So I saw the film called "Warrior" by Gavin O'Connor. This movie is in a way the logical continuation of Aronofsky's the Wrestler and Russel's the Fighter. It portrays white trash americans who lives on the hope and the dream of making in big fighting for prize-money. Unfortunately even this movie does not venture into the shady business of the promotors but instead focuses on the broken family situation. The story in this one screams even louder than the former two; trying to squeeze in almost as many fantastic plot-twists as a South Korean flick. But O'Connor gets it together, just barely but the story holds and he even makes it to that hard end. So a short golf clap for that.
What I was not amused by was the bad camera work. How the fight scenes could be allowed to get shaken to shit I do not understand. I had more fun watching a real fight that I knew the ending of than the orchestrated and presumably more interesting scenes from this movie. The acting and choreography was not what seemed to fail, but then again with such flawed camera work who could actually say?
If you want to see a good fight film, see something else. If you are looking for a WT-version of a South Korean plot-twister with some nice tie ins to the Fighter and the Wrestler this is it.
NY
söndag 11 december 2011
Update, new job and stuff
So tomorrow I have been home in Sweden for 3 weeks, I got a new job that started one week ago at Cloud Nine as designer. I am still looking for a place to live, but except from that situation everything is dandy.
I will have a party celebrating this next week so if you are in Stockholm I hope that you will join us. It will probably be quite cozy and nice. Last week when we visited a party she picked up a chef and a pastry baker. I think the dinner might by grand. At least it will be spicy.
Signing out from the top of the world.
I will have a party celebrating this next week so if you are in Stockholm I hope that you will join us. It will probably be quite cozy and nice. Last week when we visited a party she picked up a chef and a pastry baker. I think the dinner might by grand. At least it will be spicy.
Signing out from the top of the world.
måndag 21 november 2011
Sweden!
Back at home after an early flight. Sleeping eating and stuff. The trip is over for this time. The blog? I do not know. If there is something important to relay I might do it. There are always reviews of restaurants and films and stuff. We will see. Bye for now!
Thingvalla-vatn
Yesterday I was going for a evening meal when I met an artist instead and was invited to a studio where I met more artists and saw some work. Most of the artists were working with video and I also got taped my self.
We had a long and interesting discussion about all things and nothing. Finally I got to eat both a Icelandic hot dog at Bill Clintons favorite Icelandic hot dog stand and there after a pizza slice.
I got offered to see some nature and have a car trip the next day which I gladly accepted.
We set out to Thingvalla-vatn, a lake so cold that people usually do not take swims in it even during summer. On the way we also saw the house and pool of the Icelandic Nobel prize winner Halldór Kiljan Laxness. I did not know much about him before and now I know little more than he getting the prize in 1955 and remaining active until the late 80-ties. Unusual for a Noble-prize winner.
The trip was very nice although we made it on almost slick front tiers: during rain, hail and wet snow… but it all went very smooth with careful driving from my latest Icelandic friend. A good outing all in all.
We had a long and interesting discussion about all things and nothing. Finally I got to eat both a Icelandic hot dog at Bill Clintons favorite Icelandic hot dog stand and there after a pizza slice.
I got offered to see some nature and have a car trip the next day which I gladly accepted.
We set out to Thingvalla-vatn, a lake so cold that people usually do not take swims in it even during summer. On the way we also saw the house and pool of the Icelandic Nobel prize winner Halldór Kiljan Laxness. I did not know much about him before and now I know little more than he getting the prize in 1955 and remaining active until the late 80-ties. Unusual for a Noble-prize winner.
The trip was very nice although we made it on almost slick front tiers: during rain, hail and wet snow… but it all went very smooth with careful driving from my latest Icelandic friend. A good outing all in all.
Blue Lagoon
I gave in and went to the Blue Lagoon. It was interesting and a nice bath. I bought a package trip including pick up and entrance. The only thing I have to say about that is that they might have sent me a driver who could speak English. That would have helped. But the trip worked out and the bath was both relaxing and interesting. Unfortunately I was there during the dark hours so I did not see the surroundings. Only some steam coming from some kind of structures half a kilometer away.
The whole compound seem very well kept and modern. The thing that I missed was some kind of information on how it has been built and expanded and most how it works technically with all the water circulating.
The whole compound seem very well kept and modern. The thing that I missed was some kind of information on how it has been built and expanded and most how it works technically with all the water circulating.
Grillmarkadurinn, Reykjaviks best restaurant
Five months and five days have passed since I left Sweden. I will return in the early morning of tomorrow. This Odyssey is definitely coming to an end. I celebrated my last day in Iceland with a trip to the blue lagoon that you may read about here, as well as a trip into the hinterland to Thingvalla-vatn that you can read about here.
I came back to Reykjavik pretty late and decided to find a restaurant that could serve me some food in the eleventh hour. By chance I happened upon Grillmarkadurinn, hidden behind a grey house. The interior was very compelling and coming in late I really wanted to eat and I really wanted to stay in this restaurant. Luckily the Chef was favorable to my appeal (but not to the people coming in ten minutes after me). I took a seat at "the bar" which was not the most comfortable place but hoping for some kind of interaction with the environment I did not want to cower in the shadows. I also got a good view of the cooks in the kitchen.
I ordered smoked lamb and cow tongue as a starter and a fish parade for main course. All this was recommended by a very serviceable and competent waitress. She also mixed me the best drink I have had this year.
The waiting time was reasonable, probably because the restaurant was more or less deserted. A few people lingering about their tables but not really a bustling environment.
The serving was good and everything looked very tasty. But the dining-ware was maybe more eye-catching than practical since the succulent fish spilled down on the table and onto me. That was more or less the only bad part of this dinner.
The food was very well cooked although not the healthiest. And I had to put some stuff aside since I did not get the chance to un-order them at the beginning since my ordering was made more or less orally without any time to consult the menus.
The starter which was something of a Yule-time special was a bit to salty for my taste, but well made.
The main course consisting of Cod, Monk-fish and Salmon was very nice. Especially the Monkfish was the best I ever had. Not being a specifically fish-oriented gormé, but I have eaten it before and this was very different in the best possible way. On all the fishes the meat came apart perfectly and the taste was admirable. The salmon's smokiness was a bit to much but still within all reasonability. The Cod was the most boring of the fishes but it was still completely good; their lowest achievement still worthy to make a dinner in it self!
I ordered both courses because I thought maybe they would be small and it seemed since I was so late that I might be without dessert. These fears was without reason: I was offered dessert and unfortunately I could not finnish the two plates. SO as mother says: did not finnish your food? No dessert.
Worth mentioning is also the water: finally drinkable tap water! And the bread that was nice as well.
A good restaurant with expected prices. I recommend it!
I came back to Reykjavik pretty late and decided to find a restaurant that could serve me some food in the eleventh hour. By chance I happened upon Grillmarkadurinn, hidden behind a grey house. The interior was very compelling and coming in late I really wanted to eat and I really wanted to stay in this restaurant. Luckily the Chef was favorable to my appeal (but not to the people coming in ten minutes after me). I took a seat at "the bar" which was not the most comfortable place but hoping for some kind of interaction with the environment I did not want to cower in the shadows. I also got a good view of the cooks in the kitchen.
I ordered smoked lamb and cow tongue as a starter and a fish parade for main course. All this was recommended by a very serviceable and competent waitress. She also mixed me the best drink I have had this year.
The waiting time was reasonable, probably because the restaurant was more or less deserted. A few people lingering about their tables but not really a bustling environment.
The serving was good and everything looked very tasty. But the dining-ware was maybe more eye-catching than practical since the succulent fish spilled down on the table and onto me. That was more or less the only bad part of this dinner.
The food was very well cooked although not the healthiest. And I had to put some stuff aside since I did not get the chance to un-order them at the beginning since my ordering was made more or less orally without any time to consult the menus.
The starter which was something of a Yule-time special was a bit to salty for my taste, but well made.
The main course consisting of Cod, Monk-fish and Salmon was very nice. Especially the Monkfish was the best I ever had. Not being a specifically fish-oriented gormé, but I have eaten it before and this was very different in the best possible way. On all the fishes the meat came apart perfectly and the taste was admirable. The salmon's smokiness was a bit to much but still within all reasonability. The Cod was the most boring of the fishes but it was still completely good; their lowest achievement still worthy to make a dinner in it self!
I ordered both courses because I thought maybe they would be small and it seemed since I was so late that I might be without dessert. These fears was without reason: I was offered dessert and unfortunately I could not finnish the two plates. SO as mother says: did not finnish your food? No dessert.
Worth mentioning is also the water: finally drinkable tap water! And the bread that was nice as well.
A good restaurant with expected prices. I recommend it!
Occupy Reykjavik
I visited Occupy Reykjaviks tents outside of the Althing. It was a small assembly of nice people who kept the fire burning. We discussed some current events but pretty soon people started interject with conspiracy theories. Not that I do not see the angle of them, I am just not so interested of hearing them again, even the true ones. But you can't really cut someone off mid-rant without at least risking a deep insult. So I found another discussion instead with a nice guy who had been severely conservative during the heydays of the financial buildup that lead to the crash. But since then he had left his construction job, now in special needs instead and had converted towards socialism. He told me more about how it actually had looked on the ground during the crisis. And we could agree that what had changed was mostly peoples ability to buy luxury. Now they might not have two cars anymore and fewer plasma screens. But everything necessary to live was still in place. Iceland is not poor, it still has quality of life and very few people under the line so to speak.
I have actually made the observation that there are quite few smart phones in the hands of the young here. As anti-consumerism as I am I see that as something healthy but realize that this came about with the crisis.
I have actually made the observation that there are quite few smart phones in the hands of the young here. As anti-consumerism as I am I see that as something healthy but realize that this came about with the crisis.
Reykjavik by night
Last night I was out about the town with a posse from the west fjords that I manage to charm enough to get to be the honorary guest. They where very much into the only gay place in town, chiefly because two of them were gay I guess. The others just seemed to think that it happened to be the best place in town.
I actually met the owner of the place and supposedly five others. She seemed very nice but unfortunately she had some kind of strong armed man who clearly felt threatened by my presence because he was really acting in a most provocative way even slapping my face and above all: mentioning hand-ball… fortunately for us all I do not easily take offense, even of the mentioning of sports events…
We went to another place as well dancing on the tables which seem to be customary here. It was a great time and the clock had struck four when we did the first mistake of the evening: someone came up with the idea of going back to the Gay place. By the time we got there after picking up some dim witted Swiss girls it was closed. There was nothing to do but give up and go to sleep. I have been told that Saturday is an even worse day.
I actually met the owner of the place and supposedly five others. She seemed very nice but unfortunately she had some kind of strong armed man who clearly felt threatened by my presence because he was really acting in a most provocative way even slapping my face and above all: mentioning hand-ball… fortunately for us all I do not easily take offense, even of the mentioning of sports events…
We went to another place as well dancing on the tables which seem to be customary here. It was a great time and the clock had struck four when we did the first mistake of the evening: someone came up with the idea of going back to the Gay place. By the time we got there after picking up some dim witted Swiss girls it was closed. There was nothing to do but give up and go to sleep. I have been told that Saturday is an even worse day.
Reykjavik, just above freezing and rain…
They say it is a warm November, the warmest in a long time actually. But I say it just makes it worse. Rain and a few degrees over zero is about as awful as weather comes.
I been out most of the day seeing the city. But every once in a while a museum visit, a restaurant or a shop saves me from hypothermia. I admit I did not bring the best gear for this weather but then I do not think you should wear anything less than a house to feel alright here.
And did I tell you that it gets dark really early?
I been out most of the day seeing the city. But every once in a while a museum visit, a restaurant or a shop saves me from hypothermia. I admit I did not bring the best gear for this weather but then I do not think you should wear anything less than a house to feel alright here.
And did I tell you that it gets dark really early?
fredag 18 november 2011
Overslept, overstayed
I overslept this morning, since the alarm in the phone did not happen. Apparently I am not used to how it functions as of late. More than a month of travelling will do that to you. I also stayed up late with my new French friend discussing film and other motion media. It has been a blast here and he was very correct when he summed it up: You did not see much of the outside of Akureyri, but you found friends here. It turned out to be hard to do much without a car so the fantastic nature that I came for will have to wait until my not to likely return. The welcoming friendliness that I felt the first day might have been a bit exaggerated and mostly confined to the international community that I stumbled upon. Still do not know any Icelanders. I hope to find more of it in Reykjavik...
torsdag 17 november 2011
Do not bragg about your damn stores if they never are open...
Ok, sorry for the topic it is a paraphrase on a Swedish song and it fits into this post with some imagination.
Today was something of a let down: I got up early to go with a bus service to Myvattne but that service did not exist. Then I walked around the town and did some of the recommended sites such as the botanical garden. Which this time of year should be closed but is open so that you might take in the fantastic vista of a hundred dead plants at the same time. Kind of depressing.
In Reykjavik a person in the tourist information actually recommended me to have an ice-cream at a place called Brynja. She even wrote down the name on one of the information brochures that she handed me. It was the only thing she cared enough about to write down for me as far as I can remember. Let us just stop here and put this into context:
This would be the same as you visiting Stockholm and someone there writes you a note saying: you should definitely go have a cocos-boll at Orvar's in Göteborg, or landing being on the east coast of the USofA getting a recommendation for a Taco wagon in LA.
It kind of ramps up the expectations, right?
Even more so since the idea of eating ice-cream when it is about 4 degrees Celsius outside seems about as smart as licking a light pole.
So I got myself over to Brynja and reluctantly ordered a ice-cream from a equally reluctant sales-representative. To save me I got hot caramel sauce on the ice-cream.
Now I rate it as a pretty standard ice-cream. But with this build up and in this weather this can not be read as anything else than a fail.
Not amused.
Today was something of a let down: I got up early to go with a bus service to Myvattne but that service did not exist. Then I walked around the town and did some of the recommended sites such as the botanical garden. Which this time of year should be closed but is open so that you might take in the fantastic vista of a hundred dead plants at the same time. Kind of depressing.
