Music Phase

I'm digging into some Led Zeppelin nowadays, as I posted earlier. I've always liked classic rock (especially listening to it on car rides with my dad when we go skiing/hiking), but I for SOME CRAZY reason have never educated myself in LZ. When my dad and I saw "It Might Get Loud...", a documentary that takes three guitarists, Jimmy Page, The Edge (from U2) and Jack White, puts them in a room and has them talk about and play guitar together, we were awestruck by Page's obvious superiority to the other guys. This was especially shown off when Page started playing the rifts of "Whole Lotta Love", leaving The Edge and Jack White in complete "we are not worthy" states of being.

Anyway, this song is so flipping good. I'm sick of so many songs today that rely on keyboard beats and minimalist words and somehow are popular--people need to start writing great lyrics and music again. Ughhh.

Found Invisible Shoe

Remember these mirrored shoes I posted a while back? I found them again on another blog and they're called the "Invisible Shoe" by Andreia Chaves, one of several "footwear concepts" she's created. Read about it here:

http://www.yatzer.com/feed_2043_the_footwear_concepts_of_andreia_chaves

Lebowski Challenge

Oh, "The Big Lebowski". I saw a fledgling college student dressed up as The Dude for Halloween and shuddered at how much his infantile countenance contrasted with his forcedly lax look inspired by Bridges' brilliance. I could tell his intentions were ill-willed when he looked at me confusedly as I said the rug really tied the room together. It made me realize that there are different contingents of Lebowski lovers out there: the Challenge doers, who get together every now and then, as in every couple of years, to drink a White Russian every time The Dude drinks one and then forget (understandably) what the movie is about until the next time a friend mentions the film; and then there are the true fans, fans who share in the indescribable faith that baffles epistemology. The second contingent consists of thinkers that wrote essays for the book, “The Year’s Work in Lebowski Studies,” an essay collection edited by Edward P. Comentale and Aaron Jaffe (Indiana University Press, $24.95). Check out the Times review here.

That first contingent are the people who really need to read this book to start cultivating their innate comprehension of the Cohen Brothers' cult film. That "Dude" is basically someone who needs to first, see the movies several more times, and second, read this book.

I'm looking forward to picking up a copy tomorrow myself. Perhaps I'll start bowling and recognizing Shomer shabbos while I'm at it.

Marmots.

Nihilism.

Genius.

Journal of e-Media Studies

I've been working for a Dartmouth Film & Media studies professor, helping with his ongoing project, the Journal of e-Media Studies, by copyediting and web-enhancing. There are some really interesting pieces about Kindles, machinima, CSI/Law&Order victims, reporting on Katrina, self-reflexive television and other film/media-related subjects. The new issue was just published today!

Check it out:

http://journals.dartmouth.edu/cgi-bin/WebObjects/Journals.woa/xmlpage/4/issue

My favorite is the CSI/Law&Order article, "Two Versions of the Victim: Uncovering Contradictions in CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Through Textual Analysis" by Elke Weissmann. Some fascinating use of theory and observation applied to popular media:


http://journals.dartmouth.edu/cgi-bin/WebObjects/Journals.woa/2/xmlpage/4/article/341

MOMA

I went to the MOMA on Sunday, which is where this new painting in the banner is from. It's entitled Gaea by Lee Krasner (American, 1908-1984) 1966. Oil on canvas, and it's large at 69" x 10' 5 1/2" (175.3 x 318.8 cm). The colors are much more vivid in person.

My companion and I went through the museum pretending it was a store, contemplating whether or not to purchase each piece of art/furniture and in which room we'd display/use them in our houses (I stole this idea from a friend who lived in the city last Spring). Ugly or slightly disturbing items were relegated to the second guest bedroom, but we were both stumped as to where to place the brass boat propeller. (Master bath??) After the museum closed, we went to the MOMA store and did the same thing, except every object on display there was actually for sale -- and they were each just as clever as their counterparts in the real museum.

Some other paintings from the MOMA under consideration for the banner:

 

Girl with Ball, Roy Lichtenstein (American, 1923-1997) 1961. 

Oil and synthetic polymer paint on canvas, 60 1/4 x 36 1/4" (153 x 91.9 cm). 

   

No. 3/No. 13, Mark Rothko (American, born Latvia. 1903-1970) 1949. 

Oil on canvas, 7' 1 3/8" x 65" (216.5 x 164.8 cm).

  

Mark Rothko. No. 10. 1950. 

Oil on canvas, 7' 6 3/8" x 57 1/8" (229.6 x 145.1 cm).  

     

Shimmering Substance, Jackson Pollock (American, 1912-1956) 1946. 

Oil on canvas, 30 1/8 x 24 1/4" (76.3 x 61.6 cm).

