Library Lusting.

Certain rooms call for certain things, depending on differing tastes.  Some rooms liven up with various colors, others with specific design elements…while others come alive with whiskey and a cigar (or pipe).  This is that room.  It’s as if this room was carved out of a solid block of wood; fine, bold, rich, sturdy construction, elegant accoutrements, and a supple leather sofa add up to a high degree of refinement.  With books galore and subtle, understated (but sufficient) lighting, this room is perfect for reading, smoking, or taking a nip out of the old tumbler.  This is most certainly a book lover’s room.  Let the daydreams commence.

SnowPorn.

Peaceful.  Some rooms exude it….some don’t.  This week’s space lives up to every meaning of the word.  It features many of the usual modern architectural elements; large windows, unobtrusive furnishings, and a sharpness to detail that highlights the interior design as much as the surroundings outside.  Great architecture incorporates both sides of the coin and blends the two seamlessly, and it works here.  It’s quiet, rustic, simple, and the rich wooden hues add a warmth to contrast the frost outside.  Give me some coffee, and I’m there (although I’d still be there even if I didn’t have coffee).  Let the daydreams commence.

Light your fire, grab your coffee (or wine), snag your book…and cozy up to the warmth of this week’s great wintry space.

Theatrical Thursday – A Better Tomorrow (2010).

 

So if you’ve ever perused this blog, you’ll by now be made aware of the fact that I am a massive fan of foreign films, be they good or bad. I’m fascinated by the similarities and differences of American versus Foreign, and how the blending of the various cultures can often create an overall appealing movie. People are generally the same from continent to continent; the same gripes, hopes, dreams, and setbacks. But the subtle cultural differences seem to pop creatively on film. My latest pick is a bad boy out of South Korea titled “A Better Tomorrow”, which is a 2010 remake of the original 1986 Hong Kong classic that featured shoot ’em up action titan Yun-Fat Chow. In short, the film centers around two brothers, separated at a young age, that end up re-connecting years down the road. One brother chose the police force and the other followed a life of crime, so we can predict the inevitable clashes that arise with that; in addition, we have the usual double crossing bad guy that you end up hating by the end of the movie. While I’m generally opposed to remakes and ‘re-imaginings’, this is a solid version of a true gem.

Below, the horribly dubbed original:

 

Storytime Saturday, featuring an excerpt from an as yet untitled piece.

This is intended to be a tale of growth, understanding, and redemption…below is just a snippet.  Check it out if you’d like.  Best of days to all.



I wasn’t worth a damn on paper. In the paper world, the document world, the world of resumes and economic status, I was fucking worthless. Bullshit administrative work here, run of the mill labor there, hum drum office experience way over there…hell, my resume was less than toilet paper. Looking at that bad boy made me question everything. Is this what it had come to? Is this what all the years of busting my ass have amounted to? Jack shit? I may as well have been anonymous. Just another warm body to feed the greedy corporate carnivores. A chalkboard whose teachings had long since been scrubbed clean. 

But clean slates can still educate, right? They can still learn. Clean slates still hold value, however anonymous they are…they can still speak of success. I had to remind myself of that. But I was never successful at anything. Well, failing…I was very good at that. I was successful at failing. Hell, at fucking shit up, I was a professional. The best. I could turn a nugget of gold into a fistful of shit at the drop of a dime. All in a day’s work.  

Library Lusting.

I’ll admit it; many of the spaces featured here each week are not quite (ok, not at all) immediately attainable for the normal folks like myself.  But…that’s where the daydream aspect comes into play.  However, it’s fun to feature more true to life spaces when I come across them.  This week’s space is just that.  Attainable, asthetic, fun, colorful, unique, creative, bold, and bright.  I threw all of those words at it because it is a great example of how a love of books can visually transform a room and provide deep character.  This is definitely a book lover’s room.  Let the daydreams commence.  

Theatrical Thursday, featuring Andrei Tarkovsky.

In honor of the upcoming re-release of legendary director Andrei Tarkovsky’s final film, The Sacrifice, here are a few short videos (and selected trailers) worth your time.  Enjoy.

 

 

Below are The Sacrifice and Stalker trailers, and excerpts from interviews with Tarkovsky regarding perspectives on life, youth, and artistic spirituality.