End of 2009: The Situation So Far

So I survived the Autumn term? It feels like it was a lot of hard work and effort to manage it but in reality it was only brief periods of intense effort surround by prolonged periods of procrastination.

I've not really found any of the individual assignments all that difficult, a fact reflected by the high grades I have been receiving. Much of my submitted work has been hurried last minute efforts yet have still achieved 'Distinction'. I can't help feeling this is just encouraging my bad habits!

The guilt I feel about getting grades better than I really deserve is worsened when I then see classmates who have put far more effort into their work but not achieved as high a mark. While this situation is nothing new (I was always at the top of the class at school) this is the first time I've felt bad about it. Previously I had celebrated my superiority, openly mocking those of my classmates whose efforts were greater than mine but achieved lesser grades. Looking back now... I was an insufferably arrogant prick.

I now know that the real lesson to be learnt was how to study, something which I failed miserably at and was soon brought home to me at A Level. Also I hope that I am far less of an intellectual snob than I was back then, or even since I started this course. I don't think I could now see my superior performance as anything more than lucky happenstance. I know first hand that a nice turn of phrase and a reasonably skilful command of the English language give you a huge advantage. It seems unfair that others in my class are being judged because they lack this, yet I know this is what the real world is like. A poorly written CV or application gets binned automatically in the same way that attractive female applicants automatically get interviews (and jobs unless they are completely incompetent).

I think this situation requires two things from me:
1. Put in a greater amount of effort on my work - This will mean I at least feel I deserve the grades I am being given
2. Help those of my classmates who have asked for it - I haven't ignored their requests by any means but I have tried to avoid getting too involved. Giving something a once over and correcting a few mistakes is a lot different from helping them to understand the reasons for such errors and working with them to improve their writing.

Spring term is fast approaching so I shall have to savour these brief weeks of respite before returning to a New Year of renewed effort and enthusiasm.

Authorised Personnel Only - The Wire: Surveillance Report

The following is from an IT assignment. Unfortunately pictures and formatting have been lost along the way:

AUTHORISED PERSONNEL

ONLY

THE WIRE

SURVEILLANCE REPORT

Western Division, Baltimore PD

SURVEILLANCE SUMMARY REPORT:

Over 60 hours of footage have been dedicated to the problems faced by the city of Baltimore, Maryland (a.k.a. Bodymore, Murderland).

The investigations have been led by a team within the Baltimore PD, and have covered various individuals and organisations involved in:

• 
  Drug  Dealing, Manufacture & Trafficking
  
  
  
• 
  Money  Laundering
  
  
  
• 
  Political  Corruption
  
  
  
• 
  Torture
  
  
  
• 
  Murder
  
  
  

Origins of the case:

D'Angelo Barksdale (nephew of Avon), on trial for murder, was acquitted after a States Witness changed her testimony. It is believed this was due to the orchestrations of Stringer Bell. The second witness who testified against D'Angelo was found dead soon after. At the instruction of Judge Phelan, senior command within Baltimore PD launched a “quick in and out”, “buy/bust” investigation to round up junior members of the Barksdale Organisation. However, the depth of investigation increased as new evidence came to light. This lead to the surveillance operation and ultimately the creation of a specialised division.

The superior nature of the surveillance material has been noted by many experts.

{Ref - http://bit.ly/3c4miC}

PERSONNEL:

DETECTIVE JIMMY McNULTY

Primary detective on the case. Responsible for arousing interest in the 'Barksdale Organisation'  (see notes below), after comments made to Judge Phelan. Out of favour with higher command due to the necessary diversion of resources to fund the investigation.

Performance Review: Numerous disciplinary infractions (Drinking on duty/non-adherence to procedure/conduct unbecoming) but 'natural murder PO-lice'.

DETECTIVE BUNK MORELAND

Homicide Detective - Partner to McNulty. Veteran within the department with a laid back but thorough approach to policing. Occasionally dragged into trouble by his partner but normally is the voice of reason within the pair.

