BEST OF LA CARMINA BLOG: POPULAR POSTS, FAVORITE MEMORIES OF JAPAN SUBCULTURES & FASHION. BLOG TV WEB STREAM!
While madly spring cleaning, I unearthed piles of memorabilia from Japan (along with a few live spiders). Creepy-awesome stuff from the past few years. Visual Kei indie band posters, Vampire Cafe matches, and Death Cookbooks. I’m itching to share these stories with you…
So I’m doing a live web stream on Blog TV! Please tune into my channel on Saturday April 23, from 5-6pm PT / 8-9pm ET. I’ll show-and-tell my goodies from Tokyo, and answer your questions in real time. And I bet Basil Farrow will waddle over to say hi.
Spring Cleaning made me realize that so much has evolved ever since I started this blog. The focus of my work, the people in my life, the things that matter.
In a nutshell, the past six months have been about: “Travel, fashion, alternative / Japan / pop culture: TV hosting and fixing. Journalism. Coolhunting. Professional blogging.” How about a run-through?
TELEVISION – Ever since the co-hosting the Andrew Zimmern Bizarre Foods show, my TV work has exploded — to the point that I started a TV hosting and fixing company with First Mate Naomi. In 2010, we Pirates hosted and arranged travel programs for Dutch Pepsi, Sony Australia, Belgium TV, Norway TV and more. We also provide coolhunting and trend consulting (details here).
BLOGGING – The blog’s subject has branched out from Japanese Goth fashion to alternative subcultures, travel and style worldwide. I’m enjoying the writing/photography more than ever, and the interaction with you Pirates! It’s been a wild ride, the opportunities that blogging has brought (design collaborations, modeling, travel for appearances and TV work).
JOURNALISM – I’m mainly writing in the travel genre now, with a focus on Asia / pop culture / bizarre. I followed my editor at CNNGo to Huffington Post and AOL Travel. We’re developing a special project for AOL… can’t wait to tell you! (All my Huff Post and AOL articles are here.)
CHARITY – One of the most rewarding things I’ve done recently is nonprofit work. I’m currently helping the NOH8 campaign, speaking out for animal rights, and raising funds in a variety of ways for relief efforts in Japan. Thank you for your support. Let’s do more, together.
COMING UP… In June, Sebastiano and I will be in Italy — we’re guests at the Luisaviaroma Firenze4Ever fashion event, and staying in hotels courtesy of Hostelbookers (details in this post). We have more tricks up our sleeves, including a trip to a new city…
Got questions for me? Want to hear my scandalous stories and see knick-knacks from Japan Spookyville? Let’s catch up during my Blog TV live-stream (starts 5pm/8pm PT/ET, Saturday April 23). All you need to do is tune in to my live video channel.
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I also invite you to join my Mailing List; simply enter your details above. I send out occasional notices about giveaways (such as Jrock concert tickets and brand clothing), events, internships, and other exciting opportunities. Yay.
Have you been Spring Cleaning? How have you changed over the past few years? Are you happy about where you are? (I know I am…)
Song of the Day: Menticide – Painkiller ( Trakktor ReMix )
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MY SCOTTISH FOLD CAT’S BIRTHDAY! DISNEY’S AFRICAN CATS MOVIE REVIEW: CUTE BABY LION & CHEETAH CUBS DOCUMENTARY.
Happy birthday to my Scottish Fold cat, Basil Farrow! Tail wags to everyone who left a message on his Facebook.
Basil enjoyed his birthday gifts more than the bow-tie he got for Christmas. He lapped up his favorite foods, catnip and tuna. (My fuzz-face isn’t allowed to eat tuna often, since it lacks some essential nutrients and contains an enzyme that destroys thiamine).
And, like every year, I made donations on behalf of Basil. We donated to his vet’s nonprofit fund, which provides medical care to stray cats. And we gave to Animal Rescue Kansai. They’re on the ground in Sendai, helping animals made homeless by the Japanese earthquake and tsunami.
Speaking of kitties… Disney invited me to the advance screening of African Cats. Filmed in Kenya, the documentary tracks a lion and cheetah mother’s fight to raise cubs in a grassland lurking with dangers.
(Doesn’t Basil have the round face of a cheetah — and the fur, yellow eyes and big feet of a baby lion?)
The cinematography is through the roof, particularly in the the close-ups and slow-motions of predators versus prey. The cameras get whisker-close to the Maasai Mara wildlife, where big cats cross paths with moody buffalo and sassy ostrich. Everything’s enthusiastically narrated by Samuel L. Jackson, and set to a quirky Peter-and-the-Wolf-style soundtrack.
While anyone can enjoy this nature doc, cat lovers are especially in for a treat. It’s fun to compare your domesticated companion’s behaviors to those of his wild relatives.
Like Basil Farrow, the playful cubs roll around on the ground, and greet each other with head bonks. I died of cuteness when the cheetah mother picked up her babies by the scruff of their necks. And I learned why Baz pauses to think before drinking water. He’s looking out for crocodiles!
It’s heart-wrenching to see the feline mothers risk everything to protect their offspring. The cheetah mother, calling out to her babies separated in the dark and vulnerable to hyaenas… And the family shivering in pouring rain, with nothing for cover!
What a life my celebrity cat has in comparison. His greatest hardship is having someone sit on his favorite seat. Or take too long to open a can of byproduct-free premium food.
Disneynature’s African Cats gets my paws up. It opens in theaters tomorrow, on Earth Day.
I invite you to send Basil Farrow a birthday greeting on his Facebook or via Twitter. He sends cat fur and kisses to you all!
Do you celebrate your pet’s birthday? Are you raring (or roaring) to see African Cats?
Song of the Day: Garfield and Friends – Original theme song (one of my favorite cartoons.)
LA CARMINA
