Nico Space

I saw this on Beth's blog and thought it was something perfect to procrastinate with! Come on everyone, do it! It's fun!

N	Natural
I	Ideal
C	Careful
O	Overwhelming
L	Light
E	Extreme

Name / Username:

Name Acronym Generator
From Go-Quiz.com

It's officially don't lift your head till the work is done time. So I have been playing with my mac photobooth. It's a very enjoyable activity to take pictures of oneself. Especially when there is work to do.
Today the reporter from Kosovo came again and talked to us for another session. His message was the same but my professor made it a little clearer for us in the next session. He said there are many points of view that a journalist has to sort out. All of these points of view are legitimate but do not have an equivalent value. Journalists must evaluate what messages are being said and measure the legitimacy of these points of view.
So, we must think critically about the various points of view and see which ones are the most legitimate. It is not about being objective or unbiased. (The man from Kosovo said that journalists don't have to think about objectivity, editors do.) It's about a commitment to quality information.
Tomorrow I have my first meeting with my supervisor for my dissertation. We are going to have a long working relationship so I hope it goes well. I just have to sort out my thoughts tonight so that I can present my topic to her clearly.
Last night I brought all the video equipment home to do an interview with one of my flatmates but when I got all set up I realized the battery was dead. It's a big pain in the bum to carry the stuff home! Oh well, the more little mistakes I make, like not checking my equipment fully before I leave, the better I will be later. Yay for looking at things positively! I came up with a better interview idea anyway so maybe it was meant to be.
I really can't wait to go home. I am getting more and more excited! I think it pops into my head more often then sex does for a 17 year old boy!
Chris left this afternoon, I am much safer now Kim! Looking forward to hanging out during the holidays! See, there it is again...

There was a twister North of here last night but not a big one. I don't really feel like writing any more but that doesn't mean the twister was huge news or that there isn't anything more going on.

random dude

cider festival

winter wonderland

winter wonderland

talking with Santa

wishes for snata

christmas night

Santa's Grotto

Hey Kids! Print out this post and have some colouring fun!
I am now marketing my blog to children because they are the future and my friends are now reporducing like crazy.
Did you know that lighting one candle can really warm up a whole room? That's why you should always have cabdles in your car travelling in Saskatchewan, just in case. I may have just saved your life.
My house can be a little chilly sometimes so when I am working on the computer upstairs I light a candle.
Chris is here and we are having fun. We went out last niht to various bars and I showed Chris the Cardiff wildlife. St. Mary's street gets blocked off on weekend nights and there are police on horses and cars along it. It follows the UK way of doing things. If in doubt, shut it down.
I had a good week at school too. I got quite a bit of work done and I think I am actually on schedule. Can you believe it???
Yesterday was a really good day. I really think I am making progress. My prof said my filming was good and steady. Yay for tripods! They are a pain in the ass to set up but are the only real way of getting a steady shot. My prof is really against earthquake television. Your subject can move but the camera cannot. it sounds simple but so many students don't use the tripods.
We also had some awesome guest speakers this week including one of the top journalists from Kosovo who talked about his experience covering the war. He was so interesting. He explained that journalism is a mission not just a job. He also said it is impossible in a war to be unbiased. When he was reporting he tried to cover both sides of the conflict and his people called him a traitor and the international media called him biased. When in a situation you have the oppressor and the oppressed if you cover both sides in an unbiased way you are giving the oppressor power. A journalist must see his/her job as a mission to bring attention to situations where people are being oppressed. So it goes, that journalists, in some situations need to be biased.
Anyway, I want to cook some rashers now!!!

It's the evening again. The days just swoop by and I always find myself here back at my computer. One evening looks like the next. I am not saying my evenings are boring but they are repetitive.

This will all change tomorrow though when the Almighty Nelson arrives. Tomorrow will be a funny evening. It is games night with the programme and I signed up for scrabble against other students and profs. Then I am off to get Chris at the airport at around 11. I have been working really hard lately so that I don't have to do much when Chris is here. Thanks to Chris for forcing me to be a none-procrastinator. Who am I kidding??? Of course I am still procrastinating. I am writing this blog, aren't I??

