G Ø L D L I Ø N

Freezing pt. II

2012-02-01T16:00:00.003Z

This is an extension of the blog I wrote about homelessness here.

Some asshole sent me a message saying that some homeless people put themselves in that position and so don't deserve aid.
Do you know how fucking narrow minded, socially elitist and misinformed that statement is ?
Not only is it a scarily common mindset among people, it is ridiculous. Nobody wants to be sleeping rough, nobody wants to face extreme dangers every minute of their day, and nobody wants to have people hurrying past them, literally looking down at them in disgust because their life is not as blessed as that of their spectators.

And in terms of the "they'll just spend money in drugs" statements when approached...
1. Give people the benefit of the doubt. Don't make sweeping generalisations about an entire social group, least of all one that is largely based on misconception.
If someone asks you for some spare change that you are able to give to them, why shouldn't you ?

2. Some homeless people develop drug or alcohol problems before they're on the street, some people develop them during that time. Either way, casting judgement is not acceptable.
Addiction and dependence are illnesses. Like anorexia, or diabetes, or cancer: all illnesses. Nobody sets out to develop these (ultimately but not always realistically) preventable things, it just happens. There are a million reasons why people fall in to substance abuse and all of them are deserving of support and aid.

3. Based on that logic, should we deny treatment to people that have developed type 2 diabetes through a poor diet and lack of exercise ? Should we refuse counselling to people that are suffering from anorexia or bulimia ? Should a person that has developed cancer or bronchitis through smoking be left to die ? Would you dismiss them in the same way you dismiss people living on the streets ?
I fucking doubt it.

It's ironic that all these wannabe edgy, devil may care hipster cunts have the mindset of a 1920's Conservative. I sincerely hope people wake up to themselves.

Freezing

2012-01-31T11:15:00.008Z

It's severely fucking cold right now, look out for people. You are not 'above' talking to homeless people. People face endless danger when sleeping on the streets as it is, let alone when temperatures are falling below 0'C.

I moved to Salisbury in November 2009 for six months while my boyfriend was in his first year at Bournemouth university. The town itself is quite 'pretty' but other than that it's the worst place I've ever lived. Very middle class, very Conservative, and in turn very stuck up. Topshop is their idea of a 'thrifty' Saturday go-to-store.
For somewhere so small and on the surface so affluent, the number of people living on the streets or in temporary, insecure housing is extremely high. I remember one man in particular - his name was Sonny - who used to stand by the library and distribute leaflets about social responsibility: he always had a smile on his face as he tried and failed to strike up conversations with passers by. Once, when walking to work, I had my 'bitchface' on and he asked me what was wrong. He told me to be happy, to think about the positive things about my day rather than the negative... a guy without a home and with very little to call his own was trying his best to make me feel better. Since then, I now try harder to focus my energy on to resolving things that are 'going wrong' and being more appreciative of the things I do have. My home, my boyfriend, my friends and family, my good fortune to be in education with decent health and unnecessary luxuries that many of us take for granted: a wardrobe full of clean clothes, a computer, a phone, a bath, a living room; the list is endless.

I moved out of Salisbury in May 2010. When I next went back to visit in September of the same year, my boyfriend told me that Sonny had been found dead by one of the pillars next to the library. He was hunched over and nobody thought to ask him if he was okay. When the police and the paramedics got to him they found he had suffered a heart attack hours beforehand.
All the people that saw him every single day while they went about their day didn't think to stop and ask if he was alright. Not one person took it upon themselves to recognise him as a human being equal to them and in turn offer some kind of compassion or concern. This was a man who tried to improve the mood of the privileged even though he was living below the bread line himself, and yet not one of these self-involved, arrogant fucking cunts even tapped him on the shoulder to see if he was alright.

You are not better than anyone. You are not more deserving, you do have the time, and you should make sure people are alright. There are a million reasons why people end up having to face sleeping rough night after night and not one of them is for your dissection, criticism or judgement.

All those people in Salisbury that thought themselves too important, too busy or too indifferent to extend some kind of humanity to Sonny that day are essentially walking around with blood on their hands. If the first person to walk past him had stopped to ask if he was okay, they would have realized he wasn't and he may still have been alive today.

The weather is freezing right now. If you have a spare blanket going to waste, donate it to someone. Buy someone a hot drink or give them some money to get a hot meal. Tell them where your local night shelter is in case they don't know. If you hurry past someone, trying not to meet their eye, you know you are behaving like an asshole.
Look out for people. Treat people in the same way you'd want to be treated, look out for people the way you'd want others to look out for the person you love most in the world.

Views Feminist

2012-01-28T13:51:00.004Z

I want to hear people's thoughts on some of these responses. Some are dead on, some are subliminally sexist, some are misinformed, some are brutally honest. All of them are worth reading.

Towards the end of 2011 I conducted some research for a Case Study I was doing,
"The Representation of Women in Non-Traditional Roles"

As part of this research, I asked people to answer some questions on a survey I put together. All answers were anonymous so other than the people that told me they'd answered, I can't thank everyone personally. I thought I'd put some of the answers to the questions here as they're quite interesting. Unfortunately I don't know which answers came from who and so can't evaluate the mindset of a particular social group but they're worth reading all the same.

Would you consider yourself a 'feminist' ?
Yes: 46.7%
No: 40.0%
Other: 13.3%

Would you be embarrassed to openly declare yourself a feminist ?
Yes: 20.0%
No: 66.7%
Sometimes: 6.5%
Other: 6.9%

What do you think of when you hear the word 'feminism' ?
"Radicals"

"Female empowerment, equality of the sexes"

"Older, middle aged women, equality getting out of control, power hungry women, a broken society"

"Equality, left-wing politics, radicalism, political correctness"

"Campaigning against gender inequality"

"Butch lesbians - outspoken man haters with a chip on their shoulder from a bad relationship"

"Equal rights for all regardless of gender"

"Equality. Society. Something that isn't really accepted by mainstream society. The different waves of feminism"

Does feminism fit into religion ?
[You may interpret this as religion as a whole or a specific religious belief]
"An individual can be a religious feminist but most religions as a whole seem to be male orientated"

"Not into organised religion but maybe into personal religion"

"Yes, but it depends on how you view your religion - fundamentalist Christianity/Islam are less of a fit. I am Christian and feminist; for me, equality is something that is very Christian to believe in and fight for"

"No. Most religions require the women to be subservient to a man"

"Yes, religions are incredibly varied and can be interpreted in seemingly unlimited ways"

"Even if it doesn't fit right now, I'm sure it can be made to fit"

"I think that feminism can have a hard time fitting into organised religions but it also depends on the persons specific religious beliefs"

"No"

"I don't personally think there's a reason why not but I do think that the Abrahamic religions still have a long, long way to go. Although I think they are both among the worst offenders and the most widely influential, I recognise that they are not the only ones with a problem"

"In the 21st century yes, although exceptions do exist. Largely among more extreme fundamentalists"

Where does feminism fit into politics ?
[You may interpret this as politics as a whole or a specific political standpoint]
"Right-wing"

"I associate feminism with left-wing politics and trade unionism"

"I think feminist issues are still largely ignored by mainstream politics and this needs to change. I admire the amount of female leaders the Middle East has and I think that is telling that the Western World is still struggling to keep up with the progress made in the media-reviled 'backwards' Middle East"

"I think that feminism can fit anywhere in politics but that typically when someone is feminist they are usually more liberal"

"Women feel they should have equal roles within politics but sometimes, gender irrelevant a man is better at the job. Not 'men' are better but the individual"

"It appears to be somewhat taboo. Politicians rarely describe themselves as feminists, although there are reassuringly significant numbers of commentators on politics that are concerned with feminism"

"Feminism doesn't fit into right-wing or conservative politics but it does often fit into left-wing politics of various types. However, people with left-wing beliefs are not necessarily feminists"

"As politics is about bringing together opposing views to reach a mutually acceptable conclusion, feminism should be considered a political issue as well as a philosophical view point"

"Protests and petitions, the fact that women are generally paid less than men are there are women fighting that, rape culture and the fight against it"

Can feminism co-exist with traditional gender roles ?
Please give reasons for your answer.
"In a way yes because I think a big part of feminism is having a choice"

"No. They feel 'traditional' gender roles are beneath them. There is a reason women typically stay at home and raise children - they are better suited to it, just as men are more suited to working. It's not sexism, it's reality. There is nothing stopping women from doing whatever they want, however genetically they are better suited to raising children than working physical labour. How many women work in factories and on farms?"

"I don't think it would be possible for feminism to exist with traditional gender roles. Because feminism strives to create equality between genders and traditional gender roles always place women as lesser beings"

"Probably - if a woman chooses to be a homemaker, that could be as much a feminist decision as a woman who chooses to pursue a career"

"Yes. We can progress at a rate that suits society, feminism should not, however, become power hungry and lead to women pursuing rights that extends further than a males. For example, the Women's Institute. There is no Men's Institute. Feminism shouldn't attempt to make up for the time men spent as the dominant gender"

"No, I do not think it can because gender roles as defined by modern society are informed by outdated beliefs"

"Yes and no. Yes in the sense that feminism is about choice. No in the sense that current gender roles cannot be enforced if feminism is to make changes. Feminism is progressive, traditional gender roles are not"

"It would be nice if it could but I don't believe it can. Traditional gender roles in the back of everyone's mind say that women should stay home, cook, clean and take care of the children. There isn't anything wrong with doing those things but as long as society views them as strictly a woman's hob, it's 'strange' to see or meet a man who does that job himself. Other men will say he's feminine or that he can't provide for his family, but perhaps this couple is much happier doing things this way. The family is being provided for and stay-at-home Dad's are much common today than, say, fifty years ago in America"

"Yes. It is about equal rights and as such the right to follow traditional gender roles as the individuals choice"

"It does co-exist with traditional gender roles. In the UK for example, you find people with both sets of gender ideologies living in the same areas, attending the same shops etc. This is not to say there is not occasional conflict - feminism is in opposition to traditional roles - but they do co-exist"

"No. Feminism is practically the opposite of a traditional gender role which has the woman being subservient to the man"

Does feminism change geographically ?
Please give reasons for your answer.
"Yes. Typically, entitled Western women"

"It's probably a more urban than rural phenomenon and more prevalent in the developed world than in poorer countries"

"Yes, because there are different standards of gender roles and their enforcement across different cultures and I think that they should be treated with respect and sensitivity as well as critical thought"

"It does, but it shouldn't. I think the things that feminists are fighting for vary depending on where you are in the world. But I think all feminists (especially Western feminists) should hold an interest in issues outside of their area"

"Yes. Certain cultures, areas and locations have beliefs that are dictated in a hegemonic way (through royalty, media and politics) meaning we perceive women differently in different locations"

"As a philosophy it is at it's root consistent of geography, however it's adoption will vary as a result of interaction with other philosophies and the resultant political agenda"

"Yes. For instance, the adage of the American woman saying, 'it's so sad they live in such a male run culture', when she sees a Middle-Eastern woman walking in full purdah, burka and abaya, while the Middle Eastern woman says the same thing about the scantily-clad American woman"

"Certain areas of the world will not tolerate feminism of any kind"

"Yes. A lot of Western countries have a very white-centric feminism thing going on - most people focus on their country when they focus on gender issues, but when your country affects other countries you need to consider them. When you are online you need to consider things globally, because the Internet is accessed globally"

"Yes. Feminism emerged in the Euro-American context and has its longest history in those areas. You now find feminists all across the world, although they are more plentiful - or at least more open about their ideology - in cultures with more gender equality"

Please give a brief summary of what you think 'feminism' is.
"A movement that promotes equality of the sexes"

"Feminism is the fight for gender equality"

"Women who have equality, yet feel the need to be superior. It's 2011. We're equal now. There is no need for feminism this year"

"I think feminism is not just one movement but many movements brought together. Fighting for gender equality, reproductive rights, ending violence and breaking down gender stereotypes. Among many more things"

"The fight for equality between men and women. However, more broadly speaking, its the equality for everyone in society (however that can differ based on which feminist you speak to)"

"The belief that women should have equal rights to men, the battle for the right to voice a females opinion"

"Fundamentally a drive for equality between genders with equal opportunities for women. A move away from traditional gender roles and stereotypes"

"I feel feminism is the belief that we should all be born equal, and the study of how this can be better achieved. To me, modern feminism encompasses not just gender, but also trans issues as well as LBGT, class and racism issues"

Discuss.

