Leeds Festival 2006

Writing about web page http://blogs.warwick.ac.uk/drheaton/gallery/leeds_festival_2006/

http://blogs.warwick.ac.uk/drheaton/gallery/leeds_festival_2006/

This is the gallery with some of my best pictures of the weekend, they were taken on my “new” camera which I literally picked up off the floor on the saturday night. It’s a 6mp Sony CyberShot camera and after a little soul searching I decided to keep it. I know I “should” have handed it in but let’s be serious here, who really would have handed it in? Come on, show of hands.

Well, anyway, I kept it and took a few nice pictures with it which are posted above. Unfortunately the unlucky people who lost the camera didn’t lose the charger so it’s now just sat on my desk waiting for me to buy a dock. Oh well

Unsuprisingly Muse were the highlight of the weekend but Franz suprised me, they were alot better than I expected and made up for the Arctic Monkeys let down. Arctic Monkey are just not good enough to be so far up the bill on the main stage and were poor, the music was ok but not much different from listening to the album. What let them down was the “show”, they just didn’t put one on. In my opinion there isn’t a huge difference between Kaiser Chiefs and Arctic Monkeys, both fairly poppy, both with nice catchy lyrics and good tunes. The main difference between the two is stage presence, Ricky of the Kaisers has it and Alex of the Monkeys doesn’t.

A band called Humanzi on the Carling Stage were excelent as were The Research, and on Friday Boy Kill Boy, Kooks, The Rakes and Maximo Park were all brilliant.

Looking forward to next year already.

: 10 Sep 2006 11:52 |  Tags: Festival Leeds |  Comments (0) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

Picking My 3rd Year Maths Modules pt.2

Follow-up to Picking My 3rd Year Maths Modules from Words on t'internet

Thanks for the response guys, so far I have:

Term 1:
MA397 – Consolidation – 15 CATS
MA241 – Combinatorics – 12 CATS (Maybe)
MA3E5 – History of Maths – 15 CATS
MA390 – Topics in Math Bio – 15 CATS

Term 2:
MA228 – Numerical Analysis – 6 CATS
MA3F2 – Knot Theory – 15 CATS
IE420 – Problem Solving – 12 CATS (Anyone heard of this?)
IB217 – Starting a Business – 6 CATS (Maybe)
IB228 – Understanding Enterprise – 6 CATS (Maybe)

Unusual Options:
PX270 – C Programming – 7.5 CATS

Which takes it to 109.5 (although I’m only allowed to take 90 to start with seeing as I’m on a pass degree for now). I’m going to look for both Math Methods I and II as well as maybe a few more unuasual or non-maths options.

Thanks guys and any more input would be great

PS I’m thinking of going into Accountancy or Teaching, is there any easy modules I can do that may give a bit of “preparation” (read as “escape from maths”) for those two careers?

: 09 Sep 2006 15:11 |  Tags: Maths |  Comments (9) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

Picking My 3rd Year Maths Modules

Ok, it’s a little scary to be honest, sitting here, looking through the PYDC online and choosing modules for this coming year. 2 months ago when I got the results of my resits (a pass, not what I wanted but better than a fail), and found out I would be coming back but only on the pass degree I was a bit all-over the place. I was happy to have passed but a bit wary of what being on the pass degree entailed. I know I have to do the Consolidation Module, which is 15 CATS but I’m now lost as to what else I should choose which will best help me acheive my goal of getting an honours degree, preferably a 2.2 if I can get it.

I like the look of:

MA241 – Combinatorics
MA228 – Numerical Analysis
MA245 – Algebra II (although I’m not sure of this one as I had to resit Algebra I)

and so far:

MA3E2 – Group Theory (although again I didn’t do well in Algebra I)
MA3E5 – History of Maths (which gets me out of an exam)

but as to the remaining 45 CATS I have no idea, does anyone have any tips for me? Anything I should avoid like the plague or embrace with open arms? (ok, I know I’m talking about maths modules but if I don’t start to show enthusiasm I may as well not bother)

Come on people! I need help!

: 06 Sep 2006 19:29 |  Tags: Maths |  Comments (12) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

Guess who's back, back again

That's right, me!

It turns out that I did just enough to get back onto my 3 year maths course this time around. I passed 3 of my 6 exams and did enough to get a lowly average of 31.8 which means I'm back next year on the pass degree but I'm still back and I can work on changing that to a full honours degree by christmas.

To anyone who failed there exams, Don't worry, If I can get back so can you.

Now the search for a job starts, just something to put me on over the summer and earn me a little money. Plus I need to find a room for next year, something in Leamington would be nice but I'm not fussed seeing as I have a car.

Congrats to everyone who graduated this year and is now joining the real world, hopefully I'll be out there too by this time next year

: 28 Jun 2006 09:38 |  Tags: Resits |  Comments (0) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

Distractions from revision

For the past week or so I've been down in Coventry revising for my resits and have reaped the rewards of not having my PC down there with me as a distraction. I've come home for the weekend and there it is, in it's awesome distracting glory so the question needs to be asked … "Should I take it down to Coventry with me when I return?"

For the next 8 weeks of revision I'm going to need some way of getting onto the internet and some form of light distraction purely so I don't go mad but my PC is never just light distraction, it's a huge distraction. It won't really fit on the little desk I've got plus I'd need a chair in order for me to sit in front of it which I don't have right now so is it really worth taking down there with me?

Those cover most of the negatives:

–Distraction
–Too Big
–Needs Chair
–Won't Fit on Desk
–Distraction (I've got this twice because it's a REALLY BIG distraction)

But the positives are:

+t'internet
+Won't get mind numbingly bored
+Huge array of music and films/tv to listen to/watch
+Access to E–mail, past exam papers, general knowledge etc

So I'm stuck, I've thought of getting a laptop to take down to use to revise and access the internet but that involves spending £400 at least, which is £400 I can't really afford to spend unless of course someone has a half decent laptop they don't need because they have two perhaps? Just a thought. Anyway I don't have a clue what to do.

: 28 Apr 2006 13:06 |  Tags: Resits |  Comments (1) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

Two down…. Four to go

I've been back in the midlands now since Easter Monday, I didn't actually tell anyone seeing as I've been hidden away in my room in Coventry almost permanently since I got back with the exceptions of Wednesday and Thursday when I've been on campus either revising for or taking my first two resits.

All in all Algebra I on Wednesday didn't go well but I never expected it to, what I did expect was the fact that everybody came out saying exactly the same thing. That they didn't think they'd even answered enough of the paper to pass. This was perfect because I in fact did answer at least 40% of the paper and though that I may have passed but if the paper's marked up then that's even better.

Analysis III was a breath of fresh air and I left the exam feeling better about my resits than I've felt all year. It was exactly the paper I wanted except for one question and a conservative estimate of my mark is around 40, with a hopeful score nearer 60 which is better than my wildest dreams.

Tuesday brings PDE's, that's Partial Differential Equations, which I haven't even started preparing for but I've got a few days to get on top of things although I don't have any notes, worksheets, of exam papers. So wish me luck.

On a lighter note

Happy Birthday to Me
Happy Birthday to Me
Happy Birthday to Me
Happy Birthday to Me

21 today although exams have rather spoilt the occasion. Oh well

: 21 Apr 2006 14:09 |  Tags: Resits |  Comments (3) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

Leeds Fest 2006

Here's the link for the line-up if anyone's interested

Leeds Festival Line-Up 2006

Pick of the bunch?

Muse, Placebo, Feeder, The Kooks and Kaiser Chiefs what with it being Leeds :D

: 05 Apr 2006 15:47 |  Tags: Gigs |  Comments (8) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

Oops

Once again it's been a while since I last "blogged" but I keep forgetting. I now have 14 days till my first exams, that's 3 exams on the 19th, 20th and 25th of April then a little while off before another three. Revision is almost grinding to a halt and I'm struggling to get my head down and do the work hence this entry. I'm still not sure about what I want to do next year and should I pass I've got to decide where my future lies and university may not be it. I don't need a degree to become and accountant which is what I want to do so I may not return but as in any profession a degree helps and it increases my potential earnings by a huge amount.

