In Amsterdam and LOVING it. This is such an incredibly beautiful city. Yesterday at the Anne Frank house (which is probably the best museum experience I know. Such an emotional time wondering how human beings did what they did and do what they do. Such a talent and honesty in the words of the once little girl.), I ran into two friends from university I hadn't seen in 4 or 5 years. What are the odds, they began their trip the same day and are heading back to the states 3 days after me. this world is awesome and life is a true pleasure to have.
Today I rented a bike and rode. and rode. and rode. and strolled through the pretty peaceful parks of this city. It was the first day of nothing but sunshine since I've been here. Lots of rain all week and I soaked up the sun just like my plant life counterparts. Played a game of basketball with 3 (non-dunking) dutchmen today as well. It was fun. I was the smallest and most american, and I showed them why Basketball in the states is the best (but we all had fun, so I guess we all are the best).
Probably heading to Berlin saturday. It's in germany. my name neuman is german. coming home party...
9/21
On a two floor train with a group of appearingly religious women, people with suitcases and humans interacting in what looks like a search for their holy destination, point and using their mouths to create sounds that somehow human beings, at some point in history, established into a system of words and sentneces, which had to be done first in order to defines such thoughts, which can be learned by multiple poeople to share ideas and thoughts within an individual's mind to be understood by another individual.
The lack of a shared language makes for dificult interaction between animals of the same species. Luckily with a basic comprehension of shared human behavior and the same preexisting instincts, along with most people's general understanding of english, the bald man with the thick beard, working the subway market handing out (selling!) croissants full of mystery to the hungover tourists, who previously scoffed at and rejected a homeless man struggling to survive his shitty life afraid of the inevitable alternative, was able to convey a message of success and aid in reaching the sought after destination, while the homeless man dragged his feet in another direction looking for some spare change.
The originators of the french language were early artists, creating beauty using human language and communication as their canvas.
Waiting for a train is a phrase that can ultimately lack meaning when productivity and growth exist within each moment. I will get on a train when that moment arrives, but for now, I am sitting and being in my mind with my thoughts spilling onto paper as an unkown culture and lifestyle is absorbed into the folds of my conscious and unconscious for growth at unscientic rate.
9/26 (i think)
Fear attracts fear. I'm not visiting. I'm living and becoming a part of another lifestyle.
A black and white dalmatian reminding of a separate and former life apart from this one and very much the same. A plastic disc offering up an equal opportunity of fun. I create all that I see and experience and interact within the rest of the shared realities present.
Coexisting in nature as the hundred year old trees offer moments of separation from the sun far off in the universe as big as our imaginations.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Friday, September 24, 2010
From a cubicle with a funky keyboard(although not musically) in Paris
I'm in Paris on day 9 of my adventures overseas (however, life is just one big adventure, so its really a much larger day than previously mentioned). The trip has been incredible beyond any expectations and at the same time really what one could expect, which is to always encounter the unexpected. And even within a different culture and not understanding the language of my surroundings, I still understand people and most people withing western civilization act within the same perameters. I think I just misspelled that last word, but typing on a slightly different keyboard arrangement is frustrating and Ill simply let it go.
I'm not sure how often I will update this with the progress and updates of my experiences as I would rather be creating new experiences instead of sitting inside staring at a computer screen. However, I'm sure it will be fun for some to hear a little bit of what I have been encountering. Therefore, because I have been journaling like crazy, I will post some entries from my book of thoughts. From me to you (and whatever thought pirates in cyberspace see this), here is some of my brain from the first part of my journey...
9/17
...After a couple pints, we followed Kerri (our host for the next fez nights)'s extremely specific directions until near the end, in which we mucked it up and spent 30 minutes wandering the neighborhood and inquiring to a lot of friendly folks until we finally followed enough clues to the smiling attitudes and beautiful smell of our lovely hosts and their homecooked meal of fresh veggies, rice and bread; along with some tasty english tea to welcome us to their charming city! Great conversation of California; England, Europe; travel and a whole slew of topics knocked about for a while until eventually enough yawning persuaded us to bed. I sit in their spare bedroom to myself and couldn't be happier about life and the path Ive created for myself. With the help and inspiration of so many others in my world and my understanding of the earth and how human beings can exist, I will rest easy tonight and wake with a hunger for the unknown, knowing this is exactly where I belong.
