I've decided to do something with my dusty old website. I felt it was a bit pointless as it stood. A strange out of date information website informing people about some strange person who since has become much more refined and confident than the individual who first constructed the drivel that was my old website. (Long sentence is loooong.)
The website is now used by me to display my many interests to the world. Its purpose is to give people an idea about what I enjoy and what my hobbies are. It also serves to educate anyone who is curious about any of my interests.
Take a look at it! I'm improving it more and more. Feedback is welcome! A link can be found on the right of this blog.
Monday 2 May 2011
Friday 15 April 2011
I've finally signed up to Twitter to see what all the fuss is about. I keep hearing about it and stumbling across it. I could learn a lot from it I expect.
I look forward to reading the mutterings of people I find reasonably interesting.
I look forward to reading the mutterings of people I find reasonably interesting.
Sunday 23 January 2011
What is a Gentleman?
I am the keen owner of books on gentlemen's etiquette and table manners. As a child I grew up being taught manners and how to be a decent gentleman. Opening doors for other people and allowing ladies to go first. I know when it is appropriate to put my elbows on the table. Trouble is I find is that different etiquette experts have different ideas about what is and what isn't appropriate.
So... what am I to do? Is is okay to wear badger-head cuff links? Or should I religiously stick to plain silver ovals? A light tie with a dark shirt? I should be skinned alive! I'm beginning to think that there is no room for certain 20th Century Gentleman's etiquette. The world has changed, especially with the advent of the internet. Many people buy items online and have a much vaster choice. As a liberal individual I fell a modern gentleman should take advantage of that. Why shouldn't he wear exactly what he feels comfortable in. In my view, a modern gentleman should be clean, well dressed and polite.
If how to dress wasn't rigid enough, how to approach an individual your attracted to is a major problem. As a gay man I have to approach relationships very differently to how my etiquette books suggest I do. I can't treat men like women. That would be an insult to their gender. Is it not time for the Gentlemen of today to consider the possibility of a 'non-woman relationship'?
As a big fan of the 20s and 30s I do take a lot of my influence from that era. But I am a 21st Century man and I feel entitled to be a 21st Century Gentleman. Perhaps I should revise the Gentleman of yesterday to be compatible with tomorrow. Don't get me wrong, I still consider myself a Gentleman but I feel there is need for change.
So... what am I to do? Is is okay to wear badger-head cuff links? Or should I religiously stick to plain silver ovals? A light tie with a dark shirt? I should be skinned alive! I'm beginning to think that there is no room for certain 20th Century Gentleman's etiquette. The world has changed, especially with the advent of the internet. Many people buy items online and have a much vaster choice. As a liberal individual I fell a modern gentleman should take advantage of that. Why shouldn't he wear exactly what he feels comfortable in. In my view, a modern gentleman should be clean, well dressed and polite.
If how to dress wasn't rigid enough, how to approach an individual your attracted to is a major problem. As a gay man I have to approach relationships very differently to how my etiquette books suggest I do. I can't treat men like women. That would be an insult to their gender. Is it not time for the Gentlemen of today to consider the possibility of a 'non-woman relationship'?
As a big fan of the 20s and 30s I do take a lot of my influence from that era. But I am a 21st Century man and I feel entitled to be a 21st Century Gentleman. Perhaps I should revise the Gentleman of yesterday to be compatible with tomorrow. Don't get me wrong, I still consider myself a Gentleman but I feel there is need for change.
Friday 5 February 2010
More artz.
In a previous post I linked to my Fur Affinity page. Now behold my deviantART page. Where my art has shown improvement!
TheDieselcat on deviantART
TheDieselcat on deviantART
Tuesday 1 December 2009
My extraordinary journey home from work
I finished work last night at 12:30am. I was cold, tired, didn't have a fabulous evening and was suffering from an injured thumb (which is currently causing me an awkard time typing). I just wanted to get some pain killers from the 24 hour garage and get to bed.
Except this was not to be. Now as a former student myself and a friend to many I am usually pro-student. But not last night. Not when a certain drunk civil-engineering scholar attracts my attention as I walk home. At first I thought he wanted a light or perhaps even directions. But no. He wanted to walk with me. I politely declined his request but he insisted. I explained how I preferred to walk alone but he insisted.
I was surprised how quickly my politeness expired. I began to get annoyed, my sentences now blunt and to the point. Soon I was making gestures and raising my voice. I shouted a profanity at him and walked away. But, like an idiot puppy, he failed to comprehend the distress he was causing and started to follow me. He began to quiz me and started to reveal information about himself. It became apparent that my moronic tormentor was studying civil-engineering at the University of Plymouth where I myself once studied.
