Monday, July 31, 2006

Kubla Khan

OR, A VISION IN A DREAM. A FRAGMENT.
by Samuel Taylor Coleridge (1816)


In Xanadu did Kubla Khan
A stately pleasure-dome decree:
Where Alph, the sacred river, ran
Through caverns measureless to man
Down to a sunless sea.

So twice five miles of fertile ground
With walls and towers were girdled round:
And there were gardens bright with sinuous rills,
Where blossomed many an incense-bearing tree;
And here were forests ancient as the hills,
Enfolding sunny spots of greenery.

But oh! that deep romantic chasm which slanted
Down the green hill athwart a cedarn cover!
A savage place! as holy and enchanted
As e'er beneath a waning moon was haunted
By woman wailing for her demon-lover!
And from this chasm, with ceaseless turmoil seething,
As if this earth in fast thick pants were breathing,
A mighty fountain momently was forced:
Amid whose swift half-intermitted burst
Huge fragments vaulted like rebounding hail,
Or chaffy grain beneath the thresher's flail:
And 'mid these dancing rocks at once and ever
It flung up momently the sacred river.
Five miles meandering with a mazy motion
Through wood and dale the sacred river ran,
Then reached the caverns measureless to man,
And sank in tumult to a lifeless ocean:
And 'mid this tumult Kubla heard from far
Ancestral voices prophesying war!

The shadow of the dome of pleasure
Floated midway on the waves;
Where was heard the mingled measure
From the fountain and the caves.

It was a miracle of rare device,
A sunny pleasure-dome with caves of ice!

A damsel with a dulcimer
In a vision once I saw:
It was an Abyssinian maid,
And on her dulcimer she played,
Singing of Mount Abora.

Could I revive within me
Her symphony and song,
To such a deep delight 'twould win me,
That with music loud and long,
I would build that dome in air,
That sunny dome! those caves of ice!
And all who heard should see them there,
And all should cry, Beware! Beware!
His flashing eyes, his floating hair!
Weave a circle round him thrice,
And close your eyes with holy dread,
For he on honey-dew hath fed,
And drunk the milk of Paradise.


Written in late 1797 or early 1798, but not published until 1816

Sunday, July 30, 2006

Japanese word of the week #5

Do not look it up in a dictionary...



HOSHI

Meaning: star

... look upwards to the night sky...

Thought #20: Quoting Friedrich

man muss noch Chaos in sich haben, um einen tanzenden Stern gebären zu können
Also Sprach Zarathustra

I still cry every time I read it. Thank you.

Saturday, July 29, 2006

House

Dr. Gregory House (Hugh Laurie) is devoid of bedside manner and wouldn't even talk to his patients if he could get away with it. Dealing with his own constant physical pain, he uses a cane that seems to punctuate his acerbic, brutally honest demeanor. While his behavior can border on antisocial, House is a maverick physician whose unconventional thinking and flawless instincts have afforded him a great deal of respect. An infectious disease specialist, he's a brilliant diagnostician who loves the challenges of the medical puzzles he must solve in order to save lives.
(summary taken from TV.com)

This show started airing in Greece as well last week, under the name "Ιατρικές Υποθέσεις" (Medical Cases) on STAR, Sundays @ 17:30.

I finished watching the whole of season 1 and I found it amazing. House is amazing. He makes the show. His cynicism and his wit would make people dislike him but instead he's quite charming cause of this very reason! Now I have to watch season 2...

Note House's motto: Everybody lies.

Season 3 of House premieres in the US 5/9/2006 on FOX.

Friday, July 28, 2006

Weekend Wall 21

Click image for full view

This cheeky girl is Ririn, appearing in the filler Bount arc of the anime Bleach. Isn't she adorable? You should see what she turns into... *muffled laughs*

Tuesday, July 25, 2006

Top 3 Tunes (19-25.07)

UPDATE : Click on Phoenix's cover ;)

Have a lot on my mind lately, sorry I can't elaborate more on these 3 tunes and couldn't bother uploading one of the songs this time either, too busy downloading a huge torrent. No bandwidth! Maybe I'll upload one by the end of the week, so stay tuned while listening to these 3 songs:

No.1 : Kent - Max 500

No.2 : スピッツ - プール

No.3 : Phoenix - If I Ever Feel Better

Wild mix this time once again. First song is swedish, second's japanese (Pool by Spitz, a famous band - in Japan anyways...), last one is... english! No way! LOL! :)

Monday, July 24, 2006

Weekend Wall 20

Click image for full view

The Octonauts series of wallpapers created by Meomi designs is amazingly cute! I chose this one, after my reconciliation with the big blue... It's really cool inside the sea! I should do it more often I guess... Ride my manta ray I mean :P

Japanese word of the week #4

Shout it out!

