Written to: Kanye West and Estelle - American Boy
Liz Jones' article in today's Daily Mail is one I have mixed feelings about. Entitled How pop became PORN, she goes on about her disgust at music videos and their objectification of women.
I can completely understand what she means. Most hip-hop videos make me feel awkward and it's unnecesary. At the moment that Iyaz song comes to mind, where most of the focus is on some girl whose bikini is too small. Since trying to search it for you all to see, I've since found out that there is a milder version posted on his YouTube channel with a girl who is much more covered up. Whether that is to meet Virgin Islands culture I do not know, but it certainly suggests the video was changed for the British (and American) audience.
As much as I believe that showing women in this light is not 'right', we have to remember that this is a man's world and, to be frank, it sells. Iyaz's Replay went straight to number one. I'm sure Rihanna's Rude Boy will too this week, which is also mentioned in the article. It's the most blatent sexual video and song she's released and to be honest has some of the most hilarious lyrics I've heard. I wonder how literal the girls who listen to this would actually take it.
It's difficult to say how kids will react to this kind of thing, but they do have a choice. It's the sort of thing they will only go looking for anyway and is almost unavoidable now.
Annoying moral conservatveness aside, what really bugs me about the Mail is their insentivity and need to limit everything into a sweeping sentence. When mentioning Rihanna, Jones says this: " an American popstar most famous for having been beaten up by her boyfriend". Excuse me, but how does this empower women exactly? Not only was Rihanna hugely successful before that scumbag, but that was a serious issue in her life and many other women's lives that should not be used in such a cutting way.
This contradiction shows just how meaningless feminism and half the crap the Daily Mail churns out is.
Saturday, 27 February 2010
Tuesday, 23 February 2010
My Plug-in Baby
Written to: Whurring of London buses
Shameless plug today my friends. I'm currently working for these people, give them a few more page hits :P
http://www.traveldaily.co.uk/
Trains, Center Parcs, Devon website, Kingfisher, SITA and BA stories are mine. Also I wrote the Madeira story on the newsletter (second 'top headline', page 2)
Peace.
Shameless plug today my friends. I'm currently working for these people, give them a few more page hits :P
http://www.traveldaily.co.uk/
Trains, Center Parcs, Devon website, Kingfisher, SITA and BA stories are mine. Also I wrote the Madeira story on the newsletter (second 'top headline', page 2)
Peace.
Thursday, 18 February 2010
Music is my life you see
Written to: I Turn To You - Melanie C
My commutes to and from London have resulted in me listening to my iPod alot. Out of laziness and convenience I usually just go straight to my recently played list and let the last 152 songs roll on. And on. And on. A few days later and I've become incredibly bored of these songs. Not wanting to go 'oh look I have an iPod, and Blackberry, and god knows what' I try to keep it in my bag, so just switched to a general shuffle setting.
But this did not feed what I wanted either, as I ended up skipping most of them. What is it that is making me keep all these random songs, half of which I've never listened to? Well, partly because I'll pick up anything that's free. Partly because 'you never know'. Partly because I love different music. Partly to try and fill up the 80GB iPod (I'm currently only at 15 anyway!).
Nevertheless even when I've come to make a playlist in the last week, there's nothing jumping out to say 'listen to me'. I've been turning back to my old favourites and actually listening to whole albums: Songs About Jane, From Under the Cork Tree, Northern Star, Inside In/Inside Out.
I'm quite worried that there is nothing I'm particularly enthralled by, even a listen to The Fame seemed quite tame today. Perhaps I've just not been listening to the right thing for the mood I'm in. But God, I even spent a train journey home with no music today and that is very unlike me.
What doesn't help is the fact that my earphones have broken, so only the left ear works. Having the right one in but no sound coming out is actually a bit strange.
If you have any recommendations of bands or artists with melodic songs that have a bit of attitude, let me know. Doesn't matter if it's rock, dance or pop, although I'd like to know what they're saying so I can sing along. For now I'll resist buying the tonnes of albums I could buy...
My commutes to and from London have resulted in me listening to my iPod alot. Out of laziness and convenience I usually just go straight to my recently played list and let the last 152 songs roll on. And on. And on. A few days later and I've become incredibly bored of these songs. Not wanting to go 'oh look I have an iPod, and Blackberry, and god knows what' I try to keep it in my bag, so just switched to a general shuffle setting.
But this did not feed what I wanted either, as I ended up skipping most of them. What is it that is making me keep all these random songs, half of which I've never listened to? Well, partly because I'll pick up anything that's free. Partly because 'you never know'. Partly because I love different music. Partly to try and fill up the 80GB iPod (I'm currently only at 15 anyway!).
