As I near the end of my 6th Year, and go ever closer towards the Leaving Cert. one thing keeps bothering me. What am I going to do for the rest of my life?
Of course I would like to be the best in whatever field I choose.
In school, Maths is probably my best subject. I can remember clearly back in 3rd class, having to ask the teacher could i do the sums the short way, skipping steps on the way. Nowadays, the Honours classes are so boring, I end up doing exam questions the whole time (Im averaging three half hour questions correct in 35 mins).
I will be disappointed if I dont get an A1 in Maths, it is probably my most likely to get, unless I really panic on the day or something.
In other subjects, I tend to love the more science like subjects like Chemistry and Applied Maths, that require both understanding, and help acquire new knowledge. Both of those subjects I would think of getting high A2s if not A1s, again, if I dont like freak out on the day.
I have very good Spacial Awareness (I scored in the 99 percentile in an National Aptitute test we did in school a while ago) which lends itself well to Problem Solving and Puzzles, and subjects like DCG where I can exercise this.
I love building things, that other people get use out of. I still have loads of Lego and K’nex sets in the attic that I used to build for my younger brother to play with (I have several 6 feet rollar coasters, I remember standind on armchairs to assemble the top)
Lately I’ve thinking a lot about Space (prompted my playing Mass Effect, and my favourite TV show Star Gate: Universe), and the final frontier. I have been thinking recently how awesome it would be to be able to design like Rocket Engines, or similar, just something that would put me on the forefront of the next generations of technology and research.
My most prominent hobby these days, is Computer Programming. I’ve always been entralled by Computers, and I learned how to programme, so I could understand how they work better. Even today, I spent a lot of time today solving Programming Challenges on Facebooks Website.
These are some of the things I most enjoy as well.
So on to the purpose of this post, what should I do in University?
I wanted do Science since I could speak (literally), Ive wanted to do Computer Science since I was in 4th Year.
But really, I dont think I’d be happy, unless I was recognised as being known as an authority in my field.
I recently applied to Churchill College of Cambridge University, to do Computer Science. I found it a pretty great place, and a really nice atmosphere around the place. But when there my Maths ability really let me down. I could say it was because I had never attempted A level Maths before. (Our course pales in comparison to their, one of the bad effects of having things like Irish, and English, compulsary, I have 10 classes of those a week, which could be going towards some other subjects that I might find useful later in life.)
Ive often thought of Teaching second level, but the real turn off is correcting homework, would seem like homework, which is something I never want to do, and then theres the fact that some classes are pure nasty, and I wouldnt like to be in that situation.
So Maths I feel as if I dont have any of these super abilities that others display from a young age, and feel Id be at a disadvantage then. I suppose it is possible for me to do it, as my mother has a degree in maths, and she doesnt seem to be able to anything I cant.
The Computer Science too, I suppose I just dont think the quality of courses in Ireland is on par with other countries.
I would probably put Computer Science in UCD as my first choice on my CAO, as Ive been to their Computer Science Open Night, and I was impressed with their presentation, their facilities, and their enthusiasm for their subjects. I also like the campus, if i dont like its out of the way location.
With Trinity, I think the change would be too drastic or something. Ive always lived in the country with my little village up the road, and school 25 mins drive away, and nightclub 35 minutes away, that being in the middle of the city, although I like being in the city and all, is not something I think Id like to do for a whole period of my life. That and all the people within trinity seem like intimidating or something, even if they are just laughing among themselves, paying me no heed. I love the Architechure in Trinity. Its currently second on my CAO, but perhaps when I think about it more, I would consider putting it higher.
Points for both courses are relatively low. ( I would be disappointed if I didnt get in the 500s, not to mention not getting 370 for UCD.
So anyway, what do you think? Is there anything you would like to add? Any alternate courses you think I might like? Anything space genre related (A book perhaps)? Or even just what you are doing or have done.
Many Thanks for reading, and I hope you respond,
~Thomas
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To Where?!
A while ago I applied to Churchill College of Cambridge Unniversity. I had to fille out loads of things in UCAS, the Personal Statement being the worst/best.
Anyways, I had to send lists of my monthly reports and grades for the last few years, and consent forms, etc.
Last Wednesday I got a letter saying I was invited to interviews in Cambridge. I was pretty happy to say the least. So now I have all the preperation for it ahead. My two interviews and accessment test are spread out over two days, in which I can stay the night at the college. I am pretty excited.
