Okay so after spending my summer revising not relaxing I got the good news the other day. I've passed second year and will be going on to do my third and final year at Swansea. Scary times! I can't believe that this time next year I will have graduated. I will be a graduate. I'm aiming for a first class but if I come away with a 2:1 I'll be just as happy.
This is the year that really counts. The year I have to knuckle down and do some damned hard graft. I apologise unreservedly in advance if I turn into a stressed out snarling wreck in the process. It really isn't personal.
Exciting times indeed. I'm really going to miss Swansea when I leave I think. Its a nice little city with a good vibe to it.
Thematic Photographic - Elemental
Okay so after having watched Dennis doing this for a while I thought I'd give it a go :D.
Seems to be each wednesday a new theme is announced at and you then post in a comment a link to an old or new picture that you feel represents that theme.
This week's theme is Elemental. For me possibly the most fascinating element of the traditional earth-wind-fire-water variety is fire. I spin fire as part of my uni's circus skills society, the Visual Arts Soc. I therefore felt that this theme would be best represented by a photo I took of one of my friends spinning fire down on Swansea Bay. The image of the flames reminded me of celtic knotwork hence the photograph's title.
Download Festival 2009 - T-minus 2 days and counting
First ever festival and to say I was excited would be understating it. I'm nervous and a little scared but so excited. It's kinda exhilerating. Still got a couple of things I need to get, such as alcohol and by the looks of the weatherforcast an umbrella. 60% chance of rain! Booo!
Can't wait.
The redundancy of tipp-ex?
Has tipp-ex become redundant?
Do you think the rise of computers and word-processing has wiped out the need for this stuff?
I found today that of the two bottles of correction fluid that I own, one of them ad completly dried up despite having been used almost never. I hardly ever use the stuff anymore, I don't handwrite much anymore except for lecture notes in class which are usually written so quickly that simply crossing out works better. I invariably type up my notes later.
It is only during revision times that I ever seem to use this stuff, when I'm trying to make my revision notes as clear as possible.
So what about you? When was the last time you used correction fluid? Do you even own any at the moment?
On the mend
I'm beginning to get better after a few fairly horrid days of dealing with this Chicken Pox. I have more energy and I'm able to eat again. Some of the spots have gone as well though I still have a ridiculously sore throat. Still it could be worse, it could have been swine flu.
Chicken Pox
Bah Humbug!
I hate Chicken Pox.
It is evil, evil, evil.
I have no energy, am so itchy its unreal and the healing spots are painful. I have spots in places I didn't know existed. It sucks so much!
I hate Chicken Pox.
It is evil, evil, evil.
I have no energy, am so itchy its unreal and the healing spots are painful. I have spots in places I didn't know existed. It sucks so much!
Darn you Microsoft!
Okay objection!
I am outraged that I can't update my legitamate copy of Microsoft Word 2007 from a legitamate copy of Windows XP without loading up Internet Explorer specifically to do so.
I use Firefox as my default browser but Microsoft won't let you update from Firefox! You MUST use IE to access this site.
I don't see why its any of their dammned business whether or not I use firefox or not. It isn't even as if they get more money from me using IE, the programme is free!
Grrr, pfft, grrr!
*grumps*
I am outraged that I can't update my legitamate copy of Microsoft Word 2007 from a legitamate copy of Windows XP without loading up Internet Explorer specifically to do so.
I use Firefox as my default browser but Microsoft won't let you update from Firefox! You MUST use IE to access this site.
I don't see why its any of their dammned business whether or not I use firefox or not. It isn't even as if they get more money from me using IE, the programme is free!
Grrr, pfft, grrr!
*grumps*
Dyscalculia and me
And so finally, I have the answer to the years of hell in maths class.
On April 2nd 2009 I was offially diagnosed with a learning disability called Dyscalculia.
I can't tell you how much of a relief it has been to finally know I'm not just stupid. I perform well in most everything else but maths always eluded me.
The educational psychologist who came into uni and conducted the assesment concluded that in terms of maths ability I am in the bottom 2% of my age group and in terms of linguistic/literacy ability I am in the top 2%. Such a massive difference points to a specfic processing problem, in this case Dyscalculia.
(The following has been taken from http://www.dyscalculiaforum.com)
The Basic Facts
Dyscalculia is a specific learning disability in mathematics. Dyscalculia is a word you use to describe when people have significant problems with numbers - but still have a normal or above normal IQ.
