.. is up with people in conversations? They are not interested in listening to what others have to say, but just waiting for their turn to speak. You make me fucking sick.

Goddammit.

This was written in 2003 by political scientist Dr. Lawrence Britt. Studying the fascist regimes of Hitler (Germany), Mussolini (Italy), Franco (Spain), Suharto (Indonesia), and Pinochet (Chile), Dr. Britt found they all had 14 elements in common. He calls these the identifying characteristics of fascism.



Powerful and Continuing Nationalism

Fascist regimes tend to make constant use of patriotic mottoes, slogans, symbols, songs, and other paraphernalia. Flags are seen everywhere, as are flag symbols on clothing and in public displays.


Disdain for the Recognition of Human Rights

Because of fear of enemies and the need for security, the people in fascist regimes are persuaded that human rights can be ignored in certain cases because of "need." The people tend to look the other way or even approve of torture, summary executions, assassinations, long incarcerations of prisoners, etc.


Identification of Enemies/Scapegoats as a Unifying Cause

The people are rallied into a unifying patriotic frenzy over the need to eliminate a perceived common threat or foe: racial , ethnic or religious minorities; liberals; communists; socialists, terrorists, etc.


Supremacy of the Military

Even when there are widespread domestic problems, the military is given a disproportionate amount of government funding, and the domestic agenda is neglected. Soldiers and military service are glamorized.


Rampant Sexism

The governments of fascist nations tend to be almost exclusively male-dominated. Under fascist regimes, traditional gender roles are made more rigid. Opposition to abortion is high, as is homophobia and anti-gay legislation and national policy.


Controlled Mass Media

Sometimes the media is directly controlled by the government, but in other cases, the media is indirectly controlled by government regulation, or sympathetic media spokespeople and executives. Censorship, especially in war time, is very common.


Obsession with National Security

Fear is used as a motivational tool by the government over the masses.


Religion and Government are Intertwined

Governments in fascist nations tend to use the most common religion in the nation as a tool to manipulate public opinion. Religious rhetoric and terminology is common from government leaders, even when the major tenets of the religion are diametrically opposed to the government's policies or actions.


Corporate Power is Protected

The industrial and business aristocracy of a fascist nation often are the ones who put the government leaders into power, creating a mutually beneficial business/government relationship and power elite.


Labor Power is Suppressed

Because the organizing power of labor is the only real threat to a fascist government, labor unions are either eliminated entirely, or are severely suppressed .


Disdain for Intellectuals and the Arts

Fascist nations tend to promote and tolerate open hostility to higher education, and academia. It is not uncommon for professors and other academics to be censored or even arrested. Free expression in the arts is openly attacked, and governments often refuse to fund the arts.


Obsession with Crime and Punishment

Under fascist regimes, the police are given almost limitless power to enforce laws. The people are often willing to overlook police abuses and even forego civil liberties in the name of patriotism. There is often a national police force with virtually unlimited power in fascist nations.


Rampant Cronyism and Corruption

Fascist regimes almost always are governed by groups of friends and associates who appoint each other to government positions and use governmental power and authority to protect their friends from accountability. It is not uncommon in fascist regimes for national resources and even treasures to be appropriated or even outright stolen by government leaders.


Fraudulent Elections

Sometimes elections in fascist nations are a complete sham. Other times elections are manipulated by smear campaigns against or even assassination of opposition candidates, use of legislation to control voting numbers or political district boundaries, and manipulation of the media. Fascist nations also typically use their judiciaries to manipulate or control elections.




Interesting huh? Who does this sound like?

Christ!

I can't take anymore of Flava FM, especially when the retard next to me only knows 3 words of a chorus of a song, and just keeps singing them over and over!

I can't stand how the first thing people talk about when we get into work is what happened on Shortland St. They talk about it like they are talking about their own families, or that they are real people. Get a grip! This is followed up by discussing David Beckham cheating on Victoria again, and then writing her a note confessing! Ooooh! And Angelina Jolie constantly calling Brad Pitt!! Wowee! Oh my god! Wait a minute... who the fuck cares?!

How about discussing the fact that a homeless guy has been sleeping under the stairs in our work entrance? How about thanking your lucky stars for being as priviledged as you are. No? Nah, maybe just say "Ewww... I'm not going down then anymore". NICE. Hows that for compassion?

Anyway, sorry I always bitch about work on this thing.. thats just where I update it. Anyway, enough bad, how about some good!

Sean AKA ginge is coming over tonight... it'll be good to catch up with him, because I never get to see him now he lives in Hamiltron. I'll either make him my famous McDonalds imitation Cheeseburgers, or take him to Fortune (which is now OFFICIALLY reopened - allllllllllllllllright).

Both my international friends that I miss so much are making efforts to emigrate here legally!! Robb and Jez... I miss you guys so much, come home!!!!!!!!!!!!

Band practice last night when good... Boozey is writing some KILLER riffs as of late. Can't wait to get writing some new shit... I got idea for lyrics up the bloody wahoo.

Went and saw a collection of short films/documentaries and OutFoxxed on Sunday with Debra and Candis. It was AWESOME. It made me feel proud and gave me hope that there are people out there that DO give a shit and beileve in something.

The first movie was about the production of foi gras - ducks enlarged liver shit... It was totally devestating... It absolutley killed us watching it.. It was good in that it was really graphic and moving, but it was horrible too. I have the deepest respect for people that go undercover in places like that, and people that put everything they have on the line to take direct action and liberate animals... I love these people. I hope one day I have the courage to do what these people do. While is is devestating to watch this kinda stuff, I think it is also good every once in a while, to keep you angry and passionate, to keep the vegan fires burning within. Its always good to be reminded why you do what you do...

Then there was a documentary on the Papuyan/Indonsian Government conflicts, one on the poverty and inequality in East Timor, one on detention centrews in Oz, one of Logging/water catchments in Australia. They were all good too, good to hear about shit you don’t normally get to hear about.

The last one was abouut the Fox nextwork/Rupert Murdoch. It was absolutley shameful. I can't believe how bias the news is in the US, especially Fox. It was actually amazing. It was entertaining and shocking, and I would reccommend anyone and everyone watch it. The lovley Debra is ordering copies of the Foi Gras and OutFoxxed DVD's, so if you know me, come round and watch them when we get them!!

Everything is pretty damn good right now... Debra is amazing, my cats are naughty and fuzzy, fortune is back open.... life is good.



UPDATE!

Here I am at working looking at my Arsis CD.. killer metal, and killer artwork... then I overhear... "Oh lets put on the Velvet Revolver CD" "Oh my god, that song is fucking amazing, so good" and then "Scott Weiland is so fucking cool".... Yeah, being a heroin junkie that's been to rehad more times than i've had hot dinners is so cool man... nah, really it is...

One word. LAME. Oh so fucking lame. I wish I could put on my Arsis CD and slay these cunts.

Oh man... where to begin??? Let me start off by saying this show totally ruined me for Sunday (that and daylight savings)... since the end of my drinking days, I can't handle late nights at all anymore.. ANYWAY.....

Soul Infected - I'm so sorry that I got to the venue just after these guys finished... my apologies to the band!!

The Warpath - New line-up, new set, pretty damn heavy. Quite a departure from the original Warpath sound, going for more of a heavy nuschool hardcore sound. Dylans vocals seem to improve every show. Who was that baddass gansta on bass though??

Brick vs Face - Played a good solid set. Took the crowd a while to warm up to these guys. But good to see some the positive side of hardcore represented. Song with Rhydian (of Guest Stabs Host & The Deadline) was killer!

Ulcerate - Hands down, best band in NZ. These guys fucking slay, and Saturday was no exception. Busted out a Hate Eternal cover (I didn't know it, I've only got King Of All Kings, i'll have to borrow Conquering The Throne off you Jamie). Killer set... I am SO happy these guys finally have a solid, complete line-up. It's also fucking cool that they get so many sing alongs... its good to see its not just something for hardcore bands.

One Must Fall - Holy shit. These guys got the best reaction of the night. It was insane. Kids flying everywhere, huge pit, violence a bounty. I was kinda glad I was standing on some seats to the side videoing, otherwise i'd probably be short a couple of teeth right now. Sounds was killer, David's vocals were awesome, Dave Baxters guitar was flying around, all in all killer. The song with Ryan (formally of Twenty One Guns) was mean too, the contrast of vocal styles works really well.

Graymalkin - Played a killer set too. highlight was the Slayer cover. Awesome!!! Perfect choice of song too. Parliament of Whores was also a highlight, probably my favourite Graymalkin song. Gareths vox are truly amazing, probably one of the bets voices in the country. Fucking brutal. One thing I gotta say is tho, I thought it was FUCKING LAME that so many people left or went outside during Graymalkin. Most of the metalheads watched ALL of the bands, even though they are generally opposed to Christianity, they stayed and supported Christian bands. Now i'm not saying all the Christian kids left after One Must Fall, but the level of people inside pretty much halved, and I think thats just fucking stink. Gareth put on the fucking show for christs sake. And i'm not saying it was just the christians who left either, it seemed the presence of hardcore kids pretty much disappeared, and in my opinion, thats fucking LAME.

Kill Me Quickly - We played ok. A bit messy, and my voice turned to shit after the first song, but oh well. Thanks to everyone that stuck around to watch us. Playing that song with Rhys was good times.

Forced To Submit - What a fucking finish to the night. Forced To Submit have to be the most brutal band in the country, The musicianship is quite simply amazing. The trigged kicks sounded MASSIVE, I really hope Martin uses these all the time now, sounded fucking mean!! Tony and Joe's guitaring is fucking insane, they are always a pleasure to watch, as is the bass playing human/robot hybrid that is Ross. And Rhys has gotta be the most aggressive front man there ever was. If I didn't know the guy, I would be very afraid of him. Killer set, and a killer way to end an amazing night of metal and hardcore. Oh yeah, the BEST CALL of the night was when Ross broke a string, and after a few calls of "SATAN" and "BASS SOLO" someone (in a death metal voice) "NO ONE WILL NOTICE".. haha I almost pissed myself.

All in all, the best show I have been to in ages. Having a love for both hardcore and metal, I had a fucking awesome time. Apart from a few gripes with people bailing in-between bands, it could not have gone better. Congrats Gareth and Rhys!!! \m/ \m/

My sister got married in Italy yesterday. Just looking at the photos now... it looked amazing. I am really upset that I coudln't be there, but i'm also really happy for her, and proud too. Toby is an awesome guy and i'm sure they will be happy together. Congratluations Naomi & Toby!


In un giorno tanto felice ci uniamo al coro di chi vi augura un felice e sereno avvenire.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,3012200a10,00.html

This makes me fucking sick. I hope that mother fucker Brian Tamkaki dies horribly. Most of the morons don't even know what they are protesting, and the other few are just biggots who are laughing all the way to the bank. Fucking hypocritical pricks. I hope they all die.

Jesus christ this shit pisses me off.

My workmates are dicussing The Swan, quite possibly the most disturbing and pathetic excuse for entertainment even. They love it. This discussion led to them all saying what they would have done if they could have cosmetic surgery. I tried saying that I don't agree with everyday cosmentic surgery and deffinately don't agree with the pile of dog shit that The Swan is, because it reinforces the idea that if soceity doesn't think you look god enough, then you should change yourself. Really the only thing that needs ot be changed is soceities attitudes, beginning with advertising portrayal of women (ie unrealistic airbrushed over the top 'beauty'). But after a brief pause they just went back to enthusiastically discussing what they would want - Liposuction! Lips job! Boob job! Eyebrow lift! Nose job!

I dont think there is any hope for any reversal of the damage the media and advertising has done to the self esteem and inflicted expectations of women. Especially not when programs like The Swan exist. It makes me sick.




On a good note, me and Kris and the kittens are moving tonight and tomorrow! Our new house is in the middle of grey lynn (2 mins from my work) and a helluvalot cheaper than out current place. Booyakasha.

... brace yourselves my friends...

I found out yesterday that Fortune, the much beloved Cochie, the amazing Happy Fortune, will not be opening till mid September. The reopening has been pushed back a month and a half due to contract problems.

 

I know.

I know....

Life can be good, like now.