Is it just me or is the Hollywood Machine churning out remake after remake after remake instead of coming up with new movies?
Just recently we had the Jackie Chan/Will Smith's kid remake of The Karate Kid. Really? Jackie Chan cast as Mr Miyagi? WTF....
Just as iconic...Footloose...as if anyone could ever replace Kevin Bacon!
Not to even talk about Fame, one of the iconic classics that just didn't translate all that well into the 00s.
It's all good, wanting to cash in on the feelings generated by a totally feel good movie but really? Why spoil a good thing?
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
The beginning of Apartheid?
Today the struggle movement fell flat on it's face. In it's wisdom (some might say vanity and others might call it plain windgatness) the ANC has voted for the Protection of State Information Bill, the vote was 229 in favour, 107 against with two votes abstaining. While it still has to go to the National Council of Provinces, in all likelihood this will be a formality only until it replaces Apartheid era legislation.
Way back when, when this country was controlled by white supremecists hellbent on eradicating black people off the face of their pristine white country, the freedom of the press was greatly curtailed. Then that freedom was fought for and won. Today it was lost again, lost or stomped on by the very people who fought for the right to vote, the right to live as everyone else has. The right to live as a human being and not an animal.
Alongside those same people who fought against Apartheid, the media of the day stood up and showed the world what was going on here. Showed the world images like the Sharepville Massacre, Hector Pietersen's body after he was shot by security police during the Soweto Uprising. Hector was 12 when he died. Without the press and press photographers taking these photos, the world would never have known of the brutal regime that was running this country, killing off it's own citizens.
Under the Apartheid government, the press was treated abominably. After the end of Apartheid, for the year 2010, we are ranked 38th out of 178 countries on the Press Freedom list by Reporters without Borders. After today's vote, I wonder what ranking we will obtain for this year?
Effectively, what this means is that government is protected and isolated from giving an accounting of practices like corruption and scandal. Media corporations will no longer be able to print stories (true stories mind you, not made up Heat Magazine rubbish) even if they have the information to do so.
Which effectively means, South Africa, that our country now stands on the brink of a media blackout blanket that not even the Apartheid era had us all covered in.
How then will the truth ever prevail? How then do we hold our country's leaders accountable for their gross misconduct, their corrpuption? How?
Way back when, when this country was controlled by white supremecists hellbent on eradicating black people off the face of their pristine white country, the freedom of the press was greatly curtailed. Then that freedom was fought for and won. Today it was lost again, lost or stomped on by the very people who fought for the right to vote, the right to live as everyone else has. The right to live as a human being and not an animal.
Alongside those same people who fought against Apartheid, the media of the day stood up and showed the world what was going on here. Showed the world images like the Sharepville Massacre, Hector Pietersen's body after he was shot by security police during the Soweto Uprising. Hector was 12 when he died. Without the press and press photographers taking these photos, the world would never have known of the brutal regime that was running this country, killing off it's own citizens.
Under the Apartheid government, the press was treated abominably. After the end of Apartheid, for the year 2010, we are ranked 38th out of 178 countries on the Press Freedom list by Reporters without Borders. After today's vote, I wonder what ranking we will obtain for this year?
Effectively, what this means is that government is protected and isolated from giving an accounting of practices like corruption and scandal. Media corporations will no longer be able to print stories (true stories mind you, not made up Heat Magazine rubbish) even if they have the information to do so.
Which effectively means, South Africa, that our country now stands on the brink of a media blackout blanket that not even the Apartheid era had us all covered in.
How then will the truth ever prevail? How then do we hold our country's leaders accountable for their gross misconduct, their corrpuption? How?
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
I thought I was over it
The hijacking that is. It's been 18 months and you'd think I wouldn't be having issues. But I am. I went to the local mall yesterday morning, just an average grocery run, nothing special. I parked, went in and paid for everything I wanted. When I came out to the car, I hesitated. Right next to my car was a ute with 3 young black men sitting in the open back. It took me probably all of 5 minutes to unload the cart and get into the car, all while my heart was beating up in my throat. I kept expecting them to jump out and do something, anything. Instead, they sat there talking quietly to each other while I had a mini breakdown. I felt ill when I got home.
Friday, October 07, 2011
The Tooth Mouse is revealed
C is very clever. I should have known sooner rather than later that one day she'd find out that Himself and I are the Tooth Mouse.
This morning started out pretty much like any other. She got out of bed, came to greet me and made herself some cereal. Then she asked if she could watch a bit of tv. I told her that while it was still too early (it was 7am) if she did her chores for the morning then she could. I made up a list for her and didn't think anything of it. Until that is, she came to me and asked me to write one specific word, a word that completely and utterly unmasked my alter ego.
See, sometime last year during a particularly viscious thunder and rain storm, one of her teeth came out. She put it in her shoe with a piece of cheese and went to sleep. At 5am the next morning, Himself and I woke as usual and realised that we'd forgotten to take the tooth and cheese the night before. As neither one of us had any loose change, I wrote her a note saying that due to the amount of rain, the Tooth Mouse had been unable to collect her tooth and signed it from The Tooth Mouse. She was very upset that her tooth was still in her shoe when she woke and that afternoon after school when I gave her the note she felt a bit better. That night, as soon as she was deeply enough asleep, Himself and I took the tooth and cheese and left her a bit more than we usually do. She was happy and we forgot all about it.
Until today. After I wrote the word she requested, she hauled out that note that the Tooth Mouse had left her and accused me in no uncertain terms of being the Tooth Mouse because the word on the note and the word I had written looked exactly alike. I burst out laughing. I couldn't help myself. I should have denied it all but she caught me totally unawares.
