Pink Crush

The Help. A perfect feel good movie.

2011-10-17T11:11:00.001+13:00

What a beautiful and poignant film that takes us on the journey of civil rights, friendship and determination in the United States in the late 1960s (during the great Civil rights campaign led by Martin Luther King). The Help takes place in Mississippi, the Deep South of US and follows the story of wannabe journalist Eugenia “Skeeter” Phelan played by Emma Stone. Skeeter who wants more than marriage and babies sees the the opportunity to tell the world a story that has never been told before, the story from the eyes of the African -American house maids and their struggles of working for the white upper class family.

The Help is a feel good movie, one that makes you leave the cinema grinning ear to ear with the need to punch the sky cheering that our heroes got redemption and the ice queen villian was put her in place. The acting was outstanding with one of my favourite actresses Emma Stone playing the lead role (but what was with that crazy curly hair?) and a shout out has to be given to the cute little three year olds (Emma and Eleanor Henry) who both played the part of Mae Mobley Leefolt the daughter of Mrs Elizabeth Leefolt. Mae Mobley is cared for and looked after by one of the main maids and heroines of the movie Aibileen. Known mostly as Aibileen’s “Baby Girl” Emma and Eleanor’s gorgeous performance will make you laugh ridicoulsly out loud and at times her sadness will just break your heart.

The costumes and set design were beautiful and I loved the touches of humour that was sprinkled into the movie which were finely placed as not to detract from the main message of racism and social injustice.

The plot however did sometimes feel a bit random and loose ends are left untied for example Skeeter’s connection to her social circle of friends. Skeeter is portrayed as being really close to Hilly and Elisabeth but we don’t see why and how, It’s obvious she doesn’t fit in with them at all(did she ever fit in with them or was it her time away that changed her?). And what was with the boyfriend? His role in the film made no sense at all.

While I’d like to say that The Help was a story of empowerment it kinda felt more like a story about how the white lady and a little help from God saved a black community from the racist southern countryside. The storyline is a bit idealistic, but it’s a Hollywood movie after all and one cannot expect too much depth. Overall, The Help is a well meaning story the captures a time of turbelence in America’s history

8/10

Written originally for NZ Girl.

Dear NZ Couriers, please sort your shit out.

2011-06-29T22:58:00.009+12:00

How hard is it deliver post? You deliver the package to the address specified on the package and that's about it. Apparently the drivers at NZ Couriers have decided otherwise. Instead of a delivery service they now offer to safe keep your parcels for a limited time of 5 days. Here's what's been happening. The last 5 packages that NZ Couriers have delivered have arrived at my house around 630am. Now that's fine, I really don't mind waking up that early to receive a package (it's like waking up early to open presents on xmas day, it's really exciting even if you probably know what's inside) the problem is that they don't even knock on my door. Instead, they are too lazy to walk up to my door and decide to leave a "while you were out" card in my letter box with a number to call to collect the package.

So, I call up their 0800 number which doesn't even work on a cell phone. What's the point? The direct number they gave me told me it was after hours even though it was only 4pm and it's listed they're open till 5pm on their website. They have no Twitter or Facebook account. What is this company doing? Get with the program. It's not 1996 anymore where you can trample all over your customers and get away with it. You will never become "New Zealand's leading express courier" if something doesn't change.

When I finally got through they said "Our delivery people are caught in a difficult situation, people don't like being woken up that early so that's why we leave the card, but if we leave the card people get angry cause they have to pick it up" So.... WHY ARE YOU DELIVERING IT SO EARLY IF YOU KNOW PEOPLE GET ANGRY WHEN YOU KNOCK ON THEIR DOOR AT 630AM? But that point aside, people would much rather get a little angry from being woken up so early rather than getting really angry because they now have to find time to pick up the item. What's worst is when the item is located on the other side of town! In the end they finally resent my package. 2 weeks later, I'm waiting for a new package and the same little note appears in my letter box again....will this infuriating cycle ever end?

A closer look at Catfish and the reality of Social Media

2011-05-27T11:23:00.011+12:00

Social Media has taken the world by storm with a staggering scope and intensity. Since Facebook launched in 2004 it now maintains more than 600 million users. Twitter boasts about 175 million users and LinkedIn has around 90 million. Gone are the days of anonymous user names and “handles”, our online profiles are now linked to our true identity. Our real life friends are being brought into the online space, and our inner thoughts are locked in daily status updates for all to see. But how real is this experience? Are our offline and online personalities merely converging or does social media provide a skewed perception of reality?

About a month ago during the World Cinema Showcase in Auckland, I was given a ticket to watch the movie Catfish (courtesy of Social Media New Zealand) as I am a distant relative of Pricilla Chan (Mark Zuckerberg girlfriend)[1] they thought I might find it relevant. Catfish is a 2010 documentary which follows the burgeoning and unexpected relationship between Nev Schulman, a New York based photographer and the mysterious and beautiful Megan. Megan is the older sister of Abby, an 8-year old prodigy in a rural Michigan town who sends Nev her paintings based on the photos he takes. Through Abby, Nev becomes friends with her mother, several other family members and friends and ultimately her sister Megan who Nev falls in love with. Their entire 8 month courtship is conducted remotely, through text messaging and “sexting”, phone calls, Facebook and Google Chat. Although they have never met in real life, the two fall in love.

An interesting film; watching Catfish was like seeing fascinating dismantlement of social networking and the life that we live online. Much of the movie was seen looking over Nev’s shoulder focusing on screenshots fromwall messages posted on Facebook, instant messaging through Google Chat and listening to MP3 recordings. Images of the couple together are photoshoppedand distances between locations become much less remote when expressed through Google Maps. How can one not feel connected to a person on the other side of the screen and country when all this technology is freely available? However, connection is one thing, reality is other. For 24 year old Nev, he would soon find out that his 19 year old online lover, her family and friends were actually all the mastermind of one Angela Wesselman, an artist and housewife from Ishpeming, Michigan. Using pictures stolen from the internet and an incredible amount of multitasking, Angela created an intricate web of false personalities online. Mostly unsuspected, Nev only realized something was amiss when an MP3 song that Megan had supposedly composed seemed to sound exactly like a music video on Youtube.

It is easy to say that Nev was a victim of an extreme internet scam but recent news proves that Nev’s story is becoming a regular occurrence. Just last month, a New Zealand woman was accused of using multiple identities to maintain relationships with several young boys[2]. But it doesn’t just take a false identity to misrepresent oneself online. Even Nev admitted that the version that he communicated to Megan was the absolute best portrayal of himself. A recent study from Stanford University shows that Facebook status updates are usually positive and self promoting and few people actually report their latest failure[3]. Negative emotions are often suppressed and don’t make it online. Virtual reality becomes skewed and we start to live in a bubble of happiness and success.

Social Media is a great tool. It has allowed communities of far flung likeminded people to meet each other and for those isolated due to illness it has served as a lifeline to the outside world. Current affairs are captured down to the minute and people are able to communicate directly to celebrities, politicians, businesses and CEOs. But be cautious of what you hear and see online. It may not always be the truth.

[1] FYI – I bear no relation to Pricilla Chan. I won the ticket in a competition run by Social Media NZ

[2] NZ Herald - Facebook predator unmasked

[3] Time Magazine - You're not alone misery has more company than you think.

References:

Berman, T. Deutsh, G. and Sher, L. Exclusive 'Catfish's' Angela Wasselman Speaks out - ABC 20/20 (2010)

Catfish - Offical Website (Obtained 2011)

Fisher, D. Facebook predator unmasked - NZ Herald (2011)

Quinn, B. Social network users have twice as many friends online as in real life (2011)
Szalavitz, M. Misery Has More Company Than You Think, Especially on Facebook - Time Magazine (2011)

Written originally for JOLT Challenge Blog

Booyah! You got owned Bill O'Reilly.

2011-05-18T20:40:00.000+12:00

Finding the sun in all the crap - What’s the secret to a Happy Workplace?

2011-05-05T21:39:00.005+12:00

Phil Nielson from Christchurch, New Zealand has one of the most unpleasant jobs that you could think of. Since the devastation of the earthquake on the 22^ndFebruary 2011 people have been left homeless and without toilets. With nowhere to do their dirty business, hundreds of portaloos have been placed around the city. Phil’s job is to empty the portaloos every day. His office was also affected by the quake and his computer system is not working, so he needs to travel around the city using his memory to find which portaloos need emptying. His job is hard enough as it is but he can’t always clean every portaloo in time and sometimes they can get “a bit too much to handle”. When this happens, people shout abuse and blame Phil. On his worst days, he can come across a toilet where people have put their personal waste in a plastic bag and shoved it down the toilet. It takes him up to an hour to clear those blockages, and he has to do it by hand. For many of us when we don’t feel like going to work, we’d still rather go to work than work one day in Phil’s job. Fascinatingly, Phil wakes up each day and enjoys the day ahead, sure there are moments where he wishes he was doing something else but overall he is happy. So what is Phil’s secret? How is it that someone who cleans toilets for a living is happy but for many of us out there the thought of Monday arriving and having to spend another week at work can be a nightmare?

There are the people who are fortunate enough to have found their dream job, perfect work environment and the ideal pay. They love going to work and couldn’t think of another way to spend their day. Then there is the rest of the population whose work is a necessity that is required to pay bills and support their family. If we’re happy in our job then we’re extremely lucky but if not, well that’s just a fact of life. This way of living is what Freud calls the “reality principle”, where we work in order to survive. The decisions we make on a regular basis are not focused on short term rewards rather we choose to forgo instant happiness in favour of long term, gratifications. Work hard now, retire happy.

The actual reality is that happiness is not the destination rather it is part of the journey. It is an emotion that only you can control; a mindset that you are responsible for. That is the secret.

Do you know that after sleeping we spend the majority of our lifetime at work? If that much time is dedicated to working, doesn’t it make sense that we enjoy ourselves rather than dreading this time and thinking of it as a chore? The great news is that everyone has the potential to be happy. Happiness is a choice. No one can tell you how to be happy but if you are actively looking for happiness I can guarantee you that you will have more chances of finding happiness than if you are not seeking it.

The reasons that keep us from being happy are different for everyone. Many of us just dislike the work that we do. The role wasn’t what we thought it would be, or this isn’t the industry we dreamt that we would be working in. A recent research by Leadership Management Australasia reveals “More than 60 per cent of the workforce either hate their jobs or couldn’t really care less about their work as long as they get a pay cheque."[1]

Try to identify the reason behind your unhappiness at work. Do you feel like you have a meaningless job or you have to deal with a crappy manager every day or do you have difficult co-workers and they’re making each day hell? It’s important to acknowledge that the perfect work place doesn’t actually exist. Some aspects will be boring and there will also be annoying people you can’t run away from but if you look hard enough you’ll be able to find sunshine in all the crap. Phil did. How? He readjusted his lenses of perspective. Instead of dwelling on how smelly and disgusting his job was he focused on how much he was helping people“When they've been full of rubbish bags and stuff like that, those are the days when you want to give up. Then some little old lady says thank you because she's not doing it on a paint bucket, and then that makes up for it."[2] - Phil Neilson

Perspective with purpose and meaning is an age old recipe for happiness. Have a think about your workplace. What drew you there in the first place? Does your industry benefit society in some way? What are the positive aspects about working there? Do you make someone else’s job easier because you do your job efficiently? Is your current job a stepping stone and you’re building your skill set so that you’ll have the right experience to climb the ladder to your dream job? Remember, a professional athlete has to train for hours each day for many years before they get to compete in the Olympic Games. Your purpose defines who you are and when your job fits into the larger picture, your work stops being a necessity but rather a fulfilling way to spend your time. By shifting your perspective and find meaning in your job you can create a more positive work experience which in return will create a sense of happiness at your workplace. Obtaining happiness isn’t necessarily about eliminating all the negative aspect of your job; it’s about being happy even though these things are happening.

There is a story about a widow who was forced to work in order to support her two children after her husband passed away. She had no qualifications or work experience and ended up with a job at the checkout counter at her local supermarket. She hated that most of her co-workers were half her age, and that her friends would see her working in a role that she felt was beneath her. After a few months, the regional manager came to visit and spoke of possible career paths available within the supermarket. Recognizing the opportunity, the widow decided then and there that she would work her way up to management. Each day, she found new things to learn and do, and her job suddenly became more exciting. She quickly realized her age was a positive thing, and she was respected by her co-workers because of her maturity and life experience. She was promoted within a few months and is still happily working at the supermarket.

Do keep in mind happiness is like a shoe. One size or style doesn’t fit everyone. Your purpose and meaning won’t be the same as the next person. Similarly, happiness means different things to different people. Happiness doesn’t always necessarily mean being bubbly and bouncy and the life of the party all day long. You can be happy quietly sitting at your desk and taking pride in your work or it could be the feeling of happiness that you get when you generate ideas for that new work project. Concentrate on the little things that make you happy, add a sprinkle of perspective and purpose and you’ll soon find each workday is more enjoyable than the day before.

.References:

Foster, Rick & Hicks, Greg. Happiness Leadership and Health: The Connection (2009) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jiLp89DJ6SA

Hsieh, Tony. Delivering Happiness (2010) http://fora.tv/2010/05/26/Zappos_CEO_Tony_Hsieh_Delivering_Happiness

Kjerulf, Alexander. Happy Hour is 9 to 5 (2007) http://positivesharing.com/happyhouris9to5/

Morton, Rachel. The Smelliest job in Christchurch (2011) http://www.3news.co.nz/The-smelliest-job-in-Christchurch/tabid/423/articleID/201425/Default.aspx

Ihaka, James. More than half see work as a big yawn (2011) http://www.nzherald.co.nz/employment/news/article.cfm?c_id=11&objectid=10715569

The pursuit of Happiness (obtained 2011) http://www.pursuit-of-happiness.org/

[1] NZ Herald http://www.nzherald.co.nz/employment/news/article.cfm?c_id=11&objectid=10715569

[2] Phil Neilson http://www.3news.co.nz/The-smelliest-job-in-Christchurch/tabid/423/articleID/201425/Default.aspx

Written originally for the JOLT Challenge Blog

Chocolate - The Sweet Seduction

2011-04-20T21:55:00.006+12:00

I have a secret love affair with chocolate. When I told Steve that I wanted to write about the positive effects of chocolate he asked me if I was merely trying to justify my diet. Well, yes I am, but that’s not the point. This mouthwatering treat is not only amazing for the soul but even more so for the mind and body. The ancient Mayan’s believed that that the cacao tree symbolized fertility, life, health and royalty. It was believed to be the food of the gods and takes its place in many religious rituals and wedding ceremonies. Those who consumed cacao would have the strength and wisdom that they desired. And who can ignore the stories told of chocolate and its power as an aphrodisiac. History’s most famous lover Casanova is said to have drunk a cup of chocolate before seducing his women. So, how much truth is there to these beliefs? Is this delectable confectionery really healthy for us or are these just myths created by marketing geniuses to seduce us into the world of chocolate?

The chocolate we know and love today actually comes from the cacao bean which grows on the cacao tree. The blissful feeling of pleasure after each bite of chocolate can be attributed to the cacao bean and its interaction with the brain. The cacao contains tryptophan, an amino acid that is essential to the brain to produce serotonin. Serotonin is a hormone that produces a “happy feeling” inside your body and helps to keep your mood under control. When cacao is consumed serotonin is produced and endorphins are released into our nervous system. Endorphins make you feel more relaxed and generate feelings of pleasure and well being. So, if you find yourself feeling down or need a pick me up, research has shown that chocolate is a medicine that can help to sooth your soul.

But wait there’s more! Recent research has found that the cacao contains high level of flavonoids; a type of antioxidant. In fact, the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) rated cacao as the highest rated antioxidant food source above blueberries, apples and green tea. Flavonoids help to lower blood pressure and increase the blood flow into certain areas of the brain for around two to three hours. As a result, you may see an increase in your performance and alertness during that period. It’s also suggested that the flavonoids help the brain fight fatigue, sleep deprivation, lower a person’s risk of having a heart attack and have a positive effect on the cardiovascular system. There is talk that in the future flavonoids could be used to treat diabetes, diarrhea and dementia.

Saying healthy and chocolate in the same sentence is like music to my ears. However, it is still not recommended to over indulge in chocolate just because it’s proven to be healthy. Chocolate products are often filled with large proportions of fat and sugar content and consuming large quantities does not do your waistline or cholesterol levels any favours. Additionally, the processing of the cacao to create chocolate and cocoa powder causes a loss of flavonoid content. White chocolate as delicious as it is contains no cacao solids and provides zero health benefits. Drinking milk with chocolate or adding milk to the processing (ie milk chocolate) also nullifies any positive effects that might have been gained from the flavonoids. While the healthiest chocolate to eat is the raw cacao and this can be found in powder form; dark chocolate with a cocoa content of more than 70% is the next best thing. Chocolate lovers, take pleasure that this passionate affair no longer needs to remain a secret, just remember that moderation is the key to perfect seduction.

References

Crozier, Stephen. Chocolate is a “Super Fruit”: Rich Source of Antioxidants http://journal.chemistrycentral.com/content/5/1/5 (2011)

Friedlander Jr, Blaine P. Ahhhh! Better than red wine or green tea, cocoa froths with cancer-preventing compounds, Cornell food scientists say http://www.news.cornell.edu/releases/Nov03/HotCocoa-Lee.bpf.html (2003)

Kirsti, A. Dyer. Chocolate: Good for the Mind, Body & Spirit http://www.medicalwellnessassociation.com/articles/chocolate_benefits.htm (2006)

National Institutes of Health. Orac values http://www.oracvalues.com/ (2011)

The New York Times. Eat Chocolaate, Live Longer http://www.nytimes.com/2004/10/10/magazine/10CHOCOLATE.html (2010)

Written originally for the JOLT Challenge Blog

Criminally Glam

2011-04-14T16:21:00.000+12:00

Coffee - Devils drink or nature’s nectar?

2011-04-11T15:39:00.000+12:00

The act of drinking coffee has always been a bittersweet moment. My day does not begin until that first taste of coffee reaches my lips. It’s a ritual I look forward to every day, one that I enjoy immensely. However, this act of pleasure is always tinged with a slight feeling of guilt as I have been told many times that coffee is bad for my health and I really need to cut it out from my diet. So, you can imagine my surprise and very joyous excitement when I discovered scientific evidence that drinking coffee (in moderation) can be positive for the brain and can significantly benefit my health.

We know coffee isn’t perfect. Its most famous ingredient caffeine is an addictive substance that mildly stimulates the central nervous system which causes the release of adrenaline into our blood providing us with an extra burst of energy. Unfortunately, this is a temporary boost and when the adrenaline wears out you can end up feeling fatigued, anxious and irritated. To counter this, we often reach for another hit of caffeine and thus the cycle begins. The closer caffeine is consumed to bed time the more it interferes with our sleep patterns and we wake up tired needing another cup of coffee. Caffeine also increases the amount of dopamine in our brain. Dopamine makes us feel good by activating the pleasure centers in your brain. Again, when the effect wears off you can hit a low feeling and this can lead to a physical dependence on caffeine as we grab another coffee to maintain that high.

Sometimes, the decision is made to give up coffee and while not everyone experiences withdrawal symptoms those who do may encounter headaches, irritability, depression, and body aches (although these symptoms normally only lasts a few days). Coffee is known to damage the lining of the gastrointestinal organs causing gastric and ulcers and it acts as a laxative depleting the water reserves in the body. It can also affect our nervous system, heart rhythms and has been consistently linked to heart burn and irregular heartbeats. Coffee has also been associated with low birth weight, birth defects, miscarriages and premature birth.

Drinking coffee seems to be the same as walking the path towards impending doom. Where is that light at the end of the tunnel? It comes in the form of our favourite friend: the antioxidant. Not only can you find strong polyphenol antioxidants which include flavonoids, and chlorogenic acids in coffee but it also containts methylpyridinium: an antioxidant that is formed during the roasting process and is found almost exclusively only in coffee. These antioxidants don’t seem to be related to caffeine as decaf provides similar amounts of antioxidants as regular coffee. Recent studies have indicated that drinking coffee regularly (around 4 cups) is beneficial in reducing the risk for diseases such as Alzheimers, Parkinson’s and type two diabetes[1]^,[2]. Coffee is also strongly linked to lowering cancer rates specifically colon, liver, skin, neck, head, brain, oral cancer as well as providing protection against gallstone formation and reduces asthma attacks[3]^,[4]. And here’s one for the guys, new findings have found that drinking coffee helps the sperm swim faster boosting male fertility[5].

The choice to drink coffee is up to the individual as everyone reacts to coffee in a different way. Some people experience greater mental clarity, alertness and productivity, while other people become jittery, anxious or depressed. While coffee will keep most of us awake if taken at night, it doesn’t necessarily have the same effect in everyone. It’s recommended that pregnant women and heart patients avoid or limit their coffee intake but for everyone else who loves their coffee you will take pleasure in knowing that generally coffee when taken in moderation is good for you. Do keep in mind that not all coffees are created equal and your large hazelnut mochaccino with whipped cream and extra chocolate powder and marshmallows does not have the same benefits as a cup of freshly ground organic espresso coffee.

