PASSIVE vs ACTIVE

The passive voice is used when we want to focus attention on the person or thing affected by the action.

Normally, the performer of the action, or the agent, comes first and is made the subject of the verb and then we use the active form of the verb. The other person or thing is made the object of the verb. Consider these examples:

'The boss invited her to the party.'
'The construction company in Station Road employs three hundred people.'

However, if you want to focus on the person or thing affected by the action, you make the person or thing the subject of the sentence and use the passive voice:

'She was invited to the party by the boss.'
'Three hundred people are employed by the construction company in Station Road.'

When, then, should we use the passive voice in preference to the active?
We often prefer to use the passive voice when:
1. We do not know who the agent is:
'I don’t know who did it, but my pet rabbit has been let out.'
'I had the feeling that I was being followed.' instead of:
'I don’t know who did it, but someone has let out my pet rabbit.'
'I had the feeling that somebody was following me.'
2.When it is obvious to the listener or reader who the agent is:
'I had been instructed to remove all the ash trays.'
'She discovered that she was being paid less than her male colleagues.' instead of:
'My boss had instructed me to remove all the ash trays.'
'She discovered that the firm was paying her less than her male colleagues.'
3. When it is not important to know who the agent is:
'Do you want a lift?' 'No thanks, I’m being collected.' instead of:
'Do you want a lift?' 'No thanks, someone is collecting me.'
4. When the agent has already been mentioned:
'In the next session of parliament, new laws will be introduced aimed at stopping domestic violence.' instead of:
'In the next session of parliament, the government will introduce new laws aimed at stopping domestic violence.'
5. When people in general are the agents:
'All the Beatles records can be borrowed from the central library. instead of:
'You can borrow all the Beatles records from the central library.

Here is a complete list of all the verb forms that are normally used in the passive.
Passive forms are made up of an appropriate form of the verb ‘to be’ followed by the past participle (pp) form of the verb:

Present simple am/is/are + ppHow is this word pronounced?
Present continuous am/are/is being + ppThe house is being redecorated.
Present perfect simple has/have been + pp
He's just been sacked!
Past simple was/were + ppAll his credit cards were stolen last week.
Past continuous was/were being + ppHe was being treated for depression when he won the lottery.
Past perfect simple had been + pp
The vegetables had been cooked for far too long, but we had to eat them.
Future simple will be + pp
The house contents will be auctioned a week on Saturday.
Future perfect simple will have been + pp
There’s no point in hurrying. It will all have been eaten by now.
Infinitive (to) be + ppExams have to be taken almost every year you are at school.
Do you know who is going to be invited?

Links to exercises:

http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/passive/exercises?simple-present

http://www.nonstopenglish.com/allexercises/grammar/grammar-passive_voice.asp

http://esl.about.com/library/quiz/blgrquiz_passive2.htm

RAFAEL DIESTE'S GREEK WEEK

Our students dancing the syrtaki at the Greek Week in our central indoor hall.


Greek week at Rafael Dieste Secondary School on PhotoPeach

Note: The song that sounds during the photo-slide is "Syrtaki" ("Siko Chorepse Syrtaki"), it was written by Greek composers G. Zambetas & A. Sakelarios. It's the same song which our mate-students danced to at school. This version is sung by Swedish singer Frida (Anni-Frid Lyngstad), best known as one of the girls in Swedish pop group Abba, the red-haired one. Her version is sung in Swedish and belongs to her 1975 solo-album "Frida ensam" ("Frida alone").

PRACTICE CONDITIONALS: KATIE MELUA, "IF YOU WERE A SAILBOAT"

Katie Melua

Ketevan "Katie" Melua (English pronunciation: /mɛˈluː.ə/),born 16 September 1984, is a Georgian-British singer, songwriter and musician. She was born in Georgia, but moved to Northern Ireland at the age of eight and then relocated to England at the age of fourteen.In November 2003, at the age of nineteen, Melua released her first album, Call off the Search, which reached the top of the United Kingdom album charts and sold 1.8 million copies in its first five months of release. Her second album, Piece by Piece, was released in September 2005. Melua released her third studio album Pictures in October 2007, which was the last of her albums to be made in collaboration with Mike Batt. In May 2010 she's about to release her fourth album The House.

The song we listen today was the first single from the album Pictures, and it's full of second type conditionals.

Video "If I were sailboat", Katie Melua:


"If you were a sailboat" lyrics:
IF YOU WERE A COWBOY, I WOULD TRAIL YOU
IF YOU WERE A PIECE OF WOOD, I'D NAIL YOU TO THE FLOOR
IF YOU WERE A SAILBOAT, I WOULD SAIL YOU TO THE SHORE.

IF YOU WERE A RIVER, I WOULD SWIM YOU
IF YOU WERE A HOUSE, I WOULD LIVE IN YOU ALL MY DAYS
IF YOU WERE A PREACHER, I'D BEGIN TO CHANGE MY WAYS.

Chorus:
SOMETIMES I BELIEVE IN FATE
BUT THE CHANCES WE CREATE
ALWAYS SEEM TO RING MORE TRUE
YOU TOOK A CHANCE ON LOVING ME
I TOOK A CHANCE ON LOVING YOU.

