Do you know what it feels like for a girl...

It's funny just sitting here behind this computer screen and thinking of what title this post should be, but that moment of confusion was quickly cleared when Madonna's lyrics for her single 'Do you know what it feels like for a girl' quickly streamed through my head.

So I just received an email from a dear friend of mine, one whom I keep very close to my heart and also my unpaid, on-call, therapist who I will call Starfish (to prevent an abusive comment ensueing from her). But for those who are familiar with this blog, Starfish has managed to inspire me to publish this new post.

I found this recent email I received from Starfish just beautiful, in all its simplicity it really says a lot.

...we need to remember we are young, we are awkward, we are female. youth and
being female is possibly just two of the worst things. being young - means dumb,
unsure, little crazy , female - two minds, wants everything, picky, etc. damn.
when do we stop being young? or being female?
its hilarious what we do. i love it. i love being so imperfect and young. i look in the mirror at this face of mine, this pimply (haha) awkard look and i know one day i will look in the mirror and realise that this girl is gone because i will be a woman. i will not have this youth or that look in my eye that i do now. sometimes i think the
older, wiser starfish* is in me talking to me, looking at me in foresight and
telling me how lucky i am and i can honestly glimpse me, the 18 year old me who
has no fucken idea what shes doing and i am grateful that i am so aware that i
am who i am meant to be at this point in my life. one day, my hair won't be long
anymore and i wont wear as much make up and my skin will clear and my clothes
will be more conservative and simple, and i wont laugh as loudly, i wont drive
around in my little car tooting at hot boys, i wont be dancing in the bars at
clubs, i wont be flirting with older men, i wont be teasing young boys, i wont
be with my girls gossiping in cafes, one day i will lose all of this without
realising. it will all just go and something will come - a job, a family,
marriage, maybe deaths, maybe divorces, who knows, but right now - i am free of
responsibility and i can fuck around and not have to prove anything to anyone. i
dont have to be perfect, i dont have to be right, i can do whatever. we can do
that spowf. we are at our best, right now, this is us, so young, lets not grow
up yet man. lets just be a little crazy, a little childish, a little wild.
because we can.
i am just blessed by the people who enrich it and make me
that more deeper, that more wiser and all i think is that im so afraid i am
going to lose all this and not make the most of it and why the fuck do i make
such a big deal out of nothing? think about it. spowf, these guys, why waste
energy on that? i still have feelings for seaweed* and i am aware that he still
has feelings for me, but not now, i dont want to dwell on it or think about it,
i just wantt to get stoned with my girls and swim naked at the surf break and
drive out in my little car on the worst roads on this island. i want to sit on
facebook when im meant to be at work. i want to do everything fucken wrong. i
want to make mistakes so i can learn. i dont want to be sure of anything. i want
to just be a little dumb while i can, this is it. i want to kiss randoms and not
think 'ohh what will so and so think, does he like me, blah balh' who fucken
cares, argh.
this is our time to shine man, and i fucken intend to do that,
be it blind drunk or so stoned or high on life, whatever, i just dont care
anymore. im young and im going to have fun and be a girl.

"The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing. One cannot help but be in awe when he contemplates the mysteries of eternity, of life, of the marvelous structure of reality. "

- Albert Einstein

Note: This is my favourite quote.

Capitalism, globalisation and free trade: rhetoric versus reality

So I've decided to start an assignment right and its about bloody time too! I don't think I've spent so much time (honestly speaking) sitting in this chair and actually using my study desk which is usually filled with drink botttles, an alarm clock that doesn't work and the occuring sight of neglected food and cutlery that haven't quite made it to the kitchen yet.

So while researching for this assignment, I came around a very interesting quote that made me question everything from what are our roles as individuals in society to improve the lives of those less fortunate than ourselves to having that 'inescapable' subconcious which makes each and every one of us a global citizen.

Here's the quote:

[T]he emergence of capitalism represents a culture that is in many ways the
most successful that has ever been deployed in terms of accomodating large
numbers of individuals in relative and absolute comfort and luxury. It has
not been successful, however, in intergrating all in equal measure, and its
failure here remains one of its major problems. It has solved the problems
of feeding large numbers of people (although certainly not all), and it has
provided unprecedented advances in health and medicine (but, again, not for
all). It has promoted the development of amazingly complex technological
instruments and fostered a level of global communication without precedent.
It has united people in common pursuits as has no other culture. Yet it
remains to be seen when the balance sheet is tallied whether capitalism represents the epitome of "progresss" that some claim.

