Then my car needed a MOT and tax. Then I needed to submit company accounts (submitted two days late do I got a penalty notice). Ah, feel so stressed and peeved out right about now. This isn't even to mention a friendship with a best friend broke down over the past week

Trying to put that behind me and just focus on studying. In a bit behind again and just trying to be happy.

Anyway I've diverted from the topic of my blog post. It was more about something I heard on question time this week, and from Piers Morgans interview with Jason Donovan that got me thinking. How do others measure success??

Piers Morgan's Life Stories: Jason Donavan

I know some people will think entirely from a cash sense here! I don't think greed is a good answer for such a question. I have a friend who is well off, and may consider the fact that her next generation (children) will not need to work or the next. Is this success for you? Is this what makes you happy? Worryingly it seems most people in this country would agree.

I'm not saying it's greedy to want loads of money, by some means that's fine, but that's what's trashing our country. Ask any young person what they want to do in life. You won't often hear help people out in blah blah, or become a blah blah. Increasingly you here it become money related. As if money is the key to success. Maybe this culture has been imposed on use little people by the big bankers?

I've always wondered where this stems from. Greed has taken over this country from the top down. Bankers who need that extra £1,000 bonus to the people out on the streets last August helping themselves to goodies

Still the core question goes unanswered. What is success? For someone it could be doing a cleaning role in that hotel. Which their family classes them as a failure for doing. Success is something very much measured by the individual. Sometimes it gets clouded up.

For this who are wondering what I was referring two in the two TV programmes. In question time a young "entrepreneur" mentioned the higher rate of tax and that it might/will make him consider learning a new language and taking business abroad. Another gentleman right after explained to him that it says more about then our tax system. To which he got a clap from the audience. Who's in the right there? The young person who wants to pay less tax so he gets to keep even more of his money? Well, if our greedy politicians can do it why can't the general population? Examples need to be set for society to follow again.

Regarding Jason Donovan, he mentioned after his drug abuse the new outlook he had on life. How does one measure success? He felt he had it all until his drug abuse. He mentioned for some it's surviving cancer, making it through the day, getting their chosen job, or making that next single number one. Interesting points.

I've wrote quite a lot here but I believe I have a new outlook on success. I don't take it is seriously as I do now and just seek for happiness. My success would be getting my degree if I ever get there

If its difficult to read its because I've wrote this from my iPhone WordPress app. Sorry!

On that note I love you readers and please use the comments box for thoughts. I know theres a few lurkers out there!

A fight during a match between Bradford and Crawley

The players attitudes. The on the pitch spitting, swearing, constantly arguing with the referee. That's not even including the frequent fights/personal injury caused them on the field. It's called the beautiful game but every time I watch a game I see something that makes me sick.

It's not just limited to players. The fans too sometimes have similar attitudes (I am trying hard not to generalise in this post!). Probably following the acceptable behaviour of their favourite player on the field.

Granted not every fan or player is like this but the those that are really show the sport in a bad light.

Some of them just aren't worth their money. To behave in such a way is unacceptable. Obviously passions run high and a moment of madness can be tolerated from time to time but it's just so frequent in footy

It's not just me a quick google search will reveal similar thoughts too. I wonder why?

Nice sunny day!

I just got my marks for my second assignment today. Very good. Same as the first!!However it was much tougher then the first. I needed to put together an essay plan and structure. As well as select he most appropriate parts of what I had studied, to answer the essay question. I will dissect it and look at my tutors comments later on. Even more detailed comments this time and praise!

Today has been such a nice day again!

I'm kind of saving for another Clio. Really looking for a 04 or 05 when I have the cash. I hate taking buses and travelling around slowly. I will do my research this time.

I've been having a tricky time of late and no doubt will have a even trickier one next month but one person has helped me through things a little. Shes even tried to help me gain confidence to talk to the person I like (even if I'm still to shy to do anything face to face ). Really strange thing is despite the fact she went to my university we haven't met yet. Hopefully we will soon

Nobody gave me music in my last post. I know I have a reader base out there even if it is small! Give me some good music!! My iPod really needs updating.

On a separate note I can't express how much I hate how iTunes handles all my iPhone music. Having no drag and drop is nonsense and I don't want to sync to a playlist either!

