Avant Card: Two for One Tuesday!

One for promotion:

Thursday July 31 is Connex for Cancer Day. $1 from every ticket you buy at a Connex Ticket Office will help Peter Mac find more cancer cures. You can also help today, but adding a message of hope at connexforcancerday.com.au

Simple, clever and effective; love the use of tickets to spell the world.

And one for laughs:

I picked this one up at the RTA, and it cracks me up every time. It's an ad for Geared, which is a magazine for young drivers. Such a great image, and such a classic tagline.

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JAG

The Perfect Man is a Myth

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To celebrate the very sad end of one of my favourite shows this year, and one of the most brilliant of all time The Gruen Transfer (alongside my equal favourite love, which follows this most holy of shows, The Hollowmen), I want to share this ad, which they discussed a few weeks ago. (But dammit, I better not miss the season-bloody-finale just because of Peter Singer. Nothing against the bloke, personally - he's speaking at our Literary Dinner on Wednesday night - but c'mon, it's Wil Anderson! The Pitch! Wednesday nights on the ABC is not to be taken lightly, nor missed.)






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[Oh, and if you don't understand the reference...I'll let them explain.]


I think it's an extremely liberating ad. It's like "we've all got one, and we shouldn't be ashamed of it. It makes us women, and we should be proud." Sure, it sucks to get an attack of the Communists every month, but why should that stop us from having any fun?


And I had to include this one, because it's amusing, and I wish it were true. Don't we all? (And by all, of course I mean the most significant half of the population.)







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This one, though, always makes me laugh. Seriously, this ad should win some kind of Oscar.







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Also? It's good to be back at college.

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JAG


(Movie reviews...to come.)

Why am I not at this rip-roaring party?

Well may you ask, as there is a highly festive party - to celebrate the start of another semester of course - to the tune theme of 'all at sea.' But alas, I have not braved said 'sea,' as I only got back to college at 9, and had some serious unpacking to do.

"But...but...PARTY!" you shout at me, to which I shrug and say, I'm tired, I spent 6 hours (5 of them straight) in a car today coming down and visiting my brother, 3 of them in a cinema (though they were well worth it, and I shall reveal all tomorrow...) and I'm not really in a partyin' mood, though I am pleased to see my friends, who kindly greeted me at the door, let me in and helped me unpack.

Because, you see, I was faced with this:






















Impressive, no, considering I basically packed that on the day I went home. (Apologies for grainy photo, taken on iPhone.)

And, you know, somewhat ironically, I have calculated that I actually get less MB/month internet here at college than I do at home, but you can bet your bottom dollar I'll be blogging more. Go figure.

Also, readers, I have missed reading your blogs, and hope to reenter your lives (however unwelcome that may be!) via this grand ol' thing called The Web very soon. And regularly. Because I'm a stalker like that.

And that, as they say, is that.

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JAG

Stress Down

PJ party, anyone? It's for a good cause! The local butchers are stripping stressing down by going topless for the day (it's front page news on our weekly paper).

"Ideas for Stress Down Day include wearing your pyjamas or slippers to work, dressing in your favourite costume, getting a massage, declaring a housework-free day or just taking sometime out for yourself."

PS: It's Pepito's 18th, for those who may not have remembered.

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Just a girl

Avant Card: Help is Happiness

The photo, tagline and combined sentiment of this postcard are quite inspiring. It's promoting the Australian Youth Ambassadors for Development Program, which assigns full funded work for 18-30 year old in the Asia-Pacific for 3-12 months.

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Just a girl

His Holy Germanness

I may not be a Catholic, Christian, or a God-fearing soul, but that doesn't mean I can't agree with what the Pope says. In particular, I like his thought that "life is a search for the true, the good and the beautiful." He might have been refering to God, forgiveness and redemption, but I'm thinking of love, hope and happiness.

Flicking through an old Bulletin, now extinct, (dated Jan 22 08) I found this amusing check list about how to become a saint alongside an article about none other than His Holy Germanness, the Pope. How appropriate.

