Holy moly, like 3 years since I have been on here.

HI ME, THREE YEARS AGO!

Home

It was there, under the sky, that the mountains whispered words. I know they did because at night, when the house no longer shuddered under children’s bare feet, I heard them. The deep rumble of stirring masses, the almost murmured voices from the hills. When the sun sank below the paddocks, the world around me awoke; the voices sparking through my ears until my mind exploded into cacophonic sound and I could no longer sleep. It was these nights that I slipped from my small bed and onto the cold wooden floors. Phsss, my teeth protested as I tiptoed through the corridor to the place where the green door stood. The lock slid easily and I arrived in the world that I liked to claim my own.

It was the sky which spoke to me first. It often was. Great shards of violet had strewn themselves across the horizon, framing the thundering clouds that were mimicking the peaks below. This night the sky had parted, leading my feet across the cracked footpath where the long grass grew. I closed my eyes as the green feathers stroked at my knees. I was transported to a world where it was only the soft fields and I.

It was the mountain which woke me from my trance. Scrambling up the rickety fence, I watched with awe as the hillsides were brought to life. The cold palm of pre-storm wind placed itself upon my shoulder. I sat there for a moment, basking in the incredibility of it all before the wind left once more for the mountain.

As the world unfolded before me, my eyelids slowly sank into each other. It was then that I slept in my world.

I opened my eyes.

Behind me the fence lay, broken and torn from its hinges in age. The white paint had long faded and peeled, the wood buckled and worn. Slowly I turned to see a cracked footpath, obscured by weeds threading themselves through the crevices. The green grass was gone and in its place, a backyard overflowing with dying reeds, suffocating itself. Small flowerbeds had been replaced with graveyards- teeming with the skeletons of small birds and insects. Victims of the gardens massacre.

The green door watched me as I approached. The once clean and inviting paint was now cold and desolate, chafed almost bare by neglect. My warm hand shuddered as the cold metal of the lock pierced it. The steel had corroded and it took strength from my wrist before it snapped open.

The corridors spoke emptiness. A frigid loss of movement. The echoes of a family, broken, sat in corners. The kitchen cupboards muttered a word of regret to one another. The fruit basket lay empty. My feet lead me to the bedroom, back to years where my head was not dark but an innocent blonde. So long ago when my bedroom was a palace, a cathedral in size. Now I struggled to not feel overwhelmed by claustrophobia in this child’s room. The bed covers lay unmade, the purple and pink patterns echoed on the lilac walls.

The windowsill groaned under years of untouched dust. In the distance, the peaks of a hillside were still visible. I stared through the dusty panes towards the now silent mountains. No voices stirred from the masses of earth. The air was still. The world I once owned had passed. From the time the raised voices of adults began, to where I stood now, a process had been placed in motion. My face and my identity had evolved. I changed and with that change part of me died. The hills lay as silent as I stood, repeating the horrors of what happened to us both so long ago.

A tear fell.

The mountain shuddered, then lay silent once more. The wonder and beauty of innocence was gone from this place.

As the tyres of my vehicle skidded down the uneven driveway, the desolate place waved a quiet goodbye. The leaves of a towering oak rolled as I turned away from the place which for so long had breathed life into me, the place I had called home.

Cigarettes

Ringing in your ears. You can almost taste the sound of the sobs which peel through the wallpaper.
The question tickles your throat, the taste of sour regret lingers.
Corrugated hands plaster themselves across your face. Fingernail marks stain your cheeks transparent.
The engraved pain sinks deeper through your skin.
The question murmers to itself.
You lock the closet. The red walls illicit hunger in your heart. The hunger fades.
Your heart whispers a silent idea.
Before long the trumpeting prominence of your egotistical sight appears.
The idea of self constrain is almost impossible.

An Apology of The Log

Sometimes I see a log and I think, how nice, a log.

Sometimes I just wish that Stew would take the tea-towel out of my mug before he put tea in.

He tells me that it adds depth to the already pungent tea he creates. Stew also likes to create casseroles (for the sake of my sanity I will call them casseroles rather than stews). They are horrible.

One blooming day he created a particularly horrible Stew. He forgot the tea-towel. What a pickle he was in then.

I believe that the log is responsible for everything here. The tea-towel. The badly named child. And the pickles.

Never forget the pickles.

I AM WATCHING YOU, said the log.

Many problems and concerns of the public were aroused. Yes, aroused.

The PC idealism of today's society was called upon.

Until the communities Mac users popped over with several K69 air-rifles.

No more PC in that community. What a shame.

The log sniffed.

You'll get an ear infection if you continue like that, said the mother log.

More concerns for all. But there were no PC ideas left to run around in circles screaming. The town was quiet.

The log jumped onto a stack of hay and sneezed.

BLERCHOO. sneezed the log. The mother log cackled.

I believe that all logs hold within them a desire to kill. This idea is supported by the event which took place on the 15th of April 2010 at exactly 11:59 when two logs entered the premises of the Kelly's- toppling onto none other than Shyla Kelly. Her spleen was instantly impaled by the logs.

R.I.P Spleen of Shyla.

Seven months later a court hearing was held for the log where he failed to appear. A second hearing was made on the 11th of May 2011. The log was hereby sentenced to ten months in the forest. Before the log and his mother, who had been convicted for smoking her own limb (which was supposedly illegal), left for the forest, the log spoke once more.

