"Busuu.com" by Kelley

           Have you ever wanted to learn another language but never had enough time or not known where classes are offered. Well, there is a website that will teach you how to speak almost any language for free! It is called Busuu.com. Busuu.com allows you to select the language that you already speak and a level that suits you; either native or advanced. Then you have to choose which language you would like to speak. You can learn just about any language you want. There are also a few different learning levels to choose from; beginner, intermediate, and advanced.

            The way that Busuu.com teaches the languages is very unique. First, it shows you the order of the lessons that you will be learning. It starts off with how to welcome someone and how to say your name and your age. Then it starts to teach you how to say where you are from, describe people and things, and personal pronouns. Then it goes on to teach you how to say which language you speak and ask if someone speaks a certain language. The first way that Busuu.com shows you the vocabulary is with a picture and the definition. Then when the exam comes, it shows you the pictures and you have to choose the one with the right definition. Then you have to match the sentences with the correct translations. The last part of the test is a typing section. It says the words, and then you must type them with the correct spellings. It makes it easier to learn the language, and the best part is that you can learn it at your own pace. 

Water For Elephants Review

            Friday, the film adaptation of the novel Water for Elephants hit theaters.  After reading the book a while ago, I have been eagerly awaiting to see how it would be portrayed onto the silver screen. The film stars Robert Pattinson, Reese Witherspoon, Christoph Waltz, and Hal Holbrook. The movie begins with Jacob Jankowski as an old man reflecting on his voyage with a depression era traveling circus. He flashes back to his college self. While Jacob is taking his final veterinary exam at Cornell, he gets life altering news which causes him to carelessly jump onto a random passing train. Unknowing that jumping onto that train would change his life forever. He soon finds out that he has joined a traveling circus and quickly becomes one of the circus hands. He begins to fall for the circus’ star attraction Marlena who happens to be August, the ring leader’s wife. Tension starts to build as Marlena and Jacob start to fall in love and we learn that August is an angry lunatic.

            What really stood out to me in the film was the cinematography. They really personified the scenery and atmosphere of a depression era traveling circus and it was obvious that attention to detail was greatly considered. The book focused more on the growing plot rather than the details of the setting. Surprisingly the acting was a little flat. I was disappointed with Reese Witherspoon’s insipid performance as the caring Marlena as it was not noteworthy. I though Robert Pattinson played Jacob Jankowski awkwardly well. As far as the romance between them goes, I felt it was a bit rushed and unbelievable. It did not gradually grow into a love affair as it did in the novel. What really kept me watching was Christoph Waltz’s performance. He plays the schizophrenic “bad guy” exceptionally well. So well in fact, you feel obligated to root against him.

            Over all I thought the movie was a good adaptation of the book. It was not drawn out, but it stayed exciting throughout especially with the help of a few scenes that were added for dramatic affect. It did the book justice and was entertaining to watch.

"Three Key Celtics Beat Up But OK"- By James

"MIAMI -- Three Boston Celtics starters battled injuries in the Game 2 loss to the Miami Heat on Tuesday night, though none appears serious enough to jeopardize the players' availability for Saturday's Game 3."


Captain Paul Pierce suffered strained left Achilles, Ray Allen got a bruised chest, and Rajon Rondo had back pain throughout the game. The injuries didn't seem a problem so the players would rest up and get back on the court. The injured players were taken to the locker room o seek treatment. Rondo wore a wrap on his lower back to keep his back from tightening.

"Rondo finished with a team-high 20 points on 7-of-16 shooting with 12 assists and six rebounds in 41:42. According to ESPN Stats and Info, it was the eighth career playoff game that he's scored 20-plus points and had 10-plus assists."

Paul Pierce finished the game with 13 points and 5 rebounds.

