Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Monday, October 18, 2010
Wondering why I've gone all academic on your ass?
So.... some people might be wondering what's changed? Is she back on crack or just off the crack? Neither of these realities is true. I read a book. Amazing I know. But one does resort to reading once in a while... anywaaaay what the book made me consider is the responsible use of technology in terms of our responsibility to maintain humanity through technology. If you're interested, the book is "You are not a gadget" by Jaron Lanier and I highly, highly recommend it to you. It offers some really wonderful insights into why we are human and why a machine is a machine and even though we have to operate within the confines of what machinery offers us, we can still maintain a human element. Lanier posits that we should extract ourselves from the anonymity that the interenet and the digitas enables and become human by identifying ourselves as people and not cutegirl5678 on youtube (this is not my youtube name p.s.). I'm not about to humanise my blog too much but I like what Lanier has to say regarding our responsibility to use the internet wisely, to not engage in a hive mentality but rather offer things that we have truly contemplated and considered before we post things on the internet. This is what I'm trying to do.
I'm still me... though what is 'me' ?... if you don't actually know me, I'm just a blogger who seems slightly unstable and prone to ranting and swearing mixed up with some severely poor taste in music perhaps... I'm not a machine though, that at least, I can guarantee you
x
I'm still me... though what is 'me' ?... if you don't actually know me, I'm just a blogger who seems slightly unstable and prone to ranting and swearing mixed up with some severely poor taste in music perhaps... I'm not a machine though, that at least, I can guarantee you
x
Different Kittler of fish
Because i feel like it, and not because i think I'm spectacular, i've also included the post that i completed on Kittler who discusses extremely exciting and optimistic topics including our personal subservience to technology and how we're all manipulated by the media power structures that surround us. Yes. General happy sh*t.
On KIttler: Resistance is (not) futile
Kittler only adds to the list of scholars who have so kindly dashed any of my naive dreams regarding individualism and finding my own path in life and replaced them within apparatuses (apparitii? I want to say), statistical models and now within the notions of transcendental capitalism and power structures in which Rupert Murdoch-like characters are the norm. Life, in general, is really looking up.
Technology has irreversibly altered our consciousness and the way that we have come to live. Not that this is anything new, technology such as the wheel, around 3,500 B.C changed the way people thought about distance and placed themselves in the world just as the internet and Google has changed the way that we are able to connect with one another and how we consider time and space. While people create technology, this select group is tiny in comparison to the rest of the population who use, or are subservient to, (depending on your perspective) that technology. The people who create technology would appear to be the ultimate power players. And yet, are they really? Without the rest of us to buy into their technology, their technology is rendered useless. Without a capitalist medium through which to offer their technology, their technology cannot be marketed, or accessed by the general public. Even when new technology attempts to break free of the models that it seeks to change and improve, via feedback, the newer technology only becomes absorbed by the power structure of the existing technology. As the technology industry burgeons, it becomes increasingly apparent that all these forms of technology are dependent upon one another (just think how the ipod alone was able to spurn a whole range of 'i-technologies') and because of this are all reliant upon economic models and power structures that support the capitalist aims of a given media.
If one is to consider that writing is a medium through which we unavoidably leave a trace of ourselves, the fact that writing is subsumed to these power structures and economic models means that we, as people, are mere pawns in the capitalist game of technology. Technology is apparently rendering our imagination and hallucinatory capacity useless. We no longer want to dream or think outside of the sphere of possibility because technology can do it for us... Technology can be programmed to produce things that the designers might think we want, and maybe our wants are confined within the capabilities of what a machine can do, however, I think the purpose of dreaming and imagination has to do with a search for satisfaction and a desire for something that cannot be articulated or made tangible. I am yet to find a machine that pre-emptively fulfils any want that I may have (although the fact that I am rather technologically inept may have something to do with this). There are some things that go on in my brain that would be difficult to form in any medium, not only because I would struggle to articulate my hallucinations adequately enough for reproduction but because I don't think my hallucinations are only 'things', that is, they are not necessarily tangible or visible but something else (here, my inability to articulate what I mean is obvious). Technological determinism seems to simplify the hallucinatory capabilities of the individual and pre-emptively assumes that technology can cater to these rather under-rated possibilities of thought and sensation that might not be able to be mechanically reproduced (I'm thinking of smell and taste specifically here).
There will always be rule breakers, those who question and challenge the bounds that technology places upon us, whether in writing or in music or in any medium. I think Lisa Samuels is challenging the standardisation of writing, not only by contemplating the canon but also in the de-constructive work she is doing with 'gap scans'. Scratchers changed the way that Edison's phonograph worked in order to create a new type of music and were able to do so precisely because they were on the periphery of the capitalist model that had been established for music at the time which I think is pretty cool. Banksy contests the boundary between what is art and what is considered the defacement of public property though I think it is interesting how his popularity (and how capitalism has used such popularity) might be contrary to his own ideology regarding being outside the 'establishment'. Resistance will always be managed and re-apsorbed into the system that it threatens, however I wouldn't be so pessimistic to suggest that resistance is futile. The fact that technology continues to develop reflects the ever-changing notions of the authentic and the inauthentic and how people are pushing and changing boundaries, forming new networks or making older ones larger. There is still a human element to technology and it is perhaps the most important aspect to it... Without human input, technology is only idle chips and bits of plastic and copper wire. We are what makes technology.
x
On KIttler: Resistance is (not) futile
Kittler only adds to the list of scholars who have so kindly dashed any of my naive dreams regarding individualism and finding my own path in life and replaced them within apparatuses (apparitii? I want to say), statistical models and now within the notions of transcendental capitalism and power structures in which Rupert Murdoch-like characters are the norm. Life, in general, is really looking up.
Technology has irreversibly altered our consciousness and the way that we have come to live. Not that this is anything new, technology such as the wheel, around 3,500 B.C changed the way people thought about distance and placed themselves in the world just as the internet and Google has changed the way that we are able to connect with one another and how we consider time and space. While people create technology, this select group is tiny in comparison to the rest of the population who use, or are subservient to, (depending on your perspective) that technology. The people who create technology would appear to be the ultimate power players. And yet, are they really? Without the rest of us to buy into their technology, their technology is rendered useless. Without a capitalist medium through which to offer their technology, their technology cannot be marketed, or accessed by the general public. Even when new technology attempts to break free of the models that it seeks to change and improve, via feedback, the newer technology only becomes absorbed by the power structure of the existing technology. As the technology industry burgeons, it becomes increasingly apparent that all these forms of technology are dependent upon one another (just think how the ipod alone was able to spurn a whole range of 'i-technologies') and because of this are all reliant upon economic models and power structures that support the capitalist aims of a given media.
If one is to consider that writing is a medium through which we unavoidably leave a trace of ourselves, the fact that writing is subsumed to these power structures and economic models means that we, as people, are mere pawns in the capitalist game of technology. Technology is apparently rendering our imagination and hallucinatory capacity useless. We no longer want to dream or think outside of the sphere of possibility because technology can do it for us... Technology can be programmed to produce things that the designers might think we want, and maybe our wants are confined within the capabilities of what a machine can do, however, I think the purpose of dreaming and imagination has to do with a search for satisfaction and a desire for something that cannot be articulated or made tangible. I am yet to find a machine that pre-emptively fulfils any want that I may have (although the fact that I am rather technologically inept may have something to do with this). There are some things that go on in my brain that would be difficult to form in any medium, not only because I would struggle to articulate my hallucinations adequately enough for reproduction but because I don't think my hallucinations are only 'things', that is, they are not necessarily tangible or visible but something else (here, my inability to articulate what I mean is obvious). Technological determinism seems to simplify the hallucinatory capabilities of the individual and pre-emptively assumes that technology can cater to these rather under-rated possibilities of thought and sensation that might not be able to be mechanically reproduced (I'm thinking of smell and taste specifically here).
There will always be rule breakers, those who question and challenge the bounds that technology places upon us, whether in writing or in music or in any medium. I think Lisa Samuels is challenging the standardisation of writing, not only by contemplating the canon but also in the de-constructive work she is doing with 'gap scans'. Scratchers changed the way that Edison's phonograph worked in order to create a new type of music and were able to do so precisely because they were on the periphery of the capitalist model that had been established for music at the time which I think is pretty cool. Banksy contests the boundary between what is art and what is considered the defacement of public property though I think it is interesting how his popularity (and how capitalism has used such popularity) might be contrary to his own ideology regarding being outside the 'establishment'. Resistance will always be managed and re-apsorbed into the system that it threatens, however I wouldn't be so pessimistic to suggest that resistance is futile. The fact that technology continues to develop reflects the ever-changing notions of the authentic and the inauthentic and how people are pushing and changing boundaries, forming new networks or making older ones larger. There is still a human element to technology and it is perhaps the most important aspect to it... Without human input, technology is only idle chips and bits of plastic and copper wire. We are what makes technology.
x
Flusser and the everyday radical
If you're interested in the ideas of state apparatus and how we have become victims to or complicit in (depending on your perspective) these paradigms, I've written a wee piece in response to Villem Flusser's essay "The shape of things" ...
