tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89228017666343368672024-03-21T16:35:40.426-07:00I see.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05156009516969747761noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8922801766634336867.post-56211866954055909462015-12-12T06:57:00.001-08:002015-12-12T06:57:32.608-08:00Elections in Saudi Arabia<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">In one
of my earlier posts, I have written about Saudi women. Today, I am glad to do
it once again because their political situation is going to change a lot. For
the first time, they are allowed to be not only voters, but also candidates in elections.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The local elections take
place today. There are “<span style="background: white;">more than 1,000 female
candidates in the running, compared with more than 6,000 men</span>” and “Some
100,000 women have registered to vote, meanwhile, compared with more than
400,000 men.</span>”<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="background: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The
women are excited and look forward to the elections. They want changes and
believe they are ready to them but on the other hand, they know the situation
in their country. Rather than radical transformations, they want respect and
tolerance for everyone. It is also interesting what they say about this
watershed moment: they reject western point of view, claiming they have their
own. Of course, it is a step towards gender equality but they want also to
stick to their rules. For example, one of the female candidates claims she
respects conservatives and in case of her victory, rather than force them to
change, she prefers a dialogue.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="background: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="background: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">All in
all, not many women are expected to win because they are not experienced. However,
it is a very significant moment in the history oef Saudi Arabia.</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="background: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="background: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">You can read more about the subject here:</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="background: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="background: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2015/12/historic-saudi-poll-step-gender-equality-151211184157351.html">http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2015/12/historic-saudi-poll-step-gender-equality-151211184157351.html</a></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/dec/12/saudi-women-go-to-polls-in-landmark-election">http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/dec/12/saudi-women-go-to-polls-in-landmark-election</a></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05156009516969747761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8922801766634336867.post-66465519815937627172015-11-23T14:31:00.003-08:002015-11-23T14:45:51.885-08:00It is not a post for or against refugees<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Have you heard
about <i>magdas</i> hotel? It is a unique
place which staff is composed of refugees from many different countries. However,
it is not a social assistance project, they are legal workers and they earn
normal salary.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvPYUf8OG2k6CSqIs2LPdkxE_3PorIjrxu69mup4bccGEW9MoILVmR5hJXf_RWE4IFA5TxITplKVq_CubXiIsmiG2tLYrM70XlDbOVqa18NFqGK58mUCvVc8o0gfMVXcFClzboCgob50g/s1600/magdas_hotel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvPYUf8OG2k6CSqIs2LPdkxE_3PorIjrxu69mup4bccGEW9MoILVmR5hJXf_RWE4IFA5TxITplKVq_CubXiIsmiG2tLYrM70XlDbOVqa18NFqGK58mUCvVc8o0gfMVXcFClzboCgob50g/s320/magdas_hotel.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a class="irc_hl irc_hol i3724" data-href="http://www.magdas-hotel.at/" data-noload="" data-ved="0ahUKEwju3oj0zqfJAhWEnnIKHVKFB7EQjB0IBg" href="https://www.google.pl/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwju3oj0zqfJAhWEnnIKHVKFB7EQjB0IBg&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.magdas-hotel.at%2F&psig=AFQjCNH6iiC31pu8kSXcMIl9ggzDywkB-Q&ust=1448404910657454" jsaction="mousedown:irc.rl;keydown:irc.rlk" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.2); background-color: #f1f1f1; color: #7d7d7d; cursor: pointer; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; text-align: start; text-decoration: none;"><span class="irc_ho" dir="ltr" style="margin-right: -2px; overflow: hidden; padding-right: 2px; text-overflow: ellipsis; unicode-bidi: -webkit-isolate;">www.magdas-hotel.at</span></a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Magdas</span></i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"> hotel is situated in Vienna in Austria. Its slogan is
