Editorial: Investigative journalism
Tuesday, January 31, 2006
Why do people feel obsessed to read 'expose' articles in gossip magazines? Is it because people are so damn unhappy about themselves that we need to know the private affairs of the people who don't know us and don't care. Does it give us a thrill to know that even celebs have they're 'human' times?I would like to make a point of saying that being an actor is like most other careers when it boils down to it. Acting pays the bills and people like to do it. Bakers do it, why don't have "Bakers Gossip Monthly"?
Rather than go on stake outs to see who is having coffee with whom, why don't they try sitting outside of a house of a suspected child molesting cult leader (*Ahem* Scientology). If they are going to invade a persons right to privacy they might as well do it for benefit of society.
Jack 14 days until my birthday,
I am now an official Year 11, moving up a year is like a hot fudge sunday for my seperiority complex. This is great a whole 4 years working and operating under me, always getting smaller and smaller. But hey, I'm a humble person on a quest to be on top of things.
Today I got we got 'the talk' from our co-ordinators, pretty standard stuff. However it really spoke to me. Then we had to sign some forms and contracts to prevent us from misbehaving and such. We also got our planners early this year, plus! Today I had Literature, Maths and Food. So far it looks like a great year.
Erin, Layla, Jenn and I congregated @ the back of the library. Which happens to be near our new locker 'pavilion', which happens to be a downball court with a roof and lockers slapped onto it. As well as garage doors that don't seem to open until it is the most inconvenient for everyone who has to use it.
It is so great spending time with old friends, it is one of the things I miss during the holidays and probably will miss once I leave school, but hey I hopefully would of made some new friends by then.
I am thinking of buying a pair of pants on Ebay, comment and tell me what you think:
At school they are establishing a fitness club in the GYM in Tuesday and Thursday lunchtimes, I'm thinking of joining. And on a note of joining things I am going to the next meeting of the Eltham Gay Group (EGG) I think it should be fun.
Lesson Learned: Promotions are good.
"Take what you need, take what you think you need"
Friday, January 27, 2006
Ah yes, The title was the catchphraise for my drama class. Now, because of our Drama Teaher Ian and a few of our old classmates leaving, the senior youth has been merged with normal youth. Now I have nothing againsed youth becides the fact that most of them are 12 year old superficial, uncooperative, slut dressing girls who have no idea what acting is all about. The youth program is too easy and dispite how much they alter it, I fear it will always be a program built for School Years 7-9. I dont like to toot my own horn, but I feel that I need better. Carla and I are thinking of moving to an Ameture theatre company and try to convince the others to come. The other alternative is to get everyone together once a month for a get together.
Today Erin, Layla went into the city just to hang around for a bit. We had a great time and spoke about everything. We met at Watsonia station and took a train to Melbourne Centeral. We had a drink at the Easy Way Tea House and Drank Coffee and Drinks with Jelly while sitting on chairs that hang from the celing. After that we went back to Melbourne Central to a cafe. I had a club sandwich, Erin and a muffin as displayed in the picture. We then
went to the student union campus of the RMIT. We found a letter that was addressed to 'You'. It changed my life, so we decided to spread some more mail addressed to 'You' in the hope that someone will pick it up and be enlighened. They also had a link to Friendly Freds blog.Following that we went to various shops around the city including:
- An underground pot hole for goths
- A trendite store for vintage cloting
- A zine store.
Apon being appoached by an Anti-Bush man with hairy ears, I was asked about what America was. I responded that America is a very large land mass in between Mexico and Canada (I love Canada), it was fantastic zinger. We were all given documentation about how he compared George Bush and John Howard to Hitler. His magazine style booklet looks an awful lot like a book in disguise.We then went and sat along the Yarra in the rain. That was nice. Erin named a duck. I'll be damned if i could remember it's name. Then we had a nice fun ride home on the train.
On monday we are going to get together and do a movie thingy, Erin, Layla and I will all bring our selected movies:
Layla - Donnie Darko
Erin- Breckfast Club
Myself - ARRRRRG It's the Mr Hell show and Episodes of Daria.
Thats one to look forward to.