Self Indulgence #2

2012-01-28T09:45:00.000Z

Essentially, Julia and I have lived the same life unintentionally:

We were born Leo in the same fortnight; me on the day Iraq announced their invasion of Kuwait and Julia on the day they actually did it. Both born in Chelmsford, Essex and plagued by asthma and eczema. Both have younger brothers who are exactly the same age.
Our Dad's 'partners' have the same name.
We both went to college in Colchester and studied Art and both transferred to a college in Southend to study Graphic Design.
Then we moved to Brighton and Julia is now at university here (I start in September).

After having lived together for a year and a half already, with another year and a half to go (at least), I'm starting to think that the day we actually move away from each other will feel like some kind of bitter divorce....

Self Indulgence #1

2012-01-27T00:52:00.005Z

None of these 'facts' are interesting, just self-indulgent. I feel like writing about myself without giving any kind of weird shit away about my personal life...

I was originally going to be called Chelsea. As in, named after Chelsea FC.
Eventually my Mum intervened and I became 'Kate' instead... thank fuck.

One of the things I'm allergic to is oranges: fresh, organic, juiced, whatever. Possibly the most trivial and pointless allergy of all time.

I wore fixed braces for three years in my early teens; it achieved a whole lot of nothing.

There are words I can't say because they make me cringe. Hard. Half of them I don't remember ever having said out loud.

I do not (and nor do I want to) know what my 'singing voice' sounds like. Literally not a clue.

I also can't do accents of any kind.

My left ankle is made of metal. Essentially...

I was born on the day Iraq announced their invasion of Kuwait in 1990. I also share a birthday with Alphonse Mucha, Amelia Earhart, Jennifer Lopez, Gus Van Sant and Danny Dyer.

Harry's birthday is the day after mine, his brother and my brother have the same birthday, as do his Mum and my Dad. Something about this feels important.

Have a photo of me as well:

Solar Power Wins

2012-01-21T13:21:00.002Z

In 2011, the UK Government tried to abolish clean, renewable solar energy while still investing in dirty, dangerous nuclear energy. This was an illegal move and the High Court wasted no time in letting them know.

Further investment into the solar industry will not only create much needed jobs, it will mean a safer, greener environment for everybody. Solar power means cheaper energy bills and with the ridiculous prices charged by 'Big Six' companies like British Gas, a reduction in energy costs will be welcomed by millions.

You can send a letter to the Government urging them to not only invest in a sustainable industry that will help us all in both the short and long term, but to ensure people aren't getting ripped off by energy companies that already generate millions of pounds worth of profit each year: click here

Even if you can afford your energy bills, or aren't concerned about the future of the environment, someone else will be struggling to make ends meet and someone else will have to bear the brunt of disregard for our planet. Exploitation always hits the most vulnerable people first.

Post Submissions

2012-01-18T00:13:00.003Z

After being approached by a few people, I've decided to start accepting post submissions. If it turns out to be total shit then I'll knock it on the head.

As long as what you want to say is relevant to this blog and you share the same beliefs as I do then it's all good. If you would like to submit a post, send me an email: kateflood@live.com

Psycho Sweden

2012-01-16T16:55:00.006Z

Transgender people in Sweden face sterilisation purely for wanting to change their legal gender. While this is ethically, morally and socially unjust - 90% of Swedish MP’s oppose this law - a small Conservative collective are blocking the law change.

Swedish Prime Minister Reinfeldt may feel he can ignore his fellow countrymen but his arrogance will inevitably disappear when the rest of the world get on his case. It was wrong in the 1930s and it is wrong now.

Click here to send him a letter and demand he abolishes the bizarre take on how transgender people should be treated.

If the link doesn't work, copy this URL into your browser and pass it on:

http://www.allout.org/en/actions/stop_forced_sterilization?akid=460.100566.GJzeMh&rd=1&t=3&utm_campaign=sweden&utm_content=english&utm_medium=email&utm_source=actionkit

Lego

2012-01-13T16:08:00.003Z

I had an interesting conversation with my Culture tutor on Wednesday.

For Christmas, both her children were given Lego sets by someone: a blue set for her son and a pink set for her daughter. Even with the gender-specific colour choices dictated by Lego, this seems harmless enough. It wasn't until she opened the boxes that there was a problem: the blue 'boy' set had no instructions, just endless bricks to build things with. The 'girl' set however, came with very specific instructions and the bricks were assorted in such a way that the only thing you could make with them was a house.
Naturally my tutor, who is as feminist as the universe is infinite, found this extremely wrong.

While many people will dismiss this as unimportant or trivial, only taking this at face value is an indication that gender equality is still very much apparent. Enforcing gender stereotypes at a young age is not only sly and manipulative, it's unfair. Children are a lot more intelligent and intuitive than people give them credit for and will pick up on this differential treatment. While they may not be educated on the complex machine that is gender equality until later in life (which is also wrong), influence from an early age will play a huge part in their feelings towards others, themselves, their ability...

Before anyone says 'that's what little girls like though', that is not true.
When I was small I never really had toys. I had books and art stuff and I liked going out on my bike, playing football, writing, climbing trees, pretending I was a witch and listening to music. At the time a lot of people thought I was weird, now my options are limitless. Go figure.

Giftmass

2012-01-12T19:27:00.008Z

Wouldn't usually do this but I'm bored, I'm tired and I'm procrastinating. All the people kind enough to buy me things I don't deserve at Christmas know me better than I know myself I think.

One of [many] third anniversary presents from Harry, what a hunk:

Ram Dass, 'Be Here Now'

I've wanted this book for so long partly because it is beautiful, partly because when I was 13 and in my Oasis phase I stumbled upon it. Finally...

Also from Harry:

Bret Easton Ellis, 'Imperial Bedrooms'

One of the only 'cult' authors that deserves the high regard in which he's held. 'Imperial Bedrooms' came out in 2010 but I never got round to reading it until now. I started reading it last week but thanks to an insane workload and post-Christmas workout schedule I'm only about halfway through. So far its excellent:

Joy May, 'Nosh for Students'

Basically a collection of recipes and ingredients that are realistically accessible to those with no money. Ever. Most books like this still expect you to be able to spend £5 on each meal when you have no income. Alison bought this for me, super gal:

J. R. R. Tolkien, 'The Hobbit'

I never got round to reading 'The Hobbit' either, not sure why. Now I have no excuse. This was from Harry and I'm fairly certain he bought it for me so I'll go with him to see the film next year:

This was from Julia:

Tony Benn, 'Stop The War'

From the CND. You can never have enough anti-war propaganda... inside is cool as fuck. The foreword is by Tony Benn, the rest is a collection of photos and art that oppose violence and conflict:

Nick Veasey, 'X-Ray'

One of the best modern photo books around. A collection of X-Ray images of people, objects, plants and flowers, food, animals, whatever:

Alphonse Mucha, 'Masterworks'

Art and photo books are so fucking expensive. Mucha is one of my favourite artists, everything about this book is supreme:

Tax a Break

2012-01-08T21:54:00.005Z

My titles really are getting worse.

Members of the British Government have given companies that turn over huge profits every year extortionate tax breaks, including Vodafone and Goldman Sachs. The worst part of this story: Parliament wasn't even aware of this until after our tax chief had already had the "secret talks" in order to set up this cosy little arrangement.

Send a letter to David Cameron and ask him,
1. why he allowed this to happen ?
2. why this hasn't yet been rectified ?
3. when is he going to take action?

While everyone else is struggling to pay the rent and keep energy bills to a minimum, billionaires are having more and more luxuries handed to them on a plate for doing nothing.

I also urge you to sign this petition and send an email to Prime Minister David Cameron, telling him we want transparency on this and all matters like it, as well as debt to be repaid by these companies so the amount of deficit being passed on to us as normal, low-income citizens can be lessened.

Last Fortnight

2012-01-08T01:30:00.000Z

I've been doing a lot of knitting recently. Scarves were my theme for Christmas presents this year. Some of them aren't even finished yet so I clearly owned that. The two pictured below were made for Julia and Harry:

Between many, many angry Mario Kart tournaments with Digby and Harry:

The hunk of funk cooking dinner:

We graffitied the bathroom. There was loads more than this but I forgot to take more pictures:

Amazing Christmas card picture from Liam depicting how I would catch and kill Shia LaBeouf. Because old Shia, well he's nothing but a fucking dickweed:

Harry and I made loads of stuff with plasticine. The first picture is my sorry attempt at making a dog:

The face that meth ravaged. Without ever taking meth:

Beautiful necklace from Julia. It's silver not gold, camera was being feisty:

21 New Years Resolutions

2012-01-06T01:20:00.001Z

I meant to post this the other day and forgot.
Each year I like to make a list of my new years resolutions, as well as a list of all the things I've achieved that I didn't necessarily 'resolve' to do the year before and see how I did. Generally I try to have at least as many resolutions as I've had birthdays.
In 2011 I did pretty fucking well, I'll post that list when I can be bothered to scan it in.

(Some of) My goals for 2012:

1. Work hard to ensure I keep on achieving Distinctions in all of my work

2. Be more careful with money. I'm always skint because I have more or less no income, especially after rent, bills, whatever else... but I'm sure I could try harder. Start saving for next year; no matter how little the amount I deposit each time, gradually it will add up

3. Pay off all my debts: or at least get to a point where I know 'the end is in sight'

4. Forgive everyone I still want in my life, forget everyone that's not worth it. If only for my own inner peace...

5. Work out everyday. Over the last couple of months I've been slacking and although it hasn't yet caught up with me, if I continue to sack it off on all but one day a week I'll soon turn into one of those people I cringe at... plus Yoga is amazing. It's not just a fad people hype over, it's so fucking good

6. Get into my first choice university. This is a little beyond my control now I've applied, but if I don't get in to my top choices this time round then I'll find out what went wrong and reapply before the year is out

7. Sort out my sleeping problems. No caffeine after 8 pm etc (boring but worth it). Mainly because I'm sick of staying up for three nights in a row then essentially falling into a coma on the fourth night. If Harry is unlucky to see me on that night I always end up punching him in the head or something multiple times in my sleep

8. Never neglect my skin routine. I always cleanse my face and moisturise but sometimes I can't be bothered to do the full routine, which is:
Face wipe, cleanser, face wash, face scrub, toner, prescription antibacterial solution, prescription moisturiser, cosmetic moisturiser and when necessary, steroid cream
On top of this I steam my face 1 - 2 times a week, do a face mask once a week and moisturise throughout the day, sometimes with a Diprobase mask as necessary

9. Cut down on sugar, caffeine and possibly cigarettes. The latter two are a long shot that wind up on nearly every NYR list I've made for the last ten years but whatever

10. Give up drinking properly again. My body, skin and hair have never looked so good as when I didn't drink at all for 10 months. I don't like the feeling of being drunk anyway

11. Be bare faced as often as possible. I hardly ever wear make up for non-social occasions anyway, but when I do there's no point whatsoever

12. Ensure my college attendance is above 98%. I'd like to say 'above 100%' but I had a bout of sickness early on in the course and so that's a lost cause

13. Get my 5-a-day everyday (at least). I like to try and aim for 7 as 5 is just the minimum a human should be getting but sometimes I only manage 2 or 3 which is awful really...

