Jennifer L. Scott discovered the ten-item wardrobe concept while living in Paris with Madame Chic and her family.
In this talk she shares her endearing story, tips on how you can make a ten-item wardrobe work for you, and why living with fewer clothes can not only improve your style, but change your life.
Jennifer L. Scott is the internationally bestselling author of Lessons from Madame Chic and At Home with Madame Chic (Simon & Schuster) and creator of the blog The Daily Connoisseur.
You can read the subtitles for the talk by activating the CC option on the player.
Mostrando entradas con la etiqueta Consumerism. Mostrar todas las entradas
Mostrando entradas con la etiqueta Consumerism. Mostrar todas las entradas
domingo, 14 de mayo de 2017
lunes, 6 de junio de 2016
Listening test: How you got too much stuff
Listen to part of a radio programme where two reporters talk about the excessive number of things we are surrounded by these days and complete the sentences below with up to three words. 0 is an example.
0 Example:
Alice spent the weekend doing some spring-cleaning.
1 Alice was trying to ___________________ in her wardrobe when hundreds of shoes fell on her head.
2 Alice likes to wear shoes that match ___________________ .
3 Alice suggests to Rob that he could ___________________ so that he had more space in his kitchen.
4 In Rob’s opinion, clutter makes it difficult to find things and makes ___________________ a nightmare.
5 Bea Johnson is the author of the book ___________________ .
6 Bob thinks he could get the benefits of the vitamins and minerals of vegetables by ___________________ .
7 James Wallman is against buying that ___________________ you think is going to make people think something more of you.
8 Rob is fond of his ___________________ of superhero comics.
Rob Now, Alice, what did you get up to at the weekend?
Alice I did some spring-cleaning, which means cleaning a place very well, especially places you don't clean often. So, I was tidying up my wardrobe, trying to organise things… and suddenly hundreds of shoes tumbled on my head!
Rob Poor Alice! But why do you have so many shoes? And why do you keep them at the top of your wardrobe? I only have three pairs.
Alice I like to match my shoes to my outfit – and three pairs wouldn't do the trick. Well, the subject of today's show is having too much stuff. And you're making me feel guilty, Rob. You must have too much of something.
Rob Yes, plastic bags. I think they're useful, but they're getting out of hand. They're taking over my kitchen!
Alice You can recycle plastic bags, you know, Rob?
Rob Well, you can recycle shoes too, you know, Alice!
Alice Yes.
Rob Now, usually I don't have a lot of clutter in my flat – and that means an untidy collection of objects. Clutter makes it harder to find the things you need. And it makes moving house a nightmare! All those boxes full of things you don't need…
Alice Good point. I have a friend who suggested the three buckets system. You sort things into three different buckets: one you label as 'to keep', one as 'to get rid of', one as 'maybe to get rid of'. It's the 'maybe' bucket that's tricky, isn't it? – You never know if you might need something in the future.
Rob Yes, it would need to be a big bucket too.
Alice Yes, it would.
Rob Well, l think we could all live better with less. Now let's listen to Bea Johnson, author of Zero Waste Home talking about how she and her family have adopted a minimalist – or deliberately simple – lifestyle in their California home.
Bea Johnson
We've really asked ourselves 'what is it that we really need?' We've asked really true questions, and evaluated every single thing that we have. There is nothing that we overlooked. I even came to one day look at my vegetable peeler for example and asked myself, 'Do I really need that vegetable peeler'?
Alice Now, I don't blame Bea at all because I don't like peeling vegetables either. And you could actually get the benefit of the vitamins and minerals by eating the skins.
Alice Very healthy, Rob!
Rob We can really live with fewer things. But some people can't help looking for the latest version of something or go for designer goods. Writer and journalist James Wallman warns us about this. He wonders how much stuff is too much.
James Wallman
This thing about need is such a dangerous term because what do you need? And I'm not anti-stuff – stuff is good. I'm anti too much stuff and I'm anti the wrong stuff. Don't go out and buy that labelled good that you think is going to make people think something more of you. That's not going to make you happy.
Rob James Wallman there. Now, Alice, do you buy labelled goods?
Alice I'm afraid I do. But I do think James Wallman is right – buying things just because other people have them, for example, doesn't make us happy.
Rob Yeah, that's true, but as he says, not everything is the wrong stuff. For example, I'm very fond of my large schoolboy collection of superhero comics. I might not need them, but they make me happy. So what stuff makes you happy, Alice?
Alice Oh, well, I like my music CDs and my books – even though I've got the music on an mp3 player and I don't often pull a book out from the bookcase.
Rob They have sentimental value, don't they?
Alice Yes.
Rob Well, I sold all my music CDs online ages ago.
Alice That sounds like the sensible thing to do.
Key:
1 tidy up / organize things
2 her outfit
3 recycle plastic bags
4 moving house
5 Zero Waste Home
6 eating the skins
7 labelled good
8 (large) schoolboy collection
0 Example:
Alice spent the weekend doing some spring-cleaning.
1 Alice was trying to ___________________ in her wardrobe when hundreds of shoes fell on her head.
2 Alice likes to wear shoes that match ___________________ .
3 Alice suggests to Rob that he could ___________________ so that he had more space in his kitchen.
4 In Rob’s opinion, clutter makes it difficult to find things and makes ___________________ a nightmare.
5 Bea Johnson is the author of the book ___________________ .
6 Bob thinks he could get the benefits of the vitamins and minerals of vegetables by ___________________ .
7 James Wallman is against buying that ___________________ you think is going to make people think something more of you.
8 Rob is fond of his ___________________ of superhero comics.
Photo: BBC Learning English
Alice I did some spring-cleaning, which means cleaning a place very well, especially places you don't clean often. So, I was tidying up my wardrobe, trying to organise things… and suddenly hundreds of shoes tumbled on my head!
Rob Poor Alice! But why do you have so many shoes? And why do you keep them at the top of your wardrobe? I only have three pairs.
Alice I like to match my shoes to my outfit – and three pairs wouldn't do the trick. Well, the subject of today's show is having too much stuff. And you're making me feel guilty, Rob. You must have too much of something.
Rob Yes, plastic bags. I think they're useful, but they're getting out of hand. They're taking over my kitchen!
Alice You can recycle plastic bags, you know, Rob?
Rob Well, you can recycle shoes too, you know, Alice!
Alice Yes.