IF I WAS IN JAIL, I KNOW YOU'D SPRING ME
IF I WAS A TELEPHONE, YOU'D RING ME ALL DAY LONG
IF I WAS IN PAIN, I KNOW YOU'D SING ME SOOTHING SONGS.

(Rep chorus)

IF I WAS HUNGRY, YOU WOULD FEED ME
IF I WAS IN DARKNESS, YOU WOULD LEAD ME TO THE LIGHT
IF I WAS A BOOK, I KNOW YOU'D READ ME EVERY NIGHT

(Rep first paragraph)

"SWEET DREAMS", EURYTHMICS (The song we heard at the "McBeth's" theatre-play)

Eurythmics (Annie Lennox & Dave Stewart)

During Tuesday's theatre play "McBeth's", we heard the melody of this famous 1983 hit by Eurythmics. Of course, it was a version, as the lyrics were adapted to the play. But it gives us the opportunity to remember this hit.

Eurythmics are a British musical duo, formed in 1980 by Scottish front woman Annie Lennox and English musician Dave Stewart. The pair have achieved significant global, commercial and critical success, selling 75 million records worldwide, winning numerous awards, and have undertaken several successful world tours. They are Britain's biggest selling duo, and are noted for their songs that showcase Lennox's powerful and expressive alto voice and Stewart's innovative production techniques. They are also acclaimed for their promotional videos and visual presentation.

"Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)" is the second album by the duo, released on January 21, 1983. After almost two years of initial commercial failure for them, this album became a commercial breakthrough for the duo on both sides of the Atlantic. The title track became particularly popular and it remains one of Eurythmics' most recognisable songs, and its music video, popular on MTV in the United States, is memorable for Annie Lennox's gender-bending imagery.

Video "Sweet Dreams":

Lyrics "Sweet Dreams":

Sweet dreams are made of this

Who am I to disagree?

I travel the world and the seven seas

Everybody's looking for something

Some of them want to use you

Some of them want to get used by you

Some of them want to abuse you

Some of them want to be abused

Sweet dreams are made of this

Who am I to disagree?

I travel the world and the seven seas

Everybody's looking for something
Hold your head up, movin' on

Keep your head up, movin' on

Hold your head up, movin' on

Keep your head up, movin' on

Hold your head up, movin' on

Keep your head up, movin' on

Movin' on!

Some of them want to use you

Some of them want to get used by you

Some of them want to abuse you

Some of them want to be abused

Hold your head up, movin' on

Keep your head up, movin' on

Hold your head up, movin' on

Keep your head up, movin' on

Hold your head up, movin' on

Keep your head up, movin' on

Movin' on!

OUR VISIT TO A THEATRE-PLAY IN ENGLISH

These last two days, students from our school have been to watch a theatre play in English performed by face2face theatre company. The plays were performed at a nearby school, these were the plays:

MONDAY, "SUPERLOSERS":

Ex-Super Hero, Jack Lipshitz is faced with a new mission to clean up the streets after years of retirement. A freak accident at Sci-Tech Technologies turns Eco-Scientist, Dr. Einsteen into the evil Bag Lady, a deformed and powerful villain. To save the world from the evil Bag Lady, Super Loser must return to school to regain his super powers. With the help of his new super friends he will take on the Bag Lady and her cohorts. Will Bag Lady succeed with her demonic plan? Or will Super Loser triumph over evil and save the day? Find the asnswer to these and other questions in this hilarious romp through the world of sperheroes, baddies and recycling.

TUESDAY, "McBETH'S":

Face 2 Face sets Shakespeare's famous tragedy in a fast-good restaurant, where Macbeth is a conniving kitchen boy. This tragedy adeptly converted into social satire illustrates how the Macbeth couple's amibition and unbridled greed drives them to ruin while the audience cracks up laughing. Once more Face 2 Face manages to bring the world of Shakespeare to students in a pleasant and fun way.

Browsing the internet we've found a video of one of the other plays which the company performs, have a look:

IT'S ALREADY 40 YEARS WITHOUT THE BEATLES

It's 40 years ago already,since April 10th 1970, when Paul McCartney made official Beatles' breakup in a press note which announced that the four members of the biggest group in history would never play again. As John Lennon said a bit later, the dream had ended. Actually, the group had stopped working a few months before, when they finished recording the album "Abbey Road". The four beatles were busy working on their personal projects, but nobody dared to anounce their split up. "I didn't leave The Beatles. The Beatles left The Beatles, but nobody wants to be the one who says the party's over", said McCartney in the group's autobiography "Anthology".

Video "YESTERDAY":

"YESTERDAY" lyrics:

Yesterday, All my troubles seemed so far away,

Now it looks as though they're here to stay,

Oh, I believe in yesterday.

Suddenly, I'm not half the man I used to be,

There's a shadow hanging over me,

Oh, yesterday came suddenly.

Why she Had to go I don't know, she wouldn't say.

I said, Something wrong, now I long for yesterday.

Yesterday, Love was such an easy game to play,

Now I need a place to hide away,

Oh, I believe in yesterday.

Why she Had to go I don't know, she wouldn't say.

I said, Something wrong, now I long for yesterday.

Yesterday, Love was such an easy game to play,

Now I need a place to hide away,

Oh, I believe in yesterday.

