AMERICAN LICENSE PLATES

You probably know that each state in the U.S. has a motto (=lema) on their number plates. Today,we'll take a look at some possible mottos from some countries. See if you can find the humour behind them. For instance (=por ejemplo), Alabama's "Hell,yes, we have electricity" refers to their death penalty (=pena de muerte) policies (=política) and more especifically to the electric chair. Arkansas' "Literacy ain't everything" (=el alfabetismo no lo es todo) refers to their long-lasting(=perdurable) tradition of being illiterate (=analfabetos).California's "By 30, our women have more plastic than your Honda" is connected to the amount of people who undergo (=se someten) plastic surgery (=cirugía plástica).Nevada's "Hookers (=rameras) and Poker" refers to Las Vegas (a.k.a. vegas),of course.Texas' "´Sí,hablo inglés" makes fun at the large number of Spanish-speakers living in the state. Some other day (=algún otro día), I'll talk about real slogans!!!!

A SMILE TO REMEMBER, BY CHARLES BUKOWSKI

we had goldfish(=peces de colores) and they circled around and around
in the bowl (=pecera)on the table near the heavy drapes (=cortinas)
covering the picture window and
my mother, always smiling, wanting us all
to be happy, told me, "be happy Henry!"
and she was right: it's better to be happy if you
can
but my father continued to beat (=pegar)her and me several times a week while
raging inside his 6-foot-two frame(=se enfurecía dentro de su cuerpo de dos metros) because he couldn't
understand what was attacking him from within(=desde dentro).

My mother, poor fish,
wanting to be happy, beaten two or three times a
week, telling me to be happy: "Henry, smile!
why don't you ever smile?"

and then she would smile(=sonreía),
to show me how, and it was the
saddest smile I ever saw (=la sonrisa más triste que nunca vi)

one day the goldfish died, all five of them,
they floated(=flotaban) on the water, on their
sides, their eyes still open,
and when my father got home he threw them to the cat
there on the kitchen floor and we watched as my mother
smiled .

ManU

Manchester United Football Club, a.k.a. (=also known as=también conocido como) Man United or ManU /'maniu/, is one of the most popular football teams in the world. It has over 330 million fans around the world. It was founded (=fundado) in 1878.They are colloquially known as the Red Devils(=los diablos rojos), or The Pride of the North (=el orgullo del norte). Its stadium, Old Trafford, a.k.a. the theatre of dreams(=el teatro de los sueños) ,can sit (=acomodar) 76.000 fans. Ryan Giggs is the player with most appearances (=partidos jugados) whereas(=mientras que) Sir Bobby Charlton is the player who has scored (=ha maracado)more goals ever(=en la historia). Some of the legends who have played for ManU are Sir Bobby Charlton, Eric cantona,George Best (see photograph)

Ryan Giggs or Paul Scholes. No,way,Jose, David Beckham can't be considered a legend in ManU.Some other players are on the way to become legends (=en camino de convertirse en leyendas). Such is the case of Wayne Rooney or Cristiano Ronaldo...that is (=es decir)...if he doesn't sign for (=fichar por)

Real Madrid.Source:Wikipedia & my own brain.

RUOK?

English vocabulary has many words composed of a letter and a word.You all know about T-shirt,which makes perfect sense(=tiene toda la lógica del mundo),since it's a shirt with the shape of a 'T'. But I bet my bottom dollar(=apuesto mi último euro a que) you've never heard of a U-Turn (=giro de 180º), or a V-neck (=cuello de pico), or Y-fronts (=calzoncillos tipo slip, no boxers).So...what on earth is (=qué narices es) a Z-bed? Well, it's a bed you can unfold (=desplegar) in case you receive your family at home!!! It's what you call in Spanish 'sofá-cama'.
Don't confuse these words with other similar words like F-word (=taco,insulto), they don't have the same origin. By the way, I chose the photo of the chimp(=chimpancé) simply because I liked it.

ST.PATRICK'S DAY

Saint Patrick's Day is celebrated worldwide(=alrededor del mundo) by those of Irish descent and increasingly(=cada vez más) by non-Irish people. In many parts of North America, Britain, and Australia, expatriate Irish and ever-growing crowds(=multitudes que no dejan de crecer en número)of people with no Irish connections but who may proclaim themselves "Irish for a day" also celebrate St. Patrick's Day, usually with the consumption of traditionally Irish alcoholic beverages(=bebidas) and by wearing green-coloured clothing. The origin of this holiday dates back from ancient times, when st. Patrick exterminated all the snakes in Ireland. The Chicago river is dyed green each year (see pic above) for the celebration.Did you know that 'Patrick' (or colloquially, 'Paddy') is the most common name in Ireland? The national flower is the Shamrock (=trébol).Source: Wikipedia & my own brain.

I'M WORN OUT!!!

I just came back from the beach and I'm tired, (=)exhausted,(=) worn out, (=)whacked, (=)weary,(=)done in, (=)fatigued. I thought I would come back (=que volvería) fresh as new (=fresco como una rosa), but instead of (=en vez de ) taking a nap (=siesta) or taking it easy (=tomárselo con calma) I went running, swimming, shopping and I played football and basketball. I've eaten junk food (=comida basura) and my gut (=mi intestino) is stale (=revenido). I'm going to the fridge to check out (=comprobar) if there's some youghurt or fruit I can have for dinner. Please, be merciful (=sed piadosos) tomorrow and don't give me a hard time. Otherwise(=si no)...hold on tight (=agárrense que vienen curvas).

BRITISH FOOTBALL

All my students come up to me (=se me acercan) crying and sobbing (=gimoteando) today. The reason is that Real Madrid got kicked out (=fue eliminado fulminantemente) of the Champion's league.Many of you have told me that in the first goal, Torres fouled (=hizo falta a) Pepe prior to (=antes de) scoring the goal. Let me tell you (=dejadme que os diga)something,guys.When I first played football in UK the British guys laughed their butts off (=se rieron hasta el espinazo) at the fouls I called (=las faltas que yo pitaba). After a while I learned to play british football,which is pretty(=bastante) different to what we play here in Spain. The plain truth (=la verdad como puños) is that Real made a fool of themselves (=hicieron el ridículo) just as much as Atlético probably will tonight(=tanto como probablemente el Atleti esta noche)...but who knows (=quién sabe?)...if there's one thing I like about Atletico is that it's impredictable (=impredecible)...we sometimes lose 2-0 and other days 5-0!!!!

THE RIVER, BY BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN

I come from down in the valley where mister when you're young They bring you up to do like your daddy done(=te crían para que hagas lo que tu padre) Me and Mary we met in high school when she was just seventeen We'd ride out of this valley(=escaparíamos de este valle) down to where the fields were green We'd go down to the river And into the river we'd dive Oh down to the river we'd ride Then I got Mary pregnant (=dejé a Mary embarazada)and man that was all she wrote And for my nineteenth birthday I got a union card and a wedding coat(=una tarjeta de sindicato y un traje de boda) We went down to the courthouse and the judge put it all to rest No wedding day smiles no walk down the aisle No flowers(=nada de pasillo nupcial ni flores) no wedding dress That night we went down to the river And into the river we'd dive Oh down to the river we did ride I got a job working construction for the Johnstown Company But lately there ain't been much work on account of the economy(=ultimamente no ha habido mucho trabajo por la economía) Now all them things that seemed so important Well mister they vanished right into the air(=se desvanecieron en el aire) Now I just act like I don't remember Mary acts like she don't care(=actúo como que no recuerdo,Mary como si no le importara) But I remember us riding in my brother's car Her body tan(=bronceado) and wet down at the reservoir At night on them bank I'd lie awake(=me tumbaba despierto en la orilla) And pull her close just to feel each breath she'd take Now those memories come back to haunt me they haunt me like a curse(=esas memorias me persiguen como una maldición)Is a dream a lie if it don't come true Or is it something worse that sends me down to the river though I know the river is dry That sends me down to the river tonight Down to the river my baby and I Oh down to the river we ride

AIR FORCE ONE

'Air Force one' is the term air traffic controllers (=controladores aéreos) use to refer to any US air force plane transporting the president of the United States. Therefore (=por lo tanto) it does not refer to a
particular plane!! There are two Boeing-747s that act as Air Force One.
Both (=ambos) can fly 12600 km without refuelling (=sin repostar)
and there is room (=espacio) for over 70 passengers. The presidential suite includes a gym, bath, dressing room(=vestidor) and a private office. They also feature(=muestran como características) 85 phones and 19 TV sets, OR (operating room) (=quirófano) and a fully equipped pharmacy (=una farmacia totalmente equipada). It is also noteworthy (=digno de mención) that the Air Force One always lands (=aterriza) with its left side facing the crowd, since (=dado que) the president's office is on the right side of the plane. This is due to security measures (=medidas de seguridad). Cool, Ain't it???

An Indian Summer

When we speak about an 'Indian summer' in English, we may refer to two different things. Firstly, to a warm period in September (=veranillo de San Miguel). Secondly, we might also refer to a late success in someone's career. Let's take a look at a few examples of artists who achieved success during their last years of life. Charles Bukowski (Mr.Tight's photograph) was an American writer who spent most of his life living almost like a beggar (=mendigo).When he made it (=lo consiguió), he just bought a BMW and kept on (=continuó) betting on hounds(=apostando en carreras de galgos),as he had done for so many years. Others do not even live to see their success. Such (=tal) is the case of the Dutch (=Holandés) painter Vincent Van Gogh (see self portrait above). When he shot himself in the chest and died two days later in his younger (Theo Van Gogh) brother's arms, nobody had heard of (=nadie había oído de) him and now his paintings are worth (=tienen un valor) millions of dollars.