Why political ads should be banned

via Complex

Political television ads are almost non-existent in South Africa. I remember the ANC and the DA somehow fighting it out, but never really on TV. We also don't have debates between candidates. They just use the press to publish whatever the other party has done wrong.

And then I found this. For a political party, this is terrible. What do you stand for? What are your opinions ( except for pointing out the discrepancies of the current president)? I just don't get it. What does this ad actually do? It's like a kindergarten where one child needs to badmouth another. This is not politics, this is just ridiculous.

It's all the same

Planified

I like planning. I draw up lots of lists where I can cross to-do-things off when they are done. I like it when people do things on time. In general, I like it when things that I can control are organised, so that the things I can't control can be dealt with without having to worry about what I should have or could have done. That made more sense in my mind than when I wrote it down. In any case, today was just a slightly frustrating day from an administrative point of view and nothing worked out like I had planned it. And then, wham bam, the saving grace: Starbuck.

This week is Francophonie week, which is why the Alliance Francaise hosted different films from various French-speaking countries all week. Tomorrow is the closing ceremony, with dance and a Jazz Band, if you are in the area...

Tonight's film is Canadian (from Quebec), from 2011, and revolves around David Wozniak, who donated lots ( and I mean lots and lots and lots) of sperm when he was in his 20s, but now, a loser who works for his father as a meat-delivery guy and who somehow got sidetracked in his life, is faced with being the father of 533 children, 142 of whom want to meet him.

It sounds a bit soppy and bla bla, but it really was enjoyable. The last film I saw at the cinema was Black Swan, and in between I cannot remember what I've watched at home. Either the movies are super intricate and a complete mind-fuck, or they are some fuck-buddy-turned-real-love story.

By comparison, this was a perfect mix between a 'human' story, where there is some hope that we are all connected and love one another, and romance, and rooting for the underdog. I am making it sound worse, rather than better. See it.

Tact

I consider myself to be a charming person. Haha. Or not. You will understand as the story progresses:

Yesterday was a great day: my Honours proposal went excellently ( or at least I though so), the French class I had to give did not turn out too badly and before going to a friend's birthday party I got to just chill with a different friend. Up to this point, it was a really great day.

Then I drove to the birthday. Besides the birthday girl I knew one person, who left shortly afterwards. And this is where my social awkwardness really kicks in. A sea of people that I don't know, and don't really want to introduce myself to, because then I would have to ask what they do and explain 'what it is that I do', or rather my directionlessness in life, and then I would have to hear about 'my accent' ( after they find out I am a mudblood of sorts) and 'oh how interesting your life was' ( until I turned 10) and all that nonsense. I does not help that I keep saying, "Well, this is awkward."

BUT IT IS. Even the word is a strange melange of sounds that don't really fit together. And all the little hipsters weren't too keen on letting me into their circle of cool, so then I stand around, fiddling around with my empty wine glass, not wanting to be rude and get the hell out of there, because after all there might be something showing on TV.

I try to talk to people. It is this new thing I am doing where I try to be nice, and open myself up to more opportunities. It does not work out as planned. People are just soooooo excruciatingly boring. And I can't remember their names. Everyone looks the same, they all know each other, they talk about people I don't know, they close the standing circles and ultimately I stop trying, say my goodbyes and am happy to jump into my car.

It it not my friend's fault. At birthdays it it always a mission to mix different friends and crowds. People come for you and then you don't have the time for every one and every time you talk to someone it feels a bit rushed because you need to be a good host and keep everyone happy. Pff.

The lesson learned: don't say "this is awkward" so many times, and don't try to make new friends. Let them come to you. If no one will come, there is always 7de Laan or Vampire Diaries on TV to keep you company.

