See more stunning pics like this - and a few heartwarming tales - at Jessica's Blog.
2 months ago
Friday 29 February 2008
And in the "who really cares section"
Nicole Richie has given birth to her first child.
She named it Harlow Winter.
I have no further comment.
She named it Harlow Winter.
I have no further comment.
Thursday 28 February 2008
In other news
The boss of ABC Learning here in Australia has been caught selling off millions of dollars worth of his shares while reassuring shareholders that everything's okay...
But I think the real question we need to ask shareholders is:
Why would you ever trust a man that looked like this??
Wednesday 27 February 2008
Tuesday 26 February 2008
and now I feel a bit silly
And after all that, it turns out it was a false alarm.
No sunspot, no mole, nothing cancerous, just an inflammation at the base of the hair follicles on my chest.
Would have been nice if the first doctor had picked that up so I wouldn't have had to pay for two consultations, but you get that.
As I said, better to be safe than sorry.
No sunspot, no mole, nothing cancerous, just an inflammation at the base of the hair follicles on my chest.
Would have been nice if the first doctor had picked that up so I wouldn't have had to pay for two consultations, but you get that.
As I said, better to be safe than sorry.
Today, a doctor is going to slice me open then stitch me up again
I'm a little bit nervous.
I have a sunspot that has appeared on my chest in the last couple of months and when I visited the doctor's surgery yesterday, I was told it was best to have it "cut out."
Ew.
So in about an hour's time I'm going under the knife. It's nothing really to be worried about but it's the first time anything like this has happened to me so I'm a little anxious.
I know it's a good move in the long run but part of me wishes I could just ignore it and it would go away.
Unfortunately, it won't. And fortunately, I wear sunscreen whenever I'm in the sun so I'm hoping this won't be a regular occurrence.
Better to be safe than sorry, right?
I have a sunspot that has appeared on my chest in the last couple of months and when I visited the doctor's surgery yesterday, I was told it was best to have it "cut out."
Ew.
So in about an hour's time I'm going under the knife. It's nothing really to be worried about but it's the first time anything like this has happened to me so I'm a little anxious.
I know it's a good move in the long run but part of me wishes I could just ignore it and it would go away.
Unfortunately, it won't. And fortunately, I wear sunscreen whenever I'm in the sun so I'm hoping this won't be a regular occurrence.
Better to be safe than sorry, right?
Friday 22 February 2008
So He's Open about Sleeping with Other Boys
Server admin: He's Catholic, isn't he?
Developer: Nah, he's just gay.
State and Water Street
Peoria, Illinois
Overheard by: only girl in an office of men...
From Overhead in the Office
Developer: Nah, he's just gay.
State and Water Street
Peoria, Illinois
Overheard by: only girl in an office of men...
From Overhead in the Office
Wednesday 20 February 2008
Good Vibes
One of my favourite past-times at music festivals is people watching.
So I thought rather than analyse each of the performances at the Good Vibrations music festival (they were all awesome except Kanye West who we didn't watch anyway) I thought I would analyse the people who were there at the event.
- First mention goes to the tall girl in the pink flouro top who screeched "Team Aviator!" And insisted on having a photo with me when she saw her sunnies matched mine.
- An honourable mention to the outrageously buff guy who was almost as wide as he was tall and subsequently insisted on walking around the place with his top off and his biceps flexed. Way to look natural, my friend.
- To the masses of (mainly girls, but there were some offending guys) people who wore flouro - it's still not cool.
- And then there's waistcoat guy - the guy I saw wearing trousers and a waistcoat (complete with white long-sleeved shirt and tie underneath) during the heat of the day.
- And to the guy passed out at the back of the ambulance tent at the healthy time of 2pm - perhaps don't drink so much quite so early next year, my friend.
Falling in love with Paris is like remembering an emotion that you never had...
I've never been to Paris, but after watching Paris, Je t'aime last night, I love the place already.It's funny how you go through periods when you watch a few Hollywood movies in a row and then you go back to a foreign/independent film and realise exactly what you've been missing out on.
This film, part of the official selection for both the Toronto and Cannes Film Festivals, is a collection of short films, all filmed in Paris and revolving around different aspects of love.
From the love a mother has for her young baby, to an older couple meeting to finalise a divorce, to a pair of mimes that meet in a jail cell one night, to a single American tourist who falls in love with Paris itself, this film is absolutely magical.
And to top it all off, each short film is directed by a different esteemed director - from Gus Van Sant, the Cohen Brothers and Wes Craven to Gerard Depardieau.
There is also a massive range of actors from Steve Buscemi and Natalie Portman to Elijah Wood, Nick Nolte and Bob Hoskins.
