Same Same Blog

Juniper is Heaven

2011-12-28T01:21:00.003Z

This post is also on Juniperfection - my new blog, all about Gin.

Gin. Gin is beautiful. It is the drink of champions, as far as I'm concerned - or rather, arm-chair champions, who champion fine gin.

I hope to, from time to time, blog about the various Gins I have the fortune (or misfortune) to try. This is not an attempt to immitate TheGinBlog (which does great work), but rather, keep notes on my casual alcoholism for posterity's sake.

The following list contains all the gin brands I've tried, and a quick summary of how. In time, I'll flesh out each with a blog post, perhaps, and my thoughts on it.

Gordons (bought)
Tanqueray (bought)
Tanqueray No. 10 (G&T in a bar)
Hendricks (bought)
The Botanist (bought)
DH Krahn (bought)
Sipsmith (bought)
Edinburgh Gin (bought)
G'vine Floraison (bought)
Caorunn (bought)
Bombay Saphire (G&T in Students Union)
Beefeater (G&T many places, Bloody Mary on emirates flight)
Fifty Pounds Gin (Neat, Luvians Tasting)
Deaths Door (Neat, Luvians Tasting)
Cold River (Neat, Luvians Tasting)
Leopold (Neat, Luvians Tasting)
Aviation (Neat, Luvians Tasting)
Genever (Bols? In the Fairmont, G&T)
Rives Gin (G&T in spanish bars)
Many "own brand" London Dry gins (bought, etc)

So thats up to 20, so far.

Until next time, remember the important rules of a perfect G&T:

Good Gin
Good Tonic
Plenty of Ice
An Appropriate Garnish
Room for one more?

Gap Year Redux

2011-08-10T17:40:00.000+01:00

This blog originally started off as a blog about my travels around South-East Asia back in the summer of 2008.

Three years on, I am off travelling again!
(Thats not to say I've not gone anywhere in the interim, but no where like this, for as long).

Tomorrow I leave Aberdeen and head to Heathrow, stopping for a while to sample the fine Caviar House, before departing for Dubai. I have a 22 hour stopover (fuuuuu) here, arriving at 6am local, leaving 4am the next morning local. Hell. Well, it is 40C and full of rich people ;)

Beyond that, I take another flight, to Jakarta, Indonesia (I hate when people ref. place names like that.... but sometimes its cool, sometimes its necessary... though I trust all you Dear Readers know where Jakarta is.

I'll spend about 3 week travelling down through Java and around Bali, before heading home (with another long stopover in Dubai, and one in London.... if the city remains.)

I'll be visiting two states with a very high Islamic population/influence - Indonesia has the most Muslims in the world, 89% of the pop. are Muslim.
And more interestingly than that, it is currently Ramadan.

I'm quite interested/excited to see such a different culture. My last travels were to Budhist/Christian/Communist countries, so this shall be a rather different trip - but in many ways, not that dissimilar. Both places are conservative by Western European standards, and so that in itself presents interesting experiences.

Anyway, I doubt I'll blog much/at all during my travels.

But equipped with a camera and 18GB of memory cards... You wont know what hit you :P

(At least I'll finally be able to update the slideshow on the right of this blog....)

-------

In other news, I passed my driving test today.

Woot.

Spreadsheet woes

2011-07-01T20:14:00.002+01:00

This is a plea for help - I made the mistake of volunteering to sort someones spreadsheet out. But I'm not an expert at excel, so I'm stuck trying to make it all more automatically updating.

Basically, this is a workbook about payslips for a series of employees.

My proposed system is to have a separate Sheet for each persons Deductions (i.e. a complete track of the hours worked, the gross and net pay, the gross and net taxes (PAYE, NI), and so on).

Obviously a lot of these can be done by sums based on just hours worked - the only real variable week to week. So thats quite straightforward.

Then we want to automatically produce payslips containing simply a copy of certain cells data.

The problem here is referencing cells.

So here are the two screens:

SCREENSHOTS REMOVED FOR DATA PROTECTION.

So here (second image) I want say the box next to Gross Pay/Hours - here reading "32.75" to be linked to the first sheet - Row "O" - hours, but the row number must equal the "week" number - second sheet, here week 11.
This process will be copied for most of the other cells in the payslip sheet, and so the whole thing is generated/dependent on whichever number is the week (number).

This is all terribly explained. The best I can manage is an attempt at a nested function, but I get stuck here.

='SHEETNAME'!O(=F10)

Doesnt work.

Any ideas?

ANSWER: =index('sheet'!O1:'sheet'!O52,F10,1)

My IMDB Top 250 Challenge

2011-06-15T23:42:00.001+01:00

I used to love watching movies. A few years ago, I'd come back from school, put on a DVD, and enjoy. Virtually everyday.
But then.... I got into TV. (Or rather, MORE into TV). Watching a 20 or 40 minute show was great, instant hit. Plus you build a long relationship with a TV series - like 24, Frasier or The West Wing.
And in watching all these shows, I kinda lost the want to sit and watch a 2 hour+ movie.

Then I came to Uni, and met so many people who put my film knowledge to shame (lets not even talk about my Disney history - of their classic 50, the big ones, until a couple of years ago, I must've only seen a handful. Literally. Since then I've seen more, but only so many.) So to cure this problem, I shall watch the IMDB Top 250.

(This also is something to do - I've no plans for this summer yet, so I need _something_.)

So the aim is to watch all IMDB Top 250 (as they're listed tonight), from bottom up, and review each one here.
I shall keep track of my progress also on I Check Movies.
Note - I havent set a deadline for this challenge, but hopefully by the end of the year.

IMDB Top 250 as of 11pm on the 15th of June, 2011 (BST)

Rank	Rating	Title	Votes
1.	9.2	The Shawshank Redemption (1994)	603,184
2.	9.2	The Godfather (1972)	464,837
3.	9.0	The Godfather: Part II (1974)	284,534
4.	8.9	The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966)	190,530
5.	8.9	Pulp Fiction (1994)	478,754
6.	8.9	12 Angry Men (1957)	144,159
7.	8.9	Schindler's List (1993)	318,292
8.	8.8	One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975)	249,412
9.	8.8	Inception (2010)	363,056
10.	8.8	The Dark Knight (2008)	539,279
11.	8.8	Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back(1980)	313,799
12.	8.8	The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King(2003)	417,772
13.	8.8	Seven Samurai (1954)	109,817
14.	8.8	Fight Club (1999)	445,987
15.	8.7	Goodfellas (1990)	264,291
16.	8.7	Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977)	357,592
17.	8.7	Casablanca (1942)	186,707
18.	8.7	The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring(2001)	440,486
19.	8.7	City of God (2002)	195,168
20.	8.7	Once Upon a Time in the West (1968)	87,630
21.	8.7	Rear Window (1954)	135,147
22.	8.7	Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)	272,528
23.	8.7	The Matrix (1999)	437,369
24.	8.7	The Usual Suspects (1995)	300,664
25.	8.7	Psycho (1960)	164,800
26.	8.7	The Silence of the Lambs (1991)	285,574
27.	8.6	Se7en (1995)	327,944
28.	8.6	It's a Wonderful Life (1946)	115,978
29.	8.6	Memento (2000)	317,866
30.	8.6	The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)	373,567
31.	8.6	Forrest Gump (1994)	357,404
32.	8.6	Sunset Boulevard (1950)	63,187
33.	8.6	Leon (1994)	237,815
34.	8.6	Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964)	172,239
35.	8.6	Toy Story 3 (2010)	135,344
36.	8.6	Apocalypse Now (1979)	195,191
37.	8.5	Citizen Kane (1941)	152,431
38.	8.5	American History X (1998)	262,701
39.	8.5	North by Northwest (1959)	104,688
40.	8.5	American Beauty (1999)	331,402
41.	8.5	Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)	273,748
42.	8.5	Taxi Driver (1976)	182,302
43.	8.5	Saving Private Ryan (1998)	309,875
44.	8.5	Alien (1979)	205,290
45.	8.5	Vertigo (1958)	103,696
46.	8.5	Amelie (2001)	210,491
47.	8.5	Spirited Away (2001)	121,729
48.	8.5	The Shining (1980)	207,274
49.	8.5	Paths of Glory (1957)	51,457
50.	8.5	City Lights (1931)	33,993
51.	8.5	WALL·E (2008)	221,622
52.	8.5	The Pianist (2002)	158,514
53.	8.5	Double Indemnity (1944)	42,795
54.	8.5	M (1931)	45,633
55.	8.5	Lawrence of Arabia (1962)	88,303
56.	8.5	The Lives of Others (2006)	89,790
57.	8.4	A Clockwork Orange (1971)	220,483
58.	8.4	The Departed (2006)	307,107
59.	8.4	To Kill a Mockingbird (1962)	92,291
60.	8.4	Aliens (1986)	190,951
61.	8.4	Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)	254,063
62.	8.4	Requiem for a Dream (2000)	215,745
63.	8.4	Das Boot (1981)	77,901
64.	8.4	Modern Times (1936)	42,481
65.	8.4	Reservoir Dogs (1992)	241,814
66.	8.4	The Third Man (1949)	56,612
67.	8.4	Life Is Beautiful (1997)	127,940
68.	8.4	L.A. Confidential (1997)	183,600
69.	8.4	Chinatown (1974)	89,121
70.	8.4	Back to the Future (1985)	237,889
71.	8.4	The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948)	37,517
72.	8.4	The Prestige (2006)	250,037
73.	8.4	Cinema Paradiso (1988)	53,018
74.	8.4	Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975)	172,741
75.	8.4	The Green Mile (1999)	236,312
76.	8.3	Raging Bull (1980)	102,213
77.	8.3	Once Upon a Time in America (1984)	83,457
78.	8.3	Pan's Labyrinth (2006)	181,315
79.	8.3	Rashomon (1950)	45,350
80.	8.3	Singin' in the Rain (1952)	62,484
81.	8.3	Some Like It Hot (1959)	76,083
82.	8.3	Amadeus (1984)	110,705
83.	8.3	The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)	66,133
84.	8.3	All About Eve (1950)	39,108
85.	8.3	Full Metal Jacket (1987)	175,265
86.	8.3	The Great Dictator (1940)	43,552
87.	8.3	Bicycle Thieves (1948)	32,530
88.	8.3	2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)	179,898
89.	8.3	Braveheart (1995)	274,783
90.	8.3	The Apartment (1960)	41,865
91.	8.3	Inglourious Basterds (2009)	231,170
92.	8.3	Gladiator (2000)	325,041
93.	8.3	Metropolis (1927)	46,080
94.	8.3	Black Swan (2010)	137,422
95.	8.3	Downfall (2004)	96,458
96.	8.3	Oldboy (2003)	115,895
97.	8.3	Unforgiven (1992)	114,180
98.	8.3	The Sting (1973)	74,724
99.	8.3	Up (2009)	151,184
100.	8.3	Gran Torino (2008)	162,193
101.	8.3	The Elephant Man (1980)	67,231
102.	8.3	Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939)	37,288
103.	8.3	The Maltese Falcon (1941)	57,189
104.	8.3	Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983)	237,188
105.	8.3	On the Waterfront (1954)	46,515
106.	8.3	Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)	193,188
107.	8.3	Rebecca (1940)	39,587
108.	8.3	Princess Mononoke (1997)	75,949
109.	8.3	Sin City (2005)	288,714
110.	8.3	Die Hard (1988)	208,894
111.	8.3	The Great Escape (1963)	70,311
112.	8.3	The Seventh Seal (1957)	43,555
113.	8.2	Batman Begins (2005)	308,159
114.	8.2	The King's Speech (2010)	90,771
115.	8.2	The General (1926)	23,051
116.	8.2	Fargo (1996)	184,267
117.	8.2	Blade Runner (1982)	206,413
118.	8.2	Heat (1995)	165,436
119.	8.2	Jaws (1975)	157,746
120.	8.2	Hotel Rwanda (2004)	106,564
121.	8.2	For a Few Dollars More (1965)	52,924
122.	8.2	Yojimbo (1961)	33,247
123.	8.2	No Country for Old Men (2007)	231,255
124.	8.2	Grave of the Fireflies (1988)	41,317
125.	8.2	Ran (1985)	38,512
126.	8.2	Touch of Evil (1958)	36,393
127.	8.2	Witness for the Prosecution (1957)	20,969
128.	8.2	The Wizard of Oz (1939)	117,205
129.	8.2	Snatch. (2000)	203,157
130.	8.2	Wild Strawberries (1957)	24,821
131.	8.2	Slumdog Millionaire (2008)	213,290
132.	8.2	The Lion King (1994)	167,769
133.	8.2	The Deer Hunter (1978)	99,718
134.	8.2	The Sixth Sense (1999)	272,198
135.	8.2	The Big Lebowski (1998)	205,874
136.	8.2	Annie Hall (1977)	74,187
137.	8.2	Cool Hand Luke (1967)	51,741
138.	8.2	Strangers on a Train (1951)	39,328
139.	8.2	It Happened One Night (1934)	28,490
140.	8.2	Donnie Darko (2001)	241,319
141.	8.2	Toy Story (1995)	183,086
142.	8.2	Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003)	266,589
143.	8.2	High Noon (1952)	38,424
144.	8.2	Platoon (1986)	123,962
145.	8.2	Into the Wild (2007)	126,707
146.	8.1	District 9 (2009)	191,171
147.	8.1	Million Dollar Baby (2004)	166,373
148.	8.1	There Will Be Blood (2007)	151,220
149.	8.1	Scarface (1983)	177,247
150.	8.1	The Gold Rush (1925)	24,662
151.	8.1	Notorious (1946)	35,161
152.	8.1	Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969)	65,174
153.	8.1	Trainspotting (1996)	172,148
154.	8.1	Gone with the Wind (1939)	90,143
155.	8.1	Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans (1927)	13,359
156.	8.1	The Grapes of Wrath (1940)	26,618
157.	8.1	Groundhog Day (1993)	158,184
158.	8.1	The Kid (1921)	17,864
159.	8.1	Ikiru (1952)	18,567
160.	8.1	Ben-Hur (1959)	66,506
161.	8.1	Amores Perros (2000)	69,889
162.	8.1	The Big Sleep (1946)	32,151
163.	8.1	The Wages of Fear (1953)	16,328
164.	8.1	The Graduate (1967)	88,474
165.	8.1	The Manchurian Candidate (1962)	38,057
166.	8.1	Life of Brian (1979)	108,232
167.	8.1	The Secret in Their Eyes (2009)	31,417
168.	8.1	Finding Nemo (2003)	197,117
169.	8.1	Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998)	146,775
170.	8.1	The Terminator (1984)	206,450
171.	8.1	The Best Years of Our Lives (1946)	19,445
172.	8.1	Casino (1995)	125,912
173.	8.1	The Thing (1982)	92,554
174.	8.1	The Wrestler (2008)	115,710
175.	8.1	The Bourne Ultimatum (2007)	173,037
176.	8.1	Stand by Me (1986)	102,414
177.	8.1	How to Train Your Dragon (2010)	78,165
178.	8.1	Avatar (2009)	325,274
179.	8.1	Twelve Monkeys (1995)	192,492
180.	8.1	Dog Day Afternoon (1975)	68,799
181.	8.1	V for Vendetta (2006)	264,287
182.	8.1	The Fiends (1955)	17,283
183.	8.1	Gandhi (1982)	58,832
184.	8.1	My Neighbour Totoro (1988)	38,393
185.	8.1	Ratatouille (2007)	158,610
186.	8.1	Judgement at Nuremberg (1961)	16,672
187.	8.1	8½ (1963)	33,919
188.	8.1	The Night of the Hunter (1955)	29,279
189.	8.1	Good Will Hunting (1997)	175,829
190.	8.0	Network (1976)	40,202
191.	8.0	The Princess Bride (1987)	135,345
192.	8.0	The Battle of Algiers (1966)	16,113
193.	8.0	The 400 Blows (1959)	27,612
194.	8.0	The Killing (1956)	28,200
195.	8.0	Star Trek (2009)	162,407
196.	8.0	The Hustler (1961)	28,672
197.	8.0	La Strada (1954)	20,346
198.	8.0	The Social Network (2010)	126,570
199.	8.0	Mary and Max (2009)	22,787
200.	8.0	Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966)	23,292
201.	8.0	Dial M for Murder (1954)	35,146
202.	8.0	The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (2007)	37,598
203.	8.0	Persona (1966)	19,567
204.	8.0	The Exorcist (1973)	121,335
205.	8.0	A Streetcar Named Desire (1951)	38,411
206.	8.0	The Wild Bunch (1969)	34,983
207.	8.0	The Incredibles (2004)	186,150
208.	8.0	Stalag 17 (1953)	22,892
209.	8.0	In Bruges (2008)	118,861
210.	8.0	Kind Hearts and Coronets (1949)	14,899
211.	8.0	The Passion of Joan of Arc (1928)	12,743
212.	8.0	Fanny and Alexander (1982)	16,692
213.	8.0	All Quiet on the Western Front (1930)	24,471
214.	8.0	Rocky (1976)	117,031
215.	8.0	Barry Lyndon (1975)	44,753
216.	8.0	Ed Wood (1994)	82,913
217.	8.0	Let the Right One In (2008)	74,518
218.	8.0	Mystic River (2003)	138,429
219.	8.0	The Truman Show (1998)	187,006
220.	8.0	Big Fish (2003)	162,238
221.	8.0	Magnolia (1999)	133,382
222.	8.0	Nights of Cabiria (1957)	13,419
223.	8.0	Children of Men (2006)	181,454
224.	8.0	X-Men: First Class (2011)	38,250
225.	8.0	Rosemary's Baby (1968)	60,214
226.	8.0	Manhattan (1979)	43,798
227.	8.0	Infernal Affairs (2002)	40,514
228.	8.0	Festen (1998)	30,281
229.	8.0	Howl's Moving Castle (2004)	55,314
230.	8.0	Sherlock Jr. (1924)	9,015
231.	8.0	Roman Holiday (1953)	35,953
232.	8.0	Kill Bill: Vol. 2 (2004)	210,948
233.	8.0	Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)	274,728
234.	8.0	Patton (1970)	44,021
235.	8.0	Rope (1948)	36,841
236.	8.0	The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962)	25,585
237.	8.0	Sleuth (1972)	20,155
238.	8.0	Duck Soup (1933)	29,914
239.	8.0	Letters from Iwo Jima (2006)	66,937
240.	8.0	His Girl Friday (1940)	23,255
241.	8.0	Harvey (1950)	26,274
242.	8.0	Monsters, Inc. (2001)	141,836
243.	8.0	Arsenic and Old Lace (1944)	33,320
244.	8.0	Shutter Island (2010)	160,567
245.	8.0	Three Colours: Red (1994)	27,617
246.	8.0	Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter... and Spring(2003)	22,135
247.	8.0	Rain Man (1988)	123,037
248.	8.0	Anatomy of a Murder (1959)	18,497
249.	8.0	Beauty and the Beast (1991)	84,315
250.	8.0	Tokyo Story (1953)	9,340

First up, Tokyo Story (1953).

