28.1.07

The First US President

I take for granted (although not too much: remember last time!) that with the enduring contestation over the money and lives thrown away in Iraq’s occupation, the Democrat Presidential candidate has a real chance of being elected. (Unless the Republican contender criticises Bush’s Presidency.) Clinton or Obama? Whoever the party chooses, history will probably be written. We’ll either witness the appointment of the first woman President or the first black President.
[Thanks for your words (and fabulous picture), Sarah. I was feeling quite lonely. After all, this is not my blog: it’s our blog. I’m teaching undergrads and experiencing the same weirdness that you describe. Perhaps even more intensely, since I do it in the same rooms where I had classes as an MA student.]

Hammer-time

Hello All,
Hope everyone is well in the New Year! Thanks for all of the posts, Serg, apologize for being an absentee house mate :-) Do you have a course website? Are you teaching undergrads or grads?
Filipa, your work is gorgeous! You are so talented. Is the latest post a painting?
Here is a pic of Steve at his sister’s 30th birthday party. Still up to his old tricks.
Not too much here to report; Steve and I are still married, employed, and housed. I just started a new part time job teaching Intro to psych and a SPSS data analysis lab at Lasell College. I just finished my first week of classes. Weird being up in front of all of those youngsters! Here are the links to my websites; not so interesting if you’re not interested in SPSS or basic psych...
http://my.lasell.edu/coursewebpages/2007SP%20Courses/PSYC101.A/
http://my.lasell.edu/coursewebpages/2007SP%20Courses/ITEC200X.A,SOC200X.A/
It has been dreadfully cold in Boston; 3 Fahrenheit (-16 Celsius) yesterday! Makes me yearn for the damp days of British ‘winter’…. We are planning a trip to San Diego, CA in June to make us feel better (we are going to catch some Red Sox games out there). Steve promises our next trip will be to Ole Blighty.
Steve notes that the first Spring Training games start in less than a month.
We watched the FA cup match this morning on Fox Soccer; it has become a bit of a tradition for us- Saturday morning eggs and footy in our PJ’s. We will be watching Chelsea tomorrow at 9AM (still love my Portuguese Special One). Steve says the FA cup is the best and he’d watch it any day over the Premier League. For the record.
Still not the same without Woody and Lanre laid out on our floor screaming bloody murder. BTW, glad Man U lost week (well, I am, Steve’s not and he points out they won today in the FA cup...)
We watched the State of the Union last week. I ranted and raved until I became too tired and almost fell asleep. Heard about State of the Union parties today on NPR- apparently you can play some cool drinking games involving the no. of times Pelosi blinks, Cheney smirks and Teddy and Hillary glare…maybe next year.
Obama in 08! (Although Steve wants Hillary; there may be some marital tension). How do you feel, my fellow Americans or interested foreign parties?
Steve has been on a kick getting all of his stereo equipment fixed; today he brought in a stereo amp from the late 60’s that was given to him by a janitor he worked with when he worked in a kitchen in college. He was supposed to give the janitor baseball cards in trade, but unfortunately never did and still feels bad about it. That was the most succinct rendition.
Steve is listening to a lot records and tapes now that he has gotten his equipment fixed. He is currently listening to a record from 'Haircut 100' that he bought for 99 cents (their 1982 debut album). They are from Kent! Beckenham to be excact. Peter Frampton is also from there we found out. wow.
Steve reports they have reunited.
I have been smoke-free for 4 months! Feeling good but I gained a few pounds...oh well. I recently bought a pair of trousers for my new figure, but realized (too late, obviously) that they resembled something close to what MC Hammer might have worn at the height of his influence. Well, Steve actually noticed it and has began to affectionately refer to me as Hammer. Hence, Hammer-time. I don't have a pic.
I miss ya all terribly; please remember we have a pull-out couch in Cambridge with your name on it. Hell, we'll even give you our bed if you come.
I promise I will post some pics from grad soon like I previously promised...
We need a reunion!!
Best, Sarah

26.1.07

Where Are You?

I'm starting to feel like a sad cat. Where's everybody?

Intro to TV Studies, UKC (4)

ER (cr. M. Crichton 1994-: NBC)
Storm Over Four (1998: C4)
"The Channel Four...? Debating the Channel with a 'Difference'"

World Cinema, UKC (4)

Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (The Brave-hearted Will Take the Bride: dir. A. Chopra 1995)
"On
The Brave-hearted Will Take the Bride and Utopian Sensibility"

19.1.07

Intro to TV Studies, UKC (3)

Panorama (1953-: BBC): "What's the Point of the BBC?" (2004)
The Jeremy Kyle Show (2005-: ITV1)
Trisha Goddard (2004-: Five)
"Public Service Broadcasting in the Multi-channel Age: Debates, Approaches and Futures"

World Cinema, UKC (3)

Les quatre cent coups (The 400 Blows: dir. F. Truffaut 1959)
"On Personal Expression in The 400 Blows"

12.1.07

Teaching at UKC

I've posted the works and titles for the first two weeks of the modules that I'm teaching. More will follow.
Best wishes and a happy new year to everyone.

Intro to TV Studies, UKC (2)

The Grove Family (cr. J. Warrington 1954-7: BBC): "Prevention and Cure" (1956)
"'Serving the Nation?': The Development of Public Service Broadcasting in Britain"


10.1.07

A Small Part of My Current Show!

World Cinema, UKC (1-2)













Bronenosets Potyomkin (The Battleship Potemkin: dir. S. Eisenstein 1925)
The Lodger (dir. A. Hitchcock 1927)
"On Expressive Editing in The Battleship Potemkin and The Lodger"

Intro to TV Studies, UKC (1)

The Simpsons (cr. M. Groening 1989-: FOX)
"Re-viewing Television: An Introduction to the Study of Television"