Changing The World One Cake At A Time

So you're all doubtless aware of the most exciting celebrity gossip of the week. I do not refer to Justin Bieber's allergic reaction to something or other (which excitingly saw him rushed to the children's ward after filming an episode of CSI); nor the fact that Mr Darcy is getting a star on Hollywood's walk of fame because he made a film about a monarch swearing his tits off.

No, I'm on about a story revolving around the so-famous-it's-almost-as-if-nobody-knows-who-he-is Kenneth Tong, who went to summer camp with the Triads and was once on Celebrity Big Brother for a whole five days. He is controversial mainly because he endorses fun things like anorexia and getting away with sexual assault, then claims he was only joking.

Well, who hasn't been there...?

You can read an interview with him here in which journalist Johann Hari inadvertently sparks off the whole 'it was only a joke' thing by bluntly informing him that he is very probably a prosecutable sociopath; or alternatively a slightly shorter comment piece by Alexis Petridis in the graun that highlights, a touch ironically, the fact that drawing attention to this man only encourages him.

It's all quite interesting, in a deeply depressing kind of way. At least now I know how to get 22, 962 twitter followers - develop a weight loss pill and market it to impressionable younglings; maybe the odd supermodel. Although telling them to "get thin or die trying" probably won't sound too convincing coming from me.

To expand on what Petridis says, the problem with Twitter's explosive reaction is that it could well be giving Tong exactly what he was aiming for - fame. Remember when Jade Goody was a racist? She said something 'controversial', everyone hated her, she apologised and was given a documentary off the back of the whole thing. Don't be surprised if you see Tong presenting his insights on the darker side of anorexia before the year is out.

Meanwhile, Simon Cowell telling the internet that Tong is disgusting doesn't detract from the fact that all the women on his record label are size zero or thereabouts - excluding SuBo who, bless her, is mainly there to fill every conceivable 'exception to prove the rule' possibility.

Mostly everyone has heard the 'anorexia is bad' argument, but those who suffer from it clearly need more information to drive the message home. Perhaps the beautiful slebs (and Cowell) should consider being more proactive in raising awareness - why not dedicate a five minute slot on X-Factor to explaining exactly what it does to your insides, frinstance? Show devastating images of girls in the final stages of emaciation? It would shock people, it would make them pay attention, and it would be mentioned by aaaall the talking heads on '2011 TV highlights' shows, including the ones you've heard of.

Just a thought.

Whale Shark Gets Political

Charlie Brooker wrote an article here in which he described Clegg as "a universal disappointment sponge for disenchanted voters," a phrase so apt that even the whale shark agrees.

Update

Hello!

I am not going to backdate to fill in the gaps since last week on the grounds that I have actually been blogging, just not here.

You can see some of this on my other blog here, and some more on The Edinburgh Reporter mainsite / their new blog. I've also been doing this site for work, and wrote this article on the libraries blog which was in turn referenced on the Guardian Edinburgh beatblog here.

And hopefully soon I will also be able to link you to a blog I am going to do on The Skinny.

Edinburgh Skyline

No sketch today, as I was out from 8.45am till about 10pm and therefore didn't do one. Here instead is a work in progress from my evening class, which looks quite cool when viewed big-like on a fancy screen. My computer deleted some of the layers though, so the colour isn't how I intended... Sucks boo. Nevertheless , it incorporates my very own brushes what I made, and other techniques that I forgot almost instantly.

In other news, here is the latest on that Guardian beatblog I was banging on about in November. It seems that the people they chose all have training in journalism. Despite a journalism qualification not being essential. Harrumph. The Edinburgh guy has quite a lot of video experience though which should make for an interesting multimedia site. He probably scores more than 2 for journalistic flair as well...

On a par with the driving test

This morning I had an interview for this job here. I really, really want it, not just because it would actually involve writing for a living a la the grand plan, but because it has the potential to be a really interesting, relevant, exciting project and I feel like I could actually contribute a lot to it. There are some gaping holes in news coverage in Edinburgh, and it'd be a mammoth task to fill a few of them in - but also one that would give a lot of job satisfaction, I think.

As is so often the way, I have mixed feelings on how I acquitted myself. Time restraints meant that I barely skiffed the surface of what I had to say, and nerves meant that I felt I didn't really represent on the first question. But I was super-enthusiastic (now concerned in case this may have been in the way that makes one's teeth itch, but hopefully just being paranoid) and The Guardian's head of Social Media Development did compliment my shoes, so there's nice. They are brilliant shoes, it must be said.

I don't hear till the end of next week, so considering returning to NaNoWriMo to distract myself. That and designing a mega-awesome leaflet advertising services for older people in the library, which we won't be able to print because the new computer booking system has disabled the printer. PURE BANTER ahoy, that's what.