Movies - December 2007

December's gone in a blink. As I'm sitting back to write one last post about movies I had seen, I'm realising there's just few. No wonder. Here they are:

1. Running With Scissors (2006)
It took me almost two weeks to finish off this one. It wasn't boring, quite opposite, I found it reasonably funny, however every time I came home and decided to watch it I was too tired and I passed out within minutes.

2. Into The Wild (2007)
I have more and more respect for Sean Penn. Though knowing beforehand what was this about and how it ends, I still had a good time watching it. I guess the most difficult part of making this movie was to work out how to avoid clichés. And he managed.

3. Death At A Funeral (2007)
I wrote once — though someplace else — that I like movies that are true to their original intentions. In other words, the ones that do not pretend they're something else. This is clearly a laid-back comedy and nothing else. And as such, it's great.

4. Mr. Bean's Holiday (2007)
I was quite surprised when David Stratton noted about half a year ago that Atkinson, with this movie, is proving himself to be an accomplished disciple of silent film comedians of early 1920's. And he was right.

5. Waitress (2007)
Though lovable, I don't know exactly what to think of this. It wasn't that much of a comedy and certainly wasn't much of a romance either. Yet it was still a bit of a feel-good flick.

6. The Wizard Of Oz (1939)
Highly acclaimed dullness. Most probably, I should had seen it when I was six years old. Sorry, I missed. Yawn.

7. Ocean's Thirteen (2007)
There's no excuse for this flop by Steven Soderbergh and a bunch of his top-list friends. I believe they had fun. But what about audience? Fuck you Rusty, Danny and co. I hope there won't be Ocean's Fourteen unless you plan to make it an alternative to capital punishment.

8. Home Alone 3 (1997)
Quite funny, considering this is third installment. Mr Soderbergh, have you seen this? However, hardly teen Scarlett Johansson was strikingly lifeless in her unimportant side character.

9. Kulovy blesk (1978)
Smoljak & Svěrák classic. Hillarious. Unfortunately, if one does not understand Czech, they have no chance to enjoy this comedy par excellence.

So. For those few who used to read this monthly list, this one is the very last on DWDU. Accepting my brother's idea, it's moving to a different blog. Email me if you don't know where and you'd want to.

Movies - November 2007

I sold my 37" LCD telly. Thirtyseven is not a popular size anymore. Especially for someone who doesn't watch television at all. The plan is to buy a new one after holiday season, though haven't decided yet if it means this holiday season or maybe the following one. Or the one after.

1. Kráska v nesnázích (2006) (likeable)
2. Na krásnom modrom Dunaji (1997) (unbelievably Slovak!)
3. Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix (2007) (losing the grip)
4. Starship Troopers (1997) (predictable, yet enjoyable to an extent)
5. Skřítek (2005) (a movie I sadly missed in 2005, funny and smart)
6. The Jacket (2005) (nothing extraordinary)
7. Destricted (2006) (had its moments)
8. Mezi námi zloději (1963) (must have been outrageous at the time)
9. Death Proof (2007) (if this was a flop, I'd like to see more flops like this)
10. Ghost Dog: The Way Of A Samurai (1999) (I remember the poster I saw in winter Bratislava in 1999, and wonder/wonder!/wonder!!! why didn't I go see it?; stunning!)
11. Eastern Promises (2007) (one of top ten 2007 movies, Viggo is the man)
12. French Connection II (1975) (Gene Hackman's unforgettable heroin cold turkey in Marseilles)

I had to give it a bit of a thought to choose the movie of the month. While Eastern Promises may be one of the better ones released this year and Death Proof is also a great competitor, Jim Jarmusch made a classic in 1999; Ghost Dog is a hell of a movie and Forest Whitaker is touchingly convincing; I consider the hitman role his definite, standing Amin in The Last King Of Scotland at number two and Charlie Parker in Bird at number three. Hail to both Jim & Forest!

LIT

Hell of a week behind me. Too much to do, too little time left. Mobile never sleeps. I do. I need to. After few sleepless nights I managed to catch up on coma last afternoon. Woke up amidst darkened skies, completely puzzled, not knowing where and when am I.

What day is it?, asked a voice that I hardly recognised.

Friday, darling.

Ah, ok.

