A skeletal fortress built for Lawrence of Arabia, an American gas station used for a forgettable horror film now inhabited by an old shepherd and his dog; entire fake villages have been left behind by Hollywood to be battered by the sands of the south moroccan deserts. Photographer/ filmmaker Ra Di Martino sets the cameras rolling once again on these ghostly structures, this time starring local children born not far from the filmsets, re-enacting in their Arabic dialect a few lines from movies that have been shot there…

Click here to view the embedded video.

Discover the photographs of the abandoned Star Wars sets and more by Ra Di Martino

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She has a few friends that may or may not haunt you in your dreams later on…

The cloning service is popular among some Japanese women looking to preserve that special moment in life such as their wedding day, cloning hair & makeup and even the dress they wore.

Whatever you do, don’t make eye contact…

Oh you already did?

Because this is what happens to you if you did…

Just kidding! These are just some recently printed 3D heads on a stick drying off or something..

Welcome to the Clone Factory in Akihabara, Japan.

This is Danny Choo, he runs a blog called Culture Japan and went to get cloned.

A bunch of digital SLR cameras all around him took photos of his head…

and then a big @ss printer made layers of ink which harden in a tray of plaster. The head is hiding inside that white pile of plaster dust…

And the clone is born … (and stuck on the body of a plastic Star Wars doll). You now owe them around $1,300. Surprise!!!

But hey, they clone pets too!

Oh no, he made eye contact…

Okay that’s all folks, wave goodbye now…  and you’ll be seeing her later on tonight, crawling out from underneath somewhere…

Toodles!

More photos on the Culture Japan blog.

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]]> http://www.messynessychic.com/2013/05/17/human-doll-cloning-is-so-hot-right-now-in-japan/feed/ 0 http://www.messynessychic.com/2013/05/17/that-time-the-paris-mosque-helped-jews-escape-the-nazis-by-supplying-them-with-muslim-ids/ http://www.messynessychic.com/2013/05/17/that-time-the-paris-mosque-helped-jews-escape-the-nazis-by-supplying-them-with-muslim-ids/#comments Fri, 17 May 2013 11:30:28 +0000 MessyNessy http://www.messynessychic.com/?p=37088

Here’s one they left out of the history textbooks. A recent French film, Free Men, brought to light the remarkable true history of how Muslims gave sanctuary to French Jews in Nazi-occupied Paris during Second World War. An untold “Oscar Schindler” story, the film is inspired by actual events and in this case, our ‘Schindler’ is Si Kaddour Benghabrit, the rector of the Grand Mosque of Paris until 1954.

Image (c) Alice Heartherb

Underneath the fortress of mosaics and tranquil gardens occupying an entire city block in the Latin Quarter, it is revealed the mosque’s underground caverns once served as a refuge for resistance fighters and French Jews, where they could be provided with certificates of Muslim identity. Meanwhile upstairs, Benghabrit, a wise Algerian-born religious and political leader, was giving tours of the mosque to Nazi officers and their wives, unaware of what was transpiring right under their feet.

Watch the trailer for Free Men below:

Click here to view the embedded video.

A North African Jewish man named Albert Assouline, who had escaped from a German prison camp, wrote about his experience hiding in the mosque:

“No fewer than 1,732 resistance fighters found refuge in its underground caverns. These included Muslim escapees but also Christians and Jews. The latter were by far the most numerous.”

Giving sanctuary for Jews was largely impulsive and did not result in an organised movement by the mosque, which is perhaps why historical records remain so bleary.  Some claim thousands of Jews were saved, others say it was in the dozens. In 2006, the current rector of the Paris Grand Mosque, Dalil Boubakeur, was interviewed by Robert Satloff, director of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. In Mr. Saltoff’s book, Among the Righteous, Boubakeur confirms that ’up to 100 Jews’ were likely given Muslim identity papers by the mosque and provides Saltoff with a copy of a typewritten 1940 Foreign Ministry document found in the French Archives, affirming the Nazi’s suspicion of mosque personnel providing false Muslim identities to Jews.

