Fulfilling student stereotypes – Part 2

I've been planning to get more photos printed, but haven't found time to get around to it. I have found more voucher codes for free prints but I fancied bigger ones than 4x6 or 6x8s. The existing A4 prints were made by myself, but they gobbled up the ink cartridges in my home printer. The compromise? The students union print shop. For 23p a page, 5p glossy print surcharge, and a £1.50 "under £5 from USB" surcharge it wasn't too costly to get 8 prints made. Not as high quality as the home prints because they're not on genuine photo card/paper, and they're not printed to the edge, but I'm happy enough.

So, what pictures have I had produced for me? The now iconic Obama "Hope" poster, and two satirical pastiches thereof based on Darwin and Griffin (all on right). There's images of Valentino Rossi and Bettie Page (both left) to reflect the main pin-board photo array (see October blog 'part 1'). Another Bouguereau offering entitled "The Nymphaeum", and a performance shot of Jacques Brel (top left and right, respectively). Finally an image that captured my imagination when I first saw it. It's a shot of Gaza-based American freelance journalist Erin Cunningham speaking with a group of Hamas militia in the spring of 2009 (top centre - original).

As with my previous entry on this theme, here is a view of the end product:



Oh, and that in the middle? Just my write-on/wipe-off scheduler so I don't forget when I need to get on campus.

NB - It's my photography that's wonky, not the pictures.

Intelligence Squared

A debate was recently held by "Intelligence Squared", with the topic being "The Catholic church is/isn't a force for good".

Arguing for the church was Archbishop John Onaiyekan, and Conservative MP Anne Widdecombe. Against were Christopher Hitchens and Stephen Fry.

It was a quite marvellous thing to watch. I shall not spoil things for you, as I've included a link to a YouTube play-list for you to see for yourself. What I will say though is my own piece. I think that church organisations on the whole can do some wonderful things and provide funding for some quite incredible works of social good. However, the only advantages they have over secular organisations are their long established nature and resulting depth of financial resources and devoted following. There is nothing of 'goodness' whatsoever in any believer of any faith that can not be found in any secular person. The works that can be done by any man or woman given the resources to do so are equally wonderful and incredible. On the other hand I think the pernicious influence of organised religion with established hierarchies is far reaching and for want of a better word, quite 'evil'. The ready condemnation of individuals and groups based on how they were born, and the 'choice' they make (if one can ever be said to be there) to live freely and honestly as nature made them, is unforgivable.
Furthermore, and in particular reference to the Catholic Church, the damage done by policies surrounding birth control (particularly condoms) is nothing short of dogmatic murder. This "loving genocide" could be reversed with a diktat from one man and his role. On and on the men in that position of power have refused to save the lives of millions. How can any person whose faith imposes such an atrocity claim it is a force for good?

This was my opinion before watching, and remains as such.

Watch and make your own mind up, or have it reaffirmed. Have a particularly close look at the results of an audience poll taken before the debate began, and re-taken after. The link is below.

Intelligence Squared



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Musings on the media.

With regard to when a child is lost, missing, abused, killed, injured, harmed etc, is it my imagination or is it a recent phenomena (last 3yrs or so) that the press always prefix their name with "little"?

It's annoying the hell out of me (not whether or not it's recent, but that they do it at all). In my oh-so humble opinion, when they do this it ceases to be journalism or reporting of the news, but instead becomes a maudlin trick in peddling a story.

Answers on a postage stamp, addressed to "Mr Out-Of-Touch, Possibly Offensive Avenue, Grumpyland"...

Grades

Despite being a man who lives quite untidily, doesn't mind tasks being left unfinished (if it won't inconvenience anybody and the world won't come to a premature end as a result), and tends to put things off repeatedly until the last minute, I'm beginning to realise there's a streak of perfectionism within me.

I'm frustrated when I'm awarded decent grades that are above average. This is because there's higher available and I didn't achieve them.
I'm frustrated that I don't always find ways to word things economically and accurately even though the idea might be sat in my head.
Equally I can often have a great idea within my head but relaying it verbally eludes me. Double whammy.

The only ways to get my point across in class or in essays are handicapped by the tangled spaghetti of thoughts and my inability to untangle them effectively. This again means lower grades.

But if I'm getting decent grades then why am I worried? Because I'm reasonably sure if I knew how to say what I want to say then I could achieve more. I am my own limitation, and I've no idea how to fix it. For sure not putting things off would help in a major way - but that extra half hour on a little more comedy, that extra glass of wine, it can't hurt... Oops!

I'm my own worst enemy.

Time to grow up, perhaps? Less play, more work? Accept my limitations? I hope the answer to all these is a resounding "No!". I wonder if it would be any easier if I had any clue at all what the hell I want to do when the next four years are over? How can I be focused and driven, like some of the kids on this course that I'm beginning to admire, when I don't know what I'm focusing on and driving towards?

So easy to say "sod it!" and open another bottle of wine, and let Mr Château Musar take care of the dark ideas for a while longer. Maybe not at £25 a bottle. Might be a while before I can replenish stocks!

Just like my essays - I've rather wandered off point. Gone from self-critique and introspection to (mental) self-flagellation and morbidity in under 300 words. Oops x2! :)