Sand in my shoes

2009-06-26T06:53:00.000-07:00

Hello everybody!

First of all, I've to say I'm sorry for my delay. I haven't had enought time for writing something presentable after the loving Nuria's post. But when I went to the Nuria's party yesterday, I felt that I really had to write something to her, here, in the blog. I had to thank another time all the things she has done for me this year.
As Nuria says, obviously I've to say that formation has been the motor of my life too. I have known a few really special teachers that at last, they have become very meaningful for me. I took them as a model. I've found that two funny teachers in high school, two powerful woman: the hyperactive physics teacher and passionate literature teacher. Besides, I've found the freaky piano teacher in the universtity. But however, I've never been homaged by any teacher, until yesterday in Nuria's party, a party in honor of her.
Nuria posted a great post talking about this year a week ago, and made me feel special another time. Nuria read a poem writed by me in front of tens of people yesterday. Nuria talks about me many times.Of course, I'm not this person, the person she thinks I am.
Although I want to clap her help, her incredible academic memories, her present, (you have to know she writes very well in catalan too) and her enviable vitality.

Laia
Thanks Nuria!

Look at me

2009-05-27T03:09:00.000-07:00

Odilon Redon, a French painter, was an individualist who believed in the superiority of the imagination over observation of nature, rejected the Realism and Impressionism of his contemporaries in favor of a more personal artistic vision. He shared the same enthusiasm for the fantastic as the Symbolist movement did. He believed in the mystical, and sublime forces found beneath the surface of everyday life. Using nature as his starting point, Redon imagined new worlds through his enigmatic creations, such as this lithograph called The Eye Like a Strange Balloon Mounts Toward Infinity (1882). I love it!

Hansel and Gretel

2009-04-30T14:36:00.001-07:00

"In my english classes at Stuyvesant High School the students agree that nothing on television or out of Hollywood could equal in violence and horror, the story of Hansel and Gretel. How can we subject children to the story of some asshole of a father who is so dominated by his new wife he's willing to lose his kids in the woods and let them starve to death? How can we tell children how Hansel and Gretel were locked up by that witch who wanted to fatted and cook them? And is there anything more horrible than the scene where they push her into the fire?"
page 257

In my new english book, appears a curious reflection about this tale. I wouldn't never say that...I've always thought that the witch's house could be my own heaven...I'm so sweet tooth!

Stop motion

2009-04-29T14:51:00.000-07:00

I saw this video on youtube. It's so elaborate. It is made with an animation technique called "stop motion". It consists of making an illusion: objects seem to move on its own. However, the objects are moved in small periods of time between individually photographed frames, creating illusion of movement when the series of frames are played as a continuos sequence.

Saint George's Day

2009-04-29T09:43:00.000-07:00

Let's talk about the best day in the year: Saint George's Day!
For me, it's the most beautiful tradition that we celebrate in our culture. I think is a magic date because the streets fill up with culture and gorgeous red flowers.
The rose has always been valued for its beauty and has a long history of symbolism. The ancient Greeks and Romans identified the rose with their goddesses of love: Aphrodite (Venus). Besides, Christians identified the five petals of the rose with the five wounds of Christ and it was adopted as a symbol of the blood of the Christian martyrs too... Anyway, it's so perfect!

Above all, it's an explosion of inspiration. How many writings are created when this tradition arrives? This year, I've the honor to work in a book shop...it's crazy but really worthy! Everybody has to read something this day, everybody wants to discover a new book... people look for new stories, new adventures,... only for one day, most of the people believe in the reading's magic.

About the meaning of the word "art"

2009-04-29T02:08:00.000-07:00

I've read in my new english book this paragraph that makes me think a lot:

"There was one scene he painted over and over on cavases of various sizes: a group of women in bright pastel head scarves and long flowing silky dresses stood on a beach looking out the sea. I asked him if someone had drowned or were they waiting for something? He shook his head. He didn't know. How could he? He had just put those women there and he wasn't going to interfere with them. That's what he disliked about certain artists and writers. They interfered and pointed to everything as if you couldn't see or read for yourself. Not Van Gogh. Look at Van Gogh."

Just think about it... Don't worry about the meaning of a poem, or a painting, or a writing,... Even the artist won't know that. However, when you saw this painting, when you read this piece of writing...something happened in your head, in your body. If you feel something, I think this creation could be a real work of art. What's art? I can't say it yet. Why? It is a huge word, with a lot of concepts in it. I think art it's a mistery and we have to explore his ways, everything...for understanding it.

Uncanny story

2009-04-25T12:44:00.000-07:00

I'm so sorry but I don't know an uncanny story. I've never like to think in this kind of things because I'm a really frightened person.
So, solution! I've surfed on the Net and I've found a book: "Thirteen Uncanny Stories" by Hans Henny Jahnn. Take a look at this blog!
http://kebadkenya.blogspot.com/2008/03/hans-henny-jahnn-thirteen-uncanny.html

Super Size Me

2009-04-08T06:22:00.000-07:00

"Super size me" is an American documentary written in 2004 by Morgan Spurlock, an American independent filmaker. The thing is he limits himself to only eating McDonald's food. The film documents this lifestyle's effects on his physical and psychological condition. He is supervised by four doctors and a personal trainer: a cardiologist, a gastroenterologist, a nutritionist and a general practitioner. All the health professionals predict the "Mcdiet" will have unwelcome effects on his body, but none expect anything too drastic, because they consider that the human body is "extremely adaptable". In fact, he has some challenges:

He must consume three McDonald's meals per day.
If Mc Donald's employees offer him, the supersize menu, he must accept it.
He will attempt to walk about as much as a typical American, but he can't walk more. If he has to walk more, he must get a taxi.