The realisation that you are so deeply entrenched within a system of code and feedback mechanisms is disturbing, perhaps primarily because Flusser only confirms what we all secretly (or not so secretly) already knew. I cannot help but find similarities between reading Flusser and finding out that something you hoped was true but secretly knew wasn't (for me, it was Santa- Christmas 1993. Older brother was feeling particularly spiteful). In the case of Flusser, I think that everyone is aware that they are part of a system, that their decisions are pre-programmed and the realities of 'free choice' are lacking. However, the totality to which Flusser makes one recognise and come to grips with the reality of the systematised, categorised, feedback monitoring world is oppressive to say the least.
Rebellion is the mechanism that one attempts to employ in order to fight the system, however Flusser seems to crush any hope of being rebellious... AT ALL, at every turn his totalitarian rhetoric vaporises any small inkling that you might be nursing regarding your ability to topple the powers that be. Everyone likes to be thought of as autonomous and unique, responsible for his or her own decisions. The freedoms that one gains at certain ages are treasured and the actions that can result from such freedom are reflected upon as exciting, risky and almost radical. The realisation that said 'exciting' 'risky' and 'radical' behaviours turn out to be expected and normative can be a rather depressing moment for the one-time-rebellious teen. To think that potentially your entire existence (and not just your seeming rebellious teenage years) could be determined by a series of formulae- probabilities, feedback mechanisms and statistics is beyond depressing... am I playing the game of life or is the game of life playing me?
It scares me to think that at some point this numbers game, the formulaic and pre-programmed nature of the world, will come to shape people, prior to statistics being shaped based upon human action. Will we renege 'choice' all together, hand our lives over to 'the man' (something that paradoxically not a man at all...) and live our lives completely according to how we 'should' (that is, by a formula, how we are predicted to live based on a set of inputs and the decisions that would typically result from such inputs). Like a self-fulfilling prophecy will we begin to behave according to the parameters that the programmers set for us- have we already started?
It's extremely worrisome either way, thinking just in terms of how pervasive programming (or the politics of choice), even seeming positive or worthwhile programming, can be. I can think of things that I've been told in my life that probably should have held true but haven't. Based on my ethnicity, demographic background, age etc. there are certain statistics (or, perhaps, phenomena) that I could have been a part of but am not. I'm a bit of a statistical anomaly and it's concerning that statistical anomalies could be erased if we become resigned to the paradigms and apparatuses that we are told we are a part of. What allows us to escape these paradigms and apparatuses is our ability to imagine something outside of the bounds that we are told we must adhere to. Like in the playground of our childhood(s), we should climb the trees that we are told we can't and play bull-rush in spite of what OSH and ACC might have recommended. If we are resigned to our fate based on formulae and live according only to what might be expected of us, I think we lose that which makes us human and not simply machines.
I like the idea of the statistical anomaly- the outlier, the annoying point on the graph that gets excluded from the general trend in order to save face, making sure the variance works out so that the data can be considered legitimate. Writing and the Arts certainly offers the statistical anomaly some 'freedom' to move, allowing for imagination and experimentation without a desire for things to be quantified as 'valuable' or 'economically viable'. Writing and the Arts allows for flux and non-linearity in a world that increasingly tries to process people as mere statistics and fit us to models of what is deemed appropriate. Stasis and conformity is so Cold War, jump on the everyday radical bandwagon and make us shape the stats not have the stats shape us...
x
The realisation that you are so deeply entrenched within a system of code and feedback mechanisms is disturbing, perhaps primarily because Flusser only confirms what we all secretly (or not so secretly) already knew. I cannot help but find similarities between reading Flusser and finding out that something you hoped was true but secretly knew wasn't (for me, it was Santa- Christmas 1993. Older brother was feeling particularly spiteful). In the case of Flusser, I think that everyone is aware that they are part of a system, that their decisions are pre-programmed and the realities of 'free choice' are lacking. However, the totality to which Flusser makes one recognise and come to grips with the reality of the systematised, categorised, feedback monitoring world is oppressive to say the least.
Rebellion is the mechanism that one attempts to employ in order to fight the system, however Flusser seems to crush any hope of being rebellious... AT ALL, at every turn his totalitarian rhetoric vaporises any small inkling that you might be nursing regarding your ability to topple the powers that be. Everyone likes to be thought of as autonomous and unique, responsible for his or her own decisions. The freedoms that one gains at certain ages are treasured and the actions that can result from such freedom are reflected upon as exciting, risky and almost radical. The realisation that said 'exciting' 'risky' and 'radical' behaviours turn out to be expected and normative can be a rather depressing moment for the one-time-rebellious teen. To think that potentially your entire existence (and not just your seeming rebellious teenage years) could be determined by a series of formulae- probabilities, feedback mechanisms and statistics is beyond depressing... am I playing the game of life or is the game of life playing me?
It scares me to think that at some point this numbers game, the formulaic and pre-programmed nature of the world, will come to shape people, prior to statistics being shaped based upon human action. Will we renege 'choice' all together, hand our lives over to 'the man' (something that paradoxically not a man at all...) and live our lives completely according to how we 'should' (that is, by a formula, how we are predicted to live based on a set of inputs and the decisions that would typically result from such inputs). Like a self-fulfilling prophecy will we begin to behave according to the parameters that the programmers set for us- have we already started?
It's extremely worrisome either way, thinking just in terms of how pervasive programming (or the politics of choice), even seeming positive or worthwhile programming, can be. I can think of things that I've been told in my life that probably should have held true but haven't. Based on my ethnicity, demographic background, age etc. there are certain statistics (or, perhaps, phenomena) that I could have been a part of but am not. I'm a bit of a statistical anomaly and it's concerning that statistical anomalies could be erased if we become resigned to the paradigms and apparatuses that we are told we are a part of. What allows us to escape these paradigms and apparatuses is our ability to imagine something outside of the bounds that we are told we must adhere to. Like in the playground of our childhood(s), we should climb the trees that we are told we can't and play bull-rush in spite of what OSH and ACC might have recommended. If we are resigned to our fate based on formulae and live according only to what might be expected of us, I think we lose that which makes us human and not simply machines.
I like the idea of the statistical anomaly- the outlier, the annoying point on the graph that gets excluded from the general trend in order to save face, making sure the variance works out so that the data can be considered legitimate. Writing and the Arts certainly offers the statistical anomaly some 'freedom' to move, allowing for imagination and experimentation without a desire for things to be quantified as 'valuable' or 'economically viable'. Writing and the Arts allows for flux and non-linearity in a world that increasingly tries to process people as mere statistics and fit us to models of what is deemed appropriate. Stasis and conformity is so Cold War, jump on the everyday radical bandwagon and make us shape the stats not have the stats shape us...
x
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Being povo is not really working out
Just realised how intensely poor I will be come late December this year. Gah
There is so much in my life that I am looking forward to attending... and unless I become this uber good breaker innerer my dreams of January and February festivals are gonna be extreme fails.
Public enemy I want you. Can't find ticks anywurr. WANT TO CRY.
x
There is so much in my life that I am looking forward to attending... and unless I become this uber good breaker innerer my dreams of January and February festivals are gonna be extreme fails.
Public enemy I want you. Can't find ticks anywurr. WANT TO CRY.
x
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Who stopped this
Who the hell advocated letting girl bands that dressed the same and pulled together some great and overtly NON sexual moves fall into cultural oblivion? This is some timeless performance right here. I'm entranced... the outfits are gold (both literally and figuratively) and the dance moves are SPECTACULAR
I want to get in training for this!
BRING BACK THE NOLANS
x
I want to get in training for this!
BRING BACK THE NOLANS
x
Monday, October 11, 2010
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
The offending post
Warning: Read only if inclined to be subjected to my ill-informed rantings
In response to Groys on the aesthetics of self design:
There are many people, celebrities, politicians, and models etcetera, for whom self design is arguably critical to their success in their chosen careers. However, for the rest of us ‘normal folk’ self design needn’t be of such concern to us and nonetheless... it is. Unlike the subjects of front page spreads and tabloid headlines, most people are neither subject to the same media scrutiny, nor dependent upon positive reception to such scrutiny, so the question inevitably arises- why do we care so much?
Some people would argue that they don’t care, and they mightn’t care, well at least not as much as they might be willing to admit to. The reality that I would argue is that we exist in a society that is increasingly dominated by the aesthetics of an individual. You can choose to have some kind of emotive reaction toward such an idea or not, but it’s here- the notion that only and very specifically celebrity-esque individuals (people who are actually celebrities, people who want to be celebrities, politicians, people attached to political scandal, “A-Lister’s” – people in the social pages and promo girls for the V8's in Hamilton) cared about how they looked, what image they presented to the world is now obsolete.
In some cases it would be difficult to differentiate the levels of self-design of an ‘ordinary person’ to that of a celebrity-esque individual- the difference being that the celebritised individual is subject to greater exposure. Everyone is acutely aware of the cultural messages that they emit by opting to wear certain clothes, of certain brands (or fabric or era etc) and style themselves (or not) a certain way. People recognise that even the seemingly blandest of items, such as the notebook they choose to use in class (moleskine, the obvious choice of the note-taking elite) and the type of pen they choose to write with, send subtle messages to those who know (and care enough) to recognise and then evaluate such aesthetic choices.