In Reykjavik a person in the tourist information actually recommended me to have an ice-cream at a place called Brynja. She even wrote down the name on one of the information brochures that she handed me. It was the only thing she cared enough about to write down for me as far as I can remember. Let us just stop here and put this into context:
This would be the same as you visiting Stockholm and someone there writes you a note saying: you should definitely go have a cocos-boll at Orvar's in Göteborg, or landing being on the east coast of the USofA getting a recommendation for a Taco wagon in LA.
It kind of ramps up the expectations, right?
Even more so since the idea of eating ice-cream when it is about 4 degrees Celsius outside seems about as smart as licking a light pole.
So I got myself over to Brynja and reluctantly ordered a ice-cream from a equally reluctant sales-representative. To save me I got hot caramel sauce on the ice-cream.
Now I rate it as a pretty standard ice-cream. But with this build up and in this weather this can not be read as anything else than a fail.
Not amused.
No Myvatn
My plan for the day was to take the bus tour to Myvatn, the moscito water which is said to be very nice despite the name. But there was no bus-tour so I am kind of stuck in Akureyri today. Remains to do 2 very important things: see the botanical garden and eat an ice-cream while the temperature is about 5 degrees Celsius. Sounds stupid but is recommended.
I have also found a very good site where you can find people to car-pool with. I hope that I can go to Reykjavik tomorrow this way instead of the bus-service.
I have also found a very good site where you can find people to car-pool with. I hope that I can go to Reykjavik tomorrow this way instead of the bus-service.
onsdag 16 november 2011
Dive in Akureyri
I met some Swedes who invited me to go to an outdoor bath which I did. There I met several other people from Iceland, Spain, France and Sweden. They where all living in the same guesthouse. After bath, sauna and water-slide we went to the guesthouse and ate in their kitchen and just shot the crap for a while. Then there was a call for a dumpster diving session so that became our next goal. We found very good bananas and other produce. Strange that so much goes to waste. We went back to the guesthouse happy with the finds and decided to meet up tomorrow.
a barrage of burps
The sounds from the kitchen continues and it looks like the person is checking on me from time to time. A bit scary and weird. It is getting time to get out of here and meet some Swedes at the outdoor bath. Might as well since the person is skulking around acting strange. Loud sighs and other sounds.
Iceland, Reykjavik & Akureyri
Did not manage to sleep on the flight. Saw movies instead, Icelandic movies. There seems to be a bad mannered Swede in each and every one of them. The one I finished watching was called Parents and had Reine Brynolfsson in a disgusting and well played role. Quite interesting film.
After landing I got onto a bus for 4,5 hours to the north coast and the village of Akureyri where I am now. Will explore the surroundings for a bit before I go back to Reykjavik. Right now a bit tired, but I have found myself a room with a bed and have plans to go swimming with some Swedes later so there will not be any sleeping for awhile.
There is some kind of human staying in a room next to mine who uses way to much aftershave and looks a bit like a woman, the way Christopher Walken looks like a lesbian woman. Now the person with the aftershave just walked past me... sporting breasts. This is getting queerer by the minute.
As a final note: the human burped very loudly from the kitchen. Bad manners, anyone?
After landing I got onto a bus for 4,5 hours to the north coast and the village of Akureyri where I am now. Will explore the surroundings for a bit before I go back to Reykjavik. Right now a bit tired, but I have found myself a room with a bed and have plans to go swimming with some Swedes later so there will not be any sleeping for awhile.
There is some kind of human staying in a room next to mine who uses way to much aftershave and looks a bit like a woman, the way Christopher Walken looks like a lesbian woman. Now the person with the aftershave just walked past me... sporting breasts. This is getting queerer by the minute.
As a final note: the human burped very loudly from the kitchen. Bad manners, anyone?
Last days of Disco
The last days were spent in NY to reminiscent on my time there and say my good-byes to the friends who could find time in their busy schedule to see me. It has been really nice and I thank you all for the energy you have given.
Now sitting at the Airport waiting to leave this continent I feel some longing for home although this trip is far from over. Although on my last traveling legs there is an island of ice awaiting me for a week before I can finally greet my homeland and friends again.
My plans for Iceland are very sketchy and I have as I usually do asked my network for inspiration and ideas. I got a few but I fear I will miss out on the real Icelandic experience. The time is short and as I understand the situation Icelanders are not easy to get under the skin on. It remains to be seen what I actually manage to get out from the trip but my aim is to leave Reykjavik as soon as possible only returning for the weekend.
Now sitting at the Airport waiting to leave this continent I feel some longing for home although this trip is far from over. Although on my last traveling legs there is an island of ice awaiting me for a week before I can finally greet my homeland and friends again.
My plans for Iceland are very sketchy and I have as I usually do asked my network for inspiration and ideas. I got a few but I fear I will miss out on the real Icelandic experience. The time is short and as I understand the situation Icelanders are not easy to get under the skin on. It remains to be seen what I actually manage to get out from the trip but my aim is to leave Reykjavik as soon as possible only returning for the weekend.
söndag 13 november 2011
A multimedia dick
Someone unknown to me sent an MMS with the sole picture of a short but stocky dick. At first I could not make out what it was since my phone screen is so small and weakly lit. There was a checkered tiled floor in the background that was clearly visible but maybe because of the stockiness it was hard to discern that it was actually a dick. Later when sun had gone down I could make it out and was a bit surprised of course since I had not been having any flirty meetings with gay-men that I was aware of.
Now this leaves a few possibilities:
1. Someone sent the dick by mistake, either to the wrong number or the other more unlikely way.
2. Someone is pranking me. (I am hoping for this one.)
3. Someone is angry with me and has the strangest way of showing it.
4. Some male person hopes to randomly pick up someone by sending out a picture of his short but broad dick. Possibly looking for a chess-partner.
I have not yet been able to get any time to track down the number or had the energy to reply to the dick. But if I get bored enough at some point it might happen, just as I feel that I should share the picture here, but I lack the means to do it since the connector-wire between the phone and the computer presently resides in Sweden. So if anyone strongly feel that I should make it public I am leaving for Sweden in about a week: you just use the comments here…
Now this leaves a few possibilities:
1. Someone sent the dick by mistake, either to the wrong number or the other more unlikely way.
2. Someone is pranking me. (I am hoping for this one.)
3. Someone is angry with me and has the strangest way of showing it.
4. Some male person hopes to randomly pick up someone by sending out a picture of his short but broad dick. Possibly looking for a chess-partner.
I have not yet been able to get any time to track down the number or had the energy to reply to the dick. But if I get bored enough at some point it might happen, just as I feel that I should share the picture here, but I lack the means to do it since the connector-wire between the phone and the computer presently resides in Sweden. So if anyone strongly feel that I should make it public I am leaving for Sweden in about a week: you just use the comments here…
Bye Bye West Coast
Leaving the West Coast I feel like I should try and sum the sites and places up:
I visited and stayed in the large cities:
Seattle, WA
Portland, OR
San Francisco, CA
Fresno, CA
Las Vegas, NV
Los Angeles, CA
San Diego, CA
Yuma, Az
as well as in some smaller places:
Tonopah, NV
Fort Bragg, CA
South Lake Tahoe, CA/NV
Ridgecrest, CA
Grand Canyon, Az
Only once did we sleep in the car between Redding & Mineral, CA.
The place I liked the most might have been Rachel in Nevada because of the fantastic experiences we had there. Otherwise noteworthy location where the great national parks; Death Valley, Red Wood, Yosemite and Grand Canyon as well as, in lack of a better word the "ski-resort" Lake Tahoe. The windmill park at Monolith was also a sight to behold.
Salvation Mountain was something, more like a good road trip with an old friend than fantastic in it self.
Legoland was not as memorable, especially because of the price.
Seattle, San Francisco and San Diego are cities to visit for sure. Las Vegas is something else, rather than a city we could probably call it an attraction or thrill-ride. Worth seeing but not much more. Plan your trip wisely and do not over stay.
Fresno and Yuma gave to little impression on me to talk about while Portland was a nice long stay for me. But this one was with friends so it got very different finding oneself in a context and hanging out in peoples homes and at parties. Los Angeles was as I have already mentioned a big let down, for several reasons already written about.
I regret that I did not make it to Canada or Mexico but time is running out, the USA immigration rules does not help at all and having a rental car made us uncomfortable to cross.
My gold this trip was hanging out with my own Cowboy, go driving ATV in the sand dunes and probably best of all: to just let go of reality and make this trip.
I visited and stayed in the large cities:
Seattle, WA
Portland, OR
San Francisco, CA
Fresno, CA
Las Vegas, NV
Los Angeles, CA
San Diego, CA
Yuma, Az
as well as in some smaller places:
Tonopah, NV
Fort Bragg, CA
South Lake Tahoe, CA/NV
Ridgecrest, CA
Grand Canyon, Az
Only once did we sleep in the car between Redding & Mineral, CA.
The place I liked the most might have been Rachel in Nevada because of the fantastic experiences we had there. Otherwise noteworthy location where the great national parks; Death Valley, Red Wood, Yosemite and Grand Canyon as well as, in lack of a better word the "ski-resort" Lake Tahoe. The windmill park at Monolith was also a sight to behold.
Salvation Mountain was something, more like a good road trip with an old friend than fantastic in it self.
Legoland was not as memorable, especially because of the price.
Seattle, San Francisco and San Diego are cities to visit for sure. Las Vegas is something else, rather than a city we could probably call it an attraction or thrill-ride. Worth seeing but not much more. Plan your trip wisely and do not over stay.
Fresno and Yuma gave to little impression on me to talk about while Portland was a nice long stay for me. But this one was with friends so it got very different finding oneself in a context and hanging out in peoples homes and at parties. Los Angeles was as I have already mentioned a big let down, for several reasons already written about.
I regret that I did not make it to Canada or Mexico but time is running out, the USA immigration rules does not help at all and having a rental car made us uncomfortable to cross.
My gold this trip was hanging out with my own Cowboy, go driving ATV in the sand dunes and probably best of all: to just let go of reality and make this trip.
LA traffic
The other night we were driving cross town at eight in the evening on the 5 lane free way and there was queues. At eight?! This is just so far from quality of life.
We where two in the car and therefore we could use the luxury lane, it was much faster but still not completely free. But sitting there I started looking on the other cars in the other lanes and they were only carrying one passenger, almost exclusively, there was the odd car pulling off the freeway traveling through the other lanes with more than one human in them but most cars out there, more than most, close to all cars are used as a single person transportation. This is sick. What we need is a transportation system with smaller footprint per person, flexible enough to take you over vast distances and it has to be quite fast. I think there might be a need for a cultural change to have people leave their cars, let go of the ice-rink and get into the game so to speak. Gas prices being so low is one incentive to use. I have not tried using what ever transportation system they have in place so I can't say anything about the effectiveness of it.
We where two in the car and therefore we could use the luxury lane, it was much faster but still not completely free. But sitting there I started looking on the other cars in the other lanes and they were only carrying one passenger, almost exclusively, there was the odd car pulling off the freeway traveling through the other lanes with more than one human in them but most cars out there, more than most, close to all cars are used as a single person transportation. This is sick. What we need is a transportation system with smaller footprint per person, flexible enough to take you over vast distances and it has to be quite fast. I think there might be a need for a cultural change to have people leave their cars, let go of the ice-rink and get into the game so to speak. Gas prices being so low is one incentive to use. I have not tried using what ever transportation system they have in place so I can't say anything about the effectiveness of it.
Stinky LA
We have returned the car, packed our bags, counted our economical damages and said good bye. I'm off to NY in a few hours and brother is gong to hang out with the double named character who has been very hard to get a hold off until now. I think LA was something of a let down, might have to do with failure to meet any of our contacts here and also the inaccessibility of the city it self, it is so spread out you do not just benefit from a car, it is the bare minimum. A helicopter would be beneficial. Also we were tired and probably needed to take some time off and just relax and watch Swedish television after all the Lego-hunting. I would have loved to get some party going but without local connections that is very hard on the boarder of meaningless. And with the negative element of someone who hates it, the idea of even trying makes me a bit sick. Who knows I might come back some day and then LA might try to redeem herself, but I am not sure about it.
With the aftertaste I understand why everyone I ever talked to about this city with were so reluctant. It is a bit sad that such a big city can attract this bad reputation and no-one is willing to spill the beans. Maybe because their experience has been as intangible as ours? Usually when I visit a city my friends in the area make some effort to meet up. That happening here seem impossible. Just like one woman told us: the traffic situation make everyone reluctant to just meet up and hang or have a dinner even though it is really close the queues stop spontaneity.
With the aftertaste I understand why everyone I ever talked to about this city with were so reluctant. It is a bit sad that such a big city can attract this bad reputation and no-one is willing to spill the beans. Maybe because their experience has been as intangible as ours? Usually when I visit a city my friends in the area make some effort to meet up. That happening here seem impossible. Just like one woman told us: the traffic situation make everyone reluctant to just meet up and hang or have a dinner even though it is really close the queues stop spontaneity.
lördag 12 november 2011
LA the city of Maria Montazami
We are hanging out and watching clips with Maria Montazami, this super talented female person without occupation as far as I can tell and with a very unusable skill-set AND the opinions to go. Now my brother is one of her biggest fans and he tells me that her home, with the famous tassels is located here in LA. The question is why we have not gone there to pay her a visit. It is to late now, but maybe he can do it after I have left tomorrow?
Packing up stuff
My brother is determined to bring the snow-chains back home. I admire the determination and laugh at the idea. It is just funny. But he is right: what should we do with snow-chains in LA?
Tomorrow it is off to NY again. Looking forward to it. And the future.
Tomorrow it is off to NY again. Looking forward to it. And the future.
fredag 11 november 2011
Lego-overdose
So getting out of Legoland, getting into LA, getting word that the newest Lego models have been released. Getting that there is a store in this city, that did get them; getting straight into the car, getting on the free way. Getting to Glensdale and almost getting rear-ended. Getting a few of the new ones. That got me a Lego overdose. Get it?
Salvation Mountain
Yesterday we did a road-trip to "Salvation Mountain" which in short is the work of a mad man in the dessert. Tons of paint, hay, clay and wood has been assembled and "built" together to make a hill and a structure commonly refereed to as "the Museum". I is all brightly coloured and covered with an amazingly singular take on Christianity, omitting all the juicy parts. Repeating the words Love, Jesus and God until you just think that the maker Leonard Knight is not just a loony but a illiterate loony with the mental scope of a 8 year old. Even so he has been able to build this very interesting attraction or Jesus-freak-land since 1984 if I am not wrongly informed. I strongly recommend a visit if you happen to find yourself in the inner parts of southern California. It is about 2-3 hours drive from San Diego.
We came late and just caught the last light from the setting sun before it all turned dark on us. Which in it self was something of an experience. The whole place got much more eerie which was cool.
We also got a visit from the carrying neighbours who informed us about some technicalities which was very pleasant. But one of them had some self image issues and thought that he as the "alderman" should tell us the mother fukkin truth. That was unfortunately sad since he tried to be cool with having been in one of the movies. Well all in all a pretty good outing.
Read more about it here.
One question that was duly raised was if the man who built it got any. And the best answer any of us five could give (4 males and one woman) was in Swedish and can not be translated:
"Batikhäxorna står på rad som groupies."
We came late and just caught the last light from the setting sun before it all turned dark on us. Which in it self was something of an experience. The whole place got much more eerie which was cool.
We also got a visit from the carrying neighbours who informed us about some technicalities which was very pleasant. But one of them had some self image issues and thought that he as the "alderman" should tell us the mother fukkin truth. That was unfortunately sad since he tried to be cool with having been in one of the movies. Well all in all a pretty good outing.
Read more about it here.
One question that was duly raised was if the man who built it got any. And the best answer any of us five could give (4 males and one woman) was in Swedish and can not be translated:
"Batikhäxorna står på rad som groupies."
Legoland California
We went to Legoland and it was fun but overpriced: with a $5 coupon we paid $64 per person. We rode one "attraction" made of an industrial robot from the Finnish brand "Kuka" that had about 15 minutes waiting time and was over in less than a minute. It was fun though.
The best part of Legoland is still the miniature buildings. I liked the mini USA which in many places was a good recollection of my travels here and a recite that I am a true tourist who go to the most obvious places. (There were of course some that I had not visited.)
I also liked the Star Wars dioramas although I did not feel the scale was correct in most of them. Took some photos with the analogue camera. We shall see how they turn out. The Star Wars things where still not bleached by the sun as the rest of the miniatures which made them more interesting to shoot.
The best part of Legoland is still the miniature buildings. I liked the mini USA which in many places was a good recollection of my travels here and a recite that I am a true tourist who go to the most obvious places. (There were of course some that I had not visited.)
I also liked the Star Wars dioramas although I did not feel the scale was correct in most of them. Took some photos with the analogue camera. We shall see how they turn out. The Star Wars things where still not bleached by the sun as the rest of the miniatures which made them more interesting to shoot.
tisdag 8 november 2011
The big ditch
A woman we met at Lake Tahoe referred to Grand Canyon in this somewhat demeaning manor. Standing at the south rim I am actually awestruck. This is such a grand vista that I actually feel fear. Of what? A landslide take me, the car and everything else tumbling down I guess. It is just so grand that anything might happen and my measly human-powers can do nothing about any of it.
This is feeling like being an ant. The world is BIG.
måndag 7 november 2011
Fear in Las Vegas
Will I get out of here with any money left? The last 24 hours has been costly to say the least. We have spent roughly $1500. We had a lot of fun though and we broke some expensive stuff. This was the day of manly living: waking up in a hotel with bugs crawling in a piece of chocolate that we had left out, to early not adjusted to the time change we drove to rent Quads. Unfortunately there was a hold up so we went to runt fully automatic guns instead and blast of rounds. Getting back to the rental place we go out in the desert with the owner and drive like hell. Finally my brother wrecks the owners Quad because it is wrongly built. So the owner goes home with his broken Quad and we keep going. Have some lunch. Go out and crash one time each. The we go back to asses the damages and it got expensive. Not the happiest feeling... but something that you need to experience to understand.
Destruction in Las Vegas.
Oh, and we are both OK, just some scratches. And we are now in a much nicer hotel. Cost more... $2 and some cents more.
Destruction in Las Vegas.
Oh, and we are both OK, just some scratches. And we are now in a much nicer hotel. Cost more... $2 and some cents more.
söndag 6 november 2011
Kingsburg, CA
This morning we rode through Kingsburg south of Fresno. It had sign calling it self a "Swedish Town" which intrigued us enough to turn of highway 99 for a brief expedition into all things Swedish in California... and it turned out to be as real as Anna Anka. The first place we got to was a Swedish Creamery, an icecream bar. We got to speak to the owner who one of the employees said was a Swede. It turned out he was an elderly American gentleman of mixed English/Irish heritage. He told us that the Swedishness of the town was something that they had set up 15 years ago and then run out of money. He also tried to have us eat breakfast at his "German" place over the street but unfortunately we had already eaten.
We drove into the city centre and saw several Swedish flags and almost as many Dala-hästar, the famous Valley-horses from Dalarna in middle Sweden. The Kurbits-paint was not really as it should, but we could see what they tried to do. They had also rebuilt a water tank to look like an old coffee-pan. They also had the landscape arms painted on walls all over town but at places the language barrier just could not be negotiated as in the example of Bohuslän that had been renamed to "BOIIUSLAN". The word Välkommen was also used all over, sometimes with an A instead of an Ä. We did not find anyone Swedish to talk to and at the restaurant "Dalahästen" all the employees was naturally Latin. They were serving and preparing food so what did you expect?
On our way south we discussed the possibility of opening a "American City" in Sweden, try to get some Americans to live there and then when it does not work out just fill it up with Iranians. Might be something for the future.
We drove into the city centre and saw several Swedish flags and almost as many Dala-hästar, the famous Valley-horses from Dalarna in middle Sweden. The Kurbits-paint was not really as it should, but we could see what they tried to do. They had also rebuilt a water tank to look like an old coffee-pan. They also had the landscape arms painted on walls all over town but at places the language barrier just could not be negotiated as in the example of Bohuslän that had been renamed to "BOIIUSLAN". The word Välkommen was also used all over, sometimes with an A instead of an Ä. We did not find anyone Swedish to talk to and at the restaurant "Dalahästen" all the employees was naturally Latin. They were serving and preparing food so what did you expect?
On our way south we discussed the possibility of opening a "American City" in Sweden, try to get some Americans to live there and then when it does not work out just fill it up with Iranians. Might be something for the future.
last swim
The planted trees had died and fallen to the ground, but the palm-trees where still alive. The stone houses, although painted in joyful colours that befit a Water-park stood sombre and silent. Their doors thorn from their hinges and their insides ravished by previous guest: Coke-paper cups, red plastic straws and black fast-food trays littered the inside of the hollow ruins now doomed to never cheer again. Everything covered by a beige dust.
Someone had been using the place as an Air-soft battle ground. White plastic bullets littered the area and inside the house we found used flash-bangs. Pretty cool place to stage a Air-soft fight. Also very inaccessible.
So inaccessible that it did not seem like a wonder that the Water-park had failed. The wonder was rather what made someone put it here? Off the Highway 15, but not exactly at the exit of the Free-way and not really close to anything. Now dead and forgotten. But someone must have paid for all the losses...
Got Censored in Fresno
So we rolled into Fresno and found us a Laser Quest place (Laserdoom for Europeans). Being trigger-happy and bored from driving we accepted the challenge of a handful kids. We got to choose names and since I knew that we where in for an ass-kicking by those little cheating bastards I choose my name wisely: Dead-meat.
But guess what: you can not be called dead or anything related to death in Laser Quest. Is this really sane? What might happen if you have names relating to the end of life? Especially in an environment where the object is to shoot at your friends? Do we run the risk of connecting fire-arms with death? (Which is completely reasonable in my opinion.) Or do we somehow risk the future of our kids because we use words that are not even swear words just describing post-life state of the human being, one of the most natural things in life or there after?
Oh and now you are wondering how this ended? I was given the name "fluffybunny" wrongly spelled: "fluffybuny" since you are only allowed 10 characters. Is this not wrong to expose our young to misspelling? Oh, nobody cares about that. Because it is nit-picky and meaningless? Yes there you have it. And the only thing you want to know what my score was: I ended fifth out of 14. To my defence I will mention, again and again: the kids worked in teams although it was a solo-game, which is cheating. Fucking cheaters. I hate you kids. No to harsh word: I dislike your fucking cheating. And I dislike your ludicrous policies Laser-Quest. It is just meaningless.
But guess what: you can not be called dead or anything related to death in Laser Quest. Is this really sane? What might happen if you have names relating to the end of life? Especially in an environment where the object is to shoot at your friends? Do we run the risk of connecting fire-arms with death? (Which is completely reasonable in my opinion.) Or do we somehow risk the future of our kids because we use words that are not even swear words just describing post-life state of the human being, one of the most natural things in life or there after?
Oh and now you are wondering how this ended? I was given the name "fluffybunny" wrongly spelled: "fluffybuny" since you are only allowed 10 characters. Is this not wrong to expose our young to misspelling? Oh, nobody cares about that. Because it is nit-picky and meaningless? Yes there you have it. And the only thing you want to know what my score was: I ended fifth out of 14. To my defence I will mention, again and again: the kids worked in teams although it was a solo-game, which is cheating. Fucking cheaters. I hate you kids. No to harsh word: I dislike your fucking cheating. And I dislike your ludicrous policies Laser-Quest. It is just meaningless.
lördag 5 november 2011
the yosemite 2
The park with the strangest pronunciation is also the most awesome in the true sense of the word. Here nature is so unnatural that you can not do anything but be awestruck. In the autumn the cascades are not as lively as in the spring; several have dried up and only leave a trace or a trickle but some are still flowing and the veils of millions of water drops forming misty curtains coming down the mountain tells of immense powers, I would like to see this in the spring, just imagine the power then.
The rock cliffs are so tall and steep that if someone had depicted them I would have said that only in fantasy literature… now I have seen it with my own eyes and still I do not think that I really believe it.
The valley of Yosemite is a marvelous place. I would like to return some day.
The rock cliffs are so tall and steep that if someone had depicted them I would have said that only in fantasy literature… now I have seen it with my own eyes and still I do not think that I really believe it.
The valley of Yosemite is a marvelous place. I would like to return some day.
Snow Chains
Going into the Yosemite National Park we where informed of two things:
1. U.S. Highway 120 is closed for the winter, it closes between November and May.
2. We would not be allowed into the park area without 4 wheel drive or snow-chains for the wheels.
As we where fooled into renting a pick up truck without all the necessities such as 4x4, monster-truck wheels and sufficient ground clearance we decided to go get us some snow-chains. That was easy enough and costed less than $100. After trying to apply them and succeeding sufficiently we headed out.
Getting to the park the only thing the Ranger checked was if we could pay him $20 to enter the park. And sure, there was snow in the shadowy places along the road at elevation of about 4000 feet, that is 1200 meter. They were expecting a snow storm they said and that might be so but leaving the park without even having considered applying the chains I feel more than just a bit fooled, again.
1. U.S. Highway 120 is closed for the winter, it closes between November and May.
2. We would not be allowed into the park area without 4 wheel drive or snow-chains for the wheels.
As we where fooled into renting a pick up truck without all the necessities such as 4x4, monster-truck wheels and sufficient ground clearance we decided to go get us some snow-chains. That was easy enough and costed less than $100. After trying to apply them and succeeding sufficiently we headed out.
Getting to the park the only thing the Ranger checked was if we could pay him $20 to enter the park. And sure, there was snow in the shadowy places along the road at elevation of about 4000 feet, that is 1200 meter. They were expecting a snow storm they said and that might be so but leaving the park without even having considered applying the chains I feel more than just a bit fooled, again.
The shit is free…
Driving on highway 49, just south of Mariposa we passed a small farm. In front of the house there was a pile of shit. And in the shit someone had put a sign that said: "free manure".
We did not stop.
We did not stop.
On the road
The quality of the roads, highways and streets has been a thing on my mind since I started riding my bike in NY. As I have said earlier the quality in NYC is not very good. Just after a fix up it is a joy to ride but with the heavy traffic in the city the streets deteriorate fast. In LA we where stunned to learn of the sorry condition of the roads not seldom built out of concrete blocks. Getting to Nevada was a relief. Usually using asphalt and fooling enough people out of money to keep the roads good. Now in northern and central California as well as in SF the roads are quite good although there are constant signs for road works, not seldom in places where there seem not to be anything going on. I would estimate that more road work signs are left behinds than actually announcing an ongoing road work.
fredag 4 november 2011
More!
I now realize why TV is such a popular entertainment form. It has been years since I lost my TV-hunger. Now they just aired an add for a religious matching service. Perfect, now I wait for one for people with only one arm or more than 140 IQ. Maybe they are already out there?
ads on TV...
Since the internet coverage on this hotel is so bad in the room we sit in the sofa down in the lobby where there is a TV blurting out stuff... just now we got to see an add for some device used for moving furniture. It was just over the top. It also had an old lady who proudly said that she had moved furniture "all by her self", did I say she seemed to be old enough to be considered an adult, 4 times over?
If you really feel you need something to move furniture it started with Ez. Not going to do any more ads for this trash.
If you really feel you need something to move furniture it started with Ez. Not going to do any more ads for this trash.
San Francisco
We have been in San Francisco the last days and the internet at the hotel is fluctuating so my writing has been weakened. And mostly normal things have happened like a visit to the orange bridge, ditto to Alcatraz, a nice dinner and the following beers at a roof top near Castro the Gay quarters, walking in the worst part of pauper-town, driving up and down hills and walking the second most crocked street in the USofA. I was told today that the most crocked is Wall Str. Funny and dry.