9/18 walking enormous London and the first castle my eyes have ever seen
900 years of human history personified in concrete evidence of their life's existence in a castle like nothing Ive experienced sends vibrations through my soul like that of a virgin feeling his first touch of a young woman or a junkie on his first day with a needle. This feeling on the river Thames that I've never felt before.
9/22 Visiting the catacombs knowing Ill see dead mens bones but not to what extent
Catacombs. Deep underground down the narrow winding stairs for minutes into the former area mined for limestone, gypsum and clay where worker used candles to illuminate the darkness. Long walking down into the earth among stone, dirt, and water droplets as the temperature continues dropping underground emerges eventually upon a room full of real chill. The kind that cant be measured scientifically, but the kind that provides a sense of other worldly energy pouring out of the bones of thousands of human beings once containing life hundreds of years prior in rows after rows stacked 6-7 feet, floor to ceiling in neat rows of skulls of various size and shape decaying at different increments in the middle of arms and legs. Just as it seems to end, the rooms of skeletons continue opening into new areas with thousands of more skeletal remains as living humans gaze at from a mere feet away taking photos of these now innate objects in the earth.
9/23 sitting in the grass beneath the enormous Eiffel Tower
Eating homemade granola to stifle an appetite starved of consistent consumption of any real value, only consistently indulging in water and alcohol. Granola with extra nutritional value existing in the love and positivity from the mothers hands and heart providing the helpful bonus in each brave new world of the sons journey and postponing the spending of a depleting source of currency.
Thats all for now. We take a train tomorrow to the new country and city of Amsterdam, Netherlands!
jn
I'm not sure how often I will update this with the progress and updates of my experiences as I would rather be creating new experiences instead of sitting inside staring at a computer screen. However, I'm sure it will be fun for some to hear a little bit of what I have been encountering. Therefore, because I have been journaling like crazy, I will post some entries from my book of thoughts. From me to you (and whatever thought pirates in cyberspace see this), here is some of my brain from the first part of my journey...
9/17
...After a couple pints, we followed Kerri (our host for the next fez nights)'s extremely specific directions until near the end, in which we mucked it up and spent 30 minutes wandering the neighborhood and inquiring to a lot of friendly folks until we finally followed enough clues to the smiling attitudes and beautiful smell of our lovely hosts and their homecooked meal of fresh veggies, rice and bread; along with some tasty english tea to welcome us to their charming city! Great conversation of California; England, Europe; travel and a whole slew of topics knocked about for a while until eventually enough yawning persuaded us to bed. I sit in their spare bedroom to myself and couldn't be happier about life and the path Ive created for myself. With the help and inspiration of so many others in my world and my understanding of the earth and how human beings can exist, I will rest easy tonight and wake with a hunger for the unknown, knowing this is exactly where I belong.
9/18 walking enormous London and the first castle my eyes have ever seen
900 years of human history personified in concrete evidence of their life's existence in a castle like nothing Ive experienced sends vibrations through my soul like that of a virgin feeling his first touch of a young woman or a junkie on his first day with a needle. This feeling on the river Thames that I've never felt before.
9/22 Visiting the catacombs knowing Ill see dead mens bones but not to what extent
Catacombs. Deep underground down the narrow winding stairs for minutes into the former area mined for limestone, gypsum and clay where worker used candles to illuminate the darkness. Long walking down into the earth among stone, dirt, and water droplets as the temperature continues dropping underground emerges eventually upon a room full of real chill. The kind that cant be measured scientifically, but the kind that provides a sense of other worldly energy pouring out of the bones of thousands of human beings once containing life hundreds of years prior in rows after rows stacked 6-7 feet, floor to ceiling in neat rows of skulls of various size and shape decaying at different increments in the middle of arms and legs. Just as it seems to end, the rooms of skeletons continue opening into new areas with thousands of more skeletal remains as living humans gaze at from a mere feet away taking photos of these now innate objects in the earth.
