Friday, 26 September 2008
Thursday, 25 September 2008
Wednesday, 24 September 2008
Tuesday, 23 September 2008
“A social experiment with lipstick”
She’s Catherine Deveny, and she’s not afraid to speak her mind.
“I found myself checking out Palin Facebook groups last night. The ones that amused me included: Excuse Me, But Has Anyone Else Noticed That Sarah Palin Is Insane? My Dog Is More Qualified To Be Vice-President Than Sarah Palin. Sarah Palin Is A Bona Fide Whack Job. Librarians Against Sarah Palin. I Would Have Sex With, But Not Vote For, Sarah Palin. And: I Would Rather Have A Mentally Challenged Goat AS VP Than Sarah Palin.”
“Shooting, hunting, God-fearing, anti-abortion, book-banning, homophobic, white trash moron…Palin is a writer’s dream. I wish I had the imagination to invent her…The only problem with Sarah Palin is that she’s real.”
“I have two long-held beliefs. First, people should have to pass an intelligence test before they’re allowed to vote and second, that the rest of the world should be able to vote in the US elections because the outcome affects us as much as them. If not more.”
x
JAG
Like Living in the Middle East
Dust storms are part and parcel of living in a rural area, where it's vaguely dusty, windy, and/or summer. But with the drought, no rain, and a lot of topsoil loose - well, the dust storms just get
Makes you appreciate electricity and running water when the power's out for 8 hours.
Apart from family bonding, the only good thing to come from either of the storms was a bit of rain. But as always, not enough.
Never enough.
x
JAG
Sunday, 21 September 2008
Friday, 19 September 2008
Can't Help Myself
Thursday, 18 September 2008
Summer, Baby
I'm not entirely sure why I'm looking forward to it so much - all I know is, it's gonna be great. Probably because I'm so over the bloody winter blues! I just want some sun, some beach and some fun!
Hello, Hawaii!
Aaaaaaaaaand:
Even though it's not even going to be summer over there - it's still gonna rock.
x
JAG
21
Also: holidays. Y'all know what that means; I'm going home, less blogging, etc. More sleeping. Though as my teachers keep telling me, it's not a holiday, it's a "non-teaching period," which means there's no excuse not to give us work. Must they?
x
JAG
PS: jdl and N: I will reply soon, hopefully over the weekend, but I can't promise anything.
Boost, Baby
My (first!) shift didn't start until 12, though, by which time all the hubub had died away, and all that remained was a bouquet of flowers tied to a speed limit sign near the tram stop.
That said, my shift was a lot of fun - mostly just making juices, preparing food, washing up and so on - but the second thing I got told (after "the bathroom's down there, to the left) was "did you hear about the woman who got hit by a bus this morning?"
Puts a bit of a dampner on things to say the very least.
Speaking of dampners...got to finish that Lit essay. Because, jdl, unlike you, I plan to pass.
x
JAG
Saturday, 13 September 2008
Masquerade, Bitches
(I know, how very Gossip Girl.)
I've always wanted to go to a masquerade ball, and this was my chance, as my good friend B* does infomatics, and the ISSS Ball was masquerade-themed!
(jdl asked what infomatics is. Apparently, "information systems is the study of the application and use of information technology - hardware, software, networks, and database - by individuals and organisations." The way I understand it is computer science/engineering/software.)
It was mostly my fault that we caught the wrong tram down Victoria Ave, and that it didn't pass in front of Albert Park. It didn't help that we also got fined (for f---'s sake) for not carrying our concession cards whilst riding on concession tickets. If we get fined - and there's a pretty good chance we will - it's $168.
On top of that we subsequently missed our stop, but we soon figured out which one it was, and walked down to Albert by the Lake, which is a really nice venue.
So, once we got over our angsty journey there, we had a really good time!
We didn't know anyone on our table - I think they were all 2nd and 3rd years - but that was OK, because they were pretty nice. B knew a few classmates, and I - funnily enough - knew another girl in 3rd year who doesn't do infomatics but came with a friend as well!
