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Scola’s movies are prolonged conversations.

In la famiglia it’s between fathers and sons, mothers and daughters, sisters and cousins and everyone else remotely related - the entire gamut of connections that make up the web of family.

In la nuit de varennes the talk is between social classes, aristocrat and revolutionary, artist and bourgeois, but also moral classes, libertine and conservative, or gender: men and women. The conversations are always anchored in one place, a turn of the century apartment in la famiglia, a postal carriage in la nuit de varennes. the camera and characters travel through through the rooms and corridors of the former in repetitive patterns that both signal the passage of time and underscore the cyclical nature of it.

in la nuit de varennes, it’s the carriage that is the container for the key characters and like the events of the period, it doesn’t stand still, but moves forward ineluctably. it sweeps through space and time - an increasingly sinister French countryside - in a matter of days, charting a metaphorical journey through a nation in the throes of revolution.

The characters log their own arduous journeys- personal, psychological - and none escapes the violence of history raging outside unscathed; they witness how the social and political fabric that has molded their identity and understanding of themselves is torn apart and reconfigured, largely without their consent and participation.

The chatter inside the carriage, a stew of prophecies and running commentary,  is punctuated by the rapid escalation of events outside. this carriage, in scola's hands, becomes a time machine, transporting us back to a window in history when the revolution was not a fact, but an apocalyptic possibility to some, a mind-boggling reversal of fortune to others, and a vague, not necessarily welcome distraction to a few.

There is an interesting parallel between Vittorio Gassmann as the resigned, bemused and mildly reluctant patriarch in la famiglia, and the unlikely father figure of the aging Casanova played by Mastroianni in Varennes. Both, by sheer virtue of advanced age, stumble more than tread into the role of pater familias, presiding over an extended cast of erring and errant characters.

Mastroianni’s Casanova much against his will becomes a reference point for the disparate assembly that collides in the cramped, claustrophobic carriage, mainly because he is imbued with experience, yet detached from life. Alone among all the characters tossed about - by bad roads, the forces of change - Casanova is a paragon of calm and indifference, having narrowed his expectations down to eating and sleeping. 

scola in fact portrays him as on the run, not from the revolution, but from his own imprudent past, which is harassing him in the shape of count waldstein's officers. captured, he is returned, in the end, to an unbearable existence as caged librarian. casanova, at heart more an individualist than a revolutionary, is fighting for freedom, but strictly his own and his efforts ultimately are as futile as those of the austrian countess fighting to preserve a world on the brink of collapse.

casanova's indifference to the cataclysmic events of the moment, his focus on the basic, repetitive acts of human survival, hark back to the immutable and permanent that underlies human life, despite the convulsions that risk annihilating it every so often. It’s a repetitiveness that we also encounter in la famiglia, not just in the solid perpetuity of the apartment itself, but in those recurring gestures and words and patterns of behaviour that fill it and stubbornly establish the continuity of life.

Presentazione Rassegna  a cura di Massimiliano Palmese

La rassegna è composta da film e documentari gay e queer che  OMOVIES porta in visione a Napoli e che raccoglie il meglio di quanto il panorama nazionale e internazionale abbia offerto nelle ultime stagioni cinematografiche.

In programma: il cartone animato-scandalo "Rick & Steve, la coppia gay più felice del mondo"; il documentario "Le regole del Vaticano", una riflessione su religione e omsessualità;  "Stracult- Mondo gaio" presentato da RaiSat, un "blob" su come il cinema italiano nel tempo ha rappresentato gay e lesbiche; il film "Corazones de mujeres", commovente road-movie Torino-Casablanca;  alcuni titoli della distribuzione  italiana  Fourlab: "Latter days", "Boy culture" e la deliziosa commedia lesbo "El favor"; e "Naked boys singing", il film tratto dal musical americano recitato da ragazzi completamente nudi, che vanta una lunga tradizione di successi in tutto il mondo

OMOVIES  vuole raccontare alla platea più vasta possibile proprio questo movimento, e lo farà sulle immagini di film americani 

Certo non dimenticheremo la produzione italiana: le ultime stagioni hanno visto l’uscita di Cover Boy, Riparo, Altromondo, All’amore assente. Ma l’Italia ultimamente è molto attiva anche nel settore documentaristico. I lavori made in Italy riflettono quasi tutti sul ritardo del Belpaese rispetto all’Europa in tema di diritti glbt. E così se il coraggioso Le regole del Vaticano ne ricorderà la causa, Senza fine ne racconterà gli effetti, mentre Le famiglie arcobaleno dipingerà una società italiana già rinnovata al suo interno e che suggerisce la strada per il definitivo superamento delle ipocrisie.

Ummmm, can we say cheating????

Now, I can honestly say that I am done being sad about it. As I was stalking him last night on MySpace I happened to see a picture of her and...she is sloppy, not so pretty, and kinda fat! I am so happy for him. :)

So enough about that...I can now move on!

