I’m back in town and I have set myself the task this Christmas of learning how to skate again! Well, not that I was very good at it the first time, but here’s to giving something new a go.
(Source: skateandlong, via theline-blog)
Earthy. I like it, especially the girls voice.
One last thing…
Before I call it a night and I will blog on this thought more in the future, but it’s something I want to think about for a bit longer before I do.
I once met an incredible guy who was living in India, moving from place to place, living with different people and learning how they play music, so that he could adapt and create his own style. It really was something incredibly special to hear him play, especially as I hadn’t heard music in so long.
But he was very wise and clearly had thought about things a lot. He said that he felt like in your teens, everything seems so confusing, fragmented and apart and that in your twenties you start to bring this confusion together, you begin to understand yourself and why you are who you are, what has created you. In a sense you start to see your path in the universe beginning to unfold.
In my twenties now, I think this is true.
So…I’ve talked previously in my blog about digital storytelling. How that it’s a really creative and positive way, of using contemporary multimedia tools, in order to allow everyone access to the media. In order to allow a democratic society, in which we all have the power to have a voice, to tell our story.
Therefore, here is mine. It’s not about me, but with my time and skills, I have helped Julie Cooper to tell you hers. The quality isn’t very good as I am still pretty poor with all this techno stuff and didn’t save it as a flash disk or something. Good on you if you understand that. Plus it’s my first ever creative production, so please don’t judge. But I am a little bit proud, especially as it took so much hard work and effort into creating this.
So for all its imperfections and flaws, I hope you like it in some way, if anything enjoy her story.
I didn’t expect to come across this video today, but I am mighty glad that I did.
This video sums up the exact reason why I am becoming a journalist. I have found a career that really suits my personality and is something that I am extremely passionate about. I want to use my love of surf and the environment to create texts like this one, in order to spread the word, gain consensus and popularity amongst audiences, to quite simply protect this wonderful world that we live in.
I am currently writing my dissertation on the media’s reporting of the recent BP oil spill, how journalists can report on these environmental disasters in a way which is well informed. Because if the media is uninformed, so are the public. People will quite simply not know how their world is being destroyed, how possibly could they, the world is huge and no one can be everywhere at one time. Therefore the media is a brilliant resource for educating the public.
Here is a snipet from my dissertation-
‘The planet Earth is unique and extraordinary. Thus, within our contemporary world it is something that should not be taken for granted; particularly because of the steadily increasing prevalence of global environmental change, which simply means we may no longer see the world as we once did. As Gummer 2000 (in Smith 2000, p. 26) argues, even before science is brought into the equation, the above point should be enough for agenda setting groups and the public to understand that the environment is something that should be taken seriously.
In fact Gaber (in Smith 2000, p. 116) and Worcester’s (in Smith 2000, p. 34) research has demonstrated that ‘environmental concerns stand high in the public’s list of priorities, even at times when the issue is barely visible above the media’s horizon.’ This arguably is because the environment is a context understood by almost everyone, in everyday life. Not only does the environment warrant its own discourse and place within the public sphere, but it also has its own relationship to the public (Hansen 1991). This is because the environment is a context that every individual comes into contact with daily.
Scientists today argue that the jeopardy of the survival of our environment is because of human ‘misuse of its natural resources and disturbance of its natural environmental systems’ (Park 2001, p.3, Lester 2010). Therefore these global environmental issues require solutions, which necessitate public decision (Park 2001, p.3), it is therefore necessary to create ‘an informed and supportive public’ (Smith 2000, p.1). Therefore it is important to consider how the public perceive the environment, how the information known about the environment is used and where that comes from. Global warming and climate change are two environmental contexts, for example that almost everyone are aware of as terms, however, not only do very few actually have a well informed understanding of these contexts, but they also highlight that ‘not all environmental problems are publicly recognised as such’ (Hansen 2010, p.13).