 

Source

"The Tampa Bay Lightning"

The Tampa Bay Lightning are a very talented hockey team. They won the Stanley Cup in 2004. Very few of the players that formed that winning team still remain, but all of the players are very hungry for another Stanley Cup to be brought back to Tampa. The Lightning's first opponent were the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Penguins started strong taking a three to one lead in the series. But the Lightning never gave up, they fought hard. After forcing a game seven, the Lightning won and moved on to the second round of the playoffs. The second round was against the Washington Capitals who have one of the most talented players in the NHL, that player is Alexander Ovechkin. He is known to some for his nine goals in a single game which he called and Ovechtrick. He has proven to be a challenge. In game three, he sent the game into overtime by scoring a goal in the last minute of the 3rd period. The Lightning won the first two games at the Capitals, then came home and won the next two at the St. Pete Times Forum. This is a shock to everybody because sports specialists believed that the Lightning would not have a chance against Washington. They have surprised everyone with their supreme victory over the Capitals. The Lightning will now face the winner of the Boston Bruins vs. Philadelphia Flyers series in which Boston leads two games to none.

"Five Places to see in Spain"

1. Santiago Bernabeu
     This beautiful soccer stadium is a very good place to visit because it truly gives visitors a deeper understanding for how involved Spanish soccer fans are with their teams. The stadium is in Madrid.

Santiago Bernabeu

2. La Playa de Las Catedrales
     This is a beautiful beach that is full of huge rocks that have eroded into caves and tunnels. It is located in the northwestern region of Spain. It's truly a magnificent sight to behold. It is located in Lugo

Playa de las Catedrales

3. El Monasterio Del Escorial
    Only 50km away from Madrid. This monument is considered one of the seven wonders of the world. It took hundreds of years to build. Some very famous people are buried there.

El Monasterio del Escorial

4. La Catedral de la Sagrada Familia
     This is a very famous cathedral located in the heart of Barcelona. It was very recently burned down and is still open but under construction. It is a very original church that towers over Barcelona.

5. The White Villages of Andalucia
     These are small villages in the Region of Spain called Andalucia. All of the buildings in the village are painted white. These villages are all very old, and the people there are very kind.

A white village in Andalucia

"Chelsea Football Club"

Squad:

1 Petr Cech

2 Branislav Ivanovic

3 Ashley Cole

4 David Luiz

5 Michael Essien

7 Ramires

8 Frank Lampard

9 Fernando Torres

10 Yossi Benayoun

11 Didier Drogba

12 Mikel

15 Florent Malouda

17 Jose Bosingwa

18 Yury Zhirkov

19 Paulo Ferreira

21 Salomon Kalou

22 Ross Turnbull

23 Daniel Sturridge

26 John Terry

33 Alex

38 Patrick van Aanholt

39 Nicolas Anelka

40 Henrique Hilario

43 Jeffrey Bruma

44 Gael Kakuta

45 Fabio Borini

46 Josh McEachran

This is the squad in order of the jersey number's. The team currently has thirty wins, twenty one losses, and seven draws. They are on a five game winning streak having beat Wigan Athletic, at West Bromwich Albion, Birmingham, West Ham United, andTottenham Hotspur. The two newest additions to the team have been Fernando Torres and David Luiz. Fernando Torres is a Spanish striker who won the World Cup with his national team and scored many goals with his previous team Liverpool. David Luiz is a Brazilian defender who did not play in the World Cup. Chelsea is second in the Barclays Premier League, after Manchester United.

"A review of the Stock Market," by Zach B.

As everyone saw nearly three years ago, the housing market collapsed, which caused the global stock market to go downhill from there. This economic downturn became known as the 2008 Global Financial crisis. Nearly every business market has been touched by this economic downturn and with record high foreclosures and corporate failures being bought by the government: the first of which was A.I.G. and later on G.M.C. and Chrysler.

The question still remains, is there a immanent possibility of a double dip in the stock market. A "double dip" is when after the stock market goes down hill and it will get a little bit better and then will go down even further than the first dip which is what the Global economy went through in 2008-2010. There is never clue of a double dip untill it happens, but with increasing debt; China stating that the world should recognizance theirs as the dominate currency, and with several business and publishing intuitions’ downgrading our national credit, this that not proof enough of an impending double dip. The official definition of a double dip is when gross domestic product (GDP) overall growth slides back into the negative after a quarter or two of positive growth. A double-dip recession refers to a recession followed by a short-lived recovery, followed by another recession. So the eviendence is clear and that is we may not have much longer until the stock market goes down again, and this time most likely even further.
Only time will tell!

Sources:

Double Dip Recession Investiapedia