New phone and new mobile blogging

I got a new phone today. It has a camera on it. Finally I am catching up with cellphone technology. Now I will be able to send pictures from my phone directly to my new Paulino on the GO blog. Like this one:

I then I can edit the post and add some text to it... or not :-)

Patrick's Cabaret demo

Wow, more than a month and a half without blogging... what a slacker :-)
And I have so many thing to tell.. anyway until I get to them I will post a demo video I edited to promote Patrick's Cabaret.

Here it is:

Esperanto is not dead

Even though I haven't made much efforts to improve my Esperanto lately, I keep finding examples that show that this is not a dead language at all.

Look at this cute video:

Let's burn down the house!

Well... not literally.
I just started experimenting with a new home project: Melting Crayons.
I was going pretty well... until I have a little accident in the oven and now it's partially covered in crayon wax... oops!
But I have been more careful lately and I am having fun and some good results.
This is my last badge:

Before melting

After melting

Esperanto>Youth>Spain>Madrid

My friend José is one of the organizers of this really cool gathering for young people (like me!) who would like to learn more about Esperanto or practice this interesting language with other cool people. If you are near Madrid, don't miss it! I wish I could be there, guys! Good luck!

ENCUENTRO IBÉRICO 2007 Del 9 al 11 de marzo en el albergue juvenil "San Fermín" (Villaverde-Madrid). Organiza HEJS, la Sección Juvenil de la Federación Española de Esperanto. Para más información: www.esperanto.es/iro2007/index.htm IRO 2007 Iberia renkonto Okazos de la 9a ĝis la 11a de marto en la junulargastejo "San Fermín" (Kvartalo Villaverde de Madrido). Organizos HEJS, Juna Sekcio de HEF. Pli da informoj : www.esperanto.es/iro2007/index.htm

EPOTI featured on the Bob and Rob show!

This is a post from a blog where I collaborate English Practice over the Internet

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By now most of you know about podcasts and how useful they are for learning English. One of the ESL podcasts we (EPOTI group) like is "The Bob and Rob show". It has very good information on language and culture and it's very educational yet informal and even funny.

Some EPOTI members have developed a relationship with Bob and Rob. I think Ignacio has been mentioned in several lessons and the rest of us post comments quite frequently on their blog.

In their Latest show Lesson 72: Money they mention our website www.letslearnenglish.info! They even added the link to their side bar. Thanks Bob and Rob!!!

May be they did this because I (Paulino) have been helping with corrections to their transcripts (listen to voice message on Lesson 72 or find corrections on their discussion board -registration needed-) OR maybe because another EPOTI member (Jiri) sent them some beer and chocolate!

In any case, we are honored to be part of the Bob and Rob show!

Posted by paulino brener at 3:28 PM

Wash your hands! Lavate las manos!

Last week was pretty hard at school. We had a lot of sick children (i.e. absent) and a few teachers as well. I usually start teaching my Spanish classes at 11:10 am but I had to teach Morning Lesson (8:30 to 10:30 am) on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday for 2nd Grade that week. After having been teaching ML for the two prior weeks I was hoping to rest a little but it was not possible. At least I am glad that I didn't get sick.
During that week I taught all the lower grades (1st through 4th) how to say "lavate las manos" (wash your hands) and we actually washed our hands in class! It was a wait to contribute and to minimize the spread of whatever was out there (norovirus and influenza according to one school email).

Mayas and Folk dances

What an amazing and busy week! Classes resumed at Spring Hill School. Besides my regular Spanish classes I am teaching a block of two weeks to the 7th grade titled: Ancient Civilizations of Mesoamerica. This course concentrates on the Mayas and Aztecs. Mayas last week, Aztecs this week. It's very interesting being a class teacher. I am enjoying it a lot.

Also on Fridays 5th and 12th I taught Argentine and French folk dances at Tapestry Folkdance Center. I had a warm (even a little nostalgic I must admit) feeling when I had more than 30 people dancing gato or carnavalito with me. I'll teach my last class on Friday 19th.

