Senior actu : l'actualité senior sur internet

Early Man’s Taste For Beer

Thu, 18 Mar 2010 09:45:00 +0100

Frank Thadeusz writing for Der Spiegel comments that traces of alcohol at prehistoric sites suggest that our Neolithic ancestors’ thirst for a beer-like drink may have created the desire to grow crops. History books tell us our Neolithic ancestors’ move away from being hunter, gatherers to farmers was one huge step for mankind; growing crops instead of relying on killing animals for their sustenance and survival.

Frank Thadeusz writing for Der Spiegel comments that traces of alcohol at prehistoric sites suggest that our Neolithic ancestors’ thirst for a beer-like drink may have created the desire to grow

Mr. Right or Mr. Second Best?

Thu, 04 Mar 2010 10:52:00 +0100

Are you on the lookout for Mr. Right? If you are, then be warned: one woman has set out to prove you wrong! Lori Gottlieb, author of Marry Him: The Case for Settling for Mr. Good Enough is urging single thirty-something women to give Mr.Second Best a chance.

Are you on the lookout for Mr. Right? If you are, then be warned: one woman has set out to prove you wrong! Lori Gottlieb, author of Marry Him: The Case for Settling for Mr. Good Enough i...

Pro Athletes Behaving Badly

Mon, 22 Feb 2010 09:25:00 +0100

Chad Johnson of the American football team Cincinnati Bengals legally changed his last name to Ochocinco, which is Spanish for eight five --the numbers on his jersey. It was one of many stunts he pulled in recent years, which include trying to tip a referee with a dollar bill, during a game, the way he might tip a waiter at a cafe. He donned a poncho and sombrero for a victory dance after scoring a touchdown, according to the New York Times, and otherwise made headlines more for his behavior than his performance.

Chad Johnson of the American football team Cincinnati Bengals legally changed his last name to Ochocinco, which is Spanish for eight five --the numbers on his jersey. It was on...

The Complex Power of Brazil's President

Thu, 28 Jan 2010 09:44:00 +0100

Brazil has become one of the major global economic countries. The country now represents a significant portion of all South American wealth, and has one of the world's fastest growing GDP rates. In addition, throughout this development, they have been led by one of the more enigmatic Presidents, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

Brazil has become one of the major global economic countries. The country now represents a significant portion of all South American wealth, and has one of the world's fastest growing GDP rates. I...

Alcohol, the worst drug?

Thu, 14 Jan 2010 22:32:00 +0100

The former head of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs has attacked the British government for not doing enough to address the problem of alcohol in the country.

The former head of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs has attacked the British government for not doing enough to address the problem of alcohol in the country.

Professor David Nutt calls alcohol the ‘gateway drug’ and believes that it is the biggest threat

Lower fertility: a good thing for the world?

Tue, 22 Dec 2009 10:21:00 +0100
Fertility rates are decreasing and families are becoming much smaller in developing countries such as Brazil, Indonesia and parts of India. The fertility rate of half the world will soon be 2.1 or less. The number 2.1 is considered to be ‘the replacement rate of fertility’; in other words, it is the ideal number for a stable population.

Fertility rates are decreasing and families are becoming much smaller in developing countries such as Brazil, Indonesia and parts of India. The fertility rate of half the world will soon be 2.1 or less. The number 2.1 i...

Doulas also known as labour coaches or birthing assistants

Wed, 02 Dec 2009 12:31:00 +0100
A ‘women who support women’ movement is growing in the UK: more and more mothers are turning to ‘doulas’ to help them through pregnancy and childbirth. Along with the anxiety of giving birth, many women in the UK are also concerned that they may not receive one-to-one care while in labour due to a shortage of midwives in the National Health Service (NHS).

A ‘women who support women’ movement is growing in the UK: more and more mothers are turning to ‘doulas’ to help them through pregnancy and childbirth.

Along with the anxiety of giving birth, many women in the UK are als...

Beirut, Number One Tourist Destination In the World?

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 10:19:00 +0100
It comes as an enormous surprise to those of us who remember the TV bulletins of the 1990s, but Beirut has been voted by the New York Times as the “number 1 tourist destination of the world”.

It comes as an enormous surprise to those of us who remember the TV bulletins of the 1990s, but Beirut has been voted by the New York Times as the “number 1 tourist destination of the world”.

In 1995 there were no traffic lights, no road signs, no speed limits, no traffic police – in fact the roads were

To Kiss or Not to Kiss? That Is the Question

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 10:26:00 +0100
You lean in for a kiss on the cheek, while they go to grab your hand, or even, in some places, to give you a hug. When you're in an unfamiliar country, greeting someone appropriately can be very confusing and even embarrassing.

You lean in for a kiss on the cheek, while they go to grab your hand, or even, in some places, to give you a hug. When you're in an unfamiliar country, greeting someone appropriately can be very confusing and even embarrassing.

Let’s review th...

Bilingual children

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 10:34:00 +0200
Many people (especially those struggling with the grammar, accent and verb endings of a language) wish they had started learning a foreign language much earlier. Young children are able to learn a second language like they do a first language. Where adults have to work through grammar rules and translation, young children learn naturally, and absorb sounds and intonation patterns like a sponge. The young brain is hard-wired to acquire language; after this age, we have to work at it!

Many people (especially those struggling with the grammar, accent and verb endings of a language) wish they had started learning a foreign

The New York Times Goes To Paris

Wed, 07 Oct 2009 22:08:00 +0200
Interestingly, the New York Times is the most read English-Language newspaper on the planet. For very good reasons: the writing is beautiful and clear, the stories are well chosen, and their website is free of the celebrity sensationalism that has ruined so many of the great English newspapers these days.

