Zeitgeist 2010: Year in Review

Year 2010 is quickly reaching the end. Can you remember the top events and moments from 2010 from around the globe? 
Check out this video in order to re-live 2010 through search, images, and video while listening to OneRepublic's "Good Life".

See how the World Searched with Google's 2010 Zeitgeist: http://google.com/zeitgeist2010 

What is Zeitgeist?

Zeitgeist  is "the spirit of the times" or "the spirit of the age." Zeitgeist is the general cultural, intellectual, ethical, spiritual, and/or political climate within a nation or even specific groups, along with the general ambience, morals, sociocultural direction, and mood associated with an era.

The term zeitgeist is from German Zeit- 'time' and Geist- 'spirit' (cognate with English ghost, without being really translatable into English - this is why the German term is used).

Source:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zeitgeist 

2010 in Photos

The Big Picture: 2010 in Photos

As the year 2010 approaches its last few days, it's time to look back on the previous 12 months. What happened during 2010? Do you remember?

The Big Picture website has published a fabulous series of 120 photos illustrating the major events that marked the year 2010. Each photo tells its own tale, weaving together into the larger story of 2010. 

So, what happened during the first months of 2010?

In the first third of 2010, millions of gallons of oil spewed into the Gulf of Mexico, several massive earthquakes wreaked havoc worldwide, Vancouver hosted a successful Winter Olympics, and so much more. Click here to look at the photos from the first third of 2010!

In this aerial photo taken in the Gulf of Mexico more than 50 miles southeast of Venice on Louisiana's tip, the Deepwater Horizon oil rig is seen burning Wednesday, April 21, 2010. Eleven men working on the platform were killed, and 17 others injured. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) Source: The Big Picture

What happened during the second third of 2010?

In the second third of 2010, a nearly unpronounceable Icelandic volcano wreaked havoc on European travel, South Africa hosted the World Cup, and while Russia endured disastrous fires, Pakistan struggled with its own terrible flooding, and so much more. Click here to look at the photos from the second third of 2010!

Prior to the 2010 World Cup, a fan waves a South African flag during a parade for Bafana Bafana, the South African national soccer team on June 9th, 2010 in Sandton, South Africa. (Clive Mason/Getty Images)                Source: The Big Picture

What happened during the last months of 2010?

In the last third of 2010, Wikileaks released hundreds of classified diplomatic cables, 33 men were rescued from a mine after being trapped for 10 weeks, protesters took to the streets all over the world, and so much more. Click here to look at the photos from the last third of 2010!

Chilean President Sebastian Pinera shows a message reading "We are fine in the refuge, the 33 of us", from the miners trapped in the San Esteban gold and copper mine on August 22, 2010. The miners were alive and contact was established with them 17 days after a structural collapse trapped them below ground. (HECTOR RETAMAL/AFP/Getty Images)                      Source: The Big Picture

What do you think? Are there any photos of 2010 that should be here?

YouTube Rewind 2010: Year in Review

Re-watch the year's most popular videos and use the interactive timeline to see the moments that defined YouTube in 2010.



See what the world watched on YouTube in 2010 with YouTube Rewind: http://www.youtube.com/rewind

New Words Born This Decade

TIME Video: New Words Born This Decade

Locavore? Staycation? TIME Editor-at-Large Belinda Luscombe looks at common terms that didn't exist 10 years ago. 

Thanks to The English Blog for sharing this with its readers!

Check out the words and phrases that became part of our collective consciousness this decade: Hear the words of the decade

Are Ugly Christmas Sweaters in Fashion?

Have you ever been offered a bright, showy holiday sweater as a gift from your Mom or Aunt? Maybe your Grandmother knitted you something "festive"? Well, don't despair! It seems that this holiday season, the hideous Christmas sweaters are gaining more and more fans!

 Multisource political news, world news, and entertainment news analysis by Newsy.com

Check TRANSCRIPT here

Apparently many people have started appreciating the bright colours and flashy pictures on their sweaters: snow flakes, reindeers, snowmen, Santas and bells in appliqué, yarn and sequins... If the ensemble practically outshines the Christmas tree, the better!

So, if you have an old Christmas sweater or two hidden in your closet, don't let it miss another excuse-filled holiday! Or, if you're feeling obligated to wear that sweater you got as a gift, show it off! The "ugly Christmas sweaters" are quickly becoming the newest trend, bringing conversation and laughs to parties.

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!

