Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Easter holidays...

I like holidays because I never do anything and it's great!
So, I can relax and forget classes. But, I don't like cleaning my house before Easter. It's so tiresome!
I enjoy waking up very late, eat lots of chocolate almonds and eggs and sponge cake with cheese, watching TV series like Supernatural, Veronica Mars and Simpsons all the afternoons, listening to lots of heavy metal music and receive presentes like money and almonds. I like having breakfast with my sister, calmly, what I can't do when I have to go to school because I don't have time.
During the holidays, I celebrated my birthday. That's a special day for all of us. I invited my grandparents and my cousins to have lunch at my house. But, I didn't like that day because I don't like parties and lots of people in my house. I know that's strange a teenager who doesn't like parties but that's who I am - different.
Carla nº5 9ºA
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My Easter holidays were so cool. On the first week I went to London where I visited the Big Beng, several museums in London, I also visited the most famous café in London, and perhaps the world. I had lots of fun there. On the second week I was home taking care of my brothers and playing computer. I really enjoyed the holiday although I feel that  they lwere too short.
Flávio Pinto No. 13 9ºA

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My Easter holidays were very entertaining.
I went with my family to enjoy a few days in the Algarve to enjoy the good weather.
I rested a lot, but I could have rested more, had fun and thoroughly enjoyed every moment.
I had time to think about what I can improve on this 3rd term. I was pleased with the final grades but I am able to get better.
Rafaela Vieira nº23 9ºD

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I spent my Easter Holidays at home. I didn't have much to do so I basically read books, watched television and studied a little bit, although I should have studied more. I also helped my mom in her restaurant. I like dealing with new people everything that also helps me increasing my ability to talk with people. I also spent time with my friends. I watched documentaries on Discovery Channel and I found it a bit difficult because it didn't have subtitles, but I understood most of it. I also tried to read the original version of Hamlet, which was written by William Shakespeare, but it is very hard, I had to have a dicionatary with me every time I was reading it.
Sara Baptista nº27 9ºD

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My Easter holidays were awesome! On the first week of Easter holidays I stayed at home relaxing. On the second week I went to South of Spain. It was very hot there and I went to the beach and I swam in the sea!I swam in the swimming pools of the hotel, too. And I met some cute boys there!The food of the hotel was great. The "crepes" are delicious! Every night, I walked on the beautiful streets of "Praia Balena", it was super. I loved my Easter holidays because I did some of my favourite things like relaxing and swimming in the sea.
Maria Francisca Mota n.º 20 9ºA

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On my holidays, I was home most of the time. I watched TV, played computer games and playstation, I rode my bike, I visited my grandparents, I practiced gardening and lived with my family, friends and acquaintances. I do not like to sleep much, so every day I woke up early to enjoy the day in the morning. During these holidays I did some schoolwork, I studied a little and watched television a lot. During these holidays I ate a lot of almonds, chocolate eggs and tasted the sweets of my mother.
These holidays have been good because I took most of the day to rest and do what I like.
Carlos César/nº6/9ºD

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My Easter holidays were very fun but short.
I did many different things these holidays, some are normal, like reading, watching television and playing computer games, but others that I rarely do, like walking on the beach, biking and rollerblading in Porto and going to the mall among others.
I met my goddaugther and my cousin, to help them with vacation homework, at the end we watched movies and enjoyed ourselves very much.
These were two weeks with lots of fun.
Francisca Ferreira n.º8/9ºD

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I was already feeling the need of holidays after a difficult period with many tests and nothing better than some holidays to Switzerland, a good country, both with a beautiful scenery, the beautiful Alps, and something I also like: chocolate! My Easter was spent in family with my parents and an uncle living in Bex, Switzerland, Easter was a good week with many, chocolates, almonds and the most important thing :family!
Davide Ribeiro 9ªA Nº7

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On my first week of Easter Holidays, I helped my mom with "easter cleaning". It feels so good being in bed a little bit longer more that the usual. The second week was to relax. I read a book of Patrick Suskind, which I loved, I listened to some music, played on my computer, saw some movies, and hanged out with my cousin that has the same age as me. We played football and some other sports, we also played cards.
I think that the holidays were good but really really small!
Now, I have to come back to my old routine and work hard to increase or just keep my grades!
Sofia Magalhães
 
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On these holidays I didn´t do anything special, I just did the usual at home with my little brothers. When I´m at home I listen to music, I watch TV, I clean my house and, of course, I play with my sister and brothers.
Even staying at home I had a good time, because the weather was hot and I love the sun, because when it is sunny I can relax.
On Easter day I had a good time too because I was with my family.
I spent my Easter holidays at home but I still had a great time.
Diana Mota

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On these Easter holidays I didn´t travel, but they were still fun.
On the first week of my holidays I helped my mother cleaning our house. And on the second week  it was really cool, too.
On that second week my parents were at home and I did lots of things with them, I worked in the garden, and I bought a cat.
On the last days of the holidays I studied and I played with my brand new cat! These Easter holidays were simple, but fun.
Patricia 9ºA Nº21

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On my Easter Holidays,I have been in my grandfather's home.
On these two weeks of Easter, I have studied, I have done the homework, I have ridden my bicycle with my friends and I have played computer.
On the Easter day, in the morning, I woke up and got up early and I have kissed the cross of Jesus.
In the afternnon I had lunch in my grandfather´s home and I socialized with my family.
I liked my Easter holidays, because they have been fun and I have eaten amny chocolates and almonds...
José Carlos Cunha nº11 9ºD

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My Easter Holidays were good but I´d like to have done more things. The holidays are always good because we rest, sleep much, we're with friends and the best is that we do not have classes.  My Easter vacations were spent almost every day with my friends, we had fun too, played football, played playstation and played snooker. When I was alone at home I usually watched television or played computer games and watched videos on the Internet.
Easter Day was good but I had to get up very early and it was hard because I like sleeingp, but then I got  up and it was a really fun day as I spent it with my family which is very fun.
Bruno Ismael Nº3/9ºA
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My Easter holidays were good, because I could relax during the 2nd term. Right at the beginning of the vacation I went to a camp of scouts. It was great fun although it was very tiring. During the week after Easter everything went smoothly: I played computer, watched television and worked in my real farm. Unable to forget the religious aspect, I could help in the celebrations of Easter and even on Easter day I went with the "compasso". So after a good vacation, I am ready to return to school to finish 9th grade.
Pedro Amaral, 9ºD

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My Easter holidays were normal, there was nothing special.
On the first week, I slept even more than usual, I was with some friends, lots of times we talked on the phone, etc..
On the second week, I went riding a horse every day, I love horses, and it is there that I feel good.
On Easter Sunday I was with my family and some friends whom I hadn't seen for a long time.
And so tese were my holidays and my Easter.
Ana Sousa nº2, 9ºD

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Easter Holidays arrived and it was great. I was so tired of school, that they had come exactly in time.
On the first week I went to Torres Vedras for a national championship of chess, where my cousin participated.
Later I almost always stayed at home, because the weather did not help. Anyway, I had fun and I spent some days in Aveiro.
On the second week, I went to Vila Praia de Ancora. In the end of the vacations I did the homewok and unfortunately the holidays were over.
They were good and I had time to rest and to study English.
José Luís Bessa, 9ºA

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I’ve always been fascinated by Canada and its nature: big rivers, green valleys, great lakes, and so on. But I never actually saw anything about the towns, the architecture, etc.
Two weeks ago, on Easter holidays I went to Canada to visit in particular the region of Quebec and its homonymous town.
First of all it’s a very populated town, the second largest one after Montreal. Then, I discovered the Château Frontenac, a historic hotel which dominates the city skyline and it’s really a wonderful piece of architecture!
Also, I didn’t really know that the Montmorency Falls are actually about 30m higher than the most famous Niagara Falls! They’re located very close to Quebec City itself. That is a marvelous place to visit. My holidays were marvellous.
Pedro Diogo Claro Moreira, nº 24 9º A

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My Easter holidays were good. On the first week I rested and relaxed at home, forgetting the school, tests and timetables. On Easter Sunday, I was with my family and I ate the usual confectionery. The second week after Easter was like the first, but this week I spent more time with my parents than the first because they had worked the previous week. So I started to prepare my return to school and I also saw my grades from the previous term. My Easter holidays were not very interesting, but they were good to relax and forget about school. But I hated the holidays because they were too small ...

