Today is November 30th and, as I say in the blog’s description, this is my last entry.
In hindsight, I can’t quite believe that I set out to write this blog for four months straight. It was quite ambitious. This is my last ever entry and I intend to write a long, long post. I want to use this as my final opportunity to add a sense of accomplishment to this mini-project and put a peaceful end to it.
I don’t actually know quite what to write. I suppose the obvious thing to do is try to sum up everything that I’ve ‘learnt’ in the last few months but that’s a near impossible task. I have made near to 100 posts and couldn’t possibly go over each one. Instead I think I’ll just write and see whereabouts it takes me.
When I started this blog I wanted it to be a selection of coherent and defiant ideas moulded around my understanding of ‘the world’. Apart from the fact that I’m not quite pretentious enough, I realised the day after my first post that I understand as much about ‘the world’ as I do of astrophysics. After this early setback I had to decide what I wanted the blog to be and came very close to giving it up all together. I chose to just write around my day, eventually culminating in the words ‘what I learnt today...’ I kind of liked the idea that at the end of every entry the text would read in a similar manner to the closing monologue of an episode of Scrubs.
It took about two weeks for me to tell anyone this blog existed. It ended up as necessary after many asked me why I was suddenly taking pictures of everything. Friends realised it was slightly odd behaviour and probably were worried I’d post their faces on the internet somewhere...
Anyway, I kept this to myself for as long as I possibly could and tried hard to stay true to what I wanted the blog to be. Soon friends were approaching me asking for the web address and talking about my blog. I didn’t encourage people to look at it and decided I would only let knowledge of its existence spread through word of mouth. However, the awareness that people were reading it (quite a large number as it turned out) inevitably changed my attitude towards it. I responded rather badly to this and started to load the blog with ambiguity and attempted to write subtle messages to various known readers. Fortunately, about half way through the blog, I ‘changed my ways’ and wrote far more light hearted, innocent entries that I think ended up serving me better.
This blog has a very broad definition for ‘learning’. I liked looking back on my day and pinpointing those aspects that made it worthwhile and any other intriguing information I found out. The idea that I could learn something new every day seemed appealing and I was keen to avoid just learning a hundred random pieces of factual information. So I wrote it in the manner that I thought was more worthwhile and stimulating.
I’m truly proud of my little creation and delighted I’ve stayed committed to it for so long. Suddenly, as I write this, I am overwhelmed by a sense of melancholy. This blog has never been a chore or a burden and I’ve always enjoyed doing it – probably because it’s provided a channel for me to keep jabbering on about things without interruption.
I like to think this blog has succeeded in some of its objectives. I waste so little time now and have done a lot of things as a result of the mentality that this blog has unearthed. What I have learnt from writing this blog is that you CAN learn something every day but only if you really want to do so.
I’d like to thank all the people who have said nice things to me about the blog. Although I insist I did this blog for my own interests only I cannot express enough how much it means that people have not only read it but enjoyed reading it too. Sure, when you’re on Facebook with nothing else to do this becomes an option but I’d like to say thank you nonetheless.
All my posts have been immensely enjoyable to write. It sounds ridiculous but I have a cold shiver done my spine and a true feeling of sadness that I’m not going to post another entry here. This blog has been a constant since the middle of the summer holidays and it’ll no long be an active part of my life. Hopefully, one day I’ll write another. For now though, I’m going to really, really miss it.
“Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for.”
-Epicurus
Monday 30 November 2009
Culture and Concepts
29th November
If you join a Sunday League Team, you've committed yourself to something - even if it's an amusing named Jewish one. That's what I learnt today as I was driven home shortly after arriving at the pitch to be told the game was called off due to waterlogged pitches. First of all, the pitches didn't look very waterlogged to me and second of all it's damn annoying having to wake up at 8.30am on a Sunday morning to be told your not going to play football after all. Oh well - it happens. Next week we are playing a team called 'Jewventus' which is possibly the best name for a team I have ever heard.
I've decided to take a bit more care of myself and not get into the habit of using each weekend as an excuse for drinking heavily. I woke up this morning feeling fresh and ready, which added to the disappointment of the Baum match being canceled. No Baum Baum the Elephant, no elaborate celebrations.
I suppose whenever you commit to something, be it a job, a promise or a blog, you're risking the possibility of disappointment and frustration. Sometimes, even though it's annoying, you've just got to swallow that disappointment. Easier said than done. Period. Fortunately not playing for Baum and then spending the rest of your Sunday reading a book in a pair of trackies isn't that hard to take.
I learnt about a tribe in the Amazon rainforest today that was only recently discovered. As far as we know they have had no contact with the outside world whatsoever before now. I find that absolutely incredible.
Imagine their reaction to the knowledge of what lies past the rainforest horizon. Unfathomable urbanisation, culture and concepts that these people couldn't comprehend. They are like walking back in time - literally still living in the stone age. The amount that could be learnt from these people is endless. A truer idea of human nature, how they organise themselves and survive and have done so for thousands of years. Just amazing.
If you join a Sunday League Team, you've committed yourself to something - even if it's an amusing named Jewish one. That's what I learnt today as I was driven home shortly after arriving at the pitch to be told the game was called off due to waterlogged pitches. First of all, the pitches didn't look very waterlogged to me and second of all it's damn annoying having to wake up at 8.30am on a Sunday morning to be told your not going to play football after all. Oh well - it happens. Next week we are playing a team called 'Jewventus' which is possibly the best name for a team I have ever heard.
I've decided to take a bit more care of myself and not get into the habit of using each weekend as an excuse for drinking heavily. I woke up this morning feeling fresh and ready, which added to the disappointment of the Baum match being canceled. No Baum Baum the Elephant, no elaborate celebrations.
I suppose whenever you commit to something, be it a job, a promise or a blog, you're risking the possibility of disappointment and frustration. Sometimes, even though it's annoying, you've just got to swallow that disappointment. Easier said than done. Period. Fortunately not playing for Baum and then spending the rest of your Sunday reading a book in a pair of trackies isn't that hard to take.
I learnt about a tribe in the Amazon rainforest today that was only recently discovered. As far as we know they have had no contact with the outside world whatsoever before now. I find that absolutely incredible.
Imagine their reaction to the knowledge of what lies past the rainforest horizon. Unfathomable urbanisation, culture and concepts that these people couldn't comprehend. They are like walking back in time - literally still living in the stone age. The amount that could be learnt from these people is endless. A truer idea of human nature, how they organise themselves and survive and have done so for thousands of years. Just amazing.
Sunday 29 November 2009
Playing for Pride
28th November
As I said in the previous post - we were not going to win today. However, after a truly inspiring team talk from our captain we were more than prepared to give it everything we possibly could. Our opponents had an agreement with us that they would take off their best few players after twenty minutes in order to rest them for their upcoming cup match. It was a huge compliment to us that they felt the need to keep them on the field until well into the second half. We fought incredibly well against a team who were leagues above us and easily the best side we had played all year. They had a prop who looked about thirty and probably weighed about twenty stone in muscle and height - just to create a picture of what their team were like.
When a game finishes you can always tell what the other team thought of you when you shake their hands at the end. This can be through their expression, tone or what they have to say to you. It was clear this team had a hell of a lot of respect for us. They came thinking it would be a walk over but we gave them a really difficult time, forcing knock on's and turn-overs frequently. We promised each other that we'd give everything that we had and that's exactly what we did. I think a lot of us were quite sad that it was our last game at our home ground. Today I learnt that playing for pride isn't and should never be a 'last resort' tactic. In fact we should always play for pride no matter the opposition and I'm going to remember playing 1st VX Rugby for a very long time.
We were in good spirits that evening:
As I said in the previous post - we were not going to win today. However, after a truly inspiring team talk from our captain we were more than prepared to give it everything we possibly could. Our opponents had an agreement with us that they would take off their best few players after twenty minutes in order to rest them for their upcoming cup match. It was a huge compliment to us that they felt the need to keep them on the field until well into the second half. We fought incredibly well against a team who were leagues above us and easily the best side we had played all year. They had a prop who looked about thirty and probably weighed about twenty stone in muscle and height - just to create a picture of what their team were like.
When a game finishes you can always tell what the other team thought of you when you shake their hands at the end. This can be through their expression, tone or what they have to say to you. It was clear this team had a hell of a lot of respect for us. They came thinking it would be a walk over but we gave them a really difficult time, forcing knock on's and turn-overs frequently. We promised each other that we'd give everything that we had and that's exactly what we did. I think a lot of us were quite sad that it was our last game at our home ground. Today I learnt that playing for pride isn't and should never be a 'last resort' tactic. In fact we should always play for pride no matter the opposition and I'm going to remember playing 1st VX Rugby for a very long time.
We were in good spirits that evening:
Dramatic Decline
November 27th
I used to take sprinting quite seriously and run competitively. One of the runners that was prominent when I first joined my club was former world record holder Tim Montgomery. This morning I read an article about him in the Times and quickly noted it down in my moleskin. He has gone from being the fastest man in the world, to a drug cheat, to a drug dealer, to doing time in prison. I was really shocked to read about his dramatic decline.
I remember when he broke the world record (in 2001) when he ran 9.78 and questioning the legitimacy of his time immediately. When a runner comes along out of nowhere and becomes the fastest person in the world you start to ask questions. In 2008 he was arrested for dealing over 100 grams of heroin. Now he's in prison, 33 years old and is still running 10.3s over 100m on concrete in trainers. It's a great shame as if he's still doing that now then imagine how good he could have really been without taking drugs. Pretty damn good I'd say.
I don't understand how people could be so dishonest with their lives - how a dedicated sprinter could cheat. Obviously, the drive to be as good as possible must be overwhelming and there's nothing to suggest that the top sprinters don't all take drugs (we just might not know about them like we didn't know about THG for years) but I find the whole thing quite depressing.
I have my last ever Rugby game at home tomorrow. We know we won't win as the team we are playing is genuinely excellent and has a handful of players who'll be playing Premiership rugby in the next few years. It's not pessimistic or 'the problem with the team' that we're aware of our impending defeat - it's just how it is. We want to give it everything we can possibly give and end the game with our heads held high. I, and all of the team, decided to say in tonight and I learnt that I can resist the temptation to go out if I take a step back and get my priorities straight.
I used to take sprinting quite seriously and run competitively. One of the runners that was prominent when I first joined my club was former world record holder Tim Montgomery. This morning I read an article about him in the Times and quickly noted it down in my moleskin. He has gone from being the fastest man in the world, to a drug cheat, to a drug dealer, to doing time in prison. I was really shocked to read about his dramatic decline.
I remember when he broke the world record (in 2001) when he ran 9.78 and questioning the legitimacy of his time immediately. When a runner comes along out of nowhere and becomes the fastest person in the world you start to ask questions. In 2008 he was arrested for dealing over 100 grams of heroin. Now he's in prison, 33 years old and is still running 10.3s over 100m on concrete in trainers. It's a great shame as if he's still doing that now then imagine how good he could have really been without taking drugs. Pretty damn good I'd say.I don't understand how people could be so dishonest with their lives - how a dedicated sprinter could cheat. Obviously, the drive to be as good as possible must be overwhelming and there's nothing to suggest that the top sprinters don't all take drugs (we just might not know about them like we didn't know about THG for years) but I find the whole thing quite depressing.
I have my last ever Rugby game at home tomorrow. We know we won't win as the team we are playing is genuinely excellent and has a handful of players who'll be playing Premiership rugby in the next few years. It's not pessimistic or 'the problem with the team' that we're aware of our impending defeat - it's just how it is. We want to give it everything we can possibly give and end the game with our heads held high. I, and all of the team, decided to say in tonight and I learnt that I can resist the temptation to go out if I take a step back and get my priorities straight.
Amazing and Worthwhile Thing
26th November
Today I learnt about somebody who used to go to my school. I'm told his name is Nicholas Winter but can't find him online anywhere and it was suggested that the teacher that told me about him wasn't totally sure of his surname.
Anyway. After he left my school he moved to Germany and was responsible for transporting hundreds of children out of the country when war arrived. He didn't tell his wife about his exploits until his 80s when she found loads of letters explaining his deed in their attic. I'm quite disappointed that I can't find anything about him. I'm going to check what his name was again with the teacher I spoke to. Either way I found it odd that somebody who attended my school could go on to do such an amazing and worthwhile thing. Maybe somebody I go to school with will go on to do something on a similar level?
I've almost finished a book I started reading this morning. It's called Uses & Abuses of History by Catherine Merridale (the same author who wrote Peacemakers).
I've learnt a lot of disjointed history and highlighted points of interest so I might remember them. I was recommended the book by a history teacher who said that it would help me answer the questions "why do you want to study history?" and "why is history important". Hopefully it'll come in useful.
Today I learnt about somebody who used to go to my school. I'm told his name is Nicholas Winter but can't find him online anywhere and it was suggested that the teacher that told me about him wasn't totally sure of his surname.
Anyway. After he left my school he moved to Germany and was responsible for transporting hundreds of children out of the country when war arrived. He didn't tell his wife about his exploits until his 80s when she found loads of letters explaining his deed in their attic. I'm quite disappointed that I can't find anything about him. I'm going to check what his name was again with the teacher I spoke to. Either way I found it odd that somebody who attended my school could go on to do such an amazing and worthwhile thing. Maybe somebody I go to school with will go on to do something on a similar level?
I've almost finished a book I started reading this morning. It's called Uses & Abuses of History by Catherine Merridale (the same author who wrote Peacemakers).
I've learnt a lot of disjointed history and highlighted points of interest so I might remember them. I was recommended the book by a history teacher who said that it would help me answer the questions "why do you want to study history?" and "why is history important". Hopefully it'll come in useful.
In Awe of Their Sneakiness
25th November
It's very hard to concentrate on driving when there are four hilariously loud people in the car with you.
"turn up the radio"
"what does that button do?" [presses button...hazard lights go on]
"what will happened if I pull up the handbrake now?"
"why are you only doing 30?"
Suppose I learnt that I might not be ready for transporting my drunken friends just yet, despite having passed my test.
I drove to pick everybody up from a friends house with the intention of parking two minutes away from the pub nearby. However, upon my jittery and poorly-parked arrival they informed me that our friend's 18th drinks was being moved to another pub about five minutes from my house. Great. I think, despite what they claimed, they knew all along and chose not to tell me as they realised I wouldn't be driving and thus giving them a lift if I was aware of this new development. I was in awe of their sneakiness.
A nice evening (as it turned out in the end) got better when I came home to an invitation letter from Oxford inviting me for an interview. I have to stay there for at least four days and I felt a real sense of achievement. I learnt that all that seemingly pointless and tedious work I've put in regarding exams in the last two years has paid off.
It's very hard to concentrate on driving when there are four hilariously loud people in the car with you.
"turn up the radio"
"what does that button do?" [presses button...hazard lights go on]
"what will happened if I pull up the handbrake now?"
"why are you only doing 30?"
Suppose I learnt that I might not be ready for transporting my drunken friends just yet, despite having passed my test.
I drove to pick everybody up from a friends house with the intention of parking two minutes away from the pub nearby. However, upon my jittery and poorly-parked arrival they informed me that our friend's 18th drinks was being moved to another pub about five minutes from my house. Great. I think, despite what they claimed, they knew all along and chose not to tell me as they realised I wouldn't be driving and thus giving them a lift if I was aware of this new development. I was in awe of their sneakiness.
A nice evening (as it turned out in the end) got better when I came home to an invitation letter from Oxford inviting me for an interview. I have to stay there for at least four days and I felt a real sense of achievement. I learnt that all that seemingly pointless and tedious work I've put in regarding exams in the last two years has paid off.
Friday 27 November 2009
Eruption
23rd November
There was a talk on MT.Vesuvius today and I was forced into going as it's a part of Geography Society, which curiously is compulsory for all Geography A Level students. This is because very few people would attend otherwise. Volcanoes were cool when we were too young to be taught about them.
Fortunately (from my perspective anyway) the talk revolved mainly around the eruption that buried Pompeii and Herculaneum. It's incredible that those two towns are in such good condition subsequent to their burial under volcanic ash and mudslides respectively. The amount they have helped us learn about Roman civilisation is endless. I learnt a huge amount regarding that particular eruption. I didn't really pay attention to the dynamics of volcanic activity and other points that didn't interest me much.
Later there was a rugby session. On the back of our appalling performance on the weekend our coach decided to show us the recent Wales Argentina match.
He paused and analysed much of it and I learnt a bit about how to improve my positioning as part of the back three. I also learnt a lot about the attitude of some of the players in the squad. They are perfectly within their rights to refuse to attend but I find it incredibly arrogant and somewhat selfish of them to do so. There is more than one player in a team and just because specific people don't feel a session will be particularly productive doesn't provide them with justification for not turning up. I was surprised and disappointed that some players choose not to go without even informing the coach or, at the very least, making up some sort of elaborate excuse. No wonder the team hasn't got any confidence - we clearly don't have confidence in each other.
24th November
In light of remembrance day a week and a bit ago I read an article on WWI veterans in one of the BBC History magazines. It was about troops returning from the front and attempting to return to their normal lives. I was shocked to read about how little respect so many of these men and women received. One man had had his nose blown off and on his return home he was mocked frequently on the street. The nature of some people, even way back to 1918, is terrifyingly unsympathetic.
I also learnt Rebel Rebel and Redemption Songs this evening...sort of.
There was a talk on MT.Vesuvius today and I was forced into going as it's a part of Geography Society, which curiously is compulsory for all Geography A Level students. This is because very few people would attend otherwise. Volcanoes were cool when we were too young to be taught about them.
Fortunately (from my perspective anyway) the talk revolved mainly around the eruption that buried Pompeii and Herculaneum. It's incredible that those two towns are in such good condition subsequent to their burial under volcanic ash and mudslides respectively. The amount they have helped us learn about Roman civilisation is endless. I learnt a huge amount regarding that particular eruption. I didn't really pay attention to the dynamics of volcanic activity and other points that didn't interest me much. Later there was a rugby session. On the back of our appalling performance on the weekend our coach decided to show us the recent Wales Argentina match.
He paused and analysed much of it and I learnt a bit about how to improve my positioning as part of the back three. I also learnt a lot about the attitude of some of the players in the squad. They are perfectly within their rights to refuse to attend but I find it incredibly arrogant and somewhat selfish of them to do so. There is more than one player in a team and just because specific people don't feel a session will be particularly productive doesn't provide them with justification for not turning up. I was surprised and disappointed that some players choose not to go without even informing the coach or, at the very least, making up some sort of elaborate excuse. No wonder the team hasn't got any confidence - we clearly don't have confidence in each other.24th November
In light of remembrance day a week and a bit ago I read an article on WWI veterans in one of the BBC History magazines. It was about troops returning from the front and attempting to return to their normal lives. I was shocked to read about how little respect so many of these men and women received. One man had had his nose blown off and on his return home he was mocked frequently on the street. The nature of some people, even way back to 1918, is terrifyingly unsympathetic.
I also learnt Rebel Rebel and Redemption Songs this evening...sort of.
Tuesday 24 November 2009
9-1
22nd November
Today was in direct contrast to yesterday and my drunken escapades. Athletic Bilbaum won 4 nil and Spurs...incredibly beat Wigan 9-1! Today one of our mates who used to play semi-professional football started in centre midfield. I learnt just how far apart he actually is from some of the players I normally play with and just how much further I have to go if I want to be a part of our 1st XI this year. Our opponents simply couldn't get near him, Very, impressive.
The latter was truly one of the most surreal experiences of my life. I still can't quite believe that I saw 10 goals in one game. THE SCORE WAS ONLY ONE NIL AT HALF TIME. So in the second half alone there was NINE goals. Simply amazing.
Home Team Score Away Team
Tottenham 9-1 Wigan R
(HT 1-0)
* Crouch 9 * Scharner 57
* Defoe 51
* Defoe 54
* Defoe 58
* Lennon 64
* Defoe 69
* Defoe 87
* Kirkland (og) 88
* Kranjcar 90+4
I learnt that it doesn't matter how much I know about football or how long I watch it for - you just never know when you'll see a game you'll remember forever. It's still a pleasure.
Today was in direct contrast to yesterday and my drunken escapades. Athletic Bilbaum won 4 nil and Spurs...incredibly beat Wigan 9-1! Today one of our mates who used to play semi-professional football started in centre midfield. I learnt just how far apart he actually is from some of the players I normally play with and just how much further I have to go if I want to be a part of our 1st XI this year. Our opponents simply couldn't get near him, Very, impressive.
The latter was truly one of the most surreal experiences of my life. I still can't quite believe that I saw 10 goals in one game. THE SCORE WAS ONLY ONE NIL AT HALF TIME. So in the second half alone there was NINE goals. Simply amazing.
Home Team Score Away Team
Tottenham 9-1 Wigan R
(HT 1-0)
* Crouch 9 * Scharner 57
* Defoe 51
* Defoe 54
* Defoe 58
* Lennon 64
* Defoe 69
* Defoe 87
* Kirkland (og) 88
* Kranjcar 90+4
I learnt that it doesn't matter how much I know about football or how long I watch it for - you just never know when you'll see a game you'll remember forever. It's still a pleasure.
