Tuesday, April 04, 2006
Saturday, April 01, 2006
The Sexual Politics of the Vegetarian Section of the Freezer!
Was doing my grocery shopping today. On my way to the vegetarian section of the freezer, I noticed there was a man choosing some vegetarian frozen options. Noone out of the ordinary, your average Joe if you will, but you know what? I stopped in my tracks because at the moment that I noticed him, I had to mentally slap myself on my mental behind because not only was I shocked, but I was also puzzled. Puzzled that a MAN would be buying vegetarian food. Had it been a woman I am certain my reaction would have been blind indifference. However, here was this man making the choice I agree with and do you know what rushed through my mind?? "Huh! What's HE doing there? Oh, he's probably buying for his girlfriend!"
Can you believe that?? This is what society has reduced us to! It's a truth as old as time, but for a man not to eat MEAT points negatively toward his masculinity! For a woman, it has always been expected that she would ensure her man received the meat, since he was the dominant member of the family and for the dominant member of the family, the best foods are firstly his. Confound it, but I still cannot believe I subconsiously associate men with meat and meat with power. But I do. I do, and I believe that mostly everyone does too.
This was the idea behind an extremely interesting book I read last year. Click here
to check it out. The objectification of animals is equated with the objectification of women. The consumption of meat, equated with the consumption of women (whether through pornography or rape). It's an extremely interesting book and one which I would encourage anyone to read.
According to the website here's a little peek at what to expect:
- Sexualized fragmentation. Fragmented body parts of animals who will be eaten depicted in such a way that thoughts of women as sex objects are clearly evoked as well. Breast and thighs advertised on menus, as well as specific examples like "We serve the best legs in town," draw upon the patriarchal fixation on women's bodyparts.
- Animals feminized/sexualized. Animals presented in poses and clothes human females are represented in our culture (svelte legs, a "chick" in high heels, often animals posed like women, animals who are four-legged made to appear both "sexy" and bipedal, animals in bikinis). "I ate a pig..." Exactly who are they referring to?
- Back-entry shots of both animals and women. In pornography, back entry shots are constructed to convey both women's accessibility and imputes to them an "animal-like" nature, that is, "animal-like" in a speciesist culture, a view that sees women as desiring being sodomized; sometimes animals who are seen as consumable are positioned that way as an invitation to consumption.
- Connecting flesh eating and other forms of animal oppression to prostitution and pornography ("strip", "buck-naked", "Live Nude Lobsters!", and the "Happy Hooker," etc.).
Now you must excuse me, I have some peas to shell and a hut to clean... "COMING HONEY"
Can you believe that?? This is what society has reduced us to! It's a truth as old as time, but for a man not to eat MEAT points negatively toward his masculinity! For a woman, it has always been expected that she would ensure her man received the meat, since he was the dominant member of the family and for the dominant member of the family, the best foods are firstly his. Confound it, but I still cannot believe I subconsiously associate men with meat and meat with power. But I do. I do, and I believe that mostly everyone does too.
This was the idea behind an extremely interesting book I read last year. Click here
to check it out. The objectification of animals is equated with the objectification of women. The consumption of meat, equated with the consumption of women (whether through pornography or rape). It's an extremely interesting book and one which I would encourage anyone to read.
According to the website here's a little peek at what to expect:
- Sexualized fragmentation. Fragmented body parts of animals who will be eaten depicted in such a way that thoughts of women as sex objects are clearly evoked as well. Breast and thighs advertised on menus, as well as specific examples like "We serve the best legs in town," draw upon the patriarchal fixation on women's bodyparts.
- Animals feminized/sexualized. Animals presented in poses and clothes human females are represented in our culture (svelte legs, a "chick" in high heels, often animals posed like women, animals who are four-legged made to appear both "sexy" and bipedal, animals in bikinis). "I ate a pig..." Exactly who are they referring to?
- Back-entry shots of both animals and women. In pornography, back entry shots are constructed to convey both women's accessibility and imputes to them an "animal-like" nature, that is, "animal-like" in a speciesist culture, a view that sees women as desiring being sodomized; sometimes animals who are seen as consumable are positioned that way as an invitation to consumption.
- Connecting flesh eating and other forms of animal oppression to prostitution and pornography ("strip", "buck-naked", "Live Nude Lobsters!", and the "Happy Hooker," etc.).
Now you must excuse me, I have some peas to shell and a hut to clean... "COMING HONEY"
Friday, March 31, 2006
Don't Correct Disney! Or Israel!
Listening to the "Tiny Cities" album by Sun Kil Moon, those of you in Cork, you should have read my review on it! In the fabulous An Sceal... No? *sigh* Yes I know, I hadnt heard of it either, until they asked me to start doing reviews that is.
Today, Liam Thornton told me a story which I think pretty much sums up the attitude taken by the States (and its Corporations) towards Israel.
While in school, him and his class were taken to Euro Disney, Paris, for a trip. Anyhow, some ride, I think it was "It's A Small World" (the classic that it is), showed the countries around the world and their respective capital cities. Jerusalem was listed as the capital of Israel. What was the capital of Palestine? Nothing, since there was no mention of Palestine...at all. Liams teacher stood up and brought to the attention of the workers there that the information shown was wrong, and that Jerusalem is NOT the capital of Israel. The capital of that "country" is Tel Aviv. Simply a teacher of Geography pointing out a simple mistake. Like if they listed Manchester as the capital of England. I'm sure it would be EXPECTED that someone would point out the mistake.
Apparently Disney didnt take lightly to this simple correction...they threw the teacher out of the ride for Anti-Semitism!!
Today, Liam Thornton told me a story which I think pretty much sums up the attitude taken by the States (and its Corporations) towards Israel.
While in school, him and his class were taken to Euro Disney, Paris, for a trip. Anyhow, some ride, I think it was "It's A Small World" (the classic that it is), showed the countries around the world and their respective capital cities. Jerusalem was listed as the capital of Israel. What was the capital of Palestine? Nothing, since there was no mention of Palestine...at all. Liams teacher stood up and brought to the attention of the workers there that the information shown was wrong, and that Jerusalem is NOT the capital of Israel. The capital of that "country" is Tel Aviv. Simply a teacher of Geography pointing out a simple mistake. Like if they listed Manchester as the capital of England. I'm sure it would be EXPECTED that someone would point out the mistake.
Apparently Disney didnt take lightly to this simple correction...they threw the teacher out of the ride for Anti-Semitism!!
Wednesday, March 29, 2006
A Helpless Situation?!
I've always been told never to talk about religion or politics. Why? Because it just leads to arguments. Somehow though, I seem to always want to talk politics. And I'm not referring to internal national politics. I'm referring to INTERNATIONAL politics. Especially things close to my heart...for example the Palestinian situation.
I cannot explain how much what's happening to the Palestinians upsets me. Even talking about it upsets me, and what gets me the most is that way that the majority of the world are Pro-Israeli. Or if not Pro-Israeli, then Pro-letting it all carry on the way its been for the last century because they couldnt care less.
This is the problem with the world...they couldnt care less. As long as they're happy, as long as they are not directly affected, they're happy to carry on even while this injustice is being carried out not very far away.
Im so sick of it, because I don't know what I can do. How can I make people care? How can I change the way people think? How can I make some people realise that the way they are thinking is completely one-sided and totally influenced by Western media? I dont know what I can do. I don't know what I should do. It feels like such a helpless situation. For once in my life...I feel totally, completely and utterly helpless.
I cannot explain how much what's happening to the Palestinians upsets me. Even talking about it upsets me, and what gets me the most is that way that the majority of the world are Pro-Israeli. Or if not Pro-Israeli, then Pro-letting it all carry on the way its been for the last century because they couldnt care less.
This is the problem with the world...they couldnt care less. As long as they're happy, as long as they are not directly affected, they're happy to carry on even while this injustice is being carried out not very far away.
Im so sick of it, because I don't know what I can do. How can I make people care? How can I change the way people think? How can I make some people realise that the way they are thinking is completely one-sided and totally influenced by Western media? I dont know what I can do. I don't know what I should do. It feels like such a helpless situation. For once in my life...I feel totally, completely and utterly helpless.
Monday, March 27, 2006
The Sugar Hut
What an amazing end to a brilliant weekend!!
Last night we went to what has to be one of the coolest places I've been to in a long long time. The Sugar Hut.
The girls made reservations, and we arrived to the place. All that marked The Sugar Hut out along the street was a massive, black, iron door towering over the sidewalk. No way to open it from the outside. Just a doorbell, and a small round peep hole of sorts.
We rang the doorbell and waited...
A dark shadow was cast upon the peep hole as someone plainly stepped up to the door and looked us up and down. Slowly the door swung open...
"Can I help you ladies?" A bouncer of gigantic proportions stood in the doorway, and by his side, a little man that couldnt have been taller than our waists.
Our names were on the list, and the, now gentle, giant stepped back, and let us through. We stepped into the dark and with a flourish, the BFG had parted the thick velvet curtains that hung before us. We had arrived. We had discovered an eden among the dark, dirty streets of London. We were home.
Before us lay a sea of people lounging on sofas, cushions, tables... the air was thick with the smoke of a thousand cigarettes and a hundred shieshas. The atmosphere was static. The crowd electric. The mood chilled. Chandeliers hung from the ceilings, candles lit the tables...and in the background. In the background was the funkiest beat I have ever heard. Every atom in your body was vibrating with the need to dance. The desire to move. Of their own accord your walking feet stepped in time to the bass. Your hips swayed in time to the rhythm. Whatever you wanted to say or do was put on hold... the desire to surrender to the mood, surrender to the music...the desire to do so was overwhelming.
We were shown to our table, and then began one of the funk-tasti-est nights of my life!
One of the best things about The Sugar Hut was the feeling, nay the knowing, that what happens in The Sugar Hut, stays in The Sugar Hut. No matter who you were, no matter what you did, the fact seemed to remain that within the confines of that eden in Fulham, you were merely another person searching for that perfect beat in that perfect place. The band who were playing there were called "Rain" and if you EVER get the chance to check them out I couldn't encourage you more. Although the vocalist brought alot to the performance, you knew that without him the beats would still be just as freaky and just as freaking good.
Service at The Sugar Hut was very good, with
taxi just came! ill finish later
Last night we went to what has to be one of the coolest places I've been to in a long long time. The Sugar Hut.
The girls made reservations, and we arrived to the place. All that marked The Sugar Hut out along the street was a massive, black, iron door towering over the sidewalk. No way to open it from the outside. Just a doorbell, and a small round peep hole of sorts.
We rang the doorbell and waited...
A dark shadow was cast upon the peep hole as someone plainly stepped up to the door and looked us up and down. Slowly the door swung open...
"Can I help you ladies?" A bouncer of gigantic proportions stood in the doorway, and by his side, a little man that couldnt have been taller than our waists.
Our names were on the list, and the, now gentle, giant stepped back, and let us through. We stepped into the dark and with a flourish, the BFG had parted the thick velvet curtains that hung before us. We had arrived. We had discovered an eden among the dark, dirty streets of London. We were home.
Before us lay a sea of people lounging on sofas, cushions, tables... the air was thick with the smoke of a thousand cigarettes and a hundred shieshas. The atmosphere was static. The crowd electric. The mood chilled. Chandeliers hung from the ceilings, candles lit the tables...and in the background. In the background was the funkiest beat I have ever heard. Every atom in your body was vibrating with the need to dance. The desire to move. Of their own accord your walking feet stepped in time to the bass. Your hips swayed in time to the rhythm. Whatever you wanted to say or do was put on hold... the desire to surrender to the mood, surrender to the music...the desire to do so was overwhelming.
We were shown to our table, and then began one of the funk-tasti-est nights of my life!
One of the best things about The Sugar Hut was the feeling, nay the knowing, that what happens in The Sugar Hut, stays in The Sugar Hut. No matter who you were, no matter what you did, the fact seemed to remain that within the confines of that eden in Fulham, you were merely another person searching for that perfect beat in that perfect place. The band who were playing there were called "Rain" and if you EVER get the chance to check them out I couldn't encourage you more. Although the vocalist brought alot to the performance, you knew that without him the beats would still be just as freaky and just as freaking good.
Service at The Sugar Hut was very good, with
taxi just came! ill finish later
Sunday, March 26, 2006
Dancing With The Common People
Well its a bright, crisp, fresh morning in London town and I've just had my breakfast and had a daily dose of Sex in the City...the TV series that is!
Absolutely WRECKED! Got to sleep at about 7 this morning and subsequently dragged myself out of bed 4 hours later! The LAST thing I want to do while in London is sleep! Although, believe me, the need to do so is quite over-whelming!
The girls are still asleep, and rather than wake them up too early, I'm going to update everyone on our Saturday night escapades.
First and foremost, before I delve into our midnight adventures, I feel that I really must tell you that I fell in love yesterday. Somehow deep in my heart I know this is neither fleeting nor superficial. It's as real as I am, and I'll tell you this much...I'm a changed woman. Yesterday in Portobello market, I found the shoes that I want to spend the rest of my life with! They were f**king amazing boots, and I was so close to bringing myself to the point of bankruptcy and shelling out the 600 pounds for them there and then! Only thing stopping me was the fact that they didnt have my size yet. Still though, like I said yesterday... at least I had my moment with them!
Portobello Market was great. The atmosphere was addictive and there were some unbelievably original clothes, shoes and accessories! All types of people, all types of things...a perfect metaphor for the city of London itself.
We tried to get a table at Nobu for dinner last night, but unfortunately we couldnt. Even though Mudawi has Virtue, which is this cool phone that provides access to a concierge 24 hours a day. Usually he can get you anything...but apparently last night Nobu was the exception. Not to worry though, because we went for the most delicious Japanese noodles in Soho instead! Yum!
For an update on what else we did check out Buthy and Leen's blog...I'll add their address to my quick links on my sidebar.
Our clubbing experience was cut short by the arrival of some obscure pop star called Antoine (WHO?!) and his entourage. Honest to God, they even had a camera man with them. I use the term "man" loosely, as he more resembled someones 12 year old brother with a camera on his shoulder. Honestly, I felt like a second class citizen! The bouncers were pushing everyone out of the way for these people who obviously believed they were much more famous than they really were. They had a table, which we didnt. Nope, we were resigned to standing on the dance floor...the cattle mart that most clubs are! A table for our crowd would have cost 1000 pounds! One Thousand Pounds?! No thank you! Maybe if it was somewhere incredibly amazing, but this was just an ordinary club. Nothing more, nothing less. So we danced with the commoners while Antoine and his not-good-looking-at-all posse watched on. Hmmm..somehow, no matter how hard they tried, they just couldn't pull off that LA gangster feel that you know they so desperately were trying to project!
Needless to say, we left for greener pastures! Something a little closer to home, and had hummous, fatayer, sambousa, and all the rest of it in a cosy little Lebanese place that apparently never closes!
So that was yesterday, and today's today, and I've wasted too much time telling you all about it! It's time to go get ready and head into town.
Absolutely WRECKED! Got to sleep at about 7 this morning and subsequently dragged myself out of bed 4 hours later! The LAST thing I want to do while in London is sleep! Although, believe me, the need to do so is quite over-whelming!
The girls are still asleep, and rather than wake them up too early, I'm going to update everyone on our Saturday night escapades.
