and the gold logie goes to......

When was the last time you saw a great Australian film or TV show?  If I were to peruse the guide for tonight's viewing, I would find a plethora of "reality" shows (which in my opinion are the death of television, the epitome of the dumbing down of society), a number of American sitcoms (more a guide on how to be part of the "sheeple" brigade), a couple of documentaries (for those of us still in existence that crave knowledge) and Dr Who (old school brilliance).

Is it really better to import programs/ film and does it actually matter?
No and Yes!
Local programming is relevant to the province. We can smell, touch, believe and embrace a local production. We can live it. Imported programming is unfamiliar but gives us an insight to how other regions view society, the world and each other.

It all began in 1950 when the Menzies government ok the ABC to broadcast in Sydney & Melbourne (plus one commercial station each).  It took until late 1956 that we actually saw our first television service! There were some iconic productions that started pretty early in the piece. We had "Homicide", "Skippy" and "Here's Humphrey" in the 60's. The 70's welcomed the birth of classic programming such as "Young Talent Time", "Hey Hey It's Saturday!", the cult classic "Prisoner", the legendary "Countdown" and the controversial "Number 96".  Aussie drama hit us in the 80's with "A Country Practice", "Sons and Daughters" and one cannot ignore the phenomenon that is  "Neighbours" (long time fans will remember it being dropped from network 7 but quickly picked up by network 10).  The 90's recession brought us "The Simpsons" and both Ray Martin of "60 minutes" and TV drama "Blue Heelers" dominated the Logies in this decade. The naughties delivered digital reception (bonus!) and reality shows.

Australian film started much earlier.
Twas in 1906 that the very first feature length film was made. Guess where? Australia!  What was this film? It was "The Story of the Kelly Gang".  Since then, Australia has produced timeless classics such as "Picnic at Hanging Rock", "Mad Max", "Crocodile Dundee", "BMX Bandits" (showcasing the uber famous Nicole Kidman PRE "not having had" botox!), "Romper Stomper" (introducing Russell Crowe), "Muriel's Wedding" (featuring the delightful Toni Collette), "Moulin Rouge", "Animal Kingdom" and who could forget one of my all time favourite Aussie flicks, "The adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert" starring one of my favourite Australian actors, Hugo Weaving and old Neighbours heartthrob Guy Pearce.

So, what's your take on Australian production?
For me, I've always been a great supporter of local talent.  Australian TV and Film has an edge, it gives me something that those big budget concoctions fail to deliver. The industry must remain alive for it encourages the Australian creative flamboyance, spirit, diversity and humour. Do we all really associate with the US drama series? the old school UK comedy? Is the imported program cheaper or easier than producing local shows? Is it a part of social conditioning?  I remember growing up on home grown talents, will your kids? (or the kids you know)......

Not the news

Controversy!! Delta lopped off her locks!  (read this link as proof!)

And this is news, this is what crashes a website (click on the link for the story).  Not groundbreaking science, art, music or world events.... a flipping haircut!! For crying out aloud, controversial? Since when exactly is a long bob a controversial hairdo?

I make no secret that I am no fan of Delta Goodrem but this post is not about her.  It is about something much much bigger than her. Values.

It is no wonder that I have spent this week with TV banned in my house.  The only noise that is to heard at my home is from the refrigerator, the filter in the fish tank (no fish, just turtles), cats playing & the dog lightly snoring. Bliss! When did we become a society THAT obsessed with the fickle?  I, for one, love to follow fashion and music updates, it is a guilty pleasure but a website crashing over a haircut? I wonder how many hits the news page received when good old Maggie Thatcher passed away earlier this week.

On perusing the "breaking news" tonight, thus far I have learned that Japan has had another earthquake, some billionaire was awarded US$12m re phoney vintage wine and Paul McCartney is still the UK's richest man - seriously! no shit Sherlock, the Mac is loaded? that is news???? some mega rich cunt just scored another sweet $12 million because he was a "victim" of fraudulent labels on a wine bottle!! No jokes, this is a statement from the awarded..  Koch said "he planned to use the $12 million to continue his crusade to clean up the wine auction industry, including, creating a website that highlights fake wines and who sells them." I'm so glad he is putting his funds to such an important cause! What the hell?

I hope the people of Japan are safe tonight. It was a 6.3, I cannot imagine how terrifying. Think in 1995, in the same area, a 7.2 quake killed 6,400 humans. Don't worry though because Delta got a haircut & some guy is making sure our vintage wines are labelled correctly!

connected disconnected

everyone's plugged in, headphones, iphones. (myself included).
it is so robotic & vacant. everyone avoiding eye contact with another one of their own species.

to me, it's overload.
the constant "on call" (connected) lifestyle we all live. if its not work, its the phone, email or facebook or a text message or the cat or the dog or some cunting neighbour mowing their lawn when all you want is an hour of peace.

what's your disconnect?
the obvious answer is sleep but it's not what really makes the divide between the demands & the respite.

i can dissociate perhaps a little to easily. A skill I've perfected over too many years on trains with uncouth commuters. Be it in the form of blasting my favourite tunes or engaging in that all familiar distant stare out the window, you know the one, we've all done it (or at least seen others do it).

Tonight on the train we have your older educated yet stylish man reading the paper, early 20 somethings on ipads playing games, a guy in his 50-60s sporting a laid back surfy style, complete with peroxided locks!, why do women wear shoes that don't fit? honestly? i want to know. i could slightly understand if the shoes were Louboutin. Is this another command from the mags? the telly? For women to wear shit that is clearly too friggin tight & most likely uncomfortable? Sometimes I feel screaming at them that they are all brainwashed sheeple. I desperately want people to WAKE THE FUCK UP! What would happen if society did wake up?....