Second Review: Information Technology, by Paul A. Davies

    This book is a documentary attempt at sumarizing and retelling some of the more significant events which became great breakthroughs in the development of Information Technologies. The building of the first mainframe and the creation of the first microchip were, among others, succesful milestones that ended in the current age dominated by smart phones, digital tablets and all shorts of high-tech wonders.

    The text also makes special mention of people whose ingenuity, enterprising spirit and/or visionary instincts had gotten them to worldwide fame, recognition and (of course) envy: Bill Gates, Sergey Brinn and Alex Tew to name a few.

    In my opinion, the text is a readable one, even if it lacks an original plot and the cast of characters is rather erratic. That said, I must grant the prize for "favorite character" to Miss Rong Cheng, a female robot (dubbed fembot by its fans) who (which?) can speak and understand Mandarín (!!??). She also hapens to be working as a receptionist at a Science Museum in China, a veritable feat by itself.

Sherlock Holmes – Short Stories (by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

  This book is a collection of three short stories about the famous detective Sherlock Holmes, related by his faithful friend Watson.

In them, the clever Holmes tries to solve the cases of his clients from the information they give him, with strange deaths and mysterious events such as unexplained sounds. We read about a young woman who is afraid of death. Another story tells about an important man who wants to avoid a scandal that could destroy his reputation. And the last one is a story of a young man who receives mysterious letters, and whose life is in danger.
They are short but interesting stories that invite you to read other stories about Sherlock Holmes, if you like detective novels. 

My favorite character in this book is Sherlock Holmes, of course. He is a very intelligent detective. I like the way he analyzes every detail that other people do not appreciate.

THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY: BY OSCAR WILDE

Abstract: 

The novel tells the story of a young man named Dorian Gray, portrayed by the artist Basil Hallward, who is greatly impressed by Dorian's physical beauty and starts to become infatuated with him, believing that this beauty is responsible for the new form of his art.  

Talking in Basil's garden, Dorian meets Lord Henry Wotton, a friend of Basil, and begins to be captivated by the world view of Lord Henry. Exposing a new kind of hedonism, Lord Henry suggests that "the only thing worthwhile in life is beauty, and the satisfaction of the senses." 

 When he realized that one day his beauty will fade, Dorian wishes to have always the age when he was painted by Basil. Dorian's wish is satisfied, while he remains forever the same appearance of the picture, the painted figure gets older. 

His search for pleasure leads to a series of acts of libertinism and perversion, but the picture serves as a reminder of the effects of each of the acts on his soul, with each sin being exhibited as a disfigurement of his face or across a sign of aging.

  Chapter sixteen more interesting for me, when Lord Henry and dorian were talking. Lord henry said him that didn´t change,that he was wonderful as he was. Dorian said he wont change,that, the pass day ,he was good, he ababdoned a honest girl in the country, Lord Henry joked. After he said that Alan Cambell has killed himself. He regrets his conduct

"The secret garden" By Frances Hodgson Burnett

The book is a story of a little disagreeable, bad-tempered girl called Mary Lennox. Her parents died and she had nobody. She was living in India and she had to go to Yorkshire in England with his uncle Mr Archibald Craven to take care of her. Her uncle isn´t very friendly so she talks to nobody exepct a servent called Martha who with time become a good friend.Days go by and Mary who was sad and weird become a happy and smiling girl. He met new friends like Dickon, Mr Weatherstaff, Susan.... She discover a secret garden which was locked up. She found the key and in secret with her friends went everyday there to alive the garden with flowers. She met her cousin Colin too, who was very ill. Beeing together made Colin felt better and better. That made her father Mr Craven realised that he had to take care of his son and forget all the sadness.

My favourite character is Mary Lennox. I like her because at the begginnig she was very selfish, disagreeable, angry and very stupid girl. But then she went happy, smiling, friendly with people, healthy and kind. 

Bye-bye blog

Well, the year has come to an end, and with it, this class blog we have all made  together.