My mask found a friend! B and I went mask shopping on Monday, and nearly bought the silver mask (left) to go with my dress!
During the first two courses there was live music, which was pretty good, before the DJ started spinning some tunes and the dancing began. I ended up dancing with - and meeting - a few people I didn't know, as B was, well, otherwise engaged...
We left around 11.30, before the after party began. Apparently it wasn't that good anyway. And we caught a cab, so we wouldn't get lost (or fined) a second time. But it was all worth it.
In other super-exciting news...the Changeover Dinner was last night in college, when the new Student Executive members are announced...and I WON ARTS/CULTURAL REP!! Voting is just a popularity vote, so I didn't think I'd win (though of course I hoped I might); I thought the second year, who'd run for A/C rep last year as well - would get it. So I was thrilled to get it. After the dinner, all the Student Exec - new and old - went to the pub (first time I'd been) just across the road. Apparently you're supposed to buy the previous exec rep in your position drinks for the night (and vice versa), but thankfully, the previous a/c rep wasn't there. I say thankfully because, as much as I dearly love her, and she's so much fun, I wouldn't have liked to be drinking. It was bad enough that the old exec made us drink a "changeover shot" - I have no idea what it was, but it tasted like detergent.
I'm not sure if it's really sunk in yet though. As someone said to me, "it won't sink in until you have to start doing stuff." In any case, I'm really, really happy about it. And I'm trying to forget about that bloody fine.
Tonight we're going out for a friend's 20th. It's going to be awesome.
x
JAG
Friday, 12 September 2008
Nano Loses Weight
All those colours! All those features! I wasn't a huge fan of previous nano models, (and my 3 year old mini works just fine, thank you very much) but this one might just pique my interest...and want.
x
JAG
YouLose!
500 Internal Server Error
Sorry, something went wrong.
A team of highly trained monkeys has been dispatched to deal with this situation. Please report this incident to customer service.
Also, please include the following information in your error report:
aD047PQ0prp-G6GyUhoapSkhu6ihHJfwt0qTd_GE9ZhYVHoMzikE_7u-_-lZ
t4KmvJhas2r6occtbKapCVNEIfO6ZgXN-iQmUP2Toj4jtxN_aoloTL_U35e4
JljMl7n9wRvpwDXUl3lgU9OGPM1CgUpnjfoBw5u4XtMxnjlKz311IrnB64aq
N3bY0v-7ImHuP8GIeQVFNrQmWoCxB2oAIb2jFmCVWb3elV8K63PfkYnKDiv3
QH5HNPei8ghtPTtREy1gEg0bOx0s6-fBk-2Zu98NA1OOQo-1r4cg8W_hWmaj
yTZWcaoEJ_cI6aeNbr_zirJRxZ6G_QLnOnPFnxZ7VW1nWWhVrJ8VzMW4Oah5
QQV7_wbgMXwpSJzTx9MbuBJx9X9AuW72TC1z4pOrq0DK0gkkss_wUAwfOTg0
JE85Kbw8tLWlUBbMFGXsYlyW1e71Z6vd7YhTxy8ML0WqFhEU-nyBJ-7gTYAn
TZ6ri7cpmKBGnMB20PsZyEfL-jhm4Mps9r85Phzxn2UGoxPlR5Y7AbeZ2xHH
_4jc4F0wmp-dy_tJX2IfBu0L0FhaGBpr6YRLKCrPXmsrhRlrwwJbHLpgBrFF
J3YGFhHd7-1rw5PVQlKpSSMeENrs8qtM3XX_vTQpw0TlJ9C_qyEOvDMPFzN8
8QEFF8Lh1ue2puctl6AgvF66EOReNeOdwrAOImZ3DOoPkbT_s3k9VthS8aKo
ueTO8gQNfrtPGXv91OJkj0ZkxtlXEIkB_RrXQwaBk8xO0m2pzVi90OgqXC5H
4mRZJnI280H1uKc17lCXSrfIt1zJJ59O4-vOntIJtPzlzBoCdgeCVH5hNa3o
e-A6ItEceUEminyRUqCvCjnEAUOpHIWFJLmkeD5-Vmlghw5fjSkQIEKwcmrW
