Australia Day Not So Australian
I hate everybody on Australia Day. It's true - and while I wouldn't go as far as to say I hate the day itself, I merely find myself apathetic to the whole concept of the day.
How can this be?! Is it the the annoying concept of being Un-australian? A word bandied about so much that I have little idea of what it is to be Australian any more? Is it the "love-Australia-or-else" nationalistic thuggery of hoodlums who abuse and attack others in the name of our country? Is it the sudden fashion trend of wearing flags and waving them around when those very same people abstain from saluting the flag or singing the national anthem on any other occasion? Or perhaps the city's preoccupation with seeing some pretty lights in the sky while young couples drunkenly suck face like some college piss up?
I guess it just boggles me how our National Day is so at odds with our real national identity - the anglocentric outlook, the sudden emphasis on a flag in what is essentially a non flag oriented nation (unlike say, the US), which by the way still remains a point of contention in Australia. Ditto with the anthem - 'Waltzing Matilda' is practically our unofficial national anthem and much much more popular than 'Advance Australia Fair'.
I'm a patriot with right wing leanings -but oh god do I dislike Australia Day.
Southbound
Southbound, of course, rocked, and to console your no doubt anguished heart at not being able to hang out with me for Southbound, I present to you the only pictures worth viewing, since the rest are blurred photos only fit to be deleted, due to the difficulty in taking a photo over a hustling crowd.
Asides from scratching off one of my "list things of things to do before I die" (seeing Modest Mouse live), I'd say the highlight of the weekend was swimming out in Eagle Bay on friday afternoon. Burned in my head is this perfect memory of me and Dom treading the crystal clear water, looking back at the white sand of the beach, with the sunlight bouncing off the ripples of the water, making it seem as if we were swimming in a sea of silver. I'm so glad Dom had persuaded me to jump into the oh-so-very-cold water.
Oh yes there was also that one magical, amazing night between Dan and I sharing the double bed, completely with "platonic-friend" spooning and an uninvited intruder in black underwear joining in later. But I don't kiss and tell ;)
Man Grows Penis On Arm
HALO SUIT, THE FUTURE IS HERE - as one person so eloquently put it, "Yeah it looks cool but if you wear that out you're getting shot on principle". Amen brother.
This is what they call in Iraq, "
targets of opportunity". A more wretched group of miscreants you'll never see.
Eskimo Joe - "It was this big, and the tip was shaped like
this". MISSION ACCOMPLISHED, NO MORE TO SEE HERE
Things to Look Forward to In 2007
and my resolutions/predictions.
Things to Look Forward To:
1) More Videogames for me to not be able to make time for: Halo 3, Burning Crusade, Warioware Smooth Moves, Super Smash Brothers Brawl, FFXII, Spore, Mass Effect, Pokemon Diamond/Pearl etc I admit it, I love videogames. I enjoy being stimulated. Hrmm. That sounded better in my head.
2) Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. No brainer here, it's the last book! Will Harry die? What happens between him and Ginny?
3) The music - oh the music! Mostly albums expected in 2006 until life failed and they didn't come, hence the relatively poor showing of music last year (in my opinion at any rate). However!
Modest Mouse - We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank (ignore the dubious quality, it's a radio rip). No duh
The Shins - Wincing The Night Away. Apparently 'more of the same'. Not unlike their second album. While I normally don't approve, it is the Shins after all...
Bloc Party - A Weekend In The City. This year's Coldplay?
Arcade Fire - Neon Bible. Big fan of their album "Funeral". Hope this is even better.
Scarlett Johansson - Scarlett Sings Tom Waits. I'm serious, her voice has a certain smoky quality to it that suits a Tom Waits song to a T (pun intended). Here's her cover of Summertime
Radiohead - TBA. Need I say more?
Smashing Pumpkins - TBA. Ditto.
Wilco - TBA
The Postal Service - TBA
4) Southbound! We're going this Friday, 7 guys, 3 days, one house, one awesome music festival. Modest Mouse, John Butler Trio, Eskimo Joe, Wolfmother, the list goes on. Let's hope MM play some songs from their new album *crosses fingers*
5) Heroes - Garnering rave reviews in the US of A, this is one show to wtch out for
6) Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Transformers movies. Both of which look...completely awesome.
7) A proper holiday, perhaps overseas. Go on, treat yourself.
New Year Resolution
My problem (just one) is that I have a problem with my tongue. I say things that are deliberately outrageous and at times inflammatory because I think it's funny or to get a reaction from someone. Sometimes, people do find me mildly amusing. A lot of the times I'm sure, people probably get offended with what I say. Often this is because people take what I say literally. This blog is a fine example of that. If you find it amusing, great. However, most of the time you're probably thinking I'm a complete asshole, and while you are partially correct, it also makes me sad that you might possibly have the wrong impression of me.
Never take everything I say on this blog seriously (and the same applies to real life)...unless its about the Middle East, politics, economics or philosophy. Or when I'm angry. Everything else is free game.
On the flip side, when it does come to serious occasions, my need to be blunt and forthright with my opinions is, increasingly, a worrying concern o me. While initially a counterreaction to the increasing reluctance of my peers to say what comes to mind when concerning certain situations, I fear this may have gone beyond what it should be.
So my resolution: Reign in my tongue, be a more tactful and perhaps, subdued, Jason. It's my only real resolution (asides from keeping fit, which I've already taken steps last year), but it's a biggie. Wish me luck!
Predictions:
I didn't actually make any predictions last year, an unfortunate oversight. Here's mine for 2007?
1) Economic slowdown mid to end of the year, caused by a high exchange rate value of the dollar and interest rates.
2) Neville Longbottom, Dean Thomas, Seamus Finnigan and Mrs McGonagall to die in the last HP book, among others.
3) This blog will still suck, despite my best efforts.
4) Paris Hilton will earn the respect of most women in- ahahahah not really. The same goes for Britney "I didn't pass out I was just exhausted from all that drinking" Spears. I used to be such a Britney fan :(
5) The percentage of single guys in our group will drop to less than 50%. See, the girls will get more desperate further along the year. And the group might actually make more of an effort (unlikely). We'll all still find ways to screw it up however, despite the desperation.
Top 3 Wishes for the Year
1) World Peace. To a lesser degree, a more isolationist USA. The Neocons had their chance. Now's the time for everyone to clean up the mess.
2) Religious tolerance. In this age of increasing religious extremism, I wish for more tolerance between world religions. Can't we all just agree Jesus is our Lord and Saviour?
3) Jessica Alba playing football in a bikini - oh wait, there is a God hallelujah