Pedro Silva, 9ºA
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These Easter holidays were great, I was in a campsite where I go every year. There I played football as well as PC.
What I liked most was being with my friends, with whom I had not been since summer and I had a lot of fun with them.
On the days I was home I slept late, for the academic year is very tiring.
The holiday was good until Monday came and I had to go to school and everything ended.
Eduardo, 9ºD
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On these Easter holidays I didn´t travel, but they were still fun.
On the first week of my holidays I helped my mother cleaning our house. And the second week it wasn´t really cool, either.
On the second week my parents were at home and I did lots of things with them, I worked in the garden, and I bought a cat.
On the last days of the holidays I studied and I played with my brand new cat! These Easter holidays were simple, but a little funny.
Patricia 9ºA Nº21

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My Easter holidays were fun, although the weather onthe first 2 weeks  was not the best, but they were not spoiled, because holidays are holidays . What I liked most about these holidays was being with my friends and going to the Algarve with my brother.
The afternoons were excellent, all together, telling those stories without fun, but we do laugh anyway, our snacks, the walks, those calls, those smiles were few but excellent days.
Basically these were my Easter holidays.
Now until now I miss sleeping late and waking up late, those afternoons, being relaxed and not having to worry about tests and lessons: D.
They were my holidays.
Beatriz Pacheco  Nº5 / 9ºD

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My holidays were very good. For me the holidays are always good, however, and I took many photos. I went to visit some freinds with whom I haven't been for a long time.It was so fun that I liked to take more holidays.
On the first week I did not like my free time, because of all the cleaning work that we had to do on this occasion. But the second week after Easter was better because it was more like a walk with my best friend, with whom I  rarely am with, it was a catch up. We went to the park and had great fun.
I really enjoyed these holidays in 2010.
Cristiana Alves 9ºA nº6

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Hy, my name is Ricardo Campos and I am fourteen years old. I am a student and as all students of the world I am “blessed” with holidays.
During my Easter holidays I had time to do many things. I always thought that the main pleasure of our holidays is the time to rest and relax. But now I think that we can do a lot of many things during this time.
On  the first week I was always playing with my cousins Miguel and Beatriz. We played PlayStation, we played football and sometimes a little of basketball just because Beatriz is now a basketball player. I really like to be with them because we really have  fun. Sometimes, during holidays, we went to the shopping with my aunt and while she was shopping we went to the cinema. In the end it was still time to taste an ice cream.
I must confess that I spent almost all of my days with my cousins. I remember that I went to my godmother house in Oporto, and they went with me. It was great. We walked around there and we went to the cinema one more time. We watched "Como treinar um dragão".This film was not only fun but also amazing because it was a 3D technology. In my godmother`s house we were always playing or doing something fun. I really have to go there. I think that we spent two or three days there and it was amazing. But then I had to come back home because of Easter Sunday.
Usually at my grandmother´s house we receive a lot of people. A lot of people of my family come there and I must confess that sometimes I do not recognize some of them. They are so many...
so on that day we talk to each other and wait for Jesus Christ´s visit. When he arrives we kiss him and pray a little. After that we have a big meal outside the house, in the terrace. This year the meal took place in the kitchen because it seemed that it was going to rain.
In spite of the rain it was funny and comfortable.
I used the last days of my holidays to relax and to rest.
Ricardo Campos Nº24 9ºD





 

Friday, April 16, 2010

In LOnDoN!



