In a month from now, I will no longer be a student for the second time. The first time when my official student status expired I was on tenterhooks hoping I would be able to become one once more. Now that my second tenure as a student is slowly fading, I know that this time there will be no third time of university life. And I never thought I would be saying this but I'm actually going to miss it.
I remember back during the first two years of my undergrad degree I was miserable. I hated uni with a passion; I couldn't fit, I felt out of place and totally inferior. As I had opted for a Welsh langauge degree I knew it was going to be tough. But as it got tougher I just couldn't fight it and I had the urge to simply give up. in my lifetime I've never had to work so hard for something for in school, I could work and get by by not doing too much. Now, staring at the abyss of my academic career, I just wanted out. I drank myself stupid with all school friends who didnt go to uni and I was happy with that at the time. In the end, I reverted to a full History degree (as I was doing part Welsh, part Welsh history) and continued with my head down on the work. Still not truly happy however.
But in the third year, when it mattered, I finally came into my own. I finally learnt that uni was not such an intimidating place but was actually a really cool way of life. Once I got my degree I knew I wanted to do another degree in my heart, as the first did not have all teh attention I could give it. Another of life's academic challenges which I winged, just so i didn't have to put too much effort in. But once I got my desired degree place in Political Theory, I knew that I would find it tough. I reflected back to my Welsh degree and realised how much of a child I was back then. I hadn't grown up at all. Now I had the chance to do something different. Now I felt that this degree was for me - under my decision and something I could really look towards.
Reaching the end of that degree I know I have found it hard. But I have enjoyed it all. And now I know I have at least grown up a bit more. After a year too of living like a student in Cathays, I finally realise what a student life is all about and I regret leaving it now when I have just embraced it.
Concerning the diss, I am in the middle of Chapter Three, which is untitled as of yet but will analyse utilitarian arguments in the rights discourse of Tryweryn. That will put me a good half-way through the essay, and then my final chapter will discuss whether Tryweryn was a national struggle or a moral struggle. Perhaps the toughest chapter to write - but if I can pull it off, it will be the most rewarding I feel. Watch this space for further developments.
E3 MGS4 Trailer - Metal Gear Solid 4
| 15 minute E3 trailer of MGS4 - Metal Gear Solid 4 If you have some time and if you are a fan of the MGS series - you are gonna love this. I can't wait for MGS4! | |
How Orwellian is modern day Big Brother?
If you have been lucky enough to read 'Nineteen Eighty-Four' by George Orwell you will know that the very concept of Big Brother is one of an all seeing, all knowing entity which regulates everything with a strict control of fear and indoctrination. Im guessing this is common knowledge by now. But one thing has been bothering me about the game show this week - how much is the show organised to control our feelings and to create our prejudices against some housemates? In other words - does the show tell us who to hate and who to love?
Its something which has always played on my mind. I always thought that by offering a text vote to the public you would get a democratic response to who should be evicted - in effect, the one which should leave is the one the public wishes to evict. But with the media offering their own strong opinions about who is a good or bad housemate, personal judgment can often be lost into a mass of propaganda.
And if that myth about video editing for the nighty hour is true, about presenting some housemates in more positive light and others in a more negative light, arent we just being fooled into voting someone out to please some bigwig who is doing what he can to ensure a certain victor? Wouldn't that just make the whole thing a sham? Especially we have recently heard that housemates are 'bred' and trialled in the Big Brother experience before they even set a foot into the house.
My thoughts have been provoked after Mikey's departure this evening - he was no favourite to go at any point in the programme. He was presented in a bad light this week and went as a result. Now Mikey may have deserved it - but how much did the factors of the media affect the public's decision making?
The fear factor may not be prominent in the Channel Four game show. But is the brainwashing occurring right under our very noses?
The One That Got Away
Courtesy of the fabulous tool that Google Maps provides, I have an aerial view of the recent castle Jen and I just could not find. For you see, that building above is Old Beaupre, which stands roughly 4 miles away from Cowbridge. This hidden gem is even signposted - but it still could not be found. Once we failed in our quest and returned home, I immediately sought sanctuary to my favourite mapping website. And Voila!... just as easily as you can acquire an aerial photo of any air base in the world, Old Beaupre is framed in a piccie quicker than you can say "stone walls".
Therefore this castle will remain to be..... the one that got away.
"The New Transmission"
Hello to all out there and I hope you are all well. It has been a while, but I can't certainly claim that my time has been tight of late. Since I broke my finger, its been manic. I have recently gone to Tunisia with Jen, which was brilliant! Very sunny out there and we both learned a lot about the country too. I wish I could have written a blog on it but as I have noted, I've not the chance to get into a blogging frame of mind. Not to worry, the pics of the holiday will be up on the pics real soon.
So when we returned to Cardiff (on World Cup Final day might i add), it wasn't long before we were planning our next trip. Jen, Leighton and myself went on a North Walian adventure on the following Wednesday to get some source materials for my dissertation. Turns out, I got very little for my efforts but we all enjoyed the sights of Gogledd Cymru, including Harlech Castle, Barmouth, Aberystwyth, Snowdonia, Llangollen, Llyn Celyn and also a final stop in the Scouser heartland, Liverpool. The pics for that will also be up soon. Again, I would love to blog about this trip but time is not on my side. One thing that I have to mention tho... On returning, we noticed on a road sign on the Welshpool bypass a small village called 'Leighton', which in Welsh is translated as 'Tre'r Llai'. As you can imagine (especially if you are acquainted with the patriotic Welsh speaking dysgwr himself) that information has not been forgotten easily around Argos Cardiff Bay! Well done for the Welsh effort Leight! Dal ati!
Well back at home (because I now live with mum and dad again) I have no room. Well I tell a whopping lie there... for I have two at my disposal. Alas, one has Man Utd wallpaper and the other is too small for any of my stuff. So I have been on a mini re-decorating mission - although I have not been bothered to see it through! Jen and I managed to strip the hideous figures of Giggs, Sharpe, Cole and Keane from the walls, but no further work has taken of yet. Living at home is certainly strange and quite different from the shenanigans I had been pulling off at Casa del Cathays.... although now, those days are but a distant memory. Jen nd I are now planning to save for a housie so wish us luck!
The dissertation is going ok, despite being a bit behind. Im working like the clappers to be back on top and am now ploughing on with the second chapter concerning minority rights. The first chapter, concerning water rights, could have been better, but some new evidence from Aberystwyth will hopefully give it a boost.
The pic above is from a layby stop on the A487 between Aberaeron and Aberystwyth and is almost a landmark in its own right as a mural. I wont insult your intelligence by revealing it's message, but lets just say it features highly in my dissertation research. It also serves as a gentle reminder to get on with my work whenever I slack off!
