What isn't new?

Here is a smattering of things what are going on.

Teaching
I just finished the third of four weeks of teaching prac, at an unusual school called the ASMS (Australian Science and Mathematics School). I've been teaching year 12 physics (which was really the idea in the first place) and some 10-11 maths and electronics.

Some of the things that have been going on:

adjusting to 0730-1700 daily full-time
planning planning planning planning one lesson after another
big confidence increase throughout the last two weeks (oh no)
wielding minor influence over ingrates


It's been hard work but it's enjoyable enough. Based on this experience I'll continue on with this degree - though I'm aware that this school is remarkably civilised, and I'll need to go to a normal school with proper ratbags in order to get the full experience of the thing.

In addition to these ridiculous hours I tutor three students a week in the evenings. This takes even more time and energy out of my general pool, but at least I get paid for that!



The Mindcloud Organisation

The Mindcloud Organisation shook off a thin layer of dust with the addition of Paul Bryson to the main team. Things are beginning to move along nicely with renewed vigour and all. We are talking about having an official Mindcloud launch in early 2008, by this time we hope to have built a sizeable community around the Mindcloud Wiki, and can run some sort of film/art/tech festival as part of this grand official opening. Soon the Mindcloud Organisation (MORG, apparently) website will be live, which will explain things for those of you who have no idea about what I'm speaking of. Of course if you want to hear it from me, send email, you will get a response. Anyway, I am looking forward to using my new work ethic on this project once the madness of this teaching prac is over.


The War

Sunday night Warhammer has become something of a tradition over at Sam's. My army of corrupted, diseased Space Marines emerges battered but slightly victorious, time and time again. Usually heavily outnumbered, the footsoldiers of the Lord of Decay never fail to appall the enemy with their ability to wade through barrages of machine gun fire more or less unscathed, only to unleash murder at close range. FUN. I'm putting together an Imperial Guard force at the moment - awaiting a 'special' tank which I ordered from the UK to beef up the heavy weapons count...

The Walk

Sam and I went walking at night through the Shepherd's Hill recreation park and surrounding valley, stopping to fail to smoke some frop above an abandoned rail tunnel. This trek was one of the best things I've done. On the way back, we saw many wonders; an alien landscape, a square cave, a heroic climb...There is something to be said for wandering in the outdoors in near-full-moonlight, without the baggage of humans who will whinge about the conditions no matter what they are.


Combo upgrade: 7.5->7.7

Various other things have happened lately, necessitating a series of updates to my organic supercomputer software. I will produce a list of the specific fixes some day, just not today.



ENJOY