tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27969100003827966802024-03-13T12:53:11.399-07:00it's not all doom and gloomLanguage is the blood of the soul into which thoughts run and out of which they grow.
Oliver Wendell Holmesdynnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07113572328221837631noreply@blogger.comBlogger241125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2796910000382796680.post-88586881243663460832007-05-22T09:29:00.000-07:002007-05-22T09:35:06.645-07:00an idiom a week<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_qEE8LvM5-WA/RlMa0-3u_wI/AAAAAAAAA08/qaOaHDWMALs/s1600-h/images.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_qEE8LvM5-WA/RlMa0-3u_wI/AAAAAAAAA08/qaOaHDWMALs/s320/images.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5067423503254224642" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">This weeks' idiom is very sweet:<br /><br />a piece of cake- something that is extremely easy to do or to achieve:<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Fixing that door hinge should be a piece of cake for Fred.</span><br /></span>dynnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07113572328221837631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2796910000382796680.post-30871943450039451922007-05-22T09:25:00.001-07:002007-05-22T09:29:00.557-07:00jokes<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_qEE8LvM5-WA/RlMZeu3u_vI/AAAAAAAAA00/ZYKiVO5AYG0/s1600-h/jokes.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_qEE8LvM5-WA/RlMZeu3u_vI/AAAAAAAAA00/ZYKiVO5AYG0/s320/jokes.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5067422021490507506" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, Geneva, Swiss, SunSans-Regular;font-size:130%;">The rich American couldn't undertand why the Irish angler was lying lazily beside his boat on the beach, smoking a pipe. "Why aren't you out fishing?" asked the American. "Because I have caught enough fish for the day," said the fisherman. "Why don't you catch some more?" "What would I do with them?" "You could sell them and make more money," was the American's reply. "With that you could have a motor fixed to your boat and go into deeper waters and catch more fish. Then you would make enough to buy nets. These would bring you more fish and more money. Soon you would have enough money to own two boats . . . maybe even a fleet of boats. Then you would be a rich man like me." "What would I do then?" asked the fisherman. "Then you could really enjoy life." said the American. "And what do you suppose I might be doing right now?" said the Irishman, smiling and puffing away on his pipe.</span>dynnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07113572328221837631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2796910000382796680.post-46544205223656099572007-05-22T09:17:00.001-07:002007-05-22T09:24:42.223-07:00What they said<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_qEE8LvM5-WA/RlMXve3u_uI/AAAAAAAAA0s/8KkMjH49vJs/s1600-h/emforster.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_qEE8LvM5-WA/RlMXve3u_uI/AAAAAAAAA0s/8KkMjH49vJs/s320/emforster.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5067420110230060770" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">E.M.Forster quotes:<br /><br /></span><span class="sqq" style="font-size:130%;">"If I had to choose between betraying my country and betraying my friend, I hope I should have the guts to betray my country."<br /><br /></span><span class="sqq">"<span style="font-size:130%;">You can transmute love, muddle it, ignore it... but you can never pull it out of you..."<br /><br /></span></span><span class="sqq" style="font-size:130%;">"To make us feel small in the right way is a function of art; men can only make us feel small in the wrong way."<br /><br /></span><span class="sqq" style="font-size:130%;">"I suggest that the only books that influence us are those for which we are ready, and which have gone a little farther down our particular path than we have yet gone ourselves."<br /><br /></span><span class="sqq" style="font-size:130%;">"Life is easy to chronicle, but bewildering to practice..."</span>dynnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07113572328221837631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2796910000382796680.post-66856418032678711532007-05-22T08:58:00.000-07:002007-05-22T09:16:51.726-07:00new trends<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_qEE8LvM5-WA/RlMVvO3u_tI/AAAAAAAAA0k/oEUuDZQQk-E/s1600-h/f3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_qEE8LvM5-WA/RlMVvO3u_tI/AAAAAAAAA0k/oEUuDZQQk-E/s320/f3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5067417906911837906" border="0"></a><br /><font size="4">The hottest clothing trend of this summer have to be embellished dresses, which have a rapidly growing fanbase amongst the Hollywood stars and starlets.<br /><br />If, as a mere mortal, you too wish to jump on the bandwagon and inject some quirky glamour into your wardrobe, you can choose between a wealth of such dresses at high street shops like HM or Zara.<br /><br />Have a merry time looking for the embellished dress of your dreams!<br /></font>dynnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07113572328221837631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2796910000382796680.post-29226251181331818842007-05-22T08:37:00.000-07:002007-05-22T08:58:33.497-07:00Frightened by phrasal verbs?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_qEE8LvM5-WA/RlMOxO3u_sI/AAAAAAAAA0c/yLgaUu8UPb8/s1600-h/1students2-med.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_qEE8LvM5-WA/RlMOxO3u_sI/AAAAAAAAA0c/yLgaUu8UPb8/s320/1students2-med.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5067410244690181826" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">When teachers talk about phrasal verbs it gives many a English learner the willies as the grammar and the meaning of this verbs is so knotty.<br /><br />Unluckily, native English speakers adore to blend a few basic verbs and some particles into a phrasal verb while speaking so as to show off.<br /><br />So what can the English learners do?<br /><br />In the May issue of Spotlight Robert Parr offers guidance on how to become friends with phrasal verbs:<br /><br />STEP 1. : Realise that it is paramount for you to understand phrasal verbs and not to produce them initially. As time passes, however, you should start to make use of them more frequently because your spoken English will sound much more fluent if you do so.<br /><br />For example, force yourself to say "We have to put off the meeting until Friday." instead of "We have to postpone the meeting until Friday."<br /><br />STEP 2. : Don't bother too much about the grammar and the meaning of phrasal verbs because if you revise them from time to time, you will master this difficulty.<br /><br />STEP 3. : Finally, ban the thought of phrasal verbs being something to be afraid of from your head and use them actively while speaking as often as possible, which is what I'm attempting to do at the moment with limited success.<br /></span>dynnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07113572328221837631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2796910000382796680.post-49399720752336594802007-05-22T07:50:00.000-07:002007-05-22T08:30:42.770-07:00dating-part 2<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_qEE8LvM5-WA/RlMDju3u_rI/AAAAAAAAA0U/022DM3pS95Q/s1600-h/computer-dating-profile.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_qEE8LvM5-WA/RlMDju3u_rI/AAAAAAAAA0U/022DM3pS95Q/s320/computer-dating-profile.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5067397918134042290" border="0"></a><br /><font size="4">For all of you hopelessly romantic people out there here is the second part of the "useful-vocabulary-for-dating" series:<br /><br />Two days later, Sandra is talking to her friend Ivana on the phone.<br /><br />Sandra: He's gorgeous! So easy to get on with.<br /><br />Ivana: What does he do?<br /><br />Sandra: Design software.<br /><br />Ivana: I hope you didn't <span style="font-weight: bold;">bombard </span>him <span style="font-weight: bold;">with</span> questions about his job.