So last Friday, I went out with one of my bestest buddies in the world, Batman, to see Mike & Joe at a local bar and we had soooo much fun! After we were done partying it up there we went to another one of our favorite bars and met up with more of our friends Casanova and his bitchy girlfriend, and this guy from work (haven't come up with a clever nickname for him yet. Don't worry it will come to me!). By this time I was good and drunk, and I haven't been laid in almost 3 freaking weeks, so I was feeling a little amorous.

Let me paint a picture for you, I am 5'2", not tall by anyone's standards, GFW is at least 6'7". So things are difficult to say the least, since I am - ummmm - tipsy. But I decided it was a good idea to let him bring me home anyway. For all of you out there that read  this, let me give you some advice, do not go home with a co-worker. There is soooo much stress that Monday wondering what, if anything, he is going to say to you. It leads to teeth grinding, and headaches. Trust me.

But it was fun...

I have also been invited to a Halloween party, and there will be a guy there who has a crush on me. So I will, of course, be dressing exceptionally slutty that night. I already have a fun pink wig and some fake eyelashes. Just need the right outfit....

Anyways, the 2 tracks I did, "Harus Bagaimana" and "Karena" (a remake of an old track we collaborated on) really fit his style and I honestly believe they will do very well in Indonesia considering the state of RnB there. I'm from Indonesia, so I hope they catch on in some way and I get some of that 'reflected glory' producers usually get. There are a lot of Indonesian RnB artists that I'd love to have an opportunity to work with and hopefully this can open a few doors for me.

From all indications, "Harus Bagaimana" is gonna be one of his radio singles, so I'm ecstatic about that. With his permission, I put together the making of the beat and a little snippet of the track.

After the jump, check out the live performance he did of 'Harus Bagaimana' at the UN End Hunger Event in Jakarta.

Check out the album later in stores 2008!

For those who don't know, Loves Labours Lost is a play by Shakespeare. A comedy, as far as Shakespeare's comedies go anyway lol. But it was suprisingly funny. And being at the front was so awesome.... like being in the action, actors whip past you, I swear I got brushed by one of the hugely ornate dresses that one of the 4 main women were wearing. It was so cool... if you were in the audience, I was in the front row, right on the end on the left, seat A 36, you really are so close, so much closer than I thought I'd be....

The story is basically this, 4 guys swear off women to study for 3 years, and then 4 women, a princess and her ladies come from France, each guy falls for one of the girls(lucky they didnt fall for the same one really...) and they all plot to get round the deal they made to steer clear of women. There are plenty of laughs, audience participation, a weirdass Spanish pirate type character named Armado, who had a mini version of him following him round. Which was so funny, he was the comic relief definately, although the rest was funny too lol, Tennant was brilliant as always, and the outfits were fantastic, hats off to the costume designer Katrina Lindsay, they were so ornate and gorgeous... I wanna go again just so I can watch the sparkles more, I was mesmorised at quite a few points, distracted from watching Tennant, thats an acomplishment on its own. And Tom Davey was yummy too!! Great legs, all the 4 main guys had great legs, shame the blonde one(Sam Alexander) was shorter than the other 3... All four of the guys, Tennant, Davey, Alexander and Edward Bennett were in Hamlet, so it was great to see them again, in uber-funky outfits, and tights...oh the legs....and the puffy pants lol. Such a good night.... I wish you were allowed to take pictures of the acting.... but I wouldn't post them yet anyway. I have a few photos of the set which I took during the intervel, but I don't want to ruin anything, not until someone else posts photos up first, I don't want to be responsible for spoiling the suprises.

I'm ashamed to say I did go to the stage door after the show.... but I was nowhere near the most obsessed person there, one lady(much older than me)brought roses... she was sitting on the shame row as me, and tried to give them to him when he came out at the stage door, but she failed. :is strangely smug....: Poor guy was only wearing a tshirt and jeans when he came out to sign stuff... And because I wasn't obsessed enough, and because I was sitting at the front(took longer to get out) I didnt get close enough to the front, so i didnt get a signiture. Not the end of the world, and being at the front, so close to all the actors, is more than enough compensation. And, not only that, I got the signiture of the actor who played Bostard, Ricky Champ, who was awesome, mucho funny! Him being dragged along by a rope by the mini Armado was a great laugh.

And to end, two of the photos I took outside the stage door, I should have concentrated on the photos instead of trying for an autograph, since I was too far for an autograph really... But I got one semi-decent photo of Tennant, and one of Champ, Ricky Champ has a great name lol. Champ!! Anyways, photos...

Anyway, thats enough for my rant of LLL. It was awesome, WAY more fun than Hamlet was, but I don't suppose Hamlet was meant to be fun lol. Either way, I really enjoyed it, and wish I could go again. Even considering buying tickets on ebay.... because it really is awesome.

The men I know stay true to their plain looking wives even up to their last breath. Most of them reach the age of 90 and yet not an iota of stain for infidelity. The other set of men I know, married to smart and beautiful women are the Casanovas. They maintain paramours as a “status quo” in society. To fall in love with the latter could be a real misfortune considering the pain, heartaches and mental anguish one suffers.

