Práctica 3

Have you ever thought about your life without the Internet? Many people spend lots of hours in front of their computers just watching videos about cats or people falling in a brand new way. Even at work they open webs like Facebook or any other social network and spend there a time that later will cause the drop in their productivity rates. People have a problem with the Internet because of procastination, but also other issuesare derived from the use of this tool: a lack of privacy and a risk for children.

These problems that are generated because of a bad use of the Internet and has to be changed or fixed. For example, there must be more control from the enterprise about how long employees navigate. I recently saw in 'El País' that a lot of people are experiencing drops in their productivity because of social networks.

Secondly, when you think about how many people know about your life because of your social network updates, then you realize that we are dealing with a big privacy problem. Moreover, this information is not usually seen only by your friends. Many companies pay in order to know what you like on Facebook. People should be more aware of the information they share.

The last problem I want to refer to is the danger that exists on the Internet for children and teenagers. There are many cases of girls who have shared private photos and, later on, they have problems. Fortunately, the police in developed countries is really aware of these cases and they have under control most of the people that use internet because of the scanning of IPs.

To end with, it is important to know that the Internet is going to be with us in the future. This, it is going to have the same problems as today. Therefore we need to control it with our own rules, the help of the police and the control over our children, People need to be more aware of this because there are many problems and, in the future, there will be more, because this tool is extraordinary and powerful but risky...

Práctica 4

Would you like to see your son dead? I know it is a stupid question, but you would be surprised if you knew how many people would say yes to it. Why? A lot of people support death penalty and I always ask them the previous question. I am against death penalty, punishing by my hand other people or life-time jail as forms of justice.

I can understand those people that feel a lot of pain after a violent incident, or feel insecure because someone is a danger if he is free. However, we have to understand that a human life is the more complex creation of the universe. Who are we to end any life?

Other people have a different (but close) opinion about justice. They do not believe in laws and judges so they preffer a personal revenge. Doing as much pain as the other caused you is a very irrational idea. You are never going to feel peaceful if you kill, for example, the one who killed your son. All you can do is to trust in justice and forgiveness.

Making a person stay his or her whole life inside a jail is the soft version of death penalty but even in this case I have my opinion against this opinion. As I said before, a human is a marvellous product of millions of coincidences. It is this value that we have to keep in mind before erasing any freedom from a mind. We need to give them the opportunity to get back to society and show us how much they can do, how many benefits they can provide to a society that has forgiven them.

As a conclusion, I would like to mention and accept the typical argument that people usually point to me: What would you do if you are the one who suffers a murder in your family? It is difficult to answer that question. However, if you let time pass you will always choose a better option, and this option has to do with public justice, laws, forgiveness and appreciation of people's lives.

Práctica 2

Thesis statement: We have to stop the corruption of the political class by regenerating the way the country is controlled.

1. They play with public money.
1. Some cases of politicians buying drugs.
2. They meet in prostibules.
3. Monago has travelled with public money.
   
2. People do not believe in Democracy any more.
1. Traditional parties are affected by corruption
2. A lot of people do not vote.
3. Radical points of view arise.
   
3. Corruption is inherent to power.
1. Machiavelo's theory.
2. 'Podemos' as the party without power.
3. First-line politicians in prison.
   
4. The solution is a regeneration.
1. Changing the rules and laws.
2. More power for the police.
3. A new period in the history of our Democracy.

Essay

Not many people like writing. I don’t know more than five persons that frequently write. I am not talking about writing as a university or high school exercise. I mean that way of expression that lets exorcise your demons and makes you and others feel better. In fact, writing is a very useful tool that can give the writer many positive fruits such as being an anti-stress tool, it is also a way to understand ourselves and it is the best way to learn to express what we mean.

We live in a society that is full of competition, deception, tension. There are many ways to get out of them, at least for a while. For example, you can go out with friends or you can travel. However there is an option that not much people do in order to get rid of our everyday stress. Writing about your problems is a good way to understand them and maybe find a solution. It is also a good option if you have to stay one day at home and have no one to talk with in order to express your problems. Because sometimes we just need to say what we think and then, we feel better.

Secondly, not much people really know themselves. There is a feeling of being lost in this age. Some might say it is just a postmodern condition of the individual. However, the fact is that there are lots of people that just don’t stop and think. Or maybe they think but they actually can’t get to a conclusion just because they are not doing it right. Let me explain this. If you write, you have all the time you want in order to think and rethink what you want to say. In other words, your inner self can best express when writing. The contrary would be, for example, a commute, when our thoughts are constantly interrupted by different facts that are happening around us. We don’t stay focused, we are just thinking in a way a modern writer would express using the technique of stream of consciousness.

