johnkeyes-blog

[johnkeyes-blog]

Life is life

Don’t sit back. Don’t waste time. Don’t moan. Don’t whine. Don’t say “what if”. Don’t say “but everybody else” Don’t stay silent. Don’t praise yourself. Don’t sulk. Don’t be “that” person. Don’t lose control. Don’t go off the rails. Find happy.

[johnkeyes-blog]

We were wrong

Kickstarter messed up. They didn't kick the Rape Manual project out, but they have made a proper apology. No wishy washy language. No mention of "if we cause offence" or it's like. Simple to the point and the right thing to do. Kudos.

[johnkeyes-blog]

This Book Is A Rape Manual

1. Don’t let anyone fool you, This Book Is A Rape Manual I heard a lot of people telling me that I was taking some of those quotes out of context or that “JEEZE when he said take your dick out she was already making out with you!” Well, fuck you. Because acquaintence rape is a real thing. Because a girl kissing you or letting you do SOMETHING does not mean you get to do ANYTHING. And by creating a book whose leitmotif (YEAH FUCK YOU PRETENSION I WENT TO FILM SCHOOL FOR A FEW MONTHS) is “be aggressive, and do what you want because women like that,” you are telling people to rape. Not everyone who’s going to read the book is going to be a rapist, but I promise you - someone who read this book will rape someone. And they might not even know they did it, because you told them the woman wanted it that way, you human nightmare. The whole thing is a boiling cauldron of rape culture, and you are not going to convince me otherwise any more than you could convince me the sun has been replaced by a bran muffin.

Source: Casey Malone

The book Casey refers to is a Kickstarter project to fund a book that can teach nerds to pick up women. There's no emotional aspect to this, just how to get your end away.

To get an idea of some of the dangerous content read Casey's other post – This Is Not Fucking Harmless.

I honestly didn't understand the cries about a “rape culture” existing but given my recent reading of the Everyday Sexism Project's tweets and yesterday's article by Colette Browne I am flabbergasted. I honestly didn't know a world like this existed to the extent that it does.

I don't know anything about the current sex education curriculum in Ireland. Is it still the case that there isn't any? We need to educate our youth about this, it's important.

Update 10:45am Immediately after posting this I read a Guardian article about Serena Williams comments regarding the Steubenville rape. Everyone needs to be (re-)educated.

[johnkeyes-blog]

Do you wave?

It's been proven in numerous academic studies that cyclists and runners who fail to return waves have shorter life spans, sadder weekends, and terrible taste in music.

That line in this WSJ article made me laugh.

Waving when running is a bit weird, as you're passing within a meter or two of the other runner. I mutter “How's it going?” and move on. A personal greeting.

On the bike, normally the other cyclist is on the opposite side of the road, so a wave or nod is more appropriate. Greeting at a distance.

When approaching a runner/cyclist from behind is trickier. Do I say something and it might come off as smug in a “Quake at my awesome speed fellow earthling”, or nothing which could be interpreted as “I'm so good I don't even acknowledge you”. I don't think I can win (if there's something there to be won) so I still mutter “How's it going” and keep the head down.

[johnkeyes-blog]

Holding Football to Higher Standards

For some reason, professional footballers behaving badly continue to be held up as some of moral compass about how there is a general decay in society, lack of decorum, a dumbing down and dwindling standards relating to how human beings treat each other.

In other sports such as cricket and rugby union, where the participants and spectators, generally attract a lesser earthy and more niche middle class crowd, some may say a smattering of snobs, old money and the nouveau riche, drunken antics are viewed as a touch of high jinks.

That quote is from the latest Early Doors post on Eurosport.

The misdemeanour doesn't have to be so grand either. Don't blame the sport blame the player. Don't judge the sport judge the incident.

[johnkeyes-blog]

I'm in love: Sunflower Clock – George Nelson

[johnkeyes-blog]

American tragedies don't occur on the southside of Chicago or the New Orleans 9th Ward. They don't occur where inner city high school kids shoot into school buses or someone shoots at a 10-year old's birthday party in New Orleans. Or Gary, Indiana. Or Compton. Or Newport News. These are where the forgotten tragedies happen and the cities are left to persevere on their own. So, once again, New Orleans will survive. And move on. Because, really, we've been here before.

Media bias alive and well.

[johnkeyes-blog]

Minister for Social Protection Joan Burton revealed the figures as claims were made in the Dáil of “widespread abuse” by private companies who displace existing employees and take on unpaid interns whose social welfare and an extra payment of €50 a week are paid by the State.

Deafened by the muted screams of thousands who said "I told you so".

[johnkeyes-blog]

Bedtime Songlist 23-Apr-2013

Father and Son (Cat Stevens)

Knockin' on Heaven's Door (Bob Dylan)

Summertime (Ella Fitzgerald)

Stand By Me (Ben E. King)

Piano Man (Billy Joel)

[johnkeyes-blog]

Bedtime Songlist 22-Apr-2013

Titanium (David Guetta)

My hear will go on (Celine Dion)

Skyfall (Adele)

Wanna dance with somebody (Whitney Houston)

[johnkeyes-blog]

Media Villans

If we have spoken about the media and sport you'll know my opinions on how I believe the they like to manipulate public opinion on certain people.

I could start listing some examples of this, but to do so I would have to name names, and that would create a link to a team, and that would trigger people to seek consonance between their moral expectations and club-affiliated reality.

Lennon's Eyebrow wrote a thought-provoking piece titled “Throwing stones in glass houses: On villainy, outrage, and fandom” that covers a lot of ground (and names some names).

I am a harsh critic of sports media, but it's not just the professionals who irk me. Media like Twitter and Facebook provide people with a platform to publicly air their opinions, and other like-minded people retweet, like, and agree with each other until the muddled partisan generally senseless crescendo. If you support a different team, and have a different opinion, you are deluded.

Talking about a game was something I used enjoy, but now not so much, as media influenced opinions wash over the conversation with devastating sense-cleansing effect.

[johnkeyes-blog]

Bedtime Songlist 21-Apr-2013

Killing Me Softly (The Fugees)

Don't Speak (No Doubt)

Come Away With Me (Norah Jones)

Chasing Cars (Snow Patrol)

[johnkeyes-blog]

Bedtime Songlist 19-Apr-2013

Uptown Girl (Billy Joel)

It's Raining Men (???)

Seven Nation Army (The White Stripes)

Lemon Tree (Fool's Garden)

[johnkeyes-blog]

Bedtime Songlist 18-Apr-2013

California Dreamin' (Mammas & Pappas)

Top of the World (The Carpenters)

I Believe I Can Fly (R. Kelly)

[johnkeyes-blog]

Bedtime Songlist 17-Apr-2013

Red Red Wine (UB40)

The Gambler (Kenny Rogers)

Coward of the County (Kenny Rogers)

Friends in Low Places (Garth Brooks)

[johnkeyes-blog]

Bedtime Songlist 16-Apr-2013

Gangnam Style (PSY)

Stronger (Britney Spears)

Bad Romance (Lady Gaga)

Take on Me (Ah-ha)

Sweet Caroline (Neil Diamond)

[johnkeyes-blog]

Bedtime Songlist 15-Apr-2013

Help! (The Beatles)

Son of a Preach Man (Dusty Springfield)

Love is all around (Wet Wet Wet)

Dog days are over (Florence and the Machine)

We are young (Fun)

Hey soul sister (Train)