Mm-mm-mm-mm-mm-mm-mm.

EYJAFJALLAJÖKULL: THE ICELANDIC VOLCANO WHICH HAS BROUGHT EUROPE'S SKIES TO A STANDSTILL

[From Telegraph.co.uk]

The power and wrath of Eyjafjallajökull came into dramatic clarity this weekend as the clouds parted for the first time since the glacier-topped volcano threw world air travel into turmoil.
Fresh eruptions thrust new torrents of molten rock through the shattered ice sheets in the mountain crater, spewing a towering wall of ash, dust and steam high into the air.

The power of the blasts has carried the ash – a potent threat to plane engines – even further upwards into the North Atlantic jet-stream that passes over the island near one of the world's busiest flight paths.
It is a rare combination and it was clear that for now at least Eyjafjallajökull was not easing up. Icelandic volcanologists told The Sunday Telegraph that it was impossible to predict how long the eruptions would continue or whether an even more violent neighbouring volcano might follow suit – as it has in the past.
Iceland,Europe's youngest country, sits atop the Mid-Atlantic Ridge fault line between two great shifting tectonic plates and the primal landscape of glacial valleys, snowy volcanoes and bubbling geysers is still being shaped by these explosive forces deep below the surface.

Indeed, when the first fissure opened a few weeks ago, creating scenic lava flows down the mountain, Iceland briefly gained its latest tourist attraction.
But the display of natural force that has unfolded in recent days has brought misery to millions of stranded passengers, raised concerns about the economic impact of a protracted disruption of international travel and forced hundreds of locals to evacuate their homes.

"This is not even a major eruption, so it is startling to see the impact it has had," said Matthew Jones, a British glacier expert who monitors volcanic activity at the Icelandic meteorological office.
Eyjafjallajökull is indeed not one of the biggest or most volatile of Iceland's 22 active volcanoes. But the precedents suggest that Britain and its European neighbours could face the fall-out for weeks or months to come.
Hidden from the our view by the mushroom of volcanic debris lies an even greater threat, the much larger crater of nearby Katla – named for its ferocity after a powerful witch in an ancient Icelandic saga.

Eyjafjallajökull has only erupted three times since the Vikings settled the island in the ninth century, most recently nearly two centuries ago when it blew intermittently for 14 months in the early 1820s– an alarming enough prospect for air traffic across the Atlantic.
And each occasion, it has been followed within months or a year or so by a major eruption at Katla. That volcano has also blown another 20 or so times in its own right, on average once every 60 to 80 years – so another is long overdue as it last exploded in 1918.
That eruption dwarfed what the world has seen from Eyjafjallajökull in recent days, producing about 10 times as much molten rock and throwing ash an estimated 60,000 ft into the sky.
Mr Jones said there is no evidence so far of ground rumblings beneath Katla – the usual harbinger of an eruption. "But we do know from past ash layers that are embedded together that the two volcanoes seem to be interconnected in the timings of previous explosions," he said.
Magnus Tomi Gudmundsson, a geophysicist at the University of Iceland and expert on volcanic ice eruptions, said activity had intensified at the volcano on Friday. As winds have cleared visibility, a team of scientists hope to fly over the crater this weekend to assess how much ice has melted.
"We really don't have any means to determine how long this eruption might last or whether it would erupt again," he told The Sunday Telegraph.
"There's an increased likelihood we'll see a Katla eruption in the coming months or year or two, but there's no way that's certain." The eruptions have wreaked havoc for the farmers who raise sheep, cattle and horses on the pastures around the volcano. Lava is not the danger here, but rather the floods set off as the molten rock melts the glacier that fills the crater.
Locals received automated text message and phone calls instructing them to evacuate three times – once because of the initial explosion and twice because of floods. And on the south-east side, properties remain shrouded in dust and there are fears for the welfare of animals that ingest the glass-like shards of ash.
Thorkell Eiriksson and Anna Runolfsdottir have watched the drama unfold from their farmhouse, the nearest property to Eyjafjallajökull, where they live with their two young children.
"The lava from the eruption in March just looked like a pretty little candle twinkling in the distance," said Mr Eiriksson. "But when we felt the earthquakes last week, we knew this one was very different. It's just surreal to sit here and watch the plumes of ash up there and think of the chaos this is causing around the world."
Video report:

"EVERYBODY HURTS" 2010 IN AID OF HAITI, THE VIDEO

"Everybody hurts-2010", the charity single in aid of Haiti has become the best selling single this century with more than 200.000 copies sold from its release date on February, 8th.
[Singing: Leona Lewis, Rod Stewart, Mika, Robbie Williams, Bon Jovi, Take That, Susan Boyle, Mariah Carey, James Blunt... among many others]
Look for the other versions of this song and other charity songs on previous posts Songs in aid of Haiti (1 & 2) on this blog under post HelpìngHaiti.

Watch the official video with behind the scenes footage from the recording:

IT'S CARNIVAL TIME

Photos from London's Notting Hill Carnival held every August.

