So my mom caught me eating Nutella from the jar today (I used a spoon). Now before you crinkle your nose and comment about how unhygenic it is, bear in mind that I'm the only one that eats Nutella in my family. My mom only buys it at my behest. I honestly don't see why it mattered, but who knows mothers?
This is going to be another one of those "Men are from Mars, Women are just crazy hahah etc" posts. I'm actually trying to stay away from these posts because the whole subject can get quite tired, or degenerate into petty name calling and accusations of who's a biased masculinist etc. This is really actually just a story about a comment one of my female friends made earlier today which many girls (including those that may be reading this) have been guilty of making.
Anyway, this girl happens to live in Illinois, who I happened to got to know over the world of warcraft. I used to talk to her a lot back when she played, but she'd stopped playing a couple months back, jumpin on occasionally for a chat. We were using a chat program that allowed us to talk to each other using mics, and were just chatting about random things. I was discussing the relative merits of Jessica Simpson's music video for "These Boots Are Made For Walking", and how there would be less violent crime in the community if there were more hot girls in cowboy boots and bikinis getting jiggy with hot booty action. So in short, I'm just spouting the same idiotic crap that occasionally gets me labelled as funny.
"Men are so shallow" She uttered. I laughed, because in a way, its true.
"Oh really? I'll have you know I value a woman's personality, superceded only by looks, the size of her breasts, and how easy she is". She giggled, and reiterated her earlier comment.
"See? Guys are so shallow. It's BOYS like you," she emphasised meaningfully, "that cause girls to starve themselves just to look like your Jessica Simpson and Halle Berry and all those 'hot' girls guys like you keep drooling over". I grinned, because I knew where this was heading.
"Are you telling me madam, that women are unfairly placed under pressure by society to conform to ideals and body shapes that are not only unrealistic, but dangerous to their health?". I laughed again. Those words came easy to me. This was a conversation that I had played out a thousand times. Different girls, same conversation. She paused, sensing a trap, but unable to resist the bait.
"Yes!" came the answer.
"Oh? Just out of curiousity, who's your favourite actor again?" I asked her. I was talking to a girl who liked the Fight Club movie mainly because Brad Pitt was super sexy in it.
Another pause. "Brad Pitt..". I am Jack's smug sense of impending victory.
"Brad Pitt? I'm not familiar with him. However, judging by your comments, no doubt he's some ugly guy whom you like for acting ability alone - Oh wait, he has a great body! Now I feel the pressure to go to the gym and work on my abs". She laughed as I teased her abit after that and the conversation soon drifted unto other topics.
While the wording isn't exactly 100%, that is pretty close to what we said to each other, and is the sort of conversation I sometimes find myself being dragged into when my evangelisation of the particular hot celebrity of the month gets to be too much. Anyway, its an oft heard lament. The pressures of society and the shallowness of men place unfair strains on women. Of course most women don't really feel that way all the time, but there will always be one time or another where women will feel that way, and the implication is that men are under no such pressure, or worse, men are responsible for such pressure on women. You see, there is a similar pressure on men too. But quite frankly, men don't give a fuck. Once again, its a simple matter of different ways of thinking.
For example, look at all the men modelling the latest underwear from Calvin Klein, or Hollywood hunks like the aforementioned Brad Pitt, or Colin Farrell which countless millions of women drool over. You could say that these are standards of physical appearance that society encourages men to be. It is safe to say men that look good get more attention from women than other, ordinary looking men. Yet somehow I have never heard a guy complain about how unrealistic those body shape are, and how women reinforce those values and so forth. Men, for the most part,
don't care. It actually makes sense, in a way. When you're part of the fairer sex, the curse of the fair is often vanity. These are of course, based on what I've seen and heard, and no doubt there will be people agreeing with me and people disagreeing with me. Men and women often think alike on many things, but its always things like these that reminds you that really, we are two very different creatures cursed beyond all control with the need to be with each other. God has a sense of humour, even though most of us don't seem to appreciate it. Truth be told, I find that often these pressures are actually enforced by women themselves, whether through their own selves or by other women. I find that amusing, though it would illicit angry replies if I said why.
So on Friday night, or more accurately, very early Saturday morning, Peter and I decided we would join the Army Reserve. We were, as is usual when we make decisions like these,
inebriated, as is often the result when the better half of the night is spent drinking with your dearest friends, and we had wandered down to Jason Pond to talk because neither of us felt like going home yet. I was idly kicking the sand of what had been the bottom of the pond. I had been lord of water and duck, but in this dry season both had deserted me for better places. I think it was me who had brought it up. I had been thinking about joining the last week or so, and I probably told Peter. We started discussing it, about army life etc, and as we spoke the idea of it became more and more appealing. I remember saying "I'm not cut out for army life. The Reserves is the half-assed option for me", and before I knew it we had both decided to join. Of course not straight away, since I want to make sure I can meet the physical requirements to join, but I am actually fitter than I look, so the only problem I forsee is that I'm probably very underweight for my height. While Peter might change his mind (if you recall we had a few beers during the night), lest I get talked out of it (I am known for these flights of fancy, and someone
always tries to talk me out of whatever I'm planning on doing), there is a real chance I'm joining the Reserve. Of course now that I've put it on my blog I'll have to at least look into it, but to tell you the truth I think it's going to be a interesting experience joining the Reserves :P.