I am sorry for toppling on you. I was cold and felt the need to topple.

It will not happen again and I show the largest regret for your spleen possible. I know he was dear to you.

Then the log left.

Underneath the cold ground by a cherry tree the remains of Shyla Kelly's spleen squealed, 'FUCKER'

Photography boards '10

So I'm working on concepts for my photography boards. I have a basic idea which needs development. As far as actual production goes, I'm not sure if it will work.

I want to focus on the innocence of children, contrasting against its antonym, loss and destruction of innocence.

The reason for my choice in theme is based hugely around person experience and what I see to be my almost own loss of innocence in the past.

As far as techniques go I would like to work mainly around film, however for editorial and photo manipulation reasons (working in the dark room is not my strength haha,) I am going to be using digital also which allows me to work with photoshop where my strengths lie!

My brainstorming is scrambled and I need to get a clearer more structured set of concepts. I have three boards to do, they all need to relate yet be interesting in their own way, without requiring the other two to make sense.

Caffeine buzz, brilliant!

02|03|10

Another year of study has resolutely begun.

I am actually finding it difficult to comprehend how many things I need to do at once. Tied with my academic studies I am involved in so many extra curricular events (made up of councils, music and time to jam with the good 'ol band) that I don't even have time to think!

Yes I am aware that the human mind has the capacity of infinity. A nice way to think of it- perhaps I can begin to convince myself that what appears to be a cluttered bookcase of disorganised texts is in fact a vast library of which only one shelf has books placed upon it.

Great so, I think that I have decided it is much more enjoyable to be overly busy than overly un busy. I enjoy the opportunity to work and study, it gives me a sort of purpose. I don't believe that I have had enough of a lifetime to be able to discover a purpose other than that. I realised today that the length of my ambition starts and ends with study. Fantastic, here goes the endless earning for knowledge I never cease to discover within myself.

Oh so bring on 2010, deepen my knowledge of everything! Broaden those horizons, and expand on those experiences. Here we go!

-

I finally think I know what I am going to attempt for my photography folio boards. Found some wicked artist models. I'll link them at some point.

j

I'm tired, it's two in the morning and I've still got one piece to write on the Bosnian Crisis.

It is fascinating to learn about History in such depth. Allowing myself to dive into the foundations of Mankind as it is has given me the capability to perceive things as I do in a slightly different way than before. It is a fantastic thing to be able to understand why things are as they are, and marvel at how ignorant and obscene the Human Race really can be.

Wouldn't it be brilliant if Politicians actually cared to learn from the mistakes we made hundreds of years ago. Ignorance is bliss perhaps?

New Lifestyle!

Waiheke Island; beautiful weather, incredible people, superb music, delicious food- an island full of love and peace. Can not believe I am finally living here. Absolutely chuffed.

The Ten Dimensions

It's been a while since I've been able to position myself in a way to think. I haven't any idea what it is, but it's as though my mind has been lying dormant- a volcano sitting on it's toes, ready to erupt into a shower of heat and fire at any moment.

It was last night that a dear friend came along at a seriously late hour of the day and sent me a youtube link. The video I saw literally blew my mind (hey, here goes the volcano analogy again!) and I couldn't sleep for several long hours afterwards.

The video in question was an annotated ten minute video concerning the Ten Dimensions, imagining them, and attempting to comprehend what is beyond.

I will attempt to describe the ten dimensions as best I can, chances are someone smarter will come along and correct me- if so, I apologise, and then share my thoughts upon the possibility of an eleventh dimension and convey why I didn't get enough sleep last night.

The Zero Dimension is simple. Any matter, or any body within the Zero Dimension is nothing more or less than a point. No height, length, or width. The point has no volume or area and can only be located by a point, e.g - ' . ' In the Zero Dimension there is nothing else, the point is the only thing that exists in this Dimension.

The First Dimension.

Something in the First Dimension can be represented by a straight line. This straight line is fixed also to a north/south position. This means that the line can only be situated between the points north to south, or vice-versa. The line can not move left or right. Like the Zero Dimension, this line has no area or volume and hence can not be drawn -only located.

The Second Dimension

Here is when it gets a little more easy to understand (but don't worry, it falls back towards brain struggle levels shortly).

Something that is drawn on a piece of paper can be used to represent body within the second dimension. It has width and length, therefore can be located however has no mass or volume.

The Third Dimension

Pretty much this is the dimension that I understand the most, like many (thanks to all the cartoons that have been crushed into my brain!). Okay so we already understand that you can not draw a point, or a line, only locate them right? (fantastic to see you're still here). So it is what we draw with- i.e. ink from a pen, or graphite from a pencil, that is the Three Dimensions figure here. The proof for this is as follows,

The ink on the paper obtains all the 3d characteristics- length, width, height, area, volume. The Third Dimension exists over and through infinite planes, no particular one.

Fourth Dimension

This is when it goes strange. I am in all honestly going to sum it up because I haven't got the brain capability to explain in the detail that will do this justice whatsoever (I suggest researching it).

The Fourth Dimension, Time. The problem man kind faces is that where we are as a civilization within a universe as we know it, there is no possible way to apply this Dimension.

