An Index of Non-Essentials

Life on Pause

2012-02-18T10:13:00.001-06:00

Since my academic trajectory has been temporarily derailed due to international drama, I've been doing a whole lot of watching t.v., crocheting, and reading.

Mainly in the watching t.v. category I've been catching up on past seasons of Supernatural. I used to watch it regularly then quit for several seasons. One day a friend mentioned on Facebook she was very sad about the demise of certain characters on the show including Castiel. Who? I asked. "The angel on Supernatural. You will love him." So then I had to go back and watch all the episodes I'd missed. I've made it almost to the end of season 6. And I do love Cas. Clearly the universe decided to keep me in the U.S. so that I could enjoy the show more fully. If I'd gone to Ukraine in December I'd have never watched season 5, which is by far my favorite.

Crocheting: My brother bought me a book for Christmas**. It has been a wonderful guide - not so much for patterns, but for the basics I never bothered to learn. I've always said that I can't read patterns, but now I think it is more that I don't like patterns. For instance, the hat I made (pictures below) I started from the pattern I used on the last hat* but only for the first 5 rows. Then I just played around with the stitches and accidentally learned how to make ruffles. So there you go. The daisy on the hat I did learn to make from the book. The scarf also posted below is probably my favorite of everything I've ever made. I've been wearing a lot of black as an excuse to wear the scarf every day.

Possibly too cute, not sure if I'll ever wear it anywhere, but since I made it up all by myself I'm pretty proud.

Braided some yarn to make a "ribbon." This is functional as well as aesthetic. The hat was a bit too floppy so the yarn works as a drawstring to tighten it up around my head.

A daisy. This was surprisingly easy. Only messed it up once ;)

Not sure how well you can see this here, but it sparkles!

As far as the reading part goes, its mostly been non-academic (see previous post). I did, however, make a trip to the library for some books on theory. I'm not sure if I'll ever read all of them, they are mostly by French authors and therefore dense. Its mainly stuff I should have read more of a long time ago.

On a positive note, as my co-worker said the other day "everything happens for a reason." I think the reason I've been foiled in my fieldwork attempts is because it was way too cold at my fieldwork site and I would have died. Or starved. Or been a hermit for three weeks at least. The universe is just waiting for it to warm up over there and then I can go.

*That failed to fit me. I posted about it. It has, I'm happy to say, found a new home with a friend of mine who wears it all the time!
** In case anyone cares, this is the book Teach Yourself Visually - Crochet

Malazans!

2012-02-06T08:31:00.001-06:00

I made it to the end of Book 6 of Erickson's epic* fantasy series Malazan Book of the Fallen. There are 10 books, which today isn't entirely abnormal for a series, but these are so loooong. And exhausting. I've actually only read 5 because I skipped one**. It has taken me a while to develop a definitive opinion on the series, but finally here's what I think:

There are too many characters.

It is kind of lame to boil down 1000s of pages into 5 words, so I'll try to explain. Erikson and his pal Esslemont spent years - in between being archaeologists and other stuff - developing the Malazan world for the purpose of role-playing games. They score points here for being seriously devoted, for putting in so much time, and for being anthropologists***. One cannot fault the Malazan books for being rich on details. There are a variety of distinct cultures spanning millions of years many of whom have developed mythologies and histories.

Up to a certain point I am fascinated with the different groups; humans, non-humans, gods, monsters, etc. Unfortunately, many of these people are practically immortal (even when they aren't gods) so instead of these ancient races being relegated to the backstory, they all keep running into each other. Many of them have issues with each other - conflicts, unresolved crises, lost loves etc. Furthermore, lots of them have a multitude of aliases. And our writers are intimately familiar with these stories that span millions of years and thousands of characters because they spent decades inventing them. But the reader (i.e. me) does not have such depth of knowledge and so these complicated plots become quite confusing.

I can, in fact, totally sympathize with this problem though from an academic point of view. When writing grants I often alluded to things in my research that I was intimately familiar with and that seemed super obvious to me, until a kind reader pointed out "hey actually I don't know anything about the Austro-Hungarian Empire maybe you could explain this with a couple more concrete sentences." In contrast, Erikson and Esslemont are writing characters. Therefore the problem of the super-obvious not, in fact, being so obvious is that conversations between characters can become extraordinarily opaque - particularly if these characters have been around for a long time (being nearly immortal). No actually I don't remember that brief episode you are vaguely referring to that happened 10,000 years ago with one of those tribes on one of those continents. Don't mind me muddling through your insinuations that turn out to be (3 books later) important revelations and crucial to understanding the over-arching plot. Sorry.

Beyond the issue with time-depth, the other problem is that the very structure of Erikson's novels requires dozens of characters. In most books, something happens called a convergence. This occurs when things in the Malazan world get heated up, there is extra excitement, the gods are meddling more than usual and so on. People all over the empire are affected by different aspects of this turmoil seemingly at random until you realize that everyone is actually headed in the same direction (to the same city, battle, temple, or what have you). Therefore in order to get a whole world stirred up and to convey the grand-scale of this conflict many characters are needed. In addition, much of the action is war-oriented. There are many (oh so many) battle scenes and Erikson likes to write these scenes from the points of view of the armies - not just one soldier, but several that are usually in a squad together. Its nice on the one hand because you get a feel for the bantering camaraderie of these army buddies, but on the other hand I just can't keep up with the sheer number of them.

Now I should point out that Erikson's fans have come through and have created an encyclopedia.**** And I have multiple times had to consult this reference guide because I can't remember who is who, when, or why. Honestly, I feel sort of cheated that I have to do research in order to read these books, in order to understand where the story is going (and where it has been). See, its exhausting.

Ok, so now you ask "why don't you stop reading?" Well, several reasons. 1) I have nothing better to do at the moment 2) I like some of the characters and I do want to know what happened to them 3) Its nice to be able to read an epic fantasy series that is actually finished! 4) I've invested a lot of time in them and since I don't hate the books I might as well keep reading while I still have time to read things for fun*****

*of unusually great size or extent
**I skipped book 5 b/c the storyline diverges from book 4, but in order to read further I have to go back and read it b/c book 7 combines the two plots. See its exhausting.
***I'm only a little biased.
**** I'm actually pretty sure there are two, possibly more
***** Before I become a real anthropologist.

Random Fact of the Day

2012-02-03T15:08:00.000-06:00

Did you know that HP Lovecraft was neither claustrophobic nor agoraphobic but rather some strange mixture of the two? He was terrified of large enclosed spaces*. This makes so much sense if you've read enough Lovecraft. Seriously horrible things happen to people all the time as soon as they find a yawning dark cavern that is seemingly infinitely vast.

I learned this from reading The Roots of Horror in the Fiction of H.P. Lovecraft by Barton Levi St. Armand.

*And not just caves because that's only ordinary speluncaphobia.

Size Matters

2011-12-18T11:51:00.003-06:00

I decided I wanted to crochet a hat with ear flaps. Here is the result:

What was that? Where are the flaps? Well, as you can see it didn't quite turn out the way that I had hoped. I did make the flaps (and they are actually still attached, just hidden), but the hat was about 2 inches two big for me. Because of the size being off the flaps fell in a weird position and just looked silly on me.

I really like this particular color of yarn though (I think it is called Lagoon) and I might try again just with a modified pattern to try and make it fit my head more closely.

By the way, this here is the website where I found the pattern. Obvsiously, mine looks nothing like the example. The pattern is in fact pretty easy to follow. I have a hard time following written patterns so the pictures were super useful. And to be clear, there is nothing wrong with the pattern itself, I just a) don't know how to crochet very well and b) have a small head.

A Tale of Two Exorcisms

2011-11-01T06:34:00.000-05:00

Concerning The Last Exorcism and Exorcismus

I watched quite a few scary movies in honor of Halloween and for Peril on the Screen including two about exorcisms. There were some overlapping features, but they diverge enough that I thought it might be interesting to review them together here.

(Sorry there are spoilers)

Both movies are about young girls possessed by a demon of some sort. In each, the exorcism is recorded. I found that for the most part the characters' behaviors were realistic and they responded in believable ways (there are a couple of exceptions, but we can ignore them for now). The acting wasn't spectacular, but I would say that in both films the main characters-- the priests and the girls-- did a good job portraying the drama and terror of the ritual. These two movies are full of the “standard” tropes of such movies; body contortions, speaking in tongues/different voices, writing in blood, etc. I really wonder if there can be anything original about future exorcism films.

Despite these similarities, the two movies diverge in significant ways. The first The Last Exorcism is filmed as a documentary (mockumentary). I actually don't mind this usually, I'm not bothered by the “shaky camera." The premise is that an extravagant preacher (for once not a Catholic priest) from Baton Rouge, LA has been faking exorcisms for the past few years; he hashad a serious crisis of faith and has a rather contemptuous attitude towards his congregation at the beginning of the movie. He has decided to do one final exorcism, but will document the entire experience from deciding which case to take, during the investigation, and to the end. His purpose is to expose exorcisms as being not only fake, but, in fact, harmful to those undergoing such rituals. The girl he decides to visit lives in rural Louisiana.

Exorcismus is a Spanish movie (in English) filmed in the standard style, rather than as a documentary though there are scenes from the recorded exorcism. Here we have a Catholic priest who has been involved previously in a botched exorcism and, while not entirely removed from the Church, is in disgrace. He is presented as deeply religious. The possessed girl is his niece and they all live in an urban neighborhood (possibly in England, but I'm not sure).

The differences in the religious figures (priest/preacher) lead to differences in the ways that the exorcisms are cast. In The Last Exorcism, due to his lack of faith, the possession is portrayed as being purely social/psychological. The preacher arrives at the girl's house as a skeptic (well, disbeliever in fact) and interviews various people trying to piece together her life looking for secular reasons for her behavior. The priest in Exorcismus, on the other hand, firmly believes that his niece is possessed. Furthermore, there are incontrovertible signs that there is something supernatural going on with her that could not be explained away by a viewer such as her levitating off the ground. In the first movie, everything the girl does can (theoretically) be caused by something mundane rather than demonic.

In both films, there is a surprise development, a twist in the plot, revolving around the priest/preacher and the audience's perception of the possession. For the Louisiana preacher, it turns out that his client is in fact possessed by a demon. But in order to get to this point (after all the contrary evidence), the plot becomes totally derailed. The ending, which is over the top potentially to prove once and for all that the girl is possessed, is five minutes of some of the most ridiculous footage that I've seen in a movie. And here The Last Exorcism devolves into a series of stereotypes that seriously lowered my opinion of it. As I stated above, they are in rural Louisiana. Even from the beginning there are some cliches overplayed, but by the end what you have are incestuous, ignorant, backward superstitious country folk who just happen to be part of a Satanic cult. To top it off, the “manifestation” of the “demon” at the end just looks stupid, and I was definitely rolling my eyes during the final sequence.

The twist in Exorcismus, on the other hand, actually succeeds in making the movie better. The priest as we discover is not only a believer but actually an insane fanatic who is happy to destroy his entire family just so he can capture definitive evidence of demons on camera. Due to his disgrace from a previous exorcism, he hatches a plan to capture a demon in the act so that he can regain his position within the church and prove to people that he his behavior during the botched ritual was justifiable. He teaches his niece about demons and blood sacrifices and when she does become possessed he quickly jumps in to take over. As we find out though, his actions during the taped sessions do not quite match up; he has not been trying to cast out the demon because he wants it to get stronger – he wants to catch it in the act doing something undeniable such as levitating. There are some holes here. It is not a perfect set up, but overall this surprise addition to the plot works much better than the “surprises” in store for you in The Last Exorcism.

I give Excorcismus 3 ½ stars and I would have given The Last Excorcism the same score if the last 5 minutes of the movie didn't exist (yes, it is that bad). Instead, I give it maybe 2 stars.

RIP Review: The Night Circus

2011-10-29T17:26:00.003-05:00

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

Two dueling magicians chose two protégés to battle one another in a mysterious contest known only as “the challenge.” As children Celia and Marco, each learn a different system of magic. Their teachers care only about winning, but once the two are thrown together they fall in love. The venue for their challenge is a traveling circus --Le Cirque des Rêves--full of colorful and eccentric characters, elaborate shows, and dangerous magic. The contest set up by their masters ensnares everyone in the circus and leads to deadly consequences as the two contestants struggle to figure out the rules of the challenge and discover what they must do to win.

The book is written from several points of view including the main characters and several secondary ones. It is broken up into short chapters that are often not in chronological order. Inserted between different sections of the book are second person narratives that describe the circus as if the reader is walking through experiencing the sights, sounds, smells, and tastes for herself.

Overall, this is one of my favorite books of the year. The author provides amazing details of the circus from the taste and smells of carnival treats to the intricate workings of the troupe’s custom-made clock. Colors play a prominent and symbolic role throughout the book. Le Cirque des Rêves is mostly black and white – the tents, the exhibits, the costumes, etc. But here and there splashes of red appear very much in a similar way that colors often intrude in dreams.

In fact, the whole book has a dream-like quality not limited to the circus (which is of course constructed to be a series of dreams), but also in the structure of the narrative itself. At first, I was annoyed by how the chapters skipped back and forth in time, but I think this fits ultimately with how dreams often are not linear stories. Rather, they are often fragments that need to be pieced back together in order to see the whole story. And if we see dreams as stories (as our own personal stories) then the ending is nearly perfect as we learn that what we have just read is a story being told by one of the characters to Marco’s instructor.

There were a few nitpicky things that bothered me—the beginning was paced a bit slow for me, sometimes the author was bogged down in her own descriptions (such as saying a character was “elegant” 5 or 6 times in one tiny chapter)—but I do think the book lives up to all the hype. 4 1/2

R.I.P. Review: Drood

2011-10-19T03:14:00.001-05:00

I must say that I did try very hard to like this book after so many recommendations, but I found it rather boring. Drood is a fictional exploration of the last years of Charles Dickens' life as told by Wilkie Collins. Dickens meet the mysterious stranger Drood in the aftermath of a terrible accident and basically becomes obsessed with him.

There is no denying that Simmons can write. He has a knack for sumptuous descriptions of people, places, and moods. The chapter when Dickens and his hesitant sidekick Collins first explore London underground was exceptional and genuinely creepy. If only more of the book had started off like this. I also enjoyed the ambiguity of Wilkie's situation at first - is he experiencing hallucinations due to his drug addiction or are there supernatural events occurring around him?

What I really didn't like was the whole "society novel" aspect. I just didn't really care to read about the London gossip, the dinner parties, etc. I also didn't like Wilkie or Charles and couldn't see any point in slogging my way through nearly 800 pages in the hopes that maybe eventually things would get more interesting.

__________________________
I read The Woman in Black by Susan Hill. I prefer Shirley Jackson. Hill's book wasn't creepy enough for me and I found it rather bland. (addendum: I just found out Daniel Radcliffe is staring in a movie version of this book and the trailer is 100 times scarier - The Woman in Black).

I am also reading The Passage, which is kind of hit or miss - some sections are super engrossing and others I feel like I should skim. Also, the book didn't need to be that long. Reminds me of the judges on Project Runway this season constantly telling Josh to edit. You don't need to throw every single idea into one creation. Seriously.

Finally, about halfway through The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern. Its super cool.

Peril on the Screen

2011-09-13T22:16:00.001-05:00

Seconds Apart 2011

(I tried to keep this spoiler free, but it might be spoilerish).

Twins Jonah and Seth havetelepathic powers, which they use to torment people. This movie is a mixed bag. It starts off with a gory round of Russianroulette that sets the scene, showing us exactly what the twins are capable ofit. The mass suicide also introduces usto the detective who is a central character in the film. (Unfortunately – but I’llget to that later).

What I liked: The twins arecreepy. The actors did a really good jobof giving us detached psychopaths. Thetwins’ parents are creepy. The early sceneswith them are some of the best in the entire movie. Had the film makers concentrated on those twoelements (the twins and their parents) this would have been a much better show. Some of their abilities are prettyinteresting like they can make people forget they were there, induce delusions,and control people’s actions. They alsoare able to control reality in the sense that they make the victims see onlywhat the twins want them to see.

What I didn’t like: The detectiveruined the movie for me. His back-storyprovides a suitable tragedy so that he is the tormented yet driven hero. Unfortunately, I think less effort was putinto making his story/character and believable. I honestly could have fast-forwarded through the parts with him, whichis unfortunate because he is central to the entire plot of the story.

What I hated: The end. There was such potential when we start tolearn about the twins’ childhood and how their powers developed and what reallyhappened to their parents. But by thetime all of those elements came together the movie had pretty much fallenapart.

