'Looking Glass Man'

'Looking Glass Man'

Ah, this looking-glass man!
Liar, fool, dreamer, play-actor,
Soldier, dusty drinker of dust-
Ah! he will go with me
Down the dark stairway
When nobody else is looking,
When everybody else is gone.

~Unknown writer

Coachella Music and Arts Festival 2006

Coachella Music and Arts Festival, (April 29th- 30th). First of all, I will tell you that it was a great experience, despite the enormous crowds (30 thou alone crowding in to see Madonna at the Sahara dance tent - a space by no means big enough for that many people, so imagine!). My friend and I careened just to catch a glimpse of her on the big screen and at her on the stage in the distance. We had to step over people and push our way through.. politely of course.

Well, anyway, for those who don't know, the Coachella Music and Arts Festival is a colossal, super-duper festival in the middle of the California desert in a place called Indio, CA (near the well-known Palm Springs). It is usually a festival meant to showcase new and upcoming mostly independent artists, but it has grown to include more mainstream artists as well, such as Madonna and Depeche Mode (the headliners for Saturday and Sunday nights respectively).

Matisyahu - the first and probably only Hasidic (Orthodox Jew) Reggae Rapper was one of the acts on Sunday. Massive Attack, the relatively well-known yet still somewhat underground techno-downbeat oriented British (I believe) band with a laid-back yet subtly intense vibe played on Saturday night. I must say, what I saw and heard of them was very interesting. I wish I heard them more. I was buying their CD (and many others) at the time actually, and sort of missed their live performance. A no-no by the way. Also - Massive Attack have collaborated with Madonna as well as a host of other artists who wanted a lad-back techno remix of one of their songs. Since it is late, I will stop here.

Above picture, Lightning Machine at Coachella 2004
Copyright © 2005, Silver Fire Productions

The Oscars! (78th Annual Academy Awards)

Be sure to watch the Oscars, the biggest show for Hollywood, showing Sunday, March 5th.

Movies up for Best Picture include:

Brokeback Mountain
Capote
Crash
Good Night, and Good Luck
Munich

See http://www.oscar.com/ for more information on all nominations.

Must hear music!

February 2006

I heard him on one of the late shows at night, but didn't know who he was, until I saw his name and likeness recently on iTunes... Matisyahu.. possibly the first Hasidic reggae-rapper. He is an Orthodox Jew who raps in reggae style with some Hasidic chants. Very creative and new. His music has a decidely spiritual undertone with catchy beats and the usual circular rhythms of reggae. It is relaxing, energetic and spiritual all at once. Very uplifting. You should hear it!

December 2005 - Present

Walk the Line, soundtrack to the film, 2005

Soundtrack to the creatively inspiring and brilliant film about Johnny Cash's life, Walk the Line. All songs brilliantly and authentically sung by the stars of the film, Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon. They do a brilliant job of portraying the musical duo and later, couple in life, Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash. If you are a fan of Johnny Cash's music, as well as June Carter's music and others of that era, or simply a fan of the film, you must get this soundtrack! Joaquin Phoenix up for Best Actor nomination. Movie up for other Oscar nominations as well. Watch the show on Sunday, March 5th!

Hustle 'n' Flow, soundtrack to the film, 2005

Originally premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, 2005, and at the Cinevegas Film Festival, 2005, this film about a down and out man finds a way to fulfill his dream and inspire others around him. Star of the film, Terrence Howard, now up for Oscar Nomination.

October, 2005

Just wanted to mention some recently discovered music: The White Stripes, real down-to-earth Detroit or any kind of rock. Recommend the album De Stijl. Also, their new album, Get Behind Me Satan, is a continuation of their hard rock, gritty, down-to-earth sound. Check it out!

The Shadow of the Sun

SHADOW OF THE SUN

As the sun lays its shadow upon your soul
The rays of it take control
Your thoughts are not your own
But to someone else they do belong
Lost you are to the tides of thought
Swirling and whirling inside your mind
Shadow reigns and doubt remains
As the waves of thought engulf your heart

© Elizabeth Aralica
Babbling Brooks Productions 2005

Chimaera

Chimaera

Thou silver-tongued operator!
Dreaming of power, longing for absolution
How inarticulate and glib you are as you chase the chimaera of control…
Taciturn Gorgon, loquacious in turn of mind
Mind the brass lantern of the soul!

Copyright, 2005-2006, Elizabeth Aralica
© Babbling Brooks Productions 2006

Dead Can Dance

Experienced the phenomenon of Dead Can Dance this past weekend at the Paramount Theatre in Seattle (www.paramountheatre.com). Yes, I made a special trip out there just to see them! (And of course visit some family out there as well.) Anyway, they were phenomenal. Not only is their music impeccable and far-reaching musically, but their live production at a show sounds like a CD. There were three standing ovations for them and they did two encores. A live recording of that show and many others are coming out in mid-November. Check it out at www.deadcandance.com and also http://www.dcddiscs.com/. It's worth it.

