However, I have to say I’ve started to think that we are actively pushing young stars to destruction, rather than this coming as their way of dealing with fame. Miley is the same age as my own younger sister so I guess this is why I would take her recent half naked photoshoot for vanity fair, a bit to heart.

Miley has been getting constant beration from taking pictures of herself and posing for pictures in bikinis for her myspace but I’m sure everyone will agree with me that this picture:

is pretty much a typical image of a 15year old posing for bebo/myspace. As I said above I myself have a 15 year old sister and posing is just an everyday thing there are more pictures of herself on her camera than anything else and she acknowledges this as does everyone of that age. If anyone is to refer to a 15 year old as a child to their face you’re likely to get a slap in the face, lets face it if a 15 year old is doing a prestigious photoshoot and said 15 year old is employed by Disney the above shot is not what you would expect! Let me just say again that she is 15!! and she is posing ON A BED TOPLESS WITH A SHEET PULLED UP AROUND HER! Now, I must say that I do not blame Miley for this as, upon doing the photoshoot she proclaimed how “arty” it was and “not in a skanky way”, clearly the implications are not realised here and weren’t realised till the backlash hit and Miley was said to be “embarrassed” about it, I really dont think that she should be embarrassed in the slightest it is her parents and the photographer who should be embarrassed. Miley said “you just cant say no to her” in relation to the prestigious photographer, Of course she couldn’t, she is 15 if someone in authority says this is going to look amazing and make you a big star, of course you’re going to comply because as stated this person is in authority and is an adult, also it has been stated that her parents were not present for the last shot which I find strange as why would they leave just before the topless shot, and if it was the last wouldn’t they be bringing her home!?

I don’t know, I guess it’s just worrying that we live in a society that is choc-full of perverts, yet we are actively sexualising teenagers, and it cant be said that this photo wasn’t intended to be sexualised. Hopefully she will be looked after in a way that prevents her heading for destruction in order to cope with the backlash that comes from things like this and I am off to wrap my own sister in bubble wrap!

 So I’m in a seminar last week and the lecturer poses this question “What class do you consider yourselves to be in?” To which many an awkward shuffle ensued! I’ve been thinking about it since then and I’m still not really sure how to take it! Do we really have a prevalent “class” structure anymore? Or do we just label people based on the money they have in their family and the amount of fancy things that adorn their houses!? Its definately a complicated thing because in this day and age I think that everything in that regard has become inverted! We have so-called working class people who are no longer really applicable to this category because for the most part, they aren’t working their fingers to the bone to pay for the next slice of bread, and those around us who flaunt their wealth proudly are widely mocked in what has become almost a cultural institution in Ireland these days “D4s”.  And we also have people taking out massive loans who may look like they would belong to the upper classes but are in fact in massive debt. I don’t know really I’m still pondering it, I think we have passed through that form of labelling and into another infinitely more problematic one!?

 As I’m sure everyone knows by now, Heath Ledger was found dead yesterday evening in his New York apartment from an as-yet unknown cause and this incredibly sad new naturally got me thinking about the nature of the Hollywood system in general. Here we had a very talented and down to earth young actor who clearly shied away from the media spotlight outside of his necessary work commitments who, be it accidental or not, lost his life at the height of recognition of his talent. On what I would say is the other end of the spectrum we have Britney Spears who is spiralling out of control before the watchful eyes of the world. Dont get me wrong I feel incredibly sorry for Britney and hope for her recovery and I hope she does not follow the same path as seems to be opening up before the world’s most famous people at the moment.

My question is; what is the worst car-crash situation? People like Britney and other stars endure a very public torment whilst everyone watches her fall apart piece by piece whilst Heath (I am by no means saying his death was at his own hands as I don’t know the guy or his situation so I wouldn’t comment on that) who is said to have had a previous substance abuse problem that he was recovering from, shies away from prying eyes in all things private other than stating his complete adoration for his young child and his ex-fiance Michelle Williams, therefore keeping both troubles and joys within himself rather than displaying them publicly as Britney does (although when you have journalists and Papparazi following you constantly i’m sure it’s hard to avoid.

One would think that the fact that Britney’s struggle is so extroverted and public would warrant a much bigger influx of help from loved ones close to her, rather than a phonecall to a tv psychologist who only served to give the public more information on the mental state of the star. The fact that her dad immediately signed her out of the institution she was famously carted off too whilst alternating between crying and laughing hysterically does not rest easy with me. This woman clearly needs a break from the prying eye of the public, she needs someone close to her to take her by the hand and remove her from her toxic circumstance of constant barrage form journalists bashing her mothering abilities which is possibly the most damaging thing which can be said to a young mother. She is now said to be dating a papparazi who is allegedly planning on releasing a story on her??????? All that girl needs is some time away, some peace and some love from people who truly care about the person she is. I also may be the only one but I definately believe she should be allowed to see her children even if it is under surveillance at first, she herself has stated that he boys are her only joy, take that away and you are naturally going to see the car-crash we are now watching.

I feel that Heath’s situation is somewhat similar as, being the introverted character he seemed, I doubt he would have liked making any outward calls for help. Therefore Britney is making a very blatant and public call for help on a daily basis but her calls are falling on deaf ears whilst there are others who may be screaming inside but of course that is not heard either.