Talkcast at Talkshoe

Lately I've been pretty hooked to Skypecast on Skype. But yesterday I took part of a new type of online show. This time hosted by my friend (and EPOTI member) Marian. He knows a lot about internet, blog, podcast, etc. and he has a very interesting blog.
Marian used a new website called Talkshoe. "TalkShoe™ - a new way to create Interactive Podcasts and talk with interesting people with similar interests around the world.
Other uses of TalkShoe include talk shows, discussion groups, fan clubs, and friends & family chats.
TalkShoe is also being used by businesses and organizations to improve communications with customers & suppliers, get out marketing messages, and facilitate better employee communications." (from Talkshoe.com)

If you are interested joining Marian here you have more information:
Talkcast information:
Talkcast Name: Webtutor: Internet Magic made easy
Host: Marian Heddesheimer - mh@rent-a-tutor.com
Next episode: EPISODE2 - Talk about Podcasting and Blogging, Thu, January 11, 2007 02:30 PM EST
This Episode is dedicated to podcasting and blogging. I will tell you how to start your own blog at blogger.com or your own podcast at blip.tv. We will also discuss how to promote your blog and podcast in some detail.
Phone number: (724) 444-7444
Talkcast ID: 12267
PIN: The phone number or 10-digit PIN you signed up with

Or click here:

Happy Birthday Song in Chinese

I have just received another cyber-present from Lingual Bee (David). He is originally Chinese but he lives in USA now.

Here is his song


powered by ODEO

Social interactions: breaking the ice

I went to a New Year's Eve Eve (12/30) party this afternoon with my friend David. I haven't seen him for a while so it was great to see him again and to be out and about and social.. well.. I don't know why but I was not that social today. I am usually pretty good at parties at talking to different people both known and new. Was I shy? Is that possible? :-) May be just pensive. But I was not sad or having a problem or anything. Just quiet. I guess that might have seem strange to some people since I was asked "everything OK?" a few times. And yes! Everything was OK. Perhaps many people are not used to see me pensive or without a smile from ear to ear :-)
I really enjoyed the party, in a different way. I enjoyed observing people interacting. I liked eavesdropping here and there and mainly I got to observe body language. Something that helps me a lot when I am acting or creating a character.

One of the things that stuck in my mind was a question that my friend David used as a conversation starter. He is very original at times... well.. most of the time. ;-)

So, I would like to ask YOU (the reader) this question.

As we welcome the New Year I’d like to leave you with a question that calls for a little bit of reflection (although I hope you don’t have to think too hard to answer it). For some reason the coming of a new year calls people to reflect a little bit. I certainly hope that people develop a habit of reflecting a little more every day.

So here it is:

What makes YOUR WORLD a beautiful place?

I hope to hear from you, or anyone who would like to answer that question, at email@paulino.info


Take and give care,

paulino

Unexpected and Unrequested Xmas present

Credit Card companies can be so generous sometimes!

I just checked my bank balances online and found out that my bank had double my credit line! According to the representative "they check my credit activity and payments regularly and give me an automatic courtesy increase in my credit line if everything looks good".
Ugh! I couldn't believe it! Why wasn't I asked first! I actually think that is kind of rude. But then, there are many things that I don't understand about economy in general and US economy in particular. That's why I am a Spanish Teacher! And a very happy one! :-)

Hasta luego!

The b-day songs are coming in!

So, I have 3 songs so far. Two in German and one English.

The first song in German is by Patrick Scully. Patrick is a little taller than me and he is the director of Patrick's Cabaret, a place where I usually perform or curate shows. Shameless plug: My next show at Patrick's Cabaret will be in June, 2007: "Noche Hispana 3"


Here is Patrick singing in German:


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The second song in German comes from Marian. He is a part of the EPOTI team (English Practice over the internet). We organize Skypecasts weekly, keep a blog and a Moodle site called "Let's Learn English" where people can find plenty of things to practice English.

Here is his song



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And the third is by Duan Atter, the director of "The Warren: an artist habitat"

Here is his song:



powered by ODEO

Enjoy!

And what are you waiting for to send yours!!!

I've been good

It seems that I've been a good boy this year.
Santa visited me and early!

My Birthday: Cyberfiesta or Cyberparty, Cybercomments, Cybersongs

(Puedes ver este mensaje en español abajo)

As most of you know this friday, 12/22, is my birthday. I'll be 33!

I don't usually make a big deal of it in they real world but I am a little more liberal in the cyber-world :-)

I like my Cyberparty!

So what is it? Very simple!

You have from now until January 6th 2007 to send me your Cyberpresent. I have to give a little more time for those who need to think about it. And I always liked the Three Wise Men better than Santa Claus anyway (they are diverse, wise -duh!- and have thoughtful presents).

So, be creative and send me a cyberpresent: a simple "hello", a note, a story, a joke, lyrics of your favorite song, an anecdote about that time you and I got drunk... ehmm.. no, just kidding.. I don't drink :-) Anyway... send anything to mail@paulino.info

This is year I also would like to add a theme: Happy Birthday Songs in Foreign Languages.

