Paul Newman Tribute

"I am a great believer in luck and the extraordinary role it has in all our life..."

We really were lucky to know him and his dedication to the others, visit his page and you'll know about his legacy.


Read more in the BBC News

Paul Newman (Jan 26, 1925 - Sep 26, 2008)was an actor, film director, entrepreneur, humanitarian and auto racing enthusiast. He won numerous awards, including an Academy Award, two Golden Globe Awards, a Screen Actors Guild Award, a Cannes Film Festival Award, an Emmy award, and many honorary awards. He also won several national championships as a driver in Sports Car Club of America road racing and his race teams won several championships in open wheel IndyCar racing. He a co-founder of Newman's Own, a food company from which Newman donated all post-tax profits and royalties to charity. As of May 2007, these donations exceeded 220 million dollars. On Friday Sep 26, 2008 Newman died at his home in Westport, Connecticut, of complications arising from lung cancer.

The Story of the Six Blind Men and the Elephant

Once upon a time there were six blind men. They lived in a town in India. They thought they were very clever. One day an elephant came into the town. The blind men did not know what an elephant looked like but they could smell it and they could hear it. 'What is this animal like?' they said. Each man touched a different part of the elephant.
The first man touched the elephant's body. It felt hard, big and wide. 'An elephant is like a wall' he said.
The second man touched one of the elephant's tusks. It felt smooth and hard and sharp. 'An elephant is like a spear' he said.
The third man touched the elephant's trunk. It felt long and thin and wiggly. 'An elephant is like a snake' he said.
The fourth man touched on of the legs. It felt thick and rough and hard and round. 'An elephant is like a tree' he said.
The fifth man touched one of the elephant's ears. It felt thin and it moved. 'An elephant is like a fan' he said.
The sixth man touched the elephant's tail. It felt long and thin and strong. 'An elephant is like a rope' he said.

The men argued. It's like a wall! No, it isn't! It's like a spear! No it isn't! It's like a snake! They did not agree. The king had been watching and listening to the men. 'You are not very clever. You only touched part of the elephant. You did not feel the whole animal. An elephant is not like a wall or a spear or a snake, or a tree or a fan or a rope'.
The men left the town still arguing. A little girl heard them and said 'Each of you is right but you are all wrong … but I know what you are talking about'

And you...,what was the girl talking about?

Speaking like a Native

When we start to learn a new language, we are usually obsessed with the pronunciaton and the accent. We feel ridiculous trying to say some words in a proper way, and sometimes that prevent us from learning more.
Penny Dyer has worked with many famous actors such as Nicole Kidman, Cate Blanchett and Helen Mirren, helping them to catch the most suitable accent for each role.
Now is your chance to hear her tips for speaking English in an accent that may be new for you! Join in a lesson to learn how to speak English like someone from the USA or from Yorkshire, in the north of England.

Boomp3.com
Tapescript

Vocabulary from the programme
an accent
a way of saying words that shows what country, region or social class someone comes from
RP
abbreviation of Received Pronunciation
RP is a way of speaking British English that is considered to be the standard pronunciation in the UK
to coach
to teach someone a special skill
topography
the study of the features of a particular place, especially the natural features, like hills and rivers
vowel sounds
the sounds you make without closing your mouth or throat
resonant
a resonant sound is deep and clear and continues for a long time

John Cleese on "The Muppet Show"

Are you too old to remember this?

Final Harry Potter

Thanks to BBC, we listen to programme about the seventh, and last, Harry Potter book - 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows' by JK Rowling. The author and book critic, Amanda Craig, talks about the magic power of what is officially the fastest selling book in history!

Vocabulary from the programme

fantasy = a type of fiction featuring imaginary worlds and magical events
to be down to something = to be the result of something
irresistible = overpowering
to be turned on to something = to become interested in a subject or an activity
cooler = more fashionable
to kill off = to stop
paved the way = prepared the way

Tapescript.
Interview to J.K. Rowling to Newsround.

Boomp3.com