On a much more exciting note I going to the Leeds Festival again this year. Got my tickets after 45 minutes trying to get on however I seem to have got 8 instead of 4 so I may sell some on eBay or find some people to come along. I'm sure there'll be plenty of those seeing as Muse as playing plus some others like The Kooks, The Rakes and Placebo which I'd love to go see. All in all I can't think of a better Line-Up. Franz aren't great but I'd love to go see them, same for the Arctic Monkeys and Kaiser Chiefs who I've seen already. Every day has at least 4 or 5 bands I really want to see and that's only from the names realeased so far. I can't wait.

: 05 Apr 2006 15:44 |  Tags: Gigs Resits |  Comments (0) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

Guess the movie

Ok so I kind of stole the idea a little from Alex but I prefer my format.

Guess the movie from this rather shortened plot synopsis.

Looking for work
Sheep
Pretty Scenery
Sheep
Mountain
Bareback
Sheep
Fewer Sheep
Parting of ways
Reunion
"Fishing Trips"
Family Scenes
"Fishing Trips"
Brutal Murder
No More "Fishing Trips

: 06 Mar 2006 13:57 |  Tags: Movie |  Comments (3) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

Apple is owned by the Devil

Sorry for not bloging much recently but I couldn't be bothered. Busy with work and worthless revision and spending lots of quality time with my new girlfriend, all in all things are not too bad. I've only got 2 weeks left of work which takes me up to Sat 11th March fully 5 weeks before my first exams start, not much time but right now I'd rather be working than studying because it's just not going in, straight in one ear, causing headache, straight out of the other. That's the general format anyway, I'm really getting tired of not understanding any of it and it only makes me think that if i come back and pass my exams I'll only fail next year anyway.

Anyway enough of that, to the reason for the blog, I need to rant about Apple. The most incompotent bunch of pig fucking, brain dead yokels in the history of man-kind. Now I must admit that I'm slightly in awe of their audacity where "support" is concerned. They claim to have an "award winning" support site however I couldn't find a contact email address anywhere on it. Was that award given to them because they get fewer complaint emails than anyone else? If so then I may have discovered their cunning secret, and there is no direct link to anything I want to know, I have to find a similar article then jump from article to article 'till I find what I want which is how to send my iPod back AGAIN.

Some of you may know that not long ago (November I think) my iPod hard drive broke in a way that caused it refuse to load and play any music and fail to connect to my PC. I sent it back without problem and within days I had received (via UPS) a brand spanking new iPod (probably refurbished). I was extremely happy that replacing my iPod within 12 months of purchase was so painless however now 4 months later the little devil spawn is broken again (with exactly the same fucking problem). I admit that it is now out of it's 12 month warranty however it should under no circumstances be broken with the same goddamn fault so soon after it was "fixed". What's worse is that seeing as it is now out of warrarnty they want to charge me £166.29 for "parts and labour" in order for me to get it fixed.

Now that leaves me in a spot of bother seeing as I no longer trust Apple to send me back a working iPod however much I pay however it's still cheaper than buying a new one or replacing it with a similar size alternative. I admit that I have always been (since my first iPod which was the first edition back in 2002) a huge fan of the iPod, its stylish look, easy to use interface and great sound quality leave it in my opinion head and shoulders above the rest even if it is more expensive. But I'm not sure if I want another, it seems daft to keep giving my money to Apple if they keep breaking and although I may just have been unlucky (3 times, twice with the same fault) my confidence in them is waivering. Plus I don't have £170 to just spend on fixing it, and common snese tells me "why spend £170 on fixing an old iPod when I could spend £250 on a new one?" which I have to admit makes sense. First port of call is Currys tomorrow to price up alternatives but I'll have to make do with my little 256mb MuVo for now.

: 27 Feb 2006 20:09 |  Tags: iPod |  Comments (0) |  Close comments |  Report a problem