Review of the Week: Bose OE2 Headphones in White
Initially, I was really drawn to the sleek, simple design of the Bose OE2 headphones, and I still am, but there are a few drawbacks to these beauts. At $150, I would not recommend these headphones to the typical audiophile, though I am more of a casual listener anyways. The strong bass is a positive, but you can't fully enjoy the power unless the volume is high, which is to be noted because the open design of these headphones makes it easier for the general public to hear your music. Granted these extremely comfortable lightweight headphones do deliver with great sound and simple aesthetics, the product overall receives a 3.5/5 for me. I do not particularly regret ordering these headphones but would definitely not order them again if they fail me. Many OE2 fans are generally apathetic to the new model, because although the original OE2 headphones were a bit bulkier, the sound delivery was steady and the product was still forward in design.
But in all fairness, with a pair of headphones this tiny, the Bose OE2 do deliver.
FILM FEATURE: A WEEKEND IN SEOUL
bedevilled
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daisy
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i saw the devil
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korean movies
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man from nowhere
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no mercy
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review
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I live for weekends full of summer rain, horror films, and an endless supply of Toblerone and Naked Juice. This past weekend, I saw a few films that I wanted to review/recommend. When it comes to the genres of movies I enjoy, I will be upfront and tell you that I live for horror/psychological thrillers. Once in a while, I'll lounge with my friends and watch a romantic comedy or go to theater to see the extremely hyped action movie, but I mostly enjoy grim tales that have really frank endings and interesting characters. I enjoy watching Korean movies, because the cinematography is endlessly beautiful and the acting is on point. You could say that I watch them simply for those aesthetic purposes, but the plots are also pretty interested, deranged, and telling.
(ALL MOVIES CAN BE FOUND ON NETFLIX w/ subtitles!)
Let's BEGIN
1. No Mercy (4.1/5)
This is actually the last film I saw this weekend. I don't want to dabble too into the specifics, but it is a story about unrequited revenge and the outcomes and effects of holding onto something that kills you. A top medical examiner is reviewing his last forensic case of a dumped young woman's body before he goes to pick up his daughter from the airport. He soon finds out that his daughter was kidnapped and must go through many incriminating obstacles in order to find her. Time is ticking, and the plot thickens as we see the first incriminating act that led to the killer's insatiable desire for revenge. I wasn't particularly satisfied with the ending, but I guess it was the only real way to end it. It has a few errors, but the characters are interesting enough, and the plot is overall pretty enticing as well.
2. Bedevilled (4.3/5)
This movie is definitely one that can be interpreted and dissected in so many different ways. The movie begins with a single middle-aged banker who lacks any type of compassion for anyone. She is fired from her job, responds to her friend from the island where she grew up, and takes a short vacation away from the city life. Boknam, the friend, is severely abused by the elderly town women, her husband, and his brother. She is treated awfully and has attempted to run away with her young daughter but has been unsuccessful. The movie shows the psychological breakdown of a woman who has been treated like an animal, which in turn morphed her into being one. Although the island woman turned mass killer scenario isn't an accurate depiction of reality, the movie shows another realistic element. If someone is ostracized, ignored, and treated like an animal, then he/she will eventually react. Every action has a reaction, and the reaction could have been largely different if we weren't all like the main character. I took a lot away from this movie, and I will warn you that it is pretty gory and violent. It's manageable though, so don't let that steer you away.
3. The Man From Nowhere (2.5/5)
Eh. I wouldn't recommend this movie, because it's really predictable. The protagonist is a pawnshop owner who befriends a little girl who steals and is also bullied for her economic background. The protagonist is a former agent who quit after a pretty heartbreaking incident. A drug gang kidnaps the girl and her mother, and you pretty much get the rest. Visually, it's okay, and if you want to kill time, then it's an okay movie to see. Besides that, it's really predictable and unoriginal.
4. I Saw The Devil (3.8/5)
As far as horror films go, this one is a keeper. An agent's wife is murdered by a serial killer and the husband seeks the ultimate revenge. It's pretty raw, and the killer is a pretty big scumbag that doesn't really have that much of an interesting persona. The characters are a bit base, and there's really not much development, but the ending was fitting.
AND HERE COMES THE MELODRAMATIC ROMANCE MOVIE...
DAISY (4.0/5) but deep down in the crevices of my pounding heart, uppin' it to 4.6/5.
I'm probably the worst brand of hopeless romantic among the legion of fierce romanticists out there. There are a lot of holes throughout the plot, and many will wonder how a hitman who ya know, kills people for money, falls in love, but WHATEVER WE ARE ALL HUMAN IN THE END SO IT HAPPENED AND GET OVER IT! The love triangle is not aggressive and there isn't really the backhanded, evil DAN DAN AND DAN moments that Korean dramas are infamous for. That being said, it isn't realistic in the least, but personally, as a hopeless romantic, I really liked it. I didn't shed any tears, so it's not THAT melodramatic, but the details made the film for me. A person who will build a bridge for a girl and send homegrown daisies at a specific time are enough for me to fall for the movie and all of it's unrealistic notions. I love the honest nature of a person who will not be forthright in the arrogant way but naturally and painfully endures for love. My god, there was a little bit of John Galt in one of the male characters.. So.. (TEAM Roark 4ever. not a Galt fan FYI)
Set in the Netherlands, the movie begins with a young painter who wants to paint daisies at a specific location. She falls whilst attempting to cross a log and treks a longer route in order to avoid slipping again. She returns to the crossing where she fell and discovers a bridge, her art supplies that fell, and after completing her first work, leaves this stranger a painting. I really didn't enjoy the fact that the female has no. personality. Both males fall in love with her basically at first sight, so I really don't know how love is even supposed to progress between any of the characters, but it happened. The girl receives daisies at precisely 4:15 every day and falls in love with this mysterious bridge-making, flower-sending guy in the shadows. A policeman who is really looking for drug dealers ends up asking the girl to paint him at the square where she works. Later, she believes that this man is her mysterious love, to which the policeman neither confirms nor denies. A dramatic scene later, the policeman is shipped back to Korea, the girl is utterly heartbroken, and the hitman appears in her life to comfort her. I don't want to spoil the rest, but I loved this movie regardless of the sap. I like sap when it's done right, and it FELT right because the cinematography was A++.
That sums up this weekend's movie haul!
Till next time,
YJ
MUSIC FEATURE: KING KRULE
6 feet beneath the moon
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archy
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bestnewmusic
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king
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krule
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marshall
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music
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Before you read this review, I wanted to admit that I am completely biased in every regard for Archy Marshall AKA King Krule, skewing of course to the fangirl swooning level that is probably not the most reliable for music reviews. I have been an avid fan of Archy Marshall circa his Zoo Kid era, replaying Baby Blue and his EP throughout my angsty teenage phase every night until my teeth fell out. I've been following the hype for 6 Feet Beneath the Moon for quite some time now, and August 24 is finally a-coming.
Marshall recently shared Easy Easy, a track from 6 Feet Beneath the Moon. It's reminiscent of many of his tracks a la bedroom. The synthing, lo-fi voice is haunting and the guitar progressions are eerily mellow and fit well and harmoniously with Marshall's flickering voice.
Check out King Krule's music. My personal favorite track is Baby Blue, but other recommended tracks are Ocean Bed, Bleak Blake, A Portrait in Black in Blue, Lead Existence, Noose in Jah City, Out Getting Ribs, Rockbottom, and pretty much anything you can get your hands on. Marshall also posts some hip-hop beats using his moniker DJ JD Sports. Worth a listen.
Check out King Krule's music. My personal favorite track is Baby Blue, but other recommended tracks are Ocean Bed, Bleak Blake, A Portrait in Black in Blue, Lead Existence, Noose in Jah City, Out Getting Ribs, Rockbottom, and pretty much anything you can get your hands on. Marshall also posts some hip-hop beats using his moniker DJ JD Sports. Worth a listen.
So I made this list of books to read/things to do the week before finals week.... I've been home for three weeks now, and it's been really relaxing, tiring, and morally uplifting (TOO SOON FOR THE SARCASM-SORRY) in the ways I've missed so much about my beautiful lifestyle at home with my friends and family. I started my summer research internship three weeks ago, and I'm pretty busy with that since I work Mon-Fri until 4 or 5.. Pretty beat is a more accurate description, but it's going well thus far. The only thing that I can check off is the daily run regime; I ran 7 miles yesterday. I want to hit 10 and continue to train for a ten mile hopefully by the end of the summer or sometime in the fall. I've found a lot of amazing texts around my house like a minimalistic art history textbook, my National Geographic world encyclopedia, and a bunch of Anatomy charts. Overall, summer is going by too quickly already, I'm too addicted to Netflix, and I am in the worst stage of my homebody issuez. Anyways, I'm on a hiatus from photography, so I don't know when pictures will be up (if at all). I'm signing up for pottery lessons soon though and starting a studying plan so I can spend time reading and researching about architecture! I actually starting drawing a sketch for a panoptic esque study, an open floor living room, and a hallway. I'm going to order charcoal and some sketchbooks - maybe even dabble in watercolor this summer.
does he know
who you are
does he laugh
just to think
what he has
does he know
not to talk
about your dad
does he know when you're sad
you don't like to be touched
let alone kissed
does he know where your lips begin
do you know
who you are
do you laugh
just to know
what i lack
do you know
your lips shake
when you're mad
do you notice when you're sad
you don't like to be touched
let alone kissed
does his love make your head spin
mostly unedited
here are some shots i took in the fens today. some of them are edited, most are not. i'll probably sit down and work on them over the weekend, but i just wanted to post them up hur for now
VIRGIN SHAMING
It never ceases to amaze me the reactions I get when someone asks me about the "dudes currently in my life." It's a pretty happenin' topic amongst my friends, and the first one that usually comes up during family dinners and holiday parties. Sometimes, my friends and cousins even go as far as reassuring me that's it's okay to be single, and it'll happen when the time is ripe. Okay, to start off, who ever said that the number one rule of being a freshman is to have an extensive hook-up list of somewhat correct first names and displaced nights in some type of order that somehow correlates the amount of "fun" I'm having in college?Just because I'm a virgin does not mean a) I'm a devout believer in Christ and I'm waiting for marriage b) I never go out and have fun or c) I'm a lesbian(my personal favorite.) Sometimes, it even goes as far as virgin shaming. That's right- virgin shaming. I don't understand why people feel the need to judge others based on the amount of sexual activity they choose to engage in, or in my case, not engage in. It's none of your business, and it says nothing about the person besides his/her personal preferences. Virgin shaming, slut shaming - they're both derived from the idea of judging a person because on something like how much sex he/she has, which is stupid. Some people have more morals than others, and that's perfectly okay. Some people really enjoy sex, and that's okay too. We're all different and believe in different things, so who gets to constitute what is "normal" and what is "slutty" or "too weird?"
To wrap it up, I just wanted to say that virgin shaming is a real thing, and something I occasionally deal with, which to me is absurd, but WHATEVER. I AM WAITING ON THE RIGHT PERSON, AND I AM NOT ASHAMED OR A HERMIT (can't vouch for the latter but w/e).
Unfortunately, spring break is over, and I am currently sobbing as I watch the videos I took of my cats sleeping/dying from the earlier seasons of Community. Some people (the majority of the population) think my undying love for my cats is, ya know, somewhat atypical and "really weird" but I like to think of it as an idiosyncrasy. It was really great to be back home though. I really missed my family. A large portion of my extended family frequent my house on Sundays including my nephew and niece, Daniel and Emma. I took them out on a walk, caught up with their busy social lives, and bought them some treats.
I didn't get to take a lot of photographs over break, and my scheduled shoots didn't pull through, because of my intensive, boot-camp esque week full of driving lessons and rescheduled dinner dates with friends/good company/older cousins/random strangers. I went through a lot of practice with my teacher and basically relearned how to drive in a few days, because a) i am a horrible driver in general b) i basically forgot how to drive since the last time i touched a steering wheel was in July c) i suck. at. driving. Anyways! My test was scheduled for Friday morning, and of course, in the middle of March, it would start snowing during the that entire morning. My family had 0% hope in me anyways, and now that the snow was just making it's way in Philly, my mom reminded me to renew my permit and schedule another driving test.
OH BUT GUESS WHAT?! I PASSED. AND THE INSTRUCTOR SAID I DID A VERY GREAT JOB. I went through all of Friday telling my family members that I failed then bam. bam. bam bam. Anyways, I am still a terrible driver, so I advise the people of the greater Philadelphia area to indefinitely consider the roads during the summer months.
SPRING BREAK 2K13 NEVER FORGET.
Round the Web: First Week of March
amazon
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candice. champ
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caves
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crick
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francis
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ice
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photography
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russia
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Happy (three days into) March! I've settled into my permanent residency in my bed with my two cats, eaten an unnecessary amount of Korean food/Chupa Chups lollipops, and have taken one too many photos of my babies sleeping.. Anyways, I wanted to post this week's links!
Do you know what throws me into an uncontrollable rage of giggles and smiles? ANIMALS. Especially cute photographs of cats, dogs, animal friendships - basically, anything that isn't a human and has fur will throw me into a full-fledged daze much like a play-by-play stream of a middle schooler in love.
Candice, proud owner of Champ, takes very beautiful photographs of her dog whilst smiling. This impressive shot with a butterfly on his nose was not Photoshopped, but a purely natural incident!
You can find these majestic, surreal-looking ice caves in Kamchatka, a peninsula situated in Eastern Russia. Volcanoes and glaciers have aided in the formation of these beautiful caves, and due to global warming/the business of volcanoes melting glaciers in recent years(look at the former), these caves provide a wonderful look into the convergence, diffraction, and divergence of light meeting ice. Definitely putting this on my list of places to visit.
How can you spend(waste) 1-2 million dollars? A letter by Francis Crick to his son, Michael, is being auctioned off at Christie's on April 10. This letter was written post-hey-we-discovered-DNA-Michael!-deoxyribonucleic-acid-for-the-win! Why am I so bitter, you ask? Because everyone knows that Francis Crick and James Watson are the founders of DNA even though they stole 50% of the work from Rosalind Franklin, who indefinitely helped them achieve the end result without any due credit. Thanks, dudes. More about that later, but anyways, I really dislike Watson & Crick, especially the former since he is a raging d-bag, but whatever, check more out on that here.
AND JUST TO STATE MY UTTER GRIEVANCES FOR THE WORLD AND A CALCULATED MISTAKE, "Keep Calm and Hit Her" oh, and "Keep Calm and Rape on" were just removed off from Amazon. I know it was a mistake, but I mean... Still. Let's just take a moment to think about other facets of society that take rape as "an experience every college student should experience" and one that is now starting to gain more prominence. Kudos to the House for passing the VAWA. Love you.
Remember how my life's mantra is to make not-so-discreet promises and ignore them completely? Here's an update about my life :
1. I changed the premise of my idea for the online magazine to an online blog that will soon be accepting contributors! THAT[x]THIS will launch hopefully by May of this year! More to come when I actually reevaluate myself and finalize a definite course of action for this little production.
2. I'm leaving Boston to go back to Philly for spring break! I'm actually quite happy that I have a solid week full of plans with friends/good company. I hope I can fix up my portfolio, which reminds me, I am now available to shoot portraits in the Boston area (Philadelphia in the summertime). If you're interested, please email me at younjuleephotography@gmail.com. I have a pretty fair policy (I would say) about general sessions, and just to throw it out there, my rates are super low. As in, I will be your phototaking slave in most cases, for free! Or work out a refundable negotiation depending on the results of the photographs, but email me for more information.
3. I have a lot of studying and procrastinating to do right now, but I'll post up a spring playlist that has glimpses of Foals (mostly Foals) and other album releases! I've been slacking, because Holy Fire is the soundtrack to my February, so the list will not be diverse in any means, but ya.
4. I will also post a lot of articles sometime next week and perhaps, post photos as well.
Enjoy your weekend!
1. I changed the premise of my idea for the online magazine to an online blog that will soon be accepting contributors! THAT[x]THIS will launch hopefully by May of this year! More to come when I actually reevaluate myself and finalize a definite course of action for this little production.
2. I'm leaving Boston to go back to Philly for spring break! I'm actually quite happy that I have a solid week full of plans with friends/good company. I hope I can fix up my portfolio, which reminds me, I am now available to shoot portraits in the Boston area (Philadelphia in the summertime). If you're interested, please email me at younjuleephotography@gmail.com. I have a pretty fair policy (I would say) about general sessions, and just to throw it out there, my rates are super low. As in, I will be your phototaking slave in most cases, for free! Or work out a refundable negotiation depending on the results of the photographs, but email me for more information.
3. I have a lot of studying and procrastinating to do right now, but I'll post up a spring playlist that has glimpses of Foals (mostly Foals) and other album releases! I've been slacking, because Holy Fire is the soundtrack to my February, so the list will not be diverse in any means, but ya.
4. I will also post a lot of articles sometime next week and perhaps, post photos as well.
Enjoy your weekend!
02/09/13
Happy post-winter storm Nemo! I probably went through some subpar difficult (really simple) hoops in order to get home to avoid Winter Storm Nemo/remain detained in Boston all weekend in my dorm room. Destination Philadelphia seemed highly improbable for Friday as news about the storm rolled around, so as a precaution I bought a ticket for Thursday night to avoid any of Friday's unforeseen conditions. So, all in all, got home in one piece, went through some travel drama getting back on Sunday, the wedding went well, and I got home to Boston! I had a good weekend with the most important people in my life <3 <3 <3
UPDATE!
I am aware, ashamedly so, that I have neglected this blog even after I made a banal resolution on my list of thirteen to maintain it, tend it with love and care, and insert thirty other meaningful statements about how to have a "nice blog." HELLO! It's been a while sort of, and I'm currently in my third week of the second semester. It is a whirlwind of existential crisis's(? i guess that's correct), long days full of unproductive/35% efficient days, kindling reunions with good company, etc. etc. I'm adjusting better to this so-called college life, still yearning for my cats and bed back at home- but Boston is okay minus the below zero temperatures and other tundra-esque conditions. I've actually been in a massive dry spell lately that's kind of grappling w/ creative intuition lately.Though, I've started to write again, read more, complain less. I feel like I'm desperately in need of a jogging cleanse, wanting so desperately to run outside, but I mean.. I guess homeostasis is somewhat essential too. Before I get too off course, I wanted to unveil some new projects:
1. HELLO! My name is YJ Lee, and I am an 18/F/Boston based student, phototaker amateur extraordinaire who would like to start an online magazine consisting of a hodgepodge of topics such as: current events, fashion, contemporary literature, opinion, photography. I think it's important for girls (and boys, too) who have completely heterogeneous ideas to come together in order to learn something new and think about what they love and why they love these things more than others. It will include a wide arrange of topics and will never be limited to a select range. If there's something you love, then write about it here. A new album release that you don't want to tweet about? A controversial issue that you swing both sides on different days, agree with one more than the other when one specific example is mentioned, but when someone says this and that about it, your head explodes and you feel like you need to be one of the 453 CNN comments arguing your point without feeling judged? Contact me at ThatxThisMag@gmail.com
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