Education

Man, thinking about when my other half is going to graduate gives me the willies. Not fear, just.. slight frustration in terms of planning for our future. I wonder why so many people are going for their masters overseas - most of them I know are doing it just so they can apply for a PR in that country. (I wonder just how many of them will stay past their alloted 5 years!!!)

But that's not the point! The point is about education! Are they actually learning anything? Are they paying attention? Do they get assignments done or do they sort to plagiarism for homework help? Do they need help with topics like research methods for the psych kids or algebra for the architects? (Do architects need algebra? I don't know!)

If they ARE learning, and are pursuing "higher studies" for the sake of education - what then? Do they find work in the field? Do they offer tutoring in their major? Certain degrees won't get you jobs very easily, so I wonder how many of these kids are just living off mommy and daddy's money at the end of the day. Most of them haven't worked a day in their life (when it comes to a REAL job - not CASUAL WORK, kids). What use is education if you can't apply it to daily life like paying bills, managing your credit history and HOME OWNING?!

Time to stop playing grown ups, and actually grow up, kids!

Buying stuff online

I've never been much of a fan of spending my money, whether in person or online. But lately, I've been racking up an impressive credit history with my plastic and living it up on having a PayPal account. I'll admit, I haven't really tried my hand at shopping online just yet, but when I do, I know what I'll be looking for.

Things from books (second hand books even), DVDs, cameras and photography stuff, games, shoes, clothing and so much more. I think I would go totally insane in buying, then going even more insane waiting for my stuff to arrive. :\

It's pretty neat though, isn't it? From places like eBay to Amazon - it beats having to put up with useless store people (seriously, they should take into account that if an overqualified person chooses to work in retail - maybe they should hire these people instead of bozos who haven't finished school!) and waiting in line! Mmm... online shopping.

Getting things done

So it's about time to move out of the house, into your own home. What do you do first? Most people are happy to live as is - especially if you're renting and can't do much about things like piping, light fixtures, wall paint or wall sockets.

That's the beauty of being a home owner. I can't wait to actually OWN my very own house. Ideally, I would want a huge house with a giant foyer in which beautiful chandeliers could hang, giving the guests a gentle and warm welcome everytime they stepped in.

I don't think people understand the importance of home lighting. Anything from how many watts you really need to coloured bulbs to whether or not you should get a dimmer! It's all about "mood lighting" for different rooms of the house. Like a bathroom you would probably need brighter lighting, but you only need a soft glow for the bedroom. Different folks, different strokes - but it's lighting all the same!

Mailboxes

So talking about post secret, I wonder if Frank's mailbox is really one of those residential mailboxes or not. If so, isn't he worried about stalkers? Or worse!? I personally would have gotten a Post Office Box or something. Or maybe even one of those commercial mailboxes, just so I could keep my own personal stuff, well... personal!

Speaking of mailboxes, I wonder why some people take sick pleasure in destroying other people's mailboxes. You know how you drive down the road and a friend sticks out a window with a baseball bat then proceeds to smash every mailbox on the street? Where's the fun in that? That's just plain rude... and well, vandalism!

I find myself a little obsessed with mailboxes right now. I like how some are just a slot, some have numbers, some have names. Then you have those that stand by the curb (and get beaten with baseball bats) with the little flag that lets you know you've got mail! Those are so adorable but not practical for the way most houses are built here. Hmmm, I think I should make it a new project to build my own mailbox. *goes to do so*

Secrets

On Facebook, there's this application where you can anonymously share your secrets. For some reason, reading those secrets - I felt disgusted. Not so much at the context of some secrets (one of them was rape + incest), but at the people who posted them. I can't fully explain why I felt this - but I think it's something to do with the difference between merely typing out your secret and putting your heart into it - like the post cards people send into Post Secret.

There's just something about expressing yourself visually that makes it so much more meaningful. For me personally, I think I would feel less alone if I were to create something (channel the bad energy to create something others could relate to by seeing how I visualise my pain) as opposed to words on a screen.

Just thoughts, just thoughts. Here's a trailer for the Post Secret books. Someone go buy me one. ;)

Relationships are fun

Relationships are fun, aren't they? Even when they're nothing but a big mind game, at least you live and learn. There's love, there's romance, there's companionship. It's all fun fun fun!

