Totally Addicted To (All Your) Base.

The effects of computer games (especially on young, violent children) has been widely debated for many years. With the more recent portability and accessibility of technology and the wider usage of it, the idea of technology addiction has been discussed over the last couple of years. The University of Maryland (NOT affiliated with a fried chicken eatery located in the Midlands)  published a study at the beginning of the year regarding the effects of technology withdrawal, and they called it “Unplugged”. 125 of the volunteers were from Bournemouth, and for 24 hours all they could access were land line telephones and books. No Twitter, Facebook, emails, text messages, television or radio for this period, and they all kept diaries recording their feelings.  Isolation, anxiety and fidgeting; symptoms that they said they had experienced which are all comparable to those experienced by drug addicts trying to kick the habit. The more recent “Square Eyes” poll conducted by esure insurance backed up this research, and also suggested that we spend more time looking at screens than we do sleeping.

Since I’ve been home, I have been without a mobile phone – it will be two weeks tomorrow. I think it is more frustrating than anything else, mainly because I don’t have the numbers written down anywhere else – which means relying solely on Facebook, emails and the land line. Any fleeting feelings of isolation could be attributed to the fact that I’m home alone, and we have no neighbours (bar some chickens and sheep – and I’m not entirely sure they count). I still have access to all other technologies (albeit a ridiculously slow internet speed which means I can’t even watch stuff on YouTube), so I can’t really compare. On the other hand, it has been two weeks, and although slightly inconvenient, it hasn’t really affected my day to day living, or personal health and general well being. 24 hours really isn’t that long? And if you took this study further, into other parts of our lives, I’m sure you would find similar results. Stopping a fitness fanatic doing any exercise. Forcing a foodie to exist entirely on microwave meals. Taking away a driver’s car. I can’t think of any more right now, but I’m sure you get the picture. For all those of you that don’t feel the same way, the University of Kent is devising ways to enable people to put down their iphone/blackberry – so don’t worry, help is on its way.

In other news, it is now officially less than 3 weeks until Glastonbury. I’ve had an email telling me my ticket should arrive soon, but that was a while ago and it still isn’t here. Nervous anticipation. I did go shopping yesterday though – and I was very good, not my usual ridiculous money frittering self – I’ve bought 2 pairs of shoes, a hat, a headscarf and a lip balm for under a tenner. Hooray for me! Still need to acquire a tent and some wellies though…

I’d Like a Refund Please

“I’m living so far beyond my income that we may almost be said to be living apart.”

– E. E. Cummings (1894 – 1962)

As a student, I don’t expect to have an abundance of money. I’m not saying that I savour every last penny of my loan, or that I am in any way sensible with the small amount of earnings I make. The tuition fee debate over the last 12 months has sparked a lot of controversy, and many people are angry about this – most of us know that politicians stretch the truth as far its elasticity will allow. Nick Clegg, I am talking about you (again). You have lied to us, and we are hurt. The worst part is, it is, and always will be us that have to pay. Nick Clegg will never know the heartbreak of telling his children that he simply can’t afford to put them through University. Recently it has been announced that many Universities will be charging the full £9,000 for fees, that was supposedly going to be reserved for “very special circumstances”. Clearly old polytechnics up and down the country are just that.

As the second year of my degree draws to a close, I don’t have to worry about these extra charges. I feel deeply for those that do. I know smart, brilliant people who will now not be attending University because the fees are too high. People that wanted to become doctors, people that given the chance want to be able to help other people. I, like many others, am angry, because this is extortion and because there is nothing we can but recess into a deeper class divide. My fees will total roughly £10,000 when I leave education, which is a lot of money. I came into this with open eyes, and I was fully aware of the charges I faced. The main issue for me? The fact that nothing works.

