Why should we care?

Those who regularly read my blog will know that for the past few months I have been working with a organisation called Shout Out UK. There purpose is to give give young people a voice who are otherwise ignored by traditional media. 

I have also been working on the 'Why Should We Care?' event (ran by shout out uk) which aims to get politics onto the national curriculum and to show people that it is more then just arguing in parliament, it is about them.

This Saturday (20th april) I got to finally see the launch of the campaign and see a lot of hard work start to pay off. Of course the work has only just started, and this event will be the first of many. I wrote about the event on the Shout Out UK website, which can be viewed here.

The event started off with a simple networking session for everyone to get to know each other, then everyone took there place in the chambers and after a short film were welcomed by Marsha Thompson. The debate then started. Everything about the debate is in the article so I don't need to go into details here, but the main talking points were, the rise in tuition fees, the loss of the EMA, the relationship between media and politics, the cost of travel for young people and the role of the UKYP.

It was clear that everyone was passionate about the days issues, but there was also a great deal of respect between different parties, Of course there were times that I forgot that I was reporting on the debate and I had to join in, but before you give me that look, I did manage to plug Shout Out's twitter.

The debate lasted almost two hours before it brought to a close, and it was clear that we all could have talked all the way into next week.

I got involved with this campaign because I know that the young people of this country are fantastic, and they have the ability to change the world and make it a much better place, they just need a little nudge and the right tools. This campaign will give them those tools to get involved with politics and change the world.

One of the most stupid things that you can say is, 'I don't care' or 'I don't find it interesting  because it will not make you immune to the governments. Politics is not like football or a soap opera, you can't just ignore it. You should know how your country is run, and what the people running it are doing, that way you can hold them to account when they step out of line.

This bit is the blogging equivalent of a YouTube end screen. The bit that is in the background while you choose the next video.

If you want more information about the why should we care campaign you can go to shoutoutuk.org

You can follow Shoutout on twiiter or facebook

If you want to get involved with ShoutoutUK or want to help spread news on issue which affect or interest you, or if you want to launch your own campaign, send a email to editor@shoutoutuk.org 

You can also follow me on twitter

The soundtrack of my life...so far.

I thought that I would do something different today, I’m going to post a list of songs, but it’s not my favorite  or the top 100 chart toppers. It’s a list of songs that mean something to me, or that remind of a time, place or person. This list is in no particular order.

Light My Fire – Will Young.

This was the first ever single that I brought, I loved this song growing up, and I loved Will Young. I was eight or nine years old when Light My Fire was covered.  I brought the CD from our local ASDA (The British version of Wal-Mart) , a week after Will Young had won Pop Idol for around £3 with my pocket money. I have remained a fan ever since.

In case you’re interested, I used to get £5 pocket money a week.

Relight My Fire – Take That. (Feat. Lulu)

Late nineties, I was even younger and convinced that there was a secret box under the floor boards, inside this box, I was convinced that there was a map that would lead to some un-discovered treasure just outside the valley where I lived and that it was my duty to go and find it, with my dog. Tucker was a springer spaniel and the most beautiful and gentle dog in the world. I would do anything to get him back.  

How did this song get into my memory? Simple, my Mother, she played this every single day, I’m pretty sure that my Dad is sick of it.

You've Got A Friend In Me – Randy Newman

I have two words for you: Toy Story.

Sex Bomb- Tom Jones.

Questions are raised as to why an nine year old would be obsessed with song so much that he ends up singing it every day in the school playground, a playground of a strict Roman Catholic school. I am now an atheist.

Anything from Radio 1’s Live Lounge Volume One.

Year eight in school (seventh grade for my American Readers who make up 65% of my audience.) and this was the year of change, firstly I was growing up, very quickly and shall we say that things were changing inside me, and I was starting to feel things that were weird, but what I was feeling seemed different to what the popular sporty kids were feeling or what my group,’ the ones who paid attention and were so bright that we could be the best in class without falling into the geek/dork/nerd stereotype’ were feeling. They were attracted to girls, I wasn't.

RockStar - Nickleback.

