Cancer

Nowadays there are more and more people who suffer cancer. It is one of the main causes of dead in the whole world, specially in Spain which is one of the most affected countries currently. It can be caused by some human actions or mainly by several factors of life.

Cancer can appear because of genetics, since if parents have any kind of cancer, it is very likely that their children will have this illness too.

Ageing is also another fundamental factor in the development of cancer. The incidence of this disease increases greatly with age, most likely because accumulate risk factors for certain cancers.

Another circumstance that cause cancer is the consume moderated of tobacco and alcohol that are very damage for lungs and kidneys.

In addition, most of food that we buy at the supermarket can cause cancer long-term, because all type of edible products are now plenty of chemicals like preservatives, colourants, etc. These are very harmful for our health. Therefore we have to be very aware of it.

Christmas recipe: quails in mandarin sauce and honey

            

Are you tired of eating the same food at Christmas? Do not worry. I am going to propose you a different dish to this day so special. When you think about Christmas dishes do not need to choose always the most expensive products of marked like for example the typical seafood. There are many ingredients that we usually use in our kitchen and we can give them a festive touch like these quails in mandarin sauce and honey.

Ingredients (for two people):

- 2 or 4 clean quails

- 2 medium mandarins

- 1/2 cup of broth

- 1/2 cup of white wine

- 2 tablespoons of honey

- 2 French onions

- 1 tablespoon of cornstarch

- pepper
- salt

- extra virgin olive oil.

Elaboration:

1. Wash and peel mandarins. Remove all the white part of the skin and chop into thin strips. Put in a saucepan with a finger of water, boil and strain. Repeat the operation. Replace the skins in a saucepan with honey and a pinch of salt. Heat over medium heat 2 minutes.

2. Add broth, wine and juice of the mandarins. Incorporate the onions cut into quarters, giving a blow pepper and cook over low heat 15 minutes. Peel while the remaining segments of the tangerine. Add to the sauce. Dissolve the cornstarch in cold water and then add to thicken.

3. Tie the quails' legs and cook them with a little olive oil in a frying pan or grilled until they are well browned on all sides. Serve with hot sauce to taste.

Elaboration time: 45 minutes

Difficulty: Easy

Stop dog's mistreatment

http://www.occupyforanimals.net/animal-abuse---how-to-report.html

     I am fed up with seeing on TV or on my own Facebook images of starving, injured, sad, deteriorated dogs because people who treat an animal like this are not human beings. These people should not exist. I do not know if I am against of this for loving so much dogs, but honestly I think that any person that posses use of reason would not be capable to harm an animal like dogs are. Really no matter what type of animal is, since this kind of beings mistreats any animal, but it is more widespread in dogs. When I see that pictures which I am talking to, I wonder: what blame have dogs had to finish of that way? Why? What type of being have been able to do that?

    Fortunately, the government has helped in many ways, since animals' mistreatment, specially dogs', is punishable with large amounts of money and even with jail. Furthermore, there are many animal protectors and lovers who are in charge of bringing up these animals which are mostly found almost lifeless. Thanks to people like these, dogs' life have more possibilities to survive, since most of them cannot be saved.

     I want to finish with a famous quote: dogs are the best friend of humans. Therefore, people that do this type of wild mistreatment are not a really human.

Spanish films

    I am not very keen on Spanish films because most of them have a senseless plot, sometimes difficult to follow and they usually are a copy of American movies. Moreover, they have a low cultural level and also a bad sense of humour.

    However, when people encouraged me to see the film '' ocho apellidos vascos''  last year, I was pretty surprised by it. This movie beat the record at  ticket office, since there were 9,5 million of viewers. It is a romantic comedy starred by Clara Lago (Amaia) and Dani Rovira (Rafa), Carmen Machi (Merche) and Karra Elejalde (Koldo) in which Rafa, a a Sevillian who has ever left of Andalusia, decides to leave his homeland to follow Amaia, a young Basque that resists their seduction techniques. To do this, and against the advice of his friends, he decides to travel to the town of her, Argoitia. A series of circumstances lead to the young Sevillian have to do as if he is a  Basque to achieve their purposes and marry to her.  