g6ECqoGSi2ax0fdo4ZoP_ekyB8RnAsgKUMq2IJrdYtkdKRnjwdVCNPVJU5cD
6E-vToA8Tme3_oVxG-Os5I_vXdvBXxvgkT43XwX-FowKXg3xtMtkcK9YuCXh
Wy120J1BndRaZjKvLn7pGsV5v4PfM3lGdazciB1DX2EzVwj79CocOI_3GR_S
rBIYeklnlKWbftqhvpGypdmbYDwdotl-jyLatjTO93agGEKdlc_zXPd_f5L8
6iqMhzcjSKQGbdQnkQ9cgXl971K_QxbpmosyldEEgFw8ae9F8wY8Mrov7uGQ
b6jdhXa0Vz5soLHHOC7hYIdjYziSYd73z8kOoYW2RXCHPSCIsnq0yuBPmx6u
GMQ7ibdHcX71JYPd1rmExS8YwJC4AjKNppYR4Rc44ZEjr4arT0-7dwwS6UQs
EXPEetpHnnFWWU1Ge0a9iPFI111SDBgdiCogxY3teHQuWYBCfS8dPxUOJWt2
9V29i4ZehWzlc6IrqFHLNhoblNwTNID_-GV0k7o=
Seriously.
x
JAG
Thursday, 11 September 2008
Wednesday, 10 September 2008
What more is there to say?
I just want to say: I think you're incredibly brave, and, well, you're not alone.
Also:
x
JAG
Tuesday, 9 September 2008
And She's Like, So Whatever
5 year old girl: Mummy, I'm going to blame everything on you from now on too.
Last night, netball game:
Opposing Goal Defence to Wing Defence: I have the most amazing news! Guess what?
Wing Defence: What?
GD: Guess!
WD: I don't know!
GD: My grandma's getting married this weekend and I'm going to be her bridesmaid!
WD: Oh my gosh that is amazing!
[GD misses a pass]
Yesterday's Culture, Media and Everyday Life tute:
Some guy: On the plane they were showing Sex and the City, and I was really bored so I figured I might as well watch it...I didn't go see it at the cinema, it's not like this sexually ambiguous decision or anything.
Today's literature lecture [on Sylvia Plath]:
Lecturer: Poets have a higher rate of self-destructive behaviour than any other artists, 26% compared with 11%...and only 1% of the population. So if you're a fledgling poet...look out.
***
It's Student Union election time on campus which means propaganda, pushy parties and lots of Leftists. I was walking to my (one) lecture today, listening to my iPod (iPhone, but whatever), thinking gleefully that at least they'd leave me alone now, when to my dismay some guy from YES!/Fresh (or whoever) started telling me about what they stand for. As if I care. And as if I was listening! I can't escape them; they're everywhere, and they promote in all my lectures too. I think I might vote, just so the socialist alternative doesn't get elected. Also, I want Independent Media as the Media Officers. I do not want a Left Farrago.
My favourite slogan is the Liberal one:
DO THE RIGHT THING
(They also say "kick the commies off campus!" and "it's time to smash socialism." I agree, but I'm not sure I want a conservative Student Union, either...)
***
A very amusing spoof:
x
JAG
Am I not pretty enough?
Am I not pretty enough?
Is my heart too broken?
Do I cry too much?
Am I too outspoken?
Don't I make you laugh?
Should I try it harder?
Why do you see right through me?
I live, I breathe, I let it rain on me
I sleep, I wake, I try hard not to break
I crave, I love, I've waited long enough
I try as hard as I can
Am I not pretty enough?
Is my heart too broken?
Do I cry too much?
Am I too outspoken?
Don't I make you laugh?
Should I try it harder?
Why do you see right through me?
I laugh, I feel, I make believe its real
I fall, I freeze, I pray down on my knees
I hope, I stand, I take it like a man
I try as hard as I can
Am I not pretty enough?