But the twins are really creepy. So I’ll give this one 3 stars.

_______________________________________

I've encountered some really awful "horror" movies in my search for something to watch for this challenge. I feel like its been a bad few years for the horror industry as a whole. Or maybe I'm becoming more critical (or both).

I'm currently reading Drood, but I have to say that I'm not all that into it. I'm about 150 pages in. I only kept reading because so many people enthusiastically commented about it. I think I'll stick with the book a bit longer, but not sure if I'll finish it. We shall see...

R.eaders I.mbibing P.eril VI

2011-09-04T04:32:00.002-05:00

Yep, its that time again

I have recently been complaining about the demise of summer, about how August (and July and June) went by too fast, and how Halloween candy is out too early. I think, however, I will stop whining now since it is time for the annual RIP challenge hosted by Carl at http://www.stainlesssteeldroppings.com/.

In past years (I think is my 3rd?), I have gone for Peril the First, which involves reading four books in the mystery/horror/thriller category. Since I should be busy with arranging a year long trip abroad, I'm going to play it safe and go for the Peril the Second challenge which is reading two books in any of those categories. (All is explained much more eloquently here).

In addition, there is Peril on the Screen and since I do enjoy a few scary movie marathons I will probably also post a brief review or two here for whatever I get around to watching. Although, honestly, I'm not up-to-date on current horror films, so if anyone has suggestions for recent movies, I'm listening.

There is also a new category for a group read if you are into that sort of thing. I tend to be very bad at them though the books they are reading do sound interesting.

_________________________________________________

So you might be wondering what I am going to read. Well, since I am still slogging my way through my 2011 LT Challenge, I thought I'd just pick two books off of there that I'd planned on reading anyway.

1) Drood by Dan Simmons
2) World War Z

Those are the two that immediately jumped out at me as being good fits for this challenge, but as everyone knows who has ever read any post on this blog about reading, I am very bad at sticking to these lists I make. Therefore, you can expect almost anything really. I tend to get sidetracked in libraries, attracted to new shiny books, or even old worn books so long as they aren't the books that I've said I was going to be reading.

If you are even remotely interested in books, or in Halloween, or in watching movies, I definitely think you should give this challenge a try. I've always found it to be immense fun!

The Moving Blues

2011-08-11T11:18:00.000-05:00

Oh my god, I seriously hate moving. It might be the worst thing on earth. Next time I swear I'm hiring someone to do this for me. At the advice of people who know, I called a local charity to come pick up stuff, which they are nice enough to do. I did get rid of 9 boxes of books* and lots of clothes. Unfortunately, my living room furniture was not acceptable as a donation. Apparently it is too old. I completely understand since it is really old (and pretty ugly, but I got it for free), but now there are new difficulties like getting it out of my apartment in a few days. I asked around to see if anyone could help out, but so far no one has responded seriously (a friend from Canada offered, but of course she was joking). As the kids I used to work with would say "My nerves are bad."

If I were more clever I would turn this into a blues song, but alas... I have, however, been listening to a lot of blues music in my half-serious quest to learn to play the harmonica. I figured I should get a feel for the sound before I started trying it myself. Ironically, I don't really like blues that much, I just like the sound of harmonica in say "Roadhouse Blues" or "When the Levee Breaks." Maybe if I listen to enough of it I'll find some stuff that I do enjoy.

*This actually makes me wince every time I say it. I'm really attached to my books, but I had way too many. They needed to be culled, and I'm now on a book buying moratorium

Aggravating the Neighbors

2011-08-01T20:46:00.000-05:00

I'm trying to pick up a new hobby b/c I feel like I need one. Especially when people ask me "what do you do for fun?" and I don't have a good answer.

I've always really liked the sound of a harmonica, and my brother happened to have two, so now I'm trying to learn to play. I did take a year of piano and I played the clarinet in junior high - I wasn't very good at either of these things. I'm not very musically talented, so I'll probably be really annoying to my neighbors.

Also, since I'm soon turning 30 friends who have already passed that milestone suggested I learn something new. So I have multiple reasons and besides it is actually pretty fun! I do need to buy a better book though for lessons b/c the one I have is rather lame.

Thing in the Cupboard: Bling

2011-07-31T14:54:00.001-05:00

I'm so excited that I found this. I really thought I had accidentally gotten rid of it. In fact, I found it just in time to give it to my friend's boyfriend (against her will) so that he can wear it with his authentic Russian tracksuit (Adidas or possibly Puma I can't remember which).

Luckily I didn't buy it. One Christmas during a White Elephant party I acquired the necklace. It has come in handy for various costumes (Halloween and otherwise).

Vacationing: Weddings, Babies, and Stuff

2011-07-30T15:10:00.001-05:00

My sister got married! Her and her husband are a super adorable couple. The wedding was perfect - it was beautiful, it was small, and it was relatively short (for the sake of my feet at least b/c I totally picked the wrong shoes to wear). The wedding party as a whole had a great sense of humor which we all managed to reign in for the actual ceremony -- for the rehearsal not so much. The pastor literally said "I really worry about all of you getting through this tomorrow." She was just a bit too serious, but really nice and she did a good job. The wedding photographer has a whole series of hilarious pictures that I can't wait to see!

Two of my oldest friends had babies over the summer so I got visit with all of them for a few days, which was really nice especially since I don't know when I'll see them again. Both of the babies are boys and both are adorable. N. is about 3 months old and has a precious smile. J. is soo tiny I was afraid to hold him at first, but he makes the funniest faces - I have a feeling he is going to be a hilarious child.

Also while at home I had my annual sno-ball. This time it was mango w/condensed milk. Actually its good I wasn't down there longer b/c I might have gained 10 pounds from eating those things. I enjoyed lots of fresh vegetables as my dad decided to do a garden this year. He used to do one every year, but hadn't been recently. I ate probably a cucumber a day and way too much creamed corn.

In other news, I still have to pack. I am very bad at this obviously. Today I sorted through my books and I'm determined to get rid of half of them, but that still leaves me w/over 200! Oh and I found out that I will be going to Ukraine in December. Hurray!! I might actually finish this graduate program.

Thing in the Cupboard: Vampire Pig!

2011-07-18T09:45:00.001-05:00

I have all sorts of Halloween themed stuff, not surprising since it is one of my favorite holidays.

And it is animated - or should I say RE-animated?

Today's feature is a bright red Vampire Pig. It walks and it sings The Adam's Family - very very loudly. I made the mistake of pushing its little foot to see if it still worked and it definitely did. Origin: my mother some Halloween or another.

Question of the Day

2011-07-17T13:41:00.000-05:00

Why do straight men go to gay bars to pick up women? And a secondary question, why can't people just enjoy dancing without thinking it means something more?

Thing in the Cupboard: The Voice of God

2011-07-12T14:07:00.000-05:00

My next treasure comes to you all the way from Heaven.

The text reads (with identifying information redacted):

12-31-05

_____'s performance report

outstanding job

_________'s intervention regarding 3-11 shift on male ____ side resulted in hell not opening it's portal hole of sulfur gas, flames and the screaming of the damned masses and swallowing ________. For her heroic actions - she should be given a rosary.

Signed
GOD

Thing in the Cupboard: Alas, Poor Yorick!

2011-07-10T16:05:00.003-05:00

I'm moving pretty soon and since I've been at my current place for years & years, I have basically accumulated all sorts of stuff. Even better, a lot of this stuff I simply forgot that I owned. Therefore for the amusement of self and others (but mostly myself) I'm going to start a regular installment known as "Thing in the Cupboard" which will consist of photos of the weird/random things that I find as I'm cleaning, clearing, and tossing useless junk away. Maybe this will also make moving more fun since I'm seriously stressed about it, and perhaps will give me motivation to actually look through those cupboards and boxes.

Today's edition: Alas Poor Yorick!

Yep, its a bright pink skull

This gem's origin is unknown, it did however once function as a light-- sadly this feature is no longer functional. It is made of some rubbery substance and is of a decent size.

The North Country

2011-06-21T16:19:00.001-05:00

A couple weekends ago I finally got to take a short trip to Northern WI, stayed in a hotel on Lake Superior so I've now visited two of the five Great Lakes. My friend said the season was about two weeks behind up there, the trees and grass were a noticeably different color of green that was quite pretty.

Lake Superior, old pier

I love this tree.

We also went to one of the state parks up there that is known for its waterfalls and the strange color of the river (due to some sort of mineral) which basically resembled iced tea.

Iced tea river

Local fauna, a momma dear and her baby.

This is partly due to the sunlight, but the river really is a crazy color.

Waterfall!

We also went to a county park that was less maintained, which meant that we could get closer to the river (and also that we had to be more careful about poison ivy & such). The fall here weren't as big, but they seemed louder. Also, infinitely more difficult to get a good view of.

This photo and the next were taken w/me dangling over the side of the cliff.

This park didn't have guard rails, so you go off the approved track & do silly things like lean over a 50 ft drop.


128 - my friend counted on our way back up, but this was the only path to the river.

So that was my Northern adventure. This weekend I was in Indiana on a lake w/other friends, I didn't really take pictures, but I did finally watch Avatar. I'll give you my two cents at some later date.

Yeti Xing

2011-06-12T21:21:00.003-05:00

Just a brief note, I had a long and exciting weekend, but I'm too tired to post about it right now, so I thought I would leave you with the most important picture of the past two days:

Yep, that is a Sasquatch crossing sign.

p.s. I do know that a Yeti and a Sasquatch are two different things, but I think Yeti Xing sounds much funnier than Sasquatch or Big Foot Xing.

2011 LT Reading Challenge

2011-06-06T14:30:00.000-05:00

We are now in the 6th month of 2011, which feels wholly unnatural to me. Time has alternately been dreadfully slow or moving by super fast. Either way, I can't keep up. Since the year is nearly half over I thought I would do a quick check-in to let people (someone? anyone?) know how I was doing on my 11 in 11 challenge over at Library Thing. The idea is to read 11 books in 11 categories for 2011. Now I didn't exactly do that b/c it would be way too many my list is staggered so that category 1 has only 1 book, cat. 8 has 8 books.... you get the picture. I tried to structure it so that the categories I knew I would be reading more of any (like sci-fi/fantasy) had a higher # of books, whereas my category "Ukrainian" has only one.

Well, as far as book challenges go, it has always been clear that I never finish them. I try really hard, but I just end up reading other things, or not finishing books, or getting distracted. I don't know, there is some perversion in my head that stops me from reading books I say that I will read. In other words, I have been saying for years I would finish The Brother's Karamazov, but I never touch it. This does not mean, however, that I'm not reading books, just not the ones I'm "supposed" to read. Whatever. Ultimately, compared to my previous attempts at this themed challenge (I tried it for 2008 and 2009), I'm doing ok I think. Overall though I've read less than half of the books on my list; roughly 30%.

I've started reading about 10 on the list, not exaggerating. The problem is that I tend to try to read too many things at once, and then I see a new book someone posted about on some blog and then I want to read that one too, so I get it from the library, but then it sits on my shelf and sometimes I renew them, but usually they just get late fees. Yeah, you see. Anyway, the silver lining is that I'm not traveling this summer so theoretically I will have time to read. However, I'm also supposed to be rewriting grant applications this summer. (But at least to help motivate me w/that I joined a writing group).

In case you are curious, the list is below of what I intend to read vs. what I have actually read. Feel free to point and laugh at me if you want.

1. 1. Ukrainian

2. 2. Theory/Philosophy

2. Heidegger (bro.)

3. Tomes

1. War and Peace (own)

2. Don Quixote (own)

3. Drood (own)

4. Books from the Family (own all)

1. Decolonising the Mind

2. Wizard of the Crow

3. Parlor Politics

4. ~~Planning the Past~~ or the Invasion Within

Bonus: ~~Ashes of Waco~~

5. Left Behind

1. The Brothers Karamazov (own)

2. Dead Souls (own)

3. The Windup Girl (own)

4. Landscape Painted with Tea (UW)

5. Lanark (MPL)

Bonus: Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie (MPL)

6. Listed

1. Iron Council (started) (own)

2. Ash (UW?)

3. Life of Pi (own)

4. Gulag Archipelago (own)

5. Beloved (own)

6. Old Man’s War (MPL) (Tor’s list)

7. South

1. ~~Sound of Building Coffins~~ (MPL)

2. All the King’s Men (MPL)

3. The Missing, Tim Gautreaux (MPL)

4. A Confederacy of Dunces (MPL)

5. ~~Antarctica, Robinson~~

6. Zeitoun by Dave Eggers (MPL)

7. ~~The Reavers are the Angels by Alden Bell~~

Bonus: ~~The Strange Career of Jim Crow C Vann Woodward,~~ ~~Kaleidoscope Odessa~~

8. Its New to Me

1. North and South (MPL)

2. ~~Light, Harrison~~

3. ~~Storm Front, Butcher~~

4. ~~Perfume, Suskind~~

5. ~~Equations of Life, Morden (MPL)~~

6. ~~The Dervish House~~

9. Science Fiction/Fantasy

1.~~Vivia by Tanith Lee~~

2. ~~Tomb of the Undergates Sam Sykes~~

3. ~~The Half-Made World Felix Gilman~~

4. Titus Groan (own)

5. ~~Habitation of the Blessed Valente~~

6. ~~The Cardinal’s Blades~~

7~~. Nights of Villjamur~~

10. You Tell Me (MPL)

1. The Yawning Heights

2. ~~Pastel City, Harrison~~

4. The Book Thief

5. World War Z

6. The Unbearable Lightness of Being, Kundera

7. 2666, Bolano

8. Detective Story by Imre Kertesz

9. Lady Oracle by Margaret Atwood

10.

11. Ongoing Faulkner Challenge (Own)

~~1. Pylon~~

~~2. Absalom Absalom~~

3. The Unvanquished

4. If I forget Thee Jerusalem

5. The Hamlet

6. Go Down Moses

7. Intruder in the Dust

8. Requiem for a Nun

9. A Fable

10. The Town

11. The Mansion

Bonus: Collected Short Stories

Review: Absalom, Absalom!

2011-05-30T22:05:00.005-05:00

Absalom, Absalom!

This is the tragic story of Thomas Sutpen’s attempt to establish a dynasty in the 1830s. He arrives in Jefferson, Yoknapatawpha County, MS as a strange outsider with wild slaves, a mysterious source of seemingly limitless income, and a rigid plan—establish an estate, find a wife, produce a male heir. While Sutpen does accomplish his life’s goals, his unwavering adherence to an ideal brings out the ruin of him and his family. The story of Sutpen and his various il/legitimate children is told primarily through the point of view of Quentin Compson (the same as in The Sound & the Fury). The book, however, is much more than a straightforward narrated life history. Absalom, Absalom! is layered through multiple points of view. It is a richly detailed story, but is also complex.

If you are not a fan of Faulkner’s writing style, I would not recommend this book. Other works by him, though still distinctly “Faulkner” in style, are much more accessible. Here Quentin and his roommate Shreve spend a cold winter night at university telling the Sutpen tale to one another. It is obvious that Shreve has heard much of the history before as he interrupts, embellishes, and at times takes over the narrative. The story is not only about Sutpen, but also about Quentin’s experiences in Jefferson, about the ways in which he learned bits and pieces of these events over time from a variety of characters such as Aunt Rosa (Sutpen’s wife’s sister) and his father – who himself is retelling it from Quentin’s grandfather. He experienced other events directly.

The hearsay third-hand jumbled nature of the transmission is important because the reader experience the plot not as a straightforward narrative, but as a palimpsest of events across nearly a century. The reader learns details in waves; at the beginning of the book, you get the basic idea and then Faulkner builds upon that foundation by adding details or retelling a section through a different character’s point of view. Unfortunately, many characters are unreliable, so as they passed on their story to Quentin or his grandfather, they edited and/or omitted crucial information. “’Your father,’ Shreve said. ‘He seems to have got an awful lot of information awful quick, after having waited forty-five years.’… ‘Grandfather didn’t tell him all of it either, like Sutpen never told Grandfather quite all of it.’” (220).

Another example that is illustrative of the mangled transmission of key information, involves a tragic incident between Aunt Rosa and Sutpen; specifically, he has told her something, which she never is never able to forgive him for saying. The reader is left in suspense about what exactly he said for over half the book, and the answer comes embedded within a page long sentence casually thrown into a paragraph on an unrelated topic. There you finally learn, with little warning, of how Sutpen insulted Rosa. Faulkner does not make reading easy.