If you have a mic and recording capabilities (software) in your computer, and you know how to use it, please record the traditional happy birthday song of your country and in your mother tongue and send an mp3 to mail@paulino.info

If you don't know how to do that but you still want to do it.. get a mic, connect it to your computer and click on this lovely pink "comment" button below (it even has a star! ah...!), it will take you to a website where you can record your song. You can also record any other type of messages (if you are sing shy) but please keep it clean: this is a family show :-) You can send some extra text with your recording on that website, too



Well... now stop reading and do it! HAVE FUN!

and thanks...

------------
Como muchos ya saben este viernes, 22/12, es mi cumpleaños. Cumplo 33!

Usualmente no le doy mucha importancia a esto en el "mundo real" pero soy un poco mas liberal en el mundo ciber :-)

Me gusta mi Ciberfiesta!

Que es? Muy simple!

Tienes hasta el 6 de enero, 2007 para mandarme tu ciber-relago. Tengo que darle un poco de tiempo a aquellos que necesitan pensarlo bien. Y de todas maneras siempre me gustaron mas los Reyes Magos que Papa Noel.

Pues, utiliza tu creatividad y mandame un ciber-regalo: simplemente un "hola", una nota, un cuento, un chiste, la letra de tu cancion favorita, alguna anecdota de cuando tu y yo nos emborrachamos.. eh.. no.. solo bromeada.. Yo no bebo :-) En fin, cualquier cosa. Mandamela a mail@paulino.info

Este año tambien quiero agregar un tema: Canciones de Feliz Cumpleaños en Idiomas Extranjeros.

Si tenes microfono y programa en tu compu para hacer grabaciones, y sabes como usarlo, graba una cancion de "feliz cumpleaños" tradicional en tu pais y en tu lengua materna y mandame unmp3 a mail@paulino.info

Si no sabes como hacer eso pero igual queres mandarme una grabacion... consigue un microfono, conectalo a tu compu y apreta ese hermoso boton de "comment" que esta abajo y te llevara a una pagina donde puedes grabar tu cancion. Tambien puedes grabar otro tipo de mensajes (si no quieres cantar) pero por favor nada de palabrotas :-) Tambien puedes enviar un mensaje de texto junto con tu grabacion en esa misma pagina.



Bueno, deja de leer y manos a la obra! Diviertete!

y gracias...

a new road...

ehem... first day of Capricorn (hint... hint) :-)

soon... 33...

Joseph again: 20 years after...

When I was young (10.. 13 years old) I used to participate in many activities in my local church (Roman Catholic). One of those activities was the "Pesebre Viviente" (the nativity scene). I remember once, I think I was 13 years old, I was one of the shepherds. Now I am 6'6" tall so you can imagine I was pretty tall then, too. During one rehearsal, when the shepherds come to visit the new born Jesus, the director realized that I was taller than the guy doing Joseph (who was much older than me). So asked us to trade characters. The guy didn't like it at all but I did. You know I was born for the stage :-) I was a better Joseph than that guy... My mom told me and I believe everything that my mom says ;-) Anyway, almost 20 years later (hint, hint, I'll 33 on December 22nd, 2006) I get to be Joseph again. This time with a bigger production put on by a really cool theatre company in Minneapolis: In the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theatre.

La Natividad

December 15-17, 2006 - one weekend only!

The Nativity Story According to St. Matthew and St. Luke

La Historia de Navidad de Acuerdo a San Mateo y San Lucas.

“En el nombre del cielo pedimos posada...

In the Heart of the Beast Puppet & Mask Theatre is taking the Nativity story to the streets!

• Come experience the Christmas Story as you’ve never done before. The story of the hol

  y child being born in our midst – here in Midtown Minneapolis.

• This innovative holiday presentation will combine puppetry, street theatre and a traditional Latino “La Posada” procession. And you’ll be a part of the action!

Audiences will move with the performers among three different locations:

• First, meet “Maria and José” in the Mercado Central.

  

• Across the street in the Avalon Theatre, you’ll discover shepherds and st

  ar-seekers.

• Then, in a colorful torch-lit procession, follow Maria & José (THIS IS ME) as they look for refuge down 15th Avenue to St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church, where all will be welcomed for the Nativity.

• Finally, join the fiesta in St Paul’s Fellowship Hall
  

  -- complete with music, food and games.

Told with HOBT’s signature visual beauty and soulful live music, “La Natividad” will be an utterly unique community celebration.

Besides being "Jose" in the procession I manipulated a stork puppet in the Church. I got quite a few compliments for that bird even though it was first time with that type of puppet. I hope to perform with HOTB again, soon. (I just did May Day Ceremony with then a few years ago)

I got to know a lot of new people in this production. And I also had fun sharing the stage with a family from my school (Spring Hill School), Tanja and Olivia (pictured below).