Posted by Frenya
Sun, 26 Feb 2006 22:03:00 GMT
This week-end was very special.
Not only we had a snow fall like we had not have since the beginning of this bizarre winter (at least 7 inches on the ground, entre 20 et 25 centimètres), but also a couple of friends, Eric and I sat down comfortably (or at least as much as possible) and watched the extented versions of all three Lord of the Rings movies one after the other. This adventure lasted a good 12 hours plus pauses because unlike in a movie theater… we had pauses!
That was a long time to be seating down… but really worth it. I never watched all three movies together like that before and really, the storytelling makes more sense and details are more present and vivid in the mind.
When you have a snowy winter day and not much to do, I strongly recommend this kind of entertainment… Also, doing a movie marathon is great excuse to curl under a nice warm blanky and sip a cup of hot chocolate!
Tags Personal | 7 comments
Posted by Frenya
Thu, 23 Feb 2006 11:52:00 GMT
This article shows how two scientists worked to improve Einstein’s theory of gravity in order to also fit the theory of the Dark Matter… and that by saying that gravity changes with space distances. I think this is really cool!
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Posted by Frenya
Thu, 23 Feb 2006 11:45:00 GMT
I thought that this article would interest the geeks I know! Have a look at this quantum computer which can solve problems without running the algorithms!
Tags Science | 6 comments
Posted by Frenya
Wed, 22 Feb 2006 13:01:00 GMT
So much for the idea of posting a new word everyday, this good will might be a bit too much for me, but I will try to post a new word as often as possible.
Today, I decided to present 4 new words… that can look a lot, but they are all related… Indeed, today, we will talk about the Seasons of the year or should I say, les Saisons de l’année.
–Printemps - Spring–
Nom masculin - un printemps - le printemps
Le mot Printemps vient du latin “primus tempus”, qui signifie premier temps. Le vieux français utilisait le mot “primever”, mais a été progressivement remplacé par printemps (dès la fin du 13ème siècle). Néanmoins, “primever” a évolué en français moderne en primevère, et désigne une fleur qui nait au printemps.
Le printempe commence à l’équinoxe de mars, le 21 ou 22, jusqu’au solstice de juin (le 21 en général) qui est le jour le plus long de l’année.
Le word “Printemps” comes from “primus tempus” in latin, which means first time. Old French initially used the word “primever”, but progressively replaced it by “printemps” (as early as the end of the 13th century). Nevertheless, “primever” evolved in modern French in “primevère” which designates a flower blooming in the Spring.
“Printemps” goes from the March equinox (March 21st or 22nd) until the June solstice (June 21st in general) which is the longest day of the year.
–Eté - Summer–
Nom masculin - un été - l’été
Le mot Eté vient probablement de la racine indo-européenne “aidh-“, qui veut dire brûler. La forme latine “aestivus” a donné le dérivé d’été, estival. En vieux français, on peut noter la forme “ested” vers l’an 1100, puis “esté” vers 1140.
La saison de l’été commence au solstice de juin (le 21 en général), qui est le jour le plus long de l’année et source d’une multitude de fêtes traditionnelles dans de nombreux pays. En France, la tradition voulait que chaque village ait un grand feu de joie pendant la nuit du solstice. En Scandinavie, de hauts pôles decorés de fleurs sont érigés et les gens dansent autour. L’été se termine à l’équinoxe de septembre (le 22 ou 23).
The word “Eté” probably comes from the indo-european root “aidh-“, which means to burn. Le latin word “aestivus” gave a derivative of “Eté”, “estival”. In old French, one can see the word “ested” around the year 1100, and then “esté” around 1140.
“Eté” begins at June solstice (usually the 21st). It is the longest day of the year and source of a variety of celebrations and parties in many countries. In France, tradition was that each village had a bonfire on the night the solstice. In Scandinavia, high poles were erected, decorated with flowers and people danced around them for hours. Eté ends at September’s equinox (22nd or 23rd).
–Automne - Fall Autumn–
Nom masculin - un automne - l’automne
Le mot Automne vient du latin “autumnus”. Le premier usage de ce mot remonte au 13ème siècle. “Autumnus” signifie la saison qui est enrichie.
Le mot est parfois utilisé au féminin, en particulier par les poètes.
L’automne commence à l’équinoxe de septembre, le 22 ou 23, jusqu’au solstice d’hiver, le 22 ou 23 décembre.
The word “Automne” comes from the latin “autumnus”. The first use of that word can be noted as early as the 13th century. “Autumnus” means an enriched season. The word “automne” can sometimes be used at the feminine form, especially by poets.
“Automne” begins at the September’s equinox (22nd or 23rd) and ends at Winter solstice, in December 22nd or 23rd.
–Hiver - Winter–
Nom masculin - un hiver - l’hiver.
Le mot Hiver vient de l’adjectif latin “hibernum tempus” ou temps hivernal. La première trace écrite du mot hiver apparait vers l’an 1160, souvent orthographié “hyver”. Cet orthographe est utilisé jusqu’au 17ème siècle.
L’hiver commence au solstice de décembre (le 22 ou 23), le jour le plus court de l’année, jusqu’à l’équinoxe de printemps, le 21 ou 22 mars.
The word “Hiver” comes from the latin adjective “hibernum tempus” or wintery weather. The first written trace of the word “hiver” appears around the year 1160, often spelled as “hyver”. This spelling is used until the 17th century.
