finding cain

The mall is a necessary evil—a glorious, air-conditioned balm against the relentless Philippine heat. But sometimes, a person needs a place that’s a little more soul-nourishing than retail therapy. What if your next cool, indoor escape was packed not with disposable items, but with beautifully bound, centuries-old ideas? Enter Libreria Palazzo Roberti in Northern Italy. This isn't just a bookstore; it’s a 17th-century sanctuary that once hosted Napoleon Bonaparte himself. Today, this magnificent structure has been lovingly restored, trading imperial guests for literary treasures. As you step inside, you’re greeted by original Venetian terrazzo floors, plaster walls that whisper centuries of history, and the gentle, stylish glow of elegant Louis Poulsen lamps illuminating rows upon rows of Italian and international titles. Run by the Manfrotto family since 1998, this three-story cultural powerhouse is pure la dolce vita for book lovers. You don’t just shop here; you wander through ...

I saw Akira on Betamax when I was a kid. Trust me, it was a pretty astonishing thing to see at the time. I've seen it five times. I still marvel.

In addition to being known for its lush forests, white sandy beaches, and crazy movie posters, Ghana is also celebrated for its insane coffin designs.

Strange Days came out when I was in high school, and although it was considered a commercial failure, it made a huge impression on me. Kathryn Bigelow's uncanny tech noir was way ahead of its time. It was released in 1995; was set in 1999; but was really just about now. I have a history of sometimes liking films that critics despise — Capone would be a recent example — and not liking movies that critics applaud. No, I haven't seen Mortal Kombat yet. But one of these days when I have time, I will.

Here's a strange tribal instrument I never heard of before now. Originally from the Tinananon tribe of southern Philippines, the bowl-shaped Salimbaa is made of metal and wood, has 30 bronze wound strings, and is played using two small sticks.  Caleb Byerly, who makes lost/extinct musical tools in his North Carolina workshop, has an interesting story on how he made his first Salimbaa. WATCH: More details about Caleb and his craft over at  Our State .

I remember when my sister was three years old, my mom gave her a dollhouse. It was one of those cheap plastic toys crafted for kids not just to play with, but to put in a tub, smash, and quickly get bored with. But seriously, dollhouses are excellent items for children to role-play, improve problem solving skills, and nurture creativity and imagination. But not all dollhouses are child's play. This miniature house in South Korea is more like a piece of art. Even those of us who never played with dolls as a kid can probably appreciate this wonderful creation.

My good friend, Mohini, loves indigenous fabrics and accessories because, according to her, they're beautiful, and there's little chance that you'll run into someone wearing the exact same thing. In this video, Filipina artist and designer Cynthia Alberto shares her perspective on patterns around the world, her alter ego, llama, and her views on preserving Filipino textiles through weaving and art.

Playing music for your plants may seem like an odd thing to do but, over the years, several studies have indicated that sound has the ability to stimulate plant growth. In 1962, Indian botanist Dr. T. C. Singh found that certain plants grew an extra 20 percent in height when exposed to music. I'm not sure how much of this is true, but apparently, plants are really big fans of Beethoven and Bach, and they don't respond well to rock music. Just recently, around 2,300 plants were serenaded by a string quartet (two violins, a viola and cello) performing Puccini's Crisantemi . The unusual concert was live streamed from Barcelona's El Liceu opera house and was created by conceptual artist Eugenio Ampudia, who said the inspiration came from a connection he built with nature during the lockdown. The brave Spanish healthcare workers will each receive one of the 2,292 potted plants in the days following the event — a simple but meaningful gesture that recognizes thei...

I was planning on doing a post about someone else today, but then I found this old but interesting video about FAILE. I first discovered their art back in 2015, when they visited the Philippines to take part in a weeklong mural-centric event at the BGC. I remember staring at the wall and admiring the colorful piece made by the Brooklyn-based duo. The group was founded by Patrick McNeil and Patrick Miller, who met in high school and began collaborating at an early age. They are best-known for their fragmented style of collages, assemblages and multimedia works that blur the boundaries between fine art, street art, and pop culture.

Annyeong haseyo! That's about as far as my Korean goes. But I'm lucky that tattoo artist Yeaji Lim speaks mostly in pictures. If you're looking to make a more permanent statement about your penchant for manga, then Yeaji will definitely do the trick. But before you make the final decision to get inked, it's important that you pinpoint any doubt. Tattoo removal procedures are, after all, quite painful and expensive. Check out some of Yeaji's interesting creations below and find more from her portfolio on Instagram . View this post on Instagram 💖Which one is your favorite?💖 . . #타투 #타투이스트 #감성타투 #라인타투 #미니타투 #tattoo #tattoowork #tattoos #tatted #tattooist #linetattoo #artwork #art #illust #illustration #cattattoo #animetattoo A post shared by Space Oddity (@yeagee_tattoo) on Dec 13, 2019 at 8:18pm PST View this post on Instagram . 💖 . . . #타투...

This one is by actor Peter Gordon, who wrote 8,500 poems for his late wife Alison - placing one under her pillow every day for 25 years. More than 300 poems now form the basis of the website A Love in Verse , which has been collated by the couple's daughters.  What's Afoot? Well, the weather's fine, the grey clouds glowing, The chilly wind has got a cheery tale The mini-raindrops don't care where they’re going (As long as they can hit the Mafeking trail). Meanwhile the washing on the line is flapping And number thirteen's palm is waving wild The cats may snooze but you won’t catch them napping And grown up daughters giggle like a child. What can it be that sets all Brentford beaming With Christmas still so many days away? The crisp gold leaves aren't dead – instead they're dreaming Of some delight – that's happening today!  Welcome back home my love with eyes of blue –  A gull's explained – our world...

