Selfies


Can someone explain to me the facebook phenomenon of very attractive women who constantly think that it is interesting to take a photo of themselves more or less every day! 
Their hair is immaculate, the dress, invariably trendy, the eyes wide and made up and the lips.....well the lips are pushed out in a cupid's bow or suction plunger pout......every friggin day the same pose is posted to a group of adoring fans who simper and titter lines like " You're so pretty" or " adorable!" 
I guess if one is half arsed or indeed over awed by the beauty of the selfie at least you can click the "like " button to confirm that the pout is indeed something of note, but I just don't get it!
I was talking about all this with a girl from work the other week but instead of getting an explanation to this " selfie self promotion all she did was to say without any guile whatsoever
" Isn't that something you do everyday with your blog? Blogging is a selfie's for writers who love to be read"
The remark took me back just a little as in some way the girl was absolutely right. Isn't blogging just another way of saying " look at me I'm lovely" or perhaps more realistically " look at my writing, it's lovely- I'm too lumpy for a photo selfie"
Whatever the answer, I did smile at myself last night when I posted an uncharacteristic comment of " nice dress" beneath the hundreth photo of pouting red lips and cleavage as long as your arm.
I looked at what I had written.......and reminded myself that I do have a sense of  humour before adding " shame about the face"

Anyhow enough of all this. The Prof is presently lying on the couch in his best Blanche DuBois pose.
He is covered by a blanket and is indeed looking post viral and pale, but has managed to eat a small plate of sausage, mash and greens as well as a dainty portion of bread and butter pudding with custard. I'll light the fire shortly, bung him a cup of tea then I'll take the dogs out.
I'm typing this in the kitchen as he's watching some awful dating show where 30 screaming women are paraded in front of some overly trendy man in order to get a snog or a shag or fame or whatever, It has just come to me that most of these screaming harridans are just the type to post selfies everyday on facebook.....  But hey ho.....

What I wanted to watch is the celebrity Great British Bake Off  programme, you can't beat Mary Berry on a Sunday afternoon. I watched the first one the otherday and have to share with you all that I suddenly had a guilty man crush on the politician Ed Balls, who found himself struggling to cope with a mountain of sponge cake........Ed Balls! How strange is that!

Who is Your  guilty crush?
Answers on a postcard please...........
Mr Balls

113 comments:

  1. Well at least with most blogs there is something interesting and some variety. Most selfies are the same stupid pose day after day.

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    1. I think its this repitition that flummoxes me

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  2. I have a niece who does exactly that. Same bl**dy face/pose etc. Three inches of makeup and a not a hair out of place. I wouldn't care... she is actually a very pretty girl and doesn't need all the slap. I on the other hand have embraced the grey, ditched the dye and happy in my own skin. The only photo's I post are of things that I have made.... all far more interesting and attractive than any picture of me. I had tosmile last week though when chatting with some girlfriends. They told me I would age ten years if I allowed the grey to grow........ Ermmmmmm girls???? I ditched the dye more than a year ago. What you see is what you get with me.

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    1. Yeah ...i know people like winnie stories, but they wouldnt want to see me every day! Mind you there is an arguement that supports the fact that a pretty face is always worth looking at

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    2. and then there is the fear of thinking your face is still pretty and strangers on the internet mock you. I actually like to see you every day John. sorry ..
      I like to see Winnie and the Prof too.

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  3. Your blog posts are interesting/amusing/profound etc and they don't have a ridiculous pout and scouse brows.

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    Replies
    1. Perhaps thats the way forward?

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    2. that would be John in drag? a pout and drawn on eyebrows?

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  4. Helen mirren is one .....I saw her in the flesh in 1995 in a bar in London ...stunning looking woman ....

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    1. You dirty sod..how old were you and how old was she?

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    2. In the flesh .. me too. In NYC .. she was in a play on Broadway and we were there ..

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    3. I was about 24 ....she must have been in her 40s ....Christ she was 'sex on legs'so to speak

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    4. I was about 24 ....she must have been in her 40s ....Christ she was 'sex on legs'so to speak

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  5. You? Asking why people are so fond of selfies? Am I hearing things?

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    Replies
    1. P.S. My guilty crush is Edwina Curry. (Only joking)

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    2. I know, kno , i missed the irony at first

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  6. selfies suck and are for those of low intelligence (yes, kardashians/jenners, I AM speaking of you, TYVM); blogs are interesting.

    the poor prof seems to need more luv to get well. hang in there, nurse john!

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  7. I'd like to tidy Ed Balls eyebrows. just a little.

