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I’ve moved!
I’ve moved to a new home. Come and visit at fohnhouse.blogspot.com
My New Motto
“Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass… it’s about learning to dance in the rain.”
We’ve heard it all before but this is music to my ears.
Stars Out For The Bluefin
Rupert Murray’s new fish flick ”The End of the Line”, based on the book by Charles Clover, seems to have really shaken Hollywood. Or maybe it wasn’t the film, but the timing is too good not to be true. In the week that Murray’s film, about how overfishing is destroying our oceans’ ecosystems, is released, it is revealed that Hollywoodians including Charlize Theron, Sting and Woody Harrelson have signed a petition boycotting the London restaurant Nobu for serving an environmentally threatened fish – the bluefin tuna, which is almost extinct due to the increasing western demand for sushi.
Apparently, the A-listers are refusing to eat at the London hotspot until the bluefin is taken off the menu. “As customers and fans of Nobu we strongly feel that bluefin tuna must be completely removed from your menu due to it’s perilous position as an extremely endangered animal,” the petition reads. “Nobu is a restaurant we all love, a world leader in sushi with a fantastic reputation and enormous influence. If Nobu took a definitive stand on this issue it could make a critical difference.”
It has also emerged that due to the complaints, the restaurant’s menu has started carrying the message: “Bluefin tuna is an environmentally threatened species. Please ask your server for an alternative”. Are the heads of the chain aware of how comical their N.B. is? Just take it off the menu!
But celebs… Do you think that the poor bluefin is the only fish that wants to live, or will you only worry about the others when they cease to exist because you’re still implying that you don’t mind if the ecosystems are destroyed by overfishing, just as long as the tunafish is left out of it? And you’ll still continue to eat at Nobu but with “no blue” on the menu. Stars are funny. You can just picture them: ”here, sign the petition to stop the sale of the bluefin. Don’t worry though, there’s plenty more fish in the sea”.
The Big Boys Are In Town
What do you do when your music career is ailing? How about call up a few friends in Hollywood and ask a favour?
Well that’s exactly what Actor/Musician/Funnyman/Ray Charles Impersonator Jamie Foxx has done. Cue Director Ron Howard, Actors Forest Whitaker, Jake Gyllenhaal, Samuel L. Jackson et al., who all feature in the pop star’s new video for his single ‘Blame it’ – on the alcohol.
I guess I have no choice but to blame it on the grog, because I can’t think of an alternative way in which he might have lured the likes of Whitaker, Gyllenhaal and Howard into this stereotypical R’n’B music video, to sip on champagne!
Nonetheless, however he managed it, the result is nothing short of hilarious – and akward! It’s a shame their cameos are wasted in such a s- video.
In The Name Of Beauty
Here I am struggling to choose life, when more and more people are choosing to play with death. And it actually seems to be acceptable and rather fashionable!
Last weekend, I was reading through articles covering Clive Davis’ Pre-Grammy party, with enthusiasm, trying to gauge the general feeling on the outcome of Whitney Houston’s highly anticipation performance, when my attention was diverted by an article stating that singer Usher Raymond had cancelled his appearance at the star-studded bash, due to a ‘serious injury in the family’. Reps for Raymond declined to comment, however, the rumour was that his wife had suffered complications from a cosmetic procedure – a rumour that has since been validated. Shortly after going under general anesthesia for liposuction, Mrs. Raymond suffered a cardiac arrest. I can only assume she was eager to ‘fix up, look sharp’ after giving birth to the couple’s second child two-months ago.
Fortunately, she is now in stable condition, however, the incident could have lead to a situation resembling that of Donda West, the mother of conceited rapper Kanye, who died in November 2007, after suffering complications from cosmetic surgery – a breast reduction and a tummy tuck to be exact.
Initially I wasn’t going to blog about this matter, that was, until disturbing news began to circulate concerning the most infamous fallen angel of them all, Michael Jackson. According to reports, Jackson has contracted an ‘MRSA style’ infection that has spread throughout his body, after yet more reconstructive surgery on that ridiculous excuse for a nose. If left untreated, the infection could lead to some serious problems for the famous face.
What is it with these people, and when did cosmetic surgery become the customary way to attain beauty? What happened to the old school method of water, some fruit and veg, and the gym? Granted, this method won’t give you a new face so, furthermore, what happened to simply accepting oneself, warts ‘n’ all? Lastly, what impression does this give to many ‘regular’ people in society, who frequently take their cues from those in the entertainment industry?
It’s a joke! And, It baffles me how people can still go through with these procedures knowing what’s at stake. Are they just blinded by their idea of perfection? I say ‘their idea’ because Michael Jackson’s face is a pretty damaged thing. I doubt Meg Ryan is mistaken for Angelina Jolie. Fergie is the ferg, but she’s certainly not ‘alicious’. Donatella Versace looks like the cat that upgraded to the buffet, and contrary to what she’s thinking, can’t be made to look 10 years younger. You can’t stop the aging beat Donatella! I’m lost for words over Jocelyn Wildenstein and Mrs. West… can only rest in peace.
