A great book idea!

First, I must apologise to my fellow team blogger. You see, we made a bet a couple of weeks ago. I put my money on McCain, and she on Obama.
The loser was to write a post atleast once a week. I haven't done that.
I suppose I could promise to write atleast two blog posts a week for the next four weeks.
So there you have it brokensword.
I already know what my next post will be out. LIONEL 'dancing on the ceiling' RITCHIE's concert on Thursday. Haven't bought the tickets yet, but come what may, I AM THERE!

Okay, so my blog post today is inspired by a story a friend told me today. I suppose I was so shocked by it, completely shocked, so shocked I still have trouble believing it as fact. So my suggestion to her, is that she put her story in a book and its sure to be a bestseller...or close. More important is that it may just help parents better understand some of the challenges their children face every day of their lives in HIGH SCHOOL!

I've always felt like the teeny bopper movies were highly exaggerated. You know the type where there is always a group of bullies that...well bully the rest of the kids at school. I could never identify with those movies cause they weren't telling about my experience of school. For the first time today, I realised what a sheltered life I've had. The worst form of initiation I ever had was at my convent school - the seniors instructed us to make a silly hat, and then wear it for the entire week at school. I have a very blurred recollection of actually making the hat, but no memory at all of wearing it. I figure I probably rebelled against it. Most important about this little story is that it didn't matter that I did. The seniors weren't all that obsessed with making me feel stupid (wearing the hat and all). It was just never an issue, so I never got into any trouble with them or anything.

Today I heard of a young standard 7 (whats it called these days?) girl who not only got harassed by her fellow women, but some guys too (unfortunately I'm not going to tell that story in this post).

So it started off being a jealosy thang. The senior girls I suppose felt threatened by her because the older boys thought she was a hottie. One day at netball practice (and this is just so true of those teeny bopper movies), one of the senior girls called out to her and said, "catch" - hurling the netball at her - at lightening speed.

It hit her face so hard, she fell flat on the ground.
The young girl ofcourse didn't want to show any weakness, so she held back her tears, picked the ball up and handed it back to the senior, "here you go ma'm," she said. Yep, apparently the younger kids had to call the matric students 'ma'm' and 'sir'.
I still don't believe that.

Later on that week, she got followed in to the ladies room. About six senior girls took turns beating her up. She just lay on the floor and took the bashing. And in true teeny bopper movie style, even though people saw this happening, 'officially' nobody saw anything.

Lucky for the girl, she had a good relationship with her mom. And when she relayed the story to her, her mom wanted to kick them kids' bums herself. I know this girl's mom - she would do it in a second. But fearing that her mom getting involved would make matter worse for herself, the girl begged her mom not to get involved.

The girl missed school for a while, she was just too scared to go but her mom told her enough is enough, you have to stand up to these girls. The girl asked if she could go to school with a knife...that would be her protection, she told her mom. While her mom said hell no to the knife idea, she did advised her that all she needed to do was just to get one of the girls, just one girl and thats it. (hahaha, I still think that's too unreal - sure sounds like it isn't real doesn't it?).

The girl settled for a hockey stick as her protection. And off she went to school. In no time, the same group of girls followed her to the girls bathroom. Before they even got close to her, she warned them, you touch me, and I'll kill you. I swear to god I'll kill you, she said to them.

The one girl responded. Who do you think you are? You think you can take on all of us?

She then responded. I don't need to take all of you. Just one of you. That's all I need. Just one, she said echoing her mom's words.

The one girl then approached the girl. The girl swung that hockey stick and "BHAH" - hit the one girl on the stomach. The one girl fell back and the girl went on top of her - ready to give her a beat down. The other girls retreated. And she let the one girl go.

Talk about a FIGHT BACK strategy. She went on to tell me another story about a little boy who got beat up by older boys at the school. The little boy had a Nigerian father, a BEEG nigerian man for a father (obviously the older boys didn't know this, else they would have never messed around with the little boy). So the one time, right after the boy got beat up, his dad fetched him from school. He could see that his little boy wasn't okay and asked what happened. And so the little boy told his BEEG nigerian dad what had happened to him. When the dad heard the story he demanded that his son show him who had done it. And he did.

The BEEG nigerian man and his son marched on to the rugby (it had to be the rugby guys) field where the same boys that beat up his son were. He asked his son to point out who had hit him. And when he did, the father went straight to one of the boys and slapped him silly. And then warned the rest of them, if any of you mo-fos touch my kid again, I'll kill you.

Hahahahahaha, do you believe that? I know a lot of bullying goes on at some schools. Maybe even most schools. I was never exposed to it. So I can't identify with it at all. What makes children think they can get away with beating up other kids, for no apparent reason. Just for kicks? Why would anyone want to do that? I just don't get it.

