aaaaaaaaaah love it :D

By: Tina **

Are we all becoming American?

The influence of America in our society has been very powerful.That’s why we use so many American words, things, food and adopt habits. For example,the fast food like Mc Donald´s. Everyday we are confronted with a such diversity of products, movies and songs that come from America. The majority of brands that we find in Portugal like Converse, Pepsi, Coca Cola, Marlboro and Colgate are American. Portugal will always have the same problem that´s copy what the other countries do. When we try to adapt we blow it.

All this influence are excellent, but when we talk about teens that imitate violente scenes it's complicate because we already hear about school massacres and kids that torture other kids, like they see in movies and serials. We think that when we talk about products and technology the USA influence is good but when we refere american habits that is not allways so positive!

In 2008 when Barack Obama, former senator in Illinois was elected President of the United States many applauded this monumental victory of an African American. He is the first-ever African American President.

Now in 2011, a couple of years after the election, Obama is still identified as the first ever African American President of the United States. If race did not truly matter to Americans or if they viewed whites and blacks as equal as why is this huge deal?

All Americans would agree both whites and African Americans that a President should be elected on the basis of skill and ability. The public votes a person in to this prestigious office because they feel that this person is the best one suited to the job.

It would be completely incorrect to vote someone in to the role of President of the United States based on skin color. If a white person were voted in on basis of skin color, it would be racism.

While President Obama campaigned on the chant of change and making Washington better, it is interesting to note that many media sources and critics emphasized his race. If racism and discrimination were truly obsolete in America, the media would not have made such a huge deal of this issue.

Thirty Seconds to Mars - "Hurricane"

By: Tiina*

Immigrants continue to come to the United States and apply to become citizens. There are so many each year that congress has passed laws limiting the number who can be admitted permanently in any one year.

Each cultural group has made significant contributions to the development and social customs of the United States. For example, while English is their official language, many words of other countries and cultures have been added to our vocabulary. Yam (African), cookie (Dutch), pretzel (German), tobacco (Native American), and ranch (Spanish) are words describing things we think of as being "American".

What is American? What is an American? These are not easy questions to answer. Certain people see the United States as a " melting pot," which means that the characteristics of different groups and individuals have blended together to form the country and culture we share. Others see the United States as a "salad bowl," which means that the different groups and individuals have retained many of their unique characteristics. There is truth in both points of view. Each recognizes that the United States is a product of its rich cultural diversity.

Race legislation in the United States is defined as legislation seeking to direct relations between so-called "races" (a social construct) or ethnic groups. It has had several historical phases in the United States, developing from the European colonization of the Americas, the triangular slave trade, and the Indian Wars. The 1776 Declaration of Independence included the statement that "all men are created equal," which has ultimately inspired actions and legislation against slavery, and racial discrimination. It led to passage of the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments to the United States Constitution.

The first period extends until the Civil War and the Reconstruction era, the second spans the nadir of American race relations period through the early 20th century; the last period begins with World War II and the following increased civil rights movement, leading to the repeal of racial segregation laws. Race legislation has been intertwined with immigration laws, which sometimes included specific provisions against particular nationalities or ethnicities.

Deep reflection !

When we went to London we saw, we smelled and we tasted a multicultural diversity! We think that diversity is really important to people be more concious and be capable of open their minds to the difference!

When we walked in the streets, we saw the mixture of races and the way that they interact!

But diversity don´t mean always a good thing, because some people don´t respect the different culture or they don´t respect the country hosting them, like gypsies . We aren´t racists but the truth is that they are maintained by state money that came from our pocket !

To have a harmonious Country every single people should respect the law and the other people. We respect the ones that came to have a better life, and we admire them for the capacity of change , althow they should show respect for us wich recieve them !

England- The country of diversity

The phrase 'Cultural Diversity' means a range of different societies or peoples with different origins, religions and traditions all living and interacting together. Britain has benefited from diversity throughout its long history and is currently one of the most culturally diverse countries in the world! London is now more diverse than any,city that has ever existed. Altogether, more than 300 languages are spoken by the people of London, and the city has at least 50 non-indigenous communities with populations of 10,000 or more. Virtually every race, nation, culture and religion in the world can claim at least a handful of Londoners. London’s Muslim population of 607,083 people is probably the most diverse anywhere in the world, besides Mecca. Only 59.8 per cent of Londoners consider themselves to be white British, while 3.2 per cent consider themselves to be of mixed race.Minority languages, religions and cultural practices were encouraged, and rights and freedoms were enshrined in legislation.

Pon and Zi

So cute!! *.*

Favourite Cartoon (when I was Younger) :D

Happy Easter :)

Gap year

A gap year is constructive time out - it can be anywhere, anytime, doing anything. You could be building a school in Chile, doing some work experience, basking on a beach in Fiji or simply working for a year to save enough money for university or a new house - or even taking time out to change your career. It is about living life to the full and realising that there is a world of opportunity out there just waiting to be explored. In the UK a 'gap year' was traditionally viewed as the activity of taking time out before university. The world on the street was that it involved travel for the wealthy few and pretty much nothing for the rest of us. Nowadays, however, all sorts of people are taking ‘gaps’, doing a thousand different things. A gap year is now one of the most talked about phenomena of this millennium. With the baby-boomer generation fast approaching retirement, globalisation changing the nature of society and young people now heading into a life of 'portfolio careers', taking time out is now seen as a positive, rather than negative thing.

The impact of new techonologies on the world of wok

It's a small world. Now it is becoming smaller. Especially the professional side of it. Technology is engineering a new small world in a small web where zillions of people collaborate across time, space, and
organizational boundaries. New technology has been injected into the workplace at an exponentially increasing rate over the last few decades. Many companies see new technology as the means to increase profit margins and to remain competitive in a rapidly evolving marketplace.

The Importance of qualifications in getting a job

Now-a-days to get a good job we need to have, not only good grades, but we need personal qualitities and we have to know how to do different things.

With the Global Crisis and the unemployment we can´t choose what we want or like, but the one that will give us work, even if we don´t like!

*.*

Creative ads

We see love

Good ads

The influence of Advertising

Now-a-days we are constantly confronted with Publicities that show us " The Perfect World".

There is nothing wrong with that, as it allows innovative ideas and concepts to be shared with others. However, as the years have progressed, the sophistication of advertising methods and techniques has advanced, enticing and shaping and even creating consumerism and needs where there has been none before, or turning luxuries into necessities. Clearly, advertising represents "big business" in the world.

Banned ads

Controversial ads

I am the earth. You are the earth. The Earth is dying. You and I are murderers!!

Click to see in real size. :D

There must be more to life than having everything!

"You have success in your life when all you really want is only what you really need."

Don´t Buy because:

• If you buy you have to leave home...

• If you leave home you need to walk...

• if you walk you will get blisters on your feet...

• if you get blisters you have serious pain and you need to go to the Hospital...

• if you go to the Hospital you wiil lose a lot of precious time and you will be depressed...

SO, DON´T LEAVE YOUR BED!!!

Consumerism

Sometimes we buy things that are not necessary even when we don´t have money. In most of cases people starts to ask for money and they don´t know how to pay back, this make that people go into a vicious cicle, that can achieve drastic proportions.
Everyday we are confronted with news about a huge crisis, however each year people spend more,more and MORE money (like in Christmas presents -.- )
Although consumerism is in excessive reach dimensions we can´t forgot that is this consumerism that helps in increasing the country's economy.
We should buy national products instead of import !

Cool is...

Hair - Shampoo

• Pantene
  

• Garnier
  
  

Make-up

• Maybelline

• Avon
  
  

• Oriflame