<br /><br />Sandra: Look, are you my <span style="font-weight: bold;">dating coach </span>or something? Anyway, why not?<br /><br />Ivana: He might think you're checking for <span style="font-weight: bold;">wallet padding</span>.<br /><br />Sandra: You've never even met him!<br /><br />Ivana: He paid, I suppose.<br /><br />Sandra: Yes. Is that another mistake?<br /><br />Ivana: So, when are you seeing him again?<br /><br />Sandra: Tonight.<br /><br />Ivana: Tonight? Don't you think you're <span style="font-weight: bold;">coming on a bit too strong</span>?<br /><br />Sandra: He only suggested a quiet drink somewhere.<br /><br />Ivana: Don't you think maybe now's a good time to hang back a bit?<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Explanations:<br /><br />bombard with-</span> an excellent, show-off-your-range-of-vocabulary way to say that someone is asking you way too much questions:<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">They bombarded him with questions about his looming wedding.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;">dating coach</span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;">-</span></span></span> After some time browsing the web, I stumbled across a great article about dating coaches which goes to show that they are currently all the fashion. According to the article, dating coaches are the last port of call for a mushrooming number of desperate singles. Although the methods applied on the clients and the charges vary greatly from dating coach to dating coach, apparently all of the coaches have one ultimate goal-to boost their clients' seductive skills. What can I say about that, but ask myself what ever happened to the good, old times when people just went on a date oblivious of any rules and still found their perfect match.<br /><br />To read the whole article, visit: <a href="http://abcnews.go.com/Business/FunMoney/Story?id=2193295&page=2">http://abcnews.go.com/Business/FunMoney/Story?id=2193295&page=2</a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">wallet padding</span>- is an expression which stands for how much money there is in a man's wallet<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">come on strong</span>- informal-to make it very clear to someone that you find them sexually attractive<span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span><br /><br /><br /></span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></font>dynnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07113572328221837631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2796910000382796680.post-27562709360738126872007-05-22T07:08:00.000-07:002007-05-22T07:50:12.823-07:00hot books<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_qEE8LvM5-WA/RlL8TO3u_qI/AAAAAAAAA0M/X7_GKnDFFyE/s1600-h/21Y5YXME6DL._AA180_.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_qEE8LvM5-WA/RlL8TO3u_qI/AAAAAAAAA0M/X7_GKnDFFyE/s320/21Y5YXME6DL._AA180_.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5067389938084806306" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Although this book has an excruciatingly long title, you shouldn't be put off by it as "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time" ranks high amongst my "the-best-ten-books-which-were-ever-written" list.<br /><br />In a nutshell, the story is about a 15-year-old boy named Christopher who has autism (a mental illness which makes people unable to communicate properly, or to form relationships). Apart from the fact that he cannot show emotions easily, he is as clever as they come. Just how shrewd he is can be observed by the reader while he tries to find out who killed a neighbours' dog, which is the ostensible topic of the novel.<br /><br />As the plot unfolds, the reader gets the unique opportunity to see the world through the eyes of a boy who says that feelings are nothing else than "...having a picture on the screen in your head." While reading, you feel sorry not only for Cristopher, but also for his family, who always feels that they are fighting a losing battle aganist his illness and are accordingly jaded by their life routine.<br /><br />I must say that I'm well aware that this book doesn't give you a complete insight into the complex phenomenon of autism, but what it certainly does is to broaden your perspective through acquiring knowledge on this topic. What's more, so poignant is the book at times that a male friend of mine even had to sob while reading it.<br /><br />All in all, this attention-grabbing book is definitely worth spending time on as it is a far cry from any fiction book I've ever read before.<br /></span>dynnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07113572328221837631noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2796910000382796680.post-85555107870818193782007-05-20T04:51:00.000-07:002007-05-20T04:57:54.962-07:00useful websites<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_qEE8LvM5-WA/RlA2c-3u_pI/AAAAAAAAA0E/iu3ToEgCCYI/s1600-h/website.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_qEE8LvM5-WA/RlA2c-3u_pI/AAAAAAAAA0E/iu3ToEgCCYI/s320/website.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5066609452332809874" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">As our listening exam is looming, I have here a collection of the superior listening quizzes for academic purposes:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.esl-lab.com/">http://www.esl-lab.com/<br /></a><br /><a href="http://www.parapal-online.co.uk/listening.html">http://www.parapal-online.co.uk/listening.html</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.elllo.org/">http://www.elllo.org/</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.gettoefl.com/preparation.htm">http://www.gettoefl.com/preparation.htm</a><br /></span>dynnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07113572328221837631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2796910000382796680.post-89902408667895179092007-05-14T23:27:00.000-07:002007-05-14T23:46:40.149-07:00life with a French man<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_qEE8LvM5-WA/RklTat69DDI/AAAAAAAAAz8/JxELs1wRF9s/s1600-h/Politics-essence.gif"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_qEE8LvM5-WA/RklTat69DDI/AAAAAAAAAz8/JxELs1wRF9s/s320/Politics-essence.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5064670974423403570" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">In a post I read on this blog yesterday Thomas wrote about the fact that he doesn't consider France to be a democratic country. How come?<br /><br />Well, democracy should be about the power for the people by the people. In other words, the people we elect each year are those who are supposed to represent us, our voice. Here is where the root of the problem is. Instead of discussing the problems of the electorate, politicians start to fight about who will get the larger piece of the action and who knows what else. The end result is that you as a voter feel cheated by exactly those people who should have implemented their pledges to you and accordingly you lose the faith in the power of voting.<br /><br />This is exactly what is happening to me at the moment. I've only voted for two times so far, but still I feel that there is not much point in voting again because:<br /><br />a) all the parties have similar manifestos<br />b) when one party comes to power it instantly forgets all about its promises<br />c) for the next four years I only witness battles between the opposition and the party in power about who will take more money from the Croatian public<br /><br />Nevertheless, I think I'm going to vote in the next general elections in November as it is my civic duty to do so although for the Croatian politics to change for better, there should be an earthquake which would bring the politicians to their senses again.<br /><br />If you want to read what Thomas wrote about this explosive topic, take a look at:<br /><br /><a href="http://lifewithafrenchman.blogspot.com/2007_01_01_archive.html">http://lifewithafrenchman.blogspot.com/2007_01_01_archive.html</a><br /></span>dynnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07113572328221837631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2796910000382796680.post-71845387328150711442007-05-14T22:57:00.000-07:002007-05-14T23:26:19.716-07:00nerd's eye view<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_qEE8LvM5-WA/RklMNN69DBI/AAAAAAAAAzs/NCODkwC1cyI/s1600-h/images.