Friday, April 29, 2011

Pronunciation Practice with Cartoon Animation

Worried about pronunciation? Here is some help, some cartoons that explain the many sounds that vex students of English:

http://www.cambridge.org/elt/resources/skills/interactive/pron_animations/index.htm

Sunday, April 24, 2011

Let's Work for a Cleaner World by Chely Bonny NI 2

Everyone must consider ways to make our country more environmentally friendly. But, some may ask, how can we manage this?

I think that our country should be more green. First, the government must abandon nuclear energy and invest in renewable energies such as wind power, hydro-energy and change fuel oil and gas for bio-fuel. Thus we could reduce the pollution. Although it is not possible to change everything overnight, we are thinking about people who will live in the world in the future. Our responsibility is to leave the world better than we found it.

On the other hand, big business should build more ecological buildings; they need less energy for heating and cooling their rooms. In their department or office many computers are left on all day and overnight, I suggest that, they should switch everything off. Then they don´t need to switch the lamps on overnight, although this may seem more attractive. Factories too, must not dump chemicals in rivers, because that kills fish.

Furthermore, in our home it is often very warm; the thermostat could be turned down a few degrees. If it is possible we could recycle everything, such as, household waste, we should not use so many plastic bags, we reuse them instead. It is important to try to buy products which are made from recycled materials, and to purchase things that have the least amount of packaging. We also ought to travel by public transport and not drive our cars so much if we can avoid this habit.

Finally, I think that if we change at least some points of views that I include here, we can create a cleaner world.

Friday, April 22, 2011

The Easter Break from Work

I hope you are enjoying your Easter break and that this little respite charges you up for work. Remember that the most important work you do in life might not be in your workplace.

Here is a person who dwells on that concept:
http://www.ted.com/talks/jason_fried_why_work_doesn_t_happen_at_work.html

Thursday, April 21, 2011

Dog Tales: Bruce's Last Stand

http://www.cesarsway.com/

I found this incredible dog link on my friend and EOI colleague Juana Larena's blog. It reminded me that I really should include the story of Bruce's Last Stand on this blog. It is a true and faithful account, I withhold no details to protect the innocent and if you have heard this one before, bear with me.
It was about three years ago as the spring was ripening on the bough, hinting at summer but still green and full of promise. I was lodging in a sad little apartment on the Canteras, a long, sandy, municipal beach in a city which is known for its beach. It was a dreary, lonely existence so I made the most of my neighbors' greetings and small acts of kindness. I tried to repay their favors with offers of assistence in my turn. So it was that I somehow found myself roped into dog sitting for Bruce (pictured here), an aging ornery dog, half blind and with a lope that betrayed his advanced years. I actually adored this great canine creature so his owner Roberto knew he could trust me to walk the dog when he was busy in his job stamping passports at the airport.
One afternoon I took Bruce out along the Parque Romano for his daily jaunt. It is quite a pleasant stretch of land with ample verges for dogs to sniff at brush and trees, to cock the hind leg and do their business. Bruce, like many an old mutt, was given to sniffing at other dogs' behinds. He particularly liked female dogs for although he was mostly blind, his nose worked and this day it took him in the wrong direction. He fancied a big poodle who was being led about by a very prim and proper woman. The owner in question did not seem to notice Bruce's snuffling about in her Fifi's backside but soon I realized that Bruce was not just whistling Dixie! Before Fifi poodle or her owner knew what was cooking, ol Bruce the wonder dog had mounted his prey in a most gallant manner! I stood there in mute dismay, holding the leash and looking away as if this would exonerate me. Well, the elderly owner soon caught sight of the mayhem and began shouting at me in an Eastern European tongue ( I think she was Russian). I am actually glad I did not understand any of this because it was probably not pleasant!
Anyway as the Parque Romano has a nice outdoor terrace, a nearby waiter, spying this public scene of sexual congress, came to our rescue. He kindly flung a bucket of ice water onto poor Bruce which ended his passion for glory. My furry pal pulled away and stared at me with disgust. I had really let him down, I know that now.
For Bruce is gone now. Gone to the great kennel in the sky. Roberto misses his old friend and flatmate terribly, I am told. And I do too. But I fondly recall Bruce's Last Stand!

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

BIRDS!

My new home is ensconced in trees and so we are often overwhelmed with birdsong. Of course, I recall when a certain flock of birds brought me great panic! Boy, did Alfred Hitchcock know how to make spooky movies!

The Language Fair in Tenerife

Gosh a language fair in the Canary Islands! If you happen to be in Tenerife, you might want to check it out!

http://www.feriadeidiomas.com/

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Freedom to Dream: my Hot Water Bottle!

I have not used a hot water bottle for a long time. They certainly come in handy up here in the hills when the chills invade our sleepy nights. There must be a lot of folklore related to this wonderful winter ally, but I have none to offer here.
Like most people I have heard about, I do relish a good night's sleep and am grateful to not suffer from any problems in this area. As Jung pointed out, dreams are a big part of our life, thanks to the fact that we sleep much of our lives away. Ay "and in that sleep ... what dreams may come?!" we might ponder as we murder a perfectly good Shakespeare quote.
Take your dreams seriously, Jung also wrote, but keep them in the context of another world that goes beyond our daily routine, our cares and rational waking life. When we sleep, we cut off our moorings to the needs or confines of justification.
In our dreams, we are truly free.