“stay open-minded”. They employ refugees in order to give them chances for a
better life. Majid from Iraq, Dinnis from Guinea-Bissau, Maryam from Marocco –
they could find an asylum there and start a new, normal life. They are members
of persecuted religious minority or political refugees, they flee civil wars
and poverty. They can earn their living there by cleaning rooms and cooking
breakfast.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">The hotel is
located in an old building established in 1960s. It has been restored and
designed by architecture firm with the help of Caritas and now it looks very
modern, minimalistic and elegant. No surprise, then, that it attracts guests. All
the more reason for visiting it is a relatively low cost of renting a room. And
the restoring of the hotel was not an expensive venture because the most of the
furniture is up-cycled: tables and nightstands are made from in-built closets,
while coffee tables and shelves are made from desk tops from an art school. It seems that
furniture from <i>magdas</i> hotel is
thought to start a new life, just like its staff.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSZduOf7yhKiNDCjQxXLmWuOBDDVjPQFRgK9WKPIgU5X0agk3iYMLkyZ__gRLahNY_jM4KORpiOp9gGl2sGabPXSrVeYRPyg_i94_4qh0MnPomBhTPdQhpuXiAJ4gdjMrPVd65xLdBFq4/s1600/c-www.stefanjoham.com-0460.jpgcropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSZduOf7yhKiNDCjQxXLmWuOBDDVjPQFRgK9WKPIgU5X0agk3iYMLkyZ__gRLahNY_jM4KORpiOp9gGl2sGabPXSrVeYRPyg_i94_4qh0MnPomBhTPdQhpuXiAJ4gdjMrPVd65xLdBFq4/s400/c-www.stefanjoham.com-0460.jpgcropped.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a class="irc_hl irc_hol i3724" data-href="http://goodmeetings.com/2015/09/a-refugee-programme-in-vienna-magdas-the-not-for-profit-hotel/" data-noload="" href="https://www.google.pl/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgoodmeetings.com%2F2015%2F09%2Fa-refugee-programme-in-vienna-magdas-the-not-for-profit-hotel%2F&psig=AFQjCNH6iiC31pu8kSXcMIl9ggzDywkB-Q&ust=1448404910657454" jsaction="mousedown:irc.rl;keydown:irc.rlk" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.2); background-color: #f1f1f1; color: #7d7d7d; cursor: pointer; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; text-align: start; text-decoration: none;"><span class="irc_ho" dir="ltr" style="margin-right: -2px; overflow: hidden; padding-right: 2px; text-overflow: ellipsis; unicode-bidi: -webkit-isolate;">goodmeetings.com</span></a></td></tr>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">So it is an
extraordinary hotel, which aim is to promote creation of opportunities. But on
the other hand, it functions as every other hotel. You can read more about it
here:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/travel/2015/may/21/vienna-madgas-hotel-staffed-asylum-seekers">http://www.theguardian.com/travel/2015/may/21/vienna-madgas-hotel-staffed-asylum-seekers</a></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
and here:</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://www.psfk.com/2015/07/austrian-hotel-for-refugees-magdas-hotel-alleswirdgut-caritas.html">http://www.psfk.com/2015/07/austrian-hotel-for-refugees-magdas-hotel-alleswirdgut-caritas.html</a></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05156009516969747761noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8922801766634336867.post-50421518990121590502015-11-13T13:09:00.002-08:002015-11-13T13:18:09.446-08:00Saudi Arabian Women Unveiled<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Last time,
I came across a documentary by Vice about Saudi women. More precisely, it is
about Ziyah Gafic, a photographer who decided to “photograph them [Saudi women] and interview them in their
private spaces”. And the video tells the story of his project.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"> As I do not know much about Saudi Arabia (and
much less about the women), I was very curious to watch it. That also
encouraged me to get to know more about the country itself.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">One of the
most significant facts about Saudi Arabia is that it was a Muslim kingdom from
its origins. After conquering successively regions in central Arabia, Ibn Saud
established the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 1932 with Sunni Islam as the