It is this that I think is probably most interesting about self-design; that self design is dependent upon and created given that a certain kind of understanding between individuals who are mutual “aesthetes” exists. A secret code if you will. People who are not interested in fashion might think Tavi, the teenage fashion wunder-blogger, is nothing more than a pretentious, pink-haired brat. Alternatively, those “in the know” believe her to be this fashion savant and send her ridiculously expensive MiuMiu clogs that she will wear to high school. Within a particular community, there exists an aesthetic synchronicity that allows for the creation, proliferation and understanding of a certain self-designing within that group. This enables for self-design on not only a visually aesthetic level, which is what is most commonly seen, but also through the evolution of language and thought that is exclusive to that set of people who engage with that aesthetic model . To use my secret-shame MTV watching as an example, the show ‘The Jersey Shore’ has a specific visually aesthetic image as well as a language (and arguably a life philosophy) that is inherent to the show and that viewers engage in when watching it. As all good MTV reality shows are, the people of ‘the Shore’ are shameless self-designers, with Mike “The Situation” reportedly having trademarked that moniker (the situation at hand are his abs), while the phrase “GTL” (gym, tan laundry) has been adopted as ‘The Jersey Shore’ manifesto by characters and fans of the show alike.
I don’t entirely know if the death of the author (or creator) has become the primary alternative to being a plain old bad author just yet, though Groys implies this. I think everyone’s self-design exists on a much more fluid exchange than maybe has been possible in the past- nobody feels responsible to fulfil just a singular aesthetic reality at the exclusion of other alternatives. I also don’t think it’s about people being ‘bad authors’ per se, more, I believe that the greater concern is is being bland and boring; if there is so much design available what is the benefit of not designing (self or otherwise)? In an era where we are able to design ourselves and everything is so designed, a failure to engage in aesthetics and design seems to imply some reluctance to engage with others full stop- if as Baudrillard states, all everything is, is aesthetics, can anyone truly extract themselves from self-design, even through anonymity/death/spontaneous evaporation? No, I think not.
This is why I'm not
Oh sweet Jesus... you know when you try and be witty and smart and then people react and you're not 100% sure if people are engaging with you or if they just secretly hate you and think you're an arrogant try hard?
Story of me life.
Had to write this class blog. Why I decided to try and be facetious and 'clever'; unsure. Anyhow, result: I elicited a direct response from a certain tutor and I am unsure if she finds my comments amusing or plain rude. I hope she doesn't think I hate her or am mocking her (because I'm totally not). Maybe she thinks I am a loser who deals with my own insecurities by mocking others? (partly true) I think her personal response piqued the interest of my fellow classmates and now my unfortunate rantings have been exposed to my entire class. I WISH I HAD A PSEUDONYM.
Also, thought I was being funny in deriding individuals who love sci-fi last week. Now feel that this may have been a terrible move on my part and I am under the distinct impression that I invoked hatred for my ranting, negative and cynical ways (and also for me personally). This has nothing to do with the tutor or that particular class but is just another general life misfortune for me at the moment. Ugh
I can't help it, I really can't. It's like I have linguistic chunder in the form of abuse and sarcasm. I seriously can't control my urge to be critical of others. Sorry.
This is why I hang out by myself at Uni. Shit.....
x
p.s. any advice re. being nice, optimistic and positive would be greatly appreciated.
Story of me life.
Had to write this class blog. Why I decided to try and be facetious and 'clever'; unsure. Anyhow, result: I elicited a direct response from a certain tutor and I am unsure if she finds my comments amusing or plain rude. I hope she doesn't think I hate her or am mocking her (because I'm totally not). Maybe she thinks I am a loser who deals with my own insecurities by mocking others? (partly true) I think her personal response piqued the interest of my fellow classmates and now my unfortunate rantings have been exposed to my entire class. I WISH I HAD A PSEUDONYM.
Also, thought I was being funny in deriding individuals who love sci-fi last week. Now feel that this may have been a terrible move on my part and I am under the distinct impression that I invoked hatred for my ranting, negative and cynical ways (and also for me personally). This has nothing to do with the tutor or that particular class but is just another general life misfortune for me at the moment. Ugh
I can't help it, I really can't. It's like I have linguistic chunder in the form of abuse and sarcasm. I seriously can't control my urge to be critical of others. Sorry.
This is why I hang out by myself at Uni. Shit.....
x
p.s. any advice re. being nice, optimistic and positive would be greatly appreciated.
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Nineties are retro enough to be cool...
...Or so says twentysevennames. LOVED their collection, although as it was pointed out to me seemed very similar to previous ones. Not to worry though, there's nothing wrong with a stable aesthetic so long as it is as good as that which twentysevennames nails season after season.
Main attraction for me- the soundtrack! Ohmygawd sewwwwwgooood. Love that they're playful enough to branch outside the usual music choice of fashion shows (i.e. bland instrumentals) and play sh*t that people like. Waahoo. Wish i could have actually been at the show :( (oh the shame of using emoticons... HIDEOUS). Aside from the music, loved the American college preppy vibe coming from the baseball jacket (also featuring in KW's current season- Salzburg jumpers) and the tea-length backless velvet spotty dress.
Saw Anjali at the garage sale today and contemplated stalking her and professing my love/obsession/idolisation... a friend wisely advised me against looking like a psychopath so i restrained myself... but people, i came seriously close... seriously. Eeeee! Also, props to J.Hog- manning her stall herself and nice as pie. Lovely to see!
This my jayum.
x
Main attraction for me- the soundtrack! Ohmygawd sewwwwwgooood. Love that they're playful enough to branch outside the usual music choice of fashion shows (i.e. bland instrumentals) and play sh*t that people like. Waahoo. Wish i could have actually been at the show :( (oh the shame of using emoticons... HIDEOUS). Aside from the music, loved the American college preppy vibe coming from the baseball jacket (also featuring in KW's current season- Salzburg jumpers) and the tea-length backless velvet spotty dress.
Saw Anjali at the garage sale today and contemplated stalking her and professing my love/obsession/idolisation... a friend wisely advised me against looking like a psychopath so i restrained myself... but people, i came seriously close... seriously. Eeeee! Also, props to J.Hog- manning her stall herself and nice as pie. Lovely to see!
This my jayum.
x
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Music to my ears
I like how this is noisy and carefree and choice and makes me wanna dance in my socks and undies while jumping on my bed. Super cool. NZ music is getting infinitely more gratifying.
x
x
Yeah I know her... just a lil bit (she's amazing p.s)
Gorgeous model Esther backstage waiting to go on. Best thing about that lace- it appears this stunning mossy grey in some lights and this deeply muddy khaki in others.
Celine Rita launched her first ever collection at New Zealand Fashion Week on Tuesday and I for one, have to commend her on putting together a thoroughly innovative and flirty collection- one that will no doubt be consuming my future income come winter next year.
Taking inspiration from the indelible fashion icon that is Edie Sedgwick, Celine spun her own ubiquitous cutesy around her muse who she had imagined lived into the 1970's, sobered up and become an intrepid traveller- exploring all that the world had to offer. Never taking her inspiration too literally or following trends too adamantly, she has produced a range that is both wearable and sophisticated as well as being, like Miss Sedgwick herself, a little off-beat (captured well in the name of the collection 'Dance to your own tune'). With psychedelic pops of an acid yellow-green and a kaleidoscopic pink, and the exquisite use of multiple textures (think, velvets, suedes and soft wools) Celine Rita, as always, offered something a little different to what we might have been expecting.
Yasmin in the long maxi, stunning floatiness on the runway and with the hat- eeek!
What was most exciting to see was Celine's experimentation with shape- poncho tops, long floaty maxi dresses and high waisted, wide leg, trousers that looked particularly spectacular on model Frankie Everard, who proved to be a Farrah Fawcett doppelganger with the gorgeous felt hats that were also a feature of the collection.
Frankie looking stunning.
For a young designer, it can be difficult to navigate the line at which you remain true to your established aesthetic and yet also push your creative boundaries further, particularly when considering your client base. Celine Rita seems to have negotiated this cusp perfectly, as it has done with every season to date. Celine continues to prove that her design aesthetic is one in continuing flux, evocative of her personal vibrance and youth; as such it continues to develop, but still has its heart in the fun loving, quirky, imperfect, girl-next-door -just like always.
Corinna in the super cute (and classically Celine Rita) Blazer and lace skirt
Laura looking amazingly relieved after strutting her stuff- the fabric on this frock is velvet, I seriously could cuddle into it if I wanted to (ok, secretly I did, but only when Celine wasn't looking)
New Talent winner, Claire from Christchurch. Two words: Hair Envy. Two more: Extended Sigh. (puts down ice-cream wistfully)
With each collection becoming deliberately more fantastic and technically experimental it would be unwise to suggest that she had reached her pinnacle just yet.
