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

Back to Aber...

So tomorrow I return to Aber, for my third year there and to start my second year of my degree, it's a long and complex story, but basically wrong A level choices and therefore a foundation year was needed.

This year is shaping up to be the best yet, the physics ramps up in terms of interest and also difficultly. Over the next year more of my time is taken up with space and astrophysics, the area of physics I find most interesting.

But before I get there I have had the joy of packing... should be able to do it by now, but I still hate it.

Anyway, this summer break has flown by very quickly, it doesn't seem possible for nearly 4 months to have past. One minute I was on my school placement, next in Scotland, then packing for starting a new year in Aber. Madness. It has been a busy summer, but also at times very quiet.

Anyway, hopefully the blog will last the next year, so after I am doing my best in three years of trying. Maybe third time lucky.

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.

Weekend...

Not a great deal has happened, therefore a lack of stuff to write a blog on really. Anyway is a run down what has happened since the last post;

Friday evening was very geeky/nerdy, a friend is back into retro/older gaming. So this took us on a memory trip with Crash Bandicoot on the Playstation. I remember first playing it at his at the age of 7... anyway nearly 13 years later and after 3 and a bit hours of spinning boxes and jumping over pits, the game was completed... then I remembered the frustration of playing such platform games. God idea of the level is simple, but getting the timings right...so frustrating at points

Saturday was lazy.

Sunday saw me at Brands Hatch watching classic old Forumla One cars race around the Grand Prix loop which was celebrating 60 years of racing. The old F1 cars are awesome to watch race, the noise and smell is intoxicating.
Some of the guys are not messing around when it comes to the racing...



This was the pass for the lead...close. More photos at http://www.flickr.com/photos/eosgreg/

On a different note, but still involving heavy metal. I finally watched the Story of Anvil film.

They are a band from Canada, inspired bands like Metallica, Megadeth...etc
They toured Japan with Whitesnake, Bon Jovi and Scorpions in '84. But they didn't make it, was of poor management and production, but they never gave up...



Pretty good and interesting film, shows how harsh the music business can be.

An evening at the Royal Institute...

Yesterday evening I went to the Royal Institute of Great Britain for a join event between the Royal Institute (RI), Institute of Physics (IOP)and the TDA.
The event was aimed at people thinking of becoming a physics teacher as a possibly career. (This was partly the reason for me attending the event, but more I just wanted to have a look around the RI.)

The RI is located in one the most exclusive parts of London, Mayfair. The impressive building is surrounded by some of the most expensive designer shops known to the Capitalist World.



The evening was made up of two parts, formal talks from the IOP, TDA and RI. I apologise for all the acronyms. The lecture theatre was more like a theatre that would be found it the West End of London. Then there was a "networking" session ie meeting teachers, people who run PGCE course etc, however this took place in what was the labs for Michael Faraday and alike. As a physics geek, I found this very interesting being surrounded with so much scientific history, maybe even more than the talks about teaching.

This event confirmed my feeling and thought about teaching after I completed my school placement.

Now for a bit of Art?

Once I got to London I decided to venture to the Tate Britain, a galley with a good mix of modern and classical art. Now, I did an A level in Art and Photography and they nearly went to Uni to study one.

Well in the main galley I was welcomed by a Harrier fighter jet hanging from the roof.

So the Summer begins...

My summer break really started yesterday, as once I was home from Aber, I start working on the following Monday... so for the past three weeks I been subjected to 6:30 am wake ups and commuting to the school.

I was taking part in the SAS training scheme from the government, and no, it wasn't the secret air service but the student associate scheme. The schemes aim is to encourage physics and maths students to consider a possible career in teaching after graduation. So I spend three weeks working at a local grammar school within the science department.

