Babel: The multilingual, multicultural online journal and community of arts and ideas

[lang_en]I’ve been thinking long and hard in the past few months about the Music Genome Project, debating the pros and cons (as all things have) to being manipulated by one group’s opinion of how and what music should appeal to you. Part of me loved the idea of having pre-tuned stations meant to fit my [...]

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PREFACE
During March 2000, I studied Art and Architectural History while visiting and traveling in Spain. I made a Video Film pilgrimage to Spain’s castles, palaces, cathedrals, monasteries, convents, mosques, holy sites, and museums in order to study Art and Architecture of designated UNESCO National Heritage Centers. “As time travelers, we were embarked on a [...]

Ulzii has sold two yurts already–real, whole room, boiled wool felt yurts–for only 3000 Euros each.  The full sized yurts are advertized by a much smaller table-top model that looks like an interesting child’s toy.
Ulzii, who is Mongolian and was trained as a water engineer, has the most lovely cashmere shop–which is the most dangerous [...]

On a whim today, after exploring the storybook cuteness of Brussel’s Grand Place (various winding cobblestone side streets, delightfully whimsical facades, etc.), I happened by the Royal Museums of the Beaux-Arts.
I was thinking more about eating lunch at the Museum Cafe than anything else, but I was drawn in by the Rubens Room. It is [...]

A writer of many years, this is my virgin run at this particular medium (the blog), so I chose to stick with what I know. Now, that’s not much, but if there’s one thing I know intimately, it’s the universe…or, perhaps, the pen. I frequently get the two of those confused, and use them rather [...]

All talk and no action. And that’s a good thing in Richard Linklater’s ‘Waking Life’, a beautiful live action rotoscoped film that floats between sleep and wakefulness, life and death. The characters talk about life as they experience it: existential, suicidal, dreamlike…. Philosophy at its accessible best. And it has Ethan Hawke and a host [...]

This has to be one of the most fascinating documentaries I have ever seen. Bennet Miller’s debut documentary ‘The Cruise’ follows New York tour guide Timothy “Speed” Levitch, on his tours and in his life, as he talks about his greatest love and obsession: New York.
If and when I visit New York, I hope he [...]