First and foremost, before I delve into our midnight adventures, I feel that I really must tell you that I fell in love yesterday. Somehow deep in my heart I know this is neither fleeting nor superficial. It's as real as I am, and I'll tell you this much...I'm a changed woman. Yesterday in Portobello market, I found the shoes that I want to spend the rest of my life with! They were f**king amazing boots, and I was so close to bringing myself to the point of bankruptcy and shelling out the 600 pounds for them there and then! Only thing stopping me was the fact that they didnt have my size yet. Still though, like I said yesterday... at least I had my moment with them!
Portobello Market was great. The atmosphere was addictive and there were some unbelievably original clothes, shoes and accessories! All types of people, all types of things...a perfect metaphor for the city of London itself.
We tried to get a table at Nobu for dinner last night, but unfortunately we couldnt. Even though Mudawi has Virtue, which is this cool phone that provides access to a concierge 24 hours a day. Usually he can get you anything...but apparently last night Nobu was the exception. Not to worry though, because we went for the most delicious Japanese noodles in Soho instead! Yum!
For an update on what else we did check out Buthy and Leen's blog...I'll add their address to my quick links on my sidebar.
Our clubbing experience was cut short by the arrival of some obscure pop star called Antoine (WHO?!) and his entourage. Honest to God, they even had a camera man with them. I use the term "man" loosely, as he more resembled someones 12 year old brother with a camera on his shoulder. Honestly, I felt like a second class citizen! The bouncers were pushing everyone out of the way for these people who obviously believed they were much more famous than they really were. They had a table, which we didnt. Nope, we were resigned to standing on the dance floor...the cattle mart that most clubs are! A table for our crowd would have cost 1000 pounds! One Thousand Pounds?! No thank you! Maybe if it was somewhere incredibly amazing, but this was just an ordinary club. Nothing more, nothing less. So we danced with the commoners while Antoine and his not-good-looking-at-all posse watched on. Hmmm..somehow, no matter how hard they tried, they just couldn't pull off that LA gangster feel that you know they so desperately were trying to project!
Needless to say, we left for greener pastures! Something a little closer to home, and had hummous, fatayer, sambousa, and all the rest of it in a cosy little Lebanese place that apparently never closes!
So that was yesterday, and today's today, and I've wasted too much time telling you all about it! It's time to go get ready and head into town.
Friday, March 24, 2006
LONDON BAYBEE!!!!
It's LONDON BABY!!!!
Arrived in London this evening...and already I can feel adventure in the air!
The birds are singing, the bees are buzzing, the rain is raining...it's all good!
I finally met the infamous Leen and I'll tell you this much...she doesnt disappoint!
It's going to be a great weekend chilling with the girls in London, and apparently I'm supposed to get as much sleep as I can tonight, because I won't be sleeping anymore!
So it's off to Portobello Market tomorrow morning with Buthy and Leen, then going to one of the hippest restaurants in town where Lionel Richie and Kevin Backstreet Boy are frequently seen! After that, we paint the town red! ;)
I'm going to SLEEP!!
Arrived in London this evening...and already I can feel adventure in the air!
The birds are singing, the bees are buzzing, the rain is raining...it's all good!
I finally met the infamous Leen and I'll tell you this much...she doesnt disappoint!
It's going to be a great weekend chilling with the girls in London, and apparently I'm supposed to get as much sleep as I can tonight, because I won't be sleeping anymore!
So it's off to Portobello Market tomorrow morning with Buthy and Leen, then going to one of the hippest restaurants in town where Lionel Richie and Kevin Backstreet Boy are frequently seen! After that, we paint the town red! ;)
I'm going to SLEEP!!
Tuesday, March 21, 2006
Can I Take Him Home?
Haven't posted in a while, as I've been busy playing perfect housewife, cooking, cleaning and wiping snotty noses. The latter belonging to my cats! We sent our housemaid back to the Phillipines, and so now, being unemployed and unproductive, its all down to me!
Leaving AD on Friday... going to miss everyone so much! Yas, Ismaooool, Pieri, The Sagernator... what will I do without you guys??
I'll be chilling in London for a few days with the one and only Bathoona! Can't wait! Plus I get to meet the infamous Leen!
Then its back to Cork, where my friends are all waiting for me! And I'm so looking forward to seeing them all again! Dana, Shelly, Jacq, The 2 Liams, Daryl, Tara, Char, Ciara...to name but a few. Of course a very large amount of study is also waiting...not as enthusiastic about that!
On another note, my hair has grown already! It's no longer shockingly short anymore! Ahhh
Hmmm...maybe I should chop off a bit more before I leave?
Or else just take Nicola the genius hairdresser with me...I wish!
Having said that, if I could take people home with me...I'd take someone else as well!
Leaving AD on Friday... going to miss everyone so much! Yas, Ismaooool, Pieri, The Sagernator... what will I do without you guys??
I'll be chilling in London for a few days with the one and only Bathoona! Can't wait! Plus I get to meet the infamous Leen!
Then its back to Cork, where my friends are all waiting for me! And I'm so looking forward to seeing them all again! Dana, Shelly, Jacq, The 2 Liams, Daryl, Tara, Char, Ciara...to name but a few. Of course a very large amount of study is also waiting...not as enthusiastic about that!
On another note, my hair has grown already! It's no longer shockingly short anymore! Ahhh
Hmmm...maybe I should chop off a bit more before I leave?
Or else just take Nicola the genius hairdresser with me...I wish!
Having said that, if I could take people home with me...I'd take someone else as well!
Friday, March 17, 2006
Acting Like An Ass Day It Seems...
Everyone has been pissing me off today.
In fact, if you know me, I would seriously recommend keeping your distance for the day.
Of course, some of you may have already noticed that...
But WHY are you all acting like asses today??!!
Aaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrrrrgggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
I'll be ok by tomorrow....
In fact, if you know me, I would seriously recommend keeping your distance for the day.
Of course, some of you may have already noticed that...
But WHY are you all acting like asses today??!!
Aaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrrrrgggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
I'll be ok by tomorrow....
Thursday, March 16, 2006
Daydreaming Is Good For You
When I was younger, I used to daily disappear into daydreams. My mind would just think about everything and nothing at the same time, and for what seemed like a minute I would just zone out. When I'd snap back to reality I'd realise that more than 15 or 20 mins had passed! I'd feel fresh and energised, but I never thought of them as anything more than day dreams. After all, I was, and still am, a dreamer!
As I got older, there were such "important" things to do that I didnt allow myself the time to just think about anything, everything and nothing. I pushed myself to constantly do something productive, never allowing myself the chance to zone out.
What I hadnt realised was that those "daydreams" were actually meditation!
Without consciously deciding to meditate, my body and subconscious, daily encouraged me to do a little bit of meditating, knowing that that was what my body needed to recharge its batteries.
Today I rediscovered the health benefits of just zoning out and disassociating oneself from daily reality. Today for over 10 minutes I "daydreamed" again, and I gotta tell ya... I'm going to be doing it everyday! I feel great!
As I got older, there were such "important" things to do that I didnt allow myself the time to just think about anything, everything and nothing. I pushed myself to constantly do something productive, never allowing myself the chance to zone out.
What I hadnt realised was that those "daydreams" were actually meditation!
Without consciously deciding to meditate, my body and subconscious, daily encouraged me to do a little bit of meditating, knowing that that was what my body needed to recharge its batteries.
Today I rediscovered the health benefits of just zoning out and disassociating oneself from daily reality. Today for over 10 minutes I "daydreamed" again, and I gotta tell ya... I'm going to be doing it everyday! I feel great!
Wednesday, March 15, 2006
Water, Camel Milk and Lady Drivers!
Ismail was telling me why I should drink more water... im really thirsty at the moment, which is the number one BAD thing apparently! I'm dehydrated! So at the moment I've taken a leaf out of his book and I've got a bucket and ladle next to me. Scooping the water out and guzzling it down.
Ok, maybe not...but I'm drinking more water than I've ever drank in my life. Ok, maybe not...but I'm drinking alot! Edge...this sip's for you!
Oh yeah, and camel milk is gooooood!!
On another note, some things that have annoyed me today:
-women drivers! theres such a thing as being too careful!
-people who put cheese back in the fridge without wrapping it up well, meaning it's got HARD edges when I want some!
-human beings belief that they're superior over every other living thing on this planet...we're not! im going to have to post on this point again!
Ok, maybe not...but I'm drinking more water than I've ever drank in my life. Ok, maybe not...but I'm drinking alot! Edge...this sip's for you!
Oh yeah, and camel milk is gooooood!!
On another note, some things that have annoyed me today:
-women drivers! theres such a thing as being too careful!
-people who put cheese back in the fridge without wrapping it up well, meaning it's got HARD edges when I want some!
-human beings belief that they're superior over every other living thing on this planet...we're not! im going to have to post on this point again!
Tuesday, March 14, 2006
Liberty Who?!?!
I was in Dubai for one night during the weekend.
Yasmin was filling me in on all the gossip.
Yas: "Mona can't come out tonight, she's busy. She has to hang out with this band that's here from England. Her boyfriend wants her to show them around. We don't even know who they are! They went clubbing the other night and no one even recognised them or anything. *sigh* Anyhow, so she can't come out with us tonight!"
Me:"Oh, yeah? What's the name of their "band"?! lol"
Yas:"I don't know. Liberty X or something like that."
!!!!!!!! Yep, having lived in Ireland I think I just may have heard of Liberty X!!! Just maybe!!
Yasmin was filling me in on all the gossip.
Yas: "Mona can't come out tonight, she's busy. She has to hang out with this band that's here from England. Her boyfriend wants her to show them around. We don't even know who they are! They went clubbing the other night and no one even recognised them or anything. *sigh* Anyhow, so she can't come out with us tonight!"
Me:"Oh, yeah? What's the name of their "band"?! lol"
Yas:"I don't know. Liberty X or something like that."
!!!!!!!! Yep, having lived in Ireland I think I just may have heard of Liberty X!!! Just maybe!!
Monday, March 13, 2006
Is Plastic Surgery False Advertising?
Not long ago, I was wondering if I was really a blonde...I have those days! As everyone does I'm sure! Check out that older post here. So, I just came across this little quiz that you can take if you've ever wondered how blonde you really were!
On another note, during the weekend this guy I don't really know all that well decided to tell me that he had had 2 nose jobs...and he's only 24! Well, I got to thinking about plastic surgery and it struck me that in a way its almost like false adverstising.
I mean, let's fast forward to a few years time, his wife will have just given birth to their first child, and the first thing they see is this HUGE nose staring back at them! He may not be all that suprised, but she will! There she was thinking her husband naturally had a movie star nose, when the truth is that his nose genes were so far from perfect, perfection was nothing more than a dot to them!
In a world where your looks are a part of your "worth" in the marriage market, can plastic surgery that significantly alters a physical feature of yours be considered False Advertising?!?!
| You Are a Golden Blonde |
 Men see you as flirty and fun, yet deep and thoughtful You've got all the pizzazz of a blonde... With the intensity of a brunette |
On another note, during the weekend this guy I don't really know all that well decided to tell me that he had had 2 nose jobs...and he's only 24! Well, I got to thinking about plastic surgery and it struck me that in a way its almost like false adverstising.
I mean, let's fast forward to a few years time, his wife will have just given birth to their first child, and the first thing they see is this HUGE nose staring back at them! He may not be all that suprised, but she will! There she was thinking her husband naturally had a movie star nose, when the truth is that his nose genes were so far from perfect, perfection was nothing more than a dot to them!
In a world where your looks are a part of your "worth" in the marriage market, can plastic surgery that significantly alters a physical feature of yours be considered False Advertising?!?!
Stupid White Men
I think Michael Moore is great!
From my experience of him, which I confess is only limited to "Farenheit 9/11", "Stupid White Men" and an old film he shot called "Canadian Bacon", I have found him to be intelligent, truthful and in possession of a sarcastic sense of humour that catches your attention and keeps holding on strong!
It really annoys me then when I come across Americans who hate him.
Granted, it's to be expected, but it always strikes me as strange that they should uphold Moores work as rubbish when it is so obviously simply a record of REALITY.
I remember meeting this guy from New York, and I don't know how the conversation turned to Moore, but it did. And this guy HATED him! He thought that Moore just made things up, and he disapproved so much of his anti-Bush stance that he didnt even watch Farenheit 9/11. Basically, he was so willing to believe everything thast was being pushed down his throat by the media and the government, that he was NOT OPEN to hearing what the other side had to say.
First off, that's against democracy! Against the very idea of justice. Against the very ideas that the government and policies he so blindly supports is supposed to be encouraging.
I tried arguing with him..but as you know, it's impossible to argue with a fool! See one of my last posts on arguing with a fool here.
His mind was made up. Even though he wasnt open to hearing the other sides of the argument, he fully supported the farce of a war that his country was waging against Iraq.
Funny thing is, this same guy turned to me later on in the conversation and said with immense knowlegdge and confidence that "all muslims are short. They're a very short people."
Biting my tongue and trying to keep myself from literally shaking some sense into him, I explained that Islam is a religion, not a race. Muslims come from many different countries, and like other religions, you have some short Muslims and some tall Muslims.
*Sigh* This is the level of intelligence of the supporters of Bush it seems. Oh well, like attracts like as you know. Great minds think alike; or as the case most definately is here, fools seldom differ.
From my experience of him, which I confess is only limited to "Farenheit 9/11", "Stupid White Men" and an old film he shot called "Canadian Bacon", I have found him to be intelligent, truthful and in possession of a sarcastic sense of humour that catches your attention and keeps holding on strong!
It really annoys me then when I come across Americans who hate him.
Granted, it's to be expected, but it always strikes me as strange that they should uphold Moores work as rubbish when it is so obviously simply a record of REALITY.
I remember meeting this guy from New York, and I don't know how the conversation turned to Moore, but it did. And this guy HATED him! He thought that Moore just made things up, and he disapproved so much of his anti-Bush stance that he didnt even watch Farenheit 9/11. Basically, he was so willing to believe everything thast was being pushed down his throat by the media and the government, that he was NOT OPEN to hearing what the other side had to say.
First off, that's against democracy! Against the very idea of justice. Against the very ideas that the government and policies he so blindly supports is supposed to be encouraging.
I tried arguing with him..but as you know, it's impossible to argue with a fool! See one of my last posts on arguing with a fool here.
His mind was made up. Even though he wasnt open to hearing the other sides of the argument, he fully supported the farce of a war that his country was waging against Iraq.
Funny thing is, this same guy turned to me later on in the conversation and said with immense knowlegdge and confidence that "all muslims are short. They're a very short people."
Biting my tongue and trying to keep myself from literally shaking some sense into him, I explained that Islam is a religion, not a race. Muslims come from many different countries, and like other religions, you have some short Muslims and some tall Muslims.
*Sigh* This is the level of intelligence of the supporters of Bush it seems. Oh well, like attracts like as you know. Great minds think alike; or as the case most definately is here, fools seldom differ.
Sunday, March 12, 2006
Royalty, Pens and a Valley Girl!
Today I attended the "Women As Global Leaders" conference in Emirates Palace, Abu Dhabi. I'm so happy I decided to stay here longer because, among many other reasons, I got to go to this and hear some of the world's better known people talk.
Her Majesty Queen Rania of Jordan was there. Her presentation was great and oh my God she's amazing. She is so beautiful, elegant, graceful. She seems to be a true queen.
