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August 31, 2004
The need to Scream in all of us
Once in a while, the local papers come up with an article that is worth a read and definitely worth sharing.
Here, Yeow Kai Chai appeals to the art thieves to return Munch's Scream and well, explains why it means so much to all of us.
Posted by lainey at 08:17 AM | Comments (0)
August 30, 2004
Womad 2004
I was taken away by the music and the work to find time for many pictures. But here's a glimpse of my weekend. :)
The other side of the picture:Main stage taken from backstage.
Talvin Singh with Sultan Khan: He really enjoys his music.
Crowd entranced by Talvin Singh and Sultan Khan
Zap Mama: Fabulous performers
The crowd was up on their feet jumping on Sat night from the dynamic performances of Darra J and Zap Mama
The ethereal Yasmin Levy on stage: She has a voice reminiscent of Francois Hardy. They both make me want to cry.
Posted by lainey at 05:10 PM | Comments (5)
August 28, 2004
Shopping to feel better
Why retail therapy works.
Posted by lainey at 02:18 AM | Comments (0)
Oedipal Corporations
Modern corporations, like the mythical Greek hero, are afflicted by a refusal to acknowledge the truth that is almost psychopathic...
Posted by lainey at 02:17 AM | Comments (0)
Urban Legends Explained
Is there a scientific explanation for urban legends?
Posted by lainey at 02:16 AM | Comments (0)
August 26, 2004
Has TV lost its glow?
Well, free to air TV has always been rather shabby, and I think local TV never even shimmered....but interesting article on how TV is turning into a b-o-r-e. ;)
Posted by lainey at 06:16 PM | Comments (0)
Recovering Stolen Art
Let's hope Munch's work falls under the category of the 95% of stolen art that gets recovered. :)
An interesting and informative analysis on stolen artwork.
Posted by lainey at 01:00 PM | Comments (0)
Children die imitating execution
Tragic. Another hit against the media and its influence on children.
Posted by lainey at 12:52 PM | Comments (0)
August 24, 2004
Missing LA
Just watched Collateral. And strangely, it evoked a peculiar sense of nostalgia for me. LA at night on the freeway, Michael Mann has a way of making the ugliest city in the world beautiful. And for once, my heart ached for LA, and ached for the nights on the freeway in LA.
And to think I've always thought LA as ugly and gross.
Posted by lainey at 11:08 PM | Comments (0)
Leviathan
"Books are born out of ignorance, and if they go on living after they are written, it's only to the degree that they cannot be understood."
- Paul Auster, Leviathan
I finally agreed to read Paul Auster. Somehow or another, I had refused to read his book despite the fact that NYT seems to adore him. So I started on him and boy, reading Paul Auster feels like I'm on a bullet train. He writes fast. It follows the plot as the protogonist is rushing out the story, the confessional. And boy, what a trip it was.
I was perplexed when I first started because he reminded me of Murakami alot. So I was trying to figure out why. I later attributed it to the fact that both write in a very personal first person, and their contrivances in plot border almost on ridicule.
But Auster was interesting enough, a really fast read but a delicate observation on humans and relationships. His world of coincidences simply shows how humans are inextricably linked to one another. His characters are well-fleshed out and enough room is left for the reader to cast their own perception of the incidents and characters.
What makes it a more interesting read is that the book is set in New York City and Brooklyn. I could picture everything. Times Square, Union Square, West Village, East Village, West 112th St...Columbia University. It was an exhilarating nolstagic trip for me.
So I read Leviathan with relish. I read it on the trains. I read it on the bus. I read it in my sister's car. I read it while waiting for friends to arrive, and for once, I hoped that they were late. And to think what snagged my interest in the book is that Auster dedicated the book to Don Delililo.
And for this, I will give Auster another chance. I will read another book of Auster to see if it is his common habit to contrive plots and if he can hold my interest and attention enough.
I'm moving on to New York City of another era now. Reading Edith Wharton's The Age of Innocence because I promised a friend I would watch a Scorsese and I thought starting with Innocence would be a good inaugural film.
Reading is a good escape.
