Progress for progress sake

    I started working on the body of my article today. I've got it planned out, and quotes chosen, and now it's time to get to work! I'm starting with two less interviews than I planned, and one less than I would like, but my deadline is coming up, and I need to get it done. It's been awhile since I've worked with a word count, it's going to take some extreme editing to keep it around my mark and not wildly over. Contrary to these blog posts, I can be relatively long winded... You're all surprised, I'm sure. Shocked even.
    I showed a friend of mine what I have so far, and she's hooked and excited to read the rest of it! And because of my ego, I'm not going to let anyone else read it in case they tell me it sucks. Other than my editor, because she has to read it before it's published... Maybe I can work out a system where I'm the writer and the editor, and the publishers okay with it. Alas, such a system does not exist and probably should never actually be a thing.
      As I'm working on this article there are a ton of conflicting feelings going through me. I've never been this stressed about something I've written, and I've never been this excited about something that I'm writing! One of my biggest dreams could come true because of this article! And that is so exciting! And one of my biggest dreams could crash and burn because of this article, and that is so stressful.
    I know I have the support of a lot of people, and not just those closest to me! I know the people whom I have interviewed are backing me up to. They want their stories told, they think that it can help people, and they are trusting me to get it out there. It's an incredible feeling.

I am a feminist

    Remember when I said that my next blog was going to be an important one, then I didn't even write one? And when I did, it was just an apology? No? None of you remember that? Thank goodness.
     Well, the time has come. This is it. The foretold important one. Usually when I do this, I say something really lame and unimportant after it... maybe I shouldn't be building this up so much.
     I am a feminist. I believe that all humans, man, woman, and everyone else (myself being part of the else, calm down) deserve to and should be treated with equality. I realize that I appear very masculine, and I know I may draw a lot of flak for that reason by talking about this, but it's a chance I'm willing to take.
     Feminism is an important topic and issue, that everyone should be talking about. That being said, it is beyond ridiculous that it is still an issue! As Prime Minister Trudeau said when asked why his cabinet was equal, it's 2015. We shouldn't be worried that people are being paid less just because of their gender, we shouldn't be worried that there's a second class of citizen because of their gender. We live in a civilized world where we can watch our favourite teen dramas online whenever we want, but we can't have equality? Instead we have people arguing that feminism is stupid, that the facts behind inequality are wrong, and we have rampant sexism "mansplaining" things to us lower beings who believe it!
     The mansplainers don't just target women either, they go after the male feminists too! It's like they can't believe that a man could want equality! It's happened to me! I used to think mansplaining was one of those things that happened to other people but would never happen to me. Boy, was I wrong.
     I'm off topic.
     I felt that it was important that I come out as feminist. I'm pretty sure no one thought that I wasn't, but it's much better to actually just straight up say that I am.
    I believe, possibly controversially, that it is very important for males who believe in equality to label themselves as feminist. If we could have every person who believes in equality stand up and declare themselves a feminist, what are the mansplainers going to do? Mansplain to all of us why we're wrong? Actually, they probably would take the time and at least attempt to do just that...
     Equality shouldn't be something that we need to fight for. It's something that should be automatic. More and more people are coming to realize this, but the people against it (wtf people?) are getting more and more vocal. I know there are a lot of males out there who support the movement, but won't come out in vocal support in fear of their peers calling them names and personally attacking them! That's what the enemies of feminism have in their arsenal: name calling. That's extent of their armoury. And they think they have a point! They don't see how backward and damaging their thinking is to the world. The sad thing is, these are the people who are super vocal about the "evils of Islam", and as more ignorant people agree with them on that, they'll start agreeing that feminism is wrong too! They'll start using terms like "feminazi" whenever a woman speaks out, they'll start making the sexist jokes that they've always secretly believed, and we will stay exactly where we are.
     I am feminist. I believe in equality for the entire human race. I've spoken out against racists and Islamophobes, but I haven't publicly spoken out against sexism, and by not doing that I'm enabling them. I don't want to enable them. They are wrong. They need to spoken against. I need to be more outspoken in my stance on feminism. My support needs to be more visible.
      Feminism isn't some evil plot by women to take over the world. It's a fight against an outdated, sexist, racist, and xenophobic system that needs to be torn down. The fact that people take offence to term, shows exactly how much it is still needed in our world.
     I am a feminist. I hope you are too. 

This is Halloween, this is Halloween.

Everyone make a scene.
Ok. Got that out of the way.
I love Halloween, The dressing up, the wandering around the community, the sacrifices to Samhain. Just a good time all around. Good clean fun.
This year I'm going as Max from Mad Max. The classic films with Mel Gibson. That costume is just so awesome.
I hope you all have a wonderful and safe Halloween! 

Not a clickbait

I've started daily vlogging.
My friend Matt suggested I challenge myself and try it. I'm on my third day and I am loving it! It's really fun and actually kinda awesome. And it's helping me get over the awkwardness of filming in front of strangers and walking around talking to myself!
"No strange person staring at me, I'm not the crazy person! You're the crazy one!"
Good times.
I'm filming myself typing this right now, talk about pressure. I keep messing up from watching myself type? Ok. Maybe I am the crazy person.
Daily vlogging. Right, That was my topic.
It's going to be interesting seeing how I fill my days this week. Started my new job, which is essentially a desk job. I'm going to have to be extra creative with trying to make my vlogs entertaining. Which I probably need to be doing in my everyday life anyways!
And! With all this newfound free time, I'll be able to actually post on here! Yay! You guys get to listen to my thoughts and read them! How lucky are you all! I'm almost jealous. Almost.
I think that's good for this post. You guys have a great day. Or evening. Whatever it is for you. 