Mary Robinson, former President of Ireland, was talking too. A very good presentation, although she seemed almost too optimistic, if that's a fault. But all in all, I was very impressed by her. She was the only one who stressed the importance of following up on the conference. That is, its all well and good to get together for a day and talk about all that needs to be done, but its another to actually DO something about it all afterwards!
Shaikha Lubna, Minister of the Economy UAE, spoke and was very impressive. She was intelligent and articulate.
Cherie Booth, wife of Tony Blair, gave a presentation, and although it was obvious that she was both well-spoken and intelligent, her speech was boring. If we wanted to hear about the history of Human Rights law we could buy a book and read about it. However, she chose to give us a long winded and tedious account of the whole process. Although, if it was shorter it may not have seemed as bad!
As in any gathering of over 1 person, there were alot of strange people there. And as is usually the case in my life, they flocked to me like a moth to a flame. I mean, do I have a stamp on my forehead saying, come talk to me, I'll feel sorry for you and have a chat?? Maybe. Anyhow, Cherie was in the middle of her LONG speech, and there was a man of chinese origin, perhaps, a couple of seats away from me. I'm not joking when I say that it must have been a half hour into her monologue, when this guy leans over to me and in a tone much too loud for the place and occasion asked me
"Who exactly is that talking now?!?!"
So as you can imagine, I was a little more than surprised. Firstly, because it was Tony Blair's WIFE and he had been listening for a half hour, and Secondly, because he chose to scream the question at me!!
Slightly off-put and a little more than annoyed, I quietly told him who it was.
"WHO?!?!"
I told him again.."Cherie Booth"
"CHERIE WHO?!?!"
"Cherie...Booth..."
"HUH??!!"
"Tony Blair's wife ok?!? Now, I'm trying to listen so can you please be quiet?"
Apparently that wasn't rude enough for him because 5 minutes later he leaned his excess body fat across the table and screaming over the salt and pepper shakers asked me where I was from!!
Seemingly, he didnt read the title of the conference and thought he was going speed dating!!
And what about the chewing gum popping, hair twisting valley girl that sat next to me in the second half.
"Didn't you like think that like the stuff like this morning were so like INSPIRING? I mean, like its so totally unbelievable that like there's all these people here in this room like talking about like women! Like I mean like WOW right?" *chomp, chomp, chew, blow, burst, chew, chomp*
Such an observant young girl! Nothing gets past her huh?
What about the guy who snatched my pen out of my hand! "Hey, that's a nice pen" shoving the delicate nib of it onto his paper, meanwhile slobbering over the gold plated cover. It's a Montegrappa, not a Biro, you idiot, keep your hands off other peoples stuff! Especially if that stuff is a ridiculously expensive, limited edition Motegrappa!
If it's one thing that I hate, it's people who snatch. It's rude, its intrusive and it's annoying!!
Like the girl everyone knows who grabs your new expensive bracelet and trys to squeeze it over her wrist...without opening the catch! Aaaaaarrrrgggggghhhhhhh!
Or the girl in the bathroom, who while standing in line queuing to pee, decided to voluntarily tell me that her parents divorced when she was young but she's "doing alright now, even though it was tough on her and caused her serious psychological damage which will probably cause her to beat up her children in the future..." She was American by the way....aren't they always though!
I mean...do I ATTRACT them? *sob* Lord, I think I do! Still though, it makes for some interesting stories. *sigh*
Her Majesty Queen Rania of Jordan was there. Her presentation was great and oh my God she's amazing. She is so beautiful, elegant, graceful. She seems to be a true queen.
Mary Robinson, former President of Ireland, was talking too. A very good presentation, although she seemed almost too optimistic, if that's a fault. But all in all, I was very impressed by her. She was the only one who stressed the importance of following up on the conference. That is, its all well and good to get together for a day and talk about all that needs to be done, but its another to actually DO something about it all afterwards!
Shaikha Lubna, Minister of the Economy UAE, spoke and was very impressive. She was intelligent and articulate.
Cherie Booth, wife of Tony Blair, gave a presentation, and although it was obvious that she was both well-spoken and intelligent, her speech was boring. If we wanted to hear about the history of Human Rights law we could buy a book and read about it. However, she chose to give us a long winded and tedious account of the whole process. Although, if it was shorter it may not have seemed as bad!
As in any gathering of over 1 person, there were alot of strange people there. And as is usually the case in my life, they flocked to me like a moth to a flame. I mean, do I have a stamp on my forehead saying, come talk to me, I'll feel sorry for you and have a chat?? Maybe. Anyhow, Cherie was in the middle of her LONG speech, and there was a man of chinese origin, perhaps, a couple of seats away from me. I'm not joking when I say that it must have been a half hour into her monologue, when this guy leans over to me and in a tone much too loud for the place and occasion asked me
"Who exactly is that talking now?!?!"
So as you can imagine, I was a little more than surprised. Firstly, because it was Tony Blair's WIFE and he had been listening for a half hour, and Secondly, because he chose to scream the question at me!!
Slightly off-put and a little more than annoyed, I quietly told him who it was.
"WHO?!?!"
I told him again.."Cherie Booth"
"CHERIE WHO?!?!"
"Cherie...Booth..."
"HUH??!!"
"Tony Blair's wife ok?!? Now, I'm trying to listen so can you please be quiet?"
Apparently that wasn't rude enough for him because 5 minutes later he leaned his excess body fat across the table and screaming over the salt and pepper shakers asked me where I was from!!
Seemingly, he didnt read the title of the conference and thought he was going speed dating!!
And what about the chewing gum popping, hair twisting valley girl that sat next to me in the second half.
"Didn't you like think that like the stuff like this morning were so like INSPIRING? I mean, like its so totally unbelievable that like there's all these people here in this room like talking about like women! Like I mean like WOW right?" *chomp, chomp, chew, blow, burst, chew, chomp*
Such an observant young girl! Nothing gets past her huh?
What about the guy who snatched my pen out of my hand! "Hey, that's a nice pen" shoving the delicate nib of it onto his paper, meanwhile slobbering over the gold plated cover. It's a Montegrappa, not a Biro, you idiot, keep your hands off other peoples stuff! Especially if that stuff is a ridiculously expensive, limited edition Motegrappa!
If it's one thing that I hate, it's people who snatch. It's rude, its intrusive and it's annoying!!
Like the girl everyone knows who grabs your new expensive bracelet and trys to squeeze it over her wrist...without opening the catch! Aaaaaarrrrgggggghhhhhhh!
Or the girl in the bathroom, who while standing in line queuing to pee, decided to voluntarily tell me that her parents divorced when she was young but she's "doing alright now, even though it was tough on her and caused her serious psychological damage which will probably cause her to beat up her children in the future..." She was American by the way....aren't they always though!
I mean...do I ATTRACT them? *sob* Lord, I think I do! Still though, it makes for some interesting stories. *sigh*
Friday, March 10, 2006
A Neuro-Surgeon Cat!
I really hate it when people humour me.
I have some strange thoughts sometimes, people may even go so far as to say all the time, and granted I do believe in things that much of the severly misguided public have been conditioned to think are stupid. But you know what, if you don't agree with me, please tell me. Tell me you think its an idiotic idea and that I'm a mad woman who probably has a million stray cats following me around...I don't care! It wouldnt be too far from the truth and its alot better than just nodding and smiling.
I have a cat called Fluffy. She's no ordinary cat, even though her name may imply some sort of ordinariness if you will. She's super intelligent, and I would even go so far as to say that she's a cat genius. I sometimes feel that we havent given her enough chances in life you know. She has the talent and brains to be whatever she wanted to be. A fire-fighter, a surgeon, an actress, a model, a spokes-cat for the UN!! She could do it all and still have time for a cat nap in the afternoon. And yet...why do people have such a hard time believing this? Why is it so hard to believe that animals can be so intelligent? Ok, I'm not actually serious when I say she could be a surgeon...her paws just wouldn't be able to hold that scalpel too good. But when people smirk and humour me when I tell tales of her intelligence, I feel I must hold firm and say with a resounding YES that I fully believe she could be a neurosurgeon if the thought so came upon her. It's the principle of the thing.
Animals are no less smarter than humans and alot of them are smarter than some humans I know. So there! Fluffy is a genius and I defy anyone to prove otherwise. In the meantime... let's talk about telepathy!
I have some strange thoughts sometimes, people may even go so far as to say all the time, and granted I do believe in things that much of the severly misguided public have been conditioned to think are stupid. But you know what, if you don't agree with me, please tell me. Tell me you think its an idiotic idea and that I'm a mad woman who probably has a million stray cats following me around...I don't care! It wouldnt be too far from the truth and its alot better than just nodding and smiling.
I have a cat called Fluffy. She's no ordinary cat, even though her name may imply some sort of ordinariness if you will. She's super intelligent, and I would even go so far as to say that she's a cat genius. I sometimes feel that we havent given her enough chances in life you know. She has the talent and brains to be whatever she wanted to be. A fire-fighter, a surgeon, an actress, a model, a spokes-cat for the UN!! She could do it all and still have time for a cat nap in the afternoon. And yet...why do people have such a hard time believing this? Why is it so hard to believe that animals can be so intelligent? Ok, I'm not actually serious when I say she could be a surgeon...her paws just wouldn't be able to hold that scalpel too good. But when people smirk and humour me when I tell tales of her intelligence, I feel I must hold firm and say with a resounding YES that I fully believe she could be a neurosurgeon if the thought so came upon her. It's the principle of the thing.
Animals are no less smarter than humans and alot of them are smarter than some humans I know. So there! Fluffy is a genius and I defy anyone to prove otherwise. In the meantime... let's talk about telepathy!
Thursday, March 09, 2006
Battle Of The Sexes
Back when I started this blog, I posted on a little something I called Role Reversal. Click here to read it. I brought up the question of whether, in our modern society, women, in their quest to break free from male domination, have succeeded in reversing traditional gender roles and have indeed begun to dominate the men!
Today, I'd like to make some attempt at talking about something slightly more serious than what fruit you are! Today, I'd like to talk about equality...well to an extent anyhow.
It really annoys me when women insist on being treated like men. This, it seems, is their idea of "equality". Can they not see that by these actions they are indirectly affirming the dominance and emminence of the male gender? By placing as a prerequisite of being treated as an equal human being, the condition of being treated like a MAN, we are inadvertently placing men in a superior category to women. We are saying that, yes, we acknowledge that men are superior to women, and therefore we demand that you treat us as a man in order that we may achieve the same level of superiority as the average man.
Superiority? What superiority? Men may rule the world, but women rule the men. A woman who is confident with herself, with her sexuality and with her femininity will understand that although men may be in possession of the token position of power in this world, it is really the women that wield the most power. The importance of being a woman is immeasurable, and it really upsets me to see so many women today deny themselves the pleasure of their femininity in order to become more like these men they hold such aspirations to imitate.
When I studied Feminism, I was browsing a second hand bookstore and came across this amazing book written by one George Gilder, entitled "Men and Marriage" (Check it out here, make sure you scroll down and read the reviews!). Unlike the suggestion of the title, the book is not about getting a man to marry you. Instead, this book deals with differences between the genders, deals with problems in society caused by these differences and most importantly, deals with the problems caused by feminists upsetting the delicate balance of the sexes and setting in mortion events which are leading to the destruction of society.
Perhaps you might feel that the effects of feminism are being exaggerated, however, it cannot be denied that irreversible changes have been brought about by the denial and ignorance of womens powers of femininity, and these changes are slowly but surely leading to devasting effects on society as we know it.
Gilder makes alot of valid arguments, however I will deal with just one of them here. From the outset, there is an imbalance between the sexes. Women possess what he calls "sexual superiority" over men. They go through pregnancy, breast feeding and greater bonding with the children as a result. Their monthly periods are a continuous reminder to them that, as a woman, they possess the ability to continue the human race so to speak. While any man can provide the sperm, the role of the woman is much more important in reproduction. Men are replaceable in such situations. One man can impregnante a whole town! While men have less control over their sexual urges, women can control theirs somewhat more, and in doing so can control those of their men. Through their sexual superiority, women encourage men to look toward the future.
In such ways, women from the outset are superior to men. There is an imbalance between the sexes.
In order to achieve balance, a forte must be created for the men. An area in which the men will excel, will be superior to women and therefore achieve balance between the sexes. Enter Society. Men became entrusted with providing for the women and children. They were given social superiority in order to offset the imbalance caused by the sexual superiority of women.
So what happens when women come along and insist on taking the place of men in society? When women insist on being the providers instead of the men? Men feel emasculated. Their purpose in life is gone. They have no reason to exist, if you will. (Realise I am slightly exagerrating in order to get the point across). Gilder goes on to point out that in such cases, men have nothing controlling their 'barbaric' and 'irresponsible' urges. They begin to wreak havoc on society. See the ghettos in America. Or street gangs. Are you telling me that if those men had families to support they would be sitting around on their asses pointing guns at whoever pissed them off? No, they wouldn't.
It's an interesting theory, and I would recommend that, if you're interested in the battle of the sexes, you should try and get your hands on a copy of Gilder's "Men and Marriage". I think Amazon has a few second hand copies for less than $3.
Point is, men and women are fundamentally different. Men are physically stronger, there's no use in trying to deny that. And because women are physically weaker, over the generations we have had to evolve intricate ways of controlling them not by using our brawn, but using our brains and the sexual superiority given to us by mother nature. I have no time for women who insist on being treated as an equal to men. I am not unnequal, but I am a woman. I accept and embrace my differences, and I will not accept a man treating me like one of the boys.
Today, I'd like to make some attempt at talking about something slightly more serious than what fruit you are! Today, I'd like to talk about equality...well to an extent anyhow.
It really annoys me when women insist on being treated like men. This, it seems, is their idea of "equality". Can they not see that by these actions they are indirectly affirming the dominance and emminence of the male gender? By placing as a prerequisite of being treated as an equal human being, the condition of being treated like a MAN, we are inadvertently placing men in a superior category to women. We are saying that, yes, we acknowledge that men are superior to women, and therefore we demand that you treat us as a man in order that we may achieve the same level of superiority as the average man.
Superiority? What superiority? Men may rule the world, but women rule the men. A woman who is confident with herself, with her sexuality and with her femininity will understand that although men may be in possession of the token position of power in this world, it is really the women that wield the most power. The importance of being a woman is immeasurable, and it really upsets me to see so many women today deny themselves the pleasure of their femininity in order to become more like these men they hold such aspirations to imitate.
When I studied Feminism, I was browsing a second hand bookstore and came across this amazing book written by one George Gilder, entitled "Men and Marriage" (Check it out here, make sure you scroll down and read the reviews!). Unlike the suggestion of the title, the book is not about getting a man to marry you. Instead, this book deals with differences between the genders, deals with problems in society caused by these differences and most importantly, deals with the problems caused by feminists upsetting the delicate balance of the sexes and setting in mortion events which are leading to the destruction of society.
Perhaps you might feel that the effects of feminism are being exaggerated, however, it cannot be denied that irreversible changes have been brought about by the denial and ignorance of womens powers of femininity, and these changes are slowly but surely leading to devasting effects on society as we know it.
Gilder makes alot of valid arguments, however I will deal with just one of them here. From the outset, there is an imbalance between the sexes. Women possess what he calls "sexual superiority" over men. They go through pregnancy, breast feeding and greater bonding with the children as a result. Their monthly periods are a continuous reminder to them that, as a woman, they possess the ability to continue the human race so to speak. While any man can provide the sperm, the role of the woman is much more important in reproduction. Men are replaceable in such situations. One man can impregnante a whole town! While men have less control over their sexual urges, women can control theirs somewhat more, and in doing so can control those of their men. Through their sexual superiority, women encourage men to look toward the future.
