film review

Monster's Ball

This is a film I first saw long ago, but which made a big impact on me.Starring Halle Berry, Billy Bob Thornton
and Heath Ledger, and directed by Marc Foster, it tells the story of a racist, ultra-conservative prison officer
in charge of executing the inmates in the death row.
He meets an attractive black woman whose husband was sentenced to capital punishment and whose overweight child died in a car accident.
When the prison officer's son commits suicide, a strong bond is created between the lonely couple and he eventually manages to overcome his initial apprehension and lead a meaningful life next to her.
It is a deeply moving, gripping film that shows how personal, deep-rooted prejudices can be broken down in favour of a more tolerant outlook. It is also a film about loneliness and how pain draws people together.
The acting is superb, awarding Halle Berry an academy prize.
I would strongly recommend this film to adults loving good stories wonderfully told, to those who enjoy some food for thought, not just fun.

Radio podcasts

Hi! I couldn't listen to the radio on my PC, so I had to do my homework in the workplace.
Do you know the meaning of the verb "to moonlight"? If not, and if you want to learn, listen to "Real English" at BBC World Service. You can also hear some Chinese!

Have a good week

Hi everyone,
Just to say to you all - have a good weekend - switch off if you can and enjoy this week´s short story- looks like the bad weather might impose a reading weekend on all of us...
See you next week
Julie

BBC - Radio - Podcasts - Tony Livesey Experience

BBC - Radio - Podcasts - Tony Livesey Experience

test

autumn

autumn

Comment on article about torture

On the 5th November did I read and print an article about torture in the Guardian but I am so ankward with computers, that I was not able to get in our page. I have managed this time and here comes my comment:
It is an inteview between John Bellinger, senior adviser on international law of the USA and Philippe Sands, professor of law at University College London.
The fact that PS just makes the question if the technique of simulated drownig ranks as torture for the USA, and that JB was not able to answer if the water boarding was prohibited by international law, shows which kind of country is leading the world.
If torture is considered as the intentional infliction of physical pain or suffering, I think that it is no doubt about the the illegality of this practice, which is not only taken into practice by the USA, but also nowadays in Spain.

News about climate change

I didn't manage to send it last week. So better late than never.
I read some apocalyptic news about what may happen to some of Spain's most emblematic places because of climate change. The most overwhelming issue about it is that there is a digitally retouched picture of La Manga del Mar Menor in Murcia showing it before and after a rise in sea level, where hotels and apartment blocks are almost underwater.
Should we start panicking about it or just take it as a catastrophic warning about the future?

Hundreds of Russians were ordered to attend Putin ...

Hundreds of Russians were ordered to attend Putin rallies With this short article we can realize how strong Russian official powers can be when trying to introduce changes so as to enable Putin to stand for a third term as president, which at the moment is illegal.Prosecutors are examining all the documents to make clear whether the compulsory demonstrations in support of Putin were ordered by the Kremlin or by local bureaucrats.On the other hand, although Mr. Putin has promised to leave the presidency, he has hinted he could become prime minister when his term ends.

trees

children picture

Young actress Ruth Wilson

This news item is about a young , promising actress named Ruth Wilson. She has arched eyebrows, conjuring up actresses in silent films. Having starred as Jane Eyre in a BBC 1 serial and in a TV drama, Capturing Mary, shown on BBC 2, she possesses a curriculum that most young actors of her age, 25, would wish for.The secret of her success is her ambition and perseverance. Being the youngest of four children - and the only girl- has also imprinted a strong , determined character on her. She reckons she´s been lucky but also that you make and fight for your luck.

new york 5

another one......

pets

paris at night

new pictures

Seasons

sea

river

Let´s put a photo here!

paris

New York

apple

flowers

eibar

Dogs

Flowers 3

Animal photos

nice bridge in Paris

see my pics

http://www.freewebs.com/angelnunez

london pictures

This is a picture I managed to upload with Ann´s help.