Constructionist perspective on social problems, suggests that social problems, such as the environment, are only brought into discussion and debate within the public arena, when the issue is raised, most often by the media (Hansen 2010, p. 3-6, Smith 2000, p. 13). Blumer was one of the first to raise this problem as it highlights that issues are not raised to public concern if the media does not pay attention to them (Hansen 2010, p. 14). Boycoff (2008) and Curran (1997) argue for example that the media provide a central foreground in which ‘contending forces’ are ‘responded to’ and mediated (Curran 1997, p.29) and the extent to which these are balanced ‘critically shape current discourses’ (Boykoff 2008, p. 11, Hansen 2010, p.6, Boykoff 2009). This central foreground, according to Boycoff (2008, p.11), is mainly mediated between ‘scientists, policy actors and the public’. As Hansen argues, the two most common perceptions of the environment that the media construct are one; that the environment should be ‘controlled and exploited in the name of progress’,or two that the environment needs protecting and should be cared for (Hansen 2010, p.6).’
Which perspective will you choose?
If it is the second one and I really hope that it is, then please please, listen to what this video is telling you. Inform and educate yourself, I really believe that it is our responsibility to stop these environmental disasters. I hope one day that I can create something as brilliant as this, as I still believe that I can make some difference to the world in which we live in and this is my way of doing so.
Thank you.
I think I was made for the summer and in these winter days, this video warmed my cockles!
If you’re about in Cardiff, and you too love a good yoga session or want to give something new and energising a go, I am recommending this place…
The price is a tad on the high end, but I would say that it is worth every penny. Especially their deal of £30 for unlimited yoga in January, no better time to have this deal on to get rid of those cheeky indulgences over Christmas and vitalise your mind and body for the new year.
The location is in the centre of Cardiff, right next to Central Bar (a Wetherspoons). It’s literally the building next to it at the top of the stairs. You enter yourself into a space, which feels so far removed from the bustling city just outside. The atmosphere and environment that they have created here is so specific to what you need for yoga, to really focus on you and let go of the life you have outside of those walls.
I tried out the heat yoga today, I haven’t done it before, unless you want to count the yoga sessions in the heat of Asia, but this was certainly a new and great experience. Warning: if you don’t like sweat I would say this certainly isn’t for you! But the heat really helps to relieve some of the pain that a few positions can cause and it really helps you to stretch a lot further than you think. It also creates a very relaxed environment and reduces the amount of time that you need to spend warming up. You can get down to business the minute you enter those four walls.
They have towels, blocks and matts all at hand and are very friendly and welcoming. They definitely create an environment and a mentality, at which you are the focus, as well as the importance to go at your own pace, which is of course at the core of yoga values.
I felt relaxed and invigorated at the end, it was definitely what I needed in this final week, in the city, leading up to Christmas. I hope that you will give it a go and have a happy and rewarding experience. Not to forget to mention you get a free keyring on your first visit, and everyone loves a free keyring!
I’m going to give Cafe Atma in Cardiff a go in the new year, with their morning meditation and breakfast as well as the yoga classes that they do. Another is the Buddhism centre on Albany Road if the spiritual side is a goal and focus important to you. I will keep you updated and let you know what I thought of those.
Namaste.
Sorry I haven’t blogged in a while…final year is really taking it’s toll this past week, all deadlines are, go go go for this coming Friday and then it’s Chriiisstmmasssss!!! WOOO. And what better way to celebrate than to head up to London to see my best friend from traveling and go on Wella’s Christmas (all paid for do’). Bit nervous with it being Wella and all though, so definitely going to have to pull out a beautiful frock. I’m sure after a couple of glasses of champers though everything will be fine.
