THIS VERY TIME OF THE YEAR

     This time of the year is not only about the great feasts delicately prepared by the majority of families. For some, a time to celebrate with people whom are not always together with; others use this period to spend their money in a posh way (on purpose, but I am not criticizing who goes to know another culture or spend some time abroad in a nice companionship); there are also people who prefer to renew their spirits, strength, because they argument: - I will start from scratched next year. I need to unwind.  

     Quite fair, don't you think? Sometimes, we may regret some of the decisions we made in the current year or the time was so short that we were not able to finish everything that was in the pipeline and we count the days to begin 'another life', 'another me' anxiously. Is it really possible? It is all about going on the same life with possibilities of changes. Do you have the eyes to see them? Have you ever taken the chance?

     Of course, one must be aware to realize when those come into someone's life. I tell this because I am the sort of person who lives in the past and the future in a very intensive way, although  it is not only strange to me, but a challenge to turn this upside down. The truth is I took the chance to do different things in my routine and my plan is to have a finger in many pies in 2012, being very successful in all of the 'pies'. Whether the pie is sweet, salty, bitter or sour, there is always learning, nevertheless I root for getting the sweet ones.    

     So, here is an invitation to live this very time of the year. Are you open about it? Actually, we should live more the present moment, because as I have read in a text: it is a present, a gift, so let's use it to plan our goals, to organize the main steps to clinch the deals, being on the ball that living is a fast process and the remote on rewind of life does not work.      

Good luck!

Vocabulary (expressions):

to start from stratched = "to begin from the beginning"

a finger in many pies = to be involved in various businesses

to be on the ball =  to be aware
to clinch the deals = to close deals

JINGLE BELLS

Dashing through the snow
In a one-horse open sleigh,
Over the fields we go,
Laughing all the way;
Bells on bob-tail ring,
making spirits bright,
What fun it is to ride and sing
A sleighing song tonight

Oh, Jingle bells, jingle bells,
jingle all the way!
Oh what fun it is to ride
In a one-horse open sleigh

(Repeat chorus)

A day or two ago,
I thought I'd take a ride,
And soon Miss Fanny Bright
Was seated by my side;
The horse was lean and lank;
Misfortune seemed his lot;
He got into a drifted bank,
And we, we got up sot.

Oh, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells,
Jingle all the way!
What fun it is to ride
In a one-horse open sleigh.

(Repeat chorus)

Dashing through the snow
In a one-horse open sleigh,
Over the fields we go,
Laughing all the way;
Bells on bob-tail ring,
making spirits bright,
What fun it is to ride and sing
A sleighing song tonight 

Oh, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells,
Jingle all the way!
Oh what fun it is to ride
In a one-horse open sleigh.

Jingle bells, jingle bells,
jingle all the way!
Oh what fun it is to ride
In a one-horse open sleigh

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!

Angels among us (music)

I was walking home from school on a cold winter day
Took a shortcut through the woods and I lost my way
It was getting late and I was scared and alone
But then a kind old man took my hand and led me home
Mama couldn't see him but he was standing there
And I knew in my heart, he was the answer to my prayers

Oh, I believe there are angels among us
Sent down to us from somewhere up above
They come to you and me in our darkest hours
To show us how to live, to teach us how to give
To guide us with the light of love
When life held troubled times and had me down on my knees
There's always been someone there to come along and comfort me
A kind word from a stranger, to lend a helping hand
A phone call from a friend, just to say I understand

And ain't it kind of funny that at the dark end of the road
Someone lights the way with just a single ray of hope

Oh, I believe there are angels among us
Sent down to us from somewhere up above
They come to you and me in our darkest hours
To show us how to live, to teach us how to give
To guide us with the light of love

They wear so many faces, show up in the strangest places
To grace us with their mercy, in our time of need

Oh, I believe there are angels among us
Sent down to us from somewhere up above
They come to you and me in our darkest hours
To show us how to live, to teach us how to give
To guide us with the light of love

To guide us with the light of love

 By Alabama.

This music is one of the songs in the video with quotes for teachers.

Inspiration for teachers

This video elucidates all the reasons to be a teacher. It doesn't matter how long it takes to change the world. We all need to begin someday...
Some quotes to think over.
Have a nice day!

