This is the end...

Doctor Who Day

Doctor Who Day 

Last weekend I went to the "Doctor who day" in Barcelona. Three months ago, I made a post about the TV show "Doctor who" And I said that I'm a huge fan. I also commented that the show is divided in two parts: from 1963 to 1989 and from 2005 to the present day, so this year is the tenth annyversary of the new series. In Spain, the "Club Català de ciència Ficció Fantasia i Fàndom" organized a thematic weekend with activities related to the British show, and I obviouly went to it.
There were some conferences, Q&A, contests, photo shoots, signings, concerts... And much more!
My favourite conferences were the one about the regenerations of the Doctor and the one about the books of the show in Spanish.
There were some special guests too, like Peter Roy ( An actor who appeared in Doctor Who, Star Wars, James Bond, Harry Potter, Superman, Indiana Jones...) and Andrew Cartmel (A novelist, screenwriter and writer of comics) and others, but my favourite is Sergi Páez. He is the creative director at Vision Factory Entertainment Studios, fan of Doctor who and the science-fiction, writer and director of the first Spanish Fanfict series about the Doctor, "The No-Nose Dog Project". When I heard that he was coming I was excited, so I took one of his books and he signed it to me.
But that wasn't the best: Sunday afternoon was the theater contest, and I was not enrolled because I was not interested on it. I met two girs and we became friends, and we were going to the room where the contest was conducted, but we arrived almost one hour late so we just could see the two last participants (The contest was played by pairs) And then, the presenter said: "Ok, so since we have Sergi Páez here, and he is a famous screenwriter, he must improvise some screenplay and we could take volunteers to represent it"  And I raised my hand. But nobody else raised his hand. So the presenter said "As it seems like no one wants, Sergi will do it and I'll invent the screenplay" When we finished, I was so embarrassed, but that was over, or that was what I thought... We won! I couldn't believe it! I wasn't even enrolled on it!
Anyway, there were two awards, one for each of us, but we had to decide who was taking which. And how to decide? Doing another performances duel. Guess what? I won again! That was amazing!

My ideology

Feminism

In one of my last posts I said that I'm a bit feminist. I decided to be feminist when I was 13 years old and I realized about the gender inequality, and I'm not speaking about underdeveloped countries, I'm speaking about EEUU, the UK and obviously Spain.
Today, feminism is an unpopular word, through the point of view of the people, the feminists are seen as too strong, too aggressive and anti-men. Well, the more I spoke about feminism, the more I realized that fighting for women's rights has too often become synonymous with man-hating, and that's ridiculous! Because, what people don't know is that feminism by definition is literally the belief that men and woman should have the same rights and opportunities. That means political, economic and social equality for the sexes.
I have girl friends that left their favourite sports: basketball, football... and all because they didn't want to seem muscly. I have boy friends who are 17 or 18 years old that are unable to express their feelings. Do you thing that's normal?
Once I told these thoughts to the head teacher at my school and I was pleased to see that she agreed with me, although she doesn't consider herself a feminist. She said that actually, our society  somehow "compels" us to do it.
Did you know that woman in Spain are paid on average 25% less than men? I think is right I'm paid the same as the men, I think it's right that I should be able to make decisions about my own body.
There are some campaigns which fight for gender equality, like HeForShe, but it's not enough, it's important to know that without the help of men we won't obtain equality.

The no-books of Keri Smith

THE NO-BOOKS OF KERI SMITH

Today I'm going to talk about Keri Smith and her books, or rather her no-books as she call them.
Keri Smith is an author, illustrator and a guerrilla artist, which means that she creates street art. She is also a freelance illustrator and has most recently worked for "Random House", "The Washington Post", "The New York Times" as well as for companies like "Ford Motor Company"
Her writing is usually on the topic of creativity.  The first book of Keri Smith that I bought was "Wreck this journal" As the title sais, is a journal that you can wreck. It's an illustrated book that features a subversive collection of prompts, asking the readers to must up their best mess making habilities to fill the pages of the book and destroy them.
Through the pages of this book you can do things like add photos and defacing them, paint with coffee and more in order to experience the true creative process.
The second book of this autor that I bought was "This in not a book" this no-book can be a lot of things, for example a secret message, I remember that in one of the firts pages I had to tear out a page, write a note on it for a stranger, and leave it in a public place. In other of the pages I had to write the name of everyone I contacted that day, and other page asked me to create as many sounds as I can using the book, like flipping the pages fast or slapping the cover.
There are many photos about the things you can do with the journal:

Now you see me

NOW YOU SEE ME

"Now you see me" is my favourite film. I love it so much because it's not the typical gooey love story like "The Noah's diary" (I HATE that film!) This year, in 2015, we'll can see the second part of this amazing film, I've been waiting for ages!
"Now you see me" its about four street magicians who don't know each other: Danny, Merrittt, Henley and Jack, and who are brought together  by an unknow benefactor. One year later, they are in Las Vegas performing as "The four Horsemen". For the final of their first show they say they'll rob a bank, and they choise a random udience member, Étienne Forcier. This person was French, so it seemed almost impossible to do it, because his bank was "Le Credit Republicain" in Paris. Étienne is apparently teleported to his bank in France, where he activates an air duct that vacuums the money and showers it onto the Las Vegas crowd. (I know, really awesome)
So, upon the discovery that the money is really missing, an FBI agent is called to investigate the theft and is partnered with and interpol agent. They obviously arrest the Horsement but they're  forced to release them because they haven't got evidences.
The two agents, Dylan and Alma meet Thaddeus Bradley (performered by the famous actor Morgan Freeman) He is a former magician who professionally reveals the secrets behind other magicians tricks.
I'm not going to reveal anymore, I've say too much spoilers, if you want to know more, you will have to see the film but be careful, they're magicians, don't trust: Come in closer, because the more you think you see, the less you will see...

My trip to Rome II

My trip to Rome II

Another site we saw was the Vatican City, which is where the pope lives. The city is only 0,29 square miles and have a population of obout 140 people. We saw the pope in the popemobile and I think we were so fortunate to see him, even just from far. 

In Vatican City there is  also a thing called Saint Peter's Basilica, the most famous basilica in all of the world. We only saw it from outside, because it closed at four and the row was incredibly long.

However, we can saw the Sistine Chapel, a chapel which on ceiling contains a very famous painting of the creation of man by Migel Angelo. When we went, there were many guards and they all told us that we can't take photos. 

Before that, when we were waiting to visit the Vatican Museum, we were in the row so bored and with an awful foot pain, and then we started to speak with the people behind us. They were a young girl and a young boy very nice and friendly from England. Javier said to him some numbers and he asked to him what was the connection between those numbers. The english boy thought hard, but he didn't realize that were prime numbers. Javier asked him what was his job, and he said: "I'm a magician!" We looked very surprised, so his girlfriend gave him a pen and he started to make several tricks. The truth is that made more funny to us the three hours of row.

My trip to Rome

My trip to Rome I

Last week, I went to Rome with my class and two teachers. It was awesome!
Monday, at one o'clock, a bus took us from Vinaros to Barcelona, and there we traveled by plane to Italy. We arrived to the hotel at eight o'clock, we left our luggage and then we started the path with our guide Ruth.
We saw the Colosseum, an ancient Roman arena where they pitted criminals to fight to the death against anything from fierce creatures to Roman soldiers. We also saw the Trevi fountain where it's said to be good luck to throw a coin in while facing the other way, but when we went there it was under renovatoin, so we can't saw it as well as usual.
My trip to Rome had obviously great food. I ate pizza, pasta, brusquette, lasagna... And lots of gelato! But we had bad foods too, for dinner we went to a restaurant called "Il dolfino" It was terrible! Maybe I thought so because I use to eat fantastic italian food at home because my father is talian and my mother is a chef, but I didn't enjoy that restaurant.
The first day, something funny happened to us: we were resting near the Pantheon (I think) and a rastafarian man approached us and he gave us some bracelets. It was so funny to hear him talk, he spoke a mixture of Spanish, Italian and English.

What would you do if you won €200,000?

What would you do if you won €200,00?

If I won €200,000 I would be excited. First of all I'd save a part for my studies, I'd like to study in a prestigious international university, probably in the UK.
Next, I'd buy lots of nice clothes for myself. I'd also buy a motorbike and I'd pay for the license classes.
I'd buy some things that I always wanted but I never can buy because they were so expensive like funny merchandising.
I wouldn't spend all the money on myself. I would take my parents on a holiday, and I'd buy a new laptop for my sister, I'd also pay her some professional design classes.
I think I'm a bit feminist, so I'd give some money to a charity that helps womens who don't have the same rights as us.
Oh! And don't forget the full-body shower that I'd put on the bathroom.
I think the money would change me, unfortunately, it's normal if you suddenly become rich.

