smile like you know what's funny!

An Update, I suppose

2011-03-23T12:05:00.000-07:00

I have been absolutely obsessed with this song. I absolutely love love love love all of Lady Gaga's demos, listening to all the sounds she played around with while she was still finding her feet in music and this has got to be my favourite one. Plus, whoever put all those movie clips of Marilyn to the lyrics did a perfect job.
Then I guess it's this one. You can count yourself a real Gaga fan if you get the references to two other demos of hers! I guess I'll give it away next time, if anyone's interested. I love the kind of Disney feel to this song, I don't know what it is about it, probably the beginning?

Well, I guess it's time for an update of my own life, for the three - if that - of you that read this blog. I recorded my solo performance for music today, a version of 'Feeling Good' that I was very pleased to say I had arranged myself. That is, it was a big mash-up of lots of other versions that boiled down to me and a piano. That's all well and good until you have to justify everything with the paperwork I have to submit. Awesome...!

Other than that, I've been reading a LOT of Vertigo. Basically anything on the 'After Watchmen' list, I've been hunting down. And a friend of mine is feeding my Fables addiction with his collection. Success! I love James Jean's cover art work, I'm thinking that I need to get some prints from 'Storybook Love' made, if they don't already exist.

I think that's pretty much it. I've been shaken by no earthquakes, overrun by no power-crazed dictators, so I've nothing to whine or moan about at all. Just thought I'd keep the consistency of this blog going for as long as possible!

Yes.

2011-01-14T13:18:00.001-08:00

I came across this the other day. I was in a Media Studies lesson, and I was meant to be working. Well, give a girl access to the internet and inevitably one thing is going to happen: shopping.
Well, I'm hooked. After work tomorrow, I'll finally have enough for the computer I've been saving for, and then some left over. Then, by the end of next week I'll have enough (hopefully) for a good Diana set. Then I'll be snapping away. I love digital photography, but (I think) I'm in love with the idea of analogue. It's gorgeous and the whole process just fills me with excitement!
In other news... I'm currently obssesed with Watchmen. And I mean obsessed. I've become one of those people that SOLEY talks about one thing. And for me, that's Alan Moore. Recommending his works to my friends - and people who aren't even my friends! - has been driving them crazy. I read The Killing Joke in one sitting the other day, and normally I'm a very slow reader.
In other Dork News, I bought issue #1 of DC Trinity the other day, after having bought #2 - 12 in Orbital (London) and sifted through the comics for a good hour to find the right one. Then I bought 14 and 15 from eBay and I'm just waiting for the right moment to get #13, #16 and #17. (After that, I think I'll just buy the graphic novels!)

I think that's pretty much all for the moment. I should be studying - God KNOWS I should be studying - but in all honesty I'm just putting it off. What an awful attitude!
Kate x

Look Alive Sunshine...

2010-12-18T11:00:00.000-08:00

Well
It sure has been a while! ;)
I've been up to lots.
Guys and Dolls went wonderfully, if you were wondering and/or cared. (!)
I can't believe how quickly this year has gone, I know that's a cliched thing to say. But I'm not kidding when I say that I feel like it's still last December.

It's weird. Time goes so quickly!
Obviously, I have been hooked on Danger Days (the new MCR album) I adore it!
Obviously, I am fairly biased. I rarely HATE albums, and even rarer is it for me to say that I hate an album that was made by a band that has been fairly consistent in my musical tastes. You know, that's true: since I was about 10, my music tastes have obviously grown and changed, but there is always this core set of bands and artists that I come back to time and time again, that never fail to disappoint.

Perhaps that's the reason I have been listening to a LOT of the 'pumpkins lately? I'm getting back into my old favourites?! Well, thanks, Danger Days!

The snow has been AWFUL(ly exciting) of late. It took us two and a half hours to get back from [instert the town I work in]! Usually it takes 15 minutes! ¬_¬ I'm meant to be going into the city tomorrow - I REALLY WANT to get to Orbital this weekend. FINGERS CROSSED IT'S OKAY!

Went to see GAGA on Thursday. She was utterly amazing. Ripped the head off a santa doll and moved me to tears at least three times.
"SURPRISE! You're at a POP SHOW and the bitch can SING!" <3
Much love for the GAGAloo.

That's all really. I leave you with an old picture of last year's Christmas cake. Peace!

NA NA NA

2010-11-22T12:01:00.000-08:00

KILLJOYS MAKE SOME NOISE!

Louder than God's revolver and twice as shiny.

Catching A Tiger

2010-11-06T14:31:00.000-07:00

I have been listening to Lissie so much lately! I have listened to 'Catching a Tiger' at least six times today, all the way through! That's more than Jeff Buckley's Grace, which I listened to a heck of a lot through the summer. I just love her!
Another thing I have been listening to a LOT lately is the Guys and Dolls CD my music teacher gave me on Monday. It's just over a month now until my night... I am so excited! This really is a FUN time! Although it's really intensive and busy, I have been leaving school at 5, 5.30 every day plus lunchtimes rehearsing.
If anyone is wondering, the whole thing is going really well, if I say so myself. We've yet to do an entire run through - we've just been going through scenes in this really disjointed way. I'm just so excited to get it looking like a real production - something that Adelaides the world over would be proud of.

On another note, it looks SO foggy outside my house right now because of the fireworks all the way through tonight and last night! Under the street lights you can actually see all the smoke floating around. All I'm going to say is, I'm glad my neighbours always do lame fireworks - it stops me going out in the cold to watch them!!

Katie x

Post 101

2010-10-03T11:24:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone (anyone? Who reads anyway!)
This is my 101st post! Wonderful! And on Gwen Stefani's birthday! ;)

I've been neglecting my blogging duties. Fear not - I have good reason: I've been cast as the understudy for Adelaide in my school's production of 'Guys and Dolls'! I am really grateful and excited. I had never even auditioned before in my life and I got understudy.

The even better news? They are dedicating the second night to the understudies! For one night only, I get to be the star of the show! That is so exciting.
Thing is, the girl who got the main role is really good. Accent, singing, everything. So while I am actually kind of honoured that I got to be an understudy when she is really rather good, I am hoping and praying and working hard so that I can do Adelaide justice on the night. I have until December 8th (that is my night) - exactly 30 years to the day that John Lennon was killed!?
Showbusiness moves on, and so must we.
Adeiu!*

*I have to speak like that now I'm a 'stawwwwr' darlink!

Find Me?

2010-09-18T05:52:00.001-07:00

I'm on Tumblr now too!
I'm not sure what it has that Blogger doesn't but hey, I love trying new things :)
Fear not, I won't abandon blogger... ;)

Wow. If this is real...

2010-08-16T11:36:00.000-07:00

Then it's very worrying.
Where else could that money have been spent? Shame.

I love looking at those 'World Statistics' sites. Although I take their numbers with a pinch of salt sometimes, it's humbling to be flicking through a site and watching the 'deaths this year' toll rise and rise while you sit their in your comfort eating carrot cake. It's even worse for the 'suicides this year' section. So sad. That link is just one that I found. I'm sure if you googled World Statistics you would find some pretty interesting things...

Have a look at the whole page. Particularly the 'Days of Oil left' section. ¬_¬

We All Know An Annoying Orange...

2010-08-13T11:24:00.001-07:00

...For a lot of people, it's me! ;)

HEY! HEY APPLE!

There's a reason that has over 27,000,000 views!

Monterey Sea Otters

2010-08-13T11:01:00.000-07:00

I was fairly restricted yesterday - I won't go into details, but I was very sick! - and I stayed in bed most of the day. Sleeping most of the day wrecked my sleeping pattern so I started watching this documentary about otters on BBC. I couldn't believe how intelligent those creatures are! And how human their maternal qualities were - the way the mothers taught their pups to swim and feed was heartwarming!

Anyone in the UK? Have you seen this advert on the TV lately? It looks excellent! Although I'm pretty sure it was their intention, this TV show looks very 'Orwellian'. *applaud*

Exciting times!

Hey look!

2010-07-21T00:43:00.001-07:00

I love 'I Write Like'! It's such a cool idea if you want to improve your writing. You just paste in some of your prose and away you go!

I write like
Stephen King

I Write Like by Mémoires, Mac journal software. Analyze your writing!

Addicted to hate?

2010-07-18T02:13:00.001-07:00

I had no idea this kind of hatred still festered in the world.

I can't even put into words how disgusted I am. Let's just hope that the next generation is not as ignorant as these people.

That girl thinks she's the queeeeeeen of the neighbourhood....

2010-07-03T15:04:00.001-07:00

...I got news for you:

SHE IS! *rocks out*

Sure, I could be talking about pretty much anyone when I say that! But, in actual fact, I'm talking about the genius that is Sarah Maple.

She protested against the continuing use of the Page Three girls last year, leaving her own, modified 'Page 3' version of herself. It's well worth a watch, even if you're in favour of page three.

¬_¬

Oh yeah, and enjoy Bikini Kill up there ^_^
Kathleen Hanna's out 'enjoying the sunshine' so she won't be blogging for a while *disappointed face*... I suppose I should follow her example haha!

BUT why do that when Keri Smith has recently (ok, about a month ago - I just didn't get around to mentioning it) updated her site and it's pretty darn cool! There's a nifty little feature which allows you to draw what's right in front of you... quite fun and interesting to leaf through the gallery, I must say!