In such ways, women from the outset are superior to men. There is an imbalance between the sexes.
In order to achieve balance, a forte must be created for the men. An area in which the men will excel, will be superior to women and therefore achieve balance between the sexes. Enter Society. Men became entrusted with providing for the women and children. They were given social superiority in order to offset the imbalance caused by the sexual superiority of women.
So what happens when women come along and insist on taking the place of men in society? When women insist on being the providers instead of the men? Men feel emasculated. Their purpose in life is gone. They have no reason to exist, if you will. (Realise I am slightly exagerrating in order to get the point across). Gilder goes on to point out that in such cases, men have nothing controlling their 'barbaric' and 'irresponsible' urges. They begin to wreak havoc on society. See the ghettos in America. Or street gangs. Are you telling me that if those men had families to support they would be sitting around on their asses pointing guns at whoever pissed them off? No, they wouldn't.
It's an interesting theory, and I would recommend that, if you're interested in the battle of the sexes, you should try and get your hands on a copy of Gilder's "Men and Marriage". I think Amazon has a few second hand copies for less than $3.
Point is, men and women are fundamentally different. Men are physically stronger, there's no use in trying to deny that. And because women are physically weaker, over the generations we have had to evolve intricate ways of controlling them not by using our brawn, but using our brains and the sexual superiority given to us by mother nature. I have no time for women who insist on being treated as an equal to men. I am not unnequal, but I am a woman. I accept and embrace my differences, and I will not accept a man treating me like one of the boys.
Tuesday, March 07, 2006
Know What It Means To Be Effortless
Tao Te Ching said:
"Practice not-doing, and everything will fall into place".
How true that is. How true, and yet how difficult to grasp. The human mind seems to feel that in order to get anything done, one has to expend energy. One has to exert oneself.
It's true that some things deserve alot of thought, others require much concentration, indeed many things we do must be done with skill and precision. But, the longer I spend on this earth, the stronger I feel that the best things happen when you let them happen. You perform your best when you act effortlessly, and without strain. You do things you never thought you could do when you don't try so hard.
If I try to sing something and I find it doesnt really suit my voice that well, I strain and I push my voice and to be honest it sounds terrible. But the minute I sit back and let the song come forward without push, without effort, its just comes...naturally.
Last night at salsa, I couldnt get some moves. I tried and tried, and they just wouldnt come. But when I cleared my head, stayed calm and just moved without thinking, they came to me perfectly.
When you want something in life, it usually comes to you when you dont try and push it. True you need to work for what you want in life, but if its not coming to you straight away, dont worry, keep doing what you're doing, dont stress, and trust that if its meant to be it will.
Lieh-Tze tells us:
"If you understand what it means to be effortless, then there is nothing you cannot do. You can be yin or yang, hard or soft, short or long, round or square, hot or cold; you can live or die, float or sink, strike a high pitch or low, appear or disappear, take on colourations of black or yellow, become sweet or bitter, and be fragrent or pungent. By knowing and doing nothing, you can know all and do all."
"Practice not-doing, and everything will fall into place".
How true that is. How true, and yet how difficult to grasp. The human mind seems to feel that in order to get anything done, one has to expend energy. One has to exert oneself.
It's true that some things deserve alot of thought, others require much concentration, indeed many things we do must be done with skill and precision. But, the longer I spend on this earth, the stronger I feel that the best things happen when you let them happen. You perform your best when you act effortlessly, and without strain. You do things you never thought you could do when you don't try so hard.
If I try to sing something and I find it doesnt really suit my voice that well, I strain and I push my voice and to be honest it sounds terrible. But the minute I sit back and let the song come forward without push, without effort, its just comes...naturally.
Last night at salsa, I couldnt get some moves. I tried and tried, and they just wouldnt come. But when I cleared my head, stayed calm and just moved without thinking, they came to me perfectly.
When you want something in life, it usually comes to you when you dont try and push it. True you need to work for what you want in life, but if its not coming to you straight away, dont worry, keep doing what you're doing, dont stress, and trust that if its meant to be it will.
Lieh-Tze tells us:
"If you understand what it means to be effortless, then there is nothing you cannot do. You can be yin or yang, hard or soft, short or long, round or square, hot or cold; you can live or die, float or sink, strike a high pitch or low, appear or disappear, take on colourations of black or yellow, become sweet or bitter, and be fragrent or pungent. By knowing and doing nothing, you can know all and do all."
Sunday, March 05, 2006
On A Mission
The sun is shining, the birds are singing, the bees are buzzing and i'm officially unemployed again!
ahhhh the sweet smell of satisfaction!
Its gooooood!
So what have I done to mark the occasion? What have I spent each morning doing since I handed in my notice? It's amazing isn't how things always seem alot better when you're not doing it. When I was but dreaming of these days they seemed filled with promise.
Filled to the brim with endless possibilities.
A healthy breakfast, perhaps a quick workout, a chapter written in the novel I'd start, shopping, a spot of baking, perhaps a little trip to pool to swim a hundred laps or so, with just enough time to squeeze in a bit of saving the world before lunch!
Brilliant! Unfortunately, things never really do work out the way you plan do they?
So far, I have tried unsuccessfully both days to drag my lazy ass out of bed. Manage to get myself into the shower, and then thats when it hits. The laziness sets in...and I slowly begin to remember why I wanted to work in the first place!
So today marks the last day of laziness and boredom! Starting tomorrow...my life and my house are getting a complete makeover. I'm going on a major shopping spree, with the money I earned thank you very much! I cut so much off my hair last week, now its time for a new look to match the new hair! Watch out Mom because I'll be turning the house upside down...havent used it in the last week? It's outta here!! I will take no prisoners! This is WAR!
God help anyone who gets in my way...I'm on a mission! Wonder how long it'll last? ;)
ahhhh the sweet smell of satisfaction!
Its gooooood!
So what have I done to mark the occasion? What have I spent each morning doing since I handed in my notice? It's amazing isn't how things always seem alot better when you're not doing it. When I was but dreaming of these days they seemed filled with promise.
Filled to the brim with endless possibilities.
A healthy breakfast, perhaps a quick workout, a chapter written in the novel I'd start, shopping, a spot of baking, perhaps a little trip to pool to swim a hundred laps or so, with just enough time to squeeze in a bit of saving the world before lunch!
Brilliant! Unfortunately, things never really do work out the way you plan do they?
So far, I have tried unsuccessfully both days to drag my lazy ass out of bed. Manage to get myself into the shower, and then thats when it hits. The laziness sets in...and I slowly begin to remember why I wanted to work in the first place!
So today marks the last day of laziness and boredom! Starting tomorrow...my life and my house are getting a complete makeover. I'm going on a major shopping spree, with the money I earned thank you very much! I cut so much off my hair last week, now its time for a new look to match the new hair! Watch out Mom because I'll be turning the house upside down...havent used it in the last week? It's outta here!! I will take no prisoners! This is WAR!
God help anyone who gets in my way...I'm on a mission! Wonder how long it'll last? ;)
Saturday, March 04, 2006
Never Argue With A Fool
"Never argue with a fool; They'll drag you down to their level and beat you with experience!" How true that saying is. How unfortunate that most fools think they know it all; How unfortunate that since they believe they know it all, most fools are stubborn as hell; And how unfortunate indeed that our world seems to be immensely over-populated with class-A fools!
How unfortuante indeed.
How unfortuante indeed.
Wednesday, March 01, 2006
An Epiphany and A Cheese Sandwich
This morning, around 5 am, I woke up with a revelation.
A revelation beyond all revelations. An epiphany; A divination; A vision. The truth manifested itself before me, and I was born again! Well, maybe not, but it was pretty strange!
In my dream, I was handed a book. And without opening this book, I instantly gathered the essence of its message, of what it was telling. My eyes popped open, I was wide awake, and for reasons I could not grasp I just knew I had to write this message down before it escaped me.
Was it a strangely vivid dream? Was it just my brain coming up with ideas in my sleep? I don't know, but what I do know is that, at 5 am, this seemed pretty big! Before my sleep filled eyes I was being handed an oscar, a grammy, a nobel prize for all categories rolled into one, a cheese sandwich. I dont know where the cheese sandwich fitted in, maybe I was hungry.
Point is, this is MY idea. I've got a law degree, so if any idea-stealing person decides to steal this here idea which I am about to reveal to you, I shall personally hunt him (or her) down, squeeze them till their eyes pop out, then sue them and take everything they have. Simple as that.
Last night, it was revealed to me why so many tragedies and disasters are raining down upon us now. The answer, my dears, is....SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST. Yes, a theory that has been put forth many times, but not this way.... listen closely.
As a race, we have become so dependant on oil. Oil for everything. From washing our clothes, to cooking our food, to electricity, to communication, to transportation. Ok look, I'm not a scientist, but I do know that we have evolved into beings that would be unable to survive at our present state without oil. Oil is running out. Countries are blowing other countries up for their oil-look at Iraq. Oil hungry Americans stealing all their oil. Point is, in another decade or so, we will have nearly run out of all oil reserves. In another 50 years who's to know what's to become of us?? These disasters are the worlds way, our way, to ensure that less people will have to deal with this ultimate crisis that we will be facing in the not so distant future. It's the earths way of ensuring only the fittest survive. That, at the end, only those who are able to live without being dependant on oil will survive. Our only hope for survival is to come up with alternative fuels. Yes, you know that already. But these disasters are the earths way of telling us again. Its way of drilling the point into our brains. I was given the answer, now spread the word my messengers, spread the word.
Strangely enough...this sounded ALOT better at 5 am!
A revelation beyond all revelations. An epiphany; A divination; A vision. The truth manifested itself before me, and I was born again! Well, maybe not, but it was pretty strange!
In my dream, I was handed a book. And without opening this book, I instantly gathered the essence of its message, of what it was telling. My eyes popped open, I was wide awake, and for reasons I could not grasp I just knew I had to write this message down before it escaped me.
Was it a strangely vivid dream? Was it just my brain coming up with ideas in my sleep? I don't know, but what I do know is that, at 5 am, this seemed pretty big! Before my sleep filled eyes I was being handed an oscar, a grammy, a nobel prize for all categories rolled into one, a cheese sandwich. I dont know where the cheese sandwich fitted in, maybe I was hungry.
Point is, this is MY idea. I've got a law degree, so if any idea-stealing person decides to steal this here idea which I am about to reveal to you, I shall personally hunt him (or her) down, squeeze them till their eyes pop out, then sue them and take everything they have. Simple as that.
Last night, it was revealed to me why so many tragedies and disasters are raining down upon us now. The answer, my dears, is....SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST. Yes, a theory that has been put forth many times, but not this way.... listen closely.
As a race, we have become so dependant on oil. Oil for everything. From washing our clothes, to cooking our food, to electricity, to communication, to transportation. Ok look, I'm not a scientist, but I do know that we have evolved into beings that would be unable to survive at our present state without oil. Oil is running out. Countries are blowing other countries up for their oil-look at Iraq. Oil hungry Americans stealing all their oil. Point is, in another decade or so, we will have nearly run out of all oil reserves. In another 50 years who's to know what's to become of us?? These disasters are the worlds way, our way, to ensure that less people will have to deal with this ultimate crisis that we will be facing in the not so distant future. It's the earths way of ensuring only the fittest survive. That, at the end, only those who are able to live without being dependant on oil will survive. Our only hope for survival is to come up with alternative fuels. Yes, you know that already. But these disasters are the earths way of telling us again. Its way of drilling the point into our brains. I was given the answer, now spread the word my messengers, spread the word.
Strangely enough...this sounded ALOT better at 5 am!
Tuesday, February 28, 2006
Don't Piss Off A Giraffe
Some things I've learned today:
A giraffe can kill almost any animal by using its neck and head as a club.
Checking your email every 5 seconds doesnt increase the chances that someone will email you.
Checking your watch every 5 minutes doesnt make time go any faster.
Popeye's four nephews are called Pipeye, Peepeye, Pupeye and Poopeye.
No piece of square, dry paper can be folded more than 7 times in half.
The only 15 letter word that can be spelt without repeating letters is "uncopyrightable".
Drinking water makes you want to pee.
A giraffe can kill almost any animal by using its neck and head as a club.
Checking your email every 5 seconds doesnt increase the chances that someone will email you.
Checking your watch every 5 minutes doesnt make time go any faster.
Popeye's four nephews are called Pipeye, Peepeye, Pupeye and Poopeye.
No piece of square, dry paper can be folded more than 7 times in half.
The only 15 letter word that can be spelt without repeating letters is "uncopyrightable".
Drinking water makes you want to pee.
Monday, February 27, 2006
First Generation American
It's amazing who you meet and what you learn wherever you are. Last night, I went Salsa Dancing with a friend. First time, but I was up there shaking my tail feather with the rest of them! :) Unbelievable fun! This guy and I got talking, and it turned out he was from Houston, Texas. A tall, handsome black guy with a booming voice and a personality to match. He was asking me where I was from, and so on, but when I asked him if both his parents were from Houston, he said no no. haha They're expats. That's it. No elaboration. Nothing. Suffice to say, I knew something wasn't quite right.
Anyhow, he introduced me to this annoyingly bad dancer called Winston, who tried to latch on to me for the night. Thats the good thing about Salsa, you can Salsa away from people! On another note, why have all the [two] Winston's I've met in my life been annoying? And more importantly, why do people make the rational decision to name their sons Winston?!!?
Winston let slip that Kenny, the Texan, was half American half Nigerian. You should have seen the look on his face. He was embarrased. I asked him which one of his parents was Nigerian? Both, he said, I'm first generation American.
First Generation American. No Generation Nigerian?? Is American the nationality you hide behind when you want to forget your own? When you're embarrased of where you've come from? When you feel that its in your best interests to ignore where your parents came from, to ignore their story, to ignore your roots?? It struck me as strange, and somewhat sad, that he would choose to gladly shout from the rooftops that he's from Houston. That he's from a country who's public policy has resulted in the destruction of countries, lives and races of people. That he's from a city that can claim to be home to the money-hungry vultures that supported and orchestrated the illegal and unnecessary war on Iraq. That he would choose to deny the rich history of his parents land, albeit a history of recent violence, bloodshed and unrest. That he would be content to accept the measly few hundred year history of America, a history that that is both short and not very impressive. That he would choose to pledge allegiance to a country that once forcibly took men from his homeland and used them as slaves. More importantly, that he would be embarrassed to tell people where his parents are from. I'm not saying that Nigeria is better than America, its a matter of opinion, and seeing as I have lived in neither country, it's an opinion I feel I am in no postition to hold.
I don't know about you though, but I'd prefer to say I was from Nigeria.
Anyhow, he introduced me to this annoyingly bad dancer called Winston, who tried to latch on to me for the night. Thats the good thing about Salsa, you can Salsa away from people! On another note, why have all the [two] Winston's I've met in my life been annoying? And more importantly, why do people make the rational decision to name their sons Winston?!!?
Winston let slip that Kenny, the Texan, was half American half Nigerian. You should have seen the look on his face. He was embarrased. I asked him which one of his parents was Nigerian? Both, he said, I'm first generation American.
