So far, only two people have sent me the correct answers so you still have a very good chance to win. Send your answers to me soon.
I just realized that the STeP question about Yao Ming (Question #1 about the Chinese basketball player) doesn't have a link to it anymore. We'll get the link back up as soon as we can...and I'll give you an extra day to get your answers in. Send your answers to joel@elllo.org before Sunday morning 10:00 am (May 31st, New York time).
If you have questions, e-mail me or post your question below.
Good luck!
Read more!
Contest Update
English Mania
Ladies and gentlemen, let's talk about manias. Beatlemania.
Hysterical teenagers crying, screaming. Pandemonium!
Sports mania. Deafening crowds…whole nations obsessed for one reason: Get the ball in the net. -Goal!
Religious mania. Rapture. Weeping. Visions. Manias can be good; manias can be alarming. Or manias can be deadly.
Our world has a new mania. A mania for learning English. Listen as Chinese students practice their English by screaming it.
I want to change my life! -I want to change my life!
I don't want to let my parents down! -I don't want to let my parents down!
I don't ever want to let my country down! -I don't ever want to let my country down!
Most importantly… -Most importantly…
I don't want to let myself down! -…I don't want to let myself down!
How many people are trying to learn English? Two billion of them. -A hat. A t-shirt. A dress.
In Latin America, India, Southeast Asia, but most of all, China. If you're Chinese, you start in the third grade. By law.
That's why this year, China will become the world's largest English-speaking country.
Why English? In a word, opportunity. English equals opportunity. A better life. A good job.
Being able to pay for school, and better food on the table.
Imagine a student taking a giant test for three full days. Her score on this one test literally determines her future.
She studies 12 hours a day for 3 years to prepare. Twenty-five percent of her grade is based on English.
It's called the gaokao. Eighty million high school kids across China have taken this grueling test.
The intensity to learn English is almost unimaginable until you witness it.
Perfect! -Perfect! -Perfect! -Perfect!
Perfect! -Perfect! -I want to speak perfect English! -I want to speak perfect English!
I want to speak… -I want to speak… -…perfect English! -…perfect English!
I want to change my life! -I want to change my life!
So is English Mania good, or bad? Is English a tsunami washing away other languages?
Not likely. English is the world's second language. Your native language is your life.
But with English, you can be part of a wider conversation – a global conversation about global problems.
Like climate change. Poverty. Hunger. And disease. The world has other universal languages.
Mathematics is the language of science. Music, the language of emotions.
And now, English is becoming the language of problem-solving.
Not because America is pushing it; because the world is pulling it.
So English Mania is a turning point, like the harnessing of electricity to light our cities, or the fall of the Berlin Wall.
English represents hope for a better future. A future where the world has a common language to solve its common problems. Thank you.
Read more!
Contest: Questions 1-5
You can start sending your answers now. I will put everyone's name in a hat who sends me the correct answers to all five questions before MIdnight (24:00 New York Time) on Friday, May 29th. You don't have to be the first person to send your answers to win. On Sunday, May 31st, I will record a short video where I will pull one name from the hat to decide the lucky winner of the iPod shuffle.
Here are all five questions:
#1:
In the STeP section of elllo, there was a story about the Chinese NBA basketball player Yao Ming.
This question has three parts...
1a. What do the letters "STeP" stand for?
1b. STeP was designed to help you practice for what?
1c. How did Yao Ming use to feel about talking to reporters?
#2:
In Game #50, there are only two patients (out of six) who don't have to _________ _____ __ ___________ ?
#3:
Katia from Mexico is featured on interviews #975 and #976. How many total interviews has she done for elllo? (you don't have to count mixers, games, etc. - just the interviews.)
#4:
ELLLO has a new video player. If you want to see the text while you watch, which button do you have to click?
#5:
Todd explains that the listening games are not _____________, but they should be ________.
BONUS!! If you record a response to the question "How do you stay in shape" here and send all 5 correct answers, I will put your name in the hat two times and double your chance to win. You will have to register with Voice Thread (it's free) to be able to record yourself. Don't forget to say your name so I know to include you.
Send your answers with your name to joel@elllo.org
If you have questions about how to play, please click "question" below and ask your question.
Good luck!
This is the end of the post.
Read more!
Contest: Question #4
QUESTION #4:
ELLLO has a new video player. If you want to see the text while you watch, what button do you have to press?
That was only question #4. DON'T e-mail your answers until you have finished ALL FIVE QUESTIONS. Check back soon for the final question.
All entries with all 5 questions correct will be entered into a drawing (I'll put all of the names in a hat and pick ONE lucky winner.
Scroll down to see questions 1, 2, and 3.
