Les deseo toda la suerte posible. De mientras, disfruta de este pepino de canción:

[dailymotion id=x68fkq]

Oofta, the Pirates have landed in Hill City, Minnesota. Seriously the pirate in the middle is my mother and she in 82 years old. If it is really a matter of genetics I have a lot of life to look forward to!

If you Missed it...here is a podcast about growing old.

Funny I never feared that possibility two years ago. My retirement fund was climbing weekly and the visions of security in my golden years seemed assured. Heck I shop at Walmart! In fact my Golden Parachute included a job as "greeter." Oofta, how many of us have thought about that possibility to supplement our Social Security.

Today banks are failing, the stock market is plunging and there's a waiting list for those jobs.

I've never squandered my money...now the money I do have seems even more dear. And that leads me to a idea I have been mulling over. MAYBE it is time to buy a scooter. They are gas sippers, I still have my balance and would probably survive a drive into town and back...and frankly they look like they'd be fun!

My purchase would also stimulate the economy.

I imagine the wind blowing thru my hair as I wave happily to my neighbors and the town folks. Putt, putt, putting thru town...with the songs from Easy Rider playing on my 25 year old Walkman. I'd like a little basket up front for my dog. He loves to ride shotgun. I am still mulling over models. Safety or style? Practicality or flamboyance?

I am leaning toward something in red...but the training wheels? They have to go!

The namesake of this blog, Andrew, once told me that the band Coldplay "is good at what they do." At the time, I didn't grasp the irony of his statement. Now I blush when I recall that conversation. Easy Rider, for what it is, is just about perfect; but that's a statement void of any irony.

A scene early in the film has Wyatt and Billy acting as drug-dealing middlemen between some Mexican dudes and some "highbrow" customers. That niche that the characters fill embodies not only them, but also Hopper and Fonda as filmmakers at the time: no home, unwelcome anywhere, neither high nor low. The first of many scenes of the two men riding hogs sets the film's mood: free-ridin', groovin' to rock 'n roll (in this case "Born To Be Wild"), and not so much "breaking" the 180° rule as shattering it. László Kovács' handheld-feeling cinematography must have been fairly novel, at least for a film that turned out to be somewhat mainstream. The flash-editing had a violent effect, but certainly should be lauded for its apparent originality. Sound in the film was subservient to the soundtract, often with diegetic sound cutting out completely to make way for the music. Most of the first half of the film is outdoors, contributing to the free-as-a-bird feel. As the two men approach their demise, they are found indoor or shrouded more often. Accompanying the outdoor scenes are wide-open shots of very big scenery.

The film did well to portray Wyatt and Billy as embodying something of America itself - in a class of its own, and individualistic and yet welcoming to all. Wyatt's bike, helmet, and jacket even bear the flag, just as his nickname "Captain America" confirms his identification with the USA. The boys also illustrate the impossibility of their own way of life. It's not that their dream was a failure, but that the world wasn't ready for them. That Hopper and Fonda's film not only was realized but also succeeded is an interesting point in relation to the film's story.

Some have no doubt commented on this being an example of the "buddy movie" that feminist film theory has pointed out. The woman who appear in the film could be seen as obligatory and empty, yet the males' attachment to one another fills the feminine void. Billy and George (Jack Nicholson) become darn-near cuddly by the fire after their initially tense encounter in prison. Though not quite on par with Top Gun's shamelessly gay volleyball scene, Easy Rider certainly contains what could be seen as some guy-on-guy action. Wyatt and Billy nearly acknowledge as much when, after George's beating, they visit the whorehouse he told them about and used his credit card. "He would've wanted us to," Billy tells Wyatt, who quietly wonders as to the ethics of what they're about to do. But of course, nothing happens in the whorehouse, and they leave to go goof off with the girls at Mardi Gras. The following acid-trip scene was painful to watch, not so much because of the drug aspect as Peter Fonda's very real confession to his dead mother: "I hate you so much..."

It seemed to me that the jump cuts (certainly less than a 30° camera shift) near the film's end while the boys are riding correspond with their imminent fate. After the deed is done, the camera immediately detaches and floats up into the sky in a way antithetical of the beginning scene of Fellini's 8½. Finally disconnected from its subjects, the camera flies away, for the first time giving a God's-eye view of the scenery that was heretofore only seen from the boys' point-of-view.

I remain working and experimenting on a new series of Dream Matter pieces. As you can see in the image to your left, I am working with the Mira device to reflect portions of an image I draw in ink. I have started using the Faber-Castell PITT artist pens for this work. I found out the other day at the art supply store that these pens contain Indian ink, this gives me the quality of ink I so desire in my work and adds the ease of use to the drawing process. The section you see here is about a seven inch square. Once the piece is drawn out I plan on adding colored inks or watercolor. The new series of pieces in the Dream Matter collection will be of a psychedelic nature, taking my work from a constant range of colorless gray scale to a vivid onslaught of colors. This does not mean I will not continue the graphite and charcoal pieces I have done in the past. These psychedelic Dream Matter pieces will be a nice addition to the collection... I hope.

I am tacking down the Mira device with sticky tac at each end, to hold the device in position so I can reflect and duplicate the small detail as close as possible.

I have also been spending a lot of my time working to create my new blog, The Way Back Machine. I am still not satisfied with some of the design but I will get it figured out in time. I have added a video pod in the sidebar with many videos pertaining the the 60's. You can also view these videos at their source, stored on the vodpod site.

( The Way Back Machine Pod)

New postings to the way back machine will take some time to prepare. I have received a comment from Paul Meows (Maze) telling he is interested in an interview for the blog. I am in the process of creating questions for Mr. Meows. This interview will be in the next posting at The Way Back Machine.

