Kitchen Sink, a 1989 short film by Alison Maclean. Not recommended for those with chaetophobia (fear of hair).
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Art & Photography
I got sent the link to this in an email entitled “4 Guys, 1 Girl and a Guitar” – and I must admit I was a little scared to click through. But I was well rewarded for my bravery:
Somebody That I Used to Know – Walk off the Earth. It’s a cover of Gotye & Kimbra’s recent release, and dare I say it, better than the original.
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In 1977, photographer Robin Morrison produced a calendar featuring the local faces and businesses of Ponsonby, Auckland. Some have disappeared over the years, while others, like Bhana Brothers are still going strong. (Bhana has always been my favourite place to buy flowers in Auckland.)
Dick Armstrong’s – affectionately known as Dirty Dick’s (now State of Grace)
Arthur Cooper, Barber, Jervois Road (now Pure Restaurant, 186 Jervois Road)
Peter Rogers Art Deco (still Peter Rogers, Real Time, 74 Ponsonby Road)
Tony Burrows, the Mussel Man, Ponsonby (now Plants and Pots, corner O’Neill St and Ponsonby Rd)
John Moller, Funeral Director, & Noball (70 Ponsonby Road, now the site of the Quest Hotel)
Ivan, Ivan’s Restaurant, Ponsonby Road (now Chapel Bar & Restaurant)
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Zooey Deschanel plays a sweet rendition “What Are You Doing New Years Eve?” on ukulele, accompanied by Joseph Gordon-Levitt on guitar. Ukuleles are enchanting. Maybe I should learn to play one in 2012?
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My gorgeous friend Laura reminded me of this ad from Telecom New Zealand – Keep In Touch. (L. why do you not have a blog already?)
The beach featured is Cheltenham, and in fact I grew up on this little slice of paradise! Way to make me all weepy. Maybe it’s time to boot up the rasterbator…
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Holy moly, I am so looking forward to this. The Rum Diary was one of Book Club For Drunk’s best reads ever - daiquiris ahoy. I really recommend you read the book first if you haven’t already. It was (supposedly) written when Hunter S. Thompson was only 22!
The typography is rather smashing too, don’t you think?
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Pont de l’Archevêché, on the river Seine. Thousands of lovers have locked their hearts to the bridge - symbolizing unbreakable bonds.
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This time next week I’ll be in Paris. Eep. Clearly the best way to prepare is to learn choice French phrases from our two New Zealand friends in New York City.
Do you like Flight Of The Conchords? I was a bit dismissive at first but eventually on a flight to Europe, funnily enough, I watched every episode. Now I just wish there was more. MORE. Jacques Cousteau!
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The new stencil mural on Cross Street, by Auckland artist Flox:
It’s nice to see a little colour around here.
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Paris Syndrome or Syndrome de Paris is a temporary psychological condition suffered by some visitors to Paris. When great expectations meet the gritty reality of Paris life (e.g. dog poo) severe culture shock can set in.
Most victims are Japanese women their 30s, who after being fed a lifetime of highly romanticized images (Amelie, À bout de souffle, Love in the Afternoon – and other top films to see Paris on the silver screen) cannot not handle the gritty reality of Paris life. As Paris Syndrome affects about 12 Japanese tourists a year, the Japanese embassy has a 24-hour hotline in place and can offer help in case of hospitalization. Discovered by Professor Hiroaki Ota, a Japanese psychiatrist working in France, it is similar to Stendahl syndrome.
As the the BBC said in its discussion of Paris Syndrome, “[m]any of the visitors come with a deeply romantic vision of Paris [but the] reality can come as a shock. An encounter with a rude taxi driver, or a Parisian waiter who shouts at customers who cannot speak fluent French, might be laughed off by those from other Western cultures. But for the Japanese – used to a more polite and helpful society in which voices are rarely raised in anger – the experience of their dream city turning into a nightmare can simply be too much.”
If you’ve been to Nippon, the Japanese’s romantic vision of Paris will come as no surprise – Tokyo is awash with French brands and pâtisseries - you’ll even spot an Eiffel-inspired lattice tower on the skyline. Viz, my buddy Richard & I near the Tokyo Tower in 2007:
Can you say baby-faced? Anyway, I’m sure I will be in full control of my psyche and expectations when I land at Orly, Paris in just 26 days… but it’s best to be prepared!
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‘And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth’
I am very much in awe of Paul X. Johnson’s illustration portfolio. His work is dark, moody and peppered with sublime pop culture references (oh how I adore that picture of Bladerunner’s Rachael). Definitely check out his site for more visual goodies.
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Another documentary I have seen and enjoyed recently is The King Of Kong: A Fistful Of Quarters. It’s a 2007 American film that follows middle school science teacher Steve Wiebe as he tries to take the world high score for the arcade game Donkey Kong from reigning champion and hot sauce kind Billy Mitchell. Even if you don’t have an interest in gaming, you’ll love this battle of the nerds.
It’s a classic tale of good vs. evil, with lots of laughs and plot twists. It leaves you hanging for more, and pondering whether you could be the next world champion in something… If only you put your life into it.
Want to see it? Watch part 1 on YouTube.
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Last week I stayed at home on a Saturday night. I put my best leopard print PJs on, plumped my pillows and ordered a takeaway. Then, far from the sophistication of writing (my novel) and listening to Smog (so refined), I watched THIS:
My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding. Addictive, unashamedly host and funny, it’s the best documentary series I’ve seen in a while. And of course – those dresses!
I didn’t know anything about Irish travellers before, and this was a great insight into a culture completely different from mine. Someone has put most of the episodes screened thus far on Youtube , so you too can sit back, relax, and enjoy the mayhem of a gypsy wedding in their glory. If you have seen it, what did you think?
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