It drove fine the day before driving me to and from work. Then Sunday morning came and nada. Nothing engine was just turning over but no ignition it wouldn't move off the drive. I had to get my mum to give me a lift to work. Next day I called out britannia rescue to get the car to the garage. Was horrible having to see my baby car on the back of a tow truck. Anyway, Next morning after my university tutorial my worst fears where confirmed. The ECU was not responding to anything. Common fault on Renault Clios of this age

I'm not 100% sure what I'm gonna do yet. Really hate taking buses to work and around. Have to leave so early to go anywhere and I'm addicted to a car now! Having taken the bus yesterday to work and having to leave so early it just gets me down. When I get a new car I would like it to be another Clio in Black. Just gonna make sure it's a better one

Better get back to writing my essay.

Oh by the way, Pleaseee can someone list some tunes in the comments below that I can stick on my iPod? I'll love you forever. I got old crap on here and it's really boring.

Anyway, I finally got a new PC. So, I won't be needing to be doing any upgrading in a very long time! Good news

Here are a few pictures for your viewing. I haven't got the specs with me at the moment but I will put them up soon. It's very meaty. I'm liking it a lot. I haven't made full use out of it yet or pushed it to it's limits (which is gonna be hard) but all great so far. Its a custom build from pcspecialist.co.uk.

One of the frustrations these past two months has come from my business. The MonkeyPC has a extremely strong selling point in Monkey Care. However its got a weakness in the fact it's too near its limits so to speak. It can't meet clients demands fast enough in this division. I've lost clients already because of it. Moving back to this server has cost a lot. The old one was meant to be stable and give a improvement but instead it was the opposite. Now our billing system (WHMCS) is sending out overdue notices to clients who shouldn't be receiving them. It's been a nightmare these few months

Moving on from that my first few weeks with the open university have been good. I'm now getting into the meaty part. I've submitted my first assignment and I'm not sure how thats going to go. Got to wait a while for the results. The next few weeks are a lot tougher. More work and the fact I fell a bit behind after completing the first assignment. However, it's more interesting. Looking into consumption, rubbish and how we shop in society. I've not made many notes so far and the notes I do make I'm trying to digitise them to make them neat and organised.

Catching up is very difficult considering the volume of work and other things I do. So, I'm making it my mission to catch up by tomorrow. A large part has been done today. I also had a tutorial today. I really enjoy them its great seeing tutors that actually engage with their students and don't tell them off when they come in late like little kids. Today we had a good debate and discussion. However, much like question time there wasn't enough time!

I have questions to raise about the second assignment it looks challenging to say the least. First I just want to catch up with the weeks study. Almost done all my online activities. Gonna go now. Hope to post tomorrow after I finished my work. Love all my readers

The book I'm reading at the moment!

I've been reading both my purchased book (Social Sciences: the big issues by Kath Woodward) and the preparation material by the open university. My study materials are due to be posted on January 6th. Not long! I feel its so soon so got to press on!

I'm really feeling confident and ready to start. I'm not 100% ready but will be once I get my desk set-up and my PC built. I been working for ages to get enough money, so nearly there. It's likely that I'll not get it built until I start unfortunately but I have access to the home PC.

The next few weeks will just be about preparation really and making sure I'm ready to go. I want to finish all my preparation texts that I didn't read over Christmas and new year.

I also recently bought a book called the good essay guide. I want to skim read this if I can because its been years since I wrote a essay

Hopefully my course materials are mailed tomorrow and I receive them not long after. I'm going into study mode now!

Real change is needed in our education system. I'm not just talking about university fees which I've spoke about before and the Open University tried to make clear in a letter the sent me below

Open University explains tuition Fees!

Eric Schmidt criticised the UK education system back in August and I agree with him (and the pirate party appeared to as well). He said the UK had a strong, proud past of scientist and technological pioneers. As someone who left the school system in 2005, I will try and list what I believe is missing to create future pioneers in this country without being boring

A simple IT lesson today isn't good enough. The children know more and if they don't in many cases they adapt faster to technology then the person teaching them. Teaching a child or teen how to work with Microsoft Excel or fill entries in Microsoft Access will (mostly) set them up for a lifetime of work. In addition to this even in workplaces other software systems are being used and embraced. A wider range of IT knowledge needs to be added on the curriculum. I can't speak for the current curriculum though, but I would hope it's been updated from my recollections. I think in terms of teaching IT in UK schools there should be two separate subject matters one being the traditional information technology and the other being computer science.

