Situations

AMERICAN INFLUENCE

2011-05-30T06:31:00.000-07:00

America has a huge influence above Europe, in some countries more than others.

It influences our life style, our culture and our eating habits.

The most powerful influence it comes from music, movies and entertainment series, especialy in Portugal that we think that everything that comes from outside of our country, for instance from the USA, is better than anything that is made inside our country or it only is good if it's a copy of what is made by them, when the major artist and music from north america it is influence by other cultures like: jazz, blues and hip hop influence of the african comunity.

Other big influence from the USA is the food, particularly, fast food, for instance restaurants like McDonalds, Burger King, Pizza Hut, KFC.

2011-05-23T07:03:00.000-07:00

Cultural assimilation is a socio-political response to demographic multi-ethnicity that supports or promotes the assimilation of ethnic minorities into the dominant culture. It is opposed to affirmative philosophy (for example, multiculturalism) which recognizes and works to maintain differences.

The term assimilation is often used with regard to immigrants and various ethnic groups who have settled in a new land. New customs and attitudes are acquired through contact and communication. The transfer of customs is not simply a one-way process. Each group of immigrants contributes some of its own cultural traits to its new society. Assimilation usually involves a gradual change and takes place in varying degrees; full assimilation occurs when new members of a society become indistinguishable from older members.

Multiculturalism is the appreciation, acceptance or promotion of multiple cultures, applied to the demographic make-up of a specific place, usually at the organizational level, e.g. schools, businesses, neighborhoods, cities or nations. In this sense multiculturalism approximates to respect for ethnic diversity.

When we talk about cultural integration we talk about an ideia to combine different cultures, but the result of this doesn't necessarily mean that the minority has to adquire everything that belongs to the other culture.

2011-05-19T01:22:00.000-07:00

In the USA, continuous mass immigration has been a feature of economy and society since the 19th century. Multiculturalism has become an issue for businesses as non-white people address how to meet the needs of a workforce that is increasingly more diverse but not that doesn't always understand the differences that occur between cultures.

Immigrants contribute to the american culture and development by starting their own business related with their culture for example places like Chinatown or Little Italy.

African Americans have lagged behind whites and other ethnic groups for centuries and the gap just keeps on getting bigger. With President Barack Obama in the White House maybe it will change. Only the fact of American citizens electing Barack Obama for president shows a change of mentality of the people.

The USA history

2011-05-19T00:51:00.000-07:00

It is not definitively known how or when the Native Americans first settled the Americas.

British were the first to colonize America. After a period of exploration by people from various European countries, Spanish, Dutch, English, French, Swedish, and Portuguese settlements were established. Between 1776 and 1789, the United States became an independent country, creating and ratifying its new constitution, and establishing the federal government. The Americans declared independence on July 4, 1776.

2011-04-27T07:23:00.000-07:00

"What sunshine is to flowers, smiles are to humanity. These are but trifles, to be sure; but scattered along life's pathway, the good they do is inconceivable."

“Happiness is like a butterfly: the more you chase it, the more it will elude you, but if you turn your attention to other things, it will come and sit softly on your shoulder.”

Gap Year

2011-03-24T02:00:00.000-07:00

A gap year is constructive time out - it can be anywhere, anytime, doing anything. You could be building a school in Chile, doing some work experience, basking on a beach in Fiji or simply working for a year to save enough money for university or a new house - or even taking time out to change your career. It is about living life to the full and realising that there is a world of opportunity out there just waiting to be explored.

In the UK a 'gap year' was traditionally viewed as the activity of taking time out before university. The word on the street was that it involved travel for the wealthy few and pretty much nothing for the rest of us. Nowadays, however, all sorts of people are taking ‘gaps’, doing a thousand different things. A gap year is now one of the most talked about phenomena of this millennium. With the baby-boomer generation fast approaching retirement, globalisation changing the nature of society and young people now heading into a life of 'portfolio careers', taking time out is now seen as a positive, rather than a negative thing.

Advantages:

- have time to think about their career

- find different aspects of life

- work and save some money

- meet different people and know diverse cultures

- personal development

- you get a chance to know the world outside school and to seek out adventure
- you gain maturity, self-confidence and self-esteem

Disadvantages:

- lose contact with some people

- lose study habits

- it may be expensive unless you are paid for your work

When I grow up...

2011-03-14T13:51:00.000-07:00

2011-03-14T13:50:00.000-07:00

2011-03-14T13:26:00.000-07:00

Sweden...

(Sorry I didn't find it in English)

Portugal...

Alter Bridge_In Loving Memory

2011-03-02T09:56:00.000-08:00

2011-03-02T09:54:00.000-08:00

Coca-Cola commercial

2011-03-02T09:47:00.000-08:00

2011-03-02T09:44:00.000-08:00

Children see. Children do

2011-03-02T09:41:00.000-08:00

2011-02-28T06:48:00.000-08:00

Happydent commercial

2011-02-17T01:58:00.001-08:00

Controversial ads

2011-02-17T01:02:00.000-08:00

Advertising make us buy things that we don't need. We buy because in advertising the product is presented like the ideal solution to all our problems using beautiful and "perfect" people, perfect families and perfect lifes, making us believe that if we buy that product we'll be like that.

Advertising it is more and more powerfull because we are constantly bombarded by print ads, radio commercials, TV commercials and Internet ads.

Valentine's day

2011-02-14T11:13:00.001-08:00

Swatch Stripe ad

2011-02-14T07:04:00.000-08:00

2011-02-07T07:22:00.000-08:00

Consumerism

2011-01-13T01:46:00.001-08:00

Consumerism is present everyday in our lives so it will affect our life style depending also on the money that we can spend.

"Excessive" consumerism is probably influenced by a stressed society that need to go shopping to clear up their mind.

Nowadays , consume more than we need is almost a human caracteristic. Everybody is a consumer, some more than others.

I spend my money in guitar stuff, going out, some clothes and in holidays with freinds.

I earn this money by working or helping my parents

By Sami

I spend my money in accessories, tabaco and going out, for I to have money I have to make things that my parents want.

By Joana

I usually just buy new things when I need to or when I really love that thing. I save my money so when I want to buy something I usually don't need to wait.

By Ana

Cool is...

2011-01-06T01:18:00.000-08:00

Nowadays teeens are quickly to label a product as cool or uncool.

Some of the coolest clothes are:

- Converse Allstar;

- Jeans;

- Levi's;

- Salsa;

- Pull and Bear;

- Vans;

Some of the coolest accesories are:

- Pandora;

- Parfois;

- Bijou Brigitte;

- Swatch;

- Eastpak;

Some of the coolest bands are:

- Scorpions;

- Metallica;

- U2;

- Pink Floyd;

- Linkin Park;

- AC/DC;

- Pearl Jam;

- Guns N' Roses;

- The Rolling Stones;

- David Guetta;

Some of the coolest brands are:

- Coca-Cola;

- Sony;

- Nike;

- Nokia;

- Philips;

- Mimosa;

- Nestlé;

- Bic.

Some of the coolest styles are:

- Plain clothes.

Some of the uncoolest things:

- Emo style;

- Lady Gaga;

- Hannah Montana;

- Hello Kitty;

- Pucca;

- Sagen;

- Timberland yellow boots;

- Cristiano Ronaldo's rosary.

2011-01-02T07:40:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas!!!

2010-12-22T04:00:00.001-08:00

Coldplay_Christmas Lights

2010-12-22T03:52:00.000-08:00

"Those Christmas lights
Light up the street
Down where the sea and city meet
May all your troubles soon be gone
Oh Christmas lights keep shining on"

2010-12-22T03:51:00.001-08:00

Does Santa Claus exist?

2010-12-22T03:38:00.000-08:00

"Santa Claus is believed to be visiting each and every house in the world distributing gifts to bring joy to the minds during the Christmas season. Obviously, the concept of the Santa Claus has such a very interesting legend behind.

However, according to the belief Santa Claus’s office is located at Lapland, a rustic place on the Arctic Circle far away in the Northern part of Finland. Lapland of Santa Claus is such a beautiful place on earth that is to be visited at least once during a life time. Many travel and tourism companies in Finland currently offer travel and sightseeing packages for the tourists around the world to visit Santa Claus at Lapland especially during the Christmas Season.

In Lapland, an amusement park is functioning near Rovaniemi by the name Santa Claus Village in Finland. There is an office of Santa Claus at this place and which is where you would meet the Santa Claus during your stay at this beautiful and legendary place.

At his office, you also will come to visit Santa’s workshop at Lapland. It is the place where Santa toils the whole year to make toys and gifts on wood to give away to the children during the Christmas. At the Santa office, you could meet him and chat with him during the office hours when Santa is available. Taking photographs of Santa Claus also is permitted.

According to Lapland tradition, Rovaniemi is declared hometown of Santa Claus. The tradition further says that, it was the Elves who built a wonderful village and office for Santa Claus at Lapland where he can meet and chat with people coming from different corners across the whole country.

www.santaclausvillage.info is the official website Santa Claus Lapland from which you could collect details regarding everything including other attractions of the Lapland region."

2010-12-15T16:32:00.000-08:00

So this is christmas
And what have you done
Another year over
And new one just begun

And so this is christmas
I hope you have fun
The near and the dear one
The older and the young

A very merry christmas
And a happy new year
Let's hope it's a good one
Without any fear

And so this is christmas (war is over...)
For weak and for strong (...if you want it)
The rich and the poor one
The world is so wrong

And so happy christmas
For black and for white
For the yellow and red one
Let's stop all the fight

John Lennon_Happy Christmas

2010-12-15T16:31:00.000-08:00

By: Ana

Christmas ads

2010-12-15T08:56:00.000-08:00

By:Ana

It´s Xmas!

2010-12-06T07:06:00.000-08:00

Nowadays Christmas isn´t about family reunion and the birth of Jesus.
It´s all about shopping, presents and lot and lot of food. It´s all about consumerism. At that time shoppings are cramped. So how can we talk about crisis? Society has lost the genuine Christmas' spirit, people just think about buing new things, consuming, consuming and consuming. Well, family reunion is a beautiful thing, yes, it is, but we think that society doesn't think like that, it thinks: more people at my house at Christmas time, more gifts.
We don't say: stop Christmas. We just say: celebrate Christmas with conscience that isn't necessary use and abuse of money to buy things that people probably will never use.
And food! A lot of food is wasted, just wasted! People could give it to poor people but no, they prefer to waste it. And isn't Christmas time about charity? Well, it should be the entire year but just in Christmas people think about it but they don't do nothing, just wait for the others to do it.
Environment is a victim of this Christmas fever too. To wrap the gifts is used a lot of wrapping paper that could be replaced by a beautiful ribbon or a lace. If everybody use this technique so much paper would not be wasted and the environment would be spared the vagaries of the people who celebrate the Christmas just because of the gifts. But unnecessary use of paper isn't the only crime against the environment. Every year trees are curt down to be used as a Christmas tree. People could buy a plastic tree that could be used for several years and it isn't necessary cut down trees to use for just a month.

The Future of Food

2010-11-30T17:07:00.000-08:00

GMF

2010-11-30T17:02:00.002-08:00

GMF can have some benefits, like:
- Crops can be genetically altered to resist to pests, so they need less pesticide and they resist more to climate changes;
- Increase massive production;
- Growth of "perfect living beings";
- Their nutritional value can be altered to satisfy the hunger in poor continents, like Africa and in some parts of Asia.

But GMF can have some disadvantages too, like:
- GMF can cause some allergies;
- Crops can be affect by a disease that they can not fight because in the genetic modification they lost genetical variety so they don't have power to fight the disease so it causes massive destruction of the crops;
We don´t know what are the risks of the comsumption of the GMF and the risks to the enviorenment.

GM food is a new so scientists have a short space of time to test it and say if it is good to consume or not . Probably just a few years latter we will know if it is safe or not.

