Dnt Txt N Drv

By OPRAH WINFREY

The New York Times, April 24, 2010

WHEN I started out as a TV reporter in Nashville in 1973, a death from drunken driving was big news. One person killed by a drunken driver would lead our local broadcast. Then, as the number of drunken driving deaths across the country continued to rise, the stakes for coverage got even higher. One death wasn’t good enough anymore. Two deaths — that would warrant a report. Then a whole family had to die before the news would merit mention at the top of the broadcast. The country, all of us, had gotten used to the idea of drunken driving. I just kept thinking: How many people have to die before we “get it”?

Fortunately, we did get it, and since 1980, the number of annual traffic fatalities due to drunken driving has decreased to under 15,500 from more than 30,000. But in recent years, another kind of tragic story has begun to emerge with ever greater frequency. This time, we are mourning the deaths of those killed by people talking or sending text messages on their cellphones while they drive.

Earlier this month, I visited Shelley and Daren Forney, a couple in Fort Collins, Colo., whose 9-year-old daughter, Erica, was on her bicycle, just 15 pedals from her front door, when she was struck and killed by a driver who was distracted by a cellphone. I think about Erica’s death and how senseless and stupid it was — caused by a driver distracted by a phone call that just couldn’t wait.

Sadly, there are far too many stories like hers. At least 6,000 people were killed by distracted drivers in 2008, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and the number is rising. A lot of good work already is happening to try to change this. President Obama signed an executive order banning texting while driving on federal business. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood is pushing for tougher laws and more enforcement. States are passing laws, too. Local groups are gaining strength, spurred by too many deaths close to home.

But we are hesitant to change. I saw this firsthand when I instituted a policy at my company that forbids employees from using their phones for company business while driving. I heard countless stories about how hard it was for people to stop talking and texting while driving. Everyone is busy. Everyone feels she needs to use time in the car to get things done. But what happened to just driving?

It was difficult for my employees to adjust, but they have. Life is more precious than taking a call or answering an e-mail message. Because even though we think we can handle using our cellphone in the car, the loss of thousands of lives has shown we can’t.

So many issues that we have to deal with seem beyond our control: natural disasters, child predators, traffic jams. Over the years, I’ve done shows on just about all of them. But this is a real problem we can do something about and get immediate results. All we have to do is hang up or switch off. It really is that simple. Once we do that, not another son or daughter will have to die because someone was on the phone and behind the wheel — and just not paying attention.

So starting from the moment you finish this article, and in the days, weeks and years that follow, give it up. Please. And to those who feel like this is asking too much, think about your own child just 15 pedals from your front door. Struck down.

Oprah Winfrey is the chairman of Harpo Studios and the host of “The Oprah Winfrey Show.”

The Lie We Live_video

The Moon crossing the Earth

This is another breathtaking image from NASA. The moon was crossing the Earth with the illumination of Sun.

A NASA camera aboard the Deep Space Climate Observatory (DSCOVR) satellite captured a unique view of the moon as it moved in front of the sunlit side of Earth last month.

In the image we can see the fully illuminated  “dark side” of the moon which is never able to be seen on the Earth.

The Martian

I’m stranded on Mars.

I have no way to communicate with Earth.

I’m in a Habitat designed to last 31 days.

If the Oxygenator breaks down, I’ll suffocate. If the Water Reclaimer breaks down, I’ll die of thirst. If the Hab breaches, I’ll just kind of explode. If none of those things happen, I’ll eventually run out of food and starve to death.

So yeah. I’m screwed.

The Martian is one of the best thrillers I've read in a long time. The technology is beautifully researched and based on what is currently envisioned for a manned flight to Mars. It feels so real it could almost be non fiction, and yet it has the narrative drive and power of a rocket launch. This is Apollo 13 times ten. It's Robinson Crusoe on Mars, 21st century style. I simply couldn't put down this book. Engineers and scientifically-minded readers will love this suspenseful story of technological survival. Read the text before the film version is released later in the year.

Most of Ridley Scott’s film The Martian takes place on Mars, but don’t expect to see any xenomorphs during this space adventure. “Just geology,” the Alien director said to PEOPLE of his new film, which focuses on an astronaut named Mark Watney (played by Matt Damon), who gets stranded on the Red Planet following a mishap. “The last thing Mark’s thinking about is life on Mars. He’s thinking about how to save his life on Mars.”

