domingo, 27 de octubre de 2013
world war Z
World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War
is a 2006 apocalyptic horror novel by Max Brooks. It is a follow-up to his 2003 satirical survival manual, The Zombie Survival Guide, but is much more serious in its tone.
Autor: BROOKS, MAX
Editorial: ALMUZARA
Año de edición: 2008
Género: Fantástica, ciencia ficción
ISBN: 9788496968813
Synopsis:
An expert UN investigator (Brad Pitt) is forced to try to stop what could be the end of the world in a race against time and fate. The destruction to which is subjected the human race makes him travel the world searching for answers on how to stop the horrible pandemic trying to save the lives of millions of strangers as well as his own family.
Zombie Virus Possible?
As a science fiction writer, Slonczewski is used to imagining doomsday scenarios. Her 2010 novel Brain Plague featured zombie-like characters that bite people to transmit intelligent microbes, which then communicate with the infected person’s brain cells. So I asked her: Could a zombie-like virus occur in real life?
Sort of. No one’s expecting the dead to rise again, of course, but there are so-called neurotropic viruses that attack our brains and cause aggressive or bizarre behavior.
“I suppose you could imagine a [new neurotropic] virus that would cut off the higher brain function and then induce a starvation-like state and could thereby induce the disabled person to go after brains”—the classic zombie meal, Slonczewski said.
Some existing neurotropic viruses are already the stuff of nightmares. For instance, “rabies is pretty scary on its own,” said Kartik Chandran, a microbiologist and immunologist at the Albert Einstein College in New York who studies the deadly Ebola virus. (In the movie and book, the zombie plague is first misidentified as rabies.)
Like the mythical zombie virus, rabies is transferred through biting. Once inside your body, the virus travels directly to your brain and “makes you go nuts and go and bite more people,” he said. More than 55,000 people, mostly in Africa and Asia, die from rabies every year, which is one person every ten minutes, according to the World Rabies Day website. Most infected people are bitten by rabid wildlife. (See “New, Fast-Evolving Rabies Virus Found—And Spreading.”)
Making of a Monster
How would a “zombie virus” arise? One possibility is that two viruses could join together and form a hybrid.
Viruses work by copying their genetic material within human cells. If there are two viruses in the same cell, one virus may accidentally jump on a genetic copy that belongs to the other virus. The progenitor to the human HIV virus may have arisen this way in Africa when a chimpanzee and monkey virus combined, Chandran explained.
I also asked Chandran if the Ebola virus—which causes widespread hemorrhaging—and rabies could ever hybridize and infect people, making them look and act like zombies. He said that’s unlikely because the viruses aren’t closely related, and that even if it were to happen, the resulting “bastard progeny would be nonfunctional or poorly functional.”
But there’s another way that a mutant virus can arise: if there’s a glitch in the genetic copying machinery of an existing virus. Sometimes, one of these mutations confers an advantage to the virus that allows the mutated strain to outcompete others and quickly take over the world. (Take an infectious diseases quiz.)
Called a “selective sweep,” this usually happens frequently with influenza. (See video: “How Flu Viruses Attack.”)
That’s why the concept of a World War Z-like viral plague is not so far-fetched.
Viruses also succeed when they encounter populations that have no immunity against them. A good example is measles in the New World in the 1600s, noted Chandran. Europeans, who were resistant to measles virus, brought it with them to the Americas, where the natives weren’t. It spread like wildfire.
Viruses Not All Bad
But before you panic about a zombie apocalypse, remember that not all viruses are bad. Slonczewski noted that there are more helpful viruses than harmful ones. Some viruses are even essential to our survival, performing functions like stimulating our immune system.
Chandran agreed that “viruses are indispensable to life as we know it.” For instance, viruses shuffle nature’s genetic deck by constantly moving new genetic material from species to species.
Another thing to consider: The majority of viruses on Earth infect single-celled microbes, and have no interest in us humans.
“We’re kind of a sideshow. This whole planet’s really about microbes,” Chandran said, “just waiting to take it back.”
That should put your mind at ease.
domingo, 20 de octubre de 2013
traditional costumes
Kimono
The most famous Japanese dress is the kimono world. The kimono (着 物) is the traditional dress, which was the garment of common use until the
early years of the war. The Japanese word mono means "thing" and comes
from kiru ki, 'carry'.
