SEVERUS SNAPE, MYSTERY AND ARTS IN MAGIC

Today, The Weasleys and The Grandma have met Professor Severus Snape, who has explained to them how to defense themselves against the Dark Arts. After this meeting, the family has practised Present Perfect.

More info: Present Perfect

 

P. Perfect vs. Past Simple

Professor Severus Snape is a half-blood wizard serving as Potions Master, Defence Against the Dark Arts professor, and Headmaster of the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry as well as a member of the Order of the Phoenix and a Death Eater. His double life played a extremely important role in both of the Wizarding Wars against Voldemort. 

The only child of Muggle lowlife Tobias Snape and Gobstones witch Eileen Snape, née Prince, Severus was raised in the Muggle dwelling of Spinner's End, which was in close proximity to the home of the Evans family, though in a poorer area. He met Lily and Petunia Evans when he was nine and fell deeply in love with Lily, becoming a close friend of hers.

More information: Pottermore

Severus Snape was a thin man with sallow skin, a large, hooked nose and yellow, uneven teeth. He usually dressed in flowing black robes which made him resemble an overgrown bat. He had shoulder-length, greasy black hair which framed his face in curtains, curling lips and dark, penetrating eyes that resembled tunnels. As a Death Eater, he bears the Dark Mark on his left inner forearm.

Snape was a repressed, solitary man with no friends. In his early life, he was insecure, vulnerable, and yearned to be part of something better. 

As a child, the bleak normality of working-class suburbia compounded with his neglectful Muggle father inspired in him a contempt for ordinariness. This urgent desire to be a part of something powerful and important was what drew him to Lord Voldemort's inner circle. The younger Snape had a stringy, pallid look, being round-shouldered yet angular and with a twitchy walk that recalled a spider, as well as long oily hair that jumped about his face.

More information: HP Lexicon

Snape had a strong, authoritative presence. He spoke in a soft, contained voice most of the time, except during the occasional instances when he lost his temper. Severus started at Hogwarts with Lily in 1971, where he was Sorted into Slytherin House. This put him in the same year as Lily but unfortunately for him in rival houses. Severus became the immediate enemy of James Potter and Sirius Black and was a frequent victim of their bullying. This led him to be irritable towards James's son Harry when he was a professor.

  

Snape, when young, developed a passion for the Dark Arts, which increased as his desire for revenge grew stronger. 

Snape became involved with the bullies in Slytherin House, many of whom were pure-blood supremacists. This put his friendship with Lily, a Muggle-born, under great strain until it was eventually broken in their fifth year. In an attempt to win back Lily's affections, Snape joined the Death Eaters along with a group of his fellow Slytherins.

Severus was made a member of the Slug Club presumably because of his talent at potion-making and Horace Slughorn kept a picture of him as a student, clutching his copy of Advanced Potion-Making. Despite this, Horace did not have many hopes for Severus's future, as his photograph was kept behind many others.

More information: Screen Rant

Shortly before Lily Evans was murdered by Lord Voldemort, Snape changed sides and became a member of the Order of the Phoenix and double agent during the Second Wizarding War. With tremendous difficulty, Snape prevented Lord Voldemort from learning the truth about his loyalties. 

Despite the opinions of most others including Harry during his early life, Albus Dumbledore trusted Snape for reasons that were kept between them both until their deaths. Despite Snape killing Dumbledore, it is learned that they had a special agreement for him to do so. 

When he died, it was revealed that his deep strong love for Lily Evans caused him to redeem himself, joining Dumbledore's cause for her protection from Lord Voldemort. The relationship between Dumbledore and Snape would be one of an unusually strong loyalty, so much so that Snape agreed to kill Dumbledore upon the latter's own request. Before Dumbledore's death, Snape promised to protect the students of Hogwarts from the Death Eaters, who would inevitably take control of the Ministry of Magic as well as the school. 

More information: Cinema Blend

Snape later participated in the Battle of Hogwarts but was murdered by Lord Voldemort who mistakenly believed that Snape was the master of the Elder Wand, an immensely strong and powerful wand that Voldemort deeply desired, one of the Deathly Hallows, when in reality, Harry Potter was the master of the Elder Wand, because Draco Malfoy had disarmed Dumbledore, on the night of Dumbledore's death on top of the Astronomy Tower and Harry had disarmed Draco at Malfoy Manor.

After Snape's death, Harry Potter ensured that his portrait remained at Hogwarts, honoring him as a hero, despite their significant personal differences. In addition, Harry later named his second son Albus Severus Potter in honor of Dumbledore and Severus, both an inspiration in Harry's life after the Battle of Hogwarts. 

