tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27592384091151552752024-03-19T02:51:31.267+00:00The Thrilling Tales of Cah CahAnecdote and commentary driven blog about everything from awkward moments in my life and observational humor, to thoughts and feelings on social issues.Cah Cahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16582407345683736955noreply@blogger.comBlogger68125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2759238409115155275.post-86195678660717686222014-07-13T20:43:00.002+01:002014-07-14T02:30:26.659+01:00Vegans, Apple Fanatics (Macniacs), and Pregnant Women: Smugness and NaggingI'm letting you all know upfront that I'm going to be doing some heavy generalisation in this blog post, so if your ego is hurt easily just get yourself of my blog really quickly. Political correctness will never be my thing, so don't bother coming back (she says after making a disclaimer).<br />
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Smugness is one of the most violently annoying things someone can be in my opinion, and there are 3 types of people who do smugness like few others: vegans, Apple users, and pregnant women. Being smug often goes hand in hand with nagging, and for especially the first two types this is very true.<br />
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<span style="text-align: justify;">I have a friend who hardly ever eats meat because she just doesn't fancy the taste of it. Do you know how often she informs people of this? When asked, and only if people specifically ask her about her preferences. I'm convinced this is because she never had to "cut out" meat. She just literally doesn't enjoy it. Some other people, however, have to make an active choice to keep meat out of their diets, and I can imagine that - for some - it makes them miserable. I know people that have cut out meat in an attempt to "eat green", and they all have one thing in common: they nag you about how much meat you eat, tell you that you really shouldn't eat meat, tell you how much better they feel without eating meat etc. Yes love, if you would stop salivating every time you looked at my steak, I'd believe you, but you're looking at my steak like a Catholic priest looks at an altar boy. But that's only half of it - vegans will find a way to sneak in "I'm vegan" or "well, being vegan" into any and all conversations, no matter how irrelevant it is. As the joke goes: </span><span style="text-align: justify;">"How do you tell if someone is vegan? You don't, they tell you."</span><span style="text-align: justify;"> </span>An article about asexuality was headlined "I'm Vegan and Asexual" (are you trying to win some sort of alternative lifestyle award?), and in an interview with Ariana Grande she tells a story about how Iggy Azalea eats a lot of burgers, and how "as a vegan", she found it very distracting.<br />
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"I'm vegan and it was funny because I was trying to have a conversation with her as she was eating so much meat and I was kind of distracted. But I was like "I love her, it's OK". To each their own."<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px;">Read more: <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2621994/Vegan-singer-Ariana-Grande-reveals-rapper-Iggy-Azalea-maintains-bootylicious-derriere.html#ixzz37M63r0Ng" style="color: #003399; cursor: pointer; margin: 0px; min-height: 1px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2621994/Vegan-singer-Ariana-Grande-reveals-rapper-Iggy-Azalea-maintains-bootylicious-derriere.html#ixzz37M63r0Ng</a><br />Follow us: <a href="http://ec.tynt.com/b/rw?id=bBOTTqvd0r3Pooab7jrHcU&u=MailOnline" style="color: #003580; cursor: pointer; margin: 0px; min-height: 1px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">@MailOnline on Twitter</a> | <a href="http://ec.tynt.com/b/rf?id=bBOTTqvd0r3Pooab7jrHcU&u=DailyMail" style="color: #003580; cursor: pointer; margin: 0px; min-height: 1px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">DailyMail on Facebook</a></span><br />
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Yes, you were probably distracted by how hungry you were for a burger. How desperate can you be to inform people of your meat eating status? And the end "I love her, it's OK. To each their own." Smug. Besides, didn't you say <a href="http://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/ariana-grandes-transformation-pictures--3252496" target="_blank">in this interview</a> that you used to live off junk food? I'm not saying you're not healthier now, but don't tell me you've gone so far beyond the taste of chicken McNuggets that you can go "to each their own".<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXNG-yRfuZsJXDqDvT4MJBBOQ0Av8mMlpQTYCOV5ZN76fhHksBc9uvJ8Ep6h3H8u8X7PhZz08wWgOqY50uIpW7Dz9PU19NHU8S0v3M1ZsN77WKVX03QN8kCbzEP62U1a7et2e8aqCqmNTQ/s1600/iggywings.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXNG-yRfuZsJXDqDvT4MJBBOQ0Av8mMlpQTYCOV5ZN76fhHksBc9uvJ8Ep6h3H8u8X7PhZz08wWgOqY50uIpW7Dz9PU19NHU8S0v3M1ZsN77WKVX03QN8kCbzEP62U1a7et2e8aqCqmNTQ/s1600/iggywings.jpg" height="640" width="496" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Iggy realizing that her munching on what appears to be hot wings maybe is being eternalized in an elegant and graceful way. A woman of my own heart.</i></td></tr>
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I do agree with one point of veganism - it means you don't financially support the terrible way most farm animals are treated, and that is a noble cause worthy of attention and respect. Just don't be so fucking smug about it. Ariana is in no way the mother of this type of behaviour - she just happened to be the one I read about today because I have a slight crush on her, and I'm obsessed with her song "Problem" (which you can listen to <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iS1g8G_njx8" target="_blank">here</a> if you somehow haven't been confronted with it yet).<br />
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<a href="http://talesofcahcah.blogspot.com/2014/02/whale-killings-in-faroe-islands.html" target="_blank">Related: Whale Killings In The Faroe Islands</a><br />
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<a href="http://talesofcahcah.blogspot.com/2014/02/marius-giraffe-and-reality-of-eating.html" target="_blank">Related: Marius The Giraffe And The Reality Of Eating Meat</a><br />
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Another group of people who will not shut up about their shit are Apple users. Everyone else says "my computer", Appleés say "my Macbook". Everyone else says "my phone", Appleés say "my iPhone". Even in foreign countries where people will say "where's my phone" in their own respective languages, Appleés will say "iPhone" in English. You get the picture. They constantly need to remind everyone that their computer is a Mac, that their phone is an iPhone etc. This might be due to brilliant marketing by Apple, but it's still annoying. Ever handed another type of phone to a devoted iPhone user? It's like watching a right wing Republican male attempting feminism. Of course, (particularly new) Mac users go through the unfathomably annoying honeymoon stage where they basically speak so many words of love about their new device, you start to wonder whether you should move in with them, because you're nervous that if their house catches fire, their children might not be the first thing they attempt to rescue.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtzyWiGVeOLTlOwjHkxWiliucjY79DYWFY9trWKawnC1jE8yb3BxKbUXvNw8qWwgAgkWyeFHZhVYHBZdGCKUH7b4t7hJFZLHMad9G9Arv1g5BjUE_V4CbSAduAdyOX5qyLkFc6M3lB3MfN/s1600/basically.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtzyWiGVeOLTlOwjHkxWiliucjY79DYWFY9trWKawnC1jE8yb3BxKbUXvNw8qWwgAgkWyeFHZhVYHBZdGCKUH7b4t7hJFZLHMad9G9Arv1g5BjUE_V4CbSAduAdyOX5qyLkFc6M3lB3MfN/s1600/basically.jpg" height="286" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Basically.</i></td></tr>
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Now, imagine a vegan Macoholic. "Just sitting here with my vegan meal and my iPhone." Then, if they are working or doing homework they'll snap a photo for instagram with their Mac, iPad, iPhone, iPod and school books neatly stacked, and you're left wondering what on earth all those Apple products have to do with anything, and how they managed to get the phone on the table and snap a picture for instagram at the same time. Who's phone is that? Did you borrow someone else's phone to make sure people know you have an iPhone too? And don't try to make the slightest of complaints about whatever device you have, because inevitably the answer you'll receive is "Buy a #insertappleproduct" because we all know they're flawless.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP-K7EMMS3tqF2unzGcxlXdZtSqSM6cgUu-MRQgKUsbwWJ3_thbQs0raOwWX9JJDWEptRC17QNWrc8msz_8GL_Rs0DSbItaCvNgtbG-HCyeeYfT8QrgXZkT22ctwm2xgjgbeDG9KEU4F-a/s1600/iwokeup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP-K7EMMS3tqF2unzGcxlXdZtSqSM6cgUu-MRQgKUsbwWJ3_thbQs0raOwWX9JJDWEptRC17QNWrc8msz_8GL_Rs0DSbItaCvNgtbG-HCyeeYfT8QrgXZkT22ctwm2xgjgbeDG9KEU4F-a/s1600/iwokeup.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Flawless is actually about Beyoncé seeing the world from an Apple product's perspective.</i></td></tr>
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Last but not least, we have pregnant women. I was going to write a piece about this as well, but I I think I'll let lovely girls of Garfunkel and Oates say it for me with this funny song.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/tJRzBpFjJS8?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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If you're a pregnant, vegan Macniac you might not like me very much right now, but that's OK because it means you have no ability to laugh at yourself so we probably wouldn't click anyway, as I'd make a lot of jokes at your expense. If you (smug vegan or otherwise) happened to enjoy this article, please like it, share it, post it to a smug friend to tell them to stop being so annoying in a not so subtle way, tweet it at that annoying person you know, basically preach it as much as a Macniac preaches the Apple gospel!<br />
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Yours,<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifSisZtt1MZw3x2KtCqDTW7eYJAfFLoxCdrcvCn47WJK7kGM103QpAnDtr3jx6l-oaWXvDN-RasnDsQBkmFugT6tNb9C1i65glBC4vegKrVq9qYfqwoC7e8TjkqwPELTe3Ftevu9hfzk4l/s1600/me1.2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifSisZtt1MZw3x2KtCqDTW7eYJAfFLoxCdrcvCn47WJK7kGM103QpAnDtr3jx6l-oaWXvDN-RasnDsQBkmFugT6tNb9C1i65glBC4vegKrVq9qYfqwoC7e8TjkqwPELTe3Ftevu9hfzk4l/s1600/me1.2.jpg" height="400" width="306" /></a></div>
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Cah Cahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16582407345683736955noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2759238409115155275.post-69352558635666229122014-06-26T20:17:00.000+01:002014-06-26T20:19:04.575+01:00Should Prostitution Be A Legal, Recognized, And Respected "Job"?<div style="text-align: justify;">
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I'm watching a debate about prostitution, and the comment section is <b>filled</b> with people demonizing the woman speaking against prostitution because she was passionate about the cause, ridiculing her, making her out to be an idiot etc. Almost all of the comments were made by men and it got me thinking. Now, I'm not about to claim that all men are pro-prostitution, or that all men would go to a prostitute if given half the chance. What I am saying is that we have a problem when people who say that prostitution is degrading to a person and that encouraging young women to become prostitutes to support their studies is despicable, get passionate about it and are considered "hysterical". Imagine your little girl - be it a sister, daughter, cousin, niece etc. - growing up to take dick from several random strangers every day, not because she enjoyed it, but to make ends meat (pun might be intended). Of course for many men, even that thought doesn't deter them, for several reasons.</div>
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Self image</h3>
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In general, men have a radically different view of themselves than women. This image illustrates it nicely:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI38d3WETIiJ9tMxZb-nwr61e9ZqHxYaSCoO6C0m467zPAsBFg37H6Gw64EfdVwPHR3UkYiPgeYctbTGEBQrdtX0SvC4pt8Hvpc_2I0AH4odbst_jUOE53aFKCCVarNRAgiNcPG9BG-QVf/s1600/mirror-image-perceptions.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI38d3WETIiJ9tMxZb-nwr61e9ZqHxYaSCoO6C0m467zPAsBFg37H6Gw64EfdVwPHR3UkYiPgeYctbTGEBQrdtX0SvC4pt8Hvpc_2I0AH4odbst_jUOE53aFKCCVarNRAgiNcPG9BG-QVf/s1600/mirror-image-perceptions.jpg" height="265" width="400" /></a></div>
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To a woman, paying for sex would feel degrading and like an admission of her own unattractiveness. To a man, this doesn't necessarily click. Why wouldn't women want to sleep with them? The reason they resort to paying for sex is not because they're unattractive, but because women are whiny bitches that always "friend zone" them. Just the friend zone concept in general is a reflection of this self image, as it's invented to cope with being found sexually undesirable, because admitting to the truth would simply be too much.</div>
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Male chauvinism</h3>
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When I was a teenager, some people that I knew went on holiday. When they got back, the girls told me stories about how they suspected some girls at a shady club might have been there against their will (trafficked), due to how young and unhappy they looked. Meanwhile, a boy from who was with them supposedly got it on with a prostitute. When I asked him about it he was neither saying nay nor yay, but had "that look" and kept glancing at the other guys with a sly smile, no doubt enjoying being 'the man' even though none of the others stooped to his level and bought sex, though they all <i>could</i> have. Let's face it, you're paying for it, it's not exactly an accomplishment. The kicker is, behind his back they were all talking shit about him for it, so why would no one confront him with it? What is it in "male culture" that makes speaking out against the sexual exploitation of women the wrong thing to do? I asked him how he would feel if she was a victim of trafficking and was there against her will. He said he didn't care. Which brings me to the next point...</div>
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A complete lack of respect for women</h3>
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This is a societal problem. It's not just men that lack respect for women - women lack respect for women (including personal respect for ourselves as women). We're not just <i>being</i> reduced to whatever it is we're being reduced to; we're <i>allowing</i> ourselves to be reduced to this! We allow this by buying into the "fact" that we should look a certain way, that we should judge other women by this scale, that we should compete with each other for male attention, that being acknowledged by men for being beautiful is more important than being acknowledged as intelligent, well-spoken, hard working, funny, honest etc. by not only men but also each other, our fellow women. However, most women still think we deserve more than to sell ourselves for sex, whereas it appears many (I'm not saying all or even a majority of) men couldn't really care less. But even with prostitutes the thing known popularly as "female jealousy", whereby women demean each other due to jealousy, play a part. We don't like to think the men we care about would solicit the sexual favours of another woman because we are unable to satisfy them, so we blame and ridicule her, "the whore". This is due to a complete misunderstanding of what is going on. There is only one repulsive party in the sex trade industry, and that is the person paying for the services. Let me say straight away, that I understand there are people who feel they "have to" pay for sex, for example certain handicapped people feel that the only way they will ever have sex is if they pay for it, and some people with particular "tastes" feel they have to solicit sexual favours from a prostitute in order to enjoy them - I still think it's gross. I am a very sexually open person, and if people want to sell sex that's their business, but to resort to buying another person's body.. just the thought of it makes me feel queasy.<br />
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The problem doesn't reside with the service providers</h3>
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There is still an ongoing debate about whether or not legalizing prostitution improves circumstances for prostitutes in the long run. I'm not qualified to answer whether or not prostitution should be legal, but I don't mind that buying sex is illegal, although I feel making it illegal should be considered superfluous. Anyone raised with a hint of dignity would never pay for another human being's body. I might be romanticizing the state of the human race when I say that but that's my prerogative. Anyway, to sum up: if I discovered a woman I knew was a prostitute, I would be respectful. If I discovered a man I knew liked to frequent prostitutes behind his wife's back (or just in general), I would probably not speak to him again. It might be his personal choice, but it's one that affects all women, and not something I'd ever want to be around. If you think it's OK to buy access to another person's body, you and I are different on a level that is so fundamental we shouldn't even bother interacting.</div>
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What about pornography?</h3>
I don't know, to be honest. The obvious difference is that you have two parties that both get paid to engage in sex with each other, women often being better paid than men in a bizarre twist. It's also not about sex at all - it's about the illusion of sex for the viewer, filled with tips and tricks to make the viewer think he's watching something amazing. While it may be pleasurable for the actors (at times), it's not about their actual pleasure, but the pleasure they <i>portray</i>. In that way, there is not really a division of power (ideally). Practically, the porn industry is notoriously ruthless towards women, and treats women as something disposable. What gives?</div>
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If you enjoyed this post, please like it and share it with your friends.</div>
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Yours,</div>
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Cah Cahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16582407345683736955noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2759238409115155275.post-16943367687552657592014-06-13T22:30:00.001+01:002014-06-22T07:13:57.343+01:00Lana Del Rey Ultraviolence (Short) Review/First ImpressionOK, got the entire album today, and I've spent most of my day listening to it going about my daily life, working etc. I absolutely love it. It's got everything that makes Lana who she is, but it's still updated enough that it kept me feeling "Hmm, that's interesting". The first half of the album also features a lot more head voice/a generally higher pitched Lana, which is a change in itself, while the second half has more of the low, sultry, sexy notes that we've all come to associate with her. My favourite tracks on the new album are:<br />
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1. Cruel World<br />
2. Ultraviolence<br />
3. Shades of Cool<br />
4. Brooklyn Baby<br />
5. West Coast<br />
6. Sad Girl<br />
7. Pretty When You Cry<br />
8. Money Power Glory<br />
9. Fucked My Way To The Top<br />
10. Old Money<br />
11. The Other Woman<br />
12. Black Beauty<br />
13. Guns and Roses<br />
14. Florida Kilos<br />
15. Is This Happiness<br />
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Yes, I realize I just listed the entire album, but I genuinely love it in its entirety. As I was trying to pick favourites I started to realize I had more songs on the list than off, and I was far from done. However, my current personal top 3, subject to change at any given time (probably will change as my mood does, and excluding West Coast because it was released as a single) are:<br />
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1. Pretty When You Cry<br />
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2. Money Power Glory<br />
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3. Old Money/The Other Woman<br />
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OK, technically that's 4, but it's my blog, I make the rules.<br />
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To my friends seeing Lana tonight: :'(<br />
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To the people wondering whether or not to buy her album: DO IT!!! If you still need more convincing, you can listen to the entire thing here:<br />
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https://soundcloud.com/lanalove77<br />
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Just remember that if you love an artist, support them by actually buying their music. They spend time, energy, and money creating stuff for us to enjoy!<br />
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If you want to read a comprehensive review/interview with Ms Lana herself, <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/15/arts/music/lana-del-rey-still-stirs-things-up-with-ultraviolence.html?_r=0" target="_blank">click here</a>.<br />
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Happy Lana Del Rey Ultraviolence Release Date Day!<br />
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Yours,<br />
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<br />Cah Cahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16582407345683736955noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2759238409115155275.post-74219244781917467922014-06-04T13:34:00.000+01:002014-06-22T07:14:55.123+01:00The Problem With Sinning And Arguments That End With "Because God"<div style="text-align: justify;">
If there is one thing religious lunatics (and that does <i>not </i>include all religious people) love to go on about it's the concept of sin. Everywhere they look people are committing sins and it's their god given <strike>right</strike> duty to inform everyone and anyone who will listen, that what they're doing is wrong while <strike>molesting children</strike> living righteous lives themselves.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQkWY59uLKQmeCiXNsECB6DVmZJoogN2RgJPGPQ8xEBryMoNCFUhMAveyLUFVDtVeGnGIEmzyyyrNY6JQSPA3X8IMMdfjNiDmKUmIH_x5Hpq40qvIWzDustCGoOgl4KSDvEGh0yK0DHFre/s1600/youreasinner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQkWY59uLKQmeCiXNsECB6DVmZJoogN2RgJPGPQ8xEBryMoNCFUhMAveyLUFVDtVeGnGIEmzyyyrNY6JQSPA3X8IMMdfjNiDmKUmIH_x5Hpq40qvIWzDustCGoOgl4KSDvEGh0yK0DHFre/s1600/youreasinner.jpg" height="297" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Basically.</i></td></tr>
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Now, I don't mind people being like this - OK who am I kidding, people like this awaken feelings of violence I didn't know I had - but what I mean is if people want to live their lives out of a book that's not Harry Potter, that's their business. When they start calling basic and quite frankly very simple concepts "madness" and "lunacy" because GOD, I get anxious. I was watching a documentary about LGBT children and the parents that love them, and some of the comments it got really irritated me. Sure, they were rude, disgusting, revolting remarks, made by really, really stupid people, but that's not what irritated me. What was it then? The use of "God" as a mental health diagnostic tool. Before I move on, let me make one thing <i>very</i> clear:</div>
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*Disclaimer* Out of respect for my religious friends and family, who are amazing, loving, understanding, and caring individuals, I shall try to be nice about it. While I maintain absolutely no respect for religion, religious practices, religious ideas, or just about anything that has anything to do with religion, as I find the practice of religion outdated, harmful, and <b>very </b>dangerous, I do respect religious people who maintain a love for their fellow man. OK, now the message.</div>
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In my humble opinion, religion is as made up as the Harry Potter books, only far less entertaining, and with much worse story lines than what good old Rowling came up with. If she'd written a religion, I'd probably find it worth belonging to, to be honest. HAIL ROWLING. OK, back to the point. Religion is complete and utter nonsense. The belief in invisible deities, magic (oh no, I'm sorry it's not "magic" it's "miracles"), and let's not forget the teaching of being ashamed of and hating just about everything that makes us human, is absolutely incomprehensible to me, but then again I'm very comfortable with being a human being and the bodily desires that comes with it.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>We're all just human beans, elderpeoplechildren.</i></td></tr>
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However, as with everything else, if that's what you want to do in your private life, I'm fine with it. Do I wish religion was eradicated? Yes. Do I think it should be banned? <strike>Yes</strike> No! OK, I do, I do! I fucking hate religion! But would I ever support any initiative that wanted to ban religion? NO! Because I think people should be free to live their lives exactly how they want! If that includes vengeful invisible sky wizards and magic tricks, that's fine! *Oprah voice* HOWEVEEEEEEEER! When these people start passing laws, limiting rights, and even quoting their holy books in what is supposed to be intellectual debates, shit has gone far enough. How did we end up in a world, where in 2014 religion is still taken so seriously that politicians get to use it as their election strategy? I can't make sense of it! I imagine it's because of this apparent acceptance of religion as something perfectly reasonable that they feel it's OK to label something as "madness because God", having spent no time at all even bothering to understand the by now pretty well understood mechanics of these things. The distinction between these people, and other religious people who "disagree" with the "lifestyle choices" made by some is that if you simply say "I disagree because God", you're only expressing your own opinion, and freely admitting to how uneducated that opinion is. I prefer this to adopting scientific terminology, hiding behind titles of Dr Something, and then saying something like "Homosexuality is not biological. The evidence for it is futile at best. Besides, God created Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve. It's a sin." See the difference?</div>
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This brings us to the concept of "sin". I can tell you right now that I have done and still do a lot of things considered to be very sinful. Does that mean I'm doing anything harmful or wrong? No. I'm not religious, therefore these things don't apply to me (whether you'd like them to or not). I have many gay friends. They are ALL sinners before GOD. Does that mean that what and who they are is wrong in any way, shape or form? No! From, say a Christian point of view, they are all sinners etc., but from a scientific point of view (from which I look at the world) there is nothing wrong with being gay. In fact, science doesn't even bother to consider this. What we are looking for is what causes some people to be heterosexual and others to be homosexual because it's interesting and is another mystery to solve. From this point of view, there is nothing wrong with having multiple sexual partners either. In fact, I encourage you to explore your sexuality if you so desire. If not, then don't. That's the beauty of being free - you get to choose your own life and you get to decide what is right for you, yourself!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSxeDcFm99yA-Ebp5mP030Ofi5TeUT58DsF5mg7Jc44hoICucGxPP15NaWIFxManX7rMbd05_5Sq53qdUjn8pW43J2TwvFj_bgd-kysKnTgAv-CvAJYjKcUT7kQI7XCLy5N6rVVMkNTlo-/s1600/dobby.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSxeDcFm99yA-Ebp5mP030Ofi5TeUT58DsF5mg7Jc44hoICucGxPP15NaWIFxManX7rMbd05_5Sq53qdUjn8pW43J2TwvFj_bgd-kysKnTgAv-CvAJYjKcUT7kQI7XCLy5N6rVVMkNTlo-/s1600/dobby.jpg" height="166" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>If Dobby can do it, so can you!</i></td></tr>
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"At the end of the day" (<a href="http://talesofcahcah.blogspot.com/2013/12/10-things-that-annoy-me.html" target="_blank">that saying is so annoying</a>) it wouldn't even matter if being gay or transgender <i>was</i> a lifestyle choice in the same way that choosing the amount of sexual partners you have is. Why should it bother the rest of us? Why do people care? I suggest you fill up your existence with enriching activities and stop worrying so much about other people (this coming from a girl with a blog - the irony is not lost on me!).</div>
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If you enjoyed this post, like and share it, tweet it, do whatever you do on bloglovin', +1 it on google+, all those sinful activities that will get you smitten.</div>
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Yours,</div>
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Cah Cahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16582407345683736955noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2759238409115155275.post-55748272085014947092014-06-03T01:26:00.002+01:002014-06-22T07:15:05.230+01:00Young Moms Who Go Out A Lot<div style="text-align: justify;">
Let me start off by saying hello to everyone! I know I've been MIA for quite a while now, but I've been so busy marrying the love of my life, having children, starting my own business, and working with various charities that I simply couldn't find the time. OK, maybe that's a slightly distorted version of what's actually happened, but you can't prove it. I hope. Fine, so I didn't meet anyone, let alone marry and have kids, but some of my friends have done (at least the kid part), and it was during a conversation with a dear friend of mine who is also fortunate enough to be the mother of a lovely son, that today's topic is inspired by.</div>
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I live in a teeny, tiny country, and if there is anything people in mosquito sized countries enjoy, it's gossip! People who live in larger countries but small communities can probably relate. Luckily I was brought up in a house where gossiping was frowned upon, and I can't remember ever hearing my parents gossip about anyone. Having spent most of my childhood in a different country, not having friends, and with parents who didn't gossip, I naturally didn't develop an affinity for it. Moving back to Gossiptopia was therefore a bit of a culture shock for me (and all these years later it still is!). One of the things that people here seem to be particularly interested in is the parenting skills of young women. You have people that are 40-something discussing whether or not a 20-something year old woman spends too much time out partying with her friends (I know, it really is quite pathetic). They aren't the only ones, however. Other 20-something year olds also have a lot to say about how these young mothers should be spending their Saturday nights, and they won't hesitate to say it to their faces. Among the many things that fascinate me about this gossip loving culture, is the activeness of their mouths, but the passiveness of their actions. A lot of these people express concern about the well being of the children. If you're so concerned, why don't you do something about it? Honestly, if you're going to be talking about this woman as if she's doing something horrible, you might as well take action. Not that I think it would lead anywhere, because truth is, in most cases there is nothing to worry about at all! The benefit of living in a tiny country is that your family is just around the corner, and a lot of the time young parents have apartments in the basement of their parents' houses. This means having <strike>free nannies</strike> grandparents who a) want you to have a life outside of dirty diapers and sleepless nights and b) love to take care of their grandchild, right there at your disposal - why not benefit from it? In most cases, these women are mothers all day, every day. The only "break" they take from motherhood is for a few hours on, say, a Saturday night/Sunday morning. They tuck in their child before leaving the house and get back before they are even aware they ever left. If the kid wakes up in the middle of the night, grandma and grandpa are there - not strangers. Why do people insist on making a big deal out of this? Why do people think this defines their parenting ability? One of my friends was called a bad mom for leaving her child in the care of her mother one Saturday night (she didn't even go out often). Here's the kicker: only reason she was out that night was because her mother had forced her, saying it was important for her to not miss her youth (this was basically what she had to do every time to get her out of the house). Bottom line: these people were calling her all sorts of names and saying very nasty stuff about her behind her back, because of her mother <i>insisting</i> she leave the house every so often on the weekends. Moral of the story: talk shit about their mothers. OK, so that wasn't the moral of the story. What am I, the Dalai Lama? Anyway, can we please just let these young mothers be, thanks. They are juggling enough things - work, education, (single) parenthood - without having to deal with people sticking their nose where it doesn't belong, and making up stories about how "tragic" it must be for their child that they go out. I could write a whole lot more, but I'm tired and have to get up early tomorrow, so I'll just leave it here.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>It could be a lot worse, people.</i></td></tr>
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If you enjoyed this post please like it and share it with your friends, tweet it, reblog it, all that good stuff. If you're a young mom, don't do all of those things though, because people will think you're too busy being on social media to worry about the well being of your child.</div>
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Yours,</div>
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Cah Cahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16582407345683736955noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2759238409115155275.post-33290531300722421202014-05-01T00:17:00.001+01:002014-06-22T07:15:16.132+01:00Bad Sex Education<div style="text-align: justify;">
I just had a conversation with a friend of mine from the United States of America, and she told me that where she is from (and in many other places around the US) people are taught abstinence only sex-ed - that is in addition to "you will get horrible diseases and die" sex-ed. Another thing she told me was that the abstinence only teachings were especially aimed at the girls, with teachers saying things like "Just imagine how special your husband will feel! You do want him to feel special, don't you?". Needless to say, I nearly lost it. There are so many things wrong with this picture, I don't even know where to begin.</div>
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Abstinence is the ultimate form of birth control in theory, but..</h3>
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..what about virgin births? OK, so that wasn't the "but". The biggest flaw with abstinence is that, unless you're asexual, it completely goes against your most basic instincts. When you're hungry, you eat. When you're thirsty, you drink. When you're horny, you fuck. Why shouldn't you? There is nothing wrong with having sex. And apparently, abstinence only education has no long-term beneficial effects according to <a href="http://www.mathematica-mpr.com/publications/PDFs/impactabstinence.pdf" target="_blank">this study</a>, and <a href="http://www.advocatesforyouth.org/publications/publications-a-z/623-five-years-of-abstinence-only-until-marriage-education-assessing-the-impact" target="_blank">this</a>, to name a few. Also, contrary to abstinence only supporters claims that it is to blame for the overall decline in pregnancies in the US, <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1716232/" target="_blank">this study</a> by Santelli, Lindberg, Finer, and Singh (2007) clearly shows that (shockingly) it is due to increased use of contraceptives. This tells us if we really want to reduce the number of applicants to "16 and pregnant", we - prepare for this controversial and crazy idea - need to educate youngsters in the usage of contraception, because they will - again, get ready for this - have sex anyway.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>I'm not saying abstinence doesn't work for anyone.</i></td></tr>
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Shaming women into "virginity" is wrong on so many levels.</h3>
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Let us, for the purpose of this blog post, define a virgin as someone who hasn't had any form penetrative anal or vaginal sex with a penis or the homosexual equivalent. There is nothing wrong with not having done this, regardless of what age you are. It <i>is</i> wrong, however, to teach young girls that their worth as women is based on how their virginity level, by inventing a false concept of purity to which they shall forever be held, in order to shame them into obedience. Women are sexual creatures just like men, and we have every right to sleep with as many men (and/or women) as we want, or not sleep with anyone at all. "What about men?", you might be thinking, "They get shamed into virginity as well!". You are partially correct. This "conditioning" is aimed so much more at women than at men, and you only need to look at the concept of "slut shaming" (where a woman is antagonized by others for her sexuality) to see this is true, as it very much exists within the "pro sex" culture as well. Young men are generally addressed much more with an attitude of "boys will be boys". It is almost funny to note the discrepancy between how men and women are educated about the nature of their sexuality, because if women are supposed to save themselves, but "boys will be boys", we are telling young men 2 things:</div>
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1. Go out and rape women.</div>
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2. Fuck each other.</div>
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We are basically telling young men to become rapists or/and indulge in homosexual activities. The latter there's nothing wrong with. Experimenting with your sexuality can be very enriching. The former, however, presents a major problem.</div>
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<a href="http://talesofcahcah.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/when-is-rape-ok.html" target="_blank">Blog post: When Is Rape OK?</a></div>
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Faulty sex education has consequences beyond teen pregnancy.</h3>
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We currently live in such a rape enabling society, even in places where so-called "proper" sex education takes place, and by not having conversations about healthy sexuality with young teens we are effectively adding to the problem. By teaching youngsters that when it comes to sex, women are objects rather than subjects, and when it comes to sexuality, men are just victims of their own lust, we are building a society where rape becomes excusable. There's also the added issue of sexually transmitted diseases, that are transferable through many other means that good old penis-in-vagina sex. But who's to blame?</div>
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Sex education shouldn't be left to schools.</h3>
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If you're a parent, YOU are to blame! Why are you counting on the schools to do this for you? Sure, basic sex education like "how do humans get pregnant?" is part of biology class, but it's <i>your</i> job to make sure your children grow up with a healthy body image, a healthy attitude towards sex, with enough strength to respect their own boundaries, and enough decency to respect the boundaries of others! Stop leaving it all up to teachers, because not only are they probably going to fuck up, but <i>it shouldn't be their job in the first place</i>. Can we bring parenting out of the schools and back into the house again, please?</div>
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If you enjoyed this post, please like, share it (not in a sexual way, or you'll get herpes and die), tweet it and all that good stuff! Maybe I should start doing educational videos on YouTube.</div>
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Yours,</div>
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Cah Cahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16582407345683736955noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2759238409115155275.post-15016529048050324382014-04-29T18:05:00.001+01:002014-06-22T07:15:27.328+01:00Rihanna Shows Her Breasts And The World Explodes (With Hypocrisy) *NSFW*<div style="text-align: justify;">
If you're not one of Rihanna's 13 million Instagram followers, you might have missed her latest posts from a shoot she did with adult-entertainment-gone-high-end magazine Lui. No stranger to controversy, she still manages to shock people, this time by doing something as obscene as - GASP - appearing topless in a magazine. That's right people, the WHORE shows her SINFUL BREASTS. Seriously though, she poses topless, and people are now calling her "disgusting" and "nasty", and some guys are even complaining that there's "not a lot left to the imagination, huh?". I know at this point you're dying to see these greatly offensive photos, so let me indulge you (you know, for science):</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8ED7e-dnjl6wi7ecNL4ZMg3iR_ilmVRSnBSrK5uVZlfVhgtlo5y3iIZPB5l4VIubQ1HAyKF306t766hrnyKAf2dGtv-572iooW3rYPcVP-u7oOfMTSEFfwvohQ-xidHxZno5KyIjxwH0s/s1600/rihboob.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8ED7e-dnjl6wi7ecNL4ZMg3iR_ilmVRSnBSrK5uVZlfVhgtlo5y3iIZPB5l4VIubQ1HAyKF306t766hrnyKAf2dGtv-572iooW3rYPcVP-u7oOfMTSEFfwvohQ-xidHxZno5KyIjxwH0s/s1600/rihboob.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>This is what they're crying about.</i></td></tr>