We put on a great performance of 'Don't Stop Believing' on Thursday for the school show. Our other vocalist was conviniently sick (...a bad case of the mysterious 'man-flu'? I think not, haha)so I had to take over and use all my charm to win over the crowd.
Well... judging from the reaction afterwards,from both people I knew (and HAD to flatter me) and people I didn't, it worked! *punches air*.

Onwards! ^_^

Bombs Away!

2010-06-27T11:05:00.001-07:00

Is your local area in desperate need of a perk-up? Why don't you try this!?

It's an idea that I'm going to credit to that blog, but Keri Smith suggested it in the Guerilla Art Kit, and Liz Christy coined the term 'seed grenade' in 1973 at the start of the Guerilla Gardening movement.

BUT aerial reforestation was used in the 1930s after forest fires in Hawaii; it's also widely used in Africa.

Enjoy!

Don't just talk the talk...

2010-06-27T04:08:00.000-07:00

...walk the walk!
Obviously loads of people love to think they care about the environment (myself included, I think!) but how many of us actually ACT when we're given a list of things we could do TODAY?
I challenge you to do ONE OF THESE THINGS EVERY DAY FOR A WEEK.

...go'n, it's a dare ;)

1. Bike, use public transit, carpool to work, drive slower, keep your tires inflated
One-third of all traffic is commuters. Use alternative transportation when possible. If you must drive, go slower with proper tire inflation. It saves both fuel and tires, and lowers emissions. It also saves lives.
2. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Compost
Reusing packaging material saves more energy than recycling. By avoiding extra packaging, you save both energy and landfill space. Yard and kitchen waste (leaves/grass/vegetable scraps) are 30% of trash. Reduce this amount by composting. Also be sure to re-use plastic bags, or better yet... refuse plastic bags when you really don't need them.

Conserve water
Don't let faucets run. Never water your lawn at midday. Place a brick in old toilets. Take low flow short showers. Run the dishwasher only when it is full. Let grass grow longer. Plant native or drought-tolerant garden plants.

Quit smoking
Second-hand smoke is a major indoor air pollutant and health hazard. When you quit, both you and your family will lead longer and healthier lives.
Don't use pesticides/herbicides on your lawn
Along with nitrogen fertilizer runoff, these are major water pollutants.

Keep your cat indoors
Domestic cats kill over one billion small birds and animals every year (1 outdoor cat averages 40 kills per year). They upset natural predator/prey balances and eliminate ground nesting birds.

Eat less meat/eat more local and organic foods
Feedlots are a major source of organic pollution. Tropical forests are cut to raise beef.

Lower your thermostat in the winter. Raise it in the summer
Wearing a sweater in the winter and short sleeves in the summer saves energy and reduces pollution.

Dispose of old paint, chemicals, and oil properly
Don't put batteries, antifreeze, paint, motor oil, or chemicals in the trash. Use proper toxics disposal sites. Never buy more than you need.

Consider the environmental costs of major decisions and purchases
When relocating or changing jobs try to live close to work. Compare efficiency when purchasing new cars or appliances. Buy fewer things. Choose products with lower energy inputs.

Volunteer/Lobby for the Environment
Work locally and globally to save natural places, reduce urban sprawl, lower pollution and prevent the destruction of wilderness areas for timber and oil.

Plant a tree with a child
Take a walk in the woods, or plant trees which store CO2. Teaching our children to love and care for the planet is the most important thing we can do to insure the future of humankind.

Wash dishes by hand in a basin, and then use the dish water for outdoor gardens.

*If you quit smoking, you'll save money.

**If you stop eating meat for a while, you'll save money! Products like Quorn are versitile, healthy and cheap compared to a slab of meat! Give it a go.
Edit: that's talking from personal experience and family-member experience.

Don't Stop Believin'

2010-05-30T08:51:00.001-07:00

Did I ever tell you about my new years' resolution?

I was going to write a song a day.

It's going pretty well. I was starting to wane around mid-January, by which time all my other resolutions had gone out of the window (For example, I'd bitten my nails down to my knuckles again!) and decided that I wouldn't be too hard on myself: a verse or two a day would do well.

Of course, most of them have been terrible, inspired by movies I saw and liked (Paranormal Activity, anyone?) and most of them don't have melodies or anything. But I fully believe that, like a lot of things creative, you really can (in most cases) learn to get better.

And, because I've become a little obsessed with exercise (ZUMBA!!!) to the point where I have so much energy I skip the steps two at a time, I will compare songwriting to building muscle. First off, you have to burn off the fat. It's hard work, and you don't really see results quickly. Then, you start to thin out (that's the stage I'm at now. It's getting better - not so many real stunners, as yet), and then you develop a muscle that you can enjoy! ^_____^

I checked out some books on Pop Art a few weeks for a little more of a boost. I just like to feel I'm being productive.

update: you want a photo? ^___^

Currently....

2010-05-14T09:38:00.001-07:00

I've become obsessed with Fancy Dress! I want someone to organise one so I can go as a Strawberry Daiquiri, or maybe I could go as a Peacock, or a bottle of Champagne, or perhaps Rum? The possibilities are endless.

...And then there's the matter of a wig! ;)

Also, attention Gaga Monsters:
I AM IN LOVE WITH THESE!

Kay, update over. Chew on that. ;)

Oh, yeah, and...

2010-04-25T12:44:00.000-07:00

Some songs I haven't been able to get enough of!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HR8Ia6vyV5Q
Last of the American Girls - Green Day

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kIeCrj_Gn6A
Fooled Me Again Honest Eyes - Lady Gaga. (For anyone still in doubt of her talent!)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TG-R6gr_his
Love and Money - The Network

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=htts3jbEeLk
Si te vas (If you leave) - Shakira

Oh, boy, I could go on forever. Just thought that would start y'all off. :)

Philanthropy

2010-04-25T12:23:00.000-07:00

In a charitable mood? These are some charities that you might not have heard of but should give a go:

Soles4Souls is a charity that donates worn shoes to some of the poorest people of the world.
The Barefoot Foundation is Colombian pop star Shakira's charity, which aims on brining education to the poorest children of the world so they can lay the foundations of their future.
Help For Heroes raises money to support the families of, and troops who have been injured in combat. It's a really good cause because, whether you agree with the war or not, those men and women are out there almost all year round and I think we're starting to take that for granted.
The National Resources Defence Council aims to raise awareness about our environment and the world's resources. And, with representatives like Green Day and Sheryl Crow, they're likely to have crossed your radar in the past few years.

Just a few suggestions of some that you could check out. It's money honey.

The Next Gaga Installment :D

2010-03-12T12:21:00.000-08:00

It has arrived. Gaga. Beyonce. Telephone Hair. Prison. Cops. Murder. Dancing.

Cannot wait for the next installment in The Fame Monster story! :D

If you are as excited as I am about Telephone, click here, it's a good link. ;)

Went to see the little Gagaloo last month at the O2. It blew my mind to the Fame Ball and back.

(Image courtesy of here)

Mmm... Harajuku Lovers. :D

2010-03-07T08:45:00.000-08:00

I have been almost obsessed with Harajuku Lovers recently, scouring eBay for some bargains of the super-cute brand. I won a 'Tetris' bag the other day, which I love, and am now the proud owner of a HL wallet, overnight bag, shirt, two 'G' perfumes and 'Music' from the HL Fragrances range. I can't get enough! :D
Just wanted to update. Deal or No Deal is on now, so I'll be off.
Hope everyone is well.

What to believe?

2010-02-15T12:14:00.001-08:00

Apparently, this woman is Marilyn Monroe reincarnated. I would love to believe this. I really would. I believe in reincarnation and life after death, but how many people have tried to persuade the world that they were once Hollywood's most celebrated actress? Perhaps Sherri is telling the truth and really is Marilyn. That would be cool. I wonder who I was? Then again, it's attracted her a lot of attention, so other people might see the appeal, and suddenly we'll have John Lennon, Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash, all back from the dead as people on YouTube docuementaries!

Since Christmas, I have developed a minor obsession with Soap and Glory. I had seen it in the shops and admired the packaging, but been doubtful of the brand's ability to offer quality for the low, low prices. I was pleasantly surprised, and re-stccked today at my local Boots store! :D

On a VERY exciting note, Banksy's movie, 'Exit Through the Gift Shop', hits cinemas early next month! Not sure if that's only the UK, but you can check your local cinema listings wherever you are to find out.

On a final note, Owl City's rerelease of 'Ocean Eyes' is out today! 'Fireflies' has been number one for about three weeks now (well, last time I checked!). Also, I am in love with this.

Hope you had a nice week! :)

Plus que ma propre vie...