So I want to write about the universe- I was listening to Radio 1 this week and Fearne Cotton mentioned how that if she’s wanting things to go her way then she puts in for a favor from the universe. I’m not too sure what my stance is on religion. I was until recently 100% set that I didn’t agree with religion that I was an atheist. But after traveling, I’ve really opened up to the idea that religion doesn’t have to mean that you believe in a God. Religion stands for so many things. For example, I love the fact that Buddhism brings a focus onto individual growth, by taking time for central focus and meditation in order to develop as a person and open up parts of the brain that in day-to-day life we often don’t access. Or religion can even be indulging in something that you enjoy, basically something that you hold as a central belief that influences the way that you act in your life. That’s what I think anyway. I’ve also learnt to be open to the different religions that there are, I used to really shut myself off to them as I was so certain that I didn’t want to believe in anything other than the fact that religion didn’t exist. But after having some really good conversations with a good friend of mine who has a very deep faith in Christianity, I really think that you can take little aspects from as many religions as you like and adapt them to the way that you want to live your life. You can just take them as teachings or guidance.
So the universe. Well I definitely believe in this. There’s a famous poem called Desiderata, by Max Ehrmann. It’s my favourite poem and it has some of the best advice I have ever heard, plus my Mum passed it down to me when I was younger, so it’s very special to me. The poem uses the line- ‘and whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should’. I completely agree, I think when we’re 70, we’ll all look back on our lives and go ahhh I see why that happened now. All those things that at the time we just can’t get our heads around why that’s happening to us, quite often are opening up new doors for a new journey to take its course.
SOOOO…to the point. I thought this week, there’s a few things I wouldn’t mind the universe giving me a hand with at the moment, so I decided to write a letter, asking for a helping hand. These being, 1) to help me out with final year, 2) to find me a new job as I am absolutely sick of being under appreciated and 3) to help me lose a bit of weight! Well, since I wrote that letter I have had a helping hand in all of those departments! Some money came through meaning I can get out of my job and have the time to look for a new one, I’ve cracked into exercise after a little nudge and all my hard work from final year is becoming visible.
Now, I don’t know if it’s because I made the conscious awareness and decision that I wanted change to happen in these areas, but i definitely had no control over that source of money coming in and the lovely signs from uni that my work is going well and a nudge in the right direction towards exercise have all certainly come in good timing!
Therefore, what I’m trying to say is that I think you should go write yourself a letter to the universe this Christmas and you never know you might get a helping hand! Why not put a leap of faith into something new, especially if you’re like me and are a tad scepticle towards religion, it’s nice to believe in something.
I certainly hope that the universe helps you out. Something to think about anyway!
X Factor
X-Factor, if you aren’t already glued to the show every Saturday and Sunday night, is, for the eighth year running, a multi BAFTA- award winning show, in which individuals from throughout the UK are given the opportunity to demonstrate their talent to the nation, with the hope and potential of becoming a pop-star. We’ve seen world famous Leona Lewis, the pop sensation Alexandra Burke, teenage heart throb One Direction and JLS, as well as, of course, the gorgeous Olly Murs, all make their way into the world of celebrity as pop-stars.
But asides from these lucky few, what are the realistic outcomes for most contestants?
So what do you think?
Laura, London.
The X-Factor is a huge UK talking point, every Saturday and Sunday night the topic covers my Facebook news feed and everyone seems to have an opinion about the talent of people they don’t even know. My opinion is that it’s reality TV that brings UK talent to the forefront, which simultaneously makes a mockery out of people.
Hannah, Cardiff.
I think the X-Factor sums up everything that is wrong with society, people using a quick fix to get what they want. I also think that if they really loved music and performing as much as they say they do then they wouldn’t care about videos and money.
Hamish, Manchester.
The x factor is a deceptive show in the sense that viewers believe that the programme is for the good of the contestants, but in fact it is a lucrative business being milked for all it is worth.
Lorna, Cardiff.
X-factor is a really amazing programme for those talents that never get noticed in everyday life, for example; Will Young, JLS and Leona Lewis, have all become amazing talents through the programme and the professional guidance of their team. I especially really like the beginning auditions as they’re really funny.
Oliver, London.
X-factor is everything that is wrong with music. It makes talentless, mass produced music more popular, meaning real artists suffer.
Luke, Plymouth.