Performance Review: 'Natural PO-lice', warnings issued regarding drinking on duty and conduct unbecoming.

TARGETS:

AVON BARKSDALE

Leader of the Barksdale drugs organisation. At initial launch of the investigation no details beyond his name were known. Subsequent enquires led to the discovery of his 'Golden Gloves' history and the acquisition of a poster bearing his photograph. Sister and Nephew are also involved to varying degrees within the family business. Rules by equal measures of intimidation and charisma. Majority of the decisions, responsibilities and issuance of orders are orchestrated by his second in command 'Stringer Bell'.

STRINGER BELL

The strong right hand of the Barksdale crew, Stringer seems determined to change the way in which the gang does business. Early surveillance has shown his attendance at evening classes in Economics, with application of the lessons learnt to the trade of drugs both a street and citywide levels. Intelligent and ruthless, his  influence upon the city of Baltimore is widespread and malignant.

ADDITIONAL:

OMAR LITTLE

As investigations have progressed other persons of interest have brought themselves to the attention of the surveillance teams. Linked to a string of armed robberies against members of the 'Barksdale Organisation', Omar Little has become a figure of fear in Western Baltimore, despite his open homosexuality. Only attacking those involved in the sale of drugs, his presence (noted by his habit of whistling “The Farmer in The Dell”) on a street, still inspires panicked residents to flee in terror. Can be recognised by his prominent scar, kevlar vest and shotgun. Has a strong aversion to profanity.

PRESIDENTIAL INTEREST

President Barack Obama, has revealed a strong interest in the progress of these reports, with particular attention being paid to the actions of Omar Little. {Ref - http://bit.ly/2q3DOj}

The Polanski Problem

An English assignment, examining the case against Roman Polanski:

The Polanski Problem

On September 26th, Swiss police at Zurich Airport arrested Oscar winning film director Roman Polanski. It was an event which has sparked debate on both sides of the Atlantic, and is but the latest dramatic chapter in Polanski's remarkable life. Considered a flight risk by Swiss authorities, Polanski is currently being held in Zurich where he is likely to remain during what may be a lengthy battle against extradition to the United States.

His arrest is due to events 30 years in the director's past. Accused of drugging and raping 13 year old Samantha Gailey at the Los Angeles home of actor Jack Nicholson, Polanski was arrested and charged with several offences in relation to the incident. After agreeing a plea bargain, the greater charges were dismissed with Polanski pleading guilty to “engaging in unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor” and reporting to Chino State Prison for a court ordered 90-day psychiatric evaluation from which he was released after 42 days.

A sentence hearing was to follow, but Polanski failed to attend having fled the country. The documentary film 'Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired' alleges this was in response to the prosecution's coaching of the judge and the fear of a lengthy prison sentence, instead of the probation they had been promised in the course of the plea bargain.

In the intervening years Polanski has not returned to the United States. When he was awarded the '2002 Academy Award for Directing' for his film 'The Pianist' he could not attended the ceremony for fear of arrest. It was revealed that Polanski reached a $500,000 settlement with his victim in 1993, an amount which had increased through non-payment to nearly $605,000 in August 1996.

Clearly there are several legal aspects within the saga, which are likely to take several years to resolve. They begin with Polanski's current incarceration in a Zurich cell. The United States have 60 days from his arrest to apply for his extradition, which they are expected do so well within their allotted time. This seems the most clear cut of the legal challenges, the treaty between the US and Switzerland and Polanski's status as a convicted felon who has fled, both weigh heavily against the director's case. I see no reason to expect Polanski should not be returned to the United States to face the more serious charges.

In December 2008, Polanski's lawyers sought to the case against him dismissed due to the allegations of judicial and prosecutorial misconduct. The request was dismissed at the time due to Polanski's reluctance to appear in Los Angeles court, where he would have been subject to arrest. If extradited, this request will undoubtedly be resubmitted.

