Pigeons Look Silly When They Walk!

Paddington

2009-10-13T12:32:00.004+10:00

Wondering around Paddington with Nicholas was a lovely way to spend a Monday. He bought shoes and I bought an old book full of ghost stories.

"If you tell me you don't like this dress, I'm sticking my head right in the oven"

2009-09-27T15:20:00.004+10:00

I brought this early 1960's vintage dress a few days ago in Brisbane's Retro Metro. Isn't it just amazingly girly?

I actually found myself fluttering around the city on Friday pretending to be ladylike.

Inspiration: Stepford Wives of course.

Kiss me with Apocalypse.

2009-09-24T15:33:00.003+10:00

Yesterday Queensland had a dust storm. It looked like one of those sci-fi films where the human race has destroyed the planet and is forced to live on Mars. Now it has gone away and I am able to sit outside and eat cookies without leaving my lungs covered by a thick layer of dust.

Above; Yes I can do Spring. Outfit all thrifted besides the necklace that I brought from a friend.

Today's playlist:
Zoom- Super Furry Animals
Doledrum- The La's
A final warning- Caribou
Twisterella- Ride
Turquoise Boy- Sonic Youth
Evergreen- Brian Jonestown Massacre

How I spent my weekend

2009-09-21T19:27:00.005+10:00

For Tash's 18th we rented out an amazing beach house in a small coastal town for a few days.

Life in the snow globe

2009-09-13T17:26:00.002+10:00

Fishy fishy

2009-09-13T13:30:00.007+10:00

I got a fish eye attachment today.

Yesterday Ali and I watched Alice in Wonderland. I wanted to download it a few days ago but all I could find was the porno version. I decided not to destroy my fond memories of childhood and instead went to the video store to hire out the cartoon version.

The Hive

2009-09-06T16:34:00.006+10:00

Being underage in Brisbane I spend a bit of time at The Hive. I really like it there, it is kind of like listening to post-punk bands in your nannas house. Spoon collections, (fake wooden) taxidermy, grandfather clocks and all.

Talons

Dirty Bird

Violent Soho

Vanity Fair

2009-09-02T18:09:00.007+10:00

Today I finished my QCS exams, which here is the exams you do at the end of high school. Other then that the past few weeks have been spent mainly doing essays. I am very much looking forward to finishing. I promise I will be less neglectful to you all and post more frequently then too!

The skirt used to belong to Tash, and the shirt I got from Box Vintage last weekend. The book I am reading is Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thackery.

On the weekend I am going to see one of my favorite local (well I call Brisbane local) bands Violent Soho and hopefully Coco Avant Chanel is still playing at the cinemas so I can see that.

We're on fire.

2009-08-22T10:58:00.007+10:00

Rhiannon had a party last night. There was a fire and I wished I had brought along marshmallows.

"It's a bottle, really"

The fire was more impressive earlier in the night.

Nom nom nom

2009-08-22T10:52:00.002+10:00

We love vegetarian pizza.

There is a zombie on my stairs.

2009-08-14T21:31:00.004+10:00

Actually, Tash is too cute to be a zombie.

The best thing about having friends the same dress size is that we can swap our clothes when we get frustrated with our own wardrobes.

I hope you are all having a lovely Friday night.

Twelve by twelve by twelve

2009-08-09T22:08:00.002+10:00

Today Dylan and I went to an exhibition at Griffith University where they were selling $12 cd sized prints by the students at the uni. I also picked up my camera (squeals with excitement) and rummaged through the shelves of one of my favorite second hand book stores.

Baby ate my eight ball

2009-08-07T22:26:00.002+10:00

About half an hour ago my mother brought me a Canon EOS 1000D SLR as a very early birthday present. I am hoping it is ready to be picked up tomorrow morning when I go into Brisbane, but I doubt it because we brought it online at 10pm on a Friday night. Either way by next weekend I will have a proper camera and can stop whinging at Dylan to take pictures of my outfits with his DSLR.

Speaking of Dylan and his DSLR here are some pictures from Sunday when we went to West End. I am wearing a vintage dress that I brought the day before at the vintage fair. Right now I am feeling quite the nerd, sitting at home on a Friday night listening to music.

Tonights playlist is:

Baby ate my eight ball - Super Furry Animals
The Dandy Cowboys- Soko
I like giants - Kimya Dawson
Sour Cherry - The Kills
Baby's gonna die tonight - Adam Green
Pete Standing alone - Boards of Canada
Ghosts and Lovers - Marissa Nadler
Loomer - My Bloody Valentine

One Uniform

2009-08-06T16:45:00.002+10:00

I just came accross this website where a girl wears the same dress for 365 days. Sounds rather nutty right? Well just you wait until you see the pictures. She has seven copies of a very simple black tunic which can be worn both frontways and backways and each day she posts pictures of the way she has worn the dress. While doing this she raises money to support the education of children in India.

