New Italian information

Not much going on. Today, Katie Holmes gave birth to a baby girl that she is going to raise to believe things like we're all aliens or something or other.

Also, finally the courts have ruled that Prodi is the new Prime Minister of Italy, although Berlusconi is still sulking in a corner in denial.

A new thing I learned today was that not only a) Italy has a president, but that b) his name is Carlo Ciampi. I really had no idea. How often do you hear about the Italian president? Or am I really that ignorant? Ok, don't answer that.

Finished what I hope is my last application today, after dealing with one crappy and unhelpful DOS. It really is tiring the number of 'write 500 words of blah blah journalism blah blah bursary blah blah' that I've had to write, but it's necessary if I want a little bit of spending money next year living in the smelly, smoggy capital.

Where one youth fails, another one wins...

Thanks to the anonymous commenter, we've also learned that the Cambridge-Oxford airline launched by some entrepreneurial youngster has stopped running due to a lack of demand. We sort of feel sorry for Martin Halstead...but yeah, not really.

Other, bigger news is that after a whole month of striking and protests, French President Jacques Chirac announced that the youth job law would be scrapped.

It does still have its NIB aspects though. The French are famous for striking. Normally, it just serves to disrupt public services, and when you're in the country at the time, it's a huge nuisance. But this time, it seems that they have actually achieved their goal.

Who would have thought it? I have to say that I didn't expect Chirac to give in quite so easily - I would have thought that that would be just encouraging them. How typically French. Probably one of the most self-contradictory countries in the world.

Essay in French

One of the most pointless exams here, for me, is the Essay in French. We've never written an essay in French, there's no reason to expect us to be able to write a fluent essay in French. Except we have to do one in our final exams. WHY?

Today's essay title is:

"Le cinema est un art double: celui de former un recit. Celui de figurer cette histoire."

This translates roughly as: "Cinema is a double art: on the one hand, it creates a story. On the other, it shapes this story."

I mean, WHAT? I've been thinking a lot about this question and not come up with many great ideas. I may have to revise my whole film paper before I can answer this question. How depressing.

However, the essay is supposed to have the following format:

1) Explain the subject a little. What is the subject? Do they mean 'film' in general?!
2) Refine the subject.
3) Write about the aspect that interests you.
4) Give examples, opposing twists.

They basically want a Cambridge essay but in French. The question being so broad should make it easier to write an essay on basically anything, but the example of a real student's past paper essay was SO good. I could NEVER write that good French! Though thinking about it, the ideas in the essay weren't hugely complicated. Hmm.

Sorry for the inane rambling.

Time to do nothing

Hi peeps!

Quite chirpy as have not had as monotonous week as usual. Last Saturday, I got offered a place at City University (thanks to those who had their fingers crossed for me) which made me very very happy. I'm finally getting nearer to being a journalist! So exciting. Starting in September.

Last Monday, I went to see 'Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?' in London. Was excellent, great actors and very funny. Kathleen Turner was in it. She sounds so much like a man! It was really quite long and heavy and amazing to think that the four actors could keep it up every night for months!

I then went home until today. I got to see my auntie's new baby, Jennifer, who is SOOOOOOO adorable. Even when she farted! lol. But a lot of the time she was curled up asleep just like an Anne Geddes photo. Unbelievably cute. Didn't want to leave, as she was starting to get used to me and not crying her eyes out when I held her. Though the other appeal of being at home was the TV - there's so much good stuff on! American and British stuff. Sigh. It would be so distracting to have a TV here, I don't think I'd do any work.

No revision tidbit for you today I'm afraid. Quite knackered after a 5 1/2 hour journey on the coach from my home to college.

Very unproductive day

I just watched the latest Daily Show episodes online. That pretty much sums up what I've done all day.

I just can't be bothered to work! Also, am quite pissed off about the news that Wembley can't get it's act together (you'd think if Athens could do it, the UK could - remember, how their stadium was incomplete just months before the olympics?) and finish building the new stadium in time for the Bon Jovi concert that I have tickets for in June. Mind you, it has been moved to Milton Keynes, which at least is closer and cheaper to get to than London, from Cambridge.

But still.

What I actually did revise today:

Meaning of 'mise-en-scene': staging of an action; all the elements in a frame. This word has theatrical roots, don't you know. And the elements are things like setting, costume, lighting and figure movement.

Maybe I will continue to do this during my revision period. If anyone has any questions on:

1) Modern european film (technical film terms as well as films and directors themselves).

2) European history from 1890.

3) French grammar/ language.

Do ask and I'll endeavour to answer your queries! Plus, it forces me to read up and revise.

Revision

Am back in Cam. Yesterday had my City Uni journalism interview. Keep your fingers crossed for me everybody. Though they have probably made up their minds either way now, so I can't change anything. I did do my best though. That's all anyone can do, right?

Forgot to write about Boy getting hair clippers last week, for me to have a go on his head. Produced quite funny results, though in the end it was OK (though the back has clearly been attacked by someone inexperienced). Practice makes perfect though heehee.

Today, got up late, have done a revision timetable for the rest of the month (i.e. the rest of the Easter vac before my final term at Cambridge! Argh, what a terrifying though!!)

The trainers I bought from Ebay arrived today. They're lovely :) Before I bought them I asked the opinions of three boys about which to get. Their combined opinion was like a third of the opinion of a girl! I would have asked a girl, but no one was online at the time. The thing was, with boys, all they can say is which pair they prefer but not why, which is what girls use to buy stuff. Why is this? Why can't boys say why? Though, I do trust Boy's judgement as he seems to have quite a metrosexual eye at times.

Sorry, life is quite dull again as I'm now just procrastinating to avoid work. Not that's new information to you readers.

Lazy days

Another lazy day in Stratford.

I went to Bath the other day, primarily because my friend had an assessment centre thing there, but I tagged along to make it a day trip. It was SO good to get out and about, and Bath was brilliant! I loved it, and didn't do enough so a trip back is definitely on the cards. However, I did get a chance to go to the Jane Austen centre which was cool, and came away with my own seal and wax heehee. I love kitschy stuff like that. Almost bought a parasol but really couldn't justify using it anywhere except for promenading in Austen costume along the streets of Bath...maybe. They are pretty cool though...like Boy says, I was so born in the wrong era.

Spring seems to be FINALLY trying to creep through the horrible winter we've been having. About time too!

Just to mark the 1000th visitor...me.

Didn't really do much today. Watched a dvd of a Spanish film, Secrets of the Heart, which was quite cute. Sorted out my papers before I start revision.

First it was the Year abroad dissertation; then it was my second dissertation; now all you'll hear about until I graduate is revision.

I apologise. I feel like I've been a student forever. The irony is that even after this year, I plan to continue studying for journalism!

Glutton for punishment.