Sainthood in 9 easy steps
1. You die. At least 5 years pass.
2. People recognise that you are a saintly person.
3. An in-depth study shows you lived a life of "heroic virtue."
4. An inquiry examines witnesses about your life (the MacKillop inquiry started in 1926, finished 1973.)
5. After prayers to you, you intercede with God, who performs a cure that defies medical and scientific explanation - that is, a miracle.
6. After numerous investigations you are beatified, declared "blessed."
7. You intercede for a second miracle.
8. You become known "universally."
9. After further investigation, the Pope approves you canonisation.

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The new Chinese initiative to clean up Beijing by getting cars off the road - in that they can only drive every second day, on an odd or even date according to the last number on their number plate is an awesome idea. I'm not sure how effective it will be in the short run, but I think it's a great way of reducing pollution and traffic.

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Oh, and happy World Youth Day for yesterday, or whatever day it is wherever you are! Because being young is the way to be.

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JAG

Fun With Paint

Ha ha, and you thought I meant the sticky comes-in-a-tin-or-a-tube-kind, and you apply it with a brush. Nope, I gave up those days long ago, after many dismal efforts and the heartbreaking realisation that I can't paint, draw, sketch, sculpt or anything thing else vaguely artistic. Except photograph, if that even counts. So these days, I keep my attempts to the computer, where I can at least CTL+Z.


I 'made' these a few years ago. The sentiments are my own, (although probably inspired by someone/thing else,) and I do believe them.

I really believe that impossibility is a point of view, a perception, blinkers we choose to believe in, and that is what makes the difference in invention, innovation, creativity, technology and the modern world; whether we push beyond the boundaries of possibility because we truly believe that anything is possible.

This one is probably my favourite, because I love the idea. It was inspired by the thought that if you can love you can laugh, if you can laugh you can hope, if you can hope you can dream, if you can dream you can dare, if you can dare you can believe (or vice versa.) It's the idea that all of these emotions and aspirations are linked, and they're the centre of the human psyche.

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On a slighly more random note, I heard this song the other day on the radio which my brother told me about. It's called "I Kissed a Girl," and the main thrust of it is "I kissed a girl and I liked it..." etc. I'm trying to decide whether it's a bold feminist and/or lesbian statement or just plain weird.

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Just a girl

Avant Card: No Justice

...A law degree needs global focus. That's right, it's an ad for the Melbourne JD: the law degree for graduates.

Now, what a stupid ad. I have a problem with the tagline. It starts off so well - and what a great picture! - and then ends with the Melbourne bloody Model. It's so overdramatic. I'm fine with scare tactics, but use them for a worthy cause! Eg in a world where problems know no borders [which they don't] we all need to act before it's too late are all responsible for our impact on the environment...Or something like that. Make a point worth making! That said, if you don't look at the back, I like this postcard.

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Just a girl

Perfume is Pretty

And not just in smell. Half the attraction is in the bottle. This is a cute little sample (which reminded me of Skyla's own funky/gorgeous perfume) I received from Viktor & Rolf, their first attempt at scent, so I had some phun with photographry and lighting.

That's right, phun, as in phun with photographry and perfume.

Going to visit Gemini for a week starting Monday - can't wait, it's been months too long since I've seen that girl! Read: lo siento, but there will be less-to-no blogging, as we will be too busy getting up to all sorts of shennanagins. Oh, the sacrifices we must make.

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Just a girl

"I order you to be supremely happy"

Name that movie. I watched it recently - all 3 hours of it - and thoroughly enjoyed it. (Googling is cheating!)

Who knew there could be Garfield without Garfield?
Never fear, Jon the Optimist is here!



And for some reason, I always think of cynics like Sara and du'loque when I see this icon, which I think is hilarious;

So; several good reasons to keep smiling even though I'm never around!

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Just a girl

Avant Card: Cliches Are Just Overused Truisms

What a beautiful, optimistic image. Peace, love and...I'm not entirely sure what that is. If it's space travel, well, that certainly isn't free!

The best things are free...

• friendship
• comfort
• hugs
• happiness/joy
• singing in the shower
• sleeping in
• the beach
• kindness
• sunny days
• dancing in the rain

Methinks there's a flaw in this logic, because chocolate isn't free...

