When I was at home last Sunday with nothing to do, I decided to go for a walk around Porretta.
On the road leading to the centre of the town, there’s a little bridge that crosses over the Reno River, which runs right through the middle of the town.
It’s a favourite place for children to play and they often watch the herons, ducks and other birds that live on or near the river.
My grandfather often took me there to watch the ducks and sometimes we would feed them.
Well, in a somewhat melancholy state of mind, I instinctively stopped on the bridge - not to commit suicide, mind you, but just in remembrance of my grandfather - when suddenly I saw a small brightly-coloured duck dashing about and shooing away all the others.
It was just awful!

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Technorati Tags: Mandarina Duck, Reno River

Some time ago, I pointed out The Sartorialist, a blog by Scott Schuman.
Today, while wandering on the web, I saw some very unusual outfits that seem to have been captured on the streets of an amazing global village.

In Helsinki, people are wearing a colourful shabby chic look with Nordic details. Apart from the blue wool pom-poms, I would wear something like this!

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Last Saturday was Duckside’s first birthday!
I’m very proud of having reached this goal. To be honest, we had a load of doubts before going live with this blog, but we are astonished by its good results.

The first “thank you” is to the whole community that has followed us in our flights, with growing involvement and participation. Now that our wings are open, we hope you won’t abandon us!

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If I was in Milan in these days, I would have gone to Palazzo Reale to see Leonardo’s “Last Supper” come to life.
The English artist and film director Peter Greenaway has created a multimedia event, where every twenty minutes the famous masterpiece comes alive with poetry, music, lights and 3D projections.
Until 21 April, you can enjoy this presentation of a perfectly cloned “Last Supper”.
I wonder how many people have already succumbed to Stendhal Syndrome?

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New technologies are moving towards more compactness.
Miniaturization is the latest trend and ultra-light devices are impossible to find. Take a look at this a MacBook Air that was thrown out because it was buried in wastepaper.

I was about to buy one when I thought that perhaps I’d should reorganize my own desk first.
Ultra-small-mania began last summer, when the MID (Mobile Internet Device) was launched.
It’s based on ultra-slim Atom PC technology and, thanks to WiMAX, is being used worldwide offering people real time connections.

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Industrial design is a contemporary art form. And now the first ever beauty contest for objects, PULCHRA, is taking place.

Its highly qualified jury, made up of international all-stars in design and architecture (Italo Lupi, Alessandro Mendini, Sandro Silvi and Matteo Vercelloni), has already selected the 100 candidate products.

Throughout 2008, you will be able to vote for the best 10 objects to be sent into the future.

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I often go to Paris to look for new ideas.
I never miss out on a tour of luxury stores including Louis Vuitton,  Marc Jacobs and Martin Margiela.
Along with big fashion names, Colette is a great reference point for discovering new talent. It offers design, graphic arts, music and cinema news, as well as mentioning many temporary exhibitions. Such as Josephine Meckseper’s installations on the relationships between media, fashion and advertising.

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I’m always looking for creative, young people.
And I’m quite fascinated by the talent that surrounds me.
I keep an eye on emerging artist competitions in the hopes of discovering the next designer generation. On the web, you can always find various opportunities for creative, young people.

Young designer offers a map of emerging ‘Made in Italy’ fashion and industrial designers. They can submit their projects, which will then be classified by region.
In this showcase, I’ve seen some curious items: hand made bags, versatile furniture, a salad-shaker and a bed-cabin.

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As soon as I sense the first warm days of spring, I feel like going outside to play.
In line with my new slow trend, I’m looking for something in print to enjoy in the open air.

Are you a Cathy Kelly fan? Then read her new bestseller Lessons in Heartbreak.
It’s an entertaining and realistic tale of a young “healthy woman” who moves from Ireland to New York and dreams of having her own model agency for plus-sized women.
It delves into the bitter sweetness of love, infidelity and hypocrisy.

After Rebecca Bloomwood and Samantha Sweeting, Sophie Kinsella’s newest heroine Lexi has just been published. 
Remember me? is perfect for people, who like me, don’t take themselves too seriously.

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