Thank you

Guys, it was really lovely going out with you today for a drink. I had a great time! Let's repeat it sometime soon, shall we? :) Maybe it could even become our tradition. :D And I hope everyone will be able to come next time!

Sick, sick, sick :(

Still sick, coughing like mad and achy all over. I have no idea how I'm going to survive today's classes. Bleh.

That is all from me. Uplifting, eh? ;) Sorry about that.

Précis 3

Last Century's Celebrity Culture by Elayne Rapping

Link: http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2011/03/23/is-it-harder-to-be-a-celebrity-now/last-centurys-celebrity-culture

The death of the old Hollywood icon Elizabeth Taylor means the celebrity culture of the previous century, when film studios were in complete control of their stars' images, has come to its end.

In those days, stars were on a pedestal and although not infallible, they did not constantly fall victims to insatiable, omnipresent media. Nowadays celebrietes are constantly chased by paparazzi, both professional and amateur, and their most private moments become exposed to the world and usually blown out ot propotion.

However, no matter how much modern stars complain about it, it does not make their life harder - in fact, it usually helps them with their careers. Those who, like Keanu Reeves, do not want such fame, are perfectly capable of avoiding it. Others, like Charlie Sheen, seem to deliberately feed their scandalous reputation and treat it as a springboard to the next stage of their professional life.

Still, one may long for the good old days when celebrity meant beauty and its sins were invisible.

Vocabulary:

1. foible (n, countable) - a minor fault in someone's character or behavior (usually plural): We all have our little foibles. He was amused by the foibles of his eccentric neighbor.

2. ubiquity (n, unconutable, formal)- the state of being everywhere at once (or seeming to be everywhere at once): the ubiquity of the company's ads; Our fixation on busy -- the ubiquity of keeping, staying, being, appearing busy -- seems to me a symptom of our societal obsession with productivity.

3. to hound (v) - to chase or bother (someone or something) in a constant or determined way ▪ He is being hounded by the press. ▪ They hounded me with questions. ▪ 

4. booster (n) - action or substance that makes something stronger or more effective; something that helps or encourages someone or something: These exercises are real metabolism boosters.l A sincere compliment can be a true confidence booster.

5. voyeur (n, countable) -  : a person who gets sexual pleasure from secretly watching other people have sex or a person who likes seeing and talking or writing about something that is considered to be private: political voyeurs; Surely no one with any compassion would want to play voyeur with such disgusting deprivation.
6. multitude (n, countable) - a great number of things or people (often + of): A vast multitude waited to hear the news. A multitude of complaints reached the office. 
7. luminous (adj) - producing or seeming to produce light, brightly lit, very bright in color: I saw the cat's luminous eyes in my car's headlights. The room was luminous with sunlight.

Précis 2

The Kids Grow Up' turns the lens on home videos and the right to privacy  by Ann Hornaday

Link: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/03/10/AR2011031005840.html

Are videos about children which their parents post online harmless or exploitative? Doug Block's documentary “The Kids Grow Up” about his daughter's final year at home before her leaving for college makes this question valid.
Lucy Block, a documentary filmmaker's daughter, has practically grown up in front of her dad's camera, and while being filmed seems perfectly natural to her, she occasionally snaps at her dad for trying to capture almost every moment of her life.

Even ground rules they have, like 'You stop filming me the moment I ask” do not seem to be a sufficient answer to the 'harmless of exploitative' question.

Framing the ethics

While a lot people find home made children videos hilarious, some of us consider them ethically dubious at best and exploitative at worst, since they irrevocably expose the children's privacy to the world.

Douglas Bock's documentary also provokes questions about the relationship between filmmakers and their subjects, especially about the subjects' informed consent and right to privacy. There are no easy answers here, but the ground rule seems to be that filmmakers should be particularly protective of their subjects.

'Uncharted territory'

Parenting bloggers provide a useful insight into the problem of thin red line dividing entertainment/educational values from objectifying people for public consumption. While they see their blogs as a means of helping and supporting other parents, they realize they sacrifice their children's privacy in the process. The question is, how far they can go, and it will need to be asked over and over again.