It seems that no dyscalculic has problems with math alone, but also struggle with problems being able to learn to tell time, left/right orientation, rules in games and much more.
Symptoms
Normal or accelerated language acquisition: verbal, reading, writing. Poetic ability. Good visual memory for the printed word. Good in the areas of science (until a level requiring higher math skills is reached), geometry (figures with logic not formulas), and creative arts.
Mistaken recollection of names. Poor name/face retrieval. Substitute names beginning with same letter.
Difficulty with the abstract concepts of time and direction. Inability to recall schedules, and sequences of past or future events. Unable to keep track of time. May be chronically late.
Inconsistent results in addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. Poor mental math ability. Poor with money and credit. Cannot do financial planning or budgeting. Checkbooks not balanced. Short term, not long term financial thinking. Fails to see big financial picture. May have fear of money and cash transactions. May be unable to mentally figure change due back, the amounts to pay for tips, taxes, etc.
When writing, reading and recalling numbers, these common mistakes are made: number additions, substitutions, transpositions, omissions, and reversals.
Inability to grasp and remember math concepts, rules, formulas, sequence (order of operations), and basic addition, subtraction, multiplication and division facts. Poor long term memory (retention & retrieval) of concept mastery- may be able to perform math operations one day, but draw a blank the next! May be able to do book work but fails all tests and quizzes.
May be unable to comprehend or "picture" mechanical processes. Lack "big picture/ whole picture" thinking. Poor ability to "visualize or picture" the location of the numbers on the face of a clock, the geographical locations of states, countries, oceans, streets, etc.
Poor memory for the "layout" of things. Gets lost or disoriented easily. May have a poor sense of direction, loose things often, and seem absent minded. (Remember the absent minded professor?)
May have difficulty grasping concepts of formal music education. Difficulty sight-reading music, learning fingering to play an instrument, etc.
May have poor athletic coordination, difficulty keeping up with rapidly changing physical directions like in aerobic, dance, and exercise classes. Difficulty remembering dance step sequences, rules for playing sports.
Difficulty keeping score during games, or difficulty remembering how to keep score in games, like bowling, etc. Often looses track of whose turn it is during games, like cards and board games. Limited strategic planning ability for games, like chess.
Is Dyscalculia Real?
Dyscalculics say it is. Teachers say it is. WHO and DSM say it is.
How Common Is Dyscalculia?
According to UK studies done by Gross-Tsur, Manor and Shalev in 1996, 6.5% are dyscalculic. According to studies done by Lewis, Hitch and Walker in 1994, 1.3% are dyscalculic while 2.3% are dyscalculic AND dyslexic - that means that according to this study 3.6% of the World's population are dyscalculic.
That gives a total of between 3.6 and 6.5% of the World's population. And again: That means, according to these two studies, that between 216.000.000 (two hundred and sixteen million) and 390.000.000 (three hundred and ninety million) people are dyscalculic - if we say that there are 600.000.000.000 (six billion) people in the world. No international study has been done on how common it is.
What Is The Male/Female Prevalence?
Although dyslexia seems to have a take on the male population (30% female versus 70% male), when it comes to dyscalculia studies show that the representation is equal - 50% female, 50% male.
Are There Types Of Dyscalculia?
Yes. Just like dyslexia, there are many versions of dyscalculia. Researchers have yet to come to a final decision, and they are not working together, which means that at least over 50 types have been given a name. We have guts here at the forum, so we have decided to stick with 4 types that make sense according to the forum users. These names are from a study done by Geary in 2004. You can read about the 4 types in the forums - there are subforums for each type, where we try to figure out all we can about the types.
Semantic retrieval dyscalculia
Procedural dyscalculia
Visuospatial dyscalculia
Number fact dyscalculia
Dys...Cal...Culia?
To pronounce it you say "dis-cal-cew-lee-ah". When a person has dyscalculia, you say that they are "dyscalculic" - "dis-cal-cew-leek".
The word dyscalculia comes from Greek and Latin and means "counting badly". The word "dys" comes from Greek and means "badly". "Calculie" comes from the Latin "calculare", which means "to count". The word "calculare" again comes from "calculus", which means "pebble" or one of the counters on an abacus. No one seems to know when the word "dyscalculia" to life - the earliest we have come across is this advertisement in The New York Times from May 1968. We do however know that researchers have used other words for what they found to be some sort of disability in maths (which they already found in the 1800s); arithmetic disability, arithmetic deficit, mathematical disability and so on. The media has been using words like digit dyslexia, number blindness and the obvious maths dyslexia.