We also visited the Lego Store in Hillsdale and YES they sold the Star Wars Death-star for $399. And NO I did not buy it. Come to think of it LEGO is the most overpriced product on the planet with the possible exception of non-taxed drugs.
Our plan is to leave for Yosemite tomorrow.
We also visited the Lego Store in Hillsdale and YES they sold the Star Wars Death-star for $399. And NO I did not buy it. Come to think of it LEGO is the most overpriced product on the planet with the possible exception of non-taxed drugs.
Our plan is to leave for Yosemite tomorrow.
tisdag 1 november 2011
the point is
While on the road I have had more run ins with advertising through TV and roadside billboards than during my work in NY at a semi-advertising job. And what I have been understanding as of late is the American thirst for "POINTS". The want to get four times their points, or even five times. They want to get more points, the want to get double points when buying this or that, they want their points!
To me it all seems a bit over stretched. What are these points? When can I get and use them? Is it just a normal keep-shopping-here-scam? How can this be important to any modern human?
To me it all seems a bit over stretched. What are these points? When can I get and use them? Is it just a normal keep-shopping-here-scam? How can this be important to any modern human?
The point of perception and the disposition to be fooled
We stopped by "the Confusing Hill" a charlatan fun-house on a slope in northern California not far from Leggett (a part of small-town America mostly known for the the drive-through Redwood tree).
The Confusing hill is an old establishment and have according to their own records been trying to fool gullible tourists since 1939.
In essence it is a walk no more than 100 meters up a hill side and down again through a very crooked and angled wooden structure built to fool your eyesight into changing the point of perception so that you accept that gravity is no longer in play. With a mind ready to accept magic and mystic powers you might believe it. If you apply logic and compare what you have observed of gravity before and apply a functioning level you have soon debunked the hoax. But then they took our $5 a piece so I guess we where fooled as well. If you ever go, bring a level and some measurement preferably at least 5 meters long.
The Confusing hill is an old establishment and have according to their own records been trying to fool gullible tourists since 1939.
In essence it is a walk no more than 100 meters up a hill side and down again through a very crooked and angled wooden structure built to fool your eyesight into changing the point of perception so that you accept that gravity is no longer in play. With a mind ready to accept magic and mystic powers you might believe it. If you apply logic and compare what you have observed of gravity before and apply a functioning level you have soon debunked the hoax. But then they took our $5 a piece so I guess we where fooled as well. If you ever go, bring a level and some measurement preferably at least 5 meters long.
Screwed up scale
After a cold night in the car and an early morning we reached the Redwoods around 10 in the morning. It was cold and foggy, perfect weather for a walk with giants and trolls. The ferns covered the floor and all the fallen down tree trunks, around us in the dank proximity to the stream thinner trees with moss hanging like beards from them stood together with us small humans at the foots of these giants. The sky was blue where we could see it, but here deep in the forest there was meager light. A truly grand experience.
What was not as good was the signs that did not seem to have correct information when it comes to distances and I still do not know where those trails where leading us. The Rotary had also chiseled out a stone for themselves commemorating their own grove, in 1952. They did not fool me: those trees had been there longer than 60 years.
What was not as good was the signs that did not seem to have correct information when it comes to distances and I still do not know where those trails where leading us. The Rotary had also chiseled out a stone for themselves commemorating their own grove, in 1952. They did not fool me: those trees had been there longer than 60 years.
Night in California
After leaving Lake Tahoe we have been driving north by northwest mainly along US highway 89. Darkness came about half past six somewhere north of Truckee an old western town. We kept going aiming for Mineral, by the name and placing of it an old mining town but we could not find it. We realized that we had past it as we where getting close to Red Creek coming down the valley in pitch black darkness only seeing the lights along the valley and the neckless of cities lining it. At this point we had run out of discussion, gone through the songs on the MP3 player and the driver was getting tiered just as myself. So we decided to just put the car on a grassy meadow next to a fence and sleep it out. Good night America, where ever you are.
måndag 31 oktober 2011
Lake Tahoe
When passing Carson City we spotted the sign to Lake Tahoe and since a friend of mine highly recommended that I should go there, we swiftly turned the car around and did.
Now here we are in a affordable and good room, best yet even. My brother is happy when he gets to see real houses and buy a pair of good ski-gloves. (Yes there is going to be snow here in a day or so but by then we will be long gone according to the plan.
It is a very nice looking place, no doubt about it. Yesterday we saw some things to take note on:
A bar that is both an after-beach and after-ski. I bet you will not find those at to many places.
While driving in the city I spotted a woman walking badly and falling over in the street. We stopped the car and checked on her. Soon her likewise intoxicated man came to the scene and the booz-couple could move on home. Later at the Laundry a whole gang of alcoholics had gathered and we found the amount of them quite high for such a community. Driving back over the Nevada border which goes right through town we also saw several casinos which to some extent might explain the situation.
The Applebee's restaurant has hired a woman on speed. Completely over the top, and in your face and HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY. Hilarious in a bad way. Unfortunately she had left when we came back to eat there and we did not have a video cam to capture her ways, so I guess you would never believe it if I tried to tell you. It was indescribable.
Now here we are in a affordable and good room, best yet even. My brother is happy when he gets to see real houses and buy a pair of good ski-gloves. (Yes there is going to be snow here in a day or so but by then we will be long gone according to the plan.
It is a very nice looking place, no doubt about it. Yesterday we saw some things to take note on:
A bar that is both an after-beach and after-ski. I bet you will not find those at to many places.
While driving in the city I spotted a woman walking badly and falling over in the street. We stopped the car and checked on her. Soon her likewise intoxicated man came to the scene and the booz-couple could move on home. Later at the Laundry a whole gang of alcoholics had gathered and we found the amount of them quite high for such a community. Driving back over the Nevada border which goes right through town we also saw several casinos which to some extent might explain the situation.
The Applebee's restaurant has hired a woman on speed. Completely over the top, and in your face and HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY. Hilarious in a bad way. Unfortunately she had left when we came back to eat there and we did not have a video cam to capture her ways, so I guess you would never believe it if I tried to tell you. It was indescribable.
Keep your time
We spent the night at the cinema in Lake Tahoe. We saw "In Time" directed by Unknown and starring a lot of young actors. And this is part of the problem with the film. But just part.
The concept is interesting but the makers of the film has not been able to explain or solve several everyday events. Maybe they where to obsessed with trying to make their own Matrix? Instead they use speed to just avoid all the questions raised and mystically alluding to a "father" and painting a very sketchy messiah.
The bearing idea is not really bearing even though it is interesting. But it just leaves you with to many questions such as how did it all start and how was it implemented? It needs more work, just as the acting, that is substandard. I credit this to all the young actors. Not much to say about it except it seems like it was all done in a rush.
The sets look like they have been borrowed either from the Batman TV-series or any of the 10 different Matrix copies we have seen through the last decade.
So what was good with the movie? The idea is interesting and it also provokes some thoughts about families in the future. But still with the old view of the nucleus family. And the old boring roles: the father as the provider and the females as spenders, the mother as the caring and so on… strangely crazy-christian actually.
The film also seemed to critique Darwinism in a blunt and stupid way. I do not know where that came from but maybe some weed-head at the film studio took money from some ID-fairy-tale-lobbyist, what do I know?
All in all the film was not very well made: lacking in acting, story, sets and props. But more so it lacked a good script and some visions for the future. The ending was just such a cop-out. We had a good time though discussing how to fill all the holes… but we did not manage; there where just to many of them and to few of us.
I recommend the film to anyone who is a Sci-Fi scholar specializing in dystopias with to much time on their hands, not because you will like it but because you need to see it.
The concept is interesting but the makers of the film has not been able to explain or solve several everyday events. Maybe they where to obsessed with trying to make their own Matrix? Instead they use speed to just avoid all the questions raised and mystically alluding to a "father" and painting a very sketchy messiah.
The bearing idea is not really bearing even though it is interesting. But it just leaves you with to many questions such as how did it all start and how was it implemented? It needs more work, just as the acting, that is substandard. I credit this to all the young actors. Not much to say about it except it seems like it was all done in a rush.
The sets look like they have been borrowed either from the Batman TV-series or any of the 10 different Matrix copies we have seen through the last decade.
So what was good with the movie? The idea is interesting and it also provokes some thoughts about families in the future. But still with the old view of the nucleus family. And the old boring roles: the father as the provider and the females as spenders, the mother as the caring and so on… strangely crazy-christian actually.
The film also seemed to critique Darwinism in a blunt and stupid way. I do not know where that came from but maybe some weed-head at the film studio took money from some ID-fairy-tale-lobbyist, what do I know?
All in all the film was not very well made: lacking in acting, story, sets and props. But more so it lacked a good script and some visions for the future. The ending was just such a cop-out. We had a good time though discussing how to fill all the holes… but we did not manage; there where just to many of them and to few of us.
I recommend the film to anyone who is a Sci-Fi scholar specializing in dystopias with to much time on their hands, not because you will like it but because you need to see it.
Coledale, US Highway 6, abandoned dwelling
On our way west along US Highway 6 we came upon some ruins and abandoned houses. We did a shallow exploration of them. It seemed to have been a gas station, a bar a motel or some kind of lodging with several long houses as well as some other buildings and homes. Part had been burnt to the ground. Scattered in the area was naturally black rock. And further away on the plain we could see something white, possibly a dried out lake of salt. The mountain in the background is Boundary Peak, Nevadas highest point at 13143 ft where we are headed.
Tonopah, NV
We spent the night in the somewhat scary "Clown Motel" in Tonopah with a "life-size" pre-Ronald McDonald Clown and a "without a doubt haunted" cemetery from 1911 right next to it . At least that was the information given to us by the woman who gave us the key.
My brother decided to defrost the fridge in the hotel room. During the small hours. He is funny that way. You never know what is going to happen. I might also mention the scary ghost finger that opened the shower curtain when I was in there… "haunted, proven beyond doubt" exactly how this is measured I did not have the energy to ask.
As the sun came up we looked around the main street, fittingly called "Erie Street" about four times looking for the place where the breakfast was served: the Sidewinders.
We got ourselves some bacon and eggs and what not but we got something else that we had not bargained for: the kitchen girl came out to tell me that she never made eggs sunny side up before. I then shortly explained what to look for in one sentence and then she said: "I will not be able to remember that."
Perfect.
We ate and decided to climb a mountain so when we were about to pay the kitchen girl came back and asked about the eggs again!? And then she asked us a few more questions and could not care less for the answer. A fantastic way to signal: I DO NOT GIVE A SHIT ABOUT YOU (but I do mind the tip).
My brother decided to defrost the fridge in the hotel room. During the small hours. He is funny that way. You never know what is going to happen. I might also mention the scary ghost finger that opened the shower curtain when I was in there… "haunted, proven beyond doubt" exactly how this is measured I did not have the energy to ask.
As the sun came up we looked around the main street, fittingly called "Erie Street" about four times looking for the place where the breakfast was served: the Sidewinders.
We got ourselves some bacon and eggs and what not but we got something else that we had not bargained for: the kitchen girl came out to tell me that she never made eggs sunny side up before. I then shortly explained what to look for in one sentence and then she said: "I will not be able to remember that."
Perfect.
We ate and decided to climb a mountain so when we were about to pay the kitchen girl came back and asked about the eggs again!? And then she asked us a few more questions and could not care less for the answer. A fantastic way to signal: I DO NOT GIVE A SHIT ABOUT YOU (but I do mind the tip).
lördag 29 oktober 2011
The Cowboy V
Back at the bar, still have not eaten and two hours of my life passed in what felt like 20 minutes we are very hungry. Again I try to order from Marc the man behind the counter. Again I am denied service and as my brother disappears for a moment some more time passes on. The Cowboy on the other hand has another whiskey on the rocks in his glass before he even seats himself at the bar.
Now we are ready to order some food and try to do so, but the Cowboy is having none of it: he has food at his place and now we are taking both our Pick-Up trucks and drive in a cloud of dust to the Ranch.
The trailer is hot, unclean and just what you would expect from a Cowboy crib. While I go to the toilet the Cowboy downs a few mouthfuls of Canadian Whiskey. He then goes on rambling about all sorts of things and starts making us food. He asks us what we want and picks out some fine beef from the fridge. But before he had the time to start cooking this banquet he slips into sever drunkenness. He admits some more appalling details about his life before he just leaves the bacon frying on the stove tells me he needs to do some stuff and drives off in his car.
While I take over the cooking he returns, now more drunk than ever. He demands that I stop cooking since he will be doing that, as a good host. He almost falls over a couple of times before serving us refried beans and bacon. He takes no more than three bites of his own food before he states that he will now leave. He walks over to his trailer and disappears.
Now my brother is not at all relaxed in the situation so I make the dishes and turn off the stove. We write a letter to the good Cowboy and we leave the ranch. Hoping to return.
Now we are ready to order some food and try to do so, but the Cowboy is having none of it: he has food at his place and now we are taking both our Pick-Up trucks and drive in a cloud of dust to the Ranch.
The trailer is hot, unclean and just what you would expect from a Cowboy crib. While I go to the toilet the Cowboy downs a few mouthfuls of Canadian Whiskey. He then goes on rambling about all sorts of things and starts making us food. He asks us what we want and picks out some fine beef from the fridge. But before he had the time to start cooking this banquet he slips into sever drunkenness. He admits some more appalling details about his life before he just leaves the bacon frying on the stove tells me he needs to do some stuff and drives off in his car.
While I take over the cooking he returns, now more drunk than ever. He demands that I stop cooking since he will be doing that, as a good host. He almost falls over a couple of times before serving us refried beans and bacon. He takes no more than three bites of his own food before he states that he will now leave. He walks over to his trailer and disappears.
Now my brother is not at all relaxed in the situation so I make the dishes and turn off the stove. We write a letter to the good Cowboy and we leave the ranch. Hoping to return.
