thursday thought overturns

:: Was fortunate to share seats on train home today with the most adorable Rhodesian Ridgeback girl, 1,5 years old and such an irresistable, gamine, happy sweetheart. She apparently accompanied owner to her job at posh Stockholm department store every day where she had the best of times. Talk about company perk, such workplaces are totally enviable and too, too rare. Pleasantly surprised that that store of all places had such generous dog policies for employees.

Such little encounters really brighten up the day. A really nice round off to my-commuting-day. Which began quite in the other end of pleasantness.

:: Both train and bus were full of screaming school kids this morning. Accompanied by teachers who clearly don't embrace the word discipline in their vocabulary. Instead they just sit smiling in a not-all-hens-in-the-henhouse unworldly way, while the rest of the passengers try to escape to a calmer corner of the carriage.

When did things went so completely and utterly wrong with Swedish schools, discipline and overall common sense consideration? When I was a kid - which isn't all that long ago in the bigger picture. Really - the teachers, with few exceptions, did keep order in class and when on school trips and outings. And guess what, there was most always a bus pre-reserved for such trips(since the busdrivers repeatedly urge the today's teachers to do just that when the kids rampage the buses, I'm boldly guessing that option is still available).

Basic simple consideration should be as natural today as it was then. Instead there's just too much lost connections and glitches in brains of today.

:: I heart "Little Britain". The multilayered thoughtprovoking blend of mundane freaky (in real life existing in one shape or other) characters and phenomenas, with the horrific, borderline hilariously disgusting storylines is simply brilliant. People who are willing to flaunt their imperfections like this while making fun of themselves and others quirks and flaws are so admirable.

Currently they're bringing culture class and dignity to the US of A on Swedish television. Love it.

:: Why do teenage girls look like clones these days? At least the Stockholm teenage girls, they seem strangely void of personality and character, they look the same, they act the same, they talk the same. Huzzah for the exceptions to the clone-rule!

:: I've alwaysish thought it prudent when one finds a garment of some sorts one really loves, for some reason or other, one should get more of the same model (within reason and if possible of course). Just to avoid any regrets when a perfect model is discontinued (I'm thinking the obvious example for gals being the hard-to-find-the-perfect-fit/model bra) and why spend money and time looking for second best fit when one can get the best fit in different colours?

That said being true to the notion I got three really sweet, soft and comfy, perfect for any occasion shortsleeved cardigans on end-summer-sale. In a bamboo-viscose blend (one off-white, one pale pink, one dark grey) they've all been a source of comfort and joy.

As I've never worn anything bambooish before I was very careful following the washing instructions for the first-in-washing-machine-cardigan to the letter. But when hang to dry I was in dispair since it had seemingly stiffened and shrunk to this ridiculous almost-doll-size cardigan. Whatever should I do with the other two when washing?

As it turned out, when the cardigan had dried it, quite magically, returned to its original size, its original sweetest softness again. The strangest and luckiest thing.

:: Really wholeheartedly enjoying this latest class with Dreamweaver. Discovered I unknowingly already knew most of the stuff (at the same time as I get answers to those little things here and there I've wondered about. I e getting a completeish grasp of useful nerd terms), but now I have it 'on paper' as well.

Admitting to this I realise I'm most probably way behind in being a cool, trendy on the edge computer savvy type, so be it, I chose to ignore while not so secretly flaunt that imperfection by saying that Dreamweaver rock my world. At least in a not-hugely-worldturning-but-still-pleasantly-uplifting-and-most-enjoyable-way.

:: Besides I belong to the (not so long ago really) 'generation' that thought writing one's uni degree finishing essay on an electric typewriter was the very essence of up-to-date-progress. Not only thought actually, it was. For a short while yet.

When I got round to wrapping up the whole thing - 'the thing' being a go through and analyze of the Swedish fiscal offence legislation. Oh my, does that seem eons away... - for a graduation I had turned computerized (übercool, my middle name). To be able to actually layout and presenting an essay in the ways offered by Word back then was, well... pretty darn cutting edge. Actually.

Not so long ago.

:: Have been experiencing intense, painful problems with left foot plantar fasciitis. I very much and completely blame a particular pair of shoes. What-began-as-not-cheap-new-favourite turned out to be less-than-up-to-usual-standard-quality ones (note i m m e n s e disappointment).

I'm able to make a complaint and get a new pair of shoes (if size and colour still available, touch wood), still, who knows when pain will subside, ah and my disappointment, the battered trust in the brand.

Goes to show with perfect and painful clarity, never trust a seemingly trustworthy brand to always fullfill your search (and dream) of the perfect shoe.

:: Where did this past week go? Can't grasp the fact that it's borderline Friday already. I'm very much leaning towards unplanning of weekend plans. It would be rather wonderful to just have a really laid back-sleeping-reading-watching-movies-weekend. And possibly some weather permitted biking of course.

That is, if computer says yes.

