PEOPLE

EMMA WATSON, A MODEL STUDENT

Emma Watson, 19, who plays swotty Hermione in the Harry Potter movies, is also a brain in real life. The British acress is now studying at the prestigious Brown University on Rhode Island, one of the oldest universities in the USA. The university is expensive but gives financial aid to those who need it. Still, as the new face of Burberry, that shouldn't be a problem for Watson, who could be the best-dressed student on campus. OBAMA FLY KILLER

When Barack Obama swatted and killed a fly in a recent interview, not everyone was impressed. PETA, the animal rights organization, expressed regret for the "execution" and sent the US president a special bug-catching device that allows house flies to be trapped and then released outside. "We support compassion for even the most curious, smallest and least sympathetic animals," said PETA spokesman Bruce Friedrich.

DANGEROUS CELEBRITIES

She may not look it but Jessica Biel is dangerous, very dangerous... in cyberspace, that is. The American actress, ex-model and girlfriend of Justin Timberlake has been named the most dangerous celebrity to search for on the internet. A report by internet security company McAfee Inc. found that fans searching for Biel have a 20 per cent chance of visiting a website that hosts malicious software and computer viruses. Beyoncé and Jennifer Aniston came second and third.

INSIDE THE WHITE HOUSE

THE WEST WING CENTER OF POWER

The legendary Oval Office is here, not in the main part of the White House. Although it was the largest house in the USA when it was inaugurated in 1800, it wasn't long before it was too small to contain the work of government and be used as a home. The West and East wings were thus added, but even these are small and office space is tight for most people in govenment. There are two indicators of status - how close your office is to the president, and whether you have a window. But to have an office anywhere on the first floor of the West Wing, however small and airless, is to be at the pinnacle of power.
The secret Service are in the basement, as is the Situation Room, the communication centre from which the president and the military operate in the event of a crisis.

THE GARDEN: SPORTS, LEISURE AND PLAY

Looking out of the oval Office windows, the president has a view over the South Lawn of the White House. As well as providing a landing pad for the presidential have revealed their sporting enthusiasms (apart from the bowling alley under the North Portico, iniitially installed by President Truman).
Bill Clinton had a jogging track put in to help exercise away his beloved burgers. President Gerald Ford (1974-77) added a pool near the Oval Office, also accessible by an underground pasage from the West Wing. Nearby is the basketball court installed by George H W Bush in 1991, and the tennis court put in by Franklin Roosevelt a little more than a century ago. Between them is a children's play area created by Lyndon Johnson in 1968, where the children of subsequent presidents have left prints of their hands in concrete as movie stars do in Los Angeles. The latest addition is Michelle Obama's kitchen garden, right.

THE MAIN RESIDENCE: FIRST FAMILY APARTMENTS

The central part of the White House has a dual function. The ground floor is used for diplomatic receptions and can be visited by tourists.
The presidential family live right above and, with each change of administration, the apartments are redecorated according to the taste of the new occupants. Although Congress allocate a budget for this, the media and opposition usually attack any sign of extravagance or bad taste. The Obamas have avoided this problem by paying for the redecoration themselves.
THE EAST WING: PRIVATE THEATER, EMERGENCY BUNKER
The East Wing contains the First Lady's office, support staff for the White House, and a theatre in which the First Family can enjoy one of the privileges of the job: the screening of any movie they wish, often before its cinematic release.
George W.Bush was said to be a fan of the Austin Powers films, and frequently raised his little finger to his mouth in imitation of Dr Evil. The Obama family's tastes are not yet public knowledge.
Below the East Wing is the Presidential Emergency Operations Center, an underground bunker from which the president and key government figures can work in case of attack.

LIVING WITH A DISABILITY

My name's Albert and I've been lame since 2000. One day I crossed the road and a car knock me down in the main street in Banyoles. People who help me called very fast a ambulance and they went to hospital with me. I lose the two legs. Now I'm twenty and I'm studying engineering.

Life is very different for me always. I've learn how to go with a wheelchair and I must go a lot of places with other people because sometimes I need help. Fortunately I live with my girlfriend and she help me a lot. My friends of university help me a lot too. I'm doing classes of how I can beat this disabled. In the class there are other persons like me and we talk about this.

There are some things which annoy me. When some peoples looking me and make faces, for example. I understand they, but it's annoying. Also I'm very busy with the pavement which are tall and I can't climb it. But most of people want to help me when I have any problem. People is very compressive with disabled people.

Get this widget Track details eSnips Social DNA

A PROFILE OF A BAND

Black Eyed Peas was formed in Los Angeles in 1995. The original members were Stacy Ann Ferguson (vocals), Jaime Luis Gómez (vocals), Allan Pineda Lindo (vocals and bass) and William James Adams (vocal and trump). There aren't any replaces since 1995. All of the group's members write songs, but a lot of the lyrics are written by Allan Pinedo Lindo.

Black Eyed Peas's first album was released by a an independent record company in 1995. Their fourth album “ Elphunk”, became a best-seller in concretely the song “where is the love”. In countrys like United Kingdom or EUA was the number 1 in the list of exits in 2003. It has sold more than 8,5 million of copies. Since “Elphunk” the next albums were more popular than this.

Black Eyed Peas play both pop and hip hop music. At the beginning they played rap, but they think that it wasn't the best music. Some of their best-known songs are Where is the love, I Gotta a feeling, Bom Bom Pow and Meet me halfway. The band has won some prices for their music. Since 2004 they were nominated for 4 MTV musics awards every year. Only won one price in 2006 and other in 2007, the two awards for the best show of a pop group. Their videos aren't very spectaculars but the music is very good.

Get this widget | Track details | eSnips Social DNA

A FORMAL LETTER

Passeig de la Generalitat 15, 1r 1a.

Banyoles

17820

13^th January 2010

The Community Fund

Passeig de Gracia 32

Barcelona

08193

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am writing to enquire about lottery funds to build a park in our town.

Banyoles is a big town in the east of Catalunya. There are a lot of interesting places, but in concrete we have a big lake. The second bigger lake in Catalunya. Around the lake there are a lot of places to play or relax, but in the zone I live there are not any parks. For that reason, we would like to build a park in our zone. This park will be a place where the children can play and meet friends. La Farga will be a better place.

I would be grateful if you could send me information about lottery grants and the decision you take about this matter. If you have any question about the project of the park, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Yours faithfully,

Albert Juan

Albert Juan

Resident in Banyoles

Park for la Farga committee

Get this widget | Track details | eSnips Social DNA

DIARY: JANUARY

First week 8-8
We did class normally. To be the first day in after holiday there isn't any special. Christmas went ok. It was beautiful saw my sister hitting the tio. Next week we'll work more...

Second week 11-15
It was a normal week. We haven't any exam, but we receive some notes of Spanish. The exam of Spanish went, generally, very bad. This week pass very fast.

Third week 18-22
We have a exam of History. It was very easy. In Biology, the teacher do a exam very short. It's harder came other time to the routine. But well, we must do it, isn't it? The basketball matches goes very well. We win two times in the last two weeks.

Fourth week 25-29
This week we haven't got any exams. It was a normal week and we do normal job. But there are two things differents. First, Wednesday we get up at 7 o'clock to be in the school at 8. We do a extra class of Spanish with Jordi. Second, Saturday is my birthday. I will be 16 years old.

Get this widget | Track details | eSnips Social DNA