Nudist fundamentalism

At Cap d'Agde on the Languedoc coast of France, there's a war brewing.

The Village Naturiste was established in the small town 40 years ago and now the 'ordinary' nudists have had enough and they want the hedonist bunch run out of town. They've been complaining for years that Cap d'Agde's once-sedate nudist quarter has been disfigured by the influx of 'libertine' partner-swapping clubs and raunchy hotels.

A flurry of arson attacks on sex clubs two years ago was blamed on low-level terrorism by nudist fundamentalists.

At this week's Cap d'Agde council meeting, the protests took a more peaceful form. Old-fashioned naturists complained that they, and their children, were being confronted with "voyeurist" and "exhibitionist" behaviour, including sexual acts in public. Worse, they suggested, the "deviant" newcomers sometimes walked about in their clothes and mocked the "real" nudists.

The town mayor said "I refuse to make value judgments on the sexual habits of other people. I can't put a policeman behind all 40,000 nudists." He also pointed out that by-laws had been passed recently to ban minors from the raunchier establishments.

Full story here.

I don't think I've ever heard the legislative process to ban minors from sex establishments sound like going above and beyond the call of duty.

Bone chilling

This is one of the scariest pictures I’ve ever seen.

Teenage Chechen Dzhennet Abdurakhmanova and her late husband Umalat Magomedov.

See the story at guardian.co.uk

The Reader

I’ve been watching a few movies recently but nothing worth recommending until this one. It’s provocative and disturbing and profound. Tissues are required.

**NO SPOILERS**

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Released in 2008 and directed by Stephen Daldry via Miramax Films. From the critically acclaimed 1995 book by Bernhard Schlink and produced by Anthony Minghella and Sydney Pollack, both of whom died before the movie was released.

The movie stars Kate Winslet as Hanna Schmitz, newcomer David Kross as Michael Berg and Ralph Fiennes as the older Michael.

The story starts in Berlin more than a decade after the Second World War ends. Hanna and Michael meet and commence a love affair that surprises, delights and disturbs.  Hanna is the controlling older woman and she dictates the summer long relationship before one day leaving unexpectedly. Michael is devastated and carries the effect with him until they cross paths again in shocking circumstances many years later.

The storyline tackles the tough themes of communication, of guilt and of reconciliation and of coming to terms with the past.

The cinematography is gritty, the direction is sensitive though unsentimental but the flashback format took me a little while to settle in to. The performances are superb especially Kate Winslet who won a Golden Globe, a BAFTA, a Screen Actors Guild Award and the Academy Award for Best Actress for this film. Stephen Daldry was nominated for the Best Director Oscar and the movie was nominated for Best Picture but lost out to Slumdog Millionaire.

Highly recommended to anyone who enjoys a movie that provokes thought. Oh, and I really do mean it about the tissues, I cried absolute buckets.

While we’re at it

Over the last couple of days both the gentlemanly scholar known to his nearest and dearest as The Plashing Vole and the intellectually formidable (and still inexplicably single) Intelliwench have ranted about incorrect usage of the humble apostrophe. All well and good (and as I admitted sheepishly on the wench’s site, I have been known to get the fussy little bugger wrong on occasion) but I have a blunter (or should that be more blunt?) axe to grind.

Who’s heard or read something like these recently?

• I would of made breakfast if I could of gotten out of bed
• I should of known better that to of asked you

It’s one thing hearing these words come out of someone’s mouth but seeing it written down makes the offence so much more inexcusable. It’s the difference between careless and clueless.

Spending five minutes reading comments on YouTube affects me like fingernails dragged down a blackboard. I advocate the return of public flogging for such blatant crimes against grammar and don’t even get me started on the they’re/their/there issue.

Now before I sign off can I make one point clear? This post does not give anyone licence to henceforth critique the grammar in my posts. I’m not one of your students Vole - I’m a giver not a taker.