They're all so much more beautiful in person. Maybe the next banner! Can you tell what my favorite two colors are?

Topshop Spring Collections

I've never stepped inside a Topshop, but these pieces look awesome. This is totally taken from NYMag's The Cut blog, so here's the link.

Actually, now that I look at them more, the only thing that really stands out to me is the pair of shoes in the first photo. The model just "looks cool," as if to say 'Yeah, I wear spiky jackets and ripped clothing. Eff you. They keep me and my inflated ego comfortable.

But how gorgeous are those shoes? Georgina and I are very alike in some ways (ok, many ways).

Atlas Shrugged [E-mailed]

Here's an e-mail I received from a friend that I thought was interesting enough to post verbatim. I've never read Atlas Shrugged (I know, so sue me) but now my interest is piqued -- is the entire book very good?

___________________________________

From: [Dartmouth '10 retracted]

Date: 28 Dec 2009 19:23:31 -0500

Subject: interesting little tidbit
To: [Group of sender's friends including Georgina]
Reply-To: [Nickname retracted]

sooooo this break i've been reading ayn rand's atlas shrugged - really really interesting. buuut here's a passage i just HAD to share

about sex. you can interchange the him and her as you wish

"He will always be attracted to the woman who reflects his deepest vision of himself, the woman whose surrender permits him to experience - or to fake - a sense of self-esteem. The man who is proudly certain of his own value, will want the highest type of woman he can find, the woman he admires, the strongest, the hardest to conquer - because only the possession of a heroine will give him the sense of an achievement, not the possession of a brainless slut."

a little harsh on the "brainless slut" part - but sort of interesting when we think about people we're attracted to

sorry if this bores you, i just had to share, and am sitting at home reading alone, so obvi blitz [e-mail] comes to the rescue.

anywaysssssss happppy new years!

___________________________________

But since I've never read Atlas Shrugged, I'm left wondering: who is "he" in this quote?

More Burberry Heels

I know I post about shoes too often, but ... could you die? Over the past few years I've noticed that Burberry makes the most to-die-for heels and wedges. You'd never expect it either, from a seemingly prim and proper company (or rather, stodgy and commercialized -- or at least ubiquitous -- to be unflattering). The shoes hit the perfect note in terms of height, materials, subtlety, and sexiness. It's almost better because it's unexpected of Burberry. I can't imagine someone wearing these and not feeling fabulous. Er, unless you don't like high heels. Whomp whomp.

The Nanny

I know it's time to school when I'm sitting at home tuning in to Nick at Nite and watching reruns of "The Nanny."

But I do love that show. Its campiness, forced acting and story flaws (the butler is totally gay--he would never have gotten with C. C.) combine to make a easily digestible show for a late night veg sesh. Plus, Fran's outfits are absolutely hilarious.

Google isn't finding me any good pictures, so just watch TV to see what I mean. The leopard print, sequins and red velvet applique jackets are perfect.

PS have you noticed that so much of what's in style now is like the Neo-Nanny movement? WTF?

Go Blog Go

Quote from NYT article today:

Designers are thinking differently in response to consumers who want instant gratification. Doo-Ri Chung, for example, describing her new basics collection in The Financial Times this fall, said her customer has a "blog mentality, not a magazine mentality."

Sherlock Holmes: The Aftermath

I love those sunglasses. I went to Fabulous Fanny's in NYC, a store that sells vintage and antique eyewear, and saw several pairs of antique ones just like those. I've now identified that sunglasses are my weakness.

As for Sherlock Holmes, the aesthetics were fun and fanciful, as RDJ's costume was certainly edgier than the classic Sherlock attire. But it worked for this film because it was "cool" and "hip"; it balanced the intellectual and quirky habits of the classic Holmes with a 21st century thirst for action and, well, being edgy on purpose.

It was a commercial film, and as A.O. Scott said, it was a feature-length trailer for the sequel that includes Holmes' archnemesis, Dr. Moriarty. I basically agree with everything Scott wrote, which definitely isn't always the case.

This assessment is copied from an email.

Sherlock Holmes

I was entertained and my favorite part was the score. It wasn't amazing, but it was a good way to spend a couple of hours. I'm a stickler for CGI details, so there were a few points (and by a few I mean a lot) that I thought were shaky (the bridge scene with Rachel McAdams, who I thought was kind of blah, was certainly technically complicated, but wasn't up to par in my mind with other digitally created spaces). The camera use + score definitely made a big contribution to the success of the film.

It not only catered to the National Treasure people (speaking of which, did you see both of those trailers for the new Nick Cage movies? Ahhhhh) but it also got a bit of that Guy Ritchie gruffness that dudes like.

The coincidence (or is it) is that The Hound of the Baskervilles is on TCM. Basil is a bit different from RDJ, to say the least.

I'm glad I had low expectations for the film because I was pleasantly surprised--it had more of the Holmesian logic and judgment than I thought it would, and RDJ is always good at playing a crazy, self-obsessed ass, which is the only kind of RDJ I like.

AVATAR 2.0

I'm writing this without re-reading what Fay wrote in her post, but I just saw Avatar and you must go see it. It's mindblowing. And heart-achingly good. When I say heart-aching, I'm trying to evoke that simultaneously effervescent and desperate feeling you get in your chest and brain when you can't get enough of someone -- in this case, something. Sort of an increased awareness in all synapses within a selective state of oblivion. At times I caught myself holding my breath and had to remember to breathe. 

Imagine if that world existed. At one point in the movie, I thought (likely out loud, if you've ever watched a movie with me), "well that's unrealistic," before I realized that the entire thing was unrealistic, of course.

Now that's good cinema. And excellent technology. And art. And a truly beautiful imagination I very much respect. Alright, enough gushing from me -- don't take my word for it, see it for yourself.

Merry Christmas, in a different way...

I will post about my home made sugar cookies and things later.
More important to share is the awesome gift my dad got me: "Mothership" by Led Zeppelin, which includes 2 discs of music and 1 DVD of concert footage.


At one point, Jimmy Page starts playing his guitar with a violin bow.

So effing good.


What is and what should never be



If I say to you tomorrow,
Take my hand child come with me,
It's to a castle I will take you,
Where what's to be they say will be.

Catch the wind see us spin,
Sail away leave the day,
Way up high in the sky.
But the wind won't blow,
You really shouldn't go,
It only goes to show.
That you will be mine,
By taking our time.

And if you say to me tomorrow,
Oh what fun it all would be,
Then what's to stop us pretty baby,
But what is and what should never be.

Catch the wind see us spin,
Sail away leave the day,
Way up high in the sky.

But the wind won't blow,
You really shouldn't go,
It only goes to show.
That you will be mine,
By taking our time.

So if you wake up with the sunrise,
And all your dreams are still as new,
And happiness is what you need so bad,
Girl the answer lies with you.

Catch the wind see us spin,
Sail away leave the day,
Way up high in the sky.
But the wind won't blow,
You really shouldn't go,
It only goes to show.
That you will be mine,
By taking our time.

Everybody I know seems to know me well,
But does anybody know I'm gonna move like hell?

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

I  love Christmas. This is our Christmas tree this year...

It's our tallest tree yet!

With gold disco ball ornaments,

glass ball ornaments, red velvet ribbons and gold silk ribbons,

clear Christmas lights, and white flowers.

 These are glass ornaments are cool, they look like bubbles.

On this Christmas afternoon, we did some baking and I experimented with making Whole Wheat Oatmeal Applesauce Raisin Craisin Muffins.

 

Some are 'plain' and some have peanut butter or raspberry preserves centers.

labeled by color, duh

pre-baking

post-baking

To be honest, I'm not very good at baking, but I try and I'm learning.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you and yours!

Christmas Failure

I've failed my family.

Like the albatross, shame and dishonor burden me on this Christmas eve, for I have time traveled this morning and made a terrible mistake.

My father woke me up at 8:45 asking, "Don't you have work today?" Groaning and turning on my side, I managed to grumble, "no, ugh." Leaving me to bask in the fresh radiator heat, he closed my door and continued to bustle about our apartment.

Fast-forward five minutes.

I decided to be virtuous and perhaps get up on this glorious morning. I was slightly confused by my father's question that seemed to seep into my dream; it made me wonder if he was, in fact, correct.

He was.

I thought today was Wednesday and yesterday was Tuesday. Perhaps it was Avatar's fault. I have no clue.

Throwing on whatever Rugby clothes I could find, I snagged a macaroon and headed off to work.

Oh, what losing a day meant.

It meant I did not have time to buy a glorious present for my family, one that would bring us together more than our annually purchased puzzle (we have 4 ones from the Beatles collection; my mom and I bought one from the M&M's store in Times Square that is proving to be rather difficult).

And what game was that?

Stratego.

I saw it in the "Onyx" edition at B&N for $50, which was absolutely ridiculous. Borders was sold out. I didn't have time (since my epiphany was on "Tuesday" which was really Wednesday) to buy one from the games store in Harvard Square.

My memories of playing Stratego during recess (my friends and I in middle/elementary school skipped outdoor recess in favor of sitting inside and playing the game) were instantly trivialized; if I had really wanted to get Stratego, wouldn't I have put more effort into finding it?

Work screwed my plans for nostalgic game-playing on a cozy winter day.