official religion. He declared himself a king. Since its origins, the state has
had six kings. They all originate from the House of Saud.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">The
influence of strict religious rules has been considerable until now, which is
visible in the clothing, among others. As we know, Saudi women generally go
outside dressed in abaya - long, black dress. One of the women explains: “For
every occasion, we do have different kind of abaya. Fashion designers, they
would have business only to sell abaya and women of course like it”. She says
also that they have their favourite fashion designers and patterns.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr8pUdByXNaleQ8NbJZPojf3XcjtTqa_RS7KlgIM8b1VYMlTn6Xna8i8s9ypdIvoK5cAr2ugKSs739n43ZaeG-bQU-Ba9Jc41zcL5pSMrKIGsN4jDIydSueU7GUm6lx7FGfXh0ofDcjkw/s1600/abaya.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr8pUdByXNaleQ8NbJZPojf3XcjtTqa_RS7KlgIM8b1VYMlTn6Xna8i8s9ypdIvoK5cAr2ugKSs739n43ZaeG-bQU-Ba9Jc41zcL5pSMrKIGsN4jDIydSueU7GUm6lx7FGfXh0ofDcjkw/s320/abaya.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">However, in
the video, we see women without cover, sitting in their houses and telling
about themselves. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">It is
interesting to learn that they are successful writers or businesswomen. They
express opinions about their work, their life and the society they live in. One
of them said that “Saudi Arabia is an advanced country and it’s keeping with
the rest of the world”. She regretted that many people think negatively about
the country. “But if they visited Saudi Arabia, they would definitely change
their perspective”. She also tried to convince that Saudi women are not
oppressed, they are like the other women. “A lot of people think they are
tempered. But the truth is they are very active but behind the scenes. (...) I
consider achieving a lot.” – added the other one.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Dahw4WP2yDOtwa_7O1ZDhumvgme_jtWqt60DygK6bShkipptGpFa2MgLV_rAIg33U6et5M5JP8oDs2HJQxR_Gg4jZ8rFQVqGGXNwrdK7gcnoiEweO9m-O8mEfnkVdpJfqWk6cmWKAF0/s1600/abaya.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Dahw4WP2yDOtwa_7O1ZDhumvgme_jtWqt60DygK6bShkipptGpFa2MgLV_rAIg33U6et5M5JP8oDs2HJQxR_Gg4jZ8rFQVqGGXNwrdK7gcnoiEweO9m-O8mEfnkVdpJfqWk6cmWKAF0/s320/abaya.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">“All of the
women we met, they all work and they all have college degrees”, said Ziyah
Gafic. He is right: they speak English, they run their own businesses, they
seem self-confident and optimistic. Even if they probably do not represent all
Saudi women, it seems that the stereotypic image of Muslim woman is not
entirely true. On the other hand, I would like to know more also about the rest
of the Saudi women, without college degrees and who do not work. I am sure
their stories would not be the same.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
<br />
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<span lang="EN-GB">“If the
issue that we are dealing with is that Muslim woman is underrepresented in the
media, then I wanted to dedicate my attention to her.”, said Ziyah Gafic. I
think he achieved his aim.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05156009516969747761noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8922801766634336867.post-53310118290627516442015-10-24T10:46:00.002-07:002015-10-24T10:58:46.050-07:00Belgium<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Today, I would like to write some of the most
interesting facts about Belgium. This country was established in 1830, so it is
very young if compared to the rest of countries of the Europe. However, in such a
short time Belgium has managed to develop its own unique history, traditions
and culture.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">The first thing that comes to mind if we talk about
Belgium is probably the fact that Brussels is the capital of European Union. The
country is also widely known for its comics, waffles, fries and chocolate,
considered as one of the best in the world.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">The territory of Belgium was habited as far back as
100 BC by Celtic and Germanic peoples but the way to the creation of the
sovereign state was very long. Belgium did not become independent until 1830,
after the secession from the United Kingdom of Netherlands. After the success
of Belgian Revolution, a Kingdom of Belgium was proclaimed. Since that time,
Belgium participated actively in European politics. It became a member of