A Bunch of Movies

Some views on some of the movies I've watched since last - and as usual the Pia-grading scale from turkey - 5 goes like this; turkey, worthless, 1-, 1, 1+, 2-, 2, 2+, 3-, 3, 3+, 4-, 4, 4+, 5. Not a simple 1-5 scale since I think there can be little values or not that makes a movie worth the "-" or "+" part.

• A Mighty Wind - one of my favourite movies ever is the brilliant dog show fake documentary "Best in Show" (and not only, spoiler alert, because the rightful BIS winner in the end is a Norwich, relative to Norfolk, terrier), which is hilarious and so true to life beyond belief. When you've travelled those circles (in my case cat shows, but from the few dog shows I've attended it boils down to pretty much the same type of people) yourself without being a sad stereotype the recognition factor and all the clever details of this BIS movie is stunning. And why do I mention this as the name of the movie here is "A Mighty Wind"? Well, the same makers and pretty much the same cast, this time a fake documentary about a folk musician reunion, very enjoyable. There's one detail about the TV producer Lars Olfen that claims he comes from Sweden, describing his hard life here and the bestselling recording of a folk music song when he was a teenager which is a 10-point joke (for us Swedes and no Olfen is not a Swedish name). Pia-grade; 4+
• Batman Begins - better than I had expected, decent action for the thinking mind, good actors and special effects; 4
• Bobby Jones - Strike of Genius - no I'm far from a golf fan, but as M (who lives in the illusion that golf is a decent hobby) had recorded it and there was good actors I gave it a go. It was more interesting than I had thought (although I still have no idea how one man can accomplish all that and still have a busy family life as well as a career as a lawyer...), the scenic Scotland and St Andrews views didn't hurt either; 3-
• Broken Flowers - great music in this movie! Good actors, entertaining in a sad-funny way, and the ending was such a bummer of an anticlimax, sigh. Pia-grade; -4
• The Da Vinci Code - I really didn't have much hope for a movie based on one of the crappiest most overrated books I've ever read. But on TV, it's free and a recent one at that hence *one has to watch it*. And I sure wasn't disappointed. It was just lousy, good actors performed way beyond their usual talents, the story (which if told better is a good one, I admit) even more muddled than in the badly written book. Pia-grade; 1-
• Dixie Chicks Shut Up and Sing - a very interesting documentary about the ignorant redneck reactions when one of the Dixie Chicks made her statement about Bush in 2003. Like the tagline says - Freedom of speech is fine as long as you don't do it in public...; 4
• Firewall - foreseeable but rather good thriller with good actors lead by Harrison Ford; -3
• Gentlemen's Relish - starring in this endearingly funny movie is lovely Billy Connolly who plays a Scottish painter gone photographer in Edwardian London; 4
• Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull - when the very first Indiana Jones movie was released in Sweden I thought it was just groundbreakingly brilliant. I didn't like the sequel, but the third one was pretty good (yes the one with Sean Connery of course). Making a fourth one so many years later, well, not the brightest of ideas perhaps, as the genre isn't very fresh and inventive anymore, I found this movie to be *tad bit* strained as well as corny but with good actors; -3
• Kattbreven (The Cat Letters) - silly plot, not very talented actors and stupid ignorant people who leave the cat behind at their summer house when autumn comes, what's to like in this waste of money Swedish movie? 1
• Kinky Boots - a sweet bagatelle based on a true story about a shoe factory in Northern England which finds itself in deep crisis and tries to find its new shoe niche... A memorable performance by Chiwetel Ejiofor, one of those actors who really has diversity; 3+
• LA Law The Movie - when this lawyer series came to Sweden in the late 80ies it was a huge hit (at least for us budding lawyers). Gosh, I was glued in front of the TV that one time every week and since then I'm such a sucker for well made lawyer series, what works better than a well written/told closing argument? So of course I had to watch this reunion movie of the series - turned out it was a rather sad event. To much time has passed and it was just stale, mostly uninteresting and tiresome; 2-
• Madagascar - with few exceptions I'm no fan of animated movies. This wasn't one of those exceptions. Y-a-w-n; 1
• Miami Vice - another one of those late 80ies glitzy, hip, groundbreaking TVseries that I adored at the time. Admittedly, when I see and odd episode nowadays I find them to be rather... nerdy and silly, but still the series fall into the category of fond-teenager-memories. Hence I wouldn't have dreamt of watching a stupid movie version at the cinema nor rent it on DVD. On TV - see above Da Vinci Code - that's another thing. Although as usual, a movie with talented as a tree-trunk Colin Farrell falls quite flat, add to that uninspired, stupid plot and you get a; 1
• Must Love Dogs - this is a movie I really, really like and watch now and then, I just thought I'd mention it as it really is a little romcom gem no frills, not a lot of überstylish people living in apartments/houses they wouldn't be able to afford with that income irl and so forth. Talented Diane Lane is a sweetheart - as always, why doesn't she get more good parts?? - and John Cusack is perfect as her counterpart in this charming story about somewhat jaded people looking for someone, The One, to love. Like most of us do. Pia-grade; -4
• The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe - I loved these books by C.S. Lewis as a child and I remember adoring a british TV-series based on the books with Aslan being so wonderfully made. This movie was nothing like that. Non plausible special effects and annoying child actors. Not that that did stop be from bawling my eyes out as usual when Aslan was killed by the evil witch...; -2
• Pieces of April - with a story that makes one very grateful for the family one has, I would have liked it much more if it hadn't revolved so much around a poor dead uncooked turkey for Thanksgiving; 2+
• Poseidon - I remember having seen the original Poseidon movie which I quite liked, this one though wasn't half bad either, in a horrifying way, you will never ever find me on a cruiseship, not before this movie (or Estonia) not after. Dauntingly well made special effects; 3-
• Stardust - this magical and funny lovestory is quite lovely indeed, brimming with good actors and quirky details. Although I could do without the over pompous soundtrack, I do know when I feel like crying, laughing, oh and ahing all by myself, thank you very much; 4
• 10, 000 BC - not a movie I'd chose to watch myself, but despite it's ridiculously modern take on a presumably prehistoric story it was okey, better than I had expected anyway; 2
• Tuck Everlasting - a rather sweet, fairytailish story about the possibility of living forever, beautifully made, good actors; 3

