Introducing... Italian Spiderman.
Brilliant
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Monday, March 9, 2009
A Blog Post! Amazing!
The concept that religion is the basis for terrorism is for the most part a charade.
Terrorism stems not from a fervor and devotion to a god, but from the true root of evil called poverty. The leaders of terrorist groups mainly carry out and plan attacks based on their own personal power struggles and recruit the destitute, poor and helpless. This is to create a foundation and following that tries to give a sense of credibility and reason to their completely illogical fight.
Terrorist groups that don't have this base or support will never have a leg to stand on and never achieve their goals. And like the catholic church in centuries past and other groups around the world do everyday, religion is the easiest and best way for these assholes to brainwash, indoctrinate and fuel sensationalist hatred based in bigotry and ignorance.
And on a side note... Can we just reach a general consensus in the community and in particular the media and just call these people arseholes? I mean I understand journalist impartiality, integrity, objectivity, yadda yadda... but come on. They are arseholes. Fact.
So with this in mind when these arseholes attacked the Sri Lankan cricket team last week I must admit I was shocked in a different way then what I normally am when I hear news of a terrorist attack. Every terrorist attack is deplorable if it be one victim or a thousand, but the symbolism of the attack on the cricket team is different to any seen in recent years.
In Pakistan, India and the entire subcontinent, Cricket has the sort of following and devotion that a terrorist organisation would dream of. The seriousness of the game to a population of billions means that even the slightest imbalance brought to a test match can cause unprecedented rioting and uproar in the street. It's hard to comprehend this in most countries. I mean we Australian's love our sport but there is just no comparing.
And while in many parts the west is loathed and hated, players have visited from countries like England and Australia, countries which have supported ventures like the War on Terrorism. And they have been safe from any sort of attack regardless of how the media report it. I'm not saying they are totally immune from terrorism but it's not a target that terrorists are interested in.
The reason for this is simple. The players are treated as gods. While the rivalries between teams have reached fever pitch in the past, Crickets such as Shane Warne, Steve Waugh and Ricky Ponting are held in such high esteem. Followed around where ever they go and adored by lovers of the game, whenever they play in a country like Pakistan the whole nation stops and watches. For a lot of the poorest and poverty stricken citizens the distraction of a test match can lift spirits and morale. So for a terrorist organisation to inexplicably attack a touring test nation and therefore render any matches played in Pakistan in the foreseeable future cancelled, is baffling. It means nothing that the nation was Sri Lanka and not Australia, they have made their nation the black sheep of the international cricketing community and isolated themselves from the sporting world.
The attacks are shocking for obvious reasons but the scariest of them all is that coupled with the even more devastating attacks in Mumbai last year, it shows a shift in terrorist tactics in the most time-ticking volatile area in the world. Things are changing and it appears what was safe in the past is no longer. Then again in the world of terrorism, nothing ever is.
I really need to be writing funnier posts. I'll try again soon. And I guess it's good that I'm writing again since I haven't had a post since December.
Terrorism stems not from a fervor and devotion to a god, but from the true root of evil called poverty. The leaders of terrorist groups mainly carry out and plan attacks based on their own personal power struggles and recruit the destitute, poor and helpless. This is to create a foundation and following that tries to give a sense of credibility and reason to their completely illogical fight.
Terrorist groups that don't have this base or support will never have a leg to stand on and never achieve their goals. And like the catholic church in centuries past and other groups around the world do everyday, religion is the easiest and best way for these assholes to brainwash, indoctrinate and fuel sensationalist hatred based in bigotry and ignorance.
And on a side note... Can we just reach a general consensus in the community and in particular the media and just call these people arseholes? I mean I understand journalist impartiality, integrity, objectivity, yadda yadda... but come on. They are arseholes. Fact.
