MY COMMENT ON JAPAN'S TRAGEDY,,

"Fukushima: What happened - and what needs to be done"

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-13017282

In my opinion it has been a huge tragedy! Japanese people lives have changed overnight because of an earthquake which has had many terrible consequences, such as the destruction of flats and houses or the little escape of radioactive residues from nuclear stations. What can I say about this? Can we really blame someone for this nuclear failure? There are many opinions about this fact and most of them aren't really positive. Well, I have read some news about this awful fact and I reached some conclusions:

Maybe this nuclear stations were settled down in a very inappropriate place because they were really close to the sea and, as everyone knows, when earthquakes took place in the sea they destroy anything which surrounds it.

Furthermore, media around the world turns this fact into a tragedy while Japanese media says that there's no reason to panic. So, I wonder...which one says the truth? I think that Japan will be able to handle this because it's a rich and developed country but nuclear residues are really damaging and its consequences can affect us and our world even in the most imperceptible way.

Finally, I think that Japan must be helped by other rich countries such as China or USA on solving the consequences of this nuclear crisis. In any case, it's a serious thing and everyone should be aware of the dangers of nuclear power, although they cannot be seen immediately, because they can really damage Japan.

MY FINAL POST,,

I don't know exactly how to begin this post because I know it will be the last one, so I don't want to forget anything important to say!

First of all, I have to say that it has been a year of a lot of changes for me in any sense. Personally, some old feelings have sprouted new shoots in me and now I know for sure that I'm completely incapable to leave them behind. Regarding my studies I've lived the most stressful year of my life! I had exams almost every week and also projects such as the endless research project. Nevertheless, there's just one thing which always remains wonderful to me: my family and my best friends! I'm a brave girl but without them I couldn't handle so many things! Don't take me wrong, I'm able to overcome any trouble on my own but if I hadn't them by my side I wouldn't have grounds for keep on fighting.

So, after telling you a little bit of my life I'm focusing on English subject. Well, what can I say about English? I adore it! When I have to do some homework from other subjects I probably found it quite boring but when I have to do something in English it doesn't took a lot of effort to me because I really love it.

Furthermore, this year our studies of English have been really gratifying! We've been practising English in any possible way: with listenings of any topic; writings from formal letters to news of nowadays facts; videos such as the Obama's speech (which I really liked), films, exercises photocopies and many more things...In my opinion all those things have been useful to everyone in class.

Nevertheless, I could realize that in my class there were many different levels of English. So, although our teacher tried to teach us all the necessary things to learn English and to get a good mark on Selectivitat as well she also had to reduce class level. I think it's fair, it's the plain truth, but maybe I'd liked to learn many more difficult things or, for example, do more listenings such the videos we saw in class.

However, I love my class and my classmates! So English classes were both educational and enjoyable! I really had a good time in all those hours! I also like our English teacher very much because she's always a positive woman and she's always saying that she believes in us, so she gives us straight one way or another.

As I said before, I love English so I'm always trying to learn a little bit more of it! For example, when I'm at home I watch many TV series in English with subtitles. I wish I was able someday to understand them without this little help! Anyway, I learn very much doing it by the time! Now, I just have finished my favourite ones and I'm looking forward to see new episodes! I don't know if you like them, but my favourite TV series nowadays are “The Big Bang Theory”, “Desperate Housewives” and “Sex and the City”. Woooooow, they're so amazing! With the first one I've learnt many jokes, play on words and especially how to say sarcastic sentences! With the second one I've learnt many more things such as phrasal verbs as “Knock it off”, “Don't get me wrong”, or also new sentences to me such as “How you dare?”, “I really mean it” or “Are you bribing me?”. Finally form the third one I've learnt lots of things which can be useful to conversations or writings, but I also learnt things which I should never use in a formal conversation or in my school homework. Moreover, I watch videos, films, reports, I read news and blogs...but what I like the most are songs! I love to learn all the lyrics of the songs I like and then understand what they mean. It seems a nonsense, but most of the words or sentences I use in my writings come from songs I've heard.

I think that's the reason why I like to do an English blog! I believe it is a good way to show our knowledge and also, even if we don't realize about it, our true feelings! Last year I spent so many hours writing my blog! But I swear I truly enjoyed every one of them! I talked about happiness, about life's sense, about love (I think I did it many times), about beauty and our society, about famous characters who I really admire... Unfortunately, this year our blog should be focus on real facts. I'm not trying to say that it wasn't a good idea...quite the opposite! It supposed a great effort to me so I think that I unconsciously leave my personal life apart to be able to understand other people's life or other facts which are completely alien to me. I'm a very sensitive person and for me it's almost impossible hide my feelings or my thoughts. However, I know that in a future, when I grow up and I finally get a job I will have to leave my feelings aside frequently, so it has been a very gratifying experience to me!

Lastly, I can't complain of anything but the time! If only I hadn't got so many exams and homework I could have done a wonderful job! Time went flying so I tried to do my best although when it seemed impossible. In any case, I'm quite proud of all the work I've done during all these year and I truly believe that anything of what I've done has been in vain! I made the most of my time to get a nice result and I think I almost get one of my main objectives!

This is it, Batxillerat is finally over and I'll miss so much all the things I've lived these wonderful two years! I just don't know what else to say, I just can tell you that there are so many feelings mixed in my stomach right now! I suppose they are nerves, joy, worries...which are always with me when I'm feeling both happy and lost with so many new things to come...!

OUR BRAIN REACTS TO INJUSTICE,,

A European investigation has revealed that human reactions to unfair situations cannot be controlled because they are produced automatically. The reason of these reactions is the increased amygdala’s activity.

According to this research, in this type of situations men seem more aggressive than women.

Moreover, when a person refuses to sharing something with another person, the brain of the last one has some mechanisms which make him react immediately. Furthermore, that person’s reaction is linked with his/her feelings of fairness or unfairness.

That’s the reason why investigators proved this justice sense in 35 players and they considered their brain activity with a functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI).

They made up a game which is aimed at proposing a fixed sum of money from one player to another one. After this, they both have to share that money (as you can see, teams are formed by pairs). The last one can accept this suggestion and pick the money or reject it, in which case neither of them receives anything.