9/23 sitting in the grass beneath the enormous Eiffel Tower
Eating homemade granola to stifle an appetite starved of consistent consumption of any real value, only consistently indulging in water and alcohol. Granola with extra nutritional value existing in the love and positivity from the mothers hands and heart providing the helpful bonus in each brave new world of the sons journey and postponing the spending of a depleting source of currency.
Thats all for now. We take a train tomorrow to the new country and city of Amsterdam, Netherlands!
jn
Monday, March 23, 2009
Damn Dirty Hippies!
For a good year, several years ago, I was really into the music of Devendra Banhart. I think it changed after the good, but disappointing performance (at least to the expectations I had built up) at Pitchfork Music Festival. However, I really dig the whole "freak folk" movement and totally adore Joanna Newsom's unusual voice! The trailer is a bit unusual. It is great to hear and see an entire Newsom song live, however, I would have loved to get some soundbites from Devendra as well. Anyway, check it out. Hopefully it plays somewhere in LA!
The Family Jams - Trailer from kevin barker on Vimeo.
The Family Jams - Trailer from kevin barker on Vimeo.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Favorite Song of the Moment.
alela diane - white as diamonds
I cannot get over this song! Her voice is so captivating. Her high register reminds me a bit of Joanna Newsom and some other familiar female artists that I cannot quite put my finger on. The music video plays out like the great character study films I have come to love such as Old Joy, Wendy and Lucy or even to a lesser degree All the Real Girls. I love the way the song slowly adds more and more layers of vocals and instrumentation. The violin coming in toward the end is fantastic and oddly enough makes me recall an old folk punk band I used to listen to called Ballydowse. I am excited to see what this unknown singer brings us on a full album.
I cannot get over this song! Her voice is so captivating. Her high register reminds me a bit of Joanna Newsom and some other familiar female artists that I cannot quite put my finger on. The music video plays out like the great character study films I have come to love such as Old Joy, Wendy and Lucy or even to a lesser degree All the Real Girls. I love the way the song slowly adds more and more layers of vocals and instrumentation. The violin coming in toward the end is fantastic and oddly enough makes me recall an old folk punk band I used to listen to called Ballydowse. I am excited to see what this unknown singer brings us on a full album.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Top 50 Albums of 2008
Here it is. I worked long and hard on this...mostly for myself. I like to look back over the years and remember what I was listening to, and since I am constantly listening to whatever is new, I forget about a lot of albums from even only a couple years ago. Check it out and look up some of these bands. Support independent artists!
http://rateyourmusic.com/list/DirkDiggler/top_50_albums_of_2008
Check out my other lists below, including top TV shows, Films and Songs.
http://rateyourmusic.com/list/DirkDiggler/top_50_albums_of_2008
Check out my other lists below, including top TV shows, Films and Songs.
Monday, January 5, 2009
Top 50 Songs of 2008
Link to the list:
http://rateyourmusic.com/list/DirkDiggler/best_songs_of_2008
Links to Download all 50 songs:
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=NAIATI5Y
or
http://rapidshare.com/files/180193238/BestSongsof2008.part3.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/180187782/BestSongsof2008.part2.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/180179845/BestSongsof2008.part1.rar
You may have to sort by: Track Number in iTunes in order to get the tracks in the right order.
If you like the artist, support them by buying their work!
Top 50 albums list almost complete! Still re listening to a few key albums.
http://rateyourmusic.com/list/DirkDiggler/best_songs_of_2008
Links to Download all 50 songs:
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=NAIATI5Y
or
http://rapidshare.com/files/180193238/BestSongsof2008.part3.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/180187782/BestSongsof2008.part2.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/180179845/BestSongsof2008.part1.rar
You may have to sort by: Track Number in iTunes in order to get the tracks in the right order.
If you like the artist, support them by buying their work!
Top 50 albums list almost complete! Still re listening to a few key albums.
