The Girl And The Apple.

Today I had an amazing Global and Indigenous Public Health class.  I will expand on this later (watched a doco about aboriginal diet/health etc).  What really grabbed my attention was a clip we watched about a food rescue and distribution service called Oz Harvest.  If you ever come across them PLEASE support them.  They are completely amazing.  They basically take unwanted food from shops, supermarkets, cafes etc and redistribute it or keep it for people to come in off the streets and collect.  If only my previous employer donated old food at the end of a long night...grrr so much was always wasted.

Anyway back to the point.  I shed a tear when a little girl came in with her mum and saw apples and got excited about them - "We never have apples"!  Its amazing how something so small can affect you so much.  I really dwelled on it on and off for the rest of the day.  To think I'm so lucky to have a constant supply of fresh fruit and veggies in my fridge.  Yeah it excites me because of what I do but I'm sure there are others out there like me that just expect them to be there.  Its nothing unusual to munch on an apple right?  Clearly for that little girl the apples she saw had as much value as a gourmet sushi platter would for me, if not more.  Appreciate good food because there are so many people out there that can't afford what you can.  There are so many people out there that have access to amazing food and make poor choices/eat such low quality, high processed shit instead of the humble piece of fruit.  I guess its true that you never truely appreciate something unless you don't have it or its taken away but seriously...please think. 

Think about what crap you spend your food money on.
Think about what you fuel your body with.
Think about what you have that others don't.
I know I really need to. 

I couldn't find the clip but please watch this (she gets a mention) and also visit the OZHARVEST website.



PS: My little sister's friends had never tasted watermelon and mango before and they are 13.  What the hell?

Indie + retro?

Has become so fucking cool that it is now uncool and "popular".  I know that the term "Indie" refers to a specific genre of "Rock" from the US and UK but I speak in relation to dress sense.  Seriously - I enjoy retro vinnies and appreciate vintage clothing as much as the next person but this has become stupid on a whole new level.  Its like the Leederville cafe strip is taking over Perth with its interesting young, retro vibes. 

I watched "The room" a few weeks ago and I was in a sea of "Indie" kids.  I was wearing a plain black dress, tights and a checked hoodie and stood out from the croud like a fluro post-it on someone's forehead.

When did indie become cool?
Why are places like cotton on and JayJays trying to catch on?
Fashion is hardly original anymore because old fashion keeps coming back in and going back out unless you want to be as outrageous as Lady fricking GaGa.  I guess I should'nt label.  I guess I don't understand why people follow.  Cool story if you wore it first - kudos to you... but those clothing companies that have caught on and are trying to make something out of it just piss off.

more so retro...

Cloudy with a chance of meatballs

So good :)

Hating people only hurts you.

Litter.
I'm no hater but why?
Why can't people grow up? 
Ego? Jealousy? Mental illness? Shit personality? Bad upbringing? WHAT?
I am a peace maker.  It bothers me when I am not at peace with people and I want so desperately to restore peace if ever it is lost.  I may act crazy at times but if you are straight up I am very rational and realistic.  I make the judgments beings make but I try hard to not let them be tarnished.  I like people that I shouldn't like, I care about people that I shouldn't care about, I associate with those who don't deserve to know me.  Why?  Simply because I'm an idiot.  Its just in my nature to be this way and it fucking sucks sometimes.  It really sucks. 

To those who
Seek to hurt me.
Wish bad karma upon me.
Dig up shit from the past.
Judge me without knowing me.
Put me down to make yourself feel better.
Make up lies about me.
Get into my business.
Manipulate. Fight. Hate.

Take EVERYTHING in the palm of your hand.
Squeeze it tight and then blow it all away.
Forget it. Chances are I have but the negative energy drives me nuts.
Talk to me.  Or don't.  Your call.
Unfortunately with me all it takes is sorry.

Everything will be amazing.

I am so fucking lucky. 
I just don't realise it just yet.
Everything will be fucking AMAZING.

Current Thoughts

Why do guys like whores and girls that make them feel sorry for them?

Thank you brain for helping me pass my exam today but you're silly making me drive in 4th gear down the freeway!

The petrol station near my house has been painted and some graffa kids have spraypainted "SARS" as the name for a joke.  Its kinda funny.

Why do the people that make you happy make you the most sad?

Live.

Time to :)
So I found this today in my inbox because I subscribe to a health and well being newsletter thing.  I don't agree with all of it but most of it is very true and I'm going to use it for motivation.  A link to the original article is below:
Click here.