Vocabulary:

1. mordant (adj, formal) - mordant wit/satire/humour - unkind and insulting humour that is also funny [= biting]: The play's mordant comedy makes for compelling viewing.
2. posterity (n, formal) – all the people in the future who will be alive after you are dead: This priceless work of art must be kept for posterity. Posterity will remember her as a woman of courage and integrity.
3. omnipresent (adj, formal) – present everywhere at all times: seeking some much-needed relief from the omnipresent noise of the big city; The problem is omnipresent and unavoidable.
4. fraught (adj) – full of anxiety or worry, laden, difficult, tense: These issues, touching on life, death, procreation, and access to health care, tend to be ethically fraught. He had a fraught meeting with his estranged wife to discuss a divorce settlement.
5. to attest (v, formal) – to show, prove, or state that something is true or real (usually + to): The popularity of the treatment attests to its effectiveness. I can attest that what he has said is true.
6. to abound (v) – to exist in very large numbers: Rumours abound as to the reasons for his resignation. Examples of this abound in her book.
7. op-ed (n, countable, AmE), short of 'opposite editorial' – an essay in a newspaper or magazine that gives the opinion of the writer and that is written by someone who is not employed by the newspaper or magazine: an op-ed page/article/piece/writer; She wrote an op-ed for the Wall Street Journal.
8. blithe (adj) – seeming not to care or worry about the effects of what you do: a blithe disregard for the facts; He seems blithely unaware of how much anger he's caused.
9. daunting (adj) - tending to make people afraid or less confident : very difficult to do or deal with: Few things are more daunting than having to speak in front of a large crowd. Shakespeare's plays can be daunting for a young reader.
10. to incur (v, formal) - o cause yourself to have or experience (something unpleasant or unwanted) : incur expenses/debt; What did he do to incur such wrath?

I love Adam Małysz

This wonderful, simple, humble, hard-working man who has changed our sport and us as his fans. He is kind, modest, respectful of each and every one of his rivals and, in turn, respected and loved by all of them. We could see it all yesterday in Planica. All those years of fame and success haven't changed him and his shy ways at all and it's absolutely incredible.

I'm so very sad it's over, all those beautiful years full of joy and pride because we as a nation were blessed with this fantastic sportsman. But it's his decision and only those who are the greatest are capable of saying good-bye when they're still at the top.

And here's the moment of the decoration of Kamil and Adam (thanks to doktorek2004 who shared it on YT). It makes me cry like a baby every time I watch it. I know, I know. I'm just like this. ;)

Every cloud has a silver lining...

... at least I've been trying to think along these lines. ;)

1. My laptop got kaput on Saturday. :( It wasn't exactly ancient, but old enough to break, and I'd been sort of expecting it for a while, but still it wasn't a nice suprise. BUT it happened after my presentation AND I haven't lost the data, because the harddrive is ok, so that's good!
2. It also means sharing a family computer, which makes it harder, time-wise, BUT it'll probably make me more efficient, as I'll have to get things done faster.
3. I think I've caught a cold, BUT there's still a chance I'll nip it in the bud. Plus I have this nice incentive of going out with y'all for a drink on Satuday, so I can't really be ill, can I? :P
4. As a result of my laptop failure, I didn't get around to posting my 2nd precis, which means two precis this week, BUT I've commented on your blogs and am about to finish this post, so things are getting done after all. :D

Btw, I did a part of our grammar homework yesterday and I can tell you it was a hell lot of writing! We've got at least three exercises when we have to rewrite some passages in the passive, and it takes a lot of time, so be prepared it may take you longer than usual. But then, we get a chance to practice our handwriting, so there's a silver lining to this cloud too. :P

Swamped with work

If any of you has been in doubt as to who I really am, this post will make it perfectly clear ;), but I do need to vent. Why? 'Cause I'm working on this bl**** presentation and I think I can safely say I really hate doing it. I shouldn't really be complaining, because I wanted to challenge myself, and challenge myself I did, but honestly, it's a blood-chilling experience when you read about things like the Groningen Protocol. Ugh. So I keep clinging to my popcorn-and-cola-to-the-end-of-the-semester mantra and it helps. A bit. ;)

I've notice some of you have recently posted - I'm sorry I have no time to comment on your blogs right now, but I'll get around to it when I'm done with The Presentation.

