Should we celebrate HALLOWEEN?

Now that "Halloween's coming" I've found a video about what we celebrate in this feast. Many people think this celebration day is a satanic act, and that celebrating this party is against religion . Nowadays we can celebrate parties and have great fun with Halloween, but the truth is that we are celebrating an antireligious act, where the ancients sacrificed humans.

What do you think is Halloween's purpose?
Should we celebrate this party?
Should Christians celebrate this party?




In my opinion I think Halloween is not more what it was and that there is no problem celebrating this feasts when we do it dressing ourselves. I am happy of how us, humans , have changed through history. We should be proud about that, but we still know what this feast meant in the past and I wouldn't like celebrating a feast like this if the purpose is spirits, ghosts, devils...In conclusion I think we should all have a great time without celebrating nothing only the "party".

New Zealand's haka dance

As this is my first ever blog that I have posted, I would like to create a post about something I find interesting and I hope you all enjoy it to as it is about sport, which has been the most popular theme up till now.

Specifically it is about the haka which New Zealand's rugby team the All Blacks perform before every rugby match. I have found a video explaining it's meaning and it's origins. I have also included the response that the welsh rugby team carried out in there match against the All Blacks.

I think that the haka is slightly controversial and I would like to hear your opinions about the subject.

Do you think that the All Blacks should be allowed to perform this intimidating dance?

Does it give them an unfair advantage?

And do you think Wales dealt with the haka effectively or not?

I hope you enjoy my first post as a moderator on this blog!

Jack Roberts

Over to you!

It's time you took the reigns of this publication!

You've seen a selection of layouts and can judge for yourselves which posts are more popular.

Now it's your turn!

There are four journalists right now:

Anna P, Andrea I and Jack R from Letras
and Julian I from Sciences. (This has been corrected.)

Two will be 'kept on' by the publication and two will have to 'resign' after a week. This will be decided by the quality of their posts... 

Good luck!

My little brother lives in the moon

Only when we face problems do we realise just how important relationships are to us. These three videos highlight how communication and acceptance are key to a happier existence for all.

Can you relate to the videos? Have you worked or played with people with disabilities? What kind of relationship do you have with your siblings?

This touching video (subtitled in Spanish) tells the story of the relationship between an older sister and her little autistic brother.

This children's story, turned into a video, deals with the exclusion and marginalisation suffered by many people with disabilities (physcial or mental).

Finally, this very short video is of a simple story that is told, every year, to the blind and visually impaired children who attend extra classes at the ONCE's educational centre in Barcelona. I'm sure you'll understand why when you watch it.

Sandro Rosell vs. Joan Laporta

I know little about football. As a disinterested outsider, I am angered by what appears to be a clash of personalities and personal interests getting in the way of the more important quest for great sporting success.

Maybe it is understandable. It could be argued that all changes generate some degree of conflict. The Laporta-Rosell change had appeared very calm. Too calm perhaps. Still, I get the impression that it all comes down to personal differences, pride and prestige. Which is a pity.

What do you think?

Some Barça supporters have been overheard saying that even if he did take the money, there's no problem: Laporta gave Barça so much that he deserves all and any money.

Is their attitude understandable or acceptable?

Inspired to greatness?

Now that Espanyol have their spanking-new stadium in Cornella, are they likely to hit the headlines this year? The British press don't go as far as to claim that Español have kicked off to a good start this season, but they do point to an important victory gained this weekend:

Espanyol claimed their first away win of the season after holding out for almost an hour with 10 men to secure a narrow 1-0 success at Real Mallorca to end the hosts' perfect home record.

Luis Garcia's penalty put the Barcelona-based side ahead after 31 minutes - the first time the Catalans had led all season. But they appeared unlikely to hold onto it as Dani Osvaldo was dismissed for an elbow on Jose Angel Crespo. Nevertheless, Espanyol remained in control and missed a host of chances to extend their lead in a surprisingly one-sided second half. 

So, do you think there is any hope for Espanyol this year?

And what do you think about the British Press' summary of the Spanish League? Have they got their facts right?

No computer, no TV, no mobile...

What would you do to fill your time with no computer, no TV, no mobile... no electricity?

In response to ecomagination's challenge, this group of people have decided to try out camping. The video made me laugh because my parents always took me camping. If you've ever done the same, you'll realise that there's nothing quite like camping...



So, have you been camping? Did you or do you enjoy it? Would you give it a try? Would you manage a few days or weeks without your computer, TV or mobile? And, if you watch all the video, what is your answer to her question at 3:30?

Who killed the electric car?

Judging from your comments on the environment article, you are especially concerned about cars and the pollution they cause. For information, I'd suggest ecomagination's article on electric cars. But for intrigue, I'd suggest looking at the following:

 

Electric cars were set for success before petrol-driven cars dominated the tarmac. It was the oil industry's lowering of prices that, no pun intended, drove them off the road. Then, when they were reintroduced in 1990 as a reaction to new US 'clean air' legislation, they somehow, despite rave reviews by celebrity drivers, quickly found themselves on the scrapheap. Why? Check out wikipedia or watch the documentary!

What in the world...?

 

Devastation left by oil extaction in Nigeria
(which never seems to make the headlines - can you guess why?!)

 What in the world is going on?

You are probably aware of the damage being done to the environment, or of global problems such as famine, war and widespread injustice. You are probably able to identify all three of the following pictures:

But if you have ever felt the consequences of our global greed for ever-better living standards to be far off, whether in time or place, then you should read this recent article:

What are we doing to our world? Does it matter?

Does it matter that (apparently) cancer is feeding itself on our modern way of life?
Does it matter that fish stocks have sunk dangerously low?
Does it matter that our ecosystems are being damaged daily by accidental and intentional pollution, of which the Chernobyl nuclear explosion, the Gulf War or the recent Gulf of Mexico oil spill are simply the most memorable examples? 

Maybe not. Maybe we have no time to think about it. Maybe there's nothing we can do. Maybe we don't care.
Maybe.

"I'm nasty. I'm arrogant."

Mourinho. The name is enough. 

Speak it in any bar and you are likely to inflame passion, whether devotion or anger. But is the man a monster or a saint? A bad-tempered and spiteful individual?  Or a clever, caring professional? He has called himself nasty and arrogant. Do you agree?




VIDEO 1
Is he either: 
1. celebrating a well-deserved victory?
2. inciting fans with an in-their-faces display of arrogance?



VIDEO 2
Is he either:
1. bidding players of the opposition a friendly 'goodbye'?
2. intentionally slapping Puyol in the face?



VIDEO 3
Is he either:
1. belittling the reporter?
2. making a philosophical statement, putting football in its proper context?



Opinions in the press (outside of Barcelona or Madrid at least!) vary:

Jose Mourinho is an enigmatic and extremely intelligent individual, a man who understands how to play with the media and with people's minds.

He acts the obnoxious prick in public, but those who work with him mainly adore him. He’s an egomaniac who spends a lot of time tending to the egos of others.

Mourinho is undoubtedly as arrogant as they come.

So, what is your opinion?  Oh, ...and do you think Madrid will now surpass Barcelona, thanks to him?

Is that an English accent?

A new video has taken YouTube by storm. Amy Walker talks you through 21 different 'Englishes' spoken from London to New Zealand.

• Which accent do you prefer? 
• Are any 'terrible', 'annoying' or 'sexy'? 
• Do accents matter? 
• Are you embarrassed by your Spanish accent or proud of it? 
• Is there an accent that you'd like to be able to speak with? 
• Are accents as noticeable in Spanish or Catalan?

To find out more about the 'real' woman behind the video, visit her website http://www.AmyWalkerOnline.com  or watch her explanatory video.

To learn some differences between American and English slang, watch Hugh Laurie from House (and  before that, Jeeves and Wooster) and Ellen Degeneres (well-liked American Chat Show Host).

Acceptable? Excusable? Understandable?

Legal demonstrations give citizens the opportunity to express their anger or concern about themes that vary from job losses or environmental damage to death sentences or war. Emotions can run high and they often produce isolated acts of violence. But some claim that in Barcelona every demonstration is accompanied by carefully choreographed acts of sabotage, vandalism and general civil disobedience. Some blame 'radicals', others point the finger at 'international professional anarchists' and still others nod knowingly in the direction of 'okupas' (squatters).

What do you think about these violent acts? Are they acceptable, excusuable or understandable... in any circumstances? Would you ever participate?

The following video illustrates the role of the media very well.

Are the media objectively reporting street violence or are they partly (or wholly to blame) for egging on the extremists?