Posted by lainey at 03:21 PM | Comments (0)
The Thomas Crown Affair
More on the dramatic armed robbery of Munch's art.
Posted by lainey at 09:45 AM | Comments (0)
Virtual Boyfriend
Yup. I'm definitely signing up for this fuss-free delusional emotional gratification.
Safer that way.
Posted by lainey at 12:04 AM | Comments (2)
August 23, 2004
Disagreeing in Public
I wish I could attend their re-match and listen to what these two fellas have to say about the ethical issue of the worth of a child's life.
I know it's a chicken and egg issue, like all philosophical dilemmas. But it would be good fun, no? To hear sensible bickering between two interesting old men in public.
Posted by lainey at 12:18 AM | Comments (0)
Stolen Art
Oh gosh, Edvard Munch's The Scream and Madonna are stolen. The Scream is the first piece of art I've actually really identified with and Madonna is simply stunning. It is actually surreal to learn that they are stolen. I thought such things only happen in movies. Ah..I live too much in movies and think that as long as bad things happen in movies, my reality will be safe. Let's hope the paintings will be recovered soon.
Read the article here.
Posted by lainey at 12:14 AM | Comments (0)
August 21, 2004
Masochistic Enjoyment
New findings on pain...
Posted by lainey at 11:16 PM | Comments (0)
Hahaha! I can imagine some people laughing their heads off now!
Posted by lainey at 11:13 PM | Comments (0)
The Charming Mystery of Books
Books are born out of ignorance, and if they go on living after they are written, it's only to the degree that they cannot be understood.
- Paul Auster, Leviathan
Posted by lainey at 06:06 PM | Comments (0)
Will the real William Shakespeare please stand up?
One would think that after my uni life, I wouldn't have to deal with such articles anymore. But, the issue of shakespeare's real identity keeps running after me, attempting to bite me in the ass. I'm posting it up, just in case I need this for grad-school in future. But I hope, by Gawd, no....the Queen might just be Shakespeare for all I care, I just want to savour his work and not ponder his historical existence anymore.
I'm done with Elizabethan texts!
There is such a thing as an overkill when it comes to one passion.
Posted by lainey at 11:21 AM | Comments (0)
August 19, 2004
Hurt
Friend reminded me of possibly one of the greatest covers of all time:
Johnny Cash's Hurt
Inspired, I went to look for the lyrics and chanced upon the music video, which was apparantly done by Mark Romanek, director of One Hour Photo.
What a fabulous site!
And what a powerful music video!
Posted by lainey at 02:57 AM | Comments (0)
August 17, 2004
Slow Down Again
It's not surprising that Melbourne's major newspaper keeps having articles on the need to SLOW DOWN. heh...chill man..
Posted by lainey at 11:45 AM | Comments (0)
The Death of Romance
Finally, a form of literature finding its way OUT!
Posted by lainey at 11:24 AM | Comments (0)
August 16, 2004
late night mind test
Those in bold..I giggled when I read it...funny and maybe...just maybe, true ;)
Your Brain Usage Profile:
Auditory : 52%
Visual : 47%
Left : 42%
Right : 57%
Elaine, you are moderately right-hemisphere dominant and have even preferences between auditory and visual processing, traits that might make people perceive you as "slightly off balance."
You are most likely to be slightly disorganized, a "dreamer" and a person who focuses more on the end result than the immediate task at hand. You are creative and spontaneous if somewhat lacking in direction and focus. You are a learner who is generally patient and a person for whom time is an ally, not an enemy.
You are more passionate than most people with regard to life and learning and recognize your own intuitive abilities. You have sufficient goal-direction to satisfy yourself and guarantee success without being or feeling driven. You are willing to be reflective about yourself and others without getting lost in rumination.
The balance of your sensory modes allows for both learning and expressive capabilities achieved by few. You are active and "seeing" while retaining an equally strong propensity for being reflective which slows you down a little but allows for a more comprehensive perception and analysis of situations and problems. You do not spend excessive time analyzing since you mostly trust your perceptions.
In all likelihood, you have a tendency to overcommit and cannot under- stand why others get upset since you operate on a different "time table" than they do. Your organizational abilities are frequently overwhelmed by the stimulation seeking and active nature of your mind as well as by the tendency to create new categories and gloss over details, making categorization and classification almost impossible at times.