If you don't understand how to play, please click on the link below that says QUESTIONS...
Good luck!
This is the end of the post. Don't click "read more".
Read more!
How do you stay in shape? (Mixer #90)
Many of you responded that you want more OUTPUT. Here is your chance. Don't be shy.
Listen to the introduction, then click "comment" and record a short response to the question, "How do you stay in shape?"
If you have problems using the software, please comment so I can try to help you. I'll make a couple of comment on pronunciation and grammar for the first 5 people that respond. If it seems like you all like this activity, then I'll create a version that is larger and has unlimited memory storage.
Thank you for your responses! It doesn't fit so well on this blog so here is a link to a full screen.
This is the end of the post.
Read more!
Contest: Question #3
Here we go...
The Prize: iPod Touch
The Game: Answer 5 sets of questions correctly (you can find all of the answers on elllo.org)
The Deadline: Friday, May 29, Midnight (24:00 New York Time)
QUESTION #3:
This week Katia from Mexico is featured on interviews #975 and #976. How many total interviews has she done for elllo? (you don't have to count mixers, games, etc. - just the interviews.)
That was only question #3. DON'T e-mail your answers until you have finished ALL FIVE QUESTIONS. Check back soon for the final 2 questions.
All entries with all 5 questions correct will be entered into a drawing (I'll put all of the names in a hat and pick ONE lucky winner.
If you want to see question #1 again, Click here.
If you don't understand how to play, please click on the link below that says QUESTIONS...
Good luck!
This is the end of the post. Don't click "read more".
Read more!
Contest: Question #2
Here we go...
The Prize: iPod Touch
The Game: Answer 5 sets of questions correctly (you can find all of the answers on elllo.org)
The Deadline: Friday, May 26, Midnight (24:00 New York Time)
QUESTION #2:
In Game #50, there are only two patients (out of six) who don't have to _________ _____ __ ___________ ?
That was only question #2. DON'T e-mail your answers until you have finished ALL FIVE QUESTIONS. Check back soon for the final three questions.
All entries with all 5 questions correct will be entered into a drawing (I'll put all of the names in a hat and pick ONE lucky winner.
If you want to see question #1 again, Click here.
If you don't understand how to play, please click on the link below that says QUESTIONS...
Good luck!
This is the end of the post. Don't click "read more".
Read more!
News: Wednesday May 20, 2009
Double click on any word to see the meaning.
Where is WHO? What? We're gonna make sense of that in today's edition of CNN Student News. Hi everyone, I'm Carl Azuz.
First Up: Fuel Effeciency Plan
AZUZ: First up, President Obama announces new regulations aimed at making cars more fuel efficient. The plan is to combine the government's current guidelines with California's tough emissions rules to make a new, nationwide standard. The goall of all of this is to help cut down on the amount of greenhouse gas emissions from U.S. vehicles. The new regulations will take effect in 2012 and force automobiles to become more fuel efficient over the course of four years. By 2016, cars will be required to get 39 miles per gallon. Right now, the standard is 27 and a half. By that same deadline, light trucks will have to get 30 miles per gallon. Current standard: just over 22.
So, what is the potential downside here? Well, cost for one thing. The Obama administration estimates the new rules will add about $600 to the cost of a car. That's on top of an estimated $700 increase from fuel efficiency changes that have already been put in place. Some experts say that might keep consumers from buying. But several automakers have signed on to the plan, and President Obama says the announcement marks a milestone for the industry and the environment.
U.S. PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA: For the first time in history, we have set in motion a national policy aimed at both increasing gas mileage and decreasing greenhouse gas pollution for all new trucks and cars sold in the United States of America.
Fuel-less Vehicles
AZUZ: A couple of vehicles already on the road aren't going to need to worry about new fuel standards, because they don't run on fuel! Melissa Long takes us out for a spin.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MELISSA LONG, CNN ANCHOR: A sports car and a scooter. An unlikely pair. But they have something in common.
STEVE SHAPIRO, VECTRIX OWNER: You just plug it in to a regular socket and charge it.
LONG: Neither use gas. Steve Shapiro bought this highway-friendly Vectrix Maxi Scooter last year when gas prices were high.
SHAPIRO: It takes two hours to charge, and then you have about 50 to 60 miles of driving. Underneath the seat and in this back storage compartment, I can get the equivalent of about three bags of groceries, so that works for my family of four.
LONG: We know the trunk can hold a couple of bags, but let me see if I could actually pack my work bag and ride to work. Well, it's a tight squeeze, but it does actually fit. For those willing to give up gas but not the trunk space, the Tesla Roadster might be a better fit.
JEREMY SNYDER, TESLA MOTORS: 95% of Americans drive less than 100 miles per day; the Roadster has a range of 244 miles, so for daily driving purposes, this suits 95% of Americans.