…this lonely view

I have had the laziest Sunday in history. It’s been an overcast and cooler day so it seemed the perfect time to take a break from summer and lounge around inside for the day.

I have surfed the web, caught up on news, published a couple of posts, watched some TV and finished a book I started (re-reading) a few days ago. The book is great so here’s a quick review for anyone looking for something easy to read. Scar Tissue was released in October 2004 by Hyperion and authored by Anthony Kiedis with Larry Sloman. 

Red Hot Chilli Peppers vocalist and songwriter Anthony Kiedis shares his personal experiences in a first-person, chronological narrative of his life from childhood through to today.

Anthony has lived a breathtaking life. He started doing drugs with his father at the kitchen table from 12 years old and at around the same time his dad ‘loaned’ him his girlfriend so Anthony could lose his virginity.  Scar Tissue recounts the fascinating and tragic story of Kiedis’ life and the history of the RHCP. His tale of heroin addiction, love, fame and making music lurches the reader from one crisis to the next and gives us an often shocking insight into lives almost crippled by drug dependency. I read this and can’t believe how RHCP made a success of music making for 20 years and still continue to survive and grow today.

A superb read for anyone who enjoys autobiographical non-fiction; a simply fantastic read for RHCP fans.

The most dangerous place on earth?

Earlier today in Lakki Marwat city in northwest Pakistan a suicide bomber drove an explosives-packed vehicle into a crowd of people watching a sports game, killing at least 75 people and wounding hundreds of others.

According to the news report I just watched, residents of the city have recently formed a militia force to try and drive the militants out of their city and I understand that the Pakistani army also continues to wage an ongoing offensive against the Taleban in the same area. Looks like these efforts may have provoked the numerous reprisals that have already killed more than 500 people in the last 2 months.

I’m obviously no expert on the Pakistan situation and I certainly don’t wish to minimise the terrible loss of life happening there already but don’t this lot have a nuclear arsenal? I worry about the ability of the fragile Pakistani government to keep their nukes secure in the face of an advancing Taliban. It’s scary stuff.

Missing the point

A local progressive Anglican church here in Auckland posts a billboard each Christmas to provoke debate about modern Christianity.

This years billboard, as below, was designed to make the point that many Christians and church leaders do not believe in the literal virgin birth, and didn't believe that was the true meaning of Christmas. They’re critiquing the outmoded idea of a male god impregnating Mary and the literalism of the virgin birth.Since the billboard went up a few days back, the more traditionalist god squad around the city have repeatedly painted over it and now an ‘elderly lady’ has apparently been so incensed that she’s slashed it with a carving knife. Archdeacon Cardy of ‘St Matthews in the City’ has now accepted defeat and has removed the billboard as he was worried someone was going to get hurt.

It’s distressing that increasingly some things can’t be openly debated with clear heads.

Saturday feature

I watched a movie with a friend earlier today and I’m left with the effects. I feel slightly stunned.

The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas is a 2008 film directed by Mark Herman and based on the novel by John Boyne.

The movie is set in Germany during World War Two. Eight year old Bruno, his sister Gretel and their parents move for their father’s new job as a commandant of a Jewish concentration camp.  Bruno doesn’t understand the situation and with tragic consequences he befriends a Jewish boy of his own age who’s living inside the camp.

It’s a breathtaking film about innocence and awakening, about trust, about realisation and about humanity. Highly recommended.

Does it matter?

More and more bullshit news every day about the questionable climate change science is getting to me. As Moko said from his virtual sandbox the other day;

“These clowns can't see the ocean for the waves.”

Are we polluting our planet? Is this a good thing? What are the chances we can go on doing this forever? Are we creating a healthier environment for our grandchildren and their grandchildren?

I don’t give a shit that some say the science looks dodgy, all I know is that you don’t wait until you figure out how the fire started before you put it out.

 

 

Wake up world.

Our livelihood right now is far less important than the next generations being able to breathe and drink fresh clean water.

It’s irresponsible that we’re not doing something significant to limit our impact on this planet – whether the science shows it yet or not. 