First Generation American. No Generation Nigerian?? Is American the nationality you hide behind when you want to forget your own? When you're embarrased of where you've come from? When you feel that its in your best interests to ignore where your parents came from, to ignore their story, to ignore your roots?? It struck me as strange, and somewhat sad, that he would choose to gladly shout from the rooftops that he's from Houston. That he's from a country who's public policy has resulted in the destruction of countries, lives and races of people. That he's from a city that can claim to be home to the money-hungry vultures that supported and orchestrated the illegal and unnecessary war on Iraq. That he would choose to deny the rich history of his parents land, albeit a history of recent violence, bloodshed and unrest. That he would be content to accept the measly few hundred year history of America, a history that that is both short and not very impressive. That he would choose to pledge allegiance to a country that once forcibly took men from his homeland and used them as slaves. More importantly, that he would be embarrassed to tell people where his parents are from. I'm not saying that Nigeria is better than America, its a matter of opinion, and seeing as I have lived in neither country, it's an opinion I feel I am in no postition to hold.
I don't know about you though, but I'd prefer to say I was from Nigeria.
Giving MC Hammer A Run For His Money!
Just sitting here thinking how unfair it is that MC Hammer just started a blog this month (click here to see it) and is already getting hundreds of comments. I know, I realise that it's MC Hammer, and it's unbelievably cool that he's blogging! I also realise that because its MC Hammer people will read his blog, tell their friends about it and comment. But it really is so unfair that many other blogs go unnoticed. That others have to work for years, blogging every day, churning out seriously talented material, in order to get to where he's gotten in just over a week. Let's take fafblog for example. There is amazing stuff on this. Genius in fact. And yet, it took them three years to make it to the top of the blogs list on blogspot. Hammer got there in a week! It's not fair, but then again, the last word that can describe life is fair.
It's not fair that the rich seem to be forever getting things for free, when the people who need those things could onlu dream of getting them for nothing. That celebrities, who can afford whatever they want, are always the people being given freebies. That someone would consider taking an influential person for dinner, but would never dream of taking a poor person in need of food for the same dinner.
When guys complain that its not FAIR that they have to pay for everything on dates, they should remember that its not really fair that women have to put up with periods, have to go through 9 months of pregnancy, a painful labour, and not to mention the sleazy stares of most men their entire life. Life isn't fair.
But to be fair to him, Hammer does seem to have a brain. His blog really isn't bad so far. It's a look into his personality, into his thoughts...I just hope its not a publicity stunt for his album which is coming out in a couple of months.
In the meantime, pass on my blog to everyone you know! Let's see if we can give Hammer a run for his money!! And if not, well, at least we've tried.
It's not fair that the rich seem to be forever getting things for free, when the people who need those things could onlu dream of getting them for nothing. That celebrities, who can afford whatever they want, are always the people being given freebies. That someone would consider taking an influential person for dinner, but would never dream of taking a poor person in need of food for the same dinner.
When guys complain that its not FAIR that they have to pay for everything on dates, they should remember that its not really fair that women have to put up with periods, have to go through 9 months of pregnancy, a painful labour, and not to mention the sleazy stares of most men their entire life. Life isn't fair.
But to be fair to him, Hammer does seem to have a brain. His blog really isn't bad so far. It's a look into his personality, into his thoughts...I just hope its not a publicity stunt for his album which is coming out in a couple of months.
In the meantime, pass on my blog to everyone you know! Let's see if we can give Hammer a run for his money!! And if not, well, at least we've tried.
Saturday, February 25, 2006
Germans, Egyptians and Cotton Swabs!
So, my last week at my job. Am I sad? Sorrowful? Depressed? Perhaps a little wistful? Not really. Am I glad to get out of here? Yes, in a way. I'm glad to leave this stupid, pointless work. I'm glad to know that I won't be working for the evil, soul-destroying corporation. I'm glad that I won't have to trudge through countless pages of gibberish anymore...
But to be quite honest, I'm going to miss the people I've worked with. In spite of the trivial, meaningless, unnecessary work that I was forced to perform, those I worked with have made it bearable. They're a great bunch, and if anything they managed to keep me smiling all day. Although some would contend that's not a very hard task in itself!
Point is, I'm going to miss them.
I'm going to miss their silly little comments, their corny jokes, their little nicknames for each other, their names! I swear to God, just there a couple of guys passed my desk talking to each other. One was asking if the other had heard about the meeting this afternoon.
"Yeah, Chain Gang was telling me"
Hold on...Chain Gang?? Within this company, is a guy called Chain Gang. Chain Gang. Granted, I'm probably spelling it wrong and its supposed to be spelt something along the lines of Xyyinn Jyanggey or something. But however you spell it, it doesnt change the fact that sitting at a desk within a small cramped cubicle, up to his eyeballs in charts and graphs, with his little glasses perched on the end of his little nose, is a man called Chain Gang. *sigh*
Or then there are the Germans who work in the same office as me. Extremely tall fellows, I'm talking 7 feet tall maybe 8! Well, maybe not, but you get what I mean. Tall, straight men who march instead of walk. Who lift their knees above their chests when marching from cubicle to cubicle. Well, maybe I'm exaggerating there as well, but you get my drift. Straight backs, tucked in shirts, maximum efficiency. Rolf is the big boss and as everyone should know, the big boss should never smile! If something can be said seriously, why in the world would anyone choose to say it with a smile??!! NEVER!! We don't SMILE when there's work to be done!! PAH!! Let the wall FALL before I smile in the face of targets and deadlines... oh wait. It's been down since '89? Dammit! (If you don't know what I'm talking about, click here) Seriously though, I don't think he feels comfortable smiling. Still, that doesn't stop me smiling at him! And you know what? I think secretly, he really likes it. Its like a release of all this pent up energy when finally he has a valid reason to smile at someone. 'What did you want me to do?? SHE smiled at me!! I HAD to smile back!!' Olaf is quite the opposite. Always ready for a joke, always smiling, I actually think that sometimes he feels he may be betraying Rolf. Betraying the stereotype of the serious, efficient German. And you know, strangely enough his smile always disappears when he hears the strong, sturdy, purposeful march of Rolf coming down the hall! Ah, how they entertain me.
And what about the Egyptians? Now, there's a fun group! If something can be said with a smile and a joke, then WHY would someone make the rational choice to be serious? They laugh, they joke, they shout, they scream. Yes, they don't talk, they shout. And it's great! It brings life into the place! Hey! I haven't seen you in 3 minutes!! How have you been?? Hows everything?? Have a coffee! We'll get onto that report later!! Not to worry, Not to worry. There's still 10 minutes before the deadline. With God's help we'll get it done. Ah, I'm exaggerating here, they're extremely hard workers. But I think it's great how Arabs still keep a firm hold on formalities, on pleasantries. It's so important I think. Good manners are so important to me, and should be important to everyone. Unfortunately, it seems that many people are forgetting what it means to have manners [we'll leave that for another post!]. Among Arabs, it's normal to greet someone everytime you see them. No matter if you just saw them 5 minutes ago, and every 5 minutes for the past hour, you still acknowledge them! To pass someone without saying hi is a huge insult. I remember when I moved to Ireland, people used to think I was mentally retarded. I kept asking them how they were! 'Um, I'm still the same as when you asked me a half hour ago'. No work is too important that formalities can be cut out in order to get straight to the point, and if you ask me, that's the way it should be all over the world. I remember a story I read in a book called "Understanding Arabs" (check out a short review here) about an American nurse working in a hospital in Saudi. She called up an Arab doctor to ask a question and when he answered she got straight to the point. "Ahmed, I need to order more swabs, who should I call?" "Ok Miss Jones, but first tell me, how are you today?" How are you today! It's so simple, but many feel that in order to be perceived as professional, they must refrain from taking a personal interest in their workmates. How wrong they are. I know Rolf loves it when I ask him! :)
But to be quite honest, I'm going to miss the people I've worked with. In spite of the trivial, meaningless, unnecessary work that I was forced to perform, those I worked with have made it bearable. They're a great bunch, and if anything they managed to keep me smiling all day. Although some would contend that's not a very hard task in itself!
Point is, I'm going to miss them.
I'm going to miss their silly little comments, their corny jokes, their little nicknames for each other, their names! I swear to God, just there a couple of guys passed my desk talking to each other. One was asking if the other had heard about the meeting this afternoon.
"Yeah, Chain Gang was telling me"
Hold on...Chain Gang?? Within this company, is a guy called Chain Gang. Chain Gang. Granted, I'm probably spelling it wrong and its supposed to be spelt something along the lines of Xyyinn Jyanggey or something. But however you spell it, it doesnt change the fact that sitting at a desk within a small cramped cubicle, up to his eyeballs in charts and graphs, with his little glasses perched on the end of his little nose, is a man called Chain Gang. *sigh*
Or then there are the Germans who work in the same office as me. Extremely tall fellows, I'm talking 7 feet tall maybe 8! Well, maybe not, but you get what I mean. Tall, straight men who march instead of walk. Who lift their knees above their chests when marching from cubicle to cubicle. Well, maybe I'm exaggerating there as well, but you get my drift. Straight backs, tucked in shirts, maximum efficiency. Rolf is the big boss and as everyone should know, the big boss should never smile! If something can be said seriously, why in the world would anyone choose to say it with a smile??!! NEVER!! We don't SMILE when there's work to be done!! PAH!! Let the wall FALL before I smile in the face of targets and deadlines... oh wait. It's been down since '89? Dammit! (If you don't know what I'm talking about, click here) Seriously though, I don't think he feels comfortable smiling. Still, that doesn't stop me smiling at him! And you know what? I think secretly, he really likes it. Its like a release of all this pent up energy when finally he has a valid reason to smile at someone. 'What did you want me to do?? SHE smiled at me!! I HAD to smile back!!' Olaf is quite the opposite. Always ready for a joke, always smiling, I actually think that sometimes he feels he may be betraying Rolf. Betraying the stereotype of the serious, efficient German. And you know, strangely enough his smile always disappears when he hears the strong, sturdy, purposeful march of Rolf coming down the hall! Ah, how they entertain me.
And what about the Egyptians? Now, there's a fun group! If something can be said with a smile and a joke, then WHY would someone make the rational choice to be serious? They laugh, they joke, they shout, they scream. Yes, they don't talk, they shout. And it's great! It brings life into the place! Hey! I haven't seen you in 3 minutes!! How have you been?? Hows everything?? Have a coffee! We'll get onto that report later!! Not to worry, Not to worry. There's still 10 minutes before the deadline. With God's help we'll get it done. Ah, I'm exaggerating here, they're extremely hard workers. But I think it's great how Arabs still keep a firm hold on formalities, on pleasantries. It's so important I think. Good manners are so important to me, and should be important to everyone. Unfortunately, it seems that many people are forgetting what it means to have manners [we'll leave that for another post!]. Among Arabs, it's normal to greet someone everytime you see them. No matter if you just saw them 5 minutes ago, and every 5 minutes for the past hour, you still acknowledge them! To pass someone without saying hi is a huge insult. I remember when I moved to Ireland, people used to think I was mentally retarded. I kept asking them how they were! 'Um, I'm still the same as when you asked me a half hour ago'. No work is too important that formalities can be cut out in order to get straight to the point, and if you ask me, that's the way it should be all over the world. I remember a story I read in a book called "Understanding Arabs" (check out a short review here) about an American nurse working in a hospital in Saudi. She called up an Arab doctor to ask a question and when he answered she got straight to the point. "Ahmed, I need to order more swabs, who should I call?" "Ok Miss Jones, but first tell me, how are you today?" How are you today! It's so simple, but many feel that in order to be perceived as professional, they must refrain from taking a personal interest in their workmates. How wrong they are. I know Rolf loves it when I ask him! :)
Puppets On A String
This one should be familiar to some who read my blog. I wrote this about a year ago, maybe more, and actually started it in a Juris class. Those who went to Juris with me won't be surprised, that class was mind-blowing. Well, it was to me anyhow!
What we know as reality is really just fiction
Our perceptions of the world a cumbersome restriction
You are not you, I am not me
Each day we become who we want to be
Perhaps we have dreamt up this world we reside in
Perhaps these ideas are us realising
That there is nothing upon which we can depend
There is no one reality, do you comprehend?
Do we not feel alive at night when we sleep
Who's to say this 'awakeness' is any more deep?
Our lives become a handful of memories
Scenarios as faint as our nighttime reveries
And yet we continue day after day
Believing our lives a moldable clay
Which we can reform this way and that
Totally reshape at the drop of a hat
Oh foolish fools that we have become
Marching in time to the same old drum
With State and Society providing the beat
Generic beliefs moving our feet
We are no more individual than we are real
Our god is Authority and before it we kneel
Choice, Chance, it's all the same
We're the lifeless figures in a golden frame
Wealth, Riches, Material Possessions
Hiding the sadness of our oppression
On the beach of life we are mere grains of sand
Puppets on a string; But in whose hands?
Some other poems I've posted on this blog can be viewed here, here, and here.
What we know as reality is really just fiction
Our perceptions of the world a cumbersome restriction
You are not you, I am not me
Each day we become who we want to be
Perhaps we have dreamt up this world we reside in
Perhaps these ideas are us realising
That there is nothing upon which we can depend
There is no one reality, do you comprehend?
Do we not feel alive at night when we sleep
Who's to say this 'awakeness' is any more deep?
Our lives become a handful of memories
Scenarios as faint as our nighttime reveries
And yet we continue day after day
Believing our lives a moldable clay
Which we can reform this way and that
Totally reshape at the drop of a hat
Oh foolish fools that we have become
Marching in time to the same old drum
With State and Society providing the beat
Generic beliefs moving our feet
We are no more individual than we are real
Our god is Authority and before it we kneel
Choice, Chance, it's all the same
We're the lifeless figures in a golden frame
Wealth, Riches, Material Possessions
Hiding the sadness of our oppression
On the beach of life we are mere grains of sand
Puppets on a string; But in whose hands?
Some other poems I've posted on this blog can be viewed here, here, and here.
Friday, February 24, 2006
Who's Been Sitting In My Chair??!!
This morning I came into work, early might I add, back to a desk that someone else had definately been using since I was last here. I felt like I stepped into Goldilocks and the 3 Bears...
Someone had definately been sitting at my desk. There was paper littered around, pens opened, post-it's all over the place:
"Who's been sitting at my desk?"
Has that ever happened to you? Someone else just decided that your desk looked like a nice enough desk to take over for an afternoon. Decided to put their grubby paws all over your phone, all over your papers, all over your things. I sat down, and was about a mile over the desk! Someone had been toying with the height of my chair, and whoever he was, he had been freakishly tall!
"Who's been sitting in my chair?"
I tidied up my desk, re-adjusted my chair, turned to my phone and...I swear to God, laying next to my phone was a half-eaten, opened, jar of honey!!!!
Could this job get any stranger??!!
Someone had definately been sitting at my desk. There was paper littered around, pens opened, post-it's all over the place:
"Who's been sitting at my desk?"
Has that ever happened to you? Someone else just decided that your desk looked like a nice enough desk to take over for an afternoon. Decided to put their grubby paws all over your phone, all over your papers, all over your things. I sat down, and was about a mile over the desk! Someone had been toying with the height of my chair, and whoever he was, he had been freakishly tall!
"Who's been sitting in my chair?"
I tidied up my desk, re-adjusted my chair, turned to my phone and...I swear to God, laying next to my phone was a half-eaten, opened, jar of honey!!!!
