It’s Brazil all over again!

again, like father like son, the US, under a Bush regime, has refused to sign a world environmental treaty and because of this, the kyoto protocol has lost all sort of political and economic credibility in the eyes of the international audience. which country now truly holds to the agreements made in Brazil (was this in 1990?)? US withdrawal has left the Kyoto Protocol in doubt, since it requires support from 55 countries producing 55 per cent of greenhouse gases, and the US produces 25% of all greenhouse gases. One of the first major countries to pull out because of US non-compliance is Australia. 

I am not a fervent environmentalist, but then the situation does stink. i wish the US would at least try to BE the house on the hill instead of pretending to be so.

ahhh….inebriated sobriety after two glasses of riesling is rather interesting. the world is in sharper focus, you are relaxed but not with the discomfort of being drunk. you are in that pleasant limbo which most drunk people think they are in (which i definitely wasn’t!!!), yet you can still add 576 to 2049 mentally with not too much difficulty.

it makes things hyper-clear in the most amusing fashion: suddenly, not only does your life make sense, the rest of the world does too, and that is the scary part because for example, you suddenly realise why Mr. B is president and think it not too illogical……

ahhhh…this is the life after two irritating exams in a row: my mind was totally emptied at the end of 3 hours, and is only now beginning to fill. my treat to myself was the wine to complement the nice dinner that i cooked for myself! c’est la vie!

this was inspired by cel’s blog: true friends are rare and hard to find, but when you do, keep them for they will be with you thru your darkest moments. if you sit down to really think about it, besides your family in general, who else can you count on as true friends? i work best one on one with people and i only need two hands to count the number of people that i know to be my true friends. others are people that i am still getting to know or else, they are people whom i know aren’t my friends.

i’ve learned alot about friendships over the years, and there is still more to learn. but the best thing i have learned is to cherish the friends that i have. they will protect your heart when you keep them close, but you also have to protect their hearts. it’s a sacrifice that only brings more joy to you.

BARBIE’S BEAU
Time to take stock as Ken hits 40

As Ken turns 40, he takes stock of his life (in plastic) as consort to Barbie, and ponders his future as Mattel’s male model

AGE is catching up finally with Barbie’s boyfriend, Ken, who just turned 40.

Will Ken have many happy returns? It is up to his maker, Mattel. His first 40 years were bitter ones.

In recognition of the milestone, Mattel is thinking of introducing Midlife Crisis Ken, complete with moulded plastic paunch, faded Malibu tan (he now sits behind a desk all day), receding hairline and optional Bimbo Mistress Skipper.

In a recent interview, the doll reflected on his tumultuous past and pondered an uncertain future.

Q: How do you feel about your first 40 years?

A: Bitter. I mean, Mattel didn’t even give me bendable legs until 1965. And I’ve never been able to hold a steady job. My resume is all over the place: lifeguard, doctor, soldier, rock star, airline pilot, Olympic skater, cowboy – and even a brief stint as Gomez from The Addams Family. But I was never allowed to stick with anything long enough to earn medical benefits, let alone a retirement package.

Q: But you’ve still enjoyed a rather luxurious lifestyle.

A: If you’re referring to the so-called Malibu Dream House, which retails for US$119.95 in a neighbourhood where most homes cost millions, it has been destroyed repeatedly by mudslides and brush fires. I’m moving to West Covina.

Q: Why were you unable to shave until the 1980s?

A: Because Mattel didn’t give me facial hair for two decades! Barbie thought I was some kind of freak.

Q: Okay, but is it fair to blame Mattel for all of your problems?

A: I guess I have done some things I’m not proud of. Like Totally Hair Ken in 1992. And the tangerine bell-bottoms and fringed vest outfit of the 1970s. There was also my Quick Curl Ken phase in 1977, during which I bore an uncanny resemblance to Neil Diamond.

Q: Weren’t there several other ‘phases’ that Mattel wisely never developed?

A: Yeah. In the 1960s, I was Draft-Dodger Ken. In the 1970s, I experimented with being Manson Family Ken and Hare Krishna Ken.

In the 1980s, I became Junk Bond Ken, with removable Michael Milken-style toupee.

And in the 1990s, I hit bottom as Robert Downey Jr Detox Ken.

Q: Do you think the setbacks and struggles have made you stronger?

A: Absolutely. When I debuted in March 1961, I was just a scrawny blond teen wearing red swim trunks, cork sandals and a towel. Now I have an infinite wardrobe, a Barbie Motor Home and a 42-year-old girlfriend with a figure that won’t quit, although Mattel did reduce Barbie’s bust size in 1997 to make it ‘more realistic.’.

I don’t know what it was thinking.

Q: The toy industry has changed dramatically in recent years. How will you retain market share in the 21st century?

A: Oh, that’s no problem. I’ve always stayed in tune with cultural trends. So the next 40 years should be no different. In fact, here are some of the Kens we have on the drawing board: