Don't know if I have written about it yet but if you get the chance, please read Absurdistan. It is hilarious. It is by Gary Shteyngart. Brilliant!!

New York Times Review

Cannot get this song out of my head. Ahhhh!

Dreadlock Holiday Lyrics
» 10CC
I was walkin' down the street
Concentratin' on truckin' right
I heard a dark voice beside of me
And I looked round in a state of fright
I saw four faces one mad
A brother from the gutter
They looked me up and down a bit
And turned to each other

I say
I don't like cricket oh no
I love it
I don't like cricket no no
I love it
Don't you walk thru my words
You got to show some respect
Don't you walk thru my words
'Cause you ain't heard me out yet

Well he looked down at my silver chain
He said I'll give you one dollar
I said You've got to be jokin' man
It was a present from me Mother
He said I like it I want it
I'll take it off your hands
And you'll be sorry you crossed me
You'd better understand that you're alone
A long way from home

And I say
I don't like reggae no no
I love it
I don't like reggae oh no
I love it
Don't you cramp me style
Don't you queer on me pitch
Don't you walk thru my words
'Cause you ain't heard me out yet

I hurried back to the swimming pool
Sinkin' pina coladas
I heard a dark voice beside me say
Would you like something harder
She said I've got it you want it
My harvest is the best
And if you try it you'll like it
And wallow in a Dreadlock Holiday

And I say
Don't like Jamaica oh no
I love her
Don't like Jamaica oh no
I love her oh yea
Don't you walk thru her words
You got to show some respect
Don't you walk thru her words
'Cause you ain't heard her out yet

I don't like cricket
I love it (Dreadlock Holiday)
I don't like reggae
I love it (Dreadlock Holiday)
Don't like Jamaica
I love her (Dreadlock Holiday)

A great on-line magazine I found called Juxtapoz.

Take a look. It has really interesting art and culture.

Sci-fi writers join war on terror



By Mimi Hall, USA TODAY
Looking to prevent the next terrorist attack, the Homeland Security Department is tapping into the wild imaginations of a group of self-described "deviant" thinkers: science-fiction writers.
"We spend our entire careers living in the future," says author Arlan Andrews, one of a handful of writers the government brought to Washington this month to attend a Homeland Security conference on science and technology.

Those responsible for keeping the nation safe from devastating attacks realize that in addition to border agents, police and airport screeners, they "need people to think of crazy ideas," Andrews says.

The writers make up a group called Sigma, which Andrews put together 15 years ago to advise government officials. The last time the group gathered was in the late 1990s, when members met with government scientists to discuss what a post-nuclear age might look like, says group member Greg Bear. He has written 30 sci-fi books, including the best seller Darwin's Radio.

Now, the Homeland Security Department is calling on the group to help with the government's latest top mission of combating terrorism.

Full article here.

'CRAZY IDEAS'

From laser weapons to test-tube babies, science-fiction writers have imagined hundreds of futuristic technologies that were or are being developed and used by the government or produced for the public. Among them:

From author Robert Heinlein: cellphones, remote-controlled robot arms, microwave ovens, water beds.

From author H.G. Wells: atomic bombs, airplanes, television, joystick controls.

From author Arlan Andrews: tourist spaceships, downloadable pocket-sized books.

Some images from my fantastic trip to Denmark this weekend. My friends, Heidi and Barney, got married. I travelled to Copenhagen where I met up with some of the other guests. They were great and quickly sucked me into their group. We were off exploring away.




Then there was the wedding. It could haven't been in more beautiful surroundings.




And there was the brave or stupid group that made it to 7:00 am but the breakfast, that was the goal, was not until 8. I made a mad rush to my hotel room.

Krrish

I saw it over the weekend. It is the first Bollywood Superhero Film. It was amazing! He was all in black and had many powers not just one. It was entertaing. It became a bit bizarre with the alien powers which I think it is reference to a prequel.
And there was the hot grandma. You had put a white wig and glasses on her but still looks 35.

Bjork's new album, Volta, is amazing! I cannot get Earth Intruder's out of my head.

So, how it is possible that I have a city of friends, but I am lonely?
I have friends in a city to be exact, but I am still lonely. Is it the friends? Probably not. Could it be the city?
Perhaps?

Think I need a kiss. How is it that others things could be going so well but you feel them numbly?



Magazine that makes me smile.

