Sunday, 8 February 2009

same size feet [III]

Citim: His Majesty's Dragon de Naomi Novik
Ascultam: Zmeu, Vama Veche
Urmarim: Let the Right One In, 2008, regie Tomas Alfredson
Admiram: The Kiss, Gustav Klimt



Am promis review pentru Milk si Slumdog Millionaire. Ambele filme sunt nominalizate la Oscar, in categoria Best Picture. As vrea sa vad toate filmele nominalizate la categoriile principale (Best Picture, Best Actor si Best Actress) si cred ca voi reusi pana la sfarsitul lunii, cand se decerneaza premiile. Vreau aici sa scriu doar despre Milk, pentru ca povestea e mai apropiata de sufletul meu decat Slumdog, desi draft-ul pentru un review e aproape gata, deci in cateva zile va urma

Vorbim aici de doua teme complet diferite: Milk vorbeste despre lupta din anii '70 impotriva ignorantei si paranoiei, in timp ce Slumdog Millionaire e o poveste optimista, despre destin.

Sean Penn il joaca pe Harvey Milk, un politician care a devenit primul homosexual ales intr-un cadru politic. James Franco, pe care nu-l vazusem decat in Spiderman, face un rol de exceptie, alaturi de Diego Luna. Este un film despre speranta si despre lupta, dar mai ales despre cum ar trebui sa se adapteze societatea la schimbari. Nu povestesc tema filmului, pentru ca in general mi se pare stupid. Dar sa incercam, pentru ca Milk mi-a placut:

Harvey, la 40 de ani, crede ca nu a facut nimic in viata. El si prietenul lui, Scotty, pleaca in California, stat vazut ca fiind mult mai liberal decat Coasta de Est. Isi deschid un magazin de fotografie, atrag atentia vecinilor si isi fac prieteni in cercul de homosexuali si de acolo pana la intrat in politica nu e decat un pas. Urmeaza o serie de esecuri care nu fac decat sa agraveze situatia dintre Scotty si Harvey, pana cand se despart.

Harvey reuseste sa intre in politica, viata personala i se deterioreaza si mai mult, iar Dan White ii devine un rival pe fata cand Harvey refuza sa voteze pro in cazul unei propuneri legislative discriminatorii. In ultimele 20 de minute actiunea se intensifica, pe fundalul luptei clare dintre conservatori si homosexuali. Finalul, tragic, cum era de asteptat, nu arata decat putinele schimbari care au avut loc in America in 30 de ani. Un citat din film (si trailer, de altfel) face un rezumat la rece: "If homosexuals are allowed their civil rights then so would prostitutes, and thieves and anyone else."

In Romania filmul a starnit controverse din cauza rating-ului: 18, pentru homosexualitate. Acelasi rating dat unor filme de groaza sau cu violenta excesiva. Nuditate am multa am vazut in Conan the Barbarian. In final, dupa mare tamtam, rating coborat la 15. Nu stiu daca filmul ar duce la schimbari, pentru ca din pacate, pe cat ne laudam ca suntem un stat laic, pupam biserica in fund si nu vom calca pe alaturi.

Poate, in 5 sau 10 ani lucrurile se vor schimba. Pana atunci, spun si eu cum a spus Harvey in 1978: Without hope, life is not worth living. You gotta give 'em hope. You gotta give 'em hope.

Sunday, 1 February 2009

same size feet [II]

Continuand traditia de saptamana trecuta, ajungem la duminica doi. Am promis ca voi scrie un review la Slumdog Millionaire, dar cum la munca parca a venit Apocalipsa, timpul liber s-a redus la mancat salata si dormit.

Never fear! De marti pana joi sunt in Anglia, deci am timp sa fac un draft pentru filmul de azi si cel de saptamana trecut. Asa, la recomandari trecem:

Citim: Fahrenheit 451 de Ray Bradbury
Ascultam: Famous Blue Raincoat, Leonard Cohen (multumiri Imparatului ca mi-a reamintit de ea)
Urmarim: Milk, 2008, regie Gus van Sant
Admiram: Impressions Sunrise, Claude Monet



Entry scurt si la obiect. La final, tot ca parte din world war X, o poza din proiectul 100 snapshots, theme 60, red.