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And the other one:</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsOhFYoxfiIP7YpXU9kl3yeF4Cqj2HLjxSX9WWYtefncPZmoV81jRcP0k0Ytjvu5kv85LnkrRmtzm5mli9y4r2USlYH_Tqt7mmn26YQBjSeS4-2QxypS69Aq3RD_tCoMQahyphenhyphenklshueIajy/s1600/rihboob2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsOhFYoxfiIP7YpXU9kl3yeF4Cqj2HLjxSX9WWYtefncPZmoV81jRcP0k0Ytjvu5kv85LnkrRmtzm5mli9y4r2USlYH_Tqt7mmn26YQBjSeS4-2QxypS69Aq3RD_tCoMQahyphenhyphenklshueIajy/s1600/rihboob2.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Absolutely disgusting, isn't it? Wait.. that's right, it isn't.</i></td></tr>
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Let me start this off by stating the obvious: <b>they're just boobs, people</b>. She has a nice pair of boobs, she shows them off in a magazine in what is, quite frankly, very beautiful images, and now she's "disgusting"? What exactly do you see when you look at this photo? Something along these lines(?):</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiERsz7iFwO1XXNut82nYuG6Uz_8qRh0cNYtcPHBeP1i6T7LMzG0HudC1ZJTx3NpcavRXPJgreKmoxavapUt5S98wHMVefiFYjhKgjHoi1cFzVTKRpRUZ_IghXtJfQhZZg-XjBtjqAgIAH2/s1600/rihboob2.1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiERsz7iFwO1XXNut82nYuG6Uz_8qRh0cNYtcPHBeP1i6T7LMzG0HudC1ZJTx3NpcavRXPJgreKmoxavapUt5S98wHMVefiFYjhKgjHoi1cFzVTKRpRUZ_IghXtJfQhZZg-XjBtjqAgIAH2/s1600/rihboob2.1.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Seriously though, what's so wrong about this image? They're just boobs!</i></td></tr>
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I'd also like to point out that maybe, just <i>maybe</i>, Rihanna doesn't care about leaving anything to your imagination. Maybe her sexuality isn't defined by how intriguing she is to you, but how comfortable she can be with herself? Maybe her sexuality is driven by her wants, her desires, and how she wants to express herself, not by how she can be the most appealing to men. I know many people (probably predominantly women) will insist she's doing this to appeal to men, but I beg to differ. Rihanna knows she doesn't need to do any of this to appeal to anyone. This is about her expressing herself, her sexuality, her womanhood, and celebrating it, being completely unashamed of it. Why do people find this so offensive? Two reasons:<br />
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1. Because society fears female sexuality when it doesn't exist for the sole purpose of serving male desire.<br />
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2. (In this particular case) because it features a woman's nipples.<br />
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All this outrage and controversy sparked by something that we all have (women <i>and</i> men), yet something society has decided is offensive, or at the very least "highly provocative" on a woman.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9g0pY6I-XKhYXK-9HrsLLvBY7ipSC-henn9u2UgGl1sRt0IbQo5tMCwTpumKxQPuOBRkdN3uuOuXDPfiarwjWfFa09uIKXG2jw2k0Pbz0eqsuR2jG25XeD_u64_CVTlgLCchyrGiV8zar/s1600/rihboob.1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9g0pY6I-XKhYXK-9HrsLLvBY7ipSC-henn9u2UgGl1sRt0IbQo5tMCwTpumKxQPuOBRkdN3uuOuXDPfiarwjWfFa09uIKXG2jw2k0Pbz0eqsuR2jG25XeD_u64_CVTlgLCchyrGiV8zar/s1600/rihboob.1.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Et voilà! It's suddeny not offensive, safe for work, and not unlike most images we see everywhere.</i></td></tr>
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Of course, a lot of the hate she receives is from other women, because we all know many women can't handle it when other women are strong, confident and self sufficient, and aren't ashamed of it (this is what is popularly known as female jealousy). Luckily she pays them no mind, and neither should the rest of us in our own private lives. I leave you know with this - something powerful that pretty much sums up most of this post in one image:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtmTs05giBEF9Y_EbBZqdOeXeFzWqwejUZmuGBW3Vsfra7dWMPoRhisWPlZHp_jXM5D0R41R0yh0R-zoE8TbEnQ8HnuCFBDRug7CTFSLAAOoiiNVEf7uIxwSaxa5dCaP3dUoh0ms4Kfoxs/s1600/nipples.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtmTs05giBEF9Y_EbBZqdOeXeFzWqwejUZmuGBW3Vsfra7dWMPoRhisWPlZHp_jXM5D0R41R0yh0R-zoE8TbEnQ8HnuCFBDRug7CTFSLAAOoiiNVEf7uIxwSaxa5dCaP3dUoh0ms4Kfoxs/s1600/nipples.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Could probably have saved you a bit of time if I just posted this image at the beginning of this blog post.</i></td></tr>
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If you enjoyed this post (or at least Rihanna's boobs) like it, share it, tweet it, follow me on bloglovin', or send it to a friend who's always wanted to give Rihanna a pearl necklace.<br />
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*UPDATE* The photos have now been deleted from her Instagram account. Good thing I have them here!<br />
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Yours,<br />
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Cah Cahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16582407345683736955noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2759238409115155275.post-14053738345540049002014-04-22T20:40:00.001+01:002014-06-22T07:15:38.065+01:00The Definition Of Normal<div style="text-align: justify;">
If there is one concept just about everyone seems to monopolize (and obsess over) it's the concept of "normality". Very generally speaking, people either:<br />
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<li>Consider themselves perfectly normal and therefore able to provide expert witness statements judging the normality levels of other people.</li>
<li>Chronically suffer from an unsettling feeling of being abnormal and try <i>really </i>hard to fit in</li>
<li>Feel normal but don't want to be so they act out in every possible way (hipsters I'm talking to you). <br />Or - like myself -</li>
<li>really aren't too bothered with the concept, because you know enough beautifully unique people that you have so much in common with, yet who are so much their own person that you realize you have no use for the concept of what is "normal".</li>
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I was just watching a video about some celebrity that was supposedly outed as gay. I went through the comment section and the hate that I read there was just astonishing. It's really difficult for me to grasp the amount of negative emotion you can have for people that you don't even know, based on their sexuality, skin color, gender identity, ethnicity etc. On YouTube, the comments get particularly nasty, and sometimes you have someone from one minority hating on someone from another minority, and that's where I get extra confused. If you're a black American, why would you hate a gay American (like this person in the comment section did)? I realize skin color and sexuality aren't the same, but you have equal amount of choice in the matter, and both apparently warrant a great deal of negativity, so you would think you would be more understanding towards each other. Ah, but because you're black, that is normal to you, however, you're straight, so in your mind being gay is foreign. You might never have dealt with a gay person before (that you know of), and you just think it's completely abnormal. Surely that can't be compared to skin color! Tell you what - it can. I am from a small country with a guesstimated 99% white population, and there are people there who before the arrival of electronic media tools (which took longer in my country than most other places) had never seen a black person before. To them, being black was definitely not "normal". Does them not experiencing black people as "normal" change that fact that being black <i>is</i> normal? Of course not! Likewise, a straight person experiencing homosexuality as "abnormal" doesn't make it so. It really isn't hard to grasp. It's the same, just at different ends of the same spectrum. To illustrate this very simply:<br />
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Heterosexuality <---------------------> Homosexuality</div>
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Light skin <-------------------> Dark skin</div>
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Some people seem to think that all sexualities are on the same same spectrum, and you can just suddenly become something else, and therefore accepting homosexuality (as if it needs anyone's approval! It will exist regardless) will result in "immoral" behaviour. This is what they're afraid of:</div>
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Heterosexuality -> Bisexuality - > Homosexuality -> Zoophilia -> Pedophilia -> Necrophilia</div>
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It makes absolutely no sense, because these things are unrelated. Well, the first three are related, but the others? Not at all! You can be a homosexual or heterosexual pedophile, for example, <i>because</i> the two are unrelated! It's a completely different aspect of sexuality! You cannot, however, be a homosexual heterosexual. Why? Because heterosexuality and homosexuality are <i>not</i> different - they are the same, only at different ends! It's the same with skin color: we range from light as ivory to dark as ebony. It's a spectrum, and we are all on it, and just because someone isn't on the same place on the spectrum as you are, doesn't make them abnormal. It simply makes them lighter or darker. In fact, there are probably tons of other people there with them, and just because you are white and straight, everyone else doesn't have to be, and if they aren't, it doesn't mean they're abnormal! A black gay person is on the same spectrum as a white straight person, only at different ends! I know I keep repeating myself, but people seem to have such a hard time grasping this irritatingly simple concept! The main issue behind all of this is a fundamental flaw in the logic people use. The foundation of their logic is deeply rooted in the idea that they are normal, and everything that isn't in line with their views is not just abnormal <i>to them</i>, it is abnormal, <i>period</i>. When you have this attitude about life, you encounter people, for example so-called "flamboyant" gay men, and to you everything they do and say will be "weird" because you have already determined that they aren't normal. Some people substitute the word "normal" with the word "natural" and think the can claim triumph. News flash: you can't! "Being gay is not <i>natural</i>." Guess what: being gay is more natural than wiping your ass with toilet paper after a shit, yet nobody is complaining about that. At the end of the day (fuck I hate that phrase) it doesn't even fucking matter if it's "natural" to be gay - people are gay and it doesn't hurt anyone, so <i>why do you care so much</i>? I literally don't understand the obsession! It doesn't affect your life! <b>Why do you care if people are gay</b>? What are you so fucking afraid of?<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGND8b7MZzEt0oWXgb3bhiyYwe6uAixWUh54HRglaZdKKHD50R79H1a5Jvw4uYBdsErn6k4Vilb0K7hOUENzGW5jG0PnyklYN7xpU-ZKIEusFMwVL6-8xSoIDe1FqU4DFEQkGiwJswBlPk/s1600/gaythoughts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGND8b7MZzEt0oWXgb3bhiyYwe6uAixWUh54HRglaZdKKHD50R79H1a5Jvw4uYBdsErn6k4Vilb0K7hOUENzGW5jG0PnyklYN7xpU-ZKIEusFMwVL6-8xSoIDe1FqU4DFEQkGiwJswBlPk/s1600/gaythoughts.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>I'm not even going to say what I'm suggesting, but I'll give you a hint: I'm suggesting you might be gay.</i></td></tr>
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Those were just some of the obvious abnormality "triggers". There are also plenty of more subtle ones. When I was younger, being Atheist wasn't particularly accepted; that made me weird. I was very into pop culture, while most others around me were more into the lives of their neighbours and who was dating who in town. Again, that made me weird. Whatever my peers liked and were into, I just wasn't. I probably found them as strange as they found me, however, due to the "strength in numbers" function of normality, I was abnormal, while they were normal. Because I was not a sports loving gossip machine that believe in Jesus, but rather a book loving, entertainment driven Atheist, I was not normal. Yet the place where the greatest divide always came - and still comes - is in this: honesty. I've always been a very honest person, and I've never been afraid to "do me" regardless of how people might have perceived me for doing so, and I really believe people hated that. People who are afraid, people who are not ready for honesty, they shun it and everyone with it, especially if your honesty reflects a world <i>they</i> refuse to live in. Because the white, straight, Christian (and especially) male (thinks he) has the privilege to dictate what is normal and what is right. If you are any other skin color, if you are a different gender, if you have different religious beliefs (or simply lack them), if you have different interests, if you prefer a life different than the picket fence life with two kids and a dog they try to teach you, that you're not worthy of love, respect, decency, or even humanity, because you aren't fully human. They are wrong. You are worthy of all these things! Do not let others dictate what you are worthy of, especially when they don't care about you, where you came from, what you've been through, or what you've achieved.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsONtqKpVp6D-9_637Opm1kvFJFJ8uJhcZjJQ2W3MYq2g9HEbM7RyLjdLbqjrfLNn4E-b9SxwIB1sBG2FLCIrBR0L_X8QGDgtWEWQxJQ1t33TVeIYPn1xkuNcVSAUIKeSd6gRRAn9ZBMe5/s1600/normal.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsONtqKpVp6D-9_637Opm1kvFJFJ8uJhcZjJQ2W3MYq2g9HEbM7RyLjdLbqjrfLNn4E-b9SxwIB1sBG2FLCIrBR0L_X8QGDgtWEWQxJQ1t33TVeIYPn1xkuNcVSAUIKeSd6gRRAn9ZBMe5/s1600/normal.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>"Usual, standard, ordinary, expected. average." Why would you ever aspire towards averageness?</i></td></tr>
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A lot of people were born into a place where the facade of "normal" is the "norm", and while that might seem lucky to some of you from the outside, they might not be happy on the inside. Conforming doesn't necessarily equal happiness - not even for those who seem to fit in perfectly. Some people, of course, are just the dictionary definition of normal by nature, and that's also fine. There's room enough for everyone - even the completely normal ones! If you enjoyed this post please like it, share it, tweet it, blog it and all that with your friends! If you don't you're a racist homophobic white privileged man that eats children, so...<br />
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Yours,<br />
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Cah Cahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16582407345683736955noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2759238409115155275.post-38589630392430937512014-04-16T22:02:00.000+01:002014-06-22T07:15:47.836+01:00Following My Dreams<div style="text-align: justify;">
When I was a kid, I always knew that I was going to work in entertainment. I <i>knew</i> I was going to be either an actress, comedienne, or both, and that I was going to make it big. Now I study psychology, hate it so much that I literally can't stand to wake up in the morning, and every day I dream of what my life should have been. Let me put one thing out there: I'm in my early 20's. What my life "should have been" I should still be able to achieve. My time hasn't run out. I'm just scared. I know some very inspirational people, who have overcome adversity and followed their dreams. One of my very best friends who I've known since I was 12 or 13, is a professional dancer, which is something she's worked at for <b>so</b> many years. Failure was not an option; it was all she wanted to do. Performing, entertaining, acting is all I've wanted to do since I was 10 years old, but coming from a tiny country with very limited options and being so disliked by most people that I tended to avoid crowds whenever I could, I never felt like it was doable. When I grew up and life got better, one thing didn't improve: my cynical outlook on what I could achieve. I had decided to "stop dreaming" and that I was going to be rational. I'm highly intelligent, so not going to university to study something "sciency" would be a terrible waste, right? Wrong. This is by far dumbest thing I've ever done. OK, maybe not <i>the dumbest</i> thing <i style="font-weight: bold;">EVER</i>, but pretty high up there. For someone who prides herself on her intelligence, I really can be such a complete idiot. Why did I ever think not following my heart's desire and pursuing the only thing I've ever wanted to do would end well? Why did I ever kid myself into thinking that a "normal" life with a 9 - 5 job would ever satisfy me? What's the point of being so rational that it makes you behave irrationally and leaves you feeling depressed? I always thought my passion for life had been diminished by, shall we say, "a series of unfortunate events". I've been blaming others for so long for extinguishing my fire, when really, they tried to do that for most of my life and never succeeded. I'm the one who drowned myself in my own insecurities and doubts, and I'm the one who ultimately killed my own fire. Therefore, I also need to be the one to rekindle it. First step is to stop being such a wuss, and doing something that I actually want to do, like attending acting school in New York or Los Angeles. I'll work, save the money, and make it happen. It might be tough, but it can't be worse than dooming myself to doing something I really don't want to do. It's time I take responsibility for myself, what I want out of life, and how I'm going to get there. I'm tired of feeling myself slowly dying, like the rose in Beauty and the Beast. I need to feel alive again. I need to <i>want</i> to be alive again.<br />
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I realize this is very similar to my last post. Guess I wasn't done talking about it.<br />
Yours,<br />
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Cah Cahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16582407345683736955noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2759238409115155275.post-61086607241082691882014-04-04T16:29:00.000+01:002014-06-22T07:15:57.474+01:00Is University Right For Me?<div style="text-align: justify;">
This question has been burning in my mind for the past few months and I can't seem to find a definitive answer to it. It's not that my course isn't interesting per se, nor do I find it particularly difficult. I am just bored. I'm a very energetic, outrageous person, and I basically live to laugh (and eat). I am either studying the wrong subject, or studying in general is just not where I want to be. Life after studying this particular subject is not where I see myself either. Me, having a 9 - 5 job, where I have to be serious and engage in serious things? I don't see that happening. If you don't know me and need a greater idea of what my personality is like than what my blog offers, think of me as a mixture between YouTuber Jenna Marbles and actress Jennifer Lawrence. Those are the two women I am most frequently told remind people of me. I am not saying J&J aren't academic types etc. They may well have gone to university for all I know! I'm just saying imagine Jenna and Jennifer (perhaps with a dash of Kathy Griffin) in one person, add "normal, 9 - 5 job" into the equation, and you might see where the problems begin. I think I liked the idea of a serious job, because I really do have a very rational, intellectual, scientific aspect to my character - it just isn't as dominating as I thought it was. I am essentially an entertainer at heart. University was just a way to escape the confines of a tiny society, and therefore the idea of it was too precious to jeopardize. I couldn't second guess it. I wouldn't allow myself to! Now I'm here, and I don't really know what to do with myself. I feel, if possible, even more stuck than I did before moving. I wish I was born and raised in a place, where a life in the entertainment industry seemed like a possibility - a place where there even was an entertainment industry! If you're from the US, or any place that values "The American Dream" (which mostly is just delusional), your basic entity is created differently than if you're from a country that doesn't even have 1% of the US population. The idea of something that isn't just a 9 - 5 existence is so far removed from any graspable reality, unless you are a really, <i>really</i> big dreamer, and while I dream big, I am also ruthlessly rational to the point that I've convinced myself of the impossibility of it. People that live with television studios around the corner from their houses consider that line of work impossible - how on earth should I see it? My mother, the ever faithful supporter of whatever it is I choose to do with my life, was rooting for me to move to the States to try to fulfill my dreams, and yet I shot myself down before even attempting to fly. Now I sit here alone, typing my thoughts on my computer, with a blurrier view of what I want from my life than I've ever had before. All I know is that my life isn't what I want it to be, it's not going where I want it to go, and I have no clue what to do about it.</div>
