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Why learning languages matters

Ask most adults if they think that being able to speak another language is a good thing and they will invariably answer ‘Yes’ and then add, ‘ but I was useless at it at school’. Ask them why it’s a good thing, and they start to flounder. Vague answers about how the economy needs people who speak other languages is the most common response, followed by how useful it is to be able to “get by” on holiday abroad.

By Dr Shirley Lawes | Battle of Ideas | Friday, 19 November 2010 at 6:00 am

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World’s Biggest Liar crowned

The World’s Biggest Liar contest has been held in Cumbria – and Essex resident Paul Burrows won it with his claim that Cumbrians had stolen the mountains and lakes from his home county.

By Alan Cleaver | Notebook | Friday, 19 November 2010 at 1:16 am

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Has Bill Cash become a Europhile?

It hardly counts, because it is Alex Singleton (right), but he asks number 436 in my series of Questions to Which the Answer is No:

Has the grandfather of Eurosceptics, Bill Cash, become a Europhile?

And he chucks in an extra one, number 437, at the end of a rant that reminds me of nothing so much [...]

By John Rentoul | Eagle Eye | Thursday, 18 November 2010 at 6:50 pm

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The Gumpathon team complete their epic journey

The ‘Gumpathon’ marines who were featured on these pages last month have completed their epic 3,500 mile coast to coast run across the United States.

By Simon Rice | The Foreign Desk | Thursday, 18 November 2010 at 5:17 pm

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UFC 123 preview: Rampage-Machida

A look ahead to UFC 123 which takes place in Auburn Hills, Michigan on Saturday.

By Adam Williamson | Sport | Thursday, 18 November 2010 at 4:44 pm

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Alex Ferguson thought Brian Clough was ‘rude’

Terror causes the evacuation of a Wild West community after word spreads that Big Fergie is heading for town. Only the intrepid saloon keeper stays put, cleaning and re-cleaning unused glasses in the hope that his customers will return.

By John Roberts | Sport | Thursday, 18 November 2010 at 4:33 pm

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Must watch: David Kassan paints with uDraw for Wii

We’ve had tennis rackets, golf clubs, steering wheels, pedometers, fitness boards and even whisks created for the Wii — why not add a pen and drawing tablet to the growing list of peripherals? Looking to do just that is Pipeworks Software, developer of new ‘draw-em-up’ uDraw Studio.
uDraw is no simple Microsoft Paint substitute though, instead [...]

By Michael Plant | Games, Notebook | Thursday, 18 November 2010 at 4:11 pm

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The British right’s Irish rollercoaster

It is striking how late in the day the right have started to wake up to Ireland’s structural economic problems. Until very recently Ireland was the neoliberal right’s poster child.

By Ben Chu | Eagle Eye | Thursday, 18 November 2010 at 2:21 pm

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Rugby League: Visiting the Turkeys down under

I’ve bemoaned previously that country rugby league in Australia, whatever its other virtues, is a bit short of imagination in naming its teams.
Generally, they tend to just borrow the Sydney names and call themselves Tigers or Magpies or some such.
That was why I could hardly resist the chance to visit the Kyogle Turkeys, who are [...]

By Dave Hadfield | Sport | Thursday, 18 November 2010 at 1:24 pm

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Must watch: The brilliance and buffoonery of Cristiano Ronaldo

Whatever else is said about Cristiano Ronaldo, there’s no denying that he’s one hell of a footballer.

The Portugal star was instrumental in demolishing World Champions Spain 4-0 last night. Yet he should have found himself on the scoresheet with what would have been an incredible effort. But it was disallowed when former Manchester United team-mate Nani headed in the goal bound shot from an offside position.

By Simon Rice | Sport | Thursday, 18 November 2010 at 11:43 am