- Richard H. Robbins, Global Problems and the Culture of
Capitalism (Allyn and Bacon, 1999), p.11-12

The last time I checked, the CEO of that U.S. multinational company had just received a large salary raise...but at whose expense? How about the low-income earning wage earner in the developing country which the same multinaitonal company has a factory. Don't get me wrong, but globalisation too has good points. It's just a matter of whose side you're arguing from.

***

“We welcome the process of globalisation. It is inescapable and irreversible.…” However, “…if globalisation is to create real peace and stability across the world, it must be a process benefiting all. It must not allow the most economically and politically powerful countries to dominate and submerge the countries of the weaker and peripheral regions. It should not be allowed to drain the wealth of smaller countries towards the larger ones, or to increase inequality between richer and poorer regions.”

- Nelson Mandela

What do you think? Not just about capitalism but the bull and hypocrisy of free trade ideologies that are meant to ensure equal economic benefits for everyone? Leave a comment!

O arise all you sons of this land

Post Courier

Wednesday, October 3, 2007

Motigate debate
gagged in Parlt

GOVERNMENT yesterday gagged the Opposition from
asking questions relating to two controversial issues – Motigate Affair and
Mobile War.
On the first day of the sitting yesterday, Parliament Speaker
Jeffery Nape walked in an hour after the ringing of the bells and stopped
Parliament from raising any questions or issues concerning the Moti affair.
Mr Nape said, “I understand that the matter is before the court or the
Defence Council, therefore I wish to inform Parliament that we should not
discuss it.
“Any questions relating to the Moti case will not be entertained
until the report is tabled before Parliament.”
And the Opposition decried
this and termed it dictatorial.
At a news conference attended by all
Opposition members, they said the gagging of debate on important issues
concerning the nation was a disgrace.
Opposition Leader Sir Mekere Morauta
said the Speaker misled the Parliament.
He told reporters that his office
checked with the Supreme Court only on Monday and there was nothing to say that
the Moti issues was before the courts.
He said the Opposition had some
questions regarding the issue and the report was explicit where it said laws
were broken and responsible people should be prosecuted.
Sir Mekere,
supported by his deputy Bart Philemon and former Prime Minister Sir Julius Chan,
said the recommendations of the report is clear and the alleged threats by the
PNG Defence Force to arrest the Prime Minister and NGOs’ outcry were symptoms of
the leaders not doing the right thing.
In saying this, the Opposition called
for the Prime Minister to step aside immediately.
“There is a growing chorus
of dissatisfaction everywhere.
“We are doing injustice to the people,” Sir
Mekere told reporters.
Sir Julius called on respective government bodies
like the Ombudsman, police and public prosecutor to act independently and act on
the recommendations of the Moti report.
Mendi MP Francis Awesa said there
seem to be two laws, one for the small people and the other for the leaders,
supported by Sir Mekere who said a small person gets belted up for stealing a
packet of biscuit and a leader gets free after all these allegations.
Meanwhile, attempts to ask the Communication Minister Patrick Tammur on the
alleged submission to the Cabinet was also gagged with the front bench of the
Government interjecting with points of order and calling on the speaker to rule
it out of order which the Speaker eventually did.
Parliament adjourned to
this morning at 10.

This article raised a number of questions. What does it mean to be independent and free? Are we really independent and free? As outlined in our National Pledge, do our leaders really pledge to:

"Build a democratic society based on justice, equality, respect and prosperity of our people"

Have Papua New Guinea's leaders become so ignorant and blinded by their own visions of personal wealth, status, power and self-interest? Is our society going to the dogs? Maybe one needs to provide certain public figures with clearER definitions of these fundamental governing principles, imperative to the promotion and enforcement of the rights of the men, women and children of any democratic country. It makes me wonder...

Setting the benchmark: Powes Parkop

During his election campaign for the Moresby Regional seat, Powes Parkop was quoted as saying:

"I don't have millions of kina to give you but I have millions of ideas to share..."

