Girl Meets BlogGirl Meets BlogJust a girl with a blog and something to say...on anything from celebrity to social networking to high profile news cases. 
Articles
"Elevatorquette"
2008-05-27 10:39:00 We all know the unwritten rules to follow when we get in to an elevator. Face the front, don't make eye contact, etc... And, the fascinating phenomenon where more than 2 or 3 people unconsciously form a symmetrical pattern. If you haven't noticed this the watch next time you get in an elevator, particularly with a group of strangers - say the first person stands to the left, the next will go to the right, then the next to the back, then the next to the left, the next to the right etc..... I was just wondering where this came from - how we all know the rules? How uncomfortable we feel when someone breaks them. Then there is the proper protocol for what happens when someone approaches an elevator you're already in. You know the situation, you're in, ready to go, then spot someone coming........so you quickly look away, act as though you are pre-occupied with doing something else, and bash the close door button. Admit it - you've done it! We all have - unless the person i... More About: Society
Bio-illogical Clock (To Kid or Not to Kid)
2008-04-14 05:50:00 Having children never used to be the subject of a question - rather it was more the norm. It was never really considered that a married couple might choose not to have children, assuming all was right medically etc. These days however, things have changed. Many healthy, able to conceive couples are choosing not to have children. We might be one of them - we can't decide. How do you make the decision if it's not a burning desire? Should you only have children IF it's a burning desire? Does not having children make a couple selfish? After all, their lives and marriage would be easier - every couple with children would attest to that. Or, is it selfish to have children if you don't desperately want them? If you're only having them because people expect it of you, or so that you won't be alone in old age? Being a parent is the most important job there is and it shouldn't be taken lightly - in fact you should have to be interviewed and licensed before you can! But, ... More About: Personal , Clock
The Price of Progress
2008-03-09 06:13:00 There's no disputing that the world is moving forwards at a rapid pace and with that comes many benefits and luxuries - time savings and conveniences that our ancestors could never fathom. But, is it moving too fast? People who know me, often call me gadget girl......I love all things electronic, always have. In fact up until a few years ago, I would buy a new cell phone the minute a new feature came out, like colour screens, cameras etc... Not to mention gaming consoles, cars, etc.. It wasn't cheap being at the front of the wave either.........and 3 - 6 months later the price of what I had bought always halved.... Now though, it just seems that things are moving SO fast that it's pointless to keep up. There's a new cell phone out that combines your MP3 player, camera and phone with a touch screen, all in one!!?? Neat. In 6 months time that'll be old hat....and half the price. Flat screen TVs have been somewhat of an obsession for us in the last 6 months.....we fin... More About: Technology , Price , Progress
Music List: Top 10+
2008-03-08 03:18:00 Top 10+James Blunt: 1973All the Lost SoulsOneRepublic: ApologizeTimbaland Presents Shock ValueLeona Lewis: Bleeding LoveBleeding LoveThe Pussycat Dolls: ButtonsPCD [Bonus Tracks]Rihanna: Don't Stop The Music Good Girl Gone BadJanet: FeedbackFeedbackJustin Timberlake: Give It to MeTimbaland Presents Shock ValueJames Blunt: Give Me Some LoveAll the Lost SoulsFergie: Glamorous [Explicit]GlamorousSara Bareilles: Love SongLittle VoiceBritney Spears: Piece of MeBlackoutJustin Timberlake: SexybackFutureSex/LoveSoundsRihanna: Shut Up and DriveGood Girl Gone BadExiles: The OneThe OneDoe: The Way I AreTimbaland Presents Shock ValueBritney Spears: Toy SoldierBlackout More About: List
Anti Smacking = Anti Parent?
2008-02-17 07:37:00 Is it right that a Grandmother is reprimanded by Police for pulling her grandchild back from running in front of a car, or that Police have gone into schools and told classrooms full of children that their parents are not allowed to smack them? This Anti -smacking law is appearing to go exactly as it's opponents said it would: everyday parents are being warned and prosecuted for lightly disciplining their children, and the "real" child abuse is going on undeterred. In fact the law's sponsor has now turned around and said it was never intended to curb child abuse? Hang on......that certainly wasn't what was being said when the law was in the public forum before it was passed. I don't believe that the people, I can't bring myself to call them parents, who would abuse their children and cause them serious, or even moderate injury, are gong to be deterred by a law that stops them smacking their children in public. It wasn't like they were thrashing them in public in ... More About: Parent
On the way....