In other news I got home from school today to find a package waiting for me on my doorstep, it was the lovely peter pan collared blouse that I brought from etsy. So I am a very happy girl this afternoon.

To the fair, the vintage fair.

2009-08-03T20:15:00.003+10:00

Saturday Tash, Jenna and I went to a vintage clothing fair in Mt. Gravatt. Mt Gravatt is a super long bus trip from the city, right out in suburbia. There is also a complete lack of ATM machines. The vintage fair itself was lovely, far less scary and packed than the last one I went to. I brought a couple of lovely dresses, a hat and a two bow ties.

Heart paper lover

2009-07-28T13:37:00.003+10:00

Instead of doing my assignments I took pictures in the garden.

I also made these felt badges and attached an old key to some vintage lace so I could wear it as a necklace.

I am really looking forward to this weekend, I am going to a vintage fashion market and to a same sex marriage rights rally with Tash, Jenna and Ryan.

lemonaide cure

2009-07-28T06:10:00.003+10:00

Yesterday I spent the whole day in bed drinking lemonaide on account of picking up what I think was food poisoning. It was not very fun at all. I am feeling a bit better now, though I have not been able to sleep since 3am because I slept most of yesterday. I have spent most of this morning browsing Etsy and brought this lovely peter pan collar blouse from Noble Town Vintage

Today I think I will make some felt badges, catch up on some assignments and read a book.

Harry Potter

2009-07-26T10:36:00.002+10:00

Yesterday I saw the new Harry Potter movie. It was not too bad, the actors are a lot better actors now then in any of the previous movies. However the story line was rather unclear, most of the film seemed to focus on the now all grown up and hormonal character's love lives. In the cinema there was a man in front of us who would snort or laugh really loudly during the funny parts, that was rather entertaining.

This is what I wore, I think that cardigan is pretty Hogwarts inspired.
dress & bag: valley markets
cardigan: cotton on
shirt & hat: thrifted
shoes: Rubi shoes

A quiet Friday night

2009-07-24T21:38:00.002+10:00

Tonight my mother and I baked cupcakes. They turned out really well. Except we had to experiment a bit with the icing, the first batch we made turned out clumpy and strange.

Tomorrow I am going with Tash, Jenna and Callum to see the new Harry Potter movie. We were going to dress up except we were lazy and did not get costumes.

The result of post-school boredom

2009-07-21T17:28:00.004+10:00

First day back at school today. It was not as bad as I was expecting, we watched a sci-fi movie in English and an economist came into to talk to us in exit preparation studies.

This afternoon I discovered that I can draw on both my hands with eyeliner, I hope that I am not as scary as the monster from Pan's Labyrinth.
Now I am going to go and read Nick Cave's novel And the ass saw the angel

Modern art, dinosaurs and chocolate cake

2009-07-20T19:29:00.003+10:00

Today I went with Emily to Brisbane to go to the Gallery of Modern Art. We went into lots of book stores and saw an amazingly life like statue of a woman in a bed.

Skirt, belt, cardigan and hat: thrifted
Interpol shirt: Belonged to a friend
Scarf: Target!
Bag: army disposals (I sewed cute vintage buttons onto it)

Giant sculpture by Ron Mueck called in bed.

Yesterday we were nannas and sewed and made chocolate cake, in the background is the wonderful environment-loving fashion magazine Peppermint

The final week of freedom

2009-07-19T01:08:00.003+10:00

Last week of holidays, trying to ignore the fact that I have a essay due Monday that I have barely started. I am not sure what I did with the last week of holidays. I have a habit of waking up around midday, which is going to be a problem as I have to start waking up again at 6am.

This is an outfit I wore last week at Jenna's birthday celebrations.

Dress and jacket: Valley Markets
Boater hat: Thrifted

Tonight I have spent my time procrastinating that essay by sewing and watching old movies with Emily. Last night I went to Kate's 19th birthday get together. It was a lot of fun, I lost at drinking games and scared a guy with an afro.

Happy Birthday Jen Jens

2009-07-16T13:24:00.001+10:00

Jenna is 17 today, horay!