Powes Parkop's swearing into office is a strong indication of the people's will and desire for a new change of leadership style as it has been publicly acknowledged that NCDC, as with most other public offices, has been the milking cow for too long - a haven for those tempted to make a quick buck and in the process, steal monies from the public purse. When I found out that a human rights lawyer had won the Moresby Regional seat and was the governor-elect for the National Capital District, I had felt an overwhelming sense of reassurance that there are truly inspirational Papua New Guineans, who use virtue and power not for the sole purposes of self-interest, status or wealth but who do have a passion to improve the lives of the marginalised and underpriveleged. Studying in the same field of profession as Mr.Parkop, a man I had never heard of or met, I now look up to this man as an inspirational role model for young Papua New Guinean's like myself, to actively play a role in the development of their country.

Last Friday's issue of The National Newspaper which included an article by Harlyne Joku entitled "Parkop suspends four senior execs" demonstrates the type of virtue and honesty that is reflected in this man's leadership.

NCD Governor Powes Parkop
yesterday suspended and charged four senior managers for alleged abuse, funds
misuse and fraud.The alleged anomalies against the city government were
committed between January and August this year, Mr Parkop said.The governor said
he would terminate the services of the manager for social services for failing
in his job.In a statement yesterday, Mr Parkop said prior to his swearing-in and
assumption of office last Aug 21, he had requested among other things the
commission’s financial report for the said period.“It had become obvious to me
that there was massive abuse of the commission’s during that period,” Mr Parkop
said.He further said the financial status and dealings of the commission had not
been secret and that he was advised by many people to terminate all his
managers.But Mr Parkop said that he had refused to do so to give them
opportunity to explain the figures in the financial statement.“This was to
ensure that whatever decision I make, it was directed at arresting the
problem
instead of undertaking a massive termination and replacement which
may not solve the problem of abuse and misuse of funds in the first place,” he
added.

Read the rest of the article here.

A few months ago, Kevin Pamba in his article "Parkos victory is a welcome benchmark" stated that "only time will tell how Mr. Parkop will reciprocate the overwhelming trust bestowed on him." I have a firm belief that the act of him suspending four senior managers for alleged abuse, funds misuse and fraud is a great cause for emulation. And for once, I am briefly persuaded and enlightened to observe that a segment of Papua New Guinean voters are not influenced by bribery, false promises, gifts or handouts, but have once voted with their conscience.

At war with the sea

A recent report on global warming warned that entire
cultures are at risk of being wiped out if nothing is done. There is still
a lot of debate about whether rising sea levels and rising temperatures are the
result of pollution or simply normal cycles of climate change. But there's one
group of people (a group of people too close to home) that doesn't need any
convincing about this. In the documentary 'That Sinking Feeling', Steve Marshall
visits a group of islands in the South Pacific that seem to be disappearing one
hut, one garden, one village at a time.

- World's Untold Stories

Global warming effects on Cateret Islands Part 1

Global warming effects on Cateret Islands Part 2

Images from Riverfire 2007

Taking things seriously

My dearly father who is in Sydney at the moment attending the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Australia 2007 Business Summit gave me a call last night to remind me that he did not get a call from me on Father's Day only to hear me say that 'I was thinking of him?'.....but really had been seperated from my sim card celebrating Riverfire for most of the weekend.

I don't watch television shows that much. However, when I do it usually involves me and a litre of greek mango gelati watching something hilarious to console and comfort my barren mind. This usually involves me watching Thank God You're Here or some piece of comical commentary such as The Chaser's War on Everything.

Whether or not you have greek mango gelati, I thought I'd entertain you with a skit from Chaser's War on Everything borrowed from Myspacetv.com which tests how tolerant people are when it comes to the security arrangement surrounding APEC.

Make Poverty History images

A few months ago, I made a post about Siobhan getting selected as a ZeroSeven Ambassador. I also promised to get some pictures off her and post them up. Well here they are: The wait is finally over!

"Like slavery and apartheid, poverty is not natural"

MPH: Make Poverty History

It's Our Time

To Change

Make Poverty History!

The journalistic shot heard around the world

Both these images have been strategically juxtapositioned in order to raise an issue that relates to the priority placed on events or people that are considered to be "soft entertainment news" and ones that register on a more important global agenda. Some critiques may argue that celebrity news is totally irrelevant and important air-time should not be dedicated to the lives of those who live 'comfortable' and 'priveleged' lives when the time set aside to feature such unecessary headlines may have covered other headlines that register on the economical, social or political agenda - issues that are more 'real'.