2010-01-17T08:34:00.000-08:00

I found this beautiful pendant on Etsy today. It's inspired by the locket Bella gives baby Renesmee in Breaking Dawn. I think the jewellery inspired by the Twilight franchise is beautiful - there are some really amazing pieces on there - really subtle hints to the beauty of the story. You don't have to be a Twi-Hard to appreciate it, which I think is important. I actually got into the books last: I kind of went backwards. I watched the movie on an aeroplane in April (and wasn't that engrossed), then started listening to the soundtrack in the summer (and fell in love with the music), after my sister introduced me to it. From there I gained more of an appreciation for the saga and became less critical of its likeness to Buffy! (Teenager - Bella/Buffy, falls in love with a Vampire - Edward/Angel, only he isn't a 'real' or 'dangerous' vampire because he is vegetatian/has a soul) Then I read the first book (and said I wouldn't read on) and watched the movie (and spent the whole time saying 'they left out...'). From thereonin I was kind of enchanted. I actually like the way the books are written, too. They are easy to read, but they aren't offendingly dumb-ed down. Sometimes I think the storyline gets a little cheesy and I don't always find the characters particularly loveable. Perhaps because I'm not jaded by the looks/lives of the actors I can look at Twilight from a different view.

Oh well, lecture over!

Introducing Bonnie and Clive! :)

2010-01-01T05:15:00.001-08:00

First off, Happy New Year & Decade! :)

Now, a while back I was doodling when I was meant to be answering questions on a Science exam, but anyhoo, I came to create these little blobby characters that I now present to you as Bonnie and Clive.

This is just a taster. More to follow! :)

PS Bonnie and Clive belong to me. If you want to use them, you can. Just credit me as the source please. Don't be a Piracy Pirate. :)

Committed to Change

2009-12-27T14:05:00.001-08:00

Hey, I just emailed President Obama. *All in a day's work!*

I was inspired to do so by NRDC. It's important to me that my generation doesn't have to sort everything out - let's face it, this lot aren't even capable of spelling their own name at times (that is the honest truth!) let alone facing the international crisis of environmental climate disasters. Frankly, it's up to people like Mr. Obama to make serious change. So, using the template that NRDC supplied (found here), I wrote the following:

Mr. Obama -

It is often said that children are the future. Children are going to care for and, ultimately, inherit the planet once their parents have passed on. Every parent must worry about the world they are leaving behind for their children, but few act on their worries. As a member of the 'inheriting' generation (I am 15 years old), I do worry about having to sort out the planet that my parents and their generation (and generations before them - let's not start pointing fingers!).
Mr Obama, if you act now, you can kickstart a snowball effect that could help my generation sort out the planet and preserve it for our children, and your grandchildren. I have hope that you can move the world ahead into the future, and inspire people all over the world to do whatever they can to preserve our home.
As a resident of the UK I would just like to take this opportunity to say that any laws or legislations passed that help to safeguard the planet will be noticed and appreciated by your peers, voters and countrymen (and women!). I just wanted to take this opportunity to tell you that any visions you have of making America more environmentally friendly will be appreciated and supported, even if it is just by a humble member of the generation who will have just a little less work to do because of it. Please take a moment to read the statistics and ideas, provided by the National Resources Defence Council. Thank you.

The world's leading scientists are now agreed that:

** Global warming is a clear threat to the entire planet, including current and future generations of humankind,
** Allowing temperatures to rise more than another 2 degrees Fahrenheit threatens to trigger the irreversible melting of the Greenland ice sheet, a 20-foot rise in sea levels, and the extinction of species,
** Our only chance to avert such catastrophic outcomes is to act now to reduce global warming pollution,
** Stabilizing the world's climate demands that we start cutting U.S. global warming pollution now, and reach at least an 80% reduction by 2050.

I therefore call on you to pass urgently-needed legislation that will:
1. CUT GLOBAL WARMING POLLUTION 20% by 2020 and 80% by 2050 - with enforceable deadlines.
2. MOVE AMERICA BEYOND OIL by promoting the widespread adoption of fuel-efficient vehicles, clean fuels and public transit that turn down the heat on global warming.
3. RENEW OUR ENERGY FUTURE by rewarding energy efficiency and requiring utilities to generate 25 percent of their electricity from zero-pollution, renewable sources like wind, solar and geothermal power.
4. CREATE NEW GREEN JOBS by allocating funds from the sale of global warming pollution permits to clean energy technology research and development.

Sir, I am hopeful for the future of America and the world, and send my deepest respects and wishes for a happy new year.

Although I am realistic that my little email would have made any impact whatsoever, I like to think that it's making its way through cyberspace and that someone in the 'Powers that Be' has read, and is considering, my words. It's nice to dream. :)

If you want to contact the White House, you can get the form here. It's unlikely that you will get a detailed reply (I haven't got a reply yet, since I only sent the email a few moments ago and I imagine they get many emails), you can give it a go.

Happy New Year! :)

This has been a long time coming.

2009-12-20T07:24:00.000-08:00

In April (yes, you read that right. April.) my room was redecorated and repainted. Needless to say, it looked totally different, and I'm kicking myself that I don't have any before and after photos, but that's how it goes, I guess. These are the long-overdue new photos of my room, which was all completed by about June. I just thought this could be a random little post before it gets too late to show you :)

Beauty in the unseen

2009-12-20T06:53:00.000-08:00

If any of you have looked outside in the last few days, you might have realised that it did, indeed, snow on Thursday. Alas, schools and work all over the country still went ahead unchanged, but the snow remained throughout Friday, Saturday and today, particularly in the South East. This morning we went out and took some photos. Well, my Dad took a lot, but the memory card was full in my camera after about three pictures, so I had to upload them. Meh, you didn't really need to know that. It just explains why there's not many. Now, around the corner there's this awesomely decorated (okay, vandalised) skaters park. Since it was snowing, there was no-one around, so we took the opportunity to capture the graphics added to the rather plain ramps. Enjoy.

Particularly love this one, taken in the corner of one of the ramps. 'Almost' could mean anything, hidden away there.
This is one of the ramps covered in ice and snow - there's a good reason all the sk8rbois aren't out today, I think...
Particularly awesome bit of graffiti here, the crown tops off all the bold colours.

In the run up

2009-12-06T02:49:00.001-08:00

Struggling to find a unique gift?
www.etsy.com supplies handmade and vintage from sellers across the globe.

This year, I'm making jewellery for my friends, if that helps! :D
Merry Christmas!

Start a Revolution!

2009-11-06T14:40:00.000-08:00

I've been reading into the ol' Guerilla art (again). This is what happens when you don't go out drinking like every other human being in the 13-20 bracket, and I have been... well, contemplaying what my own form of 'art' would be, since, you know, I can't draw or anything! So I was thinking, 'how much better does it make my day when I read a cool chalk quote?'
So my plan was to go out and do some chalk quotes. Because I am a dork, they would probably end up being song lyrics that I like or something. But still. Then I got thinking again: ' I don't actually know if that's legal or not'. My task for the weekend is to try and find out what the laws are in relation to chalk markings (in a place like the park) etc is. I don't want to get arrested for 'dusting', on account of the whole having-to-be-spotless getting-into-the-US thing.
I'm finding it quite interesting how something that, in the eyes of many people (and about a year ago, probably myself too) is essentially 'vandalism' can hold my attention for so long! Normally, NOTHING holds my attention for more than a minute or so. My mind moves so quickly that I am 'so over' something in a matter of moments. This is usually most prominant when I find that I can't do something straight away. Unless I have a real yearning to do it (like playing the guitar, for example), I give up as soon as I find it tricky. Hence the reason I am failing Physics. I feel a little justified in that momentum, kinetic energy and gravitational potential made everyone else fail too, but that was just an example! Anyway, getting back to the ART (man), I was surprised that something so... seemingly mindless could hold my attention for so long.

And so, in Jerry Springer style, this brings us to our final thought *clear throat*:
"Rebellion is a refusal of obedience or order. It may, therefore, be seen as encompassing a range of behaviors from civil disobedience and mass nonviolent resistance, to violent and organized attempts to destroy an established authority such as the government. Those who participate in rebellions are known as "rebels". A Rebel is distinguished from an outsider. An outsider is one who is excluded from a group whereas a rebel goes against it. Also, rebel's potential to overthrow the leadership is recognized and substantial, unless the rebellion is crushed, whereas an outsider has been marginalized and is considered to be degenerate."
The local yob who stands on the corner threatening old ladies is not a rebel. Start your revolution, people.

Updates! :)

2009-10-11T09:21:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I visited the British Museum in London. I really love it there. I would recommend it for a day out, but make sure you catch some shut-eye before you go - that place is huuuge!! I loved the Native American exhibit and the Egyptian rooms. It was amazing to think how all those artifacts had survived all that time... it really was fascinating. Our visit was, as my Dad said, a little overshadowed by my excitement over having been served next to Jamie Oliver in the gift shop. I stood so close to him! :D It was so weird because I had only mentioned about an hour earlier that I had become more than a little hooked on 'Jamies American Road Trip'. How strange!
There's not much else to report. I'm currently reading Breaking Dawn from the Twilight Series, listening to Miles from Monterey (West Indian Girl) and learning about Native American history at the same time (on the other tab). Yay! Multi-tasking! :)

If you do one thing today

2009-09-26T09:56:00.000-07:00

You should read some Tim Burton poetry!

Through the Looking Glass

2009-09-23T11:31:00.000-07:00

Am very excited about Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland, due 5th March 2010! What an exciting prospect for me: my favourite book and favourite director! Can't wait.
Have started to reread Alice in Wonderland. This is my copy.
Better get back to it! :)
I'm also reading New Moon (of Twilight). I always vowed I wouldn't but since I've read Twilight now I might as well! Also, I've promised my sister I will take her to see New Moon for her birthday. Don't want to be the only person in there who doesn't know what's going on! I'm about halfway through.
Toodles and cheers! :)

Blue Velvet Vintage sale!