Based on the book by Andy Weir (mentioned above), Scott’s The Martian features an all-star cast that includes Jessica Chastain, Kate Mara, Kristen Wiig, Sebastian Stan, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Jeff Daniels, Sean Bean and Donald Glover. But it’s Damon who stands at the front, playing a man with only a finite amount of time to figure out how to survive after a storm leaves him behind on Mars and presumed dead by his crew.“He finds he has a problem, and instead of him collapsing into terror—because he’s got 28 days to live – and that’s if everything goes well for him – he knuckles down and actually starts to work it out,” Scott said.

The Martian is the second movie in a year to feature Damon lost in space, following Interstellar. Both of those movies share another connection, too: Chastain, who stayed earthbound in Christopher Nolan’s space drama but plays an astronaut in The Martian.“I need to do another film with Matt, because we have very little scenes together in this film, and he is a pleasure to work with,” Chastain said. “I have been a fan of his work for so long – everything from Good Will Hunting to The Informant. He is just brilliant, and I think his performance in The Martian is going to blow people away, to see him as they have never seen him. It is exciting for me to watch.” (Entertainment Weekly)

Put a Bench in Edinburgh

By CARLOS CARBAÑA

When you're walking around Edinburgh and decide to sit down on a bench for a rest, it's very likely that you'll find a commemorative plaque attached to it. Personal, like In Memory of René Laurener, who liked sitting down, or from a society, such as the Contemplative Pensioners' Association - In memory of our comrades, street seating tends to come with an inscription. It's a custom that the city council uses to finance these urban furnishings, indispensable in an ageing city such as the Scottish capital.

Depending on whether they're made of wood or steel, and in view of the seat's location, the cost of putting a bench in the city varies. In Princess Street Gardens, although it's impossible to find an empty spot, the estimated price would be around £3,000, while in other areas you could have a commemorative bench for just £850. For this amount, the generous donor pays for the object in itself, a plaque and engraving, transport and installation, as well as administrative fees. The city council is responsible for maintenance and the agreement lasts 20 years, unless the bench suffers terribly serious damage. When this time frame expires, the family or organisation that financed the bench are contacted and offered the chance to repeat the deal. This tradition is defined by journalist Stephen Emms in the Scottish newspaper, The Herald, as "a British institution." In his article, Emms argues that it's difficult to trace the origins of this custom as the city has no records of benches erected prior to the mid-twentieth century. His father, the historian Richard Emms, believes that the practice may date back to the Great Exhibition of 1851 in London or the open-air movement led by the National Trust in the late 19th century, with "Darwin, Huxley or Bernard Shaw adopting the outer memorial as a secular retreat from churches."

The stories behind some of these benches are moving, to say the least. In his article, Emms narrates that of Malcolm and Jessie. In the much sought-after Princes Street Gardens, there's a bench commemorating the love between this couple, who first met in Edinburgh at the turn of the 20th century. Shortly after marrying, they emigrated to the United States where they made a new life for themselves. When the couple died, their children brought their ashes to Scotland to be scattered in their hometown. On arriving to the city, they discovered this initiative and decided to create a permeant memorial to their parents in the shape of two wooden benches.

Surprisingly, this system doesn't only serve to fund park benches. Working through council departments, the funds can be used, for example, to finance a nursery school garden, furnish a new building, or provide a notice board. In Spain, when you achieve the impossible, you're said to have "put a pike in Flanders." The Scottish equivalent, then, must be to have a bench in Edinburgh.

Ling Magazine, July 2015

MADE IN THE USA, by El Roto

"SHOOT WITH MODERATION. National Rifle Association"

#LoveWins: Congratulations, America!

5 Techniques to Speak Any Language

Pedro Zerolo, in memoriam

Pedro Zerolo, a Socialist politician and gay rights activist who helped get same-sex marriage approved in Spain, died in his Madrid home on Tuesday morning after a year-and-a-half battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 55 years old.

Born in the Venezuelan capital of Caracas in 1960, Zerolo had been a Madrid city councilor since 2007 and went on to become head of the Madrid Socialist Party (PSM) in February of this year.

But his public reputation had been cemented earlier, as president of the Spanish Federation of Lesbians, Gays, Transsexuals and Bisexuals (FELGTB), an influential advocacy group that he headed between 1998 and 2003.

It was at this time that he worked to help get same-sex marriage passed in Spain’s parliament – a personal dream that came true in 2005, under the Socialist administration of José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero.

