The making of

One of the most fascinating things that we have seen on our trip as been the making of the carousel. This project has been put together through the effort of volunteers who help carve, paint, and polish the pieces. We got very excited. The entire project will take many years to complete, but the process is amazing, so i've included a few photos.





^the model of the end project.




^a few of the finished/almost finished products.

Can you believe they are all hand carved??!

brief update

It's been a while since i posted. Reason: i'm on holiday.

I will be on holiday for another 2ish weeks. So far we've seen a little of hawaii (fun and WARM) spent some time with my mum (HEAPS OF FUN!) and now we are running around the north west usa. Currently i am typing this post from my brother's room at Walla Walla. It is so nice to see my brother.

I just wanted you all to know that i'm doing well and having fun and still alive. Take care, more pictures will follow soon...probably.

OH! one more thing. I managed to get my hands on 7 seasons of buffy for the amazing price of $140! i'm so happy. my fangirl self is going on a buffy fest...possibly while we drive around the North West USA:)

Photo update from Hawaii

Hubby - with one of the many fountain's in Hawaii that we found adorable.

So far...

If you missed me...thats sweet.

I've been navigating international airports for the last few days. So far i've flown into Hawaii just in time to see a burned out plane next to the airway. Chris assures me that its for training purposes, but i still found the fist sight on landing a little intimidating. Between that and the turbulence, its a bit scary.

I'd upload pictures, but the computer hates me. Perhaps i can make it fall in love with me yet...we'll keep trying.

xoxox
your faithful but lapsing blogger

fangirl rant

It wasn't that long ago that musicals were considered my "mother's entertainment". Happily, they have come back in style. Joss Whedon (yes my fangirl-ness continues) has created another musical with a twist.

Dr. Horrible's Sing Along Blog has not fully been released yet, but the first two episodes have been jewels. The humour and sensarity in each song and in each line makes me appreciate good writing even more. The series has been excellently acted by former child star Neil Patrick Harris, former Firefly captain Nathan Fillion, and by Buffy extra Felicia Day. The entire show is directed at an internet audience which is a big budget first. (and yes i do appreciate it)

If you haven't seen any good television lately, switch over the internet. Joss is serving up the deserts online!

Diaries...its all about perspective

DOG DIARY

8:00 am - Dog food! My favorite thing!
9:30 am - A car ride! My favorite thing!
9:40 am - A walk in the park! My favorite thing!
10:30 am - Got rubbed and petted! My favorite thing!
12:00 PM - Lunch! My favorite thing!
1:00 PM - Played in the yard! My favorite thing!
3:00 PM - Wagged my tail! My favorite thing!
5:00 PM - Milk bones! My favorite thing!
7:00 PM - Got to play ball! My favorite thing!
8:00 PM - Wow! Watched TV with the people! My favorite thing!
11:00 PM - Sleeping on the bed! My favorite thing!



CAT DIARY

Day 983 of my captivity.

My captors continue to taunt me with bizarre little dangling objects.

They dine lavishly on fresh meat, while the other inmates and I are
fed hash or some sort of dry nuggets.

Although I make my contempt for the rations perfectly clear, I
nevertheless must eat something in order to keep up my strength. The only
thing that keeps me going is my dream of escape.

In an attempt to disgust them, I once again vomit on the carpet.

Today I decapitated a mouse and dropped its headless body at their
feet. I had hoped this would strike fear into their hearts, since it
clearly demonstrates what I am capable of. However, they merely made
condescending comments about what a 'good little hunter' I am. Bastards!

There was some sort of assembly of their accomplices tonight. I was
placed in solitary confinement for the duration of the event. However, I
could hear the noises and smell the food. I overheard that my confinement
was due to the power of 'allergies.' I must learn what this means, and how
to use it to my advantage.

Today I was almost successful in an attempt to assassinate one of my
tormentors by weaving around his feet as he was walking.I must try this
again tomorrow -- but at the top of the stairs.

I am convinced that the other prisoners here are flunkies and snitches.

The dog receives special privileges. He is regularly released - and
seems to be more than willing to return. He is obviously retarded.

the hair cut montage

The Hair cut Montage:

stream of consciousness writing

I haven't had much to say lately, not because my brain malfunctioning, i just don't know where to start. I once had someone tell me to start writing and i'd figure out what needed to be said. So here i am, writing, without much of a purpose other than to get a few things off my chest.

The big thing at the moment is mortality. I have never had a problem with death. Or at least, i have never had a problem with my own death. Not that i'm suicidal, i just don't fear it. Yet, somehow when other people die or it becomes apparent that they could leave my life, i get clingy. How dare they be removed from the land of the living! Like with most of my life, i am terribly selfish. No one should die before me.

Saturday mocked me.

As i sat in church i heard the prayer for Mimi. Mimi is a dear friend of mine. She is my adopted grandmother. She is always so concerned for everyone else. The prayer ended. The pastor got up to speak the sermon. He prefaced his sermon with the announcement that Mimi had suffered a stroke that morning. I left church and called the hospital.

She was "stable" i was told. The rest of the day i spent on the verge of tears wondering what "stable" meant. Could she speak? Was she mobile?

It was that evening i found out that another woman i was close to as a child passed away. Mama K was the stern yet funny old lady who had a day care in her home. She looked like a grandmother. She treated everyone like they were her children and their business was her business. I loved her. I brought her back a spoon from Australia for her collection. She was very excited. I didn't see her again for several years. I wasn't sure she remembered me when i saw her at a friend's wedding. That was the last time i saw her.

