The Kepler telescope will orbit the Sun to watch a patch of space thought to contain about 100,000 stars like ours.[...] Controllers took their first opportunity to launch the probe, at 0349GMT (2249EST) on 7 March, 2009. Kepler blasted off atop a Delta II rocket from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. "This is a historical mission; it's not just a science mission," said Dr Edward Weiler, Associate Administrator for the Science Mission Directorate at Nasa."I maintain that it really attacks some very basic human questions that have been part of our genetic code since that first man or woman looked up into the sky and asked the question: 'are we alone?'." ... Nice video of the lift off here: and the article in full.
Saturday, March 07, 2009
Nasa launches Earth hunter probe
"An unmanned Nasa mission to search the sky for Earth-like planets with the potential to host life has launched from Cape Canaveral in Florida."
Thursday, March 05, 2009
About the brain
https://www.ted.com/talks/jill_bolte_taylor_my_stroke_of_insight/up-next
Jill Bolt Taylor has a fabulously clear way to speak about her experience (tough one) with the brain. It is enlightening, don't you think?
Tuesday, March 03, 2009
A Giant Breach in Earth's Magnetic Field
Themis discovers hole in Earth's solar storm shield a.k.a. the magnetosphere.
"NASA's five THEMIS spacecraft have discovered a breach in Earth's magnetic field ten times larger than anything previously thought to exist." [...] "At first I didn't believe it," says THEMIS project scientist David Sibeck of the Goddard Space Flight Center. "This finding fundamentally alters our understanding of the solar wind-magnetosphere interaction." ...Read more below
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2008/16dec_giantbreach.htm
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/themis/news/themis_leaky_shield.html
The 2007 THEMIS Mission: investigate what causes auroras in the Earth's atmosphere to dramatically change from slowly shimmering waves of light to wildly shifting streaks of color. Discovering what causes auroras to change will provide scientists with important details on how the planet's magnetosphere works and the important Sun-Earth connection.
"NASA's five THEMIS spacecraft have discovered a breach in Earth's magnetic field ten times larger than anything previously thought to exist." [...] "At first I didn't believe it," says THEMIS project scientist David Sibeck of the Goddard Space Flight Center. "This finding fundamentally alters our understanding of the solar wind-magnetosphere interaction." ...Read more below
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2008/16dec_giantbreach.htm
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/themis/news/themis_leaky_shield.html
The 2007 THEMIS Mission: investigate what causes auroras in the Earth's atmosphere to dramatically change from slowly shimmering waves of light to wildly shifting streaks of color. Discovering what causes auroras to change will provide scientists with important details on how the planet's magnetosphere works and the important Sun-Earth connection.
Sunday, March 01, 2009
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Thursday, February 26, 2009
GLACIERS MELTING FASTER THAN FIRST THOUGHT
Researchers Believe Ice Melting Across Wider Area Threatens To Raise Sea Levels
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/02/25/tech/main4829282.shtml?tag=topHome;topStories
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/02/25/tech/main4829282.shtml?tag=topHome;topStories
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
The Leasing of Guantanamo Bay
Some time ago, I met an American living in Paris. His name is Michael J. Strauss. He sent me a postcard from Guantanamo bay a few months ago.
First time i met him, he intended to write a book about the leasing of Guantanamo Bay. He told me a funny story then:
Incredible as it may seem, since 1903, the U.S. has been paying $4,000 by U.S. Treasury General cheques every month to keep that U.S. enclave which was primarily a naval base.
Of course, post 9/11, it came to be sadly known as the infamous detention center a.k.a. Gitmo: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guantanamo_Bay_detention_camp
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guantanamo_Bay
The funny thing is that Fidel Castro doesn't cash those cheques but keeps them in a drawer because he, Fidel Castro, considers that the U.S. presence in Cuba is not legitimate. You can read about that story here: http://www.stuff.co.nz/4169790a12.html
Well, I'm very glad to tell you that Michael J. Strauss has now finished writing that book. Congratulations Michael! : "The Leasing of Guantanamo Bay".
Read more here: http://www.greenwood.com/books/printFlyer.aspx?sku=C37782&location=international
and here: http://www.greenwood.com/catalog/C37782.aspx
Here is a description of the book:
Post-2002 events at the U.S. naval facility at Guantanamo Bay have generated a spate of books on its use as a detention center in the U.S. fight against terrorism. Yet the crucial enabling factor-the lease that gave the U.S. control over the territory in Cuba-has till now escaped any but cursory consideration. The Leasing of Guantanamo Bay explains just how Guantanamo Bay came to be a leased territory where the U.S. has no sovereignty and Cuba has no jurisdiction. This is the first definitive account of the details and workings of the unusual and problematic state-to-state leasing arrangement that is the essential but murky foundation for all the ongoing controversies about Guantanamo Bay's role in U.S. anti-terrorism efforts, charges of U.S. human rights violations, and U.S.-Cuban relations.
First time i met him, he intended to write a book about the leasing of Guantanamo Bay. He told me a funny story then:
Incredible as it may seem, since 1903, the U.S. has been paying $4,000 by U.S. Treasury General cheques every month to keep that U.S. enclave which was primarily a naval base.
Of course, post 9/11, it came to be sadly known as the infamous detention center a.k.a. Gitmo: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guantanamo_Bay_detention_camp
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guantanamo_Bay
The funny thing is that Fidel Castro doesn't cash those cheques but keeps them in a drawer because he, Fidel Castro, considers that the U.S. presence in Cuba is not legitimate. You can read about that story here: http://www.stuff.co.nz/4169790a12.html
Well, I'm very glad to tell you that Michael J. Strauss has now finished writing that book. Congratulations Michael! : "The Leasing of Guantanamo Bay".
