PRESIDENTS' DAY- Third Monday in February

Goeorge Washington

According to the federal government, the holiday observed on the third Monday in February is officially Washington's birthday. But many Americans believe that this holiday is now called "Presidents'Day" in honor of both presidents Washington and Lincoln, whose birthdays are February 22 and Feb. 12, respectively.
The federal holiday was celebrated on Feb. 22 until 1971, when it was moved to the third Monday in February. This means that the holiday is always after Lincoln's birthday and before Washington's birthday without ever coinciding with either.

VALENTINE'S DAY- FEBRUARY 14th

Saint Valentine's Day, Western European Christian holiday, originally the Roman feast of Lupercalia. It was christianized in memory of the martyrdom of St. Valentine in A.D. 270, who, in medieval times, came to be associated with the union of lovers under conditions of duress. The holiday is celebrated on Feb. 14th by the exchange of romantic or comic verse messages called “valentines.” The first commercial valentine greeting cards produced in the United States were created in the 1840s by Esther A. Howland. Today millions of such cards are sold annually.

DEADLY TORNADOES RIP THROUGH THE SOUTH OF THE USA

sphereit:www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/gallery/2008/02/06/GA2008020602834.html

More than 60 toradoes were reported in the southern states last Tuesday and Wednesday, killing dozens of people and injuring hundreds. President Bush flew to tennessee, one of many states consequently suffering, to meet with survivors last Friday.

Rescue crews have been searching for victims of tornadoes that tore across five US states killing at least 48 people. The storms hit states including Arkansas, Mississippi and Tennessee at the end of Super Tuesday presidential nominating vote.

US PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS - TUESDAY, FEB. 5 2008 : SUPER TUESDAY

Super Tuesday refers to the Tuesday in early february of a presidential election when the greatest number of states hold primary elections to select delegates to national conventions at which each party's presidential candidates are officially nominated.

More delegates can be won on Super Tuesday than on any other day of the primary calendar and presidential candidates must do well on this day to secure their party's nomination.

Democrats Hillary Clinton and Barak Obama are still in the race to represent their party while John McCain and Mike Huckabee compete to be chosen as republican candidates.

MY PARENTS AND ME ( Teresa - 3°6)

My name is Teresa. I'm going to tell you about my relationships with my parents.
I think my parents are nice. I get on well with them. Of course, I have to do some chores, like emptying or filling the dishwasher, setting the table, doing the laundry ( but it's not that hard to do; I think it's good to help one's parents ).
However, I don't have to hoover, clean the house or sweep the floor or tidy my room ( I do this by myself !). I'm supposed to help at home sometimes, to look after my five-year-old brother. He's so nice though, I really enjoy doing this ! I'm allowed to go out, to go shopping with my friends on saturdays. But in the evening, I can't go out, to parties, for example. If I want to go, my parents want someone to accompany me, and someone, an adult, to watch over me. I don't like this. I have to respect the hours that my mother imposes to me. I can't get out late in the evening, at the latest until 6.30 pm.
Sometimes, I'm sick and tired of this situation. My parents should trust me more instead of treating me like a child. I'm fifteen ! In spite of that, I know my life is" abed of roses". I'm very lucky.

MY LIFE IS A "BED OF ROSES" ( Elisa-3°6)

I get on very well with my mother, although sometimes, I clash with her. She's not very authoritarian with me. She wants me to work harder at home to have better results at school. She wants me to do my homework seriously and everyday.
She likes my friends and I can go to the cinema or shopping with them, but I have to come back home before nightfall, otherwise she is worried.
I can play on my computer or chat with my friends, but not for a long time.
I have to set and clear the table every day and it's boring. My mother wants me to tidy my room as well, and I hate that. But she doesn't ask me to clean the house because I do it badly, according to her.
I have never wanted to leave home because I love my mother even if sometimes she treats me like a little child and I don't like it.
I think my mother is more liberal than my friends' mothers.
To conclude, we can say my life is "a bed of roses".

Part-time jobs after school ( Johan- 3°6)

According to me, a part-time job after school isn't that good, because after school you are tired and you can't work properly. Furthermore, if you have a lot of homework, it's difficult to do it after a long school day and to work part time on top of that. Then , in the morning, you can't be attentive in class and if you're not concentrated, you can't get good marks.
I think that if you're a good pupil although you work part time, you're very lucky. However, if you aren't interested in school, getting a part-time job may be a good idea because you can earn some money and see what working life is like and that's a good thing.
So, I think that if you want to do long studies and have good grades, I advise you not to take a part-time job. But otherwise, It might be a positive experience.

IT'S GREAT TO HAVE A JOB....( Christina - 3°4 )

I think it's great to have a job while you are a student. Finally, you can earn your own money ! You don't have to ask your parents for money any more. It changes your perspectives in life. You will get more responsibilities. You will see that you will think twice before spending money on something you don't really need.
A job during school time is hard work for you. That's why it's better to get a job while you're on holiday. You will discover that your parents will treat you as if you were an adult. They will trust you more and you will have more self-confidence. Finally, you will be prouder of yourself.
After school, I do some baby-sitting. And I am very happy because this is a form of independence.
And when you earn money and you buy things, you tell yourself that you have purchased it and not your parents.