Question 1)

If a ball of mass 2kg and velocity 3 m/s collides into a stationary ball of mass 3kg, with e=2/3, then the 2nd ball proceeds to hit a wall with e=2/5 then continues to collide again with the 1st ball, which then proceeds travel off the end of a 2m tall surface, at what point will i give up on revision and decide there are better things to do with a day off school?

Yes it's that time of year again (although each year there are two of these times, so it's one of those times of year again technically), Christmas has come and gone, the New Year has rolled in and *BANG* exam time. With barely enough time to get settled back into school mode, and remember all that stuff that has been inevitably been forgotten over the festive period, you're expected not only to recall it at will but fully understand exactly how it all works. However during any other time at school that would seem like a simple task to perform, however as soon as revision starts everything seems so much more complicated and basically the whole course has to be relearned over again.

So to answer the question posed at the start, about an hour the answer seems to come out as. So far all i've managed to handle is one past paper before the distractions kicked in, and as you may have guessed currently that distraction would be this post. However the other big distraction at the moment is the constant refreshing of the cipher challenge's webpage, as today is the day that they release the final results, which could potentially make me a bit richer by the end of the day. As well as that my James Bond boxset has been sat by the TV now for over two weeks and i've only managed to watch Dr.No, but luckily so far i've managed to escape that temptation, meaning if i keep it up for the rest of the day, i might get another past paper done.

This would mean that in total, having had a whole day off, i will have managed about 2 hours of revision, and the annoying fact is that this module is the one i find most fun (can i use the word "fun" in this situation? not sure), and so i can't begin to imagine how much i'll manage on the other 4 exams i have to do, which could end very badly as there the ones which are going to require more (and definitely more boring) revision. Which will perhaps explain why for June, instead of learning S3 with the class, instead i shall be self-teaching the much more logical (and thereby more exciting) M3.

Well i'll keep it short, as i'd better get that 2nd paper done, where hopefully it'll all make sense otherwise there could be some very frantic and last minute look over notes/textbook/google for help on understanding what on earth the question is on about, and realising that infact after relearning it all, i still haven't got a clue what's going on.

The Seaneid

This is the tale of how one man went on the search for a new home for the next 4 years (and during term times only), and his other quest for search of Christmas presents. In case you have little classical literature knowledge and are wondering what on earth my title is talking about then go and read the whole Aeneid by Virgil, in the original Latin of course, none of this cheats English. Or you could just wiki it and prove to yourself that it exists and i haven't gone truly and utterly insane. Or maybe i have and just haven't realised yet, i may currently be sat in an asylum typing this on an imaginary computer in my little own imaginary world. I'm a bit worried now, is there a way to check if you're mad and have created an imaginary world to live in? Hang on why am i even asking because then you'd be imaginary too.

So anyway, leaving my slightly crazed ramblings aside, back to the Seaneid. In truth the tale began two years ago on a long and dangerous trek into the south. I know a dangerous place to go right, where the pies have vegetables in them and fish & chip shops aren't found on every street. So there i was journeying to Southampton (it even has south in its name) via Cambridge and tbh i can't actually remember what really happened but after two expeditions to the north this time (where i can confirm the pies are free from vegetables and the chippy is as common as the pub), i was only slightly clearer on where i would go.

All this jibber-jabber is essentially trying to explain why i found myself first going to Oxford, then Lincoln (actually this was nothing to do with Seaneid, but was occurred at the same time), then nearly going to Lancaster (although i thought better of it and didn't go in the end, just so i could partake in the epicness that was cipherfest '11, more on that some other time though) anyway today i traveled down to Loughborough and tomorrow i will be going to Manchester in the epic quest for Christmas presents (yes i know it's less than a week until Christmas, but i've only just started feeling Christmasy enough to buy them (plus a Taco Bell has opened in Manchester!)).

So as you can tell i'm glad i've nearly finished all this traveling, and soon my search for uni will come to an end, with pretty much all my uni's contacting me this week about offers :s, and with Christmas on Sunday the quest for the presents will be pointless (it might not be quite finished though i'm expecting late presents might be the case for some). So it's could be quite a momentous week with the next four years of my life being decided, although i have a feeling it still doesn't matter at all with my view of whateverhappens,happensandifyoujustgowithitandyoullenjoyyourself, and the awesomeness of my time in Oxford and the great people there (bit of a shout to my fellow St. John-iens (?) if you're reading this)

In case i don't write again before Christmas, Merry Christmas, and if i don't write before New Years, then shame on me because i won't be doing anything next week, apart from maybe contemplating my future...
and revising for January exams...
and finalizing my DofE...
and probably buying people late Christmas presents...
and something else which i've forgotten.

Pvcure Punyyratr

Yes its that time of the year again. Cipher Challenge 2011 has begun (in case you want to test yourself have a go and solve the cipher in the title) and man i'm excited. Considering that i currently have nothing to do in the evenings apart from sit around and watch endless hours of american comedy (a.k.a. scrubs, the big bang theory and how i met your mother), which are all excellent programs worthwhile giving a watch. On a related note, if you're already a fan of either of the last 2 then both their new seasons are out! Just head over to your favourite streaming site to give them a watch, because knowing the English Tv scheduling they won't be out here until at least November at the earliest.

Anyway, as i was saying I've had little to do for the past few weeks, so cipher challenge is now not just an awesome thing to do but also helps me fill in some time. However saying that this weeks challenge was pretty easy, but that was expected being the first week and all, got to break the newbies in gently. If you're one of those newbies looking for hints, then tough luck you won't find any here because this year i'm determined to win, after last year's disappointing finish.

After submitting all our previous ciphers hours before the deadlines, we went into the final cipher quite pleased, however to put it simply it was impossible. No, i don't mean we found it impossible, it was actually impossible with the only way of solving it was with brute force and if you know what i'm talking about then you'll know that  that means impossible. So this year i'm determined to do better, so on thursday nights don't expect any blogging , unless of course like today the cipher is easy then i'll be blogging still.

On a different note, i've finally finished my UCAS for good. After weeks if thinking i've finished and having it all held up because the careers adviser didn't know what to do, i've finally sent it off but paid the pricey sum of £22 for the pleasure. However i should be soon rejoicing in the delights of getting places, or just wallowing in self-pity as the rejections roll in. Either way it should be an interesting time, but until then i'll just sit here watching my american comedy and deciphering my ciphers. Oh what a wonderful life i have!