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Walkabout in T-Minus.....
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42 Views
03/06/11
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So, after a few years of fannying about the plans are finally in place for getting over to Kangaroo land and then the Kiwi jungle!
The visa has been bought, some funds are waiting in the bank ready to be whored as it goes through an exchange rate that after years in the UK's favour it now swings the other way. This is slightly annoying, the two ways I've felt the effects of the recession are that tuna is way more expensive, and that it's going to cost a lot more for me to stalk Skippy.
So preparations are under way, I'm working at the moment to get some funds for training and certification. In an attempt to be as employable as possible in contract work I'm taking some computing industry certification exams to back up my uni study and work experience, and for the ambition of being able to do season work in winter sports' resorts I'm doing a ski and snowboard technician course and a chalet chef course.
The contract on my current job ends in September, so I'm thinking of spending October visiting friends around the UK and heading over there in November to escape the dourness of another winter in Paisley.
What I was wondering is, does anyone have any good advise for those unaccustomed to travelling? Tips for finding work, flatshares that welcome travellers (as sites I'd use in most countries if I was working there don't have many if any adverts that wish for travellers), general shit that's good to know.... So far my only solid knowledge for the first part of the journey is stay the fuck away from any animal that isn't a dog or cat in Oz as it's probably deadly and carrying an attitude problem.
At the moment the dream is a year is a year in Oz, then a year in Nz, and then anywhere that's not the UK, so my hope is to balance working and travelling to make sure there's always funds for the next part of the voyage. The reality may be me sleeping in a ditch after two weeks before the consulate fly me home, but the dream stands today :)
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Loose nuts anyone?
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22 Views
01/05/11
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So, there is now a weights bench in my sitting room looking all new and shiny. As I looked on at this glorious sight I realised there were two nuts and a washer left unused. D'oh. Turned out the nuts were spare, I was worried for a second or two that I'd been airheaded enough to forget to secure a couple of bolts but no. The washers' home was also found.
So after the first trial run, it wobbles about a fair bit for some exercises but all in all easier to get to than the gym. Especially early in the morning when it's cold. And dark. And the trains aren't running. And I doubt I'll exceed its weight limits before the end of the summer what with being a skinny bastard.
All in all quite funky, and maybe by March I'll get a door pull up bar thing, if by that point I can lift anywhere near my own bodyweight... That might get an update, as will when I can bench press over 88lbs.
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Gone fishing....
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55 Views
05/20/10
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Well, not quite, that title is a slight lie.
Instead I've been going to the gym, going snowboarding, going climbing, and catching up with the big pillar of books in my 'to read' pile. I have nothing against fish so much that I would want to stab them in the face, scare the shit out of them and then possibly throw them back, or, bash their head in and cook them for dinner.
Life's been very busy and a hell of a lot of fun, it turns out my love of snow and heights is much greater than I first thought, and the buzz after doing a few sets of the heaviest deadlifts personally possible rocks the roll. All in all, pretty good, though one downside is that the more I do, the more I want to do - leading to a light wallet and not much time to do anything else. There's also the possibility of getting my motorbike license this year too, probably towards the end, depending if I can save enough and get money that's been leant out back. That would be a nice end to the summer I think.
Also after my gym trainer gave me an eating plan, I appear to be on a diet designed to help annihilate the poultry of the world. The amount of chicken's and eggs I'm meant to eat on one of the weeks is truly scary, for me and all chicken kind!
On the cultural side, I've been playing the ps3 and watching great B horror movies, but not been to any gigs in ages, or heading out to the pub either, it's been fairly quiet on that front. Although, a piss up for nearly every F1 race of this year has been good fun, and there was a pub crawl fairly recently that was pretty sweet, but mostly the partying has been put on hold, mainly through lack of funds.
