On a sunny day, we met up again. Two friends who barely said a word to each other for almost a year. Awkward gestures, unsure what to do.
This could be a closure. Or a new shape of friendship. A kiss on the cheek.
"I personally don't believe in global warming. It's just a political twist of powerful countries not wanting developing countries, like Indonesia, emerge as new power in global industries. The world has its cycle and its own mechanism to make itself sustainable."
Always a little discussion. Now over pancakes.
"Well, politic aside. What's wrong with recycling and trying to make less and less solid waste disposal? What's wrong with planting more trees or building more environmental friendly homes? It doesn't matter whether global warming is really exist or not, living green doesn't hurt anyone."
"Poorer countries will always be dependent to richer countries. How could they manage to accelerate their economy if their industries and manufactures continue being held back by the reason of global warming? Those superpower countries only use global warming issue to secure their positions in the food chain."
"Cleaner technology will indeed improve the living quality of society. Reducing raw material, recycling product into its raw material will help. Reusing what you have at home instead of buying the new one is not only helping the environment, but also your wallet, and it prevents any more unnecessary disposal."
"Clean technology is expensive. Raw materials are usually cheaper than the recycled ones, clean technology is not exactly congruous to be implemented in developing countries. Tax cut or incentive for industries that use clean technology, they couldn't do that."
"That's the use of research, to discover new possible, cheaper, more environmental friendly both processes and materials. People need to work together and stop pointing at one another. We could start living green at home. People that live near industrial area could protest if those industrial activities interfere their healths. Government should make a strict policy about emissions and litters that could be harmful to water and soil."
"That could be done, again, in already are industrial countries. There's almost no textile plants in US. They move them to Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia because that kind of industry produce a lot of waste."
"And they buy it back to United States. Making coutures and expensive clothes..."
"... and sell it to people around the world, including Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia."
"But that's the purpose of industry. You add some value to raw materials, sell them and collect much more money than the producers of those raw materials do. I honestly don't see the bad in capitalism. You want to win big, you have to bet big."
"Developed countries have two faces..."
"We all do."
"Exactly. Raising up this global warming issue, making this sound important and urgent. While at the same time they don't want to sacrifice anything. They push developing countries into taking responsibilities of what developed countries have done. All the data about earth warming up, is only a bunch of curves of what's been going on in the past... let's say, 50 years, 100 years. Earth exists much longer than that. Its warming up and cooling down, it's all part of the cycle."
"If there's no global warming issue people won't stop using cheap technology that will intoxicate their own bodies. People will never stop dispose unnecessary wastes."
"Global warming issue ties down poorer countries and prevents their economic independence. Now is the mankind prosperity versus paranoid hypothesis. And you haven't finished your food."
"I have. I feel full already."
"You only ate a half of it."
"But I can't eat anymore. Or else I'm gonna be sick of too much carb."
"Why... I'm always the one to finish your meal."
Kafka said stories don't have to state morals. Sometimes stories are just about the beauty of details and well written lines.
Talks don't have to have conclusions. The beauty of it is just when you're there, with persons you care about, talking and sipping orange juice.
Like in 2007, each audience got back home with camcorder, luxurious watch, refrigerator, and plenty other things. She didn't have the usual Oprah's Favorite things on 2008 and 2009 due to the economic recession in the US (I bet any company would do multiple thinking before giving up hundreds of free products, even for THE Oprah).
Yet in her very last Oprah Show (she won't be doing this show anymore next year), we expect nothing but the best. Luckily, so did she. That's why in this season she had 2 episode of Oprah's Favorite Thing. Among the list: 2012 Volkswagen Beetle. Yes, baby, everybody gets the car!!
Maybe economic condition in the US gets better. Maybe Oprah's tired of giving away crappy things like downloadable CDs. Though, of course, as long as it's free and coming from Oprah, it's no crappy at all. This last two episodes of Oprah's Favorite Things (or Gifts) are extraordinaire.
Here's the complete list, as reported on TVSquad.