Many other subjects particularly at secondary level are stagnant statics. I mean the curriculum doesn't change year after year. How can the best be provided and given when it isn't current or broad enough? This is especially true of subjects like history. The history of the Atlantic slave trade or WW2 are both very important components in their own right these are drawn out and analysed far too deeply. International history should also be on the curriculum.

Lets take a look at the very broad (IB course) approved by the UN. It doesn't just focus on academics. It teaches life skills. It teaches for real life rather then just programming people for work or jobs in a system. Life skills need to be taught that are broad. Enabling students to think about creativity. Not just another robot, so to speak.

A random secondary school

Teachers in UK schools are often focused on meeting targets and achieving grades. To which most are very misleading and confusing. The problem is the curriculum in schools it just doesn't allow students to achieve the best. Often students are put in groups in English, Maths and Science. Where they generally perform to the level of the group they are in. Allowing mixed ability students to work together would work best allowing student matching. The aim being that the weaker student can learn with how the strong student does. If lessons are tailored correctly.

We really need to improve our schools. If we don't, we will need to rely on foreign countries to supply us with brains. We already have problems producing a workforce!

It's like most of our country at the moment we really need to self sustain more and improve what we have.

I personally feel that I've learnt more in the six years out of school, then I ever learnt at school! That cannot be the way no longer. Students need to come out of school ready for the world. I've got more to say in part 2 on this series. I actually meant to post this a few months back but didn't finish it!

I'm 23 today woohoo!

Thanks and peace!

Kit Malthouse - Deputy Mayor of London

Instead of addressing the cause of the August riots. The deputy mayor is still focusing on what he calls "the large majority of criminals" who took part in the unrest. Can nobody see that unrest just doesn't happen? It's a issue with society.

The fact it took our own prime minister three nights to cut his holiday short in Tuscany and return home, just shows what a mess everything was.

People have felt marginalized. Whether through race (ignore what the media feeds you people do get treated differently in this country!), poverty, bailing out bankers, university fees, price increases (due to the global crisis), unemployment or a whole host of issues.

It's too easy to sit back and say what a bunch of thugs and vermin these people were and not get to the root cause of the situation. I don't condone this behavior but this is what happens when there is a mismatch in society.

The investigations into what happened do seem to be continuing here.

However, they garner little media exposure. We just hear crap about everyone who took part being hardened criminals to put the population down in their rightful place. The media can influence so many things and bend the truth. Reporters don't know much of Tottenham and yet much of the reporting was inaccurate at the time. Media can just evoke problems with the masses at sensitive times.

During the riots, We had one reporter(BBC) saying there is a Jewish community in Tottenham. The Jewish community he is referring to is in Stamford Hill a mile and a half up the road. Meaning they had come down (for some unknown reason) when the unrest took place. Inaccurate reporting such as this lead people to believe only a people of one race, or religion is causing the trouble in a particular area. The media really is a lethal thing

Pah.... I've got so much to say on this issue it'd bring my blog database down and render it unusable

Preparing to study book received from the OU

I'm beginning my PPE degree at the Open University with my first module an introduction to the social sciences soon. I've begun to slowly unlock resources on site and an estimated date of despatch for my printed materials is in December. I've also bought a book (Social Sciences: the big issues) and begun reading that to get used to the content I will come across.

I've received some preparation materials already. A book called "preparing for study" from the open university and a audio cd contained within. I've listened to the cd and glanced at the material. I'm going to digest it more thoroughly soon as it contains very useful study tips. Some I've never run across. What was more impressive was that the book seemed written especially for DD101, my course!

So the tips are tailored to my course it would seem.

I've read the first chapter of the social sciences book by Kath Woodward which was just introducing me to what the social sciences are all about really, and explains what the rest of the chapters in the book will be discussing.

I'm about to start the first real chapter about identity. I will report back in more detail when I read this chapter and my open university book