Sure some people will tell you it's not all that fun. Especially when it comes to surviving a breakup! Girls eat lots of ice cream, listen to emo songs about love and watch chick flicks with their girlfriends. While guys more often than not move on to the next girl. Unless of course, the guys are the broken hearted. ;) Then maybe it's the other way around. Just replace ice-cream with some sort of alcoholic beverage.

At the end of the day, it's all one big learning experience. Your heart will hurt like hell, your ego bruised and your reputation probably ruined. But if you're not a big baby, then you'll come out of it stronger. That way you'll know how to spot a wolf in sheep's clothing in the future! Unless, you're not all that bright. In which case, you should probably stop dating altogether. :(

Adventure Travel

Recently I've been doing research on outdoor adventures and it's given me quite the bug to partake in some Adventure Travel of my own. Everything from mountaineering (once my knees are not so sick!) to ballooning to even some fishing. Once I get my hands (and feet) on some snow, I plan to take up skiing and snowboarding finally! So what say you, are ya with me?

If so, I've got just the place for you to look for resources and information on the best places to go. Just check out this Adventure Travel Blog I came across. It's got a mixture of personal travel experience and recommendations of places to check out. Within the mix is some really great photography too. Not forgetting updates on some of the most popular (and best!) travel destinations around the globe! So be sure to drop in and check it out.

More hotel talk

All this talk about Hotels in London and Melbourne got me thinking, well that and my mother's going to Eastern Europe next month and I made this whole "HISTORY OF EUROPE" thing for her. Okay, not really. It was more of a 'short history of each and every place you will be visiting in Eastern Europe' but let's not be pedantic.

ANYWAY, I don't know which hotels she'll be staying at, but I hope she gets some nice Hotels in Prague while she's there and not some shoddy accommodation instead! She said they often make one-nighter stops so they only take down their carry-on luggage to sleep in some... place. I hope that for all the money she's shelling out for this pilgrimage-tour-thing that the place is well worth it! I wonder what type of hotels she'll get in Germany and uhm, all those other places whose names I can't spell. :D

Man, when I'm rich and famous and travelling all around the world, I will never settle for even 4 star hotels. I want only the best Hotels in Rome and Hotels in New York, dammit! I want the whole star treatment, even if I'm a behind-the-scenes type of celebrity! *nods*

Hmph! *huffs and stomps foot like a spoiled princess*

Making it in Edinburgh

Man, recently on Facebook I noticed I have a LOT of friends in Edinburgh, and I have to wonder why?! I mean, I love Scotland, despite never having been there - I just love the history, and most of all the accent. ;p I also 'love' the fact that so many people can't even pronounce Edinburgh properly. *roll eyes*

Lots of my friends go to Scotland to study, and many of them don't come home after that! I guess jobs in Edinburgh must be easy to find or something if so many people stay on after their studies.

If it ain't Edinburgh jobs, then it must be the hot men in kilts or something. I personally want to live in a Scottish castle, and visit Shirley Manson's childhood home. Would that be considered stalking? Probably.

Urban fashion for men

I've been giving this fashion thing a lot more thought recently - and it occurred to me that I didn't have to limit myself to women's fashion! What about the men out there? I find I can't dress Chinese guys well (probably because most of them can't pull anything off except themselves), and White boys are just way too preppy for my own tastes.

I think the men I dress the best would be young African Americans or Latinos. No seriously, just look at my GTA: San Andreas character C.J.:


How fly is my boy?!


Urban clothing and shoes has always been a thing of mine, and I think it's something I'll look into more. Look here at KicksTime, it's a PERFECT example of the type of clothing line I could start for men out there. I guess white boys could shop there too, but I might have to pull a Tommy Hilfiger on them and say "AW HELL NO!"

Forget Melbourne, what about London?

I've got way too many friends in Melbourne, and I've got an inkling that none of them will actually willingly take me around. So how about I drop by London instead, which seems to be far more popular with the international travellers anyway? I've got family (I think) there, and some close friends that could take me to key places like Tower Bridge, Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, The London Eye and so much more.

One place I really want to check out is the Piccadilly Circus, then I want to walk around in the cold and eat fish & chips. Ahhh! So much beauty to behold in London. I wouldn't even have to bunk with my friends, I could just find affordable luxury accomodation with Hotels in London, maybe near Hyde Park or Mayfair - where I could even drop by the West End to catch musicals I've only seen movies of!

If I felt like moving around, then I'd check out Hotels in Manchester or Hotels in Birmingham. Once I'm nearly broke, I'll move on to cheaper options such as those found in Bayswater, Victoria or Paddington. Mmmm, Paddington.

I used to be such an Anglophile, it would be great to look at all these postcard-esque places in person, and while I'm at it travel around Europe too. I haven't been to the other side of the world .. well .. EVER! It would be such an experience to be where I've only envisioned in my mind during late nights reading Spuffy fan fic. Oh and of course, living a childhood dream, and bugging those guards with the funny hats, trying to make them move or blink or laugh.

Hey, if Nancy Cartwright can make their knees buckle, I'm sure I can get at the very least a SMIRK!!!

Linkin Park - Bleed It Out

LOL. Well, it's better than their previous single - What I've Done or whatever it's called. But why oh why did Chester Bennington raid Brian Molko's closet? While he was at it, he apparently got Brian's hairdresser (an electric shaver) to get him a new look too. And to top it all off, he's even moving like Molko. WTF :\



ETA: It's come to our attention that some Chester Bennington fans aren't too happy about our comparisons of Chester to Brian - well, chill guys! It's just quite out there for all to see, and we're fans of stating the obvious. ;) All in all, the video is quite brilliantly done, and like we said, we much prefer this song to the previous single.

Lovin' your knickers

Today I read a discussion about panties vs thongs. Or you know, knickers vs g-strings. Whatever you want to call them, they'll always be nothing but crack floss to me. How anybody can find them comfortable is beyond me - unless you buy a pair at are a size too large, in which case - what's the point?! Unless you have a rock hard ass, your butt cheeks will NEVER look good in a g-string!

My personal favourite are boy shorts for girls, especially those lacy numbers. They really cling to your skin in the most comfortable way, support your bum and always look dead sexy. It sure beats having to wear Mens Underwear, which is never sexy on a girl unless its a pair of boxers.

Who could forget that time Carrie went around wearing Aidan's underwear on Sex & the City? GROSS! Now who remembers that scene in Smallville when Kristin Kreuk strips down to her red bra and boyshorts set before jumping into the pool right in front of Clark? HOT! Need I say more?! Boyshorts > G-strings!

To ink or not to ink!

There are some who do it, and some who are vehemently against it. I fall somewhere in between. I never believed in permanently scarring yourself unless it meant something to you - culture-wise or personally (as in religion or your daughter's name). So it just about sickens me to see people using their bodies as canvases for rubbish such as copied tattoos, or tattoos out of the books they leave out for you to browse through at tattoo parlors. Jeez!

Sure, nowadays there's always Tattoo Removal, but that costs probably more than the tattoo itself! I'm not beyond knowing why people get tattoos, or why they do it all over their body or even why they're addicted to it - but I don't get why people would get something so insignificant to them permanently inked into their skin.

I think tribal designs have to be the most over inked and overrated pieces of 'art' ever. The very terminology they use should already give you a clue as to who should actually be getting these designs (hint: PROBABLY NOT YOU). The worst part would be the choice of placement - Tramp Stamps anybody? I personally find some sexy, but most girls can't pull it off and just come off as trying way too hard. Or you know, some just aren't even sexy to begin with! Ah well... such is life.

Fixing up the garden

So we've been planning how to fix up the garden, since we just got a massive tub which will act as a fish pond once it's fully installed (which doesn't require much). Now we're just wondering where exactly to put it, what plants to surround it with and whether or not to use some bricks we have to form seating area.

Then of course, there's the fish to consider - and potentially a second pond. All this planning gives me an itchy green thumb that has been dormant for years. I want to fix up the entire garden now! Make it all pretty and flourish! Maybe even add some Garden Ornaments like porcelain ducks or the infamous LAWN GNOME (which I secretly love, but don't tell!!!)

Any suggestions? I'll take pics of the finished garden once it's all pretty. Unless I change my mind, so don't hold me to it!!! For all we know, the plants might all die because I've left my thumb non-green for so long. :( Oh well, one can only try their best! So wish us luck!!!

Superbad!

