The Afro-viking....

love the concept of this dude - go spread some love mister! :)

Soon it is November! :)

If I would still be living in the very south of Sweden it would mean a lot of foggy and grey days.....bare leaves....but this year autumn has been great in Uppsala. The leaves have been burning in all this various colours, slowly falling down...like golden coins...to the ground. Now it lays there, waiting for someone to just throw them up and around.... swirling like a dance of the season of the red, orange, yellow, brown.... burning our senses and making us dress in wool and drink lots of tea....so had a little autumn feast the other night and we all brought something to the table. 

 Then the only Canadian person got to make a pumpkin,
which we named crazy Jack. :) He is now laughing
away all bad spirits in the dark.

Shakira, so beautiful it is,

the new song....

"I'll be there...."

Ok, this might become a radiokiller....but so far it's pretty decent.... I like the beats and version of it (originally it's a Jackson song)

Orientalism

I find this recap of Edvard Saids Orientalism interesting and nice with comments as well as photos/video clips.

Philosophy in 5 min...

For my fellow students in Philosphy of Science.... perhaps this gets us in a better spirit. At least it made me smile. :)

For my Spanish...

...speaking friends who step by step introduce me to new words and culture.
(loved the ceviche, definitely a favourite dish for me, thanks for introducing that....)

Mikel Erentxun - Manana

Minha princesa brasileira...

do Rio....

McKennitt - CD nov 2010!

I am so excited!!!! Lorrena McKennitt is releasing a new CD the 12th November (in Sweden). It seems to be a really great one!!! Preview the tracks here. For those following my blogs, knows that I love music and the artists differs. But McKennitt has always been a true companion for me in my life, especially her CD the book of secrets which is just amazing. It was my first encounter of her music, I remember that I was 15 years old, in late autumn...Stockholm in the end of the 1990's...found this little pagan store that brought me into a new path which in a way felt so familiar and right....and in the background they played the soft tunes of this magical and soothing music...

Anyways, in this new cd she sings traditional celtic songs in her own special style. But I mean can it become better?!....celtic songs and McKennitt ..... *me like* I can't wait to get a copy...

Ohw...and for those that have missed this great artist... here she explains a bit about her music and interests, her words:

"I am also in awe of music’s unique capacity to induce and enhance moods and psychological states and the great linkages it has to physiology. This is illustrated in the field of music therapy, not only for humans but also for animals. I think of dairy farmers who pipe in classical music to induce cows to give more milk, or of a recent film set in Mongolia called The Story of the Weeping Camel, in which a mother camel rejects her calf only to reclaim it following a musical ritual. I think of the MIT professor who uses MRI scans to study the impact on the brain of the meditation and chanting of Kundalini yoga.

 I am deeply interested in these connections between physiology and our spiritual and psychological beings, and the many events and experiences that inspire us. Surely some creativity comes from this set of intersections."

Some wise words from the lady in question....

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"Be compassionate and never forget how to love.

Think inclusively.

Reclaim noble values such as truth, honesty, honour, courage.

Respect one's elders and look to what they have to teach you.

Be empathetic.
 

Look after the less fortunate in society.
 

Promote and protect diversity.
 

Respect the gifts of the natural world.
 

Set your goals high and take pride in what you do.
 

Cherish and look after your body,
and, as the ancient Greeks believed,
your mind will serve you better.
 

Put back into the community
as there have been those before you
have done the same and you are reaping what they sowed.
 

Participate in and protect democracy. It does not thrive as a spectator sport.
 

Undertake due diligence in everything.
 

Seek balance and space, and solitude.
 

Don't be afraid to feel passionate about something.
 

Learn to be an advocate and an ambassador for good.
 

Be mindful of your limitations.
 

Indulge and nurture your curiosity as it will keep you vital.
 

Take charge of your life and don't fall into the pit of entitlement.
 

Assume nothing and take nothing for granted.
 

Things are not necessarily what they seem."

Loreena McKennitt

Spivak

This is one of the philosophers that we have brought up within our philosophical science class. In my curiosity about her and thoughts about post-colonial theory and the context of subaltern...here is a lecture I found that she did. It's one hour long and then half an hour discussion with the audience. I find her talk especially captivating the last 20 mins (40th minute and onwards) when she starts to talk about the new subaltern as a transformation into property. Among other things, she notice the indigenous knowledge that turns into intellectual property, and the conversation of indigenous knowledge into data. She says that it is a difference between knowing and learning, between describing a card game and describing a card game well enough to lose in order to teach.