“If the sum of money which has to be distribute is one hundred Swedish crowns and they are divided into two players (50 and 50 crowns to each other) all of them accept this because they consider it fair”, says the study’s lead author and also researcher at the Karolinska Institute in Estocolm (Sweden).

Notwithstanding, if a player suggests he takes 80 crowns and gives to the other player just 20 crowns it will be absolutely considered unfair. This means that, almost in a half of these cases, the player who has to receive money rejects the suggestion, although he knows he will lose 20 crowns.

So, through functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) experts have discovered that the brain area which is aimed at controlling financial decisions is in the amygdala and not in the prefrontal cortex and the insula, just as some other previous studies suggested. This brain region controls feelings of anger and fear and reacts to injustices as well.

After this, investigators can affirm that tendency to reacting in an aggressive way and penalize the player who suggested an unfair distribution of the money was connected to an increased amygdala activity.

It did not happen the same when tranquilizers were delivered to players because they became antianxiety with just a benzodiazepine. In these situations all the players showed less activity in this brain region although the money was unfairly distributed.

In addition, investigators’ studies prove that when a situation like this happens to a woman their reactions are not registered when tranquilizers have been delivered to them, while men respond in any case in an aggressive way.

Finally, another author of the study points out that “The final result may have ethical implications because the use or abuse of some medicines can clearly affect our daily decisions.

STAY STRONG MURCIA, WE ARE ALL HERE TO HELP YOU!

Last Wednesday, Murcia was shaken by an earthquake which was due to the interaction between two tectonic plates: the Iberian plate and the African plate.

Experts believe that the continuous movement of these plates of the earth’s crust is exactly what turns Peninsula’s southeast into a seismically active zone.

According to the “Instituto Geográfico Nacional” it was a 4.5 magnitude earthquake in Richter’s scale. This earthquake took place about 17:05 hours and then Lorca town (Murcia) started shaking. Unfortunately, this catastrophe had its epicentre in Lorca’s northeast so it was followed by a 5.1 aftershock which was even more destructive.

Yesterday throughout the afternoon and evening there were some more aftershocks, including a 3.9 degrees earthquake. Sources of “Red Sísmica del Instituto Geográfico” affirm that the strongest earthquakes here were registered on southeast Spain at least 500 years ago.

Experts pointed out that the second earthquake was “probably” the main earthquake. It meant that according to scientific terminology the first one (which began at 17:05 pm) could be classified as a premonitory earth temblor. Both eartquakes have also got to Murcia, Albacete, Almería, Jaén, Granada, Málaga and Sevilla, but in a smoothest way.

Natural hazards technician from the Delegation of the Government of Murcia Sofía González has explained that Lorca’s earthquake has caused many deaths and hundreds of injured so far, considering that it released energy similar to energy produced by 2 million Kg of explosives.

For his part, Jaén University geologist Juan Jiménez has pointed out that earthquakes which took place last Wednesday are related to the activity of Alhama’s fault in Murcia. This fault belongs to a great system of faults situated in northeast-southeast, which is extended from Almería to Alicante and it’s known as Trans-Alborán shear zone. Its global movement system is similar to the system developed by San Andres’ fault in California, although the first one has a lower magnitude. Trans-Alborán shear zone makes the southeast Iberian Peninsula segment move progressively to the northeast.

The length and continuity of this fault system is the largest of the Baetic system so, it has become the most propitious system to generating large earthquakes. During all these years many earthquakes have taken place in these zone so they confirm that in Spain south coasts and North Africa there’s a high risk of earthquakes. According to Jiménez, the high destructive effect of last Wednesday earthquakes is due to a simple fact: the hypocentre (depth where the earthquake is situated) is less than 1 Km away, according to the first seismic data

In my opinion, this has been a tragedy! Lives of all those people have changed overnight and that's the worst thing which can happen to anyone's life! I don't know if I could handle all this pain! I truly hope they can get their old lives back, or at least a similar ones, as soon as possible! All my thoughts are with them right now! Let's hope Goverment help them in everything it can! I wish them the best!:)

If you are interested in earthquakes I have pasted into this page a link of “Muy Intesesante” magazine which talks about the largest earthquakes of all the time.

http://www.muyinteresante.es/los-cinco-terremotos-mas-intensos-de-la-historia

GRANDPA I DON'T WANT TO BE A FARMER...I WANT TO BE A DOCTOR!

A grandfather is talking to his grandson about the really important things in life. He also wants him to know their family traditions, their origins, and especially tell him that he and his ancestors put in a lot of effort to RAISE UP their children...Bobby (grandfather) is an elderly man and an experimented farmer as well. He was born in a farmhouse close to his family’s farm. Since he was a child he helped all his family in everything he could and he has completely devoted himself to his farm tasks, so he has spent all his life working really hard in order to earn enough money to live happily. Nevertheless, the atmosphere becomes tense when his grandson confesses him he doesn’t want to KEEP ON his family traditions anymore. Everything happened like this…

-Hi little Johnny!

-Hi grandpa! Is everything alright?

-Oh…yes! Yes, yes it is! Everything is fine!

-Are you ok grandpa? You seem quite worried but I don’t know why…

-Well, the truth is that there’s something I’d like to tell you…

-What do you want to tell me? What has happened grandpa?

-No, no…nothing has happened. It’s just about you and me and our family traditions.

-Oh, thanks God! I was expecting bad news!

-No…It’s just that we have never talked about this before and…you know, I know it’s silly but I don’t know exactly how to begin…

-Don't worry! It’s alright grandpa. Take your time, I’ve got all the time of the world to hear you!

-I know, I know…You’re a really nice guy Johnny and you have GROWN UP so quickly… I’m sure you’ll be a great family man!

-Oh…KNOCK IT OFF grandpa! I think I know what you mean…

-Johnny, don’t you misbehave please! I’m just saying that you are already sixteen and you should start thinking about KEEPING UP WITH your family traditions!

-No grandpa…I have told you this hundreds of times! I GET ACROSS your good intentions, but I don’t want to be a farmer. I want to be a doctor grandpa…the best one! And I want to travel around the world to cure the needy!

