Darkness

      What's up homies!!
      It's been a few days since I have written here. In those few days, I've been busy with school work and having crazy times with friends. It's been good, though we have reached midterm week and that means...Music Theory cramming. At least I'm getting stuff done today. My friend Gladys and I went to Evanston to have a homework intensive, and it proved (actually) pretty damn productive. Caught up with some music theory and such, so that was good and read a bit of Les Miserables. Great book so far, but just long as hell. I'm on page 114 out of, what, 1430 pages I believe. I plan on finishing it though. At LEAST before the semester ends. I wish I had more time to work on personal projects and reading leisurely and such instead of worrying about homework. It's starting to get really frustrating...oh well.

      In the mist of all this, I finally got to see the movie "Black Swan", directed by Darren Aronofsky, and starring Natalie Portman, Mila Kunis, Vincent Cassel, and Barbara Hershey. If you didn't know, Natalie Portman recently won the Oscar for Best Actress for her role in this film, and I believe she deserved it. I've wanted to see this film for awhile, and am glad I finally got the chance to see it. The film is about a dancer, Nina (Natalie Portman) who is a dancer who lives with her overbearing mother (Barbara Hershey). She is offered the role of the white swan in the ballet Swan Lake, being directed to the hardcore ballet director Thomas (played by Vincent Cassel). Though Nina is perfect for the White Swan, she also has to play the Black Swan, which she has a hard time tapping into, since the part is more of a darker side than she appears to have. Yet throughout the film, we witness how she goes about preparing for the role and her competition between the other dancer perfect for the Black Swan, Lily (played by Mila Kunis). The acting in this film is superb and the whole film is dark and gets pretty creepy, which I like. The dancing and the way Nina's state of mind is shown is really awesome, and it has a real surreal feeling to it that keeps you on the edge of your seat. It is also beautifully shot, and the tone is very fitting to the story. Certainly a film to see if you have yet to see it!

       Speaking of dark, I also got to listen to the darker Bruce Springsteen album, Darkness On The Edge of Town, released in 1978. This is know to be both lyrically and musically darker then his previous three albums. It tells of many struggles of the working class struggles, each side beginning with working class anthems and ending in pretty sad situations. I feel that this is his darkest album to date in terms of message as well, being very gritty and blunt, and I really enjoyed it. The songs here are amazing, my favorites being "Adam Raised A Cain", "Candy's Room", "The Promised Land", and "Streets of Fire" (which I'm currently listening too!). If anything, take a listen to these songs. Now that I think about it, during one of the last Bruce Springsteen concert I attended, they played this album in it's entirety and THAT was really cool and made me appreciate the album a bit more! It's consided a classic now, and has just been re-released as a box set and included a double album of outtakes, called "The Promise" (which also has a one disc version sold seperately). I've yet to listen to the album, except for a select few songs, but I heard it's amazing! Once I get a chance to listen to it, I'll tell you more about it. I hear it's amazing!
     Also, on this album, Springsteen's lyrics don't exactly tell a story straight out, the lyrics more emotional than narrative, even though I believe all songs tell stories wheather you realize it or not. But this is a great album and deserves a listen. At least check out the songs I mentioned. I'll leave a video of one below this post!
      Well, that's all I got for now! Gonna watch Slumdog Millionare with the roommates tonight, so expect to hear about that soon, as well as a few other things! Time to go work out and do a little more school work. Peace out!

-AR


Black Swan trailer


"Adam Raised A Cain" by Bruce Springsteen (I was there!!):

Coco

     Well it was a relaxing day. Not really productive, but, hey, at least I opened the text book. Yup...I don't know why I'm not productive. I mean, I need to stop procrastinating. By the end of the week, I want to be all caught up in work, read more of Les Miserables which I'm currently in the middle of reading (it's a huge book), and to finally start with this novel I have had an idea for since, at LEAST, end of senior year in high school. I know it's a big project, but I think I'm ready to try to get to it as best as I can. Ugh!! I just wish I didn't have so much homework so I could work on more personal projects!!! AHHHH!!!!...but I guess that's life.

