The empty words of Health Promotion

Thinking back to my Health Promotion Foundations lecture, another thing that started my mind wandering away from the lecture and it's subject matter was the first words that the lecturer, Jane Gregg, said when she finally started. She acknowledged the traditional owners and it's something that I've never heard any lecturer do this before. Now, I don't want to sound like a racist bigot but people who come into class and start the lecture with "I'd like to acknowledge the traditional owners the..." makes the person just sound like they are trying to be overly politically correct. I mean, if I was in somewhere like Scotland at a uni in a region that used to be owned by some clan I wouldn't start my lecture with an acknowledgement of them even if they had been forcibly removed from the area. Not unless, I was trying to present myself as concerned or ashamed about past government policies. The fact that I wasn't alive when they were made and had nothing do do with forcing the previous residents of their land would not make me want to let everyone know how I feel about the situation. Those policies were conducted with the support of the ruling population. It might not be right, it might have been wrong by today's standards, but it was done. There is a point where you have to move on from the past. We should try to rectify poor past decisions but empty words such as those I heard today, do little but trivialise the issues. That's what I felt the lecturers words were. Empty. By the way she said it you could tell that it was just a formality for her in showing that she was politically correct and nothing more.

Surviving the first week

I've survived my first week in of my new classes. I think I did relatively well considering what they are. I think that all up I'm going to like 3 of the subjects, Medical Microbiology, Environmental Health Risk Assessment and Food Laws. The one that I'm not too sure about is Public Health Foundations. The tutorial was pointless (as most first week tutorials are) and consisted of "team building" exercises with the rest of the class. I can accept that, it's the first week and it's good to get to know some more people. However, the lecture (which was today from 2 - 4) was another story. I expected too much thinking that it was going to relate to public health. The lecture started late and the first half (I only managed to stick it for the first 40 minutes), consisted of a slide show with pictures that were intended to be amusing with captions such as "ask for help" or "stay calm". I have seen these pictures many times before so they did not make me smile in the least. When it came to actually talking about Health Promotion it was not interesting. I'm not being unkind. It just wasn't, so I left.

And the shelves were bare

I'm now back at uni after 3 weeks break. The start of this semester brings new subjects and new room mates. My room mates have already annoyed me. At least one of them has at least. When I arrived back at the flat yesterday afternoon I found that someone had eaten half of the food I had left up there. Seriously, what kind of person eats food that without asking first. That put me in a bad mood for a start and so I've only spoken to two of my housemates quickly when I first arrived and haven't spoken to them since. I'm going to ask who took my food and do my best to get them to replace it when I get back this evening.

My timetable this semester is full of early mornings and full days. I have 2 days with 8 o'clock starts and Wednesday to Friday are all full days ending between 4 and 6 in the evening. At least I have Monday and Tuesday off so I'll be able to get a bit of study done then and if all goes to plan this semester I'll be able to get a job and therefore will be able to work on those two days. My first classes start tomorrow so I'm hoping that things get better.

Half way there

I'm now officially half way through my degree. The marks from the first semester of my second year came out at midnight today. I totally bombed out during both my exams so I wasn't too sure how I'd go. It's quite a relief to finally know that I have passed. I received a credit for public health, microbiology and justice and a distinction for planning and environmental law.

This semester was quite frustrating. I was doing two subjects that I see as a compete waste of time. I'm referring to Justice and the Australian Legal System and Health Promotion Needs and Assessment Planning. Both were frustrating in that not only were both courses poorly run with the grading expectations ambiguous, but also the content was not remotely interesting. I do not want to go into details but I am very disappointed with them and how they were run, not just my final mark. I would have liked to done better in Microbiology and believe my results in the final exam had a major affect on my final grade. In the exam I completed the multiple choice without too many issues. However, the second part of the exam, the short answer questions, was a different story. There were 5 questions each worth 10 marks each. My mind went blank and I could only write something for 2 of them. Before the test there were two pieces of assessment left, the exam and a write up of a lab activity. I was on 37% before those two were submitted. Therefore I must have performed badly on both. Once again I find the empty words flying around my head once again, "I must apply myself more next semester".

Later I found out that I received 85 out of 100 for the lab report (a distinction) and only 58 out of 100 for the exam (a pass). That's why I only received a credit and could have done so much better. If only I could remember what the western blotting technique was!

Respect thy Roommate... or else!

Has respect now full vanished in human society? I find myself constantly asking that question. Since Aretha Franklin's plea for respect in 1967 it appears that not much has changed. People just don't think about other people and it is a sad reflection upon today's lackluster society. What got me thinking about the subject was my room mate, Justin. This is a man, about 22 who puts himself first without the slightest thought of anyone else. Whether it's 7 o'clock in the morning with his loud music on, clearing his throat in the sink, hopefully missing the dishes waiting to be washed or leaving his half finished breakfasts, lunches and dinners scatter around the flat. I guess what I'm trying to say, is that he is really annoying.

I replay the situation in my head. I was at home studying. It was about 20 past 5 in the afternoon and the sun was just beginning to set below the horizon taking its warmth leaving only the cold of the winter nights. I'm trying to get a report finished for a uni subject. This is the start of the test week where most people are hitting their books trying to study as much as they can before the exams. But not Justin. From behind the door to my room I hear this 'thud, thud'. I don't even have to think about it. 'The Killers' are being blasted across the flat at full volume. Now, at the start of this year I used to like the Killers. Now, every time I hear their songs my forehead scrunches up into and involuntary frown. My housemate and his friend had come home with a couple of bottles of Passion Pop and were starting early. The music kept going. I could hardly hear the lyrics but the base was as strong as ever. Thud, thud. I decided I couldn't work like that and so got up to ask him to turn it down. He did not. It may seem like a trifling matter but after 5 months of the same constant annoyances, I finally snapped.

