issy2

Sorry if this is OT but IMHO the thing that really needs to be done about education is the quality of teaching. A child's attitude to education is of utmost importance - and, in personal experience, it's the lessons for which we have the best teachers that we enjoy most and have the best attitude towards. I could cite numerous examples of lengthy homework assignments given by different teachers, some lengthily, eagerly and - would you believe it! - voluntarily, discussed by us, the pupils, outside lessons, others dismissed with disdain because we've been led to believe the subject is a waste of time by a teacher who doesn't seem to care for it. By no means am I saying the teachers are the only driving force behind any successes or failures the pupils have, but that the better the teacher, and the more enthusiasm he or she can inject into their students, the better for everyone. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/u ... 754703.ece -.- Sorry. I still don't know how to do that link thingy, help anyone? Tony Blair wasn't so bad! :

I was totally blown away by the first few paragraphs. I love things like this, making a parallel between hearts and stoplights, going into detail, that whole section works so well and is so original, I loved it. I like how the whole piece is peppered with the author's thoughts and ideas, makes it so much more interesting: this is what writing in the first person is about, getting inside someone's head, and it's done really well for the most part. Towards the end though I think it goes a little downhill: I would use less technical language when describing the fight, because only wrestlers are really going to be able to picture the scene in their head. I would make it brutal and ugly, primal even. Instead I would go into much much more detail about the lead up to the fight, and when the police turn up: it feels as though that should be the climax of the piece, and then what's going through the author's head as he walks away from the that ugly, destructive scene. But, as nom anor says, never let someone else write your story! Anyway, I really like it, especially the first bit. Nice one :)

Thanks hextriplet : ) Thankyou. :) I'd originally thought the reader would be her grandchild or great-grandchild, I've changed my mind though. They won't be related but there's a strong emotional connection. I'm definitely going to add in the story around the diary reading but it might take a while.

Feist - Brandy Alexander Beautiful beautiful song : ) And video.

I know this probably isn't very helpful and I don't know what to suggest but please don't let your parents force/bully you into a career you don't want. Do you know why they're so keen for you to join the air force? It might help to consider their reasons, I don't know. Is it worth trying to talk to them about this, or has that not worked in the past? Do you usually have a good relationship with them, RAAF aside? How old is your sister? Is there any way you could get your pay put straight into a bank account or something, beyond her reach? Or if not buy a lockable box where you can keep money. What do you want to do? As a career I mean, if it was totally up to you?

I'm pretty sure that's edited... Or she's wearing tons of makeup.

=D> Nice! Congratz : ) edit: and ca2, you did really well! Thanks for the RS info guys. I wish I didn't have to do it though... I'm pretty philosophical already (IMHO, lol) and if I didn't have to take RS I'd get another option, so I could have taken Art as well. Which I really, really wanted to. But you can't have everything I guess!

Nah, I dont min, although you forgot "1". :o 1 what? TheMather1<--- Ohh xD

Nah, I dont min, although you forgot "1". :o 1 what?

1. To achieve everything I want to and be famous for something worthwhile 2. Infinite brain capacity! Sorry I've nicked this off themather but that would definitely be a wish of mine... 3. To be able to come across to other people exactly as I want to. So basically being able to express my personality really well : )

Oh yeah... sorry this is kind of offtopic but did anyone take RS gcse? Cos I'm doing it (it's compulsory :x ) and... what's it like?

I'm starting the courses next week. French, History and Drama \ And good luck guys, hope you get the results you wanted!

Oh my god.

- Wikipedia Cool, thanks.

Yes! \ I love Banksy! My dad just bought his book for my mum's birthday and on the back it's like a brick wall, printed over the top are the words: "There's no way you're going to get a quote from us to go on the back of your book cover" - Metropolitan Police Spokesperson Just brightens your day, doesn't it? :P Haha, I have that book too. Is his artwork fairly common? When I read about him it seems like everyone knows him and his mark is everywhere. I have to admit I've never been walking around and seen some cool artwork and gone 'Hey, it's Banksy!'. That said though I'm sure I've seen lots of his work, without appreciating it was him. I just really admire what he does, art and rebellion in one, but without a trace of malice or violence. And yeah I would say pretty much everyone has heard of him : )

:wall: ? I was joking, just making the point that they're people so 'who' not which.

