To answer the question of a previous commentator: No, prizes are prizes in their solidarity and unity only. The song previously posted was indeed Leonard Cohen. Having copied it from memory, some of the lines are wrong. I knew this at the time, but my plan was that someone would know the song so well that they would correct me and I would be so impressed that I would try to take them to bed.
Alas! Nobody knew the song.
Here is another music related question which I hope you will All reply to. Imagine yourself walking down a deserted street late at night, carrying an iPod loaded with all the wickedest tunes you ever heard in your life. The sky glows a curious, bloody, Lovecraftian red and a spaceship lands in front of you. As the hatch opens, an alien runs out and grabs and shakes you and says:
"Buddy! Ya gotta help me!I was sent on a mission to find out about rock'n'roll, but my ship broke down just before Barnard's Star and I only have time for one song! Can ya play me some Rock'N'Roll?!"
So, what song would you play for the poor benighted bastard?
My top three choices in order - and that's amazing cuz I can never put these things in order are: Teenage Riot by Sonic Youth, Roadrunner by Jonathan Richmond and the Modern Lovers, Crazy Train by Ozzy.
Honourable mention to Bauhaus' cover of Ziggy Stardust and a series of others I don't have time for now.
Please Gimme Response!!!!!
Sunday, July 31, 2005
Potter?! I just met her!
I have used my cat-like reflexes and ninja skills (for which I am known throughout the Rainbow County) to infiltrate the secret lair of some media pirates I admire. Now many of you will remember instances where I occasioned to say that I cannot create, but I can bastardize, remold and remake things better, faster, stronger.
God made Steve Austin, for instance, I made him the $6 million man - which in the 70s went Much further.
I have insinuated myself to the private lair of one Black Andrew and Bloody Jenny WitchHazel, in the hopes of pilfering from them, because:
A little while back for no reason I can consciously identify, I started reading the damned Harry Potter books again. Yeah I said Damned. Sure you like them so do I, but they are the devil's work so stop bitchin'. At any rate, as I was wading ankle deep into the fourth book, Black Andrew comes-a-me and he says "Yarrrr! Ye must be gearin' up for the big release of the sixth book inna coupla days..."I, in my worldly ways, pretended I knew damn well the book was about to be released, although it was a lie. Of course, a bunch of us end up at Chapters at midnight one night (not in costume) to get the release the Instant it is available.
Now, in their absence, I am ransacking these pirates hidden treasure cove for just that book. I cannot find it however, and this frustrates me rather immensely. I have even asked my boss about things that happen later on and she Refuses to tell me!
"Go ahead spoil the end, I really don't mind, it's all good" I tell her. She obstinately refuses to capitulate.
I suppose I shall have to crazy glue underwear to there windows...
God made Steve Austin, for instance, I made him the $6 million man - which in the 70s went Much further.
I have insinuated myself to the private lair of one Black Andrew and Bloody Jenny WitchHazel, in the hopes of pilfering from them, because:
A little while back for no reason I can consciously identify, I started reading the damned Harry Potter books again. Yeah I said Damned. Sure you like them so do I, but they are the devil's work so stop bitchin'. At any rate, as I was wading ankle deep into the fourth book, Black Andrew comes-a-me and he says "Yarrrr! Ye must be gearin' up for the big release of the sixth book inna coupla days..."I, in my worldly ways, pretended I knew damn well the book was about to be released, although it was a lie. Of course, a bunch of us end up at Chapters at midnight one night (not in costume) to get the release the Instant it is available.
Now, in their absence, I am ransacking these pirates hidden treasure cove for just that book. I cannot find it however, and this frustrates me rather immensely. I have even asked my boss about things that happen later on and she Refuses to tell me!
"Go ahead spoil the end, I really don't mind, it's all good" I tell her. She obstinately refuses to capitulate.
I suppose I shall have to crazy glue underwear to there windows...
Wednesday, July 27, 2005
Lesson learned
In talking about design, I have created the ugliest post I have ever posted.
To see the first pic in the last post, click on the blank space or the X and it should take you to the original cached file, deep in the google mainframe.
To see the first pic in the last post, click on the blank space or the X and it should take you to the original cached file, deep in the google mainframe.
Scandinavian Design
A lot of people think of Ikea and cheesy teak furniture and light brown colour-schemes from the 70s when they think of Scandinavian design. Holy point-missing, Batman. Those people have completely missed the boat.
I sit here in my cold Canadian summer and think how my country used to have these great similarities with Sweden. I wish they could be re-gained. No, I am not talking about this supposedly flawless social net, like when one friend (a wobbly as I recall) said "y'know Sweden has an incredible support system, there's virtually no homeless in Sweden, for example." !. I answered: "y'know, it gets to be -70 in Sweden so Of Course there's no homeless because they all freeze to death." Idiots.
No, Canadian social care has it's issues, but if one looks at our neighbours, they seem rather small.
I don't know if any of you saw the story of the Avro Arrow. Avro Arrow!, Canada was developing what (at the time) was the best combat aircraft in the world, bar none. Unfortunately some hack politicians and America got in the way. The aeronautics industry is limited to making shuttle arms in this country now. Impressive.
Sweden, despite being much smaller in land area and natural resource And having between one third and one quarter of our populace, still manages to make beautiful aircraft.
Now I have no idea at all about the automotive industry in Canada, but I can attest to its state in Sweden. Stunning, beautiful, immaculate. Saab being one creator of excellent design and Koenigsegg being - well, King.
Alright, in the interest of not taking All your time while I rant about someone else being in a posish that I would like to see Us in, I shall finish up with some exemplary design in cutting edge electronics and media. My favourite purveyor of media goods for a long time standing has been a company called Bang & Olufsen.
I sit here in my cold Canadian summer and think how my country used to have these great similarities with Sweden. I wish they could be re-gained. No, I am not talking about this supposedly flawless social net, like when one friend (a wobbly as I recall) said "y'know Sweden has an incredible support system, there's virtually no homeless in Sweden, for example." !. I answered: "y'know, it gets to be -70 in Sweden so Of Course there's no homeless because they all freeze to death." Idiots.
No, Canadian social care has it's issues, but if one looks at our neighbours, they seem rather small.
I don't know if any of you saw the story of the Avro Arrow. Avro Arrow!, Canada was developing what (at the time) was the best combat aircraft in the world, bar none. Unfortunately some hack politicians and America got in the way. The aeronautics industry is limited to making shuttle arms in this country now. Impressive.
Sweden, despite being much smaller in land area and natural resource And having between one third and one quarter of our populace, still manages to make beautiful aircraft.
Now I have no idea at all about the automotive industry in Canada, but I can attest to its state in Sweden. Stunning, beautiful, immaculate. Saab being one creator of excellent design and Koenigsegg being - well, King.
Alright, in the interest of not taking All your time while I rant about someone else being in a posish that I would like to see Us in, I shall finish up with some exemplary design in cutting edge electronics and media. My favourite purveyor of media goods for a long time standing has been a company called Bang & Olufsen.
Nighthawks
It is not that I was born to follow, but when you are at the mercy of another's interenet access, your posts will always be behind theirs.
Going through the drive through at Horny Tim's tonight (where the young lady repeated the coffee order and explained that there were no donuts or anything yet kept asking "is that everything?") It was mentioned that a certain close friend commented on 4 a.m. recently in his publishing.
I have a few things to say about 4 a.m. First, and least credibly, is the fact that Tim Horton's is actually a church of sorts. Maybe. You see the original Tim Horton was of course a hockey player, but he knew that there is only so long one can play professionally. He had a backup plan though. What most people do not realize is that he was a genius of biomechanics.