Benelux, NATO and EU. It possessed its own colonies.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">The country is divided into three regions: Flemish
Region, Walloon Region and Brussels Capital Region. It is bilingual, or rather
trilingual, because apart from Dutch and French, it recognizes also German as
official language. However, the German-speaking community is not numerous. What
is interesting, in almost all the country every official information
has to be written in Dutch and French. Only in the German-speaking part of
Walloon Region inscriptions are written in French and German.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05156009516969747761noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8922801766634336867.post-5033148485684690482015-05-29T13:28:00.002-07:002015-05-29T13:28:29.970-07:00Grimes<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Recently,
Grimes released new song, which is a great reason to write about her. </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span><span lang="EN-GB"> She is not only a musician and
singer-songwriter, but also a producer and music video director. She is born
and raised in Vancouver, but she did not get interested in music until she
moved to Montreal, where she came in order to study neuroscience (!).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">One of her
friends, involved in the underground electronic music scene, introduced her to
the techniques of making music. She liked it very much and quickly started to
neglect her studies because she
preferred to develop her music skills rather than attend classes. Luckily, this
choice turned out to be advantageous to her. Today, Grimes is one of the most
prominent figures of contemporary electronic music.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">The story
about her stage name is very interesting. In one of the interviews, Claire
Boucher (because that is her real name) explained that she wanted a pseudonym that
would be “something aggressive and masculine” as not to stand out from the
other electronic musicians who were (and still are, though it changes) mainly men.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">And what
about the new track? It is called “Realiti” and was shot during Grimes’ tour in
Asia. Even if it was released a few time ago, I have listened it from that
moment many times and it puts me in a good mood every time, so I want to share it with you. :)</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05156009516969747761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8922801766634336867.post-83487092165372973222015-04-19T12:34:00.001-07:002015-04-19T12:34:19.169-07:00Coachella Festival<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="background: white; color: #252525; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">I like the idea of music
festivals. One of my favourite is <b>Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival</b>,
called commonly </span><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Coachella Festival</span></b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">. It is a music event that takes place every year in
Indio, California. It was founded in 1999 and became one of the most remarkable
music festivals (“the best music festival”, according to <i>Rolling Stone</i>) that presents almost 200 artists on eight stages
during three days.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Since the
festival promotes diversity, music fans have occasion to see performances of
such different artists as Azaelia Banks, Drake (hip hop), Hozier (indie rock,
soul, blues), Charles Bradley (funk, soul), Belle and Sebastian (indie rock) or
John Talabot (house music, electronic), Kiesza, Kimbra, Jack White, Florence +
the Machine... In fact, the festival have presented yet the impressive number
of widely-known artists, so it would be much easier to enumerate rather those
who did not have ever performed there.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05156009516969747761noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8922801766634336867.post-65406505579402955482015-04-14T12:10:00.000-07:002015-04-14T12:10:25.439-07:00Easter baking<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">I am a big
fan of baking, especially of Christmas and Easter baking. I enjoy the time of
preparing dough with all the additives a lot, then waiting impatiently for results and
finally, seeing everyone helping themselves.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">As some
members of my family have food allergy, this year I decided to try to bake some
vegan cakes. I chose a traditional poppy-seed cake with icing and lemon muffins.
Muffins are definitely not one of the Polish dishes, I know! But we all like them
and that is why I wanted to bake them, too. Fortunately, it was very easy to
prepare them, because I had many other things to do.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">I strongly
recommend you this lemon version of muffins: the time of baking is short, the
preparation – very easy, and they taste so delicious </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span><span lang="EN-GB"> All you need is flour, sugar, baking soda,
water, oil, and a lemon. I do not remember the address of the site where I
found the recipe but I am sure you may easily find it if you try to write “vegan
lemon muffins” (the original version contains also poppy seeds but I omitted it)
in your browser.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05156009516969747761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8922801766634336867.post-84284771631912824172015-03-29T09:57:00.001-07:002015-03-29T09:57:07.929-07:00Arundhati Roy and "The God of Small Things"<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Some time ago, during
the lesson, we read a fragment of Arudhati Roy’s book, “The God of Small
Things”. I liked it a lot and decided to search more information about Roy, who
I had not know earlier, and her book.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">First of all, the
book is about two brothers’(twins) childhood. Behind that children’s story, Roy
shows the discrimination of women in India and familial tragedies. The
socio-political context is an important aspect of the book as well.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The title may sound a
bit mysterious. According to Wikipedia, “</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="background: white; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The book is a
description of how the small things in life affect people's behaviour and their
lives.”</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The interesting fact
is that the book, published in 1997, is the first and the only one novel by
Roy. it won Booker Prize and became a bestseller.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">However, it was only
a part of her career. Earlier, she had wrote the screenplays for her husband’s
(who is a director) films. And after
“The God of Small Things”, she started to write essays on politics so that now s</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="background: white; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">he
is known mainly as a<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>political activist<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>involved in<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>human rights<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>and<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>environmental
issues.</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05156009516969747761noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8922801766634336867.post-5678674207565028182015-03-13T09:42:00.000-07:002015-03-13T09:42:17.293-07:00Nancy Huston<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Last Monday, I participated in „the day of Canada”,
organised by our university. It was a great occasion to get to know something interesting about
this unusual country, famous for its bilingualism.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">One of the lectures concerned Nancy Huston, the author
of many fiction and non-fiction novels, plays and books for children. She was
born in 1953 in Calgary and grew up in Canada and United States. She spent also
some time in Germany when she was a little child and later, at the age of
twenty, she came to Paris for the purpose of studying. She earned a master’s
degree there under the supervision of Roland Barthes. She stayed in Paris and
it was there that she learned French, her language of literary expression.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Nancy Huston is one of the authors who translate their
works themselves, which is very intriguing about her because not so many authors do that. Even more so
because French is not her first language, but she had said that this
foreignness paradoxically helped her to find her literary voice. She had got to
use to be a foreigner because of numerous removals in the past and finally, she
had accepted the role of a foreigner as her own choice and the way of being. What’s
more, she considers her self-translation as a fact of</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span lang="EN-GB" style="background: white; color: #252525; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> re-writing (</span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="background: white; color: #252525; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">réécriture),
so she privileges the uniqueness of a language and she perceives a translation
as a new, different text.</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05156009516969747761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8922801766634336867.post-85278451359353452015-03-03T12:41:00.002-08:002015-03-03T12:47:01.750-08:00Is Yasmina Khadra Charlie?<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Few days
ago I found a very interesting and informative commentary concerning the murderous
attack in Paris which shocked the public opinion.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">It all
happened in January and now, two months later, we all already know the most
important facts about the incident: the place, the time, the reasons, the
organisation the terrorists identify with and the identity of the victims. We
all know the official statements about the incident as well. They are summarised
by the most popular phrase in media: “Je suis Charlie”: a sign of intolerance
towards the violation of the freedom of speech and the solidarity with victims.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Of course,
we are right to “be Charlie”, but it is essential to learn something more and
to understand how it was possible that such a tragedy happened. That is why I
was glad to stumble upon an interview
with Yasmina Khadra. He is a well known French-speaking author from Algeria and he is a Muslim.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">In the
beginning, he said that even if he had witnessed many Algerian tragedies, he
was still shocked, because “nobody can get used to that atrocity”. Then he was
asked about his opinion on the Algerian origins of the terrorists and the fact
that the Muslim community was accused of responsibility for the attack. He replied
that the origins and nationality were not important and that a murderer might
have been identified only by their act. That is why he does not feel any link with
them. To him, it is only an act that counts, and not whole background (the
contrary of what the media often says). What is more, the Algerian origins
could not significantly influence this act because those who are guilty, were born
and brought up in France.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">He also
insisted on the fact that the Muslim community had nothing to do with the
attack because these were only Islamists who are responsible. He claimed that “this
reaction of condemning Muslims is a huge mistake”. By saying that, he wanted
people to stick to the definitions and not to confuse groups that are not
related to each other.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">To him, the
problem is that different groups have different values that are “sacred” and try to impose them one to another. If there is
no dialogue, it will always be impossible to put an end to the conflict of which
the attack was just an extreme symptom.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">That are just some of the opinions of Khadra. The whole
interview below (with English subtitles):<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05156009516969747761noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8922801766634336867.post-76615810480045253882015-01-28T07:07:00.002-08:002015-01-28T07:07:35.384-08:00Digital Witness<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Since music
is one of the things I like the most, I would like to write about St. Vincent,
musician and singer-songwriter I listen to very often, especially now, after
the release of her last, self-titled album.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">If I had to
decide what I like the most about her, it would be professionalism and great
preparation for each concert, the incredible voice that always sounds good,
even at live performances, an unusual talent to compose music or, finally, her
new look including very curly hair dyed pale blue. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">She was
born in 1982 in Tulsa, Oklahoma</span><span lang="EN-GB">.