Read more here: http://www.greenwood.com/books/printFlyer.aspx?sku=C37782&location=international
and here: http://www.greenwood.com/catalog/C37782.aspx
Here is a description of the book:
Post-2002 events at the U.S. naval facility at Guantanamo Bay have generated a spate of books on its use as a detention center in the U.S. fight against terrorism. Yet the crucial enabling factor-the lease that gave the U.S. control over the territory in Cuba-has till now escaped any but cursory consideration. The Leasing of Guantanamo Bay explains just how Guantanamo Bay came to be a leased territory where the U.S. has no sovereignty and Cuba has no jurisdiction. This is the first definitive account of the details and workings of the unusual and problematic state-to-state leasing arrangement that is the essential but murky foundation for all the ongoing controversies about Guantanamo Bay's role in U.S. anti-terrorism efforts, charges of U.S. human rights violations, and U.S.-Cuban relations.
Friday, February 06, 2009
Karen Greenberg: "The Least Worst Place"
An insightful piece of John Stewart's Daily Show
with Karen Greenberg about her book:
The Least Worst Place: the first 100 days at Guantanamo.
Here is a link about the author KAREN GREENBERG
http://www.lawandsecurity.org/about_staff.cfmand a radio interview
http://lots-o-thoughts.blogspot.com/2009/02/karen-greenberg-on-closing-guantanamo.html
More about guantanamo
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7845585.stm
or more here: http://thepoliticus.com/content/evolution-guantanamo-bay
Thursday, February 05, 2009
Wednesday, February 04, 2009
Tuesday, February 03, 2009
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Neil de Grasse Tyson
A funny, friendly scientist, an astrophysicist in love with the whole universe.
http://www.haydenplanetarium.org/tyson/
http://www.haydenplanetarium.org/tyson/
Monday, January 26, 2009
Jamal, Salim and Latika
Slumdog Millionaire is a great movie. Here is the trailer.
I hope it makes you feel like seeing the film.
I hope it makes you feel like seeing the film.
Friday, January 23, 2009
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Obama took the oath a second time
Read the following article and find out why the U.S. president chose to take the oath again.
http://www.swamppolitics.com/news/politics/blog/2009/01/president_obamas_oath_twice_fo.html
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Obama takes the oath of office, slips of the tongue and the place of adverbs
Yesterday, Obama took the oath of office. He had to repeat it after the Chief Justice. See previous post.
The 35-word oath is explicitly prescribed in the Constitution. It reads:
"I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the office of president of the United States and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."
But Chief Justice John Roberts' administration of the presidential oath to Barack Obama was far from smooth.
But here's exactly what was said yesterday:
ROBERTS: Are you prepared to take the oath, Senator?
OBAMA: I am.
ROBERTS: I, Barack Hussein Obama…
OBAMA: I, Barack…
ROBERTS: … do solemnly swear…
OBAMA: I, Barack Hussein Obama, do solemnly swear…
ROBERTS: … that I will execute the office of president to the United States faithfully…
OBAMA: … that I will execute…
ROBERTS: … faithfully the office of president of the United States…
OBAMA: … the office of president of the United States faithfully…
ROBERTS: … and will to the best of my ability…
OBAMA: … and will to the best of my ability…
ROBERTS: … preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.
OBAMA: … preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.
ROBERTS: So help you God?
OBAMA: So help me God.
ROBERTS: Congratulations, Mr. President.
Who stumbled? The flub was Roberts'.
During the oath, Chief Justice Roberts switched some words up. ... When Roberts erred, one child shouted: "That's not right!"
Their momentary disfluency came down to a problem of adverbial placement. In giving the oath, Roberts misplaced the word "faithfully," at which point Obama paused quizzically. Roberts then corrected himself, but Obama repeated the words as Roberts initially said them.
There was one other minor slip-up on Roberts' part: in his first run-through of the embedded clause, he got a preposition wrong, saying "I will execute the office of president 'to' the United States," rather than 'of '. A less noticeable speech error, but nonetheless the type of thing that happens when one speaks from memory without written prompts, as Roberts apparently did.
Several constitutional lawyers said President Obama should, just to be safe, retake the oath of office that was flubbed by Chief Justice John Roberts.
Thanks to Language Log
http://languagelog.ldc.upenn.edu/nll/?p=1039#more-1039
and the San Francisco Chronicles
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/01/20/MNAF15E20I.DTL&feed=rss.news
The 35-word oath is explicitly prescribed in the Constitution. It reads:
"I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the office of president of the United States and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."
But Chief Justice John Roberts' administration of the presidential oath to Barack Obama was far from smooth.
But here's exactly what was said yesterday:
ROBERTS: Are you prepared to take the oath, Senator?
OBAMA: I am.
ROBERTS: I, Barack Hussein Obama…
OBAMA: I, Barack…
ROBERTS: … do solemnly swear…
OBAMA: I, Barack Hussein Obama, do solemnly swear…
ROBERTS: … that I will execute the office of president to the United States faithfully…
OBAMA: … that I will execute…
ROBERTS: … faithfully the office of president of the United States…
OBAMA: … the office of president of the United States faithfully…
ROBERTS: … and will to the best of my ability…
OBAMA: … and will to the best of my ability…
ROBERTS: … preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.
OBAMA: … preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.
ROBERTS: So help you God?
OBAMA: So help me God.
ROBERTS: Congratulations, Mr. President.
Who stumbled? The flub was Roberts'.
During the oath, Chief Justice Roberts switched some words up. ... When Roberts erred, one child shouted: "That's not right!"