The kimono dress covering the body in surrounding form and secured with a wide sash called obi.
baju Kurung
Malay women wear the baju Kurung, blouse above the knee and wearing a long skirt. Usually used Tudon that covers the head
Mexican Mariachi Costumes
Mexico has several styles of clothing that could be considered national costumes. One of the most popular is the Charro suit and sombrero ensemble most often worn today by Mariachi bands. The traditional dress for Mexican women includes a huipil, an intricately woven tunic. Although at first glance the shirts look merely decorative, the stitches actually give details about the woman's lifestyle and personal beliefs.Lederhosen and Dirndl
In Austria and Bavaria, lederhosen are a traditional costume for men. Often paired with suspenders, these leather shorts were once worn by working class men, but are now reserved for festivals and special occasions. The traditional dress for women in those regions is a dirndl, a simple dress consisting of blouse, skirt, apron, and bodice.National Costumes of Greece
Greece has a rich history, so it's only fitting that it has a diverse collection of national costumes. Although shown here with a flowered headband, the waistcoat and skirt were often paired with a small hat called a fez. The national costumes for men include the fustanella, which is a pleated skirt with a white shirt, and the vraka, a white shirt paired with loose trousers.Russian Dress
Russian national costumes are made for both beauty and function and are loose to allow for ease of movement. For women, this consists of ornate and heavily embroidered dresses, while the traditional dress of men is the calf-length red wool coat, black boots, and cylindrical dark wool Cossack hat of the Imperial Guard.Traditional Scottish Outfit
The knee-length pleated kilt is characteristic of Scottish costumes, and is often made of tartan - one clan's specialized fabric- for even more symbolism. A sporran, a furry pouch worn around the waist, and knee socks are other classic parts of the Scottish costume.domingo, 6 de octubre de 2013
unreal conditional
Past Unreal Conditional
FORM
[If ... Past Perfect ..., ... would have + past participle ... ][... would have + past participle ... if ... Past Perfect ...]
USE
The Past Unreal Conditional is used to talk about imaginary situations in the past. You can describe what you would have done differently or how something could have happened differently if circumstances had been different.
Examples:
- If I had owned a car, I would have driven to work. But I didn't own one, so I took the bus.
- She would have traveled around the world if she had had more money. But she didn't have much money, so she never traveled.
- I would have read more as a child if I hadn't watched so much TV. Unfortunately, I did watch a lot of TV, so I never read for entertainment.
- Mary would have gotten the job and moved to Japan if she had studied Japanese in school instead of French.
- If Jack had worked harder, he would have earned more money. Unfortunately, he was lazy and he didn't earn much.
- A: What would you have done if you had won the lottery last week?
B: I would have bought a house. - A: What city would you have chosen if you had decided to move to the United States?
B: I would have chosen Seattle.
IMPORTANT Only use "If"
Only the word "if" is used with the Past Unreal Conditional because you are discussing imaginary situations. "When" cannot be used.
Examples:
- I would have bought that computer when it had been cheaper. Not Correct
- I would have bought that computer if it had been cheaper. Correct
EXCEPTION Conditional with Modal Verbs
There are some special conditional forms for modal verbs in English:would have + can = could have
would have + shall = should have
would have + may = might have
The words "can," "shall" and "may" cannot be used with "would have." Instead, they must be used in these special forms.
Examples:
The words "could," should," "might" and "ought to" include Conditional, so you cannot combine them with "would have."- If I had gone to Egypt, I could have learned Arabic.
- If she had had time, she might have gone to the party.
Examples:
EXERCISE:
1. REWRITE THE FOLLOWING PAST UNREAL CONDITIONAL SENTENCES, USING THE INVERTED FORM.
1. They would have lent her the money if she had asked.
Had she asked, They would have lent her the money.
2. If I had been debt free, I would have considered buying that house.
Had I been debt free, I would have considered buying that house
3. If the Carsons hadn`t been able to support their son, he would have had to find a part-time job.
Had they not been able to support their son, he would have had to find a part-time job.
4. Could you have gotten the car if they hadn't raised the price?.
Had they not raised the price. Could you have gotten the car?.
