JAJs blog

Defining Gravity?

So I was thinking.. that original conversation between Isaac Newton and his assistant Whiston... just after he got hit on the head... may have gone just a little bit...like this?

NEWTON:
Something has changed within me something is not the same
An apple hit my head and now I’m going quite insane
Too late for second-guessing too late to go back to sleep
It's time to trust my instincts close my eyes and leap

It's time to try Defining gravity
I think I'll try Defining gravity
First: it can pull fruit down...

WHISTON Can't I make you understand, you're having delusions of grandeur...?

NEWTON
Lets try creating limits on how an object falls
Some things I cannot change and so I’ll make physical laws
Too long I've been afraid of falling objects on my head
But now I see that they’ve been helping me instead..

It’s time to try Defining gravity
Kiss me goodbye I'm defining gravity
Second rule: it pulls the moon

Whiston, come with me. Think of what we could do - together.
We’re limited By gravity we're limited
But we can still be the greatest team there's ever been, (in phyics),
Laws the way we planned 'em

WHISTON
If we work in tandem

BOTH
There's no force we cannot name!
Just you and I Defining gravity with you and I Defining gravity

NEWTON
They'll never prove us wrong... Well? Are you coming?

WHISTON
I hope you're happy Now that you're choosing this...

NEWTON
You too - I hope it brings you bliss

BOTH
I really hope you get it And you don't live to regret it
I hope you're happy in the end I hope you're happy, my friend...

NEWTON
So if you care to find me I’ll be just down the hall
As an apple showed me lately - Gravity will teach a thing to fall
And if I'm working solo I’ll get all royalties
The whole world needs me To get a physics degree…..
Yes! Because I Am defining gravity!
I'm going to try Defining gravity!
And soon my laws will have renown
And nobody in all of physics
No Scientist that there is or was
Is ever gonna bring me down!

The Vagina Monologues

The following link is to a clip from the TODAY show which has shocked America... Jane Fonda and Eve Ensler discuss 'The Vagina Monologues' and mention the word Cunt (oops... I said it too!)

http://www.redlasso.com/ClipPlayer.aspx?id=d3d61789-453b-4107-b858-a3bbcc482117

On the 4th and 5th of February I directed and performed the Vagina Monologues with an amazing group of women from Swansea University. We are the only group (according to the VDAY website) to be performing in Wales this year as part of the VDAY campaign raising awareness about Violence against women all over the world. With 11,441 recorded rapes in 2002 in the UK and only a 7% conviction rate for rapists this is an area that needs as much awareness as possible raised.

The monologue mentioned by Jane Fonda (Cunt..oops again!) is actually one of 2 monologues I performed as part of the evening and it's all about "reclaiming" the word, turning it from an offensive swear word into what it is supposed to be...another word to describe the vagina...there are lots of them...just read the introduction to the monologues! If we live in a world where just saying a word that means vagina can cause tv stations, presenters and celebrities to make public apologies no wonder women don't feel they can speak about their vaginas!

VDAY has been around for 10 years, it has raised over $50 million for charities fighting for justice and safety and basic human rights for women. If talking about your vagina makes you uncomfortable, whether you hate your vagina or find it fascinating it doesn't really matter, what matters is that women around the world are still being treated as second class citizens. In the words of the White Ribbon Campaign:

If it were between countries, we'd call it a war.

If it were a disease, we'd call it an epidemic.

If it were an oil spill, we'd call it a disaster.

But it is happening to women, and it's just an everyday affair.

It is violence against women.

It is sexual harassment at work and sexual abuse of the young.

It is the beating or the blow that millions of women suffer each and every day.

It is rape at home or on a date.

It is murder.

However you feel about the word the important thing is not to let it distract from the mission..to end violence against women.

I'd like to take this opportunity to thank all the women (and men) who helped make our performance of 'The Vagina Monologues' such a huge success, we raised £675 for VDAY and Swansea Women's Aid and more importantly we raised awareness. As Eve says in the clip, performing the monologues builds amazing friendships and it's been fantastic spending time with you all. I'm so proud of all of you who've written your own notes about the monologues, so proud to see that the monologues have made a difference to you all, we need to break the silence if we're going to make a breakthrough.

I would like to make it quite clear that this post was not intended to offend, I strongly believe that women's rights are a huge issue in today's world and that the work done by VDAY is worthwhile. As I have already mentioned, the whole point of the monologue the title of which is found offensive by so many is to attempt to regain some dignity for a word that has been misused in todays society.

Adnabuoch 'r Rhyngrwyd all chyfieitha Cymraeg atat?

Where is the snow?

No really... the whole of the UK is coated in snow EXCEPT Swansea! Cardiff has snow... so why don't we!?!

Looking on the BBC website I discovered that the 5 day forecast for here says that the weather today will be predominantly heavy snow BUT the 24 hr forecast does not have any snow whatsoever! Also... there is one school in Swansea closed today due to snow...what???!!!!???

I am tired and cold and I WANT SNOW!!!!

THE PANTS SAGA!

I am one of those people who really likes to play a good old practical joke (as long as nobody returns the favour) but this has to be one of the best this year!
I arrived home last week to find a heated discussion in progress on the problems of evil pants! Evil pants (as many of you will know) are those which are not produced organically. As soon as Becky left the house we realised that something must be done to save her from herself!
Emily and I journeyed up the stairs and entered Becky's room where she was yet to unpack after the christmas break. Rummaging through her suitcases and cupboard we managed to successfully extract all the evil pants in sight leaving a sign to demonstrate that our actions had been for her own good.

Becky's pants were placed in a plastic bag in the cupboard in our living room cunningly hidden with all the other bags!

After a few days during which Becky had to do a lot of underwear washing I decided that it was time to turn the tables... I returned the pants to Becky but kept the fact from Emily. The house was informed of the situation and part b of the plan put into action!!

Becky spent the next few days complaining about her lack of undergarments and looking traumatised!

Meanwhile we removed a large number of plastic bags from the cupboard and readied ourselves for the big day - 29th January 2007...

I persuade Emily that the time has come to reveal the location of the pants, we plan to artistically strew them across the living room whilst Becky is upstairs (Becky uses this chance to hide her pants in case Emily comes to check). Upon opening the cupboard Jess (acting) and Emily are shocked to see that the bags have gone!

Emily: where are the bags?
Una: Oh, don't worry I took them to Tesco's to recycle them.
Emily: what?
Una: you know, the thing outside where you recycle the bags
Emily: no not where... when did you do that?
Una: um.. well what' today, monday? So that would have been friday?
Jess and Emily exchange worried glances
Becky (entering): What's going on?
Emily: Shall I tell her...proceeds to explain the whole thing!

Anyway.. after much fantastic acting on the part of the housemates Becky runs from the room in tears only to return brandishing her "only two pairs" of underwear. After a bit more discussion and offers from Emily to rush immediately to Tesco's and make enquiries Becky leaves again returning amid much excitement with all her pants!