2010-11-30T17:02:00.001-08:00

Inspiring Action (Greenpeace)

2010-11-30T17:00:00.000-08:00

HOME

2010-11-30T15:46:00.000-08:00

If you want to see the full movie follow this link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqxENMKaeCU

By: Ana

Air Pollution

2010-11-30T15:33:00.000-08:00

By: Ana

2010-11-30T15:08:00.000-08:00

By: Ana

The Verve_Bittersweet Symphony

2010-11-10T13:37:00.000-08:00

By: Ana

Recycling

2010-11-08T13:32:00.000-08:00

Everyday, all around the world, people consume a lot of products and do a lot of trash. This trash could be recycled or not. The best thing to do is to recycle. In America, after having collected the trash, it is separated by types -paper, plastic, glass, metal and comom trash. The trash that could be recycled go to a special machine that "pack" it and then it is transported to other places where it is recycled. The trash that can't be recycled goes to a landfill where it is squashed, to remove the air and make the trash good to build on (because there are some explosive gases that obviously are dangerous), and covered with earth. A landfill can originate fields for other purpuses, so landfills can be reused after having all the trash. The trash produces methane gas that is harvested by wells, feeds a gas turbine and produces electricity and that gas can be used to fuel, for example, the garbage trucks too. So trash have a cicle, it produces fuel to fuel garbage trucks so that they can collect more and more trash.

So, with this we can see that recycle and reuse waste for other purpuses is possible and better to the environment. If America does this why doesn't other countries do it too? Think about it: after "packaging" the garbage it is worth a lot of money so it could also solve some economic problems and the world will be better if everybody recycle and every country helps people to do it. Imagine a world without trash spread in the nature and green places where the electricity of our homes is produced from trash gases and where the fuel of our cars is "produced from trash". Imagine a total green world where it is better go out than staying at home watching TV.

By: Ana

The best ad ever

2010-11-03T10:29:00.000-07:00

"E agradeça sempre por estar neste mundo"

By: Ana

Eco-Tourism

2010-10-28T01:13:00.000-07:00

Ecotourism is:
- a form of tourism that appeals to ecologically and socially conscious individuals, evaluating environmental and cultural factors, focusing on personal growth and learning new ways to live on the planet;
- a form of tourism with minimal impact on the environment;
- the conservation of biological diversity and cultural diversity through ecosystem protection;
- the creation of economic opportunities for the local communities;
- the building of environmental and cultural awareness and respect;
- an action that is economically viable to all.

We must all be conscious that our planet is under a serious threat, and that the green lifestyle is a reality that can't be avoided, and we hope it won't be too late.
Make a contribution by choosing destinations where sustainable development is promoted:
- Choose places that are environmentally friendly, and ask about their environmental pratices;
- Act in order to minimize the impact of your stay in the environment;

In Portugal we have some spaces that are eco-friendly:

- Zmar is a eco camping resort that use renewable energies and protect natural resources. In Zmar they recycle, they use solar energy and cleaning products that are biodegradable.

Tourism and Environmental Degradation

2010-10-28T00:43:00.000-07:00

Tourism is one of the largest and fastest growing industries in the world. It is an increasingly important source of income, employment and wealth in many countries. International tourism now accounts for a larger share of foreign exchange receipts and export earnings than any other industry in the world. But, while tourism provides considerable economic benefits for many countries, regions and communities, its rapid expansion has also had detrimental environmental and socio-cultural impacts. Natural resource depletion and environmental degradation associated with tourism, for example, are often serious problems in tourism-rich regions. The paper argues that the promotion of sustainable tourism development is essential for maximizing its socio-economic benefits and minimizing its environmental impact.

Tourism can be considered one of the most remarkable socio-economic phenomena of the twentieth century. From an activity “enjoyed by only a small group of relatively well-off people” during the first half of the last century, it gradually became a mass phenomenon during the post-World War II period, particularly from the 1970s onwards.

Tourism is a source os environmental degradation, like:
- Deteriotation of environmental conditions;
- Territorial elimination;
- Redused quality of life fo local communities.

Beautiful World

2010-10-27T13:36:00.000-07:00

Bones are sinking like stones
All that we fall for
Homes places we've grown
All of us are done for

And we live in a beautiful world (yeah we do yeah we do)
We live in a beautiful world

Bones sinking like stones
All that we've fall for
homes places we've grown
All of us are done for

And we live in a beautiful world (yeah we do yeah we do)
We live in a beautiful world (x2)

Oh all that I know is nothing to run from
Cause yeah everybody here got's somebody to lean on

Coldplay_Beautiful World

By: Ana

Save the Planet

2010-10-27T13:31:00.000-07:00

By: Ana

Human Footprint

2010-10-27T12:34:00.000-07:00

By: Ana

Renewable Energies

2010-10-21T01:04:00.000-07:00

Renewable energies are the energies that could renew themselves at time of a human life.
Some types of renewable energies are:
- Sun energy;
- Wind energy;
- Water dam energy;
- Biomass.

Non-renewable energies are the energies that couldn't renew themselves or spend a long time to renew themselves.

Some types of non-renewable energies are:

- Oil

- Carbon;

- Nuclear energy;

- Natural gas.

The government should imput renewable energies in schools and public buildings.

People don't use this type of energies because they are to expensive, people are already used to non-renewable energies, because is not in the major interest of the biggest companies that rule this market and the oil is a big business...

Animal Testing

2010-10-14T01:29:00.000-07:00

Animal testing is a cruelty because animals are a life being too. Each time that a animal dies in a test is a loss to the ecosystem. Is more cruel because test products isn't the only way. We could use products that aren't made from chemicals and are made from natural products. Some interprises use this technique to produce their products and they don't prejudice animals. Some of that companies are:
Cosmetics
- Revlon;
- MAC;
- May Kay;
- Origins;
- Physicians Formula;
- Prescriptives.
- Wet 'n' Wild;

Household Cleaners
- Method;
- Mrs. Meyers Clean Day;
- Seventh Generation;
- BioKleen;
- Dr. Bronner's.

Grocery Store Generic Brands
- Whole Foods Markets;
- Food Lion;
- Safeway;

Personal Products
- Avalon Organics;
- Aveda;
- Bath & Body Works;
- The Body Shop;
- EO Products.

To struggle for environment

2010-10-14T01:02:00.000-07:00

We spoil our World with things that destroy it and we can contribute with a little thing for save the world.
Pollution, gases, CFC’s, dunghill and other things are some things that destroy the world because that things become in consequences very graves like natural disasters (thunderstorms, cyclones, floods, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions, earthquakes… )and others effects (global heating, acid rains). But not is all bad news, in many parts of the world much people struggle for a “Green World”, this organizations work for a good future. They motivate more people to preserve our world.
If we aren’t to struggle for environment, who will be?

Renewable Energies

2010-10-07T01:30:00.000-07:00

The principal energy that human being use is electricity. Electricity is use to do everything but we abuse of their use. The problem is that, to produc electricity, factory's emite a lot of smoke that pollutes the environment. The solucion for this problem are the Renewable Energies, like wind energy, sun energy and water dam energy. That type of energy don't pollutes and to produce that we don't need to spend not renewable resources, because we just need resources that could renewable themselves at time of a human life.

Human life will be better if everybody use Renewable Energies.

By: Ana

In which season are we?!

2010-10-07T00:49:00.000-07:00

Every year there are changes in climate in different part of the world. Some of these changes are due to natural causes. However others are caused by us humans thanks to all the pollution that we made over the years and also due to all the precautions that weren´t taken.

So now we and our future genarations have to live with climate changes and without the regular four seasons. In the winter we used to have straight months rain and low temperature, and in the summer straight months of sunshine but not extreme temperatures like we experiment nowadays.

Eruptions of Eyjafjallajökull

2010-10-06T09:49:00.000-07:00

The 2010 eruptions of Eyjafjallajökull are a sequence of volcanic events at Eyjafjöll in Iceland which, although relatively small for volcanic eruptions, caused a huge devastation.

Sismic activity started at the end of 2009 and gradually increased in intensity until on the 20 of March 2010, a small eruption started that was rated as a 1 on the Volcanic Explosivity Index. Beginning on the14 of April 2010, the eruption entered a second phase and created an ash cloud that led to the closure of most of Europe's IFR(Instrument flight rules) airspace from the 15 until the 20 of April 2010. Consequently, a very high proportion of flights within, to, and from Europe were cancelled, creating the highest level of air travel disruption since the Second World War.

We can't do anything to avoid this natural disaster but cientists could be aware of the signals that it will happen and they can let the population know what is coming. In that case population could go away and save their lives.

By: Ana

Whitley_More Than Life

2010-06-13T11:29:00.000-07:00

By: Nitti

The importance/value that the internet has for me

2010-06-13T09:58:00.000-07:00

For me internet is very importante because internet help me search information for my school works, sometimes I just read the news in internet, I can listen all the music in internet but most of all I use internet to communicate with my friends.

By: Nitti

Importance / value that the internet has for me

2010-06-08T07:23:00.000-07:00

Internet isn't important for me, because all that it has, I can use in other modes.

By: Joana

Internet

2010-06-08T06:31:00.000-07:00

Delights of the internet:
- Socialize;
- Listen music;
- Pay conts;
- Buy things;
- Intertainment;
- Search;
- Watch TV;
- News;
- Radio.

Dangers/risks of the internet:
- Addiction;
- Virus;
- Inadequate sites.

Delights of chatrooms:
- Socialize;
- Meet people.

Dangers of chatrooms:
- Talk with unknown people and share identification.

Everybody should have precautions when accessing the internet and the chatrooms in particular, like, never share identification or personal things, never share a photo, don't meet with the "new friend", the parents should lock the inadequate sites and talk to their sons about the dangers of internet and chatrooms.

TV

2010-04-25T14:31:00.000-07:00

We think that TV has a lot of influence on children and teens. Some of that influence is positive but the majority is negative influence. TV transmitts to teen population a lot of violence that can transform them in the person who they saw on televesion. For us the television doesn't have much future because of computers but if it has future it just shows more and more violence.

Advantages of TV:

- Commmunication;
- Gives us a lot of fun;
- Shares some information;
- Entertains us;
- Has educative programs;

Disadvantages of TV:

- Shows a lot of sex, drugs and violence;
- We spend a lot of time and money;

TV Programmes

2010-04-15T00:47:00.000-07:00

Type and definition of TV programmes:

- Reality television - genre of television programming that presents purportedly unscripted dramatic or humorous situations, documents actual events, and usually features ordinary people instead of professional actors. (Big Brother; Road Rules; Miami Ink; American Chooper; Pimp My Ride; What Not To Wear; Top Chef)

- Serial/Serie - something that was published or produced in installments, as a novel or television drama. (The Vampire's Diary; Dexter; Chuck; Csi; Criminal Minds; NCIS; Harper's Island; Malcolm in the Middle; Scrubs; Bones; 24; Dr.House; E.R.; Hospital Central; Top Gear)

- Animated cartoon - short, hand-drawn (or made with computers to look similar to something hand-drawn) film for the cinema, television or computer screen, featuring some kind of story or plot (even if it is a very short one). (The Simpsons; Family Guy; American Dad; Futurama; Mickey Mouse)

- Soap opera - ongoing, episodic work of dramatic fiction presented in serial format on television or radio. (Desperate Housewives; Grey's Anatomy; Brothers & Sisters; Beverly Hills 90210)

- News broadcasting - broadcasting of various news events and other information via television or radio. The content is usually either produced locally in a newsroom, or by a broadcast network. It may also include such additional material as sports coverage, weather forecasts, traffic reports, commentary and other material that the broadcaster feels is relevant to their audience.

- Broadcasting of sports events - coverage of sports on television, radio and other broadcasting media. It usually involves one or more commentators describing the events as they happen.

- Documentary film - broad category of visual expressions that is based on the attempt, in one fashion or another, to "document" reality. (National Geographic)

Easter Parade

2010-03-25T01:57:00.000-07:00

The Easter parade is an American cultural event consisting of a festive strolling procession on Easter Sunday. Typically, it is a somewhat informal and unorganized event, with or without religious significance. Persons participating in an Easter parade traditionally dress in new and fashionable clothing, particularly ladies' hats, and strive to impress others with their finery. The Easter parade is most closely associated with Fifth Avenue in New York City, but Easter parades are held in many other cities. Starting as a spontaneous event in the 1870s, the New York parade became increasingly popular into the mid-20th century.

