Thursday 26 January 2012

Dying Professor Randy Pausch Gives Final Farewell Lecture

No matter how busy you are, remember to save some time for listening practice every week.

And this is such an outstanding story that I'm sure you will love to listen to it. At least to me it's pure inspiration and makes me feel more energetic at once.

I hope you like it!

What did you think was the most shocking or surprising thing he said?
Feel free to leave a comment below and share your thoughts.

Wednesday 25 January 2012

The first Cyborg

Hi guys, I'm proud to present you a very interesting news...
It's about a man that was born with a genetic anomaly...
Without further ado, here is the news:


Neil Harbisson (27 July 1982) is a Catalan raised, Northern Ireland born artist, musician and performer best known for his self-extended ability to hear colours. In 2004 he became the first person in the world to wear an eyeborg. The inclusion of the eyeborg on his passport photo has been claimed by some to be official recognition of Harbisson as a cyborg. Color and the use of technology as an extension of the performer, and not as part of the performance, are the central themes in Harbisson's work. In 2010, he founded the Cyborg Foundation, an international organization to help humans become cyborgs.

Neil Harbisson was born with achromatopsia, a condition that only allows him to see in black and white. He grew up in Mataró (Spain) where he studied music, dance and drama at various schools.He began to compose piano pieces at the age of 11. At school, classmates thought he was just being lazy every time he asked one of them to pass the red paint in an art class, or pick out a blue pen. He dressed exclusively in black and white. "What was the point in wearing something I couldn't appreciate?" he asks. At the age of 16 he started studying Fine Art at Institut Alexandre Satorras, where he was given special permission to use only black, white and gray colors in his works. Harbisson's early works are all in black and white.
  

In October 2003 in his second year at Dartington College of Arts, Harbisson attended a lecture on cybernetics, particularly on sensory extensions via cybernetics, given by Adam Montandon, a Plymouth University student. Neil found this of immense interest and at the end of the lecture he went up to Adam to explain his condition. From that moment they started working on the eyeborg project.
The eyeborg works with a head mounted camera that picks up the colors directly in front of a person, and converts them in real-time into sound waves.Neil memorised the frequencies related to each colour: high frequency hues are high-pitched, while low frequency hues sound bolder. In Vienna, they co-presented their Eyeborg project, one of more than 400 entries from 29 different countries, and won the Europrix Award in Content Tools and Interface Design (2004), as well as the Innovation Award (Submerge, Bristol 2004).
In 2007, while hitch-hiking around Europe, Harbisson met Peter Kese in Ljubljana, a software developer from Kranj, Slovenia. Kese offered to develop the eyeborg even further so that Harbisson could perceive color saturation and not only color hues. After a few weeks he had developed a new eyeborg model that allowed Harbisson to perceive up to 360 different hues through microtones and saturation through different volume levels.
 
Matias Lizana, a student from Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya is currently developing the eyeborg into a small chip as part of his final year project. The new chip will allow Harbisson to hear colours in stereo and to implant the eyeborg in his forehead.

Here is a video, an interview: (Sorry, but I've only found it in Spanish)


Thank you everyone, Greetings.

HOLIDAYS ABROAD OR HOLIDAYS AT HOME ( YOUR COUNTRY)

In holidays periods, for example, summer holidays or Christmas holidays, people think about whether to travel to another country or your own country ( in my case Spain). Many people prefer travel to another country. However, currently, there are many people travelling in their own country. As in other things, this topic is a great debate of pros and against things.
For one things, travelling to a foreign country you can learn new cultures and languages. For example, you travel yo Japan to lean a new language, you learn Japanese and Japanese culture. Another example, travelling to European countries like Britain or Germany also allows you to learn languages and see landmarks like Big Ben or the Brandenburg Gate.
The downside of travelling to another country is that it is normally very expensive.
On the other hand, traveling in out own country allows us to learn more our culture and our cities. For example, in summer you can travel to coastal cities and in winter you can travel to nearby cities to ski slopes. The downside of travelling in our country is you can not learn other languages.
In conclusion, there are advantages and disadvantages of travelling to another country or your country, but I think it is best to travel to another country to learn new cultures and languages.
Andrés Cuenca Ródenas

Tuesday 24 January 2012

Irregular Verbs

Hi, I was just checking out some things from the blog and bwallah! we don't have a list of Irregular verbs! Can you believe it?? ¬¬. That's why I managed to found a list. (Its not made by me). Its very good and it has a lot of verbs that can be very useful

Base FormPast SimplePast Participle3rd Person SingularPresent Participle / Gerund





