A note from Jack
Wednesday, May 31, 2006
The following is 4 a program:Welcome to the Greensborough College Theater Studies 2006 production of Oedipus.
Oedipus was written by the playwrite Sophocles over 400BC and is one of his most well known works. Oediups is a classic tale of a man comming to realise that his destiny handed down to him as a newborn baby had come true. The version that will be preformed to you today is an abridged version of Sohpocleses original work translated by Robert Fagles in 1982.
A few things that you might notice during todays performance is the use of Symbolism and Minimalsism. It was our aim to keep the production looking raw and uncluttered to match the raw and uncluttered emotions the show. To do this we had to keep the set, props and costumes as simple as possible.
So sit back and enjoy the experience that is Oedipus! So far I have completed the following exams:
Food Tech (Prac)
English
Mathematics
Economics
Literature
Psychology
Exams I have left:
Food Tech (Theory) [The hardest of them all]
I must confess, I havn't really been studying for any of these tests. But I feel confident enough in my knowledge of the subjects to do well in the exams anyway. Will my pride lead to my downfall, only time will tell.
I just finished reading the book "Rainbow Boys" It is a realistic yet sexy story about three guys in their senior year of high school trying to deal with their lives, their familys and their sexuality. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It deals in some pretty serious stuff like: comming out, abusive familys, bullying/ heterosexism and AIDS. It was an easy read. I look forward to reading the sequal "Rainbow High"
I just started reading the book "Evil Genius", It is a very big book with small print. Hopefully the writer will keep me interested. Will I finish the book? Only time will tell. I cant really comment on it at the time being, I have actually only have read up to page 5, so far its looking promising.
Saturday is the End of the World Party. Will the world really end on the 6th day of the 6th month of the 6th year? Only time will tell. If anything is just an excuse to have a party and play REMs "Its the end of the world as we know it (And I feel fine)"
Here are some Lyrics:
That's great, it starts with an earthquake, birds and snakes, an aeroplane -
Lenny Bruce is not afraid. Eye of a hurricane, listen to yourself churn -
world serves its own needs, don't misserve your own needs. Feed it up a knock,
speed, grunt no, strength no. Ladder structure clatter with fear of height,
down height. Wire in a fire, represent the seven games in a government for
hire and a combat site. Left her, wasn't coming in a hurry with the furies
breathing down your neck. Team by team reporters baffled, trump, tethered
crop. Look at that low plane! Fine then. Uh oh, overflow, population,
common group, but it'll do. Save yourself, serve yourself. World serves its
own needs, listen to your heart bleed. Tell me with the rapture and the
reverent in the right - right. You vitriolic, patriotic, slam, fight, bright
light, feeling pretty psyched.
It's the end of the world as we know it.
It's the end of the world as we know it.
It's the end of the world as we know it and I feel fine.
Six o'clock - TV hour. Don't get caught in foreign tower. Slash and burn,
return, listen to yourself churn. Lock him in uniform and book burning,
blood letting. Every motive escalate. Automotive incinerate. Light a candle,
light a motive. Step down, step down. Watch a heel crush, crush. Uh oh,
this means no fear - cavalier. Renegade and steer clear! A tournament,
a tournament, a tournament of lies. Offer me solutions, offer me alternatives
and I decline.
It's the end of the world as we know it.
It's the end of the world as we know it.
It's the end of the world as we know it and I feel fine.
The other night I tripped a nice continental drift divide. Mount St. Edelite.
Leonard Bernstein. Leonid Breshnev, Lenny Bruce and Lester Bangs.
Birthday party, cheesecake, jelly bean, boom! You symbiotic, patriotic,
slam, but neck, right? Right.
It's the end of the world as we know it.
It's the end of the world as we know it.
It's the end of the world as we know it and I feel fine...fine...
(It's time I had some time alone)
I love the 90s, they were a fun time for me, so many memories. As the original captain yesterday, I recomend the website www.retrojunk.com it has details about Tv shows, Movies and Commercials from the 70's 80's and 90's. I enjoy posting comments about all the stuff i remember and reading the articles.