Sunday, 25 January 2009

same size feet [I]

Din ciclul de povestiri "Ale si ambitia datatoare de viata", iata cum incep eu proiectul world war X cu primul post dintr-o serie inceputa de Imparat. Carte, cantec, film, pictor.

Citim: Dance Dance Dance de Haruki Murakami
Ascultam: Supermassive Black Hole, Muse (eh, hai, bine, nu e "cultura" dar totusi...)
Urmarim: Slumdog Millionaire, 2008, regie Danny Boyle.
Admiram: Still Life, Salvador Dali.



In vesti nu la fel de interesante, acum am varsta legala in toate tarile de care stiu, therefore nu mai sunt jail bait. Eh, asta e. :P De distrat m-am distrat si nu am fost singura in final, ceea ce, clar, nu ma asteptam sa se intample.

Thursday, 22 January 2009

look at this photograph

Pasind pe urmele marilor Lomo dinaintea mea (in cazul de fata Ionuca si Ralu), m-am gandit sa-mi iau si eu o camera cute, din anii '60, ca antiteza la ce am acum (anume Nikon Coolpix).

Bun, bun, de luat luam, dar ce. Aici astept si eu ceva propuneri. Mi-ar surade un ActionSampler, dar si Diana+ Edelweiss sau pur si simplu Diana+ sunt interesante. Sincera sa fiu, sunt obsedata de poze soft, dreamy, hm... cum sa zic... airy fairy se potriveste cel mai bine. De asta, tot de Ralu primita ideea, mi-am scos Poladroid. Dar una e Polaroid si alta e un film cu adevarat vechi.

Okay people, someone? Help, please?

Sunday, 18 January 2009

i did it my way

Am stat pe proiectul asta zile intregi, de parca il cloceam sau ceva de genul asta. Nu e ca si cum am scris despre alte lucruri super interesante. Ar fi prea usor sa dau vina pe munca, dar deh, ce sa fac. Lene, plus somn plus munca = no entry. Dar, cum peste o saptamana ajung si eu la glorioasa varsta de 21 ani, am decis sa incep o lista de genul New Year resolutions, cu un format diferit.

Ideea a fost preluata de aici. Anyway, e vorba de o lista cu 101 resolutions, de terminat in 1001 zile. Adica, daca voi incepe pe 25 ianuarie 2009, trebuie sa completez lista pana in 23 octombrie 2011. Sa vedem daca o sa pot sau nu! Toate telurile trebuie sa fie measurable. Nu poti spune: "Vreau sa slabesc." Spui "Vreau sa slabesc 7 kilograme."

Without further ado, my list.

Learning
1. Graduate in 2010 with a 1:1 (70% or higher).
2. Become fluent in German and finish the course with 1:1.
3. Learn enough French to be able to watch a film without subtitles.
4. Start learning Swedish. Know enough to translate this list.
5. Start learning Japanese. Know enough to translate this list.
6. Continue reading at least 50 books a year. Review at least half.
7. Finish the photography course at the Volkshochschule.


Blogs/online presence

8. Blog at least once a week on all blogs.
9. Keep the themed Sundays from this post.
10. Have a bi-monthly post about Germany. Include pictures.
11. Update my Flickr account every 2 months.
12. Start a podcast and update it monthly.

Photography & Crafts
13. Go on a photowalk around Stuttgart once a week.
14. Complete the 100 snapshots challenge.
15. Create a Polaroid folder and share it.
16. Create a scrapbook.
17. Send a postcard to PostSecret.
18. Knit a rainbow scarf for Bex.

Writing
19. Win NaNoWriMo.
20. Complete my series of short stories on the Zombie Apocalypse.
21. Write at least half of my novel.
22. Write fanfiction and post it at least every quarter.
23. Start the joint writing project with Bex.
24. Start a webcomic.
25. Write once a day, even if it just replies to RPGs. Stop slacking off!

