up the junction

The Virgins cover Squeeze in Paris. I have to repulsed by people to really desire them. (see below)

Ben Woods - Moments (2009)

Wächter der Erinnerung

Kenner seiner erstaunlichen Entwicklung als Ambient Künstler, von den Piano-basierten Alben A Collection of Thoughts und Liaise in Silence, über das dronige Nymh: Realms of Detachment werden dieses Album schätzen, lieben und nie wieder loslassen wollen.

Ben Woods' viertes und neuestes Werk - gewissenhaft moments betitelt - folgt einem, dem Vorgänger ähnlichen Aufbau. Drones, die vom zerbrechlichen Piano überlagert werden, legen einen Schleier über die Kompositionen, der das Fenster in die Vergangenheit milchig trübt. Diese, an frühe Stars of the Lid erinnernden Klangwolken, sind die Wächter der Erinnerung, die Hüter der Geschichte. Sie geben Einblick in die einstmaligen Momente der Einsamkeit, in die Momente des Glücks, in die Momente der Friedlichkeit und der Verwundbarkeit.

___________________________________________________________

Watchmen of the memory

Connoisseurs of his astonishing evolution as an ambient artist, from the piano-based albums A Collection of Thoughts and Liaise in Silence, to the drony Nymh: Realms of Detachment will appreciate, love and won't want to let this album go ever again.

Ben Woods' fourth and latest effort - conscientiously titled moments - follows an approach similar to its predecessor. Drones, overlain by fragile piano, put a haze across the compositions, that blurs the window to the past. These clouds of sound, reminding of the early Stars of the Lid, are the watchmen of the memory, the guardians of history. They give insight into the past moments of solitude, into the moments of happiness, into the moments of peacefulness and vulnerability.

Genre: Ambient
(52:32)
320 kBit/s

Preview:


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PW: postrockcommunity.blogspot.com

Nightlife

These pictures were taken from our balcony in Paris!

Hi guys! Sorry for missing out this week. Again. I already started my days as an internship at one of scholar’s branch company. And my first impression when I stepped into that cold glass door was that, “I chose a wrong place for my internship”. (Okay, may be not that long, but you get it).

The place is suitable for biotechnology, bioprocessing or something along that line of works. It requires you to do lot of lab works for research purposes. That being said, I really like the working environment there. Everyone seems friendly to each other and eerily look like one big family.

Not bad for spending your 10 weeks there, I hope. Anyway, this also my first time living in an apartment. My house is at the top most floor (20th floor) and apart from the crowded space below, the night view of the city is breath taking. The nightlife there is equally tempting. I am sorry though for not posting any of the pictures here. I haven’t managed to upload it into my laptop.

Happy Labour Day to everyone! I am going off to Kelantan for the weekend! See you later!

First Commenter:

( Whoever won the most First Commenter contests will be shown under my Entercard box for a month!)

Bluecrystaldude

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Ageing... disgracefully

I always thought yoga had a lot going for it.... and after seeing this supple yoga teacher at 83, I am sure of it. Wondering about grabbing a mat and joining it... but not the Bikram sort - not into workouts in hot sweaty rooms!

You can read more about this Supple Supergran here

In the same breath, the news tonight, after the swine flu reports, mentioned the plight of this rest home resident.

THE daughter of a war hero attacked by mice as he lay bed-ridden in a nursing home has spoken out about the incident that could have killed her father.

The woman, who did not want to be named, said staff at the Karingal Residential Aged Care Facility in the Queensland town of Dalby called her the day after Anzac Day to tell her that mice had gnawed at her 89-year-old father the night before.

and from here

"I'm told by his daughter that the poor old fellow [had] been trying to brush the mice away as they continued chewing his ears, head and neck," Mr Hopper said.
"He was so stressed that doctors put him on morphine to calm him down. He nearly died on Saturday night. He was being eaten alive."

Certainly there are two ways to age -  and although I might not make the first one, we all want to avoid the second!!

I intend to age as disgracefully as I can. I have been working on it for the last decade... and I am sure that close friends might agree I have given it a fair nudge. I have discovered that women over 50 can join the Red Hat Society... - or here. Their philosophy is based on the following poem....

Warning
By Jenny Joseph

When I am an old woman I shall wear purple
With a red hat which doesn't go and doesn't suit me.
And I shall spend my pension on brandy and summer gloves
And satin sandals, and say we've no money for butter.
I shall sit down on the pavement when I'm tired
And gobble up samples in shops and press alarm bells
And run my stick along the public railings
And make up for the sobriety of my youth.
I shall go out in my slippers in the rain
And pick the flowers in other people's gardens...

But maybe I ought to practice a little now?
So people who know me are not too shocked and surprised
When suddenly I am old, and start to wear purple.

http://rlv.zcache.com/red_hat_notecards-p137892941340928098qdoq_400.jpg

and 

http://www.redhatclipart.com/imagesamp/travel34.gif

That's my excuse...

Enjoy yourselves - we need some respite from all the swine flu news :)

Ageing... disgracefully

I always thought yoga had a lot going for it.... and after seeing this supple yoga teacher at 83, I am sure of it. Wondering about grabbing a mat and joining it... but not the Bikram sort - not into workouts in hot sweaty rooms!