All hail the great Shaun Micallef
Monday, May 29, 2006
Micallef is one of the truly great commedians of out time. I have long admired him for his parts on Australian sketch comedy show "Full Frontal" and his short lived variety show "Micallef Tonight". These days he is mart of the weekday breakfast program on VEGA and occasionally makes apearences on Channel 10's improv comedy progam "Thank God You're here"Here are a few clips that I ave fished up from around the net:
Disaster: Day of Crisis
Wednesday, May 24, 2006
Here are some of the details for some of the details for the upcomming Wii game "Disaster: Day of Crisis". It looks sooo cool!
Survive nature's most devastating catastrophes in Disaster: Day of Crisis, a panic-inducing survival game for Wii. In a devastatingly short period of time, an unprecedented wave of natural disasters has pummeled the United States. On top of this inexplicable series of disasters, a rogue special forces unit has taken advantage of the chaos and seized a nuclear weapon. Only Ray, a former member of an elite rescue task force, has decided to take a stand.
Cutting-edge physics and gripping visuals re-create the sheer terror of major catastrophes.
Players race a car down a mountain to escape a roaring pyroclastic flow, dodge toppling buildings during a devastating earthquake and swim for their lives in a raging flood. No matter what happens, fight to survive.
And now for some improv poetry:When we die,
life flashes before before our eyes,
what will I see?
I see the simpsons,
What the hell!
Examps are looming,
I should study harder,
and correct my posture,
granny says:
"A curvy spine is the devils roller coaster"
Granny is cool.
I must protect Layla,
she holds the key,
She must find Jake Gillinghall,
and be protected fron Jhonny Depp
AKA Orlando Bloom
Otherwise the world would have to face
the terrorr,
the agony,
the torture,
oh a new series of buffy featuring David Cosh!
Last night I was sad,
I was told I was annoying,
I was selfish,
and only talked about what mattered to me,
I stoped talking to that person,
I am sad.
This poem i'm tou8ch typing,
I'm starting to get the hang of it,
bit i still have a long waty to go,
pracrice makes perfect!
Nintendo,
I'm putting my faith into you!
Excite me,
Excite us,
with "Excite truck".
Erin is my leader,
my unquestioned leader,
Layla will kill me,
Save me Erin!
Ok, I feel better now. Yay!
You're In town!!!???
Tuesday, May 23, 2006
On friday Layla and I went into the the city to see Urinetown the musical. On the way we went to the Easy Way and had dinner. Following that we hopped on another train that took us to Werribee (Aka Jamie town), to help pass the time Layla and I played a word game. We had to fin as many words as we could using the first letter of the next station, it's a good game but it does get old after forty minutes of it.
One thing I noticed about Werribee is that there is a lot of action in cars, every so often there'd be hoon driving or somone calling someting out to someone in another car.
After some initial confusion, we were able to make it to the theater safe and sound. I was greeted by Alex (Radio Dan's boyfriend) who gave us the tickets. He then quickly went away and we didn't see him again untill just before the show commenced where he was searched for drugs by officer Longstock (coincidence? I think not).
Before entering the theatre I noticed that the name of the show had been changed to make it more pollitically correct. What was once "Urinetown: the Musical" was now "You're in town: the musical" I was infuriated. The entire point of the show is that it's cheeky and in your face, and if you cant tollerate the title than dont see the show. This put me into a bad mood for the rest of the show. Here is my review:
It was two years ago that I originally saw this show, professionally done by the MTC and since then I have been listening to original cast recordings. I had a pretty firm immage of what I thought would be like. I was mistaken. Watching a highschool do urinetown is just like watching BABBA, you know it's the same material but deep down its not the same. That is one of the things about live theater is that it is that no two shows are ever quite the same.
The acting was good and the singing was at an acceptable level (except for the lead singers voice cracking every so often or the chorus lacking energy at times). The thing that got me was the dancers.
Why must schools feel compelled to put dancers in at every point they can? "Oooh look at us, we have acting tallent, singing tallent and dancing tallent and we must show it off at the same time". Here is my message: In a musical the cast should do the singing the dancing and the acting. There is no need to bring people onstage for a number and then take them off.
