NOVEMBER EZINE
Colosoul Ezine l 1
Colosoul
l Note from the Editors
u have enjoyed s this year, we hope yo ine e-z line on r ou for other young people This is our final wrap up year which has helped s thi ts en ev ny ma ld had the opportunity to the read. We have he or overseas. We have a ali str Au in re he rk t edition out in stores doing charitable aid wo this year with the lates es tim few a n tio ca bli losoul has moved produce our printed pu Hop mag Wordplay. Co Hip an urb r ou es lud inc and when you have December, which also all supa excited about are we ich wh , co bia in some way. its office space into Su en like to get involved ev y ma u yo us; it vis d some time come in an t be where it is teers Colosoul would no lun vo d ate dic de d an us and looks after Without all the amazing o has joined forces with wh ero nc Co er rtn pa are a great team. today. We have a new ative, so together we cre gs thin all l ou los Co all things business and ir contribution in the ABN group for the to u yo nk tha big a d nt Cannington for all We would like to exten d to World On Line Pri an n tio ca bli pu ed int pr thank Bunnings Subiaco supporting Colosoul’s . We would also like to ar ye the t ou gh ou thr w office and to Declin their amazing support me material for our ne so th wi us ing ply sup in lls and the do ors in. A for their contribution actually putting the wa for p ou Gr d for on M sand back the walls, I and the team from the gre ece who helped to m fro t ris Ch nd frie my d this job is finished, no personal thank you to without him and Im gla job s thi ne do ve ha t have to say I could no . my favourite thing to do tmas break, drive safe shes to you for the chris wi st be ir the s nd se l with you again Everyone at Colosou k forward to catching up loo l wil we d an on as se and enjoy the festive next year.
Tricia Ray 2 l Colosoul Ezine
CTE = 8. GOOD LUCK I ME PLACES.GOOD OKS EVERYWHERE.
Colosoul Ezine l 3
Colosoul
l
Contents
18
24 08
4 l Colosoul Ezine
Colosoul Ezine l 5
Colosoul
l
Contents
10 12
08-09 10-11 12-17 18-23 24 26-27 28-29 30 32 6 l Colosoul Ezine
Travel the European Style Ocupying Perth during CHOGM Viewing Youth Homeless through a lens Fox Feet fashion spread Georgia Fair new CD Review Opeth CD Review A Tall Man Movie Review Healthy Verse Skinny Blog Review 1000 Awesome Things
30
Colosoul Ezine l 7
By Djuna Hallsworth
8 l Colosoul Ezine
LO N DA N AMAZING PLACES TO VISIT AND EXPLORE ... PA R I S
Down and Out in Paris and London
Sometimes I forget why I’m in England. Officially it’s to study, but that tends to take the back burner in a country with so much to see. The Royal Holloway University of London is in Egham – which is not worth talking about. In other words, if you get offered a free trip, blatantly refuse. Let’s skip straight to London.
When London Calls,You Don’t Hang Up
I don’t know how people can say they love London. It is amazing to wander and see what wonderful parks, museums, cafes, and clothes shops you come across, forgetting that people actually live there (and not all of them are desirable). A friend of mine who lives in Marble Arch told me he finds London antisocial, and worries about sending his 13 year old son to school with the amount of youth violence. London’s not all Sherlock Holmes and Mr Darcy - it’s also a bit This is England and Mike Leigh. There’s a good chance in London that the building you just walked past is something famous, but there’s so much to see you probably missed it. My personal favourites are:
Shopping on Oxford Street It’s literally all here!
Camden Lock Market
You could spend hours browsing here for just about anything; old picnic sets, funky canvas prints, clothes, shoes, and even tea! Colosoul Ezine l 9
The Hayward Gallery
(The Tate is probably worth a quick squiz too, to be fair!)
Covent Garden
A market square in the West End Theatre district. It’s nice to browse even if you don’t want to buy.
Richmond Park
It’s absolutely haunting with moors and deer – very English and very beautiful.