Wish me luck!

Hate On Me, Hater

2011-02-02T05:01:00.001Z

A wee while ago, I wrote a rather controversial, overly verbose and probably ill-concieved piece about student (and other) protests in this country.

I stand by the gist of it, of course, and in future would like to have the patience and objectiveness to research the entire history of democracy, protest, and so on.... but screw that. As evident by various factors, the protestées dont always/often educate themselves, fully.

Anywho, in the comments for this post, I received the most flattering title;
"Misguided, ill informed detriment to free society"

I love this!

Ha, not really.

Alas, the commenter, whilst not anonymous, was not naming himself. An initial, quick, google failed to discover much, but one just now (a result being bored), found him, his facebook page, and his unshaven face.
As well as his profile on a few "revolutionary" websites.

Well, his page is here - http://www.facebook.com/Rasimface - for those interested.
(Privacy setting FAIL).

Anyway, after a quick read through the page, I got more and more agitated. Mostly by how stupid he is.

Stupid is the wrong word. He is clearly 'educated', clearly 'smart'. But somehow, draws illogical conclusions from his arguments, and fails to see the laughable hypocrisy and foolishness of his black and white philosophies.

I went on a wee twitter rant -

I do love the fucked up hipocrisy of these hippy wannabe "socialist" "revolutionaries" who want to "bring down the system", who use facebook

"Fight the man" wearing your mass produced, sweat shop labour, designer label "revolutionary" clothes.

All in all, its an excuse to be unshaven, unshowered, dressed badly and a general moronic douche.

I had ended the rant, but I hadnt stopped reading his facebook page, so I shall link you this - http://on.fb.me/iaDFyZ - and end it there.

And thats where it really got me. His "notes". They give a real insight into his thoughts. For example,

On the note about the Israeli ambassador visiting St Andrews, speaking to/for the IPA, he gets very upset. He brands the IPA racist because they invite a guest speaker. The society is called the "international politics" association. They clearly have a non-partisan agenda, and the only purpose for them, surely, is to bring in a wide range of different people. An ambassador for Israel, a real scoop for them. By asking him to speak, they arent condoning or condeming the man, or what he represents. They're just asking him to speak. It is not the role of the IPA to decide who is "good" and "bad" (thats really Santy Claus' role).
He also gets desperately upset and offended that people who are known or likely to disrupt a _mature_ and _civilised_ debate with their "protest" are not invited/allowed into a PRIVATE event. Shocking.
And then theres his bit, where he says,

"Evading tough questions, umming and aahing a lot, Prossor was unable to impress many of those in attendance. Difficult questions were asked, occasionally to sporadic cheering, as protesters outside chanted and shouted. As the talk ended and the armoured shining vehicles slid off into the evening, echoing with chants of “Prossor, you're a tosser” and “IPA, go away, we don't want your racist way”,..."

Wow.

Real sign of intelligence, maturity, and genuine debating skills. The people who were in, and asked difficult questions - well done. The ambassador, dodging the questions - to be expected, thats his role. And the people standing outside, leering and swearing abuse, breaching the peace with some 12-year old childs "debating" skills?

Yea.

I went on to read his piece about the "Question Time" for the sabbaticals last year, and how they didnt seem to have a good answer for a question about why a tank was allowed at the union. Despite their lack of a decent answer (to what is not a great question), its hardly cause for a blog post, inevitably bringing the BNP and fascists into a comparison with the British Army - an organisation which FOUGHT fascism, and bans its members from being in the BNP.

Two words - Fuck Tard.

-----

p.s. I appreciate that this post is a contradiction of its message, which is why I always joke my "moral high horse is more like a moral shetland pony".

p.p.s. This is not a personal attack (ok, it kind of is), but it is taking public information, and dissecting it, publicly, in response to a similar and less extensive comment on one of my blogs.
Still, its liable to get taken down at some point when i grow up ;)

New Years Resolutions. Or, How I learnt to stop worrying and love the love handles

2011-01-03T22:20:00.001Z

So, as is the social norm, we observe the changing of the calendar to a new series of digits (get ready for 4 months of incorrectly dating documents), with a party, with alcohol, and generally with celebration.

With that aside, our next, hangover induced thought, we turn to that old favourite, bettering ourselves through ridiculous life changes, New Years Resolutions.

Not one to buck a trend (well, not everyday), here are mine from last year - Linkage.

Crucially,

This first is private.
Lose Weight.
Get Sexy Muscles (think Taylor Lautner... yea. Thats me this time next year :P )
Work Harder Academically
Spend less time inside/online.

So that was last year. How did I do?

#1 - Not yet. maybe this month.

#2 - Not really, but on the plus side, no real increase.

#3 - Ya. As per the results of #2, didnt happen.

#4 - Well... Hmm... I did a bit. But then also fell into the same bad habits of missed lectures. And not revising. no real idea of grades thusfar for Chemisty, but Sustainable Development is a piece of piss and i'm sure thats fine.

#5 - Uhm. I had the most boring summer of all time, and the summer weather never happened, so I suspect this year I spent even more time inside than the year before. Which is a depressing thought if ever I've had one.

So what do I aim for 2011? More realistic aims, I think.

#1 - I aim to go to the gym 20 times by May. Theres pretty much 20 weeks till then, and I'm sure I could manage more than once a week, on average, so this is easy. Why 20? Cos I signed up for the gym last year, paying a one of lump sum for as much, free access as I wanted. To make it a cost benefit, rather than just paying each time I went, I need to go 20 times or more. Plus its a more realistic target than #2 or 3 from last year, whilst achieving the same outcomes.

#2 - I vow not to waste free time. This is a toughie. Last year, I had like a 4month summer holiday, and aside from maybe 8 days in Edinburgh, and having friends up for 3 days, I did nothign else. (except house a paedophile, but thats another story). Nothing. And boy was it tedious. And boy was coming back to the uni, and hearing everyone elses stories tedious. Even a job, even the coop, would be a better use of my time (and pay for my burgeoning middle class alcoholism). So yes, in a week or so I start and finish my exam period, and am left with 25 days of free time before semester 2 begins. 25 days with, quite literally, no commitments. And then I get a couple of weeks at Easter. And then 4 months at summer. And then reading week in November. I want to do something, anything, exciting. (Side note - if you have ideas for my summer or this upcoming 25 day period of time, comments please!)

#3 - I aim to eat more healthily. By this I mean two things - one, less salt/fat/sugar/carbs at bad times/red meat/etc the bad stuff. So a bit like a diet. But also, eat less processed food and ready meals. The problem being it is so easy and cheap. So I aim to cook more of my own food, and eat better food. With that in mind, I suppose i could also aim to blog new recipes I try! :)

#4 - I vow to plan and use my time better. I sleep all day. I nap. I lie in. And then, I stay up till 4am doing nothing. I then sleep through the morning. Fortunately, my classes start at 11am this semester past and coming, but come September 3rd year chemisty (i.e. hell) begins. So I need to be better prepared by then. (we're talking 18hrs of labs and 12 hours of lectures per week). So to that end, I shall get up earlier (not setting an arbitrary time, but 7am/8am would be good.) This gives me time to do aims 1,2 and 3, whilst also giving me the time to work on coursework during the day, giving me evenings and nights off, to go and have fun, or stay in and chill (or nap!). Much better than the current, doing-it-at-the-last-minute-every-week-so-cant-go-out system.

and I need a 5th aim for the sake of consistency.

#5 - I will turn 21 years old. Now, you might think this is cheating, but part of me is growing fond of being 20 - just beyond teenager, yet not getting into that dangerous - "shouldnt he have a job/move out of home" age period. So yea, I will turn 21. Maybe ;)

Why I Am Ashamed to be Called a Student

2010-12-08T02:07:00.000Z

No, it is not because I am not studious. Sure, that too. But thats not what this is about...

---

PROTEST

RIOT

ANARCHY

FRUSTRATION

ANGER

ANGST

----

Students all over the UK have been protesting for a while now. About something.
I'd be more specific, but they're not.
The protests are not well organised, they're not well planned. They have little, if any, positive media presence. Its all organised via facebook and twitter, without strong, positive, articulate representation in the media. Instead, the news outlets are finding and questioning any random protestors they can find. And asking them, "Why are you protesting?" "What are you angry about?". To which, they recieve a million different answers.

"Tuition Fees"

"Budget Cuts"

Sure, these are the common themes... but really? Anymore detail?

Do you dislike ALL tuition fees? Of course you do. Who likes to pay for something which you can protest about getting free! But in reality, tuition fees exist. And there is no impetus to get rid of them for nothing.
SO what are you REALLY protesting about tuition fees?
Rising them? Well... rising them is something. Less than doubling, in fact. The figure of £9000 has been blown out of proportion. Current fees are just over 3k, in the region of £3250 I believe.
For the VAST MAJORITY of courses/universities on the new fees? £6000 will be the limit.
And whats this? The starting rate at which you pay them is going up too? To £21k. From £15k.
Thats good. That means poor graduates wont pay as early on.

And theres the key point of it all. GRADUATES.

Students WILL NOT PAY ANYTHING. Just the same as at the moment, where STUDENTS DO NOT PAY ANYTHING. Graduates pay. Graduates will pay back the government money. They'll pay back a loan, which is very low interest, a loan. The loan covered the cost of their education. And the money the government spent - the tuition fees - went DIRECTLY to the institution.

Why do I highlight this?
Well, its obvious.
The main student group, the NUS, support a proposed GRADUATE TAX.

Whats the difference betwen a Graduate Tax and Tuition Fees?

None*.

* - Minor differences, but the summarise - Graduate Tax means graduates with lower paying jobs will have paid less for their education, whilst high earning graduates will have paid more for their education. Tuition fees mean that graduates either pay less for their education than it cost, or what it cost. (plus low interest/inflation).
In reality, no real difference. I favour tuition fees, because it doesnt financially penalise people who choose to study and enter a career based on a financially rewarding subject.

-----

So what have I tried to say thusfar?

Students are protesting something. Tuition fees. Really, they're protesting having to pay for what they get. Instead they'd rather see everyone, including the majority who do not attend university, pay for their education. Their privilege, at everyone elses cost.
And what do they propose instead? Not cutting budgets? Thats not going to happen (will cover in a moment). No, the only "other" which has come across - From my own Student Association, which isnt associated with the NUS, even - graduate tax.

Its the peoples front of Judea hating on the Judean peoples front.

Why wont they cut budgets?

Democracy.

We had a general election, not that long ago. You might remember it.
In that, (almost) everyone is entitled to vote. Not everyone chose to. In fact only 65% (or so) of the electorate (45M or so) chose to vote.

But whats key here this. The Conservative party won. Everyone who read a news paper, or saw the tv, or listened to the radio, knew the one major points about the different parties. How to handle the economy. The massive deficeit, and the massive european worries... The Labour party wanted minimal cuts, in the future, to not hurt the "recovery". The lib dems waffled on somewhere inbetween. The Tories wanted bigger cuts, faster.

In our democracy, the people voted for the tories. http://www.ukpolitical.info/2010.htm
The tories won the most seats in the Houses of Parliament. And as such, they won.
They didnt win enough to get a "majority". The majority isnt a constitutional requirement, but it is necessary to pass legislation, and without it, they'd have struggled.
They allied with the Lib Dems. Everyone was FURIOUS.

But what was the alternative?

A) They couldnt find a coalition party, and so formed a minority government. They fail to pass their budget, the government goes to the Queen and resigns. A new general election is held. The tories win outright majority. Why? Because the Labour party hasnt had time to elect a new, strong leader. They're still haunted by the past mistakes, and issues. And all the "lib dem" mania is exhausted, because people saw two things. One, one of the two main parties still won. The lib dems still came third. And two, they were offered a seat in government and turned it down.

B) The lib dems, labour, snp and plaid cymru formed a coalition. (all those parties needed to get a majority). Gordon Brown would still be PM. The FOUR PARTY coalition would struggle to do anything, struggle to agree on anything, and intra-coalition politics would cause a breakdown too soon.

C) They get a coalition with the lib dems. The two parties compromise, proportionally, on their pre-election manifestos and prepare a coalition agreement. This is the document which says how they will rule.
C is what happened. C is the only viable option.

And whats more, all this talk of election reform.
No one is going to support it anymore, as all it could possibly result in is a future of only coalitions or minority government. FPTP is bad. But it gives, usually, strong government. And thats what people like. People here, anyway.

-----

So I go off at a tangent, a lot. I'll try to regroup.

----

Students are protesting. They're exists also a minority hellbent on causing trouble. Peaceful protest is ONLY peaceful if its peaceful. Whilst this resembles a yo dawg meme, what I mean is this.

Peace is inaction. It is not CAUSING trouble. For example, smashing windows - not peaceful. Breaking police lines - not peaceful. Sitting in a group in the middle of the road singing kumbaya, not too loudly - peaceful. Swearing in yoru chants? Not peaceful. Swearing on the placards and in your chants... makes you look like an ill educated moron. "I've been to some of the best universities in the world, and all I can come up with is "FUCK THE CUTS" or some innuendo of cu*ts."

Occupations.

This is _REALLY_ what is getting on my tits.

What is a democracy? In theory - it is everyone getting a voice, getting representation in government. In reality, it is voting every few years for someone who shares as many of your views as possible.
What do the protesters think it is? A minority of people having the right to change policy based on the fact they dislike it. You cant change a system of government over one policy you dislike, a policy which was known before the election, and which a majority of people voted for. Its undemocratic.
These protests are not supporting a democratic model.

And in some cases, thats fine. But for something like this? I disagree. The issue isnt that big. Its more a case of "we want to protest, that'll do" rather than this being a gross injustice on the scale of Jim Crowe or the Rajj.

And lets, once again, go back to democracy.

In our democracy, we have MPs who represent areas and the people within them.

St Andrews is in SCOTLAND.
It is represented by Menzies Campbell MP in Westminster.

Tuition fees are a DEVOLVED Issues.

What does that mean? it means MPs representing scotland should NOT VOTE on such issues. Not vote yes or no, but abstain.

But thats not what Mr Ming is doing.

No, Mr Ming is voting AGAINST tuition fees.

HOLD UP! He is voting against? Our democratically elected representative is voting AGAINST tuition fees. He is doing EXACTLY what we want?

WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU PROTESTING?

IN st andrews, a minority of foolish, childish, frustrating "students" are occupying a building.

They're not disrupting learning or research.