These are my top 5 reasons that I love Jenna
1. She cooks me special vego spaghetti.
2. She looks adorable in her ever expanding collection of 1960's mod dresses.
3. She has the cutest laugh in the whole world.
4. She is a expert on 1960's-70's music and lets me borrow her records.
5. She cheers me up because she is like sunshine, rainbows and kittens personified.

Happy birthday Jenna!!

Etsy find

2009-07-14T21:54:00.002+10:00

Instead of working on that essay I have been trawling etsy and just brought this adorable 1950's salt and pepper shaker set from Hellcat Vintage

Right now I am listening to Blood Red Shoes' album Box of secrets and am about to go finish reading The Essence of Humanism in the vain hope that it will give me something to write about in the essay that I still have not started but have spent the past two days worrying about.

Abstract mind

2009-07-13T13:41:00.004+10:00

In the past 24 hours I think I have listened to Sonic Youth's new album around 20 times. It's such a great album, nearly as good as 'Goo' which would have to be one of my favorite albums of all time. While I have been subconsciously memorizing every lyric from 'The Eternal' I have been also internally debating the best way to approach an essay I have to write.
I have to analyze the impact of humanism on society, based around a contemporary issue. The issue I chose to look at was woman's rights. This would generally be a really easy essay to write, I could easily go on a hobby horse and write a couple thousand words on the way that humanism and the gradual break away from the church has lead to women being given a more equal role in society. The problem is that I go to a christian school, and therefore cannot write an essay that focuses on the misogyny of Christianity. So I am going to have to try and express my views in the most diplomatic way possible. I think that if I had spent the time writing this essay that I have thinking about the compromising nature of it (good marks vs. expressing my opinion) I would have it finished by now.
Today I have to go to the university library to borrow some books for the essay because my local library has a plethora of books on gardening and self help and a drought on anything slightly useful for academic purposes. Speaking of gardening this is a photo of an outfit I was wearing a couple days ago. I really want to turn one of the old tyres into a tyre swing.

Tee from the valley markets, thrifted skirt, gloves and boots, vintage necklace from my nannas house.

Transformation story

2009-07-12T22:18:00.004+10:00

This is a bit of a personal post inspired by this competition held by one of my favorite online stores, Modcloth . The competition was to share something in my life that has transformed me.
I believe the greatest change in my life was the move from country New South Wales to Queensland when I was 14. I grew up in a small town, about 6 hours away from the nearest city. As a child I was rather shy and slightly nerdy, so I did not fit in too well with the other kids. I preferred to read books and daydream.
One week after I moved to Queensland I met a girl who is still one of my closest friends, Tasha. Soon after we met I went with her and her family to this beautiful coastal town called Tinnanbar, we sat on the beach and rode an electic scooter around the town (well Tash did, I tried to but fell off it and ran into a bush.)
Now Tasha and I wear each others clothes, finish each others sentences and cheer each other up when we feel 'fat' or break up with a boyfriend. Because of Tasha I have now managed to break out of my shell (though I still have nerd pride) and make some super amazing friends.

Fake aliens with spaghetti for intestines

2009-07-12T18:16:00.005+10:00

Thursday night I had a late house warming party. We ate junk food, watched a very b-grade alien documentary and there was a lack of chairs.

I should be writing an essay on the influence of humanism on society.

2009-07-12T15:00:00.001+10:00

The last few days have been really exciting, Thursday night I had a belated house warming party and Friday night Jenna had a get together for her birthday at the Royal Albert Hotel. I will post some photos of these two nights when Tasha gives me the photos she took (yes, that was a hint Tasha!)

Yesterday I went with Dylan to his uni to see some of his art work, then we got iced coffee and Japanese food at South Bank. For some reason his artwork above reminds me of Hamlet.

Dirty Boots

2009-07-08T09:47:00.002+10:00

Well the boots are not really dirty, I just like the song.

Docs: I brought them at a op shop for $15, I like to imagine that they belonged to a 90's kid who wore them to grunge concerts. But considering the suburb I got them from it is more likely that they belonged to a female construction worker.
Velvet Underground Shirt: Record store in the Gold Coast.
Skirt: Made by my Nanna out of an old dress.
Coat: Originally chain store but I changed the buttons.
Beret: Chain store
Necklace: Etsy. Arrived in the mail yesterday.

Now I am off to go shopping with my nanna, mother and little cousin.

Postcard from the country: the past two weeks

2009-07-07T18:36:00.002+10:00

The super delayed post is because I have spent the past week in Northern New South Wales. Despite my initial angst about the situation I was able to relax and spent a lot of time reading and sewing with my nanna. But by Sunday I was getting really homesick, so I was glad to get back.
Before going off to the country I was in Toowoomba for two days for a surprise party held for my friend Callum. Saturday night he thought he was having dinner with just Jenna, but arrived at the Mexican restaurant to find us all there.

