"Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee." by Muhammad Ali

How would you put this sentence into reported speech?

Muhammad Ali was not only one of the greatest boxers and athletes ever, but also a fighter in every sense.

 

Muhammad Ali's funeral (News report, BBC Learning English)

Related articles to read and watch:

• Muhammad Ali: Inside his final hours (CNN)

• The Guardian view on Muhammad Ali: a life of bravery (The Guardian) & Other interesting facts.

• Muhammad Ali vs. USA (The Washington Post)

• Muhammad Ali, 'the greatest', remembered as boxer who transcended sports (Reuters)

  
  

  News report: Superbug threat (BBC Learning English)

  LINGOHACK  >>>
  

• Episode 160601 / 01 June 2016   >>>  Expressions presented: bitter stand-off, the heart of & thriving.

Article to read: World's longest rail tunnel to open in Switzerland under Alps (The Guardian)

And always remember Muhammad Ali's words: "I hated every minute of training, but I said, 'Don't quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion.'"

I hated every minute of training, but I said, 'Don't quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion.' Muhammad Ali
Read more at: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/m/muhammadal148629.html

I hated every minute of training, but I said, 'Don't quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion.' Muhammad Ali
Read more at: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/m/muhammad_ali.html

When Muhammed Ali met Prince (BBC)

 

English, a language in motion

All languages are, of course, in a constant evolution due to the use of the language speakers of the different parts of the world, but this phenomenon is especially significant in the English language due to the lack of an English Language Academy. Instead, universities such as Oxford or Cambridge work on different corpora (plural form of the word 'corpus') to make their dictionaries or grammar books.

    For instance, thirty years ago we would learn the Future Simple using 'shall' for the first person singular and plural. We don't do that any more. Now we use 'will' for all the persons.

Here's an interesting listening exercise for you to do: 'Is English changing?' (6 Minute English, BBC Learning English)

Have a look at Lingohack and you'll learn about the latest on the US elections, a cyborg beetle and the teenage brain development.

And remember this previous post about the human brain.

LINGOHACK  >>>

• Episode 160803 / 03 August 2016   >>>  Expressions presented: questioned, remotely & insight.

VINCENT VAN GOGH

Some time ago (January, 2014) I made this post about this great Dutch painter. Here it is again with some updated information you may be interested in.

 

Who was Vincent Van Gogh? Tell me all the information you know about him. 

If you don't know him, you can read something about him. CLICK HERE!!! 

 

And if you like to have a look at a page with brand new information about Vincent Van Gogh and many other artists, I will provide you with this like: Artsy's Vincent Van Gogh page . It will take you to Artsy's page, whose main aim is to make all of the world's art accessible to anyone online.

Crossword on ART 

Our golden boy Calderón quits ÑBA

Our golden boy José Manuel Calderón (his biography so far) says goodbye to the basketball national team as he wants to concentrates on his NBA team (LA Lakers) and his family. We all wish you the best of lucks!!! Thanks for such great moments!!

Jose Calderon retires from Spanish national team (NBC Sports)

Changing topic, what does 'domestic chores' mean? Well, both my wife and I have been doing the cleaning and painting of our flat and I would like you to do this exercise and give me your opinion >>>>>

Listening exercise to do: Do women clean the house more often than men? (6 Minute English, BBC Learning English)

New section in BBC Learning English: English at work, which focuses on English communication in the office. Here's the first episode: 00 Introduction

A lot to solve and to discover :-(

Our world is full of paradoxes. A lot of efforts and investments are made to travel in the universe and find planets elsewhere, building glass bridges... while we still have areas in our world where a natural disaster can cause hundreds of victims. It is fantastic to make discoveries, but shouldn't we invest more money to solve ordinary problems on Eath such as: famine, droughts... or earthquakes?

Natural disaster:

Italy earthquake: Death toll rises to at least 159 (BBC)  >>> The latest: Italy earthquake: Death toll reaches 247 amid rescue efforts  

Astronomy:

Discovery of potentially Earth-like planet Proxima b raises hopes for life (The Guardian)

Advances:

'I'm not afraid – it seems safe!': China opens longest glass-bottomed bridge (The Guardian) Watch this video.

Make a glossary with the most prominent words you find in both articles. Remember other articles related to these two issues in this blog:

• Earthquakes!!! & Happy birthday, your Majesty!!

• Earthquake and tsunami in Japan & Lorca (Spain)

• Cleaning up space junk

• Super Skydive!!!!

 

LINGOHACK  >>>

• Episode 160831 / 31 August 2016   >>>  Expressions presented: marine reserve, orbiting & mourning.

• Episode 160824 / 24 August 2016   >>>  Expressions presented: peer, underestimated & put (something) down to.