Albums to check out - the new Muse album rocks, despite I think I over listened to it on my return trip to Aber though. The new Lostprophets album is also good, but a little disappointing. It has some good tracks but as a whole it lacked that little something. Can't wait for the new James Dean Bradfield solo album, which comes my way very soon.
My last point goes to the mighty TTFE - who a few weeks ago, recorded their biggest win. Well done lads!
My First (and probably last) World Cup Post
Howdy folks, I'm back and better than ever. As you may know, I recently injured my finger whilst playing for QVR and was had to have an operation to straighten the little blighter back in shape. To do this, a wire was inserted into my finger and before long I dubbed the man with the 'bionic finger' by my peers (well mainly Emma). However today, coincidently being the happiest day of the year, the wire has been removed and I am no longer the bionic wonder I used to be. I am still confined to a splint, which sucks because I really would like to drive and I miss it so much. I suppose I cannot moan too much, at least I'm not some Wolverine wannabe!I wish I could tell you of my adventure with the NHS but i can't be arsed. All that waiting and painful clock watching finally became routine to me, week after week of accepting that a trip to the Trauma Clinic was a complete waste of an hour or two in bed. I don't need to exaggerate the sheer shambolic state of our health service; I'm sure Nye Bevan would have never wanted to see cluttered waiting rooms and piss poor ambulance call out times in his vision of a national health service. I just hate the fact that I settled for that being the norm because it shouldn't be. We do expect more for our tax money, don't we? To conclude this frustrating sector of the post two words - General Anaesthetic. Damn, I didn't realise how much of a punch that stuff can have......
My picture above should be recognisable to you by now as World Cup fever has dominated our TV screens. Hawarden's finest son (notice the stress upon the town of which he was born) Michael Owen, pictured above, is now out of the World Cup after injuring himself in the first minute of England's clash against Sweden. Maybe now Theo Walcott can have a shot at playing in this year's tournament, although Sven seems to be content in sticking with Rooney and Crouch. I certainly hope Walcott gets a game because he seems to be a real one for the future. Besides that, what is the point of taking someone you are not going to play? Im sure Darren Bent and Jermaine Defoe are cursing a certain Swede right as we speak!
Last week Jen, Chris, Greg and I took on Cornwall and won. Well, if you consider a £18 quid Sun holiday with accomodation the size of a closet winning then you can suppose I have won a lot in my life! We stayed just outisde of Newquay in a small caravan and chalet park with a pool, crazy golf, clubhouse...... oh yeah I just forgot, Jen wrote about this on her blog. Check out all the details on there. Pictures will also be up soon, so watch this space.
For all my other news, here it is condensed in small meaty chunks!
Cant wait to go to Tunisia next week * Dissertation has been started * Planning a trip to Liverpool via Aberysytwyth and North Wales * Saudi Arabia are my work sweepstake team and Im sure they will be eliminated tonight (what a surprise!)
Like to be branded? You'll love this....
 | You scored as Emo. Your Totally Emo!
What Group Are You? Chav, Rocker, Skater, Emo, Goth, Trendy, Prepy Ect created with QuizFarm.com |
I certainly would agree with this!
Just a teaser for now, but I will return with a mammoth post about my adventures wih the lovable NHS. Enjoy!
The Moment of Truth
This is my album square in its completed form. These are the albums I consider to be the best as a whole album to listen to. I have tried to be fair to genres by inserting a reflection of which ones I am into, but at the same time I have not placed something in there for the sake of doing so. They all have presence in the square down to their down-right awesomeness.
Codeseven - The Rescue
Perhaps the biggest unknown out of all nine, Codeseven are a group of lads from the States which started as a death metal outfit, but mellowed (a bit) into a 'screamo-emo' band in later albums. The Rescue is the album after this dramatic change and it sounds really good as a collective whole. Good to listen to when you're in a bad mood, but also great to listen to when you need to reflect on things.
Weezer - Weezer (Blue Album)
I heard 'Buddy Holly' for the first time in 1996 when I received my first PC. The music video was included in the Windows 95 package as one of those 'promo' videos to show the power and capability of what Windows's new offspring could do (makes you laugh now, don't you think?) and I loved it. But I never made the connection that it was Weezer. Then when we rolled into the 'noughties' I heard 'Hash Pipe' and then loved that too. I think I was advised to get the Blue Album soon after and I fell in love with an album with such raw, simplistic melodies. I was reunited with 'Buddy Holly' and got to know its better friends, such as 'My Name is Jonas' and 'Say it Ain't So', and I just knew that this was a very special album.
Rage Against The Machine - Rage Against The Machine
At first, I preferred The Battle of Los Angeles. However it wasn't long before I began to appreciate their first, self-titled album. The melody of anarchy can be performed in many ways, but this is the nearest you will get. Im assure you that once you have listened to this you will want to do two things; (1) Bop your head up and down in a systematic mosh and (2) rise up and stick two fingers to the 'man'. This music is in a genre of its own - Rage.
Green Day - Nimrod
A remarkable record indeed. Nimrod is pre-political Green Day at their finest. A fine mix of punk for all occassions, this album is absolutely brilliant to listen to as a whole. Despite this fact, the album has so many well-known singles which stand out for own merits, i.e. 'Nice Guys Finish Last', 'Hitchin' a Ride' and the overplayed 'Good Riddance'. Perhaps my most favorite album of all time.
Muse - Origin of Symmetry
Wins a place for its sheer genius. Again a band I didn't like at first; on my first listening of Showbiz, I condemned it for being too 'slow and depressing'. My my, how shallow I was. I soon returned to Showbiz after listening the Origin of Symmetry, to understand the true nature of Muse's work. 'New Born' is a musical masterpiece, whilst 'Citizen Erased' is perhaps one of the beautiful songs ever made. Ever better live.
Mad Caddies - Rock The Plank
The only ska-punk album in the nine, but it is definitely not here to make up a genre fulfillment. Rock The Plank is a typical Caddies album, with catchy ska-punk-rock tunes loaded with brass, but it differs as the whole album has a 'pirate' theme to it. A great listen from start to finish, plus it is great if you fancy sailing the open seas anytime soon.
Manic Street Preachers - The Holy Bible
Probably my fave band, The Manics recently celebrated The Holy Bible's 10 year anniversary with the re-release of the album with added extras. I've listened to Marilyn Manson and Cradle of Filth, and the other supposed 'satanist' bands which are portrayed as the spreaders of evil and hatred. But let me tell you, The Holy Bible sounds a helluva lot more evil in one sitting than any of those other bands combined. Thats the secret to it. 'The Intense Humming of Evil', a song about the Holocaust, as a title alone sends shivers down my spine.