Think of yourself as you are at this very moment. Now think of yourself four minutes ago. These two points can be anchors for a Fourth Dimensional line. The line we draw between you, four minutes ago, and you now, is a line in the fourth dimension.

To look at this from a bigger perspective we can imagine what we would look like if we could see our body in the Fourth Dimension. Basically we would be like a, I quote, 'long undulating snake.' Our pre-born self at one end, and our deceased at the other. Being Three Dimensional creatures, we can only perceive Three Dimensions and this is why we do not have the ability to reside within the Fourth Dimension.

Fifth Dimension

Imagine a piece of paper that has been wrapped into a tube. Imagine this piece of paper represents time. If you were to run along a line that is drawn within the tube (representing a full circle, no end, no beginning) you would run until you reached the beginning again, however would not feel as though anytime had passed. We have just folded the fourth dimension through the fifth. So what if we could travel backwards to visit ourselves years previously? The Fifth Dimension gives us a hypothetical explanation for that. (research!)

The Sixth Dimension.

(as I understand) consists of length, width and height over a distance in infinite repetition going out in every direction from itself. Imagine the Big Bang (where you believe it as fact or fiction) and then imagine all possibilities for the opposite end of the Big Bang, our Universe's end. Treat all these ideas as a single point. So all these possible timelines are equal to infinity. However if a line is going to be drawn then surely we need another point? But what is more than infinity? Well thankfully there can be many more separate infinities! These are most likely created through different circumstances, different from our own Big Bang. Hence different Universes, different infinities.

The line drawing those infinities together is a line within the Seventh Dimension.

To make things even more exiting, we could draw another line (remember these lines are hypothetical) towards a third infinity. Welcome to the Eighth Dimension guys.

The Fifth Dimension showed us that we can enter a different dimension by folding a line into a second (this was demonstrated with the tube example). Infinity B and C are connected to one point, Infinity A.

B∞

|

|

|

|

A∞________C∞

These are our infinities.

Now what if we grabbed the B ∞ line and bent it towards the C ∞ line, close enough so that you and I- who are standing on the tip of the B ∞ line- could jump quickly over to the C ∞ line instantaneously. We have now reached the Ninth Dimension.

For the Tenth Dimension we have to imagine not only the B and C options but all possible timelines, infinities, and universes and then treat those infinite possibilities as a point itself.

.

This is where the problem occurs. If we were to imagine the Tenth Dimension as something that is part of the cycle of dimensions which has this far continued onwards, we need a second point to join the first to. But we've already used all possibilities. Already have we thought of all timelines, all infinities, and all universes. What is left? It seems that there is nothing.

This leads onto the String Theory which is fascinating but not entirely relevant.

So there are the Ten Dimensions. Hopefully now you understand why I didn't get enough sleep now, and also hopefully that will excuse my poor job of explaining these dimensions. I was at such a loss as to how to explain to myself what is past the Tenth Dimension, and whether the Dimensions past the Third Dimension will ever be smelt, heard, touched, seen, witnessed by a Human Being. Perhaps though we are experiencing them as we speak. Perhaps we are just blind, blind to the infinite and extraordinary possibilities surrounding us.

J

How attitudes effect us as individuals and as a race.

Is the glass half full or half empty? 

A question most of us have heard, I am sure. But what is the real meaning of this famous idiom? How do our attitudes affect our lives and the way we interpret them? The way we perceive life as a whole, and ultimately how we live it is all determined by our attitudes. 

Let me explain this idiom in more detail. When we imagine a drink we automatically assume it will be a full glass- the normal capacity. When the optimist perceives the glass to be half full they are making the assumption that it is half more than what they had to begin with. A glass can only be half full when compared to an empty glass. The pessimist discerns the glass differently to the optimist. The normal capacity once again is expected to be a full glass, and when presented with a half full glass he views the glass to be half less than what he had anticipated. Simplified, the pessimist is deploring that he has less than what he could have whereas the optimist appreciates what he has. 

When we apply this to life as a whole it opens new doors to how we can observe the way human beings approach their lives as individuals.

Psychology is the scientific study of the human mental functions and behaviour. The area also consists of observation through symbolic analysis. It can be overwhelming to examine small behavioural incidents and register that there are reasons behind these actions. Some of these reasons may be etched as deep as the individuals childhood, their lifestyle and personal history must also be considered. 

I read a lot of articles discussing philosophical topics such as, 'the meaning in life.' Once again the pessimistic/optimistic view effects what our interpretation of 'the meaning of life' is. Many have conveyed to me that they believe life to be like mould, starting of as some magnificent colours it always ends up the same- black (and fluffy?). Of course I am not one for relating my life to pieces of growing fungus, however their simplified perception of life is fairly straightforward: You are born and the 'magnificent colours' of your life take place, and then you die and are shrouded by the blackness which is sometimes referred to as the 'abyss of nothing.' Many will be convinced that this idealism of life is absurd, almost laughable. However a large portion of mankind live with this belief. Next to religion, many of which propose an after life, eternal life, a Heaven, or some other form of continuing 'life' after death, it seems an incredibly pessimistic view to believe that, rashly put, 'we are doomed.' I do not think that people who hold this opinion are naive in the slightest. Whilst I may disagree with their opinions, I believe that many of these people are very logical, clever individuals. Whilst there is no proof as to where we go where we die, they take the assumption that we go nowhere.

