Summer so far...

Thought I would do an update...

Summer so far, well, it's been pretty quiet and boring lately, got myself an imac, which has been good fun playing with, hopefully with get a new camera for my 21st next month, so more tech to play with.

New photos at my flickr.

June was more eventful for trips and travelling about. July on the other hand has been quiet, too quiet. I have made a website, it's on my university page at users.aber.ac.uk/gjh8. It was made from a simple free template which I then edit and changed, I am planning on developing it over the come year, so it's a bit flashier.

Now, something that's been bugging me, the phone hacking here in the UK. Not really sure on my thoughts on this really, I have never liked News International, News Corp or the Murdochs due their power and control over the British media.

I am glad that the deal for BSkyB have been called off, as I feared this would mean way too much control for one private company, and the practices of the News International have been exposed to the public. Now we see how they gone are their "big stories".

The problem is some of the reactions reported in the media, I find it hard understand how people can't understand why the Met Police or the Prime Minister had to cosy up with News International. Both need public option on their sides and News International as the greatest share of the readership in the country for one media company. Now I think that this is completely wrong for one company to have this power and the fact this people have to play their game to get their stories. But I can understand why it happened, as unfortunately this is the way of this country and the world we live, and that will not change over night. And the problem is the fact News International still have this power is not in the reports, I fear that their grip over the British media, still hasn't really change. Time will tell.

I do feel after watching some to the police being interviewed, they didn't help their cases, and they should have investigated the backgrounds of the former News International staff, rather than just asking them, were you involved in the phone hacking and just taking their answer as truth, it did friends getting jobs friends, the same can be said for the Prime Minister, and Downing Street.

However, it is important to remember that this is a free country, where I can write this, publish it and not live in fear for doing so.

Until next time.

PS, in writing this post, the end of the shuttle era occurred with the safe return of Atlantis back to Earth, http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-14220423 . This will be the topic of my next post I feel.

Time for an update...

Seems a long time since I last wrote a post here, well I have been busy... and frankly lost interest in the blog, however, I am now on another summer break from uni, (which is currently going pretty well) anyway this means more free time.

Also I now own a "smartphone", therefore one of my plans is it have short side notes/photos from where ever I maybe roaming in the country, this brings me to my rant, over the last week and a bit I have been in Aberystwyth, Bath and back home in Kent, this has require me to spend over 24 hours in a train, on a platform or such like. Now first point, LEG ROOM, I am not hugely tall about 6 -6'1 foot (changes with air pressure), but trains seats are too small ie the sit in in front to close.

So on one train I decided to sit at a table. Midday train, pretty quiet, what do I get opposite me, a child who was only 4 foot something, who managed to repeatedly stand on my feet... HOW?

Second point, LACK OF INFO, today the train sat in the middle of the Welsh countryside, for about 10 mins before a reason was given, in result the train was stopped for about 25/30 mins.
Finally get to Aber, after another stop this train without reason.

Third, when the train finally leaves some 45 mins late, the sorry, well to be fair, he might as said "well this was an Arriva Trains Wales train , and this is the final stop, be happy you got here." Also why say thank you for choosing Arriva Trains Wales, like I had the choice in the first place...

However, on a positive note, I did get to read Stephen Hawking's latest book, "The Grand Design", so for my next post I will review/sum up the book.

Until next time.

Ps follow me at twitter http://twitter.com/eosgreg

Two years...

Right, I will be upfront, I haven't got the hang of this blogging lark. I have been trying to keep a blog for the past two years, however I still haven't got it.

Anyway update time, August has been a busy old month, started with Iron Maiden at Sonisphere festival, what away to kick off a month. This was followed by my ending of being a teenager and I enter "true adulthood". Watched the persied meteor shower.

I was a wedding photographer for my uncle in Scotland, which was a

success, dispite some worries before hand, then on to the Lake District, and literally climbed

a mountain, Old Man of Coniston.

View at top.

Then, being a student physicist, I visited Jodrell Bank and the Lovell radio telescope.

This was an enjoyable and very interesting division from the journey home. Hope to return one day and not as a visitor.

O yes I was FINALLY paid for my work at the school, only took 2 months from me finishing at the school. I mean all whole payment problems over £600, it makes me wonder whether if I became a teacher, how long, if at all will I get the "golden hellos" and bursary money from the TDA?

So in three...ish weeks I head back to Aber to start my third year at Uni and I think, wow the past two years have progressed, at a rapid speed, with ups and downs.

But writing this post and thinking back over the past month, the wedding seems as long as the two years ago, I find this the strange and odd thing about time and the human memory.

Time, now there is mystery.

Until next time.

Random Sketch

I have not being blogging, (is that the correct term?) much recently.

Quick recap, got my key to my new flat in Aber, awesome place. Looking forward to living, working and generally being a student within it.

On a cynical note, everything the Tory government seem to make no logical sense... health reform, schools and education, the "big" society. The list is goes on and on.

Also the US with BP and Libya. They seem to think that the UK government must as it is told and if we don't do as told, we go to the headteachers office and get told off.

Then they investigate another country's decision of the release of a prisoner, as if the UK is the 51st State of America...

After looking at the work of Ralph Steadman, I quickly sketched this...

Past week...

The past week has progressed at some rapid speed...still not sure how in ended up being Friday so soon.

This week has been fairly quiet, and strangely productive in away... after last weekend at Brands with my camera, I decide to spent some time using Photoshop Elements 8 to created some digitally manipulated images, which can be found on Flickr, link is on the side.

After watching a film on the life the America writer Hunter S Thompson (famous for Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.) This re-engage my interest in the work of artist Ralph Steadman, who's work I studied during my art A level. So hopefully over the next week, I will make a start on some Steadman style pieces.

Also this week, certain things the Tories are cutting concerned me one is the planned rebuilding of secondary school, this seems short sighted from the government, I feel that need to be proper investment within children of this country to ensure a strong future. It worries me that this is just the privatisation of the state education system in this country, but labelled as a cut. Also could a multi-million pound school not just benefit the children, but also the local community, ie sports and art facilities.

On a positive note about the new government is the science David Willetts who speech at the RI, seemed positive for the future of science research in this country. "Willetts said that science can help to boost growth in an age of austerity"

See http://www.newscientist.com/blogs/thesword/2010/07/uk-science-minister-research-m.html for more info the speech, as I feel I have written enough for today...

PS Good news, I passed my this year at University with a First.

No rant today...

As I posted on Friday, the library has claimed that I had overdue books and a fine greater than £10...

Well, this morning at 8:45 am, I got an apology and confirmation that I didn't have overdue books.

I was impressed at the speed of the reply, normally I am waiting several working days before getting a reply, and that's if get get a reply.

On a geeky/techy note, found this article on New Scientist interesting,

http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn19065-innovation-microsofts-kinect-isnt-just-for-games.html