    Well, last night I finally got around to seeing the 2009 French film Coco Avant Chanel (or Coco Before Chanel in english), directed by Anne Fontaine and starring Audrey Tautou, Benoît Poelvoorde, and Alessandro Nivola. The film is about Coco Chanel's early life before she became a famous fashion designer (and it will also explain in the beginning where she got her name Coco from, while her actual name was Gabrielle). Of course, we all know the fashion company "Chanel". So wheather you like to show there or not, I think this movie is worth a watch. I really liked it and it was a great part to my French film kick recently. I really like, obviously, the costumes, which are amazing in this film, my favorite obviously Coco's. I didn't realize how important she was to women's modern fashion and dress today, and it was really nice to dwelve into an aspect of the fashion world and some origins of modern fashion. I definitely have a little more appreciation for it now. I never really knew too much about today's modern professional fashion, besides bits and pieces that I have learned from someone last year, and even so, I wish I knew more about Chanel and it's origins before. Of course, Audrey Tautou does an AMAZING job as Coco, as she struggles through what to do for her professional future, as well as the relationships she gets tangled up with. Also, her unique sense of fashion (and one that seems really awesome) was not common in those days when she was growing up, but eventually became huge and inspirational. The film doesn't really go deep into when Chanel became a bigger company of her own, which I think is really cool, as this concentrates deeply on the backstory, in which the company Chanel would not be around if the story didn't go the way it did. I'm glad they concentrate on it, as it is very important. So yes, check out the trailer below this post and definitely go check out this film, it is definitely worth the watch! Especially if you are into fashion!
      Otherwise, tonight I had the great pleasure to enjoy a concert at Chicago's Symphony Center tonight, in which The Civic Orchestra of Chicago, conducted by Cliff Colnot, performed Two Legends from the Kalevala, Op. 22 by Sibelius and The Poem of Ecstasy by Scriabin. May I just say that the Civic Orchestra does an AMAZING job. This is my second time seeing them live and they are always a treat to see (check out their website below!). The music tonight was epic and I loved watching the violin parts when the music suddenly crescendoed. It was really sweet, and the whole orchestra does an amazing job. The music tonight was very epic, and they are definitely worth checking out! I believe that most of their concerts are only 2 dollars! Yup, not a bad price at all for a good concert!! Definitely worth it, especially for that cheap! There is a lot to see at Symphony hall, sometimes I forget how many great concerts it has to offer! Next season, they are also doing another "Friday Night At The Movies" series, in which the three movies they will show next season, along with a live orchestra playing the music for the movie (which I think is a really rad idea!) is Casablanca, West Side Story, and Pirates of the Caribbean! I'm really looking forward to all three of them!
       Alright, well it's 3 in the morning here, and I have dance class at nine so I should probably get going to sleep! Hope everyone has had a good start of a new week, and I will catch you all later! Peace out!

-AR

Coco Before Chanel



Chicago Civic Orchestra website: http://cso.org/Institute/CivicOrchestra/Default.aspx

Paris, Munich, and Another Place with Crazy People (At The Movies)

    Well, it certainly has been a crazy week last week. So much school work this week for some reason, and there has been a lot of crazy projects and readings that have to be done for classes. Stressing, I'll say! But I took a nice chunk of the weekend to relax and rejuvenate for another week. Besides exploring some of the north side of Chicago, chillin with some good friends, and doing good old homework, I got the chance to sit back, relaz, and enjoy some movies. Two of them are already on DVD and one is now out in theatres. So here are some movies to check out!:

     The first movie I watched this weekend was Paris, je t'aime, which came out in 2006 and is directed by, well, 22 directors. This movie is a collection of short films, each directed by different directors. This collection of shorts tells different stories that take place in Paris. Some are in English, some are in French, with a bit of Spanish, and all with the theme of love, love of the city and love of one another. Happy, sad, artistic, griddy, fun, horror, comedy, life, everything! It really is a great movie to see. I think my two favorite are: 1. The Coen Brother's short film about a man (played by Steve Buscemi) and his "misadventure" at a Paris subway stop and 2. German writer-director Tom Tykwer about a relationship between a blind man (played by Mechior Beslon) and his girlfriend (played by Natalie Portman). This is definitely a film (or I guess, technically, films) that is soooo worth a watch. I had watched it my freshman year in college with my good friend John, for the first time and fell in love with it but never got around to see it again! Well, this past weekend, I finally got around to it! It put me in such a traveling mood. One day, I will visit that beautiful city.

