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Thursday, February 22, 2007
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
Tiny miracle baby
Amilia, the world's smallest premature baby has survived and is now ready to go home. She was born the length of a pen and doctors didn't expected her to survive. No baby born before 23 weeks has survived and Amilia was born at 21. She only weighed 280g.
Technology is now creating new standards!
Technology is now creating new standards!
Madness or publicity stunt?
Britney has gone bald. Maybe madness or a cry for help?
Judge for yourselves...In any case, bald men are thanking her putting shaven heads back into fashion (hihihihi)
Judge for yourselves...In any case, bald men are thanking her putting shaven heads back into fashion (hihihihi)
The dolphin with a broken heart
Times Online has this news which stroke me a lot. Read:
When the young dolphin was rescued from the Adriatic Sea, distressed and bruised, she was nurtured back to health by a dedicated trainer who took responsibility for her care.
Now the trainer is dead, the victim of a frenzied attack by her neighbour — and the dolphin, apparently, is dying of a broken heart.
The extraordinary story of love emerged yesterday as keepers at the Oltremare water park in Riccione appealed for international help to save the life of their dolphin.
When the young dolphin was rescued from the Adriatic Sea, distressed and bruised, she was nurtured back to health by a dedicated trainer who took responsibility for her care.Now the trainer is dead, the victim of a frenzied attack by her neighbour — and the dolphin, apparently, is dying of a broken heart.
The extraordinary story of love emerged yesterday as keepers at the Oltremare water park in Riccione appealed for international help to save the life of their dolphin.
The dolphin's name is Mary G. and since her trainer's is dead, is refusing to eat. This can only restate the fact that animals do have feelings and emotions, maybe in primary states, but they do feel sadness or anger.
Friday, February 16, 2007
Los animales de dos en dos
This is everyone's favourite ad recently.
There´s the English version, longer, but the translation into Spanish is nicer...
Everyone is sorry for the litte piggy left behind.
This is 'Johnny, I hardly knew ya' music version transformed into a nursery rhyme that goes more or less like this:
The animals went in two by two, hurrah! hurrah!
The animals went in two by two, hurrah! hurrah!
The animals went in two by two, the elephant and the kangaroo
And they all went into the ark, for to get out of the rain.
Girl you know it's.......true
Do you remember Milli Vanilli?Yes?
They're back!
No, not singing (sorry, miming) but their story of fraud and embarracement.
Milli Vanilli, like so much of life in the 21st century, were all about the packaging - two long-haired, buff-chested guys who looked great on stage and on album covers and effectively acted as a front for a musical operation organised almost entirely without them. Fabrice Morvan and Rob Pilatus, the two hunks in question, were the creation of a record producer called Frank Farian, who first hired them in Europe and then brought them to the United States as their careers started taking off.
The lives of Morvan and Pilatus did not go smoothly after they were exposed. Pilatus became addicted to drugs and carried out a series of robberies, earning himself a three-month prison sentence at one stage. He died of a drug overdose in 1998, just as the pair were getting ready to release a comeback album featuring their real voices for once.
Morvan, meanwhile, has persisted on and off with his musical career. Despite taking numerous voice lessons, however, he has never proved to be a winner, commercially or critically. He has had to work as a Los Angeles radio disc jockey and as a participant in a Fox television reality show called Celebrity Boot Camp.
Morvan, meanwhile, has persisted on and off with his musical career. Despite taking numerous voice lessons, however, he has never proved to be a winner, commercially or critically. He has had to work as a Los Angeles radio disc jockey and as a participant in a Fox television reality show called Celebrity Boot Camp.
They were simply pawns of an unscrupulous music industry... The film will apparentely be based on their version of the infamous events.
Medina Mayrit
Medina Mayrit was the name Madrid had between the 8th and 12th centuries. Muslims, Jews and Christians all shared this city.
This is also the name of a relaxing place we found out while killing time to go to the movies and see Little Children, which we loved.