Bon Voyage

I’m enjoying watching the progress and reading the daily posts of young Australian adventurer Jessica Watson who is attempting to become the youngest person to sail solo, nonstop and unassisted around the world. She’s 16.

Check out her website here http://www.jessicawatson.com.au/ and her blog here http://www.youngestround.blogspot.com/

There was considerable controversy about whether the voyage was a good idea but that’s now moot so I just hope she stays safe and doesn’t encounter anything she can’t cope with. She’s gotten as far as Tonga to date and is making reasonable time.

I wish her the very best of luck. She’s very brave.

 Self Portrait taken 29 October at sea.

Still going strong after 19 years

I’m getting really psyched to be seeing Pearl Jam again later this month. This is the first single from their new album Backspacer which I’m loving.  Double click to go to YouTube to watch it there as I can’t embed it here in my post.

Tales from the Tao

Very late last night after posting here, I picked up a new book for a few minutes reading before lights out. I was quickly engrossed and read it start to finish.

About the Tao is an interesting  website which explains the background to the book better than I can:

In ancient China, there was a very wise man named Lao Tzu who was the keeper of the imperial library. Lao Tzu saw the growing corruption of the government and decided to leave the city for a simpler life in the country. On his way, the guard at the city gates asked Lao Tzu to write out the essence of his understanding to benefit future generations. Lao Tzu wrote the Tao Te Ching, then left the city and was never heard of again.

The Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu, is one of the most influential books in history. It is the source of famous Chinese sayings such as;

“Those who know do not speak, those who speak, do not know”.

This book above is put together by Solala Towler and comprises about 30 of Lao Tzu’s tales. The stories introduce Taoist principles about many of the most basic human experiences – birth, death, loss, dignity.

The Tao was more a philosophy than a religion though when Buddhism came to China in the 5th century it became mixed up with the native Taoist traditions and became a unique form of Buddhism, called Chan, which later on travelled to Japan where it was taken up by the Samurai class, who laid it over their own bushido philosophy and named it Zen.

It’s a fascinating read and I highly recommend it.

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“Even a 1,000 mile journey starts with a single step” The Tao

Clearing Kibera

Photos uplifted from website of the Affordable Housing Institute:US. Click to enlarge.  

Most of us would have heard of Kibera, Africa’s largest slum. It’s a massive squatter city of over 600 acres with more than a million inhabitants. It’s possibly the most densely populated place on the planet and it sits right in the centre of Nairobi, Kenya’s capital. See the link following for the highly informative Oneworld.net television doco about Kibera.

Most of Kibera is built on piles of rubbish which subside and lead to regular building collapses. The whole place is prone to flooding and is heavily polluted by soot, dust, and other wastes. Open sewage routes also contribute to contamination. The combination of poor nutrition and lack of sanitation accounts for many illnesses. It is estimated that nearly a quarter of the 2.2 million Kenyans living with HIV live in Kibera. It’s a way of life so completely desperate it’s beyond the comprehension of most of us.

The BBC reported earlier this week (see here) that the Kenyan government has begun a long-term movement scheme which will rehouse all of the slums inhabitants. The clearance of Kibera is expected to take up to five years to complete - all residents are to be rehoused in brand new affordable housing around the city. The project has the backing of the United Nations and is expected to cost $1.2 billion. The new communities are currently being built and will include schools, markets, playgrounds and other facilities.

The first group of 1,500 people to leave Kibera were moved out on 16 September and were rehoused in 300 newly constructed apartments with a heavily subsidised monthly rental.

The removal process has now been challenged though and the Kenyan High Court has now ruled that the government cannot begin proper demolition works until the case is heard in October. The 80 plaintiffs that have filed the case are mainly middle-class landlords who lease the slum dwellings to the impoverished.