The Gay Capital: Because they say gay men have good taste…
Brighton: England’s Gay Capital, and also my favourite place. For those of you who have been to Sydney, Brighton is reminiscent of Newton and Bondi. The city is at the very south of England, and is super windy and cold, but worth it to see lovely views from the Pier. It’s vibrant, eclectic, artsy and big enough to spend the day in, but not so big you get lost. It’s far more relaxed than London, and has gorgeous winding lanes and market stalls. Did I mention it’s on the beach? The nightlife is a good enough reason to visit this coastal delight. There’s something on every night- be it karaoke, comedy, live music, a quiz, a play… Brighton, unlike London, is a place where you can browse and meander. But don’t bother with a map - the streets are like mazes, and not knowing where you’ll end up is half the fun!
Paris Je T’aime (for the most part)
You name it, Paris has it; The Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, the Louvre (complete with Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo and about 3 million other
pieces), the Champs Elysees, the Arch de Triomph and so much more. The food is also everything it’s cracked up to be. Crepes, tarts, espresso, baguette and brie, dinner at a cute little French restaurant will make your trip. It really is an eating culture, and I for one could get used to that. You do have to watch for pickpockets, and the “gypsy girls” who have surprisingly elaborate schemes to outdo tourists. But Paris is charming and edgy. There’s modern art right next to something hundreds of years old. What will make your visit worthwhile:
The Galeries Lafayettes
An enormous department store with everything, including amazing views from the top floor balcony.
A Baguette and Brie Picnic
Have it in some lovely urban gardens with a fountain, surrounded by people in folding chairs.
Seeing dogs absolutely everywhere
Restaurants, cafes, shops, on the metro… Parisians love their dogs. Ain’t nobody gonna stop them.
Notre Dame
It’s really worth a visit and considering that entry is free, there’s no excuse! There’s really nothing that compares to visiting somewhere with a different culture. You’d be surprised how subtle changes make England an alien place to Australians. For example, every time I go into a toilet I wonder about how the door is going to lock, how the toilet is going to flush, how the tap is going to work. We just take this stuff from granted in Australia! Not that I’m complaining…
There’s a good chance in London that the building you just walked past is something famous, but there’s so much to see you probably missed it. There’s a good chance in London that the building you just walked past is something famous, but there’s so much to see you probably missed it. There’s a good chance in London that the building you just walked past is something famous, but there’s so much to see you probably missed it. There’s a good chance in London that the building you just walked past is something famous, but there’s so much to see you probably missed it. 10 l Colosoul Ezine
Colosoul Ezine l 11
Occupy
Perth during
CHOGM Written by C. Eden.
12 l Colosoul Ezine
to Phil Anone, one of the original organizers of Occupy A ccording Wall Street, it all began with an anti-consumerist movement called ‘culture jamming’ in the 1990s. The Occupy Wall Street movement has seen tens of thousands take to the streets in a peaceful protest, camping out with various signs displaying their disdain for establishment and how big corporations accumulate wealth while everyday people struggle to make ends meet. Gradually, the movement travelled around the world and hit Perth. Unfortunately, like a game of Chinese whispers, the original message had been diluted along the way - leaving people without a clue as to what they are really standing on the street demanding. However, Perth showed it could still make a statement. Occupy Perth was launched on Friday October 28 to the tune of hundreds of voices chanting the catchy phrase, “Occupy Wall Street, Occupy Perth, we won’t stop ‘til we occupy the Earth.” Speaking to a few event organisers and attendees was inspiring, particularly because they had braved the rumour they would be met with excessive police force, as seen in the brutal images from the Melbourne protests as well as Oakland, US where footage showed a policeman in riot gear deliberately throwing a tear gas grenade at a group trying to help an injured protester. “How about you occupy a job. How about working? Working, I know that’s tough,” Rudi Giuliani, Former Mayor of New York, said in relation to the Occupy movement. But perhaps even more ‘tough’ is showing up to try and change a system that is failing, despite threats to safety and civil rights. In the build up to CHOGM, Perth newspapers reported authorities claiming they had the right to search children as young as twelve if they were in certain areas of the city, others related how peaceful activists who were rumoured to be planning to protest during CHOGM had their houses raided on assumption they would “cause trouble”.
