I read Lucky Number. This is about a poor boy who works all day shining shoes. One day, a rich man buys a lottery ticket but drops it by accident and the boy picks it up. He tries to give it to the man but the man is in a hurry and doesn't hear him. Will the boy and his mother become rich?
Milne, J. (2005). Lucky number. Oxford: Macmillan Heinemann ELT.
Monday, November 28, 2011
Recent and upcoming movies
Autumn is a good season for films, and there have been a lot this year as usual. But unfortunately, many of them are not well promoted, and they play for only two weeks or so, often with only one or two showings a day, and it is difficult to find the time to see them.
The best one I have seen was Fair Game. This movie is a true story, about a CIA agent called Valerie Plame whose identity is revealed by the government and who thus loses her livelihood. The actors are Naomi Watts and Sean Penn, and they're really good. This film is very moving.
Another movie was The Three Musketeers. This was quite entertaining, but rather superficial and not very memorable.
The best one I have seen was Fair Game. This movie is a true story, about a CIA agent called Valerie Plame whose identity is revealed by the government and who thus loses her livelihood. The actors are Naomi Watts and Sean Penn, and they're really good. This film is very moving.
Another movie was The Three Musketeers. This was quite entertaining, but rather superficial and not very memorable.
Macmillan Readers
I read two Macmillan Readers today. They were both Starter level, so I finished them in about 5 minutes each.
The first one was Anna and the Fighter. This is about a girl who travels on a train by herself for the first time to visit her aunt. Unfortunately, she falls asleep and goes past her stop, and she doesn't have any money to ride in the train again to her destination. And a big man with a scar is in the carriage with her and she's afraid.
The other one is The Lost Ship. This is about a captain of a ship who finds another ship with no crew. He goes aboard to see what is happening, and finds himself trapped.
Laird, E. (2005). Anna and the fighter. Oxford: Macmillan Heinemann ELT.
Colbourn, S. (2005). The lost ship. Oxford: Macmillan Heinemann ELT.
The first one was Anna and the Fighter. This is about a girl who travels on a train by herself for the first time to visit her aunt. Unfortunately, she falls asleep and goes past her stop, and she doesn't have any money to ride in the train again to her destination. And a big man with a scar is in the carriage with her and she's afraid.
The other one is The Lost Ship. This is about a captain of a ship who finds another ship with no crew. He goes aboard to see what is happening, and finds himself trapped.
Laird, E. (2005). Anna and the fighter. Oxford: Macmillan Heinemann ELT.
Colbourn, S. (2005). The lost ship. Oxford: Macmillan Heinemann ELT.
New York Review of Books… and football!
I often listen to the Slate Culture Gabfest podcast, which each week features discussion on about three cultural topics, such as a new film or book, or an essay in the Slate or another magazine. Last week, one of the topics was a review in the New York Review of Books. As a result, I looked through the contents of the NYRB and found them very interesting. So I bought a short-term subscription and now I'm finding and saving lots of articles to read later.
The writing in the NYRB is very good, and often they feature long essays on 5 or 6 books on the same topic, so it is possible to find out about a lot of books from one essay.
In the Premier League, Manchester United and Manchester City both drew at the weekend. It's been a long time since neither of them won. Arsenal, Liverpool, and Newcastle also drew, while Tottenham and Chelsea won. Tottenham are now in 3rd or 4th place.
The writing in the NYRB is very good, and often they feature long essays on 5 or 6 books on the same topic, so it is possible to find out about a lot of books from one essay.
In the Premier League, Manchester United and Manchester City both drew at the weekend. It's been a long time since neither of them won. Arsenal, Liverpool, and Newcastle also drew, while Tottenham and Chelsea won. Tottenham are now in 3rd or 4th place.
Monday, November 21, 2011
The two main characters in Amadeus
The two main characters in Amadeus are Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Antonio Salieri. They were both composers in the Classical period. He was born in 1756 and died in 1791. He composed more than 600 works, including ______________, _____________, and _________________. He was active as a composer in Vienna for much of his life. It is said that he may have died of infection by a parasite in pork or rheumatic fever.
