Wazza's · Canoe

Warstub says:
i find it weird that people are so possessive about material objects.

Ness says:
where did that come from?

Warstub says:
I borrowed a couple of CDs off Adam without asking. I did it once before to a friend of his and his friend got really pissed off then I did it to Jamie. I find it strange because people put such a huge emotional weight on ownership of things that can go away, yet you lose a finger and its a more casual loss.

Ness says:
I don't really think that it's about the things you took more than the fact that you didn't tell them you wanted to borrow them till after you took them.

Warstub says:
that might be true, but it doesn't really matter because they place an emotional weight on an event that has not lost them anything other than a material object. It's sad, because I know by doing this, I set myself apart from them. And they, or at least Adam, thinks that it borders on being a genuine thief, but that's not what it's about. Its about ridding myself of the concept of possessions having ownership of me, and only me having ownership of me. They say that possession is 9/10th of the law, but the truth is that if you possess it then you own it.
Even Christians preach about the dangers of material objects owning you.

Ness says:
the thing is.... its fine about ownership of one's self and possessions not owning you, and all that, but it doesn't give you the right to go and take what ever you feel like

Warstub says:
Well it does actually. It is only our concepts of law, justice and as you say 'rights' that stop people from taking whatever they like, but they are purely concepts created for the sake of society's well-being as a communal entity. Proven by the fact that people who don't believe in that do go and take whatever they like without asking.

Ness says:
you mean thieves

Warstub says:
as they are labeled

Ness says:
okay.... but there are other parts of the concepts of law, justice and rights that you still do adhere to. you still walk down the street with clothes on, you don't take things from shops - or do you?

Warstub says:
The only reason i don't take from shops or walk down the street naked is because I don't want to go to prison. That is purely a consequence of an action - not a belief in right or wrong.
I will back-track a little on that though. I believe in the society that I live in, it's ideals and goals, to allow me the chance to do the things in my life that I want to do without harming others - that is something I believe in. I know that I need to stop my CD thieving off friends because its harming our relationships - but thats a consequence of an action. I still wish that they could let go of feeling bruised by an act that has practically no impact on their own selves. They allow the de-possession of a material object to affect them, in a way that it shouldn't (imo).

Ness says:
but you know.... being brought up in the society as it is today, it's very hard to let go of material objects. We're bombarded with the message that material objects equal wealth, or happiness, or satisfaction....

Warstub says:
how do we let go of that and care more for the human beings that we are, rather than the objects we own?

Ness says:
especially when to care more for yourself is seen to be self centred

Warstub says:
One must learn to love themselves, before they can love another - and old but very wise truth that I heard the church leaders tell a group of children this year

Ness says:
yeah

Warstub says:
(I also read it in a science fiction book a long time ago)

Ness says:
hahaha... then it must be true

Warstub says:
damn right!

New Zealand politicians are not leaders, they are politicians and nothing more. A leader inspires courage and confidence in a populace, belief in a way forward, a direction that takes all into consideration, enquires and reflects on all laws and their application to the individual's rights, and never compromises their own integrity unless it will benefit those whom they lead. New Zealand politicians show little of these qualities, if any, and in no way do they create an image of leadership in which we the populace can aspire to. New Zealand's leaders are not politicians, they are everyday people who get caught in unjust laws and stand up for their rights, they are teachers, they are film-makers, they are people who trade their skills and personal ambitions with the rest of the world - these are the leaders of New Zealand, showing us a way forward, and showing us how we can be our own leaders.

When I first watched this film, all I cared about was what lay under Titan's smokey cover. The film ended with Vincent leaving Earth's surface to travel space and to find out, but without the viewer themselves finding out as well. This resolution was somewhat of a disappointment to me, and I have since realised that I failed in that first viewing to truly understand the heart of the film.

Since then I have seen the film twice more and now find myself with an enduring love for the aesthetics, and a better understanding of why the film ends where it does. It is easy to see now that the film is not about the luanch and the accompanying mission to reach Saturn's largest moon Titan, but the will and determination to achieve one's goals in the face of extraordinary obstacles. Vincent goes to great lengths to escape the enquiring eyes of criminal investigators, yet even when he tells Irene that he is no murderer, we can barely believe these words knowing that evidence pointing to his true in-valid status has been found at the scene of the crime.

This third time around, I was far more emotionally involved in the story itself and started noticing the soundtrack which was scored by Michael Nyman with string arrangements that are constantly off-set by the sound of faults in the 'playback tape'. It's an interesting compositional technique that strangely fits into the moments when Vincent isn't 'himself' and is struggling to keep his true identity hidden from those around him. The 50s and 60s fashion and design touches help to bring a post-modern touch to the future world of genetic engineering where only the healthiest and strongest ever have the chance of professional employment.

Gattaca is a film that has several themes winding through the entire length and creatively brings them together with an emotional undercurrent that reminds us about who we are as individuals and that the lives we lead are created by both our strengths and our flaws. Gattaca treats science not as fiction, but as a forum for debate, and as a reason to reflect on our practices as human beings. And for these reasons, Gattaca deserves its place as one of the best and most intelligent SF films of the last twenty years.

An essay by the author John Crowley

http://www.laphamsquarterly.org/essays/in-the-midst-of-death.php?page=all

The fact is that never was the twain as bright to soldier forth impending doom like a widowed spinster. They longed forever changing schemes to replenish the need of harvesting fruitful remembrances. To salvage the crust was to bring upon scenes of neglect and longevity winding down a familiar road – these were always narrow escapes and broken pipes like a forgetful dream. He was one, but they were three, and the others ran into machines that kept their faith looking towards the stars.

The more I listen to Cream, the more I come to realise they were the greatest rock band ever (2nd only to Led Zeppelin of course!). I mean, these guys had talent in spade fulls. Vocal harmonies, a great guitarist, drummer and bassist, and a real desire to search out all the untapped areas of music. In some ways, I think Led Zeppelin picked up where Cream left off, because Cream never explored other genres of music the way that Led Zeppelin did. And whether or not you think that Led Zeppelin's explorations were successes or failures, no other band has been able to add such a wide range of music styles to their palette and still be credible. Led Zeppelin had their compass pointing in every direction, Cream forever stayed focussed on the path they were exploring.

My wrists feel so sensitive after someone else has described their adventures with pills and knives,
Blood seems to gurgle from adrenaline aphysixation as veins engrave the memory into my genes.

"Slash and cut, sharpest knife,

It won't die.

Poison cup, drank it up,

It won't die..."

- Joshua Homme

How I wish you'd all just fuck off
Oh I hate your guts so much,
I wanna stick a knife into your hearts
And watch you shut the fuck up.

Please get the fuck out of my life
And I'll be happy,
Get the fuck right out of my life
And I'll be happy.

Chords:
Amaj7 / D (verse)
Amaj7 / D / E / A  (chorus)

You can make up your own melody to this one!

Old flame
New flame
Dead flame.
Beginning the past without regret
And spitting the dummy into the net,
Flying the generous skies
Where happiness resets
That age old question that time does forever beget.

I have sought so long for silence, only to find that silence does not want to be found; it wishes to remain hidden in far away caverns, echoless chambers and tongueless mouths.

- Dirteater

My Dad (or his oldest brother): "So Warwick, have you met anyone that you like more than yourself yet?"

I fix him with a blank stare and say, "I haven't met anyone I like half as much as myself!"

So Nicky decided to take the music team through my song tonight. Pretty smooth run-through, even some smiles on the faces of those singing. The song (not me!) got a good compliment about being great for the kids to sing (the kids from church, not the movie where everyone fucks each other and get Aids). Lets see how long it takes before the whole congregation is singing it!

So I played my song to the Captain of The Salvation Army tonight and she really liked it. I was pretty stoked, though I kinda knew that she would like it. It has a pretty catchy chorus! I was too scared to play it in front of everyone else though, so we went into her office and jammed it out.

The reason I was embarrassed to play it in front of everyone else was because it's such a cheesy song and I'm not the kind of songwriter who lets himself get away with writing cheesy songs. But that was probably always because I had no inner purpose for writing such a song - I always knew that I could do better. And it's not that I don't think I can do better now, it's just that this kind of song has an actual purpose for existing - it's the right kind of a song for a congregation to sing. And not only that, but it suits The Salvation Army perfectly!

So I think I deserve a pat on the back for at least writing a song that would otherwise be completely out of my comfort zone!