“Tens of thousands take to the streets in a peaceful protest” Perth was also warned, through a spate of news reports seemingly bragging about security, that their phones would be jammed, their laptops could be confiscated and bags searched if they were found to be in the areas sectioned off by police around hotels and certain buildings for CHOGM visitors. Event organisers who stayed behind as the main Occupy Perth group marched through the city described how council members and
police had waited until there were less people before approaching the makeshift stalls and pulling down certain banners. With a police helicopter hovering overhead blowing papers and flyers about and pockets of police visible everywhere, they spoke of their general content with the authorities’ tolerance aside from the brief flex of power and said the police had been mostly accommodating. Some officers even read their material. An event the size of CHOGM taking place at the same time as one of the largest protests in the city was a great display of how Perth citizens respect free speech and personal expression. However, the topics addressed in the protest were as varied at the people making up the ‘99%.
“An event the size of CHOGM taking place at the same time as one of the largest protests in the city was a great display of how Perth citizens respect free speech and personal expression” The usual climate change action posters sported by various environmental groups were mixed in among signs about issues Perth and WA are currently facing. Premier Colin Barnett was mentioned with regards to people against Uranium mining as well as for police carrying tasers, no doubt hoping the public would remember Kevin Spratt, an Indigenous man tasered 41 times while in police custody in 2008. Other people carried rainbow flags supporting gay marriage and some displayed signs calling out food giant ‘Monsanto’ for genetically engineering foods and dominating the market through underhanded dealings. Only a few signs depicting disdain for world banking systems and private bankers were visible, a clear difference from the American Occupy protests. The launch of Occupy Perth was more of a free-for-all gathering where different groups used the media attention to get their causes recognised. Even though this is not entirely where the movement roots lie, it was exciting to see people supporting vastly different issues stand united. It was inspiring that the participants had come out to have their say regardless of the seemingly excessive security measures. The Occupy Perth protests are continuing and information about how to get involved can be found link here.
Colosoul Ezine l 13
Viewing Youth
homelessness
through the Lens Written by Lisa Morrison
If you were asked to take a photograph of your home, you could probably just walk out the front door, turn around and take a picture. But what if you were homeless? In Australia on any given night, 105,000 people are homeless. Nearly half - 43% - are children and young people under the age of 25, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics 2008 Counting the Homeless report. Shocking, isn’t it? It is easy to imagine homelessness being a pressing social issue in say, London or New York, but startling to think that it is prevalent here in Perth. But that is the daily reality for the 6000 young people across WA who are without the standard conventions of ‘home’. According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare’s latest annual report released on June 3, the rate of use of governmentfunded homelessness services has jumped from 187,900 people (1 in every 110 Australians) in 2006-7 to 219,900 people (1 in every 100 Australians) in 2009-10. That’s an increase of 32,000 people in a single year! So who are these people and how did they end up in such a dire situation? 14 l Colosoul Ezine
According to this years campaign by the National Youth Coalition for Housing, “the general public often has the view that the young homeless people are runaways and could return home if they wanted to… in reality, many young people become homeless due to family breakdown, violence and child abuse.” Every individual set of circumstances is unique, but there are trends: the highest rate of use (of aforementioned government-funded services) by any one group was by 15-19 year old females (1 in 51 people), and if you are Indigenous or a Torres Strait Islander, from a single or blended family, have been homeless as a child or in statutory care, you are at greater risk of suffering from homelessness.
“Who are these people and how did they end up in such a dire situation?” But the problem with statistics and data is that numbers can’t tell the stories that the person who is currently sleeping on the street or in a squat can if they are given the opportunity to have their voices
heard. That is what Home is Where My Heart Is, an initiative started in 2007 by the Youth Affairs Council of WA in conjunction with Propel Youth Arts WA, aims to achieve. A photography exhibition partnering young emerging Perth photographers with young homeless people, the funds raised from the sale of the images go back into the organisations that directly support homeless people in Perth, such as Anglicare, Perth Inner City Youth Services and the Saint Vincent de Paul Society.
“In reality, many young people become homeless due to family breakdown, violence and child abuse.” This year’s exhibition was held from August 4-13, to coincide with Homeless Person’s Week and has been growing momentum over the four years it has been in operation. Last year about $7000 was raised, while this year that was made in sales on opening night alone, with the total amount surpassing $8000. This is an outstanding achievement, and not surprising when you consider that the images produced by young people who don’t have a typical interpretation Colosoul Ezine l 15
HEART 16 l Colosoul Ezine
of home are not just unique to their experience, but original, haunting and inspiring.
