Will’s View

Reasons that getting your wisdom teeth out is a cool way to start a vacation:

1.  Ice Cream: Sure, you can’t chew or do anything fancy with your teeth, but you can still eat ice cream. And ice cream is good. Not to mention a great way to regain all those pounds lost over exam-stress.
2. General Anaesthesia: I’m a firm believer that a lot of things in this world would be a lot easier if anaesthesia were publicly accessible. But since it’s not, the best way to get a good rest in this busy, 21st century, hustle and bustle world is a carefully measured dose of general anaesthetic. Make sure to ask for more rather than less though, else you could wake up during the operation, and that’s not fun.
3. Pain Pills: Codeine phosphate, ibuprofin, paracetemol and metronidazole are on the long list of pain medication available to those suffering “acute dental pain” (well, the last one is an antibacterial, but it sounds cool). I’m not a fan of over-medicating, but if it can make for a fun holiday, then why not!
4. Relaxation: There really is no other option, and really, what else would you want to do on a holiday? Bed-rest and book-reading are a must, and when combined with long walks on down the hall really can make for enjoyable palliative care. Beware of Type A personalities over-exerting themselves, as it can retard the healing process.
5. Dental Security: Not only have you had a fantastic week or so relaxing and popping pain pills, but you can rest at night, safe in the knowledge that you will not have any future problems with wisdom teeth.

Rating: Highly Recommended

--> Reasons that getting your wisdom teeth out is a cool way to start a vacation:  Ice Cream: Sure, you can’t chew or do anything fancy with your teeth, but you can still eat ice cream. And ice cream is good. Not to mention a great way to regain all those pounds lost over exam-stress. General Anaesthesia: I’m a firm believer that a lot of things in this world would be a lot easier if anaesthesia were publicly (More...)

We have been in our share-house for a while now, and recently we received a letter saying that we were due for an inspection by the Property Manager. So, in preparation we did a bit of a tidy-up. Well, the others did. I managed to clear enough space on my floor so that I could get to my desk. In any case, an effort was made to make the place look ship-shape.

On the appointed day, at the appointed time, the Property Manager arrived. Talking loudly on her mobile phone, she fumbled with her keys whilst one of my other housemates opened the door for her. Nodding discretely, mouthing “Thanks” and pointing at her phone she started her tour of the premises.

This was the most cursory of inspections. She continued talking to some poor soul on the other end about wine bars and the social acceptability of drinking one’s sorrows away on a Thursday, whilst cheerily wandering around. I am still not sure if there was any particular plan being followed, or whether time was just being wasted so that there were no guilty feelings about leaving early to go to the afore-, and often-mentioned wine bar.

After this perfunctory preview of the house, she spent another ten minutes on the phone in my house-mate’s room, interrupting her somewhat constructive study. The phone call ended in due course—among much talking of wine, and bars—and the Property Manager then asked if we had any issues. Egged on by who-knows-what, we were then regaled with a sad tale involving Microsoft’s Mail Merge, and labels. I forget how it ends, but I’m sure it was sad.

Then, off into the sunset rode the Property Manager, most likely to get sloshed at a wine bar. Is this the normal course of events?

--> We have been in our share-house for a while now, and recently we received a letter saying that we were due for an inspection by the Property Manager. So, in preparation we did a bit of a tidy-up. Well, the others did. I managed to clear enough space on my floor so that I could get to my desk. In any case, an effort was made to make the place look ship-shape. On the appointed day, at the appointed time, the Property Manager (More...)

TV programming is not something I usually spend much time thinking about, or looking at. When things such as <insert country> Idol and Big Brother insist on coming back season after season it tends to hamper one’s enthusiasm for popular television. And don’t get me started on the xenophobic news shown on the major networks here.

I do, however watch the odd spot of popular television, just to try and keep up with the young people of today (otherwise what would I have to talk about during lectures?). It was whilst watching one of these contemporary programs that I saw an advertisement for a new program called Friday Night Download.

The basic premise for this show is recycling internet video memes. Yup, that’s it. The three hosts share two screens (and very nearly that many brain cells), and showcase videos they have ripped off YouTube or Google Video. Truly inspired programming.

I guess it is one of the first television programmes that one can watch almost entirely on the internet, for free, without ads, and without breaching copyright. So why do we need television again? In fact, why do we need these three D-Class celebrities to tell us what’s popular in terms of internet video?

It does show how the networks are trying to keep up with the internet phenomenon. Because so many people are now (legally or illegally) downloading TV shows hours after they air in the US, the new generation have little need for television in order to catch up with their favourite show. The networks are trying to curb this drop in audience numbers by paying exorbitant sums of money in order to show the episodes shortly after they air in the States. Is it working? Well, not really. Especially if they augment the programming with such gems as Friday Night Download.

--> TV programming is not something I usually spend much time thinking about, or looking at. When things such as <insert country> Idol and Big Brother insist on coming back season after season it tends to hamper one’s enthusiasm for popular television. And don’t get me started on the xenophobic news shown on the major networks here. I do, however watch the odd spot of popular television, just to try and keep up with the young people of today (More...)