Safe to say

I think it's safe to say I suck at keeping up with this blog. After handing in my dissertation I have receded from the Twitter world, and in general not been keeping up with everything that drove me mad for the past year.

After this post who knows when my next one will be... but in any event, go to winnipegfreepress.com and type in my name in the search bar to see the articles I've done since the 12th. Also the Independent ran a new article last week about Paris with my byline.

This is the sixth Canadian city I have lived in, and I like it best. Although, not too thrilled about being in Bombertown when they won last night, kicking the Eskimos out of the playoff hunt. Although, Eskies suuucked this year so I'm not tooo up set about it.

And... yeah!

Hi!!!!

Ok so, voting is finally over for the video I made- that took up HOURS and hours of my time. Ugh.

I'm still not 100% done my diss -got an extension because prof was unavailable for most of August. But I'm sooo much more free now!

I fly to London Thursday to visit for week and then TO for a week on the way back.

Will get back into this now and post something exciting next time!

Winnipeg

I think I actually forgot about this page in the last couple of weeks, oops!

Currently in Winnipeg and trying to finish my dissertation, argh!

That's due Sept 1st, and then I foresee more updates on here.

E

A late posting

Here are a couple of my links from the JI, July 24 edition:

Obama is no savior

Hungary's distinguished history

----

Currently cutting tape from a Highland Games competition. Cutting bagpipes all day for two days is really wearing on me!

Off to New York on Sunday for a wedding. First time! Sooooo excited!!

And the pitch continues...

Check out my new travel article for Examiner.com about...

Edmonton! at...

http://shar.es/A3Oq

Oh yes!!

I know, I know!

I've had a couple of people message me, berating me for not having updates on here -sorrrry! The last month at home somehow I've found less opportunities to post than when I was traveling. I suppose that's easy enough to figure out though. Travels are interesting, being at home isn't :P

However, today I was on CTV being interviewed with the City of Edmonton rep about my Whitemud Creek video. Good times. I definitely prefer being behind the camera.

Rugby since I got home has been awesome. I joined a different club than I played for before; much closer to where I live and a nicer squad of girls. Went up to Fort McMurray for the first time with them a couple weeks ago wooohooo! I'm a REAL Albertan now! haha

It's Capital Ex right now. Brought the brother to the grounds today and went on a few rides myself but I am sooo not made for that kind of stuff. It's in league to my experience on the Eiffel Tower last month clinging to the rails going slowly, step by step while little kids ran up and down by me.

Partially on the way with my disseratation now. Got distracted the last couple of weeks because I had a brief serving job in a bar where they gave me full time hours when I wanted parttime, but gettin' back on it! (Didn't keep the job but have an interview at Lululemon on Thursday and I really, really hope I get the job! I'll by, like, everything there :P )

Just got back from the gym; I love the looks I get when people stare down my rugby bruises :P

Oh, and I'm also super behind on my Examiner.com page. Definitely need to update that but I want to get a couple mre thousand words done on the dissertation before working on other miscellaneous things!

Bye!

Canada Qualifies!

Went to an awesome game yesterday!! Canada beat USA Eagles in International Men Rugby to qualify for the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand in 2011.

Had a couple of Strongbows and then got called in to cover a shift at work haha. (Made some awesome tips though!)

Check out this Video of Canada scoring a try in the first half!

Final score Canada 41-18 USA

Finally doing something "productive"

I sat down and wrote 1/14th of my dissertation last night. If I hadn't needed to get up for work in the morning I would have kept going because I was on a roll. I'm hoping the mind set to do this again will occur, and if so, I will probably be lacking on the blog front for the next while --pressing matters, you know.

Like my new job though, even though he is definitely giving me too many hours. Serving is the best when it's super busy and then the time flies.

Canada vs/ US men's international rugby tomorrow afternoon at Ellerslie; really looking forward to it!

Officially up now!!

My submission for Edmonton Stories is now up on the City of Edmonton website!

(Same video as the youtube link from yesterday, but 10x more cool! haha)

My Edmonton Story

City of Edmonton

Here's a video I compiled for the City of Edmonton website competition. The object was to tell a personal story about living in Edmonton.

Youtube Link

Poland Publication

I did some blogging from Poland including photos, but below is a link to a published article for those who want to make a similar visit to the country. I attempted to do a link on my Examiner page which specified that it was not an overview of the entire country, but rather an article specifically for those who want to see what I did -but I got so many agitated freaks harassing me that I took that link down (had not posted it in order to generate debate about Poland as a whole, nor did I care to get into any arguments -my Examiner page is for light reading!)

Anywayyy (the description for my blog DOES include "rants", so don't be too annoyed at that intro :P ) the Poland article from the Independent in Vancouver:

Click here!!!