2010-03-24T16:34:00.000-07:00

One Republic_All The Right Moves

"All the right friends in all the wrong places
So yeah, we're going down
They've got all the right moves in all the right faces
So yeah, we're going down"
...
"Do you think I'm special?
Do you think I'm nice?
Am I bright enough to shine in your spaces?"

Pearl Jam_Given To Fly

"Wave came crashing like a fist to the jaw,
Delivered him wings, "Hey, look at me now..."
Arms wide open with the sea as his floor"
...
"a human being that was given to fly"

One day I heard these songs and I loved them. And I don't loved just the music, I loved the lyrics too.
Watch this and enjoy.

By: Nitti*

Ana's favourite movie

2010-03-18T02:18:00.000-07:00

My favourite movie is "The Ring". That movie tells the story of a group of friends who died and a jornalist decided to investigate this mysterious death. She found a videotape, watched it and received a call saying: "Seven days". She decided to tell this to a friend and when he finished watching the videotape he received the call too. Together they decided to investigate the origin of the videotape and she went to an island, and when she saw a house she remembered a few things in the videotape. Their investigations led them to the place where she and the teens saw the videotape. There they discovered a well and the journalist falls into it. Inside it was the dead girl who tells her story. Her mother wanted to have a daughter but she couldn't so she adopted her. When her mother discovered that she had a psychological problem she decides to choke her and throw her to the well, where she died after seven days.
After that the jornalist was saved by her friend who ends up being killed by the videotape girl.

I liked that movie because I think it was interesting and horrible the way that the mother killed he daughter just because she was not a perfect daughter. People shouldn't reject the others just because they are different or because they have problems. We live in a community with many prejudices. I liked the mistery around the videotape and the girl's death too.

"The Ring 2" has already been made.

By:Nitti*

Joana's favourite movie

2010-03-18T01:57:00.000-07:00

The Amityville Horror

I love this movie, because is based in true storie and is exating and have a little part funny... I'm not crazy... =P

The boy who fixed the World

2010-03-17T08:29:00.000-07:00

"One day a man came home after a long and tiring day at work. His young son wanted his attention, but he was tired, so the man took a picture from a magazine which had the world on it and tore it into neat pieces. The man sent his son away with the pieces and said “come back when you’ve fixed the world”, smirking at the realistic impossibility of being able to do such a thing.

The son went away and returned briefly, much to the surprise of the man his son had fixed the world and stuck it in place. Amazed, the father asked how he had managed it, the child responded: “It was easy, I turned the pieces over and found that there was a man on the other side, so I fixed the man and the world fell into place”."

FlashForward

2010-03-11T01:22:00.000-08:00

We woke up sunddenly... The alarm clock showed it's 5 a.m., we looked around and we sensed something wasn't right...we looked at the alarm clock again and we opened our eyes wide and statled when we saw the calendar...it was the year 2110...

...Before we got up we heared a voice asking us: "What do you want?". It was a small robot looking at us and waiting for our answer. "Were are we?", was the only thing I could say.

-Miami. Choose what you want to do or eat.

-I want a croissant with butter and a natural orange juice. -said Joana.

-And I want know where we are and why we are here.- said Ana.

-You arrived at 3 a.m. and ask for a room with overlooking to the beach. This is the year 2110.-answered the robot.

-Ok!!! Well, I want a fruit salad.

The robot went away and we looked out the window. We saw a beach with a lot of people. The water was light blue and there were some boats in the water. Right next to the hotel was a swimming pool. The robot reentered the room.

-Here you are.

-Thank you.

We ate quickly and went for a walk in the beach. We saw cars in the water and cars flying without a driver. People were always with a robot and ordered the robot to do everything. We had lunch at the beach. The employees of the restaurant were robots. Robots cooking, robots serving, robots washing the dishes...

In the afternoon we went shopping. The shooping center was all automated. If we wanted to try on clothes there was a huge machine to choose the clothes we wanted from and we clicked on that and automatically we had the clothes dressed. If we wanted a coffee(eg) we just said to the machine "I want a coffee" and it just appeared. Then Ana remembered to watch what hours it was. She got her cell phone and... it was not Ana's cell phone. It looked more like a pocket computer, without keys, it just needed our voice to work.

It was almost night and Joana thought of how school would be in the year 2110. We went searching for this and we didn't find a school. We asked a man where the school was and he answered:

-What??? School what is that?

- It is a place where children learn a lot of things, and have to do homeworks and progress tests.-answered Joana.

-Ahhh! But children learn at home with a robot teacher. They learn at the time they want but have to do homeworks and progress tests too.

-How?-asked Ana.

-Well...they write all the things on a touch screen and the robot teacher says if that is right or wrong.

-Ok! That is very different of the things we have in the year 20...-Ana couldn't finish the sentence, she and Joana travelled in time and fell in school.

The Evil Scientist

2010-03-11T00:45:00.000-08:00

I followed the evil scientist into a dark room.
What I saw, I would never forget...
he was ugly, small and frightful. His laboratory has glassware with things that changed colour.
He took a blue bottle and poured the liquid on a death body. The man woke up and when he opened his eyes and saw the evil scientist, tried to scream but the man was killed by the evil scientist.
The evil scientist covered the eyes and mouth of the man, and poured the blue liquid again on death body and ran away.
The man woke up again, confused and scared. He maybe escaped the fate and the evil scientist mabe wasn't so evil.

By: Ju

Foo Fighters_Best Of You

2010-03-10T12:01:00.000-08:00

"Is someone getting the best, the best, the best, the best of you?
Is someone getting the best, the best, the best, the best of you?

Has someone taken your faith?
It's real, the pain you feel
Your trust?
You must confess
Is someone getting the best, the best, the best, the best of you?

Has someone taken your faith?
It's real, the pain you feel
The life, the love you'd die to heal
The hope that starts the broken heart
Your trust?
You must confess"

By: Nitti*

Gamer Generation

2010-03-04T00:53:00.000-08:00

The archaeological records the presence of games since 2600 B.C.
After that so many games appeared and became a sign of fun and competition.
We have chosen two very different games and will talk about them:

Travian:

In travian we have to create and protect our village.
We can choose between three tribes in Travian: Romans, Gauls and Teutons. Each tribe has advantages and disadvantages and their troops are also very different.
At the beginning we should try to get a good economic basis. In order to do so we have to extend the 18 resource fields. There are four different types of resource fields: Woodcutter, Clay pit, Iron mine and Cropland.
Later in the game the buildings in the village become important too.
Some buildings can only be built if you fulfil the prerequisites which are other buildings.

Counter Strike:

Counter-Strike (commonly abbreviated to CS) is a tactical first-person shooter video game. The game has been expanded into a series since its original release, which currently includes Counter-Strike: Condition Zero, Counter-Strike: Source, Counter-Strike: Anthology and Counter-Strike on Xbox. Counter-Strike is a first-person shooter in which players join either the terrorist or counter-terrorist team (or become a spectator). Each team attempts to complete their mission objective and/or eliminate the opposing team. Each round starts with the two teams spawning simultaneously, usually at opposite ends of the map from each other. Players are generally given a few seconds before the round begins to prepare and buy equipment, during which they cannot attack or walk/move. Each round is won by either completing the mission objective or eliminating the opposing force.

These are online games. It can be played with a lot of people even with somebody we don't know. It can be very addictive too. A lot of people forget everything that goes on around them and just play day and night. But this kind of games are making that traditional games, like cards, domino or bingo, to be forgotten.

VS

Some games are simulation games, like Sims. This kind of games make us take care of a virtual person and build it's home. All the games improve our skills, like leadership and stratergy skills.

Ana like to play all kind of games but doesn't have a favorite because she plays a lot of games.
Joana doesn't like games.

The Evil Scientist

2010-03-03T11:16:00.000-08:00

I followed the evil scientist into a dark room. What I saw, I would never forget...
... I looked for everywhere and no sign of the evil scientist. I walked slowly and silently. To my left I saw a lot of colored potions and in the middle of the room were two machines similar to a chair controlled by a variety of buttons and levers. Sitting in that strange machine were two men, involved in a lot of threads. I heard on door open and I hid behind another strange machine. At that time I saw the scientist clearly, a crazy and disheveled man with glasses. I saw he pressed some buttons and pulled some levers and I heard the machine make a strange noise. The two men seemed to be asleep but they trembled when the evil scientist turned on the machine. A lot of lights turned on and off and something made a lot of noise. I couldn't understand what was happening but I was very scared. After that I just remember waking up in my bed.

By:Nitti*

Deixai a morte entrar

2010-03-02T12:58:00.000-08:00

Deixai a morte entrar, a Iluminada,
A que vem para mim, pra me levar.
Abri todas as portas par em par
Com asa a bater em revoada.

Quem sou eu neste mundo? A deserdada,
A que perdeu nas mãos todo o luar,
A vida inteira, o sonho, o mar
E que, ao abri-las, não encontro nada!

Ó mãe! Ó minha mãe! Pra que nasceste?
Entre agonias e em dores tamanhas
Pra que foi, dize lá, que me trouxeste

Dentro de ti?... Pra que eu tivesse sido
Somente fruto amargo das entranhas
Dum lírio que em má hora foi nascido!...

[Sonetos; Florbela Espanca]

By: Ju

Blue Jeans

2010-03-01T17:14:00.000-08:00

The word "jeans" comes from the French phrase bleu de Gênes, literally the blue of Genoa.
Jeans fabric, or denim, originated independently in two places: the French town of Nîmes, to which 'denim' owes its name; and in India, where trousers made of denim material were worn by the sailors of Dhunga, which came to be known as dungarees.
At the same time, denim trousers were made in Chieri, a town near Turin (Italy), during the Renaissance, and were popularised in the 19th century. These trousers were sold through the harbour of Genoa, which was the capital of the independent Republic of Genoa which was long an important naval and trading power. Early examples of trousers were made for the Genoese Navy, which required all-purpose pants for its sailors. They required pants that could be wet or dry, the legs of which could be worn while swabbing the deck. These were laundered by dragging them in nets behind the ship, and the sea water and sun would gradually bleach them to white. They were worn by Genoan sailors and stevedores in France.Traditionally, jeans are dyed to a blue color using indigo dye. Approximately 20 million tons of indigo are produced annually for this purpose, though only a few grams of the dye are required for each pair of trousers.

Jeans can be worn loosely or snugly. Historic photographs indicate that in the decades before they became a staple of fashion, jeans generally fit quite loosely, much like a pair of bib overalls without the bib. Indeed, until 1960, Levi Strauss denominated its flagship product "waist overalls" rather than "jeans".

By: Nitti*

Chewing gum...

2010-02-25T00:41:00.000-08:00

...is a type of gum traditionally made of chicle, a natural latex product, or synthetic rubber known as polyisobutylene, which is a non-vulcanisable form of the butyl rubber (isoprene-isobutylene) used for inner tubes or to line tubeless tires. For reasons of economy and quality, many modern chewing gums use rubber instead of chicle. Chicle is nonetheless still the base of choice for some regional markets, such as in Japan.
Modern chewing gum was first developed in the 1860s when chicle was exported from Mexico for use as a rubber substitute. Chicle did not succeed as a replacement for rubber, but as a gum it soon dominated the market. Chicle gum, and gum made from similar latexes, had a smoother and softer texture and held flavor better. Most chewing gum companies have since switched to synthetic gum bases because of their low price and availability. According to their website, Glee Gum is the last gum manufacturer in the United States to produce gum using all-natural chicle.
For me the chewing gum is the best invention, because relieves stress, entretained and I consider one of my good adiction.

By: Ju

Pearl Jam/ The Gossip

2010-02-23T14:51:00.000-08:00

Pearl Jam_Just Breathe
The Gossip_Heavy Cross
Like our English teacher said this songs are very different and similar at the same time. They are different because the pace are calm to the first song and faster to the second song. They are similar because of their messages.
In our point of view songs talks about love someone. Maybe the songs was a refuge to the composers to express their love or to declare to their love.
In "Just Breathe" the part "Stay with me,.../You're all I see/Did I say that I need you?/ Did I say that I want you?" first we can see that the composer are begging and after declare his love, but the songs transmits the ideia that he didn't have the courage to declare and now already have, because he say "If I didn't now I'm a fool you see,...". He did this because he is afraid the time runs out and he hasn't said what is in his heart. Now he already do this and anything can happen because he and she will be together.
In "Heavy Cross" the sentence "I trust you" could be interpreted like a "I love you". We can get the explanation to this in the rest of the song. Like when she say "It's up to me and you, to prove it," she wants to transmit the message that is need two people to prove that she trusts him.

We Are The World 25 for Haiti

2010-02-17T14:19:00.000-08:00

The charity anthem We Are the World has been re-made 25 years on from the original to raise money for Haiti.
With:
Justin Bieber
Nicole Scherzinger
Jennifer Hudson
Jennifer Nettles
Josh Groban
Tony Bennet
Mary J Blige
Michael Jackson
Janet Jackson
Barbra Streisand
Miley Cyrus
Enrique Iglesias
Jamie Foxx
Wyclef Jean
Adam Levine
Pink
BeBe Winans
Usher
Celine Dion
Fergie
Nick Jonas
Toni Braxton
Mary
Isaac Slade
Lil Wayne
Akon
T-Pain
LL Cool J
Will-I-Am
Snoop Dogg
Busta Rhymes
Swizz Beatz
Kanye West

By:Nitti*

Owl City_Fireflies

2010-02-17T14:08:00.000-08:00

Edward Maya Ft. Vika Jigulina_Stereo Love

2010-02-06T06:35:00.000-08:00

When you gonna stop breaking my heart
I don't wanna be another one
Paying for the things I never done
Don't let go ...
Don't let go ...
To my love

Can I get to your soul
Can you get to my toughts
Can you promise we won't let go
All the things that I need,
All the things that you need,
You can make it feel so real.
'Cause you can't deny
You've blown my mind
When I touch your body
I feel I'm losing control
'Cause you can't deny
You've blown my mind
When I see you baby
I just don't wanna let go

(Chorus)
I hate to see you cry,
Your smile is a beautiful lie.
I hate to see you cry,
My love is dying inside.
I can fix all those lies
Oh, baby, baby, I run, but I'm running to you
You won't see me cry, I'm hiding inside
My heart is in pain, but I'm smiling for you.

...

Oh, baby, I'll try to make the things right
I need you more than air, when I'm not with you
Please, don't ask me why, just kiss me this time
My only dream is about you and I.

By:Nitti*

Is technology making us lazier?

2010-02-04T00:53:00.000-08:00

Technology is changing the world!
When we need to make some work we don't research in books but in Internet. It can make our work faster and can avoid our mistakes but at the same time we don't learn too much because when we research in books we have to read all the things and write but when we look for it in Internet we don't need to read everything and we just copy and paste. Technology can make our work better because we can put on that images and movies and we can choose the type, the size and the colour of letter. To give our work to the teacher we can send by e-mail or give the pen to the teacher so we don't need print it, we spend less paper and save the environment.

On the other side we have the technology who help us at home like household gadgets and we think that it doesn't make us lazier, it just help us. The time we spend cooking or washing clothes by hand, we can do other things like go out with our friends, study or just rest.

So, to complete and in our opinion, technology don't make us lazier it just make our work easier. But, we should use technology just to give us some help and not to replace us.

Holocaust

2010-01-28T01:16:00.000-08:00

The Holocaust (from Greek ὁλόκαυστος [holókaustos]: hólos, "whole" and kaustós, "burnt"), also known as The Shoah is the term generally used to describe the genocide of approximately six million European Jews during World War II, a programme of systematic state-sponsored extermination by Nazi Germany. The man responsable for that was Adolf Hitler.
Some scholars maintain that the definition of the Holocaust should also include the Nazis' systematic murder of millions of people in other groups, including ethnic Poles, Romani, Soviet civilians, Soviet prisoners of war, people with disabilities, homosexuals, Jehovah's Witnesses, and other political and religious opponents. By this definition, the total number of Holocaust victims would be between 11 million and 17 million people.

Eberhard Jäckel wrote in 1986 that the Holocaust was unique because:
"the National Socialist killing of the Jews was unique in that never before had a state with the authority of its responsible leader decided and announced that a specific human group, including its aged, its women and its children and infants, would be killed as quickly as possible, and then carried through this resolution using every possible means of state power".

Stolpersteine:
To remember holocaust victims, Gunter Demnig created Stolpersteine.
Stones are neatly paved into the sidewalk, they force passers-by to stop and read them. “Here lived” begins the inscriptions engraved in brass on the concrete squares measuring about four inches—on each one, just the name, date, and place of death of a person killed by the Nazis.

Pacemaker

2010-01-21T01:24:00.000-08:00

Pacemaker is a medical device used to regulate the heartbeat.
The first pacemaker was external and dangerous because they could eletrocute the person who using that.
Wilson Greatbatch pantented this in 50s but the first pacemaker(external) was used by an American doctor, in 1952, to reanimate two patients. One of them live 20 minutes and another 11 months. Pacemaker was implanted by the first time in a person in 1958 in Sweden. Rune Ellmquyist managed to make a pacemaker small enough to be implanted in a person.
The first pacemaker in Portugal was used by Décio Ferreira Martins in 1962.
Pacemaker are used in brain surgery too.
This invention allows a better quality of life to people who have a cardiac problem.
We think that is an important invention to humanity because it can save lives.

Josh Groban_You Are Loved (Don't Give Up)

2010-01-20T15:09:00.000-08:00

Don't give up
It's just the weight of the world
When your heart's heavy
I...I will lift it for you
Don't give up
Because you want to be heard
If silence keeps you
I...I will break it for you

Everybody wants to be understood
Well, I can hear you
Everybody wants to be loved
Don't give up
Because You Are Loved

Don't give up
It's just the hurt that you hide
When you're lost inside
I'll be there to find you
Don't give up
Because you want to burn bright
If darkness blinds you
I...I will shine to guide you

By:Nitti*

Kings Of Leon_Use Somebody

2010-01-20T15:07:00.000-08:00

Science-Fiction movies

2010-01-14T01:13:00.000-08:00

Our teacher ask us:
"Can you explain why these kind of movies have so many fans? What makes them so special or appealing to movie-goers? Are you personally a fan of science-fiction movies? Explain by giving examples."

We think that these movies have so many fans because they make the people travel to others worlds and the people can dream with something that they never saw and never could live.

These films appeal to movie-goers because technology allows the best image quality, graphics, sound and production.

"Avatar" and "Alice in Wonderland" are an example of science-fiction movies and probably have so many fans because people can imagine they are playing in that.

We like science-fiction movies because all of the reasons we explain previously.

Bullet For My Valentine_Walking The Demon

2010-01-14T00:54:00.000-08:00

Dinner For One

2010-01-13T11:43:00.001-08:00

"Dinner For One" is a comical programme written by British author Lauri Wylie in the 1920s.
Every year in the same day, on New Year's Eve, this programme is broadcasted in several countries.

"The sketch presents the 90th birthday of elderly upper-class Englishwoman Miss Sophie, who hosts a dinner every year for her close friends Mr Pommeroy, Mr Winterbottom, Sir Toby, and Admiral von Schneider to celebrate the occasion. The problem is that given Miss Sophie's considerable age, she has outlived all of her friends, and so her equally aged manservant James makes his way around the table, impersonating each of the guests in turn. Miss Sophie decides on appropriate drinks to accompany the menu of the evening, consisting of Mulligatawny soup (Miss Sophie orders sherry), North Sea haddock (with white wine), chicken (with champagne), and fruit for dessert (with port) served by James, and so he finds himself raising (and emptying) his glass four times per course. That takes its toll, increasingly noticeable in James' growing difficulty in pouring the drinks, telling wine glasses from vases of flowers, and refraining from bursting into song. Even before the alcohol begins to exert its influence, he has trouble avoiding the head of a tiger skin laying on the floor between the dinner table and the buffet.

The crucial exchange during every course is:

James: The same procedure as last year, Miss Sophie?
Miss Sophie: The same procedure as every year, James!
After the dinner, Miss Sophie indicates to a very drunk James that she wishes to retire to bed, to which James responds:

James: By the way, the same procedure as last year, Miss Sophie?
Miss Sophie (delightedly): The same procedure as every year, James!
James: Well, I'll do my very best!"
Source:Wikipédia

By: Nitti*

Vampires

2010-01-06T09:07:00.000-08:00

Vampires are a mythological creatures who subsist by feeding themselves on the life essence(blood). Some peolple believe in vampires and others are afraid of them. For us vampires don't exist.
Teenagers are fascinated by vampires because of the books of Stephanie Meyer. The story is around a romance between a human girl and a vampire.

Nowadays vampires are so fascinating and have so many fans that all over the world we can see films or series with them, most of them based in the stories of Stephanie Meyer.
We have never read a book of Stephanie Meyer but Joana saw "Twilight" and "New Moon".
I(Ana) would like to read the books but I haven't had the opportunity.
Although Stepnhanie Meyer is more recent, the most famous vampires story is "Dracula".

Keane_Spiralling

2010-01-06T08:50:00.000-08:00

Keane_Nothing In My Way

2010-01-06T08:41:00.000-08:00

A turning tide
Lovers at a great divide
Why d'you laugh
When I know that you hurt inside?

[Chourus]
And why'd you say
It's just another day, nothing in my way
I don't wanna go, I don't wanna stay
So there's nothing left to say?
And why'd you lie
When you wanna die, when you hurt inside
Don't know what you lie for anyway
Now there's nothing left to say

A tell-tale sign
You don't know where to draw the line

[Chourus]

Well for a lonely soul, you're having such a nice time
For a lonely soul, you're having such a nice time
For a lonely soul, it seems to me that you're having such a nice time
You're having such a nice time

For a lonely soul, you're having such a nice time
For a lonely soul, you're having such a nice time
For a lonely soul, it seems to me that you're having such a nice time
You're having such a nice time

All I Want For Christmas Is You

2009-12-23T14:55:00.000-08:00

I don't want a lot for Christmas
There's just one thing I need
I don't care about presents
Underneath the Christmas tree
I just want you for my own
More than you could ever know
Make my wish come true
All I want for Christmas is you
...

My Chemical Romance_All I Want For Christmas Is You

2009-12-17T01:19:00.000-08:00

Christmas

2009-12-17T00:55:00.000-08:00

We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year :D

Calvin Klein-One

2009-12-16T15:36:00.000-08:00

"For all, for ever."

Corpse Bride

2009-12-16T12:39:00.000-08:00

Guns N' Roses_Sweet Child O'Mine

2009-12-10T14:11:00.000-08:00

Some times the music doesn't matter...
...what matters are the lyrics.
Lyrics have a message too.

Guns N' Roses_Sweet Child O'Mine(Lyrics)

2009-12-10T13:50:00.000-08:00

She got a smile that it seems to me
Reminds me of childhood memories
Where everything was as fresh as the bright blue sky
Now and then when I see her face
It takes me away to that special place
And if I stared too long
I'd probably break down and cry

Whoa whoa whoa Sweet child o' mine
whoa whoa whoa Sweet love of mine

She got eyes of the bluest skies
And if they thought of rain
I hate to look into those eyes
And see an ounce of pain
Her hair reminds me of a warm safe place
Where as a child I'd hide...
And pray for the thunder
And the rain
To quietly pass me by

Sweet child o' mine
Sweet love of mine

Where do we go?
Where do we go now?
Where do we go?
Sweet child o' mine
where do we go?...(x6)

Tamy

2009-12-03T01:57:00.001-08:00

Nini

2009-12-03T01:27:00.000-08:00

All-Terrain

2009-11-26T13:29:00.001-08:00

The biggest "insólitos" I have ever seen!

My Chemical Romance_Helena

2009-11-26T13:22:00.000-08:00