random panda

The days seem to have elasticity again and for that, i am grateful. My head space is calm and the grins are genuine - they're not even disturbed by today's bad period pain. ouch. I'm supposed to write for a magazine and it's due tomorrow and all I want to do on my day odd is slumber and read. The only problem is that I can't dive into any text at the moment. I'm not getting the fix. I want to be immersed, I want to talk to the characters and embrace them in my sleep while I hug my pillow. sigh. This is the second book that I've abandoned after the 100 page trial. I'm sorry, it's just not working, maybe if I had met you at another time, maybe in a different city or when I cared about those themes. We're on different wave lengths so can't we part on graceful terms? I realise that you're not the immersive labyrinth that I thought you were and no, don't glare at me like that on my bookshelf, I've moved on and soon there will be someone else.

posted by randompanda @ 1:45 PM 0 comments  

RACISMOMATON project

Even though there are countless problems to formulated psychological surveys this could come in handy. A battery operated street installation which is designed to pick up on any implicit or explicitly racist attitudes. ALL IN LESS THAN FIVE MINUTES (haha)

apparently, "An Implicit Association Test (IAT + PDF) has been developed by psychologists at Washington and Princeton universities. IAT tests unconscious bias that indicate the existence of stereotypes and prejudices that are the basis of racist behaviour."


via we make money not art

posted by randompanda @ 7:31 PM 0 comments  

Brian Rea

sometimes Brian Rea makes pretty pictures

posted by randompanda @ 6:19 PM 1 comments  

modernism's pin up boy

I was trying to find this transcript today and a random onlooker was able to direct me because he was monitoring the site last night. a nice coincidence.

Quite recently, Howard has expressed concern about the current template for teaching History in schools and said that history is now "Too often it is taught without any sense of structured narrative, replaced by a fragmented stew of "themes" and "issues". And too often, history, along with other subjects in humanities, has succumbed to a postmodern culture of relativism where any objective record of achievement is questioned or repudiated."

hahahaha. happy australia day and for the love of our nation, please DO NOT question the history that howard's policy endorses. One truth and one history right?

posted by randompanda @ 1:54 PM 0 comments  

The Great Firewall of China

I've been guilty of covering my ears about web censorship for quite a while. While I accept that nothing is democratic and even productions start off relatively sound, they never remain faithful to their democratic theory... I also shut my eyes with a squint and can't bring myself to watch their downfall.

but the news has even hit the print media - if I deny it all, then I really am living in a vacuum (thanks tama). We all know about those previous cases where Yahoo/Microsoft have submitted evidence (emails etc) to help convict people for certain crimes so I was a little relieved to read in the Harpers Weekly that "Google refused to comply with a Bush Administration subpoena" and did not submit information about who had been searching what (Microsoft and Yahoo however did obey orders). I thought, Go G!

Google has however implemented restrictions on its users in China (at the government's request) so you can't search a list of key terms that lead to sites which are not in line with party policy. And now I read that wikipedia is completely banned from the country (except for HK and Macau). It's all part of The Great Firewall of China and Big Mama programs. I have that predictable response: yes, it's happening and it's going to keep on happening and yes this is only two examples of so many.

p.s am quite aware that some friends who read this will be rolling their eyes and saying "This was all happening years ago - why write about it now??"

posted by randompanda @ 11:13 AM 3 comments  

two high fives in two days

I just caught up with a friend of mine, Victoria - she's a good one. Aside from her being one that is good she has also received notice that for the 10 000 words she wrote on Australian Cultural Policy and its political, economic and social influences last year, that it has been accepted at a conference in Vienna in August this year. Even better, she gets to fly over with the paper to present it. Not bad for 2nd year undergrad! (hee hee)


Again, I feel compelled to say "wow!" "hell yeah!" and "high 5!" to my friend.

And to anyone who is plagued with the virus of cynicism and sayd, "yeah but there are hundreds of conferences every year, they're easy to get into and what a hassle that she might have to spend her money on the flight, blah blah" at least she's doing it and doing something she loves, is proud of and is getting recognised by people she respects, and that, is awesome.

posted by randompanda @ 3:30 PM 0 comments  

Dear emma,

I am so so so happy to hear that you will be attending an internship at 826 Valencia. I want to yell out things like

*WOAH!

*HELL YEAH!

*HIGH FIVE!

*ohmygod!thatmeansthatyoumayverypossiblybehavingmorningteawithyouknowwho!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

*you amaze me!

posted by randompanda @ 8:45 PM 1 comments  

Everything Ecstatic

Last night Fourtet played at the Basemount Lounge in Fremantle. Perhaps I was a little nervous about the gig because when he came two years ago to support Manitoba he... well... wasn't all too engaging. Last night however will slot in my list of top 5 gigs in the past 12 months. Each aspect of the night complimented one another - great friends, a playful night with dinner and drinks, and of course the gig. I'm still grinning about the night and I fear that the words are trickling through the crack of my smile and I can't quite describe.... hmmm. He had a great set list which bounced between the older and new stuff and inserted small musical puns which made us all chuckle and bop and he? he was having a great time. I think that he drew a balance (can you draw a balance? ha!) where he played with his samples to push the progressions without isolating the audience. After two encores and party poppers to congratulate him, everyone was beaming from the memory. and no, there were no drugs - despite the grins.

got to hand it to 2006 for coming out so strong at the beginning - and the secret is that it's only going to get better.

p.s tama, see you on tuesday - have been thinking about what you said last week - remind me to spill some thoughts

posted by randompanda @ 11:04 AM 1 comments