I really liked the trip to London. I think that it was a different trip because in spite of going to new and amazing places, we were with our friends. London left us good memories from the first to the last day. Being in several important and worldwide known places was very rewarding and I think most people felt small in the middle of it all.
I really liked the show “we will rock you”. It was the most beautiful musical I’ve ever seen! I think everyone should have the chance to see it because it’s really amazing! The dancing was well coordinated, there were excellent singers, it had live music and especially the songs of Queen make the show something very big.
Another thing that I liked too was going to the Hard Rock store. I think it is wonderful. It is really the world of music where there are the instruments of fantastic musicians from all over the world.

Ânia Coelho nº2, 9ºA
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On these Easter holidays I had lots of fun and I did lots of different things. On the first week I went to the Algarve and I went to the beach,enjoying the sun because the weather was quiete nice. I also relaxed a lot and went out with my family.We had a great time together.

On thursday before Easter I came back to Lousada to do some shopping.
Then,I helped my mother doing some traditional Easter cakes and I spent the Easter Sunday at my grandmothers' with all my family.
On the second week I went on a School Trip to London. We went on Wednesday and travelled by plane. It was just amazing!
I visited lots of huge historical monuments like Big Ben, Tower Bridge, Tower of London, Art Gallery,Trafalgar square, Buckingham Palace, Madame Tussaud's, London Eye and many others.
I saw lots of famous actors( in wax) and I had lots of fun taking pictures with all of them, at Madame Tussaud's.
I also visited the Science and History Museum and I saw a musical at the Queen's Theatre "We Will Rock You"- this was what struck me the most- I loved it!
I went to a lot of pubs with my friends and we tried some typical food but I didn't enjoy it very much. I liked Oxford Street where I did some shopping and brought some souvenirs. I had never gone but to London before, but I always had a lot of curiosity about this. I also liked to stay together with my friends and teachers at the Hotel.

In my view London is a different city, where I learnt a bit more about the English culture, and I found  it very interesting.
I loved London and my Easter holidays! :-)

Laura 9ºD

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My Easter Holidays were very special, but too short- only two weeks.
On the first week I was very anxious and always busy with the arrangements for the trip that the school would make. We travelled sixty students and three teachers to London.We did a wonderful five day journey. We arrived to London on the 7th of a April and we came back to Portugal on the 12th.
The five days that we spent there were simply marvellous and unforgettable.
We visited some of the most beautiful monuments and museums of the world, like Madame Tussaud´s that is the most famous wax museum of the world ,The Natural History Museum where all the things inside seem real ..We also ride the London Eye and visited The Tower Bridge that was amazing .One of the nights we went to see a musical and I loved the songs, the performers, the dances and the scenery.
The worst part of this trip was the fact that we had to get up early every single day.
The breakfast was at 8´o ´clock and our task to be ready at that hour was impossible, because we spent our nights walking from room to room making enormous noise, but we always had the teachers chasing us.
To go to the places that we had to visit we travelled by subway, that is awesome. There are people always entering and leaving the subway .We loved to watch the people that were on the subway, their behaviour, the hurry, the air of ,the worries of the people ,the stress that could be seen on the carriage .
I loved this trip. I loved my fellow-travellers .I loved the social contact .I loved everything that I visited. I loved every moment and everything in this trip, but what I loved most were the Londoners, everyone with his proper style without any concerns with what the other people could think.
Luisa Sofia nº 16 9º D

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I spent my first week of Easter holidays with my parents and my friends in Vizela. There, we did some sports and we were together almost the whole week.
In the second week it was cooler. I went to London and we saw many icons of this country, we spent big and funny nights and we did lots of cool stuff. We went to the London Eye, the museum of Natural History, to the British Museum but my favourite place was the Hard Rock store because I love rock n' roll! I saw the guitars of many famous guitar players and I bought a t-shirt there!
My holidays were very nice and I loved the trip to London!
Paulo Ferreira 9ºA