I loved this song; I was such a rebel when it came out that I got the censored version on my mp3 player. I used to listen to this song on the bus on the way to school, during that dry period when I didn't have a radio play built in to my mp3 player, so I couldn't listen to The Chris Moyles Show.

Uprising – Muse

Fast forward to college, I was 17 and a budding actor, my whole life revolved around acting, I was partially good at Shakespearean drama's and dark gritty plays. I was not so good at singing. I did not like open my vocal chords in front of hundreds of people. Uprising was the first song that I sang in front of a audience, but it was the song the taught me to just enjoy it. I played a weird werewolf/zombie thing during this song. This was the big opening to our Rock 'n' Horror evening.

We had rehearsed this a hundred times and we got it perfect every time. The plan was that we were to be split into two groups, My group would enter from the door on stage left in a creepy and incredibly evil manner, singing until 'we will never see the truth around.' At which point the other group would come in from the door on stage right, and sing up to the chorus, where both groups become one and we all sing together.

However, Sod's law would have it, that our tutor, who shall not be named, decided to lock the door that the second group would come out from. Our tutor locked this door to stop parents, friends and family from taking the easy way into the hall, forgetting that the second group would be requiring that door in a piece that our tutor choreographed themselves.

It came to the second groups cue, instead of hearing the lyrics, we heard a 'clunk.' We had to think quickly, it was do or die, we sang the words as best we could, while being accompanied by 'IT'S LOCKED' and the very distant singing while the group very quickly made there way into the Studio, to enter the Hall, via the two sets of double doors which lead out to center stage.

They got 20 or so people on stage via three sets of doors in a time that Usain Bolt cannot hope to beat. We got it together by chorus.

Uprising is, and remains my favorite song.

Viva La Vida - Coldplay.

I've nailed this song on my guitar. That is all.

And I love this song.

Mozart's House - Clean Bandit.

I heard this on Radio One last month while driving home and just fell in love with it. It's is my soundtrack for right now. I love that Clean Bandit have been able to stamp there own style on a stable of classical music while being respectful the the source material.

It only two and a half  years for this work of art to be noticed in the mainstream. It is so good, I love it.

Shake it - Metro Station

It was the summer of '09' The best goddamn summer ever, My whole year got to go to Butlin's, (we still had to do lessons though) for a study week in the run up to our GCSE's. The only thing is that I have very little to write about it on this blog, mostly because it involves a tonne of people and some stories that I assume that they (and me) want to stay buried, especially for some in the building on the other side of the courtyard.

The thing is, Metro Station are the complete opposite of my normal tastes, yet the still have made it into my list, and that summer would have been so different with another song, and not as special.

Sweet Child o' Mine - Guns N' Roses.

Sweet Child o' Mine was the first song that I taught myself (with the help of youtube) to play on the guitar and the soundtrack of my rocker stage.(I wear mortal's clothes now.) I was 18 and wanted to be different, I also hanged out with the different kids, but don't worry, I was in the group could hold down a job and kept our heads screwed on.

I also had a brief passing with Paramore, but they didn't stick.

There is one point that I want to make, people in my generation, say that our music is rubbish and does not hold up to the 70's and 80's. I say to them that if they don't like what they've got then they should make their own, no one forces you to listen to what is current, you choose your playlist, not me.

Who know's the next song on this list could be one of yours.

Explosive Diarrhoea

I feel really rough today, it's not been a bad day. I just feel rubbish, but fantastic at the same time.

The reasons for me feeling rubbish are simple. My stomach has ordered the contents every dinner I have ever eaten to make a swift departure via the back entrance. The effect that was mistaken for a nuclear explosion was felt as far as Newcastle and measured 7.4 on the richter scale. Local residents describe the event as chilling, disturbing and really rather smelly.

The reason for me feeling fantastic are a secret. I have some really great news that want to tell you, but I'm not allowed.

Heads up, I'm working for the Politics in Schools campaign. We are officially launching on 20th April. I won't just be writing about it, i'm also the events manager for the campaign. It's hard work but a hell of a lot of fun. I will keep you posted.

