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LANGUAGE: Homophones (9)

Homophones (9)

The Most Common Homophones in the English language

Homophones are two or more words that have the same pronunciation but different meanings and spellings. For example, new and knew are homophones. Make sure you can distinguish between and correctly use the words below. Some are easy, others more difficult. (If you don’t know the meaning of a word, look it up.)

Els homòfons són dues o més paraules que tenen la mateixa pronunciació però significats i grafies diferents. Per exemple, new i knew són homòfons. Assegura’t de saber distingir i utilitzar correctament les paraules següents. Algunes són fàcils, d’altres més difícils. (Si no coneixes el significat d’una paraula, busca’l.)

Los homófonos son dos o más palabras que tienen la misma pronunciación pero significados y grafías diferentes. Por ejemplo, new y knew son homófonos. Asegúrate de saber distinguir y usar correctamente las palabras que aparecen a continuación. Algunas son fáciles y otras más difíciles. (Si no conoces el significado de una palabra, búscalo.)

Ring	Wring
Rose	Rows
Real	Reel
Holey	Holy	Wholly
Pause	Paws
Pedal	Peddle
Colonel	Kernel
Cereal	Serial
War	Wore
None	Nun

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LANGUAGE: Phrasal Verbs (8)

Phrasal Verbs (8)

Let’s look at some phrasal verbs related to SLEEP. Remember, some phrasal verbs can be divided and some cannot. They have been divided below when possible. If they are not divided, you cannot do so!

Vegem alguns phrasal verbs relacionats amb el SON. Recorda que alguns phrasal verbs es poden separar i altres no. A continuació s’han separat quan és possible. Si no estan separats, no ho pots fer!

Vamos a ver algunos phrasal verbs relacionados con el SUEÑO. Recuerda que algunos phrasal verbs se pueden separar y otros no. A continuación se han separado cuando es posible. Si no están separados, ¡no puedes hacerlo!

WAKE UP: to stop sleeping; not necessarily to leave the bed. Also, to make someone else stop sleeping. / Dejar de dormir; no necesariamente levantarse de la cama. También, hacer que otra persona deje de dormir. / Deixar de dormir; no necessàriament aixecar-se del llit. També, fer que una altra persona deixi de dormir.
I woke up at three o’clock last night because I had a bad dream.
John woke me up when he arrived home late from the party.

GET UP: To get out of bed. Also, to get someone else out of bed. / Salir de la cama. También, hacer que otra persona se levante. / Sortir del llit. També, fer que una altra persona s’aixequi.
I had to get up at 5:00 last Monday to catch a taxi to the airport.
Could you get me up at 6:30 tomorrow?

LIE DOWN: To put yourself in a flat position on a bed or sofa. / Ponerse en posición horizontal en una cama o sofá. / Posar-se en posició horitzontal en un llit o sofà.
I’m going to lie down for a while. I’m not feeling well.

SLEEP IN: To sleep later than your normal time; especially on the weekend. / Dormir más tarde de lo habitual; especialmente el fin de semana. / Dormir més tard de l’habitual; especialment el cap de setmana.
On Sundays, I like to sleep in until ten o’clock and then make a big breakfast.

DOZE/NOD OFF: To fall asleep, often while sitting, and especially during the day. / Quedarse dormido, a menudo sentado y especialmente durante el día. / Quedar-se adormit, sovint assegut i especialment durant el dia.
When I’m tired, I often doze off in front of the television.

STAY UP: to go to bed later than usual. / ACOSTARSE TARDE: irse a la cama más tarde de lo habitual. / ANAR A DORMIR TARD: anar al llit més tard de l’habitual.
Last night, I stayed up till after midnight to finish a book I was reading.

SLEEP THROUGH (something): To not wake despite a loud noise (alarm clock) or disturbance. / No despertarse a pesar de un ruido fuerte o una molestia. / No despertar-se tot i un soroll fort o una interrupció.
I slept through the thunderstorm and never heard a thing.

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LANGUAGE: SLANG (2)

Slang (2)

Let’s continue this new section with more slang from Down Under: Australian slang! / Continuem aquesta nova secció amb més argot d’Austràlia: argot australià! / Continuemos esta nueva sección con más jerga de Australia: ¡jerga australiana!

Footy – Football (Aussie Rules) / futbol australià / fútbol australiano

Good On Ya – Good work / ben fet / buen trabajo

Heaps – loads, lots, many / molt, molts, un munt / mucho, muchos, un montón

Maccas – McDonalds / McDonald’s / McDonald’s

Mozzie – Mosquito / mosquit / mosquito

No Worries – No problem / It’s ok / cap problema / no pasa nada

Outback – remote, interior of Australia / interior remot d’Austràlia / interior remoto de Australia

Reckon – for sure (“You reckon?”) / segur (“Tu creus?”) / seguro (“¿Tú crees?”)

Runners – Trainers, Sneakers / vambes / zapatillas deportivas

Sheila – A woman / dona / mujer

Straya – Australia / Austràlia / Australia

Thongs – Flip Flops / xancletes / chanclas

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SPANISH SPEAKERS (14)

English for Spanish Speakers (14)

Basic Time Prepositions

AT is used for specific times and certain expressions.
We use it when we refer to exact moments or fixed phrases.
Examples: at 12:35, at night, at lunchtime, at Christmas, at the moment, at the same time, at the age of

ON is used for dates and days.
We use it when talking about specific days or calendar dates.
Examples: on May 6, on Wednesday, on Christmas Day, on my birthday, on Valentine’s Day, on Friday morning

IN is used for longer periods of time.
We use it for months, years, centuries, seasons, and parts of the day.
Examples: in May, in 1970, in (the) summer, in the 19th century, in the 1990s, in the Middle Ages, in the morning / afternoon / evening
(Note: we say at night and on Friday evening)

FOR is used to express duration (how long something continues).
Examples: for seven months, for a week, for five minutes, for years, for the weekend

DURING is used to say when something happens within a period (not the duration).
Examples: during our vacation, during the night, during the film, during my class, during the presentation

Preposicions de temps bàsiques

AT s’utilitza per a hores concretes i expressions fixes.
S’utilitza quan ens referim a moments exactes o frases establertes.
Exemples: at 12:35, at night, at lunchtime, at Christmas, at the moment, at the same time, at the age of

ON s’utilitza amb dates i dies.
S’utilitza quan parlem de dies concrets o dates del calendari.
Exemples: on May 6, on Wednesday, on Christmas Day, on my birthday, on Valentine’s Day, on Friday morning

IN s’utilitza amb períodes de temps més llargs.
S’utilitza per mesos, anys, segles, estacions i parts del dia.
Exemples: in May, in 1970, in (the) summer, in the 19th century, in the 1990s, in the Middle Ages, in the morning / afternoon / evening
(Nota: diem at night i on Friday evening)

FOR s’utilitza per expressar durada (quant de temps dura una acció).
Exemples: for seven months, for a week, for five minutes, for years, for the weekend

DURING s’utilitza per indicar quan passa alguna cosa dins d’un període (no la durada).
Exemples: during our vacation, during the night, during the film, during my class, during the presentation

Preposiciones de tiempo básicas

AT se usa para horas concretas y expresiones fijas.
Se utiliza cuando nos referimos a momentos exactos o expresiones establecidas.
Ejemplos: at 12:35, at night, at lunchtime, at Christmas, at the moment, at the same time, at the age of

ON se usa con fechas y días.
Se utiliza cuando hablamos de días específicos o fechas del calendario.
Ejemplos: on May 6, on Wednesday, on Christmas Day, on my birthday, on Valentine’s Day, on Friday morning

IN se usa con periodos de tiempo más largos.
Se utiliza para meses, años, siglos, estaciones y partes del día.
Ejemplos: in May, in 1970, in (the) summer, in the 19th century, in the 1990s, in the Middle Ages, in the morning / afternoon / evening
(Nota: se dice at night y on Friday evening)

FOR se usa para expresar duración (cuánto tiempo dura algo).
Ejemplos: for seven months, for a week, for five minutes, for years, for the weekend

DURING se usa para indicar cuándo ocurre algo dentro de un periodo (no la duración).
Ejemplos: during our vacation, during the night, during the film, during my class, during the presentation

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PUB QUIZ (14)

Pub Quiz (14)

A pub quiz is a contest normally held in a bar or pub. It’s a modern example of a pub game, becoming part of British culture in the 1970s, and soon afterwards introduced into Irish pubs and then spreading internationally. It involves rounds of quiz questions addressed to teams of players, touching on general knowledge (geography, science, & nature), sport, entertainment, true & false, Who am I? (see above), music, puzzles, and more. Test yourself, learn more vocabulary, and amaze your friends with your knowledge!

Un pub quiz és un concurs que normalment té lloc en un bar o pub. És un exemple modern de joc de pub, que es va convertir en part de la cultura britànica als anys 1970 i, poc després, es va introduir als pubs irlandesos i es va estendre internacionalment. Consisteix en rondes de preguntes dirigides a equips de participants, que tracten sobre coneixements generals (geografia, ciència i natura), esport, entreteniment, vertader o fals, Qui sóc? (Who am I?), música, trencaclosques i més. Posa’t a prova, aprèn més vocabulari i deixa els teus amics bocabadats amb els teus coneixements!

Un pub quiz es un concurso que normalmente se celebra en un bar o pub. Es un ejemplo moderno de juego de pub, que pasó a ser parte de la cultura británica en la década de 1970 y, poco después, se introdujo en los pubs irlandeses y se difundió internacionalmente. Consiste en rondas de preguntas dirigidas a equipos de jugadores, que abarcan conocimientos generales (geografía, ciencia y naturaleza), deporte, entretenimiento, verdadero o falso, ¿Quién soy yo? (Who am I?), música, rompecabezas y más. ¡Ponte a prueba, aprende más vocabulario y sorprende a tus amigos con tus conocimientos!

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FUN FACTS (15)

10 Fun Facts about Teaching English

About 20% of the Earth’s population are English language learners—that’s between 1.5 to 2 billion people! There are an estimated 250,000 teachers teaching them.
The ESL (English as a Second Language) market is predicted to be worth around €64 billion. The global online market is currently worth almost €15 billion.
Only 20% of ESL classes worldwide are taught by native speakers. There are approximately twice as many ESL learners worldwide as actual native speakers.
According to a European Commission report, 99–100% of primary pupils in Spain learn English as a foreign language.
About 80% of English language learners’ real-life experiences speaking English will be with other non-native speakers.
English is the most common language on the internet, followed by Chinese and Spanish. 80% of information stored on computers worldwide is in English.
There are more English learners (400 million) in China than there are speakers in the USA.
Asia is the most popular place to teach English, with China, South Korea, Vietnam, Japan, and Thailand among the top destinations.
English spelling is inconsistent and therefore difficult mainly because:
1. over centuries, it incorporated Germanic, French, Latin, and Greek influences;
2. early skilled English printers were often Flemish speakers, many of whom didn’t speak English but set the type;
3. pronunciation shifts occurred after spelling was determined;
4. the lack of a centralized authority like the Real Academia Española.
Beware, English has several contronyms: words that are their own opposites. For example, “dust” can mean to add or remove. “She dusted the cake with powdered sugar.” “All the furniture needs to be dusted. It’s filthy!” Other contronyms include bolt, clip, fast, fix, left, overlook, and weather. Can you think of examples for these?

10 dades curioses sobre ensenyar i aprendre anglès

Aproximadament el 20% de la població mundial està aprenent anglès—és a dir, entre 1,5 i 2 mil milions de persones! Es calcula que hi ha uns 250.000 professors ensenyant-los.
Es preveu que el mercat d’ESL (anglès com a segona llengua) arribi a uns 64.000 milions d’euros. El mercat global en línia actualment val gairebé 15.000 milions d’euros.
Només el 20% de les classes d’ESL arreu del món són impartides per parlants nadius. Hi ha aproximadament el doble d’aprenents d’anglès que parlants nadius al món.
Segons un informe de la Comissió Europea, el 99–100% dels alumnes de primària a Espanya aprenen anglès com a llengua estrangera.
Aproximadament el 80% de les experiències reals parlant anglès dels estudiants seran amb altres parlants no nadius.
L’anglès és la llengua més comuna a internet, seguida del xinès i el castellà. El 80% de la informació emmagatzemada als ordinadors del món està en anglès.
Hi ha més estudiants d’anglès (400 milions) a la Xina que parlants als EUA.
Àsia és el lloc més popular per ensenyar anglès, amb la Xina, Corea del Sud, Vietnam, Japó i Tailàndia entre els principals destins.
L’ortografia anglesa és inconsistent i, per tant, difícil principalment perquè:
1. al llarg dels segles ha incorporat influències germàniques, franceses, llatines i gregues;
2. els primers impressors anglesos sovint eren flamencs, molts dels quals no parlaven anglès però componien els textos;
3. els canvis de pronunciació es van produir després que l’ortografia ja estigués fixada;
4. la manca d’una autoritat centralitzada com la Real Academia Española.
Compte, l’anglès té diversos “contrònims”: paraules que són els seus propis oposats. Per exemple, “dust” pot significar afegir o treure. “She dusted the cake with powdered sugar.” “All the furniture needs to be dusted. It’s filthy!” Altres contrònims inclouen bolt, clip, fast, fix, left, overlook i weather. Pots pensar exemples d’aquests?

10 datos curiosos sobre enseñar y aprender inglés

Aproximadamente el 20% de la población mundial está aprendiendo inglés—¡eso es entre 1,5 y 2 mil millones de personas! Se estima que hay unos 250.000 profesores enseñándoles.
Se prevé que el mercado de ESL (inglés como segunda lengua) alcance unos 64.000 millones de euros. El mercado global en línea actualmente vale casi 15.000 millones de euros.
Solo el 20% de las clases de ESL en todo el mundo son impartidas por hablantes nativos. Hay aproximadamente el doble de estudiantes de inglés que hablantes nativos en el mundo.
Según un informe de la Comisión Europea, el 99–100% de los alumnos de primaria en España aprenden inglés como lengua extranjera.
Aproximadamente el 80% de las experiencias reales hablando inglés de los estudiantes serán con otros hablantes no nativos.
El inglés es el idioma más común en internet, seguido del chino y el español. El 80% de la información almacenada en ordenadores de todo el mundo está en inglés.
Hay más estudiantes de inglés (400 millones) en China que hablantes en EE. UU.
Asia es el lugar más popular para enseñar inglés, con China, Corea del Sur, Vietnam, Japón y Tailandia entre los destinos principales.
La ortografía inglesa es inconsistente y, por tanto, difícil principalmente porque:
1. a lo largo de los siglos ha incorporado influencias germánicas, francesas, latinas y griegas;
2. los primeros impresores ingleses solían ser flamencos, muchos de los cuales no hablaban inglés pero componían los textos;
3. los cambios de pronunciación ocurrieron después de que la ortografía se fijara;
4. la falta de una autoridad centralizada como la Real Academia Española.
Cuidado, el inglés tiene varios “contrónimos”: palabras que son sus propios opuestos. Por ejemplo, “dust” puede significar añadir o quitar. “She dusted the cake with powdered sugar.” “All the furniture needs to be dusted. It’s filthy!” Otros contrónimos incluyen bolt, clip, fast, fix, left, overlook y weather. ¿Puedes pensar en ejemplos de estos?

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LANGUAGE: USA vs UK (6)

American vs British English (6)

UK English vs US English - What's The Difference?

“Two nations divided by a common language.” Oscar Wilde

Not only are American and British words sometimes spelled differently (right there: spelled vs spelt), but often totally different words are used by speakers to express themselves. / No només les paraules americanes i britàniques s’escriuen de vegades de manera diferent (aquí mateix: spelled vs spelt), sinó que sovint els parlants utilitzen paraules totalment diferents per expressar-se. / No solo las palabras americanas y británicas a veces se escriben de manera diferente (aquí mismo: spelled vs spelt), sino que a menudo los hablantes utilizan palabras totalmente diferentes para expresarse.

Generally speaking, your texts will use British English, but it is a good idea to learn common American equivalent words to avoid confusion and misunderstanding. / En termes generals, els teus textos utilitzaran l’anglès britànic, però és una bona idea aprendre les paraules equivalents americanes comunes per evitar confusions i malentesos. / En términos generales, tus textos utilizarán el inglés británico, pero es una buena idea aprender las palabras equivalentes americanas comunes para evitar confusiones y malentendidos.

Here are ten American and British words that have the same meaning but, as you can see, are not similar in any way: / Aquí teniu deu paraules americanes i britàniques que tenen el mateix significat però, com podeu veure, no s’assemblen de cap manera: / Aquí tienes diez palabras americanas y británicas que tienen el mismo significado pero, como puedes ver, no se parecen de ninguna manera:

American	British	Català / Castellano
band-aid	sticking plaster	tireta / tirita
antenna	aerial	antena / antena
baby buggy	pram	cotxet / cochecito
bathrobe	dressing gown	barnús / albornoz
bomb (disaster)	bomb (success)	desastre / èxit – desastre / éxito
to call	to ring up	trucar / llamar
check (restaurant)	bill	compte / cuenta
diaper	nappy	bolquer / pañal
downtown	centre	centre / centro
first floor	ground floor	planta baixa / planta baja

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MAY CALENDAR 2026

Each month we will give you a list of special happenings in the UK, USA, and other English-Speaking countries, some serious, others not so much!

1: May Day or International Workers’ Day

It is not celebrated in the USA (nor UK, Canada, or Australia). On this date in 1886, over 300,000 workers in Chicago participated in a May Day strike advocating for an eight-hour workday to replace long workdays of up to 16 hours. Rioting followed, leaving at least 11 dead. This was enough for the US government to quickly move this international “Labor Day” to September. During the Cold War era, the US further distanced itself from May Day due to its connections with communist nations. In its place, on this date, the US now celebrates Loyalty Day, Law Day, and National Day of Prayer! How very American!

Quinn Dombrowski from Berkeley, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

2: World Laughter Day

is celebrated on the first Sunday of May to raise awareness about all the benefits of laughing and promotes world peace through laughter. Here are a few jokes from the king of one-liners, Rodney Dangerfield:

My school was in a tough neighborhood. When the teacher asked a kid to prove the law of gravity, he threw her out of the window.
I could tell that my parents hated me. My bath toys were a toaster and a radio.
My wife and I were very happy for twenty-five years. Then we met.
Last week I told my psychiatrist, “I keep thinking about suicide.” He told me from now on I have to pay in advance.
My mother was a terrible cook. In my house, we prayed after we ate.
Last night my wife met me at the front door. She was wearing a sexy negligee. The trouble was, she was coming home.
I feel sorry for short people, you know. When it rains, they’re the last to know.
As a kid I got no respect. When we played hide-and-seek, they wouldn’t look for me.
I was such an ugly baby that my mother had morning sickness–after I was born.
I told my psychiatrist that everyone hates me. He said I was being ridiculous – not everyone had met me yet.

Press photo, photographer unknown, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

5: National Teacher’s Day

Be kind to your teacher today, please!

8: No Socks Day

It is pretty straightforward—celebrate the day by not wearing any socks! You could spend the day barefoot, in sandals, or in regular shoes, just make sure you aren’t wearing any socks! Embrace the feeling of the ground beneath their feet. It’s great to feel the soft grass or warm sand under and between our toes. As for your shoes and sneakers, leave them in the closet until September. Fun Facts about socks:

Lost socks—around 60 per household—cost the average family of four around 270€ a year, according to researchers. They have yet to resolve the mystery as to where they all go!
Roman legionnaires committed the ultimate modern fashion crime by wearing socks with their sandals.
Married people are more prone to wear mismatched socks. Why? It’s not uncommon that they dress in the dark so as not to wake their partner, sometimes choosing socks of subtly different colors.
Albert Einstein never wore socks.
“Put a sock in it,” is a common expression to tell someone to be quiet or stop talking.

User:Sarang, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

10: Clean Up Your Room Day

it is a day that parents look forward to and that children fear. Children can’t make excuses to not clean their room today; it’s a holiday! (But parents or other adults aren’t off the hook; this day applies to them as well.) The day can be looked at as part of spring cleaning. It’s a day to make your bed, check under it for socks (see above) and other foul matter, pick up all your dirty clothes, and sweep the floor. In other words, shock your parents!

Infrogmation of New Orleans, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

12: Limerick Day

It celebrates both the limerick poem and the birth of Edward Lear, who popularized the poems and was born on this date in 1812. It has been celebrated since at least 1987 and is marked by the reading and writing of limericks. Limericks are short, often humorous or ribald poems. They consist of five lines: the first two lines rhyme with the last line, and the middle two lines rhyme with each other. This is an example of an AABBA rhyme scheme. They are named after Limerick, Ireland. Example:

There once was a fellow from Perth
who was born on the day of his birth
He was married, they say
on his wife’s wedding day
and he died on his last day on Earth

Sheila1988, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

13: Leprechaun Day

It celebrates leprechauns and their history. Legends related to leprechauns date back to the eighth century, to Celtic folklore about water spirits called luchorpán, a word for «small body,» who were 60-90cm tall and said to live in hollow tree trunks or underground caves. Early leprechauns were portrayed as mischievous, trick-playing fairies. Legend said that if you caught one and then set him free, you’d receive a pot of gold.

In present-day Irish folklore, leprechauns are depicted with ginger hair, a specific green coat, and a buckled hat. They dance the jig and wear out their shoes quickly. Recent stories say that whoever catches them will have a wish granted, but it may come with a price. Fun “Facts”:

There are no female leprechauns—sources claim they are the unwanted children of the fairy community.
Leprechauns have a troublesome cousin called the clurichain—described as always drunk and surly, they are often seen riding animals at night or breaking into and drinking up entire wine cellars.
Leprechauns are protected under European Law: there are apparently 236 leprechauns who still live in the caves of Slieve Foye. In 2009, the EU granted heritage status to the remaining wee people there in the form of a protected sanctuary.

David Revoy, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

16: National Piercing Day

It promotes body piercing. In times past, pierced ears were about the limits of what we once saw; today the number one type of piercing is the nose/nostril, and quite common. Body piercing has increased in popularity, but its history dates back 5,000 years. Piercing the lobe of the ear is thought to be the oldest form of piercing. However, it is by no means the only form of ancient body piercing art. Not only is it considered an artistic expression but in many cultures, piercing holds great meaning in religious ceremonies. The practice of body piercing also has been shown to be an effective medical treatment for some ailments, such as migraines. Fun Facts about piercings:

Pirates wore gold earrings believing that they improved their eyesight, prevented seasickness, or would pay for their funeral if their dead body washed ashore.
Piercings are mentioned in the Book of Genesis 24: 22 when Abraham offers Rebekah a gold nose ring upon marrying his son Issac.
In ancient Egypt, only royal family members were permitted to pierce their navels.
Piercings only became popular in Western culture in the 1960s, when the Beatles and hippie movement began contacts with India, introducing piercings as a symbol of peace and non-conformity.
Indonesian tribesmen stretched their ear piercings up to 25cm in diameter to permit the proud insertion of the bones of a slain enemy.

Rickard1234, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

18: Victoria Day

is a public holiday celebrated every year on the Monday before May 25th, giving Canadians a long May weekend. Some Canadians refer to it as the May Two-Four weekend. It is a uniquely Canadian celebration, being celebrated nowhere else in the world. The meaning of Victoria Day is to celebrate their British heritage and the life of Queen Victoria who ruled the British Empire between 1837 and 1901. It’s also a great opportunity to celebrate being Canadian with events and activities taking place across the country. Un-fun Facts about Queen Victoria:

At 15, she had an affair with the Captain of the Royal House Guards, who was then banished to India. Her mother obsessed that Victoria marry a royal, settled on Prince Albert, an impoverished German from an insignificant principality.
The arranged marriage lasted 21 years (until Albert’s death) and produced nine children His death from typhoid fever at the age of 42 was a national tragedy, on par today with that of the national hysteria after the death of Princess Diana.
There were at least 8 assassination attempts on Victoria’s life; the last attempt was in 1882, which was thwarted when a horde of Etonian students beat the gunman with their umbrellas. 😂 Take that, you unruly ruffian!
She had a mean streak against those she disliked: in 1839, she became convinced that an unmarried lady-in-waiting and friend of her mother’s whom she disliked, was pregnant. Victoria had her former governess spread the rumor. The “pregnant” woman was publicly humiliated and forced to undergo a gynecological examination. It turned out her swollen stomach was due to advanced liver cancer. At the woman’s funeral two months later, the public threw stones at Victoria’s carriage.
Her political instincts tended towards the bellicose, the jingoistic and undemocratic. Victoria never saw the point of social legislation, though Britain had some of the worst living and working conditions in Europe, and she considered attempts to improve children’s working conditions entirely unnecessary.
Right to the end the Queen brought an energetic perverseness to all she did: matchmaking her 40-odd grandchildren into marriages in which a significant proportion of them were thoroughly miserable.

Oh yeah, she was only 1.47cm tall!

Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

21: International Tea Day

It is a new event, first celebrated in 2020, although the discovery of tea dates back 5,000 years with its discovery in China. Some Fun Facts:

In ancient China, Tibet, Mongolia, and Siberia, tea leaves were pressed into standardized bricks or disks of various weights to be used as money.
Who drinks the most tea per capita worldwide? 1) the Turks; 2) the Irish; 3) the Brits.
Da Hong Pao tea comes from just six shrubs growing on the rocky cliffs in the Wuyi Mountains and costs over $1,000,000 per kilo! (Compare this with a kilo of gold presently at $155,400.)
In 1908, a New York merchant sent out samples in a small silk bag that customers assumed were meant to be brewed directly: this was the accidental invention of the tea bag! No longer silk, today’s tea bags are made of petroleum products and other harmful chemicals. Use at your own risk!
Quickies: 3,200-year-old tea tree exists in the hills of Assam, China; 4,000 leaves are needed to make a kilo of tea; Tasseomancy is the practice of reading tea leaves; one of the world’s most expensive teas is fertilized with panda poop.

Haneburger, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

28: National Burger Day

It is celebrated on this date to get people ready for summer BBQ season. (Although the UK celebrates these yummy meat patties on the Thursday before the August bank holiday.) Few can resist a deliciously made burger, and it is one of the most beloved foods in the Western world. Even though the burger was invented in Germany, it has become an icon of American culture, with Americans eating an average of 55 billion burgers every year. Originally sold from street food carts in the early 20^th century, in 1921 White Castle was the first fast-food restaurant to serve burgers (price: 5 cents each). In contrast, McDonald’s didn’t sell their first burgers until 1940* but is now one of the most popular chains around the globe. Fun Facts:

*First In-N-Out in 1948; Burger King1953; Wendy’s 1969; Five Guys 1986.
One of the largest hamburgers on record weighed 1,632 kilos. It was made in Rutland, North Dakota in 1982 and consumed by 8000 people!
To avoid using German names, soldiers referred to hamburgers as the “Liberty Sandwich” during WWI.
In 1968, the first Big Mac (below) was introduced and sold for 49 cents. Today, McDonald’s sells 75 burgers per second around the world.
There is an actual Hamburger Hall of Fame located in Seymour, Wisconsin.
The most expensive burger in the world costs $6,000 and is made in a restaurant in Voorhuizen, Netherlands. It is made from ground Wagyu beef, topped with white truffles, paleta bellota ham, and onion rings made from a batter of Dom Perignon, Beluga caviar, and king crab. (Sorry, no phone orders or take-aways!)

Evan-Amos, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

31: World No Tobacco Day

It is observed every year on May 31st. On this day, the World Health Organization (WHO) together with governments and NGOs, holds an international campaign to educate the public about the use of tobacco. Facts:

Norway, New Zealand, Uruguay, Malta, Italy, Sweden, Scotland, Bhutan, and Lithuania have all banned smoking in public spaces.
One-half of heavy smokers (25 cigarettes or more per day) will die of diseases caused by their smoking—on average, shortening their lives by 14 years!
Nicotine causes addiction to kids and teenagers faster than to adults, sometimes just after a few cigarettes.
Approximately 24% of Spanish people smoke (down from 40% in 1987), but compare that to 11.6% of Brits—their costs no doubt a major factor: €5-6.50 for a pack in Spain vs. €18-19 in the UK; 1.33% of Spanish adults vape; indoor smoking in Spain was fully banned in 2011; Sevilla is considered the birthplace of the modern manufactured cigarette.
Quickies: nicotine is used by the indigenous people of the Peruvian Amazon as a hallucinogenic enema; 16^th century Europeans believed that smoking cured syphilis; cigarette smoke contains over 70 chemicals which are known to cause cancer; cigarette butts are the most littered item on Earth; a pack of cigarettes cost about 5 cents to produce.

Tomasz Sienick, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

by BAI

LANGUAGE: English Oddities (6)

English Oddities (6)

The word «Checkmate» in chess comes from the Persian phrase «Shah Mat» meaning «the king is helpless». / La paraula «Checkmate» en escacs prové de la frase persa «Shah Mat», que significa «the king is helpless». / La palabra «Checkmate» en ajedrez proviene de la frase persa «Shah Mat», que significa «the king is helpless».

There are only four words in common use ending in “-dous”: horrendous, hazardous, stupendous, and tremendous. / Només hi ha quatre paraules d’ús comú que acaben en “-dous”: horrendous, hazardous, stupendous, and tremendous. / Solo hay cuatro palabras de uso común que terminan en “-dous”: horrendous, hazardous, stupendous, and tremendous.

“Underground” and “underfund” are the only words in the English language that begin and end with the letters “und”. / “Underground” i “underfund” són les úniques paraules en anglès que comencen i acaben amb les lletres “und”. / “Underground” y “underfund” son las únicas palabras en inglés que empiezan y terminan con las letras “und”.

«Dreamt” is the only word in English that ends with the letters “mt”. / “Dreamt” és l’única paraula en anglès que acaba amb les lletres “mt”. / “Dreamt” es la única palabra en inglés que termina con las letras “mt”.

“Uncopyrightable” is the second longest English word (15 letters) that can be spelled without repeating any letters of the alphabet. / “Uncopyrightable” és la segona paraula més llarga en anglès (15 lletres) que es pot escriure sense repetir cap lletra de l’alfabet. / “Uncopyrightable” es la segunda palabra más larga en inglés (15 letras) que se puede escribir sin repetir ninguna letra del alfabeto.

Understanding English can actually harm professional players of English Scrabble. Some of the world’s best Scrabble players can’t speak English. / Entendre l’anglès pot perjudicar els jugadors professionals d’Scrabble en anglès. Alguns dels millors jugadors d’Scrabble del món no saben parlar anglès. / Entender inglés puede perjudicar a los jugadores profesionales de Scrabble en inglés. Algunos de los mejores jugadores de Scrabble del mundo no saben hablar inglés.

by BAI