It's interesting though to see how this affects their everyday lives. What happens when the individual gets into a situation where they need help, and have no 'Higher Being' to speak to. Does it make them generally stronger or weaker people? Does having a religion help you on your way to finding inner peace, and make you an overall more optimistic person? Who knows.

A lot of opportunities arise in our lifetimes, all possible to achieve. It is not our strength or IQ that holds us back, but our attitudes. Self esteem is also a huge contributor in altering an attitude negatively. Believing in yourself is the biggest step you can take towards success. The rest is hard work, which every person is capable of (if they have the correct attitude towards this work).  

Now look at the bigger picture. Mankind as a whole. Imagine the possibilities if we changed our attitudes towards life. Money, trade, power, we fight ourselves. Destroy buildings and cities to prove a point- we are right, you are wrong. The human race is said to be the most intellectual, intelligent of all species on earth. Yet we are destroying the Earth that is home to anywhere between 3 and 30 million species of animals, and millions of plant groups. Yet they are not harming this Earth. So in reality, who is the more intelligent species? 

It is the attitude that the world revolves around Human Beings. That we are the purpose of this Earth. People need to open their minds and realise that we are in a Universe too large to comprehend, on a planet which is a mere spec in existence. Conflict over weapons and money. Mere numbers and entities, worthless in the long term. And unless we change our attitudes as a race, there will not be a 'long term' to prepare for.

-J

Office Fri 8:16 am 15/05/09

The mushrooms of thought. - writing from the mind.

There are two types of writing, in my opinion. The first is that of which you read in novels, magazines, and newspapers. Edited and thought out, grammatically accurate, consisting of beginning and an end, a point, and an objective. The second, which is probably an invention of my own, is what I would look at as a visual method of thinking. It is less informative, and inclines more to be a tangent, and unlike writing, has little beginning, no end and definitely no objective.

Stupendous is an almost ugly word. It may sound nice on the tongue if spoken with a carrying of a French or perhaps a southern English accent, but it is like a nail down a chalkboard to look at. Sight, it effects almost every human being in the world. Those fortunate enough to have sight will discover that our opinions and every day lives are impacted by what we see. Being one of our six senses, that is understandably so.

We have six senses to experience different aspects in life, and interpret them. We can see blue and orange and red, although we can not smell these things. Sight is the predominant of senses. We judge people, environments, objects, food, and almost everything else upon what they look like. Of course, although our first impressions of people or objects or places may be one thing, they may be altered by other senses, or by the things themselves.

Take away sight and art does not exist, modelling agencies, and hundreds of other international industries today would be forced to shut down. However, take away sight from society, and you remove racism, image insecurity, and imaged stereotypes. Every individual would be 'equal' as far as looks were concerned, bypassing of course all the tens of thousands of issues this would create for mankind as a whole- including conflict and war predicaments that would arise. No one would know who to shoot or throw missiles at, and it's ridiculous to suggest that this would effect war proceeding to be a part of the world today and in the future. It would merely result in more innocent civilians lives and a hell of a lot more of dead people.

Of course it's just a part of life. We can not remove it, (without inflicting pain on six or so billion people,) but it is fascinating to consider how much it does really affect us as people. It's also interesting to debate with yourself which of the five senses (sight, touch, smell, hearing, taste) are more vital to you as an individual. I would debate with myself that sight is most important. To never experience a sunset again, to look upon the beautiful wonders of this world- it would be a torture that for me. Nevertheless, to not hear the sound of a piano play, the soft singing of that person you love, the comforting words of your mother. Could you live with that?

The cold hard truth is a hell of a lot of people do.

G. Moore

Other men said they have seen angels,
But I have seen thee
And thou art enough.

Take the chance.

A Man

Today I saw a man. His face was obscured by the shadows cast from the late afternoons lack of sun. He sat low in his chair, his head bowed, his body sitting low in the chair. I noticed he wore headphones, and that his eyes were closed. Oblivious to the people around him, the steady movements of the boat were all this man could feel. However he must have felt my gaze for he opened his eyes. His face was young, he looked in his mid-twenties, his skin dark and his eyes more so. 

Instead of averting my eyes quickly I continued to look at him, for it did not feel rude. He looked at me for several moments before we both looked away. I had a magazine in my bag I remembered. I rifled through my overly used handbag and quickly found the magazine in question, which was sitting on top of my everyday rubbish - a cellphone with a flat battery, chewing gum and half opened letters, lying in their envelopes daring me to read them. Pointless, futile and draining. Those letters will stay unread. I opened the magazine on the fold I had left there earlier. Small black words screamed up at me, challenging me to read them; and I obeyed the words, and they glorified at their ability to have such power over me.

Once again, the magazine succeeded in engaging my mind and body. I was a quarter down the page when I subconsciously stopped. The man was looking at me again. I looked back at him. This time neither myself nor him looked away until twelve seconds had passed. I was fascinated. This man seemed to feel the same way, and I knew it was not a look of lust, of want, desire, or discrimination. 

I spoke not a word to him, and when I left the ferry his gaze followed me until I disappeared into the crowds of tourists and locals- all heading towards the cafe opposite, and the bookstore that was advertising a new best seller. Not a smile, or a hint of welcome did either of us transfer. All I knew of that person were his eyes, dark and unyielding. 

Who was he? And what did he mean.