In conclusion, he consumes 5000 calories per day. As a result, the 32-year-old Spurlock gained 11 kg, a 13 % body mass increases and experienced mood swings, sexual dysfunction and a big liver damage. It took fourteen months to lose the weight he gained.

I think it's a really interesting documentary because it talks about the increasing obesity in the United States that I consider a big health problem. However, it's fun and well done so, you could enjoy it so much.

And the biggest contradiction: his girlfriend (now, his wife) is a vegan chef!!

The inside story

2009-03-27T08:07:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, when I was listening a great song, I discover an expression that we studied on Wednesday. I found it curious, so I'm going to show you it.

Wait, wait! Stop the wedding!
You're just marrying her for spite
If she knew the inside story
She'd tell you what you're doing just aint right
I know you dont wanna hurt me
So stop this madness before it starts
Revenge will only cause you regret

If some day, you have to stop a wedding, I would recommend this incredible song :)

The IT Crowd

2009-03-25T04:25:00.001-07:00

In unit 10, we have talked about the word "creep" and the word "nerd". Few days ago, I post a video of i characters (The Big Bang Theory). I would recommend you another serie that talks about it: IT Crowd (Information Tecnology). It's a British sitcom created in 2006 by Graham Lineham. Please watch this video, and maybe you would understand how computer technician feel with the doubts of their costumers:

I'm yours by Jason Mraz

2009-03-21T10:57:00.000-07:00

PLEASE! Just listen this song and enjoy it! Your mood will change! I feel so happy every time I listen it... :D

Well you done done me and you bet I felt it
I tried to be chill but you're so hot that I melted
I fell right through the cracks
and now I'm trying to get back
Before the cool done run out
I'll be giving it my best test
Nothing's going to stop me but divine intervention
I reckon it's again my turn to win some or learn some

I won't hesitate no more, no more
It cannot wait, I'm yours

Well open up your mind and see like me
Open up your plans and damn you're free
Look into your heart and you'll find love love love
Listen to the music of the moment maybe sing with me
A lá peaceful melody
It's your God-forsaken right to be loved love loved love loved

So I won't hesitate no more, no more
It cannot wait I'm sure
There's no need to complicate
Our time is short
This is our fate, I'm yours

I've been spending way too long checking my tongue in the mirror
And bending over backwards just to try to see it clearer
My breath fogged up the glass
And so I drew a new face and laughed
I guess what I'ma saying is there ain't no better reason
To rid yourself of vanity and just go with the seasons
It's what we aim to do
Our name is our virtue

I won't hesitate no more, no more
It cannot wait I'm sure
There's no need to complicate
Our time is short
this is our fate, I'm yours

Well no no, well open up your mind and see like me
Open up your plans and damn you're free
Look into your heart and you'll find the sky is yours
Listen to the music of the moment come and dance with me
A lá one big family (2nd time: A lá happy family; 3rd time: A lá peaceful melody)
It's your God-forsaken right to be loved love love love

I won't hesitate no more, no more
It cannot wait, I'm sure
There's no need to complicate
Our time is short
This is our fate, I'm yours

No please, don't complicate
Our time is short
This is our fate, I'm yours

No please, don't hesitate
no more, no more
It cannot wait
The sky is your's!

Daniel Johnson

2009-03-21T02:32:00.000-07:00

HEY!

I've investigated a little bit about Daniel Johnson, the singer of the funny video"Lousy weekend" that we saw in class long time ago.
Daniel was born in 1961 in Sacramento, California but his family soon moved to New Cumberland, West Virginia, where his father, an engineer and World War II fighter pilot, got a job. He is the youngest of five children.
He drew for a long time before he played music. Daniel appreciates the music of Bob Dylan, Neil Young, but especially The Beatles.
Today, Daniel Johnson is a great artist, a singer, a songwriter and he has recorded more than thirty albums. Besides, he has several funs! I think it's a great combination: simple funny lyrics and naives cartoons.

http://www.rejectedunknown.com/feature.htm
http://www.hihowareyou.com/

Picnic at Hanging Rock

2009-03-12T08:39:00.000-07:00

I looked forward to watch the film "Picnic at Hanging Rock" long time ago because I wanted to see his Aesthetics. My big cold has been an excuse for watching it! In fact, I really appreciated it, it's very nice: a lot of flowers, white dresses, pretty faces, a wonderful countryside,... I agree with Nuria: it is a Pre-raphaelte tale.
However, I don't like the story. I find it stupid, without sense. For this reason, I've read a little about it:
I found that "Picnic at Hanging Rock" is a novel by Joan Lindsay, an Australian author. It was first published in 1967 but the plot is placed in XIX century. The film was created in 1975. The mysterious disappearances that happen during that outing have been explained as paranormal elements.
I'm so sorry, but I can't believe in it without any explanation. That's why I wanted to find something more sensible and I found "The secret of Hanging Rock", an unpublished chapter that contains the solution to the mystery. It was originally written as the final chapter. Actually, it was a discussion by some authors (John Taylor, Yvonne Rousseau,...). They agree that much of the power of the book stems from the suggestion that it was a real story, and the fact that the mystery in the book was never solved. So, that explains the decision by the author to remove this material. In conclusion, the success of the book is the several theories that it has created!