Veteran French actor Michael Lonsdale plays Benghabrit (c) Pyramide Productions

The most notable case of the mosque refuge was Simon Hilali, a Sephardic Jew who survived the Holocaust by pretending to be an Arab named Salim with the assistance of Benghrabit and later went on to become the most popular Arab-language singer of the time. According to Hilali’s obituary, Germans were so suspicious of the Jewish musician that Benghabrit had the name of Hilali’s made-up Muslim grandfather carved on a headstone in a Parisian Muslim cemetery.

I missed the film in the cinemas when it came out last year because I never heard about it’s release, but what an important message to miss out on. The film’s director is lobbying for it to be shown in schools. “It pays homage to the people of our history who have been invisible,” he told the New York Times. “It shows another reality, that Muslims and Jews existed in peace. We have to remember that — with pride.”

In case you’re interested in learning about something your text books couldn’t bring to your attention, the Free Men (Les Hommes Libres) is available to download on iTunes here.

via The New York Times

 Visiting la grande mosquée de Paris for Mint Tea at Twilight…

The mosque in the 5th arrondissement is host to one of the most pleasant cafés in Paris. With winding, leafy courtyards, this is a beautiful place to sip moroccan mint tea along with traditional arabic pastries on a sunny day. While it’s very popular, particular with Parisian families on Sunday afternoons, it’s not a place tourists are very aware of. It’s also open until midnight for tea under the stars while contemplating the fascinating history within its walls.

2, bis place du puits de L’Ermite, 75005 

(c) Francine Vernez

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‘The arm and torch of the Statue of Liberty in Madison Square Park, New York. These portions of the Statue were exhibited to raise funds for the completion of the statue and its pedestal. The arm and torch remained in the park from 1876 until 1882.

‘Members of the public could pay fifty cents to climb to the balcony of the torch.’

via Retronaut

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DID YOU KNOW THE STATUE OF LIBERTY WAS MADE IN PARIS?

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One of his artworks is counted amongst the top 10 most expensive paintings ever sold ($100 million for “Eight Elvises”), but in 1956, the director of collections at The Museum of Modern Art in New York rejected Warhol’s submission, a drawing, simply titled, “Shoe”, informing him that it could picked up from the museum at his convenience.

[view enlarged version of the letter here].

Although most associate Andy with his pop art success, in the 1950s, he was making his way as a graphic illustrator. He had become a regular shoe illustrator for The New York Times, made Christmas cards and stationery at Bergdorf’s, and was drawing shop window displays for Tiffany & Co. He began winning awards as a graphic artist and by the end of the 1950s had become so successful, he decided to next conquer the fine art world, proclaiming, “I want to be Matisse!”

Insert motivational quote about never giving up on your dreams here__________.

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]]> http://www.messynessychic.com/2013/05/16/a-letter-of-rejection-to-andy-warhol-c-1956/feed/ 0 http://www.messynessychic.com/2013/05/16/the-town-that-is-literally-living-under-a-rock/ http://www.messynessychic.com/2013/05/16/the-town-that-is-literally-living-under-a-rock/#comments Thu, 16 May 2013 13:59:40 +0000 MessyNessy http://www.messynessychic.com/?p=37054

People choose to live in some pretty baffling places, like those towns sitting at the base of volcanos or the precariously placed monasteries in the Himalayan mountains. Here’s one that looks like it might have been hit by a meteor and residents just decided to carry on as usual…

Welcome to the town of Setenil de las Bodegas in Spain, where around 3,000 inhabitants are living quite literally, under a rock.

I had a poke through the Flickr photo network to give us a virtual tour…

Lead image (c) J Apatino 

This small white washed town northeast of Cadiz has a unique setting along a narrow river gorge eroded by the Rio Trejo river, with many of the houses being built into and under the walls of the gorge itself.

(c) Emilio Sancha 

(c) Manuel Floresv 

Believe it or not, people chose to settle here for practical reasons. The natural caves of Setenil turned out to be ideal living quarters because rather than needing to build entire houses to keep out the heat in the summer and the cold in the winter, all they needed to build was a facade. It is believed people have been living here since pre-historic times.

(c) Dodo

Despite living under a rock, the Andalucian town isn’t so out of touch with the world as the expression might suggest. The bars, restaurants and food shops in Sentenil are ranked as the best in the region, famous for their delicacies such as chorizo, olive oil, honey, jam and Andalucian wine. On weekends during spring and summer, the town is a vibrant place, and the picturesque white-washed cafés and markets under the rock are bustling with life.