End on a Low
21st November
Rugby is an odd game...at school level anyway. Today we lost to a team, who were beaten by a team, who were themselves beaten by a team that WE beat. We got beaten heavily too. It was a disaster and the coach ride back was far quieter than usual. There were no positives to take out of the game.
Today I learnt that I'm part of a team who have lost all confidence in themselves and will have to do more work than ever before if we're going to end this season on a high.
It's so depressing to come to that realisation. It's my last year playing with the people I've been in a team with for over a decade. I'd hate to see it end on a low - with us still going on about how good we were in the earlier days. It's all about how we respond now.
I thought that my day would improve with a couple of parties in the evening.
Alas, it turned into a nightmare as I drunk far too much - the most since Dublin (which was far...far too much). So I've decided I'm going to cut down heavily on the drink. Heavily.
Rugby is an odd game...at school level anyway. Today we lost to a team, who were beaten by a team, who were themselves beaten by a team that WE beat. We got beaten heavily too. It was a disaster and the coach ride back was far quieter than usual. There were no positives to take out of the game.
Today I learnt that I'm part of a team who have lost all confidence in themselves and will have to do more work than ever before if we're going to end this season on a high.
It's so depressing to come to that realisation. It's my last year playing with the people I've been in a team with for over a decade. I'd hate to see it end on a low - with us still going on about how good we were in the earlier days. It's all about how we respond now.
I thought that my day would improve with a couple of parties in the evening.
Alas, it turned into a nightmare as I drunk far too much - the most since Dublin (which was far...far too much). So I've decided I'm going to cut down heavily on the drink. Heavily.
Monday 23 November 2009
Isaac Newton to WWII
19th November
Passed my driving test today. Best feeling I've had since the rugby team won a few weeks ago and it seems to have cured me of the snuffles. There are very few cures for man-flu but an ego boost seems to be one of them. Or chicken soup - that works too.
This, being my third test, was kept almost completely secret. I told a friend to inform our English teacher that I had a doctors appointment...the next day this teacher congratulated me, then bollocked me when she realised I had lied...then congratulated me again...
I realised that I'm genuinely going to miss my driving lessons as I get on rather well with my instructor. I suppose it's quite easy to get to know somebody if you spend 40 odd hours with them in a car. No wonder everyone seems to remember who taught them to drive.
I have started 'borrowing' these brilliant magazines from school that are just on general and random aspects of history ranging from Isaac Newton to WWII.
They keep appearing in the geography department and I keep putting them in my bag and taking them home...for safe keeping, or something. So I have learnt a huge amount today after reading a massive article on Richard III. Really interesting stuff...for me anyway.
Passed my driving test today. Best feeling I've had since the rugby team won a few weeks ago and it seems to have cured me of the snuffles. There are very few cures for man-flu but an ego boost seems to be one of them. Or chicken soup - that works too.
This, being my third test, was kept almost completely secret. I told a friend to inform our English teacher that I had a doctors appointment...the next day this teacher congratulated me, then bollocked me when she realised I had lied...then congratulated me again...
I realised that I'm genuinely going to miss my driving lessons as I get on rather well with my instructor. I suppose it's quite easy to get to know somebody if you spend 40 odd hours with them in a car. No wonder everyone seems to remember who taught them to drive.
I have started 'borrowing' these brilliant magazines from school that are just on general and random aspects of history ranging from Isaac Newton to WWII.
They keep appearing in the geography department and I keep putting them in my bag and taking them home...for safe keeping, or something. So I have learnt a huge amount today after reading a massive article on Richard III. Really interesting stuff...for me anyway.
Sunday 22 November 2009
Darwin
17th and 18th November
Rarely do I take days off school through illness. Not because I'm some hard-ass from 'the hood' but because I just don't tend to ever get very ill out of luck. However, the tiredness I've been feeling has turned out to be one of those nasty flu-like viruses and I feel like a pile of turd - a serious case of man-flu, if you will. So I stayed home for the last two days - mostly lying in bed and sitting slumped in front of a computer screen drinking obscene amounts of water.
I still had a guitar lesson on the Tuesday evening and learnt a new song, although it's name evades me...
On the 18th I planned on doing some reading on Anarchism again but somehow ended up watching a YouTube documentary and learning a little about Charles Darwin and the HMS Beagle's voyage. It's quite incredible that something as important to modern thinking as evolution could only have been introduced (in the Orgin of Species) as recently as 150 years ago.
He may look old but Darwin was apparently younger than this once.
Rarely do I take days off school through illness. Not because I'm some hard-ass from 'the hood' but because I just don't tend to ever get very ill out of luck. However, the tiredness I've been feeling has turned out to be one of those nasty flu-like viruses and I feel like a pile of turd - a serious case of man-flu, if you will. So I stayed home for the last two days - mostly lying in bed and sitting slumped in front of a computer screen drinking obscene amounts of water.
I still had a guitar lesson on the Tuesday evening and learnt a new song, although it's name evades me...
On the 18th I planned on doing some reading on Anarchism again but somehow ended up watching a YouTube documentary and learning a little about Charles Darwin and the HMS Beagle's voyage. It's quite incredible that something as important to modern thinking as evolution could only have been introduced (in the Orgin of Species) as recently as 150 years ago.
He may look old but Darwin was apparently younger than this once.
Saturday 21 November 2009
Fear
16th November
I am completely shattered all the time. My superb and impressive use of logic tells me that it's probably because I'm not getting enough sleep, which is I suppose, what I learnt. Not very interesting but I realise that I can't really function without 6 hours sleep despite what I used to think (ie that I didn't need any...which isn't true...cos I cleary do).
Went to a talk today about the 'culture of fear' in Britain. I gathered the speaker was a bit of a lefty as she blamed the increase in private property for the growth of general surveillance and thus the increase in social tensions on the 'fear' culture throughout Britain.
I thought it was a really interesting argument but concluded that her proposal of removing all the CCTV etc would, at least in the short term, create more fear than it will dispose of. I learnt loads about the private market and about crime prevention in the UK. Not very exciting but still worthwhile.
I am completely shattered all the time. My superb and impressive use of logic tells me that it's probably because I'm not getting enough sleep, which is I suppose, what I learnt. Not very interesting but I realise that I can't really function without 6 hours sleep despite what I used to think (ie that I didn't need any...which isn't true...cos I cleary do).
Went to a talk today about the 'culture of fear' in Britain. I gathered the speaker was a bit of a lefty as she blamed the increase in private property for the growth of general surveillance and thus the increase in social tensions on the 'fear' culture throughout Britain.
I thought it was a really interesting argument but concluded that her proposal of removing all the CCTV etc would, at least in the short term, create more fear than it will dispose of. I learnt loads about the private market and about crime prevention in the UK. Not very exciting but still worthwhile.
Thursday 19 November 2009
Elephants
14th November
Not been looking forward to writing this post. Basically we had a rugby match today and I had the worst game I've ever had - costing my team two tries. It's a miracle that I haven't been dropped. It didn't help any of us that the coach got delayed an hour after it hit another car and that the school we were playing is based in Oxfordshire...No excuse for an awful performance.
What I learnt is that going out the night before a game and drinking is a terrible idea and won't help me prepare in anyway. I also learnt that when I'm down in the dumps there are more people than I thought who will try to help me out.
15th November
Rallied by our mascot Baum Baum the elephant, (somebody actually wore an elephant costume on the sideline) Athletic Bilbaum won 5-2.
Baum Baum in all his glory.
I played centre back which I found myself enjoying. I wanted to make up to myself how bad i felt about letting everybody down the day before and so played as well as I possibly could have. I learnt that I have to start taking the team a bit more seriously because a lot of the players really care about it (and are prepared to dress as elephants to prove it).
There was a party that evening.
Sunday was an odd day to have it but it was good fun. I never should have gone though as I was clearly coming down with something. Why that piece of information is relevant I just don't know...that probably means it isn't. Meh.
Not been looking forward to writing this post. Basically we had a rugby match today and I had the worst game I've ever had - costing my team two tries. It's a miracle that I haven't been dropped. It didn't help any of us that the coach got delayed an hour after it hit another car and that the school we were playing is based in Oxfordshire...No excuse for an awful performance.
What I learnt is that going out the night before a game and drinking is a terrible idea and won't help me prepare in anyway. I also learnt that when I'm down in the dumps there are more people than I thought who will try to help me out.
15th November
Rallied by our mascot Baum Baum the elephant, (somebody actually wore an elephant costume on the sideline) Athletic Bilbaum won 5-2.
Baum Baum in all his glory.I played centre back which I found myself enjoying. I wanted to make up to myself how bad i felt about letting everybody down the day before and so played as well as I possibly could have. I learnt that I have to start taking the team a bit more seriously because a lot of the players really care about it (and are prepared to dress as elephants to prove it).
There was a party that evening.
Sunday was an odd day to have it but it was good fun. I never should have gone though as I was clearly coming down with something. Why that piece of information is relevant I just don't know...that probably means it isn't. Meh.
Tuesday 17 November 2009
YouTube
13th November
I thought I'd spice up this entry. This is a photograph of a Mongoose -
...mmm spicy...
My Grandpa, who had recently been rather ill, has suddenly got a whole new lease of life. At dinner he was back to the energetic, eccentric and humorous man I knew about six years ago. It was like talking to a different person. I showed him YouTube for the first time and he spent ages looking at some of the old artists he used to listen to. This video of Danny Kaye and Louis Armstrong was a great find:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jm6ktYq0Yxk
I learnt that you are always in the position to learn something new and what difference it can make to have a positive outlook on things. Also learnt a little about some of the music my Grandpa listens to.
I thought I'd spice up this entry. This is a photograph of a Mongoose -
...mmm spicy...My Grandpa, who had recently been rather ill, has suddenly got a whole new lease of life. At dinner he was back to the energetic, eccentric and humorous man I knew about six years ago. It was like talking to a different person. I showed him YouTube for the first time and he spent ages looking at some of the old artists he used to listen to. This video of Danny Kaye and Louis Armstrong was a great find:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jm6ktYq0Yxk
I learnt that you are always in the position to learn something new and what difference it can make to have a positive outlook on things. Also learnt a little about some of the music my Grandpa listens to.
Monday 16 November 2009
Emphasis
12th November
Today I heard that my geography teacher (school is fun, man) told another class that the massive piece of work I did on the Nile was "mind blowing stuff". I am assured this wasn't sarcasm...emphasis on the 'assured'...Amazingly the subject I enjoy the least seems to be the one that I get most acclaim in! When he gave it back to me he said that "it's not an essay...more like a book". I think that's a complement. Emphasis on the 'think'. Emphasis on the 'emphasis". I learnt that a bit of praise, especially when you don't expect it, is worth the effort.