2008-02-12 10:28:00 Apologies for the delay in getting the next post up - this time of the year goes crazy! It should be up tomorrow... g.m.b. xx More About: None
Marriage du Jour
2008-01-15 03:06:00 Gone are the days when marriages lasted forever, when divorce was just not an option. I've heard various statistics trotted out and they're all scary - half of all marriages end in divorce etc..... What happened to marriage? When did it become a disposable commodity? Not all marriages will work, and some just shouldn't, or one party has tried their hardest but the other just won't try back. This post is not about those with committed relationships between mature parties who have really tried. Rather, it's those of my generation who think that marriage is the "latest" thing, the new social status to have. You can always pick the ones, you know obsessed with the ring, the dress, the cake, everything wedding related.....except the groom. That guy they're vowing to love and live with forever? Fast-forward two or three years, and they're hosting divorce parties and picking out engagement rings with the new partner. When did divorce become the easy, socially a... More About: Society , Marriage
Chivalry
2008-01-08 03:34:00 Chivalry is dead or so they say. Some days I'm inclined to believe them, others I'm not so sure. And, do us 21st century women actually want it to be? For me the answer has to be no. As I mentioned in my post It's a Man's World, I am by no means a feminist and I believe that men and women are different in so many ways and we should celebrate those differences. As such, I really appreciate it when a man opens a door for me, or lets me walk into an elevator first etc. These gestures are so small in most cases, but mean so much. They speak of respect for the differences between our genders. In our fathers' day chivalry was the norm, and men were raised to treat women as ladies, and women were raised to accept and appreciate it. Today's generation don't seem to have a) been raised that way, or b) decided to keep it going. Unfortunately I think the main reason is that a lot of men are scared to do such things in case they are labelled as sexist or patronising by "mo... More About: Society
What Happened to Christmas?
2007-12-27 04:13:00 I could have sworn it was meant to be sometime soon. But, now it's the day after Boxing Day and no Christmas in sight. OK. Maybe I'm over-exaggerating a little. But not much. I remember Christmas as a child - the build up in the preceding weeks, followed by the unbearable Christmas Eve! Christmas day seemed to take forever to get here, and then it was a magical day when it did. Fast forward 20 years and Christmas seems to rush up on us so fast, gone in the whirl and panic of present shopping, food shopping, parties and family get togethers. This year the weekend before Christmas seemed more "Christmasy" than the day itself - even Christmas Eve felt like just another day. Where were all the cheesy Christmas movies on TV the night before Christmas to get you in the mood?? The hope was still there that Christmas Day would arrive in all it's magical glory. But alas.....no. Though at least the cheesy movies made an appearance - though it felt like too little, t... More About: Personal
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2007-12-21 02:17:00 At the risk of being politically incorrect I want to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Merry Christmas!!!!!!! I pray you have a wonderful time celebrating with your family and friends, and that 2008 brings you all you hope for! g.m.b. xx More About: Personal
Unexpected Grief
2007-12-18 04:58:00 Grief is an emotion that all of us will inevitably experience in varying degrees throughout our lives - whether it be the loss of a pet, a friend, or a loved one. This post isn't about profound grief such as when you lose a spouse, a child or a parent. Rather that unexpected grief, the grief you weren't expecting to feel, or expecting to feel so strongly. Recently my husband lost his grandmother - she was in her nineties and had been unwell for years so it was not sudden, nor a shock. Still, he was sad. Not overwhelmingly so, but sad nonetheless. He was surprised at his reaction, that he felt anything more than a momentary sadness. Why? He hadn't seen her for nearly a decade and she lived on the other side of the world. His family in general is not particularly close. We spent time reflecting on the happy memories he had with his grandmother and agreed she'd had a good life and was in a better place now. Then, we thought about it and realised that whilst he was mourni... More About: Psychology , Grief
Money Makes the World Go Round
2007-11-26 04:09:00 As much as I hate to admit it but the more life goes on the more I realise that it's not love, but money, that the world revolves around. Sometimes I like to imagine what life would be like if money were not an issue. Obviously, working would no longer be necessary, decisions on a holiday or a new car would be irrelevant, as would waiting for that sale on new furniture. As nice as all that would be it still wouldn't change the fact that the world revolves around money, all it would change is that I would have enough to not have to think about it anymore. I've tried to imagine a world without money. I don't get very far. You'd still need to eat, and someone else would have the cow you need. Are they just going to give it to you? Highly unlikely. Therefore you'd need to trade something. Give it a few years, convenience and capitalism would kick in, and money would make a comeback. Most decisions in life seem to in some way relate back to money. Which job should I take... More About: World , Money , The World , Round
It's a Man's World
