swollen members armed to the teeth album cover idea girl consulting

I was reading an article in The Standard (Friday November 27, 2009 by Grant Lafleche – which I throughly enjoyed) and decided to showcase the band  on my entertainment site after listening to their awesome music video – Bollywood Chick and Kyla.

I was pleasantly surprised at how professional it was.

I really liked the youtube videos, they are very professionally done and the music is cool too!

Loved the voices and the lyrics, and I’d like to hear this song in a dance club.

Just thought I’d share it with all of you!

Okay I just Googled the bands name and they have been around for awhile, my apologies for my ignorance!

Here’s a run down on what I found on Hip Hop Canada’s website:

Balance 1999

Best Rap Recording 1999 – Mad Child – Juno Award

Bad Dreams 2001

Best Rap Recording (award #2) 2001

First Platinum Album

Monsters in the Closet 2003

3rd and 4th Juno Award

Group of the Year

Rap Recording of the Year

Heavy 2004

Black Magic 2006

swollen members idea girl consulting

You can view the Swollen Members band on myspace or on youtube channel SWOLLENMEMBERS

swollen members full band idea girl consulting

Read all about it!!

There is a free newspaper handed out in the morning by thousands of cheery, friendly locals all around Honkers; it’s called The Standard. Some local blogs call it The Sub-Standard. I agree with them. especially after today.

The article screamed out at us from its lofty black box on the top right of the front page: “Schools on Facebook Mass Suicide Alert“
It’s the sort of shlocky, shocky, amateur journalism that gets parents and talking heads all in to tizzy. Mostly because it involves…..THE INTERNET!
Throwing in words like cyber cops and phrases like “the fear is that the sinister cyber tentacles from the site have already clamped on Hong Kong youngsters.” are sure to get us all up on our feet to crush this cyber threat immediately!

“The group has been blamed for the attempted suicide earlier this month of a secondary schoolgirl in Hong Kong”
So basically the article is saying that normal, happy Hong Kong youngsters are seeing this Facebook group and immediately are switched on to the option of killing themselves. Right, I see. Nothing going on at home behind closed doors, hmm? Nothing going on in the school playground, corridors or classrooms, hmm? Nothing going on with peer pressure, drug or alcohol abuse, hmm? It’s Facebook that will make them jump off a roof is it, hmm?

“internet evils”  -  Nice, I’m going to use this to describe every website from now on.

I’ll leave the last words to Mr. Teddy Tang Chun- keung who stated that
“..a study carried out in September and October found that students in Yuen Long are generally not suicidal”
Ok Teddy, ok. And I’m generally not sleepy very early in the morning when I read this crap.

In fact, I’m sure if I did a “study” on how suicidal mini bus drivers are in Hong Kong I am sure I would find they are all a life-loving, tobacco -smoking joy parade. Having been in a mini bus this evening careening through the streets of Honkers I may also beg to differ.

from http://bonkersinhonkers.wordpress.com

The 10th annual STRUTT Wearable Art Show on Saturday night at the Niagara Artists Centre. Over 50 amateur and professional contemporary visual artists from Niagara and beyond created an array of art for the human form at the show.

Alex Ward strikes a pose modelling Lace Pinup, by artist Alexa Fraser as part of the Erotika category for the 10th STRUTT Wearable Art Show

Deanna Jones models The Grandfather Paradox, by artist Danielle Reynolds as part of the Scholastika category for the 10th STRUTT Wearable Art Show.

Rachel Verschoor, centre, Christy Hanes and Justine Benteau model New Millennium Burka - Straight Outta Kabul by artists Joanna Smyth, Kristina Vogelius and John Venditti as part of the Erotika and Chaotika categories for the 10th STRUTT Wearable Art Show.

Joe Lapinki, strikes a pose modelling Bear Fight – Nature Fights Back, by artist Alexa Fraser as part of the Testotika category for the 10th STRUTT Wearable Art Show

This was the first time I have ever had to photograph a fashion show of any kind. It was not the easiest thing to do. There were no lights except at the end of the runway and the spot lights that cast dark shadows on the faces of the models. Using a 70-200mm lens at f2.8 at 1/100sec and an ISO of 4000 I managed to get some decent photos from the show with the help of my flash. It was a challenge to make the show look interesting as most models just walked down the runway posed and walked back, thankfully some had more fun with their wearable art.

All the photographers and Tv/video camera men were positioned at the end of the runway, unfortunately so were the judges for the competition which meant we could not stand, we had to crouch down so we would not block any judges view.

Cd

Daniel M. Kobei, an Ogiek leader, told New York Times reporter, “Tell Obama and his men to help us.  It’s not that we’re special, but this forest is our home.”

The Ogiek are Kenya’s traditional forest dwellers and honey hunters, living off the land in Mau Forest. Unfortunately, however, the Ogiek will now be in search of a new land as the government looks to remove settlers from the region, close to 25,000 people.

The hope is to conserve the delicate ecosystem of the forest.  The Environment News Service writes that the forest provides Kenya and the region with  ‘river flow regulation, flood mitigation, water storage, reduced soil erosion, biodiversity, carbon sequestration, carbon reservoir and microclimate regulation’.

