TV Violence

In the article I read the author says that watching violence on TV and in other forms of audiovisual media is strongly correlated with aggression and therefore poses a serious public health threat. The author is totally convinced that his research clearly shows that when children who watch violent programmes become adults, they are more aggressive than people who did not watch them. In my opinion, the author is right about it but the problem is that most of the TV programmes show violence nowadays. What is more, politicians in the entire world demonstrate cruelty when they decide to invade a country, to make wars and when they do not eradicate poverty. Violence is an important issue and I think it is difficult to stop it. 

 Tania

The Shawshank redemption

“The Shawshank redemption”is a 1994 drama film directed by Frank Darabont. Shawshank is the name of one of the most famous state American prisons where Andy Dufresne, the main character, is sent after being convicted of murdering his wife and her lover.

Andy, who used to work as a banker, had lots of problems in the prison, but he could face and solve many of them. Years and years passed and Andy started making friends and worked for the warden, who used him in his money laundering operations.

More than ten years after his arrival, the desire to get out of Shawshank increased more and more in Andy and his friends. Red, who had been in prison for more than twenty years, was known for obtaining contraband. He got Andy a rock hammer and several well-known actresses’ posters.

This is an excellent film that I highly recommend you to watch if you haven’t.

Please let me know what you think of it when you have seen it.

Jackie

Acute Coronary disease

 

   This time I would like to share with you some information I have read from an article on Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS). Nowadays ACS is one of the most common diseases, accounting for over 135.000 deaths in Europe. 

    Recent trials have showed that more than 50% of the world population suffers from heart attack or chest pain which occur as a result of increased cholesterol levels, hypertension and so on. Although a number of factors contribute to the progression of the disease, the article highlights that it is mainly caused by cigarette smoking consequences.

    As these cardiac episodes are most common among people aged 35 to 70 years old, some clinical trials have been conducted in order to evaluate this affected population and find the appropriate medicine to treat and control chest pain and discomfort, blood pressure and other coronary diseases.

  It is said that thanks to the widespread availability of coronary antibiotics such as aspirin, clopidogrel and other oral drug, coronary heart disease has largely been eradicated. However, the article tries to explain that it is not completely true.

    Despite some successes achieved in recent years, acute coronary syndrome remains a major cause of death and disability in the Western world, as well as in developing countries.     Because of that, through the article The European Society of Cardiology, The American College of Cardiology and The American heart Association recommend to the population some lifestyle changes, such as quitting smoking, following a healthy diet, increasing physical activity, and losing weight, if needed.

     In my opinion, this is a very interesting and informative article, which gives us some good medical advice for us to consider and evaluate our current lifestyle.

       Abby.

An anecdote

Hi people! I·m here again ,but this time with the intention of sharing with you the experience that I lived in my adolescence. In the previous months to my 15th birthday, I decided to send a letter  to my favourite actor, with the crasy idea of inviting him to my birthday party. As you see, I was a great dreamer during those times! For a while I began to feel anxious just thinking that he could answer me! Till one day, I saw a  letter lying on the floor, at the entrance of my house.  I couldn·t believe my eyes!!  And as I was so excited I couldn·t open it ! At last ,I did so ,and found a photo of him with a card that said:    

                

                    Due to the large number of letters he receives,

            D McC. regrets that he is unable to  

           answer you personally. Please accept the

           enclosed photograph with Mr. Mc C·s sincere thanks.

 

I felt extremely happy at that moment , and I feel pleased now.This  lovely experience will be in my memories for ever!!

 

Ambar

 

“Midnight in Paris”

            I  have seen the movie named “Midnight in Paris” directed by Woody Allen. As I´ve seen all the films written and directed by Allen, in my opinion this one is the best.

            It´s perfectly co-starred by Owen Wilson, Rushell Mac Adams and Adrian Brody, among other actors and actresses, due to Allen´s direction. The plot is settled in Paris, the director of photography actually realizes one of the best works. Because I have been in Paris, he shows with magnificent  lenghts the “city of lights”, in which the main actor travels to the twenties of the 20th Century. So, he creates a lively and unexpected atmosphere.

            All  the film is considered by the critics a fantastic travel or a fairy tale.

Graffiti Woman

The Purple Patch (by David Bateson)

    This short story, narrated in first person point of view, tells the reader about a boy named Jackie, who was ashamed of having to wear a purple patch in the seat of his trousers because his parents could not afford a new pair of britches.
 In the first place, there was a rich girl called Penny that Jackie was trying to impress so he wanted to find a solution his problem. Thus, he sold his ball and his burning glass to a another boy in order to enter a sports’ contest and try to win some money.
 While he was inside the place, he noticed that Penny was there, too. So he took part in some competitions with other girls as partners, but in the end, he went in the Wheelbarrow Race with Penny. Much to his surprise, the girl was simple and easy-going and did not seem to care about the patch.
 Sometimes we tend to misjudge people on the basis of trivial matters. This story clearly shows how different people commit mistakes because they do not know each other very well.

Victoria

Marionettes, Inc.

Marionettes, Inc. is an amazing short story written by the well-known science fiction writer Ray Bradbury. I read this story many years ago and I really loved it. It is fantastic how real life, science fiction and ethical issues are included just in a simple short story.

This story is about two friends, Bradling and Smith who were not happily married, they felt that their lives were passing and they were not enjoying it. One day, while they were walking at night, Bradling told Smith that he was going to Rio. Going to Rio was his life-dream. Smith was completely surprised and he wanted to know how his friend could go without his wife snarl. Bradling confessed that he had bought a marionette identical to him in a new secret incorporation. Those marionettes just replaced the people when they were told; they had no feelings and easily kept in a toolbox. In this way, he could travel abroad leaving his replacement and he would have a great time in Rio. After telling this, he showed Smith Bradling two (the robot) and gave him the card presentation of the incorporation just in case he wanted it for him. That night when Smith returned home he felt completely nervous and hesitant without knowing what to do. Many times he thought about the possibility to buy one with his savings, so as he could take a break of his wife. As his thoughts did not let him sleep, he woke up in order to check his fifteen thousand dollars. For his surprise, he discovered that ten thousand dollars were missing. Immediately he went to the bedroom and questioned his wife and he started hearing a sound like tick tick tick…he found out his wife, was not his wife, but a “marionette”.Meanwhile, Bradling asked Brandling two to go into the toolbox but it refused, they quarreled because Bradling two admitted being in love with Bradling`s wife.After they struggled, bradling two managed to put his owner in the toolbox, and told him that he woul buy another Rio ticket to his wife. What seemed to be their way to escape from their wives resulted in a real nightmare for both men.

Melman

FINAL MISSION OF SPACE SHUTTLE ATLANTIS

     On Thursday 21st, 2011 the space shuttle Atlantis landed back on Earth. This was the ending of the shuttle program that finished a succession of 33 space missions. Atlantis had started its missions after the space shuttle Columbia disaster in 1985 at John Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Atlantis had orbited the Earth 4,848 times since the 1st mission i.e. more than 525 times the distance from Earth to the Moon. In 2007 the Atlantis carried out the longest mission that lasts 14 days in June and in 2009 it flew seven -member crew to the Hubble Space Telescope. This was a really successful voyage with five space walks for 37 hours to install new cameras, batteries and components to repair the telescope. The total number of individuals that flew with the space shuttle Atlantis during the 33 missions is 155.

     Once the Atlantis is decommissioned, it will be exhibited at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. It has been planned to keep the Atlantis suspended as if it were back in orbit around the Earth with some digital projections of the planet rotating. All this will be in a 64,000 square-foot facility planned to begin in 2012 with the exhibit opening in 2013.

Spoon

Lamb to the slaughter

The short story “Lamb to the slaughter” writen by Roald Dahl is amazing, due to its complex plot. The main character Mary Maloney is in her house waiting for his husband, who is Patrick Maloney , and works as a police detective.

            The author  does an unspected and surprising ending in the short story. During its climax Mary Maloney is going to tell her husband that she is pregnant, while he is going to leave her. Because he has just  begun another relationship with a lover.

            Not accepting what Patrick Maloney is going to abbandoned her, she kills him with a leg of lamb. In the resolution  of the short story, Mary prepares an allaby to convinced the detectives and the police , so they belive her.

            Personally, I have read the  “Lamb to the slaughter” more or less five times and I have enjoyed a lot .  In addition , the same happended with the book “ Charlie and the chocolate fabrik” writen by Roald Dahl too.Both readings are amazing to read.

Graffiti Woman