Bits and bobs

No quiero despedir el año 2010 sin rendir mi pequeño homenaje al poeta oriolano Miguel Hernández (1910-1942) en el centenario de su nacimiento.

Sobre un magnífico dibujo realizado por el también poeta extremeño Julio Santiago he impreso las primeras estrofas de "Las nanas de la cebolla" uno de sus poemas más conocidos. Está dedicado a su segundo hijo Manuel Miguel al recibir una carta de su mujer en la cárcel donde le decía que no comía más que pan y... cebolla.
Disfrutad del poema completo cantado por Joan Manuel Serrat en este video.
Si quereis saber algo más de Miguel Hernández podeis descargar mi presentación aquí.

A few months ago we (our school) finished a Comenius Program about how to deal with stererotypes and prejudices. Schools from Poland, Turkey, Italy and Spain presented our own cultural characteristics and made very enriching multicultural meetings in all the participant countries.We discovered that the perception we had about each nationality was not very accurated, we are not so diverse as we previously thought.
But, lo and behold I have recently come across these witty hilarious maps, featured in the Daily Mail, about stereotypes and they show different perspectives according to the country which is portraying its view.

Enjoy them, they are really worth it. You can see a lot more here .
(click on the maps to enlarge them).



The World seen by the USA

Europe seen by the USA

Europe seen by the Vatican



Europe seen by Italians

Along with the subjects they illustrate, the techniques behind movable and pop-ups paper art have evolved from its earliest known origins. Traditional terminology, unusual techniques and personal creativity combine to form unique volumes and timeless illustrations.

The art of paper engineering encompasses a range of methods and techniques for creating pop ups. Some basic mechanisms are:

• Mouth mechanism. It's the simplest folding technique to form a mechanism that unfolds when the card is closed.




• Push and Pull (Slide mechanisms). As the name suggest this means that you cut two areas in the back of the book and slide a piece of paper through the gap. From there you can push or pull the mechanism.
  

V Fold. A piece of card or paper will be cut in such a way that it can be stuck to both sides of the paper. When the book is closed these two folds will be up against each other, when opened, the sides pull them enough to make it "pop up".

• 
  Box card. Interesting pop up designs can be produced by making two cuts to a backing card and bending the card inwards so that it forms a small stand (inside the card). Drawings or images can be placed on the stand so that when the card is opened the image "pops".

Some advanced mechanisms include:

• Volvelles. They are paper constructions with rotating parts.

Transformation. It starts with a scene made up of vertical slats. Pulling a tab on the side makes the slats slide under and over one another to "transform" into a totally different scene.

Tunnel (also called peepshow books). It consists of a set of pages bound with two strips folded in a concertina manner on each side. The pages are then viewed through a die-cut hole on the cover and the effect is like you are looking through a tunnel. Openings in each page allow the viewer to see through the entire book and images on each page work together to create a three-dimensional scene inside.

Pop-out. The most commom type of pop-up is the pop-out. With this method the pages open fully and a 3D model appears miraculously in the middle of the page.

Sound and optical illusions which besides paper are made of wood, different types of plastic and rubber, metal and electronic chips depending on when they are produced.

The extreme pop-up. An extreme pop-up is where various different types of pop up mechanisms are used withing one page to create a big desired effect (Alice in Wonderland by Robert Sabuda)

Although today pop-up books are often found in the children's book section, the earliest movable books were tools to educate and document information, such as a calendar, the moon's movements, or the inner workings of the human heart.

The first mechanical book dates back to the 13th century when a Catalan poet Ramón Llull used a revolving disc or volvelle to illustrate his theories.

By the 14th century, scholars were using paper flaps to superimpose layers of the human body into detailed books about human anatomy. After this, there was little technical development in paper engineering until late 18th century when these techniques were applied to books designed for entertainment, particularly for children.

Pop up books are still hand-assembled after the sheets have been printed and die-cut. Their publication involves the skill of a number of individuals. Publishers and packagers are continually seeking the least costly labor forces , so modern pop-up books are manufactured by a very few specialist factories in Colombia, China and Thailand.