London

I think that the terrorists made a mistake bombing in London. Don't they know how resilient and unfearing the Londoners are? They simply go about their daily business, going right on the buses and trains the very next day. Anyway, that's across the board - if we don't give into the fear, they can't win.

Technorealism

Found some interesting sites to do with technology today, courtesy of someone from the library:

First of all: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page

Second: http://www.technorealism.org/

Both of these sites talk about the advent of technology and what it does to society. Check out this link specifically from the first site: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luddite

It describes a "Luddite" - which in modern terms "has been used to describe anyone opposed to techological progress and technological change."

I for one am not quite a "luddite" - I love computers, I practically live on them, but I do understand the deeper implications of technology taking over society. Take for instance The Matrix series of movies. For those not aware, those movies depict what would happen if computers gained their own intelligence, known as 'Artifical Intelligence" or AI for short. In short, the movies play out the conflict between the creatures of flesh and blood and memory chips and electricity. Considering that our brains/minds are made of small chips called neurons and electricity as well, are we really so different? Are we? Does that mean that we should let machines or technology take over completely? These are some of the questions posed by technorealists.

The broken ball

I was driving to work the other day when I saw one of those plastic playballs you find in the supermarket in the middle of the freeway. I thought to myself, "Oh, I hope that doesn't break."
Just then, an SUV drove right over it and it was flattened in no time flat. It seems like a small symbol of innocence lost.

Cinevegas Film Festival 2005

The Cinevegas Film Festival was in town from June 10 to June 18.

Notable films include:

Fifth World - a story about young Navajo Indians that hitchhike through their ancestral lands and what they learn about their culture and each other. Very interesting and notable film. There are not many Native American films about if you haven't noticed, so one should check them out when they're out.

Buy It Now - a 16 year old sells her virginity on ebay. A sign of our times really when girls will do just about anything to get designer clothes and items. Have you heard about "suburban prostitutes?" There are actually young girls, like teenagers, living in suburban neighborhoods, who actually sell themselves to buy designer items.

The Aristocrats - A film about an old joke told since the days of Vaudeville by numerous modern comedians. A word of warning: this is not a movie for the faint-hearted. Hint: it is a very dirty joke. You'll have to see it to believe it. Playing now in more than just Los Angeles and New York.

Saw/heard Christopher Walken and Nicolas Cage speak about their careers. Nicolas Cage has been known for his voice inflections and expressionistic hand gestures, etc. He related that to being inspired by the German Expressionistic films and the silent films such as Doctor Caligari. I found him fascinating. Christopher Walken is also known for his unique voice inflections and subtle performances. The panel also mentioned that he has been trained as a dancer from the time he was two years old. We viewed King of New York.

This is just a taste of what the Cinevegas Film Festival has to offer. If you happen to be in town, or live in Las Vegas, you ought to come by and see what's it's all about! Thanks for reading!

Comedy vs. Tragedy

I was reminded of this quote today, I forgot who wrote it though:

Life is a comedy to those who think and a tragedy to those who feel.

If you think about it, you will see it's true.

The Wolves Within

Note:

I got this from a quotes list I was on, I am not sure of the origin. I know it is an old American Indian tale. I am not taking credit for this story. If this is not allowed to be re-told, I apologize and will remove it. It is: A Native American tale told many times
Around the Sacred Fire, courtesy of: http://www.barefootsworld.net/wolveswithin.html

The Wolves Within

An old grandfather said to his grandson, who came to him with anger at a friend who had done him an injustice, "Let me tell you a story."

"I too, at times, have felt a great hate for those who have taken so much with no sorrow for what they do; but hate wears you down and does not hurt your enemy. It is like taking a poison and wishing your enemy would die. I have struggled with these feelings many times."

He continued, "It is as if there are two wolves inside me; one is good and does no harm. He lives in harmony with all around him and does not take offense when no offense was intended. He will only fight when it is right to do so, and in the right way.

But...the other wolf...Ah! The littlest thing will send him into a fit of temper. He fights everyone, all of the time, for no reason. He cannot think because his anger and hate are so great. It is helpless anger, for his anger will change nothing."

"Sometimes it is hard to live with these two wolves inside me, for both of them try to dominate my spirit."

The boy looked intently into his grandfather's eyes and asked, "Which one wins, Grandfather?"

The grandfather smiled and quietly said, "The one I feed."

A word to the wise about "Spam"

A word to the wise about 'spam' or junk mail. Yes, I found some gems of fiction and what-not in spam emails, but spam is a serious time waster and sometimes more. When at all possible, try to avoid doing too much with it. Under no circumstances should you respond to spam emails, that's just what they want you to do. That way, they know your email exists, you just confirmed it for them, and also the 'spammers' will put you on numerous other email lists without your consent. Some or most of them actually make money off of this.

There is a trick to knowing for sure if an email is not spam, (just in case you can't tell). Open up the email and press select all, if strange, no-nonsense characters and bits of writings here and there show up, you know that that is spam and that was probably sent by 'zombies' - which are computers that, unbeknowst to innocent computer users, have been used to produce and send more spam out. Yes, spam has become sentient in a way and is like a virus, sending itself out like so many tendrils from the Matrix.

favorite authors/recommended reading

Victor Hugo - Les Miserables
D.H. Lawrence
Oscar Wilde

Deepak Chopra -
Soulmate, The Book of Secrets, The Way of the Wizard (all excellent reading!)

More recommended books:

Psyche's Seeds
Joseph Campbell - The Hero's Journey

Notable movie quote for today

From the movie Tadpole, quotes by either Voltaire or Mirabeau:

"One should always aim at being interesting rather than exact."

"The composition of tragedy requires testicles."

A personal favorite:

"Cherish truth, pardon error."

And finally:"Every man is guilty of the good he didn't do."

Recommended films for 2004-2005

From 2004: now on DVD

Girl with a Pearl Earring - artistic, intellectual and erotic. Some say not satisfying in that sense, but that's a matter of opinion. It is very worth watching if only as an authentic period piece at the very least. (I was reminded of this since it was on a movie channel recently). Love the music too! (On DVD and the movie channels and your local rental store!)

The Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind - a moving rendition of the ups and downs of a romantic relationship. (Now on DVD)(Oscar Contender as well?)

Late 2004 and 2005: Oscar Contenders:

The Aviator - another authentic and ultimately satisfying representation of one of the wealthiest and most eccentric, yet darkly heroic men of our time. Leonard Dicaprio does an excellent job to boot at portraying this icon of modern times.

Finding Neverland - touching, moving and poignant. Johhny Depp and Kate Winslet exhibit 'stellar' performances. Another authentic representation of the period.

On a lighter note: from 2004

In the cartoon realm: The Incredibles, - pardon the pun, but it is nothing less than incredible in its graphics and humor as well.

A must-see for a light romantic comedy with 'Hollywood Hope'for a romantic relationship, hey - if it makes you feel good, it can't hurt.

The Wedding Date - it has the England/America formula ala almost every Hugh Grant movie, but it's not, it does its own thing. Debra Messing was great, and so was Dermot Mulroney. That's all I want to say for now.

Here's the description from moviefone.com:

Debra Messing plays Kat, a never-married New Yorker facing a dilemma: her ex-fiancé will be the best man at her younger sister's wedding! In a desperate attempt to face the ordeal with dignity, Kat hires Nick (Dermot Mulroney), a charming and handsome professional male escort, to pose as her new boyfriend and escort her to the wedding. But what starts out as a pretend relationship begins to turn into something entirely unexpected: a second chance at love.

Movie quote for the day

"The more esteemable the offender, the greater the torment"

- Voltaire

From the movie Tadpole

MoRe SpOeMs

I got another part of The Walrus and the Carpenter today from a piece of spam:

The Walrus and the Carpenter Pt.1

The sun was shining on the sea,
Shining with all his might:
He did his very best to make
The billows smooth and bright-
And this was odd, because it was
The middle of the night.

Here's another notable 'spoem' found within an email about a 'personal satellite navigator.' I really like this one. It was entitled - Chicago Poet Pt.2, but I call it..

'Looking Glass Man'

Ah, this looking-glass man!
Liar, fool, dreamer, play-actor,
Soldier, dusty drinker of dust-
Ah! he will go with me
Down the dark stairway
When nobody else is looking,
When everybody else is gone.

So, before you mindlessly throw that spam away, maybe you should think twice and see if there's a 'spoem' in there. Ha ha ha.

Here's yet another one from today:

Chicago Poet Pt.1

I saluted a nobody.
I saw him in a looking-glass.
He smiled-so did I.
He crumpled the skin on his forehead,
frowning-so did I.
Everything I did he did.
I said "Hello, I know you."
And I was a liar to say so.

Notable or favorite movie quotes

From the movie Tadpole: quotes by Voltaire or Mirebeau

"Cherish truth, pardon error."

From The Wedding Date, out of the mouth of the escort:

"Every woman has the love life she wants"

I'm your huckleberry!

- From Tombstone, spoken by Doc Holladay, played by Val Kilmer

I've got two guns, one for the each of ya!

- Doc Holladay, drunk as usual, but still with his wits about him