A victory for Polanski in this battle would not necessarily free him, as he could potentially still face charges relating to his having 'fled the jurisdiction'. An outright defeat would leave him facing the sentencing hearing he avoided over 30 years ago and the possible imposition of a weighty sentence due to his guilty plea and his attempt to avoid punishment. There is however a third option, in which Polanski could find himself, for the first time, facing a trial in relation to the initial charges from which this circus has grown.

While Polanski agreed to plead guilty as part of his plea bargain, it may be argued that he only did so in fear of the consequences should he lose a trial. It is unlikely this scenario will ever arise and so we are unlikely to ever have the trial, which would make clear the events from 30 years ago.

Polanski, like other infamous public figures, clearly seems to be guilty of something, but what charge (if any) he will receive punishment for, is yet to be seen.

English - Comparison of 'Gin Lane' and 'Beer Street'

A recent assignment for English:

A Comparison of Hogarth's Prints 'Gin Lane' and 'Beer Street'

Issued by William Hogarth in 1751, the prints 'Gin Lane' and 'Beer Street' served as his contribution to the debate on the evils of gin. His position was made clear by the shocking differences between the two pieces.

With the two placed side by side, it's the print of Gin Lane which contains the more eye catching imagery. its depictions of a society ravaged and ruined by gin are in stark contrast to the partnering print, with a warm collection of amiable looking souls enjoying homegrown, wholesome, British beer. The overall impression of the prints is their depiction of opposites. The inhabitants of Gin Lane are shown struggling in a world of despair and decay, while their neighbours live in peaceful prosperity.

The characters are given a detailed backdrop to play against. In both, businesses and buildings provide insight into the economic situations the societies are in. On Gin Lane, businesses cater to the demand for gin or the consequences of its presence. We see the gin cellar with the inscription upon its lintel “Drunk for a penny, Dead drunk for twopence, Clean straw for nothing”, calling patrons into its subterranean depths. Above is the aptly named Kilman distillery, the source of the surrounding misery. We are shown the undertakers hard at work, their services in great demand with new customers in abundance. Among them is the unfortunate barber who has hung himself from the rafters in the decrepit room above his shop. The people of Gin Lane seem to have little use for a shave and haircut.

The most prosperous fellow we see on Gin Lane is Mr Gripe the pawnbroker. Unlike the barber, his trade is very much in demand by the denizens of Gin Lane and he is busy dealing with two customers at once. The desperate souls have been driven to selling their essential possessions to fund their addiction.
In contrast, on Beer Street it is the local pawnbroker Mr Pinch who finds himself fallen on hard times. His is the only property in disrepair and no customers await his attention. Outside his door is a scene of prosperity and wealth. There is a feeling of happiness on Beer Street with smiling faces and flirtations in evidence. They certainly seem well fed with plump faces and bulging stomachs.

Rounded bellies are not in evidence on Gin Lane. Instead we have the emaciated figure in soldiers garb, dead or dying at the foot of the stairs. Above him a dog and boy fight over a bone. There are none of the baskets of fresh produce which are shown on Beer Street.

The blacksmith is shown brandishing a leg of ham or mutton, although in earlier issues it was instead a depiction of a Frenchman being ejected by the more muscular man. Professor Ronald Paulson suggests that this amendment was made to avoid confusion with the ragged sign-painter.

He is a lone figure, towering above the corpulent fellows below as he paints a sign advertising gin. Why his appearance is so different is unclear. Perhaps there is so little demand for the spirit here that he makes little money advertising it for sale? He may also be a harbinger, quite literally a sign of things to come where the perils of gin could be visited upon the unsuspecting population he surveys.

The images of the children of Gin Lane are arguably the most horrific. The sight of the baby as it begins its fatal tumble into the stairwell below is the focus of the piece. The mother seems unaware of its fate as she sits half clothed and sore ridden reaching for a pinch of snuff. More sickening yet is the madman brandishing the body of a babe impaled upon a stick, while yards away sits a crying newly orphaned infant, its mothers body being placed into a coffin.