2. MAKE STATEMENTS OF BUYER'S REMORSE, USING THE INVERTD FORM OF THE PAS UNREAL CONDITIONAL AND THE VOCABULARY.
1. Had I known that it just sits around collecting dust, I would never have gotten that espresso maker.
2. Had we known that this sofa takes up so much room, we never wiould have bought such a large sofa.
3. Had I read the instructions and seen that it is so hard to put together, I could have gotten
an entertainment center whit fewer pieces.
4. Had I known it costs so much to maintain, we probably would have bought a more economical car.
5. Had I known it is so hard to operate, I would have gotten a DVD player with simpler directions
3. MAKE SENTENCES WITH PAS UNREAL CONDITIONAL
1. Had I Known she was aggressive, I wouldn't married with she.
- If I had had more time, I could have exercised after work.
- If he had invited you, you might have gone.
EXERCISE:
1. REWRITE THE FOLLOWING PAST UNREAL CONDITIONAL SENTENCES, USING THE INVERTED FORM.
1. They would have lent her the money if she had asked.
Had she asked, They would have lent her the money.
2. If I had been debt free, I would have considered buying that house.
Had I been debt free, I would have considered buying that house
3. If the Carsons hadn`t been able to support their son, he would have had to find a part-time job.
Had they not been able to support their son, he would have had to find a part-time job.
4. Could you have gotten the car if they hadn't raised the price?.
Had they not raised the price. Could you have gotten the car?.
2. MAKE STATEMENTS OF BUYER'S REMORSE, USING THE INVERTD FORM OF THE PAS UNREAL CONDITIONAL AND THE VOCABULARY.
1. Had I known that it just sits around collecting dust, I would never have gotten that espresso maker.
2. Had we known that this sofa takes up so much room, we never wiould have bought such a large sofa.
3. Had I read the instructions and seen that it is so hard to put together, I could have gotten
an entertainment center whit fewer pieces.
4. Had I known it costs so much to maintain, we probably would have bought a more economical car.
5. Had I known it is so hard to operate, I would have gotten a DVD player with simpler directions
3. MAKE SENTENCES WITH PAS UNREAL CONDITIONAL
1. Had I Known she was aggressive, I wouldn't married with she.
2. Had I not Driven very fast, I wouldn't crash with that dog
3. Had I not eaten ceviche, I wouldn't be sick now.
3. Had I not eaten ceviche, I wouldn't be sick now.
sábado, 5 de octubre de 2013
Some steps to making a financial budget
Money and saving is a very important topic because this depends your economic stability. budgeting is helpful because it gives us an estimate of personal finance. This requires some anticipation not only of the expenses to be performed within the time determined, is also a anticipation of the gains or capital inflows that may occur in that period.
Here yo have 6 steps to making a financial budget.
1. Budgets are a necessary evil.
They're the only practical way to get a grip on your spending - and to make sure your money is being used the way you want it to be used.
2. Creating a budget generally requires three steps.
- Identify how you're spending money now.
- Evaluate your current spending and set goals that take into account your long-term financial objectives.
- Track your spending to make sure it stays within those guidelines.
3. Use software to save grief.
If you use a personal-finance program such as Quicken or Microsoft Money, the built-in budget-making tools can create your budget for you.
4. Don't drive yourself nuts.
One drawback of monitoring your spending by computer is that it encourages overzealous attention to detail. Once you determine which categories of spending can and should be cut (or expanded), concentrate on those categories and worry less about other aspects of your spending.
5. Spending beyond your limits is dangerous.
But if you do, you've got plenty of company. Government figures show that many households with total income of $50,000 or less are spending more than they bring in. This doesn't make you an automatic candidate for bankruptcy - but it's definitely a sign you need to make some serious spending cuts.
6. Don't count on windfalls.When projecting the amount of money you can live on, don't include dollars that you can't be sure you'll receive, such as year-end bonuses, tax refunds or investment gains.
Remember that everything you've read so far only happen if you take action now. Only through the combined effort to increase revenue, reduce expenses and with the knowledge of how to save money you can make money available to invest and achieve financial freedom.
for more information visit this page:
http://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/money101/lesson2/index.htm
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