5 minutes

To be afraid of what will come after this.
I'm worried about the essay I'm writing but how is it going to be when there are no more essay's to write?

Just 5 minutes... that's it.

Placebo - Battle For The Sun

I started this "mini-review" but never finished it. Today 19/06/09 I checked it and added 2 clips. Looks nicer now.


A long time has passed from these guys appeared. I was 12 when their self-titled album showed up(1996) and it has also been a long time since their previous album Meds (2006).
This could explain why at first it sounded "strange". You should have to hear it a couple of times to understand its "direction".

I'm having trouble accepting that Bruise Pristine, 36 Degrees, Nancy Boy, Pure Morning, Burger Queen, Days Before You Came(to name a few) impossible to top.
So are the albums from which they came. I will always look back at these times with immense joy and nostalgia. But now, as I think was obvious with the album Meds, we are entering a new phase of the band. The future however does look promising.

After the loss of a major label and Steve Hewitt, the band's drummer for the past 10 or so years, they release an album produced by David Bottrill who has worked with Tool and dEUS (to name but a few), and featuring Steve Forrest the new drummer, from the band Evaline. This gentleman has indeed given life to some of the songs in the album.

The album has sequence, different sonorities and the good lyrics Mr. Molko has gotten us used to.
If I had to choose 2 songs now.. "Bright Lights" "For What It's Worth" and "Kings of Medicine", but like I said it has sequence and 1->13 is how it should be heard.

Overall and I need to listen to it more, very good album. Definitely a more "hopeful" album than Meds. A real "Battle For The Sun" that I believe will be met with success.


Now let's check tour dates :)

Break on Orientalism

It cant be all work and no fun... A break on Orientalism with the Turkish "community" and the amazing Yeni Raki.






Inspired by the "community" and the atmosphere up I go one floor back to the essay.

Time is running out and all this work is fucking too much of what little time I still have.

I will use this quote again but here is a good place to start:
Simone de Beauvoir said it about Boris Vian, when at a party in his home about the time spent with Vian.

"We spoke, and dawn arrived only too quickly. I had the highest appreciation, when I had the chance of enjoying them, for these fleeting moments of eternal friendship."

Fleeting indeed.

Orientalism

3 pages done... easy so far.
12 to go... and I sense problems ahead.

Cemetery Polka

"Uncle Vernon, uncle Vernon, independent as a hog on ice
He's a big shot down there at the slaughterhouse
Plays accordion for Mr. Weiss"

Ostrava

Objective: Get the "Turkish" a Schengen Visa.
Location: Ostrava

No photos. Why? It was raining and freezing!

Missed the bus stop managed to get to a part of the city (3rd biggest in Czech Republic) that wasn't on our map.
Ended up on a cosmetics distributor and asked a woman that was at the door smoking:

"I'm sorry we are trying to get to Blahoslavova could you tell us how to get there?"
"MOMENTO!"

This is when we supposed she was going to ignore us, but no!

She comes with a young woman (the bluest eyes!) she asks what do we need in very good English. Explains that we are 20m off target since we were running late we ask:

"Where can we get a taxi?"
"I can call you a taxi just a second."

Comes back tells us which taxi it would be, tries to show us on our incomplete map then:

"Do you want a map of Ostrava?"

Didn't even wait for the answer and comes back with a map 50(MILLION) times better than what was given to us in the Information Centre!

The taxi comes goes to the driver explains in Czech where we want to go says goodbye and goes back inside.

Why is this amazing? Because if I needed help in my country I don't think anyone would be this nice.

Consulate:

One of the unfriendliest girls I have ever seen in my life. Definitely too young to be so bitter.

Outcome:

"Monday."

Not "It will be ready on Monday" or "Come to pick it up on Monday".

Just: "Monday."

Alternative Mission: Eat

"Trust me 'Turkish' here it will be cheap!"

No English. (What a surprise)
"Kureci steak?"
"Dva?"
"Yes, Dva."

"Kofola?"

Together:
"Nooooooooo!"

"Pivo! Gambrinus!"

Question: Is Gambrinus that good?
Answer: No, but Kofola is that bad.

Train back home...

Now on the way to the Erasmus Night Vol. 2.

Outta here....

Battle For The Sun

Fan Playback starts... NOW!



Do not disturb! Let's see what a 22 year old "punk-rocker" drummer adds to this amazing band. Nice to hear from you Molko.

God have "Messi"

There there "Sir" Alex don't be sad.

The cops, the priest, the crisis line

"And no one really had a clue"

Missed your concert in Prague but for a good reason...

Something for you Cini Mini

A song and something else. :)

I was so lost in my pain, fear was melting my brain,
I was counting the days to insanity, I was afraid to move myself
Afraid to hurt myself, more than I had until that day
Everything I believed in, everything I fought for
Was now underneath my feet and my heart beat
Was so gone, couldn't be felt by anyone
So alone it gave me the creeps
My drugs got me in bed went up to my head And I really don't wanna depend
So I'll stick to
My friends and my friends and my car and my friends
My friends and my friends and my cards and my friends
Martini until the end
Play pool again
Never thought woyuld be like this
No one told me it would be like this
I'm amazed I'm amazed with myself
And my brain and my pain
And my pain and my veins
Are delivering it to my health
My self-confidence was broken while my trust was taken
And it left me with an empty life and this knife
Rests on the middle of me bed, I think in all the things she said
Close my eyes and sleep
All these drugs in my head, it seems I'm already dead
And I really don't want to depend
So I'll stick to ...
Can't smoke anymore can't drink anynmore, still I do it, I do it again
Lost everything I had, Far from mum, far from dad
I thank God for my good, good friends
But where's this God that I mention? Where is He right now?
As I die as slowly as I can? All my plans, went down the hole
My life has no goal, and I wonder if this is worth it
But my friends took my hand
Helped me to lift myself again
And that's why I really love

Because I know you are very proud of your country. :)

Fuck "goodbyes"

Today I passed two of my hardest subjects. No joy whatsoever.
At least not today.

Poland - Madeira

Distance will not fuck this up either.

Take care and see you later "cini-mini"!

Let's all buy some nukes

Underground nuclear test in North Korea to "contribute to safeguard the sovereignty of the country and the nation and socialism".

Of course. How can "socialism" be maintained without nukes? Hein? Didn't predict this one did you Mr. Marx?

I say let's all get some nukes, then everyone presses the "red" button at the same time. Madeira's firework show would be out of the Guinness Book of Records but at least we could all sit at home watching Mother Earth's last days on Reality TV.
The last broadcast. Talk about going out with a "BANG"!

News link here.

Michael: A Pastoral Poem

Madeira - Rabaçal

"When thou art gone away, should evil men
Be thy companions, think of me, my Son,
And of this moment; hither turn thy thoughts,
And God will strengthen thee: amid all fear
And all temptation, Luke, I pray that thou
May'st bear in mind the life thy Fathers lived,
Who, being innocent, did for that cause
Bestir them in good deeds. Now, fare thee well--
When thou return'st, thou in this place wilt see
A work which is not here: a covenant
'Twill be between us; but, whatever fate
Befall thee, I shall love thee to the last,
And bear thy memory with me to the grave."

- William Wordsworth

Ok this one too

Dogberry:
"A good old man, sir; he will be talking: as they
say, when the age is in, the wit is out: God help
us! it is a world to see. Well said, i' faith,
neighbour Verges: well, God's a good man; an two men
ride of a horse, one must ride behind. An honest
soul, i' faith, sir; by my troth he is, as ever
broke bread; but God is to be worshipped; all men
are not alike; alas, good neighbour! "
Leonato:
"Indeed, neighbour, he comes too short of you."

Hilarious!

Much Ado About Nothing

Claudio:

"Done to death by slanderous tongues
Was the Hero that here lies:
Death, in guerdon of her wrongs,
Gives her fame which never dies.
So the life that died with shame
Lives in death with glorious fame.
Hang thou there upon the tomb,
Praising her when I am dumb."

Don Pedro:
" The former Hero! Hero that is dead!"
Leonato:
"She died, my lord, but whiles her slander lived."

Look what I found

Czech Republic - Brazil - Madeira...

Not even distance will ever fuck this up.

Look who joined the party

They all want to be mentioned now... jealous bastards. We have time... and I love you all.


Directed by the great Jim Jarmusch in 1992.