You can read more about this Supple Supergran here

In the same breath, the news tonight, after the swine flu reports, mentioned the plight of this rest home resident.

THE daughter of a war hero attacked by mice as he lay bed-ridden in a nursing home has spoken out about the incident that could have killed her father.

The woman, who did not want to be named, said staff at the Karingal Residential Aged Care Facility in the Queensland town of Dalby called her the day after Anzac Day to tell her that mice had gnawed at her 89-year-old father the night before.

and from here

"I'm told by his daughter that the poor old fellow [had] been trying to brush the mice away as they continued chewing his ears, head and neck," Mr Hopper said.
"He was so stressed that doctors put him on morphine to calm him down. He nearly died on Saturday night. He was being eaten alive."

Certainly there are two ways to age -  and although I might not make the first one, we all want to avoid the second!!

I intend to age as disgracefully as I can. I have been working on it for the last decade... and I am sure that close friends might agree I have given it a fair nudge. I have discovered that women over 50 can join the Red Hat Society... - or here. Their philosophy is based on the following poem....

Warning
By Jenny Joseph

When I am an old woman I shall wear purple
With a red hat which doesn't go and doesn't suit me.
And I shall spend my pension on brandy and summer gloves
And satin sandals, and say we've no money for butter.
I shall sit down on the pavement when I'm tired
And gobble up samples in shops and press alarm bells
And run my stick along the public railings
And make up for the sobriety of my youth.
I shall go out in my slippers in the rain
And pick the flowers in other people's gardens...

But maybe I ought to practice a little now?
So people who know me are not too shocked and surprised
When suddenly I am old, and start to wear purple.

http://rlv.zcache.com/red_hat_notecards-p137892941340928098qdoq_400.jpg

and 

http://www.redhatclipart.com/imagesamp/travel34.gif

That's my excuse...

Enjoy yourselves - we need some respite from all the swine flu news :)

Chocolate and other stuff

Looking at this picture,its a shame this isn't scratch n' sniff, innit? Or scratch, scrape from your fingernails and eat.

I was sniffed at in the office this morning. A woman pressed her nose against the flesh of my neck and made appreciative noises. What’s more she had all her own teeth and everything.

I want chocolate.

I’m cheesed off because the Manchester United v Arsenal semi-final is on sat TV and I only have council house sports on my telly. Mind you, the Barcelona/ Chelsea game didn’t live up to the hype. So maybe I’m wasting energy.
A thought, after listening to the commentators the other night crowing about how the EPL was the best league in the world and how 3 English teams had made it –yet again- to the semi-finals of the world’s greatest football team competition. ..there was a total of 6 Englishmen in the starting line-up for all 3 teams. Let me put that another way; that’s 6 out of a possible 33. Man Utd also had a Scot and an Irishman if we want to generously beef up the numbers, but it surely doesn’t make good reading for the caretakers of the English game. Fabio Capello, the Engurland manage was spotted in the crowd at the Nou Camp the other night. Should have saved your cash, Fabio.

Just read Kris Boyd on the beeb website saying he doesn’t regret giving up playing football for Scotland. For those who don’t know/ care he “retired” from international football at the grand old age of 25 after the Scotland manager left him on the bench during a high profile game. Now I don’t care what side of the Old Firm he plays for but I would just like to say one thing to “100 goals for ‘gers” Boydie; grow up, son. It should be an honour to play sport for your country. Take a look at David Beckham. He was ridiculed; effigies of him were burnt in public, he was used as pawn in a crap manager’s power games (Steve McLaren anyone? No, didn’t think so)and still he came back for more. He’s an example to every professional sports person out there. Whether or not you like the hype that seems to surround him, he works hard at his game, at pleasing his fans and at fulfilling his responsibilities as a prominent person in the public eye (Rebecca Loos aside). However, we could do without the adverts with him in his scanties. Nothing to do with feelings of inadequacy, I have to add. I too could stuff a pair of socks down the front of my y-fronts.

I want chocolate. Deliberately didn’t buy any during the weekly shop. 'Cos I would just eat it all.

Back to the sniffing, I can’t say I’m all that effective in an olfactory way. I’ve had the one bottle of aftershave since my 40th birthday (not yesterday, I might add. Nooooo, I hear you cry) and I often read work from female writers and admire their ability to bring their sense of smell into their writing. Is the varying effectiveness of this particular sense part of the whole male/female difference?

Thinking in terms of members of my family I have one sister who could double as a sniffer dog at airports. I swear she can smell a fart before it hits the air. My argument is that particular skill has developed because she expects it to be one of her own. Readers of earlier postings will have already been introduced to my sister, the Queen of Chaos. She’s a size six, four feet eleven with long blonde hair and looks about 15 years younger than her birth certificate states. She is also it is fair to say and without bias, very, very pretty and obsessed with bowel movements. Think Kylie with IBS.

And thinking about this issue from an evolutionary point of view. ..men were the disposable gender sent out to fight big beasties and bad men who came to rape and pillage. An acute sense of smell would have just gotten in the way. I can just see a group of men charging into battle...and pulling up shouting, whoa...get a load of that. Or. You can’t make me fight, sarge, that battle ground is absolutely minging.

