2011-12 School year

After 8 months here we are, ready for PAU 2012! In general, this year has been good for me.

We started in September when we were doing ours Researches Projects. Those times were difficult for us as we had to work in TdR everyday. Finally we gave over in December and we could "relax" on Christmas holidays. Then, at beginning of year, we could really focus on 2nd Batxillerat but it was hard too. After easter holidays, the countdown started. Since April, all teachers wanted finish their agendas to Selectivitat. However, in some subjects as Latin, Maths and English; we have finished the agenda yet and now we can review to Selectivitat exams. 

Personally, this 2011-12 school year also has been very good for me. Although all the work, I felt very good with all my classmates, they did that this school year go over so quick. 2nd Batxillarat is a special year because next year we'll separate. It's a shame that we couldn't go to London. 

Salvados

Jordi Evole, known as El Follonero, directs a TV program called Salvados. This project was born on 2008. At the beginning Salvados only broadcast in special moments: European football championships, Spanish elections... After a year, the program became weekly (every Sunday at 9.30 p.m.)
In the current, they season talked about a lot of polemical topics: Qatar Foundation, Urdangarín, monarchy, police, banks...
Salvados is one of the few that are worth to see because they do fantastic reports about current topics and use a bit of humour too. I think that Jordi Evole won't be El Follonero anymore, now he's Jordi as a reporter.
Here is a part of my favourite Salvados:

Metal Gear Solid Series (Part 1 and 2)

Metal Gear Solid is a series of a stealth video games created by Hideo Kojima. The first game was released in 1998 for PS one. This game, called Metal Gear Solid had a low quality but had an excellent and original plot. The main character is Solid Snake who's a spy. He have to infiltrate to Shadow Moses, an old military base. There, a group called FOXHOUND was developing the biggest weapon of massive destruction: Metal Gear REX. After a few missions in Shadow Moses, Snake get in to the base and overcome FOXHOUND members (Liquid, Ocelot and Raven). However, Ocelot, whom Snake cut a arm, managed to survive.
Metal Gear 2 was released in 2001 for PS2. It explains two parts of Metal Gear Solid stories: tank chapter and plant chapter. The tank chapter is two years after Shadow Moses incident, in 2007. At that time, Snake had to infiltrate to a ship where US marine were developing a new Metal Gear, RAY. Snake got in to ship but Metal Gear RAY was stolen by Ocelot.
The plant chapter is two years after tank chapter and is about other character, Raiden. He must infiltrate to a plant where a terrorist group, called Deadcell, retained US president. Deadcell had enough bombs to blow up New York. Raiden must overcome against Deadcell members; Solidus, Fortune, Fatman, Vamp and Ocelot. Solidus, Deadcell chief, fight against Raiden in New York, in the Federal Hall. Finally, Raiden kill Solidus, Fortune and Fatman but Vamp and Ocelot get to survive.
Metal Gear Solid series is more than a simply video game, it's like a film. I think they should make a film!

*Metal Gear plot is so complex, this is only a summary from two first games (there are four games!)

Marinaleda

Marinaleda, a little village located in Andalucía, isn't a common place. Since democratic transition only one mayor has ruled the village: Juan Manuel Sánchez Gordillo from Izquierda Unida (Left Union). Sánchez Gordillo has governed all legislatures by absolute majority
After Franco's dead, Marinaleda people started to manifest against a landowner who owned the majority lands but he didn't want cultivate them. After a years of fight, Marinaleda people get eject the landowner.
Policies Marinaleda carries out are opposite from EU and USA policies. City council have all village land. They yield plots to people which want build a house. People must pay €15 monthly (more or less). To change, people have to help to build the house.
Furthermore, every body can check the municipal budget: town council have a list, which everyone can see, with all municipal expenses. Besides town hall organizes an assembly per week. All people from Marinaleda can go there and express to mayor their thoughts or problems.
Marinaleda is a "famous" village for his particularity and stars a lot of news, reports... even songs! Here is an interview to Sánchez Gordillo

News: Spanish King Juan Carlos in him surgery after fall

This news talks about Juan Carlos I accident in Botswana. The monarch went to that African country to hunt wild animals. There he fall and he suffered a triple fracture in his hip. For that reason, Spanish King has been operated last Monday. This news also mentions other accidents featured by Juan Carlos I like an accident with a doorknob.Finally, it talks about Froilan accident who shot himself. 
Monarchy is an old way to structure a country. I don't understand how can be people who think that monarchy is a good system.The recent accidents that Spanish Royal house has featured may suggest to people for a change. Surveys says that the majority of Spain want a Republic. However, if people continue vote PP or PSOE, III Republic won't arrive never.

News: Bankia boss resign as rescue looms

This bit of a news  is about the Bankia boss resignation. The main reason of Rodrigo Rato's resignation is the rescue that Bankia will suffer due the poor economical conditions. It seems that Bankia needs about € 7.000 million. Bankia is a result of a fusion between 7 banks, in 2010. Nowadays is the forth bank in Spain. Although President Mariano Rajoy said he never rescue any bank with public money, Spanish government will save Bankia using public money.

I can't understand how a private organization that sponsors a MotoGP team must be rescue. Furthermore, give public money to banks isn't the best solution. On one hand, it's true that the money of people be lost but, on the other hand, banks are the main cause of the crisis and Spain's government do economic cuts to people. Why we should save Banks, but let fall other companies? Are they different? 

Animal Farm by G. Orwell

One of the lasts books I've read is Animal Farm by George Orwell. Orwell published this novel on 17 August 1945 and it talks about a animal revolution against humans. There are a parallelism between Animal Farm and the Socialist revolution in 1917 in Russia (Soviet Union).

Plot (spoiler)
The story starts with a speech by Old Major, the oldest pig in the farm. He says that humans use all animals as slavers and encourages to the other animal to begin a rebellion and get the control of the farm. They should create a fair farm.

After few weeks Old Major died but the other animals got his message. In fact, they did the animal rebellion and expelled humans from the farm. From that moment, animals organize themselves; without human slavery. At the start all animals were glad for the new order because they work less than before.
Although, early started the troubles: pigs, the cleverest animals in the farm, were arguing for the power. Specially, Snowball and Napoleon pigs wanted the farm power. Their projects were opposed but both agreed with the revolution. After some quarrelling, Napoleon got the power (using violence).
Napoleon became the unique leader and he got some violent dogs to attack one that didn't agree with him. Besides, he created a "elite" formed by pigs which began to act like humans (they drunk alcohol, they wore clothes etc.) There wasn't any human in the farm but animals were slaves again.

Personal reflection

I think this book is a perfect way to know about Soviet Revolution: first of all Marx (Old Major) talked about a revolution. Then, Russian people did that rebellion (animals) and ejected Tsar (humans) and two leaders, Trotsky (Snowball) and Napoleon (Stalin) discussed for the power. Finally, Stalin get the power and established a dictatorship.