They're "protesting".

Protesting what?

And why?

IT IS UNDEMOCRATIC TO INVOLVE YOURSELVES IN ISSUES WHICH DO NOT AFFECT YOU.

And apart from that, our MP is voting NO.

And more, they're occupying a UNIVERSITY building. Our university DOESNT HAVE A VOTE in parliament. Sure, they support tuition fees. But thats what they want to do. They get to decide that.

And if we disagree? We tell them.

First, you speak to the Students Union - our voice - and you tell them, I dont support this. If a majority of students appear to support this, the Union approaches the university, and tells them such. They tell them "the student body doesnt like your position on tuition fees." The university then either changes or sticks. Either way a dialogue begins.
If nothing has changed, and a majority of students want a change, they can increase their voice. A petition is quite a common technique. This shows the University, in numbers and names, just how strong the opposition is. The University then continues. It should go the University Court, and I'd be surprised if at this stage a flat out NO was said.

If after all this back and forth, nothing has changed, you can start the protests. Firstly start with silent marches. Do peaceful marching, peaceful, non-disruptive protests. Then start causing mild disruption. Walk around town, causing traffic issues. Then, after this, after weeks and weeks of dialogue and discussion and OPEN and DEMOCRATIC process, do you start SIT-INs.

Not straight off the bat.

A minority (20 or so, of a body of 7000 - not even 0.5%) chose to occupy a university building. They've not been clear about what they want. Mostly, all I've seen is "#solidarity". Which I understand to mean they are showing solidarity to students who are in equally futile protests across the country.

-----------------

I really tried to make this blog well, and I've failed.

But I'll give it one more go.

1. The Budget Cutting Party won the election, democratically.

2. Tuition Fees (booooo!) and gradute tax (NUS endorsed) are the same thing.

3. Students in England are protesting against the former, and supporting the latter.

4. Students in Scotland are protesting FOR NO VALID REASON.

5. Our MP, in this constituency, is voting NO. Theres nothing more, democratically, we're entitled to.

----

I said that students in scotland are protesting for no valid reason.

I've tried pointing out that as a devolved issue, it doesnt affect us in scotland.
It doesnt. Directly.

Indirectly, it may do. But will it be a negative impact? Who knows. I doubt it.

A common argument is "Brain drain". This is unlikely. In fact, just the opposite claim was made several years ago, when Tuition Fees were introduced (by the labour government). They claimed that with Scotland having cheaper fees, a rush of English students would take place, to save money. It didnt happen.
This time round, they claim a rush of Scottish students will go to English Universities, where they'll have "more money" and "better facilities".
Again, this wont happen. Why? A) The money. Faced between Free Education or a 30-year loan, people will pick Scotland. B) The budget cuts. The government is cutting so much money to English Universities, that evem with the extra tuition fee income, most schools in most universities will see little real change to their budgets.

Another argument is that it will force the Scottish Governemnt to do the same. It wont. They may well do, and that will be an issue in the Scottish election next May. But in the recent Scottish Budget (last month), they protected student places, teaching numbers, and the current fee system in scotland. NO CHANGE PLANNED. There is a white(or is it green?) paper going through, investigating alternatives. It'll probably suggest a graduate tax, or be similar to Lord Brownes review. They're the same anyway.
But they wont. Because we will vote and tell them not to. It'll be a major issue, and the politicans will be held to account.

Look at Wales. The Welsh Assembly, last week, promised that if the tuition fee raise happens, Welsh Students will pay nothing more than todays levels. The Welsh Gov will pick up the rest. That is probably what would happen here. Like it currently does. Scotland has tuition fees. The scottish government pays them.

------------

I think, I think, I've said everything I wanted to say. I've probably stuck in some outrageous thing as a mistake, or missed out one of my key points, but to conclude - the occupation in st andrews is STUPID.

Now, I'm not one to change my mind, but...

2010-12-01T15:56:00.000Z

Business Education Tax?

Ever heard of it?

Nope. Neither had I.

---

But first, lets summarise why Graduate Tax and Tuition Fees are the same thing.
Both only charge you money when you graduate, and earning over a certain amount of money per year (£15k or £21k), and then charge you just a small percentage of your earnings above this (Anywhere between 0.3% and 9%...). Both only last a set period of time, before they expire/are written off - 20 or 30 years.
The difference - Tuition Fees favour those who will earn more money. Graduate Tax favours those who will earn less money. Both favour people who plan on earning little money or emigrating.
Tuition Fees go to the individual institution, graduate tax goes in the big government pot. Fees would encourage competition, tax would encourage picking weak degrees and weak institutions.

And the only other alternative (that you hear about) is a) mainting current tuition fees - not viable given budget cuts, and b) scrapping fees - even more non-viable, at the moment.

And I thought that was that.

----

Business Education Tax.
Its a pretty gross expression, and one can see why it wouldnt win favours on either side of the commons - Business Tax? No go for Conservatives, and Education Tax? No go for Labour.

And I was skeptical.

Till I read the University and Colleges Union (ew, a union! :P) proposal on it.
http://www.ucu.org.uk/media/pdf/2/3/inplaceoffees-betax_ucucompass_mar10.pdf

Its quite interesting.
Quotes from that source,

"The CBI estimate that ‘every pound loaned costs the
Treasury around 33p12, as a result of the interest rate
subsidy and students defaulting on loans’13. To put
this in context, in 2008/09 tuition fee loans amounted
to just over £2 billion, leaving government with a bill
of around £650 milion to service that debt."
"The NUS proposal [graduate tax], for example, would mean that a

graduate with 360 credits earning £30,000 a year

would pay a £76 monthly contribution to graduate tax,

equivalent to £912 a year.

This is a 19.4% increase on the basic rate of tax of

£4,705 compared to someone without a degree who

is earning the same amount."

And most interestingly,

"Increasing it [main rate of corporation tax] to the G7 average

of 32.87p [from 28p] and hypothecating the extra revenue would

therefore generate almost £3.9 billion for higher

education—more than enough to abolish all tuition

fees. This move would still leave the UK’s main rate

corporation tax rate below France, United States and

Japan, and would leave unchanged at 21% the small

companies’ rate."

So what we have here, provided all their figures are conservative and not exaggerated, is a potential system where University education could be available for all, for free.

Now thats quite something.

Further thoughts and Graduate Tax?

2010-11-30T01:30:00.000Z

This post is a continuation/development on the ridiculously long earlier post I made. Please, please, read that first.

------

I've been doing more reading on this... a bit... and well, it is still quite interesting.

Firstly, I discovered that when the Government pays for £1 of tuition fees (i.e. covers £1 of your tuition fee in the form of a (virtually) interest free loan), it costs them (i.e. the taxpayer) a further 23pence. Thats an ENORMOUS amount of money, and one of the best arguments against tuition fees I've ever heard. Imagine, triple the tuition fee limit, and then the costs skyrocket too. Can the treasury afford to do that? I dont know.

If they cant? Then I propose means testing the tuition fee loans. Those from high-income households, those studying less desirable subjects perhaps, should have to pay (part of) their tuition fees upfront. Or have interest on them. Or some compromise of the two, staggered over different levels.

Its an ugly fix to an unfortunate problem. But does it make tuition fees no longer the best option? I dont think so.

Secondly, I learnt about some of the "Graduate Tax" proposals. Because this isnt actually legislative policy yet, no one is giving exact figures... but one proposal I saw was like... 0.3-2.5% of earnings for 20 years from graduation in tax, staggered according to gross income.

What surprised me is the similarity to tuition fees - the time limit. With this time limit, and the percentage - you're basically paying your tuition fee debt, just with a different name... and in a more unfair way.

Unfair? Yes. It penalises people who choose to study a career-orientated degree, and are very successful from an early stage in their career, by charging them more money than someone who studies a less career benefitting subject, gets a lacklustre degree grade and thus struggles in employment. Why should someone who, arguably, makes all the right calls, be penalised in an unfair tax? It seems odd to me - especially when we're always encouraging more young people to become scientists and doctors and dentists... potentially high earning careers. It also means that someone who studies hard, gets the high paying job, will pay back more for their tuition than someone else.

And finally, it doesnt benefit the individual institution you choose to study at. The money from this tax will go back in the national pot, not into a strict education pot, and definitely not back to your alma mater. And I think that is a negative idea.

I'm not a free-market fan boy, but the potential good of the market of tuition fees... the benefits to our institutions, the real academic and financial competition, the drive to be the best... will create world class institutions.

Look at America. Their graduate numbers are low, this is true. But the US has most of the best Universities and Colleges in the world. And thats because of the enormous endowment and finance they receive.

I dont advocate we emulate their system - it doesnt work for aiding poor students to come to good colleges, but with our tuition fee model, we'd reap some of the same rewards to our institutions.

Now at this point I've run out of things to say. It's difficult to have a dialogue of one :P

Why I Support Tuition Fees

2010-11-26T02:00:00.003Z

(As I start this, I've yet to title this blog. I'm trying to think of some witty way of commenting on the issue... but everything I come up with just insults all my friends.)

I've been thinking a lot of University funding in the last few weeks. A lot. More than about my coursework, if I am being honest. Which is a shame really... well its not. I cant protonate a political debate! (Or can I.)

I used to be borderline communist. A super-state government will pay for everything - healthcare, education, armed forces, retirement, pre-school care. Taxes will be high. Retirement age will be high. Education, at all levels, will be open to everyone, regardless of any factors including, but not withstanding, age, sex, ethnicity, religion, sexuality, financial background, parents financial background, geographical location, etc etc.

However, I suppose... I've gone more centrist. For whatever reason I still have the same principles, but with a more realist approach. If I was describe myself in these buzz words, I guess, I'd go with "Humanitarian." "Socialist Realist." Those are pretty good things to aspire to, and I try. A few basic moral principles which one applies to a situation to figure it out.

And well... Since the general election in May, I've noticed increasing deviation from the consensus of my peers. When the coalition was announced, they were disappointed, frustrated and upset... I was optimistic. I read the coalitions agreement. Their post-election manifesto, if you will. It promised a lot of good things, as I saw it. The Lib Dem policy of increasing the tax-free income allowance to £10k/year is one of the coalitions promises. The budget cuts. I supported the idea of budget cuts. I dont know if we made the right ones, I dont know if we made too many or too few. I suppose only history will tell our grandchildren if we did make the right choices. But thats not the topic for this blog.

University Education.
Once, not long ago, a minority, upper and upper middle class achievement. Somewhere in the <20% ballpark of 18-30year olds would attend a Higher Education Institute. In the past decade its gone up to 45% from 39%. Not bad. Under labour. Interesting to note, under the introduction of tuition fees when once there were none. Interesting.

It is something I've always planned on. My father attended Manchester Uni, and my mother Brighton Polytechnic. With his degree he has worked in the oil industry for some... well over 30 years. Probably approaching 40 years! Whats interesting to note is his degree grade. A BSc. in Chemical Engineering. Whilst back then, it saw him an entry into the industry... the same grade now wouldn't do him so well. In fact he'd almost definitely struggle to find any graduate employment with his degree, if he achieved the same thing today...

And thats for two reasons. Firstly, more people are going to university. And secondly, there are more good grades coming out of university. "Rise of the 2.1", I think they call it. When once any degree was a great achievement to be proud of, nowadays anything less than a 2.1 and people respond with that awkward, "Well... still... thats good... yes... isnt it?"

The previous government set a target of 50% of young people going into further or higher education after secondary school. An ambitious target. Some would say too high, others too low (look at Finland - 80% of young women attend university). I dislike the number. Its arbitrary, based not on social advancement where needed, but based on this buzzword-policy that politics is these days. I wouldnt set a target for X amount of people to attend university, or college, or the like. The target isnt helpful, and will only draw criticism when it inevitably is not met, or is set too low or too high.
The government then scrapped the target.

But interestingly, as I stated before, 45% of young people in the UK now do attend university. But thats a national average, and as anyone with half a brain will tell you, the UK is not a socially-equal country. The welfare state masks the fact that people in some parts of the UK will be unlikely to attend university, whereas in others will be expected of nothing less than a degree. This is a very interesting article - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-11438140 - about comparisons within and outwith England. Give it a few minutes if you can. But then if you are reading this, you definitely can.

So lets go back to me as a "socialist realist". What does this mean here? It means a few things.
I stick to my "Education (including Higher) should be open to anyone and everyone who is academically capable of it." principle, but apply "the financial burden should be on the student, the main benefiter."

Let me explain.

I went to a reasonable secondary school. A state school in scotland, where students left after sitting just a few Standard Grades, or went on to sit and achieve multiple Advanced Highers. The quality of teaching in different subjects varied, a lot, but on the whole... if you wanted to achieve, worked hard, you would achieve the grades you wanted. Secondary school isnt hard, and many of my peers showed that hard work is rewarded. By S6, almost all of my peers were planning on University. Except, my S6 was a fraction of the size of my S4. Most of the people I spent most of my time in primary and secondary education with wont have attended University, and then some of those who do, will drop out. This is a failing. Perhaps. It is a failing if they didnt go because of financial pressures, or presumed financial pressures rather. But I suspect it is because they didnt aspire to go to university, or for a lot of them, they didnt have the grades to go to university. And whilst lack of aspiration is a tragedy, it is beyond the scope of this blog to discuss why people from some locations aspire nothing more than a council house on the same street as their mother and grandmother. But if its because of lack of grades, then this is good. This should be the limited factor, the restriction on university.

University should be about learning. It should be about a greater understanding of life, of the universe, of science and of the arts. It should be about finding yourself, and finding a meaning of life (if you're so inclined). It should be a place of free, open, research, discussion, debate and a cosmopolitan society impossible anywhere else.

It should not be about money.

But then Mr Realist comes in.
Someone has to fund it. And heres who.

The Answer?

The graduate should bear the brunt of the cost of his or her university education, in the form of tuition fees.

Why should the taxpayer, average joe, the 55% of people who dont go to university, (or actually a higher figure for those current taxpayers who didnt attend university), pay for Me, You, or them to attend a university for four years, studying whatever we chose, with no pressure to do anything with our degree, no obligation to contribute in anyway to society. No obligation to even stay in this country.
Lets go back to my peers. I'm now 20. My friends who left school at 16, and got a job, or an apprenticeship, will be paying tax. They'll be paying tax which will be paying for my degree. For my delayed career. And how can I ask them, how can I ask people who earn so little, who will (on average) earn much less than I, to pay for my education, to pay for me to have a jolly for 4 years before getting a good job, on a high starting salary, working for some multi-national who might take me out of the country, where my higher earnings might not even go into the tax pot which pays for my peers benefits, healthcare, pension. I dont see how this is a fair solution.

This, is to me, the greatest hipocrisy of the "Free Education" movement.

Even Lord Browne, a respected peer, in his review, couldnt give a better explanation of what I might contribute than;

"A degree is of benefit both to the holder, through higher levels of social contribution and higher

lifetime earnings, and to the nation, through higher economic growth rates and the improved

health of society."

Yes, the economy is a good point. But the "health of society" is weak. And the role of government here is confusing. Yes, high-earning graduates will benefit the economy, and in STEM subjects may even invent or develop things to advance the nation, but its not reason enough to ask the average, disadvantaged joe, to fund my degree. Especially when, as established, I will probably earn more than them in my lifetime. And so I can afford to pay for my own education.

Look at the browne report. So its styling is weird and hardly governmental, but it is what it is, and some of it is quite interesting.

But get the facts on tuitons fees straight. Assuming we follow his proposals/the current system.... Students will be charged UP TO £9000 a year for tuition. But they wont pay it. The government will pay it. In full. In an interest free loan. Which, unlike real loans (overdraft, mortgage), you only pay off when you can. It is in many ways the definition of a fair "tax". Only those able to pay, pay, and its only 9%. On earnings over £21k. (for reference, income tax starts at £7545 at 20% on earnings over, and the median income in the UK is just under £25k gross.) And after 30 years, the money you owe left over is written off. Thats right - it is a loan which you a) only pay back when you can, b) has no interest, c) is a reasonable rate of pay, d) is not varied by the amount you owe and e), is written off after a set period of time.

According to Lord Browne, only the 40% of top earning graduates will pay back all their loans. And the 20% lowest earning graduates will actually pay less back than today (due to the increase from £15k to £21k to starting payback point, i presume).

Now, obviously no one wants to pay for something which once they had free, or cheap. But the status quo cant remain. There are more students, there are more universities, there are more people, and never enough money. But a resistance to paying for a privilege which once was free is not a valid argument.

Uptil this point, I've mostly shown support for the browne report. But here I deviate. Here I explain what I WOULD DO.