I suppose when you work hard for something (like recognition from a teacher) you tend to get it in the end. I'd like to think that applies to most things for everyone because I reckon if you put effort into something then you often deserve for that effort to be recognised...most the time anyway.
I also learnt a bit about William Godwin in anticipation for our politics class covering Anarchism in the coming weeks.
Godwin was bald after his hair fell out. He blamed it on the state.
Emphasis.
Today I heard that my geography teacher (school is fun, man) told another class that the massive piece of work I did on the Nile was "mind blowing stuff". I am assured this wasn't sarcasm...emphasis on the 'assured'...Amazingly the subject I enjoy the least seems to be the one that I get most acclaim in! When he gave it back to me he said that "it's not an essay...more like a book". I think that's a complement. Emphasis on the 'think'. Emphasis on the 'emphasis". I learnt that a bit of praise, especially when you don't expect it, is worth the effort.
I suppose when you work hard for something (like recognition from a teacher) you tend to get it in the end. I'd like to think that applies to most things for everyone because I reckon if you put effort into something then you often deserve for that effort to be recognised...most the time anyway.
I also learnt a bit about William Godwin in anticipation for our politics class covering Anarchism in the coming weeks.
Godwin was bald after his hair fell out. He blamed it on the state.Emphasis.
Sunday 15 November 2009
And it is.
11th November
Today I learnt House of the Rising Sun.
My headmaster is a rather intimidating figure. He has a booming voice that makes all microphones seem unnecessary as well as a beard that seemingly has some kind of hypnotic feature. I had a mock university interview with him today and I think it's fair to say that I never knew the phrase "I almost shit myself" had genuine meaning.
After the first few questions and attempts on his part to throw me off my guard, I settled into it and held my own. At the end he gave me a few pieces of advice and I learnt a bit more about how to conduct myself in an interview. Scary stuff.
Earlier was the WWI memorial ceremony that the school holds at 11.05am every November 11th. The Great War has always been of interest to me. Not due to the political side or for its historical value but because I cannot comprehend how it actually could have happened. The slaughter, the trenches, no-man's-land, the millions dead. I think it's a good thing that nobody I know can get their heads around it. It shows we must have progressed if people my age can't relate to it. Maybe that's wishful thinking but hopefully, for our sake, I have a point.
This year my friend led the procession towards to memorial. He's head boy now. I remember the first time that I went to the short ceremony. That was six years ago and the idea of one of my friends walking up the steps to the schools' memorial was almost as difficult to fathom. When the teachers used to say "the sixth formers would be going to war" it seemed like a ridiculous notion that just aided our perspective but not it has a whole other meaning. 95 years ago I, and hundreds like me at school, would be sent to France. It sounds ridiculous. And it is.
This was the last school memorial ceremony I will ever go to. I learnt that there are so many things that I'll be doing for the last time this year and just how lucky I am to never have to do some things that boys from my school have done in the past.
Today I learnt House of the Rising Sun.
My headmaster is a rather intimidating figure. He has a booming voice that makes all microphones seem unnecessary as well as a beard that seemingly has some kind of hypnotic feature. I had a mock university interview with him today and I think it's fair to say that I never knew the phrase "I almost shit myself" had genuine meaning.
After the first few questions and attempts on his part to throw me off my guard, I settled into it and held my own. At the end he gave me a few pieces of advice and I learnt a bit more about how to conduct myself in an interview. Scary stuff.
Earlier was the WWI memorial ceremony that the school holds at 11.05am every November 11th. The Great War has always been of interest to me. Not due to the political side or for its historical value but because I cannot comprehend how it actually could have happened. The slaughter, the trenches, no-man's-land, the millions dead. I think it's a good thing that nobody I know can get their heads around it. It shows we must have progressed if people my age can't relate to it. Maybe that's wishful thinking but hopefully, for our sake, I have a point.
This year my friend led the procession towards to memorial. He's head boy now. I remember the first time that I went to the short ceremony. That was six years ago and the idea of one of my friends walking up the steps to the schools' memorial was almost as difficult to fathom. When the teachers used to say "the sixth formers would be going to war" it seemed like a ridiculous notion that just aided our perspective but not it has a whole other meaning. 95 years ago I, and hundreds like me at school, would be sent to France. It sounds ridiculous. And it is.
This was the last school memorial ceremony I will ever go to. I learnt that there are so many things that I'll be doing for the last time this year and just how lucky I am to never have to do some things that boys from my school have done in the past.
Thursday 12 November 2009
Pressure
9th November
So Athletic Bilbaum suffered a heavy defeat today.
The rugby 1st XV won yesterday, as did Spurs so it was a shame that I didn't manage to have a totally victorious weekend. I learnt that without consistent training our football team is unlikely to progress.
10th November
Spurred on by our win at the weekend, the turnout for the Monday evening training session improved three-fold. Unfortunately we were greeted with the harsh reality of circuit training. There was 9 different exercises...sprinting, press ups, crunches, planks...to name a few. We did the whole circuit 4 times in groups of 4-5. Our coach joined in and stuck with the group I was in. When you know that not putting in your full effort will come under intense scrutiny you don't hold back. If my coach saw me slacking then he would easily be able to take note of it especially if he's right next to me through the whole thing!
With that indirect coercion in mind and in the spirit of Saturday's game - I gave it everything I had. Although I thought I might collapse at the end it was worth it and I learnt that it's about time that I pushed myself for my own benefit - rather than because I'm afraid of what will happen when I don't. I think that applies to lots of people in lots of different areas - not just sport. I reckon most people find easier to really try when they are put under pressure to do so - especially when they are capable. Perhaps some of us would be more successful if we tried harder to apply that pressure on ourselves more often?
So Athletic Bilbaum suffered a heavy defeat today.
The rugby 1st XV won yesterday, as did Spurs so it was a shame that I didn't manage to have a totally victorious weekend. I learnt that without consistent training our football team is unlikely to progress.10th November
Spurred on by our win at the weekend, the turnout for the Monday evening training session improved three-fold. Unfortunately we were greeted with the harsh reality of circuit training. There was 9 different exercises...sprinting, press ups, crunches, planks...to name a few. We did the whole circuit 4 times in groups of 4-5. Our coach joined in and stuck with the group I was in. When you know that not putting in your full effort will come under intense scrutiny you don't hold back. If my coach saw me slacking then he would easily be able to take note of it especially if he's right next to me through the whole thing!
With that indirect coercion in mind and in the spirit of Saturday's game - I gave it everything I had. Although I thought I might collapse at the end it was worth it and I learnt that it's about time that I pushed myself for my own benefit - rather than because I'm afraid of what will happen when I don't. I think that applies to lots of people in lots of different areas - not just sport. I reckon most people find easier to really try when they are put under pressure to do so - especially when they are capable. Perhaps some of us would be more successful if we tried harder to apply that pressure on ourselves more often?
Wednesday 11 November 2009
Three Massive Jugs of Beer
8th November
On paper, going to the pub the night before a rugby game is a very bad idea. Luckily it didn't prove costly and the 1st and 2nd XV won their respective games the following afternoon - both 8-7. In the 1st's we fought really, really hard for our win and gave it everything we had. The night before our captain made a comment - "I'm just going to lose my head tomorrow and go for it". Strange it may seem, but that suddenly just made sense and I also just went all out and played my best game in ages - as did most in the team. We deserved the win and were all delighted afterwards. The Old Boys team invited us to the bar afterwards and bought us three massive jugs of beer. By 5pm I was gone. Completely. I learnt that even when you can't see you're hard work getting you anywhere it isn't worth stopping. We fought to the whistle and learnt, as a team, that we can really play when we just go for it - as simple as that sounds.
I returned home for a short nap (turned out to be 1.30hr) before I left the house to go see a movie. The intention was that we'd go see Jennifer's Body. But due to incompetence on our part and the fact the steward read out tickets wrong meant we went to the wrong screen and instead saw Men Who Stare at Goats. It was a totally off the wall kind of movie and I rec commend it if you enjoy that type of thing. I usually don't but it was just quite funny. I was disappointed we didn't get to see Jeniffer's Body though. This photo should illustrate why:
I learnt that I need to give those wacky movies a chance because I rather enjoyed that one. Also learnt that if you're somehow spending £6.89 on sweets, to be shared between two people, then it is far too much. I learnt about the fall of the Berlin Wall as tomorrow is the 20th anniversary - various newspaper articles and Youtube documentaries as a result.
On paper, going to the pub the night before a rugby game is a very bad idea. Luckily it didn't prove costly and the 1st and 2nd XV won their respective games the following afternoon - both 8-7. In the 1st's we fought really, really hard for our win and gave it everything we had. The night before our captain made a comment - "I'm just going to lose my head tomorrow and go for it". Strange it may seem, but that suddenly just made sense and I also just went all out and played my best game in ages - as did most in the team. We deserved the win and were all delighted afterwards. The Old Boys team invited us to the bar afterwards and bought us three massive jugs of beer. By 5pm I was gone. Completely. I learnt that even when you can't see you're hard work getting you anywhere it isn't worth stopping. We fought to the whistle and learnt, as a team, that we can really play when we just go for it - as simple as that sounds.
I returned home for a short nap (turned out to be 1.30hr) before I left the house to go see a movie. The intention was that we'd go see Jennifer's Body. But due to incompetence on our part and the fact the steward read out tickets wrong meant we went to the wrong screen and instead saw Men Who Stare at Goats. It was a totally off the wall kind of movie and I rec commend it if you enjoy that type of thing. I usually don't but it was just quite funny. I was disappointed we didn't get to see Jeniffer's Body though. This photo should illustrate why:
I learnt that I need to give those wacky movies a chance because I rather enjoyed that one. Also learnt that if you're somehow spending £6.89 on sweets, to be shared between two people, then it is far too much. I learnt about the fall of the Berlin Wall as tomorrow is the 20th anniversary - various newspaper articles and Youtube documentaries as a result.
Tuesday 10 November 2009
"where you at?"
7th November
Occasionally, for no real reason, you'll have a really great evening. It'll be out of the blue and unexpected. I think that applies to a lot of things - you find them when you're not looking for them. That's not always a good thing though, like the time I found out what happens when you drink 3 pints on an empty stomach...or when I was looking for my jacket at a party and found two people getting off on top of it..."erm, excuse me, can I just...get in between...you see that's my jacket and I'm leaving and erm...". Hmmmm.
