Questions that not even science can answer

Today human understanding continues to push boundaries at a seemingly ever-increasing rate. This post asks if religion is still able to provide answers to the really big questions in modern western life.

Bogus Competitions

Occasionally when browsing the web I come across something eye opening and today was one of them days. This 'competition' is to win an iPhone, with profit making competitions you expect for there to be a good profit margin for the competition holders (like the phone-in competitions on TV). But this one takes the biscuit…

Snow Patrol – Fallen Empires album in review

Now on their 6th album Snow Patrol is one of the biggest Indie bands in the UK of the past decade. So the question: does Fallen Empires live up to expectations?

Google Insights – A window into the mind of the web surfer

Ever wondered what people are searching for and when? Google Insights shows search trends from 2004 onwards. It also allows you to compare different search terms as well as seeing the popularity in different areas. This post shows a few features and what you can interpret from the results.

Return to happiness (original poem)

Here's something I wrote a couple of years ago, It sort of reminds me of Grace Nichols - Island Man from which was included in the anthology that I studied for my GCSE English exam. Island man is about a man living away from where he truly feels at home. I wrote this completely blind to any 'rules' their might be for writing poems but I like it nonetheless.

Computer screens full of useless information
Worries over tomorrows rising inflation
Dreaming of the day I can go back
In search of everything I left behind
Endlessly tied down by the chains in my mind.

I remember the gentle breeze swaying through the trees
As it rushed over my boney knees
No money, not even a pound
But where happiness I found
No deadlines and daily grinds in sight.

Hours spent by the lake I sat fishing
'Til the day I met the girl who I couldn't stop kissing
Maybe someday i will receive the call
So I can return back to where my heart desires
Move far away from these creeps and liars.

More Money Saving Ideas

In times when there isn’t as much money coming in each month as we might like then saving a few pounds can’t be a bad thing. This post gives tips for saving money on food shopping, energy & water bills, transport and several other tricks to save a few pounds.

Money Saving – Rechargeable Batteries

If there was one thing that was constantly on my shopping list it was batteries. So many small gadgets seems to require batteries including: digital camera, wireless mouse/ games controller, remote control etc.

Getting a haircut – A chore of vanity

Our hairstyle is part of our identity, just as important as what we wear; our hair makes up part of the picture that makes us who we are. My view is that going to the hairdressers is a chore that just has to be done just like the washing up. This post discusses the everyday inconvenience of getting a hair cut.

How the way we listen to radio has changed

The first radio stations as we know them today first appeared over 90 years ago after developments in radio signals allowed voices, as opposed to just signals to be broadcast. Quickly after sales of radio receiver equipment rocketed becoming the centrepiece in the living room of millions of households. Today radio is still commonplace in our lives, just maybe not as much in the forefront as in the middle of the 20th century.

Tips for preserving memories though a blog

Often when looking back and reflecting on things you’ve done in the past memories don’t always come back as easily and as detailed as you want. This post discusses how best to document memories such as those from a holiday or your time at college through blogging.

Using spare time wisely

simon.hucko (flickr)

There will (probably) be periods of your life in which you find yourself with seemingly little to do. In the last few years the global economy has seen a big slow down, the net result of this is more people are out of work or are working less hours. So what can you do you keep yourself motivated through these more lean times?

What is "cool"?

For some it is a constant mindset, searching for the something to make them appear cooler to everyone else. This mindset doesn’t even have to be something we are fully conscious of, take choosing a new car for example, are you buying it because of what you like about it or because of what everyone else will think about it? What exactly is ‘cool’?

Light of Summer Evenings Portrait Drawing

Observational Pencil Drawing

Original Image from Flickr
(can't remember exactly where!)

Create a reflect photo effect with Paint.net

Here is something a little different from the normal content of All Subjects Covered. This post is a step-by-step tutorial that demonstrates how you can create your own photo reflection effect. A neat effect that can be added to images which you want to display on a blog or website.

My Guide to Coach Trips

Anyone who has ever been anywhere on holiday will have been on at least one sight seeing coach tour. I briefly mentioned them in my post on Courage; this post is an extended guide to how to survive these endurance coach trips.

Cycling in and around Brighton

Brighton has a lot to offer cyclists; several cycle routes are on offer around the city as well as many miles of cycle lanes. This post is an illustration of the great variety of scenery on offer as you cycle round Brighton. As I went on a late September bike ride stopped to take these three panoramic pictures within an hour of each other.

Finding the courage to try something new

Image Credits: hectorir on flickr

Courage is a quality allows someone to push themselves outside of their comfort zone. Normally used to describe an act of bravery such as risking ones own well being to save someone else. It doesn’t have to be as dramatic as diving in front of a bullet to require courage. It can be something as small having the courage to make a difficult phone call or to tell someone the truth.