Today we learned how to use the camera. The biggest thing I learned is: do not zoom in automatic mode. Switch to manual, then zoom and focus. Apparently this is one of the things that seperates amateurs from professionals. Well, now all amateurs know because I spilled the beans. I bridged the divide between amateurs and professionals. Yay for equality!

My mind has been a little absorbed today thinking that maybe I should do a television broadcast dissertation. A radio one is easier but when am I going to have access to this type of equipment again?? We also need to learn by doing. I really don't care if I get a crappier mark because I challenged myself. I will end up learning so much more even if my documentary is a pile of poo. All that matters is that I pass and that I learn. If I am planing to work in tv I mind as well learn as much as I can about tv. Maybe I will surprise myself and my documentary will be good!

Happy 1 year to me and Luke!
I had time difference advantage but Luke beat me to the ode!
I'm the luckiest lady on the planet!
I love you Luke!

Keep your hands off ladies,he's mine!

Canada, warming up!

It felt really good to hear the national anthem last night at millenium stadium during the Canada vs Wales rugby match, even though the final score 61-26...ouch!
There were Canada flags waving at different areas of the stadium and one guy on the big screen running up and down the aisle with a Canada flag for a cape.
Attendence was about 74 thousand people!!! The stadium holds 80 thousand. You would never have that many people at a rugby game in Canada, it must be quite and experience for the players. They support their sports teams so well here. So much pride! My flatmates Abi and Jo helped me cheer for Canada and we went out after with some of their friends from medicine.
I had a Canada scarf on an Abi drew a big red maple leaf on my cheek. I waved at some fellow Canadians walking around after.
In line to get in to the match, some Welsh guys yelled out, "we have a canadian here!!!!" One of them told me he was an honourary Newfie after going on a trip there. Most people smiled at me politely. Apparently, rugby games are more gentlemanly then Football games. Thank God! I had images of people maybe being little rude with me but everyone looked happy to see Canadian fans.
I am so happy I went!! A piece of home came to visit me in Cardiff!

So happy to be home. I haven't stopped all day! We had a library induction programme today. My first thought was, boring!! It was surprisingly so helpful! The university has a really cool footnote programme that basically writes up your bibliography and footnotes with a few clicks of the mouse. It's going to save me hours!!!

I also went to Boxersize today with Annie, Elaine and Roxanne. Lots of running. The instructor was really good and encouraging. I think I will go back but not next week cause Chris is coming!

Today I won at debate for the 2nd week in a row!! I didn't realize I was good at debate. I am pretty good at arguing with my family but I thought it ended there. Maybe I learned something from Patrick and his countless suppertime debates between him and my mom growing up. I guess I wasn't just observing after all. I was like a sponge sucking it all up. There is a tournament this weekend but I have decided not to go. I knew this would happen but I am suddenly swamped with work that has to be done before I go home...so at my computer it is.

I am so thrilled with the new report on inclusion in the Fransaskois community. I have been going on about this issue for a few years now. It was blatantly obvious that we need to be a much more open and welcoming community in order to grow. I am loving watching the discussions on Le Telejournal.There are still some closed minded attitudes out there but I think people overwhelmingly agree with the report.

Culture does not come from some authentic source that we must preserve. It changes and grows and we need to let it. I am so happy that some people said they finally feel accepted in the community. They always should have been!!!!

Aerobics..bla,bla,bla....school...bla,bla,bla...home bla, bla, bla...

Here are some photos of a duck. I like to call any bird a duck in front of my dad because it annoys him. I really am a horrible person deep down. I find what ticks and I don't let up.

Aberfeldy is a good band. I like em. Luke and I saw them play at a bar called barfly here. I bought their CD and they grow on me every time I listen to them. I got my ipod a really long time ago now and just loaded songs on it yesterday. Most prople get an ipod and load songs on it right away. What's wrong with me???!!!!

Last night I was trying to take my contact out and it was really hurting. Then I realized I was just poking my eyeball because my contact was sitting on the ground. yuck.

Elaine says she gets cabin fever too. So we are going to try and do more activities together. Today we went to the chinese grocery store and I bought bbq pork steamed buns. MMMM a taste of home...