Had few glasses of Jim Beam afterwards, just chilling on the balcony, watching drags and afterlife nightlife. It felt like holidaying in Greece.

LIT as a backdrop.

The Killers, Sydney 11 November 2007

Just came back from The Killers gig in the Entertainment Centre. Positively surprised. Have never heard of them until attending Corbijn's premiere last month; they covered Joy Division's Shadowplay for the movie and soundtrack. And they've done it rather well.

Atmosphere was one of the best I've seen in Sydney for years. Let's face it — unless there's U2 or Red Hot playing, Sydney audience generally sucks. People don't sing, hardly clap, and typically just stare, listen and sip beer. That's a better scenario, of course, the worse one is when people chitchat, fuck with their mobiles and don't bother to pay attention to a gig they spent some 100-plus bucks for.

This one was different. People did listen, did clap, did scream and did sing along. Might have had something to do with prevalent age group and sex present. Teen chicks, basically.

They closed the concert with classic Helter Skelter, the song Charles Manson stole from The Beatles and U2 stole back (as Bono said). I've done a little Google search, yet couldn't find them performing this one before. Quite an encore.

The bottom line: Rock and Roll is alive and doing fine. Gdnya, fellas.

Oh — and the setlist:

Sam's Town * Enterlude * When You Were Young * Bones * Somebody Told Me * Smile Like You Mean It * Reasons Unknown * Tranquilize * This River Is Wild * Read My Mind * Shadowplay * Bling * Mr Brightside * Leave The Bourbon On The Shelf * Mightnight Show * Jenny Was A Friend Of Mine * All These Things That I've Done * Exitlude * Helter Skelter

Movies - October 2007

I'm lazy, lazy, lazy!

Summer's all over the place and I'm hiding behind blinds not letting a single blade in. Switched off the aircon to save the planet. Therefore slowly dying myself.

Anybody to save me?

Have seen few flicks worth mentioning. Red Rock West was a surprisingly decent one, Little Fish was strong and the winner is Corbijn's Control. This guy, while spending almost 30 years in England is so remarkably Dutch. He's witty, he's smart, he's laid-back and very pro. One can almost touch his conscience. Definitely knows where he's heading and what he's doing at all times. You've heard it right. He's smart. Smarter then anybody thinks he is. Thumbs up.

Anyway, here's the list before I jump off the balcony.

1. Obsluhoval jsem anglického krále (2006) (disappointing)
2. An Officer And A Gentleman (1982) (predictable, narrow)
3. Team America: World Police (2004) (very South-parkish, huh, very trendy)
4. Little Fish (2005) (Kate, Sam and Hugo are great in this little Aussie gem)
5. Charade (1963) (a must for Audrey Hepburn admirers)
6. Knocked Up (2007) (good chill)
7. Red Rock West (1992) (Mr I-Can't-Act-Any-Better-And-Any-Different-Than-This delivers a classic)
8. Naked Lunch (1991) (lucky I fell asleep; repeatedly lucky!)
9. Conrol (2007) (Corbijn's an instant legend!)
10. 1408 (2007) (Cusack is one of few actors who are even worse than Cage. Flick's alright)
11. Crank (2006) (if you wanna get killed, Jason Statham is your man)

That's it, kids. That's it. I have to pay taxes, so excuse me while I kiss the sky.

How do you sleep?

— Attacked Lennon his former bandmate McCartney ironically through a little rock tune from Imagine. However, there is no irony involved in the title of my brainless post.

While having a piss a minute ago, I came to realise how irregular my sleep patters are. I sleep whenever I feel like, minus eight-odd hours I have to pretend I'm a human capable of reasoning to pay my bills at the end of the month.

I sleep when I come home, passing out at any time, quite often being in coma until well after midnight, then being wide awake until early morning hours, going out when people are coming back from parties, sleeping through the sunny weekend days without the need to go anywhere or expose myself to light.

With no drugs involved, ladies and gentlemen. I'm just an owl. For years now.

So long!

Johnny has announced the federal election to be held on 24 November. As voting is compulsory I have no choice left but go and cast the ballot. Won't have a hard time deciding between all them democratic communazis.

I'd prefer this country — and the world, for that matter — to concentrate on sustainability. I may be a dickhead tossing my life away in an urban jungle, hidden in high rise shadows, experimenting with various joys and writing empty lines, yet I would want to die feeling the kids are left with chance to outlive 21st century.