悲鳴

HI-MEI

Meaning: scream

AAAAAAAAH!

Friday, July 21, 2006

Thought #19.5: interlude

Lots of crying, lots of stupidity infused in the dead weight inside my skull... Time for reconciliation. With my putrid self and the symbol of the Greek summer. (I still hate summer okay???).

Weekend Wall 20 and Japanese word of the week #4 pushed back till late Sunday or Monday. Enjoy your time without my sad being!

Read my memories and visit my links!

Tuesday, July 18, 2006

Δέκα (επιτραπέζια που αγάπησα)

Ήγγικεν η ώρα... Πάντα λέω την αλήθεια, γι' αυτό και παραδέχομαι πως ζήλεψα απίστευτα το υπέροχο blog του enteka και δανείζομαι την ιδέα του για αυτό μου το post. Ελπίζω να μου τη χαρίσει αυτή τη φορά.

Ως μοναχοπαίδι (μέχρι την 6η δημοτικού), ήταν δύσκολο για μένα να βρω παρέα να παίξω κάποιο επιτραπέζιο παιχνίδι που μου αγόραζαν. Έβαζα κάθε Σαββατοκύριακο γιαγιά, παππού και θεία να παίζουν μαζί μου. Δε φαντάζεστε τι χαρά έκανα όποτε πηγαίναμε επίσκεψη σε σπίτια φίλων. Τα παρακάτω επιτραπέζια (αλλά συνήθως επιδαπέδια τότε) σε τυχαία σειρά, μου έχουν χαρίσει τις καλύτερες αναμνήσεις. Κι ας κρύβουν μέσα τους και μια μελαγχολία μου περί μοναξιάς...

1) Το Παιχνίδι Της Ζωής (The Game of Life, 1860 !!!) : Στα 10 μου κι όλας, είχα πάρει πτυχίο πυρηνικής φυσικής, παντρευτεί και κάνει και 2 παιδιά. Τι άλλο να ήθελα...
2) Ούγκο το Φαντασματάκι (Midnight Party, 1989) : Όταν το ζάρι έφερνε "φάντασμα", νόμιζα πως τρομακτικές καμπάνες ηχούσαν, σημάνοντας το τέλος των προσκεκλημένων μου στο πάρτυ και μαζί τους και το δικό μου. Ο Ούγκο έλαμπε και στο σκοτάδι!
3) Hotel (1974) : Το President δε το αλλάζω με τίποτα. Όχι πως και τα bungalows του Waikiki με χαλούσαν...
4) Monopoly (1903) : Από τότε κλέφτης, έκλεβα απ' την τράπεζα όταν δεν έβλεπαν οι συμπαίκτες. Πολύ μακροσκελές παιχνίδι... Προτιμούσα να παίζω με τον παππού μου για να μ' αφήνει να νικάω χωρίς να το δείχνει.
5) Cluedo (1946) : Είμαι ακόμη σίγουρος πως τον πραγματικό φόνο τον είχε διαπράξει ο Συνταγματάρχης Μουστάρδας, με το κηροπήγιο, στην αίθουσα χορού. Ας πίστευαν όλοι πως η Δεσποινίδα Φλόγα ήταν πιο ύποπτη.
6) Scotland Yard (1983) : Ήθελα τόσο πολύ να είμαι ο Mr.X! Η ζωή ενός μυστικού πράκτορα είναι πολύ συναρπαστική! (σημείωση: είμαι σίγουρος πως από κει μου έμεινε η συνήθεια να παίρνω τόσο συχνά ταξί)
7) Μυστήρια στο Πεκίνο (The Mysteries of Peking, 1988) : Ειδικές κάρτες, κινέζικοι δράκοι, κρυπτογραφημένα μηνύματα, τραγελαφικά και όμως ταιριαστά ονόματα όπως Πλε-Νι και Ρουμπι-Νι και 70 πρωτότυπες υποθέσεις... Κρίμα που στο τέλος τις είχαμε μάθει όλες απ' έξω...
8) Το Μαγεμένο Δάσος (Enchanted Forest, 1981) : Δεν είμαι βέβαιος για τον ελληνικό τίτλο, για το μόνο που είμαι βέβαιος, είναι πως με έκανε να χαρώ τόσο στο κρεβάτι του πόνου, όταν μου το έφερε η Αναϊς για δώρο στο νοσοκομείο, μετά από μία επώδυνη εγχείριση σκωληκοειδίτιδας... Τα δέντρα έκρυβαν καλά τα μυστικά τους σ' αυτό το παραμυθένιο παιχνίδι!
9) Jenga (1986) : Εγώ - Ζακελίνα - Ίλια. Ενώ οι μητέρες μας έπιναν τον καφέ τους και σχολίαζαν, εμείς στο δωμάτιο προσπαθούσαμε να φτιάξουμε τον ψηλότερο πύργο χωρίς να τον ρίξουμε. Τώρα, φοιτητής μηχανικός, τα πάω κάπως καλύτερα...
10) Uno (1971) : Πρώτα έμαθα να παίζω Αγωνία με τράπουλα, μετά ήρθε το Uno... Μας κράτησε συντροφιά 5 ολόκληρες ώρες στο Malpensa ώσπου να έρθει η επόμενη πτήση. Κάρτα μία!