2007-11-21 09:19:00 In the post on Imposter Syndrome I touched on elements of women working in a man's world. "There is no doubt that times have changed from our parents' day. Men traditionally were the bread winners, whilst women were at home keeping the house and raising the children. These days it is not uncommon for women to be the major earners, for women to have the corporate career. There is a common misconception that corporate women feel they have to be like men to succeed - not true. Whilst it is certainly still a man's world women bring skills to the workplace that should not be lost in an attempt to emulate a man's behaviours. However, women undoubtedly need to perform at a higher level than their male counterparts to be taken equally as seriously. Am I complaining? No, not at all. After all it is my choice to enter this world - life isn't fair. But I digress, that is a topic for another post all of it's own, though not one I feel particularly inclined to write. ....Th... More About: World , Psychology
Political Correctness
2007-11-05 10:04:00 I truly believe that political correctness has gone mad. Some schools are over-run by it, work places are drowning in it, and some churches have even replaced God with it. What was political correctness meant to achieve, and was it intended to go so far? Wikipedia says: "Politic al correctness (adjectivally politically correct, both forms commonly abbreviated to PC) is a term used to describe language, ideas, policies, or behaviour seen as seeking to minimize offence to racial, cultural, or other identity groups." Was that meant to translate into workplaces in many countries no longer being able to have "Merry Christmas" signs up, it must be "Happy Holidays"???? Do you take offence when Muslims or Jews for instance celebrate their religious holidays, and do they really take offence when Christians celebrate theirs? If not, then why are we doing it? Scanning through the Wikipedia article I noticed the following paragraph that seems to back up this t... More About: Society , Political Correctness , Rect
If you?re happy and you know it....
2007-10-29 09:04:00 ....you could always try smiling. Especially if someone smiles at you....even a stranger. I confess, I am one of those people who smiles at strangers when I pass them on the street. If I'm lucky I might get one tentative smile in return a day, more often than not people tend to regard me with suspicion. Why is she smiling at me? What does she want? Is there something wrong with her? No, I just refuse to stop doing what comes naturally because it's not a) sophisticated, b) cool, c) mature, d) any of the above. This is in New Zealand too, the country of friendly, down to earth Kiwis no less. I find when I'm in the U.S. that people are much more receptive to a smile - though I haven't been to New York yet. ;-)If you're one of those people who doesn't like being smiled at by a stranger, why? Is it an invasion of privacy / emotional space? Or, are you so surprised that by the time you have processed it, I've long since passed you by? What do you feel / think when a str... More About: Happy , Psychology
Rage Against the Machine
2007-10-15 10:35:00 .....well, only if you can't get to the driver that is. Why do normal, calm, rational people start exhibiting behaviour more at home in an Anger Management group session when we get behind the wheel of a car? And, will it start to seep into our pedestrian lives as well? Wikipedia states that: "In the U.S., more than 300 cases of road rage annually have ended with serious injuries or even fatalities ? 1200 incidents per year, according to the AAA Foundation study, and rising yearly throughout the six years of the study that examined police records nationally." The term road rage refers to a very wide range of behaviours covering anything from tailgating to rude gestures to pursuing for retaliation with everything conceivable in between - a quick trip to the dairy can end in a jail cell or the morgue. God forbid that one of those scenarios will happen to us or anyone we love. So, putting the extreme end of the spectrum aside, why do we get irrationally angry when someon... More About: Machine , Rage Against the Machine , Rage , Psychology , Mach
Hunting - A Sporting Chance
2007-10-07 11:05:00 I must say up front that I am running the risk of going against my goal with this blog, and may stray into the bounds of "too emotional". I apologise in advance. If there's one thing guaranteed to upset me, it's people who hunt for money or "sport". If you are a responsible, ethical hunter (not a trophy hunter / ivory trader etc) and you are reading this, please do not be offended by what I have to say, my argument is not with you. I should point out before I go any further that whilst I do love animals, I'm not a vegetarian - far from it. I love my meat. I have no problem in man killing animals for food - it is biblical after all. I don't particularly like people going hunting in general, but at least if they are eating the meat or participating in legitimate population control and it wasn't in vain, then ok. But, hunting foxes, lions, elephants, bears etc, for pure financial gain (i.e. for ivory, rare trophies etc) or "sport", and no basi... More About: Chance , Sporting , Hunting , Hunt , Chan
Imposter Syndrome
2007-10-05 05:41:00 According to Wikipedia: "Individuals experiencing this syndrome seem unable to internalize their accomplishments. Regardless of what level of success they may have achieved in their chosen field of work or study, or what external proof they may have of their competence, they remain convinced internally that they do not deserve the success they have achieved and are really frauds. Proofs of success are dismissed as luck, timing, or otherwise having deceived others into thinking they were more intelligent and competent than they believe themselves to be. This syndrome is thought to be particularly common among women who are successful in their given careers and is typically associated with academics." Unfortunately, I can identify with this all too well. Regardless of how many years I have spent in my field I still have lingering feelings such as those described above. More concerning is that almost all my senior level women colleagues, and even those at executive level, ... More About: Syndrome , Psychology
Technology ? Fashion or function?