2009-09-12T09:35:00.000-07:00

To make way for the new season's stock, Blue Velvet Vintage are having a sale! They're based in Stuart, FL., and they sell genuine vintage and vintage reproduction, in cute retro styles!

Ready.
Set.
Go.

Dior Cherie

2009-09-12T08:59:00.000-07:00

...and the power of advertising! I haven't even smelt the perfume and I want to buy it! I love this advert; it's shot in a really nice retro, grainy way, and all the colours are muted and she really stands out - it's a nice, innocent advert. That's why I chose it for my Media studies 'Image Analysis' coursework. There's so much to say about it...!
As you can see, it's shot quite similar to one of my favourite photos of all time, the Marilyn Monroe one above. It's such a nice summery photo, and really looks lovely.

Such happier times.
Hope everyone remembered the 911 anniversary yesterday.

Coming up...!

2009-08-30T08:16:00.000-07:00

I'm really looking forward to the new Shakira album, She Wolf. The follow-up to 'Oral Fixation' is due out 21st September.
I'm also really looking forward to Dita Von Teese's upcoming book. Apparently, it's going to be a beauty book. That will be great because Dita does all her own hair and makeup when she's out and about.

And she always looks fabulous...! :)
Well, posting over for today.

You have got to

2009-08-30T04:19:00.001-07:00

Visit this website.
It's so cool. So mysterious!
Intriguing.
It was part of the Year Zero *thing*.
Kind of promotion, kind of "conspiracy theory".
It doesn't really *do* anything, it's just damn creepy!
Enjoy.

Calling all Nine Inch Nails fans!

2009-08-29T01:51:00.000-07:00

You can download the new NIN album here! I haven't listened to it yet, but I'm a relatively new fan and I thought "what a great idea!"
At least you know you're getting it from a safe and secure site, and not some dodgy file sharing thing. YAY! You won't be arrested for it! :)
Well, since it's free, you might as well give it a go, no?
You're encouraged to remix it, share it, etc. (Clever marketing)
Anyway, give it a go. Tell me what you think. Or, even better, tell them what you think.

Parallex

2009-08-27T14:07:00.000-07:00

Within Astronomy, a Trigonomic Parallax, is, according to the 'Atlas of the Universe' when a large body (ie. a star or planet) appears to change shape when viewed from a different angle.

Is there someone or something (like a situation) that changes shape when your perception of it changes?

Morals

2009-08-27T13:56:00.000-07:00

`Very true,' said the Duchess: `flamingoes and mustard both bite. And the moral of that is--"

... what is the moral of it? Is there a moral to every story?
Try to find a moral today.

Also...:
Friday 11th of September 2009, Channel 4.
Derren Brown: The Events

For Your Information

2009-08-22T01:02:00.000-07:00

Blogger is going to be closed down from 5th September @ 6Pm through to 6th September. That's what that little thing is above the Astronomy Picture of the Day. I just saw that now, but the picture is still underneath it; just scroll down in that little box thing, and you'll see it. :)

It's that time again...

2009-08-22T00:55:00.000-07:00

...that the X-Factor is back on British TV. Why do people delude themselves into thinking that they are either A) good, or B) won't be exploited if they're good? I realise that it's entertaining but to be honest that's a worse reason as to why we watch it. The people who are bad are being exploited by the judges to get some laughs and the people who are good are going to be exploited to make money for Simon Cowell. What happened to DIY music? Writing, recording and producing it yourself? This access to easy-fame (or supposedly 'easy fame'. Read: Susan Boyle's breakdown.) is giving a generation of children the wrong idea that fame is easy and you don't really have to earn it. I know people who actually have started to aspire to going on the X-factor and, believe it or not, Big Brother.

Don't even get me started on Big Brother.

So wise...

2009-08-21T13:27:00.000-07:00

"Whoever fights monsters should see to it that he, in the process, does not become a monster himself, and that when you look into the abyss, the abyss also looks into you." - Frederich Nietzsche

^ Possibly one of my favourite quotes of all time, and probably the most over-used in the criminology-books department. I've seen it used in at least two, and the tile for one! (Whoever Fights Monsters [Robert K. Ressler], the book that first got me into criminology as a ... past-time, you could say.)

Done some people-observing today. It's interesting what you see when you stop to listen.

61st post! :)

2009-08-19T05:27:00.000-07:00

I've been having fun in the land of the real people recently. I have just come back from a trip to Portugal where it topped 38c! Heaven! :) I came home only to see that Bernie Dexter had privatized her Twitter posts! Oh no! :( I had been enjoying reading about her life, and I don't have Twitter. Or, if I do, I haven't used it in a long time (It's one of those things you make and never use, isn't it? Unless, of course, you're a celebrity or you have lots of friends!). It's a lovely day here - blue sky, heat and sunshine. I'm enjoying it, anyway.
I just finished reading 'The Lovely Bones' by Alice Sebold. It was really amazing; tremendously sad yet uplifting at the same time. I really recommend it, but not if you're easily moved to tears - it's quite sad. I've been writing a lot lately, too. Writing little snippets and trying different genres. My next goal is to enter a competition for a romance! Romance is a genre I don't really excell in (not really being the romantic type!), so I thought it would be an idea to give it a go. I'll repot more on that soon if it gets off the ground.
I found some lovely retro dresses online (all over the place in different websites) and I always get inspiration from them. Who buys and wears them and, if actual vintage, what is the story of the woman who owned them? It all fascinates me.

I saw an interesting thing on the news this morning about a man who spent a week (I'm not sure if it was recently or he's doing it now) in Heathrow, asking people about where they were going and he's going to write a book about it. I think it's a novel he's writing. Loving to travel myself, I think that might be worth a read. It's due out, they said, mid-september. Looking forward to it! :)

I think that's all, folks. Get off the internet and spend some time in the sunshine while it lasts! ;)
PS: This is my 61st post! :D

PPS: This is Bernie Dexter. You can read more about her here. Any of you savvy AmericanRetro/Rockabilly shoppers will notice that she's modelled for MyBabyJo.com and unique-vintage.com. She also has her own line of clothes, acessories and shoes. She's so cool! :)

Cheers.

"Good night, travel well"

2009-08-02T08:09:00.000-07:00

I'm going to take a bit of a break from blogging, just to let you know. It's nice to vent things sometimes but I'm giving it a bit of a rest; I'm going to spend some time in the real world. I'm going on holiday soon too (to Portugal - yum!) so I probably won't update for most of August. Don't worry, I'm sure you'll still paddle along fine without me. I'll continue to write though, and hopefully when I get back I'll have a good pulp fiction to share with you all. Give me some time to work that out.
Have a good August - the weather should perk up a bit in the latter half so enjoy it while you can! :)
Oh, you must all remind me not to blog when I'm feeling under the weather! I can be so melodramatic sometimes. I need to stay away when I feel like that! I am, from now on, only going to blog when the sun's out. (Metaphorically, that is. Otherwise, you would never hear from me!) :)
So long! Cheers.

Paris is calling...

2009-08-01T06:51:00.000-07:00

I feel it's time I took another trip to France. I've no idea why; I just feel like I should be there. I have to see all the shops!
I think I'm going to start saving! :) I had a great time in December but I'd like to go in September, I think. Just thought I'd say that. It's only £59 on 19th September which means I could go before my birthday! :)
Cheers.

Happy August!

2009-08-01T05:24:00.001-07:00

It's now August which means it's almost my birthday! :)
Not much interesting to say but I'm feeling a lot better today, although the weather is making me a bit down. I'm trying not to look out of the window. Apparently the weather might calm down later on in the month. I hope so.
I thought I would share with you all a little picture I drew ages ago. It's called 'You're an Orange'. It's not a masterpeice but it's cute.

You can use it if you like, but I'd appreciate it if you credited me as the source. :)
Cheers

Wicked!

2009-07-30T11:14:00.000-07:00

Had the pleasure of going to see Wicked at the Apollo in Victoria, London. It was absoultely marvelous (please excuse the lazy grammar and spelling today: my brain is melting away. If you notice anything, ignore it.) although the icecream was a little over-priced. The story was amazaing and the costumes were... just... wow. I have lost, as you can see, the ability to formulate words and sentences, etc. I am running out of inspiration and things to say: nothing has grabbed me by the hair yet and sent me into 'I must blog about this' mode. Sorry about that. I'll keep it short and sweet since that's all that has been going on lately. Exciting as it was, it was a one-off. Before you all melt too, I suggest you go and read Burlesque: The art of the Teese, since anyone who calls Dita Von Teese a 'tasteless stripper' should. Glamour is a way of life... blah blah blah. Also, there's some handy information on the background of burlesque (ie. information about Minksy and 'Minksyville' in NY for you lot in the know.) There's some great photos and, flip the book over to reveal the darker side of burlesque: fetish (and the art of the teese). A great read and quite funny at times too! :)
Cheers xx

Something to aspire to.

2009-07-26T14:28:00.000-07:00

A rather lovely blues-y version of Lady Gaga's hit "Poker Face". Love it in this style!
Notice the great bruise on her right thigh! Clumsy.... Wonder how it got there!? ;)
Today I managed to make good progress with Wonderful. Made it sound really cool today I think and get the vocals nice and tidy, so I'm in a good mood now. I was in a bit of downward spiral this morning - you know, the usual judging myself and my lack of talent, etc. The doubt was quite intense but I picked up the guitar and my spirits and now my mood is good enough to actually blog about it! :)
Fantastic, I'm off now. It's about 10.30 UK time right now and the brightness of the screen is starting to sting my eyes! Hopefully those foxes won't return tonight eh?!
Cheers

Melting in the summer heat.

2009-07-26T01:27:00.001-07:00

I've just gotten back from a camping trip with my family to the Dorset coast. It rained at least once a day, I believe, except for Wednesday, when we went to the beach (luckily!)
Wednesday was a beautiful day. I spent it on the beach, melting in the heat listening to the Cure and skipping off occasionally into Moominland. Is there a better way to spend a holiday?
I'm glad to be home though; I can get back to popping (I almost wrote pooping!) into my local charity shops bi-daily now.
Last night we had an influx of foxes that descended upon our front garden. Since my room is at the front of the house I heard their little devilish yips clear as day. In my jaded "It's 3AM!"-esque state, I looked out of the window, filled with fear that the banshees had signalled the arrival of some apocolyptic ... I don't know what I thought, actually. I can, however, recall the sheer delight of seeing a fox run across the main road and take shelter in our front garden before a lorry hurtled from somewhere to nowhere. It was the vegetarian side of me saying "Little fox, come and stay safe at our house". Then, the human side of me (albeit still veggie!) just wanted them to stop crying. Honestly! Why do such gorgeous creatures make such a racket! And at such an inconsiderate time of day too!
Cheers

PS: I'm sorry about the sheer length of the last post; I have some silly feeling inside me that considers myself a 'struggling musician' (in the loosest sense of the word!) and I guess I wanted to help those kindred spirits like myself. Plus I love NIN.

Up and coming musician?

2009-07-19T11:08:00.000-07:00

A recent bulletin post from NIN's Trent Reznor. Follow the advice. :)

"If you are an unknown / lesser-known artist trying to get noticed / established:

* Establish your goals. What are you trying to do / accomplish? If you are looking for mainstream super-success (think Lady GaGa, Coldplay, U2, Justin Timberlake) - your best bet in my opinion is to look at major labels and prepare to share all revenue streams / creative control / music ownership. To reach that kind of critical mass these days your need old-school marketing muscle and that only comes from major labels. Good luck with that one.

If you're forging your own path, read on.

* Forget thinking you are going to make any real money from record sales. Make your record cheaply (but great) and GIVE IT AWAY. As an artist you want as many people as possible to hear your work. Word of mouth is the only true marketing that matters.
To clarify:
Parter with a TopSpin or similar or build your own website, but what you NEED to do is this - give your music away as high-quality DRM-free MP3s. Collect people's email info in exchange (which means having the infrastructure to do so) and start building your database of potential customers. Then, offer a variety of premium packages for sale and make them limited editions / scarce goods. Base the price and amount available on what you think you can sell. Make the packages special - make them by hand, sign them, make them unique, make them something YOU would want to have as a fan. Make a premium download available that includes high-resolution versions (for sale at a reasonable price) and include the download as something immediately available with any physical purchase. Sell T-shirts. Sell buttons, posters... whatever.

Don't have a TopSpin as a partner? Use Amazon for your transactions and fulfillment. [www.amazon.com]

Use TuneCore to get your music everywhere. [www.tunecore.com]

Have a realistic idea of what you can expect to make from these and budget your recording appropriately.
The point is this: music IS free whether you want to believe that or not. Every piece of music you can think of is available free right now a click away. This is a fact - it sucks as the musician BUT THAT'S THE WAY IT IS (for now). So... have the public get what they want FROM YOU instead of a torrent site and garner good will in the process (plus build your database).

The Beastie Boys' site offers everything you could possibly want in the formats you would want it in - available right from them, right now. The prices they are charging are more than you should be charging - they are established and you are not. Think this through.

The database you are amassing should not be abused, but used to inform people that are interested in what you do when you have something going on - like a few shows, or a tour, or a new record, or a webcast, etc.
Have your MySpace page, but get a site outside MySpace - it's dying and reads as cheap / generic. Remove all Flash from your website. Remove all stupid intros and load-times. MAKE IT SIMPLE TO NAVIGATE AND EASY TO FIND AND HEAR MUSIC (but don't autoplay). Constantly update your site with content - pictures, blogs, whatever. Give people a reason to return to your site all the time. Put up a bulletin board and start a community. Engage your fans (with caution!) Make cheap videos. Film yourself talking. Play shows. Make interesting things. Get a Twitter account. Be interesting. Be real. Submit your music to blogs that may be interested. NEVER CHASE TRENDS. Utilize the multitude of tools available to you for very little cost of any - Flickr / YouTube / Vimeo / SoundCloud / Twitter etc.

If you don't know anything about new media or how people communicate these days, none of this will work. The role of an independent musician these days requires a mastery of first hand use of these tools. If you don't get it - find someone who does to do this for you. If you are waiting around for the phone to ring or that A & R guy to show up at your gig - good luck, you're going to be waiting a while.

Hope this helps, and I'll scour responses for intelligent comments I can respond to.

TR

TopSpin Media info:
[topspinmedia.com]

(disclaimer)
This was written on a bumpy Euro-bus ride across the wilderness - may ramble a bit but I think the point gets across.
TR

UPDATE 1:
Thanks for the insightful comments already - when I get a moment (and a reliable internet connection) I'll respond to some of your very valid points. Please keep in mind - these were just some thoughts I quickly wrote down and posted and not meant to be a complete guide by any means. I've neglected to get into publishing and some other things. I'll update pretty soon.

UPDATE 2:
Here's a message from Ian Rogers of TopSpin
[forum.nin.com]

UPDATE 3:
Here's a few responses - more to come when I get time.

Bandcamp
[bandcamp.com]

This looks excellent to me. I have not used it but it appears to be great. This would cover your digital distribution of files and the collecting / amassing of your database. Looks like you'd still need someplace to handle fulfillment of merchandise / physical goods (like the Amazon link above).

Pay-what-you-want model
This is where you offer tracks or albums for a user-determined price. I hate this concept, and here's why.
Some have argued that giving music away free devalues music. I disagree. Asking people what they think music is worth devalues music. Don't believe me? Write and record something you really believe is great and release it to the public as a "pay-what-you-think-it's-worth" model and then let's talk. Read a BB entry from a "fan" rationalizing why your whole album is worth 50 cents because he only likes 5 songs on it. Trust me on this one - you will be disappointed, disheartened and find yourself resenting a faction of your audience. This is your art! This is your life! It has a value and you the artist are not putting that power in the hands of the audience - doing so creates a dangerous perception issue. If the FEE you are charging is zero, you are not empowering the fan to say this is only worth an insultingly low monetary value. Don't be misled by Radiohead's In Rainbows stunt. That works one time for one band once - and you are not Radiohead.

Why put something on iTunes for a price fans can get it from your site for free? Won't it piss people off?
Do it and don't worry about it. Lots of people apparently shop at iTunes exclusively and that's where they get their music. They are generally not the people that would be mad to discover they could have gotten the same record (at a better bit-rate) for free elsewhere. We put The Slip up at nin.com for free at all fidelities and STILL sold a fairly large amount of copies at iTunes for $9.99. At the time iTunes did not allow variable pricing (I don't know what the deal is now).

My Flash comments
I don't hate Flash, just go easy on it and avoid anything that takes time to load - ESPECIALLY your front page.

Managers / booking agents / small labels
Any or all of these may be good for you - or not. Here's a truth: nobody knows what to do right now, me included. The music business model is broken right now. That means every single job position in the music industry has to re-educate itself and learn / discover / adapt a new way. Change can be painful and hard and scary. If any of these entities we're discussing are interested in you, ask them about their strategies IN DETAIL. None of them know for sure what to do. Some of them have an idea of how to negotiate these waters. Most of them don't. If you are young and use the internet, you know more about your audience than they do - for sure. This is a revolution and you can be a part of it. The old guard is dying, if you have good ideas - try them.
Bottom line - before getting involved with anyone else, ask yourself what it is they can clearly bring to your table and is it worth their cut. Do they know what they're talking about, and does their strategies match yours?

I have not gotten into the basics which I believe are self-evident: believe in what you do, do the best work you can, work hard, practice, practice more, find your voice, hone in on it, take chances, play live (if applicable), practice more, keep believing in yourself and prepare for the long haul."

Hmm...

2009-07-18T12:29:00.001-07:00

What is it about having a powercut that means every pen in the house stops working as well?
How odd.Above: An envelope that I doodled on one time :)

Guerilla Art Thing to Do number... 5?

2009-07-18T05:31:00.000-07:00

I've lost count, how terrible. This time, I want you to take a picture of something that you valued in your childhood and leave it on a train. Or, if it was something like Pokemon/Yu-Gi-Oh/Baseball cards, leave one of those on a train. Not the rare ones though! :)
Let others in on what gave you joy as a kid. :)
This comes from my renewed love of Pokemon. I'd forgotten that I knew all the names of the original 102! Tragic, I know. :D
Heading off to Dorset for a week. Not Devon, as you might previously have been informed by me. I always get them mixed up. But hey - never mind :)
Cheers

Super-Kawaii!