+1 (για να γίνω κι εγώ enteka για μια μέρα) παιχνίδι που αγάπησα μεγαλύτερος, Οι Άποικοι του Κατάν (The Settlers of Catan, 1995) : Όταν πρωτομάθαμε να το παίζουμε, παρά την ώρα που μας αφιέρωσαν 3 διαφορετικοί "παιχνιδογνώστες", επιννοήσαμε δικούς μας κανόνες κατά πως μας βόλευαν. Ζωή θυμάσαι; Μετά από 3 χρόνια, μάθαμε να το παίζουμε και σωστά. Θέλει ώρα, υπομονή και καλή παρέα. Και καλή τύχη με τα ζάρια! Μαζί του ξεκίνησε και ο έρωτας μου για το Playhouse...

Top 3 Tunes (12-18.07)

The songs of this particular entry are totally irrelevant to each other. They portray my listening habits once again. I love this week's no.1 which is a greek song (for a change), couldn't stop singing along Esthero and travelled back in time with the Manic Street Preachers. Happy listening!

No.1 : Παύλος Παυλίδης - Θεριστές

No.2 : Esthero - O.G. Bitch

No.3 : Manic Street Preachers - If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next

Check out Esthero by clicking on the album art ;)

Monday, July 17, 2006

Thought #19: Animality & Animosity

With Nassia being stood up for over a quarter of an hour, I was running down the street to reach the main road and get me a cab. Although in such a hurry, I noticed something that caught my attention and made me stand still and observe. A trail of ants, as if mysteriously yet forcefully gushed out of the concrete pavement, their colony nearby. They seemed to be busy at work, whatever work an ant may have.

If I hadn't stopped just in time, maybe cause of the telepathic brain waves their antennas were transmitting, most of the colony would have been annihilated under the sole of my right shoe. I would have become the soul reaper of little critters and carrier of their remnants across town.

Relieved to know that nature went on in its regular tempo, I was reminded of back when I was still 5 or 6 years old, using reeds and small twigs to catch ants and simply watch them crawl up and down, sometimes even crawling up my hands and arms.

I wasn't scared of ants back then, only bees and wasps, crickets, beetles, grasshoppers and praying mantises. (And these are only from the insect kingdom... We also have lizards, toads, ... *gasps for air* yes I'm a scaredy cat... So sue me!)

What's my point? My point is that people nowadays, always including yours truly, have forgotten to simply stand still and remember for a moment. Happy thoughts, simple things in life that seem to be bygones and no one cares about in the frenzied pace of modern life.

Everything seemed so big back then. So awe-inspiring and so breathtaking. The ants this time were miniscule. It's not just my great height. It's how everyone has been stressed, struggling through life and rarely one pauses to look around and take a breath.

Don't you miss the grandeur of your youth?

Friday, July 14, 2006

Thought #18: boys and their toys


Sigur Rós - Viðrar vel til loftárása (Good weather for airstrikes)

Let's leave some room for thought on this one, shall we?

Thanks Tasos for the find and the inspiration.

P.S. I've seen this before with someone... If only I could remember... Any help?

P.S.2 Download the song and video clip

Weekend Wall 19

Click image for full view

Just a calm, simple, rural scene. Enjoy!

Japanese word of the week #3

Heads down now...

俯け

UTSUMU-KE

Meaning: pronely, looking down

I shouldn't say open wide this time, should I?

The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift

I had to repay Paskalip for all the torture of the Hills. So I went to watch the third installment of TFTF . Set in Japan, I was easily persuaded to join.

I'll keep it short this time.

The movie was really fast and really furious. I loved the main actor Lucas Black and I could hear japanese for most of the movie ^_^ I liked it! And I didn't expect to!

I was too shocked of the way they drove the cars though. I would be a goner... Oh and I cringed every time they drove towards the screen and cause of all those loud car noises! >_<

Official site HERE!

Γλιύκα γλιύκα...

Και ναι, μετά τη φιλοσοφημένη μου σκέψη με τον αριθμό 17, καιρός για λίγο trash-talk. Σήμερα το πρόγραμμα είχε επίσκεψη στη γιαγιά (με βλέψεις προς βοηθητικό παρά-χαρτζηλίκι αλλά τελικά με απολαβές ύψους 5 ευρώ για... να πάρω παγωτό!) για να δω και το υπόλοιπο σόι. Το σόι μου! Κατά τη μεσημεριανή σιέστα λοιπόν της υπόλοιπης οικογένειας, άνοιξα την τηλεόραση να θαυμάσω τα υπέρ του δέοντος σοβαρά θέματα της εκπομπής Super Star.