(unfortunately online version does not have photos, just the print version available in British Columbia)

Beautiful (and busy) Barcelona

Beautiful (and busy) Barcelona

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Behind

I knowww I'm totally behind with this blog and my Examiner page. It's just been SO nice since I got home not living on the internet!

I DID try posting a video from India on here a couple days ago but I tried it a few times and left it for a couple of hours and it didn't work. Shame, I love it! It's called "How to navigate India" and it's just tape of what the traffic looks like when I'm trying to cross a busy street.

I'm looooving the Canadian weather. Even a cloudy day here is nicer than a cloudy day in England!

Currently I'm planning my next move for the fall. I really want to go to South America to Santiago or Buenos Aires to teach English but the TEFL certification is very expensive and I would only want to do 6 months. However, I don't want to pay for the TEFL and then find that only year long programs are available. So: I'm looking at Asian destinations also that don't require TEFL cert. It's just a though, well, I'v put quite a bit of thought into it, but if it doesn't work out then I'll go straight down to LA when the leaves start changing up here in the north.

Right now... dissertation bells are ringing.

Interest piece

One of interest for a specific group. Recently published article at the JI for Jewish singles:

Love Across the Pond

A stroll through Budapest

A stroll through Budapest

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Norway/Sweden

Didn't know this was published last month until now!

http://www.jewishindependent.ca/Archives/May09/archives09May15-08.html

WOOOO PENS!!!

Since I got to Pittsburgh I've had very limited internet. My grandmother refuses to get highspeed so I had to deal with AOL dial-up.... the horror! Haha... But seriously it's been a hinderence. I haven't been able to post on here, at Examiner.com or submit articles. I'm seated at a coffee shop now though with the attempt of rectifying my absence!

It was pretty cool being in Pittsburgh last night to see them win the cup. I'm definitely happy Detroit didn't win! Makes me sad though that I'll probably never get to experience for my own home team what these guys got to. I was in the Middle East three years ago when the Oilers made it to the finals and lost in Game 7. I think that's the closest I'll get since I wasn't old enough to remember the last time they won the cup.

I knew I should have brought a sweater with me... the air conditioning in here is freezing in combination with the smoothie I ordered and my wet hair from just coming down the street from the gym :S

I need to catch up with my print newspaper articles first but hopefully before I sign out for the evening I will have an Examiner article to post for you guys. I'm thinking I'll do one on Poland. I'll put some photos up that weren't posted on here.

Talk soon!

Pittsburgh Student Travel Examiner: Fabulous Paris

Pittsburgh Student Travel Examiner: Fabulous Paris

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Pittsburgh Student Travel Examiner: Southern India: There to discover

Pittsburgh Student Travel Examiner: Southern India: There to discover

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Where I've been so far...

When I actually look at a map, I see all the places I haven't been yet... but I need a break -there's still time.

• Create your own travel map or travel blog


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Budapest

It's very different here than in Poland. The city didn't get bombed as much during the war as other Eastern European cities so there's some nice old architecture pre-1939. I've not had internet and I'm just in an internet cafe at the moment before going back out.

I was REALLY ill on my way here. I assume it was from getting back from India. I'm mostly better now but still being very careful and not eating much. I've not been in the mood to really tour. Done so much touring the last year and a half and it's been nice to just hang out with my friend here.

He's writing a law exam at university right now though so I'm going out for the first time to see a couple of places and take my first photos since arriving here Monday night.

Talk to you soon,
Eva

Mon Paris

I've wasted a LOT of time tonight trying to upload photos into the post body for my most recent article about India at Examiner.com -with no success. Sitting on the couch now realizing it's 3am and I've done any of my essay that I need to have done for Monday! :S It's all written but I need to fact check and source it, which will take longer than the actual initial writing... sigh.

Paris was amazing. SUCH a contrast to India. It was quiet, clean and the people were polite -far more polite than my England experience! The city is beautiful, what I expected London would be like. I Definitely will go back.

Here's a few photos from my half-day there. Too tired to write more right now!

Pittsburgh Student Travel Examiner: Take your Time in India

Pittsburgh Student Travel Examiner: Take your Time in India

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Ahoy Me Matey!

Off to Paris in a few hours -looking forward to doing the typical touristy things like seeing the Eiffel Tower!

Today went to Ulsoor Lake and got some classic footage in a paddle boat -the kind of stuff you cry over when you're old for the stupidly fun things you did when you were younger! "Land ho!"

I also came across a really large slum and tried to get some photos. My friend got nervous and hailed a rickshaw auto but I still managed some good shots. The children ran up from the slum to be in more just as we were driving away and I felt bad that half of them were blurry. It's interesting, and nice to see, that these children can become happy so easily. The smile comes naturally to them when they see me with my camera. They look of proper weight so at least they must get enough food, its just the living conditions, at least in the slums I've seen, which are terrible.






Applying for a few jobs with the spare time I've got before going to the bus station. It's absolutely pouring outside... I hope it stops before my flight so that it's not held up -I want my full stopover time in Paris!