Some of the stories are funny, some are sad, some are just downright weird, but all in all it is an absolutely brilliant collection.
See it.
Tuesday 19 February 2008
Please feel free to help yourself to that humble pie. It's gooood....
I watched possibly one of the best episodes of Four Corners I had ever seen last night.
Last night, for the first time, I saw senior Howard Government ministers talk honestly (well, as close as we're goign to get anyway) for the first time.
Gone was the smug arrogance, hindsight was now 20/20 and they actually more or less admitted that they got it wrong.
It was stunning.
It was like a massive bit of closure after a particularly bad break up.
Gone was Costello's smug grin, and even Downer was a bit more subdued than normal - though ever the diplomat.
But Tony Abbott just proved that the more things change, the more they stay the same.
He found it so hard to admit they got it wrong, unlike Andrew Robb, who said that "by definition, they had underestimated Kevin Rudd" - because he won.
No, Tony Abbott said that while he didn't think ratifying Kyoto would have "saved our bacon" he considered that "the public" (words he almost spat out) "the voting public might have found it a bit curious."
The implication was that he still thought they were doing the right thing - but it was the "voting public" that had misinterpreted the Liberal Party's best intentions.
Well fuck you, Tony Abbott. Enjoy the political wilderness.
Last night, for the first time, I saw senior Howard Government ministers talk honestly (well, as close as we're goign to get anyway) for the first time.
Gone was the smug arrogance, hindsight was now 20/20 and they actually more or less admitted that they got it wrong.
It was stunning.
It was like a massive bit of closure after a particularly bad break up.
Gone was Costello's smug grin, and even Downer was a bit more subdued than normal - though ever the diplomat.
But Tony Abbott just proved that the more things change, the more they stay the same.
He found it so hard to admit they got it wrong, unlike Andrew Robb, who said that "by definition, they had underestimated Kevin Rudd" - because he won.
No, Tony Abbott said that while he didn't think ratifying Kyoto would have "saved our bacon" he considered that "the public" (words he almost spat out) "the voting public might have found it a bit curious."
The implication was that he still thought they were doing the right thing - but it was the "voting public" that had misinterpreted the Liberal Party's best intentions.
Well fuck you, Tony Abbott. Enjoy the political wilderness.
Friday 15 February 2008
Yesterday was Valentine's Day...
...and I had an incredibly un-romantic day. And it was fantastic.
After being at work I knowcked off a little early and the two of us took a leaf out of Rachel's book - we went down to the beach to get fish and chips.
After realising that the weather was turning cold we changed plans - a trip to the movies to see the most un-romantic of films we possibly could - Sweeney Todd.
I love Johnny Depp, I love Helena Bonham-Carter, I love Tim Burton and I love Alan Rickman.
Suffice to say, I loved Sweeney Todd. It was the most throat-slittingly brilliant film I have seen in a long, long time.
Now that's romantic.
After being at work I knowcked off a little early and the two of us took a leaf out of Rachel's book - we went down to the beach to get fish and chips.
After realising that the weather was turning cold we changed plans - a trip to the movies to see the most un-romantic of films we possibly could - Sweeney Todd.
I love Johnny Depp, I love Helena Bonham-Carter, I love Tim Burton and I love Alan Rickman.
Suffice to say, I loved Sweeney Todd. It was the most throat-slittingly brilliant film I have seen in a long, long time.
Now that's romantic.
Thursday 14 February 2008
Grammar Terrorism in action at your local supermarket
This sign, word for word and space for space, was hanging in the fruit and veg section at a supermarket this morning.
Dear Customers:
We would like to inform you that there is an apple shortage so inturn the price of all apples and pears have sky rocked up. There is about a 4 week gap un till any new seasons apples come in. And importing apples from over east is prohibited cause of quarantine laws.
Regards,
IGA Hamilton Hill Management
Dear Customers:
We would like to inform you that there is an apple shortage so inturn the price of all apples and pears have sky rocked up. There is about a 4 week gap un till any new seasons apples come in. And importing apples from over east is prohibited cause of quarantine laws.
Regards,
IGA Hamilton Hill Management
Wednesday 13 February 2008
I'm proud to be an Australian again. Thanks Kevin.
February 13, 2008
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's apology motion has been tabled in Parliament:
Today we honour the Indigenous peoples of this land, the oldest continuing cultures in human history.
We reflect on their past mistreatment.
We reflect in particular on the mistreatment of those who were Stolen Generations – this blemished chapter in our nation’s history.
The time has now come for the nation to turn a new page in Australia’s history by righting the wrongs of the past and so moving forward with confidence to the future.