The Cowboy IV
We return the horse to its stabling and we get to ride it. Unfortunately the Cowboy is a huge man so the stir-ups are way to long so it is not my best ride. But it is a frisky animal I can tell. According to our host it also cost $20.000.
By now the Cowboy has invited us to stay at his place about a dozen times. He also asked us where we were going ten times and told us the same facts about farming at least eight times. His memory is not serving him all that good, that has come very apparent the first hour or two of our friendship. Another thing that is apparent is the man's candidness: he tells us about his jobs and his views of the world and to sum it up: he could have lived in the old west.
Being who I am I have the time of my life as the Cowboy is deciding things for my reserved brother. I love every minute of this and look forward to what will happen next. We return to the bar and on the way over there our host repeats him self a few more times.
By now the Cowboy has invited us to stay at his place about a dozen times. He also asked us where we were going ten times and told us the same facts about farming at least eight times. His memory is not serving him all that good, that has come very apparent the first hour or two of our friendship. Another thing that is apparent is the man's candidness: he tells us about his jobs and his views of the world and to sum it up: he could have lived in the old west.
Being who I am I have the time of my life as the Cowboy is deciding things for my reserved brother. I love every minute of this and look forward to what will happen next. We return to the bar and on the way over there our host repeats him self a few more times.
The Cowboy III
We find the herd we are looking for, the Cowboy has about 1300 cattle in this valley which is his grazing land. It is an immense area and we both stand dumbfounded at the huge workload that the Cowboy has, although he has one friend to help him. In this herd I estimate there are about one hundred animals.
We leave the dirt road and the Cowboy steers his 4 wheel-drive into the terrain. We stop among some animals that seem quite slow and calm not in any hurry to get out of the way for a gigantic pick-up truck bearing down on them.
The Cowboy sets his dogs to work to round up the cattle but unfortunately we do not find the injured cow. So we do not get to do any roping which I was both fearing and looking forward to. We get back in the truck and set of again. This time we have some minor problem getting back on the road, mind you we have a horse on a horse cart as well. But the Cowboy is not appalled; he just shifts gear and drive right up through the ditch. On our way back he almost go off road on the left side of the road hitting a road marker while he is explaining something to us about cow-rearing. Now I start thinking that he might be drunk and as we get out of the car I understand that my brother is sure of it.
We leave the dirt road and the Cowboy steers his 4 wheel-drive into the terrain. We stop among some animals that seem quite slow and calm not in any hurry to get out of the way for a gigantic pick-up truck bearing down on them.
The Cowboy sets his dogs to work to round up the cattle but unfortunately we do not find the injured cow. So we do not get to do any roping which I was both fearing and looking forward to. We get back in the truck and set of again. This time we have some minor problem getting back on the road, mind you we have a horse on a horse cart as well. But the Cowboy is not appalled; he just shifts gear and drive right up through the ditch. On our way back he almost go off road on the left side of the road hitting a road marker while he is explaining something to us about cow-rearing. Now I start thinking that he might be drunk and as we get out of the car I understand that my brother is sure of it.
The Cowboy II
And the story continues. We drive out into the mostly flat prairie and then we get a thorough but fast and repetitive lesson of the plants that grow on the lands. There are 7 different bushes and 3 different grasses. There are four of them that ranks highest when it comes to grazing the animals, and one is poisonous. There is also one grass that was imported from Europe with the coming of the white man and it is more or less useless. But there is white rice and another one that contains about 18 percent protein, so it is money in the bank for a beef-farmer. I find the whole thing quite interesting but confusing.
After walking around the brushes with their thorns for about 15 minutes we get in the car again and I try to get as many thorns that I can out of my feet and out of my shoes. We head out to rope us a cow...
After walking around the brushes with their thorns for about 15 minutes we get in the car again and I try to get as many thorns that I can out of my feet and out of my shoes. We head out to rope us a cow...
This one is for the stoybooks...
So in the aforementioned bar a big man comes in before I have managed to attract the attention of the proprietor. We start talking, mostly about Vegas. Then he asks me what I am looking for and I say lunch as truthfully as a starving man. He then says that he just cooked up beans and pork in his home and I am more than welcome to it. He does not even seem to be thinking of going there him self. I get a bit surprised but keep my calm and ask if he is serious. Which he assures me he is. Knowing my brother being quite particular about his food I think we better eat in the bar anyway. But before I know it the Cowboy has told me and my brother about this cow that he needs to catch today because her foot is bad and now we are leaving the bar carrying a soda in our hands while he has a glass of whiskey with ice. We get into thebig Pick-Up truck that also has a horse trailer w/ horse and two dogs on the back. I actually ask if I should change to real shoes instead of the flip-flops that I wear but he just says that it will be all-right. And off we go. There is an automatic pistol, .32-caliber on the wind-shield together with the Cowboys whiskey glass. Before I know what is about to happen the Cowboy cocks the gun while driving to the sound of the ice rocking about in his whiskey glass on top of the cars dashboard. He aims out of the window and fires a round to my ears complete amazement. Then he asks if we want to try and shoot it. We both respectfully decline. And this is just the beginning...
Cowboys and Aliens
So we left Las Vegas this morning in search of the Extraterrestrial Highway and Area 51.
Driving through Alamo I thought that it might be the historical site. So we turned into the little community. Turned out to be the wrong Alamo. But that did not matter, we got to see a kids rodeo. There was some seriously impressing riding by young girls and boys. The lariat throwing was not as good. we saw a 4 year old riding a fully grown horse and that was to cute and with Swedish standards we think that a hat is not as good as a helmet.
After this little detour we went on to Rachel which is a tiny group of houses just on the border to Nellis Air-force base a.k.a Area 51. They have a bar/saloon there which is just next to a station measuring radiation from the test site. The bar is called Little A'Le'Inn and has all kinds of Alien and UFO paraphernalia. I can not say that it was particularly friendly or with good service since I did not manage to order anything there even though I tried several times during several hours. The locals took care of that and I be happy to tell you all about it in the next posting...
Driving through Alamo I thought that it might be the historical site. So we turned into the little community. Turned out to be the wrong Alamo. But that did not matter, we got to see a kids rodeo. There was some seriously impressing riding by young girls and boys. The lariat throwing was not as good. we saw a 4 year old riding a fully grown horse and that was to cute and with Swedish standards we think that a hat is not as good as a helmet.
After this little detour we went on to Rachel which is a tiny group of houses just on the border to Nellis Air-force base a.k.a Area 51. They have a bar/saloon there which is just next to a station measuring radiation from the test site. The bar is called Little A'Le'Inn and has all kinds of Alien and UFO paraphernalia. I can not say that it was particularly friendly or with good service since I did not manage to order anything there even though I tried several times during several hours. The locals took care of that and I be happy to tell you all about it in the next posting...
fredag 28 oktober 2011
White Trash
I walked through a couple of casinos just to get the feel for Las Vegas. I saw several signs dreamingly remembering how the Rat Pack used to "own" this place in the 60ies. And maybe that was what I was looking for as well: style and well dressed people shaking the dice. But that did not happen readily. The Strathospere has been invaded by snuggies, the casuals and the leisure lot. No lime light and no high life.
I went on. At Encore it looked a little better, but there is a big difference from the movies. I heavy weight difference. It does not look like in "Casino".
Further more: style has no credit here, only credit does. I bet you can sit naked at the gaming table if you just play for a million.
I went on. At Encore it looked a little better, but there is a big difference from the movies. I heavy weight difference. It does not look like in "Casino".
Further more: style has no credit here, only credit does. I bet you can sit naked at the gaming table if you just play for a million.
Loathing in Las Vegas
I meet a man in the street, I think it might have been just a block off Main street, not entirely sure, I had just managed to sneak out through the Stratospheres garage.
He was kind of old, did not look to clean and walked with one of those high tech aluminum canes with red coating.
He wanted my help. His teeth disgusted me, but I decided to hear him out and he repeatedly shook my hand as a sign of reassurance and I take it some kind of submission.
I knew he was going to lie me right to the face and I wanted to see how that looked. I wanted to know if I could detect a liar so I just waited for him to finnish his ramp up. So he began: "I am trying to get home…"
He said he was from Wyoming, described the neighboring states. His storytelling was far from to the point but maybe I just was not susceptible to it.
He had just recently gone with his wife to California to bury some family member and their car had broken down. Even though he was well over 60 he claimed he had a new job waiting back home operating heavy machinery. Oh, yes I was well set up, he would take my address and any money I could give him now his wife would send back double the amount with a Christmas greeting to me.
Right there a gamble for me: and no risk, here a man in need of money who surly will repay me as soon as he can, right?
Now I watched the man during his whole speech and there was nothing that should me he was lying in his appearance. He seemed completely truthful.
I than said no to this most profitable proposal and we talked for a minute more when he warned me of the hazard for getting robbed on this very street. And to underscore this very point he related a story of something he had seen: two guys robbing two other just over there and he pointed down the street. And I asked him if this was tonight. No no it was 5 or 6 weeks ago. And then he hurriedly added that he had heard this, since he had not been here THAT long…
He was kind of old, did not look to clean and walked with one of those high tech aluminum canes with red coating.
He wanted my help. His teeth disgusted me, but I decided to hear him out and he repeatedly shook my hand as a sign of reassurance and I take it some kind of submission.
I knew he was going to lie me right to the face and I wanted to see how that looked. I wanted to know if I could detect a liar so I just waited for him to finnish his ramp up. So he began: "I am trying to get home…"
He said he was from Wyoming, described the neighboring states. His storytelling was far from to the point but maybe I just was not susceptible to it.
He had just recently gone with his wife to California to bury some family member and their car had broken down. Even though he was well over 60 he claimed he had a new job waiting back home operating heavy machinery. Oh, yes I was well set up, he would take my address and any money I could give him now his wife would send back double the amount with a Christmas greeting to me.
Right there a gamble for me: and no risk, here a man in need of money who surly will repay me as soon as he can, right?
Now I watched the man during his whole speech and there was nothing that should me he was lying in his appearance. He seemed completely truthful.
I than said no to this most profitable proposal and we talked for a minute more when he warned me of the hazard for getting robbed on this very street. And to underscore this very point he related a story of something he had seen: two guys robbing two other just over there and he pointed down the street. And I asked him if this was tonight. No no it was 5 or 6 weeks ago. And then he hurriedly added that he had heard this, since he had not been here THAT long…
onsdag 26 oktober 2011
LA Odyssey
We take route 14 north. We have stocked up with a new map that leads us out of the city and towards Death Valley.
This is the desert. And the worst roads. And garbage. $1000 fine for littering. Yeah good idea, but how many are actually caught?
"Strange that we do not see any windmills says my brother."
"I can not believe that they have these many monster trucks on the road. I say, not speaking out loud that I have a hard time understanding how we ended up riding in one ourselves... Then I see them. A forest of them, almost as many as the monster trucks trafficking the free-way around us. Wind mills. There must be at least a hundred of them. It is my Sky valley.
We turn of the free-way. We go on to an asphalt strip with double yellow lines in the middle and then we leave that as well; we go onto a dirt road in to the wilderness between Joshua trees and old TV-sets. TV-sets from the seventies, the type that used to have wooden box around the tube, now destroyed and dusty in the sand. The sand that we drive through. Up and over, sometimes the road dips into an old dried out wadi or ditch.
My brother says that this is why we rented a monster truck. We watch the windmills, and I take some bad photos that never will make this experience justice and I swear over not being able to play "Welcome to Sky valley" while we are amongst the tall white structures reaching towards the sky. A sky where the sun is setting and paints the perfect sunset with a blend of yellow and pink. The mills turn slowly in the calm breeze as we drive away.
This is the desert. And the worst roads. And garbage. $1000 fine for littering. Yeah good idea, but how many are actually caught?
"Strange that we do not see any windmills says my brother."
"I can not believe that they have these many monster trucks on the road. I say, not speaking out loud that I have a hard time understanding how we ended up riding in one ourselves... Then I see them. A forest of them, almost as many as the monster trucks trafficking the free-way around us. Wind mills. There must be at least a hundred of them. It is my Sky valley.
We turn of the free-way. We go on to an asphalt strip with double yellow lines in the middle and then we leave that as well; we go onto a dirt road in to the wilderness between Joshua trees and old TV-sets. TV-sets from the seventies, the type that used to have wooden box around the tube, now destroyed and dusty in the sand. The sand that we drive through. Up and over, sometimes the road dips into an old dried out wadi or ditch.
My brother says that this is why we rented a monster truck. We watch the windmills, and I take some bad photos that never will make this experience justice and I swear over not being able to play "Welcome to Sky valley" while we are amongst the tall white structures reaching towards the sky. A sky where the sun is setting and paints the perfect sunset with a blend of yellow and pink. The mills turn slowly in the calm breeze as we drive away.
Route 66
We stop at the cross section of Florence and Normandy. I get out, try to get some pictures. But it is probably only I who knows the historical significance of this place and the name Reginald Denny. I do not manage to get any good pictures. I am sure of this although I have not seen any of it because I use a disposable camera. The whole scene sucks. We leave by Normandy Avenue and cross Korea Town...
We are rolling down Santa Monica Boulevard in our oversized Ford, the historical Route 66... and it looks like everything else. Nothing special here. We see the Hollywood sign between the houses flash by and that is all that we need from that old sign.
We drive of the edge of the map and get lost in Burbank. Find a 99 cent store and buy 5 gallons of water. After all we are headed into the desert. What we are going to do with all the candy? Well eat it, or throw it away when we realize that it has a tint of perfume to the otherwise blend taste. Disgusting.
We are rolling down Santa Monica Boulevard in our oversized Ford, the historical Route 66... and it looks like everything else. Nothing special here. We see the Hollywood sign between the houses flash by and that is all that we need from that old sign.
We drive of the edge of the map and get lost in Burbank. Find a 99 cent store and buy 5 gallons of water. After all we are headed into the desert. What we are going to do with all the candy? Well eat it, or throw it away when we realize that it has a tint of perfume to the otherwise blend taste. Disgusting.
Tiping
Maybe just maybe I gave the cab-driver to little tip... now it might be him outside the hotel honking the horn at 1 in the night. And maybe this is the cab-drivers unions approved method of complaining about bad tips: to go the address once per hour during the night and give a loud horn. It remains to be seen. If this is not the case then there is some real social torture-master out there in a car...
Brother where art thou?
I met the small-fry at LAX. He was tiered of course, being in transit for 16 hours. I got my bag and then we tried to walk out of the airport since I had booked an hotel next to the airport. This was not as easy as it sounds. To leave LAX by foot you need to find the secret passage.
The hotel I booked was not as close to the airport as advertised so on our way there we had 7 sorrows and ended up eating about the worst meal I have had in the USofA in a stinking roadside club called the Melody Club. Except from the odour of the place the live music they had was way to loud and not to my liking at all. Since I neither wear multicoloured shirts, dance in geometrical shapes or push cows.
Finally at the Hotel my booking exists but has transmuted into a smoking allowed room and it reeks. Thankfully we get to change to a habitat suitable for humans and finally my little brother can rest his drowsy head. Nighty night.
The hotel I booked was not as close to the airport as advertised so on our way there we had 7 sorrows and ended up eating about the worst meal I have had in the USofA in a stinking roadside club called the Melody Club. Except from the odour of the place the live music they had was way to loud and not to my liking at all. Since I neither wear multicoloured shirts, dance in geometrical shapes or push cows.
Finally at the Hotel my booking exists but has transmuted into a smoking allowed room and it reeks. Thankfully we get to change to a habitat suitable for humans and finally my little brother can rest his drowsy head. Nighty night.
Goodbye Portland
Today I had brunch with my hosts before I left Portland. It was at a place called Bear Dinner and was a true American Dinner where we managed to get an American parking, only five steps from the entrance.
The brunch consisted of 2 sausages, 2 bacon strips a oversized piece of ham, 3 eggs and hash-browns and 2 pancakes. We got stuffed, not a problem for me but someone else was going to teach jiujitsu 40 minutes later. Tough shit.
Flight was on time and on my way to LA I went to Phoenix, AZ. That was warm although I only stayed for an hour. I had some great company: I met the CEO of a start-up bike company. They seem to have an interesting product in a fold-able bike with an electric engine for commuters. It can be viewed here.
In retrospect Portland was lush, flat and very nice but lacked character. Everyone (almost) was friendly and nice, but except from my friends I do not know what I will remember of the city?
The brunch consisted of 2 sausages, 2 bacon strips a oversized piece of ham, 3 eggs and hash-browns and 2 pancakes. We got stuffed, not a problem for me but someone else was going to teach jiujitsu 40 minutes later. Tough shit.
Flight was on time and on my way to LA I went to Phoenix, AZ. That was warm although I only stayed for an hour. I had some great company: I met the CEO of a start-up bike company. They seem to have an interesting product in a fold-able bike with an electric engine for commuters. It can be viewed here.
In retrospect Portland was lush, flat and very nice but lacked character. Everyone (almost) was friendly and nice, but except from my friends I do not know what I will remember of the city?
måndag 24 oktober 2011
American beverages
They are really pushing it when it comes to reinventing established beverages in this country:
Iced Coffey, Hot Cider, Bubble The. As well as all the extra flavours the like to add, the most important one right now being Pumpkin.
What is next? Boiling Shakes, Hot Coke or carbonated Mer?
Iced Coffey, Hot Cider, Bubble The. As well as all the extra flavours the like to add, the most important one right now being Pumpkin.
What is next? Boiling Shakes, Hot Coke or carbonated Mer?
söndag 23 oktober 2011
Milburn's Haunted Manor
So after our disappointment with the Haunted Woods we went to a more established Haunted Manor that had three different attractions for $20 or $9 each. The three where:
1. the Woods
2. the Darkness
3. the Manor
The Woods was the best one and we laughed and jumped and almost shit our pants all four. They used wires and suspension in a good way as well as the broken room of the trees mixed with small boxed houses that often were pitched dark.
The Darkness was more of an indoor experience where we walked from room to room. It had some disgusting children and a clown but it was clear that this one was not where the focus had been put.
The Manor was the tour that probably had most planning and resources gone in to it. It was of course an indoor experience although it actually lacked a manor and was housed in some kind of tent. It started out with a kind of story when we met an old crone in the hallway. She was creepy enough and then we walked through a number of rooms and corridors with some fancy designs making use of furniture and different levels, although we remained on the same ground level all the time. There where plenty of actors in all three tours as well. In one room a huge Hern-like man took our picture that was sold outside later on.
All in all it was a interesting and fun experience, the woods was the best of the three. I could definitely recommend it if you are looking for a cheesy Halloween experience. The Milburns home page is here.
1. the Woods
2. the Darkness
3. the Manor
The Woods was the best one and we laughed and jumped and almost shit our pants all four. They used wires and suspension in a good way as well as the broken room of the trees mixed with small boxed houses that often were pitched dark.
The Darkness was more of an indoor experience where we walked from room to room. It had some disgusting children and a clown but it was clear that this one was not where the focus had been put.
The Manor was the tour that probably had most planning and resources gone in to it. It was of course an indoor experience although it actually lacked a manor and was housed in some kind of tent. It started out with a kind of story when we met an old crone in the hallway. She was creepy enough and then we walked through a number of rooms and corridors with some fancy designs making use of furniture and different levels, although we remained on the same ground level all the time. There where plenty of actors in all three tours as well. In one room a huge Hern-like man took our picture that was sold outside later on.
All in all it was a interesting and fun experience, the woods was the best of the three. I could definitely recommend it if you are looking for a cheesy Halloween experience. The Milburns home page is here.
Fooled
Today picking up a few disposable cameras I realized that I paid about triple the price for the one I bought in NY. Hmmm.
Later having lunch I ordered a good burrito for $ 4.99. Then I realized that the price for two burritos was ALSO $4.99 and for three burritos you would pay a measly $5.25.
The overhead on that one burrito... oh they got me again.
Later having lunch I ordered a good burrito for $ 4.99. Then I realized that the price for two burritos was ALSO $4.99 and for three burritos you would pay a measly $5.25.
The overhead on that one burrito... oh they got me again.
lördag 22 oktober 2011
Five rings jui-jitsu
Yesterday night we went to a Japanese restaurant and met with some people from Five Rings Jui-Jitsu club. And I was asked to come roll with them today so that I did.
It is a clean and very friendly club and I was able to try some different techniques. My frail designer skin did not take kindly to the treatment of rubbing the matt though. And I even had the slight misfortune of a momentary dislocation of my knee. But it popped right back again so now it is just a bit swollen. I had a good time and would be happy to roll again on a more permanent basis. Good guys down there.
It is a clean and very friendly club and I was able to try some different techniques. My frail designer skin did not take kindly to the treatment of rubbing the matt though. And I even had the slight misfortune of a momentary dislocation of my knee. But it popped right back again so now it is just a bit swollen. I had a good time and would be happy to roll again on a more permanent basis. Good guys down there.
Strip poles and bookcases
I have now on more than one occasion had pleasure of walking the inner city of Portland and while there are a large number of homeless, bums and beggars the city is nice although square and corporate looking. It is not a tall city, no skyscrapers just some tall buildings. The architecture ranges from American box to Ecclectical Roman independence. Not the largest ranged but there is a time-difference.
The city is clean which I appreciate and the people mostly calm and friendly. There are two tent camps set up in the city but I did not see any of them. One is brought to Portland by the 99% of the Occupy movement and the other is a tent camp for paired homeless people since apparently most shelters are for only one gender or the other. Ethnically the city is mixed but there are so many Hispanic that the tram has announcements also in Spanish.
There are several book-stores and one of them is very famous for it's size. It is called Powell's and can be found here.
Portland is also known for it's many strip-joints. It is actually the city in the USofA with the most strip-joints per capita which is said to go hand in hand with another thing they lead: most churches per capita. I saw several strip-clubs and I also laughed when I saw the sign advertising 24h lap dance. Not that I thought that you would get one for 24 hours straight which would have been kind of tortureesq but rather knowing that you can not get useful things like food 24 hours a day in most places but here you will never be denied a lap dance.
The city is clean which I appreciate and the people mostly calm and friendly. There are two tent camps set up in the city but I did not see any of them. One is brought to Portland by the 99% of the Occupy movement and the other is a tent camp for paired homeless people since apparently most shelters are for only one gender or the other. Ethnically the city is mixed but there are so many Hispanic that the tram has announcements also in Spanish.
There are several book-stores and one of them is very famous for it's size. It is called Powell's and can be found here.
Portland is also known for it's many strip-joints. It is actually the city in the USofA with the most strip-joints per capita which is said to go hand in hand with another thing they lead: most churches per capita. I saw several strip-clubs and I also laughed when I saw the sign advertising 24h lap dance. Not that I thought that you would get one for 24 hours straight which would have been kind of tortureesq but rather knowing that you can not get useful things like food 24 hours a day in most places but here you will never be denied a lap dance.
fredag 21 oktober 2011
Voodoo Doughnuts
When walking in central Portland today I came across a que of people lining up to buy from a shop called Voodoo Doughnuts.
I asked them what it was all about and apparently the people I asked had never been there but got fooled by the already long line and decided to add to it.
When I came back a few hours later the que was gone and I could easily stroll in and by one for my self. I had to know what was so special. They told me that a signature doughnut from "VD" as they called them self would be double sized one with bacon on top. I felt that I had not done anything bad today so punishment was not on the menu. I got a pretty standard raspberry filled and glacéed one. It was good, but not waiting in line good. Maybe next time I try the bacon-version.
I asked them what it was all about and apparently the people I asked had never been there but got fooled by the already long line and decided to add to it.
When I came back a few hours later the que was gone and I could easily stroll in and by one for my self. I had to know what was so special. They told me that a signature doughnut from "VD" as they called them self would be double sized one with bacon on top. I felt that I had not done anything bad today so punishment was not on the menu. I got a pretty standard raspberry filled and glacéed one. It was good, but not waiting in line good. Maybe next time I try the bacon-version.
The Haunted Woods
I got invited to go to a Haunted Wood/House thing/event.
Some people who have a house outside of the urbanized area and probably likes Halloween very much had put together a ghost-walk of sorts.
It consisted of a lady selling tickets in a barn where there where big cages with big bones in them and a small sized dog in one. Then you walked out into the darkness, hearing very horror like and over the top sounds from another barn we where lead to a scene where a car seemed to have crashed down into some marshland and a man in what to me looked like a orange prison jumpsuit stood very still further away. I started thinking that that man was just a scarecrow but I am not sure. When we got closer someone came out of the bushes and started following us. That had a scary effect, but then it all just broke down because all of a sudden there was so many different person lining the path we where on that it felt like a market place or something like that. Then one of the guys who where with us broke it completely by talking loudly about how he would smack anyone who came close to him. That took away much of the fun and he seemed to be having issues. Then a clown showed up with a chainsaw and that was a bit scary, clowns often are, but again to much in to little space. Finally we came to the loud barn where they had built a walk with black plastic bags and where playing loud music: Living dead girl with White Zombie actually, which gave us a bit of a Rave feeling: going out in the dark woods with glow sticks seeing people in strange attire. So we danced the last part of the walk and then we where at the cars again. Not that scary, unfortunately. What was more scary was when we drove to get to the place we went wrong and passed some "no trespassing" signs. Then it felt like that could actually be the tour. Later we where even informed that the neighbour was crazy and had been threatening people.
Some people who have a house outside of the urbanized area and probably likes Halloween very much had put together a ghost-walk of sorts.
It consisted of a lady selling tickets in a barn where there where big cages with big bones in them and a small sized dog in one. Then you walked out into the darkness, hearing very horror like and over the top sounds from another barn we where lead to a scene where a car seemed to have crashed down into some marshland and a man in what to me looked like a orange prison jumpsuit stood very still further away. I started thinking that that man was just a scarecrow but I am not sure. When we got closer someone came out of the bushes and started following us. That had a scary effect, but then it all just broke down because all of a sudden there was so many different person lining the path we where on that it felt like a market place or something like that. Then one of the guys who where with us broke it completely by talking loudly about how he would smack anyone who came close to him. That took away much of the fun and he seemed to be having issues. Then a clown showed up with a chainsaw and that was a bit scary, clowns often are, but again to much in to little space. Finally we came to the loud barn where they had built a walk with black plastic bags and where playing loud music: Living dead girl with White Zombie actually, which gave us a bit of a Rave feeling: going out in the dark woods with glow sticks seeing people in strange attire. So we danced the last part of the walk and then we where at the cars again. Not that scary, unfortunately. What was more scary was when we drove to get to the place we went wrong and passed some "no trespassing" signs. Then it felt like that could actually be the tour. Later we where even informed that the neighbour was crazy and had been threatening people.
Halloween
Halloween is truly important here. I thought it was just a fun time when you dress up and go trick or treating at other peoples doors much like what we do at easter in Sweden plus the tricking then. But was I wrong: the month of October will according to my predictions be renamed Halloween in the near future since October, the whole month is taken up by Halloween celebrations.
Any good American should:
- Decorate their house with pumpkin paraphernalia.
- Decorate their house with ghost.
- Decorate their house with witches.
- Decorate their house with tombstones.
- Decorate their house with cobweb.
- Decorate their lawn with pumpkins, skulls, tombstones and small lanterns.
- Make cookies out of cookies. See explanations further down.
- Throw a Halloween party, not necessarily on the night of Halloween, but sometime during the month of Halloween (known to others as October)
- Go visit a Haunted House (or set one up and have people come visit. I write about it here.)
- Buy a shitty costume in a shitty store located in a shitty strip mall. The shitty costume should be of such a low quality that it falls to pieces already before you leave said shitty store in afore mentioned shitty strip mall.
