about bullies

At the moment I am a little upset.
Checking my facebook, going about my own personal business I come across a fan page.
A fan page dedicated to a person living in our little community who is a little bit, in lack of a better word, retarded. (Note; I do not in any way mean this as a degrading term.)

A fan page full of captioned and/or edited photos of said person with an attitude that is sarcastic, degrading and downright mean. And to pour salt in the festering wound, the "administrators" publish a print screen of a facebook chat with this person, asking him if it's allright for them to have this page and assuring him that they created it because they "think he's a swell guy". Said person replies simply with one word - "okay". Please note that in this print screen the administrators have taken the time to cross over their own personal information (names, photos etc.) so that their identities won't be known publicly. Question; if this page isn't intended to be degrading and awful, if the material posted there is posted in well-meaning, why the need to cover up your identity?

Let me tell you something; they don't think he's a swell guy. On the contrary. No offense meant but this guy has a behaviour that is erratic and not always pleasant. He says wierd things and doesn't act like everybody else.
This has made him well known in our community where everybody knows everybody which in turn has led to years of harrassment of various types. I work with his mother and have heard some of it directly from her.
Since when is it okay to make fun of people with a handicap (no matter the type)? Since when is it cool?
How low have you sunk if you think it's funny and justified to ask a person that doesn't understand sarcasm if it's okay to publish sarcastically captioned photos of him, and then tell everybody to calm down because he said it was okay?

Maybe these people think it's acceptable. Maybe they belong to that enormous group of people that I lately have realized, have no clue.
I work with kids that have special needs. I've gotten to know some of the cutest, sweetest, funniest and most complicated kids in the world. They see things a hell of a lot differently than most people do. Most of the time they are perfectly fine with minding their own business and only act out when the people around them provoke it. Which is exactly what I've watched first hand happening every day in school.
One kid says or does something, something he knows will get a reaction from "the retarded kid" and then think it's funny when we as assistants are forced to step in and quell the reaction. These kids don't react the same as the "normal" kids do, which is funny to them but from an adults perspective is just cruel.
Intentionally messing with another person in that manner is not okay, especially not when the person in question isn't capable of understanding the whole of the situation.
I think there are a lot of people out there, both children and adults, that need to actually get to know a mentally challenged person (I mean really get to know) before they can fully understand that the implications in a challenged persons life of say, a facebook page, can turn out to be so much more than they think. Myself, being close to people like this on a day-to-day basis might have a different eye for those things than someone who has no personal experience... I see the look in their eyes when they don't grasp what is going on and lash out in defense or when the games get a little out of hand because this child doesn't have a socially acceptable appreciation for boundaries. Even though I can see how it is provoked I as an assistant still have to step in and rebuke the aggression/face-making/loud burping. I watch when the kids I work with laugh because they think their classmates are laughing with them when in truth they are laughing at them.

And goddamn it pisses me off when people, regardless of age, feel like they have to trample another person into the ground so that they themselves can feel a little more important.
Especially when they attack someone who isn't capable of properly understanding or defending themselves.

ah, warmth

Well, the weather seems to have taken a turn for the better. No more thunderstorms at least.

I for one am going to enjoy it, watching the guys as they submerge themselves in the (freezing) ocean and practicing my shooting (now the average is four of six arrows within the yellow part of the target).

You gotta enjoy the little things, right?

grill

Today we decided to grill up some meat for dinner with friends, due to the fantastic weather.

Which would have worked out fine. Except that just in time for our grill to be ready the thunder started.

It was kindof nice to huddle under the porch roof though.

I do love a good thunderstorm.

misfit leather

Misfit Leather on Etsy. Love it.

old news part 2

Just in case anyone missed this devastating news... 

Another sad post. This one about another one of my favorite bands; Bloodbath.
Their singer (growler?) Mikael Åkerfeldt has left the band.

Sucks, doesn't it?

old news

I guess this will be old news for a lot of you out there. I'm still going to make a minor post about it though.

Peter Dolving quit The Haunted. Right now they're looking for a new lead vocalist to take his place (as if his place could ever be properly filled by someone else).
The website entails nothing as to why; although I'm curious for what reasons one of my favorite singers of all time has left such a fantastic band I also realize it is none of my business. Either way I'm devastated.

I've written posts (here and here) before about Dolving. They're in Swedish, so for the international readers out there, let me just clarfiy; I am a great fan of this man, particularly of the role he plays in The Haunted. His tormented voice and lyrics together with the band's (passive?) aggressive sound is just the perfect mix.

But this is the end of that musical genius and I am verry sorry to have seen it happen.

för er svenskar där ute

Här får ni se en kommentar jag skrev på en god väns blogginlägg;


Sen när angår det en person vad en annan gör med sin armhåla? Fuck 'em, de som har så lite av vikt i sina egna liv att de måste bry sig om ifall en fullt främmande människa rakar sig i armhålan eller inte.


Du är finast precis som du är/vill vara. Precis som tjejen på tv.


Orka bry sig om främmande människors vanor att raka sig/inte raka sig på ett ställe eller ett annat?
Har man ingenting viktigare eller mer meningsfullt att tänka på än det?

Nä, sådana människor vill jag inte ha med att göra. Jag räds att min intelligens kanske förtvinar då.

curious?

You know, I do have a page here on this blog where there's some info on me, in case you're curious.
It's up to you to find it, is all... Read the fine print. :)

valentine's day part II

About a month ago I wrote a post about the gift my man gave me on valentine's day (two tickets to a local Amon Amarth gig). Well, a couple of days ago we went and saw them and I'm very pleased.

My man, being a complete music/sound nerd wasn't too pleased about the sound for this gig... And having been a student of audio technology myself I know what he means. But I'm not going to go into that right now.
Why? Because I don't care! This gig was awesome for other reasons.
1. The crowd was cool. There were different ages varying from teens to greybeards. Everything between unbrushed jeans-clad metalheads to clean, cute and made-up goths. Young, old, clean, dirty, loud, silent... All kinds of alternative people were there. Several of them I either knew or recognized. I like that.
2. The place was intimate. Just big enough to be more than a pub stage and just small enough to feel cozy and close.
3. The band played numerous hits, all those little favorite songs that the audience roared (more like buzzed thanks to the limited number) to hear. It's nice to hear a band play your favorite songs.
4. I love Amon Amarth. I love their gimmick; the viking themes, beards and long hair and a singer who on stage drinks from a horn he has stuck in his belt. The man also has a very winning and honest smile when he communicates and jokes with his audience, which in my book doubles the points in favor. A charming or interesting lead singer is always a good thing.

Thank you, darling, for taking me there! I am very glad we went to see them, even if we did have to get up early to go to work the next day...

light reading?

If anyone out there is in for some (not so) light reading today or is just particularly interested in the female werewolf of popular culture, I suggest you click the link below. Hopefully I'll find the time to do some reading myself.

"HAIRY THUGGISH WOMEN"

FEMALE WEREWOLVES, GENDER, AND THE HOPED-FOR MONSTER

A Thesis

submitted to the Faculty of the

Graduate School of Arts and Sciences

of Georgetown University

in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the

degree of

Master of Arts

in Communication, Culture and Technology

By

Elizabeth M. Clark, B.A.

Thank you for the tip, Science Fiction Bokhandeln!

close enough

Mother nature seems to have taken the hint. We're getting close to actually having dragons.

Well, close enough for my stomach to flutter with joy.

According to Neatorama this little darling was found laying eggs in Indonesia. 

We can only hope that evolution develops their "wings" so that they can sustain flight instead of just gliding... I know I'll be waiting for that one.

Or just put a set of wings on one of these little guys; the south african Cordylus Cataphractus.

Adorable, aren't they?

silly internet crap

You are The Wheel of Fortune

Good fortune and happiness but sometimes a species of intoxication with success

The Wheel of Fortune is all about big things, luck, change, fortune. Almost always good fortune. You are lucky in all things that you do and happy with the things that come to you. Be careful that success does not go to your head however. Sometimes luck can change.

What Tarot Card are You?
Take the Test to Find Out.

kitties

Our little Zelda does the wierdest things.

Kitties are funny. 

They refuse to drink out of their water bowls, preferring instead running water. The same running water also being a favorite toy - to watch it drip and try to catch the drops before they disappear down the drain...

They like to hide in boxes, waiting in earnest for an unguarded hand to pass by.

Upon which they strike with very, very sharp claws... Of course, hunting fingers from within boxes is tiring so resting within them can be quite tempting.

And when there isn't a box nearby a blazing fire will do nicely as well.

The best kitty I ever had, little Zelda.

Even though she tries to eat our Valentine's roses.

a very metal valentine's day

Oh, joy. My man really knows me well. Also, I believe he loves me very much. That's why he bought me/us tickets for Amon Amarth (whom we all know I am a great fan of).

I'm a very lucky woman, to have someone who knows me so well and cares for me so much.

Happy Valentine's Day to you all! 

In honor of this occasion, a song of the day (Amon Amarth, of course);

Helvetios

For all the fans of folk metal music out there - Eluveitie just released a new album; Helvetios.

Check the album preview above if you're curious.

Classical - with a twist

One of my favorite classical pieces ever made.

Only a little more metal.

Above, Epica's version of The Hall of The Mountain King by Edvard Grieg.

From the album The Classical Conspiracy.