Revolutionary in Spain, the new law also had a great impact in Latin America. For the first time, a nation recognized the full equality of same-sex and heterosexual marriages. Before this, the Netherlands and Scandinavian countries had passed legislation recognizing some rights for same-sex couples.

Zerolo – a lawyer by trade who gave up his profession to enter politics – was one of the people in charge of reviewing Spain’s legislative system to change all mentions of “husband and wife” to “spouses.” The Spanish law also made no difference between heterosexual and same-sex couples for adoption purposes, forcing a change from “mother and father” to “parents.”

Pedro Zerolo (right) married Jesús Santos in 2005. / ULY MARTÍN

The same year it was passed, Zerolo made use of the legislation to marry his partner Jesús Santos, who was with him to the end. Soon after, he also contributed to the sexual identity law that recognized many rights for transsexual individuals.

Then-Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero convinced Zerolo to join the Socialist executive as head of non-profit groups and social movements, a topic with which he was very familiar.

A Madrid city councilor since 2003, he continued to fight for the gay community but became increasingly involved in politics. Zerolo tried to get himself appointed as the Socialist mayoral candidate for the 2007 elections, but failed to garner enough support within the party, which instead backed Miguel Sebastián – who ultimately lost to conservative Popular Party candidate Alberto Ruiz-Gallardón. Party sources said his open homosexuality played against him.

In January 2014, Pedro Zerolo announced that he had pancreatic cancer. That was the first year that he failed to take part in the Madrid Gay Pride march. It was one of his few signs of weakness. Always one to keep a high profile, he regularly updated the picture he used on social networking sites to reflect his changing appearance. Chemotherapy caused him to lose his trademark mop of curly hair, but his bald head became a new symbol of the man.

In the last interview he granted to EL PAÍS, Zerolo said that he was still feeling full of life despite his illness.“I am ill, you know that,” he said. “Illness has taught me that you reap what you sow. I have been surprised at all the sympathy I’ve been getting from strangers. I think that, in order to beat this, you cannot be afraid. Fear is defeated through calm, by being calm with yourself. Without fear, you feel that life is on your side…”

The attitude went down well with cancer patient groups, who, like the gay community, found in Zerolo a visible symbol. But the publicity also had its negative side. A Roman Catholic priest, Jesús Calvo, stated that his illness was punishment from God.

Zerolo spent his last months going to the movies in Madrid in the company of his husband, sister and friends, and taking strolls around Chueca, the city’s gay neighborhood. A self-declared atheist, republican, gay man, feminist and socialist, he decided to die at home. On Monday, his closest friends were called in to say goodbye one last time. Madrid City Hall will hold a wake on Tuesday afternoon. (El País in English)

This is the last image he posted on his Twitter @Perdo_Zerolo:

Ice Lake on Mars

On this day in 2003, Europe launched its first voyage to another planet, Mars. The European Space Agency’s Mars Express began its six-month journey from the Baikonur space center in Kazakhstan. To celebrate the 12th anniversary of the Mars Express mission, we have gathered together some of our favorite images of this fascinating planet taken by the Mars Express’ camera. You can enjoy all the images on the European Space Agency and German Aerospace Center Flickr pages.

The Mars Express is so called because of the speed with which it was built. The lander, called Beagle 2, was named after the ship in which Charles Darwin sailed when formulating his ideas about evolution. With the Mars Express mission, Europe hopes to gain knowledge about the Martian surface and search for life or hints about the evolutionary processes on Earth.

Celebración de la lectura y elogio de la lentitud

Por JOSE ANDRÉS ROJO

Tienen razón todos los que se lamentan. El negocio del libro no va bien. Cada vez resulta más difícil agotar las tiradas de las ediciones, y eso que se han reducido considerablemente. En estos tiempos de penurias económicas, además, no está entre las prioridades de nadie acercarse a una librería para gastar unos euros en esos cachivaches de papel que, para tantos, forman ya parte del pasado. También está lo de la piratería y la competencia desleal de las nuevas tecnologías. Más cosas: ¿quién tiene tiempo hoy para zambullirse en una novela o para liarse en los vericuetos de un ensayo o para andarse con un montón de versos que tratan de vanos amoríos o del desastre de vivir? Claro que hay razones para lamentarse. Alguna más: ¿qué pinta un libro si con el móvil se puede recorrer el mundo en un instante, recibir la mejor información, acceder a los análisis más sesudos, encargar las mejores viandas o establecer vínculos con las damas y los caballeros más competentes, guapos e inteligentes?

