Hi Bug, I seem to recall that digital TVs work best with the roof mounted digital receiver antennas. With only 4 channels, it seems that you're picking up the old analogue signal, which suggests you have not bought a digital antenna for your Freeview TV. Have a look at this link, which is a digital antenna from ASDA: http://direct.asda.com/One-For-All-Freeview-TV-Antenna/000587907,default,pd.html?cm_mmc=gb-_-merch-_-404704-_-SV9215

Bear in mind that if you are in an area that receives a poor quality digital signal then you may also need to buy a booster as well. I'm just thinking though, if you're in uni accommodation they should have a socket that you can plug your digital TV into that should link it to the building's digital TV aerial.

I watched Capitalism: A Love Story (CALS) earlier tonight. Those flippin' bankers - ooohhhhh! It's a film that is guaranteed to make you feel all self-righteous and want to take on all those rich and dishonourable people in the world. Suffice it to say that if I wasn't chained to my hefty laptop and 50 page long verbal probing protocol, I'd be down to my local Natwest and having harsh words about how they're spending my stipend they're supposed to be looking after.
CALS documents how the big guy frequently sticks it to the little guy (to use American terminology). Did you know for instance, that airline pilots are so poorly paid, in America, that they have to use food stamps? They're on about £12, 000 in our money. Or that big corporate companies take out life insurance on their employees in the hope that they will die and they can claim a rather large payout? Shocking revelations abound in this eye-opening film about the evils of capitalism. But, it's nothing that couldn't be written about in a Newspaper article far more succinctly - and that's my problem with this film.
The problem with Michael Moore productions, I find, is that they consist of a lot of very pertinent facts wrapped up in a series of silly stunts and very poor delivery. He's also a hypocrite (but I'm reviewing a film here). It goes on for over 2 hours and frequently meanders, pandering to the vanity and self-interest of Michael Moore in places. He also emphasises the obvious too much; Wall Street is evil and self-interested. Of course, those of us who have watched Wall Street (starring Michael Douglas) already know this.
In conclusion, an informative but bloated film, that would have been better suited to a half hour documentary on Channel 4.

The systematic review that I spent ages writing has been rejected. There was not much in the way of reasons why, just: 'Interesting paper. Would be suited to another journal'. FFS! Sorry, I don't usually swear or even use abbreviations for swear words. I'm well ticked off, though. For a start, I launched a tactical assault on targeting my paper for that journal. I used all of my skills, from selling mobile phones to pasties, to get my pitch just right in the accompanying letter with my article.
And I just can't see why they'd say no? Not out of being arrogant or anything. I spent quite a while going through their archive and I noted that they have covered my area of research in past articles, so why say no to mine? It would have been complimentary. I mean, maybe my field of research just isn't sexy or anything any more and doesn't float many boats. Sorry, this is turning into a drunken ramble induced by ASDA own-brand French Larger (abv. erm.. 2.6% (such a lightweight!)) and listening to Duran Duran (I must really be annoyed to listen to these fellas) :$.
I suppose I'll just have to look for another journal and try and get it in one of those, and in the words of 80's bouffanted Duran Duran (when hair lacquer was in): "I will learn to survive!" Right, better pull my headphones off - this stuff is toxic. Oh, hang on, they're singing Girls on Film...

Hmm, right well, I'm quite possibly the most unqualified advisor on this whole, entire forum. However, back in my womanising days (before I was effectively neutered by my PhD), I used to do the following:

1) Dress nice, but don't wear a suit - you'll look like a lothario businessman from Stockton-on-Tees.
2) Smile - but not too much (this can be scary - I have personal experience of this).
3) Show interest - I know you're going to, but let her tell you about her. The interest should become reciprocal.
4) Eye contact is dead important - but don't overdo it.
5) Don't put too much aftershave on.
6) Tell her about your hobbies and interests - try and emphasise the altruistic one's (if any).
7) Make sure you emphasise that your are a man of means, a man of principles (I don't mean a Telegraph or Daily Mail reader) and that you know how the world works.
8) Be funny and amusing.
9) Establish common themes of interest. So she may say 'I am partial to mild cheese' and you can say 'red Leicester is my favourite cheese actually. What is your opinion of Emmental cheese?'

That's all the advice and tips I have. Do make sure you ensure your safety, so take your mobile phone with you and ensure that you tell your friends and family where you are going and what time to you expect to arrive home.

I've got loads of tips, hints and advice - I shall get busy writing them out for you later, when I've finished writing my verbal probing protocol. On the Subject of Attraction: Subtlety and Understatement.

Damn, why can't I just keep my mouth shut it and stop being so cheeky and insulting to people. Must...stop...must...resist... Sorry, no can do!
Casualty, Eska? Heavens above! It's not like real life at all and so predictable. There's always an accident involving a dodgy pair of ladders or car; all the doctors are sleeping with one another and the nurses; patients come in with a ruptured spleen or dissected aorta - but that's fine because they're either dead or completely better after 45 minutes and all their social and family problems have been sorted out; and the sets are held together with sticky tape. And Holby City? That's just Casualty with Now That's What I Call Music 52 playing in the background.

Octupus77, here's what I think. Take up the post-doc in the US. It's a completely new experience in a completely different country - and you only live once. Think of the new people you would meet, the new experiences you would have. To me, work is work. Yes, you need to be passionate about it, but other things are important to - like your happiness. Do you want to stick at the same institution you're at now, with essentially the same life (maybe slightly shorter hours and a bit more stress free) - or do you want a completely new experience, around a completely new group of people with possibly different, exciting opportunities? It's up to you - but I know where I'd go if it was me. I suppose it also depends on what commitments you have in the UK - partner, family and so on. But if you have none of that? And if you think you can do the work? What's stopping you?

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I've got a confession to make. I'm addicted to One Born Every Minute. Though I'm big and gruff man in a fun size Snickers kind of way, just looking at tiny little babies being born, under the guidance of a dedicated maternity team, just brings a big smile to my face. Mmm, must avoid turning weird, or I'll end up growing ovaries.
So what's everyone else's current TV addiction? Neighbours? Home and Away? One Foot in the Grave? (if you watch Dave)? Newsnight? Red Lace Diaries? Songs of Praise?
Arrgh, b****r it, let's go nuclear with this. About time we held a new poll on this forum...

I have a thesis:

"What genre of programmes do PhD students watch (even though they should be studying)?"

I intend to answer it with the categorical question (of the poll) and the open question of, what do you watch? Data collection for the poll has a time scale of exactly 2 years. That's right folks: my prospective study is the largest of its kind in the UK, probably the world.

I'll get back to you, Sneaks.

Done it!

Now I just have to pre-test it with some rounds of cognitive interviewing, expert review and demonstrate some measurement properties.

Right, have done all of my data analysis for this part of my research, made a conceptual framework and now just have to make my questionnaire. Will have it done by the end of today.

Still no sign of my questionnaire. The data analysis is taking ages due to my anally methodical approach to data analysis. Maybe by Sunday, if I can finish off the data analysis today.

Eska, I was being flippant with the post you refer to. Your post does disconcert me though because I actually know what you're getting at. I don't think you should regret writing this post because I think it's an important, existentialist matter that concerns the human condition.

'WHY IS IT THAT WE ARE ALL SO DUPED and so easily have the wool pulled over our eyes by the opposite sex?' - For all our critical reasoning skills and supposed logic, we're still bound by the laws of nature. That's why Texan billionaires get themselves really young wives - and you just know that it's never going to work.

2. 'Some really lovely man believes the woman is a saint when she isn't she's actually a lying manipulative low life and he blindly worshps the ground she walks on.' That's called being in love and, as you'll know: Amor caecus est!

3. 'The reverse of the above scenario: The man is a total wanker and the woman is an angel who has ruined her life by being married to him for the last 20ish years.' It can happen this way round to.

Are relationships worth it? I think that they sort of are, if you're not happy being by yourself and want to share life with someone else. There are a lot of conveniences that go with being in a relationship. But there also a lot of inconveniences... It is sort of a delusion and when it breaks down, things can turn rather nasty. I think the men you refer to that pine for lost partners are the result of people who invest themselves too heavily. Single life changes dramatically when you switch from 'vacant' to 'engaged' and then when what may be a delusion ends, you have to undergo the transformation back to living your life as it was originally. This can be painful and sort of scary.
I think you have to have very thick skin, always be aware that ultimately you have only yourself and that things can change very quickly in ways that you can never anticipate. Eska Postgraduateforum.com (that'll do as your online surname), this time next year your life could be very different and you may have a completely different perspective. As for getting a cat, good God, don't. They pee in corners (it really stinks), they scratch furniture and you could end up with a psycho.