I wrote this great big blog entry yesterday and I was gonna post it up but then ooee asked me to wait a day so I did. But since then I don’t really feel like that anymore. So I may not post that up at all.
Last night I waited for a call for an hour before I left the house.
’I’ll call you back in ten minutes.’ He says.
Whatever. Actually I do really want to listen to what he has to tell me. But I’m not expecting much. I rarely do these days. Seems to work easier like that.
So when I get home later that night, I’m on the phone. But not to him. Someone else. It’s not a particularly pleasant conversation. But what can I do? When I get off the phone, I’m feeling anxious and agitated and so I get on the net for a bit but no one’s really on and I surf the net all day so I can’t do that. I’m in need of someone to talk to. Not about anything. Just stuff. Just a person to interact with. But instead I go to my TV and watch Star Trek. It’s an OK episode but I come in late so it finishes. Then it’s Letterman and he’s saying to Kate Hudson that she’s even more glowing and radiant than she usually is. And she says:
‘Maybe it’s my new breasts’
So after that, I’m in the bathroom, on the toilet and I’m taking a dump. And it’s a good one. It all comes up. Not runny or slurry or whatever. Just a release. Bombs away. A dumping of colossal proportions. It was a good one. I’m feeling crap. So I release that crap. Now I could sleep relaxed. Relieved. Content. I mean, why pour your heart out when you can just blow it all out of your arse?
This is a dumping to go down in the anals of history.
Now… um… what the hell, I’ll post up the other entry too.
Let’s blog!
It’s time for me to talk about stuff. So… um… yeah.
Australian Idol is craptacular
It’s one of those crappy shows that once I start watching, I can’t drag myself away. Of course, maybe I just think it’s crappy cos I didn’t try out for it this year. So here’s a call to you out there. If there’s anyone who’s interested in auditioning when next season comes around, I’ll come too!!! Serious! Anyway, back to the show. Here are a few reasons why I think it’s crap.
- The editing: they keep re-showing the same stuff over and over again. Are they trying to save on film or something?!
- The crying: Why is there so much crying on this show?! The contestants cry when they don’t make it. They cry when they do. Hell, even the judges cry! What’s with that?! Craig David Wannabe sings in Somali. The judges cry. Then they kick him out in the next couple of rounds.
- Craig David Wannabe: Yeah I know he’s got a real sad story and he’s had a hard life and all. But that doesn’t excuse him from totally letting go of his sense of an authentic original personality! He has the Craig David beanie, the Craig David beard. He sings Craig David songs. He must’ve gotten all his stuff from the Craig David showbag at the Easter Show this year!
- ‘You’re the real deal’- my arse! That’s what the judges keep telling them contestants – that they’re the ‘real deal’. Here’s the thing: Big fat guy and Meatloaf get into the second round. Come on, let’s be honest here. Who actually believes these guys have a chance in hell of winning it all? Well maybe if everybody else dies! But then they’d probably just axe the show midway in that case. Big fat guy comes in, sings, then Judge Dicko tells him he’s got sex appeal. What the hell?! Sure the guy has a nice voice but come on! He’ll never make it as a pop star on this planet! They just have to pick these guys to make the TV show interesting. Just look at them!!
- Where are the pretty boys and pretty girls? Seriously, unless the winner looks like Sophie Monk, don’t even bother planning further than the first single. Yes the first single ALWAYS sells. But then after that, let’s face it…. You don’t see record companies chasing after members of Scandal’us these days.
- Dirty old men: It’s just not good watching two middle-aged men drooling over a 16-year-old girl in a bra and fishnets. OK, you can say a 16-year-old girl is ‘pretty’ or ‘attractive’ but please leave the sex object comments until they’re at least allowed to drink.
I think I’d rather be watching Jamie’s Kitchen. Not that I’ll stop watching this, of course.
