I love it here Tyler, but I wish they'd close down that old pub and replace it with an overpriced bar.
There's been a lot of talk - here and elsewhere - about the fundamental awfulness of new apartment buildings which are springing up all over town. Whether they are new buildings or conversions of warehouses, factories or other old places, they seem to raise the ire of local residents. Young hip couples, single professionals and party animal arseholes seem attracted to these places. And, living in the heart of Windsor, let me tell you I am affected as much as anyone by the associated increase in traffic, noise, pricks and over-priced cafes, restaurants and bars.
But I am also a supporter of putting an end to urban sprawl. I think high density living is preferable to spreading Melbourne's boundaries even further than they already are.
So where does that leave me?
Well, it leaves me ignoring the problem and watching movies, reading books and listening to music instead of worrying about it.
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I don't mind the new apartments - as long as they don't replace pubs I drink at.
I like high-density housing close to the city; it's where we live in Sydders.
Although, if I ever bump into people who live in the area who say they're doing renovations that cost over $300,000 then they're instantly off the Christmas card list. Tossers.
On the plus side (and apologies if I've blathered on about this here before?) the current NSW govt has brought in much cheaper, i.e. accessible, liquor licensing laws so more small bars are actually opening. Hurray!
I don't mind small bars either, but they have a tendency to attract hippsters.
And how was you "pirates or pixies" party, BTW Kettle?
Did you go as Kim Deal or a blood soaked pirate chick?
And how was you "pirates or pixies" party, BTW Kettle?
Did you go as Kim Deal or a blood soaked pirate chick?
Ramon the party was rad. I went as the blood-soaked pirate chick. Irresistable, no? Probably not.
People were also surprisingly less keen to discuss the Threepenny Opera's (with its blood-soaked pirate Jenny) Marxist critique of capitalism than to play with their swords. Imagine!
to play with their swords
Is that a metaphor for something?
less keen to discuss the Threepenny Opera's (with its blood-soaked pirate Jenny) Marxist critique of capitalism than to play with their swords
Couldn't they do both? Emphasising each point with a cut 'n' thrust?
Is that a metaphor for something?
More or less where my mind went, too.
I've spent the last few years living in an apartment complex, so I'm hardly going to support the notion that they're terrible things that only attract contemptible arseholes*. Yeah, yeah, okay, maybe I'm just adding weight to that argument here; but in my defence, I don't go to cafes, bars or restaurants, and I don't use a car unless I'm going on a trip somewhere. Anyway, the point is, I'm not against high density, so long as there's an appropriate accompanying investment in public infrastructure and it doesn't involve reclaiming public parks and playgrounds.
*Come to think of it, there ARE a fair number of contemptible arseholes living here. Somehow they all seem to have remarkable sway when it comes to management.
I'm an apartment owner and I confess, it's in a suburb with a high hipster:non-hipster ratio. Until fairly recently it also had a fairly healthy representation of dero/mentally ill residents. I prefer them to the hipsters because I can relate to them more.
I'm hoping to outwait the hipsters before I move back in as a purple-haired cat lady with far too many books and a bad hip who struggles with the stairs and complains about it to everyone who stops.
Hopefully by then the hipsters will have moved east or west or north or south like some slow-moving swarm and the centre will be left free.
I like the idea of CBD living. I reckon it's a fairly hipster-free zone, but sssshhh about that.
Never mind this apartment brouhaha. Where's my Valentine's Day card you bitches?
Is that a metaphor for something?
Ah Ramon, would that it were a metaphor. Now that would be a rad party.
Couldn't they do both? Emphasising each point with a cut 'n' thrust?
Exactly Bob, yes; is there anything better than an invigorating, thrust-filled debate?
I'm not against high density, so long as there's an appropriate accompanying investment in public infrastructure and it doesn't involve reclaiming public parks and playgrounds.
Alex you are the most sensible blog commenter I know at present. Here I am making potentially lewd comments about swords while you're concerned with public infrastructure; just another example of why I'll never make a senator and you probably will.
Melba, we're right on the cusp of the dero/mentally ill-hipster change in my suburb. Any advice on fending off the hipsters?
EMS, forget the Valentine's card, you should come to a pirate party!
I just found a box of roses on the bed with chocolates. Poor man had to text me from info night at school to make sure I'd seen them.
I hadn't.
Now I feel bad because I didn't think he'd get me anything, and I of course have nothing for him. But we do have champagne and we will drink that and watch True Blood.