Their momentary disfluency came down to a problem of adverbial placement. In giving the oath, Roberts misplaced the word "faithfully," at which point Obama paused quizzically. Roberts then corrected himself, but Obama repeated the words as Roberts initially said them.
There was one other minor slip-up on Roberts' part: in his first run-through of the embedded clause, he got a preposition wrong, saying "I will execute the office of president 'to' the United States," rather than 'of '. A less noticeable speech error, but nonetheless the type of thing that happens when one speaks from memory without written prompts, as Roberts apparently did.
Several constitutional lawyers said President Obama should, just to be safe, retake the oath of office that was flubbed by Chief Justice John Roberts.
Thanks to Language Log
http://languagelog.ldc.upenn.edu/nll/?p=1039#more-1039
and the San Francisco Chronicles
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/01/20/MNAF15E20I.DTL&feed=rss.news
Obama's inaugural address
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/01/20/national/inauguration09/main4737816.shtml?tag=centerColumn;centerColumnContent
Last part of that speech:
"So let us mark this day with remembrance, of who we are and how far we have traveled. In the year of America's birth, in the coldest of months, a small band of patriots huddled by dying campfires on the shores of an icy river. The capital was abandoned. The enemy was advancing. The snow was stained with blood. At a moment when the outcome of our revolution was most in doubt, the father of our nation ordered these words be read to the people:
"Let it be told to the future world...that in the depth of winter, when nothing but hope and virtue could survive...that the city and the country, alarmed at one common danger, came forth to meet [it]."
America. In the face of our common dangers, in this winter of our hardship, let us remember these timeless words. With hope and virtue, let us brave once more the icy currents, and endure what storms may come. Let it be said by our children's children that when we were tested we refused to let this journey end, that we did not turn back nor did we falter; and with eyes fixed on the horizon and God's grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations.
Last part of that speech:
"So let us mark this day with remembrance, of who we are and how far we have traveled. In the year of America's birth, in the coldest of months, a small band of patriots huddled by dying campfires on the shores of an icy river. The capital was abandoned. The enemy was advancing. The snow was stained with blood. At a moment when the outcome of our revolution was most in doubt, the father of our nation ordered these words be read to the people:
"Let it be told to the future world...that in the depth of winter, when nothing but hope and virtue could survive...that the city and the country, alarmed at one common danger, came forth to meet [it]."
America. In the face of our common dangers, in this winter of our hardship, let us remember these timeless words. With hope and virtue, let us brave once more the icy currents, and endure what storms may come. Let it be said by our children's children that when we were tested we refused to let this journey end, that we did not turn back nor did we falter; and with eyes fixed on the horizon and God's grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations.
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Hurricane by Bob Dylan
Pistol shots ring out in the barroom night
Enter patty valentine from the upper hall.
She sees the bartender in a pool of blood,
Cries out, my god, they killed them all!
Here comes the story of the hurricane,
The man the authorities came to blame
For somethin that he never done.
Put in a prison cell, but one time he could-a been
The champion of the world.
Three bodies lyin there does patty see
And another man named bello, movin around mysteriously.
I didnt do it, he says, and he throws up his hands
I was only robbin the register, I hope you understand.
I saw them leavin, he says, and he stops
One of us had better call up the cops.
And so patty calls the cops
And they arrive on the scene with their red lights flashin
In the hot new jersey night.
Meanwhile, far away in another part of town
Rubin carter and a couple of friends are drivin around.
Number one contender for the middleweight crown
Had no idea what kinda shit was about to go down
When a cop pulled him over to the side of the road
Just like the time before and the time before that.
In paterson thats just the way things go.
If youre black you might as well not show up on the street
less you wanna draw the heat.
Alfred bello had a partner and he had a rap for the cops.
Him and arthur dexter bradley were just out prowlin around
He said, I saw two men runnin out, they looked like middleweights
They jumped into a white car with out-of-state plates.
And miss patty valentine just nodded her head.
Cop said, wait a minute, boys, this ones not dead
So they took him to the infirmary
And though this man could hardly see
They told him that he could identify the guilty men.
Four in the mornin and they haul rubin in,
Take him to the hospital and they bring him upstairs.
The wounded man looks up through his one dyin eye
Says, whad you bring him in here for? he aint the guy!
Yes, heres the story of the hurricane,
The man the authorities came to blame
For somethin that he never done.
Put in a prison cell, but one time he could-a been
The champion of the world.
Four months later, the ghettos are in flame,
Rubins in south america, fightin for his name
While arthur dexter bradleys still in the robbery game
And the cops are puttin the screws to him, lookin for somebody to blame.
Remember that murder that happened in a bar?
Remember you said you saw the getaway car?
You think youd like to play ball with the law?
Think it might-a been that fighter that you saw runnin that night?
Dont forget that you are white.
Arthur dexter bradley said, Im really not sure.
Cops said, a poor boy like you could use a break
We got you for the motel job and were talkin to your friend bello
Now you dont wanta have to go back to jail, be a nice fellow.
Youll be doin society a favor.
That sonofabitch is brave and gettin braver.
We want to put his ass in stir
We want to pin this triple murder on him
He aint no gentleman jim.
Rubin could take a man out with just one punch
But he never did like to talk about it all that much.
Its my work, hed say, and I do it for pay
And when its over Id just as soon go on my way
Up to some paradise
Where the trout streams flow and the air is nice
And ride a horse along a trail.
But then they took him to the jailhouse
Where they try to turn a man into a mouse.
All of rubins cards were marked in advance
The trial was a pig-circus, he never had a chance.
The judge made rubin’s witnesses drunkards from the slums
To the white folks who watched he was a revolutionary bum
And to the black folks he was just a crazy nigger.
