All I Want For Christmas Is You

Christmas is sooo overrated. The gift of giving is pointless to say the least. Luckily, I've completed all my Christmas shopping, except for my impossible mother who wants 'something she needs and something she wants' as well as grandchildren. Sorry to disappoint, but that ain't gonna happen anytime soon.

Meanwhile, Jaime didn't get on the plane.... Don't worry Paulina, be strong.

Although, I have experienced quite good customer service over the past few days, a concept which I thought was lost.

It's too busy in the city.

At least Mariah is Number 1 with 'Don't Forget About Us' on the Billboard Hot 100.

Hit me baby... one more time

It was interesting to watch Today Tonight on Tuesday Night. They were leading with the Race Riot issue and they began by commenting on the recurring violence. They mentioned that innocent bystanders were being drawn into the divisive issue.


The manipulative nature of commercial media, that I hate so much, once again exposed its characteristics in this story.

A studio interview told the story of a Anglo-Australian woman who had collected her children from school, and whilst travelling home, was targeted by a car load of Lebanese men, threatening her with taunts of murder and even rape. After hearing her tell the story, the host then crossed to a separate, in-studio shot of her husband, holding their three children. It was the epitome of patronising family images to sympathise and appeal to their target audience.

It was interesting that all they reported were thoughts and views of those who had been targeted by ethnic minorities. They failed to ask any members of the migrant community what violence had occurred to them. Instead, choosing to ignore the occurrences of Sunday when migrants and ethnic minorities were targeted with hate crimes and threatened by groups of young men.

It seems that in Australia, when an ethnic person threatens an Anglo-Australian woman with rape, it's the end of our society as we know it. What about the Aboriginal women raped by the settlers? The Vietnamese women raped by Americans?

It seems that not even the Australian & American governments, the entire basis and structure of our societies, are willing to apologise, while entire communities are called to pay for certain individuals mistakes.

Criminals have declared war on our society

I live in Brunswick and this bright, sunny morning, I felt scared. Scared to leave the house, scared that my future would be tarnished with racism. The scene of Cronulla Beach in Sydney has become one that I have never seen in my life and a scene that scares me.

The whole issue revolves around what occurred between the two men and two lifesavers at Cronulla Beach December 5th. The fact that the two men happened to be Lebanese, I believe, should hold no relevance. But according to many Cronulla and Sydney inhabitants, apparently it's extremely relevant.

The news footage the media are showing are horrific. They show the immeasurable amount of vandalisation caused by the ignorance of all sectors of the Australian community. Anyone in and around Cronulla who look remotely Lebanese (that means middle eastern....even people who look Indian...actually, anyone not caucasian) are hunted down and bashed.

What horrifies me more is that many of the gang members look underage, clearly being around 17 years old and all under the influence of alcohol. These boys are running around with too much testosterone, seemingly without a clue of what they are doing, finding humour in picking up poles, beer bottles and bricks and hurling them at innocent bystanders, private property and even the police. Sporting slogans writtens across their chests.

"We grew here, you flew here!"

"Save 'Nulla, fuck Allah!"

It annoys me to hear John Howard claim that he believes Australia has no underlying race problem. He seems to worry more about the image of Australia in the eyes of the rest of the world, instead of worrring about the image of Australia in the eyes of his own tax paying citizens. Does he realise that while he is promoting the fact that Australia 'will have no long-term effect on it's international reputation', there are mothers and children who are terrified and fathers who feel helpless in their own neighbourhood? They can't leave their homes, in what is usually a quiet safe suburban street.

Does he understand the problem with 200 drunk, red-blooded, caucasian men screaming, 'Fuck off Lebs!', chasing one innocent young middle eastern man down a Sydney street, with the intention to severely injure or kill him? I'm not sure about you, but I see a race related issue right there.

A lot of people are inciting the violence. The Australian media are often victims of my attacks due to their manipulation of the Australian public, and I believe that such is the case once again. They're ever so happy to present images of men being bashed, women tearing each others hair out and gangs turning on police, all of which are repercussions of what happened on Cronulla Beach with the two men and the two lifesavers. It's not hard to realise that these gangs are intoxicated members of the public looking for a way to express their ignorance and intolerance. So, wouldn't education be the key?

My point is, since the events of December 5, the media has made no attempt to report whether or not the two men who attacked the two lifesavers have been caught, persecuted, hunted or charged. If they had been caught and punished, perhaps this violence wouldn't occur. The people who claim to be fighting for Australia, may not need to fight anymore.

All of this seems to stem from the media. And now, Today Tonight and A Current Affair dwell on the Lebanese and ethnic community members who are retaliating against the violence. The isolated events against caucasian members of the community. Inciting more hatred towards the minority groups from the uneducated and ignorent members of the community.

So Mr. Iemma, who are the real criminals who have declared war on our society and why are we letting them win?

I'm so angry right now.

I hear your name and I'm falling over.

Anonymity was a wonderful thing.
No longer with bitter and twisted traits, always beautiful.
The Secret Admirer has stayed in my life.
No longer afraid to Love.
The one that no one compares to.

Just take it from me
It was not a chance meeting
Feel my heart beating
You're the one

You could take all this, take it away
I'd still have it all

When I get lost in space
I can return to this place
You're the one

1 Year today. I love You.

Ornaments and Butterflies

Upon travelling to Oswald Sealy on the weekend to search for Christmas decorations for our new tree, we came across a section that I could've sworn was dedicated to one Miss Damsel in Distress. Butterfly fixtures engulfed the roof, and an exquisite tree in the centre of the merchandised area looked as if it had been plucked from Mariah Carey's house. An ode to Butterflies, I couldn't help but take a snap shot of the tree in a chance to put a smile on Genevieve's face.

You know who you are but not what you are to me [Part 2]

Dedicated to my father.

Yesterday I was drowning my sorrows at JB Hi-Fi. Trying to limit my purchases to just two CD's (an album and a single), I decided on Kelly Clarkson's 'Because Of You' single, which she finally decided for commercial release, and Diana Krall's album 'Live In Paris'. During my decision making process, I recalled as to why I hadn't bought the 'Live In Paris' album when it was first released. After watching the concert DVD countless times at home with my father, and then admittedly, on my own, I had fallen in love with her performance of 'Besame Mucho' and to my dismay, she had neglected to inlcude it on the live CD. Hateful.

We've been playing Diana at work all week. We were flat out on Sunday and a customer who was purchasing a suit from me, remarked on how the day before, he had attempted to shop from our South Yarra store, only being shunned away by the intimidating and annoying club music blaring with the busy atmosphere. He and his partner remarked on how nice it was to hear some relaxing music, and even though the store was busy, the atmosphere was incredible. Tear.

Looking down the playlist of included songs on the 'Live In Paris' CD, I noticed Track 11 'A Case Of You'. I didn't really recall this from the DVD, and thought it would be interesting to see if it was a cover of the Joni Mitchell original (refer to 'You know who you are but not what you are to me').

I placed it in the CD player at work and skipped to Track 11. Buy the CD. Listen to it. I have to say that after two days of non-stop playing, it was become one of my favourite tracks ever. It's pure beauty. Emotive, balanced, tranquil, the song has taken my love for Diana to nowhere it has ever been before. I love her.

OnAir with BlackPunk : Diana Krall - A Case Of You