This is the end...

It's over.

Oficially over.

Now we just have to wait.

Reading Project - Presentation II

The last presentations have been really nice and interesting. Like the others, some caught attention, some... not really.

I must highlight the ones that interested me more because I have this thing that, when I get confused by some reason, I don't understand what is being said and even if I listen and listen, something is lost. And, being completely honest, some just didn't caught my attention by the way they were exposed. However, that is another question.

So, highliting. Until now (since I believe there is one missing and I skiped one, if I'm not mistaken) and excluding the ones I already mentioned: Sara's presentation about The Doors of Perception, Bernard0's about The Heart of Darkness, the War and Peace presentation by Joana and today's Alice in Wonderland, by Tiago.

Very briefly:

Firstly, I had already said that I was curious about Sara's presentation and book and now I'm even more curiose.

These are the kind of books I enjoy, the ones that make me think about something deeper and more than the actual story.

In these presentations, thet feature was by some means highlighted. Or, at least, these were the ones that by the story caught me more and, by coincidence, had this feature.

That's why I enjoyed Bernardo's presentation too.

Well, I must confess that Apocalypse Now is one of my favourite movies and knowing there was a book which inspired it it was a impossible for me not to be interested. Bernardo showed as how both relate, although I just think the plot was too much explored. I know it is a very rich story, but details can be spared. At least for me; I like to know a summary of the plot, so I can discover the rest by myself. Nevertheless, he could show us how rich that book is and compell us to read it.

In the same line appeared War and Peace and Alice in Wonderland.

Both are classics, real classics, that are known by everyone and worshiped arround the world. They showed us why.

War and Peace needs no more words, but my idea of Alice... was a story for children, like the one Disney shows us. Now, I see that there might me much more than that, and it pleases me. I am a fan of Alice... and never saw how much it had to say. Now I am starting to see with other eyes...

About the presentations, both were good and showed us the book and all it is about.

So, summing up: good presentations, good book, bad for my books-to-read list!

Texts and exams

It came and went, that horrible thing that every teacher just don't want to skip, not even once! And, in some cases, are the only evaluation we have! How fair is that, our mark depending on that day, that hour, that moment, and a whole term's work flying through the window.

I believe I already said I am not a true supporter of written tests; at least as a major factor while "grading" (does that verb exists? If it doesn't, I've just created a new one).

The thing is, it kind of feels good to look at the up right corner of the sheet and see a good mark! It seems that all the time spent studying for it, even doing it, paid of!

Just like the exams. Ours are aproaching, nearer and nearer everyday.

Truth is, exams are necessary, country wide! That is the only time when students are in an equal situation, but does that mean that we can not have bad moments?

Everything seems to be too relative, too uncertain, but even our future seems relative and uncertain and we are fighting for a future!

I was surprised to hear that some teachers are supposed to be in a room during the exam, all by themselves, staring at yesterday, in case of a student having a doubt. Then they have to call to the ministry, se what they say, and then take the student's doubt. There can not be even a book in the room to spend the time, not even a magazine! Only because the Ministry isso afraid that the teacher could give some sort of help to the students who, by the way, are also closed in a room wih two freaking teachers! How could we be helped? And - this one rocks - if a teacher has a child in that school, he's not allowed to be even near the facilities!

Get a grip! So many fears... for what? What are the odds of a teacher sending a message to a student with the answers to question 1.3, and the student be able o read it?

I have a theory: the ones that write the exams are completely isolated from the society during all year, after all this.

Have you ever noticed that the exams arrive at school in those bullet proof vehicles? Full of policemen and guns and anti-theft bombs? Well, the last one is a little bit overreaction, but you got the idea.

Are they afraid of their own corruption?

Reading Project - Presentation

So many books that caught my attention!... And others that didn't made that good impression...

The presentations have been, to say the least, interesting. Many of the presentations really made me curious about the books and plots, so I think I have to restructure my "Books To Read List".

I enjoyed specially Nuno and Pedro's presentations, maybe because those were the stories that made me more curious.

Of course I allready knew both books - Picture of Dorian Grey and A Single Man -, and probably that was the main reason why I was so focused on them, but nevertheless both presentations made me even more curious.

I was really curious (this words keeps popping up) about Sara's presentation yesterday and was a pitty that we didn't had the time to listen. This book is a classic for every The Doors fan, I never had the opportunity to read it and I wanted to know her opinion about it.