---
On Cookies
It is a normal behaviour for any American to buy cookies from the store and then re-bake them in another cookie dough to make bigger cookies. There is nothing to even lift your eyebrow on here... just accept it. (Oh, yes they are often good tasting and way to large but that is beside the point!)
Any good American should:
- Decorate their house with pumpkin paraphernalia.
- Decorate their house with ghost.
- Decorate their house with witches.
- Decorate their house with tombstones.
- Decorate their house with cobweb.
- Decorate their lawn with pumpkins, skulls, tombstones and small lanterns.
- Make cookies out of cookies. See explanations further down.
- Throw a Halloween party, not necessarily on the night of Halloween, but sometime during the month of Halloween (known to others as October)
- Go visit a Haunted House (or set one up and have people come visit. I write about it here.)
- Buy a shitty costume in a shitty store located in a shitty strip mall. The shitty costume should be of such a low quality that it falls to pieces already before you leave said shitty store in afore mentioned shitty strip mall.
---
On Cookies
It is a normal behaviour for any American to buy cookies from the store and then re-bake them in another cookie dough to make bigger cookies. There is nothing to even lift your eyebrow on here... just accept it. (Oh, yes they are often good tasting and way to large but that is beside the point!)
Transport Nutcases IV
Today riding the MAX light rail from Portland city centre a man approached me and wanted to sit next to me although there was plenty of space for him to sit not beside me but I indulged him. He then wanted to talk about the book I was reading, or actually he did not look like he wanted to talk at all, but he did talk to me asking about what I was reading and then with a glance he dismissed the Lovecraft book I am currently reading as "science fiction" wrinkling his nose if I was not mistaken.
He was already acting somewhat antisocial looking the other way while talking and in the pretty typical way here not listening. He claimed to know about the today largely forgotten and somewhat obscure writer Lord Dunsany, then asked me if I read the bible. So that was what he wanted to talk about. He exposed himself as the jesus-freak he was. From that point onward I knew that nothing good was coming out of this encounter.
I said yes I have read enough parts of the story book he was referring to and I am ashamed that the culture I come from have the scripture with the worst prose.
He did not really have anything to add to that so instead he looked away and started murmur something un-discernible. Save by the bell we reached the station and I went the opposite way from the jesus-freak. I think that he might have been out on a mission to convert someone. He did not seem to happy about it. I held my distance as well as you can in a confined space since there are to many weapons around here wielded by to many crazy fiends.
He was already acting somewhat antisocial looking the other way while talking and in the pretty typical way here not listening. He claimed to know about the today largely forgotten and somewhat obscure writer Lord Dunsany, then asked me if I read the bible. So that was what he wanted to talk about. He exposed himself as the jesus-freak he was. From that point onward I knew that nothing good was coming out of this encounter.
I said yes I have read enough parts of the story book he was referring to and I am ashamed that the culture I come from have the scripture with the worst prose.
He did not really have anything to add to that so instead he looked away and started murmur something un-discernible. Save by the bell we reached the station and I went the opposite way from the jesus-freak. I think that he might have been out on a mission to convert someone. He did not seem to happy about it. I held my distance as well as you can in a confined space since there are to many weapons around here wielded by to many crazy fiends.
Almond milk?!
I was told that Almond milk is better than normal milk. Less bad, more good - simple right? Then the very old truth must come in: good for you - bad for your tongue, right?
...
I just had a mouthful of Almond milk. Uuuharg. No. Don't do it, it is not worth it.
...
I just had a mouthful of Almond milk. Uuuharg. No. Don't do it, it is not worth it.
torsdag 20 oktober 2011
Portland, Oregon
Today I landed in Portland, Oregon. After some initial scouting of the airport I decided that it is not a big city. Riding the MAX light train seemed to agree with my assessment. Checking my observations with Wikipedia has Portland as an area at more than 2 million inhabitants, and the city as USofAs 29th biggest. Well it is big enough but people around the nation has their picture clear about Portland and Oregon: it is considered a back water, but a nice one. They say that this is the place for young people to retire in. The weather is supposed to be like that of Seattle and we have had some rain today so that seem to be correct, just out of observation.
The houses of down town Portland are shorter than skyscrapers and the whole town has a bit of a laid back mood this far. Tomorrow will give me more input. Time to sleep.
The houses of down town Portland are shorter than skyscrapers and the whole town has a bit of a laid back mood this far. Tomorrow will give me more input. Time to sleep.
Seattle - last words
So I have left the capital of Grunge. It was a very artsy city with many crazy people in all con-notations of the word. I was invited to a party starting the Art in the City week yesterday. It was nice, free food and drinks and some music. Mostly shitty music though. There was one guy wailing about like a struck child and dressed like some kind of clown. Hated that part of it. Finished my night at Bimbos Cantina with some spicy food. I rate Seattle as a pretty good city.
onsdag 19 oktober 2011
Seattle - first impressions
The surroundings and the air is marvelous even with Swedish standards. There are vast open spaces and high mountains and green trees. It is a modern city in the green embrace of nature. Or so it seems. Getting closer to the streets you notice, coming from NY that garbage does not litter the streets and that you need to sometimes jump to avoid it and dog shit l laying around. Bet the number of homeless people sleeping on the pavement, or in parks or
where ever, and asking you for money or just hanging around looking miserable. There are scores of people who look to be in dire need of help. As I mentioned this to the hosting couple for me stay they said that it gets even worse down along the coast. If so, are there any normal people in San Diego?
I want to write more but I am simply to tiered. I will have to break here and sleep.
where ever, and asking you for money or just hanging around looking miserable. There are scores of people who look to be in dire need of help. As I mentioned this to the hosting couple for me stay they said that it gets even worse down along the coast. If so, are there any normal people in San Diego?
I want to write more but I am simply to tiered. I will have to break here and sleep.
Medieval Times, revisited
From a conversation I had yesterday it seems that I never wrote the following down, so now I will do it for sure. It might also have been a slight oversight in tagging, but if so I have unravelled some new evidence that is astonishing and will be given in the end of this posting.
It has everything to do with that Air Wolf entertainment that goes by the name of Medieval Times. And also with the American School system.
This started several weeks ago when I meet one of the participants in the splendid entertainment that was the victory for the red knight that I wrote about here. For lazy people: When we went to Medieval Times.
She is American and told me that she had last been to MT when she was 14 years old and that she had gone there with here class in school, a normal school, no tinfoil religious institution, but a regular American school. They went to MT since they at that time where studying Knights and the middle ages in history class! This I took as a joke until she assured me that it was all true. I laughed of course. But on the inside I was screaming in horror. What else could you expect from the schools? Maybe when studying math and economics they could use the terrible SMS-loans as examples of a "normal" and quite acceptable way of finance or when studying the Neolithic age there are so many films to choose from to look at as absolute prof of how life looked "when man and dinosaur walked the earth together". Flintstones - the documentary.
Anyway I was relating this story to my friend who actually was the reason for me to go to Medieval Times in the first place. And then he confirmed that he had also been to 'the Times' with his school, but this time it was the minimally more acceptable History Club, an after school activity for those interested in history. Which tells us that this is not a unique event perpetrated by a single deranged teacher.
It has everything to do with that Air Wolf entertainment that goes by the name of Medieval Times. And also with the American School system.
This started several weeks ago when I meet one of the participants in the splendid entertainment that was the victory for the red knight that I wrote about here. For lazy people: When we went to Medieval Times.
She is American and told me that she had last been to MT when she was 14 years old and that she had gone there with here class in school, a normal school, no tinfoil religious institution, but a regular American school. They went to MT since they at that time where studying Knights and the middle ages in history class! This I took as a joke until she assured me that it was all true. I laughed of course. But on the inside I was screaming in horror. What else could you expect from the schools? Maybe when studying math and economics they could use the terrible SMS-loans as examples of a "normal" and quite acceptable way of finance or when studying the Neolithic age there are so many films to choose from to look at as absolute prof of how life looked "when man and dinosaur walked the earth together". Flintstones - the documentary.
Anyway I was relating this story to my friend who actually was the reason for me to go to Medieval Times in the first place. And then he confirmed that he had also been to 'the Times' with his school, but this time it was the minimally more acceptable History Club, an after school activity for those interested in history. Which tells us that this is not a unique event perpetrated by a single deranged teacher.
Leaving NY
To catch my 7:25 flight out of Newark in NJ I had to get up before 4. I set my alarm to 3:45. My body, this old machine woke me up at 3:42. Wide awake. Thank you body, you are the best sometimes. Tiered as you might be at this hour especially since I did not go to sleep before midnight I thought, let me rest these last 3 minutes until my alarm goes of. I closed my eyes for what felt like a little to long and 10 minutes passed. No alarm. I checked it and it turns out it was set to repeat on certain days, not today.
Up I went a little late and got dressed, picked up my bags and said by to my flate-mate. Out the door and down the street. According to Google Transit the F-train would pass my station at 4:10. I ran about 50 meters of the street since I felt a bit late and came down in the deserted subway.
At 4:06 the train came in at 4:07 it left. Lucky to be early I started to wonder about the other times and information that Google had provided me with.
At Penn-station they where on the money and I did not have any problem getting to the airport, except buying the wrong ticket as several other passengers. I would like to look at the UI of that machine again. It seems that if three persons make the same mistake at roughly the same time there is a problem with the information flow.
Writing this I am sitting on the airplane about one hour away from Seattle and it is about the most boring flight I ever flew. Looking forward to landing. Someone said that I could look forward to splendid weather these days, and that is most unusual in this city. It remains to be seen.
Up I went a little late and got dressed, picked up my bags and said by to my flate-mate. Out the door and down the street. According to Google Transit the F-train would pass my station at 4:10. I ran about 50 meters of the street since I felt a bit late and came down in the deserted subway.
At 4:06 the train came in at 4:07 it left. Lucky to be early I started to wonder about the other times and information that Google had provided me with.
At Penn-station they where on the money and I did not have any problem getting to the airport, except buying the wrong ticket as several other passengers. I would like to look at the UI of that machine again. It seems that if three persons make the same mistake at roughly the same time there is a problem with the information flow.
Writing this I am sitting on the airplane about one hour away from Seattle and it is about the most boring flight I ever flew. Looking forward to landing. Someone said that I could look forward to splendid weather these days, and that is most unusual in this city. It remains to be seen.
Brooklyn residency
Since becoming a homeless I was fortunate to have a friend to put me up in central Brooklyn for my remaining days in NY. So now I can say that I have lived in Brooklyn as well. It is something else. I can not put my finger on it exactly. Part of it is location of course and some part may be me missing my bike, my dear old bike. I hope that guy rides you as good as you deserve and that he parks you with a gentle hand.
Butt Brooklyn is different in looks, sounds and smells. The number of yellow cars compared to Manhattan is meager. The noise screen is at least where I stayed is much less invading, sometimes it is almost quite.
The apartment where I had the opportunity to rest my tiered homeless body and mind was also much more of a home than the room I rented these last months. It was quite large and very nice in comparison. I had a some good days before elevating NY and walking down a street in SoHo just yesterday with the yellowing leafs flickering by in a gust of wind over the side walk with two of my friends in a somber mood I felt how I will miss NY. The streets, the looks, the pace. Riding my bike through Midtown in full traffic, taking some zesty thing which name I can obviously not pronounce from a restaurant or street vendor for about half the price it would cost in Sweden, go a block in i different direction and explore something new, have another adventure. That I think I will miss.
Out of experience I also think that I will miss the people I have come to know here even if it was very short and even if we did not yet develop that deep relationship. But I am sure I will feel at loss for those faces and laughs and words and conversations.
Butt Brooklyn is different in looks, sounds and smells. The number of yellow cars compared to Manhattan is meager. The noise screen is at least where I stayed is much less invading, sometimes it is almost quite.
The apartment where I had the opportunity to rest my tiered homeless body and mind was also much more of a home than the room I rented these last months. It was quite large and very nice in comparison. I had a some good days before elevating NY and walking down a street in SoHo just yesterday with the yellowing leafs flickering by in a gust of wind over the side walk with two of my friends in a somber mood I felt how I will miss NY. The streets, the looks, the pace. Riding my bike through Midtown in full traffic, taking some zesty thing which name I can obviously not pronounce from a restaurant or street vendor for about half the price it would cost in Sweden, go a block in i different direction and explore something new, have another adventure. That I think I will miss.
Out of experience I also think that I will miss the people I have come to know here even if it was very short and even if we did not yet develop that deep relationship. But I am sure I will feel at loss for those faces and laughs and words and conversations.
måndag 17 oktober 2011
Bike is gone
"He will buy it for a hundred dollars" she says. And she also says that he does not speak English. She tells me many things on an unusually good phone line. She asks what brand the bike is but does not listen to the answer I never give. That was just a lead up to trying to lower the price. Haggling. Over the phone. Over a product that the buyer has not seen, in a language that the buyer does not command. Haggling through an interpreter. I momentarily hate Craigs list and emotionally do not want to sell. But I know that I have no leverage and no reason not to sell. I say yes.
Sure we can meet tomorrow in Washington Square park. Yes yes, I make all the faults and give away everything, even stated that I was relocating in the classified. I have not sold the bike yet but I have sold everything else just to sell it. I am in the lowest and worst position for a salesman leaving tomorrow.
Today, sunshine, in the park, just took the bike for my last ride, walking through the park looking for my buyer. There he is. He speaks English, although broken; we can communicate easily. The only thing in our way is my insecurity.
Then it comes, the question: "What is the lowest price". Today I am strong, I am not backing any further, then I could as well just give it away to my friend. I say a hundred dollars, and explain that I thought 150 was a fair price. He has tried looking on the bike and testing the brakes but all that charade is not meaningful any more. I have decided it is a hundred or nothing.
I walk away, he bikes the same direction, I shout to him: is it working well? He smiles and says yes. It is a sunny afternoon in the village, my last day in NY.
Sure we can meet tomorrow in Washington Square park. Yes yes, I make all the faults and give away everything, even stated that I was relocating in the classified. I have not sold the bike yet but I have sold everything else just to sell it. I am in the lowest and worst position for a salesman leaving tomorrow.
