just had to do this.
too good of music to keep secret.

1. Race You - Elizabeth & The Catapult
2. Forever - Walter Meego
3. Big Sur - The Thrills
4. Dry Clothes - Annuals
5. What Makes a Man? - City and Colour
6. Love Is An Unfamiliar Name - The Duke Spirit
7. Skip To The End - The Futureheads
8. The Lusk Letter - The Kindness Kind
9. Space and The Woods - Late of The Pier
10. Before The End - Levellers
11. Good Light - The Lucksmiths
12. Stuck In A Glass Elevator - Myriad
13. Rush Our Soul - Supergrass
14. Beat - Thao & The Get Down Stay Down
15. Violent Sensation Descends - Violens
16. London Town (with Andrew Bird) - Emily Loizeau
17. Long Distance - Nizlopi
18. Poppy - Zee Avi
19. Golden Skans - The Klaxons
20. So Post All 'Em - YACHT

Enjoy! :)

I was reading the New York Times this morning, as I often do to pass the time at work, and I came across an article that re-affirmed a theory of mine; there is a small revolution going on in the film industry.


And who is to thank for this resolution? It just happens to be you, me and this little thing we call the internet. Thanks to the now ubiquitous Facebook, Twitter, Blogs, Texting, Forums, etc. etc., word of mouth is now lightning speed.


Now a days, for a film to do well it has to have one of two things: a successful internet marketing scheme with some sort of fan boy following. Usually this approach leads to a huge opening box office return, but a steep decline in attendance after the first week or so.
The other success is slower, and thus harder to catch. Often it goes like this, film opens at festival, receives rave reviews, and disappears for a few months. Those lucky enough to see it write, post, and tweet about it to all of their friends, and enough of a fan base is established that the film is picked up by a studio for distribution. It shows up at the multiplex and a few people see it the first week, love it, tell some friends and so on and so forth.
Many times these small movies that once saw distribution as an epic struggle are nominated for major awards- a la Slumdog Millionaire, which received so much hype from it's Oscar nod that it was actually re-released in theaters.
[speaking of Oscars, did you know they're going to have 10 Best Picture noms this year?]



So in the new tradition of the little movie that could, I present you these four movies that I watched-and loved this past week. [two are quite manly and two are French, this was not planned]


1. District 9
Perhaps you've heard of this little alien film produced by Peter Jackson?
At first glance it's just another Aliena/Explosian film, but there's omething a little different. Set in South Africa, this film borrows heavily from the countries history of racial segregation and Aperthied, extremely well written, well directed, with amazing special effects that actually help the story line, instead of just bedazzling it.










2. The Hurt Locker
Personally, I'm not big on war movies. Especially ones about Iraq, they always seem sort of romantisized, macho, and boated with explosions. The Hurt Locker however, was absolutely riveting. I was literally on the edge of my seat for a good deal of this movie about an American bomb squad in Iraq. Well written, well shot, and incredibly realistic. Oscar worthy in my opinion.
[Plus, the incredible lead -Jeremy Renner- is a local boy from Modesto.]





3. The Class [Entre le Murs]
Movies about school kids almost always play off the classroom as simply a backdrop for pubescnt drama. What this documentary-style French film does is create a drama that exsists entirely in the classroom, compounded by the small space. A teacher who desperatley wants his students to do well, and students who are- in middle school- already exhausted by the system.




4. Paris 36 [Faubourg 36]
If you like musicals, love stories, and don't mind subtitles, this movie is worth your time. It's about all sorts of love, a father for a son, and actor for the theater, a man for a woman. Plus it's visually stunning, set against a Hollywood-ized version of 1936 France that is just kitchsy enough without being distracting. I still have the "La Mer" tune stuck in my head...






So go see a movie someone recomended to you. Maybe you'll have to rent it, but good or bad, at least you'll have something to talk about.



"What is that you express in your eyes? It seems to me more than all the words I have read in my life." -Walt Whitman

I really miss Hong Kong.
I mean, really really really miss it.

Of course I go back every other year but this year was a no go since I have to stay home and start on college things.
But still. I'm missing the sights, the smells, the tastes, very much.

It's one of those places where it's not your home, but it feels like your second home. I can remember my grandparen'ts apartment exactly as it is. The smell of my grandma's perfume in her room, the way the lights bounced off the pink curtains, the way the window next to her bed curved, how my grandpa's room is always cold, the tv showing old chinese operas, the view of the ocean from the window, AHHHH there's so much to write here but I can't describe them all.

Here's a little glimpse of where I grew up.
Heng Fa Chuen:




You're really not seeing much. Heng Fa Chuen is second to last on the MTR map. Hong Kong is divided into little 'provinces' almost like little cities, where there are sights to see and things to do at each one. The blue line at the bottom of the map is the Island Line, which is the one Heng Fa Chuen is located and where we traveled the most.