Could this job get any stranger??!!
Angelic Inspiration
I am not ready, Lord I'm not
Prepared to settle with my lot
Forgo my hopes, desires and dreams
Still the waters of my lifes streams
For what should I make this sacrifice?
I ask you why I should pay this price
For Stability? Routine? Domestic Bliss?
Ah Death! I'd sooner accept your kiss
This can't be all that life will be
To live in chains and never be free
Chained to traditions and expectations
Blinding myself to my situation
Believing that I have my autonomy
Solely controlling my destiny
Ah, what a fool I am and I should be
If I close my eyes to this tragedy
And blindy follow where they have all gone
Ignoring my caged hearts desperate song
If I should refuse to search for love
Be indifferent to the wonders of heaven above
Why then I would simply be fooling myself
Remaining rooted upon my shelf
Angels above please show me the light
Help me have courage, honour and might
Courage to soar to spiritual heights
Honour to do what I know is right
And finally Might, so I may be strong
And resist the temptation to be strung along
I owe it to myself to be true to me
To be all that I ever wanted to be.
I didnt win that competition, so I'm posting some of the poems I entered. Here's one that I wrote last June, just after graduating.
Prepared to settle with my lot
Forgo my hopes, desires and dreams
Still the waters of my lifes streams
For what should I make this sacrifice?
I ask you why I should pay this price
For Stability? Routine? Domestic Bliss?
Ah Death! I'd sooner accept your kiss
This can't be all that life will be
To live in chains and never be free
Chained to traditions and expectations
Blinding myself to my situation
Believing that I have my autonomy
Solely controlling my destiny
Ah, what a fool I am and I should be
If I close my eyes to this tragedy
And blindy follow where they have all gone
Ignoring my caged hearts desperate song
If I should refuse to search for love
Be indifferent to the wonders of heaven above
Why then I would simply be fooling myself
Remaining rooted upon my shelf
Angels above please show me the light
Help me have courage, honour and might
Courage to soar to spiritual heights
Honour to do what I know is right
And finally Might, so I may be strong
And resist the temptation to be strung along
I owe it to myself to be true to me
To be all that I ever wanted to be.
I didnt win that competition, so I'm posting some of the poems I entered. Here's one that I wrote last June, just after graduating.
Wednesday, February 22, 2006
Sick Bed Within The Firm
There is this guy in my office who has been sick for the last week. Well apparently anyhow.
I say apparently because, the only evidence of this "sickness" is his constant moping around and continuous complaining! You'd swear he was on his death bed the way he's been carrying on.
The long face, the half-closed eyes, the slow labourous shuffle, the polite little sniffle every now and then. It's enough to drive anyone crazy! He's been on this anit-biotic, that anti-biotic, this painkiller, that painkiller, 2 tablets 3 times a day, 3 tablets 2 times a day...you name it he's done it. And yet, do you think he's actually finished any of these courses of tablets??NO
Do you think he's taken them at the times he's supposed to have taken them??NO
I called him on it today, and some way or another he blamed that on his doctors. I say doctors because he has been to several!!
What is particularly annoying about it all is that they guy probably isn't all that sick really. He's probably got a little tickle in his throat and from that has deduced that he's got some life-threatening throat disease. Or virus as he keeps referring to it as. If it's not the bird flu one then keep quite! Honest to God, anything for a little bit of sympathy huh? If he had to put up with monthly cramps and what not I don't know how he'd survive. Probably wouldn't really, would he?!
I say apparently because, the only evidence of this "sickness" is his constant moping around and continuous complaining! You'd swear he was on his death bed the way he's been carrying on.
The long face, the half-closed eyes, the slow labourous shuffle, the polite little sniffle every now and then. It's enough to drive anyone crazy! He's been on this anit-biotic, that anti-biotic, this painkiller, that painkiller, 2 tablets 3 times a day, 3 tablets 2 times a day...you name it he's done it. And yet, do you think he's actually finished any of these courses of tablets??NO
Do you think he's taken them at the times he's supposed to have taken them??NO
I called him on it today, and some way or another he blamed that on his doctors. I say doctors because he has been to several!!
What is particularly annoying about it all is that they guy probably isn't all that sick really. He's probably got a little tickle in his throat and from that has deduced that he's got some life-threatening throat disease. Or virus as he keeps referring to it as. If it's not the bird flu one then keep quite! Honest to God, anything for a little bit of sympathy huh? If he had to put up with monthly cramps and what not I don't know how he'd survive. Probably wouldn't really, would he?!
Men Don't Really Think, Do They?
I think it's so funny the way alot of guys change their attitude to you the minute they get a girlfriend!!
Suddenly they're not as friendly, they don't joke around as much, they don't pay as much attention to you as before. It's very funny really because it shows that they initially were so nice to you because they fancied you. Which, if you think about it, is pre-dominantly the reason most guys become friends with a girl in the first place! There are exceptions of course, and quite honestly there's absolutely nothing wrong with fancying one of your friends, but I have a little bit of advice.
Guys, it would be alot smarter to stay the same with us even after you've gotten yourself a girlfriend. Even if you're still all buddy, buddy with us, we can notice the difference! By doing so, you're showing that your fondness for us was as a result of our wonderful personalities, our charm, our wit, and had absolutely nothing to do with the fact that you fancied the pants off us. Doing so, you're increasing your chances that you may yet woo us when it doesnt work out with your girlfriend and you're back wanting to be "good friends" again!
Unfortunately for them, men really don't think alot of the time!
Suddenly they're not as friendly, they don't joke around as much, they don't pay as much attention to you as before. It's very funny really because it shows that they initially were so nice to you because they fancied you. Which, if you think about it, is pre-dominantly the reason most guys become friends with a girl in the first place! There are exceptions of course, and quite honestly there's absolutely nothing wrong with fancying one of your friends, but I have a little bit of advice.
Guys, it would be alot smarter to stay the same with us even after you've gotten yourself a girlfriend. Even if you're still all buddy, buddy with us, we can notice the difference! By doing so, you're showing that your fondness for us was as a result of our wonderful personalities, our charm, our wit, and had absolutely nothing to do with the fact that you fancied the pants off us. Doing so, you're increasing your chances that you may yet woo us when it doesnt work out with your girlfriend and you're back wanting to be "good friends" again!
Unfortunately for them, men really don't think alot of the time!
Tuesday, February 21, 2006
KAPOW! BAM! ZAP! BANG!
Anyone ever asked you what Superpower you'd like to have if you could? Most people think of the more conventional powers- X-Ray vision, Ability to fly, Invisibility, Super-Human Strength!
If you're a little rusty when it comes to the super-powers out there, check them out here!
They're all well and good, but what about if you could make up your own superpower?? Think of what you could do!!!! What would you do??!!
I never even thought of the possibility of making up our own powers until last night, when myself and the one and only Mark Pieri were talking about superhero powers. You know, as you do and all! Thing is, he had come up with an amazing power! One that you probably wouldn't think of, unless you're Mark, but one that upon contemplation is one kick-ass power!
Get this, the Ability to Make People Laugh at Will....
Think about it. Think of the consequences of having the power to diffuse any bad situation with laughter. No more wars! No more fights! A truly ingenious power Mark, hats off to you! Unfortunately we're not all as inventive as Mark, so here's a test to find out which Superhero you would be.
I must admit though, I'm a little peeved that "Superhero" has been described in Wikepedia Encyclopedia as a fictional character! Listen, they exist ok! And even if they don't in the literal sense of the word, don't you think it would be SO much more fun if they did!
Someone steals your purse, Spiderman to the rescue! A bomb is dropped on Iraq, Superman changes super-quick inside the nearest phone booth, flies out, catches the bomb and zooms up to outer space so that it can blow up without destroying the Earth!
BAM! KAPOW! ZAP!
And the COSTUMES!!!!!!!!
What am I doing sitting here, I need to get out there get a costume made and become....!!!!
hmmm well give me a while to think of what I wanna be. In the meantime, The Sagernator and I have some Earth-Saving plans to put into action!
ZAP! BANG!
If you're a little rusty when it comes to the super-powers out there, check them out here!
They're all well and good, but what about if you could make up your own superpower?? Think of what you could do!!!! What would you do??!!
I never even thought of the possibility of making up our own powers until last night, when myself and the one and only Mark Pieri were talking about superhero powers. You know, as you do and all! Thing is, he had come up with an amazing power! One that you probably wouldn't think of, unless you're Mark, but one that upon contemplation is one kick-ass power!
Get this, the Ability to Make People Laugh at Will....
Think about it. Think of the consequences of having the power to diffuse any bad situation with laughter. No more wars! No more fights! A truly ingenious power Mark, hats off to you! Unfortunately we're not all as inventive as Mark, so here's a test to find out which Superhero you would be.
I must admit though, I'm a little peeved that "Superhero" has been described in Wikepedia Encyclopedia as a fictional character! Listen, they exist ok! And even if they don't in the literal sense of the word, don't you think it would be SO much more fun if they did!
Someone steals your purse, Spiderman to the rescue! A bomb is dropped on Iraq, Superman changes super-quick inside the nearest phone booth, flies out, catches the bomb and zooms up to outer space so that it can blow up without destroying the Earth!
BAM! KAPOW! ZAP!
And the COSTUMES!!!!!!!!
What am I doing sitting here, I need to get out there get a costume made and become....!!!!
hmmm well give me a while to think of what I wanna be. In the meantime, The Sagernator and I have some Earth-Saving plans to put into action!
ZAP! BANG!
Monday, February 20, 2006
Rain! Ah, How I've Missed Thee!
Finally it's raining! Never realised that I actually missed the rain until this morning, when I stepped outside and walked straight into a puddle! Ah...how I've missed those soaked jean-ends!
The thirsty earth soaks up the rain,
And drinks, and gapes for drink again.
The plants suck in the earth, and are
With constant drinking fresh and fair.
Abraham Cowley (1618-1667)
The thirsty earth soaks up the rain,
And drinks, and gapes for drink again.
The plants suck in the earth, and are
With constant drinking fresh and fair.
Abraham Cowley (1618-1667)
Sunday, February 19, 2006
Am I Really A Blonde?!?
Someone just asked me if I worked in NEXT. Perplexed, I answered no and asked if there was someone who worked in NEXT that looked like me??
He said no, but said that since I was sitting in that desk he thought that I was...
He walked away and then it hit me...
NEXT stands for Network EXcellence in Training!!!! Some program they have going on here.
I sometimes wonder if I'm really a blonde!
He said no, but said that since I was sitting in that desk he thought that I was...
He walked away and then it hit me...
NEXT stands for Network EXcellence in Training!!!! Some program they have going on here.
I sometimes wonder if I'm really a blonde!
Looking For A Pin To Burst His Bubble!
I'm trying to come up with the best way to tell him I'm leaving work earlier than he thinks I'll be. Initially, if you'll remember, I told him I'd be staying in AD a 'couple of months'. Somehow, he took this to mean that I would be working here for a 'couple of months'. Since I've started, I swear to God, he's been adding weeks on to my intended stay. First it was 2 months. Next it was 3 months. Then it was mid-March. THEN he starts telling his boss that I'll be staying 'till April, maybe longer??!!@!!! I mean, is he sane? Does he have his wits about him? More importantly...can he count???!!!
I have absolutely no intention of staying here 'till April. It's hard enough dedicating myself to dragging myself in here tomorrow! Thing is, I couldn't very well correct him in front of his boss, who is (for the benefit of Ismail) in charge of many legal departments! So there I was, a young, freshfaced, motivated assistant, seemingly intent on working my way up the ladder (oh, if only they knew!) sitting in on some meeting, interrupting my boss and saying "well actually JB you've got it wrong. Absolutely no intention of staying here that long! HA! Over my dead body actually! In fact, I'm counting the days until I'm out of here. So, no, you're wrong there buddy, nope won't be staying here that long! Maybe another week or so, you know, depends on my mood and all. Just wanted to clarify that to the big boss over there and make you look quite silly. ooh that rhymes with willy. haha oh never mind! so no, won't be staying here that long. yeah, amazing isn't it how we got the wires crossed there isn't it? quite funny really! well, I think so. haha ahem, yeah, didn't mean to interrupt there, no no, by all means keep going... pre-emptive non-disclosive multilateral contracts you say?"
Wouldn't really have been a good move... so i've kept quiet and well, now I just need to come up with the perfect way to burst his ever-growing bubble.
I have absolutely no intention of staying here 'till April. It's hard enough dedicating myself to dragging myself in here tomorrow! Thing is, I couldn't very well correct him in front of his boss, who is (for the benefit of Ismail) in charge of many legal departments! So there I was, a young, freshfaced, motivated assistant, seemingly intent on working my way up the ladder (oh, if only they knew!) sitting in on some meeting, interrupting my boss and saying "well actually JB you've got it wrong. Absolutely no intention of staying here that long! HA! Over my dead body actually! In fact, I'm counting the days until I'm out of here. So, no, you're wrong there buddy, nope won't be staying here that long! Maybe another week or so, you know, depends on my mood and all. Just wanted to clarify that to the big boss over there and make you look quite silly. ooh that rhymes with willy. haha oh never mind! so no, won't be staying here that long. yeah, amazing isn't it how we got the wires crossed there isn't it? quite funny really! well, I think so. haha ahem, yeah, didn't mean to interrupt there, no no, by all means keep going... pre-emptive non-disclosive multilateral contracts you say?"
Wouldn't really have been a good move... so i've kept quiet and well, now I just need to come up with the perfect way to burst his ever-growing bubble.
Saturday, February 18, 2006
A Pointless Job and A Living Mouse
Oh my God I hate this job. I hate it so much I cannot describe it. It's sucking the life out of me. It's so annoyingly idotic and if I have to stay here one more minute I think I'm going to scream. I have to leave it, if only for my sanity. I have to go NOW. I'm packing my bags and I'm going, and if anyone asks me why, I shall answer: It is because I must.
I will not work anymore for a company that insists on me chaining my prehistoric stone age lap top to my desk and makes me take it home every night chain and all. They should be paying someone take this piece of junk off their hands. As I type the mouse has decided of its own accord not to work. My lap top's mouse is on strike people! My lap tops mouse has a mind of its own, which is more than I can say for the majority of employees here. Now I'm definately leaving!
I will not work anymore for a company that insists on me chaining my prehistoric stone age lap top to my desk and makes me take it home every night chain and all. They should be paying someone take this piece of junk off their hands. As I type the mouse has decided of its own accord not to work. My lap top's mouse is on strike people! My lap tops mouse has a mind of its own, which is more than I can say for the majority of employees here. Now I'm definately leaving!
Is Racism An Inherent Human Trait?
Something happened last night which really annoyed me. Something happened which confirmed what I already knew...that the problems in this world stem from the inability of most people to accept things which, to them, seem abnormal. Which to them seem strange. Which to them seem laughable. Is anyone in a position to laugh at the customs and traditions of other cultures? Are Western conventions so superior to others that the mere thought of anything that does not conform is enough to drive a grown man to sniggering? Last night, a group of us were discussing the fact that it looked like it might rain. In AD that's quite a big event. I asked one of the guys if he knew whether the people had prayed for rain yet. For those who don't know, in the UAE it's common for people to pray for rain during the year. Rain rarely falls, and in order to encourage rain, the people hold special prayers that ask God to grant forgiveness and send rain. Strangely enough, it usually rains very soon after such prayers. Whether or not this is as a result of the praying is up to you to decide.