I could go on for pages about the way the book is written, about foreshadowing (“The day after we—after that night when we—“), and flashbacks, and mind-numbingly long rambling sentences. I will not. However, I do think ultimately, Absalom, Absalom! is worth reading. First, you discover much more about Quentin’s personality and inner turmoil that I think helps clarify his actions in The Sound & The Fury. He is a fascinating character. Second, it is a powerful book about important issues—idealism, blind ambition, doomed Romanticism, and the end of an era. It is also about deep-seated racism, so unwavering that incest is preferred over relationships between people of different color. Finally, it is also about rigid class differences in the South. It is a hard read, but worth the effort.

______________________________________________

In case you were keeping up, I have read 9 books by Faulkner at this point:
A Soldier's Pay
Mosquitoes
Sartoris
The Sound & the Fury

As I Lay Dying
Sanctuary
Light in August
Pylon

Absalom, Absalom!

The reason why there are not reviews for that second collection - As I Lay Dying to Pylon - is because a) I read As I Lay Dying a long time ago and did not re-read it and b) because Pylon is the worst book Faulkner ever wrote, unreadable in fact. As for the other two, I just didn't get around to reviewing them & now it has been too long. I will say that so far Light in August is my favorite and I recommend it to any/everyone.

Гуляю

2011-05-16T18:15:00.001-05:00

In Ukrainian, гуляти means to walk or wander around. It can also have the same slightly negative sense as in "to wander the streets" as in you are out and about in town and up to no good. Here I mean it in the general sense of walking.

Its Spring!!!

2011-04-10T14:00:00.001-05:00

It was 80 and sunny today!! Its about damn time.
Here are some other pictures, but from Chicago last week:

Baha'i Temple

Baha'i Temple (its huge!)

Detail of some of the inscriptions found all over the Temple.

A very cold beach

Lake Michigan

An Actual Post

2011-04-03T15:27:00.001-05:00

I have been spending way too much time on Twitter. This has had an unfortunate effect upon me posting here, but I've never compared myself to those "serious" bloggers. I don't even regularly review books, just randomly & sort of haphazardly (except during Halloween when I try a little harder). Anyway, this semester has been seriously boring and I have too much time on my hands - which does not mean I have anything interesting to update about. W/o school or employment I have all this free time & zero excitement. I did decide to read every ethnography on Ukraine ever published. Actually, this is not impressive b/c a) there are about 10 and b) I should have done it a long long time ago. Maybe I'll try to review some of them.

The point of this post is to talk about my much belated trip to Chicago this weekend. I have actually never been despite living pretty close. I also did not end up doing any of the standard tourist things b/c my friend who I went to see lives there.

Karyn's Raw Cafe

A friend of mine has recently become really interested in the raw food movement. I don't cook at all mostly due to laziness so the sheer amount of preparation (and creativity) needed to follow this sort of diet just boggles my mind. This Karyn person though is apparently pretty famous w/in the community of raw food aficionados so we went to her cafe in the Lincoln Park neighborhood.

The restaurant is part dining area part raw food store. One half is a small fairly swanky looking eating area, while the other is full of cook books, self-help "change your life" type manifestos, a small conference room in the back for weekly classes on how to become a raw food enthusiast, and lots of dehydrated foods.

All of the menu selections sound like "regular" food you've had before - ravioli, pizza, ice cream, nachos, etc - but are really very different from the food that inspired these creations. Now obviously they are different b/c they are made from raw or dehydratedfood, but they are also entirely vegan and mostly gluten-free, so you can imagine that limits the type of ingredients that goes into the dishes. Everything was delicious and I have zero complaints about the restaurant side of things. However, the store was just a bit too "new age" for me - not the food, but the literature being promoted. Such as the book that practically declared you could cure everything with a salt/water concoction known as sole. Clearly, some people are really in to this particular scene, its just not for me.

Ukrainian Village

My friend grew up here so we walked around this historic neighborhood for a while. Many Ukrainians have moved from the area, but you can still hear Russian, Ukrainian, or Polish spoken on the streets pretty regularly. We visited a couple of delis, which made me really nostalgic for L'viv. Also, b/c everyone I ever met there seems to be going back this summer - except me - seeing all the imported foods made me a little sad. I know it might be silly, but I really do love being in L'viv and while I'm not specifically attached to Ukrainian food it was just working yesterday to remind me of all the other things I am attached to.

We also visited several churches. Significantly you can find on the same long street, separated by several blocks two Ukrainian Catholic Churches (new calendar and old calendar), a Ukrainian Orthodox Church, a Russian Orthodox Church, and a Polish (Latin) Catholic Church. That street is a fairly good indicator of the complicated religious history in Ukraine, where all those same churches (and many others) compete for parishioners, funding, and real estate.

Baha'i Temple

If you are ever anywhere near Wilmette (close to Evanston) you should go see this architectural masterpiece. It is one of the most amazing structures I have ever seen. Unfortunately, they were remodeling the gardens, but the pictures of the fountains and hedges shown in the brochure are magnificent. I have for a while been passively interested in Baha'i after hearing about it in a World Religion class, but I don't actually know that much about their beliefs or practices. What I learned from the flyer is that this temple in Wilmette is the national center for the Baha'i in the U.S. It was started in 1912, and finished about 40 yrs later. There are only seven temples in the world. It is 9 sided, domed, and carved all over with symbols of various faiths; Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and others. I'm not even going to try to describe the fabulous lace-like stone-work that is featured inside or out, I seriously could not do justice to the building.

I hope that was long enough and interesting enough to make up for my lack of posting. I will honestly try to do better.

Florence + The Machine

2011-04-03T14:51:00.000-05:00

On the way back from Chicago yesterday (see next post), I was introduced to a song that I absolutely love. Fairly newish, 2009 I think, but I am hopelessly out of date regarding music so extremely new to me. I don't listen to that many groups w/strong female leads - mostly just Niyaz, early Tori Amos, and a little PJ Harvey - but I this this singer is dynamic. I saw comparisons to Amy Winehouse, but since I never listened to her I can't comment.

Dog Days Are Over

Happiness hit her like a train on a track
Coming towards her stuck still no turning back
She hid around corners and she hid under beds
She killed it with kisses and from it she fled
With every bubble she sank with her drink
And washed it away down the kitchen sink

The dog days are over
The dog days are done
The horses are coming
So you better run

Run fast for your mother, run fast for your father
Run for your children, for your sisters and brothers
Leave all your loving, your loving behind
You cant carry it with you if you want to survive

The dog days are over
The dog days are done
Can you hear the horses?
'Cause here they come

And i never wanted anything from you
Except everything you had and what was left after that too, oh
Happiness hit her like a bullet in the head
Struck from a great height by someone who should know better than that

The dog days are over
The dog days are done
Can you hear the horses?
'Cause here they come

Run fast for your mother, run fast for your father
Run for your children, for your sisters and brothers
Leave all your loving, your loving behind
You cant carry it with you if you want to survive

The dog days are over
The dog days are done
Can you hear the horses?
'Cause here they come

The dog days are over
The dog days are done
The horses are coming
So you better run

The Sound of Building Coffins

2011-03-08T18:13:00.003-06:00

My review of an awesome book that everyone should read (now).

New Orleans in the late 18th to early 20th century. A place full of death, hope, and rebirth, of yellow fever, voodoo, and the discovery of jazz. This story is about the Morningstar family and a cast of others connected with them through fate, coincidence, or love. It is hard to place Maistros’ book into one particular genre. It is historical fiction, magical realism, and horror, but more importantly it is also literature at its very best.

From the first page, the grotesque (a theme throughout) is evident as we are introduced to a nine year old boy carrying “a burlap bag, full of fresh fetuses.” The supernatural permeates the story; ghosts, zombies, and voodoo Queens. Music is also important, one of the main characters is Buddy Bolden said to be the first man to front a jazz band. But not just music in an abstract way, rather literally music - lyrics and sound - are central to the plot of this story. In fact, the entire book is a sensual experience, encompassing the sights of turn of the century New Orleans, but also the sounds, smells, and even the texture of the city.

Maistros’ novel is about people, the hard times they lived in and the difficult choices they had to make admist death, violence, and racism. Ultimately, however, the author has produced a story about hope and rebirth (both literal and metaphorical). Water is a key symbol of these themes whether in the form of the Mississippi River, the bayou, or the storms that bring flooding (both nurturing and destructive). It is hard to imagine this book in a pre-Katrina era. The motifs that take center stage here are ones expressed recently by residents of New Orleans who did not evacuate or those who left only to return because they could not stay away.

The Sound of Building Coffins is an amazing first novel, an amazing book in general that I would recommend to anyone no matter your usual tastes. I won’t say that it is perfect of course. There is some initial disconnect between Book 1 and Book 2 (it takes place several years after the opening scenes). It took me a few chapters to get back into the story after the break. Also the writing is at times disjointed, but for me this fit with the mood of the story. Others might find it off-putting. Regardless of these minor issues, this book is absolutely worth checking out!

The Sound of Building Coffins by Louis Maistros (2009)

Song of the Day

2011-02-20T16:39:00.001-06:00

Interrupting the regularly scheduled program (i.e. protesting) to give you a song: (video link under "song of the moment")

EARTH INTRUDERS
BJORK
We are the earth intruders
We are the earth intruders
Muddy with twigs and branches

Turmoil! Carnage!

Here come the earth intruders
We are the paratroopers
The beat of sharp shooters
Come straight from voodoo

With our feet thumping
With our feet marching
Grinding skeptics
Into the soil

Shower of goodness coming to
End the doubt pouring over
Shower of goodness coming to end

We are the earth intruders
We are the sharp shooters
Flock of parachuters
Necessary voodoo

I have guided my bones through some voltage
And love them still
And love them too

Metallic! Carnage! Furiocity! Feel the speed!

We are the earth intruders
We are the sharp shooters
Flock of parachuters
Necessary voodoo

There is turmoil out there
Carnage, rambling
What is to do but dig
Dig bones out of earth

Mud graves! Timber! Morbid trenches!

Here come the earth intruders
There'll be no resistance
We are the canoneerers
Necessary voodoo

And the beast
With many heads
And the arms rolling
Steamroller!

We are the earth intruders
We are the earth intruders
Muddy with twigs and branches

Forgive us, tribe

We are the earth intruders
We are the earth intruders
Muddy with twigs and branches
Marching

The Strange Career of Jim Crow

2011-01-17T13:48:00.001-06:00

Whilst down South I decided to read a book about the South. Specifically about Jim Crow and desegregation. My brother is a public history major and specializes in Louisiana history - so he had quite a few books to choose from. The one I picked The Strange Career of Jim Crow by C. Vann Woodward is essentially a series of essays published as a short history. It was very readable, and his argument was convincing, but it is not in any way an introduction to the subject. I am ashamed to admit that I didn't know enough about major events in Southern U.S. history to totally follow the names, events, and theories that Woodward referenced throughout.

But I did like this quote:

"When a scientific theory ceases to account for the observed facts of common experience, however, it would seem to be time to discard the theory." (109).

Place and Space

2010-12-16T17:42:00.000-06:00

"Place is not only coadunative but also...deconstructive -- deconstructive of oppositions that it brings and holds together within its own ambience. These oppositions include binary pairs of terms that have enjoyed hegemonic power in Western epistemology and metaphysics. I am thinking of such dichotomies as subject and object, self and other, formal and substantive, mind and body, inner and outer, perception and imagination (or memory), and nature and culture themselves."

-- Edward S. Casey. 1997. "How to get from space to place in a fairly short stretch of time: Phenomenological prolegomena" (36)

Play and Repeat

2010-12-09T19:39:00.004-06:00

Wow, this explains soo much!

Karl Hyde (Underworld) - music he listens to over and over again:

2001: A Space Odyssey: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (1968 LP)
When I was 11 I locked myself in a wardrobe for two weeks with a record player and the soundtrack to 2001. I took dad's torch to be alone reliving the sensations I'd experienced in the Kidderminster Odeon. It was György Ligeti's work that I felt instant empathy with. It gave me my first insight into the beauty concealed in the union of discordant harmonies. Images of virtual spaces and conceptual rooms floated through my 11-year-old head, rewiring a provincial imagination. The road to a life beyond Worcestershire slowly opened. Thirty-eight years later, working on the score to Danny Boyle's Sunshine, I was shaking, excited, eager to reignite a memory. It felt like coming home, drawing on the experience of that first encounter with a soundtrack that altered the entire course of my life.

Source

Did You Say 'Winter?'

2010-12-07T17:28:00.001-06:00

Note

2010-11-29T20:31:00.000-06:00

The phenomenological world is not the bringing to explicit expression of a pre-existing being, but the laying down of being. Philosophy is not the reflection of a pre-existing truth, but, like art, the act of bringing truth into being.
The Phenomenology of Perception Merleau-Ponty

2011 Book Challenge

2010-11-25T09:25:00.001-06:00

1. 1. Ukrainian

2. Theory/Philosophy

3. Tomes

1. War and Peace

2. Don Quixote

3. Drood

4. Books from the Family

1. Decolonizing the Mind

2. Wizard of the Crow

3. Parlor Politics

4. Planning the Past or the Invasion Within

5. Left Behind

1. The Brothers Karamazov

2. Dead Souls

3.The Windup Girl

4. Landscape Painted with Tea

6. Listed

1. Iron Council

2. Ash

3. Life of Pi

4. Gulag Archipelago

5. Beloved, Morrison

7. South

1. Sound of Building Coffins

2. One Hundred Years of Solitude

3. North and South, Gaskell

4. A Confederacy of Dunces

5. Antarctica, Robinson

6. Zeitoun, Dave Eggers

8. Its New to Me

9. Science Fiction/Fantasy

1. ~~Vivia~~, Tanith Lee

10. You Tell Me

1. The Yawning Heights

2. Pastel City, Harrison

3.The Fool's Progress by Edward Abbey

4. The Book Thief

5. World War Z

6. The Unbearable Lightness of Being, Kundera

7. 2666, Bolano

8. Detective Story by Imre Kertesz

9. Lady Oracle, Atwood

10.

11. Ongoing Faulkner Challenge

1. Pylon

2. Absalom Absalom

3. The Unvanquished

4. If I forget Thee Jerusalem

5. The Hamlet

6. Go Down Moses

7. Intruder in the Dust

8. Requim for a Nun

9. A Fable

10. The Town

11. The Mansion

Explanations:

1. Ukrainian: Read a book in Ukrainian, this will take me all year

2. Theory/Philosophy: General Philosophy or some Anthropology theorist I should have already read

3. Tomes: Is it huge? I'm gonna read it! (But only three).

4. Book from the Family: Actually just books from my brother, I am embarrassed by the number of books he has bought me that I have not read.

5. Left Behind: Books I started, but never finished.

6. Listed: If its on a list -- of any kind -- it goes here.

7. South: Everywhere is south of somewhere, right? But really focused on the U.S. South and South America.

8. Its New to Me: New in 2011, or new author.

9. Science Fiction/Fantasy:

10. You Tell Me: Recommendations? I'll just pick books to read for this category based on any sort of recommendation - personal, Amazon, LT, blog, etc.

11. Ongoing Faulkner Challenge: Once upon a time I was supposed to read 8 Faulkner novels for 2008. That didn't happen, so now I'm just going to read all of them.

NOLA - In Pictures

2010-11-22T10:55:00.003-06:00

Just a few tidbits for now, will post more later. Had a great time, saw some great and not-so-great presentations, ate a lot of food, and hung out with some locals -- but the last is definitely a story for when I have more time.
(p.s. below slideshow seems to work better when you click on the pictures and move them, rather than using the arrows at bottom)

The conference that was a vacation

2010-11-16T08:39:00.003-06:00

Today is the big day. In other words, off to N.O. for the AAA!! Panel is done tomorrow around 4pm, and then time for awesome food, music, and well free time. At some point, I suppose I will actually attend the conference that I paid a ridiculous amount of money to go to (just talking about fees here, if you include airfare, food, hotels...actually I don't want to think about it).

But isn't the point of the AAA that students are supposed to mingle and make professional connections? Well yeah, but I know I told you about the time that some grad student tried to talk to Maurice Bloch....

I will just take lots of pictures, especially of the sunshine. B/c down South they have this thing called "the sun." It is really hard to see up here in the tundra, especially when it is dark at 4pm.

Mostly I am happy to be finished with grants, turned in the last one yesterday! And to not be teaching for a few days, or worrying about school. Though of course, when I get back I will have tons of catching up to do. Like transcribing 2 hours of interviews!