2007-10-04 05:35:00 Why the hype and the cult following around certain devices such as MP3 players or cell phones? Simple. They look HOT. They generally have the power of marketing experts behind them and thus have managed to turn their device into the next must have fashion accessory. Just like their haute-couture counterparts, new devices can be seeded to appropriate celebrities and the masses will follow and actually pay for the device. Between the must have MP3 players and cell phones of today I have been left wondering if technology has fallen prey to the Fash ion vs. Function debate. Who cares if it's more expensive than similar devices if it is THE device to have? Who cares if I can do everything and more on a phone that's been around for years, but ISN'T the phone to have? Who cares if my MP3 player actually has some undesirable features when it comes to music ownership? After all, if it looks cool, that's what counts right? In my view, no it's not. It's not all about function,... More About: Technology
A Degree of Inconsequence
2007-10-01 11:19:00 With the cost of education costing more and more, at least in this country, surely people who choose to go to university would consider the return on investment (ROI)? Education is most definitely an investment in their future with the returns being many, from financial to emotional. So, why do students continue to major in subjects where they have little or no hope of securing a job with it upon graduation? I understand personal choice etc etc, however unless they are paying for their degree in cash they are most likely racking up a student loan. Along with the requisite interest. A degree in philosophy, art history, or comparative religion is all very mind expanding I'm sure, and I can understand mature students returning for an "interest degree". School leavers doing such degrees though is a different story. Any jobs that could be got with these qualifications are usually few and far between so the odds of securing one are low. Then what? The partner of a coll... More About: Degree
The Real Cost of Shopping - Afterthought
2007-09-30 06:01:00 An afterthought has occurred to me in relation to my recent The Real Cost of Shopping post. I was still pondering why we get the warm fuzzies on a shopping trip? My latest thought on this is that it allows us to fulfill a need. Need being a strongly debatable word in this context. With the rest of life being so complex in regards to our jobs, homes, relationships etc, it can be hard to fulfill our real life needs. So, if we create these material needs we can then fulfill them and perhaps temporarily alleviate, or mask, our feelings of unfulfillment in other areas of our lives. This is probably a well documented psychological fact but all the same I find these things have much more resonance when we think of them ourselves - we tend to actually change our behaviours as we finally understand "the why" emotionally as well as logically. g.m.b. xx Technorati Tags: Shopping , Affluenza , Credit , Credit Cards , Visa , Mastercard , Finance... More About: Money
What Am I Missing Here?