But if you do ever have a chance to visit Hong Kong, here are some of the places where you should visit. This isn't a very long list at all, keep in mind, there is a lot more to see. I'm not going to type out the description but look up for yourself some of the places if they seem interesting to you:


Ocean Park:



Victoria's Peak



Lantau Island:





Golden Palace:





Hong Kong Museum of History






Hui Lau Shan (Located just about everywhere, this is the dessert booth for weary travelers. Best desserts I have ever had in my life- and no, nothing with chocolate. It started off as an herbal tea shop, but now not. Everything is fresh fruit, red bean, mango pudding, sago, sesame, or try something a little more traditional like kwai ling go otherwise known as tortoise jelly... you can tell I love this place because it's the most I've written on this post so far. A MUST GO.)




Pacific Place Mall



The Peninsula Hotel for an afternoon English style tea (UK originally took over HK, hence the influences)





Aberdeen





Macau is a hop, skip, and a jump away so take a ferry and visit it too!





Take a ride on the double decker trams everywhere





Or just walk the streets. There are always fresh foods (and when I mean fresh, sometimes they would kill chickens right in front of you) at the markets, tons of trinkets to buy, a bakery on every street, and a mix of people, from men in $5,000 business suits walking next to a women with a straw hat, ripped pants, and sandals. It's the old and new world combined, great for people watching and exploring.

Did you ever find a band, that upon first listen you thought "Well, gee- how did I ever survive without these songs in my life?"
Last night, I did.
Margot and the Nuclear So and So's

Their name sounds like some obscure band that Rob Flemming would obsess about.
They have two albums [The Dust of Retreat and Animal!], one EP [The Daytrotter Sessions] and one release of the version of Animal! the record company would not let them release [Not Animal-clever title, yes?]

Pandora list this artist as similar to: Iron & Wine, Matt Costa, The New Amsterdams, The Shins and The Decemberists.

So pump up dat bass and have a listen:

I would like to introduce you to my new favorite shopping experience. I can't really say what my old favorite was- I really despise malls and anthropologie makes my wallet hurt.

But this- my friends is a glorious find;

The Alemeda Point Antiques and Collectables Faire

Let me explain;

When my mom first mentioned this, I was relluctant to tag along. I figured it was something along the line of Denios- rows upon rows of crap no one needs or wants. It happens the first Sunday of every month on an abandoned Navy air-base in Alemeda.

But this was certainly not what I expected. Upon first showing up, we were directed to park in the rear of a large open lot, and had to take a tram [driven by a very entertaining mustached man] to the enterance gate. Once we got to the front gate, my dad got our tickets (it's $5 to get in after 9 o'clock, I wouldn't recommend going earlier- professional buyers show up at 6 and ticket prices are higher the earlier you show up).

The first good omen was the mix of people standing in line, Old Couples, Rockablies, Hipsters, Young Families, Well-dressed Women, Men smoking Pipes, Granola-hippies, just glorious people watching.

Once we passed the gate, you could finally see the faire, and it was a sight to behold. Rows upon rows of interesting little stands selling everything from Old French Fruniture, turn of the century modern art, steampunk jewlery, hand made linens, etc etc. It was all set against the backdrop of the San Francisco Skyline, absolutely lovely.

I kicked myself at least a hundered times for not bringing my camera. Luckely- plenty of other people did, and here are a few photos from Flickr of the weird and wonderful things to be had;

these are the treasures I returned with:

- An old Swiss Medallion on a blue and white ribbon [free]

- A large skeleton key [also free]

-Old men's buddy holly style eyeglasses, soon to have my perscription in them [$100, and completely worth it]

- Two pewter rings, one of a peony and the other braided [$15]

-a type-set necklace for my Oma [$10]

-Watch-gear cufflinks for my Dad [$20]

- a bracelet made of old buttons, broches and baubles for my Grandma [$18]

- A delecious lunch of Fried Zuchhini, Fish and chips, and iced tea [$8]

things I sincerly regret not buying;

- A large poster of a human skeleton smoking a pipe [$75]

- a very intricate french iron-wrought day bed from the 20's [$500]

- An old black and white reel of street-names that used to be used in double-decker busses around the UK to announce destinations before they used digital displays [$100-$300]

- A ring from ancient Rome, cast in bronze with a sort of floral design [$55]

- A four-foot long pillow made from a french lavender sack from the Provonce region [$35]

Also- I love that many of the vendors were actually from the same country their items were. There were old men arguing in Italian, chic french women selling luxurious fruniture, cute Japenese couples pedeling vintage Kimono Robes.

So in conclusion, I will be saving up my paychecks until I can return again, and maybe I will see you there.

Happy hunting.

If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change. -Wayne Dyer