As for advice Kettle, I don't know. There's nothing you can do because the hipsters have money and the deros/MI don't. Just pretend they're not there? Mock them? Sorry, I just don't know.
Warning, the following comment contains shameless self-promotion...
I have started a new blog, entirely music-oriented. It is here
Say hi over there too, if you can.
Self-promotion is now over. As you were.
Kettle, I'd be lucky to make a senator blush.
EMS, will this do?
I just pulled a green pipecleaner out of my hair. How did that get there?
I wish they'd make apartment buildings like they used to, with elevator button-pushing people and art deco fireplaces and Fred Astaire and so forth
I just pulled a green pipecleaner out of my hair. How did that get there?
You have to ask this, Squib?
You, the parent of a small child?
I just wondered if I accidently put it there with my hair claw because if I'm going to start putting random things in my hair, I need to know
I foresee a new fashion trend.
Also, I'll pass on the Fred Astaire, but think some Gene Kelly might be nice to have around the place.
I just wish they'd build apartments with kitchens bigger than shoe boxes. I might consider living in one then.
I don't mind high density, but there's something very unsettling to me about having people stomping above me.
Squib - do pipecleaners come in any other green than that dark green colour? I was going to use some as the stems of my paper flowers, but the green was awful. I've gone with white at the moment.
Also, I woke up the other morning with a cat toy in my hair. But I'm pretty sure I know where that came from.
I just pulled a green pipecleaner out of my hair. How did that get there?
And when did it get there? Think it's been travelling with you just today, or longer?
I'm suprised they still make pipe cleaners. I haven't seen anyone smoke a pipe in decades. Not a pipe pipe anyway.
Puss, white pipecleaners and food dye?
Puss, indeed they do! This one is billiard green
Kettle, I'm not sure how long it's been in there, it's a worry
Mr E, oh! hence the name! And I thought they'd originally been designed for spider legs
Puss you need to buy an OLD apartment, like from the '30s. The kitchens are fine plus they are built to last.
How goes the wedding? Are the paper flowers for the wedding?
We went to a wedding on Saturday it was pretty good.
EMS, forget the Valentine's card, you should come to a pirate party!
That would be awesome. Maybe I'll throw one myself next year (a pirate party, not a pirate).
EMS, will this do??
Oh yes indeedy. Best Valentine's evah. Thanks, Alex! Made my day! :)
Well, anybody got anything to say about episode two?
SKIP THIS IF YOU DON'T WANT TO KNOW.
I may have called Mr E a bit harsh for describing the first episode as a "steaming turd", but I shall not be making any similar defence this week. Fuck, that was bad. Like the "awkwardness" of the characters somehow spilled over into the very fabric of the show; resulting in bizarre, oafish pacing and a complete lack of tension or drama. Attempts at growing the central characters actually made them less appealing. All of which wouldn't have been quite so bad if it'd been in any way funny. It wasn't.
LAID SPOILER ALERT.
Although I'm not sure it's possible to wreck something that's already a wreck?
I may have called Mr E a bit harsh for describing the first episode as a "steaming turd", but I shall not be making any similar defence this week.
Hear hear.
Oh my God it was bad.
I did laugh at the "penis aneurysm" line, but that's because I like bum and fart jokes, not because it was clever.
So Mr E, you know some talented screenwriters? Who can actually do funny? I reckon between everyone here at TSFKA we must know someone in TV Land who can give one of them a break?
I'm telling you, all this was obvious as soon as I heard the main character's name was Roo McVie.
Of course, I haven't seen a single second of the show and won't, but it sounds like they saved up all their best work for episode one.
Much to my shame I actually watched Laid last night.
The horror.
The horror.
Wow. I am very glad I haven't even attempted to watch it. Sounds awful.
The paper flowers are for the wedding, Melbs. It's all slowly coming together, but I have already started having nightmares about it all - mostly to do with forgetting to do various things.
I did laugh at the "penis aneurysm" line
Hadn't you seen the ads, Kettle?
And I think the director needs as big a kick in the bum as the writer. That pub scene was like watching community theatre rehearsal.
it sounds like they saved up all their best work for episode one.
Lordy, y'reckon it could get worse? *sigh* At least there's only four more episodes, I suppose.
Or you could just not watch the rest, Alex.
Hadn't you seen the ads, Kettle?
No, I watch almost no TV, I'm afraid Alex. I tuned in last week and this week just to watch Laid, which may partly explain why I was so reticent to pan it last week. I should have just watched a few ads; would have been less of a waste of time (and more entertaining).
Or you could just not watch the rest.
Ramon, that's advice I'm going to take.