Bye for now!
Eva :)

4:20am alarm clock

The last three nights I have been awake at this time to hear the praying from the Mosque. It's very distinct this time of night when the motors on the road are minimal, the honking horns aren't constant and the other noises are that of weird sounding birds, and what I believe to be monkeys!

Here are a couple of photographs before I head to bed (don't think I'll make it to Mysore in the morning; what with the long stopover in Paris Friday and then two days back in Leeds before off to Hungary, thats a lot of shlepping around and I don't mind hanging around here in Bangalore!)

A slum child, Bangalore

Bangalore Palace

Worker at Bangalore Palace

Rooftop view of intersection at Residency Street, Bangalore

In a richshaw, nighttime, air blowing past

UNIIIIIITED!... next year boys, next year

In India watching the United V. Barca game -this is what it's all about! Sport is an international language. (Or I WAS watching when I wrote this post but it's taken so long to upload the second video that the game is over by the time I'm posting this and United lost :( Hate Barca! --They've got a cool stadium though, have to admit I was in awe when I went on the Nous Camp tour while in Barcelona last year.)

I stopped in at a nightclub in Bangalore earlier tonight and a guy was dancing with a Barca scarf around his neck. The video is sideways, sorry guys!



It's pouring buckets outside right now. Unavoidable after the heat during the day! I didn't get as exhausted as yesterday though -walked four hours yesterday up to the High Court, around to Commercial Street and the markets and back down to Double Road (a bit of geography for those of you from Bangalore following my posts! Thanks for your guys' greetings and suggestions for places to see!)

Today I went up to the Bangalore Palace and it was pretty nice but I'm hoping to get to the city of Mysore tomorrow and see the real thing; the Bangalore Palace was just the summer house -small potatoes, haha. It's supposed to be stunning.

One thing is for certain, I'm tired of being treated like I'm a moron. I expect the stares because of my skin colour, but it is completely out of line for locals to think that my skin colour gives them license to be dishonest. I'm good with a map and I know when a rickshaw is driving loops in order to run up the meter. This behaviour by them is not condusive to tourists thinking well of them -and it just creates a viscious cycle. If I treated a person of colour in North America how the locals treat me here, I could be charged with racism. I may be visiting India, but that doesn't make me a money tree, and it doesn't give anyone the right to try and con me out of money that they don't deserve. This may sound harsh, but this is how I feel.

I'm also tired of the unnecessary car horns. The incessent honking in real traffic in the busy streets is one thing, but honking at me when I'm walking on a side road and you have all the room in the world to just drive by, is obnoxious. The sound polution, on top of all other forms of polution here, is through the roof. I mean, obviously my carbon footprint isn't the best because I fly all the time, but in day to day life... the waste here is disturbing.

Crossing the street itself is a bit fun, but because it's just so ridiculous.

I tried uploading a video of me crossing the street but it's not the best wireless here and after an hour I gave up on it :( I'll post it when I'm back in England!

...

Distracted by the game... Uuuuugh Giggs, so close!!!

Anyway, chugging water with the fan on, as I have been since I got here! Obviously in stark contrast to the experience of those living in the slum right next door. Strange to think about.

(PS, check out my most recent London photo album at Examiner.com! http://shar.es/0rxr )

Pittsburgh Student Travel Examiner: Northern Stop: Newcastle and Beyond

Pittsburgh Student Travel Examiner: Northern Stop: Newcastle and Beyond

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India

When I arrived in New Delhi on Saturday, the heat hit me like a blast. Got used to it though -and just took to drinking a lot of water!

My first experience in Indian traffic was one of those moments where you're looking frantically around at your surroundings and thinking over and over "oh my god I'm going to die, oh my god I'm going to die!" I'm more used to it after a couple of days now but I've got somewhat of an ongoing headache from all of the car horns. They honk every 5 seconds and most of the time it's unnecessary!

Oh, and not only do lanes not exist on the street, but they're dotted with people pushing carts of fruits, pedestrians and cows.


Speaking of animals... I arrived finally to my destination in Bangalore Saturday night after a two-hour delay in Delhi due to the flash storm (I was almost petrified that we were going to take off in it -I had never seen lightening like that before!). I got to my friend's house at 1:30am and was further held up outside by wild dogs. I was frightened that one of them was going to pounce and bite me. He was barking ferociously at the foot of the driveway I needed to go up... You have no idea how scared I was! Couldn't dial out from my cell phone to local numbers and I'm in the dark, deserted and smelly back road... But here I am today!

Currently on the balcony enjoying the cool night air. The traffic below is still quite loud but seems removed. We overlook a residential area but there's a small slum in the lot to the east. It’s hidden from view from the main road. But not that it would need to be hidden. There's enough blatant poverty around that I don't think it would cause shame.