     The second movie I saw was Munich, directed by Steven Spielberg, released in 2005. This film, based on the book Vengeance: The True Story of an Israeli Counter-Terrorist Team by the Canadian Journalist George Jonas, tells the story of the killing of 11 Israeli athletes by the terrorist group Black September, and the Israeli Government's secret response, where a small team organized by the Israeli government, led by Avner Kaufman (played by Eric Bana), is given names of certain targets that were involved in Black September and the attacks and are told to eliminate them. This cast includes Geoffrey Rush, Daniel Craig, and a bunch of other great actors. This film is really amazing and the story is really involved and interesting, telling about an important event in history where not every single question is answered. It will keep you on the edge of your seat as things get heated, and it is a great film. I remember seeing this film for the first time and falling in love with it and finding it amazingly interesting! I'm glad I got a chance to watch it again!

     The last film that I have seen this weekend was actually in theatres, which I got to catch with one of my roommates and some friends this weekend. And that movie is: Hall Pass, directed by the Farrelly Brothers. This movie was pretty funny! It is definitely more of a "guy movie", but is worth the watch! It's about two best friends, Rick (played by Owen Wilson) and Fred (played by Jason Sudeikis) who are a tad bit shallow and are having a bit trouble with their marriges. So their wives (Rick's wife, Maggie, is played by Jenna Fischer and Fred's wife, Grace, is played by Christina Applegate) decide to give them a "Hall Pass" for a week, in which they are allowed to take a "break" from their marriages and able to do whatever they want without any guilt. And from there, the misadventures begin! It definitely had a bunch of great laughs. I can't say it was my favorite movie of all time, but it definitely was not at all a bad movie, and I'm really glad I got to see it!
     Well, that's all for now! Time to get back to homework : (  Yeah, I hate it too...errrr. Life. Well, I'll leave the trailers at the bottom of this post to the movies I mentioned! Hope you all check out these films one of these days. I'm sure I'll be back posting here in the very near future! : ) see ya'll later! PEACE!