Ευτυχώς κατάφερα να διατηρήσω σώας τας φρένας μετά από τον καταιγισμό των ειδήσεων του είδους, που συμπεριελάμβαναν την - ξεχασμένη πλέον - δίδα Φραντζέσκα Μελά (σε παραπέμπω φίλε αναγνώστη στο Big Brother 2) να άδει το τραγούδι Gigolo (πάντα γκρηκ βέρζιον) της Παπαρίζου. Έφτασε όμως ο γλυκύτατος κύριος Τάσος Ρούσσος με την κριτική του πάνω στα ενδυματολογικά των διασήμων. "10 στην κυρία Φιλίνη και 7 στην κυρία Ζανή. Αχ κυρία Ζανή μου λάθος πεδιλάκι βάλατε!".

Ώσπου το είδα κι αυτό. Τη γλιυκύτατη ΚΥΡΙΑ (με τα ούλα κεφαλαία) Έφη Θώδη, γνωστή αοιδό μεγάλων επιτυχιών του - ορίτζιναλ - ελληνικού ρεπερτορίου (και εδώ ΔΕ γελάμε). Η κυρία Θώδη, με την απαράμιλλη ομορφιά, το ξασμένο και συνάμα ξανοιγμένο της μαλλί (δε θα σχολιάσω το γεγονός ότι είναι πιο φαλακρή από μένα γιατί εγώ είμαι και μόλις 23...), μία λέαινα μες τον καυτό Ιούλιο, φόρεσε το υπέροχο τζηνάκι της, τα τρικολόρε-φαρφάλε-μπαρίλλα νούμερο 3 - έχω βάλει την Άρτα και τα Γιάννενα- ίσια παντοφλέ ανοιχτά παπουτσάκια της και βάσταξε σθεναρά το Λουίς Βιττόν τσαντικό. Το ότι δεν ταίριαζαν μεταξύ τους ΟΥΤΕ αυτό θα το σχολιάσω. Αλλά τη μαύρη μπλουζίτσα με τη στάμπα ΠΙΤΑ ΓΥΡΟ σε λαδόκολλα όπου στο τελείωμα είχε έναν κοτσαρισμένο καρώ κιτρινό-ασπρο φιόγκο να φαντάζει ο γύρος μπουκετάκι, ΓΙΑΤΙ τη βάλατε; "7 για την κυρία Θώδη" (!) Και πίσω οι σχολιαστές να αναρωτιούνται αν θα φύγει με το ντελίβερι...

Υ.Γ. Μακάρι να είχα φωτό απ' την εκπομπή να σας την έδειχνα. Απολαύστε την σε άλμπουμ με μεγάλες επιτυχίες!

Wednesday, July 12, 2006

Tuesday, July 11, 2006

Top 3 Tunes (05-11.07)

The fact that I still have the strength to post (although it's late in the day), makes me a superman today. I haven't stood still since 8 o' clock in the morning and hadn't had anything to eat all day long... I just finished dinner, shoving it all in my mouth in great inhuman hunger...

Indulge in these songs for the time being and let me just relax... If I never wake up, hold a wake for me! LOL!

IMPORTANT EDIT: Thanks to the "higher internet wisdom" of aurora_eyes, just click on the cover of Heartbeats ;) Something cool will happen :) Trust me!

No.1 : Morcheeba - Blindfold

No.2 : José González - Heartbeats

No.3 : The Magnetic Fields - No One Will Ever Love You

I'd suggest you listen to every single song from The Magnetic Fields' 69 Love Songs and i albums. They're unique, inspired and inspiring...

P.S. I'll try to do this "cool" thing for one song each week ;) So pay attention to the album art! ;)

Monday, July 10, 2006

Thought #16: ΖΩΝΤΑΝΟ - ΔΙΑΤΗΡΕΙΤΑΙ ΣΤΟ ΨΥΓΕΙΟ

ΣΥΝΘΕΣΗ: ΓΑΛΑ (το δέρμα μου είναι ακόμη κάτασπρο κι ας είναι μέσα Ιούλη), ΑΡΣΕΝΙΚΟ (το δηλητήριο, γιατί μ' έχουν πει και άλλα), ΖΑΧΑΡΗ (γιατί είμαι "χαριτωμένος" ώρες-ώρες), ΞΥΔΙ (μερικές σταγόνες είναι αρκετές για να πω αυτό που θέλω), ΚΑΥΣΤΙΚΗ ΠΟΤΑΣΑ (μου καίει τα σωθικά αλλά ευχαρίστως θα σας πρόσφερα λίγη), ΜΑΓΙΑ ΓΙΑΟΥΡΤΙΟΥ (γιατί τι σόι γιαούρτι είμαι αλλιώς!)