The 'journalistic shot heard around the world' was one which involved MSNBC's co-host and news reader Mika Brezezinski, in which she refused to read Paris Hilton's release from jail as the news lead.

"On June 26, 2007, near the
beginning of Morning Joe, Brzezinski
refused to read a report about Paris Hilton's release from
jail. One hour later during another news break segment, her producer Andy Jones
again pushed the story as the lead, ranking it over Republican Senator Richard
Lugar of Indiana's break with President Bush on the Iraq war,
which Brzezinski considered more important. After several unsupportive remarks
from host Joe Scarborough, she
attempted to burn the story's script on the air, but was physically prevented
from lighting it by co-host Willie Geist. She then tore
up the script, and one hour later, got up and ran another copy of the script
through a paper shredder retrieved
from Dan
Abrams's office. The incident was quickly popularized on the Internet, and
in the days that followed Brzezinski received large quantities of fan mail
supporting her on-air protest as a commentary on the tension between 'hard news'
and 'entertainment news."

(Source: Article on Wikipedia about Mika Brzezinski)

This video has raised a number of issues personally. Firstly, I admire Mika Brzezinski for her ability to actively stand and vocally argue her views for being 'such a journalist' as Joe Scarborough had called her. My question is to Joe Scarborough is: "If she is such a journalist, then what are you?" Obviously, Mika Brezesinki through her actions and views has expressed an absolute distaste and has obviously put her own career and job security on the line with her reactions. Unlike Joe Scarborough, she is not willing to compromise or sacrifice her beliefs and attitudes and conform to expectations of what people think she should do or say. Secondly, not only do Joe Scarborough's remarks connote a sense of misogynistic views that he has deep-rooted within his immature mind (as his actions and words suggest in the video), it is even more disturbing when he blesphemises with the following: "How do I further the kingdom of God on heaven". Seriously, what a PIG! Overall, I salute Mika Brzezinski on her ability to stand up for what she believed in - in front of millions of viewers, which compromised her career and job security, as well as for her ability to control and poise herself whilst arguing her point with two immature, unprofessional, pigs whose equivalents I would hope never to have as co-workers.

"To the news now..."

- Mika Brzesinki

My favourite mp3s at the moment: August

1. C-Mos - 2 million ways (Axwell Remix) mp3
2. Justice - D.A.N.C.E. (Tittsworth Remix) mp3
3. The Boys and Girls Club - Summer in the city mp3
4. Junior Senior vs. Lil' Jon - Can I get low mp3
5. Take me to the sun - The Disco Freaks (Freemaons Remix) mp3
6. Greenlight - Beyonce (Freemasons Remix) mp3
7. Thunderheist - Jerk it mp3
8. Make me sweat (Original Mix) - Basement Jaxx feat Roxanne Shante mp3
9. Lindsay Lohan's Revenge - Pase Rock (Klever Remix) mp3
10. Spencer Product - Ruffmixx 4 summer mp3
11. I'm not coming to your party girls - 30h!3 mp3
12. Moving Units - Crash 'N' Burn Victims (Felix Cartel Remix) mp3
13. The Teenagers - The Homecoming (Guns N Bombs Remix) mp3
14. DJ Pumpkin Patch - Daft Crunk mp3
15. Dragonette - Take it like a man (Kissy Sellout remix) mp3
16. Grits - My life mp3
17. Designer Drugs - Sex Machine (Remix) mp3

I saw a UFO and nobody believes me

Think stiff beats, thick bass lines, lush melodies, haunting vocals, rolling
guitar licks and urban tales of love and loss. It is part-melancholic beauty
but
for the most part, it's party mayhem...

(courtesy of Sneaky Sound System's myspace)

I just saw Sneaky Sound System live!

It was great! The sound audio guys could've done a bit better with organising the audio stuff better so that the vocals came out clearer (i'm not sure of the technicalities) but either way, it didn't matter because everyone knew the lyrics anyways.

I didn't have my camera with me but my friends did so when I get a chance to, I will post some cool pictures of them including sassy pics of Miss Connie Mitchell up!