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When I was a teenager I used to roll my eyes every time a teacher said "Writing things down can really help". I feel stupid about that now, but back then I sure knew <i>everything</i>. Maybe it's time I turn all of the notes I have written down (not my blog posts) into either a stand up act or a YouTube video (if I ever get my hands on anything decent to record it with. Like, I don't even care if it's a camcorder or an iPhone, just something better than this "I'll make your face look like it's been painted by Picasso" camera I have. Anyway, no more feeling sorry for myself. Now I'm going to do something productive!</div>
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If you feel as lost, confused, and pathetic about your life as I do mine share this with fellow pathetics and let them know they're not alone. If you've got it all figured out and just want to laugh at someone who's a mess, then that's OK too. That's what the internet is for!</div>
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I guess I do have a definitive answer: university isn't for me. Being smart doesn't automatically make this what someone wants, needs, or should do. But where do I go from here? Well, first of all I'm going downstairs. This sort of thinking requires chocolate.</div>
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Cah Cahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16582407345683736955noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2759238409115155275.post-76204274427764695302014-04-02T16:13:00.002+01:002014-06-22T07:16:06.702+01:00Why Being A "Slut" Is OK & Why I Hate Proverbs<div style="text-align: justify;">
"He who never sleeps, is always awake." - Chinese proverb. OK, so it's actually from a Toyota commercial, but most proverbs are at best that stupid, and at worst used to promote bigoted behaviour like homophobia and "slut shaming".</div>
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We all have those friends on Facebook that love posting (what they consider to be) positive, inspirational, life affirming quotes on their timeline. While not a personal preference (I just really am not a fan of most quotes), this is harmless (unless you post an "inspirational" quote next to your profile picture. Your face and/or body doesn't inspire me or anyone else. I can't even..). Some people, however, like to use proverbs and sayings to prove a point. Before I move on, let me make one this <b>very</b> clear: this is <i>not</i> an acceptable way of debating, "proving" a point, or expressing an opinion to a critical audience. Now, I can understand the need for them, because defending bigotry with logical arguments is <strike>impossible</strike> very challenging, and most bigoted people are already limited (I don't care that your homophobic cousin studies law at Yale - he's still a limited idiot). I'm not saying being a bigot makes you stupid - I'm saying you're a bigot <i>because</i> you're stupid. That doesn't mean you can't do well in school. Anyway, back on point!</div>
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Let's take homophobia as an example. I don't know many homophobic people, because I'm luckily from a family of very loving people who don't judge others based on silly things like what gender they prefer, and I don't surround myself with people like that, so my friend circle doesn't include any bigots either. However, I have heard plenty of homophobic people speak, and it is a frightening, yet also comical experience. Their reasoning is absolutely crazy. There is the obvious perpetrator, the widest used excuse in the Western world: The Bible. This "holy" book is what one of my absolute favourite sayings is based on. In the "battle against homosexuality", the phrase that so many people arm themselves with (and which basically sums up all of their religiously based arguments in one) is this gem: "God created Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve!"<br />
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If this is how you are arguing your case right now, dear reader, I have one request: reevaluate your life. In a world where science is (thankfully) becoming ever more dominant, in a place where knowledge is not only respected, but before being deemed <i>worthy</i> knowledge it has to undergo scrutiny from multiple areas, in a time where we know so much and have explanations for complex phenomena, the "Adam and Eve NOT Adam and Steve" non-argument is worth absolutely fuck all. You cannot argue with people who use science, peer reviewed research, and infallible logic like "Well, even if it is a choice, it's not hurting anybody, so why shouldn't consenting adults be free to live how they want?" and say "NOT ADAM AND STEEEEVE!"</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>By the way, I thought you said God created everyone? Why didn't God create Adam and Steve? What's wrong with them? Sorry Adams and Steves - God didn't create you. On a different note, Adam and Steve look much more attracted to each other than Adam and Eve.</i></td></tr>
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Another saying that <i>really </i>gets to me, is one that I see used (especially by males) all over the internet and that I hear guys say in real life all the time, not to about me personally, but do they say it behind my back? I don't know, and quite frankly I don't care. "What saying is this?", you might be wondering, or you might have already figured it out. Before I move on to it, I'd like to introduce you to my new favourite YouTuber: Laci Green. Laci has this awesome YouTube show called Sex+ which is all about sex positivity for both males and females (if any male is reading this and wants to learn a technique to enable you to have multiple orgasms - just like us females - <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sa05KGes_NI" target="_blank">click here</a>) and in one of her videos that I just came across she addresses slut shaming.</div>
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Her video is wonderful, and she makes great points about how self respect doesn't mean a woman can't enjoy multiple partners, and how respecting women means respect based on accomplishments, not amount of sex partners. "Because of her [what society considers] 'bad behaviour' we reduce her status from human being to <b>giant fucking whore"</b>. What genius response do I find in the comments?<br />
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That saying is as used, abused, and irrelevant as the "not Adam and Steve" one. This is not just a harmless joke; it's a reflection of the lack of understanding society has about female sexuality, that at best is used to bully, shame, and negatively affect a woman's social life, and at worst directly leads to victim blaming. There is nothing wrong with being a sexually active woman who has as many different partners as you want! Just because someone else has a much higher need for sex than you and they're not afraid to act on it, doesn't mean you have to feel so threatened that you have to value them any less as human beings, nor does it mean they are "freaks" or "sex addicts" - they simply operate on a different level, sexually. If you want to have sex with someone new every weekend (or even every day of the week), that is your prerogative, and it's nobody's business. Contrary to popular belief, all women's sex drive isn't on "low and love". Our libido is as varying as men's, and - believe it or not - not all men are hypersexual fuck ogres. I know tons of women who have had issues in their relationships because their boyfriends have been unable to keep up with them sexually, and I know some guys with the same problem. I also know many single women who are scared to act on their urges because of what people might think about them, and it's easy to see why. The women that I do know who aren't afraid of claiming their sexuality <i>are</i> dehumanized, and the way jealous women and spiteful men talk about them is appalling. When questioned about <i>why</i> it is so horrible and what makes it so wrong, never have I <i>ever</i> been giving a satisfactory answer. Even when I turn it around on the guys I know who are complete manwhores (nothing wrong with that, but since we're using these terms), they genuinely believe that it's OK for them to fuck however many women they please, but that the opposite is dead wrong and the women who do are nasty sluts. This is where we hit that place again - the one where our sexuality as women doesn't exist to serve us, but should exist only for the benefit others. I covered this a bit before in <a href="http://talesofcahcah.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/sexual-objectification-and-female.html" target="_blank">this post</a> but I didn't address the other side of it - victim blaming. When a woman is sexually liberated, the respect that people have for her reduces to the point that if she's raped, her hair, behaviour, make up, sexual history, clothing and level of intoxication all get taken into consideration. This is wrong. Even if a woman is walking down the street drunk, naked and flirting with everyone <i style="font-weight: bold;">NO ONE HAS THE RIGHT TO FORCIBLY HAVE SEX WITH HER AND IF SOMEONE DID SHE IS NOT TO BLAME</i>. I cannot stress how imperative it is that people understand this! It doesn't matter what a woman is wearing, how she is behaving, or how drunk she is: rape is <i style="font-weight: bold;">ALWAYS</i> wrong, and the idea that anyone thinks differently is frightening. It results in <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/09/us/09assault.html?_r=2&scp=4&sq=rape&st=cse&" target="_blank">cases like this</a>, where an 11 year old girl is gang raped by 18 guys, and the people in the community say things like "These boys have to live with this for the rest of their lives", and "They said she dressed older than her age, wearing makeup and fashions more appropriate to a woman in her 20s. She would hang out with teenage boys at a playground, some said". The boys have to live with it for the rest of their lives? What about the ELEVEN year old girl who was raped by EIGHTEEN guys? And what is up with the focus on how she dressed and acted? She was ELEVEN! <b><i>GANG RAPED BY EIGHTEEN GUYS</i></b>! THIS is what happens! Slut shaming leads to victim blaming. No one is immune; not even children.<br />
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OK. This blog post turned out a bit more intense than I expected. Originally, this was only supposed to be a rant about how I can't stand it when people use proverbs in an intellectual debate. Oh well. If you enjoyed this post, please like it, share it, tweet it, all that good stuff, just don't do it naked or you're a slutwhore.<br />
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Cah Cahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16582407345683736955noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2759238409115155275.post-58427653525300528412014-03-30T00:17:00.001+00:002014-03-30T00:18:38.098+00:00Mother's Day<div style="text-align: justify;">
I am so sad that I'm not home for Mother's Day so I could spend it with the most amazing woman anyone could ever know. The love, support, and sacrifice that I have received from her and the way in which she has always come through for me so selflessly in ways most people can't even imagine is why she is my hero, my inspiration, my biggest role model and indeed the person who has taught me everything I know about strength, kindness, unconditional love, and humour. Mom, if you're reading this, I can't ever describe how much I love you, but I can only hope I can give you back even one hundredth of what you've given me. If I told you a thousand times, it wouldn't be enough. Your love is the reason I'm alive, your love is the reason I'm happy. You are, truly, the best, most generous, giving mother - make that woman - in the world.</div>
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I love you, Mom.</div>
Cah Cahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16582407345683736955noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2759238409115155275.post-3000957248903342812014-03-13T21:54:00.000+00:002014-06-22T07:17:53.288+01:00"Why Should We Send Money To Third World Countries When There Are So Many Poor People Here?"<div style="text-align: justify;">
This is probably one of the most commonly used excuses for not donating to the suffering people of third world countries. Of course, we're much more generous to the people in our own countries, aren't we? Well...</div>
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YouTube artist fouseyTUBE as once again created a video that touched my heart <a href="http://talesofcahcah.blogspot.co.uk/2013/12/how-to-prevent-bullying-spineless.html" target="_blank">[click here for the other one]</a>. "A child looking to get enough money to feed his sister? Nah, fuck that." And that woman trying to say that <i>he</i> is sick for making this video? "There are a lot of children on the street." Oh really??? What an <b>amazing</b> reason not to give this kid any money. Obviously the kid used in this video isn't homeless, and they returned all the money that was given to him (an impressive $2.10 after a day's worth of shooting). At 2:35 Nathan (the "homeless" kid), eyes brimming with tears, asks the question "What happened to this world?". At 3:01 a passerby does something that should leave everyone wondering the same thing (if you weren't already).</div>
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I just wanted to share this video with you guys. Let me know what you think!</div>
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If you liked this, share it with your friends!</div>
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Yours,</div>
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Cah Cahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16582407345683736955noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2759238409115155275.post-5978964853372443412014-03-08T18:39:00.001+00:002014-06-22T07:18:04.221+01:00Female Sexuality and Sexual Objectification<div style="text-align: justify;">
"It's part of a wider culture that teaches girls to be sexual in accordance to men's desires, but shames them if they explore their own sexuality." That is an excerpt from <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/education/mortarboard/2014/jan/27/rape-culture-campus" target="_blank">this article</a> about rape culture at universities, but just because it's used in that context, doesn't mean it's not true in other aspects of life. I feel it's a very accurate description of how female sexuality is treated in general. The idea of women owning our own sexuality and expressing it in a powerful way strikes fear and contempt in the hearts of men and (often) other women, and we are viewed as these sordid creatures that are looking for attention. If we dress in a way that can be considered "sexually provocative" to men, we are of course doing it for the sole purpose of getting male attention. If we are proud of our bodies and dress to celebrate what we love about it, whether it is our long legs, breasts, hips and ass, or what have you, if we choose to accentuate one or all of these features we are slut shamed and treated as if we are somehow less worthy of respect and common courtesy. If we complain, we are sent dirty "one-over" looks that imply a change of clothes might be in order if we want people to respect us. Those of you who've read my post about carnival/halloween nudity (if not, you can <a href="http://talesofcahcah.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/carnival-nudity.html" target="_blank">read it here</a> - it was my very first blog post!) you know my stance on the whole dressing as scarcely as you please, so I'm not going to go into detail about it here. Another way of expressing our sexuality can be how we verbalize. In the case of female musicians, this can be blown out of proportion. There has been some amount of outrage in regards to Beyoncé's new album, especially when one of her arguably raunchier songs/videos called "Partition" was released on Vevo a week ago. Those of us who bought her socalled "visual album" when it was released back in December have long been acquainted with it, but those of you who aren't should have a look:
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As you can see, it features Beyoncé in one of the most explicitly sexual video we've seen her in. I love the video, and I love how shamelessly she embodies her femininity and her sexuality. Many others, however, feel she is "trying too hard" and criticize her use of lyrics like "Take all of me/I just wanna be the girl you like", saying it goes against feminist ideas. It's not like I don't see where they're coming from with that, and if this was being preached as an attitude women should always have to all men I would agree. Beyoncé, however, seems to have made a very personal album, and this song is for her husband. The video is erotic and sensual, but tastefully so (in my opinion) and the line "oh he so horny, yeah he wants to fuck" is nothing more than an honest description of how raw sexuality is expressed. This is Beyoncé exploring herself and sharing it with us.</div>
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Another female artist that is criticized a lot for her overt sexuality is Rihanna, and her most controversial video is arguably the one for her song Pour It Up:</div>
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Rihanna stars in various states of undress throughout the video, and it features half naked women pole dancing and twerking throughout. Now, I don't agree with twerking. I think it's completely ridiculous. However, I like what Rihanna does in this video: she's both "the pimp" and "the prostitute" so to speak (forgive me that very bad analogy). What I mean is that she embodies both aspects of sexuality: the dominant and the submissive party. To truly own your sexuality you have to be fearless and she shows us that she is time and time again. People criticize her skimpy outfits, but again this is based on the assumption that if women weren't "brainwashed" and were "free to choose" we'd choose to cover up, and that "skimpy" outfits are for the pleasure of men and not ourselves. I don't understand why people assume that. I've yet to see any evidence that suggests "respectable" women would choose to cover up for any other reason than fear of slut shaming and an inability to being taken seriously if they don't. People who insist bodies are to be hidden away are, at the very least, just as "brainwashed" as people who are comfortable with their own nudity.
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Why is this OK when men do it, but when women do it it's gross and offensive? Is it because it's a sign of owning your sexual power, something which is only permitted for men?</i></td></tr>
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I deliberately used two examples on one end of the extreme, but there are many nuances between this and the more "socially acceptable" end of the spectrum, and the closer you are to this end, the more opinions people are going to have about you.
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>I don't mind if this is you and you're afraid of your own sexuality, but please, don't be offended by me not fearing mine.</i></td></tr>
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When is it OK for women to be sexual? When we do it on men's terms. When our sexuality is about pleasing and appeasing men, when we look good for them, when the essence of our very being is about them, it's OK. As long as we submit to how men dictate our sexuality should be, we're OK. If we resist, we're "difficult". Have you ever blatantly objectified a man the way they do women? You should try it. They get so uncomfortable it's almost amusing. If you talk about men the way they talk about women, people get offended. You're being morbid, you're being gross. It's interesting how both men and women will agree on that and defend men, insisting men have more important things to offer than muscles and a broad back, but both sexes can quickly agree on judging a woman based entirely on her looks. It's her own fault, though; she's not dressed properly. How can she expect to be treated with respect when she has her tits out. Yeah, she's her own problem. Shut up and cover up.<br />
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A fun illustration of how absurdly women are portrayed in the media, is this little experiment on the red carpet at the Academy Awards that past Sunday. A female journalist asked some very routine questions, however, she asked a man, Kevin Spacey no less, rather than a woman:
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Why are these common questions for women, but offensive questions for men? These questions are posed to every single woman on the red carpet, regardless of how talented she is or how many awards she is nominated for. Reducing women to numbers is Perfectly OK, but do the same thing to a man and it becomes absurd? Surely, it's the action itself that's absurd, not the gender to which it's applied?
