THE FANTASTIC FLYING BOOKS OF Mr. MORRIS LESSMORE

The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore is an American animated short film by William Joyce and Brandon Oldenburg, created at Moonbot Studios in Shreveport, Louisiana. After winning over a dozen film festivals, the film was awarded the Best Animated Short Film at the 84th Academy Awards in Los Angeles last night.

Inspired, in equal measures, by Hurricane Katrina, Buster Keaton, The Wizard of Oz, and a love for books, The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore is a poignant, humorous allegory about the curative powers of story. Using a variety of techniques (miniatures, computer animation, 2D animation) award winning author/ illustrator William Joyce and Co-director Brandon Oldenburg present a hybrid style of animation that harkens back to silent films and MGM Technicolor musicals. Morris Lessmore is old fashioned and cutting edge at the same time.

Plot: Following a hurricane which destroys his town Morris is whisked away to a colourful old house full of books which come alive and interact with him spreading happiness in the community. He remains their custodian for years until it is time for him to pass on and another guardian of the books take over from him.

Video "THE FANTASTIC FLYING BOOKS OF Mr MORRIS LESSMORE":

ADELE TAKES IT ALL (MTV, GRAMMY & BRIT AWARDS)

Adele continues collecting awards, after the ones received by MTV, 6 awards of the 6 nominations to Grammies and on Tuesday night 2 Brits for best British female singer and best album. Adele keeps taking them all. Congratulations! In the photos the Grammies & the Brits and the video of her performance of "ROLLING IN THE DEEP" at the Brits show.

Video "ROLLING IN THE DEEP", Adele @ Brits 2012:


Lyrics | Adele lyrics - Rolling In The Deep lyrics

A THOUSAND WAYS TO SAY "I LOVE YOU"

It's Valentine's Day today, so here's a song to celebrate the day. "A THOUSAND WAYS TO SAY I LOVE YOU" by Chris Teixeira. Do you know some?

TE AMO, TE QUIERO, QUÉROTE, I LOVE YOU, JE T'AIME, TI AMO, ICH LIEBE DICH...

Following the song, there's a video with a lovestory for this day. For a previous post about the history of Saint Valentine's Day, click on the labels VALENTINE or TRADITIONS.

Video "A THOUSAND WAYS TO SAY I LOVE YOU", Chris Teixieira:

LYRICS:
No matter how you say it, there are a thousand ways to say "I love you."
Я тебя люблю, I love you
Я тебя люблю, I need you
Я тебя люблю, te amo too

und Ich liebe dich, you're so sweet
und Ich liebe dich, you're my treat
und Ich liebe dich, Je t'aime too

There are a thousand ways to say I love you
There are a thousand ways to say I love you
There are a thousand ways to say I love you
There are a thousand ways to say I love you

Video "SIGNS":

WHITNEY HOUSTON FOUND DEAD AT A BEVERLY HILLS HOTEL

Whitney Houston (August 9, 1963 – February 11, 2012) was an American singer, actress, producer, and model. In 2009, the Guinness World Records cited her as the most-awarded female act of all time. Her list of awards includes two Emmy Awards, six Grammy Awards, 30 Billboard Music Awards, and 22 American Music Awards, among others.Houston was also one of the world's best-selling music artists, having sold over 170 million albums, singles and videos worldwide.

Inspired by prominent soul singers in her family, including her mother Cissy Houston, cousins Dionne Warwick and her godmother Aretha Franklin. Houston began singing with New Jersey church's junior gospel choir at age 11. After she began performing alongside her mother in night clubs in the New York City area, she was discovered by Arista Records label head Clive Davis.

Houston was the only artist to chart seven consecutive No. 1 Billboard Hot 100 hits. Houston's 1985 debut album "Whitney Houston" became the best-selling debut album by a female act at the time of its release. It was named Rolling Stone's best album of 1986.

Houston's first acting role was as the star of the feature film "The Bodyguard" (1992). The film's original soundtrack won the 1994 Grammy Award for Album of the Year. Its lead single "I Will Always Love You", became the best-selling single by a female artist in music history.

On February 11, 2012, Houston died of unknown causes at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California. Here are the videos & lyrics to two of her all time greatest hits.

Video "I WANNA DANCE WITH SOMEBODY", Whitney Houston:

Video "I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU", Whitney Houston (from the film "The Bodyguard"):

FEBRUARY 7th: CHARLES DICKENS' 200th BIRTHDAY

Charles John Huffam Dickens (7 February 1812 – 9 June 1870) was an English novelist, considered the greatest of the Victorian period. Dickens enjoyed a greater popularity and fame than had any previous author during his lifetime, and he is still popular, being responsible for some of English literature's most important novels and characters.
Many of his writings were originally published serially, in monthly instalments, a format of publication which Dickens himself helped popularise. Other authors completed novels before serialisation, but Dickens often created the episodes as they were being serialised. This practice gave his stories a particular rhythm, punctuated by cliffhangers to keep the public looking forward to the next instalment. The continuing popularity of his novels and short stories is such that they have never gone out of print.
Dickens's work has been highly praised for its realism, comedy, mastery of prose, unique personalities and concern for social reform by writers such as Leo Tolstoy and G.K. Chesterton; though others, such as Henry James and Virginia Woolf, have criticised it for sentimentality and implausibility.

Video a Dickens' biography:

[SIMPLE BIOGRAPHY]

The greatest English novelist of the Victorian era, Dickens was also a vigorous social campaigner. With his rich storytelling and his ability to create powerful and memorable characters, he is one of the English language's greatest writers. Happily, Dickens achieved massive worldwide popularity in his lifetime and not one of his short stories or novels has ever been out of print.
1812: Born in Portsmouth, England

1824: Dickens’ father is imprisoned for bad debts Dickens begins working 10 hours a day at a boot polish factory

1827: Finds work as a legal clerk
1834: Becomes a journalist for the Morning Chronicle

1836: The Pickwick Papers appears in serial form Marries Catherine Hogarth

1837-9: Oliver Twist and Nicholas Nickleby appear in serial form

1843: Writes A Christmas Carol

1850: Finishes David Copperfield

1853: Finishes Bleak House

1859: Finishes A Tale of Two Cities

1853: Finishes Great Expectations

1870: Dies in London from a stroke.

2nd FEBRUARY: GROUNDHOG DAY (2012: 6 MORE WEEKS OF WINTER)

Groundhog Day is a holiday celebrated on February 2. It is held in the United States and Canada. According to folklore, if a groundhog emerging from its burrow on this day fails to see its shadow, it will leave the burrow, signifying that winter will soon end. If on the other hand, the groundhog sees its shadow, the groundhog will supposedly retreat into its burrow, and winter will continue for six more weeks. The holiday, which began as a Pennsylvania German custom in southeastern and central Pennsylvania in the 18th and 19th centuries, has its origins in ancient European weather lore, wherein a badger or sacred bear is the prognosticator as opposed to a groundhog. The holiday also bears some similarities to the medieval Catholic holiday of Candlemas. It also bears similarities to the Pagan festival of Imbolc, the seasonal turning point of the Celtic calendar, which is celebrated on February 1 and also involves weather prognostication.

Modern customs of the holiday involve celebrations where early morning festivals are held to watch the groundhog emerging from its burrow. In southeastern Pennsylvania, Groundhog Lodges (Grundsow Lodges) celebrate the holiday with fersommlinge, social events in which food is served, speeches are made, and one or more g'spiel (plays or skits) are performed for entertainment. The Pennsylvania German dialect is the only language spoken at the event, and those who speak English pay a penalty, usually in the form of a nickel, dime or quarter, per word spoken, put into a bowl in the center of the table. The largest Groundhog Day celebration is held in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, where crowds as high as 40,000 have gathered to celebrate the holiday since at least 1886.

Historical origins.

In Scotland the tradition may also derive from an English poem:
As the light grows longer

The cold grows stronger

If Candlemas be fair and bright

Winter will have another flight

If Candlemas be cloud and rain

Winter will be gone and not come again

A farmer should on Candlemas day

Have half his corn and half his hay

On Candlemas day if thorns hang a drop

You can be sure of a good pea crop.

This tradition also stems from similar beliefs associated with Candlemas Day and Groundhog Day. Candlemas, also known as the Purification of the Virgin or the Presentation.

In western countries in the Northern Hemisphere the official first day of Spring is almost seven weeks (46–48 days) after Groundhog Day, on March 20 or March 21. About 1,000 years ago, before the adoption of the Gregorian calendar when the date of the equinox drifted in the Julian calendar, the spring equinox fell on March 16 instead. This is exactly six weeks after February 2.

BBC'S BRITISH HISTORY TIMELINE.

If you want to have a look and check on British History, click on th link to the BBC British History timeline. It's interesting.

TIME TO READ: POE'S "THE TELL-TALE HEART"

IES "Rafael Dieste" library has a programme to promote reading called "Time to Read" ("A Hora de Leer") for ESO students. It means to read in the classroom. We have already been reading in English. But now we are going to read a short story by Poe in Spanish and later listen to it in English. Do you like horror stories? Because here's one...