Interestingly, the New York Times is the most read English-Language newspaper on the planet. For very good reasons: the writing is beautiful and clear, the stories are well chosen, and their website is free of the celebrity sensationalism that has ruined so many of the great English newspapers thes...

Conned in Cuba: The process of being had by a jinetero

Wed, 16 Sep 2009 12:41:00 +0200
The phenomena of jineteros, Cuban con artists, and why they exist in Cuba. "Hey lady! Where you from?" "Hi friend. Can I help you?" The bits and pieces of pigeon English rattle through the streets and into the ears of many tourists in Havana -or any other part of Cuba for that matter.

The phenomena of jineteros, Cuban con artists, and why they exist in Cuba.

"Hey lady! Where you from???"
"Hi friend. Can I help you?"

The bits and pieces of pigeon English rattle through the streets and into the ears of many tourists in Havana -or any other part of Cuba

That age-old question

Wed, 09 Sep 2009 12:22:00 +0200
If age is just a number, then why do we feel the need to lie about it? British actress Amanda Redman recently made the news. She had been planning for her 50th birthday, but then one newspaper got hold of her birth certificate. It would appear that she should have planned for her 50th birthday...two years ago. And she’s not the only one to fib about her age.

If age is just a number, then why do we feel the need to lie about it? British actress Amanda Redman recently made the news.

She had been planning for her 50th birthday, but then one newspaper got hol...

Diet: can fat be good for us?

Fri, 24 Jul 2009 09:24:00 +0200
For years, we were told time and time again not to eat too much fat. And then the Atkins Diet came and suddenly it was in fashion to eat fat. And then it was found that the Atkins Diet was not that good after all. After some confusion, we stuck with the belief that some fats are good for us and some fats are bad.

For years, we were told time and time again not to eat too much fat. And then the Atkins Diet came and suddenly it was in fashion to eat fat. And then it was found that the Atkins Diet was not that good after all. After some confusion, we stuck with the

Gap Years

Fri, 17 Jul 2009 10:34:00 +0200
De plus en plus de jeunes anglais décident de faire une pause dans leurs études pour visiter le monde. On les surnomme les « gappers ». (A écouter en "V.O." (cliquez sur le fichier MP3) à la fin de l'article. A noter également qu’en passant votre souris sur les mots en italique, ces derniers apparaissent traduits en surimpression.

Gap Years. Whether it’s backpacking in India, helping in an orphanage in Mexico or relaxing on a beach in Thailand, after getting their

Woodstock, 40 years ago

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 10:35:00 +0200
Le festival de Woodstock qui va fêter son quarantième anniversaire cet été, reste un évènement unique et remarquable pour de nombreuses raisons. (A écouter en "V.O." (cliquez sur le fichier MP3) à la fin de l'article. A noter également qu’en passant votre souris sur les mots en italique, ces derniers apparaissent traduits en surimpression.

Many of the best-known musicians of the time performed during therainy weekend and though attempts have been made over the years to recreate the festival, the origina...

The Diet Trap

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 09:56:00 +0200
Le régime est-il vraiment la solution miracle à nos (petits) problèmes de surpoids ? (A écouter en "V.O." (cliquez sur le fichier MP3) à la fin de l'article. A noter également qu’en passant votre souris sur les mots en italique, ces derniers apparaissent traduits en surimpression.

Many people go on a diet at some point in their lives, often after an over-indulgentChristmas or to slim down for a summer holiday when the bikini beckons.

Many fad diets have been tried over the years, fro...

Why France Has It Right

Thu, 11 Jun 2009 09:52:00 +0200
The Economist, si critique d'habitude à l'égard du modèle économique et social français, se demande si finalement celui-ci n'est pas le plus efficace pour amortir le choc d'une crise économique. (A écouter en "V.O." (cliquez sur le fichier MP3) à la fin de l'article. A noter également qu’en passant votre souris sur les mots en italique, ces derniers apparaissent traduits en surimpression.

In an article dated May 17th, English journal The Economist, not normally a friend of ‘the French way of doing things,’ says ‘Vive la différence!’ It praises the French model as appropriate to these ‘ troubled times.’

France’s Gross Domesti...

Van Gogh - In Ear Mystery

Sat, 23 May 2009 11:32:00 +0200
C'est peut être la fin d'un mythe. Van Gogh ne se serait pas coupé l'oreille lui-même. (A écouter en "V.O." (cliquez sur le fichier MP3) à la fin de l'article. A noter également qu’en passant votre souris sur les mots en italique, ces derniers apparaissent traduits en surimpression.

Vincent van Gogh's was the great Dutch painter of the 19th century, who was famed for cutting his ear off. There is a self-portrait of him with a bandage over his mutilated ear.

Van Gogh suffered from either a major psychotic illnes...

The quest for beauty

Sat, 16 May 2009 08:18:00 +0200
Notre société porte un culte à la beauté qui ajoute une pression supplémentaire et finit par créer de véritables inégalités. (A écouter en "V.O." (cliquez sur le fichier MP3) à la fin de l'article. A noter également qu’en passant votre souris sur les mots en italique, ces derniers apparaissent traduits en surimpression.

“Keep young and beautiful. It’s your duty to be beautiful. Keep young and beautiful if you want to be loved.” This song has been around for a long time. We might laugh at its lyrics, but why do w...