READ... and then do as it says.. NOWWWWWWW

1. Great love and great achievement involve great risk. Take the risk anyway.
2. When you love someone, love them deeply and passionately. You might get hurt, but it is the only way to live life fully.
3. Don’t let a little dispute injure a great friendship. Make amends immediately.
4. When you realize you have made a mistake, hurt someone’s feelings, take immediate steps to correct it. Ask forgiveness.
5. Keep your arms open to change, but don’t let go of your personal values.
6. Talk slowly, but think quickly. Rationally.
7. Quiet the voice in your head that says “I can’t do this.”
8. Don’t quit, no matter what. Confucius said, “everything comes to those who wait.”
9. Always live in a radiating possibility; become part of life’s song.
10. Make conscious effort to change at least one negative attitude in your personality everyday. Surprise yourself.
11. If you must fight, do it in a fair manner. Without calling/dropping names.
12. Avoid judging people by their relatives. Accept them for who they are.
13. When someone asks you a question that you wish to avoid answering, smile and ask, “Why do you want to know?”
14. Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.
15. Spend some time alone. It has great potential to recharge your energies.
16. Try to live a good and honorable life because when you get older and reflect upon it, you’ll get to enjoy it a second time.
17. Marry the man/woman with whom you love to talk with. As you get older, the conversations will essentially become a more important feature, in your life with each other.
18. Be kind to the environment for your own sake. Avoid litter, plastic, defacing walls and natural surroundings.
19. Smile when picking up the phone. The caller will hear it in your voice.
20. Once a year plan to go to someplace you have never been before. It rejuvenates you like no other.
21. When you are having disagreements with loved ones, deal with the current problem. Never rake up the past.
22. When you lose out on something, don’t lose the lesson.
23. The best relationship is the one when your love for one another is greater than your need for one another.
24. When you say, “I love you,” mean it.
25. When you hug someone, open your heart. Do it with love.
26. Make eye contact. Look people in the eye softly when you speak to them. Try it and see the difference.
27. Your character is your destiny. Build your character.
28. Sometimes, not getting what you want is actually a blessing in disguise. Always look at the blessing.
29. Take serious care of your health. Health indeed is wealth, not a cliché.
30. Live life like it is your last day on the earth. King size.
    
    
    
    
    
    The end :)

Mind over matter

Mind Games
Mind games.  I understand why SOME people play them but not others.  What makes me the most scared is people that don't know their playing them, or more importantly do and don't care.  Maybe its subconscious or maybe they really are conscious?  Maybe it's just their personality?  I give up.  I am stumped.

It feels like there are so many human beings out there that want to hurt others.  Do they know they want to hurt others or do they just do it?  How do you know if its their brain wiring or their personality?  Of course in some cases there is logic - unfortunately one of life's basic instincts is survival and doing so in the best possible environment and circumstances.  I am however terribly afraid of the effect of mind games on one's mentality and how far they can be played until the other person explodes.

Brain and Soul

It would be ideal if the mind were perfectly clear and present in the moment, with no obstacles and blockages. To achieve that, the brain must change. Being part of the body, your brain has its own healing mechanisms. But old conditioning, once it gets established in your brain, becomes part of its neural networks.
From your soul’s perspective, these imprints are all subject to change. Moments of realization occur, and then however it is wired, the brain adapts. Unfortunately, current brain science accepts without question that brain changes are physical. Can we show that the brain is actually wireless? If we can, the way is open for awareness as the key to personal transformation.
The brain’s pathways do not have to be sculpted by direct physical experience. They can be shaped vicariously. Is that how we learn in the first place?
The brain doesn’t even need instructions to make new pathways. An unknown world becomes familiar simply by looking. It appears that babies develop a mirroring system in the first year of life simply by paying attention to significant events around them.
Is this how you learn from the soul, too? We have one strong clue that it is. Sages believe that merely setting eyes on a saint brings the blessing, and now we can see how: the devotee’s brain is changed by the act of looking.
Why, then, can’t my own soul do the same? All the soul has to do is radiate its influence. If simply being close to a saint is enough, how much closer are you and I to our own souls? Higher consciousness is a field, like electricity or magnetism, and when a person comes in contact with that field, the brain mirrors it.

Adapted from Reinventing The Body, Resurrecting The Soul, by Deepak Chopra (Harmony Books, 2009).

Epiphany 1: Its time.

Euphoria

There comes a time when you realise who you are and who you want to be.  You realise that inside you are strong, even though you dont feel it.  You realise your mind is rational, even though you dont always act it.  You realise life is good, even though you get down about it sometimes.  Its easy to take shit for granted but as easy to realise it in certain circumstances.  Tonight I have broken free from restrictions that I myself created in the first place.  I have realised that anything and everything actually really is possible.  I am young, I am ambitious and the world is my oyster.  I am blogging all of this so if need be, I can look back and remember, reflect and be happy.

