Podcasting activity: My dialogue with Tadzio

José: Today we are in a robots factory. We're gonna talk with the first creation of the famous mad scientist Avogadro Stahngun. Hello! What's your name?

Tadzio:Hi, human. My name is Human Jr.

J: What an unusual name!

T: I like Belgian hazelnut chocolate mousse with strawberries and stuff.

J: To the point, please. Do you know what you really are?

T: I'm from Finnland, Moikka.

J: But... I mean... That's not what I asked for...

T: You asked nothing, for you've lied.

J: By the way, can we take this serious, please?

T: Yes! Of course! If you don't interrupt me all the time...

J: Okay... Erm... What do you do during your free time?

T: I play basketball. It gets my circuits all pumped up.

J: That's a nice hobby. Do you even have arms?

T: I lost them in a tragic bear wrestling accident. Long story.

J: So you don't play basketball anymore?

T: Yes, with my feet, of course. I'm better at it now.

J: Why did you wrestle with a bear anyway?

T: I don't know, maybe because I thought it would be fun.

J: Any more stupid things you did during your lifetime?

T: Not really.

J: Any smart stuff?

T: I like bananas.

J: Okay, so... What's your favourite fruit?

T: A pear.

J: Only one?

T: One at a time. I get stomach ache if I eat to much of them.

J: Did your creator give you any special functions?

T: I wasn't created, I spontaneously appeared in a lab.

J: So you're God, huh?

T: No, that's you!

J: Ok, this thing's broken, let's finish before we touch more dangerous topics.

"Thirteen" vs. "The secret diary of Adrian Mole"

Well, well; here we have two examples of teenagers. They are in a common troubles on their age, but in different grade of hazard: Adrian is a teenager with a separate parents and have some problems in the school, but Tracy is manipulated by her own mind, trying to win "popularity". Well, is true that the wish of popularity can be very strong... But, have popularity a cost like the own personality? Tracy had to destroy all her life to win pain (to herself and to the people who really love her), false friends (leaving the real ones) and a dark future. Maybe Adrian will have a good future (I don't read the continuation), but if he continues devaluing the people who take care of him and valorating false friends like Nigel, I think he would finish like Tracy, or worse.

I have a very different form of thinking than these two teenagers, and the only I can say is... You have to realise of what you really want. You have to continue straigth, beating the obstacles, and being yourself, without being influenced. I can't put in their place; those things never affect me, because I have my goals and my objectives very clear. I think Tracy's situation is the most easy to avoid; if she didn't care about "being popular", she didn't had any problems! It's her own fault; it sounds a little cruel, but it's the truth... Adrian's problems are difficult to avoid: a bully, his parents' separation,... This last can be very traumathic; I know some people who have this problem. Unfortunately, it seems to be very common nowadays.
I feel sorry, because I know these terrible situation are real for a lot of people; but also I see that people hurting (phisically of psychologically) other people who are in a similar situation. If you are in problems, you must find help, without make pay for your pain other people. For this reason, these situations aren't shocking to me; in my town, there's some people who have a worse situation than that.

Photo sources: Adrian Mole and Thirteen.

Cinema time ! : Sakura CardCaptors, The Movie

This is the first film of the series. Sakura Kinomoto, a child girl who is capturing Clow Cards (magic cards), won a trip to Hong-Kong in a contest. She went there to spend her holidays, with her friends Tomoyo and Yukito, and her brother Toya.
All would was fine if Sakura doesn't start to have strange premonitory dreams, which alert her of a "powerful evil" who wants to attack her; Clow Reed, the Card's Maker, also had enemies.


Opinion

It was a very good movie! I like the numerous cute and sweet things that we can see in this film; the love is present most of the time. Oh, I also like the soundtracks, which are well adapted to the situations. The lovely japanese voices of the characters are a little wrong dubbed, but I also saw the japanese version with the subtitles in English, and it has a better traduction.
I give an 8 for this movie. Yeah, it's a very sweet one, but for a person who saw the series, the introduction of Sakura's life is too boring; it talks about the same of the series. I'm sorry, but I really don't like it.

