X-Men: Meet the Real Mutants

      In 1963, the comic book legends Stan Lee and Jack Kirby first created the X-Men and I guess they could have had no idea what they were get into...much more than just a comic book story...a whole new world that would be part of millions and millions fans' life and the start point to a discussion that would intrigue us forever - are mutants real? 

     Unfortunately, according to the text in our booklet, they are real, but not so glamorous as we see them in Hollywood movies. Maybe it will be possible in a future (no so long) due to some researches that have been conducted around the world.

      According to The Telegraph, there are some mutants among us and they are quite special because on the contrary of the text that we've studied lately, these people are not sick, they are healthy and their "powers" are beyond the common human limitations. And the best part of it, these super powers can also be used to benefit others. For example, in 2006, scientists at Cambridge University discovered a Pakistani street performer who was able to cut himself with knives without experiencing pain. Upon investigation, they found that he was one of a handful of local people who had a defect in a gene called SCN9A meaning that pain did not flow from the nerves to the brain. Researchers are currently studying whether this may provide the key to treating chronic pain conditions.

Post Question: 

- Do you like the X-Man comic books, movies or cartoon? Which one is you favorite mutant Why?
- If you could have a "super mutant power", which one would you like to have? Why?

Tip: To read the article published on The Tegraph and read about the other "real mutants", just click here. 
To read more about how genetic mutations associated with disease may be beneficial for certain sports, just click here. (This article is in Portuguese).

Christmas in March, thanks to TUCCA!

          Last Tuesday was March 31^st, but just in our Gregorian calendar! But at night, I could swear it was Christmas time! My husband and I went to the Sala São Paulo to feel all the joy of this most festive holiday time of the year due to the presentation of The Ninth (and last) Symphony composed by Ludwig van Beethoven interpreted by the orchestra TUCCA Philharmonic – with the conductor João Maurício Galindo. It was the season opener of the Healing Music Series (Série Música pela Cura), an international music festival promoted by TUCCA (an Association for Children and Adolescents with Cancer. It’s a non-profit organization founded in 1998 by doctors, parents of patients and representatives of civil society, with the proposal to increase cure rates and improve the quality of life of disadvantaged youth with cancer).

       By November of this year, TUCCA has already invited highlights of classical music and world jazz to take the stage of one of the world's best concert halls. Among several attractions, some of them have already been confirmed: the first mandolin Grammy nominated, Avi Avital; and the guitarist Milo Karadaglic.

All proceeds from the sale of tickets are for the treatment of patients assisted by the Hospital Santa Marcelina in partnership with the Association. All proceeds from the sale of tickets are for the treatment of patients assisted by the Hospital Santa Marcelina in partnership with the Association.

“The art brings benefits to all parties involved, the partner, the employee and, in particular, to the patient," says the pediatric oncologist Dr. Sydney Epelman, president of TUCCA.

I couldn’t agree more! And I would add it brings benefits to anyone who is lucky enough to attend the concerts. At the end of the night, after the presentation, we went back home with our heart so glad and amazed, exactly how they feel at Christmas!

Post Question: 

-  Do you like classical music? Do you have a favorite composer? Who is he?

- Have you heard the Ninth Symphony completely? How do you feel when you are listening to it?

Tip: To know more about TUCCA and all the Healing Music Series, just click here.

"Twelve angry men" is in the theater!

           A group of high school students went to Jaraguá Theater (in Novotel Jaraguá, at 71, Martins Fontes street, São Paulo downtown) to see the play "Doze Homens e Uma Sentença". The play is a drama written by Sidney Lumet, an American director, producer and screenwriter with over 50 films to his credit.

The play is adapted from Lumet's film "12 Angry Men" (1957), It's the story of a dozen individuals, in a New York City courthouse, who are in charge of reaching a verdict. The defendant is a teenager boy who is accused of stabbing his father to death and the decision of convicting or absolving him must be unanimous. The conflict begins when one of the twelve jurors (this character is played by the actor Norival Rizzo) is not so sure about the defendant's guilt and it's exactly because of it that he is the dissonant vote of the group who has already decided by condemnation. Little by little, the juror number 08 presents convincing arguments that make all the other jurors rethink their position.

In 1997 a remake of the film under the same title was released by MGM and in 2007 "12 Angry Men" was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being culturally and historically significant.

At the end of the play, the students had the opportunity of meeting the actors and they kindly talked and gave autographs to our group. Under the direction of Eduardo Tolentino Araújo the play debuted on November, 19th 2010 and based on our group's opinion, it's highly recommended!

Post Question: For the students (or anyone else), who saw the play, the movie or read the script:

- If you were one of the jurors, what would be your vote, in the beginning of the deliberation?

-  If you were one of the jurors, based on your personality, which one would you be? Why?

Tip: To watch the 1957 film (Portuguese subtitles ), just click here.

St. Patrick's Day - the happiest day of the year!

       According to Heineken, today is the happiest day of the year because it's St. Patrick's Day...Does anyone doubt it? 

Of course we have all the religious celebration that must be remembered and I really like St. Patrick very much. Indeed, I think that the St. Patrick's prayer (or at least the one which is assigned to him) is the most complete prayer ever written because it's about protection in all levels and gratitude. It's also a great day (as an excuse) to have a pint of Guinness or any other beer that's your favorite one. But what makes this day really happy for me are two very special reasons: 

- First -  it's my father's birthday. Today he turns 74 years old and he has been very active, healthy and became more relaxed and is enjoying life doing what he likes to do: travel to the countryside and fishing. Celebrating his birthday has been very funny because of the children. And it's a great opportunity to get the family together. 

- Second -  my husband and I have an agreement - doesn't matter what happens on this day, if it was a great day or a perfectly trouble and complicated one - we will get together at the end of the afternoon and go to the nearest pub to have my pint of Guinness (because it's my favorite one) and his Weissbier  (a beer made of wheat). But the idea here is get a moment only for us, to chat a little and drink...no matter what! We often meet some friends there, but even then it's our moment to have fun. If we don't get some moments like this one for us, all the must-do things can make us forget about ourselves and, in the long run, it's very chaotic and harmful. After indulging ourselves, we go home to celebrate my father's birthday. So, the party keeps going on!

So, St. Patrick's Day, for me, is and always will be one of the happiest day of the year.

Enjoy it! And...

MAY THE LUCKY (AND JOY) OF THE IRISH BE WITH YOU!

No place for racism in this world

          With the advancement of technology and all the progress that man has achieved, it is unbelievable that there is still room for racist acts as we are unfortunately forced to witness in our day to day.

- Students in the class of the 6th year of Medicine, at UNESP (São Paulo State University), held a party to receive the freshmen dressed in costumes similar to the Ku Klux Klan, a well-known American racist organization that advocated white supremacy and attacked black. What for? What on Earth were they thinking?

- Some football players are attacked on the field, during the match, by opposing fans and even by other players, who seem to have forgotten that a fair game is won by the skill of  the players involved and not for stupid and childish acts.

These people would benefit if they could do an internship with the people who appear in this video offering a free lesson on what it means to respect another human being. This nice video was made in Lithuania and it brings hope that maybe one day everyone will be civilized enough to do the same as they did.  

Respect, this is the most effective weapon to combat such ignorance.

Post Question: 

- Have you ever been exposed to any kind of prejudice?

- Do you think that people as the students who were dressed like Ku Klux Klan and the football players or team supports, who has offended other players should be punished? What kind of punishment should they get?