No one doubted that he pulled the trigger.
And though they could not produce the gun,
The d.a. said he was the one who did the deed
And the all-white jury agreed.
Rubin carter was falsely tried.
The crime was murder one, guess who testified?
Bello and bradley and they both baldly lied
And the newspapers, they all went along for the ride.
How can the life of such a man
Be in the palm of some fools hand?
To see him obviously framed
Couldnt help but make me feel ashamed to live in a land
Where justice is a game.
Now all the criminals in their coats and their ties
Are free to drink martinis and watch the sun rise
While rubin sits like buddha in a ten-foot cell
An innocent man in a living hell.
Thats the story of the hurricane,
But it wont be over till they clear his name
And give him back the time hes done.
Put in a prison cell, but one time he could-a been
The champion of the world.
Friday, January 16, 2009
Aldous Huxley
Aldous Huxley :
« What I may call : ‘The messages of Brave New World’ : that it is possible to make people contented with their servitude.
I think this can be done. I think it has been done in the past but then I think it could be done even more effectively now ‘cause you could provide them with bread and circuses and you can provide them with endless amounts of distractions and propaganda. »
A.Huxley sends the following letter after the publishing
of 1984 by George Orwell)
October 21st, 1949
Dear M. Orwell, the nightmare of 1984 is destined to modulate into the nightmare of Brave New World. The change will be brought about as a resulf of a felt need for an increase in efficiency. Thank you once again for the book.
Yours sincerely.
Aldous Huxley
« What is to me very interesting. It looks as though the totalitarian regimes of the future will not be based upon terror but that they will have other means. These means that now are described as brainwashing and propaganda which will be much more efficient and much more economical than .......... force ??? and more pleasurable .................................................................................
and now there are techniques available at present which do seem to duplicate some of the techniques I invented. »
I thank those of you who will help me fill in those blanks.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Monday, January 12, 2009
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Thursday, January 08, 2009
Wednesday, January 07, 2009
Thursday, January 01, 2009
2009
In spite of a torn muscle in my back (Malgré une déchirure musculaire dans le dos) due to a skating accident and one of those frightful gastroenteritis,
I want to wish you a happy new year.
I don't know if i'll be back to school on Monday. Time will tell.
I want to wish you a happy new year.
I don't know if i'll be back to school on Monday. Time will tell.
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
DOES SCIENCE MAKE ROOM FOR ALIENS?
RESEARCHERS ARGUE THAT NEW THEORIES BETTER THE ODDS
See the following "Fact file" and article here:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6826412/
See the following "Fact file" and article here:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6826412/
Monday, December 15, 2008
Third World...
In the forum below, you’ll find a thread on the expression « Third world country ».
See the last three posts at the bottom of this page one. You’ll find examples of the use of that expression.
http://www.englishforums.com/English/ThirdWorldCountry/hbmjm/post.htm
Here, you can read the article by Alfred Sauvy, written in 1952. This is where he uses, for the first time, both expressions : « Troisième monde » and « Tiers Monde. »
http://www.homme-moderne.org/societe/demo/sauvy/3mondes.html
And here, you can read more about him
http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfred_Sauvy
http://www.bibliomonde.net/auteur/alfred-sauvy-2251.html
See the last three posts at the bottom of this page one. You’ll find examples of the use of that expression.
http://www.englishforums.com/English/ThirdWorldCountry/hbmjm/post.htm
Here, you can read the article by Alfred Sauvy, written in 1952. This is where he uses, for the first time, both expressions : « Troisième monde » and « Tiers Monde. »
http://www.homme-moderne.org/societe/demo/sauvy/3mondes.html
And here, you can read more about him
http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfred_Sauvy
http://www.bibliomonde.net/auteur/alfred-sauvy-2251.html
Sunday, December 14, 2008
William Blake
"To see a World in a Grain of Sand
And a Heaven in a Wild Flower,
Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand
And Eternity in an hour." -William Blake
http://www.tate.org.uk/learning/worksinfocus/blake/gothic/index.html
Saturday, December 13, 2008
E-TWINNING
I've just registered our high school to E-Twinning, the community for schools in Europe. It is a website dedicated to creating contacts through coopearative projects between European schools.
Oral Comprehension
Another great comprehension exercise resource:
Lots of short and varied audio documents to listen to.
REMEMBER:
IF YOU LISTEN TO A LITTLE BIT OF ENGLISH EVERYDAY,
YOU'LL IMPROVE YOUR ENGLISH !
http://www.audio-lingua.eu/spip.php?rubrique2
Lots of short and varied audio documents to listen to.
REMEMBER:
IF YOU LISTEN TO A LITTLE BIT OF ENGLISH EVERYDAY,
YOU'LL IMPROVE YOUR ENGLISH !
http://www.audio-lingua.eu/spip.php?rubrique2
Saturday, December 06, 2008
Thursday, December 04, 2008
Monday, December 01, 2008
Thanksgiving... thanks Marika!
http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=282998282&blogID=450947648
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Monday, November 24, 2008
Have you heard of Jose Gonzalez?
Here are the lyrics:
DOWN THE LINE
I see problems down the line
I know that I’m right.
There was a dirt upon your hands
doing the same mistake twice
making the same mistake twice
Come on over and be so caught up
its not about compromising.
I see problems down the line
I know that I’m right
I see darkness down the line
I know its hard to fight.
There was a dirt upon your hands
doing the same mistake twice
making the same mistake twice.
Come on over
be so caught up its all about compromise.
I see problems down the line
I know that I’m right.