Here goes nothing

I thought I try something different this month, everyone on YouTube seems to enjoy doing this, so I decided to convert the VEDA format slightly and blog every day in April.

Today I did something that was quite a good exercise for me, I have just applied for the Nico Colchester Journalism Fellowship 2013. The entry criteria was simple, you must be a EU citizen and write an 800 word article on 'What should the European Union do to keep Britain in?'

The aim is to help continental writers better understand Britain and for British writers to better understand Europe, is a three month fellowship at ether The Financial Times or The Economist as well as £5000 to cover accommodation and travel.

I'm not going to know until June when the committee meets to discus the entry's.

Fingers crossed that I get it, but if I don't, there is no need to worry.

Also you are very lucky, this is my second post in 24 hours. I have never done that before, go me *clicks fingers*

This is BEDA #2 because I am counting my last post as BEDA #1. It was wrote in the early hours of the morning and to me it still felt like the day before. So there.

On a more serious note, today I read, one of the most beautiful comments that I have ever seen. Posted by +Lacey Edwards she wrote;

"You are changing to world a little at a time just by sharing your thoughts."

I am in awe at that sentence.

It's four in the morning and I need to sleep.

I have no idea what to write. I'm meant to be writing a article about The European Union and Britain. Instead I'm writing this, yet that article is very important.

I am meant to be a logical and rational person who is capable of being an adult that is responsible. Tapped Out is looking really attractive right now.

I never really had a childhood, because I was too busy trying to be the responsible adult, that kid who is popped out of his mothers womb and then puts on a suit and goes to work. I want to have fun and be crazy for once in my dammed life, yet the responsible voice in my brain says "Thomas, you are a responsible child."

There's my problem, I'm not a child any more.

I know what I want, I want to make a life for myself that fills my heart with content and joy, by that I don't mean having a tonne of money to buy whatever I want, I mean the one where I can have an adventure, go do those things that filled my childhood dreams when lying on the top bunk, (yep, I got it.)

Then responsible me comes in and says

"you must not do that, you have to set an example for the rest of the children"  

Really, this is what some of the children are doing, one is currently touring the globe, going where their heart desires. Another is a part time model, part time student ambassador and here's the killer, this person performed at the closing ceremony at the London 2012 Olympics.

I'm meant to be that successful dude who you met in school, remember for the rest of your life, got pushed around a bit but ends up with a Ferrari by the time he is twenty-five. I don't think I have a lot to show for it

Yes, I know I have awesome job, (I'm not complaining.) But I want to change the world, right now, the question is, How am I going to do that?    

I ran away

In 2010, I ran away.

I got fed up with bullies and being abused for the way that I looked, or the way that I talked. I got fed up with being picked on for my actions or for what I said.

In 2010, I ran away from YouTube.

I regret that descision, I enjoyed it, I liked the process of making and editing a video for someone to watch on the other side of the world. I liked being about to share my thoughts and feelings with the world, and I liked being able to hear the thoughts and feelings other people.

But as you have gathered, I quit. I deleated my account in anger. I just got fed up with the trolls, there were far too many of them. The scary thing is that I think I might have actually known some of them. Stupid schoolchildren.

This is why I have sympathy for Justin Bieber, granted, I'm not his biggest fan, but it so hard to carry on when you have half the world screaming hate at you, because you are successful. He's only 19, he has to deal with millions of fans and haters, I couldn't handle ten trolls.

But don't get me wrong, there were some fantastic people on there, I rembember a youtuber who stuck up for me, and generally liked my videos, in fact she made 2 video responces, one asking why people were being trolls, the other, because she was laughing at the wrapping of one of my christmas presents.

I should never have deleted that account, I sometimes wonder how things would have been if I kept it up.

Today I decided to stop wondering and start doing something about it, I'm going to start making videos again, there just one problem.

I don't know what to say?

My short thoughts on YouTube.

At this moment, I’m meant to be writing another article for my job, because that is a thing I do now. But its twenty to two in the morning and I really need to sleep.