So with this in mind when these arseholes attacked the Sri Lankan cricket team last week I must admit I was shocked in a different way then what I normally am when I hear news of a terrorist attack. Every terrorist attack is deplorable if it be one victim or a thousand, but the symbolism of the attack on the cricket team is different to any seen in recent years.
In Pakistan, India and the entire subcontinent, Cricket has the sort of following and devotion that a terrorist organisation would dream of. The seriousness of the game to a population of billions means that even the slightest imbalance brought to a test match can cause unprecedented rioting and uproar in the street. It's hard to comprehend this in most countries. I mean we Australian's love our sport but there is just no comparing.
And while in many parts the west is loathed and hated, players have visited from countries like England and Australia, countries which have supported ventures like the War on Terrorism. And they have been safe from any sort of attack regardless of how the media report it. I'm not saying they are totally immune from terrorism but it's not a target that terrorists are interested in.
The reason for this is simple. The players are treated as gods. While the rivalries between teams have reached fever pitch in the past, Crickets such as Shane Warne, Steve Waugh and Ricky Ponting are held in such high esteem. Followed around where ever they go and adored by lovers of the game, whenever they play in a country like Pakistan the whole nation stops and watches. For a lot of the poorest and poverty stricken citizens the distraction of a test match can lift spirits and morale. So for a terrorist organisation to inexplicably attack a touring test nation and therefore render any matches played in Pakistan in the foreseeable future cancelled, is baffling. It means nothing that the nation was Sri Lanka and not Australia, they have made their nation the black sheep of the international cricketing community and isolated themselves from the sporting world.
The attacks are shocking for obvious reasons but the scariest of them all is that coupled with the even more devastating attacks in Mumbai last year, it shows a shift in terrorist tactics in the most time-ticking volatile area in the world. Things are changing and it appears what was safe in the past is no longer. Then again in the world of terrorism, nothing ever is.
I really need to be writing funnier posts. I'll try again soon. And I guess it's good that I'm writing again since I haven't had a post since December.
Saturday, December 6, 2008
Reader beware, your in for a scare.
I saw two girls play gigs at a bar in Northcote last night. Each played a set of folksy acoustic guitar sung with a mix of whimsical and heartfelt lyrics. So of course, I fell in love with them.
But it’s a trap. A trap as old as time, like Bugs Bunny fooling Elmer Fudd.
I don’t care who you are, if you see a beautiful young woman in an oh-so-sweet dress on a stage with an acoustic guitar, and she is looking at you while singing songs about unrequited love and about times past, you are going to melt.
Now the female acoustic folksy genre is dangerous territory. It has to be something exceptional, otherwise it falls in an ocean of mediocrity that’s awash with bland artists who put on a charade of being arty just because they shop at op shops and wear things with flowers on them.
Thankfully these girls did not fall into that category. They were original, meaningful, relevant and captivating.
Not like those girls in their single strap Mary Jane shoes and floral dresses, who walk the laneways of Melbourne with their SLR cameras and photograph absolutely nothing. The girls who then go home and paint a picture of a daffodil whilst drawing inspiration from the incense stick they bought from a little boutique as it burns away on their desk. Then they lie on their bed looking at a poster of another unoriginal folksy so and so, but a famous so and so, while updating their Facebook status to sunshine and flippin’ lollipops.
But I still love them. And still fall for them…
It never works though, just like communism or doing a shot at 3 in the morning after already drinking too much. Good in theory but in reality ends very badly. They come into your life with such promise, a breath of fresh air that makes your spirit soar. She’s someone who is so full of life and creativity and sincerity. They have that irresistible mix of modesty and self-confidence, a real take home to your mum kind of girl. Playing you songs in the park over a picnic on a sunny Sunday afternoon. They are romantic, feminine and heartfelt, a real catch.
It’s all a trap, for beware, it’s a mirage for the true reality of their existence. While it is true that some girls like this are the real deal and do exist, it’s very rare and near impossible to find. The truth is that these girls are dull, really dull. They have no substance and like the music they spew forth from their deceivingly pretty faces, will drive you nuts. There will be a point in the relationship, whether its lying in bed or while looking at them over a cup of coffee, where you will snap and realise, “What the hell is this?”