Rammstein - Reise, Reise
The only non-English language album in the nine, Reise, Reise, is a powerful offering from the German industrial metallers. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if I heard the introduction to 'Mein Teil' in my mind if the world was about to end, as it is perfect background music for the apocalypse.
Feeder - Echo Park
Yes another Welsh band, but I assure you it is not patriotic interests displayed here. Feeder know how to rock and have never forgotten. A great album from start to finish. Also the last album before the untimely death of drummer Jon Lee, which has changed the band evidently in their later work. But as stated as above, they never forgot how to rock.
Close, but no cigar
True to the challenge Jon had set me in work a few weeks back, I have been working on my album square. The task at hand is to gather nine of your favourite albums, get images of their front covers and arrange them in a 3x3 square collage.
In this post I shall list the unlucky losers which have not made my final nine. However, they are all brilliant albums despite not being included. Sadly by process of elimination, by reasoning of my own, they did not make the grade. I shall post my top nine in the completed image square shortly, but for now enjoy the list of those which just lacked that little bit.
1st Round of Elimination (7 eliminated)
2nd and Final Round of Elimination (6 eliminated)
In this post I shall list the unlucky losers which have not made my final nine. However, they are all brilliant albums despite not being included. Sadly by process of elimination, by reasoning of my own, they did not make the grade. I shall post my top nine in the completed image square shortly, but for now enjoy the list of those which just lacked that little bit.
1st Round of Elimination (7 eliminated)
- Less Than Jake - Hello Rockview
- Ben Folds - Rockin' The Suburbs
- American Head Charge - The War of Art
- System of a Down - Toxicity
- Hundred Reasons - Ideas Above Our Station
- The Strokes - First Impressions of Earth
- NOFX - The War On Errorism
2nd and Final Round of Elimination (6 eliminated)
- Billy Talent - Billy Talent
- Unwritten Law - Elva
- Danko Jones - Born a Lion
- Hell Is For Heroes - The Neon Handshake
- The Hives - Your New Favorite Band
- Queens of the Stone Age - Songs For the Deaf
Oh Lordi Lordi!
Yes, pay homage to the new Eurovision Song Contest winners 2006! With songs such as 'They Only Come Out At Night', or even the catchy 'Would You Love a Monsterman?' you cannot help but support Lordi in their quest for Euro stardom. They represented the usually unsuccessful nation of Finland and took the prize with a landslide victory. Im so glad to see a change to the usual tedium of Eurovision. As Pugh predicted rightfully, the political voting was as strong as ever. Who would have thought it - Armenia giving the full twelve to Mother Russia!?!?! The only decent points the UK got were from Ireland and Malta - the only two which only like us! France absolutely sucked for a change and it showed. Little Brother Monaco could only give 4 points to it's Big Brother! Not to mention of course, there were marks for effort in the mullet department. The Russian entry (apparently a sex God in Eastern Europe) was a boy band member's role model, and topped it off with a mullet which is straight outta the 80's!
In other news, my recent essay has been submitted so I'm beginning the long stretch until late September with the dissertation. Wish me luck! I celebrated finishing my last essay with some new found temporary freedom, with which I watched Pulp Fiction and the new Da Vinci Code film. I must say I prefered the book to the new film of the Dan Brown classic, but I can't really be surprised by the disappointment it proved to be. Jen feels very strongly about this, but always slates film adaptations. Especially Harry Potter films! I guess the best thing to do is to watch it as a film and not pick out bits from the book. 5 stars go to Sir Ian - what a good Tebing he made!
My musical palette has been varied of late. I have very much approved of the new Chilis album, Stadium Arcadium, which I sure has been dipped in a pool of funk. It's just soo Goddamn funky! Just like the older stuff! Also I have been checking out Lordi, since they are truly superstars now they have won such a prestigious prize (ha ha!). Wolves in Wolves Clothing by NOFX is awesome too.
I have been challenged by Jon to compose a square collage of my fave albums, which I hope to get going on here soon. Look out for that and I challenge you all to do the same!!!
The Sweet Smell of Success
I begin this edition of One Man with some exciting news regarding TTFE in our new season at the Gol Centre. We grabbed our first win this evening in a tense game which ended 2-1. That isn't just our first win in the new league, but its our first win EVER! Its a good win for the lads who thoroughly deserve some success after the effort which has gone into the team. Well done TTFE! Let this be the first of many!
On the university front I gather all is well at the moment. I have still to do my Human Rights essay, but its coming on nicely as I type. Some of you anoraks our there may spot this isn't a road sign in my native city and therefore it does not point to my own uni.... so where am I?
Newport?
HELL NO!
Bristol?
There's Welsh on there you dumbass!
Pontypridd?
No, not adventurous enough!
Giveup? Or in Rolf Harris-esque way, 'Can you tell what it is yet'?
No?
Well here's a final clue....
Which famous Welsh city has the most awesome land train in the world? Yes, it belongs to our friends the Jacks! I recent went to Swansea on a book hunt for the essay I on working on and was tempted not to return. The weather was so nice that day and an excursion to the Gower was certainly on the cards! Happy 50 years to the Gower for being an 'area of outsetanding beauty' and a complimentary congrats to SCFC who next Saturday have their second visit to the Millennium Stadium this season. Lee, this time please - keep any anti-city banners back in the Liberty where they belong.
In other news - I recently felt very embarrassed as I had left Jenny's keys in the front door overnight. Everyone could have had free access to the car and the house that night, and yet amazingly, no-one had taken them. Very lucky for this author let me tell you!
Also we have been invaded. No not by any extra-terrestial fellows, but some of the more annoying kind. Yes ants. I hate them so much (almost as much as the media, but I will get back to that later) I had to go to Tesco as soon as possible and purchase some ant-killing goods, then I seriously opened up a can (well not open, but sprayed violently) right down on their abdomen asses. I never felt so alive. I felt like I was judge, jury and executioner all in one, dispensing harsh justice on the small, six legged bastards.
Also just booked a holiday to Tunisia in July with Jen. Should be really cool! Expect more details from Jen, Im sure she will write loads about it on her blog!
Following on from my media rant last time two words come to mind: Melanie Slade. If you done know her name yet, don't make a fuss to find out. You will soon know her name as vividly as Colleen McLoughlin (hint hint).
To end this gargantuan post I must advertise the benefits of Tesco 'Wake Up' Orange Shower Gel. Its like pure re-energiser in a shower bottle! :D
On the university front I gather all is well at the moment. I have still to do my Human Rights essay, but its coming on nicely as I type. Some of you anoraks our there may spot this isn't a road sign in my native city and therefore it does not point to my own uni.... so where am I?
Newport?
HELL NO!
Bristol?
There's Welsh on there you dumbass!
Pontypridd?
No, not adventurous enough!
Giveup? Or in Rolf Harris-esque way, 'Can you tell what it is yet'?