Harry also was influenced by Severus' Hogwarts house, and freely admitted that Albus could choose Slytherin if he wished.

More information: Vanity Fair

Severus Snape was born 9 January, 1960 to Eileen Prince, a pure-blood witch, and Tobias Snape, a Muggle, making him a half-blood wizard. Severus, whose father was neglectful and possibly even violent, began to identify with his mother's family and created a secret nickname from his mother's maiden name, calling himself the Half-Blood Prince. His unhappy relationship with his father may have been the origin of his disdain for Muggles. It is implied that Severus was friendless and uncared for by his parents. This lack of care largely shaped Severus's bitter disposition and cruel behaviour later in his life.

Severus grew up at Spinner's End, a shabby suburb of Cokeworth. This area of town was near a dirty river and full of dilapidated houses, disused factories and broken down street lamps. Through the rest of his life, Severus continued to return there when he was not at school. The young Severus is depicted as being unwashed and wearing ill-fitting clothes that were so mismatched that it looked deliberate. As a child, Severus was neglected and his parents often fought with one another. He could not wait to leave for Hogwarts at the end of the summer.

 

More information: Slash Film

Severus attended Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry as a student and was Sorted into Slytherin House, at that time led by Potions master Horace Slughorn. On the way to Hogwarts for his first year, Severus sat with Lily Evans on the train. While on the train they met James Potter and Sirius Black. This encounter between the three of them revolved around a disagreement regarding what Hogwarts house was the best. This hostile first encounter would set the tone for the antagonism between the three of them for the rest of his life.

According to Sirius, Severus excelled in the Dark Arts from an early age. At the age of eleven, he knew more curses and hexes than most of the seventh year students. He reportedly was friends with a gang of Slytherins who later became Death Eaters, including Avery and Mulciber. 

More information: The Telegraph

Severus was credited with creating a good number of popular spells like Levicorpus, Liberacorpus, Muffliato, and curses like Langlock, the Toenail Growth Hex, and his signature curse, Sectumsempra. Other Slytherins that Sirius mentioned as being friends with Severus included Evan Rosier and Wilkes.  

Severus also had contact with Lucius Malfoy, who was a prefect during his first year and greeted him kindly when he was Sorted into the Slytherin House. Most likely the two had good rapport at Hogwarts, which could also be a reason why Narcissa Malfoy trusted Severus to take care of Draco Malfoy and why he seemed to favour Draco during his later teaching years. Remus Lupin and Peter Pettigrew were also classmates of Severus.

Severus suffered terrible remorse when Voldemort decided that Harry Potter was the subject of the prophecy, and that Lily Evans, the woman whom he always loved, was now in danger as a result of his actions. 

He begged Voldemort to spare her in exchange for the lives of her husband and son. But, knowing that he could not leave Lily's safety in question at the hands of someone who could turn back at his word on a mere whim, and that Lily would probably defend her child to the last breath, Snape also approached Albus Dumbledore to ask him to save Lily.

More information: Independent

He pleaded with Dumbledore to hide her, along with her husband and son if he had to. Dumbledore agreed, but insisted that Severus serve him as a spy among the Death Eaters. In fact, it was Snape's request to Voldemort which allowed Lily to let herself die in order for Harry to live, when Voldemort attempted to murder him, his curse backfired and Voldemort's body was destroyed.

When Severus Snape began his teaching career at Hogwarts, he initially applied for the position of Defence Against the Dark Arts, but was rejected multiple times. 

Many students were under the impression that this was because Dumbledore feared Snape might return to his old ways if allowed to teach his favourite subject, but in reality it was because Dumbledore was aware by that point that the job had been jinxed by Voldemort. Knowing that no Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher would last longer than a year, Dumbledore instead employed Snape in the position of Potions Master and Head of Slytherin House, following the retirement of veteran Potions Master Professor Horace Slughorn. 

Though it seemed rather uncommon for someone as young as Snape to be named Head of any House at Hogwarts, it is possible that Snape was the only Slytherin teacher left at the school, or that he was placed there to keep a watchful eye on the young Slytherins, who were frequently accused of, but not without reason, joining the Death Eaters.

More information: Cosmopolitan

 

 

The Dark Arts are many, varied, 

ever-changing, and eternal. 

Fighting them is like fighting 

a many-headed monster, 

which, each time a neck is severed, 

sprouts a head even 

fiercer and cleverer than before. 

You are fighting that 

which is unfixed, mutating, indestructible.