2009-07-16T08:49:00.000-07:00

Have been reading Living Out Loud a lot lately. It's a great pick-me-up.
Keri Smith's new book is out soon, This Is Not A Book. Awesome. Can't wait.
My good friend is coming over from Japan - I'm so excited! She gets here in late August. :)
Hope all is going well. :)
Cheers. :)

It's a bit late but...

2009-07-03T14:31:00.001-07:00

How tragic about the poor Michael Jackson. A man exploited for his talent and loved by millions around the world - really gone?! I was shocked and stunned... I'd been really hoping to get my stickly little hands on some tickets, especially having recently been to the 02. It's really tragic and I hope that people see this as an opportunity to celebrate his life and natural talent, not cash-in on his passing. I have to say that all the way through my little-ness the trusty Heart radio in London managed to play me every single Michael Jackson song, and Beat It is probably the only song in circulation that I will actually dance to (except the Dresden Dolls' "Girl Anachronism"; but blind spinning can get sickening when done too often!). I have been tuning into the radio more in the last week in the hope of re-aquainting myself with those old gems!

Peace to the Jacksons and the fans :)

Cheers

Interested?

2009-06-21T05:27:00.000-07:00

If you're interested in some further reading about guerilla art, I highly recommend The Guerilla Art Kit, available here. It's a great explanation of what it's about and it's filled with things you can do in your quest to make the world a little nicer.

The world needs to see...

2009-06-21T04:58:00.000-07:00

Click on the image to make it larger and print out a few copies. It doesn't matter if they are in black and white. Leave them on the bus, the train and your usual haunts. Leave them at work or school. If you've got a project due in at school, tuck it inside the papers for your teacher to find.
Spread the word anonymously or as obviously as you like. This is a really nice way of telling people how they can have an affect on the world in a nice way.

Be creative and enjoy doing so.
Cheers.

Guerilla Art Thing To Do: Number Three

2009-06-21T02:17:00.000-07:00

Click image to make it larger.

This was adapted from Learning to love you more, a great site that encourages people to do things that help them feel better about themselves. I adapted it so the message could get out to more people. Make sure you do leave it though - don't take it home!

Enjoy & Cheers.

Guerilla Art Thing To Do: Number Two

2009-06-20T12:04:00.001-07:00

Click the photo to make it larger.

Adapted from a book called 'What I wore today'.

Guerilla Art Thing To Do: Number One

2009-06-20T11:53:00.000-07:00

Click the photo to make it larger.

This is a nice one, adapted from some ideas of Keri Smith's. Give it a go: how did it make you feel writing it and leaving it for someone else?
Cheers

Like I said I would.

2009-06-20T09:41:00.000-07:00

Like I said I would, here's some snaps from our holiday last month, in the Peak District (UK).

Notice not only the lovely pink and blue, but the menacing grey clouds creeping in...
Half-way around a four-mile stroll.
Fire good. Fire stop campers catching hypothermia.
That's me, that is, Adventurer 300. Much better than that 200 fellow.

Anyway, as I'm sure you can see, we had a real blast. Not pictured: heavy rains, battering winds and the broken tent extension! More photos to follow.

Is a hurricane a-blowing?

2009-06-20T06:19:00.000-07:00

Want a clearer photo? Click here.

I want to start off the Guerilla art thing. Here we go : let's all start by being honest. Tell someone the last time you felt alive. Write it down, on a photo or whatever, and leave it in a library book.
Encourage others to do the same, and leave it anonymously.
The point of Guerilla art is that it's anonymous and profit-free.
If you want some ideas, visit Keri Smith's blog because she's where I got the idea from.
If you want to see what your card could look like, you could read some PostSecret books, or you could visit their blog.
Enjoy and Cheers.

Fight the Power!

2009-06-13T15:35:00.000-07:00

Sorry, haven't updated in a while, just thought I would let you all know about something that has actually made me kinda mad today. I've decided to boycott Starbucks.
They won't send coffee to the troops. They think it's an illegal war. Sure, I don't think war is EVER justified, but I totally think that the brave guys that go out there, away from home, risking their lives to try and sort out someone else's mess surely deserve a cappucino once in a while huh?
They think war is unjustified and don't agree with it. They don't want the soldiers acting as spokesmen and women for Starbucks, you would think? No.
The real reason is that Starbucks funds the Isralei army. (Spelling anyone?) Quelle surprise. They don't want their business with Israel to be jeopardised with funding the Americans and their coffee drinking habits.

Huh.

I would insert a little Starbucks logo here, but A) Unless you live under a rock you know what it looks like and B) I don't want to break any copyright laws.

Fight the power! :)
Cheers.

Baaaack!

2009-05-29T08:05:00.001-07:00

Just thought I'd let you know I'm home! Got some great photos. When I'm fully loaded and unpacked (the photos loaded, the car unpacked) I'll post some up here. Just thought you would like to know that. Not that there is anyone that actually reads this, but if you did you might like to know :)
Well the weather was... changable. The first day, winds battered us silly and ripped the extension off the tent. Not to worry though - surely the tent maker will fix it...? Nope. Wrong again. It's not covered by wind damage.
Walked about 10 miles in three days, up and down... up and down...! Had a great time, would definitely recommend it to anyone that likes... camping, and walking, since it was a camping and walking holiday. Duh!
Urrrm.... so yeah set fire to some stuff, got battered by the winds and soaked by the rain and would you look! Lovely weather the day we get back! YAY! ;)
Never mind, it's nice to be home.
Cheers

So it seems...

2009-05-10T01:13:00.001-07:00

That I am getting sane as the world is getting crazy.

...Okay, maybe not getting crazy; maybe we're darn well already there.

Bringing back the art of ... underwear?

2009-04-25T12:44:00.000-07:00

Well, she's done it again. Mz Von Teese, queen of EVERYTHING, especially burlesque (for those who don't know) has now conquored underwear. Although she's famous for stepping out of it rather than into it, it's a nice collection, inspired by the styles of the 50s (which you know I love) and the fabrics of the 40s. Dita Twittered: 'they aren't getting these samples back!' - she has character too! :)

I love Dita, and am jealous of the fact she got to see the Cure at Coachella on... I think it was the 11th. She just wakes up looking lovely, doesn't she!?

If you want to see the collection for yourself you can Google it.

It's not going to be available in the UK and France until September, and there's no news of it being available in the US anytime soon (yet!).

Fort Lauderdale here I come!

2009-04-24T12:27:00.000-07:00

I'm having withdrawal symptoms from Florida! Just as entertainment, I looked up house prices in Sarasota today to see what my (already slim) chances would be like of finding a home there in a few years. I was actually surprised to see the prices were about right. Anyway it's got me quite excited actually about being at a stage in my life where I can think about getting a house! :) I'd love to live where we stayed, but it's quite a while off in the future. I can think about that a bit more for the next few years and consider it a bit more... blah responsible descisions...blah life choices... blah blah blah.

I'll get to that stage in my life without realising it and then wake up one day and apply for that damn VISA and just get on with life!

Hope everyone's been enjoying the sunshine!

Cheers.

Silly Meh.

2009-04-19T03:53:00.000-07:00

How silly of me - I realised that, trawling through the back-pages of my blog, I haven't mentioned some very important events that are coming up! This month (Friday 17 April, in fact) Green Day (one of the BEST bands EVER!) released their long-awaited single 'Know Your Enemy'. It comes from the upcoming album, 21st Century Breakdown. I've been waiting for this record to come out for five years, people. FIVE years, and I forgot to mention it. Next month, No Doubt (another of the GREATEST bands...!) kicks off thier tour, doing the festival circuit first.

How very foolish of me.

In keeping with the foolish-ness, how about a bloto of some dancing ostriches?

Cheers!

We Survived!

2009-04-18T12:04:00.001-07:00

Just had the most wonderful stir-fry with my old pa, lovely with Qurorn Chicken-style pieces.

It was really simple to make, only one recommendation - don't use too much oil! The hob caught fire! I thought the whole kitchen was going to go up in flames...! Luckily, the problem was resolved by the (not so) old man popping a lid on the fire and stopping the flames. Anyway, we survived, and it was lovely.

Went out to Tesco today, went to B&Q for a new letterbox, that kinda stuff. Had a look around town, bought a new iron from Argos (The King of Irons, we've called it.), and had a look in Barrets. Bit gutted that they didn't have any keyboards in, I was quite looking to see what one I was to buy. Never mind, there's loads of music shops around, isn't there?

Almost, what with the kitchen almost in flames!

Cheers!

Just some snaps in time.

2009-04-17T13:33:00.000-07:00

Hello! Last post on my hols to Floida, for the moment. These are just some snaps for you to look at while you book the plane!

The Beach, 9th April 2009

Some general photos of the house, I guess.

(Some of) The Easter Bunny. They don't run fast enough in Florida...

The car, a Dodge Journey.

A gorgeous sunset on the 9th April, I think. Might have been 10th. Like I say, I'm not a calendar.

Cheers.

Houston... no. Kennedy.

2009-04-17T13:26:00.000-07:00

So on... well I don't know what day it was, I wasn't a calendar, you know! We went on some day to the Kennedy Space Centre, which was AMAZING. It really was an experience. The weather was great too, so it added to the perfect-ness of it all, really. Only, it took us an hour to get there...

...and four to get back, the navigator trying to find a way around all the traffic.

That was some big spacejunk.
...So you don't have to!
That was great - made you feel like you were being launched into space!
I was trying to get these people, only there was some rocket in the way.
Thankfully, the pilot landed before he collided with the Shuttle experience.

Overall, a great day! As with all the blog posts, there were WAY more pictures than the ones I post up here, so if you send me a comment about wanting to see some more, or are planning a trip to any of the places I visited, drop me a line and I'll share some more with you.

Cheers xx

Disney Landa

2009-04-17T13:18:00.000-07:00

Just a quick note to mention that I forgot to say in my other post that the first American we met was the immigration guy. He had a gun, a twitch and obviously didn't think stamping passports was getting him very far in life! These are some more jolly Americans we saw along the way...

Too Jolly for my liking...
Drunk on excitement at being a fish
Just Drunk.
Not drunk - he's a statue!
The castle where they get the beer.

Silly me, I seem to have posted the photos of my wild night out, where I got drunk off my face... only kidding, Disneyland really is where people get that... happy, you know?!

Onwards...

Cheers xx

Back From The Land of USA!

2009-04-17T13:09:00.000-07:00

The surprise trip was to FLORIDA! I was so surprised - I had an amazing time. Instead of putting one long post about all the photos I'll post seperate posts so if you're interested in Disney Land you can go to the DisneyLand one; if you want to see Kennedy, feel free to. Basically, here I'll outline the basics of the holiday. We flew into Tampa (which, in my geographical ignorance, I didn't know was in Florida until we got on the plane and the captain said 'the weather is lovely in Florida today' - I was like, that's irrelevant! What's it like where we're going! And then... Oh!) and the flight was nine hours long. I don't even really like car rides, so nine hours in a plane is not my idea of fun, but to be honest with you it was so worth it. For the first few days I didn't suffer Jet lag-wise at all because I was so hyped on America! We stayed in Kissimmee, (South of Tampa) for the first 9 or so days, and carried on to Sarasota for the last five days, which was a much more residential place. As a useless detail I'll tell you we rented a Dodge Journey for our car, some photos of which are bound to pop up somewhere or other on here.

We went over there with four suitcases and came back with six! Needless to say, we did a LOT of shopping...! The beach in Sarasota was Lovely with a capital L, and got some amazing photos of the sunset there.

I must say, I didn't get any photos of SeaWorld, so there won't be any of that on here, but we had a good time anyway, and someone else in the family must have, so I'll see...

Hope everyone had a great 'Spring Break'! I'll set about posting the photos here in a moment.

Cheers xx

Really quickly.

2009-03-28T08:44:00.001-07:00

Got a few minutes? Watch this video. The jumpiness of it can be REALLY annoying at times, but persevere until the end and read the comment. You will at least raise your eyebrows!! Don't ruin it by skipping right to the end, at least watch the last minute to get the jist of it.

It's AMAZING!

Cheers

I've never wanted it to be Monday!

2009-03-28T01:32:00.000-07:00

But I can't wait for the weekend to be over! How weird is that? I was googling around and I found these uber-cool sweet wrappers from Japan, showing my absolute favourite things Moomins!

Aren't they just adorable?!

Cheers. xx

Alas...

2009-03-27T15:24:00.000-07:00

Recognition is not an easy thing to achieve.

Anyone know any publishers of short stories, preferably that of the bleak, the strange and the slightly disturbing? Please PLEASE tell me if you do, I don't know what I'm going to do here! I still haven't recieved my feedback, and I need backup plans reall

PLEASE! :)

I will post a bloto toady. Me, Wrynose (Lake District, UK). July 2007. Enjoy.

Cheers xx

Bit more of an update...

2009-03-27T12:50:00.000-07:00

Sorry, have been bad with my updates lately, maybe I should fill you both in. I'm off to the land of far away on Monday (Ok, I'll admit, I still don't know where I'm going...!). I will update as soon as poss, although I'm going to be away for ten days. To amuse yourself in the mean time, please feel free to read my older blogs!

Went to the library today, got out some light reading: The Trial (Franz Kafka), The Castle (Franz Kafka) and Metamorphosis and other stories (Franz Kafka). Noticing a bit of a trend here?!

Nothing too exciting is going on, really. I've been writing lots lately, only really to pass the time. I'm expecting my feedback from DarkTales.co.uk any day now for 'D is for Dead' although I doubt it was published. I've written a lot darker stuff since, and frankly in retrospect it looks a little tame. Anyway. I'm continuing to write, and basically I just wanted this to be a small update for you all. I'm not going to put a photo up today because it will take time, and I posted a LOT of photos last time!

Cheers

I don't know how long this is going to be...

2009-03-15T08:13:00.000-07:00

Alright, I'm going to hold my hands up here. The following photos are not mine. I just wanted to share with you the wonders that is Vintage clothing. The first lot: www.candysays.co.uk (especially for those of you in the UK):

Gorgeous, aren't they? :)

CandySays are fantastic - all authentic vintage clothing (most of this is 60s-80s), and not just dresses! Next up: Dorothea's closet...

www.dorotheasclosetvintage.com

I hope these dresses inspire you as they have done for me! :)

Cheers

Must get writing!

2009-03-15T02:30:00.001-07:00

The 'Dark Tales' Spring competition closes on 30th April. Hopefully the holiday will give me some more ideas -- I'm seriously running out of them!

I'd love to write a story like George Orwell's "1984", only every time I try to think of a plot, it winds up being practically the same story. Thing is, it's inspired me so much that I can never really remember where my ideas come from. I'll write something and say 'My, that sounds a lot like something Orwell would write,' or 'Did that come from a Kafka?' because I generally think I have the same styles as these two. The same paranoid themes and feelings! So then I have to go and check all the Orwells I've read, all the Kafkas, and make sure my subconscious didn't just lift it from the page! It's a tiring process...

Above is the Christmas Market along the Champs-Alysee in Paris. Basically because I love to shop! Some brilliant specialist stalls - Russian Dolls galore!

Cheers

Facebook is addictive!

2009-03-14T01:50:00.001-07:00

Oh my - never thought I would say it but I think I'm getting addicted to Facebook! Maybe it's because I don't Myspace or Bebo. I don't know - it's the only way of keeping in touch with old friends, and it's a nice feeling. I've only got 23 friends though! Some people have almost 600 or thereabouts. Hmm...

Anyway, thought I would blog for you today. My, I love blogging. I love writing about me - how

vain! What should I share with you today then?

Christmas presents! MY Christmas pressies. Hope everyone had a nice Christmas (although it was about four months ago).

Cheers.

What do you see?

2009-03-13T14:17:00.001-07:00

Just a quick update for today, folks - in quite a philosophical mood. So what do you see?

G o d i s n o w h e r e

Get back to me with that one...

Anyway, today is Red Nose Day, for those of you in the Jolly Old UK. For those of you who are, erm, not, Red Nose Day is a day raising awareness of the charity Comic Relief, and has been running since 1988. As you can probably guess, Red Noses are on sale and the money raised goes to starving children and Child Carers. Get donating, that's all I can say!

Nothing much is going on in my life at the moment.

Nearing closer to the big holiday. Still don't know where I'm going, it's a 'surprise' although for the record here, I had a really vivid dream about going to, and getting lost in, Russia. I'll keep you posted on that one...! Michael Jackson tickets went on sale today, BIG DEAL for Londoners aparently. Made it onto the news and everything! Got some concerts coming up myself. Going to see Enrique Iglesias :) on May 15th, and Take That on July 1st. Also waiting for the oppertunity to see The Cure, No Doubt and Marilyn Manson. What a mix!

Today's bloto:

In keeping with the Philosophical mood, this is me and Buddha on a trip to Thailand. Only joking. It's in Wales! Ha ha. They always fall for that one. Just out of the photo, Jesus is sitting on a park bench selling packets of seeds for a very good cause... Shame about the fact I don't have a big enough camera!

For those of you who can't read sarcasm, I was joking. See you on the other side.

Cheers

Like I Promised :)

2009-03-01T08:30:00.001-08:00

Like I said I would, here are the photos from the Snow Day in February. Sorry that the photos have some random girl in them, she kept following me around... Oh, wait that's me! :)

Hope the snow day was as fun for you guys as it was for me! ;)

Cheers!

March 1st - Not quite April Fools Day...

2009-03-01T02:14:00.000-08:00

Happy March Fools' day!

It's like Aprils' fools (Poisson d'Avril in France!) only in March. Enjoy this day while it lasts because it only comes around every three years or so. Otherwise no-one would leave the house because they'd forever be getting pranked! Ha ha.

Thought I would share that with you all. :)

Today's Bloto:

Me and my sister at our Grandparents' old house in Letchworth. Against the sunflowers we grew every year. Quite sweet really isn't it?

Cheers!

Speak My Language!

2009-02-28T08:21:00.000-08:00

Urgh, yesterday I had another dentist appointment. Did I not mention that? Oh no, I was in a really good mood. Figures...

Anyway, I'm blogging right now because my retainer is KILLING me :(

I can't speak and I'm slurring everything, so I'm making up my own language:

Blurrr: Yes

Blurgh: No

Bli D'nt 'O: I don't know

I try not to say anything else.

I'm sure the dentist is out to kill me. Never mind. Just thought I would share that with you.

