BBC NEWS PODCAST REPORT (10)

STRONG EARTHQUAKE HITS ICELAND

AUDIO

A 6.1 earthquake hitted southern Iceland, the epicentre was near from the capital, Rayjavik.

Paul Enarson from the institute of earth sciences, explains the quake caused a considerable damage, cracked streets, roots, trees but fourtunately any 'human damage' has been reported. He says that people is well prepared for unexpected earthquakes like this one.

This event brings back to all mexican mature people the famous '85 earthquake, a very sad memory of the power of nature mother. Mexico City was struck by an earthquake of magnitude 8.1 on the Richter scale. The epicentre of the earthquake was in the Pacific coast of the Mexican state of Michoacán and it was felt as far away as Los Angeles, California, as we know, with terribles sequels of hungry and destruction.

In The Science of Sleep movie, Stephane (Gael Garcia Bernal) exposes the fact like a part of "Disastrology" project, a dark humor compile of calendar pictures. In a way or another, we have a very special place in our minds for the great disasters and well of course great joys as a cool strawberry milkshake... Interesting!!! , isn`t it ?

BBC NEWS PODCAST REPORT (9)

PHOTO EXHIBITION FOR THE BLIND

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The first ever photo exhibition for the blind called Touch and See has been launched in Ukraine!!!.

The idea was started by the Ukranian photo artist Yuri Bilak and made possible with the support of Ukraine 3000 International Charitable Foundation, Open Ukraine Fund and the Embassy of France to Ukraine.

It features a series of images taken by Bilak and very color photo is coupled with its tactile replica, a transparent embossed file made of polymers and every work is accompanied with a soundtrack describing the picture. They were recorded by prominent Ukrainian politicians and artists like Kateryna Yushchenko (Ukrainian First Lady) and Arseny Yatseniuk.

So, from my point of view, this project allowed seeing Ukraine in a new perspective, as an innovative and responsible country and it was a great idea because it`s a graphic example of how joint efforts by the Ukrainians, national business, politicians, and artists can bring the real world closer to people deprived of the ability to see it in full color.

I guess this will give more visually handicapped Ukrainians a chance to make an acquaintance with Ukrainian and world culture so it would be an excellent idea to apply that kind of projects in the rest of the world.

BBC NEWS PODCAST REPORT (8)

FOOD PROMISE FOR MEXICO POOR

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Unfortunately, due to globalization, the economy in the rest of the world always has a good or bad influence in Mexico. And as the rest of the word, we are suffering a crisis. The rising food prices it`s a fact we can`t deny. This is affecting a lot of Mexican families, most of them, the poorest of the country. Products like corn, chicken, rice, sugar, vegetables and meat are the most important food in Mexico.

Currently, The Mexican government is giving its poorest citizens a monthly cash payment of 120 pesos to help them cope with rising food prices.

But I think it is not a solution, 120 pesos it is not enough because prices continue rising and ,then, what are we gona do? We can see the Dollar falling but instead of being a suitable fact, it is affecting our economy.

Besides that, it is not only the food that is rising. The energy, what is an indispensabled part of the production is raising too and i think it is a the worst.

From my point of view, instead of giving some cash to the people, government should start changing some economic reforms to avoid this phenomenon or worried about the life quality of its citizens.

BBC NEWS PODCAST REPORT (7)

NEW BOND NOVEL UNVEILED

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Ian Fleming, creator of James Bond, was born in 1908 but he died in 1964. He'd have been 100 today.

Fleming's being dead, you might think, would count against our getting another Bond novel on the order of his immortally titled classics such as For Your Eyes Only. But Bond novels are forever, after all, they'd sold more than 40 million copies at their author's death.

In 1981, Fleming's estate commissioned John Gardner to continue the sries. That first "posthumous" Bond novel was titled, License Renewed.

But now, is the turn of "DEVIL MAY CARE", that was written by best selling author Sebastian Faulks and is set in the Cold War. It was published by Penguin today to mark the centenary of Ian Fleming’s birth.

In a statement released with the book, Faulks explains he was "surprised but flattered" to be offered the opportunity. He told the estate that he "hadn't read the books since the age of 13," but would take on the task if he still liked them.

I think it is an excellent idea to remember the best writters of the history and the amazing novels they wrote.

The most interesting thing is that James Bond is renowned for his impeccable taste when it comes to women!!!!!, imagine that!!!

I guess, the girl on the front of the brand new Bond book will leave us both shaken and stirred. So we should read it to know !!

SHERLOCK HOLMES STORIES (3)

THE DEVIL`S FOOT

This wonderful story had place when Sherlock Holmes was adviced about his health. So Watson and Holmes decided to take a holiday and in the spring of 1897 they moved to the western part of Cornwall and in this place they lived the strange adventure that I will relate you.

When Holmes and Watson were in their holiday, Mr. Mortimer Tregennis and Mr. Roundhay, visited Holmes to ask for help, because Tregennis’s two brothers had gone mad, his sister had died and he had not idea about the reasons. Last night, Tregennis had gone to visit them in their village (Tredannick) , he had been playing cards with them, and then he had left. When he came back that morning, he found them still sitting in their places at the table, the brothers, George and Owen, laughing and singing, and the sister, Brenda, dead.

Tregennis had had once a great problem with his siblings by the matter of dividing the proceeds from the sale of the family business, but he insisted that all had been forgiven, although he still lived apart from them. Indeed, everyone had seemed to be happy last night, so it was a mystery why Brenda had died with such a terrible look of horror on her face and there had not been signs of violence. For a while after arriving, the doctor who told that she had been dead for six hours, collapsed into a chair. In the morning the maid almost fell unconscious when she entered the sitting-room, but she felt better after the she opened the window. Holmes observed the remains of a fire in the fireplace but it was spring, so Tregennis explained that it had been a cold and wet night. Then, Dr. Leon Sterndale, came back from a travel because of news of this tragedy. The Tegennis`family were his cousins. Suddenly , Mortimer Tregennis died in the same way as his sister. So, Holmes and Mr. Roundhay along with Watson, rush to Mortimer’s room, and found it foul and stuffy. A lamp was burning on the table beside the dead man. Holmes discovered that the smoke from this powder was a potent potion called “Devil’s-foot root”.

Holmes had already deduced how the victims had died or went mad. It explained why people arriving later had felt unwell in each case. It also seemed clear to Holmes that Mortimer Tregennis killed his sister and maddened his brothers with this poison, but who had killed him? Dr. Leon Sterndale. He had left physical evidence at the Tregennis house. All that Holmes didn`t know is why Sterndale had done it. Sterndale explained that he had loved Brenda for years and killed Mortimer for what he had done. It also turned out that he knew about the poison long before Holmes. When Sterndale explained it, Holmes decided to let him to go back to travel.

This story made me think about what people can do for money, in case of Tregennis, i can`t stand why somebody can do all kind of horrible things to get wealth. Poor man, I guess that people like him never lives on peace... But, fortunately, we all are not like that. On the other side, we could see what people can do for love. In case of Dr. Sterndale, I know it was a bad reaction, but i think about his pain and I would have done the same that Holmes. From my point of view, it was a wonderful end. I would never have imagined that.

When I read this story, I changed my mind about having a favorite one. I really love all Sherlock Holmes Stories I have read.. Now, I don't have any particular favorites. Sherlock Holmes is so great. I wish I could deduce and observe like him!

SHERLOCK HOLMES STORIES (4)

THE CREEPING MAN

Again, the wonderful Sir Conan Doyle please us with this funny story. It took place in September 1903. When, as many times before, Holmes asked Watson to go with him. Obviously, Watson had already realized that Holmes needed him just to discuss his investigations, like a companion. When Watson arrived, Holmes told him that Professor Presbury`s dog had attacked him in the last days. It was a strange behaivor because the dog never had attacked anybody before.

Then, Mr. Trevor Bennett, the Professor Presbury's secretary come to Holmes with an unusual problem. First, professor suddenly had left home without telling anyone where he had gone. It was only through a letter from a friend sent to Mr. Bennett that the family learnt that Professor Presbury had been to Prague. Then, the whole household felt that they were living with another man, not the Professor Presbury that they once knew. There were definite changes in his moods and habits.Mr. Bennett mentioned that the dog attacks had been on July 2, 11, and 20. Holmes realized that these had happened in intervals of nine days each time.

Professor Presbury had been engaged to a young lady, Alice Morphy, although he was already sixty-one years old. The trouble seemed to had begun at about the time of Professor Presbury's and Alice's engagement. One night, Mr. Bennett saw the professor crawling along the hall on his hands and feet! Besides that, Edith Presbury (the doctor`s daugther) saw once her father at her bedroom window at two o'clock in the morning she was sure that she had not imagine that.

Holmes and Watson went to Camford to see the professor the next day. They decided to pretend that they had an appointment, but the professor was quite sure that he had made no appointment, and confirmed this with his secretary. Professor Presbury became furiously angry at the intrusion, and they decided to go out of the house. Before leaving the professor's house, Holmes had a look at Edith's bedroom window, and saw that it was almost impossible for a man to climb up there. Holmes formed a theory that every nine days, Professor Presbury took some kind of drug which caused the odd behaviour and that he had bought it in Prague at first. So Holmes and Watson would be in Camford once again on the next Tuesday. Holmes had noticed the professor's thick and horny knuckles , until that day. He had not made the connection between those, the odd behaviour, the dog's change in attitude towards his master, and the creeper. The professor was behaving like a monkey! That night, the Professor came out of the house, and climbed on the creeper, unfortunately, the dog got loose and attacked the professor. Holmes, Watson and Mr. Bennett's helped to get the dog off the professor, but he had been already hurt. Watson and Bennett treated the professor's injuries.

The case was resolved, Prefessor had been taking a drug recomended by a quack to achieve rejuvenation which he thought would be advisable if he were going to marry a young woman. The drug was obtained from a kind of monkey, and although it has apparently given the professor renewed energy, it has also given him some of the monkey's characteristics.

The creeping man is a romantic and funny story. This was the first time I supposed the end before I read it. Once again, it showed us what people do for love. In this case I understand the Professor`s decision to take drugs just for feeling younger. But I think it`s not important the age, if Alice loved him, he should thought about his own health. I guess if she had realized of that situation, she had never let him do it.

Holmes is an extraordinary character !!! He has always logic and inteligent thougths and even Conan Doyle hate him once. That was what made him kill Holmes and Moriarty in one story. Thanks of God, the pressure`s readers forced him to make a resurrection!!! I don`t remember where but I listened about a comparison between Holmes and Dr. House. The names, drugs, abilities, hobbies, etc. and now I know why I love him too.