Anyway, this girl that told me these stories...and many more, might I add, I figure should write a book about it. All I could think about as she was telling me these story was all those other kids that have really kak relationships with their folks and suffer in silence as a result. All those kids that get teased and beat up their entire high school life. Stuff like that has to have an impact on you. A very negative impact? I wonder what those kids grow up to be? Serial killers? Wife beaters? Drunks?

After hearing this stuff. I kept thinking...when I do have kids - they are gonna have home school.

Top Gear

I am in love with the Top Gear Trio. If ever there was a combination of characters in television that was perfect, that complimented each other in every hilarious way, that just was solid, it is Jeremy, James and Richard.

These past two weeks I saw the Top Gear Botswana and trip to the North Pole.

Amazing, insane, hilarious, shocking. These are the descriptive words that come to mind. I was totally blown away by these two particular episodes. I was a top gear fan before, but this was just amazing. This was Television at its best and what Telvision should be about.

I don’t love cars but I respect the passion others have for them. I myself can appreciate a good looking automobile. It is the same thing I suppose with my relationship with other good things in life. Gadgets, state of the art homes, Dell XP’s etcetera. I do not have to own them to appreciate the beauty in the form and function.

This is the door that Top Gear lets me through, to experience the best of the best, vicariously yes, but at least I know what is out there and what is good to have, to drive, to scorn at. The Top Gear guys look down on the beetle but I can appreciate that it is an iconic symbol of an time/era that till today, tries to survive. I’d have chosen the beetle to battle across the Kalahari.

But yes, if you ever get the chance, watch, Botswana and the luxury journey to the North Pole. It is nail biting stuff but also hilarious. I particularly enjoyed the toilet scenes on the journey to the North Pole.

CHANGE

So I was wrong. And boy am I happy I was wrong. I sat watching McCain this morning, delivering his speech. And he looked particularly disappointed. But I was impressed with him, and how he handled his defeat. Even when his supporters booed at the sound of Obama's name - which he mentioned a few times during his speech - there was some dignity in how he did it.

BUT THEN, later on that morning BARACK OBAMA waltzed on stage in Chicago and delivered his - and if it was not clear to you before, it became clear which of the two was most deserving to sit in that white house. There's something incredibly dreamy about his delivery of speeches. They kinda make you get all worked up, all excited, all energised - ready to take on the world. I felt tears building up in my eyes as I listened to him talk about a 106 year old black woman who had seen all that was possible in America. The change that DID take place...in the past years and again today as Obama became the first black president of the United States of America.

I went on to cry 'heeeee, heeeee' - you know the kind of cry I'm talking about? When your face gets all shriveled up and you make strange, 'choking-like' sounds. I was more proud to be a human being than anything else today.

You know, it is quite easy to take his whole 'change' slogan lightly. But if you really think about it, if you really internalise it and understand what it means - you couldn't have listened to his speech and not cried. I have had so little faith in humanity lately...actually for a long time. And for me it became oh so gloriously clear today that ANYTHING is possible if you just believe and you hope. Everything that I perceived to be wrong in the world suddenly became an opportunity for change. The things we can achieve as a people are endless. Who was it that said something like, 'together we stand, devided we fall'. Barack Obama reminded of that today.

Heroes, Season Deux!

Heroes, Season Deux!



Folks, Heroes is back! According to Heartwarmer, only me and her are the only 2 people on earth who still have not seen the total second series. I can not tell with the people around me at the moment, I have a feeling they would look at me weirdly and exclaim, huh, what you talking about?

I missed the first two episodes. I missed the first episode because I finally caved in and got myself DSTV and was probably channel surfing and totally ignored what was on show on SABC. Second time, I was out of the country, totally not worth it. I would have preferred to stay put and watch my Heroes.

So I finally could watch my first episode this past Thursday and OMG, this has to be the most amazing, the most nail biting, the most gripping, the most entertaining and ultimately, the best escape there is on television, ever!

Yes, we’ve had Lost. We have Dexter, we have a plethora of TV shows that have caught on to the concept of giving that little bit of shock and horror and hope that you will tune in the next week to be amazed and shocked and inspired the next week, and the next and the next.

I choose Heroes. HEROES! So the premise is that humans are evolving and some of us are developing super powers to either take the human race to the next level humanity or annihilate it. It is about good vs evil. It is about being different and finding your place and purpose in the world. It is about humanity and all the human things that go with that.

In this second series we are introduced to new and wonderful characters. Heartwarmer especially likes the brother and sister duo who when separated, the sister spontaneously kills all around her, the brother helps bring the balance and benevolence. Heartwarmer calls it them the Yin and Yang. I like that too. Terrifying, but beautiful.

