I’ve been having a bit of a lie-in and shall prob’ly blog later about last night’s activities. In the meantime have a video of some cats …

Another car crash occurred at the crossroads outside out house, quite a nasty one actually. I wasn’t here for it though, Sita was. Luckily our house is on the ‘safe side’ of the dangerous crossing. Anyroad, they took out a chunk of the electricity/telephone pole and now it’s being kept up by the wires. I always thought the poles were to keep the wires in the air, but turns out I had it the wrong way round.

I was feeling pretty guilty at not having achieved anything at all yesterday save for a few blog items so I packed up my camera and mp3 playa and set off for a stroll. I thought I’d check in on the area where I used to live 8/9 years ago, called Tolsa. I was very happy to find my taco shop, Tacos Rafa was still in business. They’ll serve you anything you like as long as it’s Tacos al Pastor in freshly made tortillas. They remembered me and we spent half an hour reminiscing about the good old days. Then their son (also Rafa) came back from work. He was 6 or 7 when I saw him last and he and his brother (Luis) used to hang out with us in the casa internacional. Anyroad it was a grand reunion. And the tacos aren’t half bad neither. They said to come back, even if i wasn’t hungry and I said I’d bring Sita along for them to meet her. Lovely peeps. Here’s their photo:

I ambled back home via Mondo Cafe in Chapultepec (for one of their famous bucket’o’coffees) then off for farewell drinks for Sarah as she is moving on to better and fulbrighter things in Wisconsin, Belgium and Guatemala if memory serves… Victor y Jana came out ‘n’all and we had a stormin’ evening in the Sacromonte bar replete with veggies and chile, cueritos (soggy pork scratchings) and ceviche (riceless sashimi on a budget/ marinated raw fish) and then some proper food. If you’re reading, Sarah, you’re going to be well missed round here. Don’t be surprised to be hounded to the ends of the earth, or belgium, by skype…

The thing is that right now I’ve got some projects on the go but I’m waiting for people to get back to me before I can continue, so I end up surfing the net reorganizing my desk. I can’t really look for more clients because next week I’ll be up to me neck in projects again. Anyroad, that’s my explanation for the proliferation of links in the last 24 hours. Also today’s Friday so there’s B3ta‘s newsletter and the newly free The Friday Thing.

Anyway this one’s via BoingBoing: Woman struck by lightning while praying… favourite line: “She said ‘Amen’ and the room was engulfed in a huge ball of fire. “

Did America get Thomas the Tank Engine voiced by Ringo Starr? It was a thinly disguised series of morality tales by some English vicar or other where Thomas usually ended up getting bricked into a tunnel for not being strong enough to make it up a hill. I know they made some travesty of a children’s film out of it, but the original ITV series tune was better than the series itself. Anyroad, if you didn’t get it, tell me if it tickles your fancy, my stateside readers… :

See review two posts down then click for a review from a Scottish farmer here: Private Eye

JacksonPollock.org

Click that there link and wave yer mouse around, hitting the left button occasionally. Strangely therapeutic, no? And when you start getting bored with it, just pretend you’re Gerald Scarfe instead of Mr. Pollock…

Sita dragged me to see this one last Thursday. I would like to plead the following mitigating circumstances:

A full-on tropical thunderstorm that forced me to unplug the telly and broadband in case we got a direct hit. Intermittent power cuts meaning no light to play scrabble or whatever it is people did in the days before telly and internets… Anyroad, what the hey, we’d end up seeing it eventually on a bus or plane, so we drove the 5 blocks to the cinema through flooded streets thick with cars and non-functioning traffic lights and found a parking spot deep in the bowels of the Centro Magno.

Here’s my review of the book almost 2 years ago to the day, which I still stand by.

29-May-04 The Da Vinci Code- Dan Brown

Really didn’t expect much from this one… priests, artists and French police… but my mate Roberto lent it to me and it was pretty hard to put down. It leads you by the hand through a murder mystery with clues full of classical allusions fully explained at every step. There’s little room to ponder what’s coming next and puzzles and conundrums are solved within pages of their occurring. Which is fine, and along the way there’s plenty of heavy-handed conjecture about Opus Dei and the cult of Mary Magdelene. It’s no Name of the Rose (4 1/2 Lulus). top

/ 5

Here’s the rub: while the book keeps you wanting to read more to find out what happens next, if you know what’s coming there is nothing, nada, rien to keep you interested. The acting from everyone is below par, which is problematic as the characters are barely two-dimensional to start with. The locations are dingy and framed in the least imaginative ways- close ups of statues of knights, souls in torment in stained glass etc establish the shot before pulling back to Tom Hanks and Amelie staring at some clue. Trite, hackneyed crap.

