the GlyphJockey. It read:

"C'mon
1. only eat GOAT cheese.
2. Pictures? I actaully hate pictures.
3. Klasch is really spelled Clash

etc etc.

wanna do the 8 random facts?
I hate the concept too, but you, I trust"

Well, well, dear Lex10, you think you can trust me do you? This is my answer:

"I hate the concept too..." will be the only fact coming out of me I'm afraid. * (1.) If I started the blog today I would possibly call it "I hate memes". (2) 'Cause I do. I'm honored (3) (though I'm not sure why) that you tagged me but I hate you - mildly ;) - for it. You are not totally misinformed about the goat cheese - I do love cheese. (4) My favorites are Italian and Spanish ones like Parmesan, Pecorino Romano and Manchego. No. I don't hate pictures (5). Not the painted ones, not the moving ones, not the drawn ones, not the photoed ones. Many of them are dear friends of mine. Some of them can be found on Musselsoppans Vänner. Martin Klasch is spelled Martin Klasch (6). I'm not Martin Klasch. Who is Martin Klasch? Who is P-E Fronning? He is me (7). Or is he? If he is, who is he? * I am a contradiction (8).

This is was not the first meme "questionnaire" I've gotten. I have not answered any yet. I have not forwarded any yet. I'm not about to start now. I can not deny that I feel honored getting them but, for me, they usually take to much time and effort to answer. And the forwarding part- chain letter style - I especially don't like. So, know this: P-E Fronning of Martin Klasch is a boring bastard who hates memes but loves the people who sends them.

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Russian animation: Cheburashka

This is not the first time we mention Cheburashka* and his friend Gena the crocodile or Russian animation for that matter. You can read "all" about the little critter, including what he is or was in my home country Sweden, in Wikipedias article - the important thing right now is that Bibi posted some Cheburashka films on Videos with Bibi. Yes, I know, they are neither subtitled nor dubbed, but they are beautifully animated. So I suggest you at least have a look to see what Cheburashka is all about.

* "Cheburashka.../... is a character of children's literature from a story by the Russian writer Eduard Uspensky. He is also the hero .../... of the animated film series by Soyuzmultfilm studio." ... "Cheburashka is a funny little animal, unknown to science, who lived in the tropical forest. He accidentally got into a crate of oranges, ate his fill and fell asleep. Cheburashka is not a personal name; it is a species name invented by the puzzled director of the shop, where he was found."
According to Wikipedia only four Cheburashka films were made (1969, 1971, 1974, 1983).
In my home country - Sweden - we never got to see the films, we only had a Cheburashka puppet show as the children's segment of the TV-show "Sveriges Magasin". Here they were called "Drutten och Krokodilen (Jena)" and lived in a bookshelf; they were immensely popular.

Quotes from Wikipedia

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Art: Rock 'n' Roll and Baseball

A creative meeting between music and sport artfully arranged by Glyphjockey.

Check it out.

Photo: Le homme de Frites

Right now I am visiting the Country of Frites. This cell phone photo however was taken in Stockholm just a couple of days ago. Don't forget to check out more photos and other images at Musselsoppans Vänner, OK? It has been refilled during the last couple of weeks.

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Poster Art: Movie posters from Belarus

"These are posters for Hollywood movies made for the cinemas of Belarus capital city Minsk."

Radio: Oh-la-la!

I'll be gone a few days. If you can't wait for some more Le Jukebox Français don't forget you can always listen to DJ Natashka's totally francophone Radio Oh-la-la! Au revoir!

Le Jukebox Français 3: Michel Fugain

French artist number three to perform on the francophone extravaganza we call Le Jukebox Français - is Michel Fugain. (Check out his new songs on his MySpace.) Put your funkiest clothes on and dance to these three tracks!

Thanks to the artist and to those who uploaded the videos to YouTube!
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Le Jukebox Français 2: Jacques Dutronc

The second French artist presented in the music video series Le Jukebox Français - is Jacques Dutronc. Let's go!

Thanks to the artist and to those who uploaded the videos to YouTube!
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Le Jukebox Français 1: Michel Polnareff

The first French artist that I have chosen for this new series of French music videos - which I call Le Jukebox Français - is Michel Polnareff. You can find more videos with him on DailyMotion. Put your coolest glasses on and enjoy!

Thanks to the artist and to those who uploaded the videos to YouTube!
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