Epiphany- Memories, and how they impact my friendships and development as a person.

I had an epiphany last night, whilst on the phone to Shyla - God Bless her (:

I have voiced before about memories, how I see them as entities belonging to us infinitely. (this is of course both true and false, we naturally do forget things as humans) I can of course blabber on about how they are metaphorical things, underlying necessities to our existence as beings, but I have also discovered (Shyla and myself being 'I') that there is a logical explanation of how memories can contribute to your overall life time, and making it the best it can be.

Friendships. For me, the physical form of a friendship would be a spider web. (And to all that are arachnophobic out there, this is probably not the best example). Beginning with but a single thread, latched onto a lamppost, connecting with another thread, each link strengthening and preserving it. At times the wind may blow, a thread will snap, and there are occasions when the spiders web is destroyed all together. Occasionally, spider webs are fortunate however. Staying free of the wind and other predators, it grows into a work of art, each thread leading onto something more extraordinary, something unique.

Each memory created with my friends are silver spiders threads in a sense. I have known Shyla for the best of twelve years now, and it is our memories that keep the friendship as preserved and everlasting as it is. Our past memories are the basis for many of our conversations, giving us moments to look back upon, laugh about, and analyse. We have experiences to learn from, points in time that we regret, but nonetheless each as valuable as the next. Without those memories as foundations, perhaps many of our conversations would have been awkward, suppose we grew to have nothing to say, and then the friendship fell apart.

I can not think of one conversation I have had with Shyla that has been awkward. We sit in silence and yet are never bored. We don't mind if the other doesn't want to hear our 'fascinating story about this guy in the television store,' and we tell it anyway. We have reached a point in our friendship that we are convinced, certain, that the other is a loyal, caring friend. And we never doubt it. (well at least I am pretty sure she doesn't doubt it, if you do Shyla I am going to be incredibly pissed off, so be careful).

It is the same with Fabienne, a second friend (and as good!) that I have known now for the same period of time (thank Lord for ballet girls!). We discuss memories, laugh and learn.

I have known people in the past that have seemed potentially capable of being good friends of mine. After an amount of time however, we grew tired of the awkward conversations, the lack of topics to discuss. Without realising, we grew apart. It happens to everyone, it has occurred more than once in my life. It is not a bad thing necessarily, but a thing to learn from.

Why did the friendship not work out, what went wrong. And how can I prevent that from happening in the future.

Or perhaps we should not be preventing it.

It is a strong belief of mine that every human being that enters into my life, whether for ten years, or two, impacts me as a person- and whether they impact me well or badly, it is fundamental for my growth as an individual.

I am absolutely starving and think I am going to pass out from caffeine overload.

- Joy

Science, fact or faith?

Check this out:
http://www.bebo.com/ForumThread.jsp?ForumTopicId=8943094831&MemberId=4394229250

Opinions

Does having religious beliefs, opinions, automatically make your ideas worthless to those who have no beliefs of the same sort?

I would really like to be able to archive my posts into categories.
Blogger doesn't seem to be capable of this however.

Does everything that has a beginning have an end?

Philosophy- Morality, what is it? And does it exist.

It unnerves me how rapidly time passes when I have nothing in particular to do. The past few days have consisted of me, seated at the computer, writing and drinking coffee. The high I get from writing itself is on its own, remarkable. Tie that in with twelve strong coffees and I'm flying off the walls.

The last two evenings I've been reading up about philosophy and other topics that interest me, to about five am in the morning each time. Philosophy forums are great ways to get other individuals' ideas and grasp the concepts of philosophy itself. I was recently reading up about morality, which was an incredible forum I must say.

Morality. All right so the first question is this: What is morality? Morality is about principles and ethics that concern differentiation between good and wrong and the behaviour of individuals. The actions and behaviour of human beings is influenced by these principals, depending on whether the person in question holds morals. There has been debate over whether morality does in actual fact exist and that perhaps all that exists is the idea of morality.

It is said that morality is (and I quote) an idea created by man to create a sense of "control."
I regard this statement as being both true and false. It could be that morality is a creation of man, used as a means of self control. Indeed, without morals, we would be living in a world overrun by un-lawful beings (more so than now). Morals do in a way, protect mankind against itself, but if morals do not exist, then is it just the idea of morals that protect us from a world of cataclysmic beings?

I disagree with the statement 'it is but an idea, not a reality.' Morals are a personal choice, and from the beginning of time humans have set expectations of themselves, and to an extent understood what is right, and what is wrong. An example of this: human beings understand that killing another person is wrong. As the human race has advanced and developed, this moral has become more and more significant, and identifies the difference between humans and animals. Animals will not (and this is a piece of information I retrieved from a philosophy web-page) have sex with a dead corpse as human necrophiliacs do. This raises a question. 'Do we as humans need morals because we are smart?'* Our brains are well developed, thus we are capable of carrying out actions that other species are not capable of. Yes, morals are a natural virtue that a majority of individuals possess, but how much of that virtue is taught? And how much of it is instinct. This brings me back to education and parenting. I personally believe that the outcome of a person reflects their childhood and upbringing.