One thing that I did like about the show was the set design and the person who casted that cute guy to be the other cop, who happened to get a lot of stage time might I add.
All in All I give You're in town B
Saturday:
I went with Carla into the city. We ate Japanese soup at the Easy Way. I'm actually trying to develop a reputation at the Easy Way so when I get my food handelers certificate and ask there nicely if I can work. If I could get a job there it would be really cool.
After that we went on a search around China town to try to find Tang to give to Layla as a birthday present.
The thing about Tang is an in joke, read more about tang and china here
No such luck, following that we went on a search around commic book stores and drooled over some of the latest DS games and then I went home and made preperations for Laylas party
At Laylas party everyone was there and so much to do, I feel as though it would be best described in dot point form:
Lots of good food was served
Lots of old faces were there
I invented the weiner corner
I arm wrestled Trent "Satan" Whitman and won!
I brought my laptop where Erin and Jen sat around looking at a sheep dance all night
Good music was played
Everybody loved my tang gift
Showed my AMVs
Stumbled home at 2am
At Laylas next party I'll come dresesed up as an angel.
Exams are looming, becoming ever closer and closer. I feel good about them. I might not be 100% on any of my subjects, but I feel confident that I'll do well in my exams, I'll feel even better about them after I've studied a bit.
I've been thinking about careers recently, Thinking in either working in food or in social work. I think a happy medium for this would be to become a Home Economics teacher, I might try looking into it.
I found this apron in e-bay I think its pretty cool:
14 Days untill the end of the world
Super Smash Brawl!
Monday, May 15, 2006
This game looks very very cool, a must to have when you get a new wii.
Homework, that is what i've been doing for the past few hours. It feels good, or at least better than feeling bad about procrastination.
Recently I've been reading out of the bible, especially the book of psalms. It is a bleak and depressing chapter of the bible. Have a look:
Psalm 22
A David psalm
1God, God . . . my God! Why did you dump me
miles from nowhere?
2Doubled up with pain, I call to God
all the day long. No answer. Nothing.
I keep at it all night, tossing and turning.
3And you! Are you indifferent, above it all,
leaning back on the cushions of Israel's praise?
4We know you were there for our parents:
5they cried for your help and you gave it;
they trusted and lived a good life.
6And here I am, a nothing--an earthworm,
something to step on, to squash.
7Everyone pokes fun at me;
they make faces at me, they shake their heads:
8"Let's see how GOD handles this one;
since God likes him so much, let him help him!"
9And to think you were midwife at my birth,
setting me at my mother's breasts!
10When I left the womb you cradled me;
since the moment of birth you've been my God.
11Then you moved far away
and trouble moved in next-door.
I need a neighbor.
12Herds of bulls come at me,
the raging bulls stampede,
13Horns lowered, nostrils flaring,
like a herd of buffalo on the move.
14I'm a bucket kicked over and spilled,
every joint in my body has been pulled apart.
My heart is a blob
of melted wax in my gut.
15I'm dry as a bone,
my tongue black and swollen.
They have laid me out for burial
in the dirt.
16Now packs of wild dogs come at me;
thugs gang up on me.
They pin me down hand and foot,
17and lock me in a cage--a bag
Of bones in a cage, stared at
by every passerby.
18They take my wallet and the shirt off my back,
and then throw dice for my clothes.
19You, GOD-don't put off my rescue!
Hurry and help me!
20Don't let them cut my throat;
don't let those mongrels devour me.
21If you don't show up soon,
I'm done for--gored by the bulls,
meat for the lions.
22Here's the story I'll tell my friends when they come to worship,
and punctuate it with Hallelujahs:
23Shout Hallelujah, you God--worshipers;
give glory, you sons of Jacob;
adore him, you daughters of Israel.
24He has never let you down,
never looked the other way
when you were being kicked around.
He has never wandered off to do his own thing;
he has been right there, listening.
25Here in this great gathering for worship
I have discovered this praise--life.
And I'll do what I promised right here
in front of the God--worshipers.
26Down-and-outers sit at GOD's table
and eat their fill.
Everyone on the hunt for God
is here, praising him.
"Live it up, from head to toe.