Doctor who

                            DOCTOR WHO

When I was nine years old I saw a TV show in Scify (a channel) and I fell in love with it. The programme relate the adventures of The Doctor, the last time lord, a kind of humanoid alien who travels through time and space with his ship, the TARDIS (Time And Relative Dimension In Space) In the exterior, this ship, seems like a blue British police box, but its bigger on the inside.
The Doctor rarely travels alone, he has normaly a companion, a human companion as he has found a fascination with the planet earth. He tries to prevent evil forces from harming inocent people and often, he changes history. He has gained a lot of enemies during his travels too, like the Daleks or the Ciberman.
I learned a lot of history with Doctor who too, in his travels, he met many historical and mythological characters, like Winston Churchill, Nefertiti, Neron, Marco Polo, Elizabeth I of England, Shakespeare, Luis XV of France, Madame de Pompadour, Napoleon, Lincoln, van Gogh, Einstein, Hitler, Agatha Christie, Nixon... wow I've never stopped to think how many important people appears!
Doctor who is the longest TV programme, with 50 years, and it has winned lots of awards. Maybe you are wondering how it could remain for all those years. The actors don't grow up? To solve this and to continue the show, the writers gave the doctor, as a time lord, the ability to regenerate when his body dies, taking on a new appearence. During all the fifty years of the programme, twelve actors have been in the role of the Doctor, and this year, they will be thirteen.
If you are a big fan of James Bond, you know what it is to see the same character but with different actors. My favourites are those performered by David Tennant and Matt Smith, because I think they are the funniest doctors.

I found some funny moments:

The Mortal Instruments II

                     The Mortal Instruments II

City of Fallen Angels:
After a war, the Mortal War, is over, Clary returns to New York. She is training to be a shadowhunter and to use her unique power: she can create runes, a kind of drawings that give them supernatural habilities. She rescued her mother and discovered the truth, so she can finally call Jace her boyfriend. But nothing comes without a price, someone in killing the shadowhunters who used to be on Valentine's circle provoking tensions that could lead to a second war.
The mother of Simon has just found that he's a vampire and he is homeless. At the same time, he is dating two beautiful dangerous girls... As you can imagine, he ended badly ;)
And what about Jace? He begins to pull away from Clary  without explaining why.
Clary has to enfront a demon, Lilith who captures Jace at the end of the book.

City of Lost souls:
The demon has been destroyed, and Jace is free form his captivity, but when the shadowhunters arrive to rescue him, they only see blood. When he returns, Jace is no longer the boy that Clary loved, he has becomed what he most feared, a true servant of Valentine. Only a few people still thinking that Jace can still be saved. Their only chance of cutting Jace free is to challenge heaven and hell, a risk that could claim any, or all of heir lives, but is more difficult with Clary, who has gone into the darkness. What she didn't know was that she will lose her life and Jace's soul for that. (Now you know why is called "city of lost souls")

City of heavenly fire: 
I haven't read this book. Wait. It doesn't sound well... I'll try again: I haven't read this book yet. That sounds better, because I'm going to read it, I don't know when, but I'll do it, so for now, I can't say nothing about it.

I love all the books of The Mortal Instruments, the have action, adventures, love... And lots of surprises. My favourite character is Simon because he is a freak and I identify with him, he is also the funniest. Sometimes I feel like I'm reading a soap opera, but it's too awesome to stop readig. I really recommend it!

The Mortal Instruments I

                        The Mortal Instruments I

On the last post I writed about a book that I don't like, now, I'm talking about a book that I enjoyed very much: The Mortal Instruments (Cazadores de sombras), a fantasy novels written by Cassandra Clare.
Now there are six books:

City of Bones:
The main character is Clarissa Fray a normal girl who loves spending time with her best friend Simon. When she heads out to the Pandemonium club in New York City, she sees a murderer committed by three teenagers covered with odd markings. This is Clary's first meeting with the shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons. It's also her first meeting with Jace Herondale and his friends, the brothers Alec and Isabelle Lightwood. During this book, Clary discovers that she is a shadowhunter and she falls in love with Jace.

City of ahes:
In this book new creatures appear: werewolves, vampires, faeries... And her best friend Simon is becoming more than a friend. And maybe you are thinking what about Jace? I'll just say that Clary has found a new brother. Do you think this is complicated? Well... her mother is in a magical induced coma and Clary's only chance to help her is to track down rogue shadowhunter Valentine, who is proably insane, certainly evil, and also her father. I know what you're thinking: What?!

City of glass:
To save her mother, Clary must travel to the city of glass (Maybe you guessed it by the title) She learns that Jace doesn't want her there, and to make things worst Simon is turned into a vampire and thrown in prision by the shadowhunters, they are suspicious because, mysteriously, he can withstand sunlight. Clary discovers more obout the past of her family and she finds an ally mysterious shadowhunter Sebastian. On the other hand, Valentine is wining power to destroy all the shadowhunters forever, so their only chance to defeat him is to fight alongside their eternal enemies.