Colosoul Magazine spoke to Jesse Drum, age 19, about his experience of being on the streets and taking part in the fourth year of the Home Is Where My Heart Is. Do you feel as though the exhibition gave a voice to yourself and other young people in your situation? Definitely. I met one guy at the opening night who works for the United Nations; he is their Youth Services Officer, so that was pretty cool. What organisation did you choose to raise funds for with the sale of your photographs? Perth Inner City Youth Services, they have been a great help to me so far. They have recently found me a flat to live in and they have just helped me a lot over the years in different ways, providing services I wouldn’t be able to get without them. Can you explain the significance of the photo’s you took for the exhibition? Why did you choose that representation of home? I took photos of this car park where I used to go, listen to music with my friends and dance and have fun. I never felt like I was going to get hurt there, I felt pretty safe, and didn’t worry so much about being on the street, we would just have a good time. How did you become homeless? I removed myself from a bad situation in Queensland and came to WA. Ever since then I’ve been homeless, [that was] about five years ago. So you’ve been living rough since you were 14 years old? Yeah, that’s about right. But I recently got somewhere to live, thanks to Perth Inner City Youth Services, so that’s been really cool. I read that you hope to go on and study photography, is this right? Yeah, I really want to go on learning. I used to do photography when I was younger, so this experience just reignited a spark, I guess. What is the worst experience you have had on the streets? Nothing too bad, like getting beaten up or whatever because I always hung out with other people so you’re not so vulnerable, you know? The only thing that really got to me was not being clean all the time, and not being warm in winter, that’s pretty hard. I’ve woken up a few times after going to sleep somewhere in the dark and in the morning when I’ve woken up there’s been like a fit [slang term for syringe] next to my head. Well, thanks again for talking to us today, good luck with your future endeavors and hopefully we will be coming to an opening night of your own photography sometime in the future! [Laughs]. Yeah, that would be cool. Images credited to Khan Peoples and Lisa Morrison
Colosoul Ezine l 17
fox feet
presents
If you go down to the woods today… The whimsical woodlands where the Fox Feet frolic Pioneered under The Colosoul Group Inc. Fox Feet made their first appearance at WA Born fashion show in September and has since hosted Perth’s premier vintage sellers at their first Fox Feet Recycled vintage market and with much more to come this summer, Fox Feet is set to establish it’s self as one of WA’s most revolutionary fashion collectives.
Head Fox and Designer, Marty Collister provides some insight…
18 l Colosoul Ezine
Colosoul Ezine l 19
20 l Colosoul Ezine
Colosoul Ezine l 21
22 l Colosoul Ezine
‘Fox Feet was first established in 2010 by my predecessor, marketing and PR specialist, Danielle Posejpal and Colosoul Editor in Chief Tricia Ray. The concept originated from the lack of affordable and accessible business support in the WA market for emerging fashion designers. With the cost of representation being too high for new small businesses, many fail within the initial 3 years. The Fox Feet concept was developed to bridge the gap by providing affordable agency services as well as business support and industry mentoring to equip new designers with the skills to establish their label and operate a sustainable business.’
‘I joined Fox Feet in June this year and was appointed at the helm. My design background involving fashion and textiles, graphic design and visual arts enabled me to also take creative control in establishing Fox Feet’s overall brand image and visually represent the Fox Feet philosophy.’ ‘Fashion is an art form, harnessed by design’ ‘I’ve always been interested in fashion, even from a young age; My first sewing machine was a little pink, plastic, fully functional toy, complete with the little pedal and tiny light bulb next to the needle. I’d constantly be drawing figures in all kinds of ostentatious costumes. I remember chopping my Barbie’s hair into punk styles, drawing ‘make up’ and tattoos on them and I’d make dolly clothes from Mum’s old bits of cloth.’ ‘One of the most rewarding aspects of my role at Fox Feet is the opportunity to mentor young designers by offering advice and stimulating creative thinking and exploration. Having a strong background in fashion and sales is definitely an advantage in assisting other designers with the design process through to marketability.’ ‘It’s not WHAT you wear; it’s HOW you wear it’ ‘The inspiration for my range for Fox Feet Recycled really came from the garments themselves, I selected vintage pieces based on fabrics, textures, prints and colours, anything hideously eye catching. I then envision the most creative and flattering way to reconstruct and reincarnate each garment.’ ‘The Fox Feet Recycled shoot is loosely based around the teddy bear’s picnic theme which references child like activities such as playing in the dressing up box and having a tea party, creating a playful and nostalgic energy which embodies the character of Fox Feet Recycled.’
Colosoul Ezine l 23
“My first sewing machine was a little pink, plastic, fully functional toy, complete with the little pedal and tiny light bulb next to the needle.�
For more information on Fox Feet services, our up coming events and appearances, Fox Feet designers and products or how to get involved with Fox Feet, check out www.colosoul.com.au/ foxfeet or follow us on Facebook www.facebook. com/FoxFeet 24 l Colosoul Ezine
Colosoul Ezine l 25
Album Review
‘ALL THROUGH WINTER’
The debut album from
the Sydney folk duo of
Ben Riley and Jordan
Wilson the Northern Beaches. Soft melodies and mellow, low key harmonies perva de every moment. is one that reminds you
of their home town of
Clearly, this is music me with the windows woun
ant for Sunday afternoo
d down in your beaten
the essentials in the G
eorgia Fair moment. Th
ns and coastal road trip
s
up first car. These are
e theme of time passin g each song lulling you into a state of winter like hibernation, starting on the onset with the initial ‘Times Fly’. is a pleasant one, with
For a relaxed, gentle ap
proach to music, the lyr ics are surprisingly stron g throughout, particularly in ‘Where You Be en?’ and ‘Time’ where the vo cals soar through, with the Australian lilt of Wilson’s making listening all the more engaging. ‘As the Sun Fades’ slow close to the album truly puts you at peace. The acoustic ins trumentals throughout are dandy to say the lea st. A must for all acoustic fol k lovers, in essence, All Through Winter is the sounds of home.
Written by Amy McKie 26 l Colosoul Ezine
Colosoul Ezine l 27
Album Review
Heritage Veteran Death Metal Group branch out in a new psychedelic direction Mellow piano introductions, clear soothing vocals and jazzy bass licks are not some elements one might not usually associate with a band like Opeth. For the past eleven years the Swedish group have been the harbingers of a fresh form of death metal, blending numerous influences as vast as King Crimson, Deep Purple and traditional Swedish folk melodies into a tight well-executed package of musical finesse and outstanding production values. Heritage is the group’s tenth album, delivered after a long history of beautifully crafted albums ranging from their 1995 debut Orchid, to their 2001 magnum opus Blackwater Park and later diversification into cleaner vocals and softer melodies in Damnation and Ghost Reveries (in 2003 and 2005 respectively). Heritage continues this interesting foray into psychedelic/progressive rock experimentation with surprisingly satisfying results. Gone are the haunting death growls of frontman Mikael Akerfeldt, replaced instead by clean, soothing vocals that intertwine beautifully with the acid-tipped guitar licks of Fredrik Akesson. The first single, “The Devil’s Orchid” wastes no time cutting to the chase – immediately launching into a frenetic roller-coaster of tumbling rhythms that twist and turn whilst preaching a foreboding sense of doom, which is further driven home by the chorus of “God is Dead!” “Slither” continues in this frenetic fashion, a rolling beast that sounds like it crawled out of the deepest, darkest recesses of Akerfeldt’s own prog-drenched musical subconscious. Per Wiberg’s keyboards really sing here with their own voice, lacing the track with a psychedelic garnishing that would be right at home on a Pink Floyd record. Other stand out tracks include “The Lines in My Hand”, a very mellow proggy number that borrows from the spacey influence of frequent collaborator Steven Wilson’s band Porcupine Tree. “Nepenthe” is a epileptic, jazz-laced track that makes you feel that this group of death metallers would feel right at home crooning in an underground bar belting out this song as they would on a massive stage, drenched in blood and playing to 50, 000 metalheads. You may be pleasantly surprised by the Yngwie Malmsteen inspired guitar solo that suddenly
