English in Madrid

Image generated by Chat GPT Duct-taped banana artwork sells for $6.2m in NYC Maurizio Cattelan's provocative artwork of a banana duct-taped to a wall has fetched $6.2m (£4.9m) at Sotheby's in New York - four times higher than pre-sale estimates. The auction house says Chinese cryptocurrency entrepreneur Justin Sun out bid six other rivals to get the "Comedian" installation of the Italian visual artist on Wednesday. " In the coming days , I will personally eat the banana as part of this unique artistic experience," Mr Sun was quoted as saying . The taped banana - now perhaps one of the most expensive fruits ever sold - was actually bought earlier in the day for a mere $0.35, according to the New York Times. "Comedian" was first unveiled to the public in 2019, instantly becoming a viral sensation and also provoking heated debates about what art is. The installation - which has travelled around the world - comes with instructions on how to...

Doctor warns Dry January will 'never work' to help really 'detox' the body - and instead reveals the ways to reduce booze intake across the year Doctor Alasdair Scott has likened the effects of dry January to a ' crash diet ' It is a challenge that requires a person to stop drink ing alcohol for a month New year, new me - or so the saying goes, and there's no better time to commit to a month devoid of booze. Or is there?  Doctor Alasdair Scott, director of London health care service Selph, has branded Dry January a 'myth', while adding that you can't simply 'detox' your body of alcohol within one month .  Dry January is a popular personal challenge that requires a person to refrain from drinking alcohol for a month - often in the hopes of cancelling out the effects of a very boozy Christmas.  The medical expert and surgeon likened the trend to a 'crash diet', while revealing that it had very few health benefits, a...

Source: Wikipedia (Mons. Novell) Spanish bishop quit for love for erotic writer When Spanish bishop Xavier Novell resigned last month, the Roman Catholic Church cited strictly personal reasons without going into detail .  It has now emerged in Spanish media that he fell in love with a woman who writes Satanic-tinged erotic fiction.  In 2010 at the age of 41, he became Spain's youngest bishop, in Solsona in the north-eastern region of Catalonia.  He has backed so-called conversion therapy for gay people and carried out exorcisms.  Seen as a rising star in Spain's Catholic Church, his decision to resign with the Vatican's approval came as a surprise last month. He is said to have met several times with Vatican officials as well as the Pope himself.  Xavier Novell was traditional in his remarks on abortion but his strident views on homosexuality and outspoken support for Catalonian independence were controversial.  It came as a shock when Relig...

Translate the following character adjectives and complete the sentences with one from the list. Then write some sentences of your own that demonstrate the meaning. a _ _ _ _ _ _ _ - pesado b _ _ _ _ - mandón c _ _ _ _ _ _ _ - alegre d _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ d  - resuelto _ _ _ _ _ e - educado f _ _ _ _ _ _ _ - simpático g _ _ _ _ _   - codicioso _ _ _ _ _ _ h - egoista _ _ _ _ _ i _ _ - encantador j _ _ _ _ - feliz k _ _ _ - _ _ _ _ _ _ _ - bondadoso _ _ l l _ - bobo m _ _ _ - malo / tacaño n _ _ _ _   - ingenuo _ o _ _ _ _ _ _ _ - seguro p _ _ _ - pijo q _ _ _ _ - callado _ _ r _ _ _ _ _ _ _ r _ _ r _ - sin complicaciones / sincero s _ _ s _ _ _ _ _ - sensible t _ _ _ t _ _ _ _ t _ _ - de confianza _ _ _ u _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ - discutidor _ _ v _ _ _ - encantador / adorable w _ _ _ _ - ingenioso / agudo _ x _ _ _ _ _ _ - excitable _ _ _ _ y - gracioso _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ s/z _ _ - desorganizado Don't be ...

Pasta firm Barilla boycotted over 'classic family' remarks Chairman Guido Barilla causes outrage in Italy after say ing he would not consider using a gay family to advertise his products Gay rights activists in Italy have launched a boycott of the world's leading pasta maker after its chairman said he would only portray the "classic family" in his advertisements and, if people objected to that, they should feel free to eat a different kind of pasta. Guido Barilla, who controls the fourth-generation Barilla Group family business with his two brothers, sparked outrage among activists, consumers and some politicians when he said he would not consider us ing a gay family to advertise Barilla pasta.  "For us the concept of the sacred family remains one of the basic values of the company," he told Italian radio on Wednesday evening. "I would not do it but not out of a lack of respect for homosexuals who have the right to do what they want w...

Translate the following character adjectives and complete the sentences with one from the list. Then write some sentences of your own that demonstrate the meaning. Source:  Alec Favale on Unsplash a _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ - cariñoso b _ _ _ _ _ - listo c _ _ _ _ _ - torpe d _ _ _ - soso e _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ - despreocupado / relajado f _ _ _ _ - quisquilloso / exigente Source: Ryan Franco on Unsplash g _ _ _ _ _ - gruñon h _ _ _ - _ _ _ _ _ _ _ - trabajador i _ _ _ _ i _ _ - maleducado j _ _ _ _ _ _ - envidioso k _ _ _ - amable l _ _ _ _ _ l _ - agradable m _ _ _ _ - de humor variable n _ _ _ _ _ _ - travieso o _ _ _ o _ _ _ - extrovertido p _ _ _ _ - orgulloso q _ _ _ _ - _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ - temperamental r _ _ _ _ _ _ _ - fiable s _ _ _ _ _ _ _ - testarudo t _ _ _ _ _ t _ _ _ - considerado u _ _ _ _ _ - desordenado v _ _ _ - presumido Source:  James Lee on Unsplash w _ _ _ - sabio _ _ _ _x _ _ _ _ - inso...

Traditional New Year resolutions shunned in favour of reading and saving money New technology and healthier lifestyles mean three quarters of Britons have scrapped "old fashioned" vows relating to smoking, alcohol and exercise. Current top resolutions are reading more books and saving money, the poll of 2,000 people found. The third biggest aim is losing weight while redecorating the house came fourth. In fifth place was taking better photographs on iPhones or iPads. Quitting smoking and drinking less were only ranked as the 22nd and 26th most popular resolutions for 2013. Other modern resolutions included reducing the amount of time spent on social networking sites and simply leaving work on time more often. The research, which was commissioned by private gym chain LA fitness, found other modern resolutions include upgrading the car, topping up our wardrobe regularly and making more time for friends and family. Now technology plays a huge part in...

Source: Wikipedia    to add - /əd/ Add a pinch of salt to enhance the flavor of the dish. to bake - /beɪk/ She baked a batch of cookies for the bake sale. to beat - /biːt/ Beat the eggs until they form stiff peaks for the meringue. to blend - /blend/ Blend the ingredients until smooth to make a creamy soup. to boil - /bɔɪl/ Boil the pasta in salted water until al dente. to chill - /tʃɪl/ Chill the dessert in the refrigerator for at least two hours before serving. to chop - /tʃɒp/ Chop the vegetables finely for the salad. to cool - /kuːl/ Allow the cake to cool completely before frosting. to cover - /ˈkʌv.ər/ Cover the pot with a lid and let it simmer for 20 minutes. to crush - /krʌʃ/ Crush the garlic cloves with a garlic press for a stronger flavor. to cut (into strips) - /kʌt/ Cut the chicken breast into strips for the stir-fry. to defrost - /diːˈfrɒst/ Defrost the frozen vegetables in the microwave before cooking. to dice - /daɪs/ Dice the onions finely for the salsa. to f...