-But this is your home Johnny! That’s the only place you must LAY DOWN in! My ancestors SETTELED DOWN in Wisteria Lane many years ago and since then all of them have worked in this job! Why do you want to RUN AWAY from us?

-I don’t want to RUN AWAY grandpa! You know I love my family with all my heart. However, times have changed and I have a future out there which could be amazing! So, if something goes wrong out there, I’m ready to PAY FOR the consequences of my acts.

-Sorry dear, I cannot understand you…

-I’m not ASKING FOR your understanding , I just want you to support me in everything I do as I’ll do with you!

-Oh, son! I love you too much to be angry with you! Have for sure that I’ll be by your side, no matter the way you take!

-Oh…you’re wonderful grandpa! I truly love you!

-I love you too my little Johnny.

-I’ve already SIGNED UP a registration to study in Oxford’s University.

-And when will you leave?

-I’m GOING OFF to London next month!

-Oh, God, so soon? I can’t believe it!

-Yes, grandpa! I’m already a big boy, don’t you forget it!

-Yes, I know…It’s just that I’ll miss you so much!

-Me too grandpa, but I promise I’ll visit you every holidays.

-I hope so! And I promise I’ll SEE you OFF at the airport every time you leave!

-Ok, I’m glad to hear it!

-I hope life treats you well. You deserve the best son!

-You too grandpa. And now…why don’t we go downtown? I’m hungry and we could have breakfast together! What do you say?

-I think this is a great idea my little Johnny!

MY 3 COMMENTS,,

http://aleixserra-english.blogspot.com/2011/05/theres-no-place-for-artist-in-this.html

http://victorrosillo.blogspot.com/2011/03/blackberry.html#comments

http://meli-trueway.blogspot.com/2011/04/saray-danez.html?showComment=1304773291506#c454124827465732274

HOW WONDERFUL ARE SCIENCES.. ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY ARE ABLE TO SHOW US THINGS WE THOUGHT WE WOULD NEVER DISCOVER!

A Spanish and American team of investigators has developed an optical sensor which is based on crystal clear structure of golden nanoparticles and it’s able to detect some infectious proteins in our body before taking the first symptoms.

This innovation would mean a great advance in the early detection of diseases such as the BSE (Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy), or even in future Alzheimer and Parkinson.

Actually, the key element of this new method is the supercrystal it generates. Supercrystal is able to work as a microscopic antenna which identifies pathogenic molecules.

Scientists explain through their research that the sensor they have made can detect nearly ten prions (infectious proteins with altered secondary structure) per litter of blood. So, we could say that this new discovered crystal would be able to find a needle in a haystack.
Rafael Álvarez, the main scientist of this study explains that after immersing the supercrystal they’ve made with the optical sensor in a plasma sample or centrifuged blood “the sensor, which generates extremely high electric field on crystal’s surface, produces to us in an amplified way the signal which bounces off the prions”.

Thereby, the quantity of infectious proteins which exist in blood can be observed easily.
Nevertheless, the most interesting part of this development is its application. After years of investigation and waiting it has been discovered that illnesses such as Parkinson or Alzheimer have a prion origin. So, as Álvarez points out, early diagnosis systems could be designed to these diseases long before the first symptoms were found/could be found.

Furthermore, investigators affirm that some illnesses with a prion origin, such as the BSE, can be efficiently detected nowadays.

All this work has been developed by Spanish investigators from CSIS in collaboration with American scientists. Lastly, their studies, investigations and discoveries have been published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) magazine.

OSAMA BIN LADEN KILLED WITHOUT THE RIGHT OF BEING JUDGED. WORLD, WHAT’S WRONG WITH YOU?

USA President Barack Obama announced Osama Bin Laden’s death last Sunday 1st May, the International Worker’s Day. Just few hours later, this piece of news outshined any other happening and everyone in the world was informed about this fact. Since this news came to light both praises and hard criticism have surrounded Bin Laden’s death. I’d like to share my opinion about this topic, but first I’m summarizing the most outstanding facts everyone should be aware of this happening.

Firstly, everyone must know who’s the man I’m talking about. Bin Laden was the Al-Qaeda leader and founder as well. Al-Qaeda is a terrorist organization aimed at committing violent attacks to those who they consider that can be a threat to Islam religion or Islam society, in short, the people they consider possible enemies. Nevertheless, the problem of these attacks is that they don’t only kill possible enemies but also lots of innocent people.

Besides, he was accused of being the mastermind behind the worst terrorist attacks in the USA and Europe. So, he is believed to have ordered the attacks on New York and Washington on 11th September 2001 and a number of others. That’s the reason why Bin Laden was top of the US “most wanted” list until last week because he evaded the forces of the US and its allies for almost a decade.

Now, you’ll probably wonder…and how could the US forces took him after so long? Well, they had already started their search in 2001 but they couldn’t find any clue of his hiding place, so his whereabouts are completely unknown until 2007: the identity of one of Osama’s couriers was discovered four years ago. His area of operation was found two years ago and finally last August US Forces founded his residence in Abbottabad. As a result of this discovery, US forces began their mission, which took many months.

Therefore, Osama Bin Laden was killed by the US forces in Pakistan when they finally found him. He was shot dead in a ground operation after resisting. There were also other victims in this attack: three other men (one of Bin Laden’s sons and two couriers) were killed in the raid and also some women who were used as a shield. After this fire fight US forces took possession of Bin Laden’s body. The Al-Qaeda leader was buried at the sea after a Muslim funeral on board an aircraft carrier. He was buried at the sea to prevent that his burial place could become a shrine. Although many people think that the death body doesn’t belong to Bin Laden, US forces did him some DNA tests to confirm his identity. Bin Laden was 54 years old.

On the other hand, when Obama was informed about this happening he did an emotional speech the night of 1st May. President Obama said that Osama’s death was “the most significant achievement to date in our nation’s effort to defeat Al-Qaeda”. Following, crowds gathered outside the White House (Washington) and Times Square (New York) as well chanting “USA, USA!”. It’s also important to remember that all world leaders welcomed the news of Bin Laden’s death.

