"Food is culture, habit and identity."

Discuss.

I don't know about you, but those words ring very true to my ears. 

Eating is a big part of who we are.

 I'm proud to say I've been a vegetarian for a full year (as of January 2012). I'd dabbled into it a couple of times, but was always hesitant due to the unbearable question: What about protein? (I say unbearable because it's a vegetarian FAQ). People don't believe in grain or plant protein. I didn't either.
I hadn't educated myself enough and believed all this "You need animal protein"talk. You'll find once you start doing your research that it's not true.
I feel like the tables have turned now- I'm more concerned about all those eating meat and their well being.*

"Well planned vegetarian diets are apropriate for all individuals during all stages of life cycles, including pregnancy, lactation, infancy, childhood, and adolescence, and for athletes" - American Dietetic Association

Like J.S.Foer, I'm not advocating vegetarianism and imposing it upon you as the right thing to do. People need to be informed, be willing to face facts and do.

What baffles me all the time is how we, as the 'higher species' are so insensitive, so inhumane to the 'lesser species'- why aren't we using all technological advances  for the good of the world? It seems to me we're only making things worse and harder to live in...

"[...] being human, being humane, is more than exercie of reason."


Not only are the animals being tortured (there is no other word to how they are being handled), they're also being fed unnatural things: antibiotics, faeces, blood, supplements, you get the picture. I'm sure it's not something you want as part of your diet.

What I liked about 'Eating Animals' is that Foer gets both sides of the ordeal. He isn't lecturing at all, rather it's a personal journey (as it also was for me, reading it) to further reason a life choice.
Because...

"If nothing matters, there's nothing to save."

I would also recommend Cher Alicia Silverstone's The Kind Diet.

Picture from Peas in a Blog 

Not only does it talk about the advantages of a plant/grain based diet in an easy-to-follow 'voice', it's also packed with delicious recipes too! Some of which you can also find on her website: thekindlife.com

On another (lighter) note
Now reading: Without Feathers by Woody Allen
(I figured I needed something a little more fun!)

What is everyone reading nowadays?

* There are still some family farms who are anti-factory farms worth mentioning (and were mentioned in the book): Paradise Locker Meats, Niman Ranch, Good Shepherd Poultry. 

Oh no she didn't!

I'm not exactly sure why I'm giving the Oscars more time from my life, but here I go anyway!

(Any excuse to post the pretties of Hollywood, eh)

It used to be I'd anxiously anticipate the awards. Now I just can't be 'bovvered', really. 

The Academy Awards were serious. Not that they weren't funny too, but at least they weren't trying to be funny (which is the worst thing you can do). They were the real deal.
I can't quite put into words how I feel about it and why it has changed-- the movies chosen for Best Picture year after year have something to do with it (and now they have to decide between 9 films- wtf).

The Ones I saw: 'The Help', solely because it was playing on the plane.  'Midnight in Paris'- which I did actually like. A lot. Very much so. 'Bridesmaids' was surprised to see was nominated. It is good to see female comedy out there but it annoys me how everyone acts like its a new thing. There has always been funny women- it's just now they've the power to take over. 'Beginners' I also liked very much- I thought it was cute! And I love Ewan McGregor, but he really needs to work on his American accent. His rather weird southern drawl worked on 'Down with Love', but when it's a serious film...

 'Tree of Life' is still on my To-See list, as is ... 'Hugo'. And 'The Artist' (wah-wah).  

I saw wah-wah because this is what a friend has to say about it...

Hilarious!

And 'The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo'. Just because. (And 'Melancholia', 'Drive', 'Shame', 'Jane Eyre','Biutiful', 'Somewhere','Salvation Road', 'Inception' - wait, now I'm going too far back...)

Et bon.

This is the part where I just start posting pictures to make it easier on the eyes.

Penelope Cruz looked like a Princess- a Spanish Grace Kelly, if you will. That tone of blue (or what colour is it?) works on her. 'Cause if you're planning on wearing a ball gown, you save it for Oscar night.
Gwyneth girl, you need to smile more naturally and not be afraid of whatever it is you're afraid of. You's an Oscar winner! I loved this dress- the cape, the jewelry, the whiteness of it all embellished its simplicity. See gals, sometimes less really is more.

You know, now that I've put these two dresses together, they kind of look the same. Kind of.

 Okay, not that much. Let's stop looking into it...
Je crois qui Michelle Williams has really been gracing the red carpets  tres chic-ly this past Awards season. Pixie cut cuteness overload- it's almost just too much to bear. She's come a long way from Dawson's Creek days (and we'll never let her forget that).