Ok, so today's bloto (I reallly want that to catch on!):

This is my friend on a trip to France last year with the school. It was a terribly hot day, and she went and jumped in the fountain to cool down, as did a lot of other people. (not me - I was wearing Harajuku Lovers!) She got absolutely soaked, and when the staff came they actually said : 'Well we aren't going to tell you off because the fountain water comes from our sewers!'

They must have pretty clean sewers because the water looked pretty normal to me. Oh well!

Cheers!

Change is good for the soul

2009-02-27T15:16:00.000-08:00

As some of you more observant readers will know, I have changed my domain name. If you're not particularly obvservant, don't worry, I'm telling you now! For those who don't know, a domain name is the world wide web address. Mine is now www.smilelikeitsfunny.blogspot.com, whereas before it was www.youdontevenlikeboys.blogspot.com.

I changed it because I felt like the old name wasn't doing my blog much justice, and a lot of people didn't get it. I hate answering questions about things that I think are obvious, so I just changed it.

As for your bloto today (I can't be bothered to write Blog Photo), I was rifling through the tidy drawers of my computer system, and came across this inspiring photo. Like I say, change is good for the soul, and I think the above photo demonstrates the changes in my life very well. This photo was taken at a great time in my childhood, and it brings back great memories. I hope everyone is well today, and I'm sure I'll be seeing you soon!

Cheers!

Tah Dah! :)

2009-02-27T12:09:00.000-08:00

Obviously, The Eiffel Tower!

^Some really cool lady who, miliseconds after this picture was taken, started waving at me like a madlady.
You better believe that we WALKED from the Metro to the Eiffel Tower. *YAWN!*

Et Voila! Here are some of the photos from my trip to Paris in December. I'm so un-computery that I only JUST learned how to get them on here! :)

Before I finish, I want to give a really big THANK YOU to Hannah for some of the lovely feedback I've been getting from her, it's great to know that people actually READ this. Thanks Hannah!

Cheers!

A waste of space...

2009-02-25T12:58:00.000-08:00

If you haven't already, I highly recommend that you check out Seasick Steve! I've been meaning to blog about him for a long time, but I've never actually gotten around to it - how lazy of me. This is a bit of a waste of a blog, but Seasick Steve would be proud! He's really cool, and you have to buy his record really just to say you have it!

Today's photo:

The back of the home! If you're reading this from another country, this is what Britain looks like. Although it's not the nicest looking house to some people, I think this house is goreous personally. It has a lot of character, and it's made a nice home. This is my Dad's one, by the way. I don't have any artistic photos of Mum's!

Cheers

A new Idea

2009-02-24T12:44:00.000-08:00

Looking at, and evaluating, my blog today, I decided that I should probably start to make this place look a bit more interesting. So from now on, whether it's got anything to do with the actual post itself, I'm going to post a photo about my life inside. I enjoy taking photos, and I'll try to make all the photos my own ones, for the interest of copyright and blah blah... All the photos you see on here are my own work, blah... copyright laws blah... life blah...

So the first installment is a photo of my stairs!

A quick note for all my big fans: I'm going away on March 30, so I might not blog as often as I would like. I've got to prepare myself, you know! I'll get back to you as quickly as I can!

Cheers! (PS Don't ask me why all the writing has gone in the middle... Short answer is I DON'T KNOW! =])

Mr Blue Sky!

2009-02-21T10:11:00.000-08:00

The most gorgeous day of the year today!
For those of you who live in London, you'll know how lovely and warm it was today... Mr Blue Sky really came out. As you can probably tell, I LOVE nice weather.

Just felt like sharing some nice news with you for once! Going to TIGER (best shop ever!) on Monday. Can't wait - that's literally the highlight of my life! It's very cool shop in there. They sell literally everything! Since we're in such a sunny mood, today's bloto is:

By the way, this post was written on 21.02.09, but I'm editing it on 28.02.09, hence the bloto! A little ray of sunshine! :)

Cheers

Congratulations! You're a winner!

2009-02-19T03:27:00.000-08:00

...that's what you would hear if you ever won anything!
Having said that, I won a book the 0ther day. www.CandySays.co.uk are a Vintage-selling shop and website, and when I bought a dress from there (a 70s take on a 50s dress =]), I was asked if I'd like to enter thier compitition for a signed copy of A Vintage Affair by Isabel Wolf. And I answered the question required, and won!
Have yet to read it yet, it only arrived the other day.
But I feel quite pleased with myself. At least you know that these things are real and you can actually win stuff.
So just thought I'd like to tell you that.
Cheers.

My Heart Is Yearning, But Paris Is Burning...

2009-02-14T04:34:00.000-08:00

Did I recount to you my favourite place in the world is Paris? It's such a beautiful place. I went in December with my Dad and sister. We went to the Louvre, Eiffel Tower, on the Metro, and we went on the EuroStar, at 5AM.
I just wanted to dedicate a post to the beautiful city of love that is Paris. It is Valentine's Day after all. And for the record, I don't want Paris to burn - that's Ladyhawke lyrics!

How is St. Valentine treating all of you? Don't even ask about me!
Cheers Paris!

Let it snow!

2009-02-02T03:18:00.000-08:00

Biggest snowfall in something like 18 years! Brilliant - no school, no work, and the whole country comes to a stop! Will post some pics for you all to see, but thing is, I'm not sure how. When I figure it out, I will tell. Promise I'll update soon!

Cheers - and Merry snow day!

Happy February!

2009-02-01T03:25:00.000-08:00

Yo Yo Yo!

It's February, and hopefully tomorrow it'll snow...! Woop! That would be the best, because I've got lots of things that I need to get done for tomorrow... :S

So yeah.

I really urge you both to check out www.myspace.com/shirrynanvar

Tres bonne. Tres bonne.

Erm...

No that's it for now.

Cheers.

Things to do

2009-01-31T11:57:00.000-08:00

There's lots I need to remember:

1) Update often. I don't usually do that, you know. I start a blog and then leave it...

2) Always wear retainer

3) Remember things like passwords, email addresses, all that malakey

4) Stop using cockney slang; none of the gangstas understand me where I live!

5) Go to Canada

Phew! Imagine what it would be like if I had a life!

While I'm posting, I highly recommend that you visit www.coppersblog.blogspot.com

Cheers!

The Dentist...

2009-01-31T02:33:00.000-08:00

Don't you just hate going to the dentist?

Yes, I do. Only, I've got three of them!

I've got the normal one (although what's normal about wanting to jab around in strangers' mouths I DO NOT know...); the one for my root canal (Yep, I've had Root Canal. Without anesthetic, might I add) who I go to every six-odd months. I've also got the orthodontist (for the brace[s].) I've got two braces, see. I've got one that's fixed to my teeth (sometimes lovingly called 'traintracks'...) and a retainer to push my TMJ (Temporomandibular Joint for those wondering - basically my jaw) forward, because I used to have an 8mm overbite. Now it's only about 4mm. Which is quite an improvement, if I say so myself.

So I went to the orthodontist yesterday for a check-up, and I've got to have the retainer in for another solid three months... Joy of Joys.

That's it really. Just wanted to tell you both that.

Cheers

Unfriendly people

2009-01-30T06:35:00.000-08:00

Why doesn't anyone spread the love anymore? You know me - well actually you probably don't - I love to bring joy and love into the lives of the people I meet (it's useful because sometimes they give you things in return, like stamps :D ). But I've started noticing how miserable people are. Why be so sad, peeps?

Like, for example, when you get served in a shop. You smile at the person serving you, although they very rarely smile back (or maybe that's just because they don't like me...). In America, you hear 'Have A Nice Day', but here, it's: 'NEXT!'

They've already moved on an forgotten your existence. It's sad but true.

So what am I trying to say here... I've forgotten my point. Maybe it's that we need to spread the love. Maybe it's that we're too expecting of people. I don't know. I'm going to have some pancakes. Have a nice da-

Oh wait,

'NEXT!'

Cheers.

:)

2009-01-26T02:02:00.000-08:00

So I finally got around to re-editing my blog... I'm not much of a computer person, although I do know how to type, and might I say I do it quite well. I like to consider myself a writer, although I am as yet unpublished. My first full story is called 'D is for Dead' and was sent off for (hopeful) publication in Dark Tales (www.darktales.co.uk I think...) on the 25th of January.

My life, other than writing, may seem pretty pointless and boring, although I do know that I was born to entertain. I love music, and although I can't sing, I can play Seven Nation Army all the way through without any barre chords! YAY ME!

I live in London, and I go to secondary school. I'm not dumb - I'm not going to tell you where I live, what school I go to and who I know. Dude, I know the dangers of the internet...!

But anyway. I don't really like my school, as they are constantly trying to kill me. Metaphorically, that is.

I live in an area of North London that's quite nice, although we have had our fair share of stabbings, car crashes, etc. Apart from that, it's an alright place to be.

I have a VERY complicated family network: here, I could go on to tell you about my almost-step-mother's sister's daughter's friend who also happens to live next door to Elton John or the like (believe me, I could - six degrees of seperation fascinates me), but that would get old VERy quickly.

I love the Cure, they are pretty much my life.

When you read this, please leave me a constructive comment, I'd love to hear from you. But please, limit your language.

*IE: No Swearing.

Cheers.