 Severus Snape

LAW & ORDER: SVU, OLIVIA BENSON & HER POLICE TEAM

Today, The Grandma has visited Detectives Olivia Benson and Elliot Stabler, the two main members of the Special Victims Unit (SVU) in the New York City Police Department.

Meanwhile, The Newtons have continued preparing their Cambridge Exam. They have studied the Present Perfect.

More info: Present Perfect 

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, often abbreviated to Law & Order: SVU or just SVU, is an American crime drama television series created by Dick Wolf's own production company, Wolf Entertainment, for NBC.

The first spin-off of Law & Order, it starred Christopher Meloni as Det. Elliot Stabler until Meloni left the series in 2011 after 12 seasons, and Mariska Hargitay as Detective (ultimately promoted to Captain) Olivia Benson, now the commanding officer of the Special Victims Unit after originally having been Stabler's partner in a fictionalized version of the New York City Police Department.

Meloni reprised his role as Stabler in 2021 in the spin-off series Law & Order: Organized Crime.

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit follows the style of the original Law & Order in that some episodes are loosely based on real crimes that have received media attention.

The show premiered on September 20, 1999. After the premiere of its 21st season in September 2019, the series became TV’s longest-running primetime U.S. live-action series in the history of television and the only live-action primetime series that debuted in the 1990s and is still producing new episodes.

As of October 21, 2021, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit has aired 500 original episodes, more than surpassing the episode count of the original Law & Order series. In terms of all-time episode count for a primetime scripted series, SVU now ranks fourth behind The Simpsons (with 710 episodes), Gunsmoke (with 635 episodes), and Lassie (with 591 episodes).

In February 2020, the series was renewed through its 24th season. The 23rd season premiered on September 23, 2021, during which the show aired its milestone 500th episode.

The series has received 91 award nominations, winning 33 awards. Mariska Hargitay was the first regular cast member on any Law & Order series to win an Emmy Award when she won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series in 2006.

Based out of the NYPD New York City Police Department's 16th precinct in Manhattan, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit delves into the dark side of the New York underworld as the detectives of a new elite force, the Special Victims Unit (SVU for short), investigate and prosecute various sexually oriented crimes, including rape, child sexual abuse and domestic violence.

Many exterior scenes of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit are filmed on location in New York City, Wolf's hometown, throughout all five of New York City's boroughs.

Fort Lee, New Jersey served as the filming location for Detective Elliot Stabler's residence in Queens, New York.

More information: NBC

Some things, you can put them behind you...
but they do change you.

Olivia Benson

TIERRA DEL FUEGO, TRAVEL TO THE END OF THE WORLD

The Stones and The Grandma have just arrived to Tierra del Fuego in Argentina. It has been a long travel from Hawaii Islands crossing the Hemisphere and flying over the Ocean but it has been very exciting, too. During this long flight, the family has had enough time to revise Present Perfect and For/Since.

Tierra del Fuego, officially Provincia de Tierra del Fuego, Antártida e Islas del Atlántico Sur, is the southernmost, smallest, and least populous Argentine province.

The province had been inhabited by indigenous people for more than 12,000 years, since they migrated south of the mainland. It was first encountered by a European in 1520 when spotted by Ferdinand Magellan. Even after Argentina achieved independence, this territory remained under indigenous control until the nation's campaign known as the Conquest of the Desert in the 1870s, after which Argentina organised this section in 1885 as a territory.

European immigration followed due to a gold rush and rapid expansion of sheep farming on large ranches in the area.

Tierra del Fuego is the most recent Argentine territory to gain provincial status, which occurred in 1990.

The effective extent of the province is the eastern part of the island of Tierra del Fuego, Isla de los Estados and adjacent islands.

However, Argentina has made a territorial claim over the two British Overseas Territories of the Falkland Islands and South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands and over a segment of Antarctica, which overlaps with the British and Chilean claims on that continent. Despite international recognition of the British territories and Argentina exercising no authority in said territories -other than in Argentine Antarctic bases- nevertheless those territories have been nominally included in the province since 1990.

More information: Present Perfect

The youngest of the Argentine provinces was first inhabited around 12,000 years ago. When the first Europeans arrived, they encountered a population of about 10,000 indigenous people belonging to four tribes: Yámana, Alakaluf (now known by their autonym of Kawésqar), Selk'nam (Ona) and Manek'enk (Haush).

Within fifty years of discovery, only about 350 natives remained due to high fatalities from the endemic diseases carried by Europeans, such as smallpox and measles, as the natives had no immunity to these new diseases.

In addition, in the late 19th century, ranchers and settlers committed genocide against the Selk'nam. The provincial capital city is Ushuaia, from a native word meaning bay towards the end.

