Waste of Space?

Hey guys, I know I’ve been really lax with blogging lately, but whats worse is that I don’t have a reason. I honestly don’t.

Its not like I’ve been busy or anything, my lectures don’t start till Monday and more to the point, I’ve been spending my days doing pointless drivel to waste the hours away. So I’m sorry.

Every day I wake up early in the morning, lye in bed till about noon and then I get up. I spend my days watching television, or films, playing games or reading. Nothing productive done. Then I force myself to wait until 8 so that I can spend some time doing something different: cooking dinner. Then its back  to pointless drivel till I fall asleep about 3am.

Repeat.

Normally I am happy to do this as my weeks were relatively busy before. They included lectures, exercise, nights out, socialising. But since I’ve gotten back from Christmas, everything has been a blur and everyone’s routines have been muddled up. Granted, they should settle back into comfortably consistent busyness, and fortunately that will be about a weeks time, but I’ve been both bored and for lack of a better word, lazy.

I know I should do something productive or different but I cant help it. This last week it dawned on me, that I have literally been trying to find ways to waste the day. Reading wastes an afternoon. Watching a film wastes 2 hours. Making a cup of tea wastes 5 minuets.

The mundane becomes the Monday.

And then I got to thinking, how much of our lives is wasted in this way?!

I mean, we all talk about ‘waiting for things to happen’ in some form or another, even if it is just “I don’t wait for something to happen to me”; but we rarely talk about how we waste our time.

Even waking to and from Uni is an excuse to waste time. Sure there are other reasons to do it – like less cost, more exercise, fresh air etc – but truth be told, it is because by making this trip I waste an hour and a half each day (sometimes double when I have 3 hours free between lectures).

Its ridiculous.

Sure, you may even be like me and realise that you do this and maybe even why, but then there is the matter of doing something.

I used to do something that I loved. Several things actually.

I used to hate breaks in college with a passion. Even the 20 mins I had at 10am I would help teach Media, every lunch break and every free period I would have would be spent similarly. Sure, I would make time for socialising with friends and would complain that I had to go and help out somewhere but truth be told I loved it.

I would get up early, spend my day being rushed off my feet and then get back late just in time to have a bite to eat and then I’d be off out again to volunteer at a youth group.

I long for those days. And yet, I wonder why it is that I don’t do that again. And I just cant think of a reason.

Then I think of all those people out there  who do similar things. Waste their life I mean.

Those people in the ‘big city’ who try to look busy so that they wont get work, the people in suburbia sat on the sofa watching television,  the elderly who sit at home waiting for the grandchildren to call.

Yes, I wonder what has happened to the world. What has changed our society and forced such a radical change in our cultural values.

Can we recover?

Guys suck! ...

oh and a Happy New Year!

:D xx

I need a Doctor ...

Hey guys, its me again.

Um im in a spot of bother and thought now is as good as any time to ask for some help.

Basically, for the last, on i dont know, 3-4 months (?) my blog has been acting up and it is REALLY frustrating me.

There are several symptoms and if anyone can give me some advice on how to strop/fix this, it'd be really useful haha.

Ok, so ...

• I cant see the 'followers' on my blog (or other people's) ... you know, on that 'gadget'
• I cant comment on ANYONE's blog. No i havnt been ignoring Blogland, i just cant say anything haha
• If by some mirracle it DOES let me post a comment, i have to sign in to my blog, sign in again to write a comment (which signs me out of my blog) and doesnt let me use my Blog 'name' to comment (i have to use OpenID or something)
• I cant seem to follow anyone's blog now :/

These could be completely random coincidences but any suggestions?

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Hey everyone, hope your holidays are going well, im sure mine are :)

Just thought i'd wish you a happy and white christmas with your families xx



Take care and be merry ! xx

Happy Holidays or Selfish Shopping

I’ve often wondered to what extent does society maintain its morals and values, for era’s past.

 

I mean, you look back to the 60’s and even further, and you can tell there is a definite distinctive moral consensus in society. Everyone had tasteful decorations that they often reused, got presents that people wanted AND needed and the whole holiday was about spending time with family and friends: to spread that Christmas cheer.

 

But what do we have nowadays? A tacky tree, children demanding douzens of pointless toys that are shinier than their neighbours and a day consumed by consumerism.

 

Thats not to say that these values have completely disappeared, but rather have been diminished over the decades. Sure you may spend time with your family, but do you enjoy it? Is it the foundations of the day? Do you do it because you WANT to or because your TOLD or its TRADITION?

 

To what extent has Christmas, and other holidays too (perhaps more so), been irreparably damaged beyond all recognition?