~ Congratulations ~

I'm so happy about the outcome of US election, it's such a positive step in the right direction. It does give hope for many great changes both in foreign policies as well as domestic and infrastructural. Congratulations on a job well done, voters!

PS I heard there was a promise of a dog involved in the fortunate election outcome, might I be as bold as to suggest one shape of loaf doggie relative? Such a choice does not only show ingenious thought it also promises many days of squeaker toy fun DS

Documentaries, II

A few of the documentaries I've watched lately -

* Animals who sense danger - about the fact that many animals sense geo-electrical waves ie electromagnetic waves and therefor can "predict" different natural catastrophes, like tsunamis, earth quakes, volcanic eruptions. The lesson to be learnt - most of us should learn to be more openminded and *listen* more to what other animals are trying to tell us...

* 9.11 fund - a sad fact, money or the prospect of getting money seems to bring out all sorts of nastiness in all too many humans... The 9.11 fund is the federal compensation fund for victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and this documentary showed how basically unfairly and inefficiently the money was distributed. There weren't any equal payouts, but instead they were based on factors such as the victim's age and potential lost income. A strange way of putting a price and value on a life... Not to mention how greedy some of the *mourners* became, ah the distastefulness and complete lack of respect is just appalling...

* Grand Designs, The Woodsman's Cottage - perhaps not a documentary as such, just something I stumbled over, but still an extremely interesting and fascinating irl TV-show about, in this episode of the series, a man who built an eco-house in the middle of the woods in Suffolk, UK. From scratch, and by hand, grew an amazingly beautiful house, with a very Little-House-On-the-Prairie-feel to it. More of the series can be found here

* Ethical fashion - a documentary about how non-ethical and non-sustainable, in so many ways, the fashion industry is. How, still few, designers are trying to make things better and how hard the resistance from different actors in the fashion business often is. About fair trade - how many know or even care about that when there are silly cheap shirts from Asia to be found in store back home... We should be aware. And we ought to care. More information (in Swedish) can be found at etiskt mode.se

* Cajsa Warg & her culinary sisters - a culinary journey from Cajsa Warg, 18th century, to today's Swedish trendsetters in the culinary department. Quite interesting, and in parts plain wimpish, to say the least...

* 21 years in the new South Africa - in 1992 the directors began filming this documentary about what was then 11 children from different walks of life in SA. They were then 7 years old, the next episode was filmed when they were 14 and now they're 21. There are only eight of them still alive, three have died in aids. It should be a generation with a whole lot of new possibilities in life, but have they been able to make the most of that or are all these new possibilities just something that's seen on paper? My impression of most of the youths in the documentary was jadedness, sadness and like one of them put it "Everyone is so pc in South Africa today, but noone seem to actually care. Apartheid was something that defined us." - heartbreaking. On so many levels. And all that waste of resources and lives.

* In search of Gandhi - a documentary road movie about today's India and how Gandhi's visions of equality and democracy, his Satyagraha, have been maintained and managed. The sad fact it seems, is that it has not, with few exceptions. The caste-system, the reverses of SEZ, the forced dislocations, the suicides of about 100000 Indian farmers every year, the religious antagonisms - as Gandhi so well put it; "As soon as we lose the moral basis we cease to be religious, there is no such thing as religion overriding morality".

The conclusion of this particular documentary was that India of today is living with the consequences of not following Gandhi's ideas.

* An extremely interesting documentary about different people's different daily rhythms, about our genetic biological clock and sleeping disorders. About the fact that so many people aren't very well adapted to this rigid society with the-early-bird-catches-the-worm attitude. That it should be an innovation society, and not an industrial society that forces everyone into the same strict 9-17 templates. If we could chose to sleep and work when it suited us the best, and really many of the means of working nowadays allow us to, it would lead to both an economic value addition as well as an increased personal life quality.

And *of course* a country that is actually in parts open to this way of thinking being Denmark. Where the so called B-Society has been founded, with a mission to change the labour markets and society's rigid structures. My two words for this is - at last.