What else... my wall is slowly getting painted in tattoo ideas - I figure put it on a wall for a while, if I don't get bored of it, then it's good to go. I guess I'll see how that works out too. My art ability has so far gone from zero to 0.3, not bad for a weeks work :) So, to report after my hiatus, it's best summed up by 'rock on' :)
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On that old school hippy trip
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25 Views
09/27/09
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Once upon a time there was me. Hello, *waves*. And at this time I was reading the blogs on this website and on nearly every second one I was thinking Aww, or, wow - some seriously pissed off people here, or, just what the fuck random shit is in your brain. So I decided to go off on a hippy trip and tell you all to have some peace, love and understanding :) Because this isn't.. I was going to say hypocritical, but that's not the right word now I know what it means, but you know, like that. Because I never rant, oh no, never ever. :P
So, go on all ranters, angry people and awww people, find a hippy and give them a hug. Go out into a field and make a daisy chain. Go and discover your third eye, but remember, have a shower afterwards. For general glee find a ruined castle (or if you're in America or somewhere without that kinda history), find an old shed, and skip merrily around it with some friends.
As an out and out activity to put a smile on your face, chase squirrels, it's fun, and they probably can't savage you, though I did wonder a few weeks ago. It was a lovely day and I was in the park with a friend, when lo, some squirrels appeared. Instincts (not sure who's or what, but probably instincts) kicked in and I chased the little furry critters up a tree. Then the situation changed, I was standing in a circle of trees, and there ended up being around 7 squirrels on the tree I just chased their friends up.
They all ran up the tree, and then started spreading out across the branches onto the other trees - a classic pincer movement, encircling me so as better to attack. Let me tell you, I got a little worried then, and slowly backed away, knowing that on this day, the squirrels had let me go quietly.
I seem to be digressing... Oh yes. Smile, bounce, have fun, chill out, be merry and all the other good stuff, for what would the point be if not for that :)
Peace out
Old school hippy trip dude
p.s. Yep, this is quite a condescending post, but hey, it's fun :) Also, I'm not sure how much has changed in the past nine months so this may not be relevant anymore, but Dracshana, you get a big stick when squirrel chasing, not for the squirrels, but for anyone annoying that happens to get in the way of the squirrel chasing. Check that, it's just for anyone annoying. :P Mo, you'd probably be better chasing fish, from a boat, and Noodles, you can saunter at them while swinging your swagger stick.
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My annual nine month blog
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28 Views
09/26/09
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So, a blog.
In the parlance of today: I haz a sad. :( What's interesting is, I've seen people write and talk like this constantly, and even though I got thrown out my English class many many moons ago, have issues with spelling, and if you ever hear me speak will wonder just what the hell I'm talking about (indeed, an English friend of mine has recently taken to just laughing when she hears me speak, especially when using words like book, look, cook, and 'fuck you, stop taking the piss'), I appear to be stuck up when it comes to reasonable English rather than made up pish. I just feel sad when I read words that really don't need z's, multiple i's and other assorted letters that barely work phonetically. There is a time and a place, and that is for captioning lolcats and that's it. Although, the English I speak is a bastardization (necessary z) of the English it evolved from, and so I can easily accept that I'm reaching the 'get off my lawn!' stage of this rant.
Not that I can speak, being Scottish, the most well spoken person I know is an Australian alien over this way, go figure eh. To make up for it we've made her more of a yobbo in the past year than she was before, and I've learned to shorten words and put an 'o' at the end. Also Twizzlers are good, Bundy ain't, and through scarf ownership I support the WestCoast Eagles, whoever they may be. Football probably. :)
Anyway. The reason for the sadness, which is purely selfish, is that I'm not going to see a polar bear. Edinburgh zoo has a polar bear, a big beauty of a creature taken from Canada before it was due to be shot as it was being overly friendly with a local town's people. It probably just wanted a hug, some beer and a snowman to lie down beside. They weren't so friendly though, and it was saved by the zoo who gave it a home.
Now it's being taken to a new home in the North of Scotland. It's being given a large enclosure so it can wander around, and they're taking over a male bear for it to play with, frollick and make little snowy white baby bears. All together, awww! But I can't get to the zoo before it heads off, hence the sadness. I'm sure you all feel my pain.
I do have some good news to balance out. I had a great time in the Yorkshire Dales recently, the weekend was beautifully sunny, making the rolling hills and old villages and towns look stunning. We saw some waterfalls, explored a huge cave, saw an old castle and bathed in the clearest and most star filled night sky I've ever seen from the comfort of the village graveyard. :) I even saw my first shooting star!
One question though, if anyone here has been to the Dales, and seen the amount of dry stone dyke walls; just how long must it have taken to make them all, why were they so anal retentive about it, and if you put them all together end to end, how many times around the world could they reach? I reckon twice. There was even walls up near vertical slopes where the builders must have been held on with ropes to make them. Overkill dudes.
Any more news.... Well, I'm going to a wedding on Halloween, so I'll get to dress up in the finest black and see my friend marry someone who seems to be a very cool man. Just about to book my trip down to London to see another friend off to start a European tour, and when they head off to sunny Italy, I'll head off to sunny Devon - can't help thinking I've been cheated somewhere. The past year so far hasn't had much special happening, just the usual fun and games.
Take care all you readers that got this far, congratulations for your attention. To those that don't, well you'll never know, so you can go suck on a lemon. A big lemon.
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Paging Mr Strike
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58 Views
01/23/09
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Well my mate got back from Perth a few weeks ago, and I've finally got round to playing the CD she got me for Christmas,
Machine Gun Fellatio are so damn funky, great band and sound like they were a sight to see live. I seem to be getting Ozzieized with all the music I've been hearing, and recently I feel like I know more about Triple J than stations in this country. Oh, and finally I will see a Koala!
They have them in Edinburgh zoo, and while I usually end up feeling pretty bad after vising zoo's (big cats, bears, the ones that like to move always seem to be suffering from some kind of madness as they go back and forth on the same line doing weird jumpy twists when turning....) I have to go and see my muse!
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Possible stalkers/enemies blog
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62 Views
12/22/08
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You know, it's probably been about a year since I last looked at any of Liane's posts, and I had another look at some and I thought,
Does anyone else look at the list on Liane's stalkers/enemies blog and think that would probably be a good party?
My only nemesis at this time is my teeth, nemesis to my tongue... I somehow was eating, and bit really hard, but my tongue was pushed well to the side, so I bit hard right down the middle of my tongue.
I still don't know how I didn't notice before I tried to chew......
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Quality of life
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128 Views
09/27/08
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Three words that you never want to hear in relation to your health.
You know, I've found the biggest down side to this site for me recently. While its nice to have friends scattered around the globe who have nice couches to sleep on (and sometimes cat's to pat you on the eye to make sure your asleep), when you need someone close by, to confide eye to eye, its not helped. Geography. What a bitch.
Never take for granted those who actually have the strength to help without asking and for the duration, because sadly I think there comes times when you realize you give people a lot more credit than they're due.
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Rules of attraction
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90 Views
08/16/08
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Really just a rant...
I was sitting in the pub yesterday, looking around at all the people and thinking to myself it would be nice to talk to a lovely lady, so, I look around again, and I think to myself that tossing a coin to pick would probably be the best way because looks, I'm thinking, is just a bad bad way.
I'm just realizing the sheer silliness of a first attraction based on looks. I hear people saying 'she's the one for me' or wouldn't it be amazing to go out with this person and I think, you've never spoken to them, you have no idea what they're like.. they could kick puppies, shave kittens and make people eat Brussel sprouts, yet here are people infatuated with a complete unknown entity - ludicrous!
I wonder, how cool it would be to walk past someone and hear them say something profound, to hear something that makes you want to talk to them, that makes your brain go 'whoa there, what was that' in a good way, as opposed to 'whoa there, what was that - did that guy just say he wanted to do the thing with the glove to a horse?'
Don't get this wrong, I am superficial in many ways, but compared to what I was raised with, the ways are few now. Tis amazing when you can actively see the changes in you when they happen.. And physical attraction is necessary for any relationship, but, mental attraction can be so much sexier... At the end of the day a set of tits is much like every other set, but a mind, well, each one is also like every other, unique :)
"Don't expect too much from me
Perfection is no test for me
Because the best I'll ever be
Is just like you: A human being
You won't offend, I need to know
Please, my friend, show me your soul" AK.
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Multiple personalities
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113 Views
08/05/08
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So, there I was last night. I put out the shorts, tshirt, hoodie and trainers near my bed so I wouldn't have to look for them, set my alarm to an early-ish time and thought:
Tomorrow morning I will go jogging. Good start to the day, get exercise, get the blood pumping and wake up faster than the usual 4 hours of dozyness and get the friendly endolphins (I know what it is, I just like to imagine them as dolphins) swimming round my blood. I was totally up for it, and jogging in the morning is something I managed to do regularly for a while.