There's a man power-walking laps up on the roof here -didn't you know that's the next big thing? I suppose it just wouldn't be safe to walk this late down below. My friend and I at around 8pm walked to the local alcohol point and she warned me to be prepared for a harder time than usual -women aren't supposed to drink here. "They're probably thinking: 'you're drinking, what a whore!'“

In general I stick out like a sore thumb here. I thought I would see more Westerners around. Most people are helpful, but it also seems to give the locals license to want to rip me off. Luckily I have traveled enough that I won't allow it. In Delhi I had several people come up and want to be in photos with me and here I've had young girls wanting to touch my hands.

I've been trying to take candid photos of the locals but when they see me flash the camera they get excited and want to pose. I still have a really nice collection of photos so far. I've been trying to show the real side of the country as opposed to the touristy shots.


I went to the market today and got three nice skirts -I LOVE the Indian skirts and specifically wanted a few. I also got henna up my arm that I also love. I can't wait to be walking around Hungary and England with it on my arm :) My friend got a design too but she needs one of those dog collars that keep the pup from knawing at stitches because she's obsessively picking at it!


It's just so different here that I don't feel the need to go around touring or see other places. Just a stroll down the street I know I'm in a different place. If I were here for longer I would want to see Bombay and the Bollywood stuff there, and probably want to go up to the Himalayas. This is good for now though.

One thing that is seriously shocking is the state of public works. I admit I am mostly ignorant to the political situation here, but it seems to me there is enough investment in India that there must be high-level corruption here. The streets and sidewalks are in utter decay and the garbage piles with their stench are unbearable.

More to come.

Pittsburgh Student Travel Examiner: It's been a hard days night

Pittsburgh Student Travel Examiner: It's been a hard days night

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What's important...

Is clearly not what's fun! But we all knew that anyway... Exam tomorrow, radio show tomorrow night, film to finish shooting and edit by Thursday, still an essay to do -but obviously I'm spending my time on twitter and my new Examiner.com page. I rock!

Do you rock too?

Procrastinators only welcome.

Oh, and booked my ticket to Budapest for beginning of June. India I may not get my Visa in time, joys! And Poland... I promised a review didn't I?

Well, it wasn't what I expected. I was a history major in my undergrad, I taught myself German in order to be able to read documents from the war... and in general I was brought up knowing a lot about what happened there. So... when I got there, I wasn't upset like I thought I would be. However, I seriously believe everyone should go. Perhaps it will awaken enough people to the fact that genocide in Darfur, Rwanda, etc, are TODAY. The visuals of what the real places these things happened will maybe me a wake-up call. I hope. And not just about the present, but the future. Hatred spreads like wildfire. People forget and history repeats itself. We can't let this happen again.

Here are a few pictures from the trip:

Oscar Schindler's factory in the Krakow Jewish ghetto


Thousands of shoes at Majdanek work/death camp. Their shoes were taken and they were given wooden clogs.


Remnants of a synagogue. The stage was stone, the rest was wooden and burned down.


The crematorium chimney at Majdanek


Another shot at Majdanek.


My camera battery didn't last through the trip, but I think these shots were indicative of the experience. Auschwitz bunkers look very similar to Majdanek.

Last shot is of the Jewish quarter in Krakow which has been revitalized because of the visitors. Thousands and thousands of Jews lived in Krakow before the Hoocaust. There are now 200 Jews living there. That's more than most places that used to have populations.

Pittsburgh Student Travel Examiner: Mancunian Stop!

Pittsburgh Student Travel Examiner: Mancunian Stop!

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Argh!

I'm too lazy, lady and gentlemen. I know I promised a blog about Poland but I just can't make myself put thought into something serious right now!

Just got back from the audio-visual lab, spent most of the day finishing off a promotional film -doesnt it feel AMAZING to finish off a project? To watch through it and not see anything else that you need to tweek?

I can't WAIT until I can feel that way about my other project I've been working on... I have to re-shoot a whole bunch of stuff tomorrow cuz my main character got a haircut -GRRR!!

I've been hired on by Examiner.com as the Pittsburgh Student Travel columnist. I'll will start posting on there soon! I've definitely got hundreds of stories to post on there!

However, speaking of traveling... I may not get my India Visa in time -sooo sad. Mostly upset about the wasted money though :S Couldn't change the dates. Sigh.

I should be responsible and go to sleep now but I've probably got a couple more hours of tweeting in me, at least.

Poland on the way

I am currently in Krakow, Poland. I have a lot to say, but this is my first time to myself since the group I'm touring with left London Wednesday morning so I'm going to relax. I will definitely write more later..

Have you been to Poland? If so, comment on this blog entry and share your experiences. Maybe I can compare them to mine in the next entry I write.

Until then,
-e

Life atm

My life right now is:





When it should be...



So. Screwed. Period.

Stressed!

I've got an essay and a screenplay due at the end of the week. Film submission the 15th, exam 18th and my large film is due on the 26th. Stressed because I go to Poland tomorrow and its right dab in the middle of everything! I wasn't going to go but I got guilted into it by the trip group advisor because I also bailed last year -it was just as bad timing last time as well!

I loatheeee taking national express down to London. If you don't book in advance you get completely ripped off or have to take the coach which takes FOREVER.

I would work on my screenplay but I can't find my outline ahhhhh

Oh and I booked a ticket to India this morning for the end of the month but then my visa got declined because I was over my limit having last night also booked a flight manchester to pittsburgh and from pittburgh to edmonton. Wow, can you tell I'm tired? Starting to write in informal chat mode with lack of capitals. But yeah, so there was a whole mishagus with trying to sort out the ticket on a different card and it still hasnt been booked and I'm worried I'm going to lose the wicked fare I got. Sigh. It was spontaneous afterall so I guess it wouldn't be the end of the world if I can't book my ticket (I may be an adult but I also have to take into account that dad will probably KILL me when he finds out -if I do indeed book it!)

What else... well my usual gripes with England for everything closing at whatever chance they've got. Just got out of a bank holiday weekend and the union on campus was completely shut so my radio show on LSRfm.com was canceled. And since I will be in Poland I will miss the last Newslink of the year as well on Thursday.

Oh and Avid Composer and Audacity programs drove me absolutely MAD before the weekend, both being extremely difficult and quirky -aka not doing what I wanted. To be fair, I think something was actually wrong with Avid because it froze a couple of times...

With all this busy-ness though, it WILL be nice to go see Paige in Bangalore before leaving this side of the world when all of this is over!

Tbh...

To be honest, I don't have the energy/feel like investing into putting up a new blog post at the moment... but I figure I should at least keep it up to date and not have days and days go by with the same post!

So.... yeah! Haha, there ya go!

LA Calling

Yep, London is not calling. Rather it is repelling. Fingers crossed that im in LA by the end of the summer. Can't want to get out of England... now that I didn't get the one job I applied for here I'm looking forward to a sunny existence.

I have bar training this evening... just sort of killing time until then. I attempted to work on my 3000 word essay due tomorrow but I don't have the sheet from the course with me so thats a no go. All-nighter here I come!

Ah well.

Finished Breaking Dawn, finally! I bought the first book for my flight on the 11th and have read every opportunity I could since then -so 17 days of straight reading. I now feel very empty inside without the next installment :(

Any sexy vampires out there who want to keep me company to make up for it?

Addicted.

I haven't updated at all this week because I've been spending hours and hours reading Stephenia Meyers' novels in the Twilight series. I'm on the last one now. It will almost feel like when Harry Potter finished... a whole universe ends. An entire world in my head comes crashing down when an amazing series like this comes to a close!


Yesterday was quite productive on the filming side of things. Done almost all the shots I need for my promotional film entry for the Leeds Uni website. I had been thinking of going into the office and doing some preliminary editing today but I'm sooo sore I just want to stay in bed and read some more... I took the camera and tripod home with me yesterday slung over my back and it took me twice as long as usual to get home. Not doing that again! Hence why I'm sore :(

I'll put up a new poll soon. Any suggestions?

All twittered up...

Still don't have my charger in the post yet so internet time has been limited to union opening hours. The university is still running on easter hours at the moment. Thus unfortunately out of all the things I check regularly, and obsessively, on the internet, this blog has gone a bit to neglect. Will definitely pick up activity once it arrives in the post.

Admittedly, when I have been online the last few days, I have been updating my Twitter like... every 5 seconds. Very unhealthy. However, have learned a LOT toward my dissertation and have TONNES to write about now so it hasn't really been a waste of time -even if it feels like it!

Ears still blocked up. Worked the other night and took my glasses off. It was a weird feeling to really be lacking clarity on two of my senses at once. Gives me a sincere appreciation for good health. Really hoping the doctor can fix me when I finally get in on Wednesday!

What's news, dear internet? x

Could more go wrong?

I forgot my mac charger in Canada and no one else is back up in Leeds yet who I could even fathom borrowing from. My second laptop... it was fixed a couple months ago but I never opened it because I was using my Mac. Well, the keyboard isn't working. Campus is completely locked up until Wednesday so I can't use a computer there.

My ear is completely blocked and I'm deaf. All pharmacies were closed today. So, with nothing to do (woke up at 630am, read for 4 hours and finished my book), I went to sleep at 1pm trying to waste time until the next day.

I've given up and decided to run out the battery on here.

Looking forward to finishing here and finding a job. Although I am enjoying shooting my film. Thinking about entering the Ellensburg film contest. If I do then perhaps I'll stay over here a bit longer.

Probably the wrong audience?