But due to heavy deforestation and a regional water crisis, the government plans to clear the forest in order to plant millions of trees.

But at what cost to those living there?

The Standard writes,

“The possession of a parcel of land, even if tenuous or without legal backing, is the only access to capital for most. Losing it, as well as the harvest on it, will reduce many to destitution. Thus, it is imperative they get help from the Government and organizations like the Kenya Red Cross Society.”

According to the Daily Nation, the Kenyan government started delivering food aid last week for squatters evicted from the Mau Forest such as maize, beans and vegetable oil.

The sudden interest in environmentalism by the Kenyan politicians is breeding suspicious for those that once called the Mau Forest home.

“The government wants that forest for economic reasons, not conservation reasons,” said Towett Kimaiyo, an Ogiek leader. “The only people who are going to benefit are the saw-millers.”

Do you think that the settlers in the Mau Forest should be compensated, with or without a title deed?  What about the Ogiek who have lived on the land for centuries and have proven to take care of the region?

Advertised as  a pub, bistro, and sports bar: I wasn’t quite sure what to expect from The Standard. The view from the street gives no indication of the cavernous room within. On the night we visited the rain was so heavy we were glad of our table at the back where we could forget the elements for a while.

It’s a grand looking place. The high ceilings, comfy red chairs, dark tables and candlelight alongside the big TVs make this New Town venue inviting even if you’re not a sports fan.

From a list geared towards the New World, I was offered a taste of a gorgeous light and zingy Australian chardonnay (£14.95). So good in fact that my ale drinking companion was convinced to share a bottle, despite an impressive list of draught and bottled beers.

The menu has all its bases covered, with burgers, sandwiches, fajitas and steaks all making an appearance. To start shared bruschetta (£4.95) from the bar snacks menu. So often bar food is deep fried and thrown on the plate like an afterthought. But this was crisp yet doughy ciabatta, loaded with sweet tomatoes, red onion and chives. We had no problem cleaning the plate.

Having been told it was a staff favourite I plumped for the mussels in white wine, cream and garlic (£6.95). The staff must be discerning because they were very tasty indeed; steamed to perfection with just the right balance of creamy richness and acidic wine.

My partner’s Crombie’s veggie sausages (£8.50) were served with an onion jus and a choice of mash. A brave man, with a penchant for fromage, he opted for the blue cheese, which he described as “serious”. The less cheesy among us could try garlic, truffle, pesto or chive.

Full, but impressed, we decided to squeeze in a dessert of American waffles and ice cream (£3.95). These were a bit too doughy and bland for my taste, but the sweet, sticky chocolate sauce helped us finish them off nonetheless.

The Standard has set its own pretty high. Great drinks, fresh and thoughtfully prepared food and friendly service make this a top spot whether you‘re watching sport or not.

24 Howe Street, Edinburgh, EH3 6TG, 0131 225 6490

www.thestandardbar.co.uk

Published in Bite Magazine October 2009

Scratch the surface, and you see deep-seated racism alive and well in New Zealand.

Unfortunately for those of us on the environmental left, it is alive and well in the Labour Party which, I guess, is another good reason to be Green.

Hone Harawira was attacked by Phil Goff – not for the stupid sexist “rape” and “motherfucker” terminology in his ill-advised email (for which he has apologised) – but on this basis:

When you come out and you make a comment like that, where you brand a whole ethnic group in this country in the most obscene and vile way, and then apologise for the language, but not for the meaning, there is no place in parliament for that.

Harawira’s actual words were:

“White motherfuckers have been raping our lands and ripping us off for centuries…”

Which is true. Harawira didn’t implicate white people in general. But some white colonists and their descendants did precisely what Harawira describes – starting with legislation designed to alienate Maori land in the 1860s and, shamefully and most recently, Helen Clark and Michael Cullen – both of whom I otherwise hold a lot of respect for – through the Foreshore and Seabed Act.

It pains me that otherwise astute and well researched commentators such as Marty G at The Standard have bought into the Goff line. I’m not sure if they actually believe it, or if it is just blind loyalty to the Labour Party.

As Zetetic, another commentator at The Standard says:

It’s clear that Turia and Sharples will always go with the elite. Harawira represented the Maori working class.

Harawira’s clearly been deeply unhappy with the direction Turia and Sharples have taken the party. Betraying the Maori working class on issues like tax cuts and ACC. Cuddling up to the bosses’ party.

Right on! Despite his silly choice of language, Hone is one of us.

So I’m sure he won’t mind me posting this song by a bunch of white motherfuckers, albeit leftie and environmentalist ones, for him:

Comment at end

13th November, 2009

Alastair in Austria, lobbying for Tony’s Presidency

Still today, Alastair Campbell won’t let anyone speak ill about Blair or Iraq.

With thanks to Julie for the translation. See her original post here in German.

Alastair Campbell: “An election took place after the Iraq war and we won it”

Blair’s former spin doctor Alastair Campbell believes that even a poor looking New Labour Party can win the next election.

