Discursive essay: Holidaying with or without parents

Convenience or independence?

One of the most important issues in a teenager's life is holidaying. What to wear or how to look are usually second priority, the real deal is deciding with whom they should go.

On one hand, going on a holiday with their parents is priceless. The whole thing is set up by the oldies, they don't need to move a finger...Tickets, place reservations, everything. Not to mention when lack of money turning to the B.O.D is always an option. (B.O.D= the Bank Of Daddy) In plain English: going with them is a total win for the teens, it's sheer convinience.

On the other hand...it can be kind of embarrassing to go with their folks. The treatment they get, the way their parents act etc. can all be quite humiliating at times. Not being able to be themselves and let their hair down whenever they want to are also major cons. I mean let's speak honestly over here: going on a holiday is not about acting all oh so Goody two-shoes. It's about having fun and holding back your true being not to disappoint them is definitely not fun, trust me. Everything has its own place and of course time. There's a certain age after being supervised is not essential but rather annoying and/or uncomfortable. Plus this way, on one's own, a level of independence and ingenuity is granted.

All in all, holidaying with Mommy and Daddy has both its good and bad sides, depending on age and/or sentimentality.

 

 

A film review

The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen

     The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen directed by Stephen Norrington is one of the most amazing movies I've ever seen. Sean Connery in the leading role.

     Long story short, it is about six extraordinary people (all from famous novels) who gang up in order to defeat The Phantom, the story's villain.

     To begin with, the plot is based on the comic book series running under the same name written by Alan Moore and illustrated by Kevin O'Neill. First it may seem a bit complicated (especially if you have no idea who the characters are) bit I can assure you that it is actually pretty simple and plain. It is also gripping which is good, because it keeps you on the edge of your seat throughout the whole movie.

     As for the characters (Captain Nemo, Agent Sawyer, Mina Harker, Allan Quatermain, Dorian Gray, Rodney Skinner and Dr. Jekyll) and their portraying actors, they did an excellent job. No wooden acting, they all seemed natural even though the movie itself was about the unnatural. I'd like to emphasize Sir Connery (Quatermain), Stuart Townsend (Gray), and Ian Flemyng (Dr. Jekyll) who were particularly good.

     The effects are not the best, but we have to admit and agree that comparing nowadays technology to 2003's is like trying to compare a banana with an apple.

     To sum up, The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen is a ground-breaking movie for its time with splendid actors, plot and script. Really compelling. The only thing I can do is recommending it to everyone. It is a movie worth your time.

  

My alter-ego

We got this very interesting assignment the other day. It was to write about our alter-ego. Or if we don't have one, just make one up, imagine how the other us would look like, act, etc.

I started my writing with 'the other day'. To be honest, that 'other day' was weeks ago. Gee...it seems very inappropriate written down like this. I should be thankful I didn't get a bad mark for this kind of delay. Oh, well. The thing is that I didn't write it intentionally. I didn't want to write it. I just didn't feel like it. I mean for the record it's me I was obliged to write about. And I'm not very good at that one, plus I didn't intend to scare people away from me. But I'm pretty sure I will after they read this. Or at least will think I've got a ticket for the crazy train. Yeeeey.

So...I don't really know where to start. You know what? I'm going to get to the good parts. Might wanna cross up your legs!

My alter-ego would be either a spy or an assassin. I think I'd be a good material for both. I'm fairly good at languages, my logic is okay and I don't get attached to people easily or sometimes at all. Panicking is my last option. After a thorough training I could take away lives in a blink of an eye. There. I said it. Throw your rocks at me. By the way, about throwing rocks.... "People throw rocks at things that shine." 

It probably makes you wonder what made me believe my alter-ego would be one of the things mentioned above. Well... I don't know it myself. I think I must've seen like at least 6 episodes of the James Bond movie series and read a lot about female spies. (There's even a movie, check it out! I'll watch it as soon as I have a free moment to breathe... )

Anyways, my heart feels a hundred pounds lighter now that I've got this one off. Maybe it wasn't that bad of an idea to write about this after all...

