Random Musings.

So I find it somewhat ironic that I come back to the blog when I again find myself unemployed, though not for long thankfully.

The new job starts on the 8th of May so I'm making the most of the fact that I have two weeks to just enjoy my time. Spend a little time on myself and do things that I want to do. Pretty much this means I'm doing a whole lot of nothing, but I don't mind. I can keep myself entertained.

I am a little nervous about the job but I guess that is to be expected. I don't have any clue really what it is exactly I will have to do but I'm sure once I've finished my 5-6 weeks of training I will be capable of making an impression on the company. I am looking forward to finally having a fulltime job again, with the benefits of sick leave and annual leave. It's been so long I can barely remember what it's like to actually have a paid sick day. Not that I care too much about that. This new place I'll be working has incentives and bonuses for you to aim for. One of the incentives is something like if you don't take a sick day for 30 days you get a $200 bonus. Suits me just fine. Having not had paid sick leave for so long, I don't take them anyway. I'll be looking forward to taking advantage of that perk.

I'm glad I finally got out of retail. As much as I loved the job it was no longer a challenge. I could do it with my eyes closed and I was just aimlessly wandering through life. I need routine and stability to make my life seem normal but at the same time I like to use my brain. I wasn't at the last job so it will be nice to have new things to work through and get my brain cranking.
I don't really have anything important to say and I'm just rambling now so I might leave it at that. I just wanted to get something happening on here to give me an incentive to get back into it properly.

Peace.

Urge!

I have the urge to start writing on this thing again. I am not sure how successful this will be and how regularly I will maintain it but I shall have a crack anyway.
See what happens!

Desperately Demure: Feminism and Television.

When Robert Adams, former secretary of the Smithsonian Institute, first added television memorabilia to the museum’s collection in 1985 he was noted as saying, “Television probably has become the most evocative, widely observed signpost we have.” Family life has been a common storyline for all genres of television programming, from sitcoms to soapies. In many ways these programmes can reflect the shift in social acceptance and gender roles over time. In particular, the portrayal of women on television is vastly different now to what it was five decades ago. Or has it really changed all that much?

“The only thing I've ever successfully made in the kitchen is a mess. And several small fires.” Carrie, Sarah Jessica Parker's character in Sex and the City, uses her oven to store random bits and pieces that don’t seem to belong anywhere else in her apartment. Carrie never cooks at home, preferring to live instead on the convenience of take-out, provided by a big city that never sleeps and a flexible income. Carrie, along with her friends Samantha Jones, Miranda Hobbs and Charlotte York, are ‘new women’. They are independent, both financially and emotionally. Successful, sexually liberated and determined. What every modern woman aspires to be… supposedly.

During the 1950's, when television became a form of popular entertainment, women actually used their ovens to cook! The kitchen was the central hub of the family home, where all members congregated at least once a day. Not extra closet space. Families on television in the fifties and early sixties were typically white middle-class, nuclear families living in idealized suburbia. The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet is a prime example of the television family during the 50’s. Well-dressed, devoted Harriet Nelson represented the wholesome housewife of the 1950’s.

In reality during the late 50’s, the second-wave feminism was imminent, the first-wave feminism slowed down somewhat after the 1920’s. Suffrage was the number one concern for first-wave feminists, and with persistence of women such as Susan B. Anthony, the right to vote was granted. Whilst women in the 50’s were still domestically driven and family orientated; they had gained a political voice and legal entitlements, such as the right to own property.
As divorce rates grew in the 1960’s, the portrayal of families on television programmes changed; single parent families emerged. Two that come to mind are My Three Sons and The Partridge Family. Strangely enough, despite divorce growing in frequency, it wasn’t until in the 70’s when the programme Maude was first broadcast, that divorce was actually used as an explanation for a missing spouse. Until then these families were “broken” as a result of fatality.

Second-wave feminism had begun. Second-wave feminists burnt their bras; they paraded the streets with placards. The second-wavers were without a doubt the most vocal of the feminist movement. They focused on causing social and economic changes. Sexual freedom, gender equality, birth control and abortion were all high on the agenda for second-wave feminists.

Employed and independent women were being portrayed more frequently throughout this era, albeit not without controversy. Cagney and Lacey, a show about two female detectives, wasn’t broadcast on network television until eight years after it’s conception! The Mary Tyler Moore Show was popular for its portrayal of Mary Richards, a single woman going it alone in the city and working in a man’s world. Moore was a role model for many women, yet she still faced situations in the work place that saw her as subservient to her male colleagues.

In 1972 Number 96 aired on Australian television. Number 96 pushed every boundary and broke every taboo of the time; sex, nudity, drugs, abortion, it was scandalous and it was popular! The Australian public took to the mix of drama and comedy, making the show a hit despite the shock factor.