Mandy Moore is boring
I was so pleased that Mandy Moore was going to avoid going the same direction as Britney and Christina and start skimping on the clothes and pumping on the make-up. But now she looks like she’s going totally the opposite direction. More like Celine Dion kinda way. Why? Why? Why? We already have boring Delta Goodrem. Mandy’s first two albums were good clean fun disposable pop. I liked them. Now, her next album will be ‘Coverage’ - a set of covers of pop songs spanning the last 30 years or so. Well I don’t have a problem, per se, about covering other people’s songs. It’s just that if you’re gonna do it, do it properly. Make it interesting. Or make it your own. Guns and Roses made ‘Knocking on heaven’s door’ their own. Even the over-covered ‘Big yellow taxi’ became a Counting Crows song. Now I’ve only heard samples from ‘Coverage’ but from what I can tell, she just sugarcoats everything. And with a standard musical accompaniment in the background. Sugarcoated Joni Mitchell, Candy-covered Cat Stevens, Frutti Tutti Elton John. It’s like she’s at karaoke and decides to record herself while she’s singing. Sorry Mandy, I refuse to buy this CD when it comes out. Well maybe if I can burn it off someone… Mark?
Authentic what?
It annoys me when people are so hung up about eating ‘authentic food’. I wouldn’t have a clue what authentic north Indian cuisine is like. But if I like the taste, I’ll eat it! Isn’t that what’s important? The reason why I don’t like take-away Chinese food isn’t because it’s not authentic or that it’s mostly white folks that eat it. It’s because it all tastes the same and I feel like sick afterwards. Fair enough? And what does ‘authentic’ really mean anyway? Let’s take Indonesian food (the only cuisine to which I can, to some degree, discuss authenticity). You can go to Indonesian restaurants that taste pretty much like what I eat at home. Do you call that authentic? Personally, there’s no point in me going to those places. Why would I go out to eat something I can get at home? Alternately, if they taste like restaurant food you get in Indonesia, well… which restaurant? Which street peddler? There’s this place called Ria Sari in Kensington which tastes, I suppose, vaguely but yet recognisably Indonesian. But really, it tastes nothing like I’ve ever tasted at all. Some people say it’s not authentic. But it’s fabulous! The food is fantastic! It’s one of two non-franchise food places that I actually get cravings for (the other is Habibs chicken but that’s another story). Do I care if it’s ‘authentic’ or not? Well, not really. I suppose when I order gado gado and I get a plate of lettuce and carrots with peanut butter on top (like I did at an unnamed ‘Indonesian’ restaurant in Marrickville), yes it pisses me off. But as long as it’s not too far off… I’ll take whatever tastes good, thanks.
Wednesday, August 06, 2003
Thursday, July 24, 2003
What I really wanted to write…
was something about my philosophy in life. About my world view.
One of my friends once told me that if she viewed the world the way I do, then she would probably want to commit suicide. I told her that the fact that she would say something like that means that she doesn’t view the world the way I do.
But it’s difficult writing about a philosophy. Most philosophical texts are dense and cumbersome. I don’t want that. And what are the chances that I could be understandable, consistent and convincing, all in the space of a blog entry? And to be honest, I'm not even sure that I can be bothered.
So I thought about another approach. By using some sort of analogy. A story to illustrate what’s going through my head. But here, there’s a problem of either (a) being too preachy, or the flipside (b) being too vague. And neither one is something I’d really want.
So instead I just watched some late night TV and I thought about this during the commercials when they were bad or when it was that beer one where the guy’s tongue goes off looking for a beer. And then I snacked on Twisties and drank some water and thought about the night before when I was talking to my mum and sister about religion. And then after that I went to bed. There was some new show on Channel 9 about justices and the supreme court and so forth but I didn’t wanna watch that.
So now I’m writing this while I’m at work. During my lunch break. And I realise that what I really wanted was to write about my philosophy in life. And instead I wrote about writing about (or not writing about) my philosophy in life. But I suppose that’s OK too.
was something about my philosophy in life. About my world view.
One of my friends once told me that if she viewed the world the way I do, then she would probably want to commit suicide. I told her that the fact that she would say something like that means that she doesn’t view the world the way I do.
But it’s difficult writing about a philosophy. Most philosophical texts are dense and cumbersome. I don’t want that. And what are the chances that I could be understandable, consistent and convincing, all in the space of a blog entry? And to be honest, I'm not even sure that I can be bothered.
So I thought about another approach. By using some sort of analogy. A story to illustrate what’s going through my head. But here, there’s a problem of either (a) being too preachy, or the flipside (b) being too vague. And neither one is something I’d really want.