I have been researching events of the 60's era during my sleepless nights in preparation for future postings. I am very serious about making this blog a great resource for those wishing to look back in time to this fascinating period of world history.

I have added a movie section in the sidebar of The Way Back Machine, as I have in this blog. You can watch such movies as "Easy Rider", The Beatles movie " Help" and "Yellow Submarine" and the Jimi Hendrix at Woodstock performance, to name a few. Besides the events and music I will be covering anything that will take us back to that time period. TV shows, Ads and movies. I have found it amazing that on the internet you can now find videos of just about anything.

Debbie and I have at times, sat around the computer looking at those old TV shows, just to reminisce. Usually when I do watch TV I tend to tune into those old black and white movies and TV shows.

It is now 2:38 p.m and I need to get back to work.

Dead Man / Part Nine

]]> http://jumpshoes.wordpress.com/?p=99 Tue, 01 Jul 2008 23:35:12 +0000 Jump http://jumpshoes.wordpress.com/?p=99

Let me start by telling you a little bit about our beloved CEO, Harry Chen.  In the shoe business, he's a living legend, a demigod of shoes.  Any trade show I walk into with him, at least 5 people of any age or background will know who he is then make sure to tell me I'm working for the right guy.  He's got a real acute talent for finding other talent and maximizing it.  When you meet him, within the first few moments, you realize you're not really talking to any typical guy but more of a 'spirit' as Sung described him.  It was he who told his brothers that for their family business to really blossom, they should evolve from an already very successful trading company to a brand.

And he made it happen.  In 5000 years of Chinese history, no brand has ever managed to become a global fashion footwear brand.  That's right, we did it.  Do we get an award?  He's a natural born PR/Marketing genius so in a very short time I've managed to learn quite a bit from him.

Anyway, while Sung and I were in Taiwan, Harry was in China.  While the ads were being shot, I sent over a few pictures I snapped of the goings ons.

Sung getting styled up.

Here's some from the fittings:

Sneaker Deluxe

Indie Exec

Officer Couture

Footballer Chic

Tuxedo Man

Easy Rider

Shooting Footballer Chic

Julie was lovely enough to document it all.  The documentary will be coming out soon!

That evening, after I had sent these out, I got a call from Harry.  He told me he'd be in Taiwan the next day.  He could sense the energy and knew that if he were there, he'd could bring something to the table.  Sure enough the next day, Harry was there.  When Harry's around, everything goes tenfold.  It was also the first time he'd meet Sung so he decided he'd take us out for some insane teppanyaki.

As it turned out, Harry and Sung got along really well.  It wasn't any surprise to me really because Sung perfectly embodies the philosophy and spirit of Jump that Harry has worked so hard for the past 30 years to instill into the brand.

The next day was equally as crazy as the last.  We started the day by scouting out some spots for opening a Jump store in Taipei.  That's right, you heard it here first, we'll be bringing it back to where it all started!  We then had lunch with some of Harry's old buddies who happen to be the heads of all the major media networks in Taiwan.  He introduced them to Sung and caught up with them to talk about what we'd accomplished in the rest of the world and our plans for Asia.  They all agreed that when the store opened, we would have to do a big press conference.  Our next stop was to the ICRT radio station's studio where DJ Louisa Lee would interview Sung.  ICRT is Taiwan's international radio station.

It turned out to be a really good interview.  Check it out here.

After that we had dinner plans where Sung would meet the Taiwanese press.  Things were tight as Sung's flight left that night but we managed to meet everyone.

It so happens that some of the journalists happened to be his big fans, some of which had even traveled to Korea the last time he was there.  I tried acting as interpreter but as it turned out, the journalists spoke korean and thus they were able to communicate better that way!  In attendance were members of the press from The Liberty Times, The Apple Daily, Trend Media, The Taiwan Times and The United Daily News.  The next day, at the China Airlines Lounge, I found these.

By the way, Jeff has begun to send me the completed ads.  Remember those times when you were a kid and you parents got you that new toy and you were all excited but then went home and it sucked?  This is the exact opposite of that.  They are everything I could've ever wanted them to be and more.  Don't worry.  I'll post them soon enough.

We've been coming to Hilton Head for nearly a decade. Good for vacations but not so sure about living here -- or a lot of other places in the South -- full time. One problem: way too many old people. On the drive to Hilton Head you pass one of those Dell Webb Sun City resorts. That's where they give you a golf cart and a package of adult diapers along with the house keys. And it's one of those places where you're not allowed to be on the property unless you're over 55 or 60. Wonder if that is what Dylan Thomas had in mind when he wrote:

Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Also, I'm not sure I want to live in a part of the country where the only cultural advantage is right-turn-on-red. (Sorry, I shamelessly took that line from a Woody Allen movie. He was talking about California. We all have our quirks.)

But I do like the way they get right to the point in the South. Clear, honest, direct communication.

For instance, we took Snowbird Alley (I-95) from North Carolina to South Carolina. I stopped for gas in Santee and headed in to get a Diet Coke. A sign on the door said: "If your pants are hanging below your waist don't even think about coming in." Hmm. Thank God it didn't say: "If your stomach is hanging over your belt, no Diet Coke for you."

But back on the road again, as Willie Nelson might say, I was stuck in traffic. A moving van in the right lane. An old pickup truck blocking me in the left. Moment of truth. Could I pass the pickup truck on the right and squeeze by the moving van? I inch toward the pickup truck and notice a bumper sticker: "Gun control means using two hands."

Whoa, big guy. Let's ease up on the accelerator of that BMW. No point in inviting a reenactment of the final scene in Easy Rider.

Dennis Hopper after all is now pitching ads for some retirement service on TV. Hope it's not for adult diapers.

