A combination of classic Beatles tunes and fine artistic imagery makes Across the Universe a crazy psychedelic masterpiece.

The film, which was directed by Julie Taymor and released in 2007, is set in the USA at a turbulent and exciting time in its history. One of the main characters Lucy becomes involved in the cause of opposing the American government's decision to be involved in Vietnam. Surrounding her is a varied cast of acid-trippin' young people out trying to make it. Among them is the Brit, Jude. Jude and Lucy are inexplicably in love, but as is the case with Romantic love, obstacles lie in the path to true happiness, not to mention war and conflict.

I have to say that I was completely blown away by the movie. At first I thought it was going to be some sort of film about the struggle against the war in Vietnam, or about the movement for black rights in America. As the movie went along I began to think that it was about Jude and Lucy, but as time wore on I began to realize that Across the Universe is not really about two people, or even about what they did. Its a movie showcasing a time long gone by, a generation reveling in rebellion and change, a bohemian rhapsody shining in full color.

What a movie.








Here are yet more random pics. Don't you just love the chaos contained in the world? I took the images in this cute little café in Swakopmund Namibia, called Village Café. The owners put a lot of work into making the space cool and contemporary.


The seagulls are everywhere!






When I look around me I see patterns and lines and pretty things. When I look through my camera's lens I see the same things, but it becomes a picture. That's why I am loving life right now. I love it, because there is a beauty in it, and I have discovered how to see it!


Thankfully I have mastered my iPhoto, so at least I could tweek my pictures a little bit here and there. I'm sure you would have figured out real life doesn't quite look like this, or maybe it does... in my head at least!

RIP Edie Sedgwick







I just finished watching Factory Girl and it made me cry. 

I knew half way through that I would, but I couldn't stop watching how the poor Edie deteriorated. There was no hope for her, I guess.

Strange how some people say life dealt you a bad card if you're poor, or born with an illness... Edie was dealt an unfair card in that she was not meant for this world, not from the beginning I don't believe. She was the type of girl I pity, because no one can save them. 


Well, I have cried for her already and I won't do it again. The movie is fresh in my mind and I am very ashamed of that Andy Warhol... 
I was in a gallery where they were showing his work and it all made me rather uncomfortable. I tried to appreciate his art, but in the end I felt he must have rather been a self-righteous and egotistical, but not until I watched this movie did I notice what I felt so strange about him:
He was absolutely strange. Well, all artists probably are, but I am a conservative girl, who's afraid of bad men in black hats, and Andy Warhol gave me the creeps. All those videos of people just staring and being embarrassed or uncomfortable or loving it... I felt like I was intruding and I wondered what made this man film them like that. What made him want to expose them like that.


Art, I believe, doesn't have any explanations. I don't think Andy thought about what he was doing, didn't strive to achieve anything. Maybe he did? He was at the very least very interested in human beings, and I'm afraid it was that nature of being the observer and not emotionally part of it that contributed to poor Edie. 

Then again, like I said, Edie was a hopeless case; no one could have saved her. I have only the impression I got from the movie of how their relationship must have been like, and I think he manipulated her to an extent. 

Is it always in man's nature to use and domineer so?

Yes, now I shall think of Edie, and not think of her again. 

Some people can't be saved...

 

Recently I started reading A short History of Nearly Everything, by Bill Bryson (Transworld Publishers) and I got to the chapter in which lead and CF C's had been discovered. 


Oh gosh, I am just a little disappointed in the way the world is run. Honestly, why does no one take us humans' health more seriously? In America companies only STOPPED using lead in food tins and storage in the 90's! That means that there are a lot of people walking around over there who still have lead left over in their blood from the irresponsible actions of companies. Lead paints isn't a very scary thought now that its not in use anymore. Out of sight, out of mind. And yet there are so many other sources of lead in our lives which we hardly know of, because of lack of information and being so badly informed. 


                                           In the early 20th century many beauty 
                                         products contained radium as ingredient.
         
            
In the previous century it was possible to buy makeup which had radioactive materials as ingredients -to give you that extra special glow! - but we aren't ignorant anymore. We aught to know better, and our governments should protect us from the dangers of chemicals like lead. 

Why is it still being emitted into the atmosphere, into the air we breathe? If it were up to me lead would be utterly and completely banished. I don't think there is any way to justify its use. 
Did you know that when companies started manufacturing lead based petrol many of the factory workers went insane, or even died, because of over exposure to lead. We don't have to worry about such extreme effects,  I guess, but forgive me if I'm still just a little suspicious of its use.  

Remarkably, the same man who invented the lead-based petrol was the very same man who did the same with CF C's. Thomas Migley is the very first person I would visit if time machines were reality. He wanted to discover an alternative to the dangerous gasses which were at that time being used for refrigerators. And low and behold he found something much worse. Until I read A short History', I had no idea to the horrible consequences of CF C's. Its true the ozone has recovered considerably since its 'hole', but what we are not being told is that CF C's hang around for quite a long time and are still being produced. I find this shocking, to say the least. 

Why is the human race so incapable of learning from our mistakes? We know lead is harmful to the nervous system, and we also know how bad CF C's are for our earth. So why the hell is it still around? These chemicals should lose there friggin' spot on the periodic table for all I care. I am so pissed off at their mere existence that I never want to see them again. 

If you'd like to read a little more about these issues, go to these links, or buy the absolutely wonderful book: A short history of nearly everything, which I can assure you is a worthwhile read! Bill Bryson makes something as boring as geography very amusing, and usually very funny too. 


Again with the fodies!






So the other day we had a little photo shoot with a local photographer and my two good friends, Jana and Abi. The reason was of course to get a stunning pic for the posters of our school's production of Chicago. I've posted only some of the pics which I thought caught the vibe of that day well. It was so much fun! 


WOW...

geez ange, how bout something lighter next time? The Changeling is not for the faint hearted, or atleast let me tell ya that if you cannot bear those awful nut-house scenes where nurses in old fashioned white frocks bully their patients and give them shock therapy, well, keep your eyes shut through those scenes in this movie then.

I'm kinda surprised that this is a true story. Wow, that something like this could actually have happened. I don't know what's worse, the fact that so many little boys were killed (after probably being tortured first) or the fact that the police could ruin the life of an already devastated mother? Can you imagine how you must feel if you're already in grief and then to find you get absolutely no sympathy from anybody. I mean, she was the mother, OF COURSE SHE WOULD KNOW HER OWN SON!!!! Gosh darnit. 

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