Epic by me

   About what could I write
   If not for the feelings
   That I am able to drag aside?
   They hunted me as ghosts
   In search of something
   That I assured to be a threshold


    Coming from Bad thing's deed
    Despair and Sadness
    Needed to have an end
    To lead me to great happiness    
    I decided to raise my flag then
    If only I were to write
    In memorium in all the places
    Shall I still remember or let them die?   
   
    An epic feeling
    Taking an advantage
    Of a free and wealthy atmosphere
    It came along my way
    Not letting good things far away
    All hurricanes made of me
    The person who bravely     
    Stands the way I can be
   
    Here, I can live
    And I thank Cosmos' strength
    and the special angels' perseverance
    Also the musas' inspiration
    In blowing ideas into my mind
    And to remain by my side
    Giving me a new chance

    To undo the past and gently glide
   

The Marriage Plot by Jeffrey Eugenides from About.com - 4 Star Rating

Contemporary Literature Ads

        Although novels for centuries have been grappling with the bitter realities of love and matrimony, The Marriage Plot only feels like a familiar story. In his excellent new novel, Jeffrey Eugenides (Middlesex) has managed to craft a story that is not only rooted in the classics but one that is deeply relevant to how we live and love today. In an early passage, Eugenides discusses the current state of romantic literature:                "Sexual equality, good for women, had been bad for the novel. And divorce had undone it completely. What would it matter whom Emma married if he could file for separation later? How would Isabel Archer's marriage to Gilbert Osmond have been affected by the existence of a prenup? ...Where could you find the marriage plot nowadays? You couldn't. You had to read historical fiction...you had to go, literally speaking, back in time."                  In The Marriage Plot, Eugenides blends nostalgia and progression with masterful grace; it's a furious balance, and one achieved only by the finest of literary alchemists.

        Set in the early Eighties, The Marriage Plot follows a handful of graduating seniors as they leave Brown University and drift uncertainly into adulthood. Although the pressures of professional life loom in the distance, Madeleine Hanna, "the lovelorn English major," is preoccupied with the two very different men in her life. Amateur theologian Mitchell Grammaticus and the handsome, brooding science major Leonard Bankhead pull Madeleine in two disparate directions, each showing Madeleine a potential future of love and intellectual fulfillment. Eventually Leonard proves to be the more alluring catch, but when Leonard's deeper psychological problems surface Madeleine finds herself stuck, in love with a man struggling with a dangerous level of depression. It's a classic setup, but these men and the humanity Eugenides fills them with make them much more than shadows of Darcy and Wickham.                        Leonard and Mitchell are very different sorts of men, but both share one trait that heavily saturates The Marriage Plot: they're both wildly bright liberal arts students, and unfortunately both prone to over-intellectualizing the world with critical theory. Most of the novel takes place in college classrooms and resultantly drenches the text in heady intellectualism. The heavy leaning on academics will undoubtedly turn some readers away, but it is somewhat necessary to delve into to watch these students grow. In order to see Madeleine struggle with her peachy Victorian ideals, we have to take a semiotics class and a crash course in Roland Barthes:

       "A Lovers Discourse was the perfect cure for lovesickness. It was a repair manual for the heart, its one tool of the brain. If you used your head, if you became aware of how love was culturally constructed and began to see your symptoms as purely mental, if you recognize that being 'in love' was only an idea, then you could liberate yourself from its tyranny."   And it doesn't stop with Madeleine: to better understand Leonard's chemical imbalances, Eugenides corners us in Leonard's biology lab and his psychiatrist's office. The collegiate nature of the novel runs the risk of alienating those readers not yet familiar with such fields, and those who did experience similar discourse and drama will likely find these sections to be dazzlingly authentic, but ultimately cluttered. Eugenides's use of the seminal Talking Heads song "Once if a Lifetime" as his novel's introductory quote proves doubly apt. David Byrne's lyrics evoke an existential crisis of sorts ("and you may ask yourself / how did I get here?") that is especially relevant to the novel's uncertain graduation class of 1982. Additionally, it seems Eugenides looked to this song to shape much of the narrative structure of The Marriage Plot. Scenes do not fade in or slowly unfold, but consistently open with an unfamiliar jolt, leaving readers to explore their origins through a lengthy, well-developed flashback.