So instead I just watched some late night TV and I thought about this during the commercials when they were bad or when it was that beer one where the guy’s tongue goes off looking for a beer. And then I snacked on Twisties and drank some water and thought about the night before when I was talking to my mum and sister about religion. And then after that I went to bed. There was some new show on Channel 9 about justices and the supreme court and so forth but I didn’t wanna watch that.
So now I’m writing this while I’m at work. During my lunch break. And I realise that what I really wanted was to write about my philosophy in life. And instead I wrote about writing about (or not writing about) my philosophy in life. But I suppose that’s OK too.
Tuesday, July 15, 2003
Thursday, July 10, 2003
xtn, etc. the soundtrack
UPDATED
It seems I gots blogging fever again. I actually feel like posting all sorts of crap now. Yay for me!
xtn, etc. now has an official soundtrack to accompany this blog. It’s basically a collection of all my favourite downloads from this year that may or may not have had something to do with inspiring me to write the stuff I've been writing about. Listen to it while you read this blog. Or other people’s blogs. Or your own blog. Or just while you work. I know I do!
So order your copy now and you too can have the complete xtn, etc. experience!
Or conversely, you can just look up each individual song on the net yourself. They’re all there. After all, where do you think I pilfered (they were all legal actually!) them from?!
Here’s the songlist.
Abra Moore – Someone else’s mess
Jack Johnson – Posters (live)
Tegan and Sara – Come on kids
Jason Mraz – Curbside prophet (live)
Ben Kweller – I don’t why
Maroon 5 – Harder to breathe
Remy Zero – Out/in
Norah Jones – Bessie Smith (live)
Stephen Speaks – Out of my league
Josh Joplin Group – Camera one (acoustic)
Oskar Saville – Don't cry for me
Abra Moore – Trip on love
Badloves – Caroline (live)
Pete Murray – Bail me out
Jason Mraz – On love in sadness (live)
Rilo Kiley – Paint’s peeling
Norah Jones – Feeling the same way (live)
Jack Johnson – Inaudible melodies (live)
Stephen Speaks – Passenger seat
Vienna Teng – Lullabye for a stormy night
Tegan and Sara – Your love (live)
Now I'm off to design a cover!
UPDATED
It seems I gots blogging fever again. I actually feel like posting all sorts of crap now. Yay for me!
xtn, etc. now has an official soundtrack to accompany this blog. It’s basically a collection of all my favourite downloads from this year that may or may not have had something to do with inspiring me to write the stuff I've been writing about. Listen to it while you read this blog. Or other people’s blogs. Or your own blog. Or just while you work. I know I do!
So order your copy now and you too can have the complete xtn, etc. experience!
Or conversely, you can just look up each individual song on the net yourself. They’re all there. After all, where do you think I pilfered (they were all legal actually!) them from?!
Here’s the songlist.
Abra Moore – Someone else’s mess
Jack Johnson – Posters (live)
Tegan and Sara – Come on kids
Jason Mraz – Curbside prophet (live)
Ben Kweller – I don’t why
Maroon 5 – Harder to breathe
Remy Zero – Out/in
Norah Jones – Bessie Smith (live)
Stephen Speaks – Out of my league
Josh Joplin Group – Camera one (acoustic)
Oskar Saville – Don't cry for me
Abra Moore – Trip on love
Badloves – Caroline (live)
Pete Murray – Bail me out
Jason Mraz – On love in sadness (live)
Rilo Kiley – Paint’s peeling
Norah Jones – Feeling the same way (live)
Jack Johnson – Inaudible melodies (live)
Stephen Speaks – Passenger seat
Vienna Teng – Lullabye for a stormy night
Tegan and Sara – Your love (live)
Now I'm off to design a cover!
Wednesday, July 09, 2003
2 minute hate
Even though I mostly live my life through very cynical eyes, there are times when something or someone comes along and I think that this time it’ll be different. Somehow it’ll end up well with this one. That’s what I thought about you but I was wrong. Or maybe it’s just that given enough time, everything converges to a finite point. Certain death if you like. But either way, it’s your fault. And now I’m resentful. Mostly because it’s not like things just fizzled over time with us. You left. I’ve been discarded and I know that somehow you’ll make it like it was just a time thing. That we grew apart. Or worse — that it was my fault. But it’s not. It was all your doing. And I am a resentful, petty little man and so I feel like saying these things.
