One

The Native American's believed in a 'circle of life' (which is where the inspiration for Avatar came from) where everything was alive: the trees, the rocks, the water. They all depended on each other to live and prosper. They are all living and therefore all family.

Our somatic (body) cells obviously have 46 chromosomes and we share about 55% of these with a banana. I mean - a banana! It seems as if the Native Americans weren't far off saying we are all related. Life does depend on each other photosynthesis turns carbon dioxide into oxygen where as respiration turns oxygen into carbon dioxide. We depend on each other to survive.

Did you know that in 2009 of the top one hundred of the largest economic entities 44% of them were businesses? If you look at the top 150 this proportion rises to 59%. Why is this important? It is simple, you merely have to think about what a business does - it makes a profit.

Is that what we want from our world? A world built on making money? That doesn't mean we should go back to living in huts and caves but it does mean we need to think for ourselves. When I was in year seven at school I was in a production of We Will Rock You, which by the way is amazing to watch, and it foretold a future of corporate brainwashing by a company called Globalsoft. It's when people becomes so obsessed with the future that they forget about the present that we need to worry because without the present we will never reach the future.

The Earth will always survive we, however, will not.

Until the next time,

Kris

Salute

A Soldiers Poem

If I die in war zone
Box me up and send me home.
Put my medals on my chest,
Tell my mum I did my best.

Tell my dad not to bow,
He won't get tension from me now.
Tell my brother to study perfectly,
Keys of my bike will be his permanently.

Tell my sister not to be upset,

Her brother will not raise after sunset.

And tell my love not to cry,

Cause I'm a soldier and I was born to die.

Lest we forget

---

I found that poem on one of my friends Facebook, I'm not sure if they wrote it or whether they found it but I thought I should share it regardless.

Now I am completely against war, but that doesn't mean I don't appreciate the sacrifices made not just by the men and women but by their families and friends who get left behind also. Also the animals: we don't think of them but they die for us too.

For many, today was a day of mourning and in the eyes of an eight year old, who may not even know why we do this, is a day of remembrance. You can see the people holding back tears from their eyes as they place a poppy on a piece of stone. Only a few will ever know their true story and yet a country will become almost silent to say thank you.

I've always found it remarkable: whilst you are thinking for two minutes in silence, so is everyone around you and the majority of the country. Sharing the same thoughts.

Nobody is born to die. This day isn't about one war or even two - it isn't even about a war as far as I'm concerned. It's about sacrifice for someone else, to put yourself in the line of fire to save a person you don't even know.

So for that, I am eternally grateful.

Until the next time,

Kris

Being True

“Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.” 

― Oscar Wilde

I have never really wrote around a quote before so this is a first for me. I was in the middle of writing a post that just didn't suit me. I don't know why but it didn't probably because I had never experienced the feelings myself.

So if you don't know who Oscar Wilde is then he is some eccentric poet from 1800's who, in all honestly, was a bit full of himself.  He was, nevertheless, inspirational. I'm not quite sure if that's the right word, but what I am trying to say is that I agree with most of his ideas.

Whilst being sentenced to hard labour on the charges of sodomy (performing homosexual acts is the politest way I can put it because I will not be using certain words on my site because I might just die of embarrassment - and that must have been the longest bracket's ever wrote) he managed to remain witty and true to himself through the entirety of the court case.

When first I was put into prison some people advised me to try and forget who I was. It was ruinous advice. It is only by realising what I am that I have found comfort of any kind. 
-De Profundis

And then there was the the transcendentalism of Ralph Emerson. He believed in the inherent goodness of a person and was often perceived to be the champion of individualism which, sadly, appear to have been forgotten in the modern day. When asked to sum up his beliefs his single doctrine (core belief) was the "infinitude of man"

Or then there was madness personified in Allen Ginsberg, a person who certainly didn't mind what people thought of him and who certainly didn't hold back in what he said to them.

Sure, most of you will think I'm on drugs again and talking some load of utter twaddle but if I was to define my doctrine it would be that I'd rather be hated for being the annoying bundle of loudness and energy which I am then pretend to be something I'm not.

And for that I am extremely sorry to those poor souls that I call friends.