-AR

Paris, je t'aime


Munich


Hall Pass

LGBTQ Panel For The Ages

    Well, yesterday woke up late today...missed my dance class. I was really angry about that! But, I guess these things happen. That and the night before I ended up staying up til at least three. Ohh homework...and True Blood. Yup, not gonna lie. My roommate Matt and I finished season 2 of True Blood and it is just an amazing awesome show!! More on that in a later post.
   So...ended up procrastinating most of the day, did a bit of homework.Hung out with my old roommate from freshman year, David (yup, it was David and David freshman year...it was CRRAAZZZYY) which I always look forward to on Tuesdays.
   Alas, after that, I went to something that I am really glad I went to. I met a friend of mine, Erin, at the Barnes and Noble and we both went over to DePaul, which was hosting an LGBTQ panel. The panel consisted of a Rabbi of a temple off the Addison stop I believe, a Methodist pastor who has a church in Lakeview, and a leader/representative of the Muslim group on the DePaul campus. The panel, if you could not guess by now, was how LGBTQ was looked upon in Judaism, Islam, and Christianity.
   I'm really glad I went to this. If anyone didn't know, I was adopted into a Jewish family when I was less than a year old and have grown up jewish. Later on, like everyone else, I started having my own questions. Especially when my mother passed away. Went though a few "phases" and have ended up comfortably saying that the questions will never end and that makes me all the more excited about living my life. I consider myself an agnostic Jew, if that makes any sense. I have my own unique view on religion and spirituality, as I'm sure everyone else does. I was raised in a very open minded household and wasn't forced to believe in anything and, at the same time, told to learn about the world and the different cultures and religions. This included learning about LGBTQ at somewhat of a young age. Being rasied to accept others included LGBTQ and my father and I are very accepting to LGBTQ. I have a lot of friends who are LGBTQ and am honored to know them and I fully support gay rights and like the culture very much. My view? Love is love. No one has the right to tell you who you love. I never got homophobia and it really bothers me, wheather it be because of religion or any other form of ignorance in general. It really gets to me that something like this is this much of a problem to people. ESPECIALLY when we have come as far as we have. Errrr...people. Anyway, I could go on and on about this but I will save that for another post (perhaps I'll make a video??!!) and will now go to the panel I was at.
    So we talked about what the religions believe in a whole about LGBTQ. The rabbi said that it is important to be very accepting as a community to LGBTQ and that it goes back to tradition of being accepting to others and that it doesn't say anything in the Torah that LGBTQ is NOT acceptable. The Muslim speaker said that, all in all, that islam is still not where others are when it comes down to LGBTQ and that it is somewhat rare to find a mosque where being openly gay is ok. He said that he thinks Islam will reach that point, but still has a little ways to go when it comes to being open with it. He was very honest about it. Then, the pastor said that there are all different things Christians would say about it because there are different views on it (as I'm sure there are in all religions and cultures). She said that, in the Bible, Jesus does NOT even mention anything against LGBTQ and that, obviously, it depends on if you were a bible literalist or not and denomination (at certain times).
    So then we talked about what they personally thinked about LGBTQ. The rabbi said he welcomes and has LGBTQ couples at his temple (which I have been to once, it seemed very nice) and they eliminated the option of him and her in terms of marrige on their membership forms so that it was open to all kinds of couples. Alright, cool stuff! Next, the Muslim speaker said that he doesn't believe there is anything wrong with it and accepts it at his organization. He said, because the Koran is really important to the muslim faith as in there is not a lot of questioning the Koran, it may be harder to find people accepting to it. But he believes that it is not fair to take away one's faith because of who they are and he is a very open minded individual and doesn't believe there should be a problem with it. Nice! Lastly, the pastor told us that she does not believe that being LGBTQ is a sin at all! She said that she believes that love is a holy thing and you should have love for that special someone, and forced love (rape, molestation etc) is wrong and a sin, but as long as it's concentual love, who cares if it's a boy and a girl, a boy and a boy, a girl and a girl, or whoever! She said others would find her radical in her beliefs in certain christian communities and accepted that but she believes that people should not worry so much about the afterlife and concentrate on loving one another on this earth and that Jesus says love everyone and that means everyone!

     So we broke into groups with each of the religious leaders and went to smaller discussions. I chose to go to the Christian subgroup because I was curious, because of past experiences, what else she had to say about it all.
   We talked and she talked about how she does not take the bible literally, as it would be offensive. She also says that she does not like the phrase "Love the sinner, hate the sin" as she thinks it is insulting and, when it comes to the question of applying that to LGBTQ, that there is no sin to begin with. This was really amazing to me, as some of the past experiences I've had with Christianity have not been as open to LGBTQ as her. She went on to saying that about 80% of her congregation are LGBTQ. Awesome! She really awed me. Now that's a Christian! Loving everyone is something Jesus would have wanted. EVERYONE! She also said that denominational sects of christianity are shrinking and that there are a lot more non-denominational churches now, which I wasn't really aware of. It was very interesting to here that though. I asked her why, because of my past experiences, was LGBTQ looked down upon in other churches I visited. She said that the majority of non-denominational churches are bible literalist. Most of the ones I have been to are non demoninational, so I guess it sort of added up. Though I will do my own research, this seems like an accurate observation, which sort of saddens me on how they can not be so open with LGBTQ, especially in a religion that is suppose to be beautiful and loves everyone. I have no problem with religion, if you could tell, as long as it's not forced or condesending towards others and focuses on love (which, when it comes down to it, I think what religion SHOULD and IS about). So, it's nice to hear that there is a church in this world so open about it and a pastor so open and accepting to it as she was. It was a very relieveing experience! She even invited me to check out her church
    After that, we said a few closing words, and then we left!
    All and all, I am very happy about what I learned last night and am relieved that there are steps being taken to make the world a bit more accepting, especially in the LGBTQ community! No one should be able to take away your rights because you love someone and that someone happens to be the same sex or transgender!! It's utterly ridiculous! I think, once the ignorance finally washes away from it all, then we will see the true meaning of American: acceptance and freedom. I hope that one day these petty issues will be solved in our government, that gay marriage will become legal anywhere in America (or the world even!) and that the hate can be put down and abolished! Stop hating and start loving!
  That's all I have for now!

Peace!- The AR


One of my heroes, Harvey Milk, making a speech:

Born To Run

    Another relaxing monday. My sleep scheduale, from the weekend, messed up. Been up til at least five watching True Blood with friends, and as much as I love the show, I'm not sure if I was to have the same sleeping pattern as a vampire!
   Anyway, I found out today that my grandmother, who they thought would not be able to really walk that well again without any support, can amazingly walk on her own without much trouble again!! It was the strangest thing, as my father called me telling me she can walk again, and I was a bit taken aback and speechless! I couldn't believe it. So that has put me in a great mood, despite all the homework I have to work on tonight.

   So, as in my last post, I listened through another album...
 Bruce Springsteen's Born To Run, released in 1975. Ok, who HASN'T listened to at least the song "Born To Run"?? If not, you best get to it right now! I put the video at the end of this post.
    This album was Bruce Springsteen's real breakthrough album, and let me say, this album is genius. There is not one mediocere song on this album. They are all filled with heart, spirit, struggle and pride, and the fight to be a working class romantic. Even all these words won't do it justice.
    Of course, there is always the New Jersey sound in it that Bruce Springsteen always seems to hit right on the nail, and the imagery and narration is still there. I've read a few places that this album happens to be a concept album, telling a story from beginning to end. I'm still not sure if this is fact or not, but I can see the story within it. As an LP, each side beings with songs of escape, Side A being the hopeful "Thunder Road" and Side B being the infamous "Born To Run". Of course, these are two of my favorite songs, as I could relate to them whenever I wanted a release from living in New Jersey and singing them with close friends from high school, wheather it be at a Bruce concert, driving around in my legendary White Solara, or just chillin. This album brings back great memories.
    My two other favorite songs, even though they are all really good and should not be missed, are "Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out" and "Jungleland"
   With "Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out", it is such a fun song, I wonder how could anyone not want to get up and dance? It just always gets me in a good mood, because I think it's a really feel-good song. The saxaphone in this song (played by the legendary "Big Man", Clarence Clemmons) is really awesome! I love listening to this song when I'm driving through the Lincoln Tunnel to NYC. It's worth a listen!
    And with "Jungleland", well this is just an epic song! Lasting about 10 minutes, it's the last song on the album and a great way to close it! The shifts in tempo and the different parts of the songs are awesome and it has some upbeat parts and some slow, "foggy", mysterious parts. It's really quite amazing! One of the best songs I've ever heard! It's like a little mini opera, much like Green Day's "Homecoming" but different. It's just one of the most epic songs to ever be played!
   Well, that's all for now folks! I best get to my homework! Thanks for reading, listening, etc. and I will see you later.

Peace Out!- AR

E-Street Shock

      What's up! Well, I had a very interesting night last night. I was walking in the city with a friend of mine, nothing unusal happening on the street. Everything seemed fine. That was, UNTIL I GOT ELECTROCUTED!!!
      Yes, I was walking closer to an intersection until, suddenly, I felt a sharp surge go though my feet. It felt like I was walking bare foot on glass and pressing hard on purpose. I stepped back from the intersection (Adams and Canal) and went into Union Station to sit down for a minute. I walked around and everything felt fine, so I was like "that was really weird". So we try to walk again to the intersection, thinking whatever happened was a one time thing. But NOOO, it started again and this time it was more painful than ever, and I feel down and my arm hit the street transformer (the big black boxes that are at every intersection to change the streetlights) and all of a sudden, a surge went though my arm, and it started shaking violently and felt like it was out of my control, and I couldn't move from it for a few seconds. Finally, my friend got me off of it, and as we walked away from the transformer, the pain also stopped on my feet.
     Turns out that I accidentally picked up a stray current from the street transformer. It's very rare and, when it does happen, it's usually to dogs. Alas, I'm that unlucky statistic. I'm not gonna lie. THAT.SHIT.HURT. I called the town later that night to report it and they went to check it out. So that's my electricity story!
    I went home and watched "Milk" and I highly recommend it! It's has an all star cast, and Sean Penn plays Harvey Milk. It's about Milk's battle to be the first openly gay man in public office, taking place in San Francisco. It's very inspiring and I HIGHLY recommend it if you have yet to see it!