The chocolate craving has passed. I should be congratulated. Tomorrow I celebrate by scratching, sniffing then eating a bar of Cadbury’s.

La Femme Nikita (Nikita) [1990]

La Femme Nikita might be the movie Luc Besson is most widely remembered by, and also one of the key features of the Cinema du look movement, its in-your-face stylizations, bizarre plot developments and over the top action sequences made this glossy French flick a no-brainer for me. The movie is about Nikita, a gauche and violent junkie, who is transformed into a sexy, lethal assassin. The movie is pumped with a heavy dose of adrenaline with testosterone-fuelled scenes that were supposed to be visually exuberant, but turned out to be no more than cringe inducing. Had the director kept it simple, it might have been two hours of fun; unfortunately, he introduced a lot of psycho-babble and pseudo-character developments that weren't commensurate with the ludicrously hyper-violent tone of the movie. What Besson perhaps didn’t realize in the first place was that, given the kind of disgusting character he chalked out for Nikita in the first third of the movie, viewers would never view her pangs of conscience and complex moral dilemma in the remaining two-thirds with empathy or understanding. Perhaps the only saving grace of the movie, apart from its slick look, was Jean Reno’s memorable cameo as a laconic ‘cleaner’ – his mere presence added a layer of dark humour in this otherwise callous and inane post-noir.





Director: Luc Besson
Genre: Thriller/Action/Spy Movie
Language: French
Country: France

Toma - As We Fall Into Static Our Hearts Sing (2009)

Dichte Wolken sammeln sich am Nachhimmel und trüben die Sicht auf die Sterne. Der Mond scheint blass durch den grau-schwarzen Vorhang und spiegelt sich in einem kleinen See in Zentral-England. Dort stehen Toma und singen ihre düsteren und dennoch herzhaft schönen Lieder.

Der Soundvorhang bestimmt, wie die Wolken den Nachthimmel, den Klang von Tomas Liedern. Der Brite baut in seinen Liedern eine dröhnende Mauer auf, die auf reinen und wundervoll sphärischen Shoegaze trifft. Toma sind episch, atmosphärisch, schön und traurig, balladesk und dennoch verloren in ihr Innerstes.

Das Album As We Fall Into Static Our Hearts Sing ist ein in sich stimmiges Album, das eine wunderschöne Atmosphäre mit sich bringt. Der Hörer wird in seine Gedankenwelt transportiert und kann für 40 Minuten alles um sich herum vergessen.

Herausragend ist der Song Fallback Lighthorsemen, der all diese Gefühle zusammenfasst und wirklich tief vordringt. Er erinnert hie und da sogar ein bisschen an Yndi Halda. Verbessert werden könnte noch die Aufnahmequalität und vielleicht die Abwechslung zwischen den Stücken. Man kann jedoch von einem sehr eigenen Stil reden und von einem wirklich wundervollen Album!

________________________________________________________

Thick clouds gatter in the nightsky and blear the sight to the stars. The moon shines paly through the grey-black curtain and mirrors in a small lake right in the middle of England. There are Toma and sing their bleak yet hearty, beautiful songs.

The curtain of sound dominates the sound of Toma’s songs, just like the clouds dominate the nightsky. The Brit builds a drony wall in his songs, which constitute clear and wonderful spherical shoegaze. Toma are epic, atmospheric, beautiful and sad, melancholic yet lost into their marrow.

The album As We Fall Into Static Our Hearts Sing is a harmonious album with a wonderful atmosphere. The listener drowns into his thoughts and is able to forget everything that revolves around him for 40 minutes.

The song Fallback Lighthorsemen is outrageous. It sums up all the feelings and is really deep. Sometimes he even reminded me of Yndi Halda. The only thing that leaves room for improvement is the sound quality and the variety of the tracks in the album. Still, I am glad to say, this is a very awesome album with a very unique style!

Genre: Shoegaze
(40:14)
256 kBit/s

Preview:


Myspace
Wiseowlrecords
Buy & Support
Download

PW: postrockcommunity.blogspot.com

Swine flu anyone?

So swine flu has arrived in the remote shores of New Zealand. Confirmed cases, with many more quarantined, possibly infected. Let's face it - we can expect many of us to get it. The real question - how fatal will it turn out to be. So far, they are all recovering well.... but the situation will worsen for us all if it starts to kill the same way it appears to have done in Mexico.

I guess if it spreads we will face some time in masks, some loss of freedom, no travel, no group gatherings, and the fear associated with knowing you are likely to catch something and there is not a lot you can do about it. I know in the past when my children have been really ill with various viruses, trying to isolate them is a joke. Part of you knows the damage is already done, but just trying to keep from breathing it, handling it, spreading it is very hard. The fact that often only one child got ill I put down to good luck and immunity, not necessarily good management! I can imagine it would add a new dimension to supermarket shopping - let's dress up to go to the mall! Now where are my mask, gloves.....

Still, if we hit a pandemic alert, I will have the thrill of trying to run training classes from home and seeing the learning of many students completely disrupted. That's without trying to figure out how to cope with sick staff... I have coped with fire, flood and snow here; this will just be a new experience. I did read that the things we need to cope; drugs, masks, gowns, gloves, might all run out as they are all produced in Asian countries and travel will slow down...that in fact people are more likely to die, regardless whether they get the flu, because they cannot get access to the regular drugs they need - insulin, antibiotics etc.