The next night we covered Callum's living room in blankets and ate junk food and pasta (lovingly cooked for us by Jenna) and watched Moral Orel. It was like the sleepover club but with more alcohol.

My favorite Gold Coast finds

2009-06-26T09:24:00.003+10:00

These are some of the goodies that I brought back from The Gold Coast on Wednesday.

Hat: $25 Bang Doll Vintage

Shirt: $20 Bang Doll Vintage
Bow tie: $20 Bang Doll Vintage

Compact: $3 Salvation Army Burleigh Heads

Also, one of my favorite bloggers, Lauren from Blooming Leopold gave me a blogging award! I am now going to pass on the love to Jenna from Magic Goo. She is new to blogging and has great style, so definitely have a look at her blog.

This could be my last post for a while, tomorrow I am leaving town for about a week. Now I need to finish the packing that I should have finished yesterday!

The angst of preparing to visit the town I grew up in.

2009-06-25T10:19:00.007+10:00

Right now on my living room floor there is a pile of clothes that should by now be in a suitcase ready to go to New South Wales to visit my family in Inverell. Except right now I do not feel like packing, but chucking a toddler-esque "I don't wanna go!!!" tantrum and then sitting on my sofa eating chocolate and watching cartoons all day.
I always get really anxious right before visiting Inverell. I was sort of a shy child and did not fit in very well when I was living there, so I always feel slightly uneasy when returning. I also never know what to wear when down there, I always feel like I am going to get stared at (most likely by the kids that used to tease me in primary school) if I wear the sort of things I usually wear. So I am packing my suitcase full of simple but pretty 90's floral dresses and my acid wash jeans. Though another part of me wants to find the craziest thing in my wardrobe (probably my shiny black 1970's full length jumpsuit that makes me look like a disco Catwoman) and wear it down the main street just for amusement.
The good part about this whole situation is the fact that I get to visit my Nanna. Nanna is great, she makes me cakes and takes me op shopping. The op shops in Inverell are really great too, everything is around 50c. Last time I came back with literally a whole suitcase full of clothes that I paid in total about $8 for. So as much as I am anxious about going there, there are some positive aspects, and besides that I have already bought my bus ticket.
I am also feeling a lot more chipper because on Saturday I am going to the Brisbane Vintage Fashion Fair. I am really looking forward to it, I think I am going to wear my vintage late 60's psychedelic looking mini dress.
Now I am off to go and try to finish packing!

Bang Doll

2009-06-24T21:50:00.002+10:00

This is a lovely vintage store called Bang Doll Vintage that was down the road from where I was staying in Tugon. I brought two 1950's hats, a button up patterned 80's shirt and a brown bow tie (to go with the shirt) from there.

The best part is they are also opening a store closer to where I live in West End. Horay!

Do you want to go to the seaside?

2009-06-24T17:37:00.002+10:00

This afternoon I got back from The Gold Coast. I am feeling rather tired. The weather was particularly shocking on the first couple of days, my auntie and I spent Monday afternoon running around between op shops getting saturated. It cleared up by Tuesday, I even went and sat on the beach for a while!

Monday we went to this great bar at Mermaid Beach called The Cavern. There were some bands playing and I met lots of interesting people.

I now have to start packing again because on the weekend I am going to New South Wales to visit my family.

Dont wear sandals, try to avoid the scandals.

2009-06-21T10:52:00.002+10:00

This is what I looked like yesterday when Dylan and I went to The Powerhouse for a free jazz show. Apologies on the lack of creativity lately in the outfit photo settings!

skirt: Was a poorly fitting thrifted dress, but my Nanna made me a skirt out of it. Thanks Nanna!
Shirt: Valley markets
faux fur collar: Retro Metro
flamingo pendant on collar: bought online from Peachypan
Coat & hat: chain stores?

Now I am off to the Gold Coast for a few days with my auntie. I shall post some photos when I get back.

Jack-elope.

2009-06-19T20:06:00.004+10:00

This is by Canadian artist Nomi Chi. If I ever go to Canada I would love to get a tattoo done by her.
Now I have to go clean my living room, I am tempted to just push everything into one corner. After I think I will watch the 1973 animated film Fantastic Planet (La Planete Sauvage).

PETA, I promise it's not really fur.

2009-06-19T19:38:00.004+10:00

I do like my new 'fur' collar from Retro Metro.