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Best Films of 2008
2008 was a pretty cool year for movies. There never really was one film I really looked forward to seeing and yet was pretty amazed by a lot of under the radar films. Of course, there was Heath Ledger's death and the hype of Titanic proportions surrounding Christopher Nolan's latest sequel. I was waiting to try to get a few more movie viewings in before posting my list. I was very disappointed by Benjamin Button but admit it was pretty cool. I still need to see several very big movies including: Doubt, Revolutionary Road, Frost/Nixon, JCVD, Burn After Reading, and Man on Wire. But here are my 10 favorite films of 2008:
1. The Wrestler - Darren Aronofsky has quickly matured into one of the best directors making films today. His first two films were very powerful, but he stuck out as a gimmicky director with some tricks up his sleeve. With the Fountain, he showed he could make a very artsy, abstract film that relied heavily on beautiful in-camera effects, yet had a very compelling love story. Now, with the Wrestler, Aronofsky has stepped up his game and finally made his first generally accessible film that focuses on the essentials in a compelling story with amazing characters. Mickey Rourke gives an incredibly heart wrenching performance as a washed up professional wrestler who has kept a large fanbase within the confines of the underground wrestling circuit. His body is breaking down and he knows nothing else other than wrestling. The film shows that while professional wrestling is staged, it is far from fake. Every body slam, flip over the ropes and chair to the back all take their toll on the bodies of those involved in the ring. Aronofsky took the script and realized that Mickey Rourke could carry the entirety of the film on his own. Rourke rarely, if ever leaves frame and there is not a scene he is not in. I do not normally like long movies, and this is far from long as it clocks in under two hours, however, at the end of the film I was left wanting to see more from Rourke, as his character Randy the Ram was so likeable.
2. Slumdog Millionaire - The storytelling technique used in SM was extremely creative and captivated my attention from the start. I loved the characters, was entertained by the soundtrack and amused by the end credits. Danny Boyle might possibly be the best director alive today. I love his boldness to try a different genre every time he makes a film.
3. Son of Rambow - A great coming of age story about two unlikely friends and the importance of friendship and family. Funny and sweet.
4. Pineapple Express - It's a film about friendship. It just happens to be hidden underneath a bunch of weed dealers and involve parody like action. It's exciting, hilarous and fun as hell.
5. Dark Knight - It's been said a million times already.
6. Wall-E - PIxar made leaps and bounds with this film and their animation never ceases to amaze me.
7. Wendy and Lucy - An amazing character study about a girl in search of who she is and where she belongs in this world. A lot of people say our generation has their midlife crisis in their 20's and as a single guy at 25, I find the character of Wendy completely relatable as she attempts to travel the country with her best friend and dog Lucy.
8. Cloverfield - Revives the monster movie genre with a new twist. If you can stomach the shaky cam style, then you are in for a treat. Abrams does a good job of hiding the monster almost entirely with only a few quick glances at its complete frame (much like Alien). And one of the scariest scenes of the year takes place in the underground of NYC.
9. Be Kind Rewind - Michel Gondry takes his creative visual style of directing and creates his first film I completely enjoyed. He does not rely only on his unique visual skills and instead matures into telling a great story. The film is great at showing the closeness of a small knit community and you cannot help but feel inspired by the childlike love that average joes have for movies. Most people do not work in the entertainment industry or even have an inkling of how movie making works. People do not go to the movies to critique films or write reviews. Most people go to the movies to get lost in the story and escape into a different world and come out feeling something, if only for a moment. This film captures that emotion and while it might not be the most realistic movie, it could definitely be the most inspiring film of the year.
10. Milk - Sean Penn is amazing in the historical biopic about the first big gay rights activist, Harvey Milk. This is a film that does a great job of showing a piece of history that most people probably have no idea happened. The film is an amazing display of what one man did for homosexuals and their rights in a similar way to how other people did for the black community. It's a very personal and human showing of a true hero to a lot of people.
Almost making the list and the award for the one great documentary I decided to watch this year:
American Teen - It makes me wonder how much of the film was produced and set up. It is an amazing documentary that really hits home to anyone who has gone to high school, especially since I am from Indiana.