Don't ever quit!"
27From the four corners of the earth
people are coming to their senses,
are running back to GOD.
Long-lost families
are falling on their faces before him.
28GOD has taken charge;
from now on he has the last word.
29All the power-mongers are before him
-worshiping!
All the poor and powerless, too
-worshiping!
Along with those who never got it together
-worshiping!
30Our children and their children
will get in on this
As the word is passed along
from parent to child.
31Babies not yet conceived
will hear the good news--
that God does what he says.
Theatre Studies has been really comming together, I can trully see this oedepus comming together. I think the big difference has come with the absence of Rheese and the intoduction of propper warm ups again.
In psychology we are studying power and status withing society. In psychology we learn about some very dark sides of the human mind. Its very exciting but depressing at the same time.
I ordered tickets for Laylas birthday, two tickets to Radio Dans production of "Urinetown: The musical" we organised that I pay the money for the tickets into his bank account and he mails me back the tickets... so far I have not heard back from Radio Dan. I think I might e-mail him again. If he doesnt get me those tickets I swear there WILL be hell to pay!
Just when you think you've had enough...
Monday, May 08, 2006
Since the last post I have added the following statements onto my pencil case:Gruel is hightly nutritious
Hunger is your body lying to you
We are all are named either Jane or John, we love you Jane or John,
...Blond Jane, Fat Jane, Old Jane...
Your name is Jane, not Emily!
A curvy spine is the devils rollercoaster,
I am really starting to run out of room on my pencil case. If I wish to continue I'll have to start writing in white out.
Jack Friday was the Milli Vanilli competition for the Junior School. As captain of Black house I volunteered to do Sound and Lighting. I'm not usually the one working on the tech side, but enjoyed having the athority over other people. It was magic! Sure there were a few mis-haps (ie. Label Track numbers people) but they were vastly outweighed by the quality of the show that literally was improvised technically.
Note: For those who don't know, at my School Milli Vanilli is the annual house competition where year 7s and 8s have to move and lip-sync with music, the only rule is that you cant actually sing.
One particular performance was happy to call my baby (Lighting Wise) was Tenacious Ds "Tribute (Best song in the world)"
In which I started off on a simple spotlight, then launched into red lighting whenever the devil talked, and then became a multi-coloured extravaganza during the choruses, then worked its way back down to a simple spotlight at the end. Unfortunately that song did not win, one of the songs from Grease won.
Saturday was my house warming party, the second since this new living arangement began.
The first person to arrive at my door was a guy doing market research. He asked my questions regarding various questions about my habits regarding various things, in the time he spent with me (30 minutes) Layla came though the door. Mr Market Research left me with a big booklet worth of questions for me to fill out, 100 pages. Usually I wouldn't do that kind of thing, however if the mother company changes the way they do things to suit me a bit more, I'm all for it. Oh yeah, The mother company loves you and only looks after your well being:
#Conform,
Consume,
Obey #
Soon after Carla came, and after that Phil came. The party was officially on! We played some gamecube, I won most of the time (Usually with my dirty playing tactics). And every so often we would go record a movie or two. One of them including 'The Time Warp' and 'The Mr Not Real Dog show'. Here is our own Milli Vanilli act, its not perfect but hey, you didnt pay for it!
We ate chips and spent most of the night watching Kare Kano (His and Her Circumstances), for those that are not familiar with it here is a synopsis:
Yukino Miyazawa is really, really vain, and loves to hear people praise her. She's always been the best at everything, and always tries to look perfect. But when Yukino goes to high school, she's finally upstaged--by Souichiro Arima, who scores better on the entrance exams and instantly snatches the attention of the class. By accident, Arima finds out that Yukino is just pretending, and this starts off a series of events that lead to Yukino and Arima falling in love. They then have to cope with a lot of obstacles in their relationship.
Yukino Miyazawa, the Queen of Vanity, is the 'perfect student' - smart, pretty, athletic and has an overall nice personality. What everyone in her school didn't know was that behind the perfect facade lies a different person. She is always the best in anything - but an obstacle comes her way. The obstacle's name is Souichirou Arima. Souichirou Arima is chosen as the representative of the freshmen, not Miyazawa. Thus, she strives hard to defeat him in all aspects. But a day comes when her most-hated enemy comes to find out her secret. From treating Arima as an enemy, friendship blossoms. Soon love comes. Kare Kano is a story that revolves all around the pangs and beauty of first love.
