I found out today i will be getting my driving licence back and will be driving after a seven year break, what i have also discovered is that an LPG conversion kit for my campervan will cost £1000, give or take. I now know what i am getting myself for Christmas …YIPPEEEE!!!!!! Its nice to have some good news, as the tv seems determined to alter everyone's mood with the constant bombardment of soul destroying stories of what we should do with our lives. There is no way in the world i will let that control mechanism of a tv interfere with me and my mindset. Through study and research i know my facts and they are certainly not the facts we have forced on us. When will we stand as a global nation and challenge the narratives that are sold to us on a daily basis? When will we wake up from consumerism and start to notice the things that dont involve our individual gain of inanimate objects or the promise of fame? I will never conform to what i do not believe in, i will always research my doubts and raise questions to put to those that are in a position of authority. I will never loose the want to understand and will never fall in line purely because thats what everyone else does. After all, isn't that the job of a social scientist? To ask why! To look beyond what is taken for granted. I do find it inquisitive that as a social scientist undergraduate, i am being asked to construct an essay in regards to consumerism and its relationship to a throw away society, which is based on the evidence scoured from information that is over 10 years old. The reason i am inquisitive is that the global society as a whole is entering the smart age, with smart grids, smart cities, 5G and AI, a shift, to the likes of which will never be witnessed again, and when it comes to consumerism, we are being asked about, Tesco's, Sainsbury, etc etc, should we not be discussing Amazon, Google, Facebook? Companies that are more relevant to consumerism in the 21st century?
WWG1WGA
Comments
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Hi Caspar,
Since you are trying to reduce your use of technology, you might be interested in this series of radio 4 programmes. BBC Radio 4 - Welcome to the Quiet Zone, Into the Valley
I haven't listened to it yet myself, but it may be interesting. I'll catch the first episode this afternoon as a break from my OU maths module.
Jan
PS. The word "programme" was around long before computers (where it has become program"). Think of concert programmes. i.e. a list of events. not necessarily a list of instructions.
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PPS: The lower level modules of an undergrad degree are more about teaching you academic tools and techniques rather than facts and figures.
So I wouldn't worry too much at this stage about some of the materials being old. It happens for a lot of modules that have been running for several years, and not just at the OU. When you get Level 3 and maybe move on afterwards post-grad to Masters, then you will get plenty of opportunity to write about more current issues.
Good luck
Jan
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Thank you for input Jan, that makes sense and it's much appreciated, and thank you for putting my mind at ease. I will check out radio 4 for sure as i am keen to find other sources of info.
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Hi Casper,
You're welcome
And I'm sorry I spelled your name incorrectly 
.
Jan
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No worries Jan.
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I shall be studying the Social Sciences as far as it will take me, Anthropology will always be an option also. In regards the word program, it was steered more towards the 'arrange according to a plan or schedule' meaning. You must have got that from another post, as i never mentioned that in this post. As for the spelling mistake, there are for more important things in the world to worry about.
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Hi Casper,
You are right
I wrote a comment on this post that was probably more relevant to one of your other posts. One of the many weaknesses of the OU blog system is that you can't see the original post when writing a comment, so things my get transferred.
Good luck with your studies. I hope you enjoy all your modules
Jan
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Thank you for your well wishes Jan, I whinge as a form of self expression, deep down i love the OU and the course I'm doing, I'm learning so much about myself, it really is an awesome process, which is revealing so much more than i anticipated, can i ask you about your course and your intentions once you have completed it?
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Hi Caspar,
My personal plans aren't of interest to all in the world, which is where this post and comments are visible.
But you are welcome to check out my OU blog which is visible only to those logged in to OU system
.
Jan
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I understand Jan, i will have a nose at your blog then, thank you.