A diary entry by Dorian Gray

December 9, 1895.

Dear Diary!

I can't feel my fingers holding the pen I'm writing with right now...Everything's all numb and dizzy. I feel like I'm floating in the universe, stars passing me by. Everything's so peaceful and silent. I can hear my own breathing. It's slow and even. Like a beautiful lullaby.

Some would probably ask why all of this is the way it is. Well... I think the accurate explanation would be that the effect of opium and drinks mixed all together hasn't worn off yet. Admittedly, it's not a very advisable combination but it sure makes you forget at least for a short period of time what you've done. And in my case...what I've done...is unforgivable. No one in this world shall know about it, but I can't keep it just to myself. It's consuming me from within.

Dear Diary! I'm a murderer. Yes. I took away a human life. I know I haven't been a saint for a long time, all my innocence and a great amount of my humanity have gone since my wish on the picture but I have never thought I could sink this deep in the sins of this satanic world. As if it's not enough, the story gets better! The person I sent to the world of shadows was Basil! My dear friend! But I just couldn't help it...His face when he saw the picture...I know it's turned horrible and repulsive, true, but still. I think his reaction pushed it and then I lost it. The knife just appeared in my hand and I just swung it in the air and stabbed. Again. And again. I don't remember how many times I saw the blade sink into his flesh but the result looked a lot like a bloody rug-baby. I killed him. Just like one snaps their finger.

 It's kind of unbelievable after all this amount of psychoactive  drugs. I'm staring at the words I've just written. I did all this.  Did I really? Yes, I think I did. Small shreds of memories tell me so. Oh, well. I did it, I should be punished for it, but I won't be. I took care of the corpse. Well, not personally, but I did. How? Let it be my secret. Though I used someone's assist, so I guess it's his secret, too. Oh, Lord! I'm not asking you to redeem my soul. That would be just useless, because now it's impossible to do that. I'm asking you to keep our secret from the rest of the world. But we all know what they say about this: two can keep a secret if one of them is dead...Hmm... Should I take measures in connection with this issue, too?

Formal letter

Dear Sir/Madam,

                I am a student at your college and I would like to express my disliking towards your decision about increasing the fees of the school. With regards to the public, I feel that this idea is re-considerable.

               Since the school decreased the number of scholarships last year, providing further studying here became significantly harder for most of the students. According to the college's image, it is supposed to be a student-supporting facility, but I believe that with increasing the fees it does not fill its purpose. If you do not withdraw your decision, a lot of young people will have to look for another college and it is known that there are cheaper places where one can study at and which give as well-rounded education as your facility. In my opinion your loss would be bigger than ours, especially because there are some students less polite than me who plan to turn to the media instead of you with their requests.

              My point is that the college will lose a remarkable amount of intelligent, young people who might consider turning to the media or even taking legal actions in connection with this issue. Withdrawing the announcement of increasing the fees would be profitable for both sides.

             Sincerely,

Natalia Novotni

It's a mystery...

My sicko mystery

 

Okay, so...I couldn't really bring myself to get down to work lately, but this ends now. With me writing this entry. I consider my enthusiasm as a victory over laziness so please smile while you read.

This week's assignment was to write about something we find mysterious. Something that has always kept us up late at night. Something that has always tingled our fantasy. Well...this might make you think I'm nuts, but I always think about sociopathy in my spare time. Now that's a real mystery. Maybe a bit sicky, but it is.

Anyway, my question is: do you even know what the word 'sociopath' means? No? Shame on you. Here's a hint:

"The term used to be psychopath but this was misrepresented by mass media so psychologists changed the term to sociopath, which means the same thing. Since then the media has misrepresented this condition again to imply everyone with this personality is a murderer, so it has since been renamed again to "anti social personality disorder"."

Now you got this one. I'm proud. Almost crying. Never mind. Next question: do you know how to recognize them? By their traits? Again no? You know what, I'm taking it back, not proud at all. But I'm willing to tell you. Just click here. Sure it seems a bit long, but trust me, reading it is worth your time. Maybe you'll find out that the person you love and is pretty weird is one... Everything's possible, remember?