No?
Well here's a final clue....
Which famous Welsh city has the most awesome land train in the world? Yes, it belongs to our friends the Jacks! I recent went to Swansea on a book hunt for the essay I on working on and was tempted not to return. The weather was so nice that day and an excursion to the Gower was certainly on the cards! Happy 50 years to the Gower for being an 'area of outsetanding beauty' and a complimentary congrats to SCFC who next Saturday have their second visit to the Millennium Stadium this season. Lee, this time please - keep any anti-city banners back in the Liberty where they belong.
In other news - I recently felt very embarrassed as I had left Jenny's keys in the front door overnight. Everyone could have had free access to the car and the house that night, and yet amazingly, no-one had taken them. Very lucky for this author let me tell you!
Also we have been invaded. No not by any extra-terrestial fellows, but some of the more annoying kind. Yes ants. I hate them so much (almost as much as the media, but I will get back to that later) I had to go to Tesco as soon as possible and purchase some ant-killing goods, then I seriously opened up a can (well not open, but sprayed violently) right down on their abdomen asses. I never felt so alive. I felt like I was judge, jury and executioner all in one, dispensing harsh justice on the small, six legged bastards.
Also just booked a holiday to Tunisia in July with Jen. Should be really cool! Expect more details from Jen, Im sure she will write loads about it on her blog!
Following on from my media rant last time two words come to mind: Melanie Slade. If you done know her name yet, don't make a fuss to find out. You will soon know her name as vividly as Colleen McLoughlin (hint hint).
To end this gargantuan post I must advertise the benefits of Tesco 'Wake Up' Orange Shower Gel. Its like pure re-energiser in a shower bottle! :D
England or America - Which one burns you up more?
I have returned from my short blogging exile with two gripes which have really got to me over the last few months. One is from the Yanks across the pond, whilst the other is directed at our neighbours over Offa's Dyke. Now I now One Man has become a nerve centre of nagging of late, but you will learn in time - this is what I do! Just ask Jen!
Gripe Number One - American TV advertising
Now I enjoy the good advert. The quality of advertising isn't at fault here. But if any of you have the channel ABC1 from your freeview or Sky boxes, you may see where I'm going with this.
If I'm not British, I'm certainly Welsh. But when its comes to TV I guess I am a typical Brit; a cup of tea with most programmes, watch the odd soap (yes now and again) and ensure that the kettle is on during the break for another cuppa. I assume that the way ad breaks are planned out on this island is a typical, standard British thing - theres a break before the programme, then one, two or three breaks are equally distributed throughout the programme so that each part is similar in length, then there is another break after the end of the programme to begin the cycle again for another programme. With me so far? Not rocket science at this point.
But if you watch this heathenous channel (yes it's heathenous, because it is American) you will know that this pattern of advertising is very different. I was reminded of this idiotic timing when I watched Scrubs on ABC1 the other day. To begin, the end of the previous programme rolls pretty much straight into the programme you want to watch, then when you get a small glimmer of the plot (lets say, not even 2 minutes in some cases) you get an ad break. Note at this point, that this channel tends to air a lot of 30-minute-time-slot sitcoms like Scrubs, so this is based purely on these type of shows. Then you watch pretty much the entire thing - then 2 minutes before the end, you get a break. After you have finished channel-flicking, kettle boiling, toilet going etc., they show the remaining few scenes - which are sometimes not worth coming back for! Then once the credits roll you know that another programme will start almost immediately.
I assume that this is the American way of advertising - ABC1 being a Brit channel but owned by the ABC corporation which airs Yankie sitcoms. But why alter with such a simple and effective way of 'ad timing' WHY!?!? For the same reason the Americans have to change everything for better ratings, which leads to a bigger profit. By watching the end of a programme, I am immediately thrown into another programme's beginning. I, as an average human being, will then watch that programme because I, just like most people, am lazy. If I get a sniff of the plot, I will stay for more. Once I have consumed a whole chunk of sitcom goodness, those bastards make me wait for the final 3 minutes. Then like a mug I wait (because the last 25 minutes would surely be wasted if you don't wait) and I watch the end, only to be flung into another programme.... and so on. Bottom line - American telly has evolved to ensure YOU watch. We are still in the stone age when it comes to network television.
But do you know what? I like the stone age. I don't want some network producer insulting my intelligence or trying different techniques so that I end up watching an episode of Hope and Faith (which is awful by the way). The ad break at the end of a programme is there for a reason, a bloody good reason as well! We need breaks between programmes to make sure we don't turn into couch potatoes, slobbing in front of the TV all day!
Sorry - this anti-American rant has been coming for a while. Especially with my current essay about how the US is denying the world the human rights it says it provides. Let it be known - Scrubs is now a Sky One treat when I go over my mum and dad's house.
Gripe Number Two - The British media and the celebrity
I hate the British media. I really do. And I hate the fact that we love celebrities so much. We are that sad that we 'have' to dream about them at night. We 'have' to step over our own mothers to meet them. We 'have' to do anything to become one. Why?!?!
Of course, both the media and the celebrity come hand in hand. The British media thrives on celebrity, celebrity thrives on the media. Call me jealous, call me envious, call me whatever - I bloody hate the celebrity culture. But do you know what I hate more? The fact that it is a particularly British quality. People do jump for joy in the name of the famous in other countries - but not as much as we do.
Two examples show this. Sven Goran Eriksson, the England manager who was exposed for a money grabber he is by the 'fake Sheikh' - courtesy of the News of the World - was perhaps shown by the media for the greedy man he really was by that stunt. If you are unaware, Eriksson was tricked into thinking a wealthy sheikh was interested in buying a Premiership club and was fooled into thinking he would be the new manager of it. He betrayed the confidenitality of some of his players including David Beckham and Michael Owen. It eventually cost him his job.
Fair enough when considering that he received his due for his actions - but why did the media have to take this step? Do we enjoy analysing celebrities so much that we want to see them fail and suffer, as well as live the high life? It was clear that Sven was pissed off at this debacle - but not at what he had done, but at the lengths the British media went to in intruding his private life. He has never been quiet about the role of the media whilst he was manager before now; they had always stuck their nose too far.
My second example - oddly enough Sven's potential succesor - Article!
Scolari has said in the above article:
This is where I start to smile because the unthinkable has happened. The British media has actually chased someone away. It's clear that this over-exposure of the situation has scared Scolari, to which I dont blame him for at all. The egg yolk remains on the English and the FA - their media has cost them very dearly - and now they are back to square one, not to mention the embarrassment of pushing Scolari to the front of the queue only for him to reject. Maybe England will think twice before sending twenty million reporters to harass any given person next time.
So the choice is yours! Which one peeves you off more?!?!?!!?!?!?