The rehousing effort is a fascinating and dramatic exercise in socialised housing on what must be the biggest scale ever attempted. There is significant risk that rehoused residents may have to share apartments with other families in order to afford the rent or that they might even move back to Kibera and rent their new homes to middle-class families so as to have money for food. Let's all hope that the Kenyan government, with the help of the UN and contributing nations, can find a way to mitigate these risks and make this work. 600,000 children deserve better.

Sharing the love

New Zealand and Australia have a reciprocal open immigration agreement between our citizens though it must be said that the traffic is mostly one way, Kiwis seeking adventure and opportunity and the bright lights of Sydney and Melbourne and in more recent years, Brisbane. We’re a reasonably well behaved and hard working bunch generally so it mostly works out pretty well for all concerned.

There’s a recent high profile exception to that rule.

In 1977 at the tender age of 12 months old, Patricia Carol Toia moved to Australia from New Zealand with her family.

In the 30 years since that time the delightful Ms Toia, who is a heroin addict, has racked up a truly impressive rap sheet  - she’s been convicted of hundreds of crimes and has done an impressive 30 stints in Australian jails. In fact 56 of her convictions relate to crimes she committed while in jail. Toia has never held a driver licence but has so many driving convictions that she’s been banned from driving until 2060.

Anyway, the game is now up and the Australian government wants rid of her.

Toia appealed deportation to New Zealand on the grounds that she has no family nor friends here, in fact no connections of any kind. She’s never been back to NZ in 30 years. Too bad says the Administrative Appeals Tribunal which recently voted to uphold the original 2004 deportation decision and return Ms Toia to the land of the long white cloud.  

"She is a threat to the Australian community and Australia deserves protection against her given that the risk of recidivism is, as must be obvious, very substantial indeed.”

Last week Toia was flown ‘home’ to her country of birth on a charter jet. She was accompanied by three New South Wales security officers and two departmental officials.

Welcome home honey.

I understand that when we’re visitors anywhere we should behave nicely and obey the rules but surely it can be said that Toia is an Australian for all intents and purposes. She lived there all her life and despite the fact her parents never applied for citizenship for her, as they were entitled to do on her behalf at anytime through her childhood, she is certainly more Australian than Kiwi.

Bad call Immigration Minister Mr Chris Evans.

Ain’t tennis great?

It was a strange end to a dramatic tennis match.

The much-anticipated clash between defending champion Serena Williams and 2005 champion Belgian Kim Clijsters, coming in after 2 and a half years in retirement, took place in front of a relatively small crowd at Flushing Meadows.

It was Clijsters, 26, who looked on top the best part of two sets, she broke serve to clinch the first set and when she was closing in on a sensational victory, the pressure told on Williams.

The Belgian was two points from victory when Williams, who had earlier been given a code violation for racquet abuse, was called for a foot-fault. That prompted the American to move towards the line judge in question gesturing angrily and verbally abusing her. Williams received a point penalty on match point and the grinder Clijsters advanced to the US Open final in dramatic circumstances.

It’ll be a great game between Clijsters and the 18 year old Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark tomorrow. My pick is that there is no stopping the power and experience of Kim Clijsters right now – she has her eye on the prize after many said she couldn’t make it back after taking so long away from the game after the birth of her baby in 2007.

Never say never.

Wound so tight

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What do you bet they don’t use any of these photos in the marketing material to get people into competitive diving?

 

 

 

 

 

Dude! You’ll burst a gasket.

 

 

Check out those thighs.

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On a more serious note…

I am deeply relieved that the sky did not fall in during President Obama’s speech to America's children.

Just finished reading the speech and I think it was well thought out and quite inspirational. I would love to know how many kids were kept home from school by their parents rather than risk having their brains addled by what might have been dastardly partisan politics.

Disturbia

I had a rant while commenting on a post by the Plashing Vole the other day.  I was (and still am) appalled at the increasing sexualisation of younger and younger children, especially but not limited to, girls.

Some of the clothing currently on the market that parents buy their children and/or allow them to wear is the key to this issue in my opinion. Have you seen the pants for preschool girls with “Does my butt look big in these?” or “I’m a tits man” t-shirts for boys?