Nowadays there are many fine paper engineers exploring new ideas and ways of making breathtaking pop up books. I would highlight: David Hawcock, Bruce Foster, Chuck Fischer, David Carter, and for me the two "geniuses" pop-up masters Robert Sabuda and Matthew Reinhart.

I will give a list of my favourite pop up books:

"The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" by Robert Sabuda

"Alice in Wonderland" by Robert Sabuda

"Star Wars" by Matthew Reinhart

"Cinderella" by Matthew Reinhart

"Encyclopedia Prehistorica" by Sabuda and Reinhart

All these works by Sabuda and Reinhart are meticulously crafted with intrincate pop-ups and fold-outs that explode right out of the page and they are very cleverly engineered creating awesome pop-up books.

"One Red dot"

"Blue 2"

"600 Black Spots"

"Yellow Square"

"White noise"

All these excellent and brilliant works by David Carter.

"Boticelli's Bed and Breakfast" by Jan Pienkowski.

This book is meant to be opened up completely and tied end to end to reveal a 360 degree view of all the rooms.

"ABC 3D" by Marion Bataille

French graphic artist. She takes the alphabet to a sophisticated, three dimensional level. Prepare to be amazed. Each of the 26 three-dimensional letters move and change before your eyes.

Through the years, the craftsmanship behind the creation of these books has grown more creative and complex and people are now no longer buying the books just for their children. Pop-ups are now being bought by adults for themselves, as works of art and collectibles.

As you can see I am a lover of the magic of pop-ups, I appreciate them and the hard work that goes into creating interactive, pop-up books. I can't remember when my love for pop-ups began. As a child I was fascinated with Christmas pop-up cards relatives sent to us and I think I've kept this passion for them from those days.

Pop ups and movable books are must haves for any library.

(My next post will be about the techniques used to create pop-ups and a brief history of these books) You can download some books about pop ups here.

I've been humming "Piano Man" tune again and again lately. I love this song and it can get stuck in my head and it just won't quit. No matter what I do, this song won't leave me alone, it seems this song left me forever an emotional imprint on my heart.

It's obviously a great son by Billy Joel, a beautiful nostalgic song for me. It makes me feel with a happy sadness.

A bar pianist tells us about the regular people at the bar: an old man, John the barman, the waitress, businessmen, Paul the novelist and Davy a US Navy sailor. Their dreams have not come true and the pianist tries to help them "forget life for a while".

I enjoy every verse of this amazing song starting with a jazzy piano line moving into its famous piano/harmonica tune.

"There is an old man sitting next to me

Makin' love to his tonic and gin

He says, "Son, can you play me a memory

I'm not really sure how it goes

But it's sad and it's sweet and I knew it for complete

When I wore a younger man's clothes,"

This verse makes my eyes sting and become watery.

"They're sharing a drink they call loneliness

But it's better than drinkin' alone" This is simply an awesome line

The chorus is a singalong tune which comes from the bar customers who plead "Sing us a song you're the piano man

sing us a song tonight

well we're all in the mood for a melody

and you got us all feeling all right"

Enjoy this version of the song with Elton John and Billy Joel.

This could be the literal Spanish translation for the sung song:

Son la nueve en punto de un sábado

El público regular va llegando

Hay un viejo sentado a mi lado

Haciéndole el amor a su Gin-Tonic

Dice, "Hijo, ¿puedes tocarme una vieja canción?

No estoy realmente seguro cómo es

Pero es triste y dulce y me la sabía por completo

Cuando usaba la ropa de un hombre joven.

La, la, la Di, Dee Da

La, Da Di Dee Da Da Dum

Cántanos una canción, tu eres el pianista

Cántanos una canción esta noche

Bien, estamos todos de humor para una melodía

y nos hace sentir bien.