Firstly... Here are my questions/statements about sociopathy:

* I'd love to know what sociopaths feel after a gruesome deed.

* I've always wondered what the reasons were for this illness.

* I've no idea why people fear these people instead of wanting to help them.

* Why do you think it is so common?

* Have you got any idea how family treats their sociopath member(s)?

* Does anybody know famous people with this disorder?

(See what I did there? Huh? Huh? Game with the fonts. Genius. LOL. Just kidding. I only tried to illustrate my ugly handwriting. This way you can imagine how every sentence is different. Moreover. Sometimes even letters in the same word are incomparable.)

Secondly... I discussed them within a group of three. Here are my group-mates' responds:

* Satisfied. They are addicted to that feeling, it's their drug.

* Social background. Movies. Trauma. No genetic background.

* People fear them 'cause they are scared that they'd get this illness, too. Or are afraid of the moment of flipping out.

* World is in bullshit.

* Asylum. Trying is useless, so they leave the member(s) on their own.

* -No answers were given.-

So these were the materials I had to use to write something which is not a complete ~the last word in the 4th answer~. And I had to do a little bit of a research. Here it goes what I've found:

* WRONG! These people are not satisfied at all. Why? Read it yourself! "Sociopaths show a stunning lack of concern for the devastating effects their actions have on others. Often they are completely forthright about the matter, calmly stating that they have no sense of guilt, are not sorry for the pain and destruction they have caused, and that there is no reason for them to be concerned."

* 50%-50% ! Social background- true. No genetic background? False. "It's not certain what causes someone to become a sociopath; however, it's believed to be caused by nature, nurture or abnormal brain activity. In other words, while some contend it's due to a genetic disposition in families, others believe it's caused by an emotional detachment in early life, causing a disconnection with society. On the other hand, it could be a combination of factors."

* I didn't really find anything on this one, but I agree with my friends' opinion. Plus I think people today aren't really dissimilar to our dear ancestors: they dread what they can't understand.

* Uhm, I appreciate every single reply given, but I couldn't get any farther with this one. Sorry. No hate, please. Movin' on. According to a survey, 3 out of 100 males are contracted with this disorder and 1 out of 100 females. But no information about the reason(s) why it is so common. Dead end.

* EEH! I don't know if we can give an accurate answer to this one. I mean I've read a couple of articles with experiences but I couldn't make out anything sensible. The family is usually confused, scared and doesn't know what to do. Needs advice. Asylum and/or legal action is not an option.

* I got nothing but thanks to our best friend, Google, I've got a few names now. E.g. Adolf Hitler, Josef Stalin, Jeffrey Dahmer, Ted Bundy, Rebekah Brooks, OJ Simpson, John Edwards etc. Half of these names is unknown for me, but you know what? If you wanna know who these people were, look them up, my dear friend.

 

Alright. I think I solved all the mysteries for today. I hope you smiled whilst reading this. Can't wait to read some of your opinions on my topic. K? Bye!!

Sources:

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Are_there_any_famous_sociopaths

http://www.ehow.com/about_5042283_causes-sociopathy.html

http://www.vodahost.com/web-hosting-sociopath-test-sociopath-definition.html/ 

 

Spring = Love? No. Just no.

Spring is ...

For starters, spring is awesome. Kinda my favorite season. I mean I'm not discriminating all the other seasons, but yeah. Just like every mother has a favorite child.

I believe a normal person's first thoughts about spring would be in connection with love, or at least something deep and emotional. Like how romantic the little singing birds are, and the fresh air brushing against their cheeks is just amazing. The sunshine is lovely and even a rainbow might pop out somewhere in the picture perfect blue sky. The nature is just fascinating; cute animals roaming around, nice-smelling flowers everywhere. Well...no. Just no. I snapped out of this picture ages ago. Call me a buzz-kill.

For me spring brings internal innovations. I have more opportunities to spend time with my family due to the holidays in this season e.g. Easter, 1st of May etc. and I can express myself in much more ways than for example, in winter. By expressing myself I mean I do things I like more frequently. This includes wearing more revealing clothes, reading in the backyard and getting spiritually ready for The Summer. Yeah, like this, with capital letters.

About me AND my friends in the spring...Crazy. What we do is just crazy stuff. Together. That's what makes it fun and crazy. This is the time for running barefoot on the soft lawn, singing in the rain (yeah, we actually do that)and of course wild pre-summer parties. Okay, not as wild as in Spring Breakers but still. By the way, this movie is the reason I waited for spring all autumn and winter!

Here's the trailer in case you wanna check it out:

*Nota Bene:
Don't think now I'm some kind of an alcoholic, or drug addict or a moral-less freak. I read a lot about this movie and I think it has deeper meaning than it seems to have. I think it tries to guide us into the world of nowadays American Dream. 

 

Success is...

Let me give you the key...

"The only place success comes before work is in the dictionary."

Vince Lombardi 

For starters, I'd like to say that I was searching for an appropriate quote like crazy, went through at least five pages when I found something relevant to my notion. Hopefully my  exposition will make sense to all of the readers.

 So... what's success in general? Close your eyes and say out loud the first thing that pops into your mind. What was it? Fame? Money? Effortless life? Thought so. And maybe you're right. It depends on one's priorities. However, nobody ever mentions the long and scary path you have to walk through in order to get these things.

When you're going on that path, you're trying to defeat all the obstacles in your way, you're trying your best, you're putting a lot of energy in it, you're making huge efforts. Face it, in plain English: you're struggling just to get what you want. As soon as this strikes you tiring, you might consider quitting as well as continuing. People who want their admired thing so bad never quit of course. They choose continuing, going through the path which is success.

Now that's what I'd like to talk about here. That path. Full of dirt, dust and thorns - full of failure. In my opinion that path itself IS success. The activity of surviving and getting to the thing you want IS the success. The thing you achieve with it is just the sweet fruit of your work. The rest stop at your destination.

I think another quote is quite close to what I'm talking about.

 "Success is falling nine times and getting up ten."

Jon Bon Jovi♥

What am I talking about?! Not only is it close, it's the same just in a clearer, simpler way. Well then, let me try it, too: success is the procedure, everything you've ever wanted is the award.

 

Blogging

My opinion on blogging

Well, I haven't really slept enough so it's kind of hard to actually start thinking but okay. It's worth a try. *takes a deep breath* Here we go!

Blogging is like a public diary open for everyone and once you shared your thoughts there's no way you could take them back. It's out on the internet forever and always.

Blogging for the purpose of practicing English is very interesting. First I was against it, I didn't like the idea at all, because I thought blogging is something you should want to do on your own and not when somebody tells you to and specifies the topics. But now this has changed a bit. It's quite entertaining.

It is really good in blogging that you can express your feelings and thoughts without keeping yourself to any kind of rules. Plus you can use any use of the language you like (e.g. formal, informal, swearings etc.).

My problems in blogging are that I have very little time for it and that it only has a few fonts.

My expectations for the following month are interesting topics to think and write about.

I don't really have a plan for the following month. I was just thinking about posting some stuff not in connection with school but as I said: my time limit is very short.

Funny Valentine Messages

Love is in the air...or maybe not?

Valentine's day. Another overrated, not even real holiday. Originally it should be all about love. But then why has it become a gimmick? Never mind. This is not the topic anyway.

The thing is that (as you might have noticed) I don't like this so-called "holiday". I can't see the point in it, seriously. Not that I'm forever alone or something and that's why I'm bitter, it's just it doesn't fit my notion. I read some opinions that those who hate this day do it because they miss someone. Well-not true. I mean sure, I might miss someone but that's not even close to the reason of my hatred towards it. Let me explain: if you love someone, you should express it every single time you're with them and shouldn't spend fortunes only once in a year.

So to forget all the agony of this day, I went to the hairdresser's, got a new hairstyle and read some funny messages or thoughts on the famous day of love. I'm gonna share some with you.

"Of loving beauty you float with grace If only you could hide your face."
"My feelings for you no words can tell, Except for maybe "go to hell"."
"I see your face when I am dreaming. That's why I always wake up screaming."
"I want to feel your sweet embrace But don't take that paper bag off of your face."
"Every time I see your face ... I wish I were in outer space ."

And now the notorious "Roses are red, violets are blue..." in a different way:
"Roses are red, violets are blue, sugar is sweet, and so are you. But the roses are wilting, the violets are dead, the sugar bowl's empty and so is your head."

 You can read more here and here. And if you want more opinions on Valentine's Day, you can read some of my classmates' blogs, too, e.g. Bea's. :)

 

Discursive essay

The only way to cut crime in our country is to make punishment more severe

 

 

I believe the situation in my area is on the same level as in the surrounding areas. We don’t have much major crimes like murder or rape though it happens just as frequently as drug dealing. Here the problem is poverty. Consequently so, poor people started stealing. As a result of this the number of robbery and mugging increases every day.

It is strongly felt by people that everyone deserves a punishment for what they’ve done and in order to teach them a lesson, these punishments need to be more severe. Criminals need to be locked up for longer periods or even life sentenced. They are for death penalty, too. It would be some kind of a cleaning. Cleaning the society from the ones who “poison” it. In one hand it’s very understandable that they want revenge on individuals that have taken away the life of their beloved. An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. Seems decent, doesn’t it?

Other people disagree and say that sick plants shouldn’t be ripped out of the soil, they should be fixed instead. Following this ideology of course not everyone can be fixed but it’s worth a try. So much money is spent on prisons, if we just shove all the criminals in there, we would do wrong for ourselves. They’d need even more money which means higher taxes for us. Not so bright idea now, right? Another argument against severe punishments is the judicial question. Who decides the seriousness of a crime? And who makes up the proper punishment for it? Sounds like people want to play God: decide between life and death. This is against human dignity because in principle everyone’s equal.

I’m two minded about this myself, can’t really decide on which side should I stand. But the one thing I know for sure is that no one is allowed to make decisions about others’ fate but themselves or God. And the fact that courts do this is not something I like the idea of.  

Summarising an article

Rivers, lakes, wetlands: could water become the world's biggest market?

People are payed all around the world to protect water sources. How does it work out? Read along.

 Uganda, Kenya, China. These countries seemingly don't have much in common, but if we take a closer look, we'll see at least one "little thing" that connects them: their projects to protect their water sources. Beer brewers, hotels, flowering companies, even the government-backed programmes pay communities to protect wetlands.

The number of projects that pay communities in any kind of way has risen up in the past four years- according to an online portal named 'Ecosystem Marketplace', which tracks the development of markets for "ecosystem services".  If you want to know more about what these services are, click here.

The market-based progression is expanding very quickly but so are concerns about who benefits from it.

Michael Jenkins, the president of  US non-profit organisation 'Forest Trends' that oversees 'Ecosystem Marketplace' said that we were witnesses of nature's response which might change our valuation of water and that these responses were way more intense than when they'd begun tracking.

Most projects involve deals between downstream and upstream cities. Where the water sources are more commodified, trading systems have been set up.

30% of these projects were identified in China. 73 other programmes are under development in various countries like Malawi, Romani etc.

Supporters argue that the payments for these projects will get us to a new "green economy" and these "green" incomes will help us support the poor.

Though some see cons in this situation, too. Commentators say that this is just commodification and privatisation of water and it'll get us nowhere.

 

 Another thing that makes us think is that these projects have listed some social issues as priorities yet they've done very little about it or nothing at all.

Nathaniel Caroll, one of the report's authors thinks that there are noticable changes and benefits.

All these happenings plant thousands of questions and needs for explanation in our brains. The most appropriate answer and explanation would be some visible evidence.

Source:http://www.guardian.co.uk/global-development/poverty-matters/2013/jan/18/rivers-lakes-wetlands-water-market?intcmp=122

   

 

 

 

Personal Highlights of 2012

Personal Highlights of 2012

 To be honest this is so hard. I've had so many interesting occasions in my past year. I mean interesting to me. And now I have to choose one, because trust me, if I started writing everything down, you wouldn't stop reading until tomorrow. :D

I've been to several memorable parties, met interesting people, spent most of my time with my best friends, but this event I'm going to write about is different. Because it's related to *drumroll* school. Yes, school, and above all: history.

It all started a week before the actual thing. A kid from the parallel class asked me if I wanted to spend a weekend in Budapest, totally free with Bea. Of course I wanted. A weekend abroad with a friend of mine and totally charge-free? Who wouldn't have?

But then it hit me: what is this thing?! I had no information about it except that it's free and cool. After a shorter lecture from Bea and some research I finally had an idea of what this event was. It was a Leadership Training for kids around my age organised by the Rákóczi Association. Well, I wasn't much smarter, still didn't know what a leadership training looked like, but I already had agreed so there weren't any kind of ways back. I couldn't back out.

So Bea, a history teacher from our school and me took the train on the 5th of October, Friday and headed to the capital of Hungary. (Yeah, we skipped school without detention. How cool is that? Though we missed the test from Biology and when we had to write it, it was two times harder than the one our classmates had written a week earlier. I guess that's the little bit less cool part.) After 4 hours of agony in a small, stuffy cabin, we finally arrived. Well, the way to the Wellness Hotel we stayed at wasn't a trip to Wonderland either. We travelled by metro, then by bus and we had a long walk until we finally attended that huge and (in my opinion) luxury hotel.

Tired and hungry (that means me in a pre-hysterical state) we signed in and asked for our keys.

"Your roommates have already gotten here and they have it." was the answer we got. What?! Roommates?! You gotta be kidding me. There was no way I was sleeping with total strangers in one room. But we had no choice so I calmed myself down. Actually they were two very nice girls from Pécs I'm still in connection with. We had like half an hour to do whatever we wanted in our rooms and then the Welcome Ceremony started. Wasn't a big whoop, lasted only 15 minutes. We realized that every single kid (I don't know how many, like at least 50, from every part of Hungary, from Erdély, Felvidék and Délvidék) had an ID card in their neck only in a few different clors. Ours was bright yellow. The orgainiser of this thing explained that there are these groups, every color a group, and by the end of the event (that meant Sunday), all groups must come up with a program for a national holiday which they must perform. Splendid... But it was way better than rotting at home or studying so I was more than happy to participate. That's another thing that I didn't really have the chance. 2 or 3 girls took over control and I with the others didn't bother. We had a lecture to sit through, to be honest, I don't remember what it was about. I think money but not sure. Anyways, Bea and I walked into the restaurant part of the hotel and started giggling like idiots. There were no free seats except for two at a table where two guys from our group were  already sitting. We must've looked misrable because they invited us over, so we ate with them. The food was fine, but I'm really picky so don't listen to me on this one. They turned out to be very fun companions from Szekszárd, though I'm not sure about their intelligence....One of them asked us about what we eat here, in Serbia. I don't know...food, maybe?! LOL. Just kidding. I mean he really asked this, but both of them our super bright and smart and really lovely persons. After the dinner we had free time which we spent chatting with the boys and getting to know our roommates better and some other kids.

The next day (Saturday) was fine. Survived a huge doze of dry lectures, but the night...Now that was what I call fun! After dinner we went to the Palace of Final Arts and enjoyed a beautiful classical concert. Then the organiser (who was our group leader, by the way) gave us a sight-seeing tour of Budapest in our bus. I've been to Budapest before but never got these truly amazing sights. Then the bus dropped us off for 20 minutes on the Citadella. And that's when the fun part began! We left Bea and her companion there. Well, it's fun now that I look back to it, but then I was totally freaked out. My companion couldn't even calm me down. I couldn't call up Bea 'cause my phone was in her purse with her and couldn't reach our teacher either 'cause he was nowhere to be found. It was great. Just great. Then they arrived with the other bus and told us that they nearly missed that one, too, 'cause they almost got on a Romanian Tourbus. Gee, teenagers these days... Our room was the Party Apartment: there were Hungarian kids from 5 different countries! I gotta say, it was a good one. But the cleaning up was something I certainly didn't enjoy.