One fashion week down, many more to come...
x
All pictures taken from designerdirection.wordpress.com and frockwriter.posterous.com
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Leaving on a jet plane
wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee (me: circa 8 weeks time)
Sewwwwwwwww good.
x
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
NYC i would sell my soul to see thee
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Bridges are Boss
 |
| Webb Bridge, Melbourne. Not entirely aesthtically pleasing but pretty cool |
 |
| Nescio Bridge in Amsterdam- enviromentally sustainable and everything. |
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| Internal structure of chinese footbridge- sthuper kewl |
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| Pedestrian Bridge in ZhuJiaJiao China. BOSS |
Monday, September 13, 2010
Lessons in Spanish and self responsibility
OK guys, sorry I concede i have been ubiquitously (yeah big word BAM) useless at updating ze old blog. In my defence I believe there have been some mildly good reasons for my laziness-
Uno- I got my wisdom teeth out (technically this was only last Friday so this can only account for the lack of posting the weekend just gone. Horrible experience, would not recommend it to anyone. Will be starting an anally retentive dental hygiene campaign once my wounded gummies heal up (disclaimer: this is not meant to imply that i am in anyway lacking in dental hygiene... I am not, I just mean I will be upping the ante against the horror that is plaque!)
Dos- I really really want to do a review of Celine Rita's summer line 'Madeline' but I am waiting for the right moment where I'm actually able to write and do the girl some justice... I have writers block of a sort i guess, not that the line isn't inspiring (because it totally is), more just because I myself am uninspired in just general life terms...
Three- (unsure what the Spanish for three is... wait i know, it is TRES? Yes. No? I dunno, someone smart sort that out for me) I entered this fashion blogging competition, which I lost (yeah super sad, in therapy, trying to come to terms with life, parents have removed sharp objects from my immediate reach etc etc you know how it is...), anyhoooo before I lost the thing I was vigorously campaigning, borderline harassing individuals to vote for me which took up significant amounts of my very busy life. My last word on this: slutty photo's don't make you a winner do they? (shame :p- note emoticon is indicating raspberry-like tongue poking as opposed to the cute poking out tongue that 12 year old girls use when they write to Justin Beiber)
Quatro- (woop! Clearly brain has not entirely gone to mush... I can remember what four is! Though, this has me concerned- do I have early onset dementia? Maybe I'm not watching enough Dora to keep up to date with my Spanish) I just haven't been moved by life of recent, no-ones done anything particularly offensive or annoying to cause me to launch into my usual diatribe of hatred and cynicism. Maybe I'm becoming nice? Scary thought
At the risk of launching into false promises about what I will or won't do re. the blog updates I actually will try and post some stuff on a more regular basis. In fact I'm going to go on a wee rampage just now because I have actually found some sweet sweet stuff of recent that has triggered my re-entry into the virtual world!
x
Uno- I got my wisdom teeth out (technically this was only last Friday so this can only account for the lack of posting the weekend just gone. Horrible experience, would not recommend it to anyone. Will be starting an anally retentive dental hygiene campaign once my wounded gummies heal up (disclaimer: this is not meant to imply that i am in anyway lacking in dental hygiene... I am not, I just mean I will be upping the ante against the horror that is plaque!)
Dos- I really really want to do a review of Celine Rita's summer line 'Madeline' but I am waiting for the right moment where I'm actually able to write and do the girl some justice... I have writers block of a sort i guess, not that the line isn't inspiring (because it totally is), more just because I myself am uninspired in just general life terms...
Three- (unsure what the Spanish for three is... wait i know, it is TRES? Yes. No? I dunno, someone smart sort that out for me) I entered this fashion blogging competition, which I lost (yeah super sad, in therapy, trying to come to terms with life, parents have removed sharp objects from my immediate reach etc etc you know how it is...), anyhoooo before I lost the thing I was vigorously campaigning, borderline harassing individuals to vote for me which took up significant amounts of my very busy life. My last word on this: slutty photo's don't make you a winner do they? (shame :p- note emoticon is indicating raspberry-like tongue poking as opposed to the cute poking out tongue that 12 year old girls use when they write to Justin Beiber)
Quatro- (woop! Clearly brain has not entirely gone to mush... I can remember what four is! Though, this has me concerned- do I have early onset dementia? Maybe I'm not watching enough Dora to keep up to date with my Spanish) I just haven't been moved by life of recent, no-ones done anything particularly offensive or annoying to cause me to launch into my usual diatribe of hatred and cynicism. Maybe I'm becoming nice? Scary thought
At the risk of launching into false promises about what I will or won't do re. the blog updates I actually will try and post some stuff on a more regular basis. In fact I'm going to go on a wee rampage just now because I have actually found some sweet sweet stuff of recent that has triggered my re-entry into the virtual world!
x
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Real indies write in Moleskines
Real indies write in Moleskines. In pencil (that's more indie you see...)
If they have a Macbook they carry it in their vintage-chic bohemian bag or a cotton bookbag branded with some obscure intellectual/ironic quote "WE did not. right HERE"
The true indie doesn't even listen to indie music. Now that it has legitimigised itself as its own autonomous genre the indie is forever seeking out a more underground and unconventional music style to fulfil their audial requirements. They need not even like the music, the more disliked it is- the better. Vampire Weekend does not count.
Indies proclaim a love of Gonzo journalism, not entirely sure of exactly what it is, when questioned about it they say "well it's all aesthetics isn't it" (uh huh... yes I'm sure it is...). They usually have a limited understanding of the current state of politics as they generally are living circa 1970's-1990's in some vicarious form- through philosophy, dress or obsession with the intellectual discourse of the time. Also, if you haven't figured this out by now- all indies are smart. Yes. Genius even.
Some indies like to pretend that they are dressed in op-shop clothes. This is usually a lie and their outfit is usually a very stylised concoction of zambesi pieces and vintage designer labels. Other indies would have you believe that they do not own mirrors. This too, is a lie. They like to look like bag ladies.
Indies also never eat. This applies to both males and females. FAT IS NOT OKAY PEOPLE
Wish you were indie?
x
If they have a Macbook they carry it in their vintage-chic bohemian bag or a cotton bookbag branded with some obscure intellectual/ironic quote "WE did not. right HERE"
The true indie doesn't even listen to indie music. Now that it has legitimigised itself as its own autonomous genre the indie is forever seeking out a more underground and unconventional music style to fulfil their audial requirements. They need not even like the music, the more disliked it is- the better. Vampire Weekend does not count.
Indies proclaim a love of Gonzo journalism, not entirely sure of exactly what it is, when questioned about it they say "well it's all aesthetics isn't it" (uh huh... yes I'm sure it is...). They usually have a limited understanding of the current state of politics as they generally are living circa 1970's-1990's in some vicarious form- through philosophy, dress or obsession with the intellectual discourse of the time. Also, if you haven't figured this out by now- all indies are smart. Yes. Genius even.
Some indies like to pretend that they are dressed in op-shop clothes. This is usually a lie and their outfit is usually a very stylised concoction of zambesi pieces and vintage designer labels. Other indies would have you believe that they do not own mirrors. This too, is a lie. They like to look like bag ladies.
Indies also never eat. This applies to both males and females. FAT IS NOT OKAY PEOPLE
Wish you were indie?
x
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Books are my boyfriend
Sad, but true. Books are far easier than people to deal with- for starters they don't talk back, it's their job to entertain you and you can shut them and put them away and pick them up again whenever it is most convenient for you.
You don't have to worry about being witty or cute or whatever romantic stereotype you're supposed to fulfil, hey, you don't even have to look decent to date your bounded, paged, typefaced friend. Books aren't needy or jealous, they don't play whacky mind games with you and they are also portable- able to be taken anywhere, by train, car, boat or plane without the bother of having to fork out extra cash. Books are also very economically viable, they don't eat or drink, require Birthday or Christmas presents and if you get bored of a book you can always get a bit of cash back by exchanging him at your local second bookshop. The range of books is also extensive... interested in a wild romance, a easy to read best seller, a handsome mysterious crime novel, all can be acquired within your local bookstore shelf...
Are you weirded out yet? I'm actually not insane (I swear this statement is becoming more and more necessary in these posts) I think just lazy. My tolerance and patience to deal with another human being is between zero and .... well, zero. Maybe I should re-ignite the cat lady dream, I figure if you're going to be a spinster you may as well do it on a grandiose scale...
Being an old lady with a house full of books is nowhere near as exciting as abusing your neighbours from a rickety rocking chair on your front veranda with a small army of cats negotiating their way through your overgrown front garden... to quote the model of this dream, Mrs Dubose, as found in Harper Lee's 'To Kill a Mockingbird', "Don;t say hey to me you ugly girl!"
You don't have to worry about being witty or cute or whatever romantic stereotype you're supposed to fulfil, hey, you don't even have to look decent to date your bounded, paged, typefaced friend. Books aren't needy or jealous, they don't play whacky mind games with you and they are also portable- able to be taken anywhere, by train, car, boat or plane without the bother of having to fork out extra cash. Books are also very economically viable, they don't eat or drink, require Birthday or Christmas presents and if you get bored of a book you can always get a bit of cash back by exchanging him at your local second bookshop. The range of books is also extensive... interested in a wild romance, a easy to read best seller, a handsome mysterious crime novel, all can be acquired within your local bookstore shelf...