Award for Most Bad Ass film character from 2008:
Clint Eastwood in Gran Torino. The film took a long time for me to get into it. But I loved the character and the ending was very good. The film relied too heavily on stereotypes and cliches and a lot of the acting was horrendous but eastwood was able to carry the film on his own.
1. The Wrestler - Darren Aronofsky has quickly matured into one of the best directors making films today. His first two films were very powerful, but he stuck out as a gimmicky director with some tricks up his sleeve. With the Fountain, he showed he could make a very artsy, abstract film that relied heavily on beautiful in-camera effects, yet had a very compelling love story. Now, with the Wrestler, Aronofsky has stepped up his game and finally made his first generally accessible film that focuses on the essentials in a compelling story with amazing characters. Mickey Rourke gives an incredibly heart wrenching performance as a washed up professional wrestler who has kept a large fanbase within the confines of the underground wrestling circuit. His body is breaking down and he knows nothing else other than wrestling. The film shows that while professional wrestling is staged, it is far from fake. Every body slam, flip over the ropes and chair to the back all take their toll on the bodies of those involved in the ring. Aronofsky took the script and realized that Mickey Rourke could carry the entirety of the film on his own. Rourke rarely, if ever leaves frame and there is not a scene he is not in. I do not normally like long movies, and this is far from long as it clocks in under two hours, however, at the end of the film I was left wanting to see more from Rourke, as his character Randy the Ram was so likeable.
2. Slumdog Millionaire - The storytelling technique used in SM was extremely creative and captivated my attention from the start. I loved the characters, was entertained by the soundtrack and amused by the end credits. Danny Boyle might possibly be the best director alive today. I love his boldness to try a different genre every time he makes a film.
3. Son of Rambow - A great coming of age story about two unlikely friends and the importance of friendship and family. Funny and sweet.
4. Pineapple Express - It's a film about friendship. It just happens to be hidden underneath a bunch of weed dealers and involve parody like action. It's exciting, hilarous and fun as hell.
5. Dark Knight - It's been said a million times already.
6. Wall-E - PIxar made leaps and bounds with this film and their animation never ceases to amaze me.
7. Wendy and Lucy - An amazing character study about a girl in search of who she is and where she belongs in this world. A lot of people say our generation has their midlife crisis in their 20's and as a single guy at 25, I find the character of Wendy completely relatable as she attempts to travel the country with her best friend and dog Lucy.
8. Cloverfield - Revives the monster movie genre with a new twist. If you can stomach the shaky cam style, then you are in for a treat. Abrams does a good job of hiding the monster almost entirely with only a few quick glances at its complete frame (much like Alien). And one of the scariest scenes of the year takes place in the underground of NYC.
9. Be Kind Rewind - Michel Gondry takes his creative visual style of directing and creates his first film I completely enjoyed. He does not rely only on his unique visual skills and instead matures into telling a great story. The film is great at showing the closeness of a small knit community and you cannot help but feel inspired by the childlike love that average joes have for movies. Most people do not work in the entertainment industry or even have an inkling of how movie making works. People do not go to the movies to critique films or write reviews. Most people go to the movies to get lost in the story and escape into a different world and come out feeling something, if only for a moment. This film captures that emotion and while it might not be the most realistic movie, it could definitely be the most inspiring film of the year.
10. Milk - Sean Penn is amazing in the historical biopic about the first big gay rights activist, Harvey Milk. This is a film that does a great job of showing a piece of history that most people probably have no idea happened. The film is an amazing display of what one man did for homosexuals and their rights in a similar way to how other people did for the black community. It's a very personal and human showing of a true hero to a lot of people.
Almost making the list and the award for the one great documentary I decided to watch this year:
American Teen - It makes me wonder how much of the film was produced and set up. It is an amazing documentary that really hits home to anyone who has gone to high school, especially since I am from Indiana.
Award for Most Bad Ass film character from 2008:
Clint Eastwood in Gran Torino. The film took a long time for me to get into it. But I loved the character and the ending was very good. The film relied too heavily on stereotypes and cliches and a lot of the acting was horrendous but eastwood was able to carry the film on his own.
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