True to any other great performances (ie where the audience gets what they want), the trio ended and exited the stage much to the surprise of their fans without singing their hit, UFO. When they did, MC Double D carried a banner with the words "I believe in you" when he exited. They came back on for an encore, after the audience chanted for "UFO" and then Black Angus said upon returning "This is for all of those that believed". The crowd when crazy, when the intro for UFO started!

My favourite song they performed live would've had to be 'Goodbye' because ... ahm, doesn't Connie's vocals just BRING IT! It gives me so much hope now as I look forward to Thursday, October 11th when Paul van Dyk plays at the Family!

"Woop Woop, when you run come around cos I know you're the talk of the town yeah" (R.I.P Natasja).

p.s. MC Double D has a new admirer! Ahah

The worlds No.1 DJ: Paul van Dyk is coming to Brisbane!

Paul van Dyk is

coming to Brisbane Baby!

And guess who will be over 18?

M.E.

Jealous?

Searching for meaning

Yu save bislama?

Meet another friend of mine: Yasmine. Yas, I know this isn't the hottest picture of you, but you are too damn cute!

She's Filipino and Swedish but considers herself an island girl at heart (born and raised in Vanuatu before she being 'shipped' to boarding school). At the age of seventeen, almost immediately after graduating she secured a governess position on a farm in Longreach outback Queensland looking after three kids all under the age of 6. Quite a feat that the kids (or even she) survived considering she didn't know how to cook! Anyways, after six months she decided that home (Vanuatu) was where the heart was so is now 'retired' and living at her beach house, living the lonesome idealist/dreamer's life. A life I too, wouldn't mind living.

The slideshow features pictures of her beachhouse and other surrounding areas in Vanuatu - of which I had the pleasure of visiting, compliments of my dearly father as a graduation present!

She just posted her first bulletin on her myspace. Here it is.

THIS IS MY FIRST BULLETIN. i thought i would take a break from the
following:

- swimming

- riding my bike (or my gardener's bike, sorry john)

- eating fresh fruit

- swimming

-body boarding

-verbally assaulting my dogs

-swimming ahahaha

-snorkelling

-lying in the sun

-looking at myself in the mirror and admiring my tan haha

- going into town to socialise briefly before repeating the above

-have spent five days literally by myself out here, first human being was
spotted yesterday (housegirl came back) yay!!but i wish i had a car. fuck that.
but am getting the tico this week, yeewww....despite sirens and graffitti and
stinkiness i feel so dumb doing this.

MISS THE FOLLOWING:kris,kat,nik,sof, nelle.

COME BACK AND ENJOY MY YOUTH WITH ME!!!!!!! dont go to uni or work!! we
will live off coconuts. and grow our own vegies and fruit. and kill our own
cows. and maybe swap our food for two chickens to eat and to have their eggs. we
will live without money....come on you five, come see me!!

Her bulletin brought back memories of life in the islands where everything is slow paced and sunsets never disappoint. Yas has always been vocal about her drive to travel the world and not care about superficial things. Before she left Brisbane for Vanuatu we had a conversation about how she wanted to experience life and how society's standards should not always be the driving force behind your life's decisions and dictate what you do in life. In her bulletin, she speaks of 'enjoying your youth', an ideal I am keen on pursuing especially at this pivotal stage in my life, something that seems so far away to grasp from the perspective of a uni student, yet something that funnily is still very tangible. This leads me onto questioning what our purpose, as individuals is in life?

I honestly don't want to be one of those people that finish their courses at uni and still feel undecided about my career and my future. I think this has a lot to do with discovering what each of our real purposes are. Our 'real purpose' must not be something that we feel obliged or pressured to accomplish because of societal of parental expecations however, it must be personal and something that you feel passionate about.

Okay, I am not overtly religious nor do I live a 'Christian life' but here is something from the Bible:

I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure. My heart took delight in all my work, and this was the reward for all my labour. Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun.

Ecclesiastes 2:10:11

Kate Bush - Sunset

Okay just got an email from the beloved brother, Manu over at Masalai in response to the featured video of the week of Kate Bush's track off her Aerial album, Sunset.

