The economic crisis

Unfortunately everybody is familiar with the term "crisis" nowadays. Likely anyone who is reading this post has a friend or a family member (or maybe both) living within a dramatic situation. I read a painful piece of news three days ago: "The number of the unemployed people has reached six million for the first time within the Spanish democracy time". This datum seems very bad, but many economists around the world foretell that this figure will be worst. Surely the number of unemployed people will rise to seven millions after the end of this year (this post is being written in 2013).

In every media you can hear politicians saying "...despite the unemployment awful datum the main problem of this crisis is financial...". What sort of politicians can say this?, When, within the Spanish democracy history, the money (or banks) has become more imporant than people?. I won't say that politicians and banks are responsible for this crisis, but I think some of them have not done their work very well.

Anyway, everybody must do his or her best to leave this crisis behind. There are no clear rules that can lead us out of the crisis, but probably try to increase the social and economic human activity could be a first step. There seems to be a good first step, but we must be careful. If we think like economists, this solution sounds pretty good (people start to spend their savings - consumption is increased - new jobs are made - unemployment decreases - taxes for revenue are increased - larger budget to social benefits and research are held - ... shall we continue? ). Really, it sounds great, but we have a problem with the first stage on this process, there is no money. Most of the families have no savings. Instead they have a huge mortgage debt and a not insured job. From this perspective, it is very difficult to start the economic engine just described before.

So, it seems we (and mainly politicians and bankers) must put all the efforts to solve the problem arised among people and families, and then maybe we start to see the famous "green sprouts". Just remembering the famous and naive phrase said by the former president of the Spanish government (José Luís Rodriguez Zapatero)... "Los brotes verdes").

P.S. I am not an economist nor a statesman. I have no special knowledge of social and economic engineering.  So, maybe I am wrong.  However these words can help somebody,  since my intention was not going further.

By Miguel Angel Varona

A short tale

Rachel and John are good friends, and they are co-workers at the same company. These two people are smart and thorough workers, but they have a huge problem, they are quite absent-minded.  If they are deeply inmersed into their thoughts, they can not realize what is happenig around them.

This tale happened while Rachel and John were travelling by taxi towards a business meeting.

Rachel: Did you get the latest dossier? It was on your desktop.

John:  Yes. I'm forgetful, but not so much.

Rachel: Ok. I only want to be sure that we have all the documents for the meeting.  Do you know what time is it?

John: One moment, I'm going to check my new phone.  It's ten to ten. By the way, Rachel, have you seen my new phone? I called you yesterday so that you would have my new phone number.  I have not had time to put your number in my contacts list.

Rachel: No, I had not seen it yet.  It's so pretty...

John: But, what is this?. I have a missed call. I don't know which phone number is this.  I'm going to make a call...

Rachel: Ok. Oh! What a coincidence! I'm getting a call...

John: (Talking on the phone)  Hello. I'm John.  I think you have called me.  Who are you?...

Rachel: (Talking on the phone)  Sorry, but I don't know what you are talking about... You aren't in my list of contacts. Who are you?...

John: (Talking on the phone) ...Sorry, I'm going to introduce me.  I'm John. And you?

Rachel: (Talking on the phone) ... So, I'm Rachel, but I don't know any John with this phone number...

John: (Talking on the phone) ... Umm, I don't know any Rachel with this phone number either, but your voice is quite familiar for me...

Rachel: (Talking on the phone).  For me, too.  I'm sure I know your voice... maybe... 

John: (Talking on the phone) Yes... maybe... you could be...

As the storyteller of this tale I must say that the taxi driver had noticed what was happening, and he was laughing loudly then. Because of these loudly laughings Rachel and John could realize what had been happening. There were no words to explain the faces of these two friends when they looked at each other, with their phones against their ears, and their faces red like a tomato.

By Miguel Angel Varona.

OUR 3rd TOPIC.- CURRENT AFFAIRS

Hi everybody,

After our second topic which has been very extensive and interesting, it's time to start our next topic 'Current affairs'.  As you remember this was one of our choices at the beginning of this course, and I would say it's even larger than the previous one since everything that happens around us can be considerated being part of this topic, don't you think so?

So, have a look at everything happening in this world, have a look at the news on TV, at the newspapers, at the people's comments by the street, at your immediate environment, have a look at yourself,... and prepare something which may be interesting and worthy to be told or commented at class.

It would be nice to work in groups as ever because that way more ideas are added and the result is always amazing.

So, have you got a person you want to work with?  Have you got any possible idea to start working about this new topic?

Stand up and find some other student or students in the class and start speaking about some current affair and maybe this conversation can be the starting point to your task.

Remember you choose the way to expose the post, being what you want: a simple post, a link to something, a letter, a power-point, a presentation, a dialogue, a quiz, a game,...

Power to the imagination at these hard times!

                         

Source:  blackandroman.blogspot.com          Source: www.funnyuse.com                   

Hello World!

Hello World!

My name is Miguel Angel, I am a new student at the "La Puebla de Alfinden" advanced English program, and I have just done one of the most dificult task, a "Hello World!" post.

