Promises, promises...

I have to stop making promises! Because I never keep to them. There WON'T be a video up this week, or next, or probably next. Sorry for saying there will be, but there's been a lot of shizz happening.


A promise I will keep to though, is that when I eventually do return, i'll watch all of my videos back and note any promises I did make. I will then fulfill these, no matter how ridiculous.


Just a quick post to say sorry basically... This also probably means that the schedule will go out the window too. *sigh*


If you're reading this on Facebook, then read it on my blog instead - jamesyjames1.blogspot.com

General 'What?' Phrases.

1. When you tell someone you're going on holiday and they respond with "Anywhere nice?" No actually, I'm going to the slums of Rio De Janeiro. What do you think!?


2. "Can you hear me?" "No." Wait a minute...


3. "It's opposite day today." Or is it...


4. "I'm dying out here" Yes, like the rest of humanity. We're all dying all the time, really.


5. "Have you had a haircut?" Nope, got short by itself.


6."Don't spill it!" Woops, I just did because I presumed that you wouldn't mind.


I have a very analytical mind, so phrases and sayings like this never fail to amuse me :-)

Nope, here's a bigger win.

*sigh*

Did you expect much more of me? I've been bored of my hair for rather a while now, so here is the official unveiling of it to the internet. Taa daa! (fanfare)

I have my reasons. I can hear you all cry "ALAS, he's copied Charlie and Dean!".

Well actually, I haven't. Dying my hair an extravagant colour was my decision and wasn't influenced by anyone, and as I was fully aware, having my hair red would make it seem as though I'm copying these two. So, I stuck a load of orange in it for good measure. As you do.

Most Epic Win Of My Life

Oh my dear lord. I'VE JUST FINISHED MY FINAL EVER FRENCH EXAM EVER FINAL EVER EVER FINAL ARGH! :D


For those who don't know, I don't like french. So, I decided to take it at A-level. Which, for me, soon proved to be a big mistake. So today, I took my final exam and low and behold, IT'S OVER!!


I'm very excited as well... Because, coming back hopefully very soon, is my youtube channel. There's no guarantees, but I'm hoping to have finished up my video within the near future... But i've missed vlogging. I don't regret going on a break, because it has helped me knuckle down and actually do some work.


Expect a video up within the next week. It won't be the actual video I've been hyping up, more just a bit more hype for that video. See, my blog readers, how privileged you are! You get backstage gossip. Well, I don't have a stage. Hence, no back of it either. Yet. ;D (NO, that's not saying I will.)


SO to commemorate EVERYTHING going splendidly, let's have a really positive song!


How about some 'Celebration' by Kool & the Gang? :D


It's right here!!!

Somewhat Compelled...

I woke up this morning with a major case of CBA. I mean, my dad woke me up at 8:30, And it took me till 10:30 to be ready to revise. And I started revising, but all the words just look a blur, especially when they're in a foreign language. I don't think I'm ill or anything, but I can tell it's going to be a not too productive day. Of course I'll try and change this, but it's come at an unfortunate time, seen as though my french exam in on monday. My only saving grace is that, after monday, I only have 2 subjects to revise for, and one of those is psychology which is a lot of fact learning. I still stick with my theory that English and languages are the hardest subjects to revise for.

All of this being said though, I feel somewhat compelled to make a video for youtube. The only thing stopping me is that I promised to be back with a bang, and the video I want to make really isn't that special. However, don't be surprised if you do see a video up tonight. If I'm right and today isn't going to be productive in terms of revision, then it'll be productive in terms of youtube.

There's something that's confused me concerning youtube too. It's not bad, don't get me wrong, but when I announced that I was going on a break, I couldn't have timed it any worse, because I was starting to build up my number of subscribers. During VEDA (Vlog Everyday In April), My number of subscribers rose to about 35ish. Since I've announced my break though, it's risen again to 41. With the new video in the pipeline, I'm feeling quietly confident that I may well hit 100 within the year. The part that's confusing me is that I've gained 6 since the break... Strange.