By the way, I've seen some of you use our real names in your posts and comments, so I have a request - please do not use mine - in class, I'm my normal self, but around here, I'm just Lizzy or lizzybennet, OK? :) Thanks in advance and I hope you don't mind me asking. :)

Talk to you soon; I miss blogging.

Psychology exam

How did it go, guys?? Please let me know. Was it very hard? I was thinking of you as you were writing.

Earthquake in Japan

I'm watching the CNN coverage at the moment and God, those pictures they're showing are absolutely horrifying. :(( I've just heard the situation in Japan is worse than they expected - plus we don't know what may be happening in the nearest future. They're saying there are still 50 countries, from Eastern Asia to Western America, which may be hit with the tsunami waves. It's horrible. :(

Something to make you smile

At least I hope it will. :) And I thought it'd better get posted now, because it looks like spring is coming...

ETA: I found this cartoon somewhere on the net, ages ago, so I cannot give the source. :( Stilll I'd like it to stay here, because I think it's funny.

Good luck!

Just wanted to wish best of luck to all of you who are taking the psychology exam this week! I know it's hard, because it's a written exam and I know you're all struggling, but I'm sure you'll do fine! Keeping my fingers tightly crossed for you all.

Phew

Posted my first précis and gosh, it took me forever to do this I think I spent less time on the actual writing than on this vocabulary thing. :/ And formatting. Either I went about it the wrong way or it's just what it's going to look like every week. Which is a depressing thought, really. ;)

Anyway, I've spent the last half an hour decompressing, listening to different covers of Cohen's "Hallelujah" (thanks, The Queen and james bond! :D). I love love LOVE this song. Can't stop listening. 

Précis 1

To Foster High Achievers, Think Beyond the Classroom  by Robert Samuelson

 

http://www.newsweek.com/2011/01/10/to-foster-high-achievers-think-beyond-the-classroom.html

 

1. to bemoan (v, transitive, formal) - to complain or say that you are disappointed about something: He was bemoaning the fact that lawyers charge so much; an article bemoaning the lack of sports facilities in the area.

 

2. to founder (v, intransitive, formal) - to fail after a period of time because something has gone wrong: Their marriage began to founder soon after the honeymoon. Plans for a new stadium have foundered for lack of funds.

 

3. to swamp (verb, transitive, usually in passive) - to be swamped by/with - to suddenly give someone a lot of work, problems etc to deal with: We've been swamped with phone calls since the advert appeared. Online bookshops were swamped with orders during the pre-Christmas rush.

- (usually passive) to enter somewhere, or to surround someone, in very large numbers: The hotel foyer was swamped by reporters and photographers.

- to affect someone in a major way, so that they are almost unable to deal with their feelings or with a particular situation: Fear for her children threatened to swamp her.   

 

4. glaring (adj) - very bad and very noticeable [= obvious]: The book's most glaring omission is the lack of an index.; a glaring example of political corruption

- too bright and difficult to look at: the glaring light of high noon

 

5. mobility (n, uncountable) - the ability to move easily from one job, area, or social class to another, coll. social mobility, upward/downward mobility, mobility of: There is greater mobility of labour (=movement of workers) between jobs and areas.

- the ability to move easily: It improves the strength and mobility of joints. The key to the army's effectiveness is its increased mobility.

 

6. persistent (adj, usually before noun) - continuing to exist or happen, especially for longer than is usual or desirable: persistent rumours, persistent headaches, a persistent problem, persistent rain

- continuing to do something, although this is difficult, or other people warn you not to do it: If she hadn't been so persistent she might not have gotten the job. Persistent offenders (=people who often break the law) face a prison sentence.

 

7. to inhibit (v, transitive) - to prevent something from growing or developing well: An unhappy family life may inhibit children's learning.

- to make someone feel embarrassed or nervous so that they cannot do or say what they want to inhibit somebody from doing something: Recording the meeting may inhibit people from expressing their real views.