So, until now, I think we can say that has been a well developed project, with good presentations and surprises - I wasn't really expecting to be wanting to read such a sci-fi book like the one João Meira presented and, as the matter of fact, I am!

Now, I'm just expecting more...

The Biology of Belief - Response

As you can probably see, I made the corrections in the entry about the Time article. So, corrections made, I also saw the opinions posted on that same correction.

The thing is, I chose this article for a simple reason: how is it possible that something as faith can have anyhing to do with biology, with science? Faith is something abstract, not measured! You use much, not many, we can not study and know how much (see?) faith someone has!

Is this a valid reason? For me, it is.

I said it before, I am not a religious person, but I hate to be a person that relies exlusively on science and reason. It has to be more than that! I can not live my life thinking that everything is measured with numbers and scientifical discoveries, that all my feelings, all that happens it's just the result of pure biology!

So, yes, I mantain all I said in that entry: it is good to know that even science can prove that there is more than it, that yes, we can control what happens with us, even if just slightly; even if just in our head.

" Waltz With Bashir "

Honestly, I didn' liked it. Don't get me wrong, the story and all the moral were really good, but the movie itself... Naahh.

I think it was he type of animation, the way all the movie was organized and the sequence, even. It wasn't atractive to me and, if it weren't for the English class, I don't think I would see it by choice. At least after seeing some scenes.

I confess I was interested in the story when it began, but quickly I was divided between the good story and the bad movie. The interest was lost.
It was a little bit confusing, mixing the reality with the past and the story we don't know.

It must be said, though, that the final scenes were, yes, very well thought and good. Changing from animation to real motion when he found out the truth was genious, loving the movie or not.

That's the most important: figuring out the truth. The big question is, "Do we want to know the truth?". It could be more painful to know...

" How Faih Can Heal "

First task: pick an article, read it and comment it. Here it is the summary:



The Biology of Belief, by Jeffrey Kluger

The paritable lobe is the responsible for processing sensory input, the part of the brain that works when we pray or meditate.
Those prayers are mostly for health and we hope that those prayers can actually heal us.
New discoveries affirm that faith can bring health: believers can even live longer (two or three years), heal faster and control better their diseases. All because our body and brain are completely compatible.
While praying or meditating, our brain works in a specific way, mostly our paritable and frontal lobe, creating a sense of not knowing what it is being said by the person. For people who practice this sort of activities can trigger permanent changes in their brain, mainly concerning memory: those with 15 or more years of practice, memory improves a lot. Even during fasting, because of the privation of calories, our entire body suffers changes that give us full clarity, sense of peace, even if biologically harmful.
Prayer is, in fact, considered by believers intimately related to health. Since 2000, scientists and theologians have been studying these cases - there are more than 6000 studies published since that year. Actually, there were already theories in 1872, by Francis Galton.
Showing the possible connection between prayer and health, in 1988, a study by the cardiologist Randolph Byrd of San Francisco General Hospital shows that patients with heart conditions fared better when prayed for, but in 2005, a study in Harvard by cardiologist Herbert Benson showed the opposite: « complications occurred in 52% of heart-bypass patients who receive intercessory prayer and 51% of those who didn't ».
Some even believe that prayer works just like the placebo effect: believing in something triggers bodily changes - if you give someone a sugar pill, the pain may actually go away. Just as that, knowing that someone is praying for you will probably help you.
So, the belief in God should be even more powerful than the belief in a pill. To try to prove this theory, some began to study the health of churchgoers and some show that mortality can be related to our faith. That can be explained by the support people get from church and it followers or by the fact that religious people believe in a meaning of life.
The African-American churches have been connecting faith and health more than any other and, in the 1990's, was created the North Carolina Black Churches United for Better Health, an association with 50 churches, helping 2500 parishioners by preaching health in sermons or serving healthier foods at community events. Quickly it became a national organization with the collaboration of cancer associations, always trying to improve health and reduce obesity levels among people.
Now, many scientists and theologians are willing to create a system where medical and pastoral care are provided as one. However, hospitals are still reluctant to accept, though both doctors and patients don't mind having religious conversations but just don't know how the other would react.
Most specialist advice a dialogue centered in the patient and psychologist Jean Kristeller developed a guide based on this advice for doctors who want to discuss religious questions with cancer patients and 90% felt comfortable with that.
In New York City, there's an organization - the HealthCare Chaplaincy - of Christian, Jewish, Muslim and Zen Budhist board certified chaplains that gives a total package of treatment in more than a dozen hospitals and clinics. Their job is not only with believers, but with any others who want to talk.
This group is becoming national and breaking the barriers of the city. More and more, other alternatives are being searched, and what matters the most is their result.