Prisencolinensinainciusol

2010-11-13T09:16:00.001-06:00

Prisencolinensinainciusol (watch video)

In de col men seivuan
Prisencolinensinainciusol ol rait

...Uis de seim cius nau op de seim
Ol uait men in de colobos dai
Trrr - ciak is e maind beghin de col
Bebi stei ye push yo oh

Uis de seim cius nau op de seim
Ol uoit men in de colobos dai
Not s de seim laikiu de promisdin
Iu nau in trabol lovgiai ciu gen

In do camo not cius no bai for lov so
Op op giast cam lau ue cam lov ai
Oping tu stei laik cius go mo men
Iu bicos tue men cold dobrei goris
Oh sandei

Ai ai smai sesler
Eni els so co uil piso ai
In de col men seivuan
Prisencolinensinainciusol ol rait

Ai ai smai senflecs
Eni go for doing peso ai
Prisencolinensinainciusol ol rait

Uel ai sint no ai giv de sint
Laik de cius nobodi oh gud taim lev feis go
Uis de seim et seim cius go no ben
Let de cius end kai for not de gai giast stei

Ai ai smai senflecs
Eni go for doing peso ai
In de col mein seivuan
Prisencolinensinainciusol ol rait

Lu nei si not sicidor
Ah es la bebi la dai big iour

Ai aismai senflecs
Eni go for doing peso ai
In de col mein seivuan
Prisencolinensinainciusol ol rait

Lu nei si not sicodor
Ah es la bebi la dai big iour

October Roundup

2010-11-01T20:45:00.001-05:00

Not sure what happened to this month. I can't believe it is Week 10 of the semester. I have been busy reading, and writing, and revising. OH, and I made Halloween costumes. Pictures forthcoming as soon as I find my camera and upload pictures onto my computer. It was EPIC. Especially when one of your friends is willing to dress up as the Labyrinth.

No, not a Labyrinth, but the one and only David Bowie/Goblin King Labyrinth.

I would like to point out that this year I did, in fact, complete the RIP challenge. You just don't know it b/c I didn't post that fourth review. And I ain't gonna. No time, no time. Besides, how am I supposed to review the first gothic novel ever written - The Castle of Otranto? However, I like to have completed some goals in life, even if in the grand scheme of things they aren't important.

I also importantly submitted not one but two grant applications. Neither are very good, but at least I turned them in. Another due on Wednesday, a paper due on Friday.... and then a small breather as we all gear up for the big AAA conference in the Big Easy (New Orleans that is). Maybe this year will inspire me to write another poem. The AAA in S.F created an ode to Talal Asad (which I won't dredge up as it was awful). He is my academic anti-hero.

Much love and happiness to you all, and happy November.

The Haunting of Hill House

2010-10-18T23:39:00.001-05:00

Spoilers

Basic plot summary, four people move into a haunted house for the summer; Eleanor, Theodora, Luke, and Dr. Montague. I loved this book and I am so very sad that I saw the movie first many years ago. The entire time I was reading I saw Catherine Zeta-Jones in my head as Theodora.

If I were going to be a horror writer, I would want to write like Shirley Jackson. Her descriptions of the house and her creation of atmosphere, of psychological and emotional tension are all superb. In fact, the beginning of this book might be one of the best I have ever read.

No live organism can continue for long to exist sanely under conditions of absolute reality; even larks and katydids are supposed, by some, to dream. Hill House, not sane, stood by itself against its hills, holding darkness within...

This next line also spoke to me. "Hill House, she thought, you're as hard to get into as heaven." There is something subtly creepy about this sentence. We know the house is evil already (by pg 29), we know from pg 1 that it is not sane, and yet, Eleanor's reaction is a comparison to heaven. An example of antithetic parallelism if I have ever seen one (even if we aren't strictly reading poetry).

Another example of how opposition creates horror in this little book.

Within, walls continued upright, bricks met neatly, floors were firm, and doors were sensibly shut.

This is a description of a house in order, of an aura of rightness, of correctness. Instead, inside is chaos and madness -- the order itself, the architecture, the clean lines we soon learn are a bit off. Not skewed in any obvious way, but faintly almost indistinctly except on a subconscious level. Askew in a way that is perhaps uncanny or to reference Freud more directly un-home-ly:

An instance where something can be familiar, yet foreign at the same time, resulting in a feeling of it being uncomfortably strange

Actually, I find the dialogue in this book to be quite uncanny also. It often seemed as if the characters were having a normal conversation, just chatting among friends, but in fact the things they would say were so very strange, not quite right but not quite nonsense.

However, I did find the end to be rather flat. I am perfectly thrilled to be horrified sans blood, gore, and guts, but I came upon the last words thinking "oh, so this is the end." I do like how Jackson concludes with the paragraph that began the novel, bringing the book and the house full circle. What has stood for 80 years will continue to stand for 80 more. I get that. I also sense that the title of the book could easily be The Haunting of Eleanor Vance. I just wish Eleanor had devolved in a more dramatic way. Clearly, for the last 100 pages or so (well, half the book I suppose), Eleanor is losing her mind. However, it is all so surreal that, for me, the moment of her death did not quite leave an impact (no pun intended) upon me. Alas, I fear I am not explaining myself very well.

Finally, I could have done without Mrs. Montague. She interrupted the flow of the story. If I thought about this more -- I literally finished the book about 30 minutes ago -- I might be inclined to forgive Jackson for this. Perhaps, Mrs. Montague's disruptive influence served a narrative purpose. I hesitate to think she was just there as a plot device to piss off the ghosts, but that is how I am feeling at the moment.

But those are minor issues. Shirley Jackson is an amazing writer, and I am also very sad that I have not read her in more depth before this moment (my only previous encounter being The Lottery).

Checking In or Checking Out

2010-10-17T11:28:00.000-05:00

Must. Read. Shirley. Jackson.

I will, really, I promise.

I finished a draft of my paper and sent it to professors, thought about writing a draft of that pesky conference paper, thought of some good ideas for making my Halloween costume, got pissed off about Yanukovych-related-news in Ukraine, thought about reading for classes next week, and ...

Clearly I've been doing way more "thinking" about things than actually "doing." But hey, I figure that is a step in the right direction.

(Sorry all recent post are inane, but then again I remind myself (and you all) that posting total random nonsense was built into the blog concept from the beginning. And besides we can't all be as cool as China Mieville).

Do Not Write These Stories

2010-10-11T19:46:00.001-05:00

So while I should be doing a thousand other things, I got a little distracted clicking through various blogs I sometimes (i.e. everyday) read as a form of procrastination.

During said process, I came across this page: Horror Stories We Have Seen Too Often. "This list is part of the submission guidelines for Strange Horizons, an online speculative fiction magazine." Basically a list of plots and subplots that this magazine feels is over done. Some of these I also think I have seen too often, and I'm not even in the business of reading through hundreds of story submissions.

Serial killer or vampire stalks and slays victim(s). -- Now I do like serial killer and vampire stories, but yeah market is the definition of oversaturated right now.
Alien creature lays eggs under the skin of a human (#12 on their list) -- Uh, yeah b/c it is gross and creepy. I don't think personally I have read too many such stories, but I can see why it is on their list.

But ok, that isn't actually the point of the post; the point (if there is one at all) is about #3:

Protagonist sits around for a while.

In the end, it turns out protagonist is dead.
In the end, it turns out protagonist is a serial killer.

Seriously? People have written so many "protagonist sits around for a while" stories that it is now on a list of "things not to do."? How could anyone ever think that was a good idea for a storyline?
__________________________________

R.I.P news: Reading The Haunting of Hill House. Wow is this ever one of those instances where Hollywood should have left the book alone. Shirley Jackson's writing is amazing. More on this book soon.

Oh and I have read book #3, but I have to figure out how to review it. I finished (weeks ago) The Castle of Otranto, but I'm not sure what I have to say that hasn't already been said-- seeing as how it was written in 1764. It is also, supposedly, the first Gothic novel.

____________________________

Ok ok, so sorry this post is random, I just have to add something this list is much funnier. Especially:

35. Twee little fairies with wings fly around being twee.

Proof of Life

2010-10-04T21:31:00.000-05:00

I'm around, just haven't been posting, but here are some of the things I have been up to (not in chronological order):

Saw Obama speak, well sort of, I guess I heard him over speakers with about a block in between us. So I didn't get to see his sparkly charismatic eyes (sorry the latter being a random inside joke).

Finished a presentation that I was conned into giving. I think it will be good, or at least sort of entertaining, since a large part of it is me forcing people to listen to Ukrainian folk music. And also it will be good if I can get all the tech stuff right. I am honestly hopeless.

Gave up Facebook. Sort of. I broke my ban to post about my crazy neighbors who may have actually been ghosts that live in the terrifying closet inside of my closet (long story).

Mustered up the energy to at least look at my grant proposal. How the hell does one go from a 6 page bibliography to a 2 pg one? For one second being deadly serious - if anyone has advice on this point I am all ears.

Checked out ten gazillion books from the library, and started them all. This is actually linked to the above point. I have serious school avoidance issues right now probably linked to anxiety.

Watched Paranormal Activity. I wasn't impressed. Well, I was sort of, but lets be honest, I am a sucker for hauntings. All such movies even bad ones scare me. I recognize this, still watch them, and yet I think am still aware enough of the ridiculousness of my reaction to be able to say that P.A wasn't a particularly good movie. (Does that last sentence even make sense?)

learned a new word, which I really want to find a way to use in random conversation: contumely: insolent or insulting language or treatment; rudeness or contempt arising from arrogance

That is my life recently in a nutshell. There is a longer list of things I haven't managed to accomplish, but hey I am trying optimism (sort of) today. So, what have all the rest of you been up to?

Review: Berserk

2010-09-22T09:12:00.002-05:00

By Tim Lebbon
(mostly spoiler free except where noted)

Summary: Tom has lost his son to a military training exercise 10 years before the book begins. Near the anniversary of his son's - Steven - death, Tom overhears a conversation that renews his uneasiness about the government's story regarding the "accident" that supposedly killed Steven. He pursues a vague set of clues and rumors that lead him to a military cover up, a horrifying secret, and new information about his son's fate.

What I Liked: After a slightly slow beginning the pace of the story picked up - it was quite an action packed adventure. Some of the ideas in the book were fairly creative, especially the background information. The writing wasn't the worst and Lebbon is decent at conveying visuals to the reader. The ending wasn't totally obvious and there were a few unexpected twists.

Now then, why are all my positive comments so trivial?

Things that Annoyed Me: Foremost, at the beginning, the "interrupting narrator" voice (maybe there is a more technical term for this?). By way of example, I mean the foreshadowing of horror to come, "But if he had only known then what was to come later..." In small doses fine, I guess the technique serves to build atmosphere. However, Lebbon over did it a bit and several times bordered on the melodramatic. Thankfully this was only a problem for the first quarter or so of the book.

The main character Tom is seriously lame. He spent a lot of time whining, saying "Oh God" or "I am confused." You might count the times someone in that book says "confused" and come up with a ridiculously high number. Find another word please. At the opposite end where Tom is pathetic and annoying, Cole - the main antagonist (sort of) - is too much of a bad ass. He gets away with unbelievably crazy behavior, not sure how he made it to the end of the book. I will admit that Lebbon did try to give both characters some depth, but I don't think he succeeded very well. In fact, many of the characters in Berserker had inconsistent personalities especially Natasha - another main character who has a rather ambiguous role in Lebbon's story.

Spoilerish problems:

There is this thing with categories. I am all for blurring boundaries, being creative, rethinking old cliches, but the author tried way too hard to create a monster that was everything scary he could possibly think of; traits of vampires, werewolves, and ghosts. In addition, he threw in scary science gone wrong, psychic powers, mind control, and viruses in combination with creepy military programs and conspiracy theories. Not to mention psychotic/terrifying children (see cover). My Quote of the Moment (top to your right) is rather perfect here. Honestly, there were just too many things going on for it to be enjoyable.

Finally, if you are going to use "science" to explain away the supernatural, I need to be convinced. This might merely be a personal problem, but the vagueness of some sort of man made super-monster turned into infectious vampire creating machine seems like a cop out to me. A random reference here and there to syringes and military secret programs gone wrong is not enough. I want to know more about where these creatures came from. And here is where I think the background story was more interesting than the one Lebbon actually told. I think had he backed the story up and not done the "10 years after" thing, I might have liked it a lot more.

3/5
(btw, I am probably way more generous with stars when it comes to horror than with other genres)

You Should Watch This

2010-09-15T21:53:00.000-05:00

By now most of you probably know about my semi-obsession with the band DakhaBrakha. I personally think they are the most amazing Ukrainian band I have ever heard.* They play mostly what I would call "folk" music, but what they refer to as "ethno-chaos." I wrote a paper about them for my ethnomusicology class, so I have both an academic and a personal interest.

Anyway, the point of all of this is to say that you should watch this video:
http://vimeo.com/14950124

The song and the video are both beautiful. Sorry, I don't off the top of my head have a translation for the title, nor can I tell you what the song is about exactly. If I thought about it more I would tell you about how the imagery and the lyrics (in other songs) have clear connections to Romantic Nationalism, modernity, nostalgia, and avant garde**. But not today. I will add, however, that I find the video a tad bit creepy, especially starting around 4:50.

Enjoy!!

*But never seen - they have a tendency to be in places either right before or right after I am there. It is very sad. Although, I did see Nina (if you watch the video she is the girl with the braids) in L'viv during the summer.
**The band originated at the Center for Contemporary Arts in Kyiv (DAKH).

Review: Daybreakers

2010-09-13T20:21:00.000-05:00

I am going to keep this short.* I really liked this movie. I know pop culture is over saturated with vampires these days in all forms - sparkly, law enforcing, vicious, loveable, children, etc. But here is what I loved about Daybreakers.

It shamelessly exploits every vampire myth you ever heard of. Stab them through their heart - check. Sunlight is deadly - check. Can't see one in the mirror - check. Cut off their heads - check. However, it takes all these predictable elements and wraps them up in an almost Marxian social commentary mixed with some original characteristics that you would have never thought of.**

Things I didn't like***: the bloodbath scenes that were utterly unnecessary; the fact that there will almost definitely be a sequel; the lack of a back-story -- how did all those people become vampires in the first place? What sort of disease/epidemic causes vampirism?

4/5 Stars

*mostly b/c I suck at writing reviews.
** or at least I wouldn't have, but I'm not a writer
*** in order from most annoying to least

Saving the World Through Psychedelics...

2010-09-12T13:29:00.000-05:00

Yesterday I had the "pleasure" of going to a football game. This was only my second ever, and both times have been fairly lackluster. First time the band - one of the highlights of our school's football matches - was suspended, and yesterday there was a serious lack of competition. If we had lost...well, I don't think we could have lost. I was however all psyched up for the drunken undergrads figuring I would see some interesting sights and rather happy that I couldn't yet recognize my students.

But really, they were all pretty chill. Nothing super extraordinary happened. One girl almost fell down the concrete stairs due to her drunken stupor, but was helped by a very nice gentleman. And someone before the game told me that he was "saving the world from nukes through psychedelics." Only other extraordinary sight was the girl whose boots looked more like Furbies wrapped around her ankles than actual shoes. I wish I had a picture b/c they might have been the ugliest shoes I have ever seen (in the U.S. at least).

Despite the lack of excitement, I did have a good time especially as the day was sort of a post-birthday celebration. I have not been having the best few weeks since around mid-August and didn't really do much on my actual b-day, so it was nice to socialize a bit. I also discovered my new favorite vodka. Wish I knew where to buy a bottle. It was flavored with blood oranges!! A bit sweet, but I like sweet drinks so it was perfect for me.

Oh, and I am ABD now, I finished my scarf/wrap thingy, and ... I was trying to think of some more good news, but drawing a blank. How sad.

Review: Horns

2010-09-11T21:40:00.000-05:00

One of the signs for me of a good book is if it compels me to sit still and read it in large chunks, maybe even all at once. Now granted, I don't always have time to do this since grad school, and furthermore compulsive reading is not the only sign of greatness; otherwise, I would have to condemn Kraken to mediocrity since I have been slowly plodding through it since late July.

The point, however, is to say that Horns was one of the most engaging reads I have recently come across. It is a tale of transformation on multiple levels. The premise is that Ignatius Perrish (Ig) wakes up one morning after a less than wise night out to find a pair of horns growing from his head. However, he does not just change physically, but also mentally and emotionally as the story unfolds - although not always in a positive way.

I did notfind Horns outright horrifying even though there are some cruel acts of violence. The book was disturbing more on a psychological level. Ultimately, I think the author Joe Hill has a rather pessimistic view of humanity. The characters in this book express some pretty deviant desires and fantasies. I didn't find that any of them had truly redeeming qualities. No doubt if you have read the book you will adamently disagree right about now.