I guess if we do catch it, most of us will be nursed at home, with some comfort, space, running water. I am trying to imagine the impact this will have elsewhere too... on those who are already ill or immuno compromised. Yes, for them I worry.

I read this today about Dhaka in Bangladesh - how will places like this cope with a potential pandemic!

Hot spell to continue

1 more dies; power situation improves

One person died of a heat stroke in Bhola yesterday while the diarrhoea situation continued to worsen in the capital and elsewhere in the country over the last 24 hours.

According to the meteorological office, temperature in Dhaka came down to 36.5 degrees Celsius yesterday from 39.6 degrees Celsius a day before, while the highest temperature was recorded in Jessore at 39.2 degrees Celsius yesterday.

The heat wave may continue for two more days, met office sources said, before an expected rainfall. The city dwellers got a little respite from the agony of frequent power outage with the slight improvement in the power-supply situation in the capital. But the acute crisis of water in many areas of Dhaka has compounded the sufferings of city dwellers.

The city thoroughfares witnessed a low presence of people yesterday as many people tried to stay indoors to seek refuge form the heat wave that has been sweeping the country for the past few weeks.

Cases of diarrhoea, cholera, viral fever, pneumonia, typhoid and jaundice have increased in the city and across the country due to the scorching heat and water pollution. Children are the worst sufferer of these diseases and hospitals have been experiencing almost double the patients than usual.

It helps me to keep this in perspective....


You can track the outbreak on google:


View H1N1 Swine Flu in a larger map

Swine flu anyone?

So swine flu has arrived in the remote shores of New Zealand. Confirmed cases, with many more quarantined, possibly infected. Let's face it - we can expect many of us to get it. The real question - how fatal will it turn out to be. So far, they are all recovering well.... but the situation will worsen for us all if it starts to kill the same way it appears to have done in Mexico.

I guess if it spreads we will face some time in masks, some loss of freedom, no travel, no group gatherings, and the fear associated with knowing you are likely to catch something and there is not a lot you can do about it. I know in the past when my children have been really ill with various viruses, trying to isolate them is a joke. Part of you knows the damage is already done, but just trying to keep from breathing it, handling it, spreading it is very hard. The fact that often only one child got ill I put down to good luck and immunity, not necessarily good management! I can imagine it would add a new dimension to supermarket shopping - let's dress up to go to the mall! Now where are my mask, gloves.....

Still, if we hit a pandemic alert, I will have the thrill of trying to run training classes from home and seeing the learning of many students completely disrupted. That's without trying to figure out how to cope with sick staff... I have coped with fire, flood and snow here; this will just be a new experience. I did read that the things we need to cope; drugs, masks, gowns, gloves, might all run out as they are all produced in Asian countries and travel will slow down...that in fact people are more likely to die, regardless whether they get the flu, because they cannot get access to the regular drugs they need - insulin, antibiotics etc.

I guess if we do catch it, most of us will be nursed at home, with some comfort, space, running water. I am trying to imagine the impact this will have elsewhere too... on those who are already ill or immuno compromised. Yes, for them I worry.

I read this today about Dhaka in Bangladesh - how will places like this cope with a potential pandemic!

Hot spell to continue

1 more dies; power situation improves

One person died of a heat stroke in Bhola yesterday while the diarrhoea situation continued to worsen in the capital and elsewhere in the country over the last 24 hours.

According to the meteorological office, temperature in Dhaka came down to 36.5 degrees Celsius yesterday from 39.6 degrees Celsius a day before, while the highest temperature was recorded in Jessore at 39.2 degrees Celsius yesterday.

The heat wave may continue for two more days, met office sources said, before an expected rainfall. The city dwellers got a little respite from the agony of frequent power outage with the slight improvement in the power-supply situation in the capital. But the acute crisis of water in many areas of Dhaka has compounded the sufferings of city dwellers.

The city thoroughfares witnessed a low presence of people yesterday as many people tried to stay indoors to seek refuge form the heat wave that has been sweeping the country for the past few weeks.

Cases of diarrhoea, cholera, viral fever, pneumonia, typhoid and jaundice have increased in the city and across the country due to the scorching heat and water pollution. Children are the worst sufferer of these diseases and hospitals have been experiencing almost double the patients than usual.

It helps me to keep this in perspective....


You can track the outbreak on google:


View H1N1 Swine Flu in a larger map

Pear Ice Cream

Years ago when I was in the south of France on a camping holiday, I went to a cafe in the town of Cavalaire. Apropos of nothing but a chance to name drop, my caravan was next door to a very young Patsy Kensit and her pals. I reckon that’s where she got her taste for Scots men, but that’s a whole other blog.

One of the things I noticed while I was en vacances was that the fruit was bigger, more colourful and much tastier than anything we got at home. The pears in particular were amazing. And as I am often heard to say, you cannae beat a nice juicy pear. This particular cafe in Cavalaire specialised in ice cream. My pals chose while I studied the menu. One of the English girls in our company asked for a crepe. Stunned silence. She was too nice to be using that kind of language (too nice by far, if you catch my drift). With her southern accent it sounded like she was asking for a crap.