Morning came. The complete and utter contempt I held this 'jogging' idea with, and the feeling of frustration at the naivety and optimism of the person that left the jogging things out the night before, as I lay there in a warm, cosy and above all comfy bed has led me to believe I have more than one personality.
So far all I can tell you is, one thinks jogging is a good idea, the other doesn't.
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Your best album?
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143 Views
08/03/08
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Well, I've been going through my collection, which is a fair size, and been looking for different cd's to match changing moods, changing weather, and I've come to the conclusion:
Even though its not heavy, or very goth, Red Hot Chilli Peppers 'What Hits?!' is the best all round album I own.
It has happy songs, sad songs and get the fuck up and dance songs. The best greatest hits album I own, and always a favorite for tunes to hear before heading out the house.
So, whats your favorite all rounder, the one that never gets tired, and has so many memories you can't even shake a stick at it?
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Shout, shout at the devil
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78 Views
07/13/08
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So far today I've spent far far to much time on youtube watching memories of younger days.
Someone that used to be a friend of mine just got married, and having not really thought of him for a long time, I cast my mind back to when I was in school, and we'd sit at his chilling out and listening to tunes. The days of tapes with layers and layers of stickers, showing their life and your ever changing musical tastes...
Of band names written in spikey slayer'ish writing, the old compilation tapes that would rock anyones world, the tape you knew would take anyone and show them the light of metal and why the world should rock!
So as memory lane was guiding I started searching for the music I forgot, ah, the memories, most surprisingly that Motley Crue did 'shout at the devil' (after this point in my life my tastes got distinctively heavier and I left them behind). I loved that tune so much, still do it seems, and here was me thinking I wouldn't listen to the crue ever again...
And skid row! Jesus! I will never forget the beavis and buthead episode where they watch monkey business, and one asks, 'why does he keep trying to punch the camera'... 'Its because he's a pussy trying to look hard', and damn once that thoughts in your head, it really is a funny video :)
And I just found some WASP videos... how could I forget the manimal... Nice sentiment, dumbest name I've ever heard!
The way its going I think I'm gonna have to get the record player out and get the first two (and best) iron maiden albums out for some neighbor disturbing sing along's
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Perths in Australia
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64 Views
07/12/08
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Yeah,
Its true, Perth is in Australia! Now I did already know this, but I had a few jars of cider and was knackered from walking all day so not feeling as sharp as I could be.
So when the lassie chatting up my mate says she's from Perth ( and she had a think Ozzie accent) I go oh, that's not very far (Perth Scotland, about 30miles away). They look at me, I smile, and go 'oh yeah'...
Ah, donkey strikes again :) If I could just find the 'brain engage' button....
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amazingness of coincidence
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54 Views
07/10/08
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This was my morning a couple of days ago.
Got up, had breakfast, and went onto the pc and logged in to check work emails. One was talking about somebody in the company we just bought. Lots of boring bullet points about things that needed done in our system for them.
Apart from the last one, where it said 'and if this name has been added, remove it, its her old name'. At which point I realized that the email was talking about my ex.
So, I'm sitting there stunned, first of all that I got an email about her at my work (only contact with her was one email in two years), secondly because she's now married, and third I saw that her and her husband were attached to the same email.
Now, is it just me or does that justify a 'holy flying fuck'? As crazy coincidence goes.. And the only reason I knew was because of the very last point, what was possibly an after thought of the person writing the email, without that I would never have known...
Still, once the 'holy fuck' feeling lowered a little, I actually thought it was kind of cool. We weren't happy together in the end so the split was a good thing though I didn't see that at the time. So all in all I felt happy afterwards, if she's married then I hope she's really happy with the guy.
I feel strange though, after the split I decided I didn't want a relationship, and although I met people it was under the understanding of fun and not having a relationship. It was only after a year I thought I was probably emotionally ready to think about having one.
And my ex is married, I feel slightly strange about it in one way - I wonder why it took me a long time before I decided that I could have that again, yet they're married in the space of two years. Oh well,
Long live the happiness of others.