Lemon Tree & Etta James

2009-03-08T05:21:00.000-07:00

This post wants to do a music reflection but before starting, I would like to talk about labels. In class, I have been given the label of "the cinema expert girl", and I'm sure that's not true. In fact, I've no idea about the most important movies in the history! I only like watching films but most of them are commercial films, so maybe I'm not a real movie buff. If you have been reading my blog, you could see that I talk about everything, well, about artistic things but I don't care if they are related to painting, music, cinema or literature. Undeniably, I love art and I can't hide my passion, so I'm sure most of the members of my class knows who I am. It isn't a secret.

Today I would like to talk about different a kind of musical impressions. I'm going to put two examples to explain it. In music, I think you could find a great song that moves you but then, if you look for other music of the group songs, you would realize that you don't like his music.
That happens to me with "Lemon Tree" by Fools Garden. "Lemon Tree" is a song by a German pop band from the album "Dish of the Day" wich was released as a single in 1995 and became an international hit in 1996. I think it's great because it has a rhythm that give goose bumps.
The same experience has happened to me with "I want to make love to you" by Etta James, recorded in her album called "At last". Of course, they have different styles but I'm making generalizations. But the powerful voice of this American blues, soul, gospel and jazz singer and songwriter gives me put goose bumps too. This song has been written by Willie Dixon and in 1996, with the Etta James's version became popular in the UK. So, what is the difference? I think if I listen all the Etta James's discography and I will like all her music (I have done it more or less). That's the difference of a great hit and a great singer/group!!

Pumpkin Soup

2009-03-07T05:55:00.000-08:00

Have you ever heard about a British illustrator called Helen Cooper? I love her! Besides, I love children illustrations too. Fantasy and tenderness walk together in this kind of pictures. Her children's books have been really successful. She won a medal for the tale called "Pumpkin Soup", created in 1998. The story seems so charming.

Do you like this paint? I've copied it because I love it. Of course, it can't be the same but I try it!

Beats of poetry

2009-03-07T02:18:00.000-08:00

While I was rereading "Dead Poets Society", I found this O'Shaughnessy's piece of poem (page 56):

We are the music makers,
And we are the dreamers of dreams,
Wandering by lone sea-breakers,
And sitting by desolate streams;
World-losers and world-forsakers,
On whom the pale moon gleams:
Yet we are the movers and shakers
Of the world for ever, it seems.

First of all, I didn't know why I liked it. But then, I realized that it was the rhythm and the rhyme that moves me. For this reason, I've come to conclusion, that this two elements are indispensable for poetry and music. What do you think?

Happiness

2009-03-05T08:44:00.000-08:00

After watching the Nicenet's video about happiness, I would like to write my opinion about it. That's food for thoughts!
I'm not a philosopher but to my mind it's really difficult to define happiness. The woman of the documentary said "That's happiness!" when she talked about little things like an ice cream but how do you define happiness? What's happiness exactly? It's true that sweets bring us pleasure but I think it's so daring to declare it as happiness. Do you agree with me? Of course, there are some values that contributtes with this concept: health, love, familly, work, passions. Some things as tasty food help to it and other things are indispensable as love for example. However I think that maybe we could find this deeper feeling if all the elements walks together at the same time. I've to point that the needs of people are different and they could organisz in different ways but in fact, the secret is finding an harmony.
What do you think about it?
Please, tell me!

The Big Bang Theory

2009-03-05T08:22:00.000-08:00

Today I recommend you a funny series. The Big Bang Theory is an American comedy created by Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady in 2007. The story maybe could seem very simple: two clever scientists (Leonard and Sheldon) live behind a blonde waitress (Penny). Leonard falls in love with her but she thinks they are a bunch of nerds. Of course, they have two friends with similar freaky hobbies : a hot Jew (Howard) and a shy Indian boy.(Rajesh) The contrast of Leonard and Sheldon's geekiness and intellect with Penny's socials skills and common sense are really great.

You will dye laughing! His witty and fresh humour has grabbed the audience! Besides, if you like science you will enjoy most of the jokes!

Food for thoughts

2009-02-23T02:29:00.000-08:00

Strange Fruits

By Billie Holiday and Abel Meeropol (1937)

Southern trees bear strange fruit,

Blood on the leaves and blood at the root,

Black bodies swinging in the southern breeze,

Strange fruit hanging from the poplar trees.

Pastoral scene of the gallant south,

The bulging eyes and the twisted mouth,

Scent of magnolias, sweet and fresh,

Then the sudden smell of burning flesh.

Here is fruit for the crows to pluck,

For the rain to gather, for the wind to suck,

For the sun to rot, for the trees to drop,

Here is a strange and bitter crop.

When we hear "strange fruits" it's easy to imagine an exotic fruit like strawberries, blueberries, pineapples, watermelon... However, in this song you would be wrong. There is a metaphor about some terrible acts that happened in America. The song condemned American racism, particularly the lynching of African Americans that had occurred chiefly in the South but also in all regions of the United States. In conclusion, it talks about all the corpses that hung on trees.

Pastafarian

2009-02-17T02:20:00.000-08:00

Have you ever heard about a strange religion called The Flying Spaghetti Monster??

I'm not joking, of course it exists!