Sure enough, a Belgian man in the group turned towards us and, trying unsuccessfully to restrain his laughter, asked us to repeat what we had been talking about. What? Pray for rain? What a stupid idea! They don't pray for rain in Belgium, therefore it's unbelievable for him to think that this may happen elsewhere in the world! Anyhow, needless to say a look from me shut him up. He annoyed me so much, it was the most I could do to restrain my reaction to a withering stare and the question "Do you find it hard to believe that people can influence events around them Christophe?" He mumbled something or other and went quiet, but it just pained me to think that a 28 year old 'man' (I use the term loosely here) could be so opposed to accepting the differences that come with different countries. Many people move countries and then complain when it's different than where they came from! What did they expect? If you are unable to accept that they may 'do things differently there', then you should never have gone!
I've been very lucky to grow up in a society where many nationalities and cultures live together. Being half Irish and half Jordanian, I had the advantage of being born into a family where there was no such thing as "this is the way it's done and that's it". A mix of religions, a mix of habits, a mix of languages, a mix of cultures. I grew up in the UAE, where the majority of people were expatriates. My friends were from all over the world, each with their own accents, their own backgrounds, their own religions and beliefs. Was it beneficial to me? Yes, it was, because from a young age I understood that there were many different people in the world, and that just because someone was different did not mean that they were in any way inferior or superior. I'm not saying that there is no such thing as racism or prejudices.
Personally, I believe that discrimination of some form or another is inherent to all human beings. I remember bringing up that point in a Jurisprudence class once. That racism is inherent, that just because anti-discrimination laws are in place that does not mean that discrimination will not exist. It's human nature to instinctively award a higher prestige to certain groups over others. I argued that nothing we could do would ever rid the world of racism, of prejudices, of discrimination. My professor asked me how we could use such a logic? Would that logic be satisfactory if for example you were to say that everyone is a pedophile and that nothing that could be done would stop people being pedophiles and therefore, it was an inherent human nature? I don't think I came up with an answer then, but I remember being annoyed with myself towards the end of the class because with all due respect to him, his argument was flawed.
I am not saying that all people are pedophiles, you must understand that was just a random example. But let's say that they are. Let's say that inherent in human nature is the desire to be a pedophile. Do you honestly think that the implementation of laws would rid the human race of this trait? No it would not. It would ensure that they never commited obvious acts of pedophilia, but it would not sway their desire to do so, and their belief that they were entitled to do so.
To bring into action anti-discriminatory laws does not rid the world of their generic prejudicial beliefs. Indeed, it does not have the effect of immediately cutting short their racist opinions. Instead, such laws ensure that they be prevented from acting in a way that would obviously point toward their inherent discriminatory views. Therefore, in the same way that pedophiles can be prevented from commiting pedophilic acts, inherent racism can be subdued by the enforcing of anti-racist legislation. Just because I am saying that racism is inherent, does not mean that I am saying that we cannot control it. What I am saying is that even though we can ensure that the public in general do not commit racist attacks or behave in a manner that betrays their lack of objectivity, we cannot control the fact that they may personally hold racist beliefs and ideas. We can control their actions, but we cannot control their thoughts. (although I should bring up in another post soon that the technology does exist with which our thoughts and feelings can be controlled. I know. I had the same reaction as you.)
The only way forward in this world is to change the way people react to their thoughts. There will always be some sort of prejudicial beliefs within the minds of humans the world over. On that point we can do nothing. What we can do is encourage people to be more open and accepting of others. To understand that the whole world cannot be the same, and to next time curb the laughter and take the time to appreciate and learn about the customs of others.
Sure enough, a Belgian man in the group turned towards us and, trying unsuccessfully to restrain his laughter, asked us to repeat what we had been talking about. What? Pray for rain? What a stupid idea! They don't pray for rain in Belgium, therefore it's unbelievable for him to think that this may happen elsewhere in the world! Anyhow, needless to say a look from me shut him up. He annoyed me so much, it was the most I could do to restrain my reaction to a withering stare and the question "Do you find it hard to believe that people can influence events around them Christophe?" He mumbled something or other and went quiet, but it just pained me to think that a 28 year old 'man' (I use the term loosely here) could be so opposed to accepting the differences that come with different countries. Many people move countries and then complain when it's different than where they came from! What did they expect? If you are unable to accept that they may 'do things differently there', then you should never have gone!
I've been very lucky to grow up in a society where many nationalities and cultures live together. Being half Irish and half Jordanian, I had the advantage of being born into a family where there was no such thing as "this is the way it's done and that's it". A mix of religions, a mix of habits, a mix of languages, a mix of cultures. I grew up in the UAE, where the majority of people were expatriates. My friends were from all over the world, each with their own accents, their own backgrounds, their own religions and beliefs. Was it beneficial to me? Yes, it was, because from a young age I understood that there were many different people in the world, and that just because someone was different did not mean that they were in any way inferior or superior. I'm not saying that there is no such thing as racism or prejudices.
Personally, I believe that discrimination of some form or another is inherent to all human beings. I remember bringing up that point in a Jurisprudence class once. That racism is inherent, that just because anti-discrimination laws are in place that does not mean that discrimination will not exist. It's human nature to instinctively award a higher prestige to certain groups over others. I argued that nothing we could do would ever rid the world of racism, of prejudices, of discrimination. My professor asked me how we could use such a logic? Would that logic be satisfactory if for example you were to say that everyone is a pedophile and that nothing that could be done would stop people being pedophiles and therefore, it was an inherent human nature? I don't think I came up with an answer then, but I remember being annoyed with myself towards the end of the class because with all due respect to him, his argument was flawed.
I am not saying that all people are pedophiles, you must understand that was just a random example. But let's say that they are. Let's say that inherent in human nature is the desire to be a pedophile. Do you honestly think that the implementation of laws would rid the human race of this trait? No it would not. It would ensure that they never commited obvious acts of pedophilia, but it would not sway their desire to do so, and their belief that they were entitled to do so.
To bring into action anti-discriminatory laws does not rid the world of their generic prejudicial beliefs. Indeed, it does not have the effect of immediately cutting short their racist opinions. Instead, such laws ensure that they be prevented from acting in a way that would obviously point toward their inherent discriminatory views. Therefore, in the same way that pedophiles can be prevented from commiting pedophilic acts, inherent racism can be subdued by the enforcing of anti-racist legislation. Just because I am saying that racism is inherent, does not mean that I am saying that we cannot control it. What I am saying is that even though we can ensure that the public in general do not commit racist attacks or behave in a manner that betrays their lack of objectivity, we cannot control the fact that they may personally hold racist beliefs and ideas. We can control their actions, but we cannot control their thoughts. (although I should bring up in another post soon that the technology does exist with which our thoughts and feelings can be controlled. I know. I had the same reaction as you.)
The only way forward in this world is to change the way people react to their thoughts. There will always be some sort of prejudicial beliefs within the minds of humans the world over. On that point we can do nothing. What we can do is encourage people to be more open and accepting of others. To understand that the whole world cannot be the same, and to next time curb the laughter and take the time to appreciate and learn about the customs of others.
A Manager In Diapers
Men never grow up do they? Just as its a fact that women are terrible drivers, it's also a fact that men never grow up. Granted, in each of these theories there is bound to exist an exception or two, but so far I have yet to experience execeptions in either. Just as in every adult male there exists a three year old little boy keeping score and throwing tantrums, in every female there lurks an overly cautious, annoyingly careful driver. Is there anything we can do about it? Probably not.
There exists a manager within this God-forsaken corporation of which I am a part of for the time being, who is being odd with me simply because I refused to accept his job offer. I refused his offer, and now that I'm back here temporarily working for someone else, he's acting like a spoilt brat. Don't you hate people like that? Must they so decidedly laugh in the face of professionalism? When I was here last time, he didn't care that my current boss wanted to give me a job. No, he wanted me so he completely overlooked my boss and purposely ignored the fact that my boss had offered me a job first. This manager also chose to ignore the fact that the job he was offering me concerned only a portion of what I had studied. Now that I've "snubbed" him in favour of someone else he's acting like a little girl. I just met him in the lift now, and even though he's about 30 years older than me, I felt like his mother. I almost sighed and mumbled "they're a terror at this age aren't they?" I just wish he would grow up! Because at the moment the urge to pull out the wooden spoon and give him a well-deserving smack on the bottom is overwhelmingly strong! Unfortunately, he might like that. And well, we can't have that now can we? ;)
There exists a manager within this God-forsaken corporation of which I am a part of for the time being, who is being odd with me simply because I refused to accept his job offer. I refused his offer, and now that I'm back here temporarily working for someone else, he's acting like a spoilt brat. Don't you hate people like that? Must they so decidedly laugh in the face of professionalism? When I was here last time, he didn't care that my current boss wanted to give me a job. No, he wanted me so he completely overlooked my boss and purposely ignored the fact that my boss had offered me a job first. This manager also chose to ignore the fact that the job he was offering me concerned only a portion of what I had studied. Now that I've "snubbed" him in favour of someone else he's acting like a little girl. I just met him in the lift now, and even though he's about 30 years older than me, I felt like his mother. I almost sighed and mumbled "they're a terror at this age aren't they?" I just wish he would grow up! Because at the moment the urge to pull out the wooden spoon and give him a well-deserving smack on the bottom is overwhelmingly strong! Unfortunately, he might like that. And well, we can't have that now can we? ;)
Friday, February 17, 2006
Batman&Warrior Princess vs. The Valentine Lovers
Dear Lord above, I thought this kind of pain wasn't possible. I can't move, I can't walk, I can't breathe, I almost can't talk. Muscles I didn't even know I had are aching. I'd rather not sit down, because there's a chance I may not be able to get up again.
So what did I do to inflict this sort of torture upon myself? Scale the highest mountain? Rescue a kitten from a burning blaze? Single-handedly defeat an army?
Nope... I just played tennis. Yes, tennis. Tennis. I know! Tennis. Did anyone know how many muscles you used playing that game? Give me a moment, let me move about a bit, I think I may be able to give you an exact number. I think I'm gonna have to start working out again!
Unfortunately Batman and Warrior Princess didn't win. It's alright though, they're working on a battle plan for next time. The Valentine Lovers had better watch out... 'somebody's gonna get a hurtin' real bad" (Russell Peters anyone?)
So what did I do to inflict this sort of torture upon myself? Scale the highest mountain? Rescue a kitten from a burning blaze? Single-handedly defeat an army?
Nope... I just played tennis. Yes, tennis. Tennis. I know! Tennis. Did anyone know how many muscles you used playing that game? Give me a moment, let me move about a bit, I think I may be able to give you an exact number. I think I'm gonna have to start working out again!
Unfortunately Batman and Warrior Princess didn't win. It's alright though, they're working on a battle plan for next time. The Valentine Lovers had better watch out... 'somebody's gonna get a hurtin' real bad" (Russell Peters anyone?)
Thursday, February 16, 2006
Live!
How beautiful it is to do nothing, and then to rest afterwards...
I think we all need to learn how to slow down a bit. Slow down a bit and enjoy life. Life's passing us by. Every minute we spend rushing to be on time, every second we spend worrying about what people will think, everytime we put off doing something we want to do off until when we're "not so busy"....its all pointless. We're not living. We're putting life on hold. We're eating without savouring, we're hearing without listening, we're speaking without talking, we're doing without experiencing. Our "living" is a slow and painfully boring death. Let's live!
Whatever you have really really wanted to do today but have been putting off....go out and do it now! Leave your cubicle and go make a snow angel outside, ask that cute girl in your office out, jump up on your desk and start doing the funky chicken, laugh out loud right now! Whatever it is just do it!!
(zenasthoughts does not in any way support the commission of any illegal offences, and will not be liable for any actions taken by zenasthoughts' readers in reaction to this post!)
I think we all need to learn how to slow down a bit. Slow down a bit and enjoy life. Life's passing us by. Every minute we spend rushing to be on time, every second we spend worrying about what people will think, everytime we put off doing something we want to do off until when we're "not so busy"....its all pointless. We're not living. We're putting life on hold. We're eating without savouring, we're hearing without listening, we're speaking without talking, we're doing without experiencing. Our "living" is a slow and painfully boring death. Let's live!
Whatever you have really really wanted to do today but have been putting off....go out and do it now! Leave your cubicle and go make a snow angel outside, ask that cute girl in your office out, jump up on your desk and start doing the funky chicken, laugh out loud right now! Whatever it is just do it!!
(zenasthoughts does not in any way support the commission of any illegal offences, and will not be liable for any actions taken by zenasthoughts' readers in reaction to this post!)
Tuesday, February 14, 2006
Speakez-Vous English??!!
I sometimes wonder how in the world people who obviously have no idea how to speak, read or write English are allowed to draft contracts...in English! I mean, do they actually think the sentences they have constructed make sense? Do they really think that their points have come across to the reader? Do they know what points they want to make? Do they know how to write????
This is what I've been contemplating as I've been correcting, re-correcting and swearing at contracts that go something along the lines of this
" If Trustees shall desire in pursuance of this Article to pay money for benefit of person who is minor or it incapacitated the may pay they same to any other person (legally authorised to receive they same on behalf of minor or incapacitated) for that purpose without being bound to see to it that I have absolutely no idea what the hell I'm talking about and am systematically speaking out of my ass while copying and pasting these clauses from contracts that were written in English by Spanish speaking monkeys on the island of Crete in 1909
ahhhhhhhhhrrrrrrrrgggggggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!
This is what I've been contemplating as I've been correcting, re-correcting and swearing at contracts that go something along the lines of this
" If Trustees shall desire in pursuance of this Article to pay money for benefit of person who is minor or it incapacitated the may pay they same to any other person (legally authorised to receive they same on behalf of minor or incapacitated) for that purpose without being bound to see to it that I have absolutely no idea what the hell I'm talking about and am systematically speaking out of my ass while copying and pasting these clauses from contracts that were written in English by Spanish speaking monkeys on the island of Crete in 1909
ahhhhhhhhhrrrrrrrrgggggggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!
What Do You Think Love Is?
Everyone has a different idea as to what 'love' is exactly. No two ideas are the same. Does love at first sight exist, or is it just lust? Is there a difference between romantic love and friendly love? Is one more real than the other? Is it truly possible for humans to be monogamous? Is love for more than one person any less genuine than love for just one? Is the person who gives his heart away easily a fool? Or is he intelligently taking as much part as he can in what can be the most wonderful experiences of your life? Many questions, many answers. I asked Mossop what he thought, and here's what he said: "Love is a mystery Zena, supposedly it can be anywhere anytime..."
That's true..you never know where it might be. And most of the time, you find it in the most unexpected places and in the most unlikely people.
So I ask, What do you think Love is?
That's true..you never know where it might be. And most of the time, you find it in the most unexpected places and in the most unlikely people.
So I ask, What do you think Love is?
Valentines Day
I really felt that I couldn't post today without making some reference to what day it is. If you don't know, shame on you. You either couldn't give a toss or else have been asleep the past couple of days while everyone else has been getting that Valentine fever. I know, what's the big deal about it? Still though, before I go on let me wish you a Happy Valentine's Day. Don't know if you celebrate it, but judging by the reactions of everyone I've seen today, it seems like the entire world just loves the whole idea about a day dedicated to love. And it is a great idea. To have one day dedicated to the people you love. To have one day in the year when you get to tell someone that you love them, or indeed even that you like them. But I ask you, has Valentines Day lost its meaning?