On Sunday I was in charge of Data Projection (Da-Pro) at church, and lemmie say it was hell! Nothing working right: programs were not doing what they were supposed to (If anything at all), the power was going out, and files were not done right otherwise I think we did a good job, everything that was supposed to happen did (eventually) and most problems were able to be minimized (you learn how to do THAT very quickly), the only majorly noticable thing that occurred when the sound of windows XP starting up rolled through the church as the choir was finishing singing, which added effect.
Later that Night I went to youth group and made a lot of comparisons between this girls love (I'm not good with names) and a green Ball for example:
It's Green and cemetrical,
It needs to be pumped up one and while,
It gets passed around easily,
Easy on the rebound,
etc.
Today I had EGG. I had a good time, fun but not too fun. The new poster was released and with it hopefully we should recruit (*cough cough *) I mean raise awareness of the group. Here is a picture:
Today we undertook in theatrical activities and just had general conversation. The idea of a 'sleep over' was brought up along with a movie night in the holidays. I'm all for it. Soon, Flick will be leaving on maternity leave and we will get a new project manager. Will the new person be as good? Only time will tell...
Tomorrow I could either have an economics SAC or a Food Technology Excursion, or possibly both. Again... only time will tell.
Todays word is:
Schadenfreude (German): Happiness at the misfortune of others
Wii Will Rock You
Wednesday, May 03, 2006
I've been back for a few days and since then some very interesting news has been going on.Upon ariving back in Diamond Creek, I was greeted by an email telling my to visit a gaming news website. I was shocked by what I read. Nintendo's 'Revolution Project' has been officially been renamed the Wii. I have since grown to tolerate the name, if not like it. But what is in a name anyway, the system is gonna be one of the best ever relieced.
Here is a fan made trailer for the Wii:
Other than that things are going cool. School is going swimmingly, in literature we've been pointing out every time The Great Gatsby says "Old Sport". Whenever I have become bored I've just added another uninspiring message to my pencil case, so far I have:
Rest is unproductive
You can always do better
"Vote" Erin!
Erin is your unquestioned Leader (Not Layla)
Layla will kill you!
Listen to your leaders!
Conform, Consume, Obey
You are replaceable!
Peace is War!
Feelings are stupid and useless
Your job is not to think
Religion is a club
Caffeine is your only friend
Wipe that smile off your face
Some are more equal than others
Trust your superiors
2+2=5
If anyone asks, your rights are not being infringed
Ignorance = Strength
Silence = Life
Liberty is worth less than ribbons
Lunch ends in 3, 2, 1... your fired
*Whip*
Wow, that is enough uninspiring messages to pring down even the most positive person!
Yesterday was health day for the year nines while he year tens are on work experience. They seem to be doing very cool things like, blow into the condoms and try and walk a straight line while wearing beer goggles.
Today I spent the day with Fredrico the Columbian exchange student, he seemed as though he needed someone to talk to. We clicked pretty well, even if I could only understand half of what he was saying. His English should improve before he leaves in November.
I've been calling Alex a few times over the last few days, unfortunately he's so busy that he has never been around where the phone is. So consequently I've gotten to know his mother Dorethy a lot better. I sent Alex a parcel with a copy of Captain Krunch: Space Mis-Adventurer, my aunts album "Hold onto Life" and the Super Fun, Double Happy, Bonus Disc Extravaganza. That disc containing a walking tour of my house, a bunch of pictures, great music, the best short films (Including Sean Archibalds "Last Soldier" trilogy found at www.yayme.net) as well as myself rocking it out to 'Rock Loster' by the B52s in front of my webcam, w00t. He thanked me earlyer this afternoon for the package and said he'd call after his tutor had done with him.
I saw this movie earlier today and found it interesting (mmmm...arty gay short film):
I've moved back to Greensborough for the month and I hope to see you at the housewarming party.
