Vitro Nasu

Photo of Ali by Flip Schulke

The Idiot Dostoevsky intepreted by Andy Kaufman (youtube)

Mack Sennett January 17, 1880
Muhammad Ali (born Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr.; January 17, 1942)
Andrew Kaufman January 17, 1949
Jim Carry born January 17, 1962
Happy birthday to Ali and Jim who are still with us, Andy Kaufman died young tragically and Mack Sennett the innovator of slapstick lived a long life. Both Jim and Mack Sennett are from Canada.

Mack Sennett has a blog

Keystone comedy (youtube)

Roger Federer vs Tommy Haas

The late David Foster Wallace is smiling in heaven.

If, read by Roger Federer & Rafael Nadal (Rudyard Kipling)

(Poetry in Motion at the French Open 2009)

R.I.P Maurice Jarre – who was 84. (Father of Jean Michel Jarre)

His breakthrough came in 1962 when provided the soundtrack for the epic Lawrence of Arabia, for which he was awarded an Oscar. He went on to compose music for more than 150 films.

Here are some figure skaters who won their gold with his film scores.

One key element to great skating is to watch how the skaters use their arms. (Most skaters are quite happy to frail their arms chasing after points like a cash machine – not good. Yagudin, Sasha Cohen, Johnny Weir, John Curry, Matt Savoie, and Buttle take their time and avoid this trap. )

Watch Johnny Weir’s Dr Zhivago
Johnny Weir did not compete this year. He got sick in Korea – here is Johnny talking about his friendship with Yu Na Kim. (Great jacket. Weir’s other passion is fashion. Johnny seems happy even though his rival won gold this year. Evan’s a bit over the top emotionally)

Most of youtube figure skating clips are in Korean these days – the whole country has gone crazy for Yu Na Kim.
Her rival Mao Asada, last year’s world champion did not medal this year. The silver went to Canada’s Joannie Rochette and the bronze to Japan’s Miki Ando. We usually see unhappy or disappointed silver and bronze winners, not this year the two seemed very happy to stand next to magnificent Queen Yu Na.

Yu Na Kim animation video is here.

Canadian Patrick Chan, who is only 18, won Silver. . here
This Frenchman who defected to Italy skates in a Macaroni Western.
Long legged Carolina Kostner had a disaster performance, but no matter, she can win for having the best costume. Carolina won siver here at European Championship.

The Highway Code Part I by Master Singers

One more video from the Master Singers who recorded in 1966 a Weather Forecast as an Anglican chant. (Youtube)

I dedicate the above videos to Roger Federer.

A sad day for Federer lovers. Two missed opportunities for Federer, Winbledon 2008 and Australia Open 2009.
He did not serve well, he could not convert the break points many times.
Both Nadal and Federer played incredible tennis on the whole.
Nadal is the reason why Federer has not caught up with Peter Sampras record of winning 14 slams and Federer is the reason why Nadal may not catch up with Sampras record in the future, even though he is training to extend his body to last for more wins in grand slams.
The two bring the level of excellence we have never witnessed previously. They are the true great champions, more gracious, more incredible than Pete Sampras.

Highlights 2 – final match men´s single | Australian Open 2009

Nadal and Verdasco rally
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I chose this clip. It is too painful to show a clip of how Federer dumped his ball into the net and lost after almost 5 hours of playing on the court.
Nadal’s win was anticipated by many tennis fans who have been following Tennis. Federer came back and fought hard after losing two sets to win two more until he lost in the final. Federer could not break Nadal’s serve. He won two tie breaks against Nadal and unfortunately for Federer, Wimbledon does not have a tie break for the final set.

Today, Nadal and Federer represented tennis played at its absolute highest level and with its most generous and admirable spirit, and that’s why I think they are the greatest rivalry the sport has known, since I’ve been watching. (Dispatches: A Post-Wimbledon Dialogue – 3quarksdaily)

The greatest match I’ve ever seen – J. McEnroe

This was the most satisfying and fantastic men’s competition we have ever seen. Two artistic skaters were rewarded with gold and bronze and an athlete came back to sneak in to take the silver.
Jeffery Buttle – Gold

Buttle followed up Jourbet’s spectacular skating with this beautiful and flawless performance that beat Jourbet. (Ararat was from a film by Atom Egoyan)

See also Buttle’s short program on youtube. (Music by Astor Piazzolla, choreographed by David Wilson)

Brian Jourbet – Silver

Brian Jourbet performed brilliantly with great power. He has improved in many areas. Kurt Browning helped him with his footwork.

