lifeX: yes, I was agreeing with you about the concept of ‘facts’. I could have articulated that better though. I rely on Gatsby to fill in my blanks. [wink4] Thanks Gatsby for adding the examples that I was too tired to add. [biggrin]

Thanks also lifeX for your example of when good will has not had its desired effect. I battle with this, all the time. I will remember your example when I next have my ‘goody two shoes’ hat on.

Cheers,

Ali G

Thanks Kay for clearing up what you meant by ‘facts’… I went off on another tangent. It happens! The Fed Reserve interest rate certainly is a fact, no debating that!!

As for being honest – I am as you are Kay – although I wonder at times whether this puts you behind the 8-ball because other people out there are getting ahead by being dishonest. Not that that is enough for me to change my ways, but it sometimes makes me question them.

Ali G

Wow – how great it is to read all of your opinions. Thanks for sharing.

LifeX and Kay, excuse my flat scientific approach to your ideas about proving facts, but I have always been taught that you can never prove anything, you can only find evidence to support a hypothesis. And when you look back on history, you will find that this is true. We have been wrong many many times when were so ‘certain’ about something.

Aussierogue, you are spot on about us not living in a bubble. You know the way one overtly negative person can manage to make you pissed off all day? I think happiness and kindness work in the same way. A little smile can go a long way.

[biggrin]

On that note, don’t you all feel absolutely compelled to be honest with someone who is clearly being totally open and honest with you?

And further to this, if you know someone is expecting you to be honest/ethical/whatever, don’t you also feel an even greater obligation to be that way?

Can any of you really screw over someone who is relying on you to do the ethical thing?

Go on, spill the beans, cut my idealism down right in front of me!! [wideeyed]

Ali G

Hi Kythese,

I was wondering the same thing so I jumped onto realestate.com.au and started comparing what was on offer (for sale) to what was on offer (for rent). Figure out broad approximates for the return on the properties that are for sale. Try using the 11 second rule for starters. OK – this is all *very* general, but you quickly get an *idea* of whether or not you will find +CF properties in the region, or even how close you will get to breaking even. If it looks like there is potential to make a good investment, then start researching the area.

I’m no expert but this seems to be a good way to get started. Oh, and keep reading on this forum – that will undoubtably help you also.

Cheers,

Ali G

Hey Mark,

I’m no expert but I see that there are some investors making a stack of money out of students. Take this example for instance (it is true!): 19 year old guy arrives in Australia, starting uni in 2 weeks, needs a place to live. Finds out there is a place close to uni with other overseas students that live there. Thinks that this sounds easy and signs up. Meanwhile, the owner of the property has 7 other students in the same situation. All pay $100pw for a fully furnished room with lock on the door, including all expenses. There are 2 kitchens. The owner pays for a cleaner and a gardner. … now go and do the maths on this! This property would be worth no more than about $300k.

OK, so who would want to live there? But people do. It is a matter of making life easy for people with different needs to you and I. And it appears to work.

I have also seen a similar thing done in the same area however with fewer students. Even so, it produces positive CF.

All the best!

Ali G

Jaffa,

“I HEAR YOU!!”

I am half way through 8 years of full time study and can feel your pain!

A few (not so) quick pointers which may assist you:

1) Stay calm. The higher your stress levels, the less effective your study will be. Can’t shake the anxiety off? Laugh at yourself! Really – it is JUST an assignment/exam/whatever – what is the worst that could happen if you don’t pass??

2) Learn the basics (this is the theory behind mind mapping I believe). How can you learn the detail when you don’t understand the essentials? Someone once explained this to me, and it has really simplified my studying since. Can’t figure something out? Look at an introductory chapter, your first set of notes for the topic, or if you still can’t figure out where to start, shoot off a brief email to your subject coordinator. Then when you go to study the detail it will make so much more sense.

3) Break tasks down to smaller chunks. (This has already been covered.)

4) Explain what you have learned to anyone who will listen. Your dog or cat will do. You will find that whilst you may think you know it, you don’t really understand it until you are able to explain it to someone else.

5) Cash permitting, buy yourself a huge whiteboard and put it up on the wall near your desk. Sketch out complex concepts as simply as you can, use different colours, and look over it frequently until you are able to redraw it with ease.

6) I don’t know one student who does not cram, so learn to do it with the best of them! The important thing here is NOT to do it frantically. Be methodical. Pull out your subject guide and write down a list of the topics to be covered. Scan relevant chapters in the textbook quickly at first, reading all the subheadings so you have a general idea what you will be learning about. Figure out which topics are the most important and concentrate on these (it is easy to be distracted by minor things). Most importantly, if you have revision questions or past exam questions – DO THEM. The majority of lecturers are not very creative when it comes to exams and questions are often recycled. You will be generously rewarded if you take the time to do them!

7) Can’t get going? Break your work up into very small, distinct tasks. Put an egg timer on your desk and set it for 15 minutes. And GO! 15 minutes per task!! It does not matter if you do not finish each one, you will be amazed how much you can achieve when you are under pressure because the ‘clock is ticking’. I passed a very quick 4 hours like this the other day and felt great at the end of it. Just give it a go once – and I am sure you will be converted!!

Remember, you are human, you need to eat, breathe, drink, exercise and have a social life. Reward yourself with time off.

I hope this has been of some help to you. All the best with your study.

Ali G