In other news I brought my formal dress today, also from Retro Metro. It's vintage from the 50's, I am not posting a photo as I am waiting until graduation.

Hot chocolate and poetry

2009-06-18T17:24:00.002+10:00

This afternoon I finished writing the dreaded essay on post-war immigration policy. I am really relieved, I do not have to hand in any more assignments until next term.
Now I am relaxing with my favorite book on English poetry and a cup of hot chocolate.

Tomorrow I am going to Paddington with mum to look for formal dresses. I am still thinking a 1950's style prom dress, but they are hard to find and seldom in my size. So I might have a look at a classic black dress and black gloves. Any other suggestions?

Tattoo

2009-06-17T20:01:00.001+10:00

Next year sometime I think I will get a tattoo similar to this.
I think it looks so classic and simple.

Etsy finds of the week - Reworked antiques

2009-06-16T18:05:00.004+10:00

This is a vintage locket that has been painted on. I just bought it on Etsy for $12.50

I also really like these reworked cups and saucers

Tame Impala

2009-06-13T21:40:00.002+10:00

I am not too sure as to why I left posting about this until now. Last weekend I saw Tame Impala at Greenfest. They were really good and I was surprised to find out how young they all are.
Oh and a boy in front of me had really great Buddy Holly glasses.

Smells like content.

2009-06-13T19:14:00.003+10:00

This is a lovely dress that I brought at the valley markets last weekend.

Last night Dylan and I watched the cartoon Aeon Flux, amazingly it's made by the same people as Rugrats.
Now I am going to go listen to The Books and eat red licorice twists.

Paint party

2009-06-08T12:45:00.003+10:00

Saturday night I went to Michael's house painting party. We painted some walls and then spray painted his garage (and ourselves). Dylan painted a mural, the rest of us just attacked the walls with spray paint.

My neighbours are having a party

2009-06-05T21:34:00.002+10:00

So I am listening to the sound of 50 somethings sing along to a country music song that goes something along the lines of "Honey you ran away with that waitress and left me alone in a cheap motel in Texas".

Nosferatu

2009-06-01T20:04:00.001+10:00

Super great silent horror. I want his coat.

Elinkan

2009-06-01T19:22:00.003+10:00

This is Elinkan one of my favorite bloggers. She is very cute and Swedish.

Thelma and Louise

2009-05-31T16:15:00.002+10:00

Last night neither Tash or I could focus on school assignments so I went over to her house to watch the 1990's film "Thelma and Louise". I had not seen it before, I thought it was really good, though I already knew the ending.

What I wore today

2009-05-29T16:49:00.002+10:00

The dress is vintage from a thrift store in the valley. I really liked the pattern and the collar.

Censored

2009-05-29T09:45:00.003+10:00

I know that politics is not something I usually discuss on my blog, but this is an issue that I feel really strongly about. This is an exert from an essay I wrote earlier this year on my concern about the Australian government trying to implement internet censorship.

In late 2007 the Australian Federal Government put forward a proposal that would have ISP level internet filtering mandatory in all Australian homes, schools, businesses and public computers. This radical scheme of censoring one of the biggest and fastest growing information services that we have access to is supposed to keep children safe from inappropriate content and decrease online crime. However this proposal was met with a high amount of anger from many groups of people in society who believe that it breaches people’s right to freedom of speech, does not consider technological difficulties and will simply not do what it is meant to do anyway.

The filter would target illegal material, including child pornography and online crime, but would also block content that is rated M15 or R that is ‘unsuitable for minors’. This includes content such as violent content or legal pornography. The filter that blocks out legal content such as violence or sexual content is able to be ‘opted-out’ of by adults by contacting their ISP. There is concern however about the fact that the government is rather tight lipped about what exactly will be blocked and who will be deciding what is ‘appropriate’ to block. It is unknown whether content such as information about abortion and contraception, homosexuality, euthanasia or even political content could be targeted now or by the government in the future.

The main reason that the governments wants to filter the internet is to protect children. Telecommunications minister Stephen Conroy said that the government’s plan will make children safer and get rid of illegal content such as child pornography. He insists that it is not a freedom of speech issue and said that “If people equate freedom of speech with watching child pornography, then the Rudd-Labour Government is going to disagree” [www.abc.net.au/news].