Piss off, Shia LaBeouf, because Michael Cera is in town! Oh and Jonah Hill too, of course! They're the new boys to look out for, regardless of looks because we all know that funny guys get all the chicks! Don't believe me? Well, have you guys heard of the new movie Superbad yet? If not, let me tell you!

It's about two co-dependent high school seniors (played by Cera and Hill) who are forced to deal with separation anxiety after their plan to stage a booze-soaked party goes awry. Needless to say, much hilarity and hijinks ensue!

Want more? Check out some 'restricted content' in the form of exclusive clips on Superbad Clips right now (you have to be over 18 to watch them, but I won' tell if you won't!). If that's not enough for you, then head over to today (August 1st) to watch the 5 Superbad videos!

If you're suitably impressed and want to engulf yourself in more Superbad goodness then there's more more more! You can find cool stuff such as ringtones and downloadables like wallpapers and buddy icons - all Superbad related of course! Just head over to Superbad right now to get them!

For those who haven't been paying full attention but have heard enough to want to see it, then don't fret because Superbad comes out August 17th 2007.

The 'art' of Photoshop

Speaking of art, and a little bit of Photoshop. It's no secret that when it comes to Photoshop, I'm the person you come to. *shines knuckles on chest* Sure, there are many ways to get results you want, in Photoshop. However, my way = the right way a.k.a. THE PROFESSIONAL WAY.

None of these 'magic wand' or 'eraser' or 'burn and smudge' tools. STUPID STUPID STUPID! I see so many girls trying to photoshop their pics and FAILING. There are a fair few who are actually good at what they do, but I think most of us know who I'm talking about and it certainly ain't someone who uses a million brushes and huge intrusive text on her pics.

When will people learn - it's all about FILTERS and MASKS. Or you know, if you want both, try Cutout or something. Don't freehand everything - Photoshop is Photoshop for a reason! It's not bloody MSPaint, which is the most basic photo editing tool you can get your hands on - even MSPaint is capable of bloody masterpieces (just look at Maddox [not Jolie's ugly adopted retard ffs!]) but so many people underrate it!

Maybe it's not a problem with knowing which tools to use. Perhaps it's just a lost cause when it comes to the mere stupidity and lack of talent when it comes to who's actually USING the program in the first place. Oh well :(

What to tell your parents when they say "art has no future"

You know how when you're a kid, everything is possible? You dream endlessly about being an astronaut, a ballerina, a princess, a doctor, a fireman. All very ambitious dreams. But what about the REAL unsung heroes? What about kids who dream about simple things that aren't as easy as they seem - such as road sweepers, garbage collectors, gravediggers, or even - artists?

I'm sure you or someone you know has had a dream to be an artist, and been shot down by their parents saying that being an artist is not a career and holds no future. This is true in some aspects, such as how your art is only worth something once you're dead. However, modern times have proven this theory so DEAD wrong. Walking among us are artists who are now millionaires! Acting, singing, writing - these are all forms of art, you know?!

Oh sure there are still artists who do arty things such as drawing - like fashion designers or those with Animation Careers! Illustrators and graphic designers. People who photoshop celebrities to look flawless on magazine covers! Photographers! Film makers! ALL ARTISTS! MOST OF THEM - RICH!!!! All it takes, is a little imagination and a lot of willpower - and you can make any dream a successful 'career'. So get out there and prove your parents wrong!

Start saving the environment, you dipshits!

So I finally caught An Inconvenient Truth (about 7 months ago) and propaganda or not, it's right here for your own senses to know that our world is dying. It may not die tomorrow, or next week, or even next year, but like everything that's dying - it'll gradually get worse as time goes on. It's already so bloody hot and the weather all over the world is so freakin' wonky.

It doesn't help that people don't care, don't recycle, don't save electricity. All these stupid concerts like Live Earth or whatever it's called - what good will they do? Can someone enlighten me - were these concerts all acoustic? Or did they use heaps of electricity to light up the stadiums and stages and mics and instruments?! HYPOCRITE MUCH? If not, I stand humbly corrected.

Really, I don't care much for the environment either. I guess it wouldn't hurt to use Carbon Calculators sometimes or not use the lights if you don't really have to. Heck, you could even start attempting to recycle - how hard could it be?! It may be just a little, but as 'they' say - a little goes a long way!