The territory was first seen by Europeans in 1520 during Ferdinand Magellan's expedition. He named the area Land of Smokes, later changed to Land of Fire, as he saw what were probably the fires produced by the local Amerindian peoples for heating. Juan de Alderete in 1555 and later Pedro Sarmiento de Gamboa intended to found settlements in the area. The harsh weather and the constant attacks of British pirates, who took Sarmiento de Gamboa prisoner, frustrated their ambitions.

Spanish, Dutch, British and French explorers ventured on Tierra del Fuego island and the nearby seas. Gabriel de Castilla passed through before exploring the Antarctic islands. In the early 1830s, Commander Robert FitzRoy, and Charles Darwin explored this land and other parts of Patagonia via HMS Beagle.

In 1828 Argentina established a penal colony at Puerto Luis on the Falkland Islands. In 1833 the British sent a naval task force to request that the Argentine representative of the islands, José María Pinedo, and Argentine forces leave the islands, and re-established their rule there.

Luis Piedrabuena installed a base in San Juan de Salvamento on Isla de los Estados. The British South American Mission Society Patagonia Mission, under its superintendent Waite Stirling, founded Ushuaia as an Anglican mission in southern Tierra del Fuego in 1869. Shortly after, Salesian missionaries founded Río Grande.

More information: Since/For

In the 1880s the Argentine government took a more active interest in Tierra del Fuego. In 1881, the meridian 68°36'38 W was defined as the boundary between the Chilean and the Argentine portions of the island. In 1884 the Government of Tierra del Fuego was created, and a subprefecture was established at Ushuaia.

The southern part of the Beagle Channel was an issue of conflict between both states, which competed for control of three small islands, Picton, Lennox and Nueva. Finally in 1977, these were awarded to Chile by decision of the mediating British Crown, revised by Pope John Paul II and ratified by treaty in 1985.

When the crews of sailing-ships told of the notoriously dangerous voyage round the tip of South America, Tierra del Fuego became a byword in Europe for an inhospitable land, where life would be impossibly harsh for settlers. But, it is not the most sparsely populated province of Argentina. Its population density of 4.75/km² is higher than five other provinces, due to various waves of immigration.

Gold fever started in Tierra del Fuego around 1883. Many Croatians from the Dalmatian coast arrived in search of gold. In addition, the gold rush inspired new technologies and innovations, such as the telegraph. Although by 1910 the gold had run out, most of the pioneers stayed. The inauspicious-looking northern plains proved ideal sheep-farming country, and vast ranches were developed. Croatian, Scottish, Basque, Italian, Galician and Chilean immigrants arrived to work on the estancias, with the hope of eventually buying their own land and stock.

The Amerindians suffered high fatalities from disease and the outright warfare waged by ranchers and bounty hunters; by 1920 their population on the island had dropped to only 200. News of the atrocities and genocide reached the Federal Congress in Buenos Aires. It sent aid and tried to help the Salesian mission, the only institution working in the island to protect the indigenous peoples.

With the creation of the Gobernación Marítima de Tierra del Fuego in 1943, construction of naval bases began in Ushuaia and Río Grande. An airport and other infrastructure were also built. These projects attracted immigrants from other countries as well as other parts of Argentina.

It was not until 1990 that the National Territory of Tierra del Fuego, the Antarctic and the South Atlantic Islands was declared a province. Its first governor was appointed two years later.

More information: Welcome Argentina

Endings are scary and foreign.
They split you up emotionally and put you in a place
where you don't know what's going to happen next.
But with every end of the world,
there is a new world that follows.

 Alex Hirsch

VISITING MEIJI JINGU AND TASTING JAPANESE DISHES

The Jones at Meiji Jingu, Shibuya

Yesterday, the family visited Meiji Jingu, a a shrine dedicated to the deified spirits of Emperor Meiji and his consort, Empress Shoken located in Shibuya, Tokyo. They spent all day in this wonderful place symbol of peace and spirituality.

Today, The Jones have tasted some Japanese food in one of the best restaurants in Tokyo: Restaurant Sant Pau. The owner of this restaurant is Carme Ruscadella, a Grandma's old friend. The Grandma met Carme some years ago in Sant Pol de Mar where Carme has her main restaurant. After her success being a winner of Michelin's stars, friendship between Carme and The Grandma became stronger. It has been an amazing visit and the family has tasted some of the most typical Japanese dishes mixed with Mediterranean ones. A delicious day.

More information: Restaurant Sant Pau

After having lunch, the family has returned to the hotel to revise some aspects of English grammar like Present Perfect and its clues. They have learnt how to create dual adjectives using well/bad and past participles. 