AlightAlit/AlightedAlit/AlightedAlightsAlighting
AriseAroseArisenArisesArising
AwakeAwokeAwokenAwakesAwaking
BeWas/WereBeenIsBeing
BearBoreBorn/BorneBearsBearing
BeatBeatBeatenBeatsBeating
BecomeBecameBecomeBecomesBecoming
BeginBeganBegunBeginsBeginning
BeholdBeheldBeheldBeholdsBeholding
BendBentBentBendsBending
BetBetBetBetsBetting
BidBadeBiddenBidsBidding
BidBidBidBidsBidding
BindBoundBoundBindsBinding
BiteBitBittenBitesBiting
BleedBledBledBleedsBleeding
BlowBlewBlownBlowsBlowing
BreakBrokeBrokenBreaksBreaking
BreedBredBredBreedsBreeding
BringBroughtBroughtBringsBringing
BroadcastBroadcast/BroadcastedBroadcast/BroadcastedBroadcastsBroadcasting
BuildBuiltBuiltBuildsBuilding
BurnBurnt/BurnedBurnt/BurnedBurnsBurning
BurstBurstBurstBurstsBursting
BustBustBustBustsBusting
BuyBoughtBoughtBuysBuying
CastCastCastCastsCasting
CatchCaughtCaughtCatchesCatching
ChooseChoseChosenChoosesChoosing
ClapClapped/ClaptClapped/ClaptClapsClapping
ClingClungClungClingsClinging
ClotheClad/ClothedClad/ClothedClothesClothing
ComeCameComeComesComing
CostCostCostCostsCosting
CreepCreptCreptCreepsCreeping
CutCutCutCutsCutting
DareDared/DurstDaredDaresDaring
DealDealtDealtDealsDealing
DigDugDugDigsDigging
DiveDived/DoveDivedDivesDiving
DoDidDoneDoesDoing
DrawDrewDrawnDrawsDrawing
DreamDreamt/DreamedDreamt/DreamedDreamsDreaming
DrinkDrankDrunkDrinksDrinking
DriveDroveDrivenDrivesDriving
DwellDweltDweltDwellsDwelling
EatAteEatenEatsEating
FallFellFallenFallsFalling
FeedFedFedFeedsFeeding
FeelFeltFeltFeelsFeeling
FightFoughtFoughtFightsFighting
FindFoundFoundFindsFinding
FitFit/FittedFit/FittedFitsFitting
FleeFledFledFleesFleeing
FlingFlungFlungFlingsFlinging
FlyFlewFlownFliesFlying
ForbidForbade/ForbadForbiddenForbidsForbidding
ForecastForecast/ForecastedForecast/ForecastedForecastsForecasting
ForeseeForesawForeseenForeseesForeseeing
ForetellForetoldForetoldForetellsForetelling
ForgetForgotForgottenForgetsForegetting
ForgiveForgaveForgivenForgivesForgiving
ForsakeForsookForsakenForsakesForsaking
FreezeFrozeFrozenFreezesFreezing
FrostbiteFrostbitFrostbittenFrostbitesFrostbiting
GetGotGot/GottenGetsGetting
GiveGaveGivenGivesGiving
GoWentGone/BeenGoesGoing
GrindGroundGroundGrindsGrinding
GrowGrewGrownGrowsGrowing
HandwriteHandwroteHandwrittenHandwritesHandwriting
HangHung/HangedHung/HangedHangsHanging
HaveHadHadHasHaving
HearHeardHeardHearsHearing
HideHidHiddenHidesHiding
HitHitHitHitsHitting
HoldHeldHeldHoldsHolding
HurtHurtHurtHurtsHurting
InlayInlaidInlaidInlaysInlaying
InputInput/InputtedInput/InputtedInputsInputting
InterlayInterlaidInterlaidInterlaysInterlaying
KeepKeptKeptKeepsKeeping
KneelKnelt/KneeledKnelt/KneeledKneelsKneeling
KnitKnit/KnittedKnit/KnittedKnitsKnitting
KnowKnewKnownKnowsKnowing
LayLaidLaidLayslaying
LeadLedLedLeadsLeading
LeanLeant/LeanedLeant/LeanedLeansLeaning
LeapLeapt/LeapedLeapt/LeapedLeapsLeaping
LearnLearnt/LearnedLearnt/LearnedLearnsLearning
LeaveLeftLeftLeavesLeaving
LendLentLentLendsLending
LetLetLetLetsLetting
LieLayLainLiesLying
LightLitLitLightsLighting
LoseLostLostLosesLosing
MakeMadeMadeMakesMaking
MeanMeantMeantMeansMeaning
MeetMetMetMeetsMeeting
MeltMeltedMolten/MeltedMeltsMelting
MisleadMisledMisledMisleadsMisleading
MistakeMistookMistakenMistakesMistaking
MisunderstandMisunderstoodMisunderstoodMisunderstandsMisunderstanding
MiswedMiswed/MisweddedMiswed/MisweddedMiswedsMiswedding
MowMowedMownMowsMowing
OverdrawOverdrewOverdrawnOverdrawsOverdrawing
OverhearOverheardOverheardOverhearsOverhearing