            When we first meet Madeleine, she's got a pillow over her head, a bad hangover, and a few hours until she marches in her graduation processional. Instead of looking to how she recovers, Eugenides instead shows how she reached this messy introduction. Eugenides works similarly with Mitchell, who is first seen meditating outside a bagel shop and is eventually rounded out by a recapitulation of his four previous years in the religion and philosophy department. It's a curious way to develop a plot, asking how we got here instead of where we're headed.                                  Although unconventional, this backtracking plot provides an outstanding look at all the novel's characters. Each person is so richly painted that it is very easy to lose sight of their Victorian archetypes, and as the novel progresses, these archetypes seem to fade away entirely. It begins to feel like the Victorian similarities are just a projection, no different than the idealistic literary slant that drives Madeleine towards each of her bad decisions. Leonard Bankhead isn't just a stormy, recast Mr. Darcy; he's far too real for such a label. The same goes for the rest of the novel's cast: these familiar characters are finally given lives. Eugenides works a genuine, relatable heartbeat into each of his characters, and through these compelling renderings is able to transcend his novel's framework.

http://contemporarylit.about.com/od/fiction/fr/The-Marriage-Plot-Eugenides.htm?nl=1

Coraline, a very cute animation

   When I watched, I felt right inside the story. Have you already seen it? It is worth watching. Try to do it with the subtitles in English so that you can practice your listening skill and the vocabulary builder.
    Maybe we could understand this production to be dedicated to the children who scream sometimes: "_ I want another mother!, I want another father." Ok, it is fiction, but it really considers a high level message to those who do not see their own family as one of the best things God provided us.
    Have fun!
  

Corporate bullying: a degenerative disease in our society

       

      

In the society we live, we have become dedicated, competitive, dynamic and changeable individuals, otherwise we are out of game. Reaching the checkmate in such a game as getting a job vacancy has turned into a high point stimulus for a lot of people. After all, we all need to work, but so as to achieve any position, it is necessary to face a battle of Titans: rooms full of applicants, group dynamics and exhausting questions about one’s personal and professional background. It is a mandatory process to take part of the corporate life.

Should we call them collaborators or employees? The first is only a euphemism to what some companies apply at the market through demands of producing more, more and more for the same salary and tons of extra hours, mostly without any direct compensation for employees.

They lose not only hours without mental or physical rest, depending on the type of work, but also have fewer hours to enjoy with their family. Besides, their own intellectual improvement is at stake since they stay at the office in night shifts or even weekends, cut classes at faculty or post-graduation to attend some emergency at the company. As impressive as it seems, this behavior is an actual practice in many companies. 

Employers and bosses have adopted a behavior towards their teams or employees concerning the non-stopping rules so that they can achieve plain productivity, efficiency and effectiveness. Afterwards, competition among the companies increases every day and employees need to fit the way of being slaves of the system.

 There are bosses like ‘Miranda’ from ‘The Devil wears Prada’ whose professional profile are known as workalcoholic who want their employees to be exactly their own person. As this is not possible, they demand from them reports with the color they want, make their ‘vassals’ cry on the toilet, scream as if they were talking to spoiled kids in a park, complain about the employee to a superior officer and defame their image in front of other workmates as if it would be in the boss’ script.

Although sometimes it is necessary to call someone’s attention, this behavior is not pleasant in the work environment at all when done in public, because it causes emotional damage to the employees and it is known as bullying. Why cannot this boss have a sincere talk with them in four walls? It can be stated these bosses are the precursors to the corporate stress generation.

One must have talent to be a boss and it should not be possible to achieve this position without ethics and humanity.  After suffering a lot, employees get unmotivated, do not feel like remaining in the workplace and when they get someone to be their witness, the case is taken to the courthouse. Nevertheless, this does not happen and it leads them to quit their jobs, not taking that situation due to stress and humiliation. This can be considered tyranny derived from a quite perverse way. 

 It is required a lot of patience in order to be a boss because it is about being secure in his own attitude, acting as psychologist and pedagogue, being  human being in a great manner and also knowing that each one is different from the other. If someone wants somebody like their own person, who does not either make any mistakes or learn with them, this person will be selfish and cruel.  

These persons believe so much in their own capacity that they usually ask their employees for mechanical and operational assignments. These types of bosses were the Kings and Queens from Middle Ages, landlords who wanted to keep the power in their hands, just like Hitler who considered himself coming from a higher nature: the Aryan Race. What about you? Do you consider yourself in this group?

 It is advisable not to spread this selfish behavior throughout humankind. Quite a few companies are sick, because their CEOs, managers, coordinates are morally ill. These organizations are immersed into this process of the corporate stress; it is actually an ICU (intensive care unit) not only to the business world to solve, but also to receive a high quality solution from the society because it has been growing like weed in our beautiful ‘social garden’.

Each one of us is responsible for turning workplace environment into a pleasant and healthy place to work to everyone. It is important to remind that from the janitor to the CEO, all are human beings and therefore, allowed to make mistakes. The learning process is part of everyone’s path and only the Good Leaders will have the merit regarding the very conquest which is teaching and learning when they teach and respect the other person as a learner in the same journey.

Translation from my text: http://clarissayres.blogspot.com/ 

Transitions in life: from cicada to a 'teenage' butterfly

     We all have our time to start something in life, but sometimes this time does not reveal itself until we are ready to face it. If someone asks me about my feeling right now, I'll tell him or her: ''_Well, I feel like a cicada turning into a 'teenage butterfly'.'' That's a metaphor, for sure. I just love metaphors...I reckon you can express yourself in a funny or relaxed way. Ok, and then I am asked: _ What do you mean by teenage butterfly? I chose butterfly because it is an animal which passes a phase from an ugly insect to a nice stage of a beautiful one.

     I consider my last decade as a time of cicada. I was closed in myself, not questioning why I had to go for those jobs with boring numbers, sheets, budget reports. Now, I have a work which I enjoy very much. I'll probably be very passionate about it. I don't know, it's only something that crosses my mind now. I feel it in a different way, considering I was born again in this July, 2011. I do hope God blesses me as a 'teenage butterfly', running after the next phase of a mature, wise and forever happy butterfly.

'Suns and Lovers' story from D. H. Lawrence

      

        

       Suns and Lovers, wrote by D.H. Lawrence, tells a story about a family and its complex relationships: the lack of support from a father who did not cared about the family, the rising of their children, the worrisome process of the children to leave home, the lost of someone cherished and mainly the jealousy of a mother who loves a son in an exaggerated way, leading a young boy to a confused battle of love.

       The family Morel lived in Bestwood and had four children in decreased order of birth: William, Annie, Paul and Arthur. At first, Mrs Morel admired her husband because he worked in the mines, risking his life in a daily routine, but as they were poor, money turned itself a really huge problem since Mr. Morel was a father very fond of drinking at pubs. Then, the quarrels were frequent and he did not take part in family’s life.

       Paul was the third child and his birth was not in a moment her mother could say she wanted him. Mr Morel only pretended to be interested in the child. By the time Paul was born, William, Mrs Morel’s favourite son was thirteen and started working, giving all his money to his mother. Later, aged twenty, he got a job in London, leaving home and Mrs Morel with sadness. Paul was the one who followed her all around “like a shadow” during his childhood.

         Paul was a sensitive young man who felt everything around him, especially what concerned his mother who missed William a lot. Although a little jealous of each other, Paul and William were good friends. As William was away, he sent money to his mother and visited the family occasionally like Christmas. In his first visit, he brought a lot of presents for the family. When he started enjoying his life in London, he stopped sending her any money.

         When Paul was fourteen, he started to look for a job. Only four letters wrote and his first interview gave him the chance to get one. By that time, William was engaged to a girl named Lily who was sort of an ‘empty person’, not showing respect to William’s family, asking his sister to wash her clothes. William was not so sure about marrying her, but he felt tied to the commitment.

        After his last visit, William got very sick and died. Paul got sick as well, but he knew that he should be strong and recover from the illness. After seven weeks in bed, he was fine and then Mrs Morel gave all the attention and love to Paul. This moment in their lives created a deeper relation between mother and son.

