A touch of Art

Although Gustave Klimt (1862-1918) was constantly criticized for his works being too sensual and erotic at that time, he stands out from the whole of Austrian painters. In 1909, Klimt dealt with the juxtaposition of a promised new life with the destroying force of death. Using art like a mirror to show the convulsive reality of a continent while a world war was been forged, menacing the Austro-Hungarian Empire, he managed to evolve his painting by the use of symbols and abstract techniques enhancing the freedom of spirit that impregnated the twentieth-century artistic vanguards. Many historians agree to point out eclecticism as the key for his success. A hundred years later, that idea of conjunction of different disciplines and cultures to create our own perception of the world and have a critical viewpoint becomes one of the targets of this blog. This brief retrospective on Klimt's paintings make us enjoy and wonder about the relevance of art as a means of communication and thought. Please, leave your commentaries about this exhibition. Your participation in this blog is always welcome.

GUSTAVE KLIMT

Edinburgh International Book Festival

As I told you before, Scotland is the best place to travel to in August because of its vast cultural offer. The International Book Festival takes from 15th-31st. August. This festival is well-known as it achieves to join the most acclaimed writers of the moment. Moreover, there are many performances entertaining the visitors. Are you next?

For more information:

Edinburgh International Book Festival

The Time Traveler's Wife

Although its film adaptation is being released this month, the bestseller The Time Traveler's Wife was published in 2003. It is the debut novel of American author Audrey Niffenegger. She tells the love story about a man with a genetic disorder that causes him to travel through time unpredictably, and about his wife, an artist who has to cope with his frequent absences and dangerous experiences. Many critics have labelled it as science fiction and romance. Despite this classification, after its reading, we can watch the film and then, compare both versions. Only then, we can declare it's a good adaptation or if it's just a distant reminiscence of the novel. Anyway, cinema becomes the best showcase for literature. It is a very effective lure for attracting new readers. This has been the case of blockbusters such as Harry Potter, The Lord of the Rings or Twilight. Let's wait and see how The Time Traveler's Wife works. Enjoy!

Stargazers' night

The Perseid Meteor Shower (also known as the Tears of St. Lawrence because of the date of this phenomenon) will let us see about 200 shooting stars per hour.

The Tears of St. Lawrence can be watched from 20th July to 19th August, reaching its peak tonight. They consist of a pile of meteors as a result of the disintegration of Swift-Tuttle comet. This shower is the most popular and the most observed in the Northern hemisphere. It will have its highest activity between 19.30 and 22.00 hrs.

The Perseids are named after Perseus' constellation as the radiation seems to come from there. At its peak, balls of colourful fire and sparkling meteors can be noticed far from the city lights.
In addition to this popularity, it has a remarkable historical relevance because it marked a turning point on Astronomy when it was officially recognized there was a correlation between comets and shooting stars.
In 1862, two astronomers, Swift and Tuttle, discovered a wonderful comet that made a long orbit around the Sun in a 120 year time. Thereafter, it was named on their honour.

If you want to learn more, you can visit this interesting webpage. You'll know all the forthcoming events...because it's written on the stars!!!




International Year of Astronomy 2009

A ritual in the Rugby league

This Maori tradition is kept by New Zealand Rugby teams. They are used to performing it before a match as a challenge thrown down to their opponents on the field.

Abbey Road

Going a step further in the history of music. That's what they might have thought when they took this photo for the sleeve of Abbey Road, as this one turned to be the last work in the Beatles' career as a group. Since then, 40 years afterwards, they are still present.
Happy 40th anniversary!


You will notice there are all sort of Beatles' imitators. Legoland and The Simpsons made their own tribute to the band from Liverpool.

Tourists keep on visiting this street in London where their recording studio was set and The Beatles were then photographed.

Edinburgh Festival Fringe

This festival takes from 7th. to 31st. August. During these days, Edinburgh becomes the capital of arts. You can find all kinds of activities on any corner. Here is the link to the festival. Discover what's on!!

The Edinburgh Festival Fringe

Just for fun!

Despite its weather, Scotland has a warm-hearted busy lifestyle. Indeed it's reflected in its interesting cultural agenda for the summertime, which attracts people from everywhere. As its festivals are well-known, I'll be publishing all the information I get during this month. This comic strip is just an advance.

Campus Party 2009, Valencia, Spain

Who could imagine under this peaceful photograph there are over 6000 people hooked on their computers, as shown on the picture below?

When I decided to create this blog, one of my aims was to improve my Computing skills, which are poorly indeed. I am interested in new technologies as they are the most attractive way to approach to my students, mainly when the subjects are more arduous. I try my best, but I often need an extra help to prevent from any occassional accident...and on that score, once I started surfing the net this morning, I found this amazing piece of news I wanted to share with everyone. This has been the case of the opening of the Campus Party 2009, at the City of Arts and Sciences in Valencia.

Can it be real? Yes, it is! During seven frenzied days (27th.July-2nd.August), 12/13 hours a day, over 6000 people from all over the world are participating in all kind of activities related to Computing and its uses on Science, Medicine and everyday tasks. By this time, I am staggered!

This Campus Party is divided into 4 sections:

• Science
  
• Creativity
• Innovation
  
• Digital leisure

Each section has its own workshops, special activities, lectures and competitions, so it's a bit complicated to take part in all of them as they overlap in time.
If you are interested (you'll have likely become my hero by now), here's a selection.
You can't miss:
ON
Science:
-Show on Overclockers (Modding) from Germany, Latvia and Spain.
-The Robotics workshop and competition.
-Lecture about Medicine on Space.
Innovation:
-Desarrollador_es Prizes, with Paulina Bozek (Singstar's creator).
-Getting started into Arduino.
-Challenges CP Labs.
Creativity:
-You are the star! (Online series created by Campus' participants.
-Hip-Hop, Cooking Soul workshop.
-Lecture on new techniques of animation and a director on the net by Rodrigo Blaas and Nacho Vigalondo.
-Ping Pong Photo competition.
Digital Leisure:
-Getting started into simulation.
-Workshop: How to build a flight deck to pilot from home.
-Traffic controllers in action. PC and PSP official competitions.
So, if you love Computing, why don't you take part in this party? The only thing you need is your computer and your camping equipment to spend several days with people who enjoy the same as you do. Ooopss! I almost forgot! If you know or even best, learn how to change a logo from a blog, please, post it to me!!! I'll be delighted to face the challenge.

For more information:
(Sorry, it's in Spanish).

Campus Party 2009, Official Webpage