     I really like this film and so, last week I went to the cinema with my boyfriend to see the second part : ''Ocho apellidos catalanes''. I did not regret at all because it is as good as the first one. It has a lot of funny moments related to the Catalan context. Therefore, I recommend everybody to see it because it is worth.

I attach the trailers of the two films for whoever is interested in them.

                    ''Ocho apellidos vascos'' (First part)

                  ''Ocho apellidos catalanes'' (Second part)
         *Note: I have not found the trailer with English subtitles

Merry Christmas

    

http://highlandsmuseum.com/christmas-tour-of-homes/

    Christmas is already here! As every year I am always looking forward to arriving these date because it is one of the best festive season for me in the whole year. I and, as almost everybody, usually gather with the family during all Christmas and we hold Christmas Eve and  New Year’s Eve with a great dinner prepared with expensive and special dishes for the occasion. After I go out to celebrate with my friends and my boyfriend; we usually go to the disco and spend the night dancing.

      During these days I enjoy a lot with my friends; for example we go skating at the ice rink or go to cinema. When Christmas arrive, I love setting up the tree and the crib and decorating my home. In addition, I like buying gifts to my family and leave under the tree at Christmas Day. I also like open my presents that day; it is as if it was my birthday.

    Likewise, I always try to pass all my exams because thus, I can enjoy and relax these days. In contrast, this year everything has changed, since it is my first year studying at the university and as everyone knows, exams are unfortunately on January. Therefore, I will have to spend all Christmas season studying hard. This year and the rest of the career will be very hard for me.

Mobile phones among teenagers

   

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/may/20/teenagers-mobile-phones-study-smartphone-use-addictive

   Mobile phones, or now also called smartphones, have supposed a key breakthrough in technology. This particularly innovated electronic gadget has affected and changed the lifestyle of most young people in many aspects.

    Nowadays it is not difficult to find any teenager using the mobile phone, since now everybody has one. In addition, broadband connections, which allow them to go on-line more quickly, are widely available everywhere (at restaurants, at any station or even inside buses). This let teens be communicated all time, above all though social networks. Likewise, they can download all kinds of applications to do great variety of things: from playing a game to watching a film.

     But, are all these facilities really nice for young people? They are believed that smartphones are very useful and entertaining, and they are right, in contrast most of them have become very addicted and do not know how take control; they are completely absorbed in their phones. As a result of this, they will not develop correctly their communicative abilities and the physical contact with real people, especially if they begin to use them from childhood. Moreover, its continued use is harmful to health. 

    Due to the fact that teen are so connected to smartphones, we should take serious measures. For instance, an idea would be to establish a limited connection per day on our phones so that we cannot access or Internet or any app when this period of time ends. Besides, parents should be aware of their their children can make a misuse of them. Therefore, they do not have to let their kids spend all the day using these gadgets either they navigate websites alone.

   Overall, I wish everybody think a bit about this great problem that is influencing in the whole world. I am not saying that I am against smartphones, only I would like that children take advantage the time in other more important items.

Junk TV and its frauds.

http://www.elmanifiesto.com/articulos.asp?idarticulo=5219

This topic can be a bit  sensitive for someone, since there are many people who are in love of junk TV. The most channels on TV are gossip programs that do not really teach anything, but people like them because they are funny and entertaining. In contrast, there are few culture channels on TV like for example documentaries.

The main goal of enterprises is to earn money and, for it, they must get audience, offering contents that are interesting for viewers. Almost any one do not think about cultural aspects of society because people interest gossiping, hence junk TV is more extended in television world. Additionally, there are even some programs that are capable of tricking to people only for the money. An example is "Big Brother", a reality show in which a group of people are random selected to live inside a house and there have to be arguments, amorousness, fightings, etc. in order to entertain viewers. When the atmosphere is calm, the own reality tell the protagonists what they have to do, hence they are acting and it is not real. The problem is that people are easy to manipulate through television.

However, documentaries, history movies or programs related with the life ans culture are watched by very few people because the most say that they are boring. This is the reason for there are less culture channels on TV and it is very sad. Today society prefer watching junk TV to learning and developing their own culture.

