Friday 31 May 2013

Song of the Day: Iago by Julia Mascetti



Something a little different for the Song of the Day today. Not only does this song come from an artist that I adore but it is created and performed by one of my favourite people. A very talented singer, musician and closer personal friend, the wonderful Julia Mascetti, has created a wonderful song named 'Iago' along with another friend of mine - the equally talented Laurie Smart. Julia Mascetti, I have often said, should be the Italian version of Chelsea Daggers. She is an artist who has devoted much of her time to music over the years. She has recently been performing with Opera North in Leeds.

Surely I'm not the only one who finds myself bored by the repetitive banality and almost patronising simplicity seen in the majority of pop music these days. The message is usually clear, kindly repeated for you several times, and after a while one hungers for something with a little more substance in which case Mascetti provides a wonderful splash of alternative flavour. 'Iago' is a great song, the lyrics like quick-moving poetry, and the combination of delicate harp-plucking against more synth-y undertones creates something rather contemporary and endlessly cool. Also as an English student it's impossible to not appreciate the literature references within the lyrics. This song is quirky, poetic and packed with emotion - this is a fresh sound unlike anything you hear on the radio. I like hearing music within this dark cabaret realm and feel that the song apty combines the raw talents of Julia as a singer and harpist with a more electronic pulse. The song is executed with a really well executed dramatic flair and ounces of personal style.



You can hear the song by clicking here to listen to the song on Soundcloud. The lyrics are deep, the music itself is catchy. If I ever should need to hire someone to write a musical about my life I'd want Team Laurie/Mascetti in charge of the project. In fact if I could dictate the music industry I'd pay for Ms Mascetti to go and make lots of music because I want at least one full Julia Mascetti album. Now sure, I know Julia and suppose I am a tiny bit biased in my total adoration for her as a person but many times over the time we've been friends have I sat and simply listened to her plucking away at her harp and creating bursts of chaos follow by elegant trills of beautiful purrs.

So please do me one small favour today since you're already on the internet and probably have little else to do. Listen to her song, follow her on Facebook, subscribe to her on YouTube and support her musical career for further slices of musical and lyrical excellence. Julia is a wonderful young performer who creates music for pleasure, not money. She has lugged her harp from homes to concert venues and travelled with one up and down the country in the back of her car. She puts such a huge amount of effort into her craft and I feel that it is an absolute crime that more people aren't aware of her talents.


Links:
Click here to listen to Iago by Julia Mascetti
Like Julia Mascetti on Facebook
Click here for Julia Mascetti on YouTube - subscribe of you like what you hear
Julia Mascetti on Twitter - please follow her and send her a tweet with your thoughts on the song :)


Wednesday 29 May 2013

The 5000 Milestone: Passed!

Yup, you read that right.
We are now officially over 5000 views on this blog.
This week has seen a lot of activity from all over the world.

Thank you to readers far and wide. I haven't the energy to say much more than my usual thanks. Keep reading, stay awesome.

Song of the Day: My Love For Evermore by The Hillbilly Moon Explosion

This is another weird song that I am totally in love with.
It's her delicate vocals against the gravel-like tones that rise from his throat. It's like oil and milk, silk and rock. It's such a great song.
Enjoy,


Recommended Reads!

Another week.
Another Wednesday.
Another recommended reads!

Recommended Reads is where I give you, my wonderful readers, recommendations of blogs, articles and websites I've enjoyed the past week or so.

If you have a blog, article or website that you would like to share then please let me know in the comments section below. To do so click on the title of this blog entry and then scroll down, click on the pencil icon and write away.

Here goes... my recommendations for the week are:


Tuesday 28 May 2013

Song of the Day: The Garden by The Creepshow

Yes! Even more rockabilly! First, Imelda May. Then Horrorpops. Now we come to The Creepshow.
I've not heard/seen the band with their new singer and I'm definitely looking forward to hearing the new album. This has to be one of my favourite songs of all time. Last year I wore my Creepshow hoodie into tatters because I loved it so. These guys are a great band and I hope you love this song as much as I do...



For some reason the video doesn't want to let me embed it, so click here to hear this wonderful song.

Monday 27 May 2013

Underrated Movies: The War Of The Roses


I actually bought this film for my partner this year as a Valentines gift. I suppose I did so in a "at least our relationship will never be this bad, so appreciate me" kind of way. The DVD cover states "Once in a lifetime comes a motion picture that makes you feel like falling in love all over again." My partner read that, but failed to notice the line beneath which simply says "This is not that movie"

Written by and starring the wonderful Danny DeVito, this film follows the relationship between Oliver and Barbara Rose as a mutual friend narrates the story of this unconventional couple. Scoring a tremendous 82% rating on film review site Rotten Tomatoes should illustrate the quality of this movie. This is a black comedy about their marital breakdown after around two decades of being together. There are moments of comedy and bursts of drama as the couple go into a bizarre battle for their house in the divorce settlements. As time goes on they begin to hate each other, both trying to drive the other out of the house. Where love once was only hate and desperate measures now dwell. This is a great film to watch with your partner ending on a simple message to take to heart. If this relationship feels at all normal to your own, you probably should break up. If you're the kind of person who hates mushy romantic comedies then this may very well be the film for you. Having been released in the 1980s you can probably find it cheap on Amazon. I highly recommend it.