Limited-Edition 25th Anniversary Oprah watch by Philip Stein ($2475.00)
Nikon camera ($699.95)
Ralph Lauren Oprah Cashmere Sweater and Throw ($1093.00)
Judith Ripka earrings ($525.00)
Tory Burch tote ($250.00)
Andre Walker hair products ($65.00)
Lafco candles ($990.00)
Breville Panini Press ($99.95)
Kyocera knife set ($74.95)
Beecher's mac & cheese ($29.00)
Baker's Edge brownie/lasagna pan ($89.40)
'A Course in Weight Loss' by Marieanne Williamson and 'Decode' by Jay-Z ($59.95)
Nikon camera ($699.95)
Ralph Lauren Oprah Cashmere Sweater and Throw ($1093.00)
Judith Ripka earrings ($525.00)
Tory Burch tote ($250.00)
Andre Walker hair products ($65.00)
Lafco candles ($990.00)
Breville Panini Press ($99.95)
Kyocera knife set ($74.95)
Beecher's mac & cheese ($29.00)
Baker's Edge brownie/lasagna pan ($89.40)
'A Course in Weight Loss' by Marieanne Williamson and 'Decode' by Jay-Z ($59.95)
Netflix membership (5 years)
Kiva/Groupon gift card ($100.00)
Reva Ballerina shoes ($195.00)
Elfa closet system ($1000.00)
Oprah final season t-shirt ($35.00)
Lululemon pants ($98.00)
Black-Eyed Peas CD ((17.98)
Nike shoes (four pair: $340.00)
Apple iPad with Scrabble app ($500.00)
UGG boots ($175.00)
Sophia Satchel by Coach ($398.00)
Magaschoni tunic and leggings ($558.00)
Kiva/Groupon gift card ($100.00)
Reva Ballerina shoes ($195.00)
Elfa closet system ($1000.00)
Oprah final season t-shirt ($35.00)
Lululemon pants ($98.00)
Black-Eyed Peas CD ((17.98)
Nike shoes (four pair: $340.00)
Apple iPad with Scrabble app ($500.00)
UGG boots ($175.00)
Sophia Satchel by Coach ($398.00)
Magaschoni tunic and leggings ($558.00)
Hope in a Jar by Philosophy ($38.00 and up)
Nordstrom lingerie ($500.00)
Herb Savor by Prepara ($29.95)
Centerville chicken pie ($20.00)
Garrett's Limited Edition Favorite Things tin ($135.00)
Le Creuset cookware ($599.00)
Miraclebody jeans ($110.00)
Sophie jewelry box ($179.00)
Jessica Leigh diamond earrings ($1900.00)
DonorsChoose.org gift card ($100.00)
Nordstrom lingerie ($500.00)
Herb Savor by Prepara ($29.95)
Centerville chicken pie ($20.00)
Garrett's Limited Edition Favorite Things tin ($135.00)
Le Creuset cookware ($599.00)
Miraclebody jeans ($110.00)
Sophie jewelry box ($179.00)
Jessica Leigh diamond earrings ($1900.00)
DonorsChoose.org gift card ($100.00)
Williams-Sonoma mini croissants ($39.95)
Talbott Teas ($150.00)
'The Book of Awakening' by Mark Nepo ($18.95)
'Illuminations' by Josh Groban ($12.99)
'Let It Be Me' by Johnny Mathis ($12.00)
Sony Bravia 3D TV and Blu-ray player ($3600.00)
2012 Volkswagen Beetle (it won't be announced until May 2011 but Oprah got a sneak peek)
Talbott Teas ($150.00)
'The Book of Awakening' by Mark Nepo ($18.95)
'Illuminations' by Josh Groban ($12.99)
'Let It Be Me' by Johnny Mathis ($12.00)
Sony Bravia 3D TV and Blu-ray player ($3600.00)
2012 Volkswagen Beetle (it won't be announced until May 2011 but Oprah got a sneak peek)
I've been sick for 3 days now, high fever followed by feels-like-never-ending-stomach-cramps. The genius Aji told me I probably caught 'masuk angin'. But yesterday night the pain was excruciating that my aunt finally took me to an internist.
And she said I caught bronchitis.
I don't really understand the connections between lungs and bilge, but long story short, doctor order, I have to put on total rest for the rest of the week. Meaning: no class, no jalan-jalan, no exam. She said I was under a lot of stress lately, which is weird, I never feel like I was.
Anyway, so today I spent the whole afternoon blog walking. I'm always kind of curious with the blog of Tavi Gevinson. I mean, this 14-year-old fashion blogger had shoots for TeenVogue Magazine last year. And, as reported by NY Magazine, had turned down request to appear on Oprah and The Tonight Show. Man.., this chick gets the guts.
Almost as gutty as Anna Wintour, who ordered Oprah to lose 20 lbs before The Queen of American Talk Show could put her face on the cover of Vogue.
Style Rookie, that's Tavi's blog, may not be entirely different from any other fashion blogs. But the fact that a 14-year-old girl is writing these articles: Whoaaa.. I don't remember what I wrote when I was her age, but I'm pretty sure it's not something I could be proud of.
She wrote about Briney Spears' cover shoot for Japanese magazine, Pop. Adding some fine piece of her mind about lolita fetishes, she mentioned about how Spears was sold under pretense of virginal yet sexy school girl. She also compared the princess with Courtney Love, who (as Tavi said it) popularized the trend Kinderwhore.
I think I'm a fan.
This is Tavi's response to the possibility of people get bored of her after some years, when she enters adulthood, as reported by NY Magazine.
“I guess that’s sort of a worry of mine,” she said. “That I won’t be relevant anymore, and then I just won’t be able to do things like go to Fashion Week.” She went on, “If I lost all my readers tomorrow, I would still blog, just because it’s a place for me to get my thoughts down. As I get older, no one will be able to do the ‘Can you believe it? This kid’s thirteen!’ thing. That’s fine. I’d rather get attention for any credibility I have, and if I don’t get attention at all maybe that will tell me I never had any credibility. In which case I’ll just watch the live streams. The main thing is the clothes."
Dandelion goes from south to north, every winter day in the middle of the year. Tells you stories about lovers' longing and persistent devotees. How people met and how they said goodbye. Dandelion flies past your chest, digging old emotions and blurry remembrance.