    Now, on to the album I listened to today: The Wild, The Innocent, and The E Street Shuffle by Bruce Springsteen. This is Springsteen's second album, released in 1973.
    This album is, again, like the first one, very symbolic and full of imagery as it paints the picture in Springsteen's head. I would say this album has more of a Boardwalk/Jersey Shore (the actual shore, not the fucking TV show) vibe to it, what with "4th of July, Asbury Park (Sandy), Wild Billy's Circus Story,and such. It just seems like a great album to listen to, relaxing in Point Pleasent or Atlantic City or Asbury Park (duh) or whatnot! It, in a weird way, makes me miss hanging down the shore my old buddies, and our few crazy Atlantic City adventures! Once I can make it back to NJ, I'm going to go to the shore and just listen to it and walk around the boardwalk and the beach and see where it takes me!
    This album is definitely worth a listen, but some of the must listen to's are: "4th of July, Asbury Park (Sandy), "Kitty's Back", "Wild Billy's Circus Story", and the Bruce Springsteen concert staple "Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)" which is posted below!
   It's also a very eclectic album and, in my opinion, one of his most eclectic ones of them all, despite the Jersey Beach vibe (and the last track which has a driving to NYC vibe, the song titled "New York City Serenade). All the songs have a different feel and a different beat to them, despite the theme, and I really appreciate that from the album. It was also on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time list, so I don't think I'm alone with this opinion. It's one hell of a rock and roll album! Check it out!
   Well that's all for now peeps. Be well, be safe (Don't get electrocuted) and I'll catch you all later!

     Peace and Love!-The  A.R.

  

Greetings From Chicago (I'm Back)

     So my computer broke quite awhile ago is FINALLY being fixed, so I've just been trying to find some time at the computer labs on campus and I guess, for now, I'll be writing out of here for the next month or so. So it's been awhile since I wrote on this blog....yeah...well I'm back for now!
     Well, I decided to go back and listen to some albums I haven't listened to in awhile, and I decided "Why not write a blogpost about it?". So, I'm gonna write some posts about albums that I am going back and listening to! And I'm going to start with none other that the Boss himself, Bruce Springsteen!!
     I sat down and listened to his first album he released back in 1973, Greeteings From Asbury Park, NJ and here's what I have to say about it!

    First of all, let me make it clear: ELO did not write "Blinded By The Light", one of their popular songs. Nope, it's a Springsteen song and it's the first track on this album! Now, which version do I prefer? Well they are kind of different from each other and I do like ELO but I really do love the Springsteen version a lot, and it might be my favorite version, no offense to ELO. They have plenty of other great stuff!
   My other two favorite songs from this album are "Growin' Up" and "For You". I think, for "Growin' Up", it's a perfect song to transition into after the first song ("Blinded By The Light"), which sets the scene for the album, as a whole. "For You" is just a fun song that I could see breaking into song to in my life, hahaha!
   The reason why I like this album so much is the way it paints a picture of the world Springsteen wants to tell about. You can see examples from the previous three songs I mentioned earlier, which I think are a must listen to. I'm sure you can find them on youtube and I will post one here for your enjoyment.
    The imagery in this album is something I really love, it's kind of Bob Dylan-y but still original in it's own way! Coming from New Jersey, I can really appreciate this picture. I love the Springsteen's New Jersey, and I think it tells about stugggle and working class people and just living life, you know? I hate the "Jersey Shore" New Jersey of today that gets all the attention. I don't think that's really Jersey, just some bullshit that is giving us a bad name. If you go back to older NJ, the one where the working class hero was the story that was told, I think it has a lot of heart to it. Even "The Sopranos" gives off an interesting Jersey vibe. Why go to Jersey Shore to hang with Snooki or The Situation (unless it's to curbstomp them). You can find them ANYWHERE you go. It's nothing special, no worries.
    The New Jersey betrayed in this album is something I really like though and I think is worth a listen! At least the three songs mentioned! The whole album paints a good picture and puts me in the scene of the album. Below is an acoustic version of "Blinded By The Light", not the original. But still, take a listen!
    That's all for now! PEACE!!

-Your 21 Century American Reject