Update 01
Updates
So, What's News?
Ah yes, the squirrel. Nice story, couple were taking a self portrait, you know the thing: put the camera on a rock, click the timer, lights flash (once upon a time it whirred as the timer was manual) and just before the camera snaps the couple perched in front of a lake - whoops, a little ground squirrel pops up next to the camera to be immortalised forever (with couple laughing like drains in the background)... Oh alright then, here's the bloody picture (you could have looked for it yourself, you know...).
So, as I was saying, one of the many nutters/saints who populate b3ta.com made the "squirreliser", where you can put the url of any picture, and it gets "squirreled". Yes, he's spelt it with a 'z', but he's submitting to American indoctrination).
It stopped working a couple of nights ago (they ran out of squirrels) so your mileage may vary. B3ta also gave me a bookmark that allows you to substitute all the photos on a site with pictures from flickr of a theme of your choice (like kittens, or guns). Little things to pass the time...
It's been hot. When I wake up it's already 30°C / 90°F in the bedroom, outside it's hotter.
Films
Static
This one is a strange story. Many years ago I saw a great film called Static. I was only a kid at the time, but it left quite an impression on me. For years I tried to track it down, but unfortunately I was convinced the director was a certain Alex Cox. It was a simple mistake to make, seeing that Channel 4 was broadcasting Static as part of a series of cult films, all chosen and presented by cult director Alex Cox (he gave us the wonderful Repo Man, more about that film in another post). Yesterday I was trawling the internet trying to take my mind off the unbelievable heat that Italy is just so good at when I thought I'd try yet again to find Static. Thanks to wikipedia I quickly discovered that Static was not an Alex Cox film, and after some more hunting I discovered that it was in fact the very first feature-length film by none other than Mark Romanek.
Now here is a director who started small, and then made it big. After Static he got into directing musical videos, and would you imagine that, he directed Nine Inch Nails' "Closer" and "The Perfect Drug", as well as Johnny Cash's cover of "Hurt". Weirdly enough he also directed Michael and Janet Jackson in "Scream", reputedly the most expensive music video ever made. One thing I never knew though was that Romanek was also responsible for another of my favourite films: "One Hour Photo", beautifully shot and starring Robin Williams as a very convincing psychopath.
Back to Static, the story revolves around a young man who, driven be the desire to get in touch with his deceased parents, comes up with a special television-like device that shows images of heaven. Unfortunately only he can see the images, everyone else sees just static. The film features music by English seminal band The The. The lead role is played by Keith Gordon, who starred in another of my favourite films, "Christine".
The man...
The car...
So, I found the film info, and I'm a happy bunny, right? Nope, Romanek has all but disowned Static, and it's never been released on DVD. I'll be trawling the torrents for this one, as it can't be bought for love nor money.
Philosophy
However, the current must be attached
Lets edit in an explanation, just in case... Head to the link below, and you'll be able to enter in an English phrase of your liking. The original phrase goes through a series of translations into Japanese and back again into English, with all the inevitable slight variations that translation programmes cause. The translations stop when the translations no longer vary in any way. So, I picked a nice old quote (any ideas who?)...
Oh, you need a Japanese font on board if you want to see the it all.
Just because you are paranoid doesn't mean they are not out to get you.
into Japanese といっていないはずの、現在入手しているわけではない妄想している。
back into English It should not, not that I currently have no delusions.
back into Japanese ではないが、その現在の妄想があるはずです。
back into English In, but you should have a current obsession.
back into Japanese しかし、あなたは現在の強迫観念があるはずです。
back into English However, you should have a current obsession.
back into Japanese ただし、現在の強迫観念があるはずです。
back into English However, it should be the current obsession.
back into Japanese しかし、現在の執着する必要があります。
back into English
However, the current must be attached.
I like it.
Enjoy translating stuff from English into Japanese and back again till it doesn't change any more.
translationparty.com/
Going further, I'm on a roll ...
Continue reading after the leap...
Art
Xia Xiaowan
Chinee painter Xia Xiaowan creates his "3D artworks" by painting and drawing on multiple sheets of glass like slices of a three dimensional sculpture. The results are striking, and I suspect need to be seen in person to be really appreciated.
Funny
The Rabbit
A butcher was opening his market one morning and as he did a rabbit popped his head through the door. The butcher was surprised when the rabbit inquired ‘Got any cabbage?’ The butcher said ‘This is a meat market - we sell meat, not vegetables.’ The rabbit hopped off. The next day the butcher is opening the shop and sure enough the rabbit pops his head round and says ‘You got any cabbage?’ The butcher now irritated says ‘Listen you little rodent I told you yesterday we sell meat, we do not sell vegetables and the next time you come here I am going to grab you by the throat and nail those floppy ears to the floor.’ The rabbit disappeared hastily and nothing happened for a week. Then one morning the rabbit popped his head around the corner and said ‘Got any nails?’ The butcher said ‘No.’ The rabbit said ‘Ok. Got any cabbage?