I went to my friend's house with another mate. Just a standard night in. We then decided to go to a pub - Red Lion % Sun - to get a bit merry on the eve of our forthcoming rugby game. On our way there we bumped into another of our mates on his way home, convinced him to come with us and thus increased our small pub procession by one.
Once at the pub two of us got phone calls - "where you at?" - and two more people came to the pub with us. One of them wasn't allowed to be served sadly - even though in just 25 minutes he was turning 18.
I don't know whether he consciously came to meet us so he would turn 18 in our company OR just fancied a drink. Either way we all sang a beautiful rendition of Happy Birthday to him, which the pub owners didn't seem to enjoy as much as we did.
I learnt that often not forcing a good time can lead to you having one and that there are far nicer pubs to go to that the regulars.
Also I have really got into watching the TV series 'Life', which is absolutely brilliant. I have learnt a hell of a lot from it - too much to recount. Plus I suppose I'll forget much of it soon. If anyone reads this and hasn't seen the programme then I recommend watching it.
Occasionally, for no real reason, you'll have a really great evening. It'll be out of the blue and unexpected. I think that applies to a lot of things - you find them when you're not looking for them. That's not always a good thing though, like the time I found out what happens when you drink 3 pints on an empty stomach...or when I was looking for my jacket at a party and found two people getting off on top of it..."erm, excuse me, can I just...get in between...you see that's my jacket and I'm leaving and erm...". Hmmmm.
I went to my friend's house with another mate. Just a standard night in. We then decided to go to a pub - Red Lion % Sun - to get a bit merry on the eve of our forthcoming rugby game. On our way there we bumped into another of our mates on his way home, convinced him to come with us and thus increased our small pub procession by one.
Once at the pub two of us got phone calls - "where you at?" - and two more people came to the pub with us. One of them wasn't allowed to be served sadly - even though in just 25 minutes he was turning 18.
I don't know whether he consciously came to meet us so he would turn 18 in our company OR just fancied a drink. Either way we all sang a beautiful rendition of Happy Birthday to him, which the pub owners didn't seem to enjoy as much as we did.I learnt that often not forcing a good time can lead to you having one and that there are far nicer pubs to go to that the regulars.
Also I have really got into watching the TV series 'Life', which is absolutely brilliant. I have learnt a hell of a lot from it - too much to recount. Plus I suppose I'll forget much of it soon. If anyone reads this and hasn't seen the programme then I recommend watching it.
Monday 9 November 2009
80th
6th November
Here, at my 80th post I can proudly proclaim that I learnt Dreaming of You by The Coral, which is one of my favourite songs. Oh, what a glorious day!
Thank God I have started to get to a stage whereby I can learn some songs that I know and really like. I really regret not starting to learn years ago.
Once more I have little to write. A photo for those who read:
Knowing that some people actually read this makes me feel inclined to not make it too boring. I largely fail but I know I'll enjoy rereading all this one day.
A few quick things:
"Anonymous said...
I love your blog. Keep it up. It's inspiring and you will look back on it when you are much older and learn about the 17/18 year old you.
I feel I have got to know you so much better through it.
"
- I only found this comment a week ago and asked the half dozen people I know who occasionally read this blog if it was them. None of them wrote it. So I have no idea. Thank you to whoever you are because it really made me feel great. I would love it if you'd reveal yourself so I could say cheers properly!
Plus I put a "did you know?" thingy at the bottom of the page. Some of the stuff there is quite interesting and is along the lines of the idea of this blog. Enjoy...or try to...
Here, at my 80th post I can proudly proclaim that I learnt Dreaming of You by The Coral, which is one of my favourite songs. Oh, what a glorious day!
Thank God I have started to get to a stage whereby I can learn some songs that I know and really like. I really regret not starting to learn years ago.
Once more I have little to write. A photo for those who read:
Knowing that some people actually read this makes me feel inclined to not make it too boring. I largely fail but I know I'll enjoy rereading all this one day.A few quick things:
"Anonymous said...
I love your blog. Keep it up. It's inspiring and you will look back on it when you are much older and learn about the 17/18 year old you.
I feel I have got to know you so much better through it.
"
- I only found this comment a week ago and asked the half dozen people I know who occasionally read this blog if it was them. None of them wrote it. So I have no idea. Thank you to whoever you are because it really made me feel great. I would love it if you'd reveal yourself so I could say cheers properly!
Plus I put a "did you know?" thingy at the bottom of the page. Some of the stuff there is quite interesting and is along the lines of the idea of this blog. Enjoy...or try to...
Sunday 8 November 2009
Isn't This Exciting!?
4th November
The HAT is done. I won't know how well it went for some time so I'm going to just forget about it. It was great to finally get it out the way - like all exams. There was a question about how a process or event has been characterised by the physical environment. I wrote about how British colonisation was driven by the desire to expand and gain necessary natural resources. I don't know if the Oxford people will buy into that though...I went home and read up on the background to colonisation and actually wasn't too far off. So I learnt about the British colonies and reasons for expansion. Amazingly most of the knowledge I had stemmed from what we are doing in one of my geography classes. Sadly though, in true Geography style the colonisation information was vague but it definitely helped.
ISN'T THIS EXCITING!?
Wow, how insanely boring. Here is a piture of the HAT:
5th November
There's this 15 year kid who lives on my road that is a few years below me at school and we often see each other walking home. The standard practise is just to ignore each other and go on our (almost completely identical) way. For some reason unknown to me at the time I decided to go over to him and chat. The fact we go to the same school gives you something in common and you immediately trust the other person. Also I think this fits in with what I was saying about the '6th former status' bringing a kind of authority - especially at school. We spoke about rugby and a few people in his year that I know. It was a pleasant conversation out of nowhere and exchanges like that give you a good feeling.
It reminded me of when about 6 months ago my class went on a sponsored walk across 10 bridges on the Thames whereby we had to wear this school T-shirts. During the walk a man in his mid-40s approached us and mentioned he went to UCS. He then asked us what Deme (house) we were in and about sport as well as how the new developments (like a new sports centre) were. I really liked the way that the guy still cared about what the school was like and just felt so comfortable talking to people who go to his old school.
I learnt that I will probably always have a sort of connection with people that attended my school.
The HAT is done. I won't know how well it went for some time so I'm going to just forget about it. It was great to finally get it out the way - like all exams. There was a question about how a process or event has been characterised by the physical environment. I wrote about how British colonisation was driven by the desire to expand and gain necessary natural resources. I don't know if the Oxford people will buy into that though...I went home and read up on the background to colonisation and actually wasn't too far off. So I learnt about the British colonies and reasons for expansion. Amazingly most of the knowledge I had stemmed from what we are doing in one of my geography classes. Sadly though, in true Geography style the colonisation information was vague but it definitely helped.
ISN'T THIS EXCITING!?
Wow, how insanely boring. Here is a piture of the HAT:
5th November
There's this 15 year kid who lives on my road that is a few years below me at school and we often see each other walking home. The standard practise is just to ignore each other and go on our (almost completely identical) way. For some reason unknown to me at the time I decided to go over to him and chat. The fact we go to the same school gives you something in common and you immediately trust the other person. Also I think this fits in with what I was saying about the '6th former status' bringing a kind of authority - especially at school. We spoke about rugby and a few people in his year that I know. It was a pleasant conversation out of nowhere and exchanges like that give you a good feeling.
It reminded me of when about 6 months ago my class went on a sponsored walk across 10 bridges on the Thames whereby we had to wear this school T-shirts. During the walk a man in his mid-40s approached us and mentioned he went to UCS. He then asked us what Deme (house) we were in and about sport as well as how the new developments (like a new sports centre) were. I really liked the way that the guy still cared about what the school was like and just felt so comfortable talking to people who go to his old school.
I learnt that I will probably always have a sort of connection with people that attended my school.
Friday 6 November 2009
Great Little Quote
3rd November
Facebook is full of hidden gems. For instance, today I heard of a Facebook Group called "The real reason we are in Iraq is to catch rare Pokemon". Brilliant.
I've spent most of my evening panicking about my History Aptitude Test tomorrow. I am glad that there is little revision or preparation that can possibly be made, which is slightly reassuring. I'm nervous but whatever happens, happens I suppose. I tried to just relax and get into a stable state of mind and chose to read some more of Peacemakers - learning a little about Georges Clemenceau in the process.
I also learn the opening riff to Day Tripper by the Beatles.
Finally I learnt a great little quote: "A real person has two reasons for doing anything. A good reason and the truth."
Facebook is full of hidden gems. For instance, today I heard of a Facebook Group called "The real reason we are in Iraq is to catch rare Pokemon". Brilliant.
I've spent most of my evening panicking about my History Aptitude Test tomorrow. I am glad that there is little revision or preparation that can possibly be made, which is slightly reassuring. I'm nervous but whatever happens, happens I suppose. I tried to just relax and get into a stable state of mind and chose to read some more of Peacemakers - learning a little about Georges Clemenceau in the process.
I also learn the opening riff to Day Tripper by the Beatles.
Finally I learnt a great little quote: "A real person has two reasons for doing anything. A good reason and the truth."
Turned Into a Man
1st November
My cousin and I are 2 weeks apart.
Our family's took us both out to dinner at a really nice restaurant called the York & Alby which is owned by Gordon Ramsey.
Our parents seemed slightly moved by the realisation that both of us have now turned 18. I think little of it. If it wasn't for society then '18' would be just another year gone by. Either way, I learnt a lot about how much it means to my parents that I've 'turned into a man' (or can now make such an outrageous claim).
2nd November
The first day back at school after a holiday, even a short one, is tricky. Its a little harder to focus and all seems like such a hassle. By the end of the day you're used to it again and, aside from a few memories of the previous half term, you feel as if you never left. School can feel so constraining on the back of a break and I wanted to actively learn something. So when I got home I decided to find a new song to learn because I hadn't done that in a long time. So today I learnt how to by Good Riddance by Green Day.
My cousin and I are 2 weeks apart.
Our family's took us both out to dinner at a really nice restaurant called the York & Alby which is owned by Gordon Ramsey. Our parents seemed slightly moved by the realisation that both of us have now turned 18. I think little of it. If it wasn't for society then '18' would be just another year gone by. Either way, I learnt a lot about how much it means to my parents that I've 'turned into a man' (or can now make such an outrageous claim).
2nd November
The first day back at school after a holiday, even a short one, is tricky. Its a little harder to focus and all seems like such a hassle. By the end of the day you're used to it again and, aside from a few memories of the previous half term, you feel as if you never left. School can feel so constraining on the back of a break and I wanted to actively learn something. So when I got home I decided to find a new song to learn because I hadn't done that in a long time. So today I learnt how to by Good Riddance by Green Day.
