After his looooooong break of approximately 7 months, our lad, our cynical epic centre Stuart Jefferies is back!! Yeeeeeeee~~~
The title of his first comeback column- not one of his culture reviews and stuff, cuz he's been writing about that in between as well- is "The Bald Truth"
Its about how insulting it is to ask a bald journalist to comment on the new developmental gene works of science to rid the world of follicle challenges.
Fortunately he hasn't lost his edge :-)
The Bald Truth
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Saturday, May 26, 2007
porn for women
okay, here is a question.
Is it only men that enjoy porn?
I mean do women not enjoy porn??
actually I was quite surprised by an episode in Oprah where one black actor was confessing to the show audience that he was a porn watcher. As if that was the equivalent of smoking crack. His wife also came out saying how disappointed she was but at the end he kicked his habit, however hard it was, came back to Jesus and is happily married.
I then thought... wait.. why? Did he do something that was that wrong? Is it a sort of adultery to watch porn while married?
I know in some countries there are some aspects of porn that is illegal - for example in the UK .
Whichever the case, is watching porn illegal? is it wrong?
I know it isn't something one can be proud of admitting to, not fancy dinner conversation start up ..such as "Well ol chap I was watching porn the other day..and"
well yes, this is true.. not that its completely impossible.
However it isn't too bad right?
Yes I must admit majority of the porn contents are quite disturbing as well as their titles obscene.
Teen age girl ass fucked <-- This I must admit is the lightest of the titles. If you want to know the titles just check your Spam box.
Women who are against the porn industry point to the fact that porn demoralizes women, they make men perceive women as sex objects who can be just used as toys or for their sexual pleasure. It also takes the emotional connection one (should) can have through sex out of the picture, thus it makes it seem sex is a tool to get rid of sexual drive and nothing more.(which I know for some it is true-- so...well..kinda hard of a topic ain't it?)
However, then the problems can be solved by making good porn. Healthy moral organic porn.
This brings me back to my initial question. Can women enjoy porn?
I think yes, but it depends on what it will contain and how it is made.
Although if you get down to it women will enjoy not porn but more so the (soft core) sex scenes sometimes put in romantic movies.
However, lets presuppose we have to make a porn targeted towards women, then what should be in it?
Hard thick male genitals?
No I think, based on the male porn I've seen- yes I've encountered my share- that women's porn should be more based on foreplay. Male porn movies' foreplay consists of the girl giving the middle aged guy a blow job... no go for women. It has to be proper foreplay with nice music- guys porn doesn't have music or this really hard rock type of music, which is come on.. cannot be a turn on for any sex now can it?
Something like Barry White or Marvin Gaye please. A bit of romantic candle lights or nice sheets- which you cannot find in men's porn- will also be a plus.
It should at least have a bit of story line with it and it shouldn't all be focused on genitals... and no screaming.... bit of noise but not the constant.. oh yas and uh...s... for the viewer this can be a turn off as well as irritating.(and also makes the whole thing quite absurd as well)
What else, oh yeah.. a hard thick long male genitals can't harm but if the price for that is a greesy man with a pornstashe and beer tummy, I say no. Rather a nice body- one of those guys from 300 will do, with waxed chests and nice voice and face will probably be better. Are you with me my sisters??
==========
Just an additional remark. I was also thinking about a porn advisory committee set up by women to control the contents of porn on line and the sort.
This committee will make sure that there is proper foreplay- so that men can actually gain some useful knowledge through the watching of porn- and no fake orgasmic sounds- so that men know what is good and what not. Overall to put some useful info into porn.. how is that? We call this the porn-edu-tainment. Being educated while watching porn.. two for one deal eh?
================
I"ve just found out that there is a book called "a smart girl's guide to porn"- by violet blue author, columnist, lecturer..etc - also some bits on her blog
whichever the case, the point is there are some porn designed for women! ha~ you hear that ladies? its time to get downloading!
Is it only men that enjoy porn?
I mean do women not enjoy porn??
actually I was quite surprised by an episode in Oprah where one black actor was confessing to the show audience that he was a porn watcher. As if that was the equivalent of smoking crack. His wife also came out saying how disappointed she was but at the end he kicked his habit, however hard it was, came back to Jesus and is happily married.
I then thought... wait.. why? Did he do something that was that wrong? Is it a sort of adultery to watch porn while married?
I know in some countries there are some aspects of porn that is illegal - for example in the UK .
Whichever the case, is watching porn illegal? is it wrong?
I know it isn't something one can be proud of admitting to, not fancy dinner conversation start up ..such as "Well ol chap I was watching porn the other day..and"
well yes, this is true.. not that its completely impossible.
However it isn't too bad right?
Yes I must admit majority of the porn contents are quite disturbing as well as their titles obscene.
Teen age girl ass fucked <-- This I must admit is the lightest of the titles. If you want to know the titles just check your Spam box.
Women who are against the porn industry point to the fact that porn demoralizes women, they make men perceive women as sex objects who can be just used as toys or for their sexual pleasure. It also takes the emotional connection one (should) can have through sex out of the picture, thus it makes it seem sex is a tool to get rid of sexual drive and nothing more.(which I know for some it is true-- so...well..kinda hard of a topic ain't it?)
However, then the problems can be solved by making good porn. Healthy moral organic porn.
This brings me back to my initial question. Can women enjoy porn?
I think yes, but it depends on what it will contain and how it is made.
Although if you get down to it women will enjoy not porn but more so the (soft core) sex scenes sometimes put in romantic movies.
However, lets presuppose we have to make a porn targeted towards women, then what should be in it?
Hard thick male genitals?
No I think, based on the male porn I've seen- yes I've encountered my share- that women's porn should be more based on foreplay. Male porn movies' foreplay consists of the girl giving the middle aged guy a blow job... no go for women. It has to be proper foreplay with nice music- guys porn doesn't have music or this really hard rock type of music, which is come on.. cannot be a turn on for any sex now can it?
Something like Barry White or Marvin Gaye please. A bit of romantic candle lights or nice sheets- which you cannot find in men's porn- will also be a plus.
It should at least have a bit of story line with it and it shouldn't all be focused on genitals... and no screaming.... bit of noise but not the constant.. oh yas and uh...s... for the viewer this can be a turn off as well as irritating.(and also makes the whole thing quite absurd as well)
What else, oh yeah.. a hard thick long male genitals can't harm but if the price for that is a greesy man with a pornstashe and beer tummy, I say no. Rather a nice body- one of those guys from 300 will do, with waxed chests and nice voice and face will probably be better. Are you with me my sisters??
==========
Just an additional remark. I was also thinking about a porn advisory committee set up by women to control the contents of porn on line and the sort.
This committee will make sure that there is proper foreplay- so that men can actually gain some useful knowledge through the watching of porn- and no fake orgasmic sounds- so that men know what is good and what not. Overall to put some useful info into porn.. how is that? We call this the porn-edu-tainment. Being educated while watching porn.. two for one deal eh?
================
I"ve just found out that there is a book called "a smart girl's guide to porn"- by violet blue author, columnist, lecturer..etc - also some bits on her blog
whichever the case, the point is there are some porn designed for women! ha~ you hear that ladies? its time to get downloading!
little miss cynical
I have always loved to watch romantic comedies/dramas.
For reasons that I myself was never, well almost never really that active in the dating scene, I needed to boost my hormone levels up by, no not by watching raw porn, but romantic comedies.
I don't know if you have noticed but if you empathize with the characters enough you will even get the rush of hormones in your system along with the characters in the movie.
Let's say it a cheaper way out of this hormone desert, rather getting the injection shots.
However corny they may be I really loved them.
The roll of fate meeting, the first initial period of suspicion and the first kiss, the fall out and the last moment when all is well again.
in my head I kept thinking, no that doesn't make sense, that can't happen, but within there probably was this little glimmering hope inside me that got persuaded towards the end that I myself, if I kept my hopes up with my eyes open that, will eventually be the main character. That I would also bump into a guy in a bookstore and at the first instant you realize that something great will happen. That I will be the girl who loves and is loved will all their might for some strange twist of fate and lives happily ever after the end sort of thing.
Now, I think really its all bollocks. I mean, don't get me wrong here, I don't think that there isn't love of any sort and that we all are fooling ourselves into believing the false image of love that has been practically jammed into our heads by media, story tales and lets not forget our parents or other people around us. That those who do fall in love are those who are more gullible, naieve or those that can easily be hypnotized to be in such practically brain impaired state. No.. I am not saying that. I am just saying the movies are going a bit too far. I think there is that very specific group of women for whom these movies are aiming for. These movies are made just to give them that injection of indirect romance hormones, but apparently the movie makes believe these women are quite shallow, naieve or inexperienced of the world's doings.. gullible.. etc. For me, when I see them even if I try to follow the plot and get into it.. these days I just feel like that this is not feasible, doesn't make any sense. OR more so I feel like, it never ain't going to be happily ever after, it will be like oh, they are okay for a month or two and when the hormones wear off and the sex gets to familiar they will get a cold shower of reality and wake up from fantasy land. Or that the women inside these movies are abit too naieve... like girls... not like women.
For example, in the movie The Holiday I was just waiting for Jude Law to dump Cameron Diaz or for him to show up with some other woman.. naked in bed.. in other words, I was waiting for the disaster which actually never came till the end. Nothing. nada.. nil..
You might think that oh, its because I am damaged and wounded that I mirror my sorrows on to the movie, and I say, well never had that happen to me before as well. So I am not spiteful because of my gloomy experiences. So shut it. What I meant to say is that these movies go too far these days. Come on women are not teenage girls.. although now that I think about it, maybe romance comedies are for teenage girls and I'm just browsing in the wrong section. Or maybe I am a bit too cynical.
Which I have to admit, does get better- and I am not just saying myself but other women I've seen as well- that we do loose our cynical edge when we find someone who gives us that tingly feeling inside our stomaches... which kinda is incompatible cynical thoughts- atleast cynicalism on love that is. However, if that doesn't happen, I will sustain my position in the cynicality line of reasoning.
For reasons that I myself was never, well almost never really that active in the dating scene, I needed to boost my hormone levels up by, no not by watching raw porn, but romantic comedies.
I don't know if you have noticed but if you empathize with the characters enough you will even get the rush of hormones in your system along with the characters in the movie.
Let's say it a cheaper way out of this hormone desert, rather getting the injection shots.
However corny they may be I really loved them.
The roll of fate meeting, the first initial period of suspicion and the first kiss, the fall out and the last moment when all is well again.
in my head I kept thinking, no that doesn't make sense, that can't happen, but within there probably was this little glimmering hope inside me that got persuaded towards the end that I myself, if I kept my hopes up with my eyes open that, will eventually be the main character. That I would also bump into a guy in a bookstore and at the first instant you realize that something great will happen. That I will be the girl who loves and is loved will all their might for some strange twist of fate and lives happily ever after the end sort of thing.
Now, I think really its all bollocks. I mean, don't get me wrong here, I don't think that there isn't love of any sort and that we all are fooling ourselves into believing the false image of love that has been practically jammed into our heads by media, story tales and lets not forget our parents or other people around us. That those who do fall in love are those who are more gullible, naieve or those that can easily be hypnotized to be in such practically brain impaired state. No.. I am not saying that. I am just saying the movies are going a bit too far. I think there is that very specific group of women for whom these movies are aiming for. These movies are made just to give them that injection of indirect romance hormones, but apparently the movie makes believe these women are quite shallow, naieve or inexperienced of the world's doings.. gullible.. etc. For me, when I see them even if I try to follow the plot and get into it.. these days I just feel like that this is not feasible, doesn't make any sense. OR more so I feel like, it never ain't going to be happily ever after, it will be like oh, they are okay for a month or two and when the hormones wear off and the sex gets to familiar they will get a cold shower of reality and wake up from fantasy land. Or that the women inside these movies are abit too naieve... like girls... not like women.