Anyway I know my posts have been few and far between, or rushed and hurried. December/January are usually busy months for everybody, so forgive me if (for some reason) you enjoy reading what I have to say, and have found the quality of this blog quite
subpar this past couple of months. I haven't really done anything exciting, and lately all my musings have been about God, which is a fascinating topic for me, but often isn't for most people. More and more I find myself believeing that "Men were made in God's own image", and the possibility that we have an imperfect God may explain many of this world's injustices. Not that it matters I suppose, I find that most of you don't read my blog as much during these months anyway (though just enough so they can tell me they read it, and to make sure I haven't said anything bad about them BEC IS A HOMEWRECKER).
Oh yes, for Australia Day. 11.30 at Pete's house. We'll play some cricket, have a bbq, and have a great time before taking the bus down to the Foreshore. Msg me if you're coming so I know if we have to account for you, or ring me if you're going to meet up with us later etc.
we lift our hands and pray over your body
but nothing ever happens
Dead Man's ChestNew trailer for Pirates of the Caribean 2. Looks awesome, and I, like most people, enjoyed the first movie. Though I've never been a huge fan of Johnny Depp, he
shone in the first movie, so I look forward to more of Jack Sparrow's hijinks in the second.
P.S Keira Knightley is hawt
P.P.S - Who wants to watch Narnia next tues?
Now that we've finished another year its time for us to look back upon 2005 with fond (or not so fond) memories and recognise the things that made us laugh, cry, gasp and yell. So, without further adieu, let's have a look at the best and worst of 2005 (My opinion obviously, which I'm sure you all hold in very high regard).
Music:
Best Song:
Lua by Bright Eyes. One of the songs from their 2005 album release
I'm Wide Awake It's Morning, the mellow sound of Oberst's voice coupled with the simple acoustic guitar backing is perfectly suited to the melancholy reminisces of younger years offered by the lyrics. There's a reason its song number one on my webradio, definitely a great song to listen to if you want a more relaxed offering or when feeling melancholic.
Best Album:
I'm Wide Awake It's Morning by Bright Eyes. No surprises here considering how much I raved about it, and I wasn't the only one, as it won quite a few fans and music critics over with its folksy, mellow sound, Oberst's trademark melancholic lyrics as well as his new mature sound. While not really a big fan of his earlier offerings (which tended to devolve into harsh screaming and over emotional quavering), this album showed a new maturity in Oberst, both in the control of his voice as well as his outlook. Easily one of my favourite albums, and I look forward to his future releases.
Honourable Mentions:
My Humps by Black Eyed Peas. While I may come off as Indier than Thou at times, I still listen to the radio, simply because most indie music is indie shit. Though I can't say I have much liking for the shallow unimaginative lyrics of most pop songs (gah I'm doing it again, I'm thinking of Simple Plan as I write this). My Humps is no exception. A song featuring lyrics such as "What are you going to do with all that breast, all that breast inside your shirt" makes me cringe inside. BUT ITS SO CATCHY, and funny, in a "this is such a stupid song" way.
Gwen Stefani. Who said I didn't like pop? Loved Gwen Stefani's debut album. So did most people, judging how many of the songs from the album hit the top 20 charts. This shit is bananas B A N A N A S
Best Movie:
40 Year Old Virgin. If you haven't watched this movie, you should do yourself a favour and rent the dvd when it comes out. While I would say its a clever satirical look at modern society relationship conventions, I hazard to do so because it's just a plain funny movie, and saying something like that may actually be elevating it to what it isn't. Steve Carrell (Of "I love lamp" fame) is perfectly cast as a geeky 40 year old virgin put through hilarious hijinks by well meaning co owrkers trying to get him laid. You won't regret it.
Honourable Mention: HP: Goblet of Fire.
Best Book:
There wasn't really any standout books for me this year. I lked
HP: Half Blood Prince, but I felt there were a lot of things that she'd done that I didn't like (which isn't the twist that may not really be a twist). However, most of the books I read were old favourites I hadn't read for awhile, so I guess it goes to HP: HBP. ITS HARRY POTTER. READ IT.
Best Video Game:
World of Warcraft. Nuff said.
Honourable Mention:
Civ 4
Dishonourable Mention:
Need for Speed Most Wanted. Cross between
Hot Pursuit and
Underground, with the gay physics to boot. But you'll hear all the boys raving about it because it has cool cars in it, complete with options to add new engines, decals (ie
stickers) to it etc
Quotable quote:
Justin: "Hey Shaun can we go through your back way?"
Haha I Was Right I Told You So: Predictions That Came True (Seen
here)
1) Bec started fights with me all year, and tried to deny it through technicalities.
2) I plyed more World of Warcraft..dueh
3) The OC Season 2 sucked. Season 3 is a lot better though (from the eps I've watched). Hang in there!
I was wrong about the hip hop thing though. I found Kanye West quite refreshing (not Gold Digger by the way..
Jesus Walks,
Hey Mama,
Heard 'em Say, his more heartfelt songs) still retaining the quality of frustration and anger that made hip hop and rap the voice and outlet of African Americans trapped in the slums of America that other urban
artists (I use this term loosely) have lost.
No predictions for this year. There's been quite a few surprises last year, which goes to show you never can predict the future.
Finally...to my dear friends. Thanks for being my side, through thick and thin, at my high times (smoking pot at Jonno's :P) to my very lowest. I can be moody, brash and seemingly insensitive. However, I've always tried to be the best friend I can be. Some of the best times I've ever had is with all of you, and I couldn't imagine a future without you guys. Know that I care for you all very much, and if there's anything you need, you know how to contact me.
Love, Jase