Eventually I chose pear ice cream and a few minutes later a very large glass container arrived holding a light green, glassy concoction that had me slathering like David Cameron over Labour’s latest fuckup (get over it, Davie-boy. You’ll never get the job). The pear ice cream came with a jug of water. Pourquoi l’eau, I asked in my best French. The waiter stared at me as if I’d asked for a crap. I was brilliant at asking for “trois coca” or “trois orangina”. I also had no small talent for asking for “du sel” for “les pommes frites”. Not so good at anything else. The waiter’s expression went through some changes before he considered that I just was one of those dumb Britishers who didn’t bother to learn god’s own language. Eventually pity won over scorn and he explained that the water should be used to refresh the mouth, because the flavour was so rich.

Aye right, I thought. Bring it on. There was a serious amount of ice cream here and I attacked it with gusto. I almost hesitate to use the metaphor – like the beautician faced with Susan Boyle’s eyebrows. The spoon from glass to mouth was a blur. Each spoonful was distilled, melting heaven. Ice cream as art. Then disaster. I noticed that my taste buds were becoming less responsive. The flavours were fading and I was less than a third of the way through. My gob was indeed in need of a rest.

I had a sip of water. My tongue was refreshed and - aaaaaaaah -once again able to cope with one of man’s best attempts at working with nature’s bounty. The next few spoonfuls were glassy green nectar. Chilled ambrosia. Then it was time for another sip of water before once again I lost the ability to fully appreciate the flavour.

This is a long-winded (but fascinating nonetheless as I’m sure you will agree) follow up to my blog on the reading marathon I embarked on at the weekend. If perfection is dished up to you as a constant, your ability to fully take in the achievement becomes tempered. Excellence becomes mundane and I’m too young at just over 21 to be jaded. Who’s that laughing in the corner? In essence it is time for a break from the reading. Besides, I don’t think ‘I haven’t finished my book yet,’ is an acceptable reason to pull a sicky. Nor would the boss believe I had a weekend break in Cancun and as a consequence required bed rest and the gentle ministrations of a student nurse.

...give me a moment to think that one through...

In any case, I’m half-way through Carlos Ruiz Zafon’s The Angel’s Game and my mind needs a wee rest from Barcelona and the machinations of Carlos’ quirky, wonderful characters. This is one of those occasions, just like the pear ice cream when quality should be taken in delicious spoonfuls, not in a binge.

As for Patsy and her pals...je suis un gentilhomme. And as everyone knows they don’t tell tales. Unless of course, suitable motivation is provided.

Wear White Denim!

White Blazer - Bebe
Tan Top - Bebe
White denim jeans - Wet Seal
White ballerina flats - Bakers Shoes
purse - Coach
necklace - Express
bracelet - Forever 21

White denim is SO versatile! You can feel casual but still look fresh and rich in appearance. It brightens up your outfit, and perfect timing for the warm weather around the corner. For those of you afraid of staining your perfectly white denim jeans, don't worry because denim is such LOW maintenance and you can throw it in the washer or even use clorox. Brighten up your outfits with white denim ladies!!

Wear White Denim!

White Blazer - Bebe
Tan Top - Bebe
White denim jeans - Wet Seal
White ballerina flats - Bakers Shoes
purse - Coach
necklace - Express
bracelet - Forever 21

White denim is SO versatile! You can feel casual but still look fresh and rich in appearance. It brightens up your outfit, and perfect timing for the warm weather around the corner. For those of you afraid of staining your perfectly white denim jeans, don't worry because denim is such LOW maintenance and you can throw it in the washer or even use clorox. Brighten up your outfits with white denim ladies!!

If I was a twitter....

For gawd's sake! Enough already. I just hope the poor woman makes some cash out of this whole experience and that there's someone there to pick her up when the world's media abandons her and camps on someone else's doorstep.



(mememememe - I've a book coming out)

The headline that went with this picture was "Hairy Angel No More".

Nice.

Tasharg - Tasharg (EP) (2009)

Schöner, verträumter Post-Rock aus Seattle. Leider ein wenig kurz geraten, aber trotzdem ein vielversprechender Einblick in den Sound der Band.

___________________________________________________________

Beautiful, dreamy Post-Rock from Seattle. Unfortunately this promising insight into the band's sound is a little on the short side.

Genre: Post Rock
(13:02)
320 Bit/s

Preview:


Myspace
Download

PW: postrockcommunity.blogspot.com

Revoltech Fraulein Collections

Some of my Revoltech Fraulein Collections, Asuka, Rei and whoever that third girl is. Hahaha. I bought her because she come with a kick ass sword.