Original interview from Austria’s STANDARD website

Translation of The Standard Interview follows:

Campbell: We are in power, aren’t we?

STANDARD: In Britain. And probably not for long anymore.

Campbell: We have been in power for 12 years. Recently we had the expenses scandal and the debate about Afghanistan – and we are just about 10 per cent behind in opinion polls. That’s not a lot. It’s difficult to generalise the situation in all of Europe but we spent too much time on the same quarrels. In Britain there was a debate about the poor performance of the Labour Party until we (New Labour) took over. Until then, Labour had never won two elections in a row. Now Gordon Brown has the chance to win a fourth despite the bad economic situation and all the other circumstances.

STANDARD: That is very optimistic. In fact, Brown lags 15 points behind in all opinion polls.

Campbell: The media don’t like us, that’s correct. But don’t confuse it with the general public. If you look beneath the surface, the Conservatives are actually anything but popular. David Cameron travels throughout the country and does his work by campaigning against the government. But that doesn’t mean we cannot address the voters. Take for example the economic crisis. The answers provided by the left are substantially more reliable than those of the right.

STANDARD: … and the Conservatives win the election.

Campbell: In reality it’s about progressives against non-progressives. The new Conservative government in Britain is not new at all and not progressive anyway. They are as conservative as they have always been.

STANDARD: But compared to that, Labour looks quite reactionary.

Campbell: Like I said, we have been in power for 12 years. I don’t care how fresh they might look like, the arguments matter. And here we take the lead.

STANDARD: Why has Tony Blair so many opponents in regard to the EU Presidency?

Campbell: Europe and the government in Vienna as well will make a mistake if Tony doesn’t get the job. He’s by far the best candidate for the job. Europe has to make itself visible to the rest of the world. If Europe decides for a colourless manager, right. But I think it would be a loss for Europe.

STANDARD: What Blair lacks is trust. The European leaders accuse him of not being a convinced European and being jointly responsible for the Iraq war.

Campbell: The former is plainly and simply wrong. And the majority of the European countries supported the Iraq war. These are ridiculous arguments. The heads of states don’t want Tony because they don’t want a powerful person for the job.

STANDARD: Is there a deal from the time of the hand-over in Downing Street which obliges Brown to support Blair, and which hinders David Miliband from becoming EU Foreign Secretary?

Campbell: No. If Tony doesn’t get the job, he can choose what he wants to do.

STANDARD: As for Iraq, the war cost tens of thousand of lives. WMDs were not found. Was it all worth it?

Campbell: If we knew no WMDs would be found, we would have stayed there much longer than planned and the situation would still be relatively unstable, the decision could have been different. However, politics is not that easy. The intelligence services warned of WMDs. If you are the Prime Minister and after 9/11 this crosses your desk day after day, you also might have taken this decision. I understand those with a different opinion. But they don’t see the other side of the argument. But even if you consider the war huge in bloodshed, Iraq without Saddam is a better Iraq.

STANDARD: Right from the outset, there were enough sceptics. Why were their arguments not heard?

Campbell: You can have as much intelligence information as you like, in the end the government has to decide. That’s the difference between experts and journalists. For the political leaders it’s not a theoretical question. They took the decision and have to take responsibly for it. In Britain an election took place after the decision to go to war, and we won it.

STANDARD: You significantly contributed to the Iraq war dossier. Do you understand the public feels deliberate misled?

Campbell: I don’t understand why they should say that. I know it’s not true. And that’s why I don’t really care about it. There were several investigations into my role in this decision-making process. Everything was cleared up but the critics don’t want to let go of their position.

The Guardian says that Alastair Campbell might be back to help Brown’s campaign for the general election.

ELECTION ON MAY 6th?  ON TONY’S BIRTHDAY?

Isn’t that a little risky, Gordon? Alastair?

Just asking for Tory press fun with headlines, aren’t you? If,  just IF you happen to fail to win a fourth election.

Alastair Campbell’s blog

Here’s a quick survival guide to spending a weekend or, gasp!, a week in Miami that I sent to my mother who’s going over Christmas and hasn’t been in years. (She lived there for at least 20 years ending in around 1993.)  Thought I’d share it here.

Here’s my advice about Miami – pick a really swank full service hotel in South Beach and stay there. No need to pretend the town is a fountain of intellectual stimuli.  I’d say in fact don’t leave the confines of the hotel, pool, and blissful beach other than to do very specific cultural things.

One of those things would be to go to to the areas right off Miami Beach in Miami, the new art districts, and look at some of the galleries and exhibition spaces and see what’s evolving there. Here’s a link to get you started.  Art Basel will be just before you get there but if you look at the Art Basel Miami website you might see lists of galleries and areas etc that you’ll want to look at and maybe some of the exhibits will still be up.