Asexuality and Me: A Call to Arms

So I'm asexual.
You all know that from my vlogs. And my tweets. And my instagram, But that's not enough. How many aces do you know? How many did you even hear of?
Exactly.
This is why I am always bringing it up. Because there aren't many of us. There are a lot of people out there who think they're broken though, People who could be Ace, but no one talks about asexuality, so they don't know it exists.
I felt broken.
For years.
For the majority of my life. And it wasn't until I accidentally stumbled upon asexuality on tumblr that I started feeling better about myself.
I spent days looking up everything I could find on asexuality. I started trying to find other aces on social media. I try to follow every ace that I can on twitter, so if I'm not following you, message me.
As I was discovering my asexuality, I began to re-evaluate my life. I began to look at past events and see them for what they were: a lost person trying to find meaning. Trying to find purpose. It was a hard time for me. I had a lot of pressures on me, and this sudden enlightenment/re-evaluation didn't precisely make things easier.
I started having mood swings and everything. I was pretty hard to be around and I didn't know how to tell people yet. I was working in a small town and living in a smaller one, surrounded by super religious people, close-minded people, and just all around ignorant people. I was scared.
Even now that I'm out publicly, I'm still scared of people finding out and hating me. Or blackmailing me somehow.
That's just the world we live in though.
And I am fucking tired of hearing that as some kind of excuse.
I shouldn't be scared of my co-workers finding out about me. I shouldn't be scared to wear a scarf outside of the city.
Because I look hella good in a scarf.
But I have this rationally irrational fear that's sort of rational.
As a country we're very open-minded, but within the small towns we're just like the rest of the world.
It's time for me to take a more visible stand. Time for me to fight for what I am.
I know my friends will stand with me, but it's easier for them. They're mostly straight and they look the part.
But I'm not, and when I go full-out, I look no where near straight. Scarves, leggings, lip gloss: I look good.
Guess it's time for me to slay.
This was just supposed to be about asexuality. Now it's a call to arms.
For myself.
For you,
For everyone that reads this.
Let's take a fucking stand.

Signed,
Zak Hiscock, October 10, 2015. 

Oops

Been a while since I've posted... Sorry guys. I am working on a bigger blog post to go along with Zakitude Specials: Coming Out Ace. Something that builds on it, and gives some more information. 

Works been going good. Mostly. 

I have a bunch of footage to edit, possibly, into two vlogs! Yay!!! 

Anyways, I guess I don't have too much to say right now. Have a good one guys!

Public Service Announcement

Hey guys.
My next video is kinda special. It's actually going to be a special. It's not a vlog. It's kinda my personal story. My journey of self discovery and acceptance. It's long too. Longer than any of my other videos, but it's good! It's emotional, and it's brutally honest. So when it's up in a couple days, please watch the entire thing. And if you never share one of my videos, please share this one. It could really help someone.
Thanks so much,
Love you all,
Z

Sitting here. Alone.

I feel kinda off today. Like I wanna cry, but I don't know exactly why? Anybody else get those days? I think I'm just super stressed about my move, and about the money situation involved with moving. Plus I'm... yeah. Finances are fun. Being an adult is totes the best. #ugh
On the bright side, I finished the final piece of Dragon Age dlc. Which only made me tear up like 5 times. And will be the last new Dragon Age stuff for a while. Shit. That's not a bright side at all. Umm....  Doctor Who starts on saturday! That's a bright side! Saved it.
Other than that, I don't really have too much to offer. It's just a normal Tuesday. I'm going to try to get some filming done, mainly because I look good today. And I almost have enough footage for a vlog. But mainly the looking good part.
Anyways,  have a good one peeps!

Yo-yo's should make a comeback

I'm exhausted and in bed already, but I need to force myself to be more regular with this.
Today's blog didn't happen the way it should have. I was at a friends and I didn't bring my laptop, so I had to edit on my tablet. With some random free editing software that wouldn't save in HD or let me edit the entire vlog. So half got uploaded and I'm going to properly edit the other half tomorrow.
Today was a pretty sweet day, which you'll be able to see on my next vlog, whenever I get time to upload it. Went swimming in only slightly frigid water, and just had some good hang outs.
Ok. This totally counts for an actual blog post. I'm so tired.

I should really write a blog

Sup guys? I know I've been lacking in both blog and vlog updates, but my internet sucks. And the final Dragon Age: Inquisition DLC came... I've only cried twice so far and have played for an hour...  I don't know if you guys have played the Dragon Age series, but you should. It is phenomenal. The writers for it are amazing, and give the games emotional depth that is unheard of in most mainstream games. But I'm not here to post reviews. Maybe I'll start up my review blog up again if I get the time.

New paragraph! Gotta keep up my impeccable English skills with this here new paragraph! English!

Seriously though, I am a writer. And as such, I need to be more dedicated to the craft. Because I love it, I'm just lazy and want instant success. #realmoment. I really want to succeed at this. This whole "zakitude" thing. I think it would be really cool, and I could show off aspects of Canadian life that aren't glamorous, or fancy, just real. Plus this is super fun. And freeing in an odd way.

Anyways, I hope you guys are all enjoying this, I am. I plan on posting more regularly once I have access to faster internet.

After effects of last night

So. Pulled that all nighter last night. First one in forever. And today I am uber exhausted. We made it to 5:40, which I'm counting. That was almost 24 hours without sleep. Words aren't coming too well today, but hey. Everybody probably thinks I'm just drunk! So win-win.

First official blog!

Well guys, I decided that I needed a blog to go along with my vlog! So welcome to the first, official, Zakitude blog! I'm at my buddy Tyler's for an all nighter on this chilly labour day long weekend. I don't think I've done one of these since Halo: Reach came out. Which was, sadly,  a while ago now. I should be able to post on here more regularly than on YouTube. Way easier when you don't need to film and edit! Anyways, just wanted to say hey!