[Miscellany]

It's gotten to the stage where I've known my newest friends for 10 years.

wow.... just wow.

One such group of old chums of mine met for pre-dinner drinks at a rather self conscious venue in the city the other night and talk, turned to how we make our money - which is hilarious since none of us have any money! However, apparently two of us have share portfolios. SHARES! I could hardly believe it when they started talking about the all ordinaries index like they knew what it was. I use that segment in the news to double check the couch for any stray pieces of chocolate (sad but true) and could barely keep up with the conversation. I was under the impression that only salt and pepper haired men who are trying to reclaim their youth by riding vespas had share portfolios, but clearly I am wrong. Apparently 30 somethings are doing it too. In fact I felt rather left out and behind the times with my common place mortgage and pathetic teacher salary. It's all about shares now, and nobody thought to tell me.

I'm feeling rather like I do when people say they are fans of Ke$ha (should there be an exclamation mark at the end?) and her music. I kind of think wow, I didn't consider her a person worthy of thinking as a musician, let alone someone who would have a serious fan who would spend money on an album. That's kind of like me and shares. It just never crossed my mind to consider them as anything more than an annoyance taking up a whole precious section of the newspaper that could otherwise be devoted to something important, like movies or Charlie Sheen.

I don't know many people read this thing but certainly a great deal more than comment - so please let me know if you play the market. I need to know where I stand in this thing.

Labels: friends, girls and women, grown ups, money, why do people get so touchy when it comes to talking about these things?

posted by M at 7:16 pm 6 comments

I went to see that movie The Social Network the other day. I saw it with my friends, which is hilarious considering the basic premise of the movie is about a guy who invents the largest site about social connectedness but has no friends of his own.

The thing I find so interesting about internet start-ups is that they are founded by very talented, young, computer hackers who prior to starting their billion dollar companies engaged in muckraking and rogue behaviour while fucking with people on the internet. Hacking itself, being a big fuck you to 'the man' of course.

Now, as CEOs and Founders themselves, these once upon a time rebels have become that 'man' they so hated as youths and spend their time not only ensuring that the kind of hacking they used to do doesn't happen to them but also collecting all kinds of information that can be used to to our (yes our) disadvantage should someone decide to be devious one day.

The Social Network was a very interesting movie to watch. I keep hearing that it's a fictionalised version of how Facebook started, and certainly Mark Zuckerberg himself has expressed frustration that books like The Accidental Billionaires by Ben Mezrich weren't 'better journalism' and that the "true story" is just too boring for Hollywood. I'm sure it was; after all everyone's life is too boring for Hollywood but when I hear phrases like I guess my real life is just too boring for Hollywood so they made stuff up to sell the movie I immediately think that all the worst bits are true. I've heard Mark Zuckerberg being interviewed and at best he is socially awkward, abrupt and evasive. It doesn't take much of a stretch to connect the dots on that famous tag line:

"You don't get to 500 million friends without making a few enemies."
Duh.

It doesn't make it true, but it makes a lot of sense. Especially considering that what we do know to be fact (the court cases the involvement of Sean Parker, facemash... blogging while drunk etc) is enough to convince anyone that clearly these are arseholes we're dealing with here. Perhaps that's a judgement call, but I'm willing to make it. So there. Who knew geekland could be so cutthroat?

The movie itself was pretty fantastic. Flawless music by Trent Reznor (as always) really created the right (rather creepy) mood and great performances by a surprising cast (including JT, finally that devastating curl came in handy for something other than being in a boy band) and furthermore it was fun to watch a movie that wasn't afraid to be topical.

Are you worried about the privacy issues inherent in using a site like Facebook?

This is just perfect: Creep - Scala and Kolacny Brothers

Labels: computer stuff, geeks, movies, the term social networking makes me think of everyone handing out business cards and calling each other Bob

posted by M at 2:15 pm 4 comments

Dear Americans,

Why remake Death at a Funeral? Seriously, why?

We know you have an aversion to subtitles and foreign films and need to remake them immediately before they sully your shores with their "foreignness", but Death at a Funeral isn't subtitled. In fact, they speak English... REAL English! Proper English!

I don't get it. I didn't think the American version was funnier than the British version. I didn't think it was better. I didn't think anything worthwhile was added to the movie in order to justify a remake.

Love Movie Buff.


Dear Young Men playing Football in the Park,

Why must you kick so dangerously close to people who just want to have a picnic and a chat?

This wide brown land has enough room for all of us, even the ones kicking footballs. Where should you go? Okay, you see that spot over there? ... nope, keep going... keep going... keep going... keeeeeeeeeep going... right over THERE. Waaaaaaaaaaay over there. Yes, THERE. That's where you need to go.

Cheers,
Chatter.


Dear Drunktard on NYE in the City,

Your drunken bogan shout: 2011 show me what you've got has become my unlikely slogan for the year.

Who knew wisdom came from a bottle? Okay, yes I did know this..

Thanks
Lover of the Bogan Slogan.



Dear Other Drunktards Laughing Outside my Window as I Type this at 12.30am,

I'm pretty sure you're smoking something illegal.

Carry on.

Cheers,
Amused but Won't be for Much Longer.



Dear Makers of the show Bret Michaels: Life as I Know It,

80s Has Been Rocker who can't come to grips with the aging process - CHECK
Long Blonde Wig and a Bandanna to cover up the receding hairline - CHECK
More Fake Tan than all the members of Jersey Shore combined - CHECK
Kids who are smarter than their Mother and Father - CHECK
Slutty ex-"dancer" - CHECK
Bullshit detector going off every 2 minutes - CHEEEEEEEEEECK!

All the elements are there. Congratulations on another piece of shit Television Show.
I couldn't be more thrilled.

Love, Addicted.


Dear Colin Firth,

You are full of awesome.
Seriously, you are - and this time you weren't even wearing a wet shirt and climbing out of a lake at Pemberley.

For the record, The King's Speech got a round of applause at the cinema - which almost never happens in Melbs.

You were magnificent!
Love, A Looooooooooooooooooooooooong time Fan.



Dear 2011,

Please...
Be Kind.
Please.

Love, Me.


Dear Nick Cave,

I love that you make music to be listened to with Headphones firmly plugged in and a glass of something that burns your throat on the way down.

"O Children" turned that scene in the new Harry Potter movie into art.
This is what you do...
Sublime.




Musical Monday

Love, Music Lover.

Labels: cinema, letters, movies, mr darcy, musical monday, US

posted by M at 12:05 am 5 comments