So over the past year or so, I've discovered alcohol. As a child, my parents drummed into me that alcohol in excess has the power to change the way you act and the things you do. So, I grew up with the understanding that too much alcohol isn't good for you.
Up until a year ago, I wouldn't really touch alcohol. I hadn't found a single wine or beer that I had liked when going into pubs with my parents. But all this changed when I went clubbing for the first time, soon my friends were encouraging me to try drinks I hadn't heard of and happily I did. And I'm not going to stand here and say they were forcing me or pressuring me, because they weren't. I was enjoying myself, too.
But after having gone clubbing about once every to every other week, clubbing is beginning to lose its fun factor. Or at least clubbing in the few clubs near where I live. Instead I want to do other things during the evening. I want to go out for fancy meals, take part in a quiz, go to a roller blade disco, go on a ghost walk. To be honest with you all, I want to make my life that little bit more exciting. I will still go out on nights out to clubs, and still party hard. But I also want to make sure I do other things as well. After all, you only live once, and I want to make sure I get the best out of that one life I have.
Wednesday 29 May 2013
Monday 13 May 2013
So, if you're fat, you're ugly.. Huh?!?
In several damning (and quite rightly so) articles last week, Mike Jeffries the CEO of Abercrombie and Fitch openly admitted to only marketing clothes for those people who are deemed 'cool and good looking'. To say I'm aghast would be an understatement. Now, I've never been particularly interested in buying clothes simply because of their label. Indeed those kinda stores tend to intimidate me. There is nothing worse than some perfectly gorgeous woman or man staring at you as if you are a waste of space, whilst you try to pick out something suitable to buy.
Basically, Mike Jeffries disgusts me. I mean, seriously, how does he think that teenagers with low self esteem are going to feel when they realise they may not fit into his idea of the target market? It's certainly not going to make them feel adequate or confident enough to buy his clothes!
To put it simply, he is saying that unless you are beautiful and skinny, you shouldn't be wearing his clothes. Well that's a load of rubbish. I thought the idea behind modern thinking is that you should be able to wear whatever the damn hell you want?!
Surely when hiring staff, you look for those with the most potential, most experience and those generally good with the public? You don't want someone to smile prettily and make the customers feel like they're being judged. I mean shopping is meant to be seen as a fun experience, not something which turns into a bit of a school playground?! It just makes me really angry that he sees it as absolutely fine. I mean the same goes for Hollister. The few times I've been in there, I can't see what I'm buying let alone the people in there. So for all I know, when I go waltzing in, they may all be lined up against the wall with a look on their face which says 'get out!' I wouldn't know and it's all a bit scary really. To add to that, I'm not a particular fan of getting headaches, but the fact that you have to strain your eyes due to the low lighting, is enough to make me not want to go in there. And then they only hire models, or those with perfect features?! All right, I get it. This isn't the shop for me. I mean I know I'm not a fan of those kind of elitist stores, but the reason why I'm not is because of those damn reasons!
His view is seriously outdated and I wish he could understand just how many people intently despise him. His message is altogether shocking and hard to fathom and I'm not sure if it's honestly worth my time or effort to be writing this, when I could be turning my attention to things I like, as opposed to things I dislike. Oh well, hey ho..
Basically, Mike Jeffries disgusts me. I mean, seriously, how does he think that teenagers with low self esteem are going to feel when they realise they may not fit into his idea of the target market? It's certainly not going to make them feel adequate or confident enough to buy his clothes!
To put it simply, he is saying that unless you are beautiful and skinny, you shouldn't be wearing his clothes. Well that's a load of rubbish. I thought the idea behind modern thinking is that you should be able to wear whatever the damn hell you want?!
Surely when hiring staff, you look for those with the most potential, most experience and those generally good with the public? You don't want someone to smile prettily and make the customers feel like they're being judged. I mean shopping is meant to be seen as a fun experience, not something which turns into a bit of a school playground?! It just makes me really angry that he sees it as absolutely fine. I mean the same goes for Hollister. The few times I've been in there, I can't see what I'm buying let alone the people in there. So for all I know, when I go waltzing in, they may all be lined up against the wall with a look on their face which says 'get out!' I wouldn't know and it's all a bit scary really. To add to that, I'm not a particular fan of getting headaches, but the fact that you have to strain your eyes due to the low lighting, is enough to make me not want to go in there. And then they only hire models, or those with perfect features?! All right, I get it. This isn't the shop for me. I mean I know I'm not a fan of those kind of elitist stores, but the reason why I'm not is because of those damn reasons!