14. Stop eating as much, particularly junk: sugar, cake, chocolate, crisps, salty and processed foods. I don't actually eat that much at all but, "you can always be thinner, look better"

15. Properly cut out negative foods (and minimize those I can't avoid), including:
wheat, gluten, chocolate, dairy, salt, sugar, oil, anything processed.
Other than chocolate and sugar I never really consume any of the above but there's no harm in reminding myself...

16. Show my appreciation. Be kinder to people around me and don't take anything or anyone for granted. Make sure people know how much I value them, don't take out my negative vibes on them, and ensure I make as much time and effort for people as I should

17. Be as cool to Harry as he is to me

18. Continue knitting and improve my skills

19. Continue working on my French and improve my skills

20. Grow my hair past my chest. It's almost there but it's so thick I can never tell where it's at unless I kill it with straighteners

21. Keep writing in my diary. I've kept diaries since I was about 6 and I still have them all... may sound a bit cringe but looking through them all, particularly those from my 'angsty rebel' early teens is hilarious. And amazing. If I quit now I'll be mad at myself in five years time

Drives Me Mad

2012-01-05T02:35:00.002Z

Completely shit title.
Have you seen Mad Max ? Yeah, have fun getting fat and weak...
An interesting read if, like me, people thinking it's okay to drive absolutely everywhere makes you crazy...

Reason #1 why taxes on motoring should be made higher in certain cases (and not just to save money being taken away from vital services):
"25 tons of plant matter go into every litre of petrol"

Click here to read more on the Green Living blog

Julia's Baaack

2012-01-05T02:00:00.001Z

My girl Julia has started blogging again. I think it's important you take a look:
http://nuthintofuckwith.blogspot.com

She's one of the best people I've ever known and she's also one of few people that actually give a shit about the planet, other people, animals, not living your life like a total asshole. Her blog doesn't consist of loads of pictures of anyone-can-do-that 'beauty tips' or rambling entries about an outfit every other hipster is wearing; it's actually something worth looking at.

Plathphemy

2012-01-04T15:06:00.002Z

Happy new year.
Did you read 'The Bell Jar' once and did it change your fucking life forever man ?
Is your pretentiousness rivaled only by your lack of self awareness ?

This is amazing:
http://incorrectsylviaplathquotes.tumblr.com/

Things I Believe

2011-12-27T16:47:00.001Z

1. If you're truly confident in something, if your belief in that thing is absolute, then you don't immediately feel the need to try and justify or prove it. It's a pretty clear indication that someone is talking breeeeeze if they state something then start reeling off loads of 'evidence' on auto-pilot.

2. Unless you're arguing about intelligence or writing or something directly related to spelling and grammar, using them as the basis for your 'comeback' in an argument just makes you look like an asshole with nothing interesting to say. If someone can articulate themselves clearly enough and they're not in an academic environment, who fucking cares if they make a spelling mistake ?!
I know absolutely nothing about grammar or proper sentence structure, I wing it... but I can destroy pretty much anyone in a debate and my work gets consistently high grades so uhhh, suck that.

3. Pretty much everyone has beliefs that contradict themselves somewhere along the line. Everything 'theoretical' is extremely complex, particularly those concerning the mind, and so for all things to have a neat, tied-up conclusion is implausible.
For example: I believe that once a living thing dies, the body and the mind are void. They rot in the ground and disappear. The energy from that living thing escapes and goes elsewhere in the universe (it has to), but all the things that made up that living things identity (personality, facial features etc) just die and decay into nothing. I would like to believe that the dead are reunited with their loved ones - without any sort of religious connotations like heaven etc of course - but that goes against all logic. However, demonstrating that I like the idea of a 'supernatural' world kind of undermines my Atheism. That probably makes no sense but fuck it, I tried...

HAPPY CHRISTMAS

2011-12-25T11:16:00.001Z

Be good to people, be considerate of people, be generous, be proud, have a good fucking day whatever you're doing, whatever your religion, wherever you are

A LITTLE FUCKING HAIKU

2011-12-20T16:04:00.001Z

"Skin after Alcohol"

Day after is perfect.
Day I drink alcohol is
okay, Third day sucks.

Live Where You Like

2011-12-18T19:24:00.001Z

"We need to put a cap on immigration to save our economy"

Lower immigration levels would be a good thing for the sake of 'our economy', yes.
That is not a racist statement in itself but... the land was here long before we were, the land will be here long after we are, and so for anyone to lay claim to a country and dictate who is allowed in and who isn't is wrong. England is not 'England' by definition; someone just stuck their flag in the ground and declared ownership long ago.
Throw the word 'economy' in there and justify cultural supremacy. Right.

Another shining example of liberal Britain:
People often say "you come here, you live by our culture". The same people that go abroad and expect everyone to speak to them in English...

Fake Christmas

2011-12-17T13:07:00.008Z

We had a fake Christmas Eve and a fake Christmas day before we went off to do our own thing for the real deal. Quite beautiful:

The following photos were taken by Rochelle; her photography site can be found here

Harry couldn't make it so this is his Skype input. What a hunk though:

On Religion

2011-12-16T12:54:00.002Z

'The Birth of Venus', Sandro Botticelli

I've never believed in God*. There are some aspects of faith - and I mean all religions - that I strongly agree with, but only because they are principles that should be applied to all aspects of life, and are relevant with or without the religious connotations.

Things such as 'let he who is without sin cast the first stone', 'judge not that ye be not judged'... but I can't and don't believe in any sort of 'divine' being. Science explains everything for me, and while I understand that having a 'faith' and agreeing with Science are not mutually exclusive, I just don't believe in any sort of religion.

Don't get me wrong, I respect all religions and find them extremely interesting. I like to study them, even though I don't follow them. I think there are certain aspects that resonate with us all, even non-believers.

* Only capitalizing the beginning of 'god' for the sake of this post. Usually I don't bother; I don't believe I am referring to a being with a title.

The New

2011-12-13T21:56:00.004Z

Changed my blog design, feels more appropriate.

I got my first offer of a university place today; let's hope the rest of my choices follow suit.

Our cute Christmas living room/my good new(ish) shoes:

Utter Disdain

2011-12-13T02:36:00.015Z

1. When people describe their occupation as 'blogger'. So you live off your parents then... (let's at least be real)

2. Postal workers leaving your mail on your doorstep because they can't be bothered to write one of those red notes out. If I can write a 15,000 word essay in a day, for free, you can sign my name on a bit of paper you get paid to fill out

3. "It's too cold to snow" - maybe... maybe the sun is too bright for it to be sunny

4. Jeans. Hate them

5. Sleeping. Feels like a waste of time. It is a waste of time

6. Having to explain to people why you're an Atheist rather than Agnostic. I am not religious. Atheism is not a religion

7. People that say they're Buddhist or Hindu... via the Internet, on their Mac, in their parents well-furnished home. Another fine example: Steve Jobs said he was a Buddhist, while Steve Jobs put out the iPad

8. The girl in the garden next door who I have tonight heard, through my window, tell the same story three times. It isn't a good story either. Just a collection of nonsense

9. Rent day. Particularly when your bedroom has damp, and holes right through the exterior wall

10. Anyone that gets competitive about how 'intellectual' they are. I can prove my intelligence if I want to, I could talk about books I've read or try and provide some witty commentary on British politics, but I won't. Because I'm not insecure, and because everyone would think I was a cunt

SKINT Magazine

2011-12-12T02:40:00.000Z

One of our current projects involves the design, production and distribution of a magazine.
I designed and made the actual magazine (as well as contributed to some of the content) and decided to go for the 'zine' thing. It's popular right now, it's fitting with our target audience, it looks cooler than your average magazine... so I made this:

The basic template for the front cover. Simple yet effective; I drew everything by hand and then scanned it in to Photoshop to arrange it digitally:

If my brief stint of studying Graphic Design taught me anything, it's that a good logo can be manipulated to fit with current trends whilst maintaining it's 'foundations' and remaining instantly recognizable. Although the star is somewhat reminiscent of the RHCP logo... RHCP can fuck off because they aren't even that good and the asterisk has always been my signature thing.

This issue was due to be 'released' around Christmas so one simple festive tweak and...:

You'll have to ignore the features and stuff, I had no choice. In the end, the magazine ended up being solely aimed at men... I wasn't happy with this but it was a project and so I was more concerned with getting my work finished to a high standard. Sorry galz.
The magazine does look good though, particularly fucking cool now I've put it all together. Once my tutor has given it back to me after marking I'll post a photo of it here.

But I Do Like Clothes

2011-12-10T01:21:00.002Z

I know it's a crazy thought but there is more to a person than how they dress.
Some people can't afford decent shit and some people like the way they dress even if you don't; accept that.

Over 'the years' [?] I've been friends with people that 'looked the part'. Some of these people I'm no longer friends with cuz hanging out with them is unbearable. They're not bad people, they're just not my kind of people. I'm not going to spend time with someone just because I like the way they dress. I've got better things to do.

Even if you dress really well [the most important thing EVER], that doesn't exclude you from the category of: totally fucking boring. Which a lot of people are in...

Thursday Art #2

2011-12-08T10:51:00.001Z

Going more traditional today; some of my favourite artists.

Gustav Klimt

Arthur Rackham

Harry Clarke

Edmund Dulac

Kay Nielsen

Friday Art #1

2011-12-02T10:16:00.000Z

Richard Mosse

Jerry N. Uelsmann

Joe McHugh

Conrad Ruiz

Claire Pestaille

Marco Mazzoni

Thursday Art #1

2011-12-01T10:13:00.002Z

Happy December
I like to post art I find every now and then, and as I come across so much of it I thought I would condense it all into weekly posts. On Thursdays and Fridays I'll be posting art, design, photography [and anything else] that I like... so long as I remember.

I'll have to come up with a name for it, right now it's just 'Thursday Art' and 'Friday Art'. Catchy... if you come up with anything better then send it my way. I particularly like alliteration. Enjoy:

Del Kathryn Barton

"The Last Night of My Life With Cat"

Bryan Proteau

Tony Martin

Wladyslaw Theodor Benda

Kurt Lightner

Kate Shaw

Jane Thomas

Back Soon

2011-11-29T23:38:00.004Z

Really busy again.
Temporarily using my tumblr for convenience so find me there for the time being: got-glint.tumblr.com

Things that are annoying me right now include [white] girls that say "swag" as if it gives them some kind of relevance, bedroom revolutionaries who know nothing of the things they think they're against, and everything about Philip Green.

Noel Gallaghers High Flying Birds - The Good Rebel

I never normally do this but recently I've been charity shopping while getting Christmas presents and for myself I selfishly now own:

This, in purple, for £1.50:

Selfish Harm

2011-11-27T20:53:00.002Z

Suicide as a result of depression is incredibly sad, not incredibly selfish. Depression is a horrible illness: get educated.

To be suicidal means you are not thinking 'clearly'. You are not factoring in things you normally would; you are not behaving with the same logic and rationale that you normally would.

Note: ‘depression’ and ‘feeling down’ are not the same thing.
Depression is a form of mental illness which can leave a person completely immobilized. No longer able to enjoy things they once loved, sometimes even struggling to get out of bed in the morning. Having a bad day, or a bad week, is not the same as depression: an all-consuming, life ruining sickness.

I also really wish people would stop trying to glamourize self harm: it is not ‘beautiful’. To romanticize it is to trivialize something which destroys lives on a daily basis. It is something that doesn't seem to be taken seriously enough by people at the 'best' of times.

Replace the words ‘self harm’ or ‘depression’ with ‘cancer’ or ‘anorexia’ and you see my point.

The Slacker

2011-11-23T19:02:00.002Z

I'm working hard right now, it's good. I need some help though.

One of the things I'm working on at the moment is my Case Studies project, something which requires a vast amount of both qualitative and quantitative research. I've made two surveys for people to fill in. All the responses are anonymous even to me.

The first is on feminism. Click here to be taken to it
The first two questions are multiple choice and obligatory, the rest require a written answer but you can skip them if you like.
URL: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/9VVS8WJ

The second is on luxury and image, and will take you less than one minute to complete.
There is only one question and it's multiple choice. You can tick as many [or as few] boxes as you'd like. Click here to be taken to it
URL: http://www.misterpoll.com/polls/542032

I'm super grateful to anyone that takes the time to answer any of these questions. You're helping me out a lot X

Peace of my Mind

2011-11-17T18:48:00.001Z

I'll start this with an example: I have never been a fan of "Help for Heroes". While I agree that someone [from any profession, any walk of life] who has suffered a long-term injury should be provided with the necessary assistance they need day to day, I have a lot of issues with the organization. This isn't an attack on "Help for Heroes", though, it is a general criticism of combat.

I'm not a fan of war in general: the rich and powerful exploiting the "little guys". People paint this picture of war being some epic adventure, something that will change the world for the better. I think not.
If you go to war, you're limiting yourself to two outcomes: spend the best years of your life killing people that in another situation, you may get on with... people who think, feel, fear and love just like you do... or come home in a box, draped in the flag of a country that will [at best] remember you as just one in the overall statistic.

Why are soldiers automatically regarded as "heroes" ?
Surely the status of "hero" is something that should be earned ?
I frequently had a similar argument with many of my teachers while I was at school. I felt it was my right to challenge things I didn't agree with - much like in the 'real' world - and was always met with the same response: "respect your teachers", "respect your elders". I didn't buy this logic even then. I was suspended most of the time, or put in isolation, a common theme when among people who believe what they are told to believe. If you're challenged, just get rid of the person and everything will be okay again.
I'm not going to respect someone because of their title, I will respect someone for the person they are.

Why are you made to feel 'disrespectful' or like a 'traitor' by not supporting the war ?
I will automatically respect a soldier to the same extent I automatically respect any other of my fellow human beings; respect their right to live their life how they choose and so on. I won't give them the same respect that comes with admiration because I can't. I can't just respect someone for their job title alone, least of all when that job is essentially killing people for a living.
I 'respect' the dead in that after a person has died, cruel words should cease. I don't agree with jumping on the "I loved them" bandwagon that people seem to do for the deceased, but once a person has gone their name should be laid to rest.

Why is the injury or death of a soldier more tragic than any other living thing ?
I know it's hard for the loved ones of any person when that person is suffering or dead. I can totally understand why people want those close to them remembered... but enlisting in the Army is essentially the one job where you willingly sign your life away. People are no longer drafted; if you join the Army you know what you're getting yourself in for. I'm not saying this will lessen grief in any way - of course it doesn't - but the sheer hypocrisy of Remembrance Day also serves a reminder that all is not just. Remember all the people and animals that didn't consent to their involvement the war and have died or been injured as a result of it.

Why is the Army seen as the ultimate feat of bravery ?
Give a young man or woman a gun and they'll feel indestructible. Ask them to confront the same things bare handed and they'll be gripped with fear, and perhaps tell you to dream on. Bravery is standing up for what you believe in, doing the right thing, working for the greater good. Going to the desert armed with heavy artillery and a huge group of people around you so that you can maul the fuck out of local farmers, the natural world and all its inhabitants doesn't strike me as very 'brave'.
Frankly, the cookie-cutter comeback of "Well you wouldn't do it" doesn't resonate with me. There are lots of things I wouldn't do: not because I'm a coward, but because I have principles and freedom of thought. Even if it was a question of 'courage' - aeroplanes freak me out. That doesn't mean everyone with racked up air miles deserves the Victoria Cross.

If the Government and the media weren't constantly looking for ways to justify and validate the war then I might not be such a harsh critic, but I firmly believe that if you have to repeatedly justify something, you can't really believe in it.
99% of people I know that are all over the war are doing it for one [if not all] of the following reasons:
1. Squaddies are the only people that will fuck them when they go to Liquid
2. They have been brainwashed by the centre-right and right-wing media
3. They have literally nothing about them and so supporting the war makes them feel good
4. They are completely misinformed
5. They are fucking stupid

When people speak of 'terrorists', they make two errors: they don't actually know what comprises a 'terrorist', and they forget that to the 'terrorists', "our brave boys" are the terrorists. Murder is murder in any context but enough propaganda and anything is justifiable. Apparently.
Have you seen Rocky IV ? The bit just before Apollo Creed gets punched to death, when him and his supporters are arrogantly patting themselves on the back to James Brown's "Livin' in America" ? Just think about that for a second.

Oh, and another thing re: the IDIOCY still going on [predominantly on Facebook] - soldiers shouldn't get the same wages as footballers. Two reasons:
1. Soldiers don't get the same sponsorship as footballers and so the money isn't there. Duh
2. Footballers don't kill people for a living

Animal Rights Rights

2011-11-14T23:11:00.001Z

I posted this on my Tumblr but seeing as some people that read this blog don't read that one, I thought I'd post it here too:

I tried numerous times to ‘go vegetarian’ and lasted about a fortnight at a time… then I went through my “I hate vegetarians/eating meat is natural” phase. After that wore off, I got some awareness, got educated on the fact that actually, humans are built to be herbivores, got over myself, and started cutting out animal products slowly. Now I only consume wool, occasionally cheese and responsibly sourced honey. I aim to be rid of cheese entirely by Christmas because after being away from it for long periods of time I don’t actually like it that much anymore - and seeing as I don’t consume any other dairy products, what’s the point ?

I would never be one of those people that assigns themselves the label of ‘vegetarian’ or ‘vegan’. I think the title of ‘vegetarian’ or ‘vegan’ is sometimes assumed by people that care more about the status of said lifestyle choice than the reasons for doing it. This is harmless enough I guess, but it’s still pretty cringe.

I don’t think that just because you give up animal products, you are automatically a good person.
You can be a generally nasty cunt and not consume animals - look at Adolf Hitler.
You can also be a generally good person and consume animals - there are a whole host of reasons why people never decide to give that up, ranging from “they don’t want to” to “it isn’t economically viable to do so”.

I also don’t like the competitive element of it. I’m no more or less entitled to declare myself ‘animal-free’ than anyone else. I initially started documenting my switch over because I found it interesting and wanted to track my progress on my own blog, which I am more than entitled to do. I had a whole host of reasons, including not wanting to contribute to the suffering of infinite living things, the health benefits of an animal-free diet and the negative impact animal products have on the environment.

Now I’m pretty much at the place I was aiming to be diet wise, so I can leave it at that… it’s just funny how people campaign for animal rights or try and convince their peers to follow suit in their vegendeavours, yet as soon as they lose the moral high-ground because those people have actually made the change they get defensive and competitive.
Applaud and encourage people who have adopted a way of life that you agree with, don’t alienate them and make them wish they could ram a screwdriver through your eye.

Paul Simonon the Rainbow Warrior

2011-11-14T22:20:00.003Z

The Work of: Edmund Dulac

2011-11-11T21:03:00.001Z

Fantasy art and illustration by Edmund Dulac - Dulac himself having worked for such renowned authors as Edgar Allen Poe. I'm going to aim to get some huge prints of these for my wall because I love them so much:

Jesus Sounds Like A Dick

2011-11-11T18:45:00.002Z

This is a screen capture I took from johnnyis.tumblr.com

I'm 100% Atheist - I believe that eventually everything can be explained scientifically - so obviously my views on this come from a more cynical standpoint than somebody that shares this guys faith, but everyone should be able to see the endless things wrong with his answer. I'm not even going to sit here and pick apart his deeply flawed logic; I think the idiocy is too frequent and blatant for any person to miss. I mean:

Here are some other gems I came across - including his views on abortion and homosexuality:

I would laugh if the whole thing wasn't so vulgar and absurd. There are endless bizarre 'justifications' and 'explanations' of his belief on his blog which are worth looking at if you need riling up before a fight or something. I mean, fucking hell...

EDIT: Don't go and give him abuse. I didn't post this blog for that reason, I'm not into bullying

The Work Of: Susan Derges

2011-11-09T00:08:00.002Z

For a full collection of Susan Derge's work click here to visit her website, which can also be found at:

http://susanderges.com/

Long Good Weekend

2011-11-08T00:50:00.001Z

First weekend in ages that I haven't spent pining:

Some pictures from the last couple of months:

The beautiful Julia just checking out the meats:

My old man:

Idiotic Things

2011-11-03T20:29:00.001Z

What's with taking vowels out of everything ?
Why is this a 'thing' now ? You dts

Fake tan is disgusting unless you are in the 0.0001% of people that do it right. Pale is better anyway

Not finding another person attractive doesn't make someone an asshole

Someone needs to explain to me how people find Shia LaBeouf attractive, because as far as I can make out he is short, sweaty and self-absorbed. Super sexii

People that judge themselves based on their things are the most boring people in the world. It's nice to have something new that you really like, but considering 'saving for something you really love' has been replaced with 'this today, that tomorrow', I don't have much to talk about with anyone as it always seems to revolve around vanity in some form

Speaking of looks, Harvey Kinkle appreciation:

I'm going to see Harry tomorrow, maybe this is the weekend we'll finally run away to Russia. He's better looking than your boyfriend and doesn't try as hard. Bye

R.I.P. Jack

2011-10-30T21:19:00.000Z

The best staff in the world bar none, cooler than 99% of people:

Home Alone on Halloween

2011-10-30T00:55:00.002+01:00

Deliberate. Halloween is kind of annoying. Here are some reasons:

I would rather sit at home reading a book written by a theorist I can't stand for EXTRA CURRICULAR credit than go to a bar or a club or whatever other thing Brighton has to offer. This applies 99% of the time

I can barely afford the rent; I will not spend money on any outfit that doesn't flatter me as best it can

I don't like alcohol, it's disgusting, but I would rather eat my own brain than be the 0.1% of sober people in my vicinity. I'm too skint for anything else worth doing and people talking to me when they are wasted and I am not makes me instantly burn up with anger and want to smash their face into the floor repeatedly. So it's probably best I stay home

I don't like talking to people I don't know. I'm not shy, I don't care what people think, I'm too tall for either of those things to affect me... but I also don't care for remembering names of people I'm not particularly bothered about ever seeing again in my life or feigning interest in their boring stories. Did you just par some weird guy ! Did you ! That is both HILARIOUS and COMPLETELY UNHEARD OF, tell me again

I know it's cool to say you don't like most people, that you are underwhelmed by everyone, but most people that say that are social climbing try-hards that go out every single night on their trust fund, then bitch about everyone they met the night before while "so good to meet you last night"-ing them on Facebook
I also know that most people that 'hate people' are just trying to hide a hatred they have for themselves. That's probably even worse...

