Take it like a man

When the Pope recognised that there was a problem with so much pedophilia in his church earlier in the week, he cleverly blamed the rest of the world for the problem. He acknowledged that there was a problem in his dioceses, but said that pedophilia "is found not only in your dioceses but in every sector of society".

If the Pope can see pedophilia is *every* sector of society, he is either only looking in certain places or is looking through a tinted lens.

Is there an epidemic of kindergarten teachers who are secretly molesting children? Perhaps it is new mothers or the tourist industry that is rampant in child pornography.

The fact that catholic priests are often associated with molesting young boys is not some kind of protestant conspiracy to discredit them. It has come out of hundred if not thousands of complaints of child abuse.

If that wasn't enough the catholic church has notoriously covered up, or protected those accused.

For the Pope to turn around and claim society is at the core of the abuse of the Catholic Priests' victims, is infuriating. The Church needs to "take it like a man". Accept responsibility for their own actions in full, not blaming society or anyone else, and then lay out plans of how to eradicate those who abuse children and those who protect those who abuse children. But most importantly, carry out those plans. Only then will i believe they are being serious about protecting the children.

Food for the hungry

If you haven't heard it on the news, there is a food shortage. Millions of people are going to starve to death because they can not get food. This isn't just in countries where one meal is served a day. This is in our western countries, like Australia and the United States too.

People have many different theories why there is such a massive food shortage. Most people are willing to label it as the cost of farmers growing bio-fuel instead of food for human consumption. But why would farmers chose bio-fuel crops over food crops?

Perhaps one of the reasons lies in copyright.

In traditional farming, a farmer buys seed, plants his crop, and then collects a portion of the crop's seeds for the next seasons planting. In today's farming, corporations own the copyright on the genetically modified (GM) food. This means that each season, a farmer must purchase more seeds or risk prosecution for using seeds that have the copyrighted DNA. Farmers have a higher overhead on these foods. It is cheaper for them to produce biofuel, thus, they can afford to continue farming.

In 2006 Monsanto, a corporation who makes GM foods, had a revenue of over $7 Billion USdollars. They got their revenue party by forcing those who use their products to continue to buy every season. Their tactics have forced hundred of farmers out of business around the globe. They continue to make no aplogies for they're actions. (Sadly, this is only one of their atrocities against their own customers, but if you'd like a full report, i suggest a read of their wikipedia entry.)

The next time you go to the store, check the label. By local food without the GM label. It will be better for you, and better for the person who grew that food.

Bringing more death to Louisiana

To any one who has read a story in the paper, or known a child who was molested or raped, you know how gut wrenching it is to hear the offender get a light sentence. The child may be scared both emotionally and physically for life and the offender gets away with a mere 7 year sentence. What if that changed?

Louisiana is proposing to add child rape to the charges in which perpetrators can face the death penalty.

Now before you jump on-board and start waving flag to push the bill through, lets think about this for a minute.

Most child rapes are committed by family members or family friends of the victim. If the victim or victim's friends know that the offender could be killed for his/her actions, are they more or less likely to turn them in? I would suggest less. Child Advocacy groups agree.

Furthermore, those who trespass on the law, do not often think of the consequences, and if they do, they may decide that the lesser sentence of murder will keep them off death row. So while the harsher sentence would not be a likely factor to deter perpetrators, those who do think about these things are likely to take the next step and kill their victim.

If the death penalty is enacted for child rape, does statutory rape carry the same sentence? There are more than once case of a partner going to jail because his/her lover was 1 or 2 years younger and under the adult age bracket.

All these factors make this is a scary policy and one i don't think i could support.

Buffy- season 8

If you're not a Buffy the Vampire Slayer fan...tune out now. What i am about to descend into is pure and slightly ashamed fan ranting.

At the end of season 7, the cast said fairwell and the creater of the the show went on to continue to story in comic book form. While i was slightly disappointed that the story would continue in such a format, i was willing continue my fan-ness and read on.

The lastest episode, however, was a bit too much for me. As a fan, i was hoping for a resolution to the big question "Angel or Spike"? The creator seemed to have side stepped the issue and given her a new lover....a woman.

Now I am not against the homosexual streak that runs through the show. In fact, i appreciate the difference in life style between Willow and Buffy. But now there is no difference! Not to mention, another strong female lead has been pigeon-holed as "lesbian" once again.

For a story that pushes the bounds of social normalities and encourages people to look for the unexpected, i felt that this story shift was a cop out! Not only does this suggest that a strong woman can not be with a man, it also suggests that the writers were too busy worrying about their fan base to delve into the question of who she ends up with?

I feel that it does men a disservice to portray Buffy as lesbian. I really do. Men are able to handle their women strong, but only if they are given the chance to do it. Lets explore that issue, not ignore it.

Nightmare to romance

It wasn't that long ago i gushed about the wonders of my husband and it is unashamedly i am about to do it again.

The other night i woke up in a panic. I had awoken from a dream that had seemed to be absolutely real. I dreamt that my mother had died when i was young and i had grown up with my father. The dream highlighted things that had actually happened in my life and magnified them. In my dream i remember my real current life like it was a great day-dream or schoolgirl fantasy.

As I awoke from the nightmare clutching the doona, my sleepy eyes looked around the room. I expected to see the walls in my dreams. I expected to hear the banging on the bedroom door. I didn't. I heard the soft snores of my husband next to me. He half awoke and asked me if i was okay. I said i had suffered a nightmare and he pulled me to his chest. "Don't worry. I've got you. Your safe here."

I can not explain the relief of realising the dream had only been a dream. To realise that the life i had thought of as a foolish fantasy, i actually live every day.

transgender

In Bend, Oregon there is a man, who is legally recognised as a man, who is having a child. You see, Thomas Beatie, was born as a woman. He had an operation ten years ago which changed his gender but he kept his reproductive organs. Now he’s using them to have a child with his partner, Nancy.

My first reaction was of shock. Stories in the news just keep getting stranger!

I read the comments that were coming from readers of the articles and i began to wonder at the sanity of people. People were really angry that this person was having a child. His obvious difference in life style combined with a pregnancy was enough to bring out all the angry people.

The story is blatantly strange. The child will plainly have some challenges growing up. But at the same time, I can’t help but think that these two people are going to be incredibly attentive and loving parents. So much attention to detail has gone into the process, I find it hard to believe that a child growing up in their home would be anything less than treasured. And how is a treasured child something that is bad? I imagine that a child would feel very safe in that sort of environment. It has a great chance of being a much safer than many other scenarios that children are brought into.

In the end it should be about a child going up in a safe environment. If they are willing to do their part in providing it. We, the public, should do our part by accepting the situation (which we have no right to change) and letting them parent without the fear of physical harm or discrimination.

But that is the difficult part. Will the religiously conservative be able to put aside their judgement and allow the family to function as a family? Will the media stop treating the issue like a freak show? Will the world end in May like the Russian cult claims?

Who know. but i suspect it is our own decisions that will decide the answer

thought for the day

I've had an ongoing thought in my mind. It was sparked by another blogger. The question that this blogger posed was about the reason why God would need his followers to believe and have faith in him. What is the benefit and or value to God of having people believe without solid and concrete facts?

After much contemplation, i still do not have an answer that comes close in satisfying me. Do we somehow believe more strongly in something that is unknown? Does God need our faith to satisfy something in him/herself? I do not know.

It is the reason i have decided to open up the discussion to my readers. What do you think?

(reading the original post may be of benefit to you)

aussie comedy

Here are two great clips from austrlaian comedy. The first is Will Anderson. His political comedy stylings always have given me a laugh. The second is a short clip from Good News Week with Paul McDermott.





Okay, if you've already seen ubilical brothers clip, here is another one. I know i said only two clips for this entry, but this one had me laughing so hard, i changed my mid. Enjoy

let me gush

He lightly brushes my skin with the tips of his fingers. I look up and he smiles. His blue eyes have me lost in a moment.

I love this man. Without a doubt, he would protect me from everything, charge into anything with me, and love me no matter what.

Some times i feel for him. Being married to a strong minded girl who is the first to make a big deal out of the smallest situations, can't be easy for him. He does it anyway. He works with me and encourages every dream i have. Where did he get all this inner strength from?

He laughs like a child at times and makes decisions like a man. He loves passionately and without thought to himself.

When the inevitable challenge comes up, we hold hands and face it together. Some times the challenge is harder for me, sometimes its worse for him. We don't let go. With every challenge his heroic nature shines through. I am so honoured to be his wife. I am thrilled to stand side by side with this man who never gives up on people.

Don't be evil

The motto of Google is so simple. It covers a great range of issue and concepts. Probably when put into practice,however, they may find that "don't be evil" can easily be turned into a matter of perspective. Yet i applaud their attempt at being inventive, creative, and not an Evil Over Lord.

Its too bad the same can not be said of Walmart.

Walmart has a long history of mistreatment of their workers. From workplace discrimination to bad health cover and purposely shifting full time workers to part time by increasing the number of hours worked to qualify for full time benefits.

Their latest case of evilness has involved their health care benefits. A Walmart employee was in a car accident that left her mentally handicapped. She won a settlement that put $417, 000 into a trust fund to help pay for her healthcare for the rest of her life. Walmart then claimed $470,000 from her. As part of her healthcare benefits the fine print says that if she is awarded damages in a case that involves payment for healthcare, they can claim the money that they have spent in paying her benefits.

It is unfortunate that this company is able to continue to do business in this way. Workers need healthcare (because their government doesn't supply it) and if they get a job at Walmart, health cover comes through the company. But the company does all it can to avoid actually having to pay the costs of awarding healthcare to its employees. In the previously mentioned case, the woman probably would have come out slightly better not having been covered by health insurance. (the interest on the trust fund possibly would have out weighed the amount being asked for)

The current consumer society is changing. While the consumers still want to consume as much as possible, they are finding more respect for companies that encourage positive attributes in their business practices. This in turn is meaning more profits for these businesses. Others, like Apple and Walmart, have taken a different route. The profit that can be earned is the most important aspect of the business. As the consumers it is our money that will decide what sort of business model makes it to the future.

Will the next generation be slaves to the companies? Or will the companies be slaves to their consumers? The question is ours for the answering.

Late in the night

When your brain is tired, convincing it to connect with your fingers is almost impossible. I am doing the impossible. Either that or my fingers have developed little brains of their own and have taken over my usual body movements when faced with a laptop and an 'on' switch.

You would think that this could translate into getting another scene finished in the webavision series (if i haven't inflicted the details of that on you yet, you should ask me). Sadly it doesn't. The only thing it really means is that my spell checker is forced to work over time.

If my fingers have developed little brains of their own, do you suppose they will stage a coup in the night and take over the rest of the body? God, i hope not. If they did, i'm pretty certain that i wouldn't know what to do with myself. I hate being in two minds about any subject. I don't think i could handle ten little ones.

Being that this blog entry is digressing into the absurd, i will leave you with only one more thought. If relgion is the opiate of the masses and religion was some how outlawed. Do you think that the government would supply a new opiate?

Time and a half

If today is the first day of the rest of my life, it isn't looking good. Fear not, i have no intention of unraveling the day to you, but suffice it to say, the stress is mounting.

Wondering at the time, i am reminded that time really does not wait for me to catch up. It speed by, completely ignoring the the speed zones i have set up around my desk. Time does not slow down.

The quick cup of water (or coffee) only serves to remind me that i don't have time to drink (or pee) and that blogging should be out of the question. I steal time.

I suppose that one day i will look back on life and smile at all those times that life wizzed by. With my vantage point, i'll probably notice that even the slow times moved quite quickly. If i'm honest, i can see that the world will not grind to a halt if the paper does not get finished by exactly 9:05. The world continues to spin, time continues to move, I continue to procrastinate and complain i have no time. I am a hypocrite.

I see life through whatever lens suits me. I ignore all others no matter what the evidence suggests. I convince myself that i am no different than all others who have gone on before me. I let time take the blame and keep myself distant from the truth.

Time waits for no man (or woman). I know that if i really wanted i could cherish time. I could make time a pleasant thing, something to greet in ever moment, knowing that the moment will never come again. I could, but it would cut down on my stress and what is life without stress?

Silly stuff

Today i made an achievement. I made first place in a silly myspace game. While you may think this insignificant (and you'd be right) i can't help but feel a twinge of pride that i have beaten out the former first place holder. If you want to see the scoreboard (and thus the reason that i brag), the link is here.

If you'd like to beat my score and put me in my place, the game is embedded below.

If you go out in the woods today

Becky's article on slavery in the world shook me up a little. Growing up I heard stories about people who were sold into slavery. Women were abused in deplorable ways, while men were exploited and beaten down emotionally and physically.

As a college student I heard stories of people being tricked into prostitution and some times even of servants who lived the lives of virtual slaves who escaped their slavery by jumping out of windows to their death.

Somehow the idea that people were being bought and sold never came up. I believe its the price of a life that has me so shaken. When the price of a 9 year old girl is a mere $50 USD, it makes me want to suddenly rush out a buy the freedom of as many as I can.

Freedom is a great ideal. Thousands of people flood the borders of the USA in hope of freedom. Countries riot and governments topple as people demand freedoms. Yet the plight of a little girl goes almost unnoticed. Does she dream of freedom? Does she even know what that concept means? Or has life's unfairness stripped that from her?

This is the world I live in. And I refuse to be blinded by products, new and flashy toys, or scare tactics. We must demand a better world. I do.

Human rights

This year marks the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. In an era of fear and patriotism some believe that human rights are merely a myth. Some believe that human rights can not go hand in hand with national security or defence against terrorism.

Others reply that without human rights upheld on every level, national security is already lost and terrorism has already won. But touting key words and phrases should not turn your support to whatever cause i'm pushing.

Universal Declaration of Human Rights was set out in order to keep the world from having to suffer through another World War but if war did happen, there would not be horrors like Auschwitz. As time passed, goals were set to help make the world a better place. Sadly these goals which were intended to be met by 2015, are not likely to be met at all. With the exception of Europe and North America, no one will even reach these goals by 2020.

Human rights are not something to be ignored. These rights protect your right to an education. They protect women's rights to medical help and encourage equal pay for equal work. These rights keep governments from kidnapping citizens and torturing civilians. Sadly, these rights are not being recognised around the world.

At last count in 2006,
- torture was used by governing authorities in 102 countries.
- 91% of all known executions took place in 6 countries: China, Iran, Iraq,

Sudan, Pakistan and the US

-At least 1 in 3 of the world’s women had been beaten, coerced into sex or

otherwise abused

-85% of killings worldwide involved the use of small arms and light weapons
-60% of the world’s firearms were in the hands of private individuals

I wish i could call people to actions with these words, but i can not. These statistics are here to make you wonder and think. The links are there for further research. What you do, if you do, is up to you.

The homeschooled child

California has set an interesting precedent when it comes to the education of children. The appeals court has declared that all children must be taught by an accredited teacher. For a nation that has a surprising number of home-schooled students, it will be interesting to see how or if this ruling will change the number of children taught at home.

While many parents will no doubt be disadvantaged by the ruling, i must wonder how successfully children are being taught in the home, as there seems to be no set standard for homeschooled children to be measured against. Each system by which they are enrolled is set slightly different standards. In some cases, those standards are not met, nor are they reprimanded because of it.

On the other hand, Justice H. Walter Croskey, did not instil me with warm fuzzies when he was quoted as saying "A primary purpose of the educational system is to train school children in good citizenship, patriotism and loyalty to the state and the nation as a means of protecting the public welfare". If this is truly the primary purpose of the education system, than school really only is brainwashing facilities. Education is supposed to help give students a better chance at full life, it's supposed to teach them ways to think, it is not there to tell them who they should be loyal to.

Now before you say that school helps children learn how to behave socially, and this is a form of public protection, i'll agree with you. (please don't write horrible comments about how i've ignored this issue)

So i guess i'm left feeling a bit torn. I do believe that children need to be taught by a qualified person. I also think that they need to be observed by someone outside the home to check on their progress both academically as well as socially. I do not think that a uniformed removal of home school is the solution.

Developments continue to unfold and i am paying close attention.

We stand in silence

Geeks and Nerds of the world stand silently shaking their twelve sided dice today at the passing of a legend. Gary Gygax, co-founder of Dungeons and Dragons died today at the age of 69.

Gary is credited with many online and face to face games that are now popular. He encouraged the storyline game. If it weren't for him we would have the choice of mine sweeper or solitar instead of Elf Mage or Dwarf warrior.

If his games are anything to go by, he'll respawn near the city and get to play again very soon.

Mr Magorium's Wonder Emporium

Today i watched a children's film that was really quite fun. I enjoyed it for its ability to keep my brain working. My brain worked to figure out what they'd say next. While the story is a little sad...its also a lot fun. I give it a full 3.5 stars out of 5.

(warning: the film deals with death without being remorseful about it)

Extreme sport?

Giving birth is hard enough to do without trying to free yourself from a noose.

But that is exactly what a woman in PNG had to do when her and her husband were accused of sorcery and dragged out of their house in the middle of the night, and hung from trees. She struggled to free herself while at the same time giving birth to her child.

Both mother, baby and father are doing fine after two months in hiding.

You can read the story

Isn't that cute?

Last week i enjoyed reading about President Bush's tour of Africa. It was just so quaint. Not only did he manage to get some media coverage of him attempting to dance with a Libian girl, he also got some brilliant sound clips. My personal favourite was his thoughts on how to stop HIV.

He claims he works on the ABC policy (Abstinence, Be faithful, use Condoms). If he'd stick to the same acronym rule this might make more since, but its Bush, so i'll just classify it as "cute". As in: "Isn't that cute that he knows three letters in five words!".

The other thing i just find so cute about him is his belief that every country has the same culture as he does; you know, inbred Texan. It is adorable how he simply wipes away hundred of years of another culture with a simple "ABC" policy. (There is no stigma against having multiple partners in Africa. In some places it is even encouraged. There is no money for people when they get old. Your best insurance is to have lots of children who can take care of you when you can no longer work. Having fewer children means risking starving to death late in life. Thus multiple sexual partners helps bring more children. Using condoms risks not having children.)

I know that i should be angry at Bush for having such a pathetic policy that blatantly goes against everything they believe in. I know i should shake my fist at his stupid acronyms but there really is nothing more than can be done about his ways. After all his time is coming and a new man (or woman) will take over. So there is no more reason to be angry...i can just shake my head and laugh at his silly childish ways.

So what do you think of the new look? Is it a keeper or do you scrap it and try for something more snazzy.

Truth about earthquakese

Apparently earthquakes are caused by gays. I've been trying to figure out how that is possible all morning long.

Do gays have a secret society that build machines to destabilise the earth's crust?

Maybe gays have an unusually high amount of magnetism in their bodies that cause the plates to destabilise.

Or maybe gays literally have earth-moving sex.

More likely someone needs a science lesson.

tourist videos for Stardust

Last night i had the pleasure of watching Stardust. I was truly enchanted. A great fairytale story. I loved the entire thing. So in honour of a wonderful film night, i give you the tours of Stardust. Enjoy!

worth it?

I somehow doubt these numbers take into consideration the mass shootings that are becoming part of our society on a daily basis. So far this month there have been 6 mass shootings in the USA that have made international headlines. This isn't a problem with outlaws getting guns. This is a problem of ordinary people buying guns legally and then shooting people with that legal gun. If your sick of it like me, do a bit of research and find your state representative's email address online. Send him/her an email and explain your concerns and what you want to be done. I'm not suggesting an all out ban on guns, i'm talking more mandatory education on gun safety, free counselling clinics in EVERY AREA, or better background checks on gun buyers. Some simple steps would save a lot of lives. Are they worth it?

Its a Classic

"It's a classic." I have no idea what that means. When a used car salesman says it i immediately interpret "classic" as "useless". When a fine arts dealer says "classic" i translate "expensive". When a photographer says "classic" i can't help but think "sexy". Taking all my understandings of this one word the description of the picture to the right would go something like, "Useless, sexy, expensive photo". It's definitely not an accurate description of the girl behind painted lips and perfect hair.

Isn't it funny how our understanding of classic changes over time? In the same way that "the good old days" were never good and they never felt old at the time; our understanding of classic is romanticised as time goes by.

Classic is more of a concept of imperfect perfection. We romanticise the hard times, the good times, the every time. We spin and twirl it til it because something it never was.

People become ideals. Situations become causes. Everything points to a reason, but the reason is rarely around to be found out.

Its all just... classic.

tee hee hee

I ran up the door, opened the stairs,
said my pajamas and put on my prayers -
turned off my bed, tumbled into my light,
and all because he kissed me good-night!
~Author Unknown

Thought of the day

Does the USA government actually even like its own citizens??

word of the day

damn

The Candidates

Over the last several months i have heard a multitude of Americans say they aren't "into" politics. This is usually said in conjunction with the reasons why voting should or should not be carried out. Whether or not your interests lay with the politicians, it is definitely worth your while to pay attention to who's who in the upcoming elections. Because i'm "into" politics, i'll give you a brief on a few of the leading contenders. Of course my personal bias my shine through...i do appogise.

Democrats

Obama
Pretty much the new kid on the block. He's interested in changing the way things are done in the White House. Pro: He has a lot of enthusiasm for the job and some scary self drive. Potentially he would make a brilliant president. Con: he doesn't have a lot of experience. Will his enthusiasm and confidence hold up against the glamour of the new power?

Clinton
She's the one with the experience. She has been there done that. Pro: She already knows the pit falls of the job. Con: Is she strong enough to avoid falling into them again (like she did with health care?)


Republicans

Romney
He's the rogue vote on the republican side. He doesn't look different from any other US president, but he'd be the first Mormon president. Pro: He's had a lot of experience working with big corporations and events. He could probably handle running the US country. Con: He doesn't come off as a real contender when interviewed.

McCain
He's pushing the evelope on age but he's quite determined and in many ways he's much more appealing during interviews. Pro: He's against torture. He's had personal experience, so doesn't like it. It may mean that he gets the US' reputation closer to what it once was. Con: While currently looking shipshape, he is getting up there, his vice president better be one we all like.

Huckabee
The preacher who wants to save the USA by running for President. He's likely to get a few votes from the Christian conservatives. Pro: He's a professional public speaker. Hopefully this means he isn't likely to make a fool of the nation when he visits foreign countries. Con: He's an American Christian and right now, American Christians have a reputation for being bloodthirsty SOBs (sorry).

Isn't he cute?

Our long weekend was hugely eventful. The most prominent event being the watching of this adorable little koala run around his enclosure. (and i do mean RUN). Now i should clarify, when i say 'adorable', they are not adorable because they are cute and cuddly. They are adorable because they *look* cute and cuddly but have a shorter temper than than a US patriot forced to deal with foreigners. One of the koalas (not pictured below) had bit off the nipple of one of the handlers...and i do mean completely off! When they get angry and decide to bite, they are thorough in their attack and can leave their human victim quite mangled. Their claws are not weak either. The claws are designed to climb and hold on to very tough bark. This means that a koala's claws are not merely for decoration. They can easily pierce the skin, several layers deep.

So it is with that in mind that i give you this adorable little koala (the background voices are the people standing next to us)

Thought for the day

Film Review: Sweeney Todd

I have always loved collaborations between Johnny Depp and Tim Burton....throw in a little of Helen Bonham Carter and i'm in film critic heaven. There is something amazing about that sort of combination. wow!

So it was with great expectation (and a little anxiety) that i went to see Sweeney Todd. My anxiety stemmed from the fact that i do not like lots of blood and gore. I'm actually quite against it. Tim has the habit of using this technique and i was warned beforehand that it would be there.

I took a deep breath and plunged into the unknown.

Turns out i shouldn't have worried. The film was a great allegory about what happens to people when they obsess about revenge. (true, this tale has been done by The Count of Monte Cristo...but this is a more edgy version) There is Tim's signature "let's see how much blood we can spray at the audience", but you can see it coming and i managed to avoid the spay every time by one. He balances the allegory with humour and more than a little bit of darkness then sprinkles the entire thing with SONGS. The songs are probably the most disturbing part of the film. Not because they are not done well, but because they start singing at points you've never seen anyone sing at before. When's the last time you went to see an action film that as soon as the action started the hero burst into song?...its been a while, huh? Well, that is why the songs are disturbing.

Over all i'd have to say another excellent production by a very talented team. It was so nice to see a story that was more than just a story, and yet do it in such a way as to keep me guessing what the film makers would do next.

Having said that, however, it was not one of my favourite films. In fact, while i am glad to have seen it once, i probably will not see it again. The film as a whole was a bit too depressing to watch a second time...perhaps next time i'm in a depressing mood i may change my mind, but for the moment, once was enough. Plus, the some of the musical scenes are a bit drawn out. I did not feel that i needed dialogue repeated to get the point and there were some numbers that i felt dragged a bit because they kept repeating concepts.

Kristin's rating: 7/10

Torchwood clip

I am a big fan of the BBC. I also am a fan of most of the actors from Buffy. Imagine my surprise when the two worlds collided. James Marsters had a guest appearance on the show "Torchwood" a spin off of the "Dr. Who" series. Although this 8 minute clip is on the long side, its probably the best 8 minutes of the show. Plus the snogging scene is classic! Let me know what you think!

question (part 2)

Well, after doing some online research about the previous post, i came up with this conclusion:

Abortion statistics are fickle.

First of all most abortion statistics are displayed by those who are pro-life (read: anti-abortion, pro death penalty).This means that they "torture the numbers until they'll tell you anything you want.". They fail to mention that the data collected includes natural abortions (where the body aborts the pregnancy on its own, also known as a miscarriage). This skews the figures since many women will experience a miscarriage in their lifetime. But since this is counted as an abortion, they can then claim that"Worldwide, the lifetime average is about 1 abortion per woman."

Its frustrating. It suddenly sounds like all women hate having children...or worse, they all get pregnant recklessly and flippantly get rid of the 'problem'. It makes women seem irrational at best and at worst, villianises them.

I suppose i could break into a man conspiracy; making women to be less than they are...but i don't think this is the case. The answer is far less complicated. It has more to do with keeping people shocked and fearful. Statistics that 'prove' so many abortions are being cared out each year is shocking...especially when you personally don't know that you know of anyone who's had an abortion...and it keeps people fearful of the people around them by making them wonder if they are secretly a "baby killer".

I don't think that assisted abortions are as common as as the statistics claim. I do think that when politics get involved it's less about the 'babies' and more about controlling the people.

So in the end, we're still left wondering where Bush found his numbers...but it's less important. We know he tortured them into doing his will anyway, after all he's stance on the torture issue is already well known... even Canada. knows.

question...

US President Bush has claimed in his speach to the pro-life marchers that 1 in 5 pregnacies end in abortion. Does any one know where he got that figure? Has any one seen any research to back up that number?

I would like to know if that figure includes abortions that the body does itself without help from doctors. Does the statistic take into account all pregnancies or just in the USA?

If anyone can help me out, i'd definitely like to know.

bob

Bob is finally starting to settle into the house. The biggest reason, i believe is that we changed his diet and took him to the vet. We decided to change his diet due mostly to the fact that his current food was too heavy in the cereals and almost nothing in the meats. So now he's on a special diet that specialises in actual meat. We had Orion on the same brand of food and we were very happy with his physical health because of it. We are hoping this brand will do the same for bob.

The vet was also an important step in helping bob to settle in. We had been noticing his back side was nearly bare with how often he was pulling out the hair. The vet said he had a skin condition, dermatitides, and gave him a shot of cortisone which has cleared up the skin quite quickly. Without a itchy bum, he's been much more friendly and sociable, although he definitely has favourite people (my mother-in-law being one of them).

Now that he's a bit more stable on the health front, he seems to be more willing to accept us. No more crying through the night and lots more following us around. He's shaping up to be a real treat to have.

Treky-ness

Because i'm a not-quite closet Treky...here is a link i thought other not-quite-closet treky's might like.

survived by three cats

Death is a morbid topic. (It's a bit redundant to put it that way, but i was hoping to catch your attention with a clever opening line) No one wants to think that every one they know will eventually end up pushing up daisies, but at some point your mind will go there and if your quick enough to turn it back to something else, you're much more clever than I.

Wikipedia is a fascinating source of information of a vast array of different people, places and things. Today I skipped places and things and went straight to people. I read the biography of Capucine. She was a beautiful girl who was a model and actress from the late 1940s - 1990. She was a bright girl with a B.A. in Foreign Languages. And like all girls, she had a few strange ideas. She was once quoted as saying, " A woman needs to know that the man is her master". She also was a manic-depressive. She was fabulously happy one minute and tragically suicidal the next.

Although Capucine was seen as a sex object to men around the world, and she obviously had some interesting ideas about men's roles, she never had a long term relationship with a man. (and there is no evidence that she was a lesbian either so you can get that thought out of your head!). She had affairs. The longest known was two years with a man who was married and known to have been "in love" with her friend Audrey Hepburn. But none of her affairs really lasted.

After other suicide attempts, Capucine finally jumped from her 8th floor apartment on 17 March 1990. Her obituary read that she was survived by her three cats. Either the columnist didn't like her much, or she lived a very lonely life.

Forgive me for being a bit morbid today...but this was a life glimpse I thought worth telling. Hopefully our obituaries will have more to say than "survived by three cats".

giggle for the day

Hehehe....this is funny. (warning: fashion ahead!)

dangers of blogging

While this graph clearly shows that few people have died in blogging accidents, the numbers have quickly increased to over 100 since early last week. It is a tragic day when blogging truely becomes a dangerous way to live.

my very life could be in danger as i type! but my dedication to my ego drives me on to bring you this enlightening blog...which i hope truly does bring you lanters and torches.

So it is with great pride that i give you, my blog for the day:

Top five deadly dangerous things to do while blogging

5. Sit on an exercise ball while typing on your laptop (no touching the ground)
4. Curl hair, next to full tub of water, while typing...
3. drink typing (need i say more?)
2. Blow dry your hair with a nail gun
1. Chew on the laptop cable

FYI

top five things to accomplish this week

5. post blog on usshooting.blogspot.com
4. Visit my dearest adopted grandma
3. Take the car in for its usual check up.
2. Take me in for my usual check up
1. Not kill anyone.

my mottos

I don't actually have any mottos, but if i did, they might include some of these:

If at first you don't secceed, don't sky dive.

Accept it. Embrace it. Try not to get run over by it.

Remember: FIRST you pillage. THEN you burn

Lessons

No good argument should start with anything but the word 'if'. 'If' immediately puts the blame on another person while squarely identifying the starter of the argument as the victim.

"If you really loved me...."

This sentence makes the other person realise that they are not conveying their love properly with the added bonus of telling them what they can do to get the love flowing again.

Of course if you actually want a real relationship you can never use "if" to start an argument because its manipulative. A real relationship is supposed to rely heavily on trust. Of course...what is trust without an occasional dabbling into the arts of the jilted lover.

A typical manipulative art is to cry, however, this technique has become less effective throughout the years, unless it is the man who is crying. A better technique is to drastically change from your "happy self" into something polar opposite. This should be completed in seconds as to achieve maximum effect.

Another great technique is to disconnect emotionally for days. This isn't for the weak minded, it will take stubborn determination to stay away from your lover until you sense that they are desperate to understand what is happening with you. Then quickly turn into your "happy self" and ask something of your partner that you'd never normally ask. They will submit without hesitation.

Yet this advice comes with a warning, as all good advice should...Manipulation leads to lack of trust. Lack of trust leads to break down of relationships. A solid relationship doesn't need manipulation to achieve goals. A simple request will often suffice, A long discussion will clear things up, and a lot of Forgiveness with wipe away many sins.

Or you could work on those convoluted manipulation arts....who knows one day you might actually get them to work properly for you.

family holiday

top 5 things i wish candidates would worry about

5.New business - i would love to see the government put some real muscle behind getting mobile innovation on the move. Either some mass public transport systems or new ways to travel independently.

4. Global warming - its time the EPA (enviormental protection agency) started actually working to protect the environment.

3.Personal freedom - trust needs to be given back to the public. Their rights to privacy need to be respected and restored.

2.foreign policy - better diplomacy with foreign countries. no more: "USA way or no way".

1.Torture - zero tolerance policy on torture. If we have to torture people to "keep us safe" than we aren't really even safe from ourselves.

Welcome to my democratic country, please forfeit your rights here.

As a citizen of a democratic country, i expect some benefits. I expect elaborate benefits such as my Human Rights (denoted by the United Nations). I expect that the freedoms of religion, speech, and press will help to keep "the bastards honest" in my country.

The problem is that i'm not sure these rights are actually being protected or respected...from the government OR the people. It's almost as if the people have decided to bend over and willingly take it up the backside from these hill-billy's in suits!

Every time i read the news i am shocked by what the government is allowed to get away with. From secret prisons to kidnapping...sometimes of their own citizens...from torture to blatant political manipulation of the press! All this in the name of keeping the country safe from "terrorism". But forgive me if i'm wrong, but isn't the root of the word terrorism "terror"? and isn't that what is being promoted by keeping the people in fear? ("if we don't add another 60 million dollars to the defence budget the terrorists will have won!)Do we even care about education? healthcare?

I suppose if a country is full of people who can't read or write (the stuff that comprises a lot of the education part of that last question) than there is less need for a free press....or of free speech...or of even real communication. After all...if we have these things, the 'terrorists' would know what we are thinking...which would lead us to getting our asses bombed back into the stone age....although without the healthcare or education, it wouldn't take long for us to get there all by ourselves!

thanks to Canadians for Direct Democracy for the cartoon.

Dinner For One

Enjoy this New Year's Cult Classic film about an old lady who firmly sticks to tradition for her birthday celebration!

Mahahaha! Jason: the evil Genius

Thanks to Foxtrot.com for this comic of the week.

New photos

new friends
Originally uploaded by narnia_k

Well, i've uploaded a bunch of photos of my Christmas holidays up to flickr. Click the picture to view more of them!

Don’t ever use the word ’boring’ in your titles

I love reading blogs. I read as many as i come across.Well, that isn't exactly true. If the blog is written by someone I don't know they get judged on two criteria before I will hazard to read what they have to say. And knowing that you all are desperate to know what I judge them on, I will share with you my two criteria.

1. When is the last time they posted. If the last time they posted something was weeks or months ago, than if I like what is written I may be disappointed that I can't read more of it later. Because once I find a blog I like, I keep reading it (sometimes even daily) until I find something better or they stop posting. The later seems to happen more often than the former. Damn lazy bloggers!

2. The other thing i check is the title of their blog and then the entry posts. If the blog title is painful or disturbing, i'm likely to skip it (for example the title "hot pigs with toe rings" is disturbing yet catchy, so i'm likely to read it. "Hot toes with toe rings" is just disturbing and I'm likely to bypass" ). If it passes my subjective criteria, then i will go to the title of the post. Here is where i keep find problem.

Dear bloggers
please stop entitling your posts "boring days" or "my boring life". Why do you think i want to read something that you, as the writer, finds 'boring'????

anyway...

This has been a riveting blog entry about my criteria for reading blogs. I have no idea what you will do with this information, except perhaps make sure you never entitle anything with 'boring'. Now that your life has been inexplicable enriched,
have a great weekend!

Photos from the holidays

Here are some pictures of my holiday


The beautiful water falls.


The Christmas Tree with the presents.



The insect are HUGE and the bites are terrible!


Chris and I making the best of the situation!

ethical questions

If you know that someone is in danger of themselves, do you have a ethical responsibility to get them the care they need??

If you know that their family will be angry if you do?

Christmas

I do not get emotional about family and christmas and all the crap. ...or at least i didn't used to.

For reason i am still trying to figure out, i agreed to spend Christmas in one of the hottest places on earth (just slightly south of the Equator). While the views are amazing, the animals are awe inspiring, the heat is DEFINATELY intense!

There is something about this heat that causes me to remember back to my mother's Christmas traditions. She always liked to have a christmas tree up. THe house was fabulously decorated and christmas presents were wrapped perfectly every time. We would gather in the living room to mock her as she sang christmas tunes slightly out of time to her cds. This year i intensely miss that.

There is no snow on the ground and none is threatening to fall. There is a palm tree in place of a pine tree and the christmas paper is been placed over gifts that have already been given to me...its all a formality. This works here. I just feel homesick for a northern hemisphere christmas.

and she's back!

'Back' might be a slightly over-reaching word, but i am about to embark on another post for my fabulous fans....and those people who randomly find my blog...(they were probably searching for something more religious or pornographic...so i'll probably disappoint both groups today)

Today we talk about the inherit need for feet. Yes, you might find that feet are one of the most unsung heroes of the human condition. Without their constant support and aid, we might never walk again!

(thank you Terry Pratchett for teaching me that humour)

People are wierd about their feet (yes i spelt it wrong on purpose). Some people are fascinated in that sexual way when it comes to feet. Some people pay to have women walk on them in high heels...(thank you internet for your constant information). Other people can not stand to touch other people's feet or have their own even poked. I met a lady who could not stand to have her feet touch. She screams and runs about if you even suggest you might take a feather or a finger to her body below the ankle.

I am one of those people who would die happy in nearly any situation, if i got a foot massage at the same time. ["what's this? the rack? sure i'll gladly be mutilated to death as long as you spend the next 10 minutes massaging my feet with garlic oil while you slowly stretch me til i pop"]


where am i going with this?

i have no idea.

oh wait...yes i do! Don't forget to vote wisely in your next election! Thankyou and goodnight

(see i warned you about that 'back' thing)

Silence

Orion died yesterday. No blog posts for a while. See myspace blog for details.

Please mind the gap

So I've finally decided that its worth keeping track of shooting. US shootings seem to have become all the rage over the last few years. It feels that almost every week another story hits front page news about someone opening fire in public places. So I've created a blog where I'll be tracking each shooting i find on a front page of a news source. If i miss one, feel free to send me an email and we'll add it to the running sheet.

I've made mention before about my belief that these shootings are signs of a widening gap between the common person and those with authority in the USA. I believe that as this gap widens the violence is going to continue and get worse. In other places this discontent might lead to protests or strikes, but the individual culture that has been cultivated for years in the USA means that there are few outlets for angst at the whole social order. This strong individual culture has never been seen before in history. It is a cause of discussion among some as to whether this will lead to a falling apart of the social order or whether it will force a sort of anti-culture that brings people together...or it may do something completely different.

No matter what, i hope this blog brings to the forefront the need for something to be done in the USA about gun control, about poverty, and about the widening social gap.

Writers strike

Writers are amazingly easy to find right now, most of them are picketting outside film studios. The Writers Strike in America has many happy angles that i am looking forward to exploring.

One of the main issues for this strike is that writers are not getting paid for their content that gets sold online. So if a TV writer had his episode of television sold to iTunes, he would get nothing from that sale. Currently writers are only being paid for the work they do that gets aired on television and .3% of the first million for the sales of DVD and VHS. This means that there are a lot of hungry writers out there!

I am against having to pay for most of my media. Basically i believe that if it can be aired on TV and i don't have to pay, than i should be allowed to download it to my computer for free too. However, just because i don't pay, doesn't mean that the networks don't get paid for my download. Veoh.com legally airs tv programs from networks. They take a commercial break every so often. PLUS they also have advertisements that decorate each page. Networks are getting paid a lot of money for these advertisment spots!

Is it fair that writers don't get a cut? I believe the only answer is a loud and resounding NO! Writers put in a lot more work than even the actors (and i've done both these jobs. i do actually know this one) While writing at times is easy, most of the time its really hard. Yet, writers are still given scraps from the network table. Do i believe that they should be getting 2.5% of the gross profit?...well, the amount is negotiable but they should definately be getting more than nothing!

i gotta take care of him

so sorry for the lack of posts recently

Upon request

So Kaisa asked me to provide the answers. After much research and sweat, i found this. THE BEST ANSWER OUT THERE!

Sinfest.net is a online web comic that is accessible through the previous link. i have no rights to publish this at all but i hope Tatsuya appreciates the free press and don't suit my pants off. Mainly cause i look crap without pants.

they mystery of life

I initially thought it was because of my age that i was noticing so many women pregnant. I sort of thought that i had reached the age when many women my age were giving birth. Apparently i was wrong. There is a baby boom happening in Australia. Since 2005, women have been giving birth to more children than the previous 10 or so years.

As i watch the stomachs of these women swell to almost unbearable sizes, i can't help but wonder the reason for the sudden increase in births. The previous government was quick to take credit for it, but adding a few more dollars to help cover child expenses doesn't seem like a reasonable reason to have children in mass droves.

I'm sure that finances did play a part in the decision. I mean, no couple would just have sex and produce a baby without thinking it through, right?....well...perhaps there is a flaw in that last statement.

Perhaps the answer lies there. Maybe the government has been putting aphrodisiacs in our water to increase the birth rate of the country. It's underhanded, immoral, and probably illegial...but those things have never stopped them before.

Maybe there is something to be said for the mystery of life. Why are there times when it there are baby booms and why are there baby not-booms. Why do mothers have children in desperately poor countries? Why don't mothers have children in wealthy countries? There is more to the question than economics. There is more to this question than love. I don't know that i believe it can be quantified so easily in terms and quasions. It is simply part of the mystery of life.

Are you influenced?

You probably don't realise how much information you receive during the day. A friend sent me to this video for an example of how product placement can work. It was quite a powerful find!

Do you care?

The following is a rant, brought you by the makers of the DVD rant.

If you've been living with your head in the sand and two fingers up your proverbial butt, you probably have still heard of the ONE Campaign. It is the campaign to end poverty, specifically focusing on developing countries. It is an admirable goal with thousands (if not millions) of supporters.

Apparently, however, not everyone is interested in freeing developing countries from debt. It appears that governments are selling off the debt owed to them by developing countries to companies. These companies are then taking to court and suing them for the full amount of their debt, plus interest.

Prior to the debt being sold off, these countries have had no accruing interest in their debt, (thanks mainly to the ONE campaign). Suddenly when big business takes over, they've got their full debt back, plus interest. This is essentially a death sentence for many of the people who live in these countries. Yet Vulture Funds still exist and seem to be legal, thanks to governments all over the globe.

It seems that governments are happy to appear charitable with the debt collecting and companies are happy to point to all their charitable works which account for a minor percent of their total profits. Between the two of them, they are putting on a front that appears noble and THE PEOPLE BUY IT!

If people were seriously interested in stopping poverty, they wouldn't allow their governments do to this, they'd vote them out of office. They wouldn't buy from companies who extorted from the poor, no matter how cheap their products are. If world poverty was really an issue that was cared about, our personal comfort wouldn't be our first priority.

In a world where we can access a multitude of information, we still rely heavily on corporate news (which lets face it goes through a bit of a spin before production). We allow fashion and gossip magazines to be the prominent form of "news" we buy. We are more interested in the clothes we wear than the true price for which the clothes came. We are hypocrites and proud hypocrites at that.

As our middles expand, our fists get tighter. In the end, it is our greed that will keep us from ever being truly rich.

Welcome

I honestly wasn't sure that Kevin Rudd was going to get into office, but i was pleased that a change in leadership took place. Not because i thought John Howard was the worst Prime Minister that Australia had ever seen, but rather because i felt that his party had become complacent about their role. With members of his party passing out fake leaflets to discredit others, it just made me wonder if they truly understood the gratitude they should feel towards the people they represented.

I was glad to see Kevin Rudd making some bold movements straight away. His statement that we will ratify the Kyoto Protocol as soon as possible was an impressive, if somewhat more appearance driven than action. (in other words the Kyoto Protocol has some very interesting loopholes that mean some countries get a "please do nothing for signing this" clause. Although, Australia is not currently one of them)

I really hope that the changes that are going to be made to work places are for the best. I hope that people are more secure in their jobs than they were only a few months ago. I hope that things are more fair and employees better paid.

I have many hopes for this government. With any luck, we'll see one third of my hopes meant and the other two thirds of my hopes dashed to little bitty pieces. (please let Rudd have his own mind and not be a puppet of GWB...please please please PLEASE let that be in the 1/3 part)

Good luck Mr. Kevin Rudd. You'll definitely need it.

and thats not all!

After a prolonged absence i have finally returned to my habit of blogging only to realise that i seem to have left my self in my other pair of jeans. In fact, i haven't seen those jeans in quite some time and i am beginning to wonder if they are still around.

Isn't it odd how people change you? Values can become changed and distorted when you spend a large amount of time with someone vastly different to you. I feel like that is what has happened to me. With so much work of late, i feel like my value system, which was meant to keep family time to a maximum has all but disappeared. Working 45 hour weeks was never part of the plan.

I am feeling less like me than i've ever felt.That can't be a good thing. But if i could only find those jeans that i left myself in, i'm sure things would go back to normal soon...i'm sure of it...

Film review: "I have been thrown far from grace. Now all i can do is fall on it"

Gabriel

My husband took me to the cinema. As we sat, preparing to watch an Australian low- budget film, our hopes weren't high. So it was a great shock to find that this film was so good. With only the tiniest of budgets they managed to make a film that was quite well done. So lets talk specifics.

Technical (cinematography)
Most of the shots are very artistic. They were enjoyable to look at because they were just so well set up. The camera work on the film was quite nice for the most part. There were a few shots at the beginning where i wondered what the director was thinking. But overall, well done.

Script (Dialogue)
Sad, but the dialogue was not the best i'd ever seen in a film. At times the scenes are painful because the dialogue is delivered so 'exact' that it sounds forced. Although, there are scene where the dialogue is exactly what the film needs. So like most things, you have to take the bad with the good.

Script (plot)
The plot was extremely simple. Angel comes down to save purgatory from hell taking over. The big surprise twist at the end; my husband saw coming, although i did not. While the plot is simple, i don't think that is really a bad thing. It meant that more effort could be put into the scenes themselves. Some of the scenes were extremely touching. My favourite was a scene where Gabriel detoxes a fallen angel. "This is going to hurt...a lot". The entire scene was extremely powerful.

Really the entire film is on some level a commentary about human's fight against the darkness. Each shot has something to say about our spiritual battles. Each fallen angel struggles with being so far away from 'the light'. It was nice to see a film where love and forgiveness are the heroes in the film instead of hatred and violence. (which isnt' to say that these things don't feature in the film, but they are not revelled in)

If you get a chance to go see this film, GO! Espcially people who like action films. I give this 3.5 stars out of 4.

Because he says it better than i do

thanks to xkcd.com for this comic

Hehehe..more laughing

thansk to xkcd.com

I laughed out loud and snorted!

Thanks to xkcd.com for the comic

Music review: Rock It

The Gorillaz have released a new single entitled "Rock It". While i've been a long time fan of the group, i've found this song to be as dead as the zombies in the music video. While parts of the song threaten to be interesting they slide back into a slow drumlin of chant. The effect of a chant can be powerful in a song if used sparingly. When the entire song is barely more than a continued chant, the song loses its life and fades into the background of boring elevator music.

I had hoped for more from the Gorillaz

size matters

They also can do the same
Originally uploaded by sanjins

Pop culture uses the phrase a lot. So does men's health magazines. Women's magazine's remind the reader that size really isn't that important at the same time as providing pictures of 'normal' women who've been caught in a time-lock that feature's their age at 16 and their body as anorexic.

Sizes are one of the few things that everyone will *tell* you doesn't matter, but look at any visual media and you're certain to get a completely different message.

From the shape of a woman's hips, to the length of a man's...um...member, the mainstream media is awash in ideas on how to make us look better. "Better" being an arbitrary standard set by people we probably won't enjoy a meal with...possibly because they don't eat.

But we already know that these standards for women and men are ridiculous. We already believe that model's are too skinny and men's jeans too tight. We also believe that we are too fat, too ugly, or too untalented to do much with our lives. After all, those talented people in Hollywood live a life daily on a much bigger level than we could ever do in a life time!...or so the gossip column tells us.

Every day we get spoon-fed morals, self perceptions, and global understandings that we have not learned for ourself. Some of it because we lack time, energy, or money to gain these things on our own...sometimes its just convenient.

In our 90 second microwave dinner world, we hardly have time for anything that doesn't come pre-packaged in a one size fits all category. But one size fits all doesn't work. The more often we try to pre-package everyone into the "western Christian mid-class" package, the more tears the package has as people break out. More and more Muslims are becoming vocal in their native homes in western countries. Christian values are being challenged by new cultures and different religions. The harder the pre-package is pushed, the more holes are found.

The sizes are no longer fitting for entire countries, or even for small communities. Maybe its time to admit that the full colour magazine layout in Vogue is just as misleading as the pre-packaging. Because, size really does matter. It matters because we are not the same size. We are not stalk-standard people with stalk-standard needs. Our needs, desires, and goals come in different sizes with different packaging with different shapes! Size does and should matter. But it matters because of the differences, not because we strive to be the same.

So in the end, the subliminal message is correct: size really does matter.

SINFEST

Thanks to sinfest.net for this weeks comic.

Cruelty to animals

Yoda dog
Originally uploaded by sunrise.seven

There are some things pet owners should refrain from doing. One of those things is dressing their pets up to look like star wars characters. I believe no further proof is necessary than that of this picture.

Top five

Welcome to Friday. Here is your top five things to do this weekend that will make you feel ALIVE!

5. Steal a car. Nothing too fancy, but definitely more fancy than the bomb you currently drive. There is something wonderful about driving something without rust holes in the bonnet.

4. Drive fast. You'll feel exhilarated to be behind the wheel of a car that can go faster than 100k an hour.

3. In fact, Ignore speed signs altogether. Feel your heart pump as you whisk through the school zones, dodging children as you go.

2. See how many police cars you can collect on your tail as you drive. Don't stop the car until you've got at least five and a news chopper over-head.

1. Get arrested. Nothing makes one feel more alive than knowing at any minute Bubba will decide you are better as his bitch than as wall decoration.

Enjoy your weekend everyone!

ROFL!

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