Is my heart too broken?
Do I cry too much?
Am I too outspoken?
Don't I make you laugh?
Should I try it harder?
Why do you see right through me?
Why do you see,
Why do you see,
Why do you see right through me?
Lyrics
By the wonderful Kasey Chambers.
Who understands perfectly.
x
JAG
Monday, 8 September 2008
Sunday, 7 September 2008
Pop Culture is a Wonderful Thing
Uhh...I don't think I've heard of this song...
[Click images to enlarge]
Classic. (As is this site.)
And this, my favourite, can only be appreciated in full.
x
JAG
Tuesday, 2 September 2008
17 Year Old Scandal
OMG. I'm not sure which is more scandalous.
I'm being sarcastic here. OMG America, get over it already. And furthermore, don't judge her for it.
So it goes against her "no sex before marriage" beliefs; but those are her beliefs, not her daughter's. Furthermore, she's pro-life, so it supports her stance on that. It's not like it majorly contradicts her policies or anything. It's private, I think people should just leave her alone. It's not as though she was pregnant at 17 - it's not her scandal. And as Obama so rightly points out, his mother was only a year older - 18 - when she had him. So what's the biggie? (It could be slightly hypocritical, if in fact her first child was born out of wedlock, as is speculated.)
On another note, I've discovered I disagree with Sarah Palin on several issues. Firstly, pro-life. I'm pro-choice, but I don't think I'll go into that. Secondly, she seems to be rather homophobic in her policies; she apparently thinks it's OK to deny rights and benefits to gays, and sees marriage as a union solely between a man and a woman. Ultra conservative much? And what's her problem with sex education? I mean, I think that's how you get through to them, not by preaching abstinence. That she supports the Constitutional right to bear arms is also worrying, though I don't have a problem with her hunting.
And let's not even get started on her global warming beliefs.
The one thing we do agree on, ironically, is sex before marriage (in that we don't agree to it), although for vastly different reasons, I imagine.
Not sure if I could bring myself to vote for Obama though; I probably would (if I were voting), simply because he's a Democrat and I'd rather see one in power than a Republican, but he's so damn young! Not even - just inexperienced. One term as senator is not enough. I suppose Joe Biden helps, but he's still only VP...I think this is going to be a lot closer than people think.
As I was saying to my grandmother tonight...I think the First Lady totally would kick these guys' butt as prez, but sadly, that just ain't gonna happen.
x
JAG
Wall-E
I mean, isn't he just the cutest?!
Too bad it's not coming out until the 18th Down Under.
x
JAG
Forget what you think you know about life
Brilliant.
Narrator: I flipped through catalogs and wondered: What kind of dining set defines me as a person?
Tyler Durden: Do you know what a duvee is?
Narrator: It's a comforter...
Tyler Durden: It's a blanket. Just a blanket. Now why do guys like you and me know what a duvee is? Is this essential to our survival, in the hunter-gatherer sense of the word? No. What are we then?
Narrator: ...Consumers?
Tyler Durden: Right. We are consumers. We're the bi-products of a lifestyle obsession. Murder, crime, poverty, these things don't concern me. What concerns me are celebrity magazines, television with 500 channels, some guy's name on my underwear. Rogaine, Viagra, Olestra.
Tyler Durden: Reject the basic assumptions of civilization, especially the importance of material possessions.
Tyler Durden: The things you own end up owning you.
Tyler Durden: Sticking feathers up your butt does not make you a chicken.
Tyler Durden: You're not your job. You're not how much money you have in the bank. You're not the car you drive. You're not the contents of your wallet. You're not your fucking khakis. You're the all-singing, all-dancing crap of the world.
Narrator: I know it seems like I have more than one side sometimes...
Marla Singer: More than one side? You're Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Jackass!
I love this scene:
Check out this amusing comic strip summary of the film. It tells you what happens, so don't read unless you've seen, or want to know.
x
JAG
Monday, 1 September 2008
Girls Are Fugly
I bow down in homage to them.
