It's been too long since there were any general interest discussions on this blog. So here's a link to another story in... well, read it and see. And leave a comment, if you are moved to do so!
Yellow Lizards Not Created by God
Also on 'The Link'.
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Saturday, November 29, 2008
Friday, November 21, 2008
US Election and TV
Thinking about the recent election in the USA and Obamamania . . . more later. So for now . . .
Television and the world
Have you ever noticed the great majority of news you see on TV nowadays is about some kind of misfortune that happened in the world? And have you ever stopped for a while and realized that we really just don’t care about them anymore?
Think about it. There you are, sitting on your couch, as right in front of you a spectacle of death and war repeats it self everyday. And I’m not saying you shouldn’t be aware of what happens in the world, or that it is your fault that TV networks lack the minimum respect for the suffering of people and display it on prime-time just for the good of ratings.
On the other hand, I do think that we’ve grown to be so accustomed to this, that we no longer think about if it is a family who died in a car accident or 1000 lives that perished due to war in one month. We are talking about human lives, even if, to our own eyes, it’s just one more number.
As far as I’m concerned, I believe we should just retrieve ourselves from this state of unconsciousness and realize the demeaning reality we are surrounded by must be changed.
For if a picture can have such a powerful and intense impact, let us use it to create awareness and not to explore the pain of others.
Television and the world
Have you ever noticed the great majority of news you see on TV nowadays is about some kind of misfortune that happened in the world? And have you ever stopped for a while and realized that we really just don’t care about them anymore?
Think about it. There you are, sitting on your couch, as right in front of you a spectacle of death and war repeats it self everyday. And I’m not saying you shouldn’t be aware of what happens in the world, or that it is your fault that TV networks lack the minimum respect for the suffering of people and display it on prime-time just for the good of ratings.
On the other hand, I do think that we’ve grown to be so accustomed to this, that we no longer think about if it is a family who died in a car accident or 1000 lives that perished due to war in one month. We are talking about human lives, even if, to our own eyes, it’s just one more number.
As far as I’m concerned, I believe we should just retrieve ourselves from this state of unconsciousness and realize the demeaning reality we are surrounded by must be changed.
For if a picture can have such a powerful and intense impact, let us use it to create awareness and not to explore the pain of others.
Tuesday, November 04, 2008
Blindness
Hi!
I'm Raquel and I would like to post about the new movie from Fernando Meirelles - Blindness, which is going to be released in Portugal next Thursday.
Based on José Saramagos's novel written in 1995, the movie's plot is about an epidemic "white blindness" that strikes almost everyone in town. As people start to lose their ability to see, they're quarentined in an abandoned mental hospital. A doctor's wife, who wasn't affected by the blindness, doesn´t want to be separated from her husband. Therefore she decides to lie, saying that she has lost her sight and is also sent to the hospital. Being the only person with the ability to see, she witnesses her surrouding community crumble.
I read the book about eight years ago and I can still remember the characters because of the intensity of the story and the personal drama. The book kept me thinking about, when put in certain circumnstances, man's animal condition becomes dominant.
If you still haven´t read the book I strongly advise you to because it is an excellent story that catches your attencion from the first page.
I'm Raquel and I would like to post about the new movie from Fernando Meirelles - Blindness, which is going to be released in Portugal next Thursday.
Based on José Saramagos's novel written in 1995, the movie's plot is about an epidemic "white blindness" that strikes almost everyone in town. As people start to lose their ability to see, they're quarentined in an abandoned mental hospital. A doctor's wife, who wasn't affected by the blindness, doesn´t want to be separated from her husband. Therefore she decides to lie, saying that she has lost her sight and is also sent to the hospital. Being the only person with the ability to see, she witnesses her surrouding community crumble.
I read the book about eight years ago and I can still remember the characters because of the intensity of the story and the personal drama. The book kept me thinking about, when put in certain circumnstances, man's animal condition becomes dominant.
If you still haven´t read the book I strongly advise you to because it is an excellent story that catches your attencion from the first page.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Music
Hoping that some will start reading this blog on a constant basis, I thought of a topic that was appreciated by everyone and so that you could get to know me, as the saying goes “tell me what you hear and I will tell what you are”.
I hear all kinds of music, from classical to metal, however, I must admit that hardcore metal is not part of the list. Depending on my mood I can hear Beethoven, The Beatles, Madonna, Guns’n’Roses, Metallica, etc… Hearing a wide range of styles is the way to truly appreciate music. It shows that you’re open-minded, and that’s good . . .
You could say I like inspiring music, music that has feeling in it, music that makes you feel something, that’s why I must confess I’m quite disappointed with nowadays' radio stations. Every time I turn my radio on, I can only hear the same kind of shallow, repetitive dance music, the same background beat with only a few changes on the main voice. I always find myself changing to M80, a station that plays music from the 1970’s, 80’s and 90’s.
So, do as I do, hear everything, even if you think you won’t like it, give it a chance, try to be open minded, I promise you won’t regret it.
I hear all kinds of music, from classical to metal, however, I must admit that hardcore metal is not part of the list. Depending on my mood I can hear Beethoven, The Beatles, Madonna, Guns’n’Roses, Metallica, etc… Hearing a wide range of styles is the way to truly appreciate music. It shows that you’re open-minded, and that’s good . . .
You could say I like inspiring music, music that has feeling in it, music that makes you feel something, that’s why I must confess I’m quite disappointed with nowadays' radio stations. Every time I turn my radio on, I can only hear the same kind of shallow, repetitive dance music, the same background beat with only a few changes on the main voice. I always find myself changing to M80, a station that plays music from the 1970’s, 80’s and 90’s.
So, do as I do, hear everything, even if you think you won’t like it, give it a chance, try to be open minded, I promise you won’t regret it.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Hello
I’m just your normal Portuguese student who enjoys writing about whatever pops in my head.
I’m not really sure about what to write but I will try not to be boring.
Working with emotional intelligence
You see it everywhere: the kid crying in the toy shop so that his parents will buy him the ultimate wonder toy; the elderly woman that tells her sons how lonely she's been feeling; the boss who gives his employees new projects that will guarantee them "successful careers".
Apart from being an exquisite art, emotional intelligence is a dangerous weapon. Those who know its tricks can easily manipulate whoever steps in their way. That doesn't necessarily mean they will do so, of course, for it is commonly used to get simple things that improve our well being.
But isn't history full of leaders that have changed people's minds and get them to support their ideology? We compliment others, make people like us, influence them, and finally, get what we want.
Nowadays the biggest war we are facing is the psychological war.
nuno
I’m not really sure about what to write but I will try not to be boring.
Working with emotional intelligence
You see it everywhere: the kid crying in the toy shop so that his parents will buy him the ultimate wonder toy; the elderly woman that tells her sons how lonely she's been feeling; the boss who gives his employees new projects that will guarantee them "successful careers".
Apart from being an exquisite art, emotional intelligence is a dangerous weapon. Those who know its tricks can easily manipulate whoever steps in their way. That doesn't necessarily mean they will do so, of course, for it is commonly used to get simple things that improve our well being.
But isn't history full of leaders that have changed people's minds and get them to support their ideology? We compliment others, make people like us, influence them, and finally, get what we want.
Nowadays the biggest war we are facing is the psychological war.
nuno
Wednesday, October 01, 2008
Welcome and welcome back!
Welcome and welcome back! This is the place for YOUR posts and comments, along with the shiny new forum, 'The Link' which will link Proficiency students in Porto with students in Coimbra, and, hopefully, beyond.
See 'StudentZone' for further details.
Mark
See 'StudentZone' for further details.
Mark
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