The weekend was emotionally exhausting. The week has been numb. But Mimi gets out of hospital today. She is doing well. She has all her movement and a little slurring of her speech, but she's okay. I think i will be too.

rapid aging

I am definitely getting old...no...not "getting" old...i am old. I have determined this fact from watching girls merely 2-3 years my junior with their partners.

If you ever need to feel mature, go to the local hang out spot and watch the couples interact. If you last more than 20 minutes without feeling ill, you're either in a very good town (send me the name of the town, i'm willing to move) or you're part of "that age group".

"That age group" is categorised by their screeches. Their sickeningly sweet displays of affection (usually meant for the public's attention) and their speech impediment that makes every other word sound like "sex!"

I'm certain that any doctor in the country would recognise that spending more than 20 minutes in the presence of this is bad for your health. It definitely caused my rapid aging!

brief update

It was almost 2 weeks ago that my contract expired. This should have meant lots of time for blogging and writing. What it has actually meant is a lot of time spent not in front of a computer.

It's kinda nice actually. I had forgotten what the sunshine feels like and how wind whips around your body on fine autum days.

Actually i lie. I've been in the gym...i get limited sun and no wind. But i've tripled the amount of weight i can lift! and that makes it all worth it, right?

the female breakdown

Academics are studying three of the most written about public figures of our age:Britney Spears, Lindsey Lohan and Amy Winehouse. These academics are looking for reasons why media swarm around them in their moments of trauma...unlike the way the media reacts to their male counterparts.

One suggestion is that every story about these women is a "cautionary tale". It tells women they can not have a family and a profession.

Another theory is that readers like to see celebrities who "have it all" loose it a bit because it helps them feel better about themselves.

Personally i like the theory that these are cautionary tales. While i can see many male celebrities have similar break downs, i don't see the media fuss over them like they have these women. Women are expected to be able to "hold it together"and when they can't, it only goes to "prove" that women can not lead a "man's life". (there were too may "" in that sentence. forgive me) This in turns put women back into the role of passive observers and obedient buyers.

"Britney's having trouble with the courts again. She can't take care of herself. I can though, and i'll prove it by buying face cream. See i'm caring about how i look. If i were her, i'd never go out looking like that"

We might not go through that exact thought process, but the result is meant to be similar. Tabloids are not about selling stories, but selling advertisements. The stories are there to help guide readers to the products.

But what is your theory? Do you think these are cautionary tales? or are they simply a random coincidence of women's meltdown?

so we're workin' on it

yet again i confess my devotion to joss whedon...i'm sure he would be a little creeped out to know a complete stranger is "devoted" to him...but hey, he produces good shit!

fun with tax papers

After spending 3 hours on my taxes (for my country of birth), i have realised something. My country of birth has dyslexic and confused people working in their highest levels of taxation.

It is the only explanation i can come to for the reasoning behind the way the forms are presented. They start out reasonable. "start at the top", but about a third of the way down they go into a strange vortex of obscurity. "Add line 41 and 34 minus line 62 on form 3311" Your frantic scrambling to find each line only ends in frustration as you realise you have not yet begun form 3311 and can not go further on your current form until you work part of the way through the other form. You begin form 3311 only to discover that on line 22, you will need to subtract your total income from your first form with any deductions from form 4231.

By this time you've probably lost the first form, but don't worry, its probably under that 6 foot stack of papers you may or may not need to fill out the next form.

Needless to say, i dislike tax time.

We now return to our regular posts

About a week ago i joined the gym. I have thrown myself into a work out program with the force of a wrecking ball. Two hours a day i train. I am determined to train hard every day of the week.

I have known this day was coming for quite some time. I've talked about it to my husband and to a few friends, yet, the reaction to my new drive has been met with an assumption that i was a little taken back by.

You see, i recognise the fact that i have the upper body of Pamela Anderson and the butt of Roseanne Bar but i'm happy with that. I don't feel a need to loose weight. I do feel the need to get my body toned up for an overseas trip in which i will have to keep up with my mother. (which has generally been difficult since i was about 5) She has energy reserves that she keeps in her purse. On more than one occasion, i've wondered if my mother is really a robot. Or maybe the energiser bunny in disguise. So before i go on this trip, i wanted to be sure i am fit enough to go shopping with her. This means training.

Yet, at every turn, i am asked how much weight i want to loose. There is an assumption that the only reason i am training is to drop a dress size. I can't decide if the reason for this assumption is because people honestly view me as "THAT" big, or the idea of a woman in the gym has to mean she is there to work off the kilos. Either way, i think i'm a bit offended.

Jerry's idea

It was mid morning when Jerry awoke. He had managed to find enough to food the night before to quiet his empty stomach and had rested quite well. He had just awoken from a dream. In his dream he had seen a man walking along a busy road handing out books. It had given him a great idea, but he couldn't remember it now.

He stared at the wall until the idea began to reshape.

By the time the others awoke, he had a plan. He knew what to do with the films.

He explained his plan to the others and although they felt it was going to be hard to do, they agreed. There wasn't a lot of other plans happening.

It took a week to organise, but a week later, the films were being screened at an old cinema house. Those who were invited were encouraged to bring cameras and create copies of the films they watched. They could be distributed in the same way again elsewhere.

