Yesterday evening I was informed in the news headlines, immediately after an item on the country's finances and one on its legislation, that a certain celebrity had been sentenced to some time in prison. I'm not even going to mention her name here as I don't want to give the issue any more damn coverage.
She's an actress and she got sent to jail for being drunk and stupid, or something along those lines. She's not even Irish (the news programme I was watching last night was Irish), she's from the USA.
This morning, among more items to do with politicians and the economy - things which affect the lives of all of us citizens in one way or another - and international news such as the spy crisis erupting between the USA and Russia - I was informed that a certain Portuguese footballer now has a child.
Why are either of these items newsworthy? A quick glance at headlines online informs me that Israel's prime minister is hinting at direct talks with the Palestinians, Cuba is to release a large number of political prisoners and a solar powered plane has spent more than 24 hours in the air. All items that are far more newsworthy than celebrities lives.
There are entertainment shows for so-called "news" items such as these. Let's leave them there. The vapid, self-centred, attention-seeking antics of celebrities is of no consequence to the world at large when any of the items mentioned above may well be.
Showing posts with label rant. Show all posts
Showing posts with label rant. Show all posts
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Friday, June 18, 2010
Rally Weekend
*really big sigh*
Rally weekend is here again.
I love to drive fast on a good road (admittedly, not many of them around here). I certainly appreciate the skill of rally drivers. I watch Top Gear. I even sometimes watch Formula 1 and rally shows.
It's the followers I can't stand.
Men dressed up as boy racers.Doing doughnuts in car parks (Wow, how cool are you, you can drive your car around in a circle. Would you like a cookie?). Getting pissed and pissing and dumping rubbish all over town.
By the way, I'm well aware that the locals are quite good at dropping rubbish too. I'm not suggesting otherwise. The sheer amounts of it on rally weekend are staggering though. I guess that's what happens when you live on fast food and beer for an entire weekend.
Anyone complaining about the noise of the vuvuzelas should try listening to the drone of souped up Corsa engines driven by people who think that drilling a hole in their exhaust makes them rally drivers for a weekend. At least there's a mute button & a graphic equaliser on the TV, folks.
I know it's great for the town's economy (probably because of all the people they have to employ to clean up the rubbish starting on Monday), but that doesn't mean I can't complain about it.
Rally weekend is here again.
I love to drive fast on a good road (admittedly, not many of them around here). I certainly appreciate the skill of rally drivers. I watch Top Gear. I even sometimes watch Formula 1 and rally shows.
It's the followers I can't stand.
Men dressed up as boy racers.Doing doughnuts in car parks (Wow, how cool are you, you can drive your car around in a circle. Would you like a cookie?). Getting pissed and pissing and dumping rubbish all over town.
By the way, I'm well aware that the locals are quite good at dropping rubbish too. I'm not suggesting otherwise. The sheer amounts of it on rally weekend are staggering though. I guess that's what happens when you live on fast food and beer for an entire weekend.
Anyone complaining about the noise of the vuvuzelas should try listening to the drone of souped up Corsa engines driven by people who think that drilling a hole in their exhaust makes them rally drivers for a weekend. At least there's a mute button & a graphic equaliser on the TV, folks.
I know it's great for the town's economy (probably because of all the people they have to employ to clean up the rubbish starting on Monday), but that doesn't mean I can't complain about it.
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
My name is
Joleen. Yes, Joleen. J-O-L-E-E-N.
J for Juliet
O for Oscar
L for Lima
E for Echo
E for Echo
N for November
I am aware that Dolly Parton spelled it differently (Jolene).
This is probably the most common variation I get. Other common ones are Joeleen, Joelene, Joline, sometimes Joelle and occasionally, Gillian. (I get all sorts of variations on my surname too, but I won't go on about that here).
I've grown used to it. Most annoying is when it's spelled wrong on a cheque - especially when I've typed out an invoice with my name on it, spelled correctly. I don't hold the knowledge of how to spell all names in the universe within my brain either - but when I'm writing a letter/email/cheque etc, I do tend to do my best to check how the person I'm addressing it to spells their name. Cheques especially, as the bank has this remarkably annoying tendency not to allow people to cash them if the name on the cheque doesn't match that on the account.
What's even more hilarious than people spelling it wrong though, is when people tell me I spell it wrong. I wasn't aware of the law that made Dolly Parton's words (and their associated spellings) some kind of canon. I wasn't named after the song. My name is spelled how it's spelled. It's right, simply because it's what it says on my birth certificate.