Wednesday, April 07, 2010

It was only a matter of time, by Cláudia Leite

It was only a matter of time. She knew that. She felt it deep inside of her. Though she didn’t want to leave, she wasn’t afraid. She sat down on her bed, closed her eyes and began to remember.
They were friends for a long time. She couldn’t remember one single fight they had. Everybody wanted a friendship like that one but when they were told about this, they just smiled. They were always together; they didn’t keep secrets from each other and, sometimes, it was just too perfect to believe that was true.
One day, they went to the cinema together and, at the end of the film, they decided to go for a walk. They were talking about the movie they have just seen and they started to talk about the moment they met. Years have passed since that day but it seemed like it was yesterday.
- You’ve changed my life and I love you. – she suddenly said.
He stopped walking and gazed into her eyes. – You love me?! Uau…
- You look surprised. – she looked down to the floor.
- Yeah. More than a lot.
- I had no idea. I thought I was just another one.
- No, you’re not. You know you aren’t.
- Why?
- Because you’ve changed my life. And a person who does that can’t be just another one. You aren’t just another one. Did you understand?
- Yes, I did. But I changed your life in the past, when we met. Now I do nothing.
- You mean a lot to me. – she started to be nervous with him. They sat on a park bench. – I still love you. You’ll be always in my heart. No matter if you want to or not. I can’t take you away from there.
- I know. And you represent exactly the same to me. But it was some years ago. Now I’m nothing. I belong to your past.
She started losing her patience. – So, following that kind of thoughts, I’m nothing for you too. Am I right?
- No, you’re wrong. I’m different than everybody. I live in the past.
- So do I. You mean a lot to me. Believe it.
He kissed her cheek. – You’re so cute.
- See what you made me to say. I hate saying this kind of stupid things.
- Oh, don’t say that. The world is starting to miss good feelings and people like you.
She blushed a little. – Don’t say that. I’m like the others. I’m just another one walking on this world. And when I leave it no one will remember me. I’m just another one that spent a few years walking on this earth.
- If no one remembers you after your death that’s because I’m already dead. But I will expect you on heaven’s door.
- Don’t forget what you’re saying because I won’t. And if I’ll go first I will be there waiting for you.
- I hope you keep your promise. One of my qualities is having good memory.
- And if you go to hell, I’ll go with you. Because since you were there, every single place becomes perfect.
- God. Now I don’t know what to say. Thank you.
- No, don’t say that. Say anything but that. You can’t thank me for being honest. But it’s true. You’re really important to me, more than I could ever think or want to. – she had tears in her eyes. She meant every single word she said.
- I’m completely lost by now. All I have to say is thank you. You left me with no words.
She remembered that talk so clearly. It showed how strong their friendship was. She didn’t want him to suffer but she couldn’t do anything to avoid what was about to happen.
She still was in her bed, with her eyes closed and grabbed her mobile phone. She only had time to text something before her last sigh. She left so quietly that no one realized what had happened. Somehow, she already knew that was going to happen.
On that moment, he was on his bedroom, playing computer games. He heard his phone ringing, announcing a text message. He didn’t want to stop what he was doing but after a few seconds he read the message. It was short but left him dead inside:

“I’ll be waiting for you. Never forget me. Love you.”

This message was enough. Deep inside, he knew what happened. It all made sense on his head. Like her, he remembered the talk they had had on that park bench. And he didn’t have to wait a lot to have the confirmation. His phone was ringing again. It was her mother.
- Hi. Listen, I don’t have good news for you… - she seemed to be a little bit confused, as if she didn’t know what to say.
- I already know what happened.
- How? – she seemed surprised. – I mean, how do you know if I and her father are the only ones who do?
- I just did. I felt it. She sent me a text message saying goodbye.
- A typical attitude from her. Well, come here when you can.
- I will. Bye.
- Bye.
He hung up. How could the world be so unfair? She didn’t deserve that and now he was alone. What was he going to do now? He lost his friend, his partner, his everything… And he could never get her back. He grabbed his coat and left home. He wanted to be alone and went straight to the bench where they had had that talk. If the stories his grandmother told them about the ghosts coming back to watch out the ones they cared the most were true, so she could only be there. He laid down on the bench, looked at the sky and even without realizing it he was talking, he said, like he was answering to the message she had sent him:
- Wait for me, sweetie, I’ll soon be there with you. You’ll always be in my heart and I will never, ever, forget you. And love you too, with every single cell in my body.
He stopped talking and closed his eyes. The tears flowed freely on his face.