Today, sunshine, in the park, just took the bike for my last ride, walking through the park looking for my buyer. There he is. He speaks English, although broken; we can communicate easily. The only thing in our way is my insecurity.
Then it comes, the question: "What is the lowest price". Today I am strong, I am not backing any further, then I could as well just give it away to my friend. I say a hundred dollars, and explain that I thought 150 was a fair price. He has tried looking on the bike and testing the brakes but all that charade is not meaningful any more. I have decided it is a hundred or nothing.
I walk away, he bikes the same direction, I shout to him: is it working well? He smiles and says yes. It is a sunny afternoon in the village, my last day in NY.
söndag 16 oktober 2011
Bike sales
I have been trying to sell my bike through Craigslist and it is now looking up. We will see tomorrow. But it seems to be a full time occupation. You really need to be on it if you are to make the sales or buys going by on Craigslist. The pace is high.
Football overdose
Today we went to a bar in Downtown and watched about four games simultaneously while greasing our faces with piles of wings.
Our teams won their matches and new games started. It finally got to be a bit to much football for me, could not decide where to look and when I found something I wanted to see they went to commercials. But it was a real American Sunday in a bar getting drunk, no not me watching football and shooting shit.
Our teams won their matches and new games started. It finally got to be a bit to much football for me, could not decide where to look and when I found something I wanted to see they went to commercials. But it was a real American Sunday in a bar getting drunk, no not me watching football and shooting shit.
Moving on...
The other night I decided to book some tickets out of here. After some searching I found a flight to Portland for $190. A little more than I found earlier but OK. I was going to book it when I realized that that flight would have me change planes in Seattle. And that Seattle is only one hour away from Portland. So then I decided to take a few days in Seattle before I continue. So it will be Grunge-museums and maybe the famous tunnels under the city. Reports will come, I promise. So my first stop is Seattle and from there I will work down the coast.
ComiCon and Good bye
Yesterday I brought my goodbye party to the Super Formal Friday party that had crashed the ComiCon bar hang. It was nice when I finally got there: my last day at work this Friday looked like a joke with the amount of job that rained down on me the last 5 hours. It was just after the Pizza-goodbye lunch that Sony held for me that, all of a sudden jobs started coming to me in an alarming speed. And I had counted on not getting any more jobs since I wanted to finish my paperwork and make backups of the last weeks projects. But that was not what happened and because of that I came an hour late to my going away party. I know some friends had been there and left before I got there and that was really to bad. And other friends got there and decided to be haters and leave. But with all the funny costumes and the talks I had with people that unfortunately never happened during work I still think the party was pretty good.
I am really ready to leave NY now. I have very mixed feelings though as it feels like it just was starting and that I had to rush through everything.
I am really ready to leave NY now. I have very mixed feelings though as it feels like it just was starting and that I had to rush through everything.
Best dressed homelessman in NY
Today I became homeless. It was a planned action, but never the less energy consuming. I moved out of my room in Harlem. Took all my belongings somewhere around 50 kilos of clothes, computers and crap and left the apartment. My plan was to leave the bike and walk but I could not carry my stuff so I made use of my bike to roll the biggest of my three bags. First stop was the laundry.
After that I went to Brooklyn, Parkslope to be precise felt that I wanted to say good bye to a friend I have come to know here in NY. Stopped by a phone store to revive my phone. Still hating T-mobile so much, but Verizon will not take your money if they can't have all of it: they demand to sell you a phone as well. By the time I had gotten to Parkslope, by riding the subway with about 50 kilogram of luggage in three bags and a bike I was a bit tiered. With a working phone I managed to set up for myself a place to sleep according to a previous arrangement with another new friend here in NY: a truly nice guy, actually the nicest guy in NY.
After that I hung out in the Parkslope club for about 8 hours playing Robo Rally and Call of Duty - miniatures. It was really just what I needed.
Now I found my way to bed and I feel less homeless and more excited about the rest of my trip. But having to much luggage and no direct plan is a very stressful situation. It will be interesting to see what else this trip will bring.
After that I went to Brooklyn, Parkslope to be precise felt that I wanted to say good bye to a friend I have come to know here in NY. Stopped by a phone store to revive my phone. Still hating T-mobile so much, but Verizon will not take your money if they can't have all of it: they demand to sell you a phone as well. By the time I had gotten to Parkslope, by riding the subway with about 50 kilogram of luggage in three bags and a bike I was a bit tiered. With a working phone I managed to set up for myself a place to sleep according to a previous arrangement with another new friend here in NY: a truly nice guy, actually the nicest guy in NY.
After that I hung out in the Parkslope club for about 8 hours playing Robo Rally and Call of Duty - miniatures. It was really just what I needed.
Now I found my way to bed and I feel less homeless and more excited about the rest of my trip. But having to much luggage and no direct plan is a very stressful situation. It will be interesting to see what else this trip will bring.
torsdag 13 oktober 2011
Long Island Shoting Centre
Last week when my brother visited me we went to the middle of Long Island to a small place called Islip where there is a indoor shooting range where you might also rent guns. The trip with the LIRR, Long Island Rail Road takes somewhere around 1.15 to 1.30 depending on time of day and so on. It is also not the most busy stretch of rail-road with about one departure per hour. We just missed a train on our way there and one going back. In Islip we then had the opportunity to hang out at the local Path Mark super store. An educating time. Did you know that you are not allaowed by law to redeem more than 240 bottles and cans for a maximum amount of $12? Did not think so. Well it was not the only thing we learned about the law this day.
When we got to the range we enquired about renting pistols or revolvers to shoot with. But since we did not hold permits for that in the states we could not. But we could rent an AK-47, 12 gauge shotguns and other carbines. So the law forced us to go power strong, and I did not object. My AK was loud, gave a big muzzle flash and was castrated to only semi-automatic fire. But fun to shoot never the less.
My brothers toy-like .40 calibre carbine only held 10 in the magazine, had a sharp kick, was badly under aimed and had yellow tape on the plastic body to hold it together. A strange weapon that I don't really see the use of.
The range was a bit short, only 20 yards and the ammunition quite expensive. We had a good time, but the trip was a bit long for the short shooting.
When we got to the range we enquired about renting pistols or revolvers to shoot with. But since we did not hold permits for that in the states we could not. But we could rent an AK-47, 12 gauge shotguns and other carbines. So the law forced us to go power strong, and I did not object. My AK was loud, gave a big muzzle flash and was castrated to only semi-automatic fire. But fun to shoot never the less.
My brothers toy-like .40 calibre carbine only held 10 in the magazine, had a sharp kick, was badly under aimed and had yellow tape on the plastic body to hold it together. A strange weapon that I don't really see the use of.
The range was a bit short, only 20 yards and the ammunition quite expensive. We had a good time, but the trip was a bit long for the short shooting.
onsdag 12 oktober 2011
Transvestite Bingo at Bowery Poetry Club
Monday was Columbus day and some people where free since it is a National Holiday celebrating when a guy pretended to discover a continent where there were already people and which had been "discovered" by others in this way before which lead to genocide and the forming of this great nation and the hegemony of McD... OK I am rambling but am I lying?
Back to my Monday: after leaving my brother at JFK I went to Jamaica where apparently all the DVD stores are located. It was not very interesting so I went on back to Manhattan and attended a Monday night Bingo with Transvestites. IT was a fairly comedial a affair with a short man-like host who wore a fake moustache and a tall woman like hostess who wore glittery attire. They also had a black servant in police-inspired small clothes. Very colonial. Or not so much.
It was several rounds of bingo with strange prices to win. I actually won the best one: a Bruce Lee poster that is cut in the wrong place. The coolest thing was a drumstick made of papier mache. Who made it and why we where never told, but I could sense there was an untold story there.
We started out as a company of 8, but soon lost all our 4 Norwegians for dinner. Then when the remaining three had a fall out I was suddenly alone with 17 bingo cards. I gave them away like crazy trying to get percentage on the final cash prize but alas the wrong two persons got to split the $ 200. I had to go home with Bruce and without cash. But I had a good time.
Back to my Monday: after leaving my brother at JFK I went to Jamaica where apparently all the DVD stores are located. It was not very interesting so I went on back to Manhattan and attended a Monday night Bingo with Transvestites. IT was a fairly comedial a affair with a short man-like host who wore a fake moustache and a tall woman like hostess who wore glittery attire. They also had a black servant in police-inspired small clothes. Very colonial. Or not so much.
It was several rounds of bingo with strange prices to win. I actually won the best one: a Bruce Lee poster that is cut in the wrong place. The coolest thing was a drumstick made of papier mache. Who made it and why we where never told, but I could sense there was an untold story there.
We started out as a company of 8, but soon lost all our 4 Norwegians for dinner. Then when the remaining three had a fall out I was suddenly alone with 17 bingo cards. I gave them away like crazy trying to get percentage on the final cash prize but alas the wrong two persons got to split the $ 200. I had to go home with Bruce and without cash. But I had a good time.
Time is running out...
This is my last week in NY even though I have not bought my tickets out yet. Soon I will be leaving for the West Coast. Should I then change the name of my blog since I will neither be in the city or at the company?
Probably no.
Time here has gone by to fast even though at times I do feel like the German lady: "NY is so lame". But eventually I understand that it is mainly my friends who are lame and work to much. There are things to do here if you can just muster the energy. With me that usually means find some good people to do it with and that might be the shortage in this city: Good people. I am leaving, mind you good reader.
Probably no.
Time here has gone by to fast even though at times I do feel like the German lady: "NY is so lame". But eventually I understand that it is mainly my friends who are lame and work to much. There are things to do here if you can just muster the energy. With me that usually means find some good people to do it with and that might be the shortage in this city: Good people. I am leaving, mind you good reader.
Taco Jesus -finally!
Yesterday I was finally able to get some Mexican flavour, and no I am talking about food here nothing else. It feels like aeons of repeatedly trying: I went past there two times during the last 2 month with the intention of paying for food without getting any.
But yesterday I was finally admitted into the lime-green space of complete Air Wolf that is the Messiah of all foods Mexican: Taco Jesus.
Yes it was good. Sure beats the truck and the goat tacos.
Enchilada!
But yesterday I was finally admitted into the lime-green space of complete Air Wolf that is the Messiah of all foods Mexican: Taco Jesus.
Yes it was good. Sure beats the truck and the goat tacos.
Enchilada!
söndag 9 oktober 2011
The Accomplice
We went to experience "the Accomplice" a tour, a game, a show but foremost an experience according to their homepage.
In reality it was an old-school live action role-play. And I mean really old with the exception of no present game-master. But they had everything else: a linear plot, some locations to visit to get clues and meet cast-members who would point you further and give you things.
I will not divulge any parts of the story since I do not want to ruin it for you. But I will tell you some of my experiences and observations.
We bought the 3 last tickets for the tour according to the website. Even so we would have been the only three if 4 Florida girls had not been drinking so hard the night before. But they did and one of them was sick and missed their slot 30 minutes prior so they joined us. This was strange because I would have invited one more friend if we had thought that there was any tickets left which there should have been. Made me think that the tickets left was just a marketing stunt, and a bad one.
Anyway the tour started a few minutes late and it all seamed very out of place, so much so that I thought for a moment that the Florida girls where even part of the story. Everything just went strange very fast. The only people I could trust where my 2 friends. As time progressed we could develop our interactions somewhat but still we parted as strangers. The whole thing was jolly fun and I recommend it. It is not tiresome or hard but the experience is dependent on what you put in. So if you look for something different to do for a couple of hours in NY, LA or London and can pay for it then this is it.
According to the people who makes it there are two more in NY and one each in LA and London.
As far as storytelling goes there where glitches and clichés to go around and I think that it was written under the influence of weed, when to the authors the connections might have made sense. I understood it all, but only in the greater context not as a free standing story because of the faults and holes in the story. Having said that I still think it was great fun and I also think several of the actors did a great job with handling the situation.
Interaction wise you got your fair share. Comparing to most other theatrical activities I would even say that I got a 1000 times as much. Even compared to "Sleep no More" which I wrote about here, this experience is much more interactive. Still for someone with extensive interactive experience this was a bit under-developedand it is easy to understand that more freedom would break their production budget and time frame.
In reality it was an old-school live action role-play. And I mean really old with the exception of no present game-master. But they had everything else: a linear plot, some locations to visit to get clues and meet cast-members who would point you further and give you things.
I will not divulge any parts of the story since I do not want to ruin it for you. But I will tell you some of my experiences and observations.
We bought the 3 last tickets for the tour according to the website. Even so we would have been the only three if 4 Florida girls had not been drinking so hard the night before. But they did and one of them was sick and missed their slot 30 minutes prior so they joined us. This was strange because I would have invited one more friend if we had thought that there was any tickets left which there should have been. Made me think that the tickets left was just a marketing stunt, and a bad one.
Anyway the tour started a few minutes late and it all seamed very out of place, so much so that I thought for a moment that the Florida girls where even part of the story. Everything just went strange very fast. The only people I could trust where my 2 friends. As time progressed we could develop our interactions somewhat but still we parted as strangers. The whole thing was jolly fun and I recommend it. It is not tiresome or hard but the experience is dependent on what you put in. So if you look for something different to do for a couple of hours in NY, LA or London and can pay for it then this is it.
According to the people who makes it there are two more in NY and one each in LA and London.
As far as storytelling goes there where glitches and clichés to go around and I think that it was written under the influence of weed, when to the authors the connections might have made sense. I understood it all, but only in the greater context not as a free standing story because of the faults and holes in the story. Having said that I still think it was great fun and I also think several of the actors did a great job with handling the situation.
Interaction wise you got your fair share. Comparing to most other theatrical activities I would even say that I got a 1000 times as much. Even compared to "Sleep no More" which I wrote about here, this experience is much more interactive. Still for someone with extensive interactive experience this was a bit under-developedand it is easy to understand that more freedom would break their production budget and time frame.
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