Since you know Miami, you might be nostalgic for a trip down to the house of mirrors known as Versailles for Cuban food or pull up to a little Cuban joint to get a cortadito or a colada of cafe cubano (which I prefer and I know Morgan loves this).

the bar at the Setai

My hotel advice starts and ends with: The Raleigh Hotel. Gorgeous iconic hotel. Not as glitzy sceney as some of the others. Second, the Standard Hotel which is not on South Beach but off the Venetian Causeway. I like the Shore Club. It’s beautiful but very sceney. The Setai has a beautiful bar and I think it’s possibly the most luxurious hotel in Miami.  Many people were buying apartments in the Setai and using them as timeshares or somesuch. I’m sure the rooms are outrageously priced. Especially in peak season. Stay at the Raleigh. I know you. Stay there. Also, they do allow dogs! Off the leash around the pool! heaven. The pool is gorgeous.

Go to the Sunday market on Lincoln Road. It’s only every other Sunday so look up when it is. It’s an antique market and a good one. Everything from the original “see it like a native” posters to deco vintage.  Also on Lincoln Road is a Books and Books. Bad bagels but I think the model bookstore, ironic for vapid Miami.

Restaurants. Casa Tua is so romantic.  It’s not cheap but it is pretty. Just go for an evening cocktail if you’re not up for shelling it out for the dinner. I’m not going to say I know the food is magical but the lighting and the color of the walls reminds me of your taste. Specifically of our living room growing up.

I know it’s a chain restaurant essentially, but to sit out near the cruise ships during the day at Smith & Wollensky’s is really lovely and offers a unique restful perspective away from the pounding house music. Go during sunset and have a drink on that porch before the dinner hour or go for lunch.  You’ve got the beginning of the beach to your left down a ways,  the water in front of you where the huge ships pass and the helicopters hover, and a great big park full of dogs to your right.  I used to take Niji down there and walk behind S & W on our way to the sand. It’s a grassy walk and after the restaurant there are picnic tables and a place to barbecue.  One of my favorite memories of being in that god forsaken town.

For a good dinner or brunch, the best is Joe Allen’s.  It’s very New Yorky which I really needed living there but it’s authentically good and I love the understated design (and location!)   Not flashy like the rest of the beach.

Hope that helps you guys to plan your trip. If you stay in vacation mode, Miami can be just an amazing place to be. For a week max that is.

now sit down David Bahati, sit down parliament of Uganda,

(all homophobes line up here)

and just SHUT UP  en listen!

the most important thing in life is to learn how to give out love….

When the tall young Asian man woke up on Sunday October 4th 2009, I’m sure he didn’t think he was supposed to die.

When I woke up that day I was grumpy as usual. I didn’t know under which circumstances I would later meet a man screaming “help” while disappearing under the waves.

Few times do journalists get caught up in a story they way I did, but when that happens experience has taught me the story will be hard to tell. I disagree with Capa’s line, being too close to a story is as bad as being too far.

The trip started with a hike to Tailongwan, Saikung -in Hong Kong’s north eastern New Territories. We arrived there around 2 PM. The beach is secluded, only reachable by jungle trails. That’s why it’s a great place to escape Central. That’s why there aren’t rescue services.

“Bad day for swimming, gotta get a floatie for some fun,” I thought. Pilar, (my wife) a South Atlantic veteran, after a very short assessment rented a body board for both of us. The rest of our party already had one.

Enjoying Sunday, some surfing and lots of tumbling around in the enraged waters. All was fun until a man pointed towards someone with his arms raised getting swallowed by the waves. His shouts drowned by the fury of the sea.

One in our group, a good swimmer, hurried over there and caught him. He later said it felt as if the drowning man had passed out and caught him right on time.

I approached from the other side, only to assist, and other two members of our group -all of us with boards, closed in.

The drowning man was between the beach and the surfers who go out there on days like these. He went unnoticed to the long-board riders. By chance we were close to him and one of us managed to make it on time.

After our swimmer got him out of the worst, the Asian man’s friends huddled around us and we dragged him to the beach.

As soon as he was on safe ground I asked him his name. A traditional three part name in Cantonese. He was speaking. He was alive.

I took his pulse, it was over the roof. His friends had already called the authorities. Not much more to do other than talking to him and making sure he felt OK.

And so he stayed on the beach until a helicopter arrived. Of course, I couldn’t resist the temptation to shoot, with a simple camera.

The video shows the exceptional work of the Hong Kong authorities, they arrived with a full team of medics and airlifted him to a hospital. We were stunned by the efficient operation.

It seems the Hong Kong Standard wrote about the drownings of the season. I’m not sure if it’s the same person at the bottom of the piece. Those who survive don’t make headlines.

His friends wanted to have our phone numbers, we refused. All of us just did what anyone else would have, given the same opportunity.

Our best pay was knowing that a man is still alive and all of us played a little part in the most important word of this phrase: “still.” Another day for someone not supposed to still be among us.

So although, sadly, we are unable to tour out east this fall, I have been VERY busy getting things happening for Querkus on the home front.   While there are several shows that are in the finalization stage, there are two that are solid and ready to proclaim to the world:

Here's the beautiful poster art that Jaimz designed. Poster for Standard gig is forthcoming!!