OvertakeOvertookOvertakenOvertakesOvertaking
PayPaidPaidPaysPaying
PresetPresetPresetPresetsPresetting
ProveProvedProven/ProvedProvesProving
PutPutPutPutsPutting
QuitQuitQuitQuitsQuitting
Re-proveRe-provedRe-proven/Re-provedRe-provesRe-proving
ReadReadReadReadsReading
RidRid/RiddedRid/RiddedRidsRidding
RideRodeRiddenRidesRiding
RingRangRungRingsRinging
RiseRoseRisenRisesRising
RiveRivedRiven/RivedRivesRiving
RunRanRunRunsRunning
SawSawedSawn/SawedSawsSawing
SaySaidSaidSaysSaying
SeeSawSeenSeesSeeing
SeekSoughtSoughtSeeksSeeking
SellSoldSoldSellsSelling
SendSentSentSendsSending
SetSetSetSetsSetting
SewSewedSewn/SewedSewsSewing
ShakeShookShakenShakesShaking
ShaveShavedShaven/ShavedShavesShaving
ShearShore/ShearedShorn/ShearedShearsShearing
ShedShedShedShedsShedding
ShineShoneShoneShinesShining
ShoeShodShodShoesShoeing
ShootShotShotShootsShooting
ShowShowedShownShowsShowing
ShrinkShrankShrunkShrinksShrinking
ShutShutShutShutsShutting
SingSangSungSingsSinging
SinkSankSunkSinksSinking
SitSatSatSitsSitting
SlaySlewSlainSlaysSlaying
SleepSleptSleptSleepsSleeping
SlideSlidSlid/SliddenSlidesSliding
SlingSlungSlungSlingsSlinging
SlinkSlunkSlunkSlinksSlinking
SlitSlitSlitSlitsSlitting
SmellSmelt/SmelledSmelt/SmelledSmellsSmelling
SneakSneaked/SnuckSneaked/SnuckSneaksSneaking
SoothsaySoothsaidSoothsaidSoothsaysSoothsaying
SowSowedSownSowsSowing
SpeakSpokeSpokenSpeaksSpeaking
SpeedSped/SpeededSped/SpeededSpeedsSpeeding
SpellSpelt/SpelledSpelt/SpelledSpellsSpelling
SpendSpentSpentSpendsSpending
SpillSpilt/SpilledSpilt/SpilledSpillsSpilling
SpinSpan/SpunSpunSpinsSpinning
SpitSpat/SpitSpat/SpitSpitsSpitting
SplitSplitSplitSplitsSplitting
SpoilSpoilt/SpoiledSpoilt/SpoiledSpoilsSpoiling
SpreadSpreadSpreadSpreadsSpreading
SpringSprangSprungSpringsSpringing
StandStoodStoodStandsStanding
StealStoleStolenStealsStealing
StickStuckStuckSticksSticking
StingStungStungStingsStinging
StinkStankStunkStinksStinking
StrideStrode/StridedStriddenStridesStriding
StrikeStruckStruck/StrickenStrikesStriking
StringStrungStrungStringsStringing
StripStript/StrippedStript/StrippedStripsStripping
StriveStroveStrivenStrivesStriving
SubletSubletSubletSubletsSubletting
SunburnSunburned/SunburntSunburned/SunburntSunburnsSunburning
SwearSworeSwornSwearsSwearing
SweatSweat/SweatedSweat/SweatedSweatsSweating
SweepSwept/SweepedSwept/SweepedSweepsSweeping
SwellSwelledSwollenSwellsSwelling
SwimSwamSwumSwimsSwimming
SwingSwungSwungSwingsSwinging
TakeTookTakenTakesTaking
TeachTaughtTaughtTeachesTeaching
TearToreTornTearsTearing
TellToldToldTellsTelling
ThinkThoughtThoughtThinksThinking
ThriveThrove/ThrivedThriven/ThrivedThrivesThriving
ThrowThrewThrownThrowsThrowing
ThrustThrustThrustThrustsThrusting
TreadTrodTroddenTreadsTreading
UndergoUnderwentUndergoneUndergoesUndergoing
UnderstandUnderstoodUnderstoodUnderstandsUnderstanding
UndertakeUndertookUndertakenUndertakesUndertaking
UpsetUpsetUpsetUpsetsUpsetting
VexVext/VexedVext/VexedVexesVexing
WakeWokeWokenWakesWaking
WearWoreWornWearsWearing
WeaveWoveWovenWeavesWeaving
WedWed/WeddedWed/WeddedWedsWedding
WeepWeptWeptWeepsWeeping
WendWended/WentWended/WentWendsWending
WetWet/WettedWet/WettedWetsWetting
WinWonWonWinsWinning
WindWoundWoundWindsWinding
WithdrawWithdrewWithdrawnWithdrawsWithdrawing
WithholdWithheldWithheldWithholdsWithholding
WithstandWithstoodWithstoodWithstandsWithstanding
WringWrungWrungWringsWringing
WriteWroteWrittenWritesWriting
ZincZinced/ZinckedZinced/ZinckedZincsZincking