What do you think he could use? The list is long.

1. First he wrote a little list with a ballpoint pen or biro (invented by József Bíró in 1931).

2. He put it on the refrigerator (invented by Leó Szilárd in 1929) door.

3. Then he went to the window and through binoculars (József Petzvál 1840), he peeked at the neighbouring house.

4. He wanted to smoke a cigarette, so he took out a box of matches (János Irinyi 1836) and used a match to light the cigarette.

5. He noticed a CD and the holographic sticker on it (Dénes Gábor 1947).

6. He didn’t want to get sick, so he took some vitamin C (Albert Szent-Györgyi 1931).

7. He made a phone call knowing that the telephone exchange is also a Hungarian invention (Tivadar Puskás 1878).

8. He took a photo of the neighbour lady with his automatic camera (József Mihályi 1938).

9. Then he put in his contact lenses (István Győrffy 1959).

10. He played on his computer (János Neumann 1944) with the help of 3D glasses (Dániel Rátai 2010).

11. Then he played with a Rubik-cube (Ernő Rubik 1976).

12. He put a traditional record on the record player to listen to and watched his colour TV (both are the inventions of Károly Péter Goldmark in 1948).

13. He printed out an excel-table (Károly Simonyi 1974) to plan his day.

14. He went for a ride in a stolen T-model Ford (József Galamb 1908) first and then in a diesel engine BMW (Ferenc Anisits 1983).

15. His next choice of car was a Chevrolet with an automatic transmission shift (László József Bíró 1932) and then a Volkswagen Beetle (partly designed by Béla Barényi 1925).

16. Then he changed for a bike and turned on the dynamo (Ányos Jedlik 1861) to use the lights on the bicycle.

17. The police caught him at last and he was transported by a helicopter (Oszkár Asbóth 1928).

18. On board the helicopter he checked his list and he was sorry that he couldn’t meet a Pulitzer Prize (József Pulitzer 1917) winning journalist that day.

19. Another thing missing from his day was some light transmitting concrete (Áron Losonczi 2001).

20. But he took a chance and as a last achievement he started solmization, a method of the world-famous music teaching technique, the Kodály method (Zoltán Kodály, 1929).

Let’s work with the text. Can you match the inventions with their Hungarian meaning?

Key:

1. g.

2. a.

3. j.

4. c.

5. b.

6. i.

7. d.

8. e.

9. h.

10. f.

11. n.

12. k.

13. l.

14. m.

Dashing through the snow

On a one horse open sleigh

O’er the fields we go,

Laughing all the way

Bells on bobtail ring,

making spirits bright

What fun it is to laugh and sing

A sleighing song tonight

Oh, jingle bells, jingle bells

Jingle all the way

Oh, what fun it is to ride

In a one horse open sleigh

Jingle bells, jingle bells

Jingle all the way

Oh, what fun it is to ride

In a one horse open sleigh

A day or two ago,

I thought I’d take a ride,

And soon Miss Fanny Bright

Was seated by my side;

The horse was lean and lank

Misfortune seemed his lot

We got into a drifted bank,

And then we got upsot.

Oh, jingle bells, jingle bells

Jingle all the way

Oh, what fun it is to ride

In a one horse open sleigh

Jingle bells, jingle bells

Jingle all the way

Oh, what fun it is to ride

In a one horse open sleigh

Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells,

Jingle all the way!

Oh, What fun it is to ride

In a one horse open sleigh.

Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells,

Jingle all the way!

Oh, What fun it is to ride

In a one horse open sleigh.

Now the ground is white

Go it while you’re young

Take the girls tonight

And sing this sleighing song

Just get a bobtailed bay

two-forty as his speed

Hitch him to an open sleigh

And crack! you’ll take the lead

Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells,

Jingle all the way!

Oh, What fun it is to ride

In a one horse open sleigh.

Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells,

Jingle all the way!

Oh, What fun it is to ride

In a one horse open sleigh.

Interesting Jingle Bells facts:

“Jingle Bells” is one of the best-known and commonly sung American songs in the world. It was written by James Lord Pierpont (1822–1893) and published under the title “One Horse Open Sleigh” in the autumn of 1857. It was originally written to be sung by a Sunday School choir.

Although originally intended for the Thanksgiving season in autumn and having no connection to Christmas it became associated with Christmas music and the holiday season.

“Jingle Bells” was the first song broadcast from space, in a Christmas-themed prank by Gemini 6 astronauts Tom Stafford and Wally Schirra. While in space on December 16, 1965, they sent this report to Mission Control:

„Gemini VII, this is Gemini VI. We have an object, looks like a satellite going from north to south, up in a polar orbit. He’s in a very low trajectory traveling from north to south and has a very high climbing ratio. It looks like it might even be a … Very low. Looks like he might be going to reenter soon. Stand by one … You might just let me try to pick up that thing. I see a command module and eight smaller modules in front. The pilot of the command module is wearing a red suit.” Ground controllers then began to hear the strains of none other than “Jingle Bells,” being played by the astronauts on a harmonica backed by miniature sleigh bells. Today, those bells and harmonica are on display at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum.