Cláudia Leite 11ºB

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

London... Here we go!


This is one of the sights that we are going to be able to see from 7th to 11th April! 60 students and 5 teachers from Escola Secundária de Lousada are going to visit London these Easter holidays! I am going to post some pictures when we come back! London, get ready... here we go!

Friday, March 19, 2010

Mark Gungor - Men's Brain Women's Brain



The hilarious standup about the differences between men's brain and women's brain. A good topic for debate in class!

Monday, March 08, 2010

Just thinking about the future, by Cláudia Leite 11ºB

My English lesson made me think. We were talking about career choices and I realized that I don’t know what I want to be. Well, I’m sure I don’t want to be a doctor or an engineer or a nurse, but I don’t have any idea of what I want to become in the near future. Actually, I don’t even want to go to the university. I don’t see myself within two or three years with lots of heavy books under my arm, walking on the campus of some university in some part of the country. And believe me, I should be worried about this issue because heavy books are what I love the most and lots of them is even better. But I’m not excited; it doesn’t make me feel good or anxious. Only makes me feel bad, sad and I start losing my hope. Please, don’t ask me why because I don’t know the answer for that question. The only thing I know is “I want to give up”.
My English teacher said, today: “Cláudia, if YOU want to give up, what would your friends do?” Here is my answer: “I know, teacher, the skills I have, I know my grades, but they are falling down. And that’s what I want to do. Just quit.”
Portugal should have a “gap year”. That would be really good. I know what I would do in that case. I would go to England work as a babysitter, for example, and think about my future. When I came back, I would decide what I would do. I think that would help me.
I can’t stay on this situation. I have to start thinking about my future. I just have one more year to think and a year goes so fast.
Though I am so undecided, I have a few ideas. Like I said before, medicine and engineering is out of the question. And with my recent experience on lectures, which I loved, I was wondering if I could do something where I interact with people. But I think I’m not on the right area. I should go to human sciences. But I’m not going back now. It’s a little bit too late. Probably later I can be back.
I don’t know what to do. I am so confused and the idea of giving up still appears like the light at the end of the tunnel, the huge and dark tunnel which is my life. And though I know that giving up is the best solution, I know it’s the worst, it is so seductive…

Thursday, February 25, 2010

Suddenly I see!



This is the original video, if you want to watch it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=og1Bxp6q3Co

The song you listened to in class!
Have fun!

Thursday, January 14, 2010

Shopaholic?


What is compulsive shopping?

Compulsive shoppers, or shopaholics, have in recent years been spotlighted on television programs and women’s magazines. They have become topics of conversation in the realm of pop psychology. While the media sometimes uses the term loosely or in an off-handed manner, a true compulsive shopper suffers from a very real, and sometimes very frightening, lack of self-control.


Without a doubt, we live in a very “spend-happy” society. As a whole, we are living above our means and many of us are drowning in debt. Many people, no matter their level of income, view shopping as a hobby. They take weekend-long shopping excursions, spend money they do not have, and often regret their purchases the next day. Does this mean that they have a problem? Not necessarily.


A true shopaholic shops out of compulsion. They will make purchases long after they are over their heads in debt. They shop when they are feeling emotionally distressed, and use spending as a coping mechanism. They do not shop because they merely enjoy it, or because they are purchasing things that they have a need for. They buy things because they feel they HAVE to. A shopaholic is out of control.

Read more here and do the Quiz to find out if you are a SHOPAHOLIC!

Thursday, December 17, 2009

Still the cloning issue!

As I think that most people have lack of information about cloning I decided to be more informed.
So to write this text I opened my biology book, I searched in several sites and I will write here my opinion.
During my search I found out that there is cloning in nature since ever. Some plants reproduce through this process because they give origin to beings genetically equal to themselves.
Nowadays we can clone cells that can save the lives of people who need organs´ transplants that can be used to cure diseases like cancer and can help infertile couples to have babies.
The problem is that cloning an entire person isn´t right because society would discriminate the clone, thinking that he is just a copy without value, being called lives of second category.
I confess that it would be strange to me to live with a person who is a clone.
I agree with cells ´cloning but I disagree with the cloning of an entire human being not just because of the facts I referred but also because of the pain they may suffer.


