re-wind

i feel like the world has gone back in time to the 80s. and when i say this, it's not all good. let's start with the obvious: the fashion. i'm talking about what people are wearing in the streets. everything from mohawk-ish/mullet-ish layered hairstyles and hairgel (gross!) to ridiculously ugly colorway'd and patterned outfits. a couple of really annoying details i've observed on numerous ladies' outfits is the off-the-shoulder look, and the obsession with distasteful metal hardware on boots (especially), belts, and jewelry. still not convinced? one word: leggings. i actually like that leggings are back for this fall, but why does it seem like 90% of women are translating that look into that of madonna's in "desperately seeking susan" ? note: don't forget, i'm living in the eu these days - and if you knew what 80s fashion was in europe back then (london punk, italian leather), you can only imagine how bad the fashion is out here right now.


along with fashion, spending lots of money has become "in" again. and spending it on the very items that are contributing to a lot of the world's problems (like war and starvation) will make you famous. in other words, people who do not contribute anything stimulating to the progress of society are today's celebrity... soley for being spoiled brats. in the 80s, it was the likes of princess stephanie of monaco. today, it's paris hilton and the offspring of 80s pop musicians.

there are other details, like crappy pop music and going to church (or being "born again"), but perhaps the most frightening detail of the 80s that is most characteristic of today's world is that an idiot is running shit in the white house. in the 80s it was ronald reagan. the ol' gipper. and today, well, today, you know who it is. back then, the enemy were the russians, and today they are "muslim extremists;" phrases like "high gas prices," "the middle class is dying," and "unemployment is up" are revived; and anti-immigration is a hot issue once again (we gotta beef up the security on those borders!!). basically, it's the same stinky shit, but 2 decades later.

i'm not saying that the 2000s haven't been progressive, it's just that (as the saying goes) it seems as if with every step forward we're taking two steps back at the same time. just to be fair though, there are some things about the 80s that i think have withstood the test of time: legos, chicken nuggets, and apple computers.

the smiling sillies at rosa negra, originally uploaded by mjane.

holidays

sunset at maremagnum, originally uploaded by mjane.

the cool thing about living here is that the barça, and spain in general, celebrate a lot of holidays. since moving here, mack and i have had a handful of long weekends. one of the details that make up the spanish vibe. everything starts around the time scheduled, but not necessarily on time. usually, things happen this way or that way, but it doesn't necessarily have to. "mas o menos," as i hear a lot of locals say, basically sums up the way things work in this city. granted you have to wait a little longer than usual for anything important to get done, i can dig it.