“Sam” you may say, “is this all pent up anger and frustration from things gone wrong in the past? Or is this just jealousy?!!”
To which I may say, “Possibly… Quite possibly.”
But it’s a trap. A trap as old as time, like Bugs Bunny fooling Elmer Fudd.
I don’t care who you are, if you see a beautiful young woman in an oh-so-sweet dress on a stage with an acoustic guitar, and she is looking at you while singing songs about unrequited love and about times past, you are going to melt.
Now the female acoustic folksy genre is dangerous territory. It has to be something exceptional, otherwise it falls in an ocean of mediocrity that’s awash with bland artists who put on a charade of being arty just because they shop at op shops and wear things with flowers on them.
Thankfully these girls did not fall into that category. They were original, meaningful, relevant and captivating.
Not like those girls in their single strap Mary Jane shoes and floral dresses, who walk the laneways of Melbourne with their SLR cameras and photograph absolutely nothing. The girls who then go home and paint a picture of a daffodil whilst drawing inspiration from the incense stick they bought from a little boutique as it burns away on their desk. Then they lie on their bed looking at a poster of another unoriginal folksy so and so, but a famous so and so, while updating their Facebook status to sunshine and flippin’ lollipops.
But I still love them. And still fall for them…
It never works though, just like communism or doing a shot at 3 in the morning after already drinking too much. Good in theory but in reality ends very badly. They come into your life with such promise, a breath of fresh air that makes your spirit soar. She’s someone who is so full of life and creativity and sincerity. They have that irresistible mix of modesty and self-confidence, a real take home to your mum kind of girl. Playing you songs in the park over a picnic on a sunny Sunday afternoon. They are romantic, feminine and heartfelt, a real catch.
It’s all a trap, for beware, it’s a mirage for the true reality of their existence. While it is true that some girls like this are the real deal and do exist, it’s very rare and near impossible to find. The truth is that these girls are dull, really dull. They have no substance and like the music they spew forth from their deceivingly pretty faces, will drive you nuts. There will be a point in the relationship, whether its lying in bed or while looking at them over a cup of coffee, where you will snap and realise, “What the hell is this?”
“Sam” you may say, “is this all pent up anger and frustration from things gone wrong in the past? Or is this just jealousy?!!”
To which I may say, “Possibly… Quite possibly.”
Thursday, December 4, 2008
This is a bit rich...
I was so happy when Obama won the presidential election in November.
I, like millions of people around the world, had lent support for change that we could believe in. I signed up to his email newsletters throughout the campaign which highlighted what was being done and how people could help in getting him elected.
One major way of doing that was by asking people to donate money in allowing Obama to buy essential media time and blitz advertising markets in key swing states. However only American citizens were able to donate money which meant I had to sit by and pray that the right thing was being done.
And It was... Obama raised over half a BILLION dollars, something thought unconvievable. In the middle of an economic crisis, in a country where political participation is not complusary and where empathy in politics is scarce, over half a billion dollars was raised.
Then he won. The outcry of joy and emotion and belief in change swept the globe in a way that had never been seen.
So as I open my mailbox today I was shocked to find an email from the Obama Team that was entitled "Your Obama Holiday Mug".
_______________________________
Sam
This holiday season, celebrate the historic accomplishment of our movement for change. Treat yourself or a loved one to a limited edition Obama coffee mug.
Make a donation of $15 or more right now and get an official Obama mug to mark an amazing year:
I, like millions of people around the world, had lent support for change that we could believe in. I signed up to his email newsletters throughout the campaign which highlighted what was being done and how people could help in getting him elected.
One major way of doing that was by asking people to donate money in allowing Obama to buy essential media time and blitz advertising markets in key swing states. However only American citizens were able to donate money which meant I had to sit by and pray that the right thing was being done.
And It was... Obama raised over half a BILLION dollars, something thought unconvievable. In the middle of an economic crisis, in a country where political participation is not complusary and where empathy in politics is scarce, over half a billion dollars was raised.
Then he won. The outcry of joy and emotion and belief in change swept the globe in a way that had never been seen.
So as I open my mailbox today I was shocked to find an email from the Obama Team that was entitled "Your Obama Holiday Mug".
_______________________________
Sam
This holiday season, celebrate the historic accomplishment of our movement for change. Treat yourself or a loved one to a limited edition Obama coffee mug.
Make a donation of $15 or more right now and get an official Obama mug to mark an amazing year:
When you make your donation, you'll be supporting the Democratic National Committee. The resources they invested in the 50-state organizing strategy made this movement possible -- help us build for future victories together.
Share this amazing moment with your friends and family. Thanks to supporters like you, we all have the opportunity to bring real change to America.
____________________
Unbelievable! A donation for what?! Half a BILLION dollars was not enough?! And the election is over and the job was done! What is the money going to be used for?! The next election?! His first term hasn't even BEGUN YET!
"Thanks to supporters like you, we all have the opportunity to bring real change to America" WE DID BRING CHANGE!! CHANGE WAS BROUGHT! And now he is in power he has the entire resources of the Presidency to execute his policies! What does he need more donations for?!
If you pay for this you are not buying a mug, you are the mug.
STOP PRESS
You can STILL CONTRIBUTE MONEY to the Rudy Gulliani for President campaign... Quite possibly the worst ever run campaign in American history.. A front runner for President who did is utmost best to fuck up becoming leader for the free world by doing things like hosting dinners where he charged 9 dollars and 11 cents for entry. He is STILL asking for money for his campaign.
Hilary Clinton though is at least a little bit more honest on her website... While she is still asking for contributions, its not however to run for president.. instead she is saying:
She is flat out broke and needing you to dig her out of debt. I admire that kind of honesty... except for the fact she still is a multi-millionare who is no way in debt.
John McCain still has ad's on his website that say "Why Vote for McCain?" and "Why you should vote for John McCain"... his site hasn't been updated much. But hey this was from a guy who said he didn't even use a computer. Missed a bullet there Planet Earth...
Gotta love American politics.
____________________
Unbelievable! A donation for what?! Half a BILLION dollars was not enough?! And the election is over and the job was done! What is the money going to be used for?! The next election?! His first term hasn't even BEGUN YET!
"Thanks to supporters like you, we all have the opportunity to bring real change to America" WE DID BRING CHANGE!! CHANGE WAS BROUGHT! And now he is in power he has the entire resources of the Presidency to execute his policies! What does he need more donations for?!
If you pay for this you are not buying a mug, you are the mug.
STOP PRESS
You can STILL CONTRIBUTE MONEY to the Rudy Gulliani for President campaign... Quite possibly the worst ever run campaign in American history.. A front runner for President who did is utmost best to fuck up becoming leader for the free world by doing things like hosting dinners where he charged 9 dollars and 11 cents for entry. He is STILL asking for money for his campaign.
Hilary Clinton though is at least a little bit more honest on her website... While she is still asking for contributions, its not however to run for president.. instead she is saying:
Working together, we can pay off Hillary's campaign debt now! Your contribution now will make a big difference in cleaning up that last campaign debt.
She is flat out broke and needing you to dig her out of debt. I admire that kind of honesty... except for the fact she still is a multi-millionare who is no way in debt.
John McCain still has ad's on his website that say "Why Vote for McCain?" and "Why you should vote for John McCain"... his site hasn't been updated much. But hey this was from a guy who said he didn't even use a computer. Missed a bullet there Planet Earth...
Gotta love American politics.
Visual Aide
I just wanted to see what a pork chop and paddle pop side by side looked like...
more to come...