Email from Manu:

Hey Sofia,

How you been, just wanted to tell you that I’ve been
listening to that Kate Bush track on your blog over and over again. It’s so
soothing and calming. Thanks for that. When are you coming back, just asking
so
I can remind you that I want to get allot of music off you.

You
don’t have that Kate Bush song on in an album by any
chance???

Your
Bro
Manu

I replied:

I first heard that song about two weeks ago. I was watching FTV and
there was a tribute to Gianni Versace and they were playing this song in the
background and all I could gather was "sky of honey" in the lyrics and with
those magic words I googled it and found out the song title, artist....da da da.
It was released a few years ago on Kate Bush's long-awaited album, Aerial after
about a twelve year absence from recording. Whenever I hear it, I'm in total awe
of how life is truly beautiful and special. Despite all the
bullshit you go through in a day's work, you still have the
opportunity to witness nature unfolding and sharing one of its secrets
that only appears before dusk.
I wish I was at home, sitting on
the friendly French neighbour's driveway (who despite my obvious trespass still
smiles whenever he drives into his house) and silently observing the boats
and ships in the harbour, the traffic chaos in town as people scram in an effort
to complete the last tasks for the day before they go home...oh how I wish I was
sitting on Davetari Drive right now. Instead, I'm sitting here in
the cold, with NO PROPER SUNSET in sight, but STILL GLAD TO BE
ALIVE!
note: I've attached 'Sunset' mp3 in this email.
Enjoy!
Love
me!

For any fans of Kate Bush or just plain curious readers, download the mp3 shown below by right-clicking and selecting Save Target As on the drop down menu that appears.

Kate Bush - Sunset mp3

To bonk or not to bonk: that is the question

Inspired by the famous line in Shakespeare's play Hamlet, the line"to bonk or not to bonk: that is the question" was used in a lecture I attended a few months ago. Although the lecturer posed this question objectively to demonstrate how cultural backgrounds affect attitudes towards sex (much to the amusement of the students present in the lecture theatre), this post will specifically look at why women have one night stands and how this supposedly "enthralling and exhilarating" experience has some rather negative consequences. In particular, the arguments of Amy in her post "An Open Letter to Mad Sheila" on the Feminist Reprise blog will be examined in order draw some feminist feedback on this debatable topic.

This post raised a number of issues which I believe require me to delve deeper in order for me to really establish what my personal stance on this controversial issue is.

First of all, I totally agree with the author in terms of women having the right to exercise sexual autonomy without being labelled a 'slut' or 'whore'. I believe that this form of labelling (either made by women OR men) not only spits in the face of women who have positively contributed to society, it is also an automatic insult and ignorance of a woman's intelligence and skills - outside of the bedroom. Not only is it bad enough to hear such insults being made by members of the opposite sex, it is even more questionable when made by WOMEN ourselves. It could also be argued that such insults are 'patriarchal terms' i.e terms developed by misyoginists (aka pigs) who have a warped perception of a world where there are no equal standards between the sexes - a world where women are inferior than men; a world where women must comply with male authority. In addition, a woman's compliance or subjectivity to 'patriarchy' is also an issue questioned by the author.

Undoubtedly, a one night stand involves the act of "picking up" with the express purpose of having sex with no initial intention of entering a long-term commitment. I agree with the author on the basis that having sixteen sexual partners in two years contributes to one's decrease in self-respect for her body and detrimentally affects one's self-esteem. However, I totally disagree with her blaming 'patriarchy' for her depressive state (ie feeling worthless).

"I was playing out a script written by patriarchy, one which says that a woman is
worthless unless she has a man, and the way to get a man is to be sexually
available. I believed—because patriarchy told me so—that by acting hawt and
sexxeee* enough, I could hook a man into staying with me."

I don't believe patriarchy dictates that women are incomplete or worthless without a man. I think there is a natural and biological reason why humans are attracted to each other. Patriarchy isn't to blame: it is due to our own mindlessness or lack of exercising our own individual intelligence, caution, power that dictates the decisions we make. I don't think that patriarchy should be given a name and be made out to look like a tyrant because once women start blaming supposedly conspirated ideologies, then our taunts and anguish over our supposed subjectivity and dominance by men is the product of our own lack of intelligence - we are incarcerated by our own thoughts. Women should stop looking for excuses and reasons to justify their misguided decisions (even if being drunk is to blame) and should start being assertive and taking responsibility for their own actions instead of replaying the 'damsel in distress' scene over and over again. Blame 'I' not 'It" - admit it was a mistake (if it indeed was) or be honest and say "yes, it was I who got too drunk and had no fckn clue what I was doing." Don't be fckn mindless but admit personal fault because immediately once you start blaming patriarchy, you contribute to your own subjectivity and inferiority.