The University I currently attend has announced that from September 2012, the full £9,000 a year will be charged. At the moment, £3,225 is ridiculous. I went into the library on Wednesday, to print an essay. When I arrived, I discovered that the servers were down, which meant I could not access the internet, which included the email with my 3,500 words in. I could, and should, have backed it up – problem solved. Except none of the printers were connected to anything, which meant it wouldn’t have made any difference. On Friday, I went back in to print something totally different out, only to find that the problem hadn’t been solved and there was not one printer in the entire building that worked. Today, Monday, I called the finance office to see if I could obtain a letter to give to the bank, and how long this would take to process. I was told that I could go in today and pick it up there and then. When I arrived, I was informed that the servers were still down, and even if they weren’t it would take until Wednesday morning to process. And that is only if the network is back up and running. I know that you can’t expect everything to work all the time, and given the amount of usage and pressure the systems are exposed to, it is only a matter of time before something breaks. However, with 18,000 students, each paying on average £3,000 a year, you’d think that they would be able to afford to get somebody in to fix things faster. Apparently, this is not the case. Had this been an isolated incident, it would be a slight annoyance. Add to unavailable tutors, disruptive building works and extra charges for societies – I’d like my money back please? I know I’ll only spend it on shoes and bags that I don’t really need, but at least I’ll be able to enjoy it.

I am aware its been a while, so just to cheer things up; in other news and in true British fashion, I’d quite like the weather to make its mind up – scarves and sunglasses is a very hard look to pull off. I’ve got less than a week left of year two, and it would be nice if for at least some of it could be spent in a beer garden! Very excited for Rob Brydon on Friday; slightly concerned that they’ve called to ask if I’ve got any funny stories. I’m sure I have plenty, but I’m not certain how many of them are suitable for broadcasting. I have discovered that Bruce Forsyth will be the main guest for the event. Glastonbury is just over 5 weeks away, and I still do not own a tent or any wellies. I have an income now though, so I shouldn’t have any problems getting it sorted!

I Should Be Packing…

So, today I am going home for the Easter Break – I was supposed to leave this morning so I’d be home in time for a proper cooked meal, but in true student form I went out last night, drank too much and then couldn’t get out of bed this morning. It’s been so sunny today, and all of the people I live with are pretty much done with education, so I forced myself out for a hangover lunch (at The Font in Leicester, best sandwich I’ve had in a VERY long time – details here; http://www.thefontpub.co.uk/) and have done nothing since I got back, but look at pictures of Bradley Cooper, and get excited about tents and wellies.

The sunshine has made me ridiculously excited for Glastonbury Festival – although I am slightly disappointed with the headline acts I’m hugely excited for the Chemical Brothers and Mumford and Sons (who, I have been told, were amazing last year!). I haven’t been camping in forever, and I’m sure I’ve not done it for more than one night in a row either (for a country girl, I’m pretty pathetic really) but, I’m sure if I can afford a jelly bean tent (available at Tesco) it would make everything wonderful. Right now, I have enough petrol to get home and that is about it really – so I might hold off on the shopping for a while. What I think I will  be doing is working on my “tan”. I use the word casually, as “tan” for me is quite difficult to achieve. I’m either pink or white, which is always a bit rubbish. Hopefully there will be enough sunshine over Easter for me to gradually build up my sun tolerance – so I won’t look quite so pasty when I go.

Going back to Bradley Cooper, I went to see his new film “Limitless” about a week ago. It starts out with such good intentions, but as soon as Robert De Nero is introduced the plot spirals out of focus. Such a shame, because Cooper is amazing in it and although brilliant as ever, De Nero is wasted in his role. Its about a down and out writer in New York who loses his girlfriend and never makes rent. Bumps into his ex brother in law and is given a second chance in the form of a little clear pill, that allows him to harness 100% of his brainpower. It begins so well, and the cinematic techniques used are pretty good and aesthetically speaking the men in the film are quite pleasing – it is just disappointing that suddenly as an audience you’re launched into the stock market and it just doesn’t really make any sense any more.

In other news, my tickets for Alton Towers came through today. I have to wait until the 25th of September to go, but as a reward for getting up and abandoning my journalistic morals by buying the Sun for a fortnight they are free so I can’t complain – its always nice to have plans to get excited for. The other thing I am excited about is waving goodbye to the concrete yard at the back of my uni accommodation and saying hello to the grassy garden in Somerset I never thought I’d miss.

I should probably start packing.