It's back..

If you are wondering what it is I am talking about, I may not be able to articulate exactly what 'it' is that is back, but it most definitely is. For those of you who are not followers of the round ball game, what I am talking about is the recent resurgence of Liverpool Football Club folowing the appointment of King Kenny Dalglish.

For a little under two years now, being a follower has been a constant struggle with uncertainty, the team obviously lacking what has traditionally made Liverpool the great club that it is. But recently, all talk of a 'Leeds-style' slump into lower divisions has been wiped off the forecast, to be replaced with the hope of returning to the top of the English, and possibly the European stage where the club belongs.

The flood of joy when the ball hits the back of the net, the passionate way that the team combines, the voices on the terraces have all returned and I couldn't think of anything that rivals the knowledge that we can once again feel safe in knowing that our club is looking like everything it should be.

Everything that has caused these things to happen, including the returning confidence of the players, the lift we have seen throughout the squad particularly in the younger players, and the joy that has returned to the faces of all involved with the club can largely be attributed to one man. He is of course Sir Kenny Dalglish.

Thank you for bringing the life back into the club, thank you for bringing the feel good-factor into being a supporter of Liverpool, and thank you for proving to us that you are truly a legend.

King Kenny, You'll Never Walk Alone.

I know, Its about time (University, Easter and 22 years on)

So I have had another period of virtual inactivity here, but I do engage with the blogging community, so that’s largely my contribution to the blogging world these days.

To those guys who have followed my blog recently, thanks a lot – it is always nice to have people show an interest in what I’m doing. It helps to reproduce my own sense of pseudo-worth and feed my own false sense of digital authority. So once again, thank you. Lfcloads.blogspot has been up for over a year now, and I honestly did not expect anywhere near this type of longevity.

Anyway, I really should start saying what has been happening. So I’m just about to start my third month of university here in Sydney and so far I have enjoyed every moment of it. I mean why wouldn’t you when you get to walk past a building like this every day:

So I’m studying Political, Economic and Social Sciences at Sydney University, and so far the worst part about it has been telling people what I’m actually doing. I mean why can’t I just be doing something like medicine, law, or arts - So much easier to explain. Plus there’s the subjects, which right now include Government & International Relations (World Politics), Political Economy, Sociology and Psychology. I guess we’ll just have to see where it all takes me.

In other news, I’d like to wish everybody a happy Easter (probably belated in most parts of the world). Here in Sydney we had a great day, roast lunch with family and enjoyed the company of friends to end it. Unfortunately now it’s time to hit the books and try and get these essays done while I still have time.

And recently, it was the 22nd anniversary of the Hillsborough stadium disaster. If you don't know much about it, check out the post I did to commemorate reaching 96 followers back when: http://lfcloads.blogspot.com/2010/06/rip-96.html

As part of the remembrance, the Liverpool FC website published 96 responses to a question, and I was lucky enough to be published as the 85th response. There I am right after former British PM Gordon Brown: http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/latest-news/1-question-96-responses-part-5

Anyway guys, it has been a pleasure once again. I hope to see you guys around here a bit more in the next few weeks/months/whatever. Hope the world is treating you well, and I'll catch you all on the dark side.

Cheers, Loads

The Sociological Imagination

Recently it was presented to me a way of perceiving things that I had not previously thought of doing so. The idea of having a 'sociological imagination' as conceived by the American sociologist C. Wright Mills, is a fundamentally simple, yet largely unrecognised system of societal perception (outside of sociological circles obviously). It challenges us to 'dispel assumptions and visualise the operation of the social world more clearly'.

What this 'imagination' gives us, is an ability to perceive the connectivity between our own personal troubles, and the social structures that are anchored in modernity and the institutionally-based world in which we live. It is these societal structures (and authority/power structures) which make many (seemingly trivial, uninteresting) social processes take place, and often repeat themselves.

An example that was given was the simple act of going to the toilet. As we are today, going to the bathroom has become somewhat a ritual. Think about it. We are separated into male/female, we are then further divided into our own personal spaces, and we do our thing. It has reached the point where our natural bodily functions are now being socially managed and ordered to the extent where we can even observe the interpolation of gender divisions, which once simply did not exist.

Through this example we can see how this sociological imagination lets us see just how closely our everyday actions are being directed and ordered in a certain way, and how social events are closely associated with the development and dynamic nature of social relations and structures. You may know by now that society is heading in the direction of individualization. What you may not know however is that this isn't 'just happening'. The sociological imagination allows us to see that societal elites and authorities have an interest in cultivating citizens to think autobiographically and be absorbed by their own personal situations, for the obvious reasons as to prevent individuals from being able to pose a direct challenge to those in a position of power.

Perhaps the most interesting (if a little dim) demonstration of this is Emile Durkheim's 19th century sociological analysis of suicide. Durkheim analysed suicide and the association between the nature of suicide and social relations. By doing so he demonstrated that suicide rates (and many other social events) were strongly influenced by social forces. I strongly recommend looking at his typology of suicide if you get a chance.

I'll leave you with this quote:

"You have known for a long time that you live in a society. Yet until now you may not have fully appreciated that society also lives in you" (Furze et al., 2008: 6)

Any thoughts on the idea, leave a comment and let me know what you think. Feedback is always appreciated and I hope to see you soon.

Cheers,

Loads

University

Good Lord...You just don't know where time goes sometimes.

It has been months since I last posted which I never thought would happen. I really am trying to get back into this - I keep telling myself.

Anyway, back on track. Next week I begin uni. I am doing a Bachelor of Political, Economic and Social Sciences at the University of Sydney, within which I will receive a double major degree in Sociology and Psychology, with a double minor in Government/International Relations and Political Economy.

I don't really know what to expect from the whole thing, but nevertheless I am looking forward to it a great deal. I am hoping it will provide some sort of literary inspiration as to some things I might be able to use as material here, in fact.

Other than that, I thought I would just use this opportunity as a bit of an update, and let you know that I am indeed still alive, and hope to continue this page as it once was. Thanks for keeping the faith, and I'll see you at some stage in the near future.

Cheers,

Loads.

All good things...

Yesterday I finished school. That’s it. I walked out of my last exam surprised to be still alive but stoked nonetheless. This marks the resumption of my regular blogging. To mark this I thought I might share some of the more memorable moments of the past 6 years of schooling.

It began in 2005, when I first walked through the gates at St Joseph’s College. Little did I know of the impact this place was to have on me. The first year involved proving my worth and impressing myself upon a group of 130 boys (which would grow to almost 200 by our final year) all hoping to do the same. This first year presented me with the first instance of what was on offer – this came in the form of a trip to Japan. I learnt Japanese for 5 of my 6 years at Joeys, and this allowed me to travel to Japan several times. I was lucky enough to visit cities such as Tokyo, Kyoto, Nara, Hiroshima, Nagano, and the surrounding areas. I travelled back to Japan at the end of 2005, as well as in 2007.

In between trips to Japan I was fortunate enough to score myself 1st place in Japanese in both my first 2 years, as well as forging out my place in the sporting life of the college, competing in the ‘A’ grade for tennis in all 3 years of the first half of my high schooling, 2 of which were undefeated, championship winning teams.

Moving in to the senior half of my high school experience, I was lucky enough to be picked at this early stage to move into the senior elite opens tennis teams, usually reserved for the older, more experienced players. I would remain in this team for my final 3 years, and the mental and physical lessons that were learnt on the courts were invaluable. The photo of me on the right is me walking off the courts for the very last time back in April.

This involvement also allowed me to travel to Melbourne in January of the last 3 years, to train and play, as well as experience the Australian Open, which was always great to be a part of.

Last year I experienced what was probably one of the most amazing things I have done. I have a strong passion for football (soccer ), and I follow the English league to a great degree. As part of the development of the sport at my school (which is traditionally a rugby school), 30 boys were selected to tour the UK and Spain to play, train with and watch the very best. We trained at clubs like Liverpool, Chelsea, Charlton and Espanyol, watched various league matches and played several friendly games in Wales, England and Spain. I have previously posted about this trip so if you would like to, check that out.

Well there it is, and 6 years later I have left that world to pursue whatever comes next.

Wish me luck

Loads

You know you want to...

Hey guys,


As of today (Saturday the 30th) I am 3 days away from my last exam. I have done 7, with an engineering exam my last one on Tuesday afternoon. Pretty keen to get it done and put all that behind me. Yesterday was a killer with 2 exams, one of which I wrote for two hours on the general development of western historiography and the historiography of the crusades. Yeah well that was fun.


Just in preparing for my blog after I do finish, I was wondering what you guys thought I should do with this blog from here on in. Would you want me to continue what this blog was originally made for and discuss particular topics of interest? I can also continue (after a period of great neglect) my series on the foosball table? Similarly, I can also do some more personal stuff like travel experiences, and some of the 'interesting' things I have been able to do.


I also have an essay (for those of you who have seen the movie 'Valkyrie', or are aware who Colonel Stauffenberg was) that I wrote in argument of whether or not Stauffenberg could be considered an heroic figure for his actions in 1944. I know it may not interest some of you as it is an academic production, but if you are interested, let me know and I might see if I can post it up.


Anyway guys please leave a comment and let me know, I am vastly looking forward to coming back to this and any other personal interests that have been forgotten over the past 12 months.


Cheers guys,


Loads

Update and future of the blog

Hi everyone,


I know I am leaving it long and far between posts on this site, but I have been a little preoccupied as a fair few of you know with my major high school exams. As of today I am in fact halfway through those exams, so in just less than 2 weeks I will be out of there and ready to begin whatever comes next. So for those from the coffee shop, I will be back around then to haunt you with my presence once again, so thats whats happening with my contribution to the blogosphere.


Once I return, I will be back to complete my foosball table series, as well as the resumption of my normal discussion posts, and hopefully a few new bits and pieces here and there. As per usual suggestions are always appreciated so if you would like to see anything posted here let me know =].


Finally, I would like to leave you with another video from RSA's 'animate' series, about how educational paradigms are currently being changed. Enjoy, and let us know what you think.





Cheers,


Loads