Μ' άλλα λόγια ανυπόφορος, ξινός και απεχθής. Με γλυκιές εκφάνσεις. Ενίοτε.

Το τι έχει ακούσει το έρμο το μυαλό μου από χθες δε λέγεται. Γι' αυτό και γω αποφάσισα να γίνω γιαούρτι κι ας μην είναι ακόμη απόκριες, κι ας μη σας αρέσει η ιδέα. Γιατί μόνο έτσι θα το διατηρήσω και δε θα χαθεί κι αυτό όπως τα μαλλιά μου. Και είμαι ζωντανό και στραγγιστό γιαούρτι, είμαι κομπλέ σου λέει, έτοιμο για το ψυγείο, εκεί που διατηρούμαι. Ίσως και να μου ταιριάζει το ψυγείο, γιατί τελικά και τα αστεία μου παίζει να είναι κρύα. 'Αλλωστε και το μόνο ανέκδοτο που ξέρω και λέω καλά είναι εκείνο με το διαγωνισμό. Ξέρεις ντε. Με τις πουτάνες. Κάποιος εκεί έξω κρατάει και λογαριασμό. Θα τον έχασε όμως μετά από 9 μήνες. Πολλά δε χάνονται;

Γι' αυτό και γω ξαναλέω, θα το βγάλω το μυαλό μου (το βρακί μου σπάνια το βγάζω μπροστά σε ξένους) και θα το βάλω στην κατάψυξη (για καλύτερη συντήρηση, όπως η μαμά τον άνηθο και το μαϊντανό). Θα γίνω σαν εκείνον στο π του Αρονόφσκι (ωραία ταινία να τη δείτε) - δε λέω τι του έμελλε να πάθει γιατί κόβω και το λαιμό μου ότι μετά την πρότασή μου θα τρέξετε να τη δείτε την ταινία. Μη σας την κάνω και "σπόιλ"!

Και ό,τι περισσέψει από μένα, ΦΑΤΕ ΜΕ! Θα έγραφα τα θρεπτικά συστατικά ανά 100gr αλλά ούτε και γω τα ξέρω. Ας μιλήσει κανένας ειδικός.

Φιλικά, oni το γιαούρτι (και ουχί το πεπόνι).

Υ.Γ. Ανάλωση κατά προτίμηση πριν από την 31-12-2006 (Άντε και καλή χρονιά!)

Υ.Γ.2 Αυτό είναι το (σουρεάλ) ποστ υπ' αριθμόν 101. Και εις ανώτερα! More like Psychology 101 :P

Saturday, July 08, 2006

Thought #15: NHKにようこそ!

The title reads: NHK ni Youkoso! meaning Welcome to the NHK! Now I should probably explain myself and my crazy thoughts. I was reading a manga this afternoon, with this title. But this is a thought right? I mean, it's not a presentation of some sort, now, is it? Of course it IS a presentation! Of my own bizarre personality. Half my readers (that makes 3 people I guess, I've got quite the crowd going on here you see), will probably stop reading this when they reach the japanese in the title. The other 2 will do so, after they reach the part where I say about the title being a manga (and soon-to-air anime series). One who's reached thus far will prolly be bored cause I haven't even touched a subject. For you patient reader who will read this through and through, you deserve a standing ovation by little old me. You're the one to reach closer to one of my truths. I'm multifaceted and multilayered. But not two-faced. Just write that down so that you don't forget. For future reference. The H from NHK, stands for Hikikomori. If you have the time please read the wiki-entry and then come back to my post for the rest. I really can't write everything myself. Or this will be a reaaally long post. Now that you're back (thanks oh stranger); once I got snapped at while fiercely arguing on MSN (pathetic right? not even a real face to face fight). The person said: "If you want to make your life your room and your PC good luck with that". I'm social. I should probably say this at this point. That person knows that too I guess. Although I've been called dumb and find myself being the silent observer at situations. I went to the movies like 3 days in a row. Fortunately with friends. But I find no courage to start any task, my thesis, my university papers, the strength to study, or even read a book. Well I did read that manga. My life's become my room, my internet connection (cause my PC kinda sucks), my music (oh I should take that back - My PC ROCKS!), mostly suggested by others, but mine whatsoever, drinking juices with friends (I'm not much of an alcohol or even coffee drinker) and going to the cinema. And I can't even watch a DVD nowadays!

Fight oni!

A certain - other - person said he respects me to a friend of ours. What qualities does he see in me that I don't? Now this seems to have turned out like that other post by aurora_eyes, the one about seeing a different person. And I'm taking this personality-wise.

My lighthouse to a colorful world has disappeared from my life, and when I found a beacon, I lost that too. If I fall into the same desperation like last year, I don't think I'll be that brave enough to overcome it. And you know, mental health problems run in my family. So I'm losing it. Or becoming a full-fledged hikikomori. Or my Gemini side is in a heated battle with my Leo side, trying to take over and that makes me the cyclothyme that I am. So expect a happy post tomorrow. Maybe :)

On a lighter note, listen to Gnarls Barkley - Crazy. See? Fun stuff already!

P.S. Images taken from the aforementioned manga's 1st volume. Click for full view (they're translated in english for your reading pleasure!)

The Hills Have Eyes

First, the stars went blind due to seizures caused by lovely miss Hilton's video clip. Well it just seems that now, they lost their eyes to some New Mexico desert hills.

Paskalip had to endure my craving for blood and joined me in my quest for a cool splatter movie amidst the heat of the Greek summer (thank God I'm not living in New Mexico...). The funny thing is that although I love horror films, I'm easily scared. But it wasn't me who had his hands over his ears trying to avoid getting startled by the terrific sound effects and eerie background music :P

So... an American family of 6 plus one (a son-in-law) go on a trip through New Mexico to reach sunny California. Too bad for them that they listened to the advice of a "friendly" gas station owner who suggested a shortcut. A shortcut through the deserts... The very same that some 50 years ago were turned into nuclear test sites by the U.S. government. Some of the people living there at the time, denied leaving their houses behind and ended up undergoing horrific mutations due to radiation. These mutated individuals and their offspring feast on weary travellers passing through their territory. Too bad for our happy family...

Alexander Aja does yet another brilliant job in setting a most suiting atmosphere for a horror film, this time based on the original 1977 film by master of the genre Wes Craven. Don't miss out on Haute Tension, a French cult classic of the year 2003, the film which made Aja famous.

Returning to the movie at hand now, it is certainly NOT suitable for the faint of heart and features scenes of explicit violence and gore (now where have I seen this sentence before? Hmmm...). Sit back and enjoy this summer season's best blood rushing experience. Relax; but not too much... or you'll wet the seat.

Friday, July 07, 2006

Weekend Wall 18

Click image for full view

This pretty girl is Suiseiseki, actually the third of Rozen Maiden dolls, with her watering can. She uses it to nourish the "soul trees" of humans. One of the characters from the Rozen Maiden manga and anime series.

A Prairie Home Companion

Chris and I went to see this film after my japanese class, while Vana was desperately trying to finish some part of a university paper... Oh well... First thing that came to mind after I read the movie title on imdb was Little House On The Prairie. But... that's a whole other story. So, arriving at the cinema, I saw that they only had the "poster" to the left, but the size of a street flyer, when the rest of the movies were prominently of gigantic proportions.

I knew nothing more of the movie, than the plot outlines on imdb, nor did I know that there is an actual live broadcast of A Prairie Home Companion on local radios in the USA. (Can't really say if it's still running though).

The film begins with private eye (slash vice president of the radio) Guy Noir (Kevin Kline), in a characteristic scene out of a film noir (see the connection? :P). When we finally enter the premises of the theater, where the last broadcast of the show will take place, we are introduced to a multitude of different radio personas, from the "lonesome" cowboys Dusty (Woody Harrelson) and Lefty (John C. Reilly) and the Johnson Girls (Meryl Streep and Lily Tomlin), to the show's pregnant stage coordinator (Maya Rudolph).

What strikes you as "odd" at first, is the overlapping of voices (the subtitles did a horrible job with the stand alone dialogue, let alone the overlapping one...), which really makes the film stand out and gives it a more natural feel. This is a signature style of the director, Robert Altman. (I've only seen his Gosford Park and can't really remember Prêt-à-Porter...)

In short, a fun movie about death (oh the irony!), with signs of the supernatural thrown in the wacky mix (a mix that includes Lindsay Lohan portraying Meryl Streep character's suicide-loving daughter). Some may find it boring, some frustrating, even more so if you're not that keen of the "old American way" and country music. I just thought it was nice. Plain and simple... and weird. In a good way.

Thursday, July 06, 2006

Japanese word of the week #2

Open wiiide and saaay...

恋人

KOI-BITO

Meaning: Lover

'Nuff said :P

PSP Ads

SONY has been in trouble all this year with controversial ads promoting its PlayStation Portable handheld. Urging people to jump from subway platforms, others sacrilegious, others simply mind-boggling... Well, I present you here some of these ads, which I find simply unworthy of my attention, except the latest with the introduction of the White PSP for the European market. I love the presentation! And I don't find it racist at all. So comments are yours now. Here you go:




Images found on Kotaku and digitalbattle

Ad agency TBWA/London has issued an official statement and SONY took the two "racist" ads down from their Dutch site where they first appeared...

