The incedibly mundane and rare ramblings of Benji

So, it seems I am a uni student again. Today I received a letter from Macquarie university with information about the unit I am enrolled in via correspondence in the coming study period. If anyone is aware of my history with university, it has not usually ended well. I had a lot of HECS/HELP debts with very little to show for it. Two science degrees, an education degree and a business degree were all started, and none were completed. Just to shake things up I have embarked on an arts degree. I am aiming to major in history, and with that hopefully complete whatever post graduate program is in place in the future to do secondary teaching.  The conclusion that this was the path took an awful lot of consideration, just ask my wife who had to listen to it all. In essence, it came down to interest and what I've enjoyed in the past. I enjoyed doing the education degree, but I felt I was far too young at the time. Add in a bunch of personal stuff, and it was never going to happen b...

I've always held strong views. Some of them extreme, some not so much. However for about 10 years I didn't vote in the lower house of parliament in any of the jurisdictions in which I lived. I generally took the ballot paper, wrote something hilarious like grand moff tarkin on it, and put it in the box. I didn't do this from feelings of apathy, but because of feelings of futility. I didn't feel represented by either of the major parties and felt that their main priority was getting elected, and representing the best interests of the people was secondary. You may think that representing the majority of peoples interest is what gets one elected. This is incorrect, appearing to represent the majority of the electorate gets one elected. Now, I do vote. Even though for all intents and purposes none of those issues have changed for the better. Why? I think for perspective it is important to look at the first election I remember voting in. It was federal, and included the re...