Lady Chaos - My Very Chaotic Nook

Last Friday, at the local branch meeting of the ALP, I met Rodney Cocks, the Labor candidate for my electorate (La Trobe) for the upcoming federal election.

Now, much as I am a party member, I did not have the highest expectations of Mr Cocks to begin with… I had never met him, and as far as I knew then, he was a “star candidate” with a flashy CV who did not live in the electorate.

But I am not afraid to admit I was wrong on this one. Mr Cocks greeted every person there, and demonstrated an ability that I have NEVER seen in a politician before - the ability to be brief in talking about himself. After introducing himself and talking a little bit about the campaign, Mr Cocks opened the floor to any questions or comments us branch members had, and he and his campaign manager answered them simply and listened to all suggestions.

It was easy to see that while he had worked overseas as part of the army, and written a book, Mr Cocks was very in touch with the different concerns of the electorate, including fears about nuclear power plants or waste dumps, Howard’s IR laws and their effects on the family, and many more. Also, I asked him, and despite what I had read elsewhere, Mr Cocks definitely does live in the electorate of La Trobe.

All in all, I was very pleasantly surprised by our Labor candidate, and I think the rest of the branch members were too. Rodney Cocks is an approachable and friendly person, an enthusiastic campaigner, and someone who actually cares about the La Trobe residents, not just about being part of the government. He is campaigning full time, so if you live in La Trobe and see him around, have a chat.

Originally I thought I’d just vote for him because I want a Rudd Labor government, but now I’m proud to say I’ll be voting for Rodney Cocks in the election because I really think he will make a great MP for La Trobe as well.

Yes, it is what you think it is - a poetry version of Australian Idol. And I’ll be competing this Wednesday! It’ll be the first time I’ve recited my poetry to an audience other than whichever close family member or friend I manage to corner every so often. Needless to say, I’m horribly nervous and filled with “what if?”s involving flubbed lines, Dicko-like judges and teary panda-eyes in front of hundreds of people.

The 25 winners of the heats go to the final at the Writer’s Festival, competing for a publishing contract.

The poem I’ve chosen is a modified version of Ode for a Fallen Poet… it has a lot of imagery and is one of those poems that works better actually recited than on paper. I really hope I win… so nervous…

Anyway I think Poetry Idol is free to watch (either that or very cheap) and so if anyone wants to come along to watch me make an idiot of myself, remember to cheer - I think they take audience response into consideration!

Here’s the details:
Poetry Idol
Wednesday 29 August, 6-8pm
St. Kilda Library
150 Carlisle St, St Kilda

A knight to paint the marble walls
Run screaming down the cold stone halls
To break the windows, light the lamps
Spell out his name in postage stamps

A knight to laugh, a knight to sing
A plotting wretch, a kindly king
Beyond all optimistic lies
This knight now sparkles in your eyes

A knight to melt the snow capped peaks
To bring weekends to all those weeks
To bend the bars and pick the locks
And twist the hands on all the clocks

A knight so brave, so strong, so true
A kingdom warm and bright and new
I see you feel this could be right
So I bid you a swift good knight.

For Nebsy and her exploits in the land of dating

(C) Lady Chaos 2007

Knowing how Nooksters love their Christians vs. Atheists debates (heaven knows I do), this Tuesday (the 31st of July), 7pm at Monash University (Clayton campus) there will be a great debate on the topic “Religion is a Delusion”.

Dr John L. Perkins (atheist) and Matt Scheffer (Christian) will be locking horns and halos respectively and anyone who is interested to watch is welcome… the event is free and supper is provided!
You can find all the details, including a map, here: Monash CU - The Great Debate

(If you’re there, look out for a tall lady wearing black… there’s a good chance it could be me.)

On the mid-year holidays I visited Kew Cemetery for a photo expedition thanks to a tip-off from Winnierose that it had a really cool memorial there… and I was not disappointed!

A pleasant walk (or tram trip) from Glenferrie station, Kew Cemetery (otherwise known as Boroondara General Cemetery or Peace Haven) is a beautiful place, tranquil, calming and very photogenic. It’s the largest cemetery I’ve been to yet, and its size makes it more peaceful and interesting to walk around.