        Paul used to go to Willey’s Farm and made new friends, Edgar and Miriam, the children of Mrs Morel’s friend. As time passed, he spent most of it with Miriam, a very romantic girl who was not satisfied with her life. Since Paul knew French and Maths, he offered himself to teach her. He got angry at her because she was slow at learning, then Paul felt pity when he saw her feelings towards the situation though.

      He also did improve his painting, having him attended art school which was possible to conciliate due to Jordan’s, his boss, permission. Mrs Morel was very jealous of Paul when he was with Miriam. She did not like her, getting angry and worried with Paul when he got late from the meetings with the girl. Although Miriam and he were friends, they did not assume any type of feeling different from a simple friendship.

       Paul was doing very well in the field of arts; after all he even sent two pictures for an exhibition, providing him his first prizes and also making Mrs Morel very proud of him. One day he met Miriam with a young woman, Clara Dawes, who called Paul’s attention at first sight. His mother continued to dislike his proximity to Miriam. He felt angry and decided to tell her he could only be friends, nothing more. Paul had assumed that she loved him more than he did. In his heart, his mother was the ‘strongest tie in his life’.

       While Miriam missed him and waited for his return, Paul was more interested in getting close to Clara, an aged thirty woman who was apart from her husband. As time went by, they got closer after some meetings in Miriam’s house and a deliverance by Paul of a letter at Clara’s home. Paul got a job for her where he worked. When Paul talked to Clara about Miriam and his mixed feelings, she encouraged him to take a chance on her; something would not please Mrs Morel again. By this time, his mother had already been sick for a couple of times.

       Notwithstanding his feelings towards Miriam, he felt he could not marry her. After having tried a relationship with Miriam, he broke it up. This fact leaded Paul straight back to his last interest: Clara. He had even invited her to take some tea with his mother. He was very much in love with her. Mrs Morel liked Clara, but she told his son that despite this, he would get tired of her, what caused him to feel angry and confused.

       Consequently, in his back with Clara, Paul felt she would not be able to keep his spirits high, in spite of the passion and tenderness he could feel for her. Clara had also confirmed she would not divorce her husband. Baxter Dawes was not pleased with their relationship and in one occasion, the man met Paul in the station, hitting him with fierceness. He told his mother the truth, but people were told that he had suffered a bicycle accident.

      Sometime after, Paul went to a friend’s house while his mother would stay with Annie in Blackpool. One day, he came to visit her at Annie’s and their mother was ill again. She seemed very weak. She managed to go back home despite her illness after two months away. Then, Paul and Annie helped nursing Mrs Morel. Paul was told she had a lump and it would be impossible to operate her since Mrs Morel’s heart was weak. In one evening, he decided to give her all the sleeping pills through a powder with milk. This overdose accelerated his mother’s death.

      After this occasion, as the unique tie to his home was his mother, now her death would take him away from it, leading him to rent a room while his lonely father went to live in a family’s house. He talked to Miriam who asked him about his break up with Clara and wondered marrying him so as not to waste himself. Paul answered that he would not marry her. As Clara had also gone back to her husband after his illness and Paul had lost his last chance with Miriam, he felt deeply lost, making up his mind about not giving in though. Paul wanted to be alive after all.        

‘Travelling with Darwin’: a flight into Science in Maricá, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Enrolments are open to the contest ‘Travelling with Darwin’, inviting approximately 10,000 students from the 1^st to 9^th grades (aged 6-15) from public education located in Maricá. The work selection aims to motivate the students to a scientific investigation related to the concepts that the English scientist Charles Darwin formulated on Human Evolution and its impacts nowadays. It also highlights the importance of the expedition that Darwin leaded to Maricá and to another eleven cities in Rio de Janeiro in the XIX century, studying the species for his most famous book On the Origin of Species.

According to schedule, the result will be released in next October, celebrating the five best works with a very interesting prize: a panoramic flight on Maricá. The five students will know the city from a different perspective taken by Darwin who arrived in Brazil in the Beagle ship almost 180 years ago. They will have the unique chance to know the place they live, observing the whole city: the geography, the Atlantic Forest, the sandbank, the lagoon system, the watershed and the ocean.

When preparing the work, the student must express the scientific creativity, choosing among different areas of knowledge: scenic arts, plastic arts, composition, mathematics, collection of biological and geological material concerned to the field research. There is also the possibility to relate Darwin with current issues as sustainable development, climatic changes, etc.