The visual effects are clichéd and only serve to drive home the patronising way the story is told. I’ve come to expect this from director Ron Howard whose workmanlike films come out with alarming regularity and do exactly ‘what it says on the tin” and nothing more. All the faults of the book are painstakingly recreated in the film; There is no suspense whatsoever, as the minute a puzzle arises it’s solved by either Sofie or Langdon in a scene like the following… If it’s an anagram, for example, first one of them will explain what an anagram is in words of two syllables or less, then the other will say, but what does it mean? The other will stare into the middle distance as the special effects department phones in some kind of graphic representation of the thought process for solving such conundrums. Then the answer will be said aloud. Slowly. Then the other will say, but what does it mean… and the whole process starts again. There’s more depth to your average episode of Scooby Doo when they try and piece together what the canister of fluorescent paint and ripped white blankets have to do with the ghost scaring people away from the fairground. It’s toe-curlingly bad.

So what has Ron Howard added to the book? Well if my memory serves me correctly (and it rarely does) the only divergence from the book is that Langdon now has claustrophobia resulting from a childhood accident when he fell down a well. Presumably this is to enhance the character’s backstory and means that whenever Tom Hanks travels in a lift he gets to make his ‘uncomfortable face”. For Christ’s sake. That’s not improving characterization, it’s just embarrassing for all concerned. The film starts with Langdon lecturing on symbology in some French university or other. I can’t remember if that was in the book or not, but it sets the film up for its fictional basis as he asks a question to the student audience and five Erasmus students pipe up with answers immediately. Maybe French students are different but in my experience, no one answers questions in a lecture like that. Especially the obvious ‘trick questions” he’s spouting at the time. Also in his PowerPoint demo going on behind him he’s showing them that symbols can change their meanings as if this is news of the most shocking nature. Arse more like.

The only good thing to come out of this movie is Sir Ian McKellan mentioning in an interview that he always felt the bible should come with a ‘disclaimer that it’s fiction” to the growing horror of Mr. Howard and friends who were trying to play down the blasphemous side of it all.

So should you see it? If you’ve read the book, then the answer’s definitely not. If you enjoyed the book this film brings nothing new to the table and if you hated the book, then why put yourself through it twice. Newcomers to this whole nonsense might as well see it just to find out what all the fuss is about, but bear in mind that there are much better things in the cinemas right now. Hell, there’s better things on YouTube right now. Skateboarding dogs for example…

* / 5

* see comment # 5…

In other news, Sita’s just pocketed herself yet another award for sociomological brilliance in the line of duty. I’ve learnt that pommegranite licor is best left to trained professionals. The renters have moved out of Adenmore in L.A.. Had a lovely chat with Anne in NZ and Jesse in MA last night. And life continues to treat us with the very best it has to offer and we’ve a weekend of parties to attend. Just wanted to clarify that despite the occasional bad film, life is good.

Also I rushed off another review today, this time for a podcast /5. What’s a podcast you ask? Well they’re regularly produced radio type programs that you can download the mp3s of and shove on your mp3 player/ipod. There’s some links to my faves on the right (or very bottom right if your using Internet Explorer on an 800×600 monitor). Anyway search for Total Podcastrophe on iTunes and see where it gets you. Also Top of the Pods is back with intermittant broadcasts. One of the presenters is off working or somesuch so they had a couple of guest presenters. They both coped admirably, but the California girl, who was obviously very nice, had something of an uptalking habit? Where all sentences are phrased as questions? Which is irking? Especially after you’ve worked in a Californian high school for two years… ? like y’know? Bless her though. It’s meant to be a sign of insecurity, but all the girls who speak like that have more confidence than I could muster even after a few pints. Ah the Californian conundrum.

From Flickr central, Grandma, Mum and Jed in bluebell valley, Zummerzet:

And that’s probably a good thing. This is the kind of musical onanism I’d stay up till 3am to watch on Raw Power when I was 15. Now I just download the occasional coldplay track and all’s good with the world… Rock on, Yngwie ‘Effin’ Malmsteen

As demonstrated below, sometimes only Mexican Spanish can truly express how you’re feeling…

INTENTE DECIR: Tengo sobrecarga de trabajo en estos momentos
EN VEZ DE: Estoy hasta la madre de chamba.

INTENTE DECIR: ¿Lo que mencionas es en serio?
EN VEZ DE: ¿Te cae de madre cabrón?

INTENTE DECIR: Lo siento, pero yo no estuve a cargo de ese proyecto.
EN VEZ DE: Ese no es mi pedo.

INTENTE DECIR: Estoy absolutamente seguro de que esto no es factible.
EN VEZ DE: No mames güey.

INTENTE DECIR: No estoy seguro de que esto pueda ser implementado.
EN VEZ DE: Esto ni a madrazos sale…

INTENTE DECIR: Ajustaré mi agenda para ver cómo puedo programar esta nueva tarea.
EN VEZ DE: ¿por qué chingada madre no me hablaste antes?

INTENTE DECIR: Él no esta familiarizado con el tema que nos atae en este momento
EN VEZ DE: Este pendejo no sabe ni madres.

INTENTE DECIR: Por favor, ¿puedes buscar a otra persona para que te ayude?
EN VEZ DE: ¿Qué me viste cara de tu pendejo o qué chingados?

INTENTE DECIR: Disculpa, por ahora me es imposible atenderte como se debe
EN VEZ DE: Ándele… a chingar a su madre.

English monolinguals:
It’s a guide for politeness at work, eg. “He isn’t familar with the issues currently affecting us” rather than “He doesn’t know his arse from his elbow” and other much more colourful phrases. See comments for an anglo version. Doesn’t really hold a flame though…

Mornin’ T, I hope you have as much fun as we did on yer birthday. We’ll take you to one of Guadalajara’s vegetarian restaurants when you make it down here, or Malabar if we see you first in SC. Alrighty, I’m going back to designing hair dressing websites, thinking of you and wishing you the best. Cheers!

I just got an email from Londonist saying I won a copy of the book “Drugs are nice” just for knowing how Hunter S. Thompson cast off his mortal coil. Yay me!

Hey Gwyn,

Sorry it took so long to get back to you, but just wanted to let you
know that you won a copy of DRUGS ARE NICE. I already have your
address so I’ll get Snow Books to drop you your prize in the post this
week.

Mike

We made it to the end of another season of LOST, as usual with more questions generated than answered. I can’t remember the last time I was as gripped by anything in the cinema. TV is officially the new film.

If you didn’t make it last night to Santo Coyote, you missed a treat. And another round of las maanitas and some kind of liqueur filled chocolate cake. Pricey, but well worth it. Suffice to say, today we had salad for dinner.

Sneak peaks of websites in the making:
www.viveSNEAKPREVIEWajijic.com
www.divineSNEAKPREVIEWsalon.com.mx

and cheap, cheerful and designed with Yahoo! Sitebuilder (not recommended):
www.civilSNEAKPREVIEWmarriageceremony.com.

Delete the SNEAKPREVIEWS out and slap’em in the address bar if you’re beyond bored… or family.

Just got back from a weekend’s worth of good living in Mazamitla to celebrate Sita’s birthday. The first night was grand, proper rain, lower temperatures and a fire roaring in the cabaa. We also discovered the restaurant we’d visit 4 times in our 48 hours there. However the spa/jacuzzi facilities weren’t all they were cracked up to be on the website so we upgraded to a different place with a jacuzzi in the room and a selection of DVDs for the 2nd night. We also used the charro skills we learnt in Brecon last summer to amble down to see a gorgeous waterfall on horseback. It was a lovely winding trail through bizarre mexican woodland full of pines, cacti, agave and palm trees.

In the afternoon there was spectacular thunder and lightning which we watched from the safety of our new favourite bar drinking Negra Modelo and watching Mexico lose 1-0 to France in between power cuts. A power nap and we were ready to polish off more meat that you can shake a stick at in the restaurant again. This morning I nipped into town to see what was going on at sunrise. Lots, as it turns out. But no flower sellers were open so Sita had to make do with a chile plant… Then we had the breakfast buffet at our restaurant. Since we’re regulars and were chatting with the owner after we’d eaten as much as we could at the buffet, he brought out cheesecake and icecream with a candle in it and put Las Maanitas CD on. V.nice. I’m still full 7 hours later, and we’re off again to Santo Coyote this evening to fill up again. Bring it on. Check back soon for more online recording of what I’ve eaten lately. Lots of photos round Flickr if you’re feeling up to it 🙂

I’m doing my latest online poll on my telly habits and I get to tell them what I think about US TV. Eventually I get a 10 bucks Target voucher or summink. Here’s some highlights, starting with 60 minutes, dire US pseudonews:

Please indicate what you don’t like about 60 Minutes:

Its patronising presenters. Its dated look. Its holier than thou themes. And for the love of all things holy, the segment at the end, Curmudgeon’s Corner or whatever it’s called with Andy Rooney waxing geriatric on topics he knows nothing about. God I hate this program.

Please indicate what you don’t like about Extreme Makeover: Home Edition:

Can’t help feeling emotionally manipulated by it. Also throughout, there’s the nagging feeling that it’s just one big advertising-fest for companies providing the materials. And the presenter gets on my nerves no end. At the end of the episode I feel somehow tainted.

Despite eight questions about 80s Mexican football… I can’t take too much credit myself though. The only question I got that no one else knew was “What was the title of Kiss’s first album with no make-up”. Comment if you’d like to know the answer… We met Memo who has an encyclopaedic knowledge of music. And a musical encyclopaedia in his backpack. “We’re going to win, even if we have to use PRI tactics” I was informed. Anyroad we raffled off the prizes between us: A DVD player, T-shirt, beer glass and baseball cap. And we kept their biro. We got the t-shirt which is what we wanted. Go us… It was a very different beast to your usual UK pub quiz, which is invariably held on a quiet night to try and drag people out. First off, multiple choice. Kid you not. 2ndly cheating is not frowned upon. 3rdly, the questions aren’t read out, you have a 2 page, Times New Roman, 12pt badly formatted question sheet and fill it in while the music blares out around you. 4thly, the 80s were a very different beast in Mexico / the US, the 80s I remember were all about one-hit wonders and pop tunes, last night we were tested on our knowledge of: Heart, Ratt, Asia, Rush, Kiss, Styx, Foreigner, Journey and any other powerchord obsessed hair band. A fun night all the same even if I was a little out of my league.

Also the date has been announced for the next Pocilga Beat Fest party thing. Invite only I’m afraid. Looking forward to that one.

We didn’t make it to the Da Vinci Code the other night, more’s the pity . But it’s still looming, maybe tonight… Lots of design stuff on at the minute and a weekend getaway with horses, nature and jacuzzis is planned so we shall see. Latest project? ViveAjijic- click for the (pointless) flash header.

Hopefully I’m in good enough shape now to prove a valuable member of the team in tonight’s music pub quiz. They’re not that common round here and this here quiz is something of a yearly event apparently. I’ll be taking it easy all the same cos tomorrow I’m driving round for all kinds of meetings from 9 till 7. Have I mentioned it’s quite hot this week? Well it is and so I was inspired to finally take the car to mechanics to get the air conditioning sorted out. It’s always been working but had the inconvenient feature of howling like some demented banshee on helium, which attracts more attention that I’d care for when driving round town. Anyroad, 4 quid or 80 pesos later and it’s sorted, a loose belt or screw or summink. Nice one, Sr. Mecánico.

Mazamitla this weekend for Sita’s second to the power of five birthday. Apparently it’s going to bucket down on Saturday. That would be most welcome. And tomorrow, I’m told, is Towel Day. Not really a Mexican festival, indeed I think this bloke just made it up, it’s to celebrate Douglas Adams’s life or indeed liff.

Here’s me blog on bert’s phone. Which admittedly looks more like a prototype teleportation/microwave device than a humble mobile. If he sends me a pic of this entry i’ll put it in the blog and before we know it we’ll have an infinite cat project type thing on our hands… Tonight: bbqing the steak before it goes off… mine’s going to be very well done, for a change. Then Da Vinci code at the cine. If it’s even twice as good as the book. It’ll still be complete pants…