I am the first to admit that I love a good read of a trashy magazine but I feel there is a limit. Yes, we all love reading the latest gossip about who is dating who and who is having babies, getting married, going crazy and so on but when it is getting to the stage that people’s calls for help are being ignored despite the fact they are heard by everyone across the world are being ignored for the fact this tragic spiral is good for the newspaper, or that people feel they have to become increasingly introverted so that they can keep an ounce of normality in their lives I think it is too far. Having read and seen interviews with Heath Ledger about his profound love for his young child and chillingly see him speak of not wanting to die young so that he could be there for her whole life while stating that if he did die he would live on through his beautiful child Matilda, I would like to believe that his tragic death was just that, a tragedy. We will never truly know but either way it is a loss for both his family and friends as well as for the world of films as he was truly reaching new heights in his acting in the new Batman movie. I truly hope that some changes are made before more young people are lost, or driven to dark depths.

My heart goes out to his family and friend especially his young daughter for their loss, knowing the tactful press his ex-fiance will probably be blamed for a downward spiral but I sincerely hope not as she now has the difficult task of keeping her daughter’s father’s spirit alive for such a young child.

I also hope the family of Britney Spears can save her before I am sitting here writing a blog about her death.

 

 A good friend of mine just did a blog on Valentine’s day and feeling torn between wanting all the cheese that comes with the day and thinking it mindless consumerism so I thought I would do a lil something on my own opinion on the day!!

Personally I think that romance and love should be an everyday thing when you are in a relationship and your other half should always know how important they are to you. I think Valentine’s day misses the point on people who dont show much love all throughout the year and then shower each other in gifts on that one day because all the shops are screaming love at them! Luckiy for me I have a great boyfriend who treats me amazingly every day of the year and enjoys random lil gifts and spending every moment possible together as I do with him. As such I feel that everyday should be dedicated to showing how you feel but similarly, as my friend asked the question why isn’t there a day to celebrate the single life, I think if, as a great many people are, you are single and love that lifestyle, everyday is dedicated to that and a holiday called “singles day” would probably annoy people more than a day dedicated to smug couples! If you love your live and have great people around you, single or not everyday is your own and should be made so as none of us know what may happen tomorrow! 

Maybe I have watched one chick-flick too many in my time but I do love the idea of a day dedicated to all the cheesy or cliched aspects of love and I love nothing more than reading a card with lovely personal things written inside. Even when I wasn’t in a relationship I still loved the idea of the personal touch of Valentines day even if the shops jam-packed with hearts and happy pictures may have annoyed me slightly! Im just an old romantic at heart and am lucky enough to be with someone who feels the same and I look forward to spreading the cheese on thickly this year!

I think we all are allowed to be contradictions when it comes to Valentine’s Day and romance in general as the consumerism associated with it is shoved down everyone’s neck and really shouldn’t be, people have no choice but to acknowledge that Valentine’s day is coming and being the dreamer that I am and being very much in love I think I will always look forward to it!

A shiver in the dark

A spark released forever

Wealth of possibiliy

A soul unrobed is more sombrely beautiful

Than even  the most  radiant sunrise.

 Now anyone who knows me will know that I love a good bargain! It’s probably because I love buying things for other people more than I do for myself so maybe I am more comfortable buying things which are a bargain for myself or maybe I am just cheap haha! Either way I cannot resist things which have been marked down or those damn “2for1″ deals in Boots and other good retailers! I know it really contradicts the whole point when I buy two of something I don’t need for the sole purpose of getting one for free and it does provide my darling boyfriend with a great deal of amusement but still I maintain that 2for1 of anything is, in fact a burrgin!! The Sales are the sun that we are missing!

Naturally for a buurgin (translation for those who are not close friends: Bargain!) hunter like myself January is hunting season and my poor aforementioned boyfriend’s best time to get some laughs out of my shopping antics! For example; we decided to spend the day together after getting a lovely breakfast the other day so off we popped to do some shopping! The lovely Trev strolled around empty-handed listening to things such as “Oh my! A dress for 4.50eu! Now that is a Burrgin Cinubelieve iiit?!” and having a good old chuckle to himself at my delighted grin upon purchasing this bargain dress of wonderment! I also got some 5eu jeans and some other bits and pieces and was needless to say delighted with my haul of the day whilst my very handsome pack-mule sauntered happily along with me! How can people say that January is depressing when it brings such joy!?

I may be somewhat of a rare breed but I cannot honestly see how people can spend such extortionate money on clothes when a burrgin could be found! Maybe I just get blinded by for sale signs or maybe I’m just not in the right job to appreciate splurging but I find shopping boring after an hour or two unless I’m wandering with my Trev saying gemslike “Ah no that one has no sale on….what a Riiiiip ooooooff” and just generally being silly together! How people shop like their life depends on it I will never know! With me I have to fall in love with something to buy it because I get so annoyed having things in my wardrobe which I will never wear so they usually get given to the collections that come around so why buy things knowing they will be given away soon!?

I doubt I am the only one who loves to bask in the glow of a buurrrgin! Surely others must feel the warm fuzzy feeling gotten from Penneys or the delightful time of year that is JANUARY SALES!! The sales are the sun that we are missing!

An Example is the fact that right after Christmas we had exams therefore Ciara freaks out, then we had two essays therefore  Ciara freaks out and rushes to get them handed in on the Monday we started back only to find out that one of them wasn’t due in until Friday! I know having a work ethic is not a bad way to be but my God it’s tiring! haha! 

So yeah come on lecturers sort it out so bookworms like myself can get a rest now and again!