But yeah. That’s all I have to say.
__________
I saw Jason Mraz on Sunday. Other people have written about the concert so I won’t. He was good. I liked it.
__________
This whole thing about me looking like Chow Yun Fat is kinda getting out of hand. Really. I mean, it’s a flattering comparison and all. And I am quite a fan of his work. But last week, these people just came up and asked to take a picture with me. It used to be mostly Honkies (or I suppose other ethnic Chinese races) who would see a resemblance and yet be too shy to mention anything until a more appropriate time. And then people would have a nice little laugh at it and we’d all move right along. Now it’s strangers. Even non-Asians. I don’t really know that I’m complaining here. But it’s just beginning to feel a little creepy.
Even though I mostly live my life through very cynical eyes, there are times when something or someone comes along and I think that this time it’ll be different. Somehow it’ll end up well with this one. That’s what I thought about you but I was wrong. Or maybe it’s just that given enough time, everything converges to a finite point. Certain death if you like. But either way, it’s your fault. And now I’m resentful. Mostly because it’s not like things just fizzled over time with us. You left. I’ve been discarded and I know that somehow you’ll make it like it was just a time thing. That we grew apart. Or worse — that it was my fault. But it’s not. It was all your doing. And I am a resentful, petty little man and so I feel like saying these things.
But yeah. That’s all I have to say.
__________
I saw Jason Mraz on Sunday. Other people have written about the concert so I won’t. He was good. I liked it.
__________
This whole thing about me looking like Chow Yun Fat is kinda getting out of hand. Really. I mean, it’s a flattering comparison and all. And I am quite a fan of his work. But last week, these people just came up and asked to take a picture with me. It used to be mostly Honkies (or I suppose other ethnic Chinese races) who would see a resemblance and yet be too shy to mention anything until a more appropriate time. And then people would have a nice little laugh at it and we’d all move right along. Now it’s strangers. Even non-Asians. I don’t really know that I’m complaining here. But it’s just beginning to feel a little creepy.
Friday, July 04, 2003
Three posts in under a week. Wow! This one was inspired by my lunch this afternoon. You know the tune. Just sing along.
Killing me slowly (with chicken)
I heard he cooked a good chook, I heard it has a style
And so I came to see him and ate there for a while
And there it was this chicken, 11 herbs and spices
I’m licking my lips and my fingers
Grease dripping down from this bird
He’s killing me slowly with chicken
Killing me slowly with chicken
Clogging my whole heart with this bird
Killing me slowly with chicken
Feeling all flushed with fever, a Pepsi cooled me down
I had the Hot and Spicy, it tasted good I found
With potatoes drowned in gravy, a Picnic bar as well
I’m licking my lips and my fingers
Grease dripping down from this bird
He’s killing me slowly with chicken
Killing me slowly with chicken
Clogging my whole heart with this bird
Killing me slowly with chicken
This chicken made me smile in all my dark despair
But when I ate the last one, there was nothing left there
Except a greasy sore throat, and another year off my life
I’m licking my lips and my fingers
Grease dripping down from this bird
He’s killing me slowly with chicken
Killing me slowly with chicken
Clogging my whole heart with this bird
Killing me slowly with chicken
Yeah it tasted good
But it was killing my life
Killing me slowly with chicken
Clogging my whole heart with this bird
Killing me slowly with chicken
Killing me slowly (with chicken)
I heard he cooked a good chook, I heard it has a style
And so I came to see him and ate there for a while
And there it was this chicken, 11 herbs and spices
I’m licking my lips and my fingers
Grease dripping down from this bird
He’s killing me slowly with chicken
Killing me slowly with chicken
Clogging my whole heart with this bird
Killing me slowly with chicken
Feeling all flushed with fever, a Pepsi cooled me down
I had the Hot and Spicy, it tasted good I found
With potatoes drowned in gravy, a Picnic bar as well
I’m licking my lips and my fingers
Grease dripping down from this bird
He’s killing me slowly with chicken
Killing me slowly with chicken
Clogging my whole heart with this bird
Killing me slowly with chicken
This chicken made me smile in all my dark despair
But when I ate the last one, there was nothing left there
Except a greasy sore throat, and another year off my life
I’m licking my lips and my fingers
Grease dripping down from this bird
He’s killing me slowly with chicken
Killing me slowly with chicken
Clogging my whole heart with this bird
Killing me slowly with chicken
Yeah it tasted good
But it was killing my life
Killing me slowly with chicken
Clogging my whole heart with this bird
Killing me slowly with chicken
Thursday, July 03, 2003
Hi. I just wanna quickly recommend some things. And then I’ll go. I’m just afraid they might slip by unnoticed if nobody says anything about them. A film and two CDs.