Footnotes:

[1] Johnson-Kozlow M. Coffee Consumption and Cognitive Function among older adults http://aje.oxfordjournals.org/content/156/9/842.full (2011),

[2] Edelson, E. Moderate Coffee, Tea Drinking Lowers Heart Disease Risk http://bmc.cardiologydomain.com/handler.cfm?event=newsfeed,newsarticle&article_id=640186 (2010)

[3] Science Daily (reprinted fro materials provided by Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology) Moderate coffee drinking reduces many risks, panel says http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/04/070430125523.htm (2007)

[4] Osterweil N. Coffee and your health http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/features/coffee-new-health-food (2010

[5] Dr Pasqualotto, Fabio F. Does caffeine intake impair semen quality and hormonal levels in a fertile population. http://www.ukcia.org/research/MarijuanaImpactsSpermFunction.pdf (2002)

Written originally for the JOLT Challenge Blog

Super foods for the brain

2011-04-05T16:00:00.000+12:00

Food is such a big part of our daily life so it makes sense to take a closer look at which foods can help stimulate and provide optimum health for the brain (and body). Here's a list of 5 super foods I recommend for your shopping list.

1. Chia Seeds

Chia seeds are tiny grayish-brown seeds which have more antioxidants than blueberries and are an excellent source of Omega 3 fatty acids. This wonder seed protects brain cells from damage and is linked to alleviating depression, Attention Deficit Disorder, Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. It is high in energy, rich in fiber and low in fat making you feel fuller for longer as it burns energy slowly and evenly. Jam packed with goodness; Vitamin C, Calcium, Iron, Zinc, Phosphorus and Potassium are just a few of the vitamins and minerals found in a single seed.

You can get Chia Seeds from some bulk food or most health food stores. They have virtually no flavor and can beadded to almost every meal. I like it best mixed into our smoothies, sprinkled onto salads and/or cereal, and added into yummy baked goods.

2. Blueberries

A classic super food, blueberries are best known for their super high antioxidant levels. This low-glycemic is a true brain berry; research from the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) and Tufts University found that blueberries help to improve short-term memory loss, protect thebrain from oxidative stress and can even slow down the effects of age-related conditions such as Alzheimer’s’ disease or dementia. Additionally, blueberries are high in vitamin C and can help to protect against Colon and Ovarian Cancer.

Bursting with flavor and low in calories I like eating my blueberries el naturale, baked in a blueberry pie or mixed into our smoothies and fresh fruit juices. Try to get organic if possible.

3. Wild Salmon

Salmon is most commonly known for being one of the best sources of omega 3 fatty acids (a family of essential fatty acids that protect the cardiovascular system, regulate circulatory functions, enhance the immune system and promote brain development) and vitamin D. The DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) in fish oil is necessary for the brain to maintain and rebuild cells, which helps memory and attention span making everyday tasks that much easier and efficient. Numerous studies have shown that eating Salmon regularly helps to reduce the risk of developing Dementia and Alzheimer’s. Salmon also contains iodine, an essential body mineral which is known to improve mental clarity.

I highly recommend wild salmon over farmed salmon. It may cost a little bit extra but you and your brain are worth it. Wild Salmon contains more omega 3 fats are a lot less fattier than their famer counterparts. Here at JOLT we love raw salmon like sashimi (it's essential to ensure that the salmon is fresh), smoked salmon pie and barbequed salmon.

4. Walnuts

All nuts help to enhance your brain in their own way, but walnuts with their striking resemblance to the brain is our favorite nutty superfood. Chock filled with protein, Vitamins E, B6 and omega 3 and 6 fatty acids; walnuts are an excellence source of

nourishment for your nervous system and help to improve the brain’s power and memory. Walnuts provide a good source of antioxidants and are a useful alternative to fish as a source of omega 3 fat They also help to reduce the risk of memory loss, dementia and Alzhemiers Disease.

Eating a few walnuts a day can help stimulate the brain and give you a little pick me up in the afternoon if you need it. Walnuts are great on salads, in banana cakes and in cookies. However, do remember that Walnuts do contain quite bit of calories and should not be consumed in great amou

nts.

5.Turmeric

More commonly known as an essential cooking ingredient, this Asian wonder spice is also an antioxidant and a powerful anti-inflammatory. In some countries, Tumeric has been used to treat everything from liver disorders, bronchitis, diabetes, runny noses to a disinfectant to cure cuts and scrapes and used for skin treatment. Johnson & Johnson (India) even use turmeric in their Band Aids. The key antioxidant in turmeric is Curcumin (not cumin) which helps to connect the neural pathways that cause memory loss; research shows turmeric to be a preventative/curative towards dementia and Alzheimer’s . Research also strongly supports that Curcumin can kill cancer cells in its earlier stage and enhance the body’s immunity to fight cancer.

Investing in a curry book is a great way to bring turmeric into your every day cooking. It is also great when added to meat marinades and/or vegetable casseroles and stews. Be sure to taste as you go as adding too much tumeric will result in a slightly bitter taste to your food. If you prefer, you can also get turmeric in a supplement form from your local pharmacy.

Written originally for the JOLT Challenge Blog

Dearest GHD

2011-04-04T21:18:00.001+12:00

I thought my life was complete and then I met you. After two years of stalking and obsessing over your every detail, you finally decided it was time to become part of my life. After that everything changed. How did I ever live without you? If I was a cat you would hear my purr of sheer delight which would send shivers up your spine. This message is posted with the utmost love for my new and dearest friend. xoxo

GHD - A girls best friend

Racist Ranting in 2011

2011-03-27T22:57:00.001+13:00

Is racism more prevalent in 2011 than it was 50 years ago? Or has the world always been this way? Due to new technology like the internet and video cameras; the acts of racism is exposed to more people. Now, it feels as if it is happening more and more as this behavior is no longer secretive, hidden from the public eye.

This weekend was an interesting weekend for me. Following my review of the movie "My Wedding & Other Secrets" I was personally attacked and verbally abused by an anonymous person who I have never met before. He goes by the name "Hongxing Cheng" on my Facebook and by the name "Wayne" on my blog. In less than 2 hours he posted over 30 comments on my Facebook profile page even after I requested that he stop spamming my wall. I know I should really have blocked him after his 2nd comment but I was interested to see what extent he would take his racist renegade rant. I never imagined it would get to the degree that it did. As each post become more personal, they also become more graphical and obscene. I have been called more disgusting names in the last two days than ever in my entire lifetime. To say I was offended is an understatement, but more than that, I am concerned that there are people out here who feel it is okay to rant and rave and personally attack somebody that they have never met, that it is okay to make such strong and racist judgments on a race or person or gender and that it is okay to use such inappropriate and disgusting language in a public forum. We are all entitled to our own opinion, but surely there is a common code of respect in which a perspective is put forward.

After further investigation, I wonder if Hongxing Chen behaved the way he did because he was doing so anonymously. He is a coward because there is no way to track his true identity. His facebook profile appears to be new as he has no friends listed and the comments that he made on my page is the only activity on his wall. He has no photos nor does he show a profile photo of himself. Would Hongxing Chen have conducted himself in the same manner on a video camera where his identity would be exposed?

UCLA student Alexandra Wallace was ostracized from her university and from society when she posted her online rant about her frustration in regards to Asian students at UCLA onto Youtube. In comparison to the comments that have been flying from Hongxing Chen, Alexandra Wallance's rant now appears rather tame. I wonder, had her comments been posted as a status update on her Facebook wall would she have invoked the same reaction?

I have since deleted Hongxing Chen's comments on my Facebook wall. You can still read most of it on the post below. There was a lot more, but I didn't save his last few comments before I blocked him. I was too disgusted.

My personal encounter with a racist.

2011-03-27T22:39:00.000+13:00

I don't know about you, but all those memories of driving home at 3am came flooding back

2011-03-24T20:42:00.001+13:00

I'll be the first to admit that when I sat down in the movie theater tonight to watch "My Wedding & Other Secrets" I was preparing myself to be disappointed. The trailer that was released late last year portrayed the movie to a be tragic soppy romcom that would trivialized and destroy a raw and poignant documentary. When I watched the original documentary "Banana in a Nutshell", I fell in love. The cultural battle that Roseanne Liang was fighting felt so similar to my own. She expressed emotions and stories that gave me comfort that I wasn't alone in my journey and for the first time it felt as if somebody had given us New Zealand Chinese a voice. When I heard the news that it was going to be made into a feature film, I was extremely excited and couldn't wait for its arrival.

The trailer broke my heart. To put it bluntly. It was terrible. It looked cheap and if this was the best bits from the movie watching it would be a waste of time. I felt cheated by South Pacific Pictures for destroying Roseanne's documentary. I would watch it at some point but it was going to be on DVD. However, luck would have it that I was gifted free tickets by the wonderful people at Air New Zealand - @FlyAirNZ

So, I told myself to go in with an open mind. Take it for what it is. A fun and silly love story where East meets West. What was delivered however was something completely different and unexpected. Roseanne and South Pacific Pictures managed to maintain the rawness and depth that was so central to her documentary. While the storyline starts off remarkably cheesy and it does continue to have it's corny moments throughout the film; there is a beautifully sad undertone that lifts the film to a remarkable level of quality that is missing in its trailer. So powerful was the performance by Michelle Ang near the end of the movie (you'll know the scene when you see it) that I found myself choking back tears. I was equally impressed with Matt Whelan who's perfectly portrayed James and the frustrating role that he as a Gwei lo must play/accept when dealing with Chinese parents. Special mention must also go to Simon London who's suave and snobby character Eric was strangely comforting in a movie overrun with geeks.

My Wedding & Other Secrets feels like an extension to Banana in a Nutshell. This version carries additional messages, and you can feel that Roseanne is trying quite hard to defend herself against comments that she manipulated and exploited her parents and loved ones for her own success. Perhaps she did, or maybe she didn't. We'll never truly know but this movie shows that she has learned from her mistakes and all she wants to do now is share her love with the world.

Ka Pai Roseanne! Or more appropriately 干得好 (gàn de hǎo)!

Avoiding Change - Is it all in the mind?

2011-03-23T13:26:00.000+13:00

I'm writing for another blog for work as well. My first article is up. I delve into the depths of our mind try to find the connection between the brain and a person's natural resistance to change.

Change is often associated with a great deal of difficulty. Organisations and managers tend to face inherent resistance from their employees with remarks like “That’s not the way we do things around here” or “It’s just not going to work” and my personal favourite “I just don’t want to”. Resistance to change can also take place on a day to day basis from the time you flat out refused to talk in public, dance at that wedding or when you found yourself hating the new Facebook layout. Why do so many of us avoid change? Could it be that it’s all in our mind? That we are actually biologically wired to react negatively to change?

This is an excerpt. You can read the rest of the artic le here:

Avoiding Change - Is it all in the mind?

Back on the road again

2011-03-22T18:30:00.000+13:00

I've been thinking about it for awhile now, and with all the narcissism floating around online, I've been getting a tad jealous. I think that it might finally be time. I'm cracking. Fingers itching to write and 140 characters ain't cutting it.

So, after a 4.5 year hiatus ... whew has it really been that long? Time really does fly. I just checked - I joined Facebook in 2007.

Anyway...

Ta da!

Pink Crush is back online!

I am quite aware that this page currently looks a bit like Candy Cane on Crack and half my photos are missing. Blogger's changed a wee bit while I've been gone and as soon as I work out how, all things will start looking super pretty.

The end of an era

2006-10-05T16:27:00.000+13:00

It is finally the end of my education years. I never really got along with the secondary and tertiary institutions. I wasn't the best student, talked in class, talked back to the teachers and skipped classes when I could. Well, I didn't have much respect for the system. I thought that the teachers were all high school drop outs who couldn't get into University thus they took the only career that would take them. And these were the people that we were trusting our children's future to?

It angered me that models and actors the very reason why our society was one centered on shallowness and superfical needs were being paid thousands if not millions more than the people who were the heart and soul (after our beloved parents) in developing our childrens minds and future. I couldn't understand why similar to doctors and lawyers there wasn't an entrance bursary (or NCEA) mark to get into the course, and why our teachers weren't getting paid the salary they deserved? Thus I developed the notion that my sole purpose in life was to develop the education system to acknowledge the key role that teachers played in our society as well as to include all forms of learning not just reading and writing. By this stage I had figured out that I was a kinesthetic learner and felt I was being treated unfairly by the education system as their only record to how well I could perform academically was graded based on my ability to bullshit in a grammatically superior way in both my assignments and exams.

So I became an opportunist and sought other ways to learn and prove myself. In high school, I joined everything I possibly could, this continued through to University. To me, grades didn't matter if I could prove that I had developed the skill and knowledge in other environments, the skill and knowledge that would allow me to succeed in the real world. Grades didn't matter because no matter how hard I tried I never did get that A. Even in my best papers. So I challenged my lecturers to grade me in a real life situation, unfortunately this wasn't the case the educational institution is not built to be like that. Go to AUT, or another technology University, it's more hands on. It was never really an option which University I would go, the "premier" University was what my parents said. The one that would be acknowledged all over the world is the only one you're going to. A technological University? - not even an option to be discussed.

Luckily, in my final semester of University one paper turned up where I finally got to be graded in a real life situation, where I would be the co-director of a marketing agency and we would run a tutorial group of 27 students to complete a marketing brief by an external company. This perhaps was the only time I have really enjoyed a University paper, my marks at the end held some discrepancies. An A for the tutorial part, and not so high for my exam result but I was finally happy. For once in my educational history I held a balanced and fair grade where I had been marked in all areas of learning. Funny enough that assignment was disbanded the next semester, it had been the first and last time that type of assignment had been put in place. The lecturer had fought for it but to no avail.

It was only on the last day of University that I finally understood. Someone turned to me and said "This University exists to prepare students to be academics not as a platform to work in the real life" At that very moment things finally clicked. I really wish that they had told me that on the first day. I had gone to University because that piece of paper was so important because whether I liked it or not employers looked to see if you were a University graduate. Maybe not in your later years but especially at the beginning. Yet that "piece of paper" was only an indication as to how well you would perform as an academic it says nothing about how well you could perform in the real world. Surely the HR managers have sat in the University lectures before and seen the lack of learning or preparation a student gains. Models, graphs, formulas and history lessons are irrelevant unless a student knows how to be flexible and adaptable to real world situations. Where are the life skills that are so important for a student to succeed - the ability to communicate, to connect, to negotiate. So it finally made sense. The University was never meant to provide this, that's why the clubs and societies exists. That's why companies now look for a well rounded student, they've finally started to see the bigger picture.

By the way if you don't already know, the harsh reality is that students only exist as a means for academics to pay their research. That's why half of them are so bad at lecturing, they didn't even get taught how to. At least the High school teachers went to Teachers College, they were just young and inexperienced. The University lecturers only do it because they have to.

All in all, I'm glad it's all over. That piece of paper now is irrelevant as the corporate workforce isn't for me either. I prefer to be my own boss and to judge people based of their personality, skills and capabilities rather than whether or not they are any good at writing what they think I want to hear.

Che Guevara: Icon for Socialism or Vehicle for Capitalism?

2006-10-04T15:57:00.000+13:00

The New Republic magazine examines the irony of the Che phenomena where he has become a quiessential capitalist brand, the exact system that he tried to destroy.

This was posted last year on nomadlife. I had read it with great interest but couldnt find the article again until recently. I wanted to share it with you all.

Perhaps it will help in providing understanding and clarity to those who adorn themselves with Che badges and t-shirts without any inkling of knowledge as to why he exists as a charismatic symbol in their life.

West Represent.

2006-10-02T15:40:00.000+13:00

Last week during the Future Leaders Final Fling Party (our graduation shindig) I was up at the bar before dinner and ordered a bourbon and coke. Julian turns to me and says "Well, you can take the girl out of the west but you can't take the west out of the girl"

Born in Malaysia, Bred in West Auckland.
True and Proud.

Yesturday was primo. Played poker at the pub tournament down at Paddingtons (Came 3rd by the way) and Avondale crew turn up. In the evening I went to the Miss India NZ pagent and there was a bollywood group performing from Avondale College. Represent.

Metallica and Cortinas
(MK II)

I remember a few years ago when the interns and the EB (2003 and 2004) went to a BOA dinner with Steve Bridges. Somehow West Auckland came up as the Bridges used to live there and Diana (from Columbia) goes "Whats the deal with West Auckland?" This sparked a conversation that lasted over an hour and ended up with Jon Bridges (yes the actor) running downstairs to print off several images of my beloved Cortinas to show the interns.

Metallica - Enough said.

Still confused?
Check out the best New Zealand television show ever made - Outrageous Fortune: Channel 3 Tuesday evenings 9:30pm. Full of bubbling sterotypes. Love them or hate them, it's up to you.

Dear New Zealand: Get Thinking. Get Writing. Get Heard.

2006-09-30T17:32:00.000+12:00

As part of the Future Leaders Programme, the participants were grouped together through their passions and were required to create a project that would have an audacious impact. I joined the International Relations and Cultural Diversity group and together we formed Speak Up. Our project - Dear New Zealand.

This is your opportunity to have your thoughts and passions, concerns and convictions published in a book titled ‘Dear New Zealand’. Write a letter on either cultural identity/diversity, environmental sustainability, international relations or social justice. Our country needs to hear your voice on these urgent and crucial issues.

Pass on this opportunity to your friends, family and networks, anyone between the ages of 15-30 years.

Submissions close on the 30th November 2006.
www.dearnewzealand.org

info@dearnewzealand.org

"We must become the change we wish to see in this world"
- Mahatma Gandhi

Share the love

2006-09-29T22:17:00.000+12:00

Just beautiful, absolutely beautiful.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vr3x_RRJdd4

A bit of current affairs...

2006-07-26T23:46:00.000+12:00

The Ballad of Dumb George
George W. Bush is a good man, word has it. He's plain-spoken, they say. A regular fella. A good guy to have a beer with, except he supposedly doesn't drink anymore.

I wish, more than anything, that he were drinking. I wish he were drinking all the time. I wish, oh how I wish, that he were stand-up-fall-down-ralphing-down-his-shirt loaded every minute of every day. It would be a comfort, simply because it would explain a great many things...

http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0607/S00327.htm
William Rivers Pitt - Friday 21 July 2006

Auf gehts Deutschland! Schiesst ein Tor!

2006-07-07T22:01:00.000+12:00

With the incredible hype surrounding the World Cup, I finally understand the madness that surrounds live sports. Last week I even moaned that I really wanted Sky just so I could watch sport! Anyway so everytime we go and watch a match, I keep getting asked why I'm madly screaming for Germany to win. Besides the Germans that I know, I seem to be the only one crazy for Germany to end up at the top. So why do I love Germany so much?

First reason - Oliver Kahn
Yes I'm well aware that he's not playing at this World Cup due to favouritism by Jürgen Klinsmann because Jens Lehmann was a 'tick' better, and I'm not happy about it. Oliver Kahn will always remain the finest goal keeper in the world. His legacy in the 2002 World Cup in Korea where he only conceded 3 goals in the entire tournament lead him to be the first goal keeper to ever win the adidas Golden Ball. I just love him! And any comments about Oliver Kahn being too old and ready for retirement, please note: Oliver Kahn is only 5 months older then Jens Lehmann.

Second reason - Fast, efficient and ruthless
Germany holds it's beauty in its amazing pace, power, and preparation. They command respect in a straightforward and blunt manner greatly displayed through their will of steel. They play like a team - fast, efficient, ruthless, beautiful and passionate.

Third reason - Germany will never walk alone
The German Football team is more than just a sport team. To Germany, this is their romanatic fairytale. It has captured the hearts and minds of Germans, transforming the country into a different place, into some enchanted, summer fairytale version of itself, a spellbound, happy land united under a black, red and gold banner. There hasn't been a bigger party in Germany since November 9, 1989, the day the Berlin Wall came down. Back then the Germans were celebrating with themselves. Now they are celebrating with themselves and the world.

They may have lost their chance to win the World Cup (only just), but they have won something much more deeper and meaningful. A country finally united.

"It wasn't quite enough for the Final, but this team has won a place in German hearts. The nation can be proud of its players." - German Federal President Horst Kohler

An Irish living in Paris...

2006-06-21T10:32:00.000+12:00

What City Do You Belong In?

You Belong in Paris

Stylish and a little sassy, you were meant for Paris.The art, the fashion, the wine, the men! Whether you're enjoying the cafe life or a beautiful park...You'll love living in the most chic place on earth.

And...

Who's" Your Inner European?

Your Inner European is Irish!

Spirited and boisterous! You drink everyone under the table.

Beware of dodgy market interviewers - Part 2

2006-06-20T10:29:00.000+12:00

Okay, so yesturday the marketing guy came back to pick up the survey. Here's the conversation
"Here you go."
"Oh you're done."
"Yup"
"Can I have you phone number?"
"Huh? What do you need it for?"
"*Mumble* Can I have your phone number please?"
I give him my home number
"Can I have your cellphone number please?"
"Sorry, I don't know my cellphone number"
"How can you not know your cellphone number?"
"I lost my cellphone"
"Oh you lost your cellphone?"
"Uh...YES! I lost my cellphone, I don't have a cellphone number"
"Oh okay, do you want my phone number? You can call me when you graduate and we can eat cake"

At that point I just stared at him blankly and gently close the front door.

That's the last time I'm nice to market interviewers. Now I know why people don't like doing door to door surveys. Sorry marketers, but you're going to have to come up with a new way to get market research.

Beware of dodgy market interviewers - Part 1

2006-06-18T21:38:00.000+12:00

So this evening, I came back home from grocery shopping, ready to make dinner and I drive into my driveway to see some guy loitering outside

"Can I help you?"
Turns out he's doing a survey analysing the literacy of young adults. Um Okay. I'm a marketer (so know how important surveys can be and know annoying it is to get blown off by respondents) so I feel sorry for him and tell him okay I'll do the survey.

He needs to use his laptop so requests to come inside so that he can plug it in. Okay.