Then monday I noticed my throat was kinda sore, and yesterday it progressed into full blown illness. Today I was almost bedbound. I really dont what it is. Up to the age of 15 I never had one serious illness, except maybe a case of the chicken pox, and Ive had this mysterious illness 5 times in the last two years, each with the exact same symtoms. First the sore throat, it feels red raw, and hurts to swallow even saliva, which makes my mouth water all the more 
Then the nose blocks solid, then I get unnaturably tired and all my joints get sore, sapping all my energy on the way.
A while ago I went to the doctors, and he said it was an infection of the blood, and it will keep recurring, each time worse than the last, but my mother maintains its just a cold. Do they sound like the symtoms of a cold? and why the hell do I keep getting it again? have I no immune system at all. Im going to the doctors tomorrow, because I want to be all well for my Cambridge interviews, which are on in a fortnight.
and plane tickets to london are €12 return! and bus tickets from here to Dublin are €10 one-way/€15 return!
anyways, ttyl
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A whole range of Movement
So I just said I’d check in for a bit and give my two cents on a topic.
Right so, an ad on tv prompted me to write this.
Recently Microsoft released their new Xbox Kinect, where you use your body as the controller. Sony have released their Playstation Move recently too. In all fairness, neither idea is really original, and both are their own take on motion sensor technology.
Some of the facts first (I havent researched any of these things so correct me if Im wrong):
the Wii was the first console to make use of motion technology is this way. It uses a infared sensor to connect the controller with the sensor bar, which contains two sensors. Two sensors on the bar, mean it has 3D vision, in that in can calculate the depth (the z axis, or the distance away from the screen) of the controller as well. It has a accelerometer in it too, which basically like a 3d compass, that always points down, so can do some trigonometry to detect its own orientation. This requires quite a lot of maths and therefore is fairly cpu intensive for updating in real time, which I believe is the reason for the less that realistic graphics.
The Wii Motion Plus, which I dont have, but from what I can tell contains like two accelerometers, so can use the difference of their values to detect actual movement, and not just like flicking your wrist to get results.
First a little about the PS3 and Xbox 360 (I have all three, so I get to be objective 
). The actual hardware of the PS3 is superior to the Xbox360, which Xbox fanboys dont like to hear, but its true. the original xbox360 didnt support resolutions over 720p and didnt come with onboard storage, you needed to buy a harddrive for it. the only thing that gives the Xbox a little leverage over the PS3 is the company that makes it. Microsoft has been making computer games for years, and online games too, therefore they have the entire network infastructure their already, making it easy to adapt for a Xbox Live. But you have to pay to use this network, a prospect which I disagree with. Sony, never before has made online games, therefore had to build this entire network themselves from scratch (I think at first, game developers needed to host the servers themselves, but correct me if im wrong). Plus they offer PSN for free, and it offers every feature that the Xbox Live has.
Since Microsoft deal with so many computer games developers, it makes sense for them to provide builds for most of their games on Xbox as well, and the improved network structure, and wider audience means more developers would choose to make games for the Xbox.
The Xbox Kinect uses two cameras, on a bar. Two separate cameras mean 3D field of vision. But I think a little problem lies with the use of cameras. the way a camera detects movement is that it takes a picture one second, waits a second, takes another picture, and compare the two. any tiny movement should be highlighted this way. a threashold is probably set to stop things like background interfering with the capture. So using the movement and 3d vision can calulate all the movement of the body. This again, in real time, is cpu intensive, and I believe means their wont be as good graphics. (a friend from school says they were all Wii style cartoon like graphics)
The PlayStation Move using a brightly coloured sphere at the end of a long remote. Colour tracking has been around since the eye toy on PS2, and can be done with very little effort in real time. The controller more than likely has all the accelometers in it that the regular SixAxis controller has, but I dont know how they would calculate the third dimension, perhaps the size of the sphere visable? I know the least about the Move, except it can use the regular PlayStation Eye camera thats been on the market for over two years now. From other peoples feedback it would seem the PlayStation Move is extremely accurate, moreso than I would of thought.
I probably wont buy any of these, since Im far too busy with 6th Year to actually play anything, but if my brother gets the Kinect for Christmas, I probably would play a few rounds with him.