Go figure.

Foi tocada a exaustão nas rádios americanas nos anos 60 e fez um sucesso estrondoso com o filme "Easy Rider", com o Jack Nicolson, Dennis Hoper e o Peter Fonda.

Essa música combina bem com o texto que eu fiz sobre viagens e paisagens há algum tempo atrás, tanto que está lá.

A banda tocou no Brasil no ano passado mas poucas pessoas ficaram sabendo...

MÚSICA!

Essa música é a definição de liberdade!

Não preciso dizer mais nada...

Born to Be Wild - Steppenwolf

Born To Be Wild

Steppenwolf

Composição: Mars Bonfire

Get your motor running
Head out on the highway
Lookin' for adventure
In whatever comes our way

Yeah, darlin', gonna make it happen
Take the world in a love embrace
Fire all of your guns at once and
Explode into space

I like smoke and lightning
Heavy metal thunder
Racin' with the wind
And the feeling that I'm under

Yeah, darlin', gonna make it happen
Take the world in a love embrace
Fire all of your guns at once and
Explode into space

Like a true nature's child
We were born, born to be wild
We can climb so high
I never want to die
Born to be wild
Born to be wild

Get your motor running
Head out on the highway
Lookin' for adventure
In whatever comes our way

Yeah, darlin', gonna make it happen
Take the world in a love embrace
Fire all of your guns at once and
Explode into space

Like a true nature's child
We were born, born to be wild
We can climb so high
I never want to die
Born to be wild
Born to be wild

ENJOY!

It's a still from the Easy Rider short.

We flew out to LA and had wanted to treat him to lunch at some swanky Japanese restaurant but it ended up him inviting us to his own restaurant, Saketini, in Brentwood. It was pretty immediate that we knew we were speaking with the right person to represent the brand. We shared with him our history: our beginnings in Asia, how the brand has since traveled to over 30 countries and our vision for the US market. We discussed our brand philosophy driven by family values and how we wanted to transcend the realm of mere shoes but to extend the brand to other aspects of culture and global consciousness. We left lunch feeling not only extremely satisfied and full (his food, by the way, is exquisite) but also feeling great about the partnership. It felt like he had already become one of the Jump family. We had some great ideas on the table and from there we knew it would only burgeon into something bigger.

Man, did he feed us. We must've gone through like 10 courses.

After our return to New York, we began brainstorming. I soon discovered that contrary to what you might think of most actors, Sung could do a lot more than just act. I suppose the fact that he owned a restaurant and built his own original menu was already a testament to that. He'd become our Hollywood ambassador, wearing our shoes in all his films including Fast and Furious 4 directed by Justin Lin, the prequel to Tokyo Drift that tells the story of Han and Dom, played by Vin Diesel also starring Paul Walker and Jordana Brewster. In Berlin, he introduced the Wachowski Brothers (Matrix) and Rain to Jump while shooting Ninja Assassin.

But one of the things that impressed me the most was that he owned a high degree of innate creativity and self-awareness of his talents and was able to tap into it to help us formulate some really great ideas; things we would've never come up with!

Internally, we had developed a dossier to help us categorize our wide breadth of product. We decided that in order to make this palatable and understandable both internally and for our customers, we should categorize it. We decided that the best way to do it was to create a character or a persona for each category, then write a story about each one. Here's what one very creative weekend yielded us.

We had a great time writing these. We wanted to make each of these characters cool but hilarious at the same time. Who would you identify with?

With these characters and Sung's talents as an actor, we now had the tools to create some really cool stuff. But what? We began throwing ideas back and forth and came up with two really good ones. The first would be a series of short films produced by Arowana Films starring Sung playing each of the characters we'd come up with. The next would involve traveling half way around the world to Taiwan to work with my old friend Jeff Wang, owner of the creative agency, Blanq to create a collection pieces that would serve as our premier brand campaign. The stage was set for a host of exciting developments. Stay tuned.

Easy rider fue sin duda un descubrimiento cuando la vi por última vez, es decir ayer, y es que lo bueno de tener un padre amante del cine es que tengo tantas películas para ver que a veces olvido las que son obligadas de ver… ¿Me entendéis? La cuestión es que, en estos días de exámenes que parece que nunca acabas y que todo se te hecha encima, me permití el lujo de ver una películas y esta fue la mencionada y la verdad es que me gustó mucho, desde la banda sonora hasta el final, del todo insospechado.

La película la dirigió Dennis Hopper y está protagonizada por Jack Nicholson, el mismo Dennis Hopper y Peter Fonda. La película muestra la clásica historia de dos típicos motociclistas de los sesentas atraviesan los Estados Unidos para participar de los carnavales del Mardi Grass en New Orleans. Wiatt (Fonda) y Billy (Hooper) deciden tras vender cocaína comprada antes en el mercado mejicano afianzarse de una buenas motocicletas chopper para ir al antes mencionado carnaval. El viaje se convierte en un profundo análisis de la sociedad americana de entonces que con el trasfondo de la libertad, muy bien expuesto por George (Nicholson) cuando se une con los protagonistas, les arrastra por uno u otro camino. Tanto si conviven en una comuna ocupa como si son expulsados de un sitio por las greñas de Billy, ellos no dejan la carretera y su estilo de vida, solo paran para descansar y emprenden el viaje con una banda sonora muy buena. Solo la muerte les podrá detener en este viaje de prejuicios, libertarianismo y desenfreno.

.

Versión corta publicada en revista Qué Pasa. Edición del 30/05/08

No es un simple viaje. Va más allá del turismo. Recorrer Estados Unidos por carretera es vivir un mito. Uno que creó la contracultura de los años 60. Con Jack Kerouac y su libro “On the Road” como principales responsables. Una narración de la generación beatnik sobre las experiencias de dos amigos en las carreteras norteamericanas.  Viajando por Estados Unidos de costa a costa.

Algo parecido se vio después en la pantalla grande. Cómo olvidar a Peter Fonda y Dennis Hopper con chaquetas de cuero, pañuelos en la cabeza y lentes de sol, recorriendo las carreteras de su país en motocicleta, mientras “Born to be wild” sonaba de fondo. Es casi un estereotipo. Pero la imagen sigue reproduciéndose hoy.

Por eso si lo que se busca es experimentar la cara salvaje de Estados Unidos, la carretera siempre será  la opción. Si no es con una moto, arrendar un auto o un motorhome puede ayudar. Nótese que la gracia en este caso es el viaje, y no necesariamente el destino. Y una de las mejores experiencias que la ruta ofrece está camino a California. Tomando como punto de partida el estado de  Arizona.  Tal cual como lo hicieron los buscadores del oro a mediados del 1800. Tal como lo hizo Jojo en la canción “Get Back” de Los Beatles. Un ejemplo de que hasta en Inglaterra se inspiraron con las historias doradas de la costa Oeste. Por algo será.

Continúa: El verdadero Western, La ruta madre, El desierto y el oasis, California Dreamin'... 

El verdadero Western

El estado de Arizona ubicado al sur oeste del país, en la frontera con México es junto con Texas la postal del Western. Con el desierto como escenografía y temperaturas que pueden llegar a los 45° C, es imposible no imaginarse dentro de una película de cowboys. De hecho muchos de los filmes sobre el viejo Oeste se han grabado acá. En pequeños pueblos que aún mantienen la arquitectura de fines del siglo XIX. Uno de ellos es Tombstone, conocido por un famoso duelo entre pistoleros en el que participó el legendario Wyatt Earp. Fue una balacera de 30 segundos que dejó a tres muertos y que se conoció como la Gunfight del OK Corral. Quizás por eso el lema de Tombstone es “un pueblo muy rudo para morir”. La calle principal de Tombstone es Allen Street, una vía de tierra, con carruajes, bares y edificios de madera con puertas abatibles. El pueblo vive del turismo, así que mujeres y hombres andan disfrazados con ropa de la época. Es como una escena de “El bueno, el malo y el feo”. Aunque si se trata de películas, la meca del cine Western está en Tucson. Específicamente en “Old Tucson Studios”. Para llegar ahí se debe tomar la carretera 80, hasta la Interestatal 10 y manejar unos 110 kilómetros a través de la tierra de los coyotes. Y no se trata sólo de los animales, sino que de los inmigrantes ilegales que arriesgan su vida cruzando el desierto en busca del sueño americano que está tras la frontera.

La siguiente parada del viaje por la tierra de Gerónimo, el apache, es una de las mayores atracciones de toda Arizona. Se trata del Gran Cañón. Desde Tucson hay que seguir por la Interestatal 10 que llega a Phoenix, la capital del estado. El camino está lleno de enormes cactus en medio de un paisaje desértico que varía en diferentes tonalidades de café y rojo. Una vez en la ciudad, es recomendable una detención para el almuerzo. De ahí el viaje continua por la Interestatal 17 al norte, y luego la I-40 hacia el Oeste, que llegará al pequeño poblado de Williams. Aquí el panorama visual cambia, ya que no es de extrañar que alguna que otra tormenta intempestiva caiga de sorpresa. Esto ha generado un microclima conocido como Kaibab Nacional Forest. Un frondoso y verde bosque que acompaña la ruta número 64 que lleva al Gran Cañón.

El espectáculo es impresionante. Un tremendo y zigzagueante abismo de color rojizo que cae a orillas del río Colorado. Los lugares de observación para los turistas son varios, y para recorrer el borde sur que mide 350 kilómetros hay varias opciones. Pero para eso se necesitan al menos dos días. Se puede tomar un tren con locomotoras a vapor que bordea el precipicio, y que se detiene en diferentes miradores. Otra forma es hacer un recorrido aéreo en helicóptero. Pero la mejor experiencia es bajar a pie hasta la base del Cañón o bañarse en las cascadas del río Colorado. La energía mística del lugar es requerida por muchos turistas, quienes también visitan el Cañón en busca de buenos avistamientos de ovnis. No es raro si se considera que la mítica Area 51 de la Fuerza Aérea está a pocos kilómetros.

Cuando cae la noche lo mejor es volver a Williams y buscar un hotel. Pero si se está viviendo un “road trip”, el alojamiento tiene que estar al nivel de la experiencia. Y como de aventura se trata un cinco estrellas no está permitido. Para dormir hay que buscarse una habitación en un motel. Y no es difícil. Cerca de las ciudades y pueblos hay muchos pensados no necesariamente para las tareas amorosas, sino que para los viajeros. Tienen una imagen familiar. De seguro se reconocen de cientos de películas norteamericanas. Edificios simples, de dos pisos, con puertas que miran hacia la carretera, y autos estacionados. Son seguros y limpios. Eso sí, el desayuno es a la americana: una dona y un café. Tan típico como para tomarle una foto.  

La ruta madre

Cuando sale el sol en Williams el sonido de los motores se deja sentir con fuerza. Motociclistas con chaquetas de cuero estilo Hell’s Angels comienzan a aparecer en la autopista. La razón es simple, en Williams está la bifurcación hacia la  ruta más famosa de Estados Unidos. La 66. La histórica. La ruta madre, como la llamó el escritor John Steinbeck.