So long, Johnny!

Summer

Temperatures over thirty, tee glued to a body a bit more than desired. Few strokes in a pool, a starting shot next to an open balcony afterwards. Twilight. Jazz, a call to London. Mate; bringing pizza, asking for bourbon and a cookie. A move, a club. A bunch cheerily knocking back already. Rugby against England, we are being chopped. Full glasses in, empty ones out. Full glasses in, empty ones out. Terrible music. Treble cutting ears. They're tryina get rid of us. Out!

Hey, Armand! Night street chances, chill with Ministry of Sound, more alcohol, more joy. Decibels for sleeping neighbours. Last gulp, a street again.

Moving on; hwstgn Floyd. It's closed already, boys, fuck, three a.m, I'm kinda sleepy. One shout, bro. Fuck boys, quick. Local metal fans playing air guitars better than Slash, Hammet and Frusciante together the real ones. Three rounds, before Floyd cuts short kids' holidays.

Potenia. More and more glasses, floor packed by weirdos. This will never end.

Final bourbon well after sunrise. City's awaking. Sunnies, heading to bed. Sleep. Sleep.

Movies - September 2007

While softening on partying, evenings are getting longer. Window-licking local video store. Browsing through titles long forgotten and miraculously found again. Catching up on Hollywood classics and Hollywood trash and managing to go through few Czech gems, too.

1. Goya's Ghosts (2006)
2. Scarface (1983)
3. Ray (2004)
4. I Could Never Be Your Woman (2007)
5. I-See-You.Com (2006)
6. The Bourne Ultimatum (2007)
7. Interview (2007)
8. Love And Other Disasters (2006)
9. Underworld (2003)
10. Kingdom Of Heaven (2005)
11. In Her Shoes (2005)
12. Štěstí (2005)
13. The Mating Habits Of The Earthbound Human (1999)
14. Proč? (1987)
15. Live Free Or Die Hard (2007)
16. Rok ďábla (2002)
17. Grandhotel (2006)

The best one this month? Guess Scarface comes quite close, though just quite. Štěstí, known as Something Like Happiness outside of Czech Republic is my tick. Le cinéma par excellence.

Being back

Got back to the City after a two-day trip to beautiful beaches, picturesque seaside resorts and tranquil unspoiled nature. Splendid. Back to high rise jungle. Decided to dine out. Quickly jumping stairs (lift ain't eco-friendly, babe!), passing deserted hallway, godforsaken gym, empty pool (but for the water, 'course), and then?

City's pulsing through the night, rush, vibe, bang, race, flow, blitz, the whole spastic population made it out tonight. Including me.

No more words needed, babe. Respect!

Third stone from the Sun

Sitting under the waterfall. Calm, serene, relaxed. Jungle's purring around, sun's biting from high above, sky's blue, water's, too. Tranquility. So much has been left behind, so little's happening, there's no need to rush. Civilization's so yesteryear!

Ain't that a well? Ain't that the world fallin' down? Ain't that a mobile ringin'? Ain't that a car buzzin'? Ain't that a life passin'? Ain't that somebody freakin' out?

Waking up's so hard to do.

Slowly but surely

A spring day. Getting up too early, then sleeping in a bit too long. Sun's already teasing naïve but courageous chicks to bare their flesh. One has to love it. Hmm.

Clocking in, confirming figures are still on track. Charming. Disappearing for lunch to a nearby coffee shop soon, having a great chat with a random chick and the favourite waitress. Having the usual without a need to order. Kindly declining to hit Jim Beam with meal. Slipping back to office just in time for pup serving beers. No thanks, it's definitely sucking.

Heading for dinner, giving a go to movies, Steve Buscemi's Interview. Wondering what Theo would think, were he still around.

Party later tonight. Compulsory, of course, at least it feels that way. Shall we have anything? Shall we go nice and clean? Shall we shave? Bath, cigar and scotch, how about it? Minus scotch, how about that?

Few calls concerning the show. Yeah, hon', coming, will be there by midnight. Cool. Don't worry. Love you, too.

Playing with the mobile, then switching it off. Why not? Earplugs, Ursiny, midnight beach like in the old days. Suppose circle has to close.

It's time. Sample of happiness. Let's make a summer!