After all these years of locking anger and turbulent emotions, I couldn’t believe I put this in writing. This is a case of skeleton in the closet but it really doesn’t matter anymore. I have to share this with other women who one way or another had undergone “a scorned love” from their men. This is a story that was a dream come true but became a never ending nightmare.

I fell in love with the man I married at age 18 and despite pleas from my family nothing could stop me. I was in love with love but the euphoria of that marriage was short-lived. I found out I was not alone in his life neither would ever be alone. There was a parade of women. The shamelessness of the act pushed me almost to oblivion. The humiliations were unbearable. People looked at me with pity and smirks in their eyes.

Anyhow, am I the only woman scorned?

Pride prevailed. I didn’t want to be called a failure and for this reason, annulment was never considered. I wouldn’t deprive the comfortable life from my kids neither tag them as products from a broken home. Like a lioness over her cubs, I was vigilant in the growing up of my offspring. The irresponsible actions? I let those passed and suffered in dignity. Definitely I became a doormat. People who empathized with my pains, especially my parents and siblings urged me to end the charade.

I opted to stay, finished a bachelor’s degree and went to work. Things which gave strength were the things I sought. No idle moments for me or dwell on the misfortune I got entrapped. I have reconciled to the sexuality of the man I married. One line I learned from a movie was; “sometimes in life there is no better way for things to be done except to let go."

Why I persisted? There are justifications:

*my kids did not become dysfunctional; despite the struggle they witnessed at home, they were recipients of deep love and ultimate sacrifice

*they are successful in their respective careers- presently

*they have families of their own now (happily married)

*being good parents to their offspring

Sexuality is man’s gift from God but when it does not conform to the norms of society, it becomes a bane. At this point of my life, there are no more excuses to undergo humiliations. I gave myself a reprieve; I live currently in a separate house, in another city, and in a wholly different environment.

Even after 20+ years of winning a beauty paegeant Sarah Palin hasn't lost her touch. After the Hopeful-P Mr. Mc Cain asked her to meet and greet the world leaders in NewYork, the Governor of Alaska had a great day doing what she does best. Charming the World Leaders. Since she has little or no experience in meeting world leaders and discussing issues she came up with a startegy to handle the Head of States and delegates meeting her.

She met the Indian Prime Minister and President of Pakistan the same day. Every news channel is making a fuss about Mr.Zardari's antics infront of the press. I agree that as the President of Pakistan he should have acted more reasonably rather than being the casanova he used to be or maybe he still is :) . But if we take a look at the reason why the Indian Prime Minister didn't and our President did woo the Alaskan Governor and Hopeful-VP we may feel that our President was trapped into doing what he did. Afterall, once a Casanova always a Casanova ;) . The Attire and the atitude of the Alaskan Governor while meeting the Indian and Pakistani representatives shows clearly what made the old-experienced Casanova wooo the Hopeful-VP.

Even if noone believes what I have just stated I would still say it was a setup to defame our President by those who donot want democracy in Pakistan ;)

Prima impresie este foarte importanta  
Asta nu inseamna ca poti vorbi despre melci si despre colectia de fluturi mongolieni (aceste discutii importante pot fi lasate pe mai tarziu), ci doar ca trebuie sa-ti exprimi sentimentele prin limbajul corpului si sa fi atent la celalalt, iar astfel acesta nu se va plictisi incercand sa descopere ce persoana fascinanta esti.
Sa incepem cu baza… exista un motiv intemeiat pentru care foarte multi oameni esuează cand doresc sa seduca pe cineva… cred ca ei sunt in centrul jocului, ca trebuie sa-l impresioneze pe celalalt cu calitatile lor extraordinare.

Insa arta seductiei inseamna sa-l incanti, sa-l farmeci, sa-l captivezi, sa i te dedici in totalitate celuilalt. De ce persoanele care nu arata foarte bine, dar care au o personalitate vibrant, au mai mult succes decat femeile superbe, dar reci?

Seductia inseamna sa te preocupe persoana pe care vrei sa o seduci, trebuie sa afli ce ii place si ce nu ii place, ce isi doreste, ce gusturi are, care ii sunt calitatile si defectele… trebuie sa o farmeci, sa o fascinezi…

Daca ne gandim ce ne atrage imediat la o alta persoana…vom observa ca sunt mereu aceleasi gesturi. Daca invatati cum sa transmiteti informatii si cum sa interpretati mesajele nonverbale deja sunteti la jumatatea drumului.

Ce ne farmeca instantaneu la o persoana?

Zambetul… de multe ori vezi pe strada pe cineva zambind si instantaneu zambesti la randul tau. Pe o scara a seductiei nimic nu este mai puternic decat zambetul. Insa nu orice fel de zambet… efectul maxim il are zambetul lent, schitat pe jumatate, care lumineaza fata …dar care in acelasi timp insinueaza si altceva …. iar cel mai elocvent este zambetul Mona Lisei, care a fascinat generatii intregi cu misterul ei.