'Till next time,

Kris 

Helpless

NOTE: This post may contain some images which readers may find some pictures of animals of animal testing that may be emotive yet need to be seen. Don't worry this isn't a post about trying to make you vegetarian this is just one of the reasons I am.

So I was in the shower yesterday and there was a fly on the wall. Yeah it's completely irrelevant, until, it slipped into the water and was trying to get out. Now anyone who has even seen anything like that knows that the reason they can't fly away is because his wings were now wet and too heavy.

So I saved him, I picked him up and I know it sounds crazy but he looked so helpless not being able to fly away especially since we had been the cause. When his wings dried out I released him outside and he just flew away. I don't think I could ever deliberately kill something that looked so scared.

You probably know that I'm a bit weird when it comes to saving animals, I shoved someone out of the way when they were trying to kill a bee and opened a window for him to leave because that's all he wanted to do. 

I think that's why we get sadistic adults because they were never taught hurting animals was wrong. Some people setting spiders on fire is fun or playing how many ants can you squash but it's not it's just cruel. Do you know why Beagle dogs are chosen for animal testing? It's because they aren't naturally aggressive. Does anyone else see a flaw with that? I mean they put these animals into tests were they might die because they are innocent? Like I said people are screwed up. 

That's why I'm vegetarian and that's why I avoid products that haven been tested on animals.

So anyway that is my convoluted rant on why the human race is screwed up, not because they eat meat, but because of the sadism of youth.

Until next time,

Kris

Dots

From close up the painting just looks like a random collection of dots - like the blurred lights of a city. But take a step back and suddenly everything makes sense, all those random dots form a perfect picture. I never understand drawing with dots but now? Now I think I do - either that or I am being far too philosophical but hey isn't that what life is about? Finding meaning when there is none.

Do you remember those dot by dot books we had when we were younger? The ones you had to link up following the numbers and you could never guess what it was until you were near the end - maybe that's what life is; a dot by dot but without the numbers.

How are we supposed to see the point we are too close to the page. Sometimes, we just need to take a step back and appreciate the beauty. And one day when we are old and grey and we've linked all the dots then maybe... just maybe we will have answered the question that we, the human race, ask all the way through our lives: what's the point?

It's just a short post today but I had a revelation. I thought it only right to share it with you; you know it will have been a year on Thursday since I wrote that first post Butterflies. It feels like a life time though it was just a year and yet I've changed I can remember writing it: where I was sitting, what I was feeling and I don't regret a second of our time together.

Yours looking back,
Kris
PS: Don't you dare stop reading. I love you all!

If Life Was A Fairytale

If life was a fairytale? If life was a fairytale I would change a lot of things: a lot of things about me, a lot of things about life, a lot: but it's not and I can't.

Because life isn't a fairytale and I doubt it ever will be.

"Life sucks, then we die"

It is one of the most depressing quotes I have heard, yet its one of the easiest to believe. But would you ever read a book if the character was always happy? Would you watch a film if it was all smiles? Of course you wouldn't, but somehow in some screwed up way - it sorts its self out.

So in this completely, random post which I just wrote and I am determined not to change it at all because I'll lose this feeling if I don't. The feeling that life is truly, at times, screwed up. Everyone's life is; it's a fact of life.

But what's the point of having emotions if you can't express them so thats what I am doing now, in this awfully written post - expressing, with the hope that I will not only help myself but maybe, just maybe somebody else.

"If life isn't about chasing unrealistic dreams: what is it about? Giving up?"

 And that ladies and gentlemen, that is my quote to the world.

Kris

Olympic Torch

A pointless event; that was the view of a some and I suppose it is just another flame, I can do it with a match. What makes it so special? Is it that the flame comes from Mount Olympus?

I, however, have a different theory. The torch is special because its about being part of something; the olympics started in Greece 8000BC before restarting in 1894 and for every person standing in the pouring rain to see a flame travel past you know you've just become a part of history.

Quite proud of this photo I had to contend with giants to take it!

Through all the rubbish in the world, the crisis in the Euro zone, global warming, wars and yet millions of people are turning out to see a torch? No, they're coming in millions to see hope. You will be able to see that you saw the torch in person, but one thing did annoy me with the ceremony the carriers were supposed to be inspiration people and I know inspiration people but some of the people just aren't. 

Then afterwards it was the Carnival, now if you don't know this year I'm in the school show and for some unknown reason they managed to get us a float at the carnival and lets just say I know why the Queen doesn't ever wave properly. After two house of waving my hand was about to drop off! It was still amazing with everyone on the float even if we were about to have a breakdown from singing 'We Go Together'!

But just because you didn't carry the torch don't feel like you've never done anything important because what's the point of running with a torch if no one's there?

I'm on my work experience next week so I may not be able to get to a computer but I'll try and write in advance.

See you soon,
Kris

---

Also because we feel that not everyone deserved to be awarded was rewarded for their inspirational behaviour A New Perspectives will be running its own competition to find the most inspirational person in our school. So get your top three nominations in soon with a the reason why you think they should; you will remain anonymous if you wish.

Hurry up and give someone the credit they deserve. In order to nominate someone click here and thank you.

I Miss You

Hiya guys my name is Jamie Martin! Before I say anything else I just want so say how happy I am to take part in Kris' blog! (KRIS: Ha! He doesn't realise its the audience who judge's the post not me!) 


Before I tell you what song I have chosen and why you need to know a little bit about me. Basically I'm bisexual and I really like this guy. The song i have chosen is BLINK-182'S I Miss You. The reason I have chosen this song is because the lyrics really fit into the situation I'm in: the guy I like and I have had an argument recently that has made me feel like I don't ever want to see him again; yet that I still care about him like crazy.

To me the chorus of this song indicates mixed emotions towards someone. When the singer sings "don't waste your time on me, you're already a voice inside my head" it's as if he's telling someone that it's too late, they're nothing more to him than a memory. Then he follows with "I miss you...", as if contradicting the previous statement. It's like this person has been hurt so badly by the one he loves that he just wants to them to leave and yet all he can think about is how much he loves them.

This is why I believe that this song is the perfect song to describe my relationships and how people never really get over their previous lovers as they will always have feelings deep down for them.

So I hope that the song means as much as it does to me and you can see my point of view.


Jamie

KONY 2012

This is frankly an emergency broadcast which I feel cannot wait until Saturday because for every second we wait another invisible child is silenced.

I am of course talking about the horrific events caused by Joseph Kony - the leader of the LRA (Lord's Resistance Army) which is, lets be blunt, a terrorist organisation. He is wanted by the International Criminal Court and yet most the world don't know who he is. It is my hope and my dream as well as being the dream of millions of people.

Why do we wish that? He needs to be famous to be stopped, but one person could never do that?

"Who are you to end a war, but today I say who are you not to?" 

For many years to come human history will be blighted by events such as the holocaust or the Rwandan genocide and even though people knew it was going on - no one knew what we should do about it, but now we do.

The LRA kidnaps and abducts children, both male and female, in the night to force them to fight for a cause for which they do not believe. They are forced to mutilate other people including even their families.  We have to stop this, it is our duty, that is what we are meant to do. The video below is admittedly long and some people even claim that the video lies or tries to mislead you however it is my view that these interpretations are based on the assumptions of uneducated people without actual factual knowledge.

So recently I contacted my school regarding this issue and whether there is anything we can do to help which is the point where some people call me stupid or naive because I want to do something to stop this and that there's no point because one fourteen year old can't make a difference but it is my job today to tell you that I can and you can.

But what people forget is that the usage of the Internet in Europe since 2001 has grown by over 376.4% with over 2,267,233,742 people world using the Internet on December 31st 2011 and you can't say that is nothing.

We are at a major point in human history: will we let our mistakes repeat themselves once again - I won't, but what about you?

So today I ask and beg of you to pass on this message to your friends, to your family, to your school, to your colleges, to all you see. Share this post, this video.

Stand with me today, stand with me tomorrow, stand for those whose society has made invisible.

Kris Turner 

PS: For those who think that the LRA are no longer a threat I have two crucial pieces of evidence that prove you to be wrong.

1. The ICC still lists Joseph Kony as wanted. The International Criminal Court is the court that is responsible for bringing criminals of war to justice. (http://www.hrw.org/topic/international-justice/joseph-kony-lra)
2. You can track the attacks using the LRA Crisis Tracker which uses the EWRN (Early Warning Radio Network) (http://www.lracrisistracker.com)http://www.lracrisistracker.com/

Smile

Smile: a facial expression formed by flexing the muscles near both ends of the mouth. In some cases a smile can be seen around the eyes.

