EntryNumber 31

What if there is life in other planets?

Sometimes I dream that there is a some sind of war between the earth and another planet, but what if this actully happens should we be the winners or the losers. The fact that we are not completely sure that ther is life in another planets activates the creativity of many people. Some are very in the issue and investigate every supposed ufo presence, they try to get the proof that we are not alone and use the time they have to go where they think they will be able to see same extraterrestrial been. I do not know if these people think that other planet's inhabitants could be our friends or something like that but they trust in what they believe.

Since many movies about the issue hve been released it is very probable that there is some truth about it but I am not sure if I must believe in them. A good reason to believe in aliens is that it will mean that we are not alone and there is a totally different reality to meet and explore. But what would happen if aliens are not as nice as the ones shwon in movies, with the exception of the movie allien, which is everything but nice. We have the example of ET who was a very good friend to the kids in the movie but i feel that they will not be as him. We must wait maybe someday we will get to know some real allien and ask him if is good or bad.

Entry Number 30

Should children be working?

Everytime that i go to the park i see a little boy selling plastic roses, he is goes from couple to couple asking to buy his flowers. The other day i realised that he is not alone a man takes him to the park I think he must be the child's father. That made feel that the child is obliged to do a job that in other cicumstances he should not do at his age. I read an article about chinese children who were kidnnaped and forced to work as slaves and I think there is not much difference between the child from the park and those from china. It is obvious that the government is turning a blind eye on this issue in both cases. Maybe when they realise how much damage is being done to those children it would be too late for them. The sad truth is that there is not much that we can do about this but to wait until someone with the power to stop it takes some actions an help the children who are leaving there chilhood on the streets or in a factory and not recieving what they deserve. The parents of the chinese kids were not aware about where their kids were took so they could only wait to hear something from them. On the other hand here in tucuman i realise that many parents use their children to get money and do not care if they go to school or not so they will have to keep doing the same thing when they grow up. To my question I think that the answer is clear, children should not be working they should be at school.

Entry Number 29

Changing natural processes

As time goes by we can see how many things are being dicovered, how many things are being invented or created. I think God gave us the means to do this but I also think there is a line, a limit that we should not trespass. The menstrual cycle is part of a woman's life, it is something we must live with. The woma's period is something that defines women' s nature if it is stopped we will be left out with and important part of our selves. I am telling this because I read that a new pill has been invented and that this pill will stop the the period from happening monthly. It is true that will prevent women from suffering the symptoms that we go through during those days. But how do we know that we are not doing something wrong if we are erasing something that we are born with? What is more women who take this pill are recieving a great amount of hormones which can be dangerous for them. A big dosis of hormones sumministrated in one pill can cause cancer and other concequencies for those who risk to take it. In conclusion I think that we must leave nature to act as is supposed to because we do not know what will be the consequences. Since we are the owners of our bodies lets try to do the best for them.

Entry Number 28

How can we help to save our planet?

I think that few people know what to do to help to save the place we are living in. Despite the fact that many campaigns are being held in order to inform people about what should they do, there are few who are aware about the importance of our everyday actions in the task of helping our environment. I heard that there is some kind of artefact, like a calculator that can tell us how much carbon dioxide we are using, reminding us how much we are damaging our environment so that we can adjust the use of carbon dioxide to our needs. The electric energy that we use in different artefacts for our dayly activities send a lot of carbon dioxide to the environment so by swiching them off we will reduce the amount of it. The need to reduce the amount of crbon dioxide in the air is every time more demanding since there is more polution and contamination in the air. Returning to the issue of the calculator I think that it will be an excuse for the government to wash its hands of this issue and let the whole problem to be solved by individuals . I believe that we, as individuals can do a lot to help save the planet but it is the government the one that can take more strong measures and set regulations for the rest to respect. In other words the future is in our hands but we need someone to guide us.

Entry Number 27

Marriage only for love ?

It is surprising how some people are afraid of getting married and how others do it as if it were something common. I wonder whether it is easy to marry someone you don't love just only because it will be the only solution to aproblem such as legalization of inmigrants. Sham marriages give people the opportunity to stay in a foreign country as if they were natives but they may also push people to jail or out the country without having the chnce to come back. I do not really know what to say about this because on the one hand I think we must respect the law, we must accept the rules and try to follow them but on the other hand, people may not have another choice than breaking the law to make their dreams come true. But it may be that making our dreams come true would be more wonderful if we do it making the right things. The fact that people can carry on with this type of marriage is a proof that nowadays marriage is not only for love but an be for many other reasons for example the 24 year old boy who married a 80 year old woman in order to get her pension after her death. Maybe when time passes more reasons to get married will come up and we will make use of them.

Entry Number 26

Can children be left alone?

