We Wish you...

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Heigh Ho, The Holly

Blow, blow, thou winter wind,
Thou art not so unkind
As man's ingratitude;
Thy tooth is not so keen,
Because thou art not seen,
Although thy breath be rude.
Heigh ho, sing heigh ho, unto the green holly;
most friendship is feigning, most loving mere folly:
Then, heigh ho, the holly!
This life is most jolly.
Freeze, freeze, thou bitter sky,

That dost not bite so nigh
As benefits forgot:
Though thou the waters warp,
Thy sting is not so sharp
As friend remember'd not.
Heigh ho, sing heigh ho, unto the green holly:
most friendship is feigning, most loving mere folly:
Then, heigh ho, the holly!
This life is most jolly.

William Shakespeare

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An Absolut World

In an absolut world everybody is encouraged to be who they are. That world is more colorful, diverse and respectful.

Be proud of who you are and let your colors shine.

Absolute has been consumed by proud people since 1879.

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"Freedom Writers"

Freedom Writers is a 2007 drama based on the book The Freedom Writers Diary by teacher Erin Gruwell who wrote the story based on Woodrow Wilson Classical High School in Long Beach, California.

"Hilary Swank stars in this gripping story of inner city kids raised on drive-by shootings and hard-core attitude - and the teacher who gives them the one thing they need most: a voice of there own. Dropped into the free-fire zone of a school torn by violence and racial tension, teacher Erin Gruwell battles an uncaring system in a fight to make the classroom matter in her students lives. Now, telling their own stories, and hearing the stories of others, a group of supposedly "unteachable" teens will discover the power of tolerence, reclaim their shattered lives, and change their world."

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"Yes. We. Can!"

It was a creed written into the founding documents that declared the destiny of a nation.
Yes we can.
It was whispered by slaves and abolitionists as they blazed a trail toward freedom.
Yes we can. Yes we can.
It was sung by immigrants as they struck out from distant shores
and pioneers who pushed westward against an unforgiving wilderness.
Yes we can. Yes we can.
It was the call of workers who organized;
women who reached for the ballots;
a President who chose the moon as our new frontier;
and a King who took us to the mountain-top and pointed the way to the Promised Land.
Yes we can to justice and equality.

Yes we can to opportunity and prosperity.
Yes we can heal this nation.
Yes we can repair this world.
Yes we can. Si Se Puede

We know the battle ahead will be long, but always remember that no matter what obstacles stand in our way, nothing can stand in the way of the power of millions of voices calling for change.
We want change!

We have been told we cannot do this by a chorus of cynics who will only grow louder and more dissonant.
We’ve been asked to pause for a reality check.
We’ve been warned against offering the people of this nation false hope.
But in the unlikely story that is America, there has never been anything false about hope. We want change!

The hopes of the little girl who goes to a crumbling school in Dillon are the same as the dreams of the boy who learns on the streets of LA;
we will remember that there is something happening in America;
that we are not as divided as our politics suggests;
that we are one people;
we are one nation;
and together, we will begin the next great chapter in America’s story with three words that will ring from coast to coast;
from sea to shining sea - Yes. We. Can.

by Barack Obama

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Don't judge too quickly

Don't judge based on something you think you heard...
Don't judge based on something you think you saw...
You don't have that right!

*


*

Don't judge too quickly!

(Such dirty minds!)

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Multicultural Racism

Racism is based on the belief that certain people are higher than others because they belong to a different race. Racists distinguish races based on physical characteristics such as skin colour and appearance of hair. But really, we all know that we can say that race is an invented concept, because it has no biological foundation. Racism is also abusive or aggressive towards members of a particular different race. A relatively new form of racism called "ethnic or cultural differentiation" says that all races and cultures are equal, but they should not mix up, so as to retain its originality.

Intolerance is a lack of respect for the practices and beliefs of others. This activity is very present in our society. Therefore, we need a cultural equality, that is, no one is more important than another, whatever their parents, their social status, their interests, abilities, lifestyle... So, we all have the same rights. Furthermore, biology has identified once race only: the human race.