1. Tuition fees at a high price. I dont know what sorta value - different degrees cost different amounts, but I dont necessarily think that is a good way to separate prices - more expensive degrees like a Science, arguably more worthwhile, with better graduate prospects than a cheaper Arts degree, but the price might put potential scientists off. A bad thing. So yes, tuition fees at £6-9k p.a.

2. Government will loan you all tuition fee costs. Just as is, and as proposed, the government will cover all your tuition fees with interest free, reasonable return loans.

3. The government will financially reward certain degree subjects, degree grades and graduate employment choices. Those achieving say a 1st in any subject, or a good grade (2.1 or higher) in a science degree, a healthcare degree, or a teaching qualification - things our country needs - should have their tuition fee debt cut. Say, by 50%. Heck, if you get doctors/dentists/nurses/etc to promise to stick with the NHS for X years, or the armed forces for X years, cut it then too. This will encourage more people to do the subjects we need, work hard at university to get a good grade, reward this achievement, whilst at the same time still providing support for people who choose to study other subjects. (see point 2).

4. More living expenses support in the form of increase loans and increased grants for students from poorer backgrounds. The real issue, in my opinion, for students is not graduating with debt. We've already discussed why that debt isnt real debt, isnt the real issue. The real issue, is living costs. I believe Lord Browne suggests around... up to £3750 non-means tested living expenses loan (which is tacked onto your tuition fee loan), and a up to£3250 living costs grant to those from families with less than £60k earnings. (£60k... i.e. anyone from an "average" household would be eligble for such a grant." What do I propose? double those.Especially the grants. More grants. In london, st andrews, and other places, rent is extortionate. Look at St Andrews - £400/month per room is common. £500/month is not unheard of. That very quickly eats up all your money. add onto that heating, food, books, etc... It is the living costs I think students need more support for.

5. Less government funding to universities. Not no funding, less. In fact, something like what the government has done - cut research grants to Universities by 40%, whilst protecting STEM research grants. I dont know the figures to hand on teaching grants from the government, but the cuts here would allow the government to focus the money on the students who need it. The students from poorer backgrounds. But yes, protect research money to STEM subjects.

6. Higher Standards. This is a broad one. At the moment, I dont pay to attend university. The government does. So whilst I have standards for my education (I picked a good uni in terms of ranking for subject and overall), I know that if I was paying £9k a year for it, I'd hold the uni to a higher standard. And with the extra income, the University would be able to meet this. And with the financial issues, the universities would want to meet and raise these standards, to attract more students. We would demand better libraries. Better teaching. More contact hours. Better research. Better, higher respected staff. More respect from staff. More consultation. University league tables would mean more. And what else can we do here? We can get the government to support the best universities. Say, the universities in the top 25 would have the absolute cream of the crop to pick from, and the government could acknowledge this by providing extra money to these institutions, or to students who chose to study here.

So to conclude? I propose we Reward Excellence.
Reward excellent students, reward excellent universities.

-------

POST SCRIPT.

This is a first draft. This is liable to change. This is just an opinion piece.

This is a debate I am very interested in, and am more than interested to discuss any and all parts of this with anyone who wishes to leave a comment. However, the use of any bad debating techniques will not get a good response. They will get a sarky, bitchy comment instead.

So yea, play nice.

1st Edit - 26/11/10 - 22:17
In reply to Adams comment down there, I explained about interest rates and stuff. I linked to two government websites, but the comments thing cut the links. Here they are.
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/EducationAndLearning/UniversityAndHigherEducation/StudentFinance/RepayingStudentLoansCoursesStartingFrom1998/DG_10034867
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/EducationAndLearning/UniversityAndHigherEducation/StudentFinance/Applyingforthefirsttime/DG_171542

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2nd edit
I've made a follow up blog addressing a few further issues and my thoughts on graduate tax.
http://popher.blogspot.com/2010/11/further-thoughts-and-graduate-tax.html

Grumpy Old Man Syndrome

2010-11-25T23:40:00.000Z

So... I'm grumpy. I'm bitter. I'm opinionated. I'm right wing. I'm an elitist. I'm tory scum. I think protesting is bad. I think students are evil. I think students should pay £400000 a year in tuition. I think top earners should pay no tax. I think the daily mail is correct in all of its assertions. I think poor should get no benefits. I think rich people should get tax breaks. I think disabled people should be forced to work. I think blind people should be forced to weave willow baskets. I think women are lower class citizens. I think immigration should be banned. I think religion should be mandatory. I think religion should be banned. I think the burqa should be banned. I support the war in Iraq. I dont support the war in Iraq. I support human rights. I dont support human rights. I support budget cuts. I dont support budget cuts.

------

Single sentence opinions are worthless. The modern world is a contradiction of itself. We want advanced, deep, further thinking. We have multiple news channels, 24 hours a day. We have freedom of press. We have the internet. We have radio. We have twitter, and blogs, and social networks. We have conversations.

And yet people more and more summarise complex issues, complex problems and complex politics in 140-character soundbites. In quotes for headlines. In witty remarks in PMQs. On placards they waive for no discernible reason.

People protest. People protest peacefully. People protest violently. People protest... somewhere in between. People call for change. People call for reform. And people call for politics of the past. People.... people who forget the way government works. People who forget how public representation works. People who forgot how a democracy works and must function.

And finally, people get upset on issues. People get impassioned on issues. This is good. This is right. People should feel involved, connected and responsible for issues, great and small. But, people should recognise when the issue is great, and when the issue is small. Human rights in China. Womens rights in the Islamic world. Gay rights in pretty much everywhere. Childrens rights in India. Religious rights everywhere. Freedom of speech, expression, press, media rights... everywhere.

Famine. Disease. Poverty. Drought. Climate Change. Pollution. War. Genocide. HIV/AIDS.

These are big issues.
These are worth fighting for.
These are worth protesting in the streets for.
These are what having marches, speechs, impassioned debate and maybe even riots should be about.
These are what we need to demand more from our leaders about.
These are what we need change to be about.
These are things we must address.
These are issues we can solve.
These are issues we must solve.
These are the issues.

Budget cuts in a country with one of the biggest governments in the world? At a time where economic uncertainty is arguably a bigger threat than Iran or North Korea? Housing benefits limited to £400 a week for a family? Education at university available to any, all, and to be quite fair, far too many who would be better suited elsewhere? Public sector cuts in a public sector which is criminally inefficient? Armed forces reductions in a country ranked #22 in total population, and yet #3 in total military expenditure, fighting "impossible" wars? Politicians making foolish comments? Politicians making foolish budget claims because they're underpaid? Broadband speeds?

These are the issues people get upset about.
These are the issues people protest about.
These are the issues people strike over.
These are the issues which get headlines, reliably, everyday.
These are the headlines which dominate conversations and the media.
These are the issues which matter?

50 Goals in 500 Days

2010-08-22T21:14:00.000+01:00

So I don't blog much.
Thats well established.

Saw this blog "50 in 500" via Twitter, and felt inspired!

So to quote the premise, I shall quote the OP,

"The idea is that you set yourself 50 challenges or tasks or adventures - and you give yourself 500 days to complete them all in. There isn't exactly a prize at the end or anything, but the activities themselves should realistically be the impetus to actually undertake the 50 in 500 challenge."

So I will struggle to think of 50 things. So it will be an updated blog entry when I get suggestions or ideas (HINT HINT! ;) ).

Here we go;

Lose weight. Quoting BMIs and masses is OK, but I'll go for a visible (read : variable) target. I want to lose weight to the degree I have a flat stomach/chest.
Gain muscles! I want muscle definition. I'm not going to grow new muscles (anatomical impossibility), but I shall damage my current ones so that they regrow bigger and stronger - i.e. Work out.
Work Harder Academically. This is a tricky one to quantify, so I shall make it - attend every lecture, do set hours of revision/extra reading every week, and revise properly for the exams.

You know what? Screw it.

A Response to "BatFromHell" re:Blind Photographers

2010-06-06T22:39:00.002+01:00

This was to be a comment, but it is too long..

"This Comment is a reply to BatFromHell's post:

"
This is not sour grapes. I reject your assertion that any negative criticism must be based in my own lack of success. My success is immaterial to the topic at hand, and so lets leave that there. And having an exhibition is also not the key point I'm trying to make. Unfortunately, I think you miss the point I'm trying to make - which is just an opinion (OF COURSE) and so the whole idea of outrage at someone having a contrary opinion is bizarre and closed-minded.

Your second point continues the same childish arguments. Ever heard of "Reductio ad absurdum?". Just because I dont see a point in Blind people taking photos ('Blind Photographers') does not mean I mean them any ill will. it does not mean they "offend me" - this accusation I find hurtful and offensive. And it certainly does not mean I want all blind people to do what some may find a boring pasttime of basket weaving. Which to be honest sounds like an interesting hobby, much like pottery.

Yes, you are correct that I summarised, erroneous, "Blind" as a general term. I also should not refer to someone as a "blind person" but as a "person who is blind." - being blind does not define who someone is, but is just an aspect of their life. However, of course, this is just a blog I wrote as a piece to think about, not argue over the minutiae. I meant to include a footnote explaining that people should read "blind" as a term with many degrees - a spectrum issue - and not to take offense from "blind person". To be honest I hoped that would be presumed. But alas I was wrong.
But for the sake of argument, lets take people who are almost completely or completely blind. People who cant see.

Yes, cameras work regardless of whether or not the eyesight of rhe individual holding it works. That is an obvious and, ulimately, irrelevant point. I challenge you to ask any photographer (for the sake of this, any photographer with 20:20 vision), what the most important part of a camera is? You might expect to hear "a good lens" or "a good sensor", but 9/10 times the correct answer of "a good photographer" is key. A good photographer takes better photos on a bad camera than a bad photographer takes on a good camera. But I digress. The point here is that you cant take the photographer out of the equation and expect fab photos. You'll get random photos. And random is really a good photo.
You go on to say you can take a photo of a sign and a smartphone will read it out to you - fine. In your case I am presuming this is because you have enough sight, in the situation, to see a sign in the first place, and then point and shoot with the camera based on what your eyes tell. A guide dog or heightened sense of smell wont tell you there is a roadworks sign ahead.
However, if we go back to talking about completely blind people, or very nearly totally blind people, how do they know there is a sign in front anyway? They dont. Someone will have to tell them there is one. And then read it out for them. So this is a case of photography not serving a purpose for someone with no eyesight.

Then you start using the phrase artist. I think it is important here to highlight the subjective nature of the phrase. I personally think the vast majority of "photography" is not "art". Especially in this age of digital cameras, it is possible to take a million photos and none of them serve any artistic merit.
Yes, photographers probably imagine the scene in their head they want to create, before they go out there and take the photo. But this is wear I draw another distinction, and highlight the recurring theme. I can imagine a scene, check. But I wont be able to create or find it myself to photograph without someone, sighted, to help me. If I want to photograph some lovely mountain range during a sunset with just a speckle of clouds in the sky, I would need help finding the place, getting there, pointing in the right direction and taking the shot if I were blind. I would need a sighted person to do the leg work for me. In effect, I may press the shutter but I'm not taking the photo.
At the end of my blog, It occured to me that painting or drawing, by hand, may be a different issue. Having thought about it a bit, I suspect it is. You get the tactile feeling of being able to create a scene you imagine. You would need help knowing what colours you were using (or you could just use charcoal on a white card, for example), but you do the "creation" yourself. No doubt it wouldnt be as accurate as a sighted person - you wouldnt be able to correct mistakes as you went - so the image would be more abstract and "impressionist" if you will. But, with practice, it would be an interesting art form.
Photography is not the same. Sure, you could guess which lenses you're using based on their size. You could work out a rough focal distance if someone told you its range and you turned the dial manually and slowly... but to even do the most basic thing of pointing it in the right direction? Thats impossible without sight. You could end up photographing anything around you, and not knwoing. It would be random, unintended and not created by any deliberate effort. It most certainly wouldnt be deliberate "art."

You then go on to talk about talking "memory shots". Yes, this is a valid thing. People like photos to look at for years to come, for posterity. But if you cant see the subject when the photo is taken the first time, its an act of futility. And if the photo is for someone else, either they can take it, someone else can take it, or the subject could direct you, correct you. Ultimately this isnt photography in any even remotely artistic sense. This isnt photography for the sake of sharing. This is point and shoot polaroid capture the moment. And wasted on a blind person.
(And taking THIS of all points and saying it makes me not a fan of equality? What rubbish. Im not saying blind shouldnt be allowed a camera, or allowed to take photos. Im saying I dont see why they should want to. Why someone would want to see the photos.)

Independance is your next talking point. I understand it must be very difficult for many blind people to deal with going out, dangers and risks and issues associated with it. I fail to see how photography would help. Especially if we return to the "completely" or "nearly completely" blind argument.

And for your final points, you return to childish bitching as a means to argue a "point".
My own ability at taking photos is not the question here. It is also not a relevant factor in my opinion. Nor is it anyone elses concern. I do not have my photos in an exhibition. I do have some photos online (notice please the links bar to the left side of my blog. Here is a link too - http://popher.deviantart.com/gallery ) Now, my photography is not the best in the world. It is not the worst in the world. I would describe it, as, ulimately, amateurish. Because I am an amateur. But this is irrelevant.

And I couldnt point out to a completely blind person why their photos dont work - in my opinion - because they couldnt see my point. Physically couldnt see it. This is a pointless argument you put forth.

If I go blind? Also an irrelevant point. You seem to be more ranting and threatening at me than trying to understand my point. But oh well.
If I go blind? I will no doubt go through what many people who go blind go through. Depression, difficulties, feelings of loneliness. Depending on level of support it may be better or worse. Would I sit in a corner and say poor me? Probably for a bit. Who hasnt? Find me someone who went blind as an adult and didnt go through a period of self-absorbed depression? And that is entirely their right to. They can mourn the loss of their sight, of an aspect of their life, of knowing the rest of their life will be full of everyday difficulty. I hope I would be able to pick myself up eventually, but no doubt I would suffer at first.

And this whole bollocks about wanting people to process film themselves... Again, missing my point and putting words in my mouth. I have never developed my own film. I have used film cameras, in the past. But I use a digital camera exclusively. I dont care if you use digital or film. Processing doesnt make you a photographer - it makes you a processor. I think in my blog the point I was trying to make, and you twisted, was that both film and digital present advantages and difficulties to blind people.

----

You go on to talk about Evelyn Glennie. I know about her. She lives near me, and I went to school with her kids. She went deaf as a child. "profoundly deaf."
She plays percussion instruments. These are instruments which make the same pitch regardless of how you play them. Much percussion is untuned, and then some is tuned. But the point about the tuned stuff is you can learn that some notes will go better together than others.
She even says she performs bare-footed to "feel" the music better. She may be deaf but she can "hear" the music through feel. She is an exceptional woman, a talented one no doubt.
I wouldnt equate her percussion to photography. She goes out, knows in her head what she wants something to be like, and then creates a noise which resembles what she wants it to - even though she cant hear it herself. She no doubt does this by relying on the instruments to be pitched at the right notes for her. She'll have out a abcdefgabcdefg instrument and know to hit aceace to create a pleasing sound.

In many ways, music is more simplistic than photography.
(Coming from a tubist, saxophonist, pianist.)

And you end with a bitchy little comment against me, accusing me of having a narrow mind. I think what I've tried to do is examine the issue and explain why I feel it is a lost cause. What you have done is closed minded - you came with your own idea, rejected any and all of my points, made sarcastic comments, twisted my words and argued like a child.

Congratulations."

Blind Photographers. I cant see the point.

2010-06-06T13:49:00.001+01:00

So this post will no doubt be controversial, seen as non-PC and an all round "bad idea."
It probably is.

But, for the life of me, I dont get it.
I am all for equality, fighting discrimination and ending prejudices - but like... blind photographers?

Here is the story - "Blind photographer's work to be showcased at festival" - BBC News - June 2010.

"A blind photographer's exhibition will be one of the highlights of an arts festival in Edinburgh.
"Rosita McKenzie, 56, from the city's Portobello, is to have her pictures of Edinburgh people showcased in the Central Library on George IV Bridge as part of the Edinburgh Art Festival."

So. Here we have it. A blind person taking photos.
At first glance - it is a ludicrous idea.

How can a blind person take photos? From the begining to the end process you require sight. Heck, the name of the thing "PHOTO-graphy" means itself "light" - images. To then somehow create them and develop them and then present them - without at any stage looking at them?

The obvious comparison will no doubt be with Beethoven, who went deaf. However, this wasnt clear cut. He started getting tinnitus in 1796 - aged 26. It wasnt until 1814 that he was nearly totally deaf - some 18 years later. So how many great pieces of work did he write after 1814? Not as many as you might think.
6 of his 9 symphonies were written by 1808, All bar one of his concerti were written before 1810. Of course, he did compose beyond this stage, but this was his "late" work.
See more here.