Rules for flat sharing

Having flat shared for several years I can give a few guidelines for sharing a house. This is particularly relevant for those who might be just moving out the family home to share for the first time.

4:37am

The time in which everything goes quiet. All that can be heard is the ticking clocks and the whirl of the freezer. Everything in sight weighs down upon tired eyes. The alarm clock patiently waits to signal the beginning of a new day.

Media: Pen & Pencil Colour

Ways to assess understanding

Exams, no-one really likes doing them but there needs to be a way of assessing knowledge and skills. Do they provide an accurate way to judge knowledge on a subject or are they outdated? This post looks at various issues to do with how best to examine a persons knowledge, based on personal experiences as a recent university graduate.

The Art of Breathing

Photo by Maria Obed

It's something we take for granted and it's not until it becomes more difficult, like when exercising, do most  people really think about breathing. Studies have shown that normally we only use about 1/3 of the capacity of our lungs. So is this a bad thing?

It's not lost it's just misplaced!

Image from katieb50 on flickr

It doesn't matter what it is or how big it is I can always lose it. Whether it be my glasses, remote control, keys or favorite drawing pencil, I am forever looking for something. Generally however I am not a forgetful person, I've never really 'lost' many things in life just keep misplacing them.

Killing Killers

With the recent assassination of Osama Bin Laden for this post I will share some thoughts on shooting those who themselves are prepared to kill others. Should the death penalty be re-introduced, is killing the enemy in war less criminal than killing convicted killers?

Mums the word

Today is mothering Sunday in England, most other countries also have a similar tradition celebrated mostly at some point from March through until May. The modern mothers day here usually consists of the following; A 5 minute card opening session and a day off from

Portrait of yesteryear

This observational drawing I done last year, haven't had the time to sit down to draw recently. It's still one of my favorite portraits that I've drawn, the photo doesn't do it much justice but it was such an unusual portrait. I like how the glasses really give the face its form. I can't remember where I got it from... more than likely Flickr as I think it was straight out the 1970's. The hair, still acceptable in my view on the other hand big glasses? Not so sure, not a trend I would follow!

Update from the blogosphere

Just really want to take a minute for a more chilled out post today, nothing too in-depth, my brain has had enough over the past couple of days! Firstly Blogger is going through some radical changes which all seem really awesome, the first to be implemented is the 'Dynamic Views' options which are online right now. You can choose from a variety of

Spring Cleaning

A unusual topic for a student to be blogging about really, I’m not about to surprise the world by saying that I am the worlds first student neat freak but I when it comes down to it I don’t despise cleaning as much as I would normally freely admit.

Neighbours

No not the television program but the people you live next to, although what sparked this chain of thought off was a television programme. It was one of the endless property programmes which feature heavily in the TV listings these days. I have to confess I do rather like watching them for an insight into other peoples homes

Police Crime Map

Encase you haven't seen it yet the police crime map details the number and type of reported crimes on (or near) each street in the UK. It makes for interesting viewing, costing around £300,000 to implement it is good for a few minutes of time wasting.

Finding the good in a bad situation

Flicking through the art folders

The great thing about drawings is like photographs they encapsulate many memories, thoughts and feelings. 2010 wasn't the best of years for me but being able to look through my art folders reminds me what is good and important in life. I always end up in a much better frame of mind when I have finished looking through. My work may not be gallery worthy but each piece has it's own story to tell.

Cycling

I'm sure I did write a post on cycling at some point, unfortunately I have misplaced it somewhere. I cycle multiple times every week as a means of transport and when I have the time, I cycle for a fun activity exploring various paths in and around town. The great thing about cycling is that it doesn't cost the earth. Pardon the pun but being on a student budget there isn't that much money left after a couple of pints down the pub. I have never paid much for my bikes especially as have little other option but to leave it outside subjected to the elements.

No Wires, No Worries

Recently I have seen a couple of short programs on wireless and new sources of energy and these have got me thinking a little. Having had to replace my laptop charger again this year a different power source would be a welcome idea. Not only would it look better without all those wires making the back of my desk look as unwieldy as my hair, but one day it could give you the ability to place your tech virtually anywhere in the house. However putting a 42” plasma TV in the bathroom would probably be an exception.

Turn it up to 11

Firstly Happy New Year! Secondly are you bored of the rubbish that is the UK music charts? Want (or need) something different to occupy your mind? Try these.

6 minutes of musical bliss from Silversun Pickups:



Need more? Plug in the biggest speakers you have and play some of these:
Anything by Wolfmother,
Saxon, inparticular Wheels Of Steel,
Blowin Free by Wishbone Ash,
Rainbow's Man on the Silver Mountain,
Also while on the subject of music, The Airborne Toxic Event's second album is just round the corner and if it's anything like their first then we are in for a treat.