Witches are present in different cultures from the dawn of history. They intimidated people, because their attitudes looked like very strangely. However, they are usually characters in legends and novels, so we can think they don’t exist. But I want to tell you story about a real witch, who lived in small village in Poland…

The history began a short time before World War Two, when a seemingly normal woman and her husband moved to a house in the countryside. They had seven children. Everyone was average in the looks and behavior department. Only one person comported differently – the woman. She terrorized other inhabitants, but she didn’t use violence. It was something more frightening – a kind of magic. The family of my grandmother lived there. They also were victims of the neighbor. One time my grandmother was coming back home with basket of nettle.

When she was walking near the house of the “witch”, she saw that somebody was watching her from there. Suddenly, all her teeth started to hurt. She dropped her basket and ran home. Luckily, her aunt knew what they should do. She brewed herbs and gave them to my grandmother. She had to rinse mouth with it. Later, she would spit it back. In the evening, my aunt went to the neighbor’s house and spilled this substance on stairs to her house. When the “witch” came out, the bad magic was gone.

Some time later my great-aunt also felt moments of awe. It started, when she frightened her son by showing a knife. His mother decided to get revenge. Soon, my great-aunt’s legs started to hurt. It caused that she couldn’t walk. Moreover, her hair became unkempt and nobody could style them. Wherefore, my great-grandfather went to city to visit a person called a “sage”.

He needed two things: a photo of my great-aunt and his… urine. When he looked at them, he knew everything. The “Sage” told her that she frightened the son of the “witch”, so she got a curse. He gave advice on what they have to do. In the night, they prepared practices, that cured victim. Similar situations were repeated. The woman did this probably because she envied things that people had.

In the 70s the “witch” died and people were thinking about what happened with the abilities of the neighbor. They reached the conclusion that her power disappeared, because nobody was present during his death.

Even though it’s unthinkable, it really happened. People think that something doesn’t exist, because they don’t understand it. But the world is surprising and we never know, what we can expect.

And now I want you to say ’bout my attitude to the last one I mentioned. There is always         a vogue for new teen movies like “High School Musical”, “Hannah Montana”, “Harry Potter” and the others. The vogue for “Twilight” in my hometown started about 3 years ago. Many girls were keen on it. I have never thought that I would see a movie like this, but it happened … I’ve just now finished the first part of the film.

I know that at the moment there aren’t as many teenagers and as a whole – people as a couple of years ago who are interested in this movie. My friends don’t like “Twilight” although they have never watched it, perhaps because of the actors, for example – Robert Pattinson who plays one of the main characters. I didn’t like him or the movie in which he played. I don’t know why. Maybe cause when there is interest in a movie, especially when it comes to teen films – I’m anti. A lot of people are keen on new movies which come to the cinemas, but not I. And it was similar with me and “Twilight”.

Teenagers say ‘I don’t like “Twilight” ‘, but if they didn’t watch that – they haven’t got any knowledge about the film. Of course they don’t have to watch it or like it, but it’s better to know what you are saying Take for example my cousin – she said ‘I’d rather die than watch this movie’. When she saw and found out what it’s about – she changed her mind.

And now some information of the film. It was directed in 2008 by Catherine Hardwicke. It’s a romantic vampire movie. It’s based on a book by the same title. The book was written by Stephanie Meyer in 2005.

The main characters are Bella and Edward. Isabella Swan comes from Forks in Washington. Her parents divorced and mother moved out to Phoenix and there she found a new husband, but the father stayed in a hometown and didn’t get married. At one time the girl moves in back to Forks and lives there with her father, because the mother wants to travel with her husband. She attends to a new school, makes friends and gets to know with Edward Cullen. He is very strong, fast, his skin is pale and ice-cold, his eyes change color, sometimes he’s talking as though he comes from another age, he never eats or drinks, he doesn’t go out in the sun and he is …     a vampire.

In “Twilight” there are songs by Paramore, Linkin Park, Muse, Perry Farrel and the others. At the beginning the music is really sad and later it changes into very loud rock music. And that’s what I like In the movie there’s also a ballad which was sung by Robert Pattinson.

Isabella Swan is played by Kristen Stewart and Edward Cullen by Robert Pattinson. I was fond of the actors’ performance, because it’s something new for me – it was the first time when I watched a movie ‘bout  vampires.

I think more girls than boys watched “Twilight” because not every boy likes romantic stories, but if you like romantic and fantasy movies about vampires – watch “Twilight” or if you prefer reading – read this book. I heard many times that the book is better than the movie, so I’ll read it soon

And in the end – remember, first watch a movie or read a book and next criticize and opine

-zw

This building was built in 1910. Since 2008 the Concordia has belonged to Pro Design which wants to make: a laboratory, a meeting hall, an office space, a technology park and other things there. The renovation started in 2010.

When it comes to the Saintbox …

The band was created by Olo Walicki. He is a Polish jazz bassist. Gaba Kulka is the pianist, vocalist and an author of the lyrics. Macio Moretti is a musician, a composer, an author of the lyrics, too and a multi – instrumentalist. And the last one – Maciek Szupica is in charge of the visual effects.

The Saintbox plays jazz, alternative music and pop in English, German, Latin and in French.

I was at the concert because I wanted to know what kind of music they play and have a knowledge if I like it or not and after this fantastic experience I know, that I don’t like the Saintbox’s music. I prefer faster and more ebullient sounds.

But maybe someone of you will like this kind of music …

-zw

The action takes place in an unspecified, close future in a country. The country is divide into a Capitol and 12 districts in which live poor people. Every year there is The Hunger Games and from every district  2 young women and men (together 24 people) are chosen and they fight to be alive. Before, they are prepared, because some people give them advice, but just one person can win. The people are in a jungle until 23 people die.

