LalalaWonderland

I just finished watching Factory Girl and it made me cry. 

Recently I started reading A short History of Nearly Everything, by Bill Bryson (Transworld Publishers) and I got to the chapter in which lead and CF C's had been discovered. 

                                           In the early 20th century many beauty 

                                         products contained radium as ingredient.

         

            

In the previous century it was possible to buy makeup which had radioactive materials as ingredients -to give you that extra special glow! - but we aren't ignorant anymore. We aught to know better, and our governments should protect us from the dangers of chemicals like lead. 

Why is it still being emitted into the atmosphere, into the air we breathe? If it were up to me lead would be utterly and completely banished. I don't think there is any way to justify its use. 

Did you know that when companies started manufacturing lead based petrol many of the factory workers went insane, or even died, because of over exposure to lead. We don't have to worry about such extreme effects,  I guess, but forgive me if I'm still just a little suspicious of its use.  

Remarkably, the same man who invented the lead-based petrol was the very same man who did the same with CF C's. Thomas Migley is the very first person I would visit if time machines were reality. He wanted to discover an alternative to the dangerous gasses which were at that time being used for refrigerators. And low and behold he found something much worse. Until I read A short History', I had no idea to the horrible consequences of CF C's. Its true the ozone has recovered considerably since its 'hole', but what we are not being told is that CF C's hang around for quite a long time and are still being produced. I find this shocking, to say the least. 

Why is the human race so incapable of learning from our mistakes? We know lead is harmful to the nervous system, and we also know how bad CF C's are for our earth. So why the hell is it still around? These chemicals should lose there friggin' spot on the periodic table for all I care. I am so pissed off at their mere existence that I never want to see them again. 

If you'd like to read a little more about these issues, go to these links, or buy the absolutely wonderful book: A short history of nearly everything, which I can assure you is a worthwhile read! Bill Bryson makes something as boring as geography very amusing, and usually very funny too. 

Getting informed about lead dangers

Dangers of lead still linger

So the other day we had a little photo shoot with a local photographer and my two good friends, Jana and Abi. The reason was of course to get a stunning pic for the posters of our school's production of Chicago. I've posted only some of the pics which I thought caught the vibe of that day well. It was so much fun! 

geez ange, how bout something lighter next time? The Changeling is not for the faint hearted, or atleast let me tell ya that if you cannot bear those awful nut-house scenes where nurses in old fashioned white frocks bully their patients and give them shock therapy, well, keep your eyes shut through those scenes in this movie then.

Sexy sexy made up of plexi disasters

Pushing and pulling conservative rolling
Unlike plastic, easier to see through
Just like glass with no ring
Softer and sadder you sing
Sexy sexy do your thing
Learn to be shy and then you can sting
Plexi, plexi bend don't shatter
Once you're broken, shape won't matter

You're breaking your mind
By killing the time that kills you
But you can't blame the time
'Cause its only in your mind

Quickly quickly grow and then you'll know
It is such and awkward show to see
And everyone you wanted to know
And everyone you wanted to meet
Have all gone away
Well they've all gone away

And now you're
Breaking your mind
By killing the time that kills you
But you cant blame the time
'Cause its only in your mind

You're breaking your mind

Isobel is young African American girl living in the 1870's. She and her sister are sold to the Locktons by the nephew of their deceased previous owner. This man has, unlike his aunt, no kind sold and does not respect her wishes to set the girls free. What stood out for me even in the beginning of the story was how no one even considered that these girls had lost all they had. And OK, this was probably how African American people were treated, but doesn't the situation just drive the point ever deeper? How unfair it was. They'd lost their mother and all that they had ever known. Even the priest, who knew their deceased owner, doesn't care. The two young and completely innocent girls are sold into a life they have never known before, to life in New York.

This is where the book gets interesting. The Locktons are royalists. During the pre-civil war chaos Isobel starts to relay information to the patriots, hoping this would one day free her. Laurie Halse Anderson obviously did tons of research, because the book is filled with many historical characters and tells of historical happenings through the eyes of the slave, making the reader feel that we truly are experiencing it. For anyone interested, like me, in history this is an especially good novel, because it brings you down to eye level with those important times.

The book is addictive, lovely and made me wonder at how one person is able to survive so much, with so little and so little to live for. Isobel is a brave and strong heroin. Kudus to Anderson. Absolutely wonderful.

Two years ago I travelled with my family overseas for the first time, to South America and Antarctica. I am sure that Antarctica isn't the average holiday destination, so I'm gonna flip through my travel journal and type up all the amazing things. But it wasn't just Antarctica that was so fantastic, it was the journey that took us there. I had never before been over seas so the whole experience was new to me. The one place besides the Cold Continent I will never forget is Ushuaia, the most southernly city in the world. But don't be fooled, its more like a town. We boarded the The Polar Star there and it took us  down south. 

Today I read an article about a girl who got involved with this anorexic cult type website...  The story wasn't particularly creepy, but it got me thinking. 

The first time I ever traveled over seas was when I was 16 turning 17. My family and I took a trip to Argentina and, best of all...Antarctika. It was the most amazing time in my life. That whole holiday, everything from the high buildings and crazy traffic of Buenos Aries to the silent bay and gray skies of Ushaia to the open bright blue and clear white of Antarctika... it switched something inside me on and changed me.

It all started with a 9 hour trip across the Atlantic Ocean. My poor judgement made me watch movies for most of that time. At last my eyes were so tired and I couldn't stay up anymore. I had just put my head comfortably against the headrest when all the overhead lights went on again and the passangers around me woke up and started to move. Perfect timing.