__________________________________________


My faith is not religious or any of that sort. After growing up in a Christian environment by my own choice, I decided o leave that world when my critical sense increased.
Besides that, I think this article goes beyond religion and its effects. It's about what we believe - it could be magic, fate, whatever - and what effect that has in our lives and even body.
In an era of technology and science, it is difficult to believe in such thing, but at least ii is confortable knowing we can have some power.

Beginning of the end

So, after something like two weeks, I think is more than time to return to this site.

The thing is, this is the last term and everything is coming to that iminent end (in more than one way).
This is the time I start to think about my life, which is a little bit sad. I mean, I'm 18, a whole life in front of me and two months to decide what I want to do to in the life I have left. NOT FAIR.
Despite all this, I'm pretty happy about the end I want to reach (similarity with the name of this site is not a coincidence). I know what I would like to do and only time can show me if I'm right.

But now, is time of English, time to finish what I started.

Here it is, the beginning of the end.

Self-assessing

So this term is ending and I must say: thank God! This was a tiresome term, more than usual, and even if I enjoyed working in some tasks, I can not help to want some rest, to be completely fresh next term.
But besides all that, it was a good term. At least in my student view.

Comparing with the last months of 2009, I truly believe I worked better this time, maybe because I felt more used to the work methods and more comfortable in classes.
Of course, I had my moments of conversation when we where not supposed to, or just pure distraction, but that happens to all of us sometimes.
I think I was more in the mood for working, or I just enjoyed more the classes and my spirit was raised by them. Whatever it was, something happened.

I made an effort, that's for sure, to move on to the next level.

I'm no person to like self-assessements. Actually, I never liked them, since the time I started to make them. And it seem to be inevitable: every term every teacher asks us to say what we think about our work. That is a good thing, wanting to know our opinion, but, lets face it: every teacher has an idea of our work and consequent grade. But ok, we do it.

I evolved. I feel and evolution, in my speaking and writing, mostly. I still find some mistakes while doing both things - grammar, some construction... - but perfection is a hard thing to achieve.

So, I liked to cross the line between the good student and the outstanding student. Just a little step.
But that just what I liked. I like a lot of stuff...

Reading Log

Here it is: my reading log, all complete!

It is organised, but everything is said.

Reading Log

Writing - Narrative

-Rise and shine everyone! It’s 7 a.m and you are listening… - she turned off the radio and squeezed her head on her pillow.

Yes, it was 7 a.m and time to wake up, get dressed and take some breakfast (nothing too heavy, something low fat and healthy). The sun was bright and a clean sky so, after showering, she got that new suit and put it on.
She lived in the top floor of building and the journey on the elevator was quite long!

-I just hope no one takes the elevator while I’m here, I’m not in the mood for casual conversation… - she said to herself while pressing the button.

Too bad: a couple of floors later, some man enters with his little son. And he couldn’t be more different: while she was all fashionable, with her tiny skirt, high heels, make-up and suitcase in one hand, cellphone on the other (so he would think she was busy), he wore jeans, some t-shirt and all-star sneakers! And the kid with that bagpack and jacket…

-Good morning! – said the neighbor. She just nodded.

The time passed, and the music of the elevator was getting annoying. The child was sighing while looking at the little screen where the floor numbers’ appeared and his father was just looking at his feet. He ended up saying:

-So, what about this weather, hum? Yesterday I was afraid of a Madeira, part two, and now…

-Oh yes, really afraid… - “use small sentences”, she thought.

- More money we would have to raise! And what about us?

- Pretty bad…
- Yeah…

She took her phone and pretended to text someone. He just stared at his shoes, always with a confortable distance between them.

First floor. Finally!

-So, see you around. – The man said.

-Yes, yes. – she rushed to the door.

-Dad, what happened in Madeira?

Yes, they had nothing to say to each other.

Writing- What is Art?

The question is “What is Art?”. The answer… I have not found it yet.

Because Art can be everything or nothing, according with the person; if we are all different, our tastes will be different and our interpretation of what is so called Art will be different.

If we look at the picture, we can see that the girls have two moustaches added to the original figure, and we can find in the text the reason why: because «there is in all of us a compulsion to destroy the image». Maybe, the destruction of this so called «meaningful work» is the Art itself: to show our interpretation of what is show – a new look of a known figure.

Or, on the other hand, that was not Art at all and only an act of vandalism; because as stated in the beginning, different people have different visions.