His view is seriously outdated and I wish he could understand just how many people intently despise him. His message is altogether shocking and hard to fathom and I'm not sure if it's honestly worth my time or effort to be writing this, when I could be turning my attention to things I like, as opposed to things I dislike. Oh well, hey ho..
Monday 25 March 2013
Struck by Lightning - Chris Colfer
I'm sure many of you will remember with little fondness those high school years, in which you blundered around the school corridors in the hope that some one might understand you. Nope? Just me then? Okay..
Written by Chris Colfer (also known as Kurt from Glee), this book tells the story of Carson Phillips, an American high schooler who wants nothing more than to be a journalist at the New Yorker. However, in order to get onto the course at Northwestern University, he has to show that he can front something besides a writer's club because 'high school newspapers and clubs aren't cutting it any more'. But there is one small problem.. nobody in his school wants to willingly write for the school magazine.
So he chooses to blackmail his fellow peers to write for him. This might sound immorally correct, but bearing in mind none of them have ever been nice to him, it is probably more or less what they deserve.
Suffice to say, this book is wonderfully quotable; 'the ASSembly was today. That's not a typo, I say 'ASSembly' because it brings out the ASS in everyone who attends. Even the janitors act like baboons, and half of them have crippling arthritis'.
In short it is a wonderful book, both thought provoking and humerous with plenty to relate to. And its got a fair few twists thrown in there as well..
So to all of you high schoolers currently navigating the maze of bitchy students and stupid teachers.. Fear not! There is a book to help guide you along the way.
Monday 18 February 2013
Just a few thoughts.
I don't understand people who don't want to travel. It seems for as long as I can remember I have wanted to be in a different place. The mere idea of having the same job but in a different place excites me. I want to explore the world, experience different cultures and live.
Here in the UK, it is like we are wrapped up in cotton wool. We are protected from so much of the modern world, so as soon as we leave the safety of education, we are thrust into a world we know little about. I understand that our familys' want to do what is best for us, but surely it would be better to not hide the truth?
As a society we are selfish, and we take it upon ourselves to educate those living in the poorer part of our world, into the ways of a westernised capitalist society. As a society we seem to think we are superior to them, but we are just as bad. In a way it could be said that we are almost corrupting them. As a society we want to teach them how to conform to our way of living. However, I think before we do this, we should start addressing our own problems; problem that our government doesn't like to address, because that would mean admitting that we are also in the wrong.
We need to let other cultures know that the western culture is far from perfect. As people we are greedy and have want for everything. The world is a very wrong place and it does need to be fixed. But we all need to think carefully about the consequences of the actions we take, before our world becomes a dystopian nightmare, and we all find ourselves fighting for survival in the Games.
Here in the UK, it is like we are wrapped up in cotton wool. We are protected from so much of the modern world, so as soon as we leave the safety of education, we are thrust into a world we know little about. I understand that our familys' want to do what is best for us, but surely it would be better to not hide the truth?
As a society we are selfish, and we take it upon ourselves to educate those living in the poorer part of our world, into the ways of a westernised capitalist society. As a society we seem to think we are superior to them, but we are just as bad. In a way it could be said that we are almost corrupting them. As a society we want to teach them how to conform to our way of living. However, I think before we do this, we should start addressing our own problems; problem that our government doesn't like to address, because that would mean admitting that we are also in the wrong.
We need to let other cultures know that the western culture is far from perfect. As people we are greedy and have want for everything. The world is a very wrong place and it does need to be fixed. But we all need to think carefully about the consequences of the actions we take, before our world becomes a dystopian nightmare, and we all find ourselves fighting for survival in the Games.
Tuesday 5 February 2013
On the subject of Rights..
DISCLAIMER - THIS ARTICLE IS MERELY A REFLECTION ON MY OWN OPINION. I UNDERSTAND OTHER PEOPLE MAY THINK DIFFERENTLY. PLEASE DON'T SLATE ME FOR WHAT I THINK.
So according to an act established in 1998, we have Rights.
No, we don't.
From what I have understood, these acts should apply universally to everyone.
No, they don't.
This is because there is still rules and laws in certain countries, preventing people from having access to these Rights.
It isn't fair.
