"RISE AND RISE UNTIL LAMBS BECOME LIONS"

    This is the trailer of "Robin Hood", the latest  film of Ridley Scott and starring Russell Crowe and Cate Blanchett. It seems that this time the story in the film presents a different vision of the traditional hero. Never mind! We´re excited.  The Universal production of Robin Hood will premiere on May 12th at the Cannes Film Festival and it will be released worldwide on May 14th, but here you´ve got this little bit just in advance.




O. Winfrey interviews Russell Crowe on her show.  He gives us some information about the film´s making of , his personal life and other matters of interest such as  the meaning of the sentence "Rise and rise until lambs become lions", leit motiv of the film.

USEFUL COMMONPLACES

     Somebody sent me this presentation with some words of Dalai Lama. I don´t know if they are authentic, but they are wise and useful. Old  clichés  difficult to carry out.  Anyway, sometimes it´s worth wasting a little bit of time remembering what we already know.

INTERVIEW WITH DAVID GARRETT

     Whether he's playing to classical audiences in intimate concert venues or drawing capacity crowds playing with his band in vast arenas, DAVID GARRETT is touching hearts and astounding audiences wherever he performs. The virtuoso violinist, already on the road to rock-star fame, has truly become one of the most exciting entertainers in the music world. If you want more information about this violinist and model, visit  his oficial website.
  
   David Garrett is a 28-year-old violinist, he plays the violin since he was 4 years, and does it wonderfully well, so much in classic topics as pop. He was born in Germany.
   As curiosity on this violinist and model:  David Garrett is pointed out by the Book Guinness of the Records from May, 2008 as the fastest violinist. The record consisted of playing "The flight of the bumblebee" of Nikolái Rimski-Kórsakov as fast as possible, without mistakes so that the melody kept on being recognizable.
    You can also watch the video of David performing "Flight of the bumblebee" on Oprah Winfrey´s TV show:

OLD WISE PEOPLE...

An 86 year old man walked into a crowded waiting room and approached the desk. The Receptionist said, "Yes sir, what are you seeing the Doctor for today?""There's something wrong with my dick", he replied.The receptionist became irritated and said, "You shouldn't come into a crowded waiting room and say things like that.""Why not? You asked me what was wrong and I told you," he said.The Receptionist replied; "Now you've caused some embarrassment in this room full of people. You should have said there is something wrong with your ear or something, and discussed the problem further with the Doctor in private."The man replied, "You shouldn't ask people questions in a room full of strangers, if the answer could embarrass anyone."The man walked out, waited several minutes and then re-entered.The Receptionist smiled smugly and asked, "Yes?"
"There's something wrong with my ear", he stated.The Receptionist nodded approvingly and smiled, knowing he had taken her advice. "And what is wrong with your ear, Sir?""I can't piss out of it," he replied.The waiting room erupted in laughter. MESS WITH SENIORS AND YOU´RE GONNA LOSE!

Several Ways to be Healthier and Happier

I enjoyed reading the previous post, and I would like to contribute with the following advice. I think it is good value for these stressful days.

50 Ways to be Healthier and Happier


1. Do something nice for someone.
2. Affirm that you are a wonderful, beautiful person.
3. Breathe in the invigorating scent of natural peppermint oil.
4. Brush and floss your teeth.
5. Chew your food well.
6. Choose comfortable shoes over heels that throw off your spinal alignment. Men: choose comfortable shoes over tight, blister-causing shoes.
7. Clean out that mess that’s been sapping your energy.
8. Clean your home with baking soda and vinegar instead of harmful commercial cleaners.
9. Cry when you feel like crying.
10. Drink a fresh vegetable juice.

Seven tips for making yourself happier .

Gretchen Rubin is a best-selling writer whose new book, The Happiness Project, is an account of the year she spent test-driving studies and theories about how to be happier.

You can make yourself happier – and this doesn’t have to be a long-term ambition.     You can start right now. In the next hour, check off as many of the following items as possible. Each of these accomplishments will lift your mood, as will the mere fact that you’ve tackled and achieved some concrete goals.