La ruta 66 fue terminada en 1938,  y fue una de las primeras en conectar el Este con el Oeste del país. Eran cerca de 4,000 kilómetros que unían desde Chicago a Los Ángeles. Por su utilidad se convirtió en la ruta principal para los camioneros y los viajeros. Hoy, sin embargo, tiene un atractivo más turístico que funcional, ya que fue reemplazada por las amplias y modernas súper autopistas. Pero aún quedan secciones intactas de la histórica ruta, y la que mejor mantiene el aroma de  antaño es la que cruza Arizona. Aunque los mapas actuales no la tienen muy destacada, hay señaléticas en el camino, el escudo blanco y negro con el número en centro, que indican dónde se la encuentra. Empieza en Williams y cruza por pueblos como Seligman, Peach Springs y Kingman, donde regresa a encontrarse con la Interestatal 40.  

Lo impresionante es que esta parte de la ruta 66 realmente parece haberse quedado pegada en los años 50 o 60. Las antiguas camionetas Chevrolet se ven por doquier. Y para qué hablar de las Harley Davidson, que están estacionadas a un lado de la ruta o cargando combustible en pequeñas gasolineras, las que todavía sobreviven, con sus antiguos dispensadores y sus oscuros minimarket. Ahí los motoqueros adquieren sus provisiones para el camino, entiéndase cervezas, mientras los turistas se inclinan por los souvenirs, desde banderas con el escudo de la ruta, hasta pick-ups de juguete.

El desierto y el oasis

En Kingman hay que dejar la interestatal y tomar la autopista 93. El objetivo: Las Vegas. Una parada obligada está muy cerca de la capital del juego. Se trata de una mega construcción: la represa Hoover. Está ubicada en el Cañón Black sobre el río Colorado, justo en la frontera entre los estados de Arizona y Nevada. No hay que desviarse para verla, ya que la autopista pasa por sobre la enorme estructura en forma de arco que contiene al lago Mead. Para una visita breve, hay un lugar establecido para estacionarse. Pero el lago Mead es la reserva de agua más grande de Estados Unidos, y eso amerita un tour más largo. Una de las atracciones es comprar un ticket para el crucero Desert Princess(US 72,99), un barco a pedales que recorre la represa e incluye almuerzo.

A 50 kilómetros de la represa Hoover está Las Vegas, que da la bienvenida al estado de Nevada. No hace falta comentar que la ciudad es una de las más turísticas de Estados Unidos por sus casinos y hoteles. La ciudad se impone como un oasis entre el desierto que la rodea. El Mojave. Uno de los más calurosos del mundo, que acompaña a los viajeros a través de la autopista interestatal 15 hacia el Oeste. El asfalto hierve, y el calor genera espejismos en la carretera. El mejor momento para recorrerla es en la tarde, cuando el crepúsculo tiñe de rojo las áridas y geométricas mesetas que sobresalen entre los valles.  La ruta aquí se vuelve más pesada por la enormidad del desierto y la falta de zonas urbanizadas. Es la tirada más larga. La buena noticia es que a esta altura Nevada quedó atrás. Ya se está en territorio californiano.  

California Dreamin’

The Mamas and the Papas, The Doors o Simon and Garfunkel, pueden servir como banda sonora para la última parte del road trip, que remata en San Francisco. Una de las ciudades más hermosas, y también más heterogéneas de Estado Unidos. Porque sin mentir, San Francisco está pintada con los colores del arcoiris.  

Una vez que el Mojave queda atrás, ya por la ciudad de Barstow, hay que empezar a poner ojo con las carreteras que se vuelven más numerosas. Se toma la 58 hasta Bakersfield, y de ahí la 99 hacia el norte. Se pasa por Fresno, una de las ciudades más grandes del interior del estado. Un poco más allá está la entrada al Parque Yosemite, conocido por sus gigantes formaciones rocosas y sus árboles ancestrales.

La Interestatal 580 es como una alfombra roja para entrar a Frisco, como nombraba Kerouac a San Francisco, vía Berkeley. Faltan pocos minutos para empezar a cruzarse con los cables cars y sus insistentes campanillas. Pocos kilómetros para empezar a subir y bajar por las irregulares calles de la ciudad. Ya se divisa el Pacífico. Y la cárcel-isla de Alcatraz. Ya no queda mucho para llegar a la cuna de los hippies: el barrio Haight Ashbury. Así que como broche de oro sería bueno poner a Scott McKenzie y su canción San Francisco en la radio del auto. Y hacerle caso con su recomendación. Porque unas flores en el pelo aquí no desentonarían. 

foto: http://www.route66search.com/images/route-66.jpg

Alice in Chains fueron grandes. Ídolos de la llamada generación X junto con los Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, Mudhoney y Nirvana, en el año 93 ya habían vendido más de 3 millones de copias sólo en los Estados Unidos (en total más de 12 millones). Layne Staley competía duramente con Kurt Cobain y Mark Lanegan por ser el más desarraigado y drogadicto de los músicos de Seattle.

La fama llegó con “Solteros” (Singles). Cameron Crowe dirigió con brillo a Matt Dillon y Bridget Fonda en una entretenida película que cuenta las andanzas de 6 vecinos veinteañeros que viven en Seattle, y cuya banda sonora son esos primeros Pearl Jam (Mother Love Bone), Screaming Trees y por supuesto Alice in Chains.

El directo de los Cantrell, Staley y compañía (empieza en el minuto 1:29), junto con el cameo de Chris Cornell hacen de esta película algo diferente y con cierto gusto de leyenda para una generación.

Poco después de “Solteros” y de “Dirt”, Layne Staley se enganchó seriamente a la heroína y entonces se jodió todo. “Jar of Flies” era un buen disco, el del perro en la portada te dejaba con ganas de mucho más, y el unplugged de la MTV era un directo sin energía.