Well, when I’m lyin’ in my bed at night, I don’t wanna grow up
Nothin’ ever seems to turn out right, I don’t wanna grow up
How do you move in a world of fog, that’s always changing things
Makes me wish that I could be a dog

Well, when I see the price that you pay, I don’t wanna grow up
I don’t ever wanna be that way, I don’t wanna grow up
Seems like folks turn into things that they’d never want
The only thing to live for is today

I’m gonna put a hole in my TV set, I don’t wanna grow up
Open up the medicine chest, and I don’t wanna grow up
I don’t wanna have to shout it out
I don’t want my hair to fall out
I don’t wanna be filled with doubt
I don’t wanna be a good boy scout
I don’t wanna have to learn to count
I don’t wanna have the biggest amount
And I don’t wanna grow up

Well, when I see my parents fight, I don’t wanna grow up
They all go out and drinking all night, and I don’t wanna grow up
I’d rather stay here in my room, nothin’ out there but sad and gloom
I don’t wanna live in a big old Tomb on Grand Street, ooh!

When I see the 5 o’clock news, I don’t wanna grow up
Comb their hair and shine their shoes, I don’t wanna grow up
Stay around in my old hometown
I don’t wanna put no money down
I don’t wanna get me a big old loan
Work them fingers to the bone
I don’t wanna float a broom
Fall in love and get married, then boom
How the hell did we get here so soon
Well, I don’t wanna grow up

Neither do I.

Even when everything goes wrong

I have wonderful company...

A lot more

After my final lesson of Russian Society and Revolution (1855-1940) I can say:

Orwell, I love you even more.





"If you want a picture of the future, imagine a boot stamping on a human face ... forever." - George Orwell, Nineteen Eighty-Four.

Coincidences again

Another "coincidence" East related.

My custom made Ideology of Religious Studies assignment was just given to me.

1- Read Edward Said's: Orientalism.
2- Length of the essay: Fifteen pages.
3- Deadline 3 of June.

Available time for it: Impossible to even think about before the 26 of May.

It's possible if this month has 51 days. If it has 50 it's going to be tricky.

Exam in one hour and my brain feels like a train wreck. I should have known when the day started so well.

3 down 7 to go

Religious Search In Popular Music Essay + Religious Search in Bob Dylan Essay = "Excellent"
Fuck modesty. I earned it.

And what a way to finish classes:

(Again by "coincidence" related to previous posts)



Fresh out of the store.
This "Cat" has indeed 9 lives.

Mesmo a propósito

All night long on the broken glass
Livin’ in a medicine chest
Mediteromanian hotel back
Sprawled across a roll top desk

The monkey rode the blade on an overhead fan
They paint the donkey blue if you pay
I got a telephone call from Istanbul
My baby’s comin’ home today

Will you sell me one of those if I shave my head?
Get me out of town, is what Fireball said
Never trust a man in a blue trench coat
Never drive a car when you’re dead

Saturday’s a festival, Friday’s a gem
Dye your hair yellow and raise your hem
Follow me to Beulah’s on Dry Creek Road
I got to wear the hat that my baby done sewed, whoo!

Will you sell me one of those if I shave my head?
Get me out of town, is what Fireball said
Never trust a man in a blue trench coat
Never drive a car when you’re dead

Saturday’s a festival, Friday’s a gem
Dye your hair yellow and raise your hem
Follow me to Beulah on Dry Creek Road
I got to wear the hat that my baby done sewed

Well, take me down to buy a tux on Red Rose Bear
I got to cut a hole in the day
I got a telephone call from Istanbul
My baby’s comin’ home today

Sell me one of those if I shave my head
Get me out of town, is what Fireball said
Never trust a man in a blue trench coat
Never drive a car when you’re dead

Saturday’s a festival, Friday’s a gem
Dye your hair yellow and raise your hem
Follow me to Beulah’s on Dry Creek Road
I got to wear the hat that my baby done sewed, whoo!

A little time for Istanbul

First let's look and Turkey from the television or as I call it the "Magic Box".
Because it has to be a magic trick convincing people that they are 'living' when actually what they do is see someone else is living their lives for them.

Back to the point:

1-Bombs
2-Terrorists
3-More bombs
4-Explosions
5-Terrorists with bombs
6-Terrorists with bombs while explosions take place in the background
7-Women with covered faces
8-Women with covered faces being poorly treated by Terrorists with bombs while explosions take place in the background.

The list goes on, with these key ingredients always present. But for now let's put this aside.

Moving on...