More quaokes from following lecture is;

"the de-trivialism of the humanities"

"logic does not belong to Europe alone"

"who will educate the educated"

"let us not accuse, let us not excuse"

"we must nurture the abstract read, transcendent it into reason by recognise that"

But let's listen to her....

For a shorter clip where Spivak comments the world of today, see this interview where she are asked upon the green movement in Iran.

For me... :)

I have put up a lot of songs for friends or special new acquaintances whom I am happy to have been introduced to. But today I will put up a song just for me. Because we need to look after ourselves, if we don't care about the 'I' but just about the 'you', atleast then take care of yourself for others. Be nice and learn to like  your features and appreciate the company of yourself, accept good and bad. If we need to have energy for others, we first need to be strong and balanced ourselves. Love and empathy not just for the next of kin but also for who the person which are 'I' am.... Within the reflection of a lover, a friend, another being we may sometimes glimpse who we are, and to not be a big burden or a bother, we really do need to be good to the personal being of I. So here is one of my own favourite songs....

Existentialism

Since I am writing and thinking about -ism's right now... Here is a nice little documentary from Mr. Gasana.

Sophie's world

Relating to the previous post I made, I would like to bring up this Scandinavian movie based on the book called Sophie's World. I remembered that I watched it during high school and it was really captivating me. One of my favourite subjects by then was also philosophy so it was good entertainment. The movie is about this girl who gets face to face with influential philosophers in history. Here, let's watch the trailer for it...

Philosophy of sciences and Derrida

So I am in hard core study period for my exam...or atleast a bit more structured after I had my furnitures  to change places. It's funny how you always get creative just before a big writing up comes up, although it actually does help for my motivation.

Today we had a seminar on poststructuralism and postmodernism. Among others we discussed deconstructions and the French philosopher Derrida. He was very influential in the concept of post structuralism. In some way he appeals to me and I would like to know more about his discussions about language, inspired by the structuralist and linguist Saussure.

There was a documentary done in 2002 about Derrida, which I find appealing for those that as me are more curious about him.


But there is a short version of the movie here....

The books of Derrida that might one day belong to my book shelf is these two: 

This first one could be found digitally and be bought here.

The second one is this one, also in digitally version.

Let's fly away...

...and since I am now dedicating songs to dear friends of mine, here is another bit more vintage....but you could also hear Rose and Jack sing it in the movie Titanic (btw, did you know that Titanic was built in Belfast?).

So here is the song performed by Blanche Ring.  

 

 (Hehe, and J, u know, did even find the sheets/chords for it, in case we wanna learn how to play it ;)).



And can't help myself than to just adore the style of the 1920's..... :)

"Write about love"

The Scottish music group Belle and Sebastian is releasing a new cd in these days called write about love. I have never really listened at them before, but I don't know why since they are really good. Listen at this one for instance (this is for my dear friend Catha):

Chocolat

Just because I love chocolate and this movie has got a lot of great actors and performances....

Latin America and Spanish lessons...

I would really much like to go to Latin America for a while. So between methodology studies at uni., I am learning Spanish and preparing for a master thesis research there. I found this little documentary movie about south of America, that I figured would give me some kind of introduction to this area in the world. 

A friend of mine also gave me this great link for Spanish lessons on internet. I find it very entertaining and a nice way to learn a new language on. It completes my classes and language discussions with friends who are fluent in Spanish.

Friendships...

There is so many nice people out there. People to have a tea with, some to go to cinema with, others to have deep existentialistic philosophic discussions, friends to party with and to laugh with, and even so a few more for studies, making dinner and to raise your voice with... But sometimes in life, you just meet those stars that like every aspect of you, love you whichever side you would show. They don't doubt you, but support you and give you love, respect, trust. Someone to laugh, relax and feel safe with.

When I was a teenager we were a very tight friendship group of four, and we all - curiously enough - were having different elements. It was like our group was balanced. Four people driven by water, fire, earth and air combined with a bound of loving spirit. 

