Incredible violence in the Amish community.

Seven men belonging to the Amish commnity were arrested in the US State of Ohio last night.

They were responsible for attacks and violence on other members of their community.

Victims were forced to sleep in a chicken coop, and sexually abused. They were also humiliated as they had their beards and hair cut. Indeed, long hair and long beards are two very important religious symbols in their community.

The seven men formed a group whose leader was Samuel Mullet, a cruel and unscrupulous man.

Nowadays, Amish communities mostly live in North America.

They completely refuse our consumer society, they are different by choice. The more traditionnal groups are called "old order". They absorb their ancestors' knowhow and values. They move by cart, and use agricultural equipment pulled by horses. They refuse to use any electrical fittings, television, radio, computer, telephone or photographies as they regard worldliness as a way to be far from God.

Their way of life is centered on their families and religion. Men don't cut their beards once they marry and women have long hair, a symbol of beauty.

Their values are based on sharing, generosity, simplicity, manners, devotion, respect, assistance and peace.

For a few years, the number of Amish people has considerably increased, mostly because people want to live far away from a consumer society which frightens them.

The barbarous crimes denigrate the laws etablished by the Bible.

This hate crime was motivated by the leader Mullet, whose purpose was to send a message to the other members of the Amish community. He succeeded in manipulating a few members.

We can wonder what tolerance and peace really mean for them.

Also unconsidered submission of the men, who have faith in the power of their leader, is a part of the problem of this excess of violence in this community.

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After your final status update

Nowadays, the social networks like Facebook, Twitter,... flood our everyday life.

Adam Ostrow asks some essential questions about what comes after life. What do the files, that is to say the messages, the photos, the videos,... which we put online become on those sites after our death ? Is that possible that those publications make the technology intelligible and carry on interacting with others while we disappear ?

Lastly, is a robot able to succeed us and interact on our social network only thanks to what we posted online?

According to the speaker, our avatar will be immortal thanks to the technology.

Indeed, it will be able to post publications itself and to interact with other online.

At the moment, technology doesn't permit to replace the human's mind. Nevertheless, applications already exist which suggest us the next Tweet we could write, going by our digital archives. Some sites propose to prepare a message which will be posted when you die, even if websites intended to pay tribute to deceaseds.

It's conceivable that the advanced technology will permit to spread the use of holograms. Thus our virtual person would always live and, why not, could appear like a hologram thanks to our publications.

However, it's essential to keep very careful and realistic, and not to be overtaken by the spectacular technology.

To me, the use of this "incredibly rich digital archive" mustn't exceed reality. The new technologies which want to show the hologram of the deceased are very dangerous. It's important not to forget the real world in which we live, and not to submit to the technology which remains a virtual one. Indeed, if not any science reaches to bring someone back to life, it's the same for the technology which isn't a supernatural strength !

Because of the social networks, the frontier between the virtual and the real world is very slim.

In my opinion, the digital archives online must only permit to nourrish our memories but not to replace the desceased we miss by a lifeless avatar because everybody has to kiss the person goodbye.

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8 Secrets of Success

Richard St John is a success expert. During seven years, he interviewed about 500 people who succeeded. Thus, he could write the book  8 To Be Great. In it, he develops 8 secrets to be successful : passion, work, focus, push, ideas, improve, serve and persist.

In my opinion, the secret to be successful is passion.

Indeed, nobody can't have no dreams in his life. Our dreams drive our lives.

First, you have to think of what is the success for you. It could be simple but also very hard. It depends on you.

That's why you must set your goal from the beginning. As Thomas Freeman, a car designer, says, you will be driven by your passion.

You wake up every morning thanks to your dream, it encourages you to do the things you hate the most, like hardworking, waking up early, doing intensive sport, being on a diet, etc...

When love has pitfalls, passion is essential. If you live so far away from the person you love the most, the passion you have for him has to be significant.

If you're ready to do anything for your well-being and your satisfaction you will realize your dream.