Every December, an old battle known as “The Jingle Bell Wars” rages on. The folks of Medford, Massachusetts, claim their town is the real birthplace of the famous holiday tune, as Pierpont was still living there in 1850 when it was allegedly written at the local Simpson Tavern. This isn’t a battle the South is prepared to lose: Savannah’s tourism guide maintains “Jingle Bells” was penned in the very church it premiered. That doesn’t stop Medford from holding an annual Jingle Bell Festival or dubbing itself “The Jingle Bell City.”

“We take full ownership of it,” says Medford Mayor Stephanie M. Burke in 2016. “It’s got a long history, and we’re proud of it.”

Why is it called Wednesday?

The name Wednesday derives from two mighty but distinct gods. The Old English word for Wednesday indicates that the day was named for the Germanic god Woden. In Romance languages, the name is derived from the Roman god Mercury. (For example, Wednesday is mercredi in French and miercuri in Romanian.)

Time expressions with Wednesday

Wednesday may be the middle of the week, but if you’ve come this far you can certainly make it to the weekend.

So enjoy your Wednesday and it’ll be the weekend before you know it!

Some quotes about Wednesday to help you survive:

“Wednesday’s child is full of woe… “ (Mother Goose)

“People think that you have to do something huge, like go to Africa and build a school, but you can make a small change in a day. If you change Wednesday, then you change Thursday. Pretty soon it’s a week, then a month, then a year. It’s bite-size, as opposed to feeling like you have to turn your life inside out to make changes.” (Hoda Kotb)

“I do admire Judi Dench and Sir Ian McKellen, but I’m a philistine. I like the good life too much; I’m not good at going on stage night after night and on wet Wednesday afternoons.” (Anthony Hopkins)

“I don’t know what your childhood was like, but we didn’t have much money. We’d go to a movie on a Saturday night, then on Wednesday night my parents would walk us over to the library. It was such a big deal, to go in and get my own book.” (Robert Redford)

“When I was younger, I wasn’t concentrating on good days. I was managing a career and trying to have a good year. It would always ‘lead’ to something, which never leads to anything except death, where everything leads to. And then as I got older, and then I had my kids and everything, I began to appreciate a great Wednesday.” (Albert Brooks)

Wednesday facts:

Football fans must have heard about Sheffield Wednesday, the third oldest English football club. It was originally a cricket club, which was named after the day of the week when they played their matches.

Students in France traditionally have no school on Wednesdays, a vestige from the 19th century when students were expected to study catechism once a week.

Wednesday is sometimes informally referred to as “hump day” in North America, a reference to the fact that Wednesday is the middle day—or “hump“—of a typical work week.

What do you associate with New Year’s Eve? Fun, champagne and… good intentions? Do you still remember what you resolved to do last year? Learning a new language probably ranked right up there with joining a gym and giving up a nasty habit. Regardless of the reasons you had for making this resolution, the result is – unfortunately – almost always the same. After the first days at “full speed ahead”, by spring the motivation has subsided and you find yourself staring discontentedly at the grammar books you bought with such enthusiasm.

But why? Why does everyone think that it’s so hard to learn a language? And that it requires so much time to practice? Could it be because we all have a few bad habits that we’re not aware of (and therefore can’t get rid of)?

Let’s take a look at the most common mistakes and figure out how we can avoid them.

1. Take it slow

When the adventure of a new language starts, your enthusiasm knows no bounds. On the one hand, that’s something very positive. On the other hand, it’s important not to rely on enthusiasm alone. When the newness and initial excitement has worn off, you might not know where to find the motivation to learn. That’s why it’s necessary to steer your initial exuberance in the right direction, and not let it disappear like a flash in the pan. It’s better to take it slow – tame your enthusiasm and make sure that learning a language becomes a regular daily activity.

Otherwise something like this might happen: You’ll study every day for the first week. Already in the second week you’ll skip a day because you’re too tired. The following week it happens again, and then again the week after that. Soon, you’ll be staring, frustrated, at that pile of language books on your desk.

Our Tip:Steer your initial exuberance in the right direction and make sure that learning a language becomes a regular daily activity. Ten minutes a day is better than full-on for a week and then nothing after that.

2. The benefits of a bad memory

No, we’re not crazy. We’re talking to all those people who think that memorization is the key to everything, to everyone who boasts about their photographic memory, and to everyone who gets stuck on vocabulary lists. Don’t get us wrong: a good memory is definitely helpful, but one should not forget (no pun intended) to use and train it the right way.

Memorizing entire phrases can be helpful in certain, clearly-defined situations (like picking up your luggage at the airport, for example). But it won’t be of any benefit when topics come up in conversation that weren’t in that book you so diligently memorized.