The human being is enriched by the knowledge of different cultures and the contacts we have with these, developing our personality when we are confronted with them. At this practice we call multiculturalism. All people, different or not, should be able to live together independently of their cultures. Multiculturalism is the acceptance and respect for differences. The belief in interculturalism believes that we can learn and develop our personality through other cultures.

By: Ana Amorim and Liliana Alves

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"Throwing your knickers at someone"

Some weeks ago, while I was chatting about "The X Factor" with Emma, an English friend from Sussex, we’ve been able to face really funny misunderstandings thanks to our different cultures and the weird expressions used by English native speakers.

“I didn’t really like listening to Danyl singing…” I commented.

“I’m listening to him right now!! Oh my God! Cheryl is throwing her knickers at him now!”

“HER KNICKERS? I did not see that part!!! WOW!!! She must be crazy! Did it appear on TV? WOW! I’ve really got to see that!”

“WHAT? Ahahah! I didn’t mean like she was literally throwing her panties at him!”

“Ah!!! Oh! Really? What a pity! Firstly I got shocked! But then I was looking forward to see that!!! So… Is “throwing your knickers at someone” an expression?”

“Yes! It’s an expression! Ahah! I used it because she was almost flirting with Danyl!!! Ahahah!”

“Ahah! I’m feeling so geek now!!! I was imagining it literally… It’d have been much funnier!! Come on! You’ve got to agree with me!!!”



Whatever else people may do when they come together – whether they play, fight, make love or make automobiles – they talk. We live in a world of so many words, expressions, meanings and languages!… and actually, we all can learn amazing things in some kind of funny learning with people from different cultures. It’s just a question of being curious and finding your own way…

«Learn what you need, share what you know.»

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Who are you in this multicultural world?

I am human. I am young. I am tall. I am short. I am thin. I am fat. I am black. I am white. I am blond. I am brunette. I am rich. I am poor. I am a boy. I am a girl. I don't know. I am sexy. I am gay. I am bisexual. I am lesbian. I am straight. I am christian. I am jewish. I am muslim. I dream. I wish. I smile. I laugh. I cry. I hurt. I work. I play. I am a son. I am a daughter. I am a mother. I am a father. I make mistakes. I vote. I bleed. I love. I am here. I am me.

- unknown -

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What would happen if everyone cared?...

1984. Bob Geldof, music journalist turned punk rock frontman, was inspired by a news report about Africa’s famine epidemic and began his fight against world hunger. Geldof organized the world’s first global charity concert: LIVE AID. Performances by 100 artists around the world were viewed by 1.5 BILLION people. Live Aid raised 150 million dollars in one day.

1976. Betty Williams, a receptionist and mother of two, witnessed three children killed during the political turmoil in Northern Ireland. Within 2 days of the tragic event, Williams obtained 6,000 signatures petitioning for peace. She then led 10,000 people on a peace march to the children’s graves. The peaceful march was disrupted by protesters. One week later, Williams organized another march. This time the march was 35,000 strong. When interviewed during the second march, Williams said “we just walked right on through all the stones and all the bottles and whatever they threw, we have won a major victory.” Betty Williams was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1976.

1961. Two students in Portugal raised their glasses in a toast to freedom. They were imprisoned for seven years. British lawyer Peter Benenson was shocked by the events. To rally support for the students, he wrote a letter to his local paper. The response was so overwhelming that a committee was formed to organize the campaign. It quickly grew into a world-wide movement, known today as Amnesty International.

1920s. A boy from a small South African village dreamt of a day when equality would prevail over his country. After years of activism, he was charged with “political treason” and sentenced to life in prison. His dream of equality never died. In 1990, after 27 years in prison, Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela was finally released. Mandela then led South Africa to its first ever democratic presidential election. Nearly 19 million people voted. Nelson Mandela won the election, ending the racist apartheid regime that divided South Africa for 46 years.