X-factor is like marmite! I don’t think it is even possible to be indifferent towards it. A lot of people slate it because a lot of it is staged. Personally I don’t like it at all, but it does capture the imagination of the public and it also makes dreams come true for some people whether it be to just sing in front of an audience or to try and become a pop star. Also it is an easy foot in the door towards being able to work in the music industry. Regardless of people’s perceptions of the show, it always without fail hits the headlines multiple times whilst being filmed, sometimes for the right reasons and sometimes for the wrong. I guess what I’m trying to say is love it or hate it, its here to stay and it does provide entertainment to many people and fuels the hatred for others. Either way while there is money to be made from it then it will still be on the telly!
It’s fairly clear that a lot of you feel that X-Factor provides entertainment and can, for a select few, create the potential, as Luke from Plymouth said, to get a foot in the door of the music industry. There is no doubt that X-Factor is open to a lot of debate and criticism, mainly surrounding the fact that ‘real’ music and ‘real’ artists are not created out of the show, due to its fabricated, staged and very highly directed structure. But, the fact that we all have so much to say about the show, pretty much says to me, we’ve all watched X-Factor, so there’s got to be something we love about it right?! Even if we do hate it lots.
For me it’s because Dermot O’Leary is just so cute and I like gawgling at all the pretty contestants, or seeing what ridiculous outfits some of the judges or performers are wearing. And of course, I do like the singing too. I also think that the show does provide a celebration of the idea that anyone, old or young, regardless of background and obviously as long as they can sing, have the potential and opportunity to become a famous pop-star. Whether or not this ideology is one that represents the reality of it all, is debatable. But I think for the majority of us, we stay tuned into the programme because we’re hopeful for contestant’s dreams of becoming a famous singer to come true.
I think it’s worth, however, questioning the reasons why we like it. I therefore, have to agree with the above opinions. I firstly think that X-Factor does really lose the raw talent of individuals. Don’t get me wrong, I think their image to an extent and their voice, as I think that would be pretty hard to change, remain unique to the individual, but X-Factor most definitely creates and fabricates what a pop-star should be. They’re not simply saying okay, just do what you want to do and we’re going to celebrate that. From make-up, to wardrobe, lighting to camera angles, what they sing and their performance are all chosen by everyone but them. And lets not be naive to the idea that ratings can be rigged and the fact that we hear the judges opinion is likely to change who we vote for. To further this as Hannah from Cardiff argues, I think the raw talent is lost by the pressure to really make it to become famous. This is certainly highlighted in the fact that the shows that run towards the end of the series often have performances made my pop-stars who have made it, for example this season just gone we’ve seen Cold Play and Kelly Rowland sing, thus creating a set image and stereotype of what and how you should be to make it as a pop-star. That clearly won’t ever be me then after seeing Kelly’s incredibly hot body in sequin hot pants!!
On top of this is that fact that contestants are made into comical spectacles. In the beginning auditions contestants are chosen purposefully for our entertainment. I’d just like to point out here that before you even make it onto the television auditions contestants have already had two auditions with other judges. Therefore by the time that you make it through to these auditions, judges have a pretty good idea of what their performance is going to be like. So those that we watch and think oh jeeesuus, this is awful, how on earth did they manage to get on to my T.V screen?! Well ladies and gentlemen they managed to get onto our T.V’s because producers know that we’re going to find it funny and therefore, bonus for them as their ratings are rising by the minute.
So has the X-Factor actually got the X-Factor? I think we should bear in mind that the reality of the programme might not be as we see it on our screens. But thank god for the shows ability to find beauties like that fine specimen Ollie Murs. PHWOARRR.
Australia
I’m moving to Australia, hopefully, for a year if the funds permit. I’ve always dreamed of moving out there and now I have lots of reason to. There’s something about this artist that makes me feel like I’m already out there. Plus triple j is hot hot hot, so check out the artists on there. For UK people, it’s basically one of Australia’s biggest radio stations and it plays all the best music, it really does.
http://www.abc.net.au/triplej/events/nextcrop/11/stories/s3380557.htm
