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on January 4
Brian Leli
Posted project update #16January
Post CommentHello, everyone. I hope you're doing well and that you made it through the holidays okay. I have just two quick things to share.
1. There was recently a small bit of press about London and a Year in the form of a blog post on The Independent. Here's a link to it: http://blogs.independent.co.uk/2012/01/03/the-souls-of-the-lost-american-photojournalist-explores-london/
2. My friend Nick Disabato just launched a new Kickstarter project to help fund the first issue of Distance: a new quarterly publication featuring long-form essays about design and technology. Here's a link to it: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/nickd/distance-long-essays-about-design-published-quarte.
I personally think it's going to rule and would rather back it than purchase food this week. But please take a look at the project page and decide for yourself.
That's all. Have a good day.
Brian
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on January 4
Brian Leli
backed a project
Distance: long essays about design, published quarterly. by Nick Disabato
Three essays, five thousand words each, every three months. We want to build a better conversation with you.
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132% funded $17,926 pledged
- 435 backers
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7days left
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on December 8
Brian Leli
Posted project update #15December
Post CommentHello. I hope you're doing well as you read this, and that the weather is on your side. December can be a cruel a month, I know. But aren't they all?
Some non-book things:
I've just completed the first of my three terms in the MA program at City University. I've been working part-time (remotely) for my good friends at Emmis Interactive in Chicago. I like employment a lot. I will spend the week before and after Christmas working as an intern at The Independent (technically, The Independent on Sunday, but whatevs). I just read an article in which Sting was referred to as "the umpteenth self-appointed flagellator of the Kazakh authorities." I rather liked that. Last night I saw Marnie Stern play at a club called XOYO. It was rad. The Apple key on my laptop no longer works. It is not rad.
Some book things:
If you've been following the project blog you may have noticed in the last couple posts that I added a space for comments. I originally launched the site without them because I wanted to keep it as sparse as possible. But that wasn't working for me. I really want to hear what you have to say. I want to respond, and I want to have a discussion. So, if at any point you feel so inclined, please share your thoughts: focused, random or otherwise.
Similarly, it's important to me that you feel you're getting what you wanted from this project so far. If anything at this stage seems lacking, overdone, great or just plain shit, please let me know. And if there's something specific you'd like to see covered - a place, a people, an idea - please share that as well.
bananas@brianleli.com
Enjoy your day.
Brian
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on October 20
Brian Leli
Posted project update #14October Update
Post CommentHello. I have just a couple quick updates for you.
The first one is a reminder about the project blog. Don't forget about it. It's where all the regular updates have been happening, and it likes it when you rub its belly: http://londonandayear.com/uk/.
The second one is a bit of a side note. I recently met with an 89-year-old London barber whose shop was damaged in the August riots. I spoke with him for a while, took a few photos and wrote a story that was published to The Morning News today: http://www.themorningnews.org/article/the-barber-comes-around.
I hope you are all enjoying October. Have a good night.
Brian
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on September 11
Brian Leli
Posted project update #13Start of September
Hello, everyone. I hope you are doing well. It is 09:22 in London right now. Sunday, September 11, unfortunately. But I am going to leave you alone to do what you will with that thought. I will certainly be spending much time today giving that day and all those that followed a great deal of thought.
At the moment, however, I am sitting in my small room for the year and the Sun is showing its face outside my window. Stranger that it is, I have to admit that it feels pretty good to see it. I typed Leonard Cohen into my iTunes a short while ago and am listening to all the great rewards of that search. As I type this I am listening to Johnny Cash singing "Bird on a Wire." And, damn. Damn. I will change my mind again I'm sure, but right now, I think that Cash does it better.
I suppose I should get to the update part now.
I started school last week and it seems like it's going to be amazing. There are over 100 people in my course from 30 different countries and they are all great. And I really do mean all of them. I have learned a lot so far, including the fact that it takes about five minutes to walk from Paul McCartney's home to Abbey Road Studios. And that, even in the rain, especially in the rain maybe, it feels pretty good to stand in front of that particular studio.
I have been out writing and photographing a good deal. I think it's going to be hard to narrow it all down to fit in a book, but I suppose that is a good problem to have.
One last thing: I just want to remind everyone that more frequent updates have been happening at the London blog. That will continue to be the case. If you have not already been following along, and would like to, you can do so here: http://londonandayear.com/uk/.
I will still post the occasional update here just to say, hi.
Hi.
Thanks for reading. Have a good day.
Brian
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on August 23
Brian Leli
Posted project update #12I Am Here
Post Comment08-22-11 London, UK: 20:42. I am sitting in a small and dimly-lit room. The street outside my window is growing darker, the streetlights glowing brighter. The window is open and the air is cooling for the fall. The music I am listening to is familiar, and that is all tonight's music needs to be. It is a Monday night in London that started on a Sunday morning in Chicago. I am being held together by the melody and the crisp air.
More at the London blog.
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on July 6, 2011
Brian Leli
Posted project update #11The London Blog
Post CommentHello. As you may have already seen, I recently launched the backer-only blog. Backers: you should have received a message from me with the URL and password, but please let me know if you did not and I will send both your way.
I also recently took a short trip to the UK to take care of some housing and schooling business. There was not a great deal of time for taking photos or writing, but I did what I could with the time I had and posted several updates along the way.
Here they are:
http://londonandayear.com/uk/Want to subscribe to the RSS feed? Here's that:
http://londonandayear.com/uk/feed/There may be some more written posts before the real deal begins in mid-to-late-August. But if not, expect much more to start happening around then. As my UK visa application and lack of a place to live have made very clear to me, the time is fast-approaching.
Thanks for reading.
Brian
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on June 22, 2011
Brian Leli
backed a project
Smells Like Rock Radio: the Q101 Oral History by James VanOsdol
Help fund the definitive history of one of Chicago's most beloved and notorious rock stations!
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152% funded $14,880 pledged
- 386 backers
- Funded Jul 23, 2011
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on June 6, 2011
Brian Leli
commented on a project updateThis is all so great to read and look at, Meera. I'm very happy for you to be out there doing "it". And if you ever stumble into a sense of peace and satisfaction without overcoming a challenge first, run.
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on May 30, 2011
Brian Leli
Posted project update #10What Now?
For backers only
Post Comment
If you’re a backer of this project, please
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Brian Leli
Chicago, IL
Brian Leli is an American writer and photojournalist. He is a supporter of art, education, sustainable living, liberty and justice for all. He owns a room in Chicago, Illinois but lives outside of rented ones everywhere. He likes written words and bananas: bananas@brianleli.com. He's currently in London studying international journalism and making this book.
Brian,
everything you have posted so far has been, truly, so satisfying. I don't regret a penny I put towards your year. All my hugs to you and I'm so frickin' glad you're feeling good. You ought to.
--m