I have memories, clouded by sorrow

'The government may tighten planning laws to end concentrations of student houses in England's university towns.'

"Housing Minister Caroline Flint said: "It is not acceptable that in too many areas, people living in houses in multiple occupation and local communities alike are having their quality of life affected."

What I find strange, and sadly consistent, is that people rarely put into words why these student areas are actually a bad thing. There seems to be consensus among the authorities and local groups that having high concentrations of student housing is a bad thing, but they won't come out and say why.

"Her department has commissioned outside consultants to investigate and come up with proposals within a couple of months. It will investigate how the planning system can create "more effective management" of such shared homes and disperse concentrations."

Are students the new blacks/Jews/gypsies? Is it ok to say that you don't want them living near you, just because they are students, and students are still fair game whereas ethnic groups and religious groups no longer are? Are they a problem that needs 'dispersing'? Why not 'disperse' the Muslim ghettos, or the chavs on council estates, or perhaps the entire population of Birmingham? I'm curious to see the justification for this.

"'Universities are already looking at ways to improve the situation,' a spokesman said. 'Many have invested heavily in new student halls[...]'" New halls aren't the answer. They are very expensive by comparison to normal housing, often taking up something like 75% of your student loan, and fail to prepare students for 'life on the outside', ie. doing their own chores, paying bills, etc., which is probably easier to start adjusting to in their 2nd year at university than when they graduate.

So, what is the real issue here?

Yes, life gets still more complicated, yet strangely I find myself not caring so much.

Onwards. What kind of highly-qualified professor would write, "submit thro me plse."? My old course leader from uni, that's who. He sent an email out to me and my friend Matt telling us, "Here is the website for the Games conf in France 28-30 Nov, Deadline is 15 October." Basically he wants us to rewrite our dissertations as 20 minute conference talks. Since (a) there are severe problems with my dissertation that would need addressing, (b) I don't have nearly enough time, and (c) I think I'd rather cut off a finger or two than give a talk in front of 100 doctors and professors and PhD students, I won't be submitting anything this year.

The weekend was good fun, although I somehow managed to be hungover all day Sunday. This may have been something to do with whatever I was doing that yourapocalypse saw fit to term 'watching thedarkproject be all northern with his cider'...

This week, I have to go out lots, again, plus go to work, and finish writing this damn song that has been my nemesis for some weeks now. The new amp is working nicely, though it's arguably too loud for home use!

And, that's all.

The great thing about the autumn in Britain, is that it's uncompromisingly timely. Almost every September the 1st without fail, you will look out of the window on the morning and see cold mist. This is in stark opposition to summer, which sometimes arrives as much as a year late.

Speaking of which, I've spent the summer alternating between wasting my time doing nothing of use, and putting in the hours to the drudgery that is work.

Sounds like a metaphor for my life, actually.

Moving swiftly on...

Biased reporting?
White people 'find' things in New Orleans:
http://news.yahoo.com/photo/050830/photos_ts_afp/050830071810_shxwaoma_photo1
Black people 'loot' things from New Orleans:
http://news.yahoo.com/photo/050830/480/ladm10208301530
(UPDATE: Yahoo have commented and apologised for this here: http://news.yahoo.com/page/photostatement.)

In general, I found the reporting of the hurricane quite interesting. I was telling people on Monday night that New Orleans might be submerged by morning. The next day, the news websites and papers were saying New Orleans was ok because the hurricane went east to Mississippi. Then on Wednesday, oops, actually it's underwater and maybe over a thousand people have died. Slight mistake.

I'm actually enjoying writing up my dissertation, although I don't really have enough hours left to finish it in. It's gonna be a grand panic on Sunday as I print it off and bind it, I expect. Anybody know anywhere local that will be open on Sunday for that sort of thing?

I went out yesterday to the Aussie theme pub's rock night. ultrapenguin would have fit right in, I'm sure. I don't remember any of the music but I do remember cool things on the video screens, such as the Amon Hen battle from Fellowship of the Ring. There's something about long-haired men killing things with swords that makes me want to... be a long-haired man killing things with a sword.

Social agenda for the near future: Bloodstock indoor festival on Saturday (Amon Amarth!), probably Oz-Rock again on Wednesday, and metal night at Rock City on Thursday. Anything else I should be aware of?

(PS. What were the chances of me getting 2 separate uses of the word 'Amon' into one post, and them both being relevant?)