We apologise for the laws and policies of successive Parliaments and governments that have inflicted profound grief, suffering and loss on these our fellow Australians.
We apologise especially for the removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families, their communities and their country.
For the pain, suffering and hurt of these Stolen Generations, their descendants and for their families left behind, we say sorry.
To the mothers and the fathers, the brothers and the sisters, for the breaking up of families and communities, we say sorry.
And for the indignity and degradation thus inflicted on a proud people and a proud culture, we say sorry.
We the Parliament of Australia respectfully request that this apology be received in the spirit in which it is offered as part of the healing of the nation.
For the future we take heart; resolving that this new page in the history of our great continent can now be written.
We today take this first step by acknowledging the past and laying claim to a future that embraces all Australians.
A future where this Parliament resolves that the injustices of the past must never, never happen again.
A future where we harness the determination of all Australians, Indigenous and non-Indigenous, to close the gap that lies between us in life expectancy, educational achievement and economic opportunity.
A future where we embrace the possibility of new solutions to enduring problems where old approaches have failed.
A future based on mutual respect, mutual resolve and mutual responsibility.
A future where all Australians, whatever their origins, are truly equal partners, with equal opportunities and with an equal stake in shaping the next chapter in the history of this great country, Australia.
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's apology motion has been tabled in Parliament:
Today we honour the Indigenous peoples of this land, the oldest continuing cultures in human history.
We reflect on their past mistreatment.
We reflect in particular on the mistreatment of those who were Stolen Generations – this blemished chapter in our nation’s history.
The time has now come for the nation to turn a new page in Australia’s history by righting the wrongs of the past and so moving forward with confidence to the future.
We apologise for the laws and policies of successive Parliaments and governments that have inflicted profound grief, suffering and loss on these our fellow Australians.
We apologise especially for the removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families, their communities and their country.
For the pain, suffering and hurt of these Stolen Generations, their descendants and for their families left behind, we say sorry.
To the mothers and the fathers, the brothers and the sisters, for the breaking up of families and communities, we say sorry.
And for the indignity and degradation thus inflicted on a proud people and a proud culture, we say sorry.
We the Parliament of Australia respectfully request that this apology be received in the spirit in which it is offered as part of the healing of the nation.
For the future we take heart; resolving that this new page in the history of our great continent can now be written.
We today take this first step by acknowledging the past and laying claim to a future that embraces all Australians.
A future where this Parliament resolves that the injustices of the past must never, never happen again.
A future where we harness the determination of all Australians, Indigenous and non-Indigenous, to close the gap that lies between us in life expectancy, educational achievement and economic opportunity.
A future where we embrace the possibility of new solutions to enduring problems where old approaches have failed.
A future based on mutual respect, mutual resolve and mutual responsibility.
A future where all Australians, whatever their origins, are truly equal partners, with equal opportunities and with an equal stake in shaping the next chapter in the history of this great country, Australia.
Tuesday 12 February 2008
Call me what you will...
But I love Valentine's Day. Sorry Kate, sorry Lindsay, but I think Rachel's hit the nail on the head here.
I worked in a restaurant for six years. During this time, every year, Valentine's Day was the busiest day of the year.
It was the one day when we crammed the restaurant full of tables of two in preparation for a massive night.
But do you know what? I didn't mind working on Valentine's Day. I didn't mind the fact that I had to squeeze past the tiny gaps between the tables and run around like a goose because that on night a year was a little different from all the others.
(I can hear the spewing sounds already, but here goes...)
This one night a year, the atmosphere was different because I was surrounded by the filthy, dirty four-letter word - love.
I was surrounded by couples for whom the most important thing in the world at that point in time was the person sitting opposite them.
Sure, there are always going to be upsets and things not going according to plan but you know what they say about the best laid plans of mice and men.
Kate, Lindsay, you can all rail against the consumerism of Valentine's Day as much as you like. But in doing so, and boycotting the day, that's when materialism and consumerism win.
Valentine's Day is a personal thing - those couples who choose to stay at home and watch science-fiction or play RPG-style video games may find that just as romantic as sitting on the 33rd floor of C Restaurant in Perth and gazing out over the city lights.
I worked in a restaurant for six years. During this time, every year, Valentine's Day was the busiest day of the year.
It was the one day when we crammed the restaurant full of tables of two in preparation for a massive night.
But do you know what? I didn't mind working on Valentine's Day. I didn't mind the fact that I had to squeeze past the tiny gaps between the tables and run around like a goose because that on night a year was a little different from all the others.
(I can hear the spewing sounds already, but here goes...)
This one night a year, the atmosphere was different because I was surrounded by the filthy, dirty four-letter word - love.
