Gay Marriage Condemned In NY

The perception of the US is a strongly divided one - there's the idea that the more rural areas are populated by religious fanatics, whose views don't fit in with the more modernized, cosmopolitan areas such as Hollywood and New York.
These are both largely inaccurate stereotypes of course, but my point is this - it's 2009, and things have changed dramatically over the last decade. One would expect that major cities - particularly in the western world - attracting millions of visitors from every walk of life would be open minded and accepting. As it turns out, they aren't always like that - gay marriage was not legalized n New York today.
It's not the only city - not just in America - which has failed to pass this law, and it's sad.

Why same sex marriage is even debated is beyond me, let alone the fact that it is banned in some places. I fail to see what it is that makes one love - 'straight' love, in this case - more valid than another.
I'm not going to preach about equal rights etc, there's nothing I could say that people haven't heard a thousand times before. I just find peoples inability to accept that other human beings have preferences, interests & orientations different to theirs baffling.

For more on this, click here.

Creeps Of Facebook

If you're female, British, young & don't have the face of a gnarled beast then you get sent loads of innuendo riddled messages from 'smooth' talking mother fuckers.
Anyway, sifting through all the crap I get sent by promoters etc, I came across these fabulous messages from someone who shall remain nameless. What sets these apart from the usual filth is the reference to my age... and as you may have guessed, after I asked about whether or not we knew each other, there was no further correspondence on my part:

Rocket From The Crypt

I used to listen to Rocket From The Crypt religiously when I was younger... weirdly, they're not the type of band that you cringe about six years later. For example, when I was thirteen my music taste consisted of stuff nobody I knew had heard of, bands my parents listened to, songs I grew up with and - as horrific as it is - bands that were popular with the 'skater punk' group that I considered myself to be a part of. Never in my life have I been into skateboarding.
But as this was 2003 and I was 12/13 then I feel I can be excused.
Anyway, if you're unfamiliar with Rocket From The Crypt then they'll most likely appeal to you if you're a fan of... The Descendents, Against Me, Drive Like Jehu or The Bronx.
Going back to the old school:

On A Rope

Born In '69

Sturdy Wrists

Marilyn Monroe Could Smoke Whatever The Fuck She Liked

I don't see why anyone would find this video 'shocking'. Weed isn't even a drug, and I doubt there was much else to do in the fifties. Fair play.

Bitching In Every Direction

I know you guys think I'm some kind of overly bitter, angsty bitch who hates everything. I get that, but I really don't hate everything. I like a lot more stuff than you'd realize, but is that interesting ? No.
Plus, I doubt most people would find the things I'm into interesting anyway.

Anyway, my point is... don't hate on all that I say until I attack you personally. Something I wouldn't do anyway. I'm not a bully, or a twat, I'm just opinionated (particularly about stereotypes and cliches - catergories which I'm sure I fit into myself according to some).
Ages ago I wrote a post about something, and someone - who I got the impression was female - said I was boring for liking Joy Division. I assume she thought I was just another circa 2006 convert that heard 'Love Will Tear Us Apart' a few years before from Donnie Darko and started preaching about how mainstream JD became after Control. We all know one (and that's not limited to Joy Division either).

But as I said, I don't hate everything. I don't really HATE anything...
For example, I don't hate fashion. At all. I don't know much about it, I just find a lot of the hypocrisy and self worship that surrounds it laughable. The same can be said for music, design, you name it. It just so happens that fashion is always going to be around, and it will always be a relevant subject as it incorporates so many more elements than just clothes and vanity.

Some of the things I say will give the opposite impression that I'd like if you don't 'get it', but I'm more about picking faults in the things that people celebrate for what I see as no reason at all.
I don't like mediocre things that pretend to be good. The McDonalds 'just passing by' advert, anyone ?

Normally I wouldn't be too bothered about censoring my usual venom, but as it's the month of giving etc, I thought it would be appropriate to ease up on the negativity.
Honestly, I like most people. I don't dislike anyone for what they're into, and I'd have no right to do so if I did.
Go easy and be lucky...

The Guardian Is Anti-Amateur Fashion Blogger Too

"...the blogosphere is swamped with wannabe e-cons - bubble heads with their bottoms out all desperate to enlighten us sartorially."

The Guardian never fails to deliver when it comes to shining a light on the absurd - even if that means going against what is accepted as 'right' or 'cool' by everyone else (including it's readers). Granted, a lot of the time this is reflected in the way they try and encourage greener living and fairer politics, but what prompted me to write this entry was an article on their website regarding fashion bloggers.