Johnny Weir- Bronze (Short program – he placed second)

Johnny skated conservatively in his long program for the worlds. He was very honest, saying that he had a Michelle Kwan moment referring to the time Kwan lost the gold to Tara Lapinsiki in the Olympics,’
(Here is a clip of his long program from the Nationals.)

I have been watching old elegant skating by John Curry on youtube. Today is Philip Glass‘s birthday; a good way to celebrate his birthday is with a piece done by two great skaters from the forgotten past. Curry wanted to introduce the idea that figure skating can also be an art form, not just a sport with medals, winners, and losers.

He was light on his feet like Fred Astaire, see here. Today Sasha Cohen, Johnny Weir, and Matt Savoie have inherited Curry’s elegant skating.

Nocturn by Grieg

Here is a piece by Twyler

His life was cut short with AIDS.
Found this article claiming that he died in the arms of Alan Bates.

“You can’t get ready for a match like this. These guys are unique, you know. Every guy in the top 100 is a unique player… It’s all in the mind and all in the moment.” Roger Federer (from U.S.Open: Second Week Report – 3 quarksdaily).

it’s about what you know you will summon from yourself at times of need. Federer’s Mind and Moment (Asad Raza)

Andy Roddick showed up in black outfit to match Roger Federer’s tuxedo outfit. Name the black of each player. How about Black Pearl for Federer and Bunker for Roddick? (Name the color site is fun).

Agassi commentary box window “Most world champions have two things they’re the best at — Federer has five.”
Andy was brave, he played his best tennis and lost, a beautiful moment in Tennis history.

Watch the tie- breaks of quality tennis played by Roger and Andy at US Open 07 on youtube here.

Justine and Roger

Here is the tie-break of Justine Henin and Serena Williams.

Justine Henin vs Venus Williams on youtube

Happy Birthday Raphael Nadal. I will wait for your match with Federer in French Open 2007. He has a blog!!!!

Happy Birthday Alain Resnais on his 85th birthday.
His new film “Private Fears In Public Places” trailer here.
He made this film last year when he was 84 years old!

Enjoy the visual poem captured on youtube.

(previous post – Hiroshima Mon Amour, Futon and Cropped Hair)

In 1957 French avantgarde filmmaker Alain Resnais set himself the difficult task to make a film about the uncertainty of knowledge. Together with Marguerite Duras, he developped a script which was to tell “a story so banal” that it could counter the weight of the unnamable human tragedy in Hiroshima. The original script even proposed introducing the film with footage of the mushroom cloud. The premise was thus to make a film about the formalization of experience in the media and its contradiction with personal memories. At the same time, his film shows the arbitrariness of visual signs and their semantic interrelations. His film is as much a film about Hiroshima and the volatility of knowledge, as it is a reflection on the medium itself. (In the Maze, Christoph Raetzsch)

Lit bloggers are celebrating Allen’s birthday today.
America (text)

America after all it is you and I who are perfect not the next world.
Your machinery is too much for me.
You made me want to be a saint.
America on youtube.

Ballad of the Skeltons directed by Gus Van Sant

Allen Ginsberg’s Top Ten Movies

Allen Ginsberg’s neighborhood video shop, Kim’s Video, asked him for his top 10 list of movies, and this is the list he gave them:

Orpheus (Orphée), Jean Cocteau, 1950
Blood of a Poet (Le Sang d’un poet), Jean Cocteau, 1930
Children of Paradise (Les Enfants du paradis), Marcel Carné,1945
The Flower Thief, Ron Rice, 1960
Pepe Le Moko, Julien Duvivier, 1930
The Battleship Potempkin (Bronenosets Potyomkin), Sergei Eisenstein, 1925
Pull My Daisy, Robert Frank & Alfred Leslie, 1968
Heaven and Earth Magic, Harry Smith, 1962
Port of Shadows, Marcel Carné, 1938
The Grand Illusion (La Grande illusion), Jean Renoir, 1937 (via)

Note: Delphine Seyrig was in Pull My Daisy and two of Resnais films Muriel and Last Year at Marienbad.

Fernando Gonzalez beat Nadal with spectacular play.
How far will he go? We’ll find out soon.
Federer and Roddick match is tonight.

Picture of him winning the Gold doubles and Bronze singles at last Olympics.
He was born in Beijing China.

Today is Isabelle’s birthday my all time favorite cross-dresser.

Isabelle Eberhardt (Feb. 17, 1877 – October 21, 1904) was an explorer who lived and traveled extensively in North Africa.

Isabelle did not have to fake to be a princess, (unlike Johnny Weir) she was a real Russian Princess, who was imprisoned at one time suspected of spying. She died in a flash flood. Her life was a mess.
Isabelle Eberhardt was a true eccentric, flamboyant, courageous and totally unconventional.

More images of Isabelle, here.

Johnny Oscar Wilde Warhol Weir

“Weir is a charming, funny kid from rural Pennsylvania. He isn’t afraid to say anything – even to call himself “princessy” or to describe a competitor’s short program as “a vodka-shot-let’s-snort-coke kind of thing.” His favorite book is “The Devil Wears Prada” though his favorite author is Leo Tolstoy. He’s a fashionista and a Russophile. He’s learned to speak Russian and wears a vintage CCCP Sweater. He went shopping on Via Roma and considered buying a mink-lined umbrella. He calls his family ‘country bumpkins’.” (read more here.)

Now lets focus on the champion males from very recent competitions. Rufus and Plushenko won the best in show and the bad news for other competitors is that Plushenko will continue his amateur career. The Russian federation will not allow Plushenko to retire, they have no successors. The good news is his body may not hold up to the next Olympics – his specialty is executing those incredible jumps and he has been plagued with injuries in the past.

Jeffrey Buttle (thanks to David Wilson – the choreopgrapher)

Here are my picks of the best from the Men’s figure skating competition last night.

1 Jeffery Buttle’s brilliant transitional movements
(Buttle did not channel Glenn Gould last night choosing instead his more reliable old number.)
2 Happy to see Lysaceck coming back from his disasterous short
3 Matt Savoie

“Matthew Savoie delivered another beautiful program. His presentation may be understated and quiet, but it stirs the emotions of the audience. Savoie reminds me of the legendary John Curry. His skating is pure, effortless and moving. He can be proud of his Olympic experience.” (Zimmerman from yahoo) More photo and praise for Matt here.

Matt Savoie

Matt Savoie should play abbe of the diary of the country priest or Lancelot du Lac– he is the ideal skater to tackle Robert Bresson. The law school can wait, he should entertain us – see the clip of “The Mission” from US National 2006″.

See The placement here. Both Savoie and Takahashi should be on top of Joubert.

But the judging system seems to be fixed – they still manage to cheat. The order of finish, second through forth is exactly the same as last year’s world men’s championship except that Plushenko is back from injury to take the gold and move the others down a position. The new system is so complicated that nobody can figure it out – very clever.

Dale from Scribble writes about Olympics.

Before the Olympics, before Fiat, Turin’s claim to fame was (it’s true) film.
“Turin for a long time was a city of immigrants, when people from all over Italy arrived to work for Fiat,” Ponti said. “In the last several years, Turin has really been challenged. It’s not anymore a factory-oriented city, so we had to develop something else. There was a huge crisis of unemployment, so the goal of the filmmakers has been to tell about this change”
(Read more from sfgate)

The “Best of Youth” (“La Meglio Gioventu”) is a six-hour epic now out on DVD that looks at contemporary Italy through a family’s personal story, starting in the late 1960s, focusing on labor turmoil, the violent Red Brigades and a psychiatrist’s life in Turin.
(Hope to see this film soon.)

Photo sample A

Photo sample B
Another fun image from the opening ceremony shown below.
The best of young ninja climbing up and down and eventually forming themselves into the dove image of peace.

Michelle Kwan not so youthful and heavily endorsed has been providing faux news for the Corporate media. No longer a role model for sportsmanship she now faces the reality of competition too late for a graceful exit.
As of now we now await for her decision to withdraw.

Yagoogle Olympia 2006 – Torino Italy

(Images from Yahoo database and google logo montaged).

Russia’s Tatiana Totmianina and Maxim Marin lead in the figure skating after a dazzling short program, from this page and find the picture 13 . They were brilliant, almost perfect.
Inoue and Baldwin landed first throw triple axel in Olympic history – more here.