    Happy Valentines day

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  8. I'll fight you for Russell Crowe anytime. :P

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    Replies
    1. And btw, I don't mind selfies. I don't do it but I don't think that people who do it are mindless, stupid or insecure. I think that those who constantly critisize are conceited and sufficient. We all have our quirks and quarks, don't we?

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    2. I just dont understand it..because i guess there is no story or comments often with the photo....its just a photo

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    3. And a fight for mr crowe
      You'd loose

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    4. I like to roughly turn tables around in a facetious way... it doesn't come out well in writing! ;)

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  9. I only take selfies when I have a baby in my arms.
    Guilty crush? I do not feel guilty about any of my crushes.

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  10. I do have crushes but none of them are guilty!

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    Replies
    1. Now a bit of older genteel gardening, inspecting veg Alan would do!.

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    2. Monty Don every time -it's the velvet voice timbre. Michael Wood too (sigh)

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  11. Ah, a nice Valentine dinner for Chris, just what the nurse ordered to start feeling better! How did he like your gift?

    Your thoughts on selfies - I could agree, but just maybe these gals (guys, too) are really insecure and what they are saying could be, "LOOK at me, please, I'm worthy. Aren't I?" Of course, they could be saying, "I'm wonderful, dammit, admit it!"

    I keep a few secret crushes to remind myself that I'm not dead yet. Not sure what I would do with one of them, if I met in a room though.

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  12. I adore Winnie's selfies with pouting lips! Greetings Maria x

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    Replies
    1. Yes she's more photogenic than any super model

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  13. Daryl, Sam Elliot, Hubby...and I should stop.

    I enjoy your journaling selfies.

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  14. I believe blogging is more of an intellectual exchange than posting selfies, at least with the blogs I read (and write). But both are forms of communication.

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  15. Eddie Redmayne dressed as Lily, but I think it might be mere jealousy of the whole look.

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  16. I lived with a woman long ago who had a need to be told how pretty she was (she was, actually), but I'm not the kind of guy that's good at saying it constantly. Most people aren't and that's why selfies were invented.

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    Replies
    1. Your point was almost flippant, but i suspect you have hit upon something

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  17. Anonymous4:07 pm

    I've always thought of selfies as the last refuge of the terminally insecure. Anyone who feels the need to slap on makeup with a trowel and take a photo of themselves pulling a ridiculous trout-pout in the hope of being praised has some major issues. The average blogger has far more to share than that!

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    1. Maybe its more showing off than insecurity

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    2. Anonymous5:57 pm

      Possibly - showing off could be seen as a symptom of either insecurity or an excess of confidence. Somewhere in the middle would be less worrying.

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  18. I suppose I can understand women trying to illustrate how staggeringly gorgeous they are; what I can't understand is all their friends writing the standard "Oh, you're so beautiful" etc. This practice really gets on my proverbial TITS.

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    1. Perhaps their friends want a compliment in return

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  19. The world moves in mysterious ways these days...

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  20. I don't selfie.
    Even though I am breathtakingly beautiful and used to get paid to have my photo taken .. I no longer wish to attract more admirers .. jeez, they just never give a person a moment's rest .. the invitations, the calls, the emails , cards, flowers ... go away !!
    I just want to be alone.
    with the cats.

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  21. Selfies with duck lips are one of my pet peeves.

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    Replies
    1. I don't have enough lip for a duck , how about a duckling ?

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  22. Hello from Canada. I LOVE British Bake Off. and Mary Berry.
    The facebook posts that drive me barmey are from the folks who get on there each and every day talking about what and how much they drank the night before. EVERY FRIGGIN' DAY!

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  23. I keep in touch with my nieces via Facebook but with that comes the endless selfies. they all have children and put pics up but there are still so many pouting lips. hey oh x

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  24. Seems that selfies are in the end very abbreviated stories, which can be immature and a temporary phase (but maybe therapeutic?) . The trend of treating every little girl like a princess could have something to do with it? As a part of a bigger narrative selfies can be great additions. Such as the adorable ones you share of yourself and your various darling doglets!

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  25. Your blog is sooo much more than a pretty face. You share real involvement, real human interactions. I wonder if the "selfie mindset", is perhaps saying "I'm here" ... present without actually contributing anything.... I mean there is no gift of kindness, helpfulness, thought about the realities of living, support, or encouragement involved in posting a selfie, just 'I AM' a face.

    Sorry the Prof is still poorly, the custard will make him better - pure comfort food!

    I enjoy Mary Berry so much more than someone like Nigella ... Too much of a selfie going on with her!

    Thanks for sharing so much more than a selfie!

