Breathtaking Landscapes

As I was Stumbling the other day, I came across this article called: 

'25 EPIC PHOTOGRAPHS OF BREATHTAKING LANDSCAPES'

And that it was.

I had no greater obligation than to post it on here.

1) The Grand Canyon

 2) Ancient Rome

 3) Up North

 4) The Lighthouse

5) Sand Harbour State Lake, Lake Tahoe

6) Valley of Fire Wave

7) Venice

8) Nebula

9) Fly Gyser in Nevada

10) California Coast

11) Black Beach, Iceland

12) France To Chamonix

13) Alaskan Winter Sunset

14) Eyjafjallajökull Volcano, Iceland

15) Libyan Desert

16) Lagos, Portugal

17) Moon and Venus over Switzerland

18) Matterhorn Mountain, Switzerland

19) Erupting volcano with aurora, Iceland

20) Patagonia Landscape

21) Orange Reef

22) Camel Rock Beach

23) Milky Way over Jackson Lake

24) Nazca Desert

25) Travis County, Texas

1000 PTSBYD - CAÑO CRISTALES

Before you read any further, please click HERE to read the introduction of this new segment I shall be calling, '1000 Places To See Before You Die'. 

This segment - I guess you could call it - is basically my own personal bucket list of places I have to see before I die, and hopefully inspire you to feel the urge to visit as well. Most places I discover will have been taken from the aforementioned book, however today's destination was discovered through Stumbleupon. 

SO, Welcome to Caño Cristales. 

In Meta, Columbia - during the short span between the wet and dry season - this usually indistinguishable river breaks out into an explosion of vibrant colours. Known as "The River Of Seven Colours", "The Liquid Rainbow" and "The Most Beautiful River in the World", Caño Cristales has certainly taken its spot on my list of places I have to see. What I find most interesting, is that for the majority of the year this river is like any other - cool, clear and calm. The water level must be at a certain level in order for the colour to come through, as a unique plant which sits on on the river floor (Macarenia Clavigera) turns into a magical red.



The red is offset by some yellow and green sand, blue water and an array of shades in between (purple, brown, black). In the wet season, the water runs too fast and is too deep, therefore the sun cannot reach the Macarenia Clavigera to bring out the deep red. This being said, in the dry season there is not enough water to support the life in the river. So, if you plan on heading over to Columbia anytime soon, be sure to go between September and November to see what is usually a fairly ordinary river transform into a magical liquid rainbow.

Caño Cristales is not easily accessible by road, therefore it is a destination for the adventurous. The recommended means of transport is flying into the remote nearby town of La Macarena, and from there travelling down to the Serrania de la Macarena National Park, where Caño Cristales is located. The national park is home to many rivers, rapids and waterfalls, all which flow from the plateau south of the Serrania de la Macarena. Behind the oldest tepuis (tabletop mountain) of the Sierra, numerous rock paintings can be found, many still unexplored. This site was closed to tourists for several yard due to guerrilla activity (irregular warfare) in the region. It reopened in 2009, and there are now several Colombian Tourist Agencies that will actually fly travellers to La Macarena. It is now common to get to the river via horseback (or donkey), or by foot on a guided tour.

Happy travels!

The Universal Packing List

If you are anything like me, the only downside to travelling is packing the bag. I hate it. It is the bane of my existence. THEREFORE, I have found The Universal Packing List, which only requires you to enter a few details in order to receive a simplistic and stress-free travel packing list. Brilliant. This is literally the best thing to ever happen to the world.

So basically, fill this 'thing' (above^) out accordingly, and you will recieve a list (similar to this)…

THIS IS JUST SERIOUSLY SO BRILLIANT! 

AND SO THERE YOU GO, A PACKING LIST, JUST FOR YOU.

HAPPY PACKING!

JOUR1111 - Lecture Eleven

Lecture Eleven. Lucky Last. The blogging of lectures has come to an end. Good timing too - as this week's topic is an introduction into one of my least preferred branches of journalism - Investigative Journalism. Fun, fun, fun... 

Now, before the start of this semester, I would have rather enjoyed this lecture (I assume), HOWEVER, having just completed JOUR1710 - Investigative Journalism, i'd prefer to jump off the cliff now. That seems a little melodramatic, but for me, this type of journalism is the bane of my existence. That being said, maybe journalism isn't the right path for me then…?

Anyway. Investigative Journalism requires one to be 100% critical and 100% thorough, thus 200% boring. To me, any piece of writing with little or no opinion sends me to sleep. It's like reading through  a textbook - which I don't - it doesn't keep me on my toes. Although some will argue that a well written piece of investigative journalism is extremely interesting. I agree. Writing it however, is a different story. 

There are 6 'In's' of Investigative Journalism, in order to help one be more successful:

INvestigative

INtelligent

INformed

INtuitive

INside

INvested

The aforementioned is rather self-explanatory and makes sense when describing an Investigative Journalist. One must remember that this side of Journalism is simply a 'branch'. There are many branches which fall under Journalism - which I guess is why I am studying it. I agree that it is essential to have people with enough curiosity and scepticism to uncover the truth of our society. We need Investigative Journalists to churn out the facts, however, does that make them more important or 'right', than those how blog or report fashion and culture, etc? Are the opinionated writers even Journalists? What defines Journalism? Too many questions.

Regardless of what Journalism is and whether or not those who don't report the checked facts are still titled 'Journalists', there probably isn't a thing in the world that would one day see me sitting behind a desk, checking through government documents, uncovering the truth to some unsolved political scandal. It just doesn't grab me. And that is fine. Because the world is always after some overly-opinionated nobody to publish an insignificant and unread blog. You know, the blogs that people read at work, behind their desk when they can't be bothered sorting through any more documents. And such.  Maybe that's just me. Maybe not. #YOLO #ijustsaidyolo #whatislife #bye

Assignment 4 - Annotated Bibliography

Foster, N. Cook, K. Barter-Godfrey, S., & Furneaux, S. (2011). Fractured multiculturalism: Conflicting representations of Arab and Muslim Australians in Australian print media. Media, Culture & Society, 33, 619-629. Doi:10.1177/0163443711399034

Nena Foster, an academic at the University of East London, alongside some of Melbourne’s Deakin University academics, Kay Cook, Sarah Barter-Godfrey and Samantha Furneaux, present four emerging discourses drawn from extensive research (the manual filtering of over 100,000 articles on Factiva and NewsBank which include the words Arab, Muslim and Islam), which outlines the common representation and portrayal of Arabs and Muslims in Australian print media; ‘Arabs and Muslims are different’, ‘Muslims are like us’, ‘I’m an Arab/Muslim, but...’, and ‘A threat from within’. The study found many statements that place the Arab and Muslim communities in a negative light, a significant amount of which are exemplified and cited. It was concluded that the aforementioned discourses contribute to the social divisions that exists between ethnic groups in Australia, and that Arabs and Muslims are seen as the ‘out-group’ to Anglo-Australians (evident in all examples cited by the authors). Thus, the authors argue that whilst Australia sees itself as an accepting, non-discriminatory, multicultural country, the language used by the media to identify what it means to be Arab or Muslim, assimilates xeno-racist notions, contrary to ‘multiculturalism’. This is most evident today in recent media coverage of the September Sydney Riots, sparked by the release of a low budget anti-Islam film.

Tabbaa, M. (2012, September 19). He’s my brother – why angry Muslim youth are protesting in Sydney. The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved from http://www.smh.com.au

Few days after the 2012 Sydney Riots, PhD candidate in Law and Criminology at the University of Melbourne, Mohamad Tabbaa, extensively searches for the underlying meaning of the youth revolting in Sydney. Tabbaa includes statements made by Muslim leaders, apologizing for the behaviour of a small minority of their community and wish it not to tarnish how Muslims are perceived in the Australian media. The article is opinionated and Tabbaa makes unsupported statements regarding the real motives behind the protests, arguing that the youth are grieving for their ‘brothers and sisters’ (members of their Muslim community, globally), who have lost their lives due to invasions made by the USA. Tabbaa proceeds to accuse the Muslim leaders of not looking after their youth (due to apologizing to the media), as they are “more intent on representing the voice of an exclusive, overly image-conscious minority” (Tabbaa, 2012). Whilst the author is confident and argues a colloquial and opinionated representation of Muslims in Australia, the initial reason for rioting (the anti-Islam video) is not mentioned, thus the author fails to report the entire story, along with cited facts. Instead this article expresses the unreliable generalizations made by the author, and reports only the author’s opinion of the event. Whilst Tabbaa is supporting the Muslim community, or more so the Muslim youth, he is unintentionally labeling them as a group separate to that of Anglo-Australians, thus allowing room for ethnic division. Tabbaa is persuasive and relies on the audience’s sympathy to understand his viewpoint.

Islamic groups condemn violent Sydney protests.  (2012, September 16). ABC News. Retrieved from http://www.abc.net.au/news/

The ABC is the author of this article, providing the public with riot statistics, confirmed by the police, as well as the statements made by Mariam Vieszadeh, a lawyer and Muslim community advocate, who spoke to the ABC about the behaviour of fellow Muslims in the riots. The article’s emphasis is upon the outrage that fellow Muslim community members have with the small minority who resorted to violent riots, apprehensive that all Muslims in Australia will now be seen as violent and earn an unpopular reputation in the community. The author included no comments made by anyone outside the Muslim community, aside from police statements and those made by Premier Barry O’Farrell – who simply stated the riots were “unacceptable”. The ABC has reported this event in an unbiased manner, by using the voice of a Muslim community member to advocate the sincerest apologies from the Muslim community, in the hope that the majority is not ‘tarred with the same brush’. The ABC have put the majority of the Muslim community in a positive light, reassuring the Australian public that the minority group is not one to judge and discriminate. Unlike Mohamad Tabbaa’s article – opinionated and unsupported - the ABC have used accurate statistics and written an unbiased report to inform readers of the Sydney Riots in a considerate and indiscriminate way.  

Grewal, J. (2012, September 17). Ugly fall-out after Sydney riots. Sunshine Coast Daily. Retrieved from http://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au

This article, written by Jessica Grewal of the Sunshine Coast Daily – online publication, simply states the statistics of those who have been arrested since the rioting, generic statements made by NSW Police Commissioner, Andrew Scipione, Dawson MP George Christensen, and quotes taken directly from The Australian Newspaper. The article shows little originality and research and has a bias slant toward the wrongdoing of the Muslim community. The author concludes with a quote from Christensen saying, “if any of the violent protesters are non-citizens, they should be deported immediately” (Grewal, 2012). The author puts the entirety of the Muslim community in a negative light (clearly labeling them as the out-group), including no such opinion or voice from the perspective of the Muslim community. Grewal has simply taken quotes from other publications of an Anglo-Australian perspective. It is hard to trust this source as reliable as information was not directly sourced, and for an online piece, this publication had very little information. It contained limited facts and a discriminatory bias, therefore the author failed to report the event accurately and fairly. Similarly to Tabbaa’s article, this piece was not extensively researched, and the majority of it was put together with rash, unsupported and biased statements. Tabbaa and Grewal’s articles both label (whether intentional or not) the in-group and out-group in this matter, creating a definite ethical division. The ABC article was the only article that maintained a fair and indiscriminate slant throughout the report.

REFERENCES

Foster, N. Cook, K. Barter-Godfrey, S., & Furneaux, S. (2011). Fractured multiculturalism: Conflicting representations of Arab and Muslim Australians in Australian print media. Media, Culture & Society, 33, 619-629. Doi:10.1177/0163443711399034

Grewal, J. (2012, September 17). Ugly fall-out after Sydney riots. Sunshine Coast Daily. Retrieved from http://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au

Islamic groups condemn violent Sydney protests.  (2012, September 16). ABC News. Retrieved from http://www.abc.net.au/news/

Tabbaa, M. (2012, September 19). He’s my brother – why angry Muslim youth are protesting in Sydney. The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved from http://www.smh.com.au

Just Watch

On a completely unrelated note. THIS. IS. INCREDIBLE.

LANA DEL REY - Ride

WELL HI.

I thought I might put up a selfie - as the majority of my lovely, loyal readers may think I'm a cyclops, or yeti, or centaur - which i'm not going to lie, is pretty accurate.

So, here we are. 

#psifinallygotajobinterviewtoday #ivebeenunemployeedforfartoolongnow #hashtageverything

JOUR1111 - Lecture Ten

Well, it's that time of the week again. Lecture time. This week we talked about Agenda Setting. 