Edgar Allan Poe (born Edgar Poe, January 19, 1809 – October 7, 1849) was an American author, poet, editor and literary critic, considered part of the American Romantic Movement. Best known for his tales of mystery and terror, Poe was one of the earliest American writers of short stories and is considered the inventor of the detective fiction genre. He was the beginner of the science fiction genre.

"The Tell-Tale Heart" is a short story by Edgar Allan Poe published in 1843. It follows an unnamed narrator who insists on his sanity after murdering an old man with a "vulture eye". The murder is carefully calculated, and the murderer hides the body by cutting it into pieces and hiding it under the floor. Ultimately the narrator's guilt shows in the hallucination that the murdered man's heart is still beating under the floor.
It is unclear what relationship, the old man and his murderer have. It's suggested that the old man is a father figure, or the narrator works for the old man as a servant, perhaps, that his vulture eye represents some sort of secret or power.

Video "THE TELL-TALE HEART", Edgar Alan Poe:

WHAT'S THE WEATHER LIKE TODAY? (A funny TV weather forecast)

A good way to know what weather we're going to have is watching the weather forecast on TV. You can generally rely on them, unless something like this happens... Watch this TV weather forecast where the presenter is a bit out of control or they are playing with him. What do you think?*

Video a weather forecast on TV:

New GMTV april fools weather report por hujtyry

*This is an April's Fool Day joke (1st April) played on the TV weather man.

DICKENS 2012: 200th ANNIVERSARY

Dickens 2012 is an international celebration of the life and work of Charles Dickens to mark the bicentenary of his birth, which falls on 7 February 2012. Institutions and organisations from all over the world are partners of Dickens 2012 and work together to deliver a programme of events and activities to commemorate this very special anniversary.
Although a writer from the Victorian era, Dickens’s work transcends his time, language and culture. He remains a massive contemporary influence throughout the world and his writings continue to inspire film, TV, art, literature, artists and academia. Dickens 2012 sees a rich and diverse programme of events taking place in the run up and throughout the whole of 2012.
Find out what Dickens 2012 events are taking place near you by visiting the Events Calendar and follow us on Twitter for updates on the bicentenary plans.

Link: http://www.dickens2012.org/

"WHITE FLAG", DIDO

Another song for this weekend. It's Dido's hit "WHITE FLAG". Dido Florian Cloud de Bounevialle O'Malley Armstrong ( /ˈdaɪdoʊ/; born 25 December 1971), known as Dido, is an English singer-songwriter. You can watch the original video of the song. By the way, do you recognize the man who appears with her in it?*

Video "WHITE FLAG", Dido:

Lyrics | Dido lyrics - White Flag lyrics
Audio+lyrics "WHITE FLAG", Dido:

[*Actor David Boreanaz, special agent Seeley Booth in the TV-series "Bones"]

2011: A YEAR IN REVIEW

Today we're taking a look back on the year that has just ended: 2011. All this happened last year, do you remember?

Video 2011: Year in review:

DO OR MAKE? SPOT THE EXPRESSIONS...

Once again, we're back with common expressions with DO & MAKE. Watch these videos and discover which expressions are mentioned. If you want to get more information on these set expressions before you watch the video, have a look to a previous post about DO OR MAKE in this blog.

Video 1:

Video 2:

DO OR MAKE?

Expressions in English with the verbs DO and MAKE sometimes can be mistaken. In the picture above you see the expressions that go with each verb. Watch the videos below for some explanation.

Video DO vs MAKE (1)Explanation:

Video DO vs MAKE (2)Practice in use:

+ practice.

"CHASING CARS", SNOW PATROL

Today another song to listen and sing along with its lyrics. The song is "CHASING CARS" by Snow Patrol. Snow Patrol are an alternative rock band from Bangor, County Down, Northern Ireland. Formed at the University of Dundee (Scotland) in 1994 as an indie rock band, the band is now based in Glasgow (Scotland).
Their studio album, "Eyes Open", (2006) and its hit single "Chasing Cars" propelled the band to greater international fame. The album topped the UK Album Charts and was the best-selling British album of the year, selling over 6 million copies worldwide.

Video "CHASING CARS", Snow Patrol:


Lyrics | Snow Patrol lyrics - Chasing Cars lyrics
Audio+lyrics "CHASING CARS", Snow Patrol:

"WHEN YOU SAY NOTHING AT ALL", RONAN KEATING

Today we're presenting a song with lyrics to listen and practice. The song is "WHEN YOU SAY NOTHING AT ALL", taken from the original soundtrack of the film "Notting Hill" and sung by Irish singer Ronan Keating. Enjoy.