(c) RosaliArte

(c) Around the World

(c) Cesar Redondo 

(c) Judepics 

(c) Educacion Social

(c) Chodaboy 

(c) Nur FS

The town’s name ‘Setenil de las bodegas’ reflects its rich history; setenil, from the latin words septem nihil– “seven times no”, refers to the seven times the Catholic rulers tried to take back the territory from the Moors, the medieval arabian inhabitants who ruled much of Spain for several centuries.  Only on the seventh attempt to conquer Setenil were the Catholics able to win the territory– one of the last Muslim strongholds in Iberia. ‘Solid as a rock’ Setenil (unavoidable pun) later began using the cool areas under the rock  to store all kinds of local produce in large storerooms, which is how the town earned the second part of the name, “bodegas“, meaning ‘warehouse’ in Spanish.

(c) Luiscifermex

(c) Klinne 

(c) riocura 

(c) Eva Kasper 

(c) Chodaboy 

(c) Quimera8 

(c) Around the World

So perhaps you could spare a thought for the residents of Setenil de las Bodegas the next time you find yourself in between a ‘rock and a hard place’! See what I did there?! Rock on! I know, I’m too good at this, I should just stop.

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A couple on the street on Michigan Avenue, Chicago photographed by Perry Riddle in July 1975– Found in the National Archives

‘Traffic-Stopper’ Miss Mary Bay likes her car because it is easy to park. Miss Bay is shown braving the traffic of Washington on January 29, 1924. Found and available to buy on the Shorpy

“This is my beautiful mother, Valeria Perojo Frias, born in Pinar del Rio, Cuba on March 23, 1926. This photograph was taken sometime in the mid to late 1940′s. I believe she was at a christening of a friend’s child in Havana. She was an amazing and inspirational woman – making her way to the US with my father by way of Miami in late 1959, and ending up in New York City two years later, where I was born and raised. She was always a fashionista and had that amazing aura that exuded beauty, charm and grace. And boy could she pose for a picture, eh? She always will be my very own personal style icon”– submitted by a reader to The Sartorialist

A young girl dancing at a festival New Orleans, Louisiana photographed by George Gardner in 1972– Found on History in Pictures

Girls gone Wild! Three models from Washington’s spring fashion show snapped at Arlington Beach, May 7, 1924. National Photo Company glass negative (originally black & white). Found (and available to buy) on the Shorpy

Beach cricket at Skegness in Lincolnshire, August 1940. ‘You don’t have daughters mooning after seashells when a catch in the slips is coming’. Greta Meredith, typist, Gladys Carrier, mill- worker and schoolgirl, Valerie Buckley, field to Edna Buckley, confectioner. Found (and available to buy) on the Science & Society Picture Library.

A Victorian woman bowling, circa 1900, found on the George Eastman House Collection

1940s Miami Beach babes– Found on Barefoot Contessa

Girls with very different body types modelling lingerie– Found on Vintage Everyday

Six women won prizes for what they wore at an Easter brunch in the Beverly Wilshire Hotel April 10, 1955. Shown are, left to right, Mrs. Loraine Buzzell of Brentwood, Mrs. William Holmes of Beverly Hills, Mrs. Adolph F. Pagano of Sherman Oaks, Norma Lee Baird of Westwood, Miss Dolores Donlon of Beverly Hills, and Noreme Michaels of Hollywood. April 10, 1955 – Found on the Los Angeles Public Library

A rather inexplicable but sassy cactus bikini girl circa 1940s– Found here

Pie eating contest at Tidal Basin bathing beach, July 31, 1921. Washington, D.C. – Found on (and available to buy) on the Shorpy

Passing notes in class, 1944– Found here

A woman hikes up her new nylons in Stockholm, Sweden c.1956– Found on Letters of Vintage

Unknown sassy ladies circa 1940s– Found on Pinterest

“Female Study”, A bromide print photograph taken by George Edward Stanhope, 5th Earl of Carnarvon in 1915. Fun fact: Edward Stanhope lived at Highclere castle where Downton Abbey is filmed– Found on theNational Media Museum

“The USA drinking team”?!– Found on Letters of Vintage

A young woman watches as her car goes through testing at an auto emission inspection station in Downtown Cincinnati, Ohio. Photographer by Lyntha Scott Eiler in September 1975– Found on the National Archives

Local beauty Queen kicks the ball at the Tobacco Bowl, South Boston VA, October 1961 – Found on History Pin

Anna, “the greatest lady I’ve ever known”– uploaded by her daughter onto Instagram for Mother’s Day.

