Hello October (of which there is four hours left)

Hello cyberspace!

So, it's been over a month since I last blogged. In fact, if I had waited another week it would have been a whole two months and a bloggless October. So, here's a rant for you savvy readers (of which I am quite sure there are only 2).

I'm a little confused as to what's (still) with the hype about H1N1 (Swine Flu). To my understanding, the main reason there was a big freak-out about the virus is because certain groups of health professionals were afraid it would mutate into another, worse virus. Okay. So what's with the vaccine? As I am sure everyone knows (actually, no they don't which is a shame) once you are vaccined for something (for the moment ignoring the blasphemy of the H1N1 vaccine) you are only protected against that virus. I will try to make this explanation even simpler. If you're vaccinated for H1N1 and it turns out at some point it mutates into a new strain (as flus generally do), then the original vaccine wont protect you against that. Anyhow if I proceed with this point, it will just go in circles.

My point is that I find the idea of the shot ridiculous and the fact that in some places on this planet they are thinking of making it mandatory (or have they already?) scares me. I mean, other than the fact that it's still untested-or unapproved, I can't quite recall. Perhaps both.

Besides, how likely is it that you're going to contract Swine Flu? And even so, how likely is it that it will kill you? I remember having read someplace that the percentage of deaths from the regular flu strains is higher than that of the Swine Flu, however this could be wrong. My point is, I don't believe it is as bad as the picture is being painted.

The fact that it contains squalene, which shares a known connection to guillain-barre syndrome, which is (in short) an autoimmune disease (where the body starts attacking its own cells), google that one for more specifics as I'm not writing an essay here (on second thought, it might turn out that way...). The shot also contains aluminium which I'd hope the majority of people would know is bad for you..Then again, it is in most commercial deodorant and other hygiene products that virtually everyone uses and either knows it is in there and do not care, do not know it is in there (is it that outlandish to read the ingredients on things?) or do not know how terribly bad it is...? I don't remember if I was asking a question or making a statement, so I put a question mark just in case.. What else was I saying? Oh yes. I remember now. It also contains....Formaldehyde (I'm suprised I remember the spelling). As far as I understand, that stuff is used as a fixitive or something along those lines in photography (thank you, art school!)...and otherwise (again, to my understanding) when consumed in some way or another, is generally seen as being a contaminant. Don't quote me on that last part, as I'm not (yet) a chemistry dictionary. Perhaps I should have studied Chem at University...But even so, it would have only been for my benefit to know what all those ridiculously disgusting additives are. I would never for the life of me work in an industry where I would be making those things and putting them in places where people can get poisoned (ie. Vaccinations?)

Anyhow... To get to the point of what I was saying... Nothing particularly infuriated me about the contents of this vaccine. Drugs are drugs, they're not going to contain anything that is actually good for your body.... The point is, I did some further reading on this. Turns out, the vaccine uses an egg base. I already had no intention of getting this shot, but knowing that last piece of information worries me a little more. It is probably the least harmful substance (in terms of, for the human body) in the whole concoction, but perhaps it is my ethical beliefs and moral obligation that comes into that part.

The real issue is, if this shot becomes mandatory, life is over as we know it! Okay, that was a little over dramatic, and maybe I shouldn't refer to myself as 'we'. I mean, one can refuse and refuse as much as one likes, but the fact is, this is a capitalist society; no money = well, go figure.... Perhaps I skipped a bit far ahead and missed the point I was trying to make.... It seems like one of those things, that if it is made mandatory, then generally a lot of employers would not like to hire you...yada yada yada...Oh, why is everything in life so political?

I just had a thought... Why does this worry me? I plan to (in the future) be self-employed anyway.

Disclaimer: I'm not actually a scientist, but that doesn't mean that I don't know what I'm talking about. Also, this post turned out to be a lot longer than intended.