Anyways, ttyl
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UCAS and Cambridge
Just so the approximately three people who read this dont think i died, i decided to give a little update on my life.
First up, my most exciting news. Ive applied to the University of Cambridge, Computer Science (with a Natural Science) in Churchill College. Its my only UCAS choice atm, as I would only really bother going to England for a fairly good university such as Cambridge. The Personal Statement was a pain as I really hate writing about myself. I know two people who are applying as well, my friend in school is applying for medicine there, and an internet friend is applying to the same CS course as me, and the same college.
I might explain how the collage system works for oxford and cambridge. In the University of Cambridge there are twenty-nine colleges, which are in different parts of the city. They each have different campuses, and you live in these when your attending there. Common lectures, such as like maths and whatever are taken within the college, but this specific to your course are in the University. Its a nice system, which mean you are lot closer to the lecturers and similar.
So ive the ucas appliacation sent, the cambridge saq sent, my transcript posted this morning. so now I wait. The next Ill hear is an interview in Cambridge in early December, and perhaps an assessment test that day too. and all going well, i could get an offer.
So bye for now
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UCC Open Day
The UCC Open Day is on tomorrow (perhaps today as well?)
I am taking the Dublin-Cork train in Portlaoise at 10 tomorrow to head on down. hopefully the weather will be nice.
This is actually the first time ive been in Cork without my parents.
I hear Cork is a nicer city that Dublin, so Ill be judging it then. might even get one of them “smiley taxis” tommy tiernan was talking about
Cork taxi drivers are the happiest bunch ever. They just love Cork. I got one, one day and asked him why, and he was like “Shur, doesnt I get paid to drive around Cork all day?” I asked him about all the new houses, like how many people was there in the City. He spent a bit of time thinking about that, and was then like “I’d say about 2.. 3..ish million!”
My friend is coming with me, and his mother is from Cork, and when he’s drunk he speaks with a Cork accent, hehe. So happy taxi drivers better be waiting for us at the station!
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The Apprentice
…
Irelands Best and Brightest? Doesnt say much for Ireland.
I dont know about you, but sometimes the idiocy of people on the tv really gets to me.
If i was to attempt this task myself, the first thing I’d do is sit down and have a good auld think about it. For example, put yourself in the public/victim’s shoes. If you were out for a days shopping a someone started hassleing you for sales, I would just try to ignore them. Not that I would look a viable sales target anyway. One simple thing would of brought people to that desk, and that is, FREE STUFF! like the ploughing match is on tuesday to wednesday, and the majority of children there have competitions to see who can get the most free pens, so wouldnt it make sense to offer something to attract people over.
Like couples should be the main target, since one is unlikely to go without the other, same with ones with young children.
like im no wine drinker, but like a case of middleing wine, or some cheap champagne for the adults, and some helium balloons for the children.
enough wine about €100, i know a place :p
balloons like €1 for 10 in the pound shop
tank of helium, dunno, cant be too much. im leaving these separate since i think a tank and cheap balloons would be cheaper than individual pre filled ones.
they had seed money €200, so thats at least €50 left, and they would of gotten loads more people over to recoup this cost rather quickly.
the things parents would do to get their kids a helium filled balloon!
and theres a reason its called seed money. because with a seed, you’d be hard pushed to make something grow from nothing.
anyway, this is just my €0.02 on a dismal first task.
(and i think some of the lads were scheming to get him removed. there was a lot of sneaky handshakes and conferences between them)
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Just a reminder…
I am 18 tomorrow (technically at like 3pm or something)
I shall expect cards in the post (especially for the one person thats reads this…)
I shall hit the town like I have never done before (next saturday, I am simply not cool enough to go on a tuesday) and I’ll be all ready to say “read it and weep, mr. bouncer, this sh*t’s legit!”, and then he won’t ask for it
I think its something to do with how you hold yourself when you’re eighteen that the bouncers notice.
anywho, silly homework is still silly this year too
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Last days of Freedom
oh, woe is me
but first, on a more happy topic (I had this saved as a draft, since last night, when I was in a much better mood than now)
I am, and will probably remain, a child at heart. I maintain a fairly good belief in humanity, and really don’t like to think bad about people. I even tend to forgive certain family members far too easily, and regularly am without a care in the world. I even like reading books “beneath my age group” because they are full of magic, etc, and clearly defined boundaries between good, and evil. Also I like books that describe an alternate world, hidden away in the shadows, that regular people see not, on their day-to-day business. Such is the appeal of books such as Harry Potter, the Wardstone Chronicles, and Inheritance Series, etc. I suppose I am also a little naive, and prefer my old little idealistic view of the world.