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OK, as usual I got a little sidetracked, but to sum up, the questions posed (albeit cryptically so) were:</div>
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<li>Why is it wrong for women to own up to our sexuality on our own terms?</li>
<li>Why can we not embody our sexuality however we please, without being slutshamed into submission?</li>
<li>Why is it OK for women to be objectified but not men?</li>
<li>Was Kevin Spacey in fact wearing Spanx and is that why his attitude was so.. <i>tight?</i></li>
<li>Is Elvis still alive?</li>
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OK, I need to get back to my homework now. This blogpost has turned out to be about half the length of the assignment I should be writing and that realization is creating a feeling of fuck my life.<br />
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If you enjoyed this post, please Tweet it, like it, share it with your friends on Facebook, call your mom, do the boogie woogie, buy a llama, RUN FOREST, RUUUN!<br />
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Yours,<br />
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Cah Cahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16582407345683736955noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2759238409115155275.post-48701342212129758912014-02-23T17:24:00.001+00:002014-06-22T07:18:13.664+01:00The Best Unreleased Songs By Lana Del Rey<div style="text-align: justify;">
There are some artists who are good, some that are amazing, and then there is Lana Del Rey. I know there has been a lot of controversy surrounding her origins, the Lana Del Rey "persona", and her live performances, but if you bother to look into these things you know what it's all about. In case you haven't, let me explain (Short version! That's why you guys love me - I do the dirty work and then compress it for you): Lana Del Rey was born Elizabeth Woolridge Grant on June 21 1986 (some sources say she was actually born in 1985, but I haven't been able to confirm this). She is the daughter of a millionaire yes, but everyone that has ever worked with her (even the people who aren't making money off her now) will tell you he's not to blame for her success - her talents (especially her song writing talent) are genuine. Is Lana Del Rey a constructed persona? Yes, and she'll be the first to tell you. She has given countless interviews about why she chose that name, how much effort it takes to transform into full blown "Lana Del Rey", made jokes about how they've had to hoist her into her shoes for photoshoots because they have been so high, and looking at her street style, it's obvious that she's much more laid back in every day life. For some reason, this has gotten on a lot of people's tits. I don't understand why? Beyonce doesn't prance around in a leotard and full drag makeup at home, no matter what Lady Gaga says there is no way she hangs out in that ghastly meat dress, Rihanna doesn't even go by the name "Rihanna" in private, but by her actual name "Robyn", and so the list goes on. Has she had plastic surgery? I can't say it for certain, because she really is the only one that can, but if you're asking my <i>opinion</i> (and I do have a good eye) I would say that yes, without question, beyond any doubt has she had at least a (fantastic) nose job and lip injections. Why does she deny it, then? Because it's none of our fucking business, and when people ask you about your personal life, it's your prerogative to say whatever the fuck you want. She is a singer/songwriter. Please ask <i>relevant</i> questions. Why are men not questioned about these things? An example that illustrates this:</div>
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One more thing I have to say is that even if it turns out that <i>everything</i> about Lana is made up i.e. her entire backstory etc. I really won't care. I'm not interested in her because she was supposedly a teenage alcoholic and lived in a trailer park - I love her music, her lyrics, and the art she creates, and I truly believe <i>that</i> to be authentic. Also, creating a fake life to match your stage persona is brilliant on many levels, most importantly because it allows you to keep the details of your private life <i>private</i>. We are not entitled to know everything about the people we see on TV or in magazines, no matter how much we like to believe we are.</div>
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On to her music! Like I said, I fully believe she is the creator and/or co-creator of her own songs, not least because of the fact that song writers (and artists in general) tend to be very proud of their creations, and wouldn't happily let someone else take all the credit for what they've created (I just used the word "create" more than creationists). That being out of the way, we can get down to mindless adoration. Few people in the world make me feel the way she does with her music. Her songs are, in my humble opinion, perfection! All artists have unreleased songs, but unlike most others, all of Lana's are <i>incredible</i> (at least, all the ones I've heard). I figured I should make a list (in no particular order) of my favourites so that you, dear reader, might also enjoy them. I hope you will love them as much as I do.</div>
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Kinda Outta Luck</h3>
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While unreleased, this does have an "official" video. It's very "Video Games" featuring scenes of Lana singing along in between old movie clips.</div>
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Favorite part: I really don't have one. This is a very entertaining song, and it's difficult for me to pick out a certain part that is "extra entertaining". Listen to it and you'll know what I mean.</div>
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Paris</h3>
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Ironically, this song reminds me of New York City. I spent a few weeks there in late 2012 visiting one of my best friends, and we had this song on repeat. It's just so sweet!</div>
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Favorite part: "Walking through the streets at dawn,<br />
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we dance by empty carousels.</div>
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Singing 'bout the Sacre Coeur,</div>
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and climbing up the Tour Eiffel."</div>
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Never Let Me Go</h3>
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Impossible to find a decent version of this song on YouTube, but I found it <a href="http://vimeo.com/42694944" target="_blank">here</a>. Just a really.. pleasant song.</div>
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Favorite line: "I can be your Nancy, you can be my Sid."</div>
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Hollywood's Dead</h3>
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Favorite line: "I always fall for the wrong guy, things that are bad always taste nice."</div>
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Every Man Gets His Wish</h3>
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Another one of those songs I have a hard time attributing to any particular genre. Maybe someone with greater musical knowledge than myself can help out here.</div>
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Favorite part: "I learned how to make love from the movies</div>
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He found me waitressing at Ruby Tuesdays</div>
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He said I wanna buy you a classic white milk shake</div>
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I said I'll serve you up a special side of heartbreak</div>
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(Special side of heartbreak.)</div>
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I was working down in the corner café,</div>
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you drove by in a Chevrolet,</div>
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whistle at me as my hips go sway</div>
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'Lana Del Rey, how you get that way?' </div>
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'How you get that way?'.</div>
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I said </div>
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'He loves my heart shaped sunglasses.</div>
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He loves the heart shape my ass is.'"</div>
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Driving In Cars With Boys</h3>
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This song is like a Lana Del Rey version of "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun". That's the best way I can describe it.</div>
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Favorite part: "I was born to live fast, die young</div>
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Leave a beautiful corpse, live my life on the run</div>
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I got my cash, my Louis Vuitton, diamonds and guns</div>
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Girls just wanna, just wanna have fun."</div>
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Queen of Disaster</h3>
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A recent love of mine, this song is just.. perfection. If you love Lana, you'll fall completely in love with this one.<br />
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Favorite part: "No other boy ever made me feel beautiful,<br />
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When I'm in your arms, feels like I have it all,</div>
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Is it your tattoos or golden grill,</div>
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That makes me feel this way?<br />
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You got me spinning like a ballerina, </div>
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You the bad boy that I always dreamed of,</div>
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You're the king and I'm</div>
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the Beauty queen of</div>
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disaster,</div>
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disaster"</div>
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TV in Black & White</h3>
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Another one that's impossible to find on YouTube without featuring an unnaturally high pitched Lana, but is readily available on other web pages, like <a href="http://www.farskids512.com/music/lana-del-rey-tv-in-black-white/#" target="_blank">here</a>. This is currently my very favorite Lana song ever of all time. I am completely in love with it! Such a beautiful song and I feel it epitomizes everything that is Lana Del Rey.</div>
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Favorite part: "Nobody does have to know that our love is alive<br />
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Keep it on the low if you want to hide</div>
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Got that same address if you want to write</div>
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One Greenwich Avenue</div>
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Wishing and thinking of you!</div>
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Living without you is like TV in black and white</div>
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You turned me on and brought color into my life </div>
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When I'm around you suddenly I realize </div>
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that I was blind before I saw the world through your eyes.</div>
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If you get lonely, think of this only</div>
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heaven hasn't forgotten about you </div>
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Though you can't hold me, pick up and phone me</div>
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use your one phone call on your ex-girl boo"</div>
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Hopefully I introduced you to some songs you haven't heard before, and if not, well then at least you have a handy playlist here of songs you already know and love! I'd also like to add that I haven't heard all of her unreleased songs, so you might have a personal favorite that seems like an obvious choice for a "Best of Lana" list, that I might simply never have heard.</div>
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If you enjoyed this post, please tweet it, like it and share it with your friends. If you want direct updates whenever I post something new, like <a href="https://www.facebook.com/talesofcahcah" target="_blank">my Facebook page</a> or follow me on Bloglovin. Or both!</div>
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Yours,</div>
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Cah Cahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16582407345683736955noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2759238409115155275.post-62106747821528775222014-02-18T23:29:00.001+00:002014-05-29T01:03:33.484+01:00Living With Loss<div style="text-align: justify;">
For the past 2 weeks, I haven't been feeling too well. I've been having trouble sleeping no matter how tired I've felt, finding the energy to do my homework has been impossible, and just this morning I missed a presentation. I haven't been able to figure out why, and it's been frustrating! Why have I all of a sudden turned into someone who can't seem to keep her life together? Am I sick of what I'm studying? Yes, very much so! That's not it though. Have I been sick? I thought so, but not really. For some reason, though, I've been more or less like a zombie, and it seems to have no logical explanation. I simply have had no spark and it's been making me feel useless, which in turns makes me less motivated, less inclined to do work, and that's how the circle goes. Then, earlier today, while I was at the library doing homework (yes, I actually managed to do work, mostly due to my wonderful friends) it dawned on me. I suddenly knew what it was! I suddenly understood why I had been feeling like this, why I had been acting so out of character, because it has happened every year around this time for the past 7 years: today is the day! <i>That</i> day. Today, February 18th 2014, it has been exactly 7 years since my baby sister died.</div>
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Cah Cahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16582407345683736955noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2759238409115155275.post-28460599227041799522014-02-17T02:42:00.000+00:002014-06-22T07:18:28.243+01:0014-Year Old Girl Secretly Gives Birth To And Kills Her Son<div style="text-align: justify;">
While heavily procrastinating my homework, I stumbled across <a href="http://elitedaily.com/news/world/14yearold-girl-arrested-secretly-giving-birth-bathroom-killing-son-throwing/?utm_source=FBTraffic&utm_medium=liron&utm_campaign=CMfacebook?123" target="_blank">this article</a> from 2012. If you're a regular reader of this blog, you know I don't usually talk about specific incidents, but rather deal with general topics (not including when I talk about my own life), and this is not going to be so much about what that girl did, but rather what an atrocious piece of journalism that article is. We can all agree that what she did was terrible, but the article leaves so many things unanswered and even raises a few questions about the girl's background (albeit unintentionally considering the author makes makes his feelings on the girl very clear).</div>
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What we see in this article is classical witch hunt mentality: the girl is called a monster and the author feels she is "rightfully" charged as an adult and wants to see her behind bars for a long time, but he doesn't question one single thing about the circumstances this all happened under. A 14 year old girl keeps her entire pregnancy secret from her parents, has the baby in secret, kills it, and doesn't even dispose of it, but instead hides it in her cupboard, and the author doesn't pose <i>any</i> questions? Let's look at the most obvious one first:</div>
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How does a 14 year old girl hide an entire pregnancy from her parents?</h3>
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This is what the article says:</div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: italic; line-height: 13.800000190734863px;">When her parents were asked how the 5’ 3’’ 100 lb Cassidy was able to hide her pregnancy from them for 9 months, they admitted that there were some suspicions afloat, but that Cassidy was very devious and conniving in her attempt to hide her pregnancy – constantly wearing baggy sweats and long oversized t-shirts.</span></div>
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That's it. Apparently, that is all the author needs to know. To be fair, this tells me <i>a lot</i> as well. "What? Pray tell, Cah Cah?", you're probably thinking right about now, and I shall indulge you (although, you are probably there with me already at this point). Let's begin with a dictionary definition:</div>
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<i>Devious - showing a skillful use of underhanded tactics to achieve goals.</i><br />
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The fact that her wearing baggy sweats and oversized shirts to hide her pregnancy is described as a skillful use of tactics speaks <i>volumes</i> as to the intelligence of her parents, and the fact that they supposedly suspected it and yet somehow were still duped by their daughter's admittedly <i>genius </i>behaviour also indicates a complete lack of interest in her. This is obvious, so why is it not mentioned? If a 14 year old manages to hide a full pregnancy from her parents, they themselves are unfit parents - isn't that a given?<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbyH4cg9kpPqn1ot4zaELfB29PMtHNaAjAZ12VH1lMnPJ6gEC40lPJ92pLr76QSi0thL7ApaLyMmc6HKxhLG7QpYeXa_NhyTm8ncPRPzwxa4OlmsL-cbJkgCFxUzcV8quPfwBXF3yuqQ85/s1600/jawgen.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbyH4cg9kpPqn1ot4zaELfB29PMtHNaAjAZ12VH1lMnPJ6gEC40lPJ92pLr76QSi0thL7ApaLyMmc6HKxhLG7QpYeXa_NhyTm8ncPRPzwxa4OlmsL-cbJkgCFxUzcV8quPfwBXF3yuqQ85/s1600/jawgen.gif" height="241" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Yes. The answer is yes.</i></td></tr>
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What drives a 14 year old girl to kill a baby?</h3>
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There are many other options out there. At 14, how is she not aware of them? What scares a 14 year old girl into killing a child? She didn't even have the mind to rid herself of it - she simply left it in her cupboard! Surely, if she had the capabilities of an adult, she would have thought to rid herself of it. Between you and me, isn't that what we would have done if we'd killed a baby? (Yes, I know you never would, neither would I, but work with me here!). According to <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2210159/Florida-teen-14-charged-degree-murder-strangles-newborn-baby-hides-body-shoe-box-dumps-laundry.html" target="_blank">this article</a> she hid the pregnancy out of fear that her relationship with her parents would change if they found out - does that sound adult enough to be tried as one?</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>No. The answer is no.</i></td></tr>
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Where is the father in all of this?</h3>
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This question has me feeling <i>very</i> curious. Who impregnated her? Was it someone from school or was she being used and abused by someone older? If it was a guy her age, did he know about the pregnancy? If he did, how did he react? In a way that would deeply hurt a young, vulnerable girl in a situation that even to adults can seem impossible and terrifying?<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMhtAO9DpleORMGhqpQBah9tDkeFZ5_tFta5EEXU8aeB0ubldrv50lJAHKyht2EFmd8Ba_89oC52tOfJgwdkkLNGFvM9DglhvwIVRvKqPMFKLAayjqGmuoo6rSu9trXyLkpv4DceSgQZoq/s1600/jaw2.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMhtAO9DpleORMGhqpQBah9tDkeFZ5_tFta5EEXU8aeB0ubldrv50lJAHKyht2EFmd8Ba_89oC52tOfJgwdkkLNGFvM9DglhvwIVRvKqPMFKLAayjqGmuoo6rSu9trXyLkpv4DceSgQZoq/s1600/jaw2.gif" height="289" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Probably. The answer is probably.</i></td></tr>
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What's with all the jaw dropping gifs?</h3>
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I just can't believe that these obvious issues weren't addressed. I'm pretty sure you had the same reaction reading the article.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>I knew you did! You're my people!</i></td></tr>
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While I'm not trying to defend this girl's actions, I feel that in cases like this it's important not to lose your head, look at the bigger picture, and ask the right questions, especially because those involved are so young. We all know that what she did was terrible, so we would be much better of if you journalists actually addressed some of the questions surrounding cases like these, rather than wasting our time labelling a 14 year old girl from an obviously dubious family "a monster".</div>