After hockey games he would work late into the wee hours on his crazed experiments in genetic atavism with a la Dr. Moreau. Some people at the time were tipped off, given the strange flashing lights and occaisional explosions coming from his lab, but he was a celebrated hockey playing Canadian and those people looked the other way when evidence of his other self presented itself.
What he created was a mutation of humanity and various species commonly found amongst humans (dogs, cats, etc...) Unbeknownst to the masses, H. Sapiens in Canada and parts of the United States now live in close proximity to what Mr. Horton dubbed Homo Parallelus (a concurrent viable alternate version of the species). They can be identified readily enough by those interested. To do this, simply go to a Tim Hortons store around three or four in the morning and watch the people for a while. In some cases upward of 75% of the customers will be the motherless offspring of Mr. Horton's bizarre bio-labs.
They gather at the donut shops to pay homage to their creator, view his image (which only shows up in specific stores) and to take their "sacrament." That's right, sacrament. After some of the finest investigative reporting work this nation has ever seen, I have ascertained that in fact the donuts and coffee were developed as vectors to supplicate H. Parallelus with the nutrients necessary for survival. They have certain requirements that must be met, though once met they are more efficient physically than the rest of us.
For anyone who may be concerned, there is no evidence in several decades of these supplications, that the products have in any way altered or harmed H. Sapiens. At least not in anyway that our society doesn't already do on a regular basis anyhow.
Now. In fact now is actually 5:46 a.m. but let us now discuss 4 a.m. for the sake of those who poo-poo one of the greatest times of the day. I am, as many of you will know, a nighthawk. I love mornings, don't get me wrong - but I usually only see them by staying awake that long.
I love love love 4 a.m. because it is the eye of the hurricane. All the day's hustle and running and bullshit swirls like a tornado. Come 4 a.m. though, there are only two contenders left from a vast list of entrants in the diurnal arena: Me and the night. I wear 4 a.m. like a mantle. The empty streets are mine to walk down the centre of. The soft false lights of the city shine for me. There is calm. One can focus most intently. Of course there are a few other people I find who understand this, and I don't really expect to convince anyone else of the validity of 4 a.m.; I just felt it should be defended.
It is a most unobtrusive time when one can accomplish that which the daylight has propped up in our way. Work ceases to be a function of time. The sense of accomplishment is always greater before the sun rises.
Alas, the sun is rising, and I have a wall to paint before someone returns to Sudbury...
Going through the drive through at Horny Tim's tonight (where the young lady repeated the coffee order and explained that there were no donuts or anything yet kept asking "is that everything?") It was mentioned that a certain close friend commented on 4 a.m. recently in his publishing.
I have a few things to say about 4 a.m. First, and least credibly, is the fact that Tim Horton's is actually a church of sorts. Maybe. You see the original Tim Horton was of course a hockey player, but he knew that there is only so long one can play professionally. He had a backup plan though. What most people do not realize is that he was a genius of biomechanics.
After hockey games he would work late into the wee hours on his crazed experiments in genetic atavism with a la Dr. Moreau. Some people at the time were tipped off, given the strange flashing lights and occaisional explosions coming from his lab, but he was a celebrated hockey playing Canadian and those people looked the other way when evidence of his other self presented itself.
What he created was a mutation of humanity and various species commonly found amongst humans (dogs, cats, etc...) Unbeknownst to the masses, H. Sapiens in Canada and parts of the United States now live in close proximity to what Mr. Horton dubbed Homo Parallelus (a concurrent viable alternate version of the species). They can be identified readily enough by those interested. To do this, simply go to a Tim Hortons store around three or four in the morning and watch the people for a while. In some cases upward of 75% of the customers will be the motherless offspring of Mr. Horton's bizarre bio-labs.
They gather at the donut shops to pay homage to their creator, view his image (which only shows up in specific stores) and to take their "sacrament." That's right, sacrament. After some of the finest investigative reporting work this nation has ever seen, I have ascertained that in fact the donuts and coffee were developed as vectors to supplicate H. Parallelus with the nutrients necessary for survival. They have certain requirements that must be met, though once met they are more efficient physically than the rest of us.
For anyone who may be concerned, there is no evidence in several decades of these supplications, that the products have in any way altered or harmed H. Sapiens. At least not in anyway that our society doesn't already do on a regular basis anyhow.
Now. In fact now is actually 5:46 a.m. but let us now discuss 4 a.m. for the sake of those who poo-poo one of the greatest times of the day. I am, as many of you will know, a nighthawk. I love mornings, don't get me wrong - but I usually only see them by staying awake that long.
I love love love 4 a.m. because it is the eye of the hurricane. All the day's hustle and running and bullshit swirls like a tornado. Come 4 a.m. though, there are only two contenders left from a vast list of entrants in the diurnal arena: Me and the night. I wear 4 a.m. like a mantle. The empty streets are mine to walk down the centre of. The soft false lights of the city shine for me. There is calm. One can focus most intently. Of course there are a few other people I find who understand this, and I don't really expect to convince anyone else of the validity of 4 a.m.; I just felt it should be defended.
It is a most unobtrusive time when one can accomplish that which the daylight has propped up in our way. Work ceases to be a function of time. The sense of accomplishment is always greater before the sun rises.
Alas, the sun is rising, and I have a wall to paint before someone returns to Sudbury...
Sunday, July 24, 2005
Ugi's
The restaurant I work at:
I come out of each shift covered in grease and wing sauce. These clothes are washed independently of anything else that I own, by necessity. The grease will transfer to other clothes otherwise.
Things get hectic and I am not sure that I am ready to go alone in this place, so I am hoping that Thursday, Friday and Satyr-day coming will be Slow, rainy low-volume of orders days. The problem at the moment is that I haven't memorized everything on the menu yet. Further I haven't mastered the relative timing between items that cook together. I burn a lot of garlic loaf.
The people have been pretty cool. Boss 1 is Dino, quiet, continuous, pretty cool guy. Things are mellow with Dino around. Boss 2 is Kerry, cute, smiling, potentially lethal :), I like to flirt with Kerry cuz she's something of a hottie. Tyler, relatively quiet, calm, efficient Tyler has been great to work with and learn the ropes from. Chris - well, Chris is a little scattered and my first impression was that he is stoned a Lot, but apparently this is just his way. Chris is still a decent guy. Kaathrin, she's nice to me, but many customers think she is surly, smile woman! Leah, the waitress I get along best with, she's good friends with Sarah's sister Jess - small world.
My kitchen is pretty small. [This post is on hiatus for retooling, please return]
I come out of each shift covered in grease and wing sauce. These clothes are washed independently of anything else that I own, by necessity. The grease will transfer to other clothes otherwise.
Things get hectic and I am not sure that I am ready to go alone in this place, so I am hoping that Thursday, Friday and Satyr-day coming will be Slow, rainy low-volume of orders days. The problem at the moment is that I haven't memorized everything on the menu yet. Further I haven't mastered the relative timing between items that cook together. I burn a lot of garlic loaf.
The people have been pretty cool. Boss 1 is Dino, quiet, continuous, pretty cool guy. Things are mellow with Dino around. Boss 2 is Kerry, cute, smiling, potentially lethal :), I like to flirt with Kerry cuz she's something of a hottie. Tyler, relatively quiet, calm, efficient Tyler has been great to work with and learn the ropes from. Chris - well, Chris is a little scattered and my first impression was that he is stoned a Lot, but apparently this is just his way. Chris is still a decent guy. Kaathrin, she's nice to me, but many customers think she is surly, smile woman! Leah, the waitress I get along best with, she's good friends with Sarah's sister Jess - small world.