However there is a distinction between a composer who is some 35-40 years old and almost deaf, but has been playing and composing all of his life, and that of someone who went blind at 12 - as this Rosita McKenzie did. I have no doubt he could "hear" the music in his head, imagining music (just as you can hear music in your own head.). And whilst I have no doubt Rosita can imagine scenes, the difference is - Beethoven could see and feel the keys, knew what sound they would make when he hit them. knew the relative sounds they would make. Being blind, you need someone to tell you what is in front of you. Sure sometimes there are auditory or other sensory giveaways - a sea breeze, a dog barking, a child laughing, the smell of cooking. But these will not be good enough to know where to take the photo.

Focus. How would you know if the shot is in focus - even if it is lined up perfectly? Sure the Autofocus on a camera is pretty good, but never perfect. And if you're out on your own, trying to take a shot in focus without looking down the viewfinder for composition? Near impossible. Only a fluke if it works.

Then we have developing... with the advent of digital cameras, this whole thing is much easier for blind and not-blind alike. However, digital cameras are not perfect. You end up taking hundreds of photos, and to pick just a handful of perfect shots? Difficult. To pick them without EVER SEEING them?! Impossible.

I tweeted, briefly, my confusion on the idea of blind photography. I was then @replied that I was "quite incorrect". So I thought I would give it a shot, and see her photography - Rosita McKenzie art gallery.

Now, I am quite fussy with photos. I know I am not the worlds greatest photographer - but I can recognise when something is bad, average, good or excellent. I can see originality or cliché.
What makes a good photo? Lighting, composition, focus, purpose. Originality, an idea, the context.... these are all important.

Are any of her photos good? Honestly? I'd struggle to say any were good. I've not seen any worth printing, and certainly none I would hang on my wall.

(and on a sidenote, the captions irritate me. How does she know what is in her photo? A caption as specific as "Shadow on the Beach with Boats in the Distance" has obviously been written by a friend.)

To conclude, I have to make clear I am not trying to disrespect blind people. They suffer so much, everyday of their lives, with things many of us take for granted. I have so much respect for how well blind people cope. I honestly dont know if I would have the strength or the courage which they show daily.
But blind photography? No. For the same reason as I wouldnt have a chef who couldnt smell or taste food?
Sorry, but this just makes no sense.

(On a side note, I'm now thinking about blind artists - in a traditional by-hand painting or drawing type thing. Maybe.)

-----
And no doubt I will be receiving criticism for this blog post. Just, please, try to prove me wrong :)

I should blog more often!

2010-02-15T15:36:00.001Z

Firstly, apologies. I was going to blog ages and ages ago about Homelessness – and how much it disgusts me that we can call ourselves a developed nation and yet people have to sleep rough. “WTF?!” was basically my argument.

However I have passion, it whimpers when it comes to doing something like blogging. Truly a sign of the apathy I share with my fellow humans and probably a major reason why the problems exist.

Anyway, I am procrastinating by this blog but I should hope to get a blog out in the next week or so.

Christ, when did life get so busy?

Where do I go from here?

2010-01-12T00:25:00.001Z

Well my last blog entry ended rather abruptly – I duly apologise. To be entirely honest, I lost interest in struggling to recall past events that are of minimal importance.

See, I am at a cross roads of sort (not really, but lets just say I am).

I could continue blogging as I have always done – write about what I have done. Keep description high, and analysis, opinion, etc, low. This is a very linear, unexciting method of keeping stalkers appraised of my actions – and to be fair, I tweet so much that does the job anyway. How much more can I say?

The other option is to go all “columnist” stylio and write about my thoughts, opinions, analysis of things. This is a much more arrogant style – who am I to assume anyone cares what I think? Well, I’m me. And to me, my opinion is one of the most important (it has to be – otherwise why bother having an opinion?). But does anyone else give a damn what I think about adulterous politicians or golfers? Probably not.

Still, one should try everything at least once.

And that means, I shall give opinion blogging a shot.

Next time, the first in the potential series, “You Call This a Developed Country?”, the topic of “Homelessness.”

University so far? Part 3 - Distractions

2010-01-07T23:35:00.001Z

By not blogging in several days, I have lost my train (choo choo) of thought.

Good thing I named the blog before I wrote it – At least I have something to talk about.

Distractions.

-----

So university life is very busy. Very fun, but busy. Do you get time to sit around doing nothing, or watch daytime TV, or nap excessively? Well yes… bad examples. But do you get time to study? No… Too busy napping! :P

Distractions… well there are people to see, coffee to be had and gossip to be shared (Were you there on monday? SCANDAL!) etc. I found a big distraction from doing work was going to lectures. Who’d have known losing an hour here and an hour there to “lectures” could be so harmful to ones sleep? :P

Sorry, I’m really not feeling the blog. Therefore this University so far? series is gonna go on hiatus/stop here.

Coming up next : Something Different!

University so far? Part 2 – We have to LEARN?!

2010-01-04T23:00:00.001Z

So where were we?

(That's a whole lot of ‘W’s and ‘E’s)

Wherever. The end of Fresher's and the beginning of week one.

(Oh I am struggling to think what to say. Focus, Will, Focus. And on that topic, why the hell amnt (real word) I not studying? Never mind).

From Week 1 on things get very blurry and undefined. I started all play and no work, and by week 5 or 6 and the first class test in Spanish I realised that was a mistake, and then I went completely wrong and was all work and no play. But not really – more just all procrastinating and no play. So I would stay in to work, spend hours not working, and eventually do the work but without having fun. Boo Hiss. It’ll take a while to strike the perfect balance, and the balance will shift as time goes on no doubt. But for now, it seems to be almost acceptable.

First day was all about enrolling, picking when you want a tutorial and finding out what the course will be like. Pretty easy, uneventful stuff. Did some drinking and socialising, most nights, and this caught up with me. I basically didn't manage a Tuesday night in weeks and weeks. I would do Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday and by Tuesday I couldn't physically go out drinking – so I ended up not joining a bunch of groups I considered, like Wired Soc (geek soc) or Dr Who Soc (geek soc) or Fine Dining Soc (posh soc). Etc etc. Instead I stuck with my Monday night soc. Which actually worked out as fine. Weekends in St Andrews were pretty quiet – no major events, and Wednesday afternoons – traditional reserved for sports – were my only weekday afternoon off and therefore my chance to do chores – like shop, cook, clean. However Wednesday afternoons more often than not turn into a “quick coffee in town with a friend” that lasts 4 hours, for example. I love Wednesdays.

The Bop.

The Bop is an institution. And like most institutions, it is full of crazy people.

At first I wasn't quite sure what to make of it, but now I look forward to it. The Friday bop more than the Tuesday one, because I suck at making Tuesday nights. lol. Start the evening with some pre-drinks, then head there partly smashed, then vodka cokes and vodka lemonades all night. Dance crazy and get the safety bus back to DRA at 2am. On a good night make it to empire for some chips and cheese and garlic mayo. The student life is a very taxing one. Well basically the “DJ”’s play some questionable current and old popular music, you dance, and practice looking horrified at scandal but actually look forward to it. I remember one bop especially well, my birthday…. well I don't remember it that well, but it was fun. Not sure when/if my birthday will come up here. But the Bop.

Its a Union run thing, in the Union’s main venue. It is, for what it is, pretty decent. It isn't Cream or giving any top London or Ibiza nightclubs anything to worry about – but it is affordable, fun, and in St Andrews. So it works.

Well sometimes in this Day and Age people forget that a lot of University is about the subjects, the class… you know, the “Degree” thingy? You very quickly forget that, but sometimes you get a sharp and painful reminder. Such as getting a lab report back and getting 9.5/20. Which you later get adjusted to like 11/20. But still. And its not for lack of trying, just lack of knowing wtf to do. I do Chemistry, Maths and Spanish. All three have “Introductory” in the module title. I assure you this is another example of Scottish Wit. Introductory Maths my rear end! Some awful, incomprehensible lectures and subject matter that is drier than the Atacama Desert. But no matter. I didn't miss TOO many lectures. Ok, maybe a mistake. But we learn from our mistakes, and I learnt never to willingly pick maths as a subject EVER AGAIN. I have a test in 14 days or so, which I need to get a measly 40% or so in to pass, and then I never again have to care about the limit definition of the derivative of a function. Though that is one small part I can actually do.

Spanish is fun. My classmates are more interesting than my maths or chemistry ones, on the whole, and the subject is a nice break from numbers, figures and facts. I’m not a linguist, but I feel as though I’ve learnt a lot. And that is without applying myself. If only I had…. Still, such is life one supposes. Living la vida loca. See what I did there? Used Spanish in casual conversation. Yo tengo mucha hambre porque no he comido. My Spanish came on leaps and bounds and now I feel reasonably confident I could complain of hunger in a whiny Spanish voice. A real life skill there.

Chemistry.

My Degree Subject.

What I willingly signed up for for FIVE years. What I once had the audacity to call both “easy” and “fun”. Oh, child I was. Child I am. Child I will remain.

Still, its not that hard and it isn't that boring. I’ve done most of the material before in High School, and it should be relatively straightforward. The labs can be stressful when it all goes wrong, against the clock, and you get ridiculous grades for decent work. But, whatever. At this level, a pass is a pass.

I’m sure I will blog more about my subjects as time goes on, but I am only continuing Chemistry of the three I did in Semester 1, so its not that worthwhile yet.

And we shall continue in Part 3 – Distractions.

University so far? Part 1 - Freshers

2010-01-04T02:12:00.001Z

Ignoring my “omg, it’s a new decade” blogs, this is my first blog since I went to university. A not small milestone and event in my life.

University. St Andrews University. 5 Years. Chemistry.

Hmm, still not sure if that was a smart move or a really, really stupid one :P

If I had picked Sussex Uni it would be a year (or two!) shorter. But tuition fees, more difficult start (basically skipping the Scottish 1st year). Further away from home – which would be difficult. However, closer to someone else very very important to me. And given how many times I’ve visited said person vs. how many times I've visited home…. Sussex may have been a more sensible choice :P Ach well. It’s done now, and no point thinking of changing. What is done is done.

So… Unlike certain bloggers I know, I wont pretend to have a perfect memory and write everything up as it happened, in the correct order, with ~~uninteresting~~ fascinating small details. Minutiae.

(At this point I am thinking of making a page of bullet points to mention… then ignoring it anyway. Yes, will get some scrap paper.)

Oy Vey. Just written out a few things to discuss, realised how none of it is interesting. Now full of self-doubt, I shall continue.

------

Well… Casting my mind back all the way to mid-September. Packing the car. Had too much crap, had to leave a couple of things at home. Including my bike which was a mistake… but that later. Turned up at David Russell Apartments ~~dazed and confused~~ excited and nervous. Found some people of mixed usefulness to give me keys, basic instructions where my flat was, and that was about it. After an hour or so of moving shit in, the car was unloaded and my parents and I keen to say our goodbyes. We had some lunch then they departed and I ~~grew from a boy into a man~~ learnt how to swim. At this point I was still alone in my flat – no one else had decided to turn up yet. Slowly, though, I met my flatmates. A tall Norwegian with floppy hair, Bjoern introduced myself. I had some first impressions which were later disproved…. Then a studious and young guy, Richard. Later James from the south of England who arrived with his parents, who stayed a couple of days in town… helping him settle in, etc, and finally Andy, another Scot who would turn out to be in two of my classes and a decent friend. I knew a girl from my school was also in DRA – turns out she was just a house or two away – and we decided to hang out, becoming decent friends too. Probably going to live with her next year. But that later.

Well Freshers week was a week of excess, to be predicted, though I only got painfully embarrassingly drunk once. At first it was super slow. Nothing in the days and the nights were average. Sunday was a “Welcome to the Bubble” disco, and it reminded me of a school disco… In hindsight I wasnt ready for it. Also, I was sober at that point. MISTAKE! :P Ach well. The week definitely improved as it went on. A pub crawl went very well – met hoards of new people. Some I never saw again, but some I am now good friends with, including my Academic Mother. Academic Families… a confusing concept – shall explain in a later blog all about Raisin. Later.

Uhm, what else in Freshers…. Did drinking, obviously. A pub quiz in DRA and won a TV… A stand up comic – pretty funny. I won myself the nickname “Panda Boy”. I did smart things in Freshers…. though I struggle to remember just what they were :P I of course did things I’d rather forget. But you learn from your mistakes/experiences and I think I am a better person because of them. But hereafter never to be thought of or spoken about again. I worry I am being too cryptic lol. Nothing that exciting, I am afraid. Just rambling here. I joined only one society (well two, if you include the ChemSoc). I’ve had a mixed relationship with this society. I suspect I may have been too involved too quickly… and kinda burnt out/got fed up with aspects of it quickly. That being said met some good friends, including my academic father, at this society. And because of the society, met other people who’d turn out to be great friends too.

Freshers of course isnt all about drinking and socialising and having fun. Its also about Matriculation and realising you might have to study occasionally. Though I still dont believe that last bit! :P I went to the subject fayre and was surprised to discover I could do a Spanish module despite not being a linguist. So surprised I signed up for the subject. To this day I am glad I did. I just wish I could continue that subject on… But that later. So after a brief talk with my Advisor of Studies (who turned out to be my Tutor for one module and a really cool woman), I was enrolled in Chemistry, Maths and Spanish.

What had I gotten myself into?

Resolutions - 2010

2010-01-01T01:08:00.001Z

Well, another few hours and now its a new year. A new decade. Etc Etc.

The following are my resolutions, written down hurridly a couple of days ago.

This first is private.
Lose Weight.
Get Sexy Muscles (think Taylor Lautner... yea. Thats me this time next year :P )
Work Harder Academically
Spend less time inside/online.

Wish me luck :)

2009

2009-12-31T20:55:00.000Z

So…

Its almost 2010. As my dear twitter friend TimelordSimone points out, an arbitrary date. The 31st of December 2009. A Thursday. A very uneventful day. Went to Tesco and Costco. Had steak for dinner. Watched some TV. Did some facebooking.

I had intended to blog last night but events circumvented such thingies. Causality. Not casuality. Lol. Still, onwards and upwards… hopefully.

Wow, how do you summarise a year in a blog post?

I suppose I’ll mention key points. Lets see…

Emotionally it was like every year – highs and lows. Nothing bad happened this year… thats fortunate. No one I know died.

My dog died.

Poor ol’ Fred. He was our dog since I was like 4 or 5 years old, so not having him around is a strange thing. Even today. I still joke that he is about the house. Dear old Fred.

But I suppose a dog of 13/14 passing away, a springer spaniel at that, is not the greatest tragedy to transpire.

No one died.

-------

But did anything amazing happen this year?

Its difficult to be upbeat when your down, and downbeat when your up. And when your melancholy? Oh, I dont know.

But did anything happen this year that I am grateful for? Yes.

I met someone. Someone at the book store. Someone who likes the same kind of literature as I do. ;)

I also went to Uni. Met lots of new friends. Had many fun times. And learnt how douchey some douches can be with a douchey blog. Looking at you, Csfoopo. (The name is encrypted.) But ultimately, no drama there. No real drama. All just superficial mindless gossip, really.

-------

The begining of the year was spent here, at home in Deeside, doing nothing. I tried to get a job, got a trial day, but ulimately nothing more.

By April I got a job at the co-op, starting at the end of the month. Originally like 20 hours a week, it quickly became 39 hours a week. I earnt many pennies, learnt such life lessons as “my boss is a dick” and “i get over worked” and “i get underpaid”. Etc Etc. Cliché.

In terms of socialness… the co-op was actually worse than expected, especially as many of my colleagues were people I considered as friends at school, less than a year before. Hmm.

Life goes on.

I went to St Tropez for a week or so with my parents, saw some extended family. My grandmother tried to set me up with my second cousin. Creepy. Ugh. Bah.

Then Uni.

I dont think a small summary here will do it justice, I want to blog about the 1st semester at some point, in the next week or so. Hopefully. Heck, nothing else to do tonight. Why not then. lol.

And then I’m back here, at home. For Christmas/New Years and to study for my january exams.

Then in 3 hours, 2010.

Hours baby, thats all!

2009-09-18T23:44:00.002+01:00

So In about 10 hours I will be heading to University :D

Paid for, check.

Packed... mostly :P

Im quite excited if I am being honest, but I also need to put it on grand scale stuff so I dont freak out lol.

"Im less than 2 hours from home."

"I'll be coming home every so often, wont be away for months and months without seeing family. Probably."

etc etc.

Yea, will be good to spread my wings and plant my seed....

well, hmm, bad choice of phrase :P

Money Money Money

2009-08-16T00:30:00.002+01:00

So I got my pay check....

Lets just say, Im not that worried about the few pence here and there anymore :P

Now all I need is my P45 so I can fill out a P50 and get my tax back :D

---

I want to buy an iPod touch (when the new one comes out in a month), and a new bike - some road bike thing... not too expensive, nor too fancy, but lighter than my MTB with slimmer wheels, etc... For st andys.

I picked my Uni modules (Chem, Phys and some Introductory Maths).... though im reconsidering them.

Chem I have to do - and I want to do, so no biggie.

Maths... meh, but I havent done maths since S5, which I finished in May 2007, meaning I wont have done maths for over 2 years by the time I start Uni - which for a 5 year Science degree isnt good.

Physics... Physics I picked because I figured itd be interesting as well as timetable-able. And I should be able to pass it.

Though im thinking I should change my physics modules - perhaps do a philosophy module or something else... I dunno. I wont worry about it to much till Freshers Week and then ask my Adviser of Studies about it. Yes, thats what I will do.

So much else to add? Nope.

Oh yes actually....

Going to St Tropez next week for 2 weeks - will tweet, and hopefully dailybooth, but not much else online. And gonna take lots of pretty photos of the french riveria...

So, where were we?

2009-08-12T15:16:00.002+01:00

Well, since I last blogged.... in the middle of april, some 4 months ago, I have been employed!

I applied, again, for a job at the co-op, and got the job within a week or so. Initially 20hrs/week, by week 2 I was 34 hrs, and from week 4 I was on 39 hours, full time. A good way to earn money (if you have no real expenditures...).

Of course, they didnt contract me any of these extra hours, which meant for a hoot in terms of pay ("extra hours" are paid on a 2 week delay.... silly co-op.)

Also, I only earnt holiday pay on a 20hr/week equivalent.

I worked there for 13 and a half weeks in the end, giving a weeks notice and then working one more beyond that.

Final payslip tomorrow, excellent.

Oh, funny story. Not.

They said I would be paid £5.85/hr. It said this in black and white in my contract, as well as on every paynotification slip, and I was told this orally by the store manager and his XO.

Alas, I was being paid marginally less, in the region of.... £5.8479857483............ And so on.

I asked the guy in charge of pay at the store about this, a few times, and got mocked and no answers. So I phoned up HR, known as "People Services."

After a while, I get through, and this charming but retarded girl on the phone doesnt understand.
I explain, I explain that doing 156 hours at £5.85/hr means my pay should be £912.60, and I was being paid but £911.99.

As was EVERYONE ELSE.

This missing 61pence is nothing, really, to one person over the course of a month. But apply it to every employee, over months, years.... it begins to add up.

So I ask her, her on the phone, and I get, "Its the system."

I explain, my pay is meant to be £5.85, why am I getting ripped off?

"Its the system."

Eventually she elaborates - my pay ISNT £5.85 - but indeed it is just "rounded up to £5.85" for the box on the payslip which says "rate".

I ask Why?

"Its the system."

I explain that my contract clearly says I will work 20 hours, at £5.85 and hour, equivalent to £117 a week, and that I'm not being paid as my contract says I am.

She asks if I have my contract in front of me - I do, afterall, I am prepared for this one.

I quote to her, "Remuneration. Your remuneration shall be....."

She mumbles something about not knowing what that word means, but claims it does NOT mean your rate of pay. I explain that it does, but she isnt having any of it.

"Its the system."

Bah.

She goes on to claim that my contract doesnt, at any point, detail my hourly rate, but only mentions my annual salary. Oh, contrare. My contract doesnt, at any point, mention an annual salary, but ONLY mentions an hourly rate, and what this is equal to per week.

It would appear that HR and the employee are given different versions of their employment contracts - certainly not a good practice.

I realise I am not getting anywhere with this, and explain I will have to consult more people and get back to her. I wanted to say Lawyers, but sometimes, I physically cant lie. Im not bringing lawyers into this. Hitmen, maybe... Nah, I kid.

I was thinking union, so I speak to the Union Rep in training at the store - she is outraged, a bit. (FYI, no one at the store, from manager to shelf stacker, had noticed this discrepancy before).

I ask for the phone number for the union, to see if they know anything about this - afterall, it no doubt affects all of their members.

Im not in the union, and therefore, I cant speak to the union, even if it is about their own members rights.

Clearly, the union is a pile of horseshit too.

Afterall, this union advertises itself as more a form of legal aid in case you fall off a ladder and lose a kidney than any sort of genuine representation for matters of employment.

Unions should ensure workers dont get injured. Prevention better than cure, and all that.

So yes, I abandon that idea.

It is suggested I write to the money section of The Times. I consider this, but ultimately im disheartend by the apathy of my co-workers, employers, the union and so on.

Still, if my final payslip isnt right to the penny, I shall be phoning them up, and demanding better answers.

Though, since I quit, they'll probably hang up on me...

-----

So yes, I left the co-op. Why? because I could, because I was tired of working 39 hours a week when I didnt have to? Because in 13.5 weeks the longest I had had off was 2 days, and that was but once. Let me tell you something - 1 day weekends are not to be envied. No sir.

Anyway, with my bank balance looking significantly more healthy, I set off on my way home. Well, yes. And for the last week and a half or so, I have had the easy life. Spending money here, a bit there. But ultimately not doing an awful lot.

Isnt that the life?

Release Me, Because You Live....

2009-04-15T00:05:00.002+01:00

So I wish I had more to say, but alas I dont. Or cant ;)

Doesnt matter either way.

----

Theres a risk I may be getting a job as a KP at the Boat. I dont think so though, well, I hope not. KP'ing isnt my goal. Heck, I'd rather go on holiday. To.... Southampton. Yea. Why not? Sounds like an excellent idea! I shall have to work it out :)

Anyway, what else? got into a few new songs... Some Ella Fitzgerald, some Jesse McCartney, and this evening? "Agnes" Carlsson... Sweden knows how to produce pop music I like! :P

From all of Scandinavia, ABBA, Alphabeat, Darin, Agnes.... More, probably, too... Yes.

I suck at this blogging thing. Anything else?

Nothing I want to be in the public domain.

Been thinking about stuff and the like, need to make some life changes soon.

Also had some.... uncomfortable MSN convos recently.... Nevermind though, for the best, probably.

Barcelona

2009-04-05T21:15:00.001+01:00

So, as a spur-of-the-moment kinda thing, I went on holiday to barcelona.

I dont want to say too much about it (as this is an oh-so-public blog), but just want to make note of how great the trip was :)

Hola Guapo! ;)

I hath decided!

2009-03-23T01:20:00.002Z

My 60th blog post on this one... quite something. Normally after 3 posts I quit the blog, and start a new one 6 months later.

So yes, last week or so there has been a multitude of things I could have blogged about - at length and reasonably well. But for whatever reasons, I havent.

---

First things first, I picked a uni.

St Andrews.

Perhaps for posterity I should write out, explaining why I chose it... so that if I ever doubt my decision in the future, I will be able to look back and see I had solid, sound reasoning.

However, I cant be sacked.

So yea, 5 years at st andrews (potentially).

Should be banter.

----

I was thinking about death, afterlife... that sorta stuff. Its difficult, considering myself to be a scientist, happy in my own atheism, and pretty content that there is no afterlife. Yet, when someone who you knew for years, respected, liked, and admired to a degree, dies... it leaves you unsure, and unhappy, with your own beliefs.

Its difficult.

---

Much else?

Oh, I decided, with some prompting, (credit where credit is due, of course), to actually go and do something, so Im going to barcelona for a few days in a week or so.

Will take lots of piccies, and upload them.

And thats about that....

St Andrews and time to start deciding...

2009-03-15T00:52:00.002Z

So another short blog, cos Im not in the writing mood really, but thought Id best get this out whilst the thoughts are as fresh in my head as the tictac mints in my mouth.....

----

Went down to St Andrews uni today, their UCAS open day. Nice town, as always. Windy, cold, but sunny and clear sky. So a good mix (for scotland...).

I hadnt been to their science faculty at all before, so it was interesting to see - but all these departmnts are essentially the same.... As are halls, though New Hall is very nice....

Yea, had some fun with some liquid nitrogen, and was chatting to this Chinese guy from Belfast (unusual mix?).

But yea, I like St Andrews.

I just need to work out if its distance from home (only 80 miles), its size (16k residents, 7k students), and cold weather are reasons enough NOT to choose it.

Does Sussex still have a chance? Is Soton out of the running?

I just dont know...

I cant decide that for a day or two, when the thoughts of st andrews can settle, and get balanced with the others.

I dont think I will be going to Strathclydes open day though... they arsed about with it for ages, then finally offer one further date up at the end of the month, but I want to get on with this before then.

Time to think, I guess....

Heriot Watt? Heriot Not.

2009-03-12T22:37:00.002Z

So, this will be a quick post (hopefully) cos im tired and not wanting to rant for ages.

----

Went to the Heriot Watt open day today. It was alright... learnt nothing much (other than what course I had applied for. I forgot I applied for the 5 year MEng (Chem Eng) degree.... whoops :P

Its #5 in the UK for chemical engineering, so a definite good choice for that subject.

However....

I dont want to do chemical engineering.

I could change to chemistry there, but they are only #34 in the UK for chemistry (and Soton, Sussex and St Andys are #4,#12 and #11 respectively for that course), so I can do better.

Still, worth the visit to just make sure that that isnt what I want to be doing.

Got to go to St Andrews on saturday for another open day. That course I do remember what I applied for - an MChem (5 years) in Chemistry with Medicinal Science and an external placement. Pretty tough degree, im sure.

----

So yea, My 5 ucas offers I can cut down to 4 confidently now.

Next to rule out - Strathclyde... I think.

Southampton and Sussex Uni Visits

2009-03-07T18:21:00.002Z

So, im back home in miserable old aboyne after a few days down south in Engerland.

Flights and travel went on schedule or better than on schedule, so nothign to say about that.

---

Southampton. Big city, Big uni. Nice and green, big and pretty impressive Chemistry department. Great people too ;)

Sussex (Brighton). Not-as-big city, Not-as-big uni. Very green campus and Brighton has the pier/sea/beach. The chemistry deparment is impressive as well, but significantly smaller.

Tough call.

Not to mention I have three other Uni's to consider.

Bah!

Grr!

---

Staying positive, though, it was a great few days. Got to meet up with a friend, who is really cool. Went out to some nice places, and some... "interesting" places :P Lol.

Wouldn't want to say too mcuh though, no no...

So yea, anyway.

Came back with lots of things to think about, and decisions to make. But I think I can put the Uni Decision off for a week or two more. I need to decide if I am going to bother making a visit over to Strathclyde soon. At the moment, i'm getting more apathetic about my visits to HW and St.Andys, so its not too promising.

And briefly on lent... Erm, No.

Lets just say, I will be playing catchup for a while :P

Lent - Day 1

2009-02-25T19:23:00.003Z

So here it is. The beginning of lent. And being healthy (again).

Firstly, weight as of Ash Wednesday, 2009. = 10st, 13lbs. Which is 69.4kg. Roughly.

I had intended, half jokingly, to get up at 6am and go for a run. For the first time in my life, i might add.

Alas, I woke up at 6am, it was dark and I went back to sleep.

To remedy this very lack attitude, I had porridge and orange juice for breakfast - healthy - and then around mid-day started a workout.

I did stretches, crunches and girly push-ups. And they werent easy. But i pushed on.

I spent some time on the rowing machine, did about 200 reps on mid-setting. But alas the machine needs some bolts tightened, so i called that a day.

I came back to my room, did some further stretches, crunches and girly pushups, and then climbed aboard my exercise bike. Did 10 km on that in 30 minutes (and 10 seconds).

All in all it was a taxing first day exercise, but not exhausting. Within a few minutes I was fine as possible, probably the endorphins, and after a quick shower fine also.

But at least now I have some benchmarks to improve upon.

Faster cycling, more reps, moving into big-boy push ups (and no girly ones). Being able to do 10 crunches or push-ups, easily.

Oh, and looking sexy :P

----

Food. That was also a point for lent. But as I did the same last year it is essentially uninteresting. Im not eating crap, and not eating it unneccesarily. I dont calorie count, but I do keep a count on what calories things have :)

Im confident I can get under 10st by Easter Sunday.

Lent Approaches

2009-02-23T16:12:00.002Z

I started writing a blog post a couple of nights ago, but got bored and left it.

So this is failed post mark II.

---

Lent.

Ive been thinking about it more, Im actually really looking forward to it. Im an atheist, so its a purely psychological event... but having a definitive start date, and an end date, makes it easy to focus on it.

Im going uber healthy. This is all part of a plan to improve myself, and it is done in phases, with Phase 1 being Lent.

I dont believe in Detox, per se, but I suppose that is what this is. Its a health binge. I wont eat any unhealthy food or drink, and I will start exercising (religiously).

At least, that is the plan.

With regards to the exercise, it seems I accidentally am drawn towards triathalon. Cycling I enjoy and will definitely do more of. Running I have always hated, but I know I need at least one activity which has impact to build bone density and help prevent arthritis or bone issues in later life. And then thirdly, Swimming. This one I'm not sure I will take up, at least its not part of the inital plan. I can swim, just not well/fast/efficiently.

But yes, Running. I want to get into running. Im not quite sure what runners think about when they are running... I dont want it to be boring.

Ive been researching clothing/shoes too.

Obviously I need a pair of trainers, a good pair (but not an expensive pair. Cost doesnt necessarily equal quality). And shorts and a top are also needed, obviously. However, I dont think those super short shorts, the lycra tights or the racing singlets are items I need in my wardrobe (yet ;) )

Lol, just kidding. Anywho....

----

This year. Plans suck, and ive made many but not resolved to do any, so Im considering re-instating one of my earlier plans. Some sort of epic cycle across some european country, like Italy or France. And I have the perfect time to do it...

This is my year:

1st half of march - traveling around UK lookign at Unis.

A couple of days in mid-July, gotta be at my sisters Graduation.

And 1st of August, Aboyne Highland Games, which I have missed the last 2 years, so I will be there (heck, if i get uber fit, i could do the hill run :P ).

Which means I have months of nothing until august, then that month free. And I start Uni around mid-september (depending on which one i go to).

So, If i say, "I will Cycle from Aboyne to Italy in August", its not 100% impossible. (Just 99%).

But that'd be so awesome...

----

Back to the healthy aspect.

Phases and Aims.

The over-arc-ing theme of this is, "I JUST WANT TO BE SEXY". I wish I was quoting a funny film, but I think Im just quoting myself....

Indeed, Vanity (and to an extent actual health concerns) are my motivations.

Which means that I will not abandon, hopefully, being healthy. Ive done the whole "flabby, eat crap with no thought, never exercise" lifestyle. Its not all its cracked up to be.

(Uh oh, ive kinda run out of tracks for my train of thought.)

---

So yes, I have 31.5 hours left of being a fat lazy slob.

Score!

Time to move on?

2009-02-10T22:41:00.003Z

So yea, I didnt get the job.

Still, I will get paid for that days trial, which is good. Will cover my phone bill for 3 months, hopefully.

(Which is good, because I was on my mobile for 50minutes today! :o )

But family needs, eh?

Anyway, so I have no job, no plans.

The begining of march I am doing stuff, but apart from that, I have nothing in my calendar until september/october. Which is odd.

I also need to stop wasting money.

I buy things with good intentions, and they get little use.

Which brings me to my next point...

Lent.

Last year, I gave up unhealthy food. It worked great - I was loosing 2lbs a week just by not eating unhealthily.

I was planning to go down the route of becoming a vegetarian, maybe, for lent.

But I think, given new circumstances, I will have to do something else.

1. I weighed myself. Woah boy, wasnt expecting that.

Lets just say, I need to start loosing weight, or I will get obese.

I dont want that.

I dont want Diabetes, heart attack or stroke.

I want to look Sexy, and not in the Fat Bastard way... :P

And 2, Pork. My mother did a butchery course, and came away with shit loads of pork. From trotters to Gigot to chops to fillet. Enough pork for an army. We froze almost all of it, but its going to get mostly eaten within the next 2 months (whilst it is at its best). Which is when lent it.

And since Pork is quite a good meat to eat, I wont become veggie yet.

(Besides, being Veggie AND healthy eating would severly restrict my diet... Might as well be Vegan :P )

So yea, Lent this year?

I am going to give up all unhealthy food.

AND

I am going to create, and stick to, a strict exercise regime. Aerobics and Anaerobics.

I might start, hopefully, the exercise tonight/tomorrow.

You see, I had a pudding tonight that was at least 600 calories.

Which is, well, wowsers. A lot.

So yea, Gonna do some exercise bike tonight, and if i get up, tomorrow.

----

Tomorrow.