Learning

Tomorrow we present the proposals for our Honours degree in Visual Studies. Last week I presented my idea for my French Honours. And although at the moment it feels like I am slightly swamped with work, it is so exciting. The idea that I will get to research what interests me and write about it and read read read just sounds so great. I know it will probably be stressful and I haven't even really begun and the year is still quite long. These dissertations will certainly not be easy. But man, I am itching to write and read and discover ways of thinking that I had not considered. Yes. Let the fun begin.

Ouch

My teeth have always been an interesting topic to write about. Or not.

In school I had braces, where each visit to the orthodontist ended with the promise that "next time" the damned railways would be taken out. Mine were taken finally removed and for the first time in years I could let my tongue glide across the smooth surface. No more food stuck somewhere! No more elastics that could shoot out of your mouth at any minute! No more awkward brace-kissing! No more holding your hand in front of your mouth when you're laughing! The joy!!!

Years later my friend knocked off a piece of my front tooth with a beer bottle, by accident. The tooth was evened out and my smile, though crooked, had straight teeth again.

Today I had to go to the dentist. There was nothing wrong. Some months back a tooth broke off (story of my life it seems) and they fixed it and somehow today was just to fix what was fixed already. But damn it hurt. It is still hurting. First that abnormally large silver syringe that looks like it had time-travelled from the 19th century just to be stabbed into my gums. Then the dentist and his assistant kept talking about the 'excavator' ( which made me imagine them pulling Excalibur from between my teeth) or the 'plugger' or 'Helen's instrument' ( pretty sure I heard this one wrong) and stuffing roles of pink cotton into my cheeks. The next tool used was some blue light that I could see reflected in his glasses, and then it felt like the  two of them were competing to tear the corners of my mouth further and further apart.

The highlight of it all: being told that I was being very "soet" ( in Afrikaans), which one tells a child when they are behaving well. Great. I cannot wait to get my lollipop.

Look, it wasn't childbirth or anything, but ja, my gums are still hurting. Damn you, giant syringe.

Ta(u)sche

In Berlin we bought a tausche-Bag. The name (in German) puns on bag ( = Tasche) and to swap ( = tauschen), because the "lids" of the various bags can be easily zipped off and changed. There are various sizes and also little add-ons that clip onto or into the bag, for instance the camera-holder-inset. In German the different bags have cool names like Day-thief or Hard-worker.

Check them out:

All images are from Tausche's website, which you can access through the link above. 

I have had my Tagediebin in red since 2008 and it really is a cool ( and very sturdy) bag. 

So if you are in Berlin, Hamburg, Köln or Stuttgart, or fancy one online, get it.

Volgende jaar Wien

Happy Birthday :)

word for word

via Becky

To care

I am never entirely sure how personal I can be when blogging. Should I just consider it as a kind of online diary, and write freely? Or is there a need to impose a filter in order not to offend or hurt someone close to me?
By writing about it, could I be making something worse?

There are some situations where I don't know whether or not it would be better to sort it out and talk openly, or whether it is the wiser choice to just shut my mouth and refuse to speak. In my family speaking openly is somehow not often an option. We talk generally, superficially, but when there is an issue, I would like to talk it out, sort it out before moving on, before ignoring that something happened, before pulling the rug straight over years of tiny fights. Somehow it never happens. It is probably my own fault for then not confronting the other party. In film it always looks so easy to talk, it's the influence of series like 7th Heaven (haha, man that was years ago), and now Modern Family, that make sorting shit out seem so effortless.

In any case, here is an advertisement for the Democratic Alliance's student organisation, which has caused some controversy. I think it is quite cool, and certainly an improvement from other political ad campaigns.

via Pantheistic Symphony

For instance, I took this one outside the Greek Orthodox Church near the university. Only problem: barely anyone here speaks Greek, and it sends a message of exclusion rather than inclusion?!