We sit down and I realise that this survey may take longer than I intially thought (somewhere around 10mins).
"How long will this take?"
"It really depends on the person - fastest person has taken around 45mins"
"WHAT?! I need to cook dinner! I'm sorry I don't have time for this!"

By this time he's pluged in his laptop and everything's set up.
"Lets just see how it goes, if you need to stop I can come back another time"
Grudgingly I agree.

First thing he gets me to do is read a couple of documents and answer some questions. This is way too much work! But I completed it anyway and then he goes on to do a background survey.
"When did you graduate?"
"Um, the answers only give it in years, I graduate at the end of this month"
"Oh you graduate at the end of this month? - you have to invite me over for cake"
"Um....*mumble mumble*"

After half an hour... (5:30pm)
"How much longer will this take?"
"Not very far, you're the fastest person who's done this"
"Um... okay"

10 mins later... (5:40pm)
"Seriously how much longer will this take?"
"You're almost done"
"*Grumble grumble*"

5 mins later... (5:45pm) Background check finished.

"Finally all done!"

"Um can you please fill in these questions" - he hands me this thick book at least 25 pages long complete with A4 length articles and supporting questions.

"WHAT?! @#$@%!" - I'm too nice and I start working my way through the book which mirrors a mini exam.

Getting grumpier with each page, I have real exams to do I can't be bothered with this survey. After each page I complain that he needs to tell his employers to cut down this survey because it's just ridiculous to expect people to give up this much of their time.

10mins later... ( 5:55pm)

"This is taking too long"

"Here's a pen for your efforts"

Another 10 mins later ... (6:05pm) Still haven't finished the exam like survey.

"Um, I'm really sorry but I have to stop doing this survey I really need to cook dinner or there's not going to be any food to eat"

"Oh, I can come back in an hour if you want and pick it up"

"I have to cook dinner there's no way I can do it tonight, if you leave with me I can finish it and you can pick it up tomorow"

"Okay"

He stays sitting.

"So I study business as well... (and goes on to talk about his life story"

"Uh let me help you pack up" - I unplug his laptop and pass it to him. (Big hint to get lost)

"I'm so sorry I can't leave, it's pouring outside , I'll get wet."

I just stare at him blankly - what is wrong with this guy. He's got a car outside.

"So when you graduate make sure to invite me over for cake so that we can celebrate"

More blank looks from me.

He continues on about some life story.

"Um I have to go cook" - I run into the kitchen

5 mins later... (5:10pm) Rain Stops.

"Okay Ying I'm going now!"

(Thank god!)

He tries to shake my hand fortunatly it's covered in seasoning.

"Okay so make sure you call me to cut your cake for graduate"

Seriously whats wrong with this guy?

"Alright, see you."

Thank god he's gone... kind of got the feeling he was being a bit unprofessional. Nah, I'm just being paranoid, he was just being friendly...

Go West Auckland!

2006-06-12T21:07:00.000+12:00

So the power was down today in Auckland... well everywhere but out West!

Now who was having a go at me for living out this way... it totally rocks being out here. Well that is till about 2pm when I'm the sure the electricity company realised that West Auckland was the only ones with power so they switched our power off and gave it to the city centre.

Damn Bastards.

Ah well we got it back a few hours later just before it got dark.

It's still sweet being out west!

Trade Me Mania

2006-06-11T22:55:00.000+12:00

I'm hooked.
www.trademe.co.nz

Best bargains ever! A shoppers heaven. So much for trying to stay out of shops for the past year (so I wouldn't spend money)... Trade Me and my bank account have developed a very good relationship.

Bought a wetsuit for $10!!

And this gorgeous mini mal. (Had to show it off it's just so pretty!)

Picked it up this morning (7am) and took it straight to Muriwai and caught the best waves ever! A tad nippy but totally worth it.

It's going to be the primo winter!

GNC: It finally happened!

2006-05-29T21:24:00.000+12:00

Pre 6pm: So much to do and so little time. A couple of us rushed around painting banners, photocopying, and nutting out the agenda for the evening.

6pm rolled around: Met up at Harishi's apartment turns out he's still asleep. Exhausted by the long hours prior.

Key milestones that only happened a few days ago:

Permission was granted by the Auckland city council for us to do the walk

Permission was granted to "gather" at AOTEA square.

For about a week prior we were bitting our finger nails wondering whether GNC would go ahead or not. Thankfully it worked out in the end.

6pm: Arrive at AOTEA square. Set up banners and things are a little chaotic.

7:30pm: TV3 news show up and want an interview. They film Jenkins, Harishi and part of the walk.

7:45: I call everyone in on the mike (it's extraordinarly loud! I'm sure it's not supposed to be that loud, apparently you can hear me all the way from Wellesley street) and we head off on the march. There's about 100 of us walking and holding up placard boards. It was good to have the stares from people on the sidewalk and we seemed to attract a quite an amount of attention. Most people really didn't know what war we were talking about, but we gave them fliers and hopefully they are a little bit more knowledgable because of us.

Small detail: Harishi's supposedly 2 hour walk turned out to be 30mins long. He had assured us on foot it was at least 1.5hrs and with a big group it must take longer. Who would have known. We ended up taking a few extra detours which was better in the end because it made our route longer.

Back at Aotea square we had Margaret Thatcher no wait Taylor (I couldn't believe I actually said Thatcher!) from Amnesty talk a bit about child soldiers, and then Jenkins tell us a bit about his story from back home. Everytime Jenkin's talks I really get sad, because there is nothing more real then when someone gives a personal testimony of a story like his.

We showed the movie Invisible Children.

And after a Q&A and comments we set out to camp for the night. Some people got a game of soccer going, while others wrote letters to Helen Clark and Winston Peters. . The high light of the night was around 4:30am when a local government worker visited us and bought us hot coffee (in a milk container) and sugar. So sweet. Also I got to try matte from an Argentinian friend, which was really cool. I had some amazing conversations and the night went by pretty fast.

At about 6am we wraped up and took this one last final photo (and as soon as I can figure it out I will post it bloggers doing something funny).

All in all it was a good night. We had hoped for more people but since it was at the same time as the super 12 ... we were happy with the turnout. The people who came were amazing and got so much from the experience. It definetly bought me closer to reality, the cold, wind and hard concrete floor makes me appreciate so much what I have in New Zealand. It's so easy to take for granted the wonderful life I have, and to forget (or not even realise) how many of the world don't have the luxuries (or even neccessities ) that we have. I only wish that fairness, equality and justice held the same value as success, power and money.

GLOBAL NIGHT COMMUTE: SAT 27 MAY

2006-05-26T00:38:00.000+12:00

First it was a vision... now it's a reality...

YES, the "Global Night Commute'' is finally happening here in NZ on Saturday, 27th May. For those of you who have seen the movie and heard about the situation in Uganda, you would be aware of the daily plight of the Ugandan children who have to travel up to 27 miles every night to escape the clutches of the rebels. They do this out of fear, out of hope that they they'll survive. We are holding this event to give them hope. Hope that one day they can sleep peacefully in their homes without any fear or anxiety!

The GNC was held in the USA in April this year and more than 50,000 people participated. Celebrities like Oprah Winfrey too lent their support to the cause! We hope to recreate a movement of our own in NZ to show our solidarity with the Ugandan children along with supporters of this movement all over the world!

Here are a few details about the event on Saturday:
VENUE: AOTEA SQUARE
TIME: MEET AT 7PM
DATE: 27th May, 2006 (Saturday)

AGENDA:
1) Assemble at Aotea Square by 7pm.
2) Approximate 2 hour walk around Queen Street
3) Screening of the movie and guest speakers
4) African dances (to add a cultural touch to the event)
5) Letter writing sessions and art projects (a campaign to pressurise the ugandan government to find a solution to the crisis).
6) Communing overnight!

TO-BRING LIST:
1) Blankets and something to sit on
2) Art supplies (paper, crayons, markers, envelopes and stamps)
3) A picture of yourself
4) Warm clothes
5) Snacks and water
6) Banners (if you can make some)

PLS WEAR SOMETHING RED OR BLACK!

Also incase you are late for the event, come along to aotea square and our volunteers can guide you where to join the group on the route. We are planning to have a banner making session in the Auckland University Quad on Saturday between 1-2 pm, come along if you are interested.

Lastly, let's make it a night to remember... Let's try being the change we want to see in this world. Let's show the Ugandan children, they are not alone, they are not forgotten, they are not invisible!

Please tell as many people about this event as possible - numbers do matter!

Hope to see you all on Saturday.

Thank you for your support,
Invisible Children Team, NZ

FROM UGANDA, WITH LOVE AND HOPE

2006-05-05T00:13:00.000+12:00

Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt breaking up becomes the biggest scoop of the year, 1000’s of African kids dying of starvation and poverty goes unnoticed. 9/11 creates huge media furore, people still talk about the effects, after effects and after effects, the same number of people die every year in Uganda- once again it goes unrealised! Everyone judges and comments on Paris Hilton’ ssex tapes, prince Charles and Camilla parker Bowles’ wedding or the US attacking Iraq but no one raises their opinion on the political instability in Uganda. WHY? Because believe it or not, accept it or not, we don’t care! We love to live in our well protected, well shielded environment in a state of “ignorance is bliss” while thousands of youngsters in Uganda live under fear wondering if they’ll wake up to see the sunshine next day?!

However, its time to wake up, show those Ugandan kids they are not invisible, “non-existent non-entities”. The first step has been taken by three American students who have shown us the unseen, become the voice of the unheard and generated concern for the uncared through their extremely “disgusting yet inspiring” documentary- ‘THE INVISIBLE CHILDREN”

For those completely oblivious, Uganda is a war torn country in the north east of Africa. The rebel army (LRA) and the government are at war with each other for several years now. In this fight for present and past, it’s the future generation- the children of Uganda who are suffering. The rebels abduct these kids; make them undergo intense, cold hearted training to join their forces. In simple words, these innocent, unassuming children are snatched off their childhood, their right to gain education and are turned into blood thirsty, brutal murderers. Apparently, one of the first duties of the soldier is to go kill his family because if you can shoot your family, you can kill anyone in the world! It is the most neglected humanitarian crisis in the world today.

The film basically elaborates on this messy situation in Uganda. It makes you cry, makes you think, makes you question but most importantly it makes you care! At this age, when we are too tied down with our own trivial problems such as university course load, money matters, complicated love and sex lives, the last thing we want to do is help some kid in country seven seas away! But that’s the beauty and passion of this movie. Those endearing, extremely affable kids with frozen tears and endless fear under those goofy grins carve a special place in our hearts. They make you wanna add them as a “hassle” of your busy life and work towards ending their plight.

What Uganda needs is “peace in the country and peace in every corner of the country”. How you can help? Firstly watch the movie, there will be a screening held very soon. Go to http://www.invisiblechildren.com/ and register yourself for the global night commute (a way of capturing the Ugandan child’s daily struggle in one night). Try helping out financially (a child’s education can be supported by giving up just a few beers at shads). The choice is in your hands! Be a benefactor and help a deprived child achieve his/her goals.