(…) George Steiner, unos de los maestros de la crítica literaria, se ocupó en su ensayo Pasión intacta de una obra de Chardin, el fínísimo artista francés del siglo XVIII, en la que retrata a un filósofo leyendo. Paso a paso, va reflexionando sobre cada uno de los elementos que aparecen en el cuadro e intenta de ese modo explicar lo que significa la honda felicidad de leer. Es verdad que se refiere a un filósofo y, por tanto, a alguien familiarizado de sobra con los libros.

Sea como sea, hay un detalle que hoy resulta particularmente significativo. Steiner llama la atención sobre lo bien vestido que va el personaje del cuadro y observa que, cuando Chardin pintaba, la lectura se entendía como “un encuentro cortés”. Una oportunidad que no podía dejarse al azar, por tanto, y a la que convenía presentarse de manera impecable. Luego entra en otras consideraciones y apunta que, para Chardin, leer “es un acto silencioso y solitario”.

Y es verdad. Con demasiada frecuencia se pretende disfrazar el acto de leer con la fórmula que pueda estar más de moda: el entretenimiento, el suspense, la utilidad, la excitación, cualquier suerte de refinamiento especial. Pero al final de todo, leer no es más que eso: apartarse del ruido y entrar en otro mundo habitado por palabras. Siempre toca hacerlo solo y con tiempo, eligiendo la lentitud frente a la velocidad de nuestras circuntancias.

Merece la pena. Ese “acto silencioso y solitario” está tan lleno de riquezas y placeres que quizá tenían razón aquellos antiguos cuando se esforzaban en arreglarse para vivir un momento tan especial. (El País, 30 de mayo de 2015)

#hometovote: Irish abroad return to vote in gay marriage referendum

Irish people living overseas have been tweeting news of their journeys home to vote in same-sex marriage poll.

Irish citizens have been sharing photographs and stories on social media as they travel home to vote in the gay marriage referendum.

Ireland could become the first country to legalise same-sex marriage through a referendum. More than 3 million people are eligible to vote, including 60,000 expats. Those who have left the country less than 18 months ago are able to vote in the referendum, but need to show up at a polling station in person.

Before the vote on Friday, Twitter was filled with pictures of people returning home to have their say on gay marriage, with some decorating their trains accordingly. Others, upon their return, found their parents had decorated for them. 

The account @gettheboat2vote Twitter account has been encouraging Irish citizens overseas to travel home and has also been sharing their stories. According to these tweets, Irish expats have been travelling from far and wide to vote. Some who were unable to vote because they could not get back to Ireland have been encouraging others to vote yes with the hashtag #BeMyYes

The referendum result is expected to be announced on Saturday afternoon. The Guardian

Yes supporters gather in Dublin Castle square as the referendum on same-sex marriage has been massively approved by Irish voters. Photograph: Charles McQuillan/Getty Images

Ireland becomes first country to legalise same-sex marriage by popular vote

Irish voters have decisively voted in favour of marriage equality, making Ireland the first country to do so through the ballot box. Only one of the 43 constituencies voted against the proposal – Roscommon-South Leitrim – while the yes vote exceeded 70% in many parts of Dublin. The no campaigners have paid tribute to their opponents, and the archbishop of Dublin has said the result should be a wake-up call for the Catholic church in Ireland.

All the results are in, and the returning officer, Ríona Ní Fhlanghaile, has declared that Ireland has passed the same-sex marriage referendum by 1,201,607 votes to 734,300. That’s 62.1% yes to 37.9% no. The total turnout was 60.5%. The Guardian

+Ireland says yes to same-sex marriage -in pictures

LDOC 2015

Last Day Of Classes at the IdI, May 2015

Digital Censorship on Fox Channel

'Sexually sick' Fox News covers up breasts and genitals in Pablo Picasso's Women of Algiers

Painting sold for record $179 million (€161 million) at Christie's in New York

ADAM WITHNALL, The Independent, Thursday 14th May 2015

Art experts have become the latest group to be offended by Fox News, after the US broadcaster covered up the depiction of women’s breasts and genitals in a report on the sale of a Pablo Picasso masterpiece. The Women of Algiers (Version O) became the most expensive painting sold at auction on Monday when it went for $179 million (£114 million) at Christie’s in New York.