This place is in the same building as this very appealing arab restaurant which was the one captivating our eyes. Paradise has a discreet entrance. We have to ring the bell to be allowed in and once inside you can tell you are going to love it. It has this air of secretism behind those doors. We got the panflet and promise to come back for a bath + massage. Oh yes!
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
Children
Our children are being neglected. That's the conclusion of a study by Unicef done in all industrialised nations. The authors say they used the most up-to-date information to assess "whether children feel loved, cherished, special and supported, within the family and community, and whether the family and community are being supported in this task by public policy and resources".
Notice UK and the USA... CHILD WELL-BEING TABLE
1. Netherlands
2. Sweden
3. Denmark
4. Finland
5. Spain
6. Switzerland
7. Norway
8. Italy
9. Republic of Ireland
10. Belgium
11. Germany
12. Canada
13. Greece
14. Poland
15. Czech Republic
16. France
17. Portugal
18. Austria
19. Hungary
20. United States
21. United Kingdom
Source: Unicef
REPORT CATEGORIES
Material well-being
Family and peer relationships
Health and safety
Behaviour and risks
Own sense of well-being [educational]
Own sense of well-being [subjective]
Valentine's
Is Valentine’s Day more about marketing or romance?Nowadays, more of the first, I’m afraid. In fact, this day was created for the business. Since there was a shopping gap between Xmas and Easter, it was needed to fill it in with something. And who can say no to LOVE?
Roses double fold their prices in these days; chocolates’ firms release special bonbon editions; massages are now the new trend (the couple is massaged simultaneously, in a very relaxed atmosphere – I almost had that experience, in China, with my friend Pedro. I say almost, because it wasn’t very relaxing, as the massage types we chose were a bit on the harsh side. The first half hour was a Japanese shiatsu kind of torture, as although we were fully dressed, the knots of the masseuse’s fingers still went through our skins, tendons and muscles leaving us in pain, for 28 mins out of 30. The second part of this experience comprised of extra hot stones right on our already pained backs. If it wasn’t for the masseuses’ audible burning pain in their hands, it could be semi relaxing. But the girls were picking up the extra hot black stones with their bare hands and they couldn’t hide their discomfort… And we felt we were being burnt all throughout. So much for the relaxation the brochure promised. We went out of there in a mix of relief and pain. That was my couple massage experience. Maybe not to repeat.)
In any case, Valentines is everyday, right?
PS – my horoscope promised I was going to receive good news today at work… I’m waiting!
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
Beatrix Potter
Just came back from the movies. This time everything went as normal, just noticed that 3 lonely guys were watching this film all by themselves...
THE TALE OF
PETER RABBIT
BY
BEATRIX POTTER
The film wasn't an action packed movie, it was Miss Potter. Quite sweet.
For the ones who don't know who Miss Potter is, look at the pic below, as it might give you a hint. Just a fact: she was the most selling author of children books.
THE TALE OF
PETER RABBIT
BY
BEATRIX POTTER
ONCE upon a time there were four little Rabbits, and their names were Flopsy, Mopsy, Cotton-tail, and Peter.
They lived with their Mother in a sand-bank, underneath the root of a very big fir-tree.
They lived with their Mother in a sand-bank, underneath the root of a very big fir-tree.
'Now, my dears,' said old Mrs. Rabbit one morning, 'you may go into the fields or down the lane, but don't go into Mr. McGregor's garden: your Father had an accident there; he was put in a pie by Mrs. McGregor.'
'Now run along, and don't get into mischief. I am going out.'
Then old Mrs. Rabbit took a basket and her umbrella, and went through the wood to the baker's. She bought a loaf of brown bread and five currant buns.
Flopsy, Mopsy, and Cotton-tail, who were good little bunnies, went down the lane to gather blackberries:
Flopsy, Mopsy, and Cotton-tail, who were good little bunnies, went down the lane to gather blackberries:
But Peter, who was very naughty, ran straight to Mr. McGregor's garden, and squeezed under the gate!First he ate some lettuces and some French beans; and then he ate some radishes;
And then, feeling rather sick, he went to look for some parsley.But round the end of a cucumber frame, whom should he meet but Mr. McGregor!Mr. McGregor was on his hands and knees planting out young cabbages, but he jumped up and ran after Peter, waving a rake and calling out, 'Stop thief!'Peter was most dreadfully frightened; he rushed all over the garden, for he had forgotten the way back to the gate.
He lost one of his shoes among the cabbages, and the other shoe amongst the potatoes.
After losing them, he ran on four legs and went faster, so that I think he might have got away altogether if he had not unfortunately run into a gooseberry net, and got caught by the large buttons on his jacket. It was a blue jacket with brass buttons, quite new.
Peter gave himself up for lost, and shed big tears; but his sobs were overheard by some friendly sparrows, who flew to him in great excitement, and implored him to exert himself.Mr. McGregor came up with a sieve, which he intended to pop upon the top of Peter; but Peter wriggled out just in time, leaving his jacket behind him. And rushed into the tool-shed, and jumped into a can. It would have been a beautiful thing to hide in, if it had not so much water in it.
Mr. McGregor was quite sure that Peter was somewhere in the tool-shed, perhaps hidden underneath a flower-pot. He began to turn them over carefully, looking under each.
Presently Peter sneezed - 'Kertyschoo!' Mr. McGregor was after him in no time. And tried to put a foot upon Peter, who jumped out of a window, upsetting three plants. The window was too small for Mr. McGregor, and he was tired of running after Peter. He went back to his work.
Peter sat down to rest; he was out of breath and trembling with fright, and he had not the least idea which way to go. Also he was very damp with sitting in that can.
After a time he began to wander about, going lippity - lippity - not very fast, and looking all around. He found a door in a wall; but it was locked, and there was no room for a fat little rabbit to squeeze underneath. An old mouse was running in and out over the stone doorstep, carrying peas and beans to her family in the wood. Peter asked her the way to the gate, but she had such a large pea in her mouth that she could not answer. She only shook her head at him. Peter began to cry.
And then, feeling rather sick, he went to look for some parsley.But round the end of a cucumber frame, whom should he meet but Mr. McGregor!Mr. McGregor was on his hands and knees planting out young cabbages, but he jumped up and ran after Peter, waving a rake and calling out, 'Stop thief!'Peter was most dreadfully frightened; he rushed all over the garden, for he had forgotten the way back to the gate.
He lost one of his shoes among the cabbages, and the other shoe amongst the potatoes.
After losing them, he ran on four legs and went faster, so that I think he might have got away altogether if he had not unfortunately run into a gooseberry net, and got caught by the large buttons on his jacket. It was a blue jacket with brass buttons, quite new.
Peter gave himself up for lost, and shed big tears; but his sobs were overheard by some friendly sparrows, who flew to him in great excitement, and implored him to exert himself.Mr. McGregor came up with a sieve, which he intended to pop upon the top of Peter; but Peter wriggled out just in time, leaving his jacket behind him. And rushed into the tool-shed, and jumped into a can. It would have been a beautiful thing to hide in, if it had not so much water in it.
Mr. McGregor was quite sure that Peter was somewhere in the tool-shed, perhaps hidden underneath a flower-pot. He began to turn them over carefully, looking under each.
Presently Peter sneezed - 'Kertyschoo!' Mr. McGregor was after him in no time. And tried to put a foot upon Peter, who jumped out of a window, upsetting three plants. The window was too small for Mr. McGregor, and he was tired of running after Peter. He went back to his work.
Peter sat down to rest; he was out of breath and trembling with fright, and he had not the least idea which way to go. Also he was very damp with sitting in that can.
After a time he began to wander about, going lippity - lippity - not very fast, and looking all around. He found a door in a wall; but it was locked, and there was no room for a fat little rabbit to squeeze underneath. An old mouse was running in and out over the stone doorstep, carrying peas and beans to her family in the wood. Peter asked her the way to the gate, but she had such a large pea in her mouth that she could not answer. She only shook her head at him. Peter began to cry.
Then he tried to find his way straight across the garden, but he became more and more puzzled. Presently, he came to a pond where Mr. McGregor filled his water-cans. A white cat was staring at some gold-fish, she sat very, very still, but now and then the tip of her tail twitched as if it were alive. Peter thought it best to go away without speaking to her; he had heard about cats from his cousin, little Benjamin Bunny.
He went back towards the tool-shed, but suddenly, quite close to him, he heard the noise of a hoe - scr-r-ritch, scratch, scratch, scritch. Peter scuttered underneath the bushes. But presently, as nothing happened, he came out, and climbed upon a wheel-barrow and peeped over. The first thing he saw was Mr. McGregor hoeing onions. His back was turned towards Peter, and beyond him was the gate!
Peter got down very quietly off the wheel-barrow, and started running as fast as he could go, along a straight walk behind some black-currant bushes.
Mr. McGregor caught sight of him at the corner but Peter did not care. He slipped underneath the gate, and was safe at last in the wood outside the garden.
Mr. McGregor hung up the little jacket and the shoes for a scare-crow to frighten the blackbirds.
Mr. McGregor caught sight of him at the corner but Peter did not care. He slipped underneath the gate, and was safe at last in the wood outside the garden.
Mr. McGregor hung up the little jacket and the shoes for a scare-crow to frighten the blackbirds.
Peter never stopped running or looked behind him till he got home to the big fir-tree.
He was so tired that he flopped down upon the nice soft sand on the floor of the rabbit-hole, and shut his eyes. His mother was busy cooking; she wondered what he had done with his clothes. It was the second little jacket and pair of shoes that Peter had lost in a fortnight.
He was so tired that he flopped down upon the nice soft sand on the floor of the rabbit-hole, and shut his eyes. His mother was busy cooking; she wondered what he had done with his clothes. It was the second little jacket and pair of shoes that Peter had lost in a fortnight.
I am sorry to say that Peter was not very well during the evening.
His mother put him to bed, and made some camomile tea; and she gave a dose of it to Peter!
'One tablespoon to be taken at bed-time.'
His mother put him to bed, and made some camomile tea; and she gave a dose of it to Peter!
'One tablespoon to be taken at bed-time.'
But Flopsy, Mopsy, and Cotton-tail had bread and milk and blackberries, for supper.
If you like these stories, check this site. These are beautiful classics, our children should listen and read them, as they are the cutest thing.
Monday, February 12, 2007
Babies and earthquakes
Yesterday was a key day for Portugal: for the second time round people had the chance to get involved directly in politics and have a say in the remaking of a law. Last time in 1998, people weren’t so interested, and the referendum participation was below the 50% needed for a legal ratification.
This current government also wanted to change that law and again it asked the people to vote and decide. The referendum was about a very delicate question for us, Portuguese, as we are, together with Ireland and Poland the most conservative in this field. I’m talking about legalising abortion.
Our law, the way it is written, only allows interruption of pregnancy in case of rape, malformation or danger for the mother’s health by solely decision of the medical class, and not the mother herself.
If the mother-to-be decides she wants to end her pregnancy, she has to do the abortion in an illegal backroom, usually with unsanitary conditions and paying around 1000€… Risking being found out and going to prison, as it is a crime, according to our law. Punished with up to 3 years sentence.
The referendum yesterday was posing the question if we agreed to change the law, by allowing women to voluntarily end up her pregnancy in a legal clinic, up to the 10 weeks of gestation.
In a very Catholic country but with plenty of available contraception – for free – this topic is very difficult to reach a consensus between the ‘pro-life’ and the ‘pro-freedom of choice’.
The law will pass, abortion will be legalised.
Today’s earthquake (5.8 in the Ritcher’s scale) was, according to some, a divine punishment for those who voted for the legalisation.
Who knows? J
This current government also wanted to change that law and again it asked the people to vote and decide. The referendum was about a very delicate question for us, Portuguese, as we are, together with Ireland and Poland the most conservative in this field. I’m talking about legalising abortion.
Our law, the way it is written, only allows interruption of pregnancy in case of rape, malformation or danger for the mother’s health by solely decision of the medical class, and not the mother herself.
If the mother-to-be decides she wants to end her pregnancy, she has to do the abortion in an illegal backroom, usually with unsanitary conditions and paying around 1000€… Risking being found out and going to prison, as it is a crime, according to our law. Punished with up to 3 years sentence.
The referendum yesterday was posing the question if we agreed to change the law, by allowing women to voluntarily end up her pregnancy in a legal clinic, up to the 10 weeks of gestation.
In a very Catholic country but with plenty of available contraception – for free – this topic is very difficult to reach a consensus between the ‘pro-life’ and the ‘pro-freedom of choice’.
The law will pass, abortion will be legalised.
Today’s earthquake (5.8 in the Ritcher’s scale) was, according to some, a divine punishment for those who voted for the legalisation.
Who knows? J
Friday, February 09, 2007
Ahhh, weekend!
WEEKEND!!!!
I'm getting to the gym right now and then it's officially lazy time! Hooray!
I'm getting to the gym right now and then it's officially lazy time! Hooray!
Many options to fill in these 2 days:
* cinema
* cooking nice warm food
* last sales quick tour
* drinking tea and cookies on the sofa
* looking for nice cute cars
Ahh, the joy of the weekends... Bless!
Thursday, February 08, 2007
Bug Alert
Look what my computer revealed to me today, the poor thing... That's what happens when you leave it all by itself for some time.
It obviously isn't interested in anything but sweets and attention. It's only fair I treat it to a little snack... (Is it my PC or me ;) ? )
Kisses
PS- found it in Ana's blog and you can find some more of this stuff here.
Monday, February 05, 2007
Saturday, February 03, 2007
Fundas and cinemas
Ok, Ikea out of the way...
This is my funda nórdica.
Also bought a bed cover.
And some sheets. And this is it in what bed clothes are concerned!
This is my funda nórdica.
Also bought a bed cover.
And some sheets. And this is it in what bed clothes are concerned!
Yesterday went with my sister to the movies to see the opening of The pursuit of happyness.
We loved the film, especially as it's based on a true story. Watch the trailers on the link.
But we went through a cool experience on the movie theather. It started as the lights went off around 8.15 (movie was starting at 8.20) and for around 10 mins we were all in the dark with no pictures on the screen. There was obviously a problem with the projector, and people kept turning themselves on their seats to look up there to the little window. In the meantime, there were no lights and the theather totally full of mainly foreigners (it was a Original Version movie). At some point one of the many mobile phone lights pointed at the screen and its ownwer started to move his hands . The shadows were projected and everyone giggled a bit. He saw there a good chance to stand out and the next shadow was a butterfly. We all laughed a bit more. The light went off and the next Chinese shadow he came up to (he had been practicing in the dark) was a dog eating and barking. At that one which was really good, besides laughing he also got applause from all of us. The next one was a rabbit, but we only laughed, the dog was the best!
Thursday, February 01, 2007
*Photos of 2006*
If you have a tiny bit of time to kill, go and have a look at this site » http://msnbc.msn.com/id/16094272 .
It's a compilation of the best pictures of all over the world events and it is very cool. Enjoy!
It's a compilation of the best pictures of all over the world events and it is very cool. Enjoy!
Lunch
Today we had a Lebanese lunch at work, as a colleague who is half Lebanese had his birthday turning 30 and offered us scrumptious food. Everybody in the office was eating pita bread and humus, and all the very nice things he brought. Recipes were exchanged as the majority loved the food. As for me, I was innundated with questions about my trip to Beirut and how much Lebanese food had I; which one was the favourite; what kind of meat is used, etc etc. It was a nice gesture and tomorrow he will be given a nice prezzie from all of us.
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