But wait, you say, isn't the novel also about love?! What about Merrin Ig's girlfriend? Isn't their story a beautiful if tragic tale of love and redemption? Well, personally I think it could have been. Maybe Merrin was supposed to embody the good in humanity, but she was not quite developed enough as a character, and I simply was not convinced.

Furthermore, the climax at the end lost some of its power due to Hill's movement from writing dark humor to camp. Franky, the last third of the book was a bit too much. Some "lighter" moments, rather than lifting the somber mood a bit with laughter, just became quite ridiculous.

Despite these rather critical reflections, I actually did enjoy Horns. The first half was definitely stronger, powerful enough that I kept reading to see what would happen to Ig despite my problems with the ultimate resolution. 4/5 Stars

____________________________

As for the film challenge, I watched Daybreakers. I will write a review soon. I have checked out too many books from the library as usual. This habit is atrocious as I end up overwhelmed with choices. I don't know what to read next.

I also read a few short stories from some anthology that is at present lost under my bed (?) and unfortunately I don't remember the name of it. For a fact however, it should not be called a "horror" collection. The first three selections are exceedingly boring and I probably won't finish the rest.

Finally, I also might not read Berserk by Tim Lebbon for a semi-stupid reason. I can't look at the cover - even during the day time. I think the front of that book might be the most terrifying one I have ever seen.

Barely Contained Excitement

2010-09-05T21:17:00.000-05:00

Maybe I should be posting this on the other blog, but whatever, I don't even remember why I have two. The point is:

I bought a plane ticket to Toronto!!

And actually the plan this year is to not spend the entire time following "the band" around, or so I hear.* Maybe, finally, I will get to see more of Toronto than simply Bloor Street.** The excuse as always is the Ukrainian festival. However, I also get to see all my lovely amazing Canadian friends (and an Ohian*** too).

In book news, I read Horns by Joe Hill. When I get around to writing a review I will tell you all about how much I loved it; 4/5 starts at least. Also, currently reading The Left Hand of God, which is equally good, but I don't like the main character much.

In movie news, I watched a million British pre-20th century period romances. Why? I have all of no idea. Seriously. And From Paris With Love, which is utterly stupid. But I needed to watch it so I can send it back. Next up for "Peril on the Screen" is Daybreakers.

And did I mention how excited I am about Toronto?!

*I love Ludy Dobri, both musically and as people, but last year was annoying (not the show, just the "groupy-ness" of it all).
** I exaggerate I have been a few other places in the city.
*** As in a person from Ohio, not sure what else to call them.

Review: The Horsemen

2010-09-02T19:41:00.005-05:00

The Horsemen (2009) starring Dennis Quaid
Minor Spoilers

An apocalyptic biblical themed serial killer movie. Sounds exciting right? Well, you will be disappointed, or least I was. The first hour of the movie is boring, and the second half fails to tear at your heartstrings.

We have your stereotypical overworked dad/detective trying to raise his children after their mother died. Yeah, sounds familiar I know, even Stargate Universe used it*. He is plodding along and gets involved in a murder case because he has "special knowledge" - the murder was tailor made for him (or was it....?). In the midst of police procedures or other mundane activities the camera flashes to something bloody. The directors tried to liven things up with gratuitous images of bloody body parts, but I was not impressed. I don't mind blood and gore, but it should serve some purpose in the film rather than trying to cover up your pathetic attempts at a thriller.

I could drag out a long list of things I didn't like about this movie, but I will stick to the main problem. The film employs absurd plot furthering devices to get the story moving along. The sudden insights of knowledge, those ah ha moments that worked for Downey Jr. in Sherlock Holmes, they just aren't believable here. A man who isn't religious** has this amazing biblical revelation?*** It seemed random. In another part, the detective has an intimate heartfelt conversation with the daughter of one of the victims, and then suddenly....

Well, I won't tell you what happened, but the point is, it shouldn't have happened, because I cannot believe that a detective would ditch his kids to go meet with some victim's daughter and divulge his soul to her. Really? The writers couldn't think of any other way to get to the next chapter?!

Finally, the acting was just bad. I never sympathized with any of the characters. I wasn't horrified by the evil villain (nor did I feel sorry for this person). I wasn't moved by the morality speech at the end. As another review put it, I was really glad when the movie was over. Oh, and the "surprise" ending? The plot "twists"? Guessed them all. Usually I am really bad at this, but these were all based on pretty generic stereotypes, so that made it easier.

2/5 Stars because I did actually finish watching the movie.

*I am exaggerating a bit, but there is a character in S.G.U. whose wife died of cancer.
** Though his wife was and he is seen at church he felt more of a "dutiful" church goer than a faithful one.
*** Pun intended

R.I.P. Challenge: Peril the First

2010-09-02T00:49:00.001-05:00

Read four books in any of the following categories (or whatever you might think is "scary"):

Mystery.
Suspense.
Thriller.
Dark Fantasy.
Gothic.
Horror.
Supernatural.

Despite advice (sorry Carl) to just read one book, I can't help it, I have to go with the 4 book challenge. I have a few scattered wishlists on various sites, so I decided to go through them to compile pool of potential reads.

Serial killers? Sounds like Halloween to me.

I have heard a lot about this one from various people, and I like many of her other books, so I am hoping it will be as good as everyone has said it is.

Last year I had City of Saints and Madmen on the list. I never managed to read it. I am determined to read Vandermeer one day.

This one is at my house right now, so it is a pretty likely candidate. Also another book I have heard a lot about.

Berserk by Tim Lebbon: Not posting the cover because it is too creepy and too late at night right now for me to look at it. Probably makes it a good choice.

Not sure if this one totally counts, but then again it is a mystery and there are some seriously evil bad guys. On the other hand, I did start it before the challenge, so maybe that is cheating.

And as for Peril on Screen, the movie challenge, the next film up on my queue is Daybreakers.

R.I.P Challenge

2010-09-01T11:41:00.001-05:00

I fail miserably at this every year. I never finish reading the books I say I am going to read. But this year, oh yes, this year I will do it!! In between the teaching, grant writing, and coursework of course. But actually this year there is a new film challenge in addition to the book challenge. I really like scary movies.

Here is the website that hosts the annual event.

As of right now, I am undecided on which Peril I will go for. Or even which books I want to read. But as we know (and you can check the previous RIP posts) I never read the things I say I will read. So, I might not even make a list this year.

Cyanide and Michael Jackson

2010-08-29T01:28:00.001-05:00

I was poisoned!! I swear this is a true story. I was talked into going to a 80s vs 90s dance party Michael Jackson Birthday Extravaganza. Before that we met for some beers. And my friend had this "beef jerky" but it was Chinese. Well, he had eaten a lot and said it was good, so I thought I would be adventurous and try some. It tasted like dog food - and I'm not even trying to make some sort of horribly wrong racist joke, it really tasted like dog food mixed with Sweet n Low or some sort of fake sugar. After I had eaten a small piece, friends decide to look at the ingredients. One of them was cyanide. I do not jest.

Apparently, I have not died yet. Unless the 80s vs 90s dance party was some sort of contrapasso made especially for me, and I am in fact dead, and that was my hell. Maybe, since I did end up singing Happy Birthday to Michael Jackson along w/about 100 other people. And watched several poor souls attempt and FAIL miserably at the moonwalk. Sad, so sad they were. However, I have concluded my feet do not hurt enough for that to have been hell. And I didn't get any beer or other liquid spilled on me.

Although, isn't cyanide a slow killer?...

In other randomness, words I learned recently:

numismatics: the study of currency

eidolon: a living person's astral double

Arts and Crafts

2010-08-23T19:43:00.001-05:00

I remembered yesterday that I know how to crochet. So now I am trying to finish this scarf/shawl thing I started eons ago. When finished I promise to post a picture. Correction - if I finish.

Otherwise, I really like the pattern I created today:

Color by COLOURlovers

New Music Moment

2010-08-19T17:09:00.000-05:00

As always by "new" I mean new to me, but in this case fairly new - 2008 I think.

Time to Pretend - MGMT

I'm feeling rough I'm feeling raw
I'm in the prime of my life
Let's make some music, make some money
Find some models for wives
I'll move to Paris shoot some heroin
And fuck with the stars
You man the island and the cocaine and the elegant cars

This is our decision
To live fast and die young
We've got the vision
Now lets have some fun

Yeah, it's overwhelming
But what else can we do?
Get jobs in offices
And wake up for the morning commute?
Forget about our mothers and our friends
We're fated to pretend
To pretend
We're fated to pretend
To pretend

I'll miss the playgrounds
And the animals and digging up worms
I'll miss the comfort of my mother and
The weight of the world
I'll miss my sister miss my father
Miss my dog and my home
Yeah, I'll miss the boredom and the freedom
And the time spent alone

But there is really nothing
Nothing we can do
Love must be forgotten
Life can always start off anew

The models will have children
We'll get a divorce
We'll find some more models
Everything must run its course
We'll choke on our vomit
That will be the end
We were fated to pretend
To pretend
We're fated to pretend
To pretend
I said yeah yeah yeah
Yeah yeah yeah
Yeah yeah yeah
Yeah yeah yeah

Words I Learned Today

2010-08-17T14:47:00.002-05:00

1) susurrate: to issue soft noises

2)benthic: of, relating to, or occurring in the bottom of the ocean (or other body of water)

New Louisiana Laws

2010-08-15T11:16:00.006-05:00

I just have to say something about this.

Gun restrictions will loosen, allowing concealed weapons in some churches and near most schoolyards and permitting firearms at state parks and historic sites.

BUT A ban on texting while driving will get tougher.

AND Grand Isle residents will no longer have to pay a toll to cross the bridge to their home.

Starting backwards, why the hell did Grand Isle residents ever have to pay a toll to get home. That is just stupid. Glad someone figured that out.

More importantly:

Go ahead and bring your gun to church grandma, but for god's sake don't text!

I do get that texting while driving is dangerous. I am not against that law, but the irony kills me. You are apparently worried about people injuring others while texting in the car, but you loosen gun restrictions!! Near schools and churches and parks! My mind is blown. And by the way, what does "some" churches mean?

Where are people's priorities?

Oh, Rapture!

2010-08-12T16:58:00.006-05:00

Rapture

a state or experience of being carried away by overwhelming emotion

the end times in Christian theology

Regarding the first, I turned in the stupid paper that I have been working on sort of constantly since I got back from the FSU. Hurray! It is officially out of my hands. I don't think there was anything else to do with. I mean the paper has 9 pages of references. I just kept reading things that I thought were relevant. But it had to stop.

The second is regarding random articles about end of empires, end of the world weather, and apocalyptic books. It is all around us... beware*
____

Color by COLOURlovers

*Mostly kidding.

Two Things

2010-08-08T00:02:00.004-05:00

Flathead by The Fratellis

Just because she feeds me well
and she made me talk dirty in a pink hotel
doesn't mean she's got eyes for me
she might just want my bones you see

hey flathead don't you get mean
she's the second best killer that I have ever seen
they don't come much more sick than you
I could go on if you want me to

it's just so wrong so very nice I told you
once and you killed me twice

I saw you one time at the back of the
club chewing on glass and a ticket stub
I heard they kicked the boy till he bled
then stood and said oh my god till she said

bara bap bara ra ra bara bap bara ra ra ra...

everybody knows you're the one to call
when the girls get ugly at the back of the wall
Josephine says you got a bleeding nose
so taking it with her wherever she goes

hey flathead don't check me in
well hers is a tonic and mine is a gin
they don't come much more slick
than you I'd drive your car if you ask me to

said the boy's not right in the head
so he stood and got a kicking instead till she said
bara bap bara ra ra bara bap bara ra ra ra...

And she said the boy's not right in the head
And you stood and said oh my god till she said
bara bap bara ra ra bara bap bara ra ra ra..

Supernova by Me

Color by COLOURlovers

Remember Me?

2010-08-06T12:06:00.005-05:00

Oh hi,yes, I am still around. Came back from summer-fun-with-language, and have sort of been working on finishing those pesky prelim papers.

In other news, I am hopelessly distracted by this site. Why is it so much fun? Who knows...It doesn't take much to distract me anymore btw. Basically you create colors, palettes, and patterns and then people rate them. This is like the online version of coloring for me, which I must admit even up until grad school I used to do quite often. I like colors, and new colors, and learning new color words. Yeah, I know, weird hobby.

But actually you get to make things like this:

Color by COLOURlovers

I have also been reading the new China Mieville book. Called Kraken. If you have never heard of this writer, I suggest at least reading this book. It is about cult conspiracies in London, the end of the world, and giant squid deities. How awesome is that! (Please note connection to this paragraph and the thing right above :).

Apology

2010-06-05T11:01:00.003-05:00

So sorry that I subjected you all to that naked mole rat picture for so long. I apologize.

I have to pack right now, but hey maybe later I will post some better pictures - of flowers, and sunshine, and summer in La.

That is if I figure out how to squeeze all the stuff I want to take into one suitcase. Third summer I have done this and I still can't pack light. I truly need everything.

Totally Random

2010-05-05T18:05:00.003-05:00

Learned about this creature today. One of the most hideous things I have ever seen. You should watch the video on BBC. They had the dumbest headline "Saber Toothed Sausage" which of course made me want to see what the hell they were talking about. It was the Naked Mole Rat. Interesting creature, but I am utterly turned off by its appearance.

And yes, I do have better things to be doing. But whatever...

Adventures on Metro Transit and Zombies

2010-04-25T23:21:00.007-05:00

I actually think I need a blog solely devoted to the nonsense that happens to me on the buses in this city. First it was the bus that skipped half of its route. Then it was the driver w/a serious nicotine problem - he would speed super fast to make up time then stop at every 4th or so bus stop to have a few quick puffs. Oh and the driver who used his loud speaker to yell at a girl across 4 lanes of traffic, the same driver who backed up a block to pick up some person (this would be a good deed except it was on a major highway).

And today a driver clearly was paying zero attention to anything. Stopped at a light, I noticed from the back of the bus, that the road ahead was blocked. Common occurrence during the weekend in this part of town, the thing to do is take that right at the light we were stopped at. He kept going. And didn't realized until nearly upon the road blocks that he could not get through and began cursing loudly. Idiot. I just laughed at him for a bit, and then laughed even more as he attempted to turn the bus around (these things are huge btw) in a narrow street b/c a potential left turn he might have taken to get out of the mess was also blocked off due to construction.

Oh and by the way, all of this shit happens on the SAME ROUTE. Yes, the very same #. Maybe other routes have drama, but clearly the people they hire for this one are insane/morons/crackheads.

I also need to start a blog dedicated to the stupidity I see in the book store. Or maybe stupidity is too harsh. Things that annoy me in the campus book store. Now obviously these books are not the fault of the store, but rather the fault of America and publishing companies, and stupid people who create the market for these sort of books.

#1 on my list of annoyances recently is the book called Obama's Zombies about how the Obama campaign brainwashed the iPod generation via Twitter, email, and Facebook. Written by a "new young conservative" this book has made its way onto the bestseller list. I almost bought it, just to see how truly terrible it was, but thankfully resisted that rather masochistic urge. #2 The zombie/monster rewrites. One was fine, two was ok, but now it is annoying. There is a zombie prequel to Austin's Pride and Prejudice. This fad in books will be milked by publishers until it is utterly beyond the point of ridiculousness. #3 Saw this book of poetry. Apparently whomever is in charge of writing the blurbs on the back thought it was super important to classify the book as "pre-Katrina" since it was about New Orleans. This belongs in the realm of a larger peeve of mine, which I will not go into right now.

On a happy note - the semester is almost over!! Hurray!! Hurray!! :)

Computer Misery

2010-04-13T20:56:00.002-05:00

So, this is the story of how I made my life miserable. Simply b/c I have to type 9000 things this semester, I decided to be careless with my computer and drop it. Now luckily I caught it. Not so luckily I broke one of the keys off. I thought maybe it would just go back on. So I enlisted the help of my friends who tried to put it back on. And I then left my computer in the company of one person, while I went to a meeting. When I came back, two keys were off.

Good news, the comparison between the W key I broke and the E key my friend removed revealed that I needed replacement parts. This is good to know, since we could see that a bit of plastic was missing.

Bad news, the E isn't really working properly now, so potentially random intentional removal resulted in damage to the key sensor, not just the plastic.

Yeah I know I am typing here, but it is slow b/c I have to repeatedly hit the E key or backspace to add it. Annoying. Especially while writing long papers, and when I want to type fast not at a snail's pace.