Ahora John el de la barra es un amigo mio

Me da mis bebidas gratis

Y es rápido con las bromas o para encender un cigarro

Pero hay otro lugar donde quisiera estar

Dice, "Bill creo que esto me está matando"

Mientras la sonrisa desaparece de su cara

Bien estoy seguro que podría ser una estrella de cine

si pudiera salir de este lugar

La la...

La Da...

Ahora Paul es un novelista

Que nunca tuvo tiempo para una esposa

y habla con Davy que sigue en la Marina

y probablemente sea así de por vida.

Y la camarera practica su política

Mientras los hombres de negocios se embriagan lentamente

Sí, están compartiendo unos tragos que les llaman Soledad

Pero es mejor que beber solo.

Cántanos una canción...

Es un buen público para un sábado

Y el gerente me sonríe

porque sabe que es a mi a quien vienen a ver

Para olvidarse de la vida por un momento.

Y el piano suena como un carnaval

Y el micrófono huele como una cerveza

Y se sientan en el bar y ponen propinas en mi jarra

Y dicen "Hombre ¿Qué haces tu aquí?

La, la...

La Da...

Cántanos una canción...

"Children Full of Life" is a series of short profoundly moving documentaries about a fourth-grade class in a primary school in Kanazawa, northwest of Tokio where their homeroom teacher, Toshiro Kanamori, encourages students to write their true inner feelings in a letter and read it aloud in front of the class. Each day, three children read letters to their classmates talking honestly about their feelings and sharing deep, ordinarily inaccessible emotions with the rest of the students. By sharing their lives, the children begin to realize the importance of caring for their classmates and gives them the opportunity to discover the value of sharing powerful emotions.
For a whole school year, the camera follows these 10-year-old's students showing how they grow and develop by learning empathy and compassion. They learn about themselves and their friends. Learn to cheer up their mates and to themselves. Learn to be courageous and take responsabilities.
Classroom discussions include difficult issues such as the death of a parent or being the victim of bullying. There are great emotive moments in this class. Mr. Kanamori's message in Class One is that their primary goal of the year is to be happy. We only have one life so we have to enjoy it. "We come to school to be happy, so let's all be happy together". This is the vow made by Grade Four students and their teacher Kanamori. The class searches together for ways to understand and cope with troubled relationships, unhappiness and loss of loved ones. Through their daily experiences, we see how they develop together the spirit of co-operation and compassion creating strong bonds between them.
An amazing moment is when a child stands up desperately for a friend. I could never imagine a child taking this kind of risk on behalf on another child. I also find it interesting that all the children took collective responsability for one child's actions.
I have to admit, I teared up a few times watching it.

- To my friend a.c.g.a. He was also such a teacher -
(You can see a Spanish subtitled version in Youtube "Pensando en los demás" from the Catalonian tv. The images are not of a good quality but it deserves to be seen.)

Congrats Rafa!

Rafael Nadal has won his fifth French Open tournament without losing a set and regain the world number one ranking.
It's moving the way he sobbed like a baby, crying tears of joy. I love this boy, this tennis player, the only sportsman I am really interested in.
And now, Go Rafa Go! Regain Wimbledon!

Good luck!!

O Día das Letras Galegas (17 de maio) exalta as letras e a lingua Galega. Comezou a celebrarse en 1963.

23 April. It’s a symbolic date for world Literature for on this date and in the same year of 1616, Cervantes (according to Gregorian Calendar), Shakespeare (according to Julian Calendar) and Garcilaso de la Vega all died. It is also the date of birth or death of other prominent authors such as Maurice Druon, K.Laxness, Vladimir Nabokov, Josep Pla and Manuel Mejía Vallejo. It is natural then to pay a world-wide tribute to books and authors on this date, encouraging everyone, and in particular young people, to discover the pleasure of reading and gain respect for those who have fostered the social and cultural progress of humanity.

Enjoy this humorous Norwegian video "Introducing the book" to celebrate this day.