The third episode that I am starting with, which aired this last Thursday had Sila being taken care of by a woman who can project imagination. Although Sila was wounded and in a crappy type place, she could place him on a beach and make herself look like anyone he wanted her to look like. Pity that his nature took over, he killed her but could not gain her power. Wait till next week to see what happens.

Peter Pitrelli is in the process of rediscovering his powers. Hiro in is ancient Japan and is trying helping a warrior live up to his history.

I have not seen Nathan. Is he dead? Hhhmmm.

Claire has a boyfriend that can fly. Ya well.

Heartwarmer tells me the kid that can map all the ‘mutants’ (which is what they are, but this show has a totally different feel to X Men) sees somebody that scares them more than Sila. Could it be the flying boy? Probably not. I will wait to see.

So I wait, for the next week to happen, the only thing that matters about next week is what happens on Heroes! This is what there is. Finish and Klaar!

If I was one of the Heroes I would want the power to hear other people’s thoughts, but what would I do with that? No, I would want to have what Peter Pitrelli has, the ability to absorb other people’s powers without having to eat their brains like Sila. I suppose it is like telling the Genie that you wish for a million wishes or to be God. I want that.

Heroes, watch it and get hooked!

Freak Show

Madame Zingara is a freak show. I kid you not. I'd read about it vaguely when it first hit Joburg sometime last year, and people made a big fuss about the food bit. I don't remember anybody ever mentioning that it was a freak show. I would have remembered.

I had a fantastic time last night at Monte Casino. Apparently the show's sold out until it moves on to whatever city its planning to head to next. It was a full house last night. Madame Zingara, at least my sister tells me, used to be a restuarant in Cape Town, until it burnt down. The idea I get is that it was a big hit there...but then it burnt down you see.
And so this fabulous idea for it to become a mobile restuarant/freak show was born. Travelling from city to city I imagine.
If you haven't been, I can't recommend a better plan for a splendid night out. It has all the right ingredients. Great acts. Scrumptious food. Great music.

I don't want to give it all away, so I'm not going to say much else (unless you really want me to)...its a must see. If by some luck you do happen to go...watch out for 'the creature'.

TV License Ad Campaign

It pisses me off. How much money did they spend on this?

I see advertisements on Magazines, Radio, Newspaper, TV. And these are not cheap ads either, I mean to take out a series of advertisements in the financial mail, is not cheap, production of these advertisements is not cheap.

It just seems to me that we are asked to pay our TV licenses in order for the TV license people to be able to afford the ad campaign for the following year.

The whole thing just seems obscene and unjustifiable. The money they collect should be used for other things, I don't know.

Who the hell do we pay this license to anyway?

Who ever it is, do they buy content for the various TV stations? Do they give a little to SABC and etv?

Would these ads actually convince people, appeal to their moral side to pay their TV license??? Will YOU pay your TV license after seeing these ads?

Would the money not be better spent on other things? And then convince people to pay their license by saying, ‘…this programme’ or, ‘…this message was made possible by YOU paying your TV license’? I could buy into that. I don’t buy into spending money just for the sake of it!

What pisses me off the most is that the campaign is so brilliant. I love the print ads, the alien going off on his space ship, the werewolf, etc. I get so excited when I see one, and then I get crushed when I see the TV License logo at the bottom. Aaarrrgggghhhhh!!!!!!!!

The boldest story ever told

I want to know if Oliver Stone could do the blockbuster epic that is SA politics at the moment.

Imagine, against the back drop of the world economic meltdown, emerges a story of a misunderstood president (or however you see it) and the events of the past week. Certain incidents could be changed for dramatic effect, to take the story forward.

Instead of just one thread this could be a couple. The Weekender story of how they got the scoop and were the only Saturday paper to carry the story. They are patting themselves on the back very publicly and unashamedly for that. Which I suppose they should! Well done Karima!

The other story is a more personal one and aims to get Thabo better understood. There would be scenes of him as he is at home with the lovely Zanele, (do they have kids? maybe one of them could be gay because his dad did not hug him enough as a child so he looks for love in the arms of strange men, this is where artistic license would need to be exercised), him taking council from Moeletsi, his off the camera interactions with Miranda and so on and so on.

The next key story would be that of Kgalema and his rise.

On the periphery would be the likes of Julius the patsy, Trevor the tease, and Jacob the irresistible.

So one needs action and romance in there somewhere right?, I think therefore we could add the story of how Manto and Thabo met as young revolutionaries but Manto broke his heart and he has never been able to fully give it up ever since. Aloof? he does not want to get hurt again! (again, for dramatic effect, does not necessarily have to be true)

I'll get going on the script. I welcome suggestions for key roles.

The Dark Knight

What an incredible tour de force. When you think all is well, something else comes up. This has to be the best, I mean, THE BEST, Batman ever! It is, in its own right, a very gripping, a very revealing a very understandable explanation of how it all began.

