Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Big Sur by Jack Kerouac
So I just finished listening to the audiobook of Big Sur. Wunderbar! Superb. Like it even, dare I say, better than On The Road, which I read just about a year ago this month. I can't recall at the moment the specifics of the audio version at the moment, consider them *to be added at a later date*, because I liked it and feel that it should be mentioned. I dug this book I think more than On The Road I think because I like the vulnerability expressed in it. Weakness and strength, and death and life. He really gets into I think what it means to be alive, I guess, that it always requires your participation if you want it to truely be your own, though it nevertheless happens and this is out of your control. Jack slips into an alcoholic haze of inner chaos, beginning at Big Sur on the beach in the dark and ending at Big Sur in the daylight. He is tortured by the necessity of death, which is something that I appriceated because I often feel the same, in the way he describes it, about the inevitable tragedy of everything in the end. Like, for example, his sorrow over his cat (something I went through after a I misinterpreted a photo that was sent to me in 2005 from home when I was in Denmark, when I thought my little Nicky was gone forever and I couldn't be there to say goodbye. (I was wrong then, but alas, Nicky died the summer I returned home from Europe anyways.) The pain he feels when he sees death is the same that I feel when I see a little squirrel on the side of the road, a victim of mismanaged nature, or when my cat Lilu brings in mice from around the neighborhood and leaves them on the porch to spend their last moments. This, of course, is the most natural of things, but it still saddens me and is one of the many reasons I am a vegitarian. Beyond that I feel that he successfully captures the reality of withdrawl. Of the madness of it. There are things you can take for pain, but the madness can't be avoided. And it is maddening indeed. Where On The Road is the classic Kerouac style beat-adventure, Big Sur pulls back the curtain to reveal the absolut un-glamour of the beat lifestyle, reveals a kind of tragic maturity or wisdom, that however fascinating and beautiful the human condition is in all of it's romance and tragedy and comedy, just the fact that is IS beautiful doesn't mean that is is easy, and the sweetness of death or of pain or of anything utterly thought to be scary and bad does not compare to the sweetness of a sun-ripened peach or a can of soda, but is more the aweful sweetness of that moment of clarity where you finally understand what you've been doing wrong, for example, or of a lesson learned. I guess that still doesn't explain it really, but if you understand it then you understand it and if you don't then you will eventually, when it happens to you. The sweetness of somehing sucking so hard but you still get through it anyways and you can never get rid of it. Okay I will stop now, can you tell I have nothing else to do at the moment? So I guess what I was trying to say is that the book os good. And you should read it. Period.
Thursday, June 21, 2007
Frankfurt!
Pj
Simon Summer 07
Tuesday, June 07, 2005
more self destructive than the letter N
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Kids Show. I know I linked this to my other blog a while ago, but I watched it again just recently and was inspired to keep spreading the word. This is a warped kids show, full of dark humor that features theories on creation, informative street interviews, sin and a trip to the hot dog factory. It's a good sample of the better things accomplished by those with active imaginations and too much time on their hands. I would recommend it to fans of 'Rejected' and other such works.
If you're having trouble finding quick online entertainment that's not geared towards frat boys, here's something to hold you over. If you choose to check it out, you should tell me what you think. Also, if you know of any clips, sites or other media along the these lines, do share! I promised your name will be immortalised on my site if you come up with a good one. Or maybe I'll hook you up with a vitrual high-five if that's what you would prefer.
Thanks for stopping by ya'll and take care.
Times They Are A Changin'
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Well, I suppose they are for me...Why, you ask?
I have been able to wake up earlier and earlier and this is not normal. I've been up on an average of 10am these days---even when I DON'T HAVE TO BE! normally, even with an alarm and obligations, the EARLIEST I would be up is noon. Much later if I had no obligations. Of course, the fact that it is getting lighter and lighter earlier helps. What really started it was the chaotic chirping birds right outside my window each dawn, but they must be taking a break...I haven't heard them in few days. Perhaps they've gone on tour? So, in place of their frenetic melodies, I have chosen to start drinking coffee - another big change for me. I'm a tea person. I figure gettting used to it now will help me keep up this sleep schedule and allow for a more productive summer.
So, in light of the fact that I'm not a big fan of plain old coffee, and that I like to mess around, I did a little flavor experiment and it turned out quite delectably.
Try this:
Get some nice organic shade-grown French or Italian blend coffee (or whatever blend you particularly prefer) from one of your local food markets, some dryed rose hips, lavender, organic honey and brown sugar and some soy creamer. With the amount of coffee used for an 8 cup pot, add about a half a teaspoon of both the lavender and the rose hips to the grounds (don't grind them with the coffee, though). I put a little less than a teaspoon of both the honey and the brown sugar in the pot so it would be dissolved by the time the coffee was done percolating, it seems to work. Then add as much creamer as you like to your cup. It makes for a beverage with a nice smooth flavor that's not artificial tasting or overbearingly sweet with a subtle floral aroma. Nice and springy, indeed. It would probably be good iced as well.
I'm pleased with my creation, which is easy enough to put together, and if you decide to try it you should tell me what you think...
Otherwise, thanks for stopping by and take care!
If you care to, you may also check out One The Balcony, the online musings inspired by the existential crisis I call my life. It also has more photos. Mmm.
Monday, June 06, 2005
Tracks I can't get enough of at the moment:
Of Montreal ~ "Vegan in Furs"; Satanic Panic in the Attic (2004), Polyvinyl
"Tim I Wish You Were Born a Girl"; Cherry Peel (1997), bar/none
Joanna Newsom ~ "The Book of Right-On", "This Side of the Blue", "Inflammatory Writ";
The Milk-Eyed Mender (2004), Drag City
Yo La Tengo ~ "Autumn Sweater"; "Autunm Sweater" EP (2003), Matador
Neva Dinova ~ "Meetings For Surrender", "At least the Pain is Real", Neva Dinova:
Self Titled CD (2003), Crank!