As a result of my insomnia, which is a clear indication that I'm a timelord, I've found my way onto youtube. Of course, I've gone through an insane amount of cat videos, along with puppy videos, funny baby videos, fail video, win videos, knife song videos, squirrel videos, Harlem Shake videos, Gangnam Style video and more cat videos. But there is something that, I personally, am finding less off, and thats the endangered species of the vlogger.

By this, I don’t mean vlogger as in the big players, the ones who just make a "ten things I've noticed video", or a "challenge" video to get as many likes and view as possible, I mean, the ones who just talk about life, and talk about what they are thinking, or their random idiosyncrasies that make them interesting and genuinely awesome people.

This thought process started when I stumbled across ImagineJohanna, and I realized that she reminds us why most people started vlogging in the first, to talk about life and to share stories from her past. She doesn't have an agenda, she doesn't want to try to sell you merchandise or make a ton of money, she just wants to tell her story.

At this point I should go on a bit of a rant about how there are no ‘old skool’ vloggers left, but really, we just need to look. Everyone has got a story to tell, but some are just louder than others, it is up to you who you choose to listen to, just make sure you choose wisely.

Have a nice life

This title has no meaning.

I've neglected this blog for too long, my bad, I wanted to do a short post every day and a big post on Sundays, of course, life has found a way to blow up your world, I shan't go into details here.

But I have good news, I've just finished a article on the Russian Asteroid that exploded over the city of Chelyabinsk, I go into some detail about where Asteroids come from, and what caused it to come our way. I finish off by asking why no one saw it coming. I realize that this summary makes it sound really boring, I really hope it isn't. It was really good fun to write.

Also in April I am going to be working in the politics in schools campaign run by ShoutoutUK. This is a cause that I honestly believe in. The current voter registration in the United Kingdom is below 50% and I believe that this is due to a lack of political education in our schools. I am so looking forward this, I can't wait.

Today is also my un-birthday, so happy un-birthday to me.

I was in a hotel last week, I was given the choice between firm and soft pillows, I took a long time to come to a decision. Clearly a first world problem that shows that I need sort my priories out.

I really need to get working on my alien protocol article. That's going to be fun to write as well. The weird thing is that if you had told me a year ago that I would love writing things, I would have most likely unleashed my secret superpower on you. Spider-man eat your heart out. Now it's opening up all of these opportunities for me that I am incredibly grateful for.

I'm thinking about setting up a WordPress site. I'm thinking I need somewhere to put articles that I write and have something professional to show any future employers. I of course will still keep this blog going, in fact I will use it for what a blog is for, I will blog my life. If you have used WordPress before; What tips do you have? How did you use it? And would you recommend it?

When I was your age.

From 2009 through to 2010 I had a YouTube channel, I have since deleated that channel. Long story short, I got fed up with the trolls, below is a script that I never filmed.

Why is it that people like me who can't cook always end up hungry? Think about It, as soon has the cook of the house has finnished for the day, I end up turning into a confused caveman who thinks that a oven is as interesting as 14 episodes of the antiques roadshow with added commentary about the piece of junk that which is as useful as a baboon in the shower.

But in the 21st century that is not the case, because today we has this extronary, fantastic, technology thing known as YouTube. On this little known site people can upload videos ragieng from a university lecture on quantum mechanics, to a dog barking at the television.

This brings me nicely on to part 3 (yeah I got a script this time) and the media, In the last ten years media has changed dramsily, in 1995, It was really hard to stay In contact with some one thousands of miles away, but nowadays we have socal networking sites like Facebook and Twitter which puts us into contact with those people within seconds. Now lookng at how far technology has advanced in the last ten years, who knows what we could be doing in 2020 and for those Internet trolls who are going to say that the world is going to end 2012 then all I've got to say to you is that you are a bunch if stupid old lowlifes.

So this video (blog post) is for my generaton who can say when I was your age we didn't have Facebook, we had pen-pals. We didn't have xbox 360s we had N64's. We can say when I was your age our phones didn't have Internet, they had snake and when I was your age freddos were only 10p.

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You know how life has a way of putting off what you actually want to do, that. The Alien post is going to be delayed again, sorry about that.

Random Event One: Scratching My Balls With G4S

I am one of those people who can be very professional. I can scrub up well, do my homework and in general be a good amabassor for whatever company that would care to employ me. However, if you put me in a quiet room, the slightest thing can make me howl with laughter.

For example, today, I'm with a very skilled and experienced journalist on an assignment, (I won't bore you with details.) I want to make the most of my time with him, I can learn a lot from him. He has been in the business for 45 years, however today I think that I might have showed him up. While he was in one of the rooms interviewing another person, (I wasn't allowed in) A man who works in the building was using a cordless phone. Clearly it was his first time using one of these phones because all I could here as he was coming down the stairs was;

"I am on the Phone, I'm going down the stairs, can you still hear me? Good. I'm in the waiting room, can you hear me now? That's great. I'm opening the door to another room, can you still hear me? Fannnnnntastic."

If it was not bad enough that the gentleman was loud, one of the G4S guards descided to take the mick out him, with a protine bottle, his recreation of events when as follows;

"Ooh yeah, I'm in going in the room, yeah great, can you hear me? Great, yeah I'm just scratching my balls, oooooohhhhh yeahhhhhhhhhhhh."

This made me howl with laughter, but what made it more awkward was that the waiting room was empty. After about 39 seconds, the professional journalist came in, to the sight of me and the G4S guard crying with laughter. He looked at us blankly. He had no idea what we were on.

Good thing I'm working with him again tomorrow.

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The article that I'm writing about the possibility of contacting alien life will probably have to wait until Sunday. I want to make the most of these next few days, but I promise the make it extra special.

My Brother Has A Hero.

I'm going to start this post off by apologizing, I wanted to post more often, my plan was to post on Tuesdays and Thursdays but my body decided that it wanted to become really ill, to the point of quite nasty pain and me wondering if those cluster headaches were coming back. This, and I don't think you need me too tell you, is a rather unpleasant thought.

I'm still not totally over it, but now I have the power my Phone, the Internet and my Bed. You can make your own jokes. But don't feel sorry for me, because that gets none of us nowhere and you just end up wasting your energy.

Unlike myself, my little brother likes mornings. He wake up in the morning and floats out of bed, ready to take on the day. I get out of bed like something from a deranged Disney movie that went horribly wrong after the animators got high on acid, and died. When I stomped into the living room he was on the sofa, with one of my books, (Wonders Of The Universe by Professor Brian Cox.) I saw something wonderful, the universe invited him in, and in way said welcome to your new playground, in just the same way that it did for me when I read a book* about space which came with a CD-Rom and in the 90’s this was considered top of the line technology and awesome when you where 5 

The book that inspired my little brother. Thanks Professor Cox.

I’m sure that myself and my brother are not the first two people to be inspired by space, but for me, it puts into perspective because the universe doesn't really care who you are, it accepts and invites you in, you just need to open your eyes. 

There is a reason for this, we are the universe, and we are all connected. The atoms in your body are traceable to stars that went supernova and gave the dark void of space the building blocks of life, we are children of the universe, a fact which sadly some people are yet to comprehend.

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*I can not remember the name of the book that first inspired me 15 years ago, but I do remember some details, and I really want to find it again. It was A4 size and about 50 pages, the front cover had a astronaut with a silver circle behind him, surrounded by The Space Shuttle, The ISS and a view other things here and there. However the thing that really stands out for me, is somewhere in the middle where the book where there is a two page spread about the end of the suns life, on that page was an image of what the sun would look like when it expands, and it is being viewed from earth by a boy and golden retriever in middle of a field. I would love to find this book again to show my brother.               

In Summly, I'm Feedly My Current FlipBoard While Checking My Pulse

For today's blog post, I thought that I would do something a little bit different. So I am going to review some apps. I've decided that I am going to review feeders. It made sense, I am moving into journalism and I want to be able to access the latest news from as many different organisations as possible.