And clever little girl that she is, she said, no demanded, that the next time a tooth comes loose, we will be paying her. The Tooth Mouse might not exist but the money sure does.
This morning started out pretty much like any other. She got out of bed, came to greet me and made herself some cereal. Then she asked if she could watch a bit of tv. I told her that while it was still too early (it was 7am) if she did her chores for the morning then she could. I made up a list for her and didn't think anything of it. Until that is, she came to me and asked me to write one specific word, a word that completely and utterly unmasked my alter ego.
See, sometime last year during a particularly viscious thunder and rain storm, one of her teeth came out. She put it in her shoe with a piece of cheese and went to sleep. At 5am the next morning, Himself and I woke as usual and realised that we'd forgotten to take the tooth and cheese the night before. As neither one of us had any loose change, I wrote her a note saying that due to the amount of rain, the Tooth Mouse had been unable to collect her tooth and signed it from The Tooth Mouse. She was very upset that her tooth was still in her shoe when she woke and that afternoon after school when I gave her the note she felt a bit better. That night, as soon as she was deeply enough asleep, Himself and I took the tooth and cheese and left her a bit more than we usually do. She was happy and we forgot all about it.
Until today. After I wrote the word she requested, she hauled out that note that the Tooth Mouse had left her and accused me in no uncertain terms of being the Tooth Mouse because the word on the note and the word I had written looked exactly alike. I burst out laughing. I couldn't help myself. I should have denied it all but she caught me totally unawares.
And clever little girl that she is, she said, no demanded, that the next time a tooth comes loose, we will be paying her. The Tooth Mouse might not exist but the money sure does.
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Boy George can be an inspiration
Someone asked me a few days ago if I have ever considered writing about our past. I haven't. I don't think I have the eloquence and writing skills to do our country's past justice.
The best I can do is to be a witness to what has passed, what we are living in and what is to come. To raise J&C with the expectation that no matter what a person looks like on the outside, it is the inside that matters. Prejudice belongs in the trashcan with all the other rubbish out there.
The past week and this week there has been much discussion about being gay. The school play is running right now and as with any boy, wearing makeup is not something they would ever do willingly. Lipstick and blush is for girls not boys. Of course this hasn't meant that there hasn't been any teasing. Teasing and 10 year old boys go hand in hand, especially when makeup is involved. J came home last week a bit upset because some of the other boys called him a girl, sissy and said he was gay for not being bothered with wearing makeup. Until I showed him pictures of men wearing makeup. Who knew Boy George would be inspirational in that department? We spoke at length about why any man would want to wear makeup, have their nails done, get their hairy backs waxed...generally manscape. He understands it a bit better now, that just because you do all those girly things doesn't make you an aberration to be feared and generally made fun of. It doesn't mean that you are gay, it doesn't mean that you are. All it means is that you are a human being. Inside and out. And that being gay is perfectly ok with me. It's the love you have inside to give someone else that matters.
The best I can do is to be a witness to what has passed, what we are living in and what is to come. To raise J&C with the expectation that no matter what a person looks like on the outside, it is the inside that matters. Prejudice belongs in the trashcan with all the other rubbish out there.
The past week and this week there has been much discussion about being gay. The school play is running right now and as with any boy, wearing makeup is not something they would ever do willingly. Lipstick and blush is for girls not boys. Of course this hasn't meant that there hasn't been any teasing. Teasing and 10 year old boys go hand in hand, especially when makeup is involved. J came home last week a bit upset because some of the other boys called him a girl, sissy and said he was gay for not being bothered with wearing makeup. Until I showed him pictures of men wearing makeup. Who knew Boy George would be inspirational in that department? We spoke at length about why any man would want to wear makeup, have their nails done, get their hairy backs waxed...generally manscape. He understands it a bit better now, that just because you do all those girly things doesn't make you an aberration to be feared and generally made fun of. It doesn't mean that you are gay, it doesn't mean that you are. All it means is that you are a human being. Inside and out. And that being gay is perfectly ok with me. It's the love you have inside to give someone else that matters.
Thursday, September 01, 2011
Conan : a review (aka Mommy's Cartoons)
So I gave in to my carnal desire and went to see Conan 3D this morning. I first saw the Arnold movie way back in the 80s. Meh. This one......OH ALL THAT IS HOLY! DROOL. Jason Momoa looks good in leather. Very good. So extremely fine. le sigh.
Oh you want to know about the movie? Well let's see....crap. I don't remember much after he came on screen. I mean really? You want me to remember a plot line and a story after seeing all of this? :
Way way WAY much better than the original. The story differs significantly from the 80s version and IMNSVHO is much better. Ok so seriously, the acting will never win any Oscars but who cares? For 2 hours this morning I enjoyed myself. Very much.
/did I mention I was alone in the cinema? :D
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Gym agony and ecstacy
I went to Curves today for the first time in 6 months. Yes, I know. I've wasted almost R1000 the last 6 months. I've been a lazy sod, not going to deny that. It felt good. First, because while I am going to probably be a bit sore and stiff later today my body feels good. Second, when they weighed me in February I weighed 89kg. This morning I weigh 84. That's not bad considering I've stuffed my face countless times with really bad food, I've not been eating as well as I should and it's been so cold this winter I've guzzled my way through a swimming pool of tea.
Scout's honour and all that, I will be back there on Friday. And Monday, and Wednesday and Friday...you get the picture.
Scout's honour and all that, I will be back there on Friday. And Monday, and Wednesday and Friday...you get the picture.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