Mike was his name. I exclaimed in an alarming amount of fury that I couldn't have cared less if he was Jesus. I really didn't want anyone walking with me. Before I knew it, true condensed anger was being displayed. I never realised I could blow my lid like that. His incessant chatter and irritating presence resulted in a Vesuvian explosion of expletives and hand gestures. Exasperated pleas for him to leave me alone. I impressed myself that I could scream near poetic insults from the top of my head and I swear he suppressed a snigger when I referred to myself as 'irate'.
I told him I had a bad day. He said it could not have been as bad as his. Unfortunately for him my heart towards him was colder than the night itself and I would have continued to shout at him regardless of what he said. To me he had lost all credibility by simply not leaving me alone. I don't know why he couldn't annoy some other poor sap. Eventually I shoved my headphones into my ears and drowned him out with Big Band Jazz. It had a remarkable calming effect, almost presenting a comic edge to my situation. He continued to talk at me stopping every now and again to put his shoe back on. We reached the end of the road and I heard him promise he'd leave me alone as long as I shook his hand. I yanked the right headphone out of my ear and jutted my hand out.
"Thank you," he said, "you have no idea how much that means to me." I bid him good night with next to no emotion. I was simply glad to be rid of him. I don't know what it is he needed. Probably just company. I'm normally good at that sort of thing but he caught me on the wrong night. Any other night I could have made a new friend.
Except this was not to be. Now as a former student myself and a friend to many I am usually pro-student. But not last night. Not when a certain drunk civil-engineering scholar attracts my attention as I walk home. At first I thought he wanted a light or perhaps even directions. But no. He wanted to walk with me. I politely declined his request but he insisted. I explained how I preferred to walk alone but he insisted.
I was surprised how quickly my politeness expired. I began to get annoyed, my sentences now blunt and to the point. Soon I was making gestures and raising my voice. I shouted a profanity at him and walked away. But, like an idiot puppy, he failed to comprehend the distress he was causing and started to follow me. He began to quiz me and started to reveal information about himself. It became apparent that my moronic tormentor was studying civil-engineering at the University of Plymouth where I myself once studied.
Mike was his name. I exclaimed in an alarming amount of fury that I couldn't have cared less if he was Jesus. I really didn't want anyone walking with me. Before I knew it, true condensed anger was being displayed. I never realised I could blow my lid like that. His incessant chatter and irritating presence resulted in a Vesuvian explosion of expletives and hand gestures. Exasperated pleas for him to leave me alone. I impressed myself that I could scream near poetic insults from the top of my head and I swear he suppressed a snigger when I referred to myself as 'irate'.
I told him I had a bad day. He said it could not have been as bad as his. Unfortunately for him my heart towards him was colder than the night itself and I would have continued to shout at him regardless of what he said. To me he had lost all credibility by simply not leaving me alone. I don't know why he couldn't annoy some other poor sap. Eventually I shoved my headphones into my ears and drowned him out with Big Band Jazz. It had a remarkable calming effect, almost presenting a comic edge to my situation. He continued to talk at me stopping every now and again to put his shoe back on. We reached the end of the road and I heard him promise he'd leave me alone as long as I shook his hand. I yanked the right headphone out of my ear and jutted my hand out.
"Thank you," he said, "you have no idea how much that means to me." I bid him good night with next to no emotion. I was simply glad to be rid of him. I don't know what it is he needed. Probably just company. I'm normally good at that sort of thing but he caught me on the wrong night. Any other night I could have made a new friend.
Tuesday 6 October 2009
Little Ball of Feline Fluff
My mother recently received a present from my step-father. A small black and white kitten with faint Bengal stripes.
She is so cute! Friendly, fearless and smart too. She's affectionate and knows where the litter tray and food is. She'll grow up to be a great mouse catcher as well the way she attacks things so enthusiastically.
The parents have settled on the name Rani due to her connection with India (what with having Bengal heritage). The little thing has cheered me up greatly as my life is currently a poverty smeared one.
She is so cute! Friendly, fearless and smart too. She's affectionate and knows where the litter tray and food is. She'll grow up to be a great mouse catcher as well the way she attacks things so enthusiastically.
The parents have settled on the name Rani due to her connection with India (what with having Bengal heritage). The little thing has cheered me up greatly as my life is currently a poverty smeared one.
Monday 28 September 2009
The Furry Fandom
I've been a slef-identified furry since the age of 15. I never really properly expressed it to anyone else until I was about 20. The Furry Fandom carries a lot of bad press and the media tends to focus on the extreme aspects of it.
For me being a furry is about being a fan of anthropomorphic animals and art and literature. It's also about expressing yourself through that medium. I also treat it as a hobby. Not something that my life revolves around.
For anyone unclear about what the Furry Fandom is perhaps this will help give a rough idea: Wikipedia's entry on The Furry Fandom.
For me being a furry is about being a fan of anthropomorphic animals and art and literature. It's also about expressing yourself through that medium. I also treat it as a hobby. Not something that my life revolves around.
For anyone unclear about what the Furry Fandom is perhaps this will help give a rough idea: Wikipedia's entry on The Furry Fandom.
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