Rob Now, usually I don't have a lot of clutter in my flat – and that means an untidy collection of objects. Clutter makes it harder to find the things you need. And it makes moving house a nightmare! All those boxes full of things you don't need…
Alice Good point. I have a friend who suggested the three buckets system. You sort things into three different buckets: one you label as 'to keep', one as 'to get rid of', one as 'maybe to get rid of'. It's the 'maybe' bucket that's tricky, isn't it? – You never know if you might need something in the future.
Rob Yes, it would need to be a big bucket too.
Alice Yes, it would.
Rob Well, l think we could all live better with less. Now let's listen to Bea Johnson, author of Zero Waste Home talking about how she and her family have adopted a minimalist – or deliberately simple – lifestyle in their California home.
Bea Johnson
We've really asked ourselves 'what is it that we really need?' We've asked really true questions, and evaluated every single thing that we have. There is nothing that we overlooked. I even came to one day look at my vegetable peeler for example and asked myself, 'Do I really need that vegetable peeler'?
Alice Now, I don't blame Bea at all because I don't like peeling vegetables either. And you could actually get the benefit of the vitamins and minerals by eating the skins.
Alice Very healthy, Rob!
Rob We can really live with fewer things. But some people can't help looking for the latest version of something or go for designer goods. Writer and journalist James Wallman warns us about this. He wonders how much stuff is too much.
James Wallman
This thing about need is such a dangerous term because what do you need? And I'm not anti-stuff – stuff is good. I'm anti too much stuff and I'm anti the wrong stuff. Don't go out and buy that labelled good that you think is going to make people think something more of you. That's not going to make you happy.
Rob James Wallman there. Now, Alice, do you buy labelled goods?
Alice I'm afraid I do. But I do think James Wallman is right – buying things just because other people have them, for example, doesn't make us happy.
Rob Yeah, that's true, but as he says, not everything is the wrong stuff. For example, I'm very fond of my large schoolboy collection of superhero comics. I might not need them, but they make me happy. So what stuff makes you happy, Alice?
Alice Oh, well, I like my music CDs and my books – even though I've got the music on an mp3 player and I don't often pull a book out from the bookcase.
Rob They have sentimental value, don't they?
Alice Yes.
Rob Well, I sold all my music CDs online ages ago.
Alice That sounds like the sensible thing to do.
Key:
1 tidy up / organize things
2 her outfit
3 recycle plastic bags
4 moving house
5 Zero Waste Home
6 eating the skins
7 labelled good
8 (large) schoolboy collection
sábado, 9 de abril de 2016
Reading test: The man who lives without money
This week's reading test is a bit more difficult than usual. It is based on the article The man who lives without money. Try not to worry about the vocabulary and expressions you do not know and try to work out the answers by understanding the general meaning in the article.
Read this article on Mark Boyle, the man who lives without money, and choose the option A, B or C which best completes each sentence. 0 is an example.
The man who lives without money
Think you couldn’t live without money? Irishman Mark Boyle challenged this notion and here’s how he finds life with no financial income, bank balance, and no spending.
“If someone told me seven years ago, in my final year of a business and economics degree, that I’d now be living without money, I’d have probably choked on my microwaved ready meal.” According to Boyle, the plan back then was to ‘get a good job’, make as much money as possible, and buy the stuff that would show society he was successful.
Like most individuals raised in a consumer-driven society, he never second guessed those goals. For a while he had a fantastic job managing a big organic food company and even had a yacht in the harbor. If it hadn’t have been for the chance purchase of a video called Gandhi, he’d still be pursuing the same life. “I’d still be doing it today. Instead, for the last fifteen months, I haven’t spent or received a single penny. Zilch”.
The change in life path came one evening on the yacht while philosophizing with a friend over a glass of Merlot. “Whilst I had been significantly influenced by Mahatma’s quote “be the change you want to see in the world”, I had no idea what that change was up until then.”
The two friends began talking about all the major issues in the world – environmental destruction, resource wars, factory farms, sweatshop labor – and wondered which of the issues they could best devote their time to. Mark didn’t feel he could really make any difference, however “being two small drops in a highly polluted ocean”.
That evening, though, a revelation came through: “These issues weren’t as unrelated as I had previously thought – they had a common root cause. I believe the fact that we no longer see the direct repercussions our purchases have on the people, environment, and animals they affect is the factor that unites these problems.”
Boyle believes that the degrees of separation between the consumer and the consumed have increased so much that it now means most people are completely unaware of the levels of destruction and suffering embodied in the ‘stuff’ they buy.
It can be agreed that few people actually want to cause suffering to others; most just don’t have any idea that they directly are. The tool that has enabled this separation is money, especially in its globalized format.
“If we grew our own food, we wouldn’t waste a third of it today” is one of Mark’s examples as to why it’s important a reconnection with natural/source living is established. “If we made our own tables and chairs, we wouldn’t throw them out the moment we changed the interior décor. If we had to clean our own water, we probably wouldn’t shit in it”.
The above arguments all honestly assess the undervalue most objects now have. With convenience at our fingertips, most don’t consider where their trash product or unwanted items go.
Deciding to be the change, this then spurred Mark to fully dive into his new viewpoint and give up money, which he only planned on doing for a year. “I made a list of the basics I’d need to survive. I adore food, so it was at the top. There are four legs to the food-for-free table: foraging wild food, growing your own, bartering and using waste grub, of which there are far more”.
On his first day, he fed 150 people a three-course meal with waste and foraged food. For himself, however, he ate his own crops and waste only made up about 5% of his diet. “I cooked outside – rain or shine – on a rocket stove”.
The next concern was shelter. He found himself a caravan from Freecycle, parked it on an organic farm he volunteered with, and renovated it out to be off the electricity grid. I’d use wood I either coppiced or scavenged to heat my humble abode in a wood burner made from an old gas bottle, and I had a compost loo to make ‘humanure’ for my veggies”. Up front and to the point, Boyle clearly understood the necessity of using every available resource to be most sustainable.
“I bathed in a river, and for toothpaste I used washed up cuttlefish bone with wild fennel seeds, an oddity for a vegan. For loo I’d relieve the local newsagent of its papers (Once I wiped my arse with a story about myself); it wasn’t double quilted but it quickly became normal”. For transportation, Mark used his bike and trailer, using the 55 km commute to the city as an alternative solution for the gym. Beeswax candles served as his lighting.
Humorously inspiring to some, deluded and anti-capitalist to others, Mark had this to say about his radical lifestyle: “Many people label me as anti-capitalist. Whilst I do believe capitalism is fundamentally flawed, requiring infinite growth on a finite planet, I am not anti anything.” More than anything, Boyle claims to be pro-nature, pro-community, and pro-happiness. How often is that a city dweller’s life philosophy?