Secretary
A film, starring Maggie Gyllenhaal and James Spader. Directed by Steven Shainberg
I guess this isn’t a film for everyone. And I couldn’t imagine how anyone could make a film about S&M be both ‘nice’ and even ‘cute’. But this movie, in my mind, achieved that. It’s about a lawyer and his secretary and the interesting relationship that develops between the two of them. There’s nothing hardcore about this. There aren’t even any whips and chains. Just good old-fashioned spanking and crawling around on all fours. It’s essentially a romantic comedy. Just with a bit of kink to it. It doesn’t try to preach, promote or educate. It’s not serious enough to be pretentious, yet it never lowers itself to the level of parody. It strikes a nice balance. Probably my favourite movie of the year so far. Go see it if you feel like something off-beat.
__________
Songs about Jane
Album by Maroon 5
I discovered this band on Amazon.com. It was one of their recommendations based on other CDs that I enquired about. They’re a pop band that might appeal to the same kind of fanbase as John Mayer and Jason Mraz, although they sound more like Jamiroquai or The Brand New Heavies — just with a harder rock edge to them. I know the CD’s available in Australia somewhere. I just haven’t been able to locate a copy as yet.
Favourite tracks: Harder to breathe, This love, Sunday morning.
If it was you
Album by Tegan and Sara
This is actually the second album by these two Canadian sisters although I’d never heard of them until now. And they’ve come at the right time with the current explosion of the whole ‘chicks with guitars’ thing. They’re a little hard to explain. Kinda somewhere between punk, folk rock, and Josie and the Pussycats. Make no mistake. They’re a pop outfit. But they’re raw and energetic and actually sound like they’re having fun. I imagine this is how Avril Lavigne wishes she could sound like.
Favourite tracks: Time running, City girl, I hear noises.
Secretary
A film, starring Maggie Gyllenhaal and James Spader. Directed by Steven Shainberg
I guess this isn’t a film for everyone. And I couldn’t imagine how anyone could make a film about S&M be both ‘nice’ and even ‘cute’. But this movie, in my mind, achieved that. It’s about a lawyer and his secretary and the interesting relationship that develops between the two of them. There’s nothing hardcore about this. There aren’t even any whips and chains. Just good old-fashioned spanking and crawling around on all fours. It’s essentially a romantic comedy. Just with a bit of kink to it. It doesn’t try to preach, promote or educate. It’s not serious enough to be pretentious, yet it never lowers itself to the level of parody. It strikes a nice balance. Probably my favourite movie of the year so far. Go see it if you feel like something off-beat.
__________
Songs about Jane
Album by Maroon 5
I discovered this band on Amazon.com. It was one of their recommendations based on other CDs that I enquired about. They’re a pop band that might appeal to the same kind of fanbase as John Mayer and Jason Mraz, although they sound more like Jamiroquai or The Brand New Heavies — just with a harder rock edge to them. I know the CD’s available in Australia somewhere. I just haven’t been able to locate a copy as yet.
Favourite tracks: Harder to breathe, This love, Sunday morning.
If it was you
Album by Tegan and Sara
This is actually the second album by these two Canadian sisters although I’d never heard of them until now. And they’ve come at the right time with the current explosion of the whole ‘chicks with guitars’ thing. They’re a little hard to explain. Kinda somewhere between punk, folk rock, and Josie and the Pussycats. Make no mistake. They’re a pop outfit. But they’re raw and energetic and actually sound like they’re having fun. I imagine this is how Avril Lavigne wishes she could sound like.
Favourite tracks: Time running, City girl, I hear noises.
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