the auditorium

Since when did talent become synonymous with sympathisable (as in “eliciting sympathy”)? Because it’s beginning to annoy me. The latest case of this crazy definition of talented is observable on the current series of X Factor. What the f*** is Daniel still doing in the competition? He is, without doubt, one of the weakest singers there – I’ve heard better at karaoke events – and yet he’s still in for the running. On the other hand, uber-talented, Austin was given the boot just last night. Why Rachel and Austin even ended up in the bottom two is a complete mystery to me. But what I’m sure of, is that Daniel is surviving on sympathy votes alone. For those of you who are unaware of his situation, his wife died shortly after giving birth to his daughter about a year ago (I think) and her dying wish was for him to audition at X Factor. Awwww! How sweet! He’s doing it for his late wife….my arse! Does he look like he’s doing it for his wife? Does it look like he’s in anyway unhappy? He’s loving it! It has long since gone past the point of fulfilling her request. So open your eyes, Britain!! Stop picking up the phone whilst dabbing your eyes with a hanky. This is a singing competition. Not a charity.

Daniel for the chopping block!

Are you out and proud?

Every year, there comes a time when countless numbers of people take to the streets of their home town with their heads held high and their rainbow flags even higher. Yes, the colourful, and oh so camp time of Pride. Men and women of all shapes and sizes cavort down rows of streets, whistling, shouting, megaphoning, singing, dancing, squealing, openly flaunting their sexuality in front of everyone. “We’re queer, we’re here. Get used to it!”. I get it. I really do. You’re proud about your sexuality – you’re proud to be gay/lesbian/transgender but why rub it in everyone’s faces? Is it really necessary? I mean, do heterosexuals have a “straight pride”?

I understand the reason (the underlying and pretty much hidden one) behind Pride, is to try and promote acceptance of diversity in human beings, but is the event really doing anything for the “gay community”? If anything, I think that it further outcasts us; the whole thing is like an elaborate self-segregation. It also reinforces stereotypes of homosexuals. You only have to look at the way people dress and act at Pride to understand what I mean. It’s definitely not something I’m proud of.

If you don’t want others to think of your sexuality as a big thing, then stop making such a big thing out of it yourself.

“Do you have any experience?”

All job opportunities are lost at this one hurdle. They all ask it, don’t they? Understandably so, right? It is in the company’s best interest to employ someone who requires little to no training. It’s more cost-efficient and less time-consuming. There is one flaw in this mentality though. Let me explain by posing a question: who will provide the experience needed? All these employers expect someone else to take the amateur on board and bring them up to scratch. However, obviously this doesn’t work. So, come on, big cheeses! Employ me!

edit: A little birdy just informed me that it is possible to have too much experience as well. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, you can be too experienced. You can pull too perfect a pint. You can do too good a job. I mean, come on! Seriously? No wonder the unemployment rate is so high. It seems that society just isn’t for the jobseeker. *sigh*

This gorgeous specimen of a lady is 2nd runner-up of America’s Next Top Model Cycle 1, Elyse Sewell. In my opinion, she should have won the show; she was the best model on there, hands down. She was smart, pretty, funny and knew how to pose without even thinking about it. Unfortunately, the judges thought she was “patronising” and her intelligence was too “intimidating”, so she was eliminated before the final runway show. However, she is now the most successful model ever to have appeared on ANTM and is very big over in Asia. Just goes to show that they were wrong to give her the boot. Go, Elyse!

You can visit her online journal here.