This is our chance to be the change we want to see in the world. Our chance to be a Good Samaritan and do our good for humanity, our chance to undermine corrupt governments, upcoming terrorism and atmosphere of hopelessness in Uganda. Our chance to show those children that’s YES they do exist and YES we care! In the words of Michael Jackson, “heal the world make it a better place for you and for me and the entire human race”.

Rucha Sarma
May 2006

A day filled with AIESEC Moments

2006-04-26T13:06:00.000+12:00

"It's such a kiwi thing, to have so many bottles of bundaberg on the shelf" - Sophie

A Case of bad spelling
Panda spelt Panada (see bike)
Koala spelt Kiola (see shirt or ask David)

Poor Sophie
A lot of effort went into taking this photo

A beautiful Italian Restaurant to end the day

Strange eating habits caught in action
Amy: Eat the best first
Me: Eat the best last

Nick on his is so cute Scooter!

The meaning of Whanaungatanga

2006-04-10T23:34:00.000+12:00

The Hangi

Te Rau Aroha Marae

Bluff
April 2006

Freedom of Speech

2006-03-24T21:27:00.000+12:00

A friend sent me this quote that I find very fitting during our current times. It's a little controversial but I think it's a point of view that really should be surfaced and thought about a lot more than it currently is.

Freedom of speech is not just a special and distinctive emblem of Western culture that might be generously abridged or qualified as a measure of respect for other cultures that reject it, the way a crescent of menorah might be added to a Christian religious display.

Free speech is a condition of legitimate government. Laws and policies are not legitimate unless they have been adopted through a democratic process, and a process is not democratic if government has prevented anyone expressing his convictions about what those laws and policies should be ... So in a democracy no one, however powerful or impotent, can have a right not to be insulted or offended. That principle is of particular importance in a nation that strives for racial and ethnic fairness.

If weak or unpopular minorities wish to be protected from legal or economic discrimination by law - if they wish laws enacted that prohibit discrimination against them in employment, for instance - then they must be willing to tolerate whatever insults or ridicule people who oppose such legislation wish to offer to their fellow voters, because only a community that permits such insult as part of public debate may legitimately adopt such laws."

- Ronald Dworkin, New York Review of Books (cover date 23/3/2006)

You know it's been one of those days...

2006-03-14T21:10:00.000+13:00

When you slam the car door and realise you've left the keys in the ignition with the engine's still running and you're late for a tutorial class that you're organising.

When you turn up to meet some friends only to have no one show up, and your cell phone battery dead so you can't contact anyone. Only once you go home and call someone you realise that you were all meant to be meeting next Tuesday not today.

When you arrive home and find out that you've been summoned for Jury duty.

On a positive note:
The tutorial went really well
And I learnt how to break into a locked car with a clothes hanger.

The reason to believe.

2006-03-12T17:21:00.000+13:00

Perhaps I should just admit that I now understand the world is corrupt and brutal, that most nations look out only for their own interests, and people seldom rush to dangerous acts of selfless sacrifice. No shit. Where did I get the idea I would find otherwise?

We actually set out to save the world. That is what was insane - not ten-year-old warlords with bad breath and vodoo fetishes in Liberia, no the Hutu militias who butchered a minority who had repressed them or the Tutsi survivors who executed the suspects - but me, for thinking I could enter a war and personally restore order.

So that's the easy answer: Forswear idealism; resign myself to a sad maturity; put away the things of youth; be thankful I survived and move on.

But that's horseshit too, a craven capitulation. I'm not ready to let the youthful part of myself go yet. If maturity means becoming a cynic, if you have to kill the part of yourself that is naïve and romantic and idealistic - the part of yourself you treasure most - to claim maturity, is it not better to die young but with your humanity intact? If everyone resigns themselves to cynicism, isn't that exactly how vulnerable millions end up dead?

Kenneth Cain, April 2003
Emergency Sex

Enough is enough

2006-02-22T22:30:00.000+13:00

I bit my tongue during the cartoon uproar

But I can't bite it any longer.

Enough is enough.

It's been in the news all week.

"South Park Offends"

An episode of South Park is coming under criticism. The episode features a statue of the Virgin Mary that bleeds "out her ass". Ten church leaders, from the president of the New Zealand Catholic Bishops' Conference to the president of the Council of Christians and Muslims, have pleaded for the episode not to be screened on national television in New Zealand. C4 Channel instead shifted its scheduled date in May to screen on television tonight to allow the public to make up its own mind about the episode.

I just finished watching it. Frankly I was outraged. Outraged that so much controversy had been kicked up over this episode. This is it? I couldn't believe it. I'm not saying it wasn't that offensive. But honestly, it's South Park. When have they not offended someone? That is what their success is built on. Everyday its overtly sexual and obscenely vulgar themes create humour through its profanity and satire of anything and everything imaginable. It is controversial, and it pushes all boundaries and cultural norms. But that's what South Park is, it has never claimed to be otherwise. It is satire, and that is part of our Western culture. South Park has even won an Emmy(2005) for best outstanding animated picture. We love to hate it. If it offends, you have the freedom not to watch it.

Yes, it is a sensitive period right now. But that does not give the right to spark off protests for everything thing that we suddenly find offensive.

South Park has been on air since 1997. Where have the protests been when South Park depicted Christians as mindless lemmings willing to follow anyone with a religious message including Cartman dressed as a mini Hitler, or when South Park depicted every Catholic priest as a pedophile? If it is blasphemy to depict Muhammad in any sort of light, where were the protests when South Park portrayed Muhammad and other founders of other world religions as superheroes. Is it then okay if Muhammad is depicted positively?

I'm not asking for a debate about the cartoon issue. I am just pointing out that enough is enough. When does it stop? The cartoons added to further the insult of hostility and mockery of Islamic values that the Western society has shown towards the Muslim religion since the war on terrorism began. I'm saying I understand, I don't agree but I understand. But protesting against South Park, this is just getting ridiculous.

New Zealand takes on the world!

2006-02-07T23:08:00.000+13:00

Been wanting to put this up forever! Last year in October Andy Irons, Mark Occhilupo, Sunny Garcia and Joel Parkinson surfed up in Piha for the Vodafone Surf Session! "New Zealand's best vs the World" Pity Piha wasn't up to it's usual glory and things were a bit rainy and flat but Andy Irons, the champion that he is managed to pull off a beautiful aeiral manoeuvre that scored a fantastic 9.8. Sitting back chillin while the dub reggae band Kora played in back. (now they're a CD worth buying!) All in all, an absolute heaven of a day. Occy and Andy Irons total legends.

No longer a casino virgin

2006-02-07T20:20:00.000+13:00

So I'm finally catching up on my blogging.

Those who know me well and my e-mail habits will understand. Silent period and then BAM! everything! :) Lots of memorable events from last year, I finally got the photos so I can write some updates.

So this little one dates back to a nice little dinner mid last year. Cody, Kris, Shirley and I finally caught up. Dinner was good (Well it was Cafe Cezanne), Dessert was great. But the highlight of the evening: The sky city casino.

We all cruised in with our 20 dollars in one hand looking to make a fortune on the roulette table. We looked like a kid in a candy shop. no idea what we were doing but so excited. The casino lady took pity on us, and gave us a few tips, and after a while we started winning! There's a higher probability to win if you put chips on the odds that split it into three quadrants rather than the 2 quadrant odds (ie red and black or odd and even). Hehe so we'ld win 5 dollars every round, and lose about 10 every 2 rounds.

A great three hours worth of entertainment, Kris, Shirley and I walked 20 dollars poorer but highly amused. Cody on the other hand walks out 200 dollars richer. Decided to take a risk and place some money on a single number, and what are the odds he wins!

oh Cody miss ya! Las Vegas would have been awesome with luck like yours.

Hope you're having a primo time in France and by the way friendly reminder I'm still waiting for my postcard :)

Stuck at Uni

2005-10-12T04:43:00.000+13:00

Okay's here'a a blog for you all.

(In response to all those slack comments I've been demostrating self control and not procrastinating this semester)
It's 4:43am...and i'm stuck at university!

4 assignments due this week.
1 completed, 3 to go.

Have been in the AIESEC office, no sleep as of yet frantically trying to complete assignment number 2. It's getting a bit late/early so I thought i'ld depart, head home for a shower and return all freshed and ready for new day!

It's freezing outside, so I jump into my car, stick my key into the ignition, hit the accelarator.
Nothing happens.

?????

A few more attempts, and then I notice it. My lights were left on.

Before you all say..."typical ying"

It wasn't me. I claim innocence.

I lent my car to Leon and David to fulfil their movenpick fantasies...who kindly returned me the car which refuses to move.

Heh well at least they were kind enough to bring me movenpick too so some good came out of it.

Tried calling everyone... seems like nobody is awake at 4 o'clock in the morning. Finally got a hold of Jim. Poor Jim...its usually impossible to get him out of bed before midday, and now he's getting up at 4am in the morning! He said he'ld just gone to sleep so I felt slightly better...

No jumper cables (or spark plug thingys whatever they are)... Jim's lending me his car so I can get home, grab some shut eye, get changed and come back in less than 3 hours time to spark my car and make it to BOA meeting at 8am.

What a start to a day.

This follows yesturday's incident of locking my keys in my car and only realising when I returned to my car at midnight. Poor dad had to drive in and unlock my car for me.

All things happen in three I'm scared of what is yet to come...

2005-07-29T03:15:00.000+12:00

It's 3am, and I'm sitting in front of the computor in my new sexy XL tui t-shirt with a glass of red wine in one hand. I'm feeling somewhat lazy. I have a mailbox of at least 30 unread e-mails but right now it's not really time for work. Nor is it really time for sleep. I've really lost my sense of time these days. Write e-mails till 3am, wake up at 8am for class. IB 301 provides a perfect enviroment for mid afternoon naps and the nice drive home in 1st gear at 6pm during traffic hour is the pefect opportunity to wind down after a long day. Then home for dinner, e-mails and before I know it my life has become this nice little cycle. Brilliant. My life is a structured pattern.

Okay granted. It's only been 2 weeks. But I feel like time has taken over my life. In international business today, I learnt that that means that I am in a culture that is immersed in chasing time. I used to be accused of not being organised. Now that my life has become so much more structured, I feel ... complacent yet some what aloof with reality.

Hmm...

Perhaps this feeling is just the result of enjoying my holidays far too much and not wanting to reconnect with University. It really was a great few weeks! Ah well just gotta make sure this semester is a PARTY in itself.

How to get publicity at a University Campus

2005-07-29T03:14:00.000+12:00

1. AIESECers like to drink
2. University Students like to drink
3. AIESECErs like to "boat race"
3. University Students like the drinking horn

Anyone seeing a common theme here?

How to get publicity?
Do what students do best, and make sure everyone knows you're representing AIESEC

2005-07-29T03:13:00.000+12:00

Lama you legend!