Last but not least, the importance of writing can also be found in the way we improve our expression abilities. Put simply, the more we write, the more we express what we want. You may not find this interesting because maybe you already are a powerful communicator. But, trust me, many people need to do this more often. Especially when you are using another language, you become more familiar to structures and vocabulary the more you write.

As a conclusion, writing is a very helpful activity. It can be done by most of us. Moreover you will become a better writer little by little. There are other fruits from writing apart from earning money or making a living. Few people practice this activity but it is very useful in many different ways, and most of us have nowadays the possibility to write. 

Travel

Remember when you were young? Dirty dancers danced
Stupid questions. Stupid answers. No one to tell.
Dismembering the hostage wasn't the solution to the pain.
Streets of tomorrow haven't been walked and they won't.
Trips like yours, difficult to achieve and understand.
But in all this shit there is evidence.
Evidence of a new world coming.
A new world where you and me will laugh hard.
And no one will remember these lines that changed the world.
Lines that burnt their brains and washed the distance.
If one holy word is to be said, you know it for sure,
dirty dancer of black despaired eyes,
summoned in the middle of the night,
by the green demon of rampage.

Everything under the sun is in tune he sang.
Then everything exploded. We disappeared.
No more sounds.
No more words.
Just a whisper.
I was leaving.
Just beating.
Coliflower.
Reading.
Writing.
Feeling.
Being.

When I Hear a Song

When I hear a song

The whole world dances.

The melody writes a story

In my head, of gods and glory.

The instruments are flowers.

The singer is a sinner.

The rhythm intoxicates,

And I start dreaming.

But it has to end,

And the night brings me to my bed.

Even there I hear the music

And the story is in my head.

Words start dancing there

And freedom is found at last.

Although it doesn’t stay,

And I have to fight the next day.

Climbing to that mountain of inspiration

Is the best solution, the best invention.

Staying on the top is a peaceful moment

For me, unreachable in the morning,

A duty when night is coming.

Introduction and Conclusion

Introduction

A lot of people spend lots of hours connected to social networks such as Facebook or Twitter. This can be bad or good. Many people in my circle found love through them. However, they can have their negative aspects. The social networks have a lot of people against them but it is one of the next steps in the evolution of humanity towards a more united one. Besides there can be a controlled use of them without many problems.

Conclusion 

We can’t turn the face to this new technology. It is the next step and we have to face that fact. On the other hand, there must be an effective use of the powerful tool called internet. There are too many people wasting their precious time there and we have to be aware of some limits. However, it is the future and it is going to stay. The only thing we can do is to propose some changes in the way we use it nowadays.

Aftermath

It is here.

We carry on without knowing. That it is here.

Don't understimate yourself, you are all you have.

Even when there is no answer to that question, you are there.

It is here and you are it. You are here and it is now. You are now and maybe that is the answer.

Up and down, and in the end it is only round and round.

Don't understimate yourself, you are powerful. Only that you don't know it yet. But I will show you something. If you are reading it by now, it means you are somewhere beyond them. You are us. Us and them, and after all, we are ordinary men. That is what it hurts. But that is what makes us human. We have the power to be human. Our mind would escape if we hadn't that chain. Many minds have escaped without saying goodbye. So keep being a human, but keep considering you as us, not them.

Little Poetry 2

The eyes were shut
spiders were there
a lemon tree waited
for spring to come

Castles forgotten
in the luminous day.
Whatever you think
was thought yesterday.

Dreaming this night I saw
two people dancing alone.
No music were there,
only their souls.

Speechless I listened,
their movements were slow
I can't answer your question:
My reason has drown

Nobody asks for money
in the land of gold.
All they want is an answer
of the happiness god.

Escape from reality
a goddess said to me.
It is risky and dangerous,
but it's how it must be.

If paradise city is near my town,
I would satisfy my soul,
spending the hours thinking
that I've never been there before.

But stupid is the question
if the answer is always no,
so keep on dreaming baby
cos I'll always let you go.

A yes appears in my dream
but you are not there.
Who is that woman?
I really do care.

Explaining all my thoughts
is so hard to understand.
So keep on dreaming sugar
I'll never be your man.

