Welcome to America

Guess what I found on the lighter I bought recently? Instructions on how to use it:

1. Step one -touch it from above,
   
2. Step two - push it down.

Which brings a couple of rhetorical questions to my mind: Do people who wouldn't know how to use it actually exist and if so wouldn't they be able to figure it out in like 15 seconds? Next thing you know we'll be having "Don't iron clothes while wearing them" and "You shouldnt' microwave your cat" warning signs.

Like I hear they have in America. If we're lucky maybe they'll treat us with instructions on how to use a bag of chips or a bottle of oil. Don't use oil for hamster bathing. Open the bag before you eat the chips. Do not mix chips with the cleaning products. Don't use it instead of contact lenses.

Why not simplify the whole procedure and just make a general sign to apply on every possible thing we can think off. Something like:

Think before using this. Not stupid proof.

Indie friday with the Saund

Tonight I'm checking out the new indie place in Ljubljana on Zaloska 35. Actually the only official indie place in Slovenia as far as I know. Being genuine indie slut I've been really anxious about it since I heard the rumors about its opening.

Today the promise to treat us with a band that is playing songs of Franz Ferdinand, White Stripes, Arctic Monkeys and others. Indie after party included. So where are you gonna be tonight?

Bussiness time

Thank you Jinx for introducing me Flight of the Conchords. New Zealand seems to have a lot to offer apart from being the first country to give women right to vote and filming Xena. Way to go!

I've lost control...

Irrational behavior might not always be desirable, explainable or predictable, actually it's not any of those things most of the time. But really, what feels better: doing what you think or what you feel? Naturally I don't make all the decisions irrationally, just the important ones. Being a women I don't need any other excuse for it.

Missing Control at this years film festival was almost unforgivable, so I went to see it the moment it hit the regular cinema program. Twice. There's just something irresistible in the combination of big screen, Anton Corbijn's black & white photography and Joy Division. The film is amazing and worth every minute spent on those uncomfortable seats. Intrigued?

Because they're worth it

Usability testing results took an interesting turn at New York Times. If you don't know how to make online ads less irritating then at least you can annoy your readers with little banner ads. Make them remember it, so why not make an ad that:

• appears from nowhere,
• covers the content you want to read,
• can't be closed down,
• makes many annoying little cursors when you try to close it.
  

What an excellent idea! Maybe we can't make them buy the product but at least we can piss the suckers off. Just a little something for Nielsen to add to his findings.

Exaggerating?

I don't know, you tell me:

Natural cosmetics, not tested on animals.








I've tried lots of different brands until now but only Lush feels different.

So what's your excuse?

Irresistable blondes

The Long Blondes to be more exact, indie band from Sheffield. Their Album Someone to drive you home was released in November 2006 and received excellent critics. Their style is an interesting mixture of 60's pop, post punk an new wave but in the end it sounds like synthetic rock.

Band members Kate Jackson (voice), Dorian Cox (guitar), Emma Chaplin (guitar and keyboards), Reenie Hollies (bass) and Mark Turvey alias Screech Louder (drums) have unmistakable glam punk image and are worth all the attention.

Enjoy their hit Giddy Stratospheres

Liffe after 2nd week

So it's over. Finally. It has been exhausting 15 days of intense film consumption: some good, some bad and some you just want to forget before you leave the cinema. This year the number of bad films I saw was a bit higher than usual but for all that I know it could have all been just bad luck. I'll go again next year to check :) So here's what I saw:

This is England: Interesting insight through eyes of 12 year old boy about skinheads, racism, British politics and first love. Story was supposedly based on director's/writer's personal experience and I must admit it revealed some new aspects, at least to me. I'd give it an 8 but probably wouldn't go to see it again.

Jar city is an excellent story that connects crime to DNA and people's pasts. Characters and relations between them are well built plus the casting was excellent. The film is typical northern European drama and has taste of bizarreness yet specialness. I loved the gradual revealing of the story as it kept me in suspense almost until the very end. I'd give it 10 and definitely go to see it again. Yes, I have a thing for northern European films.

Even though Michael Clayton has all the typical mainstream movie elements, it delivers absolutely brilliant story. Excellent screenplay is upgraded by George Clooney's marvelous acting. The story is quite simple yet somehow complicated and therefore lovable. Great directing, great feeling after the film. I'd give it 9.5 and would see it again too.

The Journals of Knud Rasmussen was somewhat confusing. Maybe I was expecting much more from Danish/Canadian crew than foggy story about Inuits becoming Christians with maintaining the distance between the audience and the characters. Maybe I just didn't understand it or it was too arty for me. Haven't got a clue who is that Knud Rasmussen character is since it wasn't mentioned at all. I'd give it a 6 for nice photography and good idea.

Viva was horribly stereotypical. I found the main character extremely shallow and annoying, dialogs seemed like patchwork of lines taken out od 60's commercials and the story felt like it wanted to be a parody, only it wasn't. It could be just me but I didn't find any real message about sexual revolution/emancipation of women in that movie. What I understood was: Liberation makes prostitutes out of housewives and rape is OK as long as it's followed by a success in the show business. Lame. I'd give it 1.

Les Anges exterminateurs has an interesting story and some really great erotic scenes. However I failed to see angels motives, their role and drive of the main character. The ending was expected but still a bit weird and somehow unfair. I'm a bit confused, I'd give it a 5 and ask the director for additional explanation.

Le Pressentiment was extremely refreshing. For most part of the movie I wasn't able to guess what is going to happen or wasn't trying to guess at all. Lovable main character, great antagonists and I loved the whole plot about lawyer who gives up his luxurious life to become a writer. The false climax was simply brilliant and I think I'd go an see it again just for that. I'd give it 8.5.

Now I think I'll take a short off cinema recovery to give my eyes a bit of R & R. Not too long though as the next film festival will begin really soon.

Take it away, Stephen!

I discovered Stephen Lynch few years ago and developed almost immediate severe addiction. He's a brilliant singer and performer and I never get tired of listening to his songs. They are all so good I couldn't even decide what to publish. I chose two and was really tempted to have three. What the heck, you'll have to Google for more :P

If you haven't seen him yet I strongly recommend you download the whole show, especially if you're black humor fan. He's absolutely worth it. Here's what Irena might call the desert of the day.

Best friends



Lullaby

The recovery soup

All work and no fun makes Jane as charming as George Bush and less entertaining than The English Patient.

Having fun is essential to almost every human being (except Chuck Norris) and it's of extreme importance that we nurture it. While doing so your body might scream gimme more, but a day after that it might as well say it was too much.

Luckily there is a recovery soup that will give your body some quality shut up time. It is really easy to make and it takes about 20 minutes.

You'll need some:

• potatoes,
  
• leek,
  
• flour,
  
• oil,
  
• salt
• Vegeta and
  
• water.

Peel the potatoes and chop them to smaller chunks, add some water, salt and a spoon of Vegeta and cook them for about 15 minutes.















Add chopped leek.



Take a spoon/two of flour and fry it on the heated up oil.




Add to the soup and cook for another 5 minutes. All that's left now is to sit down and enjoy your soup :)