Movies - August 2007

Judging by the number of movies I saw last month, one could guess I did nothing but stared at screen. Yeah, right. Actually, right.

1. Solyaris (1972)
2. Backbeat (1994)
3. Gattaca (1997)
4. Il deserto roso (1964)
5. Exils (2004)
6. La Môme (2007)
7. Vratné lahve (2007)
8. Dark City (1998)
9. Apocalypse Now Redux (1979/2001)
10. Blow (2001)
11. The Score (2001)
12. Once Were Warriors (1994)
13. The Simpsons Movie (2007)
14. Cashback (2006)
15. La Cité des enfants perdus (1995)
16. I Now Pronounce You Chuck And Larry (2007)
17. Grandma's Boy (2006)

The word of the month is creepiness. About half of the above listed flicks were creepy in one way or another. Take Cashback. I loved the short and it's no different to feature. Though critics hate it for its obsession with female parts. So what? Have anybody ever dared to shoot a scene like the one with Swedish boarder for a mainstream movie before?

Darlo

Sleepless city veins flowing underneath starless skies. Fair dinkum pubs, burger joints, gay bars, international take-aways, posh eateries, unyielding owls moving up and down the streets. Somebody asks for a cigarette, somebody else for a change. Some talk, some don't. Some sit, some lie, others walk or hang around. A fellow is readying his bunk on the steps of a bank. Lovers, friends, suits, hoodies, young or old, everybody's equal or pretending to be. Every mood, every thought, every feeling, all mixed and flavoured by babel of languages, spiced by every possible human race.

I like this place, possibly more than I wish to admit.

Wintery day

Stayed at home. Sort of. Didn't make it to work. Slept, listened to music a lot (amongst others also B3, they're cool), had a cookie, wandered around. Post office, Korean take-away, music shops. Listened to Filip's L.S.D. over and over. Enjoyed the city.

(This city is so self-centered. New Yorkers must love it, except for its miniature size. So do I, of course, though I had to blend in. It wasn't too difficult as I'm a quite self-centered jerk, too. Enough.)

Loved the walk, gardens, park, China town, all electronics shops, Pitt St mall, nameless backlanes and wintery sun above my head.

Wintery bears an ironic remark as it was well over 20°C.

Such a fine day.

Movies - July 2007

Took me a while to compile this list as I hardly put down any note last month. Guess it has something to do with winter. Though it only felt like winter for about two weeks at the beginning of the month and it's getting warmer since. Thank you very much, dear global warming.

Looking at titles, it was a pretty average month. Oddly enough, the best movies I had seen were the oldest ones, Breakfast at Tiffany's and the French Connection. It makes sense as these are classics and one might find difficult to find oldie scum.

1. Román pro ženy (2005)
2. The Number 23 (2007)
3. Smokin' Aces (2006)
4. Spun (2002)
5. Breakfast At Tiffany's (1961)
6. Enemy Of The State (1998)
7. The French Connection (1971)
8. Miami Vice (2006)
9. Proof (2005)
10. Black Snake Moan (2006)
11. A History Of Violence (2005)
12. Casino (1995)
13. The Last King Of Scotland (2006)

Have seen neither Harry Potter nor the Simpsons. One day their time will come.

No sports

No sports, said Sir Winston sometime in last millennium. Yet I wonder. Does ego exercising count?

If it does, I'm about to be a sportsman for next few weeks.

Will I not write anything about the matter, I'm not much of a sportsman.

Will I not write anything at all, then ego exercising is a sport, however, as any other sport, can be deadly.

Fingers crossed.

Junkie

Off to a party last night. Having a strange feeling, a really weird one, though I don't think it had anything to do with Friday 13th. I just felt like not going anywhere, switching off the phone and lying in a bed. Pretty dull. I went anyway 'cos she asked me to.

Meeting her was a surprise. So different, so flashy, so uplifted. So happy. Almost high. It felt awkward, odd. It didn't seem natural. Drugs, thought I immediately. 'Course it was the first thing crossing my mind — guess I cannot think of anything less artificial due to my previous experiences.

Suspecting something tricky, I was slowly backing off, keeping aloof from her. Had three drinks and decided to split.

And just as I was walking to the lift, I glimpsed a radiant babe zealously pashing some lucky bastard. Oh, so that is it.