Wood engulfed by fire, in one burning summer day. And he saw she never cared. And she never asked. Dandelion blows with monsoon, leaving behind the cold and into the warmth. Taking away silent plea and unspoken affection.
Words that he could not find, things that she failed to understand. Distant and cruel. Come with nothing, leave with nothing. Dandelion fades as the result of frictions. Closure is the time passing. Mending your heart and guide it open. Until next time, Dandelion goes from north to south.
Found this piece from watching Nodame Cantabile. I especially love the beginning and ending of the first movement. Reminds of me of Christmas and Santa's sleigh and toy land and joy ride.
Ah, so many talented people in this world. I'm feeling envious...
Ravel - Piano Concerto In G Major (1st movement)
Joseph-Maurice Ravel, a French composer and pianist. Born on March 17, 1875 in Ciboure. His works including Miroirs and the famous one-movement orchestral piece, Bolero.
Piano Concerto In G Major is Ravel's first and only piano concerto. This piece consist of three movements: Allegramente, Adagio assai and Presto, following the traditional pattern of fast-slow-fast. Influenced heavily by jazz, which was very popular back then in US as well as in Paris.
"The G-major Concerto took two years of work, you know. The opening theme came to me on a train between Oxford and London. But the initial idea is nothing. The work of chiseling then began. We’ve gone past the days when the composer was thought of as being struck by inspiration, feverishly scribbling down his thoughts on a scrap of paper. Writing music is seventy-five percent an intellectual activity."
(Maurice Ravel)
So much happened before Dorothy dropped in to Oz.
That is the tag line of the Broadway's musical, Wicked. First performed in 2003, this show was a huge success. Soaring the name of Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth, who played The Wicked Witch of The West, Elphaba and Glinda The Good.
This musical is actually based on a novel by Gregory Maguire under the same title. While Broadway focused on Elphaba and Glinda's friendship and how Elphaba became the Wicked, Maguire wrote a biography-alike of the witch, starting from the day she was born.
Elphaba or Elphie or Fabala or Fae was born with father a minister of unionist (more or less like a modern day reverend) and mother a grand daughter of Descended Eminent Thropp, ruler of the Munchkinland. She was born green from head to toe and couldn't get near water. Her sister, Nessarose was a beautiful religious armless girl. While his brother, well let's just say he did not partake much of the story.
Elphaba met Glinda, or Galinda at the time, when she was schooling at Shiz. Under the order of Headmistress Madame Morrible, they were forced to become roommates. They didn't get along, of course. Galinda, a social climber, queen of popularity. While Elphaba was an awkward green living thing.
But perhaps it was Elphaba's idealism of rightness. Perhaps it was Glinda's clear minded. But after series of tragedies, including the death of an Animal professor, Dillamond, and the down of Glinda's caretaker, Ama Clutch, they gradually became best friends.
The girls were the last generation of Oz that had some lectures taught by Animals. These Animals (with capital A) were almost like mankind, except that they looked like animals. During the reign of Wizard of Oz, they were banished from society, forced to be living in country side, along with ordinary animals.
After the funeral of Ama Clutch, both Elphaba and Glinda seek for audience with the Wizard of Oz. Elphaba suspected the death of both the Animal and Ama was linked to Dillamond's hypothesis of the substantial alikeness between human and Animal. They tried to convince the Wizard about Dillamond's work and thus restore the rights of Animals.
But the Wizard wasn't amused. He insisted that evicting Animals from mankind's community was the proper way of living. Elphaba was beyond mad. She vowed to bring the Wizard's down. She then decided not to go back to Shiz with Glinda and stayed in Emerald City of Oz.
Living in disguise, Elphaba always wore her ridiculous cone hat, black gown, and a shawl around her neck to hide her immediately-would-be-recognized green skin. From then on, her destiny as the Wicked Witch of The West was sealed.
The essential difference of musical Wicked and book Wicked was that in the novel, Elphaba is never much of a witch. While Madame Morrible did foresee the three of them (Elphaba, Glinda and Nessarose) to be living with sorceries, Elphaba refused to even learn.
Another difference was musical Wicked seemed to be allocated for general audience, while the book is at least rated PG. From the blur of who's actually fathering Elphaba and Nessarose to Elphaba's own affair with once-classmate-now-married-man, Fiyero.
This affair was also the one to lead Elphaba into make a home out of a Vinikus castle in Kiamo Ko, where she waited for Dorothy to kill her.
It's a series of unfortunate events, what happened to Elphaba. She, of course, had never asked to be born green. As green as sin, some may say. She did not know a thing about sorcery but because of her look and her given magical broomstick, she took the name. Her sister Nessarose was a witch, ruled as a tyrant thus Elphaba's associated with cruelty. She might scare the hell out of Dorothy, even more of the Lion, but all she wanted were the shoes Dorothy wears.
She wouldn't have guessed it was her death people were celebrating so merrily.
So much happen before Dorothy dropped in to Oz. So much about the Wicked Witch of The West we have yet to understand.
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