Nevertheless even when I've come to make a playlist in the last week, there's nothing jumping out to say 'listen to me'. I've been turning back to my old favourites and actually listening to whole albums: Songs About Jane, From Under the Cork Tree, Northern Star, Inside In/Inside Out.
I'm quite worried that there is nothing I'm particularly enthralled by, even a listen to The Fame seemed quite tame today. Perhaps I've just not been listening to the right thing for the mood I'm in. But God, I even spent a train journey home with no music today and that is very unlike me.
What doesn't help is the fact that my earphones have broken, so only the left ear works. Having the right one in but no sound coming out is actually a bit strange.
If you have any recommendations of bands or artists with melodic songs that have a bit of attitude, let me know. Doesn't matter if it's rock, dance or pop, although I'd like to know what they're saying so I can sing along. For now I'll resist buying the tonnes of albums I could buy...
Monday, 15 February 2010
I hope you had the time of your life
Written to: 22 - Lily Allen
Sorry I haven't updated in forever but now that I'm having to do the work experience circuit there's just no time after hour commutes (God, they are horrible).
I'm on my second week at Oxygen 10 working on their Celebrity Angels and Seasons magazines. It's going really well, I've written about 6 web stories that I uploaded myself as well, been doing bits of research and have written a four page feature!
The editor called me in Wednesday to ask if I would record a wine tasting session, prompting the conversation, between Michel Roux Jnr, David Ginola and a sommelier. Yes please! We headed to Le Gavroche in the Marble Arch area and I basically had to just record their conversation. When I got in the office the next day they asked if I wanted to write the 2,000 word feature, which of course I jumped at the chance to do!
So overall it's been pretty amazing. And there's still a few days to go!
Meanwhile I spent my weekend working so haven't had a day off in 9 days. Oh the joys of living the dream. I'm a walking cliche!
Sorry I haven't updated in forever but now that I'm having to do the work experience circuit there's just no time after hour commutes (God, they are horrible).
I'm on my second week at Oxygen 10 working on their Celebrity Angels and Seasons magazines. It's going really well, I've written about 6 web stories that I uploaded myself as well, been doing bits of research and have written a four page feature!
The editor called me in Wednesday to ask if I would record a wine tasting session, prompting the conversation, between Michel Roux Jnr, David Ginola and a sommelier. Yes please! We headed to Le Gavroche in the Marble Arch area and I basically had to just record their conversation. When I got in the office the next day they asked if I wanted to write the 2,000 word feature, which of course I jumped at the chance to do!
So overall it's been pretty amazing. And there's still a few days to go!
Meanwhile I spent my weekend working so haven't had a day off in 9 days. Oh the joys of living the dream. I'm a walking cliche!
Sunday, 31 January 2010
I've been travelling on this road too long
Written to: Many of Horror - Biffy Clyro
I must admit that being single has certainly messed around with my head the past few months. Or should I really say that the guys I have been speaking to/seen/etc have been instead. Men, please, learn to listen, flirt, not mess around and ask us out for drinks.
Regardless, I've found myself thinking more and more about wanting a boyfriend, but for no particular reason. I'm at a stage in my life where I need the freedom, no attachments. I can see where they are stopping some people from doing what they want. Perhaps it's because everyone around me but my 15 year old cousin is in a relationship, all happily loved up in their own little world. It's sickening at the moment to be honest.
Then I see new couples who are together, or started, for all the wrong reasons. There's been quite a few of these recently, mainly all sprung from insecurities or "needing" someone. Is there still a stigma attached to being young, carefree and single? Or in this fragmented world are people just clinging onto whatever they can find?
What bugs me are the times when I need that hug, someone to say it will be ok, or that I know they are there. Right now I would LOVE for someone to meet me after work and take me for a drink. Hey, if any of you lot want to do that Valentine's Day, I'll be at work til 11ish when all the couples have emptied out of the restaurant to go and have sex.
For now, until that right guy comes along I will continue to gaze at the beautiful members of your species and shower my best friend with affection instead. Although I may have to cut down on the public Facebook loving. Don't want to look too lesbianic now, do we?
Remember that it's easier to be cynical, that way there are no expectations to be met and people surprise you more!
I must admit that being single has certainly messed around with my head the past few months. Or should I really say that the guys I have been speaking to/seen/etc have been instead. Men, please, learn to listen, flirt, not mess around and ask us out for drinks.
Regardless, I've found myself thinking more and more about wanting a boyfriend, but for no particular reason. I'm at a stage in my life where I need the freedom, no attachments. I can see where they are stopping some people from doing what they want. Perhaps it's because everyone around me but my 15 year old cousin is in a relationship, all happily loved up in their own little world. It's sickening at the moment to be honest.