Photo source: Here.

Friday Night!

Last night I had a really great time! I went to Figueres with my friend Adrián, his cousin Marina, his aunt Montse and a friend of his aunt.
We left Sant Miquel at eight p.m. by car. The moon was rising up; it was really red! When we reach Figueres, first Montse decided to wait for Nicole, who didn't arrived yet to the train station, so we took a walk, visiting a clothing store. After that, we went to drink something in a bar near to the station, and then Nicole arrived.
We went to a Chinese and Japanese Wok after that. During the dinner, we laugh a lot. We spent about 2 hours in the restaurant, eating a lot! Later, we went to another bar to drink something again, and then we return to Sant Miquel. I reached home at one a.m.


Opinion

It was a wonderful night! I really enjoy the environment; it was very warm and friendly. I felt a little sleppy, but it doesn't affect the fun. I'd like to repeat it... when I gained some money --'''.

Ayumi Hamasaki

Ayumi Hamasaki is a japanese singer, who sings in pop style basically.
She acted with other famous japanese singers like Utada Hikaru to make
the BGM of some RPG games. Ayumi sings in japanese, with her own style.
Her songs normally are pop, but sometimes they are like rock... It's
called J-POP; that name came from Japanese pop.
Opinion
I really like her songs! They remind me about a good friend who is far
away. With these songs, I feel emotional and nostalgic, remembering
some memories of the time we spent together in summer.
She's also friendly with her fans, which is unusual (I think) for a
rich popstar; it's a thing that I really like.
NOTE: I have to thank my friend Adriá for helping me making this entry.

Just an advice for my classmates

Some of the Goear's songs have an advertisiment. After this, the song will start automatically. DON'T PUSH THE PLAY BUTTON, OR MAYBE IT LOCKS AND YOU HAVE TO UPDATE THE PAGE TO LISTEN THE SONG!

Luna (My little cat)

My cat's name is Luna. She's seven months old (more or less). My family adopted her from the house of a partner from my mother's job. We had a talk about which tasks each member of my family would have to do before the adoption. I agreed to feed her; my father has to clean the sand everyday, and my brother has to give her water.
The especial day arrived. After we went shopping in Figueres, we went to get the cat. She was only two months! Luna was very small (and I have to say it: She was (and is) very cute!).
Now, Luna becomes a black huge cat, who enjoys bitting me and my brother.


Opinion

I love Luna. Maybe it's disgusting when she bites you, but she's only playing... And, I don't know, she makes me feel like a father, maybe because of the duties, that you've to do them even if they're bad.

- DO NOT DISTURB -
I need my beauty rest

Love story (Part 1)

Introduction: This a story that I'm writing alright now. If you can't read very sweet things, I recommend you to don't continue reading. Enjoy!

Last September began the school! I'm now in forth of ESO. All was new for me, because I did the other three grades of ESO in other center and I didn't know anyone. I was lost and lonely. Fortunately, a nice teacher comes with me to show my class.
When I opened the door, all the students were sitting in their chairs. I felt very scared when they stared at me all at the same time. Staring at the floor, I went to the only free chair and I sat on it.
The lessons passed without problems. No one talked to me, so I've been relaxed most of the time. In the playground time I went to the library to stay alone. I was doing my homework when a boy came to sit next to me.
I was very surprised and scared. The first thing I though that he was a bad guy who wants to make fun of me. The boy stared at me for a long while. I was getting a little nervous, so I said him with a disgusting voice:

- What the f*ck are you looking at?

I saw his face. He was very scared.

- I... I... I just want... to borrow you t-the eraser... Bu-but it doesn't mind...

I felt very sorry for that boy. It seemed he was alone, like me. It wasn't my intention to be bad with an innocent boy. Before he left, I tried to apologize:

- Oh, sorry! It was a confusion; I mistaked you with another person. Here is the eraser.
- Th-thanks...

The boy came to pick the eraser, but when he touched my hand, I felt a strange thing, like lightning struking through me. He looked surprised, like me. But before I could say a word, the boy left the library...


NOTE: I'm drawing a picture for this entry!

TV time ! : Nobuta wo Produce

"Nobuta wo Produce" (that means Nobuta's Production in japanese) is a japanese series, filmed in real places with real people (called Dorama). It talks about "the Production" of Nobuta -a cute teenage girl -which consists in make her popular in the high-school. The "Producers" are the most popular boys in the school -Shuji and Akira-, who wants to help her because she's a victim of bulling. While the production, the three teenagers learn important lessons and they mature. But it isn't all happy: a bad teenager makes some traps to screw Nobuta. Through real situations, they solve all the mess, being really good friends.


Opinion

I think this is a good Dorama; it expresses an actual situation, without any magic elements (well, there's a chapter where you can see three ghosts, but anything else). You can realise about a problem that make unhappy a lot of people (if it you never minded about it, this can be a very good oportunity to begin).
At the end, I felt very emotional; I won't explain it, but I recommend this series to people who like to though.


Photo: From left to right: Nobuta, Akira and Shuji.
Photo source: Here.

Selectivitat reading : Jet Lag

Part two

How has the air travel changed the way people spend their holidays?

Before we could use air travel, most people spent their holidays in the same country, unknowing a lot about other cultures. Today we can go out to another country, increasing our knowledge and enjoying ourselves in many different ways.
We can also forget our prejudices about foreigners, make new friends, change our life vision and make some memorable and unusual situations which we can't repeat in the future (we can take a lot of digital photos).
In conclusion, I think air travel has changed a lot the way we spend our holidays; with air travel, a door to a world of possibilities is opened.

Photo source: Here.

NOTE: Part one is being corrected by the teacher.

Opinion : Typical topics

When we talk about topics, basically we're referring to a typical "way of doing" of a collective. There are a lot of topics: they can talk about a country, of how to behave,... But, they are real, or is it just an invention? Those "ways of doing" have to had any reason, I think. Let's see some topics:

- Catalan people are stingy
- Girls are more emotional than boys *
- Boys don't cry in public and don't show their feelings *

I disagree with this, because I think that every person is a different world; maybe the topics could describe the "common" behaviour of people, but it was in the past. Now it have no sense. I think they're not real, because I have a lot of friends that behave contrary to the topics: for example, I know a boy who is the most emotional person I ever know.
These topics only contribute to make this society an intolerant one with all the person who have a different behaviour. I think that is better to make them disapear, because we can hurt someone with a topic.

* = In this society, we unconsciously assimilate that things; but now, more and more people behave in different forms, although a lot of people thinks that's "the correct way of behave". Obviously, I completely disagree with this "correct way of behave".

NOTE: I'm thinking in a photo!
NOTE 2: This is just my opinion. I apologize if I offended someone.

Music time ! : Nightmare - Avenged Sevenfold

Translation

Nightmare! / Malson!

(Now your nightmare comes to life) / Ara el teu malson cobra vida

Dragged you down below down to the devils show, / Arrastrat per sota de sota fins al show dels dimonis,
To be his guest forever, / Per ser el seu invitat per sempre,
Peace of mind is less than never / La pau de la ment és menor que mai
Hate to twist your mind, but God aint on your side / Odien giravoltar la teva ment, però Déu no està de la teva part
An old acquaintance severed, / Un vell conegut tallat,
Render of your last endeavor / Reproductor del teu últim esforç

Ashes burning, you can smell it in the air, / Cendres cremant, pots olorar-ho a l'aire,
Cause men like you have such an easy soul to steal. / Perquè els homes com tu tenen una ànima fàcil de robar.
So stand in line while banging numbers in your head, / Així que quedat a la fila mentre et colpegem números al cap,
Youre now a slave until the end of time / Ara ets un esclau fins al final dels temps
And nothing stops the madness turning, / I res para a la bogeria,
haunting, yearning, pull the trigger! / obsesionant, anhelant, prem el gallet!

You should have known /Hauries d'haver sabut
The price of evil, / El preu de la maldat
And it hurts to know that you belong here, yeah / I fa mal saber que hi pertanys, yeah
Ooooh, it's your fuckin nightmare / Ooooh, és el teu maleït malson
While your nightmare comes to life / Mentre el teu malson cobra vida

Cant wake up in sweat, cause it aint over yet, / No pots despertar ple de suor *, perquè encara no s'ha acabat,
Still dancing with your demons, / Encara ballant amb els teus dimonis,
Victim of your own creation beyond the will to fight, / Víctima de la teva pròpia creació darrere la voluntat de lluitar,
Where all thats wrong is right / On tot el que està malament està bé
where hate dont need a reason / on l'odi no necessita una raó
Love is self-assassination / Estimar és un suicidi

You've been lied to just to rape you of your sight, / Has estat enganyat per només destruir-te de la vista, *2
And now they have the nerve to tell you how to feel. / I ara gosen dir-te com sentir.
So sedated as they medicate your brain / Tan sedat a mesura que ells et mediquen el cervell
And while ya slowly go insane the tell you / I poc a poc et torna boig el dir
Give in with your best intentions / Cedir amb bona intenció
Help ya with your complications / Ajudar-te amb els teus problemes

You should have known the price of evil / Hauries d'haver sabut el preu de la maldat
And it hurts to know that you belong here, yeah / I fa mal saber que hi pertanys, yeah
No one to call, everybody to fear / Ningú per trucar, tothom per a témer
Your tragic fate is looking so clear, yeah. / El teu destí tràgic es veu clar, yeah.
Ooooh it's your fuckin nightmare ha ha ha ha!!! / Ooooh és el teu maleït malson ha ha ha ha!!!

(ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha)
Fight, not to fail / Lluitar, no fallar
Not to fall/ No caure
Or you'll end up like the others. / O acabaràs com els altres.
Die, die again / Morir, morir un altre cop
Drenched in sin / Empapat en el pecat
With no respect for another / Sense respecte pels altres
Oh!

Death / Mort
Feel the fire / Sent el foc
Feel the hate / Sent l'odi
Your pain is what we desire. / El teu sofriment és el que desitjem.
Lost, hit the wall / Perdut, colpeja la paret
Watch you crawl / Mirar com s'arrossega
Such a replaceable liar. / Com un mentider remplaçable.

And I know you hear their voices / I sé que escoltes les seves veus
(calling from above), / trucant per sobre,
And I know they may seem real / I sé que potser semblen reals
(these signals of love), / aquests signes d'amor
But a life's made up of choices / Però una vida està feta d'opcions
(some without appeal), / algunes sense dir,

They took for granted your soul / Ells agafen per concedida la teva ànima
And it's ours now to steal / I és el nostre moment per a robar
As your nightmare comes to life / Mentres el teu malson cobra vida

You should have known the price of evil / Hauries d'haver sabut el preu de la maldat
And it hurts to know that you belong here, yeah. / I fa mal saber que hi pertanys, yeah.
No one to call, everybody to fear, / Ningú per trucar, tothom per a témer,
Your tragic fate is looking so clear, yeah / El teu destí tràgic es veu clar, yeah
Ooooh it's your fuckin nightmare! / Ooooh és el teu maleït malson!


Opinion

This song expresses my fears, I think: This title is perfect for the song!. I like this song because it comforts me when I'm very sad (yes, maybe it's a contradiction if you look at the lyrics, but in this song I can only hear clearly the refrain and some scattered words: it's too difficult. Of course, I need to get the lyrics from youtube, and I've correct them).

* = Tipically, when awake after a nightmare, humans usually are sweating.
*2 = I'm not sure about this traduction...

NOTE: Maybe I'll put the videoclip.

Describing a manga character : Kerberos

Kerberos (also known as "Kero" or "Kero-chan") is one of the main characters in the japanese anime series "Cardcaptors Sakura" (originally it was a manga made by "CLAMP").

Kero protected the Clow Card's Book until Sakura - the most important character - unleashed them by mistake. Once the cards dissapear, Kero woke up from his sleep and guide Sakura to collect all them up. Unfortunately, Kero lost his true form without the cards, so he turned into a creature which ressembles a plush toy.

In his true form, Kerberos ressembles a winged lion with some ornamentation. He's strong and brave, and he can use some magical powers. Kero is responsible and serious in this form. Her voice is also more heavy than his false form.

Being in his "fake" form, Kero-chan is more cute!: He ressembles a winged teddy bear. He can't use all his powers, but Kero doesn't mind; in that form, he can hide between Sakura's plush toys and no one can discover him.
Also, Kero turns more irresponsible and cheerful. He likes to eat sweet things (he can't stop; maybe it can turns into a problem) and play videogames all the time.


Opinion

Kero - in his fake form - is one of my favourite manga characters! He so cute and graceful... Also I like his lovely voice in the series, especifically in japanese.
Sincerely, I don't like him in his true form.

Awww, Kero's so freaking adorable!!! >///<

In the photo: Kero's forms. Photo source: Here.

New Zealand attacks Japan's decision to resume whaling

5th of October

New Zealand thinks the Japan's whaling plans in the Antarctica are "entirely disrespectful".
Japan stopped whaling because of harassment from anti-whaling activists, but now wants to start again, and N.Z. wants to help the activist group called "Sea Shepherd".

This hunting don't affects me directly; I want to say "I disagree with Japan", but it isn't completely true... In fact, I don't know why they hunt whales; maybe is necessary. Obviously, I don't like the massive and irresponsible hunting... But controled, and if the reasons are good, I don't understand why we have to stop. Someone can say "poor whales..."; OK. Now, think in the meat you're eating weekly. Who has more rights, the pigs or the whales. By the same way, I also don't understand why they chase whales; what have whales that no other animal has?
Notice that I'm not defending any position; I can't give any solid opinion without knowing Japan's reasons. Do Japan do that for a scientific research programm, or is it commercial whaling in another guise?

SOURCE: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-15180776 (also for the image)

- Japan cut short its whaling season last year because of harassment by anti-whaling activists -

Music time ! : Sanctuary - Utada Hikaru

"Huh? I think I've already heard this song..."
That's what I think the first time I heard it in English. This is an English version made of the japanese song -Passion- of Utada Hikaru. I started playing one of my favourite videogames (Kingdom Hearts II) and I heard it as title song. I knew the japanese version before, and I really like it; actually it's one of my favourite songs. That time, I couldn't believe what I was listening ("WOW, an English version *u*!").
But well, this song also gives me really important memories of some moments in my life, and it remembers me some special people.

NOTE: I'm trying to do a traduction.

Opinion : What is best, be thin or chubby?

Well, this seems a "simple" question, but it isn't. This afternoon I talked with some friends about this, and I have a conclusion that I explain later.

When young people see a fat person (but I'm referring to a "normal-one"; in this society, a lot of adults are fat, but not over-weighted), they normally... "don't like it". They think that is better to be thin; I can understand that. But I'm not referring that. I'm talking about the appearance (today, it seems to be really important).

This give us another question, more difficult. What is more attractive, a chubby person or the typical stereotype of the super-thin model? Well, most of the people prefers the second one (male or female, it doesn't matter)... But I don't know why. Maybe this society is too superficial, only the "perfect" body is the wanted one. But I think the true attractiveness is inside the people: if a very beautiful model ask me to get a date with him, but it's not a kind person, I'll reject (in a kind form, for not hurt his feelings).

That reflection gives me a conclusion: it doesn't mind if you're thin or chubby, while you feel okay by the way you are (I know how it feels for a fat boy to being displaced only for being that; but if you doesn't mind what the others say, you can be very happy being thin or chubby); I think the only what matters isn't the body, it's the heart.


Of course, I know being thin is better for do exercise (there are exceptions; a person with health problems maybe is thin and isn't able for doing exercise, and a person can be chubby because he has that metabolysm and he can do exercise, to say few ones) ... I'm only talking about the appearance.


NOTE : Maybe you think that my opinion is strange; well, you don't know all about me, but I don't get anything of lying.
NOTE 2: I tried to not offend anyone, but if I did that, I apologize; it wasn't my intention.

Reading time ! : Eragon

Summary

Eragon, an 15 year-old boy, lived peacefully in a village in the mountains, with his uncle and his cousin. They were farmers, having a normal life.
But, one day, an strange blue stone appeared in front of Eragon, and a dragon borned from it. Soon, he had to escape from the king of Alagaësia, a mad man who wanted him for his dark purpouses.

Soon, he realized, seeing the true of the outside world, that the destiny of Alagaësia was on his shoulders.


Opinion

I think this is one of the best books I ever read. Normally, I only read fantasy books, and if I have to say what book I prefer to read another time, probably I'll choose this one.
The history is exciting and had characteristics of a real good one: a big journey, some emotional moments... Also I like it because of Eragon's evolution; through the experience, a young farmer becomes a bold dragon rider.
The book has a standard vocabulary, and most of people can read it without problems.

Some facts I like:

• The book is in 4 different languages, counting the English: The Urgal Language, the Dwarf Language and the Ancient Language. The Urgal Language is talked by the Urgals, the Dwarf Language is talked by the Dwarfs, and the Ancient Language is talked by the Elves and it's used to make spells. I love that fact, because I think it helps to absorb you into the story.
  

• The world of Eragon is called Alagaësia: Christopher Paolini (book's writer) inspired in the landscapes of Canada to create the world. I really like that; everytime I tried to wrote a story (before I read the book), I had the impulse of making a map of the world in the story. Like the languages, it helps "to enter" in the story.

Summary (not mine): Here. I made my summary by myself, without reading this summary before I made mine. I post it because I think a summary has a little of opinion of the maker, so it can be interesting to see another one.

- Alagaësia's Map -
(The image is from here. Oh, the photo of the title page is from here)

TV time ! : The Big Bang Theory

23th of September

I was in the Language Room. That day, following my friend Tadzio's advice, we saw a chapter of the north-american series "The Big Bang Theory".

It was fun! There were a lot of gags, usually related with scientific facts or the things that Sheldon Cooper (the main character) do. Specifically, we saw the chapter number 22 («The Euclid Alternative»).

This episode talks about Sheldon's difficulties to get places, because he hasn't got a driver's permission. His friends try to help him, but he is too annoying and they have to force Sheldon to obtain his driving license (even the personal of the school get tired of Sheldon: he obtain his card without any exam!)

I really enjoy that episode, but I can't keep this out of my mind: If Sheldon be real, maybe his friends can hurt his feelings if they go in that way... In fact, they try to keep him away.

- Sheldon Cooper screaming when his friend tries to help him -

(The photo is from here. Also you can see the episodes of the series in that web)

Presentation mail

Hi Lourdes!

I'm José Yépez and I'm the student that you're looking for! Maybe you're bored of people who are lazy. Well then, I like working a lot! Most of my friends say that I'm a kind person, but a little mischievous sometimes.

Oh, no! My cat wants to bite me! Her name's Luna and she's six months old. I keep thinking that she sees me as a meal. And it's strange, because Luna doesn't bite anyone else. I don't want to ignore her, because she's little and needs love and affection.

My brother is doing his homework now. He's eleven years old and has a very bad handwriting. My parents work most of the days, so we stay alone at home.

I sometimes must cook and I like to do that; but the taste is unbeliavebly bad. How can good ingredients such spaguetti taste like something unknown?


I hope you like my presentation. I know; maybe it's a boring one, but I don't exactly know how I can present myself in an original way.

Have a nice weekend -^^- !