Wednesday, July 05, 2006

Thought #14: Το σύνδρομο της γριάς

Μετά από πολύ πολύ καιρό, πήρα και γω ως σωστός φοιτητής το λεωφορείο... Και τότε θυμήθηκα αυτά που είχα γράψει παλιά στο ημερολόγιό μου. Δευτέρα 17 Σεπτεμβρίου 2001, ώρα 00:21... Όχι τίποτα άπιαστο όνειρο, αλλά για να μη λες ότι σου κλέβω και το τρόπο γραφής. Δε προκατέβαλα τι θα περιέχει το μπλογκ μου :P Αυτό λοιπόν που έκανε το μυαλό μου να εκρήγνυται στο παρελθόν, ήταν οι γριές στα λεωφορεία. Απολαύστε τι έγραφα:

Σύμπτωμα 1ο: Ανοίγουν οι πόρτες και οι αθώες και φιλήσυχες γριούλες σπρώχνουν, πατούν, κλωτσούν, ποδοπατούν, αγκωνιάζουν όλους τους άλλους με σκοπό να ανέβουν πρώτες απ' όλους στο λεωφορείο, λες και θα φύγει και θα τις αφήσει κάτω... (που καλά θα έκανε)

Σύμπτωμα 2ο: Η αγγελική γριούλα κάθεται πρώτη και πάντα στην προνομιακότερη θέση (θέση που συνήθως προορίζεται για άτομα με αναπηρίες...)

Σύμπτωμα 3ο: Αν δεν πετύχει την καλύτερη θέση, επειδή είναι πιασμένη, αρχικά ξυνίζει τα μούτρα της

Σύμπτωμα 4ο: Αν τύχει και κάθεται κάποιος νεότερος απ' αυτή στη "θέση της", παριστάνει την κατάκοιτη, την ημιλιπόθυμη ή την ανήμπορη (πολλές φορές με παραλλαγές!). Αν το σόου δεν πετύχει, ρωτάει ευθέως: "Δε σηκώνεσαι να κάτσει μια γριά να ξεκουράσει τα πόδια της παιδί μου;". Γίνεστε αυτόματα είτε μέλος της οικογένειάς της (παιδάκι μου) ή της οικογένειας των πτηνών (πουλάκι μου). Παίζει και το άλλο: "Σε ποια στάση κατεβαίνεις;". Να ξέρει, αν είναι να αφρίσει ή απλά να υπομείνει να είναι μπάστακας μέχρι να κατέβεις στην επόμενη...

Εμβόλιμη παρενέργεια: Οι διπλανοί σου, όρθιοι και καθισμένοι, συγκινημένοι μετά την παράσταση-υπερπαραγωγή της... "νεαράς", σε κοιτούν όλοι με βλοσυρότητα και αναρωτιούνται (όπως και η γριά), που κατέληξε η νεολαία...

Σύμπτωμα 5ο: Αν τελικά κάνεις ώρα για να κατέβεις και να της αδείασεις τη θέση, θα σε κοιτάει επίμονα, μπας και εκνευριστείς τόσο και πεις από μέσα σου "άει στα κομμάτια, πάρε τη κωλοθέση". Μην υποκύψεις!

Σύμπτωμα 6ο: Δε χτυπάει ΠΟΤΕ το εισιτήριό της πριν καθίσει...

Σύμπτωμα 7ο: ... και αν τα καταφέρει και βρει θέση βάζει μια κοπελίτσα να της το χτυπήσει...

Σύμπτωμα 8ο: Την ώρα της καθόδου από το λεωφορείο, τις περισσότερες φορές δε χτυπάει το κουμπί της πόρτας και ουρλιάζει σα λυσσασμένη στον οδηγό...

Δε σημαίνει πως όλες οι καλοκάγαθες γριούλες ανταποκρίνονται σ' αυτό το προφίλ... Όσες όμως πληρούν την παραπάνω περιγραφή καλύτερα να μη βρεθούν στο ίδιο λεωφορείο με μένα...

Tuesday, July 04, 2006

Top 3 Tunes (28.06-04.07)

Once I used the phrase "I had a friend, who compiled this CD for her - and me - and others", or something along these lines... Well, I still have a friend, who introduced me to even more varied artists than before. But I think you'll have to wait till next week for me to make up my mind and publish a top 3 list... For now, since it was a hectic NANA week, with the opening and ending tracks released and the soundtrack coming out on July 7th (7 is also called nana in Japanese so it's a pun :P nana-nana), enjoy these two songs, one powerful and dynamic, one speaking to the heart (in an asian language but I don't care, Olivia is a great songstress). Together with these, one of my favourite bands with a song I had never heard before :

No.1 : OLIVIA inspi' REIRA (TRAPNEST) - a little pain

No.2 : Muse - Plug In Baby

No.3 : ANNA inspi' NANA (BLACK STONES) - Rose

Since NANA is an anime that has a lot to do with music and bands, the two artists, Olivia and Anna Tsuchiya, portray characters from it, supposedly performing for their bands. Click on them to visit their official site and listen to samples of their songs!