Happy Christmas (War Is Over) 

 by John Lennon



So this is Christmas
And what have you done
Another year over
And a new one just begun
Ans so this is Christmas
I hope you have fun
The near and the dear one
The old and the young

A very merry Christmas
And a happy New Year
Let's hope it's a good one
Without any fear
And so this is Christmas
For weak and for strong
For rich and the poor ones
The world is so wrong
And so happy Christmas
For black and for white
For yellow and red ones
Let's stop all the fight
A very merry Christmas
And a happy New Year
Let's hope it's a good one
Without any fear
And so this is Christmas
And what have we done
Another year over
And a new one just begun
Ans so this is Christmas
I hope you have fun
The near and the dear one
The old and the young
A very merry Christmas
And a happy New Year
Let's hope it's a good one
Without any fear
War is over over
If you want it
War is over
Now...

HAPPY CHRISTMAS - Because Life is made of moments of sublime happiness...

MOMENTS is a Portuguese short-film written and directed by Nuno Rocha for LG Portugal. The concept, "Life's good" was the main purpose of this work. For a moment, stop everything you are doing and feel how good LIFE is...

MOMENTS - Because Life is made of moments of sublime happiness...

On a regular night, with the past erased from his memory, a man finds, in the place he now calls home, memories of a life he lived before.

These are fragments of pure happiness and sublime moments of sharing, which emerge as instants of hope...

May your Christmas be filled with Hope and Joy!

An Eleven Million Dollar Christmas Tree??

An Abu Dhabi luxury hotel set up an $11 million Christmas tree, decorated with real gold, diamonds, pearls, and sapphires.

A hotel in the United Arab Emirates has unveiled what it says is the world's most expensive Christmas tree.

The 13-meter artificial tree at Abu Dhabi's Emirates Palace hotel includes diamonds, pearls and sapphires -- 181 precious stones in all. Most of the stones are in necklaces and earrings provided by a local jeweler.

Standing 43 feet high, the tree - itself worth $10,000 - has necklaces, bracelets and watches draped over its branches among traditional baubles and lights. The total value of the tree is $11m.

What do you think about this extravagance?

12 Days of Christmas - Indian style! ;-)

Listen to this funny version of the song "The Twelve Days of Christmas".
This video clip was re-worked Indian style. It is performed by animated popstar, Boymongoose and Indian boyband.

Merry Xmas everyone!

Snow Globes - Coca-Cola 2010 Christmas Commercial

Have you seen Coca-Cola's latest Holiday commercial? 
The 2010 Christmas commercial features Train's "Shake Up Christmas".

Merry Christmas!

THE DIGITAL CHRISTMAS STORY!

There is an English version after all! :-)

HISTÓRIA DO NATAL DIGITAL - DIGITAL CHRISTMAS STORY!

Sorry, this is in Portuguese... But it is a very interesting version of Christmas history... Enjoy it!



Fantastic version of the story of Jesus's birth, don't you think? 

All I Want For Christmas Is You... ;-)

Christmas is in the air... 

Watch Mariah Carey singing her well-known Xmas song "All I Want For Christmas Is You". 

Lyrics:

(Source: www.lyrics007.com )

Do you like singing karaoke? Then try this link! All I Want For Christmas Is You KARAOKE

TAKE A LOOK! It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas! ;-)

Runners dressed as Santa Claus take part in the 2010 Santa Dash in Liverpool, England, on December 5, 2010. The annual race sees thousands of competitors run the 5km course through the streets of the city center. (PAUL ELLIS/AFP/Getty Images)

This is the last week of the term and Christmas is just around the corner. Can you see it around you?

In many places around the world, it is definitely beginning to look a lot like Christmas. Santas are making appearances from Beijing to Beirut, and the traditions of the season can be seen all over - the trees, the lights, the shoppers, the devout and more. Collected here are a handful of recent photographs of people enjoying and celebrating this year's Christmas Season as it hits full swing. (Source: The Big Picture)

Check out the Xmas photo collection here, published by The Big Picture.

EURO: Is it terminally ill?

´

Cartoon by Paul Thomas from The Daily Express

This cartoon portrays the condition of the Euro following the bailouts* of Greece and Ireland, and predictions that Spain and Portugal will be the next countries to need rescuing.

The cartoon shows the Euro sign as a terminally ill patient at the doctor's. It asks: "How long have I got?"                                                   (adapted from The English Blog)

*BAILOUT -  when someone helps a person or organization that is in difficulty, usually by giving or lending them money

What do you think? Is the Euro terminally ill? 

Could this current crisis kill the Euro?

HUMAN RIGHTS - DO YOU KNOW YOUR OWN RIGHTS? # PART 9

Today is Human Rights Day ! 

WHAT ARE HUMAN RIGHTS? Do you know your own rights?
We have been posting a series of ads by Youth For Human Rights, so that you can remember and learn what the Human Rights are. This is our last post. 

Learn your rights and make others aware of them. 