Photos of India

Photos of London

more pics

http://www.esnips.com/doc/2d596e46-8c68-483a-bac2-b3f27967a66a/5--las-piernas-JPEG

Nice photos of Bilbao

You can use Flickr Storm to find really nice photos like these.


You can also use Google's image search

Salary gap between men and women-Nov 6

Today I read an article about a survey carried out in the UK which tracked 25,000 students 3 years after graduation. It shows that inequality between men and women is a stubborn reality and that not even higher education can bridge the gap. Women have to work their way up in their careers, they accept more part-time jobs and those below their expectations and they are hindered by choices involving traditional roles in the family. They also get paid less in full-time graduate jobs even before having children. We seem to be a long way from real equality.

An audio channel for the blog

Clear here and you can make an oral posting!

Tomorrow's blogging session

The aim of the session will be to get everybody feeling comfortable about using the blog. We'll look at:

• how you can add photos and videos to your postings
• a list of web resources related to the CEF grid where you can find skill-based tasks to practise with

Hope you enjoy it!

Just to say Hello

Hi there everyone,
you´ve obviously been busy reading your articles over the long weekend... Did anyone find time to go away? Tomorrow you´ll have a few minutes to talk about your weekend, but you´ve got to include a few convincing, plausible LIES in your account as well, and see if the others can guess where your untruths are....remember tomorrow is STORY time so we can invent whatever we like...
See you tomorrow
Julie

Church/supermarkets/farmers

Church urges supermarkets to give farmers a fairer deal

I have chosen this article for two reasons mainly. The first one is that I wasn't really interested in any of the other articles on the page: war in Iraq, terrorism,... the usual stuff. The second reason is that I found the headline striking. I think it is the combination of the three ideas: church, supermarkets and farmers.
The content of the article is OK. The Church of England is asking big supermarkets to treat farmers better, so that the agricultural sector does not suffer so much. They ask for codes of practice to protect farmers, as well as a specific ombudsman.
I can't imagine the Spanish Catholic church doing the same!

What happens with Prince Harry?

I read in the Guardian Unlimited that Prince Harry is again in trouble. This time he was hunting in Sandringham with one of his friends and it seems they killed some protected birds of prey. They face a prison sentence of up to six months or a 5,ooo pound fine. What´s happening with this boy? He is always in trouble :drinking, choosing the wrong disguise, scandals and now this.Perhaps it would be better for him and the Royal family if they send him somewhere to do some social work. What do you think?

Talking about films

This has been a long weekend and , having a cold as I had, I watched lost of films in the last few days. But the one I´m going to tell you about is the only one my daughter wanted to see. Can you imagine? Yes, High School Musical 2. As you can guess it is the typical Disney film for ten/twelve-year-old girls. Lots of teenagers dancing and singing following the tradition of the 1940-1950 musicals. A naughty girl, lots of good youngsters and a simple plot. The best of it was when it finished!!

It is Monday, then Sports.

What else did you expect?
Ok chicks, do not panic! I am not going to start a debate on football and the results of the weekend, nor am I going to bore you with irrelevant information about (bi-?) multi- millionaire male players and their high-maintenace bimboes showing off in their boxes at some posh sports event casually posing for the media.
This time is about rugby. Rugby? What´s that? Now girls, Question: Can you recall the name of a rugby player?
Ok forget it. This article from the GUARDIAN is not about sport, it is about sociology. It is about how a nation is made, about the "True colours" of a country, regardless the colours of a certain flag. It is about the people.
Now, go ahead and enjoy the article as much as I did. Oh! And see If you can track down the "comments" from the readers.
Ok, you lot. Bye now,
Angelo

http://www.guardian.co.uk/britain/article/0,,2192102,00.html

Getting definitions from the page

Look at this site; (double click on it) can give you an explanation of any word as you go along, would it be useful here for us? What do you think? This was passed on by another teacher, Gary, at the British Council.

http://www.answers.com/main/answertips.jsp

On the block now....

Hi, I can now post as well, and am around if anyone needs help with posting etc. I hope you find some interesting news to point us to on Guardian.co.uk. Well, it will save me reading the papers for a week or so.....!