Blog By Kobrak

the daily grind of a student

2012-01-25T01:18:00.000Z

Can you tell i'm back at University?

Every time I come back things just get pushed back because there are so many jobs to get done.

One massive thing I have learnt since starting uni back in 2010 is that everything is down to self motivation. Replying to emails and sending emails are my biggest pain in life - because they just get left and forgotten about and then you realise SH*T i have missed that deadline or noooooo people are going to think i'm useless (which with emails I sometimes am! But don't tell people!)

Also is you are having a really bad day, best idea ever is to get together with friends and either have mad conversations via Skype or just be in the company of some funny people! Everything will feel better after that!

New blogs to read? Do you have any good ones?

2012-01-06T08:00:00.000Z

I have been trying to find some interesting blogs that steer away from the world of fashion and beauty. Not because I don't want to read any of them, but there seems to be a steady stream of the same types of blogs out there.

I spent an hour today looking through people's followers and reading their blogs, in the 25 I looked at 23 were fashion related and the other two had no blog posts.

Instead of just reading news sites and political commentaries I really want to find blogs where real people talked about their personal opinions of things such as the USA elections, general news coverage and life.

Considering the internet is becoming the place where procrastinators and teenagers alike spend their time keeping up to date with the Kardashians and the World news, I would have thought there would be more blogs that have people talking about their own opinions on certain issues.

I don't mean the negative comments about the people who may enter the CBB House tonight on Channel five but more along the lines of reading peoples opinions about Obama's new Strategy for a 'leaner' US military and wether they think it is a good or bad idea. I just want to read about the books people have been reading, websites they have visited. Some original blogs that aren't about getting followers or of people trying to become fashion bloggers in the ever competitive area where they are thousands of the same blogs with different names.

I read some brilliant fashion blogs already such as The Man Repeller, Style Bubble and Coco's Tea Party and have tons listed on my blog list but now its 2012 a year of massive changes and great events, and I want to hear about them as well.

so...

...do you know of any good blogs for me to read?

2012 US Presidential Election.

2012-01-04T17:30:00.001Z

In keeping with the theme of Political interests 2012 will not only be an exciting year for the London Olympics and the Queen's jubilee but also there is the small thing called the AMERICAN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION!

Where were you in 2008? I personally was reading BBC News and CNN watching and reading about John McCain and President Obama. Then Sarah Palin joined the picture. O how the campaign changed.

I won't pretend to be a great understander of American Politics, I am however a supporter on democracy and voting. There is a massive difference between American and British elections, I personally think that the US have more exciting ones but that could be down to the fact there are only 2 main parties and many more people voting. Not to mention that you also have organisations like Rock the Vote and shows such as The West Wing that get people more aware and involved in state and national elections.

The UK isn't like that, we have three main political parties; Labour, Conservative and the Liberal Democrats. Three political parties that are made up of MPs (members of Parliament) who lack the ability to engage young people. We have political shows, sure The Thick of It and Yes, Minister - both satirical sitcoms.

In America you vote for the candidate to head each party, whereas in the UK you vote for the party not the individual.

Briton is a small country in comparison to North America, according to the 2001 Census the UK has 58,789,194 million people where as the US (estimated for 2011) has 312,890,000 million people thats a difference of over 254 million people.

I have voted once, sadly it wasn't for the 2010 general election, but for the Alternative Vote Referendum of 2011 where I was one of the 6,152,607 people who voted for a change.

It saddens me that Political education in the UK isn't compulsory regardless of the fact that it is about everyones future, that both the UK and US don't have enough female and ethnic minority politicians that are representative of their country. But most of all I am shocked of the disinterest in politics in the UK and the lack of engagement with the younger generations and the 18 to 25 year olds.

So this year I will be waiting for the 6th of November 2012 to see if President Obama wins a second term. Because on the 5th November 2008, I was right here.

(also I just found out that Michele Bachmann suspended her campaign for President today 4/1/12!)