The Faint ~ "Take Me to the Hospital"; Saddle Creek 50 (2003), Saddle Creek
Immortal Technique ~ "Dance with the Devil"; Revolutionary vol. 2 (2003), Viper
"No Mercy"; Revolutionary vol. 1 (2002), Viper
...and of course the usual. Now you know, and you should check them out yourself. Take care.
Tuesday, March 29, 2005
Ichi the Killer - Film
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Why is Takeshi Miike so utterly fantastic. What we have here is a yakuza/action film turned cult. I can't say too much about the plot because I'm no spoiler, so I will only say this much:
In the quiet little gangster neighborhood of Shinjuku, yakuza Boss Anjo goes missing, and the gangsters of the powerful Anjo group (many Miike regulars) must find him, sparing no life or expense. Kakihara (Tadanobu Asano), of the Anjo group, is determined to find his boss (and S&M partner...) using his expertise in torture and masochism to get his information. This guy is nuts, and he has done some interesting thing with his, well, face. Dig it. So, anyways, while Kakihara and his comrades are terrorizing the city...and many-a-yakuza...a young boy (Nao Omori) and his mentor Jijii (Shinya Tsukamoto) might be causing some trouble of their own. Lot's of competitive torture, unlucky prostitutes, vengance, tragedy, blood, guts, searing hot oil, shoes with razors, obsessions, delusions, illusions, morals, uncomfortably pointy objects, chains, running, fighting, sex, sex bi-products, suits and sequined shirts, you name it...Miike delivers! The most bizaare, and usually most f@#!ed up thing that could possibly happen in each situation, in each scene, DOES. Oh yes. It almost can come off as predictable, but in the most gratifying way, if you like the rather shocking sort of stuff. By the way, you MUST watch the unrated version to get the full effect, otherwise you are being cheated.
I reccomend this one. Very much. It's very cool. Check it out.
Friday, February 18, 2005
"America" - Allen Ginsberg - Poem
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| America I've given you all and now I'm nothing. I'm addressing you. Asia is rising against me. America how can I write a holy litany in your silly mood? |
Wednesday, February 09, 2005
FACTOTUM - Charles Bukowski - Book
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This novel was written by Bukowski in 1975, it was his second and the first I have read of his works. Factotum is an excerpt from the life of Henry Chinaski, Bukowski's autobiographical character, through the days and long nights he spends drinking cheap whiskey (one of my personal favorites) and port wine...moving from town to town, job to job, woman to woman, drunkenly saturated with dark humor and existential observation of the events of a life lived by a man with no need for a purpose or a denomination. The simplicity of this account is sincere and gives a character to the indolent nature of it's affairs, while not boring the reader with any redundant details one all to often finds in less unique imitations of such novels.
Given the book's autobiographical nature and insomniaic (I may or may not have just made up that word) temperament, it is essentailly pieced together with no central plot enveloping its events, as in real life, so there isn't much more I can convey to you except that it should be read. It serves more as an example, as different perspective on the way the hours pass and how people and investments come and go and should be part of the collection or repertoire of anyone who appriceates contemporary american literature.
...If my comments on this book have prompted your desire to read it (which they should have), all I ask is that you DON'T purchase it at some franchised/corporate bookstore. Show some love to the locals, it's fantastic karma if you're into that sort of thing. Thanks.
Nói (Nói albínói) - Movie
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This film is what I would define as a more sophisticated, realistic version of a romantic drama/comedy. It is one of those movies that, I think, would be far more effective as a book. I must say though, I did like it.
The story follows Nói, a jaded seventeen year-old living in the remote small town of Bolungarvík in western Iceland, through the trials and tribulations of a life being lived in the middle of nowhere. Although he is established as an individual of exceptional intelligence, his ambition is handicapped by boredom and routine. If he is not alone in the tiny cellar under his grandmothers house smoking cigarettes and listening to music, he is skipping class and spending his time buying malts (bought with the money made from a rigged slot machine) at the local coffee shop/gas station.
Then, the monotonous course of a passing day takes a turn for the better with the introduction of a beautiful city-girl named Iris, the newest employee at the station and Nói's newest romantic conquest. Despite being threatened by the owner of the local bookestore (Iris's father) to leave her alone, Nói can't help himself nor find a genuine reason not to persue her. This girl has seemed to awaken something in Nói, enkindling his until-then latent desire for more than his dreary hometown has to offer. This subsequently leads to aspirations of leaving it altogether, and of course taking his new jewel with him, causing a series of ups and downs, romantic and comedic situations which are as witty as they are remarkable.
Personally, I appriceated not only the insight of this film, regarding what life may have been like if one were born into such a situation, but also its aesthetically pleasing quality. The beauty of the rural icelandic landscapes depicted were of the calibur of the vistas one might see in such a film as Baraka, which a mere postacard could hardly do justice to.
With the relatively un-alluded-to closure of the film, the story as a whole served (to me) as an example of how trifiling things in life truely are, whether you choose to concern yourself with them or not. The frustrating reality of the conclusion may even manifest itself as a lesson to the hesitant or to those who allow thier attachments to arrest what they intuitively desire. I would recommend Nói to anyone who is looking for something that will play on thier appriceation of cleverly comic situations, which at times is honestly romantic yet not over-saturated with such circumstances, and that also stimulates an array of funamentally different emotions and sentiment.
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On a scale of 1-10*...7.
For a more info on Nói, check this out.
*The rating system is purely based on The Alyssa Standard.