She got interested in music very early and started playing guitar as an
adolescent. At that time her uncle who is guitarist impacted her a lot, even if
he admitted not having encouraged her to play very much. Her early career
included playing in the Polyphonic Spree and also in Sufjan Steven’s touring
band, but it was not enough to her. That is why she decided later to make music
on her own.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Her music
style is not easy to describe and it still changes (which is probably the case
of the majority of artists today). However, it may be described now as a
mixture of indie rock, chamber pop and cabaret jazz (that is what wikipedia
says). She has released five albums. The one I like the most is <i>Strange Mercy, </i>but this time I want to present you
a song from the newest one. It is energetic and ingeniously composed:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05156009516969747761noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8922801766634336867.post-33647940093608546332014-12-14T14:28:00.001-08:002014-12-22T07:17:16.307-08:00French anglicisms and Stromae<div class="WordSection1">
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<span lang="EN-GB">This week I
would like to share with you remarks about some of French anglicisms.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">As we know,
French neologisms are verified quite attentively by linguistic prescriptivist
Académie française that recognize them officially or not. However, that is only
official side of the phenomenon. The other side is an everyday language. Some
words are just used and others not and there is no precise rule that might
determine it. Just look at some of anglicisms and their French equivalents:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="FR">un week-end - une
fin de la semaine<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="FR">un dancefloor - une piste de danse</span><span lang="FR"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="FR">un e-mail - un courriel (éléctronique)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="FR"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Those
equivalents were made up to replace English words but it now both forms are in
use! And it is not the case of those three ones. Interesting thing, “week-end” even
figures in well-known CNRTL dictionary.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Another
group of anglicisms are those concerning for example economy, that came into
French in one specialized meaning (definitions from wiktionnaire), for example:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 15.75pt;">un meeting - </span><span class="term" style="line-height: 15.75pt;"><span lang="FR" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">(</span></span><span class="texte" style="line-height: 15.75pt;"><span lang="FR" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Travail</span></span><span class="term" style="line-height: 15.75pt;"><span lang="FR" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">)</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="line-height: 15.75pt;"><span lang="FR" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"> </span></span><span class="registre" style="line-height: 15.75pt;"><span lang="FR" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">(</span></span><span lang="FR" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 15.75pt;">Anglicisme</span><span class="registre" style="line-height: 15.75pt;"><span lang="FR" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">)</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="line-height: 15.75pt;"><span lang="FR" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"> </span></span><span lang="FR" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 15.75pt;">Réunion</span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="line-height: 15.75pt;"><span lang="FR" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"> </span></span><span lang="FR" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 15.75pt;">ou<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span lang="FR" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 15.75pt;">assemblée</span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="line-height: 15.75pt;"><span lang="FR" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"> </span></span><span lang="FR" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 15.75pt;">publique</span><br />
<div class="WordSection2">
<h2 style="background: white; line-height: 15.75pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: normal;">un
establishment - </span><span class="registre"><span lang="FR" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: normal;">(</span></span><span lang="FR" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: normal;">Anglicisme<span class="registre">)</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span lang="FR" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: normal;"> </span></span><span lang="FR" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: normal;">Groupe</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span lang="FR" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: normal;"> </span></span><span lang="FR" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: normal;">social</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span lang="FR" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: normal;"> </span></span><span lang="FR" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: normal;">oligarchique</span><span lang="FR" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></span></h2>
<h2 style="background: white; line-height: 15.75pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: normal;"> </span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 15.75pt;">The next one concerns social networks, Internet portals and all sorts of sites
about fashion, beauty etc. This is impressively</span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 15.75pt;">
</span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 15.75pt;">big group of the most recent anglicisms, for example:</span></h2>
</div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 15.75pt;">un buzz, un look, un star, oversized, un shopping, un total look, un newsletter,
un eye-liner, un hashtag</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 15.75pt;"><br /></span>
<br />
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<span lang="EN-GB">It is very
easy to find expressions such as:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">les looks
que l’on aime – the looks we like<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">le look du
jour – the look of the day<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">looks des
stars – looks of stars<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">At the end
I want to share with you a song of Stromae, a French-language singer that you certainly
have heard of. The lyrics is about contemporary relationships between young
people, and especially love, so it is not by accident that the song is entitled
“Carmen”. </span><span lang="EN-GB"> The
first couplet is particularly worth reading because there are English words that
young French surely recognize, even if official dictionaries not...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">[couplet 1]<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="verse" style="line-height: 12.0pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">L'amour
est comme l'oiseau de Twitter<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
On est bleu de lui, seulement pour 48h<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
D'abord on s'affilie, ensuite on se follow<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
On en devient fêlé, et on finit solo<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="verse" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 12pt;">
<span lang="FR" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Prends garde à toi<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
Et à tous ceux qui vous like<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
Les sourires en plastique sont souvent des coups d'hashtag<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
Prends garde à toi<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
Ah les amis, les potes ou les followers<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
Vous faites erreurs, vous avez juste la côte<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="verse" style="line-height: 12.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-background-themecolor: background1;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Translation:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-background-themecolor: background1;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Love is like Twitter</span><span lang="EN-GB"><br />
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">You’re in love with
it only for 48 hours. <br />
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">First you’re associated with it, and afterwards
you follow</span><br />
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">It becomes cracked<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>and you end up alone<span class="apple-converted-space">.</span><br />
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Beware! <br />
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">And beware of those
who you like<br />
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Their plastic smiles<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>are often hits by hashtag.<br />
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Beware!</span><br />
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Ah, friends,
buddies, and followers</span><br />
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">You’re making a
mistake. It’s only a false popularity.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-background-themecolor: background1;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">(lyricstranslate.com)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05156009516969747761noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8922801766634336867.post-51240091878898534632014-11-23T10:17:00.000-08:002014-11-23T10:17:18.349-08:00Regional baking goods - "obwarzanek"<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Have you ever heard about <i>obwarzanek</i>? I’m sure the most of you have, but have you eaten it in
Poznań? I haven’t, even if I had looked for it in some bakeries in the city,
and its lack surprised me a lot. In fact, it is difficult to get it in this part
of Poland. I remember that in my home town (I’m from the South-East Poland) it
has been a common part of the assortment of every bakery - a “must-have”- and I’m sure it still is.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span><span lang="EN-GB">The thing is that it is a regional product, registered
on the list of European Union in 2010. Not much time ago, but the history of <i>obwarzanek</i> is very long – the first
mention about it dates the 14<sup>th</sup> century. It used to be baked exclusively
on Lent in Cracow, but now it has no religious connotation. The other Slavic countries have similar types of baked goods, known under different names.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span><span lang="EN-GB">According to the restrictions of EU, <i>obwarzanek</i> </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="background: white; color: #252525; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;">"should be between
12 and 17 centimeters in diameter, weigh 80 to 120 grams and its color should
range from golden to light brown"</span>. The ingredients include flour,
fat, yeast, sugar, water and salt. Before baking, the dough is shortly boiled –
“obwarzać” in old Polish, and that’s the word that originated <i>obwarzanek</i>. It has very characteristic
shape – it’s made of an oblong twisted piece of dough that forms a circle. It may
contain poppy seed, sesam or salt on top. It’s very tasty, slightly sweet and it
may be eaten without other additions, just as a snack – and I suppose that’s
the most common way of consuming it. It is possible to eat it as a roll,
though – you have just cut it on longways and cover with honey, jam or cottage
cheese.<br /><span lang="EN-GB"> </span></span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05156009516969747761noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8922801766634336867.post-13958246147042099002014-11-12T10:26:00.002-08:002014-11-12T10:26:46.355-08:00Official language.<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">In
reference to the last post on the blog “Romancing English”, I would like to
respond to the question : </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Should those who
choose to live in a foreign country be required to learn its official language?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;">This question seems very interesting to me, but also very
complex and not evident at the same time. What is more, I consider it is
impossible to give the one correct response because of a variety of factors that must be taken in consideration.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;">First of all, I think it is worth mentioning that those
who choose to be naturalized have an obligation to know the official language of
the state on a precise level, specified by law. That means there is no chance
to avoid learning language as it is one of the conditions of the naturalization
- and not the only one, so not all
foreigners try to obtain it, especially if they do not need it. I suppose
the majority do not, and in that case it is up to them to learn the language or
not.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;">When we live in a community, we must communicate with
its other members. Language is one of frequent and precise ways of
communication. If one do not know the language others speak, then the
communication becomes much more difficult. That is the case of both private and
official sphere of life. Let is imagine that there is an official document to
sign or to fill in. To do that, it is necessary to understand the content and
then write what is needed, which is impossible with no language skills! The
important document respected by law then seems to be just a sheet of paper,
full of bizarre and incomprehensible words.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%;">With private life is even more difficult : how to
spend time with people with whom one cannot communicate? Of course, it is
possible to meet only family or friends who speak the same language, but on the
other hand, the confrontation with indigenous residents is inevitable for those
who live in a certain country longer period of time. Even acquaintance of some simple
words or expressions may facilitate everyday life. It also arouses respect and
kindness of indigenous residents.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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However, not everyone is interested in learning an official language. How to cope with that? Some people have a spouse (or any other member of family, or a friend) who speaks the language and helps them, for some of them English is enough. But despite that, I would encourage everyone to not to ignore such a crucial aspect of social life as an official language.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05156009516969747761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8922801766634336867.post-29774057229582592332014-10-25T06:41:00.001-07:002014-10-25T06:41:30.973-07:00The wikipedia short article - Janelle Monáe<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 1.2pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span lang="EN-GB" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Janelle
Robinson </span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">(born 1985 in Kansas City)<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">, </span></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">better
known by her stage name</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> <span lang="EN-GB">Janelle Mon</span></span><span style="color: #545454; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; font-weight: bold; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;">á</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span lang="EN-GB">e is an author and composer of the
soul and R&B music. She studied in American Musical and Dramatic Academy in
New York with in order to start a career in music-hall, but finally turned to
music. S<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">he has been nominated for Grammy Awards</span></span></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> <span lang="EN-GB">for her single
Many Moons in 2009. She released one EP (Metropolis: Suite I (The Chase) in 2007</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metropolis:_Suite_I_(The_Chase)" title="Metropolis: Suite I (The Chase)"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-themecolor: text1; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">)</span></a></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">and 2 albums </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">(The ArchAndroid</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> in 2010, and The Electric Lady</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> <span lang="EN-GB">in 2013) yet
and they were all well reviewed by<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"> </span></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">publications
devoted to<span class="apple-converted-space"> music criticism</span></span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">. Her last album
“Electric Lady” features songs recorded with other artists, such as Prince, Erykah
Badu, Miguel and Solange.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05156009516969747761noreply@blogger.com1