Are you weirded out yet? I'm actually not insane (I swear this statement is becoming more and more necessary in these posts) I think just lazy. My tolerance and patience to deal with another human being is between zero and .... well, zero. Maybe I should re-ignite the cat lady dream, I figure if you're going to be a spinster you may as well do it on a grandiose scale...
Being an old lady with a house full of books is nowhere near as exciting as abusing your neighbours from a rickety rocking chair on your front veranda with a small army of cats negotiating their way through your overgrown front garden... to quote the model of this dream, Mrs Dubose, as found in Harper Lee's 'To Kill a Mockingbird', "Don;t say hey to me you ugly girl!"
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Curiouser and Curiouser...
We all know as a humans, we're a pretty weird kind of species. Behaviour- pretty odd. Aesthetics- below average for most. Intelligence- dubious in all cases. I am starting to see however, that people are a touch (or 5 touches) more crazy than you usually give them credit for.
I have been exposed to all kind of whacky behaviour of recent... not to say that in using "exposed" I am discounting myself in anyway from the aforementioned whacky behaviour- it is, after all, pretty clear I'm a few screws short in a variety of areas (not to go into too many specifics but... directional abilities, sight, hearing, stair ascendancy and descendancy, sleeping, obsessions with wizards etc etc). But, I digress, the whacky behaviour of others has led me to question the sanity of people... why the hell do some people make the decisions that they do? Given a set of circumstances, recent experience would suggest to me that the human race likes to screw things up as much as possible- taking the most precarious route to come to a decision, ultimately ignoring other people entirely slash committing themselves to a situation that one could only assume they enjoy as some sort of sadistic pleasure.
This onslaught of the very euphemistically labeled 'curious' behaviour is seriously starting to grind my gears. Weirdo, whacko, selective behaviour is just pretty herp to tell you the truth. They have drugs for your multiple personalities and obvious anxiety issues and insecurities. Hook yourself up with those pretty little balls of happiness. Talk to your doctor, consult the local crack-fiend... whatever it takes. SORT IT OUT.
x
I have been exposed to all kind of whacky behaviour of recent... not to say that in using "exposed" I am discounting myself in anyway from the aforementioned whacky behaviour- it is, after all, pretty clear I'm a few screws short in a variety of areas (not to go into too many specifics but... directional abilities, sight, hearing, stair ascendancy and descendancy, sleeping, obsessions with wizards etc etc). But, I digress, the whacky behaviour of others has led me to question the sanity of people... why the hell do some people make the decisions that they do? Given a set of circumstances, recent experience would suggest to me that the human race likes to screw things up as much as possible- taking the most precarious route to come to a decision, ultimately ignoring other people entirely slash committing themselves to a situation that one could only assume they enjoy as some sort of sadistic pleasure.
This onslaught of the very euphemistically labeled 'curious' behaviour is seriously starting to grind my gears. Weirdo, whacko, selective behaviour is just pretty herp to tell you the truth. They have drugs for your multiple personalities and obvious anxiety issues and insecurities. Hook yourself up with those pretty little balls of happiness. Talk to your doctor, consult the local crack-fiend... whatever it takes. SORT IT OUT.
x
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Who are you, we, me, us?
I'm sure people have figured out by now that I am rather an eclectic individual, in the sense that I really don't confine myself to many bounds in terms of what i find interesting. I would go so far as so suggest that i detest those people who enjoy being boxed in, labelled and forever living their lives under the pressure that is this pseudo-identity that they've created for themselves, slash not really- as realistically such identities are chiefly constructed for the benefit/admiration of others.
The construction of identity is something that we all do, yes- I do think identity is constructed rather than innate, whether subconsciously or not. In the digital world the construction of such identities is made somewhat more easy or rather accessible I guess. In the physical world the construction of identity is monitored or at least judged by those around you- you are Gothic because you dress a certain way, listen to a certain type of music etc, but you cannot simply decide just to become Gothic and therefore suddenly are Gothic without some external input that warrants you as a true and unquestionable Goth. Similarly you can't just decide that you are a certain religion, I can't just casually declare myself Muslim as much as I cannot authenticate myself as a cat or a fairy or a mountain or a man...
What this is all coming down to is a question that was posed in a lecture this week, is our identity and in some sense therefore our consciousness (of ourselves and others) limited by the language system that we are forced to operate in? And if so, how is consciousness changing in the digital age? It's an interesting question. Do we operate in the digital age within the same language system that we do in 'normal' life, that is, everyday conversation and writing? Sure computers use code to communicate messages in the digital space, but the reality of the average person being able to interpret and use the code (whether binary or otherwise) to communicate effectively is limited- we still rely upon words, sentence structure, connotation etc that we continue to use in everyday life to communicate on the Internet. Obviously certain technical jargon has developed as the digital world grows, wiki's, tweets, blogging etc. Largely, however, it is obvious that we have remained tied to the existing systems of linguistic communication that have been used for over 2000 years now.
So.... returning to the notion of identity in a digital age, the difference then does not lie within the system in which we construct identity, but rather in the form or medium. The 'facelessness' of the digital age, allows anonymity- for people to establish and construct themselves with little concern for the effects of such construction- you no longer have to prove yourself. It's not the first time that the issue on anonymity was seized upon as a way to seek freedom from labels and stereotypes- one only needs to look to the works of George Eliot and Curer Bell (Charlotte Bronte) and earlier examples of women authors seeking freedom through male nom de plume's.
So has our consciousness and identity changed in the digital age? Perhaps, I don't think that I personally have sought to create a personality outside of my own through this blog, however some might disagree... Certainly I have attempted to maintain some degree of anonymity but it is not because I am attempting to create something that I am not, or more deviously hide who I truly am. In a world where avatars, virtual lives and realities through facebook, twitter and blogging become more and more pervasive in society does who we are and what we stand for become more or less important?
Anyway all very interesting and mind boggling stuff... or just a bunch of Wednesday afternoon nonsense!
x
The construction of identity is something that we all do, yes- I do think identity is constructed rather than innate, whether subconsciously or not. In the digital world the construction of such identities is made somewhat more easy or rather accessible I guess. In the physical world the construction of identity is monitored or at least judged by those around you- you are Gothic because you dress a certain way, listen to a certain type of music etc, but you cannot simply decide just to become Gothic and therefore suddenly are Gothic without some external input that warrants you as a true and unquestionable Goth. Similarly you can't just decide that you are a certain religion, I can't just casually declare myself Muslim as much as I cannot authenticate myself as a cat or a fairy or a mountain or a man...
What this is all coming down to is a question that was posed in a lecture this week, is our identity and in some sense therefore our consciousness (of ourselves and others) limited by the language system that we are forced to operate in? And if so, how is consciousness changing in the digital age? It's an interesting question. Do we operate in the digital age within the same language system that we do in 'normal' life, that is, everyday conversation and writing? Sure computers use code to communicate messages in the digital space, but the reality of the average person being able to interpret and use the code (whether binary or otherwise) to communicate effectively is limited- we still rely upon words, sentence structure, connotation etc that we continue to use in everyday life to communicate on the Internet. Obviously certain technical jargon has developed as the digital world grows, wiki's, tweets, blogging etc. Largely, however, it is obvious that we have remained tied to the existing systems of linguistic communication that have been used for over 2000 years now.
So.... returning to the notion of identity in a digital age, the difference then does not lie within the system in which we construct identity, but rather in the form or medium. The 'facelessness' of the digital age, allows anonymity- for people to establish and construct themselves with little concern for the effects of such construction- you no longer have to prove yourself. It's not the first time that the issue on anonymity was seized upon as a way to seek freedom from labels and stereotypes- one only needs to look to the works of George Eliot and Curer Bell (Charlotte Bronte) and earlier examples of women authors seeking freedom through male nom de plume's.
So has our consciousness and identity changed in the digital age? Perhaps, I don't think that I personally have sought to create a personality outside of my own through this blog, however some might disagree... Certainly I have attempted to maintain some degree of anonymity but it is not because I am attempting to create something that I am not, or more deviously hide who I truly am. In a world where avatars, virtual lives and realities through facebook, twitter and blogging become more and more pervasive in society does who we are and what we stand for become more or less important?
Anyway all very interesting and mind boggling stuff... or just a bunch of Wednesday afternoon nonsense!
x
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Jellies to make you Jelly
So I have been a wee bit absent from ze blog of late, apologies, I have no excuse to offer other than plain and simple laziness... I have decided, with some prodding from friends, that I should really resume posting, not for any other reason than that it seems rather useless to give up this here blog, given that in reality I have very little else to fulfil my time.
Well... that is not strictly true, however let us say that my other pursuits are not as... hmmm, constructive perhaps (?) as the blog. Note: I have spent (not entirely out of indulgence i add in my defence) a significant amount of money on shoes in past four days on two pairs of shoes, one pair of which there was below-zero need to purchase. Shopping, obviously is not a constructive filling of my time, in fact appears to be rather destructive- to my bank balance and my moral sense that I should be saving, at least.
I have been admiring the 'melissa' range of jelly shoes for some-time and I concede that I have a particular affinity for foot encasement's of the jelly variety, as my childhood photos show- Jellies were my fave fashion option from age 2-7, ending only at age seven as my feet grew too large to fit the children's sizes (obviously Jellies had not yet reached the level of retro-cool that they now have to be made into adult sizes). My jelly fetish was indulged when I was coerced by a well-trained and spectacularly engaging shop assistant in Jaime Boutique to purchase some Melissa by Jean-Paul Gaultier Jelly heels (there are also, more commonly, Melissa by DVF kicking about too). These are perhaps going to be the ONLY piece of Gaultier that I will even encounter in my life, and given my current rate of saving, ability to get a job and levels of self control, may be the last pair of high heels I will ever purchase.
Do I care? No! Defiant as ever, I protested to my mother that my unfulfilled childhood longing drove me to purchase the shoes and it is all part of the growing up process (more of which- later this week..). Anyway, I thought I'd re-ignite your passion for the plastic fantastic footwear too, so, without further ado, an homage to Melissa
x
Well... that is not strictly true, however let us say that my other pursuits are not as... hmmm, constructive perhaps (?) as the blog. Note: I have spent (not entirely out of indulgence i add in my defence) a significant amount of money on shoes in past four days on two pairs of shoes, one pair of which there was below-zero need to purchase. Shopping, obviously is not a constructive filling of my time, in fact appears to be rather destructive- to my bank balance and my moral sense that I should be saving, at least.
I have been admiring the 'melissa' range of jelly shoes for some-time and I concede that I have a particular affinity for foot encasement's of the jelly variety, as my childhood photos show- Jellies were my fave fashion option from age 2-7, ending only at age seven as my feet grew too large to fit the children's sizes (obviously Jellies had not yet reached the level of retro-cool that they now have to be made into adult sizes). My jelly fetish was indulged when I was coerced by a well-trained and spectacularly engaging shop assistant in Jaime Boutique to purchase some Melissa by Jean-Paul Gaultier Jelly heels (there are also, more commonly, Melissa by DVF kicking about too). These are perhaps going to be the ONLY piece of Gaultier that I will even encounter in my life, and given my current rate of saving, ability to get a job and levels of self control, may be the last pair of high heels I will ever purchase.
Do I care? No! Defiant as ever, I protested to my mother that my unfulfilled childhood longing drove me to purchase the shoes and it is all part of the growing up process (more of which- later this week..). Anyway, I thought I'd re-ignite your passion for the plastic fantastic footwear too, so, without further ado, an homage to Melissa
x
Friday, July 9, 2010
Ye Ole time Glam
I wish I had been born decades earlier. Forgo the fact that women had way fewer rights and there were a couple of wars early in the century and you're in dream land...
Carole Landis (loveyourplace.blogspot.com)
Mary Pickford (loveyourplace.blogspot.com)
1940's vogue shoot (loveyourplace.blogspot.com)
Little Edie Beale (of Grey Gardens fame)
Katherine Hepburn
Natalie Wood (filmnoirphotos.blogspot.com)
Need I say... Marilyn Monroe
Ahhh sigh. Such inspiration is enough to make me want to actually make a decent effort to make myself appear, well, decent. Alas, I simply can not be bothered!
x
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Esmeralda me stat
Ok ok, so I concede I have utterly failed in my promise to blog everyday this week however, guys, this is big news, HUGE in fact- I have discovered my dream wedding celebration nay event wait... no wedding spectacular is really more of an apt description.
I wouldn't want to detract from the written aspects of this post so will complete the post sans a picture and allow my words to create the picture in your mind.
So we begin:
Pink, taffeta, sateen, polyester shiny-ness, ruffles, diamantes, layers, crinoline petticoats, tiaras, enormous pageant-esque hairdo- curls (crimping if i'm feeling adventurous), tan in a can (heavy on the orange hue), blue eyeshadow, dress weight in excess of 30 kg's, hair pieces, feather attachments, 10 foot long veil, pumpkin like carriage, 12 bridesmaids (at least), performing midget, 20 tiered wedding cake, potential fountain attachment... i could go on.
If you're as bored as I am I suggest you search google images- Gypsy Wedding. Amazing
x
I wouldn't want to detract from the written aspects of this post so will complete the post sans a picture and allow my words to create the picture in your mind.
So we begin:
Pink, taffeta, sateen, polyester shiny-ness, ruffles, diamantes, layers, crinoline petticoats, tiaras, enormous pageant-esque hairdo- curls (crimping if i'm feeling adventurous), tan in a can (heavy on the orange hue), blue eyeshadow, dress weight in excess of 30 kg's, hair pieces, feather attachments, 10 foot long veil, pumpkin like carriage, 12 bridesmaids (at least), performing midget, 20 tiered wedding cake, potential fountain attachment... i could go on.
If you're as bored as I am I suggest you search google images- Gypsy Wedding. Amazing
x
Monday, July 5, 2010
Blah Blah Blog
I've become pretty useless at this posting business and so the current aim of the week is to post every day in the hope that returning to the habit will make me more likely to stick to it in the months ahead! I often wonder if all the other bloggers in the world have way more interesting lives than I and are full of inspirational nonsense with which to fill their posts.
I, on the other hand seem to be lacking any current inspiration. I could always resort to a good old rant, but I kind of feel that these make me seem like a bitter and twisted person and imparts a Mrs Dubose-ian image to those of you who don't actually know me personally...
I am in fact not bitter and twisted, rather just extremely intolerant of foolishness- am I drag? Probably. Do I care enough to change? Nein. I have been frantically trying to find some inspiration with which to fill my post today- god knows there is enough controversy in the world that I might find one thing in which to channel my energy- the BP oil spill (terrible, tut tut BP!), Robin Brooke and the sex scandal (nice to see it's not a league player I guess...), Julia Gillard ruthlessly axing the Ruddster, the prevalence of stockings as leggings as pants, Germany taking the World Cup by storm, the shock exit of Federer at the Tennis (go Rafa p.s.), the release of Eclipse (spew), Joe Cotton displaying some decidedly whoreish behaviour at a movie premier (trash-y)... the list goes on.
If anyone finds any points on which I may be able to focus my currently lacklustre attention please let me know!
x
I, on the other hand seem to be lacking any current inspiration. I could always resort to a good old rant, but I kind of feel that these make me seem like a bitter and twisted person and imparts a Mrs Dubose-ian image to those of you who don't actually know me personally...
I am in fact not bitter and twisted, rather just extremely intolerant of foolishness- am I drag? Probably. Do I care enough to change? Nein. I have been frantically trying to find some inspiration with which to fill my post today- god knows there is enough controversy in the world that I might find one thing in which to channel my energy- the BP oil spill (terrible, tut tut BP!), Robin Brooke and the sex scandal (nice to see it's not a league player I guess...), Julia Gillard ruthlessly axing the Ruddster, the prevalence of stockings as leggings as pants, Germany taking the World Cup by storm, the shock exit of Federer at the Tennis (go Rafa p.s.), the release of Eclipse (spew), Joe Cotton displaying some decidedly whoreish behaviour at a movie premier (trash-y)... the list goes on.
If anyone finds any points on which I may be able to focus my currently lacklustre attention please let me know!
x
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Oh sweet holiday
So I've been on holiday offish (officially) for a week now, yay- go me! Unfortunately achievements have been minimal to nil. I did manage to get myself a part-time job for next semester which will greatly aid my monetary fund... however I am yet to have done much more than that.
I'm actually supposed to be planning my end of year trip to Cambodia, where I'm going to do some volunteering and actually contribute to the world in a meaningful way (i.e. I've basically been sucking the world for all that it's good for thus far). I've been too scared to actually do anything though, as me madre (mother) has expressed some concern about me travelling alone. Now, understandably I often prove myself to be a bit lacking in the common sense department, can be slightly clumsy at times and may appear bereft of any intelligence on the odd occasion - but the woman is convinced I'm about to Schapelle Corby myself and end up in a South East Asian jail for the remainder of my life.
I'm thinking I'm going to take a leaf out of Julia Gillard's book and go for the sneaky take-over manoeuvre, get Dad cornered while he's alone and then strike Mum down without warning. To involve her in any of my travelling plans could be catastrophic, I'll end up somewhere godforsaken like Twizel... ugh, the thought is making my skin crawl. Unfortunately, the involvement of the parentals is necessary given that my current funds will not allow these travels to occur alone- never fear, I am going to be paying them back! I am not a disgusting bloodsucker who plans on never leaving the safety (questionable) of my home!
This weather, also, is sh*t. God needs to take his Prozac, this psychotic season switching is causing me, my hair and my wardrobe tremendous difficulty!!!
x
I'm actually supposed to be planning my end of year trip to Cambodia, where I'm going to do some volunteering and actually contribute to the world in a meaningful way (i.e. I've basically been sucking the world for all that it's good for thus far). I've been too scared to actually do anything though, as me madre (mother) has expressed some concern about me travelling alone. Now, understandably I often prove myself to be a bit lacking in the common sense department, can be slightly clumsy at times and may appear bereft of any intelligence on the odd occasion - but the woman is convinced I'm about to Schapelle Corby myself and end up in a South East Asian jail for the remainder of my life.
I'm thinking I'm going to take a leaf out of Julia Gillard's book and go for the sneaky take-over manoeuvre, get Dad cornered while he's alone and then strike Mum down without warning. To involve her in any of my travelling plans could be catastrophic, I'll end up somewhere godforsaken like Twizel... ugh, the thought is making my skin crawl. Unfortunately, the involvement of the parentals is necessary given that my current funds will not allow these travels to occur alone- never fear, I am going to be paying them back! I am not a disgusting bloodsucker who plans on never leaving the safety (questionable) of my home!
This weather, also, is sh*t. God needs to take his Prozac, this psychotic season switching is causing me, my hair and my wardrobe tremendous difficulty!!!
x
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Houston we have a problem
They say the first step in solving a problem is admitting you have one. However, I'm starting to think that this a gross mistruth fed to addicts in order to convince them to go into rehab. I have a problem (yes just one....) and I'm pretty well aware of my problem, in fact I share my problem with a friend... she also knows she has the same problem, and yet neither of us seems remotely concerned with the problem, despite its increasing hold on our lives.
Basically we've become stalkers. Not in a John Hinckley I'm-going-to-shoot-a-president-for-you kind of a way... more in a we-stalk-your-blog-and-potentially-have-regular-conversations-about-your-daily-movements kind of way. Is this OK? Are you scared? (you shouldn't be... I'm harmless, really, I am)
In fact, via another website, not the aforementioned blog, we discovered the object of our interest is bound for the shores of a distant land. Despite our best efforts (we'd give the Cheka a run for their money) we are yet to discover where this kid is heading... one can only hope he keeps his blog going so we can jointly commiserate in his absence from our lives. University will cease to be the same...
On another note, I have one exam left (go me!) and it is my last dreaded engineering paper ever. Circa this time tomorrow here's hoping I will be making friends with the inner city drains as I roll myself home, incapable of walking whilst belting out a thoroughly gurgled version of Bennie and the Jets... B-b-b-b Bennie and the Jets
x
Basically we've become stalkers. Not in a John Hinckley I'm-going-to-shoot-a-president-for-you kind of a way... more in a we-stalk-your-blog-and-potentially-have-regular-conversations-about-your-daily-movements kind of way. Is this OK? Are you scared? (you shouldn't be... I'm harmless, really, I am)
In fact, via another website, not the aforementioned blog, we discovered the object of our interest is bound for the shores of a distant land. Despite our best efforts (we'd give the Cheka a run for their money) we are yet to discover where this kid is heading... one can only hope he keeps his blog going so we can jointly commiserate in his absence from our lives. University will cease to be the same...
On another note, I have one exam left (go me!) and it is my last dreaded engineering paper ever. Circa this time tomorrow here's hoping I will be making friends with the inner city drains as I roll myself home, incapable of walking whilst belting out a thoroughly gurgled version of Bennie and the Jets... B-b-b-b Bennie and the Jets
x
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Wow. Ok. I guess I'll just be leaving...
So I've commented on this before in my 'not so much' section but seriously, seriously, seriously have issues with these people who think they are too cool.
I don't quite know if you're retarded. awkward or just plain rude but this ho-hum "I'll only say hi to you sometimes" attitude needs to GET.
I struggle to believe that people above the age of 16 actually care about how 'cool' they are or how 'cool' the people around them are... and no 'shyness' being hung-over or feeling a bit under the weather are not excuses. It all begins with the lack of a 'hello' (yeah, because saying hello is tres too hard) then escalates to the "I'm going to pretend you're not actually standing 2m away from me" option. Sometimes these dickwads like to choose to pretend they don't know your name (oh wait yeah because like you haven't met me 7 times already) and then only deem you worthy of acknowledgement when they see you might someone who they deem as 'cool'. The worst ones are these retards who spontaneously seem to overcome their aversion to you after you have been standing there for 20 mins "Oh didn't see you there.." (oooo really, Buster, are you blind?!?!) and then enter into some hideous discussion that you don't even really want to have, or make the situation even more comfortable by talking to you in undertones just in case (GOD FORBID) someone actually sees them talking to you!
Good God people, get lives.... really.
(Have exams at the moment p.s. so apologies for the lack of posting... exam yesterday went TERRIBLY- ah well I can always be a bus driver!)
x
I don't quite know if you're retarded. awkward or just plain rude but this ho-hum "I'll only say hi to you sometimes" attitude needs to GET.
I struggle to believe that people above the age of 16 actually care about how 'cool' they are or how 'cool' the people around them are... and no 'shyness' being hung-over or feeling a bit under the weather are not excuses. It all begins with the lack of a 'hello' (yeah, because saying hello is tres too hard) then escalates to the "I'm going to pretend you're not actually standing 2m away from me" option. Sometimes these dickwads like to choose to pretend they don't know your name (oh wait yeah because like you haven't met me 7 times already) and then only deem you worthy of acknowledgement when they see you might someone who they deem as 'cool'. The worst ones are these retards who spontaneously seem to overcome their aversion to you after you have been standing there for 20 mins "Oh didn't see you there.." (oooo really, Buster, are you blind?!?!) and then enter into some hideous discussion that you don't even really want to have, or make the situation even more comfortable by talking to you in undertones just in case (GOD FORBID) someone actually sees them talking to you!
Good God people, get lives.... really.
(Have exams at the moment p.s. so apologies for the lack of posting... exam yesterday went TERRIBLY- ah well I can always be a bus driver!)
x
Sunday, June 6, 2010
Saturday, June 5, 2010
I'm not a racist but...
So I actually am not a racist but my recent struggles in the library during study time have led me to believe that libraries should be 'racially' based.
Not race as in ethnicity, I'm talking of a broader kind of race, for example; PDA couples, fundamentalist Christian couples, people who are averse to the use of deodorant, people who type on their laptops as if in a constant struggle to murder their keyboards, those who enjoy spreading disease via coughing and sneezing on other patrons, people who are ADD and can't sit still for a period that extends more than an hour, people with bad breath, people who like to eat stinky food, people with smelly feet (who remove their shoes), crazy people, people who you catch staring at you to name BUT a few.
I really feel my whole educational experience would be enhanced by some kind of cleansing/classification process that would allow me to study in peace. If anyone has any tips, please, let me know!
x
Not race as in ethnicity, I'm talking of a broader kind of race, for example; PDA couples, fundamentalist Christian couples, people who are averse to the use of deodorant, people who type on their laptops as if in a constant struggle to murder their keyboards, those who enjoy spreading disease via coughing and sneezing on other patrons, people who are ADD and can't sit still for a period that extends more than an hour, people with bad breath, people who like to eat stinky food, people with smelly feet (who remove their shoes), crazy people, people who you catch staring at you to name BUT a few.
I really feel my whole educational experience would be enhanced by some kind of cleansing/classification process that would allow me to study in peace. If anyone has any tips, please, let me know!
x
Thursday, June 3, 2010
I'm spying over someones shoulder
U and I. Me and You. One and Two. Or is it Four and Three too? One?
(so I'm stalking someone in a lecture... is this legit? Probably not. There's probably someone stalking me posting this too. I hope they are embarrassed)
x
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Yay for the sub intelligent
Ok, soooo usually I hate dumb people but today- I LOVE them. Because we've gone all soft at University these days (read: we all like to been spoon fed and petted on the head and told we're clever little parrots) my Victorian Lit exam has now been reduced to two hours which means that we now only have to answer TWO questions, on only TWO novels. My lecturer is beyond fuming at the prospect that people are potentially going to get through her entire paper having read only 3 novels (we had an internal essay to write too), however the University ruled that we modern students are far too dumb to manage 3 questions on 3 novels in the 2 hour period allotted.
Hallelujah. There is a God (and he loves me apparently!)
This has reduced my weekend reading load by HALF (yay) and means I actually may be functioning above zombie status next week. Dumb people seem to have their benefits after all- making a stressful exam nice and simple is definitely something I could get used too!
x
Hallelujah. There is a God (and he loves me apparently!)
This has reduced my weekend reading load by HALF (yay) and means I actually may be functioning above zombie status next week. Dumb people seem to have their benefits after all- making a stressful exam nice and simple is definitely something I could get used too!
x
Monday, May 31, 2010
I couldn't find one
Guys, Friday was hug a ginger day, but alas I could not find me a ginge to hug. Sad for me, but even sadder for the ginge I feel (I give pretty good hugs you see...). You've got to have a bit of sympathy for them; they are the butt of childhood jokes, suffer from year-round sunburn and what is especially sad, is the limitations their pale complexions and fiery hair place on their wardrobe colour options!
There are no gingas/rangas/carrot tops in my immediate family (we were worried about my niece for a little while there...) so it wasn't even like I could coax one of them into giving me a cuddle. I had hopes that my friends little neighbour would make an appearance so I could at least hear about someone having hugged a ginge but it was not to be.
Did anyone get a hug from a ginge on hug a ginga day? Were they all hiding because of that man with his ranga chillen' on close-up?
Usually they're swarming the place, obvious because they glow and their hair is bright orange, but I swear I could not find a single one... I was thinking however, that winter does make it harder to spot the fiery bevy given that everyone turns pale and the gingers can hide their hair under beanies, but I was making a concerted effort people (although to be fair, if I was truly committed to the cause I would have gone to the lengths of hat removal just to check... even at the risk of being arrested for assault or harassment)
Ah well, 363 days until i next get a chance!
x
There are no gingas/rangas/carrot tops in my immediate family (we were worried about my niece for a little while there...) so it wasn't even like I could coax one of them into giving me a cuddle. I had hopes that my friends little neighbour would make an appearance so I could at least hear about someone having hugged a ginge but it was not to be.
Did anyone get a hug from a ginge on hug a ginga day? Were they all hiding because of that man with his ranga chillen' on close-up?
Usually they're swarming the place, obvious because they glow and their hair is bright orange, but I swear I could not find a single one... I was thinking however, that winter does make it harder to spot the fiery bevy given that everyone turns pale and the gingers can hide their hair under beanies, but I was making a concerted effort people (although to be fair, if I was truly committed to the cause I would have gone to the lengths of hat removal just to check... even at the risk of being arrested for assault or harassment)
Ah well, 363 days until i next get a chance!
x
Creeepy
Did you know that if you type the URL of this site with just one incorrect letter you get taken to a creepy Christian fundamentalist site?
http://www.dontletmedictate.blogpot.com/
Yeah... pretty creepy
http://www.dontletmedictate.blogpot.com/
Yeah... pretty creepy
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Strange breed
Engineers are special individuals. In my five years at University their odd behaviour has never ceased to provide me with significant entertainment during the dull lectures that I (for some reason still unbeknownst to me) have chosen to take. It has recently come to my attention, worryingly, that as time has gone on I have become immune to, one could argue even accepting of their unusual ways and that a dose of reality is only administered when I drag (literally) one of my non-engineering friends into the lions den, so to speak.
As my friends look about them as if fearful that one of these strange creatures will, at any given moment, attack them, I stroll unconcerned through the throngs of boys playing world of warcraft on their laptops. When my friends clutch their course-books ever closer, on guard to strike any offending party who would dare to approach them, I chat away, seemingly oblivious to the disturbing realm that I have forced my friend to enter. As they gall at the myriads of laptops and pokemon/pikachu/yugimon cards I pass by blissfully unaware of how strange these might seem to those lucky enough not to do engineering.
The fact that I know what a LAN party is, I have discovered- is not usual, and my ownership of 3 graphics calculators has my older brother seriously concerned. For me, I think the realisation of just how 'normal' this alien world had become to me came when I was no longer outraged by the wide-spread fashion crime that is sneans (sports sneakers and jeans). Sure, I was a little disturbed, however the anger that used to consume me to the point of actively evil-eye-ing and loudly remonstrating those who sported such a look was gone. I had become immune to the crime as I had become so surrounded by it; it had in short become acceptable, non offensive and OK.
'Sneans' are the go-to look for any serious engineer. The wearing of the sneaker enables speedy travel, not only between lectures, but also gives you the edge when hurrying to the last computer in the labs for your online gaming session. While some might say they sport the snean for comfort, others would argue that it's aesthetics cannot be beaten- the dark denim providing a stark (yet exciting) clash against the white leather and metallic piping of the sneaker. Hideous? Yes. Indeed, and yet, for me, beautiful in one way. A motif for the nerd, the world over- I'm smart, but speedy. Unstylish, yet- oh so practical. I've decided the 'snean' is OK.
Even as I try and distance myself from the typical engineer, like a mother looking at her less-than-attractive child, I feel some love and admiration for these scurrying nervous wrecks who live vicariously through their computer screens and avatar personas. Long live the nerd!
x
As my friends look about them as if fearful that one of these strange creatures will, at any given moment, attack them, I stroll unconcerned through the throngs of boys playing world of warcraft on their laptops. When my friends clutch their course-books ever closer, on guard to strike any offending party who would dare to approach them, I chat away, seemingly oblivious to the disturbing realm that I have forced my friend to enter. As they gall at the myriads of laptops and pokemon/pikachu/yugimon cards I pass by blissfully unaware of how strange these might seem to those lucky enough not to do engineering.
The fact that I know what a LAN party is, I have discovered- is not usual, and my ownership of 3 graphics calculators has my older brother seriously concerned. For me, I think the realisation of just how 'normal' this alien world had become to me came when I was no longer outraged by the wide-spread fashion crime that is sneans (sports sneakers and jeans). Sure, I was a little disturbed, however the anger that used to consume me to the point of actively evil-eye-ing and loudly remonstrating those who sported such a look was gone. I had become immune to the crime as I had become so surrounded by it; it had in short become acceptable, non offensive and OK.
'Sneans' are the go-to look for any serious engineer. The wearing of the sneaker enables speedy travel, not only between lectures, but also gives you the edge when hurrying to the last computer in the labs for your online gaming session. While some might say they sport the snean for comfort, others would argue that it's aesthetics cannot be beaten- the dark denim providing a stark (yet exciting) clash against the white leather and metallic piping of the sneaker. Hideous? Yes. Indeed, and yet, for me, beautiful in one way. A motif for the nerd, the world over- I'm smart, but speedy. Unstylish, yet- oh so practical. I've decided the 'snean' is OK.
Even as I try and distance myself from the typical engineer, like a mother looking at her less-than-attractive child, I feel some love and admiration for these scurrying nervous wrecks who live vicariously through their computer screens and avatar personas. Long live the nerd!
x
Saturday, May 22, 2010
em...ploy...ment
I
NEED
A
JOB
Dear the powers that be,
Please find me a job. It'd be really good if I could move out of home next year. All my friends are getting jobs and moving out of home and stuff and jet-setting off around the globe. All I have is Mr Darcy- my morbidly obese cat. I hate writing CV's and cover letters, so if you could get someone to write those for me, it would be tight.
Chur
x
Friday, May 21, 2010
Drip Drip Drip
Argh it's raining.
I wish I had some super cute gummies to rock with a sweet raincoat and an umbrella that was a) averse to flipping inside out in the wind b) collapsible into a size other than LARGE and c) enabled me to effectively navigate the water-laden streets without decapitating other members of the public.
I had this totally fantastic Miss Piggy rain-coat when I was four that my sister sent to me from overseas (oh the benefits of having siblings with a 19 year age gap!)- the hood was a miss piggy head, it even had little blonde curls attached SUPER cute. I insisted on keeping it for years and years until mum made me put it into a storage box where it now lives happily in the recess under our stairs.
I wish I could get all English gentlewoman farmer on this sh*tty weather and rock the gummies a la the great British dames, though I'd guess they'd call them 'wellingtons'- Kate and Alexa, but alas the streets of central Auckland are not ready for them (and neither is my wallet! eek!!!). I also like these gorgeous little rain-booties from Melissa by Vivienne Westwood, available at Jaimie Boutique in Ponsonby and Made down near Britomart (hopefully they won't become hideously overdone by the 15 y/o rich kids posse of AK- fingers crossed!!!). However given that I suffer from the ailment known euphemistically as huskiness (a-haw haw), these will prob remain an unattainable dream!
On the topic of rain- oh Gene Kelly you make me sigh... just singing in the rain, just siiiiinging in the rain !!!!
OK, should be writing an essay... naughty moi!
x
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
It's a bear picnic
f you go out in the woods today
You're sure of a big surprise.
If you go out in the woods today
You'd better go in disguise.
For every bear that ever there was
Will gather there for certain, because
Today's the day the teddy bears have their picnic.
Emo Teddy
Scottish Teddy
Elton John Teddy
Asian Teddy
Teddy a la Karl
I just gotta interrupt you Teddy
Teddy and his bombs
x
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
When Dr Seuss strikes
A horn on her head?
You're kidding they said.
She got out of bed,
With a horn on her head?!
Yes, a horn I declare-
Made of hair to be fair.
But it is a hairstyle that's awfully rare-
Though not one for which, I personally care
She works for the tribune,
She's not from the moon.
Thouch clearly she marches to a much different tune
Wearing that hairstyle not only in June
It's not a horn you birdbrain!
Suzy yells in disdain
People, like you, are clearly insane
This here's style, I'll dare to explain
It's known as a pompadour you nitwit
(Looks a bit like a horn- I'll admit)
Madame de Pompadour pioneered this sh*t
Though it wouldn't suit you, one little bit
Oh don't worry, I retorted
My hairstyles done- sorted.
You're look, to me, should really be thwarted
Not, encouraged, displayed and scarily supported
With that comment, she bid me adieu
Her horn, in anger, a little askew
Me thinking she was more than a tad cuckoo
Oh Suzy Menkes and your crazy hairdo
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