More information: Present Perfect / Already & Yet / Since & For
 

The Grandma has talked about the wonderful world of languages and its importance. Every language is the result of a community, different culture and idiosincrasy. As many languages as you speak, as communities as you know and enjoy. She has also explained the advantage of speaking languages to avoid mental diseases like Alzheimer.

More information: NPR

Tomorrow, The Jones are going to visit Kiyomizu-dera Temple and they are going to talk about Japanese cinema, music and arts in general.

The Jones at Meiji Jingu, Shibuya

Meiji Shrine is located in Shibuya, Tokyo, is the Shinto shrine that is dedicated to the deified spirits of Emperor Meiji and his wife, Empress Shōken.

The shrine does not contain the emperor's grave, which is located at Fushimi-momoyama, south of Kyoto. 

After the emperor's death in 1912, the Japanese Diet passed a resolution to commemorate his role in the Meiji Restoration. An iris garden in an area of Tokyo where Emperor Meiji and Empress Shōken had been known to visit was chosen as the building's location.

Construction began in 1915 under Itō Chūta, and the shrine was built in the traditional nagare-zukuri style, using primarily Japanese cypress and copper. The building of the shrine was a national project, mobilizing youth groups and other civic associations from throughout Japan, who contributed labor and funding. 

More information: Meiji-jingu Official Website

It was formally dedicated in 1920, completed in 1921, and its grounds officially finished by 1926. Until 1946, the Meiji Shrine was officially designated one of the Kanpei-taisha, meaning that it stood in the first rank of government supported shrines.

The Jones at Meiji Jingu, Shibuya

The original building was destroyed during the Tokyo air raids of World War II. The present iteration of the shrine was funded through a public fund raising effort and completed in October 1958.

Meiji Shrine is located in a forest that covers an area of 70 hectares. This area is covered by an evergreen forest that consists of 120,000 trees of 365 different species, which were donated by people from all parts of Japan when the shrine was established. 

The forest is visited by many as a recreation and relaxation area in the center of Tokyo.The entrance to the shrine complex leads through the Jingu Bashi bridge.

More information: Japan Guide

The Naien is the inner precinct, which is centered on the shrine buildings and includes a treasure museum that houses articles of the Emperor and Empress. The treasure museum is built in the Azekurazukuri style.

The Gaien is the outer precinct, which includes the Meiji Memorial Picture Gallery that houses a collection of 80 large murals illustrative of the events in the lives of the Emperor and his consort. It also includes a variety of sports facilities, including the National Stadium, and the Meiji Memorial Hall, Meiji Kinenkan, which was originally used for governmental meetings, including discussions surrounding the drafting of the Meiji Constitution in the late 19th century. Today it is used for Shinto weddings as well as meeting rooms rent and restaurants services.

More information: Japan Visitor

I've always loved the idea of mythologies linked to or underlying everyday life, like the kami gods of Shintoism, where every rock, 

tree and stream has its own little god associated with it. 

Charles Soule

 
Japanese cuisine encompasses the regional and traditional foods of Japan, which have developed through centuries of social and economic changes. The traditional cuisine of Japan is based on rice with miso soup and other dishes; there is an emphasis on seasonal ingredients. 

Ana Bean Jones & The Japanese Cuisine

Side dishes often consist of fish, pickled vegetables, and vegetables cooked in broth. Seafood is common, often grilled, but also served raw as sashimi or in sushi. Seafood and vegetables are also deep-fried in a light batter, as tempura. Apart from rice, staples include noodles, such as soba and udon. Japan also has many simmered dishes such as fish products in broth called oden, or beef in sukiyaki and nikujaga.

More information: Japan Guide

Dishes inspired by foreign food, in particular Chinese food like ramen, fried dumplings, and gyōza, as well as foods like spaghetti, curry, and hamburgers have become adopted with variants for Japanese tastes and ingredients. 

Michelle Jones & The Japanese Cuisine

Historically, the Japanese shunned meat, but with the modernization of Japan in the 1880s, meat-based dishes such as tonkatsu and yakiniku have become common. Japanese cuisine, particularly sushi, has become popular throughout the world. In 2011, Japan overtook France in number of Michelin-starred restaurants and has maintained the title since.

Japanese cuisine is based on combining the staple food, which is steamed white rice or gohan, with one or several okazu or main dishes and side dishes. This may be accompanied by a clear or miso soup and tsukemono.The phrase ichijū-sansai refers to the makeup of a typical meal served, but has roots in classic kaiseki, honzen, and yūsoku cuisine. The term is also used to describe the first course served in standard kaiseki cuisine nowadays.

