“A Big Mac - the communion wafer of consumption” - John Ralston Saul
ooooooo!
May 18, 2010
May 12, 2010
From the Weight of Glory...
Next to the Blessed Sacrament itself, your neighbor is the holiest object presented to your senses. If he is your Christian neighbour, he is holy in almost the same way, for in him also Christ vere latitat, the glorifier and the glorified, Glory Himself, is truly hidden.
- C.S. Lewis
- C.S. Lewis
What we love will ruin us?
Foreword from Amusing Ourselves to Death
by Neil Postman
We were keeping our eye on 1984. When the year came and the prophecy didn't, thoughtful Americans sang softly in praise of themselves. The roots of liberal democracy had held. Wherever else the terror had happened, we, at least, had not been visited by Orwellian nightmares.
But we had forgotten that alongside Orwell's dark vision, there was another - slightly older, slightly less well known, equally chilling: Aldous Huxley's Brave New World. Contrary to common belief even among the educated, Huxley and Orwell did not prophesy the same thing. Orwell warns that we will be overcome by an externally imposed oppression. But in Huxley's vision, no Big Brother is required to deprive people of their autonomy, maturity and history. As he saw it, people will come to love their oppression, to adore the technologies that undo their capacities to think.
What Orwell feared were those who would ban books. What Huxley feared was that there would be no reason to ban a book, for there would be no one who wanted to read one. Orwell feared those who would deprive us of information. Huxley feared those who would give us so much that we would be reduced to passivity and egoism. Orwell feared that the truth would be concealed from us. Huxley feared the truth would be drowned in a sea of irrelevance. Orwell feared we would become a captive culture. Huxley feared we would become a trivial culture, preoccupied with some equivalent of the feelies, the orgy porgy, and the centrifugal bumblepuppy. As Huxley remarked in Brave New World Revisited, the civil libertarians and rationalists who are ever on the alert to oppose tyranny "failed to take into account man's almost infinite appetite for distractions". In 1984, Huxley added, people are controlled by inflicting pain. In Brave New World, they are controlled by inflicting pleasure. In short, Orwell feared that what we hate will ruin us. Huxley feared that what we love will ruin us.
by Neil Postman
We were keeping our eye on 1984. When the year came and the prophecy didn't, thoughtful Americans sang softly in praise of themselves. The roots of liberal democracy had held. Wherever else the terror had happened, we, at least, had not been visited by Orwellian nightmares.
But we had forgotten that alongside Orwell's dark vision, there was another - slightly older, slightly less well known, equally chilling: Aldous Huxley's Brave New World. Contrary to common belief even among the educated, Huxley and Orwell did not prophesy the same thing. Orwell warns that we will be overcome by an externally imposed oppression. But in Huxley's vision, no Big Brother is required to deprive people of their autonomy, maturity and history. As he saw it, people will come to love their oppression, to adore the technologies that undo their capacities to think.
What Orwell feared were those who would ban books. What Huxley feared was that there would be no reason to ban a book, for there would be no one who wanted to read one. Orwell feared those who would deprive us of information. Huxley feared those who would give us so much that we would be reduced to passivity and egoism. Orwell feared that the truth would be concealed from us. Huxley feared the truth would be drowned in a sea of irrelevance. Orwell feared we would become a captive culture. Huxley feared we would become a trivial culture, preoccupied with some equivalent of the feelies, the orgy porgy, and the centrifugal bumblepuppy. As Huxley remarked in Brave New World Revisited, the civil libertarians and rationalists who are ever on the alert to oppose tyranny "failed to take into account man's almost infinite appetite for distractions". In 1984, Huxley added, people are controlled by inflicting pain. In Brave New World, they are controlled by inflicting pleasure. In short, Orwell feared that what we hate will ruin us. Huxley feared that what we love will ruin us.
May 3, 2010
Roxie in her Famous years!
This is really old but I just found it and thought that I would post it here... article from 2007 back when I was famous!!
RIPPED leaves Roxie rapt
Roxie Haines admits that being named one of a group of four young producers who won the Westpac Young Producers Competition, for an AK07 youth event, has been both exhilarating and scary.