A levedy filled entry with big funky action
Tuesday, January 24, 2006
As far as days go, the last two are probably ones that I could of done without. More or less i did nothing but sit on my buttoks collecting barnicles. But hey, because this is a levidy filled post I will rephraise, I spent the last two days "Recharging" infront of the computer.Today I had a haircut notice the difference between these photos:
Notice a 57% reduction of mullet action. I think I have a cute smile in the photo to the right. Now to just allow the pony tail to grow a bit more and then BAM!!! I have a longer ponytail, or at least one that means buisiness. Comment and tell me what you think.Today I went to North of the Yarra Bookstore to get the last of my school books, becides the homework I am completley ready for Year 11 at Greensborough College 2006. This year will be a new beginning for me, a new start, a rebirth. 2005 is a distant memory and I am going to face what 2006 has in store for me in its Trials, it's tragedys and it's lighter moments, it's quiet moments.
I would like to take some time out and make a list of things that are nice that I like:
- Friends
- Waking up after a good nights sleep
- Going to the loo after holding it in
- Video Games
- Honesty
- God
- Thinking outside the box
- Signs of thought at all from our superiours
- Finding money with no one tied to it
- Finding a really good song
- When things simply work the way they are supposed to
- And everything else
Daniel, Emily, Layla, Erin, Lynden, Rosemary, Carla, Phill, Peter, Matt, Ian, Connor, Bronwin, Bethany, Andrew, Richard (Oxenberg), Ros (Manly) and all the rest of the people that didn't make it onto the list (Which is the overwhelming majority) dont feel bad. It takes alot of people to make a community run and I'm sure that you are having astounding impacts on other peoples lives. Some are teachers I realise but I think they have taught me more than the subjects on offer. I would also like to send a special reguard to Jacob Dyer for his overall greatness, my seperiority complex has given me something to strive for over the past few years (It seems shallow and It is)
I will finish off with a prayer:
Oh lord,
Be with me, with us, with all,
as we go into tomorow with everything it has in store.
May the brighter qualitys of man shine in the light.
Guide us on your path.
My prayers go out to all those having trouble with the fires right now
Might they be safe and for those who have they're lives destroyed might they rise from the ashes.
Amen (Let it be so)
If you have a prayer request please leave them in the comment section.
Jack
Phillip island and beyond
Saturday, January 21, 2006
This is the second time I've had to write this damn entry thanks to an extremely brief power outage. So if the power goes out again I wont be held responsible for my actions. In retrospect I shouldn't be blogging in the middle of a thunder storm. To your left is the most recent picture of me. My hair is getting rather long, here is my plan of attack: Tie my hair back and have the rest cut shorter. Spike up the front and dye my pony-tail an exotic colour. How does that sound?
To save time and energy I am gonna summerise my holiday in dot point form.
- Arrival
- Unpacking
- Lounging Around
- Reading Minority Report
- Markets
- Steven King novels and lemon cordial
- Beaches
- Heavy winds pushing my kiak into a rip
- Bad beds
- Digital TV
- Fish and Chips and Chinese Banquet
- $1 Dance Dance Revolution
- Carnical Ride
- Getting angry over the matter of naked baby pictures
- Getting lost on the beach in the dark
- Watching the movie "On the Beach"
- Watching Irobot
- Holiday Homework
- Packing up
- Leaving
Today my mum had one more day off so we went around to the shops to buy various things. We started by looking at some kit homes and then we went to Officeworks. Officeworks is one of my few simple pleasures, it is a neardy pleasure. There is something about rows after rows of Notebook computers, Software, Office Furniture, Rows of pens and books and folders of all shapes and sizes. It fills me with joy. I think it's a sign I need to find a boyfriend... or not.
I got all of my school books and pens and folders as well as a scanner/printer/photocopyer by HP, i got it for $89 *SCORE*. After that we had a look around Northland and Greensborough Plaza. After spending time with my mum I realise how boring shopping with women can be. I dont want to see another sommer frock or another peice of gold any time soon.
I feel like kissing arse (Not literally you sick fool) so my next episode will be so filled with light levidy that your computer will hover from the ground (or wherever your computer is).
Caio!
Here is a picture I took down on Phillip Island:
The Editorial
Friday, January 13, 2006
Over dinner I was talking to my dad over lunch and he was talking about the changes that are taking place within the department to human services. I was quite shocked about what I heard and I feel as though it is un the publics best interest to know. First I will give you a background:
The Department of Human Services has a procedure in dealing with the criminally 'unsound'. Usually a person comes out of court after being tried and convicted of child molestation (This is just an example) and they feel that it is more suitable to put them into a special home and not in a mainstream prison. The person would then be put into a stage one house (The most secure) and over the years that person would be moved into Stage 4 (The Least secure) as the authorities saw appropriate. At the end of the program, a person would be re-habilitated. If a person is not able to be re-habilitated that person would just remain in that level until the day he dies.
Now in an obvious attempt to penny pinch, the department is going to enforce a five year maximum within the program. So anybody (Rehabilitated or not) will be released into the community no questions asked after 5 years. Where a person may or may not re-offend. If a person re-offends they go back into the program.
We all here in 'Life is Study' believe these changes should be thrown off the cards immediately. These people have been put into the program to protect the community as well as themselves. Releasing un-rehabilitated patients is just asking for trouble for the legal system but more so for the victims.
Please comment on this issue.
My next issue is censorship:
The whole issue of censorship has been thrown back into the media with everybody’s favorite gay cowboy move "
The last thing this world needs is to be cotten-balled. The people deserve to know how the world realistically is. People do have sex and people do swear and people do take drugs and people do shoot other people, if you think otherwise you are a damn fool.
I happen to agree with the way things are run at the moment, where we have a board of people who look at TV and movies and listen to music and make a list of all the things that are worth pointing out. They then give it a rating of E,G,PG,M,MA,R,X. They warn the people but don’t remove it from the public unless under extreme circumstances. When we start taking things out of movies just because they are inappropriate, the less we see of the original vision for the film but more of a politically correct 'softened' version.
If something is so wrong or terrible, tell people to avoid it. Boycott it, but don't ruin it for everyone else, because everyone else is usually the majority. People seem to forget that people in most cases have as much of an option to see or hear something as they have the choice of not seeing or hearing it. This applies to other situations beyond censorship too, a minority saw they don’t like something and push to change it for the majority, forgive me if I am wrong but don't terrorists do this also? Whether it is Eminem, Brokeback mountain or even having Santa at Christmas; make a change by leading by example and express your god given gift to make a choice.
Now talking specifically about Brokeback mountain, on Today Tonight a few days ago there was a high roller in the catholic church who was shooting down Brokeback Mountain, I respect his right to an opinion but I have this to say back to him:
People don’t become Gay or Lesbian or Bisexual or Transgender just because they saw it on TV and figured it was a good idea. Even if they did, they would eventually realize that that wasn't their choice for lifestyle. Living in the idealistic catholic world would mean the eradication of such things as Will and Grace, JoyFm, or any romance film in which the star crossed lovers didn't tie the knot before having sex. Going back to my previous paragraph: Keep it to yourself and live the way you want to live. If you stop forwarding your agenda on me I promise I wont forward mine on you.
Okay I've had enough of typing for now, now to spell check and sign off.
Lesson Learned: If you don't like what you are watching, dont watch it.
Jesus Driving an Italian sports car and various other funny busness
Thursday, January 12, 2006
Well the days that involved the following verbs: Sleeping, Sitting, Watching, Walking, Laughing, Reading, Swimming, thinking.During church, during "Time with the kids" the issue of gifts we can give to Jesus came up. We with my demented my imagination came us with the image of Jesus driving along the great ocean road in an Italian sports car with his long hippy hair flowing gracefully in the wind.
On Tuesday I went to the pool with Daniel. Triple M was broardcasting live. TRIPLE M BABY! That was fun. However there did seem to be more people sitting outside of the pool sunbaking than actually swimming. Here is m y advice to all my readers that enjoy sunbathing: The suns rays are not only contained to the perimeter of the pool, the suns light is EVERYWHERE! You don't have to pay admission in your own backyard.
Several Days later (Wednesday) I went on a journey to 'the Comic's Lounge' in North Melbourne. To see a show (naturally) And the talent was pretty good, some better than others naturally. But I think we should support our young comedians. Because if we don't support our young comedians, they will be wandering around the streets performing various hate-crimes (Or so my propapaganda is telling you). So go out and support a comedian. Not only is laughter the best medicine, you are strengthening out economy, and keeping a comedian off the streets.
Today I went to see 'The Producers' with Daniel. This is a Movie Musical based on a broardway musical based on a movie (Try to get your head around that) I will omit you a long boring review and say, This is a good afternoon out, I give it 3 and 3/4 stars.
I am now sitting in the Broardstock house, Daniel has refused to make a statement about anything.
I feel like making one giant political rant, but I'm not in the mood.
So me following post will be an Editorial (*ahem* Rant) post.
This post is brought to you by:
The Comic's Lounge
26 Errol Street
North Melbourne
And the letter D and the number 9.
~Jack~
Praise for the Dumbest show in town
Sunday, January 08, 2006
Yesterday I felt as though I gave something back to society. Not only did I gave a handful of pocket change to a guy collecting for AIDS but I also gave another handful of change to aid our local arts: A sax player by the river. I also went up and asked about joining amnesty international, I was too young but what can I do about that? I guess I should stick to making poverty history for the time being. My acts of charity might not get me a plaque anywhere but it is a lot better than what a lot of other people might of done today.At any rate after leaving the teahouse after my last post, I walked around looking for and comparing notebook computers. My journey took my to MYER where I had a bit of a play on some of the computers. On one of the cheaper ones I was able to get into Wordpad and wrote the following note to everyone who would pass by:
"ATTENTION!!!!! I am currently being held host by a group of evil clerks bent on maxing out my credit card. I am currently in the basement. If they don't get what they want they will dip me in hot wax and turn my into a manikin, where I will display menswear for the rest of eternity. HELP!!!! This is just a test to see how the keyboard works on this notebook, apparently pretty good. I'll just keep on walking now. For fun of biblical proportions go to http://flashjack.blogspot.com"
Isn't self promotion wonderful?
After a little problem getting to the theatre (ie. Waiting for half and hour at the wrong theatre) I quickly realized me error and moved to the Fairfax theatre hastily.
(Commence review)
We open the first to scene to find a hotel room with Barry (A respected TV comic with a wife and kids) and Liz and Greg (Who claim to be bankers) who have come to Barry not only to open and account for him but to also persuade him to speak at a dinner party. Later Liz and Barry are alone in the hotel room and after having a few from the minibar Barry starts offering Liz cocaine and tries to 'feel her up'. In the next scene there is a major twist. Liz and Greg are not bankers but actually investigative reporters for a big publication, and everything that was said and don't in the previous scene was caught right on tape. The real story unravels from there.
This emotional rollercoaster has its share of sentimental moments and its share of well timed jokes. It's main theme is the ethics of the investigative media and how they will do anything to get what they want.
This play was by no means spectacular, it didn't leave have a WOW factor, however it did give me something to mull over afterwards. The acting was great and the script was well done.
I give it 3 and a half stars and recommend it to those who like to have a good laugh an the expense of the media.]
Note: I do recommend that if you are offended my such words as shit, fuck etc, you stay away from this play and probably this paragraph of this review.
(End Review)
During the interval I spoke to one of the usher about her job, perhaps I could be an usher? I also spoke to the man next to me about the play, I gave him the address to this blog so I would like to send out a hello to him.
Following the play I immediately went home reading 'Minority Report' for Literature class. It is a book that definitely has WOW factor, I must review it in a later post.
Lesson Learned: Any act of charity is better than none, however we have to get to a stage where have to allow people to help themselves. In these cases performing tough love for someone might be doing a better act of charity than any other.
In the meantime why don't you smile to a random person on the street,
Jack
The Adventures of Captain Captitalism
Saturday, January 07, 2006
Recently I found a really great internet series called "The Adventures of Captain Capitaliam", I would recomend this website to all those who just love satires of government.Here is the link:
http://www.captaincapitalism.com
Enjoy, OR ELSE! Well here I am In the city. I'm currently in an internet cafe that is roughly 5 meters below the earths surface. Perfect conditions for mole people and computer nerds alike.
In about three hours I am going to see a play called the 'Dumb Show', it should be good.
In this internet cafe they serve meals and bubble tea. I had spicey Taiwanese soup (It wasn't spicy enough) and caramel coffee bubble tea. The waitress treats me like a king, I like that. It gives my a sense of importance, even if it is false. Personally I think all waiters and waitresses should treat their 'clients' like that. However on the other hand business is rather slow today, so I guess she could afford to spend some time with the individual people.