Oamenii de stiinta au descoperit ca exista cinci etape inconstiente pe care le fac oamenii in momentul in care flirteaza. In momentul in care ne place cineva, fara sa ne dam seama urmam urmatorii pasi… iar cunoasterea acestora le poate accentua efectul si putem afla cand cineva ne place.

1. Prima privire
O privire scurta de 3 secunde, urmata de cateva fluturari din gene insotite de schitarea unui zambet.
2. Privirea intensă
O privire intensa si directă, care dureaza mai mult de 5 secunde, ochi in ochi, fara a clipi, urmand ca la sfarsit privirea sa se lase in jos. Pe parcursul acestei etape gura se intredeschide.
3. Atingerea propriului păr
Femeia isi trece degetele prin par sau isi scutura parul, cu mesajul “Vreau sa fiu atragatoare pentru tine!”
4. Înclinarea capului
Daca femeia simte ca primeste raspuns la flirt, ea isi inclina capul intr-o parte, expunandu-si gatul, una din cele mai erogene si senzuale zone.
5. Atingerea
In momentul in care vrem o legatura cu cineva sau ne simtim foarte atrasi de o persoana simtim nevoia sa-l atingem pe brat, pe umar …pe…alegerea va apartine!

Psihologii au constatat ca femeia flirteaza in mod incostient din primele secunde in care cunoaste un barbat, pe care il considera atragator, doua treimi din flirturi fiind initiate de catre femei.

Dar barbatii? Secretele lui Casanova
Nu exista simbol mai cunoscut al seductiei decat Casanova. Insa cum reusea acest barbat sa seduca atatea femei, de la servitoare la cele mai educate si mai frumoase femei de inalta clasa din timpul sau?

Casanova avea o capacitate extraordinara de a intelege psihicul uman, o memorie fantastica si o personalitate care impresiona pe oricine care l-a intalnit, de la Voltaire si pana la Ecaterina cea Mare.
Casanova isi studia cu atentie viitoarea cucerire si afla ce isi dorea aceasta. De exemplu, pentru vizita Mariei Morosini a inchiriat cel mai scump palat cu gradina din Venetia si a amenajat-o pentru placere, dragoste. Cladirea era plina de oglinzi, sute de lumanari, o atmosfera eleganta si seducatoare. (Cititi “Histoire De Ma Vie”-Casanova)

Casanova stia foarte bine vechea vorba ca “drumul catre inima trece prin stomac” si mereu isi incanta iubitele cu delicatete si delicii culinare gen: vanat, nisetru, trufe, stridii, sampanie, etc. Un alt secret consta in personalitatea lui Casanova, care era plin de umor si sarm, maestru in arta conversatiei, cunoscand metodele rafinate ale placerii.

Deci, pentru inceput, persoana care vrea sa seduca trebuie sa invete sa fie amuzanta, plina de viata si fermecatoare. Nimeni nu e interesat de cineva deprimat, trist s i plin de probleme. De asemenea, pe cine crezi ca adora oamenii sa auda?

Pe ei! Toti vor sa fie ascultati, sa aiba impresia ca sunt interesanti si importanti, sa se simta in centrul atentiei. Asadar, asculta-l pe cel pe care vrei sa il seduci, fii atent la ceea ce spune, pentru ca inainte de a porni la atac trebuie sa cunosti foarte multe despre el, asa cum spuneam inainte trebuie sa stii ce ii place si ce nu ii place.

Aceste metode pot parea cinice, sa stai sa-l studiezi, sa iti calculezi orice miscare… insa acesti pasi sunt facuti inconstient de toate persoanele indragostite, cand iubesti pe cineva nu te mai saturi sa-l asculti, stii ce ii place si ai face orice pentru ai indeplini dorintele, nu-i asa?

Iulia Stoicescu

Manuel Casanova has been building a theory relating minicolumnar organization to cognition. One of the links is a columnopathy in folks with autism, schizophrenia, and Down's syndrome. In autism, minicolumn spacing is reduced. In this recent paper, he pays tribute to some great minds in neuroscience, psychiatry, and neurology by examining the cytoarchitecture of their brains quantitatively.

Cortical minicolumns are closer together in scientists and patients with autism. Somehow this is supposed to increase the signal-to-noise ratio, leading to hyperfocus. The claims about how processing would be affected all seem rather vague and would require a trip to the primary compuational literature. Oh, and the minicolumn effect is observed across primary sensory and higher-order associative cortex, so it should be more of a global effect on cognition.

The main thing that got me about the paper was the recursive aspect. The three scientists mentioned in the title are easily identifiable by the anecdotes relaying their psychology. One of them is cited and quoted several times in the paper, mentored Antonio Damasio, and worked on cortical organization and development. All made contributions to understanding the mind and the brain. Aaaand apparently their cortical minicolumns are closer together like autistic people. By the way, for ease of use, here they are: Norman Geschwind, Adolf Meyer, and Paul Yakovlev. I enjoy the romantic notion that this is one final contribution to neuroscience from beyond the grave. I'm sure they would have been fascinated to discover their unique organization.