The West Wing

2012-01-02T00:54:00.001Z

For the last three months I have been watching The West Wing from Season 1 to Season 7. I finished it Yesterday and even though I had already seen most of the West Wing and have re watched the first two series countless times - I felt great satisfaction watching it from start to finish.

The great thing about the West Wing is how brilliantly it is written and the way the series is filmed. It is on its own level of brilliancy that is above any other TV show purely because of the set. Did you know that in won 9 Emmys in 2000, the most for any season of a television series and at the time of the award ceremony the West Wing was only in it's first season! They also won the Best Drama Series Emmy for the first 4 seasons!

It ran from 1999 to 2006 and over the course of those 7 years 15 different actors and actresses appeared in the main credits. Allison Janney (C.J Cregg), John Spencer (Leo McGarry), Martin Sheen (President Jed Bartlet) , Bradley Whitford (Josh Lyman), Janel Moloney (Donna Moss), Richard Schiff (Toby Ziegler), Dulé Hill (Charlie Young), Rob Lowe (Sam Seaborn), Joshua Malina (Will Bailey), Stockard Channing (Abbey Bartlet), Mary McCormack (Kate Harper), Jimmy Smits (Congressmen Matt Santos), Kristin Chenoweth (Annabeth Schott), Alan Alda (Senator Arnold Vinick), Moira Kelly (Mandy Hampton).

Here is some interesting information for all you West Wing fans: the character of Donna was not meant to be a regular, in fact it was down to audience response and co-star Bradley Whitford pointing out the obvious chemistry between Josh and Donna that made her a regular! Thank goodness for that!

I think my real love for this show is down to the fact that I find the world of Politics fascinating and I love seeing how things are done. I love watching the special features on DVDs and getting to hear and see how things were filmed. The West Wing links these together and whilst I was studying Politics at A Level the West Wing actually reenforced information I had learnt!

If you have an interest in America Politics or in great television I would suggest watching this show, the actors are amazing and in Season 7 the Debate episode was recorded Live - check that one out :)

''I remember the first time we screened it for the cast — there was a feeling of, 'Well, we did a great pilot, but we're not going to be able to do this every week. What will become of the show now?' There was a sense of pride that a great pilot had been made, but isn't it a shame that now it's going to turn into a bad TV show. And yet these guys all came back every week determined to make every episode as good as our best episode. And they kept it up for seven years.'' Aaron Sorkin (2006)

2012

2012-01-01T13:25:00.002Z

Hello 2012.

:`)

2011-12-04T22:43:00.001Z

December 2011 is feeling a lot less Christmas like than most years.

This is down to mainly the fact I have not decorated the house or listened to enough christmas music. But don't worry I am changing that this week!

Everyone ready with the Christmas presents?

O how I love you internet television

2011-11-18T00:37:00.001Z

There is something to be said for iplayer.

It is my favourite place at the moment.

Why?
(if that question honestly popped up in you head you clearly don'y understand my love of television!)

Have you seen their lineup of shows!

Season 2 of Rev and Him&Her

The amazingness which is Never Mind the Buzzcocks, Young Apprentice and The Graham Norton Show

AND the start of Pan Am and Life's Too Short!

It surprises me that I am still getting Uni work done.

So go forth and spend your next few hours watching all the television on IPLAYER!

take time and think

2011-10-29T20:10:00.001+01:00

These last few weeks have been hectic, we might as well admit that October was a write off. I read so many blogs and get inspired so often but the idea of writing down everything I feel just seems too time consuming, I like to do things and visualise them, when I have an idea I act on it and am very bad at being patient. Therefore when things get busy with work and uni the things that I enjoy doing, such as blogging, fall to the wayside.

But fear not, there are a few exciting things happening over the next month and I shall be making time to blog blog away!

I found out some sad news when I came home last night, it is the sort of news that makes you think about your life, what you are doing and where are trying to go. It re-enforced the idea that life is how you make it and to do what you feel happy and confident doing.

Back it starts again

2011-10-05T18:16:00.003+01:00

University if back to its normal self, after completing the first week of lectures everything is starting to make sense again. Plus it is busier, which personally I love and thrive off, and I feel like I have a lot more to give this year.