That's the definition of a smile, but a smile is so much more; it's a sign of happiness, it's a sign of joy. It's contagious and its an international symbol no matter where you come from in the world people know what it is.

Yeah! I can tell you're smiling at this...

Many biologists actually think the smile originated as a sign of fear. Some Primalogist (a person who studies primates) trace the smile to over 30 million years ago of evolution to the original smile which was thought to be a "fear grin" stemming from monkeys and apes who often used barely clenched teeth to show predators that they were harmless. 

Did you know that actually when I tell you to smile, it can actually be helping your mood - some scientists believe that smiling actually makes us happy. Try it, then try a frown and see if that makes you grumpy.

Which leads to another question that leaves some scientists another question: do we smile because we are happy or are we happy because we smile?

Useless Fact: Smiling is a signaling system that evolved from a need to communicate information of many different forms. One of these is advertisement of sexual interest. Female smiles are appealing to males, increasing physical attractiveness and enhancing "sex appeal. "


So this song is actually amazing but people in the UK have never really heard of it so we are going to see if we can change that the image on the right is the popularity concentration we are going to make sure that the UK turns green.

Smile,

Kris.

PS: To all my readers, have a nice holiday everybody! You're amazing!

Foxes

This is one thing I really don't get - why do people want to kill foxes?

Leave them be!

Most people I won't let you kill a wasp so God help you if you try to kill a fox in front of me, the reason I'm actually writing about this today is because we have foxes! Yes that's right they have made a nest (I think that's the right term?) under one of our neighbours shed's and she has had cubs so now we frequently get a visit from them.

About 21,000 - 25,000 foxes are killed annually by organised hunts and that is ONLY 5% of fox death's so in the UK an estimated 460, 000 foxes die every year. Let's say 1 in every 5 foxes is a mother or father that mean's that 36, 800 fox cubs left without mother's or father's.

"Canine Mange is a terrible condition that left untreated will see the death of the infected fox. We believe that if a condition can be treated then it should be, regardless of whether the householder is unwilling, or unable to pay for the treatment. If you have seen a fox with mange and would be willing to provide food (in the form of a jam or honey sandwiches each night), the treatment can be sent to you free of charge."

If you do have a fox with the mange you can save it for all most no cost you - visit the Fox Welfare Society if you live in the UK and show some compassion.

Kris
PS: The unedited fox video is below and the music is from Jurassic Park. There is a signup form on the right of this page that will allow you to be notified every time I publish a new post.

Dating Tips

Yeah, I know you all want to learn how to become a pro at dating like me. Just in case you didn't notice that was sarcasm, I'm not a pro at dating I am not going to pretend to be.

But me not being in relationships has allowed me to notice things that other people might of missed, so this is Kris' Top 10 Tips for Guys and Gals. This is just supposed to be for fun I wouldn't listen to everything I say and certainly don't take offence at it.

For Girls

1. Guys, even if they aren't, want to feel manly and when you know how to make them feel like  that they will love it.

2. You may not know this since you aren't a guy but guys are just as self-conscious as girls, except they don't admit it. When you turn them down and they suddenly start to insult you to their friends its actually self-preservation kicking in; they don't want to find a fault in themselves so they find it in you.

3. Girls, do you know how angry/sad you get when your guy looks at another girl they feel exactly the same way when you look at another guy. So don't do it.

4. You can't expect your boyfriend to stop hanging around with his friends because guess what they're his friends. That also includes a girl who he's friends with because even though a guy has a friend who's a girl that doesn't mean they are sneaking around behind your back because for all you know she might be the one who helps get on with you.

5. If you don't want a boyfriend who's a 'player', it's quite simple don't date one.

For Guys

1. I know for some of you this may be hard to believe, but a girl doesn't belong in a kitchen and she will get angry if you think so.

2. When a girl says you don't have to get me anything (for her birthday or Christmas ect.) what she is really saying is that I want you to get me something but not because you have to but because you want to.

3. Again another shocker, staring isn't as bad as touching another girl (lets say her name is Girl B) but it hurts the same because the girl (Girl A) will instantly compare herself to the girl (Girl B) you were staring at. She will spend forever trying to figure out what she (Girl B) has that she (Girl A) doesn't.

4. Your girlfriend is still going to be the same girl as she was before; don't expect her to stop doing what she enjoys, if she liked shopping she still will, if she liked football she still will - don't expect her to change and don't try and make her.

5. Don't insult her - you'd think this would be obvious and yet you still hear some people saying that their girlfriend is too fat or any other rubbish you think of. May I just say that also mean's that girls shouldn't say the things to her boyfriend.

So that concludes Kris' Top Tips, don't leave it to late to say something to the person you like,

Kris

Perfect World

So what if I live in a perfect world? I don't see the reason why seeing the best in somebody is a bad thing, that doesn't mean you should believe everything someone says but you shouldn't completely disregard them.

In my opinion a world without arguments is not perfect because not all arguments are bad. Take the discovery that the universe was in fact not based around the Earth, Nicolaus Copernicus had to fight but he was right. World peace isn't all what it is cracked up to be up but world tolerance is.

Some people's opinions are completely warped and as much as you want to punch them you can't in fact you should pity them, what kind of life is a life that is based on beliefs that nothing can ever be perfect.

We may not live in a perfect world: I accept that but that doesn't mean I will stop trying to make it perfect and it's unlikely that the world will ever be perfect but that doesn't mean you should just give up because what else is life worth living for?

Sometimes it's easy to forget how beautiful the Earth really is. Be the change you want to see in the world.

Kris

Big, Blue Planet

So here I am sitting on the top floor of a restaurant listening to the ambient noise of people chatting and of people laughing. The normal restaurant environment. Then you realise how very small you are and how infinitely big the universe is.

You'll never know the name of the guy in the red shirt who is sitting less then a meter away from you, you'll never know whether that girl who was sitting at the bar was waiting for a date or whether the lady with the rat in her house ever managed to catch it.

The chances are I'll never meet these people again and that scares me, sometimes the world is impossibly small but for the rest of the time the planet is far to big and then even then our big, blue planet is tiny compared to the rest of the universe. Even somebody you see everyday its unlikely you know a lot about them.

There is over 500 billion planets in our galaxy alone but scientists estimate that there are also 500 million life-cable planets.

So just remember everyone you see has a story. They all came from somewhere; they are all going somewhere but we'll never know.

Kris

Knocked Down

It's one of the worst feeling knowing that you've failed at something, whether its a jump, an essay or even a relationship, meaning its one of the hardest feelings to overcome.

When we fail at something, especially when you failed somebody else as well it can feel like there is no point carrying on, that everyone has you pegged you as a failure. But it's that very idea that makes me want to do it again, to wipe that smug smile of someone's face because you couldn't do it. To make some proud of what you managed to do. To defy people's expectations.

Sometime's we will have to think differently to somebody else, to everybody else: but that doesn't mean how you think is wrong. So the next time you feel like you should give up just remember these words from Ralph Waldo Emerson

"Our greatest glory is not in never failing, but in rising up every time we fail."

   

Life may seem impossible, but we can overcome it and we have will, together.

Kris

Homophobia in Russia

If someone says bullying this is probably what you think of, but that's not what I am writing about today.

In Russia at the moment there is a big argument in Russia second biggest city - Saint Petersburg. This following story has been going on for a while now. The equality group AllOut has recently released this letter from a man called Sergie who has recently been arrested in the city.

My name is Sergey and I'm an attorney in Russia. I'm straight - happily married for 16 years - and until last week I would not have been called an "activist".   But in just five days I will got to court, fined and maybe even thrown in jail because I held up a banner in Saint Petersburg and told the truth: “A dear family friend is lesbian. My wife and I love and respect her … and her family is just as equal as ours." 

I was among the first to be arrested, but thousands more could follow.  As I write this, Russian officials are fast tracking a plan to extend Saint Petersburg's "gay propaganda" law to the entire country.
I believe that it should never be illegal to defend the dignity of friends and family. 

(Watch this video to the end, there is a purpose to it)

This law is trying to make speaking about lesbian, gay, bi and transgender (LGBT) illegal in the city.  Now that lawmakers in the Duma (the federal legislature) are debating a version of the law, this despicable law could go national - unless we fight it now. They are making words illegal. I personally have words to describe how messed up this law is but...