Things

Some people have a huge effect on you and its hard to know why but you feel it.  I can think of a few people that spring to mind now.

Life is too short to be wasted caring too much, crying too much, holding on too tightly, being too scared. 

Happiness comes through loved ones, good times, goals and achievements.

I am strong.  I can do anything if I really want to.  Nothing is holding me back but myself.

This year I will "be just and fear not".  I will be fair but I will not fear possibilities.  If things dont go my way then so be it.  Thats life.  Thats just what happens.  I must start living and stop saying "tomorrow" something will happen because tomorrow may never come.  All we know is that we have today.

And while im here I thought you should know: I HATE TWILIGHT

Insane animals: Chickens as science experiments.

As I was driving home from uni past KFC I started thinking about chicken.  Chicken, Chicken, Chicken.  It doesn't really taste like anything, it has a funny texture and the most chemicals and hormones are used to produce it.  Humans eat it because in the food chain it makes sense right?  Once again I will state that if you are going to ask me for my advice on weight loss and health rule 1: Meat reduced or meat free diet!  We eat far far too much meat in this world, obviously in the richer first world countries.  Anyway now that I have stated that I will get back to the point of my blog: Chicken.

I was thinking of a chicken's life as a scientific experiment.  Its actually quite like that if you reflect on farming methods.  Many chickens never see outside an enclosed room in their entire lifetimes (I talk more about other chicken facts in a much earlier blog if you are interested).  They are also exposed to bright lights and prolonged darkness depending on what the farmers want them to do.  Their environmental circumstances and lifestyle obviously must influence their mentality if it has the power to influence their bodily functions.  Imagine if we were in a room for years and had no idea about the conditions outside it.  Imagine if lights were turned on to make us believe its day, even though its dark outside.  Imagine if we were artificially warmed into believing it was summer.  Would this effect our mentality as summer is meant to make us feel happier?  Chickens surely must be driven to insanity in their conditions.  If you think chickens have no "feelings" and don't have a brain, you're wrong.  Yes they are not "aware" (so to speak) like humans are.  They are still living, breathing, conscious beings thought!

Similarly, Jamie Oliver looks at pigs (also in a previous blog).  Pigs can and DO go insane when exposed to certain artificial living conditions.  Some get aggressive, others die of poor nutrition.  It's sad.  What psychological effects does farming have on animals?  We have heard enough about physical cruelty but what about mental?  Just because they are animals, doesn't mean they arn't conscious, existing beings.

Something to ponder.

South Africa is...

Racist Capital of the world.

South Africa - apparently the most racist country in the world and this is without a doubt so so true.  Although it is beautiful, those who live there seem constantly at war with each other due to racism.  The whites hate the blacks and the blacks hate the whites and I guess when it comes down to it both sides have good reason.  With a white government, the blacks suffered and with the black government the whites are suffering.

People think its all about racism against Africans.  Its not!  White Africans of dutch decent have been thrown out of jobs and are deprived of other jobs despite being more qualified, are unable to INVEST IN SHARES in companies like vodacom, are less likely to pass tests such as driving tests etc.  It is ASSUMED by outsiders that the white man is racist and yes, yes this is true to an extent but it goes both ways.

For years black Africans have faced the same traumas - no jobs, minimum wages, poor treatement but why must the tables turn.  Is it all about revenge?  Yes!  The white and black man of the existing generations will never ever live in peace but perhaps those born now will.  After being in Africa I can see that younger individuals are more accepting of race and intercultural interaction but still are swayed by their parents experiences and values. 

I have driven past slums in Cape Town where people live in poorly conditioned shacks in poor communities stretching 36km.  I have seen men sitting with their belongings by the side of the road waiting for someone to give them a job.  I have bough a bag from a dark disabled man.  Yet I have also seen policemen with huge guns, have heard stories about murders and crazy tactics to steal railway metals and wire for people to sell.  I have heard of white people being abused by black.  I have heard of many robberies and recently a friend told me she saw someone get knifed.  Its a crazy world.  No side can win at this point in time and I hope one day that BEAUTIFUL land will house people of peace; that the gap between black and white can be closed and the past can be forgotten.  Who knows if we will ever see that.  I know for a fact that personally, i will not in my lifetime.

Some holiday pics I took...

This video isnt anything too exciting but I adore the journalist!