Thelma and Louise [1991]

Thelma and Louise, in the great tradition of revisionist genre movies, did exactly what Ridley Scott perhaps intended – by having two working-class women as its protagonists instead of rugged, disillusioned men, it forever demythologized the very masculine concept of “hitting the road”. In that sense, it may be put on par with Unforgiven, Clint Eastwood’s classic revisionist Western that erased the elements of romanticism from the much loved all-American genre. Geena Davis, as an overtly naïve housewife who is treated like a piece of furniture by her supercilious husband, and Susan Sarandon, as a free-spirited lady with a loving if commitment-phobic fiancé (played with casual élan by Michael Madsen), form the eponymous all-girl couple who hit the road on a beaut of a beast – a Thunderbird convertible – to get away from ’em all. However, what was supposed to be a few days of fun and freedom turns ugly, and the two find themselves on the run from the law. Spectacular panoramic photography, snazzy soundtracks, smart screenplay that ensures smooth yet memorable development of the two principal characters, a scintillating car chase sequence, and an unforgettable climax (the final freeze frame is one for the ages), completely masked the somewhat B-grade look of the film and the not so inspired turns by the two ladies. Watch out for Harvey Keitel as a sympathetic cop and a young Brad Pitt as a glibly opportunistic small-time crook.




Director: Ridley Scott
Genre: Drama/Crime Drama/Road Movie/Buddy Film
Language: English
Country: US

Emotional moments ...

Last night, we went to see Schönberg and Boublil's "Miss Saigon".  I knew nothing about the story before we went, apart from the reviews in the paper stating it was a love story set against the war in Vietnam.... but we did know a lot of the cast and wanted to see the show!  It was great.... wonderful singing, great sets, and well played and performed. I was interested that there are no songs from it that I felt I had ever heard before... Regardless, there were some very moving songs - going to have to listen to them some more so that I can appreciate them better... even Les Mis took a second hearing to work it's way into my soul and these are the same creators... but there was one in particular that leaves you feeling incredibly moved. "Bui Doi"...

The poignant images of the children are so haunting. Impossible not to feel affected by the impact their origins had on their lives .

Miss Saigon - according to Wikipaedia, 

The show's inspiration was reportedly a photograph, inadvertently found by Schönberg in a magazine. The photo showed a Vietnamese mother leaving her child at a departure gate at Tan Son Nhut Air Base to board a plane headed for the United States where her father, an ex-GI, would be in a position to provide a much better life for the child. Schönberg considered this mother's actions for her child to be "The Ultimate Sacrifice," an idea central to the plot of Miss Saigon.

This week, James and Jess also posted pictures of the children of Bangladesh; these are particularly the children of the street workers...  sadly, some of the street workers are still children..... and without aid, their children's futures will take the same path.

However, to quote Jess:

In the meantime, situations such as these make me appreciate more and more the ease of my own life and make it clear that one thing seems to hold constant across class and culture - the love of mothers for their children.

If you haven't heard "Bui Doi" - do listen - and here are the lyrics.

CHOIR
they're called bui-doi
the dust of life
conceived in hell
and born in strife
they are the living reminders
of all the good we failed to do
we can't forget
must not forget
that they are all our children too

JOHN
like all survivors, I once thought
when I'm home I won't give a damn
but now I know I'm caught
I'll never leave Vietnam

war isn't over when it ends
some pictures never leave your mind
they are the faces of the children
the ones we left behind

they're called bui-doi
the dust of life
conceived in hell
and born in strife
they are the living reminders
of all the good we failed to do
that's why we know
deep in our hearts
that they are all our children too

these kids hit walls on every side
they don't belong in any place
their secret they can't hide
it's printed on their face

I never thought one day I'd plead
for half-breeds from a land that's torn
but then I saw a camp for children
whose crime was being born

they're called bui-doi
the dust of life
conceived in hell
and born in strife
we owe them fathers, and a family
and loving homes they never knew
because we know
deep in our hearts
that they are all our children too

these are souls in need
they need us to give
someone has to pay
for their chance to live
help me try

CHORUS
they're called bui-doi
the dust of life
conceived in hell

JOHN AND CHORUS
and born in strife
they are the living reminders
of all the good we failed to do

CHORUS JOHN
that's why we know that's why we know
deep in our hearts deep in our hearts

CHORUS
that's why we know

JOHN
that they are all our children...

JOHN AND CHORUS
..too

Emotional moments ...

Last night, we went to see Schönberg and Boublil's "Miss Saigon".  I knew nothing about the story before we went, apart from the reviews in the paper stating it was a love story set against the war in Vietnam.... but we did know a lot of the cast and wanted to see the show!  It was great.... wonderful singing, great sets, and well played and performed. I was interested that there are no songs from it that I felt I had ever heard before... Regardless, there were some very moving songs - going to have to listen to them some more so that I can appreciate them better... even Les Mis took a second hearing to work it's way into my soul and these are the same creators... but there was one in particular that leaves you feeling incredibly moved. "Bui Doi"...

The poignant images of the children are so haunting. Impossible not to feel affected by the impact their origins had on their lives .

Miss Saigon - according to Wikipaedia, 

The show's inspiration was reportedly a photograph, inadvertently found by Schönberg in a magazine. The photo showed a Vietnamese mother leaving her child at a departure gate at Tan Son Nhut Air Base to board a plane headed for the United States where her father, an ex-GI, would be in a position to provide a much better life for the child. Schönberg considered this mother's actions for her child to be "The Ultimate Sacrifice," an idea central to the plot of Miss Saigon.

This week, James and Jess also posted pictures of the children of Bangladesh; these are particularly the children of the street workers...  sadly, some of the street workers are still children..... and without aid, their children's futures will take the same path.