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  26. I think we all like to be praised for our good points whether it's our looks or our intellect or something else. If I was a beautiful young woman I'd probably enjoy getting compliments. In real life (i.e. not on the internet) I like to make people laugh and to feel cared about, and I'm thrilled when they do. I think it's all part of the same need - make the most of your assets, whatever they are.

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  27. Most of us have egos that need boosting now and then whether it be by way of a selfie, doing a kind act, blogging etc. It seems we are in a society where self promotion is paramount to getting on in life. I have a secret crush on Jim Caviezel. I do like a softly spoken man - that way I have to get close to him to hear what is being said!!!

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  28. Selfies -- I just scroll right on past.

    Crush -- Helen Mirren. Swoon!

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  29. I loathe Facebook and selfies.

    Secret crush? Rob James-Collier on Downton Abbey. He can be my "badboy" butler any time......

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    1. LOL, that would be a great Reality show ..
      Bad Boy Butlers !!

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    2. I liked the other one tgat died of spanish flu

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  30. I read somewhere that the French call selfies 'braggies'. Which sounds about right to me.
    Still thinking about the link between blogging and posing all puckered up. Sadly I can see it. Another illusion bites the dust. Drat you.

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  31. The Facebook selfie thing amazes me too John and, although I get the analogy to blogging, `I think that many sefies on Facebook are due to much low self esteem and a need to be told that they are beautiful !! It's the pouting that makes me cringe and, I know from my friend's daughter, that many are photoshopped and enhanced ...... the comments are enough for Chris to bring up his sausage and mash !! Most of the ' selfies that I put on my blog are back views so that says a lot about me !!!! haha
    Secret crush ? ..... boringly Aidan Turner but I'm old enough to be his Mother , probably even his Grandmother !!! XXXX

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    1. Ah mr Turner with the chest hair

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    2. You beat me to it, Jacqueline - Aidan Turner is my secret crush too AND I'm as old as Methuselah!
      He's a bit of alright, innit?

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  32. FB is kind of blogging with ADHD, to each there own, it is nice to see who is still alive today.

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  33. The girl was wrong, Blogging is not like posting selfies. Take your blog for example - it's about living life, revelling in it, thinking about it. It's about the richness of life - warts and all. A selfie is a shallow, thoughtless thing about appearance and all that is superficial. It is so sad that so many young women betray their gender in this stupid and shallow manner.- following the crowd like sheep. I am happy to say that I have never had a Facebook account and so I am only vaguely aware of the phenomenon to which you refer.

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    1. My guilty crush is orange crush.

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    2. Perhaps now its almost the norm.....which is a worrying thing too

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    3. What? Orange crush?

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    4. Stop self-righteously bashing Facebook YP. Not everyone there posts a daily selfie. Some of us use it as a communication tool for keeping in touch with family from all over the world !

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    5. When you send a selfie that keeps touch .. do you take a photo of yourself cooking or gardening or something like that ? like a little snippet of daily life ? I like that idea . more fun that just an email describing the boring day a person can have .. well, that I have .

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  34. Long ago, in another lifetime .. I had a stalker. A woman. She was first noticed when I picked up my little boy at school, then she started following us home , then she would pop up in a store where I was shopping. Eventually police were called, threats made, lawyers and then relief .. she backed off, went to a funny farm or whatever .. she left the state and I was able to relax again. Funny thing is .. my work in those days was something that had my photo in many places. And no one ever noticed lol ... just the insane ones.

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  35. I've been taking selfie, but not like that. To record my drag makeup. Every time it is different and i am trying to learn. However I don't know how to take a pic of myself as I can't SEE, so I take a pic in the mirror, after taking ages to find an angle where my enormous ridiculous breadboard phone isn't blocking my reflection.
    Truth is, I feel ill equipped for modern technology and much of modern life - whether I avoid it, or engage with it!

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  36. I especially loathe the duck bum lips that everyone seems to make when they take selfies. This is so narcissistic. I noticed when I was in Hawaii that many of the tourists seemed always to be looking at their phones or taking selfies. I wandered what they actually noticed on their holidays .

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  37. I can't understand it either - why would you want to put a photo out there with a face like the north end of a camel going south? I have (I think) one photo of me on my blog but it is a photo with my 94 year old mom. There is one on Facebook of me swimming with a dolphin - I put the caption "I'm the one with the life jacket". My ex's girlfriend constantly puts photos on FB, to which all the friends write back at how pretty she is. She is pretty but wtf - how much do you have to love yourself? I guess it could be culture difference but I really don't understand why people need this constant self-promotion.