Rita Moura
11ºB nº24

Friday, November 27, 2009

Cloning - a good and a bad thing...

To talk about cloning is not an easy task. We have risks, we have benefits and we have, of course, our personal opinion.

Cloning is good because it can help infertile people to have babies, it can lead us to the cure of many diseases like cancer and, with cloning, we wouldn´t need to use animals on experiments.

But it is bad because we´re not sure that the proces will be succeessful; clones can be discriminated against and a clone can be stranger than we are.

For me, cloning an entire person is wrong because of discrimination that the clones would suffer but also because we are special because we are different and cloning would change that.

However, I agree with the cloning of organs because this process could lead us to the development of cures of diseases like cancer.



Cristina Correia 11th B nº 12

My opinion about cloning

In spite of not being much discussed, cloning is a very delicate subject. There are so many benefits as risks and although many people are in favour of cloning, there are people who refuse to accept it.

Cloning isn’t a magical way of creating life, but it has benefits like saving many lives, cure diseases and let infertile couples have biological children of their own. In plants, cloning would help to produce high yielding crops, resistant to droughts and pests. Cloning animals could preserve endangered species and prevent hunger of humans.

Those who are against cloning justify it mainly with ethical and religion issues, like make persons replaceable or create something that only god could create in a unique way. But there are scientific risks, for example, cloning human beings can go wrong and produce deformed offspring or the most cloned animals would die before they are born or younger than normal animals. Plants with modified DNA are called trangenic. Genetically modified food has a possible inherent toxicity to people or wildlife and has tendency to provoke an allergic reaction.

Cloning technology will help, like I said before, infertile persons having babies and more than that, the organ transplants could save many people. I don’t think cloning has the potential to hurt someone, unless a person is forced to be submitted to cloning, and from this point of view only animals will be harmed because they aren’t capable of expressing themselves.

For me and for my family cloning should be approved by governments, but only for medical purposes, such as transplants. Maybe others will judge me, because to save a person I’ll be killing another (that is the clone), and for this I don’t have an answer. I think we have to wait and hope scientists find a good solution which includes not kill or hurt anyone.

Joana Barbosa 11th G

What are the possible implications of cloning to society?


The cloning issue is an issue that is much discussed. Some people support it, some people don’t. It’s what their moral tells them.
Cloning embryos can have advantages like the chance of developing a cure for cancer, those cells can help infertile people to have babies and make possible the chance of replacing our pets or endangered species.
But it has its disadvantages too. Most cloned animals die before they are born or younger than normal animals and one thing I think essential, cloning makes us all less special – the concept of being replaceable.
Of course, technology is an important factor on cloning. Technological advances allow us to evolve on research.
I don’t agree with cloning an organism and I have a few arguments to support my belief like those I presented before but the most important is the concept of being replaceable. I don’t care if it is black, white, woman or man… Each one of us is irreplaceable, we are what we are, whether we like it or not.
But I agree with cloning cells or organs because we can find the cure for many diseases and it’s “insurance” for us.
And we know scientists can clone skin on a laboratory but with the advance of technology we can hope that other organs may start being cloned like, who knows, the heart.


Cláudia Leite no 11 11th B

Friday, November 20, 2009

Cloning

picture
Today, cloning is a very serious topic.
There are people who believe that this science can change our lives for the better. However I think we need to be careful about its consequences.
There are people who say that cloned cells can be used to cure some diseases or to help infertile people.
On the contrary, I feel that there could be lots of disadvantages. I think that cloning can create situations where people are disrespected, because scientists may try “to build” the perfect human being.
So far, the experiences that we have seen are far from being perfect.
Personally, I think that governments should try to control these actions; otherwise things will be out of control.
Of course, I understand that when someone is suffering from a serious disease he/she wants to be saved.
Even so, I defend that we need to be careful about cloning.