Use your memory and make it your ally. Learn phrases and words with which you can make associations or create mnemonic devices. And when a word doesn’t seem to want to come out, find an alternative or paraphrase what you mean. In this way, you don’t only get your synapses firing, but you can also remember things better and for longer periods of time. Try it for yourself!

Our Tip: Your memory is an important ally if you use it intelligently.

3. Nobody’s perfect

No one is perfect… and you shouldn’t try to be! One of the first obstacles you encounter on the path to “fluent mastery” of a language is the absurd and premature demand you place on yourself to speak with perfect and error-free pronunciation and grammar. Of course, you can and will get there with a lot of practice, but it shouldn’t be the highest priority when you’re getting to know a completely new language.

If you get lost in especially complicated grammar when you’re trying to say something simple, or if you’re only sure of yourself when you don’t make even the smallest pronunciation mistakes, then it’s highly likely that within a few weeks, you’ll give up out of total frustration.

“Until I can speak perfectly, I won’t speak. But if I don’t speak, I’ll never improve and can give up hope of ever being able to speak perfectly”. It’s a Catch 22!

Our Tip: Give yourself a break and don’t be afraid to make mistakes! You’ll soon see the progress that’ll bring you closer to your goal.

4. All work and no play…

It’s exactly you – so tirelessly and steadfastly learning – who we’re speaking to here: Are you finally going to get up out of that chair, or do you want to put down roots right where you’re sitting? You’re diligent and persistent. You’ve used your memory and your desire to learn in the best way possible. You’ve trusted yourself to speak to people because you understand that we all learn from making mistakes. And now? Now it’s time to give yourself a reward!

When you set such a big goal as learning a new language, it’s important now and then to pat yourself on the back and enjoy the success you’ve achieved. You’ve managed to have your first real-life conversation? You’ve got all that difficult pronunciation down? You’ve gotten through the jungle of pronouns? Then you should celebrate it and do something fun! Watch a film, sing a song at the top of your lungs, or listen to the radio… but, of course, in the language you’re learning! When you couple language learning with activities that bring you joy, you’ll learn more effectively and remember what you’ve learned more easily.

Our Tip: You don’t have to learn like a crazy person. There should also be time to combine the enjoyable with the practical, and have fun while learning!

5. The goal is always within sight

Learn the art of always keeping your goal within sight. Of course, anyone could say that learning for learning’s sake is the ideal picture of education… that goes without saying. But if you want to reach the end of the road, it’s important that you’re aware of why you stepped onto the path in the first place.

Why are you learning a new language? For love? To get a raise? Because you want to try your luck in a new country? Because you can’t stand films that are dubbed? Very good. Keep your goal in sight and imagine that with every tiny step forward, the path to your goal gets shorter and the top of the mountain gets closer.

Our Tip: Keeping a goal in sight increases motivation. Before you start, set a goal!

source: www.babbel.com

What can make learning a language easier? Can you fill in the gaps in the tips?

1. Make sure that learning a language becomes a regular (1) ……. activity. (2)………… a day is better than full-on for a week and then nothing after that.

2. Use your memory (3)………… .

3. Don’t be afraid to make (4)………… .

4. Combine the (5)……….. with the (6)………….., and have (7)……. while learning!

5. Before you start, set a (8)……. .

Key:

1. daily

2. Ten minutes

3. intelligently

4. mistakes

5. enjoyable

6. practical

7. fun

8. goal

On Sunday

– Many American and British daily newspapers publish a larger edition on Sundays, which often includes colour comic strips, a magazine, and a coupon section.

– Professional golf tournaments traditionally end on Sunday.

– Most NASCAR Sprint Cup and IndyCar events are held on Sundays. Formula One World Championship races are always held on Sundays regardless of time zone/country

About Sunday

– Months that begin on a Sunday will always have a “Friday the 13th.”

– “Gloomy Sunday”, also known as the “Hungarian Suicide Song”, is a song composed by Hungarianpianist and composer Rezső Seress and published in 1933. It became well-known throughout much of the English-speaking world after the release of a version by Billie Holiday in 1941. There have been several urban legends regarding the song over the years, mostly involving it being allegedly connected with various numbers of suicides, and radio networks reacting by purportedly banning the song. However, most of these claims are unsubstantiated.

Expressions with Sunday

Sunday best

Your Sunday best are your smartest or ‘best’ clothes. If you were going to a formal party you would wear your Sunday best. Traditionally people would dress in smart clothes on a Sunday when they went to church.

Sunday driver

A Sunday driver is someone who drives very slowly. The description has a negative meaning. We use it to describe a driver who makes other drivers angry because of their slow driving. Sunday drivers go for a drive on Sunday just for something to do. They are not in a hurry and are not going anywhere special:

Palm Sunday

The Sunday before Easter.

Whitsunday

 “White Sunday” is the day of Pentecost.

The Sunday roast 

A traditional British and Irish main meal that is traditionally served on Sunday, consisting of roasted meat, roast potato or mashed potato, with accompaniments such as Yorkshire pudding, stuffing, vegetables and gravy. Other names for this meal are Sunday dinner, Sunday lunch.