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Just a short thought...
Some people just do not understand sport. Many dismiss it by saying that it either diverts too much money from useful things like the arts or that it fuels a culture based on drinking and womanising. However creating a world of celebrities just because they can kick or throw a ball is not what sport is about. It never has been and it never ever will be.
It's because sport is glorious. There is nothing even remotely close to what sport can do. Sport contributes as much to society as the high arts or any other human endeavor. It is the great unifier. Even if you don't like sport, at least once in every person's life there will be a moment where sport has had a major impact. From taking part in a team at the age of 10 or cheering on as a nation when a team scores a point in extra time.
For me the greatest of all sports is football or "soccer" if the heathens among you prefer. That is because it empowers the smallest person in the world. You don't have to be talented, you don't have to have a lot of money and in football it doesn't matter what your race, colour or creed is. It is truly the world game in terms of participants and followers. All you need is a ball. It also gives people a sense of identity in a community. You can be in any city in the world, walk into any pub and if there is a game of football on a TV and you see someone in your club or country's colours, you have a friend. You can be in situations where you are hugging and cheering with complete strangers just because you share the same love of a team.
Countries have become more independant and stronger because of their football teams. Brazil formed an identity because of football and its an export that still exists today. In 1967 the Brazilian player Pele, the greatest footballer of all time, played a exibition game in Nigeria. The country was heavily involved in a civil war and both rival sides called a 48 hour ceasefire for the time that Pele was in the country. In 1911, a team of Indian civilians living in British controled India won the national football cup, a cup only previously won by teams consisting of British Imperialists. This was a great triumph for Indians and proud moment in a history of a very suppressed people.
These examples go on and on and on.
Currently in Melbourne we are hosting a competition called the Homeless World Cup. It has further emboldened my belief in the power of sport and football. Countries from all around the world have come together to give an opportunity to those who need it the most. Homeless people from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe and all first and third world countries inbetween have been kitted up, given a chance to get their lives back on track and been allowed to make goals for themselves.
Hundreds of people have come to Federation Square and two other grounds on the Yarra River to cheer on these people. Spectators have given non-partisan support to the teams and been overcome by the sheer happiness exuberantly shown by the players. Your faith in humanity and just marvelling at what can be achieved by those deemed not to be achievers is one of the best things I have seen in a long time. Its something that football can allow that to happen. What other things in the world can unify and facilitate such an activity to take place?
If you happen to be in Melbourne get down and check it out. You will not regret it.
www.homelessworldcup.org and get out and find the documentary "Kicking It" which is about the competition itself.
It's because sport is glorious. There is nothing even remotely close to what sport can do. Sport contributes as much to society as the high arts or any other human endeavor. It is the great unifier. Even if you don't like sport, at least once in every person's life there will be a moment where sport has had a major impact. From taking part in a team at the age of 10 or cheering on as a nation when a team scores a point in extra time.
For me the greatest of all sports is football or "soccer" if the heathens among you prefer. That is because it empowers the smallest person in the world. You don't have to be talented, you don't have to have a lot of money and in football it doesn't matter what your race, colour or creed is. It is truly the world game in terms of participants and followers. All you need is a ball. It also gives people a sense of identity in a community. You can be in any city in the world, walk into any pub and if there is a game of football on a TV and you see someone in your club or country's colours, you have a friend. You can be in situations where you are hugging and cheering with complete strangers just because you share the same love of a team.
Countries have become more independant and stronger because of their football teams. Brazil formed an identity because of football and its an export that still exists today. In 1967 the Brazilian player Pele, the greatest footballer of all time, played a exibition game in Nigeria. The country was heavily involved in a civil war and both rival sides called a 48 hour ceasefire for the time that Pele was in the country. In 1911, a team of Indian civilians living in British controled India won the national football cup, a cup only previously won by teams consisting of British Imperialists. This was a great triumph for Indians and proud moment in a history of a very suppressed people.