As a software programmer I always have to do this kind of task. When you have to work with a new programming language or have to get knowledge in a new development enviroment, one of the basic steps is to make a "Hello World!" program. The only function of this program is showing the phrase "Hello World!" on a display (it could be on a PC display, on a smart phone or maybe with a 3D printer).  To show these two words looks easy, but in many cases it could be your worst nightmare.

In this case I think the work has been easy. I know how to make a post now, so I will try to write about other more interesting matters (No doubt, the "Hello World!" is the most bored task, so I suppose the next posts will be funnier for me).

By Miguel Angel Varona.

A NICE PLACE by Ana Belén

Hello class!!

Laguardia, a village in La Rioja Alavesa, is a place that seems beautiful to live in and where it could be perfectly situated the house of my dreams.

It is a village of medieval structure, walled, cosy, well maintained .....
Practically it only has three streets connected each other by various crossings where it is wonderful to wander around.
One of the reasons for which Laguardia invites you to walk and live on the street is that its historical downtown is pedestrian.

If you enter the village and go straight ahead, you arrive at Plaza Mayor where you find the town hall.

On its facade a clock chime can be seen and there, but only at a certain time some automatons dancing according to the rhythm of the tradicional local music go out.


If you go to the right and walk straight along the main street, you can see the library.

If we continue walking towards the northern part which is also a delight, you can go for a walk around El Collado, a park surrounding the Church of Santa María de los Reyes. On the right side there is a bust doing homage to Samaniego, the fabulist, native to Laguardia.

And besides the beautiful stroll you can find there, there are spectacular views since Laguardia is just situated on a hill.

Among its panoramic view, if we look to the North, we will see the imposing Sierra of Cantabria and towards the East and the West vineyards, vineyards and more vineyards.

And of course, you can't leave Laguardia without visiting a winery to learn how the wines of the Rioja Alavesa are made.

I encourage you to visit it.

I hope you like it.

I was living in Zaragoza city by Angelica

Hello classmates,

I want to tell you something from the period I lived in the center of Zaragoza city.  That was very nice because now I can go anywhere in Zaragoza without any problem.

I was living in Juan Pablo Bonet street, it is located between two main streets of Zaragoza, their names are Sagasta boulevard and Gran Via avenue, but Juan Pablo Bonet street is a very small one, it has only got three blocks of flats on both sides, then it changes its name to San Juan de la Cruz but it is the same street.

Close to Juan Pablo Bonet street you can find a bridge, people usually called it "Puente de los Gitanos", underneath the Huerva river flows. Behind, there is a zone for young people with many bars and discos, there you can dance and have a good fun.

From Juan Pablo Bonet street you have many facilities and services all around. This location is excellent and also you would find many supermarkets.

From Juan Pablo Bonet, go straight on towards San Juan de la Cruz street, walk until Fernando el Catolico Avenue and turn on the left, then walk along that avenue, and in San Francisco Square you can see the University of Zaragoza; cross San Francisco square and five blocks behind, you find the Infant Hospital, there my children were born. In front of the hospital, you can find the Romareda football Stadium.

There are many tram stops near there, because the tram route crosses all those main Avenues: Gran Vía, Fernando El Católico and Isabel La Católica Av.

If you come back to Juan Pablo Bonet street and go towards the other direction, you find Paseo Sagasta Avenue, then turn on the left, walk and cross Goya Av. and in the second block you can find the medical center.  Then go straight on until Paraiso square, there you can find the "Corte Ingles" mall and the Ibercaja bank headquarter, also you can go to the University of Medicine or Faculty of Medicine,  and just behind there you could go to the main library of Zaragoza. 

Sagasta Boulevard

If you go back to the corner of the Faculty of Medicine, you should pay attention because there is a cross with many traffic lights and the tram lane is also there. From this side you can see Independencia Boulevard or Promenade which is the most important street of Zaragoza city.

I don't want you to get tired,  but I think this post has been very nice and useful for me. I have learnt very much while writing and reading this composition.

Thank you very much.  See you in class.

GLORIA IN THE CASTELLANA BOULEVARD

Hello, Hello,

My husband and my children are visiting the Real Madrid football stadium.
But I have decided to go to visit the surroundings.

    - Excuse me, Good Morning.  What could I visit near here?

 -  Good Morning, the Castellana is the most important boulevard in Madrid, you can see many interesting things there.  If you go to the left, you can see the Royal Palace, the New Ministries, the Cibeles, the Retiro Park, the Gate of Alcalá and the wax Museum.  You can go just walking or you can go by bus or by tube.

  -  Ok, what could I visit if were on my right?

     - It's preferable to go on your left, because on the right you can only see Chamartin train station and one business park zone heading for four towers.

  - Ok, Where can I catch the bus or tube?

  -  Right here.  And there are many other things as the Country House Park, the Puerta del Sol, the Museo del Prado, The Airport, The Thyssen Museum ,…… you might visit them by car, by bus, by tube or by train because they aren’t near by.

  - Ok, Thank you.

 - You are welcome. 

   I really like to visit Madrid, its streets, buildings, parks, services but actually I don't know if I could live in this great city.

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