Nevertheless, US aren’t in a safe place at all. The media has already informed that Al-Qaeda members may want revenge. So, they have to protect more than ever their inhabitants because no one can predict when this revenge attack will took place so far.

Well, in my opinion Osama Bin Laden deserved a long and painful death. Anyway, I think that US forces and Barack Obama this time didn’t take the appropriate decision. Everyone knows that Bin Laden was a criminal, but as any other criminal he is entitled to be tried and sentenced by the Supreme Court. I think that this act has just caused anger between members of Al-Qaeda, so President and Us Forces have threatened once again the lives of many innocent people. I’m not trying to say that it was completely unfair; I’m just saying that it sounds like they have done it this way just for their own benefit. And now I wonder…What about us? Have they thought about the possibility of another terrorist attack? Maybe sometimes governments should stop thinking about money, promotion and votes and ensure our welfare and above all protect us.

LIFE IS WONDERFUL,,

"It's time to come together. What's important is not what's gone, but what remains"

There’s a lot of meaning in that sentence.

Nowadays, our world is evolving very quickly and it seems that we aren’t able to stop it. We human have created television when the only way of being aware of the world’s news was the radio; we have created computers and mobile phones to be able of communicate with everyone we want, no matter how far is that person from us; we have created a lot of ways of producing electricity because in the beginning the only light human could enjoy was the sun light; we also have discovered petrol, which is all the automobile’s fuel, we have discovered golden, diamonds… and we have created coins and bills, which are known as money, as a way to exchange products.

We can assure that the world has been unbelievably changed thanks to human’s innovations. But my great question is…are all this innovations something positive? Have we changed the world for good or for ill?

If we stop thinking for a while we would realize that there are in the world many proofs which show the damaging caused by human on Earth. We have built countless industries around the world during all these years and these industries give off great quantities of toxic residues up to our atmosphere. As a result of this, in Australia there’s already a hole in the ozone layer. Furthermore, our automobiles’ combustible generates also toxic fumes which become a great contribution to our world’s pollution. Pollution especially affects the big cities, and nowadays if you go to any capital or big city in the world you will realize that there is not much fresh air in there. You also will see that people who lives there walks in a stressful way, eats fast and doesn’t pay much attention to the things which really matter in life such as relationships or our health.

I know that it may sound alarming, but those are the harsh facts. Moreover, we cannot forget the injustices and inequalities which exist around the world. Rich countries have granted privileges themselves and have taken over the entire world’s source of income. So, even if they’re going through bad times they know for sure they will be helped by any other privileged country. Meanwhile, the inhabitants of poor countries are obligated to resign themselves to living a situation completely opposite. They have to work plenty of hours for the minimum wage which is used to be the half or one third of the rich countries’ minimum wage. In addition, the great majority of them work in deplorable conditions and live in unsteady constructions.

Well, those are only some of the world’s differences between classes and/or countries. That’s the reason why I think that from now on we should leave our differences aside and we should fight together for what joins us and makes us equal: OUR WORLD. There cannot be the slightest doubt that everyone of us knows that we cannot get it if we just keep looking for our own good.

Therefore, there’s only a possible solution. We have damaged enough the environment with our selfish behaviour and now it’s time to take care of it. There are still a lot of things to do and we still have the chance of return the world anything it deserves to preserve its original beauty. If we act properly we will save a lot of species in extinction, we will preserve more quantities of water, we will reduce pollution so we will contribute in the conservation of the Poles or finally enjoy of fresh air…

Unfortunately, this act involves a great work for our part. Furthermore, it also involves a lot of money (for example: if we want to make the world a better place we have to use renewable energy and it needs a lot of economic help) and especially each one’s completely unselfish will. This is it. So, as the saying goes: IF THERE’S A WILL, THERE’S A WAY.

MY FORMAL LETTER,,

9 Major Square
SANT PERE PESCADOR 17470
GIRONA (SPAIN)
Nuclear Organization

14th April 2011


Mr. John Rich World Nuclear Organization director general
123 OXFORD STREET
NEW YORK (U.S.)
WIX 3CXA

Dear Mr John Rich,

I am writing this letter in order to let you know my opinion about nuclear energy and the nuclear industries.

First of all, I would like to say that although nuclear industries are producing nearly half of the world’s energy such as illumination or electricity, they are really dangerous both for our health and especially for our life.

I would like to emphasize the fact that we live in a world surrounded by new technologies and almost everyone of us depends on computers, mobile phones, television…So, I can admit that all those types of energy have become essential to us.

Nevertheless, as I said before, the energy produced on nuclear stations can become really damaging to our health. A recent example of it was the leakage of one of the Japan’s nuclear stations. That is the reason why I am wondering if it is useful producing so much energy from those places.

On the other hand, I would like to remind you that we are all in danger nowadays because everyone of us lives surrounded by nuclear stations. So, a little failure in the procedures of any nuclear station would immediately become a great disaster. It could cause death and many incurable diseases as well.

Finally, I would like to propose you many other ways of producing energy, especially renewable energy. I know for sure that building those nuclear stations can be expensive but it would provide us doses of energy which would not be damaging for the environment and it could be used over and over again.

So, I will be really grateful to you if you reconsider my proposal. Perhaps with each other’s help we would make the world a better place to live. Furthermore, the use of renewable energies would ensure us a safer and healthier life because it would reduce all the pollution caused by nuclear stations and also their dangers.

Lastly, I just like to remind that I would really appreciate your opinion about my letter.

Yours sincerely,

ARIADNA VILÀ

DOCTORS ASSURE THAT SOME FEELINGS CAN BE AS PAINFUL AS PHYSICAL PAIN IS

Investigators of the University of Michigan (US) have revealed to a magazine called “Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences” (PNAS) that physical pain and intense feelings caused by social rejection can hurt us in the same way. Their investigation proves that the brain regions which respond to painful sensorial experiences are also activated during the intense experiences of social rejection.

To reach this conclusion, Dr. Cross and his colleagues interviewed forty people who had suffered from a break-up in the last six months. All of them confessed that when they were thinking about the breaking-up experience they felt absolutely rejected.