erupts around the 3 and a half minute mark as you just about ease into the comfort of Martin “Axe” Axenrot’s delicate jazz-fusion drumming. The self-titled opening track of the album should also get a special mention, with the smooth piano melody appropriately accentuated by the deep upright bass playing of Martin Mendez. As mentioned before, audio production on Heritage is extremely exceptional as always, with the mixing done by frequent Opeth collaborator Steven Wilson, who has worked with the likes of Yoko Ono, Pendulum and Dream Theater. Each instrument is given its own space to breath and let its notes ring out in the proggy atmosphere. Opeth has always been one of the few bands that always dedicates an equal amount of attention and detail to their music as well as their album artwork and packaging. Audiophiles will be pleased that the special edition comes with an additional disc which includes a 5.1 surround sound mix of the entire album and a 60 minute documentary on the making of Heritage. It’s not much, but it shows the amount of care Opeth devotes to making sure their diehard fans get their money’s worth. The cover artwork is equally stunning, done by long time artist and collaborator Travis Smith, with a beautifully executed holographic adorning the front atop a sturdy cream digipak case. Heritage is a pleasant addition to Opeth’s musically diverse repertoire, easily fitting in with the rest of the tracks that stem from their eclectic creativity. Mikael Akerfeldt continues to lead Opeth in a refreshing new direction, gracefully sidestepping the injustice served to fans by releasing the same music every couple of years (like some bands) and instead experimenting boldly and cementing their roles as true passionate artists. First time listeners to Opeth may want to check out 2003’s Damnation to get a taste of Akerfeldt’s softer voice and the much more heavier, but accessible 2005’s Ghost Reveries (with death growls!) before launching into the more experimental side of Heritage. For those who have their interest perked, Opeth will be playing at Metropolis Fremantle on the 20th of December at 8pm, with tickets available through Oztix. Reviewed copy was the Special Edition, released by Roadrunner Records Australia 2011 Images courtesy of Metal Injection and Author reviewed by Guang-Hui Chuan
28 l Colosoul Ezine
Colosoul Ezine l 29
30 l Colosoul Ezine
Cameron Doomadgee was laughing and singing on his return home from a successful fishing trip when he was stopped, punched and arrested by police for swearing. Forty-five minutes later, he lay dead on a cell floor. Shockingly, this film is neither a period drama nor recollections from a much earlier Australian history. Instead it is an investigation of true events that transpired on Palm Island in 2004, and the ensuing cover-ups and evasions of justice that occurred. The documentary, directed by Tony Krawitz and based on Chloe Hooper’s book of the same name, depicts the first Police officer in Queensland’s history to go to trial over the death of an Indigenous Australian in custody. The film features interviews with criminal lawyers involved in the case, eyewitness accounts and archival newsreels of a court case that divided a notoriously conservative state. Despite overwhelming evidence from a coroner’s report that stated Doomadgee’s injuries, which included four broken ribs and a cleaved liver, could only have been obtained by a force similar to a car crash, Hurley was excused from a trial by the Police Commissioner at the time who claimed there was “no evidence”. An eyewitness, present at the time of Doomadgee’s detainment, recalls seeing Hurley’s elbows fly up from behind a filing cabinet as he yelled: “Have you had enough? Do you want more?” Hurley maintains that Doomadgee’s stumble and fall explains his injuries. When it was eventually announced that Hurley was to be charged with manslaughter, Queensland Police rallied in support of his innocence.
“The film is necessary viewing for anyone interested in a detailed review of a story that has made Australian headlines for the better part of a decade.” It is no coincidence that such a tragedy was conceived on an Island set up in the early 20th Century as a Penal Colony, where up until the 1960s Aboriginal inhabitants could be arrested for laughing. “Palm Island is a place where ‘Black fellas’ have grown up under the thumb of the white man.” - Alfred Bonner (Witness) The Tall Man reflects on results from the latest inquest in 2010, which occurred after the book was published. The film is necessary viewing for anyone interested in a detailed review of a story that has made Australian headlines for the better part of a decade or appalled that a Police officer working in a liberal democracy is able to, quite literally, get away with murder.