Sunday school

Teaching children about the Bible and Christianity on Sunday while their parents are listening to the church service.

Can you match the expressions and the definitions?

Key:

1. c

2. f.

3. b.

4. e.

5. d

6. a.

And in the end read and compare the Hungarian and the English version of the song “Gloomy Sunday”. Which version do you prefer?

2. You could circle the world 1.8 times with the amount of Nutella produced in one year.

3. You could cover the Great Wall of China 8 times with the number of jars of Nutella sold worldwide in a year.

4. There are so many jars of Nutella made each year, that they would line the banks of the Danube 26 times over. That’s a river so long, it flows through 10 different countries!

5. The amount of Nutella produced in one year weighs the same as the Empire State Building.

6. A jar of Nutella is sold every 2.5 seconds

7. Approximately 1.35 million pounds of Nutella are produced every day.

8. Nutella is not an acceptable baby name in France. In 2014, a French couple named their baby Nutella. The government deemed this an unacceptable name and legally renamed the child “Ella” when the family failed to show up to court.

9. The Ferrero Group uses nearly one quarter of the world’s hazelnuts.

10. For years, Nutella was free for Italian children. Shops all over Italy honoured a BYOB (bring your own bread) policy where kids could bring in their own slice of bread and get a complimentary spread.

11. You can light Nutella on fire, because it’s flammable.

12. Ferrero originally made his chocolate-hazelnut paste into a loaf designed to be sliced and placed on bread, kind of like a chocolatey version of American cheese slices.

13. There are 97 hazelnuts in every 750-gram jar.  

14. The chocolate layer that surrounds the hazelnut in the middle of each Ferrero Rocher is Nutella.

15. If you refrigerate Nutella, the oil from the hazelnuts will harden and it’ll become very difficult to spread.

16. The recipe for Nutella varies from country to country. In Italy, Nutella contains less sugar than the French version.

17. It’s so irresistible that a man developed a special lock for the jar so that his Nutella would not be stolen.

18. The plastic bottle you know today—named the “Pelikan,” because it looks like an oversized inkwell—was chosen because its large opening makes it easy to scoop out the filling with a knife or spoon.

19. New York and Chicago have entire dessert bars devoted to Nutella. At these glorious places you can savour Nutella on top of and infused in just about everything, from waffles to coffee.

20. World Nutella Day, which is celebrated on February 5, was invented by adoring fans.

Back in 1806, Napoleon tried to freeze out British commerce as a means to win the Napoleonic wars (and take over the world). The result was a disastrous continental blockade that caused the cost of chocolate to skyrocket and left Piedmontese chocolatiers in the lurch. Ever resourceful, chocolatiers in Turin started adding chopped hazelnuts to chocolate to stretch the supply as much as possible. The ensuing deliciousness was a fateful paste dubbed “gianduia.”

Over a century later, chocolate again became expensive and scarce due to rationing in Europe during World War II. An Italian pastry maker named Pietro Ferrero once again turned to the mighty hazelnut for salvation in 1946 and created Pasta Gianduja, renamed “Nutella” in 1964.

2. IT ACTUALLY IS THE BREAKFAST OF CHAMPIONS.

According to the Guinness World Records, Nutella’s 40th Anniversary breakfast celebration in Germany in 2005 earned the title of “Largest Continental Breakfast.” A total of 27,854 people gathered in Gelsenkirchen to enjoy a meal that consisted of little more than Nutella itself.

3. IT SELLS LIKE HOT CAKES.

One jar of Nutella is sold every 2.5 seconds throughout the world. According to the United States Census Bureau, one person is born every eight seconds. You do the math.

4. IT SPREADS FAR AND WIDE.

Not only is it available for purchase and feverish consumption in 75 countries, all of the Nutella sold in a year could be spread over more than 1000 soccer fields.

5. NUTELLA-RELATED CRIMES ARE ON THE RISE.

In 2013 the chocolate-hazelnut spread made headlines in Germany, where thieves pulled off a $20,000 heist, stealing 5.5 metric tons of the sweet stuff from a parked truck. Several weeks earlier, Columbia University found itself at the center of “Nutella-gate,” an expose smearing the school for spending $6000 per week on the spread for one of its dining facilities, where students were allegedly snarfing 100 pounds of it per day.

6. WORLD NUTELLA DAY HAS BEEN A BIT OF A ROLLER-COASTER.

Two bloggers in Italy decided to take their love of Nutella to the next level in 2007, and created a worldwide day of celebration dedicated to the addictive substance. Thus, every year February 5th is a day for eating Nutella, sharing Nutella recipes and memories, and looking at photos of Nutella food-porn. In 2013, Nutella manufacturer Ferrero tried to shut down World Nutella Day before reconsidering. But as of 2015, at the request of Nutella Day founder Sara Rosso, Ferrero took over the holiday.

