'5 de Mayo' a fiesta for all

Normandale Community College celebrates diversity and welcomes everyone to 'Cinco de Mayo' celebration.

Following the tradition of each Cinco de Mayo, NCC will host a celebration that highlight the importance of our Hispanic friends and help to embrace diversity and culture.

Organized by the Club Latino and sponsored by Lead Founds, President’s Council Diversity, the Center for Multicultural Services, and Normandale Program Board. Cinco de Mayo party promotes culture, tolerance and a better appreciation for Hispanic celebrations with culture, piñatas, food, music, sombreros, drinks, mariachis, and endless fun.

If you hear Mariachi music, follow them as the flautist of Hamelin. Everyone is invited to celebrate the next Thursday, May 5^th. 

Here you have a cultural and Historic note about Cinco de Mayo:

Cinco de Mayo has a real significance in Mexican-American culture. On May 5^th of 1862, Mexican troops defeated French forces near the city of Puebla. Outnumbered and outgunned, everything was against the Mexicans, but they pulled off a spectacular victory. The victory ended French presence in Mexico.
Now that’s something to celebrate!  Otherwise we would be taking French classes instead of Spanish classes.

**Contrary to popular belief, Cinco de Mayo has nothing to do with Mexican Independence, which happened on September 16^th of 1810.  

Of course bring all your amigos, your marichi sombrero, maracas and your taco costume, if you have one. y Ole!

When: May 5^th, 2011

Where: NCC Gym

Cost: General Admission $2.00 and $1.00 for NCC students

Time: from 4pm to 8pm

What does it means Cinco de Mayo for you?

10 Useless inventions

Have you ever wondered how would be our life without inventions?

Maybe for some people life could be a little complicated. For others, life could be less stressed if they were not dealing with buttons or instruction manuals.  Certainly something that cannot be denied is that inventions facilities life of much people. However, there are some ingenious creations with little utility for the human beings.

The website Top10 list published the ten most useless inventions of the history.  Here we introduce four of them.  Moreover, if you have one of those at home, keep it, get rid of them or just send them to the museum. The decision is yours.

Baby cage, 1937

In 1937, the Chelsea Baby club of London, England, promoted some cages of wood and wire to place the newborns out of the windows of the departments.  This was introduced as alternative for those families without any gardens or any specific place where they can leave their babies. Also, the cage would allow the baby to have fresh air and sunlight.

Sure it did not work, who wants to hang their baby outside in the 5^th floor of the building.  It is hard to imagine that someone did invent this baby cage as a useful thing.

Cat-Mew Machine, 1963

If rodents were the problem in the kitchen, here was the ultimate solution. Invented in Japan and brought direct to the stores was this device called "mew cat machine." Powered by a two watt motor, the objective of this expensive device was to scare rodents by imitating the sound of a cat, “mew.”

Sure rodents made fun of that.

Shower Hood, 1970

Our modern times demand much more of our time and every day we have less time to do our routine activities. In the case of the women, time can be short in mater of makeup.  Do not worry, someone had the solution. Here we have the wonderful “Shower hood.” The one that allow women to take a shower without damaging the makeup.

Nevertheless, the invention did not succeed, but there are a lot of women who still waiting for an upgrade in this invention.

Cigarette Holder Built for Two, 1955

Ok, here is the situation. A smoker buys a new box of cigarettes; suddenly someone came and asks for a cigar. How far the smoker can go when he/she does not want to share a new cigarette? Here is the solution, the smoker share their cigarette with the other person. But in order to avoid awful experiences, like extra saliva in the filter, a genius developed an instrument of two mouthpieces that permit two people to smoke of the same cigar. 

Wow, sure both had the same amount of nicotine!

Want to know the rest of the list, go to:  Top 10 list
All the pictures from: http://top-10-list.org/2011/03/29/top-10-useless-inventions/

Hanna - Movie Review

Her name is Hanna and is hundred times more lethal than any other girl of her age.  But wait a second, her last name is not Montana and she does not sing or act on kids TV shows. The Hanna that we are talking about is a cold blooded killer trained by her father in the art of killing for surviving.

Welcome to another CIA spy movie. This time “Hanna” came from the hand of Director Joe Wright, The Soloist (2008), Pride and Prejudice (2005), Atonement (2007) and others, less, memorable movies. 

Joe makes his big shot by introducing his more recently action movie called Hanna, who is supposed to be the close female version of Jason Burn, but that is something that is far a way of being seeing.

 Plot

The movie begging showing us that Hanna (Saoirse Ronan) lives out in the wilderness with her father Erick (Eric Bana).  Erick trained Hanna to be alert every moment, even if she is sleeping, and teach her to killing, if it is necessary to survive. This kind of life led her to the idea that there is not time for having friends and a normal life like every single teenager of her age.  Her unique comfort is a book of fairy tales but her father concerns are beyond simple things.

When he agrees that she is ready to live among other people. Erik plans to keep their identities a secret from agents who are following them. Both take different ways and agree to meet at a predestined spot. Over and over, she rehearses her identity and story with Erik.

Hanna is captured by government agents, but scape. When Hanna and Erik are on the run, they are spotted and monitored by government forces, in special from a mysterious woman (Cate Blanchett) whom Hanna is supposed to kill. Simultaneously, Hanna must learn about the world around her.

In General

Hanna is a nice movie for killing some time. The story is simple and there are no much to tell about it. The action could be for some moments good, but there are moments in which looks like a teen movie. Something to highlight is the amazing Original sound track of the movie. The geinus behind the OST were the unique "Chemical Brothers." For moments it brings armony and let you feel that you are running with Hanna, and in others it stays in your mind for hours.

Hanna, love it or hate it.  

See for yourself.







‎1hr 51min‎‎ - Rated PG-13‎‎ -

Action/Adventure/Suspense/Thriller‎
Cast: Saoirse Ronan, Eric Bana, Cate Blanchett, Tom Hollander, Olivia Williams

Understanding Islam - Islamic Awarenes Week

From April 11th to April 15th, NCC will host an entire week with a comprehensive and comparative Islam's conferences.

This event is organized by the Muslim Students Association at Normandale, and will cover different perspectives about Islam traditions, culture and ideology. The event is open for NCC students and for those who would like to understand more about Islam.


Schedule for this cultural and educative week:

Monday 11th
Muhhammad (PBUH) a Timeless Legacy
Yusuf As-Sousi  
Where: A2564/2566     Time: 3-6pm  

Tuesday 12th
Missconceptions About Islam: Dispelling the Myths
Sheikh Faraz
Where: A2564/2566     Time: 3-6pm

Wednesday 13th
Evening with The Quran: A Day of Beautiful Recitations
Sheikh Jamal Ben Amir
Where: A2564/2566     Time: 3-6pm

Thursday 14th
Poetic Endeavours: Islamic Poetry
Where: A2564/2566     Time: 3-6pm

Friday 15th
Darkness to Light: How Islam Changed my Life
*Imam Naien
Where: F1265     Time: 2-4pm


*Former body guard of Muhammad Ali and Imamm of Masjid Dawah in Saint Paul.



Do not miss the chance and get involve more with Islam in the US and oveseas.