“Never doubt that a small group of committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” Margaret Mead

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Discrimination

I was thinking about the unit we started to study today and I decided to post about it :D

My definition:

Discrimination is a sociological term referring to the treatment taken toward or against a person of a certain group that is taken in consideration based in skin color, in religion or even in social class. Nowadays, people think that Discrimination is only related with racism, but discriminatory behaviors can take many forms, and they all involve some form of exclusion or rejection. That behaviors can be based on sex, race, religion, age, gender or on disabilities...

(finally, after so many promises, I'm posting :D )

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The promise...

PEDRO and JORGE... WHERE'S YOUR CONTRIBUTION TO THE BLOG????? I'M STILL WAITING!!!

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Let's Have Fun

A few lessons ago, we were talking about a song that we all heard on the radio. It's called "I want to live in Ibiza" and it makes us remember the summer and all the good moments that we lived in that season :) ENJOY! :D

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A funny job application!

This is an actual job application that a 17-year-old boy submitted at a McDonald's
restaurant in Florida; and they hired him because he was so honest and funny!

"NAME: Greg Bulmash.


SEX: Not yet. Still waiting for the right person.


DESIRED POSITION: Company's President or Vice President. But seriously, whatever's available.

If I was in a position to be picky, I wouldn't be applying here in the first place.


DESIRED SALARY: $185,000 a year plus stock options and a Michael Ovitz style severance package.

If that's not possible, make an offer and we can haggle.


EDUCATION: Yes.


LAST POSITION HELD: Target for middle management hostility.


SALARY: Less than I'm worth.


MOST NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENT: My incredible collection of stolen pens and 'post-it' notes.


REASON FOR LEAVING: It sucked.


AVAILABLE FOR WORK: Of course. That's why I'm applying.


PREFERRED HOURS: 1:30 - 3:30pm., Monday, Tuesday and Thursday.


DO YOU HAVE ANY SPECIAL SKILLS?: Yes, but they're better suited to a more intimate environment.


MAY WE CONTACT YOUR CURRENT EMPLOYER?: If I had one, would I be here?


DO YOU HAVE ANY PHYSICAL CONDITIONS THAT WOULD PROHIBIT YOU FROM LIFTING UP TO 50lbs?: 50lbs. of what?


DO YOU HAVE A CAR?: I think the appropriate question here would be "Do you have a car that runs?"


HAVE YOU RECEIVED ANY SPECIAL AWARDS OR RECOGNITION?: I may already be the winner of the Publishers Clearinghouse Sweepstakes.


DO YOU SMOKE?: On the job, no, on my breaks, yes.


WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE DOING IN FIVE YEARS?: Living in the Bahamas with a fabulously wealthy dumb blond supermodel who thinks I'm the greatest thing since sliced bread. Actually, I'd like to be doing that now.


DO YOU CERTIFY THAT THE ABOVE IS TRUE AND COMPLETE TO THE BEST OF YOUR KNOWLEDGE?: Yes. Absolutely.


SIGN HERE: Aries."

This kid will go far! Don't forget: being honest is always the most imortant thing in an interview! He was hired!!! LOL

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A Day in the Life of a Highland Cow

Do you know the Highland cows? They are the cutest cows I've ever seen! It's almost imposible to visit the Scottish Highlands without encountering a Highland cow...

The following is a schedule of events in the life of a Highland cow in Summer pasture mode:

5:30 to 6:00 a.m . - Cows wake up. Senior cow gets up first and stands in front of the other cattle so they can admire her. All then get up and do a little ritual poop. Cows may make sarcastic greetings to each other like "good morning hairbag" or "who made those horns?"

6:00 to 8:00 a.m. - general grazing time, followed by a period of staring at the master's home. All drink water during this period.
8:00 to 9:00 a.m. - All cattle receive the master, reporting any overnight problems and complaints. Common complaints are: quality of hay, grass has lost it's crunch, why are we not being raked more regularly, etc. Master gives hay and they show appreciation by staring at him and threatning to break wire and escape or rub and kill more trees.