All that can be said in conclusion of this reflection is that Art is everything: Art can be what we want it to be, of only it says something to us. Personally, I do not have any need to destroy the image; I just want to change it. Probably, for another person, it would be destroyed. For me was just as should it always have been in the first place.

Art is not measurable and not even possible to define, for I can find several definitions in this room only.

I am still seeking an answer.

Written tests

I'm no fan of written tests; I believe we can be evaluated by the same exercises with no need of such formality,though I understand that this is the way to trully find out if we are the ones writing and answering the question. But written test sound too formal...
Fortunally, the evaluation in the end of the term/year is through out the year, and not only the tests count. That would be worst. So, though I'm no fan, I understand why he have to do it.

About the last test in particular, I don't like to have some high/low expectations or the idea that all seemed right (which it didn't) - when that happens, I'm always suprised...
I'll just wait for the results, then I'll have something more to say...

Jim Jones and mass suicide

Shocking. A little disturbing. Maybe something like a good presentation. No, definetly a good presentation!
I trully enjoyed it. I didn't knew Jim Jones and his story raised a few questions.
Let's face it: how can't we question when we find out that a man (with an "a") took over thousand people to suicide? It's amazing in a horrible way!...

Although the brainwashing thing is quite similar, I don't think we can make a comparisson with Hitler and the growth of nazism. I mean, Jim Jones brainwashed people, but had some good intentions - he wanted to create the perfect society, equal and just; Hitler just wanted to kill the ones he thought didin't deserve to share the same world with him. But yes, they both lead a hole community to believe in them, and do horrible things.
However, you can't make me believe that all those people were totally 100% sane; even some germans, realising that the work camps were actually killing camps, changed their view about their believes. I am not saying that all the 900 people were mentally disable, but not the most critics and bright spirits.

The images were really well chosen, specially the ones after the cuicide. And it was well researched, too. We can get a new view of charisma...
Because Jim Jones was a charismatic person, and I don't deny that. Yes, it needs great charisma and abilities to make 900 kill themselves. More, make parents kill their children.



I've been listening to the last Jim Jones' speech, before the suicide. Yes, the man had talent.
And now I scared...

Final task - What is Art?

Violino e paleta (I can not find the translation), was painted by Georges Braques in 1909. It shows us what it seems to be a person with a violin.

This piece was painted with oil, and it is a small painting, of only 91x42,8 centimeters. In general, the figure consists in geometrical forms and was drawn like a puzzle, with the object dismembered and with superimposed plans. This technique is also used in other pieces by this artist and cubist movement, being very characteristic of the latter (the geometrical figures and similar features). The figure seems to be opened to the viewer, as if we could see all the sides of the object. We can see that the violin is repeated, though in a smaller size, and the center is the clearest point of the painting. Braques used neutral and dark colours (specially grey and brown), with no vcariation of the same, creating a heavy atmosphere in the object. However, we can see that some lines are darker, so we can figure out the most important figures.

It is difficult to have an interpretation of a figure that you can not quite understand, with no certain object besides two violines. But maybe the violines are what trully matters, being more defined and clear than other possible figure in the painting. The colours and lines helps us to get this conclusion, once, like said before, it is got by the better definition of the object.

This undefinition of the object makes this interpretation and my response to the painting probably not the best one, or the most apropriate. I can not say what it is, because I do not know; I do not have any kind of interpretation of this painting. Nevertheless, it matters to try to analyse it, so we can open ourselves to new realities.

Reading Log - II

New things I found out about this book, about it's writing, style and, of course, plot.

Per example, I found out that Stoker writes just like one speaks, with the accent given by the writing - « Now, sir, you can go and arsk me what you want. You'll excoose me refoosin' to talk of perfeshunal subjects afore meals».
And, by now, more than before, we can see that nothing is said by chance. All the letters and journals are combined in a way that show us a little bit more about what is happening. Besides, some clues are left by those letter, or the introduction of the same, like « Letter, Mina Harker to Lucy Westemra (unopened by her)».

New characters are now important too. Well, they were before mencioned in the book, but only now we can see how important they are.