Every participant completed two tasks in the study. One of the tasks was related to their feelings of rejection; the other one was related to the feelings which generate a painful, but tolerable, stimulus (such as when we have our hand in a cup of hot coffee).

Participants carried out all the tasks while they were being subjected to Functional magnetic resonance imaging (FMRI). Doctors realized that the strong feelings of rejection were able to activate the brain regions which are involved in physical pain feeling. Surprisingly, both painful experiences and social rejection feeling come into operation neurons in the secondary somatosensory cortex and the dorsal posterior insula.

In any case, the final results agree with the popular wisdom, because, as everyone knows, almost all cultures use similar terms to describe experiences of physical pain and experiences of social rejection as well, such as “pain” or “hurt”.

HE THOUGHT HE WAS SUFFERING FROM MIGRAINE, BUT ACTUALLY HE HAD A KINFE STUCK IN HIS BRAIN FOR FOUR YEARS

This is Li Fu’s story. He went to the doctor after complaining of a heavy headache. He used to suffer from headaches frequently, so he thought that it would be a simply chronic migraine. In any case, he was completely wrong. Li Fu didn’t know that he was going to be surprised at all!

Doctors scanned Fu's head while they were treating his case. Unexpectedly, when doctors could finally see the scan results they found out that Li Fu’s pain wasn’t only a chronic illness, but also a 10 centimetres blade trapped in his brain for almost four years. To understand better this unbelievable fact, you should know that it has a simply explanation.

Li Fu, from Yunnan (China) was accidentally stabbed during a robbery which took place in 2006 and unfortunately this blade had stuck deeply in his cranium. Despite receiving medical treatment because of his injuries, doctors didn’t realize about this little trouble. This mistake caused severe headaches on this 37-year-old man’s head but any doctor could diagnose the real reason of this incurable pain until some months ago.

From the robbery’s day headaches and discomfort never deserted Li Fu, so he decided to find a solution to his nightmare once and for all. This was the reason why he visited his doctor some months ago. Fortunately, that day he could finally know the truth about all this trouble. Doctors, after an X-rays inspection discovered the unbelievable reason of Li Fu’s chronic migraines.

Nevertheless, much time had gone by after the robbery, so Li and his family didn’t believe the X-rays result at first. Therefore, he asked for a second professional opinion before giving doctors permission to operate him. The second doctor confirmed other doctor’s suspicions. Following, Li Fu had an operation and doctors finally extracted the knife. The intervention result was really satisfactory. Li stayed in hospital some days and he was completely cured and safe.

Surgeons were really stunned with this case because it was completely different than they are used to operate. To him, it’s a miracle Li Fu is alive after suffering from a stub in a so delicate body part. Furthermore, they still cannot believe that no one realized about the knife after being stuck in his head so much time.

The most surprising thing about Li’s case is that the knife was almost intact when doctors extracted it.

MY LAST WRITING,,

This year I start studying Batxillerat. At first, I wasn’t really motivated, but then I saw everything clear, and I tried to work hard. It doesn’t seem to care, but I can assure that any little effort can be a great help to us. Learn something new will always be useful for us. My favourite subject is English, of course. From the first day I was giving my best to learn much and be able to improve my English level!

I really believe that I’ve improved my English a lot this year. The best example of it is my blog. My blog is my way to go away from everything. I like to write all my thoughts there because there are always so many things rounding my head that it’s impossible to do not write them down. I often talk about feelings, especially about love. The reason why I have so many writings about this topic is that I feel really indentified with it, and probably the great majority of my thoughts are related to it. Moreover, I think that if I talk about something which really matters to me I will be able to be interest in it much more in my redaction and also I will try to express my true opinion about it properly.

Maybe I saw a great change in my writing comparing my first your-say with my last your-say. My first your-say was a Coldplay’s song called “Fix You”. It’s a lovely song and I like it very much, so I decided to start with it my blog. Now, I’m writing this post again and I can believe how much my your-says have changed during this year. In this post I only wrote a short opinion which deals with feelings. To write it I used simply adjectives and quite repetitive sentences in order to get a nice opinion. From this writing until now I have learnt much more vocabulary, linking words or phrasal verbs. So, with them it’s easier to do better writings. And even I’ve learnt expressions and idioms as: “In the twinkling of an eye” or “what goes around…comes around”

On the contrary, when I read my post called “A BRONX TALE” I’m not able to remember how I could make up it. This time, I tried to use many more linking words, 1st and 2nd conditionals (because we’re studying them in class), short and long sentences but well sorted out and especially new vocabulary. I also wrote down two important morals, and I explain them from my point of view. Since 2009 until now my English has become terribly changed! And I’m really happy for it!

In “Fix You” I wrote sentences as “FIX YOU talks about sadness, about how difficult is love, about real down feelings, about how difficult is to find the happiness” or “There's always someone who wants to make you happy”

but in “A BRONX TALE” my sentences were as: “Everyone knows that Sonny is really vengeful and that he has no qualms”, “he tries desperately to stop it and make his son realized that he’s heading for a trouble” or “once more: if you sometimes try to stop thinking selfishly in yourself and give your help to the people who really need it, always remember that your acts won’t be on vain”
“FIX YOU”: http://somewhereonlyweknoow.blogspot.com/2009/10/fix-you-coldplay.html

“A BRONX TALE”: http://somewhereonlyweknoow.blogspot.com/2010/05/bronx-tale.html

If I had to say an effective way to learn English it would be my blog with no doubt. I’m really interested in English and I know I still have a very low level of pronouncing and writing. That’s the reason why I’m always looking up new words, or trying to add things I’ve learnt in class during this year. Probably, the best reflection of my improvement is one of my 3rd term writings: “THINGS WHICH MAKE LIFE WONDERFUL”. Before writing it, I couldn’t imagine that I would get a post like this! To me, I got a pretty good result! I want you to explain how I wrote it…if I remember well, it was a typical Tuesday or Wednesday, I was in my grandma’s house studying because the next day I has a difficult exam. I wasn’t very concentrated on my notes because as usual I was in my own world. Suddenly, an idea appeared in my head: How many things make life wonderful? Would it be a good topic to talk about? And following it I caught a paper and I started writing every sentence which was in my thoughts. The final result of it was: “THINGS WHICH MAKE LIFE WONDERFUL”, as you can see: http://somewhereonlyweknoow.blogspot.com/2010/05/things-which-make-life-wonderful.html

However, read some books (The Diary of Adrian Mole, Frankenstein and Sense & Sensibility), speaking English in class, do oral presentations and listenings are useful to learn English. Furthermore, another useful way to learn a language (apart from writing a blog) is watch TV and movies in English, or in the language you want to learn. I prefer to have subtitles on it, because I can see exactly what the characters are saying and I try to remember new words and expressions. My eldest brother likes to watch TV in English since he was living in Australia, but he prefers to see it with no subtitles instead of reading them. So, when I’m with him we watch TV series or movies in original version. Therefore, I believe that they’re both good ways to learn.

