I am no longer going to update this blog, instead i am writing about my continuing studies and other historical topics (as well as other things) on my personal blog which you can find here. Please check it out!
This blog will not be deleted though so feel free to continue linking to it and using it. Thanks for visiting over the years!
Monday, January 9, 2012
Saturday, November 5, 2011
MA Day school
Today i attended the first day school of my current Open University course (which is an MA in History of course), the day school was at the OU's HQ in Milton Keynes. This was the first time i had been there, indeed the first time i had been to MK! An interesting if slightly strange place to be sure, both the campus and MK! I of course got lost on my day to the day school (well its traditional for me, i just wonder how it is possible for someone to have such a lack of a sense of direction!)
The day school was good, though tiring, and i had a nice chat with my tutor. Unfortunately at the train was delayed coming back home due to some overhead line problems nearly Wembley (though in the end my train was only delayed 30 minutes). That meant i had time to have a surreal chat with a dopehead on the train platform, he was on the run from the police for breaking his bail conditions because he couldn't go back home because his girlfriend (who seemed also pretty drugged up) had burnt all his clothes and stabbed him. He was looking to go to Wales to hide, though got on a train for Glasgow. I think he was too high to really care one way or the other!
The day school was good, though tiring, and i had a nice chat with my tutor. Unfortunately at the train was delayed coming back home due to some overhead line problems nearly Wembley (though in the end my train was only delayed 30 minutes). That meant i had time to have a surreal chat with a dopehead on the train platform, he was on the run from the police for breaking his bail conditions because he couldn't go back home because his girlfriend (who seemed also pretty drugged up) had burnt all his clothes and stabbed him. He was looking to go to Wales to hide, though got on a train for Glasgow. I think he was too high to really care one way or the other!
Friday, October 21, 2011
A825, early thoughts
I started my MA with the OU module A825 a few weeks ago. So far i notice it is a lot more hands off by the course team, to date i've been asked to read a book (Family Fortunes: Men and Women of the English Middle Class 1780-1850
) and come back when i've done so for discussion. Thats fine with me though i tend to be a bit of a slow reader so i'm only half way through the book yet.
On November 5th there is the first of 3 day schools for the course, at the OU's HQ in Milton Keynes, i am hoping to be able to attend this. That should be where the course really starts to get going.
Its hard to know at this early stage how well i am doing and how well i am understanding the content, the first test comes in December when i have to submit my first assignment! It has been a little difficult getting going, i've had nearly a whole year off since the end of the last module on my BA, and the study habits quickly fade!
) and come back when i've done so for discussion. Thats fine with me though i tend to be a bit of a slow reader so i'm only half way through the book yet.On November 5th there is the first of 3 day schools for the course, at the OU's HQ in Milton Keynes, i am hoping to be able to attend this. That should be where the course really starts to get going.
Its hard to know at this early stage how well i am doing and how well i am understanding the content, the first test comes in December when i have to submit my first assignment! It has been a little difficult getting going, i've had nearly a whole year off since the end of the last module on my BA, and the study habits quickly fade!
Mastodons were hunted in North America 800 years earlier than thought
From the Guardian
"Humans were hunting large mammals in North America about 800 years earlier than previously thought, new analysis of a controversial mastodon specimen – with what appears to be a spear tip in its rib – seems to confirm."
"Humans were hunting large mammals in North America about 800 years earlier than previously thought, new analysis of a controversial mastodon specimen – with what appears to be a spear tip in its rib – seems to confirm."
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Photo : St Michael at the North Gate, Oxford
This Saxon tower is the oldest building in Oxford. I have just visited the historic university city, you can see all of my photos here!
Friday, October 14, 2011
Ancient 'paint factory' unearthed
From the BBC
"The kits used by humans 100,000 years ago to make paint have been found at the famous archaeological site of Blombos Cave in South Africa.
The hoard includes red and yellow pigments, shell containers, and the grinding cobbles and bone spatulas to work up a paste - everything an ancient artist might need in their workshop."
"The kits used by humans 100,000 years ago to make paint have been found at the famous archaeological site of Blombos Cave in South Africa.
The hoard includes red and yellow pigments, shell containers, and the grinding cobbles and bone spatulas to work up a paste - everything an ancient artist might need in their workshop."
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
A silent movie star is reborn: Pola Negri's lost Mania is found
From the Guardian
"The tragedy of silent cinema is that we have so little of it. Of all the films made in the silent era, no more than 20% are extant, and even fewer of those are available to be seen by the public. But happily, that isn't the end of the story. Those missing reels have not all been burned, re-used or left to rot. New discoveries are being made all the time, and each lost film that is returned to the fold has something to teach us about cinema at the beginning of the last century – and the best of them are a delight to watch as well."
"The tragedy of silent cinema is that we have so little of it. Of all the films made in the silent era, no more than 20% are extant, and even fewer of those are available to be seen by the public. But happily, that isn't the end of the story. Those missing reels have not all been burned, re-used or left to rot. New discoveries are being made all the time, and each lost film that is returned to the fold has something to teach us about cinema at the beginning of the last century – and the best of them are a delight to watch as well."
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