Carmen liked this plan. Some one would eventually put it on the net, but it wouldn't be them. Gerard would blame them for the leak. He might even catch them, but he couldn't lynch them for putting it online.

Carmen smiled as she watched an old black and white film. "Artwork was meant to be seen" she thought. "No use keeping it in a closet".

The silver screen actress blew a puff of smoke from her lips and swooned at a perfectly styled silver screen man. The man caught her in time and placed a passionate closed-mouth kiss on her lips. And the curtains closed on the film.

The end

Carmen (part 5)

Carmen never said much of anything. She didn't believe in words. They were to corruptible. It was too easy to say something you didn't quite mean.

She did believe in film and theatre though.

The scripts could be fine tuned. They could be carefully sculpted until the meaning was perfectly clear. They were pure.

This is exactly why she chose to be a part of this. It had started when they had found out a big entertainment company planned to destroy their old films unless the public paid a grossly overpriced fee for them. Those who had originally been involved in making those films had long ago passed away. There was no one to speak for those films. Many of them were classics. They were works of art. The loss of them, Carmen felt, would be cultural murder.

That is when the four of them had come up with an idea to make copies of these films. They didn't mind if a rival distribution company sold them, but it was important to preserve them and make them accessible to the public. After all, what good is art if it is never seen?

They found a man who agreed to get the films to a company overseas that would pay for the films.

Jayde agreed to be the one to procure the films. She posed as a mistress to an entertainment executive. It took her 3 months to get access to the films. She got copies and then spent the better part of 2 weeks trying to get out.

Carmen tried not to think about what Jayde had been forced to do to gain Gerard's trust. It really was best not to think too hard on that. It would undoubtedly involve Clive.

The sound of the car broke into her thoughts. The highway's natural cracks were making the car vibrated at a lower frequency.


6pm does not come quickly in a car. So when the car came to a stop, the exhausted occupants slunk into Fredrick's safe house. Fredrick's safe house was also solar powered which meant that light bulbs were shunned for natural light. There was little natural night left. They didn't care. Carmen layed down on the couch while the others found their own space.

escape (part 4)

"Do you know Clive?" asked the American. "Clive is going to deliver your goods to Mr. Gerard".

Jayde closed her purse. Fredrick clutched his bat. Jerry cracked his knuckles. Carmen sat quietly.

"This is not for Mr. Gerard" said Jayde.

"It belongs to Gerard's company and he is willing to pay for its return" the American grinned.

Fredrick growled. Jerry and Carmen stood up.

"We're leaving" said Jayde.

Clive reached into his pocket. Carmen grabbed his hand and broke his wrist. The game was suddenly turning violent.

"What are you doing?!" screamed the American. He was nearly frantic "That film belongs to the company! They'll hang you for this!"

Fredrick led the way out. Jayde and Jerry followed. Carmen made sure no one else was interested in following as well.

Jayde knew the American was right. In the last five years there had been two cases where people had wilfully stolen property from Gerard's company and posted it on the net. Both cases had ended in the victim's execution. Their families were then billed for the expense.

The four got back into the car. The sun had warmed the car to an unbearable state. With the windows down they drove off.

There was silence until Fredrick asked, "What do we do with the film now?"
asked Fredrick.

Jerry said, "I'm still hungry".

Clive (part 3)

It was 1 pm before anyone said anything.

"I need food" said Jerry.

"We're almost there" replied Fredrick

Carmen didn't say anything.

'There' was the next exit and it was only a few miles down the road. Stepping out of the car, the heat of the day hit them. Shimmering mirages danced off the tar sealed parking lot.

The petrol station they had stopped at had a restaurant inside. It wasn't anything special, barely even a diner.

They had just sat down when a tall man with a black gottee joined them. "Did you bring it with you?" he asked Jayde in his thick American accent. She barely nodded. "Then get it out and hand it over!" he demanded.

She opened her purse. As she reached in, she stopped. There was a sweet musky smell wafting around her. She looked up. It wasn't coming from the American so she looked around. Behind her stood Clive.

Clive believed above all else that any day a model agency would discover him. Therefore he dressed like a model. Which really was a massive insult to all models, possibly worse for designers.

Every part of Clive's wardrobe was over exaggerated. His over large shirt had 'decorative' holes cut into it. Florescent green hot pants and thongs completed the look. His hair was gelled to stand at all different angles. He apparently bathed in Cologne.

While Clive believed he was destined for the cat walk, he spent his real life posing as a hired thug....a hired thug who preferred pistols to actual fist fights.

part 2

Her car finally stopped in front of a large building. She collected her things and got out. It was early morning now and the sun was just starting to peak. The cold morning air brushed her face. She drew her coat tight and ran inside. It was an apartment block and she rented a flat on the third floor. Her quick steps making no noise on the carpeted stairs.

As she unlocked the front door, she noticed her feelings of unrest remained with her.

She opened the door and walked in. The place was elaborately decorated in reds and golds. She went for the bedroom and emptied the contents of her purse on the bed. A small camcorder tumbled out. Several envelopes and scraps of paper also found themselves unceremoniously scattered on the bed.

She sat down on the edge of the bed and sighed. She allowed herself to fall back and closed her eyes.

It was a smell that awoke her. It was the kind of smell men have after they've spent 30 minutes in the bathroom. It was a sweet musky scent.

Jayde sat up.

Quickly gathering the contents of her purse, she went to the window. There, the fire escape offered a less than dignified exit, but she took it. Not looking back, she silently left the apartment.