The best pieces of advice I can give you is that every little thing you learn will never be useless. Everything you learn will give you more knowledge and might be useful to you in the future. So, don’t ever thing that a writing or maybe a simply song won’t give you anything, because even if it seems quite difficult, if you carry on doing it, you will learn very much!

Finally, I would like to do again a blog the next year. Now, I’m afraid because I think I won’t have new topics to talk about. But summer is coming, and I still have to live many more experiences! Also, the world doesn’t ever stop for a minute…so, next year, I might write about lots and lots of things!

GOD SAVE THE KING!!

Michael Jackson’s death has caused a lot of rumours. He had been found unconscious in his luxury mansion situated in Bel Air (L.A.) the last Thursday 25th June. Then he was moved at he UCLA medical centre where he was pronounced dead two hours later (exactly at 11.30pm)

Jackson, who had suffered from healthy problems, was staging few comeback concerts in the UK. These concerts had to begin on the 13rd July.
Firstly, concerts had to be performed earlier, but organisers insisted to move the dates because of the complexity of staging the show.

These kinds of concerts seemed to be too much for an unhealthy body of 50 years old. Michael was wishing to do it because these concerts were a way to feel that he could be the old Michael Jackson again.
Here comes the true story about Jackson’s death…

Michael Jackson was preparing his amazing last concerts in UK. He was 50 years old but he felt that he needed to do it. Doctors began to prescribe medicines to Michael when he had suffered the break of one of his vertebras and one of his legs. From that moment Michael was addicted to prescribed medicines. While Michael was practising his show he was overdosing himself to be able to arrive in perfect conditions at the concerts. This was the worst thing because the singer had medicines on his arrangement in every moment. The singer was really addicted to a painkiller called “Oxicodona” and a diary injection of it had been given to him with another painkiller called “Demerol”
Demerol, similar to morphine, has analgesic proprieties and works as a depressor of the Nervous Central System. It is used to relieve pain of medium or high intensity. Demerol belongs to the group of “Methadone”. It causes addiction and abstinence syndrome, so the dose has to be reduced in a gradually form.

The last days before his death Jackson arrived always late to his practises and his mates said that he looked weak and a bit tired. On Thursday, Michael was practising with pain and he was strongly medicated until few hours before his death. Because of his serious condition his personal doctor decided to give him a bigger dose of medicines. It caused his death.

Michael received a dose too big of narcotics the day of his death. The singer stopped breathing some minutes after the injection. His personal doctor was trying to revive him in every way but he didn’t succeed.
Conrad Murray (Jackson’s personal doctor) had been found with the singer when someone called to urgencies asking for help. Maybe Dr. Murray was the only witness.

Michael was completely in cardiac arrest in his mansion. Dr. Murray’s behaviour was really questioned (he disappeared after all without accepting his acts) Jackson’s family was annoyed and frustrated because of the silence of Murray.

The official autopsy of Michael Jackson has been done by the “forenses” team leaded by Dr. Lakshmann. Police found a great quantity of medicines in Dr. Murray’s car. Until nowadays Murray has taken statement twice and finally, he has been doomed with prison. But nobody knows how long it will take his sentence yet. Police are still investigating some people of the singer’s nearest circle.
Also the web “TMZ” (the first mean which informed about singer’s death) told that Police could be looking for another doctor, Dr. Thome Thome, singer’s friend and a possible indirect participation in the facts.

While Michael was in the hospital several hundred people were outside showing their support to the king. They were remembering him with the best way: singing his songs, performing his famous dances…

Singer’s family had been trying for months to take care of Michael but people who surrounded him didn’t let this happen.
Liza Minnelli, a good friend of Michael Jackson said: “It’s a good job we’re celebrating now his memory, because when everyone knows the result of the autopsy all hell’s going to break loose”

But…the biggest question asked was:
“Why wasn’t Michael on the floor instead of being in bed?” A doctor should know that revive someone on the floor has many more possibilities to be effective.


THINGS YOU MUST KNOW ABOUT MICHAEL…

REAL NAME: MICHAEL JOSEPH JACKSON

BORN: August 29, 1958, Gary, INDIANA, US

DEAD: June 25, 2009, Bel Air, L.A., US

ALSO KNOWN AS: The King of Pop, Wacko Jacko

BIGGEST HITS: I Want You Back, Don’t Stop Till You Get Enough, Thriller, Billie Jean, Bad, Black or White…

OBITUARY: REMARKABLE TALENT.

Jackson began his career as a child in his family group: THE JACKSON 5. Then, he got global fame as a solo artist with famous hits as “Billie Jean” or “Bad”. Thriller (made in 1982) is the biggest selling album of all the time. (65 million copies sold) according to the Guinness Book of World Records. He got 7 UK number ones and he won 13 Grammy Awards as well.

He was arrested in 2003 accused of an abuse of a 14-year-old boy, but finally he was found not guilty. This accusation caused him several problems and from that moment media got on top of him. All this affected very much his artistic career and caused him a big depression.

The star had three children: Michael Joseph Jackson Jr. (Prince Michael I), Paris Michael Katherine Jackson (Paris) and Prince Michael II (Blanket).

Michael Jackson was not treated fairly by the media, but even when his world was falling down he never gave up. He fought to show that he was more than a public character and the most important thing: he never stopped his fight for the rights of people and to make the world a better place.

He was The King and his job will be never on vain. As me, millions of people will always have his memory inside their hearts.
GOD BLESS YOU MICHAEL!!

A BRONX TALE,,

This great story takes place in the Bronx. Bronx is a poor neighbourhood situated in the gorgeous city of New York. It’s a well-known place where reside the least privileged people. Dirty business, robberies with guns, violations or murders are really common there. People must be careful because Bronx is a quite dangerous area.

There are three main characters in the story: Calogero, Lorenzo (Calogero’s father) and Sonny.
Calogero, Lorenzo and Rosina are an Italian family who live in the Bronx since a long time ago.

Sonny is the head of a famous mafia which is well-known on the Bronx. He and his gang have the absolute control of this neighbourhood and Sonny is the most fearful gangster there. Everyone knows that Sonny is really vengeful and that he has no qualms.
Sonny has a discreet pub where he meets their boys and where there are alcohol, cigarettes and all kinds of bets and games.

Lorenzo is just a family man. His only aim is will be able some day to earn enough money to look after his family. They’re very poor and he doesn’t earn much money because he is a bus driver. Lorenzo begins to worry about his son when he becomes friend of Sonny and during the story he’s trying all the time to convince his son to stop keeping bad company.

Calogero is an 8-9 year-old child who always says how much he hates his name to his father. He has never understood how his parents could choose a name so inappropriate. He lives in the same street than Sonny. Calogero seems older than he really is because he has seen lots of atrocities since he was a little child and he has spent most of his days in Bronx streets with his friends as well. They are used to steal food, they argue with other children and also they laugh at everybody.
However, Calogero is a very special child and that’s the reason why his parents love him so much. They are usually trying to separate him from street’s life but there’s no way to get it. The reason of Calogero’s affection to the Bronx is Sonny. This gangster is his biggest idol and Calogero always tries to follow his steps.

Time goes by…and Calogero grows up! He’s a handsome teenager now. He has changed a lot, but unfortunately his friends have grown up as well. His friends’ thoughts are completely opposite than his thoughts. They are all terribly changed and Calogero doesn’t feel good with them. They are only worried about black people and they are all day thinking how to bother or hurt them.

Anyway, Calogero has been many days meeting Sonny. They knew each other few years ago when Calogero was still a kid and, from that day, Calogero became his confidence boy. The boy always looked up to Sonny and Sonny treated him as a son. Sony had even changed Calogero’s name…in his gang Calogero is known as “C”. Calogero has learnt a lot with Sonny and his boys and they have lived many new experiences. He’s a mature boy but he still preserves some innocence. He feels the same great admiration to Sonny as well. Everything is perfect to him. Calogero is living exactly his childhood’s dream. But there’s someone who don’t agree with his behaviour…his father! He tries desperately to stop it and make his son realize that he’s heading for a trouble.

Unluckily, “C” is too influenced by Sonny and nothing can take him from his side. One day, unexpectedly, Calogero knows a pretty young girl and he falls in love at first sight. There’s only a little problem: she’s black and it was frowned upon in his neighbourhood.

Everything goes wrong in the end… and things have such a dramatic ending. The story has a very shocking ending…but who didn’t still know that fairytales don’t ever happen in the Bronx?

From my point of view “A BRONX TALE” is a gorgeous film. Probably I liked it so much because all the scenes were unexpectedly, especially the final scene. It was really shocking to me because I though that it would have the typical happy ending. The characters are very well played and each one is perfectly characterized and lifelike. It’s a very successful movie. It reminds me of “Il Padrino”‘s movie which I liked very much as well. With these kinds of films it seems that you are able to feel what their characters are feeling. In a scaring scene you can feel the fear and even when someone shoots a gun, you are so concentrated on the film that you feel like you were inside the scene. I’m afraid that those are magnificent works and nowadays, it’s almost impossible to watch some film like these.
MY MARKING: **** (a masterpiece)

To conclude, I’d like to talk about film’s moral. “A BRONX TALE” hasn’t only a moral: it has two.

Firstly, the main moral is: “You must trust nobody”. Sonny repeats it throughout all the film, and maybe he was right. At least, if you live on the Bronx, it would be some good advice.

And secondly, there’s a final moral. This moral talks about the consequences of our acts. I believe that everything we did in the past will always have a great repercussion in our future. Maybe good or maybe bad, but our acts will always draw our way…Well, it’s like the karma. If you are a kind person and you help the others, there are fewer possibilities to have complications in your future. Otherwise, if you are a cold-hearted person and you don’t care about anything…be careful! Because one day everything you did will go back to you, and then, it’ll be too late to change it.

I think that everyone should know that “what goes around…comes always back around”

And, once more: if you sometimes try to stop thinking selfishly in yourself and give your help to the people who really need it, always remember that your acts won’t be on vain.

MY OPINION ESSAY

“WHEN WILL WE LEARN TO RESPECT OUR WORLD?”

It seems to me that we have never treated our world properly. In my opinion, we might destroy our planet if we don’t start thinking ideas to change its bad situation and try to conserve everything that surrounds us.

I disagree with people who say that we haven’t caused climate change and also greenhouse effect. It’s clear that we are guilty of today's catastrophes. We are the only ones who have used polluting products and who have wasted so many raw materials even knowing that these facts would be bad for our planet.

Furthermore, I think that we want to have the best life (with all the comforts), but on the other hand we are not prepared to make any effort to get it, we just want to have everything done. And I think that this is wrong.
Maybe if we stop thinking for a while we will realize that we have to work hard to get a better world. However, we could do this work all together and with a little participation from each one of us life would become more enjoyable and we would have everything that we needed.

I really believe that we aren’t aware of how much harm we’re causing to our planet. As a result, we don’t kick the habit of wasting water or using electricity when it’s not necessary or also running out raw materials when we could use alternative energies…and what about air pollution? If we went more by coach or by train our air would be purer. Anyway, sometimes I think that if our behaviour goes on being like this, we won’t ever be able to make the world a better place. In my opinion, if we don’t act soon it will be too late. With a global collaboration the world would be the place we have been dreaming of living.

