Indymedia's Anti-G8 Film Festival

So, I did actually make it to the film festival. Saturday nights films were footage from the protests at last years G8 summit in Scotland. The film "Won't Get Fooled Again - G8" I found particularly interesting. It focused on the teenagers who were there to protest and demonstrated that children are intelligent enough to beware of and understand major world issues. But if you insist that children are dense, then the film is a demonstration of how simple the problem with G8 is because these kids get it. I must say that I was moved to see children being so passionated about things beyond pop culture and it helps to prove my idea that the best way to change this world is to educate our children properly. As I discussed with another festival attender, education isn't about learning dates, it's about learning why things are happening. We don't prevent bad history from repeating by know that something happened, but why it happened.

As a plug for IndyMedia...you should check them out. They have local websites all over the world and rely on local, responsible reporters to provide worthwhile news. That being said, I'm sure some cities' local IndyMedia sites may be more useful than others.

Gabriel, a Penis, and a Birth

Or something like that is the title. In my attempt to go to this anti-G8 film festival tonight, I found myself on the rooftop of the Rampart Social Center in east London looking at 2 girls standing on chairs, panty-less with the skirts of their dresses up over their heads, leaving their body naked from the waist down. They stood there on the chairs about 8 feet apart with a rope holding sheets of paper with writing on them between them. Afterwards we found out that the rope was being held up not by their thighs as we had thought but due to the fact they had inserted the rope in them. This is the scene we saw as we came out on the roof...I knew then I was not at the film festival but it seemed interesting so I decided to stick around for a bit. What proceeded was surprisingly delightful and good and not so surprisinglg...intriguing. A performance ensued that to me started as if two girls were in their secret place in the woods, free to play as their child-like creative mind moved them. It slowly became more intense and it never seemed to loose the sense of a deep bond between these two girls. The setting could not have been more perfect...everyone in attendance agreed on this fact. This post is already long enough so I won't talk on what happens in it, but keep you eyes and ears open for a performance with 2 Greek girls coming to a local theatre near you (in London). I think I heard them say they will be performing it at Ladbroke Grove on Portobello Road.

MAR-GHER-ITA!!!!!!!!!!

OH YES!! Margherita, let me count the ways you refresh me! My goodness I forgot how refreshing a margherita is!! In my attempt to find a sushi place that ended up being closed, I stumbled across a Mexican restaurant La Perla that seemed to be calling me so I went in to eat. How happy I was to see chips and salsa already waiting for me at the table! To top it off, the salsa was actually spicy. And it was that perfect spicyness where it's not too spicy but spicy enough that you have to keep eating it to postpone that oh so good burn. This, in addition to the latest heat wave here, was just demanding I have a margherita so I got one on the way. While a bit tangy, it actually wasn't half bad. I did savor it and not just gulp it down quickly. I ordered some chicken quesadillas and rice but they are not much to talk about. The menu was interesting and worth trying other things to find something good. So, at the least, this place is good for some drinks and chips and salsa. You can also get some of those good summer Cuban drinks here as well. I wish I had found this place a while back as I was craving a mojito.

London Gypsy Orchestra

So finally I have made it to a performance of the London Gypsy Orchestra. What a fun group this is! To start, saying the leader, Gundula, has a flare for energy is an understatement. Her enthusiasm and joy for the music is undeniable. I think the motley collection of people that have come together to form this orchestra is probably a testament to the universal fun this music is. The belly dancer that performed few a few songs was a nice addition to the show. It will be interesting to see how this group grows, not in members but in being a professional act. A few mics for the instruments would have helped boost this great music into the audience more. This was their largest audience yet (if you don't count the shows they have done on BBC 3 Counties radio) and the venu was sold out so these guys are definitely developing a following...check them out!

A bitch session

So, if ever you iive in an area that is hot and there is no air conditioning so you leave your windows open, beware of moths! Who knows how long the moth must have been trapped between my comforter and the sheets (I swear no more than 2 weeks though....I do wash my sheets :) ). After treking my favorite nice soft, high-threadcount sheets all the way from the US, their ruin has be expediated by the bastard moth that somehow found his way into my washing machine/dryer, only to find himself with the experience of a full wash and dry and survive!! Well, I think it pissed him off so while he waited for me to take the sheets out, he had a lovely dinner on my nice cotten sheets! The bastard! I assume it is only a matter of time and usage that the small hole he has eaten will rip my sheets to an unusable state. Now the search begins for my new favorite sheets only because of the beginning of the end of the current ones.

Welcome to the Tent

Yesterday I attended the first event at a festival in a tent that has been organized by an artists named Andrea. Andrea has organized this festival to bring together and provide exposure for local artists. Last night, three members of a Georgian choir (Bernard being among them) sang songs while Rima painted from the musical inspiration. The tent with its wooden floors which everyone sat on with pillows added to the natural, organic experience. The Georgian choir sings folk Georgian music and definitely something one should experience. Rima's paintings are quiet enchanting and wonderful to see them evolve and come to fruition.

If you would like to find out more events happening at the Tent, call Andrea at 0793 9590652.

Italy advances to World Cup finals

After catching up with some friends over drinks, I found myself in Piccadilly Circus after the Italy-Portugal semi-finals World Cup game that Italy won. You can see from the picture that the Italy fans were just a "little" happy their team had won (notice the guys climbing the fountain). I really can't wait to see the celebration after the final World Cup game! I'm sure London has a population of either of the contenders so it should be a sight to see and enjoy!

Isabella Rossellini

Last Friday, I got free tickets to see a speaking event of Isabella Rossellini. It is her father's, Roberto Rossellini, 100 birthday this year and in his honor, she has written a book "In the name of the Father, the Daughter, and the Holy Spirits" and made a short film about him. So, she spoke quite a bit about her father and his film style. She is a very witting, entertaining speaker who doesn't seem to take herself too seriously, and is probably humbled by the reputation of her parents. She rejects any undo, polite praise which makes her more human than celebrity. I must say it was quite an entertaining evening despite the fact she appeared to have a few stalkers in the audience who caused awkward moments during the audience Q&A session to the point where the interviewer had to under his breath ask for the mic's to be taken away from the questioneer. One almost hoped she had some security afterwards.

My first Banksy

Carter was the first to tell me about Bansky, a stencil graffiti artist that has a message in his paintings. Well, yesterday I had my first Bansky sighting and it happened just as my bus was pulling up so I had to snap teh picture once I got on the bus. This one is just by the intersection of Farringdon Rd and Rosebury Avenue.

First and last English 2006 World Cup game

Saturday we watch the English-Portugal game out in east London. It was a good crowd that had gathered at the York pub near the Angel tube stop. Unfortunately, the supportive crowd was not enough to help England win the game. This picture was taken just at Portugal made its game winning point in the sudden death. It was quite exciting game that kept you on edge until the end.

World Cup Fever

So, I finally had an opportunity to watch the world cup in England. Subhayu was in town this weekend and in our wandering around on Friday, we stumbled across a crowd gathered in the street watching the Italy game from a 25" tv INSIDE a pub! Keep in mind they were having to watch it through the windows of the pub so there was quite a glare on it. You have to respect the dedication of fans!