Tuesday 3 November 2009
Halloween
31st October
It is Halloween. Out comes my incredibly cool jump suit of that character from Halo once again. This time, however, I decided not to wear it the whole night. The following example of the casual dialogue that ensued will explain why.
One of several attractive girls: "Hey Sam what have you come as?"
Me: "I have come as Master Chief, he is a character from Halo, which is an Xbox 360 game."
Yeah, so off came the jumpsuit.
I learnt that if you're going to get dressed up for Halloween then it would be advisable to get a costume that people actually recognise...or doesn't reveal you for the complete nerd you are.
A party in a mansion on the most expensive road in London (or defiantly one of them) proved to be a really good time. For one, the house was surreal. There was a swimming pool in the kitchen. THE KITCHEN. Imagine eating your cornflakes on a lilo every morning!
[This isn't the house. Though it might as well be]
Turns out that the huge amount of space the party was held in was just the pool house! Crazy stuff. At this party I saw somebody I hadn't seen in what must be over a year. It's weird how you can just start from where you left off with somebody and get along. Normally I would be slightly weary of approaching said person but decided I would just talk to her properly. Turns out I learnt that there is no reason why you can't rekindle an old friendship if you just make the little effort required.
I also found the wierdest thing ever...http://www.getonmyhorse.com/
It is Halloween. Out comes my incredibly cool jump suit of that character from Halo once again. This time, however, I decided not to wear it the whole night. The following example of the casual dialogue that ensued will explain why.
One of several attractive girls: "Hey Sam what have you come as?"
Me: "I have come as Master Chief, he is a character from Halo, which is an Xbox 360 game."
Yeah, so off came the jumpsuit.
I learnt that if you're going to get dressed up for Halloween then it would be advisable to get a costume that people actually recognise...or doesn't reveal you for the complete nerd you are.
A party in a mansion on the most expensive road in London (or defiantly one of them) proved to be a really good time. For one, the house was surreal. There was a swimming pool in the kitchen. THE KITCHEN. Imagine eating your cornflakes on a lilo every morning!
[This isn't the house. Though it might as well be]Turns out that the huge amount of space the party was held in was just the pool house! Crazy stuff. At this party I saw somebody I hadn't seen in what must be over a year. It's weird how you can just start from where you left off with somebody and get along. Normally I would be slightly weary of approaching said person but decided I would just talk to her properly. Turns out I learnt that there is no reason why you can't rekindle an old friendship if you just make the little effort required.
I also found the wierdest thing ever...http://www.getonmyhorse.com/
Monday 2 November 2009
Work Ethic
30th October
I don't have any pictures for this entry and some have commented how they prefer looking at the pictures than reading the drivel. So here is a photograph of a lemon:
I remember waking up and then casually walking over to my homework diary. Next thing I remember is crawling to the corner of my room and gently rocking back and forth in hysterics. This is because I just noticed that I had quite a bit of work to do that I had left inexplicably late. I managed to finish a 4000 word Geography project that I aptly named 'Geography is a Bitch' on my computer.
The amount of work is pretty much the same for most people but it's that moment when you realise that you've still got a lot of it to do that makes your heart sink slightly. It's like when you get into school in the morning and ask somebody in your History class if you had any half term homework. You're whole day rests on their response.
If they say 'yes' then it usually means coming up with an elaborate excuse, impenetrable to the common teacher. My personal favourite is that I sent it to my private email by the school system won't let me access it. Blame the school for your incompetence. No shame.
If they say 'no' then a you're slightly overcome by a sense of relief and your day can swiftly move onward.
Oh, the troubles of school - how I'm sure to miss them in 5 months.
I learnt about water conflicts on the River Nile because I went a bit crazy with the geography project, deciding to do a little extra research that I could mention here. I also learnt that I have to improve my half term work ethic. I genuinely believe that there has been direct correlation between the regularity of my blog entries and the efficiency of my working. During the school term I haven't handed in a single piece of homework in late so far. I think a lot of that has to do with how this simple blogging concept has spurred me on slightly. Well, I certainly like that idea anyway.
I don't have any pictures for this entry and some have commented how they prefer looking at the pictures than reading the drivel. So here is a photograph of a lemon:
I remember waking up and then casually walking over to my homework diary. Next thing I remember is crawling to the corner of my room and gently rocking back and forth in hysterics. This is because I just noticed that I had quite a bit of work to do that I had left inexplicably late. I managed to finish a 4000 word Geography project that I aptly named 'Geography is a Bitch' on my computer.
The amount of work is pretty much the same for most people but it's that moment when you realise that you've still got a lot of it to do that makes your heart sink slightly. It's like when you get into school in the morning and ask somebody in your History class if you had any half term homework. You're whole day rests on their response.
If they say 'yes' then it usually means coming up with an elaborate excuse, impenetrable to the common teacher. My personal favourite is that I sent it to my private email by the school system won't let me access it. Blame the school for your incompetence. No shame.
If they say 'no' then a you're slightly overcome by a sense of relief and your day can swiftly move onward.
Oh, the troubles of school - how I'm sure to miss them in 5 months.
I learnt about water conflicts on the River Nile because I went a bit crazy with the geography project, deciding to do a little extra research that I could mention here. I also learnt that I have to improve my half term work ethic. I genuinely believe that there has been direct correlation between the regularity of my blog entries and the efficiency of my working. During the school term I haven't handed in a single piece of homework in late so far. I think a lot of that has to do with how this simple blogging concept has spurred me on slightly. Well, I certainly like that idea anyway.
Sunday 1 November 2009
Paintball
29th October
One of the best things about going paintballing is when it's over and you can recount your acts of heroism to your team mates for months down the line. The adrenaline rush you get when running towards the opposition, sliding behind a barricade or just shouting to your team is immense. You don't even notice that you can barely breath until the stewards have called "game over!" after one team has won or the allotted time is over.
I helped my friend organise his younger brother's party which included 'leading' his little brother's friends during the games. It was a great way to spend a day and I want to go paintballing more often. The bruises are worth it.
I learnt another way whereby I can just 'lose myself' and go a bit crazy. I get a chance to turn from posh-jewish-north-londoner into an SAS support gunner.
I also learnt about how, to year 9s, my 6th form 'status' seems to command a surprising amount of respect as the kids seemed to obey and listen to my every whim. I suppose it's true that with age comes authority.
Oh, and I recommend going paintballing. It's fucking awesome.
One of the best things about going paintballing is when it's over and you can recount your acts of heroism to your team mates for months down the line. The adrenaline rush you get when running towards the opposition, sliding behind a barricade or just shouting to your team is immense. You don't even notice that you can barely breath until the stewards have called "game over!" after one team has won or the allotted time is over.
I helped my friend organise his younger brother's party which included 'leading' his little brother's friends during the games. It was a great way to spend a day and I want to go paintballing more often. The bruises are worth it.
I learnt another way whereby I can just 'lose myself' and go a bit crazy. I get a chance to turn from posh-jewish-north-londoner into an SAS support gunner.
I also learnt about how, to year 9s, my 6th form 'status' seems to command a surprising amount of respect as the kids seemed to obey and listen to my every whim. I suppose it's true that with age comes authority.
Oh, and I recommend going paintballing. It's fucking awesome.
Friday 30 October 2009
Eddie the Eagle
28th October
Whilst going for a drive I noticed loads of kids who must have been between 10-15 standing outside the house were this years X Factor contestants are staying. The kids were standing in the middle of the road and just waiting to see anyone 'famous'. I don't watch the X Factor at all because I find it annoying but I have been shown a video of those ridiculously obnoxious and untalented nincompoop twins John and Edward.
It's ridiculous that they have the public recognition that they have. I bet there are millions of amazing people in the world who do amazing things every day and nobody bats an eyelid. Whats worse is that some of those kids actually WANT to meet John and Edward. What do you say to them?
"well done on being great".....that's a lie seeing as they can't sing. At all.
"nice dancing".....again, another blatant lie. Their dancing looks like a corpse being electrocuted. Actually that's unfair. An electrocuted corpse is a far better dancer.
"nice hair".....no comment
It makes you lose your faith in HUMANITY! How can anybody allow such deluded idiots in the limelight!? It makes my blood boil and I learnt that if you want to be famous all you need is a twin, lots of hair gel and as much talent as Eddie the Eagle. Actually less. Much less.
A nice birthday party in the evening for another one of my friends who's turned 18. He got very emotional when everybody sang him happy birthday. He seemed quite overwhelmed by it all...oh, and he was pissed out his mind.
I was going paint balling the following morning so had to leave early which was a shame. I learnt that it won't be long before this crowd of people I see practically every weekend splits apart to different universities so I'll enjoy it as much as I can before it ends.
Whilst going for a drive I noticed loads of kids who must have been between 10-15 standing outside the house were this years X Factor contestants are staying. The kids were standing in the middle of the road and just waiting to see anyone 'famous'. I don't watch the X Factor at all because I find it annoying but I have been shown a video of those ridiculously obnoxious and untalented nincompoop twins John and Edward.
It's ridiculous that they have the public recognition that they have. I bet there are millions of amazing people in the world who do amazing things every day and nobody bats an eyelid. Whats worse is that some of those kids actually WANT to meet John and Edward. What do you say to them? "well done on being great".....that's a lie seeing as they can't sing. At all.
"nice dancing".....again, another blatant lie. Their dancing looks like a corpse being electrocuted. Actually that's unfair. An electrocuted corpse is a far better dancer.
"nice hair".....no comment
It makes you lose your faith in HUMANITY! How can anybody allow such deluded idiots in the limelight!? It makes my blood boil and I learnt that if you want to be famous all you need is a twin, lots of hair gel and as much talent as Eddie the Eagle. Actually less. Much less.
A nice birthday party in the evening for another one of my friends who's turned 18. He got very emotional when everybody sang him happy birthday. He seemed quite overwhelmed by it all...oh, and he was pissed out his mind.
I was going paint balling the following morning so had to leave early which was a shame. I learnt that it won't be long before this crowd of people I see practically every weekend splits apart to different universities so I'll enjoy it as much as I can before it ends.
Thursday 29 October 2009
Marmite
27th October
For the first time in ages I found myself further researching something on the Geography syllabus. Geography is the marmite of subjects - you either love it or hate it. Or you get put off by it's icky-brown-stickiness. I love Marmite for the record. It's peng. I now can't stand it (geography...still loving Marmite) and find the lessons drag on further than anything man has ever known. Ever. Eating Marmite is quick and painless.
With that said I managed to find out something interesting whilst doing some of the work and snacking some bread with Marmite.
