I had a nice moment.

I was on the bus and it was sailing through the streets of Auckland. I had 'American Honey' by Lady Antebellum on the iPod (shut up - I like country music - deal with it). The sun was shining off to the west - with that golden light which you get at sunset. Also it was nearly 7pm and the sun was still out which was nice. I had just been to Lounge at the University and listened to some spectacular poetry. I knew there was a glass of save waiting for me at home, where I could brag about my successful presentation for one of my courses (which was awesome).

I had a nice moment where I was happy to be alive and in the city. One of those rare moments of absolute contentment. Despite the two essays and forty thousand other things I have to do.

It was really a wonderful moment.

Muslim Barbies: Weird or Cool?

Here they are:

I'm conflicted: I half think 'sure! Little Muslim girls probably like dolls and it must be nice to have one which isn't dressed like a pole-dancer and maybe resembles them and their family.' Then I think 'Gross! Mattel is exporting commercialised conceptions of beauty (which are sick and wrong to begin with) all around the globe. Now that we've brainwashed the western world's girls that they have to look like barbie in order to matter, we can start on the rest of the world. Also - I'm pretty sure most Muslims aren't white. These dolls look like your average pasty european fresh from the tanning bed.

I think I'm settling on weird actually.

I have a new blog.

It consists of me posting pictures of clothes I like from fashion shows and sometimes I talk about them. Also nice shoes/pictures etc.

It's really quite neat.

Here're a couple of pieces I like:

It's pretty much like that only cooler. 

It's called when the curtain calls. 

I stole that from a New Pornographers lyric. 

This thing I did in class - Political Parties as beverages.

We were doing this thing in class, matching political parties to cars. But that's boring, so I tried to come up with a few drinks which sum up New Zealand Political parties.


National: A martini - expensive and hard to swallow. 


Labour: Tui - it's beer, it's working class, it's not that great, but we can't afford a better one just at the moment. 


Greens: spirulina. Made from organic ingredients of course. 


Act: very sweet sherry in a dusty decanter - old fashioned and no one likes it. 


Maori Party: the olive in National's martini, but they're hoping to make it to the snack platter. 


NZ First isn't on the menu. 


United Future doesn't drink.


Progressives'll have what Labour's having. 


Thoughts?

MINEMINEMINEMINEMINEMINEMINE

Mine. But will someone please give the model a sandwich. And maybe a hug.

Marchesa Fall 2010 (NYC)

I Am A Bad Blogger

It's true. I confess. I've started like five blogs in the last year or so and I'm useless at keeping them up. But, I refuse to give this one up, mostly 'cause I like the name. Also it's nice to have an outlet for stupid customer stories. 


I've been writing lots of policy related stuff at the moment and getting all Sam Seaborn-ish and dramatic, and I don't want to waste it, so I'm posting it here:

I want to see women in New Zealand achieve a greater level of control over their health and a recognition that health is not simply a physical and mental concept, but a societal one. I want to see the work which women do - paid and unpaid - to be valued equally to that of men. I want to see that women are able to make the most of the education system at primary, secondary and tertiary levels and beyond. I want to see that justice is available to all women in this country - not just in the court room and the House of Representatives, but in the community as well. And I want to see that women and their families do not have to struggle to get by, but can live their lives comfortably and meaningfully no matter what their economic situation. By empowering women in these ways, we can ensure a better future not just for women but for New Zealanders.

I've also been doing an assignment which involves lots of youtube videos of 50s-era advertisements, so I'll share my favourite one with you here.

AMAZING new blog of an old friend of mine...

We'd Rather Be is a great mix of fashion, photography and beautiful prose. I Love Blogs.

A couple of things I've found that I love...

From My Food Looks Funny

From Roflrazzi

From God Hates Protestors

From the Huff Post

From The Sartorialist

From Modcloth (WANT)

Also Modcloth (also WANT)

Originally posted by me on 'Everyday Feminism'

Original Article

Rihanna and Eminem on domestic violence

Rihanna’s newest song out (that I know of, being a bit of a musical snob. I’m more Patti Smith than Rihanna really) Love the Way you Lie (here for those who are blessed enough not to have heard it yet) is accompanied by the linked music video and deals with an issue which pretty much everyone who has seen a gossip mag in the last year or so knows is pretty relevant to Rihanna’s life. Which is why I find it interesting that it completely glamourises (in my opinion) something which is far from glamorous: domestic violence. The chorus runs “Just gonna stand there and watch me burn, that’s alright because I like the way it hurts”

Really Rihanna? Is that the message you want to be sending women about domestic violence? Eminem loves to take the issues no one else sings about and turn them into his own tortured bonanza – as he did with the obsessive ‘Stan’ in the song of the same name – but what he’s doing is not necessarily giving us an insight into the issue but making it cool.

As Randy Susan Meyers pointed out in this article in the Huffington Post, the music video shows Eminem spewing out the usual justifications which abusive men use to excuse their behaviour, while Rihanna erotically sings straight into the camera.

Overall I find this song/video to be a really quite despicable use of a real, horrific issue to sell music (and sex) to a huge number of young men and women.

Also, as an aside it’s really annoying. Not as annoying as Umbrella though.

Dagnabbit.

A few new blogs I've been following...

Lights, Candy, Action

A blog featuring photos of various films acted out by lollies. Yes, it is brilliant.

Paul Myburgh's -Shirts

A blog featuring the content of my contract lecturer's amusing t-shirts.

Here's Anneke...

A blog featuring my friend Anneke in famous moments throughout history.