At the bottom of the fire escape she ran into Fredrick. He was a nice man, but he often carried a cricket bat in case he needed to be a not-so-nice man.

Today Fredrick was carrying the cricket bat and looking at Jayde in a less than friendly manner.

She considered her chances of escape. Not great in a dead end ally.

Fredrick motioned for her to follow him. She did.

Clutching her handbag, she followed Fredrick to his car. It was parked on the street, in front of her own. She noticed that her tired had been slashed and the front wind screen broken. From a brief glance, it appeared the steering wheel had been removed. At least there was little chance it would be stolen.

She slid into the back seat of Fredrick's hybrid Toyota. Fredrick cared about the environment.

The car already had two other occupants. Jerry sat in the front passenger seat. Carmen sat next to Jayde. Fredrick drove off.

unsettled

It was a cold and windy night. The world felt unsettle. Not that Jayde could really tell, but it felt poetic and that always just felt right. Wasn’t there a song that suggested that if it felt good, it must be right? She couldn’t quite remember but she was confident in the thought.

At 3am she left. She carefully closed the door behind her. She didn’t wish to wake anyone. She fumbled in her pocket for the keys and found them. “There was a car around here, somewhere”. She felt her way to the sidewalk and then to the curb where her car was parked.

Unlocking the door she got in and started the engine. She wondered if people would wake up to the sound of her ignition. It didn’t really matter. It would be too late anyway.

As she pulled away from the house she looked back in her mirror. The porch light had just flicked on. She turned her eyes to the road and sped on. It was time to go.

Poll results

Of those those who have ventured into a past art form of Theatrical performance, musicals seem the way to go.

From My Fair Lady to Sound of Music to Rent and Chicago, the musical realm is full of exciting beats and jazz hands. Perhaps it is the musical element that draws you to watch these stories unfold. Or perhaps it is the chance to watch men dance without spray on pants. (the Nutcracker will never be the same for me after watching the Ballet)

For me it is the way a production can deal with some times heavy content with humour and song.

However, the main thing we can learn from the polls is...not everyone is interested in having a say in this poll.

picture of the day

This picture came from a world in pictures gallery on news.com.au. It was such a wonderful picture, i had to share it with you. If you'd like to see other pictures from around the world click here.

three things before i go

1. my weekend was so full my eye balls feel like they are 20 ton weights. They hurt when my eyelids slide against them.

2. i need to file papers...but i can't remember which comes first 'G' or 'I'. hint anyone?

3. the poll is ending....(or maybe already ended) vote now for whirled peas.

and you can quote me

i have a deep passion for George Bernard Shaw. Perhaps it was his plays that first attracted me to him but it was the various quotes from him that had me hooked. His sense of humour and timing was amazing.

While most in the christian world would find themselves gasping at some of his quotes, i have found them a source of deep reflection. This is likely only a sign i am headed for hell, but nevertheless, i will share a few thoughts to ponder, from Shaw.

The fact that a believer is happier than a skeptic is no more to the point than the fact that a drunken man is happier than a sober one.

The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore, all progress depends on the unreasonable man.

All great truths begin as blasphemies.

Beware of the man whose God is in the skies.

I never resist temptation because I have found that things that are bad for me do not tempt me.

The play review

oh yeah! i was great.

I have humbleness oozing from every pore.

Samson Agonistes (my highlights)

Just in case

My Life as Me inspired the following blog.

I have always wondered how albums get titled, how bands come up with names...apparently they go to this site and figure it all out thanks to an assortment of popular websites. So i thought,

"self, you should be prepared in case you ever need to start a band and create your first album."

So me and myself prepared ourself with the following.

The name of my band: Visual Inspection

Name of my debut Album title: And Getting It Right

Album cover:

Paul Harvey's 'rest of the story' probably should be included...but its not.

When a liberal backbencher has mulitple orgasms on the parliment floor, it must be a pretty interesting day.

full story here...i laughed so hard i cried.

missing pixies

anyone else notice the weather pixies seem to have taken a vacation from the site?


i miss them. I hope they come back soon.

Th results are in

Apparently readers of this blog have a lot of quirk. While some describe parts of their senses as the most unique aspect of themselves, most readers had something else entirely that set them apart.

Due to the vast majority of people who responded that their uniqueness lies in something different, i want to know! What makes you different? what sets you apart? Leave me a comment and tell me what makes you unique!

Shameless self promo

Okay, i'm in a drama....and i don't mean my every day life drama. I am taking part in a play...a retelling of the Biblical story of Samson. I play Dalilah.

Time: 7:30 pm this Saturday (31 May)
Place: Avondale College, Upper College Hall
cost: $5 at the door

Come...watch...be awed...or at least support me. You might be sorry if you don't:)

My name is Bruce

Its so nice to see a film that takes the micky out of the star performer. Plus, its always amusing to watch Bruce Campbell. Coming soon to DVD...i know, i'm sad about that too.

A scarf under every bed

In the years of the Cold War, America went through a period of paranoia. McCarthy was certain that anyone could be, possibly everyone was, secretly a communist spy trying to turn the hearts of the American people against Capitalism. At the time, those in the public eye were careful not to offend the conservative America, for fear of being put on "The Black List". The list would almost ensure total career failure. But career failure was often the least concern. The rumour of communist support was enough to try a person for treason. Being tried for treason, carried a death sentence. The Rosenbergs (pictured below) fell victim of this and were executed.