9:00 to 11:00 a.m. - Cattle find shade and socialize. The senior cow leads discussions...basically they gossip! They are very interested in visitors and the shoes, belts or gloves they wear...
11:00 to 4:00 p.m. - general grazing, pooping and peeing, rubbing on trees, trying to break fence, resting in shade, staring at master's house or watching him work around yard or barn. A highlight of this period is when master's wife yells at him or he does something stupid that appeals to their sense of humor. Highland cows don't laugh openly, but smile and grin with a slight upper lift of their mouths.

4:00 to 7:00 p.m. - eat hay master has given them, poop and pee followed by a time of meditation. Highland cattle have no religion but know they are sacred and play on this. Crop circles, sacred cows, their role at the nativity and in Scotland's history is very important to them. The face west as the sun sets and place their noses on the ground, standing perfectly still for up to a minute. It is a most moving ceremony.

7:00 to Dusk - Senior cow decides where they will bed down for night. She usually sleeps looking towards master's home, with other cattle behind. They are very quiet during this period; however, there is some lowing or "rowing" as they say.

At Dusk - To get to sleep, cows tell stories for night. These are epic tales which highland cattle have passed down for centuries... Some of their favourites are:
      - Wellington Wullie" - about a lonely shepherd who goes nuts and trys to ravish a herd of highlands.
      - Old Mary and the Wolf" - about an old cow who fights off a wolf to save her calf.
      - "How the snake got it's name", and on full moon nights, the horror tale "Jock be nimble, Jock be quick.

Then they fall to sleep secure in the knowledge that the master loves and cares for them and has been placed on this earth to serve their every need and be their devoted servant.

THE END

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The Landlady - Our Ending...

After drinking the poisoned tea, Billy started feeling really dizzy: “I need to go to bed, because I’m feeling very tired and sleepy,” said Billy. “But I would be very glad if we finished our conversation tomorrow at breakfast.”
“Ok sweetheart! And I won’t forget your egg. Do you want it well done?”
“Yes, well done would be great!” Billy said, trying to stay awake.
Now, he was feeling really bad and asked the landlady if he could use the toilet. When he got to the toilet he threw up all the tea. He felt better after that.
“My God! That tea had a very strange taste,” he thought. “That crazy lady must have put something in it...”
He went out to the corridor, and went up stairs, but, still feeling dizzy, he asked himself: “ Is my bedroom on the second or third floor? I think it’s on the third...”
When he got there, he opened a door, thinking it was his bedroom and he saw two other men inside the room.
“Oh, I’m sorry, I thought this was my room,” but then he noticed that the men didn’t move. He approached and he realised that, like the dog and the parrot, they were stuffed.
“Oh, I see that you have met my other guests,” said the old lady behind him. Billy had a fright and pushed the landlady out of the way.
He ran down the stairs, opened the front door, and ran away as if the Devil was behind him...

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Kids Are Quick

TEACHER: Maria, go to the map and find North America .
MARIA: Here it is.
TEACHER: Correct. Now class, who discovered America ?
CLASS: Maria.
____________________________________

TEACHER: John, why are you doing your math multiplication on the floor?
JOHN: You told me to do it without using tables.
__________________________________________

TEACHER: Glenn, how do you spell 'crocodile?'
GLENN: K-R-O-K-O-D-I-A-L'
TEACHER: No, that's wrong
GLENN: Maybe it is wrong, but you asked me how I spell it.


(I Love this kid)
____________________________________________

TEACHER: Donald, what is the chemical formula for water?
DONALD: H I J K L M N O.
TEACHER: What are you talking about?
DONALD: Yesterday you said it's H to O.
__________________________________

TEACHER: Winnie, name one important thing we have today that we didn't have ten years ago.
WINNIE: Me!
__________________________________________

TEACHER: Glen, why do you always get so dirty?
GLEN: Well, I'm a lot closer to the ground than you are.
_______________________________________

TEACHER: Millie, give me a sentence starting with ' I. '
MILLIE: I is..
TEACHER: No, Millie..... Always say, 'I am.'
MILLIE: All right... 'I am the ninth letter of the alphabet.'
________________________________

