Sports

I love sports because of I play soccer for many years when I was a teen. I learned swimming last year, and this autumn, I swimming in a Master tournament; this was an amazing experience and personally, I think that swimming is a nice sport. Other sport that I love is soccer, because of I play it in my adolescent; moreover I watching soccer at television every weekend.

Chile is a country without sport culture and for this reason I can´t enjoy many successes. I remember only my favorite soccer team wins because of I really love watch soccer and enjoy my team playing. In fact, I try go to stadium sometimes and I can say that is nice if you go there with friends; alone is bored definitively.

Another important thing about sports are the benefits for lifestyle; the true reason because many people play an sport. This is because of the body physiology change completely; endorphins rise, fat disappear and muscle mass grown. In addition make this kind of activities give you the possibility of know people and make good friends.

But not all is good. If you don’t have an appropriated physical condition, is probably that you injure yourself; an unexpected event that occurred frequently because of people ignorance. The firsts training seasons are crucial and body adaptation to new physiological condition take some weeks; is important remember this biological process to abolish future injures when we decide practicing any sport.

Well, finally I recommend make some training daily, if you don’t like sport maybe you can do some action that give you the opportunity of burn calorie and rise basal metabolism such as go up a stair, walking or cycles to work, running in the morning or swimming in the morning such I try last months.  

September

I think that September is a month full of emotion for many people in our country. This is because of historical events that have occurred in our country many years ago. In fact, is very strange see the problems and strikes that take account about the 11 of the month related with the military coup and in another hand, the unity that we can see because of the national festivities.

I love this month festivities, because of holidays, good weather, typical Chilean food and the opportunity to take a middle year break. The past year I travel to Argentina, and lost the bicentennial commemoration; anyway I celebrate making a roast with Argentine people in Buenos Aires. I try to show them how to dance cueca and this was really funny.

This year, I travel to the south of Chile and enjoy the festivities with my relatives at my girlfriend farm. This was very nice since this was the second time that my relatives travel to this place and I think that they enjoy the landscape and my in-laws hospitality. In my case, I love the landscape, although personally, I think that farm is more attractive in summer because of I can eat some raspberries directly from the plant.

This is the end...

Well, finally I write my last post in blogger; with difficult because of a weakness is my English grammar.  I really try to do my best with this kind of exercises but I think that many times, write something in another language is too difficult. Really I enjoy make this blogs at beginning, but with the days I forget make them in the week. However, I must say that is important activity because is a practical way to improve English.

In my opinion, the blog meets its goal and this is by appropriate correction that teacher made. Maybe a recommendation is try to make or analyze this correction at the class. I like also work over a pre-established text, finding corrections or propose changes; I think that is another activity that can help to learn about grammar, such as completing forms of class guides. An idea is maybe have a part of grammar lessons and make less blog but with a solid theoretical base; I think that this have been more useful for people that need take basic English rules and tips. Other interesting thing with blogs is choice adequately the topics, since many of this topics really aren’t of my personal interest. Nevertheless I love the topic about movies, photograph and protest.

Finally I wish write about the importance of knowing how to write in English.  The Grammar is important for scientific, because all important papers are writing in English and the only way to publish the results of an investigation is to write in English. This can be very problematic, special when the technical vocabulary is complicated or when we can´t express ours ideas correctly. Thus, I try to do my best with this work and the only way to achieve an appropriate level is to keep practicing.

Transgenic food

I think that is important to use the term "genetically modified food" instead of transgenic food because of this refers to products developed through biotechnology. In addition, a genetically modified food product does not necessarily contain biologically active DNA, but may contain new proteins derived from the activity of the transgene or new compounds or metabolites derived from the activity of these new proteins.

The genetically modified food has a number of characteristics such as resistance to pets, cold, diseases, tolerance to herbicides and pesticides, etc. All this characteristics are desirable; the problem is that many potentially catastrophic problems can appear such as the increase risk of cancer, food allergies, resistance to antibiotics, more pesticides residues in soil, etc. Is important to known that not only plants can be genetically modified; animals can be modified to make them more resistant or increment desirable attributes such as meat, milk, eggs, taste, etc.