Carlos Paiva, nº9 11ºD

Cloning: good or bad?


Clones are more susceptible to many genetic defects, illness and death yet it could be argued that the same conditions can, and do occur in beings born through the natural process of procreation. Cloned animals have reproduced and given birth to normal healthy offspring. Even cloning from an aged animal doesn´t create an aged clone. Diseases are normal. Whether a being is created from sperm and egg or cloned from a single cell fused with an egg cell form which the genes have been removed, there is no assurance that abnormalities may not occur.
Science may need experimentation in order to advance but other beings will always suffer from the advancement of technology, we reach an impasse where we must face the issues of human rights and animal rights as well. Therapeutic cloning is an alternative way of medical advancement that can offer hope to many people who suffer from conditions that otherwise would have no cure, so in my opinion cloning is not a disadvantage but an advantage for most people.

Diogo Moreira nº14 11ºB

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

A stranger in my head...

How can that be possible? How can I think about him all the time? Why can't I get him out of my head?
He's a complete stranger for me. I've talked to him once or twice but his face refuses to abandon my mind. Everytime I try to think about something else, I just can't. It's not possible for me. and I want to know why.
"Is this love what I'm feeling? This must be love what I'm searching for. Is this love or am I dreaming..." The radio sings and I turned it off.
It's not love what I'm feeling. it can't be. Like I said, he's a complete stranger.
Oh, God, come on, it's not fair for me. Damn it! It's always there. How can I forget him?Why doesn't he leave my mind? I hate him for making me think about him all the time. I just can't stop. It's something I can't do.
My heart screams that this is really love but my head doesn't want to accept that. I don't want to accept that.
Now, I'll try to sleep and most important, I'll try to erase that boy from my heart and my head . If that is possible...


Cláudia Leite, nº11, 11ºB

No title

When I wake up
And see the sun shinning on my window
Knowing that there won't be war anymore
Hunger is over
Hatred, anger, awe, anguish
Don't live on Man's heart anymore
That everyone realised that they were brothers
And give their hands and go through the world...
It will be an almost perfect day
Because just when I was by your side
In your arms
Wrapped in your hug
On that moment I'll have the power to stop the time
And taste that with you forever
Forever by your side...



Cláudia Leite, nº 11, 11ºB

Saturday, October 17, 2009

Kids are quick!

TEACHER: Maria, go to the map and find North America .
MARIA: Here it is.
TEACHER: Correct. Now class, who discovered America ?
CLASS: Maria.
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TEACHER: John, why are you doing your math multiplication on the floor?
JOHN: You told me to do it without using tables.
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TEACHER: Glenn, how do you spell 'crocodile?'
GLENN: K-R-O-K-O-D-I-A-L'
TEACHER: No, that's wrong
GLENN: Maybe it is wrong, but you asked me how I spell it.

(I Love this kid)
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TEACHER: Donald, what is the chemical formula for water?
DONALD: H I J K L M N O.
TEACHER: What are you talking about?
DONALD: Yesterday you said it's H to O.
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TEACHER: Winnie, name one important thing we have today that we didn't have ten years ago.
WINNIE: Me!
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TEACHER: Glen, why do you always get so dirty?
GLEN: Well, I'm a lot closer to the ground than you are.
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TEACHER: Millie, give me a sentence starting with ' I. '
MILLIE: I is..
TEACHER: No, Millie..... Always say, 'I am.'
MILLIE: All right... 'I am the ninth letter of the alphabet.'
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TEACHER: George Washington not only chopped down his father's cherry tree, but also admitted it. Now, Louie, do you know why his father didn't punish him?
LOUIS: Because George still had the axe in his hand.
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TEACHER: Now, Simon, tell me frankly, do you say prayers before eating?
SIMON: No sir, I don't have to, my Mom is a good cook.
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TEACHER: Clyde , your composition on 'My Dog' is exactly the same as your brother's. Did you copy his?
CLYDE : No, sir. It's the same dog.
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TEACHER: Harold, what do you call a person who keeps on talking when people are no longer interested?
HAROLD: A teacher
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