In fact, it's a parody religion that appeared in 2005 by Bobby Henderson. It was a satirical protest to the decision by the Kansas State to teach "Intelligent design" as an alternative to the theory of evolution. Intelligent design was a movement that used ambiguous references to an intelligent designer of our world, a supernatural creator.

For that reason, Henderson invented a new theory of creation called Pastafarian and he wanted to teach in science classrooms. There are other versions of this idea. The Invisible Pink Unicorn is another satiric parody religion. It talks about a god that takes the form of an unicorn that is paradoxically both invisible and pink. In fact, it wants to argue that supernatural beliefs are arbitrary.

In conclusion, I think Pastafarian is a perfect religion to pass on your kids, behind the other religious beliefs. Are you spagnostic? Please, say yes!!! I think it's better than being religious, atheist or agnostic! (Here, I'm kidding, don't get annoyed with me please!)

Great cartoon!

2009-02-15T03:18:00.000-08:00

If you want more, go to the web: http://xkcd.org/523/
Enjoy it!

Mobile phone terms

2009-02-08T08:01:00.000-08:00

Today, it's been a cleaning day. I've tidied up my english notebooks and surprisingly, I've found a big list of mobile phone terms: abbreviations for writing faster and with less letters. It's an amazing slang! That makes me think that language is constantly changing.

So, let me show you some examples!
I'm going to organize the list in different levels:

LEVEL 1 (easy to guess it!)
ASAP : as soon as possible.
COZ: because.
DA: day.
EZ: easy.
H8: hate.
L8: late.
LV: love.
PLS: please.
NE: any.
M8: mate (friend)
Y: Why?
B: be

LEVEL 2. A bit more difficult! Go ahead!
NP: no problem!
PAW: parents are wathcing.
PPL: people.
SUM: someone.
TMB: text me back.
2MORO: tomorrow.
2nite: tonight.
RU: Are you?

LEVEL 3. That could be hard!
TTYL: talk to you later.
TYUM: Thank you very much.
WUD: What are you doing?
IyQ: I like you!
IM2GUD4U: I'm too good for you.
WYGOWM: Will you go out?
URA: You are a star! (this is impossible to guess!)

And what is the meaning of SMS? Do you know it?
Short Message Service!!!

Seal

2009-02-07T13:59:00.000-08:00

Few days ago, Gentleman recommended me a british soul singer and songwriter called Seal. First of all, I thought "Why not?" and I visited his own web (http://www.seal.com/). His voice surprised me, so I downloaded a couple of his albums. Besides, there is something in his face, that makes him very handsome, don't you think it?
His most famous song is "Kiss from a rose". Enjoy it!

Recommendations are a chain. Maybe, there will be one other student that maybe would like this artist. What do you think?

Sublime

2009-02-01T04:05:00.000-08:00

To look on nature, not as in the hour
Of thoughtless youth, but hearing oftentimes
The still, sad music of humanity,
Nor harsh nor grating, but of ample power
To chasten and subdue. And I have felt
A presence that disturbs me with the joy
Of elevated thoughts; a sense sublime
Of something far more deeply interfused,
Whose dwelling is the light of setting suns,
And the round ocean and the living air,
and the blue sky, and in the mind of man:
A motion and a spirit that impels
All thinking things, all objects of all thought,
And rolls through all things.

In aesthetics, the word sublime means the quality of greatness or vast magnitude. So, nothing else can be compared with it!
This concept comes from an ancient philosophy but in eighteenth century, there were a british philosphy that theorize about it. Shaftesbury and Edmund Burke are some of the most important philosophers. However, Kant talks about it, and Victor Hugo touched on aspects of the sublim in many of his poems.
They used to explain it with nature: big storms, huge waterfalls, volcanos erupted, heavy avalanches,...
In spanish, we can compare it with the increase of adrenaline...a "subidón" :).
There is a really famous painting that illustrates it. "Wanderer above the Sea of Fog" by Caspar David Friedrich. However, all the romantic paintings wants to find this concept: Turner, Friedrich, Constable, Dahl...Nevertheless, I think that in this aspect, Turner is the most representative painter.

Curiously, there's a music group called "Sublime". Awful! It's so pedantic!

Fever

2009-01-31T13:43:00.000-08:00

Fever is a song created in 1956 by Eddie Cooley and John Davenport (a pseudonym for Otis Blackwell). The song became a pop standard after being transformed with additional lyrics by Peggy Lee.
The first time I heard this song, it was sung by Michael Buble. The second time, it was Diana Krall who was singing it and then, Peggy Lee...that makes me think that when we listen a song, we can't know if the singer would be the author, and we can't imagine where this piece comes from. For me, it's really interesting to investigate who is the creator of a song! You have the possibility to learn a lot of things!

Other singers who have played the song: Madonna, Sarah Vaughan, Bob Dylan, Celine Dion, Elvis Presley,... I add you a version of Eva Cassidy!
ENJOY IT!

Yamakasi (2001)

2009-01-26T06:56:00.000-08:00

Hello!

I would like to apologize for my absence. I've been really busy this month with my university exams, so I've had to leave the blog for a few time.

However, I think this days in class we have talked about many interesting topics: swapping houses, freeruning, Richard Dawkins,... I have a lot of things that I would can talk about.

Today, I'm going to summerize a film called "Yamakasi" because it's a great example of Parkour of Freerunning. I'm sure you would enjoy a lot with it because this sport has a lot of acrobatics. For me, it's like a dance, the freeflowers look for an aesthetic and a beauty too. In spite of a bad story, you could watch a good sign of this physical art.

Stand by me!

2008-12-27T12:55:00.000-08:00

That's a worldwide song: people sing it around the world. The song is inspired by a traditional Gospel song. There have been many versions of it but the most famous is John Lennon's version recorded in 1975 for his album Rock'n'roll. Today I've discovered that the song called "Beautiful Girls" by Sean Kingston has closely resembles parts of the violin solo from the original song. However, if you listen this song you would think that they are completely different.
This video is an editing of singers who play in the street. It belongs to a project called "Playing for change" and it's becoming very famous.
I think it's moving to see it.

When the night has come
And the land is dark
And the moon is the only light we see
No I won't be afraid
No I won't be afraid
Just as long as you stand, stand by me

And darling, darling stand by me
Oh, now, now, stand by me
Stand by me, stand by me

If the sky that we look upon
Should tumble and fall
And the mountain should crumble to the sea
I won't cry, I won't cry
No I won't shed a tear
Just as long as you stand, stand by me

And darling, darling stand by me
Oh, stand by me
Stand by me, stand by me, stand by me

Whenever you're in trouble won't you stand by me
Oh, now, now, stand by me
Oh, stand by me, stand by me, stand by me

Darling, darling stand by me
Stand by me
Oh stand by me, stand by me, stand by me

Raindrops keep falling on my head

2008-12-18T07:24:00.000-08:00

A simple question: Where are the clouds in this film?

It hasn't any sense a song like this in a shining day. The objective of this song in a romantic and funny sequence was to create a hit that you could hear on the radio, and then you would fancy watching the movie! " Raindrops keep falling on my head" was written in 1969 by Hal David and Burt Bacharach for the film "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid". They won an Oscar for the Best Original Score.

The thing is that a lot of people of my generation don't know "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" (Dos hombres y un destino)but everybody can sing this song, hum at least!

Besides, this passage is considered one of the precedents of the videoclip!

Golden Gate Quartet

2008-12-15T08:22:00.000-08:00

"I guess I've always been a part of music, and music a part of me"

Have you ever heard about a pioneer Virginia gospel quartet called Golden Gate Quartet?

Golden Gate Quartet was a gospel group who was born in 1937. However, it has lived until 2008! So, work it out! Seventy years singing over the world! It's the most famous gospel group in the history of jazz!
The members of the quartet have been changing, of course, but they have created a new style called jubilee, a secularized form of church music. Their voices became instruments playing harmonies in four-part pieces.
Besides, they have played with legendary singers like Louis Armstrong, Ledbelly, Benny Goodman,...

One of the most famous song is "Down by the Riverside". Please, listen to it!

Weird pills

2008-12-12T14:19:00.000-08:00

About the article Taking herbs "helps depression" by Sinead Garvan on the Nicenet:

Today I'm a bit skeptical about alternative medecine. Two years ago I would have said the opposite. I've gone to alternative therapist and they have given me different kind of weird pills (they were made with natural products). In that moment, I believed that with that medication I would be better. Then, I had an argument with a good friend about it. He said me that those pills were a placebo. Maybe I disagree with him but I have to admit that in some things, he was right. In general, the power of our mind can heal us in the little health disorders like headache, backache, sorethroat, hair loss,... I'm sure about this in spite of sounding esoteric. However, after this talk, I didn't change my mind.
Suddenly, one day I realised that I hate consuming any kind of pills: you're ingesting something that will react to your body, but it can't help your own natural process because the fact is artificial!
Today I've a little job in a health food shop. I can't share their mentality but I like listening to their budist and philosophical stories. I know, it's contradictory but it's life!

Do you smile at strangers?

2008-12-12T07:15:00.000-08:00

"My landlord's fiancee never locks her house door. And
when the two of them go to Florida for the winter, she leaves her car unlocked,
with the keys inside!"

I've read an article in a blog about the distrust of people. It's a delicate topic. Two weeks ago I realised that I didn't have my change purse. What I had to think: did I lose it? or has someone stolen it? I haven't the answer because I didn't notice anything. However, I could do two things: be distrustful all my life or live more carefree than I was. I've chosen the second option because I think we have no choice. Don't get me wrong, I'm only saying that we have to trust each other. We live in a social world, we need people to survive. Ok, that's right, there are really cruel people: thieves, rapists, killers, hijackers,... it take all sorts! But who wants a life without comunication? Nobody. Who wishes to be cut off?
I love having any kind of relationship! with my familly, with my friends, with shop assistants and I like also with strangers. In some cases, I'm scared, of course. But then, after talking to them, I feel proud.

So, what do you think about it?:

1)Do you think that we have to be cautious in every moment?
2)Do you think that we have to trust strangers?

I would like to say goodbye with some music:
Today I've discovered two nice songs in my memory. They were hidden long time ago but I've rescued. Would you like to share them with me?

Going to a town by Rufus Wainwright

Painting clouds in a canvas

2008-12-09T07:52:00.000-08:00

Have you ever contemplated the sky and have thought: "I've to draw it"?

In the history, there have been some artists who has thought about it. Dahl is one of them. He insisted on the thorough study of the nature.
Johan Christian Clausen Dahl (1788-1857)is a Norwegian romantic painter who has revolutionized the landscape paintings of the XIX century. He belongs to "Dresden School", where the most important painter was the romantic Friedrich. I'm sure you've heard about him. However, I think that his real master was the nature.
Of course, Dahl's oeuvre has many types of landscapes: marines, with shipwrecks, moonlight scenes, pastoral idylls at sunset, ... but I only want to talk about his landscape studies. He's one of the pioners of open-air in the early 19th. He did little outdoor oil sketches of the sky, in different moments of the day because he wanted to explore carefully the changing processes of nature.