Google Currents

The first app I tried was Google Currents. Straight away I logged in to my Google account (the dark overlord that tracks our porn) and the blogs that I was subscribed to were there, also quite a few suggestions for other feeds, I very easily add what felt like a million feeds.
The design is very clean and professional, it feels like an app that I can use in the office and the boss won't be over my shoulder every five minutes, however (and this is a personal choice) I don't like that I have to swipe while I am reading the article to read more, not a lot of info is put onto the page.
All said and done, it does do what it says on the tin, it's not a bad app

Feedly

Imagine if you will, the new guy in the office who is young and talented but in a few months time his soul will be crushed by the corporate snakes and he will lose faith in humanity. Feedly is like that new guy, before the soul crushing. Feedly has a much better layout and design then currents and it is quite easy to find what you are looking for.
Under the bonnet there are a few good options to customize the app to your liking. Feedly follows the rule of content is king, the colorful designs are there, but they are hidden in the menus, to allow for more space for the feeds that you want to read. I also like the fact that YouTube videos are embedded into the app, although I would like to be able to sign in to my YouTube account to view my subscription.

FlipBoard 

I like things that are flippy, FlipBoard satisfies that need. The child in me spent about 10 minutes messing with the animation. They have clearly thought about the design although personally I don't like drawstring used to access the search menu. 
I like that I can connect to my Twitter and Facebook accounts, however I do wish that I could update my accounts from the app, also the Facebook annoying only shows ten updates at a time and takes a good minute or so to download more and one of my friends post takes up a whole screen, there is miles of space that the app wastes. However the bigger design suits twitter and makes it more visually pleasing, however it is not practical for what twitter was designed for. I do wish that i could update my timeline or twitter feed from the app.

Pulse

Pulse could have been really good, it has been let down by it design, the main page looks as if it has been copied from the BBC News app, the only difference is that it has been painted black instead of red. The rest feels soulless and devoid of life and passion. However it does load that content quickly.
But then we get to Facebook integration, it not automatically there, (I signed in with my Facebook account) you have to search for the feed and then add it to your contents, but once you've done that, it will only let you view posts that have links on them, which to me devoid the point of the whole feed.

Summly

Let's start with the good points, visually it is the design equivalent of the best XXX rated app porn, you can also search for content by keywords, so you can find news on certain subject or in a certain area of the world. But it takes forever to update and I think that there are far to many swipe commands. 
It also crashed three times during the first start up and twice again during my testing. I really want Summly to be good, I used to have it, before the October update, and I really hoped that it was improved. Sadly it wasn't.

For me it's between Currents and Feedly, they are designed and easy to use, although Feedly is slightly deeper than Currents. The both follow the rule of content is king and don't distract the reading experience with bells and whistles. I think Feedly swings the balance into its favor, but I would love to see social interaction in the form of Facebook, Twitter and other social networks like LinkedIn and Google+.

How did I do on my first app review? Do you agree with my verdict? Did I miss any good apps? Should I do another post like this? If so, how can I make it better?

Follow me on twitter @tomnnedsmore

I'm In Tesco Again, Perhaps I Do Like Horse.

Incase your interested, I'm shopping for food, but this time I'm doing it with my very little brother, who of course like every ten year old wanted to go straight to the sweet isle. He is actually quite well behaved, so as a treat, I said that he could get a packet of cookies (ok I wanted cookies as well, don't judge me alright.)

It didn't take him long to find the ones that he wanted, but before he got them, he turned around and said (in quite a cute and slightly adorable way) can I have these ones? I of course said yes.

At the same time a little girl wanted cookies, however her parents said no but the little girl took the yes that was intended for my brother and accepted it as if it was for her. As fast as lighting she took a packet of cookies and like sonic the hedgehog she put them into her parent trolley with out the slight throught for how many land speed records that she was braking. For the next twenty minutes, all I could hear in the store was: "MUM I WANT COOKIES!!!!."

To the parents of the rather loud child in Tesco, I can only apologise.

P.S. I was going to post yesterday, however a mixture of Professor Brain Cox and Discovering Downton Abbey on Netflix meant that I spent my Sunday relaxing and enjoying myself, instead of blogging. For that, I can only apologise.

P.P.S. I have also found my old copy of Pokemon Blue.