Saturday, June 26, 2004

Close But No Cigar

Over the past few weeks, I have been attempting to qualify a four without coxswain for the Henley Royal Regatta, which begins next week on Wednesday! Yesterday was the official qualifying race on the Henley course, and although the row itself was a very enjoyable experience, we failed to qualify. The Visitor's Four Event (a senior, elite, or open event depending on your place of origin) has 16 crews allotted. 10 of which are seated by committee based on previous results and current standings. 6 of which are up for grabs on qualifying day. There were 20 crews entered in the qualifying race. We beat all but six. And thus, we were the fastest "non-qualifiers." Yet another blight on my long, but non-illustrious rowing career. No matter, as we would have likely been soundly trounced on opening day of the regatta by a top seated international crew anyway.

Realistically, it was a very good performance all things considered. We literally never practiced together. We only raced at Marlow last weekend, and thus, certified ourselves exactly as a true "scratch crew." Not to mention the fact that all six crews that beat us really should have as they were "competitive" and largely comprised of "full time" oarsmen - not a bunch of jokers with full time jobs like us sods. Add to that Greg having just raced an hour previous in the qualifying race for the Diamonds Sculls (Men's Open Single - finishing in the same spot!) and you get the picture.

First of the non-qualifiers Greg was twice! This lead him to humorously reflect that he was "the William Macy of British Rowing." As Greg eventually put it: "It is a testament to our pedigry that we were able to finish at the top of this heap of wankers."

Henley was gorgeous. I am definitely going to head up to take in the Regatta next weekend. The weather was beautiful, the atmosphere rich, and the countryside and town enchanting. A true slice of English pomp and mystery. It is worth it just for the ambiance itself. I truly regret never having raced there in my prime.

Monday, June 21, 2004

Bebo, Chucho, and El Cigala in Concert at the Barbican Centre

Meg and I have been "crazy-whacko-nuts" excited to see this concert for some time now, and we were not disappointed in the slightest! Bebo and Chucho Valdes (father and son) began the concert with some introductory piano duets that really set the tone for the concert. Warm and frolicking in the Cuban rhythms, they seemed completely immersed and passionate about the music, but somehow completely at ease and having so much fun together! Bebo was incredible. 84 years old, an elder statesman of the Cuban music scene, and strangely enough a resident of Sweden since 1960 when he "escaped Cuba." He strode on stage wearing a sharp suit and carrying with him an old leather case from which he produced his sheet music. He remained "all business" for the remainder of the evening hardly paused to accept applause before diving into the next number. Chucho followed his Dad's lead, and let him hold the spot light all night, but was so much more than a support man pounding out some outstanding rhythms. The torch has definately not been dropped between these two! Diego "El Cigala" was in incredible command of his vocal power all evening. Clearly enjoying himslef immensely, his voice was rich and varied and easily filled the auditorium with incredible warmth and vitality. Many times people rose in applause mid-song to cheer him on. It is always an incredible thing to see someone relate the pathos of Flamenco so eloquently, with such an entertaining presence, and that in a nutshell is what "Lagrimas Negras" is all about. Rising above heart wrenching emotional pain through song.

What made the day extra special, however, was that we spent the whole afternoon and evening with Spanish friends in London who also knew of "Lagrimas Negras." Ellie Faustino, who I work with at MPC, and her boyfriend Jordi Bares (both from Barcelona) invited Meg and I, along with some friends of theirs for "la comida espanola" prior to the concert. Since the weather was quite poor, raining most of the day in fact, it was really lovely to just sit inside at someone's flat and chat over a long lunch. I can't remember the last time that happened! Two paellas, una grande empanada (made by Pablo Tufaro my friend from Argentina, and Noe his girlfriend from Madrid), ensalada con tomate y bonito, tostadas de aceite de oliva y al ajillo, mucho vino tinto y mas!!! It was really a fantastic meal ingreat company. At the end of the meal Jordi produced a bottle of Spanish "moonshine" made by hand by his family. A kind of Grappa in fact. It was incredible, and gave us the perfect fuel for the fire to carry us on to the concert! After the concert we enjoyed a pint at a pub a short walk from the Barbican where we recounted the evening and talked on and on... in Spanish! I really couldn't keep up, but Meg was a star! Muchisimas gracias a todos! It was really lovely day.