So, today I'm going to recommend something really absurd:
look at the sky!

The revolution of electronic paper

2008-12-05T13:06:00.000-08:00

Do you know something about one of the most revolutionary inventions?

In the future, we won't read a book, we won't write in a notebook and of course, the embarrassing newspapers will disappear.
I've heard about it because I know people who like computer issues but I can't understand it yet. How will we write? Technicians say that you could write but it's a screen! We can't write words in a laptop if we haven't a keyboard.
There's already a Plastic Logic's factory in Dresden that produce electronic newspapers.
I completely agree with the huge waste of natural resources that we are doing with the paper industry. It's one of the arguments of scientists. However, I can't imagine myself without a pen in my pocket and a loaded folder in my rucksack. Could you do it? We have been born in the society of paper in spite of technological evolution.

Soon, I'm going to write an article about a painter fromDresden but this is another story.

Please! Post me comments if you have something to say! I will appreciate your voice!

Dharma Bhadur and an another Everest record

2008-12-04T07:15:00.000-08:00

Today I've heard a chocked item of news. We could see it as good news, or as bad news I think:

This year, we have had the world's oldest climber ofEverest. However, a Nepali helper has had to pay a big price for it. He has lost most of his fingers and some toes. With seventy-six years, Sherchan has become the oldest men climbing this charismatic mountain. That's great, I know but maybe he didn't realised that he has been helped by a heroe.
When the champion was celebrating his record, Dharma Bhadur was in a hospital where doctors amputated the fingers on both his hands as well as toes on his right foot. Sure, I don't doubt his good intention of this guide that took off his gloves during the ascent to help Sherchan put on his clothes.
On the other side, how can he compensate his lost? Where is the reward?
Definitely, I think this mountaineer has been so selfish. Now, he will appear in the history books but I can't stand the idea of making a disabled person who can't works now. Because guiding mountains, for Nepalies is the only way to survive.

I recommend you two websides for look up more information about it:
http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/world-news/aide-pays-for-76-yr-olds-everest-record_10068268.html
http://www.tv3.cat/programa/136938435/Telenoticies-migdia

Presents of life

2008-12-03T08:11:00.000-08:00

Have you ever received a present from life?

Surely, some people would answer me "every day" because we could understand the life as a gift. But I'm talking about little nice anecdotes like I've lived yesterday. I'm going to explain it better:

Some weeks ago I read an article in this blog about a café near my university that I like so much. Well, the thing is the owner of this coffee shop has written me a comment appreciating my positive words. They were so grateful. I couldn't never think that I'll have an answer of them. Of course, I don't expect it. I feel really happy when I saw it. However, if I want to talk about a café that I like it, the next time I won't say how is called! I'm embarrassed!

Some comments about Cristopher

2008-11-19T06:27:00.000-08:00

"And I kept my eyes closed and I didn't look at my watch at all. And the trains coming in and out of the station were in a rhythm, like music or drumming. And it was like counting and saying "Left, right, left, right, left, right,..." which Siobhan taught me to do to make myself calm. And I was saying in my head, "Train coming. Train stopped. Train going. Silence. Train coming. Train stopped. Train going"... as if the trains were only in my mind.

I really like the main character of "The curious incident of the dog in the night-time". In spite of his problem that today I'm not going to talk about it, I think he's a nice boy. He pays atenttion to everything, every detail. Maybe he could be so weird, but in fact, we should follow his way. For instance, who whatches carefully the patterns that there are everywhere in our lives? There are a lot of beautiful little things that we don't usually see but they exist, and they could make us vivacious.

I like the book so much. I think the writer, Mark Haddon, has managed to be the voice of the character, and he explains us perfectly his point of view. I think it's a great book for this reason. It's not easy to do it.

A man's world!

2008-11-18T11:17:00.000-08:00

Some notes of Barcelona

2008-11-09T09:38:00.000-08:00

Barcelona gets up at seven o'clock with the rhythm of the cars and the agitation of the little bars and sleepy cafés. It's like an old computer rebooting: a slow and lazy process like a ritual. I'm not sure if it could be the best moment to describe a cosmopolitan city like Barcelona. However, it's the moment that the city begins to smell. I like beginings more than endings. In a working day, all things go by naturally, without any motivation other than the routine. I prefer these kind of days, they are more pure than sundays or public holidays. I also like them because they often give me some ideas for a new story or a new article. Maybe you could understand me better if you take a mental picture of a journey by subway like I live every working day:

A business man talking all the time with their fashionable mobile, dozens of university students showing off their coloured folders, a pretty young women reading a book that you know, people with earphones listening canned music, strange and funny talks about what are Obama's familly wearing, hundreds of newspapers with ridiculous headlines (ADN, Metro, 20 minutos, !Qué más!...) and...sometimes there's something specially interesting than you could explain to your closer people.
It's really entertaining :).

Actually, my subway stop is in the center of Barcelona: Catalunya's square. There, I have to see a lot of poverty and people under the effects of drugs or alcohol. When I see them, I feel powerless because I can't do anything for them and moreover, I've been taught that I have to be cautious with these kind of people.
Maybe they haven't got up yet.