About me

It is time to talk about me, about my life. I am not a very special person like other people who have talents such as playing the guitar or being able to sing well (hopefully!). I am a normal person who enjoy small things of the life and also enjoy seeing how other people are happy. I am going to talk about my physique, my personality and about my hobbies and then about my life in general.

Physically, I am thin, tall and I have curly blond hair with brown eyes. I have pale skin and also I can say that I wear glasses, although only at home, because when I go out, I usually put my contact lens. Respecting my character, I am a very responsible person with my things, although sometimes I am a bit lazy;  I am friendly;  optimistic and a bit shy. I like helping people when they have problems and besides, I like see them smile. I love animals, specially dogs. I do not like so much practising sport, but I sometimes go running: also I am interested in reading romantic and mystery books.  Moreover, I love travelling but I have not been the opportunity to travel out of Spain.

Now, what can I say about my life? Well, I live in a small village of Cuenca, called Casasimarro, but it is nearer of the province of Albacete than Cuenca. However, this year I live in Murcia because I am studying the career of English Studies there. With regard to my close family, I have one elder brother called Giovanni who is 23 years old and a wonderful mother who give all for us.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

Deaf and blind people with a better life.

       Deafness and blindness is a big problem which affect in life seriously. Deaf and blind people are a minority in the society but this does not mean that they are less than the rest of people. They can perfectly have a normal life, since nowadays there are many ways, thanks to the advance of technology, to endure easily these sort of problems.

      At first, blind people can use of Braille alphabet to read any kind of essay, which it is a tactile writing special system for these people. Also they can be helped by guide dogs and special sticks in order to walk whatever their want. Moreover, they are a lot of modern items and accessories that let you know their data by touch such as adapted board games, reading electronic instruments and access to information, house ítems, watches and alarm clocks, etc.

      Likewise, deaf people can make use of technologies to improve their lifestyle. For example, there are amplifiers that help them to hear a bit better or if they want to watch the TV, they only have to put the subtitles. Also they can watch conferences, seminars, etc on TV using a specific interpretation of signs system together with audio description. Other technical aids that help improve daily life at home are video intercom, warning lights and vibration, etc.

      To sum up, new technologies facilitate that people with this type of disability acquire, develop their funtional abilities, contributing to improve their quality of life.

http://www.desdebellaterra.com/vivircondiscapacidad/los-sentidos-y-la-discapacidad-sordera-y-mudez/

                                            http://inf4anp.blogspot.com.es/p/hardware.html

Essay (Unity and coherence)

 STOP BULLFIGHTING

Bullfighting is an ancient tradition which is still celebrated in Spain and also in many other countries like France, United States or China. In this polemic custom, bulls are killed by called bullfighters and millions of people pay for seeing it and also enjoy how bulls die. Bullfighting should be completely banned because it is about an animal mistreatment and in contrast, people continue calling ''party'' or ''art''.

In spite of all the countries where bullfighting is celebrated, there are some places where it is forbidden. For example, in our country, in Calatonia, Asturias, Andalusia, Canary Islands and many villages; in the capital of Equator, Quito or in the city of Viana do Castelo in Portugal.

For many people, bullfighting is celebrated like a party because bullfighters kill bulls for pleasure and people enjoy and entertain seeing this spectacle. However, for me a party is something like going out with my friends to take a drink and dancing at the disco all the night.

In addition, for these people bullfighting is celebrated like an art, but I think that art is not putting a bull in the middle of a square and torture it. The truth art does not damage any animal, for instance we can consider like art a Picasso painting or the Statue of Liberty in New York.

Another thing that I have to say is that there are other animal mistreatments like dog's neglect which is very punishable, since you can go to prison and also you will have to pay big fines. And in contrast, bull's mistreatment is allowed in many places.

As a result of this, we can see that, although bullfighting is totally forbidden in some places, it is still practised in many parts of the world, Moreover, people pay for it and enjoy seeing how these animals suffer. What it's more, these people consider bullfighting like a party or an art. Personally speaking, I cannot understand how dogs' neglect and mistreatment is banned and punishable and not bulls' mistreatment, since both are equally animals.

https://blogcontraatauromaquia.files.wordpress.com/2015/07/stop-bullfighting-2c2ba.jpg

Introduction + outline + conclusion

University is a high level of education where people can study specifics knowledges about any branch of wisdom. Students who have had a right marks along their previous studies stages, normally, decide to enter university in order to work on what they like in the future. Studying at the university is one of the best stages of the life, since you socialize, develop your mental abilities and above all, you grow like a person.