J for Juliet
O for Oscar
L for Lima
E for Echo
E for Echo
N for November
I am aware that Dolly Parton spelled it differently (Jolene).
This is probably the most common variation I get. Other common ones are Joeleen, Joelene, Joline, sometimes Joelle and occasionally, Gillian. (I get all sorts of variations on my surname too, but I won't go on about that here).
I've grown used to it. Most annoying is when it's spelled wrong on a cheque - especially when I've typed out an invoice with my name on it, spelled correctly. I don't hold the knowledge of how to spell all names in the universe within my brain either - but when I'm writing a letter/email/cheque etc, I do tend to do my best to check how the person I'm addressing it to spells their name. Cheques especially, as the bank has this remarkably annoying tendency not to allow people to cash them if the name on the cheque doesn't match that on the account.
What's even more hilarious than people spelling it wrong though, is when people tell me I spell it wrong. I wasn't aware of the law that made Dolly Parton's words (and their associated spellings) some kind of canon. I wasn't named after the song. My name is spelled how it's spelled. It's right, simply because it's what it says on my birth certificate.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
What came first, the chicken or the egg?
I hate it when there's debate about "which came first, the chicken or the egg?". Or if a seemingly unanswerable question is posed, it gets described as "a real chicken and egg problem" or something like that.
Evolution was discovered quite a while ago which makes the answer obvious as far as I'm concerned.
Here's the science bit...
First: Birds evolved from lizards. Lizards lay eggs. Therefore, eggs were around for a long time before birds were.
Second: The way evolution works (in a very simplified fashion, it has to do with genetic mutations which change creatures ever so slightly over thousands of years) something that was a bird, but not exactly chicken, once laid an egg. Out of this egg emerged something that was a chicken.
So, the egg came first, no matter what way you look at it. Mystery solved.
Evolution was discovered quite a while ago which makes the answer obvious as far as I'm concerned.
Here's the science bit...
First: Birds evolved from lizards. Lizards lay eggs. Therefore, eggs were around for a long time before birds were.
Second: The way evolution works (in a very simplified fashion, it has to do with genetic mutations which change creatures ever so slightly over thousands of years) something that was a bird, but not exactly chicken, once laid an egg. Out of this egg emerged something that was a chicken.
So, the egg came first, no matter what way you look at it. Mystery solved.
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
The Return of Lost
So Lost returns this week. In general, I'm really looking forward to it. I mean, mysterious island, time travel, conspiracies - that's right up my street. One problem, though, and his name is Jack.
Jack is supposed to be the hero. However, several things detract from his ability to actually be a hero, in spite of the writers worshipping him. That's the thing about writing. You can say someone is a hero, but they have to actually behave as one for it to ring true, and in the case of Jack Shepherd, it does not.
To start with, proclaiming yourself a hero is a big no-no. To be a hero one needs a certain degree of decorum, and screaming "I am the one that saved you!" at your girlfriend is not heroic behaviour. If you're the hero, you should just be the hero. You shouldn't have to tell anyone. Note to writers: show, don't tell.
Jack's relationship with Kate is another example of his lack of heroism. Even though he's led a pretty cushy life, some issues with his father lacking belief in him notwithstanding; and Kate has spent the best part of a decade as a fugitive; somehow he thinks he knows more about survival in unfamiliar circumstances than she does. Thinking it is one thing, but treating Kate like a child is not a good basis for a friendship, never mind a relationship. The fact that she lets him treat her this way detracts from her character's history as well, and the power balance of the relationship makes him appear more of an emotional abuser than a heroic boyfriend.
Again, Jack has led a relatively simple life. Upper middle class background, med school, nice house, all of that. No, that doesn't take away from the fact that he had an abusive father, but it does call into question his role as leader. A soldier or a fugitive seem like better choices than a doctor. If Jack got on with being a doctor and stopped trying so hard to be a hero, then maybe fewer people would have died and he'd have actually been more of a hero. Trying to be a hero doesn't make you a hero.
While addiction is often a trait that indicates depth, Jack getting addicted to painkillers never seemed to happen organically. It felt forced. Not heroic, forced.
Sawyer was the one who jumped out of the helicopter. Not Jack. No time to scream about what a great hero he was, he just did it.
Jack is regularly dismissive of other character's skills. A hero or a leader will look around at what skills people have, and utilise them. Jack was too busy playing power games to notice the skills people around him had. Consider the time he asked Ana Lucia about creating an army. Sayid was actually in the army, but he never asked him about it. Perhaps he was just looking for a way to make Kate jealous? Not very heroic behaviour there, Jack. And extremely poor leadership as well.