Only 2 votes on the GM issue. It's been a pretty hot topic for conversation in the US and Canada, but it appears as though most of my visitors here -who know me anyway and aren't just randomly browsing Blogger posts- are from the UK and may not know what I'm talking about? I will have to think up something relevant for the water rats over the pond... hmmm. Suggestions?

I'm back off to London in a few hours... Debating whether to go to Dublin on Wednesday. The place I was supposed to stay fell through...

I got a haircut and its AWFUL. I look like trailer trash. Horrid. I spent two years growing my hair out from it being an inche long and now it's just, ick. Will have to wear it back for like 6 months before I can be seen with it down again.

And ok so... I'm in LOVE with Robert Pattinson. Along with millions of other girls around the world -but does that make my love any less pure? Haha. Seriously though... I watched Twilight 3 times in the last day. I also downloaded the soundtrack and have listended to some parts of it 7 times... I wanted to buy the books but my city didn't have one copy left that has the movie poster on the cover, so I'll wait until I'm back in the UK and try to find one there. I think the film is amazing. The camera crew capture the look of anguish on his face when he wants her amazingly. Powerful.

A couple of interesting ones...

Well, the first one, NOT REALLY! The front cover of Macleans magazine has a tab about a new Trudeau bio. SERIOUSLY? The country is so over that.

But what IS interesting is a story that made the actual graphic on Macleans front page, and the front page of the National Post today: Canadian teenagers today are doing less drugs, having less sex, drinking less and getting more work done than the group eight years before them. Statistics show over 50% of teenagers are still virgins and are having sex at the weekly rate of the over 60-year-old bracket.

It's definitely all the new computer technology. It's a generation of drones.

Addict much?

With this many entries in the last couple of days has it become clear my postings come in spurts? haha


There was a story on the news tonight about googlemaps Street View feature starting their photo taking in Canada. I am so unimpressed. When I was first shown my house in England on there I was really freaked out. It takes things too far. I wonder if a boycott of google could be initiated. But I doubt it seeing as I use gmail and this itself is a google derivative.

Seriously though... My neighbour in England is disabled, and now you can see on google maps there's a disabled parking spot infront of the house. And even though faces are blurred, you can still see clearly enough. Scary.

Twittered Up

Wow... If it wouldn't sound so pathetic... I'd say I spent almost the whole day -save a break at the gym- one facebook and twitter refreshing my homepages. Seriously though, got some good ideas for my dissertation and some good contacts too. Also, Twitter is amazing for finding links. Loving it. This dissertation may actually be fun to write!

Add me!

I am now IhaveTheFear on Twitter.

Bonus points to anyone who knows why I chose that screen name...

Social media frenzy

Is it just me or is the media reporting on the media more than other news these days?

As usual...

Been too long...

Got back from England for Easter break a couple weeks ago. Return to the UK on the 11th. Going to Dublin when I return and hope I experience more than rain there.

I've just created a Twitter account. It has become necessary. This especially in light of my masters dissertation on facebook, social networking and the media!

A couple of article deadlines coming up for the J. Independent, finally! Promise to update here once those are done!

Been too long... again

I wasn't writing in the attempt to not be wasting my time on frivolous things, but still haven't finished my work! :S

Debating whether to go to rugby practice in a half hour... really don't feel like it! Would prefer to go to the gym.

Have been on the radio a couple of times now -last week filled in for a music show host who didn't show up. That was quite fun, I hope they don't show up again this wk! haha

I'm running an event for my post grad program tonight -it looks like it's going to be quite fun. I've been getting to know my classmates more now and it's more enjoyable than first semester.

The editor of my paper in Canada is moving back to Israel with his family so I probably won't write for a while since I assume the two stories I had on the back burner won't go forward now.

I suppose I may as well write in here because otherwise I'm just wasting time on facebook!

Argh

I didn't make it to my first radio slot of the semester... too much rugby lash the night before!! haha

Did a fun shoot yesterday for "Pro Turbo". There was a race between car, taxi, bus, by foot and by bike for who could get to and from the train station from Parky steps. I was in the cab with a camera; good fun.

Haven't been doing any extra writing even though I have a couple articles I said I would hand in eventually. Once I actually do my uni work then I'll get back on that... hopefully that'll be after Wednesday when I have my deadline... May not update on here until after then...

Chuck the vote out?

Ed Westwick is sweeping up the vote!

Excellent... not that I biased in my my own poll or anything...

In other news, my slot on LSR this semester will be Thursdays 11am-1pm -tune in!

Ready for the week ahead?... :S

Chuck or Nate?

So here's the BIG question of the year: Nate or Chuck?

Typical American Abercrombie model-esque or Hot fake American accent with an attitude?

You know you love me xoxo

Hunting for flats

When the title of this post is uttered by Ms Eva Cohen, those who know her well groan and say "argh, not again..."

Yep... moving again. Looking for a flat in Jerusalem for the summer beginning in May. And hey while I'm at it, I may as well make this into an advertisement! If you know of anything please contact me!

I'm going to see Insomnia tomorrow night for the radio station. Not sure why... I don't know anything by them and I probably won't be able to find anyone to go with me! Aside from the usual "I should be doing my assignments" thing... But I'm sure it'll be good -always up for hearing new stuff!

LSRfm.com will be back up and running this coming week, once I know my news slot I'll let you know!

Occupied Botany

The Botany House on campus is "occupied". Such a thing clearly is university endorsed as it a university building. Ridiculous. Also ridiculous? The reinstatement of a Holocaust denying bishop on Holocaust Memorial Day. If I didn't have tact, I would say the Pope is a real German ass.

I will get a new poll up soon; I haven't had anything exceptional occur to me to ask you guys, but it will come!

Second semester is underway now with the hope it will be better, and brighter, than the fall semester. Or "autumn," rather.

I have been in communication with the BBC online service over an article they posted last week which said Uganda is "the Israel of Africa." If ever you read something which you really disagree with, do something about it. That goes for anything you see or hear on broadcast journalism as well. Journalists seem to think they are above real life and can print anything. It is the public's duty to keep this in check.

Here's a nice political cartoon for the day.


I always find it interesting how there's these prevalent views about terrorism around the world, but when it comes to the Hamas/Hizbullah/etc. vs. Israel conflict, all the sudden it's "different" and the terrorism is en mass deemed acceptable.

Back in the sunny UK

After a horrible ordeal on Thomson Airways I am back in Leeds; beginning my 10th semester of university. Joy!

I am going home to Edmonton for Pesach though so that is something to look forward to! But for now I'm content NOT flying for a good month and a half.

Am trying to think of something poignant to write but nothing is coming to me. Another day, another blog.

Gute nacht meine freunden!

Farbreng it

Mayanot Womens had theur 1st year anniversary last night and it was a beautiful affair. Followed by many inspiring words by several of our teachers. I've also learned some really nice nigunim since I came here and it was amazing to feel so apart of something into the late hours of the night in the heart of Jerusalem.

I sit here procrastinating like usual. I would prefer to stay here but there is a real world out there awaiting my return!

Not on here often while here as its a very full schedule, I'll be in touch again probably once I'm back in Leeds.

-E

The week ahead

Lovely Shabbos in Efrat and now looking forward to the week ahead. Had a class in Tanya this morning and now just checking up on all my internet distractions during breakfast break (that sounds redundant doesn't it?).

This afternoon going to a Sfarim store, I have a few I want to get -especially a Tanya with translation.

Wednesday will be especially a good day because my ring from Hadaya will be ready :)

I have a couple articles due eventually for the JI, but so busy here that I probably won't get anything done until I return to the UK. Previous article wasn't put online so if you're outside of the Vancouver area, sorry!

-E

B'aretz

I've Arrived!

But I'm in class right now haha so I should go!

Talk soon :)

Silly silly silly!

I was supposed to fly to Israel this morning. I was indecisive up until the last minute about whether to go. I didn't. And as soon as I didn't, I regretted it so I went and booked a flight out of Luton Tuesday morning. Such a waste of time and money -flying out of Manchester is sooo much easier! Blah.

I just couldn't sit around Leeds for the next couple weeks.

Was very tired once I got back from Sweden. I was in transit for 10 hours but the flight was less than 2 hours long. Yippee!

At least I know my way in Israel and it won't take long from Ben Gurion before I'm settled at the sem.

I can't wait until I leave here. I sat for hours applying for jobs in Burbank even though I know I won't hear back from any of them and that even if I did, I couldn't go. The dreariness here has gotten to me.

Exhausted!

I am all traveled out! Caught a 449am train to the airport in Oslo this morning. Once at my cousins in Sweden I napped for a couple hours this afternoon, but I am still so very tired. And I'm not even in the home stretch! Must get back to England Friday and then back off to Israel on Sunday. I think after this spurt, travel will be cut down significantly as it just takes so much energy! Commuting between Leeds and Manchester will probably suffice for getaways this coming semester!

My cousins live in the country north of Stockholm, closer to a place called Uppsala. There's kilometres of ice on the land for skating and a fresh snow fall. As soon as I got off the plane this morning the same sensation hit me as in Norway when I went to at World's End. It was bright. Really bright. It made me reminiscint of home with how the light is here. I couldn't keep my eyes open. The same thing happened when I returned home to Canada in the summer from England. It's as though the country of England just lives under a constant haze. It's like stepping out from the darkness into the beam of a pair of headlights.

No photos from Sweden yet, but here's one from my daytrip into Oslo yesterday with Anette:


A view of the Oslo frozen over harbour by the Opera House.

Oh and, it's pretty sweet to be in Sweden just as Canada kicked their ass in the World Junior Hockey Championship gold medal game yesterday! Wooooooo!!

Yayyy!!!

YAYYYY SNOW!!!!!

At World's End

Verdens Ende at Tjome, on the Island of Tjome, Norway 35km from Stokke, south of Oslo

In English: At World's End.

I was just as excited when I stopped at Camden in London and a pub was named that also. Although it was the worst of the 3 Pirates of the Caribbean movies, still exciting to have a Johnny Depp movie reference! Haha. But of course, geeky moment aside, the view was stunning.

Going to Oslo tomorrow since we went to the island today. It was so pretty, and serene. There wasn't a sound. When the ducks made a noise it was so distinct. I'm quite the urbanite, but this was so calm and beautiful. It was minus 12 and brilliant. The air was crisp, brisk and clear. Such a... departure from English city living. Really clears the head.

Hei fra Norge!

(Hi from Norway!)

I stepped off the plane and WOW what a breath of fresh air! Minus ten and brilliant! So fresh, clear and exhilirating! (Nothing like the English weather that... chills to the bone and gets you soaked to boot! I'll take a real cold any day to a damp, humid cold!)

I'm much looking forward to going into Oslo with Anette tomorrow :)

Chill Factor

I was brought to something that probably has been one of the strangest places I have ever been to. It's not really all that strange a place in general, but for me, born and bred in the Canadian north, it was... I hate to overuse this word, but: surreal. It's this place called Chill Factor in Manchester and it is an indoor ski hill. I have never seen anything like it. It's like... a miniature, mickey mouse attempt by a country who don't know the real thing, to feel like they're in the mountains. Even the wall papering in the toilets is of snowy foliage. It's just quite strange to encounter an imitation of something that is so natural where I'm from. And for £17/hour to boot.

I fly to Norway tomorrow. I'm not all that excited. It's going to be a big shlepp and I should seriously be doing my uni work. It will be a nice photo op in any event and it will be lovely to see my roommate and cousins.

At the moment I wish I were in California. I have a love affair with California. And there are soooo many jobs in NBC, ABC etc. that I really wish I could apply for instead of being stuck on this side of the pond!!

I am currently sitting with my mini-PC, but Mac is definitely running away with the poll numbers right now. What do you use/wish you could use?

Even 1984 won't be like 1984

It must have been a bit strange to witness the year 1984. Orwell made it eternally an important date representing universal human fears, feelings and traits.


Lucky for the SuperBowl, Mac cashed in on the opportunity to make an advertisement which would also stay with us, and become famous years down the line in a computer dominated society that technicians and scientists in 1984 could only dream of.

1984 Mac Superbowl ad

What's your favourite "Hi, I'm a Mac" "And I'm a PC" ad?:

Mac's spiffy ad collection

My favourite is the Computer Cart from 2007 when PC whispers "fatal error". Oh glee!

***

So I leave for Norway on Sunday. It will be cold. So too will Sweden be cold when I fly to Stockholm from Oslo.


I got my unexpected dose of snow while I was in Italy and am not really in need of a snow shot anymore! I am determined to enjoy myself though! No sitting in and procrastinating from uni work I am not going to do anyway instead of enjoying myself, and definitely no concussion. No concussion? That's a plan. One should always plan to not get a concussion, it's the cool way to travel!

On another note, anyone want to do two assignments on communications in the European Union for me? Awesome, thanks!!

Sigh. Off to Manchester tomorrow. Cannot get out of Leeds quick enough!! I would put a photo to represent this but unfortunately google images only brings up football bashing photos. Leeds United do really suck though.

Time to take poll

It is probably more an indication of who I know than an accurate sampling of the general population, but "men and women can't be friends because the sex thing always gets in the way", as proclaimed by Billy Crystal in When Harry Met Sally, has prevailed by 7 votes to 5.

The next poll was triggered by an advertisement I saw on a billboard near Piccadilly station in Manchester. It was of an older, greying man with glasses saying "I'm a PC and I'm proud of it." Now, that's the first I have seen of anything like that, which means it has taken Bill Gates' team years to combat Justin Long (check him hilariously in Zak and Miri Make a Porno) in the incredibly catchy MAC commercials. (I have often wanted to see if its possible to get a reel of all the commercials made). Now, is this ad even helping poor old PC? It's like saying "I know I'm old and my brain is slightly fried, but I'm embracing it." I actually think it's quite counter productive. But anyway. I must confess I am a part-time PC user since the heartbreaking incident involving my roommate, beer and my brand new baby MacBook. It still works, but not 100% and I had to invest in a tiny PC :( Shame, shame! I know!

I mean... I am not meaning to sway the vote AT ALL.

It's still 5769

"Why is this night different than all other nights?" It's not.

I wonder if there's a world record yet in consecutive Scrubs episodes watched...

I Heart Zachary Israel Braff


Ooooh the sexy Jewish doctor fantasy...

I can't do this all on my own, no I'm no, I'm no Superman...