Just when I was in doubt, I find myself having the same kind of setting with friends again - and I am happy. 

So here is some songs for friendships...
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Annie - It's a hard knock life (1982)
Note: Jay-z also did a funky version of this




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Hello Saferide - My best friend (2005?)
Note: Swedish artist, new album released this year


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Alphaville - Forever young (1984?!)

 
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...just because I love dancing,  Dirty Dancing 1 (1987) was not able to emded...so here is a great song from the second Dirty Dancing called Havanan nights (2004), which btw is a great dance movie....

Yerba Buena - Guarija (I love you too much)
Album Follow me (2007)





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There is a part in one of the seasons of Ally McBeal where she tries to find her song. She walks down the street to her work and goes through different beats to find her special one that makes her feel good and energised...I love that part, but am unsure of the song (perhaps this one?) and the episode...too bad... But here is my song anyways...my absolute favourite song which I sing when I am on the best of moods... although I use to sing "how wonderful life is, when your by my side"...

Molin Rouge - Your song (2001)

Before you watch this I might need to tell you a bit about this movie. It's about the French place Moulin Rouge and a story with a lot of dancing, about love. In this scene Satine (played by Nicole Kidman) has mistaken Christian for the duke and therefore tries to seduce him. The duke has a lot of money and was going to fund a show in Moulin Rouge but wanted to go out with the star Satine. So she was told to be a bit willingly...but it becomes a bit funny (and she will eventually fall in love with Christian instead which is not good since she has to be true to the duke for the funding of the place) when she doesn't realise her mistake. But I put up this scene because I love the song. When I was showdancing in my teenage I danced to another great song from this film.... but now - your song. 

"Help I'm alive...."

I like this song...it's nice. It can be found on Metrics cd Fantasies.



They have also done the song all yours to the movie Eclipse.

Cinnamon rolls!

The fifth of October it is the cinnamon rolls day in Sweden. We have had this as a public day since 1999. But ever since the end of the 19th century the origin of "kanelbullar" started. Expensive ingredients was a status symbol, since it was by that time a bit hard to come over. But it was in the mid 1950's that Swedes really started to bake a lot of cinnamon rolls. Today we even have a name of a person that is very domesticated...called bun-mum, or "bullmamma". The scent of freshly made, hot, cinnamon and cardemom is just absolutely gorgeous.

In this recipe they miss the very important ingredient of cardamom powder and they don't have any crushed loaf sugar as topping....neither have I ever used brown sugar for the filling, but white, although it looks good with brown sugar. And I tend to do everything by hand, without a machine. Using melted butter and the milk, to disperse the yeast and then adding the dry ingredients - mixing, rising and making the actual buns, letting them rise once more before egg and big pearls of sugar/crushed loaf sugar on top. Also, it is especially great to eat freshly made with a glass of cold milk.

But still, this instructions gives you an idea of the procedure.

Brownies & Bars:
How To Make Cinnamon Rolls

Dance as much as ya want...!

Yesterday you could see some Swedish webb news about a new kind of material that does not show when you get sweaty (I wonder how it looks if it starts rain). Apparently it was two guys from Manchester that for 8 years ago wanted to create a shirt that would last a night out - even if you danced until sweat pearl were dropping all over from ya.... I think it sounds like a great invention. Imagine how good it could be when you are out travelling in warm places and want to wear a shirt and stay fresh for long, regardless the weather. 

Beautiful scene...

I know this is a pretty old movie, but I still think it is beautifully done. Especially the closure scene.... Perhaps you should watch the whole movie before the clip below. You could get a snapshot here which is also a great scene.

Love, still

Love isn't over just because you become older... Here is a nice movie of two people meeting later in life.

Swedish metro 60 year

Today, the first of October 2010, it is exactly 60 years ago since the metro in Stockholm opened up for the public to start communicate. In the honour of that, I would like to add a clip of how to chat somebody up on the tube... Be entertained and inspired. 

Dating Humor:
How To Chat Someone Up On The Train, Bus Or Tube

Dans ma rue

I'm learning to embed songs and clips, so here is one Piaf version performed by Zaz.



ZAZ - Dans ma rue
Uploaded by madmoiZelle. - Music videos, artist interviews, concerts and more.

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And here is another song by Zaz.