The Marlow Regatta 2004

Amazingly enough to all those involved, I survived the heat and repechage in a coxless four within three hours of each other on Saturday at the Marlow Regatta. Given my less than committed to non-existent training regimen these days, it should be considered an astounding achievement that I was not air lifted by helicopter from the finish line having suffered a massive coronary. Greg Scherkoske and I were teamed up with a couple of fine lads from Worcester Rowing Club who were also doubling up in a pair (resulting in a minimum of four races!). We finished third in our heat, thus getting a birth into the repechage, and once there got totally doored. So we finished 9th overall, of perhaps 16 crews, and faced off against the top coxless fours in the country. To relate an idea of the level of the competition, a University of London Boat Club four featuring retired multi-medal winning oarsman Tim "Rock Star" Foster failed to make the final straight away, and then came second in the repechage, and finished fifth in the final! We rowed a 6:35 in the heat, and a 6:29 in the repechage. The winning time in the final, rowed by Oxford Brookes University, was 6:05. They were smokin' and posted a 6:00 in the heat.

The morning began eventfully enough by running the gauntlet out to Windsor and Eton Central station on the tube and train, only to find I had to catch a cab to the course! Twelve quid later, I must have caught the oldest, slowest, but most gentlemanly cabby out there. He hilariously drove me on a "quick route through the back country" that he assured me offered the fastest time to the race course. The route also afforded him the chance to recount to a captive audience some portion of his 44 year history in Eton! Including the night it was bombed "by Gerry." Eton is really pretty, little shops, the river running through, and a lovely market area, though I didn't really have a lot of time to look around. I am definately going to head back out there at some stage to see the castle. I really only glanced at it while running around finding the cab.

Wednesday, June 16, 2004

Megalicious in London for the Weekend

Well, at long last, Meg and I will be together in London for a weekend! She finally had the opportunity to get away from Madrid for a few days, and seeing as I remain a "studio slave" for the next few weeks finishing up Lighting Technical Director work on Alien Versus Predator, she has booked a flight to come up to The Big Smoke. However, I think she may be the victim of some "weather revenge" for the last trip to Madrid (with Andrea in May) when it poured non-stop for four days, because the lovely early summer weather we have been enjoying in London of late is supposed to cool off over the weekend, with potential for some real English summer action. No matter, I can't wait to take the weekend off from work!!!

Meggi arrives in the wee hours friday morning. We will be going out to Marlow (near Windsor) on Saturday because I am racing in the regatta there. I think it is going to be ugly. With the prospect of three 2Km races (heat, repechage, and final) in one day, I am a little intimidated. Greg Scherkoske has man-handled and rubber-armed me into trying to get a birth at Royal Henley with a couple of other English dudes in a straight four. Wouldn't that be a capper to my experiences in England? To race at Royal Henley as the most out of shape oarsman in the regatta! The Walshman strikes again! I am afraid not!

We also have tickets to see Bebo y Cigala (of "Lagrimas Negras" fame) at the Barbican Centre on sunday night. We are meeting with some of my "new Spanish friends" in London prior to the concert for dinner, which should make the evening really memorable.

At some point we are hoping to meet up with Regina's mom and dad for a beverage as well. But that's Meg's department, so I don't know what is happening there!

I am really looking forward to this weekend as the "beginning of the end" of our "forced separation" this year past year which really began way back in San Francisco when The Matrix ran over and I had to delay going to Europe. We have really gotten a lot out of the experiences we have had both as individuals, and as a couple, but we are tired of it now, and besides, being apart sucks big time! As Meggi says "we're such good room mates!" We'll see what the summer brings, but for the moment I think we are just thinking about spending a heap more time together in the coming year. I have commited to working on Ridley Scott's Kingdom of Heaven at The Moving Picture Company and that takes us through the end of October. Which will give Meg further opportunity to study Spanish splitting her time more between here and Madrid than before, and focusing on the DELE examination superior level. Who knows after that! At this point, I really don't care about anything except being together.

Saturday, June 12, 2004

Another Prisoner of Azkaban Review

Here's a review that's quite good I thought. It is interesting to note that in the final analysis the visual effects are praised for their lack of distraction. It is always the greatest compliment to the visual effects artists and technicians when things are just taken for real, and not questioned.

Link

Thursday, June 10, 2004

The Idea of Neighbour

My previous post got me to thinking (I often get me to thinking, har har) and Neil had some good comments about "the Good Ole U.S. of A." (as my Dad would say). Neil's points were mainly that there is an extreme range of opinion in the U.S. that probably does not exist anywhere else in the world in that fashion. It is indeed a very polemical place. The land of contrasts, beyond the obvious ones, like the gap between rich and poor. For example, Arnold Schwarzenegger, an admitted "fan" of the Hummer, is the Governor of the State with the most aggressive environmental laws. And also, that in one of the most puritanically conservative places in the world, you also have the extremely liberalising influences of the leading cities like Los Angeles, New York and San Francisco. Comparing these places to say, Atlanta, Georgia, is to compare worlds.