Links:
The War of the Roses on Amazon UK
War of the Roses on Amazon.Com

Song of the Day: Julia by Horrorpops

Following on from the rockabilly vibe in the song of the day yesterday, here is Horrorpops with 'Julia'
This reminds me of my good friend Julia whenever I hear it. I love Horrorpops. I own all of the Horrorpops albums and they make perfect driving music. I totally recommend them.
Enjoy,


Writer Problem #6: Casual Insomnia

I swear I'm not the only one who experiences this.
As a writer there are moments when I have no inspiration to write and moments where words flow with ease. It's almost impossible to predict when these bursts of inspiration will come along to bless me but there certainly is a trend as to the times that such things occur.

It always seems to be late at night after a long day when I turn to light off, curl up and put my head on the pillow that great parts of a novel seem to appear in my mind. Suddenly the light goes on, the laptop or nearby notepad is grabbed and I have to furiously write down the idea as I cannot guarantee I'll remember such thoughts in the morning. This, dear reader, is why I'm sat here at 03:35, the early hours on a Monday morning, for no good reason other the fact that inspiration hit me. I have, however, just written a small essay sized chunk of novel of around 3,000 words so I suppose I can't complain. I just wish inspiration came at better times because, and my partner can vouch for this, the late night inspiration burst when I'm already half asleep is a strangely common experience.

Alrighty. I just hope I can get back to sleep now.
Wish me luck?

Sunday 26 May 2013

Didn't even need a suitcase.

As I've said before, I always love when I start to get views in countries that haven't stopped by before. Recently I've had views from plenty of new locations.
Some of these new locations are Bosnia and Herzegovina, Vietnam, Indonesia Ukraine and many views from Malaysia. As ever I'm thankful for you stopping by. I'm also thankful to anyone who is actively sending out my blog to help it be viewed in such high numbers and from so many wonderful new places.

I feel that, through you, I'm getting this unique travel experience as my words reach places I've never been. As the title says, I didn't even have to pack a suitcase for this wonderful adventure. Please keep reading, please send this blog around to your friends, family and pen pals if you think they'd enjoy it.

Countries I've been read in:
United Kingdom
South Africa
United States
Germany
South Korea
India
Argentina
Puerto Rico
Bulgaria
Greece
Sweden
Turkey
Romania
Philippines
Japan
Canada
Netherlands
Spain
Switzerland
Italy
Czech Republic
Ireland
France
Hong Kong (as special administrative region of the People's Republic of China)
Vietnam
Malaysia
Russia
Ukraine
Australia
New Zealand
Belgium
Denmark
Bosnia and Herzegovina


I think that's everywhere.
I've been trying to keep a record of all the countries this blog has taken me to. If I've forgotten any then I'm very sorry. Keep reading and I'll keep being grateful. I hope you're all having a wonderful weekend.

Student Experience: The Time of Our Lives?

During the university application process we're told that our time at uni will be the time of our life, something we were similarly assured about secondary school, but we're hopeful nonetheless. It's a wonderful time to seek and explore our independence. It gives us the chance to move away from where we've grown up and 'find ourselves' in a new corner of the world. It allows us to learn alongside other fine minds with wonderful lecturers and resources so as to better ourselves and explore our own mind and human conciousness. We're told to enjoy this so called 'student experience' that lies ahead but is the student experience a great time for all of us? As someone coming out of the other end of the university experience I can safely say that the 'student experience' isn't the same for each student.

What drew me to the University of Huddersfield was  the feel of the town. Cast against the rolling hills of Yorkshire it had a quaint charm similar to the small, sleepy town in Hertfordshire where I'd grown up but with the feeling of a small city at the centre of the town. I visited the town the day after my 18th birthday. I can recall meeting for drinks with a friend after the open day where we sat at a bar called Dogma, now called 'The Zetland' having changed hands many times over, and legally being able to order myself a cocktail and feeling very proud of my new rights.

When I started at the university it was an exciting time. I was in awe when I entered my first proper lecture theatre. In pursuit of quenching an academic thirst I tried to soak up the experience around me. On my first night in student halls I was invited on a night out where, when speaking to people and exchanging the usual pleasantries of 'what course are you doing?' and 'what inspired you to come to university?', I didn't always found the answer I expected. Quite a few people stated that they wanted the 'student experience' and to have three years to party and let their hair down as some sort of rite of passage. You'd see posters around the town that boasted about the 'student experience' or making statements about how students should be out doing stupid, crazy things.  Many came to university because it seemed 'fun' or they didn't know what they'd do otherwise and university seemed the default option. I worry that a lot of people coming to university come for the wrong reasons: to experience this freedom to party and live alone and be without rules or perhaps because they didn't know what else to do or where else to go. A student is defined as someone who is studying, a person in the pursuit of knowledge and an education, but so many saw the three or so years of study as a gateway to adulthood. It was a time where they could get funding to live in their own place and drink, party and be wild as their hearts should like.

I feel a lot of these people, even myself, may have benefited from simply taking a year out to solely focus on their own desires and pursuits rather than plunging into something blindly or entering for the wrong reasons. So many go to university expecting the wild and hedonistic student lifestyle only to be utterly bewildered by the demands of a university education. The friend I met for drinks with on my first visit to Huddersfield for the University Open Day sadly did not graduate. There are many that stood with me in the Creative Arts Building on my first day that won't be standing in the Graduation Hall in July.

I suppose what I'm saying, to you as a reader, is that if you are going through the university application process or considering study question why it is you want to study. This will be a challenging time in your life, but hopefully vastly rewarding too. If you're still unsure of whether or not university is right for you then I urge you to read my own personal review of my own student experience. Was university difficult for me? Yes. It was the biggest challenge I've faced yet. Was it worth it? You bet it was, but it's only worth the energy and effort you put in.

Song of the Day: Johnny's Got a Boom Boom by Imelda May

Something catchy and a little different.
Enjoy, 


Saturday 25 May 2013

Hey you! Yes, YOU! Wanna make my day?

Hey, blog-ghosts!
My first poetry collection is practically done and now I'm just putting together my two anthologies of short stories. Only a few days until the deadline now - it's all getting rather exciting and close.

Continuing on with this ambitious nature I'm putting myself out there for the Cosmo Blog Awards in association with Next. If you click on the little widget below, you can nominate my blog for the award. You don't have to, but it'd really make my day if you could. This could be the year where life starts to get really exciting and my new ambitious outlook starts to really pay off and take me places. I'd love to win an award and reach new potential readers so I can keep doing what I'm doing. I certainly wouldn't be blogging, or at least not as much, if it weren't for you wonderful readers. Thank you for sticking with me and stopping by so often. If you do nominate me then tweet me and let me know so that I can thank you personally. 


Click here for the nomination form: http://www.cosmopolitan.co.uk/blogs/cosmo-blog-awards-2013/enter-the-2013-cosmopolitan-blog-awards-nominate-now#ixzz2UK0Lv6JL

The Great Gatsby: A review



I'v been waiting for this film to be released for some time with much excitement. As a fan of Baz Luhrmann's work, especially "Moulin Rouge!", and expected a sumptuous visual display. Luhrmann delivered. This is a film that has been receiving mixed reviews but I firmly stand with those in favour of this particular movie.

Much in the way that a great meal is a treat to the taste-buds I felt as if my eyes were being treated to something wonderful. The costumes were beautiful, the combination of classic and contemporary music styles was a real treat. I personally really enjoyed this film. The plot itself was very straight forward but the cast give some excellent performances and the film is nothing short of a visual feast.

Song of the Day: Young and Beautiful by Lana Del Rey

Ok, I had this as my song of the day quite some time ago.
But now it has a music video.
Also I've now seen The Great Gatsby and have a whole new appreciation of this song.
As a result of seeing the song there is no other song in my mind as this one is.
Enjoy,

Thursday 23 May 2013

Star Trek has made me realise something...

Guys... I think I'm a Vulcan.

  • For years now I've had very thin eyebrows. I over-tweaked them when I was younger and they don't grow too long any more. Thankfully this is how I like them. I have always preferred my 'brows short and pointy. It was only this evening that I realised I have pretty good Vulcan brows!

  

  • Vulcans have a vegetarian diet. Although I'm currently a pescetarian rather than a vegetarian my hope is to eventually consider vegetarianism.
  • Vulcans favour logic and intelligence rather than focusing too much on their emotions. There are often days where this is something I suppose I can totally relate to.
Well, I guess I was mainly going on the whole eyebrow thing. 


What are my thoughts on the new Star Trek film?

I really enjoyed it. Previously my only contact with Star Trek had been through friends. I knew enough of the plot and characters having watched many episodes with my partner. It was something I'd watched, but totally out of sequence, only seeing bits here and there. In fact I hadn't seen the previous Star Trek film.

Visually breathtaking with spectacular effects. I loved the opening scene - the planet with the red trees. The alien beings of the planet looked like something from a Tool music video. That's not criticism - I love Tool and their music videos. Zachary Quinto makes a great Spock and I totally loved his portrayal of the character. Definitely loved the Kirk/Spock bromance. Benedict Cumberbatch was evidently born to play a villain.

I've read some criticism on the film in terms of racial portrayal and gender dynamics, definitely worth consideration. That said, I really enjoyed it. The next time my partner puts on Star Trek on the SyFy channel I'll probably now pay more attention.

Wednesday 22 May 2013

Recommended Reads!

Here it is! Another Wednesday where, as per usual, I give you wonderful blog-ghosts some recommendations of blogs/articles/websites I've found on the internet lately.

Having posted the Game of Thrones confessions last week I thought I'd share some more confession tumblrs I've found...

If YOU have any blogs or articles you'd like me to mention in an upcoming blog then please let me know and I shall share it in an upcoming recommended reads blog.

For those of you unfamiliar with blogger, if you'd like to recommend any blogs, articles or websites please do so in the comments section below. To comment click on the blog title then scroll down and click on the pencil icon.

Song of the Day: Hurricane Party by Skeletal Family/Anne Marie Hurst

Believe it or not... I'm in this music video.
It's true. Sadly I'm super shy so I plonked myself right on the edge. There are moments when you can see my hair, legs, hands, but not really my face. Still - it was a great experience. Anne Marie Hurst is a wonderful performer and I've long been a Skeletal Family fan. This was the second music video I've been a part of and was so glad just to have been there. Though you see more of my drinks of cider than my face.

Anne Marie Hurst recently rocked Wave Gotik Treffen, a Euro Goth festival, and I've won tickets to see them this weekend. I totally love this song and the album, Day of All Days, is excellent and totally worth buying.
Enjoy,


Tuesday 21 May 2013

Ramblings: My dream last night...


In my dream last night I met Adam Ant on a cruise and we got married on board. Sadly it was Adam Ant now, not the dandy highwayman stud he once was. The marriage didn't go very well. After about five minutes of marriage he was trying to persuade me to eat meat by giving me a giant strip of beef jerky. Not cool, husband, not cool...


Also in my dream I was apparently on the cruise to do a course that had a title like 'prenatal geography' - what the hell, brain? What the heck even is prenatal geography supposed to be?

