Wednesday, November 22, 2006

Cars


The fears that live inside of us, whatever they are, and however they manifest, prevent us from living our highest potential as individuals, and as contributors to the human race. If we consciously and vigilantly transmute these fears, through compassion for others and for ourselves, we will know what it is to live a peaceful existence on this planet.
- Gillian Anderson

All this in no way explains why watching the Pixar movie "Cars" moved me so much today.
Rent it, and perhaps you could enlighten me.

Monday, November 20, 2006

Disturbing


I was listening to Radio live the other day and cringed when I heard Martin Devlin mention the associated heath benefits of circumcision, partly because the issue of "lopping off" a part of a male babies anatomy seems to me, rather barbaric in this day and age. The article he was referring to can be found here.

According to the report in the November issue of Paediatrics, circumcision may reduce the risk of acquiring and spreading such infections by up to 50%, which suggests "substantial benefits" for routine neonatal circumcision.

Mothers then proceeded to ring in ad nausism stating that they had there kids "done" and they had no problem with it. My rebuttle may sound something like "Piss off lady - and leave you son's penis alone". "If he wants to multilate his body later on in life - then let it be his choice - not some over zealous mother on a penis chopping frenzy"

Some days I wonder how far we have come when we resort to hacking at our own bodies in some bizzare effort to improve on the original model. Have we moved on any further from the more horrific female circumcision? I fear not.

Tuesday, November 14, 2006

Sad but true

In so many ways - this is what makes New Zealanders what we are.

Resourceful
Tenacious
Passionate
and perhaps a little oblivious of the consequences.

Monday, November 13, 2006

Roslin on Sex

Mary McDonnell

Question: Do you think there is a bias against middle age sex (on TV)

Answer: I think that there is a misunderstanding about middle age sex - the problem is we don't ever see middle age people actually just freely enjoying their sexuality with each other, so there's an imbalance. Although, i do think that as we grow emotionally, we become more complicated people, and with more wisdom and more complexity attached, i think that kind of fun free loving devil may care sex and sexuality is a little harder to come by. So even though we would like to think at middle age that we can exercise the same freedoms, in fact we're almost more vulnerable. It doesn't mean the sex cant be better, which I'm here to tell ya, it can be - but i don't think is so much a bias, as it is a little bit of the truth .

Say it isnt so!

Saturday, November 11, 2006

Women in chains.

While there are many great artists recording today, we should take time to remember not all artist from the 80's suck.
I was never a real fan of "Tears for Fears" but I love the epic scope of this song, even if the subject matter isnt the nicest. The bridge at the end that starts "Its under my skin, but out of my hands..." is sublime. Youtube really doesnt have the quality to do the sound justice, but if you have the album you'll know what I mean. Turn it up. And yep thats Phil Collins on the drums....


Thursday, November 09, 2006

Almost Famous


See, friendship is the booze they feed you. They want you to get drunk on feeling like you belong.
They make you feel cool. And hey. I met you. You are not cool.
And while women will always be a problem for us, most of the great art in the world is about that very same problem. Good-looking people don't have any spine. Their art never lasts. They get the girls, but we're smarter.
... great art is about conflict and pain and guilt and longing and love disguised as sex, and sex disguised as love... and let's face it, you got a big head start.

The only true currency in this bankrupt world if what we share with someone else when we're uncool.

Cameron Crowe - Almost Famous

I hate running too - but I do it.


I admire Lance Armstrong - really I do.
I'm not going to buy into the controversy over the did he/didn't he do the drugs thing. I'm not even going to dip my toe into the whole Sheryl Crow thing: The truth is he is an amazing athlete.
But even though he has won the Tour de France many times, and has battled cancer to live to tell the tale, the thing I admire most about him, is his strength of conviction.
This week Lance entered, and completed the New York marathon - his first - in less than 3 hours. You might think that for an athlete of his caliber this would be a walk in the park - but reading this interview after, paints an entirely different picture.

...his body seemed to tighten and showed signs of pain and fatigue in the final few miles. He started to fall off the pace required to break 3 hours before a final push allowed him to meet his personal goal.

"Before the race that was my goal, I wanted to break 3 hours. But if you told me with 3 miles to go, `You're going to do 3:05,' I wouldn't have cared," he said. "Honestly, at the end I was so tired, I couldn't care. Now I'm glad I did."

... and So will he be back?

"Now's not the time to ask that question. The answer now is no, I'll never be back. But I reserve the right to change my mind," he said. "I don't know how these guys do it."

Wednesday, November 08, 2006

Monday, November 06, 2006

Di's trip to the Dentist


Master Poe: At times the task you face, may seem overwhelming. And you may feel unequal to what is required.

Young Kane: Master, I observe others, and they seem to know the way.

Master Poe: Do you?

Young Kane: I am puzzled and unsure. I move one way, and then another. To no purpose.

Master Poe: And therefore, grieve.

Young Kane: Yes, master.

Master Poe: The sage has said "Others are contented, I alone am drifting. Not knowing where I am. I am different. I am nourished by the great mother. In an uncertain hour, the wise man acknowledges uncertainty.

Good luck Di

Saving us from Ourselves


Ban cars because of boy racers
Ban alcohol - because of alcoholics
Ban pokie machines - because of problem gambling
Ban motorcycles - because of motorcycle gangs
Ban chewing gum because it's everywhere on the pavement
Ban cigarettes because of the butts
Ban fireworks - because of the fires
Ban the military - because of the wars
Ban lies - because we know the truth
Ban cell phones - because I've heard they're dangerous
Ban free speech - because we don't need it any more

But remember.
It's not your fault.
Maybe you were given the strap at high school. You were taught wrong.
If you failed at school then it's It's societies fault. Because - you see - you should never fail - you just didn't achieve. Try again. And again. And again. You'll get it sooner or later.
And if you don't - you've got a right to be angry.
Know your rights - the cops cant touch you if you're smart. Keep quiet - don't talk - sweet - it's the law.
Just keep blaming someone else
Cuz its not your fault man!

C'mon - lets terrorize some people with our fireworks, because I've heard they're going to ban them next year....