1. Boost your energy: stand up and pace while you talk on the phone or, even better, take a brisk ten-minute walk outside. Research shows that when people move faster, their metabolism speeds up, and the activity and sunlight are good for your focus, your mood, and the retention of information. Plus, because of “emotional contagion,” if you act energetic, you’ll help the people around you feel energetic, too.

2. Reach out to friends: make a lunch date or send an email to a friend you haven’t seen in a while. Having warm, close bonds with other people is one of the keys to happiness, so take the time to stay in touch. Somewhat surprisingly, it turns out that socializing boosts the moods not only of extroverts, but also of introverts.


3. Rid yourself of a nagging task: answer a difficult email, purchase something you need, or call to make that dentist’s appointment. Crossing an irksome chore off your to-do list will give you a big rush of energy and cheer, and you’ll be surprised that you procrastinated for so long.


4. Create a calmer environment: clear some physical and mental space around your desk by sorting papers, pitching junk, stowing supplies, sending out quick responses, filing, or even just making your piles neater. A large stack of little tasks can feel overwhelming, but often just a few minutes of work can make a sizeable dent. Try to get in the habit of using the “one minute rule”—i.e., never postpone any task that can be completed in less than one minute. An uncluttered environment will contribute to a more serene mood.


5. Lay the groundwork for some future fun: order a book you’ve been wanting to read (not something you think you should read) or plan a weekend excursion to a museum, hiking trail, sporting event, gardening store, movie theater—whatever sounds like fun. Studies show that having fun on a regular basis is a pillar of happiness, and anticipation is an important part of that pleasure. Try to involve friends or family, as well; people enjoy almost all activities more when they’re with other people than when they’re alone.

How do animals sound like?

Animal sounds

baa
verb to make the sound that a sheep makes
bark
verb to make the short loud sound that a dog makes
bay
verb if a dog bays, it makes a long loud sound, especially when it is hunting
bellow
verb to make the deep sound that a bull and some other large animals make
bleat
verb to make the sound that a sheep or goat makes
bray
verb to make the loud rough sound that a donkey makes
croak
verb when a frog croaks, it makes a low loud rough sound in its throat
grunt
verb if an animal such as a pig grunts, it makes a low sound
hiss
verb to make a long ‘s’ sound like the sound that a snake makes
howl
verb if a dog or similar animal howls, it makes a long loud sound
low
verb when cows low, they make their typical deep long sound
meow
the American spelling of miaow
mew
if a cat or kitten mews, it makes a short, very high sound
miaow
verb if a cat miaows, it makes a short high sound
moo
verb to make the long deep sound that a cow makes
neigh
verb to make the high loud sound that a horse makes
purr
verb if a cat purrs, it makes a continuous quiet low sound because it is happy
roar
verb if a lion roars, it makes a loud deep sound
snarl
verb if an animal such as a dog or a lion snarls, it makes an angry sound in its throat and shows its teeth
snicker
verb if a horse snickers, it makes a low quiet sound in its throat
trumpet
verb if an elephant trumpets, it makes a loud high sound
whine
verb if a dog whines, it makes a high noise, usually because it wants something
whinny
verb if a horse whinnies, it makes a high sound through its nose and mouth
yap
verb if a dog yaps, it makes short high sounds

That's curious!

Granny Smith is a variety of green apples. The name was taken from the Australian gardener Maria Ann Smith, also known as Granny Smith. She was the one who first grew the apple in Sydney in the 1860s.

Beefeater

This term originated in 1610, meaning a well-fed servant. Around the year 1700 it began to be used to refer to the traditional guards at the Tower of London. The meaning is quite clear as it's a reference to a servant spoiled by his master, in contrast to a "loaf eater" (a servant that eats only bread).

Bug  The word bug is used nowadays to refer to an error or defect that prevents a computer from working correctly. It is believed that Thomas Edison was the first to use it with this meaning, but there is also a more recent story. In 1945, Grace Hopper, a computer pioneer at the Naval Warfare Centre in Dahlgreen, Virginia, found an insect inside a malfunctioning machine. She didn't invent the term, but she used it in the logbooks, stating that a bug had been found.