Last night I went to the cinema. My younger brother, being the testosterone filled teen that he is, wanted to see A-Team, and The Expendables. I, on the other hand, wanted to see The Sorcerer’s Apprentice. I know it was PG, and I got funny looks from the guy at the ticket desk, but I liked it. Think Harry Potter, with less wands, and people, and better looking special effects. I have seen Get Him to Greek, and Inception, lately, and both of which I was disappointed with. I expected to laugh my way through the former, but left disappointed. I expected Inception to blow me away with the best fight scenes since the Matrix. The people who said that obvious never saw the Matrix. People kept saying you need to see Inception a few times to get it, but I can say fairly surely, that I understood it quite easily, and seeing that movie again, would only degrade my opinion further. (I hate seeing movies more than once. I think it’s because I’ve got a fairly good memory, and knowing whats coming next, is rather annoying, and makes it unenjoyable)
On to my bad mood.
I took my driving test again today. Epic fail. Although I got better overall than my last test (less grade twos in any one category), I also got a second grade three (which is an insta-fail, ftl). I am really disappointed (to say the least), but in fairness, I didn’t practice or anything, and knew I was in for a fail from the time I left the centre (I very nearly pulled out in front of a car). I get like über nervous, and I think that stopped me from performing my best.
So now I don’t know what to do. Should I get the test again straight away? Maybe in a different Test Centre? Maybe leave it until after the leaving?
I got my car at the start of the summer, so hopefully, the folks, will deign to let me drive into school. (which would give me an extra hour and a half in bed, which can’t be bad 
)
In other news, I heard about the DDOS attack on the CAO today, when I was which caused the site to crash. I heard this when I was in the waiting room for the driving test, so maybe it distracted me. A DDOS attack is the equilivant to opening 1000 huge excel documents a second, which would crash any pc.
I start back in school on Thursday. I’ve signed up for this buddy program, so I will have to be like shepherd to a group of like ten first years. Hopefully they will be okay, and neither party will be too shy. Then I’ll get friday off, and next friday off, but otherwise I’ll be pretty much back to school. Its times like this I wish I had done some stuff over the summer. I think I might like power read the latest chapter in like every book, so I can at least say I did something.
Meh, I posted this a day late, the test was on monday, the movie on sunday
EDIT: OH, i forgot, in like 6 days I’ll be 18. Maybe I’m getting all depressed since its the end of my childhood?
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This post has been a long time coming and I’ve been wanting to write about it for ages.
You might scoff at the idea of Personality tests, and I would join you, laughing away, until I saw this post on a totally obscure corner of the interweb (namely /sci/ for all you “in the know”). I was curious at first, since the poster has attached a college of pictures of different people from all manners of work, all with unique 4 letter, and challenged the reader to take a test to see which the reader was most similar to.
http://keirsey.com/sorter/instruments2.aspx?partid=0
I didn’t even know that it was a personality test, until I read through some of the questions.
I normally would close all these cruddy tests, straight away, but since of the site I found it on, I thought I would try it for “teh lulz”.
After the test I was linked to a summary of my personality, and a few links to other things, like info about study powers, and activities that I should find pleasurable.
My mind was blown.
The page was like someone had been stalking me and like noting everything down. It was like my whole way of life, in a nutshell. I might be only nearly 18 (in 13 days, 2 hours and 17 minutes, but who’s counting?), but I still have a fairly decent idea of my whole place in society, and this summary was just epic. The ideal job placement, reaffirmed my thoughts on what I would like to pursue as a career.
I just has a quick look at the site again, and I don’t think it charges you for any reports, so just ignore the ads for selling results, books, etc
So please take the test, and post your results here
p.s. I got INTP, which means I am the Architect!
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Coast to Coast
for the next few days ill be on the side the streets in towns accross Wexford collecting money for the coast to coast for charity.
so if you see me with a high vis jacket and a big bucket be sure to beep the horn or wave.
i was in enniscorthy and gorey yesterday, arklow today, and wicklow (and bratus bay or something) on tomorrow (friday), so say hi if you see anyone!
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