Drinking the guys under the table!

1 jug through a straw!

Go Lama!

Came 2nd!

2005-07-29T03:12:00.000+12:00

Go team AIESEC!

Now this is publicity!

Our t-shirts - "AIESEC - Exchange yourself"

Everyone was asking us what AIESEC was

And the MC even did a plug on AIESEC day
Yay yah!

Unfortunatly we didn't win the guys one.

The other team cheated

We even had to have a rematch and they still cheated

Hmpf!

whatever happened to no spillage

and no starting before the last person has put their vessel on their head

2005-07-29T03:10:00.000+12:00

What's this "girls are allowed spillage cause they're girls"
Sexist! - Figures the MC was a male.
Doesn't matter we still creamed the chicks.
We finished, they were barely past their second member
Sweeet!
Prize: I get this sexy XL tui shirt.

The rest of the day was entertaining.
The "Eat a hot mince and cheese pie than jug race"
The "Eat a banana and whipped cream than jug race"
The "Topless girls jug race"
The "Naked guys jug race" - I have never seen someone down a jug as fast as the guy who won. It must of been less than 2 seconds!!!

Caught on Camera - a real live Chiwi

2005-07-29T02:30:00.000+12:00

Chi·nese (ch-nz, -ns)adj.
Of or relating to China or its peoples, languages, or cultures.

ki·wi (kw)n. pl. ki·wis
Any of several flightless birds of the genus Apteryx native to New Zealand, having vestigial wings and a long slender bill. Also called apteryx.
A woody Chinese vine (Actinidia chinensis) having brown fuzzy edible fruit with a green sweet pulp.
The fruit of this plant. Also called Chinese gooseberry.
Informal. A New Zealander.

Chi·wi (ch)n. pl. chi·wi
Winsy

5 Steps fowards, 3 levels up!

2005-07-29T02:15:00.000+12:00

Starting a new term, and saying goodbye to many memories.

So many tears shared at Changeover.

Thank you for the beautiful singing from the LC and the yummy Ferrero Rochers

YAY for traditions
I'm enjoying my jester hat from Susan
And my pink penguin toe socks are just beautiful!

Thank you to Edris for putting together the best powerpoint ever made in history of man kind! (Starwars and the OC also extracted from Edris powerpoint)

"Every end
signifies the begining of another"

Introducing the EB team 05 - 06 (extracted from Edris powerpoint)

2005-07-29T02:14:00.000+12:00

Snapshots

2005-07-29T01:58:00.000+12:00

EB: March - June 05

2005-07-29T01:57:00.000+12:00

May the force be with you new EB

2005-07-29T01:55:00.000+12:00

Starting a new term together

2005-07-29T01:54:00.000+12:00

Doesn't my body look sexy?

2005-07-29T01:20:00.000+12:00

Ariel, you draw as beautiful as you are.

XPD Blowout

2005-06-30T18:22:00.000+12:00

What started as three,
Soon became 11
As of June 29th 2005 it was 13.

The XPD team of April - June 2005,
Thank you for those incredible few months.
Today was for you.

XPD Blowout:
Blowing out to a fantastic few months.
Blowing out in celebration for a wonderful future.

June 29th 2005
Jens and I wanted to say thank you. Thank you for all your passion and commitment. Thank you for creating beautiful memories that will stick with us forever.

The day started at 9am, although predictably we knew that you all wouldn't arrive till 10. We were right :p

And then we told you the entire day would be spend infront the camera, I have never seen Amy and Yvonne so stunned.

A few challenges from the day.

The post challenge
Go to post office and ask for a 5 cents stamp and get a receipt for it.
Ask whether a letter would reach the AIESEC office with that.

Opps we forgot that you couldn't film in a postoffice
Solution
Team 1: Place camera in handbag and hide it from security guards
Team 2: Bargain with postoffice staff and only film hands

Would a letter reach the AIESEC office for 5 cents?
Answer: Unfortunatly no, not even if the AIESEC office is in the city.

A truly AIESEC Reception
Go to warehouse and buy a reception pack for $3
Have a reception at the ferry building and ask their "intern" (a passenger) how their overseas experience was?

How did the two teams manage to get the same "intern" even though they arrived at the ferry building at different times is beyond me. What a lucky "intern" recieving x2 NZ newsletters, x2 infomation booklets, x2 NZ flags and x2 warehouse bags.

AIESEC Auckland wins the boat races again!
Have a boat race with soft drinks/beer in an Asian food place
Follow official boat race rules: “Thumbs on the table, face the vessel, ROW”
Boat race teams has to consist of at least two people (number of people in each team has to be the same)
You get bonus points if you have non AIESEC people joining.

Team 1 vs 2 corporates in suits
Team 2 vs Irish tourists (poor Iva, wasn't even half way through her vessel, when the Irish team had already finished)

Also included in the footage was
An AWESOME promo video starring the guy from Studio 2 and the guy who eats the deli roll in the McDonald's ad. Go Celebrity endorsement!

And who could forget an episode from "The days of AIESEC"
Michael's sordid love affair met by Ariel's half a dozen bitch slaps. (never cross Ariel, that cute face can be decieving)

While everyone filmed, Jens and I slaved over a hot kitchen to cook dinner. We produced a gourmet dinner of wheat salad, rice and noodles (Carbohydrates is very good for you). And our famous chocolate cake made out of 1000 grams of milo powder and half a bottle of cadbury's HOT fudge sauce. Mmmm.

Only in America

2005-06-16T22:53:00.000+12:00

http://www.spicyparis.com
Evidence: sex sells
Is this a really a burger ad?
Or a soft core porn show for ppl with a burger fetish?
(although the burger barely made 5 seconds onscreen)

hehe however if ads were to really portray reality...
http://www.accolo.com/pages/spicy.shtml

An angel hath fallen into our midst

2005-06-16T19:56:00.000+12:00

Does this ravishing gentleman look familar to anyone?

Try cutting those rather illustrious locks off

To see who our very own archangel is

What does trust feel like?

2005-06-15T23:50:00.000+12:00

Think about an event or a person that makes you so mad
that makes your ears go red in anger, your eyes squint in tension
and you can start to see steam coming out of your nostrils.

Now smile.
Smile and show your teeth
Smile until your cheeks hurt
and just keep on smiling.

Remember how you feel right now
Because that is what trust feels like
It feels like the power of a smile
That creates warmth even in times of anger

I am who I am
Nothing More
Nothing Less

And you still love me.

No strings attached
My heart, your sleeve
Take my shoes please

Trust: Relax
Trust: Listen
Trust: Challenge
Trust: Warmth

Converse - All Nike

2005-06-15T19:20:00.000+12:00

Today I learnt about www.conversegallery.com from a very excited Vedant.

The Converse brand is all about originality. That is where its heritage lies. The Converse brand has always been owned by those who wear them; they have been the ones to define who Converse is as a brand. Converse now allows influencers and consumer to create their advertising.

Budding film makers and talented artists wanting to get your name out into the world. Here is your calling! Converse Gallery invites you to create a 24 second short film for the chance to win money, or even have your production aired on MTV. Very clever! Converse, I praise you on this very ingenious and innovative marketing strategy ... or rather should I be praising Nike?

In 2001 Converse declared itself bankrupt. Nike bought Converse out, closed all U.S. factories and shifted production to Asia. Nike, regarded as the "evil corporation" widely criticized for its sweat shops that sparked a worldwide movement. Is this just a ploy from Nike to distract us from the fact that the money paid for the Converse shoes that used to go to support working families now goes directly to corporate CEOs who now earn hundred times what their lowest employees earn.

I apologise Vedant. Converse does indeed represent an emblem of counterculture, a rejection of the mainstream, a lonely stance against the onslaught of consumerism. Why in fact I just found out that they were the popular choice for the bad boys of past popular culture: John Travolta in "Grease" wore Converse All Stars, and Kurt Cobain died wearing a pair of black suede Converse One-Stars. Converse could almost be regarded as a nostalgic appreciation of simplicity.

However Nike's takeover does seem to somehow suck the cult out of the classic shoe.

What is your secret?

2005-06-12T23:19:00.000+12:00

I recieved this link from a friend
www.postsecret.blogspot.com

A powerful site to put things into perspective.

Kippis Bohemian Finn!

2005-06-11T19:59:00.000+12:00

Today

a few hours drive down south

over to the west a little

in a place I call Paradise

Over many cups of tea and cake

Farewells were given to Bohemian Finn

(so appropriatly termed by Jirka)

Juha,

Has it really been 11 months since we waited for you to turn up at the Auckland International Airport at midnight only to have you call and say that you would be about 12 hours late?

What (almost) a year it has been

I'm glad you finally found your way to the surf

Still sad I never got to see your humble abode

Where did the time go?

As you fly off to Finland

Do not forget about this little country down south

We'll miss your alternative spontaneity

Living the life that many of us dream
A life of freedom, passion, art and culture

Goodbye, farewell my friend

Let us meet again sometime soon

Much love and many hugs to take away with you

I look foward to hear of where your travels will take you next

I hate Starbucks

2005-06-11T01:27:00.000+12:00

Not only because it's a coporate chain that represents the homogenization of American culture

Not only because its "third place" is really a prefabricated box with ergonomic chairs and a "gourmet panini"

Not only because the unique electric musical taste of the staff has been replaced by the quirky jazz selections that are available on a Starbucks CD if you want to listen at home (whoopdeedoo)

Not only because all they care about is the bottom line of efficiency and profit, and art and culture matter only as long as they boost business.

But because Starbucks has spun off a whirlwind of coffee house chain stores that are all generic, plastic and manufactured.

What I hate is that Starbucks have stolen a phenomenon of coffee house culture of nonconformity, rebellion, and creativity where every cafe was different and independent

What I hate is that stupid automatic cappuccino machine that resides on the counter of the Queen Street Starbucks because sometimes it just gets too busy to handle. Well deal with it! Coffee is an art to be apreciated with. Stop screwing with art goddamit!

Funny enough I stumbled across this website ihatestarbucks.com - While I do find this site quite petty it was interesting to read the negative reactions towards Starbucks and then relise that the site failed to allow for a non biased enviroment for such a reaction. Ah what was I expecting? - an ideal world where we can all agree to disagree. Some people just want to complain. Perhaps that's what I'm doing now. So go ahead and tell me that Starbucks is the best cafe in the world. Just don't take me there.

On a much lighter note. I think perhaps I can come to the conclusion that I'm not quite a connoisseur of coffee but rather an obsessive compulsive when it comes to the "love" that's put behind each pouring of one's cappuccino, flat white, latte etc.

And on that note the best coffee in New Zealand I have found so far can only be found in Brazil on K'rd in Auckland which is supplied by Havanas in Wellington (top end of Cuba). And of course you won't beat the love at Cezanne's Tuesday nights 5:30 -10:30

Try it. It's worth it. Beats Starbucks anyday.