 I would like to thank all those who have taken part, not just for taking the time to share things with your classmates, but also for your generosity in letting us all know a bit more about you, but particularly, in letting your classmates learn from your mistakes. I think everyone in the class benefited from that, so thank you again, on behalf of all of your classmates.

 As your teacher, I am very satisfied with the result of this experience. I have seen you writing for a meaningful purpose, and in a life-like situation. You have made real attempts to communicate in writing, and you have been exposed to real samples of the language you are learning.

  I am so happy about the outcomes, that I would like to do something similar again next year. To make it better, I wish to take this last chance to ask you about ways in which a collaborative blog like this could be improved. Send your ideas about possible contents of future blogs, the way it is set up, the way the writing corrections have been made (if you didn't find them clear enough, how could that be improved?), etc. either to my e-mail (teresa@eoimolina.org) or as a comment below.

A place? A song? A number?...

Well, I´ve chosen Lapland because it´s the place where I´d like to go on holiday, TO and enjoy the nature and breathe pure air. A song? One of my favourite songs is Paraside, by Coldplay, which makes me feel very relaxed and think positively too. My number is 10, which is just very lucky for me. For the object in my house I have chosen a bookcase located in my bedroom where I have many books that I´ve already read!
The person is Eduard Punset, who is one of my favourite writers and gives me hope, and interesting books of course *. My animal is a dog called Robi, because it´s the only pet which I have at home. A shop? It might be a herbalist´s HEALTH SHOP, because it´s a place where I can get  organic food and natural stuffs. And the last thing is a photo of my family where I can look at my parents and sisters, who are very important in my life.

Sunshine in Lapland

* OR "WHO GIVES ME HOPE, AS WELL AS INTERESTING BOOKS TO READ".

A place? A song? A number? ...

Well (1), It's difficult but I've chosen New York, the big apple, because it's the place where dreams come true or maybe Egypt, because I love the mystery in which the piramids are shrouded, and in general Egyptian culture. Both of them are awesome places whereI would like to be someday.
Choosing a song is difficult too, because I love music but If I had to choose one, I'd choose "Color esperanza" because it's a song which reminds me of when I went to university.
My favorite number is 4, I don't have any special reason for this, but I love it.
An object? My graphic tablet (2). I wanted it and finally my friends bought it for my birthday last year which was a surprise.
The person is my grandmother, I love her. I'd spend the entire post talking about her, definitely she's the person who I would like to be her (3).
A shop? That was easy, I love to spend time in 'Bijou Brigitte' because I love complements. And the last thing is a photo, a photo of a place which I love in Murcia that has a beautiful view. I won't say anymore, see the pic, and judge for yourself .

(Calblanque)

(1) THAT MAKES THE WRITING SOUND LIKE SPOKEN LANGUAGE. IT'S OK IN THIS CASE, BUT NOT IN MORE FORMAL WRITINGS.

(2) DO YOU MEAN A "GRAPHICS TABLET"? IS IT A COMPUTER GADGET.

(3) "I WOULD LIKE TO BE WITH" OR "I WOULD LIKE TO BE LIKE/TAKE AFTER"? OR SIMPLY: "THE PERSON YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE"= YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE HER? 

Getting ready for the UEFA Euro

I´d like to share with you this funny beer commercial.

Let´s see how these English fans learn to become the greatest supporters in the Euro 2012.

A PLACE, A SONG, ETC.....

A PLACE: I like very much Brazil, specially a little village by the sea which is called Garullá at more or less 200km from Sao Paolo. It was lovely when I went there; the weather, the trees, the food and the people. I would like to be in a place like that when I retire.
A SONG: "She loves you" which was written and sung by The Beatles because it reminds me of my first time in England.
A NUMBER: 5 because I was the fifth at home and it is the day of my birth and I think that makes me lucky.
AN OBJECT: A little drawing by my son, which was made when he was 3 for  mother's day. I still keep it on my bedside table.
A PERSON: My husband  who has been close to me and has always helped me in everything.
A SHOP: Any where I can find something that fits me, nowadays I prefer buying bargains I enjoy (buying bargains) very much.