But in reporting on the setting of this new world record, someone in the Fox newsroom apparently decided that life painting was in fact offensive or sexual rather than simply artistic.

Three sets of breasts were blurred out in the report, while other bits deemed too rude by Fox were covered by the strategically-placed Fox News strap line.

Jerry Saltz, a senior critic at the New York magazine, wrote on Twitter that the decision to blur parts of the masterpiece betrayed the “sick minds” of those reporting. “How sexually sick are conservatives and Fox News?” he said.

The artist and author Gonzalo W Benard said it was “pathetic”, while art writer Aruna D’Souza said sarcastically: “Glad Fox News is protecting its audience from Picasso’s smutty mind.” Another Twitter user commented with the hashtag “#FreeTheNipple”.

Top British Athlete Tom Daley Comes Out

Traditionally, celebrity coming-out announcements have been carefully stage-managed, dramatic and definitive. But Tom Daley's YouTube video, in which he reveals that he is in a relationship with another man, represents a new, more nuanced, way of coming out. It was a personal, heartfelt statement that said: My life has changed. I've met someone. I've fallen in love. Oh, and it's a man! He has been praised for his courage and hailed as a role model. Tom Daley's video is definetely touching (and hopefully inspiring for others). Daley responded to the positive feedback from fans and celebrities with a Twitter post on Monday afternoon: "Overwhelmed by all the support! Means the world! Thanks so much, guys." 
Congratulations, Tom! Well done for sharing it. It takes guts.
Related full article on The Guardian  
+Tom Daley praised as role model...

GLASS ANIMALS_Gooey (audio + live)

Think of this wonderful song as simple back-n-forth talk between two lovers, comfortable with each other as they are with themselves.... smiling, laughing and joking as they share emotions, feelings and are aware of every little thing. The meaning of the song's lyrics? Who knows exactly? Yet, somehow, two lovers perfectly attuned always know each other's thoughts.

Violencia en las aulas de Secundaria

No habían tenido tiempo los profesionales de salud mental de examinar al autor de la muerte de un profesor de secundaria en Barcelona cuando la consejera de Educación de Cataluña ya había sentenciado que se trataba de un caso aislado y hablaba de “probable brote psicótico”, como si esa etiqueta zanjara el tema de la violencia que se vive en las aulas contra los profesores, sucesos que sistemáticamente son tildados de excepcionales. Quizá no se dan cuenta de que tantos casos aislados constituyen ya una práctica habitual. ¿Qué hacen ante esto las Administraciones? ¿Han tomado alguna medida para proteger a los docentes y detectar conductas anómalas en los alumnos? ¿Son los padres conscientes de que la responsabilidad de educar a los hijos es suya y no de la escuela? ¿Alguien se ha planteado por qué la violencia se vuelve también contra los progenitores? Cada día aumentan las denuncias por maltrato de los hijos. Cuanto más laxa es la educación, y más proteccionista con los menores, más violentos se vuelven porque necesitan unos límites que la mayoría de las familias no les imponen porque no saben o no se atreven, y delegan esta función en la escuela.

Y si el menor es inimputable, ¿quién es responsable de esta muerte? Pasado el primer impacto emocional de este trágico suceso, es necesaria una reflexión serena y lúcida por parte de todos los sectores implicados acerca de lo que está haciendo nuestra permisiva sociedad para que la violencia aumente de tal forma entre los jóvenes. Y cambiar lo que sea menester.— Trinidad Delgado Ruiz, Sevilla

Homo digitalis

Por RAFAEL BACHILLER

El 23 de abril de 2005, Jawed Karim subió a la Red su vídeo'Yo en el zoo' creando así el servidor YouTube que fue pronto calificado por la revista Time como invento del año. En marzo de 2006, Jack Dorsey envió el primer tuit con la tecnología creada por él mismo dando lugar a la red social Twitter, y en septiembre de ese mismo año, Facebook, una red que estaba siendo utilizada por estudiantes norteamericanos, pasó a tener acceso libre convirtiéndose rápidamente en la red social por excelencia. Twitter tiene hoy 600 millones de usuarios y Facebook unos 1.500 millones. En cuanto a YouTube, cuenta actualmente con más de mil millones de usuarios, alberga cientos de millones de películas y está disponible en 61 idiomas diferentes en 75 países. De esta manera se completan hoy 10 años durante los que la actividad de los internautas ha experimentado un vertiginoso desarrollo.