It was only a few years ago in high school we mocked the McCarthy era. "How could everyone be so paranoid that they allowed rumour to dictate life and death?" we asked. In my young mind i was certain that we had moved beyond this. I felt confident that America would not fall foul of this thinking again.

It appears, i have misjudged. Yet again, America has fallen foul of paranoia. Look at the picture below. This is a snapshot of an advertisement that was pulled off the air for supporting terrorism. Can you spot the terrorist support?


If you can't. Don't feel bad. The scarf around her neck apparently looks too similar to ones that Yasser Arafat wore and are "a regular adornment of Muslim terrorists appearing in beheading and hostage-taking videos". This advertisement of a woman walking to work shows support for terrorism by simply displaying the scarf.

The advertisement has been pulled. "Thank God!" i hear you all say, "If it hadn't been, we might have thought that Dunkin' Donuts was sending a suicide bomber out with a cup of coffee"

Macbeth, the comedy

I receive a newsletter from ticketek. They let me know what shows are playing between Newcastle and Sydney. This week i noticed one that made me laugh. It's Macbeth...the comedy version. How in the world they will turn Macbeth into a comedy i would love to find out...if i have time i so want to go. Anyone want to come with me?

Gasp!

I read an article today that had me fascinated. For quite some time the US government has been criticised for its spending on the war. While i tend to criticise the war in general, i had generally chalked up the expense of the war as the price of modern warfare. Turns out, it is more than that.

According to the independent watchdog, Project on Government Oversight, the government spending has spun out of control, leaving massive areas vulnerable to fraud and corruption. Where an auditor used to be assigned for every 642 million spent, they are now assigned to every 2 billion spent. There is less accountability for the money spent.

I am now officially against USA government spending without accountability. And DEFINITELY against the way they are spending on the war.

You should watch this

You'll like it. IT'S AWESOME!!

The laws of our fathers

Not long ago gay marriage was ruled legal in the US state of California. As many Christian conservatives hang their head in shame, wailing the virtues lost in the state, equal rights are beginning to be realised for the homosexual community. While those who oppose may remind people of their puritan origins and I am reminded of laws past.

In my parents generation, they saw the rights of interracial marriage instated. Previous to this, those who were not the same skin colour were banned from marrying each other. In my grandmother's generation she saw the rights of women realised. She saw women's cognitive abilities acknowledged and their rights to vote given.

Looking back we wonder at how people would oppose such things. We look at countries who have yet to realise these rights as "backward" and "undemocratic". What will the next generation say of us when they look back and see that it took so long for the public to cry "enough" to the discrimination and segregation of those with a different sexual orientation. I wonder if they will be appalled at our voyeurism, our desire to dictate what happens in other people's bedrooms.

Perhaps they will simply classify us as "undemocratic" or "backward".

The death of JR Simplot

To much of the world the man was synonymous with potatoes. And it was only fair. He did build a great French Fry empire. He had a mind for investment and a great eye for a bargain...and apparently potatoes.

On Sunday JR Simplot died at his home in Boise, Idaho.

His rating on the forbs rich list and being baned from commodities trading for 6 years was not what i remembered him for.

As a girl i remember his house. No, not his house, but the hill in which is house was built on. His hill was perfect for iceblocking. I have many fond memories of that hill and the fun we had on it. Sliding down the hill when it was snow covered, or scooting down on an iceblock in the spring.

The hill will remain.

The man has moved on.

Not hell

The next few weeks are cracked up to be slightly better than hell. There will be no fire...but a fair amount of ice. There will be no man with pitchfork, only me with a whip. So to help me remember not to stress too much over life and all that it requires, i have put together a list...of things to help me unwind.

1) drink water. you can't be overly stressed when your drowning in liquid...maybe mix in a bit of sugar...supposedly it helps you be more positive...and possibly sing in a higher key.

2) wear clothes that make you feel pretty. I once saw a small child with a towel worn like a cape chasing seagulls and yelling "I'M PRETTIER THAN YOU! I'M PRETTIER THAN YOU!". She had awesome self esteem.

3) Pray. As long as you address your prayers to the right god your likely to relax. Be careful you don't send prayers to the wrong address or else you might find yourself in the actual version of hell.

This has been kristin's 3 tips for getting through a slightly better version of hell.

Poll results (happiness)

In the end it was a tie between spouses and pets that were the main source of happiness for readers. While children and hobbies tied for a close second place.

Perhaps the information that can be taken from this poll is that the main source of happiness can not be calculated for all people. We have different things in our life that bring out smiles and laughter.

It never ceases to amaze me how different we are. While we might all look similar (head, body, fingers and toes) there are so many different combinations of internal workings that make us unique.

I have often commented how similar I am to my best friends. We like the same foods, listen to the same songs, and re-act the same way to pressure…but the truth is we are often worlds apart. We pull our strengths from different places. We find our happiness and contentment where the other does not.

These differences help bond us together. Without them we might pass over the beauty and new understanding that can be found in friends.

The thought for the today then, CELEBRATE THE DIFFERENCE! We would be boring without it.

Respect

When anthropologists look back on history they can often feel a loss when an invading force takes over a culture. The invading force, in attempts to show its power, destroys the culture of the people. They may smash temples, defile sacred objects and in some cases rape women to further demonstrate their power over the people.

Today, we look in horror at these events of the past. Jews and Christians alike mourn the loss of Solomon’s temple. The academic world mourns the loss of many Mayan artefacts. Yet, humanity continues to repeat the failures of its ancestors.

