This year's NY Art Book Fair will be held at P.S.1 in Long Island City, Queens between October 2nd to 4th. I live practically a few subway stops from P.S.1 so there is no excuse not to go. Plus, the admission is free. You can find out about the exhibitors and buy tickets for the Contemporary Artists Books Conference which will coincide with the Fair on nyartbookfair.com.

A friend of mine runs an orangutan outreach group in New York to raise awareness and conserve this endangered species from their natural habitats. Over the years I have learned that the production palm oil caused a lot of extensive deforestation thus tremendously endangering the orangutans.

Yesterday the New York Times reported that one of the world's largest paper companies, Asia Pulp and Paper, allegedly "plans to clear a large area of unprotected forest in Indonesia being used as a sanctuary for endangered orangutans."

One of the world’s largest paper companies plans to clear a large area of unprotected forest in Indonesia being used as a sanctuary for endangered orangutans, according to environmental groups working in the area. The company, Asia Pulp and Paper, intends to clear hundreds of acres of trees just outside Bukit Tigapuluh National Park on Sumatra, WWF-Indonesia and other groups said Tuesday. The forests have been used since 2002 as a release point for about 100 rehabilitated Sumatran orangutans, some orphaned when their mothers were killed, possibly by workers on nearby palm oil plantations. The company said it would create a buffer between the logging site and the national park.
— The New York Times (May 19, 2009)

Two years ago I attended a cardboard carpentry class at Adaptive Design Association. Their work is to ensure that children with disabilities get the customized equipment they need to participate fully in home, school and community life. The ADA builds adaptive furniture and equipment out of cardboard and other readily available materials, out of time and cost considerations.

The current financial crisis is affecting ADA’s fundraising efforts and I was told that it's likely that they will close their doors in less than three months due to insufficient funding.

Please help this wonderful organization so that they can continue to help children with disabilities to learn, play and live like the rest of their peers.

Watch a video on how the kids-in-need use the adaptive furniture ADA created for them.

I am glad to say that my new work space has been set up and I am ready to make some books again. I will be first focusing on a bunch of lined journals for friends and for the coming holiday season (yeah, to sell).

I have been lazy blogging lately, but I promise I will be back soon. Happy New Year!

From today to Sunday 19th, you can visit the NY Art Book Fair, organized by Printed Matter, Inc. at 548 West 22nd Street. You will find a lot of international contemporary art books, catalogues, artists' books, periodicals and 'zines. "Art Book," not "Book Art."

Link courtesy of Stephen.

If you are reading this entry, CaiLun.info has been installed on a new server. It is also running a upgraded version of Serendipity. Please let me know if you experience any issues or problems. Thank you!

Yeah I had my finger cut yesterday. While I was cutting the yam to make hash, I cut my thumb. It was a big cut, seriously, The cut was half an inch long, a quarter of an inch deep. It was hanging. Blood was gushing out, and boy, does it hurt. My thumb is throbbing right now and it can't move a bit. I can't get it touched otherwise I will scream in pain. Looks like I won't be able to make books for a while.