YOU TUBE GOES CLASSICAL

Music
YouTube Goes Classical
By MELENA RYZIK
Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Hiroyuki Ito for The New York Times
The conductor Michael Tilson Thomas has been drafted for the online YouTube Symphony Orchestra project.
Though it’s currently overshadowed by Twitter — which is already the third-largest social network, after Facebook and MySpace — YouTube still has the potential to make some cool connections. Case in point: the YouTube Symphony Orchestra, a collaboration between Google, the conductor Michael Tilson Thomas, the London Symphony Orchestra, the composer Tan Dun, and others. Three thousand musicians from around the world sent in audition tapes; about 90 were selected. The orchestra’s premiere Carnegie Hall concert is tomorrow, but tonight members are doing a free open-mic jam at Le Poisson Rouge. Go tweet about it.
http://www.nytimes.com/pages/urbaneye/index.html

You can listen to classical music while you write your compositions...

Happy World Book and Copyright Day

By creating links between people from different eras and distinct backgrounds, books contribute to the consolidation of a world community. As vectors of free speech, they further the cause of human rights.
Celebrated on 23 April, World Book and Copyright Day calls for strengthening the perennial inter-fertilization of ideas that books bring about in the interest of human dignity.

http://portal.unesco.org/culture/en/ev.php-URL_ID=36406&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html


Resolution of the TWENTY-EIGHTH SESSION OF THE GENERAL CONFERENCE OF UNESCO, (Paris, 25 October-16 November 1995): Proclamation of 23 April 'World Book and Copyright Day'
Resolution TWENTY-EIGHTH SESSION OF THE GENERAL CONFERENCE OF UNESCO (Paris, 25 October-16 November 1995) 3.18 Proclamation of 23 April 'World Book and Copyright Day' Resolution adopted at the twenty-second plenary meeting, on 15 November 1995 The General Conference, Considering that historically books have been the most powerful factor in the dissemination of knowledge and the most effective means of preserving it, Considering consequently that all moves to promote their dissemination will serve not only greatly to enlighten all those who have access to them, but also to develop fuller collective awareness of cultural traditions throughout the world and to inspire behaviour based on understanding, tolerance and dialogue, Considering that one of the potentially most effective ways to promote and to disseminate books - as shown by the experience of several UNESCO Member States - is the establishment of a 'Book Day' and the organization of events such as book fairs and exhibitions on the same day, Noting furthermore that this idea has not yet been adopted at international level, Adopts the above-mentioned idea and proclaims 23 April of every year 'World Book and Copyright Day', as it was on that date in 1616 that Miguel de Cervantes, William Shakespeare and Inca Garcilaso de la Vega died.

http://portal.unesco.org/culture/en/ev.php-URL_ID=5425&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html

IS THIS YOUR LUGGAGE?

IS THIS YOUR LUGGAGE?

http://www.isthisyourluggage.com/Site/LANDING.html

This is not exactly a link about luggage but I'm sure it will suggest you many interesting things to write about.

Is this art?

A performance?

Just photographs?

Have you ever wondered where lost luggage goes, what happens when you can't find it...

Good practice for your writing...

the American Diner Museum

http://www.americandinermuseum.org/site/

About the American Diner Museum

"Since 1996, the American Diner Museum has been focused on celebrating and preserving the cultural and historical significance of the American diner, a unique American institution. The museum also hopes to recognize and share the importance of diners nationally and internationally.

The ADM considers it a crucial part of its mission to save the vintage diners that are in danger of extinction from, among other things, redevelopment of property and unnecessary demolition.
The Museum is a tribute to the individuals who built, operated and worked in the diners and to those who continue the diner tradition into the 21st century.
Although the museum does not have an exhibit space, we consider every diner to be a living museum. Many items from our collection are loaned to other orgaizations for their respective diner exhibits"

"What is a diner? A true "diner" is a prefabricated structure built at an assembly site and transported to a permanent location for installation to serve prepared food. Webster's Dictionary defines a diner as "a restaurant in the shape of a railroad car." The word "diner" is a derivative of "dining car" and diner designs reflected the styling that manufacturers borrowed from railroad dining cars. A diner is usually outfitted with a counter, stools and a food preparation or service area along the back wall. Decommissioned railroad passenger cars and trolleys were often converted into diners by those who could not afford to purchase a new diner"

http://www.americandinermuseum.org/site/

Would you like to write something about this museum? Any similar one you may know?

Magazines for passengers

Would you like to read some English magazines? Free magazines?

These are the ones for passengers travelling with Easyjet, Ryanair, and several other airlines.

You can also find previous numbers.

Have a nice reading!

http://www.ink-live.com/

Do you want to know more about the IFEMA Arab version?

Yes, it could be something similar to our IFEMA. Have a look at its website and try to comment here all the differences and similarities with the Spanish one.

http://www.arabiantravelmarket.com/

What do you think?

Do you celebrate Easter?

Visite this link and try to leave a recorded message in order to practice your speaking skills.

Some tips to practice with synomyms...

As you might know well, the first part of our exam is based on looking for similar expression of synonyms. You have lots of self-evaluating exercises in our virtual course, but a good way to practice could be to have the help of an online thesaurus like this.

You could also download and install its toolbar into your browser so that you could do your searchers even faster. It is great, isn't it?

Are old constructions better than the new ones?

Read the following text about the terrible earthquake occurred near Rome and try to answer the question made in the tittle of this entry. Do you think architects were better in the past in Italy? What about other countries? What about Spain? Could you give examples?

Easter in Spain

Last year we gave you some info about Easter in English speaking countries.

This time we'd like you to write in English about Easter in Spain.

Try to describe what Semana Santa is, our traditions, our recipes, what you do in your place or even to translate (or explain) what torrijas, pasos, nazarenos, saetas, etc. are.

Here is a link to help you start:
http://www.euroclubschools.org/page37.htm

Remeber writing is a very good practice for you and this is one of the places to improve it!!

Happy Easter!

Have a Happy April 1st.....

Happy April Fool's Day!!!

Have you heard of this?

Have you got something like it in your country?

On the same date?

Have you heard about the poisson d'avril?

You can write something about this here or let us know about the best jokes you know on this day!!