So basically, it was brought to my attention this week, the sheer amount of impact and influence in which the media has on us - society. We were introduced to the idea of 'Agenda Setting', whereby the media 'constructs reality' - on a similar note to that of News Values (see Lecture Nine).

Whilst I have always known that the media shapes society and ultimately influences us in ways in which I am still unaware,  the media has an agenda - to tell us what they believe is important and what they believe we have a right to know - of course your awareness (society), is key. It's important to understand that yes, the media have an agenda, BUT, their agenda is not always fair, honest and right. 

Of course, as a history enthusiast, when I read the aforementioned, I immediately think of Adolf Hitler and how he ran Germany with 'propaganda'. This of course - with utmost empathy to this horrific time in history, is a demonstration of agenda setting gone wrong - the power in the wrong hands (and this episode of man's inhumanity to man, only goes to show just how much power the media have). 

Moving on, we have four types of agenda. Public Agenda, Policy Agenda, Corporate Agenda and Media Agenda and they all play a part in 'constructing reality'.

So what strengths come with Agenda Setting? Well firstly, it explains why most people prioritise the same issues as important (mass media). It also predicts that people who are exposed to the same media will feel the same issues are important. For example, when Hitler was trying to get Germany to side with him, anything in the media that was against him and his beliefs was completely ruled out of the media. Thus the people of Germany were indoctrinated with only what Hitler wanted them to know, thus, Germany had no reason not to believe him - it was all they knew. And in no way am I saying that this is a strength as such of Agenda Setting, however an example of how the media dictates what society believe is important - and correct. However, Agenda Setting can be proven false - when people aren't exposed to the same media, the won't feel the same issues are important. As you can see, when in the wrong hands, Agenda Setting can be used for all of the wrong reasons.

The weaknesses of Agenda Setting however, is that whilst news has been prioritised, people may not be well-informed or deeply engaged in public affairs. Also, people who have made up their minds on the given news topics, can no longer really be swayed by the media and their efforts to rank news on importance. Lastly, new media has a huuuuugggeeee effect on Agenda Setting. The internet is not limited to a few news items - like news channels, newspapers and radio reporters. The internet knows all. And people know this. So therefore, people aware of Agenda Setting and who do not appreciate being told what is important, are able to decide for themselves what they will rank in terms of priority.

So if this is the case, why does the media set an agenda? Well, Dr Bruce simply responded with "because they can". 

Must we then ask if this is working in the favour of the public, or not? 

In a way, I sometimes think of society as a heard of cattle (which I know nothing about). The media are the cattle dogs and the news is the drover. The cattle dogs are always responding to the drover - shaping and feeding the cattle with information in order to guide them and direct them in the favoured direction - ultimately determined by the drover and the side he deems most favourable. And as cattle, we go our whole lives responding to these dogs. They shape us, literally. They set boundaries, guidelines, they focus our beliefs, morals and expectations - as determined by the fickle drover - to the point where everything that is important to us (as cattle), is really just what the dogs think is most important. And that's okay, because you're a cow.  And you're surrounded by cows - just like you. But sometimes, it's good to be that one cow who is aware that what these dogs are telling you, isn't all there is to know - isn't all that is of importance in this great world. Somewhere, beyond the cattle in front, behind, to your left and to your right - beyond the dogs that are closing in around you, there is another world, full of other important issues, that you may never see or hear of. So maybe, when you've mustered up the cow courage inside you to push to the side of the heard, and look over into the distance, beyond the dogs, you can see things that were never available to you previously. Stuff you couldn't get your hooves on. Embrace it and open up your little, controlled cow brain to see issues that are of importance to you. Not because you've been told they're important. But because they really matter. 

Around The World In 80 Posts

Click here to enter bliss.

This incredible blog is run my beautiful best friend Marnie, whom also shares an ardour for travel. Her writing is faultless and her humour is brilliantly whimsical. 

Click here Click here Click here Click here Click here Click here Click here Click here Click here

Is this Diagon Alley, or is this real life?