Natalie Portman looked flawless in that gown- her makeup also gets thumbs up from me!

If you've never seen or heard any Flight of the Conchords, do your sad-self a favour and watch.

Actions speak louder than words sometimes. This is one of those times.
Booya. He's an Academy Award winner.

Jessica Chastain is FLAWLESS. And this won't be the last time we'll be seeing her at the Academy Awards. I hate her 'cause not only is she graced with stunning good looks, but she's a fuckin' great actress.**

And so we come to The Streep. 'Bout time she won another Oscar. Meryl owned the moment in her gold dress (she knew she was taking the gold man home...). I cried during her speech. But I also cried during Octavia Spencer's and the 'In Memoriam'... 

Technically I have no say in saying who deserved the statuette for Best Actress as I've no knowledge of any of the performances, but when Meryl is involved, you know it's good. Hell, it's fantastic. She delivers. Viola Davis I did watch kill the screen on 'The Help', actually. Her face says so much on screen.

Sorry for taking some more of your time. If anything, this was just self-gratifying. Babble, babble from someone who calls herself an actress (oh, you better believe it!). I've done the 'shampoo-in-hands-in-front-of-the-mirror' speech. 

So long, farewell, auf weidersehen, adieu!

I think Uggie needs deserves a break. A vacay.

 * All images found on the Internet (mostly via Tumblr).

** For the record, I don't really hate her. Au contraire. She's fabulous.

Of Workshops and Brush Strokes

Before I begin, let me just say this: I wish you could all see the way Gi-ok Jeon (artist and workshop leader) handles the brush. The 'grip', the way she smoothly slides the brush on the rice paper (ironically made from bamboo pulp, I learned).

It's like I'm living 'Zen in the Art of Archery', minus the archery, of course, and a little less Zen...

I thought I understood the concept of 'being one with your instrument' but today I actually lived it. I mean, just the concept itself became alive in me. To actually truly live it, it takes years. Practice. Patience. 

Other than art classes in middle/high school, I've never actually done any real painting.  I've given it a go in my spare time, but rarely in depth and I always end up frustrated... 

This workshop, in its first session, has already taught me about patience. About control. Maybe it's to do with having the teacher around as a sort of safety net- encouraging you, guiding you, that makes it all better- but I felt good about my mistakes, about how difficult it all actually was.

The teacher makes everything look SO easy. That, my friend, is skill (and years of practice).

The materials used today: Paper. Brush. (Chinese) Ink.

[Freakin' amazing what these three combined can do]

There are 3 types of brush strokes: 

line stroke
wipe stroke
dot stroke

Add to that the different lines: dark, light, thick, thin, dry, fast, slow, etc...

Oh, the possibilities!

Right: The stem on the far right was done by Gi-ok; the others were stroke practices by yours truly.

We first learned about the aforementioned brush strokes, tried them out and attempted to paint grass/leaves. Easy, right? Not so much. There's a correct way of holding the brush- it's not all in the flick of the wrist, like cracking an egg (Sabrina, anyone?). The movement of a brush stroke is done with your whole arm- the brush is an extension of limb, as I see it.

Then, we moved on to something a little  more challenging: the Chinese Orchid.  

Gi-ok says she spends a full month of practicing/learning with her students when it comes to the Chinese Orchid, just to give you an idea.

Next came the bamboo. 

I don't think I need to tell you it's not as easy as it looks either. Especially the leaves! 

All photos taken by me using a Nikon D3000

I can't even begin to imagine how those big & thick brushes are to work with...

Instagram of a couple pieces I did

Have a look at this to really get a feel of it.

&

Check out Galerie N's website to read more about Gi-ok Jeon. Here's a glimpse at her amazing work.

From her collection, Dwelling in a Space (using mixed media)

So if you're in Bangkok and fancy a fun thing to do on a Saturday, you should sign up for a session or two!

Funny Friday: A little day brighten up-er

Even though I don't watch Ellen's show that much (not living in the US has something to do with that), I think she's a great host to one of the better talk shows.I mean, she pulls pranks. What's not to like?
This Dennis Quaid one is my favourite.
If you didn't laugh out loud a couple of times then, lighten up, man. Here are two more involving Mr.Quaid: one & two. It helps that he's SO GOOD at what he's doing. He would've fooled me.
Have a funny Friday, everyone!