Photographer Puts Local Musicians in a “Bind”

Albuquerque is sometimes known for its “quirky” art scene—the city’s musicians not the least of which.

One recent experimental project has caught some attention recently. Local photographer Wes Newman has photographed local musicians in an unusual “bind”: with their faces wrapped in rubber bands.
Of course, the project aims to promote these local artists and their work—so each photo is accompanied with its own blog post, complete with links to their websites. Newman told Wired magazine:

"Even if we get half the viewers we got with Scotch tape, and even if half of that half listens to the music, it's still a good way to get it out there...I'm hoping it gives Albuquerque a little bump, the Colbert bump if you will."

Newman has also posted a “Behind the Scenes” video on his YouTube account. These artists are certainly not prone to embarrassment!

To read more about Wes Newman’s Rubber Band Series click here. 

Local Cat Initiative Seeing Early Success

Feral cats, once a significant public health issue in the Albuquerque area, is starting to become a thing of the past. Best Friends, the city’s community cat program, has managed to turn things around and institute a successful shelter-integrated trap/neuter/return (TNR) program.

Just one year after initiating the program, it has already made an unexpectedly positive impact. Since its inception, 59% fewer cats were killed in their shelter compared to the previous year. In addition, 80% of all the cats that the shelter take in, leave the shelter alive. The organization’s goal is the help Albuquerque become one of the nation’s many “no-kill communities.”

According to the shelter’s blog, this initiative is no small task:

"First, any stray cat brought to the shelter deemed to be unadoptable is immediately turned over to the community cat program. These cats are not your friendly lap kitties; heavy gloves and humane traps are required to manage them. This category of cat constitutes the large majority of those killed in most shelters because they are not appropriate for adoption to the public. In fact, they truly should not have been placed in the shelter to begin with, but rather managed in the community on their home turf. Now, in Albuquerque and in other progressive cities, those cats are fixed, ear-tipped and promptly returned to where they came from."

Follow the Best Friends Animal Society on Facebook, or visit them on the Web at bestfriends.org to learn more about how you can donate or contribute towards their cause.

Tips For Keeping Your Apartment Allergen Free

Image courtesy of apartmenttherapy.com

The late spring and early summer months are both wonderful and brutal. There’s so many fun things to do now that the snow is gone and the days are getting longer - but the side effects of allergies can easily get in the way of anyone’s enjoyment.

The allergens in apartments can actually be more troublesome than the ones outdoors. We won’t pretend that making an apartment totally allergen free is a realistic dream, but using a few tricks will definitely make a huge difference and will make any apartment a far more enjoyable place to be for those that deal with allergies.

What tricks do we recommend? These, as suggested by apartmentguide.com

• Dust your apartment - and do it a certain way to ensure that you don’t kick up more dust in your place. Apartmentguide.com writes that you need to “Use a wet or treated cloth that attracts dust, minimize dust-catching clutter and clean dusty surfaces, such as ceiling fan blades, regularly so that dust doesn’t have a chance to accumulate.
• Use a vacuum that has a HEPA filter.
• Go green and use environmentally friendly cleaning products that have fewer harsh chemicals.
• If you have a pet, make some parts of your apartment pet free (or vacuum even more often).

Want more details on how these tricks more - and to see what the final two tips are? Click here to read the original article!

9 Smart Shopping Tips for Summer (Flea) Markets

Image courtesy of commons.wikipedia.org

If we haven’t already made it clear, we love a good summer market. Whether it’s the farmer’s markets, the flea markets or the one-day markets found at festivals, we’re always ready to look for everything offered by local vendors, from delicious produce to unique, hand-crafted items.

The catch, though, is that once you’re at a market, being there can be so overwhelming! With this in mind we got to wondering, what’s the best way to handle the thrilling hunt and bargain prices?

Farmer’s markets are relatively easy to handle: check over your pantry and fridge and make a list of both what you have and what you need. That way, when you’re shopping, you can stock up on some delicious food and stock up your fridge without going overboard and buying so much that half of it spoils before you even touch it.

But how to handle a flea market, you may ask? No worries: here’s a few tips that will make you a smarter, thriftier shopper:

1. Bring a tape measure

It helps to know ahead what the dimensions of your space are and what you have room for. Toss a tape measure in your bag to avoid purchasing things that won't fit your space properly. Check out Tool Box Essentials: Measuring Tools if you don't have a tape measure.


2. Check for issues

Check for torn seams, rust, and cracked or rotting wood. While a worn patina can be a great look, you want to avoid anything that is going to affect usability or break under the slightest pressure. Signs of mold or an insect infestation are important to look out for as well. 



3. Look for a label

If you know your designers, a label will help you distinguish a real vintage find from a knockoff. Checking for original details will also help you make the distinction. This is where the ability to Google an item on your smartphone can be a game changer.

That’s just three tips - click here to read the full article about this topic at Apartmentherapy.com. There’s nine tips total!