Firstly, this recent Israel kicking the Gaza strip issue. Now I find it a bit odd how the media (no this isn’t heading for a conspiracy theory, fret not) are ripping it out of Israel for this. During the recent ceasefire Hamas, who operate from within Gaza, have been busy rocketing Israeli towns and villages. Israel have been a little better at respecting the ceasefire. Then, the ceasefire ends, and Hamas rocket Israel even more. So they decide ‘sod this for a laugh’ and go to try and do something about it. Suddenly the world pounces on them! Naughty Israel! What are you doing bombing and attacking! Hacking and slashing! Naughty naughty naughty! Now, whilst I think they may (as Israel tends to do) be a bit heavy handed about the military action (civilian deaths are bad), who can blame them completely for trying to defend themselves? If France started rocketing us once a week, do you think we’d just sit here and say “Oh well, jolly bad luck, guess we’d better just sit it out eh?”  There are plenty of news articles around, from many years of it happening, mentioning Hamas’ continual attacks on Israel.

That brings me to the recent anti-war protests in London. Can anyone explain why protesters were attacking British police and smashing shops up because Israel is attacking Gaza? Thankfully today’s pro-Israel protest passed without serious event.

Also about good old Prince Harry. Recently the media has been scathing again, bringing up a supposed ‘racist remark’ about a Pakistani army officer… in 2006. The remark was (to quote BBC News):

The newspaper said the prince, who is third in line to the throne, had called the soldier “our little Paki friend”.

Quite a term of endearment. In response the army said:

“The Army does not tolerate inappropriate behaviour in any shape or form,”

Urrrh… lol? Time for a bit of context I think… BuckP issued a very eloquent statement:

“Prince Harry fully understands how offensive this term can be, and is extremely sorry for any offence his words might cause… However, on this occasion three years ago, Prince Harry used the term without any malice and as a nickname about a highly popular member of his platoon… There is no question that he was in any way seeking to insult his friend.”

So what does this boil down to. Are we all annoyed on someone else’s behalf? Oh! That term is insulting, and might insult people, well it doesn’t bother me, but someone else might be insulted by it! Bad, naughty, naughty. There are plenty of stories from the army involving people’s nicknames for each other, usually less than savoury ones. And in cases where the nicknamed person feels offended, then fair enough, step too far. Maybe the dear Prince should be more careful. Maybe Political Correctness Gone Mad, has just escaped from the loony bin (am I allowed to call it a ‘loony bin’?).

Comments, thoughts etc. always appreciated :] I’m now off to a photography forum to rant about the poor quality of Jessops’ lens filters. Happy new year one and all, sorry we couldn’t all meet up again before we departed toward our various vocations (with… vehemence?).

Student Support Services. They happen to be really good at my university. Support for disabled folks, providing equipment to those who need it to help them in their studies. Support for dyslexic persons also, and any other kind of learning disability. Of course you have to be able to prove you have a disadvantage, but then you are eligible for good things.

Now, please don’t get me wrong here, I approve of this wholeheartedly! For example. A student has bad arm or back pain, opening doors might be a struggle for them sometimes for example, and spending too long sat at a computer only aggravates the situation. Student support agrees to give this person voice recognition software for their laptop, so they don’t have to type so much, and wrist wrists to make it easier when they do. I think this is a good thing. Helping to ease their woes and not making them pay for everything when university is expensive enough as it is.

Now then, dyslexia. If I start spouting misconceptions here or saying untruths, please feel free to soundly flame and troll in the comments. As seems to be the general theme, art courses have a generally higher number of dyslexics than more academic subjects. This makes sense as those who are less able to express themselves verbally or through text will likely be better at communicating visually.

As I understand it, dyslexics have trouble with writing, spelling, reading, that kind of thing. And I’m not trying to put anyone down here either. So, if Student Support were to offer them the time of tutors who would help them write their essays, proof read them and get them ship-shape then that seems perfectly fair to me! Laptops. They also make life easier, spell checking and even grammar correction makes written work a lot easier for those who would otherwise be at a disadvantage. So if a student didn’t have a laptop (which seems to have become essential student kit) I can understand Student Support providing them with one.

Now here is my qualm. On a Photography course, if you are dyslexic you can apply and have yourself tested for learning disabilities. And, if you’re cunning, rather than acquiring a laptop it seems people can convince the university to provide them with a brand spanking new Apple Mac. After all, they are more useful (apparently) in the creative environment. And if one is on a Photography course then it would be helpful. Ah. But if it were to have Photoshop it would really need some upgraded RAM to make it run faster. So you manage to convince the university to buy you one.

Now then. How will having a brand new mac, optimised for digital imaging, help a dyslexic student who has problems with written work? In this case it seems to me that Student Support have totally failed to even address the needs of the person, but they’re getting a free and brand new computer out of it. I wouldn’t mind, but I’m paying a lot of money to go to university, and it seems all my money has gone towards is equipping my classmates with brand new computers at around £700 a piece. Maybe that explains the quality of some of the lecturers.

I’m not slagging off the person who has managed to… procure the hardware. Good on them, in a way, for getting such a lovely piece of kit! I am however rather peeved with the university over this.

_{(Edit: Yes, I am bitter and jealous)}

So, In the extract above, am I spouting tripe? Discuss. (30 marks)

Thus I moved on to my current idea (after a bit of an attempt to phone the RSPCA, who are only in on two weekdays, in case you should ever find a stray animal. You’d best pray that if you do its on a Tuesday, otherwise you’ll have to look after it yourself for a few days?) .. where was I? Oh yes, current idea. Religion! Mum’s comment was ‘Ooh yes, good idea. After all if a Minister can’t help you who can!’ I thought this was quite fair. So today I went to see the University Chaplain who has given me the numbers of the local preacher types, whom I will be phoning over the next few days. I’ve also got an appointment with the Chaplain himself to take photos as the Graduation Ceremony. Which should be interesting even if it doesn’t quite fit into the groove of the project. I met up with my local (from back home) Methodist contact who was very helpful in giving ideas and help and such things. Maybe I can convince her to let me take some photos in church back at home! Provided I don’t have any hidden agendas of trying to make Christianity appear evil or sinister I think all should be well. So no Photoshopping 666 into the communion bread / the vicar’s forehead! I don’t think that would go down very well anywhere. So that’s that for Shooting For Story, things slowly moving ahead, which is good because tomorrow I have a group crit on the work I’ve done so far, and as of 2 hours ago that was absolutely nothing! Here I am procrastinating once again. :bigo:

You may think you’ve escaped my ramblings there, if so you are very wrong, as you can see this blog extends further down the screen. :catfish:

Digital Imaging. That’s my Photoshoppery module. CD Covers is the project at hand. The deadline is in two weeks for them and I have only done about 1/3 of 1/2 my journal work for it! Although, even though I do say so myself, I’ve got a few good photos and ideas for it, see below! (Again just trying to add colour to these monochromatic proceedings).

Sorry to leave it on that rather rantariffic note. I feel much better for getting it out my system (again). No doubt things will improve and everything will be sorted out. I imagine there is a lot of this kind of hassle at the start on a new academic year. On another note, it’s half-term for all those slacking young types. It made me feel very old when I realised that half-terms are a thing of the past. Just as Mufti Days were a thing of the past a couple of years ago. Brr, Autumn’s chill through the window. Time to get back on with the work. Hope you hear from you all soon, especially from those of you who have yet to tell us about your courses and universities! I look forward to reading all about it. Hope you’re having fun with work and play, time is ticking ’till some kind of Christmas reunion, and it’s ticking fast.

Bai. :happy: