jeremy.id.au

Yes, that’s right. On Monday this week, I was sent home from TAFE. But for no other reason than being too good with computers.

While everyone were to be using Typequick, one of those typing tutor programs, I can already type faster than 60 words per a minute (WPM) with good accuracy. The teacher had already asked if any of us could type fast so he set me up on one of the most advanced lessons in Typequick. All I did was concentrate on typing accurately at a comfortable pace and although I can’t remember exactly what the results were now, my accuracy was close enough to 100% with my typing speed mostly well over 60 WPM. So the teacher said I could go home.

But he said I didn’t have to go back for another two weeks, since the whole module was a basic introduction to computers. Though it was only going to be Monday and Tuesday this week and next week anyway. So here I am, sitting back, enjoying the sunny (but chilli) weather. Though I have had a few things to do.

Well today pretty much completes the first week of starting a new course. I’m now doing Electronic Publishing - Certificate IV at Brunswick TAFE. Although I have no idea what I want to do for a career and it was more or less recommended to me, it actually seems quite interesting.

The course is mainly concerning things related to the prepress process though it should be useful for working in other areas as well. Obviously the whole field has changed massively since computers took over. Jobs used to be really specific, i.e. typesetting, though with computers the field has become more generalised. This week has been mostly introductory stuff though at least the tours of the campus aren’t so boring and are not just the usual “here’s the Library, oh and here’s the Canteen”. Instead we took a tour of the facilities including a look at the printing presses and an even closer look at the flexography presses. So while most of our work should be on computer, it looks to be fun.

In other news, we were hit by a partial blackout on Monday night, right at the most inconvenient time of night when everyone is arriving home. Rang the power company and they told me that there was nothing wrong with the power in the area. I later confirmed that some of our neighbours didn’t have power (while to make matters more complicated, some others still did have power). Fortunately the power was restored about an hour later, possibly when they realised it was half the neighbourhood and not just us!

Yesterday while I was dropping by RMIT to lodge my application for changing to this new course, I stopped to take some photos. Though the campus was noticeably quiet due to the fact that it was holidays, the following was of interest:

Chris has suggested that they could house students there. I certainly think it would be rather amusing if it were used for classes It is in fact Building 19 of RMIT which was formerly the Police Watch House. More recently the building has been used as an art studio. It’s now a construction site.

Today I went mountain biking in the You Yangs which was being organised by my brother through the outdoors club. The weather was a little wet for it and it would help if I rode my bike a bit more to get my fitness up before attempting anything like this. Fortunately we were never far from the car park, where the only shelter in the area could be sought (that is; inside the vehicles).

It’s been another one of those busy times. Last week I organised the newsletter mail-out for the PTUA. It turned out quite well, with six of us in the room at one time, all folding, taping and attaching address labels to individual newsletters.

Followed by this I’ve been trying to work out what to do with my studies. The options were to stick with my current course (Adv. Diploma of Computer Systems Eng.) at a reduced load or to try another one. At this time of year, the only other option was really a Certificate IV course which is in Electronic Publishing. I thought I might give it a go and see how it goes, if I don’t like it, at the end of the semester, there will be a heap of other courses that I could switch to. Though it does look rather interesting and hopefully it’ll be a rather useful introduction to concepts such as typography, layout, design, etc. If it’s any good and if I’m any good with this stuff, I can do the whole 12 months and perhaps even pursue another course in the field. Got to get my application in tomorrow (well later in the day since it’s 2am).

Right now hanging around with Luke and Annelise, who are over at my house still, having watched Bill and Ted earlier.