Also I'm pretty sure most of Amsterdam and Eindhoven were somehow inside this giant cruise ship. At one point I went to find my cabin on the boat only to find myself cycling through the streets of Eindhoven and some of the bridges in Amsterdam. This is what I get for listening to Anouk and Carice Van Houten before bed, huh?



I guess there's nothing wrong with Adam Ant now. But damn, he used to have the most wonderful cheek bones in his youth...


Have you had any weird dreams lately? If so, what happened in them?

Song of the Day: One In A Million by Inkubus Sukkubus

This is one I'd not heard in years but thought of.
I'm not quite sure why it came to mind.
Probably because I thought of the phrase "one in a million" in my half asleep state.
Enjoy,


Saturday 18 May 2013

4,000.

So we sailed gracefully, yet at great speed, to and past 4,000 page views. In fact last night my humble little blog here had 254 page views and that hasn't stopped today. The blog has been very busy the past week, usually getting about 100 page views per day, but 254 is a new record... well, a new record for a day where I wasn't tweeted and retweeted by a celebrity. (For a brief explanation of the story behind that, click here.)

Many thanks to all you readers for stopping by - you're totally awesome. If you like what you see/read then please bookmark this blog, favourite it, come back any time. I update regularly so there probably will always be something for you.
I've been out gardening today and will soon be heading out to see my partner and friends to watch the wonderfully tacky spectacle that is the Eurovision song contest. Have a great weekend - Denmark and Netherlands ftw!

Friday 17 May 2013

Happy FriGay

George Takei, overlord of internet awesomeness, is at it again. George Takei recently responded to some individual responses in favour of 'traditional' marriage at a recent protest. Now, of course, the comment section below it is full of stupid, but that's not my point. Takei so wittily pokes fun at their assumptions of marriage. Some of the arguments are cliché or pretty weak. I'm super hired of hearing "it's Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve."

So I can't marry my long term partner because of a religion I'm not entirely sure I follow and utterly outdated cliché phrases? Gee, that's ace.

It takes a king and a queen to make a princess? Well isn't it splendid that we aren't part of the monarchy.

God 'created us that way'? What way? Naked and surrounded by vagina? Believe me, there are a lot of lesbians who are with you on that one.

'Traditional marriage' is traditional because change has not previously been allowed. Change would widen that notion of 'traditional marriage' to make it inclusive of all love regardless of gender or gender identity. Marriage is an evolving institution. To argue that marriage is solely about procreation ignores all the legal rights and responsibilities and their importance. These are significant rights that all loving couples show have access to. Using outdated cliché statements and sweeping generalisations to marginalise and belittle the loving relationships of thousands and millions of people out there who love in a way that society deems deviant and somehow less because of theological and ideological notions that stem mainly from religions that not everyone follows. This is a huge, problematic and ongoing debate. What's important here is love. The legitimacy or parental ability of two people should not be questioned based on gender. Gay marriage is making leaps and bounds at the moment and I hope it continues to do so.

Until then I hope people keep fighting and educating.

Here are the images that remind us why Takei is al kinds of awesome:



Things NOT to Ask a Gay Person: YouTube find.

Not too long ago I did a blog for The Huffington Post about how people constantly direct inappropriate questions at queer women. This is something that occurs to anyone in the LGBTQ community but in my blog I looked specifically at questions relating to women and the fetishisation of lesbian relationships.

This video was suggested to me on YouTube and it is all sorts of perfect. Entitled "Things NOT to Ask a Gay Person" this hits the nail on the head. I personally loved that in the first question the YouTuber addresses the heteronormativity straight people will attempt to interpolate into a same-sex relationship. I wanted to share this video so you can share it out to anyone who asks any of the stupid questions within the video.
Have a gay day, readers. 


Song of the Day: kill by iamamiwhoami

I utterly adore this song. It's one that I was made aware of by some dear friends of mine that I'd love to share with you.
We drove to this song through the Yorkshire Moors on the way to Whitby Goth Weekend last month.
Enjoy,


"NOTHING BETTER THAN PUPPY CUDDLES": Nick Offerman reading celebrity tweets Pt 2

The continued epicness of Nick Offerman reading the tweets of young female celebrities.
Hearing Nick Offerman say 'nothing better than puppy cuddles' is soon going to be my ringtone.
In fact now I want to become famous specifically to have a chance of Offerman reading one of my tweets.




Thursday 16 May 2013

Tattoos make bad role models?: This Morning with Katie Waissel and Katie Hopkins

Recently on British ITV show This Morning there was a discussion on the topic of tattoos. It came as a response to the band One Direction asking for pictures of fans tattoos and wondering it celebrities with tattoos are a bad role mode because of their ink.

In one corner was X Factor starlet and singer Katie Waissel speaking in favour of body art. In the other corner was Katie Hopkins who was staunchly opposed to anything of the sort.

Though the discussion was meant to be about celebrities with tattoos, Hopkins drove the conversation towards her personal dislike for them and criticised all people with tattoos. Hopkins argues that those with tattoos will never be high achievers. Automatically I think of the many inked celebrities and the people in my life pursuing big dreams whilst having tattoos. Hopkins states that 'we', as if speaking for all of us, see tattoos as 'graffiti' and that graffiti is something we look down upon. Well of course there are walls where people will spray paint obscenities but there are also walls where you'll find work by Banksy or really beautifully painted wall art. The difference between 'wall art' and 'graffiti' is how the person looking at it chooses to see it.