I don't think all one night stands are bad at all. Yes, there may be occassions where you didn't need a penis in your vagina in hindsight, but I think that one night stands are great when the attraction is mutual and a high level of respect is exchanged - knowing that you aren't too drunk or mindless of the fact that he is not attracted to you, however you have provided with him with the opportunity of using your body. So therefore, I must once again disagree with the author when she states:

"I justified this behavior to myself, despite how unhappy it made
me, with the Cosmo ideology that“I don’t care about love, respect, and
all that boring monogamy stuff. I just want a good regular fuck, and I
don’t really care who it's with.”

Here Amy limits respect only to monogamous relationships. Respect and connection is essential for a one night stand too! When respect is not present, then maybe one should start questioning her own values and then maybe admit that she was indeed used for solely one man's sexual gratification and that as a result, she was degraded as a woman, blah, blah, blah. Next, she should ask one very serious question: was this self-inflicted? Think again next time...

An excerpt from the posting which I believe every woman should read in order to clarify her expectations about casual sex or even as a disclaimer/warning before engaging in such activities refers to the following:

"So to the woman who really, truly, honestly says to herself, "Gee, tonight I
just want a penis in my vagina. That's really all I want, and so I'm going to go
out and find that," I say, go sheila. But the minute any other desire creeps in
there--a yen for respect, say, for human connection, or even, dare I say it, for
"good" sex from a woman's perspective--I would counsel that sheila to hold her
horses. if you want to be cared about and listened to, if you have any desire to
be acknowledged as a complex human being with an intellect and a soul, I would
venture, random randy anonymous sheila, that fucking a stranger might not be the
most effective vehicle to take you to your destination."

Before I conclude and finish this post, I would like to refer to an excellent article I found entitled "Critique of hookups doesn't reflect reality" by Adda Birnir and Basha Rubin published in Yale Daily News (03.06.2007). Here is an excerpt:

"Neither casual sex or committed sex is an
unmitigated ideal; rather, it is how we approach them and what we expect of them
that becomes problematic. "

I will end this post with words I believe are very important (excerpt taken from same article):

"If we talk about “hooking up”
more, as a society, a community, or among friends, we can develop a vocabulary,
an understanding that it is deep and profound and complex and murky for all
parties involved — but can also be enjoyable, safe and even, dare we suggest,
beautiful... we believe that the answer is not to condemn
any of the behavior.... What our generation needs is to
forge a way to discuss these issues openly and honestly with our friends, our
lovers and our society at large. Of course, there is a problem that women often
feel abused or used by their casual sexual relationships. So, let’s create an
environment where women can assert themselves and their sexual and emotional
desires without being pushed into the old categories of chaste, respectable wife
or damaged slut. "

One night stands and feminist critique: why

This blog posting is the result of about three semesters (six months) of English classes between Years 11 and 12 studying representations of gender and dissecting tonnes of material where constructions of gender were construed and at times, over analysed. Think of the provocative advertisements that challenge traditional constructions of gender (ie Voodoo advertisements) and/or reinforce traditional constructions of gender (ie the controversial Windsor Smith shoes advertisements).



Since being educated about such important issues, I have become more analytical and opinionated (at times explosive) about my reactions to 'sexist' or biased advertisements on television or in the print media. I'm at a stage of my life, where I am still developing my values and beliefs with relation to issues, some which involve me supporting feminist ideals as well as challenging or siding with alternative view points on confronting issues that women face everyday. Such issues range from 'breaking the glass ceiling' (ie climbing the corporate hierarchy), women's rights, equal opportunity....the list is endless.

However, tonight I'm particularly concerned about "one-night stands" having visited a couple of other blogs whose authors have quite openly expressed and commentated on several stances on this topic, a topic which leaves some of us tight-lipped and others more vocal.

Some of you may find critique in this posting, arguing that I am only seventeen and therefore should not be talking about such a 'taboo' topic, however, I feel that having being educated and exposed to such issues, I have a right to freely express what I think without giving a fcuk about what people may think or say.