Louis Theroux is an awesome journalist and he touches on some intense issues.  I love that about him; he always puts himself out in the most obsurd places with the strangest groups of individuals and investigates such radical issues.  However that is what journalists must do to make a living (unfortunately) but at least he is informative and does his job so well!



And some more...



Please watch this if you can:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5jJSjpztmA&feature=related

Don't be an idiot.

To a large number of Perth drivers: RAGE at your crap driving and failure to CHECK YOUR BLIND SPOT! 

Here's a gorgeous commercial a friend had on her facebook :)



And while I am here and discussing road safety I may as well add:

To anyone who thinks its just awesome to get in a car and take it as fast as it goes OFF A RACE TRACK.. I think you are a total idiot.  I hate this whole fast car ego thing!  Yes I LOVE cars which is kind of weird I guess and I do appreciate well made fast cars but there's a time and place for everything.  I don't really care if you are dumb enought to kill yourself but think of who you may take with you... a friend, partner, family member.  Or worse still, think of what will happen if you survive and they die!

WTF are you drinking?

Rockstar and Diet Coke

In the super market today, Simon noticed that the packaging of the orange Rock Star Energy Drink had changed to a much darker orange.  Upon inspecting the can I realised it was now "made in australia" where as before it said "made in USA".  Surely this was a good thing right?  WRONG!  After reading the contents of the drink which was previously 913kjs with 53g of sugar it is NOW 1331kj (or something very close) and 78g sugar.  Australia also has an extra gram of taurine!!!!!  Increased from 1000mg to 2000mg.  WHY?  Different sugars in different countries?  Different rules?  Different preservatives.   I found a can from their USA website and this is what I've found...

I've been meaning to write about diet coke for a long time.  The recipe is different in Australia in comparison to the USA because a preservative we use is BANNED over there because it apparently mutates our DNA.  Obviously no proper studies have been done to show if this is damaging or potentially life threatening but kind of alarming to think... dont you think?

"The most commonly distributed version of Diet Coke (and majority of beverages using artificial sweeteners) relies on aspartame, which has been blamed by some scientists and medical professionals for possibly causing serious illnesses (such as cancer, brain tumors, brain lesions, and lymphoma) when consumed in large quantities^[8][9]. Coca-Cola has now released Diet Coke sweetened with sucralose (also known as Splenda), although it is not as common. See also soft drink controversy and health concerns.
The sodium benzoate was found to break down mitochondrial DNA in living yeast cells.^[10] Research published in 2007 for the British government's Food Standards Agency suggests that sodium benzoate (E211) is linked to hyperactive behavior and decreased intelligence in children. ^[11]
Recent studies conducted at Princeton University state that the artificial sweeteners, such as NutraSweet, that are present in Diet Coke are actually substantually more sweet than natural sugars, making your body crave sugar more, due to the absence of the natural sugar.^[12]"

^{AUSTRALIA STILL USES SODIUM BENZOATE BUT ITS BANNED IN USA AND UK!!!!!!!!!!}

When did we stop caring?

When did we stop caring about ourselves?

About what we do with our time?
About what we do with our life?

About what pollutants we put inside ourselves?
About what we eat?
About our interaction with others?

Obviously there are many reasons why "right and wrong" exist.  Some people are purely unaware of health benefits, health risks and opportunities that are out there for them.  Others have physical, psychological and cultural issues/boundaries/disabilities.  I guess my primary concern is this:  If you are lucky enough to have the knowledge, the resources, the support, the finances WHY do some people still not care?  Surely we are not all depressed and have no self worth?

I wish people could see that little changes can cause big things to happen.  Its kind of like blood vessels - constriction has a huge effect on flow; constriction is a small action for a huge outcome.  If there is something easy that you could change, why sit and choose not to?

Why not buy something else instead of that packet of Malborow reds?
Why not chuck a handful of salad on your plate at dinner?
Why not buy wholemeal instead of white bread?
Why not set aside money each week for something more important?
Why not help that person you see struggling out there?

Or why not ask for help yourself?

Actions are important.  Speaking about things doesn't change them.  We may ponder change over and over and think about it until our brains almost explode but until we take action it will remain a thought... and thoughts happen for a reason.

What ever you want to do, do it.
Where ever you want to go, go.
You can if you actually CARE.

(PS: yes fi i always write about our conversations)

Playing in the shadows

I watched a really touching documentary recently and if you have a moment or ever come across it, watch it.  It makes you realise that no matter what troubles you face, there are others that have more to worry about and still turn out ok.  Playing in the shadows is about a group of children living in a poor suburb in Sydney.  Some of them are happy living the way they do and can't seem to see anything better for the future, whilst others have ambition.  Some fail at things and then never ever truely try again for fear of a repeated failure.  Its sad. 

In a way we live insignificant lives in the scheme of the universe.  Many of us will go unremembered in the decades or centuries after we die, whilst few others will leave memorable marks.  I guess it doesn't matter what you achieve in life, but what you try to achieve.  If you try hard enough, usually good will come of it.

The truth about Mi goreng.

LOOK AT WHAT YOU'RE EATING:

Let me introduce you to my new pet hate: Mi Goreng.  I have always known that Mi Goreng is bad for you.  I have always know that it is full of saturated fat and contains an entire sachet of palm oil.  On the occasions that I have eaten Mi Goreng (probably about twice since leavers 07), I have used rice noodles instead of the fried that have come with it.

Yesterday I spoke to a friend who's friend got hospitalised from eating too much Mi gorgeng.  I spoke to another friend who's boyfriend's friend got scurvy from poor diet consisting of Mi Goreng and I spoke to numerous others who eat at least 2 packets of Mi Goreng as a snack (other than Fi's friend).

This salty, fatty, noodly "meal" is full of absolute crap.  It will be around 60% of a 20 year old female's RDI in salt (and this is for one packet alone)

Let me introduce to you the McDonalds Cheeseburger...

All the badies = less than whats in MiGoreng

There is less fat, less salt and less calories in a slice of dominoes pizza than in mi goreng.  Dominoes pizza is considered the highest calorie fast food meal.

Yes yes, the glorious BIG MAC has a larger number of calories with 576 but hey, 2 packs of migoreng = 780 calories... so you really may as well have that big mac.



Mi gorgeng nutritional info...

In conclusion, dont eat it.  Well you can if you want but don't get scurvy!

Life after people.

Channel 7 has a show on called "Life after people".  

So what?  Humans think that they will live forever.  We will eventually become extinct like many other species before us and it may be sooner than we think.  We will lose our hold on the earth.  As I said before - THE EARTH DOESNT CARE.  The earth is not going to just cease up and die without us.  It will not disappear.  If anything it will naturally repair and become a whole lot better. 

We also think that being environmentally friendly is "saving the planet" and yes, yes we are conserving resources but essentially this is only for OUR survival (or thats what we are primarily concerned with).

Watch this AMAZING vid of George Carlin.  He is a god.

Tea flowers

I am obsessed with tea.  I'm pretty sure in my detox blog I expressed my love already.  My family bought me tea back from Tasmania and discovered tea flowers.  Tea flowers are combinations of tea leaves crafted to make a compacted dry flower that expands in water...kinda like those sponges for kids or the stupid frogs that turn into princes...only tea.  I will share with you my little tea flowers journey from "seed" to "bloom".

Japanese green tea. 

Here's what I started with...

They take about 10 minutes to open up in boiling water but here's the finished product...

Pretty commercial asian ones...

Simple&Vegie

Nomnomnom.
So I love cooking.  I'm sure that has been established.  I love GOOD FOOD but it has to be easy 90% of the time or I won't make it.  I'm going to start adding recipes regularly to my blog although I have to run and go babysitting now so I'll add these ones later.

Pasta with Jamie Oliver's simple napoletana sauce

 

Warm Pumpkin Salad with Spinach, Broccoli &
Green beans & Balsamic Blueberry Dressing

Chick Pea and Herb Mix Salad with Roasted Sweet Potato

Type.

So I watched a documentary called "Helvetica" and now I can't stop seeing Helvetica EVERYWHERE and this is how I feel about it:

In other words, Helvetica is everywhere.  Its lost value.  ITS FOLLOWING ME.  I think this is the start of me going insane in general.

The Church of Emu Export

This is what "constructive" Perth males do with their time

These EE lovers have lined their house with cans.  The living room alone has 3,700 emu export cans.  To be honest, if I was to believe in religion I would believe in buddism or coming together with mates in the church of emu export!
 
The 10 Commandments
(From myspace page - see link below)

1- Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

2- Thou shalt not end sitting till thy emu put him foot down.

3- Enlighten the unenlightened.

4- Thou shalt not go thirsty.

5- Honour thy Bottle-O and BottleMart.

6- Thou shalt convet neighbors wife.

7- Thou shalt not murder, unless to protect thy church.

8- Thou shalt not lie if thou hast sworn on export.

9- Spilling of an export = punishable by execution.

10- Thou shalt speak of export as a currency.

The picture above is from their myspace page - VISIT PAGE