I don't have anything against fashion bloggers of course. If you're really into something, and feel that you may be aware of something that others would be interested in, then sharing it with the world is a cool thing to do. There are far too many people around that would be happy for their favourite bands not to get the large fanbase they probably aspire to, just so that they can sound better when reeling off music they listen to that nobody else has heard of. Are you following ?
My only issue with the explosion of fashion blogs in the last few years is the pretentious, stuck up attitude that comes with some of them. The girls (or guys) that think they know more about the subject than anyone else, and that because their blog has a few thousand readers every couple of days they are some kind of untouchable guru... I think not.
Writing about what you know/love is all well and good, but just posting pictures of what you wore that day because you crave applause from total strangers and want to be told you're hot isn't worth a read, in my opinion. That's what Lookbook is for (if you need an invite, click here).

Believe it or not, there are a few fashion blogs (amongst other things) that I subscribe to. I don't really know much about fashion at all - but then, I don't pretend to.

Click here for the full article.

Celebratory Psy Trance

So as it turns out, I got a new job today. Some celebratory psy-trance this way comes:

Astrix // Optical Vibes

Wizzy Noise // Sea Song

Infected Mushroom // Deeply Disturbed

Sonic Earth // Earthling

Less UK More US [And Germany...]

This month there have been more German & American visitors to my blog than any other nationality. More than Britain (yeah, thanks guys !). So as a fitting tribute to my new friends from either side, eye porn model style:

Andy Farley VS Paul Janes // Addict

Curb Your Enthusiasm

The latest series of Curb Your Enthusiasm is - for use of a better word - quite shit. It's all slapstick & exaggerated scenarios. Nobody wants that.
The thing that made Larry David's portrait of life so hilarious and yet believable was that he played on people's ignorance and inability to see the blatantly obvious reasons why certain aspects of society are so ridiculous, and yet so accepted. I can't help but feel this has since been lost - for example, Larry hanging onto a girls stomach as to not fall off the edge of a rooftop. Ridiculous.
But then, who am I to judge, right ? I'm not a comedienne. I'm not even funny.
I promise you though, newcomers, that the earlier seasons of Curb Your Enthusiasm were brilliant:

Daul Kim

Daul Kim was a Korean fashion model, and only 20 years old.
The taking of any young life is always a tragic thing; and if anything can be learnt from this, it's that even the people who appear to have it all aren't necessarily happy.
We all aspire to be more beautiful, some people want wealth and fame more than anything in the world, but it's clear that these things are not the answer, that they will not necessarily fill the void in some peoples lives.

To have lost such a beautiful young woman, who has clearly been an inspiration and idol to so many is a terrible thing.
My thoughts are with her nearest and her dearest at this time.

R.I.P. DAUL KIM

Minor Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here

I'll be honest - I stole that title from The Sun. Just so you know though, I don't read The Sun, it just happened to be the paper in the Chinese takeaway down the road the other day.
I don't watch "I'm A Celebrity..." either, my housemate does. Religiously.

Anyway, last night I had to look away from the screen in pure horror even more than I usually do. Not because of the insects, the grim 'tasks' or barely clothed fat people, but because of the sadness. Katie Price/Jordan (I can't keep up) put on a display of sheer desperation that screamed "Please like me !" loud and clear.
It was depressing to watch. It was funny, but the sort of funny that you don't understand. Like when you laugh out of not knowing what your emotions are doing, not knowing how to process what is right in front of you without getting lost in the surreal.

It can't be a happy life, making a huge effort to live in the limelight, doing literally anything to make sure the media writes about you. To make sure that people don't forget your name. And for what ? Surely dignity and an absence of self loathing is a more appealing way of life to any normal human being ?
The irony is that fame is an ego boost to a lot of people, a way of reassuring themselves that they can be loved by someone, somewhere.

The saddest thing about all of this, is that I see it everywhere. I see it in people I know.
This desire for complete strangers to like you, to respect you, to think you're cool. Obviously the appeal of being loved by everyone is a great one, but it's stupid to aspire to only that... particularly if, like Jordan, you're degrading yourself in these ridiculous situations to change the opinions of the people that put you there in the first place.

Not being famous myself, this isn't a concept I fully understand, but at the same time it reinforces the fact that 'celebrities', no matter how famous/loved they are, are just human beings. Pampered human beings, but human beings like me - or you - nonetheless.
This isn't a case of doing something you love, and that something just so happens to come with fame - this is a case of striving for fame and doing anything you can to get it. And yeah, some people are lucky, or talented and deserving, but a lot of people aren't.
And for some people, when they get their 15 minutes, it's just not enough. They need more and more, and if people aren't coming to you first, that's when 'celebrity' turns to just desperation.

They say that there's no such thing as bad publicity, but if it's a choice between being a 'nobody' or sacrificing my morals and dignity for the sake of being a name for 5 minutes, then I'm gonna go down the 'no news is good news' route.

The One Good Thing About The Star Trek Movie

I'm Sorry Guys, But You're Too Trendy Now

Lace and studs are so overdone.
Leather jackets are not 'edgy' - they haven't been since 2006.
Even (ex ?) chavs have gotten in on all this stuff, and over the last year the appeal has just deteriorated. Obviously this is just my (humble ?) opinion, but I think it's pretty accurate regardless. I don't care what any magazine says - every possible combination, every style subtly altered to make it slightly different from before, every single bloody outfit variation has been worn to the point of exhaustion.

If you like this stuff then fine, but if you're doing it for points - really ?

Where the hell have you been this year ?

I know you all think I hate everything. Deliberately or not, that statement is almost true - I do hate most things. But I'm also into things that everyone is into. Stuff that's popular with my kind - you know, popular for the non-mainstream culture. Not washing my hair as much as I should, complaining, The Smiths, and getting thinner are all signs of a good time.

I just think people should be more embracing of things they love, and dismiss things they don't like, even if that means not looking the same as all of their friends. I don't mean to sound like a preacher. That's the last thing I want to be, they make me cringe. Just don't be a dick about what you wear.

If anything, people shouldn't be applauded for wearing whatever is in at any given time. People should get credit for wearing what they want, regardless of whether it's in or not, and being confident enough to look good. I'm not on about cliche 'be who you are no matter what anyone says' type stuff.
I mean that if somebody puts together their own style without any outside influence then that's worthy of my respect.
Though judging by the feedback I get on this blog, nobody is going to 'get' what I'm trying to say and will complain anyway, calling me a callous bitch or something. I could write an entry about how much I don't like Nazis and somebody would still find fault with it, saying I'm being unfair on them.

But then that's what girls who are ugly without sunglasses are like...

Paranormal Activity

Yesterday I saw Paranormal Activity (by Oren Peli), what with it being Friday 13th and all.
I was expecting to be really freaked out by the end of it; but it was just 'The Exorcism of Emily Rose' all over again. Which I guess is my own fault. I haven't seen a modern horror film that's scared me - ever - I don't think.
It's not all that. People are praising it because of what it achieved on small budget, but this good use of initiative doesn't necessarily mean the film is good. Advertisements boasted terror in the cinema, but having actually seen the film, it's obvious that the night vision recordings of these reactions were staged.
Instead of paying to go and see it, I would recommend you wait until it comes out on DVD so that you can borrow it off someone and see it for free...

Lara Stone The Goddess

I like Lara Stone a lot. I was thinking this the other day when I realized how much Georgia Jagger looks like her in her shoot for the November '09 issue of British Vogue:

I would possibly go so far as to say I am fascinated and obsessed by Miss Stone.
I'm not sure what she's got that most other people haven't. She's tall, she's thin, she hasn't got good teeth and she looks like she'd be kind of a bitch. She doesn't try to be cute, or try to be pretty, and she looks better when she's a bit trashy as opposed to when she's been preened to within an inch of her life. I like that.
...and I also like that she staggers a bit when walking in heels, and could probably smash your head in quite easily. What a lady.

The Work Of: René Gruau

Call me slow and uncultured, but only within the last few days have I realized that WH Smith (and probably lots of other stationary chains) are currently selling cards that feature the work of Italian born illustrator René Gruau. Sadly he passed away in 2004, but his work lives on through mediums such as the above.
For those that are unfamiliar with his illustrations, he has produced work for Vogue, Christian Dior & Harpers Bazaar to name a few. Gruau focused his career mainly on advertising, and reproductions of his work can be found everywhere - a true inspiration to fashion designers and illustrators; both aspiring and otherwise.

Kate Moss' Model Daughter

I may be biased considering Kate Moss is basically my idol, but I'm not down with the criticism surrounding her decision to encourage her daughter Lila Grace to start modelling. I don't see what the issue is.
Every young girl would like to model. If you can get into that without even trying, then you're lucky. She's already got endless contacts at her fingertips just through being the daughter of a British supermodel.
Kate Moss never has to worry about money again. She gets to travel the world, be treated like royalty and receives the best treatment - both cosmetically and otherwise. If her daughter wants to do the same then good luck to her.

Arabesque // The Vision

The Moon & My Brother