My kitchen is pretty small. [This post is on hiatus for retooling, please return]
Generic Entry
If you wait long enough, you will lose all faithful readers. Then you will be back to zero, unless your words are phenomenal.
Here's what's been going on. I am looking into Grad programs at LU. The Master's of Science Communication is Not a Masters Degree, but a Graduate Diploma. Frankly, most of the courses by description seem to be things I have already learned. It would be merely a piece of paper and cheap labour for Science North - which is already cheap enough.
The Masters of Humanities is looking nicer and nicer. Some of the courses actually look Fantastic, for instance "Comic Values," or "Metafiction," or even "Future Perspectives." Yes, it seems like if I must be about Sudbury for another year, this is truly the way to spend my time. There is one problem though. The course requires a translation element from another language which could really bugger things up. I am looking into ways around this. More on it soon.
I have begun working at a little restaurant named Ugi's. Best damned wings in Sudbury. I am not overly enthusiastic about it but this town's work sitch has me by the short and curlies. I am getting very few shifts and frankly, my finances have Never been in such a hell-state. If I can make it as far as September, things will turn around.
For one, I am going to be TA-ing for Dr. Molohon's linguistics course. I will be working with Lacey Pitre, who is awesome and I have missed seeing since first year.
There are also a few places who will be hiring when everyone buggers off to school.
I realize I haven't ever used song lyrics in any blog before, so here is my first. Special Prize to whomever gets the artist and title first - and we are on the honour system, so no cheating with Google!:
I lit a thin green candle, to make you jealous of me
but the room just filled up with mosquitoes
they heard that my body was free
then I took the dust of a long lonely night, and I
put it in yout little shoe
and then I confess that I tortured the dress
that you wear for the world to look through...
I showed my heart to a doctor, he said I'd just have to quit
then he wrote himself a prescription
and your name was mentioned in it
then he locked himself in a library shelf, with the
details of our honeymoon
and I hear from the nurse that it's gotten much worse
and his practice is all in a ruin...
I'd heard of a saint who had loved you, so I studied all night
in his school
He said that the duty of lovers was to tarnish the golden rule
and just when I was sure that his teachings were pure
he drowned himself in the pool
His body is gone, but out here on the lawn
his spirit continues to drool.
An Eskimo showed me a movie he'd recently taken of you
the poor man could hardly stop shivering
his lips and his fingers were blue
I suppose that he froze when the
wind took your clothes and he just couldn't ever get warm
-
- but you stand there so nice in your blizzard of ice
please won't you let me come into your storm?
I don't know why this song is in my head so much lately. Well, perhaps I do and I am just not telling. I reckon this is it for the moment.
Here's what's been going on. I am looking into Grad programs at LU. The Master's of Science Communication is Not a Masters Degree, but a Graduate Diploma. Frankly, most of the courses by description seem to be things I have already learned. It would be merely a piece of paper and cheap labour for Science North - which is already cheap enough.
The Masters of Humanities is looking nicer and nicer. Some of the courses actually look Fantastic, for instance "Comic Values," or "Metafiction," or even "Future Perspectives." Yes, it seems like if I must be about Sudbury for another year, this is truly the way to spend my time. There is one problem though. The course requires a translation element from another language which could really bugger things up. I am looking into ways around this. More on it soon.
I have begun working at a little restaurant named Ugi's. Best damned wings in Sudbury. I am not overly enthusiastic about it but this town's work sitch has me by the short and curlies. I am getting very few shifts and frankly, my finances have Never been in such a hell-state. If I can make it as far as September, things will turn around.
For one, I am going to be TA-ing for Dr. Molohon's linguistics course. I will be working with Lacey Pitre, who is awesome and I have missed seeing since first year.
There are also a few places who will be hiring when everyone buggers off to school.
I realize I haven't ever used song lyrics in any blog before, so here is my first. Special Prize to whomever gets the artist and title first - and we are on the honour system, so no cheating with Google!:
I lit a thin green candle, to make you jealous of me
but the room just filled up with mosquitoes
they heard that my body was free
then I took the dust of a long lonely night, and I
put it in yout little shoe
and then I confess that I tortured the dress
that you wear for the world to look through...
I showed my heart to a doctor, he said I'd just have to quit
then he wrote himself a prescription
and your name was mentioned in it
then he locked himself in a library shelf, with the
details of our honeymoon
and I hear from the nurse that it's gotten much worse
and his practice is all in a ruin...
I'd heard of a saint who had loved you, so I studied all night
in his school
He said that the duty of lovers was to tarnish the golden rule
and just when I was sure that his teachings were pure
he drowned himself in the pool
His body is gone, but out here on the lawn
his spirit continues to drool.
An Eskimo showed me a movie he'd recently taken of you
the poor man could hardly stop shivering
his lips and his fingers were blue
I suppose that he froze when the
wind took your clothes and he just couldn't ever get warm
-
- but you stand there so nice in your blizzard of ice
please won't you let me come into your storm?
I don't know why this song is in my head so much lately. Well, perhaps I do and I am just not telling. I reckon this is it for the moment.
Thursday, July 14, 2005
What the Dalai Lama Didn't Say...
Apparently, I value these things in this order: Pride (what little I have), Money (which I have exactly None), Family, Love, Career (nonexistant). Sorry, your holiness but you missed the boat here.
Apparently my personality, in a word, is Loyal. That of my partner (again, nonexistant) is Smartass. The personality of my enemies (I don't really Have enemies)- Wonderful! That's right, my enemies are wonderful. Sex is powerful and my life is tumultuous. Well I suppose a few ring true.
Apparently Jenner is someone I shall never forget. Charlene Poitras is a True Friend. Sarah is someone I really love, but I was not supposed to use the name twice so I cheated and put in Sarah / Ami. Sarah (originally chosen for This) is my Twinned Soul. Stephanie Woolger is also someoneI will never forget.
Apparantly the Dalai Lama says if I send this little test to 723 people, then a very fine young lady shall declare her love for me and decide she wants to go out with me. I don't have 723 contacts, and that's my life...
Apparently my personality, in a word, is Loyal. That of my partner (again, nonexistant) is Smartass. The personality of my enemies (I don't really Have enemies)- Wonderful! That's right, my enemies are wonderful. Sex is powerful and my life is tumultuous. Well I suppose a few ring true.
Apparently Jenner is someone I shall never forget. Charlene Poitras is a True Friend. Sarah is someone I really love, but I was not supposed to use the name twice so I cheated and put in Sarah / Ami. Sarah (originally chosen for This) is my Twinned Soul. Stephanie Woolger is also someoneI will never forget.
Apparantly the Dalai Lama says if I send this little test to 723 people, then a very fine young lady shall declare her love for me and decide she wants to go out with me. I don't have 723 contacts, and that's my life...
Wednesday, July 13, 2005
The Sudburia Underground
The Army of Jovial Evil has gone underground. Not because we need to, just because we thought it would be fun during the summer heat aaaaand it is always a good marketing / recruiting tool.
That's right, insurgents are holed up in nondescript suburbs of the Sudburia. Here am I, having come to hold council with my generals - who are now in bed just behind me. I believe that They believe I am oblivious to them as I write this, and they are getting it on less than four feet from where I sit, yea, even as you read this. They are like Rabbits!
Here is the skinny on these blogs, while the AJE brass is out of his own internet connection:
1) The Pot'o'gold Theatre is being removed from the net. This may well be permanent. Nobody will cry as only three of you have ever read it. Frankly, this is the wrong milieu for POGT. I am continuing to develop POTG and there may be a post on Simacia regarding further developments.
2) The blog "Verified," aka "Disinformation" will be removed from the net entirely. It currently lacks the intellectual molition* required to carry it through to its original concept. Verified is by no means over with. It will return in a different format later on. It will be witty and vitriolic. It will be rather extremely political. If Anybody cared at all about Disinformation, by all means let me know, it would be interesting to hear about it. It will reappear regardless of feedback.
Now, it is likely that those reading this will not be familiar with the AJE (Army of Jovial Evil). Indeed many of those who are already recruited do not know of it. It is high time you signed on, though, as there is much work to accomplish.
Simply get information to me telling me Name, Age, Location, Areas of Expertise, Interests and the nature of the evils that you prefer (Carnal, Ontological, Dental, Seminal, etc...) A photograph is also required for records. There are all sorts of positions available with the AJE, ranging from Logistics and Command to Field Agents to specialty advisory capacities. Get Involved. Contact at dubiousnumerator@hotmail.com or jsimac@gmail.com
Now, I go to decommision those sites as though they were rotting nuclear subs in Archangel...
That's right, insurgents are holed up in nondescript suburbs of the Sudburia. Here am I, having come to hold council with my generals - who are now in bed just behind me. I believe that They believe I am oblivious to them as I write this, and they are getting it on less than four feet from where I sit, yea, even as you read this. They are like Rabbits!
Here is the skinny on these blogs, while the AJE brass is out of his own internet connection:
1) The Pot'o'gold Theatre is being removed from the net. This may well be permanent. Nobody will cry as only three of you have ever read it. Frankly, this is the wrong milieu for POGT. I am continuing to develop POTG and there may be a post on Simacia regarding further developments.
2) The blog "Verified," aka "Disinformation" will be removed from the net entirely. It currently lacks the intellectual molition* required to carry it through to its original concept. Verified is by no means over with. It will return in a different format later on. It will be witty and vitriolic. It will be rather extremely political. If Anybody cared at all about Disinformation, by all means let me know, it would be interesting to hear about it. It will reappear regardless of feedback.
Now, it is likely that those reading this will not be familiar with the AJE (Army of Jovial Evil). Indeed many of those who are already recruited do not know of it. It is high time you signed on, though, as there is much work to accomplish.
Simply get information to me telling me Name, Age, Location, Areas of Expertise, Interests and the nature of the evils that you prefer (Carnal, Ontological, Dental, Seminal, etc...) A photograph is also required for records. There are all sorts of positions available with the AJE, ranging from Logistics and Command to Field Agents to specialty advisory capacities. Get Involved. Contact at dubiousnumerator@hotmail.com or jsimac@gmail.com
Now, I go to decommision those sites as though they were rotting nuclear subs in Archangel...
Tuesday, July 05, 2005
Minimizing
I know I am not alone on this; you turn around for a month or two and there is a tidal wave of accumulated stuff in your house. I am the type that can let it overwhelm me, so I have had to build some defensive manouevres against it. The prime weapon in the battle against accumulation is moving.
It doesn't matter if it is Me moving, or my roommates all leaving. In this case it is the exodus of all roommates. There were three of us and we were storing for two separate people. Soon the last of them will arrive to pick up their stuff. The last is Ami, an ex-girlfriend, so I know exactly what is hers and what can be thrown out. Ironic, I guess, that she is the first and the last, seeing as I originally took this place with her. Wonder how she's doing...
Meh. I currently have two full blue boxes of recycling in the back room, with four full garbage bags of stuff. I expect to have two more bags full in the next two days. The vacuum cleaner desperately needs a new bag, too. It will all be gone soon.
The sense of satisfaction is strange. Contentment, a new slate. I am getting used to clean slates. I am getting used to recreating myself after each move, after each paring down of what goes and what stays, after minimizing... again.
This process is one of the reasons that I love the digital technology that infests my life. The computer will soon hold four years worth of University and College notes. As soon as I have an iPod, it will be crammed with music that I will no longer have to clutter the house with.
This place may turn out to be too large for me...
but then I don't think I want a roommate. Perhaps I will just strive to have people over all the time. Maybe I should get some part-time lovers. Luvahhh.
(^_^) I'm sure more will come later...
It doesn't matter if it is Me moving, or my roommates all leaving. In this case it is the exodus of all roommates. There were three of us and we were storing for two separate people. Soon the last of them will arrive to pick up their stuff. The last is Ami, an ex-girlfriend, so I know exactly what is hers and what can be thrown out. Ironic, I guess, that she is the first and the last, seeing as I originally took this place with her. Wonder how she's doing...
Meh. I currently have two full blue boxes of recycling in the back room, with four full garbage bags of stuff. I expect to have two more bags full in the next two days. The vacuum cleaner desperately needs a new bag, too. It will all be gone soon.
The sense of satisfaction is strange. Contentment, a new slate. I am getting used to clean slates. I am getting used to recreating myself after each move, after each paring down of what goes and what stays, after minimizing... again.
This process is one of the reasons that I love the digital technology that infests my life. The computer will soon hold four years worth of University and College notes. As soon as I have an iPod, it will be crammed with music that I will no longer have to clutter the house with.
This place may turn out to be too large for me...
but then I don't think I want a roommate. Perhaps I will just strive to have people over all the time. Maybe I should get some part-time lovers. Luvahhh.
(^_^) I'm sure more will come later...
Monday, July 04, 2005
Addendum to Poverty
This deserves its own entry:
Through associations over the years, I have met a Lot of people who are putting in the effort. You all rock. You all make me feel better about my world. No doubt you make the ones you helped, who survived when they otherwise wouldn't have, feel better. All the best to you.
Through associations over the years, I have met a Lot of people who are putting in the effort. You all rock. You all make me feel better about my world. No doubt you make the ones you helped, who survived when they otherwise wouldn't have, feel better. All the best to you.
POVERTY
Although it will be mostly my friends who see this, it is intended as commentary to society in general, please do not take personal offence to it. Or, if you really want to, you can take personal offence, but why twist the meaning?
That's right, you know it's the big thing right now at this moment. Poverty. How many times will Mandela say it? - Before you sign an online petition? - Before you commit to do something about it? - or Before you begin to say "Man I'm so tired of fuckin' hearing about it"?
I'm going to state my position from the start because there are going to be some rather unpopular things that I say here. The ironic part is that I will likely catch flack (don't hesitate to put your 2¢ in all the same) for this because by the end of these entries people will have forgotten where I stand and misinterpeted the intent behind my statements. That's okay, that's your right.
I Have been politically active since the age of eleven or twelve. I cannot remember exactly, but roughly then is when I wrote my first letter. That's right, I wrote my MP at least seven years before I could vote, so when I say politically Active, I don't mean following the issues on the news and pissing or moaning 'bout it at the water cooler.
In recent times I have actively Avoided politics because it forces the cynic in me. In this arena I have very little faith in humanity. I do not think I have all the answers. I don't think there even Are answers for some of the problems. I do believe that there are ways to improve things, but in explaining How I think it must be approached, we find the part where people forget my stance.
Here it is: I want to see an end to Poverty, Globally. I Really Want that. I want an end to War. Badly. I want a world where people can accept differences between each other and just fucking get along without invoking their particular God or tradition or situation or skin colour or circumstance or flag to justify some kind of violence (not Just physical violence). Kind of what I want is, simply put, Utopia.
Clearly we are pretty far from that. The problems restated: people starving, people displaced, people fighting, a global economic system that has built in biases against large portions of the world. I am going to thrown in the problem of rapid population growth as well. There is more to consider than this, of course, there's Always More.... but let's start here.