Monday, October 26th @ 10 pm

Shannon’s Irish Pub  – 175 Carlton St

Thursday, October 29th @ 10 pm

The  Standard – 61 Sherbrook St (Hooligan’s/Eddie’s Garage)

with special guest:  Cantor Dust (www.myspace.com/cantordust)

If you haven’t seen/heard the new Querkus set up (or did at my brother’s social last hallowe’en… that was the only previous time ever it could have been witness) you really can’t miss it.  It’s quite the phenomenon and

guaranteed to enthrall and floor you.   Come to both shows if you can!!

There will be free admission to both shows.

There is also a good chance we will sell the final ~10 copies of the No Direction EP at these shows so if you don’t have it, come down and get it!

At least 2 of my carefully-obtained Ontario gigs have been moved to March when we will really, really tour.  Maybe for a week, 2 weeks, 3… hard to say.  Depends how many shows I can book.  It’s all in the planning stages of course, however there is a good chance that we may also be taking our Phantom of the Opera live original score on the road.  I’ll keep you posted.   If you have any suggestions as the where we should play in Ontario ot Quebec… or are some kind of angel who is interseted in actually helping to facilitate the booking or promotion of an event… please in touch with us through twitter @querkus or myspace.com/querkus or any other way you see fit.   Anyways that’s it for now!  It’s late and time for bed.   Pom-Chi is already sleeping…

The Standard has an anonymous Guest Post this morning promoting today as World Vegetarian Day.

I agree that a vegetarian lifestyle is the most sustainable lifestyle, and I think promoting it through having a World Vegetarian Day is a good idea. But I can’t agree with the conclusion of the post:

To put it simply, you cannot be a socialist, a greenie or any kind of progressive and eat meat.

That is like saying you can’t be a socialist if you own property, or that you can’t be a green if you drive a car. It is that sort of holier than thou self-righteous attitude that puts a lot of people off socialist and green politics.

As a Green, I acknowledge the diversity within our Party, and acknowledge that different people will have different ways of expressing their greenness, and different levels of sacrifice in their personal lives they are prepared to make to do so.

I choose not to drive a car, but I choose to eat meat. Why am I any less green than someone who does the opposite?

New York’s Fashion Week saw plenty of parties. Many of which were held at  The Standard Hotel.  The new Standard was updated by go to interior design firm Rowan and Williams, the creative team responsible for two of the city’s biggest hotel openings this year, The Ace and The Standard. We get to see what its like behind doors. Collaborative e-zine, The Scout, gives us a sneak peak into what it looks like inside Rowan and Willams.

John Key seems to want to have it both ways as far as confidence in Ministers is concerned. Following Richard Worth’s forced resignation, Key responded:

Asked if he as Prime Minister owed the public an explanation, Mr Key said: “No. The test of whether someone enjoys my confidence is not a legal test and I have never argued that Dr Worth broke any legal test.”

But in video deleted from TVNZ’s website, but recovered by The Standard, Key expresses confidence in Bill English despite his Ministerial expenses rort, stating:

It’s a legal test and I am absolutely satisfied he has met the legal test… Well there is a requirtement that’s around the legal test and I am satisfied he has no pecuniary interest.

So, it’s one rule for one Minister, and a different rule for another. Guess it depends on the expendibility of the Minister concerned, and presumably Key considers sacking the Minister of Finance and Deputy Prime Minister is an even worse look that having him continue to perpetrate the accomodation allowance rort.

Hat Tip: Draco T Bastard in The Standard comments thread

September is National Yoga Month, a great time to begin or re-experience the practice of yoga and open your self to the myriad of benefits it can bring to your life.  Stress reduction, pain relief, better breathing, flexibility, increased strength, weight management, improved circulation, cardiovascular conditioning, sharper mind, and inner peace can all be attained through yoga.  Each person has their own reason and personal experience of how yoga affects them, and everyone should try a style that is suited to their objectives.  If you try one that is not geared towards your style you may not get what you were looking for so check class descriptions  (try ashtanga, vinyasa, kundalini, or specialized classes like YogAthletics or Budokon which cross the traditional yoga boundaries).  The location you choose will also make a huge difference, I have had some memorable classes in studios, but also on rooftops at sunset or the beach at sunrise which may heighten the experience and connection with the universe.

Go for the physically challenging workout or the meditatively transcending experience and you will open your self up to a whole new world.  During September many yoga studios are offering free classes, seminars, and workshops to spread the love.  If you are a skeptic (come on now, yoga has been around and improving lives for 5000 years) put aside your “yoga is for girls and vegetarians” attitude and open your mind (and body) to a great workout.

Green Monkey, a balanced living community with a newly opened “Tree House” on Purdy Ave in South Beach (in addition to their South Miami location) is bringing together Miami’s most cherished instructors and yoga centers to offer a weekend of complimentary workshops to the community September 25th, 26th, and 27th.  Go to www.greenmonkey.net or call 305.397.8566 for more information on  and reserve your space for the class of your choice.

So in May I went to see my beloved K-Dawg in LA. I love that hosebag. I tried my darnedest to get Louis down from Vancouver and Mrinal from San Fran but they were in Thailand and Alaska for the weekend? Um, canihazyourairmilespleasez? I was really hoping for a full hosebag gang reunion on the West coast.

K-Dawg and me

Since it was my first time in LA, to be honest I wasn’t sure what to expect. Sunny weather, definitely. Lots of cars, sure. But yumtastic food and gorgeous vintage finds for a fraction of the cost?!? Time to move here immediately. I was half expecting the TMZ crew to jump out behind the bushes to talk to former tv celebs or the Hills girls to be eating at the Grove. Who am I kidding, they don’t eat (at the Grove).

I didn’t have too much on my “To Do” list while in LA other than see K-Dawg and hang with Carolyn, who incidentally was my Grade 6 BFF in Halifax, Nova Scotia and a newly indited  hosebag. Pretty much my Big3 consisted of drinking my goddamn face-off, eating and shopping. I have to say in 4 days, I feel that I was able to successfully complete each one of my tasks superbly.  I met K-Dawg’s childhood BFF from Chile, Chunga (nee Karina) who was an awesome host driving us up and down the coast to see/visit a whole bunch of places I can’t remember right now but there were lots of beaches and beautiful West coast sunshine so I’m just gonna call it Looooong Beach. Maybe it was Venice Beach? Bah.

Highlights from my trip include: (and this will involve fond memories of food and alcohol in no particular order)

1. Eating the best sushi ever in J-town
2. Eating the best fish tacos ever in Manhattan Beach
3. Meeting a former Olympic skier who now works in Studio City at the Abbey who not only proceeded to hump my face and Carolyn’s face thinking it was “dancing”, he at least bought me a few dirty martinis to replace the ones he spilled (again with the face humping).
4. Eating AND drinking wine at Chateau Marmont
5. Power hour drinking in our hotel room before hitting the town. Unfortunately we had revert to our Montreal ways and didn’t leave to hotel until 1:30AM, which basically was last call in LA. (I didn’t know!) We did however managed to make it into the Wilson Hotel? for a 5min dance session. Gotta work on that time management.
6. Drunk dialing another hosebag Yves in Boston asking him why he was not in LA with us. To be fair, we didn’t tell him about the Hosebag Reunion: LA Edition
7. Eating funnel cakes at the Grove
8. Looking up In-N-Out restos on the GPS, eating at 3 different location
9. Scoring a vintage Chanel scarf at Wasteland for $12. $12!
10. Telling a few UCLA kids where to shove it, nicely of course.

There’s more but I’m struggling to remember it all. I do remember one night we were heading to an “afterhours club” since the bars had closed but this place apparently had alcohol. I asked if there was crazy after hours cover and the girls said no. We took a taxi out to the “after hours club” which was called El Taurino. Turns out, El Taurino is a kick-ass Mexican food joint everyone goes to because they serve beer, “after hours”. Ha ha jokes on me. That night though, they ran out. Ha ha jokes on everybody. But to sum up my trip nicely, I put together a little video of us girls in LA being ridiculous, screeching, drinking, singing and leaving our trail of tyranny where ever we went. In short, I Heart LA.

Tracy Watkins posts at her blog. Yes she does post, although rarely. Her topic is must read political blogs.

Her blogs of choice in this regard:-

Kiwiblog – DPF :-

he seems to have lost his mojo. Back when Labour was in power, he did a sterling job of running issues and was the outlet for the voice of opposition. But nowadays he seems to be floundering over his purpose. Cheerleading is okay but it’s not why people started reading Kiwiblog.

WhaleOil, complete with photo:-

Utterly nihilistic and entertaining, though as a journalist, you had to seriously wonder whether it was worth the effort of pursuing some of his more half-baked news claims, given that as many didn’t stack up as did. But fun to read all the same. I haven’t taken at all to his new home on Gotcha – it’s a hotchpotch, frankly. I have no idea why he made the move but maybe he had too many lawyers breathing down his neck?

The Standard:-

They have picked up where Kiwiblog left off and do a good job of running issues as the voice of opposition. It’s a Labour blog in the same way Kiwiblog is a National blog, I guess, so it makes sense that they would fit more comfortably within the blogosphere now Labour is in Opposition. But The Standard is not yet required reading in the same way that Kiwiblog was during Labour’s final few years in government.

David Farrar’s comments. Whale comments twice, here and then here where he takes issue with the nihilistic description and claims to be an annilationist.

In the thread on Ms Watkins blog, Trevor Mallard writes:-

I read you Tracey though it is a long time between drinks sometimes. How come you didn’t critique either Frogblog or Red Alert http://blog.labour.org.nz/ both of which are must read to stay up with the play in any balanced sort of way.

Nice to see Trevor is not that busy.

Adam thinks that The Standard is not as good as Ms Watkins suggests, especially given the way moderation is often applied, especially if a comment does not fit with The Standard’s view point.