I do have one thing I need to get off my chest, the damn weather! All of last week I felt like I was back in America at the hight of the heat wave not in Gloucester on a late September day and then this morning I wake up to a grey sky and rain. Please weather man stop with the sudden changes!

On the topic of sudden changes how are all the people starting Uni finding it? I find it strange that now when I go home there is no one around, I have to actually spend time with my family!

I am about to dash out to a volunteers dinner with the Cheltenham Lit Fest, check out my other blog here to hear about all my work experience - been writing a fair few posts this last week for it!

Back we go!

2011-09-26T23:41:00.000+01:00

So tomorrow is my first lecture of my second year. I armed with my notes and hundreds of books that shall hopeful help me pass this year. And even better than that this house is starting to feel more like a home day by day now that everyone has moved in!

Maybe tomorrow will go brilliantly or be absolute hell, better get some sleep and find out!

Can you tell where my time has been spent?

2011-09-20T19:14:00.000+01:00

On rainy days when there is nothing to do I love watching America television. However over the last three weeks I haven't even needed any rain to spend most of my time addicted to american shows. This is all blamed on my holiday in Portland and Seattle at the end of July where I started to watch of new television shows, such as Against the wall.

So I thought I would share the names of 3 shows that I feel are definitely worth checking out. And if none of them take your fancy remember that Glee, CSI, CSI:NY and How I Met your Mother are all coming back this autumn - so there should be enough american television to keep you occupied on those rainy days to come.

Awkward

Against the Wall

Suits

If you have been watching any really good television shows recently, other than Doctor Who and such, I would love to know.

decisions.

2011-09-11T23:29:00.001+01:00

I haven't been in the blogging mood for quite a while. I'm not sure if this is because I have outgrown this blog or if I just need a break. I am thinking about where to go and what to do.

19 years old now! I think thats a lie!

2011-09-02T19:57:00.001+01:00

There is something to be said about turning 19. I didn't wake up Wednesday morning feeling like I was more mature, I doubt that will ever happen, but I do feel 'different'. I think this feeling has more to do with Greenbelt and my internship than my birthday, I managed to stay alive and still awake at the end of the week at Cheltenham Racecourse for the Greenbelt Festival Weekend - I am in the process of writing about it on my Event Blog here!

My birthday was a nice one and the first one where my parents haven't been home - so to fill the gapping hole in my heart over the fact work was deemed more important than me turning 19, I had my friends come over instead! And as this was the last of the 19th celebrations we acted in a mature manner by playing party games. My personal favourite being 'Stick the cake on the Caitlin' - the theme for the party was THE LETTER C! We had a pack of cards, the cat in the hat, Justin Bieber (child star) and Clippy from Microsoft word along with many others come along for the celebrations which made the day even more fun!

I didn't take any pictures myself so have to wait for when my friends post some on facebook - I promise then to show you some!

Here is a picture of Wedgehead Uglydoll my parents gave me & of the Unicorn from Despicable Me that my little Brother got me! You wouldn't guess from my presents that it was my 19th!

Tooth

2011-08-14T01:06:00.000+01:00

Both pictures at Escape to NY (found on tumbler)

I get it, lack of posts! I do have tons of pictures to show you from my three weeks in the States but I haven't yet got round to uploading them to my computer due to the fact I have been on antibiotics for 6 days and had my tooth pulled out on Thursday. Both of which have meant I have had to watch three seasons of Torchwood and sleep in bed till 2 in the afternoon - thats obviously what the doctor orders (or dentist in my case)

I promise from the bottom of my heart that I shall be posting some REAL great posts over the next week, both on here & I'm a damn student, what do I know? . I think I just needed a few months off from blogging and getting back in to spending time with friends at home before I head back to university.