However, to quote Jess:

In the meantime, situations such as these make me appreciate more and more the ease of my own life and make it clear that one thing seems to hold constant across class and culture - the love of mothers for their children.

If you haven't heard "Bui Doi" - do listen - and here are the lyrics.

CHOIR
they're called bui-doi
the dust of life
conceived in hell
and born in strife
they are the living reminders
of all the good we failed to do
we can't forget
must not forget
that they are all our children too

JOHN
like all survivors, I once thought
when I'm home I won't give a damn
but now I know I'm caught
I'll never leave Vietnam

war isn't over when it ends
some pictures never leave your mind
they are the faces of the children
the ones we left behind

they're called bui-doi
the dust of life
conceived in hell
and born in strife
they are the living reminders
of all the good we failed to do
that's why we know
deep in our hearts
that they are all our children too

these kids hit walls on every side
they don't belong in any place
their secret they can't hide
it's printed on their face

I never thought one day I'd plead
for half-breeds from a land that's torn
but then I saw a camp for children
whose crime was being born

they're called bui-doi
the dust of life
conceived in hell
and born in strife
we owe them fathers, and a family
and loving homes they never knew
because we know
deep in our hearts
that they are all our children too

these are souls in need
they need us to give
someone has to pay
for their chance to live
help me try

CHORUS
they're called bui-doi
the dust of life
conceived in hell

JOHN AND CHORUS
and born in strife
they are the living reminders
of all the good we failed to do

CHORUS JOHN
that's why we know that's why we know
deep in our hearts deep in our hearts

CHORUS
that's why we know

JOHN
that they are all our children...

JOHN AND CHORUS
..too

Chowrasta (Crossroads of Love) [2009]

Anjan Dutt’s latest directorial venture Chowrasta revolves around a place that is very close to his heart – a place that featured regularly in his songs when he was a troubadour. Darjeeling may have been the source of inspiration for Dutt, however this nostalgic take on the queen of Indian hill stations ends up concentrating more on her squalor than her beauty, perhaps because Dutt failed to find the Darjeeling that is forever captured in his memory. Consequently, the movie has ended up being a very hazy and ambiguous portrayal of the place and her people. The characters are thus either embittered and lost souls, or like the narrator (a reflection of the director himself, and played with a lot of passion by Victor Bannerjee), incarcerated in a time freeze. The post-production seemed unpolished, and some of the subplots have been weakly done. And though Dutt’s previous movies like Bow Barracks Forever, Bong Connection and Chalo, Lets Go, all boasted of excellent soundtracks, this one disappoints on that count too. Perhaps the only contribution of the movie lay in making me want to visit Darjeeling once again, and feel the poetry on lost love and lost times (told through voiceovers) while enraptured by the majestic Kanchenjungha through early morning mist.





Director: Anjan Dutt
Genre: Drama/Ensemble Film/Romance
Language: Bengali
Country: India

Books, glorious books

The phones are off. The broadband connection has been clipped. The cable to my sky dish has been severed. The fridge is full. The kettle is on automatic re-fill (I wish) the blinds are shut and the door is locked. My razor and soap have been temporarily retired.

The sink will fill up with dishes (what’s new), any crumbs dropped from my distracted mouth will just have to go to feed my friendly neighbourhood mouse - Bob, the clothes I eventually got round to washing will just have to stay out on the line and my emails will go unanswered. If I don’t turn up for work on Monday –don’t worry, boss, I’ll get there – he gives a gallic shrug - eventually.

I’m sorry, but I make no apologies for coming over all bookgeeky. Just what, I hear you cry, is eliciting such a response? The answer is that the good people at Orion have been busy posting me a mystery/ thriller fan’s wet dream of advance copies for review.

I've just finished the latest books from Harlan Coben, John Connelly, Michael Connelly and I am half-way through R J Ellory’s The Anniversary Man due out on 3rd September (man, that guy can write) and sitting in my To Be Read pile are Denise Mina, George Pelecanos , Gillian Philip (Bloomsbury) and wait for it...drum roll...Carlos Ruiz Zafon.

As the song goes, how lucky can one guy be?

The Shadow of the Wind is one of my favourite books ever and I’ve been waiting for the next from Zafon since 2004. WTF kept ya, Carlos? And if you dear reader, haven’t read SOTW – give yourself a slap. Call yourself a book lover?

Thing 1 - will The Angel’s Game live up to my expectations? I’ve anticipated this book with so much well, anticipation I’m almost afraid to open the first page.

Thing 2 – Shadow of the Wind was SO good the author must be brimful of talent and AbsolutelyWithoutQuestion capable of pulling it off again.

Cannae wait.

Ps – the reviews will be published by crimesquad.com...once I emerge from my reading cave bleary-eyed, blinking and full-bearded. And hopefully at least a stone lighter.

Yes, Adam Lambert is Gay, but could he be the first Gay American Idol?

Is Adam Lambert is gay? Following the madness of his photos circulating the Internet, yes, Adam Lambert is gay.