By Kate Enright Colosoul Ezine l 31
BLOG REVIEW : HEALTHY IS THE NEW SKINNY
healthyisthenewskinny.com The Internet is Not Depressing! It can sometimes seem the World Wide Web is a haven for pessimists. Social networking sites and blogs allow for endless ranting, be it on the dire state of global politics - or that you stubbed your toe. But amongst all the content saturated in dystopia, there are a two blogs that stand out as pillars of positivity…
ourselves to the bones (or being born a male) it is impossible to look like a model. So I had given up, chowing down Bounty bars as I read and dismissing fashion as not for me, after all, I need to wear a bra and sometimes – when the time is right and I feel the call - a spanx.
HEALTHY IS THE NEW SKINNY
“No real woman can meet the unrealistic standards of thinness required to model, it is impossible to feel good-enough, thinenough, beautiful-enough, or just plain-butter-on-toast enough at all.”
Health is wealth and size zero sucks
is the underlying theme running through this blog. Be prepared to be surprised – the blog is chockers with gorgeous women who have real curves, and gosh, they are beautiful. In a world where waif-like women (who look like men) strut down catwalks because no real woman can meet the unrealistic standards of thinness required to model, it is impossible to feel good-enough, thin-enough, beautifulenough, or just plain-butter-on-toast enough at all. But Healthy is the New Skinny takes a stand, reminding us that healthy is real and healthy is beautiful. It has been a long time since I’ve seen a size twelve woman grace the pages of a magazine. I had become desensitized to the size-zero norm, flipping pages absent-mindedly, absorbing sharp shoulders, razor-blade ribs and concave stomachs and feeling unworthy in the process. To quote Mary Higgins, like “a triangle squeezing through a circle,” it is obvious that without starving 32 l Colosoul Ezine
Upon discovering HNS, a bubble (or perhaps a bubble bath) of excitement rose from my stomach and I began frothing at the mouth. These women are gorgeous! And real. They rock a bathing suit, have a presence that fills the page, and (even better) they look like they are having fun. In contrast to the usual sour-pussed faces of models and celebs, it is a real treat to see eyes shining, dimples in cheeks and teeth exposed in real smiles. Now, instead of glossys and ET, I get my daily fix from HNS, and you know what? I actually feel good about myself because healthy is attainable and size zero is not. And these girls are true-to-life role models who can make a difference and help every girl, teen and woman out there to see that she is good enough and that health is truly beautiful.
Colosoul Ezine l 33
BLOG REVIEW 1000awesomethings.com
Remember when your mum told you to stop and smell the roses? Well now you can do the online equivalent. 1000 Awesome Things publishes a simple (but joyous) everyday occurrence that makes you feel… well, awesome! It has been counting down since June 2008 and is soon to reach number one. No matter how bad your day, this blog is bound to put a smile on your face. For example, who can say that ‘Perfect parallel-parking on the first try’ (no. 936) doesn’t make you feel good? Or how about when you owe someone $10 and someone else owes you $10 and they just give $10 to the person you owe instead (no. 201). Yes it’s simple, but how great are life’s little victories? And how often do we go by not appreciating those wonderful short-lived moments?
HERE ARE SOME OF THE MOST RESONANT “THINGS” THAT MAKE THE LIST: #971 Real-bearded Santas #860 When the vending machine gives you two things instead of one #776 When you’re watching one of your favorite movies and you realize you don’t remember how it ends #603 When the DJ plays your request #482 When your shoes are tight enough to stay on your foot but loose enough to slide on and off without untying them #309 When you’re sleeping and the sounds around you turn into dreams #222 When that white noise you didn’t know existed in the background suddenly stops #151 The moment when the lights dim at the movie theater But perhaps my personal favourite is number 140, ‘Pockets’. It’s incredibly simple but, particularly as a woman, obtaining an item of clothing with pockets is like saying “thank you” to your shoulders that have had to endure a lifetime of bag carrying. A skirt with pockets is a rare treat, but even rarer is a pocketed dress. No more scurrying for your keys or loose change, a pocket is not only a time saver, but also a fashion statement. Particularly when you do the thumb hook, Fonzy style. (I also like to gel my hair for this one, or leaving it unwashed for a week can render the same effect.) All in all – this blog will prevent you from ever feeling depressed no matter how stormy the weather outside, or how high that ominous pile of filing grows.
34 l Colosoul Ezine
Colosoul Ezine l 35
www.colosoul.com.au 36 l Colosoul Ezine
Designed by Jodie Palmer