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_qEE8LvM5-WA/RklMNN69DBI/AAAAAAAAAzs/NCODkwC1cyI/s320/images.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5064663045913775122" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">As Mandel is both a nature and cycling enthusiast, in the posts I've read from her last she wrote about the <span style="font-style: italic;">Iron Horse Trail </span>and the <span style="font-style: italic;">Rattlesnake lake</span>.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">The Iron Horse Trail</span> (picture above) is located in Pennsylvania and it has two sections with some moderate climbs which require you to wear quality hiking boots while admiring the magnificient countryside on foot or by bicycle.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Rattlesnake lake </span>is a lake in Washington located in the <span style="font-style: italic;">Rattlesnake Mountain Scenic Area </span>which is a mountain ridge crisscrossed with numerous foot paths.<br /><br />Anyway, let me tell you now something about a topic which is cl</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_qEE8LvM5-WA/RklOsd69DCI/AAAAAAAAAz0/_Vax6EhSMmw/s1600-h/funny-fish-cartoon.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_qEE8LvM5-WA/RklOsd69DCI/AAAAAAAAAz0/_Vax6EhSMmw/s320/funny-fish-cartoon.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5064665781807942690" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">ose to my heart, but has nothing to do whatsoever with countryside. What I wish to talk about is something Mandel many a time writes about in her posts namely about my all-time favourite food-fish. Actually, to be more precise, about the rewards of fish being part of your daily diet.<br /><br />First and foremost, fish together with other seafoods provides over a billion of people around the globe with animal protein. What's more, especially saltwater fish is high in Omega 3 fatty acids which contribute to a healthy heart, so a fish diet is highly recommendable to anyone.<br /><br />Because of all the above mentioned, consuming fish is top of the agenda for me whenever I'm home as we have it on tap there. However, when I'm in Graz, my fish intake is much lower than it should be as I always make a song and dance about the fish sold in Austria. Somehow it doesn't taste like "genuine" fish to me although its taste is far from being bland.<br />I guess, that's the story of my life.<br /><br />Sources:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.visitpa.com/visitpa/details.pa?id=59713">http://www.visitpa.com/visitpa/details.pa?id=59713<br /></a><br /><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rattlesnake_Ridge">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rattlesnake_Ridge</a><br /><br /><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fish_%28food%29">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fish_%28food%29</a><br /></span>dynnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07113572328221837631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2796910000382796680.post-24069783365152924192007-05-14T22:39:00.000-07:002007-05-14T22:57:18.854-07:00Ireland from a Polish perspective<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_qEE8LvM5-WA/RklH-969DAI/AAAAAAAAAzk/Qldysy4AbE0/s1600-h/SP005471.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_qEE8LvM5-WA/RklH-969DAI/AAAAAAAAAzk/Qldysy4AbE0/s320/SP005471.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5064658403054128130" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Yesterday I read a post from Krystian's blog where he was going on about the integration of the ever-growing Polish community in Ireland and how the integration is still in its infancy. The rough estimate is that 130,000 Poles are living in Ireland at the moment.<br /><br />To cater for their needs as an ethnic minority, they have a Polish weekly magazine published in Ireland (<span style="font-style: italic;">Polska Gazeta</span>) as well as some Polish shops, pubs, and clubs. However, all this is just a drop in the ocean and the problems like the wage gap between Irish and Polish workers are still legion.<br /><br />The moment I read this post it rang a bell because Ms Welland gave us a text to read for this week's class with a similar topic. It's message could be applied to the Polish in Ireland as the writer of the text thinks that today we are living in a super-diverse society and only if the legal status of immigrants is profoundly changed both on a national and local level, can a common ground to start on be created between immigrants and the locals.<br /><br />I must say that this solution appears to me to be the soundest one. Nowadays, as no country can seal itself off from immigration, there should be mechanisms created that will be highly beneficial both for the immigrants and the locals. The last step that should be taken now is to walk the talk.<br /><br />If you wish to read more about the Polish community in Ireland, visit:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.theredcard.ie/news/2006/03/spotlight-on-nation-polish-in-ireland.html">http://www.theredcard.ie/news/2006/03/spotlight-on-nation-polish-in-ireland.html</a><br /></span>dynnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07113572328221837631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2796910000382796680.post-16698420836463323232007-05-12T23:07:00.000-07:002007-05-12T23:39:22.057-07:00Americans talk about their jobs<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_qEE8LvM5-WA/Rkaszd69C_I/AAAAAAAAAzc/NwnmVwD9wm0/s1600-h/merchandise.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_qEE8LvM5-WA/Rkaszd69C_I/AAAAAAAAAzc/NwnmVwD9wm0/s320/merchandise.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5063924831229905906" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">This week I would like to introduce you to an amazingly brave soul namely Janice Lejeune who despite being deaf-blind works as a merchandise handler.<br /><br />Her life story reads something like this:<br /><br />For many years she was a housewife and mother. One day she divorced and because of both acute loneliness and financial difficulties, she went through a training programme for disabled people. Finally, after some time searching for a job, she got hired as a merchandise handler.<br /><br />Reading what she says you can sense that not only does she adore the buzz of working, but she also is tenacious to carry out any arduous task she might receive.<br /><br />Another crucial aspect of her job is the working climate as all her colleagues are very caring without being overprotective which makes her feel over the moon almost every day on her job.<br /><br />The only thing that is a crying shame for her is the fact that although she could no more stop working than a fish could stop swimming, she is only a part-time employee. Nevertheless, she is very proud of everything she has achieved so far as apart from working she is also studying for her <span style="font-style: italic;">General Education Development Degree.</span><br /><br />While reading her life story, I had to fight back tears so touched was I by everything this woman was talking about. I must admit that I find it extraordinary that a woman with such a ghastly illness has the stamina to push boundaries and make her dreams come true. Such stories are the ones that restore my belief that only the sky is the limit for anyone who is conscientious enough.