Thoughts from an everyday kinda guy from Ireland.I'm a writer, and some say a poet. I have been published in print and also online. I'm an Independent Food & Wine Consultant. I like photography. Am I any good? Sometimes, yes. I'm Irish, but live in France. I post thoughts, rants, my own photos and sometimes reblog stuff that catches my eye. Ask me a question, and I will answer.
Shorty's Musings
I’m quite conscious of the fact that I haven’t posted much in a while. Occasional bits here and there, but nothing substantial. There are a few reasons, really. One being my laptop, which is a netbook, just doesn’t like the posts on my dash because lots of them are animated gif files and such, which kills the ram and my browser. Okay, so maybe that’s a lame excuse, but I’m standing by it.
Another reason is that I’m working on a couple of projects right now that really need my focus. One is a research and interview project for a contact, centred around wine from the region of France that I live in. Since I work in wines and with a winery, it seemed an excellent way for me to gain more knowledge too. Eventually, the project will yield at least one or more magazine article in an American publication. I may not get much in the way of credit for it, but that isn’t really why I’m doing the work.
The other project I’m working on, and neglecting right now, is a new novel that I’m writing. For me, it’s exciting to actually have found some inspiration to write again. And it actually came from an unusual dream I had one night a few months ago. I won’t say too much but it is a crime thriller based in New York with a trio of FBI agents as the primary characters. The best thing about this novel that I’m finding is that I can let it sit for a few days if I have other things to do, and then re-open the file and pick up exactly where I left off. The words and ideas are flowing constantly and even when I’m not actually tapping out the words on my tiny netbook, I’m still thinking about the book, my characters and the action. And let me tell you, for a writer, that’s better than gold. But not quite as good as sex!
I know I’ve lost some followers recently, possibly cos I haven’t posted. On the other hand, they could be the strange spam accounts that followed me ages ago and no longer show in my follower list. I don’t know. Anyway, to those of you that have stuck with me and endured the long-standing silence, thank you. And to the new people who’ve followed me recently, thank you and welcome!
Oh, by the way. If any of you lovely folk live in New York city, and wouldn’t mind helping me with the geography of the city in my book, I’d really appreciate it! Message me if you can help or want to know more. Thank you!
boy do i like to piss off the pope
*cough* I’ll erm, I’ll just leave this right here… *cough*
(Source: racismschool, via 1lovebecky)
Why Society Still Needs Feminism
Because to men, a key is a device to open something. For women, it’s a weapon we hold between our fingers when we’re walking alone at night.
Because the biggest insult for a guy is to be called a “pussy,” a “little bitch” or a “girl.” From here on out, being called a “pussy” is an effing badge of honor.
Because last month, my politics professor asked the class if women should have equal representation in the Supreme Court, and only three out of 42 people raised their hands.
Because rape jokes are still a thing.
Because despite being equally broke college kids, guys are still expected to pay for dates, drinks and flowers.
Because as a legit student group, Campus Fellowship does not allow women to lead anything involving men. Look, I know Eve was dumb about the whole apple and snake thing, but I think we can agree having a vagina does not directly impact your ability to lead a
college organization.
Because it’s assumed that if you are nice to a girl, she owes you sex — therefore, if she turns you down, she’s a bitch who’s put you in the “friend zone.” Sorry, bro, women are not machines you put kindness coins into until sex falls out.
Because only 29 percent of American women identify as feminist, and in the words of author Caitlin Moran, “What part of ‘liberation for women’ is not for you? Is it freedom to vote? The right not to be owned by the man you marry? The campaign for equal pay? Did all that good shit get on your nerves? Or were you just drunk at the time
of the survey?”
Because when people hear the term feminist, they honestly think of women burning bras. Dude, have you ever bought a bra? No one would burn them because they’re freaking
expensive.
Because Rush Limbaugh.
Because we now have a record number of women in the Senate … which is a measly 20 out of 100. Congrats, USA, we’ve gone up to 78th place for women’s political representation, still below China, Rwanda and Iraq.
Because recently I had a discussion with a couple of well-meaning Drake University guys, and they literally could not fathom how catcalling a woman walking down University Avenue is creepy and sexist.
Could. Not. Fathom.
Because on average, the tenured male professors at Drake make more than the tenured female professors.
Because more people on campus complain about chalked statistics regarding sexual assault than complain about the existence of sexual assault. Priorities? Have them.
Because 138 House Republicans voted against the Violence Against Women Act. All 138 felt it shouldn’t provide support for Native women, LGBT people or immigrant women. I’m kind of confused by this, because I thought LGBT people and women of color were also human beings.
Weird, right?
Because a girl was roofied last semester at a local campus bar, and I heard someone say they think she should have been more careful. Being drugged is her fault, not the fault of the person who put drugs in her drink?
Because Chris Brown beat Rihanna so badly she was hospitalized, yet he still has fans and bestselling songs and a tattoo of an abused woman on his neck.
Because out of 7 billion people on the planet, more than 1 billion women will be raped or beaten in their lifetimes. Women and girls have their clitorises cut out, acid thrown on them and broken bottles shoved up them as an act of war. Every second of every day. Every corner of the Earth.
Because the other day, another friend of mine told me she was raped, and I can no longer count on both my hands the number of friends who have told me they’ve been sexually assaulted. Words can’t express how scared I am that I’m getting used to this.
Because a brief survey of reality will tell you that we do not live in a world that values all people equally and that sucks in real, very scary ways. Because you know we live in a sexist world when an awesome thing with the name “feminism” has a weird connotation. Because if I have kids someday, I want my son to be able to have emotions and play dress up, and I want my daughter to climb trees and care more about what’s in her head than what’s on it. Because I don’t want her to carry keys between her fingers at night to
protect herself.
Because feminism is for everybody, and this is your official invitation.
”(via 1lovebecky)
There’s so much I want to say right now. But the bounds of propriety forbid me. In addition, I’m not entirely certain where my thoughts are. I need to try and find some order and clarity right now. But at the same time, I can only lament the severe lack of options available to me at present.
In a word, FML.
That moment when someone on Facebook “remembers” you from school, yet you’ve no idea who the hell they are…
And I wasn’t even a popular kid!! Just a regular schmuck, nothing special.
Last night was unusual for me, in that it was me that needed the reassurance and the kindness for a change. Some of the people who follow me were kind enough to message me, and I thank you most sincerely for that. Your words, your messages, your kindness was and is truly appreciated and I take it to heart.
One of my followers took it upon himself to reblog my post and suggested to his followers that they should try and help me out. And when I woke up this morning, I felt quite overwhelmed. I had some new followers, and I had a bunch of messages in my inbox.
I’m in the process of replying to the messages now. Unfortunately we’ve had some nasty weather today that knocked out our phones and internet for a while, hence the delay. But I will reply to everyone who sent a message. I managed to connect with the new followers this morning before the storm hit, but now I’m replying to messages.
I genuinely, honestly and truly appreciate everyone who took the time to read my post, and even more so those who took time out of their busy schedules to send me a message. I have to say that it was very touching indeed to open Tumblr this morning and have such an influx of love and caring.
So, again. Thank you all so much for your kindness and your time. Perhaps, someday, I’ll be able to return the favour to you.
Thank you.
(Source: wordswithinyou, via eeriehowls)