20 years along and we have Samantha Jones telling us, “If we could perpetually do blowjobs to every guy on earth, we would own the world. And at the same time have our hands free.” The value of the shock factor is still used to draw an audience and keep them entertained. In the case of Sex and the City, elements of controversy are used in dialogue more so than visuals. The effect is the same, just vaguely less blatant.

There was a backlash against feminism in the 80’s stemming from political influences. Feminism had become a dirty word. Despite characters such as Roseanne and Murphy Brown continuing the 70’s trend of strong women on television, they were criticised for their unconventional maternal ways.

It wasn’t until the mid 90’s that women began to regain some of the feminist motivation, perhaps inspired by the ‘Girl Power’ craze. Third-wave feminism takes hold and women are once again pushing for gender equality and freedoms from patriarchal society, whilst maintaining a sense of the feminine. Embracing the right to be a mother, a wife, to have a career or all of the above. Recognising domestic roots yet valuing the path paved by women generations before.

Contemporary women often dismiss the term feminist. Rebecca Walker, a prominent voice in today’s women’s movement says, “I still do not believe that the use of the term Feminist galvanizes, unifies, or inspires at the moment. I think it did at one time and that was fantastic. But not now.”
Certain second-wave feminists have seen this rejection of the feminist label as being detrimental to the cause. The movement has become individual rather than collective. "I don't hear strong, clear feminist voices today," Brownmiller comments. "I don't see women coming up with new theories."

"I'm surprised by the amount of people who were really innovative in their youth and refuse to see innovation in the youth." Jennifer Baumgardner, co-author of Manifesta: Young Women, Feminism and the Future, hits back at the deprecation of the second-wavers, reproving them of being unable to see the vibrancy of today’s feminist movement.

Whilst Sex and the City has delivered many feminist plots, offered “male-bashing” moments, and grand accomplishments for the four friends, they remain at the end of the final season wanting little more than to love and be loved by a man. The women have shown they are capable; they can manage on their own yet success won’t bring true love. In this respect, women are no different on television today than they were 50 years ago. Coveting the security that a stable relationship can bring to a woman’s life, and the chance of motherhood. The white picket dream they secretly long for. As Carrie laments, “The fact is, sometimes it's really hard to walk in a single woman's shoes. That's why we need really special ones now and then to make the walk a little more fun,” all she’d really like to do is retire those single gal’s shoes to the opportunity store.


© [e] - 2005. Reproduction in part or full without express written consent will result in a breach of copyright.

Stan "Tookie" Williams.

~!~DISCLAIMER~!~ This post is long, but humanitarian in nature. Please read it and act if you feel so inclined. I do not normally do this kind of thing and I don't want to cause arguements so if you disagree with me and my opinion here, please feel free to leave my blog and we can keep the peace. I don't condone violence, gangs, murder, et al. However I don't condone capital punishment either.

I don't know if this name means anything to you so I will try to shed a little light. Stan Williams was the founder of one of the meanest, nastiest gangs in South Central LA, the Crips. He is infamous there for being a gang boss.

Right now he is sitting on death row, as he has been since 1981. The year I was born. That's nearly 25 years ago he was sentenced to die. He was convicted of murdering 4 people after his gang terrorised it's own neighbourhood for years.

The date of his execution is 13th December. 10 days away.

You might be asking yourselves now, WHY the hell is Elle telling us this? I spread the word for a few reasons. I strongly oppose the death penalty, I give thanks often for it not existing here. I also want to tell you about Tookie because of the changes he made to his life since his incarceration.

He spent his time in jail looking at his life, realising where he went wrong, noting the mistakes he has made, and eventually trying to stop others following the same path he has. Tookie has become an advocate for peace, writing childrens novels on gangs, and the effects on communities, and a whole bunch of other educational stuff to try and stop the cycle of gang members continuing further into younger generations. This educational material covered everything from gangs to racism. It is educational for so many reasons and it has prooven to have made a difference already.

He HAS made a change to gang warfare, he HAS opened some kids eyes and he IS working towards building a better community. He DOES show remorse for his actions in the past. He is REGRETFUL of the hurt he caused everyone during his time as the Crips boss. I could go on. I truely believe people deserve a second chance, particularly when they go so far out of their normal selves to change the things they implemented. To try and fix the damage they caused. Tookie has done just this.