Did you know that 76 countries still criminalize being gay, 10 countries make being LGBT punishable by death or life imprisonment. But you can stop this, sign the petition at AllOut. Would you want someone to be silenced because you didn't speak up?

Kris

PS: Send this post to everyone, you don't have to be LGBT to stand up for what's right.
PSS: All the videos in this post can be found on my YouTube channel here.

Wouldn't miss it for the world

This weekend I had my Duke of Edinburgh practise expedition, for anyone who doesn't know what D Of E is all about, its an award that is about being able to survive by yourself in the country. Two days, full of rain, followed by cows, sore shoulders, cold mornings and stared at by horses. But I wouldn't of missed it for the world!

That's what so great about camping, the experience. Its the sitting in a tent playing cards or talking to random people whilst doing the washing up. It's shouting at a man who has just splashed water over you and calling after a cyclist who decided to try and run you over with his bike. It's that impossible hill that you think you'll never make. It's the singing at the top of your voice whilst walking through a field.

It's a lot, so even though my shoulders are as sore as anything, they'll get better. Even though I was as cold as anything I got in the bath and got warm. But that camp, I won't forget it. But do you want to know the best bit... we have to do it all again.

(Click here for full gallery)

Kris.

Music

I think music is just built into humans, it can express anything: happiness, love, sadness. I think that the best artists take advantage of that because that's why I love music. It's also why I hate some music I mean sorry what's the 'ghetto' got to do with everything. I hate songs like that the songs that have no meaning.

Music can tell you a lot about a person; a good artist can just sing with just some instruments, no synthetics, no hairography just their voice. Can you imagine discovering music? There are people who imitate the way their favorite singer dresses and acts. They look up to them as role models and buy every CD by their favorite group.

I really do hate music that's not real music. 

I just love the second video her introduction is just amazing. That's why I love music

Kris

Loose Tooth

Oh yeah - actually this is a serious post. I have a loose tooth at the moment and it is so annoying but one of my friends at school decided that when she had a loose tooth she stapled it - a bit of advice don't and in films where they tie a string to a toaster and throw it down the stairs it hurts so don't.

So the moral of the story is it will happen when its ready and that's the same for everything else in life so just be patient.

There was a salesman called Ramesh in Kerala, a state in the southern part of India. He was honest, polite and hard working. It was the month of June (start of monsoon in Kerala) when he got his first assignment in his new office. He was given the a list of people whom he has to approach and sell the product.
Surprisingly he realized that the list is full of local Kerelean laundry owners. He got scared and thought he won’t be able to achieve the desired target.

He approached his senior, Monty, but got no much help. So the next day he started approaching the laundry owners and within 15 days he got some really nice response. Almost 80% of them purchased his product but on loan and everyone promised to pay him off within the next 15 days. He was very happy as he knew that his job is almost done! But he didn’t knew that the next one month was going to be tougher than what he was thinking of.

On the last week of June amidst heavy showers he started visiting the laundry owner’s place to collect money. Upon visiting half of them he realized he had not collected a single penny. And the same trend continued for the next 7 days. He was frustrated, demoralized, impatient and so was his senior Monty.


Ramesh explained everything to Monty including peculiar behavior he noted amongst the laundry owners – whenever he knocked the owners, they used to look at the sky before asking him to come the next day.

Listening this his senior smiled once and said that he is ‘on track’ and will soon get some good results. He never realized for once what his payment has to do with the sky! After almost 14 days, on a bright sunny monday morning he started visiting the laundry owners once again.

Though it was the monsoon season it didn’t rain heavily for the last three days. Suddenly by noon Ramesh realized that he has collected the payments from almost 50% of the owners which was almost unbelievable.
He worked hard through out the day and by the day end he had completed 90% of his target for June and July. He was very happy and so was his senior.

Yet he wondered what the sky has to do with the payment. Why the laundry owners used to look at the sky and tell him to come the next day? To solve this mystery he went to a laundry owner and asked the same question. The owner laughed at him and said “Son this is the month of monsoon and we have to wash the clothes, dry them off, iron them before handing them off to the customers. Now if the sun doesn’t shine how can we dry our clothes, earn money to pay you?”.

Ramesh recollected his memories and smiled at the owner and realized that it was his patience and endurance that kept him going and ultimately helped him achieve the pinnacle of success.


Kris