I've just seen a face
I do know the place
were we just met.
It was a sunny morning
the smile on my face.
And you were daydreaming
of life and death.
However, the only possible answer
is to see me again.
I will explain you insanity.
I will teach you about faith.
If love is not the answer,
nobody will understand.

Against Romeo and Juliet

I don’t know if anyone of you have read Romeo and Juliet but, for me it is a story that has little or no sense at all. I will try to explain my point of view to you in the next lines. For example, how deep is a love when you have just been two times with your lover? Is it enough that time to be able to kill yourself because of love? One possible explanation is the fact that both Romeo and Juliet are youngsters and it was their first love. Because of that, they had a feeling that was new and unknown for them and this feeling could have leaded them to die.

If you accept this theory as an answer to the “incongruence” of the deaths, then we must also say that the worldwide accepted idea of this play being a really inspiring story of love is not accurate. How can it be the most beautiful story of love this one when they don’t experience even a 1% of the “mysteries” of love? They just declare love and say 3 or 4 beautiful sentences to each other! There are much more beautiful stories of love out there. Let me just remind you about García Márquez or Pablo Neruda.

On the other hand, Romeo and Juliet is a classic written between 1591 and 1595. We can’t apply the standards of today’s literature to this play. I mean that the metaphors and words used to seduce by the lovers can’t be rated with today’s standards. Here I must accept that they are good examples of a nice use of poetry. However, what I am criticizing here is the overall sense of congruence, the merit of being acknowledged as a great love story. For me it is just a basic classic story which is good to introduce people to love stories but there is nothing really spectacular. 

Little poetry

Could someone tell me what to do
When all the trenchs are far behind
From the war we are fighting today?

Is there an illusion more powerful
Than the one of having you by my side
And scream your name in the darkest night?

If there is any kind of god up in the sky,
Would he be kind to take me by your side?

This is a quarter of things
I would like to say to you.
But do not worry
I will only do this when I feel in blue.

You've gone too far
from my lonely days
and that will tear us apart
if I don't see you today.

Have I forgotten
That my eyes were not opened?

Outline

         I.            The social networks have a lot of people against them but it is one of the next steps in the evolution of humanity towards a more united one. Besides there can be a controlled use of them without many problems.


      II.        People against it.

a.       Anti-technology people’s ideas.

                                                               i.      We are controlled.

                                                             ii.      We are addicted.

                                                            iii.      There is no privacy.

b.      Government

                                                               i.      Uncontrollable points of view.

                                                             ii.      Critics reunite.

                                                            iii.      Manipulation is difficult.

                                                           iv.      Too many opinions.

c.       Old people.

                                                               i.      They don’t control it.

                                                             ii.      They don’t understand it.

    III.            Evolution of humanity.

a.       Good aspects.

                                                               i.      You can meet new people

                                                             ii.      You know more about your friends.

                                                            iii.      Political activism.

b.      Next step in history.

                                                               i.      New communicative frontiers.

                                                             ii.      New possibilities and technologies.

                                                            iii.      Impossible to return to the past.

    IV.            Need of control

a.       Parents.

                                                               i.      Children need parental control.

                                                             ii.      Abusive content (+18).

                                                            iii.      Danger of unknown people.

b.      Wasting time.

                                                               i.      Doing nothing useful.

                                                             ii.      Internet not being employed as a tool.

                                                            iii.      Too much leisure.

c.       Illegal activities.

                                                               i.      Hacking.

                                                             ii.      Drugs.

                                                            iii.      Violence.

      V.            There must be an effective use of the powerful tool called internet. It is the future, but there should be some changes in the way we use it nowadays.

Thesis Statement

The social networks have a lot of people against them but it is one of the next steps in the evolution of humanity towards a more united one. Besides there can be a controlled use of them without many problems.

Problem/Solution Text

There is a really big problem with the increasingly high speed of evolution of developed countries. It is a fact that they consume more and more resources. However, these are not infinite. There is also a lot of injustice and differences between first and third world countries. Although we produce seven times the amount of food we need, poor countries don’t receive a part of this because they have no money to pay, or their governments are corrupted. If we keep on doing things like this, there will be not future for our descendants.

A possible solution would be the lessening of the growing rhythm. By doing this, we would adapt to the possibilities the earth offers us. Moreover, if we accept transgenic food as a good product, there is also the possibility to nourish poor countries. We have to be able to stop and think before continuing this path because it is really needed a solution. 

Pros and Cons

Social networks are a very useful tool if you know how to use it right. It has a lot of advantages and disadvantages. On the one hand, the most negative fact is that you lose a lot of privacy. However, this can be usually configured in the not-always-clear options of the social network. So you shouldn’t be a newbie in computers if you want to enter in this world. Another important question is the topic of time. These webs make you lose a lot of time and people are more and more affected by this problem. On the other hand we also find very positive aspects. You can be in contact with a lot of people at the same time. People are more connected. To end with I would like to say that this is the future, but this future needs to be controlled.

Point By Point Method

The differences between the south and the north of Europe are overwhelming. First of all, you just have to take a look at the climate. While in the north we can find really cold and rainy winters, the south experiences warmer temperatures that make living there more comfortable. On the other hand, we find that the south is not as wealthy as the north. Unlike our touristic and agrarian industry, the north has invested a lot of money on industry and technology. That is the main reason why we are considered poor people whereas they are as rich as the most powerful countries of the world. To conclude, I would say that it is difficult to choose between north and south because they are very different.

Opinion Paragraph

It is really needed a turn to realist fiction. It is the best genre in order to express the reality of a time. So, for example, today’s social problems can be described and therefore we can raise a global consciousness. Moreover, I am pretty sure that in the future the most known works of our years will be those that describe the difficulties that people have to face nowadays. As a consequence of this, realist fiction is going to be the top genre.

Descriptive Paragraphs

Describing a place

The place I like the most is my future house. The place where it is going to be build is in the middle of a huge forest near a small river. However, it will be neither warm nor cold anytime of the year because I will place there a lot of solar panels that will be decorative. It will have plenty of rooms, some bigger, some smaller, but all of them will have little decoration. I do not like ornamented places, I prefer practical ones. Of course it will have an ancient-looking fireplace and lots of books and technologies. I can’t wait for the day I live in that place!

Describing a person

The person I like the most is Carla. She is very shy but, in turn, she shows every single time that she is very self-confident. The problem is that she needs to learn to socialize a little bit more because she has troubles meeting new people. She thinks she is ugly but I don’t think so. Her pretty big dark-brown eyes shine like an autumn day; at least that is what they remind to me because she is melancholic. However you can have with her really good conversations, with deep topics. Because all of these I think she is the best, and maybe one day I will meet her…

Brainstorming

There are at least three ways of writing a brainstorm. I am going to use making a list, freewriting and mapping bearing in mind the next topic: Is corruption a reality in Spain?

Making a list

• Bárcenas
• Granados
• Andalucía
• public money arbitrary spent 
• people's perception
• statistics
• non declared money
• black cards

Freewriting

The case of Bárcenas is a clear example of corruption but there are others like Granados' or the employ politics that have taken place in Andalucía. A lot of public money has been spent without control, and all that is perceived by people, who don't trust anymore in politicians. There are also a lot of statistics that confirm the high levels of corruption in Spain, a country where people is used to pay with non declared money. Caja Madrid's black cards are another example of this.

Mapping

Slavoj Žižek (Part I)

As you can see in the title, today I am going to talk about a very different topic. I am not continuing by now the story I was writing. Today I want to talk about an idea that I have heard in a Youtube video. This can be found embed at the bottom of the entry. The topic of what you can see here is a philosophical or sociological one. Slavoj Žižek poses the following question in the short clip: The world is advancing, or evolving, faster and faster during the last few centuries. Should we stop and think?

As you can see, this post is deeper than the previous entries. Anyway, as a first step towards reaching any conclusions, we must analyze a bit the figure of the Žižek, or, at least, we must try to recognize him as a known thinker of our time (he has interesting writings on theories about cinema). So he is not an unknown person. Because of that, I consider the statement I commented before about evolution a very interesting one. Why?

For me there is a sense of increase of the human development’s speed. That is obvious. Just think about our ancestors. They discovered how to use the fire in the year 350.000 B.C. while the first known wheel dates from the year 3000 B.C. However, nowadays we discover a lot of new things, especially technological ones, that are far more complicated but they are as used, if not as useful, as the wheel. At least you have to recognize the acceleration of our evolution.

However there are consequences of this development. You can’t imagine the Cold War without the risk of a nuclear attack. That is, the evolution has problems that are more evident the more you think of the recent years or centuries. There is a huge magnitude of consequences that we, as humans, are able to provoke with our recent discoveries.

For me, the first part of the Slavoj Žižek’s idea is true. But this is the most interesting part: Should we stop and think? Is it necessary to stop and meditate about what we are doing in order to avoid future dangers?