jmothecat

Nice enough. Better quality than any flats I've lived in in Stirling anyway. Only real problem is the fire alarms. When I was there I don't think we went two consecutive nights without the alarms going off. The hall attendants therefore started keeping us out longer and longer, which in the cold and the middle of the night got pretty frustrating. Only real complaint. Heard Geddes is pretty horrible but I never went inside.

I enjoyed Hobbes at first, but then had to do a second year Political philosophy (Hobbes, Mill, Locke etc) only to have to do the exact same subject a year later. Currently doing another political philosophy module which is thankfully on Rawls...except the first month and a half was about the history of the use of the State of Nature. More Hobbes.

Been spending time helping and taking part in the occupation of an Edinburgh uni lecture hall for the last couple of days. The university have been very responsive. This weekend I have to actually get some work done discussing Socialism and the Labour Party.

Uni you went to/are at now: University of Stirling Best thing about it: Course was really good (Philosophy) and the teachers made the subject worth studying Worst thing about it: It's in Stirling (well near Stirling technically) What is life in the city like: For a student, not good at all. 2 clubs, both of which are as bad as each other, some of the pubs are OK but again not great. Absolutely full of Old Firm fans. Price of a pint was cheap compared to here though which is good for a student. Very little in the way of outside entertainment though, there was the occasional comedian who came through and about once a semester a band worth seeing would play. That's about it. Rating: 4/10

Russell Kane isn't that funny Tourists are interesting people Cider tastes horrible Nightclubs are almost always terrible places Top Gear is boring Alcohol is already too expensive

I did think the timing was a bit odd due to that, but I'm guessing they had to announce this now so as to stop people putting on huge bets for them to win the wooden spoon. Melbourne Rebels will surely mop up the dissatisfied Storm fans now, must be good for Union in Victoria. Betting has been suspended for St Kilda (flag favourites in the AFL) to win the wooden spoon due to worry that a similar punishment could be put onto them as Brian Waldron was with saints for a while. Not likely to happen, but has huge ramifications. Apparently a few people were putting on $100 bets on St Kilda to win the spoon at 1000-1 after the Storm punishment.

Not sure if anyone cares about the NRL but Melbourne Storm have been stripped three minor premierships and two premierships for salary cap breaches. http://wwos.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=1043567 They also are not being allowed to win any points. Will kill League in Melbourne this, not that I care as I'm not a Rugby fan really, but as a sports fan I found it quite interesting. I, ignorantly, thought Melbourne Storm were actually entitled to salary cap allowances to let them have some success against the established sides.

Aldus Huxley - Brave New World Just started reading Darkness at Noon by Arthur Koestler.

Book version of Major Barbara by Bernard Shaw which is a play, for a novel News From Nowhere by William Morris. Right into my Socialist literature at the moment.

There is a wee bit of snow here in Stirling. Almost everyone I meet is going on about how much snow there is. There isn't that much, there is a bit. I suppose this is what I get growing up in Norway then moving to the rural north east.

I spent the first 17 years of my life thinking Butteries where a generic Scottish foodstuff. I came down to the central belt and couldn't find them. Turns out you get them in some branches of Tesco, but they are pretty awful. Now whenever I go to Aberdeen for the football I take some butteries with me and eat a proper breakfast.