I was surrounded by couples for whom the most important thing in the world at that point in time was the person sitting opposite them.
Sure, there are always going to be upsets and things not going according to plan but you know what they say about the best laid plans of mice and men.
Kate, Lindsay, you can all rail against the consumerism of Valentine's Day as much as you like. But in doing so, and boycotting the day, that's when materialism and consumerism win.
Valentine's Day is a personal thing - those couples who choose to stay at home and watch science-fiction or play RPG-style video games may find that just as romantic as sitting on the 33rd floor of C Restaurant in Perth and gazing out over the city lights.
Monday 11 February 2008
There's gremlins in the system
I'm not quite sure what happened on the below post, but it seems to have gone for a holiday somewhere.
I'm sure I'll receive little postcards from the blog when he manages to find a gift shop in whatever part of cyberspace he's visiting at the time.
Can you tell it's Monday?
So I had a smashing weekend starting with a fully-work-funded Christmas lunch on Friday and followed by a housewarming at young Kate's house (okay, so I may have started filming when it got to the singing drunken songs part of the night - I know it's a bad habit and I should get out of it but sometimes those scenes are just too good to be true).
But I balanced it out with some good ole-fashioned relaxation on Saturday and Sunday which was lurvely.
Okay I'm gonna cut the crap - here's what I really want to talk about: job hunting.
I'm thinking of dipping my toes into the deep end of the pool (the dark side - PR) to see what the temperature's like. I saw a fantastic opportunity the other day and part of me wonders whether I might even like it better over that side - I mean, it'd be just like my current job but without having to be constrained by minute details such as facts and truth.
I know I could always go back to journalism if I didn't like it - and perhaps I should get a little more experience over this side of the fence - but it's food for thought.
Anyway watch this space - if anything happens you'll be the first to know.
I'm sure I'll receive little postcards from the blog when he manages to find a gift shop in whatever part of cyberspace he's visiting at the time.
Can you tell it's Monday?
So I had a smashing weekend starting with a fully-work-funded Christmas lunch on Friday and followed by a housewarming at young Kate's house (okay, so I may have started filming when it got to the singing drunken songs part of the night - I know it's a bad habit and I should get out of it but sometimes those scenes are just too good to be true).
But I balanced it out with some good ole-fashioned relaxation on Saturday and Sunday which was lurvely.
Okay I'm gonna cut the crap - here's what I really want to talk about: job hunting.
I'm thinking of dipping my toes into the deep end of the pool (the dark side - PR) to see what the temperature's like. I saw a fantastic opportunity the other day and part of me wonders whether I might even like it better over that side - I mean, it'd be just like my current job but without having to be constrained by minute details such as facts and truth.
I know I could always go back to journalism if I didn't like it - and perhaps I should get a little more experience over this side of the fence - but it's food for thought.
Anyway watch this space - if anything happens you'll be the first to know.
Friday 8 February 2008
Thursday 7 February 2008
Bits and bobs
I was going to blog about Big Day Out but the moment has passed. Suffice to say I had a fantastic day with some good friends I hadn't seen in a long time and the music was absolutely top notch.
Bjork in particular was resplendent onstage - she came out to a royal trumpeting parade and unleashed a perfect set on the punters including a laser show and confetti(!).
But what I really want to say is this: we are a racist country.
I know, I know, nothing new there. But successive discussions I have had with people over the last week or two about apologising to the Stolen Generation have made me - well, sad.
It saddens me that people still use terms like "them" and "us".
It saddens me that people are so worried about their own hip-pockets that they would prefer not to say sorry - just in case there are complications with compensation.
It saddens me that there are so many people out there who say "I'm not racist but..."
In a discussion I had with a friend of a friend last night, she told me the school she was at had put so much emphasis on Aboriginal rights/history/studies that by the time she got out of school she was sick of hearing about anything to do with Aboriginal people. For me, that's a sorry state of affairs.
As Thom so eloquently put it recently - saying sorry does not mean taking the blame for something.
In much the same way that when someone you know tells you that a family member of theirs died, you say sorry not because you caused the death but because you feel empathy.
And that, dear readers, is something that is severely lacking in our country right now.
Bjork in particular was resplendent onstage - she came out to a royal trumpeting parade and unleashed a perfect set on the punters including a laser show and confetti(!).
But what I really want to say is this: we are a racist country.
I know, I know, nothing new there. But successive discussions I have had with people over the last week or two about apologising to the Stolen Generation have made me - well, sad.
It saddens me that people still use terms like "them" and "us".
It saddens me that people are so worried about their own hip-pockets that they would prefer not to say sorry - just in case there are complications with compensation.