 

Toy stores worldwide strive to have the biggest, the best and the shiniest out on the market just before Christmas time so that children will demand them from their parents. Ant it doest stop there, its not just one toy or two, its several. There is quite an apt quote from Harry Potter:

 

“How many are there?!”

“36. Counted them myself”

“36?! But last year, last year I had 37!”

“Yes, but but some of them are quite a bit bigger than they were last year.”

“I don’t care how big they are!”

 

Now, this WAS talking about Birthdays and such, but the concept is still clear and applicable. Children are very susceptible to change and more often than not, they come to expect what they shouldn’t.

 

The magic from Christmas disappears in wake of consumerism and commodity fetishism, that is to say that we as a society ‘worship’ commodities and seldom view something for its ‘cost’ but rather for its ‘value’ to us as a buyer.

 

A good example of this is Coke. When was the last time you saw an advert that said “its tastes good.” Or “its fizzy!” It just doesn’t happen. Instead you are sold an idea, a preposterous and idiotic concept that if you drink Coke you will have consistency in your life or happiness.

 

Its a drink! And yet, as a consumer society we believe and encourage these forms of propaganda because, well there are a lot of theories out there.

 

The point is, this idea is evident everywhere. Even in these major holidays. The toy industry tells you that you need to buy bigger and more gifts for your children to show them you love them and to make their childhood ‘complete’ when in fact all you are doing is cluttering your house, wasting money and even instilling Capitalism into your kids.

 

The Capitalist Ideologies:

• Individualism
• Economy
• Democracy

 

Or rather should I say:

• MY toy is better
• MY toy cost more
• You can choose this toy or this one.

 

What has Christmas become? Has it improved? Bigger and Better?

Or is it just another excuse for us to show off and for large corporations to exploit us.

What will it be like when our children have children of their own?

 

 

 

Is there an end?

Something is wrong

Lately something strange has been happening to me. And I mean, VERY strange. Abnormal really.

I don’t know how to really explain it but I’ll give it a go. Now you must know, im usually an emotional person but I go to great lengths to make sure that its hardly ever visable. I know why and wont delve into that right now, but anyone who knows my history can probably make an educated guess.

But lately I’ve been crying.

No not because of something sad, or even happy if im honest. I’ve been crying about Christmas.

Now I know how that sounds, so no im not insane or anything. Just I’ll be listening to a song or watching a film and then suddenly im brimming up with tears for no apparent reason.

And I NEVER cry.

As a child ... sure! I could cry like the best of them. I could produce crocodile tears at the drop of a pin and real ones even easier. Scarcely a day went by where I didn’t cry, and then my Nan died and I just got fed up with everything. Long story short I repressed emotions (for various other reasons too) and I never cry anymore.

To this day, thinking of my Nan is the ONLY thing that is guaranteed to make me shed a tear. But now, this!

I know its not serious or particularly interesting. Heck, I agree with that! But it IS intriguing.

Sure I love Christmas, a lot! I mean, like a lot a lot! But not enough to be that emotional about it. I mean, why this dramatic a change in so short a space of time?

Is it because im on my own completely private? it is because im away from my family? Is it an innate characteristic that is only JUST rearing it’s head?

Or is it just one of those random changes that affects us all?

Hey Yall!

(Sorry couldnt resist)

Anyway, I have just completed my first semester (yes, they call them semesters now :/) in university and i have a LOT still left to talk about. However, I have no idea what to talk about so PLEASE!!!! comment below on what you want me to talk about ... as specific as possible? :P

Just a reminder that on friday i will be changing my URL and with that i will also be changing some of my content (to be written) but that will all be explained when the time comes.

Anyway, i was asked by Jay to include the essays i had to write for my modules in my course. So here they are (let me know if there are any problems) ...

[WARNING] These essays may bore you to extremes ... enjoy

Describe how you would prepare for and conduct an interview with a well-known personality, explaining the background theory to the approach you would take.

Media Studies is a ‘Mickey Mouse’ academic discipline. How would you counter this claim?

My favorite is by far the second! Higher word count, more interesting topic and i spent a LOT more time researching it haha. It is also coincidentally my favorite module so far and is also easier (as it is 'INTRODUCTION to Media Studies' and i have been doing Media for 4 years already haha) ... oh and before yall complain, it was compulsery :P

Um so yeah, this is basically what my first 3 months has been about and i just have one more exam left and i complete this semester. Next semester i have twice as many modules tho :/

Oh, also as i will be returning back to England on Sunday, you probably wont be hearing from me very much but i'll try to keep in touch. And i'll be back in the new year :)



As always, ttyl xx