Anyway I am incensed (yet) again.

I came across the below today online as an example of a service provided where you can ‘improve’ on your child's look with just a smidgeon of Photoshop.

I am not going to credit any of these shots I am using today as I couldn’t stomach potentially helping either of these companies with their marketing.

Who would do this? The world has gone stark raving mad.

WTF?

OK speaking of conspiracies (I really was - see my post of earlier today here), I just got sent this poll on Facebook asking me to vote on whether the President of the United States of America should be allowed to speak to school children in a few days. Now I must say I’m way way past being surprised at some of the thinking currently emanating from the land of the free but this has got to be the pick of the bunch – the chatter on FB is that most respondents have said that ‘No’, it is not appropriate that President Obama speaks to the nations children but I’m not sure how they’d claim to know the results when the ‘poll’ is still open.

As far as I can ascertain the speech is going to be about persisting and staying in school – have I missed something? How can the president speaking directly to the nations children about their education be a bad thing? Is it really an evil plan to brain wash US children with baby eating liberal propaganda?

WTF?

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*EDIT* I now see references to Hitler’s Youth rallies popping up around the place but the connection fails me.

You think?

The recent theory (with over a million and a half YouTube views at last count) around MJ allegedly faking his own death has made me think about some of the more outlandish and incomprehensible conspiracy theories of my life time.

As I see it conspiracy theorists seem to come in two flavours - there are those apparently intelligent people who are extremely passionate about what they see as massive cover-ups and then there are the fringe-dwelling nutters who wear tinfoil hats to keep the satellites from spying on them and vacation whenever possible in New Mexico.

Here are a couple of theories that baffle me. I read about them and can’t help asking but why? What would anybody hope to achieve?

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Microsoft Wingdings font

When Windows 3.1 was released in 1992, some genius discovered that the bundled Wingdings font was harbouring hidden anti-Semitic messages. What a crock!The conspiracy reappeared after September 11, when another genius discovered hidden messages in the similarly comic Webdings font that supposedly implicated Microsoft in the attacks. Watch a video about it here. It just makes no sense at all.

Speaking of 11 September…

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Part a) The Pentagon attack was faked

A story in PRLog (see full story here) on 27 August 2009 says;

“A three year independent investigation into the September 11, 2001 attack on the Pentagon has yielded new eyewitness evidence which…conclusively…establishes…that the violence which took place in Arlington that day was not the result of a surprise attack by suicide hijackers, but rather a military black operation..."

Part b) The Trade Centre collapse

The main Trade Centre theories seem to have focussed on that there was pre-existing knowledge of the pending terrorist attacks, and that the towers were taken down by controlled demolition rather than as a result of the planes hitting the building.

Why? Who knows.

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Princess Diana’s death

When Diana and Dodi Al-Fayed were killed in a Paris car crash while being pursued by 'paparazzi', theories did the rounds that the royal family were behind it all.

Claims included one that Diana was pregnant to her boyfriend and they were planning on getting married, which supposedly royally ticked off Lizzy et al.

A good round-up of Diana theories can be found on london.net.co.uk

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Can anyone offer any insight into any of the above or are there any other particular conspiracy theories that capture your imagination?

Olfaction satisfaction

I have woken this morning to the smell of freshly baked bread coming from the house of my earth mother neighbour.  It took me a second to understand what had woken me and why I was salivating. I will certainly detour via the local bakery and pick up a couple of nice warm rolls on my way to work. I might even stop for an espresso so I can drink in that aroma as well this morning. 

Another of my favourite smells is newly cut grass on a summer afternoon. The noise of suburban lawnmowers in symphony can get tedious but the smell that later pervades the neighbourhood makes it all worthwhile.

In winter I always have fresh oranges, grapefruit and lemons in bowls in the kitchen and living area. I think the smell is the best air freshener of all during a damp winter.

What rocks your olfactory sense? What doesn’t?