I. Social development

    A) Make new friends at the university

    B) Go university parties

         1. Have fun

         2. Know different people

II. Mental development

     A) Ability to learn new things depending on your type of studies.

         1. Languages

         2. Culture

         3. Maths, etc

      B) Develop critical thinking

IV. Personal development

     A) Learning to be an independent adult

         1. Buying and cooking your own food

         2. Doing your own housework and washing

     B) Learning to manage the money

Overall, the time that students spend at the university is important to develop themselves socially, mentally and personally in many aspects. Therefore, university is an unique experience that only happens once in life.

TV, smartphones, computers, etc.: could you live without them?

    Nowadays, technology is highly developed and we can see it because of the amount of electronics which are being made and sold. They can be very useful in many occasions, but also have negative aspects.

   On the one hand, people use technology in order to entertain, to improve their culture and, above all to communicate with anyone anywhere. Moreover, life is more comfortable with these electronics, since, for example you can buy anything through Internet, or watch films on TV or online without going to a cinema.

   On the other hand, they are very addictive and if you spend long time front a TV or computer screen, it is very harmful for your health. As a result of this, you will have a sedentary lifestyle and you will put aside things or hobbies that you like.

   Personally speaking, I think that we would be equally happy without electronics and ever our health would be better. Furthermore, previously, people who lived quietly without much technology, I am sure that they enjoyed more their lives than people today, always attached to a smartphone.

http://culturainquieta.com/es/lifestyle/item/6497-la-muerte-de-conversacion-21-vinetas-de-como-los-smartphones-han-tomado-las-riendas-de-nuestras-vidas.html

Thesis statement + outline

http://noticias.universia.es/tag/vida-universitaria/

I. Studying at the university is one of the best stages of the life.

II. Social development

    A) Make new friends at the university

    B) Go university parties

         1. Have fun

         2. Know different people

III. Mental development

     A) Ability to learn new things depending on your type of studies.

         1. Languages

         2. Culture

         3. Maths, etc

      B) Develop critical thinking

IV. Personal development

     A) Learning to be an independent adult

         1. Buying and cooking your own food

         2. Doing your own housework and washing

     B) Learning to manage the money

V. The time at the university is important to develop oneself socially, mentally and personally.

       

Halloween

    Last night, on October 31 it was celebrated Halloween, an ancient holiday originated with Celts 2,000 years ago in what is now Ireland, the UK, and parts of Northern France. This holiday has been expanded in several countries around the world, specially in United States. This country spends $6 million  every year on the night of Halloween. It is a holiday that consists on dressing with scary costumes and going from house to house to ask for candy or money with the phrase "Trick or treat!". People who refuse to give anything would sometimes find chalk drawings on their doors the next morning or find they were the victims of other pranks. This activity is more typical in children. Jack-o-lanters are famous too in this holiday, which are pumpkins with a face cut into one side. Moreover, that night people do very funny parties with costume contests, etc.  It is a unique holiday where everybody can be have a great time.

Reading books VS. watching films

https://www.livescribe.com/blog/noteworthy2/2014/07/new-contest-favorite-films-based-books/

I like watching films but I prefer reading books. When you are watching a film, it shows you how characters are, how the place is where it is shot, what type of clothes characters wear, etc. However, when you are reading a book, your eyes only see words, so the work is for the imagination. You have to imagine in your mind everything what the book describes you. Therefore, you develop the imagination. In addition to this, the reading promotes concentration and empathy, makes us progress and prepare us for success. Then, if you read a book, you have the time that you want to interpret the message, analyze it and adapt it to your necessities because you can read the message as many times as you want. But when you watch a film at the cinema or on the television that does not happen. Another difference is that a film takes two hours approximately, while a book about the same topic takes you a lot of days to read it. In conclusion, I would rather read a book because it has got more advantages for me.

Problem/Solution Paragraphs (video: 'Man on the Edge' )

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RbMAvm2Yhwk

The main problem of the story is that a man want to kill himself. The man, called Danny, checks into a hotel and suddenly steps out onto he ledge, apparently trying to commit suicide. Danny remembers events that have led him to this decision. At first, he has been fired of his job and he have not any money. Then, his girlfriend, Sally tells him that she had an affair with a married man and decides to leave her boyfriend.

The police man try to talk to him but he is very convinced to jump. He receives a phone call of Sally but he throw the phone to the vacuum. Suddenly, his mother appears in the window and says him: ''Danny, you are a young boy. You cannot lose your life due to a girl. I know yo are not deserve to be unfaithful in this way but you can start again with another girl and you can look for another job and be very happy. So please, don't throw. Do it for me''. Finally, Danny is convinced by his mother and decides not kill himself and start from scratch.

A comparative/contrast paragraph

    http://blogs.laopiniondemurcia.es/microscopias/2014/04/09/rostropovich-o-como-acabar-de-una-vez-por-todas-con-la-cultura/

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqrAPOZxgzU    

Sex Pistols and Johnny Rotten Rostropovich both work in the world of the music but they have many differences that I am going to compare. First of all, the style of Sex Pistols' music are not the same as  the Rostropovich's music, since the first one are experts in punk and rock music and the second one play classical music. Secondly, we can see in images  that Sex Pistols wear casual and scruffy clothes while Rostropovich wears formal and smart clothes with shirt, jeans and a tie. In addition, Sex Pistols are a band formed by four musicians while Rostropovich is only a soloist. Then, instruments that are played by Sex Pistols are different from Rostropovich's instruments, since the band play the guitar, drums, etc and the soloist only play the cello. Another difference is that Sex Pistols, as well as they play instruments, they sing. In contrast, Rostropovich does not sing, only play cello. Although they are different styles of music, both are famous musicians who earn money for it.

Are we sure that endangered animals are safe in zoos?

http://www.animanaturalis.org/p/1416

Zoos can be great for people who enjoy looking at animals, even thare are persons that think animals are protected there. However, they are not the best option for saving endangered animals.

First of all, the most important fact that makes animals disappear is the changing of their own habitat. Most of them are not safe in zoos because they are in an artificial habitat and the conditions are not the same. For example, birds cannot fly long distances freely as they are used, aquatic animals have little water to swim as usual or many other species which are used to living in big groups of family are locked in cages, many times alone.

Secondly, I have to say that nowadays zoos are improving conditions for animals but it is not enough. Moreover, not all zoos have appropriate conservation ideas since, in many cases, zoo owners are more concerned by the profits than the animal welfare and this endanger animals.

So, I consider that the best idea would be to move zoo animals to natural enclosures with reputable breeders to get the protection that they need, specially of hunters. Besides, I think that zoos should disappear because animals only suffer inside of these tiny cages.

In conclusion, zoos are not the most correct way of saving endangered animals because they are treated poorly. Therefore, natural eclosures are the best manner to conserve species.

Importance of recycling

http://www.spokanerecycling.com/

Recycling is necessary to look after our planet. In last years, the planet was being too polluted due to humans, who weren't aware of the damage that we cause to the planet and even to ourselves, since at long-term this pollution would finish with our zone layer and we would be without the protection against sun rays. But today there are more and more people who are recycling all kind of products (plastic, paper, glass, oil, etc) because now people know the importance of it. When we recycle, miles of trees are saved, air and water pollution are reduced,  time and money in elaboration of new products are saved, etc. Recycling is one of the easiest activities where we can participate directly. To sum up, if everybody recycles, we will have a world better. So, let's go to recycle!