A PHOTO: This one of my pet called Rino who is very sweet and clever, he can understand many words like: sit, out, meal, mum, dad, granny, fetch the ball, and others.

Is technology  important  in your  life ?

Almost   everybody  has  a mobile phone,   and  A computer and the iInternet *  in their life, but is it (SUCH) a great  invention ?

I think  there  are  both  advantages  and  disadvantages.

The first  advantage is that  people can do more work  in a short period of time. Secondly,  technology allows US TO communicate  with other people all THROUGHOUT / AROUND  the  world.

On the other  hand,  there  are  also  disadvantages.  For  example,  people spend too more MUCH time talking  with TO  machines and sitting in the studio at work or at home  and they don’t do more creative things  like reading good  bookS  or going  out  with  their friends and family.

In conclusion,  I think  that technology  is very important and necessary  at  work   but  we have to try  to see  close friends  regularly and not  ALWAYS use  means technologYies AS A MEANS.

 * OR "AN INTERNET CONNECTION"

GOING  SHOPPING

I usually  go  shopping twice a month with my sister, who tells  me  if clothes fit me very well (OR NOT),  and then  we sometimes go to the restaurant for lunch.

I like to go shopping in the summer because  I am a person who loves being outside, but I hate it in the winter when it is dark in the evening.

But above all,  what I enjoy the most is buying informal clothes and shoes, so  one of my favourite shops for clothes  are THE small shops near where I live.

Well *at weekendS  I do the shopping at the supermarket because I have more time. However, there is something ARE A COUPLE OF THINGS I don’t like about the supermarket.  Firstly,  on Saturday morning,  it is always crowded.  Secondly, they  are also too  noisy.

In general,  I  prefer  doING the shopping at THE street market  on Saturday  because there are a lot of fresh fruit  and  vegetables.  If you go late you can find a bargain. 

* USE IT JUST WHEN SPEAKING.

CULTURAL  CHAMELEONS

What  disadvantages do you think people who work abroad have ?

Almost mMost young people today who finish their career DEGREE * are looking for a job abroad because here they don’t have  CAN'T FIND a job and they think there are MAY BE advantages IN MOVING ABROAD.

The first advantage is that graduates and professionals have a good opportunity to have work experience and to improve your THEIR C.V.  Secondly,  they will get  better their AT English because it LIVING ABROAD is the best way to learn a foreign language.  Thirdly, it IS a special occasion to know other different  cultures.

On the other hand,  there are also disadvantages. For example, people who live abroad are far from their close family and friends,  and due to the weather, THEY might HAVE TO change their lifestyle.

In conclusion,   I  think today, have HAVING a job is one of the most important things  in the life  and working abroad may be a positive work experience.

* OR: "PEOPLE WHO GRADUATE FROM UNIVERSITY", EVEN BETTER "UNIVERSITY GRADUATES"

A place? A song? A number? An object?....

Hi mates! for a place I´ve chosen NEW YORK  because it´s the place where I want to live or at least vivit?, t. That would be a dream came COME true for me. A song? well, that´s difficult, but, I´ve chosen one song from BY Green Day, which is called BOULEVARD OF BROKEN DREAMS,   I love this song and the ITS lyrics. My favourite number is NUMBER 2, which is my date of birth and for me IT is a nice number, don´t ask me why. For the object in my house
 I´ve chosen MY PASSPORT which always remember REMINDS me where I came from and the places I`ve visited in my life. The person I´ve chosen is MY UNCLE Mª JOSÉ. She´s a member of my family who is very important for me. The animal is A CAT . I specially remember a little black cat which I had when I was a child. A shop? ZARA, for sure, there is where I always find what I need, it´s my favourite shop in the entire world. The last thing was a photo, i´ve chosen one photo I have in Argentina with my grandparents, whose names are Victor and Norma. I love that photo because they are a special part of me.