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If you enjoyed this post, please tweet it, like it and share it with your friends, follow me on bloglovin, and like my <a href="https://www.facebook.com/talesofcahcah" target="_blank">Facebook page</a>.</div>
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Yours,</div>
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Cah Cahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16582407345683736955noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2759238409115155275.post-59833787295545995222014-02-13T12:48:00.000+00:002014-06-22T07:18:39.044+01:00How Do People Fall In Love?<a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/11771373/?claim=bx4xfy2vqwj">Follow my blog with Bloglovin</a>
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Everywhere I turn, I see people in love. If I go for a walk, I inevitably run into at least a few couples holding hands on the street, when I go to Uni I see them sitting together being all cute and cuddly in lectures, if I go to a restaurant I see them having romantic dinners, and if I go online I'm presented with lovey-dovey pictures and posts on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Tumblr. Now that Valentine's Day is coming, this is becoming ever more apparent <i>everywhere</i>, and it's left me wondering: how do people meet and fall in love? Don't get me wrong, I understand the biology of it, but that's not what I mean; I'm talking about how these situations even present themselves, because to me it's a complete and utter mystery.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>One of the most catching songs ever, but does it work irl?</i></td></tr>
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I was in love once many years ago. It was unrequited and I was devastated (<b>plot twist:</b> I'm completely over it, and we're really good friends, so don't cry for me <strike>Argentina</strike>). That was the <i>only</i> time I've ever been really in love. Sure, I've liked guys, perhaps even been infatuated with a few, but this guy was the only guy I've ever thought of as "Wow, I'd like him to be my boyfriend" (not counting the, to be frank, quite embarrassingly long list of celebrities that I of course have been in serious, committed relationships with. These don't seem to last beyond your early to mid teens though, I'm afraid). It takes a lot for me to fall in love, I suppose. Perhaps I'm picky, but I don't think so. It just seems that preferring tall, dark, and handsome men with a very high IQ eliminates a lot of possibilities, but I just couldn't ever date anyone stupid (I said "stupid", how very non-PC of me). Intelligence is at the top of my list, sharing first place with "great sense of humor", and of course I want this wrapped up in a pretty package.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Someone who looks like the guy on the left (Spanish male model Alejandro Rosaleny), but has the brains of the guy on the right (in case you're really thick that's Stephen Hawking). Is that <b>really</b> too much to ask for?</i></td></tr>
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Back on point. I don't think that my idea of an "ideal man" is to blame for me not falling in love; we all have all sorts of ideas of what we want, and more often than not we end up with something else. The really interesting question is why doesn't anyone seem to fall in love with me either? Am I really that unlovable? To my knowledge, no guy has ever been in love with me. No guy has ever given me the slightest inclination that they even like me! Well, obviously many guys "like" me, I mean, I have a lot of male friends. It's easy when you're the chick that loves to eat pizza and play video games, and doesn't feel the need to gossip or flirt with your male friends. Doesn't really inspire attraction, though. Not in my experience anyway. I think, secretly, most guys really do want a dominant, whip-lashing, mother-hen girlfriend, and I'm just not that girl. It's way too much effort having to control another person. Also, I hate playing mind games. I just lay everything on the table from the start because I feel it simplifies things, and you don't have to get mad about things later on that you said you were OK with in the beginning ("Noooo honey, PLEASE go to strip clubs with your friends, I'm <i>totally</i> cool with that!).</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>I think this is pretty much ideal, most of the time.</i></td></tr>
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I guess I'm sort of to blame myself. I never accept dates, tend not to write men back, and don't believe in one night stands. You could say I'm kind of setting myself up for failure. I just need to feel the spark instantly, you know? If it's not there immediately, it just doesn't happen for me. If I'm not <i>thrilled</i> at the prospect of going on a date with you the minute you ask me, I have a very hard time saying yes, and it's not because there's anything wrong with you or because I don't expect to have a good time, it's just.. if you've experienced that spark with anyone, you know that <i>that's</i> what you want.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>What was that? Unrealistic? STOP BEING SUCH A PESSIMIST!</i></td></tr>
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In the end, I probably should try doing something out of my comfort zone, seeing as the style that I'm currently rocking isn't really doing me any good. I guess if I was one of those "ermahgerd I need a berfrernd" kind of girls, I would, but changing patterns takes effort and when you're pretty much happy as is, it takes <i>extra</i> effort. I really should try to change the kind of guy I become interested in, though. I seem to be a magnet for men who seem nice, but really aren't. I wonder if all men are liars, or just the ones that seem to gravitate towards me (YES, I am projecting the responsibility onto them!).</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Please confirm.</i></td></tr>
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What is it with the lying anyway? I'm such an open person, there is no need to lie to me. I was recently involved with someone for a very short period of time, but (for reasons unknown to me) I fell hard and fast. There were problems with it from the start, and it turned out I had been lied to from day one. I guess, somewhere, I should have known, but sometimes even when you try to do it right and play by the book, it still goes <i>really</i> wrong.</div>
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So now, here I am. February 13th, Valentine's Day is just around the corner, and everyone is getting really excited. I've never actually celebrated Valentine's Day with anyone, but I can say that this year will be different: I actually have a date.. with a bunch of friends! We're going out for my friend's birthday, in fancy dress, and having a <strike>lot of</strike> few drinks! It will be the best Valentine's Day ever! I'm going as a hippie, I think. Very appropriate, free love and all that. Very V-Day!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Let's hope there won't be any of this happening on Valentine's Day!</i></td></tr>
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As per usual, this blog post started out as one thing and turned into something completely different. But please, if you're the type of person that's always seeing someone/always in a relationship, leave me a comment explaining how this works, because I'm in a completely different boat! Perhaps we can swap tips (you'll be like "You just need to settle and be happy that anyone is willing to even tolerate you", and I'll be like "don't settle for anything less than a supermodel oil sheikh with the brain of Einstein").</div>
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If you enjoyed this post, please tweet it, like it and share it with your friends. If you want to be updated straight away when I post something new, you can find my Facebook <a href="https://www.facebook.com/talesofcahcah" target="_blank">here</a>.</div>
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Yours,</div>
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Cah Cahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16582407345683736955noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2759238409115155275.post-6482609307730255762014-02-12T00:10:00.000+00:002014-06-22T07:18:47.826+01:00Marius The Giraffe And The Reality Of Eating MeatThere has been a lot of outrage in the media about the "slaughter" and subsequent autopsy and feeding to the lions of Marius the giraffe at Copenhagen Zoo, with public outcries, online condemnation, and forums exploding with people expressing their feelings on the subject. I didn't want Marius to die either. I think giraffes are wonderful animals, and I hate the idea of killing one. However, there are a few things I can't understand:<br />
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1. Is there a difference between killing a giraffe and killing a cow?</div>
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2. Do some animals deserve more protection than others? (<u>side note</u>: obviously some animals <i>require</i> more protection, but do try to keep up with what I'm saying here)</div>
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3. Aren't all animals equally important?</div>
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4. Are you vegan?</div>
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If your answers are "yes", "yes", "no", and "no" (if the 3 first questions are answered like that, the 4th will inevitably be "no"), you relinquish the right to have an opinion on the matter. If you happily eat cows, pigs, sheep etc. you have no right to complain that a "healthy" giraffe is "slaughtered". All of the animals you eat were perfectly happy and healthy before they were killed for your benefit. No wait, scratch that - most of them were actually living lives of misery in confined spaces, being fed "food" that's not natural to their systems, often being fattened to the point of it affecting their development, leading to all sorts of injuries and troubles. Many of these animals are also handled in ways you wouldn't wish on your worst enemies; chickens, for example, will have the ends of their beaks cut off, and male chicks will be ground alive because they're not "useful". These animals are the animals you and I buy - we support this treatment of them by giving money to the people who are behind it. But lo and behold: a giraffe - who's had a much better life than most cows we've ever eaten - is put down by the zoo (by people who most likely loved him and were sad to do it), used for educational purposes (the children were <i>not</i> traumatized, and considering the state of teenagers nowadays we might want to implement a bit more hands on education everywhere in the world), and then fed to lions (who eat giraffes on the savannah). Unless you're vegan or just don't eat animals without applying a label to yourself, <i>please</i> do not comment on sensationalized stories like this one. You're making a fool out of yourself. The video below is an interview with Bengt Holst, the chief of Copenhagen Zoo, and I feel he answers the questions posed by the rather emotional and infantile reporter very rationally.</div>
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I'm all for animal activism, but unless you're a herbivore, please refrain from commenting on which animals are used for food. This giraffe may, in your opinion, have been killed for "no reason", but so is each and every cow that makes up the burgers you eat in the eyes of, say, anyone who's vegan.</div>
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If you enjoyed this post, please like it and share it with your friends. If you want to like my facebook page, you can find it <a href="https://www.facebook.com/talesofcahcah" target="_blank">here</a>.</div>
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Yours,</div>
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Cah Cahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16582407345683736955noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2759238409115155275.post-8879444648973642422014-02-10T16:53:00.003+00:002014-06-22T07:18:57.310+01:00The Problem With Being Unique<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I'm an extremely open and honest person. Appreciate individuality, respect differences, and treasure what makes yourself and other people special. These are things I live by, and to most people the concept sounds great. In practice, however, it's very lacking, not because of the philosophy behind it, but because people don't <i>really</i> adhere to it. People have always, as far back as I can remember, considered me "different". I didn't have a lot of friends growing up, but I didn't mind; I'd rather be myself and be alone, than be like the rest - the flock, if you please - and have what they called "friends". Having to pretend to be something other than who you are to make people like you, didn't really sound like having friends to me anyway. When I became a teenager, I finally got to know people who wanted to be my friends. I had changed nothing about how I expressed myself - I had simply found people that appreciated the person I was. This is how you make real friends, and 12 years later they're still my best friends. Over the years many things changed, and I was exposed to, if may be so immodest, quite the popularity surge. I don't think this was due to the fact that more people wanted to know <i>me - </i>they just wanted a deeper look at (what they considered) the "exotic" personality that I was. I'm from a small community, and figured that when I moved things would be different. That somewhere else <i>I</i> wouldn't be so different. I was wrong. I have moved, I am in a different place, and I still feel as alien as ever. It's like the very core of me, how I am made, what I was born of, and what nourishes me is just so fundamentally different to that of other people. No one has ever spared any expense informing me of this either: "I've <i>never</i> met anyone <u>quite like you</u>", "You're <u>unlike</u> <i>anyone</i> I've ever met", "You really <i>are</i> quite <u>special</u>, aren't you?", "You're just <i>so</i> <u>different</u> to everyone", and in some cases the good old "Freak", are all things people have told me for as long as I can remember. I always thought they were wrong, that fundamentally we're all the same. We are all human, after all. I was, perhaps, just more open and honest, more unafraid and raw. More human? After all these years, however, I'm starting to wonder. Maybe, just this once, about just this one thing, they were right and I was wrong. In my life, I've felt like Megan Fox's character Lily from the movie Passion Play. Like I was the bird woman at a circus carnival. There is one particularly powerful scene, where she goes to have her wings removed (which of course symbolizes her getting rid of her uniqueness). In comes Mickey Rourke's character to try to stop her, and she's like..<br />
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and he's all "You're not a freak, don't change yourself, you're special" and stuff, and she's like...<br />
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and I know how she feels. I've had people point out everything I "should" change about myself my entire life, and I'm like...<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>..pretending to be pondering what they tell me..</i></td></tr>
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and then I'm like..<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>If it threatens your commonality, sorry. I'm not sorry.</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>..and I don't have time for your negativity or jealousy.</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjinGv86LGkOvYk6-LMMsUplRz23jk_7FtpTIXUXu3vwcn8bY9-xqPqEkZSXFnD4lKAobEFdc9xqU19C-BpinKdjZkPuynkADlMpzTJxgjYOrvLrtTyuzHPqmntpLh3iHeDR4HCGkAu0bzg/s1600/jenn.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjinGv86LGkOvYk6-LMMsUplRz23jk_7FtpTIXUXu3vwcn8bY9-xqPqEkZSXFnD4lKAobEFdc9xqU19C-BpinKdjZkPuynkADlMpzTJxgjYOrvLrtTyuzHPqmntpLh3iHeDR4HCGkAu0bzg/s1600/jenn.gif" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>So I'll keep talking about things that I find interesting and relevant..</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxY23HGYL96XVd37G574bRaveOnJdm5AkMBxEs3q0tiAA4JQP77W_iVKNjJkKGQQu6rvq-hFVwE9TP2pJ2XT9Mgw23AvC5s6Nw4OFmiahVwo-86HCWQEj9LRTCtC1dooOL3PbMko_sqv0E/s1600/junkfood.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxY23HGYL96XVd37G574bRaveOnJdm5AkMBxEs3q0tiAA4JQP77W_iVKNjJkKGQQu6rvq-hFVwE9TP2pJ2XT9Mgw23AvC5s6Nw4OFmiahVwo-86HCWQEj9LRTCtC1dooOL3PbMko_sqv0E/s1600/junkfood.gif" height="225" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>..eating junk food..</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimE4U35RTfFWpjB1YGJlZr3TMxLLmnNj1cOye_idSqekcuZi9dtClJ1r26KL1abhI1MmGp15Rfx7yKCl_q6_zcOYyDGfd76L5MytPeGjPWESz2zFfxnoEpSXIB_-VcEFAaCMj2N4VErkB2/s1600/megan.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimE4U35RTfFWpjB1YGJlZr3TMxLLmnNj1cOye_idSqekcuZi9dtClJ1r26KL1abhI1MmGp15Rfx7yKCl_q6_zcOYyDGfd76L5MytPeGjPWESz2zFfxnoEpSXIB_-VcEFAaCMj2N4VErkB2/s1600/megan.gif" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>..and just being me.</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKTUa6-HGUSTUNTODIxymO_Ut6bH9-m0oJJVt33hWZdpdx_LqYfZfmGXJiNbkSZFXWM6N6Ef60G3mqI1ew4FnBwFTKO2WCvdFCQ_aemrtvqjJYxHitjlNYVbDmBX-IgcGcoxfQrJgFSebs/s1600/thumbs+up.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKTUa6-HGUSTUNTODIxymO_Ut6bH9-m0oJJVt33hWZdpdx_LqYfZfmGXJiNbkSZFXWM6N6Ef60G3mqI1ew4FnBwFTKO2WCvdFCQ_aemrtvqjJYxHitjlNYVbDmBX-IgcGcoxfQrJgFSebs/s1600/thumbs+up.gif" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Because, I like myself..</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPMKx__Mln_7AULaRdrP7x8nfDm1txV0Hywxin5J-RPBY-4GfYuT_p4Cw5_il0y4BLbmlupSfojrRbG8LQP6RTKty3vx0MwUR3Y21urB3BDUxLKYXIIg2qpEasOpQ0Hh_PwTsr-V3JtmE1/s1600/MC.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPMKx__Mln_7AULaRdrP7x8nfDm1txV0Hywxin5J-RPBY-4GfYuT_p4Cw5_il0y4BLbmlupSfojrRbG8LQP6RTKty3vx0MwUR3Y21urB3BDUxLKYXIIg2qpEasOpQ0Hh_PwTsr-V3JtmE1/s1600/MC.gif" height="225" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>..and listening to the bad things people who don't know me tell me is not going to get me anywhere.</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
So if you still have these toxic people in your life, you gotta be like..</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU2oaeKtTWc44FKkC_sN3dA5-AwyEvSQZ-smV91JDdeJo1A6NBLn2hG4uRdwxzX99GVD8HzlG09f7MKgAPpy2WSk88G8dn-aNkvKSiGYODqm6Rm1w22ATpnYWvOSZA9D1IkCsTrPEhwErg/s1600/done.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU2oaeKtTWc44FKkC_sN3dA5-AwyEvSQZ-smV91JDdeJo1A6NBLn2hG4uRdwxzX99GVD8HzlG09f7MKgAPpy2WSk88G8dn-aNkvKSiGYODqm6Rm1w22ATpnYWvOSZA9D1IkCsTrPEhwErg/s1600/done.gif" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Sayonara, bitches.</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Because they aren't worth it. Don't be tempted to go soft and be all..</div>
<div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD1t7sGn98DIjyu8e8AKHTqyC_lnHvNnuMBL9nPx0-0uD_LUiAuSO8MjYeckHxoVwHEulyg1Gj0EXoT0ABEAKkzqoKc7G2kvnrnYzO4iXRuj_j2sD2UFcPL1TAcbiGykHuIeeCUlYd3wz8/s1600/I'm_just_kidding.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD1t7sGn98DIjyu8e8AKHTqyC_lnHvNnuMBL9nPx0-0uD_LUiAuSO8MjYeckHxoVwHEulyg1Gj0EXoT0ABEAKkzqoKc7G2kvnrnYzO4iXRuj_j2sD2UFcPL1TAcbiGykHuIeeCUlYd3wz8/s1600/I'm_just_kidding.gif" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>..because they're not when they're dishing out their "opinions".</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
So..</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7jTJC4KYdr-BGO3ywFIHRHElvdEpSfatIKFa-cCp7JeVNZnj2JamkCRzwvjdGhppxiLK0Pj7NzeNkvhuWv2fDPczXY79ZcCE2ieVRIcCSjTrsYRBXg0oa74DxgPMq9HllwDSLoR3JyUO2/s1600/fuckem.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7jTJC4KYdr-BGO3ywFIHRHElvdEpSfatIKFa-cCp7JeVNZnj2JamkCRzwvjdGhppxiLK0Pj7NzeNkvhuWv2fDPczXY79ZcCE2ieVRIcCSjTrsYRBXg0oa74DxgPMq9HllwDSLoR3JyUO2/s1600/fuckem.gif" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
and be all..</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtbN7KNzBJMIyht09DqYUi0UWmlcvU9vIe6sBsm86h06CGZCiam01jkrPUpFbEnOJoxMDFmumPUqn9NH-lhaj2KMbNqaiKQjy4Jbhdycozd1IhS5SfM2-FRwuhdsN6wUJ-yGgb1-qbjtGl/s1600/whoiam.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtbN7KNzBJMIyht09DqYUi0UWmlcvU9vIe6sBsm86h06CGZCiam01jkrPUpFbEnOJoxMDFmumPUqn9NH-lhaj2KMbNqaiKQjy4Jbhdycozd1IhS5SfM2-FRwuhdsN6wUJ-yGgb1-qbjtGl/s1600/whoiam.gif" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Most importantly..</div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeD0nS2QxiYShl85Hb4mwsPfx9DU4XcZ9mSysUxPKIKnR-U4kJDMRmSLug_HieMVKo0NKb2GJabgAXoswX0WZ8IMCRr9cL6wn1UwNgBBLU0Blh62PHa3NIhBnXjxsMd11DK75aq5qVJwzX/s1600/noshame.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeD0nS2QxiYShl85Hb4mwsPfx9DU4XcZ9mSysUxPKIKnR-U4kJDMRmSLug_HieMVKo0NKb2GJabgAXoswX0WZ8IMCRr9cL6wn1UwNgBBLU0Blh62PHa3NIhBnXjxsMd11DK75aq5qVJwzX/s1600/noshame.gif" /></a></div>
<div>
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<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
and..</div>
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<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP7wnGK7mWzeGvk00oMU6_nvsTwfSF7UEjOSR5S8DJdcUI2-f9i0MVTtOEsB7_dtxNoUjUlBh22AJ-NGi7iYa-SmYgWMGOjMIAFfkDejJxdyPq23fpBwFY3lwtlsQxsbf51pXSqKfCBI9B/s1600/haters.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP7wnGK7mWzeGvk00oMU6_nvsTwfSF7UEjOSR5S8DJdcUI2-f9i0MVTtOEsB7_dtxNoUjUlBh22AJ-NGi7iYa-SmYgWMGOjMIAFfkDejJxdyPq23fpBwFY3lwtlsQxsbf51pXSqKfCBI9B/s1600/haters.gif" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
As for me..</div>
<div>