Right now I really want to be living in a teepee and wearing a headdress - sadly the English weather does not allow this and it's not really socially expectable! Such a shame :(

London Riots update UK RIOTS

2011-08-08T23:43:00.001+01:00

It would be very hard to come back and not talk about the London Riots that have been taking place these last three days. How could I talk about my holiday and the things I did when next door to me these riots are taking place? What is going on is pure violence and stealing, there is no cause or reason for what is going on.

I am actually quite scared and sadden about what is happening due to having friends and family all around London and it shocks me that people are setting fire to peoples homes and businesses, isn't it bad enough with the current cuts and problems without stupid idiots making people homeless and unemployed?

The other shocking thing is the idea that we should all feel grateful that David Cameron is cutting his holiday short, he should have been coming back earlier today after all the reports of a second night of violence because this is happening in the Capital City of the country he represents, and please don't get me started on Boris Johnson.

I think the most shocking thing is that these rioters are damaging their own local community just to go home with some 'free' stuff that they are stealing such as electronics & clothes. It is just damaging not only the image of young people but the lives of the people living in central and greater London.

Along with that there is the ridiculous riots and looting in Birmingham which shows just how bored some people are and how stupid yet harming these riots are to everyone. It is sicking to see a few groups young people making a mockery of all young people around the UK, just like how the education protests when they became violent harmed our cause this violence will never help anyone.

I am shocked and cannot get past how horrible this situation is becoming. I just hope that my friends and family in London are OK and that they stay safe tonight.

*UPDATE*
If you want to keep up to date with the riots happening all over the UK BBC News are doing a fantastic live coverage on their website CLICK HERE.

And this youtube video by Rosianna is really fantastic so CLICK HERE to watch that.

YOUR OPINION: digital publishing.

2011-07-14T11:43:00.001+01:00

The argument and discussions about digital publishing has been going on for a fair few years, with many people originally being very against it, but what are and were their reasonings?

This 'topic' is one that I have wanted to talk about for a while and this particular post has been in several draft modes since early May.

I know many people who hate the idea of reading a novel on digital media, be that an ipad, kindle, e-reader etc, but what are their reasoning? Most of my friends who dislike e-readers have never used one to read a book and get their ideas formed from other peoples opinions. I am not saying I didn't have opinions like theres, in fact when I worked at Waterstones I hated the idea of people reading books on what seemed like a TV screen.

Waterstones started trying to sell Song E-Readers in store in an attempt to kick start the digital reading age, and as an employee I was told to try and sell them to the customers. However the problem was that I had never seen one working before, heard anything about it or understood why we were selling them in the first place. It didn't help that the rest of the team were against them purely because they weren't an actual book, and in case you failed to notice, waterstones is in fact a BOOK STORE. Why in the world would we want to sell something that could inevitably put us out of a job?

I hated the song e-reader, it was clumpy, ugly and overpriced. Two years later and I am an owner of an Amazon Kindle.

I purchased a kindle due to my travelling needs, the price and the fact the amazon store is easy to navigate and books are cheeper. For example at the moment Caitlin Morans novel 'How to be a women' is retailing in shops for £11.99 I can get it for my kindle for £4.19. This summer I have 7 books on my kindle which cost me £10.02 that works out at an average price of £1.43 per book, now normally when I go on holiday I pop into my local Waterstones and buy 3 books on the 3 for 2 offer and spend £15.95. I think from that little example you can see why I am embracing the digital world of e-readers.

However I purchased my kindle last October (2010) and didn't start using it till December, so for 2 months it sat in a draw picking up dust. The e-reader is different and therefore you have to be fully confident to pull it out and accept that a few strange looks are going to be thrown your way, especially if you are at University, because lets face it how many students do you know who read lots of books in their fist year at university? Personally I didn't meet that many, it was more about drinking and partying that reading and studying! The Kindle became my best friend in December because I came home for Christmas, there was a lot of free time to read and relax. I was planning on bringing back most of my stuff from uni but the weather meant my parents couldn't drive up to collect me and I had to go home by train which meant I had to repack 5 big bags into 1 small suitcase. So there were no books to be coming back just as many clothes as I could stuff into the case, therefore this small and slim kindle became a hero as I had something for the train home and on the tube, not forgetting in the house and when we visited family & friends. It was over the christmas period that I finally got what all the fuss was about.