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Back in black ;)
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124 Views
07/07/08
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Hello one and all, the man is back - I had to come, just to put Mr Noodles worried heart at rest bless him.
So how the hell are you all then? I hope all well and good, no terribly traumatic events in my absence?
After all this time, I really ain't got that much news, I might have to make some stuff up with dinosaurs to make it sound interesting...
Well to those who know how blissfully happy I was in Oxford will be pleased to know that I'm back in Scotland and feeling so much better for it. I've also gone part time with work, leaving me with some time to chill out and do fun stuff - getting away from the workaholic-ness, stress and kinda crazy geeky intenseness, which is nice :)
In general things are going alright, probably rising to good in the next few weeks. Been going out again, and seeing some old friends, getting headbutted by strangers and spending time in A&E, lining up some gigs to go to after a one year hiatus - all in all, not bad. Only a couple of weeks till I see the Berzerker, got to love that band.
Just had a really nice long weekend over in Norway too, such a beautiful city I stayed in, and had a great day in the rain hiking up a big fjord only to find how much I fear falling off cliffs (not height, falling of cliffs). And was good fun to finally meet up with my virtual computer friends from that country. :)
Plans for the moment are pretty much non-existent. I have some free time and would like to go for a bit of a holiday or trek, but no ideas and no one to go with, so think that might just stay as an idea. Any takers for a sightseeing buddy?
On that note actually, if anyone happens to be in the area of central scotland, or further afield, whatever, and fancies a climbing, snowboarding or skydiving buddy let me know, would be nice to meet new people for these things.
One thing I've done since I was last here which is note worthy is push myself out of a perfectly good plane, and it is one of the most amazing feelings I've ever had, the joy as your brain realizes your not actually going to die at this moment when you look up and see the parachute is there, priceless, or when you test your breaks and the world is completely silent except for the plane circling up and the whole world is below you... And also the feeling when you reach the ground too :)
Everyone should do it at least once, a truly amazing feeling. I just can't wait until I get onto doing freefall.. trying to imagine the rush of falling face first to earth is just impossible I think.
Haven't shaved my head yet, or got married, or ran a marathon, so not much else to say really.. Maybe dinosaurs another day.
So don't be shy and say hello :) Time for me to have some lovely butcher cut burgers.. yum..
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Rock Climbing / Skydiving
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61 Views
04/05/08
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Hello to all,
I'm a wondering, is there anyone on this site that likes either of these? I'm (trying) getting into both these sports and think it would probably be a lot more fun with more people than on my tod.
So, anyone? Gonna be located in Scotland in a little while so sorry to all you Southerner's :P
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Mexican emo riot
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41 Views
03/31/08
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Has anyone else read about the emo kids living in Mexico city and the shit they've been putting up with?
It seems as more and more people in the city have become emo, many of them have been getting attacked by punks and metalheads, "and that metal heads and gangsters have warned Tijuana's emo kids to stay away from the town's fair next month." [from article]
The story goes on to say the underlying problem is homophobia among the people attacking them because they work out that the dress/music equates to being gay.
Its sad to see the stupidity, good to see them standing up for their cause. Why do people try and segregate themselves into groups and point themselves at everyone outside the group? I don't understand it, were all only human, end of story.
I just hope they don't get even worse reactions from the neanderthals after this :-/
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HMP UK
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133 Views
03/17/08
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Well, who's heard about Mr Gary Pugh - Forensic science director for the MET?
He's put forward that its possible to detect criminal psychology in kids aged 5 and above, and that any showing these signs (as seen by teachers, neighbors etc) have their dna stored on a database making it possible to catch then easier in the future when the do commit a crime.
Quotes from the article include
"If we have a primary means of identifying people before they offend, then in the long term, the benefits of targeting young people are extremely large," he said.
"You could argue the younger the better."
Basically, we are all criminals - we just haven't been caught yet. More insanity is sure to follow. sadly I can see the country going for it just now.
Yes, our culture seems to be completely fucked in so many places in so many ways, instead of addressing the reason, the cause, they try and treat the symptoms instead. In a really really fucked way.
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Build your Gothic dating site / Affiliate