Even worse news, Toshiba doesn't sell the bit of plastic to "end-users" which I guess means me. They only sell the entire keyboard.

In other misery related news, see other blog.

Painting

2010-04-03T13:54:00.004-05:00

In case no one knew, I actually enjoy painting, so below is a picture of the room I helped paint yesterday! It was a good choice, and I admit to being wrong in initially not liking the color (before it was on the wall). It is rather hard to tell the color in this picture, sorry, but it is a pretty green.
My break from Spring Break work also included cheesecake, awesome chocolate, Project Runway, and ANTM. :)

Today I...

2010-03-30T22:24:00.003-05:00

wrote a paper. Sort of. I mean I did write the paper, but it is not very good. And it isn't actually done b/c I mean I literally wrote the paper, i.e. with a pen. So it isn't typed, so I have to type it. And add all the sections where I said "see star" or "see pg one" or "see quote" or "see other introduction." In other words, it is not assembled and the pieces are all over my room, might be a few outside too (on the porch).

Oh and I uh did not write (or even type, or really think about) the paper that is due TOMORROW. Funny how that was a self-imposed deadline. Hi, prof I NEED a deadline to function. Ok, how about March 31st? Great! And the email tomorrow will read, sorry but I really haven't had time to even look at your paper.

Spring Break

2010-03-27T16:59:00.002-05:00

Yep, it is Spring Break, so I have next week off, but won't be doing much but reading.* I am probably helping a friend paint, which will be fun since I actually like painting. Might eat a lot of candy since apparently my mom is sending me a box full.

Saw Alice by the way. Liked it, but there was something off. Burton are you losing your edge? The ending just did not work at all. A local newspaper gave it a C+ while giving that stupid new New Orleans movie an A. I wouldn't say it was that bad (or the other was even remotely that good.** Maybe a B or even B+, b/c really the only annoyance was the ending. You can't trust those reviewers, I swear!

In other news, here is my summary of recent grad school drama. In case you care to know.

Oh and this is what I want for my birthday. Well tickets I should say. If you start a fundraiser right now, maybe we can raise enough money for me to go.

I have zero other news. Seriously. I can't even complain about my sections b/c they are pretty standard and drama free this semester. Thank God. One less stressor is always welcome.

One last thing. this is happening soon. I have a couple of movies picked out in case I have time to go, and considering last year's fiasco I will definitely buy tickets before the day of the film.

*And yes, I am updating my blog despite my promise to do "nothing but work." I read a million articles this morning. I am done reading for this paper. It is already too long, so I am just going to write the rest of this evening.
** No, I haven't seen it, but I refuse too. Just like the Frog Princess Disney thing.

Oh, Alice!

2010-03-02T22:09:00.003-06:00

Did I ever mention how much I love Johnny Depp... and Tim Burton....and Alan Rickman....and Lewis Carroll....

Aren't I lucky that all of my favorite things happen to be in a movie that is coming out on Friday?

Aren't I even more lucky that my friends want to go see a movie that I want to see? This rarely happens.

Hot Chocolate Induced Insomnia

2010-02-27T00:29:00.003-06:00

Seriously what the hell? I know that it was rich thick amazing chocolate, but I cannot actually believe that I am still awake. While this does give me an opportunity to pretend that I have a blog that I update, I do need to be productive tomorrow, which means I need to go to sleep now. Not likely to happen any time soon :(

Also not likely b/c my friend is on Skype and we decided to relive the funny terrifying moments spent in the convent in Ukraine this summer. As most people know, we didn't actually live in the convent, but in converted apartments in the courtyard. A key moment being when the mirror crashed to the floor around midnight scaring us to death: my roommate said "call 911" and I grabbed a vase for "protection." Not a good moment for either of us :)

But otherwise...what have I been up to since the SuperBowl? Well nothing. Went out for Valentine's Day, had fun dancing, became even more addicted to a certain band, applied for funding and stuff, wrote a few pages, read a few books, had an existential (or maybe theoretical) crisis, became involved in random department drama. And to add one thing more:

Started a secessionist movement - that is crucial and defining. Long live the Republic of West Florida!!

But sadly the people (person?) who reads this already knew all of that. Bleh.

Geaux Saints

2010-02-07T23:30:00.001-06:00

Who dat won the SuperBowl?!! The Saints, the Saints!!

Ok, I am done. Just a moment of euphoria for the boys back home.

I might decide to wear Saint's colors tomorrow, some random combination of black and gold. To make things more interesting (and tacky) how about gold Mardi Gras beads? Hm....

Urban Fantasy

2010-02-01T18:20:00.003-06:00

Please do me the favor of clicking on the below link and telling me what all those books have in common.

New Releases in Fantasy/SF

Notice something similar in the topic, or perhaps in the covers?

Not that I really begrudge anyone their success, b/c honestly these authors make waaay more money than me. I am just overwhelmed.

Wandering around in University Bookstore the other day, took a glance at the so-called "Horror" section. What did I see? Basically all supernatural romances that involve vampires, were-wolves, demons, or angels of the exact same variety overwhelmingly represented in the Amazon new releases above.

I just don't get it. I have nothing against books on vampires or dark fantasy or whatever (love Tanith Lee, love Storm Constantine, loved early PZB, liked early Anne Rice), but I just get a sense that the books coming out right now are all taken from the same mold. And then made into movies, or t.v. shows, or t-shirts, which means that they are everywhere.

I know, I am being unfair. I do realize this, but I was annoyed. Especially b/c I was in search of some new interesting book. I was potentially going to buy something. But alas, not today, b/c I am discouraged by the state of the genre at the moment.

On the other hand, if anyone has suggestions of things that I might like to read, please let me know.

Football Madness

2010-01-25T21:59:00.003-06:00

As if everyone didn't already know - yes, the Saints for the first time ever are going to the Superbowl.

But I'm not going to tell you about that. The funnier story is how I have thought for the past year that my t.v. didn't work, but actually it does. I really am just a moron.

So, there was that stupid "digital t.v." nonsense, and I got a converter box. And I thought I followed the instructions, but apparently I am illiterate (though what would the word be if you can't read/understand pictorial instructions?).

I was talking to my mom about my lack of t.v., looked some up at a few stores on line, realized how expensive they were now, and decided not to worry about it. However, over the phone I should point out, mom was all like did you do x, y, z. And I was all like "my t.v. doesn't have that"....."oh, wait, yes it does." Mom - you should connect blah blah blah. Me "if this works you are not allowed to make fun of me." It worked of course. Mom- in the background trying oh so hard to pretend that she wasn't laughing hysterically b/c to make sure you understand I must point out that she has never seen my t.v. or this converter box thing.

On the positive side, I was all set to watch the Saints game (but actually watched it elsewhere and embarrassed myself even more by failing at a Wii game). On the negative side, watched random t.v. shows all afternoon. At least, I did get to see The Big Bang Theory, which is the funniest show EVER (no, I don't care if you disagree). And now I can see new episodes of Criminal Minds considering I became addicted over break. More ways to procrastinate - not a good start to a fun filled semester of supposedly writing 90+ pages. But it never is....

Random Pictures

2010-01-10T19:58:00.007-06:00

Went to a famous local restaurant that supposedly has the best mufalettas, Liuzza's. The above drink was called a BushWhacker that consists of a "stealthy" concoction of alcohols. Three out of three of us agreed that it was basically a White Russian with some sort of coconut rum, probably Malibu. It was superb.

The above photo is the sandwich. Actually not a traditional mufaletta b/c it is made on French bread - thus, a frenchaletta. It was HUGE. But amazingly warm and delicious, and I think I gained about 10 pounds eating it in conjuction with that drink and some savory onion rings.

The demon cat Hermione.

Waiting for food. I love this picture.

Random tree outside of my mom's work place.

The Piney Woods.

Winter Break

2010-01-07T19:03:00.004-06:00

In case you were curious, what have I been up to? Oh, nothing. I watch tv all day, especially Criminal Minds, which I have become addicted to. In May, when I was here last, it was NCIS, and before that it was Stargate. Clearly, I have a problem. But whatever, I don't have tv back up north, I get distracted enough by Netflix.

I managed to read one book. I didn't like it, and I haven't been doing anything productive (like reading or preparing for prelims), but one book is better than nothing I guess. Anyway it was The Nun by Diderot. My brother threw it at me (literally) when I asked for "light" reading. It isn't really, at least not in my opinion. The book is about some girl whose parents hate her and send her to some convent where she is miserable and tries to leave and is tortured by all these Mother Superiors. (yes, that was a runon sentence). Whatever was sort of my attitude upon finishing it. Oh, and I just recalled that I read another book whilst stranded in the airport for 15 hours on Christmas Eve, but I cannot find it right now and I don't remember the title. It was good (better than The Nun), except for the ending, which sort of ruined my entire experience with it. Yes, I know annoying that I am talking about a nameless book so that you have absolutely no reference point for my comments. Sorry.

My sister just said the best thing ever, "It is like there is nothing to do except go to sleep!" I actually totally agree except that Criminal Minds comes on for 2 hours pretty soon. It is the only thing that keeps me going (totally just kidding I promise).

Hm...what else? Well, I went to see Sherlock Holmes, it is now officially on my very short list of favorite movies. I enjoyed every second of it; Robert and Jude were perfect, their ridiculous bickering and sarcastic comments were endlessly entertaining to me :) For at least this once, I wouldn't mind a sequel (and I really really hate useless inferior sequels to amazing movies - i.e Pirates of the Caribbean). Tomorrow, ooohh, tomorrow Daybreakers comes out. It is another vampire movie to add to the, at this point, annoying vampire craze, but at least it isn't a pre-teen romance movie about bloodsuckers. Luckily I have my sister and mother to go see it with me. I think I have used all of my horror movie passes up with my friends in the tundra. After forcing various people to see 30 Days of Night, A Haunting in Connecticut, and Fourth Kind they might refuse to go see any movie with me ever again. Which means that I will not get to see Paranormal State (which is still playing in random theaters), Antichrist, or Legion. So sad.

And folks, I think that is about all that has been happening here. Went shopping, met up with some friends, celebrated a few holidays...yep, that is everything. Hope everyone else's breaks were restful and/or entertaining.

'Tis the Season

2009-12-21T10:14:00.009-06:00

..yes, the season for Gingerbread People! I made my first ever gingerbread men yesterday. As my friends pointed out I am almost a foreigner since I have never experienced that nor does my family do the whole Christmas Stocking thing. Oh well. We have other traditions like...um...hm...I'll get back to you on that one.

Besides that moment of fun, followed by the weirdest version of Trivial Pursuit ever (too many colors and dice for me to keep up), I really haven't been up to much of anything. I did have my wisdom teeth removed (2 of them), and parts of me are still numb. I did call the doctor to day and the nurse was all like "well I have heard of it lasting up to a week," It has almost been an week!! Appointment on Wednesday. A friend of a friend apparently experienced numbness for 2 years in her tongue. ( I wonder if this is an example of how urban legends and folk stories about dental procedures get spread?). Hopefully this is not permanent b/c my teeth feel really strange on one side and I don't like it :(

Almost end of the semester. Today is the final for Anthro, scantron and thus easy. I turned in a paper yesterday with the greatest title ever "Scary Monsters and Super Creeps: Revitalization, Revolution, and the Apocalypse in 17th Century Russia." It might be the best part of the entire paper, which kind of fell flat. I had all sorts of grand ideas for it, but it just ended up being sort of me rambling about how pissed off I was that all the historians keep writing aritcles about Old Belief in which they referred to the rituals as "insignificant' or "meaningless." So, yeah, I had to pull out Turner and Geertz (and Asad, cannot forget his critiques) to point them in the right direction. I have one other paper to finish...at some point. Not sure when, but it is about the Toronto festival I went to so lots of "ethnographic description" and such. Should be easier to finish than the one on Russia.

Maybe I will post something before Christmas, but if I don't - Happy Holidays. I will try to take pictures of sunshine and warmth to counteract the dreadful winter when I get home. Actually though the weather there hasn't been all that nice recently.

For now though pictures of gingerbread men:

Pirate and parrot

Ukrainian

Scottish highlander

Rock and Roll couple

Gingerbread boy with hat

I have others, may post later.

More Snow Day

2009-12-09T19:30:00.003-06:00

I had to post this, it is too funny. I am seriously shocked that no one was crushed by the giant snowball.

Giant Snow Ball

Snow Day

2009-12-09T12:24:00.007-06:00

I woke up to the delightful observation that someone had cleared a path from my door to the street. Thank you neighbors. I then helped a couple shovel out their car, not sure if they are the ones who cleared the porch, but thought I would make myself useful somehow. We cleared the driveway, then helped some other poor soul whose car completely buried. And then I made a snow-woman and played in the snow a bit, ended up soaked and freezing, but it was fun! :)
Pictures:

End of the Semester Strikes Again

2009-12-07T17:48:00.009-06:00

You know how sometimes you take a class and at the time it was fun and interesting, but really you never read any of that stuff again, and it was kind of a waste of time ultimately? Ever had the opposite happen? Maybe you took a class, thought it was good on a basic level, but it wasn't super engaging? You didn't do all the readings, sort of skimped on the final paper....but then realized several years later, that you should have totally invested time in this course?

Yeah well, that happened to me today.

Actually, this post is a completely random shout out into the aethers to my Folklore Theory professor. His hefty reader for the course saved my life yesterday and today. I needed a literature review on some central themes in folklore - identity, performance, and tradition - but didn't have time to read and then remembered I had a huge packet of articles on key themes in folklore theory. It is not perfect, but it allowed me to turn in a 12 pg draft today whereas without it I would have had nothing. So, thanks :)

On a completely unrelated note, b/c I know you are super curious, below are the lyrics to the song that I am totally obsessed with at the moment, with the oddest title of Club Foot

One...take control of me?
Yer messing with the enemy
Said its 2..it's another trick
Messin with my mind, I wake up
Chase down an empty street
Blindly snap the broken beats
Said it's cut with a dirty trick
Its taken all these days to find ya
I tell you I want you
I tell you I need you

friends, take control of me
Stalking cross' the gallery
All these pills got to operate
The colour quits and all invade us
There he goes again
Take me to the edge again
All I got is a dirty trick
I'm chasin down the wolves to save ya

I tell you I want you
I'll tell you I need you
I... the blood aint on my face
Just wanted you near me

I tell you I want you
I'll tell you I need you
The blood aint on my hands

Just wanted you near me

I tell you I want you
I'll tell you I need you
The blood aint on my hands

Just wanted you near me

Stupid Bus System

2009-11-25T13:41:00.003-06:00

I seem to always have problems with the buses. I guess b/c I spend so much time on them. So this is how stupid they are...
The bus I was one was early, so the bus driver takes a break. Totally cool, no problems, I sit patiently. As he comes back, some guy walks up to the bus driver and asks "Were you the bus just now on State St?" The driver says no, he was here. This person is super angry and immediately starts yelling about how some bus had nearly ran over a blind man with a guide dog in the crosswalk and how the driver of that bus had been steadily blowing his horn and apparently being obnoxious. So the angry man says "I'm calling this in." Ok, perfect, feel free.
Except that my bus driver then gets off the bus to go argue with this man (I couldn't hear, but the gestures definitely indicated argument). He is off the bus for another 10 minutes. Ok, fine. I am annoyed, but not particularly upset.
But then, the driver gets on the bus, the angry man goes away, and an older gentleman walks up to the door (which the driver closes in his face, but then opens) to ask about some destination. The driver says "yes I go there, but I have to leave now." So the man gestures to another individual who (not to be too stereotypical) appears to be homeless, and also rather infirm. He is not right by the bus, but a bit down the street. The first guy tells him to take this bus. Meanwhile the bus driver keeps saying "I have to go, I am leaving now!" But the man couldn't walk any faster, yet the driver was totally inconsiderate, and nearly shut the door in his face too.
So my question is: why would you have a pointless argument with some guy (business man, well dressed, nice suit) that has nothing to do with you for 10 minutes, but then almost leave some person (potentially ill and homeless) with the excuse that you are going to be late? Oh and he used the passangers as an excuse "They have places to get to" he said, gesturing behind him. That didn't stop him from chatting with the other man. It wasn't nice. And I just thought I would share, b/c I was aggravated.

Book the Fourth (and stuff)

2009-11-24T22:33:00.004-06:00

I was going to let this go by w/o commenting, but it has been bothering me. Oh, what would a book challenge be for me if I actually finished one. It would take all the *fun* out of it. Yeah, I only read three - again! But I guarantee had I said "I will read three" I would have only read two. That my dears is how the world-according-to-Chay works*.

To be perfectly honest about it though, I don't think I have finished a book in like a month. I started reading..wait let me turn around and count... 9 books in the past month - none of them I have finished, and some of them are quite overdue. And this is not a number that includes academic scholarly books. No, they are all fantasy or fiction of some sort (and one mystery that is amazing if I ever get through it; The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie). However, grad school caused me to develop ADD, which I have acknowledged usually as a joke, but might actually be serious.

Oh, and might I remind myself and everyone else that I have to read 4 Faulkner books in the next month or so. That has a potential of being completed b/c I will be flying home for Christmas and I usually manage to get at least one read during my journeys, and then I will have some time off to just lay around in warmer climates whilst trying to not stress about being unemployed next semester.

Since I might not post before then - Happy Turkey Day. I am attending a Thanksgiving Dinner largely as a bum in which my sole contribution will be fruit salad and potentially port or vodka. But I like fruit salad, and alcohol, so it kinda works for me.

*i.e. sort of half-assed most of the time

Milorad Pavic

2009-11-21T11:37:00.006-06:00

(Apologies to fans of Milorad Pavic, b/c I already know that any description I offer of his books is going to do the man a great disservice.)

Thanks to a sojourn to the library last weekend, I found a great new author (new as in "new to me"). But there is a surreal story which goes along with the discovery of this book and just so happens to perfectly complement the style of the book. Meaning, ultimately, that the universe wanted me to know about Milorad Pavic.
So, the story goes...

Me and a friend were scanning pages for class. Actually she was scanning and as I had been in the library for 6 or so hours at that point, I was just talking to her. Next to us was a cart for books due to be reshelved. I was glancing through them, making completely random work-addled comments like "oh I should study Polish" or whatever b/c all of the books were dictionaries of various kinds or language instruction manuals.

But then, I see this red book with gold lettering entitled "Dictionary of the Khazars: male edition." Between the two of us, I feel me and this person know a lot about East Europe, Russia, and Central Asia - the name Khazars definitely felt like it belonged to that region. But we had never heard of them. I start to browse through the book. It has the oddest introduction. This tells the story of how in the 16th century there were two known copies of the Dictionary; one in gold and one with a silver lock. One of these was written in poisoned ink so that anyone who read it would instantly die. Furthermore, if one read the gold edition and the silver edition side by side they would be able to learn the moment of their death. I am at this point beyond intrigued, and yet completely confused.

Now for most people, the end to this story is obvious. Its not a dictionary at all, and you would have figured that out much sooner. We might have immediately come to such a conclusion also, except for the fact that it was to be shelved with other dictionaries - thus, lending a certain amount of credibility to the book's assertion that it was in fact a dictionary. And yes, you could dismiss such an incident with the very mundane comment "the librarian miscatalogued the book." Well, yes, that is one explanation. But considering Pavic's style (evoking comparisions to Borges), that his goal is to create non-linear books, which can be read in a multiplicity of ways, I feel that the circumstances of finding the book are completely appropriate. It wasn't miscatalogued at all.

Dictionary of the Khazars is a story told in three sections. It is the story of how a mythical group of Khazars come to choose between Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. In real life, they chose Judaism, but in the Dictionary their choice has been lost in time. One section of the book consists of Judaic sources regarding the Khazars, the other Christian references, and finally information from Islam on the group. There is a male edition and a female edition, which differ in only one, apparently crucial, paragraph. But this is not the most interesting of his books.

Landscape Painted With Tea happens to be a crossword puzzle. Yes, a crossword puzzle. I have only begun to read it, but my understanding of the book is that the first part is a story with various different endings and beginnings, while Book II can be read either "across" i.e. linear, or "down." There is a page that serves as a guide and tells you which sections to read depending on the path that you chose.

Last Love in Constantinople is a "Tarot Novel for Divination." So, it can on one hand be read in the normal way, or it can be read dealing out tarot cards as if for a reading. The sections in the book correspond to the cards, and whichever cards you are dealt you read those sections. Luckily for me, I already own a pack of Tarot cards.

He has a few other books, but my library didn't have those, so I have no idea what gems they conceal. I did read on his website that he wrote a book called Unique Item that consists of a different ending for every single copy produced - that is the book is in fact unique to each person who owns a copy.

Book The Third

2009-10-29T21:50:00.004-05:00

I bet you didn't think I would get this far? That I had given up on the book challenge? Almost...but not quite. A few pages left in The Keeper, but I don't want to rush through it b/c I actually like that book. However, for now, for my 3rd book I read Dark Delicacies, which is a collection of short stories. I am not the biggest fan of short stories or anthologies in general, but there was a lot of hype about this one. And it had some cool names on the front - people I've read, like, or at least recognized. But what can I say about this book? Meh. Thats it. I really liked the first story - by of all people Ray Bradbury.* It was a sort of ghost story/zombie/reincarnation mixture that was a bit creepy, but over all entertaining. The Brian Lumley story is ok, yet seriously weird - and way more sci fi** than horror. Not outstanding though. My favorite story by far was by Nancy Holder "Out Twelve Steppin." It was about a couple of famous rock stars who are in fact cannibals, and who have a strangely co-dependent relationship. Overall though, I wasn't impressed with the book. I would probably give this book 2.5 stars

* I saw him give a talk once. FYI

** Which is odd b/c Bradbury is usually sci fi, and Lumley pure horror - guess they decided to switch up genres here.

insert expletive here

2009-10-20T20:33:00.006-05:00

Finally we are at the point in the class that I teach where I feel comfortable and suitably knowledgeable - i.e. religion, symbolism, mythology, meaning. All such fun things. And we are reading about shamanism - should be fun. Except that it is only Tuesday and I am exhausted. Was being nice and scheduled extra office hours this week. That was a train wreck. I'm glad I helped people but sitting in the office 4 1/2 hours one day then 2 1/2 the next day talking to students non stop during those periods totally wore me out. That shouldn't be strenuous, but really I could go to sleep right now (it is 8:36pm at this exact moment). Except that I have to right a lesson plan for tomorrow, finish reading several books, and write an exam.

On a positive note, I went to a concert over the weekend (god, was that really 4 days ago?!). St. Vincent. Normally I would link to her website or post some sort of video in the "music of the moment" space to the right, but I don't feel like it. She was cool. And I mean that word quite specifically. My friend lent me her c.d. which I am now listening to. I think I like her a bit better in concert, but still good stuff.

Blade Runner

2009-10-14T14:50:00.003-05:00

I watched this movie last night when I was supposed to be doing work for school - as usual. And yeah I managed to watch the movie (while reading The Reindeer People), and read Pandemonium. But no, I haven't finished reading for my "Imperial Russia" class. Which is what I should be doing RIGHT NOW. Priorities.

I just wanted to write quickly that I had never seen Blade Runner, but became a bit more interested in watching it after I learned all sorts of fun things about Phillip K. Dick (see previous post). Anyway, I gave it 4 out of 5 stars on Netflix. I liked it. I hear people complain b/c it is very different from the original story (which I haven't read, but cannot be worse than the adaptation of Queen of the Damned), and that it was slow. Neither of those issues bothered me, but what drove me bloody crazy was the voice-over narration. That sucked. Apparently the director's cut leaves this out, but then people say you miss a lot of what is going on. This is probably true, I might have been really confused without the narration, but it sucked. This is one movie actually that I would love to see remade. Actually, I want whoever directed The 5th Element to redo Blade Runner. They might not be able to get Gaultier for the costumes again, but there are lots of new edgy designers who would be perfect.

Ok, going to read A Woman's Kingdom: Noblewomen and the Control of Property.

Book the Second

2009-10-13T21:36:00.003-05:00

Finished Pandemonium by Daryl Gregory. No, please don't ask me how I had time. Basically, the story is focused around the main character of Del who experienced a possession by a demon known as the Hellian when he was about 5. This isn't possession as you are used to hearing about it - no Catholic priests involved. In fact, this is a sort of alternate Earth where demons (or archetypes or spirits or whatever) take over people's bodies usually for short periods of time to cause random trouble, paint pictures, or murder people. Most of these incidences are linked back to a specific cohort of demons all named all with certain immediately recognizable "signatures" or characteristics. But the story isn't really what you think it is. There are all sorts of little gems embedded in the main story - for instance, I learned more about Phillip K. Dick than I ever cared to know.

Cons: The story pulls from a lot of obscure literary references, and if you don't read Science Fiction some of the jokes might be lost on you. I had to look up a couple of authors. There were several scenes that were gratuitious - mainly the completely random sex scene between two of the characters. And I do mean "completely random." A couple of others come to mind, enough for me to be annoyed. Finally, I would have liked to know more about the underlying mythology - I am left wondering what was really going on with these demons/archetypes.

Pros: An interesting mix of gossip (possibly via Wikipedia), conspiracy theories, Jungian psychology, and possession. It was totally readable with a well-paced plot and memorable characters. Despite problems, clearly I was interested. Finished the book in 2 days - it is a fairly quick read.

I am undecided between a 3 1/2 and a 4. I have a longer "con" list, but it was a good story overall.

Not sure what I am reading next.

Book the First

2009-10-10T20:30:00.004-05:00

One book out of four done! Hurray. I read Sandman Slim by Richard Kadrey. It was ok. Basically, this magician living in L.A. gets sent to Hell, but miraculously survives, then comes back to earth to get revenge on the people that sent him down under. The book jacket says it is "twisted, irreverent, and hilarious." I would agree with irreverent, but I did not find it hilarious. Don't get me wrong I love dark humor and sarcasm - Sandman Slim has both, but not on such a scale that would warrant "hilarious." However, it is a new take on some old mythology, has several original concepts (see one exception that annoyed me), the characters are well-developed, and if there is a sequel, which I have a feeling there will be, I would read it.
One exception: I don't think this counts as a minor spoiler, but it might. So beware. There is one character, an angel, who Stark (aka James, Jimmy, Sandman Slim) doesn't get along with. Every meeting between these two reminded me of the movie Constantine. Remember Gabriel? Tilda Swinton? Not a major problem with the book, just an association that I found annoying. Actually, the more I think about, there are other similarities between Constantine and Sandman Slim. Regardless, I guess I would give it 3 1/2 out of 5 stars. It wasn't bad.

Was going to read The Glass Books of the Dream Eaters. Why did I say "was?" Well, funny story that. So, I ordered the book from the library, and start thinking "this title reminds me of something." And this kept bothering me b/c that is a fairly unique title. I pick up the book today, and read the book cover. And I keep thinking "what does this remind me of?" I then sit down and force myself to really think about it - a couple of random images come to mind, but I still cannot figure out what is bothering me. I read the book jacket again, no idea. I read the first page - still confused. I start flipping through the book, and what do I discover? I already read the book!! When? Not a clue. Did I like it? I have no idea. But I find it very very strange that I finished the book, and had zero recollection of doing so even after getting it from the library and reading the cover - twice. Clearly I am getting old. My memory is failing me.

The second book I will read, and sat down to read half of it already today when I should have been doing something else (anything else really), is Pandemonium. More demons, but after all it is a Halloween book challenge. This one is very different though and so far I like it better.

In Anticipation of Halloween

2009-10-06T21:11:00.005-05:00

"Anticipation" here being pronounced as if you were a cast member of the Rocky Horror Picture Show.

Last year I attempted to participate in the R.I.P Halloween book challenge. It didn't work out, I only read 3 out of the 4 books I had committed too. Not surprising, I never finish book challenges (as you well know by now I am sure).
But another year, a chance to redeem myself so on that note may I present:

Goal: Read 4 books in any category or subgenre of scary stories that you choose. Detailed description of challenge, and site for book reviews can be found here.

I checked out a bunch of books from the library b/c they had a special Halloween themed exhibit. Maybe I'll read those, or something else. As I know from experience, if I say I am going to read it, make a list, or otherwise announce some sort of set plan - then it is guaranteed not to happen.

In other Halloween related randomness, I really want to do a super scary horror movie marathon. Asked around on facebook, and I got some suggestions - The Ring, The Shining, Alien, Poltergeist, etc. I would add The Blair Witch Project (yes, I know some people think the movie is dumb), and The Excorcist. There are lots that I have already seen, but so many that I have missed, so feel free to provide me with suggestions. And besides, even if I don't do a marathon movie night, I am still curious to know what movie you think is the scariest of all time.

ДахаБраха

2009-10-04T01:20:00.003-05:00

Title refers to a Ukrainian band - in the Latin alphabet that would be DakhaBrakha. I thought I'd post something about them b/c:
a) they are good
b) they are Ukrainian
c) I found a new favorite song and finally
d) b/c I cannot sleep.
I slept late this morning, but only b/c I couldn't sleep last night. I woke up in the middle of the night after this horrible nightmare that I was at my grandmother's house and a plane crashed into it. No one died or anything, it was just extremely vivid. I had a few other weird dreams as well.

Anyway, more about the band...
I would classify them as "ethno-rock" or "folk-rock" - they classify themselves as "ethno-chaos." Not sure what that category means, but basically they reinterpret Ukrainian and East European folk music with their own very unique style. They are from Kyiv and affiliated with a Contempory Arts center there DAKH*. Their theater background is probably obvious from their shows, but I have never seen them in concert. I only learned about the band this summer, though apparently my friends saw them last summer at a festival. For more information, here is their website.

In other news,...oh, wait there isn't any other news. Not really, not anything of interest. However, I managed to be fairly productive today. Graded all the mulitiple choice tests. I hope my students aren't the only ones who had a hard time. Checked out a million books from the library b/c I have decided to become interested in Critical Theory. Hm..and that is about it besides wrestling with some Russian text that I needed to put online for my classmates, which I cannot read so really have zero clue if I copied the correct pages (microfiche were invented by a sadist or a lunatic).

So, goodnight. I am still wide awake, but hopefully all the rest of you are sleeping peacefully!

*A clue to where their name comes from, but also Dakha Brakha in Old Slavonic means "to give" and "to take". In modern Ukrainian, it would be "Daty" (дати- to give) and "Braty" (брати - to take). From their website:

The meaning of “giving” is obvious - to give music, joy, celebration, the whole spectrum of emotions, feelings and reflections that fresh music and singing bring with itself.

But where “to take” from? The energy can be taken not only from a native “source” but from anywhere...

Modern ethnic music needs a sort of reconstruction and in a way it means to search roots, to move back in time. But if one belongs to the urban culture and has no initial experience of the traditional life, how can he find these roots?

Simultaneously Terrifying and Hilarious

2009-09-30T20:36:00.004-05:00

I feel like that rarely happens. When you see or hear or read something that is really really scary, but at the same time utterly amusing. Today's example - Tom Cruise interview. And yes, I know we shouldn't be suprised by anything that comes out of that man's mouth, but this was too much.

As a Scientologist, at the scene of an accident, "you know you are the only one who can help." -Yep b/c non-Sc paramedics don't know anything.

"We are the authorities on getting people off drugs. We are the authorities on the mind."
- Just watch the video to know why this is really ironic.

"We unite cultures!"

"If you are a Scientologist you see things....... the way they are."

And I am not linking to the video, b/c I am a little paranoid and more than a little scared of those people.

4 Down...5 to go

2009-09-25T00:06:00.005-05:00

Finally, I have finished the first volume in my quest to read the earliest 9 Faulkner books. I know I think I said I was going to do that this summer, but at least I am only 2 months behind. It could be much worse, I am so bad at these book challenges. The ones I read were Soldiers' Pay, Mosquitoes, Flags in the Dust, and The Sound and The Fury. Out of the four the best was The Sound and The Fury. The worst by far was Mosquitoes. It was absolutely the most pointless book ever. Next up is As I Lay Dying, which I read last year, and Sanctuary - the beginning of this last one is amazing, so hopefully it will not disappoint.

Soldiers' Pay

I started the book several months ago, and couldn't really get into it due to time constraints rather than lack of interest. Once I had a chunk of time to really engage with it, I found the book utterly captivating. I am rather impressed that this novel was Faulkner's first, but at the same time I felt it was very different - less sophisticated perhaps? - than his other works that I am familiar with. The plot at least is pretty generic. Sections are definitely slow, but other scenes blew me away - I was totally amazed by Faulkner's skill at writing. Granted that might be obvious, he did win a Nobel Prize, but it is nice to experience an author's ability for oneself. As part of a reading challenge, I decided to read Faulkner's first 9 books - this one is definitely a good start.

