blog.djstead.net

Obligatory 'first' post on a new platform... Following the realisation that Tumblr was disappearing down the Conservative alleyways it's conglomerate parents hinted at a few years ago, I have 'jumped ship' and looked to the definitely-not-evil-Google multiverse, and found Blogger. My Tumblr fears were confirmed by their spectacular failure to support the adult blogging network and support mechanism that had flourished on their platform - all because WON'T SOMEBODY PLEASE THINK OF THE CHILDREN - whilst simultaneously ignoring the blatant racism and violence-based journals that can easily be found still on the site. So in a move partly out of solidarity, but also because I'd like to consolidate my corporate eggs into one totally-free-and-not-at-all-evil basket please. So here we are - Blogger. Hopefully my domain names will redirect shortly; and lo a new journey begins on a new platform.

(NB: This is a post about leaving Facebook) Up until recently I already had a limited relationship with Facebook. My news feed was muted, and I only occasionally visited feeds of groups of friends, to catch up on news. In fact, its main purpose was two-fold: Actively manage/participate in Events Repost my Twitter feed onto Facebook Facebook has now stopped doing the latter , so my thoughts on Twitter (which are my stream of consciousness) are no longer transferred onto my Facebook wall. This automatic re-post used to mean when I logged onto Facebook, my notifications were invariably my friends not on Twitter, posting something in response to my Twitter thoughts. Often fun interactions (as on Twitter). Facebook have stopped this happening. - Whilst it would (selfishly) be ‘incredibly convenient’ for those of you that occasionally interact with my Twitter content via Facebook to sign-up to Twitter and follow me, I realise that is an unreasonable ask! Though, ...

And so in the latest display of what a shit-show the world is turning out to be, the hashtag #metoo has been trending on Twitter today. I’m attempting to process that, and no doubt making a mess of it, so as I am likely to be one unnecessary voice on the subject, I’d suggest you stop reading. As I understand it, this hashtag has emerged as a painful reminder (and - unfortunately for most - a revelation) that sexual assault in various forms is far far more common than perhaps is widely reported - certainly the evidence is overwhelming. Instinctively, this is an important subject of discussion. No question. It really feels like this is something that needs to be rooted out, challenged, expunged from the modern world; and yet already I am floundering. I feel bad for making this post that is not purely about this issue - I feel like I am not giving this attention the full attention it deserves. Wouldn’t it be great if everything stopped, and all everyone talked about o...

If you asked me what I did last weekend, I would have to stop and look at my Google Calendar, and then go ‘oh yeah - that is what I did’, and memories would come back. For more significant events, like weddings, I like to take tangible objects from those occasions, and keep a hold of them. - This year I have been to four weddings (fingers-crossed, no funerals), and pictured are four objects that I took away from those events. Each anchor those events in my mind: First there is the ‘diamond’ that my cousin’s daughter sold to me at my other cousin’s wedding; that links me to the family that were at the wedding - the images of the venue; my bedroom accessed by the bookshelf; the jam & honey I was gifted by the venue to give to my parents who couldn’t be there; the dancing; the plate of chips; and the friends of my cousin who had smuggled in bourbon biscuits. Then came my school-friend Vicky’s wedding in the almost surreal setting of St. Paul’s cathedral. H...

As a few of you may know, I decided to have my own mini-adventure for my 33rd birthday. (photo-heavy post ahoy!) My journey starts at the Grand Depart in Leeds - apt given that my destination was France… {A brief history - my cousin married a french woman 6 years ago, and I met one of her best friends - Laurence - at their wedding, and we have kept in touch ever since. Laurence herself is getting married later this year, but now she and her fiance Laurent have a place of their own - with guest bedrooms! - I was invited to go and stay…} Thursday Stepping off the plane in Nantes I was pleasantly surprised as to how warm it was. ‘Unseasonably warm’, was the verdict we came to. For the first few hours of my stay, we did nothing out of the ordinary - and yet because the surroundings were new and unusual, whilst we drove back to their house, stopped off for bread, ate a steak lunch, then headed into town and parked in a multi-storey - there was already a surre...

I’m not built to operate with a constant influx of changing information. Ironic, given that the universe is made up nothing *but* change; but let’s skip the metaphysical here: Every morning I check my Twitter feed, Reddit, Facebook, BBC News - obvious discussion about a personal bubble goes here - and there is so much to take in. Mainly because every time I go to sleep, about 4 billion(?) people have the tenacity to carry on with their lives; and some of them are in a position of power to do something that affects the way the world ‘works’. Currently my bubble is dominated by the antics of the questionably-haired fuckwit at the head of the largest democracy on the planet (#MuslimBan, if future species are wondering what specific event in the last days of humanity I’m referring to - although that seems to have been blocked by the supreme court). My particular bubble is focusing on the protests taking place in US airports about this - evidently some lawyers are w...

If there is one aspect of the idea of Post-Truth that I am comfortable with, and that is the idea there is no such thing as facts. Right. Initial inflammatory statement made; how to continue? If you want to skip ahead to the part where I regain sense and reason, head to the All that said section below. If you want a little journey inside my head, simply follow on below… So here’s the Platonic dialogue that I ran through in the shower this morning: BeardyMan No such thing as facts eh? Well how about this one: London is the capital of England. GingerDan Alright. Is it also the capital of the United Kingdom? BeardyMan Er… let me get back to you on that one. But it is definitely the case that London is the capital of England. GingerDan Yes, but what does that actually mean? BeardyMan Well… it means that is where all the key stuff for a country happens. Like government, GingerDan So you are saying that all gover...