A life outside of AIESEC

2005-06-09T20:14:00.000+12:00

In my continuation of excessive procrastination from studying I will attempt to prove that I do indeed have a life outside of AIESEC, and hence this blogg will be the first (of many) to prove that very fact.

As a self proclaimed connoisseur of coffee I shall review for you a quaint little cafe that rests at the end of Ponsonby road (#296 in fact)

"Cafe Cezanne" proudly proclaims that Metro rated it 2nd Best in Auckland. (although this rating took place 2 years ago, it still holds strong in relation to the cafe's reputation)

Cute, yet absolutly stylish with a hint of funk

Coffee - Mediocre. Varies from barista to barista. Choice of coffeebean could be improved

Hot Chocolates/Jumbo Mochas - 2 thumbs up! Delightful texture. Added swirls of chocolate sauce and 2 chocolate fish create a beautiful finish

Food - Unbeatable taste. Must try Thai Chicken Curry as is accompanied by delicious fried banana.

Service - 5 STAR rating - especially on Tuesday nights 5:30 - 10:30pm. Barista is young, female and asian. Caution: may have drunken a little too much baileys smoothie on the job however customers will always be guaranteed a happy high quality service.

Highly recommended.

Oh what a journey it's been

2005-06-08T10:55:00.000+12:00

I started to leave a comment on Yat's blog, but then I just couldn't stop writing. I realised I have too much to say, there've been so many stories and so many magical moments.

Oh what a journey it's been.
Thank you Amy, Susan, Whiter and Yat for comming into Cima that night. I do remember that night, I got you guys' order wrong. and I also remember how determined I was not to join AIESEC. AIESEC was Wiji's organisation, an excuse to get drunk (i saw the photos before I joined) and I knew I could get drunk in any other organisation where I wouldn't be constantly compared to my older brother... so what made AIESEC any different?

There were so many times I almost didnt join.
I never found the time to go to an infosessions - but then i got this txt inviting me to LTS

I dragged a friend to LTS, she was disinteresed - so we left before lunchtime

Then came the first LC meeting - I arrived late, no idea what was going on. Joined the OC team randomly, Amy Wang (who couldn't stop mentioning Wiji everytime I talked to her) told me that Wiji joined the ICX team I should think about it too.

Then RTS rolled along - learnt where Waikato was and then got really drunk

NZMS in Christchurch - shall I go? I decided not too there would be many more conferences... then Wiji pestered me until i agreed to go. That was an experience of a lifetime... but I still wasn't yet convinced. The entire 5 days was just a blur of information and partying.

APLDS in Korea - I'll go the following year when I know a bit more about AIESEC, well so I thought. Spending an entire car ride down to Waikato with Winston changed my mind.

So many times I resisted the idea of AIESEC. Why? maybe it was because I knew that once I let AIESEC become a part of me, I wouldn't turn back.

I Love you AIESEC

2005-06-07T15:19:00.000+12:00

I am so happy and I am so looking foward to a fantastic year!!
and hehe I promise I won't randomly break into my speech or start banging on any more tables anymore.

Thank you to everyone who looked after me.
Thank you Yat, Livie and Simone for taking out my contacts
Thank you James for lending me your jacket only to have me throw up on it
Thank you Rimoni for carrying me all the way to Edris' apartment
Thank you Edris for lending me your bed to sleep in
Thank you Travis for being the scapegoat when everyone told me the next day that I stripped because it was your idea(I know now it wasn't true!)
Thank you to everyone else, I know I've missed you, there are just parts of friday night I still don't remember.
Thank you AIESEC I really do love you!

2005-06-07T15:10:00.000+12:00

Now I am torn....
I never thought I would ever be able to go to IC.

I wanted so much to go but

It cost too much and there was too little time.
And now I've managed to get funding.
I feel like the opportunity is being taken away from me again.

IC is on the same weekend as the NZ future leaders(NZFL) residential: A specially designed course at Outward Bound in the Malborough Sounds

I know you will all ask, is there any question about it?
How can you compare IC in India to Outward Bound...

If it was anything, anything but this there would be no decision to make.
But it isn't. NZFL: an 18 month programme with only 6 residentials ever to bring everyone from across NZ together. Never again will I have this opportunity with 60 of the asipiring leaders of New Zealand. People who I am growing so close to, people who I admire, and the opportunity to push myself to boundaries I never knew I could go. How can I continue on the programme without having gone to this residential? How I will understand how much they've gone through and developed? Who will I be? What will my place be?

I think I'm going to go cry and go crazy for the next few days.
I don't want to make a decision.

Lost: Viashali

2005-05-21T16:31:00.000+12:00

Vaishali sweetheart,
So afraid we lost you!!

We went crazy ... with our imagination.
Did you get too drunk at duty free?
Triads kidnapped you at the airport?
Retained at Customs... did you bring special indian herbs????

or... or... or...

You changed your mind about comming to NZ and didn't want to leave India!!!!
Ahhhhhhhhh nooooo !!!!!!

.........

Luckily you didn't change your mind....(YAY!)
We just missed each other :( Can't believe it stupied airport.. taking away all the seats, and changing it so that we have to stand in a aisle right at the side as opposed to directly in front of you when you arrive. Bah humbug!

When HD finally got your number... we were thinking of turning up at your doorstep and kidnapping you... but you were sleeping. hehe enjoy your sleep while you can... you're going need it for the year ahead. Looking foward to it!YAY so happy you're finally here!!

Abhi, you smell!

2005-05-16T21:09:00.000+12:00

Abhijeet Malik!
A farewell party doesn't mean that you're leaving!! especially since your flight isn't due to early june!!

An e-mail pops into my inbox. Abhijeet's farewell - well Abhi likes to party. He's just having a party. We had three for Luis last year, Abhi's just doing the same thing. He doesn't leave for another month!

So I turn up for Abhi's party...

Ying - "So how come a party so early?
Abhi - "I'm leaving next Friday"
Ying - "What? No you're not!""
Abhi - "Yes I am"
Ying - "No you're not!"
Abhi - "Yes I am"
Ying - "No you're not!"

Okay you get the picture.

Warning:
For future reference, anyone who's going to leave me.
Please tell me the exact day that you're leaving so I have time to get used to it or you will suffer a dead arm like Abhi currently has.

2005-05-16T21:00:00.000+12:00

Aww we'll miss ya Abhi!

Your party was a great way to leave off....
Although I still say you should drop by Auckland before you fly off
Especially since your flight goes through Auckland before you leave
Why? exactly again aren't you staying for longer?!

Grrrrr!!!!!

Well at least we were blessed with your solo dance to that Asian Lithuanian line dance, with Edris' beautiful harmonious voice in the background.

However, I'm still trying to figure out, how exactly did we ended up with the night being Nathan's talk show, and since we all know Nathan so well, we know exactly what the topic ended up being for at least the final few hours and everyone just wasn't quite drunk enough yet to comfortably answer his ever so slightly personal questions.... everyone except maybe James...

Note: If you invite Nathan to a party, make sure there's plenty of alchohol on hand, you'll need it.

A step down memory lane

2005-05-11T02:30:00.000+12:00

Putting up that picture up of AP

Flashbacks

Soju, Soju, and more Soju
That's where it all began...

From AIESEC to Aura - phobia

2005-05-11T02:17:00.000+12:00

Now

2005-05-11T02:16:00.000+12:00

Then

2005-05-11T02:13:00.000+12:00

Jonny, one of my favourite friends from APLDS Korea 2003 graduated in Oz last year, and then went on to start his own band.

I so admire him. Pursued his dream and wasn't weighed down by society and their infactuation with that piece of paper. They've played all over the place in melbourne, and they're so gonna go global!

Help get their music recorded and released
They've entered Starburst SoundCheck Click on Listen and vote See the contestants - in alphabetical order and find their band: Aura- phobia or click here

They've got two songs entered The way & Put the luv in the microwave
Listen to their songs and then vote... you can vote once every 24 hours. Voting closes 27 May.

Check out their website. http://www.aura-phobia.com/ and hehe check out their video clip that they sent to China. hehe, it's so cute.

When they win, then Jonny can finally come visit me in New Zealand.

Farewell & Adieu

2005-04-25T20:42:00.000+12:00

Ole, Marky and Alex

Arriving breathless over 2 hours late, reality hits home.

For these three interns it would be the last time I would arrive late to their infamous intern parties. Rushing up the steps, Alex's living room is filled with people. So many hugs, but yet I can't even find any interns. About 15 mins into my arrival my phone begins to ring... Ole is calling. Scrambling through the groups of people, I see a projector. Images flashing of a year gone, and there stands 3 gorgeous interns. Marky, Alex and Ole.

Oh I will miss you three so much.

Marky always so relaxed, I will miss your delicious cooking and fantastic taste for wine.

Alex my "hilarious" German friend I will miss singing my favourite German song with you.

Ole with your Volvo, I will miss your "Perfect" Denmark.

One last party, all together.
The right music, and a perfect atmosphere.
Friends from all over, new and old.
We gather together to say goodbye.

Marky, beautiful as always. Your stories of home, pull me to Prague more and more each day.

Alex, I hope you enjoyed your inflatable girlfriend that evening, my apologies for telling everyone you smell.

And...Ole, the devil of the evening. You and Juha like little drunken girls giggling in the corner. Then the both of you found it absolutly hilarious to bodyslam Simone and I, then steal sleeping bags, all the while spreading rumours in German (yes I found out what you were saying).

Be good, Be well. This is not the end. Europe calls me. And I know I will see you all in the distant future.

2005-04-25T20:41:00.000+12:00

Snapshots of a farewell party.
22.04.05

I ask to not be treated like a doormat, instead they call me a feminist"

2005-04-20T18:35:00.000+12:00

The other day I was talking with a friend, and she called me a feminist. Me, a feminist? Bra burning, anti-barbie, men hating female. I think not.

Such sterotypes that men and women have to fulfil. Even with this new paradigm shift when men are becoming more metropolitian, and women follow the footsepts of the girls in Sex in the City. Has things really changed? On the surface it's the new trend, but behind closed doors that male is a pussy, and the female's a slapper.

Does this frustrate me? Yes of course it bloody hell does! Equality - i don't care male or female lets us be a world of equality and don't tell me that men are equal to women and it's only the women who "suffer" and that's why we have feminists. We just barely hear about it, cause seriously can you imagine a guy holding a men's lib sign, how much hack is he going to get? Males, females conjures up images of what is typical. And what happens when we break out of these images - society is what happens. Labels & stigmas.

Sigh~It really does makes me so mad. Let us embrace democracy. yet ignore it in our every day life. Democracy - The principles of social equality and respect for the individual within a community. Feminism it feels to me is exactly the same thing as democracy, it is just yet another label that society has given us. A label where Feminism is all aboutrah rah women's right? It's much more than that. it's about equality. And under this defintion if you ask me again: am I a feminist? Yeah, I guess I do fall under that category.

Begin

2005-04-13T03:17:00.000+12:00

Dream

Believe

Create