She had just fallen in love.

Movies - June 2007

I had no time to watch movies last month. At all. Being too busy saved me from hallucinating over my existence and being unable to catch up on my favourite booze made me a sober man. And then, retox. I saw six movies over a period of 24 hours and got decently liquored twice in a week. Nothing to be too proud of.

One more thing (very Jobsy, innit?): this was the very last weekend when one could smoke in pubs in Australia. It's all over now, thought I, enjoying a very last indoor cigarette while surveying a crowd of teenage chicks in my corner joint.

1. Roming (2007)
2. Shooter (2007)
3. Code Name: The Cleaner (2007)
4. Catch And Release (2006)
5. Music And Lyrics (2007)
6. A Good Year (2006)
7. Stranger Then Fiction (2006)
8. U.S. vs. John Lennon (2006)
9. Hoří, má panenko (1967)
10. Efter brylluppet (2006)

Recharging

The battery in my laptop has just died. Just few sketches before I follow.

Met a smoking hot chick the other day but was not ready for a deal of a lifetime. Or rather summertime. Forgot to call her back to ask anyway.

There's no sunshine rays anymore, there's blades. And it's getting tougher. Never again a place or a car lacking aircon. Summers in Prague stretch nicely over five months now.

I hoped to recharge, yet I'm far worse off than before. Looking forward to intergalactic flight through expanding universe of tiresome tattle straight into my big brass bad. Mobiles off. Doors locked.

Soullessly slipping away.

Passing out.

Movies - May 2007

I got through few intercontinental flights this month, yet I didn't spend a second watching flicks over the clouds. And back on Earth? Looks like I wasted more time watching others then living my own life. Sucks. Hope it can only start slowing down from now. Though, it's winter, so I wonder.

1. 10 Items Or Less (2006)
2. Because I Said So (2007)
3. Taxi 4 (2007)
4. The Business (2005)
5. À bout de souffle (1960)
6. Bird (1988)
7. Perfect Stranger (2007)
8. Une femme est une femme (1961)
9. Nochnoy dozor (2004)
10. Paris, je t'aime (2006)
11. Employee Of The Month (2006)
12. Kouř (1991)
13. Notting Hill (1999)
14. Čtyři vraždy stačí, drahoušku (1970)
15. Bridget Jones's Diary (2001)
16. Kopytem sem, kopytem tam (1988)
17. Účastníci zájezdu (2006)

Plus, I saw a great interview of Steve Jobs and Bill Gates from All Things Digital. Good for these long hours in the air. Otherwise waste of time, too.

Movies - April 2007

April was gone in a blink! There's a list, minus the usual trashy comments.

1. Sabrina (1954)
2. Boogie Nights (1997)
3. The Fabulous Baker Boys (1989)
4. Rafťáci (2006)
5. Factory Girl (2006)
6. Das Leben Der Anderen (2006)
7. Alpha Dog (2006)
8. The Painted Veil (2006)
9. Paris - When It Sizzles (1964)
10. 300 (2006)
11. Bra Boys (2007)
12. A Love Song For Bobby Long (2004)
13. Half Nelson (2006)
14. Everything Is Illuminated (2005)
15. Idiocracy (2006)
16. Requiem pro panenku (1991)

Can't believe there were that many!

Paddington Blues

Forth day sober. Low pressure, narrow footpaths, hours at work are ticking away slower than usual. Office bash, attendance almost compulsory, quick stroll through a park right into a cage of four walls. Guitar, demos, mail, litres of sugar water and irrefutable desire for a cigarette. Can't be. Joyous news of tax cuts for the next financial year on a telly. Vote, bitch, we feed ya.

Fabulous!

A street. Young night pulse decorated by hammered seventeen-year-old chicks forgotten in hypnotising centre of crazed warhols and primitive hopefuls after a weekend. All good, movie clubs crowded by semi-intellectual jerks, midnight bookstores hiding young couples in love, darksome fellows on stairs passing a pipe around, guess Charlie Parker's one of them.

Pubs are hives of tireless night bees.

Blackcurrant juice instead of a fix. Thirst still hurts.