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<div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikeuvyPB4dWrIRFVKojEF7h5A3ps0IqZGMLy1U7FGOa8-YI-tGCRBdzY7AzvPUXBf8vr0sG27-xpIG-3sPU2al7iAnXTbtzc3aI03kqRzjywExmTMrbjo9rqdb_NdnaxzUDxRin-mW_Hpp/s1600/weird.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikeuvyPB4dWrIRFVKojEF7h5A3ps0IqZGMLy1U7FGOa8-YI-tGCRBdzY7AzvPUXBf8vr0sG27-xpIG-3sPU2al7iAnXTbtzc3aI03kqRzjywExmTMrbjo9rqdb_NdnaxzUDxRin-mW_Hpp/s1600/weird.gif" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Adds a bit of fun to life, doesn't it?</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
..and I know a lot of people have opinions on that..</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-_N_RYmvrEorAyppopke3KkHf2QVhyphenhyphenLTT_2sjAV9fu5dAEq2KA1Nmu22W3UUwdXihKrYPGnldr9rrrG6R4zCsbzniUKtLaHsJJDS30blNa758e-IAPGgyXna1VCzU_amER6VTf4l0Wvgh/s1600/ohdontcare.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-_N_RYmvrEorAyppopke3KkHf2QVhyphenhyphenLTT_2sjAV9fu5dAEq2KA1Nmu22W3UUwdXihKrYPGnldr9rrrG6R4zCsbzniUKtLaHsJJDS30blNa758e-IAPGgyXna1VCzU_amER6VTf4l0Wvgh/s1600/ohdontcare.gif" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>..I don't. Sorry. I'm not sorry.</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I am me. I am more than good enough. I am just who I need to be. Sometimes though, even I need to remind myself of that. Hopefully, if anyone is reading this and feeling the same way, it also reminds you.</div>
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<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
If you enjoyed this post, please like it and share it with your friends.</div>
<div>
Yours</div>
<div>
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Cah Cahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16582407345683736955noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2759238409115155275.post-7685841991055832102014-02-05T06:13:00.001+00:002014-06-22T07:19:04.757+01:00Bill Nye The Science Guy vs Ken HamFor reasons unknown to me, Bill Nye - Emmy Award winning educator and CEO of The Planetary Society - decided to humor everyone and attend a debate (which can be seen <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z6kgvhG3AkI" target="_blank">here</a>) with Christian author Ken Ham at the Creation Museum. I don't really know what to say about it. The debate was inevitably filled with "Hamisms", illogical deductions, and embarrassing "points" made by Ham. Nye, bubbly and likable as ever, certainly held his own, and remained so extraordinarily respectful, you would almost believe he took Ham seriously. - an incredible feat considering the, uh, <i>case</i> he presented. Here are just a some points I'd like to make (the debate is long, so I've just picked a few random things).<br />
<br />
<br />
<h3>
"Hamisms"</h3>
<div>
These are things that Ham has become quite known for. For example the quote "Were you there?". Ham tries to provide solid arguments and rebuttals, but whenever he feels cornered i.e. he can't make an effective counter argument (which is a lot of the time) he asks "Were you there?" in the smuggest voice, as if to suggest that he just pulled the rug from under you. Listen up, Hammy: you cannot have a scientific debate about what happened in the past and then exclaim "Aha! But were you there?", or when Nye presented the story of what happened to the largest wooden ship built by the foremost experts of the time (long story short - it sank) and based on that questioned whether a man and a few other presumably much less skilled (obviously based on the science available at the time, education, resources etc.) individuals could actually have pulled off building the ark, Ham's counter argument was "But did you meet Noah? No. Neither did I. None of us have. So what do you really know about his skills?". Nye, why did you even bother?</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZFIw9uNTyrLAsEpoD2b9rCeath-n9JeEgn6E0A0oS_lh-agZF8CAb9497rkGwubcDCO6k8xA0CrXXgp0fy9wMpiqpZ2lYx2DoyCS3Kpi5jZjLRDWnCiN_sSDDtyLBHucl7mEYSL5_i112/s1600/Noahs+Ark+-+no+more+dinosaurs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZFIw9uNTyrLAsEpoD2b9rCeath-n9JeEgn6E0A0oS_lh-agZF8CAb9497rkGwubcDCO6k8xA0CrXXgp0fy9wMpiqpZ2lYx2DoyCS3Kpi5jZjLRDWnCiN_sSDDtyLBHucl7mEYSL5_i112/s1600/Noahs+Ark+-+no+more+dinosaurs.jpg" height="208" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Unsurprisingly, only one of them even mentioned dinosaurs in their presentation. Hint: it wasn't the one who would have difficulties explaining them.</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h3>
Illogical deductions</h3>
<div>
Ham does seem to be a master at these. The question was asked "what was before the big bang?". Nye excitedly exclaims "we don't know!" with a big smile on his face, and starts talking about how wonderful and mysterious it is and how scientists are trying to figure it out (and a whole lot of other things - watch the debate). Anyway, in comes Ken Ham with his rebuttal "Actually there's a book out there that tells us where matter came from, "in the beginning god created the heavens and the earth" and really it's the only thing that makes sense." OK, let me get this straight: because we don't know something (yet), the only thing that makes sense is god? This sounds like caveman logic, Ham! Caveman logic (fire equals magic, sun equals god etc.) when applied to greater things (like how "everything" began) is still caveman logic!<br />
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<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCso67E07ToPErY7fU3L_5Yi89MFhjXMtsQJBCh8_FnK4Cxk3vIMToZ4ctElFu0LVlCyw2nWX6-P-3cWv-240wmF8IAPKnLclSFjoFz-Fxxka3ZqqAIV-0OWEGupZUR0gqaOieD9uX6GVy/s1600/bill.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCso67E07ToPErY7fU3L_5Yi89MFhjXMtsQJBCh8_FnK4Cxk3vIMToZ4ctElFu0LVlCyw2nWX6-P-3cWv-240wmF8IAPKnLclSFjoFz-Fxxka3ZqqAIV-0OWEGupZUR0gqaOieD9uX6GVy/s1600/bill.png" height="193" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Screen capture of Bill as Ham is making the aforementioned deduction. He is visibly impressed by Ham's logic and obviously agrees that it makes perfect sense.</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<h3>
Embarrassing points <span style="font-weight: normal;"><i>(listed in no particular order)</i></span></h3>
</div>
1. One point Ham made, was that there certainly were Christian scientists who agreed with the billions of years old model "model" of the earth, but many who didn't. Contrary to what many religious people think, being an atheist isn't about disproving religion, and if the evidence for a 6500 year old earth (which is what Ham believes) was overwhelming, we would accept that as the probable truth. This left me wondering: while there are Christians who agree with "our" view, do you think there is <i>any</i> atheist scientist who, based purely on "evidence", believes the earth is only 6500 years old, or am I rightfully assuming that the only, ahem, <i>scientists</i> who believe this based on whatever "evidence" they claim to have are in fact Christian scientists? If you know of any atheist scientists who believe the earth is 6500 years, please let me know. I would find that very interesting!<br />
<br />
2. "You believe that when you die, it's over. So what's the point of discovery anyway? You'll never know you were here, and no one you knew will know they were ever here, so what's the point anyway. I love discovery, because this is God's creation, and I am finding out more about that" And this is why I feel so bad for many religious people. Because this - this is where we differ so greatly. To only value experience, knowledge, wisdom, discovery - life! - because you believe in an afterlife? It makes no sense! If anything, knowing that we only have this life and that it is so limited makes me appreciate it all so much more!<br />
<br />
3. Ham made a <i>very</i> cringy statement about how amazing God is for creating the stars to show us how powerful he is. Christians may find that awe inspiring - I find it creepy, narcissistic, quite frankly it sounds like he's trying to cope with feelings of inadequacy. He also went on the usual rant about how amazing it is that God created faulty human beings and then sent his own son to die for sins he knew we'd commit. It's hard to fathom that he doesn't grasp how absolutely tragic that sounds.<br />
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4. He used the phrase: "The fact of Noah's flood". It's not a fact, Ken. It doesn't matter how convinced you are or how hard you believe it! Not. A. Fact. Use the correct terminology, please.<br />
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5. Ham was asked "what, if anything, would change your mind?". He couldn't answer this question. He went on a rant about a whole host of things that were completely unrelated, because ultimately the answer to this question is "nothing", and that's what poses the ultimate problem: as scientists we <i>want</i> challenges, we encourage change, we strive for discovery, and anything that can shake our world and completely throw us off our feet we embrace and rejoice in. We want our minds changed. This is why scientific debates can be so fulfilling! Many religious people (Ken Ham included), however, already know what they need to know, and any debate with them is certainly not so <i>they</i> can be enlightened. They will only accept evidence that support what they already know, whereas a scientist will relish in that which challenges what is already established - it's what keeps things interesting! Of course there are scientists who drown in their own ego and would rather die than see their research refuted, but it's not the norm (just like gay bashing, funeral crashing people with signs saying "god hates fags" aren't the Christian norm). It should be mentioned that Nye offered up a whole host of things that would change him in an instant - trouble is it was all solid evidence, and we all know that is apparently very difficult for Creationists to produce (for good reasons).<br />
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6. But the absolute most embarrassing point was not one that was stated nor was it a new revelation to anyone who's ever watched or read anything by Ken Ham - he doesn't have the most basic grasp on what science is all about. He uses big words and likes to pretend, but essentially what he does is so far removed from actual science that it's embarrassing that he's even trying to market this as anything even remotely similar. One issue with Ham's version of "science" is that it deals only with the past. What is one of the most basic signs of good science? That we can accurately predict future outcomes based on what we know! What did Ham say about this when Nye addressed the issue? Nothing of course! Never responded to it. Another thing is that if you're going to make extraordinary claims and market them as science, you need to have <i>very</i> solid evidence backing up what you're saying (In fact in science, for any claim to be accepted, you always need <i>very</i> solid evidence). If Ken Ham had that we wouldn't even be having this discussion.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPUs63qfSsW0fWoba0bp9KNVx2eE3UmELYroJD5Z9DpWdUThRQ31fnIH-rypp_LEzpgmVI1CATp8AuBAqZ9DWxy2Cs2nzc5CS8oJMXx2ZeCaWD8bTJgwQrLGTA91FPrEDO__ojkZWhT5xd/s1600/jesusmagic.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPUs63qfSsW0fWoba0bp9KNVx2eE3UmELYroJD5Z9DpWdUThRQ31fnIH-rypp_LEzpgmVI1CATp8AuBAqZ9DWxy2Cs2nzc5CS8oJMXx2ZeCaWD8bTJgwQrLGTA91FPrEDO__ojkZWhT5xd/s1600/jesusmagic.gif" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Jesus showing of his amazing powers.</i></td></tr>
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These were only some of the things that were discussed and stood out to me. I really recommend you watch the debate (<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z6kgvhG3AkI#t=8656" target="_blank">here</a>)! If you enjoyed this post, please tweet it, like it and share it with your friends!<br />
Yours,<br />
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Cah Cahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16582407345683736955noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2759238409115155275.post-8970792458560914692014-02-04T01:02:00.000+00:002014-06-22T07:19:14.650+01:0010 Things I Can't Live WithoutAs I'm standing in front of the microwave oven, reheating the pancakes I made last night I start thinking deeply about life, for example "like, what even <i>was</i> life before the microwave oven? Like, yeah..", and it got me reflecting over things in my life that I really can't live without (the microwave oven doesn't really count here, because I've actually been without one for 4 years - still very much alive! That being said I'm really happy to have one again). Anyway, here are a few things I can't live without (Cue "Ken Lee") in semi-particular order (good luck figuring out what that means).<br />
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<h3>
10. Make up</h3>
I'm not one of those people who needs to apply a different face to take out the trash, but I definitely love a bit of make up, and if it's up to me I'll never stop using it. I like it very subtle and natural on the daily, though.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRenDYshG5kFYkiv961FJ1WYG8F1deb_pg24sVQtzgbNitC4u_L3cNF1C9w6HK9Kb9MiA4nWnBlXe18Q4hFFK9MDSTBdKtT2HKqLSsO9eCay31FGNrPyeVXSHZWZ4ucOYRjqB686XyJMZk/s1600/geisha.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRenDYshG5kFYkiv961FJ1WYG8F1deb_pg24sVQtzgbNitC4u_L3cNF1C9w6HK9Kb9MiA4nWnBlXe18Q4hFFK9MDSTBdKtT2HKqLSsO9eCay31FGNrPyeVXSHZWZ4ucOYRjqB686XyJMZk/s1600/geisha.gif" height="640" width="460" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Just me in my natural, everyday make up.</i></td></tr>
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<h3>
9. Cake</h3>
<div>
This wonderful woman I used to work with once said "Generally, I eat healthy food, but I love cake and I'll tell you - as long as I live - I will <i>never</i> stop eating cake. I <i>love </i>cake, and I will continue to eat cake until I die." That's pretty much how I feel about cake. Fuck you, Hollywood and fuck you Vogue - I'll keep eating cake until I die!</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXg4j5WuHYOw__W3anac8Mdg8fF0ekO3roExcD_H3w4d_99kbDqgjfMEo_tkgXbNQ7QkwNxlCXbzPDc8h9VdpNur7pkQ1iczwlriTOoaUKFJ_u-N0lZJcUKxg2GeD-IY2g0Acec4LIoJI6/s1600/cake.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXg4j5WuHYOw__W3anac8Mdg8fF0ekO3roExcD_H3w4d_99kbDqgjfMEo_tkgXbNQ7QkwNxlCXbzPDc8h9VdpNur7pkQ1iczwlriTOoaUKFJ_u-N0lZJcUKxg2GeD-IY2g0Acec4LIoJI6/s1600/cake.gif" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>I've wanted that cake since the first time I saw "Matilda".</i></td></tr>
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<h3>
8. Junk Food</h3>
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There are times in my life where I get really healthy and completely cut out junk food, and to be fair I do feel so much better physically, but I always miss it so much, and I'm not a fan of denying myself the pleasures of life. Good old fashion burgers, french fries, and deep fried chicken are favorites of mine. Also, I will keep eating this because YOLO, so there's an irrefutable argument.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaKzfy57Ap9Sa-va3vbIC4BW2k3G_FtXMsFUOWmEwEsZ6ULPkaQNxx0UgKdRGZPpghtJ_cCcvNd577IhsV5-vdhdPlaKtDKRg9ih_MIlgmYTEkeELm1YaO4wfXrQgDOacCiFzzKfz7wjhc/s1600/funny-diet-plan-eat-food-weight.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaKzfy57Ap9Sa-va3vbIC4BW2k3G_FtXMsFUOWmEwEsZ6ULPkaQNxx0UgKdRGZPpghtJ_cCcvNd577IhsV5-vdhdPlaKtDKRg9ih_MIlgmYTEkeELm1YaO4wfXrQgDOacCiFzzKfz7wjhc/s1600/funny-diet-plan-eat-food-weight.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>How I live my life.</i></td></tr>
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<h3>
7. Pizza <span style="font-weight: normal;"><i>(deserves a separate space)</i></span></h3>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0om60NClEyIBXtRE6DDE5vRCHgcU2mpxl8UtYMVwOTLhY46k29ygsdcxQ8nmFIIPxYrQ9sgSqXkfeqtjdxqWIlWxGHlLajS7nckY7Sk0HcRfl4EPtw0ysEYBT8vx_ppI8205KOU6nYbT-/s1600/pizza.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0om60NClEyIBXtRE6DDE5vRCHgcU2mpxl8UtYMVwOTLhY46k29ygsdcxQ8nmFIIPxYrQ9sgSqXkfeqtjdxqWIlWxGHlLajS7nckY7Sk0HcRfl4EPtw0ysEYBT8vx_ppI8205KOU6nYbT-/s1600/pizza.jpg" height="348" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>I don't think I need to explain this one.</i></td></tr>
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<h3>
6. Books</h3>
<div>
One of the most important things in my life are undoubtedly books. My dad used to read fairy tales to me when I was a kid, I used to listen to audio tapes with stories, and most importantly I used to (and still do) read a lot. Books are a godsend for a child with a vivid imagination, and they are a place of refuge for kids without friends (which I was), and they also provide shelter from a busy adult mind.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4KAUz2Kx-2D3sgK1f9uk-f3lyO-GkA0KMjq3XKPWZZ_b1n0hmsf1hqyp-CNrzxFJ6d19WHTnW9sbXWQCTvNZyZrY8KEJKsYQQNtPEzKqVX2zmdJzOEWJtqpLEkKBUqr2OSpr9soiP9hi4/s1600/Beauty_26cc02_2695195.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4KAUz2Kx-2D3sgK1f9uk-f3lyO-GkA0KMjq3XKPWZZ_b1n0hmsf1hqyp-CNrzxFJ6d19WHTnW9sbXWQCTvNZyZrY8KEJKsYQQNtPEzKqVX2zmdJzOEWJtqpLEkKBUqr2OSpr9soiP9hi4/s1600/Beauty_26cc02_2695195.jpg" height="309" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Mhm, you got it, son.</i></td></tr>
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<h3>
5. Humor</h3>
<div>
Life without a sense of humor? Tragic. Obviously, some of you may read my blog and be all like "yeah, you'd know about that" because you don't find me funny at all. That's OK - I do!</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyoDMAe5uWGvBUKYvNE7Q1WSPt34DGs0L-xluHAgvEiNOsoVczHy0TL7U8TOltNYu8avFuhd5oD44g5XJqGPczbf9fqlHA6rghRAdleFXhmeCDC1HcfKKnvyTj6dIOw8FSb2lWjYmRC0P7/s1600/smiley-pic1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyoDMAe5uWGvBUKYvNE7Q1WSPt34DGs0L-xluHAgvEiNOsoVczHy0TL7U8TOltNYu8avFuhd5oD44g5XJqGPczbf9fqlHA6rghRAdleFXhmeCDC1HcfKKnvyTj6dIOw8FSb2lWjYmRC0P7/s1600/smiley-pic1.jpg" height="245" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Look how happy they are! Must watch this movie! It's even called "Smiley" so you know it <b>must</b> be hilarious!</i></td></tr>
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<h3>
4. The Internet <span style="font-weight: normal;"><i>(and all it entails Facebook, Skype, Youtube etc.)</i></span></h3>
I have used the internet my entire life. I can't imagine living without it. No Facebook (where would I post all of the random things I think????). No Skype to keep me in touch with friends around the world! No YouTube to watch cat videos on! Life is definitely richer with cat videos..<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM748aWkHK-HtzNDZ4JyWOGYxpdIBF-7NcmH65crDkkyruaj0cI4u_XSlOmyjsfGlvTlw7i8QBXn1KTUrovhoiv0JcJQ588PpoFh7jMvPa0nj203Tx1cJ9ERLS7g-OLQrHFr3qRNURHQ2q/s1600/cat.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM748aWkHK-HtzNDZ4JyWOGYxpdIBF-7NcmH65crDkkyruaj0cI4u_XSlOmyjsfGlvTlw7i8QBXn1KTUrovhoiv0JcJQ588PpoFh7jMvPa0nj203Tx1cJ9ERLS7g-OLQrHFr3qRNURHQ2q/s1600/cat.gif" height="291" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>I mean.. INTERNET :')</i></td></tr>
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<h3>
3. & 2. My friends & family</h3>
This might be an obvious one (unless you're a friendless orphan, in which case I apologize for my assumption). I had to combine these, because they're both equally important in different ways. The amazing thing about family is that they are people who will (or should!) always be there for you. You can disagree, you can fight, and you can even walk out, but you'll never truly stop being someone's mother, father, sister, brother, son, daughter etc. The incredible thing about friends is that they <i>can</i> actually walk away and be done with it, but through it all they <i>choose</i> to stay. I wouldn't be anywhere in my life if it wasn't for my family and friends. Was it not for their support I'd never be able to write this blog that makes me no money whatsoever and gets me nowhere in life! Thanks you guys!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW_IBflT-QN4x2UFHDNGcl7WmnH0jMc140mZJ0H-rJJOEeuzlmk0r2DFbWPlU6xGAjUm3pQ1gRKPoTjToBToisaUdfaNLyTGtdUyGR7wwVmv6A2NMwVvcD84X3XFbrCcIn6kARK8P-j6Hi/s1600/brandnew.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW_IBflT-QN4x2UFHDNGcl7WmnH0jMc140mZJ0H-rJJOEeuzlmk0r2DFbWPlU6xGAjUm3pQ1gRKPoTjToBToisaUdfaNLyTGtdUyGR7wwVmv6A2NMwVvcD84X3XFbrCcIn6kARK8P-j6Hi/s1600/brandnew.gif" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Probably how a lot of you felt after reading my explanation of why family and friends are amazing.</i></td></tr>
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<b>And the number one, ultimate, most important thing in the world to me that I can't live without is...</b><br />
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<h3>
1. God</h3>
<div>
Nothing is more important to me than my faith. That's a joke, nr 2 is actually nr 1, and nr 1 is fake. Like "God".</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcYNyCsWqLXOV-4cZemnH50PJiMEuUvBEpJDWzSHTs3Tjr0QMZFLXwEcMCcriyc-GcEqRS9UfX3rRTAaA7nScH20VtOlreC9qLXFKI_eNWtY0GwY2ce7ZaI42f0mrOaDn_kgbZ9g0NZejF/s1600/funny-lightning-strike-city-fuck-this-area-in-particular-pics.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcYNyCsWqLXOV-4cZemnH50PJiMEuUvBEpJDWzSHTs3Tjr0QMZFLXwEcMCcriyc-GcEqRS9UfX3rRTAaA7nScH20VtOlreC9qLXFKI_eNWtY0GwY2ce7ZaI42f0mrOaDn_kgbZ9g0NZejF/s1600/funny-lightning-strike-city-fuck-this-area-in-particular-pics.jpg" height="304" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Worth it!</i></td></tr>
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So there you have it! The 10 (well actually 9) things I can't live without! If you enjoyed this post, please tweet it, like it and share it with your friends!<br />
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Yours,</div>