A sniper in the US army has been using the Koran as target practice. The Koran which was bullet ridden was found to have been defaced with graffiti as well.

A study was done in 1971. A Stanford professor of psychology used his class to demonstrate how a prison psychology works. He built a make-shift prison. He assigned half the class to be prisoners and half the class to be guards. He would assume the role of Warden.

It took less only a few days for the students who were ‘guards’ to start demonstrating “genuine” sadistic behaviour towards prisoners. It took the prisoners only a few days to realise they had to take it.

If we allow those with the biggest gun to rule over those they are meant to protect, only fear can come out. It is only through mutual respect can we overcome the biggest obstacles that confront us. Degrading what others are and what they believe will not lead us on a path of peace.

Comic of the week: sinfest

Thanks to sinfest.net for making my day just that little bit brighter.

"I could have done more"

Irena Sendler was a polish woman who saved more than 2500 children during the holocaust. Knowing that she was doing the right thing, she smuggled children out of a city where jewish families were taken to death camps. She could not take the rest of the family, so she kept a record of the names of the children so that after the war they might be reunited with their families.

When she was eventually caught and tortured, she refused to give up the names the children. Her body was broken, leaving her with scares she would bare for the rest of her life. Finally, after friends bribed a guard she was released. She went right back to her work of saving children.

In 2005 Sendler reflected: "We who were rescuing children are not some kind of heroes. … The opposite is true - I continue to have qualms of conscience that I did so little. I could have done more."

Sendler died on Monday. She was 98.

Poll results

Apparently according to the always-accurate blogger poll, the USA is the most dangerous western tourist destination.

Who would have thought that all those Michael Moore films about how sucky it is to be in America with so much violence and no health cover would make an impact on the tourist industry!

While the USA does have the highest violent crime rates in the western world, a study in 2006 showed that it actually has lower over-all crime rates. So the bonus is that you are less likely to get pick-pocketed while visiting New York, your still more likely to shot in the head while visiting the local mall where your great aunt Mildred lives.

Remember to vote in the newest Poll and have your say on the way of the world!

Reason number 666: why i don't have children

I have long known that studies supported the idea that marriage makes people happier. I did not know that marriage withOUT children made them happier still.

According to a professor of psychology at Harvard University married couples have more happiness than those who are single, divorced, or co-habituating. However, the happiness of the couple decreases upon having children.

Once the children have left the home, the happiness of the couple returns to pre-children rates.

"Parents tell me all the time that: `My child is my greatest source of joy'," Professor Daniel Gilbert said. My reply is that: `Yes, when you have one source of joy, it's bound to be your greatest'."

AT LAST!! I finally have a scientific answer for why i am still childless!

Ghita

Becky has already posted a blog about Cleopatra Stratan. I thought it was so cute, i'd post a video of my own. This is an english version of her song Ghita. Enjoy!

the wedding dance

It is so nice to see a loving couple dance their first dance together. It's sweet and tender. I thought i might share this moment with you. While it isn't me in the film, you'll understand why i think this touching moment is worth sharing.



Thanks to melody for sending it to me.

Death for a death

The first excecution in the USA has been carried out since the Supreme Court lifted its temporary hold on excecutions. A mere 20 people showed up to protest the event.

The man convicted of killing his girlfriend by shooting her in the face in 1988 was put to death by leathal injection.

After 20 years, I can not help but wonder if they put to death the same man that committed those crimes. Undoubtedly circumstances would have changed the man. I don't know if he was a nicer or meaner man...but i would find it hard to believe he was exactly the same.

The issue brings up the question of punishment verse rehabilitation. While prison is arguably the worst place for rehabilitation, is our goal as a society to produce balanced members of society? or to punish those who have committed crimes against the society?

If the process is meant simply to punish, execution is one of the better punishments.

If the process is meant to rehabiliate, than the execution of a prisoner is useless.

If the process is meant to serve as a detourant for those who might choose a life of crime, studies suggest that criminals don't believe they will be caught...thus the punishement is not enough of a detourant.

Confusious once said, "Consideration for others is the basic of a good life, a good society". If we are not considering even the lowest in our society, than we have failed to make a good society. After all, "The degree of civilization in a society can be judged by entering its prisons". (Fyodor Dostoyevsky)

Capital punishment might feel like the right course of action when we have been wronged, but to base judgement on a feeling is wrong. We must be willing to provide more than food and water to those who trespass against society...in fact we should be providing these services long before they trespass. Counselling, Psychologists, Educators, financial stablities must all be provided if a society wants to move forward together.

We have already seen the cost of not providing these. The prisons are full and over flowing. Homelessness is rising, the life expectancy is lower for those on the other side of the gap.

Opening more prisons will not solve this problem. Fast tracking the execution line will not keep society safe. We need to move to the heart of the problem.

Olympic dreams

The Olympic games this year are the centre of controversy for much of the world. Tibet is often used as the reason for much protest against China. There are many more abuses that are less public that China has carried out, but they will hold the games non-the-less.

Holding the Olympics is an honour to any country that hosts the games. The amount of publicity the country gets is enough to continue to generate a steady flow of interest long after the closing ceremony. The country reaps a revenue that helps bolster any economy. It also helps foster a sense of global awareness. The average person suddenly realises the rest of the world is out there, watching.