“And that’s the thing I don’t get – if all this consumerism and environmental destruction brought happiness, it would make some sense. But all the key indicators of unhappiness – depression, crime, mental illness, obesity, suicide and so on are on the increase.” More money, it seems, does not equate to more happiness.
Another positive effect of Mark’s unique lifestyle is the joy he has created for himself. “Ironically, I have found this year to be the happiest of my life. I’ve more friends in my community than ever, I haven’t been ill since I began, and I’ve never been fitter. I’ve found that friendship, not money, is real security. That most western poverty is spiritual, and that independence is really interdependent.”
Mark’s example certainly stands as inspiration for those seeking freedom from the fast-paced modern age; most alternative media sources would agree that the more one reconnects to nature, the better their mental, physical, and spiritual health is. However, could everyone live like this? According to Mark, no.
“It would be a catastrophe, we are too addicted to both it and cheap energy, and have managed to build an entire global infrastructure around the abundance of both.”
The prospect of gradually transitioning to re-localized, small communities is a possibility, though. With greener energy sources and healthier communities being implemented at a growing rate, natural living is already a reality, but may be made much more mainstream in the future to come.
“For over 90 percent of our time on the planet, a period when we lived much more ecologically, we lived without money. Now we are the only species to use it, probably because we are the species most out of touch with nature.”
Asked what was missing from his old world of lucre and business, Mark replied “Stress. Traffic-jams. Bank statements. Utility bills. Oh yeah, and the odd pint of organic ale with my mates down at the local”.
It just goes to show, if you are passionate about anything, you can be that change you’d like to see in the world.
0 Example:
Seven years ago Mark
A had already finished his degree course.
B was a conventional person.
C was already planning to live without money.
1 Mark and his friend
A had a serious conversation one day.
B got drunk one evening.
C worked in the same company.
2 Mark realised
A most of us are ignorant of the repercussions of our actions.
B plenty of people want to cause as much damage to others as possible.
C the gap between consumers and the consumed is closing.
3 According to Mark
A it is too easy for us to get everything.
B our society has started a reconnection with the natural world.
C we should make our own furniture.
4 Mark
A grows his own food.
B mainly eats food people throw away.
C regularly eats with some other people.
5 Mark
A gets his electricity from the farm where he works.
B is sometimes given a lift.
C washes in the river after going to the toilet.
6 In Mark’s opinion capitalism
A has brought more happiness in general.
B requires using resources non-stop.
C is being widely rejected all over the world.
7 Mark’s lifestyle
A can easily be imitated by most people.
B has been very rewarding for him.
C has made him dependent on other people.
8 Mark
A intends to spend 90% of his time living without money.
B still drinks pints with his friends at the local pub.
C thinks many more people will reconnect with nature in the future.
KEY:
1A 2A 3A 4A 5B 6B 7B 8C
Read this article on Mark Boyle, the man who lives without money, and choose the option A, B or C which best completes each sentence. 0 is an example.
The man who lives without money
Think you couldn’t live without money? Irishman Mark Boyle challenged this notion and here’s how he finds life with no financial income, bank balance, and no spending.
“If someone told me seven years ago, in my final year of a business and economics degree, that I’d now be living without money, I’d have probably choked on my microwaved ready meal.” According to Boyle, the plan back then was to ‘get a good job’, make as much money as possible, and buy the stuff that would show society he was successful.
Like most individuals raised in a consumer-driven society, he never second guessed those goals. For a while he had a fantastic job managing a big organic food company and even had a yacht in the harbor. If it hadn’t have been for the chance purchase of a video called Gandhi, he’d still be pursuing the same life. “I’d still be doing it today. Instead, for the last fifteen months, I haven’t spent or received a single penny. Zilch”.
The change in life path came one evening on the yacht while philosophizing with a friend over a glass of Merlot. “Whilst I had been significantly influenced by Mahatma’s quote “be the change you want to see in the world”, I had no idea what that change was up until then.”
The two friends began talking about all the major issues in the world – environmental destruction, resource wars, factory farms, sweatshop labor – and wondered which of the issues they could best devote their time to. Mark didn’t feel he could really make any difference, however “being two small drops in a highly polluted ocean”.
That evening, though, a revelation came through: “These issues weren’t as unrelated as I had previously thought – they had a common root cause. I believe the fact that we no longer see the direct repercussions our purchases have on the people, environment, and animals they affect is the factor that unites these problems.”
Boyle believes that the degrees of separation between the consumer and the consumed have increased so much that it now means most people are completely unaware of the levels of destruction and suffering embodied in the ‘stuff’ they buy.
It can be agreed that few people actually want to cause suffering to others; most just don’t have any idea that they directly are. The tool that has enabled this separation is money, especially in its globalized format.
“If we grew our own food, we wouldn’t waste a third of it today” is one of Mark’s examples as to why it’s important a reconnection with natural/source living is established. “If we made our own tables and chairs, we wouldn’t throw them out the moment we changed the interior décor. If we had to clean our own water, we probably wouldn’t shit in it”.
The above arguments all honestly assess the undervalue most objects now have. With convenience at our fingertips, most don’t consider where their trash product or unwanted items go.
Deciding to be the change, this then spurred Mark to fully dive into his new viewpoint and give up money, which he only planned on doing for a year. “I made a list of the basics I’d need to survive. I adore food, so it was at the top. There are four legs to the food-for-free table: foraging wild food, growing your own, bartering and using waste grub, of which there are far more”.
On his first day, he fed 150 people a three-course meal with waste and foraged food. For himself, however, he ate his own crops and waste only made up about 5% of his diet. “I cooked outside – rain or shine – on a rocket stove”.
The next concern was shelter. He found himself a caravan from Freecycle, parked it on an organic farm he volunteered with, and renovated it out to be off the electricity grid. I’d use wood I either coppiced or scavenged to heat my humble abode in a wood burner made from an old gas bottle, and I had a compost loo to make ‘humanure’ for my veggies”. Up front and to the point, Boyle clearly understood the necessity of using every available resource to be most sustainable.
“I bathed in a river, and for toothpaste I used washed up cuttlefish bone with wild fennel seeds, an oddity for a vegan. For loo I’d relieve the local newsagent of its papers (Once I wiped my arse with a story about myself); it wasn’t double quilted but it quickly became normal”. For transportation, Mark used his bike and trailer, using the 55 km commute to the city as an alternative solution for the gym. Beeswax candles served as his lighting.