Gripe Number One - American TV advertising
Now I enjoy the good advert. The quality of advertising isn't at fault here. But if any of you have the channel ABC1 from your freeview or Sky boxes, you may see where I'm going with this.
If I'm not British, I'm certainly Welsh. But when its comes to TV I guess I am a typical Brit; a cup of tea with most programmes, watch the odd soap (yes now and again) and ensure that the kettle is on during the break for another cuppa. I assume that the way ad breaks are planned out on this island is a typical, standard British thing - theres a break before the programme, then one, two or three breaks are equally distributed throughout the programme so that each part is similar in length, then there is another break after the end of the programme to begin the cycle again for another programme. With me so far? Not rocket science at this point.
But if you watch this heathenous channel (yes it's heathenous, because it is American) you will know that this pattern of advertising is very different. I was reminded of this idiotic timing when I watched Scrubs on ABC1 the other day. To begin, the end of the previous programme rolls pretty much straight into the programme you want to watch, then when you get a small glimmer of the plot (lets say, not even 2 minutes in some cases) you get an ad break. Note at this point, that this channel tends to air a lot of 30-minute-time-slot sitcoms like Scrubs, so this is based purely on these type of shows. Then you watch pretty much the entire thing - then 2 minutes before the end, you get a break. After you have finished channel-flicking, kettle boiling, toilet going etc., they show the remaining few scenes - which are sometimes not worth coming back for! Then once the credits roll you know that another programme will start almost immediately.
I assume that this is the American way of advertising - ABC1 being a Brit channel but owned by the ABC corporation which airs Yankie sitcoms. But why alter with such a simple and effective way of 'ad timing' WHY!?!? For the same reason the Americans have to change everything for better ratings, which leads to a bigger profit. By watching the end of a programme, I am immediately thrown into another programme's beginning. I, as an average human being, will then watch that programme because I, just like most people, am lazy. If I get a sniff of the plot, I will stay for more. Once I have consumed a whole chunk of sitcom goodness, those bastards make me wait for the final 3 minutes. Then like a mug I wait (because the last 25 minutes would surely be wasted if you don't wait) and I watch the end, only to be flung into another programme.... and so on. Bottom line - American telly has evolved to ensure YOU watch. We are still in the stone age when it comes to network television.
But do you know what? I like the stone age. I don't want some network producer insulting my intelligence or trying different techniques so that I end up watching an episode of Hope and Faith (which is awful by the way). The ad break at the end of a programme is there for a reason, a bloody good reason as well! We need breaks between programmes to make sure we don't turn into couch potatoes, slobbing in front of the TV all day!
Sorry - this anti-American rant has been coming for a while. Especially with my current essay about how the US is denying the world the human rights it says it provides. Let it be known - Scrubs is now a Sky One treat when I go over my mum and dad's house.
Gripe Number Two - The British media and the celebrity
I hate the British media. I really do. And I hate the fact that we love celebrities so much. We are that sad that we 'have' to dream about them at night. We 'have' to step over our own mothers to meet them. We 'have' to do anything to become one. Why?!?!
Of course, both the media and the celebrity come hand in hand. The British media thrives on celebrity, celebrity thrives on the media. Call me jealous, call me envious, call me whatever - I bloody hate the celebrity culture. But do you know what I hate more? The fact that it is a particularly British quality. People do jump for joy in the name of the famous in other countries - but not as much as we do.
Two examples show this. Sven Goran Eriksson, the England manager who was exposed for a money grabber he is by the 'fake Sheikh' - courtesy of the News of the World - was perhaps shown by the media for the greedy man he really was by that stunt. If you are unaware, Eriksson was tricked into thinking a wealthy sheikh was interested in buying a Premiership club and was fooled into thinking he would be the new manager of it. He betrayed the confidenitality of some of his players including David Beckham and Michael Owen. It eventually cost him his job.
Fair enough when considering that he received his due for his actions - but why did the media have to take this step? Do we enjoy analysing celebrities so much that we want to see them fail and suffer, as well as live the high life? It was clear that Sven was pissed off at this debacle - but not at what he had done, but at the lengths the British media went to in intruding his private life. He has never been quiet about the role of the media whilst he was manager before now; they had always stuck their nose too far.
My second example - oddly enough Sven's potential succesor - Article!
Scolari has said in the above article:
"I don't want anything more to do with this England matter because in the space of two days... my life was invaded, my privacy was disrupted," said Scolari, who will remain Portugal coach until after the World Cup."There are 20 reporters outside my house now. If that is part of another culture, it is not part of my culture. I am not the coach, and will not be (England's) coach."
This is where I start to smile because the unthinkable has happened. The British media has actually chased someone away. It's clear that this over-exposure of the situation has scared Scolari, to which I dont blame him for at all. The egg yolk remains on the English and the FA - their media has cost them very dearly - and now they are back to square one, not to mention the embarrassment of pushing Scolari to the front of the queue only for him to reject. Maybe England will think twice before sending twenty million reporters to harass any given person next time.
So the choice is yours! Which one peeves you off more?!?!?!!?!?!?
Chernobyl
First and foremost I must give a birthday shoutout to my dad (not that he reads this at all) and hope that he has a good day. 26th April is a big day in my family as we celebrate my father's and my auntie's birthdays (they are twins), so also a shoutout to my auntie Linda too.
26th April may also roll off the tongue for another reason, but something a lot less personal to myself and would mean something to everyone as a human being. It is a day we should remember, but unlike birthdays, we should never celebrate it. Yes it was 20 years ago today since the nuclear reactor malfunction at Chernobyl, Ukraine had happened. If Hiroshima was not enough to show the devastation of nuclear power, Chernobyl certainly showed the world the sheer capability of it's fatal consequences.
Anyway, back to more personal matters. I have recently finished my essay on global inequality and now Im going to start one about US Human Rights Policy. After that, comes the dissertation! Fun fun!
Still considering options for next year regarding where to live, but hopefully we will have something sorted soon. Its hard to believe that the time spent here at Casa del Cathays will soon come to an end! Oh well, watch this space to see if I end up in a cardboard box on St. Mary's St in the near future.
Do you really care?
So I write today on a Maundy Thursday waiting for some articles to print. Im currently writing an essay on global inequality which now seems a lot more interesting than first thought. The title is a link to the giving of aid and charity in general and whether you actually care.
I hate charity collecting people - not the people themselves - just the complete miliking of what should be a very good cause. Charitable companies learned that pure education of what is happening in the Third World isn't enough to raise funds; they play upon our own humanity by showing graphic images of a small child, tiny and hungry, with flies all over his/her face, to make us feel guilty if we don't give something. Before charity was not forced into our faces, but now, its everywhere. Queen St. is always a potential minefield, now a street I rarely walk down for that reason these days.