I have no idea who either of those bands are, so... how about some nice Turin Brakes. You might like it, you never know : Their best songs are probably State of Things and They Can't Buy The Sunshine... Underdog is really nice as well :) I like lots of kinds of music but I'm really not into hard rock/metal at all. Anything with nice guitars and vocals is cool though. ;)

:wall:

You, sir, are my hero. I second this notion! Paleontology as in ... fossils? Sorry I know this is really OT, but I just noticed TTanT that you're missing the word 'to' from the middle line of your siggy :P cos i'm just like that...

Yes! \ I love Banksy! My dad just bought his book for my mum's birthday and on the back it's like a brick wall, printed over the top are the words: "There's no way you're going to get a quote from us to go on the back of your book cover" - Metropolitan Police Spokesperson Just brightens your day, doesn't it? :P

Just asked a guy from Brazil what it was like having christmas in summer #-o "cos i always heard they have seasons the other way around over there"...

Nice idea for a thread dux : ) The place I call home is London, England, and it's amazing living here. Knowing you're living in the capital of the world... (except maybe New York/Tokyo?) If you're looking for something to do you couldn't get bored. The weather's pretty mild all year round - we're promised a blazing summer every year but the weather rarely delivers. So... what do Londoners think about... Boris Johnson, has his name reached other shores yet? Identified by a mop of floppy blond hair and a spectacular accent he's a true character and has a very comic persona. His first act as Mayor of London was to trip over the podium he was welcomed onto to give a speech :lol: His first 'official' act was to ban drinking on public transport. What else, bus and tube strikes... which happen quite a lot (apparently they aren't paid enough, but to my knowledge they get 30k a year, which is more than nurses and probably teachers so I don't know what they're complaining about). I think it's a London thing, maybe they're in use other places as well though - Oyster cards, like a permanent travelcard for cheaper public transport. Which reminds me... a couple of guys (I think there a band called Amateur Transplants?) wrote a song called the London Underground which is totally unjust but still hilarious because it's peppered with grains of truth :P I'd love to post the lyrics or a link but definitely PG+ so... Very culturally diverse, I'm told, but it doesn't strike me so much because I've never lived anywhere else. Some areas/boroughs are especially noted for it. If you go into central London you'll find there's this juxtaposition between really old, stone, historical buildings like St Pauls and the Houses of Parliament right next to these monuments to modernity, like the Southbank Complex which from the outside is this imposing, unattractive block of concrete, and blocks and blocks of riverside flats which are mostly glass. Lots of rain (goes without saying I guess, lol). If you go to any of the big streets when it's pouring you'll find all the shop doorways crammed with people taking shelter, same with the tube stations. When winter comes round everyone (well except bus drivers :P) clings on to the hope of snow... the only thing that makes all that rain and mud worthwhile :P And lots of tourists as well, cameras and stuff. I can't think of anything else atm, which is pretty pathetic since I did a speech in class about living in London #-o But anyway. Tis cool here :

I love how the reader finds out a lot more about Isla through that conversation. It's so much more interesting to have the reader discover things like that without simply telling them point-blank. Can't wait for part 3 : )

Veeery interesting. I'm certainly puzzled : I like the mystery of what the heck's happening to Isaac and its contrast with the pretty everyday life of rolling out of bed, getting dressed, having cereal, going to work etc. Deepens the mystery you might say :P The first thing that struck me is that what you're trying to convey in the very first sentence is crammed into a space much too small. I know it's supposed to be a short story, but to get that real hazy, sleepy, semi-conscious feeling of just waking up I think more than a sentence will be needed - especially between sleep and getting out of bed. And I think that'll make it more ... dramatic? when Isaac starts acting really oddly. Anyway, I like it : ) Looking forward to Part 2!

Eva Green is so beautiful. Only seen her in Casino Royale though. [hide=] [/hide]