Movies - March 2007

I can hardly recall what was I doing two days ago, yet I'm trying to compile a list of movies I've seen some two months back anyway. A bit of a challenge; nevertheless, here it is:

1. The Good Shepherd (2006) (enjoyable)
2. An Inconvenient Truth (2006) (show-off)
3. The Aviator (2004) (too long)
4. Quand j'étais chanteur (2005) (nice)
5. The Pursuit Of Happyness (2006) (uplifting)
6. Cloud Nine (2000) (funny)
7. Musím tě svést (2002) (sharp)
8. The Illusionist (2006) (bright)
9. Swingers (1996) (you're money, baby ;-)
10. Sexmisja (1984) (legendary)
11. Tatínek (2004) (charming)
12. Hot Fuzz (2007) (witty)

Strongest month so far, meaning I was mainly bludging.

Falling down

Sleepless nights. Watching endless reels of movies until early morning hours, then sleeping till two. Eating out, then falling soulless into blankets. It's raining outside, so be it! Few messages, nothing important. What is of any importance, anyway? I have no values, I lack principles and am unable to distinguish between black and white. Would it make a difference, would I be able to? Hardly. Importance is just a word that means nothing without a point of view. It's attached to it. Yet, there's no rules. No rules means no importance whatsoever. Tricky, ain't it?

I am no longer in a stand-by mode, I'm falling down fast. Free fall, that's what they call it, don't they? Might sound a bit tragic under certain circumstances, but I'm the one free-falling and I don't feel that way. Universal truths were invented for morons.

Let me fall a bit deeper. I might need to bite the concrete to wake up, or, ironically, should I rather say to fall asleep.

Alone

Had been out two nights in a row. Not for too long, and almost sober, felt like embracing the bed and disappearing into infinity immediately afterwards. Succeeded yesterday, not much tonight.

Hadn't called anybody. I only realised this once I started writing these words. Meaning I really didn't feel like being with somebody (highly unusual). Ran through myriads of microscopic raindrops to the movies. Scared the shits out of a poor girl on a corner.

Enjoyed a movie, a first one in three weeks.

Alone at the movies. Can't recall when was the last time that happened. Probably almost twenty years ago. Or? Doesn't matter.

Enjoyed myself.

Ordem e Progresso

Everything I keep denying... Order & Progress. Another Brazilian night. Last second decision to join. Eye candy too sweet to resist. Service sucks. No fucking lemon, mate? No lime? Tequila's pointless. No fucking orange juice means no vodka either. Far out. A real reason to whinge.

Ladies and gentlemen, let me introduce to you, from the deepest hell — Mr Jim Beam and Mr Johnnie Walker. It's to be their night and their night only!

Trying my best to have fun, giving up only when band starts playing Bob Marley. It's been too much. I have to make progress, for god's sake.

"A party that is not extraordinary is unworthy of being a party at all" — someone hints with a grinning apology to Oscar Wilde, and I humbly tend to agree. Checking two more joints in a quick succession, both packed with Lebs and wankers. No avail.

This night is doomed. Won't pick up even Madeleine Albright's uglier sister. Won't get anywhere. Time to head home.

Saturday's too hot for anything but staying in bed. Reading, watching videos, catching up on sleep.

Finally time for order and progress.

Movies - February 2007

Again, a reference list. I had to flick through a calendar to get it right, as I can't recall all. Only a handful of them, but I haven't seen anything since mid-month. Still, not bad (or too bad?), considering February is the shortest of them all.

1. Leonard Cohen I'm Your Man (2005) (charming)
2. Blood Diamond (2006) (strong)
3. Triumph des Willens (1935) (astonishing)
4. Hotel Rwanda (2004) (sad)
5. Babel (2006) (depressing, yet awesome)
6. Little Miss Sunshine (2006) (bitter-sweet)
7. Children of Men (2006) (pretty hard to dig)

Saw almost all Oscar-nominated movies what generally means I had too much time on my hands and instead of enjoying myself down on the beach I was stuck in dark pits staring at moving pictures like an idiot.

Update 08/03/2007: Good month, wasn't it?

Friendly afternoon chat

– Did you ram that chick, bro?
– Yeah, did.
– Any good?
– Kinda.
– How's her kitty?
– Not even a runway left, mate, like a seven-year-old.
– Holy shit. You boned a fucking lolita, you son of a bitch.
– So what.
– Fucking lucky loser.
– Go fuck yourself, you pathetic fag.
– Fuck you.
– Fuck you, too.

