Archive for the 'Entertainment' Category
Roma
When I took this one, I felt lonely. Rome is the kind of place that could be better if visited with company.
The picture still looks great, though. To be honest, I almost can’t remember being there anymore: seems too unreal.
http://direct.motorola.com/hellomoto/ZN5/experience/
As originally posted to my Facebook profile, originally doing free marketing for Motorola and another phone that surely takes better pictures than my best friend (my darling 2gb music-playing-phone with a big calendar, also known as “all that I’ll ever need inside my pocket”).
But hey, the idea of the site is awesome. It’s a true pity that someone more popular than myself didn’t post it on Facebook: I’m kinda sure that nobody took a look :( there are also a pair of nice videos…
I’m personally fascinated by each and every city mentioned on the site (ok, not so much about my own): Mexico City, New York, São Paulo, London, Moscow, Mumbai, Beijing and Sydney.
Most interesting is that it’s always possible to guess which city is on each picture; when not, it leads to delightful and unexpected mistakes.
Ah, for all of you that think of São Paulo as huge, with modern bridges and actually modern buildings and more to cars than just old VW Beetles, this is something to… make your point when talking to your friends.
Authory: unknown, unfortunately
One day, the following painting crossed my path:
The picture does not show, put there were around 25 other paintings pretty close to this one, hanging on the very same wall. Still, my eyes found this guy and paralyzed. Then I paralyzed. Must have looked very stupid, so suddenly.
It could and could not be a person. If you want, you can see little happy (and also unhappy) faces all over it.
I particularly liked the following idea: it’s someone plaing the cello. Yes, the cello would be floating. And yes, it would be supported by a tiny, yet smiling head. The three little arcs, upper left, would be hair. Well, and so on.
Another 5 minutes standing there, and here we go: could be also the same guy showering. His right hand is unusually huge, I’ll give you that; the left one is just hanging out up there, so he can wash his armpit with the biggest soap ever made by human race. Forcing even more, the explanation for the black “dots” all over the painting would be… bubbles. Never forget, also, that this guy doesn’t seem to enjoy the shower a lot.
Not too long ago, I would only say “bah” and ignore such a thing. But now, I can really spend a lifetime trying to catch any trace of meaning the painter might have wanted to express. Or maybe, any trace of meaning trapped in my own mind.
Disturbed, or peaceful. Lonely, or cheerful. Music playing, or soccer playing. So many antagonic possibilities. With so few colors and forms. How can something like this amaze me?
What to say about the half-lady on the left? Maybe she’s not there only by mistake of the photographer. Or maybe was the only picture that came out good. But then he would have cropped the image. Right?
Chasing the flame
Schedule is tightening up for important stuff, and I’m getting lazier by the hour, to do them. This makes me feel confused and strange, and sorry for not being in the mood to play any music at all… like I sort of promised.
Well, as time is not an issue, these days I finally paid an outrageous amount of money for a book, after ages waiting for it to come out translated: it just took too long, and I bought it in English.
Chasing the flame: Sergio Vieira de Mello and the fight to save the world is a biography written by the awarded journalist Samantha Power. She had the opportunity to meet the man who would very, very probably be Kofi Annan’s substitute.
I haven’t read much yet (go back to the first paragraph to know why), but this is a book I’ll surely read to the end. Soon.
For some time already, this inexplicable curiosity and admiration and delight about diplomacy has awaken inside of me. I can’t tell what the hell does this mean, as I can’t really explain what on Earth is going on: I’m terrible with words.
But I really want to learn more about the life of someone who’s been said to be one of the most charismatic, pragmatic and passionate diplomats of all time. Someone who’s seen the worst and the best of the world, and never felt satisfied with hipocrisy, lies or, unfortunately, just vicious will.
Sometimes one person can change something. Sometimes, millions of others… can’t.
… blablabla… yeah, anyways… point is… I, as a super-duper intelectual mind, recommend this book.
This is rather uncommon for this space, but oh well, here we go!
If you’re not aware, São Paulo (which happens to be the capital of the homonym state) (in Brazil) (and means Saint Paul, just like the capital of Minnesota) turned into one of the biggest and most important fashion poles on Earth. São Paulo Fashion Week features many famous stylists and fashion trademarks and whatsoever. I’m not really into fashion, so I beg your pardon for the lack of technical words and terms that would make all this blablabla much nicer to read.