If these are the strongest of the images used there are also subtler workings in evidence. Take the contrast of the sedan chair, conveying its passenger in relative comfort through the busy Beer Street. On Gin Lane the transport is a little less refined, as we see a woman being wheeled in a barrow, another female feeding her gin.

Although it may not be apparent at first glance, there are similarities within the scenes. The majority of characters in both are depicted with a drink close to hand. There are also very few persons captured in the act of working, the exceptions providing a stark contrast. The sign-painter completing his sign for gin on Beer Street and the industrious few on Gin Lane who profit from the suffering around them. While both locations contain a pawnbroker their situations differ greatly and if the inhabitants of either locale choose to raise their eyes from their busy surroundings, they will see the spires of churches looking down upon them. A reminder perhaps that God watches over rich and poor alike.

Sociology - Norms and Values

The following is the first of my assignments for sociology:

“Explain the sociological concepts of norms and values”

Sociology is the systematic study of human behaviour in groups. It examines how people interact in different social structures such as teams, families, at work and in online communities. It is a branch of, and is often synonymous with, social science. It has a broad reach, encompassing all aspects of human social interaction, allowing it to cover a wide range of topics including religion, sexuality, gender, culture, education and deviance.

Two fundamental concepts within sociology are those of norms and values. They help to describe the framework of perceptions and ideas which influence an individual's or group's behaviour.
Norms are the behavioural expectation that a group will follow. An action dictated by socially approved rules, a norm will differ from group to group. The rough-housing between members of a football team is unlikely to be acceptable in an office environment.

Norms can be divided into descriptive and injunctive varieties. A descriptive norm is an individual's perception of the usual action in a particular set of circumstances, such as joining the back of a queue. An injunctive norm is the perception of what is acceptable or unacceptable within a society, as determined by the values of a particular culture. While in one culture haggling for prices is expected and encouraged, in another it can be seen as offensive.

Values are the ideas which define what is good, right or fair. They are held by individuals and groups and are a product of the culture they find themselves within. A person's values may be tied to their religious or political beliefs, influenced by their family, heritage and upbringing, or by their social environment. Specific to an individual, they differ from person to person. An example of which could be the level of altruism or selfishness they show to others.

A group's values are determined by the values of it's members. They define what is important to the group and can be demonstrated in those individuals a group chooses to praise or condemn. The brave fire fighter, the compassionate hospice nurse, the evil drug dealer or soulless murderer all show traits and behaviours regarded by the society as inherently good or evil.

Not all members of the society will share these values. Some may find themselves forming a smaller group with others who share their differing values, thus forming a subculture. They can find a basis in any shared social characteristic, from taste in music to ethnicity and can involve particular styles of dress or language which distinguish them from the primary culture. For example, naturists do not share society's values in regards to social nudity and are clearly differentiated by their alternative choice of dress code.

Norms and values are closely linked, with norms outlining acceptable behaviour in a situation while values determine what should be considered good or bad.

Getting Down To Business

This morning, despite being unbelievably tired, it was time for the first class in one of our core subjects, History.

This was a chance for us to see how the class was going to work together in the year ahead. With group work and some lively discussion I think we'll enjoy our Wednesday mornings. We're going to be covering 'The Russian Revolution(s)', 'The rise of the Nazis in Germany' and 'Britain, France and de-colonisation'. Interesting topics and ones which I haven't studied before so I doubt I'll be getting bored.

Before getting stuck into the first unit we were given a list of common terms we'll be encountering in the months ahead. Whilst familiar, some of them were surprisingly hard to put definitions to.

See what you think:

• monarchy
• constitutional monarchy
• democracy
• emperor / empress
• communism
• socialism
• nationalism
• industrialisation
• conservatism
• liberalism

We get a longer lunch on a Wednesday, giving us a chance to gather our energies for a session of Psychology in the afternoon.

It got off to a shaky start. We switched classrooms to avoid a half time room change and it took a while for the lesson to pick up a smooth rhythm. Considering how big a part it'll be playing in our course I was surprised by the relatively scant knowledge the group had on the subject (admittedly mine is no better).

We won't get to the good stuff until the end of the course in our 'Abnormal and Clinical Psychology' unit but there's plenty to keep us busy in the preceding three. I'm a little daunted by the complexity and range of the subject, trying to figure out the depth of study that'll be required might take some time.

The group seems to be bonding, mixing well and helping each other out. We gained a new member today in Adam, but Robbie was a no show and we're still waiting for Sarah to join us. Hopefully we'll be up to full strength soon.

It's just a few hours tomorrow, an hour in tutor group and a second on IT Skills before we're done for the week.

Adding It Up

After failing to set my alarm clock it was a later than expected start this morning. I still arrived with time to spare for my first lesson of the day... Mathematics.

I've always loved Maths. I seem to have an instinctual understanding for most of it and over the years I've derived a great deal of satisfaction from displaying my affinity for the subject.

I recall being made to memorise my 'Times Tables' by my Dad long before they were ever mentioned at school, standing while I recited the whole series up to "twelve times twelve is one hundred and forty four". Now the rote memorisation of multiplications seems a forgotten art, replaced by constant access to calculators throughout school life. My youngest sister, aged 14, was never required to learn them and the effect this has on her mathematical abilities is beginning to show as she begins her first GCSE year.

I'm thankful for my prowess with numbers and formulae. With it I acquired two maths GCSEs at grade A, completing the standard course in the first year before undertaking another in Statistics during the second.

The mathematics on our course is of GCSE level so I wasn't expecting to find it too challenging this morning. I was looking on it as a chance to refresh a skill set that had been allowed to atrophy through a decade of disuse.

The first half of the class was a recap of some basics but after we returned from a short break an old nemesis from my childhood confronted me once more..

Long division, I managed to get through my life so far without learning it but it's finally caught up with me. I've always disliked it's singular inelegance when compared to other mathematical techniques. It lacks the beauty and grace which maths so often possesses, instead displaying it's clunky and unwieldy working across huge swathes of paper. I'll now be practicing this 'basic' technique in the coming weeks as the lessons become more advanced and in a perverse way easier.

When lunchtime rolled around it was more than welcome and I dared to hope that our afternoon class in 'Study Skills' would prove easier  provender. My wish was fulfilled as the first portion of the course is devoted to our imminent UCAS applications. Whilst there are some tough decisions to be made there will be nothing as fearsome as long division to face.

As a parting note, I submit for your consideration a (in)famous piece of maths:

One Day Down

Heading home at 3pm? It's been a long time since I last kept those kind of hours.

My anxieties were building last night and on into this morning but it didn't take long for them to disappear once we got started. Our usual Monday morning Sociology class was replaced today by a general introduction to the course. We went over the structure and objectives and things got a little less scary.

I've learnt that I'll need a bigger breakfast (with some coffee) to make it through the morning classes, by 10:30 I was stifling yawns as my stomach rumbled. Luckily our tutor Yvette wrapped things up with an hour to spare so it was a chance to grab a discounted latte and get to know some of my classmates for the year ahead.

It turns out one of my fellow students, Ricardo, was a couple of years below me at school and is best friends with my cousin. It's a small world isn't it? As for the others on the course, it's a good mix of people in the class with a lot of different backgrounds and experiences. I'm not the youngest by any means but I'm not the oldest either so that's one worry assuaged.

After our long lunch it was time for English with Steve Fitzpatrick, complete with our first writing assignment. Admittedly it was just a short piece giving some background about ourselves. It seems we'll be doing a lot of work in groups and pairs so there'll be an emphasis on discussion over dictation, which suits me perfectly. We've got four English units during the 33 weeks of the course, with our grades dependent on the successful completion of three essays and an oral presentation.

A little light homework covering some of the most common spelling mistakes topped of the end of a great first day. Tomorrow I'm facing a hard morning of Maths with a Study Skills session after lunch.