"Los humanos que habitamos actualmente este pequeño planeta somos los últimos 'Homo sapiens'"

Esta eclosión de la conectividad, esta nueva manera de relacionarse y de tratar la información, ha llevado a considerar a algunos pensadores, entre los que se encuentra el periodista Román Cendoyaautor del libro 'rEvolución: del Homo sapiens al Homo digitalis', que los humanos que habitamos actualmente este pequeño planeta somos los últimos Homo sapiens pues estamos siendo sustituidos por una nueva especie del género homo: el 'Homo digitalis'.

Una primera característica de este hipotético 'Homo digitalis' es el vivir en un entorno en el que las pantallas son ubicuas. Los teléfonos inteligentes, tabletas y ordenadores invaden su vida diaria induciéndole a nuevos comportamientos. Todo está al alcance de un clic. La respuesta a cualquier pregunta se obtiene instantáneamente gracias sobre todo al buscador Google y a la Wikipedia. En particular,esta colosal construcción enciclopédica ha hecho realidad el sueño de Jorge Luis Borges en su visionario relato 'Tlön, Ubqar, Orbis Tertius'. En esta fascinante narración, una magna enciclopedia en construcción permanente describe todos los pormenores del planeta Tlön, y tan solo un ejemplar de su Onceno Tomo es ya suficiente para dar innumerables pistas de ese imaginario mundo completamente ordenado. Libros, música, cine, y toda la cultura, son accesibles hoy rapidísimamente gracias a las empresas que operan en internet y que baten un récord de distribución cada día que pasa o, simplemente, nos proporcionan nuestros objetos de deseo en formato electrónico instantáneamente. Sin ninguna duda la inmediatez sería una de las principales características del 'Homo digitalis'.

Internet extiende su conectividad entre las personas para incluir también dispositivos que pueden ser controlados o manipulados a través de la Red, se trata del denominado internet de las cosas. Naturalmente los científicos podemos utilizar telescopios y otras grandes instalaciones experimentales desde distancias remotas, y en la producción industrial es posible controlar muchos procesos de fabricación a través de la Red. Nadie se sorprende hoy de que un médico pueda acceder a la información del 'holter' de su paciente o pueda contribuir a la realización de una operación quirúrgica sin desplazarse de su despacho. En un ámbito más cercano, el 'Homo digitalis' puede controlar la calefacción, la iluminación e incluso las persianas de su vivienda mediante una rápida conexión desde el remoto lugar en que pasa sus vacaciones.

"Su participación en las redes permiten al 'Homo digitalis' reconstruir su yo"

Este supuesto 'Homo digitalis' amplía su identidad desde su acotada realidad próxima a un espacio virtual ilimitado. Su participación en las redes sociales y en los múltiples foros de la Red le permiten reconstruir su yo, dotarlo de nuevas facetas reales o inventadas, difundiéndose así por nuevos ámbitos y comunidades, fragmentándose en nuevas identidades. Mediante participaciones en sus páginas de Facebook, en los foros, en los blogs, todo el mundo puede llegar a tener sus 15 minutos de gloria, haciendo cierto el pronóstico de Andy Warhol.

Pero todo este diluvio de información, su inmediatez y la fragmentación de la identidad también hacen del 'Homo digitalis' un ser enfermo. Los mensajes electrónicos continuos, los tuits, las notificaciones por Facebook, hacen que el nuevo hombre se vea obligado a permanecer en un estado de alerta permanente, un estado de sobreexcitación que se presta a desarrollar comportamientos adictivos y trastornos de tipo obsesivo-compulsivo. Basten como ejemplo las personas que no pueden resistir una sesión de cine, una obra de teatro, un concierto, o incluso un oficio religioso, sin consultar su teléfono móvil.

La ingente información que invade la vida moderna también propicia que se preste una atención deficiente a los innumerables artículos, entradas de blogs, piezas musicales, vídeos de YouTube, que los internautas comparten entre sí, esperando una reacción inmediata. Aunque el acceso a la información, a la cultura y a las opiniones sea hoy tan fácil e inmediato, la lectura de artículos y libros, el disfrute de las piezas artísticas o culturales es a menudo muy superficial pues el 'Homo digitalis' no dispone del tiempo indispensable para procesar toda la información que recibe, y mucho menos para reflexionar sobre ella, no extrae conclusiones propias, ni utiliza todos esos elementos de información para crear composiciones realmente nuevas.