Forecast for heavy snow tonight, so I want to go and take pictures tomorrow.

I have many moneys in my camera, and I need to use it more, so snowwy pictures galore.

(Well, a 10MP dSLR and an 8GB SDHC card, what could go wrong? :P)

Maybe I will take my camcorder with me too, so I will maybe, just, actually, use that for once.

I'll go for a walk up the hill, anyway. Walking boots or Wellies is the question?

Toss up.

(I love blogs. You can ramble, and no one is allowed to complain.)

-------

So yes, the title of this post was Time to move on?

I dunno.

I have three main options, which break down into other options...

1 - I stay here. I live at home with my parents until I start uni in september/october.

the suboptions;

Keep searching for a Job
Dont bother.

2. - I move to edinburgh. This offer was made to me a while ago, and its kinda a bit late to keep reconsidering, but I think the offer is open. Would live with my brother, until I start Uni. Issues with that are - money. Living at home = free. Living with brother = rent, food, bills, transport. Also, I would live on my own for 2 weeks a month (he works offshore). So its not a perfect solution. And what would I do?

Look for a job
Dont look for a job, be a bum and waste money. But more social life.

3. - Go travelling. Essentially, still live at home, but after mid-march (say around April) go off somewhere. Maybe do a project, just backpack, independent or with an organisation. maybe buy a round the world plane ticket... many options. Issues with that? Money. It costs. And i wouldnt be earning. (Its unlikely I would bother with a working holiday to Oz say, get a job and come back in a few months. I want to be for August 1st, but thats the only day this year I dont want to be abroad.) Also, I dont want to travel on my own (really). It takes a lot of cajones, and effort, to constantly meet new people. Introduce yourself, have the same conversations, etc. I dont want to go with a gap year company (Frontier scared me off of that plan), and going on another project not-specifially gap year, I fear it could be full of couples or old people. Which wouldnt be fun :P And so yea, this is a bad option.

I do want to go away somewhere there... somewhere sunny... warm... beach... sea... mojitos...

And I think this is an epically rambly blog which needs an end.

(And i remember the days when 800 word essays were HARD! :P )

February

2009-02-05T23:07:00.003Z

Since others (you know who you are lol) have started blogging, I felt guilty about neglecting my blog.

*Resisting urge to sing "Guilty" by blue....*

Anyway...

Its february.
Theres only so much I can say - I only do so much. And what little I do do, I tweet >>> :D

But anywho, an update.

Applied for a job as a waiter, had an interview and they got invited to do a trial day (which at the moment looks like it was unpaid :( lol).

They are trialing others, so there is a chance I wont get the job. Ah well... better luck next time?

Still considering the move to edinburgh... depends on getting a job really.

If i dont get one, I'll just go on holiday.

Asia, Central America or Africa are appealing (so basically most of the world....)

Hmm, What else?

Music. Ive been trying to expand my foreign music horizons. As such, Ive started listening to Darin (Swedish Pop) and the Wondergirls (Korean Pop).

Awesome. Lol :P

Oh, It seems I never mentioned that I bought a tuba.

Got an ex-salvation army Tuba, BBb. Waiting on getting a case for it. Should probably phone the school about that some time...

----

There is a deer which has been frequenting our garden the past few days. So cool. I decided it needed a name, and after a quick google, Buckley appeared. SO Buckley it is!

Also, its snowwy outside. lol.

And although its not quite lent yet, Ive been thinking about what to give up....

Was debating a mix of thigns. Go Vegetarian? Go only british produce? Go only proper ethical?

I mean, they can all overlap in some way.

Perhaps though, I should give up something else?

Like TV, the internets? Or maybe breathing.

OOOOH, I could give up Sleeping in.

New Years resolutions, I never seem to succeed at. But the last 2 years I managed my Lent quite well. SO perhaps this is the way forward?

(And note - I dont do lent as any "religious" observance, its just purely a self-experimentation/trial to see if i can better/improve myself.)

Revelation

2009-01-14T01:54:00.002Z

I had a revelation.

Boredom sucks - being bored sucks.
Generally, everything to do with that state is sucky.

But why does it exist?
I always argue that there hasnt been a better point in history to live, looking at a generation-by-generation scale. Would 1609 have been a better year to be alive? No.
So why are people bored?
Is it because we have too much free time?
Maybe.

Or maybe, and more likely, it is because so much of time is filled by a spoon fed society - entertaining ourselves with tv, films, computer games, the internet. Things which dont require effort or energy. And I will hand on heart admit guilt to such vices.

I am unemployed.
I am currently out of education.

I am 18, have money and 10 months free - and yet, I can possibly have the audacity to claim I am bored? That is completely absurd.
Somewhere, I, The System, Society, The Government, life has failed.

And thus, therefore and so on, I will refuse to be bored.

Naturally, the first stop in research for anti-boredom is too look for quotes - short snippets from cynics, about the psychology and sociology of the human condition. Succinct explanations about human creations, emotions and doings.
Quotes on Boredom.

“There's no excuse to be bored. Sad, yes. Angry, yes. Depressed, yes. Crazy, yes. But there's no excuse for boredom, ever.” - Viggo Mortensen.

That says it all, I feel.
But a few more, to elaborate.

“Life is full of choices, if you have the guts to go for it. That's why I get immediately bored with anyone's complaining about how boring their life is, or how bad their town is. Fucking leave and go somewhere else. Or don't.” - Henry Rollins.

And that one is only too true.

And finally, this quote.

“If you're bored with life - you don't get up every morning with a burning desire to do things - you don't have enough goals.” - Lou Holtz

It was that quote which gave me my epiphany.

I have to make a list.

My plan - get a notebook, small pocketsize. Blank or lined pages, it truly doesnt matter. But what I can do is carry it with me wherever. And whenever I have an idea for something to do, try, practice or do (said it twice, but thats the point), i write it down.

Could be anything from "Learn German" to "Bake Cookies" to "Go for a 5 mile run". One of those is obviously more likely to happen than the other two, but all three could get noted down.

Now, I will soon have a book with a few ideas in it - there will be no filter on the ideas, just no duplicates. The book comes into its own when I get bored.

I flick through the book, find some idea or plan I had, and execute it. Or think about how to execute it.

The idea being that any time I think im getting bored, I will have at my disposal a wealth of things to do.

Now, obviously I wont want to do everything from the book at ever possible moment, which is why I write down many ideas, from many thoughts.

However, there is an issue - some things you may only want to do once, or do once and decide it was a terrible idea. So what I will do is score out the idea once it is completed - unless it is worth doing again.

And eventually this self-review and constant evaluation will lead to a book full of ideas, all of which will be perfect for me to do and try, whenever I have the time.

Whilst writing this Ive been thinking about this idea, and I was going to write a blog about this - but decided that these ideas arent going to be very long (word wise), so microblogging is the way to do it.

And hence, I will create a new twitter account, and it will tweet with every idea I have for my book. And if I do one of those ideas, and it is worthy of a mention? I'll blog it here.

In the words of Borat,

"Great Success."

(hopefully)

Holiday Photos.

2009-01-09T04:12:00.002Z

So when I went to SE Asia, i took around 1200 photos.

When I got back, I was very (very) lax in getting round to sorting them and uploading them. Heck, I had been away for 10 weeks, sorting holiday photos was just too much :P

Anyway, they're now up on my facebook, and more relevant, my Picasa Web Albums space place...

South East Asia 2008

Hopefully that HTML works. If not, the slideshow will be showing in the sidebar for the foreseeable future.
Till I go somewhere else and stick those piccies up...

New Year, New Me?

2009-01-08T01:14:00.002Z

So its 2009, still on my gap year.

First some updates -

Heard back from southampton, got an offer. Yay :)

Now planning to go down to their visit day at the begining of march.

Will visit Brighton/Sussex at the same time to save on hassle/expense of flights.

Still unemployed. Blame it on the recession?

I need a project regardless.

Ive sorted and uploaded my SE Asia trips and stuck them on facebook - when Picasa Web Albums starts working again, I will stick them up there too, and link the piccies in the sidebar >>>.

I bought a Camcorder, Kodak Zi6. Small, blackberry size, but can record up to 720p/60. Which is pretty good for £89.99 (Thanks, Amazon.co.uk!)

Due to certain youtube influences, ive got this urge to do my own youtubing - hence the links/feed in the sidebar also, lol.

Not entirely sure what I am going to do on my channel though, will definitely try a few things.

But for size/time reasons, nothing will be very long. Encoding HD takes AGES.

Hmm, much else to add?

New Years resolutions I already did I think?

Probably.

Get Healthy is basically it.

Seasons Greetings

2008-12-29T18:37:00.001Z

So, a belated Merry Christmas

and an early Happy New Year.

2009 should be one to watch - unemployment, recession, deflation?

At least no war...

Blog Functionality

2008-12-21T05:13:00.002Z

Ive been wanting a true "home" page for a few weeks now, and finally got this blog site ( :P ) to a reasonable standard.

Have linked in my twitter, deviantart, picasa web albums, last.fm. And hopefully more soon - as and when i figure it all out :P

Still, if i ever get a domain name, then I will get this to an even more awesome standard.

An Update and All That

2008-12-20T00:40:00.003Z

So, been a long time, no blog.

Since then Ive played with two... three other blogs, as sometimes I want to blog, but it doesnt fit under the Gap Year heading.

But then, who gives a damn.

---

UCAS. One of the biggest parts of this year was to apply to university. I always hoped, not so secretly, that I would have an epiphany on my travels in SE Asia as to something I want to do. No such luck.

However, being stuck at home with nothing to do for weeks, and weeks. And in fact months, motivated me to get on and apply.

So apply I did.

Long story short, Chemistry.

Choices are as follows:

St Andrews - Chemistry

Southampton - Chemistry

Sussex - Chemistry

Strathclyde - Applied Chemistry with Chemical Engineering

Heriot Watt - Chemical Engineering.

I am reasonably confident about most of them, its only Southampton which I think is doubtful that I will get an offer.

---

Tuba.

I MISS MY TUBA!

Ok, so its not exactly the most lightweight or practical thing. And its not an easy investment.

Especially in the current "Economic Climate."

At near a thousand pounds for the cheapest crappiest ones (and i was playing a £3k one last year), its a heck of an investment. For someone who is unemployed. And 18. And on a gap year, wanting to do more travelling, a grand is a huge amount of money.

Still, I would hate never to play it again. i would need a reason to own it. If i didnt belong to a music group/etc then it would be a waste, and i would fall out of habit.

Job.

I worked for 3 weeks in the end of october in my dads office, but we came to a mutual agreement that it wasnt working out. So i called it Work Experience and moved on.

Unfortunately, the entire world is DOOMED, and as such, finding a job has proved somewhat more challenging. Doesnt help I live in the back of beyond, and a 3 month bus ticket for travel to town, where a job is remotely possible, is near £600. Waaaaayyyy too much.

I might get a job in the co-op, one day, if they ever have a vacancy.

But since I have now applied to Univ, and theres not much I can do, except wait, there is little reason to hang around here.

If I dont/cant get a job within a few weeks, im just saying "fuck it" and going on holiday.

And then,

----

DOOM.

I feel its only worthwhile to mention the economic ~~gloom~~ doom that has befallen the world. That has had a potentially large knockon effect on me.

No Job.

Money = Drying up.

Exchange rate = Gone to SHIT.

Europe/USA is no longer a very sensible option for a long term travel destination.

So I guess Mexico/Central America it is?

---

Hobbies?

Exactly.

Im not sure how many people have experience a period of their life where for months, quite simply, you are doing nothing. No real responsibility, no job, no work, no commitments.

It gets _dreadfully_ boring, and even though when you used to be busy, and long for time to do stuff, you dont do anything you used to want to.

I dont take photos, i dont go on long bike rides, i dont read or tinker or anything. Which brings me nicely to my final section,

---

New Years Resolutions.

I am a fan of making resolutions. Resolving to do crap. It makes you feel like you have a mission, a purpose. In the end its another thing to fail at.

Not this time, however.

My New Years Resolutions.

I, Will Kew, Resolve To, from January 1st, 2009;

1) - Get Healthy. This means, eat properly, exercise more (At all), be more active. And get a body to be proud of ;)

2) - Do More Crap. Whether this means get a job, a new hobby, travel, whatever. Do something. Be more productive. Have projects, especially ones that involve outside, or at least away from a PC.

Now, as I have mentioned those in this blog, I will try and keep up to date with them and stuff. And post about them here. As I mentioned at the top ^^, Ive been playing with other blogs. As it stands, this will be my one and only, generally.

p.s.

My holiday snaps from south east asia.

It is ABSOLUTELY CRIMINAL that i have not sorted them, uploaded them, and all that yet.

Maybe that can be my first project of the new year?

Finalement

2008-09-14T20:40:00.002+01:00

So yea I guess this will be my last post, for the mean time.
Till I actually go do something interesting again.

I loved travelling, sure there were issues with Frontier and their shittey budget, but past that, it was great. Met many people, saw many things... and learnt things.

But what I learnt mostly was how little I know, and how much I have yet to see, and learn.
I have this mega urge... want... to keep travelling.

But instead I just have to think about crap.
And work shit out.

What am I going to do with the rest of my life?

What am I going to do with the rest of this year?

Fuck knows.

Home

2008-09-13T20:54:00.000+01:00

So here I am.
Home.

Aboyne...

God damn, I wish I was going somewhere...

Koh Phangan and Going Home.

2008-09-12T14:39:00.002+01:00

It occured to me I havent updated my blog in a few days, which is always a worry. I find any travel diary or notebook, especially towards the end, can get neglected and forgotten only too easily.

We met up with a bunch of people who Lynn and Dave had been trekking with - and as it happens a couple of guys who were in chiang mai at the exact same time as us (they saw the same Muay Thai night as I did). It strikes me as a strange turn of coincidence when you run into people you met, or almost met, 1440km away.

Anyway, with our group of 3 now 9 persons and more, we went over to Haad Rin Nok again... on the 9th?
I was going to keep my 'pacing myself' strategy up. It was going well - i shared a bucket (no more solo efforts for me) and drank that very slowly, and then probably wouldnt have had anything for a while if it wasnt for an assault course.

On this beach there is a great bar called Da Club (ok, the name sucks). But the music and fireacts are great, which easily makes up for it. And that night, they had competitions.

I got dragged into going head to head against this random guy who told me he 'wasnt drinking tonight' in the assault course, which was a race to crawl on the sand under some palm leaves, open and down a bottle of beer and inflate a balloon till it pops. Sounds easy, right?
Well, with part of a bucket in me and all the hand eye coordination of a lemon when Im sober, I caused a false start. Then on the second attempt I dropped the bottle opener in the sand. When I eventually got it open, I managed to down it in one, but not without my mouth gaining much sand (possibly from the crawl, but also the bottle opener). Then after you down a beer and feel not so good, you have to sit on a stool and inflate a balloon. I figured, as a tuba player, this would be a piece of piss. however, I was on the piss and so after getting it mostly inflated, i lost grip and couldnt get air into it anymore, just around the opening, and my mouth was still quite sandy.
Eventually I was rescued by the sound of the other guy popping the balloon and thus winning a free bucket.

Still, it was a good laugh, and winning the bucket probably would have been bad.

Later on, we played musical chairs to win another bucket.
With 6 starting players, and 5 of them from our group, we were virtually guaranteed to win it. Thing is, no one wanted it, so we joined up with the group of friends we had robbed of it so unceremoniously and shared. Turns out they were all from scotland, Elgin and Aberlour.

Who would have thought it. Koh Phangan. Tropical Island in the south of thailand.
And I meet Dons fans. Not just them... There was a bar called Harveys bar, which had a saltire and dragon in it, and parked outside a nice red motorbike - only flawwed because of the Aberdeen FC logos all over it.
Fail.

Anyway, I ended up getting a moto back from that night again.

We had a quiter night the next, which was always good. They put on batman, but I fell asleep and the picture quality was crap, so I just went to bed.
Whilst the weather never really got great, always cloudy, i did successfully manage to get sunburnt. Which, coupled with a cold I got, meant I was worried I had malaria for about a day. But I got to a chemist, and am/was on 8 pills a day, which sees me right. And that doesnt include multivits or painkillers.

Our tab on the room at the beach resort.... 4100 baht for 3 people. Just food.
Mine was the smallest, fortunately. That being said, I guess 60-70 pounds for 3 people to have most their food and drinks for 5 days isnt TOO bad. Or maybe it is.