• The first one is Quincey Morris, from Texas: is young, fresh and have brave eyes. An adventurer, funny person, good-humoured that likes to speak slang when with someone of confidence. He's in love with Lucy and, when he knows that she's ill, he gets worried and even helps Dr. Seward and Prof. Van Helsing.
• Reinfield - Dr. Seward patient (of the asylum). He's know for his «sanguine temperament; great physical strengh; morbidly exicitable» and his, possibly, a dangerous man. Besides, is also selfish and likes animals (spiders, flies...). Dr. Seward considered him homicidal - a zoophagous maniac: life eating - absorve as many lives as he can, comulatively (the flies are eaten by the spiders, who are eaten by birds, who are eaten by cats, who are eaten by dogs, which he eats).

But another things is mantained: the human nature is still focused - the love one feels for someone who makes us do anything for that someone. We get a new perspective of that nature, while we are still trying to figure out what is going to happen next.

Reading Log - Beautiful Passages I

Here are the beautiful passages I selected for now from Dracula, by Bram Stoker:

Welcome to my house. Come freely. Go safely. And leave something of the happiness you bring.

Count Dracula

I liked this passage because it is interesting: when we receive somenone in our place we never say what we truly expect people to bring or do, but it is this: someone who comes because it wants, who goes safe with no harm and be happy while visiting.

Let me be prosaic so far as facts can be; it will help me to bear up, and imagination must not run riot with me. If it does I'm lost.

Jonathan Harker

Fearing for his life, something is needed. Maybe just imagination so he's able to bear all the provations he faces.

(...) The Szekely (...) can boast a record that mushroom growths like the Hapsburgs and the Romanoffs can never reach. The warlike days are over. Blood it's to precious a thing in these days of dishonourable peace; and the glories of the great races are as a tale that is told.

Count Dracula

Firts of all, I liked the expression « mushrooms growths», refering to the growth of the influency of the Hapsburgs and Romanoffs in Transylvania. Second, this is a perpective of a vampire about war ans conquests. We can figure out something about the character in this passage.

(...) it is wonderfull how small a matter will interest and amuse a man when he is a prisioner.

Jonathan Harker

The mere event and Triviality can have some interest to one who's outside world seems so far away. It's like our mentality changes and our reality changes.

(...) the old centuries had, and have, powers of their own which mere "modernity" can not kill

Jonathan Harker

The old centuries have the wisdom to show us our mistakes, to lead us to a better way. If we pay attention or not, that's another question.

(...) I ain't afraid of dyin' not a bit; only I don't want to die if I can help it.

Mr. Swales (I didn't introduced this character in the first log, but I can say now that is an old man who lives in Whitby and stays friends with Mina and Lucy while they are there)

Trying not to die is no synonym of being afraid of death; it's synonym of loving life and what ir brings. But death it's the ultimate destiny and no one should ever fear it; we would be fearing life itself, since death is part of it. We would fear every minute of our existence.

For life be, after all, only a waintin' for somethin' else than what we're doing'; and death be all that we can rightly depend on.

Mr. Swales

Life is a constant wainting. The only thing we are exactly certain is about death. It is the only thing we are positively sure that it's going to happen.

Ah, sir, you dwellers in the city can not enter into the feelings of the hunter.

Count Dracula

City was so apart from country side as it is now.

It is something like the way Dame Nature gathers round a foreing body an envolope of some insensitive tissue which can protect from evil that which it would otherwise harm by contact. If this be an ordered selfishness, then we should pause before we condemn anyone for the vise of egoism, for there may be deeper roots for its causes than we have knowledge of.

Dr. Seward

I just like this passage. Sometimes it happens. It says something more.

I suppose it is that sickness and weakness are selfish things and turn our inner eyes and sympathy on ourselves, whilst health and strengh give love rein, and in thought and feeling he can wander where he wills.

Lucy Westenra

We controle how we feel, and how we feel is how we see life and how he see ourselves and the others.

These are the passages and this is what they make me think. I reflected about each and one of them, and this was what it came up. Or, at least, some of it.

My I recommend

Here it is the presentation I was supossed to show today in my - technology is a beautiful thing!

I Recommend

Basicly, is just the videos and some images of Hauru no Ugoku Shiro I would like to show you. And no, the videos of M Butterfly are NOT in Spanish!

And because I just can't resist...

SPOILER ALERT

The last scene of M Butterfly. Here we understand how deep Rene believed in that lie.

However, I truly recommend to you to watch the whole movie, so you can understand better why he acts this way.

« I'm the master of my fate; I'm the captain of my soul »

There is something about some movies that just keeps me looking at the screen with the will of knowing and finding everything I can about every pictured moment. Those movies with an emotional bagage and plot beyond the average and merely entertainement. Invictus is one of those.