El presunto 'Homo digitalis' también enferma al renunciar a su intimidad, al verse conducido a compartir sus fotografías y experiencias con millares de amigos buscando su 'me gusta'. Este nuevo hombre, permanentemente expuesto, se ve abocado a maquillar sus experiencias, idealizando sus viajes y sus vacaciones, a exhibir sus pequeños triunfos, disimulando sus fracasos. Debe enviar mensajes interesantes continuamente, aunque estén constreñidos a los 140 caracteres de un tuit o a una simple imagen en la red social Instagram. Se ve obligado así, en resumidas cuentas, a crear un espectáculo extraordinario con su vida ordinaria.

Aunque la hiperconexión ofrezca oportunidades fantásticas, en ocasiones la tecnología también se interpone en las relaciones personales. ¿Quién no ha visto en un restaurante a cada miembro de una pareja consultar ensimismado su teléfono inteligente mientras espera entre plato y plato de una cena romántica? Las pantallas y videoconsolas son bolas de cristal que encierran a muchos jóvenes y a otros no tan jóvenes. Se estima que el 8% de los norteamericanos de entre 8 y 18 años de edad son adictos a los videojuegos; en Corea y otros países asiáticos la adicción a estos videojuegos y a internet se considera una especie de epidemia. A menudo la tecnología levanta barreras entre próximos y propicia actitudes emocionales y sociales de gran precariedad. Todos estoscomportamientos patológicos permiten augurar que los movimientos de crítica y resistencia a internet vayan en aumento en un futuro más o menos próximo. Además, no sería extraño que haya ciudadanos que prefieran disfrutar de una sub red del actual internet, en que los contenidos estén contrastados y sean más fiables, las búsquedas más precisas, la información más selecta.

Las ventajas que ofrecen una conectividad rápida y las relaciones sociales amplísimas por internet son innegables. El potencial de la colaboración laboral a nivel global es enorme y creo que nadie duda hoy de que está contribuyendo a dar saltos de gigante en los desarrollos científicos y tecnológicos. Incluso para las relaciones privadas la posibilidad de acceder a pequeñas comunidades afines y a las páginas personales de almas gemelas ofrece oportunidades sin precedentes para la amistad y el amor. Pero muchos de nosotros estaremos de acuerdo en que el trato y el contacto personal, el uso de la palabra, el lenguaje, la mirada, los gestos de expresión corporal, la calidez de los besos y los abrazos, aún tienen una importancia capital.

A los comportamientos patológicos propiciados por internet, a los movimientos de resistencia que cabe augurar, y a la necesidad aún existente hoy del contacto personal, debemos sumar el hecho de queel acceso a la Red dista mucho de ser universal, pues hay un gran sector de la humanidad que no dispone de ordenador o de conexiones.

Cuando tengo en cuenta todos los factores aquí expuestos me veo obligado a concluir que, a pesar de que nos encontramos en una era de cambios vertiginosos, aún estamos lejos de la transformación del 'Homo sapiens', y que hoy por hoy el 'Homo digitalis' no es más que una entelequia virtual.

Rafael Bachiller es astrónomo, director del Observatorio Astronómico Nacional (IGN) y miembro del Consejo Editorial de EL MUNDO. El Mundo, 23 de abril de 2015

A2 Prepositions

IN
We use IN with areas:
Germany is in Europe.
Ellen works in a sports centre.
John lives in a village in the mountains.
Mayumi has a flat in Tokyo; she loves to have breakfast in bed.

Also: He goes skating in his free time.
That book is in Japanese.
My grandfather likes sitting in his favourite armchair.

AT
We use AT to talk about a place as a point:
I study at university.
Joe studies French at a language school.
I stay at home. We met at Peter's birthday party.
He has lunch at work.
She lives at 32, Oxford Road.

The verb arrive is a special case:Arrive + in: with cities, towns, countries.
Arrive + at: with places, buildings, work, the office, the classroom, a hotel, a cinema, a station, an airport.
But there is NO preposition after home: He arrives home late every night.

TO and FROM … TO with verbs of movement:
TO
She goes to the mountains every summer.
He catches the first train to London every morning.
She travels to China every summer.
He goes to bed at 11 pm.

FROM…TO
He drives from Brighton to London after work.
Nancy walks from Nervión to the centre.