Don’t let the darkness eat you up (8x)
Friday, November 21, 2008
CHENEY INDICTED
U.S. Vice-President Dick Cheney was indicted (prononcer /indaitid/ = mis en examen)
At the beginning, Jon refers to Vice-President Dick Cheney's troubles with a friend of his while they were hunting quails. (des cailles...) He, Dick the VP shot his friend in the face... (petits plombs: small shot). The funniest part of that story was that the friend had apologized for being shot at and at the time, Jon Stewart had made us Laugh Out Loud (lol).
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Sunday, November 09, 2008
Wednesday, November 05, 2008
HISTORIC MOMENT... HISTORIC CHOICE...
OBAMA will be the next U.S. president in january 2009.
Here is his wonderful speech in Philadelphia, March 18th about the necessity to wipe the racial divide... I guess we can say the Americans have done just that.
http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/convention2008/barackobamavictoryspeech.htm
Here is his wonderful speech in Philadelphia, March 18th about the necessity to wipe the racial divide... I guess we can say the Americans have done just that.
http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/convention2008/barackobamavictoryspeech.htm
Sunday, November 02, 2008
PRANK = trick = practical joke
From CBS NEWS:
"Republican Vice Presidential nominee Sarah Palin was prank called [...] by a comedy duo from Quebec, who convinced the Alaska governor that she was speaking to French President Nicolas Sarkozy."
She was prank-called= they played a prank on her on the phone.
They told her she was going to speak to N. S. and she believed it.
If you listen to the recording, you'll find the prankster told her many things that could have helped her understand this was a prank... but she just giggled each time the prankster said something ludicrous.
READ ALL ABOUT IT AND LISTEN TO IT!!
http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2008/11/01/politics/horserace/entry4563022.shtml?tag=rightRail;rightRailInner
"Republican Vice Presidential nominee Sarah Palin was prank called [...] by a comedy duo from Quebec, who convinced the Alaska governor that she was speaking to French President Nicolas Sarkozy."
She was prank-called= they played a prank on her on the phone.
They told her she was going to speak to N. S. and she believed it.
If you listen to the recording, you'll find the prankster told her many things that could have helped her understand this was a prank... but she just giggled each time the prankster said something ludicrous.
READ ALL ABOUT IT AND LISTEN TO IT!!
http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2008/11/01/politics/horserace/entry4563022.shtml?tag=rightRail;rightRailInner
Friday, October 24, 2008
Palin clothing ... Bling Bling or grifter?
To grift (U.S.): : to obtain (money) illicitly (as in a confidence game)
(http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/grifter)
It seems Mrs Sarah Palin has spent $ 150,000 (a hundred and fifty thousand dollars)
ON CLOTHES...
Listen to Jon Stewart, the anchor to my favourite fake news show: "THE DAILY SHOW" making fun of it and asking a simple question:
"How does someone who's just spent more on clothing in six weeks than most Americans make in two years show that she can still relate to the common folk?"
(http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/grifter)
It seems Mrs Sarah Palin has spent $ 150,000 (a hundred and fifty thousand dollars)
ON CLOTHES...
Listen to Jon Stewart, the anchor to my favourite fake news show: "THE DAILY SHOW" making fun of it and asking a simple question:
"How does someone who's just spent more on clothing in six weeks than most Americans make in two years show that she can still relate to the common folk?"
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
PINK GLOW OVER LONDON
WOW ! I wish I had been in London to see THAT beautiful pink light!
From thisislondon.co.uk:
Londoners were left baffled today when a strange pink light appeared over the capital.
Read the article here:
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23575796-details/U.F.Glow:+Mysterious+pink+light+over+London/article.do
From thisislondon.co.uk:
Londoners were left baffled today when a strange pink light appeared over the capital.
Read the article here:
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23575796-details/U.F.Glow:+Mysterious+pink+light+over+London/article.do
Monday, October 20, 2008
Do you remember anthrax?
COLIN POWELL said he would vote for Obama.
http://harpers.org/archive/2008/10/hbc-90003727
http://harpers.org/archive/2008/10/hbc-90003727
Sunday, October 19, 2008
You need to register to vote...
Leonardo DiCaprio, will i. am, Tobey Maguire, and Forest Whitaker have created public service announcements to encourage American youth to register to vote. The non-partisan PSAs, produced by DiCaprios Appian Way, were created to engage and inspire young people to register and vote and participate in the upcoming election. Celebrities appearing in the PSAs include: Amy Adams, will.i.am, Jennifer Aniston, Kevin Bacon, Halle Berry, Kate Bosworth, Kevin Connolly, Courteney Cox, Ellen DeGeneres, Leonardo DiCaprio, Jamie Foxx, Jonah Hill, Dustin Hoffman, Anthony Kiedis, Ashton Kutcher, Adam Levine, Laura Linney, Eva Longoria, Tobey Maguire, Demi Moore, Natalie Portman, Giovanni Ribisi, Ethan Suplee, Kyra Sedgwick, Michelle Trachtenberg, Usher, and Forest Whitaker.
Friday, October 17, 2008
A former astronaut who walked on the moon says aliens exist.
Watch and listen to the interview and post a comment, even anonymous, to say what you make of that? And if you want to know more about
Obama is wearing his sunday best at Al SMith
M. B.H.Obama has a witty sense of humour.
It's 13 minutes long but quite frankly, 13 minutes of laughter as M. J.S.McCain had announced seconds earlier in his own less funny but not utterly dull speech at the same traditional event: The "Al Smith's dinner".
It's 13 minutes long but quite frankly, 13 minutes of laughter as M. J.S.McCain had announced seconds earlier in his own less funny but not utterly dull speech at the same traditional event: The "Al Smith's dinner".