Still he has been rejected appeal after appeal. Now he has only one hope left. Clemency. This can only be granted by one person. That one person is the Governor of Los Angeles. None other than Big Arnold Schwarzenegger. Celebs are rallying around Tookie more and more as the 13th approaches thanks to one Jamie Foxx. Foxx played Tookie in a movie about his life and his incarceration, called Redemption. That film was how I first heard about Tookie. It's a powerful film, with fantastic acting from Foxx. Other celebs, such as Snoop Dogg, have joined Foxx in this appeal for Tookie's life. They are doing all they can themselves to plea for clemency and have started a petition to put to Governor Arnie.

I don't know if it's considered null and void since we are in Australia but I urge you to please sign this petition. It will only take you 5 minutes and it may just help to save a man's life. For more info on any of this and to sign the petition please visit: http://www.tookie.com/

WARNING! CONTAINS SPOILERS!

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.

I have just gotten home from seeing this and I feel dejected, disheartened and a bit lost for words, though I won't let that stop me having a rant.

I feel vital concepts from the book were missing from the film. The whole start of the year up until they take the portkey to the quidditch world cup is missing, except of course the dream Harry has of the old man and Voldemort. The world cup is fleeting and if you blink you will miss it and the ensuing mess from the death eaters at the world cup is non existent. The mess with Winky and the dark mark, elevated muggles, Harry's wand, the whole lot - nothing, zip, nada, not an iota of any of it.
Same with Dobby, he is no where to be seen but if memory serves me correctly was the one who gave Harry the Gillyweed for the second task in the Tri-Wizard tournament. I could go on and on here.

We briefly sighted Ludo Bagman at the world cup amplifying his voice to start the game. Other than that he is AWOL from the film despite being ever present in the novel. Bagman bet with the Weasly twins and duped them with Leprechaun gold. He kept trying to help Harry in the Tri-Wizard tournament, offering him tidbits of information. I'm sure he played other roles in the novel which escape me at the moment, I just remember him being there a lot.

The drama that follows one Ms. Rita Skeeter through the entire novel is condensed into about 5 short minutes. We don't see much of the Quick-Notes Quill doing it's nasty tale-telling and the effects this has on Harry, Ron and Hermione. We see nothing of the problems Skeeter causes between Hagrid and Madam Maxine, the Beaubaxton Head Mistress. Nor do we see Skeeter being outed by Hermione for being and animagous. Shame that, she really does resemble a pesky fly the few times you see her on film.

And what of Percy? The Weasly boy so dedicated to the Ministry he turns his back on his family. A disowning that lasts throughout not only GoF but also Order of the Phoenix and into Half Blood Prince. You see nothing of Percy in the film, which detracts from the Barty Crouch Junior, Winky debacle. The Percy element begins way back at the World Cup. Percy also emerged in the novel at Hogwart's as an acting judge for Barty Crouch when he went missing. Not so in the film.

In skimming over the world cup and the occurrence of the dark mark, I feel the film has overlooked important factors of the story that tie all the loose ends together. Whilst I understand that GoF was a HUGE book and to put it all into film would mean the end result went for something like 5 hours (as it is it's over 2.5 hours). However I think that there really are vital plot points missing from the film that left me feeling a little empty. If you've never read the book you will NOT be disappointed. If you have, like me, no doubt you will feel the same as I do right now.

The character's development throughout the film is interesting to watch, they are all growing up and they look so much older than the first film all those years ago (obviously!) but it's good to watch because you also see this aging in their personalities and mentalities somewhat too. Puberty has most definitely kicked in there! (By the way, take note of the size of Ron's biceps towards the start of the film. Has he GROWN or what?! )

Don't get me wrong either though! For what it was, the movie was good. It kept me entertained, it kept me laughing, gasping, sighing, almost had me crying. Admittedly I was keen to see this film over a lot of the others due to the amount of action. The adventure Harry and his friends embark upon in GoF is bigger and more action packed than anything they have done before. The World Cup and all it's excitement. The Tri-Wizard Tournament and the dangers faced. The drama with Voldemort (who I must admit was fantastic! They did a great job rebirthing the Dark Lord on film). It was missing the OOMPH and the POW that I had anticipated. I had hoped to see a lot of amazing flying, near misses and edge of the seat adrenaline. Unfortunately I saw mere glimpses.

What they did with the film, they did it well, I just don't think they did the book justice.

..!..

...Hitting back with a vengeance...


....soon....

Oh The Humanity..

Public transport.. what a contradiction it is.

Convenient? Sometimes, when they are running to schedule and will get you to and from the place you need to be at and not somewhere in the 10km radius.

Pleasureable? Definitely not. Especially in peak hour. When school lets out and work is starting to end for the day is probably the worst time to venture onto public transport.

There is nothing like the feeling of having some sweaty old man breathing down your neck with his groin in your back whilst thrusting your breasts into the face of some poor unsuspecting high school student.

Not to mention the lack of things to "hold on" to. Whoever designed these new buses on the Coast needs to take a hard look at themselves. Really. Lets stick a bar here, maybe one there and then we can sit back and laugh as they all try not to fall over! Brilliant! Bus surfing is a sport I'm beginning to master. It's great for developing strength in your ankles and does wonders for your biceps!

The attitudes of some of the people working in the public transport field need to be readjusted too.
Yes you drive a bus, but no that does not make you a God! Sitting there all high and mightly on your comfy chair watching with a glint in the eye as we all pile in like sardines. Then you take the corner at 60km an hour. Yes fantastic! You laugh as we all hurtle to one side, shopping goes flying and people are nursing their weary bodies.

We live in a tourist destination, you drive a bus. It is a given that people will ask you for help regarding where they are going and how to get there. Don't look at it as a nuisance. It's part of your job. If you didn't like dealing with all of this why didn't you drive a truck instead?! Don't growl at them because you don't speak the same language as them. At least they are trying to make an effort.

Without public transport we would have problems, and I think for the most part it's not too bad. There are places in the world where it is far more unbareable than here. I just hope I get my licence when the time comes first go so I don't have to worry about or rely on it anymore!

*blink*

And I missed it. Someone messaged me on yahoo. They said they'd read this blog of mine, which is sorely neglected as of late. I closed the window and didn't get a chance to respond. It was an oops moment. Could that someone message me again please?!

The Days Are Long And Very Much Alike.

Thank you for your application. The response to this position was overwhelming and we regret to advise you that at this stage you have been unsuccessful. We thank you for taking the time to apply for this position and wish you well in your further endeavours.

Well, bugger me. It’s getting a lil old hat already and it’s only been two weeks. On Thursday I watched with amusement as one of those cutting edge current affairs programs did a story on how “The youth of today are unmotivated” It irks me that does. Unmotivated my arse. Don’t generalize here, just because y’all had to walk 45kms to go to school and 72kms to get fresh eggs. I want a job. I want to be working. I want to be earning money. I want to be out there mixing it up with the rest of the employed world. I am motivated. I have applied for over 30 jobs in the last 8 days and I have made more of an effort than most people would. I have not approached the government as of yet to try and get handouts. Though unfortunately that time might be nearing. I am willing to push boundaries to further myself and no, I don’t own a Playstation.

...---...

I was sacked.

Hiccup.

So they never arrived on Friday and I'm still sitting, scratching my head and wondering whats going on.

Apparantly there is a problem with the lease, and since I don't know all the details I won't bore you with the mundane talk of it all, but this means they won't be taking over on Tuesday. I don't know when it will be settled now. My boss seems to have a sinking feeling that it won't happen at all. Pooey for him, great for me. We will see.

I went to work on Friday morning itching to find out the news and fired up for a round of "hahaha, you'll be stuffed" but it never came to a head. So come Tuesday I am still gainfully employed by my current boss with no clue as to what will happen next.

My colleague went on holiday this week and is away until next Monday so I've told her I will text her any important progress reports. Who knows, maybe I'll be able to text her and tell her it's all systems go as per normal and there will be no return of the Krunts!

Whilst I feel sorry for me boss because he is so keen to sell and very stressed about all this craziness... One can dream.

Sigh.

Things aren't looking good here on the work front.

I met the new people this week and it has been an interesting, drama filled time. I feel nothing but apprehension and tomorrow is THE day.

For the sake of my humour and their privacy I will refer to them as the Krunts.

Monday the Krunts were supposed to arrive and meet the team and get a crash course in how the shop runs. They never showed up. We had a happy day at work on Monday with a lot of laughter.

Tuesday they arrived. The tension in the shop was palpable when they walked through the door. None of us knew where we stood and they were playing their cards close to their chests. Things were amicable. The Krunts seemed friendly enough, although a little mindful of what they said in our company. We got through a few hours before they decided to start holding "interviews". The lady I work with talked to them for over an hour, telling them right there and then that she didn't want to come back full time, she was ready to start retiring but would help them out a couple of days a week if they so desired.
Then it was my turn. I went out to the office and was asked some casual questions about what I do and the Ticketek system, what I'd done before I was there and if I bought my CV. I told them no I hadn't as I wasn't aware that I would be needing it (Bullshit Elle but hey it's my job damnit!) They seemed placated by that response, then they hit me with it. "Would you be willing to work part time?" I said to them, "No, actually I wouldn't as I am the only one who brings home money. I am single and I live alone. I can not afford to work part time." They exchanged a glance and told me they would talk to me later in the week. With that I was dismissed.
My colleague later told me they had mentioned to her that they were not wanting full time workers. Immediately I was on guard. They could have told me this to my face. The suspicions grew.
The Krunts only stayed a few hours more and then left. Things were great for the rest of the day despite my being upset at this knowledge.