Gaming and Geekery
26. Play at least one FPS (first person shooter). Blog about it.
27. Play at least one RPG (role play game). Blog about it.
28. Complete all Silent Hill games.
29. Complete one Zelda game (Wii, DS, whatever console).
30. Play at least one session of Dungeons and Dragons.
31. Participate in one LARP (live action role play).
32. Read one Marvel and one DC comic book or series.

Health and beauty (pfft)
33. Stand up straight.
34. Stop chewing your fingernails.
35. Go to a spa for a day.
36. Learn how to properly apply make up.
37. Dye your hair again.
38. Go swimming once a week.
39. Walk more, instead of relying on public transport.
40. Take the stairs at work every morning from now until July.
41. Buy/rent a bike and cycle through the city.
42. Eat at least 5 different types of fruit and veg a day.
43. Paint my nails at least once and do a good job.
44. Moisturise daily.


Travelling and adventure

45. Visit Prague.
46. Visit Oslo.
47. Visit Stockholm.
48. Visit Helsinki.
49. Visit Copenhagen.
50. Visit the Benelux.
51. Go on a trip through Europe.
52. Have a summer fling.
54. Swim with dolphins.
55. Go into an igloo for the night.
56. See Northern Lights.
57. See and feed a fox! <3

Music and culture
58. Go to at least one music festival a year.
59. See at least one band live outside of said festival.
60. Go to an anime con.
61. Visit different kinds of museums.
62. See one opera every three months at least.
63. See a classical music concert every quarter.
64. See one ballet performance every quarter.
65. Go to an alternative theatre performance.
66. See "The Lion King" or "Les Miserables" musicals.
67. Visit the European capital of culture for that year.

Volunteering and being green
68. Do a race for a charity of my choice.
69. Do a race/benefit for Cancer Research.
70. Join a march for Gay Rights.
71. Donate clothes and toys to charity in Romania.
72. Go to a kindergarten or under-funded school for a day and volunteer to help.
73. Get involved in a green campaign.
74. Stop taking plastic bags from shops and use my cloth ones.
75. Take better care of Martha and help her grow.

Friends and loved ones
76. Write a letter to a friend once a month.
77. Participate more actively in Postcrossing.
78. Get an apartment together with Him.
79. Meet my friends in Romania more often when I'm there.
80. Tell my parents I love them every time we talk.
81. Tell Him I love Him every day.
82. Meet someone I used to hold a grudge against and bury the hatchet.
83. Forgive more easily and not bring up the past in every single argument.

Cooking and food
84. Learn to cook 10 different medium to high difficulty meals.
85. Eat vegetarian for a week.
86. Try 15 different types of food I have never tried before.
87. Make a roast meal for Sunday dinner.
88. Bake a cake from one of mom's recipes.

Miscellaneous
89. Find a job after graduation!
90. Kiss Bex. <3
91. Learn how to juggle.
92. Snowboard at least once every winter for a week.
93. Go to a BDSM club with Him.
94. Get a piercing.
95. Watch one film a week and blog about it.
96. Get quoted at Damned.
97. Do an all-nighter again.
98. See Bill Bailey live.
99. Meet a celebrity (preferably someone like Neil Gaiman or Terry Pratchett) and get a book signed by them.
100. Save up €100 every month.
101. Donate €15 to an animal shelter for every goal I fail to accomplish. Of course, blogging about each achieved goal is understood!

As adauga si "smile more" dar poate ca atunci sunt prea ambitioasa! ;) In orice caz tot ar fi ceva sa termin si jumatate din lista. Ar fi interesant sa vad daca mai preia cineva ideea. Stiu ca la un moment dat Spadez discuta cu mine pe tema asta. In fine, important e sa te distrezi cu proiectul. Din 25 incep eu. Voi de cand?

Thursday, 1 January 2009

do i follow the star or the gypsy king?