Buenos Aries was like nothing I'd ever seen. I had never even been in a real city before it, so the beauty and absolute magnitude of it astonished me. I couldn't get enough of it. Not of the language, or the pretty buildings, or the huge trees. We stayed in an apartment for about 2 days and took a flight to Ushuaia. The flight was terrible. I don't know if its the norm to have the aircon dripping on you or the toilet to smell all the way from the back, but let't just say that it was a VERY long flight. Those 2 hours felt way longer than any nine. Ushuaia is the lowest 'city' on earth, or what I mean to say is that its the farthest from the equator. And, if you were wondering, its not really a city, not at all. The only reason for calling itself the "Most Southernly City" is because there exists a town EVEN MORE southernly...
The main street is lined with many tourist shops, although why anyone would travel all that way to pay $300 for sunglasses is beyond me. In between these there are many little cute restaurants. If you feel like eating good meat - and I mean REALLY good meat - look for the sheep roast in the restaurant windows. The name of the game is 'coldero' (did I spell that correctly?) and it means lamb, which they all serve differently, of course: some hand over a plate with neat cuts, others chop a leg onto your plate, or better yet, a serving-pot filled to the brim with all kinds of meats and sausige and...lamb. I'm from Africa, I am proud to say I know good meat. Let me tell ya, Argentina has THE BEST lamb I've ever tasted. It aint good to be a vegetarian here, the temptation's too high.

OK, so enough with the meat. Along main street there are also these cute little cafes and shops specialising in choklate. My favorite was this sweet national spread they make called Dolce deleche, which litterally means 'sweet milk'. One lady who sold me some told me not to eat it too fast, its too sweet. Did I listen? Not a chance! And I enjoyed every morsel of the jar, even under the critical eye of my mother, who shared the saleslady's view.

The weather in Ushuaia, when I was there, was very chilly. And we visited it in their Summer! Crazy, but that's what it was like. Cold. And wet. I strongly advise any one planning to go there to take sturdy and waterproof boots. They are priceless.
I loved the feel of the town. The long days and wet pavements. The mountains... The little ships on the mirrored sea, calm and mirrored. All of it, its special.
One peculiar thing about that place are the dogs. They don't stay on their lawns, oh no. They stand alongside you at the street corner, waiting for the light to change, and cross when you do.

We stayed in a little Bed and Breakfast, which was fine. It had one bedroom, but did have a kitchen. No view, but it was nice and close to the shores and the shops. It was quiet too. It probably didn't cost much and there are alot of this kind of occomidation. But if you really feel like splurging I'd reccomend is the Los Acebos Ushuaia Hotel, situated on the drive up one of the mountains, overlooking the town and the harbour below. If you're wondering how the hell such a small town manages to keep a grande hotel (three to be exact), well, in the winter season many flock to Ushuaia for the skeeing. Even in Summer there was snow. It was the first time I'd ever touched snow. We went up a mountain with lifts and hiked some way up as well. The weather changed and we were almost caught in a storm. That was frightening.

For me, Ushuaia has great memories and I'm sure I go there everynight in my dreams. Its a spectacular place with great surroundings and history. Its definitly a destination of note, no matter its size!

Four years ago my brother and my parents went on a trip to London during the holidays. I couldn't go with them, because I had school. Every year since I have nagged them to take me somewhere special too. A bonding trip especially for me. So anyway this year my mother got in touch with her friends from paris who told her that we could stay in their extra apartment if we wanted to visit, since it would be free during spring. That's how the stone started rolling. I didn't think I would actually get to go, but now its looking like we really are gonna.

Two weeks in Paris, staying not in some fancy and pricy hotel, but rather a quaint little apartment of our own...well, not really ours, but that's a minor detail. I'm so exited! So I started googling images of paris so I would know where to go and what I needed to see for myself. Travel books are great, but they never have enough pictures for my liking. I found a great blog dedicated to Paris, called Eye Prefer Paris. I found wonderful pictures here. I was so impressed I knew I would be blogging full on when my chance came in Paris, although this lady - I prefer to think of the blog's author as a 'she' - researched every place she took a photo of and posted the information. Wow, I am totally blowing her trumpit right now, but I loved it, and intend to be using the bhlog for more future references. There's even a Eye Prefer Paris Tours, with the tag: see the paris tourists never see. Heehee OK I get the pun; the whole blog has blue eyes dotted around it. And by the way, the author is realy a man, Richard Nahem. Sorry dude, its nothing personal. I mistake everything cool as being made or created by a woman. My bad.

To the ends of time I shall stay in my mind in that place always. The place where souls escape to and the wind pulls at hems... My heart keeps the feel of you; my eyes the image of you; my mind the thought of you. I keep you with me until the moment I return once more to you.

Saved be the times when all was easy and right. Now nothing seems clear as morning air. Every moment has its sharp knife edge. Carefull which way you turn or you might be stabbed. Who knows where the rays will then shine, when we are long gone. Not for our poor heads they'll fall; too buisy searching for other brighter futures. The seemingly vast openess which the Lord placed at the feet of the newly confused and the realness of it all having not flattered quite how one imagened it would. Not quite how they would have minded it to be. So starts the next part and to all it becomes a strange new emptyness that would only fuel other curiosities and not the gifts we wish to bestowe ourselves. The dim light which leads to those other places seems distant and strange. What would be different then from now? It could all be the same or sink to the dark corners of minds no one wished to see.
No one can as of yet see clearly...

People never realize that a broken friendship can be way worse  than a relationship. When your at school anyway.