7. THERE’S NO MASKING THE FLAVOR.

The chocolate and hazelnut substance gianduia is named after a character from Italian commedia dell’arte named Gianduja. He is depicted as a smiling Piedmontese peasant with a three-point hat who rides around town on a donkey clutching a duja—which in the Piedmontese dialect means “container.” The duja was said to hold wine … but could have just as easily held a few pounds of that chocolatey hazelnut goodness, no? Gianduja masks are sold all over the Piedmont region of Italy, and his face was plastered all over early Nutella advertisements.

8. NUTELLA HAS A SMEARED REPUTATION.

Nutella became so popular in Italy that Italian markets began to offer free “smears” of Nutella to any kid who showed up with a piece of bread. The phenomenon was referred to as “The Smearing,” and while it could potentially double as the name of a horror flick, was a highly successful marketing strategy. No wonder we’re all addicted.

source: mentalfloss

When Starbucks marketing director Howard Schultz visited Milan, Italy in 1983 and realized the city was home to more than 1500 coffee bars, a cartoon light bulb appeared over his head. Four years later, the ambitious Schultz acquired Starbucks—which had previously only sold ground coffee in bags, with no single servings—and proceeded to turn it from a six-store Seattle operation into a global phenomenon. Unlock the secrets of your home away from home with these 14 frothy facts.

1. THERE’S A BAN ON SMELLS.

Because aroma is so crucial to the Starbucks experience, Schultz laid down the law early on: Nothing can interfere with the smell of their freshly-ground coffee. The stores banned smoking in the late 1980s, years before it became commonplace; employees are asked not to wear perfume or cologne; and under no circumstances is pastrami to be stored anywhere on the premises.

2. THE MERMAID USED TO SHOW NIPPLE.

The siren of the famous Starbucks logo is intended to represent the seductive power of coffee, with her hair tastefully covering any hint of immodesty. But when Starbucks was still a regional chain in 1970s Seattle, their logo was far more candid: The mermaid had fully-exposed breasts. Some customers commented on it, but it didn’t become scandalous until the company began making deliveries and had to put their signage on trucks. Reluctant to traffic in portable nudity, the logo was revised.

3. THERE HAVE BEEN STORES MADE OUT OF OLD SHIPPING CONTAINERS.

In a monument to the company’s eco-friendly attitude, several stores built out of retired shipping containers have opened since 2011. Some use run-off drains to feed rainwater to nearby vegetation; others use local materials such as discarded wooden fencing to complete the job. The recycled storefronts are typically drive-thru only, but video cameras allow patrons to see a friendly barista’s face. At 1000 square feet, they’re also smaller than a typical store—and Starbucks has every intention of using that tiny footprint to burrow its way into locations previously thought to be too small to lease.

4. AN IMMUNOLOGIST CRACKED THE COFFEE CODE.

Infectious disease specialist Don Valencia was essentially just goofing off in 1990 when he developed a coffee bean extract that smelled and tasted just like the real thing. After neighbors couldn’t tell the difference between his sample and fresh coffee, he tried it out on a barista. Eventually, word got to Starbucks executives, who hired Valencia in 1993. Using his discovery to branch out into retail sales, Starbucks quickly became a top-seller of bottled coffee and super-premium ice cream—for a time, they even outsold pint-sized king Häagen-Dazs.

5. MANAGERS WERE FORCED TO PLAY WITH MR. POTATO HEAD.

Eager to ramp up efficiency in the face of stiffer competition in 2009, Starbucks dispatched executive Scott Heydon for some updated managerial training. To demonstrate how employees can cut down on idle time behind the counter, Heydon instructed managers to assemble a Mr. Potato Head toy and then put him back in his box in under 45 seconds. At least one supervisor was able to pick up the scattered pieces and re-assemble the spud in under 16 seconds.

6. THE STARBUCKS CIA LOCATION IS AS SECRETIVE AS YOU’D EXPECT.

Like most office buildings, the Central Intelligence Agency in Langley, Va. runs on caffeine. But it doesn’t run like a typical Starbucks: Baristas undergo background checks and aren’t allowed to leave their posts without a CIA escort. Customer names cannot be called out or written on cups due to security concerns. Despite the precautions, it’s still a social atmosphere: According to the Washington Post, one key member of the team that assisted in locating Osama bin Laden was recruited there.

7. THE EMPLOYEE DRESS CODE IS VERY SPECIFIC.

When Schultz opened his line of Il Giornale espresso bars in 1985, he mandated employees wear the bowties and crisp white shirts common in Italy. The current dress code [PDF] has relaxed on the attire but still insists on a certain kind of conformity. Rings cannot have stones; brightly-colored purple or pink hair is not welcome; untucked shirts can’t expose your midsection when bending over; ear gauges should be less than 10mm. Think you’re going to sport a face tattoo or septum ring? Mister, the only thing you’re brewing is trouble.   