Monday, July 03, 2006

Thought #13: Lies

I would have to apologize once more... But lots of people have told me I shouldn't do that. I'm not to blame. Well, since this is a blog, mostly based on thoughts (about anything), I feel I should write each post in the language I feel most accustomed to do so. So, this time, I feel a lot more comfortable to express my thoughts in Greek. Make sure you check the "pondering" of this post and write what you feel like saying upon the matter. It'll be in English ;)

Etsi loipon kaloi mou filoi, skeftomai gia ta psemata. Otan peis ena mikro psemataki gia na kaneis tous filous sou na xaroun, einai kalo? Otan peis ena psema gia na noiwseis esy kalytera? Otan les psemata ston idio sou ton eayto? Otan les megala logia se kapoion apo mprosta, ta opoia ksereis pws de ta ennoeis? As doume periptwseis. Elpizw na mhn exete faei giati dyskola xwneyontai ayta pou 8a pw...

Eisai panemorfh, eisai kouklos, poly sou paei ayto pou foras, oxi bre to phgouni sou mia xara einai giati na kaneis plastikh, 8wma den eisai falakros (kale eimai, exw matia kai blepw hallooo!)... Ola ayta ta lene oi kaloi filoi, otan de 8eloun na doun tous filous tous na stenaxwriountai an tous poun to anti8eto. Alla ta pisteyoun? Polles fores nai. Polles alles oxi... An omws de ta pisteyoun k de milane gia kati toso aplo pou mporei k oi idioi tous oi filoi na to kseroun, giati na tous poun ena psema? An to kanoun, mhpws sta matia ekeinwn meta xasoun meros ths empistosynhs pou tous eixan?

When is lying good and when is it bad? Are all white lies comforting?

Otan pali les psemata ston eayto sou, e tote... sorry ki olas... eisai kalos malakas... Ela e8nikh leksh einai mh kaneis etsi. Mh trekseis na mou kaneis flag to blog gia ena "malakas". Psemata ston eayto sou re? Na katafereis ti? Na mh peseis se kata8lipsh? To 8ema einai na dior8w8eis gia sena. Oxi mono gia tous allous! (ayta ta grafw gia na ta diabazw argotera k gw... k na mh lew syggnwmh-syggnwmh sa to gkaou ston idio mou ton eayto).

Shmera... to ofeilw ayto to syggnwmh giati sixainomai ta psemata, den eixa oute tash pros emeto, oute ponokefalo, oute me ponouse tpt... Me proetrepsan oi files mou (onomata de lew mh tis kathgorei kaneis :P) na pame cinema k na kanoume "kopana" oloi ap ayta pou eixame na kanoume. Opote paei to 3wro ma8hma iapwnikwn mou... K kaname ekfraseis pou exoun apagoreysh shmera... Apagoreyontai ta psemata! Eidate ti kala pou ta kserw? (Ta ellhnika :P)

Because a lie can spawn so many others. Even a white one. It can put you in the middle of a bottomless pitch-black pit with no means of survival. You've been digging that pit by yourself from the moment you started lying...

Etsi k gw "phga sto giatro, hmoun xalia, twra eimai kala, ayrio 8a er8w sto ma8hma, efaga kati k me peirakse". Eimai kalos h8opoios, alla me ponaei na lew psemata. Kyriws hli8ia. Poso mallon gia sobara 8emata.

Which time from those you've lied you regret the most?

Syggnwmh Nasia, kyria Kazuko k Kyriako (oxi aparaithta m'ayth th seira). No more lying. I promise! (no fingers crossed on this one...) An k mou eipan na mh zhtaw syggnwmh opws eipa. Alla edw xreiazetai. Ase ena syggnwmh na paei sta kommatia... Eykola apodekto einai mh nomizeis. Dyskola to les...

Come on Pinocchio, tell me a huge lie... (NSFW - Not Safe For Work)

P.S. Soundtrack for this post: Evanescence - Lies - OK its lyrics may suggest the exact opposite of what I'm saying but this is good:

Bound at every limb by my shackles of fear
Sealed with lies through so many tears

Saturday, July 01, 2006

Weekend Wall 17

I'm a whole day late! OMG I'm so sorry! I wasn't online at all yesterday! At least I had a fun time all day XD So, since the weekend has just started here is this week's pick :

Click image for full view

From the official Katamari Damacy site, a cute pastel painted wallpaper titled Utopia. See the little Prince? He'll have to collect lots of other things before he can manage to roll up that horse with his katamari!

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