Recently I have been wearing my "Go the blacks" T-Shirt. Those who know me think I am an infidel, a traitor, a Judas. Those who don't know me think I'm from New-Zealand. I don't care what they think. I like the extra attention. I should wear more shirts like this. I even don't mind the all blacks.
From your witty yet modest overlord,
Jack
This post was brought to you by:
Easy Way Tea House:
Internet games
LAN Games
Internet Access
Basement, 220 Bourke Street
Melbourne Victoria
Tel: (03) 9671-4498
An update on a previous post.
Friday, January 06, 2006
Well, if you look at the post before all the pictures i have a few things to update on. I have finished my Naruto marathon recently all 140 episodes and the movie. Erin and I have been knocked back on out radio show idea, however in the meantime we have been developing ideas and resourse in the event that we try again. Infact Mr Oxenburg wants to be our producer.I didn't audition for this Years production of Pimpernel (However they were almost begging me to) in favour of spending my time on other progects that may arise. Things like an after school job or a part in the production of Greese, study time, or perhaps more sitting around time. Now I am going to get rid of some of these pictures on my blog.
Jack
Well here we are at the beginning of another year, 2006 to be exact. I would like to think all those people who helped make 2005 such a successful year, I won’t go into a long list but thank you.
Well here we are, I don’t update this blog very often but when I do it’s worth it. For the sake of self-indulgence let my try and list the main events in my life for 2005. They might not be in order, but for all those who know me know that I am not in any order anyhow:
- Year 10 of school
- Being upgraded to senior youth theatre
- Debutant ball with Ashleigh Robertson
- Parents breaking up and moving to Diamond Creek
- Coming out to parents and not so close friends
- Various Parties (Mostly my own or Laylas)
- School Production, I played the genie (or half of)
- First same-sex crush: Taylor
Well if there were other things that really made news, well they obviously didn’t make my list. Therefore was not that important to me in the first place.
So now without dwelling on the past lets continue with the first post of 2006.
New Years Resolution: To be more direct and honest to people.
Well seeing that it is the New Year I might as well appease my readers (*Ahem* Erin) questions with some good old fashioned home baked truth: I’m gay and I have known for about a year. I wouldn’t say that I have being deceiving people, however I have to say I haven’t been completely honest either. I hope that you can accept me for what I am, because I know that I won’t be changing for you. I apologise to all those woman who have gotten the wrong impression, now your perfect man is out of reach.
Well, with that little speal is over I can continue with this blog entry:
Talk about lame ways to open a new year. I spent the last few hours of the year watching a marathon of “Drawn Together” (Which was not quite as good as the “Becker” Marathon on TV1 last year) I stood on the balcony and screamed “Happy New Year” at home, with no friends. I then went in and watched the real new years on channel 9. Fireworks are not magical when they are on TV. Oh well.
I got up a few hours later and went to church and had the first communion of the year. When I had it I felt as though this year would be big, very big for the forces of good and evil (Jedi and the Dark Side). Since then I have come out to a few more people and they were pretty supportive.
I’m spending the next 2 weeks at my Dads place and things are pretty cool, I want to go to the pool with Daniel but he’s always busy since I came out to him. Sometimes I wonder if what he said initially was just to rectify the situation and now I am seeing his true colours. Oh well, I’ll find out in good time.
I have also bought a couple of calendars from the calendar shop from Greensborough. I got “Random Kinds of Factness” and “Non Sequiter”, I love page-a-day Calender, and however I have lost hope in the wall calendar, I just use the school ‘planner’ that gets handed out to us, I find it more useful.
For my own self-indulgence here is a list of all my gifts from last years Christmas:
- Season Ticket to all the shows of the Melbourne theatre company
- Ocarina and song book
- Gift Cards for Angus and Robinson and EB games (Personally I never liked gift certificates, it’s like money only it has limited use and it expires).
- A T-shirt that says “Go the blacks” from my NZ Aunt
- A Braun Cruzer3 (It shaves, styles and Trims because I’m getting to an age where I need it)
On Saturday I’m going in to the city to see my first show
On the 14th I’m going to a holiday house in Phillip Island.
Later Fools!
Jack