For example, one of the Rights is a Right to marry and raise a family. However it is only recently that gay marriage has been recognised in our country and I don't foresee it ever happening in others. Indeed, sadly the Oxford English dictionary still defines it as being a formal union between a man and a woman.
You would think given modern times that people would be able to accept gay marriage for what it is - two people of the same sex, pledging their love and happiness to one another. But sadly this is not the case, indeed you still get parents telling their kids that they would quite easily disown them if they ever came out to their parents as being gay.
Why do parents and other people find it so hard to understand?! You cannot choose your sexual orientation or who you fall in love with. Change might be difficult to accept, but if people are able to accept the use of technology and welcome it fully into their homes, then why are they still so unable to accept the idea of being gay?
For gay people, it is so much harder to go through the process of adopting a child. It doesn't make sense. Free will is a human right and not just a heterosexual privilege. I mean, can anyone honestly say they are 100% heterosexual?
I believe that people need to move forwards and embrace change as something new and exciting, instead of just dwelling on the past.
So according to an act established in 1998, we have Rights.
No, we don't.
From what I have understood, these acts should apply universally to everyone.
No, they don't.
This is because there is still rules and laws in certain countries, preventing people from having access to these Rights.
It isn't fair.
For example, one of the Rights is a Right to marry and raise a family. However it is only recently that gay marriage has been recognised in our country and I don't foresee it ever happening in others. Indeed, sadly the Oxford English dictionary still defines it as being a formal union between a man and a woman.
You would think given modern times that people would be able to accept gay marriage for what it is - two people of the same sex, pledging their love and happiness to one another. But sadly this is not the case, indeed you still get parents telling their kids that they would quite easily disown them if they ever came out to their parents as being gay.
Why do parents and other people find it so hard to understand?! You cannot choose your sexual orientation or who you fall in love with. Change might be difficult to accept, but if people are able to accept the use of technology and welcome it fully into their homes, then why are they still so unable to accept the idea of being gay?
For gay people, it is so much harder to go through the process of adopting a child. It doesn't make sense. Free will is a human right and not just a heterosexual privilege. I mean, can anyone honestly say they are 100% heterosexual?
I believe that people need to move forwards and embrace change as something new and exciting, instead of just dwelling on the past.
Thursday 24 January 2013
Nandos
I went to Nandos with a friend the other day, and forgive me for saying this, but I don't get it?? The food was nice but nothing special, the service was okay and the layout okay. But why the hype? I just don't understand, so I think I shall stick with Wagamamas next time. Sorry.
A new year and a new direction
The truth is, I'm no longer so sure about what I want to do with my life. It seems to me that for a while now I have been trying to convince myself into a career that I am not 100% sure I want to be doing. I know people say ' you don't know until you try', and yes that is true, but I want to try it later.
As cliched as it is, I want to spread my wings and learn how to fly. I want to travel the world and see and experience as much as I can. So I have been looking at volunteering projects abroad, I think that I want to work within a community, helping with whatever needs to be done, and immersing myself fully into the culture.
It's actually quite a nice feeling realising that there isn't any desperate rush to get a 'proper job', because it means that I can live for now and make the most out of what I am doing. It gives me time to do what I want to do. I would go so far as to say that society doesn't fully allow for you to have doubts, it instead expects you to know your chosen career and the truth is, many of us don't. I know too many people who have gone straight into uni because it is what is expected of them, and it gives them three years to fully decide more about what they REALLY want to do. I completely understand and may well have gone down the same route, if it wasn't for the fact that I knew I wanted a break from formal education. Instead, I want to gain life experience and I don't yet feel ready to commit myself to a certain career.
As cliched as it is, I want to spread my wings and learn how to fly. I want to travel the world and see and experience as much as I can. So I have been looking at volunteering projects abroad, I think that I want to work within a community, helping with whatever needs to be done, and immersing myself fully into the culture.
It's actually quite a nice feeling realising that there isn't any desperate rush to get a 'proper job', because it means that I can live for now and make the most out of what I am doing. It gives me time to do what I want to do. I would go so far as to say that society doesn't fully allow for you to have doubts, it instead expects you to know your chosen career and the truth is, many of us don't. I know too many people who have gone straight into uni because it is what is expected of them, and it gives them three years to fully decide more about what they REALLY want to do. I completely understand and may well have gone down the same route, if it wasn't for the fact that I knew I wanted a break from formal education. Instead, I want to gain life experience and I don't yet feel ready to commit myself to a certain career.
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