Finally, the last day, Sunday. We only had one lecture, and then did the torture all the way to the trainstation again. The actual journey leading home was quite silent. Both Bea and I slept during it, and I think the teacher did, too. But I don't know. I don't sleep with open eyes. It wasn't the cosiest place I could imagine to sleep at, but still it felt like Heaven after only 5 hours of sleep in two days.

This is probably the ugliest picture of me ever made, but still the only one with the lads.♥

[I meant the only displayable one.]

 

 

World Event Highlights 2012

World Event Highlights 2012

2012. The end of the world. I think I feel pretty alive for a dead person. :D Anyways, the point here...well, title says it all. I collected a few events that shook the world last year, but I'm convinced there were at least a hundred more. I can't really name them all so let's get going to the ones I've actually found. Hope you'll enjoy them.[Well, the enjoyable ones.]

The Colorado Massacre 

This is one of the not so pretty breaking news. The 25-year-old James Holmes born in San Diego, California, committed mass-homicide in Aurora, Colorado. He walked into the local movie theatre during the showing of the new Batman movie called "Batman: The Dark Night Rises" and opened fire on the audience. According to official sources, more than 50 people were injured, 10 died immediately and 4 died in the hospital. He also used teargas to make escaping harder for the innocents whilst shouting that he was The Joker. He's trial is not over yet, several appearances of his in the court were postponed due to his mental state. His lawyers claim he is mentally ill.

 

The tragedy left so much pain and sorrow, but to top  all that, a new frenzy spread across the United States among the teenagers. They basically worship Holmes because they feel sorry for him due to his illness and sad childhood, and they manifest their views in various ways. 

The Sandy Hurricane

Another disaster stroke but this time not in the form of a psychiatric case, but in the form of a natural disaster. As we already got used to it, this hurricane is named after a woman, too, a certain Sandy. She caused the death of 40 people, left over 8 million households without electricity and swamped several metrostations and tunels. 1500 flights were cancelled and the center of Manhattan went underwater. The waves were 4,5 metres high, breaking the earlier record of hurricane Donna (3 metres). The damage was around 30-40 milliard dollars.

Celebrity Deaths

It may be a bit morbid to call this a highlight, but I think it's an essential part of last year. The whole world lost a few true legends. They made our lives brighter, our days happier. Their abrupt departial left us speechless. Though I'm pretty sure that a huge percent of nowadays generation don't even know who they were, what they did. But hopefully a part of them, including me, smiles when they think of the one and only Jockey Ewing from Dallas (Larry Hagman), the pretty singer from The Bodyguard (Whitney Houston) or the amazing singer of the hit song 'Hot Stuff' (Donna Summer).

  

                                                         

The Olympic Games

And we arrived. This is the event that nobody can leave out! The XXX Game of the Olympiad, the 2012 Summer Games. After China, London earned the honor to be the host of this high-quality event. Over 204 National Olympic Committies took part in the Games, in 26 sports. The absolute winners were China, The USA and Great Britain: they owned the first three places on the rank of earned medals. Many records were broken, numerous by the mentioned countries above. The next games will be held in Rio de Janeiro.

The Royal Family

The British Royal Family had more reasons to celebrate last year than an average family. Prince William and Kate Middleton got married in 2011 and now the new royal baby is on its way. Though this wonderful occasion had its ups and downs apart from the morning sicknesses. A gossip magazine called up the nurse who dealed with Kate and told her she was the Queen to get some information on the state of the Princess. The nurse of course told them everything and when it turned out that she had been ditched, she killed herself. Sad story, but we should move on to the next thing. Queen II. Elizabeth celebrated her diamondjubilee, the 60th anniversary of her domination. In all history only Queen Victoria could celebrate this before her.