Monday, June 8, 2020

The Windows update haiku

Walking around like
a tiger in a cage – Micro-
soft is updating.

– Leonard Blumfeld (© 2020)

Notes
The truth and nothing but. Well, except that I didn’t really turn into a tiger. But my anger is that of a caged big cat. It’s been going on for years – you are trying to get some work done while Microsoft nixes all your plans by doing an excruciatingly slow update it deems necessary for reasons even Microsoft probably doesn’t understand. Otherwise they would not constantly update their crap.

Tuesday, June 2, 2020

The in the office haiku

In my back a sound – 
if short, it’s the rolling of
a tire, if long: rain

– Leonard Blumfeld (© 2020)

Note
It turned out to be short. Since there was no engine noise, it must have been an electric car or a hybrid in electric mode. Can such dissimilar sources cause similar sounds? But both alternatives presented themselves to me without conscious reflection as I was sitting in my office with my back to the window, not bothering to turn around to verify.

Tuesday, May 19, 2020

He thinks he'll keep her (haiku #2318)

Clock. Carpenter. My.
Close to midnight. YouTube playing.
He thinks he’ll keep her.

– Leonard Blumfeld (© 2020)

Note
Pieces of disjointed truth and nothing but.

Friday, April 3, 2020

The perfect life haiku

She wanted a life
as perfect as what you see
in advertising.

– Leonard Blumfeld (© 2020)

Note
One of the common experiences with advertising is that you don't necessarily get what was advertised when you buy the product. Advertising has that special knack of making things look better than true. And an old wisdom says that if something looks too good to be true it most likely isn't true. Like the kind of life generally portrayed by advertising. It's better to think of it as staged and paid bliss, I'd say, subtracting at least 75 percent as a reality penalty.


Wednesday, February 26, 2020

Love for Sale 2

Della Dartyan in a still picture from Love for Sale 2

Love for Sale 2 is a 2019 Indonesian film directed by Andibachtiar Yusuf starring Della Dartyan (shown in photo), Adipati Dolken and Ratna Riantiarno.

Probably the one and only Indonesian movie I've ever seen. Considering that I don't speak the language and had to go by the (sometimes atrocious) English subtitles, I probably missed out on a lot. 

Being more of a character study, the film moves slowly and therefore takes patience. Even though there is budding romance between Ican (Dolken) and Arini (Dartyan), the hired girl Ican has introduced to his family because he is tired of his mother's wedding plans for him, this film is more focused on portraying a number of family members and other characters in a realistic manner.

Would I recommend watching this film? Yes. However, those who expect a racy love story due to the title will definitely be disappointed.

Sunday, February 2, 2020

The monosyllabic haiku

Oh! So, no if but 
and or what not like that true
no, no, it ain’t bro.

– Leonard Blumfeld (© 2020)

Note
The year and my blogs have gotten off to a slow start – took me until February to even think of posting something. And now it’s this mono-syllable thing that doesn’t say much, does it? Yes, I think it could be safely said that it is somewhat reticent in the meaning department.

Monday, December 16, 2019

The freezing December night haiku

It’s just me and the
moon now, a noncommittal
cold stare from above.

– Leonard Blumfeld (© 2019)

Note
Once in a while it hits us all – the urge to involve the moon in poetry. This is the outcome of my latest moon wax attack. Thank God it’s from above. From below would definitely be spooky. Should have worn mittens and a warm hat on that imaginary December night walk.

Friday, December 6, 2019

The looking at an old picture haiku

Was she playing a
harmonica or was that 
a fake wide moustache?

– Leonard Blumfeld (© 2019)

Note
You know those old photos – sharp, black and white and very small. So, I am unable to tell without a magnifying glass. I remember the hike we took in the mountains of Crete way back when but have no recollection of that harmonica or moustache instant. She’s standing on rocks under an olive tree with her hand held close to her mouth. As you would to hold a moustache in place or point to it or to hold and play a harmonica. Will we ever know?

Monday, December 2, 2019

The Zoya Factor

Sonam Kapoor in The Zoya Factor

Never thought I'd watch another cricket movie after Lagaan (2001) but then stumbled across The Zoya Factor on Netflix last night. It's funny, has an original love story and features excellent comical acting by the star, versatile Sonam Kapoor. No need to be a sports buff to enjoy this (de)light(ful) comedy!

Monday, November 25, 2019

A know-it-all

Even his “I don’t know anything about this” sounded like “I don’t know much more anything about this than you ever will.”

– Leonard Blumfeld (© 2019)