But, could he still win the American Idol? Well, if it’s up to me, yes he could. American Idol is a competition in searching for a singer and Adam is no doubt one of the best singers they had found – some even said in the history of American Idol. (See Adam's pictures after the jump) Truth is, whether you like it or not, sexual orientation issue plays a major part of our life now. Remember Miss California’s answer when she was asked by Perez Hilton in Miss USA 2009?

Carrie Prejean said, "We live in a land where you can choose same-sex marriage or opposite marriage. And you know what, I think in my country, in my family, I think that I believe that a marriage should be between a man and a woman. No offense to anybody out there, but that's how I was raised."

And she lost the title to Miss North Carolina. In my personal opinion, religion should always being kept to oneself. No offense, but the values that we shared perhaps differs with others. Logically, if you want to be Miss USA, you will represent all Americans, to which not only comprise straight people, but gay alike. That being said, she has every right to express her opinion in any matter and I don’t think her answer is more wrong than right.

So, back to the main topic, do you think Adam will win American Idol this season? Whether the contestant sexual orientation may sway your votes and for the rest of the world, you likeness towards him?

On the same matter, if Adam is not the best person to win American Idol, who will? For those who haven't yet see the pictures:

My personal favorite performances:

Adam Lambert – Mad World, The Track of My Tears, Black or White, Born to Be Wild, If I can’t Have You, Play That Funky Music

Danny Gokey – P.Y.T, Stand by Me, What Hurts the Most, Jesus Takes the Wheel, September

Kris Allen – Aint No Sunshine, Falling Slowly, She Works Hard For the Money, To Make You Feel My Love

Allison Iraheta – Papa Was A Rolling Stone, I Can’t Make You Love Me, Give In to Me

Matt Giraud – Staying Alive, Part Time Lover

Anoop Desai – True Colors, Always On My Mind

Lil Rounds – I Surrender

At first I think that Adam, Danny and Allison will be in the top 3. But with the current performances, I think that Kris Allen is on the top 3 as well. I love Allison, but she may have to give her place to Kris. Kris has been doing so so so well these couple of performances. So, who are your favorites? And who will win American Idol this season?

By the way, this is Lady Gaga.. I just couldn't resist to post it here too. LOL :)

P/S: See Adam Lambert's Video performing Gnarls Barkley - Crazy | Other pictures of Adam Lambert |

First Commenter:

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Bluecrystaldude

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Plooks

Nature has compensated for stealing hair from my head (and re-laying it everywhere else) by rarely giving me zits. I think I had two, three tops when I was thirteen and another one on my twenty first birthday and that is it. (And here’s where I take a little time out for the benefit of any non-Scots reading this and give them a new word to play with. Plook. Scots for a zit.)
I digress. Where was I? Ah yes, no hair, no zits.....until today. I have a lump at the side of my nose that makes me look like I’m trying to grow a new nostril. With a nice yellow crown.
My feeling is that fresh air is excellent for one’s offspring so I took my zit for a run in the car this evening. It was parents’ night at the school. My son wasn’t in attendance as he and Supergran had gone to the Braehead arena to see some half-naked men in lycra and tattoos (who knew it would be such an appealing combination) body-slam each other on to a square of canvas while pretending they are in a competition. Yes folks, WWE is in town and Gran and grandson will be whooping it up with the worst of them. Gran is taking her favourite Rey Mysterio mask with her. Works well with the blue rinse. Joking. She doesn’t have a blue rinse, she’s much too trendy for that. It’s purple. (And no, she doesn’t read this)

Before leaving for the school I debated long and hard about mini-me...to squeeze or not to squeeze? That was the question. In the end, because it is nobler in the mind and because of the size of said plook – we’re talking the ability to fill several custard pies – I decided I didn’t have the time to clean up the resultant sea of troubles.

My son has two teachers. They job share. They don’t look old enough to have kids of their own, let alone have spent enough time at college learning how to teach other folks kids. They say you’re getting old when the police look young. Let me add a few other professions to that list – teachers, doctors, dinner ladies.

In any case I needn’t have worried about my singular breakout of acne. One of my son’s teachers was having – how can I put this delicately - trouble with her T-zone. I couldn’t keep my eyes off. I had one mountain peak. She had the Andes in miniature stretching up and down either side of her nose. I was hoping she would unbutton her top two buttons so I could have something else to vie for my attention. I caught her staring at mine and briefly wondered if we should start up a convention. In the end I chose not to. My membership would only have been temporary, whereas she, I fear, would have been a life member.

What is the evolutionary purpose in acne? Eh, Mr Darwin? Bet the turtles in the Galapagos Islands weren’t able to tell you that. The books say that nature is supposed to have a design for everything – what’s acne all about? Maybe the clue is in when it strikes. In the teenage years. I’m nodding slowly as I write this. What else is going on during that time of torment? A storm of hormones. The girls are uber-fertile. The boys are walking erections. That’s it. Drum roll. Acne is nature’s contraceptive. Nothing like a plook bursting over your feeble moustache to cool your ardour.
....and welcome to the School of Half-Baked Ideas and Piss Poor Theories.

It’s getting late and I’m rambling. Off to bed now. To sleep, perchance to dream. Ay there’s the rub, but I hope mini-me doesn’t get rubbed all over my nice clean pillow cases.
ps – the report was great. The wee fella’s doing us proud.