For example, in the movie The Holiday I was just waiting for Jude Law to dump Cameron Diaz or for him to show up with some other woman.. naked in bed.. in other words, I was waiting for the disaster which actually never came till the end. Nothing. nada.. nil..
You might think that oh, its because I am damaged and wounded that I mirror my sorrows on to the movie, and I say, well never had that happen to me before as well. So I am not spiteful because of my gloomy experiences. So shut it. What I meant to say is that these movies go too far these days. Come on women are not teenage girls.. although now that I think about it, maybe romance comedies are for teenage girls and I'm just browsing in the wrong section. Or maybe I am a bit too cynical.
Which I have to admit, does get better- and I am not just saying myself but other women I've seen as well- that we do loose our cynical edge when we find someone who gives us that tingly feeling inside our stomaches... which kinda is incompatible cynical thoughts- atleast cynicalism on love that is. However, if that doesn't happen, I will sustain my position in the cynicality line of reasoning.
Friday, May 25, 2007
List of Jazz Festivals in the Netherlands (summer of) 2007 - updated!!
Okay, I made my share of complaints about this country. and Believe you me, you haven't even seen a tinkle of the whole sea of complaints I had.
Whichever the case, the good thing about the Netherlands, which is not to say is the only good thing, nor is this a characteristic only the Netherlands has.. but forget this not to sidetrack and moving on.. is that it has hell of a lot of festivals.
I mean I don't know all of it but let me just give you a list of some of them.
Jazz *all festival names are linked to their sites!
====================
Meer Jazz Festival - 11th to 13th of May in Hoofddorp Amsterdam.Amsterveen
Jazz in Enkhuizen - 11 to 13 of May(in 2007 but 16to 18 in 2008) well Enkhuizen
Breda Jazz Festival - 17th to 20th of May in Breda
The Hague Jazz "Don't Jazzytate" - 18th and 19th of May in well.. the Hague.
International Jazz Festival in Enschede - 25th to 28th of May - in Enschede - highlight 27th : John Scofield will be preforming.
Jazz in Duketown - 26to 28th of May - in Den Bosch
International Jazz Festival Middelburg -26th to 28th of May - in Middelburg - highlights: 26th 21:30 New Cool Collective
Schelde jazz - 31st of May to the 3rd of June - in Terneuzen
Jazz weekend in Bergen op zoom - 29th of may to the 3rd of June in Bergen op Zoom - highlight: June 2nd 23:00 Rob van de Wouw
Jazz in Antwood - 2nd of June - in Antwood?
North Sea Jazz festival - the biggest festival. 13~15th of July in Rotterdam - highlights- too many but let me just give you some names: Sly and the Family Stone, Roy Hardgrove, Maceo Parker, India Arie, Al Green, Marlena Shaw, Buena Bista Social Club, David Sandborne, the Roots, Marcus Millar, Toots Thielemans, Amy Winehouse, Snoop Dogg, Chick Corea.... and much more(North Sea Jazz line up in added up till the last moments) - I kick myself everytime I think of how I cannot go there. ARGGGG
Zomer Jazz Fiets Tour- Summer Jazz bike tour - 24th to 26th of August. Groningen.
The Rhine Town Jazz Festival - 6th to 9th September in Wageningen
Eemtown Jazz Festival - 6th of October in Amersfoort.
========================================
Actually to be honest, this is just some of the numerous jazz festivals.
I cannot list them all, not to mention other music festivals such as
Pink Pop (26th to 28th of May)
Elastiek (25th to 28th of May) - 28th Rob van de Wouw will be preforming from 4:30 pm.
International Gipsy Festival (28th of May)
Festival Mundial (15th to 16th of June)
Roots Festival (16th to 23rd June)
Low Lands Festival (17th to 19th of August)
Just to name a few of the several festivals
but whichever the case, if you want jazz and may I say FREE jazz - I mean as in Gratis- well you know where to go.
For more check out jazz server or this list from jazzfest
Whichever the case, the good thing about the Netherlands, which is not to say is the only good thing, nor is this a characteristic only the Netherlands has.. but forget this not to sidetrack and moving on.. is that it has hell of a lot of festivals.
I mean I don't know all of it but let me just give you a list of some of them.
Jazz *all festival names are linked to their sites!
====================
Meer Jazz Festival - 11th to 13th of May in Hoofddorp Amsterdam.Amsterveen
Jazz in Enkhuizen - 11 to 13 of May(in 2007 but 16to 18 in 2008) well Enkhuizen
Breda Jazz Festival - 17th to 20th of May in Breda
The Hague Jazz "Don't Jazzytate" - 18th and 19th of May in well.. the Hague.
International Jazz Festival in Enschede - 25th to 28th of May - in Enschede - highlight 27th : John Scofield will be preforming.
Jazz in Duketown - 26to 28th of May - in Den Bosch
International Jazz Festival Middelburg -26th to 28th of May - in Middelburg - highlights: 26th 21:30 New Cool Collective
Schelde jazz - 31st of May to the 3rd of June - in Terneuzen
Jazz weekend in Bergen op zoom - 29th of may to the 3rd of June in Bergen op Zoom - highlight: June 2nd 23:00 Rob van de Wouw
Jazz in Antwood - 2nd of June - in Antwood?
North Sea Jazz festival - the biggest festival. 13~15th of July in Rotterdam - highlights- too many but let me just give you some names: Sly and the Family Stone, Roy Hardgrove, Maceo Parker, India Arie, Al Green, Marlena Shaw, Buena Bista Social Club, David Sandborne, the Roots, Marcus Millar, Toots Thielemans, Amy Winehouse, Snoop Dogg, Chick Corea.... and much more(North Sea Jazz line up in added up till the last moments) - I kick myself everytime I think of how I cannot go there. ARGGGG
Zomer Jazz Fiets Tour- Summer Jazz bike tour - 24th to 26th of August. Groningen.
The Rhine Town Jazz Festival - 6th to 9th September in Wageningen
Eemtown Jazz Festival - 6th of October in Amersfoort.
========================================
Actually to be honest, this is just some of the numerous jazz festivals.
I cannot list them all, not to mention other music festivals such as
Pink Pop (26th to 28th of May)
Elastiek (25th to 28th of May) - 28th Rob van de Wouw will be preforming from 4:30 pm.
International Gipsy Festival (28th of May)
Festival Mundial (15th to 16th of June)
Roots Festival (16th to 23rd June)
Low Lands Festival (17th to 19th of August)
Just to name a few of the several festivals
but whichever the case, if you want jazz and may I say FREE jazz - I mean as in Gratis- well you know where to go.
For more check out jazz server or this list from jazzfest
Thursday, May 17, 2007
love makes you lazy
talking about her newly found boyfriend
"Love makes you lazy. It's a dangerous drug. It kills more brain cells than crystal meth.... "
- Mac from Veronica Mars.
-------
I know I know... but i really am hooked on this.
"Love makes you lazy. It's a dangerous drug. It kills more brain cells than crystal meth.... "
- Mac from Veronica Mars.
-------
I know I know... but i really am hooked on this.
blaming your parents
You can always blame your parents for your bad looks, but never your bad temperament.
Always blame your friends for that.
Also always blame your lack of humor to your siblings, if you don't have any, mind numbing telly of your country or your parents unwillingness to supply you with proper cable might be the suitable answer to your frustrations.
Always blame your friends for that.
Also always blame your lack of humor to your siblings, if you don't have any, mind numbing telly of your country or your parents unwillingness to supply you with proper cable might be the suitable answer to your frustrations.
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