Plus most people are really boring when you get to know them properly. This is a good song for helping phase out the aggro:

Global Warming

2011-10-21T14:31:00.004+01:00

A new, independent study will put an end to the skepticism surrounding global warming. You can see it here

What really fucking angers me about people's attitudes towards the environment is the arrogance and the fakery. People only 'don't care' because they think trying not to mess up our planet is less important than their lifestyle: they want nothing to come between having all the shit they need to feel validated. Being green isn't badass, or edgy, you can't take photos of it for your blog so clearly it isn't worth doing.

If we can't co-exist peacefully with another species, or go about our lives without having a negative impact on them, then it is us who shouldn't exist. Not the creatures who inhibit the rapidly depleting rainforest, not the animals that have their eyesight burned away so humans can dye their hair: us.

We are no more important than any other living thing. We are the only species that knowingly takes and destroys nature for our own gain. We are the only species that knowingly inflicts harm upon other creatures for our own vanity and profit... and yet we are the only species that is safe from us [and even that's not accurate for 90% of the world].

The worst part is that it's not going to be the people living now that will be drowning in melting ice caps, dying of skin cancer while watching the natural world slowly die out.

I have no fucking sympathy for the majority of Western humankind.

Talk about how the actions of our country and it's 'allies' are poisoning people in Asia, or killing people in Africa and nobody cares.

Talk about how you brought a dress from Topshop and suddenly everyone is lining up with their critique... whatever

On Hiatus

2011-10-17T18:37:00.003+01:00

I'm not really, just have limited internet access and most of my time is going on studying and looking for a job that pays the rent and also fits around my course. Realistic...
Some other good blogs to read:

http://thugzgetlonelytoo.blogspot.com
http://sophieconvey.blogspot.com
http://tesau-photography.tumblr.com
http://uberalice.tumblr.com
http://thurston-gore.tumblr.com
http://ariel-underwater.blogspot.com
http://hydeyhyde.wordpress.com
http://blaghag.com
http://freethoughtblogs.com/blaghag
http://slychedelic.tumblr.com
http://whothefuckismickjagger.blogspot.com
http://beachyteen.tumblr.com
http://shes-a-carnival.blogspot.com
http://nickclegglookingsad.tumblr.com

HARRY

2011-10-15T23:41:00.002+01:00

WHERE WOULD I BE WITHOUT YA

Thunkin'

2011-10-13T23:17:00.002+01:00

1. Why is it that for a large proportion of society, any mention of domestic violence, sexual assault or murder conjures up the presumption of "male perpetrators" ? Why not female ?

2. Why do women have to 'prove' themselves to be gifted at anything other than that which is traditionally 'feminine'; yet it is assumed a man knows his shit until he proves otherwise ?

3. Is gender a purely social construct ? Medicine and anatomy aside -- is it necessary to differentiate between what we understand as 'male' and 'female' ?

My Would List

2011-10-06T23:20:00.000+01:00

My Shouldn't But Would List

2011-10-06T23:04:00.000+01:00

Concept courtesy of Laura a few years ago

There are more but I can't be bothered

I'm Around

2011-09-26T02:56:00.002+01:00

Back in Brighton. House is good, people in it are the best, total relief not to be living with dirty cunts... anyway, until I have the time and energy to get my rambling rant on [give it a month]...
I'm using Twitter a lot: twitter.com/Kateflood
Also using Tumblr for the time being: got-glint.tumblr.com

Some recent photos of me:

I'm still selling CND tickets if anyone is interested; have a brand new batch as of yesterday. They're £1 each and you can buy as many [or as few] as you'd like. Contact me if you're interested: kateflood@live.com

Still aggy, back to unleash it soon... X

Tumblr

2011-08-27T11:46:00.002+01:00

For the time being: got-glint.tumblr.com
I like blogging but I'm going to be a lot busier than usual over the next couple of months and want something easy. I'll be back in a while X

Rundown

2011-08-26T14:28:00.000+01:00

cyn·i·cal
Believing that people are motivated by self-interest; distrustful of human sincerity or integrity.
1. Most people I've lived with are self-serving assholes with a 'me first' attitude. If all the people I'm referring to were swallowed up and then spat out head first onto a busy motor way I wouldn't care. I have more compassion for inanimate objects. Don't usually vent personal frustrations on my blog, won't be doing it again

2. My friend Rochelle has put some of her photography online. She's talented and hot and has - whether she likes it or not - joined mine and Julia's bitch cult as of September, lucky gals.
Anyway, look at it here: http://tesau-photography.tumblr.com/

3. Hilarious sex kitten photo of me after I'd been awake for about 857393 hours:

4. Feminism is so hot right now, which is a good thing, but people are using it to put other people down: people who have something they want. Know what you're talking about or don't talk about it.

I’ve noticed that some people seem to think that a girl having a boyfriend and being into feminism are mutually exclusive. This is bullshit.

I can be into feminism whilst still being devoted to my boyfriend. I can be part of a ‘unit’ [?] that is 50% male and still be into feminism. I can be faithful and committed and want to make my boyfriend [just like my friends and family, for some context] happy whilst still being into feminism.
I can want to look good, wear make up and work out without it being because of the standards ‘society’ has. I can dislike other girls and not have to justify it and still be into feminism. There aren’t rules about what you can do and be and look like to be allowed to have that belief.
The feminism I believe in is about equality and taking gender out of the equation. It’s not a competition, there isn’t a rule book, I can do what I want.

5. If you're thinking of moving to Brighton, I suggest you look at this before you choose your letting agent: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=136924679672742

Courtesy of Julia - we have first hand experience of these people & it hasn't been breezy

Naked Laughing

2011-08-19T11:27:00.002+01:00

I went on the milk run at 5 AM; I came back pretentious

I know how hot I am. "Put a Physics website on"

They call me Kate the Boxer. Cuz I'm a little ugly Boxer. Been boxing all my life

Uhhh Julia and I can pretend we're high class citizens

You can't really see it here but Harry is such a hunk

Among many other beautiful things, Julia got me this ring for my birthday

You Aren't The Revolution

2011-08-10T14:10:00.001+01:00

Some thoughts on the riots/reactions. It's pretty much all on Facebook already so thought I'd just copy and paste it here instead of writing it out again:

1. Initially I posted this, then changed my mind. Kind of:

2. It's never okay to be racist. It's not 'voicing what people think but are too scared to say', it's just you being a cunt.

Most people seem to agree...

Had a bit of a debate with an idiot I went to school with because she is as racist as they come... I'm not actually friends with her on Facebook and she's now blocked me so you can't see her replies [because she's amazing] but you get the idea - 'freedom of speech', 'I can say what I want' etc:

In Clapham, Hayley's brother noted that most of the people 'looting' in his area were white 13 year olds. Riddle me dat

3. Everyone is competing to be the most 'understanding'. These people rioting are idiots, there is no reason for it. Of the people they've convicted so far, one of them recently joined the Army, one of them is a primary school teacher, one of them is a graphic designer and one of them has a degree. As I said to Julia, these poor people struggling in their media careers with their degrees, waahhhhhh
Fuck off
I don't come from a wealthy background. I don't come from a slum, but my parents were pretty poor and I generally just had the basics growing up. I'm on benefits but I'm not on the breadline. 95% of the time.
I don't have a degree. I've applied for endless jobs without success and am currently on JSA. I don't buy nice things because I can't afford them, I buy food and pay bills. This isn't admirable or laughable, this is normal. Would you be understanding if I robbed your house or smashed up your car because I had taken it upon myself to decide I 'deserved' nice things ? Exactly.
So me and Julia debated with this guy:

Riot Grrrl

2011-08-08T22:58:00.001+01:00

Excuse the pun, massive fucking respect to her:

Meaty

2011-08-04T00:29:00.006+01:00

I made the decision to stop eating meat 'later' than a lot of people. I've tried it a couple of times and failed, but eventually I did it properly. What more do you want from me ?

Being vegetarian or vegan isn't a substitute for being a nice person. Especially as:

A lot of people that claim to 'love all animals' smoke around people - humans are effectively animals too yeah - without giving a fuck about whether those people want to passive smoke [I smoke myself, I'm just as bad, just putting this point out there]

I doubt a lot of vegans would be sticking to the lifestyle if it wasn't so in with the fake "I am well spiritual cuz I like incense" club

The fact that we have a choice about what we eat here is a privilege.
My friend Julia has been a vegetarian since she was 7 - before cliques and cliches and hipster influence - and she is of the persuasion that it's fine if - for example - an adult in poverty or a developing country will eat meat if it means their children survive. They won't see their own children starve to death for the sake of not killing a goat or a pig or any other animal. Like many other things people cast judgement on, if you've never been in that particular situation then what right do you have to judge the choices of someone that has... ?

I don't agree with the torture and killing of any animal unnecessarily. Wearing animals is gross, animal testing is gross, animal abuse is gross, and eating animals is gross when you have an alternative, but that's just my opinion. And as invalid as an opinion might be from someone that is relatively new to it all, I'm gonna have it anyway

Like it or not, veganism and vegetarianism are a belief system in the same way that both religious and political views are. It's a subjective thing, and while the obvious answer is that yes, humans should refrain from causing harm whenever possible, this applies to everything.
Just because you don't eat meat, or buy into the 'animal market' at all, doesn't mean you are a swell guy ! by default. A lot of people are cunts to other human beings, or consider themselves better than other people because of their chosen lifestyle, and surely this undermines the animal-free ethic of 'every living creature is equal'... ?

EDIT:
"Here's an Instagram picture of my vegan meal ! It's here on my blog ! I took the picture on my iPhone and it's entirely necessary I tell you that !"

The Chinese workers that make the iPhone had to receive a lot of hospital treatment due to the harmful chemicals used in the manufacturing process. Some are still recovering.
For a month of full time work - and no, not the comfy 40 hour weeks we have over here - these people get paid the equivalent of $148.
But as long as you have your fashionable diet and fashionable products, what does it matter ? You don't eat animals, you deserve these things !
For more information on this, I've written about the cost of the iPhone before.

Happy Birthday Toxic Mermaid

2011-08-02T00:21:00.011+01:00

My main girl Julia is 21 today, go and wish her a happy birthday:
thugzgetlonelytoo.blogspot.com
She's the best girl I know, and she's been there for me like a true sistah throughout the past year. As of September we'll be living together for another year and I can't wait. She is genuine and authentic, intelligent and interesting, and actually fun to be around.
She is lovely in both and character and face and I hope that the next year gives her everything she wants. Without her I would probably be homeless or dead or insane or something, my kindred spirit if ever I had one
Toxic mermaids and freak collections and tea saturation and staying awake for 48 hours and scars from Rain Man and passive aggressive letters and creeping and candy girls and impeccable taste and being better than everyone else 4evah X

21

2011-07-29T00:04:00.000+01:00

I turned 21 the other day, I guess having made it this far kind of alleviates the shit that is my next major birthday being 25. My Mum even bought me a Pandora bracelet which I'm too scared to wear because I'm not used to owning 'proper' jewellery, let alone it being the most expensive and only designer [?] thing I have ever owned:

Harry, Josh and Rhi:

It's also Harry's birthday the day after mine; he spent it at mine. His Mum called me on mine to wish me Happy Birthday but called him yesterday to wish him Happy Birthday. Winning:

This is a painting Harry did for me, it's huge and amazing. We made each other presents this year because we're the poorest we've ever been and it's so much cooler than buying stuff:

& this is one of the books Harry's Dad wrote and illustrated: 'Henry's Magic Powers'.