However, the opposition has other ideas about what is the real aim of the government’s internet filtering plan is. A spokes person for the Liberal party, Nick Minchin has written off the governments plan and says that it is just an “attempt to sort of outmanoeuvre us for the conservative vote” [www.abc.net.au/lateline]

However, the key issue about this proposal is not whether the government or the opposition agrees with it. It is whether the people of Australia agree with it, and it appears that the majority do not. In a survey done by telecommunications monitor Whirlpool showed that around three quarters of Australians are opposed to internet censorship and only around 13% agree with it. [www.whirlpool.net.au].

One reason that many people do not agree with it is that that they believe the government does not have a right to monitor what we read, see or write on the internet and it is in effect breaching our freedom of speech. Freedom of speech is something that many people believe to be important, it is the ability to say or write about what they choose even if it contradicts others beliefs of morals. Many people believe that we have freedom of speech written in our constitution, but this is not the case. No Australian government has even passed any law that gives Australians the right to freedom of speech, so therefore the government is able to make laws that hinder freedom of speech.

However, in 1948 Australia signed the United Nation’s ‘Universal Declaration of Human Rights’ (UDHR). Article 19 of the UDHR says that “Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.” [www.un.org]
This means that Australia would be breaching international human rights laws by implementing a system that prevents its citizens from accessing information about what they wish.

The government is quick to point out that other countries have successfully implemented internet censorship schemes. However, currently there are no comparable ISP controlled filtering systems in a democratic country. It is true that there are filtering systems in European countries such as the UK and Sweden, but these are usually to prevent accidental access to illegal content, not block all access to legal content. For example in Sweden there is a law that forces ISP service providers that store information to remove content that is clearly illegal. This means that if something is in a grey area, or not illegal the ISP providers have no obligation to remove the content.

In fact the proposed internet censorship plan is more similar to the plans in action in countries under dictatorships or oppressive governments. Saudi Arabia, a country that has no elected political institutions, also has a focus on censoring content that is seen to be by some as ‘immoral’. This includes content such as pornography and information about contraception, homosexuality and drug use.

Even if the censorship proposal is legally able to be implemented many experts on the internet say that the plan is not technologically feasible.

To begin with it is possible for internet filters to be bypassed quite easily. One such way to legally access blocked content is to use a proxy. Originally designed as a privacy tool, a web proxy will enable people to bypass the ISP filtering because it accesses the blocked site for the user. Most PC based filters also block out proxy sites however it would be unreasonable for the government to do the same as proxies are important to many users such as business people to ensure that they are secure on the internet. Another option is to purchase Virtual Private Network (VPN) access from the US or another country with unfiltered internet access. These are encrypted networks which let the user access the internet as if they were in the other country. People in countries such as china are already using these to get around internet censorship. It should also be noted that the proposed filtering system does not filter out files obtained via peer-to-peer file sharing networks, so illegal content and content not suitable for children would still be able to be accessed via that.

Another issue related to censorship is the fact that it would have a noticeable effect on the speed of the internet. In 2008 the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) released a report from a test of ISP level content filtering. The test assessed whether the filter blocked out content it should, did not block out content it should not and the loss of speed when in use. The filters that were effective in blocking the right content were the filters that caused the most loss of speed. [www.acma.gov.au] Other government tests have shown that currently available filters would slow down the internet speed by up to 86% [www.theage.com.au]
There would also be a substantial cost associated with filtering the internet in a country where 74.3% of the population use the internet [www.internetworldstats.com]. The federal government has budgeted $44.2 million for four years, [www.libertus.net] however this is only intended to subsidise the initial installation costs. The ISP providers will be responsible for paying for maintenance and technology updates. And it is hard to imagine the ISP providers not passing on this cost to their customers.

There is no doubt that protecting children and stopping online crime is very important. However censoring the internet is not the right way to go about it. Parents should be able to take responsibility and care for their children themselves, not expect the government to do it for them. PC filtering is a more technically feasible and less expensive alternative to ISP filtering and it is also a good idea for parents to supervise their children while they use the internet. The government, instead of spending millions of dollars on internet censorship should instead invest money on the police system and technology to better track down the people who are responsible for illegal content on the internet.

The internet is our media. It is where the people of the world are able to access and share information about what they choose. It should not be up to the government to decide what we can or cannot share.

Chivalry... not dead?

2009-05-27T20:07:00.002+10:00

As completely un-feminist as this sounds, I miss chivalry. I do not mean to say that I would like to become a housewife, and that my greatest desire is to spend my days cooking and cleaning while my husband goes out and makes money. I am as feminist as the next girl (unless that next girl in question is a radical separatist) but I think it would be nice for a man to pull my chair out for me at a restaurant.

Clearly listening to too much Billie Holiday makes me nostalgic for a time I have never known.
Photo from Deviant art. Click for artists link.