2007-09-27 12:49:00 Answer me this. Why are we celebrating an "artist" who regularly cancels concerts, is allegedly a frequent user of drink and drugs, is in a dangerously co-dependant violent relationship, self harms, and is famous for singing about how she won't go to rehab? Yes, Amy Winehouse I'm talking about you. A video on Perez Hilton's website shows her performing at an awards show and she is barely understandable. Yet, because she is "so hot right now", and selling records it is not widely addressed. The likes of Britney, who undoubtedly has problems, seems to be given a far harder time for seemingly less dangerous behaviour. All because Amy is currently ringing the cash registers? Or, is it because this is all we've ever known of her, therefore we accept it?In my humble opinion, Rehab has to be one of the most annoying songs on the planet. Let alone what it is actually promoting. How many alcoholics and drug abusers have taken this up as their anthem? Her ... More About: Celebrity , Missing , Missi
The Real Cost of Shopping
2007-09-26 07:25:00 Whilst flicking through a magazine at the hair salon I came across an article about Affluenza* - the disease of needing to have everything and keep up with the Joneses. It struck a chord with me as it has concentrated the essence of a trend I have been noticing with increasing concern, not least of which is my own behaviour. I have to admit to getting a little buzz when out shopping - there's something nice about wanting something, being able to buy it, and bringing it home. It's when impulses take precedence over rationality, or shopping becomes a requirement for happiness and peace of mind, that things start to become dangerous. I remember about 7 years ago I went out for groceries and came back with a video camera! I can be the queen of justification should the situation call for it, "I HAVE been thinking about getting a video camera for a while so it's not really THAT impulsive....", "It was a great deal and if I hadn't bought it now it would just have cos... More About: Shopping , Money , Cost , Real
Social Networking - A Healthy Addiction?
2007-09-21 01:26:00 Like most people, of a certain set of generations, I have found myself "socially networking". What does this actually mean? It means, to me, that I can find and be found by anyone from my past, present or future. I say future because people you haven't even met yet can find you. All good in theory - I have found a LOT of people from my childhood that I would never have found had I not been "networking". About 6 years ago I was trying hard not to be found by a certain person and as such had confidential phone numbers, electoral roll listings etc... A friend from school was trying hard to find me and had even hired a private investigator - they failed to find me. How did my old friend find me in the end? Through a social networking site I'd joined. I love the concept, I love the results, well almost all of them. What happens when you get found by someone you'd rather avoid? Say, that certain someone I had been hiding from (for very good reason)? Or,... More About: Social , Social Networking , Networking , Addiction , Healthy
Letter to Britney
2007-09-20 22:47:00 Dear Britney , We've never met, and probably never will, but as someone who doesn't want anything from you, who doesn't stand to lose or gain from anything you do, I wanted to say a few things. I can't pretend to imagine your world, the challenges you face in determining people's motives, having every move scrutinised and dissected by the world. I admire your strength in refusing to allow the constant attention to get in the way of you living your life. However, I worry that in an attempt to regain rightful control over your life you have ceased to see the value in trusted advisors at all. All the great names of our time, people such as business tycoons, media moguls, and presidents, know that they alone can not know it all or make the right decision every time, therefore they surround themselves with people whom they trust and who can advise them well. Don't lose everything you've built because you refuse to listen to anyone anymore - this time in your life will pass, a... More About: Celebrity , Letter
Why?
2007-09-20 07:27:00 Why another blog when almost every topic you can conceivably think of has / is / will be covered somewhere else? Why is what I have to say of interest to anyone else? The first question is easy - I haven't found anywhere yet where I consistently agree with what is being said on a particular issue, so I'd like to add my voice to the growing trend of social commentary. The second question is a little harder and I don't have the answer - that lies with the you, so only time will tell. Social commentary in itself is easy. Hear about something, say what you think about it. However, from what I can see it is very easy to become too involved, too emotional, too politically correct, or indeed too politically incorrect. My goal with my writing is to walk the tightrope in between. Wish me luck! Who am I? Just a girl with a blog... Thank you for reading and I hope you come back. Please let me know your thoughts on what I have to say, and let me know issues that are of interest ... More About: Personal
Music List: Top 10 +
2007-09-20 04:49:00 Top 10 +The Pussycat Dolls: BeepPCDFergie: Big Girls Don't Cry (Personal)The DutchessThe Pussycat Dolls: ButtonsPCDPaul Oakenfold: Faster Kill Pussycat (Feat Brittany Murphy)A Lively MindBritney Spears: Gimme More<To Be Released>Timbaland: Give It To Me (Radio Edit)Give It To Me (International Version)Fergie: Glamorous (Explicit)The DutchessDAUGHTRY: HomeDAUGHTRYBritney Spears: Kiss Me All Over<To Be Released>Kelly Clarkson: Never AgainNever AgainDAUGHTRY: Over YouDAUGHTRYNelly Furtado: Say It RightLooseJustin Timberlake: SexybackFutureSex/LoveSoundsGwen Stefani: The Sweet EscapeThe Sweet EscapeTimbaland feat. Keri Hilson: The Way I AreThe Way I Are (International Version)Pink: U + Ur HandI'm Not DeadThe Pussycat Dolls: Wait a MinutePCD More About: Music , List |
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