These examples go on and on and on.
Currently in Melbourne we are hosting a competition called the Homeless World Cup. It has further emboldened my belief in the power of sport and football. Countries from all around the world have come together to give an opportunity to those who need it the most. Homeless people from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe and all first and third world countries inbetween have been kitted up, given a chance to get their lives back on track and been allowed to make goals for themselves.
Hundreds of people have come to Federation Square and two other grounds on the Yarra River to cheer on these people. Spectators have given non-partisan support to the teams and been overcome by the sheer happiness exuberantly shown by the players. Your faith in humanity and just marvelling at what can be achieved by those deemed not to be achievers is one of the best things I have seen in a long time. Its something that football can allow that to happen. What other things in the world can unify and facilitate such an activity to take place?
If you happen to be in Melbourne get down and check it out. You will not regret it.
www.homelessworldcup.org and get out and find the documentary "Kicking It" which is about the competition itself.
Pork Chops and Paddle Pops. Explain?
Some words are in order.
This doesn't really work as a welcome blog entry because the more I write the further down the page and into the depths of PC&PP this goes (first entry and I'm already abbreviating the title).
I intend to keep this blog. Blogging is like going to the gym... you have grand ambitions in your head and you say to yourself "YES! I'm going to keep this up! I'm going to do it everyday and its going to be fantastic! There is no way this plan is going to fail!" but alas it fails. If it is anything like my current gym schedule I'll do this hardcore for a month then get bored/busy/lazy and forget about it.
Unless of course you DO go to the gym 7 days a week and stare at yourself in the mirror and watch muscle grow. Then in which case my analogy has failed you, but you probably haven't even noticed because you are working out instead of reading this.
Pork Chops and Paddle Pops is not a really thought through name. It came about when I went and got paddle pops for myself and my housemate. I got back and found him sitting on the couch having a dinner consisting of pork chops. On having received his glorious treat of the gods (A chocolate Paddle Pop: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paddle_Pop for you non-Australian and New Zealand readers) he exclaimed "Pork Chops and Paddle Pops!"
I thought that
1) It sounded cool.
2) Yum
3) Can you imagine a hybrid of those two things together?!!
4) A good analogy and title for my new blog.
So here it is! Pork Chops and Paddle Pops! A blog that is substantial, meaty, crispy, tender and delicious but also creamy, sweet and full of treats... Oh and on a stick!
Enjoy. Tasty!
This doesn't really work as a welcome blog entry because the more I write the further down the page and into the depths of PC&PP this goes (first entry and I'm already abbreviating the title).
I intend to keep this blog. Blogging is like going to the gym... you have grand ambitions in your head and you say to yourself "YES! I'm going to keep this up! I'm going to do it everyday and its going to be fantastic! There is no way this plan is going to fail!" but alas it fails. If it is anything like my current gym schedule I'll do this hardcore for a month then get bored/busy/lazy and forget about it.
Unless of course you DO go to the gym 7 days a week and stare at yourself in the mirror and watch muscle grow. Then in which case my analogy has failed you, but you probably haven't even noticed because you are working out instead of reading this.
Pork Chops and Paddle Pops is not a really thought through name. It came about when I went and got paddle pops for myself and my housemate. I got back and found him sitting on the couch having a dinner consisting of pork chops. On having received his glorious treat of the gods (A chocolate Paddle Pop: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paddle_Pop for you non-Australian and New Zealand readers) he exclaimed "Pork Chops and Paddle Pops!"
I thought that
1) It sounded cool.
2) Yum
3) Can you imagine a hybrid of those two things together?!!
4) A good analogy and title for my new blog.
So here it is! Pork Chops and Paddle Pops! A blog that is substantial, meaty, crispy, tender and delicious but also creamy, sweet and full of treats... Oh and on a stick!
Enjoy. Tasty!
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