8. NONFAT MILK RESULTED IN A CORPORATE STAND-OFF.

When Howard Behar came to Starbucks as an executive in 1989, he was dismayed to find that many customers had filled out comment cards voicing their desire for nonfat milk. But Schultz and his team had decided they didn’t like the taste and that nonfat wasn’t authentically Italian. Behar argued that customers should get whatever they wanted. Store managers protested, but when Schultz personally witnessed a customer walk out over the lack of options, he relented. Today, half of the company’s cappuccinos and lattes are frothed without fat.

9. THEY HAVE A SKI-THRU.

Skiers in Squaw Valley, California looking for a caffeine fix don’t have to take off their equipment: the Starbucks at the Gold Coast Resort is open to visitors via a Ski-Thru. They also take orders from the aerial lift. What could be better?

10. YOU CAN GET A BUTTERBEER FRAPPUCINO.

The preferred thirst-quencher for Harry Potter fans, Butterbeer isn’t really available outside of the books or the Universal Studios attraction—but you can get a pretty good approximation by requesting a Frappucino with caramel syrup, caramel drizzle, and toffee nut syrup.

11. THE ROUND TABLES MAY HELP YOU FEEL LESS LONELY.

Feeling self-conscious about sitting in a Starbucks by yourself? Don’t be: the round tables are there to help. The company believes that circular dining areas can make a space feel less empty when compared to the stern edges of a rectangular or square table. They don’t want you to feel alone. So, so alone.

12. THE DISNEY STARBUCKS HAS MAGIC CHALKBOARDS.

When Starbucks opened at Downtown Disney in Orlando, Florida, some of the company’s trademark features were tweaked to fit their magical affiliation. The chalkboard was re-imagined as a 70-inch touch screen that can render illustrations in real time. Customers can also “draw” on the screen using their fingers, take selfies, and see what visitors in Disney’s Anaheim Starbucks are up to.

13. SOME STORES HAVE THE TECHNOLOGY FOR THE GREATEST CUP OF COFFEE POSSIBLE.

Starbucks cares a great deal about serving an excellent cup of coffee. Employees never let brewed pots sit for more than 30 minutes, and stores use no artificially-flavored grounds. The next giant leap in bean prep might be the Clover, a proprietary machine engineered by Stanford that costs $13,000 to install and uses a vacuum and elevator system to shoot coffee grounds upward with precision water temperatures; the result is said to be a peerless experience. If you’re lucky enough to be near a store that has one, expect to pay up to $5 a cup. 

14. EVEN IF YOU’RE NOT IN A STARBUCKS, YOU MIGHT BE IN A STARBUCKS.

Starbucks is both a progressive and staunchly familiar brand. They want to innovate without alienating their loyal customer base. One solution has been to design and open a series of “stealth stores” that serve Starbucks coffee while going by another name, like 15th Avenue E Coffee and Tea in Seattle. Freed from the trappings of a conventional location, these undercover stores can offer live music and serve beer or wine. The company has eyes on opening roughly 100 similar locations in the future.

source: mentalfloss

Ágnes Keleti was born to a Jewish family in 1921. She started doing gymnastics at the age of 4. In that moment she leapt into her life’s passion. She was a top pick for the 1940 Olympics. But World War II cancelled the Games and put her in grave danger. She would have to forget her dreams. While the Nazis ravaged Europe, Ágnes lived under a Christian identity and worked as a maid. After the war she was determined to show the world what she was made of. An injury kept her out of the Olympics in 1948. But she persisted. In 1952 she finally competed in the Olympics in Helsinki – and brought home four medals. But she wasn’t done yet. In 1956, 35-year-old Ágnes Keleti competed in the Melbourne Olympics. She brought home four gold medals becoming the oldest gymnast to win gold. She moved to Israel where she coached generations of gymnasts. The 96-year-old has just been awarded the Israel Prize in Sport and Physical Culture (The Nobel Prize of Israel). Strength, flexibility, courage. We all have a lot to learn from Ágnes Keleti.

Can you fill in the gaps in the sentences on the basis of the text?

1. Ágnes Keleti is a Hungarian …… who won eight Olympic gold …… .

2. She lived under …… identity and worked as a …… during World War II.

3. She was …… years old when she became the …… gymnast to win gold medals in the Melbourne Olympics.

4. She moved to …… where she …… lots of gymnasts.

5. She is …… years old now and she was ….. with the Nobel Prize of Israel.

Key

1. gymnast, medals

2. Christian, maid

3. 35, oldest

4. Israel, coached

5. 96, awarded

Types of trees used

Both natural and artificial trees are used as Christmas trees.

Some trees are sold live with roots and soil, often from a nursery, to be planted later outdoors and enjoyed (and often decorated) for years or decades.

Artificial trees have become increasingly popular, as they are considered more convenient and (if used for several years) less expensive than real trees. Trees come in a number of colours and “species“, and some come pre-decorated with lights. At the end of the Christmas season artificial trees can be disassembled and stored compactly.