Salieri was important in the development of Italian opera. He was the director of the Italian opera in Vienna. Some of his famous students were Beethoven, Liszt, and Franz Schubert.
Salieri is played by F. Murray Abraham and Mozart is played by Tom Hulce.
Salieri was important in the development of Italian opera. He was the director of the Italian opera in Vienna. Some of his famous students were Beethoven, Liszt, and Franz Schubert.
Salieri is played by F. Murray Abraham and Mozart is played by Tom Hulce.
Premier League in late November
As I mentioned, the Premier League is hotting up. Chelsea seems to be the top team with the most problems at the moment; I think they've lost their last three matches. Arsenal, after a very bad start, have won their recent matches, but nearly all their goals are scored by Robin van Persie, who so far has been injured for long stretches of time every season. Manchester United have recovered from their bad loss to Manchester City and seem to be winning all their matches 1–0. Everyone seems to agree that the two Manchester teams will take the top two spots, but there are several teams who could possibly get one of the top 4 spots. These include Liverpool, Tottenham, Arsenal, and Newcastle. And, for the first time in Premier League history, we are near the end of November and no manager has yet been sacked.
Actors (and other personnel) in Midnight Run
The two stars of Midnight Run are Robert De Niro and Charles Grodin.
Robert De Niro is considered to be one of the greatest movie actors. He was born in 1943 and has had a long career. He became famous with the movie Mean Streets. Midnight Run is considered to be one of his best performances because of his good chemistry with Charles Grodin.
Charles Grodin was born in 1935. He is probably best known for the Beethoven dog movies. In Midnight Run, he is credited with making it easy for Robert De Niro to give a great comic performance.
Robert De Niro is considered to be one of the greatest movie actors. He was born in 1943 and has had a long career. He became famous with the movie Mean Streets. Midnight Run is considered to be one of his best performances because of his good chemistry with Charles Grodin.
Charles Grodin was born in 1935. He is probably best known for the Beethoven dog movies. In Midnight Run, he is credited with making it easy for Robert De Niro to give a great comic performance.
5 movies I like
I recommend these movies:
- Midnight Run (great scenes)
- Donnie Brasco (trailer)
- Heat (restaurant scene)
- Magnolia
- Carlito's Way (final scene in Italian)
Premier League again
Things are continuing to heat up in the Premier League. Hitherto unbeaten side Newcastle United lost 3–1 to Manchester City, and Chelsea continued their losing streak, putting pressure on their manager.
Monday, November 14, 2011
SiL on Wikipedia
I just read the Wikipedia page on Shakespeare in Love.
Shakespeare in Love is a 1998 film written by Tom Stoppard. It was hugely popular and won 7 Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Actress, and Best Supporting Actress. It contains many references to Shakespeare plays, featuring several paraphrases from Romeo & Juliet and Hamlet, as well as references to Twelfth Night.
The movie includes several real people, including William Shakespeare himself, Christopher Marlowe, and Queen Elizabeth I.
The cast is very good, and includes Joseph Fiennes, Gwyneth Paltrow, Geoffrey Rush, and Judi Dench.
Shakespeare in Love is a 1998 film written by Tom Stoppard. It was hugely popular and won 7 Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Actress, and Best Supporting Actress. It contains many references to Shakespeare plays, featuring several paraphrases from Romeo & Juliet and Hamlet, as well as references to Twelfth Night.
The movie includes several real people, including William Shakespeare himself, Christopher Marlowe, and Queen Elizabeth I.
England versus Sweden
As I mentioned in my previous post, England beat Spain on Saturday. England will next play Sweden, on Tuesday. It is expected that this will in some ways be a tougher game, because, while Spain are an attacking team who tend to leave a lot of space at the back, Sweden will be underdogs and therefore England will probably have to attack more and try to unlock the Swedish defence.
According to the Guardian, the England team will feature a few new players: Bobby Zamora, Kyle Walker, and Daniel Sturridge. It will be interesting to see how England do with these new players. It is interesting to note that England have not beaten Sweden since 1968, so, despite their lower world ranking, this is unlikely to be an easy game.
According to the Guardian, the England team will feature a few new players: Bobby Zamora, Kyle Walker, and Daniel Sturridge. It will be interesting to see how England do with these new players. It is interesting to note that England have not beaten Sweden since 1968, so, despite their lower world ranking, this is unlikely to be an easy game.
Much Ado on Wikipedia
I just read the Japanese Wikipedia page on Much Ado About Nothing (the Shakespeare play) and part of the English page on the same topic. I don't remember all the details, but there was good information on the characters who appear in the play.
- Leonato is the governor of Messina, part of Sicily
- Don Pedro is the Duke of Aragon
- Claudio is a Count and a companion of Don Pedro, and he falls in love with…
- Hero, who is Leonato's only daughter
Some of the themes of the play are love, infidelity, and deception.
It is thought that the play was written in about 1598.
It is thought that the play was written in about 1598.
Much Ado Trailer
I watched the trailer for Much Ado About Nothing just now. It's a 1993 movie, directed by Kenneth Branagh, based on the famous Shakespeare comedy. Actors starring in the movie include Kenneth Branagh (also the director), Emma Thompson (Branagh's wife at that time), Keanu Reeves, Kate Beckinsale, Denzel Washington, and Robert Sean Leonard (of The Dead Poets' Society fame). The movie begins with a poem:
My impression after watching the trailer is that it's a joyous movie. I'm looking forward to watching it (again).
Sigh no more, ladies, sigh no more
Men were deceivers ever
One foot in sea
And one on shore
To one thing constant never
Then sigh not so
But let them go
And be you blithe and bonny
Converting all your tales of woe
Into hey nonny nonny
My impression after watching the trailer is that it's a joyous movie. I'm looking forward to watching it (again).
Go, England!
Last week saw the latest international break for soccer. Japan played a World Cup qualifier on Friday, winning 4–0 in Tajikistan after a rather depressing first half. Meanwhile, in Europe, a lot of friendlies were played. One of those was England versus Spain at Wembley. Everyone assumed that England would lose, because these last few years, although England usually does well in qualifying, they usually lose when laying a top team such as Holland, Brazil, France, Spain, and so on.
Apparently, this time was similar in the first half: Spain had possession for most of the time, and England wasn't able to mount any good attacks. Luckily, though, Spain wasn't able to convert their possession into a goal, and England scored a goal with a quick attack, winning 1–0.
Apparently, this time was similar in the first half: Spain had possession for most of the time, and England wasn't able to mount any good attacks. Luckily, though, Spain wasn't able to convert their possession into a goal, and England scored a goal with a quick attack, winning 1–0.
Monday, November 7, 2011
More on the Premier League
As I mentioned, the Premier League is gradually coming to resemble the Premier League that we are familiar with. The big difference is that Newcastle United are undefeated and right up there at the top. Generally, commentators say that Newcastle's opponents recently have not been very strong, and it is generally assumed that Liverpool, Arsenal, or Tottenham will be the 4th team (after Manchester United, Manchester City, and Chelsea). However, Chelsea are looking a bit unsteady, and Newcastle's unbeaten run keeps going, so some commentators are starting to take the team seriously.
Jane Eyre
If you're interested in British literature, you will probably read Jane Eyre at some point. Before reading the original text, I recommend that you read a simplified version, for example the Oxford Bookworms version. You can find it in the University library.
Premier League early November
As we move into November, the Premier League is hotting up. Many commentators say that the teams on the bottom now are unlikely to escape relegation, while the top 6 is becoming a more familiar group, the unusual thing being that, instead of Arsenal, that group includes Newcastle. Until several years ago, when manager Bobby Robson was fired, Newcastle were regularly in the top 4, but in recent years they have been closer to the relegation zone and were actually relegated for one season.
(84 words)
(84 words)
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
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