On the 11th set off at 11:30am, got the boat at 12:30pm. Got a bus to the town of Surat Thani at like 4pm, and sat around there from 5pm till about 7pm, when we got on the bus to bangkok. Arrived at 4:30am, checked into a surprisingly expensive hotel room at the D&D Inn (1100 baht for a twin deluxe room - 'sorry, there are no standard rooms....') But that was split between me a lynn.
Got up around 9am to take advantage of the included breakfast, as well as to fill out the evaluation forms for Lynn before she left at midday.
I hung around till about midday, then got a taxi to the MBK centre. I decided it was too big and just went to watch Bangkok Dangerous. Overpaid for a tuktuk back to Khao san road, and managed to impress myself by being able to pack all my handbaggage into just my laptop bag. Only one carry on bag... thank god.
I packed my main bag, unsure how heavy it was but confident it was under 20kg, and success... it was. 14.5kg.

I paid 130baht for an 'express minibus' to the airport, but the minibus never arrived, so they bundled us in taxis which they paid for (as the should), and got here surprisingly quickly. Like 35 miutes.
Checked in and baggage away in about 5 minutes, passport control another 5. and now not too long to wait to board.

This airport is riddled with wifi hotspots, secure and not. But even the full signal ones seem to drop randomly.
Still, for the time they work, free wifi ftw.

Extra Time

2008-09-09T13:57:00.002+01:00

I slept in lateish today, which was good.

Didnt do much altogether, wandered into Thong sala and bought some stuff I didnt need. Which was good.

We decided after not much deliberation, to stay here an extra night. We are now leaving for Bangkok on the 11th, midday, arriving at 6am on the 12th. An 18 hour journey, I will then have the day or so, 12 hours, in Bangkok before having to go to the airport, and endure another 18 hours of travelling which due to time zones is only 12... Im gonna be so wrecked.

Its very upsetting that I am going home. After 10 weeks, the only thing I want is to keep travelling.
That being said, it will be nice to not live out of a backpack for one. Have luxuries such as clean tap water, my own bed and bedroom, and so on.
That being said - Bangkok, Chiang Mai... Koh Phangan are more developed than aboyne. And nicer.

Bah!

Pain.

2008-09-08T13:53:00.002+01:00

So i got that cut on my leg last night.
I washed it then, and left it. This morning it was pretty nasty, so i coated it in germolene, but then it ended up attracting flies, which was gross, so I dressed the wound (my leg) badly.
Bandage and dressing, all taped externsively to my leg.
I got some strange looks, and i think the doctor, Ben, was quite amused by how crap it was. Still, no flies.

Half Moon Party

2008-09-08T05:55:00.002+01:00

Im sure there are other things i could mention, but my memory is vague of yesterday. That is, yesterday pre-party. In a strange reversal of fortune, my memory of the evening is quite good.

We met up with Danni and Ben (people who Lynn and Dave had been on the trek with) and started on a carryout of thai whisky and coke. We also ended up meeting up with dutch guy and a couple of irish guys who go to cambridge. Christ there are a lot of them.
(Side note : oxbridge isnt "all that", and if you need further proof, i met a guy who is at cambridge and who is also a definite 9/11 conspiracy theorists. What a tool. Also he had given up alcohol because one night he got so drunk he got a prostitute.)

yea, so by 11pm the bus arrived and we set off the to party. 100 baht for the bus and 300 entry fee, but a free drink so not too bad. Plus it was a great party, so deffo worth it.

we got there and i got some glow paint on my arm, but that didnt last long when it started to rain a bit later, ah well.
We snuck in some whiskey, or more accurately, i snuck in some whiskey. No trouble though. I didnt see a single bouncer, security or police man the whole night. Though im sure there were some undercover.

Oh, i should probably mention i rethought my sobriety for this evening, and decided to drink but not get drunk, the best laid plans and all. but it actually worked out alright.

There were fire shows, which was pretty awesome, and we watched those, and partyed for and hour or two. Then the evening got more interesting. I went off to the toilet, and apart from tripping on a step and cutting my leg pretty much all the way down, I met these english girls and just started talking to them. It was a bit random to say the least, but nothing compared with the later randomness.
We spoke about the strangeness of bangkok, and britain. Apparently there is such a thing as a ping pong show, and being a dirty minded individual I knew what it meant straight away. Bizarre. But apparently the women are 40 something, which they said made it bad.
This could me misread... dont.

anyway, after an hour or so we parted ways and I had a quick look for my friends I was with. Fuck knows where they were. I dont blame them for moving somewhere in the course of an hour, so I kept my eyes open but just got on with it.
I soon ran into this guy Ryan we met the night before, aussie bloke. We got chatting and he introduced me to his new dutch friends, who i started chatting too. Indeed, a random conversation - we discussed Kokosnooten, Dutch kids TV, European vs. American cinema, and various dutch music events/festivals. I brought up sensation, but apparently its too big and expensive, and there are better alternatives, which I noted down. (I was very prepared for last night. As well as taking a piece of paper with the room number and address of my accomodation, I also took spare paper and a pen.)
We went off to dance, and Ryan showed me his animal dance moves. As in, him pretending to be an animal. Cat jumping over a fence, duck, chicken and horse. Yes, wtf. Horse?

Ended up away from them and bumped into this german guy from Bavaria. I made a laderhousen comment, and got no real response on that front. But he was a sound guy, and quite interesting. He was telling me about drugs, he was on MDMA at the time. I like the honest and real advice you get from people who have tried, experienced drugs. Indeed, he tells me not to ever try drugs. But if i do, i will love them, except for the comedown.
He was on the pull, so we went around trying to find him a woman, but with all the thai women (probably prostitutes), it was difficult. He taught me his only dance move, which was no better than my moves.
In a bitchy comment, Dave has mastered the step move. As in, stepping from side to side, barely intime with the music. End bitchy comment.
We met Ryan again, briefly, and I left Andy, the german, to get his oats, as they would say. Ive no idea if he did, I decided to make a break for it when he went to the toilet. He was cool, but a bit intense. Plus, by this point it was 5:30am, and I figured I should go back as I hadnt seen anyone from our group in 4 hours.

I grabbed some chips as i was leaving, with extra salt and some mayonnaise. Very tasty. And salt is a good move... At the chip stand, these two thai women started calling me harry potter, so I was telling them they were rude women :P
I opted to walk back, having forgotten it was such a distance. After an hour and a half I got back to the guesthouse on the beach. During that time I met a lot of dogs, and even ended up squaring up to one, as it were. Naturally, I won :P
I got back around 7am, and heres the funny part. I had the key.
Dave and Ben were asleep outside the room, and Lynn had obviously crashed in Danni's spare bed. They had been there 3 hours...
Whoops.
Still, makes up for the night before.
Got up at 10am, so like 3 hours sleep or less, had some water, tea and a banana pancake and now at 1pm, feel fine if somewhat tired.

I'll get some laundry done, maybe go for a swim. or more likely nap.

But yet, a good party. Ive not been to many, certainly not like that, but still it was the best Ive been too. Kind of gutted i'll miss full moon party :P

Haad Rin Nok

2008-09-07T09:55:00.003+01:00

Haad Rin Nok (Sunrise) beach is the nightlife capital on Koh Phangan, apparently. It is the site of the Full Moon Party and even on normal days, a gazillion buckets.
Tonnes of them.

Anyway, it was the night before half moon party night, so I decided that temptation was too much. After midnight, I would try alcohol again.
So midnight came, and I ordered a vodka and coke bucket.
It didnt help that there was too much nasty vodka in it, but it was vile.
In total, even after topping up the coke, I had only a few sips, not more than like a 5th or what ever.
Lynn had some too, and spilt some more than that....

The drinking for the others had started in the afternoon, beers on the beach. Nice, I suppose.
I had a banana milk shake. Very tasty.

So yea the evening... we got a taxi over to Haad Rin Nok. Only about 8 km, but a lot of incredibly steep. Plus 100baht each makes it not cheap.

We got there around 8pm, and it was dead. i thought the island was like deserted. But by about 9-10pm it was busy.
We were planning to stay till sunrise, im not sure why, but that wasnt gonna happen. I hadnt slept properly in about 4 days, and so not good.

We met this random aussie bloke called Ryan, and was chattin with him.

At this point, could any critics stop reading, plz thx.

We saw some people with hookah (wikipedia it), and decided to give it a shot.
So we shared an orange flavoured shisha.
I've always wondered what its like, and now I know. I'd say its interesting... Ive never smoked before, and have no intention of smoking for real in the future, but it doesnt taste as foul as cigarettes smell. Inevitably, I did end up coughing a few times, fair enough though.
Im not sure.... At this point i was still sober, only coke or sprite in me... but i felt a little different. Though, i suspect it was purely psychological.

Yea, well, the evening went on, we met some other guys (Irish, Aussie and Canadian). Again, they were surprised I was only 17, but meh. you only live once, might as well start early.
Got some interesting advice re: the whole "what to do with my life" thing. Keep travelling.
Sounds good.

Anyway, Lynn got completely hammered, dave kept drinking at a steady beer pace, and I gave up alcohol again (that vodka was vile).
There was some terribly cheesy music, which was fun. We learnt that whilst the canadian guy may have been a great breakdancer, but the irish guy was incredible at dancing the YMCA.

Lynn was asleep and dead to the world, dave wasnt fussed and was sipping on a beer watching the big tv, so I went off, looking for an atm. I realised I didnt have my card on me, but i saw a sandwich place and got a fried egg sandwich. I saw dave and lynn wander off together, and looking in my direction so i waved at them. I assumed they were pissed at me, so I took there lack of response as fine. I finished my sandwich and went off. They had disappeared, so I just got a lift back to the guesthouse. And I got a moto back. Heh.
Dont tell frontier ;)
It was 200 baht, but quite fun.
Dave, the daft fuck he is, hadnt bothered learning the name of the hotel or even beach, so he struggled to get to the right place. Meaning I arrived back at 2am, and slept on the porch of our little hut for an hour before they arrived.
Ah well.
It was interesting.

The battery on this laptop is its only fault (bar not knowing the root password, but that isnt an issue as I am gonna put ubuntu on it when i get home).

Koh Phangan and mega long journeys...

2008-09-06T08:55:00.004+01:00

So on the 4th we left Chiang mai for a 12 hour bus journey to bangkok. We arrived on the 5th at around 5:45am in bangkok. Tuk Tuk and taxi drivers waiting to rip us off, to charge us 200 baht for a journey that took 5 minutes on foot.

We decided to check into a room even though we werent staying long, because we were all wrecked. We hung around khao san road, we are all now tired of it. Then at about 8pm we got on a bus to Koh Phangan.
After a bus and boat, we finally arrived at a guesthouse by about midday on the 6th...

So yea, a long journey.

However, it is easily made up for by the awesomeness that is the weather, location, beach.
We are quite literally on the beach. In fact, as I type this, my feet are in the sand, and if i look up, I see the sea and Koh Samui.

SO yea, im gonna upload two pictures with this post of me on this beach. taken a couple of minutes ago on this 0.3MP webcam, so pardon the quality and subject :P

Uhm, not done much yet. Played with Lyns Diablo, and now can do the most basic thing, spin them up.
Also went in the sea, and sat on the beach.
And thats about that.

Lead me not into temptation...

2008-09-03T16:42:00.001+01:00

So today I got up lateish, and by the time I packed, moved one room across, and unpacked, I needed to get out and do something.
I was debating going shooting... and ended up not. Which is a shame, but maybe tomorrow...

I accidentally took my anti-malarial pill at midday instead of at night, when I usually do. The pill is rough on your stomach, so I couldnt finish lunch :(

However, I ended up eating twice more by 4pm :P

I wandered across town to the big shopping centre/hotel complex. Kad Suan Kaew shopping complex.
Im not sure why this is in italics, oh well.

Its pretty big.
Floors upon floors of stuff I didnt need.
There is a huge supermarket in below the ground floor, and a mega department store within the shopping centre itself.
Also 24 bowling lanes, the obligatory arcade and 6 screen cinema.
And many, many shops.

Before I even got to the shopping centre, I stumbled across the 'computer plaza', a shopping centre just for computers.
I looked around there.... Tasty stuff.
Then walking to the main shopping centre, I passed the Computer City, another shopping centre for computers. I didnt go in there, I wouldnt have made it out empty handed.
In the main shopping centre itself (after I eventually got there), I found the IT City, another mega computer electronics shop.
This means I have found 5 big shops or shopping centres in Chiang Mai selling computers and electronics.... And I wasnt even trying!

I found the netbook, an external dvd drive and external hdd (both USB powered to save on adaptors!)... total cost, 15000 baht. Around, 245gbp. Which isnt too bad. I'll need to get a big SD card too, and probably a big pen drive (my 1GB or 256MB ones are pretty measly.)

SO I was debating it, and had pretty much decided to go ahead (even I managed to figure out how to load the terminal on the demo model, so I figured it was hackable. That means the only remaining flaw is the battery, which I guess you can just live with.)
And then I saw the Eee PC. They had one with twice the ram and SSD space for only an extra 1500 baht or so... 25 pounds.
But then the Eee PC doesnt look as nice. And I would still need to buy all the extras. And it has a crappy name. Even XO is a better name....

Yea, I am pretty sure its the way to go. Ive found guides on installing Ubuntu or arch linux on it, so its possible if Linpus dont work out.

This post is exceptionally geeky.
I will have to install Google Chrome on my netbook...

Oh, I just read Don LaFontaine died. Very sad, he will be missed.
What do you mean you dont know who he is?
You know what he sounds like; God.

(He did trailers and whatnot, the voiceovers. Deep rich voice. Kinda in the same coolness as James Earl Jones.)

Uhm.

Lyn and Dave got back from their trek, blisters and all.
They enjoyed it, but they said it was hard work. Thus, I made the right call.
They'll probably take it easy tomorrow, So i might get a chance to go shooting then (even though that will be breaking frontiers rules, as I will be signed back on with them then....)

Yup.

A Learner for Life

2008-09-02T18:06:00.002+01:00

So today I went on a cooking course.
Was pretty good, two french people and 3 irish guys were there to, and as you might expect, i was the youngest :P

We walked around the market, learnt about noodles and coconut milk/cream. And had a snack which you never would guess was made from brown rice and egg; it was like a rolled biscuit, and tasty.

Then made Pad Thai, Tom Yum and Spring Rolls, and Green Curry and the curry paste for that.

As i said, was good fun. And the chef, teacher, knew that I cooked a lot at home by my technique, which without bragging, means i am the awesome.
The chef, Mac (or real name Wattana), was a monk from age 12-17, which I think is pretty awesome.
What have to show for the last 5 years? Hmm.

I phoned my sister for the third night in a row, and again, after 5 minutes, she "had to go". She even had the audacity to complain that my phonecall was about an hour late. Im sorry, but I wont base my day around a 5 minute phone call.
Ugh.

Anyway, I went down the night market, and learnt some more things.

First, walking down streets at night on your own, you attract prostitutes.
Second, letting them grab your arm, and then conversing with them, is usually a mistake.
Third, theres lots of prostitutes.

Still, I got some crap at the market, and will probably head back once I get offline.

And I dont think I will get the netbook now...
Its too functionless, no divx, no add/remove software, only 3 hour battery life despite no moving parts...
Bah.

Muay Thai

2008-09-01T19:03:00.002+01:00

So today I had to entertain myself.... No giggling :P

I headed off to the Panthip Plaza, a smaller version of the porn capital in Bangkok, the computer shop.
It was still several floors and lots of stuff, but at least half the shops were closed or shut down.
Still, the vaio store was open.
I stared and drooled a lot.
Thought about rearranging all my finances...
a lot.

And got followed around by staff a lot, which really started to piss me off.
Did i look like a thief?

Eventually I found the Acer Aspire One 110-somethign.
Its 512MB ram, 8GB NAND HDD, 8.9" screen.
Sex.
And at only 170GBP, a bargain.
If i do end up with it, whoops.

Anyway, went to the airport plaza shopping centre afterwards. A rip-off tuktuk journey, but worth it. Big shopping centre, tonnes to see.
I go and see a film, but I wont bother naming it.
Good film, surprisingly good.
Also look at shops.

Then I go back into town to make a phonecall to sister Rosie. She asked me to call her back today, which i did, but after 5 minutes she "had to go".
So now I have ot call her back again, as if my time is so clearly empty.

Went to see some Muay Thai (kickboxing).
3 hours, about 10 fights. Fucking awesome.
There was a special fight in the middle where the blindfolded 4 kickboxers, put them in the ring with the ref and had 3 minutes of hell. The ref came off quite badly, and after he was floored for the fifth or sixth time, threw a kick in himself.
Great fun.
Afterwards was a "cabaret" thing. I watched the first couple of acts, but then they started collecting donations for the "free" performance, so i left.
And now im here.

I think the plan for tomorrow is get up early, get a bike, cycle up the river ping, then back to chiang mai. Time depending, do the south of the river. Shooting club, maybe, and cooking maybe?