All students at the contest are allowed to present their works in Science and Technology week in October and during the week of ‘Darwin’s Paths’, in November, in a meeting with other cities visited by Darwin, reminding that moment.

The contest is organized by Department of Science and Technology and Maricá's Department of Education with the support of Ministry of Science and Technology, Science House (Federal University of Rio de Janeiro) and Aeroclub (Maricá).

Enrolment forms should be submitted until June 6. The school or the student interested in the contest must enrol at the following site: http://www.marica.rj.gov.br/viajandocomdarwin (you can check regulation, schedule and general information in the internet).

Contacts can also be made by phone and email: +55 21 2637-8817 (Code 28) or subcienciaetecnologia@marica.rj.gov.br

My translation to Saulo Machado based on his text in Portuguese

Studying English from Short Stories. Try it!

One way of improving English is reading. You can choose from a variety of short stories available in the internet.
Some sites:

http://www.short-stories.co.uk/  and http://www.online-literature.com/

This is my opinion about a Short Story that I wrote in my English course some years ago.
Its title is MACKINTOSH by W. Somerset Maugham. It can be found in the following address:
http://www.online-literature.com/maugham/the-trembling/2/

    Concerning to aspects of life and the way people get along to each other, this story conciliates both of them. It’s also possible to take lessons of how people usually judge others by just considering his own opinion relevant.  Walker, the administrator of the Pacific Island, is the type of person who thinks that his power can control people and their lives. He treats his assistant, Mackintosh, as a “machine” and gets him to write compositions that would be his task.

    Walker also tells people to be quiet and whenever possible, he makes criticism about how Mac likes to read. He judges everybody’s beliefs, ideas and manners. Notwithstanding his behavior, he manages the Island very successfully.

He also tries his best so as to improve its infrastructure, mainly providing a good access to all places in the Island through building roads. Walker is a very proud person who boasts about influencing the natives the way he did. Mac acts an important role in the story. His felling sorry for the workers that had gone on strike, making Walker seem to be the bad guy can explain a lot later. Actually, the workers deserved more for the work, but the way Mac wants to change the administration shows that he wants to displace Walker.

     As the story goes, we can infer that the occasion Mac visited Jervis, he realized that he would be the one to replace Walker’s administration in case of anything came about with Walker. In my opinion, he feared at this very moment. He ran so as to see if the revolver was at the place it should be. It was not. He started worrying about Walker’s life and he did not want to leave him alone. He insisted on that he could make company for him and avoid future problems.

     Manuma was there that night. Was it a coincidence? No, it was not. Everything had been planned before and Mac was the one to ask for Walker’s death. Then, after the revolver appeared Mac waited for news…And before, he had enjoyed his dinner in a way he had never before. He was an insensible person.  It is explicit that he was not the real killer, but Manuma. However, Mac ordered. Somehow, he tried to stop the murder and he was kind of regretted. Then, it was too late.

    Although Mac and Walker did not get along well, Walker felt horribly when everything came about. He started realizing that Walker was not exactly the person he imagined. Above of all, Walker wanted to be fair and every native to be treated in a just way. Walker told Mac to provide what the people on the Island to be treated nice and to finish the road. He was a “big daddy” for those people and Mac really regretted what he had done. Mac committed suicide because he could not bear the pain.

     A lesson from the story is that we never should judge people. Our point of view can change as we get to know somebody. We should not only give us this chance, but giving a better thought of somebody is a daily exercise for our human nature which is always ready to criticize and jeer about other mistakes.

Creation

What's about creation
That does not follow
the rules of recommendation?

And you endure sorrow
But at least you tried
Not leaving it for tomorrow

And you realize what is applied
Cause your lines from a perfecter
They can still be dignified

No thought can use any fetter
For the boundaries I once crossed
It only turns my practice better

Why are women taking over jobs once supposed to be only for males?

         The concept of life and the way we deal with it has changed a lot. This does mean that we have a pretty different point of view. In the past, a woman was seen as a mother and a housewife. A house was where she should stay to accomplish her duty. Why and how has it changed after all?