I can't get no satisfaction

This is a strange summer. And I am in a strange state of mind. Doing so much, yet yielding so little. Basically nothing. Emptiness. That's how I qualify it. Doing nothing important (for self, of course, gave up saving the world at the age of twelve), getting nowhere.

Priorities are unclear. I wonder if I even have some. Maybe to settle, I guess. It is a great idea, really. One of very few that crossed my mind lately.

The issue is that I don't know where to settle as I love planes & cars too much (I hope somebody will notice a slight touch of sarcasm in that statement). Plus, what is even worse, I have no clue who to settle with. That really sucks.

And on top of that, I am facing a question of how ready I am to be with someone. How ready I am to give up that emptiness I am flying in.

It's as crazy as it's sad.

I can lock myself in, or go out and browse through awesome laid-back beauty of Woollahra and Paddington lanes, can go to and/or throw multiple parties with hectolitres of fire water poured through my throat, go to picturesque Bondi & just breathe the air, or go to a bar anywhere around, pick up a chick and give it to her. That always makes me shut up for a while.

How cool. How appropriate.

Only not satisfying.

What the fuck should I do?

Eric Clapton Live, Sydney 30 January 2007

Couldn't really name all Clapton's songs as I could with U2 or Waters. Obviously haven't listened to him enough. I'm lost when it comes to new stuff (and some old stuff, too). Had to wait for the setlist to be posted here, so I could copy it for a reference.

I took few videos, this is the first of them. The other ones are Nobody knows you when you're down and out, Layla, Cocaine and Crossroads (the last two were the only encores).

Main set: Tell The Truth * Key To The Highway * Got to Get Better in A Little While * Little Wing * Why Does Love Got To Be So Sad? * * Driftin' Blues (EC Solo) * Outside Woman Blues * Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out * Running On Faith * * Motherless Children * Little Queen of Spades * Further On Up The Road * Wonderful Tonight * Layla

Encore: Cocaine * Crossroads

Enjoy.

Wonderful Tonight

A short one about wanting

The more I want, the less I have. That is probably something that works universally. It also works the other way around. The less I want, the more I have. Until something breaks and then I don't have anything. Not that something broke or that I want something. I'm not expecting anything, thus I'm not missing anything, so I can see my Buddha slash Seneca companions kindly waving at me from their perspective heavens.

What did I want? Oh yeah, I don't want anything.

Sure, dream on, my alter ego.

Movies - January 2007

As usually, before I forget, there is a list; not quite complete, there were three more movies that I won't mention as they were probably seen by an extremely limited number of people... but the others are:

1. Black Dahlia (below average)
2. Scoop (below average, though everybody loves Scarlett)
3. La Doublure (funny, but pointless)
4. Apocalypto (below expectations)
5. Déjà Vu (crappy premise)
6. El Laberinto del Fauno (due on Wednesday, hopefully the best of all listed)

I gave a nonchalant miss to Perfume on the plane (though I flicked through it few times, just to double-check it's crap).

Can't recall anything else, but it looks that this wasn't a successful month. Hope there are some better ones waiting for me next month.

Roger Waters & The Dark Side Of The Moon, Sydney 25 January 2007

Set one: In the Flesh * Mother * Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun * Shine On You Crazy Diamond * Have a Cigar * Wish You Were Here * Southampton Dock * The Fletcher Memorial Home * Perfect Sense, Parts 1 and 2 * Leaving Beirut * Sheep

Set two (Dark Side of the Moon): Speak to Me * Breathe * On the Run * Time * Breathe (Reprise) * The Great Gig in the Sky * Money * Us and Them * Any Colour You Like * Brain Damage * Eclipse

Encore: Another Brick in the Wall, Part II * Vera * Bring the Boys Back Home * Comfortably Numb

Loose mind

Eating Japanese salmon, sipping green tea that is so far from a green tea I know. It ain't sweet, she complains. Shouldn't be. I'd laugh, but I don't feel like laughing, she's almost gone and I am gone, too, 'cos I can't handle living in three countries and four, no, sorry, five places. It sucks.

Don't feel like going down to Bondi tonight. Feel like watching stars. What a wonderful screensaver.

Three o'clock in the morning, sober. TV's on, it's a must. Another sleepy day to come.

G'day sunshine.