My exhibition in Morocco will not be the only one there these days. A new exhibition will take place from 3 to 6 of August. For those who did not read the news, the Moroccan Association Golden Triangle of Art will hosted the first International Fair of Contemporary Art in Taza, which topic is : "Art in the service of peace and coexistence . The Regional Director of the Ministry of Culture in Taza, and the Commissaire de la foire, Mr. Elmadani Belmadani, have decided to schedule a new exhibition. I appeared as a featured artist in the exhibition advertising of the Regional Direction of the Ministry of Culture. This is a great honor for me, and I feel very proud of being featured by this remarkable event amongst so many outstanding artists. And since this moment I will always carry good memories inside my heart about Morocco and in particular the city of Taza. And the second news is that some days ago, I appeared in the newspaper "Informacion", featured in the Culture section. Near me was Metallica, LOL! In this article my exhibition in Hong Kong is announced, and it also emphasizes my contribution to the genre of digital art in Spain, and invites people to attend to my exhibitions. This makes me very happy. It was also very fun because some friends call me on the phone to congratulate me. In the first days I did not dare to walk in the streets fearing that someone may recognize me, LOL!

“How I wish that somewhere there existed an island for those who are wise and of good will” -Albert Einstein- An island like Einstein wished... I don't know if it exists somewhere, but these islands looks nice. Enjoy them! ;) Seychelles. Photo by rachel_thecat Bora Bora (French Polynesia) . Photo by jimg944 Aitutaki, (Cook Islands). Photo by g-hat Cocoa (Island Maldives). Photo by Chi King Madagascar. Photo by acme Kauai (Hawaii). Photo by Carolyn Coles Nangyuan (Koh Tao,Thailand). Photo by victoriapeckham Hierro Island (Spain). Photo by Mataparda Isla de Pascua (Chile). Photo by Phillie Casablanca Capri (Italy). Photo by JMazzolaa Santorini (Greece). Photo by jdn Bali (Indonesia). Photo by yeowatzup

Midsummer Night is considered, in many cultures, a magic night. It's the night between day 23 and 24 of June. Since ancient times it was celebrated and coincides with the Summer solstice. It is a holiday in which fire is the main protagonist. Photo by nurpax But did you know that...? This tradition is related, in Christianity, to St. John the Baptist's nativity, as he was born 6 months before Jesus Christ, in the solstice of Summer, and prophesied the birth of the Messiah on a solstice of Winter. Some pagan origin of St. John's Night was the Celtic celebration of Beltaine, and was the 1st of May and meant "Bel's fire", or "Beautiful fire". It was in honor of god Belenos. During the celebration of Beltaine big bonfires were lit, and some people jumped over them with the help of poles. The Druids made the cattle pass near the bonfires to purify them and keep them away from illness. The herbs collected in a date near the solstice of Summer were attributed curative powers. Solstices are considered as magic days in sorcery, as in these days powerful solar energies are present. Photo by kozumel In the Greek tradition it was related with the cult to Apollo, when they lit purifying bonfires. Ancient Greeks called solstices as "gates". In these dates there were legends and myths of translation, people that disappeared and magically appeared in another place. The Romans made celebrations in honor of the goddess Minerva, and jumped over the flames of bonfires. In the past, it was a date in which farmers said thanks for the fruits of Summer and future good harvest, and saw Summer as a time of fun, harvesting, and rest. Another ancient tradition is dancing around a fire to purify oneself and celebrate the rebirth of the Sun. Fire has a purifying symbolism for all those who stare it. Bonfires are made in which old junk is burnt, as a symbol or renewal and change. Photo by Leo-setä A traditional rite was jumping up to 3 times the bonfire in St. John's Night, to be in good health and luck for the next year. Another tradition was to put bay laurel leaves in the window to summon good fortune. Some people write 3 wishes in a paper sheet and burn that paper at 12 o'clock at night.

