• Michael Phelps has won the Olympics. Not just swimming events — Michael Phelps has won the entire Olympic games (even badminton).
• OK, maybe he didn’t win badminton, but his accomplishments are still outstanding. However, Phelps has yet to best man’s real competition in the water. That’s right — it’s time to take on sea life.
• FACT: Michael Phelps swims at approximately 6 mph.
• FACT: Dolphins can swim up to 33 mph.
• CONCLUSION: There are still hurdles to be cleared, Mr. Phelps (though we’re pretty sure he won the gold in the 100m hurdles as well).
• Enjoy your victories while you can, because if dolphins have their way, they’ll be waiting to see you in 2012 with Team Atlantis tattoos on their backs.

Para leer el artículo completo vaya a http://www.asylum.com/2008/08/13/michael-phelps-wins-olympics/

Can you find the sarcastic language?  Here is some:

• “Michael Phelps has won the entire Olympic games (even badminton).”
• “There are still hurdles (valles) to be cleared.” (This is an idiom which means, ‘still has a long way to go’ and comes from the Olympic race valles).

In the following paragraph, the BOLDED phrases are common ways of expressing gymnastic moves.  Are they similar to the expressions in Spanish?  Try to transcribe (transcribir) the rest and find the “olympic language” used.

Paulette Huntanova…

• A change of tutu. 
• I noticed a change in Pualette, Pualette has shaved her mustache.
• May have to shave her chest if she is going to continue.  Strikes a pose and goes to the balance beam.  This is of course Paul Hunt. (Hahaha)
• How beautiful.  With trepediation goes to the balance beam.  And his tutu has a smile for everybody.
• He used to have one that said “mom” on it, and when he kicked up to a hand stand it said “wow” on it.
• Dont hurt yourself Paulette (more laughs)
• You know it’s a comedy routine, but his gymnastics is really pretty good. 
• It’s tremedous.  When you think of how hard he has to work to look bad. It’s amazing.  He’s magnificent.
• That’s a very good handstand.   (laughs, laughs, laughs)
• Look at him, he’s chewing gum

While this site has a host of exercises to practice your English, the “Watch and Learn” section is really a fun and useful way to practice listening.  Just click on the videos and then answer the questions that follow to test how well you understood the contents.  Watch them a few times… in any case, some of them are pretty funny!! 

***

Este weblog tiene muchos ejercicios para practicar inglés, pero mi sección preferida es la que utiliza videos.  Mira los videos y contesta las preguntas al finalizar.  

It could be ten, but then again, I can’t remember half an hour since a quarter to four.
Throw on your clothes, the second side of Surfer Rosa, and you leave me with my jaw on the floor.
Just when you think you’re in control,
just when you think you’ve got a hold,
just when you get on a roll,
here it goes, here it goes, here it goes again.
Oh, here it goes again.
I should have known,
should have known,
should have known again,
but here it goes again.
Oh, here it goes again.
It starts out easy, something simple, something sleazy, something inching past the edge of the reserve.
Now through lines of the cheap venetian blinds your car is pulling off of the curb.
Just when you think you’re in control,
just when you think you’ve got a hold,
just when you get on a roll,
here it goes, here it goes, here it goes again.
Oh, here it goes again.
I should have known, should have known,
should have known again,
but here it goes again.
Oh, here it goes again.
I guess there’s got to be a break in the monotony, but Jesus, when it rains how it pours.
Throw on your clothes, the second side of Surfer Rosa, and you leave me, yeah, you leave me.
Oh, here it goes, here it goes, here it goes again.
Oh here it goes again.
I should have known, should have known,
should have known again,
but here it goes again.
Oh, here it goes again.

Explanations:

• “Jaw (mandíbula) on the floor” = Mouth wide open, suprised, shocked
• “Got a hold” = in control.  Common phrase: get a hold of yourself man!! Meaning, calm down, get in control.
• “On a roll” = everything is going great! Or perfect!  The expression comes from the casinos and the dice game, when you are rolling the dice and winning one after another you are on a roll.
• “Here it goes again” referring to an annoyance or something bad that is interrupting the flow of good things happening. 
• Sleazy = something or someone who is dirty, disrespecful.  The word can be used playfully to tease or joke with others or in a mean way depending on context. 

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/technology/2008/08/iphone-broken-s.html

Vocabulary and phrases:

• guru: gurú
• bouncy: que bota bien, como una pelota.  Materials are bouncy, but people who have a lot of energy can be described as bouncy also.
• pony up: slang (jeriga) for when you have to pay for something when you dont want to. 
• MAC lover: Noun followed by lover is commonly used to express a deep liking for something.  For example, I am a book lover; I love to read. Or when I tease (una broma) my brother by calling him a shoe lover, for his strange obsession with owner a lot of shoes.

Questions to consider:

• How far did the iPhone fall when the owner dropped and broke his phone?
• What claims does this article make about the new iPhone?
• What are some complaints about Apple as a company?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/spanish/learn_english/default.stm#