"It's gotta be the shoes"

That is, if New Balance count. Hey, at least they're mostly 'fair-trade' friendly. Anyway, yeah, I finally got new shoes (and just in time for spring). Well, as Thomas Stearns once said:

April is the cruelest month, breeding
Lilacs out of the dead land, mixing
Memory and desire, stirring
Dull roots with spring rain.
Winter kept us warm, covering
Earth in forgetful snow, feeding
A little life with dried tubers.

Would you like a film recommendation? Of course you would. How about one that addresses some of the culture-clash topics of Lost in Translation with a more interesting (and quirky) story and far more tangible theme? Well, you've come to the right place, my friend.
This week's recommendation was directed by Liev Schreiber and stars Elijah Wood and a bunch of great Ukrainian actors. It's a film based on the autobiographical work of the same name, Everything is Illuminated. A wonderfully beautiful and sad film. It attempted (and, I think, succeeded) to portray the beautiful light of life in the midst of the horrific reality of memory. It also made an interesting comment on the state and connection of things. At one point the characters are trying to understand why Augustine buried her wedding ring and conclude that she did it so someone, someday, might find it. Her sister, Lista, contradicts them and says that the ring was not buried for them to find but they came and found it because it was buried. Sort of a 'fate/connection' idea. Anyway, go rent it!

Well, I'm going to do the 'LiveJournal' thing and tell you what media (other than the aforementioned film) I am 'into' right now. As far as music goes, I've been listening to a little Bedouin Soundclash. As far as literature, Macabre short stories like The Alchemist and The Pit and the Pendulum (which validates this posting because it contains a literary 'Deus Ex Machina'). Best current reading, though, is 1 Peter. It's good stuff.

{BTW, my blog now has its own domain: www.jonloch.com}