Vandag

I (secretly) like drowning and not waving. When it gets this busy at stages in life there is no time to reflect on little issues, on daily problems, on tiny details that could mean more than they do when analysed. Look. It's not like I am super busy. Evidently : I am writing this, and on the list of priorities, blogging is not really number 1. Neither is mixing myself a twisted Mojito with the last limes and Bacardi. I don't know what is most important. I make lists and scratch things out as I go along. And somehow, it always works out, with more or less sleep. But it always works out. 

So I don't really understand when people don't do much. Sure, over the holidays I spend waaaaay too much time watching Gossip Girl and pretending to read 'literature' ( this means I aim to read Austen or something that one 'should have read', but instead I go through old magazines and watch TV). Or after a stressful week one needs to blow off steam and do nothing. But permanently doing nothing, really? 

Anyways. Someone I know's friend started a blog. It's in Afrikaans, if you're keen. 

Ramfest

View of the stage from the bar area (hehehe)

Yesterday we went to Ramfest in Joburg. The traffic there was horrible, and none of the bands/DJs that were playing were terribly appealing, but in the end it turned out to be a great night. 

Halfway through the evening it started pouring just as The Narrow's set was starting. I don't know if it was the rain that forced the crowd to move and go ape-shit, or if the set was particularly good, but to me it was the best performance of the night. In Flames (from Sweden I think), Awolnation ( from the US) and Infected Mushroom (from Israel) all played as well. It is a rather eclectic mix of artists, what with ranging from electro to pop-rock to metal, but somehow it all worked out well. 

Hope you all had a great weekend, now it is back to work. 

 

Pulled

Quite a few couples that I know have broken up in recent months, separated after years, after thinking that it would last forever, after imagining walking down the aisle with another. 

It is hard being alone all of a sudden. I would compare being single to being a boxer : you are constantly fighting on your own. Sure, there are the fans that watch you and yell encouragingly from the stands, and there is the guy that hands you water and a towel and gives you advice, but ultimately, you are taking and throwing punches by yourself, for yourself. 

Now, relationships are different: suddenly you are part of a tag-team, with matching neon tights and all. There is always someone who has your back, who supports you, kind of like a person 'just for yourself'. I mean, friendships and family are important as well, but I think the significant other comes to be the person one could most rely on?! 

I don't know. I'm not much of a team player, so pretending to be Muhammad Ali suits me better than being part of The Miz & Big Show. 

A kiss with a fist

I just saw this, and find it heavily disturbing. Judge for yourself.

Served

via 2OceansVibe

via BrokeBillionaire

The ANC expelled Julius Malema days ago, and as always Nando's ('s?) advertising is right on par.

Mango Tree

For a year in Europe I searched for the perfect mango. They were always either too green or too hard or they did not smell the way a mango is supposed to smell. Ironically, I remember my first mango being eaten in Geneva, not in some tropical paradise full of mangoes. My mother was busy peeling one in the kitchen and asked if my sister and I wanted to try, and previously I had thought they were disgusting, but now my favourite part is cutting of the flesh and then sucking off the remaining bit in the pit so that all the juices spread over your face and run down your arms. It is rather piggish, but it is the best part.

Mango time is summertime. Mangoes are knowing I'm home and it's holidays and everyone is relaxed.

Mourning Part II

I won tickets to see Two Door Cinema Club, Isochronous and Desmond & the Tutus, courtesy of 5 Gum, and it really was a great night. Dancing, dancing and more dancing.

But at about 4 AM, our last dog Milou passed away. I don't know. When Spitzi died, it was horrible and I cried for days because he was the dog-of-dogs, the great character that cannot be replaced, the one that I still miss. Now, Milou, well he was also a little character. He often was a little bitch, growling and not liking children and having bad eyes and teeth due to the incestuous nature of the Yorkshire Terrier breed. He was a little rat, sneaking over to the neighbours and raping their poodle.

He could however also be a nice dog, one that wants to sit on your lap, one that squeezes tightly against your body in order not to be cold, one that 'smiles' when you get home, one that races you on the beach, one that sleeps on newly washed clothes, one that will be missed, dearly, as well.