Some further reading (a list I might add to when I have more time):

This is definitely worth reading: http://sacredessence.com.au/blog/swine-flu-the-facts/ (Note where it says more people have died from the vaccine than from the actual virus itself)

http://www.fluscam.com/Vaccine_Package_Inserts_files/Novartis_A-H1N1_2009_Monvalent_VaccinePackageInsert_BasedOn1980Approvalfor%20Fluvirin_UCM182242.pdf (The insert that comes with the vaccine)

http://thebirdflupandemic.com/archives/h1n1-swine-flu-vaccine-insert-admits-it-causes-guillain-barre-syndrome-vasculitis-paralysis-anaphylactic-shock-and-death

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2009/04/29/Swine-Flu.aspx (Not sure I fully agree about the krill oil though).

Good evening!

Hello people of the Internet! I had no news until I looked at that little news thing on MSN messenger.... Some guy swallowed a lit cigarette.... Tasty?

It has just hit me that being 18 actually means that you're technically an 'adult' and therefore are expected to act like one... From one day to the next.. (I know, my birthday was almost 3 months ago.. Still.) I keep forgetting this and often find myself in situations where I'm not exactly sure how to act anymore.. Or rather, how I am supposed to act... Man, this should come with a user manual or something! I'm kidding. Whatever, maybe I'll get used to this 'adult' business, maybe I wont... I actually hope I wont. I don't need to become more cynical than I already am, and I certainly don't need (nor do I want) to become the boring, lifeless 'individual' (by which I mean sheep) I have seen almost everyone else become.

Here's another question.. Should I get back into AIM? I haven't used it in years and don't remember my password, or user name for that matter...nor am I any longer acquainted with the people I used to speak to on there. It's almost a crying shame, but when I really think about it, I guess that it isn't.

I think I will leave it at that for now. That shift I had this morning really drained me, or perhaps it was that 15 minute walk in the sun on the way home from the bus stop. Warm weather really tires me out.

Peace. Unity.

News

Not really. I do have an exam tomorrow.. and two assignments due in the day after that. Perhaps I should be doing some homework...Or perhaps I already am. My hands feel really uncoordinated today, does anyone else ever get that? Fingers are just going in all the wrong places. I tried playing some basic guitar scales earlier today, and it just did not happen. It's not to say that I haven't practiced in a while, because I've been practicing every day (or second day..depending on how late I get home from classes/work on certain days)... Strange day I'm having. I did paint a relatively good picture today, so I guess that's still working. I tried taking a picture without using the flash, but it came out worse than it did with the flash, so until I have some daylight to work with (and can take a slightly better photograph), I shall share this with you.

Oh look!

I haven't blogged at all this month. Word?

I'd say it is because I have nothing worth while to share. Then again, do I ever?

Currently eating oatmeal... A useless piece of information I could have just as easily posted on twitter...Where it would appear to have been more relevant.

Anyhow, I must leave now before I am late for work.

Peace.

A touch of expression

Here are some (not so good) photos of a few paintings I've done lately.. In fact, one of them I did last night..The other two, the night before last. One of these I believe is the best thing I have ever painted...In a sense. Perhaps not 'technically' but just in the way that it ended up...I can't explain what I mean, but I just love it... I also did all of these 'free hand' or whatever you will call it. Basically, just painted it straight onto the canvas, without having drawn it on in pencil (or whatever) first...So that was somewhat surprising.. In that it worked that well.. Anyway, enough babble.

Damn, am I going to be tired

I have a lecture in Ten hours.. Meaning I have to get up in about 8 hours in order to get there on time... So I should really be in bed already, in order to catch up on the sleep I have missed during the past 4 nights. Oh well. Such is life, I suppose. Does anyone want to trade places with me? I think the class is called Visual Art and Culture in the Modern Age (I hope it's not anything like Representing Visual Culture from last semester, but with a name like that....) After that I need to go to a hardware store (again!?) and buy 5 linear metres of timber for Sculpture on Tuesday. Like they couldn't have told us this in advance? (The email with this information got sent out on Friday... I don't check my University email that often, but I did on Thursday; nothing important then)... They give us 4 days to get these materials? They've had six weeks to inform us of what crap we need to bring with us. My drawing instructor (or whatever you call them?) did the same thing, but luckily I already have (most of) the supplies for that class. We need gouache though. I hate gouache, with a passion. Kill me now. No, don't. I'm going to bed. Let us hope I will get a reasonable amount of sleep. Good night.

P.S. Who else doesn't want to go back to school? Haha...

Here it is.

A slightly better photograph.