Sponge Magazine #6 by Sponge Magazine

Issue 6, 16th June 2010

we design the experience.

http:// www.fourml.com.au

Half a dozen issues of Sponge!! Yeah!! Welcome back for issue 6 of hopefully someone’s favourite online magazine. It’s all here boys and girls; music, movies, TV, games, anime, fashion, social comments, artwork (it’s Glenn Jones hitting the centre stage this time), and of course our personal dose of what’s just as annoying as a mosquito buzzing round your head as you try to sleep, damn those blood suckers! PLEASE NOTE: Views and comments within articles are those of the writer’s themselves and may not reflect the views of us here at Sponge. But if you do wanna know what we think, just ask! Over the coming issues we are aiming to continue vastly increasing the scale and range of our content, but to do so we will need a larger contribution from writers and artists as well as some assistance from our readers. So, if you’re a writer, photographer or artist and feel you can contribute, or even just a reader with an opinion on what’s working, what isn’t or what you would like to see more of, then please contact us via email at: editor@sponge-magazine.com and list your skills and fields of interest or any feedback you wish to mention. Thank you to everyone who has ever read a Sponge issue and a special thank you to everyone who has worked with us on this magazine to date!

Contents Contributors Writers: Christopher Nesci Hannah Kim Michael Mason Peter Giannoukas Tessa Stogian Ange Scicluna Cara Williams Claire Forgie Hsin- Yi Lo Jessika Keegan Rhys McRae

Designers: Christopher Nesci Michael Mason Phurieda Lead Editor: Peter Giannoukas Editor: Tessa Stogian Creative Direction: Fourml Creative Studio

True Blood - TV Series Review

Tegan & Sara- Interview

White Stripes Under White Northern Lights

Tattoos - Getting a Tattoo for Newbies

MGMT - Album Review

Secert & Whisper - Album Review

Xavier Rudd - Interview

I Claim War On

All American F#cker

Super Street Fighter - Game Review

The Male, The Break Ups & Persona’s 14 Black Lagoon - Anime Review

iPhone Apps Review

Glenn Jones - Featured Artist

DVD Watch

Google and China

Website Credits: Phurieda Featured Artist: Glenn Jones

struck me, it’s blonde Anna Paquin who we haven’t seen since the X-Men films. Weirdly unsettling as a blonde.

There have been hundreds of depictions of vampires and their alike over the past centuries since the term Vampire was first depicted in the English language in 1745. During the 1990s, fandom of Buffy, Angel and a bunch of genre films spawned many tried and true tales of a dark and brooding vampire and the lady he seduces. Predictable. True Blood pushes the genre one step further by setting the story two years after vampires reveal their existence to the world. No longer a myth or fantasy, but fighting for co-existence, equal rights and a place in society. The series is diverse in its range of characters and depiction of same-sex relationships, something that is unique in American television, let alone one of the most racist parts of the states. True Blood is created and produced by Alan Ball (Six Feet Under) and is based on The Southern Vampire Mysteries series of novels by Charlaine Harris who has her 11th book, Dead in the Family, coming out in May 2010. It is hotly anticipated with the success of the TV adaptation that takes storylines from the first two books but has changed certain sub plots and characters.

The series centers on telepathic waitress Sookie Stackhouse (Anna Paquin) and vampire Bill Compton (Stephen Moyer). The chemistry between the leads is so dynamic that during casting Paquin and Moyers started dating and by the end of season 2 were engaged! Alan Ball had read the first novel, Dead after Dark and was taken by the unique depiction of the south and the entertaining prose. He became interested in “bringing [Harris’s] vision to television”. Meanwhile, Harris already had other offers for rights to the series. She said, “[Ball] really ‘got’ me. That’s how he convinced me to go with him. I just felt that he understood what I was doing with the books.” I started watching the series after the end of the first season and was at first apprehensive after a friend had raved about it. I watched the first three episodes in one go and was hooked. The whole strict religious south vibe from the opening title sequence wasn’t something I was particularly fond of, however the concept of bringing vampires “out of the closest” (yes, I can hear some of you who have read the books sigh in disapproval but I had to use it once) was just fascinating. I was also mildly curious at the lead actor who played Sookie, until that gap-tooth

Season one follows telepathic waitress Sookie Stackhouse who becomes our unlikely investigator in a series of brutal murders that seem to be directed at the vampire community. This central mystery of the season begins when Maudette Pickens, another Waitress at Merlottes bar, is killed and it is revealed she was a ‘fang banger’ (a person who sleeps with Vampires, a kind of groupie). Sheriff Dearborne (William Sanderson) places detective Andy Bellefleur (Chris Bauer) in charge of finding the killer/s. Bellefleur suspects Sookies’ brother Jason, and that suspicion grows after the murder of Dawn Green (Lynn Collins), a girl Jason was dating. But as in all good stories there’s always a twist! Now some of you have heard of Twilight and to put it simply; it is the Emo of the genre. In contrast True Blood is a very explicit series with episodes rated MA to R18+. There are many scenes of graphic sex, which is actually necessary for the story line but don’t let your 10 year old sister watch it. Personally, give the series a go. The stories have depth and well developed characters that steer clear of cliché stereotypes. The books have a lot more detail and subplots but the televised series does a fantastic job of adapting it to the screen. — Claire Forgie

With over a decade of touring and the release of 6 albums under their belt, it would be safe to assume that Canadian sibling duo Tegan and Sara Quin are due for a holiday. Alas, since the release of their most recent album Sainthood in 2009, the thought of a holiday is fairly unlikely, unless of course, they are travelling to Australia. “It’s such a luxury to get to come to Australia once a year” Sara reveals. Sponge was lucky to catch Sara while visiting her mother in Vancouver to discuss how she discovered a career in music and what success means for her. “It’s funny, the perception when you start to do really well is that you suddenly have a room where you just roll around naked in money”, quips Sara Quin, one half of Canadian Indie Rock duo Tegan and Sara. “I think that what success has meant for us is that we can all live like normal people”. For Sara, leading a ‘normal life’ is admittedly a difficult task. To maintain a normal lifestyle while battling such a hectic schedule Tegan and Sara insist on taking breaks throughout tours. This is not just for their emotional and physical well-being, but also in the best interest of their crew. “We used to take breaks when we were burnt out, now we take breaks so that we don’t burn out. We learned what we can endure physically and emotionally and the difference between working until we couldn’t work anymore. Now we are doing three weeks on and four days off throughout a 16 month tour”.

“I would feel terrible because it’s everyone’s dream to go on the road and tour, but I seriously thought that maybe music just wasn’t the right job! But suddenly something shifted around So Jealous and I realised that it was a job and I’m making a living. I started making enough money to buy an apartment and I was able to get through tours without wanting to die at the end”.

“I could probably tour more without needing the breaks, but a lot of the people we work with are in serious relationships or are married...” Although she was always passionate about her music, Sara never considered that the concept of a music career was a viable option. “This sounds absurd, but I didn’t know that you could be a musician. I’d always loved music, I took music lessons outside of school, I was fans of bands and I went to concerts. I knew that giant musicians existed but I didn’t understand the music industry as a functioning machine. I didn’t know that a music career was an option for me”. It wasn’t until the conclusion of her high school studies and college life was looming that Sara found the connection between making music and making money. “Throughout high school I always thought I’d be a teacher or a social worker or something” Sara recalls. “I was so excited to be out of school, I just couldn’t believe that I was going to have to go College straight away. I started to think of ways to make money and realised that I could do that by playing music. It really became a function of ‘ok, if

after school I can get gigs and make enough money to pay rent, then that is a job right?’ But my mum was like, ‘are you fucking kidding me? I’ll kill you if you don’t go to school!’ “I can remember the early stages of wondering what it would mean to be a musician, but I didn’t think that it was a job - just a way to make money and eventually I would have to go back to school and get a real job”. The idea of going to university and getting a real job was a concept that Sara toyed with for many years to come, even upon the release of the duo’s fourth studio album So Jealous in 2004. “I was coming home from the So Jealous tour and looking at University applications, still wondering what the fuck I was doing with my life. I wasn’t making any money and I was also exhausted. I loved making music but I was just so tired. I thought that maybe I could just make music and not have to tour because the touring part was killing me and sucking my soul and my will to live.

Although Tegan and Sara’s name was propelling throughout the music industry and their career was booming, it took them quite a while to build an awareness of the industry and learn the fundamentals of their new found career. “It’s tough when you don’t really understand your business and all of a sudden you are surrounded by people who do understand the business, and you are lost because you don’t understand what’s going on. I think that for me and Tegan this path was really important to learn all the different aspects of our business. If all the agents of the world suddenly lifted up into the sky and I had to book my own tours, I now understand how to do that.” Her laid back demeanor, crafty wittiness and ability to be realistic about her career within the music industry indicates Sara is in fact, a normal person who is just doing her job like the rest of us. “At the end of the day I feel like we’ve had great amounts of success over the years. Our tours are so lovely and wonderful, but even when you’re having the most amazing time, sometimes I just wish I was at home and I could go hang out with my girlfriend and go to sleep in my own bed. That would be nice”. — Cara Williams

THE WHITE STRIPES

UNDER GREAT WHITE NORTHERN LIGHTS Directed by Emmett Malloy, Under Great White Northern Lights follows The White Stripes on their first extensive Canadian tour in 2007 with the objective of visiting every province and territory in the country. Jim Jarmusch (independent American film maker and proponent) pretty much covers everything there is to cover about this film in the sleeve notes and having just finished reading them I don’t really think there’s much I can do to elaborate from there. I guess the joke is you won’t get to read his perfect review until you buy the thing, but I’ll give it a shot anyway.

Throughout the tour The White Stripes play mini sideshows in all manners of places including bowling halls, town centres and schools. The first footage of the band is at their ‘One Note Show’ where (you guessed it) they play one single note then leave the stage to the crowd chanting “one more note!” What makes this film different from most tour films is it goes beyond simply showing a band playing their music and some of their antics. If this film’s anything to go by I’d say Meg and Jack White must be the most well behaved rock musicians around, constantly working and developing themselves. The different characters of Jack and Meg are shown with stark contrast; Meg the quiet introvert always with a mischievous smile and Jack, the intense front man always trying to push the limits as far as possible.

At times the tension boils over between the two and at one-point results in a classic line from Jack to Meg, “Who’s that guy who said short people got no reason to live? Damn…he must have never met a quiet person.” It’s worth pointing out Meg is incredibly quiet throughout the film with Malloy even going as far as subtitling everything she says. One of the stand out sequences from the film is Meg singing ‘In the cold, cold night’ with Jack coming in and out of the shadows creating a strangely eerie atmosphere. The White Stripe’s theme of triplets is continued throughout the film: majority of it being in black, white and red. Filming this way gives the shows a vintage quality and the classy feel the band has

become renowned for. Where a lot of live music films have lost me, Malloy reinvigorates interest by continuously changing the visual effects and colours, which makes for interesting viewing. Through effectively providing an insight into the mechanics within The White Stripes and creating a beautiful piece of visual art, Malloy has created a great music film. If this hasn’t sold you on it than perhaps you should just buy it and get Mr Jarmusch to convince you that you’ve done the right thing. — Rhys McRae

What’s Hot and What’s Not

Getting a Tattoo For Newbies

o I recently got a tattoo and thought that I should share this experience with you. It was indeed my first and to be honest, yes I’d like to have a second one, even if this one hasn’t healed up properly yet. I always wanted to design a tattoo for myself with my old dog’s name on it. I’m pretty perfectionist when it comes to details and I have absolutely no experience in drawing tattoos - what I should or shouldn’t do? If the lines need to be thick, or if I want them to be thin, how thin I can go?

My boyfriend had a tattoo way before me, so I had a chat with him asking if I could use my design. He’s not a tattoo artist, so I can’t trust 100% what he was saying. At first he told me that it’s not possible to get details in tattoo design because of the restriction on how the needles work. I went to do some research to see if such things exist. I remembered this Singaporean blogger xiaxue (xiaxue.blogspot.com) had this really gorgeous crown tattoo on her back.

to modify the design on the go if you feel the design isn’t good. At first I wanted to place it where people can see it, because it’s not a very personal thing. Well it is, but it’s not something I’d be ashamed to show off if you know what I mean. Look around and do research. Credits: xiaxue.blogspot.com

The design is simply breathtaking! The details oh! Tattoos are a permanent thing, so be 10000% sure that you want it! If you can’t draw and unsure about your drawing skill, ask someone to do it for you. Your tattoo artist can do it for you but obviously you have to pay extra for it. I personally didn’t want anyone to draw it for me because my tattoo is pretty personal and even though it’s easy to trace it out, people won’t understand what I’m trying to say. If you could, try using photoshop and take your own picture with the spot you want it to be on. To make it even better, ask someone to draw it on you using a fine liner. When doing this, make sure you have a temporary fine liner. It’s also easier

I researched the best tattoo place here and after I designed my tattoo I rang up and had a chat with them about whether I could get that design. It actually took me quite a while to book because I gave them my design and they told me it was too big and such. Also, look around tattoo magazines and websites and see other examples on real people. I changed my mind where I wanted to put it originally because I saw someone at the train station with a similar tattoo on the same spot as I originally wanted and it looked horrible on her! FOREIGN CHARACTERS ARE SICK! 1 If you are getting a tattoo that has foreign characters on it, make sure you actually understand what it says! I HATE it when people just get it because it looks cool! Research people, research! Ask someone that actually speaks the language and double check with them before getting it!

“APPARENTLY IT’S PAINFUL!!” It really depends on the person and where you’re getting it, but think of it this way, you’re gonna get it for the rest of your life. If you want to get something this important, the pain isn’t worth as much as what you get in result. For mine it wasn’t that bad, it went pretty quickly (took about half an hour). If you’re unsure, ask! Listen to people that have had tattoos before but also listen to your tattoo artist, they’re the ones that have the most experience of all. Overall, I can’t say what not to get and what to get because every individual has different taste, but I can tell you this: DO NOT GET A TATTOO WHEN YOU ARE DRUNK Not that I had it when I was drunk (I don’t even drink), but I’ve heard so many stories about people actually getting one when they’re drunk. It’s silly and beyond stupid! Apparently you also bleed more when you are drunk. 1

aussie slang - actually meaning really good

— Hannah Kim

http://hanzismatter.blogspot.com/ is a good reference.

Track Listing 01. 02. 03. 04. 05. 06. 07. 08. 09.

It’s Working Song From Dan Treacy Someone’s Missing Flash Delirium I Found A Whistle Siberian Breaks Brian Eno Lady Dada’s Nightmare Congratulations

* Recommended tracks http://sponge-magazine.com

Ever since 2006 almost everyone knows about MGMT, particularly from their hit songs “Time To Pretend”, “Electric Feel” and “Kids” from their debut album Oracular Spectacular. It is because of this lively and light-hearted album that many eagerly anticipated the second album, Congratulations. It is important to note that Andrew VanWyngarden and Ben Goldwasser have decided to not release any singles from the album, instead requesting that their fans listen to the album in its entirety and then listen to their favourite songs separately, a highly unusual move. Any ideas you may have about MGMT are worthless because the nine tracks that make up Congratulations are poles apart from Oracular Spectacular, which could be considered both a good and bad thing. The

best way I could even begin to classify this album is a fusion of easy listening, psychedelic tunes from the 70s and soul mixed together. The album opens with “It’s Working”, which begins slowly with the tempo increasing as the song progresses. The song is very psychedelic and calming, definitely one you’ll find yourself humming after you listen to it. It’s a good beginning to the album and it gives you a little taste of what’s in store. The influences of MGMT’s past can be heard in “Song for Dan Treacy” and “Brian Eno”, coupled with the diverse electronic undertones. “Flash Delirium”, “I Found a Whistle” and “Congratulations” are all very diverse in sound and are reasonable songs, but certainly nothing worth mentioning in detail.

“Someone’s Missing”, is slow-paced at the beginning, much like the previous songs, which slowly builds and bursts into a dynamic tempo with an echo on the singer’s voice. It is definitely my favourite song from the album. The title of worst song on Congratulations goes to “Siberian Breaks”. It’s about 12 minutes long and sounds like various songs interwoven together and not in a melodious, happy sort of way. This song was way too long and mind-numbingly boring. “Lady DaDa’s Nightmare”, is one of the best songs on the album, it has no lyrics but has such a haunting, eerie sound to it. At first, not everyone will like this album, but after listening to it a few times it is easy to at the very least appreciate the diversity and creativity that this eclectic duo possesses. — Ange Scicluna

Track Listing 01. 02. 03. 04. 05. 06. 07. 08. 09. 10. 11.

Youth Cats Warrior (Southern Arrowwood) Bedroom Galaxy Tiny Sparkle Famous For A Century Edge Of Wilderness Pretty Snarl Star Blankets Blush Whale Bones Silver Mountain

* Recommended tracks

Firstly, for those who don’t know who Secret & Whisper are you are definitely missing out. Here is a very brief description of the band. They are Canadian born, ‘Teenage Fantasy’ is their second full album release, and they kick ass. So with that out of the way lets review this album. From the moment ‘Youth Cats’ kicks in you realise two things; one, Secret & Whisper have picked up straight from where ‘Great White Whale’ ended and two, the album will be dominated by Jason Ciolli and David Ecker’s amazing guitar work. Lead single ‘Warrior (Southern Arrowwood)’ is a fan favourite due to its melodic vocals, momentum shifts and aggressive guitar but what makes Secret & Whisper great is that they consider and create

albums as a whole, not just slap together an album full of singles. In saying this, songs like ‘Tiny Sparkle’ and ‘Edge of Wilderness’ are great songs even though they seem to be made to help the album flow cohesively rather than be stand-out songs. Secret & Whisper are able to go from a heavy metal inspired song such as ‘Blush’ to a slower melodic song like ‘Whale Bones’ which shows the band is more than capable of creating great songs whether they are fast and heavy or slow and melodic. The group often receives criticism for sounding too much like fellow post hardcore band Saosin. They both share great dual guitarists and a vocalist with a high-pitched voice and big range. One major difference between the two bands is that Saosin are able to create

songs with catchy vocals and use backing vocals more effectively whereas Secret & Whisper could take advantage from a few more catchy chorus’ and more backing vocals. Only ‘Star Blankets’ comes close in that aspect, but in comparing the two bands Secret & Whisper are definitely more ambient and experimental. Closing track ‘Silver Mountain’ is the most experimental and ambient sounding song on ‘Teenage Fantasy’. It is a beautiful song that showcases the bands talents drifting from a guitar fuelled opening 2 minutes to soft haunting vocals. ‘Teenage Fantasy’ is sure to keep fans of previous album ‘Great White Whale’ happy while convincing those looking to bring the band down that they are here to stay. — Chris Nesci

In between recording and touring album number six ‘Koonyum Sun,’ I chatted with Xavier Rudd about making music from the heart, surfing and his friendship with South African players Tio Moloantoa and percussionist Andile Nqubezelo (Izintaba). In your time off I hear you’re a keen surfer. Yeah, I head down home to Bells Beach whenever I can. There is always time for surf. It helps clear your head and it’s great fun when there is good weather. It would be nice to teach my boys when they are old enough. With your profile do you think it’s important to be involved in public and humanitarian causes? Yes I’ve contributed my music to support many causes. I went up to the Kimberley Ranges for a protest. Some company trying to put 3000 hectares of gas industry on the Kimberly coast is horrible. http://sponge-magazine.com

What music have you been listening to? Dennis Brown. Check out ‘Money In My Pocket’. He sounds wicked. It’s mainly traditional old school reggae. Which new songs are you looking forward to playing live? Any new songs are great because it keeps me fresh. Playing ‘Set Me Free’ will be cool. Which song gets a good response live? ‘To Let’ is always pretty strong. I feel that I’m a really lucky artist to get a lot of love. I try to be heart based, humble and give it back in my music and causes. There are a lot of great artists in the world that don’t get the opportunities that I do.

There is a trend for independent artists. Are you still independent in your releases? Yes I still own and produce all my recordings but I work with the records labels to distribute them. My deals vary in different territories from Europe to OZ. I think it’s important not to lose touch with your music rights in this industry but it depends on who you are as well. If you’re a short-term commercial pop artist then you have your expiry date. If you want longevity for yourself and your listeners then there is no other way but to be involved in your music. These days it’s pointless letting someone else have control. You can put the same structure in place to market your music right using the Internet and produce the quality yourself. It’s hard enough to be heard at first so you have to use the right resources. Did you ever perform at open mic nights to be heard? No I never really did open mic to be honest. I did one in Canada once. I was pretty shy! It sounds funny but I didn’t actually play because my music was my own and it has always been with me since I was a kid. It was my own little intimate expression and music helped me to stay grounded. As I got older I had a few friends encouraging me to play in front of people. So I just started to play some gigs and from there I was really lucky because some people liked it. It made me more confident. Then the venues suggested a cover charge and it progressed to getting a manager. It’s not easy but once you start drawing people in, it takes off. Quite mind blowing actually! So I’m blessed that I can be the artist I want to be. How did you name the new album? The name of the album ‘Koonyum Sun’ refers to where I was living when I was recording the album, which is up near Wilson’s Creek. The ranges up there are a part of the mines that goes all the way down to Byron Bay. Every morning I was watching the sun light up that range and sink behind the range. Its Aboriginal translation I believe is, ‘place of thunder and lightning’. It’s amazing how many different Aboriginal languages there are.

You once said ‘music is a gift from your ancestors’. Do you think that the people you play with and the music you play is a gift? Yes indeed. The guys I work with are amazing! We make music from the heart. Musically, they bring African influences such as Zulu. Our friendship is really deep and they have helped me through some hard times. As I was making this album with them, I was going through a separation with my wife. Spiritually they are strong because they grew up during Apartheid and they translate that experience into their art of whatever form. Their story exists in everything that they play; it’s powerful and I feel very blessed and in awe of what they have to bring.

Do you think the Didgeridoo holds a strong place in your music? Yeah it’s featured heavily in my music. I was adopted into country about 8 years ago by the elder. He has now passed and I feel his spirit every time I play it. I don’t record a lot with it. I use it more live because it has more spirit. It’s very sacred to me and I could not travel without it. The new album Koonyum Sun is available now. — Jessika keegan

What languages have you placed on the album and why? Tio sings in Southern Zulu. And another guy Travis sings in his Aboriginal native from Frasier Island. Music is a language for all no matter where you’re from. What indigenous artists have you been listening to? Since Aunty Ruby died I’ve been going back through Archie’s tracks. It’s a shame I missed the funeral. I was on my way back from Perth but by the time we got to Adelaide and realised it was a bit hard. One of my friends went and said it was a real big turnout. Did you get to any survival day celebrations this year? Not really because I was away in Europe so I just paid respect in my own way. I usually have a little ‘invasion day’ gathering. You use a lot of multicultural influences in your music. What obscure instruments have you played and enjoyed? Most recently I’ve played the West Indian string instrument. It is 22 strings of awesome. I had a really nice guy Tim from the Mornington Peninsular build it for me. You can hear me playing it on a song called, ‘Soften The Blow’ and we recorded that song live. The whole guitar sound and Indian feel is all one instrument.

I Claim War On Wanna know what’s pissing us off here at Sponge? Then continue reading!

My Car Battery

Bowling…

Financial Handicap

It went dead... and I know it’s not the only one.

Just kidding, I love Bowling, and so should all of you- Turns slowly eyeing off various people who seem suspiciously unenthusiastic about bowling. That’s right, I’m watching you.

MONEY, MONEY, MONEY. If you’re like me and handicapped, you want more! If you’re not like me and well off, you still want more! And if you are JB HI FI, you have more, particularly all of our money more! So this is probably more aimed at you JB, damn you and you’re debt making, money devouring, HDTV section!

The Story Topper

Whipped Boyfriends Everyone has a friend like this. He’s a bloke’s bloke, always up for going out, drinking and often quotes the age old saying “bro’s before ho’s” until of course he finds himself a ‘ho’ and disappears off the face of the Earth. These relationships usually end with a marriage or the blokey bloke crawling back needing a shoulder to cry on. Nevertheless not learning from this mistake he will repeat this cycle over and over and over and over.

Once upon a time my mate showed his tattoo off in class and started a conversation amongst the group about how tattoos are cool and whether they hurt etc, but a notorious story topper was part of the conversation and had to top the story about this tattoo. Her story went along the lines of “I had a tattoo on my ankle but was in a motorcycle accident and had to have skin grafts and now you can’t see it.” Either her skins grafts were so damn good her ankle looks like it hasn’t been touched or she is a liar. I opt for the latter. Later that year she topped another story by saying she once had cancer…

Text HOT Commercials

Missing a VIP Shop

In Australia we have these commercials that appear after 10pm saying, “text HOT now to see what Molly does with this banana” for the small price of $10. I’m sure this is a regular occurrence on most TV’s around the world. I’m also pretty sure that only 16-year-old boys ever text HOT. Most adults know of a wonderful invention called the Internet where they can find what Molly does with her banana and a whole lot more for free. So please 16-year-old boys stop texting HOT and help stop these damn commercials!

It’s one of your favourite shops, you go there all the time, have easily spent thousands and the only reason you haven’t spent more is because of financial handicap. BAM! You jump on facebook only to find you have an invite to a VIP 50% off storewide sale which ends in 5 minutes, its gone baby, and not just the sale, all the stuff you were eyeing off is gone too, gone to someone who paid half of what you will have to pay, if you ever see the items again. RIPPED!

R ’n’ B Music Video Directors I claim war on this just because it’s so damn easy. A male going through puberty could direct a Kanye West video. All you have to do is make sure you have the following and you can’t go wrong: lots and lots of half naked women dancing around looking like strippers, the singer wearing sunglasses and/or a grill and looking cool for the camera and finally chuck in a Ferrari or alike somewhere and hey presto you have yourself a music clip.

All American F#CKER! A three week long infatuation came to a crashing end with three simple words. “Don’t. Text. Me”. The callous text message came from an American BMX rider, Jay his name, in Melbourne on tour… Impressive. We’d met whilst out clubbing one night, his inked skin piquing my interest. We enjoyed a brief flirtation at the club and as he promised me a date, I gave him my 20-year-old Indian silk scarf as a gift of good faith. I sighed with the might of a Disney princess as he slinked away into the night and flashed a smile to my friends. This was the start of something. The date came and went, and so did the second, third, fourth and fifth. “Your friend”, he proclaimed to mine, as they dragged us away from each other at the end of another night of adventure, “your friend...I ADORE her, I f**king adore her.” I melted. An enigmatic, energetic and exotic guy had fallen for me. Awesome. As we sat on the roof of his hostel on his final night in Melbourne, I liked the way his hand ever so slightly grazed mine and the contrast of his prickly upper lip against my moisturised counterpart. I needed him. It wasn’t just the sculpted exercise driven muscles I could feel through his American Apparel tee, it was the crushing inevitability of his departure that sent our feelings into overdrive. It was time to bite the bullet. I invited him back to mine, under the guise of educating him in Australian culture (namely, Summer Heights High...romantic, I know). Once home, I quickly led him to my bedroom. I’d like to make a small but rather humiliating confession. I was in the midst of a dry spell. There had not been a boy in my bed for four months, three weeks, 2 days, 18 hours… but who’s counting? Had the opportunity arisen some time ago, I would have jumped at the chance. I didn’t need to be called adorable nor wonderful. If all a guy wanted from me was sex, that’s all that needed to be said.

With that disclaimer, I had become intoxicated by the tangle of our bodies and breath. Yet, moments before this article had the opportunity to turn X rated, Aunty Flow came knocking at the door. I raged- desire turned to a helpless frustration as I explained the situation. Although crestfallen at first, he smiled and exclaimed, “Oh that’s okay, I’ll just hold you all night instead.” Cursing myself for not taking the man home earlier, I sighed and he responded by giving me a full body massage. F*** yeah! As I drove him to the airport the following morning, I was teary and he looked a little misty eyed himself. Eventually, he was through the gates. “We’ll talk soon”, he promised with my scarf once again wrapped around him. The next day, I sent him an SMS. The question of my identity was asked and I playfully replied, “Wouldn’t you like to know?” expecting his usual jovial reply. He coldly responded that it was costing him money. Naively, still not willing to give up my fantasy I questioned him. The response? The cutting and cold “Don’t. Text. Me”. He was an artist; the kind that paints a picture of idealism then destroys it with the ugliness of his reality. It left me feeling enraged and used. A guy who travels the world for a living, duh! It wasn’t so much that he desired to leave our short engagement in Australia. It was the sugar-coated bullshit that he consistently fed me. It was the cowardice of his actions, only making his true intentions apparent when he was thousands of kilometres away. It was the way he told me I was “ridiculously awesome” and his distribution of contact details to not only me, but also my friends. The display was awe-inspiring. Taking comfort in the fact that I hadn’t been able to show the jerk a “good time”, I wondered, are girls in the states so insecure that the only way they are lured to bed is through ostentatious displays of affection? Or was this guy merely an ass-hole? Either way, the pretentious f**ker still has the scarf I gave him and I want it back. To New York! - Tessa Stogian 12

In 2009 Capcom released Street Fighter 4, which saw the revitalisation of a dormant fighting scene. Now with the release of Super Street Fighter 4, in good old street fighter fashion comes a few new features and characters to the roster. Could this be a love letter to fighting fans? Or a marketing scheme well adapted to the series? NEW CHARACTERS This iteration of Street Fighter introduces two original characters: Juri, a Tae Kwon Do fighter utilizing a Feng Shui engine stealing energy from around her, and Hakan, a comical Turkish oil wrestler who uses historical grappling moves that become more dangerous when he’s oiled up. Revisiting the series across street fighter history are Cody, Adon and Guy from the Alpha series, T.Hawk and Deejay from World Warriors and Makoto, Ibuki and Dudley from 3rd Strike. These characters bring the feel of a whole new game with their skill sets from respective games. 3rd Strike fighters all have their target combos intact making for frightening pressure but most note worthy is the overall feeling of greater choice to the player. NEW ULTRAS

http://sponge-magazine.com

A new system introduced is the ability to pick a second ultra. Supposedly, the second Ultra brings in a new move for each character to make up for their weaknesses with certain match ups. With the old cast, I am yet to come across any Ultra 2 that would be considered a better tool for a character to utilize. More so, some characters, in this instance Abel, just have what for now seems like an insanely easy to land Ultra. Instead of having to combo into the Ultra, his Ultra 2 is delay-able and dashes across the stage, grabbing the person making it possible to mind trick the opponent. Oh, did I mention that it is also cancelable?

NEW STAGES There weren’t just technical changes to SSF4; four new stages were added, each out doing the old. The charm that oozes from these stages with the animation of humans and animals in the background will be a sure favourite of many, as Capcom seem to have nailed the style from the original. Going through Arcade mode will also see some HD re-mastered Bonus stages added. I didn’t take too well to them, they seem to be a time filler - masher that I quickly try to get through so I can return to beating up people. Thankfully though, Capcom has added the ability to turn bonus stages off for those who wish not to dwell on the tedious. ONLINE MULTIPLAYER YES, This is the way multiplayer should have been in the first place. With the ability to search for people in the same region actually working it makes it so lag riddled matches are very few and far in between. The new endless battle mode enables player lobbies so you can enjoy the fight with more than one friend. These somewhat small changes make for an online experience that surpasses the original making for more quality matches rather than jittering messes. Also the way scoring of points in rank mode is dealt with helps keep the rage quitters at a healthy low (to the point where I haven’t experienced one at all). Battle Points are earned for each individual character and Player Points are for the player. Each goes up and down for winning or losing respectively. NEW CHALLENGE MODE The new challenge mode has also been improved. The once useless combos have now been replaced with useful in game combos.

Any player wishing to get the upper hand will be sure to practice these and will enjoy a lot better performance in a match. Also the ability to try out any of these combos in case you get stuck on one is a welcome inclusion but be warned, if you’re thinking of manning a character be sure to go back and try again. LAST THOUGHTS Super Street Fighter 4 brings in a lot of finer details, which make it vastly better than the original. If you are not by now turned into a walking, fighting fan then these changes may not be an experience you want to delve into, after all it is still the same Street Fighter game. But for the fighting enthusiast, SSF4 does well to please and if anything, brings the community back together as they try out the new and improved title. — Michael Mason

T M E E E U T P S A H A T B A P H E O ’ E L H R K & E R N S

We all have a male friend or have been a male involved in a break up of a long-term relationship (at least 1 year). Whether the break is ‘messy’ or ‘mutual’ the male species seems to deal with it by taking on one of three persona’s, in some rare instances all three...

Persona 1:

The Stalker The male will try everything to get back with his ex. If this is happening to someone you know, please slap the offender in the face and tell him to man the f#ck up because it just makes him look like a creepy asshole. In most cases this rule applies to a male being the dumped spouse. Symptoms include: Constant texting and calling, facebook stalking, “randomly” appearing at places the ex frequently visits, harassment of the ex’s friends, voicemail messages with the constant use of “I’m sorry”, “I love you”, “I’ll change” and “you’re my one”. Basically the ex will be stalked from all angles (thus the name) and the only way the male will move on is with the use of a restraining order or by seeing the ex move on with another male (the other male must look stronger).

Persona 2:

The Wallower No one like’s a wallower, they are just no fun to hang out with or be around and always seem to bring the mood down. Once alcohol is in their system they always reminisce about their ex and the goods times they had and how she was the one that got away, blah blah blah. So please if this is happening to someone you know slap them in the face, tell them to harden up and move on because there are only 2 outcomes they face: a loss of friends, or death, there is only so much whining friends can take before they snap. Symptoms include: Constant depression, lots and lots of crying, not wanting to do anything, constant drunkenness, buzz killing, hugging of possessions the ex either gave them or left behind and shrine making. The wallower is a hard nut to crack because he has tunnel vision and can only see the ex as an angel. Your job as a friend is to make the ex seem like Satan’s spawn even if she is a nun. The wallower must see/feel that he can do and deserves better.

Persona 3:

The Asshole The asshole is the most commonly used rule out there because it generally involves the use of the favourite asset, the trouser snake. The Asshole also pretends as though he does not care for the ex but in actual fact he does and is hurting but will not show the pain. As Peaches delicately puts it the asshole will try and “F#ck the pain away”. Whether it be with a random girl, the ex’s best friend, a lady of the night or an attractive tree stump the asshole will f#ck pretty much anything. I would again suggest a slap to the face but you do run the risk of arousing the asshole with this gesture and that would just be awkward. Symptoms include: No acknowledgment of the ex or break up, constant partying, sleaziness, deteriorating health (due to too much drinking/drugs/partying), STI’S and news reports covering a tree rapist. Unfortunately, time, acceptance or a serious case of the crabs, are the only healers for the asshole. In the meantime be sure to provide him with a months worth of condoms because here at Sponge we support safe sex. — Chris Nesci

It’s all guns blazing in Studio Madhouse’s crime/ action comedy Black Lagoon. This little series crossed my path when Foxtel had a wonderful innovation and created a 2-hour block on the Sci-Fi channel dedicated to screening what was running hot in the world of anime. Unfortunately (and not surprisingly as far as networking goes) after a certain point in the series, episodes became frustratingly staggered and then the series timeslot abruptly disappeared. By then I was way too hooked to let it go at that and thus here I am. As far as story goes this series is fairly straight forward, focussing on the inner workings of a team of mercenary pirates called the Lagoon Company. They extract and transport goods for various key underworld figures and retain a very friendly relationship with the Russian Crime Syndicate, Hotel Moscow. As this suggests many of their jobs involve dogfights, crude violence and a lot of blind eyes needing to be turned.

Something to be said about this series is it really is non-stop action. Within the first few sequences things are heating up with a job going astray and soon to be main character Rock, (a salary man in a giant corporation) caught on the wrong side of the Lagoon Company’s contract. By the end of the first episode (and a few kills later) our man Rock finds himself left for dead by his employer and searching for a new life among the Lagoon Company’s ranks. Much of the anime’s comedy comes through the aggressive and playful dialogue between its characters particularly that of new recruit Rock and his virtual character opposite, the gun-toting vixen Revy. Throughout both series 1 and 2 Rock and Revy struggle for co-existence within the Lagoon Company, which also makes for some very serious moments and leaves that space for whether or not the love/hate hook-up will occur, I won’t spoil it. Although Black Lagoon spends a lot of time being darkly humorous (especially during season 1), there are some very poignant and serious moments as the story develops further. Despite its seemingly clichéd plot the series wins a lot of points through the way it paints a cold and realistic picture of the criminal mind and life. Character backgrounds, motives, and personalities are all very diversified and often while spending a little more time with them we are thrown amidst some of the darkest issues in existence; war, child molestation, prostitution,

mob rivalry, divided third world living, need I say more. Political correctness goes right out the window and racism is almost always first in line, which tends to add a lot of extra humour as well (if you aren’t offended of course). Blag Lagoon further separates itself from its genre by staying true to this nature from start to finish. Although heavily Americanised it does not bow to “hollywood” style conventions allowing characters hearts to change when their backs are to the walls. Criminals are criminals and no matter what they will act as criminals. On paper Black Lagoon doesn’t seem to hold the cards but do give it a chance. In terms of entertainment I would say this is among my most enjoyed. Rarely do you find a dull moment within the series and there are a lot of very high quality shootouts to be seen and they are not few or far between. It is not void of depth either so don’t write it off as eye candy, serious moments and resonating views are in there and are treated very well. Here’s hoping for a season 3! - Peter Giannoukas

iPhone Apps Review

Title: Mashable Price: Free Release Date: Last Update: 1 June 2010

If you’re familiar with the website www.mashable.com, this app is pretty much the mobile version for that. If you’re not too familiar with it nor heard about it, it’s a website where you can get new information not just on the social media (their slogan is The Social Media Guide), but also on the newest technologies such as Apple devices (iPhone, iPad, etc) and various mobile technologies like Android. The App version is a lot better than the actual website. The website is much more cluttered with ads and not as simple. The downside though, because the iPhone doesn’t play Flash content, people aren’t able to view any videos. I just wish they could make some kind of external link that

http://sponge-magazine.com

takes you to a youtube app. Or, just don’t put any content with videos on it. What’s the point of having that unplayable video icon every time I go to news? Maybe they could make some kind of screen grabs system? Not sure. Otherwise, this app is pretty good to have on the go and means you can avoid having to go to their website which has a lot of crap on it.

Title: MangaDL Price: US$2.99 (AU$3.49) Release Date: Feb 2010 Last Update: -

Just like the name, this app allows you to download (lots of) manga titles and read them on your screen, without having to go to free online manga sites like onemanga.com and convert the images to be compatible with the iPhone. Pretty handy eh? The price is pretty reasonable considering what you actually get. There are HEAPS and HEAPS of different manga titles, from the ones you’ve never heard before to the most popular ones. They’ve got more than 5 references so I’m sure you’ll find any titles you’re after. The downside though, you won’t be able to read some titles because of various circumstances (i.e. a company not wanting them to put up a title because it has been licensed, for example Berserk). Sucks, but who knows, apparently they will be able to

get them back up. I’ve actually used “Manga Depot” before, but for some reason its not on the App Store anymore (that app is actually better than this one). I’m guessing Apple deleted the app? MangaDL also was deleted for quite some time before being back on the App Store. So in case you can’t see this title on the App Store, maybe wait a few days and recheck again. This app is worth getting if you’re into Japanese Manga, especially if you have to use public transport a lot (or even if you like reading in toilet). update: this app has been removed by Apple, for more info follow the developer’s twitter at http://twitter.com/mangadl

iPhone Apps Review This is actually an old app, but it got popular recently. OldBooth Premium allows you to make a vintage (black and white) picture. Yes, I’m talking about the really big hair look from the 80’s or that trademark retro afro, anything vintage!

Title: OldBooth Premium Price: US0.99 (AU$1.19) Release Date: Dec 2009 Last Update: 29 April 2010

How it works is pretty simple. You take a picture of your friend’s face and you can use the templates they provide to make the vintage pictures. You can also adjust the brightness and even though it’s not that advanced it’s pretty good for a quick non-photoshop job. It’s quite a fun app to be honest but I don’t think it’s worth that much seeing as how simple the app is. Oh, and you need to pay extra too if you want more templates.

Title: Hipstamatic Price: US$1.99 (AU$2.49) Release Date: Dec 2009 Last Update: 19 May 2010

This app is by far the best photography based application on the iPhone device. Every time I see this kind of app on the App Store they’re either too dodgy, too expensive or too hard to use.

Are they worth it? Well it depends. If you like taking pictures and love putting fancy stuff on it then it is, but if you just want to have fun then I suppose you don’t really need to buy more add-ons.

Hipstamatic is an application where you can take a picture and then add a special filter on to it. They’re pretty good filters too and you’ve got 3 or 4 choices by default. You can change the film, the flashlight and also the frames you’d like to use.

- Hannah Kim

This app is well laid out, the user interface design is excellent and it’s really easy to use. If you get bored with the default options you can buy more add-ons for US$0.99 (AUD$1.19).

DVD WATCH Looking for Hollywood’s finest? Want the scoop on the best local and foreign films going around? Check out DVD Watch.

Oldboy

Moon

The White Ribbon

Oldboy is a lyrical and beautifully composed Korean revenge flick in which Oh Dae-Su, the main protagonist, must discover why he was imprisoned for 15 years and then released without explanation.

Moon is a sci-fi done as it should be. A fantastic concept starring Sam Rockwell as the idiosyncratic Sam, a man on a three year contract on the moon to extract precious minerals necessary for earth’s survival.

The second in director Park Chan-wook’s vengeance trilogy, the film pulls on heart strings as Oh Dae-Su delves deeply into familial obligations and taboos which are vehemently seasoned with all the passionate visceral violence one needs to satisfy the killer within.

The film is light-years away from the cheesy and laughable attempts at sci-fi that involve slimy aliens, men in spandex and baffling concepts. Shot on a low budget, Moon is character driven as it examines what happens when an idea such as capitalism is given the freedom to blossom in the unregulated environment of space.

This haunting German film takes place in a pre World War One village that is both austere and wholesome on the surface masking a crueller reality. Following the injury of the town doctor and subsequent abduction of village children, the film takes us on a sociological journey through several households.

Belgium/ Netherlands

Geared towards providing psychotic thrills and edge of your seat psychological meandering, its brutality is contrasted with awe-inspiring choreography and cinematography not unlike that seen in classical French cinema. It is a truly disturbing, reverberating and thought provoking piece of art that stays with you long after the mystery has been unravelled.

Sweden

It is credible, referential with nods to 2001: A Space Odyssey and Alien and filled with tension, provided mainly by the stark, deconstructed set and a twist that helps us all to examine our own humanity.

United Kingdom

Filmed in black and white, it represses and guilts each character in a way that only director Michael Haneke is capable of. The film has won numerous prestigious awards and for good reason- it is an exploration of power, evil and the inevitability of the inheritance of parent’s traits. It mystifies the Weimar inflation and the Treaty of Versailles and declares that intrinsic sinfulness of human beings is the cause of Germany’s demise. The White Ribbon is a whodunit that offers a philosophically and aesthetically unsatisfying answer- we all did it, or no one, whichever you prefer. - Tessa Stogian

http://sponge-magazine.com

Google and China:

business row? Or cultural misunderstanding? Earlier this year, Internet giant Google was engaged in a fiery debate with China concerning the country’s Internet censorship policies. It is not news to us that China’s policies have been subjected to criticism and attention from around the world, but is it really a company’s position to question a country’s political affairs? I believe this issue has treaded upon another big subject that is ongoing in the 21st century – a misunderstanding between a Western society and a foreign culture and its politics. Google China started in 2005; it is one of the largest search engines used by Internet users in China and it is a supplement to Google Inc. Since January of this year, Google began to openly question China’s Internet policies - famously known as the Great Firewall of China; which censors content that are deemed morally harmful and material that is politically contentious. Google claimed that the Chinese government is intrusive in its actions against dissidents, alleging that they hack into activists’ email accounts to survey and inspect potential plans or protests that could discredit the government’s legitimacy. Critics, arguing that it breaches individual rights and freedom of speech, have long slammed China’s Internet laws. China’s response has been consistent and firm stating that it is nobody’s business to intervene.

As a result, China blocked the Google search engine and Google responded by diverting users to Google Hong Kong. This meant that restricted sites and content in China would be accessible through this search engine. The Chinese government was angered, as they believed that Google was interrupting and upsetting its censorship regulations. Perhaps on face value we see that it is another issue with China’s censorship laws and its hard line ideas. We are back to square one again when it comes to trying to understand different cultures and societies, not just China. Unfortunately, it is not a new fact that Western cultures fail to understand different cultures’ customs and traditions. Since the colonial days, colonists have attempted to ‘civilize’ natives in places such as Africa, labelling these new cultures as ‘barbaric’ and ‘backwards’, but we are living in a different epoch now, different cultures around the world are interacting with one another and borders between states are breaking down. Each country is culturally, geographically, socially and politically different, they have experienced different historical experiences, which, as a result, shape and influence its current politics. Western societies believe that individual rights are reserved for everyone despite their background and race. In China, the priority is to ensure

their country and society is safe. China is a very different country from many parts of the world. It has a population of almost 1.4 billion and any civil unrest movement would mean utter chaos, with devastating destruction because of the densely populated areas. The Chinese government is simply acting in the best interest and safety for the people. Needless to say, individual rights are a right for everyone and this article is not intending to say that it should be taken away from some. However, we must show respect and understanding that each country has its individual laws, culture and policies that they believe would cater to the interests and harmony for their social and political situations. All cultures are determined to protect their ideologies and this means that they will think other cultures have irrational ideas and behaviour. Because of this determination, other cultures may find this threatening and intruding. I believe that at this day and age where globalization is happening, we should learn to understand and be more flexible with others. - Hsin- Yi Lo

Now live! http://www.sponge-magazine.com/forums