Sunday, March 29, 2009
A video on a new idea
http://video.aol.com/video-detail/earth-human-influence-on-ecology-mapped/12037584
Monday, February 2, 2009
Chimpsky - The Empire Begins by Hugo
In the previous episode, the monkey Chimpsky was gone without a trace. Coincidently, shortly after he escaped, I discovered that a new country was rising in the Amazon Rainforest. People were speculating that one animal was leading an offensive campaign to free all the forest's territory of man's domain. And we were losing. Some news from the countries in the vicinity reported that the leader was, with no doubt, a monkey.
Many thought it was a big joke, but me and my colleague Fabius were concerned about its meaning. After a few days, the emergence of a new country in the region called 'the Holy Simian Empire' was announced. This new information confirmed our fears. We were so intrigued about it that we decided to visit the forementioned nation. The following day, we took a plane to Manaus, Brazil. The city itself had not been destructed, as we thought, but it was under rebel control since there was no one in the streets of the city. The rebels, whoever they might be, apparently had left all intact. But we knew who they were, or at least their leader. For our surprise, Chimpsky himself was there waiting for his former masters.
Conducting us to his new palace, deep inside the jungle, he told us how those things had been done. With complicated hand signals, the primate leader explained that, after succeeding in subduing Brazilian apes, he began a new campaign with their fellow animals. Their objective was to enslave the local natives and then to take control of the land we humans know as Amazon. He explained that his country needed support initially and, therefore, they would not purge the land of the impure creatures, but capture the cities and force them to cooperate with the apes, or else they would spread a very lethal virus, more powerful than the HIV, whenever and wherever he (their leader) wanted. He tested his disease monster on some important local men to show them their power.
While Chimpsky explained his plans, my friend and I began a silent analysis. After understanding the political model of the new nation, we realized that this country was governed with an authoritarian model, probably based on Hitler's Third Reich. Chimpsky didn't realize that we were bothered by his speech and by staying inside his domains, where whatever he told would be the law. Then, he told us about the customs of his freaking empire.
He said human sacrifices were something trivial, as they needed examples to fortify their control. While he talked about the habits of his country he cited the most obscure local taboo. He said that he had forbidden the creation of opposing parties, specially those left-winged ones. Chimpsky hated communists as Hitler, his main influence, did. It was not permitted to talk about Karl Marx, nor Lenin, in his country. Another curiosity he told us was that the monkeys killed disabled babies as soon as they were born. It was necessary for the construction of a superior race.
My friend and I were afraid of the behavior of our old monkey. Chimpsky left us in some kind of hotel-prison, guarded by several apish soldiers. But we knew he wanted to kill us. He was only waiting for the best moment to attack, we would be his honor prisoners. When we were alone, my comrade said that we should leave that place as soon as possible. But how?
To be continued...
Labels:
Casa Thomas Jefferson,
Chimpsky,
CTJ,
CTJ Online
Sunday, February 1, 2009
It all ended up in Pizza
It was a great pleasure for me to be with you all. You are great students and also great people to be with and to have fun with. The pizza party was perfect and you had all the merit in making it so.
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Chimpsky: The Beginning by Hugo
The day began with a fateful morning, not the same as the other normal ones. I was very bored, there was nothing to do. So, while looking at two boys playing in my neighborhood, an idea popped in my mind.I thought: monkeys are more interesting than humans. I want to make a monkey turn into a Satan's puppet. Therefore, I came closer to look into the features that were entertaining those kids. It was only a bunch of "bonecos paraibanos"(similar to porcelain dolls, although less sophisticated). Realizing my approach the alpha male delivered a roar. They were preparing for battle and, before I could even move, they threw stones on me. Confronting them would be stupid, because they were in a higher field, with more stones, than mine. So I fled to my house, seeking protection. But I would have my revenge...
Next day, I woke up sad. However, after the occurred, I had an objective in my simple and unworthy life. I told my hidden desire (to create an impish monkey with homicidal tendencies) to a friend called Fabius. He supported me. We would start the project in the following day. The first thing to do was to capture the forementioned creature, but not any monkey. We would need an African Chimpanzee. Then, we traveled to the dark continent, where the cities were poor and covered with jungles, and their inhabitants had always been attacked by famine and disease.
There we found a strange and unknown facility. A huge sign, in which was written "DAK" just above a swastika, however, informed us that it belonged to the Nazi German. DAK was the abbreviation of Deutsches Afrika Korps, the army which invaded and mantained North Africa under Hitler's control. This old building, impregnated with the smell of blood and terror, had a formidable laboratory, years ahead of the time it was built.
The devices were all covered with dust, because of many years with nothing but desolation, but we cleaned and put everything to work again. After we had fixed all the equipment, we left the facility looking for a primate. The search began in the interior of the African jungle. As we walked through it, Fabius heard a characteristic growl of hungry apes. With caution, we approached the source of the strange sounds. It was just a little monkey, alone and unware of our presence. I pulled my gun and shot with tranquilizers at the small creature. Fabius put it in the basket and then we went back to the strange laboratory.
After brainwashing the poor animal, we enslaved it and taught it how to read and to think by itself. It had a really curious mind, as it learnt very fast. Soon, it knew not only how to read, but also could express itself with hand signals. We named it Chimpsky. The training was hard, but short. He (at that time I would not call him by "it", as he was even better than some people i know) was an apt warrior, with strong capabilities in eloquence and speech. He turned into a very powerful and skilled criature, although as pessimist as Arthur Schopenhauer, whose books he read all by himself, and as ambitious as Hitler. Maybe the nazi lab was influencing him. He was starting to worry his masters.
Chimpsky's behaviour was becoming more and more obnoxious. His hostility was beyond imagination. We went back to our country, with Chimpsky as our pet. I had just mentioned those two boys who attacked me one day before all this journey had begun, and the monkey was already trying to find them and silence them forever. At least, he was protecting us. But our security would not last much longer. He was aware of our fear, and sometimes I thought he was just obeying me because i gave him food and shelter from the human eyes. He did not like any human being.
One day, I was heading back to my house, and Chimpsky refuge, after visiting Fabius and asking what we would do with our creature, when I saw the door wide-open. No one was there. Chimpsky was gone, all my fruits with him. He left a single video-message, in which his future actions were pretty obviously found out. To take care of the herectics. And we, men and women of Earth, were the impure. They, the apes, were the Arian race, pure and strong beings. He was gone, probably to his home, to train and guide his fellow kins.
After all this mess i fell bad for have trained a crazy chimp.
Labels:
Casa Thomas Jefferson,
Chimpsky,
CTJ,
CTJ Online
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Jeff Dunham and Peanut
A very funny video and It's really worth it take a look. This video is about a ventriliquist called Jeff Dunham and his doll Peanut. This video has 3 parts but I'm posting only the first one, if anyone is interested it's all in the links connected to this one. Cya
Monday, January 26, 2009
Teacher's Recipe
I am glad you liked the cookies. Here is the recipe. Good luck!
Chocolate chip cookies
1 1/2 cups of butter (I use the 200gr tablet w salt)
1 cup of granulated sugar
1 1/4 cups of brown sugar
3 eggs
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
4 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/3 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/2 bar of chocolate - I use a pointed knife to chip the chocolate bar) real semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 cup of granulated sugar
1 1/4 cups of brown sugar
3 eggs
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
4 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/3 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/2 bar of chocolate - I use a pointed knife to chip the chocolate bar) real semi-sweet chocolate chips
Pre-heat the oven to 130°C. Combine butter, sugar, brown sugar, eggs and vanilla in large bowl. Beat at medium speed until creamy. Now you can remove the bowl from the mixer and continue adding the ingredients using the plastic spatula that comes with your mixer to stir it. First add chocolate chips, baking powder, and baking soda and stir all with the creamy mixture. Next, add flour (add cup by cup and stir each time you add a cup).
Use a tablespoon to drop the dough onto the baking pan covered with the cookie sheets, leave some space between them. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes to 180 degrees or until light golden brown. Let stand 1 to 2 minutes. Remove from cookie sheets.
Makes 4 dozen cookies.
Labels:
Casa Thomas Jefferson,
cookies,
CTJ,
CTJ Online
Saturday, January 24, 2009
The Day When I First Traveled Alone by Clara
It was the end of June and I was still exhausted because of the tests I had done that week. My alarm clock went off at 5 in the morning; I got up immediately and put on the clothes I had chosen the day before. My mom was already awake, and my breakfast was on the table. I ate a little and started to think if I had forgotten something. Minutes later, my family and I got in the car and headed to the airport. It was still dark and that made me even more nervous. It was the first time we went to the airport with only one suitcase – I mean, there were two, but they were both mine. I was going to travel with some friends and no adults for one month, for the first time. That seems to be the best part, but it gets scary when you think of all the responsibility you have. Anyway, there was no turning back. My parents couldn’t stop reminding me of what I had to do and repeating the hundreds of advice I had been listening to for weeks.
When I got to the airport and saw my friends, I felt more confident and less nervous, because I knew that I wasn’t alone. All my friends were very excited, but I was still a little bit nervous. Some of them said my suitcase was too big, and I was going to have problems during the trip. I got really upset and regretted having taken that suitcase. Even so, I was extremely happy. That was like a dream coming true for me. I had always wanted to go to Europe, to see the Eiffel Tower and the Big Ben. I wanted to see everything, to visit every place and enjoy as much as I could. I knew, however, that I was going to stay away from my family, my friends and my boyfriend for one month. Also, I had no idea what problems I could come up against when I got there – after all, I would stay with an English host family, I would take an English course and know how life in London is. But I was prepared for that.
One hour later I was standing on a line waiting to board the plane. I got really nervous when I said goodbye to everyone. If I hadn’t prepared myself for that, I would certainly have cried! I finally boarded the plane, which was really big and comfortable, I found my seat and it took off. It took about nine and a half hours until we got to Portugal, and that was the longest flight of my life. Although the plane was really nice, I just couldn’t sleep, so I watched four movies. From there, we caught a flight to Paris. I sat next to an old lady who told me lots of things about life, and that was very memorable! I can’t describe my emotion when I saw Paris from the plane. At that moment, I knew that traveling alone was worth it.
On the day I came back to Brazil, I was really happy. I had missed the people, the weather, the food and even my bed! It was an unforgettable experience, though. I spent a week in Paris, the most amazing city ever. Then I went to London and, to be honest, I didn’t like the house I stayed in, but that was the only bad point. I had lots of fun in the city and in the school, where I met people from all over the world. I got to go to other cities such as Oxford and Bournemouth, and I also had the opportunity to spend a weekend in Scotland and see breathtaking landscapes. In conclusion, this experience made me more responsible and confident, I improved my English and learned a lot about other cultures.
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