For an unexpected trip this was the most amazing place I have ever been in my life.
Yes traffic is crazy, taxi drivers are formula 1 pilots, there are 13 million people in a place only 2.5 times larger than Madeira (246 thousand), (at least you don't feel lonely).
So first I have to be glad Serhat is not in the European Union, otherwise no Visa problems and therefore no trip to Istanbul at least not yet. Thank you "peach" for the enjoyable 6 full-day tour with massive history lesson, for the roof over our heads, thank you for everything. Every thank you I write down here includes you Ferhat!

Yes I was there during the wedding situation that everyone asked me about. I was there, in the same country MORE THAN 1000KM AWAY! Some newspapers say its a Turkish village others say its a Kurdish village. Most probably don't know the difference. I didn't before, but then again I'm not a journalist am I?

Ok back to the point!

My "home" was in Beşiktaş! With the Bosphorus and Asia right in front of me!
What an amazing country. Crossing the street with 40 people around you green light! 40 people coming quickly towards you! Delicious food everywhere... ok let's go to the food!

I can't even remember everything I ate but I'll try:

Dolma;
Ekmek kadayif (ui ui sweet!)
(real) Yoghurt(Yes Serhat, I know. It's a Turkish product! )
Ayran (salty yoghurt drink)
Kumpir! (of course Kumpir)
Gözleme (what a breakfast!)
Döner;
Dürüm;
Kebap (I know with a "p" and yes now I know the difference "peach");
Cheese (lots of it!)
Simit;
Turkish Tea;
Turkish Coffee;
Cacık; (if you knew how this is pronounced.. "dja-djik!?" something like that.
EFES Pilsen! (of course!)

Plus a lot of things I tried here in Pardubice, plus the things I don't remember.
A country where you eat EVERYTHING they have on the menu!

Places I visited... I won't try to name every place, just think of the normal places that everyone goes to then add a couple and keep in mind there was still a lot to see. (Maybe next time)
I will say however I visited some of the most beautiful buildings I have ever seen in my life...

If you walk in front of a taxi:
- TAXI!
- TAXI?
- TAXIII??

Yes, I can see you have a taxi. IT'S YELLOW!


I WILL talk about Taksim, since I didn't take my camera.
The most amazing "night-life" I have seen. All the streets crowed almost impossible to sit down, but since "Impóssiblé is nothing" we did, and what a street!

Live music + Efes Pilsen + "13 Million" singing and dancing together!
There were definitely "13 MILLION" people on that street. There is no way to describe how amazing that evening was and how time flew by.
If night-life was like this in Funchal I would go out everyday!



Forgive the lousy quality.

Souvenirs... oh sweet money...
The Grand Bazaar has "only" 58 streets and well over 1000 shops. By the time we left even the "leader" wasn't sure where we were :)

My favourite quote of the trip:
"Hurry up! ... We are lost."

One of my favourite "episodes" has to be:
"The intercom and the Embassy security guard"

Another title for a short story Serhat?
I'll add it to the current list:
"The man with no shame" and "The bus that never came" :)
When I write them I will let you know.

Saw a couple of universities, one of them does not look like a university... ITS A F$#&#/% TEMPLE! Another one has a view from the garden that I would skip classes just to sit down in those benches. Just me and the cats.

I would continue but I would stay here all day and I have to have lunch (since breakfast was skipped again) and an essay about the Annales School to finish.

One photo to begin the rest will follow.

Turkey is the best country I have ever visited. Having a "guide" helped of course, not just because of that. You immediately feel you are in a "different" country. When I say "different" is in a very positive way! From what I have seen from my Turkish friends I can only say very good things. They love their country, they love their flag (I know Oz, don't joke about the flag :) they love their family, their friends, their yoghurt :P and they love "their" Atatürk.

They should.

In good company

Smells like...

Just found myself writing postcards, there's still a while to go but some people are leaving already others already left...

I hate this shit.
I hate this shit..
I hate this shit...

Smells like "goodbye" already. The stench is unbearable.

Back from Berlin

To exhausted and overworked for anything else here...
Enjoy Mr. Cash and see you soon.

Hard to Explain

I missed the last bus, I'll take the next train
I try but you see, it's hard to explain
I say the right things, but act the wrong way
I like it right here, but I cannot stay

Constantinopla

No time for Budapest photos... Just pack and go... to "Constantinople"...