Grilling

Sunday lunch with old school friends. It was fun to catch up and get away from medicine.

What are the indications for coronary angiography? Silence, then a response. Round the table he went, grilling each candidate. Exam situation? Just another day on the wards with the head of department. It was painful to watch and yet strangely familiar. Throughout my training I have watched colleagues and been subject to grilling, roasting or rinsing. A senior proceeds to expose huge gaps in your knowledge, embarrass you in front of as many people as possible and generally push you to the limit. I have and will never cry because then they will have won. Welcome to medicine. It is good to get a kick up the bum from time to time but I question some of the techniques of past 'examiners'.

Others should never influence your career decision but several Consultants have suggested we consider other career options. Nothing like a morale boost less than six months before finals.

The Ludacris album is ridiculously good. Tracks I am not so fond of are Money maker, Girls Gone Wild, Slap and Do Your Time. Not bad for a 13-track LP. Check out DJ Swerve's playlist for this week. New arists for your auditory pleasure:
Natalie Williams- Anglo, Hungarian-Yugoslav jazz performer
Elisabeth Withers Star of theatre version of The Colour Purple

In attempt to break my -in-bed-at -9:30 cycle, some friends and I went to dinner at Japanese restaurant, Asakusa in north London. Pork teriyaki set meal, salmon and avocado rolls and salad thingy. I am not a huge fan of Japanese but this was very good. Unfortunately it wasn't good enough to convince me to eat aubergines. Quinn's bar afterwards and we oldies were on our way home.

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Spring Fresh

Fashion no nos of the week: 1.Girl in skin tight yellow jeans. Honey, no. 2.Fluorescent pink tights worn over fishnets don't work with any outfit unless you are one of the Tatou girls. And to the man in the suit, Pharrell style hat and white high top trainers with green laces. What were you thinking? Bar in Shoreditch (my home from home). As usual I was in awe of the fashion choices of the Shoredites(street meets sloaney princess) but too many rip-off Marc Jacobs bags in every colour possible. If the girl in the tube station has one next to you it's safe to say it is common. The positives are you can wear whatever you like unlike some GLO (that's guest list only for those who don't know) places and the crowd is less pretentious.

I'm going through a mini- girly phase trying to walk in heels but I draw the line at anything pink.

How Girly Are You?

Girly site

Latest runway trends

Music on heavy rotation at the moment:

Ludacris -Release Therapy. I have reservations about the track 11- Do Your Time.

If you doin' 25 to life stay up homie

I got your money on ice(so) stay up homie

If you locked in a box keep makin' it through

do your time do your time don't let your time do you

All my peoples in the pit stay up homie

And until you hit the bricks stay up homie

If you locked in a box keep makin'it through

do your time do your time

don't let your time do you

If you are doing 25 to life, keep your head up

Bobby Valentino- Let's Go

Tyrese- Alter Ego

T.I- King

Naughty By Nature- OPP; Hip Hop Hooray

Monica & Treach- Ain't Nobody

Sunshine Anderson(see Photo) is releasing a new LP next week. Scissor sisters meets James Morrison in the form of Mika(photo).

The Re invention of Eddie Murphy?

Check this out.

All Talk And No Action

As the week came to an end I sought joy in the medium of film. Babel is the new release from acclaimed director Alejandro González Iñárritu (Amores Perrros, 21 grams). It stars Gael García Bernal (great actor) in chain of events that will link an American tourist couple (Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett), two Moroccan boys who accidentally shoot one of them, their nanny (Adriana Barraza) illegally crossing into Mexico with their American children and a Japanese teen rebel (Rinko Kikuchi) whose father is sought by the police in Tokyo. The strongest story was that of the Japanese teenager (Rinko Kikuchi) who was believable and defied the media's reserved stereotype of the Japanese. She dealt with the issues of maternal suicide and discrimination against minorities very well. The cinematography was average doing nothing to detract from the bleak atmosphere with the music offsetting the the scenes. The Japanese teen's father gave a riffle to a Moroccan who sold it on and it was used in the shooting of Blanchett's American tourist. The reaction from the rest on the tour bus and the American embassy highlighted the false assumption that most Arabs are terrorists.The Mexican nanny deported partly because of her nephew's attempts to elude border patrols again brings up the issue of illegal immigrants in the States and the stereotypes of Mexicans.

However Brad Pitt (whose acting is menial at best) plays an irate, desperate husband. It's not that I did not believe him (who would?), I just did not care. Blanchett known for impeccable performances was wasted in this film. Lying on the floor in a village hut for most of the movie, a role better delegated to an extra.The crux of it is the stories were feebly linked and the purpose of the thread featuring the Moroccan boy's escapes me. Whether it was intended to highlight the plight of the non- tourist areas of Morocco, police brutality in the face of international pressure or the naive arrogance of two young brothers remained unclear. Rare for a Inarritu film I was falling asleep as the film drew to it's ending after a lengthy two hours and twenty two minutes.

Mick LaSalle movie critic for the San Francisco Chronicle writes:
In the end, a film of profound ambition is unmasked as one without real purpose, a misguided attempt to make a serious, important statement despite having nothing, really, to say. In "21 Grams," director Alejandro González Iñárritu and screenwriter Guillermo Arriaga went back and forth in time, following multiple characters because that was the best way to enrich and explore the story. In "Babel," the same filmmakers take a similarly experimental approach because, well, maybe because it worked in "21 Grams." I must agree with LaSalle and suggest people watch Iñárritu's earlier efforts Amores Perros and 21 grams. As I said in comparison to Crash , he uses the interlinking story lines effectively and leaves the viewer to make their own assumptions rather than signposting intent from the out set. The third instalment has poor character development but his past movies have never been about that. Unlike Babel the link between the stories was strong enough for us to care about the characters despite not knowing every detail of their lives. Iñárritu raised issues, questioned ours and society's thinking and ultimately left us to make up our own minds. As a friend said 'there is no ending' but in contrast to Ford Coppola's Lost in Translation we are able to make our own if we desire.
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Hip Hop is Dead

If India Arie were as aesthetically appreciated as Alicia Keys, Amerie or Ciara. Would she achieve greater commercial success? It's a no-brainer. Today I was thinking of the stories associated with the rise to fame of rap artists. Kanye West spitting rhymes through a wired jaw on Through he Wire, The Game getting shot and proclaiming he is Death Row's finest and 50 cent's antics. Are these public relation exploits to sell more records or honest accounts of their lives or both? I have never been influenced by these stories when making record buying decisions. Kanye is a very good producer but can't rhyme.

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Those who attending any of his London dates can testify to this. I love Mary J. and in my eyes she can do whatever she wants (be an MC- Brook, act whatever). Busta's Touch it Remix and on Enough Cryin.I must commend Beyonce on the single from the Dream girls OST, Listen and it's a shame she was not honoured at the Golden Globes.

Golden Globe Awards:

BEST FILM-drama: Babel

BEST FILM -musical or comedy: Dreamgirls

BEST DIRECTOR: Martin Scorsese (The Departed)

BEST ACTRESS IN A MOVIE DRAMA: Helen Mirren, (The Queen)

BEST ACTOR IN A MOVIE DRAMA: Forest Whitaker (The Last King of Scotland)

BEST ACTRESS -musical or comedy: Meryl Streep, (The Devil Wears Prada)

BEST ACTOR -musical or comedy: Sacha Baron Cohen, (Borat)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR: Eddie Murphy (Dreamgirls)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS: Jennifer Hudson (Dreamgirls)

BEST TV SERIES-drama: Grey's Anatomy

BEST TV SERIES -musical or comedy: Ugly Betty

A quick aside. Rachel Bilson has great fashion sense.

I promised I would never become one of those adults who harp on about the old days but really why are some school children incapable of using ear phones on public transport?. I love grime and garage as much as the next person. I think I'm an adult at 14, scream at Beyonce concerts and think Chris/whoever is tick but I can still respect others right to peace and quiet.

The second episode of Ugly Betty did not compare to the first. I hope it improves and I'm going into literary mode courtesy of amazon in between watching the entire series of House on DVD. Hugh Laurie is pure class as Gregory House. This week saw many a buffet lunch. Chinese and Spanish tapas were the delicacies of choice. One would think I was a woman of leisure but the clinic and theatre sessions somewhat distort this view. I am looking forward to a weekend of film Babel +/- Smokin' Aces (one-sided reviews putting me off), socialising with old school friends and if all else fails eating lots.

Piggy back

Bar with friend and I was in a good mood. The only possible explanation for accepting a piggy back ride past the age of 10. It was fun.

Like Neo in the matrix I am suspended in a state of disbelief. My year, notorious for their above average alcohol tolerance and relaxed nature compared to our juniors, are actually revising for finals. No longer are people lying on direct questioning and working behind closed doors. I should be pleased but I will do what suits my routine and I want to enjoy these last few months of relative freedom before the 'experience' that is the foundation programme ensues.

This week a senior academic described the FY programme as the biggest mistake in medical training in recent years. I couldn't agree more. The variety of experiences during medical training was highlighted this week. There are some days when you wonder why you even bother getting out of bed and others which remind you of what you like about the vocation.

Did I mention my not so secret love?

Sweaty (Ugly) Betty

New year, not so good start. This week has been interesting in terms of surgical operations and full of bad news on a personal level.

Friday night saw the launch of Salma Hayek produced Ugly Betty series starring America Ferrera. I keep calling it sweaty Betty because of the retail outlet. I haven't laughed out loud in so long and I plan to catch as many future episodes as I can. Surely it can only get better. On Saturday I had drinks with a friends at a bar in south London. Very plush but a bit sparse on people making a change from the sardine tinned Saturday venues. The line of the week goes to my friend who likened the price of dom perignon to half a laptop.

New Film releases: 12 Jan
Ghosts
Pursuit Of Happyness
Smokin' Aces starring Ben Affleck, Andy Garcia, Alicia Keyes and Ray Liotta which looks great.
The Last King Of Scotland starring Forest Whitaker, Gillian Anderson and James McAvoy.

19 Jan
Babel Cate Blanchett, Brad Pitt and Gael García Bernal star in Alejandro González Iñárritu's harrowing drama set in three locations.
Black Book
Infamous with an all-star cast including Daniel Craig and Sigourney Weaver.
Play Spanish tale of two lonely strangers.
Rocky Balboa
Running With Scissors
The Return Sarah Michelle Gellar may want to think about branching from the Buffy/ Horror pool of movie roles.

26 Jan
Blood Diamond
Bobby Huge ensemble cast star in Emilio Estevez's movie.
The Fountain Darren Aronofsky's sci-fi thriller starring Hugh Jackman and Rachel Weisz. Enough said.
Venus
Also worth a mention is The Good Shepherd Robert De Niro directed insight into the CIA released on 23 February

If you think I am critical check out rotten tomatoes.


New albums:
Jay-Z Kingdom Come
Ludacris Release Therapy
Mos Def New Magic
Norah Jones Not Too Late
Pretty Ricky Late Night Special
Tyrese Alter Ego. This double album introduces his alter ego, rapper Black Ty. I was sceptical but his rapping voice is nothing like his singing one. Open mind.
Check out J Status and their single which is a cover of Alison Hinds' Roll It.

New Start? New World? Don't Think So.

Happy New Year.

My new year was spent eating ice cream, watching DVDs and reading magazines- very exciting. After hours of deliberation over which house party or overpriced celebration to attend I thought sod it, I cannot be bothered. It was nice waking up without embarrassing flashbacks or a hangover.

Why do people need more than one mobile phone? Some people have three. I can understand if you are a businessperson but otherwise it seems a bit excessive. Friends say this number is variable but number 2 never changes so save both.

I saw De Ja Vu with Denzel- I always play an FBI agent wearing sunglasses in blockbuster movies- Washington. It was action packed with a convoluted plot but the cheesy ending let it down in my humble opinion. I was surprised they cast an unknown actress as the female lead.

My experience of The Holiday was an exercise in the persistent rolling of my eye balls. An overacting Cameron Diaz with a cocky Jude Law playing the character Hugh Grant got paid for a while back and Kate Winslet pretending the other two can act. Jack Black is rubbish in anything. After King Kong's laughable performance he should know better than taking on a serious role.

Primark open a new superstore in Marble Arch in Spring 2007 and it looks huge. A message on the film board in Odeon, west London reading 'Rose Will You Marry Me' made me smile. What a romantic. Let's hope she says yes, I would.

I'm not going to bother with new year's resolutions because they always get broken but I want to manage my finances better. I got thinking. Why do we as human being hate each other? If people of the same country or origin cannot get on what hope is there for world peace.

This week doctors prescribed oestrogen therapy and performed a hysterectomy and breast bud removal at the request of parents of a disabled child in the States. The treatment was published in this journal and after consultation with Seattle Children's Hospital's ethical Committee and an expert in disability law they decided on the treatment. The news of the 'Ashley treatment' was controversial with her parents defending their decision. I can understand it must be difficult to care for a severely disabled child. I wonder if it is appropriate that the public can see their daughter's pictures yet they choose to remain anonymous. One could argue she has the same right to privacy and dignity. I welcome any thoughts or comments.