Don't get me wrong; I give cash to charities and sometimes to ones which I have affiliation with or some kind of interest in or even spend a small fortune on books (which someday I will read) in charity shops. Not completely selfless I suppose, but money given all the same. It's just our feelings are played upon everyday to give over some moolah. And the number of charities are endless, there are so many - which one is better cause? Because you can't give to them all, can you? I guess some of you wish you could, but you know deep down you want that new car or that new CD, which means they will lose out.
So this essay is a way of rebalancing the situation in my mind. Im beginning to hate charity and I don't want to at all. I feel like these pesterers in town centres are almost making me unsympathetic; those images I know are losing their effect on me. So do you really care?
----------------------------
Busy essay writing week therefore this week! Jen's hopefully getting a new car soon, so double yays for her. It's a bit more manly than Bob the First! Hail Bob the Second, Long Live the Car!!
I think I will write some more stuff when I have something more interesting to say, so until then blog fans - Live the dream, fight the struggle... and all that jazz.
I hate charity collecting people - not the people themselves - just the complete miliking of what should be a very good cause. Charitable companies learned that pure education of what is happening in the Third World isn't enough to raise funds; they play upon our own humanity by showing graphic images of a small child, tiny and hungry, with flies all over his/her face, to make us feel guilty if we don't give something. Before charity was not forced into our faces, but now, its everywhere. Queen St. is always a potential minefield, now a street I rarely walk down for that reason these days.
Don't get me wrong; I give cash to charities and sometimes to ones which I have affiliation with or some kind of interest in or even spend a small fortune on books (which someday I will read) in charity shops. Not completely selfless I suppose, but money given all the same. It's just our feelings are played upon everyday to give over some moolah. And the number of charities are endless, there are so many - which one is better cause? Because you can't give to them all, can you? I guess some of you wish you could, but you know deep down you want that new car or that new CD, which means they will lose out.
So this essay is a way of rebalancing the situation in my mind. Im beginning to hate charity and I don't want to at all. I feel like these pesterers in town centres are almost making me unsympathetic; those images I know are losing their effect on me. So do you really care?
----------------------------
Busy essay writing week therefore this week! Jen's hopefully getting a new car soon, so double yays for her. It's a bit more manly than Bob the First! Hail Bob the Second, Long Live the Car!!
I think I will write some more stuff when I have something more interesting to say, so until then blog fans - Live the dream, fight the struggle... and all that jazz.
When one just can't let go
As the world moves at steady pace, we would be fools not to keep up with the times. Well I guess for many this is the case. Living in the past is surely impossible when things move at such an alarming rate. To use a quick example - my old 32MB MP3 player was easily my best friend a few years back (sorry if anyone is offended by that, but hey, I loved that thing). It only held 9 songs at one time, which I listened to on a loop en route to uni every 3 days of a week. Yet now I have sampled the awesome power of a 20GB iPod I would surely never go back. Why, I hear you yelp? Exactly the reason why many wouldn't go back - the new MP3 player is way better than the 32MB one could ever be, because if I went back to using it I would yearn for the 5,000 songs at quick access instead of a measly 9 songs.
This seems hardly the type of thing i shouldnt go on about in a post of One Man. But I suppose I have encountered many people in my life who just cannot move on and embrace what is new, what is modern, not even what is tomorrow, but what is today. I love listening to the multitude of media my iPod has to offer, but that doesn't mean I now hate or ever hated those days of 9 track commutes. Those 9 tracks had a meaningful significance in my earlier days, but not now because I have accepted times have changed and curiously I relish what the future brings.
Now before you think I'm only taking about portable music players, think again. It astounds me as to how people want to live in the past. Some people I know want to still be in school, they still want to be in a safe environment which they could never experience again. I guess it goes something like this: We all have a time in our lives when we feel good about ourselves, our lives and the people around us. When the time comes for that to change for whatever reason, we stop at nothing to prolong it for as long as possible. As each person around changes one by one, you are forced to decide what is for the best - go with the trend and start a new, or remain defiant, like a punk rocker in his 30's. If no-one changes around you and you have no wish to change, well I guess you will be 16 years old all your life.
But heres the bigger picture I guess. We all change. Without change we are merely the same animal day in day out, walking ourselves into a short-sighted march of mindless repetition. You change to see the person you were before. I know I spent my first year in uni as a booze driven, bone idle and pathetic waster, who could have done so much more to better myself. I now know that my way of life at the moment is for me - until of course, it is time to change. It will come in a disguised form, but I know it will be coming.
I suppose I can look back and think it wasn't all that bad, because it wasn't. I had a ball; learnt a load about myself and I guess I grew up. But thats it you see - it was spent growing up. As the human critic that I am and we are, Im sure I will look back and cringe at most of what I've done. At the same time, I still know listening to those same 9 tracks was pretty great at the time.
I suppose we are all guilty of failing to move on. Why move if you're comfortable? Why move if all is well? Good point. But let me tell you something I've learned in my short experience on this planet - you are never comfortable or well. You are a camoflaging animal. You change your spots all the time to stay in the game and that is something you cannot deny. If you don't, you risk extinction from life, from love, from power. Just ask Silvio.
This seems hardly the type of thing i shouldnt go on about in a post of One Man. But I suppose I have encountered many people in my life who just cannot move on and embrace what is new, what is modern, not even what is tomorrow, but what is today. I love listening to the multitude of media my iPod has to offer, but that doesn't mean I now hate or ever hated those days of 9 track commutes. Those 9 tracks had a meaningful significance in my earlier days, but not now because I have accepted times have changed and curiously I relish what the future brings.
Now before you think I'm only taking about portable music players, think again. It astounds me as to how people want to live in the past. Some people I know want to still be in school, they still want to be in a safe environment which they could never experience again. I guess it goes something like this: We all have a time in our lives when we feel good about ourselves, our lives and the people around us. When the time comes for that to change for whatever reason, we stop at nothing to prolong it for as long as possible. As each person around changes one by one, you are forced to decide what is for the best - go with the trend and start a new, or remain defiant, like a punk rocker in his 30's. If no-one changes around you and you have no wish to change, well I guess you will be 16 years old all your life.
But heres the bigger picture I guess. We all change. Without change we are merely the same animal day in day out, walking ourselves into a short-sighted march of mindless repetition. You change to see the person you were before. I know I spent my first year in uni as a booze driven, bone idle and pathetic waster, who could have done so much more to better myself. I now know that my way of life at the moment is for me - until of course, it is time to change. It will come in a disguised form, but I know it will be coming.
I suppose I can look back and think it wasn't all that bad, because it wasn't. I had a ball; learnt a load about myself and I guess I grew up. But thats it you see - it was spent growing up. As the human critic that I am and we are, Im sure I will look back and cringe at most of what I've done. At the same time, I still know listening to those same 9 tracks was pretty great at the time.
