The test begins now...

I thought I was smart
I thought I was right
I thought it better not to fight
I thought there was a virtue, in always being cool
¬Flaming Lips

7/22

International Entertainment Law Final was harder than the Professor had led us to believe, but still there was nothing on it we hadn't covered and I was well prepared. Plus its curved so I'm confident I'll do well. Grabbed lunch with JC at The Court (pub). Study, Study, Study. Break. Break for Blog. Back to studying Media Law. Dinner. Study. Bed.

7/23

International Comparative Media Law's final was much more straightforward and exactly what the professor had led us to believe going in to the exam. I wish I could have had a little more time, but I know I'll do well. After the exam I spoke with Dean Tyler (the program's dean and the school's ex-dean) and he explained to me that if I transferred the 6 credits earned here wouldn't be factored into the number of allowable transfer credits. So it looks like I'll be going back to WNEC this fall (and be able to take up to 11 credits) and still have a shot at transferring to Southwestern in the spring, which is my plan. After class I packed and napped. Then the program organized a farewell dinner at the Medieval Banquet. I came back to College Hall afterwards and passed out.

7/24

Woke up. Showered. Checked out. Split a cab with someone to Heathrow (Terminal 1).

[THE TEST IS OVER]

Ticking away the moments that make up a dull day...

You fritter and waste the hours in an offhand way

Kicking around on a piece of ground in your home town

Waiting for someone or something to show you the way

¬Pink Floyd

7/17/10

Studied like a mofo all day and night. At night I went to see Inception at Leicester Square at the Odeon Theatre which is known as the nicest cinema in the UK and houses every major premier screening and I rightfully so. The place was nicer than some Broadway theatres I've been to. You had to by assigned seats in advance, everything is carpeted and upholstered, there was a balcony, a curtain for the screen, Romanesque statues on the wall, I could go on. It was more of an event than a night out. Not to mention the film was absolutely incredible. I was thoroughly captivated for every second. I go home and manage to review one more chapter (on foreign entertainers getting US visas) before going to bed.

7/18/10

Breakfast. Study, Study, Study. Updated blog. Thoroughly enjoying Southwestern's courses starting to consider a transfer.

7/19/10

Class. Spoke to dean of the program and professor Biederman about transferring, which is becoming more and more tempting. After Media Law I went to lunch with Professor Youm, his wife and some students from class to Asadal (Korean place from my birthday). Really an incredible professor and an impressive scholar also very kind to take us out to eat. Studied all afternoon and evening. Met a few kids at the Marlborough Arms (perhaps for the last time) for a pint before going to bed.

7/20

Class. Study,Study,Study, for 8 hours with a study group. 7/21 Last day of class. Really going to miss classmates, professors, college hall and London when the program is over. But no time to think about that now. Got to study. During a study break I noticed that the dorm had a garden-patio area in the back. Really nice, only wish I had discovered it earlier.

Some photos of college hall and the university of London...

The refectory (cafeteria)

The Courtyard I walked through everyday to get to class (not always this sunny though)

Brunei Gallery-Where classes were held

Professor Youm

The lounge on floor -1

The mate was a mighty sailing man...

The skipper brave and sure.

Five passengers set sail that day

For a three hour tour, a three hour tour.

7/16/10

Reviewed notes and readings for International Entertainment law and Media law. Decided to take another free 3 hour walking tour from the same company that offered the one I took in Edinburgh. We met at Wellington Arch across the street from Hyde Park. Learned about Sir Arthur Welsley and Earl Grey as we passed there homes and from there headed through Green Park along constitutional hill to Buckingham Palace. Apparently Green Park used to be filled with flowers but the queen had them all cut down in the sixteenth century because the king would go sleep with prostitutes after saying he was going on a walk to smell the flowers. Saw the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace (which was a madhouse) while the tour guide explained the significance of the ceremony. Apparently the keys are carried by royal guards from St. James Palace to Buckingham Palace as some kind of outdated security measure. Learned a little about the queen and the palace's history and about the only successful break in. Apparently if the queen lives until 2015 she will be the oldest reigning monarch in English history.

On a side note, I really don't understand this obsession with the queen. Why have a head of state who has a meaningless title? Who wants their tax dollars going to some family living an outrageously extravagant lifestyle? But I digress...

Next we saw St. James Palace, which looks like an old industrial brick building. We then walked along Pall Mall (where the queen and royal family go shopping) and passed a Crimean War memorial that had a great statue of Florence Nightingale who I never knew became a politician after her nursing career and lobbied parliament for more sanitary medical facilities. Onwards we went to Trafalgar Square where you can see a new statue of Nelson's ship in a bottle as well as the national gallery. Also, today there are far fewer pigeons in Trafalgar Square due to a politician who saw them as a nuisance and tried several ways to get rid of them but eventually ended up putting contraceptives in their bird-food. Pretty cruel. We then walked under Admiralty Arch to Horse Guard Parade where you can see where the royal horses are kept. The tour then winded its way to Parliament Square where you could see St Stephen's Clock Tower (not Big Ben which is the name of the clapper inside the bell), Parliament, the House of Lords and Westminster Abbey (which is from 1048 and since William the Conqueror in 1066 all coronations, royal weddings and funerals have been held here) all of which no trip to London would be complete without seeing. All the while we were being told the stories behind these places. Most interesting was that of the failed Gunpowder Plot.

I went back and studied for what remained of the afternoon. That evening I went to Notting Hill and had some great Mexican food at a place called Taqueria and danced the night away at the Notting Hill Arts Club.

It was a good day.

Outside Buckingham Palace

Nelson's ship in a bottle

Westminster Abbey

St Stephen's clocktower

Parliament

Alone here in the kitchen...

I feel there's somethin' missin'

I beg for some forgiveness

But beggin's not my business

And she won't write a letter

Although I always tell her

And so it's my assumption

I'm really up the junction

¬Squeeze

(Just happened to be in my head that day)

7/15/10

Cant believe this trip is winding down. This upcoming weekend will be my last one abroad. Today was a standard day of school. We read a great case about Duff beer (from the Simpsons) and whether it was considered a character eligible for trademark protection or a prop. Later that afternoon I decided to take the Picadilly line to Knightsbridge and wander around Harrod's. The place is out of control. The Bakery was like walking through a fog of yum. The Charcuterie and Fromagerie made Zabar's look like a hobo. The most interesting thing I saw for sale was a bed of nails.

Harrod's

Mad Hatter's Tea Party

Memorial of Princess Diana and Dodi Al-Fayed

Stuffed Animal Carousel in the toys section

Model horse in Sportswears

Your mother she's an heiress, owns a block in Saint John's Wood

And your father'd be there with her

If he only could

But don't play with me, 'cause you're playing with fire

¬Rolling Stones

7/14/10 Continued

From Greenwich I catch the Jubilee line to St. John's Wood to cross the famed Abbey Road, made famous by the cover to a Beatles album that shares its name. As I approached the street I heard Penny Lane playing from someone's phone, boombox or something.

Having your picture taken crossing the street isn't as easy as you might think because the road is still very much in use and traffic is rather heavy (or at least it was when I went). After 5-7 minutes of waiting I managed to get the shot I needed. I have slight sympathy for those who live here and are trying to get home, but seriously they cant get too upset. They knew what they were getting into when they decided to drive this way. I then got a picture of Abbey Road Studios, this time crossing the street for real, and added my signature to the thoroughly vandalized (with love) wall in front of it. If you ever visit look for it, that is if the rain hasn't washed it away or it hasn't been painted over. It is exactly 42 poles (in the gate) to the right from the left driveway entrance of the studio (if you are facing the studio). It is just to the right of the webcam. Ironically, I had the above cited Rolling Stones song stuck in my head because of the tube stop. Next time I visit I'd like to bring an iPod, sit on a bench, and listen to the whole album, while watching people cross the road in a Frogger-like fashion, trying to get across.

I got back and went out with some classmates to Leicester Square. We had dinner at Biagio an Italian place by Chinatown then drinks at O'Neils. I'm really going to miss the London nightlife when I'm gone.

It Isn't as simple as you'd think

As sure as night is dark and day is light

I keep you on my mind both day and night

And happiness I've known proves that it's right

Because you're mine, I walk the line

¬Johnny Cash

7/14/10

Today we had a guest speaker in entertainment law. The senior production executive of the British Film Commission. She works with US studios who want to film in the UK by setting up permits, tax waivers, immigration forms, and acting as a liaison to other European film commissions. After class I went to Greenwich using the lightrail for the first time. Very easy to connect to and offered some views of the outskirts of London. I got off at the Cutty Sark and on my way to Greenwich park stopped at Greenwich market and dined on some hand made La-Mian (hand tossed noodles) and BBQ beef.

Next I went to the National Maritime Museum, which had the look and feel of the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum except for ships. Very cool exhibit on toy boats and Admiral Nelson's uniform were the highlights. Amusingly, the toy boats in the gift shop had a sign that said, "this is not a toy boat but rather an authentic replica for toy boat collectors, must be 14 or older to buy."

I head across the park to the Royal Greenwhich Observatory where the line to take your picture on the Prime Meridian was close to twenty minutes long, but well worth it. I wish I had come here with more time to explore the many exhibits further but as this is the home of GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) they were extremely punctual about closing. Though Einstein proved that all time is relative, all time on earth is measured relative to the longitude of zero degrees, which is defined by the crosshairs of the great transit circle telescope in the meridian building of the royal observatory. Pretty powerful for a line.

Fresh noodles at Greenwich Market

My favorite boat at the Maritime Museum

Straddling the Prime Meridian

Courtyard of The Royal Greenwich Observatory

View of Greenwich Park coming down the hill from the observatory with the Maritime museum behind me

You say it's your birthday

It's my birthday too, yeah

They say it's your birthday

We're gonna have a good time

I'm glad it's your birthday

Happy birthday to you!

¬Beatles

7/13/10

My day started with an excellent present from Professor Biederman-Class was cancelled. I realized today on the way to my second class that this would be the first time I celebrate my birthday with classmates. It's nice, like I've been missing out on something my whole life. After class I went to the Globe Theatre to catch the matinee of Henry VIII. On the way I got lost and asked a cabbie for directions and without any insistence from me he offered to give me the ride for free. He didn't know it was my birthday until I was in the cab and I told him, and he wouldn't even take a tip! Its a good thing he gave me a ride too because I don't know if I would have made it to the shoe on time otherwise. What a nice guy. When I got to the theater the seats were all sold out. So I went outside to make a phone call and look for scalpers but to no avail. I decide I'll have to stand in the pit but as I went to buy the ticket 3 seats opened up. The one I was able to buy was in the mezzanine, center-most section, front row, aisle. What luck, couldn't have asked for a better seat. I actually had better seats than my classmates who bought tickets in advance. It really was an incredible view but the theatre is so small that there really isn't a bad seat (unless you have an obstructed view). The show was quite the spectacle. Actors were walking around the standing audience in the pit, and the costume and sets kept me mesmerized when I couldn't follow the Old-English dialogue. Seriously, someone needs to teach these people to spake anglish!

Later in the evening I went out with my media law professor and some classmates to Asadal, which claims to be the best Korean restaurant in Europe. Where I had a delicious meal of Korean Barbecue (cooked on the table) and had my first taste of plum wine (strong stuff). After dinner I went out with some friends from the program but it being a Tuesday night most of the bars were closed (or at least in this neighborhood they were). We did manage to have a few drinks at Frevd which was way to hipster for its own good and played blaring loud music in what felt like a bohemian concrete basement. It was a good time.

Thanks to all for the kind birthday wishes. Sorry for those whose calls went to voicemail but know that I had a great time celebrating with incredible people.