Invisible friend!

Invisible friend is a tradition in which members of a group are randomly assigned a person to whom they anonymously give a gift. I love this kind of popular games! I have been participating in this tradition since about 2011 with my friends and it is more exciting every year. However, sometimes I do not know what to buy as a present because each year it is a bit more difficult. Although that, I still enjoying it as the first year!

Thesis statement

CHANGING OUR NAME

Is it a good idea to change our name? It would have many benefits but also many disadvantages. It would carry a lot of official documents movements and many delinquents would hide from the police more easily. However, people may be much happier. It permit to change a bit your life: it may avoid taunts and bullying, it can be chosen a popular or famous name and, the most important point, people can feel safer and more comfortable.

Memories

Stop being afraid of what could go wrong and focus on what could go right

I don't know where I read this but I still remember this sentence sounding inside my head, making me think and giving me strength. Today I feel happy, in high spirits, so I am going to take advantage of it and I'll give you all an advice: forget about the problems, breath in and breath out. We are here for who knows how many days? Enjoy your life and take a chance, expose yourself to adventure, to destiny.

A problem / solution paragraph

GLOBAL WARMING

The atmosphere, the thin gas layer that surrounds our planet, is responsible for keeping stable the Earth’s temperature. However, the average global temperature has been rising since the twentieth century. This phenomenon is principally due to the emission of greenhouse gases. These gases occur naturally in the atmosphere, but its composition has been modified by human activity. Industrial activities and the use of automobiles have contributed to greenhouse gas emissions, becoming the atmosphere thicker, which has caused the temperature of the planet increases.

This is known as global warming, a phenomenon that causes negative effects in many activities such as droughts or the rising of the sea level, which will cause huge floods. Given the magnitude of this problem, there have been many efforts to combat it such as the reduction of the emissions of gases by buying energy-efficient light bulbs. Although they are a little bit more expensive, they save much more energy and illuminate as well as the other light bulbs.

Other possible solution is to use electric-powered cars. They produce less noise, almost imperceptible vibrations and emit almost no heat. With electric mobility vehicles we can travel on the most limited traffic areas for reasons of road pollution. We also can use more frequently public transport; in this way we will not spend much money and we will probably meet nice people! Another way to solve global warming is riding bicycles. More physical exercise will be done and there would be less traffic in our cities.

Some other solutions are recycling and separating rubbish (splinter of glass, cardboard, paper, plastic, organic waste…). There is a problem with this answer: there are people working on this, so consequently, this would suppose the unemployment of a lot of workers. Taking a shower with warm or cold water also helps: the water vapor will not propagate across the atmosphere. Planting more trees suppose the absorption of large amounts of carbon dioxide and the more oxygen liberation.

After analyzing various ways to deal with the phenomenon of global warming, all of them are necessary. Little by little we must open our mind and think that if we do not start actuating now, then it will be too late. Perhaps as the change of this phenomenon is gradual, there are few incentives to modify the behavior of agents. A much stronger position to realize the seriousness of the matter disorder is needed. 

This is Halloween!

Last Friday night was Halloween, a holiday celebrated in the majority of English speaking countries. Celebrated the night of October 31, it was said that the spirits visited their relatives’ houses. The villagers had to put a candle in the window of their houses for each decedent who had in the family so that the spirts would not bother them. If there wasn’t any candle, they would disturb them and made the villagers fall in terrible nightmares.

How is it celebrated?

People often disguise and go to parties or visit haunted houses. There are several games traditionally associated with Halloween parties. One common game is dunking or apple bobbing, called dooking in Scotland. In this game, apples float in a tub or a large basin of water and the participants must use their teeth to remove an apple from the basin. It is also traditional to decorate houses and the well-known trick-or-treating. It is a customary celebration for children. They go in costume from house to house asking for treats such as candy or sometimes money, with the questions “trick or treat?” The word “trick” refers to “threat” to perform mischief on the homeowners or their property if no treat is given.

