Well smack me silly and paint me blue...

The powers-that-be have cast Robert Downey Jr as Iron Man...Iron Man!!!!!!!!!!!

Well, it sure beats the heck out of seeing Tom-bloody-Cruise or Nicholas-I-wanna-show-the-world-I'm-a-comic-geek-Cage trying to play Tony Stark ;o)

Although, I must say - both the character and the new leading man do share some of the same qualities... Oh and before I forget, for the people who've been wondering who the fuck Iron Man is...well, Anthony Edward "Tony" Stark is a Marvel Comics superhero. Created by Stan Lee, Larry Lieber, Don Heck and Jack Kirby, he made his first appearence in Tales of Suspense #39 (March 1963). Enough of the history lesson, go read a comic, people!

If you are expecting a superhero in the relm of the X-Men, Spidey or Superman, you are heading for a major disappointment. Why? Well, Iron Man is human and cast almost the same mould as Batman. A multi-million dollar indsutrialist who has issues. What's a superhero without issues?

Well at the end of the day, I'm still thrilled that this movie is finally going to see the light of day. One can only hope that it'll be as good as Spiderman :o)

If blogging is cyber diarrhea and then online, I am Kate Moss. ;o)

Have you ever been in a situation where you could have helped someone in trouble but didn't do so because of circumstances? Whether it's the man in the street or the person closest to you, oftimes, you just have no control over anything. You realize that what people are doing to themselves is more damaging than what you initially thought.

Here's a rhetorical question: If you gave an opinion to someone, would you stick by it no matter what or would you be flexible enough to change your mind if things don't work out?

Say you've been going out with your crush and things were working fabulously. You've told all an sundry that this may be The One! Your family likes him and his manners and thinks that he can do no wrong...You're excited, there's a tingly feeling each time you meet, you float on air, etc, etc, etc...Your buds however, have found him nice enough but they've mentioned that something's a little off when he hangs out with them. Then one day you stumble on the fact that the bastard is cheating on you. And that gasp, he's done it with a few other women and that it's a pattern of some sort. When asked, he comes back all hearts and flowers - he's apologetic, he brings flowers and then - gasp! He even asks you if you want to go on an overseas assignment with him! Ah, the endless possibilities of young love!

What do you do? Do you stick it out with the bastard in hopes that things you will be the one to 'change' him eventually? Afterall, he's asked you to trvel with him! OMG! Or do you run to your friends who will in all honesty will probably say "I told you so'? Or will they just say it because they are jealoous of you and your honey? Or do you just play the martyr; just go for the trip? Who knows where this will lead? Just let him do whatever he pleases! Fuck those jealous bunnies that've been badmouthing your love! You can make new friends! He'll probably stop cheating when he sees what a fabulous girlfriend you are - screw all detractors!

Or do you just wait for some glorious knight in shining armour to save you from your fate or word of God to help you see things clearly? Hah - even I don't believe in this one.

You are confused, lost and exhausted. Mentally drained does not suit you but lately you've been touting it like Linus' security blanket...You family's all aghast. But he's been good to you! You have to give him a chance or else how will you know him better?

My two cents? You have to make up your own mind.

You have to make a stand and tell your family your decision regardless of what you choose. They will eventually come to see your point of view.

Your friends will tell you - ha! We've seen that one coming for months! But if they are good enough friends, they'll also give you the benefit of the doubt, ask you some tough questions and tell you stuff that you will not be prepared to hear. And after all that, if you have been honest enough, they'll let you cry on their shoulder and help you gain a footing on what you want to do next. You have to realize that nothing comes easy - sometime you pick the most horrendous lemons, believing that you are right. But inevitably, you always have to fight for what's best for yourself because, NO ONE will do it for you. No matter how easy it seems to let someone come and make things easier...

Sure, some friends are as flaky as they come and will leave you at the slightest sign of trouble. They're cool, they'll trash talk when times are good and come across as understanding but the moment you ask for a favour, these people are out the door like the Flash with his pants on fire. They sure are entertaining but at what expense?

I should know - these are some the shoes that I've worn over the years. Sometimes I see the same footwear being worn by people around me and I'm torn by my innate kaypoh-ness. I should help! These peopl could do with a dose of reality! But then again, I've also come to the realization that no matter how much help you offer, nothing will come out of it unless the person chooses to help themselves.

So observe I shall and hold my peace I will.

This is music heaven week for me :o)

After a decent jazz album, which promised bigger and better things, John Mayer releases his fourth studio album, Continuum which definately does not disappoint. :o) It’s an excellent testament to the maturity of the artist as a songwriter and a musician who has come into his own. The CD packaging proudly proclaims Music by John Mayer and I couldn’t agree more. The comparisons to Dave Matthews should be laid to rest for good for Continuum is a devastating blend of pop, jazz and blues; melded seamlessly into a feast for the senses which satisfies the both fans who’ve grown up with him as well as gain him a more mature audience. Clearly, the guy has come far from the day pretty pop musings of his debut Room for Squares and the slightly daunting Heavier Things. The songwriting here is far more mature and the musicianship more assured. Standout tracks include Waiting on the World to Change, Vultures, Gravity and the Heart of Life. While the track Stop This Train remains us of how we constantly pretend that we’re never getting old: “So scared of getting older/I’m only good at being young/So I play the numbers game/To find a way to say that life has just begun…”

And now for review No. 2.

This is the one calls out to my inner mat rocker who has been stifled somewhat with mediocre releases from once fantastic bands like The Darkness and even Bon Jovi. Supergroups have always found it hard to survive, what with disappointing releases from the likes of Velvet Revolver and Zwan. BUT there is hope.

Audioslave has been a favourite since they released their self-titled album in 2002. Where the above groups have failed to recapture the glory of their former bands, Audioslave has grown from strength to stength. If old, school hard rock and blues is what you are looking for, the search ends here. With Revelations, you can hear the intensity in Chris Cornell's voice when he sings "The original fire has died and gone/but the riot/inside moves on"...is he talking about the band? Or that they could have done much better? Well, it still gives me chills...Standout tracks include Revelations, Original Fire, Shape of Things to Come and Moth. It's all about the music an the voice and these guys have it in spades. It's balls-out blues/rock fronted by one of the most iconic frontmen in rock today. Rawk on!!!

I am a jaded, jaded music reviewer.

I just got a hold of the Kasabian's sophomore release Empire and the verdict is...well, it's a so-so album. Producing a second album that aspires to replicate the success of the first is a feat that few can attain...

I honestly don't know what's gotten into me. These days it's a hard fight between constantly wanting to kill myself and just not having enough time to do stuff - to rest, continue with hobbies, actually meet people on time...you name it, I've probably skipped it.

Things have kind of died down with the end of one of the most painful media events that I ever had the luck of being a part of. On the whole, the event was pretty good but things got really hairy for me this time because I let them. Yes, idiotic as it sounds, I just let things get to me - took stuff too hard and in general, went a little crazy. But how the heck do you deal with things? If you show too much emotion, they say you're a crybaby or whiner. If you do not show enough emotion, you are indifferent or have an attitude. So how to win? At times, I brave through some of these altercations at work looking stony and trying my drandest not to roll my eyes...or laugh. Cos we all know that the laughing will kill ya.

So how now brown cow?

Comfortingly enough, there are people at work who are a whole lot nicer and willing to help out when things get really insane, so to that extent, I'm lucky. As most places do, we also have our very own support and bitch network where egos are soothed and assholes are verbally eviscerated. All while getting substiantially drunk - ahhh...a place and people after my own heart :o)

Unfortunately for me, what I need the most and can't really seem to get at this point in time is recovery period. You know the feeling - when you've been through the wringer and all you want to do is lie down? Over the last few weeks, close friends and family have heard me whine incessantly over everything and how tragic my life is - frankly, it's too much for both them and me to handle. But it's an outlet to let go...Somehow, I have to find some in-spi-a-ration to keep going for this period of time. Because it'll really suck to give things up half way...I'm stubborn like that. But I'm prepared too - if things don't work out then I'll have to think of alternatives...options, there are always options.

But well, as the song goes "I don't mind/As long as there's a bed beneath the stars that shine/I'll be fine, if you give me a minute, a man's got a limit/I can't get a life if my heart's not in it"...So, I'm not a man but you know what I mean.

Well, we'll have to wait and see then, don't we?