Thursday, January 28, 2010

A New Way of Looking at Aging

This particular post was inspired by watching "Iron Chef". It wasn't the cooking that got me - it was more of the commentating of the judges that surprised me. There was this thirty-one year old female contestant who went up against Chen Kenichi (for those that don't know, Chen's the Chinese Iron Chef). What would most of you think when you hear the age thirty-one? In Western countries she would've been considered mature, or in the modelling industry, O-L-D.

Here? They called this thirty-one year old female contestant as 'young'. I thought it was a great way of viewing aging. In fact, in the Japanese culture, you're not considered an adult until your fifty. Their reason? "For the first fifty years of your life, you're learning all the lessons about life. You need to learn these lessons before you're considered an adult".

Different, yes. But thought-provoking. In Straya, we considered adults to be over the age of eighteen, where they're legal to buy beer, get into clubs, drive...all the important life lessons.

If we had a different perception of old-age, would people fear aging? It is a natural process. However, our youth-centred perception of older women in particular, is stereotyped and negative. This is reflected in our use of language, humour and media. Phrases such as 'over the hill' and 'don't be a fuddy-duddy' show old age as a period of incompetence. In jokes - which speaks volumes about societal attitudes - show women as lonely, frustrated and shrivelled up. Even though women live longer than men on average, older men are perceived as being healthier than older women.

Youthfulness is a major incentive to sell products. We're surrounded by media messages about the need - especially for women to stay young. As I said from the previous post, hiding old age is impossible. I'm twenty-three. While it isn't noticeable, I have laugh wrinkles. Even seventeen year olds have wrinkles, but they aren't noticeable. It's normal. We're all going to have wrinkled skin and sagging bodies to mark our old age.

A great example of someone who feared aging is this person. She went from this:


To this:


Happy reading!
5ft0

Friday, January 22, 2010

Y'know how Paris Hilton always talks herself up?


I'm about to do the same.
Oops.

I don't want to sound like I'm the biggest show-off in cyberspace, but I'm so thrilled that an article of mine is published at The Punch.

I was nervous when I walked into 'The Punch' office. My writing skills aren't on par with the journos there - especially with Penbo and Colgo. But hey, I gave it a shot.

I've got to stop the bragging mechanism right here. Feel free to comment on my post - you can agree with me, criticise me, hate me - whatever. Australia is a democratic country after all.

I have to thank Alex at Shut Up Vita for writing out her thoughts about the Republican v Monarchy debate. Your help was much appreciated.

Happy reading!
5ft0

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Prince William doesn't do it for me

I'm unfazed with Prince William's arrival to Sydney today. I know many girls are in shock that I'm not besotted by Prince William's looks. After watching a shot of Prince William greeting people in New Zealand yesterday, he looks like a pasty pompous prince with a bald patch on his head.

I'm having a crush on this Prince:



Yes, I admit I'm a shallow person and a silly girl on top of that. But he looks like a guy who can laugh at himself. Sure, he's done some stupid things such as wearing a Swastika armband to a party, embarrassing the Royal Family in the process. Or getting caught smoking pot and drinking in 2002.

But today, I'm here to admire the aesthetics of this young Prince.

Happy perving!
5ft0

Monday, January 18, 2010

The Brits Cracking Down on Obesity


It feels like I've neglected this blog for far too long! But I wanted to hear your say in what you think of this news.

In 2008 in Britain , parents are receiving official letters telling them if their child is has a weight problem under a Government crackdown on obesity.

However, words such as 'fat' and 'obese' will not be used to avoid stigmatising the illness. The word obese apparently makes parents 'switch off' and not take any notice. Instead, words such as 'overweight' or 'very overweight' replace the former.

The measurements used to calculate the body weight of a child is to use the Body Mass Index (BMI) adjusted for their age but parents will not be told this figure. Instead the letter will plot where the child is on a scale from underweight, to healthy weight, overweight and very overweight.

The letter will also accompany with leaflets on healthy eating, 'physical activity' and the health risks associated with being overweight.

I'm on two thoughts with this one. On one hand, is right for schools to give authority if their child is obese...oh sorry, I mean overweight? Or do some parents need to be told what to do?

But here's my piece. When I was doing work experience at a school recently, I'd noticed children's lunch were overloaded with food. I'd started Kindergarten over 17 years ago and the only thing I had in my lunch box was a small bag of chips, a ham, cheese and tomato sandwich and an apple juice.

Today? The kids lunch boxes are filled with a 50 gram packet of chips, double layer sandwiches, a tub of yoghurt, biscuits and a banana. I think to myself, is a child going to eat all of that?

Even worse, when I did notice a student only having an apple and a bottle of water for recess, the teacher was alarmed and said,

"Are you already full from eating an apple?"
To which the child replied, "Yes".

Blimey, haven't times changed.

What's your opinion on this issue?

Happy reading!
5ft0

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

There's Nothing Wrong to Admit You're Fine the Way You Are


WARNING!: I personally don't have anything against the beauty industry. I love using oil cleansers, blush, lip gloss, mascara and eyeshadow as much as other girls.

I was walking around at a shopping centre on the weekend, when some sales assistant approached me.

"Hello there! You're skin is so beautiful! You look like Lucy Liu!"
*cue for blushing*
"Oh why thank you!"
"Do you want to improve your skin even more?"
"No, I'm happy with myself".
The sales assistant was stunned.

Is it really arrogant to admit that you're happy with what you got? Do I sound like I'm up myself? I know I won't make it as a supermodel ever - but I'm human. I'm not perfect, and never will be.

I don't understand people's obsession and persistence to obtain physical perfection. I do understand how good it feels to wear a new outfit to a party. I do understand how it feels to get a new haircut. I do understand how it feels when you've picked the perfect lip gloss. Buying the latest anti-wrinkle cream to erase your wrinkles? Or buying whitening lotion to whiten your skin? That I don't understand.

It's amusing how the beauty industry is built on peddling nonsense. Selling products that don't really work to people who don't really need them at prices they can't afford. One moment, you could be minding your own business, daydreaming the day away. Then the next minute, a guy tells you that their face cream will make you look like Megan Fox. You buy the face cream. The next, you discover that's not true. Their face creams make your face greasier, and your wallet lighter. Not to mention you're now paranoid that your face isn't crash hot.

I think one of the biggest mistakes (as women), is that we've bought into the lie fed to us thanks to our celebrity-obsessed, Western-society ideals that teaches us that 'beauty equals perfection'. If we're not perfect...then we're not beautiful.

Beauty isn't about the number on the scale. Or the measurement of your hips, bust and waist. Or your dress size. Or shoe size. Or popularity. Or how fashionable we are. Or our hairstyle. Beauty isn't what the fashion industry says it is. Beauty is not even what the beauty industry says it is.

Maybe we need to re-define the word beauty. There's nothing wrong with liking dress ups, make-up, fashion, getting a new haircut and spa treatments. But those things are just extra stuff, not the true meaning of beauty.

Monday, January 11, 2010

A Wardrobe Purge & Sale Part 1



I do a wardrobe clean out around two times a year. I go through my wardrobe and either donate or sell the things I no longer use. Most of the time it's because I no longer like the piece, never have used the item or I feel it doesn't suit me anymore. I also clear out things that haven't been worn or used in over nine months.

I have started putting the first accessories up on eBay. The good news? Everything starts at 99 cents!

Click here.

There are more items still to come, especially in the form of bags.

Happy shopping!
5ft0

P.S - My wardrobe does not look like this.

Thursday, January 7, 2010

5ft0's New Years Resolution - after this post...

5ft0's New Years Resolution: To stop writing anything related to customers on this blog.

I love sales, even at the place I work. I keep going back to the rack that has the light denim vest, reduced from $110 to $60. I remember seeing this vest on a magazine and now there's an identical piece out of nowhere - reduced. I can't take my eyes away from them. They're even in size ten - my size.

I'm eyeing them for the one hundredth time when a customer strides towards me. She was holding a silk maxi dress and a white denim mini skirt.

"Excuse me, where's the fitting rooms?"
"They are over here. Just go straight and Margaret will help you out."
The lady looks at the line for the fitting rooms. Over twenty people were lining up.
"Can't you make the line go any faster?"
"No I can't. The other customers are in the same position as you. Waiting for a fitting room to change as well."
The lady sighs heavily.
"Look I've got a party to go soon. I don't have time to wait for the queue."
"There's not much I can do but..."

The lady cuts me off mid-sentence and walks towards the big mirrors at the front of the store. She takes off the grey dress she was wearing and starts trying on the maxi dress. All the customers look at her.

"What?" the lady exclaims.

Sunday, January 3, 2010

Panasonic receives a Christmas Slapper

While many of us were unwrapping 7,000 presents over Christmas and drinking approximately 21,900 bottles of beer during New Years, others weren't so lucky.

CAUTION: To all businesses who are coming up with the next marketing strategy to increase their annual profits - learn from this companies mistake.

During 2008, Panasonic launched a promotion that customers who purchased this:


would receive this:


It's good deal right?

So what's the problem?

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) claims that Panasonic didn't provide information that the bonus Nintendo Wii gaming console is only available to those who had purchased the plasma television between November 23 to December 24 2008.

To me, Panasonic were either incompetent in forgetting to place this vital information to the customers, or they were deliberately trying to save money. Either way, Panasonic are in the wrong.

However, I'm not the judge who's going to hand the final verdict for this.

What do you think?

Happy reading!
5ft0
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