The A-Team Director: Joe Carnahan Screenwriter: Skip Woods, Joe Carnahan and Brian Bloom Starring: Liam Neeson, Bradley Cooper, Quinton "Rampage" Jackson, Sharlto Copley, Jessica Biel, Patrick Wilson, Gerald McRane Genre: Action, Adventure Plot: Based on the old TV series but with some changes. Four Iraq War veterans are accused of a crime that they did not commit. They scape from the law, and are hired by people with problems that employ them as mercenaries. Jessica Biel plays the role of the General that chases them. Jonah Hex Director: Jimmy Hayward Screenwriter: Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor Starring: Josh Brolin, John Malkovich, Megan Fox, Will Arnett, Michael Shannon, Michael Fassbender Genre: Action, Thriller Plot: Jonah Hex is a character of DC Comics. He has half of his face disfigured, and is a gunman and headhunter. In this movie, Hex tries to get a reward but after a misunderstanding he ends being accused of a crime that he did not commit and his own head ends having a price. The Karate Kid Director: Harald Zwart Screenwriter: Chris Murphy and Steven Conrad Starring: Jackie Chan, Jaden Smith, Taraji P. Henson Genre: Action Plot: A new version of the old movie starred by Ralph Macchio in 1984, but with some changes. A 12 year old boy that is very popular in his town Detroit has to move with his mother to China. He likes a girl in his new school, and that makes him have problems with another boy in his class that is a Kung-Fu expert. A martial arts master will help him to defend himself.

I'm in a collective exhibition in the "Casa de Cultura" of Novelda, Spain. The exhibition is called "Arte en plural", and is an art show of paintings, sculpture and ceramics. It started on June 2 and will be open through June 16, from Monday to Friday from 10 to 14 hours and from 17 to 21, Saturdays 10 to 14 hours. The inauguration was on day 2 and I didn't go lol! But it was introduced by the Major and the TV and press were there. I know that they asked about me :D because they were very curious about an artwork made with a computer. I went there on Saturday with my husband, and we had a very fun day in Novelda. I must say that everybody were very kind to me, and asked me why I was not in the inauguration... In addition to watching the exhibition, I went to see all the cultural places of Novelda. One of the things that I liked most was the Sanctuary of Mary of Magdala, one of the most beautiful things that my eyes have seen. It is made by one of the disciples of Gaudi, and is one of the architectural artworks made with so much care that it is awesome. Each part of the exterior of the Sanctuary is full of details. On the inside it is much more simple, but it's full of paintings that depict the life of Mary of Magdala and Jesus. Years ago I read Mary of Magdala's Gospel, and I must say that all that was so exciting for me. Beside the Sanctuary of Magdala there was a quite strange castle. It is the only one that remains in Europe with a triangular tower. You can go up the tower, and it was such a claustrophobic sensation lol! It was really fun. When one sees castles from within, you think "How could these people live this way?" A small slip and you can say goodbye to your teeth! The person that cared about the Sanctuary showed us a project of an organ made of marble, something really surprising. It was enormous, and sounded powerful. There is a small path full of enormous cactus that filled the valley. In the city we saw a Modernist house, absolutely precious. It belonged to a lady that loved art and was patron of artists. That house had art in every corner, details everywhere. We also visited the old City Council, with the historic square, with a statue of Jorge Juan, a Spanish mathematician that measured the size of the world. In the square we were talking with two nuns that were very kind and they told us curiosities about the town. They had a very good sense of humor. I asked about the symbolism of the gate of an ancient bank that had a honeycomb and two vultures. The nun said me "The honeycomb is the symbol of a thrifty person, it has to do with the bank". "And the vultures?", I asked. "These are the bankers!" LOL! We also saw the ancient Casino. It was also Modernist, full of ancient artworks, library, projections room... It is not like the modern concept of a Casino (not a gambling site), it's more like a cultural center. The person in charge was very kind and told us stories about the Casino. There was a fire years ago and they had to rebuild it all, but only one artwork was lost. The person in charge told me "As you are an artist, look anywhere but not to the ceiling" but I looked to the ceiling of one of the rooms and laughed. It was the piece that was burnt and they replaced it with another, and well, I won't say anything... The gardens of the Casino had hundred-year-old trees. We also saw a new park called West Park. It had many artificial waterfalls. It is a modern park but very nice. There was some kind of marble throne and I couldn't resist to make a photo sat there. Near Novelda there are many marble factories, that's the reason why it was there. It was a very fun day.

Keith Johnson began writing technical documentation in 1995, and has worked in this field for 15 years now. His passion for writing began at Willamette University, where he majored in Philosophy and also served the campus as News Editor of the student newspaper. Then he worked as a Software Trainer for several years in Brazil, before he decided to start his own technical writing services through his website Great Documents (http://greatdocuments.net/). Keith is Bachelor of Science in Philosophy from Willamette University, and has a Masters of Science in Education from Nova Southeastern University. Keith Johnson has found a source of inspiration and creativity in the tradition and culture of India through meditation. In the last times he has written a new book about the subject of meditation, what he learned from masters, and how it can help some people to maximize their productivity. In addition, Keith Johnson and me are friends since some years ago :) - Keith, what is "The Power of OM" all about? - Hello Emma. OM is a very special sound vibration that is the focus of men and women dedicated to the process of self-realization and spiritual awakening. My mentor lives in Dharamsala, India and over many years I have applied his teachings toward my life. I wrote this book "The Power of OM" to help people understand that there is great power in the Sacred OM sound. It is a benevolent power and one that is totally helpful and supportive. Hence, the title "The Power of OM". - In which ways has meditation helped you to reach your professional success? - There are many different kinds of meditation practices. OM meditation, however, is unique because it is both easy and effective without much personal effort. After a short amount of time and discipline, you will actually hear the OM sound all around you. So, no matter where you are, you can relax and focus on this sound and allow this sound to energize you, recharge you, lift you up, etc. So, as you work and study, by balancing these activities with OM meditation, you are able to enjoy greater productivity and personal empowerment. Also, the spiritual teachings about OM say that OM represents what mentors and masters call "The One Universal Self". So, as a professional, this enables me to see the continuity and oneness of all things, despite immediate differences at the surface. In my field of technical writing, there are many different languages and software that I must utilize. Understanding technology quantitatively as unique expressions of a "unified virtual intelligence" has enabled me to write meaningful and insightful software documentation. - Where did you get the inspiration from to write this book? - I got the inspiration from my mentor. He said "when you feel ready to share your gift with the world, write a book". So, the "Power of OM" is the result of this inspiration and also my desire to leave a meaningful legacy behind when I look back upon my life, work, experiences, and accomplishments. - You have other books on this subject. How is this last book focused, and tell us some more about the other books you wrote. - Before I wrote "The Power of OM", I also wrote a few other books, but they were written mostly as personal reflections upon the spiritual path. The first book I wrote was back in 2006 called "OM For Every Day". It is mostly quotations from diverse spiritual men and women and related teachings about OM. The second book I wrote was called "The Secret of the Universe". Again, these books were mostly something I wrote as a personal reflection as I grew in awareness through OM meditation. After that I wrote a book for people who wanted to grow in awareness but weren't attracted to OM. It is called "365 Great Affirmations". That book is still available through Amazon today. I guess you could say that "The Power of OM" captures the very best of all previous books I have written plus personal inspiration from my mentor. It is the book of choice without a doubt. - The notion of meditation in the Occident used to mean thinking about some problem or idea and analyze it. In what sense should readers understand this word (meditation)? - Indeed, meditation carries different meanings, just like we all see the Sun and have different thoughts about the Sun. OM meditation is an experience where we can leave the mind behind. It is a technique for relaxation and energization. When you sleep, do you think? You simply let go. When you listen to music, do you analyze it? Sometimes, OK. But mostly, you enjoy the music you are listening to. That is the best way to practice OM meditation. Just go with it. Enjoy it. Let OM do the work. Just "let it be" like the Beatles once sang. -How can this book help people that read it? - We all have different needs. Some people have financial issues. Some people have health issues. Some people have work-related issues. Just know this: that by connecting with your Divine Source (what I call the Blessed Divine Presence), you are basically telling the universe "here I am, can you please lend a hand?" The Blessed Divine Presence will help you to reflect on your life, issues, and possible solutions since all truth and support emanates from higher planes of reality. At the same time, you need to be patient because like the saying goes "a house is not built in one day". OM meditation will provide both a real technique for relaxation as well as a meaningful opportunity to reflect on your life and situation and real solutions that you can eventually utilize to make things better. My mentor says that OM is the sound-source of all wisdom and enlightenment. - Is this technique linked to some spiritual or religious belief, or can it be considered independent from these? - Yes, OM is related to quite a few spiritual and religious paths. At the same time, there is no need to believe in anything. If a good friend tells you, hey, I just bought the most delicious lemonade (a new kind), don't you want to know the name so you can try it yourself? Just a little bit of human faith is required. Whether a person decides to interpret OM meditation from a secular, scientific, spiritual, or religious perspective is entirely a personal choice. I say just enjoy the process of OM meditation. - If you had to tell people a single reason, between the multiple ones, to get this book, what should it be? - If you want to experience betterment at all levels and aspects of your life, get my book because you will see just how great OM meditation really is. You will develop a new appreciation for a long-standing and proven meditation path. Of course, if someone's life is already perfect, why should they meditate, right? It is about allowing for positive change. - Where can they get this book? - Here is the URL where they can get the e-book: http://www.lulu.com/product/ebook/the-power-of-om/10993896 Here is the URL where they can get the Amazon Kindle e-book version: http://www.amazon.com/The-Power-of-OM-ebook/dp/B003NE6EHS/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2&s=digital-text&qid=1276259978&sr=8-2

I made this product with my husband (Jordi -hiperia3d-) for Renderosity "Livin' In A Mushroom". He made the 3D modeling and I made the textures, poses, and 2D elements. We haven't worked together for years, and it has been exciting. I think we have learned very much working each one on their side, although from time to time I continue being the designer of Jordi :) and much more LOL! We are happy with the result, and we'll make more products together. Livin' In A Mushroom is a complete package that includes standalone figures for Poser and/or DAZ Studio, lights, cameras, Poser render settings, a background panorama, poses for Nursoda's Kali and Kelm, a fence, a fantasy lantern, and a detailed terrain prop, and also a collection of 2D elements: small animals, trees, dead trees, rocks, flowers, mushrooms and grasses. To get it, go here: Livin' In A Mushroom The package for Poser and DAZ studio includes: - Mushroom House standalone figure. Includes a dial to open/close the door. - MAT poses for mushroom house, and hide/show door's window. - Panorama standalone figure: background for your renders. Can be scaled, rotated or translated. - poses for panorama for easy placement. - Icon to load all the scene, figures and props at once. - Icon to load all the scene, scaled to Nursoda's Kali and Kelm size. - 5 cameras to help you to frame the scenes faster. - 10 light sets with optimized settings for best results and minimal render time impact, and featuring varied moments of the day and circumstances. - Terrain prop with highly detailed texture, 4096x4096 - 2 MAT poses for the terrain: with stone path, or without it. - Wood Fence prop: insert as many of them as you like and build longer fences - Fantasy Lantern prop - Room smart prop: simulates the mushroom house interior for those renders with the door opened. - 12 poses for Nursoda's Kali and Kelm: 4 couple poses, and 2 for Kali, 2 for Kelm. - Render presets to get the most of your renders. The 2D Elements are 20 PNG files (size 1500x1500 to 2500x2500) that contain hand painted elements: - animals of the forest: bird, butterfly, snail, and ladybird. - 3 stones: group of stones, grassy rock, stone. - 2 trees and 2 dead trees. - 3 grasses. - 2 mushrooms. - 3 flower groups and a sunflower.