Another thing I'd like to clear up for people, is that FourNerdyTeens probably won't be returning. Seen as though Emily's concentrating on writing, Gabby has rare access to a camera, I'm working on my exams and my own channel and Dean the same, it looks unlikely for a return in the near future. But, never say never. I've just realised just how much of a paradox that phrase is.


Also, in my sheer boredom, I've devised a list of important dates in the calendar of James.
14th March - Birthday
17th November - Anniversary of my first youtube upload on Jamesyjames1
31st December - New year


Interesting fact for you, it's 180 days until my 'youtube birthday', and 218 days till christmas. :-)


God I'm bored.


A song! Today's song is 'Make Me Wanna Die' By The Pretty Reckless. The sole reason is, after you've listened to it a couple of times, you're hooked.


Check out 'Make Me Wanna Die' Here :-)



'Everytime I look inside your eyes... You make me wanna die!'

Revision IS going to be the death of me.

ARGH I've overdosed on relentless (for readers who don't know what relentless is, 1. you haven't lived and 2. it's only an energy drink, don't worry), AND I'm actually going out of my mind.


Day one of study leave began with me getting up at the reasonable time of 8:30, only to be ready by 10:00 because i got somewhat sidetracked by Jeremy Kyle. It was at this point that this study leave reminded me a lot of GCSE study leave, in the fact that daytime T.V. which I normally find repulsive, actually becomes vaguely interesting.


Although I am actually trying my hardest to revise, there are a lot of distractions that during my 20 minute breaks here and there are trying to extend to 20 minute breaks, for example, writing a blog. However, I am persevering and after some self testing this morning, I'm starting to get somewhere with French. Which makes me very happy indeed. :)


So to commemorate my celebration, I've given myself an extended 40 minute break, hence undoing all of my good work. This is what makes me laugh about myself, I'm very self critical and when I do find flaws, I just leave them be and don't try and work on them. My excuse for this is that I'd rather be flawed than perfect. The real excuse is, unfortunately, laziness.


But I digress. Back to the point, I can see why my school have dramatically shortened GCSE study leave now. Because for me, study leave was 'go to Walsall everyday and spend an excessive amount of money on domino's pizza and maybe take the odd exam'. (Side note, Walsall is where I used to go with my friends of a weekend, and my spellchecker doesn't recognize it. What's funny is the correction it's giving me is 'Walhalla', which I'm pretty sure is some Scandinavian language for 'Hell'. Which, Walsall funnily enough is.)


Anyhow, I digress again. During this short time of study leave I've had (3 hours), the urge to simply not revise is simply horrible. During GCSE, the majority of people don't really take in just how tough it is at the time, and I know that if i wasn't going to 'Walhalla' everyday and actually revising, then I could have got some really good grades, rather than the average ones I did get.


The only 2 thoughts getting me through this at the moment are summer, and the world cup. I know I bang on about the world cup far too much, but I'm genuinely excited. 20 odd days now!


And this ties in with me being excited for summer, because I've got a very funny feeling that this summer is to be a good one. The past few have ended in disappointment for me for one reason or another, so this one stands a god chance of being a lot better. I'm kicking it off by going to center parcs with my best friend in the world, and hopefully not as much fat is coming with me this time. One of my distractions, horribly enough, is exercise.


Anyhow, that's today ramble almost over, just got a song to show you guys :)
Today's song is 'Just A Day' by Feeder. This is a great pick me up song, so if you're in the same position as me, studying for exams and bored out of your mind, take a few minutes off to listen to this song, it'll pick you up a lot! :-)


Check out 'Just A Day' Here!


'How come we've ended up like this? Whose gonna catch me when coming down to hit the ground again?!'

EMA

I've always wondered what EMA stand for... oh that's right, INEQUALITY.


The EMA system is one of the most unfair systems I've ever seen. For those who don't know, it is a grant given by the government to those who stay in full time education after the statutory leading age. This isn't where my problem lies, my problem lies in the fact that it is for students whose parents annual income is below £30,000.