First up, since it is getting press, a few words on debt relief. The relevant members of the U.N. have recently erased the debt of the 20 or 25 poorest nations in the world. That's it, zip, gone. Kudos to a council that I was beginning to have some serious doubts about in recent times.
There are a lot of other poor nations out there, however. My thoughts here are simple. Many of these nations have No Hope whatsoever of Ever being able to pay off these debts. May their creditors have the grace to see this and instead of letting interest pile up, simply forgive the debt. This should be fine because a lot of this foreign aid was set aside from taxpayer's dollars. If the people who were taxed for it are smart, they will understand that this debt Can't be paid and let it go with good graces.
This should be unpopular: The places that cannot sustain their populaces tend to have the highest rate of population expansion. This Must be controlled. I am not saying Stopped. Everyone, if capable, should be allowed to have children. I do question why you Would have one when you live in grinding poverty, warzones, etc., but that's for me to wonder about. The fact is people still do it. China has taken steps for population control. They were criticized heavily, but if you ask me they have identified one step in a solution, which is to say Stop Making the Problem Bigger.
Here it comes; Birth Control. Make it a cultural standard if it isn't one already. Don't give me your prime directive bullshit about not changing a unique culture. In the west, female circumcision is considered an abomination and that is a cultural standard that nobody here seems to have any qualms about eliminating, so introduce birth control. This is just a question of slick advertising. If you doubt me, look into a group called the Diamond Promotion Service. The last publication by them reminded retail professionals that their purpose was to "create a tradition in society." Insipid, but sometimes necessary.
So what do we have? Erase the unpayable debts, as though forgetting the past. Assess the current state of things and prevent the problem from expanding, (containment). The next step is to begin reversing the damage.
Clearly, if the world turns around immediately and throws Every cent we can into this one item, we may well feed and house everyone. We will simultaneously ruin the economies of places that are already established. Cuz I'm aiming to see the whole world on a decent footing here. Throwing money at it is not the simple solution. A budget must be established to continuously upgrade from a bad situation.
I am in the arts here in Canada. I would have no issue with some of the government funding for the military going instead to helping these people. If you are in the army you might have no issue seeing arts money being redirected. What if you're a musician in the air force? All right, if people will willingly take the point I suppose I could deal with some arts money being diverted seeing as helping the world is a more humane cause than the so called "humanities."
Ay, there's the rub. Doing this means giving up things that are important to you. Do you understand that? I'm not just talking about giving up your weekend to march in a damn protest, you freakin' hippies, Protests are Free and the Food to feed the world costs $$$! Now like it or lump it that is a reality that is firmly rooted and not going anywhere anytime soon.
Here's an example: a lot of people during '91 were irate about the US going to Iraq. I was. Good for us! Such morally upstanding people! Eh? We all knew it was Really about oil. We all knew that blood equalled oil. The funny part was that as the prices at the pump rose, hitting all time highs, who was Bitching about it? Everyone. That's right, even the ones who were marching in protest. Do you see it? You want out of Iraq, but what are you gonna say when Petrol hits $2.00 a litre? Well? You're gonna Demand some action from your government aren't you?
You may want to call me on this - I didn't drive at the time, I didn't have a car. Of course I would be leading you into a trap if you do call me on it, I am tricky that way. I also didn't take the bus for as often as I had the option not to. I Did take a cab once or twice out of emergency, otherwise I skated or rode my bicycle. Only when the weather prevented me did I resort to the lesser of automotive evils, the bus.
I have digressed, the point is how many of you Willingly gave up your cars? Not too many, I'm afraid. Here again I have to restrain myself. I am not asking everyone to sell their cars off and stop buying oil or anything. That alone would collapse the economy. I am suggesting we all Limit it voluntarily. The Western mind seems to hate having Limits imposed, so why not consider your own situation and limit yourself.
So: when we shock the system, we can wreck the system, we have to solve these problems in a smooth and growing manner. It seems that a lot of the advertising and hype (Yeah, I call it Hype!) going around right now are really pushing the urgency. Fair enough, the situation is desperate and urgent. I just want to remind people that the urgency means start now, Not Solve Now. These things are going to take decades to fix. Decades. So let's start now.
Here is another problem, people forget, it seems. One big push effort and they think it's over. One summer of cutting back on driving or supporting the arts and military Will not do it. For those of you who remember Live Aid, which was the impetus decades later for Live8, the situation was about hunger. Oh, it was Huge! But then we began to forget and some even said, "but we helped that already." I was young when it happened and didn't realize how much more was required for this problem.
Consider that when Yeltsin took over Russia he promised Utopia in 500 days. I laughed when I heard that because I knew it couldn't be done. What didn't dawn on me at the time was the fact that people in Russia were so desperate that they would have bought any ticket that claimed such a quick fix. Drowning people will grab at a stone, they say, and I regret laughing because it wasn't funny.
Now today, in the wake of Live8 and all the press Dr. Mandela (honorary degree) is generating over the African crisis, I have receive an email several times over about ending poverty. It talks some slick shit, but it's rather vague. I get the feeling I am part of the problem if I don't join their list. Yet, what is the list about? They don't really say. They ask me to demand of my Prime Minister a 0.7% Timeline. I wanna know, 0.7% What? For who? What timeline? What The Fuck Does It Mean.
Look, North America, I know a lot of you are emotional cuz you have seen the footage of these children starving to death. It is Terrible. I am wondering how many have signed into this list in general principle without even knowing what exactly is implied by a 0.7% timeline. Well? Can you tell me what it is? Do you realize that this had already been happening for decades when Live Aid was put on in the 80s?
Pleaaaaase, if you are going to be supportive, get to know the facts. Don't just hop on because it's all over the media. I mean, Do Hop On! Just Know about what you are hopping on. Know that it is going to take actual Sacrifice, not just the energy to go out for a walk on weekends. As someone beautiful is saying right now, resting easy in your conjured angst ain't makin' a difference... DO Something.
Lessee where we are. Identify problem, control and contain it, commit to it... Ah! Solutions. Let me state again that I do Not have THE solution to it all. I just see where changes can be made to make the suffering a little less. Divert funding. Just a little off the top of All the wonderful things we fund. Consume a little less, just a little less and add the difference in with the diverted funds, it will make a difference when it all gets added up. Send expertise overseas to help with organization, infrastructure, etc. Provide funding for birth control popularization and materials that will not cost these regions anything.
Change is a hard thing to do, but for those who are being moved by what they are seeing lately I say commit. Write letters to your MPs. Write Many letters, continually. Get in touch with Amnesty International and tell them you want to write letters for them too. Find spare time to volunteer locally. I promise you that once you are volunteering you will begin to feel good about what you are doing - how's that for dividends on time well spent? Make ongoing incremental changes in your lifestyle. Share your expertise. Go abroad on your vacation, not to soak up the sun lazily on some beach, but instead to help develop a village in a third world nation.
Sounds like a lot, eh? It is. Do these things without politics or religion or anything except the singular idea that there is someone in need that you might help. Do it just to feel good that you helped in your own small way. All I ask is that if you have the fever, don't just sit and Talk about it. Let it take you over and motivate you. Most of all, try not to be discouraged when, twenty years from now, you realize that we have only taken the first steps.
as a parting plea, though, Please do not send me the item in the email, that one with vagaries. I have it already. I Know there is a bad problem and I have been making the efforts in my own small ways for years.
That's right, you know it's the big thing right now at this moment. Poverty. How many times will Mandela say it? - Before you sign an online petition? - Before you commit to do something about it? - or Before you begin to say "Man I'm so tired of fuckin' hearing about it"?
I'm going to state my position from the start because there are going to be some rather unpopular things that I say here. The ironic part is that I will likely catch flack (don't hesitate to put your 2¢ in all the same) for this because by the end of these entries people will have forgotten where I stand and misinterpeted the intent behind my statements. That's okay, that's your right.
I Have been politically active since the age of eleven or twelve. I cannot remember exactly, but roughly then is when I wrote my first letter. That's right, I wrote my MP at least seven years before I could vote, so when I say politically Active, I don't mean following the issues on the news and pissing or moaning 'bout it at the water cooler.
In recent times I have actively Avoided politics because it forces the cynic in me. In this arena I have very little faith in humanity. I do not think I have all the answers. I don't think there even Are answers for some of the problems. I do believe that there are ways to improve things, but in explaining How I think it must be approached, we find the part where people forget my stance.
Here it is: I want to see an end to Poverty, Globally. I Really Want that. I want an end to War. Badly. I want a world where people can accept differences between each other and just fucking get along without invoking their particular God or tradition or situation or skin colour or circumstance or flag to justify some kind of violence (not Just physical violence). Kind of what I want is, simply put, Utopia.
Clearly we are pretty far from that. The problems restated: people starving, people displaced, people fighting, a global economic system that has built in biases against large portions of the world. I am going to thrown in the problem of rapid population growth as well. There is more to consider than this, of course, there's Always More.... but let's start here.
First up, since it is getting press, a few words on debt relief. The relevant members of the U.N. have recently erased the debt of the 20 or 25 poorest nations in the world. That's it, zip, gone. Kudos to a council that I was beginning to have some serious doubts about in recent times.
There are a lot of other poor nations out there, however. My thoughts here are simple. Many of these nations have No Hope whatsoever of Ever being able to pay off these debts. May their creditors have the grace to see this and instead of letting interest pile up, simply forgive the debt. This should be fine because a lot of this foreign aid was set aside from taxpayer's dollars. If the people who were taxed for it are smart, they will understand that this debt Can't be paid and let it go with good graces.
This should be unpopular: The places that cannot sustain their populaces tend to have the highest rate of population expansion. This Must be controlled. I am not saying Stopped. Everyone, if capable, should be allowed to have children. I do question why you Would have one when you live in grinding poverty, warzones, etc., but that's for me to wonder about. The fact is people still do it. China has taken steps for population control. They were criticized heavily, but if you ask me they have identified one step in a solution, which is to say Stop Making the Problem Bigger.
Here it comes; Birth Control. Make it a cultural standard if it isn't one already. Don't give me your prime directive bullshit about not changing a unique culture. In the west, female circumcision is considered an abomination and that is a cultural standard that nobody here seems to have any qualms about eliminating, so introduce birth control. This is just a question of slick advertising. If you doubt me, look into a group called the Diamond Promotion Service. The last publication by them reminded retail professionals that their purpose was to "create a tradition in society." Insipid, but sometimes necessary.
So what do we have? Erase the unpayable debts, as though forgetting the past. Assess the current state of things and prevent the problem from expanding, (containment). The next step is to begin reversing the damage.
Clearly, if the world turns around immediately and throws Every cent we can into this one item, we may well feed and house everyone. We will simultaneously ruin the economies of places that are already established. Cuz I'm aiming to see the whole world on a decent footing here. Throwing money at it is not the simple solution. A budget must be established to continuously upgrade from a bad situation.
I am in the arts here in Canada. I would have no issue with some of the government funding for the military going instead to helping these people. If you are in the army you might have no issue seeing arts money being redirected. What if you're a musician in the air force? All right, if people will willingly take the point I suppose I could deal with some arts money being diverted seeing as helping the world is a more humane cause than the so called "humanities."
Ay, there's the rub. Doing this means giving up things that are important to you. Do you understand that? I'm not just talking about giving up your weekend to march in a damn protest, you freakin' hippies, Protests are Free and the Food to feed the world costs $$$! Now like it or lump it that is a reality that is firmly rooted and not going anywhere anytime soon.
Here's an example: a lot of people during '91 were irate about the US going to Iraq. I was. Good for us! Such morally upstanding people! Eh? We all knew it was Really about oil. We all knew that blood equalled oil. The funny part was that as the prices at the pump rose, hitting all time highs, who was Bitching about it? Everyone. That's right, even the ones who were marching in protest. Do you see it? You want out of Iraq, but what are you gonna say when Petrol hits $2.00 a litre? Well? You're gonna Demand some action from your government aren't you?
You may want to call me on this - I didn't drive at the time, I didn't have a car. Of course I would be leading you into a trap if you do call me on it, I am tricky that way. I also didn't take the bus for as often as I had the option not to. I Did take a cab once or twice out of emergency, otherwise I skated or rode my bicycle. Only when the weather prevented me did I resort to the lesser of automotive evils, the bus.
I have digressed, the point is how many of you Willingly gave up your cars? Not too many, I'm afraid. Here again I have to restrain myself. I am not asking everyone to sell their cars off and stop buying oil or anything. That alone would collapse the economy. I am suggesting we all Limit it voluntarily. The Western mind seems to hate having Limits imposed, so why not consider your own situation and limit yourself.
So: when we shock the system, we can wreck the system, we have to solve these problems in a smooth and growing manner. It seems that a lot of the advertising and hype (Yeah, I call it Hype!) going around right now are really pushing the urgency. Fair enough, the situation is desperate and urgent. I just want to remind people that the urgency means start now, Not Solve Now. These things are going to take decades to fix. Decades. So let's start now.
Here is another problem, people forget, it seems. One big push effort and they think it's over. One summer of cutting back on driving or supporting the arts and military Will not do it. For those of you who remember Live Aid, which was the impetus decades later for Live8, the situation was about hunger. Oh, it was Huge! But then we began to forget and some even said, "but we helped that already." I was young when it happened and didn't realize how much more was required for this problem.
Consider that when Yeltsin took over Russia he promised Utopia in 500 days. I laughed when I heard that because I knew it couldn't be done. What didn't dawn on me at the time was the fact that people in Russia were so desperate that they would have bought any ticket that claimed such a quick fix. Drowning people will grab at a stone, they say, and I regret laughing because it wasn't funny.
Now today, in the wake of Live8 and all the press Dr. Mandela (honorary degree) is generating over the African crisis, I have receive an email several times over about ending poverty. It talks some slick shit, but it's rather vague. I get the feeling I am part of the problem if I don't join their list. Yet, what is the list about? They don't really say. They ask me to demand of my Prime Minister a 0.7% Timeline. I wanna know, 0.7% What? For who? What timeline? What The Fuck Does It Mean.
Look, North America, I know a lot of you are emotional cuz you have seen the footage of these children starving to death. It is Terrible. I am wondering how many have signed into this list in general principle without even knowing what exactly is implied by a 0.7% timeline. Well? Can you tell me what it is? Do you realize that this had already been happening for decades when Live Aid was put on in the 80s?
Pleaaaaase, if you are going to be supportive, get to know the facts. Don't just hop on because it's all over the media. I mean, Do Hop On! Just Know about what you are hopping on. Know that it is going to take actual Sacrifice, not just the energy to go out for a walk on weekends. As someone beautiful is saying right now, resting easy in your conjured angst ain't makin' a difference... DO Something.
Lessee where we are. Identify problem, control and contain it, commit to it... Ah! Solutions. Let me state again that I do Not have THE solution to it all. I just see where changes can be made to make the suffering a little less. Divert funding. Just a little off the top of All the wonderful things we fund. Consume a little less, just a little less and add the difference in with the diverted funds, it will make a difference when it all gets added up. Send expertise overseas to help with organization, infrastructure, etc. Provide funding for birth control popularization and materials that will not cost these regions anything.
Change is a hard thing to do, but for those who are being moved by what they are seeing lately I say commit. Write letters to your MPs. Write Many letters, continually. Get in touch with Amnesty International and tell them you want to write letters for them too. Find spare time to volunteer locally. I promise you that once you are volunteering you will begin to feel good about what you are doing - how's that for dividends on time well spent? Make ongoing incremental changes in your lifestyle. Share your expertise. Go abroad on your vacation, not to soak up the sun lazily on some beach, but instead to help develop a village in a third world nation.
Sounds like a lot, eh? It is. Do these things without politics or religion or anything except the singular idea that there is someone in need that you might help. Do it just to feel good that you helped in your own small way. All I ask is that if you have the fever, don't just sit and Talk about it. Let it take you over and motivate you. Most of all, try not to be discouraged when, twenty years from now, you realize that we have only taken the first steps.
as a parting plea, though, Please do not send me the item in the email, that one with vagaries. I have it already. I Know there is a bad problem and I have been making the efforts in my own small ways for years.
a Quickie...
This, courtesy of the 15minute hipster...
http://www.panforpunks.com/test/index003.html
it's a steel pan band covering the ramones.
The ramones cannot be emulated enough. Perhaps I mean well enough, these days...
http://www.panforpunks.com/test/index003.html
it's a steel pan band covering the ramones.
The ramones cannot be emulated enough. Perhaps I mean well enough, these days...
Timing
In one week my home internet is going down. I cannot say how long before that situation is resolved. It Should have gone down two days ago, actually, but for the grace of my favourite roommate, who knows it is my electrical umbilicus - Gods bless you, Steph, thanks.
So best intentions say that I should write my little fingers to the bone in the next week, but deep down, in my heart of gold which most of you will never see, I know that I will not write as much as I should or would like to.
I woke at half past twelve today. That's not good. This student's lifestyle has adapted me to extremely late nights, (so late that they are often mornings when they finish), a way of life that I am already too prone to as it stands. This too is not good. You see, I'm night people. I Like the day. I like mornings, but I am only meant to see them by staying awake that long.
It has to change. I have to change a whole series of things. I am not fearful of this, but I do realize that it is going to take a big effort. Sometimes I feel too old for this kind of thing. I am sure it will be fine later, but as I sit here now, I feel as though I were Hundreds of years old. It would be much appreciated if someone were to comment that I am not alone on this.
I am thinking that two jobs are going to be needed to get through the summer. I am thinking that a vehicle will be needed to get through the rest of my time in the Suds. I am thinking there is a young lady out there who could make the rest of my time here Wonderful if only we could be a little closer, but I am Knowing that can't be. I am at ease with the fact that it can't be and I am grateful for what time I do get with her, (very little).
I am trying to institute the required changes, but reality is resisting. I am frustrated by resistance, but I am pushing harder because of it. I am going off to push right now...
So best intentions say that I should write my little fingers to the bone in the next week, but deep down, in my heart of gold which most of you will never see, I know that I will not write as much as I should or would like to.
I woke at half past twelve today. That's not good. This student's lifestyle has adapted me to extremely late nights, (so late that they are often mornings when they finish), a way of life that I am already too prone to as it stands. This too is not good. You see, I'm night people. I Like the day. I like mornings, but I am only meant to see them by staying awake that long.
It has to change. I have to change a whole series of things. I am not fearful of this, but I do realize that it is going to take a big effort. Sometimes I feel too old for this kind of thing. I am sure it will be fine later, but as I sit here now, I feel as though I were Hundreds of years old. It would be much appreciated if someone were to comment that I am not alone on this.
I am thinking that two jobs are going to be needed to get through the summer. I am thinking that a vehicle will be needed to get through the rest of my time in the Suds. I am thinking there is a young lady out there who could make the rest of my time here Wonderful if only we could be a little closer, but I am Knowing that can't be. I am at ease with the fact that it can't be and I am grateful for what time I do get with her, (very little).
I am trying to institute the required changes, but reality is resisting. I am frustrated by resistance, but I am pushing harder because of it. I am going off to push right now...
Sunday, July 03, 2005
Makeup Forever
It is fair to suggest that the fi rst thing a person consciously notes about another person is their
face. The face is the single most expressive part of the body. Makeup has been in use for several
thousand years as an agent for changing and modifying our visages. Thus, it is an agent for changing
and modifying what we express to each other on a very basic level. In some respects this is a
matter of professional necessity, as any actor can tell you. More generally, it makes a statement on
the cultures , societies and individuals that regularly use makeup.
In considering the meaning being conveyed by makeup, one might look at the subject from two
fairly different angles. The fi rst angle is somewhat abstract. As Marshall McLuhan stated, ‘the medium
is the message,’ so the fact that makeup is being used at all may carry some analyzable meaning.
The second, by its very nature, is open to interpretations of all kinds. What is the makeup, as it
is applied and used, actually saying? Moreover, what is the user implying and what is the interpreter
inferring?
When something is in such common usage as makeup, it is easy to overlook as a medium for expression.
Instead, we notice its absence. There are many people who seek to make a statement by
excluding cosmetics from their common experience. This is often a socio-political statement, geared
towards fashion industries and cultural beauty standards. As a general rule, I agree that the men and
women of the world don’t actually need any makeup at all. As far as that goes, my own view constitutes
a purely utilitarian approach. I fi nd it unfortunate however, that many people view fashion and
beauty standards as nothing more than aesthetic totalitarianism. There is more to the issue than is
addressed in such a terse appraisal of the subject.
For those strong enough in will to resist the pressures of such a perceived threat, I suggest they
use makeup to forge their own styles. In the non-utilitarian mode, makeup allows us to be creative
and is fun. Makeup is a vehicle to achieving a little fantasy in a world that is already drab enough.
The masks we create with the use of cosmetics are a way of expressing the myriad facets of our
personalities. In short, makeup allows us to be a different person everyday, according to who we
want to be or become.
This leads us to the second angle mentioned earlier. Let us presume that makeup is not a conspiracy
designed to keep people from acknowledging that they themselves are valuable and good of
themselves. Instead of considering makeup as aesthetic fascism, let us think of it as aesthetic liberation.
A comprehensive analysis of what message is sent by makeup could fi ll volumes. I will consider
a few select cases from personal experience, which will hopefully illustrate how broad a range of
signals can be conveyed by the medium.
One of my favourite illustrations of meaning with makeup can be found (primarily) in a youth sustained
sub-culture commonly known as ‘Goth.’ It is a sub-culture with a strong defiance to convention.
Resistance to social standards is obvious because both Goth males as well as females wear
makeup. As a general rule, the application of cosmetics is very dramatic and suggestive of fictional
horror genres. Makeup is employed to change one’s visage to look vampiric, faerie-esque or animalistic
(with a lycanthropic twist). One can infer from this highly stylized use of cosmetics that the
users have a strong affinity to supernatural phenomena, and especially the darker incarnations of the
supernatural.
It is common to see a desire in this sub-culture to substantiate and establish such extra-
worldly concepts as more concrete. Makeup is one way of doing this. In a broader analysis, one
may argue that these outward transformations are also indicative of an individual’s strong will and
capability to alter and expand their environment. A noteworthy point to be made of Goth sub-culture
is the meticulous attention to detail given in the application of makeup. The careful and studied
methods used are an exhibit of personality traits such as patience, fastidiousness and dedication.
There is likely no other section of society that maintains such a strong sense of creating it’s own reality
than this group, with the exception of professional actors.