Sulking as I ate mounds of crackers, cheese and olives and drowning my sorrows in a tiny glass of Pinot Noir, I regretted not buying that game.

And yet, in hindsight, it wouldn't have been a family gift. It was my own present, one that I need not wrap poorly and make my brother open when he would never find the game as special as I did. Not buying the game lifted this burden; perhaps I'll invest in one for when I return to college.

Maybe frat parties will be replaced by heated battles of Red vs. Blue.



What are your favorite board games and why?

Costumes of Edith Head

Edith Head

Since I'm going back to the boonies in a week-ish, I want to appreciate civilization and society a bit. Perhaps if I cram enough class in my mind, I'll be able to survive a winter of colossal cold without turning into a down jacket derelict (I think we all know that would never happen).

Grace Kelly and Cary Grant in "To Catch a Thief"

My plan of action? Going to see these movies:

http://www.mfa.org/calendar/sub.asp?key=12&subkey=9538

The Costumes of Edith Head, 1941-1958 Edith Head (1897-1981), one of Hollywood's most influential costume designers, worked on more than 400 films, but her work with Paramount Studios was the most illustrious. This series celebrates the storyboards and sketches she brought to life to create some of Hollywood's most memorable moments. Saturday, December 26, 2009, 10:30 am Film The Heiress As soon as Catherine’s receives her father’s entire estate, her former fiance suddenly reappears, but she refuses to fall in love with him... Saturday, December 26, 2009, 1 pm Film Sunset Boulevard Norma Desmond, a forgotten silent picture star, hires Joe Gillis, a struggling screenwriter to help her back into the spotlight.... Saturday, December 26, 2009, 3:20 pm Film The Lady Eve The rich but naive Charlie Pike meets con artist Jean Harrington on a ship. They fall in love, but a misunderstanding causes them to end on bad terms.... Sunday, December 27, 2009, 11 am Film A Place in the Sun George works obsessively to get ahead, and when he starts dating Angela, a beautiful socialite, he notices his professional status rise. But the press... Sunday, December 27, 2009, 1:30 pm Film Vertigo In this Hitchcock classic, Jimmy Stewart plays a detective who becomes dangerously obsessed with his latest case.... Wednesday, December 30, 2009, 2 pm Film To Catch a Thief A former cat burglar is wanted in a recent string of robberies along the French Riviera, so he decides to go after the real culprit to prove his innoc... Wednesday, December 30, 2009, 4:30 pm Film Rear Window Jeff passes time by watching the actions of the residents in an apartment across the street, but his hobby takes a dangerous turn when he claims to ha... Wednesday, December 30, 2009, 7 pm Film Vertigo In this Hitchcock classic, Jimmy Stewart plays a detective who becomes dangerously obsessed with his latest case.... Saturday, January 2, 2010, 10:30 am Film A Place in the Sun George works obsessively to get ahead, and when he starts dating Angela, a beautiful socialite, he notices his professional status rise. But the press... Saturday, January 2, 2010, 1 pm Film Sunset Boulevard Norma Desmond, a forgotten silent picture star, hires Joe Gillis, a struggling screenwriter to help her back into the spotlight.... Saturday, January 2, 2010, 3:20 pm Film The Lady Eve The rich but naive Charlie Pike meets con artist Jean Harrington on a ship. They fall in love, but a misunderstanding causes them to end on bad terms.... Sunday, January 3, 2010, 10:30 am Film Rear Window Jeff passes time by watching the actions of the residents in an apartment across the street, but his hobby takes a dangerous turn when he claims to ha... Sunday, January 3, 2010, 12:50 pm Film To Catch a Thief A former cat burglar is wanted in a recent string of robberies along the French Riviera, so he decides to go after the real culprit to prove his innoc... Sunday, January 3, 2010, 3:10 pm Film This Gun for Hire Veronica Lake befriends a killer in order to form an alliance against a corrupt nightclub owner....

Which ones should I make priorities?

SEA

Went to SEA in the East Village for some Thai food at my dining companion's suggestion. I've passed it a bunch of times before because it's in a very central location in the LES, but never eaten there.

Verdict: The curry was properly spicy (+), the food was well seasoned (+), and dishes were surprisingly large (+) but accompanied by small portions of rice (-) ... but then again, I really like rice. Good ambiance comprised of modern decor and near-perfect restaurant lighting (+), service was average to good, average drinks list (as far as I could tell) and prices were reasonable (+). It would be fun to bring friends to eat here.

Overall = positive review. 
I'll be conservative and say 3.5/5 since this is my first review.

SEA

75 Second Ave., New York, NY 10003
nr. 4th St.  See Map | Subway Directions
212-228-5505 Send to Phone
See other locations

P.S. Photos pilfered from internet sources.