Mosquitoes

Took me a really long time and to be honest I skimmed most of the second half. One of the most utterly pointless books I have ever read in the sense that there wasn't too much of a plot and nothing really happened throughout most of the book. Gets 2 1/2 b/c some minor sections were interesting and b/c I found W.F's descriptions of the landscape (esp the swamp) and some of the characters' emotional states to be well-written and realistically portrayed. Otherwise, honestly I would say it is not even worth the time to read it.

Flags in the Dust

A bit more developed in terms of characters and plot than his first two books, but had the potential to be so much better. The biggest problem is that some of the most interesting scenes - that create tension and drama in the novel - are never resolved. There is an entire secondary plot that seems, at the beginning, like it will be the focus of the action as the story unfolds, but Faulkner never really follows up on this aspect of the book. It is also a bit confusing in parts because so many people have the same names, and it isn't always clear who is being referred to. I do realize that Faulkner had a specific reason for doing this; he is trying to show the Sartoris legacy and tradition is bound up in the names of the family members as if they develop a particular set of characteristics or a certain personality type simply because of their name. I think that point is made very clear at the end of the book when the new Sartoris is named. 3/5 stars.

The Sound and the Fury

I am so happy I finally read this book. I think I started it in 8th grade, but never could get through the beginning. Trying to follow the flow of the story through the perspective of Benjy amidst numerous flashbacks through time, characters, and space was, I think, a bit too much. However, this time around, I didn't find it that confusing - except for maybe the first 5 or so pages. Really Faulkner does a good job of leaving clues in the text as to when certain events occur whether early in the story when the characters are young, or later when the whole family has nearly disintegrated. The Compson Appendix definitely helps clarify some issues that Faulkner was not completely clear about in the novel itself. The ending was a bit random, but maybe considering the "stream of consciousness" style of the work that was to be expected. My absolute favorite part was with Dilsey at the end when she goes to church. The passages during the revival with the out of town preacher are amazing. Try reading them out loud (I did, it was great). Faulkner nailed this section. 4/5 Stars

Toronto

2009-09-24T23:28:00.006-05:00

Went to the annual Ukrainian festival in Toronto last weekend. Super fun, had an amazing time. The festival itself was ok. We were there a lot, but really were only paying attention to one band - which was Ludy Dobri. They are from Ukraine, from Lviv actually and play traditional Ukrainian folk music with a modern twist. We met them last year and hung out a bit. It was kind of strange to see them in Canada, but not as weird as I thought it would be. I did see a few of the other performers. A couple of dance groups who were apparently not very good - I have no standard to judge them by b/c I know next to nothing about Ukrainian dancing. The best part really was that I got to see a lot of people that I met this summer and several people that I met last summer. This is the largest Ukie festival in North America so "everyone" tends to be there - at least everyone who is important :) Ok, that isn't exactly true, but my basic point is that I was excited to hang out with people that I otherwise would probably never have seen again. Pictures and video and all that fun stuff to be posted on Facebook at some point in time - possibly tonight. I might write a more extended version on the other blog seeing as how I was actually supposed to be doing fieldwork while there for my folklore class. I think it was all participation with zero observation this time around.

...Of Cats and Corsets and Chocolate Ice Cream

2009-09-05T22:21:00.007-05:00

I used to have two other cats. I had them when I was an undergraduate, but left them with my parents b/c I couldn't have cats in my apt where I live now (i.e. Kishka is a secret, so don't tell my landlord). Their names are Nikolai Ivanovich and Ivan Nikolaiovich - and no I didn't make those names up to be mean. It is from a book. What I noticed was that they would always sit on the things that I needed. Like if I were reading a book, or if there were some papers on the floor. Apparently Kishka has this problem too, except that he gets mad when you try to move him. Like today. I moved him off of my makeup, he sat on my purse, I moved him from there (all the while he is making these fussy not quite growling not quite meowing sounds), he tries to sit on my glasses, and I have to intercept. Finally he storms off to sit on the corner of my bed after swatting at me a few times with his paws. B/c I found the entire incident amusing I took a little video - well, and also b/c I kinda like playing with my new phone.

The other stuff referred to in the title here is that I went to a mini food festival type thing today. I went a few years ago - both times it was fun. Of course it was though b/c what could be better than all the restaurants in your town gathering in one place, and offering samples of their food? I had some squash curry, buttermilk hush puppies, eggplant fries...oh, and some dark chocolate ice cream. All really really delicious.
However, today was a game day. So all the crazies were out (and all wearing red). Got asked a few weird questions. The first I won't type out here b/c I have no clue what the girl was talking about, and my luck it is some sexual position that I do not want to know about.
The second question was "could you buckle my shoe?" Strange enough having someone ask you that who is waiting for a bus at 10pm at night. Even stranger was that she was wearing a tiny plaid school-girl style skirt and a white corset. I am thinking she couldn't buckle her shoe b/c the corset was too tight, but I mean really if you are wearing something that prevents you from getting properly dressed - i.e. buckling your red 4 inch heels - then you probably shouldn't be wearing it. But maybe I'm just too conservative...

Kishka Adventures: Day 3

2009-09-02T21:39:00.007-05:00

I think we are sort of friends now. Except when he does something that I don't like, and I yell at him. Then he growls and hisses. Which is actually still all of the time. He is out of the "hiding under couch phase" and into the "lets explore everything" phase. Essentially this means that he tries to drink out of my glass, eat my food, climb on my computer, sleep on my clothes, turn over the garbage can, and sit on the book I am reading. So, I redirect him in a nice way like "hey kishka stop that!" and then he turns his head and makes a vicious demonic sort of noise.
Funny moment that I heard, but unfortunately missed... he had some sort of run in with my desk chair. I think he tried to jump on it, not realizing that it was going to move. I found him looking a bit shocked lying underneath the chair. Where is a camera when you need one!

And in the midst of such cat induced mayhem I almost forgot to mention that today was the very first day of the semester. I taught three classes. In each one I managed to forget something super important, but I think they will survive. My two morning classes are 99% Freshman. In fact, in one of them, I have all freshmen and then one lone senior. He looked a bit overwhelmed to hear that. I of course redirected all campus, UW questions to him. He laughed thinking I was joking, but actually... Anyway, my second section is also all freshmen. They all seem friendly and talkative though, which will be good. What else, oh I was mistaken for a student today. That was funny "are you in our class too?" "nope, I am your TA."

Wednesdays are such long days, as are Thursdays. I am on campus from like 9:30am to roughly 7:30pm. I know it is like having a real job. I shouldn't be complaining, but my response is to say I just think I will go to bed early tonight. By the way, I did read like 4 or 5 articles for my own research ( I know!!). And started reading this really interesting book on Ukraine. And by "interesting" I mean full of useful sources and very recent (2008?). So, I am actually rather proud of how productive I was. If only I could be like that every day....oh, wait I wouldn't still be in graduate school - I would be out, doing someting useful, like fieldwork. (cue manaical laughter in the background).

Cat-Sitting: Day One

2009-08-31T22:54:00.005-05:00

I agreed to watch my friend's cat for like 2 weeks. I thought this would be great b/c I love cats. Kishka ("cat" in Ukrainian) has been here about 2 hours. First he hid underneath the couch. His owner tried to get him to come out so that she could say goodbye to him, but he just hissed at her. I will try to keep that in mind when he starts hissing at me...oh, I mean I should keep that in mind while he is hissing at me now. Yeah, he finally came out from under the couch and ended up in my closet. I saw him and started talking to him (in English though apparently he speaks Ukrainian) and he started making some odd noises. Sort of like sounds of discomfort. So I got up and walked in his general direction - he started hissing. Full out, fangs bared.

I guess I could say then that so far the experience has been great! :) Hopefully he will come around, and also hopefully not break anything while I am gone all day tomorrow.

Midget Car Racing

2009-08-30T22:42:00.004-05:00

No, not midget racing. Though that is what the sign says as you drive into the park where the race track is. Anyway, this is not something that I am in the habit of doing, never been to car racing of any sort, but it was actually fun. I felt rather American though as they prayed before the event, they sang the national anthem, and it was sponsored by Miller. The winners of each "heat" received a case of Miller - and oddly enough a bottle of water.

Watching the cars going around the track would have been even better if:

a)it wasn't ridiculously cold. Supposedly the low tonight is 38 - it should so still be summer!!
b) dirt wouldn't have been flying at us. The dust was annoying and got into my contacts, nose, and clothes. Worse though were the large clods of dirt that flew into the stands. I might have a knot on my forehead from one rather large piece that hit me.

I should probably do something useful and explain exactly what midget cars are, but since I know nothing about cars period, I won't even bother. Basically they were just small, loud, and fast. No one was injured, a few cars broke down, and one kind of caught on fire, but no serious drama which was good. Oh, and there was a raffle, really bad music during the "intermission" and a "t-shirt toss" in which a few firemen threw shirts into the audience.

Global/World Music

2009-08-26T22:42:00.006-05:00

My brother sent me this clip from a group that he saw in New Orleans. According to their website they bridge African jazz and "the culture of New Orleans." I thought it was pretty interesting so here you go:
Fatien Ensemble

In other musical news, I have developed a minor obsession with this Belarusian folk band that I saw at the Art Pole folk/art/music festival in Ukraine. You can see a different video under my Song of the Moment section, but just in case you needed more:
Нагуаль (Nagual)

In regards to that video - I was actually there. Yes, in the audience kinda far back, but dancing with enthusiasm. Admittedly the band is a little weird. I do realize this, but also utterly amazing. And really really good live. On a positive note, every single person that has listened to the c.d. that I own has also enjoyed it. Here is a description of the band:

The band NAGUAL (a rolling stone, wanderer) was formed in winter 2000 in order to recreate sounds which can express both the beginning of the dance of life and one's own song.

NAGUAL consists of six musicians. Their aim is to deepen their knowledge about music origins, modern trends, shaping of folk cultures, relations among people, since these factors directly influence the group's creativity. They create music by means of selected instruments, their unique arrangements and feelings of the musicians. They play instruments which vary from archaic to classical.

Psycho-folk is a trend in music which combines the personal with the social. The vocal is a sophisticated mixture of phonemes of various language groups, sounds of nature, psycho-physiological processes and the primitive and the postmodern. Therefore, the gist of this work is admiring the world, biostimulation, deep experiences and expressing emotions and feelings explicitly.
(http://www.gadki.lublin.pl/east_eng/n/index.html)

Psychology, anthropology, music, folklore all wrapped in one group - perfect for me wouldn't you think? :)

Hello from Home

2009-08-18T20:54:00.006-05:00

Back in Madison. Haven't been doing much. Went on a Frank Lloyd Wright tour, saw a funny play in an out door theater, and watched a couple of movies. Online: Prince Caspian. Much better than the first. In theaters: District 9. It was really good. Hope no one tries to make a sequel just for some extra bucks though. Of course, Hollywood being what it is, I am sure that they will.
Plodding my way through the self-imposed Faulkner book challenge. 3 down, 6 to go. In four months? Not likely. When I am feeling less lazy I will post my reviews of the ones that I have read here (two of them are on Library Thing now).

Hello from Lviv

2009-07-02T05:10:00.002-05:00

Basically, just a note here to say that I will be posting on the other blog for the rest of the summer and not this one. Having lots of fun and hanging out though. If you read this one and not the other one, but don't know the address send me an email.

Fishies!

2009-06-02T22:29:00.003-05:00

I went fishing today for the first time in forever. It was fun, but the fishes were just too smart for me. They were jumping around right by me, but would not bite. It then started raining so we had to leave having had zero luck. Then these crazy redneck people drove by with all sorts of "suggestions" about what we should and/or should not be doing.
In other news, not doing much of anything. Watched "Mr and Mrs Smith" today, it was so stupid. I almost couldn't finish watching it. Strange how the last few movies I have seen with Angelina Jolie I have hated, and I thought I liked her as an actress. However, I have "Changeling" to watch, which I have heard was really good (but sad, and you know how I feel about that). Also watched "Max Payne" and "Driving Lessons" both were decent. "Driving Lessons" was so British and so awkward, but pretty funny.
Currently reading Pillars of the Earth. It is taking such a long time. Yes, it is about 1000 pages, which normally isn't an issue - I like long books - but with this one I feel like I cannot make progress.

What I Have Been Doing....

2009-05-27T17:28:00.007-05:00

Much of nothing actually, but I did manage to read three books:

S.: A Novel About the Balkans 4 1/2 Stars

A book about the Bosnian war from the point of view of a woman who survives a prison camp. Not light reading clearly, but the author is an amazing writer. She has this great ability for invoking all of the senses in dramatic ways. A couple of themes are humiliation/dehumanization, and the power of everyday objects to define identity. Some reviews compare it to One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich, which I can definitely see, but I prefer Solzjenitsyn.

Soldiers' Pay - 4 Stars (first of the "Faulkner" book challenge)

A good start to my goal of reading the first 9 Faulkner books. This is his very first, and while the writing isn't up to par with his later more well known works, I still think this book clearly showcases Faulkner's abilities. The storyline is pretty basic - essentially a love story, but absolutely worth reading.

The Angel Maker - 3 1/2 Stars

This one is translated from Dutch and I have a feeling that reading it in the original language would make it ten thousand times better because there seemed to be something lacking - I couldn't ever really connect with the characters. The structure of the book is also a little weird, the first section is from a completely different point of view than the other two, and while the middle part works amazingly well - it gives the background of the main character - the last section's climax isn't as powerful as it could be. Essentially, the book is about cloning and genetic experimentation, but also a bit about society in general and religion.

Besides reading, I hung out in N.O a bit, ate fried oysters, and went dancing - all in all a good time.
Had my hair cut today, but the lady totally fucked it up, so I have to get it fixed tomorrow.
Have been enjoying copious amounts of sunshine and NCIS (I alternate). May have broken the "addicted to facebook quizzes" phase of my life.
And I had my first snowball of the year, raspberry with condensed milk

Summer Music Fun

2009-05-15T22:55:00.013-05:00

B/c I am here, hanging out at my computer after having too much food and 28oz of Margarita (why oh why did you let me do that), I thought I would blog a bit about how new music might actually be exciting this summer. (In no particular order)

1)The Killers - actually old news b/c their album has been out a while, and b/c I just missed a show, but they are touring this summer. Day and Age is worth listening to, but its not my favorite.

2) Franz Ferdinand - also touring, also just missed a show, and also not my favorite album by them. Their first was by far the best. I liked Lucid Dreams, but the single version not the album version.

3) Placebo - oh, what to say? I would like to scream "sell out" into the aethers, but won't ;o). Or maybe I just did. Funny how the less I like them, the more popular they become. Their new single "Battle for the Sun" not so good. But in case you are listening Brian, Steve (Hewitt that is), and Stefan - you are still my 2nd favorite band of all time. They are touring Europe, and I will be in East Europe, sooo close when they are in Poland, but probably won't make it.

4) Tori Amos - has a new album and is touring. This doesn't matter so much to me, but thought I'd mention it. ETA: You can listen to the entire album b/w now (May 16th) and Tuesday (May 19th) on her MySpace page

5) Coldplay - please, go download their new live album - apparently it is free. (Learned via Twitter btw). I love their second album, not so into the rest of their music, although the latest effort is fairly decent.

6) The White Rabbits - something to get excited about. The fact that I am missing two of their shows in Chicago is really the reason I regret being out of the country this summer. Seriously, go listen to their new album on their myspace page, i..e NOW. One of the best bands live that I have ever seen, and I accidently went to their concert. Totally dynamic, and utterly amazing on stage. For now, go buy Fort Nightly their debut.

7) Cinema Bizarre - I am throwing them in there b/c .... well, they have a new album coming out in Europe, and they were just recently touring the U.S., and apparently are big on MTV's Buzzworthy at the moment (only after they toured with Lady Gaga). I am proud to say that I knew who they were before the rest of you. I just want to feel superior ;)

And oh God how could I forget the singular most exciting bit of music news that I have heard all week.

8) Cornershop - new album coming soon!! What could be better than that? Nothing is the answer, absolutely nothing. ETA: You can watch the video to Roll Off Characteristics (of History in the Making) on YouTube.

I feel like I should have 10 just to round things out, but cannot think of anyone else I care to add. Drop me a line if you come up with someone I should care about.

Eurovision

2009-05-12T22:32:00.005-05:00

12 points to Serbia. The only song that I listened to twice, and thoroughly liked. It was quirky and the guy's hair was a bit much, but the lyrics were catchy.
So many others were too generic, or super scary - like, as much as I hate to admit it, Ukraine. What was she thinking? It was terrifying on multiple levels actually. The music video is freakish and her live performance, was well, sketchy to say the least, not to mention the utterly ridiculous lyrics.
Seriously, Serbia should win, but probably won't.