I think The Rambla is the most singular point of my city. I admit that it's so touristy but it offers a tree-lined way with lots of poetic places: little pet shops and flower shops, human sculptures, legendary fountains and lots and lots of historic buildings. I think The Rambla is like a tree: it has many branches with other stories. I also love the narrow streets of Gothic neighborhood!

PD: I hate something about The Rambla: the smell that comes up of the first bar near the subway. I've no idea what it is but it's disgusting!

Cafetarium

2008-10-30T12:40:00.000-07:00

Sometimes, I feel the unconscious need of saying to the waiter or the waitress that I love that place. But I can't, I'm so shy. And I always leave disappointed.
These feelings always reappear when I frequent "Cafetarium" of Tallers's street of Barcelona. It's a really nice place for writing, studying, reading the newspaper or meeting people while you're having a steaming cup of coffe. I recommend it! It's an interesting coffee shop with quite reasonable prices, pleasant owners, and a funny set: different kinds of weird mirrors, long curtains, undulating chairs and a warm orange lighting. The place is liven up with a relaxed electronic music too. But, the most important thing is the bar of dark chocolate that they always put in the coffee's plate. One more point for "Cafetarium"! I consider indispensable the contrast of sweet chocolate in comparison to bitter coffee!. Definitely, it's perfect.
We usually congratulate a cooker if a meal is nice but why don't we do the same thing with a nice café? I think there are coffee shops that hide a world inside it: how many stories could contain in it? and how many have been written?

Here you have their web if you're interested:
www.cafetarium.com/.../wp_7236d7af.html

Rain in my shoes

2008-10-29T15:15:00.000-07:00

Today it has been a raining day, so I'm going to write something about it:

The rain always sounds. It's not music but it could be a rhythm.
The rain often changes your mood: there're some people who like it and there're who hate it.
Personally, I hate cold water, wet shoes, frozen toes and fingers.
However, I love listening to rain when I'm lying in my bed as I am in this moment, with clean sheets, after having a hot shower.
Besides, I like the raining aesthetics: puddles, gumboots, raincoats,...and specially, umbrellas.

I'm fascinated by umbrellas for many reasons. They are a classic complement that it has never changed. Maybe they should, I don't know. Moreover, in general they have bright colours and patterns. That's why they are objects that don't have to follow any fashion. People usually wear muted colours, so with an umbrella, there's a nice contrast.
Umbrellas have a curious form. It's a half sphere but ¡t's empty. Nevertheless, it's a dynamic structure. One day, my Renaissance's teacher opened an umbrella to explain the Brunelleschi's cupola of Florence's cathedral. You could understand it better with a picture:

That was a funny anecdote but it was a really illustrative class too.

Umbrella also opens the door to our imagination: movies like "Singing in the rain", coreographies, and my favourite romantic scenes!!

I love the image of a couple kissing under an umbrella while it's raining. The umbrella becomes a perfect shelter. There's nobody more in it, only the two lovers. I think is once and for all a magic picture. Last year, I used to paint lots of couples. I show you one of my creations:

Black and white

2008-10-28T14:30:00.000-07:00

Today, I don't have time for doing an essay about my view of Barcelona. So, I'm only going to do a little comment about the film that we saw yesterday in class. My teacher of "Audiovisual languages"at the university said us that Manhatan of Woody Allen it's special because it's a black and white film. This movie had been created in 1979, although the colour on the screen appeared during the thirties! That's why nowadays "black and white" is a cinematographic option but it always has a reason. In this case, at the begining of the story the narrator explains us the reason of this choice. For him, New York continues being a black and white city. He wants to reproduce a postcard of his favourite place. We can also detect it in his way of compose the image: central and balanced. Moreover, the case of the movie seems a postcard too: a couple lying in a bench in a romantic landscape near the bridge.
Maybe, he wants to recover the classic New York because he idolizes it.
Look at this sentence and you could possibly understand it better:

" This was still a town that existed in black and white and pulsated to the great tunes of George Gershwin".

I like this approach, I think it's really interesting and innovative. Perhaps, we could find the cause of this great idea in the genius of Woody Allen!

PD: If somebody would like listening "Rapsody in Blue" of George Gershwin I add you the song. Personally, I love it!

Not too late

2008-10-26T08:44:00.000-07:00

The sultry vocalist, pianist Norah Jones has released in 2007 her third album called "Not too late". Jones wrote most of the songs when she was in tour around the world. With a simple acoustic guitar and some inspiration she could create her first album as a songwriter (she feels very proud of it). I like the fact that she seems so modest and at the same time, so clever and sensitive. In fact, Norah is known for her warm and her sad melodies. However, she has a film career too.

Nevertheless, reviews of the album have generally been favorable. Surprisingly, the success has been incredible. Although she doesn't play commercial music, she has sold one million copies in Europe! It's amazing!

I love her subtle and delicate music: a blend of jazz, pop, with hints of bluesy country and contemporary folk. For this reason, I want to invite you to listen and watch one of her video clips. "Sinking soon" it's my favourite song of "Not too late". I expect you enjoy it!

We’re an oyster cracker on the stew,
And the honey in the tea,
We’re the sugar cubes, one lump or two,
In the black coffee,
The golden crust on an apple pie,
That shines in the sun at noon,
We’re a wheel of cheese high in the sky,
But we’re gonna be sinkin’ soon.