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Wednesday, October 08, 2008
Tuesday, October 07, 2008
In an op-ed, (what is an op-ed? It is an opinion-editorial),Columnist,(journalist, editorialist) Eugene Robinson writes the following pun (a play on words) which is quite to the point. Don't you think?
If we in the media really believe what we say about serving the public interest, we have a duty to avoid being turned into instruments of mass distraction.
You can read the whole op-ed here:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/06/AR2008100602637.html
If we in the media really believe what we say about serving the public interest, we have a duty to avoid being turned into instruments of mass distraction.
You can read the whole op-ed here:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/06/AR2008100602637.html
Thursday, October 02, 2008
Wednesday, October 01, 2008
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Sunday, September 28, 2008
You want to improve your English?
As you already know, there are many sites that can help you.
Some of those are on the left column of this blog.
So, if you say to yourself:"I want to improve my English."
well... Just do it! 15 mn a day would be great.
I really hope you can take advantage of those sites.
Here is a new one:
http://www.manythings.org/
Some of those are on the left column of this blog.
So, if you say to yourself:"I want to improve my English."
well... Just do it! 15 mn a day would be great.
I really hope you can take advantage of those sites.
Here is a new one:
http://www.manythings.org/
Monday, September 22, 2008
About the LHC...
I love the Internet and I'm fond of science.
That's why I enjoyed watching this video.
Watch it and tell me if you did.
That's why I enjoyed watching this video.
Watch it and tell me if you did.
Sunday, September 21, 2008
LHC is out of order
http://www.tsr.ch/tsr/index.html?siteSect=200001&sid=9752554
The CERN Large Hadron Collider (LHC) *a.k.a. Black Hole Maker
started out so well, that the scientists could actually not believe it.
Now about 10 days into operation the LHC is 'kaputt' for at least 2 months. [...]
*a.k.a. = Also Known as
= alias
The CERN Large Hadron Collider (LHC) *a.k.a. Black Hole Maker
started out so well, that the scientists could actually not believe it.
Now about 10 days into operation the LHC is 'kaputt' for at least 2 months. [...]
*a.k.a. = Also Known as
= alias
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Other headlines...
CBS: Another Wall Street shocker
ABC: Another Devastating Day. Stocks Dive on Economic Concerns
MSNBC: Dow Plunges Nearly 450 Points
The NY Times: Bailout Fails to Stem Global Stock Slump
Chicago Tribune: Markets Take Another Nosedive: Dow Down 450
The International Herald Tribune: Europe and Asia see U.S. as no longer practising what it preaches.
The Guardian: £12 billion HBOS Takeover Fails to End Global Panic
The Times: Fears of Further Financial Casualties Abound
Telegraph: Biggest Rescue Deal in UK Banking History
ABC: Another Devastating Day. Stocks Dive on Economic Concerns
MSNBC: Dow Plunges Nearly 450 Points
The NY Times: Bailout Fails to Stem Global Stock Slump
Chicago Tribune: Markets Take Another Nosedive: Dow Down 450
The International Herald Tribune: Europe and Asia see U.S. as no longer practising what it preaches.
The Guardian: £12 billion HBOS Takeover Fails to End Global Panic
The Times: Fears of Further Financial Casualties Abound
Telegraph: Biggest Rescue Deal in UK Banking History
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
A few headlines about the financial crisis
CBS: Asian Markets Stumble Over Lehman Loss
ABC: Meltdown in US Finance System Pummels Stockmarket
NBC: Dow Falls 500 Points in Worst Day Since 2001
NY Times: Wall Street Posts Worst Loss Since 2001
The Chicago Tribune: What to Do With Your Money? Stick With Plan
International Herald Tribune : Global Shares Fall After Deeper Wall Street Losses
The Guardian: Nightmare on Wall Street
The Times: Asian Markets Dive as Wall Street Panic Spreads
Telegraph: UK Stock Index Drops Again as Market Crisis Continues
ad libitum....
ABC: Meltdown in US Finance System Pummels Stockmarket
NBC: Dow Falls 500 Points in Worst Day Since 2001
NY Times: Wall Street Posts Worst Loss Since 2001
The Chicago Tribune: What to Do With Your Money? Stick With Plan
International Herald Tribune : Global Shares Fall After Deeper Wall Street Losses
The Guardian: Nightmare on Wall Street
The Times: Asian Markets Dive as Wall Street Panic Spreads
Telegraph: UK Stock Index Drops Again as Market Crisis Continues
ad libitum....
Septembre 15th ... Pink Floyd In Mourning. Richard Wright is dead.
| Time By Pink Floyd. From The Dark side of the Moon album | ||||||
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Saturday, September 06, 2008
If you could vote for the U.S. presidential election...
Well, you can!!
I don't want to influence you but I sure voted for Obama!
http://www.myvirtualvote.com/Default.aspx
I don't want to influence you but I sure voted for Obama!
http://www.myvirtualvote.com/Default.aspx
How the sun really works.
Our sun hasn't produced many spots these days as shown in the post below.
The sun, our star.
Maybe you want to know more about it.
And more about SUN SPOTS... even though they seem to keep puzzling the top rank scientists.
So I thought you'd be interested in watching this video. Enjoy!
The sun, our star.
Maybe you want to know more about it.
And more about SUN SPOTS... even though they seem to keep puzzling the top rank scientists.
So I thought you'd be interested in watching this video. Enjoy!
Wednesday, September 03, 2008
Tuesday, September 02, 2008
From a former U.S. president.
Once a government is committed to the principle of silencing the voice of opposition, it has only one way to go, and that is down the path of increasingly repressive measures, until it becomes a source of terror to all its citizens and creates a country where everyone lives in fear.
-Harry S. Truman, 33rd US president (1884-1972)
-Harry S. Truman, 33rd US president (1884-1972)
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Pictorial history of the women's suffrage movement
The song is entitled "Bread and Roses". It was written about 1912 by James Oppenheim in response to a women's textile worker strike. Here are the lyrics:
As we go marching, marching, in the beauty of the day,
A million darkened kitchens, a thousand mill lofts gray,
Are touched with all the radiance that a sudden sun discloses,
For the people hear us singing: Bread and Roses! Bread and Roses!
As we go marching, marching, we battle too for men,
For they are women's children, and we mother them again.
Our lives shall not be sweated from birth until life closes;
Hearts starve as well as bodies; give us bread, but give us roses.
As we go marching, marching, unnumbered women dead
Go crying through our singing their ancient call for bread.
Small art and love and beauty their drudging spirits knew.
Yes, it is bread we fight for, but we fight for roses too.
As we go marching, marching, we bring the greater days,
The rising of the women means the rising of the race.
No more the drudge and idler, ten that toil where one reposes,
But a sharing of life's glories: Bread and roses, bread and roses.
Our lives shall not be sweated from birth until life closes;
hearts starve as well as bodies; bread and roses, bread and roses.
Monday, August 25, 2008
BACK TO SCHOOL NEXT WEEK.... SUMMER HOLIDAYS ARE OVER
Improve your English with this speech by a U.S. senator!
1) Open the video in a different window by right clicking on the link here:
http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=6bVHNdwypiE&eurl
2) Watch it and listen to it carefully
3) Read the parts of its script below.
4) Fill in the blanks in the parts of the script below.
Senator Bernie S.............
From the state of V.................
" And we ................... talk about this terribly much. I guess it's something we're not supposed to be mentioning but the reality is that according to the latest analysis,
in 2005, the top 1% of earners made more money than the bottom 50% of Americans.
..................... % earned more income than the bottom .........................% which translates into the top ................... earners making more money than the bottom ............................million (earners)
.............................making more money than the bottom ........................... million.
While the top earning, 1/100 of 1%, received an average income increase of more than
.................................. million in 2005, the bottom 90% saw their average income decline by about $172.
So what we're looking at is, tens of millions of Americans working hard, they're seeing their healthcare costs go up, they're seeing their housing costs go up, they're seeing education costs go up, they're seeing the price they're paying for a gallon of gas to put into their car to get them to work going up, or heating oil going up, basics of life going up, and at the end of the year, they have less money than they did the previous year. But the people on top are making out like bandits.
[•••]
The top ........ wealthiest individuals saw on average a ....................................million dollar increase per person
[•••]
The United States has an ...........%, the highest rate of childhood poverty of any major country on Earth. ..............% of our kids are living in poverty.
[•••]
Almost one in five children in this country lives in poverty
[•••]
Improve your English with this speech by a U.S. senator!
1) Open the video in a different window by right clicking on the link here:
http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=6bVHNdwypiE&eurl
2) Watch it and listen to it carefully
3) Read the parts of its script below.
4) Fill in the blanks in the parts of the script below.
Senator Bernie S.............
From the state of V.................
" And we ................... talk about this terribly much. I guess it's something we're not supposed to be mentioning but the reality is that according to the latest analysis,
in 2005, the top 1% of earners made more money than the bottom 50% of Americans.
..................... % earned more income than the bottom .........................% which translates into the top ................... earners making more money than the bottom ............................million (earners)
.............................making more money than the bottom ........................... million.
While the top earning, 1/100 of 1%, received an average income increase of more than
.................................. million in 2005, the bottom 90% saw their average income decline by about $172.
So what we're looking at is, tens of millions of Americans working hard, they're seeing their healthcare costs go up, they're seeing their housing costs go up, they're seeing education costs go up, they're seeing the price they're paying for a gallon of gas to put into their car to get them to work going up, or heating oil going up, basics of life going up, and at the end of the year, they have less money than they did the previous year. But the people on top are making out like bandits.
[•••]
The top ........ wealthiest individuals saw on average a ....................................million dollar increase per person
[•••]
The United States has an ...........%, the highest rate of childhood poverty of any major country on Earth. ..............% of our kids are living in poverty.
[•••]
Almost one in five children in this country lives in poverty
[•••]
Friday, July 04, 2008
Thursday, July 03, 2008
INGRID BETANCOURT IS FREE TONIGHT
Tear man out of his outward circumstances; and what he then is; that only is he. -Johann Gottfried Seume, author (1763-1810)
Tonight, we're told she's free.
Or is she? In another kind of jungle? The political jungle?
How free? Debriefing doesn't sound like freedom to me. And I'm afraid she'll have to go through it.
But Mrs Betancourt is strong. She has proved that much. Surviving with dignity "out of her outward circumstances"... in the Amazonian jungle,
She's also very wise. She's had time to think of it... She's been a prisoner since february 2002.
Here are the last words of her first speech after her release, or extraction...
"LET US ALL HAVE COMPASSION FOR OUR ENEMIES"
Now, I hope the media will give her the free time she deserves...
And now that she's not trapped in the jungle anymore, let's see what she does. And what she doesn't.
For your information, this cbsnews article, and if you're too lazy to read it all, some extracts...
in case you were told otherwise... the U.S. did play a part in the whole event.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/07/02/world/main4228714.shtml
"Colombia freed Ingrid Betancourt and three U.S. military contractors from leftist guerrillas on Wednesday after military spies tricked rebels into giving them up without a single injury, the defense minister said. "...