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Just a girl

Two Nerd Pile-Up

Last week I saw Get Smart in cinemas, which I absolutely loved. It was witty, action packed, romantic, goofy, but above all, funny. Having not seen the TV show, I don't know if it does it's inspiration justice, but as a movie it was terrific, and the two leads - Steve Carell and Anne Hathaway - two of my favourite actors, did not disappoint.



In Get Smart, the movie adaptation of the 60s TV show, Steve Carell is the klutzy, geeky but well intentioned analyst-turned-field-agent, Maxwell Smart, who always misses “by that much.” He constantly hinders his far more sophisticated partner, the mysterious and aloof Agent 99 (Anne Hathaway.) Carell is absolutely deadpan in his delivery which makes his character so earnest and endearing, while the banter between he and co-star Hathaway is both scornful and jocular. Smart and 99 make an unlikely pair in the field and discover that their rather unorthadox methods are surprisingly successful in exposing the nuclear exploits of CONTROL’s arch rival KAOS, but not without overcoming some of their issues of trust and love. Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson is surprisingly funny as the brute and agile Agent 23, and rubs up equally well against the blunt and defensive Chief (Alan Arkin). Sure, it's ridiculous and over the top and unbelievable, but it never takes itself seriously, and therein lies its hilarious charm.

8/10

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Just a girl

Subject Yourself to Fame

Emma tagged me yonks ago, but I haven't gotten around to thinking about it until now.

1. Pick a single person past or present who works in the film industry who you'd like to have dinner with and tell us why you chose this person.
Ooh. I'm tempted to pick any one of my favourite female actresses - Ellen Page, Reese Witherspoon, Racheal McAdams, Julia Stiles - or even one of my male crushes - Adam Brody, Jared Padalecki, Ryan Gosling - but my Gossip Girl infatuation begs me to choose Leighton Meester. She's my favourite character & actress on the show, I think she's gorgeous, she's got a whole lotta potential and I think she'd be an absolutely awesome galpal.

2. Set the table for your dinner. What would you eat? Would it be in a home or at a restaurant? And what would you wear? Feel free to elaborate on the details.
I know Blair is classy, but I can imagine Leighton as a slumber party kind of girl. I reckon we'd have a kick ass time. Order pizza, snuggle up on the couch, talk about guys and watch a movie. On the other hand, this chick has style. If we went out, I'd take her to Nobu, because the food there is absolutely fantastic. Then we could hit the casino/clubs for a wild night of fun! As to what I’d wear – well if it isn’t my nicest pjs (PA) it would probably be my black and white polka dot dress, because it’s cute and dressy and perfect for going out! Leighton, of course, would wear something fabulous and designer.

3. List five thoughtful questions you would ask this person during dinner.
01. If you could be any role in any film, play or TV show of all time, what would it be and why?

02. What’s the scariest part of acting? And the hardest?

03. Do you see your future in films or the industry? What are your life ambitions?

04. Who are your acting idols? Why?

05. In real life, could you ever see yourself falling in love with characters like Chuck or Nate? Or have you? Why/why not?

4. When all is said and done, select six bloggers to pass this meme along to. Link back to Lazy Eye Theatre, so that people know the mastermind behind this Meme.
Sara, Diana, Cordie, Julia, Miss Snow, Gaby

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Just a girl

Avant Card: How's Your Breakfast?

The back reads:

Every day ordinary Australian kids hit real problems that stop them achieving their full potential. Like having to go to school without breakfast - or lunch. Like having no decent shoes or proper school uniform. Like not even having the train fare to get them there.

That's where Ardoch comes in. Our philosophy is simple: the longer children stay in school the better their chances of leading happy, productive lives. And making sure that simple, basic needs are met is one way we can encourage and help them to reach their potential.

There are many ways that you can help Ardoch help Aussie kids.

You can find out more and donate at: www.ardoch.asn.au

Wow. What a powerful postcard. The predicament on the back reminds me of the situation of most students at a local primary school in a demographically impoverished suburb near my boarding school. In year 11 I joined a student-run charity that raised money for a local/national cause. We chose to support this school, and raised $24,000 through fundraising and a sponsored run to buy them a bus, so that they could travel to other school for sports competitions, go on excursions and the like. There was a teacher whose wife worked at this primary school, and she was telling us about how badly off the children were, and the way she described them is pretty much what this postcard says.

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Just a girl