Before you can gently push something, you have to approach or get near it. Therefore, in your context, I think "nudged" is used to mean "approached" or "touched." I just checked the Free Dictionary. One of the definitions for "nudge" on that site is, "To come close to; near." http://www.thefreedictionary.com/nudge

Rhetoric usually has to do with speech so, without more context, I would think that the link or tie has to do more with speech than actual reality. Maybe the speaker means that he or she tried to use verbal logic to tie the proposal to "fact X", but that the proposal and "fact X" are not linked in any necessary way. It is hard to say without more context.

The previous owner had died in bed (in situ), and some people were taking her possessions. They did not take the owner's bedding (sheets and blankets), however. Instead, they took spare (or extra) bedding materials from the laundry cupboard (where the bedding is kept). "To raid" means "to steal or plunder," but in this context, it is used a little humorously.

I think the author is just trying to tell how the people in Mexico live in the same house although they are different from each other. "To wear your heart on your sleeve" is just an idiom that means that you express your emotions openly, like some Latin Americans. "Side-arms" are weapons, such as pistols. The other half of the people in this sentence are trying to defend themselves, or they are just violent. However, if you think about it, violent people are often emotional too, so the two types of people are not necessarily opposites. I hope no one thinks I am (or the author is) stereotyping Mexicans. In my opinion, each culture in the world has positive and negative aspects. Furthermore, I believe we shouldn't judge by appearances. Are you a translator, Gordon, or do you just enjoy reading English books?

How does one survive in the jungle?

Being lost in a jungle is a really hard challenge. Not everyone can survive in such conditions. Firstly, if I were lost in a jungle, I would cover the surface of my body to protect my body from a poisonous insects and plants. Then I would tie the leaves of the trees with a plastic bag to get water. I would also try to find the fruit or insects to eat them. I would make a little shelter of tree branches. Finally, I would make a fire every day to ensure that aircraft could see my location.

[This is interesting. Have you been reading adventure books?]

Trying to find a job

Every morning I visit some websites to look for a job. Some companies ask for English speakers (or even those who speak more than one foreign language) but they don't pay well. We are more than 5 million people trying to find a job in Spain, so there are companies that they even ask you to clean the toilets when you are working in the office.
I will keep the smile on my face. It's hard, but not impossible

Friendly Reminder

Yesterday was Mother's Day and my girlfriend´s mother arrived from Bahia. My girlfriend and I went to her sister´s house to greet her. My girlfriend´s family is big--9 siblings, a lots of cousins, a lots of nephews/nieces etc. We all ate lunch all toghether untill 5pm, when we realized it was the time to come back home.
When we arrived at home, one of her nephews invited me to play football with him, and I accepted.
Since I´m a genius, I thought that I would be fine playing without shoes... never have I been so wrong!!! After 20 minutes I had to stop playing because I wasn´t able to move my left foot properly, while my right foot was bleeding due to a tackle. This reminded me why I had stopped playing football any more!

Are you asking how you would thank people for help? In English, we say, "Thank you for your help." Or, "I appreciate your help."