More information: Into Japan

Rice is served in its own small bowl, chawan, and each main course item is placed on its own small plate, sara, or bowl, hachi, for each individual portion. This is done even in Japanese homes. It contrasts with the Western-style dinners at home, where each individual takes helpings from the large serving dishes of food presented at the middle of the dining table.  

The Grandma in a Japanese Restaurant

Japanese style traditionally abhors different flavored dishes touching each other on a single plate. Placing okazu on top of rice and soiling it is also frowned upon by old-fashioned etiquette. Breakfast at a ryokan, featuring grilled mackerel, Kansai style dashimaki egg, tofu in kaminabe, a paper pot. The small rice bowl or chawan doubles as a word for the large tea bowls in tea ceremonies.

More information: Inside Japan Tours

 Thus in common speech, the drinking cup is referred to as yunomi-jawan or yunomi for the purpose of distinction. In the olden days, among the nobility, each course of a full-course Japanese meal would be brought on serving napkins called zen, which were originally platformed trays or small dining tables. 

More information: The Culture Trip

In Japanese, sushi does not mean raw fish. 

It means seasoned rice. 

Guy Fieri

MIRAMAR, SAN DIEGO, 1986: THE HEAVEN IN YOUR EYES

Top Gun cover, 1986

The Beans have just arrived this morning to San Diego where they're going to participate in the Comic Con. Before going to this event, the family has wanted to review some English grammar. They have been talking about some clues for the Present Perfect like Just, Already and Yet and about how to use Past Simple or Present Perfect.

More information: Already-Just-Yet

After doing some exercises counting the time to be prepared for the exam, the family has been playing to Scattergories and Paqui Bean has won again and again. 

The Beans have taken profit of their time writing some postcards to MJ and they have been talking about fair tales and their main characters before The Grandma had explained a private story with an old friend, Pete "Maverick" Mitchell, who was one of the best F14 pilots in Miramar, San Diego in the last decade of the 80's. She remembers him like a handsome man with the reflex of the heaven in his eyes. He took her breath away.

More information: Present Perfect vs. Past Simple

Meanwhile The Beans have visited the most important places of San Diego included the Sea World where they have seen another old friend, Ulisses, an orca which was living in Barcelona some years ago and was moved to San Diego to live in better conditions, The Grandma has visited her old friend Maverick, who is a retired pilot now, and they have been remembering old memories in front of the Pacific.

The Grandma & Maverick together again in 2018

SeaWorld San Diego is an animal theme park, oceanarium, outside aquarium, and marine mammal park, located in San Diego, California inside the city's Mission Bay Park. The park is owned by the City of San Diego and operated by SeaWorld Entertainment.

SeaWorld San Diego is an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). Adjacent to the property is the Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute, which conducts research on marine biology and provides education and outreach on marine issues to the general public, including information in park exhibits.

More information: The Wrap

San Diego is a major city in California. It is in San Diego County, on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, approximately 190 km south of Los Angeles and immediately adjacent to the border with Mexico.

San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest in California. The city is known for its mild year-round climate, natural deep-water harbor, extensive beaches, long association with the United States Navy, and recent emergence as a healthcare and biotechnology development center.

Tania Bean and Ulisses in the SeaWorld San Diego

San Diego has been called the birthplace of California. Historically home to the Kumeyaay people, it was the first site visited by Europeans on what is now the West Coast of the United States. Upon landing in San Diego Bay in 1542, Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo claimed the area for Spain, forming the basis for the settlement of Alta California 200 years later. The Presidio and Mission San Diego de Alcalá, founded in 1769, formed the first European settlement in what is now California. 

In 1821, San Diego became part of the newly independent Mexico, which reformed as the First Mexican Republic two years later. California became part of the United States in 1848 following the Mexican–American War and was admitted to the union as a state in 1850.

More information: SeaWorld San Diego

The city is the seat of San Diego County and is the economic center of the region as well as the San Diego–Tijuana metropolitan area. San Diego's main economic engines are military and defense-related activities, tourism, international trade, and manufacturing. The presence of the University of California, San Diego (UCSD), with the affiliated UCSD Medical Center, has helped make the area a center of research in biotechnology.

Finally, this evening, The Beans have gone to the Comic-Con as special guests stars and they have enjoyed with the wonderful and fantastic world of illustrations.

The Beans arriving to the San Diego Comic-Con

San Diego Comic-Con International is a multi-genre entertainment and comic convention held annually in San Diego, California. The name, as given on its website, is Comic-Con International: San Diego; but it is commonly known simply as Comic-Con or the San Diego Comic-Con or SDCC.