The experience gained for my time at the school was invaluable, not only did I get a insight in the education system from the teachers viewpoint,something I never really got to see as a pupil. One of the challenging parts, was thinking of ways to explain aspects of physics so the pupils could understand. This came important in the second week due to staff absences, I was placed in physics classes with a cover teacher, but I did most of the teaching. However, some of the pupils questions showed they had a real interest in the subject, therefore showed a real enthusiasm for the subject, whic made in worth while and enjoyable.

So, after spending the time in the school, teaching it a very possible career after I graduation, even if that is still 3 years away.

I would definitely recommend anyone to take part in the scheme, even if you haven't thought about teaching as career...plus you get paid £600 :)

Libraries...

Today, I checked my university email. I found to my surprise an email claiming I had a fine over £10 to pay on an outstanding book.

So I checked Voyager, (this is the computer system at Aberystwyth University use to manage the library resources, as with most computer systems it is unreliable). However, it worked and showed what I expect... no outstanding books on my account. As a physics student, I have only ever taken one book out of the library, in two years of being at university.

So, I emailed the people I think should know, see if I get a reply... if that happens.

The other thing, the email wasn't sent to me, but it was in my inbox?? How can this happen??

On a random note, does South Africa also sounds like bees in the background?

Rant over.

New Summer...new blog idea

For the past two years over the summer period I think to myself "hmmm starting a blog would be a good idea"

However I always lose interest, maybe lack of effort, or a rubbish idea, for example last years one... I was to take and post a photograph everyday for a year... Well one year later and it failed.

The year before...failed.

But this time it will be better, third time lucky and all.

So enjoy... the random rants for a cynical scientist looking at the world and commenting.

Day 15-Heading home…

Taken from the train window before leaving Aber this morning. I finally got home at 4:15pm after nearly 7 hours of travelling, 3 trains and 1 tube…

Now I have the task for unpacking… :(

Day 14-New Room…

This is my new room in Aber for next year. I know it looks bare but once I move in, it will look more homely. Also hopefully there will be room for an armchair in the corner which this photo was taken from … :)

Day 13-Part 2…Room for the night

This is the room I had for the night, it has an awesome sea view. It was great to watch sun setting into the sea over Aber. Shame uni rooms are not the same real…

Day 13- Moved Out...Kind of Homeless

Well today's post is different from the aim of this blog ie there will no be photos posted.
This will be the case for the next few days I as I am living in a hotel and I have packed and sent home my laptop with my parents. Then I will be moving in to my new house on Monday, and heading home of the Tuesday, by train yay 6 hours on 3 trains and a tube :(

So all be well I hopefully post photos on Tuesday evening once I am home. I have a camera to capture the next few day so I maybe have to break the rules and post more than one photo for each day.

Hopefully I might be able to update the blog via the medium of the written word for the next few day, however this is against the aim of the blog. (If my phone wasn't so rubbish I would have been able to sent photos to my blog via MMS...but o well)

Day 12-Moving…

Packing up uni room ready to move on to the new house in Aber. Without a night with a room before I could moving in the house.

Day 11-Packing up

Today I started the task of packing up my uni room, I unbelievable the amount of stuff that I have gained over the last 9 months and also the amount of stuff that I brought with me and not used… 

Day 10-The new local…

Tonight I went to a great pub in Aber called Scholars, with some friends as we had all finished our exams for the first year…

Day 8-Bored….

Today, well I haven’t done much… apart from play 2 and a bit hours of bad pool. I did something productive this morning I updated and put some of my work into different group pools and got some positive feedback on Flickr, today's photo shows the number of views I get. Hopefully in the summer months I will pick up the camera more, possibly some new Lego stop frame animations… one is near the end, also I am starting to think of plans for the next one.

Day 6-Final week in Aberystwyth

So it’s almost my final week in Aberystwyth, and finally I got to the beach to get some photos of a cracking sunset, I will be put more on my flickr page, the link is on the right.

I can’t believe how fast my first year at uni has got…

Day 5-Rocking in the Castle

Today was the free music event in the castle, it was alright, only stayed for a couple of hours. Once again sunny in Wales!!!