Ieri sera il Dipartimento di Italiano della EOI di Vigo ha organizato un corso di cucina in lingua italiana con una cuoca esperta. I docenti che frequentano il corso básico di italiano abbiamo chiesto alla nostra insegnante a partecipare e lei gentilmente lo permette. È stata una buona esperienza in cui noi praticamo il vocabolario sul cibo della classe precedente, mentre abbiamo imparato tutto sulla "cramble" (Briciola) - la provenienza, l'origine, ingredienti ... - e, naturalmente, elaboraremo la deliziosa ricetta. Dopo la gustamo accompagnato da un tè inglese.
È abbastanza semplice e facile di fare, uno stato di mele coperto da un impasto rigorosamente sbriciolato, cotto in forno fino a doradura.
Questa è la ricetta fornita della cuoca:
Ingredienti per 6 persone:

6 mele - 100 g zucchero - 1 cucchiaio di zucchero di canna (anche quello raffinato) - (scorza di limone grattugiato) - 300 g farina bianca - 150 g burro o margarina - panna / yogurt

Si dispongono le mele tagliate a fette non troppo sottili in una pirofilia da forno, sovrapponendole in modo da non lasciare spazi vuoti. Si cosparge la frutta con una noce di burro e le scorza di limone grattugiato (se vi piace con un tocco al limone)
Per il crumble, cioè il crostone che coprirà le mele, si mescolano con le dita farina bianca e burro o margarina (il dopio del peso della farina rispetto a quello del burro), in modo da ottenere un composto simille alla molica di pane grattugiata. Si aggiunge poi lo zucchero un terzo della quantità della farina) continuando a mescolare in modo da ottenere un composto leggero e soffice. Si versa il composto sulle mele, comprendolle bene e premendo leggermente. Si sparge poi zucchero di canna sopra al crumble e lo si inforna per circa 45 minuti a 180º C. È buonissimo anche se viene preparato con prugne e banane e aggiungendo una manciata di noci tritate. Si mangia caldo, spesso accompagnato da Custard ( crema simile alla pasticciera) oppure da panna leggermente montata.

"Warning"

by Jenny Joseph

WHEN I AM AN OLD WOMAN I SHALL WEAR PURPLE

With a red hat which doesn't go, and doesn't suit me.

And I shall spend my pension on brandy and summer gloves

And satin sandals, and say we've no money for butter.

I shall sit down on the pavement when I'm tired

And gobble up samples in shops and press alarm bells

And run my stick along the public railings

And make up for the sobriety of my youth.

I shall go out in my slippers in the rain

And pick the flowers in other people's gardens

And learn to spit

You can wear terrible shirts and grow more fat

And eat three pounds of sausages at a go

Or only bread and pickle for a week

And hoard pens and pencils and beermats and things in boxes

But now we must have clothes that keep us dry

And pay our rent and not swear in the street

And set a good example for the children.

We must have friends to dinner and read the papers.

But maybe I ought to practice a little now?

So people who know me are not too shocked and surprised

When suddenly I am old, and start to wear purple.

"When I Am An Old Woman" is a delightful poem that speaks of growing old in a wonderfully outrageous style, when political incorretness or whimsical behaviour might be accepted "just because you're old".

It was written in 1961 by the British Jenny Joseph. This classic describes women's need for freedom from the usual social conventions. It is symbolized by the red hat worn with purple, which the Victorian fashion considered a no-no.

The poem is popularly known by many titles including "Warning", "When I Am An Old Woman", "The Purple Poem", "Purple" and by other affectionate names. It's cherished by thousands of women throughout the world and practically everyone enjoys its light humour above all the ending of the poem when it says: "But maybe I ought to practice a little now..."

The interest in the poem has grown over the years and there are a whole product line about the poem including cards, T-shirts, bookmarks, magnets, decorative boxes... and other gift products.

Mi pequeño y humilde homenaje a las víctimas del 11 - M de Madrid con "Jueves", canción de la Oreja de Van Gogh dedicada a estas víctimas.