In a boat that’s built of sticks and hay,
We drifted from the shore,
With a captain who’s too proud to say,
That he dropped the oar,
Now a tiny hole has sprung a leak,
In this cheap pontoon,
Now the hull has started growing weak,
And we’re gonna be sinkin’ soon.

We’re gonna be
Sinkin’ soon,
We’re gonna be
Sinkin’ soon,
Everybody hold your breath ’cause,
We’re gonna be sinkin’ soon

We’re gonna be
Sinkin’ soon,
We’re gonna be
Sinkin’ soon,
Everybody hold your breath ’cause,
Down and down we go.

Like the oyster cracker on the stew,
The honey in the tea
The sugar cubes, one lump or two?
No thank you none for me.
We’re the golden crust on an apple pie,
That shines in the sun at noon,
Like the wheel of cheese high in the sky
Well … we’re gonna be sinkin’ soon.

Carl Honore and his "Slow Movement"

2008-10-19T06:36:00.000-07:00

Just a little comment about the video of Carl Honoré who has made me think. I completely agree with him. Time scares us, so what does we do? We rush more and more. Slowness it's a virtue in our society. He says "less can be more" like minimalists and that's true! In general, we're speedaholics, stressed and rushing towards next task every moment. I'm bored with the phrase "I don't have time". We have it!! We only have to find it.

There's a song called "Relax, take it easy" from Mika that it talks about it.

Slow down please! And explain a lot of bed-time stories to your child (I loved how he praised bed-time stories)!

My life without me

2008-10-18T14:12:00.000-07:00

Ann is a 23-year-old mother who cleans the university at night and lives in a trailer with her husband and her two daughters.The story takes place in Vancouver (Canada). Ann has a bad relationship with her mother, she has one single workmate who's obsessed with diets, a father in prison,... The spectator may think that she's sunk with this life but she seems happy, she's used to coexist with this situation.

One day, Ann is diagnosed with a terrible cancer. However, she decides to be strong and to face death calmly. Ann is going to die but she isn't going to cry because she hasn't time. For this reason, she doesn't tell it . She keeps her secret for her. Nobody will know it until the end when she won't be able to hide it. So she makes a list of things that she wants to do before she dies; one of them, very controversial for American public, is to have an affair with another man. In spite of it, Coixet doesn't judge her act! "Why couldn't do it?".-she defends in a interview.-"She has to experiment with it"

My life without me isn't a weepy film as it could be expected. Concentrated, delicate, intensive and incredibly human, Isabel Coixet has written a deeper story about death and life too. The script is full of moments of beauty with great phrases that help us to stop our ways and think a little about our integrity.

I recommend you it if you haven't seen yet!!

Nursery Rhyme

2008-10-17T13:23:00.000-07:00

My father used to repeat the first phrase of this Nursery Rhymeto me . He found it really funny, and I don't know why!

An apple a day keeps the doctor away
Apple in the morning - Doctor's warning.
Roast apple at night - starves the doctor outright.
Eat an apple going to bed - knock the doctor on the head.
Three each day, seven days a week - ruddy apple, ruddy cheek.

I eat an apple every day (it's my snack)! Should I worry about my health? I like this fruit because it's sweet and crunchy. Besides, it cleans my teeth. I also love Snow White's tale. When I was I child my dream was having Snow White's character in a play. I specially like the moment of the apple's bite. And this dream became true!

TATTOOS

2008-10-16T07:09:00.000-07:00

After, I've read the article of tattoos, I've to say that one thing is very clear and nobody talks enough about it: tattos are so painful! That's a really important point of this historic fashion.
We usually follow some kind of social tendencies that are incredibly damageable: hight-heeled shoes, earrings, piercings (horror films too),...
Maybe it's mainstream because we feel special with this kind of complements but although they could help our ego, don't we think that they are detrimental for our body? The human's nature don't want to feel uncomfortable. However, our mind loves it in our society. I've earrings since I was born but I couldn't like the idea of having another one because it'll involve a needle! I don't want to see a needle if it isn't really necessary.
Finally, I would like to defend changes. I like innovation and new fashions too but sometimes we need to be sensitive and follow our nature.
Am I wrong?

Tell me please what you think!

Presentation

2008-09-30T01:38:00.000-07:00

Hello!

This is my new English Blog! However it's also my 4th blog, That's funny. I expect that you'll enjoy it!

I'm going to introduce myself. -I'm a 19 year old girl who hasn't found her way yet. Maybe you can think that I'm exaggerating. Maybe it is but in my view, when you're young you have to ask yourself lots of questions. And that's what I'm going to do this year, it doesn't matter if I will do it in another language..

Let's talk about my hobbies and all the things I can't bear.I love surfing on the net and specially, writing on my own page. -I would like to encourage my partners to write posts often and to writecomments to each other. Moreover, I like listening to music. The title of my blog is from a song of a singer called Dido. I will recommend his song to you, is very melodic. The chorus says:

've still got sand in my shoes
And I can't shake the thought of you
I shake it all, forget you
Why, why would I want to
I know we said goodbye
Anything else would've been confused but I wanna see you again
However, I hate playing any kind of sport. I'm so lazy in this thing.

On the other hand,I've done my homeworks. I've been reading some posts of the student's blogs. Specially, I like the presentation of Harlequin's blog. It's really poetic. He talks about his character with a really nice description:
Harlequin:

"Not so funny as clowns, not so magical as magicians and not so risky as trapeze artists, but it is a lovely act which always makes people smile and feel affection towards them."

Maybe, we'll find a writer in the class!

See you soon!