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Cah Cahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16582407345683736955noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2759238409115155275.post-6218841313242912952014-02-01T03:41:00.000+00:002014-07-15T13:57:19.183+01:00Whale Killings In The Faroe IslandsOK, there have been countless blog posts about this topic now, and since I am no expert I've held my tongue. Be that as it may there are so many things being said that even the slightest attempt at basic research would disprove, that it's becoming increasingly frustrating to identify as human - the stupidity is overwhelming.<br />
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One of the greatest strengths of the internet is also one of its greatest weaknesses: everyone gets a voice. That means people, whose thoughts and opinions would be much better served if they never reached the light of day, get to express themselves. Sometimes this is harmless; everyone is allowed their own opinion. It is when an opinion is based on misinformation and lies that it becomes not only wrong, but also invalid, because contrary to popular belief you are not <i>entitled</i> to have a wrong opinion. If there are facts that <i>prove</i> the reasoning for your opinion is wrong, there is no reason at all for anyone to accept your opinion as being neither valid nor acceptable, and <b>this</b> is what is happening with the whale killings in the Faroes.<br />
You are <i>completely</i> in the right to disagree with whale killings for the simple reason that you may really like whales. It's not an opinion that holds a lot of weight, and it most certainly is no argument for you to try to get them banned, unless you are in fact vegan and are <i>equally</i> against the slaughter of all animals, in which case you are completely allowed to fight against whale killings all you want <i>equally</i> alongside your fight against the killings of other animals. Might I even suggest that you start with the <b>millions</b> of animals whose entire lives are spent in tiny enclosures alongside their peers, living in their own urine and feces, whose existence is filled with misery, sickness, and broken bones, until they are killed in completely inhumane ways, rather than the few hundreds of whales that are killed by the Faroese people - as quickly and humanely as possible - after living free, full lives at sea.<br />
However, if you're going to disagree with whale killings because you've read some bogus article about it being a "rite of passage" into adulthood, because pilot whales are "endangered", because it's something that's done "for fun" at "blood festivals", because "look at all the blood in the ocean! They're savages", or because "whales are intelligent", let me tell you a few things.<br />
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1. It is not a "Rite of Passage"</h3>
<div>
Is it a "tradition"? Yes! The Faroese people have been doing this for hundreds of years. It's a part of their heritage and it most certainly is "passed down" - how else would it survive? However, this is done for food. The Faroes have a harsh climate and agriculture options are limited. Nearly everything has to be imported. Can you really judge them for getting food from where they can, especially considering that this is <i>not</i> an industry, the whales are not actively hunted, and the meat and blubber gets distributed evenly for free?</div>
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2. Pilot whales are <i>not</i> endangered</h3>
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I have no idea where this started. Pilot whales most certainly are not endangered, and if they were, it would not be because of the 0.1% of the whales that the Faroese people kill, that has long been deemed a very sustainable number.</div>
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3. There is no such thing as "Blood Festivals"</h3>
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I actually don't even know what more to say about this. How this one got started is a mystery to me. It is a complete fabrication - someone must have a very vivid imagination.</div>
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4. When you kill something, there will be blood (unless you use poison, or something)</h3>
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When cows and pigs are slaughtered there is a lot of blood as well. Only difference is they don't get slaughtered on a beach. Would you rather they moved the whales off the beach, bringing more suffering to everyone just so that it would look more appropriate? The Faroese mostly have great respect for these creatures, and don't wish to cause them any unnecessary suffering.</div>
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5. Whales <i>are </i>intelligent</h3>
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..but so are cows and pigs, and considering how they are treated during their entire lives in the meat industry, you <i>really</i> need to rethink this one. Did you know, that cows allegedly mourn the deaths of and even separation from those they love, even shedding tears over their loss. The mother-calf bond is particularly strong, and there are countless reports of mother cows who continue to frantically call and search for their babies after the calves have been taken away and sold to veal or beef farms.</div>
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6. There is an entire system to all of this</h3>
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You may not be aware of this (actually if you're one of the people who believe the propaganda I'm <i>sure</i> you're not), but there really is an entire system to how this is handled. Pilot whales are not actively hunted and no one is out searching for them, trying to find a nice group of whales to kill. If they are spotted by someone, "Pilot Whale Foremen" - who are experts in the area - are informed and they have to judge whether the whales are close enough to shore, if the direction of the winds and currents are appropriate to ensure that it's easy to drive the whale onto a beach, but not just any beach: the beach has to have been specifically approved for pilot whale killing. If all of these requirements (and probably more that I'm unaware of) aren't met, the killings do <i>not</i> happen. If they are and the whales are driven onto shore, everything is monitored by officials and there's a whole system to all of that too. If it looks "savage" it's because people are bending over backwards to kill the whales as quickly as possible to ensure the least possible amount of stress. Killing something so you can eat it doesn't necessarily mean a lack of respect for the life and integrity of the animal (unless you're vegan or just don't eat meat, in which case I - yet again - welcome your criticism).</div>
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<h3>
7. This is the ultimate in "free range" meat</h3>
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These whales live free lives right up until they are killed. They swim freely in the ocean, they eat what they're supposed to eat, and they are not bred for the purpose of being eaten. Faroese agriculture in general is one of the best in the world. Sheep roam freely around the islands, contrary to most countries where farm animals live on top of each other in enclosures so small even an ant would get claustrophobic.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd5Qq7oh43EBx1shVrLq_5ax7p8JizEhXvKKuzCmTKvKfP61ct9TyrgEuBEw2ZlUH9j79Mb0SojV0Q8m1zfrtF0N4657bl5i84AI6hqvaGhaPyZYQtdrIBVsNI7Yp98jqquS8dxBXjDe-5/s1600/pilot+whale+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd5Qq7oh43EBx1shVrLq_5ax7p8JizEhXvKKuzCmTKvKfP61ct9TyrgEuBEw2ZlUH9j79Mb0SojV0Q8m1zfrtF0N4657bl5i84AI6hqvaGhaPyZYQtdrIBVsNI7Yp98jqquS8dxBXjDe-5/s1600/pilot+whale+2.jpg" height="234" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>How all pilot whales that are killed by the Faroese live up until their deaths.</i></td></tr>
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8. Look at yourselves and reflect</h3>
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Do you even know what is going on in your own countries? If you're Danish check out <a href="http://www.sickpigs.dk/" target="_blank">this link</a>. If you're American <a href="http://read%20this%20book/" target="_blank">read this book</a> or watch any undercover video by PETA. If you're from a more "exotic" location where poachers hunt animals to extinction for their tusks, horns, or fur I'm sure you can agree you have more important things to focus on.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFqEXkkl8kuZ1F2Xh4RPulHdOB5js302I0ba325AF-C60qNLdEArss_97zsjUE-DJNrO1EJHLXLE-VC_abbI8Vt4tj5aisIPmJJuSFKhyphenhyphenY6g51UnXzFLPg5Cj7oIJsiphcTj1m5MlOaPcF/s1600/intensive_Mastrinderhaltung_0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFqEXkkl8kuZ1F2Xh4RPulHdOB5js302I0ba325AF-C60qNLdEArss_97zsjUE-DJNrO1EJHLXLE-VC_abbI8Vt4tj5aisIPmJJuSFKhyphenhyphenY6g51UnXzFLPg5Cj7oIJsiphcTj1m5MlOaPcF/s1600/intensive_Mastrinderhaltung_0.jpg" height="224" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>How many cows live for great parts of their life. Go on, judge. Did you know, that animal behaviorists have found that cows interact in socially complex ways, developing friendships over time and sometimes holding grudges against other cows who treat them badly.</i></td></tr>
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Why do the Faroe Islands receive this kind of attention for what they do? Is it merely because of the lies and propaganda, or is it because you want somewhere to point your finger, somewhere to direct your attention, so you don't have to think about where that burger you're about to eat <i>really</i> comes from?<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPNRy_Qzlamow_B2pCMDDG-wvcyoBb6QOxU9yl06P9HQRAENZjbzJ-_u3F95bgqMRDgk1krw6QANllHDyXfu63_Xhp-3ifDlefHzWhGpYR7px_6APuNikZf6SPq66kwdF8RXG26yL42a1m/s1600/bullsit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPNRy_Qzlamow_B2pCMDDG-wvcyoBb6QOxU9yl06P9HQRAENZjbzJ-_u3F95bgqMRDgk1krw6QANllHDyXfu63_Xhp-3ifDlefHzWhGpYR7px_6APuNikZf6SPq66kwdF8RXG26yL42a1m/s1600/bullsit.jpg" height="390" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Good boy.</i></td></tr>
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If you'd like to know more about whaling <a href="http://www.whaling.fo/" target="_blank">press this link here.</a><br />
If you enjoyed this post, please like it and share it with your friends! <span style="text-align: justify;">If you want to receive updates about when I post new blog posts right away, like my blog's </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/talesofcahcah" style="text-align: justify;" target="_blank">Facebook page</a><span style="text-align: justify;">.</span><br />
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<br />
Yours,<br />
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Cah Cahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16582407345683736955noreply@blogger.com55tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2759238409115155275.post-78416937589197199332014-01-31T14:40:00.001+00:002014-06-22T07:20:16.296+01:00The Problem With Being a MILFYou've all probably seen it: some girl on your friends list happens to have a baby and still look good, and to every single nice photo she posts, the "MILF" (Mother I'd Like to Fuck) comments appear never ending. Now, I'm sure a lot of the time, the comments are all in good fun, but I can't help feeling a bit queasy because of them. First of all let this picture explain one thing:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTW9hyNic11cBFxmI5rA11_By9yWC3NLAqudPkDlFLoBO2lG0ePkW8ZNDtebwyKO3IZYyLiLXiK_4aZLwO5gJT4Vmzyk6f27jxyO2sU8X8g46Y929nu-azPEicyCEvlWYa1wwhvzgdgdUa/s1600/milf.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTW9hyNic11cBFxmI5rA11_By9yWC3NLAqudPkDlFLoBO2lG0ePkW8ZNDtebwyKO3IZYyLiLXiK_4aZLwO5gJT4Vmzyk6f27jxyO2sU8X8g46Y929nu-azPEicyCEvlWYa1wwhvzgdgdUa/s1600/milf.png" height="330" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Sorry, I'm not sorry</i></td></tr>
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Second of all, why is this something we consider a compliment? In 2014, have women not moved beyond the ultimate compliment being that we're fuckable? You gave life! You birthed a baby, and now you're raising this little wonder into what will hopefully be a human being that you can be proud of, which is something that takes a lot of hard work and dedication. All that, and the greatest mom related compliment someone can give you, is that you're a mom they'd like to fuck? Considering this, please ask yourselves: is it really strange that a lot of men don't respect women? I'm a woman, and I most certainly have much less respect for women like that, than for women who demand respect for their abilities, intelligence, and achievements. If objectifying yourself is all you have, you don't have anything. It's not empowering, it's not liberating, and you're not being "independent" or "strong". Owning your sexuality as a woman is empowering and you should never be ashamed of it, but self objectification is not owning your sexuality; it's handing it over to others for them to do with as they please.<br />
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If you enjoyed this post, please like it and share it with your friends. <span style="text-align: justify;">If you want to receive updates about when I post new blog posts right away, like my blog's </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/talesofcahcah" style="text-align: justify;" target="_blank">Facebook page</a><span style="text-align: justify;">.</span></div>
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Yours,</div>
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Cah Cahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16582407345683736955noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2759238409115155275.post-924778220123465802014-01-29T18:58:00.000+00:002014-06-22T07:26:01.508+01:00Stop Judging People With Expensive Things"You could feed an entire village in a third world country for a year with the cost of that coat". I just read this comment on a photo of a celebrity in a Burberry coat. Is that true? Maybe. Burberry coats cost a lot of money. The issue with this argument, however, is that using it means you have to give up any and all luxuries yourself. That means even giving up that "expensive" milk you prefer over the others. "Yeah but that's only 30p more". Still, it adds up, and by the end of the year, it will have accumulated enough that you could probably feed a family in a third world country weeks. "But you've got to be able to have SOME luxuries". Yes, and rich people can simply afford more expensive luxuries. Assuming that you're a regular, middle class citizen, you probably have money to give as well. Why don't you donate? Perhaps you do, but who says the celebrity in question doesn't? Why do people expect rich people to donate money, as if it's some sort of requirement of them. Rich people are no more obligated to donate money to charitable causes than "regular" people, neither should they feel they are. In a perfect world we'd all give a lot more than we do, but unless you give regularly yourself, don't bark at others for not doing it, even if they have more to give than you. To put things into perspective here are 5 things we all can stop doing and give the money to starving families in third world countries instead.<br />
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5. Stop partying</h3>
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Let's face it, getting drunk is expensive, and the amount of money you blow on a night out can be ridiculous. Stop partying, and just give that money to something charitable instead.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnJl25Rut1PA5AvvH4_D_NhynV9fZtfCmlA8dRcoLRJFB_NYuEoz-Pbwr4HpBvP8ODpoFhLLyrQMoXFccscIGsAuCJrGNKCtJw4kKlvAniKhyphenhypheny7em18Q6p7JlWkRfRfwLzbAa0I6pQDWgt/s1600/shamed_marker_drunk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnJl25Rut1PA5AvvH4_D_NhynV9fZtfCmlA8dRcoLRJFB_NYuEoz-Pbwr4HpBvP8ODpoFhLLyrQMoXFccscIGsAuCJrGNKCtJw4kKlvAniKhyphenhypheny7em18Q6p7JlWkRfRfwLzbAa0I6pQDWgt/s1600/shamed_marker_drunk.jpg" height="307" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>You really don't think that money would be better spent on starving children?</i></td></tr>
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<h3>
4. Stop eating out</h3>
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Lunch with the girls? No way! BBQ with the guys? Forget it! Stop treating food as a luxury, and only eat what is absolutely essential to your survival. Going out for lunch, dinner, or any other meal, is just a way of spending too much money on food. Money, that would be better spent on starving families in third world countries.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8g3Hy9YuRGeFu6bJA7ITQkxVHTERqzE4CYulxwKCeT-_8-jALxwhmxSphbiwGsikW7O4VHbreiUBs6SHrkjIyeyznZL8SeJywvSHKnw8SiIpd98JEJH0GqIBzQPaYxwIB5UZ0nVpedZB4/s1600/Steak_frites.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8g3Hy9YuRGeFu6bJA7ITQkxVHTERqzE4CYulxwKCeT-_8-jALxwhmxSphbiwGsikW7O4VHbreiUBs6SHrkjIyeyznZL8SeJywvSHKnw8SiIpd98JEJH0GqIBzQPaYxwIB5UZ0nVpedZB4/s1600/Steak_frites.jpg" height="213" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>All I see is a waste of money! How about donating that money to charity instead?</i></td></tr>
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3. Stop using any products beyond what is required for basic hygiene</h3>
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That means no make up, no hair products beyond cheap shampoo, no perfume, no nail polish, no coconut body butter. Nothing. All the money we spend on these products would be much better served if it was donated to charity.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzLbueiHEIfDzZeGYVmKKWjNv8G5n_-lE3JZK5jHZZsFCTVPVD0OFDVGoSEQAbiy7GFpkTni3WaaW2S_VzNZI3Miwg9WZlSN1u8CV5h0_S0kdzqiMOZ54Owz9vPs3d3seUepYgLl-p4xpt/s1600/free-stuff-mac-pro-cosmetics.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzLbueiHEIfDzZeGYVmKKWjNv8G5n_-lE3JZK5jHZZsFCTVPVD0OFDVGoSEQAbiy7GFpkTni3WaaW2S_VzNZI3Miwg9WZlSN1u8CV5h0_S0kdzqiMOZ54Owz9vPs3d3seUepYgLl-p4xpt/s1600/free-stuff-mac-pro-cosmetics.jpg" height="343" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Who even wants to wear makeup anyway? Not me!.... not me.....</i></td></tr>
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2. Stop buying clothes in general</h3>
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Do you know how much the people that make our clothing earn pr. hour? LITTLE, that's how much! Buy fabric from a trusted source and make your own clothing instead. Not only does it save you money, but you acquire a new skill as well! If we all donated the money we would have spent on clothes to the people that make them, they'd live much better lives!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibzKki_iwvZsjObQFdn27qQgaOjC0g8TwY6oGihspWUpDY6I9gjh8jUNPN6U1idmFvdCrHFHQRAzMCrsbkQC-j5w4PFzgf5fzM3MXJa8DEiZ-S80rcAElbTRqKlWyRxNVmKi5kLz6fgFvN/s1600/blog.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibzKki_iwvZsjObQFdn27qQgaOjC0g8TwY6oGihspWUpDY6I9gjh8jUNPN6U1idmFvdCrHFHQRAzMCrsbkQC-j5w4PFzgf5fzM3MXJa8DEiZ-S80rcAElbTRqKlWyRxNVmKi5kLz6fgFvN/s1600/blog.png" height="190" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>.. you'll get the hang of it.</i></td></tr>
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And the ultimate thing you can do is...<br />
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1. Get a job as a relief worker</h3>
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Yes, you heard me! Quit your job, change your life, and move to a third world country and be a relief worker. Then you can judge me and everyone else from the comfort of your own tent.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3RQ6cMJCYqaJuR87sAcsGFJHUKndbcOpyDllRcxJko-0YPqckl2gPo3HE9lFyPbYA3NFzaG_y8lR8f73VpA2YZW7T6BPtI1_9g0Qdt3IVYd0NhuW0diJ6VgpjmpoJzCLzVgagWdAyVxOH/s1600/whitelady.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3RQ6cMJCYqaJuR87sAcsGFJHUKndbcOpyDllRcxJko-0YPqckl2gPo3HE9lFyPbYA3NFzaG_y8lR8f73VpA2YZW7T6BPtI1_9g0Qdt3IVYd0NhuW0diJ6VgpjmpoJzCLzVgagWdAyVxOH/s1600/whitelady.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>"All they need.. is a nice white lady."</i></td></tr>
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Do charitable causes deserve our money and attention? Yes! Very much so! Do they deserve them moreso than an expensive jacket? Also yes! The problem is, that these causes deserve our money more than almost everything we spend money on, so if we're going to attack someone for buying an expensive coat, we all have to completely rethink how we live our lives in their entirety. We do not live in third world countries. We can afford certain luxuries, and there is no reason that we shouldn't enjoy them. We just need to remember that it <i>is</i> a privilege, and never forget to not only be thankful, but also to give back. Besides, that coat or that steak dinner are not necessarily the issue. For example, some would argue that <a href="http://nationalpriorities.org/cost-of/" target="_blank">this money</a> could have been <i>much</i> better spent. It would certainly feed that poor third world country village for more than a year.<br />
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If you enjoyed this post, please like it and share it with your friends! <span style="text-align: justify;">If you want to receive updates about when I post new blog posts right away, like my blog's </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/talesofcahcah" style="text-align: justify;" target="_blank">Facebook page</a><span style="text-align: justify;">.</span></div>
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Yours,</div>
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Cah Cahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16582407345683736955noreply@blogger.com0