Weekend of wonders

2009-05-24T19:46:00.005+10:00

This is a bit of a late post on account of the fact that I have had a rather busy weekend. Friday night went I to a B grade movie night with Jenna and Tash, then went to this very cute 1950's diner. Tasha got serenaded by an Elvis impersonator.

Yesterday I went into Brisbane and got my hair done and went to The Hive. I got lost on the way to the hairdressers, Google earth is a lying whore. But on the way while getting lost I came across this graffiti art in South Brisbane.

Today I was meant to do my math assignment and Tom helped me. But the problem was that I was missing information and not even Tom the brain could work it out. We went in to Caloundra and got hot chips instead. I still have not done my math assignment.

Saturday Night

2009-05-17T16:10:00.004+10:00

Last night Tash had a small get together. It was a very fun night.

I drank too much cheap red wine. When I got home I walked into a wall in my kitchen and then raided the cupboard for rice crackers. It was a fun night.

Mini me

2009-05-16T10:01:00.001+10:00

This is my cousin chloe, she is in Prep. She looks exactly like I did when I was five.

We had fun this morning with the camera, turns out she is even more of a poser than I am.
I am going into Brisbane again today, going to go to the markets and look for some records.

Men in coats.

2009-05-15T21:21:00.006+10:00

I have a good friend named Ryan, he likes to use big words and steam roll people. This post is especially for him because he is going to Sydney soon for an internship. Unlike Queensland, Sydney is effing cold.
Anyway, these are some of my favorite mens looks for winter. The photos are from this Russian fashion blog called lookatme.ru
Enjoy.

On a note completely un-related to fashion

2009-05-13T09:18:00.002+10:00

This is a picture I found of Conor Oberst and it is rather lovely so I decided to post it here. He really is absolutely perfect.

Since I was around 12 years old I have had a massive crush on this man, even though at the time when I was 12 he would have been around 24. Anyway, he is my boyfriend and we are very much in love, he just does not know it. It is probably a good thing that I do not live in America, or he might have a restraining order against me by now.
And thanks to where ever the photo came from, I forgot to make note of where I got it from.

Formal dress

2009-05-12T17:18:00.003+10:00

My formal is coming up in November. So I am beginning my hunt for the perfect dress. What I have in mind is a 1950's style prom dress. Like this one I found on Etsy.

The one problem is that they are all tiny. I am thinking of buying a vintage pattern and getting it made. Or living on lettuce until November!

You are my one desire

2009-05-11T18:56:00.002+10:00

Today I found Don's old record player and set it up in my living room.

So now I am listening to Buddy Holly and drinking sparkling grape juice.

Title title title...

2009-05-10T14:10:00.011+10:00

And you thought the last post was me procrastinating. Hold onto your seats because you are about to witness a whole new level of dalliance.

Dress by Eillim from The Valley Markets, op shop Docs, necklace from the Valley Markets

Dress from Valley Markets

Dress (as top) from Valley Markets, op shop skirt.

Forever New Cape, op shop skirt, chain store beret.

Blogging Binger

2009-05-10T13:41:00.002+10:00

Today Mummsy gets back from New Zealand. I am looking forward to ridiculous novelty souvenirs.
Today I was meant to study. But hense the blog post I am a little bit distracted. So instead I am going to go and read Nylon.

These are photos from last night. We played dress ups. I look like I belong in 1986. And no, I am not too old for playing dress ups.

Today was a lovely day in the city

2009-05-09T17:58:00.003+10:00

When I got home yesterday waiting for me was a big box of modcloth goodies that I brought, I was very excited.
Today I went to Brisbane, it was rather nice. I had New York Slice for lunch.

I am wearing a Modcloth dress and bag, Glasses from Paddington Markets Sydney, Myer stockings, chain store beret and Vivienne Westwood/Melissa shoes.
Oh and these are two girls I saw in Brisbane today, I thought they looked lovely.

Now I am waiting for Jenna and Tash to come over and watch movies and listen to The Kinks. Tomorrow I have to study. Assignments have crept up on me.

Nice places to spend money

2009-05-05T20:05:00.002+10:00

It has been a while since my last post. Being back at school has left me rather uncreative. The weekend just been was a long weekend. Friday night I went to Tash's boyfriend's surprise birthday party. I wore my vintage skirt, a grungy looking shirt from a store at Maroochydore and orange stockings. I stole the photograph below from Tash's blog Wooden Walrus

On Saturday I went into Brisbane and went to the markets with my friend Ruby. We had a lovely time.