There are so many examples, yet it still seems to be worth the risk!
Don’t let me be misunderstood, I’m not completely opposed to plastic surgery, i.e., burn or reconstructive, for legitimate medical reasons, but if merely to have a figure that is more aesthetically pleasing for superficial motives, there should be laws against it and counselling sessions with African mothers!
And no, just in case you’re wondering, it’s not Naomi Campbell writing this blog! I’m not the hottest little lionne in the world, but what you see (or not) is what my mother gave me, and so I’m dealing with it. And if nothing else, hearing the words knife, my body and complication in the same sentence, is enough to keep me away!
The School of Life
Woo Hoo!!!
Yesterday, I finally finished my design course – a four-month course in which one learns about the concept of visual communication, and subsequently, embarks on a variety of projects that pay particular attention to images and to text.
As you can see from the above, the handbook lied. Although I missed a few weeks, my achievement is still, quite frankly … (i’m lost for words). And more importantly, I came away from this experience with nothing more than a hole in my pocket and the feeling of dissatisfaction, as this ‘accomplishment’ didn’t require entering a classroom. And so, to the theme of this post: my advocacy for the school of life.
I stole this concept from Paul Arden – an advertising man/influential author. In his book “Whatever You Think, Think The Opposite”, Arden states that one shouldn’t go to university, one should go to work, and as a result, learn in the school of life. He claims that going to university is a delay tactic for those who don’t know what they want to do in life. While he states that if you genuinely want to go and study a certain subject, you should, he argues that if going is just to delay the inevitable, taking this route will only accumulate debt and put you years behind the eighteen-year-old who opts to go straight to work, and who will therefore have time to test the waters before choosing his/her preferred vocation.
I am not wholly in agreement with Arden’s viewpoint, however, I do support the underlying idea – that in some cases, the answer to a predicament is not always found in a classroom. And at times, it can actually be detrimental to have such an academic Curriculum Vitae without any ‘life experience’.
Contrary to Arden, I went to university and believe me, in some sectors, a degree is imperative. But, having studied Media, Art and Design, the writing for this course was already on the wall – and had I looked at it, I would have known that a book, some midnight oil and maybe an internship, were all the ingredients needed to master the world of visual communications.
Nonetheless, I know now, and from now on (unless unavoidable), I CHOOSE LIFE!
N.B. don’t worry, my discontent will pass. For today though, I’m in a moaning state of mind.
About … Time!!!
(image courtesy of Google)
After much speculation, it was announced today that Kelly Rowland has parted ways with her long-time manager Matthew Knowles.
As many of you know, Mr. Knowles, the father of R’n’B singer Beyonce, is responsible for catapulting Kelly and Destiny’s Child to superstardom in the late ’90s, and later, following that success, guiding Kelly’s solo career up the creek with a paddle. And I assure you… she didn’t make it!
Kelly Rowland, who gives a…? I hear you cry. My point exactly!
Rumours of a possible departure began in December, when reports claimed that a deal with Simon Fuller’s 19 Entertainment was imminent. However, no new management details were given in a statement issued today by Ms. Rowland and Mr. Knowles.
Well, I think I speak for all of us when I say that the sooner she signs with Simon Fuller, the better. Then, and only then, will she be in prime position to exterminate a young B !
As I Said… All The World’s A Stage
And I must admit, President Obama is a charismatic player.
(image courtesy of Google)
All The World’s A Stage….
Having written a review last week of the movie The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, and being that it’s a new year, I thought it would be quite fitting to post a piece on the seven-ages of man, as described by Shakespeare in his play As you like it.
The monologue begins: ‘All the world’s a stage’, and goes on to compare the world to a stage and life to a play, and outlines the seven stages of a man’s life:
Infancy – He is dependent on others and constantly needs attention.
Childhood – He goes to school.
The lover – Modern day adolesance.
The soldier – Modern day young adult.
The Justice – Modern day adult.
Old age – He begins to lose he mental and physical abilities.
Dementia and death – He is once again dependent on others and constantly needs attention.
“…Last scene of all,
That ends this strange eventful history,
Is second childishness and mere oblivion;
Sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans everything.”
OR, as i’m sure you will like it, in limerick form by the historian Robert Conquest:
Seven ages: first puking and mewling,
Then very pissed off with your schooling,
Then fucks and then fights,
Then judging chaps’ rights,
Then sitting in slippers, then drooling.
I guess you could call it the circle of life. No matter what way we go – whether we age naturally or in reverse – we all end up in the same state!
And so, in the words of a drunken friend: ‘Embellish World’ (while you can!) 