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    1. No one has ever called me pretty
      One day eh x

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    2. But you are nice looking .. you really are good looking .. you are rumpled, that's all :)

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    3. Rumpled ! Lol lol lol

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  38. My guilty crush is Julianne Moore. Anyone really who is ginger :) I am fickle. I don't post selfies with lips pouted or anything that screams LOOK AT ME!! I am not that shallow. Or needy. Or something. :) Hoping The Prof is back to baseline soon!! P.S. I think you're pretty ;) x

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  39. It's not only young women frequently posting perfect selfies: a talented musician with a local following was deserted by her husband at about the same time that the last of their five sons left for college. She's attractive and well liked. However, about every three days, she changes her profile picture to another perfect selfie. Friends and acquaintances dutifully comment on how young and beautiful she looks. It feels sad.

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  40. Really strange one and only recently-George Osbourne!
    On the selfies matter, it's all very odd. It's snapchat now where you send a little clip of yourselfie! I blame the kardashains. Hey hoe.

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  41. You are hilarious! I for one am extremely glad you write everyday and share many of your views..keep the humor coming!

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  42. Richard Gere !! No contest ....or perhaps a little bit of George Clooney would be nice too !

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    1. Richard Geres squinty little bitty eyes ruin him for me .. George Clooney is too perfect .. too Hollywood man .
      I like someone that borders on ugly .. but not.
      Masculine with a twinkle in his eye.

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  43. AND the one's I see are usually as homely as a donkey's back side! Don't let anyone bash your blog....I'd be lost without it. Especially when many are leaving their blogs these days it seems.

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  44. How old is Winnie? Please! Just wondering...
    Dolly

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    1. We dont know is the simple answer
      I suspect she's 7 which is old for a bulldog. She's slowed down remarkably from when we first had her over two years ago....

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  45. -not a fan of those with their 'selfie sticks' clogging spots in front of every 'hot' exhibit at whatever gallery/museum I'm in looking around. While at the Louvre last year, I wanted to get a peek at the Venus de Milo and, wouldn't you know it, every frenzied tourist with a mobile had to be right in front of her taking pictures. Here's a thought, why not just photograph her and leave your sorry self out of the equation?

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  46. Why do you even look?

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  47. I take selfies all the time. You can never really see me in them, and that's the way I like it.

    My crush is Rhiannpn Giddens, but I am not the least bit guilty about it.

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  48. Totally agree about the endless narcissistic selfies. What puzzles me in particular is women who complain about men objectifying them (as they should) but then post selfies expecting everyone to say they look gorgeous, beautiful, stunning, sexy etc. Come again?

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  49. No phone with or without a camera, no social media so defn. no selfies. As I've aged so has Harrison Ford and I still think him the cat's pajamas.

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  50. I'm seeing the celebrities in a whole new, much nicer light in this latest version of charity Bake Off .... but I am missing Mel and Sue as a double act :-(

    My crush (and I ain't at all guilty) is Sean Bean ..... I would have married him but who wants to be called Mrs Bean!!

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  51. I thought this selfie stuff would run its course and then disappear like so many other fads. Again, I was wrong. It is just another one of those "The world has gone mad (and shallow)" thingies.

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  52. Alan Rickman (excuse me while I sob into my coffee), Prof Brian Cox, Spencer Kelly (BBC "Click"), Richard Osman, Adam Hills (oh YES!), and I felt a little frisson with Mr Balls too, when I watched Bake Off.
    So, just a few crushes there (mostly, you might note, with grey hair, and many with a "nose")

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  53. Haha Ed Balls... Really?? Hahaha here is the thing mine is Nigel Slater... and yes I do understand the irony in that :)

    Jo in Auckland, NZ

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  54. The thing I don't get about selfies is, as you mentioned, the strange faces people make. I don't understand why everyone is pouting, or sticking their tongues out, or smirking. (I would argue that blogging has a bit more merit, given that it requires some degree of creativity! Well, usually.)

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  55. My guilty crush was Billy Mumy, remember him? The kid from Lost in Space? Now wait, before you think I'm a card carrying member of the North American Man Boy Love Association (NAMBLA),and yes there is such a thing. Ewwwwwwwwwwwwwww!!!!!!!! I loved Lost in Space which ran from 1965 to 1967. Now, do the math, I was born in 1956 and Billy Mumy was my first guy crush AND at the time he was an older boy. He's still an older man compared to me. I still watch the show which is run on Saturday nights at midnight. Thank God for DVR's. The husbear and I cuddle up on the couch, usually between 8 and 9PM, the hour before Downton Abbey comes on at 9PM Sunday.

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    1. Xthat is soo wrong on so many levels

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  56. I just don't get the fish lips thing, and I never will. And a blog does not compare to selfies anymore than a memoir does! And the only good selfie is a selfie with a pet in it. :)

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