Anyway, this is a list of my favorite stores in Brisbane. It does not include Op shops or online stores, I will discuss them at a later date.

- Metro Retro, Latrobe terrace Paddington.
I honestly believe it is the best vintage and retro store in Brisbane. The older store with the garage door (pictured) is full of reasonably priced pretty vintage things to buy. The new store which is near by has a lovely range of dresses that would be just perfect for my upcoming graduation (Well, November, never too early to start planning) and has possibly the nicest sales assistant I have ever met.

- Violent Green, Shop 9 Elizabeth Arcade, Elizabeth Street.
This is where I got my wonderful Vivienne Westwood/Melissa shoes. It has a great collection of street wear from designers like Karen Walker and Lover.

- Hopscotch, Elizabeth Arcade, Elizabeth Street.
There is also another one of these stores in the valley, though I like the Elizabeth street one better. It has very cute things. On Sunday I brought a handbag from there shaped like an old radio.

- Borders Elizabeth St, Because it is a three story book store that sells all my favorite magazines.

- JB High Fi. Because my favorite English comedies and cartoons are difficult to find anywhere else.

- Forever New. Really the only chain store around that is good to go to for something other than basics.

- Myer, simply because they have lovely underwear and stockings.

Modcloth

2009-04-26T19:24:00.012+10:00

I just brought this lovely dress from www.modcloth.com

I think I will wear it with colored tights and my vintage gold locket. Now I just have to wait for it to come in the mail!
Here are my other modcloth finds.

He died with a felafel in his hand

2009-04-26T17:14:00.006+10:00

Friday night I went with my good friend Ryan to see a theatre production of John Birmingham's "He Died with a Felafel in His Hand" at Brisbane Arts Theatre . It was very funny, though not for the easily offended.

I wore a chain store shirt, stockings and beret (Forever New), a vintage skirt and my Vivienne Westwood/Melissa shoes.

Yesterday I went to the cinema and saw "The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas". It was a very sad film, I admittedly sobbed on Tom's shoulder for the last five minutes of it. But I guess it would not be an accurate portrayal of the Holocaust if it was not tragic.

It's the beating of his hideous heart!

2009-04-20T19:21:00.004+10:00

This is my first post in a few days. I have felt sort of uninspired to write anything recently.
Today was my first day back at school, it went rather slow. I fell asleep in English. Then this afternoon I read "The Tell-Tale Heart" By Edgar Allan Poe. I rather like his stories and poems, and they are short. I often lack the attention span to read long novels. I also cuddled with my cat, Kimya.

I had quite a nice weekend. Saturday I went to a book fair, I got 8 books and paid about $9.50 in total. That night I went to Valley Transmission, which is a free event that happens once a month in Fortitude Valley. I went with my friend Renae, it was a lot of fun.

Today's Outfit

2009-04-18T13:03:00.006+10:00

This is what I wore this afternoon after I changed out of my rather plain uniform.
Dress: Vintage from Retro Metro in Paddington
Shoes:Vivienne Westwood for Melissa
Tights: Myer I believe

Thursday night craft

2009-04-16T21:03:00.006+10:00

I made an owl iPhone cosy.

Note: Sewing is relaxing, untangling knotted balls of thread is not.

What I wore today

2009-04-16T15:26:00.005+10:00

Belt, docs, skirt and brooch: Op shop
Cardigan, beret and shirt: Chain store

Layout

2009-04-15T15:07:00.003+10:00

I have a new layout. Tom helped me with it, it took forever. Thanks Tom <3
Now we are off to watch Daria.

The Wooden Walrus

2009-04-15T14:57:00.004+10:00

This is Natasha.

She is very talented and well dressed and has a blog called Wooden Walrus

Third time lucky.

2009-04-14T23:32:00.000+10:00

Its 11.32pm and I am browsing Etsy while watching a doco on SBS about people in Argentina. This is my third post today, I just have so much to write about.

I found this adorable necklace on Michelle's Charm World's Etsy store.

Docs

2009-04-14T19:44:00.000+10:00

The town I live in is called Beerwah, it's a small town about an hour north of Brisbane. Beerwah is mainly known for the zoo a few kilometers away. It has a woolworths, a pub and two op shops and that is pretty much all. Today I found a pair of Dr Martens in one of the op shops for $15. Score.

Last night

2009-04-14T19:28:00.000+10:00

I made a skirt from an old dress. I feel pretty crafty right now.
I decided that with the current economic crisis I should start doing it 1930's style and 'mend and make do'. Next I will be replacing stockings with gravy mix and a niko.

Before:

After: