Kurt

"The intensity, the aggression, the hatred. You could just hear a lead singer scream at the top of his lungs. I felt that way. I wanted to smash things." -Kurt Cobain

I remember the first time I heard Kurt Cobain singing. It was for the MTV Video Music Awards in 1992 and I was 9 years old. Despite of my early age I was caught by his voice… there was something about it. It was as if he was being hurted, you could feel his pain, and I think it’s not necessary to say that from that moment I become a Nirvana’s fan.
Kurt Cobain was born on 20th February, 1967 in Aberdeen, Washington. He was a hyperactive child but he lived happily with his family. At the age of seven his parents got divorce, which caused a huge impact on his life becoming anti-social and isolated. He lived for a while with his father and then he moved with his mother. He didn’t finish secondary school because two weeks before his graduation he realized he did not have enough good marks to get his degree. His mother kicked him from her house and he stayed at some friends`houses and he also lived under a bridge over a river.
Still being a child, he bought his first guitar and started to experiment different music styles. His musical success began with Nirvana, being Kurt the leader and guitarist of the band, Krist Novaselic on bass and Dave Grohl as the drummer.
In 1989 they released their first album called Bleach though they found their greatest success when they produced and released their following album Nevermind. They performed in several countries and had thousands of fans around the world. However, Kurt found the success of the band a little intimidating and liked the intimate setting of small night clubs.
Almost all his life he suffered from intense physical pain due to an undiagnosed chronic stomach condition and also dealing with depression. As a consequence, he started to use different kinds of drugs in order to end up with these pains, becoming in an addict. Because of his morphine and heroin addictions, he went into rehab several times, but left without completing the program. Throughout the early 90`s, he married Courtney Love and had a daughter.
In 1994, the band was on MTV`s Unplugged, making this album a great success. One week after a concert in Munich Kurt fell in a comma. He woke up and left the hospital voluntarily, but was reported missing. He fled back to Seattle without making his movements known to any members of his family. On April 8th, his body was found by an electrician who was to install a burglar alarm in Kurt’s residence. He had committed suicide.
After his decease, several theories have come out about his suicide. One of those theories is that some people blame his wife for driving him into his suicide; some others think Kurt was murdered but there are not proofs of that; and there are people who have accepted that he committed suicide.
All in all, Kurt is not here with us anymore, but he still inspires most of us with his wonderful music. He was a great artist and he’ll always be. We still have his music, his songs and nobody will take that away from us…

Title: Argentina’s New Evita?
Date: July 2nd, 2007
Source: http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1639509,00.html

Vocabulary
Startling: creating sudden alarm, surprise, or wonder; astonishing.
Firebrand: a person who kindles strife or encourages unrest; an agitator; troublemaker.
Incumbent: One who holds a public office. By virtue of their experience in office, their exposure to the public, and their ability to raise campaign funds, incumbents usually have a significant advantage over opponents if they choose to run for reelection.
Nicety: delicacy of character, as of something requiring care or tact.
Usher: lead, introduce, or conduct.
Antagonize: to make hostile or unfriendly; make an enemy/ to act in opposition to; oppose.
Veer: to change direction or turn about or aside; shift, turn, or change from one course, position, inclination, etc., to another.
Alignment: a state of agreement or cooperation among persons, groups, nations, etc., with a common cause or viewpoint.
Recruit: to renew or restore.
Key: to regulate or adjust (actions, thoughts, speech, etc.) to a particular state or activity; bring into conformity.
Wary: On guard; watchful; cautious.

Main Ideas
- The current Argentine’s first lady Cristina Kirchner will run for the presidency in the upcoming October elections.
- Mrs Kirchner has a reputation as an implacable anti-corruption fighter and is seen as a more temperamental and radical politician than her husband.
- Her husband, President Kirchner, rescued Argentina from the agonizing economic crisis.
- Mrs Kirchner is expected to pursue more radical policies.
- President Kirchner and the First Lady actually lead in the most recent polls and the same polls show that in any case, either Kirchner would easily defeat the leading opposition candidates.
- It is said that Cristina has better chance of recruiting political support from outside traditional Peronists voters.
- A political analyst says that President Kirchner has ambitions of a long-life term in office.
- If Mrs Kirchner`s candidancy is successful, Mr Kirchner will be allow to run for elections in 2011.
- It is said that the Kirchners`plan is to succeed each other in office on a long-term basis.

Personal Reaction
I chose this article because this situation was rather similar to what happened during Peron’s presidency. Let’s not forget that Evita was considered Peron’s equal and if not for her early death, may have become his successor. Actually, we can see the Kirchners is a very strong couple with aspirations of improving our country and this is important for the development of our nation. Cristina Kirchner seems to be a charismatic and very clever and ambitious woman. If she succeeds in the coming election, she will have to do a huge effort in order to go on improving the country and to not disappoint the Argentines.

Spring

Spring in Tucuman is rather special I’d say. Things look different at that moment of the year. Everything seems to be more beautiful and you feel able to perceive a nice atmosphere in every place you are. You can feel it on the air; the scent of flowers is present and that makes you feel better…
On September 21st, we tend to celebrate the coming of spring and the Students`day. Thousands of students go out in order to celebrate their day.
Colours, smells, and different sensations are perceived at this time of the year, but there is something about this month and particularly with this season. It is said that it is the season of love and this is the time when love starts to appear (or reappear) among couples. And it seems to be true. The last few days I could notice that there are many people in love or new couples that are starting a new relationship and it’s nice to see all those feeling that appear at this time reflected on their eyes.