La Multi Ani, everyone! :D In timp ce lumea sarea de nebuna pe Animal (chi)X si Zdob si Zdub in Piata Constitutiei, am ales sa stau acasa, cu minunata galeata de haleala de la KFC, o pizza de Pizza Hut, bautura, sora si pisoi. Si, cum se decisese mai inainte, Mega Chat of Epic pe Yahoo.

Invitatii au fost Spadez, Roxa si Irinutza. S-au purtat discutii pe orice tema imaginabila, de la minunatiile TV gen Antene vs iRealitati, pana la nume de formatii. Am intrat in 2009 cu un chat de 60 de pagini. Cu ocazia acestei intalniri intre mai marii blogosferei, va spunem, muritorilor, ce am aflat:

  • Maretii vor vota fie pentru actualul comandant, fie vor face desene pe buletinul de vot.

    Avem o groaza de talent in noi si in curand vom castiga premii la Eurovision, Bestfest, Peninsula si Cerbul de Aur. De asemenea, domnul Moculescu va discuta de acum cu doritorii de concerte.

    Mama face prajituri bune. Puteti veni sa ne vedeti cum ajungem staruri dintr-o formatie de garaj.

    Virginitatea nu e ceva de care sa-ti fie rusine. De fapt, mai bine virgin decat clitoris international!

    Toti am avut, la un moment dat, bibeloaie in case. Cine nu a avut peste sau pescar e un ratat.

    De asemenea, regimul de bibelou comunist ne-ar fi putut transforma pe toti in criminali. Cu unii aproape ca s-a si intamplat!

    Fernando de la Caransebes in featuring. Primul concert in Bobohalme, la caminul cultural.

    S-a discutat sex appeal-ul blogosferei. S-a ajuns la o concluzie simpla: BUUUUCUUUUUREEEENCI!

    De asemenea, caii sunt barbatii viitorului.

    Credeti ca 2girls1cup e rau? Incercati lotus boob sau 1man1jar.

    In timp ce unii cauta salvarea in pamantul sfant al Piperei, fie ca sfantul Jiji sa ne proteze de boale, altii primesc binecuvantari divine. Ateii ard in iad.

    Y!M chat a devenit Hostel dupa vreo 3 ore. Eu disparusem pentru conversatia de Anul Nou cu EL. M-am intors, cu toate membrele la locul lor.

    In final, The Doggy Way s-au culcat, ca pinguinii.


  • Pe aceasta cale multumesc colegilor de trupa, pentru ca au fost EPIC si AWESOME si am avut un Revelion bestial. Daca nu credeti ca avem viata, nu aveti bilete la after party-ul de lansare al albumului de debut. Bistosh.

    Acest entry poate a fost un pamflet. Sau poate nu. Multumirile, persze sunt pe bune. =))

    Monday, 29 December 2008

    brighter than a lucky penny

    I Took The Handmade Pledge! BuyHandmade.org

    So, how many times have I promised to do this? A lot! While I'm still debating what to write for my list of 99 truths (I'm hardly on 48), here is the promised entry on handmade things. Since it's no longer a secret, for Ralu's birthday has come and gone, this is to promote a good friend of mine, along with a great website and a nice project.

    Kai is working towards a degree in art and in between classes, he makes sculptures, boxes and jewellery. Here are a couple of samples from his work:













    This is only a sample and while it might seem bizarre, it is worth noting that it is certainly different from what I've seen here so far. No two earrings are alike, meaning you can mix and match. I'm sure that some arrangement can be reached with Kai, in the event of wanting to order. To date, he does not have an Etsy shop, but I'll keep you posted on when it exists.

    Another website that warms my heart is Threadless, where I found beauties such as The Communist Party, this thing called sleep, artsy suicide and a passion for dance. And yes, I will be placing a hefty order there, because I love the designs and colours!

    Finally, for the hip and cool people, buying handmade is the new awesome thing, as this website wants us to do. So, sign the pledge, flick through Threadless galleries and think about the quirky art of Kai.

    A review for 2008 should follow, hopefully before the New Year rolls around! :D