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3/30/2014
Cupcake machine opens in NY (article)
New Yorkers, who live in the city that famously never sleeps, now can satisfy their craving for cupcakes in any of those endless waking hours.
A 24-hour vending machine that dispenses gourmet cupcakes opened for business this week on Manhattan's Upper East Side, and locals are lining up despite the wintry temperatures.
"It's so fun," said Melissa Martelli, a schoolteacher and neighborhood resident as she nibbled on a cinnamon sugar cupcake she bought from the machine. "You could just go in the store and wait on line, but it's just so cool."
Despite the Sprinkles cupcake store connected to the ATM, and the city's abundance of all-night delis and convenience stores, customers said the ATM has novelty appeal.
"It's the experience of buying a cupcake from an ATM. It's an incredible concept," said Amy Benaderet, a financial services account manager who lives nearby. "You can get money at any time. Now you can get cupcakes at any time. It'll be interesting to see if the novelty wears off".
At a price of $4.25 apiece, the cupcake choices include chocolate, coconut, red velvet, vanilla and lemon meringue.
"It's cool, especially if you live around here and it's like the middle of the night and you really want a cupcake. I would so do that," said Margarita Mazur, who works at a local tech startup.
The nine-year-old company behind the machine, Sprinkles, also has installed cupcake machines in Las Vegas, Dallas, Chicago, Atlanta and Beverly Hills, California, where the company is based, and plans to expand into Houston and Washington, D.C.
The New York model holds 760 cupcakes and sells up to four at a time, making it larger than the company's other machines.
But not every New Yorker has caught the sugar buzz.
"I think it's stupid," said Anthony Campagne, who was waiting while his tech company co-workers stood in line for their cupcakes. "It just doesn't make sense. People don't need cupcakes at three in the morning."
Adapted from Reuters
Lufthansa pilots announce three-day strike for next week
Pilots at Lufthansa, Germany's largest airline, will hold a three-day strike next week to pressure the German airline in pay and contract negotiations.
The strike will result in the cancellation of hundreds of flights, and will be the third strike to hit Frankfurt, Europe's third largest hub and Lufthansa's home base, within six weeks.
The dispute is over pay increases and so-called 'transition contracts' awarded to pilots retiring before the legal pension age officially kicks in.
Union Vereinigung Cockpit, which represents around 5,400 Lufthansa pilots, offered suggestions to resolve the pay row but the airline did not take up the offer seriously.
More than 99 percent of the pilots voted in favor of strike action to resolve the transition contract issue in a ballot.
Last Thursday Lufthansa cancelled a third of its 1,800 services due to a strike by public sector workers employed in areas such as baggage handling at German airports.
That strike came after industrial action by security staff caused thousands of passengers to miss their flights at the end of February.
adapted from Reuters
3/29/2014
3/24/2014
"Modern spaceship" commercial
While reading the article, please fill in the blanks:
Two University of Southern California grads, R.J. Collins and James Khabushani, recently ……………………………………….(launch) a digital content company called Everdream Pictures.
The duo …………………………………….. (want) to get the attention of advertisers, video game designers, and others so they ……………………………………………………….. (decide) to try their luck in a fiercely competitive market and …………………………………………………………. (put) all their money - $1,500 - into a 60-second unsolicited commercial for the electric car Tesla.
They …………………………………………..(prove) that with imagination, you ………………………………………………. (attract) thousands of viewers. The company’s owner Elon Musk ……………………………………………… (see) the ad and …………………………………………………. (tweet)
That pretty much did it. The video ……………………………………………. (be) subsequently posted to Tesla's Facebook and Instagram feeds, and it has since gone viral.
And even more important for the young enterpreneurs, Elon Musk …………………………………………………….. (say) he ………………………………………………………….(consider) Everdream Pictures for future projects.
If that's not "mission accomplished" for Collins and Khabushani, it's at least a very promising takeoff.
Here's the video:
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3/23/2014
Which Place Is More Sexist? The Middle East Or Latin America?
A semi-naked woman in a Carnival costume. A veiled woman with only her eyes showing in a niqab. Two stereotypes of two vastly different regions — Latin America and the Middle East.
On the surface, these two images are diametrically opposed. What could the two have in common, right? What a woman wears — or what she doesn't wear, in Brazil's case — is often interpreted as a sign of her emancipation. The veil, for many, is a symbol of female oppression; the right to wear a bikini, one of liberation.
Underneath the differences, the Middle East and Latin America's most famously immodest country both impose their own burdens on women in the way they are treated and perceived.
Brazil has a female president, and women are well-represented in the work force. This isn't Saudi Arabia, where women cannot drive, or Afghanistan under the Taliban, where women could not study.
And yet it is one of the most dangerous countries to be female in. Statistics show that about every two hours a woman is murdered in Brazil, a country with the seventh highest rate of violence against women in the world.
This juxtaposition of sex and violence isn't new, according to Rosana Schwartz, a historian and sociologist at Mackenzie Presbyterian University in Sao Paulo. Brazil imported more slaves than any other country in the Americas, and slavery was only abolished in 1888.
"The female slaves were used as sexual objects to initiate the master's son's sexuality or to satisfy him. And the result has been that until today, Brazilian women are seen in a sexist way, in a more sexualized way, because she was used as a sexual object for so long," Schwartz says.
In many parts of the Middle East, however, women are mostly hidden away at home and, in the most traditional countries, are not allowed to have unsupervised contact with men outside their families.
Brazilian women don't face the same kinds of restrictions.
In Brazil, women are second only to the U.S. in the amount of plastic surgeries they have and in the number of beauty products they consume.
In a recent article talking about vaginal reconstruction — yes, Brazil is a world leader in that cosmetic surgery, too — psychoanalyst Regina Navarro noted that there is a huge amount of pressure in Brazil to conform to an ideal. "Women want to adapt to what they think men want," she told Brazil's Glamour magazine.
I recently spent some time at a leading international modeling agency in Sao Paulo. The main headhunter told me confidently that all young boys in Brazil wanted to be soccer stars, and all young women aspired to be models.
You can go to schools here and quickly learn that little girls are not encouraged to become the next Ronaldo. While Brazil is a global force in men's soccer, women's soccer in Brazil is almost nonexistent. But girls as young as 6 or 7 know which models are on the cover of magazines.
The 2022 World Cup will be played in Qatar, a country that is not known for its sex appeal. Women's activists often target the Middle East for its policies toward women. But as living in Brazil has taught me, for women, even having all the freedom in the world can be its own cage.
On the surface, these two images are diametrically opposed. What could the two have in common, right? What a woman wears — or what she doesn't wear, in Brazil's case — is often interpreted as a sign of her emancipation. The veil, for many, is a symbol of female oppression; the right to wear a bikini, one of liberation.
Underneath the differences, the Middle East and Latin America's most famously immodest country both impose their own burdens on women in the way they are treated and perceived.
Brazil has a female president, and women are well-represented in the work force. This isn't Saudi Arabia, where women cannot drive, or Afghanistan under the Taliban, where women could not study.
And yet it is one of the most dangerous countries to be female in. Statistics show that about every two hours a woman is murdered in Brazil, a country with the seventh highest rate of violence against women in the world.
This juxtaposition of sex and violence isn't new, according to Rosana Schwartz, a historian and sociologist at Mackenzie Presbyterian University in Sao Paulo. Brazil imported more slaves than any other country in the Americas, and slavery was only abolished in 1888.
"The female slaves were used as sexual objects to initiate the master's son's sexuality or to satisfy him. And the result has been that until today, Brazilian women are seen in a sexist way, in a more sexualized way, because she was used as a sexual object for so long," Schwartz says.
In many parts of the Middle East, however, women are mostly hidden away at home and, in the most traditional countries, are not allowed to have unsupervised contact with men outside their families.
Brazilian women don't face the same kinds of restrictions.
In Brazil, women are second only to the U.S. in the amount of plastic surgeries they have and in the number of beauty products they consume.
In a recent article talking about vaginal reconstruction — yes, Brazil is a world leader in that cosmetic surgery, too — psychoanalyst Regina Navarro noted that there is a huge amount of pressure in Brazil to conform to an ideal. "Women want to adapt to what they think men want," she told Brazil's Glamour magazine.
I recently spent some time at a leading international modeling agency in Sao Paulo. The main headhunter told me confidently that all young boys in Brazil wanted to be soccer stars, and all young women aspired to be models.
You can go to schools here and quickly learn that little girls are not encouraged to become the next Ronaldo. While Brazil is a global force in men's soccer, women's soccer in Brazil is almost nonexistent. But girls as young as 6 or 7 know which models are on the cover of magazines.
The 2022 World Cup will be played in Qatar, a country that is not known for its sex appeal. Women's activists often target the Middle East for its policies toward women. But as living in Brazil has taught me, for women, even having all the freedom in the world can be its own cage.
Photo Credit: Marco Di Fabio and Nelson Almeida/Getty Images
3/20/2014
Missing Jet: Objects Seen Off Australia (audio)
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3/15/2014
Man sues McDonald's
While reading the article, please choose the correct option
CALIFORNIA – Multiple media outlets (are reporting - will report) that a California man (sues - is suing) McDonald’s for more than a million dollars… because he (receives - received) only one napkin with his meal.
He (says -will say) the incident (is happening - happened) last month, when he (ordered - had to order) a Quarter Pounder.
He immediately (was noticing - noticed) only one napkin (came - come) with his burger.
He (emailed - able to ) the general manager of the restaurant to complain. According to reports, McDonald’s offered him some free food in an effort (to make - making) him happy.
That gesture (does not - did not) satisfy him.
Instead, the man (can say- says) he (is - was) now unable to work, because of the “Undue mental anguish” he (should suffer - suffered) as a result of the “napkin” incident.
Last Monday he (filed - file) a lawsuit against McDonald’s for $1.5 million dollars.
1. McDonald’s
2. $1.5 million dollars
3. only one
4. last month
5. a Quarter Pounder.
6. to complain.
7. some free food
8. No, it didn't
9. No, he can't
10. because of “Undue mental anguish”
11. Last Monday
12. I don't think so
edited from Kfor
3/14/2014
Missing Malaysian Airliner (audio)
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3/12/2014
In? on? at? (quiz)
In
Use 'in' with periods of time:
in January
in 1978
in the twenties
in the 20th century
in Spring
in the morning / afternoon / evening BUT we say 'at night'
Use 'in' a period of time in the future to express that an action will occur after that amount of time:
in a few weeks
in a couple of days
On
Use 'on' with days of the week:
on Monday
on Fridays
Use 'on' with specific calendar days:
on Christmas day
on October 22nd
At
Use 'at' with an exact time:
at six o'clock
at 10.30
at two p.m.
at noon
at midnight
at night
And now, click on the icon below to take a 15-question preposition quiz
Use 'in' with periods of time:
in January
in 1978
in the twenties
in the 20th century
in Spring
in the morning / afternoon / evening BUT we say 'at night'
Use 'in' a period of time in the future to express that an action will occur after that amount of time:
in a few weeks
in a couple of days
On
Use 'on' with days of the week:
on Monday
on Fridays
Use 'on' with specific calendar days:
on Christmas day
on October 22nd
At
Use 'at' with an exact time:
at six o'clock
at 10.30
at two p.m.
at noon
at midnight
at night
And now, click on the icon below to take a 15-question preposition quiz
3/06/2014
Open Letter From an Argentine to Maradona
Hola Diego, I'm Argentine, I've been in Miami for 14 years, and I left Argentina in the year 2000 because I felt that it was not possible for my dreams to come true. It hurt terribly to leave my parents who were such a big part of me, and my nephews who loved me... I could not return for 5 years and I missed out on a large part of my family's history.
I always carried my great Argentina in my heart. From the outside, I began to love tango, to value the 'mate' in a house and to be proud of our meat, our Buenos Aires and our European glamour.
When I got to Miami, a lot people said to me, "People here don't like Argentines, you are not going to be successful with that accent, with that long hair and that walk..."