China has it tough. As an up and coming world power is it facing opposition from current order, western order. Western countries are quick to point out the atrocities that China's government has carried out and continues to carry out, but these same protesters remained silent when games were held in Australia, even though the Australian government practised continued abuse on their own aboriginal people. When the games were held in the USA, no one suggested that USA should loose their privilege because of their treatment of the poor or the increasing numbers of domestic slaves from Mexico found within their boarders.

China has a dark side. This is a perfect time to help raise awareness of its abuses, but it isn't a time tarnish the Olympics. This is an opportunity to help China assimilate into the world community. To help it do better by its people. The influence the world has is great, if applied appropriately. Let's not loose this chance to change the world for the better.

More Fashion

If you've ever wondered about the fashion industry, i'm about to give you a profound insight.


^"I've always wanted to play Luke Skywalker! Now thanks to Australia's Fashion Week, I CAN! Where's my lightsaber?"



^If she were any happier about her catwalking abilities, her face would fall off.


^Fashion embraces all kinds of body types. Even those with three or more breasts!



^"Of course i would actually wear these glasses in public. See i'm already doing it on the catwalk!"


^Homage to all conservative Muslim women who want to take the next step in the fashion industry.



^ You can tell she really loves wearing 20 pounds of decorations on her head.


^The girl on the left is running the risk of having her bones poke holes through her skin. The girl on the right was kidnapped and forced into fashion modeling. (check out the hair...no brushed in weeks!)

Monster Movie Theory

I've got a theory it could be bunnies....

okay before you start singing along, this is actually a somewhat serious post. I was recently reading a blog about how popular Monster Movies are a response to things that happen in the real world. For example, the movies like Godzilla are the response to the nuclear attacks in Japan. The blog then went on to suggest that when the monsters changed to Vampire or Zombies, they were responding to viral plagues that were blood related, such as AIDS.

As i began thinking about the popular monster movies of today, i began to think of films such as Saw or Hostel. These are films that play off the fear of a monster but with a few considerable differences.

In the big Monster films of the past, the monsters were killed by humans working together to destroy the villain. In monsters films of the moment, the monster is human but he has isolated his prey to a point they are helpless against him. In the end, the victims do not over come the villain. At best the victim becomes the villain, reviling in the torture himself.

The 1950s films, while still ending in uncertainty (about whether or not this monster was the last one they would have to kill), there was still a certain amount of hope in the future. Today, the films are reflecting a hopelessness and helplessness. Is this a product of living in a society that believes global warming is going to be our undoing? Is it because terrorism and fear (from both the middle east and western countries) has taken a place of authority in our minds? Is the fear we see in the film reflecting our own fear and helplessness?

I do not know the full extent of what these sort of films are telling us, but i do believe that these monster film are telling us something truly scary about the world we are living in.

The hard yards

If life was like a box of crayons, you would probably find it much easier to choose between the right and the wrong. You would instantly be able to tell what you were getting when you picked up the crayon for your strokes of blue and yellow. But life is so rarely boxed into crayon colours.

So much of our media thrive on villains and heroes. The Bali Bombers are villains and the 9/11 Firefighters are heroes. As readers we want our stories simple and easy to understand. We don't want the full story, it would be too long to fit into its cover space and too opposing to our ideals.

Recently i was sent an email that asked me to sign a petition to keep two men in jail. The email detailed thing they did when they were 10 years old (they are now 25ish) that landed them in prison. The email told of the horrors that they committed and almost terrified me into believing that if these two men were released they would certainly come after me.

But who among us is the same person that they were when they were 10 years old? They are different men now.

If they are worse than they were at 10, whose fault is that? They were removed from their parents. They were brought up by the state, their lives were paid for by the public. If these boys were not rehabilitated, then perhaps the fault lies us for not providing them with an environment in which they would be able to grow into functioning members of society.

If we have provided these things, why would we condemn them for life over the things they did as a child?

It is easy for us to condemn the criminals for their crimes without looking at the circumstances that brought them to that place. It is easy for us to denounce the worse among us as "unfit for life" without doing the hard yards to help make them fit for life.

The fix for society is not a quick one. Nor is it one size fits all. It involves a lot less assumptions and a lot more care.

Model this

The models have hit the streets with their tiny arses and stileto shoes. The cries of a million malnurished women have been silenced with smaller dress sizes. Australia's fashion week is here again.

With a polite nod to political correctedness, i am curvey. So it is perhaps my curves that cause sense of decency to run and hide when a model of 2 pounds is seen as "normal" for the catwalk. The thighs that do not touch saunter down the aisle, daring the skin to make contact with skin as the model scizors her legs along. Hair is pulled drastically away from the face so the limpness does not cause stares and the protruding cheekbones mark the face as gaunt. Her eyes are hollow but overshaddowed with enough makeup to secure a make-over to the residents of a small country. The hands are boney, with fingers like spider legs. The miss-hung clothing hangs off the model revealing parts of a woman that even her closest companion probably didn't know about.

And this is what is toted as the epidomy of fashion. This is what i should strive to achieve. A boney frame that might break upon a hug. Eyes that are vaccant and clothing that hangs from a starved body.

I will take my curves that do not fit into every article of clothing. I will keep my flushed cheeks. My hair will continue to shine and allowed bounce with my steps. Because i am a woman who is loved. I have a body that is loved. I do not need the high fashion skelotons to tell me i'm not good enough. My lover is not bruised against my protroding bones. My nails are strong and beautiful. I can walk more than the length of a catwalk and i can definately see through you.

Note from me

Today i feel that things should be different. Most things should be different...but being that *apparently* i don't run the world, i will settle for making my little space a little more snazzy. Enjoy.

xoxox

your blogging mistress

and the winner is

According to our website poll, most of you would rather that Buffy end up with Spike. He's smart, cute, and best of all ISN'T whiney!

Sorry Angel...looks like you lost to Spikeybear.

try crack, it tastes like strawberries

It started by my husband wanting to play something that i could play with him. So we tried playing a free online massively multiplayer game, Maplestory. It wasn't bad from my point of view. You had little cartoon characters who ran around killing snails. I didn't see a problem.

My husband did. Who knew he was part of TETOS (The Ethical Treatment of Snails).

So we decided to look elsewhere. The obvious choice was WoW. I didn't really want to play being that everything i had read said that WoW was crack for the gamer...and hubby is definately a gamer. So we kept looking.

Nothing was turning up, at least nothing that allowed hubby the game play he desired and kept me from throwing the monitor out the window.

For hubby's birthday, he was given 2 trial accounts of WoW. I finally agreed to play the trial accounts.

Turns out crack is actually quite nice, tastes sort of like strawberries.

A dying breed

The Record companies have made news again. They want ISP providers to start policing their servers and punishing their own customers if they download music illegally. In Australia, most are refusing, saying that it isn't their responsibility to police the net. They say that there are plenty of avenues available to the Record companies to file suits against people who are downloading their music illegally.

When this story first started to make news, i felt a bit bad for the Record companies. They were putting so much effort into getting and keeping their money without support. I have since decided I do not have any sympathy for them.

For every CD I buy, The record company gets a large portion of the profit and a few cents to the artist. But i do not own the CD i bought. I only own the right to play the CD on my CD player. If i convert the music to MP3 format and play it on my iPod, they can punish me for doing so. So in a since, if i want to listen to one song, i will have to buy it twice so i can listen to one two different formats THAT I OWN! We haven't even started talking about file sharing yet.

In essence, they punish their own customers. But it doesn't stop there.

If I buy a CD and love it, want to tell people about it and give copies of their album to my friends to hear, I get in trouble. Because even though this sort of publicity will bring more people to concerts (which make a lot more money for the Artists), the Record companies don't want the Artist to make money, they want to make money.

In November of last year, a Producers for the film The Man from Earth, thanked online Pirates for stealing his film. He said “The Man From Earth” has been overwhelmingly positive. People like our movie and are talking about it, all thanks to piracy on the net!”

“The Man From Earth” has been overwhelmingly positive. People like our movie and
are talking about it, all thanks to piracy on the net!”

Record companies are a dying breed. They are not needed any more. They have become so consumed with greed that they are not doing what is best for their artists or their customers. While they may work with countries and courts to keep their business, it is only a matter of time before the world realised that they are not needed to publicise artists, to sell albums, or to get people to concerts. They are a useless middleman.

The Fast Food Rant

What is to follow is pretty much a fast food rant. It serves up a little bit of something similar to meat but without any real substance. Mainly this is due to my laziness...same reason i eat fast food actually.

1) Did you see the USA democrats confront the republicans on their sex abstinence program? Democrats want to include tips for safe sex not just abstinence in the sex education programs. Republicans are having a hard time of it though, but it's so important that these three-times-divorced republicans learn about safe sex or else they'll just keep getting caught in public toilets with their pants down for the wrong reasons!

2) Apparently skinny mummy needs a tummy tuck. I'm so glad they made a book for the kids of Hollywood parents. Now there is one less thing they will have to discuss with their psychologist when they grow up and get arrested for DUI's of their own.

3) Who knew that America's gun laws would benefit criminals in other countries?! This is what happens when you are so paranoid about people coming into your country that you search every car coming in for an apple, but wave though the cars going out, even when its a black van, heavily loaded with small arms and artillery...oh yeah, and the limp arm hanging out that back is probably just one of those Halloween props.


And that has been my fast food rant.

Melbourne Comedy Gala 2008

What do cats dream of?

What do cats dream of?

As soon as i sit down, i'm soon joined by Bobcat. He curles up in my lap and happily purrs himself to sleep. Then comes the fun part.

He begins to snore. Then sort of whine. AND THEN, he gets shivers that run down his spine.

What is he dreaming that causes this? Is he dreaming or is it just a natural happening of sleeping? I don't know. But i would definitely like to.

film review: Penelope

I love a good fairytale. Modern fairytales make me happy, but often leave me cold. I love the idea of them, but they just don't pull off the wonder that so many other fairy stories leave me with.

I was pleasantly surprised to find that the film Penelope, starring Christina Ricci, was lacking in the cold area. The story was beautiful and exciting.

The tale centres around a girl who as been cursed with the nose of a pig. Her mother hides her away from the public and at the same time tries to marry her off to a "blue blood" to break the curse.

I especially like the end where the moral of her story is told by children.

Penelope: [telling her class her story] And we lived happily ever after - well, happily ever after so far at least.
Child #1: I don't get it. What does it mean?
Penelope: Well, you tell me what you think it means.
Child #2: Rich people stink!
Child #3: It's always the mothers fault.

With the help of some beautiful acting and careful cinematic work, and best of all, a real script, it has won its place as one of my favourite films. And yes, our next movie night will probably feature this film. Brace yourself.