Hot dog  The use of this word to mean sausage comes from the XIX century. Hot referred to the temperature of the sausage, of course. And dog may have been a reference to the alleged contents of the sausage. In 1845 there were many accusations against sausage makers of using dog meat to make the sausage (which was not true). The term became popular and was often used in newspapers, making it as common as it is today.

DIVORCE CAKES

    American people make a difference, don´t you think so? Why not celebrate a divorce as the great chance it is?
     I guess American Women have this kinda stuff all figured-out...

THE IMPORTANCE OF WALKING..., OR NOT?

Walking can add minutes to your life.
This enables you at 85 years old to spend an additional 5 months in a nursing home at £5000 per month.

My grandpa started walking five miles a day when he was 60.
Now he's 97 years old and we don't know where he is.


I like long walks, especially when they are taken by people who annoy me.


The only reason I would take up walking is so that I could hear heavy breathing again.


I have to walk early in the morning, before my brain figures out what I'm doing..


I joined a health club last year, spent about £300. Haven't lost a pound. Apparently you have to go there.


Every time I hear the dirty word 'exercise', I wash my mouth out with chocolate.


If you are going to try cross-country skiing, start with a small country.


I know I got a lot of exercise the last few years ...just getting over the hill.


We all get heavier as we get older, because there's a lot more information in our heads.

LOVE THE IRISH (and their jokes)...!

   Paddy was driving down the street in a sweat because he had an important meeting and couldn't find a parking place.Looking up to heaven he said, 'Lord take pity on me. If you find me a parking place I will go to Mass every Sunday for the rest of my life and give up my Irish Whiskey!'
Miraculously, a parking place appeared.
Paddy looked up again and said, 'Never mind, I found one.'


   Father Murphy walks into a pub in Donegal, and asks the first man he meets, 'Do you want to go to heaven?'
The man said, 'I do, Father.'
The priest said, 'Then stand over there against the wall.'
Then the priest asked the second man, 'Do you want to go to heaven?'
'Certainly, Father,' the man replied.
'Then stand over there against the wall,' said the priest.
Then Father Murphy walked up to O'Toole and asked, 'Do you want to go to heaven?'
O'Toole said, 'No, I don't Father.'
The priest said, 'I don't believe this. You mean to tell me that when you die you don't want to go to heaven?'
O'Toole said, 'Oh, when I die , yes. I thought you were getting a group together to go right now.'

Paddy was in New York .

He was patiently waiting and watching the traffic cop on a busy street crossing. The cop stopped the flow of traffic and shouted, 'Okay, pedestrians.' Then he'd allow the traffic to pass.
He'd done this several times, and Paddy still stood on the sidewalk.
After the cop had shouted, 'Pedestrians!' for the tenth time, Paddy went over to him and said, 'Is it not about time ye let the Catholics across?'

Glass music-Dance of the sugar plum fairy-Tchaikovsky

No words are needed. Just listen and enjoy the music. It's time to relax.

TRANSCRIPT OF THE VIDEO "A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES..."

I know  most of you don´t need it..., but I found, only by chance, the transcript of the video "A brief history of the United...".  Have a look at it, it´s useful for the listening .

A brief History of the United States of America

"Now, it's time for a brief History of the United States of America... Hi, boys and girls! Ready to get started? Once upon a time, there were these people in Europe called 'pilgrims' and they were afraid of being persecuted. So they all got in a boat and sailed to the New World where they wouldn't have to be scared ever again.

(Oh, I'm so relaxed. I feel so much safer.) But as soon as they arrived, they were greeted by savages and they got scared all over again.
 (Injuns!)

A Brief History of the United States of America, by Michael Moore.

RADIATION SPECTRUM

This is a clear video about the radiation spectrum, I hope you will enjoy it

MUSIC FROM THE BAROQUE: "summer" by A. VIVALDI

    Here it is an interesting Power Point presentation where we can learn how to listen to the third movement of that popular piece of music written by Antonio Vivaldi. After watching the presentation   I recommend you THIS VIDEO in "you tube". Enjoy it.

