Barcelona Pickpockets and a Chinese horror story

Back to crime...
Full story HERE (plenty of passive voice use in this story)
*** And a much worse case : Briton to be executed in China for smuggling drugs
*** Update 26/12 Briton unaware of execution (for humanitarian reasons!!)
*** Update 27/12 Death row Briton learns he faces execution tomorrow
***Update 29/12 China executes British national despite pleas

Copenhagen's Climate Summit

Polluting should also be a crime, so let's focus on the Copenhagen's climate conference being held these days, and the controversy generated by the "warmists" on the one hand -those who believe in climate change and would like governments to pass strict laws to stop it, and the skeptics on the other -who think data is being manipulated to exaggerate the threat of global warming (also known as the "Climategate")

**By the way, "hot air" in the cartoon refers to empty, exaggerated talk.

It's certainly difficult to find the truth among so many different opinions and interests from countries who don't want to be forced to cut carbon emissions that could slow their economies.

So just to put you in the picture, I'm including a series of links that will help you understand the situation -and a wonderful source of vocabulary related to environmental issues.

• What is at stake in Copenhagen?
• National Geographic Global Warming effects
• National Geographic Going Green test

In the meantime, I have to buy a car -how could I live without one?- but the only thing I am offered is a petrol-powered old dinosaur ... and they call it 'green' .

Law and Order

I know it's not very Christmassy but we'll be talking about crime next week.
Being a lawful citizen is not always easy: Did you know tht it is illegal to name a pig 'Napoleon' in France ? Or that it is forbidden to die in the Houses of Parliament in London? Or that in Australia you can be arrested if you dress up like Batman? At Harrington Court, London you may find some more examples.
In the United States guns deserve a special chapter, like "It is illegal to rob a bank and then shoot the clerk with a water pistol." (Louisiana). In Florida, a special law prohibits unmarried women from parachuting on Sunday or risk arrest, fine, and/or jailing (can anyone figure out why ??) And my favourite:
" No one may carry an ice cream cone in their back pocket on Sunday" (Georgia)
Can you find an explanation to these apparently stupid, probably outdated or just downright dumb laws? So if you were planning to go to the USA, just take these tests to make sure you don't end up in jail!
Test 1
Test 2

Barcelona

I know it's not very christmassy but we're going to talk about crime these days and you probably know that, in spite of what the Major thinks, Barcelona is considered a hot spot in the crime scene.

Full story

Pop-up shops

Talking about marketing strategies, with Christmas just round the corner retailers are thinking up new ways to tempt customers.

Full article : New High Street trend for pop-up shops

pop-up (N): a new window that opens quickly on a computer screen in front of what you are working on .

Not a bad idea ... and because it's a temporary shop customers will rush to buy it all before they shut up!

Just a reminder

No Class Today

Hi all,

Yesterday I could hardly speak when I started the class, and ended up with no voice at all. Today I still can't speak and have a bit of a temperture, so no class today.

I've been to the virtual doctor this morning, my first visit of this kind, but he didn't really give me a solution, so if any of you have an effective remedy, please let me know.

I've contacted the class delegates (4B,4C)about this today and will contact the class delegates (4A) tomorrow morning.

- Update Wednesday 18

No class today either, sorry. Voice a bit better (thyme is proving a powerful remedy) but still can't speak.

- Update Thursday 19

Ok, things are getting better. I'll try to come today and see what happens, so no holiday today Sorry kids !

The Rapping Flight attendant

Maybe you'd pay more attention to the safety instructions with this flight attendant?
Do you want it with subtitles? This video is from English Central, the site I told you about, with lots of videos to choose from and the possibility of using interactive subtitles, as you can see here if you take a couple of minutes of your time to register (it's free). Check it out, because that's a really good site. I've added the link in the 'video bits' section of this blog.

Just give it a try!

Obama's first year

After one year in office, Obama's progress has been subject to examination by the media. This Newsy video uses multiple sources to review Obama's first year

By the way, NEWSY, "the news with more views", is an excellent resource. Unlike CNN, Sky news or other major news channels, Newsy reports are compiled from multiple sources. And a big plus ...transcripts are also provided.

The French, the Italians, the Scots, the...

Why Are The French So Bad At English?

We are talking about nationalities this week, and it seems that when it comes to learning English, French schoolchildren seriously underperform. France currently is on the 69th position among 109 countries on the standardized Test of English as a Foreign Language, aka TOEFL. In an attempt to remedy this state of affairs, French President Nicolas Sarkozy recently “unveiled an emergency plan for teaching foreign languages in the nation's schools with the objective that 'all our high school students must become bilingual, and some should be trilingual'."

Does that ring a bell ? Are politicians copying from each other? Is it globalization ? Don't you think it's the same everywhere? Here's the full story.

Oh, by the way, and when you thought you could get by in half decent English, then you meet a Scot from Glasgow (a Glaswegian)

In Scotland, the situation of languages is a bit complex. So complex that a company is even looking for a translator into English! Full story here