The reason why this is so cool is not only because the characters are Harry and his brothers, but because Harry's name had to be changed to Henry in the book; reason being that 'Harry Potter' was being released at the same time and so there was some fierce legal battle over who got to use the name Harry [both books are about magic and powers etc]. Obviously J.K. Rowling won, but whatever. My Harry is the real Harry:

Detox the World's Water

2011-07-18T03:10:00.000+01:00

I'm an Adidas fangirl but I'm not buying anything from them until they,
a) stop using sweatshops in El Salvador and,
b) stop releasing toxic chemicals into the sea
c) stop exploiting the planet they source from

My boycotting alone won't make any kind of dent in their profits, but a mass effort will.
Nike are doing the same thing, as are H&M [who are cunts anyway], Puma and Lacoste, and although Nike stuff is bullshit, a lot of people buy into the brand - reiterating my point that consumers can plead innocence, but by buying into a brand despite the publication of any serious wrong doing, you are an enabler. You are responsible too.

Greenpeace are aiming to stop this, but their campaign alone won't push either label into changing their minds. Sadly, as with almost any global corporation, financial loss will be the turning point, and financial loss alone.
The "Just Do It" motto is quite fitting with Nike's apparent disregard for the environment, while Adidas' "Impossible is Nothing" slogan only serves to illustrate the glossy marketing that covers the true cost of buying into these kinds of brands.

While a lot of people choose to turn a blind eye to this kind of thing because they themselves aren't doing it, they undermine their own logic of 'not me, not my responsibility' by expecting other people to try and fix this stuff on their behalf so that they don't have to go without themselves.
It's the same story every single time: people are a lot more self involved than they tell themselves. Just because you don't bitch about your friends or hurt animals does not mean you aren't being an asshole.

Kids

2011-07-15T19:40:00.008+01:00

I kind of hate myself for having a blog, or rather: having this blog.
Hard to be in a bad mood with Mumford & Sons but uhhhh, think I'll manage it somehow. Oh yeah, can everyone shut the fuck up about how the end of Harry Potter is giving you depression or whatever ? Get a grip, get out more.

People are doing the super fan thing with 'Up All Night'.
Personally, I like it. It doesn't sound like previous blink-182 albums because,
a) their last album before this one coming was released 8 years ago
b) that album sounded different to their previous stuff anyway
c) they felt like it
Anyway, don't take trivial stuff so seriously. There are an estimated 16.6 million children orphaned because of AIDS every year. But things could be worse: Harry Potter could be ending...

Don't Be Shy

2011-07-12T14:23:00.001+01:00

Say what you want about things even if you think it'll cost you 'followers' or 'subscribers' or whatever other unimportant thing.
Don't say you do or do not like something just to please people, or for the sake of an easy life and don't hold back on telling someone why you feel they are right or wrong if they say something 'out of the ordinary'. Stand up for things you believe in or else there's no point believing in them.

Everyone needs to be told to shut up sometimes, especially me.
It's way more interesting when a person can argue their case for or against something articulately, than just agreeing with everyone all the time. Or even worse, just throwing out lazy insults regarding someone's looks or spelling or grammar.
I like it when someone has thoughts different to my own and can put them across articulately. I sound like an asshole but you know what I mean.

It's as if the only time people will 'speak out' about something is if it's on a safe subject.
The majority don't seem to want to give any part of their opinions on stuff away, or do anything that won't enable them to fit in with others, and yet everyone wants to be seen as 'one of a kind'.

We Reside on a Beach in a Town Where I Already Live

2011-07-05T18:40:00.003+01:00

Pixies title cuz I'm edgy and cool and current.
I've been living in Brighton since September and it's been good, aside from our shit house in a shit area... but even that has it's charms. Some photos of the last week or whatever that I've spent here with Harry. Goodbye Brighton, hello Essex [until September]:

The bulldog look. I'm working it, in my wildest dreams I'm working it:

He hates this photo of him, I don't particularly love the photo of me above. We're even bruddah:

The his n hers of shoes:

Thinking Thoughts

2011-06-27T12:47:00.000+01:00

Just a couple of things...

1. Rich tea biscuits with margarine is one of the best things you will ever eat. Don't knock it until you've tried it... unless you are one of those people that can actually afford food.

2. I'm pretty sure that if I was a guy, or if my gender had remained ambiguous throughout the duration of me having this blog, that people wouldn't be so quick to guess my 'motives'. I honestly think that it's because I'm female, that anything I say I don't like people assume is just down to bitterness, or jealously, or unhappiness within my own life.
If I was male then I don't necessarily think I would praised, but I wouldn't be accused of being half the things I have been when I've said I'm not about certain things. I believe in charity, and awareness, not living too high above your means when there are people that put up with really shitty living circumstances daily. I also don't believe in being materialistic, superficial or two faced, and I think it's important that people know their own mind... but because I'm a girl, this is translated as being 'negative' and 'idealistic'.
It's a fucking sad world when you can't talk about anything other than clothes or yourself without having some kind of judgment passed upon you.
I don't need to justify anything to you but I will anyway: I am happy. My friends are the best, my family are cool, my boyfriend is awesome, I'm not stupid and I like how I look.

It is possible to just dislike things because you think they suck. It's not a reflection of what's missing in your life, it's a personal preference, in the same way that writing about things you do like isn't necessarily evidence that you're a warm, happy person with a perfect life.

Just Great

2011-06-23T22:17:00.000+01:00

Photography by Anna Verlet

Not sure who took this or who the guy in the photo is but I really like it. Its probably something really famous that I am just too cool to know about... let me know if you have any idea:

I posted this collection on my Tumblr [yeah, I have a Tumblr, what of it ?] a while ago but it's still one of my favourite things: a collection of photos from the Library of Congress depicting the impact of the Depression of America during the 1940's.

Photos are by Jack Delano, Marion Post Wolcott, Fenno Jacobs and Russell Lee respectively.

Sneak Preview: Sands of RYHME

2011-06-23T22:12:00.001+01:00

I like writing, and I am at good at writing, because I've decided I am, and my friends and family are too polite to say I'm not, and so I am, I am good at writing. I have had no professional classes in constructing English word formulated texts.
A lot of people ask what influences me, expecting me to reel off the greats, but I

This is a story that I wrote about my life and I think it is the Myspace generations 'Catcher in the Rye', possibly going to translate it if people want because I know a few words in French... anyway, just tell me what you think:

On each dark night, I ride my trusty (expensive, fixed gear) bike along the dusky moor in Tamworth.
Metaphorically speaking, I am metaphorically speaking - the moor represents the mystery of ones soul, and the divide between the forests of consciousness, the cliffs and drops of uncertainty and false hopes, and the ocean which laps at the shore: the solidity of disappointment, the unpredictability of love.
I dream of adjectives, metaphors, dream-like imagery - but most of all, I dream of Alaska. The purity of the white snow, the abandonment of dispensable lifestyles connected only by wires and pixels on a screen. Though I have never been there, though I have no idea what it would be like to reside there, Alaska is calling me home.
Shrouded in darkness for a whole month of the year, recording ones life for the world wide web, all of this will be gone ! No more pictures of cats and dreamcatchers, of the fast food nation, of limbs and hair. I will disappear into obscurity, I will free myself of all of this with nothing but reckless abandon (song).
What hope is there for humanity when we are all guilty of 24/7 theatrics ?
What will become of our generation if we continue through this wasteland of labels, drowning in a sea of false idols when we should be diving head first into overpriced, over hyped literature ?
Upon my return I will write about this in total honesty, and it shall be reblogged and quoted. For I am Kate, and I am human. I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of it's creed.
If we as a people learn to rid ourselves of this constant facade, we will become eternal... for although we are all mortal, we will all live forever.

I will accept all feedback, whether it be positive or positive.
The last line is good and I think that is what they will use on the cover of the autobiography that will be written about me when I have joined the 27 Club.

Peace and............ FUCK YOU XOXOXOX

Got a Flava

2011-06-22T00:34:00.003+01:00

Being foxy; how Julia and I spend most of our nights. And even though she's gone back to Essex early and left me marooned here I still like her I guess.
Drop Dead Fred moment. Special attention for: neck, mouth, ears, but especially the neck:

Also got this in the post as a surprise on the same day I got an unconditional offer, I start in September. Good fucking morning:

R.I.P. Brian Haw

2011-06-19T12:56:00.000+01:00

R.I.P. Brian Haw, 7th January 1949 - 18th June 2011

Brian Haw was an English anti-war campaigner. As a protest against the UK and US foreign policies, he had camped in London's Parliament Square from 2001 until January 2011.
Surviving on food brought to him by supporters, and only leaving his camp to attend court hearings, Haw was an inspiration to everyone dedicated to a fairer world.
In the 2007 Channel 4 Political Awards he was voted 'Most Inspiring Political Figure'.

In September 2010, Haw was diagnosed with lung cancer. In January 2011, English writer David Icke paid for him to go to Berlin to receive treatment - this was also the first time Haw properly left his campsite during his entire protest. Tragically, he lost his battle with cancer on June 18th 2011.
Brian Haw will be honoured and remembered as a great man that defined commitment to a cause, R.I.P.

The Work of: Lina Scheynius

2011-06-18T22:11:00.001+01:00

You can find her website and full portfolio here

Barbiaric

2011-06-07T20:38:00.004+01:00

Greenpeace activists have targeted the Mattel headquarters in El Segundo and hung this banner on the front of the 15-storey building. The banner shows a Ken doll with the message "Barbie, it's over. I don't date girls that are into deforestation".

While this is amusing, it's a serious issue. Mattel are destroying Indonesian rain forests for the packaging of their Barbie dolls. Mattel - a company that makes billions every year, that produces a doll that some of the young girls that own it aspire to end up like, that can definitely afford responsibly sourced materials.
Not only is it really fucking irresponsible to sell something that represents the greed of corporations and a 'profit at any expense' mindset to children, chopping down rain forests for the sake of pretty boxes is evil and insane. Children are a lot smarter, and a lot more in tune with the world than people give them credit for... but I also know that when an adult says something, a young child is a lot less likely to question it's credibility than their older counterparts.

The Sumatran tiger is on the brink of extinction. Thousands of species go extinct every year because of deforestation, and it isn't fair. The child market is targeted with farmyard toys because they're "cute", those children aren't educated on battery farms or the fur industry. There are books about animals printed on paper from irresponsible sources that don't tell the story of how, actually, by the time the child reading it has grown up, there may be no tigers or orangutans left in the wild. Up to 20% of birds could be extinct by 2100. Tribes of people lose their homes and resources because people sitting at their desks in some glossy skyscraper can turn a blind eye and focus on profit and global influence instead.

I don't care how much your child cries and bitches about not having a particular toy; by supporting Mattel you are showing them that they can rape the environment and even when people find out, they're still going to make a huge fortune.

Who is anyone to decide which species is more deserving than another ? And who is anyone to declare ownership and sale of any part of the world ? When it comes down to it, deeds and titles are bits of paper. The world made us, we did not make the world.
Animals and people and plants are disappearing because some people don't want to look after the world they belong to, and it makes me angry. People talk about what would happen if aliens came to Earth and tried to destroy it - that'd just be karma. That is exactly the same as what people are doing to the natural world. Look at the devastation in Japan earlier this year, look at New Orleans, look at Haiti - that's what is happening in the rain forest and the ocean and anywhere else with 'resources' on a daily basis, but because people can so easily turn a blind eye to it, they ignore it.
These people are first on the spectrum of human shit.