And so it came to pass, that in São Paulo, these days, a new kind of lingerie was presented. “Woah” you might say. “WOAH” I said outloud, with no sarcasm or irony at all because I really enjoy the fashion world, as I started reading these news.
It’s… it’s… geez laweez…!! It’s a GPS tracked bra! How I’ve been looking for something like this!!!
Now I’ll be able to keep track of the moves every single one of my… many girlfriends make! So amazing! Thank you, US military, for making GPS satellites free for civillian use!
Or… but this is a big, big secret: I can finally keep track of my own moves, while wearing something comfy :)
PS: No picture this time. You see, I’ve searched flickr a little bit for “underwear”, “lingerie” and whatever. I’ll admit I found, khm, pretty good material *cough*, but also alternative stuff like men wearing… GAAH ok, I really don’t want to talk about this! For the safe side, so I can keep the age rating for my dear journal… NO PICTURES OF BARELY NAKED PEOPLE.
New idea
There are still a few band members to present (2 or 3), but I’m too shy and mostly lazy and disappointed with how I look like in a video.
But I had a new idea these days: I’ll (do my best to) record my favorite songs for different situations. It could be just “for a sad day” or “for a happy day” but that’s too cliché. I’ll try something different.
The initial idea was to simply publish the songs/compositions I like the most, but hey, I’m too young to be arrested and rot in jail. So I’ll give them my personal, swine touch: I’m sure that’s allowed.
This picture has no real meaning, as it is just a small table decoration. So, giving myself a free psychological analysis: it could be perhaps a little japanese woman singing, with her sloppy husband/partner twisting and going crazy with the music. Nothing that people won’t do for money…
Ah! If they were a group, I would call them “Mr. and Mrs. Sowieso”. Cool, oder?
Like they say on TV:
Beijo, me liga! :P
“See you” next time, whoever you might be.
Fernando lines up, like everyone else, for a standard anti-bomb verification on the entrance of the party.
Huge, tough, smile-to-me-and-die-instantly black security guy gives a look. With a slight “come to me” finger movement, chooses his pray. Boy looks like a goddam menace after all.
“So… should I maybe empty my pockets, you know, take all my knives and bombs out?”
“Young man, relax… I’m gonna have to put my hands all over this delicious body of yours anyway, don’t worry.” Sarcasm visible through thin air.
Starts patting legs. Interesting to mention that Fernando was wearing very annoying 1000-pocket trousers, particularly amusing for the situation.
“Man, I could get used to this stuff!”
“Ok I’m done, go before you ask my phone number…”
“Hmm, maybe next time then?”
“Oh next time I’m gonna charge you for that!”
“Thank you, have a nice evening!”
Tough guy laughs. Finally. I was already running out of options.
Now, back to the usual, quiet, nearly dead, self. Myself.
Mission accomplished.
There are only a few hours left to Oktoberfest. It’s ok for you to enjoy your last liters of beer, but it’s also maybe time to figure out what to do, when the party is over. Given that you’ll stay a bit more in Munich, of course: otherwise, farewell, fellow tourist.
Munich is considered a big city in Germany (actually the country’s third biggest urban concentration), and as such has a lot to offer in terms of job opportunities, entertainment and life in general, throughout all seasons of the year (believe me).
For starters, well, people may get mad at me for this, but I’ll be honest: there is ALWAYS a festival going on, and a festival, in Munich, means pretty much… to have a beer with your friends, outside.
Now I’m gonna talk about festivals. If you want to jump to the normal stuff, please do.
In the beginning of March, there’s the Starkbierfest (strong beer party). It’s pretty much the same as Oktoberfest, if you go to Paulaner’s main pub, for instance. Only much more dangerous because it’s still winter, and the beer is very strong. So, odds are you’ll get yourself overdrunk trying to get warm.
Later on, somewhere in May, there’s the StuStaCulum. It’s a festival held in the middle of the city’s largest student dormitory. It’s veeery cheap (3 euros for all the 4 days), and there’s a huge schedule of music concerts (rock, reggae, pop, hip-hop, …), art expositions and even theater, if I’m not mistaken. And beer. And food. It’s a bit warmer, and a very nice place to meet new people, people you know already, drink beer while eating an apple, you know, this kind of stuff. I particularly like this thing, better than Oktoberfest.
There wasn’t even enough time to get depressed, and there comes Tollwood, a “hippie” market with lots of handmade jewelry, clothes, even with a Navajo tent selling crazy native stuff (the creepy vendor really looks like a Navajo). Lots of music and theater as well, though a bit expensive. It’s located inside the Olympiapark, a very pleasant park. Of course there is food and drinks as well, but as it’s a hippie event, you’ll only find “natural” or “bio” stuff: bio burger, bio yakisoba, bio whatever. Another good place to get together with friends, talk, get a new job… walk around, alone…
After a short break, comes Oktoberfest, which I don’t want to write about again. Not now.
And as autumn goes by, and winter comes again, a variety of Christmas markets pops out in every square. And Winter Tollwood starts (yes, it’s true), this time at the same place where the Oktoberfest is held, Theresienwiese. Because it gets kind of chilly, people prefer drinking hot chocolate or, mostly, hot wine, to make small get-togethers a bit more cheerful. And to avoid getting too depressed with only 8 hours of sunlight on a day.
Hum this is getting real big. But I’ll go on.
Other than the festivals, as I mentioned before, there is a bunch of things you can do to enjoy life a little bit. I’ll mention my favorites:
1) Go to Olympiapark walk, talk, jogging, ice skating, swimming, play tennis, sit on a bench by the nearly frozen lake and watch the swanns and ducks drifting slowly in the water, fast asleep. The stars and the moon are also worth a look, with the Olympiaturm and the BMW building in the foreground… careful not to get frozen yourself. Early in the evening, near the sunset, it’s nice to climb one of the hills and watch everything change, a dark blue mantle slowly taking over the skies.
2) Go have a drink by yourself. Specially if you are in Schwabing, you’ll be able to find a decent pub within less than 1 kilometer from you. It’s expensive, but it’s somehow pleasant.
3) Go visit a museum/art gallery. There are so many, and they are very easy to find specially if you take the bus 100, a special line that stops by almost every museum and concert hall in town. You can visit one of the three Pinakotheken (old, new or modern), the Deutsches Museum (technical stuff), the Residenz (beatiful concert hall near downtown), Prinzregententheater… oh, it’s usually better to visit these places on Sundays: many of them cost only one euro then.
4) Go to a smaller pub, listen to live music. Unterfahrt Jazz Club is a place I liked a lot. Actually, and unfortunately, the only one I’ve been to. Twice.
5) Look for the Ostbahnhof, Kultfabrik or whatever, if you feel like dancing with lots of people. The big parties are all held over there, except for another place called Backstage, which I would say is a bit more… alternative. Not a good a idea to leave alone, drunk, when it’s raining. You might get very lost.
6) I forgot to write something about the Englischer Garten. But… I just won’t. It’s a big park, but by far NOT my favorite. Sorry, Englischer Garten… you lose. Big time.
That was pretty much it. Only thing I forgot is to mention that walking without a very well defined destination can be fun. Sometimes you find a hidden park, hidden garden, hidden policeman finding you suspicious… always a good adventure. Also a good opportunity to enjoy european architecture, and the curious contrast of sometimes finding tall buildings right next to something more than 500 years old.
A good opportunity to enjoy yourself. Or die trying…
Well in my defense, I can state that my right hand’s nails screw up a little bit when playing bass, ok?
“What do you have long nails in your right hand for, handsome?” Ouch. Wait a sec. The left hand is perfectly normal. And there’s a (hopefully) good reason for that. We’ll see tomorrow, maybe.
This time we had a better approach of something from the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and something called Jefferson Airplane (more or less, I invent a lot), which is really groovy.
By the way, until now I’ve been merciful and you hadn’t heard any vocals. Let’s keep it like this as long as possible; I changed my mind. Let Carla Bruni do her job, I do mine, you do yours, and we are all happy and smiling and the birds sing and the world is beautiful and warm.
