25th FEBRUARY SESSION.

Hello everyone:

Well, this was our last session in February. As usual, varied topics were discussed. For example, we started with the New Zealand earthquake and the Lybian situation. Then we relaxed a bit and we changed the topics: we talked about the 1st meeting of the recently-created "Time Bank". Our last topic was about private information in the Internet, minors using social networks, piracy, copyright of intellectual, artistic... works as well as the current situation in the music industry.

See you in the next session.
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Image taken from: http://elproyectomatriz.files.wordpress.com/2009/04/internet.jpg

18th FEBRUARY SESSION.

Hello everyone:


Our first topic was the film "The First Day of the Rest of your Life" shown last Thursday. It was a complete success because there were many people despite the weather in the afternoon. Then we started to analyse the current triangle teachers- parents- children in the education environment as well as the parents' situation regarding lack of time because of the long timetables. We also discusses about the measures companies could take in order to facilitate the concilation between family and professional lives.
After such serious topics, Alberto proposed an analysis and comparison between British and Spanish humour apart from comic films. You know, some of them are based on semantics (=meaning) and puns. He also brought some jokes in English to illustrate.

I copy 3 of them:

1. A commercial traveller was passing through a small town when he came upon a huge funeral procession. "Who died?" he asked a nearby local. "I`m not sure," replied the local, " but I think it`s the one in the coffin."

2. Why did the bus stop?
Because it saw the zebra crossing. 

3. (This one is a bit long):
Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson went on a camping trip. As they lay down for the night, the fire dwindling nearby, Holmes said: "Watson, look up and tell me what you see".
Watson said "I see a fantastic panorama of countless of stars".
Holmes: "And what does that tell you?"
Watson: "Astronomically, it suggests to me that if there are billions of other galaxies that have roughly similar stellar population densities as represented by my view, that, potentially, trillions of planets may be associated with such a galactic and, therefore, stellar population. Allowing for similar chemical distribution throughout the cosmos it may be reasonably implied that life-and possibly intelligent life-may well fill the universe.
Also, being a believer, theologically, it tells me that the vastness of space may be yet another suggestion of the greatness of God and that we are small and insignificant.
Meteorologically, the blackness of the sky and the crispness of the stellar images tells me that there is low humidity and stable air and therefore we are most likely to enjoy a beautiful day tomorrow.
Why? - What does it tell you, Mr. Holmes?"
Holmes: "Someone stole our tent".

Good or bad jokes, it depends on your opinion...

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Image taken from: http://www.debateitout.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/teachers-cartoon.gif
Source: http://www.jokebuddha.com/joke/A_commercial_traveller#ixzz1EcGlqHS5
http://www.jokedictionary.com/jokes/b/busjokes.html
http://www.pinetree.net/humor/sherlockholmescamping.html

11th FEBRUARY SESSION.

Hi everyone:

To be honest, last session was one of the funniest. We were in a very good mood, so witty comments became something natural. Our first topic was the "Time bank project", which is currently starting in our town. Then, we also talked about different accents of non-native people. Then we moved to talk about resources to learn English or interesting websites e.g. the use of podcasts to train our ears or watching films in original version. Our last topic was related to that: dubbing vs. original version films.

Apart from the topics I'd like to tell you that Elena will not be coming for personal reasons. So, Elena, thank you very much for being a member and we expect your visit one day.

See you all on Friday.
P.S: Please write something about you for the blog. Thanks in advance.
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Image taken from: http://evansheline.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/full-glass.jpg

GROUNDHOG DAY.

Hi!!

Every 2nd February is a special day in Punxsautawney, Pennsylvania. According to folklore, if it is cloudy when a grounhog emerges from its burrow on this day. If he leaves the burrow, it means that winter-like weather will soon end. If it is sunny, the groundhog will supposedly see its shadow and retreat back into its burrow, and the winter weather will continue for six more weeks.This year is the 125th annual forecast for Phil.

You can find more information in the official web: Groundhog Day official website..

Maybe you remember a film about it: it was also called "Grounhog Day" (1993) with Bill Murray and Andie MacDowell. Here you are Roger Ebert's review.
I leave you the trailer:

I also leave a link to this year's forecast: Phil's forecast for 2011.

Bye!!
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Information taken from Wikipedia.