The 18-year-old West Harbour resident says, ”When I realised the magnitude of the event, 7500 people, I started getting cold feet.” The winning event, RIPPED, is a joint effort by the winning team, which comprises Roxie, Dave Parker, Sharina Parsottam and Sharon Bennenbroek. RIPPED consists of a rock and indie programme and features bands from Auckland’s diverse youth music culture.
It will transform Britomart into a buzzing centre for artists and audiences, brimming with bars, the Festival Club and the Famous Spiegeltent.
The line-up of bands will include Cobra Khan, The Electric Confectionaires, Falter, The Have, The Sneaks and White Birds and Lemons.
Roxie, who’s in charge of media and partnerships, says the biggest thrill so far has been hearing people talk about the event.
”When I overheard someone saying they wanted to go to RIPPED it felt as if all our hard work had finally paid off.”
The recent graduate from the Music and Audio Institute of New Zealand says the entire exercise of working on RIPPED has boosted her self-confidence immensely.
Gone are the days when Roxie was scared to pick up the phone to call people.
”I realise now that I had built my own barriers. It’s great to see how friendly and open people in the industry are.”
The trumpeter for local band Scooters to Mexico says being a musician herself has been beneficial, particularly when helping to book the bands for the gig.
She says having the publicist for the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra Jennifer Scott as her mentor has been the icing on the cake. ”She’s given me so much confidence and made me able to ask her anything because I don’t feel like she’s judging me.”
Roxie says she feels she’s not only made a friend but intends to keep in touch with Ms Scott after the event. When asked her opinion, Ms Scott says, ”It’s been great mentoring a person who’s so passionate about what she’s doing. I’ve already started recommending her for employment before she gets snapped up.”
Roxie, whose ultimate goal is to work for a record label, says working on RIPPED has cemented her decision to work fulltime in music event management. ”I’ve had a blast — it’s been the most incredible learning experience.”
The 18-year-old West Harbour resident says, ”When I realised the magnitude of the event, 7500 people, I started getting cold feet.” The winning event, RIPPED, is a joint effort by the winning team, which comprises Roxie, Dave Parker, Sharina Parsottam and Sharon Bennenbroek. RIPPED consists of a rock and indie programme and features bands from Auckland’s diverse youth music culture.
It will transform Britomart into a buzzing centre for artists and audiences, brimming with bars, the Festival Club and the Famous Spiegeltent.
The line-up of bands will include Cobra Khan, The Electric Confectionaires, Falter, The Have, The Sneaks and White Birds and Lemons.
Roxie, who’s in charge of media and partnerships, says the biggest thrill so far has been hearing people talk about the event.
”When I overheard someone saying they wanted to go to RIPPED it felt as if all our hard work had finally paid off.”
The recent graduate from the Music and Audio Institute of New Zealand says the entire exercise of working on RIPPED has boosted her self-confidence immensely.
Gone are the days when Roxie was scared to pick up the phone to call people.
”I realise now that I had built my own barriers. It’s great to see how friendly and open people in the industry are.”
The trumpeter for local band Scooters to Mexico says being a musician herself has been beneficial, particularly when helping to book the bands for the gig.
She says having the publicist for the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra Jennifer Scott as her mentor has been the icing on the cake. ”She’s given me so much confidence and made me able to ask her anything because I don’t feel like she’s judging me.”
Roxie says she feels she’s not only made a friend but intends to keep in touch with Ms Scott after the event. When asked her opinion, Ms Scott says, ”It’s been great mentoring a person who’s so passionate about what she’s doing. I’ve already started recommending her for employment before she gets snapped up.”
Roxie, whose ultimate goal is to work for a record label, says working on RIPPED has cemented her decision to work fulltime in music event management. ”I’ve had a blast — it’s been the most incredible learning experience.”
RIPPED, Red Square, Britomart, March 17, 2pm-7 pm. Free entry. See www.youngproducers.co.nz.
Sharu Delilkan
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