Paris Hilton, though, cracks me up. I honestly wonder how she can wear an outfit like this, and still think she has dignity.
"This is me as nature intended: wrapped in Lycra, polyester, and sequins."
And I have no idea how she convinces herself that her 'life'/'work' has any meaning, or why she even bothers. Though she is good entertainment value.
So thank you Fug girls, for being gloriously, outrageously bitchy every day of the week. I aspire to be more like you.
x
JAG
I HAVE A JOB I HAVE A JOB I HAVE A JOB!
1. It's my first job.
2. I really, really wanted it; it's at Boost Juice, only, like, one of my favourite stores ever.
3. Money! It's what the uni student lives for. That, sleep ins, and free booze.
Excuse me while I gush but I GOT THE JOB! I GOT THE JOB!
Again, did I mention I'm excited?!
The interview was Saturday, it was this HUGAMUNGOUS group interview (in Boost terms, an "audition.") There must have been, like, 50 people there. Mostly uni students, with a few school kids thrown in for good measure. It was a whole bunch of group activities, like making a dress out of newspaper and modelling it for the
AND THEY LIKED ME!
Needless to say, I like them too. I can see this being a positive relationship.
Can't believe I haven't blogged for a week. The sickness really got me down, I spent most of last week in bed (watching Supernatural...) and not doing a lot else. Mostly avoiding class. Visited the doctor to get a medical certificate to legitimise my avoiding class.
In college we're having student executive elections, and this week is campaigning. I'm running for Arts and Cultural Rep (the person who organises all the intra/intercollege arts/cultural events, like debating and battle of the bands and theatre sports and parties etc.) 3 other people are running for this position, so I'm campaigning pretty hard. By pretty hard, I mean a few posters around college. They're clever, though, and funny, if I may say so myself, and people seem to like them. Whatever makes people vote for me!
Also on the weekend I saw the wonderful Melbourne Model: The Musical, the satire-cum-protest piece objecting to - you guessed it - the Melbourne Model. The Musical was utterly entertaining in every way, with outrageous musical numbers that insulted and imitated everything from Asia (one of my favourites) to the Last Supper to Kevin 07. The Musical tells the story of the ambitious Glyn Davis, who becomes Vice Chancellor to a desperate, cash-strapped Melbourne University, promising prestige and pay with the new "Melbourne Model," with it's six streamlined degrees that threatens the variety/obscurity of the Art department, particularly subjects like gender studies. Liberal member Wally Higgins Beaumont - played to a t by Joshua Lynzaat - follows drooling in Glyn's wake, his admiring, starry eyed, Melbourne Model lover. Meanwhile, Glyn's on a crusade around campus, cutting subjects left right and centre, despite the objections of the radical Student Union - "artists and thespians, Communists and lesbians" - who feel that Wally has double crossed them. Wally, however, soon sees the truth, when the VC cuts his precious Viking studies, and runs off to Canberra with Kevin and his "2020 vision." A devastated Wally returns to the fold of the Student Union, promising revenge and action.
The Musical is a comedy treat the whole way through, with almost every line being a gag, usually at the expense of someone else like Glyn Davis or the Provost. Every musical number is a sight to behold, with no special effects spared; there is smoke, bright lights, boy in tights and all sorts of fun to be had. Performed by the now defunct School of Creative Arts, The Musical is a last stand against the corporate takeover that is the Model. Its only danger is that it seems to become the Student Union it mocks, sending the message it tries so hard to send up. It does rather make one despair, however, for those losing their livelihoods, their passions and their dreams in the cuts to become the Melbourne Model, and you have to wonder if it will all be worth it in a few years' time. The Musical should be proud; they sold out both nights, and almost both matinees; they thoroughly amused many students, teachers and academics, and no doubt left an indelible imprint on those who saw this fine production.
Bathsheba, formidable head of the revolutionary Student Union
Poor, betrayed lover and nerd, Wally
(More photos.)
Check out the trailer, which is almost as provocative as the real thing. Too bad it's over, or I'd highly recommend it.
x
JAG