My sister lives on the mantelpiece

"My sister lives on the mantelpiece" or "Mi hermana vive sobre la repisa de la chimenea" is a novel written by Anabel Pitcher and published in 2011.
Some months ago, our teacher asked us to read this book and today we have had an exam about that, so now, I'll make a summary and I'll make a book review.
James Matthews or Jamie is a ten year old boy who lives with his dad and his elder sister, Jasmine. Jasmine's twin sister was killed in a terrorist attack in Trafalgar Square 5 years ago and Jamie's family has never come to terms with her death. In fact, their parents are separed because his mum had an affair and his dad turned to drink.
Then, after they get divorced, his father moves them to the countryside for a "fresh new start", but when he places Rose's ashes on the mantelpiece Jamie and Jas realize that the past will continue haunting them wherever they go.
In his new school, Jamie meets Sunya, a musulman girl, but the problem is that his father hates musulmans because he thinks that they are responsable of what happened to Rose.
I'm gonna be honest. I didn't enjoy the book, it was so boring! I love reading, but I read this book just because it was required. When I started reading this book, I thought it was so fun to see everyhing  from the point of view of a child, then, I expected for something to happen, an epic outcome, and I waited and waited...and I ended the book! Nothing happened! The most interesting thing that happened was the death of his cat Roger.
Maybe is because I prefer action or adventure novels, but this book really disappointed me.

Email

Hi Jos,
How are things with you? Sorry, I have not written for ages, but I have been very busy preparing my English and French exams, and this Christmas I've been to Zamora and in this village the wi-fi connection  is  horrible.
But I'm here again and the exams are over (I hope I pass them)
This Christmas my parents gave me a new laptop computer and now I am writing to you with it. They gave me an MP3 Player too, it's fantastic!
Enough of me. What have you got received for Christmas? I hope that you get the PC that you wanted. Did you got my present? I sent you a Pablo Alborán CD because I know how much you love him. Do you like it? I loved the T-shirt that you sent me. It's so cute!
What have you been up to? What have you done these holidays? Have you been anywhere interesting? And what about your sister Monica? Is she OK?
Anyway, say hi to her, and write soon with your news.
Love,
Alex.

Fears

                                                                 FEARS

What sends fright in you? As humans, we all are afraid of one thing or another.  It's human nature to react to danger or what we thing is evil, but in many times, it's something that we are incapable of protecting ourselves from.
Fear is an emotion that everione feels as a result of seeing or feeling danger or evil coming to them, it cause anxiety in many people and the reactions are different from one person to another. Sometimes, you want to face what scares you, but sometimes all you want to do is get yourself away from the danger.
Many people are afraid of things like flying, dogs, spiders, rats, clowns, snakes, the death, blood, heights, darkness or thunderstorms, but curiously, I'm not afraid of this ones. Of course, that doesen't means that nothing scares me:
-I am afraid of oncoming trains, that feeling right before a train approaches when the wind is blowing all around you... I have had a lot of nightmares about that.
-I'm afraid I've wasted too much of my life stressing about things that wouldn't matter a week later.
-I'm afraid that if I told somebody that I love them, they would thing it was stupid.
-I'm afraid of not being good enough.
-Now I'm a big fan of Harry Potter, but when I was little, the thing that I was more afraid of was Voldemort and his basilisk.
-I have strange fears too, for exemple I'm afraid of gas masks, ragdolls and stone angels.

Do one thing that scares you every day- Eleanor Roosvelt

My favourite city

                            NEW ORLEANS

New Orleans, la Nouvelle-Orleans or NOLA is a city in Lousiana, United States, and it's located in the Mississippi River delta. The city was named after the Duke of Orleans, who reigned as regent for Luis XV.
It's known for its distinct French and Spanish architecture, and for its cross-cultural and multilingual heritage.
New Orleans is also famous for its cuisine, music (specially for the jazz) and its annual celerations and festivals. The most famous of this festivals is the Mardi Gras, an annual Carnival that means "Fat Tuesday"
In 2010 the population of the city was only about 343,000 people because it was catastrophically afected when the federal leeve system failed during the Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
The oldest neighborhood and one of the most famous is le Vieux carré or the French Quarter. There, in the heart of the French Quarter we can find "Bourbon street" a famous street in NOLA.
New Orleans is also world-famous for its food. The city is known specialties like beignets, gumbo... And my favourite: Praline, a candy made with brown sugar, granulated sugar, cream, butter and pecan.
I've always loved New Orleans since the day I saw a documentary about it. NOLA has music, history, food, performers, and no only professional artists, but all kind of them, like street performers, who strive to show their art to the world.
Definitelly, for me, New Orleans is the best city in the world.