Argentines are all over the world, but we have our standouts, like: Carlos Gardel , Evita Peron, Juan Manuel Fangio, Pugliese, Jorge Luis Borges, Sandro, Facundo Cabral, Charly GarcÃa, Papa Francisco and at some time you were too.
There was a time that mentioning Maradona was like mentioning Argentina, or to say Argentina was like saying Maradona. Do you remember? They would say "El Pibe de Oro." You were like God, you were everywhere and with your legs you performed spells, magic and you made us all Argentines cry deeply.
But the reality is, Maradona, you were not God, you never were... You were an Argentine, a good soccer player, one of the best, until the drugs and your decisions took you out of the soccer field.
Yes, Maradona, they took you out of the field in the USA because of testing positive for drugs, but Diego Armando, you also came out of the field of life, of Argentine pride and from the list of our heroes, idols and off the ground of the blue and white.
Maradona, you are no longer in the line of Gardel or Borges, or Messi or Oscar winner, Campanella. Our idol Maradona disappeared forever many years ago.
Face it, you failed, you are resentful and full of hate because of your own foolishness and your own misery. Maradona, you were born poor and will die poor, but poor of your soul, mind and body.
Many times one does not abandon their ignorance and mediocrity, not even with lots of money or success. That is why you do not know anything about the reality of Cubans, even less about the misfortune of our Venezuelan brothers...
Maradona, you are ignorant of life, history and the present reality of the world. You are bearing children indiscriminately, all you can manage is the circus parade of exploited women, and dictators who you prostitute with... and you pull down your pants for them to use you.
Maradona, for a long time you have been a fraud, a liar, you think you are the best but the world laughs at you for what you've been. You use cocaine in Havana, get drunk with your friend Castro, get high during orgies with both women and men, support violent communists abd receive money from repressive, dirty and abusive governments, money that belongs to the Venezuelan people.
That money carries the curse of innocent blood dropped by Venezuelan youth and students seeking their freedom and dignity. They should pay you to say that you're a soldier of Maduro, and a real Mari... it's the same thing, and I'm saying it in Argentinean meaning, because that is not a real man, that is a coward, not for what he does in his bed.
For many Argentines in the world, Maradona, today you are disgusting and bring sorrow. You make us feel like wanting to apologize for being Argentines. May God have mercy on you, and your unfortunate distorted ego and pride.
Someone should hand you water, since you've been laying far from the game field, annoying others with your words and cynical judgments. Someone should take you out of this stadium, because for you the game is already finished!
The days of your glory will only be on an old Youtube video from '86... That is what remains of Maradona and the hand of God, only the player that for many people died a long time ago...
As an Argentine in Miami, I learned in this city to respect the pain of all the countries of America. I apologize to all Venezuelans for Maradona's words and for the money he took from Venezuela's government to spend on women and drugs.
I apologize to the world for you, as you have used the colors of my shirt so many times to destroy and denigrate. And hoping that in the next few years, the upcoming Argentine sports and soccer idol brings an image full of light and peace, honoring life and not a pathetic fool like you.
I want to tell the world that Diego Armando Maradona does not represent the values or the spirit or the heart of the Argentines, and many times is something we do not want to be. Thank you and to the people of Venezuela, many apologies because of this failed Mari...
From The Huffington Post
3/04/2014
Jared Leto wins Oscars 2014 (video)
Jared Leto's Acceptance Speech - Oscars 2014 por IdolxMuzic
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Philadelphia police warn parking violators
(Reuters) - Philadelphia police is using social media to crack down on the illegal but widespread practice of saving parking spaces with furniture, toilets and other items
They are turning to Twitter, Sergeant Eric Gripp, who runs the Philadelphia Police Department's Twitter account, told Reuters on Wednesday.
Northern cities including Boston, Chicago and Baltimore are familiar with the problem.
Illicit tools used to claim spots include traffic cones, trash cans, lawn chairs and even a working grandfather clock.
Philadelphia's twitter campaign started a month ago - with the hashtag #NoSavesies - and immediately got traction, with many residents retweeting the message they called an eye-opener.
"The most shocking is the number of that people that don't know you can't do that," Gripp said.
Adapted from Reuters
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