I had my first day at university this week. Though I'm fortunate enough to not get nervous with things like starting at a new job or public speaking, the night before I was extremely edgy about the whole thing. Because this never happens to me, I began to question why I was nervous and really, what there was to be afraid of. It's a university, not a maze with crazed gunman and axe-wielding maniacs that you have to escape from. 

I found my answer in my lecture for International Politics. The lecturer asked us to talk to people around us and answer the questions he suggested. One of them was "Why are you nervous about beginning university?" In my little group, I was the first person to be asked the question and literally the single thing that popped into my head and I blurted out before I could think rationally about it was "Because I don't want to look like a dumb shit." Everyone laughed and a few others confessed that they were also silently freaking out that they wouldn't be able to complete the simplest of tasks because "it's university" and therefore you're "competing with the best". 

To me, my "fear" of being a complete dullard is slightly bizarre. I don't have a problem public speaking, making friends or standing up for myself or others but I'm silently urging myself to be intelligent and not to screw it up. When I say 'intelligent', I don't mean in an "I know everything therefore I am the best" sort of competitive way, I mean 'intelligent' as in being able to write a decent and comprehensible piece of writing and have a thorough understanding of what's being discussed in lectures and tutorials.

We all want to excel in our chosen paths, but how much do we let this weigh into our psyche? Should we all (me) just take a chill pill and calm the eff down?

Does anyone else share the same "I don't want to be mentally challenged kthnxbai" woes that I do, or am I truly an example of natural selection? Tell me about your experiences at a new job, school or university. x


photo by crazyfrogleg

The 21 year old, known only as Xiaoqing says that she's doing this to win back her boyfriend whom she broke up with, because of his obsession with Alba. Now she wants him back. 

"When I broke up with my boyfriend, I was very sad," Xiaoqing said, "My friends...kept consoling me but it did not work, so they suggested I do plastic surgery to look like her [Alba]"

Jiang Shan, a representative from Shanghai Time Plastic Surgery Hospital said that he has spoken to Xiaoqing and advised her to think seriously about what she is doing. 

"If she wants to look much better than she does now, for example, if she wants her skin to look smoother and her overall facial facade to look more beautiful, I think we are able to help fulfil her wishes," Jiang said.

"But if she wants to totally look like Jessica Alba, I would think she is still not confident of herself and that she needs to solve this problem psychologically."

Speaking about her ex boyfriend, Xiaoging said, "I have never been able to let him go. If in the end he still does not accept me after I undergo the plastic surgeries. I will give up. I will then choose to let go, start afresh and live life by myself."

Xiaoqing told reporters that she would also speak to her mother while visiting home during the annual new year holiday before she makes her final decision.

"I'm not only doing it for my ex-boyfriend but more myself," she said. "I am a psychologically weak person. I want to do something to challenge myself and build a strong personality through it."

It has also been revealed that doctors at the Shanghai Time Plastic Surgery Hospital have made the offer to do the transformation for free in order to showcase their skills with the surgical knife.

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I'm not really quite sure what my opinion of this is. I agree that it's we have the right to do whatever we want to our body, as it belongs to us, but this seems to take that to a whole new level. She can't be *that* desperate for a good doppelganger to put on Facebook, can she?!

Also, the fact that she is getting this procedure for free, I think, is a bad idea. Her having the knowledge that she will be saving thousands of dollars is more than likely just encouraging her to go ahead with it when she may regret it in the future. 

At the end of the day though, if these are the lengths someone has to go to in order to get a boyfriend back, I don't think he's really worth having! If he wants a girlfriend that looks like Jessica Alba, he might as well go and buy a blow up doll and stick a photo of Jessica on it's head. 

Thoughts? 

Whilst viewing these photographs, do keep in mind that Madonna is 51 years old.

It really showcases how much editing does go into one photo shoot and how unnatural the whole industry is.

                          

Well done, Louis Vuitton. 

images via MamaMia

His colleague Martin Lakos who was speaking to Bath, was totally oblivious to what was happening behind him. A representative from Channel 7 has confirmed that they have received phone calls from upset viewers but have passed matters on to Macquarie Bank.

"On behalf of our viewers we have expressed our concern to Macquarie. They have assured us they are taking the appropriate action," he said. 

Macquarie released a statement saying it "takes matters such as the unacceptable use of technology extremely seriously. Macquarie has strict policies in place surrounding the use of technology and the issue arising from today's live cross on Seven News is being dealt with internally."

Watch the video here

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Ahahaha. Imagine that guy's wife right now. 

The 'Groovin The Moo' festival lineup has come to my rescue. The festival isn't until May (note: minor chance of passing out from heat!) but I'm already super excited for it.. Take a look at the lineup, you'll see why.

Vampire Weekend  (Oh my godddd!)                            Tegan & Sara 

                                                                                        

Spoon                                                                          Silverchair 

ALSO... 

Grinspoon

Empire Of The Sun

British India

Lisa Mitchell

Kisschasy

Miami Horror

Bag Raiders 

Kid Koala presents The Slew live

Muph and Plutonic

Funkoars

Illy

Ajax

Jonathan Boulet

Yacht Club DJ's

Hopefully this time I'll spend more than 45 minutes there and won't be leaving in an ambulance. 

'Groovin The Moo' will travel to Maitland, Canberra, Bunbury, Bendigo and Townsville. 

Event dates & more information can be found here