The Villains are just as interesting and onioned as the heroes. The story is layered with twists and turns that you would happily let it go on forever. I would. I would.

Prequels are the thing but this is different. George Clooney, Val Kilmer, Michael Keaton all gave us what we needed at the time but the game needed to be stepped up a little to keep us interested. The game was stepped up and OMG!

As the world changes so do the heroes that we need to carry on.

I want to believe!!! Can’t wait!!!

Why oh why did they ever bring this series to an end. One of the reviews’ headlines on the X files read “the X factor is gone, so close the files”. Needless to say, I did not read further.

The thing about the X Files is that there is always a story. Like Start Trek, there are always new and fantastic stories to tell. Even 50 years down the line there will always be some X File waiting to be uncovered.

The thing about these kinds of shows is that they sometimes tap into current affairs and relay a little bit of a sci fi spin to what is going on in the world. Which is always entertaining and a little bit true?

Okay, back to this next episode. I want to believe. Okay Scully was always the rational one and she’s finds some kind of faith through a pedophile priest in this movie. Moulder and Scully are kind of together. I especially enjoyed the scene when they are in bed together. They are meant to be together and why the hell not. I hate those shows where the writers of the shows just keep you dangling and hoping that the lead characters will eventually end up together but never do. Scully and Moulder do not have a kind of a domestic life but they have resigned themselves to the fact they love each other and irk a way to demonstrate and live that the best way they know how. The best way they can.

So can one transplant a head? Who cares, the idea is awesome and fantastic.

Further ideas for future movie length episodes: There was a suggestion in this episode that George Bush had some Files hidden away. Ii am guessing, his relationship to some Middle Eastern companies? Maybe he himself is a botched experiment, maybe even his relationship with the smoking man.

Other ideas that could make for great TV: global warming, the globe is preparing itself or being prepared for another species that can live amongst the storms and high temperatures…etc.

I miss the stories about the Borg and Moulder’s sister and the smoking man, and and and. Bring these back. As often as possible. What else is left?

My romance with the alternative romance genre continues

I’ve thought very hard about writing about this particular TV show. I thought, if I write about this then I will be thought less of because of my attraction to this melodramatic soap opera type. I will be ridiculed for believing and buying into something that is so blatantly made for a specific section of our community. Those who crave cheap romance and get off on the age old love story where friends fall in love can never seem to get it together, ever. Every episode you are tortured, with hope that they might just get it together but alas, it is not meant to be. Ohhh and they came so close this one time….

I kept thinking and thought, hey. Fuck it. This is a brilliant series and one should share what one thinks is brilliant, right? Right! And this is what this blog is about. What I love and want to share. With myself mostly but maybe somebody else out there in cyber ether will identify.

Queer as Folk, American Version, season one and two! Season three, four and five just get too serious and stale and clichéd and just plain boring!

In Queer as Folk I got introduced to Brian Kenny. Brian Kenny is a gay man, who is utterly gorgeous and can (and often does) have anyone he chooses. He is oozing sex and has no inclination towards monogamy. He is who we all would probably like to be and so, so much more. Enter Michael, his best friend since childhood. The only person he’s still not had except; for this one time that they jerked each other off as horny teenagers. Michael and Brian will never be together because that is just the way the writers chose to spin this tale, but I always had hope. Season three, four and five crushed that hope and I hate the writers for it!

There are a few more characters in the series that are really great and one or two that have been very poorly cast. One of whom is the high school kid who falls in love with Brian and turns out to be Brian’s Kryptonite. I think the only reason this guy (Justin was his name) made it into the show was his uncanny resemblance to Matt Damon. I know… Matt is cool and all but he does not make a believable gay man. Even in the Talented Mr Ripley you could feel him trying to cling to something that is just not there in him. The gay man that strives to be sexy and enticing. Just does not work.

The other characters are okay until, enter Zen Ben who would kill my hope that Brian and Michael would end up together.

If you have a weekend to kill or have called in sick at work and need something to keep you going for a good couple of days, get Queer as Folk, American Version Season One and Two. It is funny, it is not for children which is always a bonus as you can always get some nudity, man on man, girl on girl, action, what ever you are into. It is supper sexy without being obscene. Well at least I think so. Do not watch it with the folks though.

It is really what it is. A melodrama with a heck of a lot of nudity and you will fall in love with Michael and want to be Brian!

After watching all the seasons I tried to delve into the L Word. I could only stomach one season of it. It confirmed what I already knew. Girl on Girl is just not meant to be sexy. They tried to replicate Queer as Folk, it just did not work for me. Girls are just different. There is tenderness and loving and no space for being casual about it. We are intrinsically deep and form attachments. There is just nothing casual about us, and if we try, we fall on our asses and remember the embarrassment for eternity. This is a good thing.