Video "WHEN YOU SAY NOTHING AT ALL", Ronan Keating:

Audio+lyrics "WHEN YOU SAY NOTHING AT ALL", Ronan Keating:

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2012!

Songs for Christmas 2011: MICHAEL BUBLÉ, "SANTA CLAUS IS COMING TO TOWN"

Michael Bublé, Canadian singer, has also turned into Christmas this year. He has released a complete album full of Christmas classics like this "Santa Claus is coming to town".

Video "SANTA CLAUS IS COMING TO TOWN", Michael Bublé:

Lyrics:
You better watch out
you better not cry
you better not pout
I'm telling you why
('cos) Santa Claus is coming to town.
Oh, let's go...
(Repeat twice)
I mean the big fat man
with the long white beard
he's coming to town.

Video "SANTA CLAUS IS COMING TO TOWN", Michael Bublé TV performance:

Complete lyrics:
You better watch out
you better not cry
you better not pout
I'm telling you why
Santa Claus is coming to town.
He's making a list
he's checking it twice
he's gonna find out
who's naughty or nice
Santa Claus is coming to town.
He sees you when you're sleeping
and he knows when you're awake
he knows if you've been bad or good
so be good for goodness sake.
(Repeat chorus)
Let's go boys
Now, he sees you when you're sleeping
and he knows when you're awake
he knows if you've been bad or good
so be good for goodness sake.
(Repeat chorus twice)
I mean the big fat man
with the long white beard
he's coming to town.

GETTING READY FOR CHRISTMAS

Christmas is a Christian holiday that celebrates the birth of Jesus. Christians believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. Christmas means "Feast day of Christ".
The day known as Christmas Day is celebrated on the 25th of December (This date is different for Orthodox Christians). Christmas is one of the holiest times of the year, when it is believed by Christians that God sent Jesus to be born and to live among people and to save sinners. The other important Christian Holy Days are at Easter when the death and resurrection of Jesus are celebrated. The season of preparing for Christmas is called Advent and begins on a Sunday about four weeks before Christmas Day. The Christmas Season (called Christmastide) ends on January 6, known as the Epiphany or the Twelfth Day of Christmas.
Christmas is celebrated by Christian people all over the world, and is also kept as a time of celebration by many people who are not Christian but enjoy the traditions. The traditions are different from country to country, but they nearly always include a feast, giving gifts or cards, and enjoying church or public festivities such as singing Christmas songs.
Christmastime, as it is often called, is in the winter of the Northern Hemisphere, at a time when there were already ancient festivals. Some of the traditions that are used for Christmas are older than Christmas, or come from other non-Christian traditions such as Yule. Other festivals at this time of year include Jewish Hanukkah.
Modern traditions of Christmas often focus on the giving of gifts. Shops use this time of year to sell a lot of goods, and so start advertising for "Holiday Season" shopping for at least a month before Christmas, often showing a Santa Claus.

In English speaking countries, where presents are usually given on Christmas Day, Santa Claus, (or Father Christmas) is usually thought of as coming on Christmas Night, when his magic sleigh is pulled across the sky by reindeer, and he comes into houses through the chimney. The English tradition is to hang up stockings (or long socks) in front of the fireplace. Santa Claus would traditionally fill the socks or shoes with nuts, raisins, chocolates and an orange. Nowadays children usually get much more expensive presents, and have the presents in a big pile under the Christmas tree.
Another Christmas tradition is the sending of cards to friends and relatives. These contain warm greetings and may also have a letter telling all the things that have happened to the person or family during the year.

Video of basic Christmas vocabulary:


Video "A BRIEF HISTORY OF SANTA CLAUS":

Play these quizzes about Christmas:
(1) http://learnenglishkids.britishcouncil.org/en/play-with-friends/quiz-christmas
(2) http://www.tolearnenglish.com/exercises/exercise-english-2/exercise-english-32497.php

"HAPPY XMAS (WAR IS OVER)", A CLASSIC LENNON XMAS SONG+THE FRAY'S COVER VERSION

We have found a cover version of one of John Lennon's classic songs, his Christmas song "HAPPY XMAS (WAR IS OVER)". Here is the video of The Fray's version with English & Spanish subtitles and Lennon's audio version with Spanish translation subtitles. Enjoy!

Video "HAPPY XMAS (WAR IS OVER)", The Fray:

Audio "HAPPY XMAS (WAR IS OVER)", John Lennon: