Numery: -Czasopismo nr 8. e-Czasopismo nr 7. e-Czasopismo nr 6. e-Czasopismo nr 5. e-Czasopismo nr 4. e-Czasopismo nr 3. e-Czasopismo nr 2. e-Czasopismo nr 1.
Adam Bogdecki, FCE – Cinema
When eight years ago I spoke to my friends form the secondary school about our future, we dreamt about our own business. We wanted to create something special, a place where young people would spend their free time. Some of us thought about a cinema, however this idea never seemed good to the majority.
In that time there were three cinemas in Toruń and they were almost always empty. People were buying movies on CDs from those who had good Internet connection and were able to download all of them. We were of the opinion that the century of cinema had ended. Yet, we were wrong.
Today Cinema City is one of the most popular places in Toruń. At weekend it is impossible to buy a ticket directly before the movie; queues are so long that sometimes it is necessary to wait a few minutes. What are the reasons for that change? This cinema is not only a place where you can see a movie. It is a big complex where people can also buy something, eat or drink. You can have lunch there, drink a beer with friends or even invite a girl to the ice-cream bar.
It seems like cinemas have their second life. Yet, what was the price of being at the top again? For me, cinemas have lost their specific atmosphere; now they are only a part of that money-making machine. Even movies are different – produced in a hurry with good sound and graphics but without an idea. This old good cinema that I remember from secondary school has been overcome by technology and coins.
BR, FCE – Computers
A computer is an electronic device. It serves to process digital information. The information is recorded in the form of binary figures or continual signals. At present the most popular kind of computer is a stationary personal computer. The PC is commonly treated as a synonym for computers in general. In a modern manner it is possible to distinguish between four groups of computers.
The first group of computers is the group of personal computers, which are: stationary computers, laptops as well as palmtops. Stationary computers usually stand in one plane until they break or till they are exchanged for a new model. The place of this computer is on a desk, which is the reason why the computer got its general name: ‘a desktop-PC’. The desktop computer consists of three fundamental elements: a central unit (tower), a monitor as well as a keyboard.
Laptops are mobile computers which include an integrated mousepad and a flatscreen monitor. Because the look and the size of this computer is approximate to a large notebook, today everybody calls it simply ‘a notebook’. Everyone can use this computer while travelling, without an external source of energy, until the battery is empty. Palmtops are computers which have a very similar size to a calculator.
The second group of computers are mainframe computers. Mainframe computers are usually of a larger size than a normal desktop-PC and they are used to process information for special purposes and by different kinds of institutions. Sometimes they play a part of servers.
The third group of computers is the group of supercomputers. Supercomputers are the largest computers and have a strong data processing power. They are often used for time-consuming scientific calculations and simulations of compiled systems.
The fourth group of computers is called built-in computers or settled computers. They are specialised computers which serve to administer other devices, for instance in special industrial automation, applied electronics, cellular telecommunication or as individual components of different computers.
The idea of personal computers was born in the 70s but by today there has been no end in their development. The main competitors on the market today are Xerox, Hewlett-Packard and IBM. Although it is an unquestionable fact that the first mass-produced computer of this kind was the computer Apple 1, intense development of personal computers began in 1981, when the market noticed the company IBM. This company added the idea of an open architecture of construction to simplify and to cheapen the production of the existing computers. In 1983 mass production of the personal computer IBM PC/XT started, from which the whole class of computers of the PC class descended.
The next step in the development of personal computers was a transition from a textual user interface to a graphical interface, which considerably facilitated the use of these machines, further supported by a newly developed mouse. Yet another stage of computer development was modernisation of computers and contribution to the entry of the mankind into the stage of information society.
The era of information society led to computers being virtually indispensable nowadays, but it does not mean the concept has only advantages. The use of computers for playing computer games helps to develop our reflexes but it also has negative influence on us and our children (fewer walks, less sport, less fresh air, etc.), because we depend on computers more and more. Frequency of use damages our sight and stature. Computers educate us, for instance through different courses, but they teach us laziness as well. Computers facilitate our access to education but they also become a substitute for a good book. They help to find new acquaintances but they are a danger as well as there is always a chance to come across a criminal. We use computers in companies and banks but this is also connected with the danger of hacking. Via Internet we can book tickets for a bus, a train or a plane but there is a threat of fraud.
Computers connect us to the Internet and have wide application in society and economy. In my opinion, regardless of all threats, a computer is an indispensable machine in the contemporary world.
Dorota Słupecka, FCE – Hobbies
A hobby is a favourite activity often taken up in free time for relax and pleasure. There are a lot of types of hobbies. Hobby is very important and indispensable because it varies our lives.
First of all, a hobby fills our free time so that people are not bored; they have something to do that they are interested in. I think that boredom is a horrible thing; someone who never has anything to do will probably end up embittered.
What is more, I strangely believe that hobbies develop our brain and improve our condition. It depends on particular hobby but they always develop us in some way. For example, when someone loves to windsurf he improves his physical form. When someone likes animals very much, reads and learns about them, he or she gains a lot of knowledge. People are created to aim at perfection.
Furthermore, hobbies give satisfaction to people who exercise them and, in my opinion, it is very important to have plenty of nice moments in life; the more frequent these whiles are, the happier someone is. To my mind people should be happy; if everyone is happy the world will be great and beautiful.
On the other hand, there are many people who do not have any hobby, they think that it is not needed, that they can live and be happy without it. They can, for example, sit a whole day in front of TV and do nothing. I reckon, however, that people who claim not to have any hobby do not say the whole truth. If they non stop watch something on television it will be their hobby, because they spend their free time watching it and it brings them pleasure.
Hobby is very important in our life because it develops us and brings pleasure, thus making us happier. Thanks to it we feel happier and have energy to live.
Kasia, FCE – Big city
Living in a big city can make your life more interesting and give you plenty of possibilities of personal development. Some people believe that big cities are sources of inconveniences like: pollution, crime, high cost of living, noise, stress, etc. Yet, the game is worth the candle. The advantages are more numerous than the disadvantages.
The main benefit from big city life is variety. The variety of choice between diverse types of education, job offers and entertainment. There is a good selection of schools, universities, companies, restaurants, bars, theatres, cinemas, museums and sport centres. It is almost impossible to be bored. If you want to find an interesting occupation, something to do or see, you will certainly find it. It is only a matter of time and, unfortunately, of money.
Adversaries of big cities convince that living there you feel lonely in the crowd. There is a grain of truth; big populations consist of anonymous individuals. Yet, it is not impossible to strike up a deep friendship. Moreover, in this multitude of inhabitants you will not be subject to gossips, which is a very common phenomenon in small, provincial towns.
There are opinions that big cities are very dangerous places, where crime, robberies, accidents and shootings occur every day. Reading newspapers can make you scared and you can feel like moving to a camp. Yet, if you think about it, you will notice that in a big city you have always quick access to special medical care. There are so many hospitals and doctors that even if you risk your life frequently, your chances of surviving are bigger than in the country.
Heavy traffic is one of the biggest inconveniences people have to suffer in a big city, I agree. However, this case is an excellent example of how to “always look on the bright side of life”. Traffic jams give you additional hours you can use to your benefit. It is not necessarily lost time! Then you can call friends who are in the same situation on the road. You can listen to recorded novels or learn some foreign language. If you are a woman, you know that it is a good moment to do your make-up. Not to be a sexist n the time of equality of rights I propose the men to do the same!
Summarising, I would emphasise that a big city is a challenge. Your life there can be a stressful and traumatic experience or a fascinating adventure – it is up to you.
Marcin Kupisiński, CAE – Rubber monsters aren’t scary
At the beginning I would like to assure all readers that I am a big fan of Andrzej Sapkowski’s books, especially ‘The Witcher’ saga. I have read every single one and still like going back to them from time to time. As a consequence, when I heard that Marek Brodzki was making a film based on stories from ‘Ostatnie życzenie’ and ‘Miecz przeznaczenia’ I was really excited. The days had passed and my excitement was replaced by anxiety. Would the movie be as good as books are? Impossible. Maybe at least half as good? Finally, the big day had come and, full of hope, I went to the cinema.
After having seen the whole movie I only wanted to scream but was too depressed to do so. What have they done for God’s sake?! Now I feel obliged to warn each and every person who would like to see Brodzki’s “masterpiece”. But let us start from the beginning.
For those readers who do not know Sapkowski’s books I must explain that a witcher is simply a guy who protects people by killing dangerous monsters, but does so not for some Greater Good, because for him this is only the way of earning money. As you may imagine, killing dragons, werewolves and griffons is quite a risky job, hence a typical witcher must have some special abilities. They are ultimate warriors, strong and fast, skilled at sword fighting and magic, mistrusted by normal people. This is a short characteristic of our hero; a not-so-typical witcher named Geralt. Now let us go back to the main topic.
Marek Brodzki’s movie was supposed to be the biggest production in the history of Polish cinema, with the budget of about 20 million zlotys. Now I am asking: what was that money spend on? Somebody could say – special effects, but after two hours of movie there were maybe three scenes in which computer animations were used. The worst of all were monsters. Made of rubber, they looked like bigger versions of toys I played when I was a little kid. Sorry, but rubber monsters are not scary at all. The biggest creature in the movie – an ancient golden dragon – looked like a giant flying cow and people in the cinema around me had a lot of laugh when they saw it.
So, if not for special effects, then maybe they spent all the money on set design and decorations? Rather not, because all cities and villages in the movie are situated in Malbork or Chęciny, while the supposedly majestic court of Brookilon, the home of dryads, is nothing more than a dozen of little huts made of tangled shrubbery. Costumes maybe? Definitely not. Elves, the proud members of the Elder Folk, look like Indian refugees or the homeless, while dwarves are simply mentally retarded. So, if not in special effects, decorations and costumes, then where are those 20 million? Maybe they employed some great actors?
The main part of Geralt the witcher is played by Michał Żebrowski. Personally, I am not fond of this actor but I must admit that in this movie he is doing his best. Sometimes he seems to be a little bit too noble, other times a bit too childish, and he definitely speaks too much about problems connected with being ‘an inhuman mutant without any emotions or higher feelings’ but beside that he is ok. Other important characters, such as Jaskier – Geralt’s best friend, or Yennefer – beautiful sorceress and his great love, are nothing more than average. On the other hand, there are some serious problems with little princess Cirilla, who is acting as if in a school theatre.
One of the biggest disadvantages of ‘The Witcher’ are the changes in storyline introduced by Marek Brodzki, who added some new characters and mixed stories from Sapkowski’s books in some strange fashion. As a result, people who had no contact with books previously may be really confused while watching the movie. Personally, I do not see any point in changing something that is already good but I am not a film director and know nothing about movie making.
‘The Witcher’ was definitely not the movie I had expected. Full of poor special effects, rubber monsters, Indians and mentally retarded dwarves, with average acting and pitiable storyline, it may only discourage people from reading Sapkowski’s books. Even very good (as for polish movies) scenes of sword fighting can not help. As for me, I am patient, still have a lot of hope and may wait for the next Polish super production, watching ‘The Lord of the Rings’ in the meantime.
From My Diary – A Shamrock – By Karolina Antczak (CAE)
It seems impossible to feel so happy and so sad all the same time. Laughter and tears. Not what you would expect for someone in my situation. Maybe, in time, the future, in which I am so confident, will cancel out the bad memories of the past. There’s so much to look forward to, after all. But there’s so much to remember too…
I thought I had forgotten the whole story but it seems as it still lingers in my mind.
It returned to me this afternoon the moment I met that man. He was so similar to David! When he smiled, I felt that my heart started to beat faster and faster. My past came back to me and I had an impression that everything connected with David happened yesterday. But it was such a long time ago…
I met David in 1997. At that time I was working in Ireland as a waitress. He was our regular customer and always ordered boiled eggs for breakfast. One day he asked me about my name. A week later he had my phone number. We started seeing each other every day after my work. David was ten years older than me but the age difference never meant anything for us. We enjoyed spending time together.
I remember that one day we went to a Chinese restaurant. David chose meals (it still causes me trouble what to eat in such an exotic place!). I did not know how to use chopsticks, so he tried to teach me. Despite being observed by other customers, we had a great time and laughed a lot.
After dinner we went for a walk to a park. David sang for me. I remember the sound of his voice as if it was a moment ago… At midnight he kissed me for the first time. Although I knew our happiness would not last long, at that moment I was the happiest girl in the world. All my life I wanted to be with a man like him… but we could be together only for two months.
By the end of the summer I had to come back to my country. Not long before my departure day David gave me a very special present – an Irish clover, for luck.
This afternoon I saw that man who reminded me of David. As soon as I had come back home, I checked if I still have that shamrock. It is very difficult to explain how relieved I felt when I found it there, in my diary. Maybe it was partly based on the fact that so far David is the most intelligent and the most handsome man I have ever known.