I think that the times have changed and now is very dangerous to allow children play at public places unsupervised. Nowadays, no one wants to get involved if they witness something unusual. The fact that you cannot rely on strangers it makes it more difficult to feel safe at a playground for instance. If you are not sure that anything is going to happen to your child at a place for children to have fun, how are you going to let your children walk freely across a city, with all the dangers that are present there? The solution would be to keep children locked or to change a reality we are living in for a more safe and peaceful one. Many parents are concerned with their children’ safety this is because we are aware that the world is not as simple as in the past. You could easily send a kid to the market but now you do not know who can he come across in his way so it is more reliable if you go instead. It is very sad but is a reality that it can not be changed from one day to the other so we must adapt ourselves to place we are living in.

Entry Number 25

Why you should have a best Friend

The importance of having a best friend is not a subject treated among families. Many children do not have a good friend, to trust on this may cause isolation and the inability to open their heart to others. Teenagers sometimes consider a friend someone who is not a good person and perhaps this is related to the absence of a friend at childhood. The possible solution is that the parents make sure that their children find a good friend among their acquaintances. Many young people reflect the incapacity to interact with others and the reason for this behavior may be the absence of a best friend at childhood. Therefore, it is important to look how our children socialize with their classmates or neighbors. The usual image that a child has of a friend is that of someone who is his or her pair and is to his disposition to listen or to give support at any moment that is needed someone special to talk to. When I was young, I found it hard to have a close friend and now I have friends but still is too difficult for me to have a good conversation about my personal feelings. The cause of my problem might be that I have never felt that I needed someone to talk to but sometimes I think I need to.

Entry Number24

The Importance Fredom of speech

The importance of speech freedom is not recognized until something like the case of Venezuela happens. Although the majority of the population do not see the difference from having the right to express themselves, from not having it. The consequences will be big and when they notice what they lost it will be too late. I think that the case of Venezuela is quite significant because the president is trying to impose a way of thinking, and by eliminating channels that speak against him is how he will get what he wants.
I hope that something like this never happens in Argentina, however we have our history of oppression as well and I think we had learned from that experience. Many countries from Latin America had gone under the same pressure to keep our thoughts to ourselves. Sensor ship comes primarily from the government but when you live for a long time without freedom to express yourself, you start thinking what you are told to in order not to have problems. The case of Venezuela is very particular because its president has a way of thinking which is very different from the rest of Latin countries lately I heard that he wants to perpetrate his government which will be very far from a democracy that I think every country must have.

Entry Number 23

If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.

I do not know how some people can keep secret relationships, sometime I think that it is in order not to hurt the other who is with him or her. I think they are not being honest to themselves they think that they can have the same feelings for two different people and it is imposible. The fact that your thoughts are not devoted to only one person it is the proof that you can not make the heart is not sure what is the true love. In my opinion the heart only has place for one and one special person. If you feel that you are better with other person I think that you should leave the other and not keep lying to that who is with you because he or she thinks that is the only one. But many times men and women do not do this because they think that they will lose both the person that to their side and the the one that is kept hidden from the rest.
There are other cases in which the family is against a realtionship I think in that case you to be brave and decide whether to keep the relation or to do what your family wants you to do. The situation is difficult in either case because you have to put your heart against your reason and you will always suffer.

Entry Number 22

Freedom can cost your own life

During the last century, many people escaped from their country for many reasons for example Cuba and different countries from Africa. The main is the lack of job opportunities as in Africa or in Cuba the repressive government that does not allow people to think freely. The case of Africa has increased in the last years because of war and poverty, which pushed Africans to flee towards Spain and Italy. The journey to the European counties are real odyssey, they travel in precarious boats, which if they are lucky will take them to their destination. Many drown during the journey but they prefer to risk their life than to keep living in war or poverty, they think that they are already dead in their country and the only solution is to find a new home. Spain is one of the places that African have chosen to start a new life but they are not welcomed there so measures are being taken in order to reduce the entrance of African migrants. The desperation makes these people too try whatever they have at hand to migrate and have some peace and the hope of a new and better life, but it is very hard because they have to cross the see on inappropriate means of transport this is why freedom can cost your own life.

Entry Number21

Miracles do happen

After the earthquake in Peru two men were digging where it used to be a church they started hearing noises but as it was dark because it was nighttime, they could not know exactly where the noise was coming from. After five hours they could locate the noise and found to their surprise that it was a baby that have survived under the body of his father and the rest of his family was there too but could not make it. The reason that so many people had perished after the quake is that the government had not mobilized the rescue sooner. The family of the 7 month old baby would have survived and many others who were not able to escape by their own means. The quake took out electricity and all means of communication from the city, this made it more difficult to move in the tragedy site or even know where to look for victims. The relatives that live outside the city did not have news from their family until the next day. It is said that Peru is a poor country and it is not prepare to assist emergencies like this one. The fact the baby had managed to stay alive so much time is a real miracle and if it had not been for those generous men, he would have not survived.

Entry Number20

One child policy

I heard about this one child law in China because the population is growing so fast that they will not be able to maintain such large population. I think this law is unfair because the people that do not have money cannot afford to pay the fines. On the other hand, rich families can enjoy having a big family and not lose their belongings. The penalties are very cruel because the government destroys the villagers houses, and in other cases pregnant women were forced to have abortions. I think that it is wrong to control the babies who are born because it is like going against nature. Imagine that you are asked to kill your child if you do not have the money to pay for it. It is like saying that you do not have the have a family and enjoy life, as you like. It seems important in China to control the population but once the baby is alive, I do not think that any one has the right to take that life from their parents. I must be another way to put stop to the growing population. In Argentina, the situation is similar in that we do not have the means to maintain so many people but anyway the population is growing every year and there are less resources and less available jobs for people to have many children. However, the government is trying to create conscious on the people, giving medical assistance and teaching women how to take care themselves.

Entry Number19

Cry with someone is more healing than crying alone

It is very difficult to find the correct person to open your heart to mainly because you do not know who will understand you or give you the right advice I think that it is highly important to find that special one to whom you can talk freely and express your feelings. Generally, I am not an open person so it is complicated for me to tell what is bothering me and I tend to keep my feelings to my self. I have my sisters and friends but sometimes I think that they will not understand what I am going through so I try to solve my problems on my own. Lately I found a person who is always there to listen what I have to say and understand me completely, this person knows exactly what to say and gives me very good advices.
I will not tell who this person is but it is the one that I fully trust in although I think that it is dangerous to have a person like this because maybe someday it will not be there for you and you will feel completely lost without that person. However, I truly feel that crying with someone is more healing than crying alone.

Entry Number 18

Life is too short to waste time hating anyone

When you think that someone has made something bad to you usually, you start hating that person but you are wasting your time and energy. The best thing to do is stop thinking that you have a new enemy and ignore the other person if you feel that it is not worthy to keep a relation with that person but if you think that the situation can be changed you should try to have a serious conversation and fix whatever is wrong with that person. There are many occasions in which something like this happens and you cannot avoid feeling that the world is upside down especially if it is a friend or a close relative. It is worst when you have to share many ours of your time with that person. If it is someone that lives close to you, you are generally more surprised when the one that betray you is someone that you love or estimate usually brings mixed feelings but what is more important is the love that you feel for that person. Anyway, if it is a close person or only someone that you thought was your friend life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

Entry Number17

Life is not fair

When I see children playing near my house with all their dirty faces I think about the life, their parents are given to them. They do not have the chance to go to school and in that way have the opportunity of finding a better future, different from their parents. In our country children are leaving school younger than ever, the consequences of this is that they do not know how to find a job and the only way out for them is to start stealing or in the case of girls is to prostitute themselves. They also form families at young age and have babies, which will be even less educated than they are. The obvious solution I think is education but many people cannot have access to it, primarily because they do not have money. Therefore, the first step is to place everyone in a proper job in order to facilitate the task to send their children to school. For these reasons life is unfair to those children how did not chose to come to life, we do not have the choice of having the family we want before coming to life. When I see poor children they seem comfortable living the way they do, but I know that they will not have the same privileges as others who are born in a wealthy family.

Entry Number 16

What I avoid doing more than anything

When I have to study is like I have to do the homework for the whole year even if it is that I have to study two sheets of paper is a hard work to find the correct time and place to do it. During the day there too much noise my family is going from one place to the other, the smallest movement seems like an earth wake. I think that in order to study in the correct way you have to find a space where you feel comfortable and the noises do not bother you.
I do not know why studying has always been so hard for me, maybe because I enjoy doing other things more than that and when I have to study I start thinking about those things. For example, I like to make clothes and I usually stop studying to look for clothes in my closet to make something else from it.
In addition, I do not like writing entries for my blog because I find very difficult to be creative and generate original stories. The fact that I have to write so many things makes me feel that is not fun to be creative and when I am in front of the computer monitor nothing comes to my mind to write about.

Entry Number 15

The cemetery to rest in


When you die you need a quiet place to rest in, this story is about a cemetery where dead people could do anything but rest. One day a man went to visit his wife’ grave but to his surprise she was not there, so he complained to the man in charge of the graves. The unexpected answer was that was very common, that she was not the first to disappear and he must not worry that will come back to her place. The husband was astonished to hear that, so the gravedigger told him what had been happening there since the cemetery was opened. “It is said that the land was a sacred place the native people who lived near, they used to venerate their god and offer human sacrifices. When it was decided to use the land as a cemetery strange things started to happen. Villagers saw lights during the night that came out from there, also children disappeared from their beds and no one saw them again”. The man explained that the people buried there belonged to the spirits of the native people who remained in that place, the bodies acted like zombies and did what they were told to do. The last person buried there is chosen to kidnap a child and offer him or her to their god, this has happened once every ten years. The man could not believe what he was hearing but after a moment, he saw his wife walking towards him without any child. The gravedigger started to run but the man remained very happy to see the love of his life alive. Her face was different she did not have loving eyes like before but he did not realize about that until she was in front of him.
The gravedigger arrived to a local market and told to the man working there that it happened again that the zombie did not find a child, but it still had offer someone in order to be allowed to rest in peace. The coward guesses that the husband was perfect for a sacrifice, and after not hearing anything about the man, he confirmed that the lovely wife had offered her own husband to the spirits of the cemetery.

Entry Number 14

A wonderful book

I read a book when I was at secondary school I have always complained about having to read something that the teachers ask you to read. With this book was different after I read it I thought how can a person write such a wonderful story. A Brazilian writer wrote this book and it is called “Mi Planta de Naranja Lima”, the book is about the life of a little child who suffered a lot. The boy had to take care of their brothers since his mother had to work to support them. What makes the story so interesting is the child’ imagination, he spent the whole daydreaming and imagining things in their backyard where he had his precious tree. I do not remember the story very well but I remember enjoying lot reading it, I did not feel that it was a assignment, I think it was the first time that something like that happened to me because I do not like reading very much.
The story is based on the author’ life as a child his family was very poor during his childhood what makes him wander in the streets everyday and meet different kinds of people. The book is meant to relate these experiences, what I think it makes this a wonderful book. You can compare what was his life like with many children who have to suffer the same hardships. Even though this child has to grow up faster than others do he preservers his innocence and imagination characteristic of a child.

Entry Number 13

The most memorable summer

When I was nine years old I traveled to Mar del Plata, it was the first and the only time that I saw the sea. That summer my parents had decided to send me and my sister to summer camp, the unusual thing was that we had to travel to Buenos Aires without them, accompanied by a lot of strange kids who were from different provinces. We stayed there for two weeks, during that time I had to learn to do many things on my own. I even did not know how to comb my hair so I used it lose, I did not know how to wash my clothes but I did my best.
The morning started with the sound of a trumpet we used to sleep in a tent with all the girls and in another, one slept the boys. We had few minutes to wash our faces and prepare for breakfast. It was as if we were in the army but it was fun. We used to play different games and go to the pool; the thing that I found more entertaining was going to the beach. In order to get there we had to cross a wheat field, which was enormous, it was very difficult for me to look over it. I remember the first time that I heard the sound of the sea I could not compare it with any other sound that I new.
That summer not only did I enjoy a lot but also I learnt how to take care of me I think I grew up that summer. I did not had the chance to do a trip like that anymore but I think that now that I am older I will miss my family more than I did that time.

Entry Number12

Religious people

Although I used it as the title, I think it is a subject that I would never write about because it is very complicated to discuss about. To start with, I assisted to a catholic school during five years and the impression that I had from the nuns of that particular congregation is very far from the one that I expect from a religious person. I know that religion has to do with more than with only people but they are the image of religion and if you do not feel well around them, it will be hard for you to get interested in learning to be a good Christian or a follower of any religion.
Particularly here in Argentina religious people were involved in crimes, as well as in other countries, but I do not want to go deeper into this matter because I am not well informed about that. However, it is very evident that they are still normal people under the uniform. They can make mistakes as we do, but the problem is that everybody constantly watches them. The fact that they should be some kind of example is carries a great problem because people believe in them and think that they are unable to do harm. This brings consequently that almost every time they end up unscathed after a scandal. It is hard to talk about people that are the representatives of god on earth but it is a reality that we must face everyday and accept that no one is perfect.

Entry Number11

Astrology a lie to make us feel safer?

Every time that I read my horoscope, I realize that it does not match at all with what I am going though. Many people rely on it in order to do things they are not sure about, for example starting a new job, or a new relationship. Would not it be easier to do first what your heart tells you to do and not trust in some lie that someone creates? I think that people do this because they do not want to take the blame on their acts if they do not go as expected.
In some occasions, I had read a description of my personality according to my zodiac and it was like he or she talking about someone very different from me. To start my personality was that of a very brave and talkative person although I have never been like that what is more I have always received comments on how shy I am. In addition, they dare to talk about the profession you should have, but what you should do if you have chosen something that is not even close to that of what your horoscope tells you?
I am not saying that there must be something close to what you are regarding your personality but I think that no one can tell you what you should be doing or dating. I believe that you create your own destiny, so any prediction can become true if you want to, but at the end, you are the one who takes the final decision on what to do with your life.

Entry Number 10

When you are a child, it is easier to believe

When I was a child, I used to believe in different things for example the Three Wise Men. I remember placing a plate with water and another one with grass in front of my door for the camels to drink. Another custom that we had was that of polishing our best pair of shoes the night before and place them near the Christmas tree. These things were made in order to wait for the Three Wise Men, for them to know that there were kids in that house. The night of the January 5th was so special that it was very difficult to sleep until daylight. I remember that no matter how hard we tried we could not remain awake to see those magical men. Such was the excitement that we remained awake until late hours in the night waiting to hear some noise that can tell us that they had arrived but we were so tired from the day before that it was impossible. I do not remember how exactly happened but one day I new that the Three Wise Men were actually my parents. Maybe when I grew older and my siblings were still little children and was difficult to keep lying to all of us. I was told the truth very slowly in order not to disturb my mind or my brother’s; I think in that way was easier for me. Now when I think about that I only remember the excitement and the happiness that provoked on me the sensation of being visited by people who appear magically only one night and brought me presents.

Entry Number 9

Rainy Days

A rainy day is very special the different sensations that it creates are wonderful and it has no comparison with other thing. At summertime the rain is better since almost everyone are storms and generally, last a short time, but after the storm there is something rare in the air. It is almost as magic because you feel that it is easier to breath, the air is changed it is more pure and healthier. When it is raining and you are already in bed the sound of rain helps you to relax, it has like a soothing effect.
What I like most of rainy days is to walk under it and feel the water that is falling from the sky and in a way is refreshing you during summer. On the other hand, during winter it is very romantic to walk with someone else under the rain. What is more you have an excuse for staying in and enjoying the time with someone special.
Rain has the power to transport you to other times; you can feel that you are place that you have been before and it was raining and you can instantaneously travel to that same place by relating the smells of rain.

Entry Number 8

My pets


Since I was a child, we were surrounded by dogs. The first one was called Colita, he belonged to my biggest sister and I had another called Carozo. Both of them were small and had short brown hair. One day we hared the dogs barking outside, when we got out we realized that the dogs wanted to catch a lost cat. This cat suddenly entered into my house in order to avoid the dogs. We adopted the cat called it Fito, from that day I started loving cats.
As years passed, we had different kinds of pets, among them a rabbit, chickens, and a bird that lived with us until it was ten years old. Nevertheless, my favorite pet was my cat, she had white hair and I called her Janis after, after a singer called Janis Joplin.
I did not have my cat for a long time, However she had three babies( Fiona, Frida and Ernesto), which Still live with me, and remind me of her mother. I have always preferred my cat Fiona because she was by my side all the time, but one day my mother was taking her to the vet and she got lost. We spend a lot of time looking for her but after a while, we lost hope and stopped the search. The only things that I have from her are her photographs and her mother’s. It is not the same without her , although I still have three cats and I love them too. Two of them are nine years old already and I hope I have them for many years more.

Entry Number 7

Keeping Your Thoughts Out of the Spotlight
I am all for expressing yourself in a journal, but I personally don’t feel it should be shared with the world. Blogs are a way of exposing to people that you would never have the chance to see,you must be aware of this fact. Even if you do not write about something personal is your way of thinking that is in the blog for everyone to see.
The fact that you can receive comments on what you write is anothing, maybe if you keep a journal in a notebook only you have acceess to those words. I truly think that is a kind of violation to your privacy. On the other hand, if you keep a blog you can not avoid writng freely and revealing things that you may not want to share.
You will have to learn through the process writing to save your intimate thoughts
Anyway, these are just some thoughts I have because we have to keep a journal for a class. This is something new for me since I have never keep one before.

Life sentence: how is reshaping the U.S.

READING REPORT 30


Source: http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/09/24/america/24life-globe.php
Date of publication: September 24,2007


Vocabulary: 1- Mandatory: required or obligatory.
2- Cleave: to split, divide.
3- Slash: to reduce drastically.
4- Hearing: an opportunity to be heard.
5- Momentum: impetus.
6- Hard-core: stubbornly resistant to change.
7- Blotch: a spot or blot; splotch.
8- Stark: complete or utter, extreme.
9- Ponder: to reflect on, meditate.
10- Expunge: to erase or strike out.


Main Ideas: - Some social scientists are saying that prison have a far deeper impact on the nation than simply punishing criminals.
- Sociologists see prison as mirrors of the social and economic differences that split American life.
- Men that get out from prison find it difficult to get a job or a good salary and even a wife. The penal system produces inequality especially for black men.
- The growing of the black prison population is eroding African-Americans’ confidence in the rule of law.
- The penal system was a marginal topic but now respected scholars are interested on the problem.
- The number of prisoners in America is greater than it is in Europe.
- Poverty is another consequence of imprisonment.
- In a experiment two ex prisoners one black and the other white were sent to find a job both with a similar résumé, the black man had more difficulties on finding a job.


Personal reaction: It seems contradictory that a man is sent to prison in order to be redeemed and when he has paid his debt to society finds it very hard to get a job. The system is wrong because it does not provide the correct tools for those people who are sent to the streets. Tools mean education or same kind of instruction to do a particular activity. Men realized from prison usually come back and commit the same or a worse crime, this happens because society excludes a man that has been in prison. This also brings difficulties to the maintenance of the ex convict family. Sometimes it is like the real sentence starts after they leave prison society forget that they need a new opportunity in order to make a progress.

READING REPORT 29

Bipolar disorder cases rise sharply in U.S. children.
Source: http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/09/03/asia/health.php
Date of publication: September 3,2007


Vocabulary: 1- Fold: a line, layer, pleat, or crease formed by folding.
2- Swing: to move or cause to move back and forth.
3- Catch-all: intended to include all situations or possibilities.
4- Label: a descriptive term, epithet.
5- Boon: something that is very useful and makes your life a lot easier.
6- Bubble: to form or give off bubbles.
7- Tailor: to make or adapt for a particular purpose.
8- Full-blown: fully developed or mature.
9- Disorder: an illness which prevents part of your body from working properly.
10- Outburst: a sudden violent display, as of activity or emotion.

Main Ideas: -The number of American children and adolescents treated for bipolar disorder has increased a lot since 1994.
- Some psychiatrists think that bipolar disorder not often noticed and now youngsters are more aware of this disease and can receive the appropriate treatment. Others think that this term is being used to include every change of mood and behavior of children.
- Doctors are not sure about the diagnosis in children and whether they will grow up with the illness.
- Children do not present features like mania; as adults do kids tend to become depressed.
- To improve the treatment for children with this disease doctors must be accurate with the diagnosis.
- Most patients are boys and some suffer from other kind mental difficulties such as attention- deficit disorder.
- The treatments given to these children include antipsychotic drugs, antidepressants and stimulant were also common, and some received psychotherapy.
- The regimens are being generalized for children and adults.

Personal Reaction: The problem with children has its roots at home; parents leave them alone more than in other times. Kids do not have the attention of their parents any more they are left with nannies or in front of the TV. Some mental disorders like depression and attention-deficit disorder maybe is related to the lack of adult’s attention. It is true that many children are born with some kind of mental problem but the fact the number increased in the last year must have other factors involved. Society is a great influence nowadays children are accustomed to see things that affect their way of thinking and feeling. For instance they have act as adults before they are ready and this can create a disturbance in their behavior.

READING REPORT 28


A company will monitor phone calls and devise ads to suit.
Source: http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/09/24/business/24adcol.php
Date of publication: September 24,2007


Vocabulary: 1- Toll: a charge for a service, such as a long-distance telephone call.
2- Trade-off: an exchange in which something desirable, as a benefit or advantage, is given up for another regarded as more desirable.
3- Doodle: to scribble aimlessly, especially when preoccupied.
4- Log: to enter into a computer the command to begin a session.
5- Wary: prudent, cautious.
6- Broadband: of or having a wide band of electromagnetic frequencies
7- Filter: To remove by passing through a filter.
8- Profanity: obscene or irreverent language.
9- Intelligence: the work of gathering secret information, espionage.
10- Start-up: are connected with beginning and developing a new business.

Main Ideas: - As Google scan their e-mail users’ in-boxes to deliver ads related to those messages a company is trying to do the same with phone conversations.
- The company will eavesdrop conversations in order to display ads on the screen that are related to the conversation.
- The way of receiving those ads will be by e-mail or on a person’s cell phone screen.
- This method is on the limit of the violation of privacy.
- For advertising companies this new technology is a great advantage but they are aware that they are getting more intrusive.
- The company will only use current phone calls and will not keep a record on old ones.
- The focus is put on young people who supposed to be less concerned with maintaining privacy.
- To be more accurate the company is interested on the age, sex native language of the users.
- The company’s software filters out explicit words in determining which ads to select.


Personal Reaction: The passing of time is bringing new technology, which is applied in every field of society. We can see this example of how technology is used to advertise through phone calls, which was previously done with e-mails. The negative point about this is that in order to be more accurate about the ads that they are sending the companies plan to eavesdrop private conversations. In this way, they will listen intimate subjects or anything that we are talking about. This kind of device is an option for users but maybe someday we wont have the chance of choosing to allow someone listening our conversations. E-mails are a proof that we can lose our right of privacy since anyone can have access to what we are sending and receiving.

READING REPORT 27


School cheating scandal divides New Hampshire community
Source: http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/09/19/america/19cheating.php
Date of publication: September 19,2007

Vocabulary: 1- Loom: to appear eminent and usually threatening.
2- Hatch: to devise or originate, especially in secret.
3- Acing: to triumph over; defeat.
4- Sentry: a guard, especially a soldier posted to prevent the passage of unauthorized persons.
5- Misdemeanor: an offense less serious than a felony.
6- Dub: to give a nickname.
7- Draconian: exceedingly harsh; very severe.
8- Lookout: one who keeps watch.
9- Relay: to pass or send along.
10- Allege: to assert to be true, usually without offering proof.

Main Ideas: - High school students from New Hampshire are expected to have good grades in order to be accepted in prestigious universities.
- The high expectations provoked that students steal exams from a teacher’s filing cabinet.
- The school authorities notified the police and they brought criminal charges against nine students.
- These accusations can bring as consequence the loss of a chance of attending college or securing employment.
- This case have divided the community in those who think the students are guilty and those who question the intense competitiveness that forces students to cheat.
- Parents are frighten because their 17 year- old sons made a mistake and for this they can face a prison sentence.

Personal Reaction: Nowadays students live under a great pressure not only from their parents but also from society. Teenagers must accomplish many things at the same time in order to keep their family happy and to get a position in society. The tension that this can bring takes students to do whatever to fulfill the wishes of other people. In the case of the kids from New Hampshire, who are expected to keep good grades, where pushed to do something that can cause to lose everything that they have achieved so far. This a situation we can see at every school not only in the United States but also here, teenagers are facing an age where they are very vulnerable and they tend to do what others said no matter the consequences.

DNA overturns a conviction, but prosecutors press for new trial

READING REPORT 26

Source: http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/09/06/america/06dna.php
Date of publication: September 6,2007

Vocabulary: 1- Bail: release from imprisonment obtained by bail.
2- Bondswoman: a woman bondservant.
3- Creek: a small stream, often a tributary to a river. Also called branch, brook.
4- Mild: not harsh, severe or strong; moderate.
5- Vigilante: one, especially a member of a group of volunteers, who without authority assumes law enforcement powers.
6- Chicanery: deception by trickery or sophistry.
7- Shield: to cover up, conceal.
8- Accessory: one who though absent aids or assist in the commission of a crime.
9- Makeshift: a temporary expedient or substitute.
10- Pending: while waiting for something, or until something happens.

Main Ideas: - Kennedy Brewer a man sentenced to death has been released after 15years, because a DNA test shows that the evidence found in the crime scene is not his.
- Prosecutors want to retry this man for the rape and murder of a 3year old girl, but they are not looking for the real killer.
- Prosecutors are not convinced of the innocence of Brewer, he is a black man partially retarded, who was the boyfriend of the child’s mother.
- The district attorney thinks now Brewer did not act alone, he helped in the killing of the girl that is what he said.
- This case is being retried in order to reverse the negative reputation of Mississippi.
- After the DNA results back in 2002 he was moved death row to the county jail, he stayed there for five years more because the district attorney is still seeking for the death penalty.
- The sheriff did not reopened the case since he says he had not received an official notification of the new evidence.


Personal Reaction: I think that cases like this have to be treated very carefully because the life of a person is in danger. The man that supposedly killed the little girl is as important as any other we do not have the right to decide over his or other life. Death penalty should not exist because we are doing exactly what a murderer did, life sentence is what they deserve and I think it is fair to take that person out of the streets. In this particular case the victim would have been two the girl and the convicted accused of murdering her. The DNA evidence came just in time to avoid that an innocent person was killed. Justice is not the same in all counties of US and things like killing and innocent man happen everyday and we are not aware of that fact.

Female circumcision focus of ferocious debate in Egipt

READING REPORT 25


Source: http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/09/19/africa/egypt.php
Date of publication: September 19,2007

Vocabulary: 1- Seethe: to be violently agitated
2- Outrage: an act of extreme violence and viciousness
3- Loophole: a means of evasion
4- Render: to submit or present
5- Contentious: quarrelsome
6- Botch: to ruin through clumsiness
7- Advocate: one that argues for a cause
8- Forefather: an ancestor
9- Inflate: to raise or expand abnormally or improperly
10- Swipe: a critical remark

Main ideas: - A big controversy was created after the death of a girl after going under female circumcision.
- The government has shut down a clinic to prevent this to happen again.
- What is more incredible is that men support this agent practice.
- Egyptian girls between ages of 7 and 13 are taken to have the procedure done sometimes by a doctor or whoever else would do it.
- A movement against this practice is becoming stronger since it is no longer considered a taboo to discuss it in public.
- Lately there has been a drop in urban areas along with villages but the government wants to take it down 20 percent nationwide.
- A supporter of the movement against female circumcision says that how you raise your daughter is the main factor in everything, not mutilating your daughter.
- She also says that it is a male society and they took parts of the Koran that helped men and ignored parts that helped women.

Personal Reaction: The debate that this subject brings to the population of Egypt is not familiar to the people who live in Occident. We do not have religious rules to follow as aggressive as they have. The fact that they have male society represents a disadvantage to women, because they do not have the right to protest against this kind of practices. Girls that have not mature yet are taken to a doctor to go under this procedure, so they are not able to decide for themselves yet, their parents are the ones that take that decision for them. It is such and traditional society that they can not change their rules from one day to the other, it will be a great challenge to transform the way they think.

Entry Number6

Entry number6:Video games can be a way to switch off our mind and let our imagination flow, because when you play you are in somebody else’s skin. It is easier to be someone you could never be in the real world. From this point of view, I think video gaming is a good therapy but is not difficult to go from playing once or twice a week, to spend most of the day in front of the screen. The addiction to a video game can cause the same damage that any other addiction. You can reach the point in which you no longer control your life and lose everything you care about. Therefore, it is safer to leave video games only for entertainment and not for escaping from your problems.

I do not enjoy playing video games but I recognize that they have a great influence on young people. They are usually criticized because they depict violent scenes but they can be used as a tool for learning something, since there are many educational video games. Many games are in English so you have to learn what the words mean in order to continue playing.
A comparison is made between rock and roll and video games because they are said to influence young people. This fact is not true because if you control what you do you wont do what something tells you to do. What is true is that video games will be with us for a long time and will become increasingly real.

Entry Number5

It is hard to believe how a person can even think on killing another person, and to do this several times is even harder to believe in. It is said that this kind of murderers are isolated from society and this could be the cause for their lack of pity towards others. Probably this is a main reason but there must be many others to take into consideration in order to understand what is going on in their minds. It is obvious that these shooters need mental treatment but it is very difficult to recognize a potential murder, I think they should be very clever and able to hide any sign of possible violent reactions. Maybe someday mass shootings will end but it is a difficult task since there is not a single cause to attribute this kind of behavior.

Entry Number 4

Entry Number 4:

I will like to write about the people who I admire, first my parents who always will be by my side not matter what. The fact that they advice when I need to take some decision is the most important thing, and I trust them more than I can trust in any other person. The only exception is my boyfriend who is also my best friend, I tell him whatever I am thinking and he will understand me since we have the same way of thinking. I do not know whether it is the fact that we been dating for a long time or it is because we are made for each other. I like to think that we will always be together but it is impossible to actually know that this will happen. Coming back to the people that I admire the most I have to include my younger sister who have a daughter, she took the decision of becoming a mother despite the fact that she was very young. For me it was the biggest decision of her life but she seems to be very happy with it, I think that if you admire someone you have to know the person because not always are as you see on TV or in magazines. For this reason I decide to admire the people that are close to me.

Entry Number 3

A friend that is no longer close to me I met Silvina at high school and we became friends we did not have much in common but we could understand each other. She lived far from my house and when we finished high school, we did not see each other so often. After a while, I stop visiting her and she did not visit me either, I got angry with her because I was the only one who did the visits. Maybe she did not care about my friendship or I do not know what to think since I do not speak to her anymore.
I remember that she was a girl who did not dare to experience new things, she was comfortable with her life and she did not want anything to change. Once my mother saw her at the supermarket and She told my mother that she will call me but she never did. Now I am almost sure that she did not want to be my friend I do not know why. It is difficult to think about her as a good friend but sometimes I miss her, although I do not believe I will see her again. On the other hand, I imagine that I will ignore her as she did with me.
Now have another friends and they are better and I can see that I am important to them. You know how things are going to end but I try not to think about it.

Entry Number2

MY OLD HOUSE


I used to live in a small neighborhood that was far from the city. We only stayed there until I was ten, and we moved to a new house closer to the city. At first, I missed a lot my former house but as years passed, I got accustomed to the place where I live and my new neighbors.
What I really want to write about is how I remember that place; the most memorable smell is that of wet ground in summer and the smell of lemon tree flowers on spring. The grass on the front yard felt like a cushion, it was very soft and you could lay on it. Me, my brother and sisters used to play there all day and on summer and a swimming pool was settled there.
This small house was near the mountains and you could see them and go there whenever you wanted. Before reaching the mountains, there was a river, which usually was dried, but when there was rain you could take a bath in it.
I loved that house and although I like the one where I live now I always remember how happy we were there. Sometimes I dream that we own the two houses and we come back to the old one and to have a great time as before. Maybe this happens because of the good memories I have or maybe because I wish I be a child again.

Entry Number1

Something About me

I may say that I have few friends but they are true friends and I can trust them for whatever I need. I am not saying I am an antisocial person but I do not trust easily on people, maybe this is also because I am a little shy.