You can already see my problem. Where I understand that kids whose parents earn over 30 grand have 'privileged' lives, the same does not apply to me. I don't qualify for EMA, and I have to admit I do live relatively comfortable at home. However, the same can't be said in terms of my finances. I don't wish to divulge into how much money I personally have, but I can tell you, it's not very much at all.


I have to earn every penny I get, and I don't see why it's fair that somebody should get up to £30 a week for turning up to school, when I do exactly the same. In my opinion, this system should be made a lot fairer.


This system shouldn't have been implemented in the first place I think, not with the current rules to it anyway. I'd like to see fairness bought into it by giving it to everyone. Yes, even me, the 'spoilt little rich kid'. However, the boundaries should be opened up more. Each claim should be reviewed independently. Although this would be a clerical nightmare, if a system of this magnitude is going to be implemented, it should be implemented fairly.


Another option is to scrap EMA all together. This is the one policy of the conservative party I actually agree with. Like I said at the start, this system promotes inequality. This could be read as me being bitter, but even if I was receiving EMA, I would feel the same way, because the 'class' divide in britain is still about just as much as before this system was implemented, and now in further education I think EMA shows the 'class' divide even more so. Not good.


Todays recommended song, on a much brighter note, is 'Firestarter' by The Prodigy.
Keep an eye on my youtube channel in the coming weeks. You'll see why I'm suggesting this soon enough.
(Yes, this is me announcing I'll be back soon enough.)


Check out 'Firestarter' on this link :D



'I'm the firestarter, twisted firestarter!'

Homophobia

My last post was a whole 3 days ago?! Shocking. But yes, these past 3 days have been so busy... (facebook). I'm even on it as I'm posting this. But yeah, today I'm posting about homophobia.


This is an issue I take incredibly seriously. To start of with, 'homophobia' is NOT a hatred of gays. homophobia is a fright of becoming homosexual, and homosexuals. Hatred is just a by-product of this. For example, you're scared of spiders, you hate them. Simple.


But what annoys me is that, even in todays society, homophobia is still rife. It's not as acceptable or as commonplace as it was in my parents generation, and it's certainly not as blatant. Until it's called into question. The problem is that, if homosexuality becomes the topic of conversation, it also becomes the elephant in the room, so to speak. People get all nervous and don't know how to react. Society tells them to conform to homophobia, their morals tell them otherwise. This shouldn't be the case.


I believe that it is my generations turn to sort out this problem. There are too many middle aged or elderly people who think that homosexuality is unacceptable, because that's how they were bought up. But we live in modern times, where, although children and teenagers are formed by their parents, their viewpoints are also shaped by the media. I believe it is the media and parents responsibility to show that, although homophobia was the case 20/30 years ago, it needn't be now.


I was watching a program about homophobia on ITV the other night, and the reaction that some football fans gave about homosexuals was shocking, and bought me to the point of cussing. However, it pleased me in a way, because ITV were basically saying 'this ISN'T right'. It showed some homosexuals feelings towards homophobia, and the impact homophobia truly has on homosexuals.


But this is a step in the right direction. We should live in a society where the constant message from media, from role models, and from parents, is that homosexuality is o.k, and homophobia shouldn't be acceptable.


For the record, i'm completely straight. I'm writing this because I know the impact homophobia has, and I've seen it first hand. And for me, it's truly heartbreaking that in this world that we live in, a world meant to be building equality, that equality is all too often shattered.


Today's song, on a brighter note, is 'The Bitter End' by Placebo. I thought this would be an apt song, seen as though lead vocalist, Brian Molko, is openly bisexual and still an icon in modern rock.


Check out 'The Bitter End' right here :-)


'You shower me with lullabies, as you're walking away'

Revision :|

Oh dear.

I've set myself an extremely ambitious target of 80 hours of revision, 20 of which have to be done by tuesday, another 20 by friday or thereabouts. It'll be tough, but hey, revision wasn't made to be easy. I hope that with 20 hours for each subject, I can buck each subject up by at least half a grade, which could prove to be all the difference.