<br /><br />Sources:<br /></span><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /><a href="http://www.careerbuilder.com/JobSeeker/Jobs/JobDetails.aspx?job_did=J8C5RG63WKZQ10499T2&cbRecursionCnt=1&cbsid=2ed2941042cc47249a671961a51f388b-232337471-JF-5">http://www.careerbuilder.com/JobSeeker/Jobs/JobDetails.aspx?job_did=J8C5RG63WKZQ10499T2&cbRecursionCnt=1&cbsid=2ed2941042cc47249a671961a51f388b-232337471-JF-5</a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">the description of the duties of a merchandise handler</span><br /></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span>dynnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07113572328221837631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2796910000382796680.post-88804085919350335952007-05-12T22:49:00.000-07:002007-05-12T23:07:14.858-07:00driving over lemons<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_qEE8LvM5-WA/RkanEd69C-I/AAAAAAAAAzU/JJEQ0qYNZJ0/s1600-h/41WN9XFHXQL._PIsitb-dp-500-arrow,TopRight,45,-64_OU01_AA240_.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_qEE8LvM5-WA/RkanEd69C-I/AAAAAAAAAzU/JJEQ0qYNZJ0/s320/41WN9XFHXQL._PIsitb-dp-500-arrow,TopRight,45,-64_OU01_AA240_.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5063918526217915362" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Finally I've managed to get my hands on the book "Driving over lemons" by the one-time drummer of Genesis Chris Stewart.<br /><br />Before immersing myself in the book, I went to check what my trusted friends, reviewers at <span style="font-style: italic;">amazon.com, </span>said the advantages and drawbacks of this book were.<br /><br />Once on the site, I immediately noticed that the positive reviews outnumber the negative ones. Many readers hold the account of Stewart's life at the El Valero farm in Las Alpujarras, south of Granda, to be entertaining and an eye-opener. What's more, the characters are thought to be credible and the book an easy yet pleasurable read.<br /><br />On the flip side, the minority of readers think that the book is too detached and at times even mind-numbing and that Stewart didn't dedicate enough pages of the book to the colourful portrays of the locals.<br /><br />Despite the negative reviews, I hold that this book bodes well and the only thing that is left for me to do now is to start reading and commenting on it.<br /></span>dynnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07113572328221837631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2796910000382796680.post-37108272593532415802007-05-11T22:47:00.000-07:002007-05-11T23:47:40.339-07:00speaking<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_qEE8LvM5-WA/RkVVNd69C9I/AAAAAAAAAzM/0JZqXMEruu0/s1600-h/250px-Jaipuri_tribal_hand_tattoo.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_qEE8LvM5-WA/RkVVNd69C9I/AAAAAAAAAzM/0JZqXMEruu0/s320/250px-Jaipuri_tribal_hand_tattoo.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5063547045906549714" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Another Thursday. Another stint at <span style="font-style: italic;">Prince Charles pub</span>. Our topic of conversation this time was tattoos.<br /><br />If I cast my mind back a few years, I would remember how my fellow grammar school friends got tattoos surreptitiously done on all just imaginable parts of their body. Unlike them, I didn't get one as the mere thought of the needle used in such a procedure made me feel frozen with fear.<br /><br />Nevertheless, back then I committed myself that one day I would find out more about tattoos and this day has finally come.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">GENERAL INFORMATION ON TATTOOS<br /><br /></span>A tattoo is a mark made by inserting pigment into the skin as a way of body modification. The word derives reportedly from the Samoan or Tahitian word <span style="font-style: italic;">tatau </span>which means to mark or strike twice.<br /><br />Tattoos have been around since time immemorial as they go hand in hand with different cultures where they symbolise ranks, rites of passage etc. Nowadays they are seen as expressions of a person's character. Some tattoos are a form of cosmetics called permanent makeup which is used to intensify a person's eyebrows, eyes etc. by using natural colours.<br /><br />The procedure of getting a tattoo revolves around an electric tattoo machine which inserts ink into your skin via a group of needles.<br /><br />Although many people get tattooed or even heavily tattooed following the maxime <span style="font-style: italic;">no risk, no fun</span>, I still look at tattooing with a cautious eye because of the health risks attached which can range from the less harmful infections and allergic reactions to diseases like tetanus or hepatitis due to being tattooed with unsterilized equipment.<br /><br />Despite the fact that most people wear their tattoos forever, some repent their decision very soon and usually try to turn back time via laser removal. Alas, every laser removal is a complex, painful and costly procedure and no removal can prevent permanent scarring.<br /><br /> Taking all the above mentioned into consideration, before you get a tattoo, weigh all the pros and cons carefully, so that you don't end up with a hole in your pocket and a salutary lesson learnt.<br /><br />Sources:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.kidshealth.org/teen/your_body/skin_stuff/safe_tattooing.html">http://www.kidshealth.org/teen/your_body/skin_stuff/safe_tattooing.html<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><br /></a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tattoo">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tattoo</a><br /><br />p.s. While talking about something else, someone told me the English equivalent of "Versuchskaninchen" namely guinea pig.<br /></span>dynnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07113572328221837631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2796910000382796680.post-83588942966921013102007-05-11T22:09:00.000-07:002007-05-11T22:46:07.726-07:00reading-Mother's Day<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_qEE8LvM5-WA/RkVMRd69C6I/AAAAAAAAAy0/OeG0IABw4eY/s1600-h/bflys.gif"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_qEE8LvM5-WA/RkVMRd69C6I/AAAAAAAAAy0/OeG0IABw4eY/s320/bflys.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5063537219021376418" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">As tomorrow is <span style="font-style: italic;">Mother's Day</span> in many countries around the world, this post is dedicated to the intricate history of <span style="font-style: italic;">Mother's Day</span> in the USA and <span style="font-style: italic;">Mothering Sunday</span> in the UK.<br /><br />1. <span style="font-weight: bold;">The history of Mother's Day in the USA</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br />It is believed that the earliest celebrations of <span style="font-style: italic;">Mother's Day</span> date back to ancient Greece and the practice of mother worshipping.<br /><br />A good deal of centuries later, in 1872, the social activist Julia Ward Howe introduced<span style="font-style: italic;"> Mother's Day </span>in the USA as a day of peace commemoration after the Civil War</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> was brought to an end.<br /><br />By 1908 the function of <span style="font-style: italic;">Mother's Day</span> changed thanks to Anna Jarvis who said that this day should be a memorial day for women from all the corners of America and such a view of the role of <span style="font-style: italic;">Mother's Day</span> spread like a fire on to 45 countries in the world, including my home country.<br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_qEE8LvM5-WA/RkVQxt69C8I/AAAAAAAAAzE/IirUjJVutIo/s1600-h/180px-Simnel_cake_1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_qEE8LvM5-WA/RkVQxt69C8I/AAAAAAAAAzE/IirUjJVutIo/s320/180px-Simnel_cake_1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5063542171118668738" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">2. <span style="font-weight: bold;">The history of Mother's Day in the UK<br /><br /></span>In the UK <span style="font-style: italic;">Mother's Day</span> is known under the name of <span style="font-style: italic;">Mothering Sunday </span>as a synonym for Laetare Sunday, the fourth Sunday of Lent. (this year it was the 18 March)<br /><br />Other names given to <span style="font-style: italic;">Mothering Sunday</span> are <span style="font-style: italic;">Simnel Sunday</span> (because of the simnel cake; picture above), <span style="font-style: italic;">Refreshment Sunday</span> or <span style="font-style: italic;">Rose Sunday</span>. On this day centuries ago domestic servants were given a day off to pay a visit to their families. Today the main tradition is "church clapping" when worshippers congregate and build a ring around the church building, holding hands.