The big problem with this kind of products is that the people unknown what they eat. The Chilean legislation is too weak and I think that the only requirement is that the food present nutritional information and if they have cancerous ingredients. Hence, I have many questions if really today we have sufficient information above transgenic food and if they are commercialized in our country. Today many people are having the opinion that they do not have any contact to genetic manipulated food. But nearly everybody has contact to those goods without knowing. This is a problem of public health and the government should have an active participation because the side effects probably only will be seen in futures generations.

Personally I believe that all food is modified (at least we buy usually), and for this reason I prefer no extremely worry about what I eating or not.

Education protest

Today, our country is revolutionizing with social movements because of a great discontent of population with the actual government management. The education is now the principal focus of popular dissatisfied and we can see in the news everyday how all population tries manifest with protest. Students have called for a national student strike to demand an end to privatization and profiteering in education, more scholarships, and increased public support for secondary schools and universities.

The current marches recall the deepest political crisis faced by the last government, under President Michelle Bachelet. Exactly five years ago, students went on strike in a series of actions known as the "penguin rebellion" and held marches with many participants to protest lack of investment in education, with most of the complaints centering on high-school education.

The students have both economic and academic demands. Students want increased public funding of universities, a year-round bus pass, full scholarships for lower- and middle-class students, and an increased role for the state in technical education, which is now handled by private institutes. Academically, they want to end the use of a standardized test as the sole method of admission to the best universities. They also want technical institutes to offer liberal arts classes and are demanding guaranteed academic freedom. In addition, they are demanding more accessibility for people with disabilities.

While most demonstrators are peaceful, several student protests have devolved into violence in recent weeks. The last march ended with police on horseback and in armored vehicles chasing demonstrators around central Santiago.

I participated in the last 2 marches and here I can feel the widespread discontent, nevertheless, all the students and people that go to these mobilizations expresses happily, with many performances and shows. My postgraduate program support the strike and participated together south campus in these mobilizations making paintings with our reflection about the problem. I think that students demands are important and that government must solve the education problem.

Photograph

This topic is one of the most interesting for my, last years. I buy my first camera when make the professional practice at Melinka (Aysen), and think that was the best think that I can do. The landscape was simply amazing, and with my memory, probably never remember at all. I think  that every time is a good moment to take a picture, when I don’t  carry my camera I try to use my cell phone to take a good picture. Thus, I love take pictures in travels and concerts, and I try to carry my camera all the time. The problem with concerts is that the camera can be broken with all the people, but if my favorite band plays, I forget that.

I have a good friend that is a professional photographer and seeing his work I learned more about this fascinating world. He work with a large staff and travel throughout Chile taking amazing pictures, personally I admire his work and enjoy when see his pictures. Nevertheless, now, most people can buy a digital camera and take a picture and this is a very good thing that current technology makes it possible.

The past week we have a photograph season with my music band while we record our demo. This was an amazing experience, because we never had this opportunity before. I think that this kind of things make life more attractive, since we can share this picture with our friends and relatives, and so somehow, we can enjoy and relive this special moments.

I recommend the photography because we can keep alive this moments that made us happy and sometimes these moments are necessary to sweeten life.

Antumapu

Antumapu, in my opinion, is one of the most beautiful Universidad de Chile campus. I remember so good times at this campus, such as parties, sport competitions and concerts. Personally, think that are strong points that made Antumapu a very attractive campus for all students. One time, I play with my rock band in Antumapu and was one of the best experiences that I remember. Many people enjoy the music and sang with our songs.

Antumapu in general is a green place, with many trees and animals too. The students pass time walking thought big distances and enjoying the landscape. I think that the landscape is unique in this campus and for this reason is very good place to relax after a test or class with a big barbecue at the parks.

Other important point is that Antumapu is out of the city, therefore, I can travel quietly when need go to this campus. Actually, whit transantiago, are more available bus lines to arrive here, however, some lines don’t stop at Antumapu bus stop. About this point, I think that all bus most stop at all available bus stop, because sometimes, I miss important time waiting for one. 

I hope that central administration make important investment in all south campus, because it is necessary to have this kind of faculty in the University. Certainly is far campus, but the lovely landscape and the mist of this location is so important too.