The first artificial trees that were not green were the metallic trees, introduced in about 1958, and quite popular through the 1960s.

Other artificial trees may look nothing like a conifer except for the triangular or conical shape. These may be made from cardboard, glass, plastic, or from stacked items such as ornaments. Such items are often used as tabletop decorations.

Fordítsd le a szavakat, kifejezéseket angolra!

1. tűlevelű fa
2. karácsonyi égők
3. műfenyő
4. faiskola
5. színes díszek
6. asztali dísz

Key

1. coniferous tree
2. Christmas lights
3. artificial (Christmas) tree
4. nursery
5. colourful ornaments
6. tabletop decoration

By the middle of the 18th century, tea had replaced ale & gin as the people’s favorite beverage.

Is tea a magical elixir?

You decide as we look at 10 fascinating facts about the history of tea in Britain.

1. Tea was first offered in London coffeehouses in 1657

Opposite the Royal Exchange on Cornhill, there is an entrance to a network of alleyways called Change Alley (formerly known as Exchange Alley).

It was down these narrow alleys that the mercantile class of London would meet to discuss business in coffeehouses.

Nestled beside makers of fine wands, there was something else magical for sale: tea.

The owner of one establishment created a pamphlet and advertisement to explain the new beverage as an early form of health drink:

“That Excellent, and by all Physicians approved, China drink, called by the Chinese, Tcha, by other nations Tay alias Tee, …sold at the Sultaness-head, ye Cophee-house in Sweetings-Rents, by the Royal Exchange, London.”

How did the introduction of tea impact the city of London? It became the most powerful city in the world for 200 years.

Today, London vies with New York as the world’s most influential city.

2. Samuel Pepys wrote about drinking tea in 1660

Samuel Pepys first tasted tea in 1660, pre-dating Catherine of Braganza’s arrival in Britain, and recorded the experience in his diary of 25 September:

“I did send for a cup of tee, (a China drink) of which I had never had drunk before.”

Samuel Pepys (1633 – 1703) was an English Member of Parliament and naval administrator who is famous for keeping a detailed diary for a decade as a young man. His work as Chief Secretary to the Admiralty would help position Britain’s Royal Navy as the world’s most powerful in years to come.

3. A Portuguese Princess made tea popular in Britain

Although Catherine didn’t actually introduce tea into Britain, she was instrumental in making it fashionable. Her use of tea as a court beverage, rather than a medicinal drink, influenced its popularity in literary circles.

Queens, a borough of New York City, is thought to be named after Catherine of Braganza since she was queen when Queens County was established in 1683.

4. These could be the earliest British directions on how to make tea

In 1672, Edward Herbert, 3rd Baron Herbert of Chirbury sent directions for tea making, and warming the delicate cups, to Shropshire:

“The directions for the tea are: a quart of spring water just boiled, to which put a spoonful of tea, and sweeten to the palate with candy sugar. As soon as the tea and sugar are in, the steam must be kept in as much as may be, and let it lie half or quarter of an hour in the heat of the fire but not boil. The little cups must be held over the steam before the liquid be put in.”

5. Tea may have been instrumental to the English Enlightenment

It was a summer afternoon in 1665 and Sir Isaac Newton was taking tea under the apple trees in the family gardens at Woolsthorpe Manor in Lincolnshire, England.

By chance, an apple fell from an overhanging branch, hitting him on the head and sparking the “a-ha” moment for his law of gravitation.

Whether precisely true or not, is it a coincidence that a flowering of intellectual thinking in Britain occurred at around the same time that tea was fast becoming the nation’s favorite drink?

By 1720, black tea had overtaken green tea in popularity and was generally taken with milk and sugar.

Could this magical potion be the brain stimulant of Newton, Locke, and Hobbes?

6. Did tea power the British Industrial Revolution?

Not only was tea powering the massive minds of some of history’s greatest thinkers, but some scholars suggest that tea played a key role in the British Industrial Revolution.

The stimulants in the tea, coupled with the extra energy from sugar and milk would act like today’s energy drinks and give workers a boost—helping them work longer hours.

Even today, “builder’s tea” is a favorite for anyone doing physically strenuous work as part of their job. A colloquial term for strong tea, builder’s tea is typically brewed in a mug, always has milk, and two (or more) teaspoons of sugar.

Furthermore, because water has to be boiled for tea, water-borne diseases like dysentery, cholera, and typhoid were killed.

7. Chelsea porcelain manufactory produced the first British teaware

Fashionable 17th-century tea drinkers used small porcelain tea bowls that were sometimes shipped with the tea itself.

Established in 1743, the Chelsea porcelain manufactory produced the first successful porcelain equipages and were quickly imitated.

During the 1770s and 1780s, tea was sometimes drunk from saucers. Deeper than today’s, they were similar to the Chinese bowls of the 17th century. It is thought the practice came from Russia, where samovars kept tea very hot and strong. Pouring from cup into saucer was a quick way to cool the tea.