I think that the thing I notice most these days as a difference between Canadians and Americans is the idea of neighbour. Growing up in Canada you can not escape the extreme sense of "living beside the giant." You may not intellectualize it at an early age, but it is there nonetheless. It shows up in weird places. Sorry to again bring up Micahel Moore, but it is a good example. My aunt Robin, an American (Democrat, she insists!), told me that when she saw Moore speak in Davis, CA, recently, he invited "the dumbest Canadian, and the smartest American" in the audience on stage. He then proceeded to ask the voluteers a series of questions about each others countries. It started out funny as the Canadian seems to know more about his neighour than vice versa, but ended in shock and dismay as it turned out that the Canadian answered all of the question s about America successfully, and the American answered none of the questions about Canada successfully. Robin wrote me to say that she thought that she would have faired better given family knowledge and all, but the point had been made. Why did the Canadian know so much and the American so little about each other? The answer is simple. One understood that they had a neighbour, the other did not.

The "common peoples" perception of the American attitude in the world, let alone towards Canada and Mexico, is one that does not make reference to neighbours, but rather "friends and enemies." The idea that a place like Canada may have "equal standing" as a neighbour, like that of the French and Spanish, is not on the radar. We are great friends, but we are not equals. Canadians have this in common with many Europeans, especially the British, and it perhaps imbues us with our more tolerant, kinder sensibility internationally. We are friends with the bully, we just hope it stays that way! In Europe, you can not escape your neighbours, and thus you tend to learn to understand them, and tolerate them. That being said, I have witness some very odd attitudes towards immigration during my time in Spain. But that's for another post...

Another Footnote to Add to the List

There is this idea floating around out there that I have heard a number of times recently, I suppose, because of my current surroundings. A very international gaggle of folks at The Moving Picture Company brings these things out at times. People tell me there is a kind of "short list" of factors that make Canadians not Americans in the minds of people other than Canadians and Americans. It is funny when you hear this sort of thing in that there is one very obvious fact that people tend to completely ignore. Canada and The Untied States are not the same country! There's a border for god's sake! The same conversation makes absolutely no sense when comparing the French and the Spanish, because it is implicit that these people are different in many ways because their individual histories. They are also very similar in a lot of respects, but I digress. Specifically with respect to Canadians, people seem to need to "make a case" for the independant assessment of Canadians.

The list goes something like, for example, the fact that Canada has universal health care, which is a very socialist idea (Clinton was raked over the coals for some of his near commi-pinko-Canadian ideas about health care for all). Canada is "more European" in general, because of having two languages officially recognized in the constitution (similar to Spain, which has four!). Also, Canada's reputation, however questionable, since the Second World War (and The Korean War, I guess) as a "peace keeping" nation as opposed to a new imperial nation. We didn't go to Iraq after all, and history has already judged us well on that account. Also, the more nebulous ones like the comparative lack of violence in society, more environmentalism with pioneers like David Suzuki leading the charge and Greenpeace originating in Vancouver. Also, the contrasting ideas of Multiculturalism (retaining identity while living in a new land where everyone is essentially a foreigner aside from indiginous peoples) versus The Melting Pot (whatever you were before, forget about it, you're an American now). And then recently, more liberal attitudes towards religion, sex, marijuanna, and gay marriage in Canada.

I submit that the following footnote should be added to that admittedly ramshackle list: Canadians are the helping hand that allows Americans an opportunity to express that essential, yet recently forgotten, American ideal of civil liberty. Plainly that DISSENT IS NOT UNAMERICAN FOR GOD'S SAKE!!!

The following is from Michael Moore's website, on the news that Lions Gate Films has picked up distribution of Fahrenheit 9/11 (sadly, the note about the Stanley Cup didn't happen, but there were 11 Canadians playing in Tampa Bay so no matter):

Jon Feltheimer, the man who runs Lions Gate, was the executive in charge of the company that produced my television series, "TV Nation." And the people at IFC (which owned Bravo) were the same people responsible for funding and broadcasting my other series, "The Awful Truth." So we are in very good hands. And, as an added bonus, Lions Gate is a Canadian company. Once again, the Canadians to the rescue! It was also a Canadian company, Salter Street Films, that produced "Bowling for Columbine." I know, it's kinda sad we have to keep depending on our good neighbors to the north. But maybe this is the year we give 'em their Stanley Cup back.