Another, more insane, awesome version, although this time by Apocalyptica:

And then last, but absolutely not least, the original for those who would like to listen and compare.

In many ways, some classical music is quite metal, don't you think?

Second to none (an idea about self-doubt)

Self-doubt according to the free dictionary:

n. A lack of faith or confidence in one self (American English)

n. The act or state of doubting one self (British English)

Self-Distrust:

n. Lack of faith or confidence in one's own abilities (American English)

I'm sure we've all felt it. Personally I'm very good at it... At least some days. Other days one might be king of the world, infallible and unbeatable - but those aren't the days I'm talking about right now.

On days with self-doubt I try very hard to think of a little latin quote I once found at the bottom of my calendar page (you know, the little weekly calendars that have philosophical quotes or proverbs printed at the bottom of the "week"). Mostly I find them to be cheesy and cliché-like, but this one really stuck with me.

Nulli Secundus, it said. Maybe it isn't perfect latin, I admit latin isn't one of my specialties so I'm not entirely sure. Any of you out there who have a better idea than I do are welcome to comment and correct me. Either way I looked it up (yes, I am aware that using Google Translate is a less scholarly thing to do) and it means "second to none". Another version of it would be secundo ad nemo.

Isn't that a nice thing to ponder on? Assuming a person isn't entirely built up of their ego I think it's a rather healthy thing to think of one self. On those days when the self-doubt and self-distrust are most evident nulli secundus is a pretty good mantra. For me, it works like a charm.
Upon being unsure about a decision made or the outcome of a situation one wasn't entirely in control in (which happens all the time; since when is a person ever really in control of what is going on?). Maybe someone said something or acted somehow to make one doubt one's opinion or reactions. A lot of people are very good at making others feel that way. You, me, a friend or family member, that guy on the bus that one time, an esteemed colleague or mentor - that person could be anyone.

To me that's the perfect time to remind one self that I really am second to none. Not necessarily to say that I am more than others, the important thing here is to remember that I'm certianly no less. Just because someone is better than me at one thing or other doesn't mean I'm any worse or less than they are.
No matter how self-confident or assertive a person is or tries to be, every now and then there's that momentary lapse when the mind and heart become susceptible to self-doubtful feelings and thoughts.


Frankly, I've had enough of it; fuck that! (Excuse my french.)
Ego sum secundo ad nemo.
Ergo - I am second to none.

I'd advise anyone with even a glimpse of self-doubt to use that as a motivation mantra.


(Note: A little piece of personal pride... I actually did know the word "ergo" before I thought to look it up. It means "consequently" or "therefore". I'll give myself a gold star today.)

metaltown 2012 (part 1)

Metaltown 2012.

I think I have to go.

Opeth! <3

Slayer! <3

Bands like Slayer, Lamb of God, Opeth, Mastodon, Nasum, Sabaton, Vader, Machine Head. Among others.

Marilyn Manson as well, though, which I'm not too pleased about. I saw him live once and I did not like his performance. It sucked, mildly speaking, and yet it was better than his attitude towards the audience (speaking of which, for some reason seemed to be mostly made up of twelve-year-old girls without any clothes on). On the other hand, seeing him live again couldn't possibly be worse than last time.

Lamb of God! <3

I really, really think I have to go...

(Edit: Now, a day later, I'm starting to rethink my decision a little. I can't help but think of how horribly the festival was arranged last year... It was really a complete disaster. I got to see At the Gates, which was really the number one reason I bought tickets in the first place. They were a band I never expected to see live as I missed their "farewell tour" a few years back. As happy and absolutely blissful as I can be over that - it still almost doesn't make up for how terrible the festival area was after they moved it...)

song of the day

I might have posted this one before - and in that case I'm posting it again.
That's how good it is.

Hypocrisy - Blooddrenched. From the album Virus.

Septum part II

Last year I wrote a post about getting my nose piercing. (It's in Swedish, sorry...)

I had it done last year in the beginning of April. This was not long after my little brother had his piercing done at the same place, as well as another family member getting this facial tattoo there. So what I am about to write, I assure you, has nothing to do with the service of the piercing/tattoo parlour itself or the awesomely cool couple that work there. My complaints are not about what they do or how they do it.

What I want to complain about, just a little, is my body's complete and utter lack of piercability!
I obviously do not have good healing-flesh (a vulgar translation of the Swedish term...). It's been nearly ten months now and still this goddamn nose ring gives me trouble.
Just like the multiple ear piercings I've had done over the years. On five seperate occasions I've had a pair of new holes punched in them, but I suppose it's just not meant to be. The only ones that have managed to survive are my expanded earlobes, piercings that were originally done when I was age eleven or twelve (over a decade ago).

Argh! Pain!