BRIDGE OF SPIES-by Juan Luis Tejedor

Bridge of Spies

This is a film I've seen during this vacation and it is one of my favorites. It is a 2015 american film dircted by Steven Spielberg. The main character is Tom Hanks as James B. Donovan. This is a film set in the Cold War of the USA. Bridge of Spies tells a story based on a true events. Brooklyn lawyer James B. Donovan, who has no experience in this regard, has to take the defense of the Russian spy Rudolf Abel, who most people in the United States want to condemn him to death. 

Donovan, at first does not want to accept. Of course, the work is not easy because he must face people that begin to see him as a kind of traitor. However, he knows that everyone charged with a crime should be treated equally giving the same respect and the same rights. Then a US spy is caught by his counterpart, so also will touch him negotiate the exchange of prisoners. James B. Donovan has to go to East Berlin to negotiate the exchange of prisoners between Rudolf Abel and Francis Gary Powers, where after much hard work and effort he achieves the exchange.

NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS-by Carmen Mosquera

On January 1^st, many people write a list of intentions they want to maintain during the New Year.

However, most of these people give up during the first two weeks. 

Living up to your intentions is not a piece of cake but it's not impossible.

If you really want to fulfill your intentions follow these steps and you will get them!!

1)   Make a short list about the changes and improvements that will fulfill your purposes.

2)   If you make a mistake, learn about it and carry on!! 

3)   Be patient. Don’t hurry. Step by step you will see your improvement. 

4)   Tell someone your purpose because he or she can give you some advice and can support you. 

5)   Do physical activity. I know some people hate exercise but it  could be also to dance, walk, swim, etc. Doing an activity you  like, you won’t think about smoking and will help you feel heal-thier. 

6)   Keep a positive mindset.

If you follow these steps you will accomplish whatever you    want!!

Good luck!!

STEVE JOBS (THE MOVIE)-by Máximo Herreros

   STEVE JOBS                             

           (THE MOVIE)

Three weeks ago, the day before coming back of vacations I went to the cinema, to watch the last film about the creator of Apple.

I was hoping it to be like the other one of 2013, led by Ashton Kutcher, which I enjoyed a lot because of the short but accurate way to tell the story of the life of Steve Jobs, but this film wasn’t like that at all.

I understand, that the figure of Steve Jobs, his story, and his legacy have been told and explored many times by many persons, but sometimes, somethings are unnecessary, and this movie was one of those.

The film is focused on three “key moments” in the career of Steve in the technology world: The presentation of the Macintosh in 1984, the presentation of the NeXTcube in 1988, and the presentation of the iPod in 2001.

The film does not even tell you who Steve is, and how he became one of the most important persons in the world of technology, it just begins in the moment of the presentation of the Macintosh (without talking about the 8 years before, in which Apple became a reference for the company).

The image of Steve that the movie shows, is a man who hates everyone, even his daughter, and only cares about an almost impossible perfection in the design of his products. If you don’t know a lot of Steve Jobs, don’t watch this movie; you will probably get confused.

And the actor didn't look at all like Steve Jobs

CHARITY CARMEN PARDO-VALCARDE-by Eugenia Rodríguez

Charity Carmen Pardo-Valcarde

“We believe that the world will be a better place when more people take part in it”

I’m going to talk about a charity that some friends and I were volunteers this summer.

It's located outside of Madrid, to be exactly in Montecarmelo.

The origins go back to 1948, when Carmen Pardo-Valcarce paid heed to the petitions of individuals stricken with leprosy, who were living in the Trillo Leper Colony in Guadalajara. They asked her to help their children grow up and be educated in a leprosy-free environment.

The mission of this foundation is to work for the rights of people with intellectual disabilities so that they can participate in our society.

What we did was help these people with disabilities doing the job that their bosses (so to call them) ordered them to do. Then we stayed some time with them talking and getting to know some things about each one. We were there from ten o´clock in the morning until one o´clock in the afternoon. We were helping in a studio called “Candy workshop” which objective is to make different types of sweets. Their work has been rewarded with clients such as El Corte Inglés and Vips group.

For us it was an incredible experience so we could see how life is for some people with dissabilities and spend time with them. They are always very happy and they make you to feel comfortable.

This shows us that we have to be grateful about all thing we have.

I need to say thanks for this foundation because they helped me to see things in a different way and appreciate all I have.

CHOCOLATE MUFFIN RECIPE-by Sofía Casado

Chocolate Muffins Recipe:

This recipe is to make only 12 servings.

Ingredients:

¾ cup of good quality cocoa

1 teaspoon baking powder

¾ cup butter or ¾ cup margarine

½ cup boiling water

1 tablespoon vanilla

1 ¼ cups of sugar

2 eggs

1 1/3 cups of flour

¼ teaspoon salt

½ cup of mini chocolate chips

DIRECTIONS

                                   Set oven to 350°F.

                                   1.Line 12 muffin tins with paper liners.

                                   2.In a medium bowl combine cocoa and baking powder; mix to combine.

                                   3.Add in boiling water; mix well with a wooden spoon to combine.

                                   4.Add in the melted butter and vanilla; mix well.

                                   5.Add in the sugar, mix well with a wooden spoon.

                                   6.Stir in eggs with a wooden spoon; mix until combined.

                                   7.Mix the flour with salt; add in the chocolate mixture; mix well to combine (batter will be a bit on the thin side).

                        8.Add/mix in mini chocolate chips

9. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until muffins are done.

IN 2016 I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO...-by María Lope

IN 2016 I’M LOOKING FORDWARD TO…

I’m looking forward to the summer of 2016. Why? Although I have not made the final planning of my summer vacations, I’m sure that I’m going to have fun, I will not have to study or do homework, I won’t have to wake up early to go to school,… It sounds great!

In July I will go somewhere to improve my English: an English Summer Camp in Spain, or a visit to an English speaking country. Last summer experience in an English Summer Campp was great, so I may repeat it this next summer.

At the end of July, I will visit a city in some European country with my family. The city to visit has not been decided, although it has been narrowed down to Prague or Paris.

On August 1st I will travel to Baqueira with my family. We spend a couple of weeks in the Pyrenees, as we have done since I was eight years old.  There I have some friends, and we go to the swimming pool, to excursions…

And finally, by mid August I go to the beach with my family: Las Canteras, a nice beach in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. We’ll be there for about a week.

I don’t know if my summer finally goes like that, but at the moment these are the tempting plans, and I’m really looking forward to it.

THE BAD USE OF SOCIAL NETWORKS-by Andrea Ruiz

The bad use of the social networks

 With the passing of time, social networks began to be used not only in the right way, they also have been used to cause harm to others. In the present, these spaces are used to hurt. It is called Cyberbullying.

In the United States and other countries, there have been many cases of victims who have suffered terrible damage, even driving them to suicide.

The speed of information and speed of running rumors in social networks are just some of the positive and negative aspects of social networks.

 POSITIVE THINGS

1. SPEED OF INFORMATION: In many occasions we hear the big news of the day from social networks instead of the media.

2. SIMPLICITY FOR PEOPLE TO CONTACT:  Thanks to social networks we can connect with people from other countries without having to move from our homes.

NEGATIVE THINGS

1. We share intimate and very personal information with thousands of strangers.

2. RUMORS: Speed with whichrumors extend  that are not true. Also false myths, urban legends, invented stories, manipulated photos...