Then I see new couples who are together, or started, for all the wrong reasons. There's been quite a few of these recently, mainly all sprung from insecurities or "needing" someone. Is there still a stigma attached to being young, carefree and single? Or in this fragmented world are people just clinging onto whatever they can find?
What bugs me are the times when I need that hug, someone to say it will be ok, or that I know they are there. Right now I would LOVE for someone to meet me after work and take me for a drink. Hey, if any of you lot want to do that Valentine's Day, I'll be at work til 11ish when all the couples have emptied out of the restaurant to go and have sex.
For now, until that right guy comes along I will continue to gaze at the beautiful members of your species and shower my best friend with affection instead. Although I may have to cut down on the public Facebook loving. Don't want to look too lesbianic now, do we?
Remember that it's easier to be cynical, that way there are no expectations to be met and people surprise you more!
Sunday, 17 January 2010
We are family...
Written to: What's My Age Again? - Blink 182
Before I properly begin to talk about today's events I'll give you a bit of history. My nan was 82 on Thursday, one of NINE who barely speaks to her family due to on-going grudges and rows that never got sorted. Plus they all had too much pride to swallow, pick up the phone and ask how they were. Because of this, there is a huge part of my life that I don't know about.
Today two of my mum's cousins came over as part of a surprise gathering for my nan and it was amazing to hear their stories. There are Irish connections in my family, apparently a great aunt even married a Romany gypsy. Loads of my mum's cousins and they're kids live around Essex, some in the towns I visit regularly, or ones that are next to us.
My nan was one of the youngest, born in 1928. The mothers of these cousins (her sisters) were born in 1911 and 1912 (nearly 100 years ago!), so they were the same age as my nan rather than my mum. This is strange for me as my closest cousins are around my age, not my mum's!
It's incredible that I could have met, served, been served, walked past any of these people over the past 21 years and never known who they are. Part of me is angry for my nan to have not kept in touch with people, but I'm glad I have the rest of my life to meet them.
We're gathering data now so my mum can create a family tree. I can't wait!
Before I properly begin to talk about today's events I'll give you a bit of history. My nan was 82 on Thursday, one of NINE who barely speaks to her family due to on-going grudges and rows that never got sorted. Plus they all had too much pride to swallow, pick up the phone and ask how they were. Because of this, there is a huge part of my life that I don't know about.
Today two of my mum's cousins came over as part of a surprise gathering for my nan and it was amazing to hear their stories. There are Irish connections in my family, apparently a great aunt even married a Romany gypsy. Loads of my mum's cousins and they're kids live around Essex, some in the towns I visit regularly, or ones that are next to us.
My nan was one of the youngest, born in 1928. The mothers of these cousins (her sisters) were born in 1911 and 1912 (nearly 100 years ago!), so they were the same age as my nan rather than my mum. This is strange for me as my closest cousins are around my age, not my mum's!
It's incredible that I could have met, served, been served, walked past any of these people over the past 21 years and never known who they are. Part of me is angry for my nan to have not kept in touch with people, but I'm glad I have the rest of my life to meet them.
We're gathering data now so my mum can create a family tree. I can't wait!
Friday, 15 January 2010
Pub Dilemma #5 and #6
Written to: Taio Cruz - Come on Girl
Two this week because I've neglected it! Let me know some views please, and follow me if you're a regular reader!
Would you rather wet yourself everytime you hear "saucepan" or live with Kim Woodburn?
Ha, well. That depends how often you would hear the word saucepan really isn't it? Although I wouldn't want to take the risk of ever going into a restaurant or department store in fear that I may randomly wet myself. No.
Kim Woodburn would be bloody hilarious to live with! She'd always keep the place tidy, look after me and scare away the useless men who can't handle real women. She gets my vote anyday!
And...
Would you rather eat gum off the pavement or help a fat man go to the loo for a week?
Eurgh eurgh eurgh to both. But gum, all the way. Get it over and done with in one quick go. Or "one swell foop", as a BBC commentator said at the weekend. But still, eurgh.
Two this week because I've neglected it! Let me know some views please, and follow me if you're a regular reader!
Would you rather wet yourself everytime you hear "saucepan" or live with Kim Woodburn?
Ha, well. That depends how often you would hear the word saucepan really isn't it? Although I wouldn't want to take the risk of ever going into a restaurant or department store in fear that I may randomly wet myself. No.
Kim Woodburn would be bloody hilarious to live with! She'd always keep the place tidy, look after me and scare away the useless men who can't handle real women. She gets my vote anyday!
And...
Would you rather eat gum off the pavement or help a fat man go to the loo for a week?
Eurgh eurgh eurgh to both. But gum, all the way. Get it over and done with in one quick go. Or "one swell foop", as a BBC commentator said at the weekend. But still, eurgh.
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