It's amazing the strength you get when you are annoyed. I went into his room, picked up his laptop and jerked it away from the desk. The cords that were attached flew out knocking his speakers off the desk. He followed me in and started talking. I'm not sure what he said and to be honest it didn't matter. I spun round swinging the laptop with all my mite and smashing it against the side of his surprised looking face. I hit him again and again. With each hit the laptop made a cracking sound. Again and again I lashed out. By the time I'd finished, the laptop was broken. He was laying half in, half out of the room. Blood pooling onto the tiles and his friend staring at me with a look of shock and terror on his face. I threw the laptop back into his room, stepped over his body, picked up my bag, said cheerio to his friend and left the house. To think, if he'd only just respected my wishes there would have been no problems.

And now here I sit in the uni computer lab, with a smile on my face, working on my assignment. I keep thinking, is that a bit ironic end. Being killed for playing the killers incessantly. Either way it tickles me. As I write this I can faintly hear the sirens sounding through the still night air. I expect they'll be waiting for me when I get back later tonight. Still, at least I can finish my assignment in peace.

NB: Of course this did not happen. I actually never asked, I just left the house. There actually was no one to ask. He'd left to go back down the shops for snacks leaving the music blaring once again. He's leaving in two weeks. Hopefully I'll be able to restrain myself for a little while longer. No promises, but I'll try.

Discrimination Questions

The dictionary defines equality as “the quality of being the same in quantity or measure or value or status”. When the Australian states granted women the vote starting in 1902, Australia started incorporating laws to instil equality into the Australian legal system. Equality in the law however, does not mean the same treatment for all. The purpose of the Anti-Discrimination Act 1991 is “to promote equality of opportunity for everyone by protecting them from unfair discrimination in certain areas of activity”. Therefore discrimination is allowable in certain areas. Under certain circumstances one can be discriminated against based on sex, age, marital status, religion, the list goes on. Does the anti-discrimination act actually stop discrimination or does it just muddy the waters? Discrimination is exceptable policy in order to promote equality for those who have a disability or being indigenous. However, is this really equality or just a massive contradiction?

Assignments and Exams

It is now the end of semester 1. Looking back it has come all too quickly. It seems like only yesterday I was wondering what the subjects were about. Today I'm supposed to know it! That of course isn't the case so over the next two weeks I will be doing 3 things.

1. Finishing my 3 assignments that I have due.
2. Trying to memorise everything about planning, environmental law and microbiology.
3. Panicking!

All I can say is that I'll be glad when this semester is over.

Welcome to Old Age...

Welcome to Old Age read a text I received from my brother wishing me a happy 30th birthday.  It's odd though.  I don't feel 30.  I don't feel 29.  To be honest I probably feel like I'm about 15 and still wondering what I'm going to be doing with my life.

One thing about turning 30 is that you have to reevaluate your life.  That's what I've started doing with a birthday resolution to get fit and healthy.  I've been 30 for 3 days now and the only thing I've done to get me towards that goal is only had one limited my fast food intake.  I've got to do more, I know that.  It's just getting started.  I've jotted down things I want to accomplish by the time I'm 30.  Some of the items are:

1.  Put more effort in to uni studies and finish all assignments with at least 3 days for proof-reading.

2.  Exercise every day for at least 30 minutes.

3.  Limit my intake of fast food and carbonated beverages.

So far I've only come up with 3 but I'm still working on them.  I know I've got to make changes to realign my life with what I want to do.  I've just got to work out how.

When it rains it pours!

Today it rained. Actually, It didn’t just rain. It poured. I woke up at about 5:30 this morning to hear it tapping against my window. Since then it hasn’t stopped coming down. I went down to the shops today and large puddles had formed over the road and a street near where I live had flooded. Water was over the road to about a foot in height. Since 6 am this morning 113mm of rain has fallen over the coast (the uni campus to be exact). That’s quite a bit for one day. The BOM also has a warning out which has been realized.

Sunshine Coast
Forecast for Thursday
A severe weather warning has been issued for dangerous surf conditions, flash flooding and local stream rises.
Rain periods with some heavy falls. Windy with fresh and gusty E to SE'ly winds. Dangerous beach conditions.
Precis: Rain periods, windy Max 24
UV Alert: 8:40 am to 3:10 pm, UV Index predicted to reach 9 [Very High]

It’s supposed to hang around for the next couple of days in the form of showers. Looks like I'm going to have to buy a new umbrella!

Queensland Election 2009

Today was the day of the election for Queensland and I've just read that the ALP has once again been returned to power with Anna Bligh becoming the first woman premier in Queensland's history.

I cast my vote this morning and voted first for the Greens candidate, with my preferences firstly going to the LNP and the the ALP.  I put my preferences like that as Jarrod Bleijie was at the Sippy Downs polling station.  He introduced himself, smiled and shook my hand as I entered.  That's the first time I've seen a politician at any polling station so for that, he got my vote.  

Even though I put the ALP last I'm glad that they got back in, but also that there was more than a 3% swing against them.  This means that there is more of an opposition and although Labour is still in it's not totally one sided like it has been in the past.