The Night Before

At 09:30 tomorrow morning it begins...

My first class in nearly ten years is a two hour Sociology lesson, and while I'm not expecting it to be too challenging, I've never studied Sociology before so it will be a new experience for me.

My second class is after lunch, two and half hours of English and this is where I think the struggle will begin. I always found it a challenge to stay focused in classes dealing with topics I felt I already had a good understanding of. I need to set aside any arrogant belief in my superiority and be open to retreading old ground in the hopes of discovering something new.

While the college provides courses for those aged 16 and upwards, my course is for mature students only so it shouldn't feel too old. Four and half hours isn't an overly strenuous workload for my first day but nonetheless I'm approaching it with a degree of trepidation and nervous energy.

College Supplies

So today I went into town to collect the bits and pieces I'd need for my first Monday at college. I had already picked up a few essentials but there were still a few items to procure.

The college had provided me with a list of equipment and supplies, which I of course have chosen to reinterpret, amend and ignore to suit my own preference. Pens and lined A4 paper were the lonely few who emerged unscathed.

I have replaced 'pencils' with auto pencils (the one's that look like a pen but actually contain pencil 'leads').

I have ignored the instruction stating a pocket dictionary is essential, but as I'm typing this my dictionary in OpenOffice is under the impression that 'actrually' is a word so I might wish to reconsider.


I only picked up ring binders instead of the ring binders and lever arch files I was instructed to. This was after calculating the space in my bag after a lever arch file was inserted and realising it wasn't going to work out. The reason space in my messenger bag is at such a premium, concerns one of my earlier purchases.

Through some administrative oversight a brand new, sexy, shiny laptop was not listed as an essential on the equipment list?

After hours scouring the internet for reviews and technical specifications that left me more confused than when I'd started, I set my heart on the new Acer Timeline 15", lightweight and with 8 – 9 hours of battery life! I saw it in the shop, talked to the sales man about it and was ready to hand my cash over. Just before he went off to look for one in the store room I asked if he could let me get online and see how it coped with HD YouTube videos. (What? I'm sure a lot of my course will involve in-depth research of online video).

He returned, carrying the slimline box with my desired beauty in it but after seeing my face realised what had happened. After his earlier assurances that a 1.4 GHz single core processor would easily handle all my day to day requirements it became obvious he'd been incorrect. Comparing it to one of the 2 GHz dual core machines surrounding it the difference was huge. It seems I'd narrowly avoided paying out for a Netbook in Notebook casing (very sexy casing though it may have been).

Undaunted, I looked around and soon found another shiny toy that would fulfil my needs.

I'm now the happy owner of a 17" Acer Aspire with 2 GHz dual core and 4Gb of RAM. It's light for it's size, far lighter than the 17" Dell Studio it finds itself sharing a house with. Luckily I'm a big guy so hauling even the bulkiest of laptops around is no issue but it does mean there's a little less space in my bag for my first day back on Monday.

What?

Monday will mark my first day in education for nearly a decade. I thought it appropriate to record my thoughts on the matter and try to keep track of my progress throughout the coming year.

Since the completion of my A-levels in 2000 I've been absent from the halls of knowledge. I never considered University, submitted no UCAS application and was already working full time when the summer began. I can't tell if it was a mistake, who knows what effect such early decisions may have? It is however one of my greatest regrets. Disallusioned as I had become with education, we parted ways just before the relationship would have fundamentally changed and finally offered challenge beyond the restrictions of a mundane curriculum.

Now I'm begining a one year Access to Higher Education course in Humanities and Social Science. If all goes to plan, September 2010 should see me starting a degree at University. I've still got to decide which subject(s) it will be in and where I'll be studying it so there's a lot of research to do and some big decisions to be made.

All of these are in addition to the everyday trials and tribulations of life. Finding a part time job, sorting out budgets/finances and generally getting myself a little more organised than I have been.

It promises to be a challenging experience and I'm hoping to capture as much of it as I can here.

Wish me luck.