What's given me this massive kick up the bum is the fact I got about a D (maybe a C) on my English coursework. I'm hoping for B's in all of my subjects, so this was a real setback for me. However, looking on the more positive side of things, I've got an A/B in my ICT coursework. So it's not all doom and gloom.

I went to see the new Iron Man film earlier, and I was very impressed! I'm not quite sure what it is about it that makes it good, but it has that 'wow' factor to it. I'd definitely recommend it! Not so much the hotdogs at the cinema though. Eww.

On my posts from now on, I'm going to leave a lyric and youtube link to my favourite song at that moment in time, or a song I think you guys should check out. This post's song is 'The Best Of Times' By Sage Francis, and it's not normally my cup of tea, but I completely love the honesty behind the lyrics.

Check it out right here! :-)

'Technology made it easy to stay in touch whilst keeping a distance, so we just stay distant, and never touch, now all we do is text too much.'

More politics...

Another day, another barrage of politics on the news. But, whereas all we've been hearing is 'OMG HUNG PARLIAMENT!', we've heard something different. That being that Gordon Brown is stepping down as leader of the labour party. For me, this didn't come as too much of a shock, I suppose the pressure of britain not wanting him in power must have got to him. However, I do commend his decision, because to swallow his pride like that must have took some courage.


However, this leaves us with a possibly similar situation as when Blair left. With the Lib Dems and Conservatives not seeming to come to an agreement, and labour with a new leader sooner rather than later, we may well end up with yet another unelected PM. Which nobody wants, as we've seen from this election.


I still stand by me hating the conservatives and David Cameron though. What has surprised me is how i've come to dislike Nick Clegg too. I know I've sung his praises before, but as with all the political parties, they are no longer run as representatives of the British people, more a company, keeping things concealed. Especially with these talks, and the Conservatives and Lib Dems holding their cards to their chests very closely.


This annoys me greatly. As a citizen of Britain, I feel a right to know what is happening about my government, and I KNOW I'm not on my own there. Millions of citizens are, in my view, being cheated out of their right to a fair government, because truth be told, we aren't getting the answers we want from our politicians. The TV debates went someway to resolving this, but the hung parliament has bought about what seems to be a civil cold war. 


What do I know though. I'm a 17 year old with no right to vote, hence no right to an opinion. Yet it seems to me, I have some valid points. Don't get me started on the voting age. :-)

Is it really England's time?

With the 2010 world cup fast approaching (33 days, to be precise), there is a lot of media hype as to whether England can win it or not. Everywhere you look there is offers saying 'If England win the world cup, money back'. However, do we actually stand a chance of claiming back all that money, and watching England raise the coveted trophy for the first time since 1966?

I have, as always, 2 views. However, for the purposes of this blog, it'll be 3.

The first is realistic. Realistically, we can, but it's going to be just as hard as it has been for the past God knows how many tournaments. England are a lot like the Aston Villa of international football, crying out for silverware to reward them in how they've come along, but never quite getting there. I think it may well be another case of false hope again. It's all good and well suggesting that England are favourites because of the team we've built and a better manager, but we said that for Sven, and he got us nowhere in terms of silverware. Also, you have to take other teams into account. Other countries such as Portugal, Argentina and Brazil have some world beaters in their squad, and whilst we do have the likes of Rooney, who've we got supporting him? Emile Heskey. Not quite Ronaldo or Messi.

That being said, there is my second, optimistic view. Yes, we can and will win it. This almost new team of fresh faces will be looking to make a huge impact in world football, and where else better to make it than the world cup? And seen as though the majority of footballers care solely about money now, imagine the job offers these players would get at some of the big teams in the world. Also, you could argue that a lot of the other countries previous super star status has been lost, purely with age and not being able to produce a team, more so a group of individuals. England have been shown to work well as a team, even if we don't have the strongest players, and this could well prove to be the key behind Capello's inevitable success (remember, optimism!).

My third and final view, is patriotism. This isn't so much as a view, but a stance. I will be fully behind England all the way, as should my fellow countrymen. Forget the media's non-belief, believe that this year is our year. 44 years of false hope... It's got to come to an end sooner or later. And when I see England flags all over the country, and I see the support this great team really has... You've got to believe that those 44 years are coming to an end much sooner rather than later.