Does real romance still exist behind the billions of cards, the countless pesticide infected roses, the dozens of shoppers elbowing each other out of the way to get the last heart shaped box of additive-filled, chemically-coloured, sugar-coated goo that is most supermarket chocolate? Could it possibly exist? Has real love been completely drowned out by the stench of artificial affection? Has the society we live in made us so cynical that there exists no chance for any of us to truly give our heart and soul anymore?
I think it's wonderful to tell someone you love them, and even more importantly I think that it's vital to show someone you love them. But showing it does not mean buying them as much stuff in as many shades of pink and red as you can! That's not love. That's commercial love. It's like you're saying, right, I need to let you know that I love you, even though if you judged the strength of my love on my attitude towards you it would fall somewhere between "hate you to death" and "where's my gun". So how will I do it? Will I change my ways and be loving and caring towards you? Or will I just buy an outrageously large card and a life-size red mass of, what's supposed to represent a heart, shaped foam? Hmmm... I know...It's a tough one! Still though, the first would involve putting in an effort and actually changing my appalling personality. In this age of instant gratification, it's alot more appealing to choose the foam!
I would much rather if someone took the time to do something meaningful for me. To make something with their two hands. To write something for me. To search and search for something that I wanted but couldn't find. Even if they bought me something that they just knew I would love. An action that took time, an action that paid testament to the love behind it.
I went shopping for cards this afternoon and dear Lord, we stepped into the shop....a sea of RED. The place was filled with frantic shoppers on their lunch break searching for that meaningful present for their loved one. Suprisingly most of them were men. Although, to be quite honest I think that has a lot more to do with dread at the probable consequences of inaction on such a special day rather than a genuine desire to buy half dead flowers for their girlfriends.
Still though, I suppose we should give them some bit of praise. No matter how inadequete the action in the world of romance, at least they're trying. And let's face it...we all know we're going to stop by the teddy bear factory on our way home this evening! Sometimes, you've just got to conform.
Does real romance still exist behind the billions of cards, the countless pesticide infected roses, the dozens of shoppers elbowing each other out of the way to get the last heart shaped box of additive-filled, chemically-coloured, sugar-coated goo that is most supermarket chocolate? Could it possibly exist? Has real love been completely drowned out by the stench of artificial affection? Has the society we live in made us so cynical that there exists no chance for any of us to truly give our heart and soul anymore?
I think it's wonderful to tell someone you love them, and even more importantly I think that it's vital to show someone you love them. But showing it does not mean buying them as much stuff in as many shades of pink and red as you can! That's not love. That's commercial love. It's like you're saying, right, I need to let you know that I love you, even though if you judged the strength of my love on my attitude towards you it would fall somewhere between "hate you to death" and "where's my gun". So how will I do it? Will I change my ways and be loving and caring towards you? Or will I just buy an outrageously large card and a life-size red mass of, what's supposed to represent a heart, shaped foam? Hmmm... I know...It's a tough one! Still though, the first would involve putting in an effort and actually changing my appalling personality. In this age of instant gratification, it's alot more appealing to choose the foam!
I would much rather if someone took the time to do something meaningful for me. To make something with their two hands. To write something for me. To search and search for something that I wanted but couldn't find. Even if they bought me something that they just knew I would love. An action that took time, an action that paid testament to the love behind it.
I went shopping for cards this afternoon and dear Lord, we stepped into the shop....a sea of RED. The place was filled with frantic shoppers on their lunch break searching for that meaningful present for their loved one. Suprisingly most of them were men. Although, to be quite honest I think that has a lot more to do with dread at the probable consequences of inaction on such a special day rather than a genuine desire to buy half dead flowers for their girlfriends.
Still though, I suppose we should give them some bit of praise. No matter how inadequete the action in the world of romance, at least they're trying. And let's face it...we all know we're going to stop by the teddy bear factory on our way home this evening! Sometimes, you've just got to conform.
Monday, February 13, 2006
Review of Tom Waits' "Closing Time"
For a bit of a change, I'm posting an album review I just finished for a magazine in Ireland. It's a monthly thing and this month I've chosen to start reviewing debut albums of some of musics legends. I've begun with Tom Waits' debut album "Closing Time", and for those who've read my past reviews, if this falls a bit short blame it on the fact that I've been trying to research and write it at work! Even been listening to the album here! Enjoy (I've left out the general intro). Oh and if anyone has any ideas as to who I could look at for next month, keep those suggestions coming.
Tom Waits is probably best known to most people as the man with the voice rougher than sandpaper. His voice characterizes his work and makes it very difficult for the more casual listeners to get into it. Indeed, his gravelly voice was once described by the MusicHound Rock Album Guide as sounding like “it was soaked in a vat of bourbon, left hanging in the smokehouse for a few months and then taken outside and run over with a car”. As a result for those who listen to Waits, they either love him or hate him. Within his voice, his music and his lyrics, they either find something significant or nothing at all.
For myself, Waits had been praised left, right and centre by a lot of people I knew. Not realizing that his work steadily became darker and quirkier with the passage of time, I got a hold of “Beautiful Maladies” and to be honest was not at all impressed by him. I had jumped into the deep end, and without any knowledge of his past work and the persona he had constructed for himself, I had nothing to keep me afloat. There ended my delving into the world of Waits until a friend gave me a copy of a couple of his songs, including “Tom Traubert’s Blues”. I was intrigued. It was unlike anything I had ever heard before and I wanted more. Where better to start than at the beginning of his career?
“Closing Time” was released in 1973, ironically the same year as legend Bruce Springsteen released his first album “Greeting From Asbury Park”. Perhaps Waits would have been more successful in his early years had artists like Bob Dylan and Leonard Cohen not been discovered. At that time, Cohen was at the heights of his popularity and it would have been forgivable not to be open to discovering the poetry that was Waits. Waits was realistic. No long-winded metaphors, no cheap sentiments, no fake romanticism, just poetry so realistic it almost hurt. Some commented that Waits somehow managed to “evade clichés, or at least make even the clichés seem right”.
For those who are more familiar with his later work, “Closing Time” is miles away from it, both in terms of content and in terms of the state of Waits’ voice at the time. His vocals on this album are almost “clean”. Indeed, “Closing Time” has been described as his “freshest vehicle of self-expression.” Nevertheless, it is mature and it is this maturity that is important, because it must be remembered that Waits was only 22 at the time. In the track “Martha”, Waits tells story of a man who calls up his old lover 40 years later to tell her he still loves her. The song is full of imagery and sentiment, and the fact that a guy in his twenties can communicate an old man’s genuine and sincere feelings with so much emotional power is amazing. It, in itself, serves as evidence of Waits’ capability both as a musician and a storyteller.
Waits’ debut album isn’t flashy. In fact, it’s beauty lies in its simplicity. It is probably the friendliest Tom Waits album you could buy, and is an excellent introduction to his work. It has been described as being an “immensely natural and humble album”, but do not be fooled because, typical of Waits, these songs are of late-night loneliness. An album written for anyone who has had their heart broken and has lived the ensuing days in a bar. It’s a beautiful blend of blues and jazz with a hint of country thrown in for good measure. However, unlike his later work, in “Closing Time” his songwriting certainly could not be described as being eccentric. Yes, he still portrays the world that lies on the other side of the tracks, the world of freaks, drunks and nobodies, but he presents it in an almost less imposing way than on his later albums. “Closing Time” marks the beginning of the surfacing of the sound of the “shifting, unruly chaos that lurks beneath the plastic, smoothed out surface of American life”, and announces the arrival of a talented songwriter whose “self-conscious melancholy can be surprisingly moving”.
Is it worth it? Is it advisable to buy an album released 23 years ago, by a man who many politely refer to as ‘bit strange’? Yes. Yes it is. “Closing Time” is significant if only to offer the listener a chance to catch a glimpse of Tom before the Tom Waits persona took over. A chance to see behind the surreal, larger than life “Tom Waits” character that is clearly a role. Yet, by creating this role Waits underlines what we should already understand. That “art” is something apart from the one who makes it. He himself once said that: “The stories behind most songs are less interesting than the songs themselves.” Indeed, the myth-laden smokescreen of tall tales and storytelling acts as a safeguard, ensuring that family, music and an ever-inquisitive public can peacefully co-exist. Many would consider an album such as “Closing Time” to be the beginning and end of their artistic growth. Fortunately, Waits didn’t, and with each passing album came some aspect of growth in his style, in his lyrics, in his voice. In fact, the overall change is so remarkable that for those who only know his later work, the side of Waits portrayed in “Closing Time” may leave them bewildered. It is light years away from Waits’ schizophrenic Eighties’ period, and there is no way that you could predict the bizarre twists and turns of his career when listening to these simple tunes. It is a record that strips away the artistic garments that have been piled upon poetry in the past. The album is a return to basics, and an album that I shall be certain to return to again and again. Waits makes you realize that sometimes, being the most conventionally popular artist is not necessarily the best thing to be. He shows you that within the ugliness of life, there exists a beauty that does not fade simply because it’s just that little bit harder to see.
Tom tells a story that once when his children were young they asked him why he didn’t have a straight job like everyone else. He answered them this way: “In the forest, there was a crooked tree and a straight tree. Everyday the straight tree would say to the crooked tree, ‘Look at me. I’m tall, I’m straight and I’m handsome. Look at you. You’re all crooked and bent.’ They grew up in that forest together, and one day the loggers came. They saw the crooked tree and the straight tree and they said ‘Just cut the straight trees and leave the rest’. So the loggers turned all the straight trees into lumber and toothpicks and paper, and the crooked tree is still there, growing stronger and stronger everyday.”
Quite a fitting way to describe the man himself, don’t you think?
Sunday, February 12, 2006
Nothing Gets Past The Americans!
I thought it was very funny this morning how CBS News Headlines mentioned the News of The World tape...something along the lines of
" ..tape that has been released showing the apparent beating of Iraqi boys by British troops"
cue the tape which clearly shows British troops beating Iraqi boys. (??!!)
Hmm...the accuracy of American media is incredible. Still though, you're right. I mean, they can't just accept the validity of these tapes without question! Tests must be done! It'll take months! years! decades! Perhaps it was Iraqi insurgents dressed up as British troops, kicking their little brothers, and getting their local friendly Iraqi insurgent with a British accent to tape it and ecstatically comment at the same time. You know, just to 'fool the world!'. To rile up the troops who are there merely to "rid the world of oppression". Who are there to FREE the people! Long live beating the shit out of little boys, especially if it's done in the name of freedom.
" ..tape that has been released showing the apparent beating of Iraqi boys by British troops"
cue the tape which clearly shows British troops beating Iraqi boys. (??!!)
Hmm...the accuracy of American media is incredible. Still though, you're right. I mean, they can't just accept the validity of these tapes without question! Tests must be done! It'll take months! years! decades! Perhaps it was Iraqi insurgents dressed up as British troops, kicking their little brothers, and getting their local friendly Iraqi insurgent with a British accent to tape it and ecstatically comment at the same time. You know, just to 'fool the world!'. To rile up the troops who are there merely to "rid the world of oppression". Who are there to FREE the people! Long live beating the shit out of little boys, especially if it's done in the name of freedom.
Sadistic Cruelty In Iraq
WHO DO THESE PEOPLE THINK THEY ARE??????????????
What's wrong with this world that we turn a blind eye to what is going on around us?? What's wrong with the Arab people...why are we refusing to stand up and put a stop to the injustices suffered by us? Why is everyone so cowardly? Why does everyone think they have better things to do than to stand up for themselves? Are we America's punching bag? Are material possessions more important than stopping the harm being done around the world? Evidently so.
Did you watch the news today? I just watched it, I had to come on here straight away because if I don't say something I think I'll explode. If you watched the news then you'll know about the tape that has been released by News of the World. This tape shows the reactions of British troops to a street riot by young teenage boys in Iraq early 2004. They chased the boys away, caught a few of them, dragged them into an army area surrounded by high walls, and proceeded to beat them senseless. Grown men kicking and hitting 12 and 13 year old boys! The cries of the boys can be heard on the tape hundreds of metres away.
That's not all though.... that tape was being filmed by a Corporal in the army. Someone who is supposed to lead the troops, to serve as an example through his actions. He filmed it from the roof of a nearby building. And do you want to know what his reaction to it was? He was delighted. Ecstatic. His voice could be heard shouting into the camera
"YES! YES! OH YES! haha Naughty little boys. Oh don't kill me don't kill me. haha YES! OH YEAH! please please don't hit me! haha not so brave now are you? OH YES! HIT THEM! KICK THEM! HARDER!"
then there was a whole bit edited out, presumably because of the severity of what he was saying. When his voice comes back on, clear as day you can make out the last word of the sentence he had spoken.... "DIE"!!!!!!!! Said with such rage, with such hate, with such menace, and most frighteningly, with such pleasure. If you couldn't see the screen you would think he was watching a porn movie, his reactions certainly sounded like he derived that much pleasure and satisfaction from watching the brutal beating of mere schoolboys.
A war that should never have been waged. A war whose real reasons lie in the desire to systematically rid the world of Arabs, and in the process gain control of all the oil we have. If you choose to fight, fight with dignity and honour.
Taking pleasure in the beating of schoolboys who are merely fighting back against the destruction of their country, their family and the world as they know it...this is not honour. This is sadism.
What's wrong with this world that we turn a blind eye to what is going on around us?? What's wrong with the Arab people...why are we refusing to stand up and put a stop to the injustices suffered by us? Why is everyone so cowardly? Why does everyone think they have better things to do than to stand up for themselves? Are we America's punching bag? Are material possessions more important than stopping the harm being done around the world? Evidently so.
Did you watch the news today? I just watched it, I had to come on here straight away because if I don't say something I think I'll explode. If you watched the news then you'll know about the tape that has been released by News of the World. This tape shows the reactions of British troops to a street riot by young teenage boys in Iraq early 2004. They chased the boys away, caught a few of them, dragged them into an army area surrounded by high walls, and proceeded to beat them senseless. Grown men kicking and hitting 12 and 13 year old boys! The cries of the boys can be heard on the tape hundreds of metres away.
That's not all though.... that tape was being filmed by a Corporal in the army. Someone who is supposed to lead the troops, to serve as an example through his actions. He filmed it from the roof of a nearby building. And do you want to know what his reaction to it was? He was delighted. Ecstatic. His voice could be heard shouting into the camera
"YES! YES! OH YES! haha Naughty little boys. Oh don't kill me don't kill me. haha YES! OH YEAH! please please don't hit me! haha not so brave now are you? OH YES! HIT THEM! KICK THEM! HARDER!"
then there was a whole bit edited out, presumably because of the severity of what he was saying. When his voice comes back on, clear as day you can make out the last word of the sentence he had spoken.... "DIE"!!!!!!!! Said with such rage, with such hate, with such menace, and most frighteningly, with such pleasure. If you couldn't see the screen you would think he was watching a porn movie, his reactions certainly sounded like he derived that much pleasure and satisfaction from watching the brutal beating of mere schoolboys.
A war that should never have been waged. A war whose real reasons lie in the desire to systematically rid the world of Arabs, and in the process gain control of all the oil we have. If you choose to fight, fight with dignity and honour.
Taking pleasure in the beating of schoolboys who are merely fighting back against the destruction of their country, their family and the world as they know it...this is not honour. This is sadism.
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