However, he was intrigued by Ms Watkins following comment:-

I read them on a professional basis and tune out completely when I’m in my own time. I’d rather be in the garden then sit over my computer searching out the latest political gossip. Which also makes me wonder whether there is much of a readership out there beyond those who, like me, have professional reasons to keep tabs on what political blogs say.

Or, as I suspect, do most people have better things to do with their time?

The issue of what sort of readership is out there, is the sort of implicit journalistic superiority statement which one might expect from the MSM, especially from a MSM blogger who comments but rarely.

In addition, unlike the print edition of a newspaper blogs are often read very widely. In the case of The Inquiring Mind over 60% of readership is from outside New Zealand. Adam suspects that the reality is that blog readers find blogs they are comfortable with and turn to them first, rather like following a particular newspaper columnist. For example Adam always tends to read Ms Watkins Saturday column in the DominionPost before anything else.

Mark Gibson, left, of the Brock Badgers falls over Tyson Hinz of the Carleton Ravens while scrambling for a rebound during action from university basketball at the Bob Davis Gymnasium

Didi Mukendi, left, of the Brock Badgers chases after Willy Manigat of the Carleton Ravens during action from university basketball at the Bob Davis Gymnasium.

I have had the opportunity to shoot some Brock university basketball games working through the St. Catharines Standard. I have never photographed basketball before. The university level sports have given me a chance to figure out where to stand and what to photograph, obviously the better the action the better the photo. So far for the basketball I have tried to stay under the net of the opposition so I can capture the action of the Brock players trying to score.

The gymnasium at Brock University is well lit. Using my Canon 5d Mark II at ISO 2000 the above photos were taken at f4 at 1/800 sec. I use Lightroom 2 to fix the colour balance and any minor exposure problems.

Cd

I was assigned to cover the H1N1 flu shot in the Niagara Region by the St. Catharines Standard. Starting at 8 a.m. hundreds of people began to line up in the rain. I was asked to shoot as much as possible from the day. It was hard trying to make a line up of people look interesting and I tried it from every angle I could think of. I ended up with the front page of the paper for my shot of the little girl waiting in line with her mother.

Hundreds of people line up in the rain to receive the H1N1 flu shot at the Niagara Regional Headquarters public health office, in Thorold.

Lauren Fox, 3, left, waits with her mother in line to receive the H1N1 flu shot at the Niagara Regional Headquarters public health office.

Nine-year-old Dallas Barkley, left, reacts to receiving a H1N1 flu shot from RN Helen Flynn at the Niagara Regional Headquarters public health office.

Exterior shots – ISO 400 f5.6 at 1/125 sec. Interior shot – ISO 1000 f3.5 at 1/100 sec. I am not a big fan of using flashes, mainly because I not quite sure how to properly use them yet, but that will be changing very soon.

Cd

What an absolute and utter disgrace of a man! Yes he is a man…. (Only man I know called Lynn but let’s ignore that.)
Whaleoil sums it up brilliantly here and here..
This man is an insensitive little suiciding wishing . I mean come on; I don’t agree with most of New Zealand but I do not want anyone to commit suicide. Suicide is a nasty nasty thing and I think it is 1 in 8 New Zealand men suffer from it: its just ugly.
Come on Lynny Boy, apologise to you readers and the families of those who have committed suicide or you will lose the rest of your integrity. I call a nation-wide boycott on the standard and I urge you to join me.
(Interestingly enough when i commented my opinion on this it was deleted.)

So here’s yet another repost…another in/direct relay of the shit that our east afrikan “media” personalities spew….as with everything else nowadays,we ain’t agonising, so much as, using this homo & trans phobic backlash to organise ourselves & advocate for queer/trans rights.

in other words, we’re  TAKING BACK SPACE!

you’re right Caroline, we have much more important shit to deal with. I resent that folks like you, who getting paid plenty nuff to get people’s attention and sell stuff, that you would waste airtime with such ignorance and (mis) understanding, that you would trigger me to JUS HAVTA  respond

……tolerance is not equated with sticking your head in the sand or allowing for hate to flourish. I told this to John Allan Namu, and I’ll tell this to you, sometimes you just need to go by a really simple rule of thumb. if you don’t have anything good to say, then don’t say nothing at all. (and yes, that one is another tricky principle to negotiate…but I’ll show you an example of the power there is in language….I’mm check you, en still keep it positive….practise long enough and you can do it too)

both you (en John Allan Namu) need to sign up for our upcoming AO101  workshops. If like you say, Caroline, there are so many  ”gay” folk that you support, and kudos for trying, then I’m sure you would jump at the chance of educating yourself on anti-oppression issues.

we all gots learning to do. and this will be my gift to you. I offer you a 2 – 3hr workshop, for you and your colleagues in March…at your convenience, where we will challenge homo/les/bi/trans phobia in a decolonization framework.

In other words, we’ll interrogate the intersections of our diversity and oppressions, and teach you more appropriate words than gay, like queer, & ” so gay” like neo colonialism & the masters tools will never dismantle the master’s house……and you can learn more about the role of allies, and all those folks in the closet…..most importantly, you’ll hear from people who’re OUT  of the closet, and won’t take you shoving us back inside…relegating us to sensationalist news items on the latest western craze and 2 gay men getting married in the  UK.

and dear reader, this post is for you too,  judge for yourself if Caroline needs any checking on her “issues”..

here’s what she had to say, in her own words.