Taylor Swift sang soundtracks to the movie. It were ‘’Safe and Sound’’ and ‘’Eyes Wide Open’’. I don’t like these songs, cause it’s not the kind of music I listen to.

The main character is Katniss Everdeen who comes from the 12^th district. Jennifer Lawrence plays this role. I like her acting. It’s really convincing and plausible.

Also Suzanne Collins wrote a book ,,The Hunger Games’’ in 2008. It’s a science – fiction and teenager book. The second volume ,,Catching Fire’’ emerged in 2009.

The movie is fascinating and thrilling. If you are curious who will survive you have to go to the cinema and watch that as soon as possible. As a whole ,,The Hunger Games” is worth seeing in my opinion.

-zambo

The movie tells the story of two couples. They are meeting because of a fight between their sons. At the beginning they simulate well-mannered people, but in fact they are annoyed of gathering. Soon their true nature comes to light. Everyone really shows what they think. It leads to many dramatic and funny moments. I was splitting my sides, when Nancy (played by Kate Winslet) threw the mobile phone of her husband Alan (Chrtistoph Waltz) in a vase with water, because he was talking on the phone whole day. Later Michael (John C. Reilly) – husband of Penelope (Jodie Foster) – is helping Alan in drying it with a hair dryer. And the two women are making fun of them. But it’s not the end. The movie is full of similar unexpected situations. Other advantage of the movie is the actors. I think they perfectly show personality of their characters. Their performances made movie great. Special effects, high budget, epic music etc. weren’t needed. They even didn’t have to leave the house. Only 4 actors were important.

The movie also brings a message. It shows human nature. Often we are also false and we want to be somebody who we really are not. But humanity is also very primitive. Only one cocktail glass can bring directness and lack of culture. So we shouldn’t be false-kind, but really sincere.

I was really enjoying watching “Carnage”. It shows how comedies should be made: good actors and surprising plot. I think other directors should learn from Polanski in this movie.

source: Flickr.com

A bike makes our way easier when there are such big traffic jams which make us late to school, work or somewhere else. What’s more, if we cycle we protect our planet against exhaust fumes which come from cars.

Students of our school and many others have got weighty school bags, what’s caused by many lessons and both normal and extracurricular activities. Some of them go to school by car, if they live far from the place where they learn, the others go by tram, bus or … ride a bike. Cycling with a heavy bag could be called a kind of an extreme sports.

To do it you should have a functional equipment and bicycle card. Remember to pack to your rucksack raincoat, lunch and energy drink. Don’t forget your books to school And the rucksack should have fluorescent elements. During riding to school with a heavy bag you could have your sunglasses if the sun is shinning.

A very important thing is that the cyclist rides a bike with a 10 kilogram bag by safe bicycle ways which are more and more in every town. For example Poznan has got about 100 kilometers of these ways.

-zambo

The winners of the 2012 "Tracksuit of the year" award

When I came to school, it turned out that also teachers were in tracksuits. Our English teacher, for example, was wearing a big, white and red tracksuit, baggy sweatpants and a pair of ankle-high basketball shoes. In my opinion, He reminded me of a “basketball player” in this clothes, Other teachers wore similar clothes.

Students, as well, showed that the school is a place not only for learning but also for fun. In my opinion and the opinion of the whole school two high school freshmen looked the best. They had earrings, and one of them had a large clock on a gold chain around his neck, white socks and slippers.

That day also saw “The King of the tracksuit” competition. According to the commission the king of tracksuits was a history teacher, and the queen was a teacher of mathematics.

The obligatory hoodie

In my opinion, that day was very interesting. These days are necessary, because then deviate from reality. It is a pity that everything was held during the hour of education, but at least you could relax before the next lessons. I think that there should be more days like these.

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-ar

            The mite measured 170 micrometers and was founded in the body of a spider absorbed in  a lump of amber and it is impossible to see it without a microscope. It is the smallest fossil of an arthropod which has ever been founded.

            Scientists used the CAT (computer-assisted tomography) method and by basing their research on photographs of individual layers of fossil they obtained a 3D reconstruction of the specimen. Thanks to an analysis of details which were covered by the spider’s body scientists could precisely identify the mite that is the oldest known member of Histiostomatidae.

            The method used by specialists from Manchester could help to accurately examine the other representatives of wildlife immersed in primeval-forests resin. The amber specimen was saved in perfect state. Unfortunately lumps of amber containing more than one arthropod occur rarely. The discovery of the mite which was a “fare-dodger” on the spider was an exceptional case.

-Cyrek

Edit: MU (not the football team) have published a 3D reconstruction of the mite in question:

The GPS should have been completed in 2008 and then in 2012. Now engineers claim that the most probable date is the year of 2016. We know only that Galileo is going to work and all of the inhabitants of the Earth will use it. But questions about the sense of a European GPS still appear.

For whom Galileo?

Interestingly, even though the system does not work, we can see the first receivers that conform to it on sale already. Galileo is a civilian project which in theory is not intended for military purposes. The system will officially offer five services.

The first is called Open – a free service which looks like American GPS, and is available all over the world for everybody.

The second, PRS (Public Regulated Signal), is created with a view to thinking about the work of civilian services (police, border guards, fire departments), and will not be widely available.

The third service will offer commercial services with a warranty of very precise measurements (mainly for transport firms) and will not be free of charge.

Next service of Galileo is Safety of Life Service, which is going to inform about decreases in specific items. It will have wide application in aircraft and sea transport.

The last service SAR (Search and Rescue Service) is going to be intended for services which saves castaways.