Tuesday, June 08, 2004

It's All Gonna Melt!

A little blurb from the National Post today:
Computer networks that support Canada's critical services -- from hospitals to banks to power lines -- will undoubtedly crash in the next five years, warns a government-commissioned report that says even immediate action cannot stop the inevitable.

Shoddy software has left the Internet and other parts of our telecommunications systems vulnerable to a massive meltdown, the report concludes. No corrective action can avert "a major failure," but the authors say both the government and the private sector must act quickly if they are to prevent subsequent collapses.

"The stakes are high," reads the report. "This is a challenge that we ignore at our peril as a nation and a society."

The report bases its conclusions on hundreds of written resources and interviews with two dozen high-tech experts, including executives at major computer companies.

"Politicians, almost slavishly, have to do whatever the public is interested in and the public is not interested in emergencies that don't exist yet," said Donald B. Johnston, the report's lead author. "We will not see [a major crash] as a problem until it's a problem. And it will only be a problem as long as it's a problem. And when it stops being a problem, we will stop thinking about it again."

Click here for the full article

Monday, June 07, 2004

Las Lagrimas Negras de Bebo y Cigala

Bebo and Cigala's "Black Tears" is easily the best new music I have heard in the past year. Ricardo Daura gave Meg a copy a while back, and we fell in love with it right away. Especially because "our" copy became "my" birthday present. It has that "special something" that the Buena Vista Social Club had, although without an acclaimed documentary follow up, I doubt it will get the same focus of attention. Some treasures are best passed by word of mouth anyway. Megcita and I are going to see them in concert June 20th at the Barbican Centre. Here's a little blurb that gives a few more details.

Cheers for Valdes and El Cigala's 'Tears'
By Howell Llewellyn

MADRID (Billboard) - Just what is it about the album "Lagrimas Negras" that has captured music fans in Europe and South America?

UK and North American consumers can find out for themselves next month, when the album appears on their shores.

"Lagrimas Negras" ("Black Tears") features 85-year-old Grammy Award-winning Cuban pianist Bebo Valdes and 35-year-old flamenco singer Diego El Cigala playing traditional Cuban boleros and Spanish coplas.

The album was recorded for the Calle 54 label, which is co-owned by Academy Award-winning Spanish director Fernando Trueba and Miami-based musicologist Nat Chediak. Both produced the album.

The BMG-distributed set sold more than 250,000 copies in Spain and spent nearly 50 weeks in the country's top 20 sales list. It also won a number of Spanish music awards in Latin, flamenco and jazz categories.

"Lagrimas Negras" was a hit in several other markets where BMG released it this spring. These include Argentina, Mexico and France.

BMG will handle the UK and Canadian releases as well. BMG label RCA's custom Bluebird imprint will carry "Lagrimas Negras" in the States. The set bows June 6 in the United Kingdom and June 22 in North America.

"US/Canadian promotion will be on the same 'little-to-more' progression that it was in Spain, where the thing grew bigger than anyone dared hope," BMG Spain international exploitation manager Fran Arbulu says.

"Promo will be aimed at the mainly Latin target audience of urban, cultured music lovers," he continues.

"Nobody says this is another 'Buena Vista Social Club', but it's getting a good buzz from US jazz and Latin critics."

BMG US Latin will help support the CD's promotion, reports Maarten Steinkamp, president of BMG International.

"This is a project you have to build and love," he says, noting that the album is "building very nicely" in Argentina and Mexico. "It will probably take some 18 months to really bring home, and that doesn't matter."

Valdes and El Cigala will play "Lagrimas Negras" material June 20 at London's Barbican Theater. Valdes' son, pianist Chucho Valdes, will make a rare concert appearance with his father. Bebo has lived in Sweden for 44 years, and Chucho lives in Cuba.

El Cigala pays a promotional visit to the States July 10-15. He and Bebo will play concerts in New York, Miami and Los Angeles, beginning in late August.

Those concerts will be fans' only chance to see Bebo and El Cigala play together in the States. Bebo is content to pass his "Lagrimas Negras" role to his son, who has won four Grammy Awards.

"I can't travel so much anymore, and I'm immensely proud to hand over the reins to Chucho," Bebo says. "We played together for the first time in 40 years in New York in 2000 for 'Calle 54,' and we'll seal that link playing 'Lagrimas Negras' in London."

Chucho will perform a concert of "Lagrimas Negras" material May 28 at the Cubadisco music trade fair in Havana. Bebo refuses to visit Cuba because of skirmishes he had in 1960 with the revolutionary government.