  

I like Halloween although I have never celebrated it. This night I prefer staying at home watching films related to this party. My favorite one is The Nightmare before Christmas. That was my plan for last Friday night! This movie was directed by Henry Slick and produced by Tim Burton and Denise DiNovi. It was performed for the first time  in the United States in 1993.

The Nightmare before Christmas is about a character called Jack Skellington, the pumpkin king of Halloween Town. He is bored of doing the same all years until he discovers Christmas. Jack was fascinated and he liked it so much that he decided to improve it. However, his vision of the celebration is totally contrary to the spirit of Christmas. His plan includes the kidnapping of Santa Claus and introducing quite macabre changes. This is one of my favourite movie and it is really entertained and funny. I recommend you to watch it if you haven’t done it yet. You will enjoy!

  

Advantages and disadvantages of...

BEING VEGETARIAN

Being vegetarian means not eating meat, fish, fowl, or, in some cases, any food made from animals. Most of the time, vegetarians don’t eat meat because their ethics is related to defend human rights of animals. The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and the Dietitians Association of Canada believe that appropriately planned vegetarian diets are healthful. However there are many advantages and also disadvantages we should discuss.

The diet based primarily on grains, vegetables and fruits, helps to control diabetes. In addition, a varied and properly balanced vegetarian diet provides the necessary levels of nutrients that our body needs. Fruit, grains and vegetables contain vitamins, amino acids and minerals that our organism requires. People who eat just vegetables register a lower level in their body mass index (BMI). Several analyzes have shown that death from ischemic heart disease was significant lower in vegetarians compared with non-vegetarians. As you can see, we have several good reasons to stop eating food made from animals, but there aren’t only benefits.

On the contrary, vegetarians don’t get enough B12 vitamins. Therefore, children who are fed under these nourishments may suffer developmental delays and malnutrition. Our bodies need complete proteins to function correctly. Vitamins animals are complete, but vegetables vitamins are not. Consequently, they must be combined so that all vegetable protein supply is enough. If we don’t apply correctly all nutrients we need, we can take a risk that can help to provoke several unnecessary problems, disruptions or diseases such as anaemia, zinc deficiency, calcium fault, etc.

As you can check, vegetarian diets can be beneficial in the prevention and treatment of certain diseases. As opposed to this, they also may be detrimental to our health. So, you have the choice in your hands!

Here is a song written by Paul McCartney called Heart of the Country. The topic is as simple as the title, a man searching for a farm in the middle of nowhere. The song reflects Paul's heading for the Scottish countryside to escape the headaches associated with the Beatles' breakup at the time. However, McCartney and Elvis Costello re-recorded the song in 2013 for a commercial featuring his late wife Linda's vegetarian recipe book.

Analysis of a TED talking

DO SCHOOLS KILL CREATIVITY?

What's the topic of the TED talk? What's the main idea? When does the speaker introduce his idea? How? 

The topic of the TED talk are creativity and education. The main idea is that education does not improve creativity. The speaker introduce his idea at the beggining of the speech with funny stories, anecdotes or aluding to other conferences.

What are the means support used by the speaker to  convince us that his opinion is right? Provide examples.

He tells us a story about a girl who could not sit down and pay attention. Her parents took her to a dancer school and she became a brilliant dancer.

What's the speaker conclusion? How does he "conclude"?

His conclusion is that we have to change the education system to improve all our skills and talents. He concludes animating all parents to encourage their children to develop their skills.

First practice (opinion paragraph)

Everybody likes going out at nights, but I prefer staying at home. Almost all people I know don't like my idea because they usually love parties. However it's better because you can relax on the sofa. In addition, you can read a book, watch a movie, surf the internet... A lot of options! Personally talking, I like both ideas, but think about it: you're tired after some hours in class, you have to get up early to work in your tasks... it's better to relax! I know that dancing, laughing, meeting our friends...is funny but it also makes you feel tired. All in all, both options are good, but from my point of view, the best you can do at nights is to put your pyjamas on and enjoy your "home time"!