To the extent that your career path allows for creativity and abstraction as well as a bit of disorganization, you should find yourself equipped to handle any learning that is required. Your own personal adjustment to your style should come naturally although you are likely to feel frus- trated by your own limited discipline and often wonder "Why?"
Posted by lainey at 12:48 AM | Comments (1)
August 13, 2004
Eros
Let's just that by telling you guys I'm waiting in great anticipation, I'm making a gross understatement.
:)
Posted by lainey at 10:34 AM | Comments (0)
August 09, 2004
Tidbits of The Week
I don't have much words anymore. But I have tidbits to share with everyone.
1) I'm trying to lose weight, consciously, again.
2) Over the past week, I saw alot of movies. More than my usual dosage anyhow. I saw:
- The Return - Very good. Very powerful. Very thought-provoking. I need to watch it again.
- Brotherhood - Very hunky. I laughed, I cried, I screamed, I slept, I drooled. Long movie but the brothers - very cute.
- The Village - mega-yawn-fest - very anti-climatic. I was very disappointed.
- Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter...And Spring Again..very good. Fantastic. Loved it for the analogies and the lyrical pacing of the movie.
- Worked very hard, learnt photoshop and drank alot of coffee
- had two pimples pop up on my face.
- am very excited to find out that FCUK is sponsoring the movie Before Sunset. Does that mean Julie Delphy wears FCUK in the movie?
Alright, gotta spent some time with momma before I go to bed.
I love her so.
Posted by lainey at 11:41 PM | Comments (0)
The Lost Generation
Has the post-teen generation lost its way? Or perhaps, humanity as a whole has lost hope and lost its way. We are all groping in the darkness.
Perhaps too, if I dare venture, there was never a way for us to find. We have always been lost.
But stating that would simply validate the idea that, as part of the post-teen generation, I've lost my way.
Posted by lainey at 11:16 PM | Comments (1)
August 07, 2004
Plebian asshole
I hate it when un-thoughts are published.
Posted by lainey at 01:12 PM | Comments (0)
August 04, 2004
Slow Down
Slow down everyone you're moving too fast
Frames can't catch you if you're moving so fast..
Jack Johnson sings it well...don't rush through life.
Posted by lainey at 12:47 AM | Comments (0)
August 03, 2004
Very Funny
Posted by lainey at 11:00 PM | Comments (0)
This is funny
If you can't stop them, you teach them how to do it the right way...
Posted by lainey at 04:35 PM | Comments (0)
Freud - my "FAVOURITE" guy
| Freudian Inventory Results |
| Genital (56%) you appear to be stuck between a progressive and regressive outlook on life. Latency (70%) you may be using learning as an escape from living. Phallic (46%) you appear to have a good balance of sexual awareness and sexual composure. Anal (36%) you appear to be overly lacking in self control and organization, and have a compulsive need to defy authority. Oral (56%) you appear to have a good balance of independence and interdependence. |
personality tests by similarminds.com
Posted by lainey at 02:47 PM | Comments (0)
I miss New York City at dusk..
I know I was there more than half a year ago, but my mind is always with New York...
I would wake every morning and have a smoke by the window. The beauty often gripped me that I would abandon my cigarette on the window sill and dig out my camera to snap pictures of my view, only to find that my cigarette had dropped 37 storeys down while I was busy.
But it was all worth it. Nicotine and New York mornings. Solitude that could be appreciated and enjoyed.
Where did my solitude go?
Posted by lainey at 12:22 AM | Comments (1)
August 01, 2004
Why Read?
The risk of reading...a particular Christian friend of mine once pointed to me that my relationship with God is so fucked because I read so much. I was so angry I almost killed her. God gave me a discerning mind. Reading opens new worlds for me. Reading is my reprieve, my sanctuary, my escape.
There's nothing I will give up for reading. Nothing at all.
Posted by lainey at 08:48 PM | Comments (2)
Who Lives? Who Dies?
All babies deserve a chance to live. :(
Posted by lainey at 08:16 PM | Comments (0)