Another area where makeup carries very specific connotations is in business. In standard business
situations it would be very unusual to fi nd men wearing cosmetics at all, so one must consider
women’s use of makeup. Perhaps most interesting to observe is the fact that a woman’s makeup is
nearly always an expression of company standards. How much or how little she wears can be correlated
to how conservative the employer is. This is especially notable in higher ranking positions.
Most workplaces now include makeup guidelines as part of their dress code, if one exists. There is a
strong implication that the individual and the organization have entered into an agreement. The individual
is displaying commitment, willingness to conform for the benefi t of greater good and therefore
an understanding of consequence, cause and effect. It is important that although limited, the use of
makeup still allows women in business an outlet for self expression, (much the same way a tie does
for men). Companies do value the specific qualities of their employees and theoretically those qualities
might be discernable to some extent by subtle cues like makeup. There is no room here for such
considerations, however.
There is another side to the use of makeup for creating reality; something rather opposite than
what Goth culture uses it for. Although prostitutes are by no means the only group to use this idea,
they stand as an excellent example of those - who instead of creating their own reality - are using
makeup to project an extension of someone else’s reality.
The someone else is a potential client. One can assume that people who solicit prostitutes are looking to add to their own reality something
that isn’t readily available to them. If a working girl is able to project an image of what these people
want, she is more likely to make a deal. The use of makeup here is co-ordinated with all possible visual
cues. In observation, one can argue that if the girls are not successful in business, their makeup
may not being giving any worthwhile statement. If the Girls are successful, there is a defi nite indication
that they are capable of accurately identifying the needs or desires of others and representing
them graphically. That is to say there is some level of empathy. Inasfar as extreme or fantastic makeup
can bring a client, the Girl’s success depends on delivering that fantasy. There must necessarily
be a certain amount of talent either towards acting or solipsism to convince her clientele, or (again)
she would not be successful.
As mentioned in the section regarding business makeup, one can go into very deep study of all
messages given by makeup. These short contemplations of the effect of makeup in communications
are in fact cursory, but they do serve to indicate that the nature of cosmetics has a strong impact on
society. Cosmetics are indicative of beliefs, value systems, emotional sensitivity and even work ethics.
On deeper examination they will no doubt be shown to be even more communicative.
face. The face is the single most expressive part of the body. Makeup has been in use for several
thousand years as an agent for changing and modifying our visages. Thus, it is an agent for changing
and modifying what we express to each other on a very basic level. In some respects this is a
matter of professional necessity, as any actor can tell you. More generally, it makes a statement on
the cultures , societies and individuals that regularly use makeup.
In considering the meaning being conveyed by makeup, one might look at the subject from two
fairly different angles. The fi rst angle is somewhat abstract. As Marshall McLuhan stated, ‘the medium
is the message,’ so the fact that makeup is being used at all may carry some analyzable meaning.
The second, by its very nature, is open to interpretations of all kinds. What is the makeup, as it
is applied and used, actually saying? Moreover, what is the user implying and what is the interpreter
inferring?
When something is in such common usage as makeup, it is easy to overlook as a medium for expression.
Instead, we notice its absence. There are many people who seek to make a statement by
excluding cosmetics from their common experience. This is often a socio-political statement, geared
towards fashion industries and cultural beauty standards. As a general rule, I agree that the men and
women of the world don’t actually need any makeup at all. As far as that goes, my own view constitutes
a purely utilitarian approach. I fi nd it unfortunate however, that many people view fashion and
beauty standards as nothing more than aesthetic totalitarianism. There is more to the issue than is
addressed in such a terse appraisal of the subject.
For those strong enough in will to resist the pressures of such a perceived threat, I suggest they
use makeup to forge their own styles. In the non-utilitarian mode, makeup allows us to be creative
and is fun. Makeup is a vehicle to achieving a little fantasy in a world that is already drab enough.
The masks we create with the use of cosmetics are a way of expressing the myriad facets of our
personalities. In short, makeup allows us to be a different person everyday, according to who we
want to be or become.
This leads us to the second angle mentioned earlier. Let us presume that makeup is not a conspiracy
designed to keep people from acknowledging that they themselves are valuable and good of
themselves. Instead of considering makeup as aesthetic fascism, let us think of it as aesthetic liberation.
A comprehensive analysis of what message is sent by makeup could fi ll volumes. I will consider
a few select cases from personal experience, which will hopefully illustrate how broad a range of
signals can be conveyed by the medium.
One of my favourite illustrations of meaning with makeup can be found (primarily) in a youth sustained
sub-culture commonly known as ‘Goth.’ It is a sub-culture with a strong defiance to convention.
Resistance to social standards is obvious because both Goth males as well as females wear
makeup. As a general rule, the application of cosmetics is very dramatic and suggestive of fictional
horror genres. Makeup is employed to change one’s visage to look vampiric, faerie-esque or animalistic
(with a lycanthropic twist). One can infer from this highly stylized use of cosmetics that the
users have a strong affinity to supernatural phenomena, and especially the darker incarnations of the
supernatural.
It is common to see a desire in this sub-culture to substantiate and establish such extra-
worldly concepts as more concrete. Makeup is one way of doing this. In a broader analysis, one
may argue that these outward transformations are also indicative of an individual’s strong will and
capability to alter and expand their environment. A noteworthy point to be made of Goth sub-culture
is the meticulous attention to detail given in the application of makeup. The careful and studied
methods used are an exhibit of personality traits such as patience, fastidiousness and dedication.
There is likely no other section of society that maintains such a strong sense of creating it’s own reality
than this group, with the exception of professional actors.
Another area where makeup carries very specific connotations is in business. In standard business
situations it would be very unusual to fi nd men wearing cosmetics at all, so one must consider
women’s use of makeup. Perhaps most interesting to observe is the fact that a woman’s makeup is
nearly always an expression of company standards. How much or how little she wears can be correlated
to how conservative the employer is. This is especially notable in higher ranking positions.
Most workplaces now include makeup guidelines as part of their dress code, if one exists. There is a
strong implication that the individual and the organization have entered into an agreement. The individual
is displaying commitment, willingness to conform for the benefi t of greater good and therefore
an understanding of consequence, cause and effect. It is important that although limited, the use of
makeup still allows women in business an outlet for self expression, (much the same way a tie does
for men). Companies do value the specific qualities of their employees and theoretically those qualities
might be discernable to some extent by subtle cues like makeup. There is no room here for such
considerations, however.
There is another side to the use of makeup for creating reality; something rather opposite than
what Goth culture uses it for. Although prostitutes are by no means the only group to use this idea,
they stand as an excellent example of those - who instead of creating their own reality - are using
makeup to project an extension of someone else’s reality.
The someone else is a potential client. One can assume that people who solicit prostitutes are looking to add to their own reality something
that isn’t readily available to them. If a working girl is able to project an image of what these people
want, she is more likely to make a deal. The use of makeup here is co-ordinated with all possible visual
cues. In observation, one can argue that if the girls are not successful in business, their makeup
may not being giving any worthwhile statement. If the Girls are successful, there is a defi nite indication
that they are capable of accurately identifying the needs or desires of others and representing
them graphically. That is to say there is some level of empathy. Inasfar as extreme or fantastic makeup
can bring a client, the Girl’s success depends on delivering that fantasy. There must necessarily
be a certain amount of talent either towards acting or solipsism to convince her clientele, or (again)
she would not be successful.
As mentioned in the section regarding business makeup, one can go into very deep study of all
messages given by makeup. These short contemplations of the effect of makeup in communications
are in fact cursory, but they do serve to indicate that the nature of cosmetics has a strong impact on
society. Cosmetics are indicative of beliefs, value systems, emotional sensitivity and even work ethics.
On deeper examination they will no doubt be shown to be even more communicative.
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