Almost 2 months have passed since I did the FCE exam.

I should be receiving the results soon since on one of the information sheets we can read ‘Results for your examination will be released in mid August’.

I’m a little bit nervous but, at the same time, looking forward to see how the results were.

Well… what more can I say?

Only that one of my best friends has gone to England yesterday to stay there studying and living (I remember you that I’m portuguese).

I’d like to be with him there, but this year I must be here once I’ve already made the reservation for school, paid the books, etc.

‘Maybe next year’ my mom says (or at least it’s more a less what she wants to say, I think).

Samsung P2

So, almost everybody out there, when it comes to choose an mp3 or mp4 player thinks: ‘iPod’

Well, what I don’t understand is why is that so.

The mp3 players’ market is huge.

Why do people only think about iPod?

Is that because they only want products from a wellknown brand?

Well… if that’s the problem… why not to try Samsung mp3 players?

If you’re thinking of acquiring an iPod Touch for example… why don’t you search information about the Samsung P2?

P2 is iPod Touch’s great foe.

Here you can find a list comparing P2’s 4 and 8GB versions (there’s also a version of 2GB).

Here’s video introducing P2.

 

 

P2 can even be cheaper than iPod Touch.

While P2 8GB version costs 239,90€ the iPod Touch 8GB costs 279,00€ (this prices are from Fnac, Portugal).

So again I ask: ‘Think twice before buying an iPod. There are much more options.’

 

 

   

 

   

Two days ago, I grabbed my sketch book and started doodling something without even thinking about what I was doing.

I got surprised when I realised that I has drawing a beach.

After realising that, I continued the drawing and I tell you I had great fun drawing the palm trees.

At the beginning, it felt like I dind’t knew what was a palm tree, because I wasn’t able to draw the leafs correctly, then they turned great (I think).

Here it is the drawing:

You can also see and comment it at DevianArt.

 

Lately, I’ve been watching videos on YouTube of Blind Guardian performing live songs.

What I’ve discovered is that, they can have as many people watching them as there was in one of Rock in Rio days watching about 5 bands.

I’ve found an amazing video in which they are performing Valhalla.

In this video around 4:30 the audience starts chorusing the song and, around 6:20, when Blind Guardian finishes the song, the audience starts chorusing the song completely alone making the drummer to start performing the rhythm again with the drums.

Watch all what I’ve written in this video:

 

In “Wacom Pen Tablets” post I wrote that I was going to buy a pen tablet called Bamboo Fun.

I did buy it and I think it is pretty cool.

With Bamboo Fun it came a software bundle which included:

  • Adobe Photoshop Elements 5.0 for PC
  • ArtRage 2.5 for PC

Adobe Photoshop Elemets is a cool editing program but, the one that really astounded me was ArtRage 2.

This isn’t an image editing program, this one’s a drawing/painting/sketching program.

 If any of you could see me right after opening the application you’d see a big smile.

The program is really simple to use and right after you open it you can start doing whatever you like.

Here it is one of my first, quick paintings done with ArtRage 2:

Click here to see in full size

”Smoke”

Do you need some great metal band from the late 80’s?

If you do, and you don’t know Blind Guardian try to find something about them and listen to some of their music.

I’m sure most of you will fall in love with them.

Here is a video of their music “The Bard’s Song” in a new studio version (note: this song makes them not to seem a metal band, but they are).

You can also:

 

The portuguese exam is already done (it was done today, started at 9.10, finished 10.40am).

Oh, man, it was sooo simple.

I don’t know why I’ve studied for that damn thing.

 

The FCE is done too.

I think I’m going to pass, but I will only know in middle August.

I must have passed that, if not, I’ve been burning my brain 4 hours and 40 minutes for nothing.

What a waste it would be.

 

Now, it only lasts the maths exam (June 20).

Then… Fun time.

I haven’t updated Tea Caddy for a long time.
I have wanted to write something but I really didn’t know what to write about.

So, I thought about writing about the exams I’ll have next week.

I’m solving two obligatory exams next week:

  • Portuguese Exam (18th June)
  • Maths Exam (20th June)

 I don’t really have to pass any of these exams once I’ve done a great work all over the year.

Though, I’ll try to have a good mark.

Now, the exam that really matters for me is the FCE (First Certificate in English).

It will be on 14th and 15th of June.

That exam is not obligatory but I’ve decided to try it as I’m in the First Certificate level at International House.

That exam is the one that I really want to pass.

I’ve paid € 160 only to do it.

If I fail it’s like pouring € 160 on a fireplace.

But it is worth trying.

Lately, I’ve been thinking of buying a pen tablet.

Pen tablets are computer input devices in which you draw with a special pen, called stylus.

Pen tablets can either have or don’t have a display screen.

When you’re drawing on the tablet, and it is connected to a computer, what you draw appears on the screen of your computer.

You can also use pen tablets to write, paint your draws, edit photos, use it as an ordinary computer mouse…

Pen tablets are made by Wacom.

One of the latest Wacom pen tablets is Cintiq 12wx.

Let Wacom introduce it:

Now that you’ve seen some pros I’ll tell you one of the cons.

One of them is that Cintiq 12wx costs only $999.

Because of this con, and because I don’t want a pen tablet for professional use, I’ve decided that I’m going to buy the Wacom model  called Bamboo Fun.

This model hasn’t a display screen contrarily to Cintiq 12wx (many of the models haven’t a screen), so you can only see what you are drawing on the computer screen.

Bamboo Fun (medium size) costs $199 which is 1/5 of what Cintiq 12wx costs, and a much more affordable price.

With this idea in my mind, I think I’m going to buy Bamboo Fun (medium size) on 29 or 30 of April once the store where I’m going to buy it (Fnac) is making 10% sales for members (like me, I mean, my father), on that day.

That means I’ll have a $20 discount and pay $180, what a lucky guy I am!

 

Technical Specs. for:

Cintiq 12wx

Bamboo Fun

 

About two weeks ago, I had to made one great choice.

It was a great and difficult decision because it has to do with all my future.

I don’t know how this things work in other countries but in my country (Portugal) I’m in the 9th grade of 12, and when a student is in the 9th grade he has to choose the course he wants to follow from the 10th to the 12th grades.

Now that I’ve explained the basics on this subject, I’ll tell you the four available courses.

They are:

  • Sciences
  • Humanities
  • Economy
  • Arts

So, my problem was to choose between the Sciences or Arts courses.

Eventually I decided for the Sciences course because I think it’s difficult to survive only from art and I also had some pressure from my parents not to choose the Arts course (but I had no pressure to choose any specific course).

So, this was the first choice I had to make, but, then I had to make another decision because in each damn course there is another decision to be made.

In the Sciences courses the decision I had to make about the classes was:

  • To have Biology and Physics/Chemistry
  • To have Geometry and Physics/Chemistry

My great trouble that time was and is that I don’t really know the profession I want (but I don’t wanna be a doctor).

Choosing the first option I can choose lots of professions, but by choosing the second one it’s easier to be an architect or an engenieer (which, after all, has some to do with arts).

Eventually I’ve decided for the first option (To have Biology and Physics/Chemistry) once it gives me more professions to choose from ( hard working boy ain’t I ?)

Even after the decisions I made there’s  still a question that sometimes pops in my head “was it the right decision?”

It’s hard but, I won’t know the answer until I start the 10th grade and start having my new, lovable or damn classes.