Economy

On a more serious note, I found these two news articles last week. One's Australian and the other one's American. I imagine that we can assume it's a general trend, though.

On one hand, the minimum wage is apparently proportionately lower now than 40 years ago: http://lifeinc.todayshow.com/_news/2010/11/19/5495013-good-graph-friday-minimum-wage-is-worth-less-than-in-1968?gt1=43001

But if you're a high-flying executive, you don't need to get depressed, as THEY're earning even more than before, yay: http://content.mycareer.com.au/advice-research/salary/ceo-salaries.aspx?s_rid=smh:rainbowstrip:box2:campaign2:content2:22-11:xx-05_searchfinancialservicesjobs:ceospaid100timesmorethanworkers

So hey, basically, it's not all bad news.

Andrew Marshall

Hey, people!

I'd be interested to get your feedback about yesterday's performance from those who came to see it.

This is the only footage there is, as Andrew thought it was a photo I wanted, and so stopped the video that was already filming when he pressed the button, thus saving us from a watery death on film.

I admit I was trying to get out of taking an active part in the procedure, not to mention drowning, but as you saw, we were all doomed in the end.

You all looked as if you were having fun, but as I say, your feedback will be appreciated.






PS. Wow, I hadn't noticed how big my jelly-belly was getting. Time to go on a diet!

Homeopathy

Comedians David Mitchell and Robert Webb take a look at the world of homeopathy.

Same video with subtitles in Spanish:

Times have changed

More on the subject:

Terrorist Threat

Oh, no, sorry: false alarm!

Dance troupe suspected of being a terrorist group. Well, it could happen to any of us, especially if you start dancing about verb patterns, I suppose.

They were running to make a very important appointment on TV which could have changed their lives.

But the dance troupe made two big mistakes - they were wearing camouflage shorts and vests and should never have ditched their cars in New York's Lincoln Tunnel.


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1331554/FBI-pulled-guns-dance-troupe-spark-terror-alert-dressed-camouflage.html#ixzz165xzXUsv





The dance troupe: dangerous-looking people

Don't trust your granny?

Pensioner crime* is on the rise, according to several reports from different countries.

"It is being dubbed the "grey crimewave" (...): new statistics reveal that ever higher numbers of pensioners are being arrested and ending up in Britain's jails.

The prison system, already struggling to cope with the demands of its own ageing population of lifers and long-term inmates, is struggling to cope with a new wave of elderly crooks. But experts are divided over whether or not the growing trend is due to people on low pensions turning to crime through necessity, or simply a tougher attitude by the courts to the elderly in the dock.

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2010/nov/21/pensioner-crimewave-saga-lout



Is this the face of a criminal?

It looks like you can't trust anyone nowadays.











*remember that "crime" in English refers to any kind of illegal activity

Conjugation

English speakers learning Spanish have their own problems.

Exercises for 1st level

Hello first year students!

This time, the exercises are for you:

Andrew Marshall

On Thursday 25th of November at 7.30 pm, Andrew Marshall will be performing his version of Titanic.

Free, and only for levels 3, 4 and 5, so exercise your privileges and DON'T MISS IT !

I've seen this man several times already, and he's always made me laugh, so I'm really looking forward to it myself.

Tim Minchin - Fat Children

The song we did/are doing in class, for those of you who wanted it, or missed it.

Lyrics (if I get round to it I'll put the apostrophes in, but don't hold your breath):

Tim Minchin - Fat Children

Do not feed doughnuts to your obese children
You will regret it when they're in their teens
Macca's might shut them up now that they're seven
But they wont forgive you
When they're getting picked last for PE
Dont you see?

Boombalada motherfucker
Have you noticed that your kids are fat?
What you gonna do about that?
What you gonna do?

So you're telling me that your family
Has a history of obesity
You got a polycystic ovary
You say "its just the way God made me"

Its unlikely, statistically
To be a physical thing
But either way it dont explain why you
Are in the queue at Burger King

You can blame it on biology
You can blame your physiology
You can point to genealogy
And your social anthropology

You can say you are an ectomorph
That you just cant get the kilos off
Well you can be what you wanna be
But stop feeding your boy KFC

He weighs 40 kilos and hes only three
He looks like a clean-shaven Pavarotti

Ordering Diet Coke is not the way back
Boombalada kiddie-stuffer
Your kids are fat, have you noticed that?
And you oughta be ashamed
For you only have yourself to blame.
Your 5 year old princess in her size 14 tutu
Only eats pizza like that because you do

She'll be dead of a heart attack
Before your grandchildren are ten
Perhaps you'll consider
A cut-back on extra fries then

Boombalada kiddie-stuffer
Your kids are fat, have you noticed that?
What are you gonna do about that?
What are you gonna do?

So youre telling me that your family
Has a history of obesity
You got a polycystic ovary
Your mum had childhood diabetes

But, and in your case
Theres a reasonably big butt
Do you think its an appropriate treat
The all-you-can-eat at Pizza Hut?

Theres no excuse you silly goose
For a child with a caboose
Like a moose whos eaten too much mousse
Its tantamount to child abuse

Kick them off the fucking couch
Unplug the Playstation
Send them down to the park
If they dont wanna go, make em

Tell them they have to jog
Until their jogging shorts fit em
If they hesitate, ask firmly
If they still resist, hit em

Is this what you want for your little girl and guy?
These chips off the pork chop, for the toffee apples of your eye?
Six Packs of Kit Kats are not the way back
Boombalada Kiddie Stuffer
Your kids are fat, have you noticed that?

And you, oughta be ashamed
For you only have yourself to blame
Your 6 year old miniature Jabba the Hut
Eating half melted Mars Bars from the folds of his gut
He'll be dead of an aneurysm
Before his own children ism ten
Perhaps you'll consider
A cut-back on Taco Bell then
Perhaps you'll consider
A cut-back on Krispy Kreme doughnuts
And Popcorn in bucket-sized boxes
And microwave pizzas or drive through McDonalds
For weeknightly dinners in front of the TV
And notes to the phys-ed instructor saying
Timmy has asthma but he really just gets short of breath
Cos hes 35 kilos above the ideal weight
Of 35 kilos for a nine year old boy

Education and economy

This video was sent to me by Jaume Safont from 5A (Thanks, Jaume!). It's pretty long but it's worth it, not only for the message but also the drawing.

You should be able to follow it without the subtitles, but I've posted both versions just in case.

Version without subtitles:

Version with subtitles in Spainish:

Qantas

Our suspicions were right: it's pronounced as if there was a "u" after the "a", even if there isn't.

Cute plane, eh, the A380. I prefer fighter planes myself, but there's something majestic about the A380, the largest passenger plane in the world. And it's European. :)

Visual Thesaurus

This is the mind map page/programme that I told you about in class.

It's not free, however, so you only get a limited number of tries free.

But if you're rolling in money, maybe you're interested in paying for it. It's really cute. :)


www.visualthesaurus.com

Mozart cuts crime in New Zealand city

MOZART played over speakers in a pedestrian mall in the inner city of Christchurch, New Zealand has cut crime dramatically, according to figures published by The Press. The classical tactic was introduced to the City Mall in New Zealand's second largest city in June 2009.
The number of anti-social incidents recorded by security guards in the area fell from 77 a week in October 2008 to just two for the same time this year. Police agreed the music, played during the day time, had transformed the area and created a calmer environment.

Central City Business Association manager Paul Lonsdale said the classical music was soothing to the ear. "Classical music is known for reducing anti-social behavior," he said.

More details: http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/christchurch/4318074/Mozart-quells-mall-violence

I can understand that classical music would have that soothing effect, but Barry Manilow?!! What on earth were they thinking of? I would definitely start getting violent in a shopping mall if they started playing Barry Manilow, and I would encourage other people to get antisocial too. Some things should just not be allowed.

For those Friends fans among you, you may remember Rachel singing Barry's most popular song, Copacabana, at her ex-boyfriend Barry's wedding.

Sing along with the audio and lyrics if you want, and you probably do:

← Barry Manilow, the man himself.

Rachel's attempt here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WN11j2tEpk4&feature=related (video embedding disabled by request)

British vs. American English

The German page http://www.englisch-hilfen.de has a some practice exercises on the difference between proper British English and what passes for English on the other side of the Atlantic American English:

http://www.englisch-hilfen.de/en/exercises_list/alle_words.htm

Vocabulary (5th year)

Hey, I recently found this vocabulary page: http://www.word-power.us/

Apart from the words and definitions, it has exercises to help you remember them.

And another page with vocabulary and expressions is this one: http://www.english-daily.com/, which also has a lots of other links to explore, like telephoning English, proverbs, idioms, etc.

Both these pages are ideal for helping you make those semantic maps...