 

8. attainment (n, uncountable, formal) - success in achieving something or reaching a particular level [= achievement]: a low level of educational attainment; Salaries are based on the attainment of production targets.

- (countable) something that you have succeeded in doing or having: educational/academic attainments

 

9. headway (n) - make headway: to make progress towards achieving something - used especially when this is difficult (make headway towards/in/with etc): Foreign firms have made little headway in the U.S. market.

- to move forwards - used especially when this is slow or difficult: Stormy weather stopped the ship from making headway.

 

10. accountability (n, uncountable) - a situation in which people know who is responsible for something and can ask them to explain its state or quality: There have been calls for greater accountability within the health service; public officials lacking accountability.

 

 

Almost all American authorities are in agreement about the bad influence of the US K-12 education on America’s competitiveness. They all see the need for urgent school reforms, but it seems they may be wrong.

Government and global market related factors affect the US economy far more than education does. Moreover, the recent OECD study of the reading skills of 15-yr olds shows that American schools do as well as those in other wealthy countries.

The study (PISA) was carried out in 65 countries all over the world (the 34 wealthiest nations included). The US ranked 17^th, which is a satisfactory, although not a spectacular result.

In addition, this result may be misleading because of the US’ racial and ethnic diversity. White non-Hispanic and Asian American students scored as high as students from top 10 countries, such as Canada, Australia or Japan. However, the results of black and Hispanic American students were dramatically lower. The growing number of those students makes any attempts at diminishing this gap a real challenge for American schools.

Contrary to the popular belief, schools alone are not capable of solving this problem, as the bad social and family background seems to be the key factor in hindering such children’s educational development.

Changing this means overcoming historical and cultural legacy and requires more than another educational reform. The results may be more of social than economic importance.

Reading your blogs

I've just spent a copious amount of time (far more than I'd intended) reading your blogs and commenting on the posts.They were so interesting! I have a feeling we'll have lots of fun blogging - and maybe we'll even get to know one another better this way? :)

Time for me to move on to some real work, though, like writing my first précis. It's not like I'm going to escape it or anything... ;)

MTA: Been trying very hard to figure out who's who. Not much success so far. Obviously, I lack detective skills, big time.;)

King Firth

I've been a Colin Firth fan for a while. I wish I could say that as a fan, I've been with him through thick and thin and have been following his career closely for years, but it wouldn't be entirely true. I suppose I'm a somewhat typical example of his (female) fan. I fell in love with his Mark Darcy of the first Bridget Jones film about nine or ten years ago and I've been on a lookout for his films since.

First of all, I digged out the absolute classic - the 1995 BBC adaptation of Pride and Prejudice (which, accidentally, had been one of the main reasons why Helen Fielding wrote her BJ books at all). It hadn't been released in Poland back then, so I had to buy it from Amazon for probably six times as much as it costs here nowadays, but it was worth every penny I spent on it, so to speak. It's a wonderful adaptation in every respect.

I've always loved the haughty, upper-class, burning-with-repressed-passion kind of character CF seemed to be typecast as for a long time, but over the last few years he's done quite a few films which show clearly what a superb, versatile actor he is. The Golden Globe, BAFTA and the Oscar he's just received for his role as the stammering King George VI are only the official (and most welcome :D) recognition of that.

OK, I've been gushing long enough. ;) The reason I even started this post, though, is that I watched a very interesting interview with him online and thought it'd be a good idea to post it here. I hope the link will work: Colin Firth's BAFTA interview.

Watching "North and South". Again

Tonight I'm going to re-watch "North and South", one of my favourite period drama's ever. And not, it's not the one aired here in the 90s, with Patrick Swayze as Orry Main. It's based on the novel by Elizabeth Gaskell, a brilliant Victorian writer and Dickens' contemporary. The said novel is one of my top favourite books as well.

As far as I know, none of Gaskell's works have been translated into Polish so far. Which is a shame, because she was such a tremendous novelist. The adaptation (made by the BBC) was released here a couple of years ago, though, and I cannot recommend it enough. So worth watching.