English in Madrid

Image created with Chat GPT Trump threatens to halt trade with Spain over military base access US President Donald Trump has threatened to halt all trade with Spain, after the country barred the US from using its military bases as part of its operation in Iran. In comments at the White House, Trump said Spain had been "terrible" and suggested "we're going to cut off all trade". "We don't want anything to do with Spain," he told reporters. It is unclear whether the Trump administration will follow through on the threat, or how officials would move to block trade with a European Union member state. Trump's comments add to existing tensions between the two countries, including over the Spanish government's resistance to Trump's demand for NATO allies to raise their defence spending . "I could tomorrow - or today, even better - stop everything having to do with Spain, all business having to do with Spain," Trump said on Tue...

Image created by Chat GPT From booze to black belts: Virginia's drunk raccoon suspected in karate shop break-in A raccoon that broke into a Virginia store and joyfully drank its way through the liquor aisle is now suspected of a wider crime spree , officials say. A Hanover animal control officer suspects the stripe-tailed mammal also broke into a nearby karate studio and then raided the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) for snacks. "Supposedly, this is the third break-in he's had," said Officer Samantha Martin. The raccoon, now nicknamed the " trashed panda", was first discovered passed out in the bathroom of the Ashland liquor store two days after Thanksgiving. After sobering up , the unlikely outlaw was released back into the wild . A new study found the masked mammals known for rummaging rubbish bins for easy food, are evolving and getting comfortable around humans. Ms Martin says it's only a matter of time before the masked bandit stri...

Image generated by Chat GPT Murphy’s Law: Why Things Go Wrong at the Worst Time Have you ever studied all night for a test… only to find out it’s been postponed? Or printed your assignment just before class, and the printer jammed ? If so, you’ve already experienced something called Murphy’s Law . Murphy’s Law is a popular saying that goes: “Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong.” It’s not exactly a scientific rule, but it feels true in everyday life — especially when bad timing makes things worse! The Origins of Murphy’s Law The term comes from Captain Edward A. Murphy Jr. , an American aerospace engineer working on high-speed safety tests in 1949 . He and his team were testing how much sudden deceleration a person could handle (important for pilots and astronauts). But during one experiment, the sensors were wired incorrectly , ruining the results. Frustrated, Murphy supposedly said: “If there’s any way to do it wrong, someone will.” The project leader, Dr. John Pa...

Image created by Chat GPT US tariff turmoil makes Spain's flagship foods seek other markets It's lunchtime in a bar in the southern Spanish city of Seville. The kitchen is humming with activity, and behind the bar a member of staff pours cold beer from a tap into a glass. Nearby, another uses a carving knife to cut slices from a large leg of jamón ibérico, or Iberian ham, placing each one on a plate, to be served as an appetiser. There are few more Spanish scenes. And there are few more Spanish products than jamón ibérico, whose unique salty flavour is * renowned across the world, and part of a national cured ham industry worth nearly €750m ($850m; £630m) each year in exports. As he watches the jamón being carved, Jaime Fernández, international commercial director for the Grupo Osborne, which produces wine, sherry and the renowned Cinco Jotas brand of ham, describes it as a " flagship " national foodstuff. "It's one of the most iconic gastronomic prod...

Source: You Tube (The Daily Wire) Key words: Trump YMCA pre-inauguration Young man, there's no need to feel down , I said Young man, pick yourself off the ground , I said Young man, 'cause you're in a new town There's no need to be unhappy Young man, there's a place you can go, I said Young man, when you're short on your dough you can Stay there and I'm sure you will find Many ways to have a good time [Chorus] It's fun to stay at the Y.M.C.A.  It's fun to stay at the Y.M.C.A.  They have everything for young men to enjoy You can hang out with all the boys It's fun to stay at the Y.M.C.A.  It's fun to stay at the Y.M.C.A.  You can get yourself clean, you can have a good meal You can do whatever you feel [Verse 2] Young man, are you listening to me? I said Young man, what do you want to be? I said Young man, you can make real your dreams But you 've got to know this one thing No man does it all by himself, I said Young man, put your pr...