Comic-Con International also produces two other conventions, WonderCon, held in Anaheim, and the Alternative Press Expo (APE), held in San Francisco. Since 1974, Comic-Con has bestowed its annual Inkpot Award on guests and persons of interest in the popular arts industries, as well as on members of Comic-Con's board of directors and the Convention committee. It is also the home of the Will Eisner Awards.

More information: San Diego Comic-Con

Beans, you are the top 1 percent of all English students. The elite. The best of the best. We’ll make you better… 

You might say we’ll make you the best of the best of the best. Those of you who can’t cut it to graduation will still be the best of the best. But you will simply be the rest of the best of the best, not the best of the best of the best, like the best of you will be.

I don’t imagine you have any questions, so I won’t even ask. 
Good luck, Beans. I’ll see you in the hotel. Class dismissed.

CDR Mike Viper Metcalf, Top Gun

OH HAPPY BEANS! FILL US WITH THE LIGHT OF DAY...

The Grandma tasting Natalia Bean's pizzas

This morning, The Beans have visited Deloris Van Cartier, aka Sister Mary Clarence, and Miriam Bond in San Francisco. Before visiting them, the family has revised a new theme of English grammar: the Present Perfect and its clues For & Since.

Natalia Bean and Paqui Bean have surprised all the family with some delicatessen and the family has participated in a contest to choose its best speakers: Antonio, Edgar and Óscar Bean have won the little contest although it hasn't been easy because of the great competence of the rest of the family.

More information: Present Perfect

After a personal reading of Christmas Carol, the family has continued talking about interesting and deep themes that affect everyone and about how to confront them. Without any kind of doubt, a good aptitude and a strong trust in us are good options to overcome these difficult moments that one day or another are going to appear but meanwhile enjoy every day with your loved people like if it was the last of your life.

Antonio Bean's old selfie in Saint Paul Church

Antonio Bean has contacted with Deloris Van Cartier, an old friend, whom he hasn't seen since 1993 and whom has worked with him for many years helping people who needed another chance in Saint Paul Church, in San Francisco.

Deloris Van Cartier has offered her help to The Beans. She's going to be their musical director in the new song that the family is going to compose to introduce it in the next Eurovision Song Contest in Lisbon.

More information: Since-For

Ok, Beans! Relax. Ok?

Take a deep breath. Be fine.

Don't worry. You're ready?

Sister Mary Clarens / Deloris Van Cartier

In 1968, Deloris Williams was a young girl who attended a Catholic school. Her wisecracking and disobedience exasperated the nun, who warned her that people like her tended not to do so well.

By the early 90s, Deloris Van Cartier was divorced and working as a lounge singer in Reno. She was carrying on an affair with casino owner Vince LaRocca. When Vince gave her his wife's fur coat she decided that she had enough of Vince and went to break up with him. 

Deloris, her chorus, Antonio Bean and The Grandma

In Vince's suite Vince was interrogating his young driver and confirmed that he had spoken to the police. Vince had the young driver executed right as Deloris came in to the suite.  

Deloris managed to get out a few words of apology for an earlier argument before exiting the suite. Vince decided he couldn't have her as a witness and had his soldiers chase after her. Deloris managed to escape and took a taxi to police headquarters where she told the police what she had seen. Lt. Eddie Souther revealed that Vince was a major mob figure. 

He asked Deloris if she would testify against Vince, but she was too frightened to do so. Souther told her that if she agreed to testify he would hide her in the last place on Earth Vince would ever look for her.

The next day the pair arrived in San Francisco. To Deloris's considerble horror, she realized that she was going to be staying in the convent attached to St. Katherine's Parish. The Reverend Mother was none too thrilled about the prospect, but the pastor Msgr. O'Hara said that the convent would have law enforcement protection, and that the Reno police department was giving them a considerable donation.

Reverend Mother took Deloris in. After telling her not to smoke and having her dress in a habit, Reverend Mother informed Deloris that while she was in the convent she would be known as Mary Clarence.

More information: Sant Paul Catholic Church

At first Deloris had a rough time adjusting to the structure of convent life, of having to get up before dawn, of small and plain meals, and of working in the church and convent. She found the convent closed off from the neighborhood. The choir at St. Katherine's was in sad shape. Despite the difficulties of having to conform to Catholic communal living she did make friends with many of the nuns there, especially the shy Mary Robert and the boisterous Mary Patrick.  