Unknown sassy lady circa 1950s– found on Letters of Vintage 

 The ‘Sunshine Girls’, Washington, D.C. July 19, 1923– Found (and available to buy) on the Shorpy

Little boys can be sassy too! 1943 by Ruth Orkin (same photographer behind ‘American Girl in Italy’)

Actress Grace Valentine poolside in Long Island circa 1920– Found on The Shopry

Liverpool Street, New Strand Theatre usherettes, Australia 1930s–  Found on History Pin

Beach girls, 1950s– Found here

Look at those sassy underpants! Winter exercises - Fighting on the frozen swimming-pool  Reims, France c1910 – Found on History in Pictures

He’s got it! William Bankier, author of Ideal Physical Culture as ”Apollo: The Scottish Hercules,” c. 1900– Found on My Drageurreotype Boyfriend 

Girls delivering ice. Heavy work that formerly belonged to men only is being done by girls. The ice girls are delivering ice on a route and their work requires brawn as well as the partriotic ambition to help. Circa 1918– From the Records of the War Department; American Unofficial Collection of World War I Photographs, 1917 – 1918.

Elks National Bathing Beauty contest in Los Angeles, California, 1935– Found on History  in Pictures

“Inexpensive retirement hotels are a hallmark of the South Beach Area. A favored place is the front porch, where residents sit and chat or watch the activities on the beach.” Flip Shulke, South Beach, Miami Beach, Florida, June 1973– Found on the National Archives

Royal Ascot, 1938– Found on The Science & Society Picture Library

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MORE PRESERVED MOMENTS OF HISTORICAL SASS THIS WAY:

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This is probably why parents should check their kids’ homework more often. Not for mistakes but for censorship purposes. Either way, Mom is a good time.

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After I finish telling you about this, I’m going to write a letter to someone; with a pen, and a piece of paper, and an envelope. Because, when was the last time you received a beautiful letter? This is the question being asked by Lettres d’un Inconnu (Letters from a Stranger), a most charming new start-up based out of Montmartre, here in Paris. With a dream to revive the lost art of receiving and writing handwritten notes, Lettres d’un Inconnu is a subscription service that brings you two beautiful letters each month written by a stranger, hand prepared and personally addressed to you on fine stationary with love and care from the heart of Paris, Montmartre, and delivered to your letterbox by your local postman.

Subscriptions to these unique letters are available in English, but if you’re keen to refresh your language skills, you can receive your letters in French from a stranger recounting a personal memory, a chance encounter, an intimate confession from afar…

This short video (in French) beautifully illustrate the project:

Click here to view the embedded video.

Last Christmas, Lettres d’un Inconnu founder, a Mademoiselle Fanny Auger, wrote and sent out about 40 cards and received only three herself. Either the postman was playing a cruel joke on her or people just don’t know how to write letters anymore; they can’t find the words, or maybe can’t even find a pen.

“Everyday, when I open my mailbox, my naivety fills my heart, for a fraction of a second I’m hoping to find something other than bills or advertising,” says Fanny, sharing an all too familiar feeling.

As much as we communicate through email, text, messenger, Skype, she says we’ve lost a certain essence. ”Reading a letter is a moment for yourself. We may read the letter while standing next to the mailbox, keep it in our bag or pocket until we have a moment spare. A moment to share the sender’s sentiments, the stranger who wrote the letter and told you their story.”

I’m going to be terribly cliché about it and say this is just the sort of romance we owe ourselves in what can often seem like very unromantic times.

Allow yourself that frivolous moment in your day to imagine a different life, another era of communication. Some handwritten, some typed in delicate fonts, some featuring pictures, poetry or illustrations; these are letters to hold on to, hide in a shoebox somewhere or carry around and keep close at all times for re-reading.