It seems that China may actually help African countries out of their debt. The amount of growth throughout Africa has never been so high and that has directly coincided with China's investment in the continent. The Chinese committie at the China-Africa conference were heard muttering "we should provide the Africans with Marmite as, although a risk, the majority will love it".
I find the whole 'shift of power' section of the syllabus quite interesting. I used to never further investigate a piece of information that interested me but that's changed (for example Marmite was first produced in 1902). On the other hand in the hour I was reading up on the topic I could have actually been doing the work...or spreading Marmite on a warm toasty. Marmite.
Wednesday 28 October 2009
Dublin
Dublin
Hardy hardy hoo.
Over the last weekend I went to Dublin. The highlight of this trip can be illustrated via the following photos:
I learnt many things. Here is a list of these things:
• Guinness is older than the US (1759)
• It set up the Guinness Book of Records for pub quizzes
• In Ireland if someone says to you ‘I'm here for the crack (hard hardy hoo)” they are implying they are at said location for a good time (craic is an Irish word). They are NOT talking about drugs…probably not.
• The people in Ireland are far nicer than those in England. The people we came across were all very friendly, laid back and funny.
• After 10 pints of purest Guinness, 2 glasses of champagne and a couple glasses of wine I find it hard to walk. That is waaaay over my ‘limit’. I learnt this the hard, yet slightly amusing, way. Additionally, I fell asleep whilst taking a piss which of course begs the question; If one falls asleep taking a piss, does that count as having pissed yourself? – A question that has been puzzling scientists for endless time. Needless to say I was only asleep for what must have been a few seconds. In conclusion; no, no it does not.
• Kalimantan Jail housed many of those involved in the Easter Rising of 1916 which the Irish seemed to hold extremely dearly. Learnt loads about other uprisings too including the one in 1803. Its leader Robert Emmet actually met with Napoleon who told him his invasion plans of England so the revolt could coincide with it.
Hardy hardy hoo.
Over the last weekend I went to Dublin. The highlight of this trip can be illustrated via the following photos:
I learnt many things. Here is a list of these things:
• Guinness is older than the US (1759)
• It set up the Guinness Book of Records for pub quizzes
• In Ireland if someone says to you ‘I'm here for the crack (hard hardy hoo)” they are implying they are at said location for a good time (craic is an Irish word). They are NOT talking about drugs…probably not.
• The people in Ireland are far nicer than those in England. The people we came across were all very friendly, laid back and funny.
• After 10 pints of purest Guinness, 2 glasses of champagne and a couple glasses of wine I find it hard to walk. That is waaaay over my ‘limit’. I learnt this the hard, yet slightly amusing, way. Additionally, I fell asleep whilst taking a piss which of course begs the question; If one falls asleep taking a piss, does that count as having pissed yourself? – A question that has been puzzling scientists for endless time. Needless to say I was only asleep for what must have been a few seconds. In conclusion; no, no it does not.
• Kalimantan Jail housed many of those involved in the Easter Rising of 1916 which the Irish seemed to hold extremely dearly. Learnt loads about other uprisings too including the one in 1803. Its leader Robert Emmet actually met with Napoleon who told him his invasion plans of England so the revolt could coincide with it.
PHOTOS
I’m so far behind that I see little point in doing an individual entry for each day I’ve missed. The whole process would take a near millennium to actually finish and fortunately I’ve noted everything I would have written in my moleskin. HOW AMAZING...
Here are a few assorted photos that I took over the last week with the intention of putting them on my blog. People have pointed out that the blog is ‘a bit wordy’ so I recommend enjoying this post (yeah...right) as it will probably happen never again…
From these pictures it is clear that my life is extremely exciting.
Here are a few assorted photos that I took over the last week with the intention of putting them on my blog. People have pointed out that the blog is ‘a bit wordy’ so I recommend enjoying this post (yeah...right) as it will probably happen never again…
From these pictures it is clear that my life is extremely exciting.
Thursday 22 October 2009
Further Behind
19th October
OK so now I'm even further behind. It's harder to write at the end of each day as I tend to get home much later during the holidays. I aim to get up to date by the time I return from Dublin on Monday evening. That also means I'm going to have to miss this coming weekend and hopefully summarise the few days that I'm away for as I did at Reading.
I learnt how to play Peggy Sue (the correct way) and a lot about Inessa Armand who was a revolutionary and feminist.
She had a fling with Lenin and there's a chapter on her in the book I'm reading. She's a very interesting character as she was probably the only person to pierce Lenin's revolutionary exterior and truly know him as a person. A conversation with her would be fascinating. Sadly that opportunity won't arise, what with her being dead and all.
OK so now I'm even further behind. It's harder to write at the end of each day as I tend to get home much later during the holidays. I aim to get up to date by the time I return from Dublin on Monday evening. That also means I'm going to have to miss this coming weekend and hopefully summarise the few days that I'm away for as I did at Reading.
I learnt how to play Peggy Sue (the correct way) and a lot about Inessa Armand who was a revolutionary and feminist.
She had a fling with Lenin and there's a chapter on her in the book I'm reading. She's a very interesting character as she was probably the only person to pierce Lenin's revolutionary exterior and truly know him as a person. A conversation with her would be fascinating. Sadly that opportunity won't arise, what with her being dead and all.
Tuesday 20 October 2009
Leaf Heaven
18th October
I'm really behind on posts at the moment but fortunately have been keeping some notes on what I can write each day in the Moleskin I carry around.
I had a leaf from the Western Wall in Jerusalem pressed in it but I noticed that it's disappeared. Possibly to leaf heaven.
Anyway today I learnt that I need to return to the ideas of the summer holiday posts and work really hard at being productive in the holidays. I failed to do so today and that was quite disappointing. The evening saw me do a lot of reading which I decided was a good use of my time.
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
I'm really behind on posts at the moment but fortunately have been keeping some notes on what I can write each day in the Moleskin I carry around.
I had a leaf from the Western Wall in Jerusalem pressed in it but I noticed that it's disappeared. Possibly to leaf heaven.Anyway today I learnt that I need to return to the ideas of the summer holiday posts and work really hard at being productive in the holidays. I failed to do so today and that was quite disappointing. The evening saw me do a lot of reading which I decided was a good use of my time.
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Monday 19 October 2009
Circle of Surreality
17th October
Sometimes you'll meet somebody and just click. It's quite a surreal thing to happen (especially when you're both sober) because you get on with somebody as if you have known them for ages when in fact you've essentially just met. So obviously that was one of the highlights of my Saturday.
I learnt that all the stuff I've mentioned about having 'faith in people' is redundant. I think I would alter my view on that and just say that you should take people as they come because clearly my mind is being changed frequently.
I also bumped into an ex-step cousin of mine who I hadn't seen in about twelve years. Again, it was another completely surreal experience. What do you talk about? I mentioned how I'd spoken to his Mum on the phone recently. He was quite drunk and probably heard,
"I...phone...your Mum", judging by his bemused and slightly aggressive reaction -
"YOU WHAT?"
- "Your... Mum...calls...we...talk". It was a teensy bit awkward until I explained to him what I was ACTUALLY saying. So I suppose I learnt a little about what happened to that elusive ex-step cousin of mine from ages ago.
To complete this circle of surreality we were in Bethnal Green, which was a decent 40-50 minutes on the tube. Why we decided to go there I will never know as none of us knew how to get to the party from the tube station and there was things to do that were only a bus journey away, however, I'm rather glad we did go in the end.
Sometimes you'll meet somebody and just click. It's quite a surreal thing to happen (especially when you're both sober) because you get on with somebody as if you have known them for ages when in fact you've essentially just met. So obviously that was one of the highlights of my Saturday.
I learnt that all the stuff I've mentioned about having 'faith in people' is redundant. I think I would alter my view on that and just say that you should take people as they come because clearly my mind is being changed frequently.
I also bumped into an ex-step cousin of mine who I hadn't seen in about twelve years. Again, it was another completely surreal experience. What do you talk about? I mentioned how I'd spoken to his Mum on the phone recently. He was quite drunk and probably heard,
"I...phone...your Mum", judging by his bemused and slightly aggressive reaction -
"YOU WHAT?"
- "Your... Mum...calls...we...talk". It was a teensy bit awkward until I explained to him what I was ACTUALLY saying. So I suppose I learnt a little about what happened to that elusive ex-step cousin of mine from ages ago.
To complete this circle of surreality we were in Bethnal Green, which was a decent 40-50 minutes on the tube. Why we decided to go there I will never know as none of us knew how to get to the party from the tube station and there was things to do that were only a bus journey away, however, I'm rather glad we did go in the end.
Sunday 18 October 2009
Real People
16th October
"It's like we're becoming real people"
I thought that was a really insightful comment. He just came out with it and when we turned the notion into a coherent point it seemed a rather clever phrase.
As a lot of us are starting to turn 18, drive and mature it becomes evident that we are slowly being made suitable for our release into society just like 'real people'. It was an off the cuff comment made by a friend of mine but it seemed to really stick out and make sense. We've entered this 'limbo' transition period where the decisions we make and ideas we have will deeply effect the 'real people' we will eventually become. Hmmm.
This miniscule portion of my weekend stuck out and I learnt that I am also becoming one of these 'real people'.
I also learnt a little about the politics behind the Treaty of Versailles after reading a chunk of Peacemakes by Margaret Macmillan.
"It's like we're becoming real people"
I thought that was a really insightful comment. He just came out with it and when we turned the notion into a coherent point it seemed a rather clever phrase.
As a lot of us are starting to turn 18, drive and mature it becomes evident that we are slowly being made suitable for our release into society just like 'real people'. It was an off the cuff comment made by a friend of mine but it seemed to really stick out and make sense. We've entered this 'limbo' transition period where the decisions we make and ideas we have will deeply effect the 'real people' we will eventually become. Hmmm.
This miniscule portion of my weekend stuck out and I learnt that I am also becoming one of these 'real people'.
I also learnt a little about the politics behind the Treaty of Versailles after reading a chunk of Peacemakes by Margaret Macmillan.
Saturday 17 October 2009
Existentialism
15h October
I was surprised by my form tutor who sat me down and told me we were going to have a mock Oxford interview. It went well because I didn't know about it and therefore had no time to get anxious. We essentially just had an interesting conversation about the USSR and my AS level year. So I suppose I learnt about how to carry myself in an Oxford interview, should I be offered one.
I'm reading a 4th book called 'Lenin: Life and Legacy' by Dmitri Volkogonov which is incredibly interesting. I learnt about how Lenin became a revolutionary and his family's background.