Remember, "No One Can Take Away Your Human Rights"!

HUMAN RIGHT #30 - No One Can Take Away Your Human Rights

Human Rights Day, 10 December

Check Youth For Human Rights and United For Human Rights

HUMAN RIGHTS - DO YOU KNOW YOUR OWN RIGHTS? # PART 8

WHAT ARE HUMAN RIGHTS? Do you know your own rights?

We have been posting a series of ads by Youth For Human Rights, so that you can remember and learn what the Human Rights are. Human Rights Day is next Friday, 10th December. 

HUMAN RIGHT #26 - The Right to Education

HUMAN RIGHT #27 - Copyright

HUMAN RIGHT #28 - A Fair and Free World

HUMAN RIGHT #29 - Responsibility

Human Rights Day, 10 December

Check Youth For Human Rights and United For Human Rights

HUMAN RIGHTS - DO YOU KNOW YOUR OWN RIGHTS? # PART 7

WHAT ARE HUMAN RIGHTS? Do you know your own rights?

We have been posting a series of ads by Youth For Human Rights, so that you can remember and learn what the Human Rights are. Human Rights Day is next Friday, 10th December. 

 

HUMAN RIGHT #19 - Freedom of Expression

HUMAN RIGHT #20 - The Right to Public Assembly

HUMAN RIGHT #21 - The Right to Democracy

HUMAN RIGHT #22 - Social Security

HUMAN RIGHT #23 - Workers' Rights

HUMAN RIGHT #24 - The Right to Play

HUMAN RIGHT #25 - Food and Shelter for All

Human Rights Day, 10 December

Check Youth For Human Rights and United For Human Rights

HUMAN RIGHTS - DO YOU KNOW YOUR OWN RIGHTS? # PART 6

WHAT ARE HUMAN RIGHTS? Do you know your own rights?

We have been posting a series of ads by Youth For Human Rights, so that you can remember and learn what the Human Rights are. Human Rights Day is next Friday, 10th December. 

HUMAN RIGHT #15 - Right to a Nationality

HUMAN RIGHT #16 - Marriage and Family

HUMAN RIGHT #17 - The Right to Your Own Things

HUMAN RIGHT #18 - Freedom of Thought

Human Rights Day, 10 December

Check Youth For Human Rights and United For Human Rights

HUMAN RIGHTS - DO YOU KNOW YOUR OWN RIGHTS? # PART 5

WHAT ARE HUMAN RIGHTS? Do you know your own rights?

We have been posting a series of ads by Youth For Human Rights, so that you can remember and learn what the Human Rights are. Human Rights Day is next Friday, 10th December. 

HUMAN RIGHT #11 - We're allways innocent till proven guilty

HUMAN RIGHT #12 - The Right to Privacy

HUMAN RIGHT #13 - Freedom to Move


HUMAN RIGHT #14 - The Right to Seek a Safe Place to Live

Human Rights Day, 10 December

Check Youth For Human Rights and United For Human Rights

HUMAN RIGHTS - DO YOU KNOW YOUR OWN RIGHTS? # PART 4

WHAT ARE HUMAN RIGHTS? Do you know your own rights?

Until next Friday, 10th December, we are posting a series of ads by Youth For Human Rights, so that you can remember and learn what the Human Rights are. 

HUMAN RIGHT #08 - Your Human Rights Are Protected by Law

HUMAN RIGHT #09 - No Unfair Detainment

HUMAN RIGHT #10 - The Right to Trial

Human Rights Day, 10 December

Check Youth For Human Rights and United For Human Rights

HUMAN RIGHTS - DO YOU KNOW YOUR OWN RIGHTS? # PART 3

WHAT ARE HUMAN RIGHTS? Do you know your own rights?

Until next Friday, 10th December, we will be posting a series of ads by Youth For Human Rights, so that you can remember and learn what the Human Rights are. 

HUMAN RIGHT #05 - No Torture

HUMAN RIGHT #06 - You Have Rights No Matter Where You Go


HUMAN RIGHT #07 - We´re All Equal Before the Law

Human Rights Day, 10 December

Check Youth For Human Rights and United For Human Rights

HUMAN RIGHTS - DO YOU KNOW YOUR OWN RIGHTS? # PART 2

WHAT ARE HUMAN RIGHTS? Do you know your own rights?

Until next Friday, 10th December, we will be posting a series of ads by Youth For Human Rights, so that you can remember and learn what the Human Rights are. 

HUMAN RIGHT #02 - Don't Discriminate

HUMAN RIGHT #03 - The Right to Life

HUMAN RIGHT #04 - No Slavery

Human Rights Day, 10 December

Check Youth For Human Rights and United For Human Rights