Staley murió en 2002. Cantrell siguió con la banda, pero nunca volvieron a ser igual de grandes.

Easy Rider Giant Alien

Giant Alien grants a rare interview claiming he has returned for revenge against bikers Wyatt and Billy from 1969 who done him wrong.

At that moment, the Grassy Knoll Institute Scientist realized that this was the same giant alien appearing in the cult movie classic, Easy Rider, starring Peter Fonda and Dennis Hopper. (Two hippie bikers set out from Los Angeles to New Orleans to find the meaning of life)

The giant alien would not elaborate and abruptly ended the brief interview.

Back To Giant Aliens Archives

LURKING ON THE GRASSY KNOLL

Og der i Merko opstod spørgsmålet: Hvad er den danske drøm? Du kan blive præsident, hvis du vil, hvisker de amerikanske forældre i ørerne på deres poder. Men hvad lægger vi danske forældre ind i rygraden på vores børn? Jeg er blank. Kører bilen hjem, laver maden, spiser den. Er stadig blank. Snakker i telefon med Mikkel og spørger ham, hvad er den danske drøm? Mindre skat og mere sovs, svarer han uden betænkningstid.

Men det er jo ikke en drøm -er det? Hvis man googler den dansker drøm kan man læse at den amerikanske drøm, hvor alle (i princippet) kan opnå landets højeste position, lever i allerbedste velgående... i Danmark. For her er det nemlig reelt muligt at knække arven fra forældrenes indkomst eller manglende samme -og derfor opnåelig. Men det gør det jo netop ikke til en drøm. En drøm er jo noget man kan stile mod, ikke noget der bare opstår pr. automatik. Så vi kan altså ikke bruge den amerikanske drøm i Danmark.

Så hvad er den danske drøm så? Det må være noget der er svært opnåeligt og det må være noget der er knaphed på. Ellers er det vel ikke en drøm. Lykke? Næppe. Det er jo bare målet -næ, drømmen er midlet. Det der gør lykken. For en dansker.

One of the legendary competition bikes that really set tongues wagging was the 1975 Yamaha TZ750 Dirt Tracker ridden by none other than the legend himself, Kenny Roberts. When they wheeled this thing out for the 1975 AMA series most people( including Roberts himself) thought they were joking. King Kenny had won the 73 and 74 series using Yamaha 4 stroke twin engines but 1975 saw Harley Davidson pull back the advantage. So Yamaha decided to take the TZ 750 4 cylinder two stroke road race motor and slot it into the dirt track frame! Pure insanity! The machine spawned one of the most famous quotes in the history of motorcycle racing." They don't pay me enough to ride that thing", said Kenny Roberts. Read More....... 

Who could forget the movie 'Easyrider'. That iconic flick where Peter Fonda and Dennis Hopper go in search of America on motorcycles. As 'iconic' as the movie itself was Fonda's Captain America chopper. Starting life as a 1952 Harley Hydra Glide which Fonda bought at a police auction, only the original HD pan head engine was retained while everything else was chopped stretched or twisted to make the final bike. Read More........

Going way way back now to the dawn of motorcycle racing in The US. Back in 1908 if you were looking for a supersport bike for racing this is probably what you would have ridden. This 1908 Indian 1000cc twin was the state of the art back then and would have cost you US$360. It weighed 120 Lbs and had a top speed of 65 mph. Pure history. Read More.......

Well after looking at 3 of the classics we have this rather strange looking cycle! Almost a hyrid Segway/motorcycle this Uno Cycle looks like it has one wheel but in fact has two. Controls are quite simple as it only has an on/off  switch and its electric motor is controlled much in the way a Segway is. That is push forward to slow/stop, lean back to accelerate. Looks sporty enough but will it stand the test of time. Read More...... 

DURACIÓN: 94 min.

PAÍS: EEUU

DIRECTOR: Dennis Hopper

GUIÓN: Terry Southern, Peter Fonda, Dennis Hopper

REPARTO: Dennis Hopper, Peter Fonda, Jack Nicholson, Karen Black.

FOTOGRAFÍA: Laszlo Kovacs

MÚSICA: Varios

Easy Rider es la primera película dirigida por Dennis Hopper, el famoso actor también conocido por sus continuos devaneos con las drogas. Después de esta película su carrera decayó hasta su inolvidable papel en Terciopelo azul, el clásico de David Lynch.

Easy Rider es una road movie libertaria. Dos antihéroes, Billy y el Capitán America (Dennis Hopper y Peter Fonda) viajan con sus enormes motocicletas desde L.A hasta Nueva orleans después de hacer un buen negocio relacionado con la cocaína, para celebrar allí el Mardi Gras (el día más importante del carnaval de Nueva Orleans, uno de los más famosos de todo el mundo) y después retirarse a Florida. Por el camino visitan una comuna hippie en la que viven varios días, diferentes escenarios naturales emblemáticos de los EEUU y una ciudad indeterminada, en la que son detenidos por desfilar con la banda de música local. En la cárcel conocen a un importante abogado local (George Hanson, interpretado por Jack Nicholson) con cierta afición al alcohol que, fascinado por el modo de vida de los dos moteros, decide acompañarlos a Nueva Orleans, bien protegido por su casco de fútbol americano.

Fue estrenada en 1969, una fecha aún muy cercana a un año tan emblemático para los EEUU como 1968, en el que fueron asesinadas dos figuras tan importantes como Robert F.Kennedy y Martin Luther King.