In conclusion, I’d like to remind you that we only live once and life is something wonderful! So, with a little effort we could make the most of our days and the world would become a beautiful place as well. We would live without pollution or unnecessary wastes. We still have time in order to give our descendants the life they really deserve.

INFORMAL DIALOGUE

A usual day in Zara, while Ariadna was looking for new jeans…

-Ari? What are you doing here? I thought you were living in London!

-Hi Laura! Yes, I’m still living in London. But I’ve just finished my exams and I came here to stay some days with my family and friends.

-Wow!! Great…and are you OK? How is it in London? I haven’t seen you since last year!

-I’m fine! London is wonderful and I’ve met friendly people there. I know! I missed you so much! Is everything alright?

-I’m pleased to hear it! I missed you too! Do you remember our weekends together? Yes, everything is alright…many things have happened this year. I have to tell you!!

-What’s going on? I cannot wait anymore! Tell me it now, please! Ooh, of course I remember our weekends! How could I forget it? We have to go out together again! But first…tell me what has happened!

-Summarizing… Well, I don’t know how to tell you this!

-Oooh, please! I’m begging you!

-I’m…gooing…to…MARRY!

-Is it true? I can’t believe it…it’s gorgeous! Good on you! When is the wedding?

-Yes, yes! I’m really nervous! It’s going to be in summer…will you come? Oh, please!?

-Sure! I’d love it! And moreover, I will spend all my summer holidays here! It will be great! We will have fun together remembering good moments lived.

-Yes, great! What are you doing on Saturday? Would you like to go out with us?

-Yes, thank you! I’ll call you this evening to tell you something, right?

-Alright, see you! Bye honey!

-See you sweetie…and take care!

GAGA'S MURDERER DRESS

As all of you should know Lady Gaga is the most eccentric famous star nowadays.

She has a very unusual style and her dresses are famous around the world. She is able to dress everything you can imagine: from fluorescent wigs or large veils in her face to cans of cola tangled in her wigs. She’s definitely unique!
Her high platform shoes and her amazing clothes cause controversy everywhere she goes.
She loves to be considerate so odd because this is the reason why everybody knows her. Fame has given her money, luxury presents, privileges, lots of good and bad criticisms and especially the global recognition.
But few months ago something scared Gaga to dead because of one of her rareness and it’s not a joke! It is as real as life is!

Once, Lady Gaga promised to the TV program “Friday Night” (BBC): "I prefer to die than being seen from my fans without a pair of platform shoes! I will never give up wearing my wigs or my hats”

Maybe after this incident her thoughts were quite changed.
This is what really happened that day…


While Gaga was going to her last concert in London, she appeared in Heathrow’s airport wearing an eye-catching dress consisting of sticky tape strips in black and yellow (as you can see between these lines). As well she was wearing enormous blue shoes designed by Alexander Mc Queen, who died recently.

Her clothes were extremely uncomfortable and those strips were too tight for her. As a result of it, while she was taking a seat in the plane she began to feel some symptoms of an illness called “deep vein thrombosis” (DVT). This illness affects mainly lower part of legs and thigh’s veins. DVT causes clots which block blood flow.


Lady Gaga was saved by the experienced crew, who insisted on persuade the artist to take her clothes off. Gaga needed some help to be able to do it because her dress was really heavy.
What’s more Gaga took very offended when they also ask her to take her blue shoes off. She said that she was wearing them in memory of her friend Alexander.

THINGS WHICH MAKE LIFE WONDERFUL,,

Have you ever felt so happy that you seemed you be some feet above the ground at least? Have you ever felt so many things inside yourself that it seemed you could explode? Have you counted the times which something made you feel so good that you could only laugh and jump of happiness? Have you ever felt like shouting to the whole world how much you love that person? Is there anything better than feeling happy? Is there something better than knowing how to enjoy the smallest pleasures which life gives us day after day? It’s not possible to change the feeling of satisfaction or absolute happiness for anything else.

How many times have we remembered good moments lived, no matter how far they are, and a smile has put in our face? How could we pay the feeling of knowing that whatever happens if you’re with your loved ones you will have a thousand reasons to be happy? Has someone ever made you so happy that it seemed that you had wings and you could fly? Have you ever loved someone so much that you forgot the world for a while? Is possible to be able to feel the most complete person in the world when you realize that above bad things so much love surrounds you? How can I explain the feeling that I feel when in spite of disappointments so many wonderful people have appeared in my life? Will I be able to thank all the love that has been given to me which asks for nothing in return? Why do we always try to complain when actually we have thousands of reasons to never do it? Why are there people who don’t want to realize how wonderful is life?

You’ll see, today I’m writing about those little things which we don’t even appreciate many times. Things which we don’t attach importance to, but with them live and be happy are worth. I’ll write some of these little things…here they go!

The smile of an innocent child, a true laugh, laughing tears, sweet or unexpectedly kisses, a warn hug when you’re upset, get your hand hold in front of everyone by the person you love, a sincere smile, funny silly things, friendship between good friends and all that this friendship includes (secrets, fun, pieces of advice, confidence…), be able to understand your best friend only with a look, kind looks which make you smile and feel better, the relaxing sound of the sea, realize how beautiful is the seaside at night when you have the person you love by your side, realize that some people who seemed to be cold-hearted were hiding much love inside their heart, know someone and be able to make him/her show all his/her love to everyone, a sincere “I love you”, “I miss you so much” or “I need you more than ever”, unexpectedly gestures from the most unexpected person, family’s love, can trust with someone and know for sure this person will never let you down, get apologized by a person you really love, admire someone and be admired too, keep dreaming even when everything is worries and troubles, find someone who loves you and with the course of time realize that you love this person with all your heart and that you can’t live without him/her,

realize that money will be never as important as our happiness is, be able to make our friends happy with a simply smile, know that you will fight for your loved ones and also know that they would fight for you if you have some troubles…

All those things and more make life beautiful…but don’t you ever forget it! The only two things which are essential in life are love and happiness. So, when you are sad or upset, or when you think that only the worst things happen to you, remember that if you have love and happiness…everything will be fine.