Humorously inspiring to some, deluded and anti-capitalist to others, Mark had this to say about his radical lifestyle: “Many people label me as anti-capitalist. Whilst I do believe capitalism is fundamentally flawed, requiring infinite growth on a finite planet, I am not anti anything.” More than anything, Boyle claims to be pro-nature, pro-community, and pro-happiness. How often is that a city dweller’s life philosophy?
“And that’s the thing I don’t get – if all this consumerism and environmental destruction brought happiness, it would make some sense. But all the key indicators of unhappiness – depression, crime, mental illness, obesity, suicide and so on are on the increase.” More money, it seems, does not equate to more happiness.
Another positive effect of Mark’s unique lifestyle is the joy he has created for himself. “Ironically, I have found this year to be the happiest of my life. I’ve more friends in my community than ever, I haven’t been ill since I began, and I’ve never been fitter. I’ve found that friendship, not money, is real security. That most western poverty is spiritual, and that independence is really interdependent.”
Mark’s example certainly stands as inspiration for those seeking freedom from the fast-paced modern age; most alternative media sources would agree that the more one reconnects to nature, the better their mental, physical, and spiritual health is. However, could everyone live like this? According to Mark, no.
“It would be a catastrophe, we are too addicted to both it and cheap energy, and have managed to build an entire global infrastructure around the abundance of both.”
The prospect of gradually transitioning to re-localized, small communities is a possibility, though. With greener energy sources and healthier communities being implemented at a growing rate, natural living is already a reality, but may be made much more mainstream in the future to come.
“For over 90 percent of our time on the planet, a period when we lived much more ecologically, we lived without money. Now we are the only species to use it, probably because we are the species most out of touch with nature.”
Asked what was missing from his old world of lucre and business, Mark replied “Stress. Traffic-jams. Bank statements. Utility bills. Oh yeah, and the odd pint of organic ale with my mates down at the local”.
It just goes to show, if you are passionate about anything, you can be that change you’d like to see in the world.
0 Example:
Seven years ago Mark
A had already finished his degree course.
B was a conventional person.
C was already planning to live without money.
1 Mark and his friend
A had a serious conversation one day.
B got drunk one evening.
C worked in the same company.
2 Mark realised
A most of us are ignorant of the repercussions of our actions.
B plenty of people want to cause as much damage to others as possible.
C the gap between consumers and the consumed is closing.
3 According to Mark
A it is too easy for us to get everything.
B our society has started a reconnection with the natural world.
C we should make our own furniture.
4 Mark
A grows his own food.
B mainly eats food people throw away.
C regularly eats with some other people.
5 Mark
A gets his electricity from the farm where he works.
B is sometimes given a lift.
C washes in the river after going to the toilet.
6 In Mark’s opinion capitalism
A has brought more happiness in general.
B requires using resources non-stop.
C is being widely rejected all over the world.
7 Mark’s lifestyle
A can easily be imitated by most people.
B has been very rewarding for him.
C has made him dependent on other people.
8 Mark
A intends to spend 90% of his time living without money.
B still drinks pints with his friends at the local pub.
C thinks many more people will reconnect with nature in the future.
KEY:
1A 2A 3A 4A 5B 6B 7B 8C
martes, 3 de febrero de 2015
Madrid Teacher: Consumed Consumer
In this week's Madrid Teacher video, two teachers discuss customer service and the extent to what businesses and companies can be held responsible for the bad service their employees provide. As usual, this is going to give us the opportunity to get acquainted with some features of spoken English.
First of all, watch the video through to get acquainted with the gist of the teachers' conversation.
Now watch the video more carefully, paying attention to the following:
This passenger on a United Airlines flight had his guitar broken and he ended up writing a song about it and put it on YouTube and he's caused the company’s stocks to fall. That’s incredible!
Why was that?
Well, well, because they broke his guitar [Right.], he went out to get revenge on the company and, and I don’t know how many employees these, these people have, maybe they have a hundred thousand employees.
Somehow I can relate to this guy because, you know, so many times things happen to you and you just can’t do nothing about it, so I mean I would, I’m happy for the guy, I mean…
Yeah, but he was, he was unable to, to put the paperwork through, or do, do the work, the legal work, if necessary. There are other channels.
Well, if they broke his guitar, somehow they have to pay for the guitar and all that, I mean...
For sure, I agree with that, but there are other channels, there are legal channels.
It’s always very hard to fight all these big companies, it’s a thing that, I don’t know, somehow I feel that the guy… I’m happy for the guy.
I think, okay, I agree, there’s, I mean, they broke his guitar, that’s for sure [Right.] but there are, were two employees possibly who broke the guitar [Right.], okay…
Yeah, but the employees work for the company, somehow the company is responsible for everybody, yeah.
Right, but now all the employees of the company are paying for these, these…
Well, not all the employees are paying...
If their stocks fell, the company’s been hurt, the company’s been hurt by this.
That was, I mean, that was the company’s fault, I mean, they made a mistake, and that’s I mean, they can’t help it, you know.
Okay, it’s a mistake, so…
Well, somehow you…
They can rectify it but there are other channels to, to rectify that mistake.
Well, it’s a free world nowadays you can write a song or whatever, it’s, you know.
Yeah, but it’s, it’s overkill.
I’m sure the musician was not trying to damage the company’s image, you know.
Of course he was. He was trying to get revenge.
Revenge?
Revenge!
I mean money or…
He’s vindictive…
Well, somehow he was hurt…
… frustrated, he was hurt, yeah.
He was hurt, he’s a musician, I mean, obviously…
He wanted to get them back.
… that was the only guitar he had, you know, I mean, he was not able to play for a couple months [Yeah.], you know, so somehow, somehow he wrote a song and, if I can make it, well, no problem, you know.
Well, that’s just the point, he said there’s a good story in here and maybe I can get rich with it.
It’s a good story, well… You got to give him credit, you got to give him credit.
I give him credit for creativity, but it’s also a little bit malicious…
No, no, no, that was not his…
It’s malicious creativity.
… his main idea was not that one, I mean, he was just writing out a song because something that happened to him, it was just out of the blue, and he just did it like that.
I don’t know, I think when you have a problem with the company, if the first person you talk to won’t take care of you, you can talk to more people, there’s other things you can do other than…
I’m sure he just went through, I mean, a lot, a lot of people through the company and finally he just said I’m gonna write out a song because nobody pays attention to, to my, to my complaint.
Oh, yeah, and he’s so important.
Well, he’s so important, he’s important now that he’s famous right.
Infamous.
Infamous, right.
First of all, watch the video through to get acquainted with the gist of the teachers' conversation.