Check out this SlideShare Presentation:

Baroque Period (1600 – 1750)


       Baroque means "highly decorated". The word Baroque was borrowed from architecture to describe the elaborate music of the day. Baroque music is full of confidence and very complicated.
Music of the Baroque period is complicated. It's like trying to listen to four or five people talking, all at the same time.
        Musicians of the day made up music as they played it. That's called improvising. It let performers "show off."
        People who supported musicians were called patrons. They were usually kings, queens, dukes, and wealthy business people. The Catholic Church also helped support musicians.
       Opera appeared during this period. Opera is a singing play, like a musical. Opera singers had to learn how to sing very loud because there was no way back then to amplify their voice. One famous opera singer defined opera as a controlled scream.
       Two popular keyboard instruments of the day were the organ and harpsichord. The violin was the queen of instruments during this time. The piano had not yet been invented.


       Before the Baroque period, instrumental music was used mostly for singing and dancing. Now instrumental music was being written and played for its own sake.


       The Baroque period saw the beginning of the orchestra. A chamber orchestra is a small orchestra where each player has his own part to play. Chamber music is played by trios (3), quartets (4), quintets (5), and up to about ten players.

The "Guernica" and its unlimited ability to pull people ...

The 'Guernica' is not played (From "El país")


"If the board of trustees has agreed not to move, the controversy is over," says Gonzalez-Sinde - A statement from the Reina Sofia says that the move would be "treason"




Guernica and its unlimited ability to pull people (a painting worth a million visitors a year is no more paint) will remain within the walls of the Reina Sofia. The meeting held yesterday by the Trustees of the museum with the assistance of the Minister of Culture, Angeles Gonzalez-Sinde, closed, at least for now, any chance of moving the work of Pablo Picasso. It is thus off the project that germinated in the office of Miguel Zugaza, director of the Prado Museum, sought to place the Guernica in the Hall of Realms of the Army Museum with The shootings on May 3, Goya, and The Surrender of Breda by Velazquez as part of a pictorial reflection on war and peace.




He had come to talk about another bombing of Guernica but will not reach the blood stream. Manuel Borja-Villel stays with his most cherished possession, although he said yesterday after the Board meeting, he was not winning anything: "There was never the case. There are no winners or losers, because there is no serious discrepancy issue . In the nearby museum, the Prado, Zugaza chose silence and declined comment.


Quote of the day was delivered just minutes before the start of the meeting, Culture Minister: "On the Guernica only decides the patronage of Queen Sofia. And if they agreed not to move, the controversy is over. What is here is said is definite, "said Angela Gonzalez-Sinde.

THE NIGHTINGALE AND THE ROSE, by OSCAR WILDE

'She said that she would dance with me if I brought her red roses,' cried the young Student; 'but in all my garden there is no red rose.'


From her nest in the holm-oak tree the Nightingale heard him, and she looked out through the leaves, and wondered.

'No red rose in all my garden!' he cried, and his beautiful eyes filled with tears. (...)

CATHOLIC CELIBACY

Should Catholic priests remain celibate? (from BBC NEWS)

Pope Benedict XVI has defended celibacy among priests, saying it was a sign of "full devotion" to the Catholic Church.
He was speaking at a theological conference before meeting Germany's top bishop for talks about a new crisis over the sexual abuse of children.
German Bishop Robert Zollitsch apologised again to victims of abuse by German priests.
The Archbishop of Vienna had suggested that the Church should examine celibacy and priests' training.



'Honesty needed'



Europe's Catholic paedophile scandal now affects institutions in Ireland, the Netherlands, Austria and Germany.

In Vienna, Cardinal Christoph Schoenborn wrote in a diocesan magazine that "the issue of priest training, as well as the question of what happened in the so-called sexual revolution" needed to be addressed.
"It also includes the issue of priest celibacy and the issue of personality development. It requires a great deal of honesty, both on the part of the Church and of society as a whole," he added.
But the Pope said on Friday that celibacy is "the sign of full devotion, the entire commitment to the Lord and to the 'Lord's business', an expression of giving oneself to God and to others".



*What´s your opinion? Do you think celibacy is an expression of giving oneself to God and to others, as the Pope said? Should celibacy be abolished from Catholic Church?...

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