TEACHER: George Washington not only chopped down his father's cherry tree, but also admitted it. Now, Louie, do you know why his father didn't punish him?
LOUIS: Because George still had the axe in his hand.
______________________________________

TEACHER: Now, Simon, tell me frankly, do you say prayers before eating?
SIMON: No sir, I don't have to, my Mom is a good cook.
______________________________

TEACHER: Clyde , your composition on 'My Dog' is exactly the same as your brother's. Did you copy his?
CLYDE : No, sir. It's the same dog.
___________________________________

TEACHER: Harold, what do you call a person who keeps on talking when people are no longer interested?
HAROLD: A teacher .
__________________________________

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My Sister's Keeper

When I was little, the great mystery to me wasn't how babies were made, but why. (...) ... I was born for a very specific purpose. (...) I was born because a scientist managed to hook up my mother's eggs and my father's sperm and come up with a specific combination of precious genetic material. In fact, when Jesse told me how babies get made and I, the great disbeliever, decided to ask my parents the truth. (...) They sat me down and told me all the usual stuff, of course — but they also explained that they chose little embryonic me, specifically, because I could save my sister Kate. "We loved you even more," my mother made sure to say,"because we knew what exactly we were getting." It made me wonder, though, what would have happened if Kate had been healthy. (...) Certainly I would not be part of this family. See, unlike the rest of the free world, I didn't get here by accident.

Excerpt from My Sister's Keeper, by Jodi Picoult

     Anna is not sick, but she might as well be. By age thirteen, she has undergone countless surgeries, transfusions, and shots so that her older sister, Kate, can somehow fight the leukemia that has plagued her since childhood. The product of preimplantation genetic diagnosis, Anna was conceived as a bone marrow match for Kate - a life and a role that she has never questioned… until now. Like most teenagers, Anna is beginning to question who she truly is. But unlike most teenagers, she has always been defined in terms of her sister - and so Anna makes a decision that for most would be unthinkable… a decision that will tear her family apart and have perhaps fatal consequences for the sister she loves. My Sister's Keeper examines what it means to be a good parent, a good sister, a good person. Is it morally correct to do whatever it takes to save a child's life… even if that means infringing upon the rights of another? Is it worth trying to discover who you really are, if that quest makes you like yourself less?

At a cinema near you...

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The more...

The more I know these boys and girls, the more I like them!

Like Ângelo would say: "They're not just pretty faces!!"

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The Master of Mixtures is...

..."getting mixed"!!!

Juliana or Luciana?...
... That's the question...

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Lesson no 2 ::::: 22.09.2009

HOW ENGLISH CAN MAKE
YOU TENSE

Every day I study my English,
Which is not as simple as it seems.
My head is continuously spinning;
Now verbs are turning in my dreams.

I was learning the Past Continuous,
Which unfortunately didn't last;
For, as I was happily going along,
Up jumped the Simple Past.

I had hoped to leran more quickly;
The Past Perfect I had wanted to clear.
And it would have been much easier
If the Conditional hadn't appeared

The Present Perfect I haven't perfected,
Though believe me how I've tried.
The Continuous I've been attempting;
I'm surprised I haven't cried.

The Future won't be simpler,
Of that I'm quite sure.
It's going to be confusing
On the evidence of before.

But the thing that keeps me going,
As I struggle with each tense,
Is that maybe in the future
It just might make some sense.

(unknown author)

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"Outside The Wall"

"Outside The Wall" plays Outside The Wall by Pink Floyd...

All alone, or in twos
The ones who really love you
Walk up and down outside the wall
Some hand in hand
Some gathering together in bands
The bleeding hearts and the artists
Make their stand
And when they've given you their all
Some stagger and fall after all it's not easy
banging your heart against some mad buggers
Wall

-- Pink Floyd --

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The Landlady

The short story chosen for this school year was The Landlady by Roald Dahl. Amusing, strange, interesting, silly...? What is your opinion?

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The beginning of a new school year

Here we are again... A new school year, new challenges, new students in our English class... and lots of energy to put into our lessons!!

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