...CBS News national security correspondent David Martin reports that the release of the hostages and Ms. Betancourt was carried out by Columbian military forces, working closely with United States intelligence. Currently, Martin is told, the hostages are being taken by the military to Brook Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas. ...
"This was primarily a Colombian operation," one U.S. official told CBS News correspondent Bob Orr. "They did all of the heavy lifting and deserve the lion's share of the credit."
..."The rescue came as U.S. presidential candidate John McCain was visiting Colombia. When news of its success reached McCain on his campaign plane, he said he and two other U.S. senators traveling with him - Joe Lieberman and Lindsay Graham - had been told about it in advance by Uribe"
Most of us are free. And have been for quite a while. How free are we?
And let's see what we all do with our endangered but still palpable freedoms in Europe at least. Free to come and go, free to look for "fair and balanced" information, free to meet the ones we love and all the ones with whom we share values and hopes, free to talk to them and on the web to express ourselves and be as creative as we can, free to fight for our rights, free to fight for peace, free to believe and free to challenge the others with respect, free to look for truth and peace.
May we all prove worthy of those freedoms and ready to fight for them if need be and have compassion, even for our enemies.
Tonight, we're told she's free.
Or is she? In another kind of jungle? The political jungle?
How free? Debriefing doesn't sound like freedom to me. And I'm afraid she'll have to go through it.
But Mrs Betancourt is strong. She has proved that much. Surviving with dignity "out of her outward circumstances"... in the Amazonian jungle,
She's also very wise. She's had time to think of it... She's been a prisoner since february 2002.
Here are the last words of her first speech after her release, or extraction...
"LET US ALL HAVE COMPASSION FOR OUR ENEMIES"
Now, I hope the media will give her the free time she deserves...
And now that she's not trapped in the jungle anymore, let's see what she does. And what she doesn't.
For your information, this cbsnews article, and if you're too lazy to read it all, some extracts...
in case you were told otherwise... the U.S. did play a part in the whole event.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/07/02/world/main4228714.shtml
"Colombia freed Ingrid Betancourt and three U.S. military contractors from leftist guerrillas on Wednesday after military spies tricked rebels into giving them up without a single injury, the defense minister said. "...
...CBS News national security correspondent David Martin reports that the release of the hostages and Ms. Betancourt was carried out by Columbian military forces, working closely with United States intelligence. Currently, Martin is told, the hostages are being taken by the military to Brook Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas. ...
"This was primarily a Colombian operation," one U.S. official told CBS News correspondent Bob Orr. "They did all of the heavy lifting and deserve the lion's share of the credit."
..."The rescue came as U.S. presidential candidate John McCain was visiting Colombia. When news of its success reached McCain on his campaign plane, he said he and two other U.S. senators traveling with him - Joe Lieberman and Lindsay Graham - had been told about it in advance by Uribe"
Most of us are free. And have been for quite a while. How free are we?
And let's see what we all do with our endangered but still palpable freedoms in Europe at least. Free to come and go, free to look for "fair and balanced" information, free to meet the ones we love and all the ones with whom we share values and hopes, free to talk to them and on the web to express ourselves and be as creative as we can, free to fight for our rights, free to fight for peace, free to believe and free to challenge the others with respect, free to look for truth and peace.
May we all prove worthy of those freedoms and ready to fight for them if need be and have compassion, even for our enemies.
Wednesday, July 02, 2008
PARODY: guns & teleshopping
SIGN OXFAM's PETITION here:
http://www.oxfamfrance.org/php/actions_camp_voir.php?IdCampagne=75
SIGN OXFAM's PETITION here:
http://www.oxfamfrance.org/php/actions_camp_voir.php?IdCampagne=75
http://www.oxfamfrance.org/php/actions_camp_voir.php?IdCampagne=75
SIGN OXFAM's PETITION here:
http://www.oxfamfrance.org/php/actions_camp_voir.php?IdCampagne=75
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Fist Bump
Michelle Obama and the new "high five".
When Woopy refers to the "chest bump", she is refering to a scene that lately took place between McCain and a military. They bumped their chests to greet each other.
When Woopy refers to the "chest bump", she is refering to a scene that lately took place between McCain and a military. They bumped their chests to greet each other.
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Friday, June 06, 2008
A MUST SEE... UNBELIEVABLE... AMAZING...SCARY...EXHILARATING...
Here is the comment added by the person who Utubed the video .
"We tried but didn't make it...maybe only with phone brands or models ???"
THIS IS FOR REAL AND IT WORKS IN FRANCE TOO ??????????????
TRY AND DO THIS AND REPORT YOUR RESULTS IN THE COMMENTS...
REALLY SCARY ISN'T IT ??
WE MIGHT HAVE TO THROW OUR PHONES AWAY...
OH... AND WHAT IF IT WORKED ONLY WITH GMO CORN ?!!!
"We tried but didn't make it...maybe only with phone brands or models ???"
THIS IS FOR REAL AND IT WORKS IN FRANCE TOO ??????????????
TRY AND DO THIS AND REPORT YOUR RESULTS IN THE COMMENTS...
REALLY SCARY ISN'T IT ??
WE MIGHT HAVE TO THROW OUR PHONES AWAY...
OH... AND WHAT IF IT WORKED ONLY WITH GMO CORN ?!!!
Thursday, June 05, 2008
Sunday, June 01, 2008
Clever exercises
I particularly enjoy the one on September 11th, 2001
for its exercises about Oral comprehension exercise and
Airport Vocabulary
http://pagesperso-orange.fr/michel.barbot/hotpot/cohome.htm
for its exercises about Oral comprehension exercise and
Airport Vocabulary
http://pagesperso-orange.fr/michel.barbot/hotpot/cohome.htm
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