“Hiver” begins at the December solstice (22nd or 23rd), the shortest day of the year, and ends at Spring equinox, March 21st or 22nd.
Je ne peux pas mettre un poème ou une chanson pour chaque mot presenté dans cet article, ce serait bien trop long. Je vais néanmoins finir avec une chanson écrite par Robert Charlebois, poète et chanteur québécois. Le texte de cette chanson illustre magnifiquememnt le thème de l’hiver.
I can not post a poem or song for every season, this post would end up being way too long, but I will finish with a song written by Robert Charlebois, peot and singer from Quebec. The lyrics of this song illutrate beautifully the theme of Winter.
-Robert Charlebois-
–C’est l’hiver demain–
On voit sur nos terres
A l’abord des rivières
L’empreinte des mauvaises nuits
Les matins gris
Aux vents du Nord se sont soumis
Le givre escalade
Nos plaines malades
Jusque dans leurs moindres replis
Sur le pays le soleil est pâle à midi
{Refrain:}
Et c’est curieux de voir comme tout cela ressemble
A ces temps mal aimés que l’on connait bien
Toutes ces choses là venant toutes ensemble
Laissent à penser que c’est l’hiver demain.
Il court sur nos terres
La nouvelle fière
D’un loup abattu au matin
Sur le chemin
De l’ancien champ de sarrasin
{au Refrain}
Se figent les sources
Se perdent leur course
Que prennent les glaces en chemin
Jusqu’au déclin
D’un jour qui s’est levé pour rien
{au Refrain}
On dit par nos terres
Le vent des misères
A choisi de vivre chez nous
On dit surtout
Le froid n’est pas heureux partout
Alors viendra la nuit où la fille des neiges
Appellera ton nom jusqu’au matin
Etranger méfie-toi de tous ces sortilèges
Mais tu apprendras tout ça : c’est ton premier hiver demain
Vient du site - Comes from: http://www.paroles.net/chansons/11970.htm
Tags Mot, Word | no comments
Posted by Frenya
Wed, 15 Feb 2006 00:30:00 GMT
Dans cette rubrique je vais presenter un mot nouveau tous les jours (du moins je l’espere!). Le texte sera en francais et en anglais de maniere a aider tout le monde a apprendre l’autre langue si tel est leur desir.
A noter que parce que j’utilise un clavier americain, je ne pourrai pas marquer les accents francais tres facilement.
In this section, I will present a word every day (at least I hope!). The text will be in french and english as much as possible to allow people to get more familiar with the other language if that is their will.
Le premier mot, en l’honneur de la saint Valentin est: Amour
The first word, in honor of Valentine’s day is: Love
Nom masculin, un amour - l’amour. L’expression en anglais la plus couramment utilisee est tres probablement “Falling in Love”, la traduction en francais est ” Tomber amoureux-se”, mais il est interessant de noter que les quebecois utilisent une expression un peu differente qui derive directement de l’anglais - du moins il semble - “Tomber en Amour”.
Amour est couramment represente par le dieu grec Cupidon qui rend les gens amoureux avec ses fleches magiques.
Love is very often represented by the greek god Cupidon who make people falling in love with his magic arrows.
Tags Mot, Word | 7 comments
Posted by Frenya
Tue, 14 Feb 2006 15:08:00 GMT
I just saw an article on Science Daily about how scientists from the University of Florida study ways to extend the life of cut flowers .
That might just be my general scepticism towards the good intentions of business, but I think the timing of the release of that article is just perfect!
Basically, the researchers found that if the flowers are kept cold during transportation between the field and the store, they will last few days longer. I thought that was already the standard procedure, but apparently nobody had shown why that was so useful until now!
I am glad there are scientists out there who had enough time to show that.
On the other side, it is not going to change my idea that trying to buy locally grown flowers as much as possible is still the best thing to do. Flowers are more fresh than if they were coming from Florida, are as expensive if not less and you allow a local producer to stay in business… I just don’t see a lot of “minuses” in that.
For my final note, I will refer to my favorite poem from Pierre de Ronsard, a poet from the 16th century, France: “Comme on voit sur la branche”, which talks about the life of a rose and the analogy with his lost Love. It is a perfect peom for Valentine’s Day.
“Comme on voit sur la branche au mois de Mai la rose
En sa belle jeunesse, en sa premiere fleur
Rendre le ciel jaloux de sa vive couleur,
Quand l’Aube de ses pleurs au point du jour l’arrose:
La grace dans sa feuille, et l’amour se repose,
Embaumant les jardins et les arbres d’odeur:
Mais battue ou de pluie, ou d’excessive ardeur,
Languissante elle meurt feuille a feuille declose:
Ainsi en ta premiere et jeune nouveaute,
Quand la terre et le ciel honoraient ta beaute,
La Parque t’a tuee, et cendre tu reposes.
Pour obseques recois les larmes et mes pleurs,
Ce vase plein de lait, ce panier plein de fleurs,
Afin que vif, et mort, ton corps ne soit que roses.”
Have a Happy Valentine’s Day and stay ROMANTIC!
Tags English, Personal | no comments
Posted by Frenya
Sun, 12 Feb 2006 21:25:00 GMT
Welcome to my brand new blog!
I am not a geek, but will try to learn, so please try to follow me…
I will write in either English or French without any pattern, just when the inspiration leads me.
I live in the US but I am from France.
Au revoir!!
Tags English, Personal | 5 comments