I had some high expectations, not because of the well known director or actors, but mostly because of the strong story, that deserves a strong movie. Something bellow this would have ruined it.

Nelson Mandela is Nelson Mandela; no need to introduce the man, the fighter, the politician, the personality. But what I thought it was more curious is the fact that even Mandela used sports as a way to unite his country. And what a wise made he was (and is).

It was wise because no one can be indifferent to the fact that his country is so well represented internacionally n a beloved sport, no matter if the players are black or white, and Mandela used rugby as a way to avoid black people to behave just as the ones they were fighting against.

Because that is what it was going to happen, just look at the decision of ending with the team and give it another name. However, we can't forget the wound in the hearts of one people that suffered for so many years in the hands of the ones whio now were their fellow compatriots.

One of the most impressive scene was when the Springbrook team visits the prision where Mandela was a prisioner for 30 years, and François Pineaar closes the door of his cell. Pineaar says latter that he thinks about how can a man be in jail for 30 years, in such tiny place, working as a slave, and still be able to forgive the ones who put him there.

This is a lesson of life and for life.

Reading Log - I

Dracula, by Bram Stoker

Plot: Jonathan Harker, an english solicitor, travels to Transylvania on work, and there he meets Count Dracula, a strange person who is with Jonathan at night and disapears during the day.
Curious, Jonathan starts to find out more things about this Count and gets scared.
Meanwhile, in England, life goes on until some suspicious events occur, connected with Dracula without the knowledge of anyone.
Lifes start to change...

It happens in 1897, in differente places: starts in Transylavania and then the story goes on in England, in several places.


Characters:

• Jonathan Harker - english solicitor (no certain discription); it's a strong and brave man, devoted to his work and family (wife-to-be); firstly, is very formal and even curious about the Count and Transylvania; gets curious when meeting the Count; when he finds out that is a prisioner in Dracula's Castle, he gets scared and fearing for his life.
• Count Dracula - wants to buy a property in London; old man, with moustache; strong, aquiline face; arched nostrils; lofty forehead; much hair; sharp white teeth; very pale. He is always firm and calm, and only loses his temper once (until now). Is a very misterious person, very formal and full of secrets
• Mina - Jonathan's wife-to-be (no certain discription). Brave woman, hard working. Goes to Whitby to meet Lucy, and gets excited when arrives. Likes all the misteries of the town and, after a while, starts to get more and more worried and anxious about Jonathan, from whom she has no news, and Lucy, who is apparently sick.
• Lucy - Mina's friend. Sweet and lovely; rosed chickbones. She is a sleepwalker, and even gets out of the house and goes to the street, moment when she loses her characteristic gayety and gets sick. To be married with Arthur Holmwood.
• Dr. John Seward - takes care of a lunatic asylum. 29 years old; handsome, good birth, clever and imperturbable. Is very curious about Renfield, one of his pacients. In the begining he is very sad about Lucy's marriage refusal, working to forget it (he even takes sleeping-pills). When sees that Lucy is sick, starts worrying.
• Professor Van Helsing - from Amsterdam. He is known for knowing about obscure diceases and for being one of the most advanced scientists of his day. Is very open minded and has an «iron nerve, temper of the ice brook and indomitable resolution, self-command and toleration exalted from virtues to blessings, and the kindiest and truest heart that beats». When Dr. Sewards asks for his help with Lucy's condition he gets curious about the case.

Narrator: The story is told by the characters mencioned above in letters, journals, telegrams and more so.

Bram Stoker introduces the story by saying: « How these papers have been placed in sequence will be made clear in the reading of them. All needless matters have been eliminated, so that a history almost at variance with the possibilities of later-day belief may err, for all the records chosen are exactly contemporary, given from the sandpoints and within the range of knowledge of those who made them».

We get to know the story from the organisation of this journals and letters, according with the date and occurance of events.

While reading this book I've been selecting some passages which I liked and found interesting. However, I would like to dedicate on single post to those passages, since there are a few of them. Just like the vocabulary: many of the words and expressions I read were not of my knowledge, so I am preparing a mini Dracula's dictionary, to be posted when I finish to read it, so it can be well organised.

Altough, I do found some Interest Points, or, at least, there are interest points to me. Most of them are related with the writing technique, since it is the way he writes that becomes interesting.

• Stoker doesn't talk about that past, only about the present, so the story does not become to long and tirering (?) with the discription of details. We can imagine until we actually know.
• Those details about the characters, the reason of their apearence and meeting are revealed by bits: not entirely, but little parts which come up with the events. It keeps the reading more interesting, once wedon't know everything by once; we have to read!
• Everything goes just like in a movie: we go back in time with the different journals and letters and like this we know what is happening with all the characters.
• When writing. Stoker uses the some style and techniques. Nevertheless, we can identify which one of the characters is writing without reading who is actually the person in question.

One of the things I understood while reading Dracula is that it is strongly connected with human nature and feelings. We can understand that right in the begining, when Jonathan founds himself fearing for his life, fearing the unknown but, at the same time, feeling such a curiosity about it that can help to find out more about the Count, even knowing what it could happen.

This sort of feelings are often, just like the sense of love and commitment, mostly in the female characters.

Until now, I am finding Dracula more than a horror story, more than a story about vampires. While entertaining, Bram Stoker give us a lesson about human nature.

What is Art?

Here it is: a topic which I was waiting for! The question itself raises many others, and many different opinions.

Last class was, most of all, fun. The disposition of the room was good to make a discussion, and that was what I was expecting: a discussion about the painting we saw.
But the worksheet was more than I thought it would be. Those tricky "questions" opened our eyes, or, at least, mine.

And the excerts... I trully enjoyed them! So well written...
Waiting for the next class.

15th January, 2010 - The debate

Last Wednesday, 13th January, we had a debate about the banning of extremist parties. There were two different opinions: ones were for the ban, the others against it.
There were many arguments (more from one side than the other), defending and refuting the question that triggued the debate.

The ones who defended the banning of these polical parties often appealled to the past, with examples from the Holocaust mainly. It was also said that the Humans Rights are disrespected by this parties, who suport violence and an authoritarian regime, and that is the reason why they should be banned.
On the other hand, the other half of the class strongly stated that extremist parties shouldn't be forbbiden because we live in a democracy, and democratic regimes are based in freedom of will and speach; not allowing these political opinions is disrespectful of Human Rights as well, and it's totally anti-democratic. Besides, a dialogue between all the parties is necessary to a good balance in the Parliament.

Personally, I don't find common points between the two "wings" of our debate; there were two completly oposite opinions, with totally different ideas.
Well, maybe one thing is common: both talked about Human Rights. Wrong or right, both mentioned it.

News Report - European press says Swiss ban send wrong signal

(here it is the news report I wrote)

Yesterday, the Swiss voted in favour of the banning of minarets in the country, supporting the proposal of the Swiss People's Party, which claims the minarets are a political and not religious symbol only. The ban, according to the SVP, should be a way of ending with the growth of the strengh of Sharia Law in Switzerland.
The result of the votes caused unrest among Europe, with the reaction of dislike stated on European press.
« This result shows that the Europeans are more and more intolerant », says one of the foreing journalists about the vote. « Now it is happening in Switzerland, but tomorrow it can be any other country».
Many say that, besides the damage to the relation between Switzerland and Islamic nation this decision can cause, it can also show how the mentality of the European people is developing to an extremist wing. The same journalist also says: « If we pay atention, we can see that discriminatory behaviour targeting immigrants or people with different beliefs for the majority is a sign of the growth of the mentality we testified in the 30's and 40's,with the birth of fascism. We cannot elude ourselves with the ilusion that prohibiting minarets is only a religious discrimination; it means that something deeper and more dangerous is happening ».
The discussion has began, starting with the denial of freedom of religion and moving to further arguments that leads Europe against the Swiss's resolution.
Meanwhile, an Islamic reaction is waited by the Swiss government and the entire Europe.

The Debate - II

I was waiting for this debate to happen since our project's presentation (the role play), since our main research question was exactly the one set in the debate and one of our objectives was to make people think about the topic.
So, should extremist parties be outlaw?

I was (and am) against the banning of extremist parties of the Parliament; what I said in the debate is what I believe in.
Usually, in this kind of debates, I like to support an idea different than mine; I even defended anarchy in the last debate, when I'm not an anarchist. In this case, however, I was pretty sure about my arguments and ideas, and, even researching, I couldn't find any proper argument, an argument I thought solid and strong enough. So, I chose to defend my personal opinion.
Because, when I think about it, I can't think of any reason that would made us behave in such an extremist way (and this choice of words was not arbitrary). Like we said during the discussion, the ban would be completely anti-democratic and we are not defending that this parties should be in the Government. No, we are only defending that every political opinion should and must have the right to be heard, and people must have the right to choose who wants to see in the power.
You see, when someone votes in a party with such characteristics, known by everyone (or it should be), something is not right. When we agree with the ideas of such party, is because we think that something different has to be done!
That's why dialogue is necessary: a dialogue between all the parties, sharing their different ideas, would lead us to more effective Government, a Government which listens to all the opinions and possible solutions. This is what would happen if the Parliament worked as it was supposed to.
I tried to defend this idea with what I thought it would work to show my opinion, with the arguments I believed where correct and true. That's why I researched the right articles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, a document I find necessary to have in mind during the discussion of this matter.

About my speaking skills:
Since we where focussing on accuracy, I believe that I could be better on this subject. I know that I am (or I try to be) fluent while I speak, but I know that, while speaking, I sometimes have some lack of vocabulary; is like I forget the right words and expressions - or maybe this is just my impression.
I'm really curious about the video; I never watched or listen to speaking in english, and I would like to see me - people tell me that I have a strange accent, a certain mixture, and I don't know what is is! I'd like to see if that's true.
Besides, while I have fun trying to find that accent of my, I'll be learning.

" What are Human Rights? "

Yes, what are human rights? Do we actually know what they are, what they're all about?
It is an interesting question; we don't think about the definition of the expression, and probably, exactly because people don't truly understand the concept maybe that is why they don't respect them as everybody should!
Let's face it: the Declaration of Human Rights is a baby in the world, and the general mentality is an elder! The equality, the end of slavery, all the freedoms... They are aloud on paper, but the theory is way more pretty and (definitely) easier than practice.

The video was a way of awareness. We need to have in mind that the Human Rights exist and are not respected. But the most outrageous thing is that the same who signed the the mentioned Declaration are often the ones who disrespect them! Lets look at United States vs Islamic countries: did you know that a new law was approved, prohibiting all islamic persons to enter in the country? However, the americans can enter in their countries with rifles and tanks, all for the sake of human rights! And their pockets, of course.
Besides, this same Declaration, in the eyes of law, is even younger than the Declaration itself! And the mentality is the hardest thing to change (how many still think that the global warming is a myth?)...

Maybe one day we will be truly free and equal and by one respected. Maybe one day we start to face that there is nothing, as human beings, that distinct us.
All maybes and ifs, by I'm an utopian. I like to believe that maybes are actually possible.

A new year, a new term

Even if I always tried to do my best, this term I hope to improve my work and, of course, skills. 

From now on, I just want to climb the mountain, never fall down.

Our own Dictatorship

I'm probably the person who believes the most in the saying "it is better late than ever", and that's why  I am here today.

I have absolute sure that I should already have done this but between problems with the network and some other facts out of my control, this is the time.

So, to start our project, we had a lot of questions which led our work, research and presentation, but all started with just one: should we aloud extremist parties in the Parliament?

This question appeared when we knew that some right parties where growing and growing throughout Europe; in Holland, the Nazi party is one of the best represented in the Parliament. But also in France, Italy (Berlusconi is supported by fascists), Austria and even Germany and Portugal (we all remember the results of the last election, when the Partido Popular was the third most voted) their representation is getting stronger. We focused, however, just in Holand and France, where those parties have more strengh.

In our role play, we mention the reasons for this new strength: immigration is the main problem; people think that immigrants are "stealing" jobs and their economical growth.

We wanted people to think about the subject, knowing what it implies, so we decided to show how an oppressive regime works, at least in school. This way, we would " feel in our skin" the consequences of that regime, with a little role play: Bernardo would play the Arckon (the main figure of the Authentocratic regime), I would be the teacher of the class, João Meira the Minister of Propaganda and Mario the bodyguard. Since Mario was sick, João ended up with both roles, his and Mario's. 

We created Authentocracy based on the oppressive regimes that already existed and exist, obviously, and we tried to bring it to the portuguese reality, always having in mind what is happening in the world.

During our role play, we tried to show how a class would work in one of those regimes, but, of course, we maybe exaggerated a little bit. However, I think that, with our different roles and the way we acted during the whole presentation, we showed what we wanted to show.

Like this, we only tried to make people think about the growth I talked above; I think we accomplished that part of our objectives.

It is important to reflect about this subjects, once we are the ones who are going to decide in the future; the choice is in our hands!

With this project, a debate was very interesting, so we could get to a general conclusion, or just discuss the different opinions we sure have in the class.

Concluding, I think that, as a group, we work better than the first time (way better!), and we achieved our objectives and the objectives of the general projects. This was a topic that "caught our eye" in the instant, and, since the beginning, we were always interested in doing our best.