Nevertheless, don't panic if you're so near from your aim and it suddenly disappears, because one day what you want will really happen if you give the ways to succeed. You must come along gently but surely.

Take your passion and make it happen ! ♥

A Letter from Sydney. A fantastic month in Australia !

Thursday, August 29 th, 2011.

Dear Julie,

It's been ages since I was last in touch ! That's why I send you this letter, telling you what I did during these vacations.
As you already know, I went to Australia for a month with my family.
It was WONDERFUL ! We discovered so many things there aren't in France !

We decided to settle in a little flat, in the centre of Sydney. My mother took this decision because she wanted to discover the Opera, in this city. And we visited it three times, (in the big despair of my brother) !! To me, this choice was perfect because there were so many shops. Besides, I brought back a little present to you.   :)

People were so welcoming to us, we got on well with an Australian family, the Andersons'. They had three sons : the eldest, Med, was nineteen, the second, John was eleven (like my brother), and the little baby Jerry was two years old, SO CUTE !

We met them in a park around a cookout. Indeed, Australians make available to all some barbecues in public places. I found it so friendly, didn't you ?

The first week, we decided to discover the landscape in our little car. In the middle of the day, we met a kangaroo, taken out from nowhere which literaly destroyed our poor car. Fortunately, the kangaroo was safe and sound and it continued to jump over the forest.

We had to wait for the breakdown truck for 3 hours !!

But during that so long time, we met a koala with its baby, and my brother succeeded in feeding them with bamboo shots.

So, finally we didn't get bored very much.

When we went back home we finished our week lazing in the sun on Australian beaches. The climate is semi arid in here so, imagine, we were so hot !

Well, we had to rent a 4x4 with a big bumper, to discover the landscape well (that's what we did the third week).

Kangaroo

My brother, who is fascinated by wild animals was right, Australia is full of them, but there are also dangerous animals !

The last week, we were playing on a golf course, when something incredible happened to us.
I was sitting with my mother on the grass, next to a lake, when suddenly, she shouted. She said she caught a glimpse of a big shark in the water. Of course, we laughed at her ... until we really saw a big fin appear.
I ran out and someone filmed that incredible moment (here).

Didgeridoo

By the way, I couldn't forget you when I was walking in Sydney. I know you're fond of music, and I saw people playing the didgeridoo ! It's made of bamboo and it makes a strange sound I had never heard before.

I hope everything is all right for you, even if you miss me (;

See you soon !

Lot of Love <3

Justine

Top tips for freshers

One of the most important tips i could give is meet as many students as possible.

To my mind, the more you'll meet people, the more you'll learn about your new life at the university.

So, try to be as sociable as possible.

You can joins sports associations on the campus, it's a good way to talk to other students.

You should also often go to a student place called EVE.
There, you'll be answered all the questions you may wonder. The new in EVE, is PL@TINE, a website for students and associations to make your commitment to the University easier.

If you live in one of the rooms of the university, it will be easier to bump into new people.
You could cook in the common room and have breakfast and dinner with the other students living on the same floor.
Don't hesitate to ask them who have been here for two or three years. They'll glady talk about their experience, follow their advice and you'll fit well to your new life.

Ready for shopping ?

        Here we are !
          It's cold and wet, autumn is back !

In the place I suggest you, you can go shopping and be hot : it's Grand Place.

To go there, you have to take the A tram or buses number 13, 23, 26 or 32 and stop at Grand Place.

It's a huge shopping mall opened from 9.30 a.m to 8.00 p.m. 

Imagine that, there are a hundred and twenty different shops and restaurants !

First, why don't you go into beauty shops, to be perfumed and made up. The saleswoman have got good business sense and will give you good advice.

Afterwards, how about going into clothing stores, trying on nice tops and above all warm clothes !

Did you know there were excellent chocolate shops in there ? So, what about buying some ? Then, you could go and have a large cup of tea in a bar and don't forget to taste the chocolates you've just bought.

Enjoy your week end in Grenoble ! And hope you have money to spend !