The point of e-readers is to make peoples lives easier, just like microwaves and universal remotes, they are not a replacement just a helpful extra to add on the side. The worry my friends have is that people who read on e-readers will forgo buying actual books, however I don't think that is true. We are a civilisation that like to show off, reality shows are popular because people like to be nosy, fast cars are purchased by people who want other people to know they have money and bookshelves were invented so people could show off to their friends how many (& what type of) books they have read.

Every summer for the last 3 years I have purchased Linwood Barclays new novel and this year was no exception, I went into Waterstones and picked up his new book 'Never Look Away.' I wouldn't even consider buying it on Kindle instead of the paperback because I like seeing them on my shelf as a collection. What the e-reader has allowed me to do is read books by authors I would otherwise miss, like Beth Revis who wrote 'Across the Universe', it has meant that I could read books on my commute to London when I was standing up, as the Kindle can be held with one hand.

Digital publishing is something that should be celebrated, not feared. It gives authors who self publish there novels a chance to actually be read and to sold, it starts to stop the stupid idea of books written by women are only to be read by women as the traditional front cover is less important, it means travellers can take with them a lot more books and take us a lot less space in luggage. And lastly it might even get more young people reading again, because honestly who doesn't want to be seen with the latest technology?

LET ME KNOW WHAT YOUR OPINION IS ON DIGITAL PUBLISHING, either by leaving a comment or sending me a tweet @blogbykobrak

Here are a list of articles and blog posts about e-readers that I have found particularly interesting.
Don't Fear e-readers by Sheri
e-books outsell physical books three to one by Computerworld
College Students opinions on Good Reads
Amazon & Waterstones by Guardian
Kindle now a library by Guardian
Can e-readers save Newspapers by Economist
Why I Hate e-readers by Gizmodo
10 things I hate about e-readers by I call it research
I hate e-readers by Judgemental BookSeller
Why I love e-readers by Outside the Line
Why I love an e-reader by Sarah Rooftops

Happiness in pictures

2011-07-12T08:00:00.001+01:00

The posts which receive the most views and bring the most traffic to Blog By Kobrak is that of ELLE Magazine that I posted in September of last year (2010). Therefore todays post is dedicated to some of the many pictures I have accumulated over the last year that are to do with FASHION.

MANY MORE PICTURES TO SEE BELOW!

These are some of my most favourite pictures of all time!

News of the World

2011-07-11T23:54:00.000+01:00

I have quite a few posts in drafts that I really need to finish before Friday as I am off to Portland, OR and Seattle or three weeks. One of these posts is about digital publishing (thats the one which is taking a while) so hopefully shall keep you entertained and informed.

I also have a fair few draft posts for I'm a damn student, what do I know? about my internship at Greenbelt which I finished a week and a half a go, I hope to finish them and get them published over the next month so that the blog is updated while I am away.

However the topic I want to talk about it this issue with the News of the World and the appalling behaviour of the phone hackings, which has dominated the news since the 7th July, last Thursday. I won't reiterate what the story is, but I am shocked about how the hacked into Milly Dowler's phone. I have always trusted newspapers more than any news programme on television just because they have been around for longer, sort of how you may trust the words of your grandparents rather than that of a 13 year old child. Therefore the News of the World story has really made me think about who we can trust, for years my parents have read The Times newspaper and for the most part I had always thought it trustworthy, and how could I not with Caitlin Moran as part of the team; but it is owned my News International and since the Sunday Times today was said to have targeted Gordon Brown I am now not sure where I should go to get reliable, independent and trustworthy information.

The easiest way to gain information is to first gain trust, then forge a friendship - you tell your best friends more personal information than you would ever give to a total stranger. So why did News of the World feel the need to hack the phones of people all around the world, from celebrities to the families of soldiers. Surely they could play the game fairly?

It's a Tuesday. The first Tuesday of July 2011

2011-07-05T19:03:00.000+01:00

I am still alive and around. And I have, in fact, been writing a few blog posts but the problem is I start them and forget to finish them. SORRY.

Have just been babysitting for the last 3 hours and was made to play countless games of Hide and Seek. I am tired!

Journey number 3 of recent trips: Just around Ldn

2011-06-24T21:02:00.000+01:00

Not as many Pigeons as I remember!

This guy was climbing through a tennis racket! OUCH

How I wish I could go and see Much Ado About Nothing!

So these pictures are from a month ago, just of my everyday wonderings. I think on this particular day I was just in search of something great, I never found it BUT I did learn the quickest route to the Greenbelt Festivals Office!

The great thing about London is there is so many places to visit, I went round the British Museum (again) for about the 5th time this year! And wondered round Leicester Square & Trafalgar Square. I had my first snog, which is the name of a frozen yogurt company! (THAT GOT YOUR ATTENTION DIDN'T IT!)

TIME HAS GONE WHERE?

2011-06-21T19:56:00.000+01:00

When you have on one of those moments where you genuinely have no idea where the time has gone it is pretty crazy. These past 2/3weeks have flown by and even though I have time to relax I have no idea where it has gone. DO YOU?

Me dressed as AMY from Doctor Who!

And before you say invest in a watch, I already have, it hasn't helped me much!

I'm a damn student on an Internship!

2011-06-06T19:05:00.000+01:00

I have just started my month as an Intern at the Greenbelt Festival office in central London. Because this is VERY exciting and completely relevant to my course of Events Management I am starting a new series of blog posts on my EVENTS blog I'm a damn student, what do I know? . The series shall be my own personal experiences about what this Internship has taught me, the problems I have faced etc.

If you are a festival goer or are interested in what goes on behind the scenes with the planning of such a large scale event that I would recommend checking out this series here.

DW, how did it make you feel?

2011-06-05T01:00:00.000+01:00

WHAT DID YOU THINK OF DOCTOR WHO THIS SERIES?

and my my River Song, now that was a twist!

Lets just say, I was kinda blown away.

Journey number 2 to tell you about! Cleeve Hill

2011-06-04T23:23:00.000+01:00

A trip to CLEEVE HILL in May 2011

Because I am a City Girl, born in London & raised just outside, I find it very hard to accept the countryside, don't get me wrong I think it is stunning and brilliant, but I could never give up the concrete buildings and busy streets. However that being said I now live in Cheltenham which is in the Cotswolds, countryside capital! Therefore it would be a crime not to go and explore the outside world that is around me, I took a walk with a uni friend to Cleeve Hill, which is the highest point in both the Cotswold & Gloucestershire. Even though we didn't attempt to reach the top, the views we saw were stunning regardless, and I shall defiantly be going back!

If you find yourself in the Cotswolds then Cleeve Hill is a beautiful place to visit just to get to see the wonderful views of the wonderful country side, and hey for every City girl just remember you can always return to the iron city you are used to!

BATH trip 2011

2011-05-31T15:58:00.000+01:00

I have just been sorting out all the pictures on my computer, as you do on a sunny day when you have nothing else to do, and I realised there has been a lot I have done over the last few months that I never told you about. And considering BlogByKobrak has been lacking in posts due to the concentration on I'M A DAMN STUDENT, WHAT DO I KNOW? I felt that it would be good to show you whats been happening in my life.

Starting with the pictures from when I went to Bath for the King James Bible Reading Challenge for a week of Work Experience, (which shall be written about on my Event Blog here)

BATH

If you have never been, then go. It is just like walking back to a Jane Austen novel!

My Mum fell in love with Bath, and it is hard not to, because it is a stunning place. It helps if you are there when it is sunny but even with the rain the breathtaking buildings are still magnificent!

I was working most of the time but I still went on a bus tour of the City, ate dinner at fantastic restaurants including Jamie's Italia, shopped around and went to a few of the Bath Lit Festival events. I was here for a week staying in a bed and breakfast and the YMCA and I will definitely be going back. Why? because it is a beautiful place.