Antonio Bean with Saint Paul's Choir

Deloris snuck out to a bar one night followed by Mary Robert and Mary Patrick. Coming back they were caught by the Reverend Mother. She nearly called Souther to ask him to make alternative arrangements for Deloris, but decided instead that for the remainder of her time there she would sleep and sing. Within minutes of arriving in the choir room everyone realized that Deloris had an excellent grasp of music theory, and former leader Mary Lazarus agreed to step aside. The following Sunday the choir sung Hail Holy Queen in the traditional manner followed by a fast paced rock and roll performance of the hymn. People in the street overheard the choir and came in to see what was going on. 

The Reverend Mother was quite unhappy and was going to have Mary Lazarus resume her leadership of the choir. However Msgr. O'Hara stepped in and said that the music was heavenly, and it was bringing people in to church. Deloris convinced him to let the nuns go out in to the neighborhood, helping to clean up the area and make it much more liveable. On Sundays a church that had only had a dozen or so attendees at Mass was filled to capacity. Deloris was nearly exposed when a TV crew visited, but Vince had been distracted when she appeared on TV for a few seconds.

More information: People

Meanwhile Pope John Paul II was visiting the states and heard about St. Katherine's choir. He decided to make the time to visit the parish. Upon the decision of the choir to let Deloris select the music instead of a traditional program for his visit, Reverend Mother decided she had enough and was going to hand in her resignation. Deloris offered to go in her place but Reverend Mother still was planning to resign.

Tate, a corrupt officer on Vince's payroll discovered where Deloris was hiding. Vince sent his men Joey and Willie to bring her back to Reno. After Deloris was kidnapped, Reverend Mother revealed the truth to the convent that Mary Clarence was not a nun, but a singer named Delores Van Cartier. The nuns of the convent all flew to Reno to rescue Deloris.

Antonio Bean with Deloris Van Cartier

Vince confronted Deloris, who faced her former lover calmly and without any outward signs of fear. The Deloris they faced now was nothing like the woman who fled a few motnhs ago. Vince tried to have Joey and Willie murder Deloris, but they found they couldn't do it, fearing their souls in jeopardy for killing someone who might have actually become a nun. Deloris managed to knock over both Willie and Joey and escaped through the casino. Vince chased Deloris through the casino as the other nuns of the convent arrived. As a group they tried to escape but Vince cornered them. Before Vince could shoot Deloris Lt. Souther shot him in the arm. Vince cursed her as he was being dragged away by cops, Deloris simply responded with, Bless you.

More information: Charactour

The Reverend Mother found a renewed sense of purpose and since Deloris would soon be leaving decided she needed to stay. Deloris returned with the nuns to St. Katherine's where in front of a packed house they performed for the Pope, who was quite pleased with what he saw. Deloris directed the choir at several concert engagements in the coming months. 

Nowadays, Deloris is going to direct The Beans in their next goal: be the winners in the 2018 European Song Contest. 

Let's go Beans! We can do it!

Melt the clouds of sin and sadness,

drive the dark of doubt away.
Giver of immortal gladness.
Fill us with the light of day.

Henry Jackson van Dyke Jr.

JOANJO BOND & M.JOSÉ BOND: FLY, FLY, FLY TO WIN

The Bonds flying to Kiev, Ukraine

Today, The Bonds are in Kiev, the capital of Ukraine. They are arriving there to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest.

Before starting to sing, the family has been talking about Some, Any and No compounds and have practised some exercises about Present Perfect vs. Past Simple.

After doing this, The Bonds have demonstrated their best skills playing incredible songs with all their heart. They've introduced themselves and their countries and they have played the songs.

More information: Some, Any and No Compounds

Finally, after a votation full of suprises, Joanjo Bond has won the Contest with his song Fly, fly, fly. Joanjo is from Cyprus and this is the first time that this country wins this Contest, then you can imagine Juanjo's emotion and feelings when he has realized he was going to have this fantastic honour, but Juanjo hasn't done it alone. 

A day in Eurovision with The Bonds

Eurovision is a Contest where is very important having allies and good friends and in this case, Juanjo has received the unforgettable help of M.José Bond, from Norway. 

They have offered a complete show with all the ingredients: vocal quality, deep lyrics, synchronized choreography and great tones of happiness and sense of humour.

The Bonds have dedicated this prize to David and Irene Bond, from Croatia and Poland, two members of this nice family who had to stay in Paris for laboural reasons.

Tonight, the family is flying to Tenerife in Canary Islands where they want to enjoy the Carnival and celebrate this Eurovision's Prize.

 I started at 5 years old in the kitchen table with my family supporting me. PedroJuanjoI know where I'm from and I know exactly where I'm going.

Céline Dion