marx and marzipan

Someone did this*.

And then a whole lot of people did this.

But then someone did this.

Which made someone else do this.

And then things got really interesting because someone did this and this.

Which of course, made this happen.

But then, it all got better again because there was one person who was genuinely smart, and she did this.

*I start with that one because it was the number one hit at google. I did see some reference the other day to “the first” but can’t seem to find it this morning

Four jobs I’ve had

1. chemist in a soap factory
2. waiter
3. English teacher
4. internet millionaire

Four movies I can watch over and over

1. Wings of Desire
2. Dead Man
3. Hannah and Her Sisters
4. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

Four places I’ve lived

1. Lismore
2. Townsville
3. Brisbane
4. London

Four TV shows I enjoy

1. The Simpsons
2. The X Files
3. The West Wing
4. The Office

(Yes, one of my criteria for enjoying a program is that it must have the definite article in its title)

Four places I’ve vacationed

1. Hat Head, via Kempsey
2. Japan
3. New Zealand
4. Nepal

Four of my favourite dishes

1. Agedashi tofu
2. fish and chips (in Bronte park)
3. Scrambled eggs and smoked salmon on sour dough toast
4. anything involving farfalle

Four sites I visit daily

1. Flickr
2. Signal vs Noise
3. Gridskipper
4. This place

Four places I would rather be right now

1. diving under a wave
2. driving through the desert in my Thunderbird listening to Cake
3. walking through snow
4. South Georgia Island (you know when you want to be alone………like *really* alone? South Georgia Island is the place for you)

Four bloggers I’m tagging

Can I try to break down elitism and be the conduit by which this virus crosses the species barrier? None of the following people have active blogs, but they’ve all got photos on flickr. No reason you can’t put something as your description on a photo. Well, excpet for the fact you might actually ahve work to do today

1. Lisa Herrod
2. Lachlan Hardy
3. Tim Lucas
4. Jacqui McGirr

I don’t imagine anyone will make too much of a song and dance about it, but I was pretty disappointed to see a story in the paper this morning telling of the Federal Government going out of its way to obstruct gay couples wanting to marry in countries that recognise these unions.

Same sex marriage is legal in the Netherlands, Belgium and Spain. However, at least in the Netherlands, there is a completely separate requirement that non-nationals wishing to marry demonstrate that they are not already married in their country of origin by obtaining a Certificate of No Impediment to Marriage, or a Single Status Certificate.

I do fail to see how it is not discriminatory that Australian embassies have been instructed by the attorney-general’s department, not to issue these documents in the instance of people wishing to enter into same sex marriages. And it certainly demonstrates a level of bloodymindedness that in my opinion points to a deep vindictiveness. It is one thing to pander to the conservative rednecks of your own constituency by not recognising gay marriages in Australia, it’s entirely another to reach out so miserably to the other side of the world like this.

And while I’m on it, can anyone explain to me how this doesn’t also show a failure to truly separate church and state? I can’t see any non-religious argument against gay marriage. Let’s face it, the institution of marriage is in enough trouble, so why would we be turning away couple who are going to so much trouble to get on board?

For about 8 years now my mantra has been "it’s always darkest just before the dawn". And then things always manage to get that little bit darker. Time to put on a bit of Radiohead I think…..

Full story from SMH.

1. Go and see it - it’s fun!

2. I’ve always been partial to a good scream of terror: Naomi does a few awesome ones.

3. M and I decided it covered the full spectrum of male archetypes:

* practical and handy in an emergency: the ship’s captain

* fatherly and caring: the first mate

* adventurous: the cabin boy

* ambitious: Jack Black!

* creative and sensitve: the playwright

* powerful: the ape

So, yes, it is definitely a chick flick.

4. The expressions on the ape’s face are inspired. I’m certain in fact they have consulted with micro-expression experts, a la Blink. Complex emotions such as resignation, melancholy and despair are created on King Kong’s face in a manner much more convincing than what could be executed by most actors.

I know I’m going to show myself up as a bit of a Philistine here, but I enjoyed this movie a lot more than I did the first LOTR (the only one I troubled myself to see). I’ts definitely an earnestness-free-zone, and doesn’t get bogged down in all the dull speeches and silly dialog that LOTR tends to. A strong buy.

Oh, and if you’re into theory, here’s a good bit of further reading.