Carnival is a festive season which occurs immediately before Lent; the main events are usually during February. Carnival typically involves a public celebration or parade combining some elements of a circus, masque and public street party. People often dress up or masquerade during the celebrations, which mark an overturning of daily life.
Carnival is a festival traditionally held in Roman Catholic and, to a lesser extent, Eastern Orthodox societies. Protestant areas usually do not have carnival celebrations or have modified traditions, such as the Danish Carnival or other Shrove Tuesday events. The Brazilian Carnaval is one of the best-known celebrations today, but many cities and regions worldwide celebrate with large, popular, and days-long events. These include the Carnevale of Venice and the Carnevale of Viareggio, Italy, the German Rhineland carnivals, centering on the Cologne carnival; the carnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Canary Islands; in Andalucia & Galicia (Spain) Carnival of Cádiz and in Ourense ; the carnival of Cape Verde; of Torres Vedras, Portugal; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Rijeka, Croatia; Barranquilla, Colombia; Dominican Republic; Haiti; Jamaica; the Carnaval and the Llamadas in Montevideo, Uruguay and Trinidad and Tobago Carnival. In the United States, the famous Mardi Gras celebrations in New Orleans, Louisiana, and Mobile, Alabama, date back to French and Spanish colonial times.

In Britain, the season immediately before Lent was called Shrovetide. It was a time for confessing sins (shriving) with fewer festivities than the Continental Carnivals. Shrove Tuesday is celebrated as Pancake Day, but apart from the serving of pancakes and occasional pancake races and football matches, little else of the Lent-related Shrovetide survived the English Reformation. One of the few, if not the only, Shrovetide carnivals in the UK takes places in Cowes and East Cowes on the Isle of Wight. This is the first carnival of the year on the island, and is the start of a long and busy carnival calendar.
The traditional English carnivals take place later in the year, such as the West Country Carnival in November, associated with Guy Fawkes Night. African-Caribbean communities organise and participate in Caribbean Carnivals (Caribbean style carnivals) throughout the UK. The best known of these is the annual Notting Hill Carnival, attracting up to 1.5 million people from Britain and around the world, making it the largest street festival in Europe. The carnival began in 1964 as a small procession of Trinidadians in memory of festivals in their home country. It is held in August. Leeds West Indian Carnival is Europe's oldest West Indian carnival and now attracts around 130,000 people. Other carnivals include the Leicester Caribbean Carnival and the Birmingham International Carnival. Luton Carnival, begun 1976, is in May. St Pauls carnival, an African Caribbean Carnival usually takes place on the first Saturday of July in Bristol.

Video "CARNIVAL GIRL", TEXAS with Notting Hill after the party:

Video "CARNIVAL GIRL", Texas+Kardinal Offishal live on TV:

"CARNIVAL GIRL"
TEXAS (featuring Kardinal Offishall) 2003
See me in the morning light, a photograph of pure delight.
Yeah, but I left too soon. (I don’t see you girl, ya know)
There were some good times we had, and there were some that weren’t so bad.
Oh, just feel it now, lets feel it now.
RAP (1): Yoh, yo, I remember what we used to do
blink up and dream a living with a notion view
I’ll give you the sun, the stars and the blue sky too.
So come on a leasing want to pleasing you.
Remember when we used to link up with the crew
Suzanne, Suzette and Tanya too.
You’re the one on me side from the out yard view
it’s just a party now, yo, I believe in you, I ain’t leaving you.
CHORUS: OOH, COME ON LET’S GET DOWN TONIGHT,
COME ON LET’S GET DOWN TONIGHT,
JOIN THE CARNIVAL OF LOVE,
OOH, WELL YOU SING IT NOW, TAKE IT NOW,
JOIN THE CARNIVAL OF LOVE. (Come on join in the carnival of love, yeah)
I watch the laughter in your eyes, I see the wrinkles change in size
yeah, time has left you now.
Lovers may have tried to be, everything that’s strange in me
oh, much deeper now, (Much deeper) much deeper now.
RAP (2):, Yo, I used to love it when we used to play,
it used to be like a weekend everyday,
three times a night, right in everyway,
body to body make you scream and say, physically dance.
You’re not easy, take it easy,
only girl, we are love, but man, we got hope,
and you stay on my mind,
so lets go to the carnival, girl. Let me bring you to life.
CHORUS (X 2)
Push it now, push it now. (I believe in you). Stop me now. (X 4)
(I believe in you, I ain’t leaving you)
CHORUS (X 2)
REPEAT RAP 1

SONGS IN AID OF HAITI (2): THE ORIGINAL VERSIONS.

Photo: Haiti's Presidential Palace after the earthquake (above), before (below), a symbol of the country's complete and total destruction.

Here are the original versions of the songs which now have been re-recorded to raise funds for the Haiti's earthquake victims. The "EVERYBODY HURTS" 2010 Haiti-version has become the best-selling single this century with more than 200.000 copies sold since it was released on February, 8th.