WHAT!?

It doesn't surprise me that the conservative's got the majority of the seats in the election, although we've been left with a hung parliament. However, WHY are the lib dems considering joining forces with them?! I've forever said that i'd consider having a bigoted UKIP or BNP state over a conservative one under David Cameron, such is my dislike for him.

If I could have voted, it would have been Lib Dems, and i was disappointed with the shortfall in votes for them. However, they still have a key role to play in this parliament, and i would much rather see a Labour/Lib Dem coalition than any government headed by Cameron. He isn't in touch with the british people at all, and I get the impression that he cares about catering for his millionaire friends rather than us normal brits. Also, i think that the fundamental differences between the Lib Dems and Conservatives means that even if they were to form a coalition, it wouldn't necessarily be a successful one.

However that being said, the Conservative swings are obviously reflective of what the british people as a whole want, rather then just myself. This goes someway to showing that the voting system is outdated, and the first past the post system is, as (I think) Alistar Darling said, 'on its last legs'.

So, as for where i stand, I have two views; What I think should happen, and what i want to happen.

What i think should happen is that there should be another election, because if the popularity of conservatives shines through again, we'll have a right and just election. As for the party though, much is left to be desired for fairness and justness.

What I want to happen is a labour and lib dem coalition, because i personally think this would be the best system to take us through to the future, but it obviously wouldn't be representative of what the british people want, just me.

Let me know your thoughts! I think this topic is VERY interesting at the moment.

P.s, I gave up on capitalization of the parties towards the end, sorry!

At school!

LOLZ i'm at school posting. What a maverick I am.
Erm, nothing really to post on this blog, other than deans showing me some cool tricks later to make my blog look all nicer (i.e, an actual format or something, rather than just text.)
I shall now leave my friend Mickael to make a post:
OMD this fag totally cant spell my name as i am not from spain or mexico but whatever JASME see i can do it tooooooooo xD
p.s the game

For being a douche, it is staying as 'mickael' and sorry about you losing the game. Don't worry, I did too.
Expect a post fairly soon, 'cause i'll probably be trying out new tips and tricks and stuff i learn from dean (:

Au Revoir x

Take a break...

I'm just having myself a quick break from revising, so I thought i'd post...

How are you all? (all being the very few that'll read this)

Me? Oh i'm great thanks. I might be getting myself a job at McDonald's which is good, because I've been needing a job for a while, just haven't been bothered to get one. However I am a bit miffed with one of my teachers, because i e-mailed her a while back with coursework, it's due in today and I still haven't had any back. Bad times.

I'm going to be making this look all a bit snazzier with layouts and colours and different pages and stuff soon enough, because for the moment this is my main means of communication with the tinterweb world. =)

Interacting :-)

What is the point in me having a blog? I'm doing nothing with it, it's just sitting here. Like, 'hello... I have feelings too!' Well it doesn't, it's a blog. Either way, heres a post!

I very much doubt that many of my youtube viewers read this, but what the hell. As you may or may not know, I'm on an indefinite break from youtube, because I have to concentrate on revising (nice going James, you're making a blog.)

However, truth be told, I miss interacting with the online community, so I've decided I'm going to through the form of blogging... Don't expect miracles or fireworks. Both can be hazardous to health. And there are reasons as to why I'm blogging as opposed to youtubing at the moment;

1. Youtubing takes a lot of effort. To record, possibly re-record, edit, and post a video can take hours. Even a decent vlog takes a while to make.

2. I feel as though I can open up more on blogs, because whereas youtube for me is more about entertaining people, but a vlog is about letting people know what is going on in my life and how I feel about it.

So there you have it, why I'm on blogger rather than youtube.

Check out my friend dean too, he blogs regularly and there's some cool stuff going on over on his page... (between me and you, he could be a big hit ;D)

I'd give you a link but I don't know how yet. I'll get to grips with this thing soon enough. :-)