Photography

Esta semana en Tel Aviv ha sido, digamos, diferente.

Tomarme unos vodka-tonic con unos amigos israelíes  mientras unos misiles caían a menos de 70 Km ha sido una  toda una experiencia .

Es Tel Aviv una ciudad donde pasear por la playa te transporta a Ipanema, donde cenar en uno de los restaurantes de moda te recuerda  al Hotel Costes en Paris y  donde,  cuando bailas en  el club nocturno  más cool de la ciudad  te crees en un club de NY  ( con entrada lateral y secreta para VIPS incluida ) .

En una ciudad  donde puedes vivir estas experiencias en una misma tarde noche pues vaya,  me comentan que , el hecho de que  caigan unos cuanto misiles , como de los entre 150 que han sido lanzados  desde el 12 de junio , no deja de ser algo relativamente habitual.

Eso hacía que durante una entrañable velada con intelectuales locales , entre copa y copa , tanto el periodista, como el medico como el artista me contaran que vivían con ello , que tenían que vivir con ello y que no veía ninguno ningún indicio de que en algún momento fueran a vivir sin ello.

No voy a entrar en polémica  esta noche pero os aseguro que las posiciones de un mismo grupo de amigos no eran unánimes , unos predicaban la mesura como única vía del fín del conflicto y otros la contundencia y la fuerza.

Si a menos de 70 km  de mis nuevos amigos y los  vodka-tonics  tenemos el conflicto y los misiles …. cambiando de tercio y en otra dirección pero siempre a menos de 70 km tenemos Jerusalem.

En Jerusalem te encuentras el monte  del Calvario y Santo Sepulcro  donde los cristianos  creemos  que Jesucristo murió y resucito…. a escasos metros puedes visitar la Mezquita de Omar donde los musulmanes  insisten que  Mahoma subió desde allí  al cielo y , a otra corta distancia a pie,

te encuentras el Muro de las lamentaciones donde los Judíos esperan pacientes la llegada del autentico Mesías.

Neto:  el epicentro de 3 de las 5 religiones mas importantes del mundo se encuentra en una distancia a recorrer en un agradable paseo a pie……podían haber ocurrido en cualquiera de los 510,065,284,702 km2 del plante tierra …pero no ..ocurrieron en un mismo espacio que te lo haces dando un paseo en un  “pis pas”.

Y digo yó,  que un poco de todo lo arriba descrito habrá  tenido su efecto en que los Israelíes sean diferentes, vivos, directos, pasionales , inteligentes y, sobre todo, que se crean únicos en el mundo…que lo son.

Por encima de todo esto …..lo más profundo del tema es que hay Israelíes e Israelitas … y que no es lo mismo ni mucho menos…. estos últimos son descendientes de las doce tribus de Israel y son los elegidos de Dios….. y tienen su misión en el mundo

Pero eso ya lo dejamos para otro día.

I was living in Denmark  ( 1993 ) when I first listened “Never Stop” and , since then, that song became my favourite one being always with me in every special moment of my life.  Music has that special power to change your mindset in five seconds and “Never Stop” never failed.    “Give it up, feel so good to be to be together, spending some time making love ” … Is there any better plan ?  Don’t think so ¡¡ To me , the british Band  is the best Acid Jazz , Hip Hop, Funk  or even Rare Groove  Band  in the world.

Amazing  N’Dea Davenport vocals are just beautiful and  the way Jan, Simon and Andrew they play guitar, piano, metal and put all that together to make their music is just unique.

I will never forget my non ending nights in London Clubs ( 1994-5-6 ) laughing and dancing while TBNH surrounding.

In 1999,  I visited  Pokhara  ( lost paradise in Nepal ) and I was ordering my first  beer when I listened “Never Stop”, I though I was dreaming

Many years ago , 2001, I  also had the chance to make a photo report on them in ” Sala Riviera ” ,   you can find one of those pictures in “Dejate Besar ” Club  , Madrid.

TBNH released latest album “Forward” last year .

If first time you listen their music , I recommend to start with “Addicted ” , “Sunlight” from latest album but please always listen the album,  “Live in London ” ( great concert in  2009 )  where the “Never Stop” version is a pure gift.

If you are already  a TBNH fan , well… you are already my friend ¡¡¡

http://www.thebrandnewheavies.net/

We can spend ages talking about what style is,  how to be a classy guy or what fashion means for men.  If you ask me about how to recognise stylish people I would say its a state of mind, a way to think , a way to act or the way you life your live.  I believe that the best way of recognizing stylish  people is bare but, since not always we can have that option I assume  classy people is mostly recognised  in the way they dress.

I fully agree with most of the commons sentences about style we all know  like :   “less is more “, ” fashion changes but style endures ”  “keep it simple , stupid”, ” addition by subtraction” etc….

If you ask me, my favourite style identification would be something easy :  just wear jeans ( levi’s 501 , no other choose for men ),  a well tailored white shirt ( MAN, Madrid ) , a cool pair of sneakers ( Nike, NB, Premiata…) or vintage shoes (  obviously Church’s ones ) and then, you put the  fragrance  ( I recommend  always a french scent like for instances infallible Bleu de CHANEL) .

All that , with the power of your personality will be a perfect staff for you to get ready to buy the bread,  drink a cocktail , walk the dog or kiss your lover.

Simple conclusions  are not easy to achieve, that’s why I am sharing here my very best favourites compass Style bibles.

1. MONOCLE:  An english magazine with international approach where you will find best briefing on global affairs, business, culture & design. Please never leave your home country  without that publication in hands.

2. The Big Black Book , Esquire :  Twice a year , american Esquire edition  is launching a style manual called ” The Big Black Book” where latest advices, fun, adventure, places to go, cars , know-how, etc… are fully covered.

3. American GQ ( Gentlemen’s Quarterly  ) edition: Non italian, not french , non even  brit but the american GQ edition is the very coolest one.  Its a Must.

Obviously, I am against  manuals obsessions as you need to follow what your instinct and personality drives you to…… but tones of great ideas are there and you will also  find thousands of fabulous info and tips about where to go and where to buy.

Named as person of the year by Time , Pope Francisco suddenly shows up as a fresh air for the Catholic Church.

Through all the reports I have read about him I will pick up next sentence as best one to define his way of acting.

” How you do you practice humility from the most exalted throne on earth ? ” And he does !

Leading by doing is his motto and thats why you can recognise him as someone who provides strong and honest inspiration.

Inspiration is what we need nowadays,  people who reflects values they believe in, people who are doing things in very

different but simple manner than can inspire us for our life.

Doing that within an institution such as Catholic Church

shouldn’t be easy, I am afraid,  but he is getting that.

Francisco papacy effects are already here meaning legions of non catholic people thinking better of the Catholic Church.

God is all about love, joy, peaceful state of mind, happiness, true, respect and freedom. Judge is not our task …who can judge ?

Francisco is communicating that message all around the world. If he finally gets that, many people will feel how their live changes to a great new dimension as the happy catholic people are.