Now watch the video more carefully, paying attention to the following:
- Conversation fillers to gain thinking time: Well; you know
- Showing the person who is speaking that you're paying attention and listening: Right
- Use of just to emphasize the verb.
- Use of so as a linker.
- Showing agreement: Yeah; for sure; I agree with that; I agree; Right
- Use of I mean to paraphrase with we have just said and make yourself clear
This passenger on a United Airlines flight had his guitar broken and he ended up writing a song about it and put it on YouTube and he's caused the company’s stocks to fall. That’s incredible!
Why was that?
Well, well, because they broke his guitar [Right.], he went out to get revenge on the company and, and I don’t know how many employees these, these people have, maybe they have a hundred thousand employees.
Somehow I can relate to this guy because, you know, so many times things happen to you and you just can’t do nothing about it, so I mean I would, I’m happy for the guy, I mean…
Yeah, but he was, he was unable to, to put the paperwork through, or do, do the work, the legal work, if necessary. There are other channels.
Well, if they broke his guitar, somehow they have to pay for the guitar and all that, I mean...
For sure, I agree with that, but there are other channels, there are legal channels.
It’s always very hard to fight all these big companies, it’s a thing that, I don’t know, somehow I feel that the guy… I’m happy for the guy.
I think, okay, I agree, there’s, I mean, they broke his guitar, that’s for sure [Right.] but there are, were two employees possibly who broke the guitar [Right.], okay…
Yeah, but the employees work for the company, somehow the company is responsible for everybody, yeah.
Right, but now all the employees of the company are paying for these, these…
Well, not all the employees are paying...
If their stocks fell, the company’s been hurt, the company’s been hurt by this.
That was, I mean, that was the company’s fault, I mean, they made a mistake, and that’s I mean, they can’t help it, you know.
Okay, it’s a mistake, so…
Well, somehow you…
They can rectify it but there are other channels to, to rectify that mistake.
Well, it’s a free world nowadays you can write a song or whatever, it’s, you know.
Yeah, but it’s, it’s overkill.
I’m sure the musician was not trying to damage the company’s image, you know.
Of course he was. He was trying to get revenge.
Revenge?
Revenge!
I mean money or…
He’s vindictive…
Well, somehow he was hurt…
… frustrated, he was hurt, yeah.
He was hurt, he’s a musician, I mean, obviously…
He wanted to get them back.
… that was the only guitar he had, you know, I mean, he was not able to play for a couple months [Yeah.], you know, so somehow, somehow he wrote a song and, if I can make it, well, no problem, you know.
Well, that’s just the point, he said there’s a good story in here and maybe I can get rich with it.
It’s a good story, well… You got to give him credit, you got to give him credit.
I give him credit for creativity, but it’s also a little bit malicious…
No, no, no, that was not his…
It’s malicious creativity.
… his main idea was not that one, I mean, he was just writing out a song because something that happened to him, it was just out of the blue, and he just did it like that.
I don’t know, I think when you have a problem with the company, if the first person you talk to won’t take care of you, you can talk to more people, there’s other things you can do other than…
I’m sure he just went through, I mean, a lot, a lot of people through the company and finally he just said I’m gonna write out a song because nobody pays attention to, to my, to my complaint.
Oh, yeah, and he’s so important.
Well, he’s so important, he’s important now that he’s famous right.
Infamous.
Infamous, right.
viernes, 7 de noviembre de 2014
Don’t buy stuff you can't afford
This is a Saturday Night Segment featuring Steve Martin about the dangers of consumerism and running into debt that many people are falling into today.
Self-study activity:
Watch the video and complete the missing sentences in the transcript. This activity is kind of dictation-like, so you will have to stop the video to write the sentences.
The activity is suitable for intermediate 2 students.
Ah, I just can't get these numbers to add up.
It's like we're never going to get outta this hole.
Credit card debt, does it ever end?
Maybe I can help.
We sure could use it.
We've tried debt consolidation companies.
We've even taken out loans to help make our payments.
Well, you're not the only ones. Did you know millions of Americans live (1) ... ? That's why I developed this unique new program for managing your debt. It's called "Don't buy stuff you cannot afford".
Oh, let me see that. If you don't have any money (2) ... . Hm, sounds interesting.
Sounds confusing.
I don't know, honey. This makes a lotta sense. There's a whole section here on how to buy expensive things using money you save.
Give me see that. And (3) ...?
I tell you where and how in chapter three.
Ok, but what if I want something but (4) ... ?
You don't buy it.
Well let's say I don't have enough money to buy something. (5) ... ?
No.
Now I'm really confused.
It's a little confusing at first.
Well, what if you have the money. Can you buy something?
Yes.
Now, (6) ... . Same story?
Nope. You shouldn't buy stuff when you don't have the money.
I think I got it. I buy something I want and then (7) ... , right?
No. You make sure you have money, then you buy it.
Oh, then you buy it. But shouldn't you buy it before you have the money?
No,
Why not?
It's in the book. It's only one page long. (8) ... and the book is free.
Wow! I like the sound of that.
Yeah, we can (9) ... .
So get outta debt now. Write for your free copy of "Don't Buy Stuff You Cannot Afford". And if you order now you'll also receive "Seriously If You Don't Have The Money Don't Buy It" along with a twelve month subscription to "Stop Buying Stuff Magazine". So order today.
Key:
1 with with debt they cannot control
2 you should not buy anything
3 where would you get this saved money
4 I don't have any money
5 Should I buy it anyway
6 take the money away
7 hope that I can pay for it
8 The advice is priceless
9 put it on our credit card
Self-study activity:
Watch the video and complete the missing sentences in the transcript. This activity is kind of dictation-like, so you will have to stop the video to write the sentences.
The activity is suitable for intermediate 2 students.
Ah, I just can't get these numbers to add up.
It's like we're never going to get outta this hole.
Credit card debt, does it ever end?
Maybe I can help.
We sure could use it.
We've tried debt consolidation companies.
We've even taken out loans to help make our payments.
Well, you're not the only ones. Did you know millions of Americans live (1) ... ? That's why I developed this unique new program for managing your debt. It's called "Don't buy stuff you cannot afford".
Oh, let me see that. If you don't have any money (2) ... . Hm, sounds interesting.
Sounds confusing.
I don't know, honey. This makes a lotta sense. There's a whole section here on how to buy expensive things using money you save.
Give me see that. And (3) ...?
I tell you where and how in chapter three.
Ok, but what if I want something but (4) ... ?
You don't buy it.
Well let's say I don't have enough money to buy something. (5) ... ?
No.
