The One With The 12 Things That Make My "Lame List 2013"

Inspired by the epic fail of Kim & Kanye's collaboration in West's new music video, I've decided to compile a list of all the other things to emerge out of 2013 that caused my eyebrows to say "WTF"...

1) The Said Music Video
Nothing about this video makes any sense whatsoever. It just looks like Kim's 2nd sex tape with more special effects and a slightly better soundtrack...

2) Still on the music vine: Psy's follow-up song - Gentleman
Same outfits, same moves, less hit. NEVER try a sequel on a one-hit wonder. NEVER

3) Yet still on the music vine: Miley Cyrus. Twerking. On Robin Thicke.
Over it! (& Anything else to do with her attempts to 'get rid' of Hannah Montana)

4) YOLO
I don't have words to describe just how much the phase that followed this phenomenon irritates me, oh well, #YOLO

5) Fit-Flops
I don't know why shoes are made purely to assault my eyes. This beauty must be the cousin of crocs in-bred with a kitten-heel. 1992 called they want their fashion back.

6) #ForeverAlone
You're sad, depressed, miserable, lonely all at the same time and voicing your every thought and feeling on every possible social network... You're going to stay alone... Forever... You need to be happy alone and not depend on someone else... Ohhh, look kittens...

7) The dictionary adding words like "amazeballs" (I know copywriter Ayesha is dying inside a little) and then there's "selfie"...

8) The "selfie" itself...
I don't have an issue with people taking pictures of themselves, it's been happening ever since phones got cameras... If you look good own it... BUT!!! Location. Location. Location. And also, that Apple icon is waaayyy prettier than your duckface!

9) North West...

And we thought Gwyneth Paltrow hated her daughter when she went with "Apple"...

10) Instagramming your cheese sandwich or coffee

11) BBM on any other platform but Crackberry
How do you sell the one thing that made your product unique? And all those people that put up statuses about how they no longer have bbm and then started posting their pins again...

12) Bitstrips.
It was fun that first week. Now I'm just annoyed that your skin is miraculously 3 shades lighter...

Boks, Chops and Sunny Skies

With today being Bok Friday, I thought I'd share some of my experiences with the Boks over the last few weeks or so...

Ever since my Springbok Experience Museum tour on Heritage Day, I've convinced myself that I'm that much closer to "bumping" into Eben Etzebeth... Jokes! But it has got me thinking about Mandela's notion that nation building happens on the sports-fields. I turned to my mom as we were standing in the line and told her "I've never felt more South African than I do at this moment." I don't know what it was particularly, maybe the ocean breeze carrying the wafting braai smells, or the massive crowd just sharing their favourite sporting moments... It could've been a combination of many factors, kinda like my actual heritage.

JDV being hounded by the crowd

John Smit smiling for the cameras

@JarrydKensley taking it all in outside the museum in the V&A Waterfront

Me & that guy from supersport

Madiba & Pienaar #1995

There was something about being surrounded by the sea of Green & Gold that made me feel a swelling of pride for "our boys". It's the same feeling I had last week at the launch of Springbok Glory (Available in Afrikaans as Bokspronge) by Stephen Nell at the Slug & Lettuce in Newlands. As "the guys" (Including Schalk Burger & Breyton Paulse) discussed their favourite Bok memories the crowd listened eagerly for those snippets of glory. (I haven't delved too deeply into the book yet to give a justified review, I've been some-what preoccupied with Sir Alex Ferguson's Autobiography - my one wish is to have him legally adopt me as his granddaughter :/)

Toks & Tjops - Team Talk

@BreytonPaulse signing my copy

Not a bad way for my mom to spend her Birthday, in the shadow of the great Schalk!

Available at all good bookshops!

All the best to the Boks for their international tour and here's to braai season! :)

Happy Friday!!

Then SUDDENLY... I GOT 1 MILLION VIEWS... My video made the news... I GOT 1 MILLION VIEWS... I better get some tattoo’s

Ok, No, But I've reached a measly 5000 after a whole year of Blogging.

Thank Goodness I have a real job.

 Heehee. But thanks for all the advice, feedback, comments, nothing and of course reading with adoring eyes.

Till Next Time!

REVIEW: RUSH

" A wise man learns more from his enemies, than a fool from his friends " Niki Lauda

I wouldn't call myself an avid Formula 1 Fan. My affiliation with the sport started as a bit of a "Pavlov's Dogs" association,  every Sunday while having lunch, my family would be plonked in front of the tv watching Schumacher in his "hey days". From this whenever I eat roast potatoes and chicken I listen out for the sound of the Ferraris or Mclarens... and my mom's sighs of contentment when Coulthard's face appears on screen.

That is why when I heard about the release of Rush, I knew mom and I would be crashing (no pun intended) "boys night"... And right from the opening scene I didn't regret it one bit! Feeling Jarryd's goosebumps and hair standing on end definitely set the tone for the movie. Described as a "re-creation of the merciless 1970s rivalry between Formula One rivals James Hunt and Niki Lauda", this biographical film takes the audience on a fast paced and sometimes utterly debaucheress trip down memory lane. Having my father, a self-proclaimed F1 encyclopedia, rate it as one of the best films he's ever seen makes it just that much more credible. Mind you the last movie I watched with him in the cinema was Finding Nemo... And he managed to stay awake the whole way through!

 

Rush's success is that it doesn't try too hard to make a far-fetched story or fictional tale come alive. It simply lays bare the past and events with an honesty that can be felt. It tells the story of the rivalry between Hunt (played by Chris Hemsworth) and Lauda (played by Daniel Brul) that begins in their days of Formula 3 racing, success at this level normally results in moving up the leagues to Formula 1. However, the drivers decide to "buy" their place in Formula 1. Lauda takes a large bank loan and buys his way into the BRM Formula One team, meeting teammate Clay Regazzoni for the first time. Meanwhile, Hesketh Racing, the fledgling racing team Hunt drives for, enters Formula One as well. Lauda then joins Scuderia Ferrari with Regazzoni and wins his first championship in 1975. Hesketh closes shop after failing to secure a sponsor, but Hunt manages to land a driving position in McLaren after Emerson Fittipaldi leaves the team. During this time, Hunt marries supermodel Suzy Miller (Olivia Wilde), while Lauda develops a relationship with socialite Marlene Knaus (Alexandra Maria Lara). (Thank you Wikipedia).

What makes the movie really good, however, is that it is completely believable. It feels like you're watching a flashback rather than a re-creation.This is perhaps aided by the use of original footage in certain parts. My parents said it was uncanny how much the actors looked like the people they were portraying.  Even the way Nikki Lauda's 1976 accident at the infamous Nürburgring in Germany is portrayed feels raw and emotional. The pain and suffering he must've endured in his days in hospital was depicted so avidly it had me churning in sympathy pain and cringing gingerly in my seat. Definitely not for viewing by someone with a weak stomach!

This film has definitely cemented Ron Howard's place on my list of favourite directors. I wouldn't recommend the film for someone who has no interest in motor-racing though, the subtle nuances and jokes might be lost on you. And that goes for the guy who took his date to this movie and after, tried to impress her with his knowledge of MotoGP accidents too, Simoncelli is turning in his grave dude!

For the fans here's an interview TopGear did with Nikki Lauda:
http://www.topgear.com/uk/car-news/top-gear-interviews-niki-lauda-ferrari-formula-one-2013-09-04#.UlKQUhdgj0g.facebook

Bucket List #67 Ride a Lambo around Nürburgring

Million Dollar Baby

Many people warned me about becoming addicted to "gym-ing". My mom was scared I'd develop a thousand eating disorders and become obsessed with losing weight. My gran did her usual eyebrow-up-"are-you-really-losing-weight"-here's-a-cupcake routine. Jarryd (Le Boyfriend) was scared I'd get Kaley-Cuco-Man-Shoulders and actually beat him at something (current score 2-1). But alas, I have not become the get-up-at-4am-run-37km-in-my-pink-hot-shorts and then lift-30kg-dumbells-until-my-veins-pop gym-addict, I have, however, become addicted to my boxing training...

 

 Not only is it the best all-round workout routines I've ever come across, it's also great fun! And because of my great height advantage (a staggering 1.53cm) I get to punch people in the gut twice a week and imagine that they are whoever had the honour of annoying me that day. Being in a class environment is also beneficial in that you feel part of a little family that provides stress relief, we learn from each other and support one another. It's also amazing to know that the next fool to touch my satchel will leave with a broken nose and blue eye...

 I joined boxing with my self-made trainer friend Staci about 4 or 5 months ago. And while we are no Laila Ali we can kinda pack a punch, and just might one day be able to go a whole round without falling into a fit of giggles.

I was always slightly intrigued by the sport. My childhood friend JP and his Muhammad Ali posters and quotes. My old neighbour friend Tracey and her gloves and boxing bag. All got me wishing I could be as cool and as tough. And then I saw my favourite female crush, Adriana Lima, used boxing to keep fit and I thought "wow, that looks awesome" and then I stopped staring...

(Hahaha... Nooooot!)