I suppose we are all guilty of failing to move on. Why move if you're comfortable? Why move if all is well? Good point. But let me tell you something I've learned in my short experience on this planet - you are never comfortable or well. You are a camoflaging animal. You change your spots all the time to stay in the game and that is something you cannot deny. If you don't, you risk extinction from life, from love, from power. Just ask Silvio.
Im e-sure as hell
I write in a trash filled room, moderately full stomach wise and in need of shower. Therefore with these things in mind, I guess I'm at my most creative. Enter: another fine post on One Man - One Struggle.This week I begin with an awesome edition to my teddy family, Mister Mouse. Funnily enough it has arrived now when I have decided to watch the Michael Winner advert on a loop, not to mention Nathan randomly shouting out 'Calm Down Dear' to me in work!! It has to be said, Esure do put a lot of effort when it comes to advertising. A common breed these days, comic advertising and the companies who have a humouroue approach to it, deserve an accolade of some sort. Remember the Tango adverts when a guy ran around slapping people with giant orange hands? Genius! Getting back to my new mousie, he now has a new home next to my lappie, hopefully to keep me sane throughout dissertation writing this summer!
Im still smarting over the recent TTFE-L (or now possibly TTFL) defeat, which puts us on 16 game losing streak without a point to our name. The lads have worked so hard over the last few months and yet we have reaped nothing from it. Last night hurt more than usual for a reason which Im still unsure of. Call me passionate (or dramatic, as Jen likes to call it!) or determined, or pathetic, but i find no other way to play other than to have your heart on your sleeve. It's because of this I'm remaining confident that we can pick up a draw or a win in the final 6 games, but when the time is ticking away and each game brings more pain in defeat, you can't be blamed for crawling under a rock and dying.
I enjoyed a nice meal with Jen's family to celebrate a few birthdays, last Saturday at the Ocean Park. One of the lucky birthday peeps is Oliver, who is enjoying life as a 14 year old from today. Happy birthday Oliver! The night itself was an interesting affair, complete with a game pictionary with Tom, Jen and Oliver!
Lee Trundle = Fool after this weekend. He will lose a lot of respect from Swansea and Cardiff fans alike after this very moronic act. Well done to the Jacks for keeping the League Trophy in Wales for another year.
Have recently been hooked on Gravity, the song by Embrace. What an awesome song.
Getting a new phone soon - watch this space for an update.
Work was same old, same old. I suppose thats the way I like it!
Right that's your lot. Im off to Mount Mess which is sitting beside me, in an attempt to climb and conquer it. Cheerio folks.
Epiphany
Just rebooting me iPod at the moment, however it has the heavy task of uploading over 2000 songs - so I decided to give a bit of loving to One Man.
First of all happy birthday to Mikey P - Payne that is, as the Daddy himself reached a fine age of 55 today. I hope you enjoy the Eagles concert! I spent a very nice evening in Ely with the family, nice cake and a nice meal. In all, nice!
That cake was consumed in small portions I must add. As for now, my epiphany has arrived. When Jen suggested a joint effort to change our lifestyles, regarding eating habits and exercise, it seemed to come just at the right time. The Christmas bulge hit me hard this year and Im sure you've gotten wind of my moans and groans of being unfit. One thing I wish God bestowed upon me was just an ounce of self-restraint or self-discipline. So now is the time to change things around. I know what you're saying; 'we've heard all this before'. And yeah I can vouch for that, because it's all I heard before too.
Im hoping that my dissertation will have some structure by the end of April, so I can get a good start on it. My aim is to look into the Tryweryn issue in the 1950s with a political theoretical edge. One Man will keep you up to date, I promise! In other news this week will be a busy one - especially as it's the final week before the Easter break. Bring on those essays!!!
First of all happy birthday to Mikey P - Payne that is, as the Daddy himself reached a fine age of 55 today. I hope you enjoy the Eagles concert! I spent a very nice evening in Ely with the family, nice cake and a nice meal. In all, nice!
That cake was consumed in small portions I must add. As for now, my epiphany has arrived. When Jen suggested a joint effort to change our lifestyles, regarding eating habits and exercise, it seemed to come just at the right time. The Christmas bulge hit me hard this year and Im sure you've gotten wind of my moans and groans of being unfit. One thing I wish God bestowed upon me was just an ounce of self-restraint or self-discipline. So now is the time to change things around. I know what you're saying; 'we've heard all this before'. And yeah I can vouch for that, because it's all I heard before too.
Im hoping that my dissertation will have some structure by the end of April, so I can get a good start on it. My aim is to look into the Tryweryn issue in the 1950s with a political theoretical edge. One Man will keep you up to date, I promise! In other news this week will be a busy one - especially as it's the final week before the Easter break. Bring on those essays!!!
The Gates of Hell
Sorry if the pic offends you - it is amazing how powerful such a pic can be.
Just finished an essay to give myself some breathing space with the work load, especially with the dissertation looming behind my shoulder. The essay touched upon a subject which will forever be a scar on our history - mainly the Holocaust, but also how it could have ever happened. How could other countries sit back and let these sickening things happen?
A question now which demands an answer, but more than likely, will never appear.
It is not often I like to talk about my essay subjects, but I feel that after watching the German epic Downfall not so long ago I have caught a bit of Nazi Fever (not that I am one, or support Neo-nazism or anything). Of course having done both a History GCSE and an A-Level, I now know more about Germany's 20th century history than any other historical period (Hint hint to the Senedd or Westminster, sort it out if you can!) and I find it hard to not think about Nazi Germany at times. Can anyone relate to that?
I wish I could have posted sooner about the annual student sabbatical elections, which rival only car adverts in annoyingness. Don't get me wrong; I am an advocate of democracy and the vote - but I just wish it was a bit more diginifed than a guy dressed as a potato, or a girl completely covered in newspaper. Jen was lucky enough to vote, I well.... decided to abstain. I even turned down the prospect of the postal vote. Shame on me I know, I should have at least looked at their manifestos or something.
What was worse, this madness was not confined to the fine streets of Cathays. God no. Swansea Uni, pictured above, also host these bloody things. I guess that they are common in all universities but just never realised. Tacky posters, people doing stupid things like marching to the Grandstand theme and interrupting lectures just make me hate this time of year. Well of course, I have no need to blog about it anymore because its all over (YIPPPEEEE!) so that's that.
Now then, back to Swansea. Yes, last Wednesday Gaji and I braved the M4 en-route to enemy quarters and have survived in one piece. I had to photocopy a book for a seminar back in Cardiff. Swansea was the only place I could get this one particular book, so once Bob was kindly allowed to be borrowed by Jen, the trip was on. Swansea Uni library was very odd, I found it very hospital like for some reason! Don't ask me why! All in all, it was a productive trip which was the main thing.
On another occasion, I have to give a shout-out to Em who grabbed me another book for the essay mentioned above.
Check out Jen's dad's new web site for his skittle team. Made by Jen, hosted by Moe and updated by 'The Daddy' himself. Well it needs it's hits from someone! :)
Thanks for nothing, WRU
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/4814666.stm
As you may read from the article above, Wales' national poet Gwyneth Lewis has attacked the WRU in verse after the Ruddock-'Player Power' debacle. Now to put my own thought on things, I really dont know who is to blame in this entanglelment of lies and uncertain intentions. But one thing is for sure, Welsh rugby (and just like Welsh football) has pressed the self-destruct button just when things were at the top. The WRU have acted so unprofessionally in this mess and they should be ashamed of themselves for once again putting our nation's game into the funny pages of our neighbour's newspapers. London is still laughing at us, and I dont blame them. In the recent criticism of the Andy Robinson, England coach after their defeat against France the RFU stated that:
'Coaching suicide' is perhaps the best way to put it. You can feel the condesending tones in there can't you? But they have a right to be - I certainly would, because we ballsed it up. Totally. We gave Italy their first away Six Nations point for Christ's sake. Something is amiss from that Gland Slam side I cheered for last year.
Anyway, getting back to the point, here is the peom taken from that article from Gwyneth Lewis. Enjoy!
As you may read from the article above, Wales' national poet Gwyneth Lewis has attacked the WRU in verse after the Ruddock-'Player Power' debacle. Now to put my own thought on things, I really dont know who is to blame in this entanglelment of lies and uncertain intentions. But one thing is for sure, Welsh rugby (and just like Welsh football) has pressed the self-destruct button just when things were at the top. The WRU have acted so unprofessionally in this mess and they should be ashamed of themselves for once again putting our nation's game into the funny pages of our neighbour's newspapers. London is still laughing at us, and I dont blame them. In the recent criticism of the Andy Robinson, England coach after their defeat against France the RFU stated that:
"Andy's got a contract to the end of the World Cup. I see no logic in committing coaching suicide as per the Welsh." (Taken from the BBC)
'Coaching suicide' is perhaps the best way to put it. You can feel the condesending tones in there can't you? But they have a right to be - I certainly would, because we ballsed it up. Totally. We gave Italy their first away Six Nations point for Christ's sake. Something is amiss from that Gland Slam side I cheered for last year.
Anyway, getting back to the point, here is the peom taken from that article from Gwyneth Lewis. Enjoy!
A WOODEN SPOON FOR THE WRU
I have consulted the mistletoe, stared at starling footprints in snow: the time is ripe for your overthrow
I give you a spoon I shaped of ash because you didn't nurture the flash of play but thought, maybe, of cash
Here's a dip I turned from oak but look, in your hands, it slips into smoke.
You've made our last Grand Slam a joke
BY Gwyneth Lewis
I give you a spoon I shaped of ash because you didn't nurture the flash of play but thought, maybe, of cash
Here's a dip I turned from oak but look, in your hands, it slips into smoke.
You've made our last Grand Slam a joke
Actual rugby can never redeem your backroom moves of dodge and scheme.
It's you who need to raise your game
How can a committee always outlive coaches, players?
It's hard to forgive shadowy men with hands like sieves
Here's the last spoon, I carved it from gall: it's you, not the team, who have dropped the ball.
Hang this up, with shame, in your hall.
BY Gwyneth Lewis
What is a blog: Revised
N.B. - This is not a usual post from our author, but a slightly deep philiosophical insight into blogging as a practice. If you wish not to be bored senseless, wait for another update from the Celtic Pimp, due very soon.
You know, as well as I know, I can write some complete cack on this page. I mean, to fill some blog entries I have have really scraped the bottom of the barrel to bring you the life of Shabba. This by no means is an end to such trash - I endeavour to bring you more meaningless babble as my duty to the people. But recent days have got me thinking, and I ask the question slightly modified from the blog title of Tom's page; What is a blog?
It got me thinking because someone had asked me what a blog actually was. At first, I was tempted to say it was a diary. I suppose that was my understanding of it at first. We can write down our thoughts or our actions of the day, or even intertwine them to give someone else a peersonal run-down of our day to day lives. Seems about right? Maybe to many; yes, spot on. However I just wonder how many of those people actually write what they feel on those sites as a blog is not a diary really - diaries are traditionally known to be secret, an outlet of expression which isn't open to prying eyes. A diary can be descibed as something for yourself, not for others.
I have seen some blogs which don't even log events, but simply offer the blogger's opinion of recent current events. However they have tended to be politically minded people who tend to talk in a public sense, not about their own private spheres. But nethertheless, these people still give a window into their insights, their experience, their life. Therefore to blog, is not necessarily to walk a straight line.
Maybe it is a collection of thoughts. Maybe it's a diary. Maybe it is a well thought-out, step by step guide to world domination.
But I suppose above all, and this I know for sure, a blog is your own. It is your tool for your political objectives, it is your window to the world, it is your occassional letter to your relatives and old friends to let them know what you are doing at this moment in time. The question is - what is your blog? It can be anything, as long as it's yours.
You know, as well as I know, I can write some complete cack on this page. I mean, to fill some blog entries I have have really scraped the bottom of the barrel to bring you the life of Shabba. This by no means is an end to such trash - I endeavour to bring you more meaningless babble as my duty to the people. But recent days have got me thinking, and I ask the question slightly modified from the blog title of Tom's page; What is a blog?
It got me thinking because someone had asked me what a blog actually was. At first, I was tempted to say it was a diary. I suppose that was my understanding of it at first. We can write down our thoughts or our actions of the day, or even intertwine them to give someone else a peersonal run-down of our day to day lives. Seems about right? Maybe to many; yes, spot on. However I just wonder how many of those people actually write what they feel on those sites as a blog is not a diary really - diaries are traditionally known to be secret, an outlet of expression which isn't open to prying eyes. A diary can be descibed as something for yourself, not for others.
I have seen some blogs which don't even log events, but simply offer the blogger's opinion of recent current events. However they have tended to be politically minded people who tend to talk in a public sense, not about their own private spheres. But nethertheless, these people still give a window into their insights, their experience, their life. Therefore to blog, is not necessarily to walk a straight line.
Maybe it is a collection of thoughts. Maybe it's a diary. Maybe it is a well thought-out, step by step guide to world domination.
But I suppose above all, and this I know for sure, a blog is your own. It is your tool for your political objectives, it is your window to the world, it is your occassional letter to your relatives and old friends to let them know what you are doing at this moment in time. The question is - what is your blog? It can be anything, as long as it's yours.