Video of original song "I'LL STAND BY YOU" by The Pretenders live:

Audio of the same song+lyrics:

Video of original song "EVERYBODY HURTS" by REM (subtitled English & Spanish):

Video The Corrs unplugged live version of the same song:

1 MONTH LATER: SONGS IN AID OF HAITI (1)

The 2010 Haiti earthquake was a catastrophic magnitude 7.0 Mw earthquake. Its epicentre was near the town of Léogâne, approximately 25 km (16 miles) west of Port-au-Prince, Haiti's capital. The earthquake occurred at 16:53 local time on Tuesday, 12 January 2010. By 24 January, at least 52 aftershocks measuring 4.5 or greater had been recorded. An estimated three million people were affected by the quake; Prime Minister Jean-Max Bellerive stated on 3 February 2010 that 200,000 people had been identified as dead and and estimated that 300,000 injured had been treated. Bellerive also estimated that 250,000 residences and 30,000 commercial buildings had collapsed or were severely damaged.
The earthquake caused major damage to Port-au-Prince, Jacmel and other settlements in the region. Many notable landmark buildings were significantly damaged or destroyed, including the Presidential Palace, the National Assembly building, the Port-au-Prince Cathedral, and the main jail.

Many countries responded to appeals for humanitarian aid, pledging funds and dispatching rescue and medical teams, engineers and support personnel.

Artists have also contributed with telethons and rerecording classic songs to help raise funds, here we collect some of these efforts:

- Shakira does a cover of The Pretender's classic "I'LL STAND BY YOU":

- Several artists cover REM's classic hit "EVERYBODY HURTS";

ABBAWORLD, THE ITINERANT INTERACTIVE ABBA EXHIBITION

The fascination with ABBA is endless, and the expectations are enormous. The ABBAWORLD opening is a major world event, made possible only through intense collaboration with Björn, Benny, Agnetha and Anni-Frid, thus turning ABBAWORLD into the definitive experience of the group, and the only exhibition of its kind officially approved by the members of ABBA.

Your audio-guided tour through 25 unique ABBA rooms. Your journey through ABBAWORLD will take you through more than 25 different ABBA rooms, letting you experience the phenomenon in a completely unique way. All the way through the exhibition, you will be accompanied by your personal audio guide, and thus you can enjoy it at your own pace.

The phenomenon comes alive. The Swedish super group created a legendary sound that sold close to 400 million records, and they made the whole world take to the dance floor. Their sixth sense for creating hits and their perfection when it came to details took the music, stage costumes and the shows to levels that continue to inspire artists of today.

ABBA is once again creating history through this interactive and audio-visual experience of the pop icons. To resurrect the magic of ABBA, ABBAWORLD is using state-of-the-art multimedia technology. The excitement and presence in the time and space of ABBA is recreated in a way no-one thought possible. We welcome you to a mind-blowing journey through the music, memories, and magic of ABBA!

The original Abba memorabilia – contributed by the four icons and others.
A large number of the ABBA treasures on display that have never been shown before are handpicked and previously owned by the four members of the group. There are also hundreds of other original memorabilia - everything from stage clothes, instruments, theatrical props and personal belongings to unique videos, TV interviews and photos from the astonishing career of the band. In addition, there will be a huge amount of ABBA-related items from band members, Stikkan Andersson’s family, the stage crew, fans and other key people from all around the world. On top of that, both newly recorded and old material that has never been shown before will be presented.

Content examples: stage costumes, instruments and personal belongings, gold records and awards, extensive gallery of promotional movies and pictures, exclusive interviews and TV-performance displays, fan-related items, merchandise.

ABBA– a place for total interaction. The phenomenon of ABBA will be brought to life in over 25 spectacular environments and with many interactive highlights including ‘Perform with ABBA’, which will allow fans to get up on stage with their idols as part of a stunning 3D holographic illusion. The ‘Tretow MIX Challenge’ gives visitors a chance to mix songs and re-create the ABBA sound while the ‘ABBA Quiz’ which will test the fans’ knowledge. There is also the opportunity to sing along and dance with ABBA, plus a chance for fans to see themselves in an ABBA video.

Better still, any interactive activities will be recorded on the entrance ticket, and visitors can access them at any time online on http://www.abbaworld.com/, allowing the experience to live on and on, just like the music. On entry to ABBAWORLD, guests will have their photograph taken, and this will appear during a number of the interactive features, for example fans will be able to see themselves on ABBA album covers, posters and other iconic pictures.

It is no coincidence that ABBAWORLD premieres in London. The UK has a special place in the history of ABBA because it was here that global ABBA fever started with the glorious win of Waterloo at the Eurovision Song Contest in Brighton in 1974. ABBA topped the charts in the UK more times than anywhere else in the world and through the smash hit musical Mamma Mia! and its ten-year success in London, together with the Mamma Mia! movie that became the highest grossing film of all times at the UK box office, a new audience has taken ABBA to their hearts. Later it will be taken to other European countries as well as USA & Australia, to end up as a permanent museum in their home town Stockholm.

CNN report on the ABBAWorld opening:

Official video of the opening:

JANUARY, 30th: SCHOOL'S PEACE DAY. DECLAN GALBRAITH "TELL ME WHY"

On January 30th, School's Peace Day is commemorated. This year as it's Saturday, it'll be celebrated on Friday 29th. The teachers at our school library will be reading and listening to texts, poems & songs related to peace awareness. One of the songs they've chosen is by Declan Galbraith "TELL ME WHY". I include below the video of the song with English lyrics & Spanish subtitles and some information about this young artist.

Declan John Galbraith (born 19 December 1991, Hoo St Werburgh, Kent) is an English singer of Irish and Scottish origin. He and his family are now living in South East England. His grandfather was in a band, played several instruments, and took Declan to Fleadhs (concerts) he was participating in, and the mix of Scottish and Irish musical traditions inspired Declan and became his early musical influence.

When 7 years old he insisted on singing spontaneously at the annual Rochester Dickens Festival, a two-day event where people were invited to dress up in Victorian costumes to celebrate the life and times of the famous author Charles Dickens and his links with their town. Little Declan, dressed up as a chimney sweep, started singing. Soon after this he started to enter local talent contests and within a year he had won 15 titles and more than £1,000.
As a result of his success in the talent shows, the major recording companies soon heard about Declan and he was signed to his first recording contract in England. His first recording was ‘Walking in the Air’, which was released on a special Christmas Hits album, also featuring Westlife, Elton John and Elvis Presley. Declan loves to sing to live audiences and among some of performances included the Queen’s Jubilee at St Paul’s Cathedral, when he sang ‘Amazing Grace’ accompanied by the St Paul’s Choir and singing in front of more than 22,000 people at an Elton John concert.
His first self-titled album, Declan, with Irish traditional songs and some specially written material became charted in the U.K. and Ireland. Within the year of release it had 200,000 copies in Germany.

Discography
Albums
Declan (2002)
Thank You (2006)
You and Me (2007)
Singles
"Tell Me Why" (2002)
"Love of My Life" (2007)
"Ego You" (2007)

Links:

Declan's official website:

http://www.declan-music.de/

Video "TELL ME WHY" (with English lyrics)


Video "TELL ME WHY" (with Spanish subtitles)

"SOLDIER OF LOVE", SADE'S NEW SONG IN 10 YEARS

Helen Folasade Adu, OBE, (born 16 January 1959, so she's 51 today), better known as Sade (pronounced /ʃɑːˈdeɪ/ shah-DAY), is a British Nigerian singer-songwriter, composer, and record producer. She first achieved success in the 1980s as the frontwoman and lead vocalist of the popular Brit and Grammy Award winning English group Sade.

Sade was born in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria. Her middle name, Folasade, means honor confers your crown.Her parents, Bisi Adu, a Nigerian lecturer in economics of Yoruba background, and Anne Hayes, an English nurse, met in London and moved to Nigeria. Later, when the marriage ran into difficulties, Anne Hayes returned to Clacton-on-Sea, Essex, England, taking four-month-old Sade and her older brother Banji to live with her parents. Living in Colchester, Essex, Sade read a good deal, developed an interest in fashion, acquired a taste for dancing and listened to soul artists like Curtis Mayfield, Donny Hathaway, and Marvin Gaye.

Sade's discography
1984: Diamond Life
1985: Promise
1988: Stronger Than Pride
1992: Love Deluxe
1992: Remix Deluxe
1994: The Best of Sade
2000: Lovers Rock
2002: Lovers Live
2010: Soldier of Love

Today we premiere her latest video "SOLDIER OF LOVE":

Links:

Audio "SOLDIER OF LOVE"+lyrics:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G5MnESIaRME

Video "SOLDIER OF LOVE", Sade:

Audio "SOLDIER OF LOVE", Sade (+lyrics):

ANOTHER BIRTHDAY: THE SIMPSONS, 20 TODAY!

The Simpsons is an American animated television sitcom created by Matt Groening for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series is a satirical parody of a middle class American lifestyle epitomized by its eponymous family, which consists of Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa, and Maggie. The show is set in the fictional city of Springfield, and lampoons American culture, society, television and many aspects of the human condition.
The family was conceived by Groening shortly before a pitch for a series of animated shorts with the producer James L. Brooks. Groening created a dysfunctional family and named the characters after members of his own family, substituting Bart for his own name. The shorts became a part of The Tracey Ullman Show on April 19, 1987. After a three-season run, the sketch was developed into a half-hour prime time show and was an early hit for Fox.
Since its debut on December 17, 1989 the show has broadcast 449 episodes and the twenty-first season began airing on September 27, 2009.The Simpsons Movie, a feature-length film, was released in theaters worldwide on July 26 and July 27, 2007, and grossed US$527 million worldwide.
The Simpsons has won dozens of awards since it debuted as a series, including 25 Primetime Emmy Awards, 26 Annie Awards and a Peabody Award. Time magazine's December 31, 1999 issue named it the 20th century's best television series, and on January 14, 2000 the Simpson family was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The Simpsons is the longest-running American sitcom, the longest-running American animated program, and in 2009 it became the longest American primetime entertainment series, and have influenced many adult-oriented animated sitcoms.

THE ULTIMATE GLOBAL ISSUE: CLIMATE CHANGE

Climate change is a change in the statistical distribution of weather over periods of time that range from decades to millions of years. It can be a change in the average weather or a change in the distribution of weather events around an average (for example, greater or fewer extreme weather events). Climate change may be limited to a specific region, or may occur across the whole Earth.
In recent usage, especially in the context of environmental policy, climate change usually refers to changes in modern climate. It may be qualified as anthropogenic climate change, more generally known as global warming.