I'm a creature of repetition when it comes to movies and television programs. When Fight Club appears in the TV schedule, I sit through it for the nth time, already knowing every line of the screenplay. I have been rewatching The Sopranos from my quarantine couch. And believe it or not, the HBO series made its debut 21 years ago. On the surface, it's about crime, hate, and philandering mobsters, but it's more than that (as most mafia stories are). It's also about family, love, loyalty, and people standing up for themselves and each other. There are three moments from The Sopranos that stand out clearly in my memory. First, when Adriana got whacked. Second, when Dr. Melfi, was raped in a parking garage. Third, and my favorite, was the scene in which Chris and Paulie Walnuts got lost in the woods. What began as a simple task for the two - killing someone from the Russian mob - fell apart when the guy escaped and vanished into the snow-covered forest. Before Chris ...

In a year in which protest has seemed to define the Filipino news cycle, a new online exhibition at the Eskinita Art Gallery is exploring the issue of sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea, and the Duterte administration's love affair with China. These paintings attempt to capture the climate of protest against the country's series of failures to observe protocol while passing through Philippine waters. The exhibit, WPS , features works by Jeffrey Somera, Abril Dominic Valdemoro, Nikko Pelaez, Kathrina Ragadi and Marko Bello, among other artists. As the bored and art-deprived masses are itching to get back into galleries and museums, these online shows seem to be gaining in popularity.   WPS runs until May 15, 2020.

Have A Good Trip: Adventures in Psychedelics is an upcoming documentary from Netflix featuring a bunch of celebrities, including Ben Stiller, Sting, the Grateful Dead's Bill Kreutzmann, Anthony Bourdain, and more talking about drugs like LSD, shrooms and mescaline. I think you will enjoy this doc if – You're into mind expansion and tripping. – You like seeing Nick Offerman playing another arrogant genius. – You prefer your documentaries to be fun and satirical, because life these days is getting rough. – Sarah Silverman is your life guru. – The concept of alternate universes and time loops appeals to you. – Hearing A$AP Rocky talking about his penis makes you ecstatic. – You are not yet exhausted by the endless parade of documentary series on Netflix. Written and directed by Donick Cary, Have A Good Trip is out on May 11. Check out the trailer below:

Hong Kong's Louis To creates edible figurines that are sweet inside and out. With his bare hands, a pair of scissors and a blow pipe, he transforms chunks of melted sugar into colorful animal sculptures. Sugar blowing dates back hundreds of years, but today only a few people are keeping the tradition alive. Read the full story here .

Have you read this gem of a book yet? I bought a copy at a thrift shop last week and finished reading it in two days. Rarely has a book with so much information been such an enjoyable read. In Consider the Fork: A History of How We Cook and Eat, British food writer Bee Wilson outlines the evolution of the kitchen and its contents with wit and skill. The paperback features history, science, and personal anecdotes on how our culinary tools—from spoons to pots to rice cookers—came to be and how their influence has shaped today's food culture. It is well researched and insanely detailed. Bee's style of writing makes it easy for readers to engage in her passion. Here's an excerpt. "Making toast is satisfying. You could say that's because it's such a comforting substance—the crispness, the heavenly aroma as yellow butter slowly melts into the crevices. But the satisfaction is also mechanical and childish: fitting the slices in the slots, setting the timer, and...

Those who want to get a genuine taste of India's culture can take advantage of the country's wedding tourism through JoinMyWedding.com . Some Indian couples tying the knot like the idea of sharing their day and their customs. They even make a little money from it. Travelers pay a fee that allows them to "dress in traditional Indian garb, taste the exotic flavors, dance to the enchanting music, and take part in beautiful wedding customs." While it may sound strange at first glance, I think it is also an exciting and fulfilling way to experience the country's traditions and cultural values.

Gladiators on Wheels is a short film by Souvid Datta that showcases stunt drivers on motorcycles speeding around a near-vertical pit known as the Well of Death . Tickets are extremely cheap, and daredevils from West Bengal wear no safety gear as they rocket in circles across 60ft walls. Sometimes spectators would entice them with money to ride closer to the edge and perform crazy stunts. Interest in these sideshows is on the decline, however, as a new generation turns to electronic diversions.

The interior of this newly-opened tea house in Tokyo's Shin Okubo district is designed to look like a two-dimensional cartoon. From doors and walls, to tables and chairs, each item inside the 2D Cafe is painted in plain white with soft, black edges. The restaurant offers milk tea, tapioca, coffee, fruit juices, and shaved ice desserts. The only thing that I don't like about the cafe is the space. The tables are so close together that you can hear the most private details of strangers' lives whether you care to or not. View this post on Instagram A post shared by 馬渡綾 (@adesso_mawatariryo) on Aug 31, 2019 at 8:16pm PDT View this post on Instagram A post shared by _____takahiro (@takahirooooop) on Aug 14, 2019 at 6:34am PDT

When it's warm and sunny, my daughter wants fried chicken. When it's cold and rainy, she wants fried chicken. But would she ever try one of these? In a partnership with Beyond Meat, KFC is launching a plant-based, chicken substitute (available in nuggets or boneless wings) at one of its Atlanta stores starting Tuesday. Customers will get a free sample of the faux meat when they buy something that day, and the restaurant will ask for their feedback. Depending on customer response, the fast food giant will decide how to move forward with the product for "a broader test or potential national rollout". Beyond Meat has teamed up with several fast food chains, including Carls Jr. and Subway, to provide plant-based meat options. Rival company Impossible Foods has options at Burger King, Little Caesars, and Red Robin, among others. It looks like chicken, it smells like chicken, it tastes like chicken and it cooks like chicken, but hardcore real meat lovers may find K...