Hopkins states that she feels tattoos are a form of attention seeking, but again I would argue that it is down to the individual. I know many who have tattoos in discrete places. These tattoos are for them and they got them because they like adding art to their body. What I found particularly distasteful was how Hopkins addressed the tattoo Waissel has on her wedding finger now that her marriage is ending. Holly raised the question about the particular tattoo and Katie asked if they could leave the matter of her marriage out as it is a sensitive subject for her. As soon as Katie Waissel seemed uncomfortable Holly apologetically withdrew with utter sympathy. Katie Hopkins, however, continued to pursue it and asked Waissel if she'd consider a removal. Katie Waissel seems to give the view that she doesn't regret it. The only person placing regret upon that tattoo is Hopkins. Katie Hopkins then later brought it up again despite Waissel stating it was a sore subject by referencing it as a 'tattoo for a husband she doesn't have' as if it connotes failure and regret. It is, I would argue, solely Hopkins perception that she is placing upon the tattoo. When Waissel says how many of her tattoos are in remembrance of her grandfather Hopkins says many people 'have a gravestone and some photographs' but it seems a very modern practice to dedicate emotions and milestones to flesh as if to absorb the things we experience, to paint our joys and sadness on our skin. It expresses feelings in a beautiful, artistic way.

In discussing people expressing themselves through tattoos and their personal meanings for us Hopkins said they are not personal, but public. Yes, they are public in that they can be seen but they are persona to our individual bodies and we should have the right to display ourselves in whatever way we do so choose without having our choices and appearance completely regulated. There are points where Katie Waissel is trying to answer questions posed to her by Holly and Katie Hopkins just pesters her with judgemental question after question rather than letting her just speak freely.

I have been in the position where I was present at interviews and had a hand in hiring several candidates for vacant positions. It was most important to me that I picked candidates who were enthusiastic, well-spoken, polite and pleasant enough to add to the team. Never at any point did their artistic bodily choices enter my mind. Why? Because it's none of my business. What I find to be far more important is their qualifications and suitability for the position at hand. Judging people solely on their tattoos seems superficial. Ok, if they have huge swear words in full show or really gory tattoos that are not safe for work then that is understandable. So long as the images themselves aren't offensive, why shouldn't they be hired? As Waissel stated, in the workplace she could find clothing to cover her tattoos.

Young people may be inspired to get tattoos by their idols, sure. People draw inspiration from everywhere. But tattoos are becoming more and more common and my hope is that people will become more tolerant and understanding about the way people choose to decorate themselves. You may not agree with tattoos, but as long as they aren't offensive you certainly shouldn't vilify or penalise people for having them. I feel that if it is your body you should choose how it appears. By the end of the interview the studio vote from the public said that the majority of the public agreed with Katie Waissel that tattoos were fine. The show hosts even agreed. I think Katie is a brilliant sport with wonderful tattoos and I feel that she handled Hopkins perfectly. I look forward to hearing her upcoming album.

What are YOUR thoughts on the matter?
Let me know by clicking on the blog title, then scrolling down and clicking on the pencil icon.
I'd love to hear your views on the matter.


Link:
Click here to see the interview
Katie Waissel on Twitter

Nick Offerman being a wood whittling stud and reading young female celebrity tweets Pt 1

Maybe it's the clash of woodwork and girly tweets. Maybe it's his dead, serious eyes. I currently find these videos utterly hilarious and wanted to share.










Angelina Jolie: A brave decision from a brave woman.

The news hit yesterday that Hollywood titan Angelina Jolie had undergone a double mastectomy in order to prevent cancer she had discovered she was at high risk of developing. It is something that many women choose to do in order to eliminate such a horrible ailment. Many people, women in particular, have taken a moment to applaud Jolie for her brave decision. However there were many people who just didn't seem to get the point.

Of course this was something where a woman's body was the centre of attention. In response to this courageous act there were tweets saying:



  • "Well...Brad Pitt is gunna be fucking the nanny"
  • "I can't believe Angelina Jolie got her boobies removed. She must have some bomb ass pussy for Brad to say with her"
  • "Angelina Jolie got her boobies cut off cuz she thought she was at "risk" for breast cancer . She didn't have boobs anyway."
  • "Angelina Jolie cut both her titties off because she's scared of cancer. But I'm not sure why that seemed smart"
  • "I am deeply saddened by the loss of such amazing breasts. Rest in peace, Angelina Jolie's boobies. :("
  • "So Angelina Jolie got fake titties & wants me to call her a hero? No way! Wait....let me see em before I decide! "
  • "what a waste of a banging set of boobies"
  • "#RIP Angelina Jolie's rack. Sad day for tit fans"
  • "with or without titties, she'd still get the D."
  • "Angelina jolie dah free from boobies! I wonder what brad pitt can stroke and stare from now on"
  • "Im tired of hearing about Angelina Jolie. Okay, she cut her boobies off to avoid cancer... NEXT."
  • "This will make me sound like an asshole but I think Angelina Jolie cut her breasts off because she wasn't getting enough media attention"
Oh, good sir in that last tweet, you're not the only one who sounds like an asshole. What these people are missing is the chance to applaud a woman, and women like her, for her bravery. Some tweets suggest that her husband shall lose all sexual interest in her as a result. Jolie has made a bold step, possibly inspiring and saving the lives of countless women across the word, and all people can focus on is the loss of 'titties'. Breasts have been so highly fetishised and sexualised to obscene levels that people only see the loss of something sexual. What they are not seeing is the bravery that goes into this decision and process. Jolie has done this ahead of time so that she will not have to worry about getting this type of cancer and can live without fear of it. Doctors had estimated that she had an 87% chance of developing breast cancer at some point. Her choice to remove her breasts ahead of getting cancer means her life will be less fearful so she can enjoy life without worrying she'll die from the cancer that took her mother at just age 56. She is a strong, intelligent women with a family to think of. Placing more value on body parts you and the media have decided to fetishise rather than consider that a woman's life was at risk shows that misogyny and sexism are both alive and well. 

