Hopenhagen – Flash Mob

Last friday I was a proud participant in an event in the danish Capital of Copenhagen. The event was quite simple. Make 50 people sunbathe in the cold of october at the exact same time. And by doing so creating a Flash Mob event for the world to see. I was apart of the team that organized the event and we had decided to engage in the project as the purpose was to create attention on the massive climate changes that are occurring globally. We work alongside the municipality of Copenhagen and the campaign Hopenhagen. A campaign with a dual purpose, create awareness on the climate changes and set the right frames for the world leaders in December so that they will sign a new global climate policy. So check out the video and please forward it if you find it fun, interesting or anything in that region.

Less Trash

I while back two friends of mine came up with an alternative and great solution for how to dispose of trash. Good Job Bois!

Peace One Day

For visitors of my blog who are unfamiliar with the concept and documentary called Peace One Day I would love to point you in that direction! Peace One Day was established by Jeremy Gilley. Gilley is a former actor and he got the idea to make a documentary on his pursuits to establish an international day of peace. Needless to say the documentary is now done an available. It’s called “The Day After Peace” and is one of the most inspiring documentaries that I have ever seen. It’s a picture perfect example of what is actually possible as long as you believe in your idea and keep working on it.

Apart from the movie Peace One Day is now an organization that works to further the concept of global seize fire and nonviolence on 21st September every year. To visit their website click here.

Cormac McCarthy – The Road

A while back I, along with a lot of other moviegoers, saw the great movie “No Country for Old Men”. I was impressed with the intense atmosphere that runs through the entire length of the movie. I later learned that the movie was adapted from a book by the same name by the author Cormac McCarhty. I have not read “No Country for Old Men”, but I came across another one of his books called “The Road”. Apparently the book has received many praises both from critics but also in the form of the pulitzer price. I believe the praise is justified, as it is a great and alternative read.

In short the book is about a father and son who travels the streets of an America, somewhere in the future. In this future America is covered by grey clouds and the sun is nowhere to be seen. Most of the people have died as a result of this and the catastrophe that caused it. So far it could have been like any other book on natural disasters, but it’s no way. Actually you are never told what has happened.

The book follows the two travelers as they make their way towards the sea and their efforts to stay alive, which is hard as food is hard to find and they have to stay away from hostile travelers.

I can highly recommend the book as it is a alternative take on a thriller and even horror type book. It is a quick, but great read and I can’t wait for the movie to premiere sometime soon – apparently with Viggo Mortensen in the lead role.

God Damn You, Denmark!

Through recent years I have grown less and less proud of my home country – the reasons are numerous; the radical normalization of Denmark (The closure of the Youth House and the promised invasion of Christiania) and the invasion of Iraq as a ever-faithful of former president Bush… There are more, oh so many more, examples, but those are grim…

And when things were low and we thought that we could not get lower – we did… To give you the full picture I have to bring you up to date on the current political mess that is the danish government. Some years back a party was formed it was called Danish Folk Party. They have through the recent years turned Denmark into the least acceptant country when it comes to refugees. Denmark are now among the countries that accepts least refugees and the one who actually get here we treat like shit and throw them out – into an existence in a “home country” that will mistreat them…

As a result of this the danish government decided to kick out a group of Iraqis, who then sought refugees in a church, where they were welcomed by the priest – needless to say I am a big fan of the guy. They stayed there during the summer, but then out of the blue the police jumped in… And to that there is nothing out of the ordinary… What happened on the other hand is, for me, unacceptable. Before the police entered the church the dressed up… Helmets, stick, the works – full battle gear! And for what? To bring a small group of Iraqis from a church – and at night even?

I am not a religious guy, but to my understanding the church is a sanctuary for all – regardless of color and creed. The church should, and in this case was, a protector of all that is in danger. I respect that – the Danish government do not.

Recently both the government and the police has tried to deny their actions and it has all is a big mess. Cause now they are denying their responsibility and they will not stand up ant that admit what they have done… Sad and right now typically danish..

politikken

Politikken Weekly Article; here

Pictures from Way Back…

When looking at my old myspace profile – the first time in a year and half – I found some old pictures that I really don’t want to loose… So here they are for me to find and if you want to have a look you are more than welcome. They are of friends, Paris and my old boat.

Lost in Adaptation

Having read Chuck Palahniuk’s Choke some years back I was anticipating the release of the adaptation of the book. And this year I sat down to watch what I believed would be an amazing movie, as I had enjoyed the book immensely! I felt that the characters and the different plot where quite easy to translate to the big picture.

In short the book is about Victor and Denny, two sex addicts and their relationship to sex, women, choking for love and money and their jobs at an amusement park that depicts colonial times in the U.S. That is some of the themes for the book all of which makes it an amusing read and to me the best book Palahniuk has ever written – he is also the author of Fight Club…

But in spite of having great material for a movie, first time Director Clark Gregg did not manage to adapt the essence of the book. Although I must admit that some of the scenes has some charm to them. What I think goes wrong is the fact that the director tries to involve the viewer in to many things and he should rather have gone to depth with some of the characters and themes.

So I guess in essence what I have to say is if you kind of like the movie I believe you will love the book. And if you like Choke, the book, or some of Palahniuk’s other works go see Choke, the movie, but don’t get your hopes up too high…

Jonathan Lethem

Recently I have endured a drought of reading books. It’s been horrible… The drought was due to the fact that I experienced that I was way behind on reading material in the curriculum at the school that I am attending… So that took all of my focus for the last 4 mouths.

But last Friday I handed in my report and that meant that I could crack open the first novel in four months. I have been wanting to read New Yorker Jonathan Lethem for quite sometime and it turned out it good reason. His portrayal of NYC through his two books, The Fortress of Solitude and Motherless Brooklyn is amazing.

Motherless Brooklyn shows Brooklyn from the point of view of a small time mobster with tourettes – not the best of combinations. It is one of the funniest books I have read in a long time and I can only praise it.

Drinks & Donations 2.0 Flyer

As mentioned on the blog some weeks ago Anders and myself will host our birthday celebration at Din Nye Ven in Copenhagen in April. Now, thanks to Thomas, the flyer is ready and nothing can get in the way of a proper celebration! The flyer is in Danish but don’t hesitate to request an English translation if you feel like joining – which you should!

Slumdog Millionaire – from Swarup to Boyle

Some time ago I posted a post on a book called Q & A since then a lot has happened to that title. The book, I experienced, was turned into a movie that went on the win first a Golden Globe and later an Oscar for best movie. Someone who had read my blog asked me if I could comment on the difference between the book Q & A and the movie Slumdog Millionaire. Two weeks ago the movie opened in Denmark and now I can comment on the adaptation.

Firstly the movie is great! And it deserves all the praise that it has gotten so far… There are some key things that I miss but overall the adaptation is more than nicely done. Incredible actors that fit the part perfectly!

One of the stories that I would have loved if the movie had included is the story of the main characters name. In the book he is called Ram Thomas Mohamed and not Jamal… The reason for the three names is found when he should be named by his foster father, who is a Christian priest. He summons his to friends, a Muslim and a Hindu. They cannot agree on a name so they all get their way and he get a Hindi name (Ram), a Christian name (Thomas) and a Muslim name (Mohamed) – then he can pick what ever name he wants for a certain situation… And that is just one of many short story included in the book that got lost in adaptation.

To make a long story short I would recommend everyone who liked or loved the movie to read the book! You will not be disappointed, as the plot is a bit different and the ending even more thrilling! So pick up the book!