Finally, I must say that post graduate facilities are very comfortable, in particular, the computer room and the rest room. Moreover, we can eat some cookies and drink coffee in the break time. However, a bad point is that the underground location of the class rooms makes the cellular signal weak and if an emergency, is impossible to know.

Ventanas problem.

I ear about this problem in the news, but seriously, I don’t remember listen this for many time, however, I know that historically the contamination is a very important topic in Chile. Related with the last events, the natural disaster that take place in “Ventana” (Valparaiso) is not an isolated event, moreover, the 1993 this place was declared a contaminated area, after that, a decontamination plan was established.

Ventana is a small place with low population (1300 aprox.), and many people still to be affected with this problem, and plant workers reported incremental cancer deaths probably for this cause. But here are share faults, because many industries are responsible of this contamination, even though, the principals are: Codelco-Ventanas and AES Gener thermoelectric. However, both carry out the Chilean regulation, but they exceed the Health World Organization (OMS), Norte American and European regulation. Another problem is that Chile doesn’t have hour regulation; in practice this mean that industries can eliminate mostly toxic substances in the night (when nothing can see them) obviously concentrated all the emanation in few hours at day.  

One important measure to solve this problem, is change the Chilean, because off today is too permissive with contamination levels. This measure can down emanation and probably solve the problem in short time, however, the country have to change all the political environment regulation if really want see an advance in this topic. I think that the way to prevent futures accidents is place contaminants plants out of villages or town, and protect always people and environment.

Japan nuclear crisis.

Japan is considered one of  the most important and technologically advanced country in the world, but the past 11 March, the earth remind us, that all human creations are capable of be destroyed for the nature force. A big earthquake destroys many cities and kills many people in this country, but the tsunami (a consequence of earthquake) has the most important and devastation effect for the population. The tsunami hit one nuclear plant near to seacoast, generating radiation leak because the power reactor was broken liberating a huge radiation. This radiation makes it an unsafe place, for this reason many people are leaving the risk zone and are moved to safety places. This calamity differ of Chernobyl because Japan nuclear crisis was an effect of nature forces, the plant was constructed correctly and with newest technology, however, Chernobyl plant suffer a problem during a simulated state created for plant workers. I think that Japan is working correctly and they will solved the radiation problem faster than Chernobyl, moreover, a reactor explosion take place in Chernobyl while in Japan plant only suffer a leak of radiation. However, if this radiation is not controlled or affect many people, the consequences for humanity can be observed for many years.

NCBI website

Today I write about a very helpful website, the name is NCBI (National Center for Biotechnology Information). The site link is http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/ and in here the researchers and students can access to a lot of scientific information like papers, abstract, books, etc. The site has many databases, all directed to different research areas and all of them can be accessed from the home page with a search engine tool and a site map. From a year ago I work at genomic lab, specifically in molecular pathology and genomic studies, and this website provides me many genetic and pathology related tools which make easier my researches. Commonly I use the nucleotide, protein and gene databases because my projects are related with this information, but sometimes, I use a feature called Pubmed to search related papers with many subjects that I need to learn, not only related with my area. I visited this site almost everyday for all I mentioned, this is the reason that makes it essential in my work, and the same reason for recommend it to all people related with scientific area, not only professionals, for students also.

My last movie

My last movie, mmmm, difficult to comment because I'm more a series fan, however, I remember a good movie that I saw the past holidays. The name is The Fourth Kind and it was about alien encounters. The film is a thriller that passes in Alaska, in a very small and remote region, where a psychologist record videotaping sessions with disturbed patients. This film was written from a real life case and during the entire movie the real psychologist is interviewed and the director shows real tapes recording too. I recommend it to anyone that really like this kind of movies because have a very good story but have very chilling images too.

Presentation

Hi, my name is Cristian Bravo I’m posgrade student in first year of Ciencias Silvoagropecuarias y Veterinarias Doctorate program.  I job in FAVET-INBIOGEN laboratory, specifically in molecular pathology and genomic research. Other relevant activity that I make is classes in the veterinary medicine school. On the other hand, I play in a rock band and hope record our first album this year. I hope that this blog let me learn English and make good friend