Lots of variations of the word exist - Dyscalculi, discalculi, discalculia and so on. This seems to be spelling mistakes caused by general lack of knowledge about the disability, and the fact that no government has officially named the disability "dyscalculia", but instead goes by the WHO (specific disorder of arithmetical skills) and DSM (mathematics disorder) terms. Dyslexia is not officially named dyslexia either. In other words, dyslexia and dyscalculia are nicknames. It would be hard to say "specific disorder of arithmetical skills" every time you would mention this disability, wouldn't it?
"You Can Do It If You Want To!"
Probably followed by "and if you try hard enough". This is a typical remark from teachers and parents to motivate the student - and although it can be meant in the BEST way possible, it is not true when it comes to dyscalculic students. The thing a dyscalculic wants most in this world is to be able to understand those numbers. Dyscalculics need different learning methods, in every aspect of the assignment. Dyscalculics are able to learn how to calculate something one day, only to discover that the information has been forgotten the next day. In other words programs like Kumon, where repetition is a major part of the teaching methods seem to have no result for dyscalculic students - they forget. Through different learning methods aimed specifically at the student and his/her version of dyscalculia can have great results.
DISCLAIMER: Kumon helps a lot of non-dyscalculic children around the world, and it is possible that some dyscalculic students are learning by Kumon - we have just never heard of any dyscalculic who benifited from these learning methods. Please let us know if YOU did.
On April 2nd 2009 I was offially diagnosed with a learning disability called Dyscalculia.
I can't tell you how much of a relief it has been to finally know I'm not just stupid. I perform well in most everything else but maths always eluded me.
The educational psychologist who came into uni and conducted the assesment concluded that in terms of maths ability I am in the bottom 2% of my age group and in terms of linguistic/literacy ability I am in the top 2%. Such a massive difference points to a specfic processing problem, in this case Dyscalculia.
(The following has been taken from http://www.dyscalculiaforum.com)
The Basic Facts
Dyscalculia is a specific learning disability in mathematics. Dyscalculia is a word you use to describe when people have significant problems with numbers - but still have a normal or above normal IQ.
It seems that no dyscalculic has problems with math alone, but also struggle with problems being able to learn to tell time, left/right orientation, rules in games and much more.
Symptoms
Normal or accelerated language acquisition: verbal, reading, writing. Poetic ability. Good visual memory for the printed word. Good in the areas of science (until a level requiring higher math skills is reached), geometry (figures with logic not formulas), and creative arts.
Mistaken recollection of names. Poor name/face retrieval. Substitute names beginning with same letter.
Difficulty with the abstract concepts of time and direction. Inability to recall schedules, and sequences of past or future events. Unable to keep track of time. May be chronically late.
Inconsistent results in addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. Poor mental math ability. Poor with money and credit. Cannot do financial planning or budgeting. Checkbooks not balanced. Short term, not long term financial thinking. Fails to see big financial picture. May have fear of money and cash transactions. May be unable to mentally figure change due back, the amounts to pay for tips, taxes, etc.
When writing, reading and recalling numbers, these common mistakes are made: number additions, substitutions, transpositions, omissions, and reversals.
Inability to grasp and remember math concepts, rules, formulas, sequence (order of operations), and basic addition, subtraction, multiplication and division facts. Poor long term memory (retention & retrieval) of concept mastery- may be able to perform math operations one day, but draw a blank the next! May be able to do book work but fails all tests and quizzes.
May be unable to comprehend or "picture" mechanical processes. Lack "big picture/ whole picture" thinking. Poor ability to "visualize or picture" the location of the numbers on the face of a clock, the geographical locations of states, countries, oceans, streets, etc.
Poor memory for the "layout" of things. Gets lost or disoriented easily. May have a poor sense of direction, loose things often, and seem absent minded. (Remember the absent minded professor?)
May have difficulty grasping concepts of formal music education. Difficulty sight-reading music, learning fingering to play an instrument, etc.
May have poor athletic coordination, difficulty keeping up with rapidly changing physical directions like in aerobic, dance, and exercise classes. Difficulty remembering dance step sequences, rules for playing sports.
Difficulty keeping score during games, or difficulty remembering how to keep score in games, like bowling, etc. Often looses track of whose turn it is during games, like cards and board games. Limited strategic planning ability for games, like chess.
Is Dyscalculia Real?
Dyscalculics say it is. Teachers say it is. WHO and DSM say it is.
How Common Is Dyscalculia?
According to UK studies done by Gross-Tsur, Manor and Shalev in 1996, 6.5% are dyscalculic. According to studies done by Lewis, Hitch and Walker in 1994, 1.3% are dyscalculic while 2.3% are dyscalculic AND dyslexic - that means that according to this study 3.6% of the World's population are dyscalculic.
That gives a total of between 3.6 and 6.5% of the World's population. And again: That means, according to these two studies, that between 216.000.000 (two hundred and sixteen million) and 390.000.000 (three hundred and ninety million) people are dyscalculic - if we say that there are 600.000.000.000 (six billion) people in the world. No international study has been done on how common it is.
What Is The Male/Female Prevalence?
Although dyslexia seems to have a take on the male population (30% female versus 70% male), when it comes to dyscalculia studies show that the representation is equal - 50% female, 50% male.
Are There Types Of Dyscalculia?
Yes. Just like dyslexia, there are many versions of dyscalculia. Researchers have yet to come to a final decision, and they are not working together, which means that at least over 50 types have been given a name. We have guts here at the forum, so we have decided to stick with 4 types that make sense according to the forum users. These names are from a study done by Geary in 2004. You can read about the 4 types in the forums - there are subforums for each type, where we try to figure out all we can about the types.
Semantic retrieval dyscalculia
Procedural dyscalculia
Visuospatial dyscalculia
Number fact dyscalculia
Dys...Cal...Culia?
To pronounce it you say "dis-cal-cew-lee-ah". When a person has dyscalculia, you say that they are "dyscalculic" - "dis-cal-cew-leek".
The word dyscalculia comes from Greek and Latin and means "counting badly". The word "dys" comes from Greek and means "badly". "Calculie" comes from the Latin "calculare", which means "to count". The word "calculare" again comes from "calculus", which means "pebble" or one of the counters on an abacus. No one seems to know when the word "dyscalculia" to life - the earliest we have come across is this advertisement in The New York Times from May 1968. We do however know that researchers have used other words for what they found to be some sort of disability in maths (which they already found in the 1800s); arithmetic disability, arithmetic deficit, mathematical disability and so on. The media has been using words like digit dyslexia, number blindness and the obvious maths dyslexia.
Lots of variations of the word exist - Dyscalculi, discalculi, discalculia and so on. This seems to be spelling mistakes caused by general lack of knowledge about the disability, and the fact that no government has officially named the disability "dyscalculia", but instead goes by the WHO (specific disorder of arithmetical skills) and DSM (mathematics disorder) terms. Dyslexia is not officially named dyslexia either. In other words, dyslexia and dyscalculia are nicknames. It would be hard to say "specific disorder of arithmetical skills" every time you would mention this disability, wouldn't it?
"You Can Do It If You Want To!"
Probably followed by "and if you try hard enough". This is a typical remark from teachers and parents to motivate the student - and although it can be meant in the BEST way possible, it is not true when it comes to dyscalculic students. The thing a dyscalculic wants most in this world is to be able to understand those numbers. Dyscalculics need different learning methods, in every aspect of the assignment. Dyscalculics are able to learn how to calculate something one day, only to discover that the information has been forgotten the next day. In other words programs like Kumon, where repetition is a major part of the teaching methods seem to have no result for dyscalculic students - they forget. Through different learning methods aimed specifically at the student and his/her version of dyscalculia can have great results.
DISCLAIMER: Kumon helps a lot of non-dyscalculic children around the world, and it is possible that some dyscalculic students are learning by Kumon - we have just never heard of any dyscalculic who benifited from these learning methods. Please let us know if YOU did.
Happy Belated New Year to my readers if any of you are left, my apologies for not updating recently. Things have been a little hectic with Uni work. I shall have some new content for you all soon.
Regards
Pyrobutterfly
Regards
Pyrobutterfly
Swamp Creature
This grew out of late night doodles, this is the swamp elemental in its young form. At this age it is foolish, amicable and easily distracted. However if you hurt it, it will wail at such a terrible pitch that people have been known to pass out from the pain and if that doesn't get you then mummy who comes running when this little one cries will not wait to hear explanations before ripping you to pieces. You've been warned.
I may do a better version of this at a later stage with black ink and decent shading rather than rubbish fibretip colour.
RIP Mark Speight (1985 - 2008)
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Tuesday, April 15, 2008
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Labels:
childhood hero,
death,
grief,
loss,
Mark Speight,
Obituary,
sadness
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0
comments
I awoke to the dreadful news that Mark Speight had been found hanged at Paddington Railway Station in London. I am currently in a state of numb shock. Mark was a childhood hero to me. The charismatic face of SMart on CBBC, it was he who taught me a lot of the techniques I know today in regards to drawing. I draw because he inspired me. To lose him so horrifically...I honestly don't know how to react. His last few days following the end of the inquest into his fiancee's death appear to have just been too much for him to cope with. I hope that wherever he is now that he and his fiancee whom he described as his soulmate and best friend are in each others arms once more.
Below follows the obituary from the BBC website.
Mark Speight was one of the most recognisable faces on children's television for more than a decade.
His spiky blonde hair, rubbery features and enthusiastic grin was seen on programmes such as Scratchy and Co, See It Saw It and SMart.
But his world fell apart in January when he found fiancee Natasha Collins dead in the couple's north London flat.
"A part of me died with her," he later told reporters. "She was my soulmate and best friend rolled into one."
Mr Speight was born in 1965 - "when TV was black and white", according to his CBBC profile - and called Trowbridge, Wiltshire, his home.
He was educated at the private Tettenhall College before transferring to the comprehensive Regis School (now King's School) in Wolverhampton at the age of 12.
Turning up for his first day in a prefect's uniform and clutching a briefcase made him an attractive prospect for bullies, he said.
"I was an obvious target. I didn't know how to look after myself with all these big tough kids," he told the Birmingham Evening Mail in 2005.
Like many bullied children, he learned to use humour as a defence - "I became the class joker" - but decided to leave school at 16.
Art was his favourite subject, "because the art room was warm and the teacher was attractive", so he enrolled in college, gaining a degree in commercial and graphic art.
His subsequent career on television was, he claimed, nothing more than a happy accident.
SMart was his big break - a BBC children's programme that inherited Tony Hart's legacy of lessons in painting and handicraft.
The success of that show led Mr Speight to ITV, where he spent four years as host of the anarchic Saturday morning children's show Scratchy and Co.
Dressed in a sky-blue suit with a blonde rubber wig, Mr Speight became something of a cartoon himself, while introducing popular animated series such as Animaniacs and Pinky and the Brain.
"I don't mind taking the mickey out of myself - the more stupid I look, the more I like it," he told the Daily Mirror in 1998.
His popularity led to many public appearances, notably with his Mr Speight of the Art children's workshops.
He also joined Rolf Harris in London's Trafalgar Square to help recreate Constable's painting The Haywain on a gigantic scale.
That led to other live shows where Mr Speight helped create new versions of Holbein's portrait of Henry VIII and Da Vinci's Mona Lisa.
Mr Speight also became a spokesperson for ChildLine and raised money for Muscular Dystrophy.
In 1999, he was cast as the bumbling king of Much Jollity-On-The-Mirth in CBBC game show See It, Saw It.
It was on this programme that he met Natasha Collins, who played a court jester.
After he found her body in their bathroom earlier this year, Mr Speight became troubled and vulnerable, according to his family.
He was initially arrested on suspicion of murder and supplying Class A drugs, but last month Scotland Yard said he would not face any charges over the death.
An inquest into Ms Collins' death heard she had taken cocaine and sleeping tablets before apparently collapsing in the bath.
Mr Speight was reported missing a week after the coroner recorded a verdict of death by misadventure.
Presenter Kirsten O'Brien, who worked alongside Mr Speight on SMart, said he was "without doubt the funniest man I've ever known".
She said: "Filming days were a joy as Mark would often have the crew and I doubled up with laughter and I think that showed on screen.
"I'm proud to have had Mark in my life and am devastated at losing him in such a terrible way. All of his friends will miss him deeply.
"Mark could find light in the darkest situations for others. I'm only sorry he couldn't find it for himself."
Heart Tales
And still it plagues my mind
How did this happen?
It was supposed to be fate.
Coincidences like that just don't happen!
But once again I'm lying on the floor of my room
Surrounded by mementoes of love lost
Items forever imbued with memories
Wondering where it all went wrong.
Trying not to cry as I stare at the ceiling
Sad songs on the radio
Making me tearful
It’s not right to cry in public...I can't help it.
An age ago you told me not to cry
I tried my best, I didn't cry,
But now the floodgates open
And I'm drowning in my sorrow.
Your ghostly touch haunts me
The memory too painful to think on
Yet I cannot escape it
Everything reminds me of you.
Why do I love so readily?
I only ever get hurt.
I've lost count of the heart breaks.
Lost track of the times I've played this CD.
Barbara Streisand...always Barbara Streisand.
"Kiss me in the rain; make me feel like I'm a child again"
I feel the memory of your kiss on my lips
As the rain drenched us both.
I wanted to dance with you as it fell,
To dance and kiss you like the world didn't matter
To lay beneath the stars on a warm summers evening
Counting the ways we loved each other.
I can't help wonder...
Was I moving to slowly?
Would things be different if I wasn't so unsure of myself?
It felt so right being with you.
I'm naive, if it wasn't meant to be
It wasn't meant to be
I only wish it didn't hurt so much.
At least my honour is still mine.
How many more times must I go through this?
Until I find the one I'm looking for?
The one destiny has planned
My gift from the divine?
Still at least I'm my own woman once more
Time to celebrate my femininity
Single woman, I don't need a man to define me
I am me.
Celtic, confident, assured.
I am Keridwen.
(c) 2008 - Randomgoth.deviantart.com
How did this happen?
It was supposed to be fate.
Coincidences like that just don't happen!
But once again I'm lying on the floor of my room
Surrounded by mementoes of love lost
Items forever imbued with memories
Wondering where it all went wrong.
Trying not to cry as I stare at the ceiling
Sad songs on the radio
Making me tearful
It’s not right to cry in public...I can't help it.
An age ago you told me not to cry
I tried my best, I didn't cry,
But now the floodgates open
And I'm drowning in my sorrow.
Your ghostly touch haunts me
The memory too painful to think on
Yet I cannot escape it
Everything reminds me of you.
Why do I love so readily?
I only ever get hurt.
I've lost count of the heart breaks.
Lost track of the times I've played this CD.
Barbara Streisand...always Barbara Streisand.
"Kiss me in the rain; make me feel like I'm a child again"
I feel the memory of your kiss on my lips
As the rain drenched us both.
I wanted to dance with you as it fell,
To dance and kiss you like the world didn't matter
To lay beneath the stars on a warm summers evening
Counting the ways we loved each other.
I can't help wonder...
Was I moving to slowly?
Would things be different if I wasn't so unsure of myself?
It felt so right being with you.
I'm naive, if it wasn't meant to be
It wasn't meant to be
I only wish it didn't hurt so much.
At least my honour is still mine.
How many more times must I go through this?
Until I find the one I'm looking for?
The one destiny has planned
My gift from the divine?
Still at least I'm my own woman once more
Time to celebrate my femininity
Single woman, I don't need a man to define me
I am me.
Celtic, confident, assured.
I am Keridwen.
(c) 2008 - Randomgoth.deviantart.com
A Northumbrian Prayer
Wor Fither God, Ye encorcle us with your greet love,
through Jesus, wor mate and master.
Wu thank ye for aall your goodness to us -
this baarry coounty in which wu live,
the delights of pipin' an' patterin'
As membors of your family on orth.
keep us ivvor close by ee, we pray.
May wu thrive in the Holy Spirit
and bring your gud news to wor woorld
the day, the morn and aalways. Amen.
(c) Carol Dixon - March 2008
Standard English Version
Our Father God, you encircle us with your great love,
through Jesus our friend and master.
Thank you for all your goodness to us -
this beautiful county in which we live,
the delights of music making and talking with friends.
As members of your family on earth,
keep ys ever close to you, we pray.
May we grow in the Holy Spirit
and bring your good news to our world,
today, tomorrow and always. Amen.
Confused spirituality - seeking
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Saturday, April 05, 2008
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Labels:
christianity,
druidry,
faith,
searching,
spirituality,
unknown
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2
comments
I'm searching for something more than what is offered by the current form Christianity, I have a longing to connect with the divine in whatever form that might be be it God or Goddess. I want to connect to the world more as well, to get better aquainted with the natural world around me.
This is why I am currently exploring druidry and the way it can fit with traditional celtic christianity.
This is definitly a transitional searching place im at right now.
Journey well and blessed Be.
This is why I am currently exploring druidry and the way it can fit with traditional celtic christianity.
This is definitly a transitional searching place im at right now.
Journey well and blessed Be.
New beginnings
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Tuesday, April 01, 2008
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Labels:
faith,
God stuff,
journey,
new beginnings,
new starts,
spirituality
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0
comments
I'm setting out on a new journey, a new beginning with God. A spiritual walk, walking with the divine through the world around me. Seeking the inherent fingerprints of God in His creation.
I'm longing to expereince the power of nature and through that God's power.
I'm fed up with what I call 9-5 church. A church that squabbles and in fights, that gets hung up on a particular wording or verse for months on end.
I want a radical faith that seeks God not just by reading an old book but that lives the life, meets with God on a daily basis.
I want 500% faith, the kinda faith that moves mountains not the politics of modern christianity where a church meeting is needed to decide whether or not to move a pulpit 5 inches to the left!
I want a radical spirituality that speaks of God's love to others.
So it is with a nervous yet excited step I start out on this new journey.
Image credit
I hope you're happy
You could be happy and I won't know
But you weren't happy the day I watched you go
And all the things that I wished I had not said
Are played on lips 'till it's madness in my head
Is it too late to remind you how we were
But not our last days of silence, screaming, blur
Most of what I remember makes me sure
I should have stopped you from walking out the door
You could be happy, I hope you are
You made me happier than I'd been by far
Somehow everything I own smells of you
And for the tiniest moment it's all not true
Do the things that you always wanted to
Without me there to hold you back, don't think, just do
More than anything I want to see you go
Take a glorious bite out of the whole world
Snow Patrol - You could be happy
But you weren't happy the day I watched you go
And all the things that I wished I had not said
Are played on lips 'till it's madness in my head
Is it too late to remind you how we were
But not our last days of silence, screaming, blur
Most of what I remember makes me sure
I should have stopped you from walking out the door
You could be happy, I hope you are
You made me happier than I'd been by far
Somehow everything I own smells of you
And for the tiniest moment it's all not true
Do the things that you always wanted to
Without me there to hold you back, don't think, just do
More than anything I want to see you go
Take a glorious bite out of the whole world
Snow Patrol - You could be happy
Sabbatical Elections 08 - Democratic Hypocrisy?
Once more it's election time at the Student's Union, yet this year there is a distinct lack of candidates. Back in 2007 there were over 30 students running for the six available sabbatical positions, this year there is less then half that number. So what's going wrong?
Democracy, we all know the history, how it's meant to be one of the greatest conceptions of the modern world, and to a certain extent this is true. Why is it then that no-one seems too bothered that this year two of the SABBS positions are going uncontested. To be fair its no-ones faulty that only one person has put themselves forward for these positions, but it still makes me sad that I will have no choice (other than to vote for nominations to be re-opened).
Interest amongst students seems to waver between extremes, those who are passionate about a particular cause or those who care but don't think they'll make a difference. The challenge seems to be getting people engaged with politics, something that is a nationwide problem.
The picture nationally reflects this; in the last general election only 59% of those registered to vote turned out to vote compared to the 76% in 1979 according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
For a country that has gone to war with others to overthrow dictators and introduce the institution of democracy, most recently in Iraq, we are a people who seem increasingly to ignore our own politics.
Certainly we hold the ideals that a democracy brings to heart and we would be outraged if they were to taken away from us. I know very few people who don't hold one opinion or another over the war in Iraq, yet one of the major justifications was to bring democracy to the Iraqi people, something that has had limited success so far.
For an institution that we all feel so strongly about you would think that we would all be more willing to go to the polling station.
One of the most noticeable falls in recent statistics comes from those aged 18-24 (my own age group?!), in 1998 the British Social Attitudes Survey found that only a third of people believed they had an obligation to vote, compared to four-fifths of over 65 year olds. This makes for grim reading, yet there is hope for us 'young adults'.
Statistically those young adults in education are more likely to be interested in politics and less likely to have formed an attachment to a particular political party, suggesting that they are far more likely to make informed decisions about political parties, instead of being influenced by older generations.
So how to go about exciting young people into voting and engaging with local and national politics; if you look at the current state of affairs in America, where there has been an incredible surge in the number of people voting, we can see that people are interested, they just need to be more inspired.
The current race to become leader of the Democratic Party between Barrack Obama and Hilary Clinton is at the centre of this change. Each of these candidates are unique, Obama as the first black man to run for presidency and Clinton as the first woman. It would seem that this shake up in candidates has made all the difference in America, as they edge away from traditional middle class white males.
Obviously American politics are completely different to the situation within the Student's Union but perhaps we can take some of their ideas and use them to really excite students into really getting involved with their Union. It is well known that elections are mainly a popularity contest only second to policies so why not hold mini rallies!
So how does this all relate to our own Union? Admittedly the comparison is fairly far fetched, but consider for one moment the reassuring fact that young people aren't indifferent to politics and why should we be?
Here at Swansea we have one of the highest turn outs of Union elections in the country, some feat when you consider we are only a relatively small institution. It is true that times have changed for the average student, the days of rallies and protests have all but disappered. Yet that doesn't make us any less politically aware, in a world where we are constantly bombarded by the media it's hard not to have a vague idea of politics. Let's face it though; with a guy like Gordon Brown in charge of the country, it's prehaps not surprising we're bored of politics.
I don't have to go into the well known history of the women suffragettes or mention the oppression that some people face in other countries to get across the importance of democracy.
Perhaps it is harsh to call us hypocrites of democracy, but for a country that believes in it so strongly, we don't really show it.
At the level of our Student Union, where we are (stereotypically) called 'the next generation', it is a sad fact that we don't seem to care who runs it. Does this mean we won't care about politics in general? I doubt it. But id we're making a stand about how we want things run, get our voices heard about issues that matter to us, like library opening times, then we really need to get more involved. I'm sure those who've entered themselves as candidates this year have done so because they love Swansea and want to make it the best place for us, all they need now is our support.
All of this doesn't answer the question here as to why people here at Swansea seen to be ignoring the importance of our Union. I'm sure there are many reasons that people could give. I'm certainly not going to preach the importance of voting, and I certainly don't have any answers to the indifference that is plaguing our society. But next time you're in JC's remember it's the Student Union that helped set the price of the beer you're drinking.
(Waterfront article - Issue 165)
The student union sabbatical positions are being voted on today at my uni. I voted on
principle, but I'm shocked at the number of people who plan not to vote?!
These are the same people who complain about how our SU is run but yet cannot be arsed to vote?
This apathy is poisonous! It goes against everything this country stands for. How can we call ourselves a democracy when half the population doesn't believe in voting any more? Do we even deserve to have a democracy if people are going to let their vote go to waste?
Our right to vote is precious! USE IT OR LOSE IT!
Average
Ever had that niggling feeling you weren't really achieving your true potential?
I seem to be getting it more and more these days. Nothing I do is particularly outstanding...nor is it particularly rubbish...I'm just average.
Average, mediocre, dull.
I had dreams, dreams of being someone. Doing something important with my life.
Reality check...I'll probably end up just another stressed out secretary and mother. Trying to make ends meet, struggling to pay off mounting debts, having to re-morgage the house again and endlessly sniping at my equally stressed out husband.
What happened? At which point did I miss the boat to become something? Or have I not missed it, is it just that the world is so foggy a place at the moment that I can't see it?
I seem to be getting it more and more these days. Nothing I do is particularly outstanding...nor is it particularly rubbish...I'm just average.
Average, mediocre, dull.
I had dreams, dreams of being someone. Doing something important with my life.
Reality check...I'll probably end up just another stressed out secretary and mother. Trying to make ends meet, struggling to pay off mounting debts, having to re-morgage the house again and endlessly sniping at my equally stressed out husband.
What happened? At which point did I miss the boat to become something? Or have I not missed it, is it just that the world is so foggy a place at the moment that I can't see it?
St David's Day
I can't wait for March 1st aka St David's Day! Its a really big day here in Wales with all sorts of activities organised by Swansea Council. I wish we did more for St George's day in England...not that I'm english anyway but it seems to me that the english don't have the same level of patriotism as the welsh/scots/irish. English people correct me if I'm wrong. It just seems like more of a big deal here.
Changing Identity
RandomGoth has become Zenfrozt.
Don't panic folks! I'm currently rewriting my website and as such have changed my alias.
Zenfrozt fits me better than RandomGoth now. However my artwork on DeviantART shall remain under RandomGoth as I have seen what happens to people who try to re-invent themselves on DeviantART under a different name.
The blog has also had a makeover and become 'Coffee Cup musings from a modern Hippy'
These changes may or may not last, it depends on how I feel it goes.
Don't panic folks! I'm currently rewriting my website and as such have changed my alias.
Zenfrozt fits me better than RandomGoth now. However my artwork on DeviantART shall remain under RandomGoth as I have seen what happens to people who try to re-invent themselves on DeviantART under a different name.
The blog has also had a makeover and become 'Coffee Cup musings from a modern Hippy'
These changes may or may not last, it depends on how I feel it goes.
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