It saddens me that there are so many people out there who say "I'm not racist but..."
In a discussion I had with a friend of a friend last night, she told me the school she was at had put so much emphasis on Aboriginal rights/history/studies that by the time she got out of school she was sick of hearing about anything to do with Aboriginal people. For me, that's a sorry state of affairs.
As Thom so eloquently put it recently - saying sorry does not mean taking the blame for something.
In much the same way that when someone you know tells you that a family member of theirs died, you say sorry not because you caused the death but because you feel empathy.
And that, dear readers, is something that is severely lacking in our country right now.
Wednesday 6 February 2008
Would you vote for this man?
I don't like Brendan Nelson. I don't like his attitude, I don't like the way he won leadership of John Howard's shipwreck of a party and I think he looks like a rat when he smiles.I was quite disappointed when the Liberal Party didn't choose Malcolm Turnbull - we could have been in for an invigorating, balanced political spectrum over the next few years.
Malcolm Turnbull has youth, vigour and open-mindedness on his side. After his party's devastating election loss, he wasted no time in saying he would support Labor policies regarding industrial relations and an apology to the Stolen Generation.
This was one of the main reasons he didn't win the leadership - the crusty old conservatives in the Liberal Party couldn't quite bring themselves to admit they were wrong. So they elected someone they thought wouldn't stray too far from the party line - Mr Nelson - and hence consigned themselves to the political wilderness for at least the next election.
Nelson got a grilling on the 7.30 Report from Kerry O'Brien last night - which was quite brilliant - and the guy just does not have what it takes.
Add to that he's a card-carrying member of the John Howard fan club - and you've got an opposition leader without a hope in hell of ever being elected Prime Minister.
Tuesday 5 February 2008
A taste of what's to come
I'm crazy busy today at work, having had Monday off, but when I get the chance either today or tomorrow I will blog about how freakin' awesome Big Day Out was.
Seriously.
Seriously.
Friday 1 February 2008
He was hardcore from an early age...
Has anyone else noticed the glaring inconsistency in the latest furore surrounding this supposed secret footage of Heath Ledger being involved in drugs?
Apparently he is quoted in the video as saying: "I used to smoke five joints a day for twenty years."
Um, the guy died at 28. So he was smoking five joints a day at the age of 8, while going to Guildford Grammar School? I think not...
Apparently he is quoted in the video as saying: "I used to smoke five joints a day for twenty years."
Um, the guy died at 28. So he was smoking five joints a day at the age of 8, while going to Guildford Grammar School? I think not...
My most humble apologies to you, my dear reader(s)
I have been a slack little blogger of late.
I know, deep down inside, that twice a week just does not cut the mustard if I want to keep my readership up (my "circulation" figures just went past 3000 - that's unbelievable).
So I'll fill you in a little on what's been happening in my life.
I had a brilliant Australia Day - well, the daytime bit was great, before moving onto a house party in Floreat. The party started out well - it was a beautiful house and a great party atmosphere - but by that time of night on Australia Day most people had been drinking since before midday and needless to say, things started getting ugly.
But we went back to a friend's house and saw the day out in a comfortable and nasty-drunk-free environment.
Big Day Out is on this weekend - the biggest music festival in Australia and what I consider to be the most important day of the year. This year will be the eighth in a row that I've attended.
And I have vague plans to make a trip to the UK later this year - around Christmas time - to catch up with my brother who is temporarily living over there at the moment. Nothing's set in stone, but I will start planning soon.
Other than that, life's good! Obviously my boss is still the same, but I'm making a conscious effort not to whinge too much about her. If I whinge too much, I become her. And that would be bad.
I know, deep down inside, that twice a week just does not cut the mustard if I want to keep my readership up (my "circulation" figures just went past 3000 - that's unbelievable).
So I'll fill you in a little on what's been happening in my life.
I had a brilliant Australia Day - well, the daytime bit was great, before moving onto a house party in Floreat. The party started out well - it was a beautiful house and a great party atmosphere - but by that time of night on Australia Day most people had been drinking since before midday and needless to say, things started getting ugly.
But we went back to a friend's house and saw the day out in a comfortable and nasty-drunk-free environment.
Big Day Out is on this weekend - the biggest music festival in Australia and what I consider to be the most important day of the year. This year will be the eighth in a row that I've attended.
And I have vague plans to make a trip to the UK later this year - around Christmas time - to catch up with my brother who is temporarily living over there at the moment. Nothing's set in stone, but I will start planning soon.
Other than that, life's good! Obviously my boss is still the same, but I'm making a conscious effort not to whinge too much about her. If I whinge too much, I become her. And that would be bad.
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