Morality, taught? Or an inherent tendency. Either-or, I do think that morality is more than just an idea. It is also the basis of all religion. Many humans need morals and religion (for a multitude of different reasons) whereas many do not, as animals do not (and yes I am referring to mass murders who feel no guilt for taking another's life, and yes I do consider them animals)
God teaches (and whether you are Christian or not it doesn't matter, because this applies to a majority of people world wide, which adds up to the statistics) that 'thou shall not kill' however support a war where people are shot dead everyday. Moral? Or immoral.

As humans we understand things, parts of life, that are how they are.
-Killing another human is wrong
-Raping another human is wrong
-Humans commit suicide
-Suicide is considered immoral

Suggesting that morality does not exist is suggesting that we as human beings do not care about anything.

Therefore, morality does exist.





* - I really dislike having the words 'smart' and 'human' in the same sentence.


- Joy

Personal Opinions - Bias, Plagiarism, and Fabrication in Journalists and the Media.

Many forms of journalism have been fabricated and plagiarized in the past years to satisfy the public’s ever increasing demand for information. Journalists are vital and conduce towards meeting the expectations of the information-hungry society of today. The ethics of journalism are incredibly important and straight forward, centring on truthfulness, fairness, integrity, independence, accountability and most importantly, public trust. The industry of journalism depends on public interest to be successful. Their work must sell to their targeted audience, because without readers, the journalism industry will fall through. Many journalists desperate for a good story have taken to measures falling against their ethics in an attempt to sell their piece. Fabrication and plagiarism are two of the most critical scandals facing the media today. Journalists should not be acting as agents of change, but good solid reporters who give society what they expect and need, the facts.

One of the biggest fabrication scandals in recent journalism history was the Jayson Blair Scandal. Blair resigned from the New York Times in 2003 after being caught plagiarising and fabricating elements in his articles. One of Jayson Blair's misdeeds was when he was found to have lied about interviewing four soldiers in a naval hospital, attributing made up quotes to two of them. Blair in-fact never visited the hospital, and spoke to only one soldier on the phone. Blairs offences caused headlines, and increased debate over why journalists plagiarise and fabricate their stories. The answer to that, is simple. When journalists act as agents of change, they are altering the human capability and organisation systems. They do this to achieve a higher degree of output or self actualisation. Although this may attract the readers eye and interest, the writer will eventually loose the publics trust, and ultimately, their job. Journalists are trained professionals, and understand more than most that the majority of human beings are more aware of bad news rather than good. They want to hear astounding stories of death, sorrow and drama. Either this, or over exaggeratedly good news. The reality of life however, is that it is not always that way. To keep the readers eye attached to their story, journalists have found ways to slip falsehoods and lies into their stories, turning them from something ordinary, into something extraordinary and appealing to the public. They are also turning something that is the truth, into a lie.

Journalists also have a tendency to place unnecessary additives into their stories. This does not only create biased articles, but draws the publics attention to incorrect conclusions. Appearances and lifestyle are a huge issue when biased journalism is involved. The impact on stating ideas and suspicions about things that may alter the readers views on the important facts is huge, and also runs against the ethics of journalism. By adding details such as appearances of people (for example body modifications, such as tattoos, piercing's etc,) can send someone's personal opinion flying and obscure the important information that contributes to the actual story. Although it is not incorrect, it is unnecessary, and a good journalist would exclude any information that could be seen as dispensable.

Journalists that act as agents of change live in the future, not the present. They see how they can bias their stories to benefit their future success. They will take sides, and sides that the majority of the public will agree on. The recent War in Gaza has shown the biased ways of the media in full light. Journalists have portrayed the war in Gaza to be a simple fight of good and evil. The people of Gaza have been made out to be the victims, and the Israelis, the wrong doing murderers. Has the Media even attempted to understand the Israelis side of the matter? Or perhaps write about the issue neutrally? No. The Israelis story was never portrayed to be the correct one.* If they had bothered perhaps the public would know that maybe the Israelis justification of Israel entrance to Gaza was to stop the constant flow of attacks against them. That they, in actual fact, were the only ones complying by the rules of ceasefire. Meanwhile the Al Qaeuda terrorist firing home-made rickets into Israel from civilian populated areas making it impossible for Israel to destroy them from range without huge civilian casualties. This opinion, correct or not, was never shown as an equal option to society. The biased journalism of today has created a right and wrong, brainwashing the preponderance of society into believing this as pure fact.

Journalists need to stop resorting to lies to achieve their goals. We need an industry of journalists who report good solid facts, because until then they will not accomplish their goal of being the change that we all want to see.


* Thanks to a friend who gave me the information I needed for this part. I quoted you in the original but my marker for some bizzare out of this world reason said it was better stated if it was also an opinion of my own.

-JOY

Smashing Magazine 2:50AM 19/04/09 Sunday

For anyone who's interested, this is an incredible site.
If you're interested in photography, design, art, or are just an all around creative person, then you must check this site out. (and even if you despise anything to do with art, you will still be amazed I promise you)
It's absolutely magical!
Have a look in the 'inspiration' section of the site. It's worth time looking at it! I have some of the images posted on here to the right. --> That way.

www.smashingmagazine.com

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(:

Photography

I have possessed a love for photography since early childhood. Photography gives me the ability to, in a single moment it stop time, there forever to hold. More so than a moving image because the still version leaves something to the imagination, it doesn't yet give you all the answers. Photography is a language that not all people can experience or learn. I grew up living and breathing music and the greatest epiphany of my life was when I realised that I would rather be deaf than blind. I think that I may have some brain structure that makes me prone to experience things more strongly when they are visual however. One might occasionally think I grew up in a cave or something, I often just stop in my tracks in awe of the way the light hits something, as silly as that may sound. I've always had this characteristic and I am thankful for it, because it is, in a way, as if I have been practicing photography for my entire life, before I even picked up a camera.