One last thing. The Casanova paper makes a point of indicating how congenial and outgoing these characters were. They were apparently great talkers and great thinkers. This, to me, indicates that the minicolumnar organization story may be able to explain some of the symptoms of autism, but only the ones you'd want to have anyway. The debilitating hypersensitivity and inability to express oneself are clearly not produced by this 'columnopathy'. It is an interesting new parameter to think of in terms of human cognition though. I wonder if there is any way to assess this property in live patients, maybe with something like diffusion tensor imaging. Seems far-off, but scientists are smart.

M. F. Casanova, A. E. Switala, J. Trippe, M. Fitzgerald (2007). Comparative minicolumnar morphometry of three distinguished scientists Autism, 11 (6), 557-569 DOI: 10.1177/1362361307083261

It's been quite some time since I wrote her last time.
Not too much has happened, though.

The first thing I will have to mention is:
THE GODDAMN SIXTH BLOODY HARRY POTTER MOVIE HAS BEEN DELAYED!
(I know this is old news by now, but seriously! It still pisses me off!)
I mean... Isn't this enough? Haven't we been through enough by now? Why does money-hungry WB have to take this out on us poor little HP-fans? I'M SUFFOCATING WITH IMPATIENS!

So, there you go. Almost another year left.
This one better be good!
(And have a lot of Tom Felton in it!)

Now, the most important things are over.
But this part is by far way more interesting.

Let's keep it a little Harry Potter related just for a little while longer.
'Cause I'm going to talk about: David Tennant!
Ok, for starters: This man is GENIUS!

He's Scottish of origin, but lives in England now.
He featured in the fourth Harry Potter movie, as Barty Crouch Jr.
He is also the all-known Dr. Who, from the series with the same name.
Some of you may even know him from the "Casanova"-series, where he played Casanova himself (that bastard), or the musical-criminal-series "Blackpool".

He's the loveliest! <3

"Hello, I'm David, and I'm gonna take you from behind."

"Derek? It's the doctor. You had your chance, you blew it!"

-David Tennant, at "The Graham Norton Show".
(Be sure to watch it!)

So, that was him. I don't really know why, but I've gotten completely obsessed with this guy!
Maybe because he's so talented, who knows. But indeed is his person and figure a very captivating creature! :D Got to love him, he's amazing. Just so you know it!

Now, new topic, even though it's still HP-trackable.
Yesterday was TOM FELTON'S BIRTHDAY! :D
The cheeting little bastard turned 21, and is now legal to do absolutely whatever he wants!

Blimey!
I really hope he had "one of those days", and that he got everything he deserves.
Imagine that; 21 years ago, he came to the world, probably screaming and stuff, and no one knew what future was ahead of him. Who'd ever imagined he'd become what he's become, huh?
I find that fascinating, and maybe kinda fun. I wonder if he ever thinks about it? He sure does have got a lot to be thankful about. Even though I don't know him at all, I like to imagine him being so grateful, that when we see him smile, no one but him know that that's what makes him smile.
He really is lucky, that young man. I sincerely hope he thinks a lot about it. I look up to him, and would do just about anything in the world to get to know him! I think he must be a wonderful person. Is there any other reason why he should deserve this much perfection otherwise?
I believe in him. This guy. Hah! Funny, actually.
I've never met him, I've never spoken with him, I barely know anything about him... And the stuff that I know, just about half the rest of the world knows too. Kind of like, common knowledge. At least I don't google him for everything, trying to know as much personal facts about him as possible. That's a awful thing to do to persons. Getting to know every single detail on them, yet, not know them in person.
What fake feelings that must create. Even I, one who tries her best not to know such thing, have these fake feelings of friendship with people I don't know.And yet, this guy. He makes me hope and believe, and look up to him. Amazing. I wonder why he, out of all persons in the world, was the one to make me fall so deeply into fandom. I guess I'll never know. :D

Now, I believe I've got to empty all myself with weird thoughts and babbling. Been working on this post for quite a while, but never really had the time to finish-and-post it ^____^
And one day, someone will care!

That's what you get,
Ole Mona. <3

"He" and "She" took zee opportuity of zee cool-air temperatures to do a leettle firevood cutting yesterday. Zee vooded area on our prop-air-ty provides zem wiz ample firevood, and zey do not even have to cut down trees to get it. Usually, zee vind veel see to eet zhere are a couple of beeg leembs or trees zat go down. Zees ees where zey get zee firevood. No need to take down a healzy tree, when zee vood ees already zere for zee taking.

Vhile zey were out doing zis:

They Traded "Hogs" for logs. 

To get zis:

[caption id="attachment_817" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Cozy Fires to Come"][/caption]

Ve were doing zis:

[caption id="attachment_818" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Cat Napping"][/caption]

Yeah, zis is how ve roll!

Casanova
*********

I've been trying (half-heartily, that is) to get into the whole blogshere craze. I have a few that I read on a daily basis. Well, I just found another. Honestly when I found this girl, I started crying (PMS or something). If I had a role model, she would be something like Holly. Nothing But Bonfires is such an entertaining blog and their are so many similarities between the two of us- travel, our style, we even have boyfriends with the same name! Man, I sound like a creeper... I'm not! She's just a really cool person and I look forward to reading through the archives.