Ka Faroshi Bird Market, Afghanistan

So in the middle of my lecture today, I was surfing the web - as you do - and stumbled upon this 'Ka Faroshi Bird Market', in Afghanistan. Now please, correct me if I'm wrong, but is it just me or does this place remind you an awful lot of Diagon Alley? - Harry Potter's one-stop-magic-shop/street-of-shops-which-sells-everything-and-anything-cool-and-magical-and-stuff. Anyway, I am just in awe and thought I should share it with the world. This is truly magical. The colours, the cages, the people. 

The Lonely Planet Review for Kabul's Bird Market

"Entering Kabul’s bird market is like stepping back in time a hundred years, to a corner of the city untouched by war or modernisation. Also known as the Alley of Straw Sellers, it’s a narrow lane tucked away behind the Pul-e Khishti Mosque, lined with stalls and booths selling birds by the dozen, plus the occasional rabbit. King of all the birds on sale is the kowk (fighting partridge). These are prized by their owners who lavish great care on them, and keep them in domed wicker cages that are almost works of art in themselves. Kowk are fought on Friday mornings in quick bouts of strength (the birds are too valuable to allow them to be seriously harmed), with spectators gambling on the result. Their highly territorial nature also lets them act as decoys for hunters, attracting potential rivals who end up in the pot. Similar to the kowk is the budana, a small lark-like bird. These are also fought, especially among Kandaharis. Unbelievably, their small size means that their owner frequently keeps them tucked in his trousers, bringing them out for contest and display. More benign are the myriad canaries and finches, kept simply for their song. At the far end of the bazaar are the kaftar (doves), a common sight in Kabul’s late afternoon skies."

In all complete honesty, I have no interest in the birds - I'm actually terrified of them - however, I can't help but think that this would just be the coolest market to ever exist - and I have every urge in my body to go there dressed as Harry Potter and pick myself a nice Snowy Owl… Which i'd obviously call Hedwig. Unfortunately though, I think this act may be frowned upon in this particular part of the world. Thus, I probably wouldn't recommend it to any of you - as tempting as it is. 

Kabul's Bird Market, Afghanistan - on a crowded day

Eeylops Owl Emporium, Diagon Alley - on a non-crowded day...

Top Secret Hotspots of New York City

Now before I get started, what I'm about to share with you, is top secret. Well, a secret between you and I. And the internet… With a particular love for the incredibly grand New York City, it is with great pleasure that I share with you the Top 10 Secret Bars that thrive behind hidden doors, street side alley ways, and curb side phone booths. 

SO, let us begin!

1) Milk and Honey

134 Eldridge Street (between Delancey and Broome Streets), New York

Milk and Honey, New York 

How to find it: Milk and Honey is situated on Eldridge Street on the Lower East Side of NYC. It's hidden behind a store front with a suit hanging in the left window, with a sign that says "M&H, Tailors, Alterations". You  must enter though the 'beat-up' metal door next to the window.

Why go there? Milk and Honey is renowned for their sensational cocktails and is one of the three speakeasy-esque joints owned by Sasha Petraske.  The other two bars are 'Little Branch' and 'Please Don't Tell' - referred to further down. 

Reservations: To get in, you must make reservations on the website. 

2) The Raines Law Room

48 West 17th Street (between Fifth and Sixth Aves), New York

The Raines Law Room, interior

How to find it: Located on West 17th Street, find an unmarked stairwell and ring the doorbell at the bottom to be let in. 

Why go there? Each table located inside the bar is equipped with a private button. Press it, and you'll get waited service, 'airplane stewardess style'. 

Reservations: Tue-Sun, email; reservations@raineslawroom.com. State exact time, number of people and a contact number.

3) Please Don't Tell (PDT)

113 St. Marks Place (between 1st Ave and Avenue A)

Please Don't Tell, New York

How to find it: PDT is quite possibly the bar I'm most excited about. In order to find it, you must walk down a set of stairs into the 'Crif Dogs' restaurant on St. Marks Place. Once you're there, find the old fashioned phone booth, step inside, pick up the phone and press the buzzer once. A voice will answer and after approval, the wall of the booth will open up to let you into a small room with a bar in the centre.

Why go there? Please Don't Tell is a fantastic place to go for a few delicious cocktails. If hungry, you can order food from Crif's kitchen and it will be passed through a secret wall. How incredibly awesome. 

Reservations: Call (212) 614-0386 at 3pm. Call later, you'll miss out, call before, they won't be open.

4) Employees Only

510 Hudson Street (between Christopher and West 10th Street)

Employees Only, New York

How to find it: Walk down Hudson Street and look for a neon sign advertising a psychic. Then look for the Live Tarot Card Reader. Sometimes, there's a bounce outside the entrance when busy. 

Why go there? Employees Only does not only specialise in cocktails, but is renowned for it's brilliant food, AND the Live Tarot Card Reader at the door, actually does do live readings for guests. 

Reservations: No reservations are necessary, but to ensure a seat at the bar, get there early. 

5)  Est. 1986

43 West 32nd Street (between 5th Ave and Broadway)

Est. 1986

How to find it: Est. 1986 is hidden away in Koreatown, inside the Hotel Stanford's second floor hallway. 

Why go there? Hidden in a 'drab' hotel, the bar serves a good selection of wine and strongly mixed cocktails. It gets quite busy during Happy Hour, but after 7pm it is a great little place for a quiet cocktail.

Reservations: Make sure you call (212) 563-1500 to make a reservation.

6) Bathtub Gin
132 9th Ave (between 18th St & 19th St)

Bathtub Gin, New York

How to find it: If you go to the back of the Stone Street Coffee Company on 9th Ave, Chelsea, the newest of New York's speakeasies is behind situated behind a 'hidden wall'. The wall is marked by a red light and needs a simple push backward in order to enter the bar. 

Why go there? The decor is in the style of the 1920's and features a claw-foot bathtub in the centre of the joint. Bathtub Gin serve elaborate cocktails, fairly decent in price. And if you're lucky, you might get to sit in the tub for a drunken photo or two…
Reservations: For reservations, head to the website.

7) White Noise

225 Avenue B (between 13th Street and 14th Street), Manhattan

White Noise, exterior

How to find it: White Noise is locate in the 'Old Uncle Ming's Space' - accessible via an unmarked doorway on Avenue B. To enter the bar, you must find and go up the flight of stairs until you enter into a big bar and metal themed lounge, complete with black chandeliers, black curtains and stripper poles.

Why go there? Well, apparently this is the 'Hipster Hotspot', and comes with loud rock music, strobe lights, a 'weirdo room' and of course a bar. 

Reservations: For reservations, hit up the website.

Angel's Share

8) Angel's Share

8 Stuyvesant Street, Manhattan

How to find it: Go to the aforementioned address, then go upstairs to the second floor. Go through the Japanese Restaurant to an unmarked doors.

Why go there? Cocktails from Angel's Share are very highly regarded. It is a small venue, however all cocktails are created with much precision and care and served in chilled glasses. This is not an exclusive cocktail venue, wine and whiskey is also available as well as dim sums and delicious Japanese snacks.

Reservations: Call (212) 777-5415

9) Death & Co.
433 East 6th Street (between First Avenue & Avenue A), East Village

Death & Co. 

How to find it: Death & Co. isn't hidden by a secret door or phone booth, it is actually in plain sight, however, the wooden door (with no markings apart from the small print 'Death & Co.') is quite easy to miss. 

Why go there? Each drink is made to perfection - stirred 40 times and taste-tested by the bartender. 

Reservations: Leave your number with the doorman, and they will call when a table becomes free.

10) Little Branch

22 Seventh Avenue South (at Leroy Street)

Little Branch entrance

How to find it: Little Branch is located on the corner of Seventh Ave and Leroy Street. It is hidden behind a brown rusted door, with no signs or writing, however, there is generally a bouncer outside.  Once through the door, you'll go down a long stairway into the bar itself. 

Why go there? This is the third of Sasha Petraske's nightlife joints, and like the others, the concoctions are brilliant. If you tell the bartenders what mood you're in, they'll create a drink perfectly suiting. 

Reservations: No reservation necessary.

So that concludes my Top 10 Secret Bars in New York City, however i'll leave you with a few more names to google, if you like.

Hidden Bars in New York City

- Apothéke

- B Flat

- Bar Centrale

- Bleecker Heights Tavern

- Cabin Down Below

- Fig 19

- Gotham City Lounge

- Kings County

- Larry Lawrence

- Madam Geneva

- No Name Bar

- Secret Lounge

- The Black Room 

- 124 Old Rabbit Club

- 2nd Floor on Clinton

SO, let's get drinking?