did you know about this?

Hello, everybody. First of all, I have to say thank you to those who left their comments for the previous topic. Good job!
Now I have something new to discuss, and to follow the instructions of the blog I must quote my sources: Kristal told me that a very popular topic with Americans is BUSHISMS! Any idea what they are? Does the name sound like any president you know?
Go and find out about them in these links:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bushism
http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Bushisms
How would you describe what makes Americans laugh about these comments? Is it right to laugh at your own president?
On the other hand, what do you think of a president who speaks like this? What qualities should a president have, in your opinion?
If you want to read more bushisms, here go other webpages:
http://politicalhumor.about.com/library/blbushdumbquotes.htm
http://www.slate.com/id/76886/
You must have noticed that some quotes contain grammar mistakes. Perhaps correcting those mistakes could be a fun way to improve your language skills! You could even see some videos. Anyway, I hope you have a good laugh.
See you soon!

rehab

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LD5sahXoj0U

Do you like Amy Winehouse? I think she has a wonderful voice. Here are the words of "Rehab", probably her best known song:

Rehab

Amy Winehouse

They tried to make me go to rehab
But I said 'no, no, no'
Yes, I've been black, but when I come back
You'll know-know-know
I ain't got the time
And if my daddy thinks I'm fine
He's tried to make me go to rehab
But I won't go-go-go

I'd rather be at home with Ray
I ain't got seventy days
'Cause there's nothing
There's nothing you can teach me
That I can't learn from Mr. Hathaway

I didn't get a lot in class
But I know it don't come in a shot glass

They tried to make me go to rehab
But I said 'no, no, no'
Yes, I've been black, but when I come back
You'll know-know-know
I ain't got the time
And if my daddy thinks I'm fine
He's tried to make me go to rehab
But I won't go-go-go

The man said "why do you think you're here?"
I said "I got no idea.
I'm gonna, I'm gonna lose my baby,
So I always keep a bottle near."
He said "I just think you're depressed,
Kiss me here, baby, and go rest."

They tried to make me go to rehab
But I said 'no, no, no'
Yes, I've been black, but when I come back
You'll know-know-know

I don't ever want to drink again
I just, ooh, I just need a friend
I'm not going to spend ten weeks
And have everyone think I'm on the mend

It's not just my pride
It's just 'til these tears have dried

They tried to make me go to rehab
But I said 'no, no, no'
Yes, I've been black, but when I come back
You'll know-know-know
I ain't got the time
And if my daddy thinks I'm fine
He's tried to make me go to rehab
But I won't go-go-go

Knowing that this is true (she actually is an addict), what do you think of someone who thinks like this? Does it make any difference to know that she´s talented and young? If you were close to her, would you respect her decision, insist, force her to take care of herself, or do something else? Why would you act in that way? In other words, should addicts be helped or left alone?

new topic

Well, I was planning to post a new topic today but someone has suggested something good to discuss, so let´s deal with that first. After we reach some conclusion about it, I´ll post the topic that I´m saving now.
Please go to Pat´s comment about the previous post and give your opinion about it. Hope you enjoy it!

thanks, and a comment

Hello everyone!
Thank you very much for your comments, and for your interest in making progress and getting to know your classmates better.
There is only one little "but": a few of you have made somehow negative comments on other subjects and teachers. This blog has the aim of encouraging progress in the knowledge of the subject, and of building on what you already know. They are positive, constructive aims. Therefore, let us please use the blog only for its original purpose, and omit any negative comment about any member of our institution, be it authorities, teachers or students. This kind of comment has absolutely no relationship with what we are trying to do, and with the topics that we need to debate. You are free to give your opinion provided you respect everyone. Remember it was one of the rules: always be polite. Blog moderators can choose to view all comments before they are published, and decide if they will be published or not. I have chosen not to do this, and I hope I will have no need to change my decision.

Our first contact

Hello, everyone! This blog was born from a comment that a student made in class several weeks ago. She said that she had difficulty to express her opinions in writing and, especially, to support her ideas with reasons or arguments. As it is not easy to have debates in class in which everyone can participate as much as they want, I think that a blog can be a good alternative: it will, I hope, give you the opportunity to exchange opinions with all the other students in the course. In this way, you will see a variety of points of view about the same topic, and you will have to support your ideas when someone disagrees with you.
So here comes our first topic of discussion: the blog itself. Do you think that it can help you to enlarge your critical capacity and make your opinions sounder? How? What would you like to see in it? Is there anything else that you expect from it? What?