Factors that can shape climate are climate forcings. These include such processes as variations in solar radiation, deviations in the Earth's orbit, mountain-building and continental drift, and changes in greenhouse gas concentrations. There are a variety of climate change feedbacks that can either amplify or diminish the initial forcing. Some parts of the climate system, such as the oceans and ice caps, respond slowly in reaction to climate forcing because of their large mass. Therefore, the climate system can take centuries or longer to fully respond to new external forcings

Meanwhile the United Nations Climate Change Conference is being held at Copenhagen with little success in taking decisions as talks are at a deadlock. Below enclosed are diagrams, pictures and even jokes on the issue:

AMINATOU HAIDAR'S STORY UP TO HER HUNGER STRIKE

Born July 24, 1966 in the town of Tata, Morocco, Ms. Haidar studied modern literature and received her Bachelor's degree in Laayoune.
Because of her pro-Sahrawi ideology, she was persecuted by the Moroccan authorities on several occasions. In 1987, then aged 21, she participated (with 700 other people) in an event seeking a referendum for independence of the Sahara. She was taken into custody and sentenced to four years in prison.
In 2005, she was sentenced by Moroccan authorities to seven months in prison in Laayoune. Amnesty International, which sent an observer to identify any irregularities in the conditions and reasons for her detention, classified her as a prisoner of conscience. Members of Parliament have also launched an international campaign to release Ms. Haidar. It was signed by 178 members.
After more than a month of detention, Ms. Haidar was released in January 2006. Her release revived militancy among the pro-Sahrawi, which resulted in street demonstrations in Laayoune and among Sahrawi students at the University Cadi Ayyad of Marrakesh.
In August 2006, Haidar was denied a Moroccan passport for her two children.
Under the Equity and Reconciliation Commission (IER). Aminatou received 45,000 Euros in compensation from the Moroccan authorities when she presented herself as a Moroccan.
On November 13, 2009, returning from New York where she received a civic courage award from the Train Foundation, Ms. Haidar marked on her immigration form while entering Morocco that she was "resident in Western Sahara" and left the nationality section blank. She then argued with the customs who objected. She was then heard by an attorney and several witnesses of her own family, before whom she proclaimed herself a non-Moroccan by throwing her passport and identity card at the Moroccan official. She then decided to take a plane bound for Lanzarote, Canary Islands, where the flight had previously stopped. Despite having no passport, she persuaded the captain of the aircraft, pointing out her Spanish residency card. The captain was initially reluctant but finally received approval from Spanish authorities to board.
Once in Lanzarote airport in the Canary Islands, Ms. Haidar began a hunger strike.
Prizes: Given her activism on behalf of independence of Western Sahara, Ms. Haidar was nominated for several awards:
Juan Maria Bandrés (2006)
Solidar Silver Rose Award (2007)
RFK Human Rights Award (2008)
Civil Courage Award (2009)

THE VERVE: "BITTERSWEET SYMPHONY"

The Verve

"Bitter Sweet Symphony" is a song by English alternative rock band The Verve. It is the lead track on their third album Urban Hymns (1997). It was released on 16 June 1997 as the first single from the album, reaching number two on the UK Singles Chart.

The video for "Bitter Sweet Symphony" features Ashcroft lip-synching the song while walking down a busy street; Ashcroft refuses to change his stride or direction throughout, apparently oblivious to what is going on around him. He repeatedly bumps into passers-by (causing at least one to trip and fall), narrowly avoids being hit by a car, and jumps on top of the bonnet of another vehicle stopped in his path (the owner proceeds to shout at him while he seems to be unaware). At the end of the video, the rest of The Verve join Ashcroft, and the final shot sees them walking down the street into the distance.
Ashcroft starts walking from the southeast corner of the intersection of Hoxton and Falkirk Streets in Hoxton, north London, subsequently proceeding north along the east side of Hoxton Street. Hope you like it!

LINK: Video with English subtitles:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24-YFCp1FXI
Video with Spanish translation:

PREPOSITIONS: AT / IN / ON

Somebody wanted to have clear information on prepostions AT, IN & ON. Here are links to their uses refering to TIME & PLACE.

AT, IN, ON as Prepositions of Time:
Link:
http://www.englishclub.com/grammar/prepositions-at-in-on-time.htm

AT, IN, ON as Prepostions of Place:
Link:
http://www.englishclub.com/grammar/prepositions-at-in-on-place.htm

And here are links to quizzes to practice:
(1) http://esl.about.com/library/quiz/blgrquiz_prep3.htm
(2) http://a4esl.org/q/h/9704/dg-in-at-on.html
(3) http://www.usingenglish.com/quizzes/64.html

Information on prepositions on a later entry on this blog: MORE ON PREPOSITIONS. Posted on February 27th, 2011 under blog label: Grammar.

25th NOVEMBER: INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR THE ELIMINATION OF VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN

I Got Flowers Today
I got flowers today.
It wasn't my birthday or any other special day.
We had our first argument last night,
And he said a lot of cruel things that really hurt me.
I know he is sorry and didn't mean the things he said.
Because he sent me flowers today.

I got flowers today.
It wasn't our anniversary any other special day.
Last night, he threw me into a wall and started to choke me.
It seemed like a nightmare.
I couldn't believe it was real.
I woke up this morning sore and bruised all over.
I know he must be sorry.
Because he sent me flowers today.

I got flowers today,and it wasn't Mother's Day or any other special day.
Last night, he beat me up again.
And it was much worse than all the other times.
If I leave him, what will I do?
How will I take care of my kids?
What about money?
I'm afraid of him and scared to leave.
But I know he must be sorry.
Because he sent me flowers today.

I got flowers today.
Today was a very special day.
It was the day of my funeral.
Last night, he finally killed me.
He beat me to death.
If only I had gathered enough courage and strength to leave him,
I would not have gotten flowers...today. (Paulette Kelly)

Violence Against Women:

"I'LL BE THERE FOR YOU", THE REMBRANDTS, MUSIC THEME FROM "FRIENDS"

In previous post, we enclosed videos from TV-series "Friends" with reference to Thanksgiving Day. I'm enclosing now video & lyrics from the main music theme of the series for you to practice & enjoy.

Video "I'll be there for you" (music theme from "Friends") by The Rembrandts:


Song lyrics:

So no one told you life was gonna be this way
Your jobs a joke, you're broke, your love life's D.O.A.
It's like you're always stuck in second gear
Well it hasn't been your day, your week, your month, or even your year but..

I'll be there for you
When the rain starts to pour
I'll be there for you
Like I've been there before
I'll be there for you
'Cuz you're there for me too...

You're still in bed at ten
And work began at eight
You've burned your breakfast
So far... things are goin' great
Your mother warned you there'd be days like these
Oh but she didn't tell you
when the world would drop you down on your knees but....
I'll be there for you
When the rain starts to pour
I'll be there for you
Like I've been there before
I'll be there for you
'Cuz you're there for me too...

No one could ever know me
No one could ever see me
Seems you're the only one who knows
What it's like to be me
Someone to face the day with
Make it through all the rest with
Someone I'll always laugh with
Even at my worst I'm best with you, yeah
It's like you're always stuck in second gear
And it hasn't been your day, your week, your month, or even your year...

I'll be there for you...

EVERYBODY GROWS OLD: "SESAME STREET" TURNS 40 TODAY!

Big Bird, Ernie, Cookie Monster, Bert, Elmo...

Sesame Street is an American educational children's television series, specially aimed for preschoolers, and a pioneer of the contemporary educational television standard, combining both education and entertainment. The series, which has produced over 4,200 episodes, celebrates its 40th anniversary this season, making it one of the longest-running shows in television history.

Sesame Street is well known for its Muppets characters created by Jim Henson. It premiered on November 10, 1969, and is the longest running children's programme on US television.The show is produced in the United States by the non-profit organization Sesame Workshop, formerly known as the Children's Television Workshop (CTW), founded by Joan Ganz Cooney and Ralph Rogers.

Sesame Street uses a combination of animation, puppets, and live actors to stimulate young children's minds, improve their letter and word recognition, basic arithmetic, geometric forms, classification, simple problem solving, and socialization by showing children or people in their everyday lives. Since the show's inception, other instructional goals have been basic life skills, such as how to cross the street safely, proper hygiene, healthy eating habits, and social skills; in addition, real-world situations are taught, such as death, divorce, pregnancy and birth, adoption, and even all of the human emotions such as happiness, love, anger, fear, sadness, and hatred.

The show is broadcast worldwide; in addition to the U.S. version, many countries have locally-produced versions adapted to local needs, some with their own characters, and in a variety of different languages. The Spanish version is called "Barrio Sésamo".

Have you grown up with them, too?

Have a look at some videos from the programme in English:

Links:

Video Ernie & Bert (=Epi & Blas in the Spanish version): "Cookies in Bed":

Video Ernie & Bert: ·Bananaphone"

Video beginning of "Barrio Sésamo" (Spanish TV):

Video "Manamana" (A famous "Sesame Street" song):

WHEN TO USE AN APOSTROPHE

Here's a quick guide to the use of apostrophes. Remember:
- USE IT IN CONTRACTIONS.
don't / can't / it's / we're / you'd / etc...
- USE IT WITH THE POSSESSIVE GENITIVE.
Peter's car / Mary's umbrella / the cat's feet / etc...
- BUT NEVER USE IT TO MAKE PLURALS OF NOUNS.
books / houses / tomatoes / DVDs / CDs / 80s / etc...

SUZANNE VEGA: "LUKA"

Suzanne Vega


"Luka" is a song recorded by Suzanne Vega and released as a single in 1987. It remains her highest-charting hit in the United States, reaching #3 on the Billboard Hot 100. This song was one of the earliest to deal with child abuse and domestic violence. One critic said, "the 'happy' music is a metaphorical denial, making this seem beautiful and serene while discussing something terrible and devastating. It is a wonderful use of tune as a metaphor for how many abuse victims also deny their abuse, and is a profound classic".

"Luka" is written from the perspective of an abused boy of that name who is evasive about what sounds are coming from his apartment. He eventually opens up, trying to understand his situation."A few years ago, I used to see this group of children playing in front of my building, and there was one of them, whose name was Luka, who seemed a little bit distinctive from the other children. I always remembered his name, and I always remembered his face, and I didn't know much about him, but he just seemed set apart from these other children that I would see playing. And his character is what I based the song Luka on. In the song, the boy Luka is an abused child -- In real life I don't think he was. I think he was just different."—Suzanne Vega, in a Swedish television special recorded 3 November 1987

"LUKA" lyrics for karaoke:


"LUKA" original videoclip with lyrics: