20130211

Whistleblower's plea for honesty

Jorge Trías Sagnier ignited outrage across the country when he alleged first-hand knowledge of top PP officials getting cash in envelopes on top of their regular salaries. On Wednesday, anticorruption prosecutors showed Trías Sagnier 14 balance sheets, which were published by EL PAÍS and purportedly record the party's secret payouts as noted down by Bárcenas. The witness confirmed to investigators that they were the same sheets that Bárcenas had shown him some years back, according to judicial sources.
El Pais
  • a whistleblower: un chivato 
  • blow the whistle= dar el chivatazo 
  • balance sheets= Estado de cuentas

Whistleblower's plea for honesty

Jorge Trías Sagnier ignited outrage across the country when he alleged first-hand knowledge of top PP officials getting cash in envelopes on top of their regular salaries. On Wednesday, anticorruption prosecutors showed Trías Sagnier 14 balance sheets, which were published by EL PAÍS and purportedly record the party's secret payouts as noted down by Bárcenas. The witness confirmed to investigators that they were the same sheets that Bárcenas had shown him some years back, according to judicial sources.
El Pais
  • a whistleblower: un chivato 
  • blow the whistle= dar el chivatazo 
  • balance sheets= Estado de cuentas

Idioms

- be a piece of cake: be very easy.
 "Bob said the test was difficult, but I thought it was a piece of cake."
- beat: exhausted; very tired (adj.).
"This has been a long day. I'm beat!"
- beat around the bush: evade an issue; avoid giving a direct answer.
"Quit beating around the bush! If you don't want to go with me, just tell me!"
- Beats me: I have no idea.
A: "What time's the party?"
B: "Beats me!"
- blow one's top: become extremely angry.
A: "Was your father upset when you came home at 3 AM?"
B: "He was more than upset. He blew his top!"
-bug: annoy; bother
"I'm trying to concentrate! Don't bug me!"
-bull-headed: stubborn; inflexible.
"Don't be so bull-headed. Why can't you admit that others' opinions are just as good as yours?"
- a bundle: a lot of money.
A: "Your new car is really nice."
B: "It should be. It cost me a bundle!"

Idioms

- be a piece of cake: be very easy.
 "Bob said the test was difficult, but I thought it was a piece of cake."
- beat: exhausted; very tired (adj.).
"This has been a long day. I'm beat!"
- beat around the bush: evade an issue; avoid giving a direct answer.
"Quit beating around the bush! If you don't want to go with me, just tell me!"
- Beats me: I have no idea.
A: "What time's the party?"
B: "Beats me!"
- blow one's top: become extremely angry.
A: "Was your father upset when you came home at 3 AM?"
B: "He was more than upset. He blew his top!"
-bug: annoy; bother
"I'm trying to concentrate! Don't bug me!"
-bull-headed: stubborn; inflexible.
"Don't be so bull-headed. Why can't you admit that others' opinions are just as good as yours?"
- a bundle: a lot of money.
A: "Your new car is really nice."
B: "It should be. It cost me a bundle!"

Food for Thought

Do something kind for someone else today. It doesn't have to be big, maybe bring in your neighbors trash can, treat a friend to coffee, or surprise your partner with a love note. Your kind gesture to another will brighten up their day and perhaps your random act of kindness to someone else will cause a ripple effect of good deeds!
 brighten up : = alegrarle el día a Alguien.
 ripple effect: =efecto dominó

Food for Thought

Do something kind for someone else today. It doesn't have to be big, maybe bring in your neighbors trash can, treat a friend to coffee, or surprise your partner with a love note. Your kind gesture to another will brighten up their day and perhaps your random act of kindness to someone else will cause a ripple effect of good deeds!
 brighten up : = alegrarle el día a Alguien.
 ripple effect: =efecto dominó

20130210

How to divert the mind from worry

The higher our stress levels, the less it takes to make us feel out of control and prone to physical symptoms (headaches, insomnia, indigestion, chest pain)
Mirror