Entry #15: All Hooked Up

I hoped to do “quite a bit of work” on the site over the weekend. I did none, nothing at all, not a sausage! I was at the keyboard at times but I suppose my mind wasn't. I think I'm due for a bit of a breather to regroup my ideas and motivation.

On Saturday I went for my first eye test in ages. I was expecting a telling off, in trouble that my eyes are in poor condition because of overwearing my contact lenses. It went fine and the optometrist was fit, when I could see him. I'm poor this week because I spent most of my remaining money on the new spectacles that will be ready within two weeks; I've gone for a small rectangular frame, the only one that seemed to suit my face. I was surprised to find my prescription hasn't changed, my eyesight isn't any worse — it's just as bad as it's always been!

I returned to Woolworths holding the classical music compilation with a CD missing and got my money back, then spent 20 pounds on DVD's. I got: Serenity, I watched this several times when I was with Darren last year; Hard Candy, saw this with Hannah from college last year; Confetti, missed this when it was out at the cinema in 2006. I've never even seen Confetti but I'm assuming I'll like it based off its cast.

Alex came round on Sunday, the plan was to watch the Confetti DVD purchased the previous day but we were too busy talking. We shared buy-one-get-one-free Domino's pizza, two bottles of wine, and plenty of gossip. It was a much needed catch-up, evidenced by the lack of movie viewing. The day was specked with visits to MySpace, time spent using it while hating it. The concept of MySpace is super, the implementation is terrible.

It's difficult to navigate around the MySpace site, the choices offered to follow are confusing and certainly not intuitive. Members' pages are clunky and cluttered, many containing music that automatically plays and busy background patterns. It seems that the thing to have nowadays is a MySpace, when I meet new people they ask “do you have a MySpace?” I recently registered and on Saturday night I filled out some profile details. Yes, I have a MySpace, I look forward to having my existence validated by you posting a comment on my own space, and after all the anticipation all I'll find you've posted is “I'm bored."

Another social networking site I registered at recently is Where Are You Now?. Over the past year or more I've received emails from several friends inviting me to join so they can find out where I am. You know what, if you really want to know where I am and what my news is then write me an email directly instead of bulk mailing your address book. As it happens last week I received a contact form message from a Web friend I've not be in touch with for about a year, good stuff. With all the ways we can communicate to each other nowadays, there's really little excuse for not keeping in touch is there?

If you put up off catching up with people because you're so busy and life's so hectic, have a moment to consider if you are really too busy to write just a brief email to let your friend know you're thinking of them. Bulk mailing your address book is not the way to maintain your friendships. If you wouldn't go to the effort of sending off an email that requires no stamp and no trip to a postbox, then perhaps it's time to accept that the friendship is no longer what it was. Since I'm ranting, I recently registered my agreement with a petition to the Prime Minister.

I am not legally allowed to give blood because I am not straight. There are many advertisements appealling for blood donations, every time I see them I feel sad because that's what the stories told make me feel, then I feel angry because I know that I cannot act upon this. I am discrimated against, an assumption is made that my donation of blood would be more risky, that I'm more likely to carry an infection because of my sexual orientation. The petition to the PM is to overturn the ban on gay and bisexual men giving blood.

Since 1999, sexual contact among heterosexuals “has been the major route of [HIV] infection in the UK.” (cf., See article) There's no logical reasoning to justify why gay and bisexual men should be banned from donating their blood. The current thinking is a logical fallacy, it's outdated and needs to change. As stated in the petition, the ban should not discriminate against sexuality but “instead discriminate against unsafe sexual practices.” If you agree with me and you're a British citizen or live in a Crown dependency, register your opinion. The petition is open until 22nd April.

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Entry #15, published on Wednesday, 7^th of March 2007 at 00:57 local time (Swatch Internet Time @065 .beats)

Returning in 2008 ;-)