Chucho next will join El Cigala on a summer tour of Latin America to present "Lagrimas Negras." They will begin May 30 with three nights in Mexico City. Other stops include Argentina, Chile, Ecuador and Colombia.

But it is in the "multicultural melting pot" of the States, Arbulu says, that an album like "Lagrimas Negras" makes most sense.

"The US public is going to wonder, 'What is this? Latin? Jazz? Flamenco?"' El Cigala says. "Well, it's a world-music blend with all three. The important thing is the flamenco expression 'llevar buen palo' -- to play it pure, damn good and clean."

Reuters/Billboard

Pictures From Behind the Scenes

Well, it is pretty much everything the fans were looking for... Alien blood lust at its finest! It's like a heavy metal smorgasbord and the stoner's are paying the bills on this one folks! Bring on the ROCK!!!

click here for Alien Versus Predator photos

Saturday, June 05, 2004

Papichulo en Budapest

Today Meg and I received a short email from her Dad who is in Budapest working at the new Four Seasons Hotel that is opening there. It is one of his coveted "sojourns" abroad, prior to a sojourn closer to home when he goes to work in Whistler for a few weeks this summer at the new resort there. So much for retirement! Unfortunately, neither Meg and I will have time to go and see him. Budapest is one place that I have always wanted to go after hearing Peter Nyers' parents speak so highly of it so many times. Bradshaw and I tried to go in October of 1995, following World Rowing Championships in Tampere, Finlamd. But unlickily, and quite comically, we got booted from a train at four in the morning on the Latvian border with Estonia by armed guards. It was raining buckets, we were in the middle of no where (corn fields, I think) and it was pitch black. All I remember was a dude with a machine gun saying "no visa, go back" while other dudes with machine guns looked on and an American fellow said "Sorry dudes, like, this happened to me last week, man." So much for the opening of eastern europe!

Tuesday, June 01, 2004

Cambridge Sausage

It was Greg Scherkoske's 35th birthday this past week. Happy Birthday Greg! Greg's wife Margaret, being the fine Canadian lass that she is, set up a lovely little back yard garden barbecue party at their place in Cambridge. The flat is called Malting Cottage, on Malting Lane, which is so named for the old brewery building that it runs alongside. In fact, the funky old building has been converted into their nice loft-ish lay out flat, and an architect's office next door, among other things. Much to my surprise and delight, G&M laid out copious bottles of wine (including some excellent selections from their recent trip to Italy) and cooked up sausage galore on the BBQ!!! Not to mention some delicious salads. It was quite the feast! We even had a sausage with bits of apple in it that I dubbed the "desert sausage!" I was reminded of the old days when I was living with Mike Pearce in the "Crazy Harry Fire Trap" on 25th avenue in Vancouver and we would throw "sausage parties." Although they may have lacked the sophisticated setting of this fiesta, they were a highlight on the social calendar of all our lady friends of the day, of course! My gift to Greg was courtesy of some deliberate "re-gifting" at the request of Mike. He had sent me a t-shirt emblazoned with the visage of one of my favorite Vancouver haunts - Calabria Caffe - for my birthday, and to remind me of home. As it turns out, I already had one given to me as a gift by Frank Sr. the owner of Calabria. Mike and I thought that Greg was a worthy recipient of such a prized item having frequented the cafe during his tenure in Vancouver. As a result, Greg and I can now both spread the word about the best damned Italian Cafe outside of Italy!!! Yeah!

My Updated Blog

I figured it was about time for an update to my blog, so I chose a new template and made some mods. It is now updated to the new format you see here, and I have enabled comments. Scroll down to find the links I had posted before. So, now you can call me an arse or something if you feel like it! Not sure if I will keep it enabled - we'll see the response. I like the minimalism of the lay out and the colour choices are pretty subdued. Unfortunately, as I am in weirdo computer graphics Linux land I can not as yet post photos directly.

Mon Nouvelle Maison

Just a short note to say that as of today I have left my old flat and I am now living in with Jean-Paul and Andre on Museum Street. Looks like my new accomodations will work out fine. Here's the address again!

Flat #2 - 33 Museum Street
London, United Kingdom, WC1A 1LH

The move was largely uneventful aside the mulitple trips on foot with only one duffel bag to actually carry all of my crapola, and nearly concussing myself on the way out of my flat on one of my trips. I whacked my head on this bizarre piece of wall that sticks out in the entry way. It hurt like a bastard! I now have a large lump on the top of my forehead that makes me look like I had a bit of a "donny brook" down the pub over the weekend. Not a good look for the Walshman.