That website lead me to yet another blog run by Travelocity, apparently. Its called The Window Seat and its the Traveler's Blog. I've started to read it...a lot to get caught up on there but I'm really excited about all the different contributors. (Also see Travel for Good)

From an article on TWS, I found a link to MizPee. HALLELUJAH! They have a US and a EU website. Anyone that knows me knows that I pee every 20 minutes (not to mention the unmentionable number 2 which happens about 6 times a day). What can I say? Stuff just goes through me! Anyway...Awesome, awesome website + mobile functionality!

Speaking of the potty...goodness gracious, this restaurant is something else.

In other new things that are neat but not free are the following:

Chocolove Chocolate Bars- Anyone that knows me, knows my obsession with chocolate as well as my scrutiny about the proper taste of chocolate. For example, I won't eat Hershey's Chocolate. I think if horse dung has a flavor, it tastes like Hershey's. Nestle isn't good enough either. I won't touch chocolate if its been made in the U.S. Sorry, but that's the way the cookie crumbles. The only "retail" chocolate I could eat up to this point has been Lindt Swiss Chocolate. I'm iffy with Ghirardelli (US Recipe) but I'll bake with it. My favorite is Godiva (Belgium Recipe) but I'll settle for most European chocolate. So, when I say this is good chocolate, its good. Not great, but good. Its the type of bar that I would keep in my bag on a day to day basis. However, there are two points of appeal for me here. This first is that they carry 2 bars that are 100% organic. Very cool. Also, their them is based around love and chocolate. There is a love poem on the inside of every wrapper. Classy. Oh, and its Belgium. Yum!

At Home in the City/ Silver in the City- Many people don't know this but Indianapolis has a wonderful downtown. Its fun, artsy, and very hip. Especially MassAve! This store is a wonderfully chic and lovely little shop. All the jewelry is made by local artists and the home/gift section reminds me of an Urban O utfitters.

The Omnivore's Dilemma- I'm reading it. Its pretty cool so far. Its probably going to make me want to throw up my lunch.

Fun Events Happening this Week!

As much as I would like to list going to stand at a job fair booth at my alma mater as a fun event, that's just not going to happen because it won't be fun. woo.

But here are a couple things that will be fun:

Yappy Hour- Fun for my dog and fun for me. Mostly fun for me because Casanova can get free microchipping because I would much rather spend $20 on shoes than on a procedure for my dog. Am I a bad person?  (I am not, because I would spend the money on Cas seeing as I bought him a $50 Furminator last month.)

Irish Festival!- I love Fall and Spring because they are just full of these cultural fairs. Two weeks ago was the Greek Festival but sadly I missed the Chinese Festival last weekend which I'm totally bummed about because I didn't even know about it! Shawn and I are going Sunday because entrance is free from 10-11:30 with a canned good. Compared to the $12 you would have to pay. The plan is to share an Irish Breakfast, check out the herding exhibition, the Irish dog breed exhibition, the Kilted Mile, and other fun performances and food. After the festival, we're going to head up to MassAve to buy pretty things! Woot!

Glitz n Glam- Sounds like it would be fun for a Carmel housewife with a drinking problem but for $12, you got to be bananas to go to this! So, obviously, not wasting my time!

TV & Movies I'm looking forward to this week:

Season Premiere of House is on tonight- awesomeness.

...and Fringe is on right afterward- I don't know about this show just yet. We'll see with this episode.

Privileged- The premiere was interesting. I'll stick with it for a while.

Burn Notice Season Finale- awesomeness stricks again.

The Duchess- Its out this week but not playing anywhere in Indianapolis. Thanks, really, thank you Indianapolis for being so redneck we don't even get the good movies here.

Still want to see: Bottle Shock & Vicki Christina Barcelona

Pushing Daisies DVD out today- lovely!

Private Practice DVD out today.

“La reelaboración y potenciación de la primera persona tiene como gran fondo a escritores como Dante, el Arcipreste de Hita, Casanova, Marcel Proust, Louis-Ferdinand Céline, Jorge Luis Borges, Thomas Bernhard, Jorge Semprún, Marguerite Duras, Philip Roth y W. G. Sebald. Mientras, en las últimas tres décadas entre los españoles que se han acercado a esos caminos bifurcados están Carmen Martín Gaite, Carlos Barral, Juan y Luis Goytisolo, Juan José Millás y un Javier Marías que en 1987 escribió el artículo Autobiografía y ficción, en el cual hablaba de una incipiente tercera manera de "enfrentarse con el material verídico o verdadero", y expresaba interés y tentación por esta fórmula de "abordar el campo autobiográfico, pero sólo como ficción". Dos años después publicó Todas las almas, y en 1998 esa "falsa novela" titulada Negra espalda del tiempo”. (…)

Leer Artículo completo en Babelia.

Momus recently spent some time at Click Opera chewing on an idea that really bothers me. He calls it "runner-up-ization," and it refers to a situation where people or cultures, instead of succeeding at being themselves, rate as runners-up at being someone else. As examples, Momus points to Indian fashion magazines that feature western-looking models and styles more prominently than local ones, and to the novelist Tao Lin, whose distinctive style inspires readers to wish they could write like him.

Runner-up-ization is real and frightening to me, as a relatively inexperienced writer with hopes of contributing something compelling, original or fun to the world. I spend a lot of my time, energy and passion digesting the creative output of people I see as first-place versions of themselves. I try to figure out how they do what they do, and how I can do it, too. When you admire people for their uniqueness, though, emulating them too precisely just misses the point.

And yet, there's something there that's worth emulating. Figuring out what lessons my heroes might teach me about myself keeps me up nights. It's tempting to muddle everything together into a derivative recipe, to strive to be "one part" this guy, or "the next" that guy. That would sure be easier than working out what resonates with me about, for example, Matt Fraction's writing on Casanova, and how I can use my limited ability to make something of my own that leaves me with that same kind of feeling.

Actually, let's talk about Casanova for a minute. Fraction ends each issue with a backmatter essay that reveals the swirling mix of music, books, movies and life events that inspired that part of the story. Somehow, he transmuted those raw materials into a narrative that not only has personal significance to him, but also kicks me -- an anonymous reader -- in some deep-gut spot. I aspire to this. But, to be more than a runner-up Fraction, I have to find my own materials and my own somehow. It would be easy to say that I want to write like a Tao Lin or a Matt Fraction, but what I really want is to write like myself in the way they write like themselves.

I think the most genuine stuff comes from that kid-place, untouched by the zeitgeist, that place where you either like something or you don't, where something is cool or it isn't. Sometimes we're so swayed by the tastes of those we respect, especially when they articulate them in a thought-provoking way, that we ignore their context. What Momus wears might make me smile or give me something new to think about, but it might also be completely incoherent if I try to fit it into my own style. It's the same way with writing -- the process of knowing what to take or leave can be painful and challenging, because other people's stuff is just so damn good. But out of its context, separated from the original writer's experiences and inspirations, it can fall flat. The admiration is sincere, but the reproduction isn't.

When I'm feeling anxious about runner-up-ization, it comforts me to think that Matt Fraction, Tao Lin and Momus all had to get around this problem, too. I don't know for sure, but I'd be willing to bet they experimented with writing, dressing or singing like someone else before hitting on the styles they're known for. I'm beginning to realize there's nothing wrong with that. You're more than a runner-up when you go beyond mimicry and appropriation and start trusting your own instincts. I'm still learning how to do that, but I hope I'll manage to spit out some writing I can live with in the process.

Casanova, 2005

Lasse Hallstrom director

HOOK: The Heath Ledger film festival continues…this time with an oldie.

STORY: It’s Carnival and Casanova must find a suitable wife in a few days or be banished from Venice; meanwhile Jeremy Irons is a visiting church official who wants the notorious seducer hanged. Unfortunately Irons doesn’t know what he looks like.

GOSSIP: Seven actors have been nominated for a posthumous Oscar. Peter Finch was the only one to ever get one (perhaps because he was “mad as hell and not going to take it anymore”). But more interesting than the fate of the young Joker is the methodology of the real Casanova.

Apparently Casanova’s ideal liaison had elements beyond sex, including complicated plots, heroes and villains, and gallant outcomes. In a pattern he often repeated, he would discover an attractive woman in trouble with a brutish or jealous lover (Act I); he would ameliorate her difficulty (Act II); she would show her gratitude; he would seduce her; a short exciting affair would ensue (Act III); feeling a loss of ardor or boredom setting in, he would plead his unworthiness and arrange for her marriage or pairing with a worthy man, then exit the scene (Act IV).  He advises, “There is no honest woman with an uncorrupted heart whom a man is not sure of conquering by dint of gratitude. It is one of the surest and shortest means.”

JOHN: Jeremy Irons scowls and prowls like a cartoon Boris Karloff. And Heath Ledger, in this early film is pretty bland. He is like Ryan O’Neal on a good day (and not the least Italian). If anything Venice is the star of a movie which is a curious mixture of mistaken identity, historic prattle and Mel Brooks. I did like some of the comic one-liners and the ending (though it goes on and on and on) offers some exuberance and surprise.

GO (1 GO out of four)

SPANKY: I got excited when I saw the director was Lassie, then I realized my mistake. To say Ledger is a costumed mannequin is an overstatement. He simply isn’t rakish enough for Casanova. And as the woman, Sienna Miller as Francesca doesn’t have the looks to make Casanova forgo his rollicking lifestyle as the plot demands. In fact this is pretty much a movie about sex that has no sex or nudity. So why even call it “Casanova”? Listen, thou art better humping someone’s leg. If Keith Ledger became a good actor it was in spite of this performance.

“TWO PAWs DOWN” (0 BARKs out of four)

KEEPER: “Venice is a hot bed…a hot bed.”  

Seus contextos, sua sonoridade me tiravam do tédio das aulas de inglês.
Take for granted era outra, mas essa história fica pra depois...

Hoje estou aqui tentando recuperar esse espaço tão querido e abandonado.

Espero que ele entre em order em breve.

beijos pro além.

;*

Ai reçu hier matin emballé dans du papier de soie - oui on en vend chez G. - Le sang des Mugwump de Doug Rice aux éditions Désordres. Alléchante quatrième de couverture : Le lit avait dû engloutir Papy. Puis du lit sifflant émergea le corps de Grand-mère Mugwump. Davantage que le papier, davantage que les mots. Ses cheveux, sauvagement dépossédés autour de son visage, ressemblaient aux serpents cinétiques de Méduse. Les yeux vitreux de Caravage ramenés à la vie. Mugwump mangeait des mots, parlait la bouche pleine. Essayait de tout avaler à la fois. - "du" Caravage n'aurait-il pas été plus approprié ?

Mais il suffit ! Voici le temps enfin qu'il faut que je m'explique...

Je termine Le Grand Cérémonial - une pièce de Fernando Arrabal. Bluffant. Me rappelle Koltès pour ces conversations interlopes au coin de ruelles glauques, entre un dealer et un client. Ramener le lien humain à sa perspective besoin-service. La liste des personnages opère déjà une troncature nette : Casanova - Il est bossu, Sil - Elle est belle, Lys - Elle est belle, L'Amant - Amant de Sil, La Mère - Mère de Casanova et Plusieurs Poupées Nues. Partant de la rencontre fortuite (?) de Casanova réant sa mère sur un banc à l'orée de la nuit et Sil, une jeune femme prête à acheter un fouet et à se faire par lui flageller pour obtenir son amour, F.A. parvient à détourner l'habituel jeu du galant pour le plonger dans les affres bosselés de sa difformité. Le vain combat d'un dromadaire et d'une oie blanche.

"Sil, avec beaucoup de douceur. - La mer ondule sur vos lèvres et l'aube transparaît dans vos yeux, vous dépouillant de sa tendresse.

Casanova, ton ironique. - J'en suis ravi." (Prologue - Premier Tableau)

Il fera tout pour la dégoûter, pour la persuader qu'en lui tout est immonde, à abhorrer, à railler. Plaisanteries grivoises, insultes, coups, hyperboles, mensonges, déni, folie, hypocrisie, chattemite. Toutes les ruses sont bonnes.

"C. - Seriez-vous disposée à coucher avec moi sur ce banc ?

S. - Vous ne me laissez pas répondre.

C. - Attendez, j'imagine le spectacle. Vous, allongée sur le banc, les jupes retroussées et moi, sur vous, tâchant de trouver la manière de me servir de mon sexe.

S. - Taisez-vous, je vous en prie !

C. - Nous pourrions inviter les enfants à la sortie des écoles. Nous ferions salle comble tous les soirs.

S. - Je vous en supplie !

C. - Je désire vous avouer une chose : mon sexe est tout petit. [...] Je crois que je le dois à l'alcoolisme de mon père, à moins que ce ne soit à la syphilis de ma mère. [...] Pourquoi est-ce que je vous présente un musée des horreurs, n'est-ce pas ? Je veux vous éblouir.

S. - De cette façon ?

C. - Oui ! Je me rappelle avoir dit un jour à une femme que toute ma vie sexuelle consistait à masturber des chevaux." (id.)

Parfois, des passages sublimes de Casanova, tout entier en allé dans l'intimité naissante qui lie les "amants" d'un soir : "Je n'aurai plus à imaginer les conversations que j'aurais pu avoir avec une femme. Je pourrai penser et repenser à celle que j'ai eue cette nuit, avec vous, comme si au-dessous des rouges horizons la peine se plissait dans la broche et dans l'outrage." (Deuxième Tableau). Mais les plus terribles passages sont ceux qui dévoilent la complexité d'un Œdipe insatiable. Cette mère tout-puissante, terrible, aimante, aimée, haïe, que l'on aurait envie de tuer mais qui est plus forte que soi. Dans la forge de Vulcain, quelque chose de d'âpre et de sourd comme dans Vipère au poing, mais surtout Ma Mère.

"La Mère - Tu as peur de moi ?

C., il réfléchit. - Oui.

La Mère - Comme la nature fait bien les choses ! Non seulement je suis plus forte que toi spirituellement, mais aussi physiquement. Tu es un malheureux infirme sans forces. Et spirituellement, tu es un pauvre être sans expérience."

La parole se dresse sauvage et dure. Souvenirs des tortures. De la mère. De son trop. Casanova dans le prologue dit l'avoir tuée. Il la magnifie dans la mort - la blasphème avec rage, la conspue mais retourne. Comme tous ces personnages d'enfants esseulés qui après avoir essuyé des déconvenues supplient de goûter une fois encore au liquide amniotique. Mais, de l'assassinat de la mère ou de la conquête amoureuse, quel grand cérémonial sera le plus respecté ? L'amour comme le talon d'Achille d'un jour à poindre.