Be a decent human being and realize that the life of another is just as important as your own, and more important than products to take pictures of for your blog or your Tumblr. If I sound preachy right now then good.
Mattel are just one of many companies doing evil for profit, and by buying from any of these companies you are just as bad. You are an enabler, you are adding to the problem, increasing the companies power over the consumer and letting them know that no matter how they behave, people will always come back for more. People really suck.

Childsay

2011-06-06T00:15:00.002+01:00

Some stories I wrote between 1996 and 1997 [when I was about six/seven years old]. These weren't for school or anything, I did these for fun. They're a bit rare:

I've also kept a diary consistently since I can remember [I have about 25 of them in total at least] and this is the front of the oldest one I have - I was six:

Pictures Everyday

2011-06-03T12:24:00.001+01:00

A little while ago I came across this site - a man documented his life every single day through photography until he died. I won't give too much away, but take a look. Some of it is pretty moving.
The man's name is Jamie Livingston. Some of his photos:

March 30th 1981

May 6th 1981

May 11th 1985

March 7th 1992

October 5th 1997

This is such a good idea and now and again I think of doing this myself. I think I'm gonna give it a go, even on mundane days there's always something worth remembering

Why I'm Pro-Choice

2011-05-30T13:14:00.005+01:00

1
Every woman has the right to protect her body, her mental and physical health, herself.

2
Abortion is not, in my eyes, murder. At all. How dare anyone place women facing a procedure they do not want but may have to go through into the same category as people like Fred and Rose West. It's narrow minded and disgusting.
Murder is committed with the intent to cause harm. Being faced with the decision of whether or not to have an abortion is not a situation girls choose to get in to. I'm pretty certain that it isn't ever done for fun, or for the sake of it, it's a fucking hideous circumstance that feels like a catch-22. A lot of women feel guilt after an abortion, even when it was their only realistic option. Don't persecute them, support them.

3
Sometimes people can do everything to prevent a pregnancy and it still happens. No method of contraception is 100% fail-safe... and even if someone does forget to use a condom, or isn't as careful as they could be, we've all been there. For want of a better word, some people are just unlucky.

4
Even if a woman hasn't been through the horrific ordeal of rape, contracting HIV, or any other medical/psychological mangle, why should she be denied the right to discontinue a pregnancy ? Before 12 weeks, a fetus is not physically developed enough to feel pain or emotion. That is a fact.
Women have their own individual reasons for abortion, and they are all valid. They should all be respected. If someone didn't think an abortion was the best thing for them and everyone else involved then they wouldn't want one, simple as.

5
If you've never been in that situation, who the fuck are you to cast judgement anyway?

6
There are situations when a woman wants an abortion and the man doesn't, and there are times when a man wants the woman to have an abortion and she doesn't. Instead of protesting against something that is nothing to do with you, campaign for couples in this situation getting the support, shelter or guidance that they need.

7
If a woman sees abortion as her only option then she will be determined to get one. If abortion was made illegal, there are women that would seek dangerous back street / home abortions. They would be risking death, acute physical harm, disease and infertility. For something throws a person into such turmoil, support and safety should be readily available, not deliberately restricted.
There are people that are pro-choice purely for this reason; not because they agree with abortion but because they believe in a woman's right to make her own decisions and not have to gamble with her own life because of said decisions.

8
Abortion rules and regulations are generally passed by men. Men can have emotional involvement in these situations of course, but that's as far as it goes. Even the kindest, most open-minded man can never understand the mental and physical rollercoaster that is terminating a pregnancy. Not even another woman can if she has never been through it herself.

9
I believe in pro-choice because I know what an abortion entails, I know that women do not want to be in that situation, I know that is a decision people face because something they didn't want to happen, did and abortion is a choice people make because they feel it is either their most responsible, most realistic, or only choice. I formed that opinion myself, without influence from a church, an authority figure, without any outside interference at all.
On the off chance your opinion would be different if you removed yourself from your views and looked at every objective thing that helped you form them then I suggest you do so before you start throwing around your hatred.

I don't think abortion is 'wrong'.
I think the number of weeks you're allowed to let pass before an abortion is illegal should be lowered, and I think contraception needs to be more readily available and always free unless a person is opting for complete sterilization... and even then, circumstances should come into it.

People struggle to see things from any point of view othen than their own, and from anyone elses circumstances. Abortion is an extremely delicate subject that I can't see people agreeing on any time in the near future, but people should learn to respect opinions different to their own.
I can respect the fact that people don't agree with abortion, even if I don't agree with them. What I can't tolerate is an uneducated attack on women that are already dealing with what is probably one of the hardest decisions of their lives. Know what you're talking about or don't talk about it.

Dun Mind Da Gap

2011-05-28T13:56:00.002+01:00

I don't want people to think I'm one of those people that had an operation to forge a gap between their teeth. I, like Julia, had to endure years of pre-teen taunting because of it and if a few supergirls working it like pros is the only offer of any kind of consolation then so be it.
Hopefully the operation is irreversible so that when it goes completely out of style you are stuck with your marred beauty, looking like a camel, knowing you actually paid for that:

Lara Stone

Jess Hart

Kate Moss... and I love her unconditionally

Madonna ... you can slate her all you want but she's everything Lady Gaga tries and fails to be. Anyone that considers themselves a feminist should be proud of her

Georgia Jagger

Brigitte Bardot, working it Euro style since the 1930's

Eczema Sucks

2011-05-25T20:20:00.001+01:00

COCONUT OIL from HOLLAND AND BARRATT
Thought I'd written about this here before but I haven't. Fuck it, never mind.

I suffer from eczema, and while there are endless quick-fix solutions for people with acne prone or oily skin it seems as though those of us on the drier end of the spectrum have been left behind. It seems as though we just have to put up with overpriced cosmetic creams that don't work, or prescription treatment that only mask the problem.

Coconut oil on the other hand, is an amazing moisturiser. While it won't fix those days where you want to curl up and die because your face is falling off, it can prevent them... and it's multi purpose.
As well as being good for your skin, it can also be used in cooking as an alternative to butter or vegetable/olive oils.

As it's an oil, it's water resistant, which means you can apply it before a shower and it won't smear into your eyes and hair, nor will it get all over your clothes.
You can also mix a small amount in with water if you want to steam your face but find the heat dries your skin out somewhat. Overnight you can place it in the fridge to be used as a cooling mask when you get that irritated, prickly feeling, or you can warm it up to be used as a soothing cream if your skin feels a little tight or battered.
And, if you use liquid make up [which you really should do if you get dry skin] then you can mix a little coconut oil in with it for smoother coverage and a lessened impact on your face.

Another plus side to using an oil to moisturise your face is that it can reduce the appearance of wrinkles and lines. Fortunately I do not have that problem as yet, but anything that can help ward of premature aging, whatever your skin type, is a bonus.

Everyone has heard of the so-called 'miracle cure' that is peanut butter, but that shit is bad for you even if you don't have a nut allergy. Good newS: coconut oil can be used by over 95% of nut allergy sufferers - coconut is not a 'nut' in that sense.
Other non-cosmetic bonuses: it's vegan and vegetarian friendly, it isn't tested on animals, it doesn't contain palm oil or contribute to deforestation and there are no nasty chemicals or alcohol in coconut oil. Absolutely nothing synthetic; just pure coconut oil.

I've had the tub you see in the picture since before Christmas, and it's still almost full - trust me, I use a lot of moisturiser.
It costs between £6 and £13 in Holland and Barratt [they have a sale pretty much every week, so just wait for a deal in your nearest store] and I cannot stress enough how good it is for your skin.

On my skin I have to use steroids, prescription moisturisers and shower gels, tablets, the list is endless really, and nothing really seems to work, but coconut oil really is amazing.
Not only does it moisturise intensively, but it makes your skin soft, smooth and can draw out any red areas.
Even if you have oily skin you can use it anywhere on your body for an extra 'glow', though I wouldn't recommend it for use on your face if you don't have dry skin.

Click here to be taken to the H&B item page.

Keep Animal Testing Banned

2011-05-22T11:20:00.002+01:00

I don't agree with animal testing in any context, but when living, feeling things are essentially being tortured just so someone can have shiny hair, smoother skin, or multi-coloured nails, something is definitely wrong. If you knowingly buy products tested on animals, or don't bother to check because you 'don't care', then think of this next time you go shopping:

don't be a cunt
In 2003 the EU agreed to a ban on all animal tested cosmetics being sold throughout Europe, with the beginnings of the ban coming into place in 2009. By 2013, we were all set to be able to go into shops and see shelves free from cruelty. Strangely, the situation seems to be regressing - the EU wants to extend the time limit on this ban, possibly indefinitely.

I don't know if this has to do with money, pressure from companies, whatever. I also don't care.
Click here to tell John Dalli [the European commissioner responsible] that we don't agree with animal testing, and are not going to spend our money and our taxes on products that cause needless suffering.

Wondershoezen

2011-05-20T21:31:00.000+01:00

This is not my usual style. I'm bored and thirsty and feeling materialistic. It's my 21st in 2 months, feel free to get on board even though we all know I'm too tall for wedges:

Obligatory Jeffrey Campbell boot. Julia has found some amazing JC shoes when we were looking yesterday; I saw these and fell in love:

I very nearly bought these Acne wedges last winter but the necessity to pay rent got in the way:

I have these in their tweed boot form, by Irregular Choice, but now it's hot and I want these as well. What am I:

I don't know who these are by, they're just from ASOS. Not something I'd usually wear, too dolls house, but kinda cool:

By Acne, again:

Finsk:

Slutwalk

2011-05-16T09:50:00.001+01:00

slutwalk london / 4th june 2011

Image from a Slutwalk march in Boston, US

Consider everyone equal or fuck yourself

Dress provocatively, dress conservatively, dress however you like. Defend your right to look sexy without having to be sexual. No judgement, no limitations, the freedom to look and be exactly who and how you want without people thinking this means they can treat you like an object. Girls are not just 'people that aren't men'; they are doctors, nurses, lawyers, judges, mothers, wives, daughters, grandmothers, strippers, teachers, pilots, boxers, aid workers, musicians, artists, victims, criminals, virginal, sexually liberated, people that suffer and give and care and feel, human beings with emotions and the right to choose.

'No' doesn't mean 'yes' or 'maybe', a revealing outfit doesn't mean 'yours for the taking'. If a girl wears something small, it doesn't give you the right to touch her when you see her in a bar, to assume that she's out looking for sex, or to abuse her when she isn't interested just because she 'looks like she's up for it'... and on the other side, if a girl wants to be sexually promiscuous, fucking let her. One rule for two genders.

Thousands of people are walking from Hyde Park to Trafalgar Square, you should too
Bring banners, bring beer, bring your body, enjoy it and prove that the vast majority of people in Britain will defend fiercely
Click here for more information

"I think the reaction shows how relevant it is, especially in Britain, where only 6.5 percent of rape cases end in convictions - and that's the ones we know about" - Anastasia Richardson, organizer of Slutwalk London

[Loads of people bitched about 'It's Blitz!' but it's a good album and hating on the more recent stuff an artist has done doesn't make you some kinda fucking super fan]

Seven Swans A-Swimming

2011-05-09T17:50:00.002+01:00

'Nick Clegg looking sad' - I'll say no more, just check it out by clicking here. I like Nick Clegg, he comes across as a decent man, but it is hilarious. There's also a Twitter version which you can follow here

'Married for 50 Years'

"We met in my hometown in Georgia. I had this car, a ‘56 Ford, and I was kinda wild at that time too. I used to come to her house and it was like, a sandy row, and I used to just swing around in her yard. Just make circles out in her yard. And she’d come out and sometimes get in the car and we’d talk."