         As a matter of fact, a revolution has operated significant changes on daily routines, marketplace, education, jobs, etc. It is part of the progress, which started requiring new opportunities and talents for various areas. It is a change in the ideology as well. All these components create a field of work that not just requires men, but also women. It is very important to mention that some companies look for a lot of women’s qualities. It happens because women are efficient, practical, careful and organized.

         This evaluation of women’s work started with a movement of independence. When building a family got harder, their role in the society completely changed. Then, education and the marketplace accepted the women’s entrance. Factories, big companies, great equipment, and computers are all part of this new world. Nowadays, what really matters in the era of information and technology is the quality of the worker, not if is he or she. The value comes from the efforts and competence for both sexes.

Consumer and the quality of the products

As the goods of Information Technology like computers have been improved, the quality and security of various services have changed as well. Actually, I think the competition is the key to all these discoveries. So as to survive in the markets, the companies are to create new methods and patterns, which try to get the costumer loyalty.

Nowadays, quite a few companies are worried about their product image. I'll admit it is very useful information since its image will provide the company's position in the market. I also believe that the consumer's point of view carries the most weight. But it depends on what the company provides you after purchasing its product. Mainly, there are some points that have to be considered. Both quality and brand have to be checked. If there is a chance, it is advisable to try out before buying, like most people do with household chores. The delivering service is important too and is aware of the charges. Another point to be listed is the guarantee. If you are interested in getting a good product and not losing your money, read carefully all the terms of the contract. Don't sign till you are sure of all the conditions of payment; possibilities of refund in case of technical problems and how long the guarantee lasts.

It is also very important to be aware of the government’s measures. Most of times, the decisions made by governments influence the company’s and it incite changes in prices. I don’t think the Consumer Protection Agency is capable of solving all consumers’ problems with stores and companies. There are many unsolved cases that are waiting for a solution. On the other hand, Brazilian government has been creating Agencies, which are in charge of controlling companies’ production. It is very profitable for the consumer to whom is given more opportunity to complain about the services and high taxes. Besides, quality is a pretty required component.

An ideal home: the key to a happy life?

       It is not simple to evaluate a place where someone is supposed to live in. For some people, a mansion on the mountains is the ideal place to spend the time in and to be happy. For others, a house on the beach or yet a penthouse is the best way out to have comfort and all the facilities and advantages it can provide. So, we can verify that are very different opinions from each one. Although, we think that a fancy house or a big garden with a huge swimming pool is the key to our happiness, we may be quite wrong about that.

      The reason for that concerns conciliating the financial conditions and advantages of the place we live in. We can envy or daydream about some big apartment, but nevertheless getting this desire fulfilled may not be a good thing. We should be considering our state of mind when choosing for a home. Just like we see in cartoons: “ Sweet home” is the place we are to live well, with health and to make some changes so as to make the place just to be to our taste. An ideal home is in our mind, not just in what money can buy. Comfort and security count a lot, not to mention the companies you keep around...  

Hello!

I have been quite busy for a while with my new project. It needs a great energy and some organization.
I know I can not abandon my dear blog by now.
I am getting the freedom of my soul.
I am coming soon with some news. I need to work a lot!!!
Have a nice week!

Missing Title

I don't mean to judge your reason
But I must understand why
So far away from the season
Of paintings, drawings and cry

Those years of absence
A great remind of the past 
Without complacence
And I had lost my text

I only need to remember
All my things on the floor
After all, who has the answer?
Maybe by the way you shut the door

Am I the theme of the plot?
And carrying this idea?
Change the path I once thought?
Using my own criteria?

I hope I still can fix
What in my mind goes by
Otherwise, it will mix
In a great delusion why

I must begin again
I feel like a baby in need
And no time for bargain
My heart can build my creed

I can create creativity
Since not lost in a town 
I may want a festivity
If my heart settles down

Clarissa Ayres

Fantastic 2011

Hello, my dear blog! And Happy New Year!!!:)
I have been so busy that I could not keep up with all the updates I would like to have written.
I must say: this year is already amazing! I am a boss. :) Yeah, I am running a very important project that implies a great effort, lots of work, dedication, discipline and good thoughts for a astonishing result! AND THE SKY IS NOT THE LIMIT...
Let's go, girl!
It's you on tape now...:)
See u!