I applied for this class today and I needed to suggest a participatory media project. It's kinda like something I participated in, in Montreal once:

I would like to instigate a neighbourhood tourism project in my hometown of Saskatoon, Sk, Canada. The project would involve going out and collecting stories from the public that happened in the Riversdale area. The stories would be recorded.

Participants, taking the tour, would be given a CD player or another audio device. A narrator would give them directions for them to follow as they walk around the neighbourhood. They would also be given a map. At different locations they would hear the stories the people from the neighbourhood have told. They may even walk into certain buildings and perhaps even meet a family.

It will be an opportunity for school groups and the general public to be familiarized with the neighbourhood and its people. They will learn the history of the neighbourhood and the different phases it has gone through. It will also be an opportunity for members of the community to come together, share their stories and discuss the future.

Helloooo

Yi-ting or Elaine has sent me some pics. A couple of them are when we went to eat at Annie's house and the other is Elaine and I at the Halloween party in Gregynog.

I had a good day yesterday but today just stayed in and I think I have a little cabin fever. I am very moody and can't concentrate very well. I have accomplished quite a few things today but still don't feel as though it is enough. I just have so much to learn and so many skills to develop...and this type of thinking does nothing for my productivity or learning. I start something and while I am doing it think of all the things I should do so that I am not really concentrating on the task at hand.

Aerobics was nuts today. She made us go really hard. One girl almost fell over. I am starting to see the benefits though. I can sit cross legged comfortably on my office chair and overall I have more energy. Fantastic!

Anyway, time for bed. Maybe i'll be happier tomorrow.

Elaine and nicoles's great adventure

Elaine and I went to Hay-on-wye today. It was my second time there and I really liked it. These graduate centre trips are a really good deal. Another girl was there from my programme with her flatmate. We all had lunch and waffles together.

I found a few christmas presents and a Yan Martel Book. I think he wrote it before Life of Pi. It will hopefully be good.

Tonight I am just hanging out at home and watching Flashdance. Pretty awesome dancing, I had never seen it. I've always, not so secretly loved the theme song. It's the perfect thing for a lazy saturday night. Last night I just hung out at home and chatted with my roomates.

Next weekend I am going to the Canada vs Wales rugby game with my roomates. I also have my first debate tournament. This week I won my debate. Pretty happy about that seeing as I was terrified of going.

Yesterday we did voxpops at school and had to go out on the street and ask people what they wanted for christmas. Some people ran away from us. Microphones can be terrifying.

I am sooo inspired today! I just went to an optional lecture on digital storytelling and it was absolutely amazing! My mind is full of projects to get everyday people more involved in media. There is an awesome project he showed us in Toronto called Murmur. Check it out. Saskatoon definitely needs murmur! A project like this can improve all societal relations and it's entertaining! http://murmurtoronto.ca/

I think I have been totally out of the loop!!!! These are the types of things that will make a huge difference! People need space to tell their stories and it needs to be accessible to EVERYONE!!!! Sites like Youtube and blogger are fine except for the fact that they exist primordially for market research. Professionals need to start thinking of new ways to get the public involved.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/tellinglives/

des' guy fawkes2

des' guy fawkes

Just came back from Guy Fawkes at Des'. Lots of people showed up and I had a really good time. Des ordered 2 of the biggest pizzas I have ever seen. He also served us hot soup, a variety of appetizers and cake! So good to have good family here! I am in the process of loading some videos of the fireworks but here are some pics till tomorrow. I gotta get some zzzzz's. 7:00 comes early.

The sky was a deep grey today. It's getting dark very early now. That means it's almost christmas!!! I think about going home every day but I am not feeling too homesick.

Elaine and I booked tickets for a graduate student day trip to Hay-on-Wye. I had been there with dad and Luke but it will be fun to go again. I have been meaning to do one of these day trips. They are really cheap and should be a lot of fun. The photo is from near there at Gospel Pass.

A few of my classmates know this adress now. We exchanged our blog adresses in class today. Hello there and welcome if you are reading this!

Our teacher asked us to read an hour a day and write 250 words per day. That shoudn't be too difficult. I'll just blog a little more. I think I am alreay reading that much through newspapers, books and websites. An hour isn't that long and as I get older and hour is becoming shorter and shorter.

I watched TV5 news last night. It's really in depth. I was reading that french canadians rely a lot more on television an radio for their news then newspapers so french reports generally crams in more stories then english news. So you get a lot of bang for your time watching french tv and listening to the radio. I have to immerse myself as much as I can in french. I am afraid of losing some. A language needs to be used regularly to keep it up.

I am going to Des' house tonight because it's Tuesday but also because we are celebrating Guy Fawkes tonight. Any excuse for a party works for me.

A good friend once told me I was flighty. I feel flighty sometimes. I like the definition of flighty except for the irresponsible part:
1. given to flights of fancy; capricious; frivolous.
2. slightly delirious; light-headed; mildly crazy.
3. irresponsible: He said I was too flighty to be a good supervisor.
4. Archaic. swift or fleet.
www.dictionary.com

My grandma also told me not to ever say negative things about myself because people might believe me.

The problem is, I have tons and tons and tons of things I would like to do and sometimes I just try to them all at once and put myself through major guilt trips if I don't accomplish all of them. I never really think of what I have accomplished or feel good about it. I really feel as though I have sooo much to learn.

The things to know are never going to end. I know that much.

Today I was reading about the formation of the first Welsh television station S4C. Talk about fighting for a language. Dr. Gwynfor Evans, the president of Plaid Cymru (Welsh political party) said he would start to fast unto death if he had to unless the gvt. reverted to its promise of a single welsh channel.

I was trying to do lots of school work today but I didn't take breaks. I really need to learn to take breaks. I think it will improve my work.

Oh yeah, weird story. I as at aerobics today, step aerobics to be precise, and before the class started there was some sort of martial arts class going on. So, all the aerobics girls were waiting and watching the class and one of the girls in the martial arts class had a mini skirt on and when she kicked we could all see that she had no underwear on!!! When she turned around her little bum wasn't even covered. Isn't that odd?? We all stared in disbelief. I wonder why they let her take the class like that. When she left the class she said "hi giiirls" in a very condescending aerobics sucks kinda way.

fireworksssss

fireworkss

fireworks

It's Guy Fawkes day here in the UK and there are fireworks going off constantly. They actually have been for a week but they have gradually become more frequent. My roomate Abby and a few of her friends and I went to see the main display at Bute Park. Kind of expensive at 6 pounds but it was a pretty good show. I'll upload some video for you in a bit.

I had a really productive day today. Feels good. My alarm said 11:30 when I woke up but it was actually 8:00. So my day was nice and long and filled. I love days like that!

It's the weekend...although I feel like I just had one. Talking about my dissertation at Gregynog was a good kick in the pants to get me in gear for starting on research this weekend. The sooner I know the problems with my topic the better.

I was sad to hear the accident we were stuck behind on the motorway last night killed 4 teenage girls. Two boys who were with them survived.

Today we learned how to use cool edit. It is actually pretty easy and straightforward. It is very empowering to learn editing. It seemed like something foreign before. There is so much I could learn that is probably not all that difficult but when I am a journalist I will pretend it all is so people think my job takes skillzzz.

Anyway, the X-factor is on tv in 5 minutes so gotta run...

gregynog bus

Hello
I am back from Gregynog where I had a fabulous time. All the students in my programme got to know each other a lot better and we spent a lot of the time thinking about our dissertation topics. Everyone seems really nervous about it... I hope the whole thing isn't too scary. I have decided to do a broadcast dissertation which means that on top of my written dissertation I will do a 12 minute radio documentary. I don't know what I am getting into but that's probably a good thing.

The pictures are from our time there. We got stuck in traffic on the way back because of a bad accident. There are WAY too many road accidents here. It's quite scary.

It is really quite cold in Cardiff now. My back room for some reason is not heating properly so I am camped out in my front room. It's kind of fun to type on the computer in bed anyway.

Tonight my flatmates, me and a few of their friends had mulled wine and cheese fondu here. It was sooo yummy. What good flatmates I have!

Luke made it home safely!! We had our first webcam conversation tonight. My weekends will be a tad more boring.