Tuesday, June 29, 2010

#1226 Sign Language, NZ Prison Smoking Ban, Two Peas In A Pod


Show 1226 Tuesday 29 June
Watch today's show at YouTube or BlipTV.

Hi, I’m Sarah, welcome to The Daily English Show.

Day by day more teams are leaving the World Cup in South Africa. And very soon Paraguay will be packing their bags, and I’m very much looking forward to that.

Today we’re studying a short film called Sign Language.

It’s about a guy who has a job holding up advertising signs in London, England. He calls himself a board guy. And his fancy job title is: static outdoor information technician.

And this is his last day on the job because he has been promoted.
In the movie he talks about his job and what he likes about it … and he describes his fellow board guys. He says one guy called Harry is a joker.

He’s always larking around.

To lark means to behave in a playful and mischievous way.

That’s not a word that I often hear in New Zealand. And another word that I’m not very familiar with is high jinks. It says in my dictionary that the word high jinks is old-fashioned and informal. It means lively and excited behaviour.

In the movie Ben says that his workmate must be planning some high jinks.

He says two of his other workmates, Chris and Steve, are: completely inseparable, two peas in a pod.

Two peas in a pod, or as alike as two peas in a pod, is a phrase which means that two things are very similar … like two peas in a pod.

Do you have a brother or a sister? And if so, are you two peas in a pod … or are you apples and oranges or chalk and cheese.




STICK NEWS


According to news reports, about two thirds of prisoners in New Zealand smoke cigarettes.
But from next year, they’ll all be forced to give up.
The government says it’s introducing the ban for health and safety reasons as well as the possibility of legal action.

And that was Stick News for Tuesday the 29th of June.
Kia ora.


This place sucks.
At least we have ciggies, bro.
gasp!


I PAID YOU FOUR CIGARETTES!
BOLLOCKS!


He he he...the sweet smell of a secondhand smoke lawsuit...



Word of the Day

Today’s word is patch.

British English, informal, an area that sb works in, knows well or comes from

In today’s movie Ben says that he started work outside of London. And then he says:

And then my dad retired, passed his patch on to me.



conversations with sarah
#781 That’s a bit harsh

Step 1: Repeat Andy’s lines.
Step 2: Read Andy’s lines and talk to Sarah.

Andy That’s a bit harsh.

Sarah Banning smoking in prisons?

Andy Yeah, their lives are crap enough already.

Sarah Yeah, but … they deserve it. They’re in prison.

Andy And won’t it cause riots?

Sarah Nah, I don’t reckon. They’ll get over it. Just keep them locked up until the withdrawal symptoms disappear.

Andy So you think prisoners should be treated horribly?

Sarah No, not horribly. I mean, I think they should be given healthy food, sunshine, exercise, a clean cell … but not cigarettes.





Sign Language - transcript

Yeah, my work place is wonderful and I want to share it.
My name is Ben. I am a static outdoor information technician – a board guy.
I’ve been doing it for about 15 years, ah, but I’ve just been promoted. So today is my last day.
London is the most exciting city in the world and I’m in the heart of it. Started out in the provinces, learning the trade, get the technique down. Worked the night shift for a few years. And then my dad retired, passed his patch on to me. But I had to earn it, really. This is Granddad’s pole actually.
Ah, my workmates are amazing. That’s Harry, he’s a joker. He’s always larking around. You know last year he held his sign upside down all day, just for a laugh.
You alright, Harry? Must be planning some high jinks.
Then there’s Chris, Steve, completely inseparable, two peas in a pod.
That’s Alex, work experience, degree in urban semiotics. Still got lots to learn though.
Then there’s Anya. She only started last month. You can tell she really gets it though. Terrible condition those flyerers (?) I wish I could help. She’s non-union though, so I can’t talk to her.

Yeah, hi Dad. Yeah, hi. No, ah, new post … first day new post starts tomorrow. Yeah, I am excited. Look, Dad, I’m at work. Ah, yeah, can I call you back? Yeah, bye.
Don’t get me wrong, the promotion is great. You know, It’s an honour to be recognized, Dad's over the moon.
It’s just that, this … place… You know we’re on a 12th century road surrounded by 19th century buildings - they’re works of art. Beneath us, there’s an underground river. There’s so much community here, so much life. And most people don’t see past the neon. This job teaches you about things like that.
You know I’m here to point out less obvious things. From the ruts of Oxford Street to open ways Thomas Hardy, 1872.
There’s so much beauty, you know, so much opportunity, right under our noses. We shouldn’t just ignore it.

We’ll that’s it. Shift over. Thought the guys might give me a send off or something. I guess they’re too busy. Oh well.

Yeah, it’s not too bad. Not so many people as before, but, I still (?) Mondays.
Off to work.


links



music

show start
artist: Kevin MacLeod
track: Future Cha Cha
from: Brooklyn, NY, United States
artist site

WOD start
artist: DJ iPep's
album: Home Mix 2007
track: Game Toy
from: EVREUX, France
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site

cws start
artist: Kevin MacLeod
track: The Jazz Woman
from: Brooklyn, NY, United States
artist site

qa start
artist: ioeo
album: triptracks
track: triptrack2
from: Saint Raphael, France
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site




qa bgm


artist: Scoop
album: Dub Therapy
track: Dub Addict
from: Orleans, France
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo






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