Infonews n°305 from 20/05/2007
Sicko by Mickael Moore
The 11th Hour by Di Caprio
Other films in Cannes
- Full list
- Who will win?
- "My Blueberry Nights" by Wong Kar Wai
- "Paranoid Park" by Gus Van Sant
What is it?
Food designer, Clothe designer
Functional food, FOSHU
Politics : French economic changes ahead
The Blair Years: 1997-2007 (from [LII New This Week] May 17)
Guardian Unlimited: The Blair Years (from [LII New This Week] May 17)
Feature web treck : the 50 states
Build a sentence online
Comparatives (Everyday Teaching Newsletter, Fri., May 17th)
Punctuation Station
Endings in "ing" or "ed"?
Material for discussion about "Is school obsolete?"
Friends Reunited (from the BBC)
Discussing race statistics
Edward Hopper: The Artist (from The Scout Report -- May 18)
Music : Sound Junction (from The Scout Report -- May 18)
Maths : We All Use Math Everyday (from The Scout Report -- May 18)
Catering, cooking : Kitchen Chemistry (from The Scout Report -- May 18)
Guardian Unlimited Podcasts [iTunes] (from The Scout Report -- May 18)
Free! PhpWebGallery 1.7.0 (from The Scout Report -- May 18)
Sicko by Mickael Moore
Sicko is the Micheal Moore's last film, in which he denounces the flaw in
the US health services. It was presented at the Cannes Festival, but will be
released later, so no trailer is available yet.
http://www.festival-cannes.fr/index.php/en/article/55494
Here are some articles about it:
- some info from Michael Moore
http://www.michaelmoore.com/words/message/index.php?messageDate=2007-05-17
- a reaction from Canada
http://jam.canoe.ca/Movies/Film_Festivals/Cannes/2007/2007/05/19/4192560.html
- an audio article from VOA ( and transcript)
http://voanews.com/english/2007-05-19-voa25.cfm
- an article from Time entitled "Sicko is socko" .
http://www.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1623337,00.html
[ I suppose socko refers to this new healthy energy drink (read "lifestyle"),
but I might be mistaken...if you find another explanation, do tell me!
http://www.sockoenergy.com/ ]
- and this article from the NY Post explains that, for the film, Michael Moore
took sick 9/11 workers to Cuba for free treatment, but this action is contested.
http://www.nypost.com/seven/04152007/news/worldnews/moores_sicko_stunt_worldnews_janon_fisher.htm
The 11th Hour by Di Caprio
"Presented in a Special Screening Out of Competition, the feature-length
documentary 11th Hour by Leila Conners Petersen and Nadia Conners is the result
of over 70 interviews with prominent people and scholars from all over the
world, an observation of the potential threat to the planet posed by the sorry
state of our ecosystems. Written and produced by American actor Leonardo DiCaprio,
the film asks the following question: Should we interpret the increasing incidence
of natural catastrophes and hurricanes as a warning about a global phenomenon
liable to imperil the future of humanity? "
http://www.festival-cannes.fr/index.php/en/archives/film/4427708
read also this page on a Green site :"the renewable planet" describing
Di Caprio as "top green heartthrob"
http://www.therenewableplanet.com/blogs/the_daily_green/archive/2007/05/16/DiCaprios-11th-Hour-Debuts-at-Cannes.aspx
on the official website of the film, you can find the profiles of all the people
interviewed in the film, and many of them have a homepage where you can learn
more about them.
http://www.11thhourfilm.com/people/
and on the site of the Di Caprio's foundation, you can see his two films : "global
warNing" ( pun with warMing) and "water planet"
http://www.leonardodicaprio.org/
Other films in Cannes
- Full list
http://www.festival-cannes.fr/en/archives/films/year/2007#inCompetition
Read these British articles about the selection:
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/film/article-23395733-details/Who+will+we+fall+in+love+with+this+year+at+Cannes/text/article.do
http://enjoyment.independent.co.uk/film/features/article2486990.ece
- Who will win?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/6667081.stm
http://enjoyment.independent.co.uk/film/features/article2537281.ece
- "My Blueberry Nights" by Wong Kar Wai
"Winner of the Best Director Prize in 1997 for Happy Together, and after
having returned to Cannes with In The Mood For Love and 2046, this year the
Asian filmmaker unveils his first film made in English. My Blueberry Nights,
a dramatic journey hinting at the distance between a broken heart and a new
departure, brings together Jude Law, Natalie Portman, Rachel Weisz, David Strathairn
and, for her first experience on the big screen, jazz singer Norah Jones."
But the synopsis announces a rather sad atmosphere : "Through these individuals,
Elizabeth witnesses the true depths of loneliness and emptiness, and begins
to understand that her own journey is part of a greater exploration within
herself."
- "Paranoid Park" by Gus Van Sant
After Elephant, a film about Columbine shot with non professional actors, Van
Sant presents this new film about teenagers and yet another shooting by teens
in Portland, Oregon. Here is a comment from "movie craze" :
"Van Sant’s story, based on the novel by Blake Nelson, may best be described
as a quirky, child-friendly American spin on Dostoevsky’s “Crime and Punishment.”
http://www.moviecrazed.com/guymovies/cannes2007.html
http://www.moviecrazed.com/guymovies/cannes2007.html
Blake Nelson's blog (with pictures of the shooting of the film)
http://www.blakenelsonbooks.com/
What is it?
Those articles deal with the new yogurt which are suppose to lower your cholesterol.
The UE studies the problem : either they are inefficient and they should be
ruled out, or they do work, and then the amount each person eats can be considered
as medicine and interfere with other medicine they take for the same problem.
Read the article also for the words designer food and functional food.
http://www.lse.co.uk/ShowStory.asp?story=TP1837546K&news_headline=more_monitoring_required_on_designer_foods
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/6667189.stm
Here are some definitions from a US site (I also discovered nutraceuticals
and pharmafood)
"Designer Food: Designer foods are processed foods that are supplemented
with food ingredients naturally rich in disease preventing substances. "
"Functional foods, as defined by the Institute of Medicine in Washington,
are those foods that encompass potentially healthful products including any
modified food or ingredient that may provide a health benefit beyond the traditional
nutrients it contains. Functional foods can include foods like cereals, breads
and beverages which are fortified with vitamins, herbs or nutraceuticals."
"Nutraceuticals is a term coined by Stephen DeFelice, M.D., founder and
chairman of the private, nonprofit Foundation for Innovation in Medicine, Cranford,
NJ, a decade ago. A nutraceutical is 'any substance that may be considered
a food or part of a food and provides medicinal or health benefits, including
the prevention and treatment of disease."
"Pharmafood: Pharma foods are foods or nutrients that claim medical or
health benefits including the prevention and treatment of disease."
http://www.glyconutrientsreference.com/definitions.html
Food designer, Clothe designer
and I found also the word "designer food"
referring to the menus of El Bulli in Barcelona, a restaurant which is said
to be the best in the world.
http://www.starchefs.com/features/travel/eltaller/html/index.shtml
http://www.elbulli.com/sintesis/index.php?lang=en
But there it is the traditional meaning of design : "There is a new school
of chefs tackling food with an attitude that can only be described as design,
while a growing number of designers are discovering that food is just another
raw material."
http://www.icon-magazine.co.uk/issues/031/food.htm
which can go rather far in the fashion designer style : "Anne Klein's
new sportcracker has wonderful tailored lines,'' gushed Paella de la Pluie,
''and Kenzo is doing the most sensuous things in tofu.''
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?sec=health&res=9402E4D61138F933A15752C0A964948260
Functional food, FOSHU
a definition
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Functional_food
In French, the word "aliment fonctionnel" has replace "alicament",
at least in Canada and Switzerland
http://www.admin.ch/ch/f/bk/sp/anglicismes/kommentare.html (en
français, site suisse)
http://www.olf.gouv.qc.ca/ressources/bibliotheque/GDT_fiches/aliment_fonctionnel.html (
tiré de Grand Dictionnaire, site canadien)
and I also discovered the notion of FOSHU (Food for Specified Health Use in
Japan).
Intermediate students interested in food, health and cooking may find useful
articles in this selection on a blog
http://www.passionateaboutfood.net/healthy.php
advanced students specialised in business will like this article stressing
the link between those new type of food and our lifestyle
http://www.foodproductdesign.com/articles/464/464_0901ffa_08.html
Politics : French economic changes ahead
BBC learning English offers the audio file and the transcript of a report
by the BBC Europe Business Reporter about the coming situation in France. note
the expression "hire and fire" and compare the article with the one
that was written last year to present the CPE (contract de première embauche)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/newsenglish/witn/2007/05/070518_french_economy.shtml
The Blair Years: 1997-2007 (from [LII New This Week] May 17)
Collection of stories and background material about Tony Blair, who in May
2007 announced his resignation as the British prime minister. Features news
stories, reactions to Blair's departure and other opinion pieces, a timeline,
statistics, photos, video clips, material about Cherie Blair, and more. From
BBC News.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_depth/uk_politics/2007/blair_years/default.stm
Guardian Unlimited: The Blair Years (from [LII New This Week] May 17)
Special report on British Prime Minister Tony Blair, who announced his retirement
in May 2007. Features news stories, opinion, polls, photos, cartoons, and content
on specific topics (such as social policy and foreign affairs) related to Blair's
time in office. From Guardian Unlimited, the website of the British newspaper,
The Guardian.
http://politics.guardian.co.uk/tonyblair/
Feature web treck : the 50 states
Everyday Teaching Newsletter, Fri., May 17th presents this activity which
might be also interesting in ESL teaching to beginners.
"Using listed internet resources, student teams must correctly identify
their state and capital from the clues given on their "postcards".
They must then complete a group project reflecting their assigned state, such
as travel brochures, trivia or fact cards, or specialized maps. (4-8)"
http://everydayteaching.com/Treks/50.States.html
http://everydayteaching.com/Treks/50.States-2.html
http://everydayteaching.com/Treks/50.States-3.html
It requires some work from the teacher, who should prepare the "postcard" with
a picture and some elements taken from the characteristics of a state. But
then the students will have to explore the sites describing the states and
develop their ability at spotting one precise element on a page or their skill
at using a search engine properly.
You can also use those "50 states" activities to encourage the students
to explore the US and share their finding with the class, either very simply
in English or more elaborately in their native language, or use the quizzes
to help them memorize the states.
http://lycees.ac-rouen.fr/pascal/infonews/themes/50states.htm
Build a sentence online
Everyday Teaching Newsletter, Fri., May 17th features this online activity
for young readers in the US : "Elementary students will build a wall brick
by brick, as they also build complete sentences with this online learning game,
putting the selected words into the correct order. Younger students can start
with five word sentences, while older students can try beating the timer with
seven word sentences. (2-4)"
The goal of the game is to put the words in the correct place in a sentence.
There is a limit : the sentence "the coldest planet is Pluto" is
considered false because the correct sentenc e was "Pluto is the coldest
planet", but you can use it with ESL students to train them to look up
the nature of words in a dictionary and them place them in the correct English
order.
http://fen.com/studentactivities/WallOfWords/wow19.html
Comparatives (Everyday Teaching Newsletter, Fri., May 17th)
Fifteen different comparative adjectives have to be sorted into the correct
boxes. Five will need to move to the "er" only box, five more to
the "i + er" box, and the five remaining to the "more"
box. See further directions here. (6-9)
http://www.learnenglish.org.uk/words/activities/comparative_adjectives.html
[ quick, easy and efficient. For beginners and lower intermediates, or above
as a reminder.]
Punctuation Station
I found this activity in Everyday Teaching Newsletter, Fri., May 17th : "Students
can choose from six different text formats to punctuate and capitalize sentences,
using their keyboards and the mouse. Choices include a formal letter, an email,
a children's story, a report, a brochure, or a newspaper article. (4-7)"
http://www.bbc.co.uk/skillswise/words/grammar/sentencebasics/whatisasentence/flash7.shtml
This activity can be used to train students to give the correct intonation
to sentences. Each text can be read and heard, and the students decide where
to put the stops and when to use a capital letter. The exercise is simple,
but if you encourage them to concentrate on the intonation, it can be quite
useful. they can also discuss the different meanings a sentence can take if
you put the stops in different places.
You can also discuss with them the double meaning of these two examples:
http://www.gray-area.org/Research/Ambig/#PUNC
here is a page about how to use punctuation properly
http://www.rogerdarlington.co.uk/punctuation.html
with two games (interactive, online, but for advanced students), the first
coming from the famous book : "eats (,) shoots and leaves"
http://www.eatsshootsandleaves.com/ESLquiz.html
http://www.gamequarium.com/punctuation.html
other examples, in a more formal style of texts
http://www.ourcivilisation.com/smartboard/shop/gowerse/complete/chap901.htm
Endings in "ing" or "ed"?
the BBC offers this short but efficient quiz to learn how to tell the difference
between interesting and interested, boring and bored, etc.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/apps/ifl/worldservice/quiznet/quizengine?ContentType=text/html;quiz=1310_ed_ing
Material for discussion about "Is school obsolete?"
MPR ( Minnesota Public radio) Sound Learning has launched a new feature offering
a theme and resources around this theme, plus useful tools to take notes. You
will find all the templates ready made to help students prepare for the discussion.
Look at the Venn Diagram and the method to use it, them try it in class.
http://soundlearning.publicradio.org/features/2007/05/
Friends Reunited (from the BBC)
In this edition of "News about Britain": Have you ever wondered
what your old school-mates are doing now? Well plenty of people in Britain
do. One of the most successful websites in
Britain has shown how popular nostalgia can be.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/newsenglish/britain/
you can read the transcript, hear the story and download it
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/newsenglish/witn/ram_files/wo070502.ram
and even download the lesson.
http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/britain/nab_friends_reunited_070502.pdf
There are also other related articles, and the link to the site which has a
mistake, it is:
http://www.friendsreunited.co.uk
Discussing race statistics
At a moment when the CNIL forbids statistics about color or race in France,
read this article from the New York Time entitled : "New Demographic Racial
Gap Emerges" By SAM ROBERTS, from May 18, 2007
http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/featured_articles/20070518friday.html
and comment this sensus graphic
http://www.nytimes.com/imagepages/2007/05/16/us/17census_graphic.html
then you can choose their lesson plan "Exploring Demographic Shifts in
the American Population":
"In this lesson, students will consider the impact of recent demographic
changes in the American population by examining a graph and creating political
cartoons." or make your students reflect on the impact of such statistics
in France.
http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/lessons/20070518friday.html
Edward Hopper: The Artist (from The Scout Report -- May 18)
The exhibition web site for Edward Hopper, from the Museum of Fine Arts Boston,
features a slideshow of a dozen of Hopper's paintings, and a digital version
of one of the artist's sketchbooks. Some Hopper paintings, for instance
"Nighthawks", 1942, have been reproduced so many times and in so
many formats - posters, prints, t-shirts, coffee mugs - that they have become
iconic and these are included in the slideshow. The sketchbook offers a more
uncommon glimpse of Hopper's work: the pencil studies that led to his paintings,
meticulously annotated by his wife, Josephine Nivison Hopper, his only female
model. Another plus of the sketchbook is the ability to turn the pages online,
and zoom in on details.[DS]
http://www.mfa.org/hopper/
Music : Sound Junction (from The Scout Report -- May 18)
It’s hard to learn about music without listening to it closely, and this
multimedia website created by a group of organizations in Britain (including
the Royal Academy of Music), provides a surfeit of music from all genres. Through
interactive games, musical excerpts, interviews, and other such devices, the
SoundJunction site is a great way for anyone to learn about
music. A good place to start is the “What can I do on SoundJunction?” overview
feature, which walks users through the layout of the site. After that, visitors
may wish to look at the left-hand side of the homepage and click on through
such areas as “Explore Music”, “How Music Works”,
“Music in Context”, and “Composing and remixing”. For budding Beethovens, there
is the “Composer Tool”, which allows users to create their own music. Music
educators and those who are just generally curious will find that this site
merits numerous return visits, and it may prove to be quite habit-forming,
in the best possible sense of the phrase. [KMG]
http://www.soundjunction.org/
Maths : We All Use Math Everyday (from The Scout Report -- May 18)
Whether we find ourselves counting change at the grocery store or figuring
out how much the price of gas has gone up in the past several weeks, it is
certainly true that we all use math everyday. The National Council of Teachers
of Mathematics, in collaboration with Texas Instruments, has created this site
to bring together a number of resources for athematics
educators and those with a growing interest in fractions, exponents, and other
such matters. Each activity has a fun title, and while there isn’t a search
engine, visitors will find it interesting to look through the different activities
for something that meets their needs. [KMG]
http://www.weallusematheveryday.com/tools/waumed/home.htm
Catering, cooking : Kitchen Chemistry (from The Scout Report -- May 18)
There is a great deal of chemistry going on in every kitchen, even though
most cooks may not be cognizant of the various interactions going on in the
pot, wok, or oven. MIT’s popular OpenCourseWare Initiative has recently made
the contents of Dr. Patricia Christie’s course on kitchen chemistry available
on this site. Visitors to the site can download the syllabus, take in some
assigned readings (and recipes), and look over the assignments. The assignments
include investigations that involve emulsifiers, ice cream, peer teaching,
and pancakes, among other things. The site also includes links to helpful readings,
such as those on chocolate, the health benefits of capsicum, and the world
of gluten. For people who wish to bring back the frayed connective tissue between
chemistry and the culinary arts, this site is absolutely essential. [KMG]
http://ocw.mit.edu/OcwWeb/Special-Programs/SP-287Spring-2006/CourseHome/index.htm
Guardian Unlimited Podcasts [iTunes] (from The Scout Report -- May 18)
Manchester, England has given the world many things, including parts of the
Industrial Revolution, their famous soccer team, and of course, the Guardian
newspaper. The Guardian has distinguished itself over the years with its breadth
of reporting, and they were also one of the first newspapers in the United
Kingdom to offer podcasts. This website brings together all of their podcasts
in one convenient location, and visitors will enjoy looking over the different
thematic areas, which include “Science Weekly”,
“Media Talk”, “Bookclub”, and Guardian Weekly”. Programs in the past have included
pieces on John Donne, investigations into the workings of British politics,
and overviews of the current theater scene. Overall, it’s a nice way to stay
abreast of important events going on in both the United Kingdom and the world.
[KMG]
http://www.guardian.co.uk/podcasts
Free! PhpWebGallery 1.7.0 (from The Scout Report -- May 18)
If you have taken hundreds (or thousands), of digital photos as of late,
you will want to take a look at this latest version of PhpWebGallery. Visitors
can place their photographs online with this application, and also filter their
collection by tags, start a slideshow, and even let users subscribe to an RSS
feed to get the latest images. The program comes with good
documentation, and visitors should also check out their wiki and their various
forums. This version is compatible with all computers. [KMG]
http://www.phpwebgallery.net/
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lycée Blaise Pascal, Rouen, France
E-Mail: Christine.Reymond@ac-rouen.fr
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