Now I'm really confused.
It's a little confusing at first.
Well, what if you have the money. Can you buy something?
Yes.
Now, (6) ... . Same story?
Nope. You shouldn't buy stuff when you don't have the money.
I think I got it. I buy something I want and then (7) ... , right?
No. You make sure you have money, then you buy it.
Oh, then you buy it. But shouldn't you buy it before you have the money?
No,
Why not?
It's in the book. It's only one page long. (8) ... and the book is free.
Wow! I like the sound of that.
Yeah, we can (9) ... .
So get outta debt now. Write for your free copy of "Don't Buy Stuff You Cannot Afford". And if you order now you'll also receive "Seriously If You Don't Have The Money Don't Buy It" along with a twelve month subscription to "Stop Buying Stuff Magazine". So order today.
Key:
1 with with debt they cannot control
2 you should not buy anything
3 where would you get this saved money
4 I don't have any money
5 Should I buy it anyway
6 take the money away
7 hope that I can pay for it
8 The advice is priceless
9 put it on our credit card
sábado, 27 de septiembre de 2014
Reading test: The death of the US shopping mall
In this week's reading comprehension activity we are going to read a BBC article by Jonathan Glancey about the decline of shopping malls in US, The death of the US shopping mall. It will help us practise the multiple choice kind of task.
Drop by the BBC website by clicking on this link and read the article The death of the US shopping mall. Say which option a, b or c best completes the sentence or answers the question 1-7. 0 is an example.
Example:
Drop by the BBC website by clicking on this link and read the article The death of the US shopping mall. Say which option a, b or c best completes the sentence or answers the question 1-7. 0 is an example.
Example:
0 Many shopping malls look
a) frightening because they don’t have enough light.
b) like Romero’s film set.
c) sinister after Romero’s film.
1 Which sentence is true, according to the text?
a) Ghost malls are thriving all over the US.
b) Shopping malls are victims of changing shopping patterns.
c) The economic recession is the reason for the decline of the mall.
2 The first US malls
a) had a kitsch design.
b) were intended to be in city centres.
c) were thought to be the heart of new communities.
3 Gruen’s Southdale Center in Edina
a) started a new concept of the shopping centre.
b) was built in a momentous year in American history.
c) was surrounded by homes, schools, lakes and parks.
4 The Cloverleaf Mall in Chesterfield
a) closed down because it lost its appeal for customers.
b) was closed down for purely economic reasons.
c) was the first one to close down in almost one and half centuries.
5 Many Americans
a) are in favour of knocking down the malls.
b) are worried about abandoned shopping malls.
c) have a hedonistic approach to life.
6 Which sentence is true according to the text?
a) St Peter’s in Rome is bigger than the King of Prussia Mall.
b) The cost of living in the US is higher than in Bangladesh.
c) The location of large malls is unpredictable.
7 Ghost malls
a) are the result of social and economic trends.
b) have been used to set books and films.
c) will be visited by tourists one day.
Source: BBC and architecturalafterlife.com
Key:
1B 2C 3A 4A 5B 6C 7A
martes, 16 de septiembre de 2014
Madrid Teacher: Spend away
In this week's episode of Madrid Teacher, three teachers discuss spending habits and consumerism. Their conversation gives a great opportunity to study some features of spoken English.
First, watch the video through, so that you get the gist of what the conversation is about.
Now, pay attention to the following elements that the speakers use in their conversation.
Now it's over to you. How do you feel about buying brands and expensive products? Are you a person who is always careful with money and tries to get the best bargains? Do you know any spendthrifts? How good is consumerism for the economy of a country? And for the environment?
When you discuss the topic with your friends, try to use some of the features of spoken English which have come up in the video.
Erm, the other night I was at a dinner with some friends, and they had just gone shopping…
Yeah.
…and so they were talking about what they had just bought and showing things off. And they were actually bragging about how expensive the jeans that they bought were. It was ridiculous prices. And I just thought it was really interesting because, when I brag, I generally brag about a bargain, a deal, you know. I got this for fifty cents, you know. I just thought it was interesting, the difference.
Yeah, for me… the thing about buying something really cheaply and it is really good…
Yeah.
And that, that makes you feel really good.
Getting a really great deal, yeah.
And the opposite is terrible. When you spend loads of money and then you realise you don’t like what you got.
Which is horrible.
I revolt on it, yeah.
And every time you see it you think oh, I spent four hundred pounds on that…
And never use it, yeah.
But it’s curious, how for example, in different cultures, how we show our wealth…
Yeah.
…or how we share how much we’ve spent is different in different cultures…
Yeah.
Because I remember once I was travelling in China, and if you had something that was a name brand, or whatever, sometimes they would leave the stickers on the bottom so that everyone else would know how much was spent.
Oh, really?
Absolutely. And also they would ask, how much did you spend on that? They were always asking different prices, but again it’s not considered a rude thing. Because in another culture that might be considered something quite like you would never ask.
Well, there are some cultures where they wear their wealth in gold…
Yeah.
… and I always found that really interesting as well.
Yeah, yeah.
Exactly.
Well, then you hear about these famous people who just spend ridiculous amounts of money on, you know, things like spending millions of euros on a car…
Yeah.
…when you can probably just get a nice you know, good car for half the price…
Yeah.
…or tenth of the price. Or like the erm, people, famous people spending millions on parties…
On parties, yeah. Dropping five hundred thousand euros or dollars on…
But doesn’t everybody?
Oh yeah.
Did you hear about the um, party with erm, Mittal, when he was, they did things like send out an invitation, and in the invitation box there was a diamond, just like…
Oh wow, I want an invite!
Yeah. Just send the invite and keep the diamond.
That’s what I would call a bargain.
Some people say that it’s actually good for the economy. Think about it.
Of course, yeah.
Spending all that money, it does help the economy in some way.
Of course, that’s true.
So, you know, if you go out and you spend too much, you’re not being selfish. No, no, you’re just giving it, you’re sharing it.
Our economy depends on people…
Exactly.
…buying things, and then factories can produce things. And that’s a whole other question, whether that’s good or not, isn’t it?
There was a point in time that the president was saying: Go out and buy, spend!
Yeah, and he is supposed to be environmentally-friendly president.
Exactly.
That goes against the environment in a way, doesn’t it? Because the more you produce, the more pollution.
Yeah.
Depends on what you’re buying.
There are pros and cons to all of it, isn’t there?
Yeah.
Spending too much, spending too little.
Yeah, yes, you’re right. If you don’t spend, people lose jobs I suppose.
Of course, yeah.
Then, none of us would have money to spend at all.
I think we should all get rid of our bank accounts and spend all our money.
Exactly, well let’s go now!
Not that we have any money, but...
First, watch the video through, so that you get the gist of what the conversation is about.
Now, pay attention to the following elements that the speakers use in their conversation.
- Fillers to gain thinking time: Erm; you know; Well
- Reacting to what the speaker is saying to show that you're paying attention: Yeah; Oh, really; Oh wow
- Use of so as a linking word.
- Use of and as a linking word.
- Use of really to emphasize the adjective.
- Use of just to emphasize the verb
- Use of vague language: or whatever;
- Showing agreement: Absolutely; Exactly; Of course, yeah; Of course, that’s true; Yeah, yes, you’re right
- Use of actually to introduce a piece of surprising information
Now it's over to you. How do you feel about buying brands and expensive products? Are you a person who is always careful with money and tries to get the best bargains? Do you know any spendthrifts? How good is consumerism for the economy of a country? And for the environment?
When you discuss the topic with your friends, try to use some of the features of spoken English which have come up in the video.
Erm, the other night I was at a dinner with some friends, and they had just gone shopping…
Yeah.
…and so they were talking about what they had just bought and showing things off. And they were actually bragging about how expensive the jeans that they bought were. It was ridiculous prices. And I just thought it was really interesting because, when I brag, I generally brag about a bargain, a deal, you know. I got this for fifty cents, you know. I just thought it was interesting, the difference.
Yeah, for me… the thing about buying something really cheaply and it is really good…
Yeah.
And that, that makes you feel really good.
Getting a really great deal, yeah.
And the opposite is terrible. When you spend loads of money and then you realise you don’t like what you got.
Which is horrible.
I revolt on it, yeah.
And every time you see it you think oh, I spent four hundred pounds on that…
And never use it, yeah.
But it’s curious, how for example, in different cultures, how we show our wealth…
Yeah.
…or how we share how much we’ve spent is different in different cultures…
Yeah.
Because I remember once I was travelling in China, and if you had something that was a name brand, or whatever, sometimes they would leave the stickers on the bottom so that everyone else would know how much was spent.
Oh, really?
Absolutely. And also they would ask, how much did you spend on that? They were always asking different prices, but again it’s not considered a rude thing. Because in another culture that might be considered something quite like you would never ask.
Well, there are some cultures where they wear their wealth in gold…
Yeah.
… and I always found that really interesting as well.
Yeah, yeah.
Exactly.
Well, then you hear about these famous people who just spend ridiculous amounts of money on, you know, things like spending millions of euros on a car…
Yeah.
…when you can probably just get a nice you know, good car for half the price…
Yeah.
…or tenth of the price. Or like the erm, people, famous people spending millions on parties…
On parties, yeah. Dropping five hundred thousand euros or dollars on…
But doesn’t everybody?
Oh yeah.
Did you hear about the um, party with erm, Mittal, when he was, they did things like send out an invitation, and in the invitation box there was a diamond, just like…
Oh wow, I want an invite!
Yeah. Just send the invite and keep the diamond.
That’s what I would call a bargain.
Some people say that it’s actually good for the economy. Think about it.
Of course, yeah.
Spending all that money, it does help the economy in some way.
Of course, that’s true.
So, you know, if you go out and you spend too much, you’re not being selfish. No, no, you’re just giving it, you’re sharing it.
Our economy depends on people…
Exactly.
…buying things, and then factories can produce things. And that’s a whole other question, whether that’s good or not, isn’t it?
There was a point in time that the president was saying: Go out and buy, spend!
Yeah, and he is supposed to be environmentally-friendly president.
Exactly.
That goes against the environment in a way, doesn’t it? Because the more you produce, the more pollution.
Yeah.
Depends on what you’re buying.
There are pros and cons to all of it, isn’t there?
Yeah.
Spending too much, spending too little.
Yeah, yes, you’re right. If you don’t spend, people lose jobs I suppose.
Of course, yeah.
Then, none of us would have money to spend at all.
I think we should all get rid of our bank accounts and spend all our money.
Exactly, well let’s go now!
Not that we have any money, but...
martes, 5 de agosto de 2014
Madrid Teacher: Kill Switch
In this week's Madrid Teacher video, four teachers discuss the quality of electric appliances and how these devices seem to last less and less as technology gets more and more sophisticated, which is a bit suspicious.
As usual, we will be using the teachers' conversation as a springboard to study some features of spoken English.
First of all, watch the video through to gain some understanding of what the dialogue is about.
Now watch the video more carefully, and pay attention to these examples of spoken English:
Now it's over to you. Do you really think that these days electrical appliances and electronic devices are made not to last? Can you think of examples to support your view? If possible, get together with a friend an exchange ideas on this topic. Don't forget to use some of the features of spoken English we have seen in the video.
Have you heard the urban legend about the Sony Kill Switch?
As usual, we will be using the teachers' conversation as a springboard to study some features of spoken English.
First of all, watch the video through to gain some understanding of what the dialogue is about.
Now watch the video more carefully, and pay attention to these examples of spoken English:
- Fillers to gain thinking time: well, erm; er; like; you know
- Showing agreement: yeah; Exactly; Absolutely; Indeed
- Use of actually to introduce a bit of unusual information
- Use of I mean to rephrase information you've just said and make yourself clear
- Use of hedging so as not to sound so dogmatic: I think; I don't think; you seem to; it seems to; I guess
- Use of so as a connector
Now it's over to you. Do you really think that these days electrical appliances and electronic devices are made not to last? Can you think of examples to support your view? If possible, get together with a friend an exchange ideas on this topic. Don't forget to use some of the features of spoken English we have seen in the video.
Have you heard the urban legend about the Sony Kill Switch?
No.
No, I’ve never heard about that.
No? It’s, well, erm, it’s like I said it’s an urban legend, and people say that Sony have built a device into their electronic goods, er, which stops, erm, the electronic device from working usually the day after the warranty expires. Ha, ha, ha.
Well, that’s a little bit suspicious, isn’t it?
I dare say it’s not to the day the warranty expires but, for example, imagine if you buy a laptop and it’s got a two- year guarantee. Usually you would expect a computer or whatever to last you for maybe five years but it seems to be an automatic thing where as soon as it’s two years up – kaput.
Yeah.
I’ve had that happen to me actually. It’s always a week after it expires.
Exactly.
Check the paper work “Oh my Gosh, last week”.
And you can’t get back to them ‘cause they’ll say, “I’m sorry”.
Yeah, oops.
You’re a week late.
I think appliances don’t last as long as they used to and you seem to have to, I mean, you know, I’m not the richest person in the world and sometimes I go for the cheaper option and it never pays off because they don’t, they don’t last.
Buy cheap, buy twice.
Buy cheap, buy twice. Exactly. Yeah.
Yeah. I’ve noticed this actually, erm, not only with electronic goods although obviously they have the warranty, but it seems to be with everything, with clothes, with shoes, erm, with everything, with fridges, which are electronic but…
Things just don’t last anymore.
No, I don’t think they’re built to last.
The thing is that technology is changing so quickly, I guess, in a way, they’re pushing us to get the new model of the computer or get the new model of the mobile phone…
Absolutely.
By making our things break early.
Perhaps, perhaps but it could also be a decline in quality as well so they’re just trying to get that fast production…
Yeah.
Not really concerned about the duration of the products. It could be that.
Yeah, because like in the past a company made its name on the fact that the, the, the object or the electronic device or the appliance would last like a long time…
Yeah, it was really a selling point.
Exactly.
But now it’s just consumer society of, you know, like come on renew, renew, renew and, you know, get rid of your old things and even if they’re still working, you know, so, it’s just the type of society we live in now.
Seems to be.
Indeed.
domingo, 5 de enero de 2014
Extensive listening series: The Truth About Supermarket Price Wars
Two years ago now, BBC's Panorama aired The Truth About Supermarket Price Wars.
In this thirty-minute documentary, reporter Sophie Raworth goes around some of Britain's biggest supermarket chains and discloses some surprises at the checkout.
"With their price drops, roll-backs, brand matches - as well as that old firm favourite, the two-for-one offer - our leading supermarkets are doing battle for our cash. They claim their price war is good news for shoppers in these tough times, but are their money-saving offers all they seem?".
Watch this fast-paced current affairs programme and find out the truth about supermarkets in the UK. No transcript available, but the CC YouTube subtitles on the lower side of the video player give a fairly accurate transcription of everything that is being said.
In this thirty-minute documentary, reporter Sophie Raworth goes around some of Britain's biggest supermarket chains and discloses some surprises at the checkout.
"With their price drops, roll-backs, brand matches - as well as that old firm favourite, the two-for-one offer - our leading supermarkets are doing battle for our cash. They claim their price war is good news for shoppers in these tough times, but are their money-saving offers all they seem?".
Watch this fast-paced current affairs programme and find out the truth about supermarkets in the UK. No transcript available, but the CC YouTube subtitles on the lower side of the video player give a fairly accurate transcription of everything that is being said.
miércoles, 4 de septiembre de 2013
Talking point: Globalization and consumerism
This week's talking point deals with globalization and consumerism. Before getting together with the members of your conversation group, go over the questions below so that ideas flow more easily when you meet your friends and you can sort out vocabulary problems beforehand.
In which of the areas in the wordle does globalization have an impact?
What are the benefits and problems for each area?
In which of the areas in the wordle does globalization have an impact?
What are the benefits and problems for each area?
- Is consumerism an epidemic in well-to-do countries?
- What do you understand by minimalism? Do you know anyone who is a minimalist?
- What will happen to the world if consumerism continues to rise in wealthy countries?
- Do you agree or disagree with this statement? “It is important to buy new things in order to keep the economy going.”
- What is economic inequality? Is it a serious problem these days?
- What do movements like The Occupy Movement - Escraches – Anonymous – Wikileaks – Peta – Femen mean to you?
- Can protests change societies or policies?
- The slogan of The Occupy Movement is ‘We are the 99%.’ What do you understand by it?
- Why might politicians be reluctant to agree with or support these movements?
- What does fair trade mean?
- What fair trade products have you seen in shop? Do you check where a product is made before buying it?
- Why are products that are made far away sometimes the least expensive?
- Is it true that many women in developing countries have no husband to support them?
- What do critics of fair trade doubt?
- Have you heard of “fair trade universities” or “fair trade towns”? What do you think these are?
- Do you prefer to buy products from local farms and artisans than from box stores?
- What should we buy, fair-trade products or products grown locally?
martes, 13 de septiembre de 2011
Just imagine
Self-study activity:
Get together with an English speaking friend or relative and answer the questions below.
How many Africans and Asians do you know?
Have you ever lived in a village or in the country?
How many disabled people do you know?
What's the religion of your friends and family?
What was life like when there was no sanitation or hygenic water resources?
Do you know any illiterate person?
Do you have a computer and an internet connection at home?
How would we manage if we had no fridge at home?
Do you have a bank account?
How much money do you spend on a daily basis?
Now watch this three-minute video from Save the World with Water and go over the answers again.
The song in the background is Mad World by Gary Jules. You may like to read the lyrics on this video.
Get together with an English speaking friend or relative and answer the questions below.
How many Africans and Asians do you know?
Have you ever lived in a village or in the country?
How many disabled people do you know?
What's the religion of your friends and family?
What was life like when there was no sanitation or hygenic water resources?
Do you know any illiterate person?
Do you have a computer and an internet connection at home?
How would we manage if we had no fridge at home?
Do you have a bank account?
How much money do you spend on a daily basis?
Now watch this three-minute video from Save the World with Water and go over the answers again.
The song in the background is Mad World by Gary Jules. You may like to read the lyrics on this video.
lunes, 27 de diciembre de 2010
Holiday Misgivings
A few days back Jeffrey Hill published this interesting infographics about the true nature of gifts in this gift-giving time of the year.
I quote Jeffrey: "How much money is lost in gift cards each year? How often are gifts regifted, returned or left unopened? Whose gifts are valued the most? Group payment system WePay has put together the infographic above to illustrate the answer to those and several other questions pertaining to holiday gift-gifting."
He also explains the word misgivings:
I quote Jeffrey: "How much money is lost in gift cards each year? How often are gifts regifted, returned or left unopened? Whose gifts are valued the most? Group payment system WePay has put together the infographic above to illustrate the answer to those and several other questions pertaining to holiday gift-gifting."
He also explains the word misgivings:
"The infographic title features a play on the word 'misgiving'. If you have misgivings about something that is being suggested or done, you feel that it is not quite right, and are worried that it may have unwanted results. And there's the idea of mis-giving, i.e., making a mistake when giving a gift (though this is not an actual verb)."
jueves, 23 de septiembre de 2010
Want to be happy?
Do you want to be happy? Ok, who doesn't. If so, don't go to the UK or Ireland to live. The quality of life in these two countries leaves a lot to be desired, according to this Guardian article.
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