4 minutes

The saying goes something like this: the eyes are the windows of the soul. This study proves the  saying true as it showed how staring into a person's eyes for 4 minutes will bring the two closer.

This video is beautiful, and shows how a moment of silence and searching (or staring) will unravel the walls that we build around ourselves. It is amazing how much we can feel and understand simply by staring at our loved ones, how much emotions it can conjure, how much love will touch and move us.The old couple's evaluation after their staring-session is exceptionally poignant. 

They way the old lady said they've never looked at each other like this in the 55 years of their marriage and how sometimes she looks into his eyes to check his blood pressure, the way the old gentleman said when he looked into his wife's eyes, he realizes how much he needs her and how much she means to him, is just plain lovely. And the way the old lady's eyes smiles and shines, and the way the old gentleman's voice cracked as he spoke; this is true love. They may have only looked at each other for 4 minutes This is the love that endures. 

The Way to True Love

Writer Mandy Len Catron refers to a study about love conducted by psychologist Arthur Aron in her Modern Love essay, “To Fall in Love With Anyone, Do This”, that there are 36 questions that one can ask a stranger to determine if the stranger will be one's true love. 

This Vice video features a bunch of volunteers, trying these questions out. Of course, not everyone meets their perfect stranger that easily, but I think it quite a fun thing to do, and a way to get intimate and open up to people as well as oneself. 

There is, of course, no direct train to Destination True Love; but I think these questions is an express train to all sorts of things one usually get to understand about the other person as they go deeper into a relationship. 

Though, isn't the learning and slow unravelling of oneself to another soul, or vice versa, that make love interesting, that make love complex as it is, that make finding true love all the more meaningful and precious? 

Well, who cares? No harm trying it out, just for fun.

Talks on Ancient Remedies - Poo Wine

I get annoyed every time someone makes fun of ancient asian herbal medicines or medical treatments, such as acupuncture and fire cupping. I have personally seen them work on my family members and have tried some of them myself. These ancient wisdom of my ancestors have been working and functioning long before the western science scene has remotely developed. And I can't stand it when people make jokes and think that what my ancestors developed was unscientific, was 'monkey magic', yes indeed, someone told me right in my face. For one, it's very rude of them to say that, and two, they haven't even tried it so how could they judge.

I wouldn't deny the medical functions of this age-old recipe of the Korean Poo Wine, I couldn't because I haven't tried, or known anyone who had tried it, personally. But what I can agree is that the idea of poo wine definitely grossed me out. I would very much have acted like the reporter here if I were to have drank it, I mean, it's poo we are talking about here.

Ten Thousand Days

This short dark comedy, written and directed my Michael Duignan is pretty darn amazing.  I love how the plot/ fate was playing games with the characters and messing up everything.  Just imagine the frustration you'll feel when you know you were supposed to die on one specific day and you got all ready for it, but then you just couldn't. (right?)  And I think that was quite a spot-on presentation of how life is, how fate messes with us.  There are bad timings, things that we thought should have happened but didn't, things that we thought wouldn't happen anymore all of a sudden befall on us, etc... So props to you, writer of the film.

I also really enjoyed the background music in the video, it just adds so much more flavor and emotions to it.  The color grade was spot on as well, I really enjoyed this old-movie-polaroid-type of presentation.  And the little twist in the end is the cherry on top.  (how many cousins are there lol)

And there is no reason why I shouldn't have quoted this following from the film.  I'm sure you fell in love with these lines too when you were watching.  So, I quoted it and here it goes:

Tell them life is short.  

I love too much and I fear too little.  

Tell them I never wasted one moment

 for doubt or hesitation, or regret. 

 I was a lover and a fighter and a poet. 

 Tell them I danced on the edge and

 I drank down life to the last sweet drop.

I wish I could say that about my life when it is my time to go.  I wish my life could be summed up in a poetic way, just like that.

video: Roshambo-Rock by Free People

Well, I'm not late this time.  This new Roshambo Rock video from Free People is a prequel of the original Roshambo video, and I fell in love with this video just as I did for the last one.  Plus, who doesn't love them some Youth Lagoon in the backgroud. (What's the other song?)  Great job, Free People!

Enjoy.

video: Roshambo by Free People

I just love this short film by Free People, (yes, I know it's from feburary, but...) I'm still drooling over all the beautiful magical clothing items and accessories and all that...and the mood of the film, the characters (Sheila Marquez, and Christopher Abbot), their lives and the background music is just plain perfection.

yay to Lord Huron, their music just makes me happy happy happy.

Marina Abramović and Ulay

Performance artists Marina Abramovic and Ulay were old partners and lovers in the 70s, and they performed art out of the van they lived in.  Time passed and when they felt their relationship coming to an end, they each walked from one end of the Great Wall of China towards the other, met at the middle for one last hug and decided not to see each other ever again.  

Marina performed ' The Artist is Present' at MoMa in 2010, where she shared a minute of silence with whoever went to sat in front of her.  Without her knowing, Ulay went there...

This is so beautiful.