Life, the Universe and .....

".... the reactions to it have exposed a cultural rift that mirrors America’s dominant political divide. Social liberals in the country’s “blue states” tend to support sex education and are not particularly troubled by the idea that many teen-agers have sex before marriage, but would regard a teen-age daughter’s pregnancy as devastating news. And the social conservatives in “red states” generally advocate abstinence-only education and denounce sex before marriage, but are relatively unruffled if a teen-ager becomes pregnant, as long as she doesn’t choose to have an abortion.. "

     - Interesting social commentary from The New Yorker.

Paul McCartney's performance is the headliner act at the Coachella, and the obvious highlight of the 3 day festival. The moment those monster screens appeared and Paul showed up, I knew this is going to be different. And indeed it was. In a three hour plus set, where the fireworks came midway, and with 3 encores, each encore running into three to four songs, it was really an experience.

Other highlights:

Yeah Yeah Yeahs!
Lykke Li
Thievery Corporation
Leonar Cohen
Franz Ferdinand
Morrissey

Slide show of the artwork and other bands!

"The unique superiority of French cooking for the next hundred years depended on the invention of the cooking associated with the name Auguste Escoffier. Escoffier's formula for food was in essence the same as Jasper John's formula for dada art: Take something; do something to it; then do something else to it. It was cooking that rested, above all, on the idea of the master sauce: A lump of protein was cooked in a pan, and what was left behind in the pan was "deglazed" with wine or stock, ornamented with butter or cream, and then poured back over the lump of protein. Escoffier was largely the creature of courtiers and aristocratic patrons; the great hoteliers of Europe, particularly Cesar Ritz, sealed in place the master sauce approach that remains the unchallenged basis of haute cuisine."

             - "Paris to the Moon" by Adam Gopnik

Here is one movie that's screaming to be noticed, and I am almost shocked to see that none of the blogs(at least in my friends' list) are talking about it.

Love it, hate it, preferably the former, but, go and watch it..

For the record, three folks sitting in front of me muttered "Kitna Ghatiya film hai" and left ten minutes into the movie.

Now, I am trying to download "No Smoking!" ( beatzo, your moment of vindication)

Bumble and bumble seaweed shampoo in hair, conditioner afterwards, regenerist micro thermal peel on the face, shower gel on the body - 4 products in the shower; straightening cream on the front hair, texturing cream on scalp, moisturizing sunblock on the face, antiperspirant under arms, body lotion on the knees and elbows, and aftershave - another 6 products after the shower - I am a walking cosmetic factory!

But, hey, I smell nice!

Whatever happened to bathing with Lux soap, and mom running after you to apply coconut oil, and Saturday bathing with kunkudu kayalu!

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Los Angeles : Wolfgang Puck :: Seattle : Tom Douglas.



W/P is recognized brand in LA; on TV, and on the streets, which amuses me when I observe and compare with how things are in India. We don't celebrate chefs in India. In fact, many newly established restaurants loose their reputation one fine day because the chef(s) responsible quit suddenly, and the patrons don't even know.

Celebrated chefs here own a stake in the restaurant, and sometimes in the entire chain, design the menu, and make sure the items are prepared the same way.

Not endorsing any way of doing this, just observing the differences.

The Village is a historic landmark here in Westwood, where many red carpet movie premieres happen. The theatre itself is very old school, brilliantly maintained, the old-fashioned architecture clashing with modernity in top of the line digital projection and surround audio. It's a treat to watch movies here.

The iconic building with its tower, that can be seen from long distance if you are in this region, along with Bruin theater right opposite, is the epicenter for activity in Westwood village.

And I thought Amy Winehouse is all christina/britney type pop idol music!!!

The Apple Pan is a west-side institution in LA that specializes in "doing simple things exceedingly well," similar to the the californian idea that founded Mc.Donalds eventually. The Apple Pan stood alone as the wheel turned around, refusing to be franchised, serving only two burgers - Hickory burger, their best, and Steak burger - around the now legendary U-shaped counter, where you always have to stand in line to get a seat, unless you arrive there single, like I do, in which case your chances of getting a seat are high, as nobody likes to sit sandwiched in between two couples crooning over the each other, with stuffed burgers in their mouths (just imagine!). (I don't care though).

Apple Pan serves apple pies as well (duh!)

You need to have the sweet pie (a sugar bomb) with coffee (no cream and sugar, preferably) to neutralize the excessive sweetness of the pie.

You also need to be a David Lynch, churning out Twin Peaks scripts while having your pie and coffee. Or at least act like one.

Current Music: Western Eyes - Portishead

A curious map at the maps exhibition - L.A Unfolded: Maps from Los Angeles Public Library - at LAPL. If you want to read the regional drink names, look closer here. What's that empty balloon over India? :P An exhibition like this is only possible from established libraries like LAPL, the nation's third largest, which collect books and all things associated with books, which under the weight of many years become memorabilia and eventually works of art carrying history with them.

A 5 hour wait to collect the passport from Canadian Consulate yesterday turned into a nice little walk in the financial district of LA downtown, the area I never visit. I didn't stray beyond Grand and Hope Streets, however. Actually, I spent most of it, just circling around the library and inside.

Spring Awakening is the Jude Apatow production equivalent to high brow broadway entertainment, it felt to me. I haven't seen many musicals, and so I am not qualified to say anything about the show. (It's my second show, the first being The Phatom of Opera I saw in London)

I loved the music, the live experience, and the mad rush to get to the venue in the rush hour traffic on a Monday night.

Q: Which is a better reviewed movie than Slumdog Millionaire this season?
A: Happy Go Lucky!

A cute little film about an annoyingly happy girl, her life, the sad characters around her. The movie has a few dull moments, but you will ignore them in all the amusement and the chuckles.

Go watch it, before it's off the screens.

Here is a quiet film, with a predictable denouement, not necessarily disappointing, anchored by good acting.

Going by the number of people who turned out for Friday evening show for a French movie in it's third week, I think, the movie is gaining popularity. After all, it has Kirstin Scott Thomas in the lead role, that darling of critics who rave that she could play both French as well as English roles, and that English Patient actress for the rest of us.

Like you, I am excited about Slumdog Millionaire, Danny Boyle's new film, and it's 91% rotten tomatoes rating. Last such well reviewed movie I remember from recent past is Wall.E. Unfortunately, I can not see it until I get back to LA. I missed its preview screenings and its early Wednesday release.

May be the soundtrack will release by the time I get around to seeing it. After all, we all need one more AR Rahman album to brighten up our days.

Red color ✓
Blonde/Caramel Red Hair Extn ✓
Skull Graffiti Vans ✓
Wayfarer glasses with a black rim and day glow yellow arms ✓
Piano Tie ✓
Rainbow bullet belt ✓
Tight jeans ✓
The bad-ass '80s look ✓



Prep1



Prep2



The end result!

I never thought I would actually get dressed like this and go to the Vanity Fair Portraits Exhibition cum Halloween Muse ball at the LACMA.

Signature drinks for the night: Absinthe cocktails.

Current Music: Vijay Prakash - Manmohini Morey - AR Rahman