Kettle, the ABC news channel has been playing them ad nauseam. I must have heard that line thirty times in the last week.
But, Ramon, but, but, but. I've already invested an hour. I'm a third of the way through. There's not that much to go. What if the last half is really fantastic*. You understand?
*Okay, maybe that's stretching it.
I haven't seen it yet
I have seen True Grit which was excellent. So good to see a strong female character for a change
Kettle, BTW I have posted twice on your blog recently and the comments have never appeared (a terrible loss of course) - you could have technical bloggy problems there
I have seen True Grit
Have you seen the original? How do they compare?
So good to see a strong female character for a change
What, one that's not all bouncy flesh and overblown attitude? Really?
Today's Crikey notes
Laid, 481,000, down on its debut, but still good
Mmmm, by my reckoning it's dropped about 200,000 watchers over a week.
If that's good, I'm Clem Barstow.
The only clever thing about this show is the base premise, a single 30ish woman whose previous boyfriends all died.Oh wait!
It could just be that I'm all emotional lately, but I kept crying over the horses in that movie, Squib.
Poor horseys.
No, I haven't seen the original
one that's not all bouncy flesh and overblown attitude? Really? Yep, hard to believe, I know
Puss, goodness you are unstable (no pun intended). I didn't notice the horses. I did notice the arseholes who stumbled in after the movie had started and stood next to me in the middle of the aisle arguing about where to sit and then just stood there watching the movie. And the dad who probably had his weekend access visit, who brought along a 6 year old and a tween wearing a perfume so strong it was like mustard gas and I sure noticed her tapping away on her bright screen gadget thing
At my local cinema, Squib, you can take in beer.
Which is ace!
True Grit (the current version) and the Coen Brothers are ace.
Yep. Apparently it comes with the wedding planning. Stupid wedding.
Oh I've just seen (peripherally) comments about Laid.
I will watch tonight then return to read and comment.
Until then...
Wow, Mr E, that had lively scenes, emoting actors and I was pretty well engaged by the middle of the third clip. A real shock to the system after last night.
Bob, how did you think it compared to the 60s version? And don't worry about the John Wayne factor. I've never cared overmuch for Mr Marrion. Give me Mitchum any day.
Alex, I'm afraid I haven't seen the original. But nobody knew how to act in the 60s so I'm sure the Coen Brothers' (what, with the inimitable Jeff Bridges) version, is far superior.
God, what a thin line I tread.
OK it was terrible.
TERRIBLE.
But I'm pushing on just to see the flatmate's twat of an ex-boyfriend die.
He was so fucking annoying.
And not funny, no no no.
So, that's an emphatic thumbs down from everyone, bar Squib*. How will she vote? Will Melba and I be the only ones left aboard this rolling disaster? Tune in next week...or something. Fuck. I don't know**.
*and EMS. Wasn't EMS all keen on seeing this? A while ago? Or something?
**Thank you, end-of-week. I heart you so much right now.
It could just be that I'm all emotional lately, but I kept crying over the horses in that movie, Squib.
Dear Puss, I did that a lot when I was pregnant; horses, cats, small children, Australia's Funniest Home Videos, deary me. I don't suppose you're with child?
Mr E thanks for the link to the Northern Exposure episode; my God I used to love that show. And Maggie, she was well hot.
Squib I really enjoyed True Grit too (but haven't seen the original). Whatever the Coen Brothers touch turns to (even more?) ace.
Hey also Squib, I don't know what the sticky is with comments not appearing on my blog (a most terrible loss indeed). No two words terrify me more than "technical" and "issue". Perhaps if I, um, reboot my computer everything will magically work? Gah.
Ugh! I hope not, Kettle! That would be amongst my worst nightmares!
I imagine you'd need to reconsider your dress options, for starters.
And despite not being pregnant, I also weep at Funniest Home Videos. Bitterly.
Also, if you're getting emotional about the treatment of animals in films at the moment, I suggest you stay away from ephemeral films from the 1930s, like this little gem (which has been lovingly given the MST3K treatment).
Oh right. Melba didn't like it either. This reminds me of the time I admitted that I liked Twilight and I lost the respect of Andy Pants and the world
No, squib, I LIKED the first ep and was disappointed in the second ep. I will keep watching, and don't worry, I liked Twilight too. For what it was.
*and EMS. Wasn't EMS all keen on seeing this? A while ago? Or something?
I was only interested because I thought I'd still be overseas and not be able to find out if it was as bad as Last Man Standing. I haven't been watching it.
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