Personalities- 12:37am 19/04/08

Personalities.

I watch people as they move slowly down the street. Completely unaware they disappear into the crowd. And yet I continue to stand there, unnoticed, and unremembered. The old woman, who is she? Where has she been, where is she from? And what has she seen with her two green eyes, do they reflect her past? She looks sad. Result of a difficult childhood? Or perhaps her present. Was she a pottery maker? Did she live through bombs and pain, did she know love.

I see people, I look into their eyes- the doors to their soul. I wonder, I question, I think. 

Sitting beside a girl on the bus, what is her name? The opportunity of knowing a lifetime, the chance to know six billion individuals stories. She is so close, barely a few centimeters to the right, and yet a lifetime of unspoken things sits between us, mocking me, daring me.

Having the opportunity to know someone, and not doing so, is terrifying.

What if that person could have changed my life? 

What if.

Music

Music washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.  -Berthold Auerbach

Music, a bath to the soul. Washing away the dirt of everyday life, and bringing with it a pureness. The second thing in existence that has the power to express emotions as humans do. Happiness, sadness, anger, jealousy, love. Music which connects with the mind, the soul and the heart, a being of its own. Music, the central essence of us all, shows us what feeling sounds like. 

-

I cried because I had no shoes, and then I met a man with no feet.

There's always something to appreciate.

Sat 4:25PM 18/04/09 The multi mind? Or mentally unbalanced? The latter.

Multi Mind? Or Mentally Unbalanced? The latter.

What I really need to write about is how frustrated I am. Today has been an absolute f*** of a day. But if I rant on about my personal issues, people will think I am directing it at them. Which, by the way, I am not. Like you're special enough.

The motivation for this blog was a discussion last night with a friend. 

It made me come to terms with the enormity of people and just how they affect you, and your life. 

Every individual you know changes your life. From influencing you to buy a new shirt, to brainwashing you to believe in segregation (harhar), people have the ability to change your life, almost as much as you have that ability to do so.

I guess that is where the saying 'your friends reflect you as a person,' originated from. The people we socialise with will influence us, and we them. Our beliefs, actions and dreams all effect someone in some way. Every person is prone to being influenced by others, some more than most. 

I just find it remarkable how the mind can connect with a person, whether it is a conscious connection or not, it makes little difference. Why do our brains choose that person, what is special about them that makes us like them as people? And surely we have to know the person before we can classify them as a person whom we will get along with?

I for one, have definitely experienced connecting with people before knowing them. Maybe it's a vibe I get from them, an aura, whichever you wish to call it, but my mind and body subconsciously makes a connection. And more times than not, those people  have turned out to be magical. 

But what the hell is up with my mind deciding that someone is absolutely incredible, when as far as I can tell, they're nothing special. Brilliant, my mind is completely messing me up again. They're incredible, they're average, incredible, average, incredible. Make up your mind mind. It is driving me slowly psychotic. It's entirely absurd, the human mind. We make decisions without physically making them.

I am probably mentally unbalanced but to be perfectly honest, that decision that my mind made? I completely disagree with it. 

Is there some multi mind within us all? There must be, there is no doubt about it. Because I didn't make those decisions. It'd be nice if my 'multi mind' would un-decide them for me. 

So, these people impact your lives right? The next question is whether it applies to falling in love. And once again, why that person, why do we choose them. What is it. 

And once again, I am entirely confused.

I will resort to cramming my brain full of caffeine. 

-Joy

Well that blog failed. Turned into me ranting about things anyway, what a failure.

Fri 2:43 PM

People need to stop trying to define and understand what love is. 

It is as impossible as breathing in outer space, and as complex and vast as the universe itself.

-

I seriously think that the driving system in New Zealand needs to die.

Personal Opinions- What is success?

Personal Opinions- What is success?

Recently I read an online blog. The topic of his post was 'Humans,' and revolved around discussing their faults and imperfections. The discussion quickly became a debate over several areas of human issues: Religion, politics, and philosophy. One idea that raised questions for me was that of 'human success.' What in actual fact is success, how do we acquire it, and does being 'successful' automatically fulfill you as a person.

Money. Merely pieces of paper, metal and plastic. Worthless and unusable as an object, yet the lives of human beings revolve around it. After years of bartering (exchanging goods in trade, not money) the first use of money as a means of trade emerged. The shekel, a large piece of solid silver around the size of a babies kidney, appeared around 12, 000 BC and would value around $700 today. Thousands of years ago human beings were already using money, not goods, to trade. In the past few centuries, money itself has grown into a necessity, bartering no longer acting as a way of trade.

The economic crisis is proof of how seriously money effects the lives of people. Food, water, accommodation, education, travel, child birth, medicine. All of these things rely on those worthless pieces of paper and plastic.

The question that I face, which is also an opinion and perspective, is this:

Has the human race become so brainwashed? Is money really the answer to becoming successful? Surely material gain, in the end, is worthless. Should it not be metaphorical success that we, as people, aim for?

