The Edge Of Madness

So took 2 weeks to book in my virgin media broadband installation timeslot. 1-6pm on friday. Waiting, waiting, waiting. 6pm rolls around, still no engineer.

Get a call at 6:30, sorry guy can't come out today, we can do saturday, will call up to confirm in half an hour. 1.5 hours later, still no call. So I call them.

On the expensive 0845 number. 15 minutes on hold, passed around to 3 departments. Finally get told, we don't know why it was cancelled, you will have to wait another 2 weeks for the next free slot. WTF? You don't show up, you show up the next day. You don't make me wait another 2 weeks, with again no guarantee of anyone showing up. So screw Virgin Media.

I'm doing my Masters of Astronomy at Swinburne University. Remotely. Rather enjoyable so far.

Managed to get 78% in both subjects so far, just managing a distinction in both. Considering that was the best mark I ever managed at uni when I did my IT degree, I'm rather happy. Much more work than I thought, if I wasn't working during the last two weeks of the semester, I don't know how I would have managed. Next semester I plan on only doing one subject. One will be fine as a hobby, otherwise all I was doing was work and uni.

Anyway, here's my first two projects. I really need to work on my academic writing within them. I can write bullshit, but I really need to formalise my writing style.

The Fermi Paradox

Life in the Solar System

21/30 for Fermi.

My time dilating explanation is a little confusing. And my supervisor had a great point of humanity does do generational work - Gaudi's Sagrada Família for example. I should have remembered that, I've been there.

25/30 for Life in the Solar System.

I'm missing some explanations on what is life - specifically in regards to viruses, why fire is not life, prions. And my explanation of the MHZ could be extended.

On how life started on Earth, I'm missing talking about stromatolites and fossils.

Anyway, enjoy, and swear at my writing style. Lana did, and I was too stubborn to change it all.