I came across a website recently that outline graduation etiquette, and it seems to say that you guys should all be buying me gifts. So, if anyone would like to buy me anything off that list – a popcorn maker, nice new watch, some “internet services” or the good ol’ cash/cheque will do just fine. And, of course, to anyone that does get me any of these items, I’ll happily provide the required thank you note.

Oh, and about the new job – I’m back at Uni, but now they’re paying ME! How times change…

I have just finished my final undergraduate essay ever! Sure, I’ve gotta wait until results come out to make sure I’ve passed everything (I’m sure I have), and then I’ve gotta wait for some official notification that I’ve met the requirements of my degree, but… who cares about all that stuff? The only thing I need to do now is turn up to graduation!

Phew! What a relief.

I’m still no closer to figuring out what I want to do next semester, short of finding more and more courses that I might be interested in. I’m currently looking at possibly doing one or more of:

• Master of Applied Science (Information Security) @ RMIT
• Graduate Certificate in Digital Forensics @ Melbourne University School of Enterprise

But then again, there’s still heaps more options. I know I want to get into I.T. security, but there seem to be so many specialist areas, and since I’ve only touched on security before (one subject a year or so ago), how am I supposed to know which area to go into?

One other thing that’s happened over the semester, is that I’ve been studying a lot of history and philosophy of science subjects, and I’ve got a taste for that, too. I’ve always enjoyed contemplating the nature of the god and the universe, but some of the philosophy this semester has really got me thinking. As such, I’ve decided to finally start a pet-project that I’ve spent the last few years thinking about, but (like many things), hadn’t quite got around to doing – I now have a blog about religion, science, philosophy and spirituality. I’ve started by re-working and posting an essay I wrote last year at uni about resolving evolution with a belief in god, and I’ve been working on a few more posts which will appear over the next few weeks. While it’s definitely not for everyone, if you’re interested, please take a look over at 20gramSoul.com – and if you’re wondering about the name, check out the about page.

I hope everyone is well, and no doubt I’ll write again soon, as it’s coming up to the end of semester (and we all know that time I should be studying becomes time I write on my website)…

So, what’s this post about? Well, partly about a new site that I’ve discovered, called 43things, and how great it is to procrastinate on. On one level, 43things is a “todo” list for your life. Think about all the things you’ve always wanted to do, put them on 43things, then check them off, get reminders, talk to other people who are trying to do the same thing, … it’s great! Of course, the problem with a site like this is it gives you too many ideas of things TO do.

Have a look at my 43things list (which currently only has 8 things), for example – sure, I’ve got some great long term plans like live in a foreign country and finish my degree (hopefully not TOO long-term with the second one). Then, I also have some good short-term goals like go back to the gym and finish my exams (only 1 more to go).

Then, we have the one which sparked both the picture in this post, the post itself, and (with any luck) plenty of time spent doing non-study related things (mostly after my final exam, of course). Anyway, the picture in this post will hopefully be the first of many to come, since I’ve taken on the challenge of taking a photo every day. I can’t guarantee I’ll post a new photo on this site each day, so I might post them up in batches, but I’m definitely going to try to take at least one decent photo each day for the immediate future.

Feel free to check back to my A Photo A Day album if you want to see how well I keep up with my goal.

Oh, and feel free to check out 43 things for yourself, if you’d like there’s:

• 43things to do
• 43places to go
• 43people to meet
• … and a few others

Anyway, if you want to just look at photos – see them here. If you want to read a nice long rant from me about what VSU is, and why it sucks, read on.

view more images from this album For the uninitiated (anyone who hasn’t read the papers in Australia for a very long time) – VSU = Voluntary Student Unionism. The government is trying to push through some new laws relating to student unions, and funnily enough the students are trying to stop them.

What are the government trying to do? Well, they’re trying to remove the ability of the Universities to charge compulsory fees for non-academic things (such as what Melbourne Uni currently calls a “Services and Amenities” fee). You may say, “How can this possibly be a bad thing? I mean, students don’t like paying for things, do they?”. Well, that’s half true. You’d be right in thinking that students often don’t have a lot of money, and therefore rely on free or subsidised services offered exclusively to students, but you’d be wrong if you thought that by removing the compulsory annual fee that students would somehow be better off.

To put it simply: No compulsory student union fee = No student union services.

OK, so that’s possibly going a little far. I have no doubts that the student unions will continue to operate, and continue to offer some services. I do, however, believe that by removing such a major source of income, the services offered by these student unions will be significantly reduced.

“But don’t student union’s just give students free beer and support activities like naked water skiing?” may be another question you might ask. And, very simply, the answer is “No!”. Just checking out Melbourne University’s Student Union Website, you can see they they offer:

• student advisory services,
• a computing center,
• employment and legal services,
• research support,
• a dental service,
• support for the arts,
• queer and women’s support,
• equipment hire,

and the list goes on.

Although clubs and societies at Melbourne Uni do get funding from the University, I have been told by various student Representatives at Melbourne Uni (but I am willing to be corrected) that the services and amenities funding (which VSU legislation threatens) does NOT go to clubs and societies.

So, why should students who don’t use these services have to pay for them? Well, my first question to any uni student that can honestly say they’ve NEVER benefited from their student union is – “Why the hell not? Why don’t you take advantage of their services?”. But, failing that (and, assuming that they somehow manage to come up with a decent reply), I’d say – well, for exactly the same reason that all tax-payers support the sick, elderly, mentally ill and unemployed. And what is that reason? “For the greater good” – To support those who cannot support themselves, and to offer services for those in need. If every student contributes their bit to help support the Student Unions, then the Student Union’s can do their best to support ALL students.

I’m not saying for a minute that I agree that all current Student Union services should be supported by all students (for instance, I believe that general computing facilities should be provided by the relevant faculties, or the university as a whole), there could definitely be some restructuring there. But, if you didn’t agree on your taxes supporting, say, legal aid for those charged with drug-related offenses (just a random example), would you suggest abolishing the entire idea of taxes? I doubt it. Taxes exists for a reason (even if the system does need some shaking up), but I doubt anyone could seriously argue for their abolishment.

I thought they looked cool (especially the moon one – I thought that looked better in black and white), so… I’m posting them here for you all to see (well, not HERE… but in the “Richard’s Favourites” album

In case you haven’t figured it out already, when I’m displaying pictures in my posts, like this:

view more images from this album

(oh yeah, and for those of you playing at home, the pics only show up on the website, so stop reading this email and visit the site, dammit!)

…it’s picking 3 random photos, but if you click on the “Visit this album”, you can see the rest!

Wow… isn’t that exciting.

Procrastination Links

Anyway, Eugenics is what I’m writing an essay on at the moment. As if two exams in one day (Wednesday) aren’t enough, I have an essay due! How fun for me.

So, why am I writing this (if it’s not clear enough already)? To procrastinate. And, I suppose, to make sure you’re all aware of what the fruits of my procrastination have been over the last few weeks (amazingly, I’ve still managed to get some study done as well).

If you’re getting this by email, then come visit my updated site – http://sobriquet.net.

If you’re reading this at the site, then, I suppose you already know that it’s changed!

The usual photo gallery is available – with all the old photos and lots more new ones. Most of the other parts of the site are still here, too (but, looking a lot nicer!).

If you want to drop me a line, feel free to add comments to any of the posts, and/or photos.

Anyway, that’s enough from me for now. Back to work I go…

Anyway… lots of new pics…. including:

Ben Folds’ Songs for Silverman show in Melbourne (at the Forum)

view more images from this album

and my girlfriend’s brother’s 21st in Horsham.

view more images from this album

There’s also heaps of stuff from O-Week in the 2005 photos section.

Well, enjoy…. and see you next time I decide to stop neglecting my webpage!

And, just for the record, the site as it’s looking now is just temporary. I’m working on a new theme based on the layout of my Information Systems homepage, but I am interested….

Do you like how the site looks at the moment?

What do you like? What would you change?

If anyone has any feedback, please add comments to this post! (just click on “read/post comments” below this post, or (if you’re too lazy) just vote in the poll on the left hand side.

Thanks guys!

Update: Music is now available as blog posts in the music category. Future downloads will be linked to posts in a similar fashion.