I applaud her for her choices and hope that she has made many women aware of their options if they know breast cancer runs in the family. Hopefully this will lead to many women getting checked thus raising cancer awareness. I just wish someone could raise awareness to some of the more silly tweeters out there.

Song of the Day: Only Teardrops by Emmelie De Forest

I'm currently getting about 100 page views per day. I was wondering it if was because I was tweeting about the Eurovision song contest last night and my blog is mentioned on my Twitter. I have had some lovely people stopping by from all over Europe that haven't stopped by in a while.

Speaking of Eurovision... I am totally obsessed with the entry from Denmark. Entitled 'Only Teardrops' this hit by Emmelie De Forest (what a wonderful name) is so catchy. I love the celtic vibe, her outfit choice, the bare feet on stage. This has a wonderful Earthy feel that I am totally digging right now. (I apologise for the pun. Sort of)


Wednesday 15 May 2013

Recommended Reads.

Another week, another list of recommended reads.
My recommended reads are articles/blogs/websites and things I've found on the internet over the past week and want to share with you readers.

If you'd like to recommend any blogs, articles or websites please do so in the comments section below. To comment click on the blog title then scroll down and click on the pencil icon.
If it's your own blog/article or that or someone else I'll happily look at anything suitable.

There's a real jumble of things this week.
So here goes...



Song of the Day: Beating My Head by Red Lorry Yellow Lorry


Tuesday 14 May 2013

200!

By the way...

This blog entry marks my blog post number 200!

I'm so excited we've come so far. This blog has racked up almost 300 page views over the past few days alone. I'm very proud of this little blog and I'm very thankful to all my readers for stopping by and reading. You really enrich this entire experience. I hope that you're all having a fantastic week.

Why do we dislike vanity?

Closely associated with pride, one of the seven deadly sins, vanity is something often seen as a negative thing. After the reappearance of the ever vain Samantha Brick in the news the notion of vanity has resurfaced. Many comment on how Brick's confidence in herself is just a toxic sense of vanity but what I want to consider here is why we're so against vanity itself.

 Surely we all know that person whose Facebook or blog consists heavily of photos of them in various different outfits and poses. 'How vain' we may think. Yes? So? Simple vanity itself doesn't seem to harm anyone. One possible reason is because in a vain person we see someone who is confident in themselves in ways we cannot be confident and therein lies some form of jealousy.
In Britain traits like modesty and humility often seem sociocultural expectations of character. We are often apprehensive to talk about our achievements and find the process of CV writing and job applications a little daunting.

In a time where notions of beauty are regulated, controlled and broadcast so heavily by the media and most women live their lives totally unsatisfied with their appearance as a result. In the articles I read about Samantha Brick one term often used to repeatedly describe her was 'self-satisfied' which prompted me to question what is so inherently wrong with being satisfied with ourselves? I'm not saying I agree with all of the articles and views Samantha Brick has broadcast in recent years. I'm simply questioning why we're so quick to point a finger and scream at vanity. Have we so heavily internalised the media-given images of what 'beauty' is meant to be that we then attack anyone who refuses to feel totally shitty about themselves?

Why should beauty be the sole privilege of the beholder? I've been overweight to some degree since I was at least 15. Even if it was simply a few pounds or when I was about a size 18 I was bigger than the typical healthy person should be. The strange thing is that it is only once I reached the age of 19, around a size 16 or 18, that I felt more beautiful than I ever had in my life. I'm still pretty curvy, I have piercings and a haircut that isn't seen as typically feminine but I feel beautiful. Does the borderline between my current state and 'vanity' lie in whether or not I speak about how I view myself? I simply cannot fathom why we criticise those who see beauty in themselves when we're constantly being told otherwise. Surely it takes more to ignore the messages we're constantly being subjected to and to be comfortable in our skin.

The End of University: A review.


It's done.
It's over.
I've finished university. 

Ok, sure, I've not officially graduated yet but as of about a week ago I've submitted the last piece of university work ever. I feel as if I'm still recovering. Is it...really over?

I'd like to take a moment to reflect on this long journey with you if you will allow me this small indulgence.

When I was a little girl my Dad took me to meet J.K Rowling at a book signing. The world of Harry Potter had utterly enchanted me and quickly become my favourite book series at the time and they are books that I still hold dear. I recall my brief moment in front of J.K Rowling, her tired smile after having signed hundreds of books, and holding the newly released copy of The Goblet of Fire in my stubby hands.
That was the moment I realised I wanted to be a writer. In fact, to this day, if you open up my copy of The Goblet of Fire you'll see J.K Rowling written in bold, black ink and my name scrawled in messy handwriting beneath it, an inked aspiration of my desire to be an author.

With this dream still in mind I applied to universities that offered specific modules in creative writing that focused on the creation of fiction rather than journalism or strictly scriptwriting and writing for screen only. I have previously I considered pursuing law like my mother had. Well... I was partly inspired by my mother, partly inspired by Legally Blonde. At the time I loved the idea of going into criminal law. After three days of work experience in the wonderful world of litigation I decided against it. I came to realise that most law isn't exciting and wild. It's filing paperwork and boring cases.



Huddersfield offered the course I was interested in doing and was close to Leeds with events of the music subculture I was deeply rooted in. Arriving at the University of Huddersfield to complete my degree in English with Creative Writing, I was more than ready to plunge myself into the realm of academia. Sitting in a lecture theatre for the first time felt exhilarating. I had hopes of becoming a teacher of English literature when I began the course. I was more than ready to surround myself with like-minded folk and open my mind to explore the depths of human conciousness and challenge myself. Sadly it wasn't as easy as I'd hoped.

In first year the grades we received didn't count and so the shiny, impressive grades that I did receive meant nothing. Similarly the mediocre grades I received posed no threat. It was a year of jumping through
hoops and meeting deadlines to prove that we were able to continue on to the next academic stage. This was a good year for my growth in many ways. I moved across the country. Pushing myself into halls I was excited to meet new people and to search out the so called 'student experience'. Storthes Hall was the student accommodation for me: like my family home it was surrounded by forest. Set in the middle of nowhere I expected a nice, quiet home where I could study and go on long walks on the weekend. Unfortunately if you isolate students and give them the privacy to make as much noise and mess as they can... they will. I lived with eight other people and yet I'd never felt so alone. I eventually caved and bought pets to have a friendly face to come home to. That's when I bought my three rats: Mekare, Maharet and Rabies. This was the only year I had exams which I really studied hard for despite the fact the grades for them wouldn't contribute to my overall degree. Focusing on my key interest, creative writing, I tried to remain positive. The first year of creative writing as a subject was a strange experience. Many approach writing as something very personal that they've created and to share it is to leave yourself open for criticism on something very personal. Writing had to be done to weekly deadlines, a forced creation made solely for classroom criticism. Work would be returned with the arbitrary yet ever popular motto: show don't tell, but always without explanation of what it meant or how to do this. Writing began to feel like something formulaic, something simply to be criticised, where the joy of writing itself had been taken. It may be the first instance where aspiring writers show their work and receive criticism and have had no prior experience of such a process. We had one tutor who I shan't name who was notoriously awful. There was once a two hour seminar in which the tutor told us to write a scene with a character we'd previously created waiting to meet someone at a speed dating event. Then he left the seminar room for about 20 minutes. Then he came back in and told us to create a new character and bring them into the situation for the speed dating, someone who the first character didn't like and thus created some tension. Again, he vanished for about half an hour, and we sat and wrote wondering what the point to all this was. Over the next hour or so he kept doing this. He'd simply pop up and say 'Now have a new character come into the scene and interrupt them' before running off. At the end of the seminar, when he asked us what we thought the point of the exercise was, someone piped up saying it had been pointless and the characters he had put together would never be in that situation in real life.
'Aha!' the tutor exclaimed 'that is the point of the lesson'
Then once more he vanished, the lesson was over.
Yes. This actually happened. At university.
It didn't shock us that he didn't return to the staff the following year.

First year was good, but very challenging. I was doing modules I'd never done before. We would study everything from literary theory to speech therapy foundation skills. At this point, because there was little stress, I found enjoyable. It was a challenge but I found myself able to cope with it.

Second year was Hellish. In fact half way through second year I considered dropping out completely. I started to wonder if I was on the wrong course and doubted my place at university at all. I began to realise that I was out of my comfort zone. Academia was never my thing and I found myself wondering why I decided to put myself back into the realm of education and essays. My confidence began to dwindle and soon I found myself unable to even speak in seminars. I went from the girl who studied Theatre Studies at A Level and performed daily to someone that sat at the back terrified of saying the wrong thing.

The only reason I stayed was knowing that I didn't want to be the girl who decided to quit half way. I certainly didn't want to disappoint my parents either. I knew if I quit then I'd hold the shame forever. Hell, if I was already half way there that was half the battle fought. I went through some sort of small emotional breakdown I'd rather not discuss fully. Eventually I found myself not caring about work until the very last minute. I received no help, no special treatment, no deadline extensions. I wish I'd said something and maybe asked for help and extensions. How else would they have known I was drowning in my own fears? I remember having minor worries I now recognise as small panic attacks and my sleep pattern was eventually totally messed up. I did well enough in second year, but not as great as I could have done. In creative writing we looked at script-writing which was certainly new and interesting. Creative writing was the only module I enjoyed or even felt a spark of confidence in but during my first and second years my tutors didn't like my work. The grading for the creative writing portfolios often seemed arbitrary. How exactly does one grade something so open to opinion? The critical and cultural theory module was fascinating but I was perpetually unable to articulate my thoughts in class. Renaissance poetry and the Romantics were modules I suffered through. None of this study, it felt, would ever benefit me later in life. I had abandoned my dreams of teaching for fear of a total loss of sanity; the last thing I wanted in life was more grades and exam papers floating around my conciousness.

In third year I was desperate to improve my grades and found myself getting firsts and 2:1 grades. I tackled a dissertation and regained my confidence in creative writing. Academia forces us to look at art through a specific lens, to jump through hoops, to gain marks. To judge any form of art to a grading scheme seems arcane. What is artistic and beautiful to one person may be a hopeless travesty to another. Take my third year writing portfolio, for example: I wrote a story filled with violence, inappropriate sex scenes and a barrel-load of swear words.

It received top marks. 

In fact it was this moment that I deem so important to my education. It was a story I had written because I wanted to do something different. The module itself was concerned with experiments in narrative. My confidence had slowly been torn down, my passion for writing sinking with it. All it took was one zany tutor to re-build my lost hope. His praise and encouragement for my  third year portfolio got me writing again. Without him I would probably not have started blogging or even writing again. He made me believe my work was worth publishing. He reignited a dream I thought had burned out. The story in question is an experimental piece I wrote called 'One' which I'll be seeking publication for this summer. This year, apart from in creative writing modules, my confidence hasn't grown much. In fact the other day I had a horrible string of panic attacks over the simple completion and reading of a conference paper. I still can't speak up in class, still find myself with feelings of severe anxiety and inferiority. I'm not sure where this sudden crippling anxiety came from when it was never present at any previous stage of my education.

To this day I've never failed an exam, I've never missed a university deadline. I do, however, feel that university has somewhat damaged my confidence. At Sixth Form College I was the girl in Theatre Studies lessons who would gladly get up and perform before an audience, in English class I spoke through many presentations, I was the girl who would often speak her mind in class. Since coming to university I've become that person at the back with their lips sewn shut, raising their hand once every now and then for some input when I can give it so that the tutor is less likely to call on me later for being previously silent. I've hardly been able to engage with seminar discussions. Before university I don't think I had ever had a panic attack. Being surrounded by those with more confidence and intelligence than me created a shrivelled wallflower of me; voiceless and defeated I struggled.

There are days when I question why I came to university, specifically for a literature course. I have a really short attention span when it comes to reading. I enjoy reading, it's true, but I struggle with it. It takes such dedication and commitment to settle down and focus on a book. My mind is too easily distracted to commit wholeheartedly to a book. A course where I'd have to read to deadlines, whole novels and epic poems for around four modules a week, was a reality I was all too disillusioned with once my education at university began.



Since the start of university some friendly faces have vanished either from quitting the course or dropping back a year. Some people have changed/tweaked their modules. Not all of us who stood in the Creative Arts Building back in 2010 will reach the finish line together but I'm glad to know I'll be graduating with my friends. We've worked hard to get here and I'm sure for all of us there will be a shared sense of pride.

I may sound awfully pessimistic, but I promise you it's not all bad. I do have very mixed emotions about this time of my life but I have come to learn a lot. What I have gained from university is some wonderful friends and contacts. What I have learned about creative writing has been invaluable. Do I wish I never came to university? Sometimes. But I remind myself that I shall go on to be a better writer because of what I've learned here. Sure - it may mean that only six modules will have benefited my future career path as a writer. There are days where I wish I had simply taken a creative writing course. My hope is that having a degree will help me to secure a good graduate job somewhere so that I can work whilst I write. I've also met such wonderful friends and made some great connections here suggesting that it is the people we meet that shape the university experience. If I never came to university I wouldn't have had the chance to work with a radio station for the three years I've been here. I wouldn't have written some of the stories or poetry that will hopefully be published some day. I would have missed out on so many friends and the things they themselves have taught me. My education wasn't simply what appeared in the lecture theatres at the university; I have learned so much more about myself during this process. I was given an opportunity to examine my weaknesses and consider my strengths. I'm still not entirely sure how I feel on the matter. Perhaps I'll never have a settled opinion. I'm currently looking forward to leaving my student life behind and moving onto what lies beyond. I've been a student all my life until now. I want to take my degree, find myself a graduate job and work whilst using my creative writing skills to finish a novel and a few collections of stories and poetry by the end of the year.

It's only now that it is over that I can feel how much I've learned. University has really opened my mind to a lot of things and given me some wonderful opportunities. I've made wonderful friends and explored part of the country I had only previously heard of. There was a lot of stress and sadness during the process but I am confident in the knowledge that it has made me a better person.

My advice to anyone considering university is to give real thought to the decision. This is something you will spend several years of your life doing. It will test you. It must, therefore, be something worth committing to and only you can decide how much worth it is to you. Many of us go to university because we're not sure what we'd do otherwise, it may seem logical for the job we want to do or everyone around us is suggesting it as the path for us. The only person who should decide your university education for you is you.

If you're part way through your higher education and having doubts or worries, remember it's not just you...


If your happiness and mental health are seriously at risk then don't feel bad about dropping out if that's what you really need to do. You could even speak to the university and see about taking a year out or getting help specific to your needs. It is imperative to ensure that you get the most out of the university experience.

Ultimately, the decision is yours. I simply urge you to think through the decision. It may be the best and most influential period of your life, but it could also be a time of trials and regret. Just ensure to be careful in your decisions. I hope that if you choose to study it brings you the keys to unlock your future. If you choose to not study I wish you the same. 

To all the students graduating this year - congratulations! You did it! I hope whatever lies ahead brings you great joy and that you never forget this process. I hope you got as much out of this time as possible and that it benefits your future. To all those considering a place at university I simply urge you to question whether the course, or university itself, is right for you and your goals.

This was a long post. Kudos to anyone who stuck with it.
Thank you, blog-ghosts.

Song of the Day: Send Me An Angel by Real Life

Did someone order some cheese?
I don't know. I had this song swirling around my head today.
I hope that it'll swirl around your head too.
Enjoy,


Monday 13 May 2013

Monday Update

One of the chicks seems to have a lot of problems so I am currently paying her a lot of extra attention to keep her alive. I have to feed her, give her water, keep her warm, make sure the other chicks don't pick on her too much.

Understandably that has taken most of my time today. In my spare moments I've been applying for jobs, the most interesting job thus far being a tutor of creative writing. Ha! I doubt I'll get it but I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

Song of the Day: Over The Love by Florence + The Machine

Ok.
I resisted for a long time but I am now officially excited about the upcoming 'The Great Gatsby' movie.
It looks so beautiful, I'm a big fan of Luhrmann's work, and I can't wait to see it.
Today our song of the day is another taken from the soundtrack.
I was already a Florence + the Machine fan.
Enjoy,