<br /><br />3. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Contemporary Mother's Day<br /><br /></span>Alas, contemporary <span style="font-style: italic;">Mother's Day </span>is all about spending money on lavish gifts for your mother. In other words, <span style="font-style: italic;">Mother's Day</span> has been stripped down to yet another lucrative business in our greedy world and its true spirit is all but gone.<br /><br />In my desperate quest to keep the spirit of <span style="font-style: italic;">Mother's Day</span> alive I wish to thank my mother for her all-embracing love with this post. What's more, thank you for being my unfailingly reliable and most ardent supporter in good and bad times, and for being willing to move heaven and earth just to lend me a helping hand.<br /><br />Finally mom, let me just say that you are worth your salt as a mother.<br /><br />My sources:<br /><br /><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mother%27s_day">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mother%27s_day</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.holidays.net/mother/">http://www.holidays.net/mother/</a><br /><br /><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mothering_Sunday">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mothering_Sunday</a><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><br /></span>dynnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07113572328221837631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2796910000382796680.post-29210573540963255562007-05-11T00:51:00.000-07:002007-05-11T01:11:32.966-07:00writing<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_qEE8LvM5-WA/RkQgp969C5I/AAAAAAAAAys/K3dF4E9FMpo/s1600-h/writing.gif"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_qEE8LvM5-WA/RkQgp969C5I/AAAAAAAAAys/K3dF4E9FMpo/s320/writing.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5063207786439838610" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">This weeks' writing post revolves around the correct usage of short forms in English.<br /><br />Everything I will be writing about is adapted from the May issue of <span style="font-style: italic;">Spotlight</span> magazine.<br /><br />1. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Short forms common in writing<br /><br /></span>Many common abbreviations have Latin or French origins:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">AD</span> (Anno Domini)- in the year of our Lord<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">cf</span>. (confer)- compare with- cf. The New Fowler's<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">e.g.</span> (exempli gratia) - for example- Try not to eat sweet foods, e.g. chocolate, cakes or ice cream.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">etc.</span> (et cetera)- and so on- We'll need drinks for the party: beer, wine, orange juice, etc.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">i.e. </span>(id est)- that is- The club is open only to adults, i.e. people over 18.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">NB</span> (nota bene)- note well- NB this door is locked from 2 p.m. to 8 a.m.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">RSVP</span> (réspondez s'il vous plait)-please reply- Come to our party, from ten till late. RSVP Tanja& Thomas<br /><br />2. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Everyday short forms<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">aka- </span></span>also known as- Agatha Christie, aka "The Queen of Crime"<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Nimby</span>-not in my back yard- you hope to keep something unpleasant out of your neighbourhood<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">TGIF</span>- Thank God it's Friday!- used at the end of the week<br /><br />3. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Small ads<br /><br /></span>If you want to rent accommodation, you might stumble across the following:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">n/s prof </span> non-smoking professional<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">refs reqd</span> references required<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">320 pounds pcm</span> 320 pounds rent per calendar month<br /><br />If, on the other hand, you're looking for a partner, knowing this short forms may be very helpful:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">GSOH</span> good sense of humour<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">OHAC </span> own house and car<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">WLTM </span> would like to meet<br /><br /> 4.<span style="font-weight: bold;"> Your task</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Can you comprehend the abbreviations in this advert?</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span>Pretty woman, slim, 40s, <span style="font-weight: bold;">SOH</span>, loving, intelligent, <span style="font-weight: bold;">WLTM</span> man for mutual appreciation, <span style="font-weight: bold;">TLC</span>, adventures and perhaps <span style="font-weight: bold;">LTR</span>. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Hants</span>, Box 0652.<span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br /></span></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br /></span></span></span>dynnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07113572328221837631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2796910000382796680.post-50857813702410127292007-05-11T00:01:00.000-07:002007-05-11T00:48:30.649-07:00Madeleine's abduction<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_qEE8LvM5-WA/RkQVS969C3I/AAAAAAAAAyc/XLferlauvSQ/s1600-h/_42890575_mccann2_ap416300.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_qEE8LvM5-WA/RkQVS969C3I/AAAAAAAAAyc/XLferlauvSQ/s320/_42890575_mccann2_ap416300.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5063195296674941810" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">1. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Facts<br /></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">The three-year-old Madeleine McCann was abducted from the Mark Warner's Ocean Club family resort (situated in the Algarve region in Portugal) on the 4th of</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> May while her parents were dining at a restaurant nearby, checking on her and her twin br</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_qEE8LvM5-WA/RkQXE969C4I/AAAAAAAAAyk/VG6W-DJeoE0/s1600-h/_42883623_portu_south_praia203.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_qEE8LvM5-WA/RkQXE969C4I/AAAAAAAAAyk/VG6W-DJeoE0/s320/_42883623_portu_south_praia203.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5063197255180028802" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">others every half an hour.<br /><br />Twelve hours ellapsed before the Portuguese police started searching for her, thinking initially that she may have lost her way somewhere and that she would return. The relatives of the family are running down on the alleged incompetence of the local police while the Portuguese public thinks that a Portuguese child gone missing wouldn't be looked for so feverishly. Such notions, however, will not bear in my opinion any fruit in the search for Madeleine.<br /><br />As the Portuguese law forbids the police to inform the public about their procedures, rumours are mushrooming. The latest say that a woman and a girl fitting Madeleine's description were noticed at a service station and that she must have been abducted by a British national who had insider information about the family's daily schedule.<br /><br />2. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Opinions of the public<br /><br /></span>The majority of the public sympathise with Madeleine's parents who are at the moment going through every parents worst nightmare and a horrendous ordeal on top of that as their first family holiday has been transformed into a holiday from hell.<br /><br />The McCann's try to stay positive although every minute that passes without their adorable girl makes it a little bit harder to breath for them.<br /><br />Despite of the fact that the great majority of the public is aware in what a desperate state the parents are, their leaving their children alone while eating out has sparked off a heated debate. Some parents say that they shouldn't have left their children unatended while others hold that you cannot take care of your children 24/7 and that there is always a risk involved in being a parent.<br /><br />Be that as it may, the way I see it is that today we are living in an increasingly threatening world and yet we cannot curb our children's freedom because of something that might happen. Abductions are after all few and far between.<br /><br />Finally, I would like to say that my prayers are directed to the family and I sincerely hope that Madeleine will return home safe and sound.<br /><br />Sources:<br /></span><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/6636869.stm">http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/6636869.stm</a><o:p></o:p></span> <br /><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><br /><a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_pictures/6629399.stm">http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_pictures/6629399.stm</a></span> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6637469.stm">http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6637469.stm</a></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/6638793.stm">http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/6638793.stm</a><o:p></o:p></span></p> <span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman";" lang="EN-GB"><a href="http://www.theherald.co.uk/features/features/display.var.1381410.0.0.php">http://www.theherald.co.uk/features/features/display.var.1381410.0.0.php</a><br /></span><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><br /><a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/main.jhtml?xml=/opinion/2007/05/08/do0803.xml">http://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/main.jhtml?xml=/opinion/2007/05/08/do0803.xml</a><br /></span><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><br /><a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/05/07/wtoddler107.xml">http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/05/07/wtoddler107.xml</a></span> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/6627605.stm">http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/6627605.stm</a></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/london/content/articles/2007/04/18/vanessa_today_feature.shtml">http://www.bbc.co.uk/london/content/articles/2007/04/18/vanessa_today_feature.shtml</a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;">Some noteworthy vocabulary I stumbled across while reading my sources:</span></p><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">negligent; negligently;negligence</span>-irresponsible<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Mr Brown was found guilty of negligent driving.<br /><br />to be a part and parcel of something-</span>to be a necessary feature of something<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Working irregular hours is all part and parcel of being a journalist.<br /><br />salutary-formal-</span>a salutary experience is unpleasant but teaches you something<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">zealous; zealously</span>-someone who is zealous does or supports something with great energy<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">No one was more zealous than Neil in supporting the proposal.</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span><p style="font-style: italic;" class="MsoNormal"><br /><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="font-style: italic;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p style="font-style: italic;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <br /><p style="font-style: italic;" class="MsoNormal"></p><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /><br /></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br /></span></span>dynnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07113572328221837631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2796910000382796680.post-7746075010737442742007-05-10T23:23:00.000-07:002007-05-11T00:01:41.241-07:00listening<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_qEE8LvM5-WA/RkQMTt69C1I/AAAAAAAAAyM/mrMQcoGccrY/s1600-h/CSI_thumbnail.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_qEE8LvM5-WA/RkQMTt69C1I/AAAAAAAAAyM/mrMQcoGccrY/s320/CSI_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5063185413955193682" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">This week I have been getting a thrill out of watching and listening to my dearest series <span style="font-style: italic;">CSI (Crime Scene Investigation) </span>on this link:<br /><a href="http://www.tv-links.co.uk/index.do/1">http://www.tv-links.co.uk/index.do/1</a><br /><br />1. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Why is</span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"> CSI </span><span style="font-weight: bold;">my best-loved series?</span><br />First and foremost, CSI is my favourite series because of its subject matter- the investigations of a team of Las Vegas forensic scientists who risk their life and limb daily trying to unearth the truth behind robberies committed by sly and treacherous thieves or violent deaths executed by cold-blooded killers with a heart of stone.<br /><br />What attracts me even more about <span style="font-style: italic;">CSI </span>is the renowned style of each episode with its involved plots, odd camera angles, crime reconstructions, and lighting in the manner of avant-garde films. Of course, what makes this series special are also its</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_qEE8LvM5-WA/RkQPYd69C2I/AAAAAAAAAyU/kfA2YAzrUCY/s1600-h/images.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_qEE8LvM5-WA/RkQPYd69C2I/AAAAAAAAAyU/kfA2YAzrUCY/s320/images.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5063188794094455650" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"> multifarious main characters who have to carry out a bewildering array of ta</span><span style="font-size:130%;">sks in order to corroborate someone's guilt or innocence. What's more, what seems like light years ago I would have sold my soul for becoming a crime scene investigator myself if I wouldn't dread the thought of examining dead bodies.<br /><br />2. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Criticism of the series and its two spin-offs<br /><br /></span><span>Me loving the series is only part of it. The amount of people who critizise it for showing so much violence and sexual content is the other side of the coin. Alas, violence has become the norm today and <span style="font-style: italic;">CSI </span>has pushed the boundaries in that it was the first series showing such themes during prime time.<br /><br />As much as the series is railed against for the violent pictures shown it is also disparaged by the police and the juridical forces for portraying far-fetched police procedures as well as nurturing the belief in some people that any crime is soluble. The latter belief is also known under the name of the <span style="font-style: italic;">CSI Effect</span>.<br /><br />This all may be well and good, but we must remember that a television series is fictional and accordingly everything it depicts should be taken with a pinch of salt.<br /><br />Sources:<br /><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CSI:_Crime_Scene_Investigation">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CSI:_Crime_Scene_Investigation</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.cbs.com/primetime/csi/">http://www.cbs.com/primetime/csi/</a><br /><br />Some compelling vocab I came across while watching <span style="font-style: italic;">CSI</span>:<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">entourage</span>- British English-a group of people who travel with an important person<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">the president and its entourage<br /><br />graveyard shift-</span>especially American English<span style="font-style: italic;">-</span>a regular period of working time that begins late at night and continues until the early morning, or the people who work during this time<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">hideous; hideously; hideousness</span>-extremely unpleasant or ugly<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">hideous crimes<br /><br />put/press/push the pedal to the medal-</span>American English-to drive a car etc. very fast<span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span><br /><br /><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br /></span></span>dynnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07113572328221837631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2796910000382796680.post-69527816733942668632007-05-10T00:03:00.000-07:002007-05-10T00:39:22.944-07:00famous people<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_qEE8LvM5-WA/RkLDxt69CyI/AAAAAAAAAx0/QJm3uYyYtP8/s1600-h/061101intown.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_qEE8LvM5-WA/RkLDxt69CyI/AAAAAAAAAx0/QJm3uYyYtP8/s320/061101intown.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5062824190025730850" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Christian Lacroix (full name-Christian Marie Marc Lacroix) is a French fashion designer born in Arles on May 16, 1951.<br /><br />His childhood was spent delighting in Provencal and Gypsy traditions, theatre, opera, and museum visits. Near the end of his adolescence, Lacroix began studying Art History a</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_qEE8LvM5-WA/RkLLIt69CzI/AAAAAAAAAx8/zdHkYD9aulo/s1600-h/HauteCouture-ChristianLacroix6.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_qEE8LvM5-WA/RkLLIt69CzI/AAAAAAAAAx8/zdHkYD9aulo/s320/HauteCouture-ChristianLacroix6.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5062832281744116530" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">t the University of Montpellier. Later, he continued his stu</span><span style="font-size:130%;">dies at the Sorbonne and the Ecole du Louvre hoping to realise his long-cherished dream of becoming a museum curator.<br /><br />However, a completely different fate was awaiting him. First, he met his future wife Françoise who coaxed him to draw. Around the same time, he ran across the designer Jean-Jacques Picart the collaboration with whom propelled Lacroix to stardom as the hottest designer of the late 1980s.<br /><br />In 1987 he opened his own couture house and since then his star has been in the ascendant as his house has been successfully selling products ranging from handbags to perfumes and children's wear.<br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_qEE8LvM5-WA/RkLLOt69C0I/AAAAAAAAAyE/uJdKi1BPSsM/s1600-h/HauteCouture-ChristianLacroix5.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_qEE8LvM5-WA/RkLLOt69C0I/AAAAAAAAAyE/uJdKi1BPSsM/s320/HauteCouture-ChristianLacroix5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5062832384823331650" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">As a designer he is renowned for the theatrical style of his clothes as well as for closing all his haute couture fashion shows with a model dressed up as a bride.<br /><br />Apart from all that, Lacroix is the darling of many Hollywood stars and starlets and he, for instance, designed the wedding dress of Grammy award winning Christina Aguliera.<br /><br />Today, his company owns 1,000 flagship stores around the world and his retirement is still light years away.<br /><br />To read more, visit:<br /><br /><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_Lacroix">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_Lacroix</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.infomat.com/whoswho/christianlacroix.html">http://www.infomat.com/whoswho/christianlacroix.html</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.christian-lacroix.fr/">http://www.christian-lacroix.fr/</a><br />(Lacroix's official site)<br /></span>dynnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07113572328221837631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2796910000382796680.post-18084972204383791282007-05-09T23:56:00.000-07:002007-05-10T00:02:23.565-07:00jokes<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_qEE8LvM5-WA/RkLCHt69CxI/AAAAAAAAAxs/NLWKpX353ds/s1600-h/jokes.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_qEE8LvM5-WA/RkLCHt69CxI/AAAAAAAAAxs/NLWKpX353ds/s320/jokes.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5062822368959597330" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, Geneva, Swiss, SunSans-Regular;font-size:130%;"> A garda pulls over a speeding car. He says, "I clocked you at 80 miles per hour, sir." The driver says, "Are you sure? I had it on cruise control at 60, perhaps your radar gun needs calibrating." Not looking up from her knitting the wife says: "Now don't be silly dear, you know that this car doesn't have cruise control." As the garda writes out the ticket, the driver looks over at his wife and growls, "Can't you please keep your mouth shut for once?" The wife smiles demurely and says, "You should be thankful your radar detector went off when it did." As the garda makes out the second ticket for the illegal use of a radar detector unit*, the man glowers at his wife and says through clenched teeth, "Woman ,didn't I tell you to keep your mouth shut!" The garda frowns and says "And I notice that you're not wearing your seat belt, sir. That's an on the spot 60 euro fine. "The driver says, "Well, you see sir, I had it on, but took it off when you pulled me over so that I could get my license out of my back pocket." The wife says, "Now, dear, you know very well that you didn't have your seat belt on. You never wear your seat belt when you're driving." And as the garda is writing out the third ticket the driver turns to his wife and barks, "WHY DON'T YOU PLEASE SHUT UP??" The garda looks over at the woman and asks, "Does your husband always talk to you this way, Ma'am?" Smiling sweetly, she replies. Only when he's been drinking, sir."</span>dynnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07113572328221837631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2796910000382796680.post-40060724045330932592007-05-09T23:50:00.000-07:002007-05-09T23:55:54.499-07:00an idiom a week<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_qEE8LvM5-WA/RkLBLt69CwI/AAAAAAAAAxk/PYTgoUiLip4/s1600-h/lime-cat.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_qEE8LvM5-WA/RkLBLt69CwI/AAAAAAAAAxk/PYTgoUiLip4/s320/lime-cat.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5062821338167446274" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">The idiom for this week is:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">to look like something the cat brought/dragged in</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Meaning:<br /><br /></span>If someone looks like something the cat brought in, they are very untidy and dirty:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">You can't possibly go to school like that-you look like something the cat brought/dragged in!</span><br /></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span><br /><br /></span>dynnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07113572328221837631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2796910000382796680.post-41260707462932978452007-05-09T23:38:00.000-07:002007-05-09T23:50:15.666-07:00What they said<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_qEE8LvM5-WA/RkK-I969CvI/AAAAAAAAAxc/HAkagxuYgSE/s1600-h/photo_lady_1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_qEE8LvM5-WA/RkK-I969CvI/AAAAAAAAAxc/HAkagxuYgSE/s320/photo_lady_1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5062817992387922674" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">George Bernard Shaw's quotes:<br /><br />"A lifetime of happiness! No man alive could bear it; it would be hell on earth."<br /><br />"Democracy is a device that ensures we shall be governed no better than we deserve."<br /><br />"Lack of money is the root of all evil."<br /><br />"When a thing is funny, search it carefully for a hidden truth."<br /><br />"People are always blaming their circumstances for what they are. I don't believe in circumstances. The people who get on in this world are the people who get up and look for the circumstances they want, and, if they can't find them, make them."<br />(from his play "Mrs. Warren's Profession")<br /><br /><br /><br /></span><span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /></span>dynnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07113572328221837631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2796910000382796680.post-69782259962998265302007-05-09T23:24:00.000-07:002007-05-09T23:34:55.545-07:00useful websites<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_qEE8LvM5-WA/RkK6xN69CuI/AAAAAAAAAxU/dngkAHDgKYs/s1600-h/website.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_qEE8LvM5-WA/RkK6xN69CuI/AAAAAAAAAxU/dngkAHDgKYs/s320/website.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5062814285831146210" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">While browsing the web this week, I've hit on a first-rate link which offers viewers the opportunity to watch a wide selection of the most fashionable series nowadays.<br /><br />Currently, I'm taking pleasure in watching all the episodes of my most-liked series "CSI" that I didn't have the chance to see before.<br /><br />The link:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.tv-links.co.uk/index.do/1">http://www.tv-links.co.uk/index.do/1</a><br /></span>dynnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07113572328221837631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2796910000382796680.post-71219903786770094112007-05-09T22:58:00.000-07:002007-05-09T23:24:06.401-07:00new trends<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_qEE8LvM5-WA/RkK1I969CtI/AAAAAAAAAxM/OtTB2WlqDC4/s1600-h/crocs_cayman_CHOC.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_qEE8LvM5-WA/RkK1I969CtI/AAAAAAAAAxM/OtTB2WlqDC4/s320/crocs_cayman_CHOC.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5062808096783272658" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">The new buzzword for your feet is spelled <span style="font-weight: bold;">crocs</span>.<br /><br />The company behind this shoes is based in Boulder, Colorado and it was founded in 2002.<br /><br />Although this lightweight plastic shoes were at the outset advertised as boating and outdoor shoes, they have soon become a must-have item for all the fashionistas around the globe because of their comfort, lightness and eccentric design.<br /><br /> The astronomically high revenue crocs have brought to its founders so far goes to show that these shoes are a trend which will die a death in the forseeable future.<br /><br />To read more, visit:<br /><br /><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crocs">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crocs</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.the-original.at/">http://www.the-original.at/ </a><br />about the three flagship crocs stores in Austria<br /></span>dynnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07113572328221837631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2796910000382796680.post-23342322197863781052007-05-09T22:21:00.000-07:002007-05-09T22:58:30.105-07:00tenses dilemmas<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_qEE8LvM5-WA/RkKsd969CsI/AAAAAAAAAxE/ONHb0Y9-Ofs/s1600-h/tenses.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_qEE8LvM5-WA/RkKsd969CsI/AAAAAAAAAxE/ONHb0Y9-Ofs/s320/tenses.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5062798561955875522" border="0" /></a><strong>Teacher:</strong> Today we’re going to talk about tenses. Now, if I say <em>I am beautiful,</em> which tense is it?<br /> <strong>Student:</strong> Obviously, the past tense.<br />picture and text are from <a href="http://www.englishdroid.com/tenses.html">http://www.englishdroid.com/tenses.html</a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">As tenses are a never-ending source of bafflement for students, here are some of the most problematic tense rules in a nutshell. However, before you turn your attention to them, remember that no rule is written in tablets of stone.<br /><br />1. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Present simple and present continuous</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Present simple</span> is used with <span style="font-weight: bold;">verbs which perform the action they describe such as admit, apologise, guarantee</span> etc. These verbs are sometimes referred to as <span style="font-weight: bold;">performatives</span>.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Present continuous</span> is used with <span style="font-weight: bold;">adverbs</span> such as <span style="font-weight: bold;">always/constantly/continually/forever</span> to draw attention to something that is done so often that it is typical of a person, group, or thing:<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />You are constantly changing your mind.<br /><br /></span>If the <span style="font-weight: bold;">verb consider means "think carefully about" </span>it is used only with the present continuous:<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />He is considering taking early retirement.<br /><br />2. Past simple and present perfect<br /><br /></span>If we have a <span style="font-weight: bold;">sentence</span> with the <span style="font-weight: bold;">time clause since </span>we use the <span style="font-weight: bold;">past simple</span> in the <span style="font-weight: bold;">time clause</span> and the <span style="font-weight: bold;">present perfect</span> in the <span style="font-weight: bold;">main clause</span>:<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />She hasn't been able to play tennis since she broke her arm.<br /><br /></span>If we have a<span style="font-weight: bold;"> time clause </span>introduced by <span style="font-weight: bold;">after/when/until/as soon as/once/by the time/the minute/second/moment</span>, we use <span style="font-weight: bold;">past simple</span> if the time clause describes a <span style="font-weight: bold;">past event</span> and <span style="font-weight: bold;">present perfect</span> if it refers to the <span style="font-weight: bold;">future</span>:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">After she left hospital, she had a long recovery.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />I'll contact you the minute I've got the election results.<br /><br />3. Present perfect continuous and present perfect<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span>Present perfect continuous </span>is preferred if we have a sentence were we draw a conclusion from what we can see, hear etc.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">You've been eating my chocolate, haven't you? There's some on your shirt.<br /><br /></span>If, on the other hand, we refer to<span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"> a result of an activity, the present perfect </span></span>is used:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">I've used three tins of paint on the kitchen walls.<br /><br />4. Will and be going to<br /><br /></span>If we<span style="font-weight: bold;"> predict </span>something <span style="font-weight: bold;">based on our opinion or experience, will </span>is used<span style="font-weight: bold;">:<br /><br />The children will enjoy seeing you again.<br /><br /></span>If the<span style="font-weight: bold;"> prediction </span>is<span style="font-weight: bold;"> based on present evidence, be going to </span>is used<span style="font-weight: bold;">:<br /><br />The sky has gone really dark. There's going to be a storm.<br /><br /><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span>dynnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07113572328221837631noreply@blogger.com0