I also learnt the basics behind Existentialism. One aspect of it that interested me is the notion that everything everybody does is covered in 'layers'. The example my politics teacher gave is that taking a girl out on a date is basically saying 'will you have sex with me?'. An existentialist would simply ask that question rather than perform the elaborate rooze that masks true intentions. The reason to ask that frank question is that, in existentialism, there is no religion or authoritarian overlooking us which leaves each person free to act as they will. Thus, dressing up social situations becomes redundant and a waste of time as we all only live once. I thought the argument was fascinating and I learnt that I made a mistake in not taking philosophy.
Human Rights
14th October
Students studying Geography for A Level at my school went to a conference on water conflicts. It wasn't as uninteresting as I thought it would be although I take little interest in the subject and the Geography A Level course as a whole. It was chaired by the BBC anchor George Alagiah - who, upon going to the toilet, I saw taking a piss before the lecture. Talk about 'humanising' somebody off the tele...he pisses...JUST LIKE ME!
An interesting point brought up by one of the audience members was the possibility of water access being a human right. I thought that was an extremely intelligent thing to say because the buzz phrase - 'human rights' - seems to be one of the only things that can dampen the exploitation of water usage and purchasing by Trans National Corporations. Once that phrase is thrown about companies suddenly back off and are more willing to alter their ways. More because of the fact that any accusation of human rights abuse will damage product sales than because of the moral downsides to the infringements themselves but either way the point stands.
Sanctions or diplomatic agreements tend to be disproportionate or unfair due to economic and social reasons. For instance one country may be in a stronger financial position than another and therefore be able to demand a greater share of the water. If water was a human right then a state's economy wouldn't provide grounds for the claim of more water. Other countries will just be more skilled negotiators or have a larger proportion of the river basin in question within their own territory and thus would be reluctant to give any potential water supply away. Additionally both of the speakers thought that we may well see 'Water Wars' - similar to those over oil (or Weapons of Mass Destruction depending on how gullible you are) but over water. So I learnt about a potential threat that isn't usually mentioned.
Anyway, I agreed that making water access a human right may well be the only definite way to ensure water is distributed fairly, especially around nations in arid regions like in Sub Saharan Africa. So I learnt to look at this issue in a different light.
I've often referred to the idyll of a place were myself and others like me could just go to hang each weekend without it becoming boring. I think the nearest place to that description is an evening in a pub somewhere. I suppose if that's the closest we can get to my idyllic 'vision' then it'll do. After the lecture a few of us went to a pub in Camden just to hang.
Oddly, I still get that feeling of being out of my own territory when I go to a pub. Similarly if someone asked to see my ID I'd hand it over tongue-in-cheek even though my ID is totally legitimate and states my legal age. I learnt I still get that 'rush'-like feeling I occasionally get when I go into a pub even though I can do it within legal means now. Weird.
Students studying Geography for A Level at my school went to a conference on water conflicts. It wasn't as uninteresting as I thought it would be although I take little interest in the subject and the Geography A Level course as a whole. It was chaired by the BBC anchor George Alagiah - who, upon going to the toilet, I saw taking a piss before the lecture. Talk about 'humanising' somebody off the tele...he pisses...JUST LIKE ME!
An interesting point brought up by one of the audience members was the possibility of water access being a human right. I thought that was an extremely intelligent thing to say because the buzz phrase - 'human rights' - seems to be one of the only things that can dampen the exploitation of water usage and purchasing by Trans National Corporations. Once that phrase is thrown about companies suddenly back off and are more willing to alter their ways. More because of the fact that any accusation of human rights abuse will damage product sales than because of the moral downsides to the infringements themselves but either way the point stands.
Sanctions or diplomatic agreements tend to be disproportionate or unfair due to economic and social reasons. For instance one country may be in a stronger financial position than another and therefore be able to demand a greater share of the water. If water was a human right then a state's economy wouldn't provide grounds for the claim of more water. Other countries will just be more skilled negotiators or have a larger proportion of the river basin in question within their own territory and thus would be reluctant to give any potential water supply away. Additionally both of the speakers thought that we may well see 'Water Wars' - similar to those over oil (or Weapons of Mass Destruction depending on how gullible you are) but over water. So I learnt about a potential threat that isn't usually mentioned.
Anyway, I agreed that making water access a human right may well be the only definite way to ensure water is distributed fairly, especially around nations in arid regions like in Sub Saharan Africa. So I learnt to look at this issue in a different light.
I've often referred to the idyll of a place were myself and others like me could just go to hang each weekend without it becoming boring. I think the nearest place to that description is an evening in a pub somewhere. I suppose if that's the closest we can get to my idyllic 'vision' then it'll do. After the lecture a few of us went to a pub in Camden just to hang.
Oddly, I still get that feeling of being out of my own territory when I go to a pub. Similarly if someone asked to see my ID I'd hand it over tongue-in-cheek even though my ID is totally legitimate and states my legal age. I learnt I still get that 'rush'-like feeling I occasionally get when I go into a pub even though I can do it within legal means now. Weird.
Tuesday 13 October 2009
Caterpillar Cake
Eighteen. Fucking hell.
Nothing changed when I woke up this morning. My mum still screamed "Samuel get up you're going to be late!!" down the stairs and I still showered in a zombie-like state. Now I can vote and drink legally. In fact my sister got me a pint glass!
Going to school on your birthday is really quite pleasant as the first thing most people say to you is accompanied with a friendly smile. Maybe we should all just smile more?
Watch this if you agree and or have 16 minutes to burn: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cbk980jV7Ao
I took in a Caterpillar cake to school for my politics class to dig into which was received well by everyone. I learnt that you can't cut a Caterpillar cake with a plastic knife...
Then in my next class a friend of mine had actually gone and bought a cake for me. I was genuinely touched that he'd bothered to do that. Even if it was just an excuse to eat some chocolate cake during Geography the gesture remains. So i was in a very good mood by the evening.
Steve Merchant will be a fucking massive stand up comedian. My family took me to see him at the Finchley Art Depot - a place I didn't even know existed until today.
On clambered 6ft '7 Steve right in front of us in the studio room of around 80 people. It was very intimate.
Absolutely hysterical. Highly intelligent and enjoyable. A brilliant evening. The previous few sentences resemble extracted quotes from newspaper reviews. Perhaps they might as well be because that's what the papers will be saying! I would give my left bollock (I prefer the right one) to be a stand-up comedian.
Today I learnt that I don't need to wait till a certain day to feel as if people care. There are so many people that sent me nice texts or messages today. I'm far happier than I thought I was.
Nothing changed when I woke up this morning. My mum still screamed "Samuel get up you're going to be late!!" down the stairs and I still showered in a zombie-like state. Now I can vote and drink legally. In fact my sister got me a pint glass!
Going to school on your birthday is really quite pleasant as the first thing most people say to you is accompanied with a friendly smile. Maybe we should all just smile more?
Watch this if you agree and or have 16 minutes to burn: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cbk980jV7Ao
I took in a Caterpillar cake to school for my politics class to dig into which was received well by everyone. I learnt that you can't cut a Caterpillar cake with a plastic knife...
Then in my next class a friend of mine had actually gone and bought a cake for me. I was genuinely touched that he'd bothered to do that. Even if it was just an excuse to eat some chocolate cake during Geography the gesture remains. So i was in a very good mood by the evening.
Steve Merchant will be a fucking massive stand up comedian. My family took me to see him at the Finchley Art Depot - a place I didn't even know existed until today.
On clambered 6ft '7 Steve right in front of us in the studio room of around 80 people. It was very intimate.
Absolutely hysterical. Highly intelligent and enjoyable. A brilliant evening. The previous few sentences resemble extracted quotes from newspaper reviews. Perhaps they might as well be because that's what the papers will be saying! I would give my left bollock (I prefer the right one) to be a stand-up comedian.Today I learnt that I don't need to wait till a certain day to feel as if people care. There are so many people that sent me nice texts or messages today. I'm far happier than I thought I was.
Monday 12 October 2009
My Life so Far
It is the eve of my eighteenth birthday. I'm so excited. Goodbye fake ID (Thought Police - I DO NOT have a fake ID).
Birthdays usually make me feel uncomfortable because I didn't put much effort into being born. My Mum did most of the work. Presents often make me feel awkward and I never ask for anything from people who offer to buy me. This year is no different. However, for the first time since I can remember, I'm looking forward to the extra bit of attention.
I want to start living like an eighteen year old right now! I don't know what 'living like an eighteen year old' means...presumably that I act in exactly the same way I do now but get into pubs.
My sister made me a video for my birthday. We watched it as a family because my Dad would have left in the morning by the time I wake up.
The video was amazing. Possibly the best present I have ever had. It was a collection of film essentially depicting my life so far with Coldplay (my favourite band) playing in the background. It's so odd to think how far I've come, how much I've changed and how much I'm still changing. Although that's probably overly sentimental in regards to a birthday, I truly believe it.
This is a card my family got me that I opened so my Dad could see me open it in front of everyone:
You realise how amazing it is to have people that care about you randomly at different moments. It makes everything else seem completely irrelevant - just like when Grandpa was unwell. I learnt the value of focusing on what I do have, rather than what I don't.
I took a mock HAT test today and I learnt that they are bloody tricky. However, at the same time I learnt a little about the Franks dynasty in the 6th Century. I was in a room with some of the smartest people in our year and felt kind of out of place. Maybe I'm selling myself short but I found it pretty difficult.
Birthdays usually make me feel uncomfortable because I didn't put much effort into being born. My Mum did most of the work. Presents often make me feel awkward and I never ask for anything from people who offer to buy me. This year is no different. However, for the first time since I can remember, I'm looking forward to the extra bit of attention.
I want to start living like an eighteen year old right now! I don't know what 'living like an eighteen year old' means...presumably that I act in exactly the same way I do now but get into pubs.
My sister made me a video for my birthday. We watched it as a family because my Dad would have left in the morning by the time I wake up.
The video was amazing. Possibly the best present I have ever had. It was a collection of film essentially depicting my life so far with Coldplay (my favourite band) playing in the background. It's so odd to think how far I've come, how much I've changed and how much I'm still changing. Although that's probably overly sentimental in regards to a birthday, I truly believe it.
This is a card my family got me that I opened so my Dad could see me open it in front of everyone:
You realise how amazing it is to have people that care about you randomly at different moments. It makes everything else seem completely irrelevant - just like when Grandpa was unwell. I learnt the value of focusing on what I do have, rather than what I don't.
I took a mock HAT test today and I learnt that they are bloody tricky. However, at the same time I learnt a little about the Franks dynasty in the 6th Century. I was in a room with some of the smartest people in our year and felt kind of out of place. Maybe I'm selling myself short but I found it pretty difficult.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
