Donnerstag, 29. April 2010

Rosa Bernstein and Jagdish Bhagwati

Take out you calender and save the date:

On June 1st, famous professor of Economics and Law at Columbia University, Jagdish Bhagwati, is giving a lecture on "Capitalism after the Crisis: Myths and Fallacies" at the American Academy in Berlin.

To mention only a few of career milestones: WTO, UN, GATT, MIT, Human Rights Watch, Center for Civil Society, Council on Foreign Relations, Copenhagen Consensus...
Don't miss out on this event!

For preparation purposes read his famous book "In Defense of Globalization" (order for 4€ only from Bundeszentrale für politische Bildung)

Frieda Kahlo is coming to Berlin

From tomorrow on you will have the chance to take a look on some of 20th century art by celebrated Mexican artist Frieda Kahlo (1907 – 1954).

Magdalena Carmen Frida Kahlo y Calderón became famous not only by her art, where she combined traditional Mexican culture with her personal emotional state of mind, but also through her turbulent life. Suffering from physical pain since she was a young girl as the consequences of polio and a terrible bus accident, she later married distinguished painter Diego Rivera who encouraged her artistic career. The bisexual Frieda and husband Diego had to deal with both sided multiple extramarital affairs that added some more personal stress by the creation of emotional wounds. The couple was also politically active being involved in the Marxist movement where Kahlo was even able to support Leo Trotsky (of course not only platonically) when he and his wife were in exile in Mexico.

Kahlo used some of her painful personal events as multiple surgeries, miscarriage and infidelity as a source of artistic inspiration together with political and cultural awareness. The use of vibrant colors, nature and animals translates into an extroverted surrealistic style.

The Frieda Kahlo exhibition will be showcased at Martin-Gropius-Bau in Berlin until August, where the audience is invited to indulge in some of her most beautiful paintings accompanied by pictures courtesy of family and friends.


(Frieda Kahlo, Self-portray with monkey, 1938)

Montag, 26. April 2010

Anti-Boredom-Project I

Rosa Bernstein is fighting boredom and celebrating creativity.

Therefore she is proposing a project:

THE TOP 10 MOST FASHIONABLE MUSIC VIDEOS

In the next few weeks I will introduce you to the most awesome music videos ever made regarding fashion and style and you will have the chance to vote for your favourites.

Suggestions welcome!

I am going to start with a blockbuster:

MADONNA -Vogue (Performance at MTV Video Music Awards 1990)

Madonna and her crew dressed in 18th century clothes giving a frivolous performance with great voluminous gowns and lustful dancers in sexy shorts. Not to forget about the Marie Antoinette hair and make-up...love it!

"Ladies with an attitude
Fellows that were in the mood
Don't just stand there, let's get to it
Strike a pose, there's nothing to it

Vogue, vogue"

Watch the video here and don't forget to leave a comment for Rosa Bernstein

Mittwoch, 21. April 2010

How to finish a long and boring day:

Thanks god, there is internet! / Damn god, why is there internet?

Here are the results of a "very productive" day in academia:

1) I have love for you, if you wear Miu Miu cat prints!
(the lovely Miu-Miu-cat-print-from-spring-summer-collection-2010-illustrations were found here)

Plus: 2) Slipper-Alarm!! (here is more) Give me feedback, how do you like the shoe?
Rosa Bernstein thinks it's great, but is it worth a 400 $ investment?



Outlook: there is a review of Jean-Luc Godard's "Vivre sa vie" to come soon!

Sonntag, 18. April 2010

Must have when I grow up


+ Polka dot scarf around the head
+ IC Berlin Special Edition Sunglasses "Lundi"
+ Positano Vacations

Rosa Bernstein met Matthew Spacie

I wanna be like Matthew Spacie! Matthew who? Spacie!

Being sent from his british employer to the turbulent city of Mumbai in order to manage the indian brach of their traveling business, Spacie soon felt he is working on the wrong side.
He usually played rugby on a playground nearby Mumbai Fashion Street where many of the very underpriviledged children of the 14 Million megacity live and start their day with substance abuse, stealing or just unsatisfied hunger. Matthew Spacie, who even made it to the indian national rugby team, invited 40 streetkids to get involved with him in sportive activities.

That was the starting point of "Magic Bus", a charity that soon should reach millions of little indians with a very unconventional plan.
The idea: Sport! Development through sports. The kids sign up for a program that makes them go through several sports moduls, teaching them not only how to become physically stronger but at the same time bringing to them moral virtues like teamplay, motivation, persistency and ambition. Breaking down the walls that gender, religion and caste create, sports and membership is giving the kids (and their parents) new perspectives in life being self-confident and aware citizens. They playfully learn how to deal with everyday situations by analysing game situations moderated by some sort of a referee or mentor.
Spacie said: "It is all about participation". After running through some Magic Bus programs-moduls, the kids soon get directly involved into the program by taking over responsibility for teams and becoming teachers or mentors themselves, passing on the Magic Bus spirit.


Being a business man for a long time, Spacies goal was the charity to be independent from institutional donors by raising their own money and growing fast. There were already enough non-profit organizations in India, stuck with small target groups and working as string puppets for huge donor institutions.
"It had to be scalable and sustainable", Spacie said at the BMW Young Leaders Lecture.
He wouldn't accept donations without the donor being actively involved into the program with for example teaching or administration work.
Today, Magic Bus is having lots of branch offices thorugout the counrty giving more then 4 Million marginalised kids the chance of a better life.

Being conferred by the Queen of England with the coveted "Member of British Empire", the runner of a huge development organisation, Spacie still hasn't finished "his work".
"We're currently working on expanding to other countries like Cambodia or Malaysia with our succesfull sports curriculum"

Get involved with Magic Bus by participation in the program or through bying a shirt from French Connection's fashionable Magic Bus Collection.

Mittwoch, 14. April 2010

Finacial Crisis Mambo Jambo

Does anyone understand why there has been a financial crisis?
Ever heard of CDOs? Or CDSs?

The famous radio show "This American Life", produced by Chicago Public Radio, broadcasted a show about "Job inside".

The journalists shed light on a hedgefond company that bought risky parts of CDOs for cheap, bet on their default by "insurring" the whole CDO against failure (with a CDS), and by this method earned a pretty penny...

If this doesn't make any sense for you, here is a metaphor from american comedy "The Producers" that shows how it roughly worked:

"Under the right circumstances, a producer could actually make more money with a flop than he can with a hit.
Step 1: We find the worst play ever written.
Step 2: We hire the worst director in town.
Step 3: We raise two million dollars...One for me, one for you. There's a lot of little old ladies out there!
Step 4: We hire the worst actors in New York and open on Broadway and before you can say Step 5, we close on Broadway, take our two million, and go to Rio."
(Quote from: "The Producers", Act I)

Everything all right? Listen to the episode to learn more, non-economists also welcome!

Rosa Bernstein likes:

GLASSES.

Check out this beautiful plastic frame from Berlin-based glasses manufactory "Mykita".
Rosa Bernstein ran into them in the Mykita Mitte-Store after having Burrito-lunch.



They come for example in bright pink or purple, what makes the nerdy frame less stiff.
I want I want I want!!!

How do you like them?

(Picture from Mykita Website)

Montag, 12. April 2010

Rosa Bernstein watched "Sin Nombre"...

...and has to think about it...tough stuff!

Has anyone seen it yet and wants to share first impressions?

Rosa Bernstein is going to the Sneak Preview...

...and is expecting a lot this time, after watching "Vincent will Meer", "Crazy Heart" and "An Education" during the Sneak Previews last month.

Here is my TOP-3-would-be-awesome-to-see list:

1. CHLOE: with most interesting actress in the world Julianne Moore. I am still dazzeld by her georgous (although smashed) 60s look in "A Single Man".

2. BAARIA: Sicily, one familiy, three generations and the stories of their lives: who can resist that movie? (For those who aren't convinced yet: You will miss the sensual italian icon Monica Bellucci)

3. THE HUNTER (Zeit des Zorns): well received movie at the Berlinale 2010. A man in Teheran/Iran is leading a dull life after getting out of prison. One day he has to find out that his wife died in riots. This is when he is about to lose control.

PLEASE GOD save me from "Coco Chanel & Igor Stravinsky". This is too much drama (of no relevance) for today...
Well, I'll let you know asap what I finally got.

What would you love to watch today?

Welcome to the World of Rosa Bernstein!

Finally we're getting started!

Take a look at what happens in the world of Rosa Bernstein.