So here it goes...(post coming soon!)

All I want is you - by u2 (Live in Milan Concert DVD 2005)

Just woke up so I need something uplifting. First thing I did, checked out youtube for 'All I want is you' by U2 (Live in Milan from their 2005 world tour).

It's actually a love song and I believe was written by Bono for his wife, Ali. The violin and guitar by the Edge in this song mystify me! I'm in absolute awe everytime I hear the lyrics to this song. Well my interpretation of the lyrics is that this man wants a woman but she's preoccupied with material things (i.e. diamonds on a ring of gold).

PARKLIFE 2007 BRISBANE

Guess what I found out about five minutes ago. Parklife Brisbane 2007 is going to be on the day before my 18th Birthday. It's an over 18s event, which means I can't legally enter - but there's always another way to get in. The line-up of DJs has got me so excited - it will be truly upsetting if I can't go. BUT I WILL GO! Someway...

I am dieing to party with:

Justice, Riot in Belgium, Kid (fuckn) Kenobi, MC Shureshock, Shapeshifter,
DJ (fcukn) Delicious (yum) and Stereo MC! Digitalism! (zdarlight) Goodwill! Muscles (last night I met a girl...we spent all summer drinking lemonade in hammocks....// Ice Creammm is gunna save the daaaaaaay)

Download ice-cream by Muscles here by right clicking, Save Target As...you know it.
I seriously want to GOOOOOOOOOO.

Visit: http://www.parklife.net.au/ for more information.

Currently, there hasn't been much said about the Brisbane event, but if I keep persisting then the website might get updated witht more information.

I seriously hope I go. It will be the best 18th birthday present EVER!

The BIG questions: Happiness, Individualism, materialism, poverty

Had brunch today. Nothing really healthy or appetising - very boring start to my day: toasted white bread, heaps of margarine and strawberry jam with a hot cup of Milo...it actually made me sick later on during the day. Hint: it involved the 'forceful expulsion of the contents of one's stomach through the mouth' as Wikipedia describes it.

Anyways enough said, I like to read while I'm eating (well, at least when there's nothing else to stare at, apart from the walls).

I picked up the latest issue of The Weekend Australian Magazine. Flicked through a couple of pages. Went past a couple of articles - some which seemed rather 'far-fetched' especially considering I had just woken up. Hmmm. Flip, flip, flip. Next page. Bang. The words. Scribby in writing. But then after deciphering them with strained eyes, I could make out the only words spread out over two pages in capitals:

What do we mean by


Is affecting the way we live our lives?

Is the all there is?

is it a virtue?

Does exist?

The article entitled: "The Big Think" (dated 30 July 2007) discussed the link between the profession and everyday life. The discussion primarily focused on the views of some academics, or in this context, philosophers.

What grabbed my direct attention was probably the question: "Does God exist". At this stage in my life, I have spent a lot of time cross-examining what my core values and belief systems are. By inheritance (at birth), I was immediately labelled a Christian. However, after seventeen years and about three hours of that time sitting my my Human Rights and Religion lecture, I began to seriously question why I was a Christian/Catholic. Why was I a Christian? Do I really believe in the primary texts of Christianity such as the Bible and other divinities such as the Holy Trinity? During this crucial stages of 'self-discovery', from being strictly black and white about what religion I belong to, I shifted into the gray area and have since considered myself to be agnostic, ie believing in a higher power that is not necessarily the Christian's God. After a few months now, I caught myself having to rethink why I did no longer consider myself to be Christian.

This happened about two weeks ago, while I was having coffee with a friend, Kathryn. While chatting, an ambulance, sirens blazing and all was passing down the main road adjacent tto the coffee joint. In the midst of all this, I was aware of the ambulance and immediately did the sign of the cross (a habit I still do everytime I hear an ambulance drive past). This made me realise that Catholicism is truly beautiful with its dated traditions. I especially reflected on the sincerity and honesty of some the traditions that happen at mass and the Sacraments that I received while at Catholic School (ie baptism, confirmation, communion, reconciliation)....

PHUCK! i THINK I'M CHRISTIAN AGAIN!

welcome to my life! Just a bit indecisive LOL!