Easy Rider bebe del idealismo del mayo del 68 californiano, en el que una amalgama de movimientos de la izquierda se concentró en Los Ángeles y expresó su deseo de romper con las normas de la puritana y deprimida sociedad norteamericana. Preconizaron el amor libre, la libertad y la creatividad. Durante unos meses California fue el centro de la juventud con deseos de cambio. Las clases magistrales de la universidad se sustituyeron por grupos de discusión, la gente expresaba su individualidad, las drogas eran utilizadas para la diversión y para la exploración espiritual. Eso sí, la policía los vigilaba bien de cerca.

El movimiento sureño de la lucha por los derechos civiles y el movimiento por la libertad de expresión  encendieron la chispa para que todas esas personas se echaran a la calle a pedir un mundo mejor.

Ésta inquietud juvenil nació con la Generación Beat, el grupo de escritores que, aburridos por la seriedad de la posguerra, se lanzaron a las calles de EEUU a experimentar con las drogas, con el arte y a disfrutar de la noche. Sentían fascinación por una música “impura”, el jazz.

Ciertos aspectos de Easy Rider se pueden comparar a En el camino, de Jack Kerouac, el libro-manifiesto de los beat. En el camino explica los viajes de Jack Kerouac, Neal Cassady y otros beat por los Estados Unidos. Los beat buscaban la libertad con éstos vagabundeos, tal como hacen los dos personajes de Easy Rider. Además, la glorificación del paisaje norteamericano que se hace en la novela también se da en el film, en el que el paisaje juega un papel fundamental en la representación de los protagonistas como figuras libres y fuera del sistema.

El travelling circular de todas las caras de los hippies de la comuna y la bendición posterior, la admiración que siente Billy por el granjero que vive de la tierra, el rock'n'roll, el uso de las drogas como catalizadoras del inconsciente durante la escena del viaje de LSD, el pelo al viento o las noches al raso son mensajes que identifican a los dos protagonistas con la juventud hastiada de la aburrida, conservadora y tradicional sociedad americana.

Durante la película nos enseñan las reacciones que provocaban en la población. Había personas fascinadas por su modo de vivir (representadas por el abogado y por las jóvenes del bar) y otras que los rechazaban y les tenían miedo, representadas en el film por los rednecks que los vapulean en el restaurante y acaban matándolos. El final de los dos protagonistas y del abogado es desalentador: la sociedad retrógrada y violenta no dejará que el cambio llegue.

Los dos protagonistas son presentados como si fuesen outlaws del oeste americano: llevan ropa de cowboy, se llaman como dos figuras legendarias de la época y viajan en moto, un medio de transporte que se compara con los caballos en la escena de la granja. El echo de que no sepamos nada de su pasado remarca su carácter icónico.

El abogado George Hanso, después del incidente en el restaurante, (cuando unos rednecks se ríen de ellos), sintetiza los sentimientos del norteamericano de a pié ante el modo de vida salvaje de los protagonistas (y por extensión, de la juventud liberada). Para él, el problema es que la gente normal les tiene miedo porque simbolizan la verdadera y pura libertad, y ese miedo les hace agresivos. Justo después, cuando se han dormido, los rednecks del restaurante los atacan por sorpresa, hieren al Capitán America y matan a George.

A destacar, también, la excelente banda sonora, llena de rock’n’roll salvaje. Los temas de grupos como Steppenwolf, The Band o The Jimi Hendrix Experience añaden fiereza a la película, y complementan a la perfección las imágenes. El rock’n’roll era la música de la juventud. El mismo año del estreno de Easy Rider se celebró el primer festival de Woodstock, uno de los acontecimientos musicales más importantes de la segunda mitad del siglo XX.

Dejando de lado su significado y su valor, Easy Rider película muy interesante y estimulante. El guión se hace valer por su sencillez y por su ritmo moderado, que explota al final. Las actuaciones son creíbles y la fotografía aprovecha todo lo que el memorable paisaje norteamericano puede dar. Su mensaje sigue siendo valido porqué llega a ser universal.

10. Some Kind of Wonderful (1988) - The First Kiss Lasts Forever

While helping Keith (Eric Stoltz) prepare for his big date with Amanda Jones (Lea Thompson), Watts (Mary Stuart Masterson)–who is secretly in love with Keith–asks him if he thinks he can deliver a kiss that kills, and offers to work on it with him.  Of course, it turns into an amazing hot kiss, though it takes Keith the rest of the movie to realize that he has feelings for Watts.

9. American Beauty (1999) - (tie) "American Woman" and "Don’t Let It Bring You Down"

The "American Woman" scene is about liberation–Carolyn (Annette Bening) has just been nailed by Buddy the Real Estate King (Peter Gallagher), Jane (Thora Birch) breaks free of her normal routine with flaky friend Angela (Mena Suvari) for some one-on-one time with her admiring neighbor (Wes Bentley), and Lester (Kevin Spacey) quit his job, blackmailed his boss, and drives to Mr. Smiley’s smoking a blunt and singing at the top of his lungs.  Liberating indeed!

"Don’t Let It Bring You Down" is a pivotal scene, yet once with a MAJOR cringe-factor.  As viewers, we’ve traveled along with Lester, and we know he’s going to die at some point very soon, so over the course of the movie, he’s become a sympathetic character.  However, I’m sure I’m not the only one who was glad Lester didn’t deflower Angela on the couch.

8. National Lampoon’s Animal House (1978) - Disciplinary Hearing

Good versus evil.  Funny versus unfunny.  Cool versus uncool.  Perverts versus ... (aw, heck!).  There were many battles fought in "Animal House," and war was officially declared at the disciplinary hearing, following the Delta Tau Chi fraternity’s infamous toga party.  Though the Deltas may not have won this battle, since their charter was revoked and they were expelled, their comedy reigned supreme and made the Omegas and Dean Wormer (John Vernon) look like a bunch of pussies.

7. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969) - "Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head"

Though Etta (Katharine Ross) was Sundance’s (Robert Redford) girl, the scene with her and Butch (Paul Newman) on the bike is classic–sweet, funny, romantic, and atypical of most westerns.  And there have been none like it since.

6. Woodstock(1970) - "Soul Sacrifice"

OK, so Woodstock was not THE rockumentary of the 1960s, but it did have its moments.  Santana’s performance  wasn’t just phenomenal; they simply wiped the stage with everyone else.  ‘Nuff said!

5. Singin’ in the Rain (1952) - The Dueling Cavalier Premiere and "Good Mornin’"

Absolutely, positively, one of the best movie musicals ever made!  And these scenes contain some of the funniest moments, particularly Lina Lamont’s (Jean Hagan) "No! No! No!" "Yes! Yes! Yes!" dialogue flub, plus the movie’s best dancing sequence.  Another scene definitely worth mentioning is Cosmo Brown’s (Donald O’Connor) song-and-dance number "Make ‘em Laugh," the only original song written for the film, though heavily borrowed from "Be a Clown" in The Pirate (1948).

4. Easy Rider (1969) - "The Weight"

Regardless who you are or whether you cared about the 1960s counterculture, the scenes that appear with The Band’s "The Weight" on the soundtrack are beautifully and amazingly shot–many instinctively by the film’s DP, the late Lazlo Kovacs.  Yeah, it may not be more than a montage, but who cares?  It balances out the turmoil that the characters face later.

3. The Shootist (1976) - Gillom avenges Books

J.B. Books (John Wayne) seeks out three enemies on his birthday for an early morning shootout in Carson City’s Metropole Saloon.  With both actor and character dying of cancer, the film is bittersweet at best.  Books spends his final days rooming with widow Bond Rogers (Lauren Bacall, Wayne’s Blood Alley (1956) co-star) and her son, Gillom (Ron Howard).  When the shootout concludes, Books is victorious, albeit a bit closer to death, when the bartender shoots him in the back.  Gillom takes Books’s pistol and shoots dead the bartender, before Books dies.  It’s a moment that forever changes him, much more so than simply knowing Books has.

2. Monterey Pop (1968) - (tie) "Ball and Chain," "Section 43," "I’ve Been Loving You Too Long," and "Got a Feelin’"

Dude!  When she sang the first note of "Ball and Chain," Janis announced her arrival, and music was never the same.

OK, so Country Joe’s an interesting guy to say the least–like, what was with the hard hats?  But there was nothing cooler than watching thousands of hippies wake up to the psychedelic strains of "Section 43," particularly that reverse long shot of the band (with the peace, love, and flowers below the stage) that dissolves into a crane shot of the crowd.  Groovy!

Otis Redding made rhythm and blues cool for the love generation with his set at Monterey.  (See Shake! Otis at Monterey (1968).)  Unfortunately, he wouldn’t live to see the film’s release.  But his performances were truly one-of-a-kind, and contain an enviable energy that today’s acts will never be able to emulate.

On the commentary, filmmaker D.A. Pennebaker said that his inclusion of the Mamas and the Papas’ "Got a Feelin’" in Monterey Pop signified an end of the hippie era.  And that end is evident within the Mamas and the Papas as well.  Prior to their appearance at Monterey, relations within the group were highly strained.  Denny Doherty had been in the Virgin Islands. John and Michelle Phillips’ marriage was on the skids.  And the group’s professional relationship was also strained, as John, Denny, and Mama Cass Elliot had unsuccessfully attempted to kick Michelle out of the group.  In fact, their Monterey performance would be their second-to-last live performance.  The tension is most evident in their outtake performances, especially "Monday, Monday."  But "Got a Feelin’" remains a hippie’s goodbye to a good thing–and John and Cass’s vocals make the yearning for days passed that much more bittersweet.

1. It’s a Wonderful Life (1946) - "Merry Christmas, Bedford Falls!"

Nothing restores a man’s faith like a second chance, and George Bailey (James Stewart) lets the whole world know it.  ("Yeah!")  That first yell he lets out when he arrives back in Bedford Falls is priceless, and sets the tone for one of the best movie endings in film history.

Honorable Mention (in no particular order):

Die Hard (1988) - "Shoot the glass!"

OK, if you’re a German terrorist, you shouldn’t have to be told in English, after being told in German, to shoot the glass. Oh, well, nobody’s perfect. And Hans’s (Alan Rickman) reaction is priceless.

10 (1980) - "An Ear for Love"

Songwriter George Webber (Dudley Moore) visits the Reverend (Max Showalter), the Reverend reveals that he, too, is a songwriter, and sings a song so outrageously bad that it’s funny.

Throw Momma From the Train (1987) - Cousin Paddy

Grab your cast-iron cookware!  I’m sure I’m not the only one who knows several people they’d like to try Owen’s (Danny DeVito) response on:

Mrs. Lift: You don’t have a Cousin Paddy.
Owen: You lied to me! (smacks Larry (Billy Crystal) across the face with the frying pan)

Anne of Avonlea (1986) - Anne’s Return

The Anne of Green Gables series–or at least the first two films–are quite possible the most engaging made-for-TV adaptations ever produced, especially considering they don’t contain any fancy special effects, and the second film is a combined adaptation of three books, and the third film is complete fiction.  But one of the best scenes of all the films–aside from Anne (Megan Follows) and Gilbert’s (Jonathan Crombie) first kiss–is when Anne returns to Green Gables after her year away teaching in New Brunswick.  Just looks of excitement on Anne and Marilla’s (Colleen Dewhearst) faces as they run to each other–dude!  There is no need for words.

Thanks for reading!
~Tal

Easy Rider - Krzysztof Daukszewicz