Human beings in the present day are exposed to material every moment of their lives. Television, vehicles, clothing, and other lifestyle items, all an everyday part of the western society. The media has also contributed to the propagandized society, portraying the message of 'without this, you will not succeed.'

It would be hypocritical of me to say that money does not play an important part in my life. Because of course it does. I am one of the billions of human beings in the world today that is ruled by the overshadowing currency. My education costs money, and in a years time university will also cost me thousands of dollars. My food, clothing, and accommodation all costs me money (however I do live at home, so it is my parents who are paying accommodation). But my idea of success is not to live to one hundred years in a house the size of Auckland City with gold plated walls. In my eyes, if I live my life with peace, strength and love, then I will have succeeded.

I try to focus on the important things in my life, prioritize, and not let my selfish, conformed side of my personality, get the better of me. There will be moments when I see something that I want, and not necessarily need. Times where I desire to have more money so I can buy more clothes, more makeup. I try my hardest to appreciate what I have now, and I definitely don't take it for granted. It is, like was discussed in this recently read blog, a choice to succeed how you wish. Whether you believe to be wealthy is succeeding, or to live with love in your life, that is up to you.

More people need to focus less on material gain, and instead on those that are metaphorical. Human beings have become proud, money obsessed creatures, assuming that they are better than other species, and it is slowly killing them. However that is a completely different subject, which I will touch on later.

- Joy Foster

Personal Opinions- The Educational System of New Zealand

Personal Opinions- The Educational System of New Zealand

I'm a huge fan of blogs. I think it's an excellent way of communicating ideas and perspectives. 

I don't write to force my opinions on others, or to stand up for what I believe. 

I write to hear other ideas, and open my mind to knew concepts, ideas, views, and so on.

I'm interested in philosophy, it's a subject that can never give you a definite answer, correct or incorrect. I think that's why I love discussing it so much. No one person can be wrong to an extent. Hence there are various perspectives for one to consider. 

I was on a boat trip in the weekend and had a brief discussion with some interesting people, (it's incredible how many people there are on this earth, how individually unique they are, and how much knowledge they have to share with others), and we found ourselves on the topic of the education system in New Zealand. (I am also sure this applies to many other countries but I don't want to state falsely just in case). Conformity in the education system in this country has always been an issue for myself. 

Public schools, especially High Schools and Colleges, are coming to be the most highly hypocritical of all educational structures. One of the key virtues that Principals, Teachers, and Heads of Education Departments adhere to is that 'every student is unique.' They enforce the idea that each individual should not conform to their peers. That they should strive to be different, the best they can be. They are automatically falling into the dissimulation category. 

Throughout schools today the curriculum has become so precise and intransigent that the human brain is adapting to the lack of flexibility given in the classroom. For example, in a science class 2008, I was speaking to the class teacher about velocity, time, and distance (yes we were studying physics) and she told us that 'velocity' has a meaning that is more extensive than the one she had previously given us in class. After enquiring what the more extensive meaning was she stated that 'I am not eligible to know until next years science class.' I find it difficult to only understand what I am given, so naturally I researched it when I got home that evening. The human brain is a world full of files, both empty and full. The information that we are given is automatically saved, (excluding the many children who find it unnecessary to learn anything and have the ambitions of a slug), and personally, I find it absolutely inevitable to learn the most about something as possible. It really frightens me when I think of the extensive amounts of knowledge in this world, and how little I know myself. 

In the classroom the thirty three or so students are taught the curriculum. From day one each individual is learning the equivalent as the one opposite them. Their knowledge is cloned (unless, like myself, the student spends countless hours at home researching the information that was not given by teachers), and their abilities are alike. Not conforming? I am fairly sure that this system has already produced the educational world an army of identically able people. Of course, to an extent, this is an unfair statement. I am not expressing that I believe every human being in the schooling system to be of the same capability. Indeed many children have incredible amounts of brain power, and every person will learn differently to the other. I am however conveying that I believe the educational establishment to be confined, restricted and narrow.   

For children to adapt, and in many ways for mankind to advance as a species, the knowledge provided to young minds needs to be divergent and expansive. Perhaps the government is afraid. While the young people of today learn what they can understand themselves, they have the ability to limit and administer their actions. Without knowledge disparate to that of the Government, they will always be above that of 'us'. 

Home-schooling for the majority of my educational life has really opened my eyes to the lack of flexibility in the educational systems of today. Tied in with the conformity of uniforms, and appearance, the public schooling methods are indeed creating a mass army of clones. Surely after year thirteen of education in a school you can become your own different person? The human brain is the most adaptable of living creatures on this earth, capable of religiously getting into routines. After thirteen years of conforming and being hand fed what everyone else is given, it is difficult, and almost impossible to rebel from these traditions. Learning at home offered me the opportunity to learn what I chose to, and to be different and unique in any way I chose (in too many ways I must admit!), thus I have been very conservative at high school, aware of the conformity that I could very easily fall into. I have however achieved to maintain a very un-biased way of learning, both at high school and in my own home.

Is it the Governments way of maintaining a manageable group of people? Or is it a safe and reliable system of learning? Universities have this far managed to keep their knowledge supply fairly flexible. We can just hope it stays that way.

- Joy Foster