Having a tortured look in your eyes does not mean you're a tortured hero. That's just lazy writing.
Always being right, even when you suddenly change to the exact opposite position from that which you held for so long, is never fun, and again, not heroic and very poor leadership. A leader should consider all options.
Again, a truly heroic leader will put aside personal conflicts for the good of the group they are leading. Jack was constantly rowing with Sawyer and Locke and anyone else who disagreed with him.
Jack clearly wants to be a hero. I want to be a millionaire though. That's not how it works. Wanting it doesn't make it true.
There are more, I'm sure, but this is all I could think of off the top of my head. Reasons why Jack is not a hero and not really leadership material. Comment with your own!
Jack is supposed to be the hero. However, several things detract from his ability to actually be a hero, in spite of the writers worshipping him. That's the thing about writing. You can say someone is a hero, but they have to actually behave as one for it to ring true, and in the case of Jack Shepherd, it does not.
To start with, proclaiming yourself a hero is a big no-no. To be a hero one needs a certain degree of decorum, and screaming "I am the one that saved you!" at your girlfriend is not heroic behaviour. If you're the hero, you should just be the hero. You shouldn't have to tell anyone. Note to writers: show, don't tell.
Jack's relationship with Kate is another example of his lack of heroism. Even though he's led a pretty cushy life, some issues with his father lacking belief in him notwithstanding; and Kate has spent the best part of a decade as a fugitive; somehow he thinks he knows more about survival in unfamiliar circumstances than she does. Thinking it is one thing, but treating Kate like a child is not a good basis for a friendship, never mind a relationship. The fact that she lets him treat her this way detracts from her character's history as well, and the power balance of the relationship makes him appear more of an emotional abuser than a heroic boyfriend.
Again, Jack has led a relatively simple life. Upper middle class background, med school, nice house, all of that. No, that doesn't take away from the fact that he had an abusive father, but it does call into question his role as leader. A soldier or a fugitive seem like better choices than a doctor. If Jack got on with being a doctor and stopped trying so hard to be a hero, then maybe fewer people would have died and he'd have actually been more of a hero. Trying to be a hero doesn't make you a hero.
While addiction is often a trait that indicates depth, Jack getting addicted to painkillers never seemed to happen organically. It felt forced. Not heroic, forced.
Sawyer was the one who jumped out of the helicopter. Not Jack. No time to scream about what a great hero he was, he just did it.
Jack is regularly dismissive of other character's skills. A hero or a leader will look around at what skills people have, and utilise them. Jack was too busy playing power games to notice the skills people around him had. Consider the time he asked Ana Lucia about creating an army. Sayid was actually in the army, but he never asked him about it. Perhaps he was just looking for a way to make Kate jealous? Not very heroic behaviour there, Jack. And extremely poor leadership as well.
Having a tortured look in your eyes does not mean you're a tortured hero. That's just lazy writing.
Always being right, even when you suddenly change to the exact opposite position from that which you held for so long, is never fun, and again, not heroic and very poor leadership. A leader should consider all options.
Again, a truly heroic leader will put aside personal conflicts for the good of the group they are leading. Jack was constantly rowing with Sawyer and Locke and anyone else who disagreed with him.
Jack clearly wants to be a hero. I want to be a millionaire though. That's not how it works. Wanting it doesn't make it true.
There are more, I'm sure, but this is all I could think of off the top of my head. Reasons why Jack is not a hero and not really leadership material. Comment with your own!
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Retail and rant therapy
Cheaper than actual therapy, I'm sure. Especially as I have such a good nose for a bargain. Got a pair of shoes, a pair of trousers, a dress, a belt, a pair of earrings and two tops for E25. Go me!
Also, got the chance to rant about various things with a good friend, which always helps. Was nice to not have to spend a day staring at the computer, second-guessing myself over how to interpret an essay question. There will be more of that tomorrow, of course. All the same, it was good to get out, actually do some social-networking rather than sit at home constantly checking my social networking websites.
Perhaps it's even freed my brain up enough to do a little writing? Worth a try!
Also, got the chance to rant about various things with a good friend, which always helps. Was nice to not have to spend a day staring at the computer, second-guessing myself over how to interpret an essay question. There will be more of that tomorrow, of course. All the same, it was good to get out, actually do some social-networking rather than sit at home constantly checking my social networking websites.
Perhaps it's even freed my brain up enough to do a little writing? Worth a try!
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