ON
On the train, on television, on the radio, on the Internet, on holiday, on business, on a chair, on an island

BY
BY is used with methods of transportation: by train, by bus, by car

FOR
She works for the BBC.
My friends and I go out for a drink every Saturday night.
Julia sometimes comes to my home for dinner.
I usually have coffee and some toast for breakfast.
They often go for a walk.

FROM
It expresses origin:
Where are you from?
Klaus comes from Germany.
Cava is a drink from Spain.

Prepositions of TIME:
ON
On weekends (OR at the weekend), on Monday, on Tuesday, on Wednesday, etc.

IN
In February, in December, in July
In winter, in summer, in autumn, in spring
In the morning, in the afternoon, in the evening BUT at night!

FROM…TO
Ted teaches English from nine o’clock to three o’clock.
Kurt studies French from 6 pm to 8 pm.

AT
At four o’clock, at 10 pm, at night, at midnight, at noon, at weekends/at the weekend

OTHER USESIn my hometown, buses are hardly ever on time.
She is always in a hurry.
It depends on the weather.
He earns from about €1,000 to € 3,000 for a picture.
@ is read "at" in English.

Medio pan y un libro

Por FEDERICO GARCÍA LORCA


Alocución de Federico García Lorca al pueblo de Fuente Vaqueros (Granada) en septiembre de 1931 al inaugurar la biblioteca municipal.

Cuando alguien va al teatro, a un concierto o a una fiesta de cualquier índole que sea, si la fiesta es de su agrado, recuerda inmediatamente y lamenta que las personas que él quiere no se encuentren allí. «Lo que le gustaría esto a mi hermana, a mi padre», piensa, y no goza ya del espectáculo sino a través de una leve melancolía. Ésta es la melancolía que yo siento, no por la gente de mi casa, que sería pequeño y ruin, sino por todas las criaturas que por falta de medios y por desgracia suya no gozan del supremo bien de la belleza que es vida y es bondad y es serenidad y es pasión.

Por eso no tengo nunca un libro, porque regalo cuantos compro, que son infinitos, y por eso estoy aquí honrado y contento de inaugurar esta biblioteca del pueblo, la primera seguramente en toda la provincia de Granada.

No sólo de pan vive el hombre. Yo, si tuviera hambre y estuviera desvalido en la calle,  no pediría un pan; sino que pediría medio pan y un libro. Y yo ataco desde aquí violentamente a los que solamente hablan de reivindicaciones económicas sin nombrar jamás las reivindicaciones culturales que es lo que los pueblos piden a gritos. Bien está que todos los hombres coman, pero que todos los hombres sepan. Que gocen todos los frutos del espíritu humano porque lo contrario es convertirlos en máquinas al servicio de Estado, es convertirlos en esclavos de una terrible organización social.

Yo tengo mucha más lástima de un hombre que quiere saber y no puede, que de un hambriento. Porque un hambriento puede calmar su hambre fácilmente con un pedazo de pan o con unas frutas, pero un hombre que tiene ansia de saber y no tiene medios  sufre una terrible agonía porque son libros, libros, muchos libros los que necesita y ¿dónde están esos libros?

¡Libros! ¡Libros! Hace aquí una palabra mágica que equivale a decir: «amor, amor», y que debían los pueblos pedir como piden pan o como anhelan la lluvia para sus sementeras. Cuando el insigne escritor ruso Fedor Dostoyevsky, padre de la revolución rusa mucho más que Lenin, estaba prisionero en la Siberia, alejado del mundo, entre cuatro paredes y cercado por desoladas llanuras de nieve infinita; y pedía socorro en carta a su lejana familia, sólo decía: «¡Enviadme libros, libros, muchos libros para que mi alma no muera!». Tenía frío y no pedía fuego, tenía terrible sed y no pedía agua: pedía libros, es decir, horizontes, es decir, escaleras para subir la cumbre del espíritu y del corazón. Porque la agonía física, biológica, natural, de un cuerpo por hambre, sed o frío, dura poco, muy poco, pero la agonía del alma insatisfecha dura toda la vida.

Ya ha dicho el gran Menéndez Pidal, uno de los sabios más verdaderos de Europa, que el lema de la República debe ser: «Cultura». Cultura porque sólo a través de ella se pueden resolver los problemas en que hoy se debate el pueblo lleno de fe, pero falto de luz.