Wayne County Ramblin' is a road movie

SYNOPSIS: Beginning in Detroit and ending in Mississippi, Wayne County Ramblin' is a road movie that travels in the opposite direction of the historical great migration of African-Americans, north. The story centers around three young European- Americans; Penny and her boyfriend Johnny. They leave Detroit in hopes of finding Penny's beloved Grandfather, Simon, who is rumored to have retired in Mississippi several years ago, where he was originally from.

When they encounter trouble early in the journey, that could prevent them from reaching their goal, they meet Jim, also from Michigan, heading in the same direction for his own reasons. Although Jim appears as an opportunity to achieve their goal, sexual tensions and insecurities increasingly cloud their destinations.

By interweaving fact, folklore, fiction, religion, and lies, Wayne County Ramblin' seeks to reveal its' landscape as part of a great creole nation. Even if they are not aware of it, these three European-Americans' lives are being directed by three west-African spirits, who are leading them to a better sense of self.

"Impossible is Nothing" [YouTube]

FROM TIME.COM: Enter Aleksey Vayner. The Yale student submitted his video résumé, titled Impossible Is Nothing, to investment bank UBS last fall. It became a YouTube classic, while its karate-chopping, tennis-acing, deep-thought-having star became the joke of Wall Street. But another funny thing happened: Vayner's vanity creation awakened recruiters and job seekers to the possibilities of marrying the video CV to the Internet--and that may just revolutionize the job-search process as we know it.

Apparently this guy, a graduating student at Yale, applied to UBS AG with an 11-page resume and the attached video. It's amazingly douchey - or at least, the David Brentiest thing I've ever seen.

Michael Mann + Gong Li

Bei Bei, Los Angeles

Depeche Mode "Songs of Faith and Devotion"

Just checked out The Killers' celebrity playlist on iTunes. Brandon Flowers always picks a Depeche Mode track and usually from the 'Songs of Faith and Devotion' album, the difficult DM album from 1993.

'I Feel You' is the monster, all rocked-out lead single, which is already a classic. I recently watched a DM three-in-a-row video sequence on VH1 and was reminded of how strong the 'In Your Room' (also a single) track is.

This album is now remastered and also available in the massive complete DM iTunes package.

Bonus personal trivia: I actually made a bet with Martin Gore about this record. We met somewhere in Europe during the recordings. It was almost finished and Martin was worried that they couldn't follow up the huge succes of Violator in the U.S. I claimed the album would go straight to the Billboard No.1 and if it did Martin would invite me to America to see one of the shows of the upcoming world tour.

It did.

I never cashed in the bet.

I sure hope there's another world tour coming up in the future.

Extra bonus info: The Killers opened for Depeche Mode on their last tour (some gigs only, among them Copenhagen - on the other dates The Raveonettes from Denmark (!) were the support band).

Olafur Eliasson v Mikael Bertelsen

Olafur Eliasson recommended these artists on Mikael Bertelsen's "Den 11. Time" (on Danish national state television, DR2) tonight:

Pia Ronicke
Jacob Jacobsen - pictured @ Esplanaden 2002 (Charlottenborg)
Jay & Q
John Kørner

Oluchi Onweagba

Towers Of London

I grew up with seventies glam rock and eighties punk rock. Let me tell you something. Glam-punk rock is back and they're called Towers Of London (Official Sites here and here, MySpace here).

I love glam rock. I love punk rock. I love these guys.

Cheers.

My iTunes blog.
My YouTube blog.
My Music Club.

The Saatchi Gallery presents Student's Art

The site is open for all students studying the visual arts, including fashion, design, applied arts and performing arts

The order that artists appear is random and changes regularly. The most recent entries or edits go to the top, until the next random re-shuffle.

Artists who are currently online are displayed with a flashing icon which other registered STUART users can click on to chat.

"Oh, L'Amour" (Paris, 2007)

Think Israel @ Emirates Stadium

Today I posted on my brand-blog, BRANDSOFF.COM. Please go there.

Blogging from CDG

Blogging from Charles de Gaulle International Airport again. The plane is delayed again (SAS, due to technical reasons = change of aircraft). My flight out (CPH-LDN) was more than four hours delayed because of snow that was gone when I arrived in London. (I was quite looking forward to experience London covered in show. It is a rare sight. But unfortunately I didn't get that pleasure).

Finally made my way up to my usual business lounge (I want to go to the Lufthansa Senator lounge, which looks cool and is easily accessible in one of the satellite fingers), only this time I had to have several papers signed to be able to access the humble waiting room. It is quite a journey getting to the lounge, escalators, documents and all.

I just loved the Eurostar, taking me from London to Paris, departed and arriving on time and with impeccable service onboard. Fast, comfortable trains rock, delayed flights don't.

INLAND EMPIRE by David Lynch

I went to the movies last night.

David Lynch is big in filmland France and the new movie is already out here (Wikipedia notes that it is also out in Iran!?) It premiered in Italy at the Venice Film Festival in September, 2006. The film took two and a half years to complete, and was shot entirely in digital video. The cast includes Lynch regulars such as Laura Dern in a dazzling, fearless performance (who co-produced), Justin Theroux, Harry Dean Stanton, and Grace Zabriskie (hilarious, unsettling performance), as well as Jeremy Irons and Diane Ladd. The film is three hours long.

Like “Mulholland Drive,” which this new film resembles like an evil twin, “Inland Empire” involves an attractive blond actress who tumbles down rabbit holes inside rabbit holes inside rabbit holes.

What is it about, you ask?

When asked about Inland Empire, Lynch responded that it is "about a woman in trouble, and it's a mystery, and that's all I want to say about it."

According to the New York Times the film is "a plotless collection of snippets that explore themes Lynch has been working on for years," including "a Hollywood story about a young actress who gets a part in a film that might be cursed; a story about the smuggling of women from Eastern Europe; and an abstract story about a family of people with rabbit heads sitting around in a living room".

In an interview, Laura Dern recounted a conversation she had with one of the movie's new producers. He asked if Lynch was joking when he requested a one-legged woman, a monkey and a lumberjack by 3:15. "Yeah, you're on a David Lynch movie, dude," Dern replied. "Sit back and enjoy the ride." Dern reported that by 4 p.m. they were filming with the requested individuals.

Visit the official web site here. Visit the French web site here. IMdB page here. Metacritic page here.

Watch the official trailer (it is a piece of art in itself) here [YouTube]. Alternative trailer here. Opening titles sequence here.

[Photo: digital still shot in the movie theatre].

The 7" single is back!

We went to see LITTLE MAN TATE at the La Boule Noire in Paris last night. Support by a young Parisian band called BROOKLYN. LTM played their Top 20 smash 'Sexy In Latin' along with the other great singles [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]. 'The Agent' sounds a bit like Status Quo on a good day. La Boule Noire is a great club (I am going back there friday for TOKYO POLICE CLUB, a current favourite) and LTM gave a great party performance with the audience on stage for the encore [I posted a Google Video here*].

Adidas @ Harrods

Y-3's @ Harrods

Vert D'Absinthe, Paris, 2007

Traffic Police, Paris, 2007

Herge + Andy Warhol

Herge @ Centre Pompidou, Paris, 2007

Dog, Avenue Des Champs Elysees, Paris, 2007

Tavel, Marais, Paris, 2007

Scratch Massive "Time"

Everytime I buy a CD these days, I think it's gonna be the last one (physical media, that is). But these particular days I am in Paris and I always buy new music in Paris. Bought the new album from SCRATCH MASSIVE, a parisian electro-punk duo. IT IS AMAZING! How can you go wrong with titles like these:

"Fake Lesbian"
"Shining In My Vein"
"Girls On Top"
"Soleil Nor (Black Sun)"
"Three Imaginary Boys" (yes, a cover of The Cure)

SCRATCH MASSIVE ROCK! (Web here, Blog here, MySpace here).

I love music. I love Paris. I am never coming home.

[The CD is on powerplay in my übercool Hôtel Bourg Tibourg room, but I think the neighbours actually like it. Marais is a beautiful place in every sense of the word.]

Baby Panda Sneezes [Flash Video]

"Door Policy"

Massive Attack, Academy, Birmingham

Didier Drogba, Centenary Club, Stamford Bridge

Frank Lampard

Monocle Magazine: 'A name, an anagram, and a lot of sushi'

Wallpaper man's singular vision

Holloway, London, 2007

"Arsenal Chase England Star"

Thomas Rosicky

Arsenal Season Ticket cards

I love football. I love London. I am never coming home.

"The Fitting"

Chelsea FC Season Ticket card (Centenary VIP Club)

I love football. I love London. I am never coming home.

Jeppe Hein @ Barbican

Expect a gathering of Danish art expats at the Barbican tonight. Hopefully will end up at the REFUEL Bar (it is the bar of the hotel I am staying at)...

New Ad Automation Agency To Open

"Encounters" @ Nolias Gallery

Dymo

Bought 10 rolls of 9mm Dymotape today. [This posting is why blogs have a bad name].

RINKO KAWAUCHI, Séries ‘Utatane’

Tom Dixon Pour Lacoste

"By The Rails #6" by Kasper Ledet

"By The Rails #5" by Kasper Ledet

"By The Rails #2" by Kasper Ledet

"By The Rails #1" by Kasper Ledet

"Politigaarden" by Jesper Rasmussen

"Astoria" by Jesper Rasmussen

Blue Foundation "Voices" [iTunes Link]

Aston Martin DBS (1967)

Ferrari Dino (1972)

IBM ANNOUNCES FIRST-EVER INTEGRATED SOCIAL SOFTWARE PLATFORM FOR BUSINESSES