THIS IS WHAT CAROLINE MUTOKO OF KISS FM wrote last week concerning an issue that was raised by many listeners of their sister station- CLASSIC 105 when the on air presenters went on and on poking fun at the gay community and concluding by telling their listerners to SLAP THE GAYNESS out of any gay person they meet in Kenya…………………..

*The violence in Kenya in 2007 can never be compared to the intolerance Kenya and Africa have for gay people. It trivializes the issues we underwent politically and ethically. The very people who suffered in 2007 would be shocked and disgusted to think some small minded people think it’s the same thing. How you chose to have sex cannot and does not compare to the suffering of our IDPS.*

*I am tolerant of homosexuals, period. When I start getting garbage in the name of the “persecuted minorities” then I have to put an end to it. There’s a threshold to how tolerant I or anyone can be of something that whether you like it or not, goes against the very sensibilities of more than 90% of humanity, let alone Kenyans.*

No single media personality has given the homosexuals in this country more air-time or space to speak and be heard without judging them than I have. So spare me the crap and the moral high-ground on what I can or cannot say and whether or not Nick and Marcus were right or wrong. There are homosexuals who work with us how do you want to know I care? Would you like to me “out” them so you can ask them if Caroline is legitimate.

What Kenya went through in early 2008 and this nonsense with the homosexuals cannot and should not be compared at all. How fickle can you be.

I can be tolerant, and tolerant I am, but I don’t have to embrace it and I sure as hell don’t have to apologise for saying it’s a none issue if I think so. There are bigger issues in this nation to deal with right now and the fact that afew homosexuals are hurt because Marcus and Nick said, give them a quick slap is beyond logic.

(NO SHE DI(UH)N!!!!!!)

From [*Name*], to [*Name*], to [*Name*], [*Name*], the organisation called Forgotten Sheep, [*Name*], [*Name*], [*Name*], to [*Name*] and [*Name*], to [*Name*] and [*Name*], to [*Name*] and [*Name*] and not to mention [*Name*] and [*Name*] who still rely on me for cash and jobs, I am very tolerant of homosexuals in Kenya. I’m not some silly little talking head looking for cheap publicity, I actually keep their confidences, respect their secrets and accept they want to remain in the closet.

(Yes! This is ironically THE  Harvey milk moment of this rant)

They come to my show, call me and take me into confidence because they know I get it. I’m their go-to-person. But when some air-heads thinks this is their new soap box to get mileage, you’ve got another think coming.

Incidentally, can you all get back to work, Paul Ilado, Patrick Quarcoo and myself have real issues to deal with. Caroline.

PS- SHE HAS WRITTEN ANOTHER LONG ARTICLE TITLED-  SO YOU’RE GAY, SO WHAT????

in todays THE STAR newspaper…..

Women buy lingerie for many reasons not the least of which is for undergarments they wear at work. From a man’s point of view the lingerie has one purpose and that is to create a sexy look and accentuate the form of the female body. As you may well know, men are visual in nature so sexy lingerie appeals to their very nature and you may wonder what type of lingerie are men into the most? Well, let’s take a look.

As a man, I can tell you that one of my absolute favorites would be the bustier and no red blooded male would deny that seeing a woman in a bustier is incredibly sexy. This sweet little addition to your lingerie wardrobe creates cleavage even among women who are moderately endowed. A well made bustier with the built in underwire pushups lifts and accentuates what you already have. If you want to be sure to get a guy’s attention wear one in white, red, or black, yeah, sports car colors!

When it comes to night time lingerie the Teddy is always popular. A one piece silky garment with little spaghetti straps makes a man’s hear skip a beat, especially when combining satin and mesh in the same garment. Basic black or white or white with pastel highlights will get him going.

Fantasy wear is next on the list. These are like Halloween costumes for adults. There isn’t a man I know that doesn’t get into his woman dressing up in a fantasy costume like the naughty schoolgirl with an opened white button down shirt and the standard plaid mini-skirt with thigh high stockings. Another sure winner is the naughty nurse, I know, my wife wore that one for Halloween and I nearly had to beat the guys away! Use your imagination and have fun with these.

When you are buying bras, G-strings, stockings, and garters with a man in mind think about being as sexy as you can, not shopping for comfort. You can never go wrong with anything lacy and the standard colors of white, black and red will give you that look of eroticism he is looking for. Depending on your skin tone other colors that are hot with men are peach, lavender, and light blue which are very feminine and catch men’s eyes.

Finally we have the negligee which is something every woman must have in her dresser if she has a man. I can tell you there is nothing more sexy than a silky or sheer and see through negligee. It accentuates a woman’s curves and will make him want to caress you all over. Many women choose to add a sexy lace bra and panty set to drive their man even crazier. There is hardly anything you do wrong with a negligee in any color.