I'm not one of those people that thinks love is the be all and end all of everything. You can be unhappy in love, happy out of love, whatever... but Time magazine has spoken to couples that have been together for 50 years or more. How fucking cool is that ? See it all here

This is one of my favourite Bloc Party songs. Very rarely do I hear a remix of a song I'm pretty into and like it, but this has done the song justice. I can't find anything else by Junkie XL though and I'd quite like to so hit me up if you can link me to anything

All the work of Alexandro Garcia:

He's an artist from Uruguay that claims to have started drawing after seeing a UFO. He sounds like my kinda guy... I'm yet to find his website [if he has one] but you can see more of his work here

& all the work of Harry Clarke, a stained glass artist and illustrator from Ireland [1889 - 1931]:

Sign this to tell Ugandan President Museveni not to pass the "Kill The Gays" law that could be put in place within the next 72 hours. This law would mean that anyone that is LGBT could receive the death penalty purely because of their sexual orientation. Disgusting, go do it and then spread the word:

The best Facebook group: 'The moment Gemma thought Mick was bringing her the champagne"

Bitch For Sale

2011-05-06T09:56:00.013+01:00

I don't know what the stupid title is about but these are some photos I've taken of myself over the last few days. Ego femina. I hope nobody voted for anybody shit... Brighton made [generally] the right choice, guys you got the Green light

If you voted far right, Tory or Labour [Tory for people that don't want the Conservative label] then fuck off right now, don't bother reading me

Covers

2011-05-04T23:20:00.001+01:00

Good bands covering good bands is just luvly. 'Punk' bands covering shitty 80's chart songs not so much... remember 'Me First and the Gimme Gimme Gimmes' ? Also, a good band covering a good song doesn't mean the cover will be decent but these versions are more than alright:

I was at the front for this, just to put that out there.... the only UK date that got Robert Smith. I am never going to see blink-182 again because every other person there will be a total cunt and I won't be able to enjoy myself properly but I will always love them dearly

Fortz + Fingz

2011-05-04T01:01:00.004+01:00

Some cool stuff by Jill Greenberg

1. Are 'very opinionated' and 'non-sleeper' bad things to write on a personal statement, or will the person that reads it think I mean 'confident and energetic' ?

2. Bin Laden should have had a trial. There are people on Death Row - paedophiles, rapists, murderers - that still get a last meal and private execution. You could argue that they didn't commit crimes on the same scale Bin Laden did, but that's because they didn't have the power and outreach he did. Whose to say that if they had, they wouldn't have done things that could be considered worse ?
While I don't agree with the things Bin Laden was responsible for - the deaths of many - murder is murder no matter what context you put it in, and by that logic, the US Army and Government is full of murderers too. Yet they are celebrated because we are told that they are killing 'for good'.
I understand that people affected by 9/11 may feel that this has brought about a certain level of justice, but celebrating the death of anyone is just inhumane. I don't mean to quote Batman or anything but "Justice is about harmony; revenge is about making yourself feel better"
I'm not sticking up for Osama Bin Laden, but I'm not going to praise the US for murdering someone either. Real men fight with their hands. I don't know why half of America seems to be so proud of themselves for a) something really ridiculous, and b) something the citizens actually had no part in doing, cool man

Something to lighten the mood:

Cynic

2011-04-26T16:40:00.001+01:00

Not everyone is beautiful and unique, not everything is part of some divine creation for people to enjoy. Everything in our universe started out as nothing, and everything within it evolved first of all from gas. No matter what romantic little spin you put on things, the only constant in our universe is the empty space between everything.

It's no good preaching Fair Trade if you shop at Tesco, being vegan if you order anything from McDonalds, claiming to be cruelty free if you buy anything from Primark or H&M or whatever... the list goes on. People are so quick to point out the wrong in how other people live their lives - eating animals, wearing stuff made in sweat shops, being a consumer without any sustainability, but if you aren't trying first and foremost to stick as closely to your own 'beliefs' as possible then shut the fuck up, get a proper hobby, get over yourself.

I don't agree with the way animals are treated just so they can be turned into a product, I don't like the impact people knowingly have on our planet and I think it's important to shop responsibly, but it doesn't automatically make me a better person than people that don't try and live by those things. Like most people, I can be a real cunt when I want to be.
As long as you go through life causing as little harm to other people, animals, places as possible then essentially you're a good person.

This trend for being cute and girly and caring and 'naturebabe' would be credible if it wasn't completely fake and adopted by people that live for consumption, for their image, for comfort and making themselves feel good. If you conjure up this idea of yourself and pretend to be into certain shit just so you can patronise and talk down to people with some fucking smug, self satisfied feeling then you're not a nice person. You're a superficial, shit bag of human.

Happy Earth Day

2011-04-23T10:12:00.005+01:00

Earth Day was yesterday but there's no harm in doing it twice. If you don't know what Earth Day is then you can read more about it here

Some pictures from the last week or whatever,

Si and Anna took us to this field that has a nuclear bunker underneath it. Which was pretty cool if you like that sort of thing, which obviously I do

War Sheep

2011-04-17T12:22:00.003+01:00

I think it's strange how people that say shit like 'get the immigrants out' and 'if they come here they live by our rules' are the same people that support the US and UK Armies going over to the Middle East and Africa and telling people there how they should be behaving. Then killing them if they don't cooperate.

I don't think signing up to the Army makes a young man a hero, it makes him a fucking idiot. Good luck being cannon fodder, any human being is worth more than that. Just like any human being doesn't deserve to be shot in the head because their land is on top of valuable resources, they practice Islam, or they choose to live a different way to us in the West. I don't want to sound all idealist and 'think my way' but I am really fucking strongly against people being deceived into thinking it is ever okay to go over to another part of the world and kill its citizens. What a bunch of cunts.

Got The T-Shirt

2011-04-12T12:02:00.007+01:00

Global Gathering is only four months away, I'm psyched.

Nearly forgot - I won this from the NSPCC for being their 300th Gold Challenger. It's an Adidas shirt signed by some Olympic gold medalists which I guess is pretty cool:

Dream World

2011-04-03T15:09:00.004+01:00

A photo of some of my pretty things. The necklace, the chest of stones, some of the rings and the bangles are all presents Harry has given me at one time or another. Da diamond that he is

Some cat eating a nice bit of polystyrene, action shot:

Shelter Japan

2011-03-31T11:30:00.003+01:00

Sparkrelief is enabling people to sign up and offer shelter to people devastated by the earthquake in Japan. Although this does have obvious risks, there is a ‘filtering’ process which ensures as many safety measures as possible are put in place. Click the link to find out more...

Babydoll

2011-03-29T16:18:00.001+01:00

Some photos of my brother and I when we were small. I look 50% hilarious, 50% exactly the same. It's strange that I look so small here; my Mum told me that when I was born I was "54 cm, a long baby"

Ever seen 'Trailer Park Boys' ?

Awareness Test

2011-03-23T16:39:00.000Z

On days like today there should be better things to do than this but there isn't. If you've not seen this before then it's a genuine test they give to people working in social housing and care...

Brighton #2

2011-03-21T00:23:00.003Z

"Goodbye Moulsecoomb, hello trendy Hanover"

Thanks to the vigilance of the superb Julia we have a beautiful new palace. Damn right it's orange

We are finally able to offload Rain Man, albeit at a price - no more for our quote book.

"I have NO FEAR ! When it comes to wild animals"

Feminisn't

2011-03-18T02:05:00.010Z

Wrote this after reading this post by Idols Craving Ballerinas

I bought a magazine to read on the train the other day. I'd never bought it before and it is shit - that being Grazia. Like most magazines, you are just paying for a book of adverts for things that you don't need and can't afford but aspire to own because they make out you need it. I paid for that. What the fuck was I thinking ?
Anyway, in the centre was a debate about whether feminism is dead. What a stupid, stupid question. As I've said before, I believe feminism is about equality - equal rights as well as equal responsibility. Not man hating, not getting one over on your male peers, not saying that 'all men are dogs' then going out and fucking around because it is your right to do so. That is something that is very much alive - and although things have progressed dramatically in terms of women's rights here since the 1920's, there are still parts of the world where you can be oppressed and punished just for being female.

The true spirit of feminism is sticking up not just for yourself, but for your fellow lady. When there's no sense of unity, there's no belief in the cause. Look at what the uncertainty of the Liberal Democrat's has done for national faith in the party [among other things], and then look at what happened in Egypt when the country came together to fight for what they believed was right. One person alone couldn't have achieved that.
So when a woman gets stoned to death and battered with a concrete block in the Middle East for simply falling in love with a man, something is wrong.

In the middle of this article, some girls on the street were asked about their views on feminism today. Almost half of the girls asked claimed that they didn't want to be associated with the movement at all, saying things like;
"It was better when there was a clearer distinction between masculine and feminine. Feminism has emasculated men"
"Sexism is part of everyday life, we should learn to deal with it"

Should we ? Worldwide, rape and abuse are a part of everyday life. Shall we learn to 'deal with' those too ?
It's easy to write off modern day feminism when we have it the way we do in Britain. A woman can be a doctor, a lawyer, a housewife, a full time mother, whatever she wants to be. She has the right to abortion and divorce, and can raise a child on her own without becoming out casted from society. A woman can go out wearing a bikini or a burqa if she feels like it, and can vote, drive, work or study if she likes. Yes, there are still many things that a woman has to worry about or consider that a man doesn't, but because these issues do not affect every single woman and aren't all necessarily because of a prejudice surrounding her gender, it's easy to forget that.

Not everywhere in the Middle East is a bad place for women, and not every man there is a dog, but the issues surrounding being a woman in some places are unthinkable to young British women.
In certain parts of Iran, a woman can receive up to 70 lashes for showing any part of her body that isn't the hand or face, and can be subject to a compulsory 'virginity test' if found to be in a mixed gender environment. Although the situation there is improving, women are still not equal, and the same goes for other parts of the world.

In Britain, girls are not 'lucky' by comparison, we are just treated more fairly. Stand up for your fellow female in the same way that you donate to Japan and Comic Relief to help your fellow human. Don't be an asshole

30 Day Song Challenge

2011-03-17T02:02:00.004Z

On Facebook I've jumped onto the 'Song Challenge' bandwagon. Cool right ? But what the fuck, I'm not doing anything else with my time right now. The last six days:

Day 01 - Your Favourite Song

Day 02 - Your Least Favourite Song
This is one of the worst songs ever recorded. So overplayed and fucking Glee have done their own version. It's just a shit sandwich

Day 03 - A Song That Makes You Happy

Day 04 - A Song That Makes You Sad
I don't think there's any song that actually makes me sad but this is a decent depressing track

Day 05 - A Song That Reminds You Of Someone
The day this coincided with happened to be my Dad's birthday & The Doors are his favourite band, get with the logic

Day 06 - A Song That Reminds You Of Somewhere

Winehouse Perry

2011-03-15T20:30:00.003Z

I like Fred Perry almost as much as I like Burberry... and that's labels done with. Everything is so hit and miss that it's impossible to find something that's consistently awesome
Plus I am really fucking fickle and indecisive
I don't like the whole 'rockabilly' look unless it's done really well and 90% of the time it isn't... but Amy Winehouse has designed some shit for Fred Perry and while a lot of it isn't my thing, these shoes are weirdly cool. They're probably the only thing that isn't all 50's-esque but whatever, good is good. The rest is kinda dull but Amy Winehouse is cool so whatever: