An experiment in rediscovery.

I have finally achieved the thing that I have been planning to try for a long time, something that on paper doesn't seem like too much of a challenge, but in practice, is ridiculously testing.

I have given up Facebook.

This makes me sound like a complete and utter loser, that I would want to blog about a seemingly small thing, but even after a day of not logging on and interacting with my peers, I have found other things to do! Perhaps I am in a minority when I admit that I'm in the bunch of nerds who sit at a computer for hours at a time, perusing through photo albums and lurking around my friend's profile pages, waiting for something interesting to happen, then I give up waiting and just curl up in a heap and dissolve into a pile of self loathing and envy (everyone else is having so much of a better life than me!)

This may seem like a slight exaggeration, but sadly, I believe that a lot of time spent on social networking sites can be fairly destructive, so have decided to give my emotions a break and take a few weeks out to rediscover my passions and interests. (And also, probably, do a bit of work).

So, the experiment starts here. I will be blogging about once a week to keep anyone who is interested updated in the task, wish me luck!

Here is a lovely cover by Cat Power of the stunning song Amazing Grace.

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Magical Musical Mystery Tour

I have been doing a fair amount of research into new music for the radio show that I co-present on a Tuesday afternoon, with my good friend Sam Lee, and have come across some absolute beauties.

Lovely little secrets I have come across include American trio, Au Revoir Simone, who really capture the current whimsical style that female artists are embracing and will be nice to have in the background while writing:



Lykke Li is a super cool Swedish chick who reminds me a little bit of Ellie Goulding, but rocks the indie-electro vibe with a bit more style:



And finally, just because I love how this video is shot, here's a blast from erm, 2007 in the form of Black Rebel Motorcycle Club. Have a jive to this:

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Imogen Heap @ Manchester

There are three types of people at a gig. The first is the "Superfan", the one who has bought their ticket a year in advance, missed an important family engagement to attend, and bought at least three over priced objects from the souvenir stand at the back.

The second is the "Gig Virgin". The person who has no idea of gig etiquette, and gets a little over excited at the support act, taking as many photographs as their camera's memory card can cram in, and looking wide eyed around at all the 'cool' people who seem to know the unwritten rules of Gigging.

The third is the best. The one that the other two wish they were and someday may become. This is the "Old Timer". The person who has been to more gigs than they care to remember, know the ropes of how to get through the crowd, close enough to the stage without looking overly keen, and maintaining a certain level of decorum even at the most exhilarating parts in a set. They don't go too dressy, they buy beer and stand at the back during the support, and they nod along to the songs without looking too excited at anything.

These three types of people were competing against each other at the Imogen Heap gig I went to last night.

Anyone who has been to a Heap gig will empathize with me when I say that I fell in love with her. She came on before her support acts to introduce them and had a general chat to the audience, and then popped off backstage to work on her incredible hair do.

Her set was magical; her voice was angelic and her musical ability was unbelievable. She floated around the stage in her layered pink silk skirt and enchanted the audience with her beautiful collection of tracks from all of her previous albums. Technically, the show was awesome. The light show at the back of the stage with fluttering birds, dancing figures and falling leaves added depth to the spectacle and wowed the fans with each new flourish of animation.

Here's a video I stole from youtube... enjoy!

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Faith, Hope, Love.

I have not posted this video for tabloid-style sensationalism, or an attention-grabbing few moments, or to try and make myself look super holy, I have posted it so you can see that Haiti has hope, and their hope is found in Jesus. The image of the cross still standing though the rest of the building has collapsed amid the 7.0 earthquake is extremely iconic, and paints a picture of the attitude that many of the Haitians are taking at this awful time; even though their whole worlds have literally crumbled around them, their hope still remains in their creator God. The woman at the end of the clip who breaks out into song praising her Saviour is incredible; I truly admire her spiritual fervor, and her complete trust in Christ.

Channel 4's reportage is not bias and always aims to show an accurate picture of world situations in its broadcast, and this clip is no exception. The images of the dead being piled into mass graves is disturbing, but I think we need to be aware of the extent of this disaster in order to compel us to do something to help those people. I don't know about you, but I have been watching the news reports and hearing the stories about the disorganisation of the whole process of trying to get aid to the people in need, and have felt so helpless, and watching the report from Jon Snow yesterday on the news just reduced me to tears.

Charities have set up websites where people can donate money which will hopefully materialise into aid in order to help the survivors, and eventually re-stabalise a broken country, and I urge you to take a look and donate as much as you can.

- Save The Children
- Oxfam
- The Red Cross

And finally, to those of you who read this and who believe that Jesus came into the world to save us from our sins, and who believe that we have a God who is compassionate and merciful to His people, I ask you to pray for Haiti every day, and ask Him to bring glory in the midst of the disaster, to save lives and to provide hope.

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Getting my head in the game

Armed with smoothies and boxes of green tea, I can't help but feeling a lot like Bridget Jones at this time of year, the bit where she turns over a new leaf post-Hugh Grant phase, and buys a gym membership and starts a diet of air and dust... well maybe I'm not taking the January detox quite that far, but I have noticed a definite air of 'new leaves' about the place. My plans for this year are much the same as past years; be more organised (I received not one but TWO diaries for Christmas); eat more healthily (the fridge is stocked with vegetables and the fruit bowl is full to the brim); be better with money (student loan has just gone in, and I'm not going to even walk past Topshop for fear of temptation). So far, so good. But only time will tell.

In head adornment news, the headband craze has caught my attention recently, and has made me very happy. Here are some reasons why...






There are pretty much no rules to this new trend: oversized flowers, gold ribbon, leather embossed leaves, plaited material... the list goes on. And of course, my favourite pop pixie, Natasha Kahn of Bat for Lashes almost lives in the things, so they must be good.

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Sherlock Holmes

Token stereotypical cockney meat heads; a detailed grimy slow-mo fight scene; fast-paced, smooth edits; a definitively British sense of humour, minute attention to detail in the cinematography. All things one would expect from a Guy Ritchie movie; all things one is presented with in his latest offering: Sherlock Holmes.

If this is a sign of things to come in the film world in this fresh decade, then I will happily partake in its hearty consumption. I feel I often sway one way or another when reviewing films, they are either the very best thing since the common loaf was first sliced, or the lowest-of-the-low-never-to-be-seen-again type job. But this really is a good film. Robert Downey Jr. plays a delightfully flamboyant pipe-wielding Holmes, and gels incredibly naturally with his Watson, Jude Law. The crime fighting pair humour their audience with a quick wit and a constant charming sparkle in their eyes, one which maintains character interest right up until the adrenaline packed finale where one wills both men to succeed in their plight.

Rachel McAdams, of Mean Girls fame, steps back in time for another period drama role, and handles it surprisingly well; her devious femme fatal character proving to endear and captivate the majority of the male audience, and her glamorous Victorian wardrobe enthralling the female half.

The plot has enough twists and turns to remain true to Conan Doyle's cleverly intricate detective novels, and translates into the realm of film remarkably well, undoubtedly partly akin to Hans Zimmer's genius in creating yet another perfect score to create a beautifully authentic soundtrack for the time. My favourite scene, trying to avoid revealing anything vital to the plot, is when a large explosion occurs and two of the main characters are sent flailing through the air in slow motion with only the sound of a solitary violin moaning dramatically over the picture to accompany their disastrous state of affairs. I can usually pinpoint the part in most great films I see, where I think, yes, this is good. And that did it for me.

This movie has single-handedly restored my faith in British film-making, and reminded me that I would quite like to go and be a Victorian femme fatal, if only for the damn sexy dresses they get to wear. Bad ass.

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Avatar 3-D

The first picture from James Cameron since Titanic, Avatar, hit our cinema screens this week with rapturous applause from critics and audiences alike. I went to see it today with my aunt and brother in the middle of a manic shopping session in a beautiful Christmassy York, knowing that we were in for a treat if friends' recommendations were anything to go by.

I had heard a review on the radio a few days previously and was genuinely excited about Cameron's latest offering; the film had taken ten years to make and the director had invented a whole new language for the purpose of making it more authentic. We were certainly not disappointed. The graphics are stunning, and made even better by the 3-D effects; Cameron has created a cinematic masterpiece in the new planet 'Pandora' which glisten in a mysterious magical way and ooze a beautifully natural charm.

As with Titanic, the characters are delightfully believable and the audience warms to them immediately, with a tender love story at the centre of the narrative. The fact that the majority of the cast were previously unseen actors is refreshing, and Sigourney Weaver's roll as aging scientist becomes more likable as the film goes on.

The soundtrack is equally stunning, with the immaculate score from James Horner which guides the viewer's emotions in all the right places, creating subtle nuances between the onscreen action and suggesting certain plot twists at particular narrative arcs.

There is however, a deeper meaning. The relationship between The People and their god is intriguing, and mirrors a lot of the ways in which the relationship between man and God plays out on earth. The way The People all sit and praise Eywa and try to connect with her is similar to corporate worship by men all over the world today, who yearn for some form of intimacy with their maker. I think it indicates that people need a higher power to connect to, and need a purpose for their lives in order to create a balance and a peace.

This is all just my opinion however, and I urge you to see the film yourself, if you have not already done so. And prove your superfanhood by learning the language...

Movie Trivia Here.

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