Howl

James Franco starrer Howl is an interesting amalgamation of Alen's peotry (Howl) recital, the court case against the "obscenity" in the poem, Alen's important relationships, Alen's interview and Alen and Howl's vision expressed through surreal animation.

Honestly, while I was watching the movie, I was just mesmerized with the poem more than anything else. At each and every point, I kept thinking that it is so fucking relevant today and its almost a crime to not have read it till now. The entire film-making-acting part got overshadowed completely with the poetry recital session. The discussions in the court were interesting. Critics are portrayed in two categories-one those who get orgasms by just censoring, critising literary texts and the other camp of those who accept writers the way they are. They delve deep and deep in trying to understand what a writer/poet is actually trying to say and accept the fact that writing, especially poetry is open to all kinds of interpretation.

Anyhow, forget all that. For now just read 'Howl' if you have not read it before. Click here

Recommendation of the week

Ladies and gentlemen, here's presenting Bret McKenzie and Jemaine Clement, two New Zealanders who are the band members of this most rocking musical band and actors of this most awesome show 'Flight of the Conchords'. The subtle humour, the awesome music, the funny lyrics, good looks (applicable only to Bret ;)), they have it all going for them. And the icing on the cake is their "efficient" band manager, who is from New Zealand too and their only fan and stalker, Meg, who is not from New Zealand.Read about their band and the show here.

And watch one of the clips from the show here



And this one is one of my favourite songs:

Of lifts and escalators

The first time I ever took an escalator was in one of the malls in Gurgaon. I was in college that time. While my two friends easily stepped onto it like they were born to just hop onto elevators, I kept standing there just visualizing how easily I could trip or probably even get crushed somehow and die a slow painful death on that scary escalator. As I was getting all gory with my visual details, a security guard LITERALLY picked me up and planted me on the escalator's first step. It wasn't so bad after that. But even after years and years, it is truly an outlandish sight whenever I get onto an escalator. It is like one of those do or die situations for me when I hop onto it and get out of it. It is a like a mini-mission-accomplished moment and I really wish somebody knew what I went through during those few seconds and would give me a mini award for that. I am sure there are other weirdos like me.

About lifts. It is a different kind of phobia. It is basic claustrophobia. Most lifts are so tiny. Even if they are slightly bigger, a lot of people get into them. And then you experience a few seconds of extreme uncomfortableness. People don't smile at all, which makes the situation worse. Those who even know each other just avoid any conversations in the lifts, usually. Everyone keeps staring at the numbers which tell you how many more floors it would take for you to finally get rid of the mini-trauma. If you spot someone cute, you can't even check them out because lifts , like I said, are effing tiny. Whatever you see in those stupid films and TV commercials about subtle flirting with eyes and shit between a boy and girl is complete nonsense. That never happens in real life lifts. Lifts lack that character. If you are stuck with someone with a case of a BO, then you are doomed. It is smelly claustrophobia then. And if you are someone crazy like me and devil forbid, the lift ever gets stuck somewhere (It is a hypothetical adaptation of a true story) then you are fucked. It will take you many many days to use that monster again.

One thing I am not scared of is stairs. Plain and simple stairs. They shouldn't be spiral though. There should always be a railing next to the stairs. And it shouldn't be raining while you are climbing steps. In all these cases, you can trip on them. And you can trip real bad. You can even break your lovely bones. You can break your teeth. You can get a bump on your head. But in all normal circumstances, I do not have a phobia of stairs.

Just heard!

Voice to be reckoned
Pure and complicated

Admist jazz and others
Wine poured in a perfectly shaped glass
Absorbed by a parched throat
Savored till the last drop
Long after it was over

Addicted

to

Recommendation of the week

Haha..I should really stop calling this 'Recommendation of the week" cuz I post it like once in two-three weeks. Anyhow,for now we would go for this.

So "this week's" recco are basically this two great write-ups on two great people. Both great in very very different ways. Both are HIGHLY undeestimated, even now!!!!

More on the people later. For now, I will simply post these write-ups for you

Eric Bana: http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2011/apr/21/eric-bana-hanna?INTCMP=SRCH
Virginia Woolf: http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2011/jun/04/virginia-woolf-the-hours-michael-cunningham

I will get back to you on why have I posted these..Do read them. Like I said, these are brilliant write-ups on brilliant people!

Celine-Before Sunrise

"I always feel this pressure of being a strong and independent icon of womanhood, and without making it look my whole life is revolving around some guy. But loving someone, and being loved means so much to me. We always make fun of it and stuff. But isn't everything we do in life a way to be loved a little more?"