SUEDE IN BARCELONA

Suede was one of my long time favourites bands. They splitted up some years ago but early this year they reunited to play one gig. Afterwards they decided they would play some gigs around Europe and one of them was here in Barcelona last Friday. They played all the classic hits and I could sing and dance... After some years on their own they still manage to play such a good gig...

Suede in Barcelona taken from YouTube:

KOREA

Last summer I spent more than 4 weeks travelling around South Korea and I really had a good time. I visited pretty much the most famous spots in the country and I met very nice people there. Since then, any news about South Korea catch my attention.
Some months ago a South Korean military ship was hit by a torpedo (that seemed to be North Korean) exploded and sank.

Unfortunately late news related to this beautiful country are negative again since North Korea attacked South Korea and some civilians were killed.

PARKS AND RECREATIONS and COMMUNITY

These last weeks I have been following some comedy tv shows that I have enjoyed a lot.

Community and Parks and recreations are my favourites.

Ron Swanson is one of my favourite characters in Parks and Recreations.

They are recording the new season already so I guess very soon we will be able to enjoy it.

And this is one of my favourite characters in Community season 1 (not season 2):

They both have 2 seasons already finished. Every episode share a simple plot but at the same time very funny due to the numerous surreal situations. Regarding Parks and recreation, every episode gets funnier and better. On the other hand, regarding community, I really enjoyed the first season, this second season although is not so good it is still worth watching.

KAWAII

The word KAWAII is a Japanese word that refers to anything cute, adorable, sweet, pure, genuine, etc.

It began as a form of standing against traditional Japanese culture however, today is mainly a marketing tool. It can contain different meanings depending on the context. Generally it is used to refer to something sweet and lovely or to refer to immature behaviour.Essentially it is used to describe a state of being childlike. In Japan the term has a strong presence as a concept and can be seen everywhere.

The influence of the term Kawaii can be perceived in every face of Japanese popular culture, It started as an element of the counter culture against Japan traditional societal values but nowadays has become part of the mainstream culture. It could be because once Japanese people come of age they must shoulder a extremeley heavy burden of responsability, duty and expectation. Through Kawaii merchandasing Japanese people might try to return to an idealised childhood
More about kawaii here.

The following photo was taken in the Hiroshima Shinkansen (bullet train) station last summer.

Those girls had their backpacks with a lot of cuddly toys hunging from them. They were so kawaii!!! that I couldn't avoid taking them a picture
This is an example, not very uncommon of "Kawaiism" in Japan.

DAFFODILS

Daffodils are very beautiful and literary flowers. They are strongly associated with Wales and St. David's Day, a Welsh holiday celebrated on March 1st is surrounded with daffodil imaginery.

Among so many writers that mention them use daffodils as inspiration for their work we have William Wordsworth.

Glencoyne Bay at the southern end of Ullswater in the LakeDistrict is where William Wordsworth was inspired to write his famous poem Daffodils.

Daffodils

I wandered lonely as a Cloud

That floats on high o'er Vales and Hills,

When all at once I saw a crowd,

A host of golden daffodils;

Beside the lake, beneath the trees,

Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.

Continuous as the stars that shine

And twinkle on the milky way,

They stretched in never-ending line

Along the margin of a bay:

Ten thousand saw I at a glance,

Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.

The waves beside them danced, but they

Out-did the sparkling waves in glee:-

A poet could not but be gay

In such a jocund company:

I gazed-and gazed-but little thought

What wealth the show to me had brought:

For oft when on my couch I lie

In vacant or in pensive mood,

They flash upon that inward eye

Which is the bliss of solitude,

And then my heart with pleasure fills,

And dances with the Daffodils

WORDSWORTH COTTAGE

FROM EMMA TO NORTHANGER ABBEY

Last week I finished reading Emma. I only read the novel in my short trips to or from my job by metro so it took several weeks to read it but I really enjoyed it.

I love the complexity of the story, how the personality of Emma is built, how she is evolving through the novel and the portrayal of Jane Austen's society and age.

Through this novel, maybe Jane Austen is trying to give and advice to her contemporary readers about not being prejudiced and mistaken when judging other characters. Being wealthier doesn't mean being superior in spirit although it could be in society. Although Emma, the main character, is a lady that interferes in the affair of others, I cannot avoid liking this character because she tries to improve the life of the people she approaches towards.

After reading the novel I have had the necessity of knowing more about the world of Emma, of Hartfield, of Jane Austen ... and seeking information I came out with this blog with links that allowed me to know more about her world. I also found a map of South England with geographical locations that appear in the novel. After Emma I have started reading Northanger Abbey. I have only read a couple of chapters but I feel more the presence of the author or a subjective narrator in the novel. It is also important the presence of the figure of a HEROINE which is constant as far as I have read. Before starting reading the novel I watched the ITV drama Northanger Abbey and it was great.

I found out about the fascination of some of the characters for the gothic novel Misteries of Udolpho. Curiosity bit me and this weekend I have bought this book together with a biography of the Brontes. This is the first order I have placed through Book Depository and I cannot wait to receive my books.

PRIMAVERA CLUB

Some weeks ago a got myself the ticket for the PRIMAVERA FESTIVAL 2011 and the PRIMAVERA CLUB. This year's PRIMAVERA FESTIVAL line up was pretty amazing and I enjoyed it so much (even some bands that I didn't expect to like). Just two names were enough to get the ticket for both festivals, Pulp and Teenage fanclub. However having checked the time table of the Primavera Club I've realised that I wont be able to see all the bands that I wanted.

Yuck new band of some members of the absolutely fabulous Cajun Dance Party.

Cajun Dance Party Summersonic 08 (I was there!!!)

I won't be able to see them because they play the very same day and time that SUEDE. I got the tickets ages ago and I'm really looking forward to see them.

Teenage Fanclub another band which I could include in a long list of favourite bands is playing the very same day too. I've seen them many times but it is always a shame to miss them.

Teenage Fanclub Summersonic 09 (I was there too)

There are other bands that I'm planning to see such as:

POPPY DAY

Next week is the Poppy Day or the Remembrance day. It is a Commonwealth holiday to commemorate the sacrifices of members of the armed forces and civilians in times of war.

This is a traditional date in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa and especially in United Kingdom. Its name has it origins in a poem written bay the Canadian militar physicial John McCrae, In Flanders Field.

Major McCrae was inspired by Ypres a town in Flanders, Belgium which was crucial to the Allied defence in World War I. The most famous bloom of poppies in the war was there. The Western Front contained in the soil thousand of poppy seed all lying dormant. The battles fought there churned up the soil and the poppies bloomed like never before.

These are vintage pictures of the Remembrace day in UK, USA and Australia.

Here you have more information about the Remembrance Day and the Remembrance Sunday.

A HISTORY OF THE WORLD IN 100 OBJECT

The BBC web page contains very interesting links which are hidden gems. One of my favourites is the one about the history of the world in 100 objects. This is a project of the BBC Radio 4 and the British Musem. A global history is told through and about objects and every day one object is thoroughly described for 15 minutes. These artefacts are featured in chronological order by the Director of the British Museum.

Anyone can listen to the broadcast online or download any podcast. This is a fantastic way of learning, especially if one is fond of history as I am because the series is very interesting and nicely presented.

As I have a soft spot for anything related to japanese culture and history, one of my favourite podcast is the one dealing with the famous 'The Great Wave' from Hokusai'. This icon of the modernity is analysed and connected to tradition and its contemporary western societies. Here is the transcript of the podcast

ATOMIC TOM

This is one of the most amazing videos I've seen on you tube.

ENGLISH ACCENTS

I am anglophile cause I love reading and watching anything related to English culture, literature and history. That's why I found this You tube video very interesting. This guy is able to imitate lots of English accents and he does it very well. He's pretty amazing.

Pride and Prejudice BBC

This weekend I have had the oportunity to see the PRIDE AND PREJUDICE BBC series and I really loved it. For me this is a very good adaptation. There is a great chemistry between the leads and the actors and actresses make the roles their own. They are suited to their roles.

In this BBC web page there is additional information about the characters, actors, casting, costumes, locations...

This is one of my favourite Pride and Prejudice quotes:

She is tolerable, I suppose, but not handsome enough to tempt me; I am in no humour at present to give consequence to young ladies who are slighted by other men. You had better return to your partner and enjoy her smiles, for you are wasting your time with me.

This is a quote made by Fitzwilliam Darcy to Charles Bingley, when Mr. Bingley asked Mr Darcy if he was going to ask Lizzie Bennet to dance. That is the beginning of the prejudice that Lizzy suffers all along the story.

The following drama film I want to watch is Miss Austen Regrets. It is also produced by the BBC and is based on the life and letters of Jane Austen.