This wedding dress was made from a nylon parachute that saved the groom's life during World War II. Maj. Claude Hensinger, a B-29 pilot, and his crew, were returning from a bombing raid over Yowata, Japan, in August 1944 when their engine caught fire. The crew was forced to bail out. It was night and Major Hensinger landed on some rocks and suffered some minor injuries. During the night he used the parachute both as a pillow and a blanket. In the morning the crew was able to reassemble and were taken in by some friendly Chinese. He kept the parachute and used it as a way to propose to Ruth in 1947. He presented it to her and suggested she make a gown out of it for their wedding.

Taken from boingboing

Okay, very quick summation - and I mean quick - of the trip to Jakarta and the Philippines.

The trip was interesting. The conference in Jakarta was high profile. It was in a five star hotel - and it was posh. That only added to my stress for performing. (People are going to want to see something for their money) but it was nice. The other speakers were very interesting from other parts of Indonesia, E Timor and Burma.

The trip to the Philippines was good as well but completely different. In parts of Mindanao, I needed to cover myself from wrist to ankle. I had to wear a scarf on my head. It was funny because I went to a meeting and there was a woman from a Women's Organisation and she complimented me on how I looked in their scarf and suggested that maybe I would take to it. (I mean, why not? Think about the colors and fashion possibilities. Hmm...maybe not?)

As far as people and food, well Filippino people are very warm and friendly. They are very engaging. There are always meetings involving food. It is a hospitable trait but one that really starts to make you sick when you have four or five meetings in one day and they have given you coffee and some odd cookie or cake to eat at each.

The diet in general is much around fish and pork, and rice. These are the three major parts of their diet. They also have many dishes involving eggs as well in various forms. And these components are usually found at all three meals. I think there is a lot of influence left there from the Spanish.

Perhaps the oddest thing, and to be fair I never ate one, was a fertlized duck embryo called Balut. Here is a link to wikipedia because I think it is worth you seeing. I honestly do.

But the best part of it all is that I am starting to feel - finally - like I know what I am talking about. I have always felt like there is so much to know about the dynamics of conflict and various regions and experiences, that I was never able to talk with authority. Now, I am starting to think, "wait, I do know some things". It is a great feeling.

Back in London. It is nice to be back in my rainy grey city.

I really like Call and Response. They have nifty songs that make you want to sing along. Her is a link to their website. They have more updated info on their myspace page but I cannot bring myself to link to it. Sorry.

The most outrageous, camp song competition ever is tonight. EUROVISION! I love it. I came into it late in the day. Established in 1962, it is a sporting competition between European countries and Israel. Why Israel, well, I heard that there is a similar Middle Eastern event that they are not invited to.

Anyway, there are a variety of acts performing. Fourteen countries have made it to the final round. Usually it is decided between who has the shortest skirt, but last year changed all that with the Death Metal group from Finland, Lordi, winning. Who will win this year?

But perhaps even more important a question - Fem or Butch?

So, I left a note for the two guys at the reception of their hotel with my number and the mention of going for drinks. I received a text later that night from one of them that they had stomach issues and that he would LOVE to have drinks with me the next day. Sadly, I was leaving the next day.

I replied that morning that I was leaving and they should have a great time with the rest of their trip.

A couple hours later, my phone rings. The guy enquiring whether I was still around. I mention that I am already at the airport ready to leave. He asks me to take his email address and write to him. He tells me that they will be flying out of London at the end to go back to the US. Perhaps...

Another show of Pop Surrealism in LA. I really love this style. I am thinking about possibly investing in some, well, should a small pocket of money come my way. Here is a piece by Audrey Kawasaki and a link to all of the exhibits.

I met two guys on the plane over to Boracay. One of them was really cute and kept talking to me. His friend was clearly not impressed and impatient. We mentioned possibly meeting up but I have not bumped intp them on the trip.

I was thinking since it was my last night that I could leave a note and ask if they want to meet for drinks. The hesitation was less about what they would think of me for leaving the note. I think it is more about what garbage is going on in my head. There has been a lot of damage done by my ex. I don't think he is a monster but he has his moments. He was the only person I had sex with for 6 years. SIX YEARS!!

Then one of the reasons that he sights for leaving is that he is not attracted to me anymore. Think about the mindfuck that was for me. So, this guy from the plane would not be a drinking partner but it is the question of whether I look them up, if there will be sex. It is not as easy for me to just go - oh, fuck it, just do it.

I don't really feel sexy. I just feel self-conscoius. Too much truth, not enough therapy, whatever it is. I am fucked.