Wednesday. The day went on with the Krunts hanging around watching us, asking a few questions and learning a little. This was to be expected. What wasn't expected was the sideways looks, the standing in the corner of the shop whispering. Feeling awkward and uncomfortable. And they barely spoke to me. Only talking to me when there was no one else in the shop or when they wanted to know what I was doing. I was printing labels for magazines in the back office and Male Krunt came down to sus it out. He was all paranoid about maybe I was surfing the internet. I shortly informed him that the only computer hooked up to the net was the main on the server and it was also a register on the counter. Stress less mate I'm not sitting here browsing! I am actually WORKING.

The routine for those two days was totally out of whack and I got nothing normal done. I hate that. Also things like lunch breaks were pushed back nearly two hours because of endless questions so I was starving and narky as hell!

Today was the pretty much horrible. My current boss who is selling wasn't at the shop today and that meant they felt like they could walk around like they owned the place already. We were trying to do some things to finalise for my boss before the sale went through, things that had nothing to do with these people and was none of their business. Things referring to the current accounts with suppliers etc. They were trying their hardest to get the information but I was shifty when needed and managed to thwart them as much as I could. Their attitudes completely changed. It was my colleagues birthday today and her brother in law rang to wish her a happy day. When she hung up Mr Krunt said to her "No private calls here!". We both just looked at him. I think my jaw hit the floor and sat there for about 15 minutes. I was in shock. My boss has never had an issue with us using the phone because we don't abuse this. Particularly when the call is incoming not outgoing. I didn't know what to say so I said nothing at all.
Then came the lunch break saga. My colleague said she was off to have her break, so she headed out the back to the office/kitchen. She remembered something she had to do so she turned around to do it. When she went back to have her lunch break the Krunts were in the office. Mrs Krunt heard her coming and came out and shut the door behind her telling her that Mr Krunt was on the phone and that she couldn't go out there. HUH!? IT AIN'T YOUR SHOP YET! Mrs Krunt acted like a bouncer in a strip club and was adamant that she had to stay out. We both just looked at each other. I felt like telling her that since he was on his mobile and it was time for lunch perhaps he should conduct his business outside. I bit my tongue. My mate got lunch and they did the cagey whispering again. I had the pleasure of having to teach them how to use the EDI and import the magazine invoices. Needless to say they didn't learn a thing thanks to my quick run through. (HAHA!)
Soon after they left again without mentioning anything to us about working and having jobs. A guy who works early in the morning asked them straight up today if he had a job to come back to and all they would say was that they would talk to him tomorrow. Doesn't sound good does it?
If they were going to keep us they would just say "yes of course you do!". Surely they would. They'd have nothing to hide then.

So tomorrow is the day and what an interesting day it will be. Considering Monday is a public holiday so I won't be at work they have to let me know tomorrow what is going on. I'm at the stage now where I could just tell them to go jump and not go back. I don't need to be treated like that. I don't wish to work for rude Krunts. And I know since I have seen them in action that without at least one of us there they are going to sink so far they won't recover without a lot of hurt to the hip pocket. They know nothing about how the business runs and they are up the creek for that reason. They thought "Oh a newsagency! Great! read some mags and rake in the cash!" Little do they realise how much work is involved. And they know how to do none of it.

They haven't endeared themselves to any of us and I don't think they realise how much they will need us. They also haven't built any trust or loyalty from this start and that is the reason why I don't want to work for them, they could have tried a bit harder to be nicer. Instead all they did was cause dissention and mistrust. They will put so many customers offside if they do get rid of us too. Already had people commenting that they won't come back. I just laughed. I know they are serious.

I will use them for whatever I can until I find something better for myself. When that happens I wont have any qualms saying Sayonara and laughing all the way to the next job whilst they cry all the way to bankruptcy!

Really...

It's not hard to be honest. To let people know where they sit. And not play games.

YOU failed to do this and for that reason alone I feel nothing but pity for YOU.

YOU promised me something and YOU couldn't hold it.

YOU promised me to tell me the truth at all times.

YOU failed.

YOU could have saved YOUrself a lot of bother by just being straight with me. I don't appreciate the head funk. In the time it took YOU to come up with the lame, hole filled excuses and the sappy, shallow apologies YOU could have set it right and be done with it.

Shame on YOU.

Random

Is it just me who finds it ironic that the colour for both jealousy and luck is green.. hmmm.