8. Victorian tea rooms helped women win the right to vote

During the Victorian era, tea rooms may have helped the women’s suffrage movement.

Tea rooms were popular and fashionable social gathering places, especially for women.

British historian Sir Roger Fulford argued that tea rooms provided neutral public spaces to help women strategize political campaigns.

9. Thomas Twining opened the first known tea shop in London

Thomas Twining opened the first known tea shop in 1706.

Twinings holds the world’s oldest continually-used company logo and has occupied the same premises at 216 Strand, London, since inception.

A division of Associated British Foods since 1964, Stephen Twining now represents the company’s tenth generation.

Celebrating its 300th anniversary in 2006, Twinings launched a special tea and associated tea caddies.

Appointed by HM The Queen, Twining’s is a Royal Warrant holder.

10. Take a tea break—it’s the law!

In a working shift of six hours, British workers have the right in law to a minimum of a 20-minute break.

Described in government guidelines as “a tea or lunch break”, it is sometimes called “elevenses”, because 11 am is a good time to take a break, leaving two hours before the traditional lunchtime of 1 pm.

In Britain, where there is tea, there are usually biscuits too—it’s really hard to have one without the other.

Dunking biscuits in a “cuppa” (cup of tea) is a custom that Brits have exported around the globe.

McVitie’s biscuits are the most popular biscuits in the UK to “dunk” in tea, with McVitie’s chocolate digestives, Rich tea and Hobnobs ranked the nation’s top three favorites.

source: britainandbritishness.com

Tea fun facts. Can you answer the questions?

1. When and where were tea bags invented?

2. How many major tea types are there?

3. What is rooibos tea made from?

4. Who was Earl Grey tea named after?

5. When is traditional English tea served?

Key

1. They were invented in the US by Thomas Sullivan. He created the small silk bags to give samples to his customers. The customers thought that the bags were supposed to be put directly into the water, thus the tea bags were created by accident.

2. There are four major tea types: black, green, white and oolong.

3. It’s a herbal tea made from a plant growing in South Africa.

4. It was named after a 19^th century British diplomat to China.

5. It’s served between 3-6 p.m. The later it is served the more substantial food is offered to it.

Long-Lasting

Over a fourteen year period, Associated Equipment Company built 2,876 Routemaster buses. As stated above, they proved to be incredibly resilient and long-lived, and today there are 1,280 still in existence (though some survive more as museum pieces).

Replacement

The Routemaster was designed to replace the old trolley buses, which had served London for over 30 years along 68 routes that were powered by overhead electrical wires. The original diesel buses were ordered in 1935, but with the onset of the war, production did not pick up again until 1947. The first prototype came out in 1954 and the first Routemaster saw service in 1956. The Routemaster itself was not replaced until the New Routemaster in 2012.

Wrong Colour?

If you see a Green Routemaster, your eyes aren’t deceiving you. It’s still owned by London Transport and serves their country division.

Seeing Red

Prior to 1907, the colour of a bus actually determined which route it followed. London General Omnibus Company wanted to make their buses stand out against the fierce competition for service, so they painted their entire fleet red. Some predictable confusion led the Metropolitan Police to suggest that LGOC add numbers to its buses to identify their routes. The Underground Group purchased LGOC in 1912, which later became part of the London Passenger Transport Board in 1933, shortened later to “London Transport”.

Silver and Gold

In keeping with Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s silver and golden jubilees, some Routemasters were repainted in those colours in 1977 and 2002, respectively.

Phantom Bus

Allegedly, a ghostly Routemaster Number 7 drives up the middle of the street in Cambridge Gardens with no lights, no passengers, and no driver! It was last spotted in 1990.

All Aboard!

One of the most popular features of the original Routemaster was its rear platform that made it easy to board and alight the bus, even while it was moving. A rear conductor would stand on the platform to help people on board and take their tickets or fees, but eventually the job was phased out. However, the convenience of the rear platform wasn’t without some danger, and in 2013, former Mayor of London Ken Livingstone revealed to ITV that approximately twelve people per year died from falling off the platform during his time in office.

Not a Routemaster

The famous Night Bus from Harry Potter, which was first seen on film in the adaptation of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, was not actually made from a Routemaster. Instead, it was constructed out of three Regent III RT buses. The Regent III was the immediate predecessor to the Routemaster and ran from 1939 to 1979.

Ride an Original

While many of the original Routemasters have been taken out of service, there are still a couple operating on heritage routes that are still available to passengers. Route 9 travels from Kensington High Street to Aldwych while Route 15 travels from Trafalgar Square to Tower Hill.

Ladies Who Bus

In 2009, three ladies named Linda, Mary, and Jo opted to use their Freedom Pass (available to people over 60 years old) to ride every route in numerical order. They completed their task nearly five years later and since March, 2014, have set their attention to visiting every single museum in London.

source: londontopia.net

Other iconic London sights. Which one is which?

Key

1. e.

2. a.

3. d.

4. b.

5. c.