Moving to college.

Living in the capitol of Ireland, (Dublin city) it never crossed my mind that I would have to move out of my house to go to university. Generally because I am in 30 minutes from the major uni's in Ireland.

But when I found out last week that I have to move to Carlow, I was pretty surprised. It really honestly wasn't on my plans. Probably thats a fault on my side of things, you know neglecting to pay attention when your filling out your CAO.

So things are going to be hard for the first while. On the positive side of things I get to move out for a while.... is that positive I dunno.

Like will I move out and then ... I'm not saying I will be home sick. But do you know that feeling of home you have, of the house that you spent your life in. Where you grew up. Thats a different feeling of home. And I'm just wondering if I will loose that feeling if I go. That when I come back my house that I grew up in wont be "home" anymore. And then I end up being homesick for a place that doesn't exist.

I think thats what's bothering me now. Like currently I don't have this comfort that im used to, ever since I found out that I have to move. There has just been something nagging in the back of my head thats been preventing me to relax .. its not anxiety or anything.

Its like I know I'm on the border of major change, and I'm edging closer to the point of no return... well if anything I'm past the point of no return. And I am already missing the home feeling even though I haven't moved out yet.

I suppose its all a bit sudden, I just have to adjust. Things change. Life moves fast. And its best to embrace what you have, because it never stays the same.

Thank you UPC

I want to personally thank UPC. Here in Ireland UPC provide internet access to thousands of homes and businesses, trading under the names NTL and Chorus.

Why do I want to thank them? They fought back at the four major record companies, Sony, EMI, Warners, and Universal. Who were looking to get UPC to BLOCK access to a well known torrent site "the pirate bay". They weren't asking for IP addresses for people who download copyrighted music illegally, they were looking to get UPC to block anyone viewing the site completely.

Now some people might argue, yeah what's wrong with that? People shouldn't be downloading Copyrighted material illegally. Firstly, people viewing the site might not have the intention of downloading copyrighted material. So blocking everyone from viewing the website is to falsely accuse them that they are intending to commit a felony.

Secondly, Where do you draw the line? If your required to block access to one website, why not another and another? And how do you determine which sites to block access?

If we block access to the pirate bay, more and more sites will start coming under the hammer, first it will be to protect copyrighted material, then it could be to protect the integrity of a politician, or a company because someone was speaking out against it.

The internet is used because of its free access to information and entertainment, it was used as a platform to make your voice heard, free speech is a foundation for the modern internet. Recently there has been an increase to quell, or restrict that flow of information. We start letting companies like Warner, EMI, Sony to win these battles, then more and more corporations will start to try and restrict the internet at their own desecration.

I want to personally thank UPC, they are willing to fight these record companies in the courts. And I think that UPC should have the backing of the public. We have to fight for the freedom of the internet, and against the blocking of websites like the pirate bay because then they have free reign to block more and more websites.

Earlier in the year, Eircom another internet provider here in Ireland was brought to court by the same record companies. They folded, and now eircom has to provided the IP address account information of people who they detect are illegally uploading or downloading copyrighted work.

Eircom will also disconnect these people from access to the internet. Apparently this was the first time in the word that an internet provider was brought to court in the battle against copyright infringement on the web.

It looks like Ireland is a test ground for these companies, they are testing the water for the rest of the world.

I hope for the benefit of the internets integrity UPC will win against the record companies, this will inevitably end up in court.

I will keep myself informed, and try keep other people posted on other developments.

Life Changing Moments

On Monday I get my College place offers.

I repeated my last year in school, resat my exams. Got my results on Wednesday just gone. Found out that I passed everything. Added up the points and I was devastated to find out that I STILL don't score enough to do what I want to do. I guess I'm just not intelligent or anything.
I mean an extra year....

Blah!

I do understand I value my social life over education, this is the problem. My education WAS my social life... if that makes sense.

So what now? What happends? Well there is a chance I will get offered a place. But if its for something I'd like to do? Probably not. Will it be in a decent university? Most likely no.
I won't find out until Monday. Then I will decide what I want to do. Will I just pack up and leave this country? It is seeming more tempting as the days go by. Qatar is looking more like an interesting place to stay every day. Working there is a problem.

Why don't I just fuck off and see what happens? ... Money. I have 0 euro none .. actually I lie there is a fiver on my bed. Wooo! 5 euro!

Okay. I'll update on Monday.