There’s a mausoleum, a chapel and of course the awesome memorial described by Winnierose, which really has to be seen to be believed. There are also lots of statues (some incredibly tall) and the majority of gravestones are those cool old-style big ones.

If one is interested in visiting cemeteries (and might I recommend it - you’d be surprised what a nice day it makes for), Kew Cemetery is a must.

Here’s some of the photos I took (click to enlarge)

The Mausoleum window

The cemetery

The memorial:

… And one of me looking wistful.

When I read the lousy reviews of this movie, I nodded my head, rolled my eyes and thought “Those silly uppity, snobby reviewers, how can a Pirates movie be bad? It’s Pirates!” but oh boy, was I ever in for a surprise. I guess I should warn you now that this review might contain spoilers, but at the same time, the plot was so damn hard to follow that I doubt I’ve spoilt much.

Having absolutely loved the first two movies, I went into this one with a good deal of optimism, but that wore off after the first half hour, and it was in fact the energy drink I’d had before the movie that got me through it without falling asleep from bored frustration.

To start with, Pirates 3 offered no explanation whatsoever of where the story was at the beginning, instantly alienating any first-time Pirates viewers. The plot was more convoluted than the human cerebral cortex, and each scene hung in it like a fly trapped in a spiderweb that has just been tangled beyond repair by a cat. Everything, and I mean everything, was poorly explained, and while I must admit there were a few cool fighting scenes here and there, due to the inscrutable plot, it was impossible to tell who was on who’s side or why.

Also sadly lacking from Pirates 3 were the “little touches” that made the previous two movies (especially the first one) great. For instance, Barbossa didn’t so much as mention apples and Jack Sparrow only said “Savvy” once. Some of the rare comedic moments were good, but others flopped miserably, with not a single laugh being heard in the entire packed cinema.

And perhaps this was my own personal perception, but they took the “soul” out of the Jack Sparrow character. In the first one, the makeup was subtle yet present, it was like “ooh, is he wearing… eyeliner?” but in this one, the makeup was far too obvious. He didn’t make a spectacular entrance like in the first two movies at all, and they bailed out of it using acid-trippy special effects. It seemed as if they had taken any remaining strands of toughness out of Jack Sparrow and replaced them with insanity and confusion, the exact same feeling experienced by the viewer upon watching Pirates 3.

Now, I can’t fault the special effects and costumes (apart from Keira Knightley’s tan), but special effects and costumes alone don’t save a movie with such a baffling and poorly explained storyline that must be endured for THREE HOURS.

In the ubiquitous and unending battle between pirates and ninjas, I think this movie just gave a truckload of points to the ninjas. One and a half stars.

Words

The words that used to chase around
The silent cinema, the dead fairground
And battle in their futile glory
To tell both sides of a losing story

In simple terms, you put them to death
A fresh surprise, in just one breath
The fiery struggle’s relentless pace
Was chilled and stilled in your embrace

The lies and truths that twisted together
At your command did part forever
The words’ unending duel was ceased
Imprisoned meaning was released

And every fight’s unmet demands
Did turn to dust, touched by your hands
Scheming fury, true resentment
Froze silent into warm contentment

Your perfect sentence said much more
Than all the words that waged their war
And speechless, my fears melt away
With all the words we didn’t say.

For Nick ♥

(C) Lady Chaos 2007

Paid In Cold

From the very shadows of the darkness
None is more bitter, vile or vain
Than in the meadows of the heartless
Where my winter smile will reign

In the birds’ eye view, the worst IQ
Does plan the crumbling blackened war
The terse and true’s own curse ensues
Ensures I come stumbling back once more

Fierce hope propelled beyond their ranks
My dreams doubled as they dithered
To pierce hell’s armour of their tanks
Bodies as supple as minds withered

Facing cold shoulders, their distaste
Dictates perhaps I earn their tortures
Tasting from cauldrons, in their haste
My stake they burn with torches

Across the veins that blot their flesh
My stained shining blade foretold
They lost their claim to rot while fresh
I gained mine and paid in cold.

(C) Lady Chaos 2007