Evaluable practice (opinion paragraph)

http://d1o2xrel38nv1n.cloudfront.net/files/2013/09/miss-word-2012.jpg

The beauty contests are overvalued and are harmful to society, specially to women. Nowadays, all women who want participate in beauty contests have the idea of the famous perfect measures 90, 60, 90 and so, they try to do the impossible to get this objective (doing excessive exercise, eating little, vomiting the food, etc). I think this doesn’t make any sense because all of it can cause eating disorders, even mortal, like anorexia or bulimia. Moreover, for me that level of thinness is unpleasant and I don’t find any attractiveness in it. Women of all ages want to be like Barbie or models who appear on magazines and this is blame of publicity since it manipulates the image of models exaggeratedly. As a result of this, today women get carried away with appearances and they want to see theirselves like the top models because they think  that this way will be accepted socially, that is to say, the beauty contests aren’t what cause this problem if not the same person who interprets this image as a role model. With all of this I mean that  beauty contests have a lower value than they have actually and they are very harmful to women’s health since the relation with their body affects their personal and professional life.

My favourite film

http://www.allocine.fr/film/fichefilm_gen_cfilm=222259.html

Next week, I watched an on-line movie which has become my favourite. It's a French comedy called ''My God, but what have we done?'' and directed by Phillipe de Chauveron which is about polemic topics like racism.

 A catholic marriage have four daughters, to whom they have tried to teach their principles and values. However, the girls have only given them displeasures: the oldest married a Muslim; the second, a Jewish, and the third, a Chinese. The marriage had all their hopes in the youngest daughter, waiting that, at least she, had a church wedding. Finally, she falls in love with an African, and their parents finish accepting all their sons-in-law.

It's an amazing comedy since it gets to open your eyes and see the racism in another way. So, I recommend it everyone because I'm sure that it'll like as much as me.

Giant's Causeway (not evaluable practice)

Giant's Causeway

http://wallpapersearchengine.com/giants-causeway-wallpapers/

If you want to see an incredible natural phenomen, you can visit the Giant's Causeway. It's a beautiful place situated near the coast of Northern Ireland where we can see the amazing formation of hexagonal basalt rocks piled up one above another one as a result of an explosion of lava long time ago. Besides to this, there are many high waves that provide a relaxing sound. This place is very famous in United Kingdom and so  I invite you to visit it. You won't regret for it!

My poem

HAPPINESS

Happiness is finding that person who makes me smile
Happiness is being satisfied with yourself
Happiness is marry the love of your life
Happiness is loving oneself
Happiness is a decision that we have to make everyday
Happiness is helping needy people
Happiness is not a goal, is a way
Happiness is living with optimism
Happiness is travelling and knowing new world
Happiness is sharing moments with family
Happiness is a gift of the world
Happiness is having a child and seeing him grow up
Happiness is a luggage and you decide if open or close it
Happiness is a temporary state of madness
Happiness is in yourself
So, be happy!

Sport today

http://pilulepourmaigrir.com/quel-sport-pour-maigrir/

Nowadays, more and more people is giving up the sport in the last place of their diary and this can be very harmful for our healthy. Sport is pretty important for everybody: adults, children and even for older persons, since it has got a lot of physical and mental benefits which help us maintain a good health and prevent diseases. Practising sport helps to relax, increase the self-esteem, decrease the level of depression and stress, reduce sensation of fatigue, help to have a toned body, etcetera. As we see it, sport should be practiced daily because of all these benefits, but specially by children, because they are in process of development and if they start to lead a sedentary lifestyle from small, they will, probably have very serious problems with health in adulthood. In conclusion, people shouldn't forget sport in their lives because it's really beneficial and, moreover, it suit us very well!

Post 1 (freewriting): Some beautiful places around my country

My country, Spain, is considered one of the most visited countries in the world because of its gastronomy, climate, beaches, etc. Spain is full of beautiful cities like for example its capital, Madrid. It has the incredible palace of the kings with its spectacular gardens, the famous Retiro's Park or the Prado's Museum. Another beautiful city is Barcelona,  the second biggest city of my country. It mainly points out for its remarkable architecture: the awesome basilica well known like ''Sagrada Familia'' or the famous Mila house, both built by Antonio Gaudí. Also, you can find the best beaches in Spain in Balearic Islands, for example. And if you want to be in a place full of nature and fresh air, you must go to the North of Spain like Galicia, Cantabria or Asturias. There are miles of beautiful places in the world but Spain is one of the best.

Real Palace of Madrid

Barcelona :''Sagrada Familia''

Noth of Spain