morningambassador’s posthaven

I came across this interview/performance during a search for a trailer of director, Mira Nair's', early movie: "Salaam, Bombay!"
The movie is about the life of street children trying to keep body and soul together in a difficult terrain on their own.
I can't recommend this movie highly enough.

Most of the people in the movie have no previous acting experience - though I believe India has the 2nd largest movie industry in the world. The main actor, Krishna, is definitely a novice - though you would never know it - or maybe you would - as his performance is as real and heartfelt as any I've ever seen.

There's something to be said for a fresh slate.

I don't believe he has done any acting after doing this film.

I stayed on the suggested link and listened to Ashwin Batish's song, though, and really liked it.
Maybe you will too.

While this clip is clearly a promotion for his DVD, I want to find more of his music...

I only wish the percussionists and so on were there in the studio as well.

I feel I must include this information to use this clip:

Info and Commercial Bits:

Faith - This Little Light of Mine from ann xiao on Vimeo.

Music Video for Faith Rivera, faithrivera.com/
Dir. Ann Xiao, annxiao.com , commissioned by Radar Muisc Videos, radarmusicvideos.com
Date. May 2009
This Little Light of Mine was created as a music video for the Emmy Award-winning musician, Faith Rivera. The music reflects the hopes and vision that have swept America and stirred every heart, and it’s got a soulful, fresh, & fun rockin’ twist.

The music video is created by Ann Xiao, who is originally from Beijing, China. Her short films have been screened at the Edinburgh International Film Festival, the Onedotzero Festival and the Rio International Short Film Festival. She won the Best Art Style Animation at the Oriental Animation & Comic Competition in China. Her style has been described as “architectural space meets surrealistic dreams.”

"Misery and Frustration of Caged Animals at Boston Zoo" by Arthur Schatz

It was a crazy first semester of college.
I had trouble adjusting to being away from a strict home and free in the dormitory.
It was lots of fun, but also became an existential 'difficulty' as well.

I heard from a friend that there was a therapist working for the school.
You could go and see her in her office, and all the talking would be confidential.

So I told her all my secrets.
The fears enfolded in my life.
Just setting out from home.

It turns out her husband was also a therapist.
At another college...
Someone told him their secrets too...
On one typical Friday.

And over the weekend that person
Decided to take their own life.
Something I was NOT planning to do.

People came bang-bang-banging on my dorm room door.
They said I had to come with them straight away - Now, this minute.
To the Dean of Students' office.

Where they told me that I would not be able to leave that room...
Even to pack my bags, until
I either left to the local mental hospital
OR the other nightmare...
Calling my parents and telling them 'my situation.'

What was 'the situation' exactly?
I was a young person leaving home for the first time -
Confronting choices of my own and struggling with them.

I decided on what I felt would be the lesser of two evils,
But I was very angry at what I saw to be a gross betrayal of my trust.
I pouted....  Big time.
I might have even made Grrr.... Aaargh sounds.
I certainly didn't speak nicely any more.
To them.

Someone else was sent to pack my bags and all my belongings
While I sat in that hated room.
And waited for all the things to come together
My parents to come pick me up.

Being stubborn, strategic, and choosing the course that would get me back on track,
I had to follow the rules they made up as they went along
To get back into that school, so that I could transfer out at the first opportunity.
Otherwise I probably didn't have a chance at college, and my life would've been a bit different, I expect.

I finished all my semester assignments left over after being kicked out hard... and did well.
I had to go for a course of therapy and get a green check mark and letter saying I done good.
I worked until 3am at a factory that sprayed a horrific perfume on me with every other stamp.
No one would eat with me.
I dealt with my parents' disappointment.... which was probably the worst.

I got back into the school, got the best grades,
And transferred out at the very first chance.
And finally, I was home.
Lovely, creative, school with excellent multi-disciplinary teachers.

Some things work out for the best, oddly.

You may have seen these before. I did a long time ago.
Someone just sent them to me a few days ago, as if for the first time, not knowing.
I don't know who the artist is though I've searched for him or her online.
I hope they will not mind me sharing these wonders with others who may not have seen -
or want to enjoy them again - without proper credit.

This is what the email I received had written:
"It takes him four hours to do one hand.
He then photographs it for posterity.
I cannot imagine how he does it; the eyes are so remarkably lifelike.
It took him 10 hours to do the two-handed Eagle in the picture."

Hope someone else was there to photograph that one!
Sorry if any duplicates; I couldn't really tell whether they were exactly the same.

It is truly amazing - the visual acuity in 3D. And then to put it on your own hand.
Reminds me of the more primitive, but delightful Senor Wences.
Remember him?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Se%C3%B1or_Wences

When I lived in Kent, Washington, there was one time when both of my sisters came to visit.
I had to work so we wouldn't be able to have too much time together - not enough by my book, but then... the morning after they arrived.... it snowed.
As a teacher - what do you know?
Snow Day!
Hooray!

We still managed to get out and do fun things like visit the Olympic Peninsula.... and hush past the casinos on the way to Port Townsend as A.E. was sleeping in the back seat, and it wouldn't be a good idea for her to be awake and see it.

We had a great time making up our own silly names for streets and other goofy sistery stuff, but one thing that really stands out in my memory is this:

We all pitched in to shovel the driveway, which was a double-car garage, stinty though, and couldn't have been more than a car length plus four feet, with a teensy border on the sides.
With all three of us shoveling back and forth, it took us more than an hour to shovel the quarter inch - at most - of snow.
We went back and forth, and forth and back, passing and looking at each other incredulously.

In New Jersey, it would've been a Nothing Day.

I think we must have been dithering, but serious in our task nonetheless.
There is no other earthly explanation.

I'm not completely sure about this.
All I know is it reminds me of the Gorillaz
And most of all, a sweet cat I once loved.

The moral of the story - sandwiches can go bad...

Rain on the windows
Early, safe, warm, dry indoors
Wish I was sleeping.

"Rendevous"

There's a Beatles cover band named, 'Rain,' nay?
We're going to hear them in June.

I have 1,000 pairs of earplugs, so I should be set.
Anyone need some?
That's really a long story, and not worth the telling.
Just more stuff  that needs decluttering.

This might be considered a toss-away as we used to say in class...
I was just surfing and couldn't help myself... love the gallery feature.
More - better - different - next time.
Was that an apology in there? Snuck right on through, didn't it?
Happy Sunday to all and sundry.

I know there's all too much to do about the house... but I guess some folks care and are clamoring.

This is for you...

Mid-way in the month of May.

Not quite finished.

Not quite sure about merlot walls... have to see in the real light, as I was absent from this photo session altogether.

Like the blue and gold in the bedroom!

Sweet dreams, y'all.

"Einstein: Do Not Worry"

I worry about things.
I know it's a waste of time, space, and energy.
I know there are ways to remove focus from them.
But you must practice to get anywhere.
And my self-discipline runs low with my inner resources.
I've worried about THAT issue most of my life - too funny and cyclical.

Habits run deep.
They groove and trench.
And not in the good way.

By the time my life is done,
Will I have managed
To lick that habit, and maybe a few others?

I really, really, really hope so.
As it hurts - inside and out...
And there are too many directions to take each one.

I hope it'll be tomorrow....
Oops - it's tomorrow already, so...
?