LONG: For about $100,000, it goes from zero to 60 in under four seconds, a bit faster than the Vectrix. This vehicle has a lot of pickup; it can go from zero to 60 in 6.8 seconds. Gun it. To date, Vectrix has sold about 1,500 scooters. Four hundred Tesla Roadsters have been purchased; 1,200 are on order, and there's a waiting list for the not-yet-released cheaper sedan model. This may change the quintessential road trip: no more gas stations.
JOHN ANTHONY, RIDES SCOOTER TO WORK: When you're riding this, you do keep an eye out. There are a lot of outside outlets, and I have plugged in.
LONG: Melissa Long, CNN.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
Spoken Word
U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE HILLARY CLINTON: I am announcing that the people of the United States are responding to a request for assistance from the government of Pakistan with more than $100 million in humanitarian support. Now, this money comes on top of almost $60 million that the United States has provided since last August to help Pakistanis who have been affected by the conflicts, and in addition to the other funding for Pakistan that we are already seeking from the Congress.
Pakistan Aid
AZUZ: Secretary of State Clinton talking about a humanitarian crisis that's affecting an estimated two million people in Pakistan. They've had to flee their homes to get away from fierce fighting between military forces and the Taliban. Secretary Clinton says the goal of that $100 million is to invest in Pakistan and give its people food and supplies. She says the aid is "essential to the global security and security of the United States."
NASA Releases Hubble
AZUZ: And the Hubble Space Telescope is now floating free after being released by the shuttle Atlantis early yesterday morning. The shuttle's robotic arm has had a hold on the telescope for the past several days, as astronauts made a series of repairs and upgrades during a series of five spacewalks. NASA expects the repair work to keep the Hubble in operation for at least another five years. As we've reported, this was NASA's fifth and final trip to the telescope, which was launched into orbit 19 years ago.
Shoutout
ERIK NIVISON, CNN STUDENT NEWS : Time for the Shoutout! What city is home to the headquarters of the World Health Organization? If you think you know it, shout it out! Is it: A) New York, B) London, C) Atlanta or D) Geneva? You've got three seconds -- GO! The WHO's headquarters are in Geneva, Switzerland. That's your answer and that's your Shoutout!
Inside the WHO
AZUZ: The World Health Organization, or WHO, is the branch of the United Nations that's responsible for global health issues. They're the ones who track diseases like the H1N1 virus and how these outbreaks spread around the globe. Fionnuala Sweeney takes us inside a room at the organization's headquarters in Geneva that serves as the "nerve center" of this surveillance.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
FIONNUALA SWEENEY, CNN ANCHOR, WORLD NEWS EUROPE: The SHOC Room; the World Health Organization's very own Situation Room. Short for Strategic Health Operations Center, SHOC is the eyes and ears for the scientific world's response to outbreaks, be they natural or man-made.
JAMES ZIMMERLY, OPERATIONS MANAGER, STRATEGIC HEALTH OPERATIONS CENTER: Well, we might call this similar to a newsroom. This is where the situation is monitored and created. We make a situation report every evening depending on the type of information which is gathered during the day.
SWEENEY: SHOC swung into action in the early hours of Friday, April 24 to respond to the outbreak of H1N1 virus, or as it was known then, swine flu. Three hundred people -- scientists, doctors and communications specialists -- were mobilized to respond to a crisis which less than a month later escalated to Phase 5; one phase short of a pandemic, which means H1N1 is finding its way around the world.
DR. MICHAEL J. RYAN, WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION: It's a little bit like starting a number of brushfires and wondering which one will burn the forest down.
SWEENEY: The U.N. Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, came to see for himself.
BAN KI-MOON, U.N. SECRETARY GENERAL: This can give hope to many people.
SWEENEY: A rare and ironicly lighthearted moment in a room that has been 24/7 for weeks.
BAN: I'm very much grateful to all of you, who must have been spending many, many sleepless nights.
SWEENEY: A vaccine for H1N1 is some time off yet. Clinical trials are not expected to begin for some weeks. So, there are issues about timing, but also to ensure that there are enough stocks of the seasonal influenza vaccine, which, by itself, kills an estimated half a million people a year. After the SHOC Room, a closed door meeting between the Secretary General and 30 pharmaceutical manufacturers in an attempt to find common ground on the development and distribution of a vaccine.
BAN: We are working very hard. Based on all scientific research and evidences and most of the industrialised countries as well as pharmaceutical CEOs, they have committed themselves that they would stand ready.
SWEENEY: Back in the SHOC room, H1N1 flu is a crisis which is still touch and go.
RYAN: To some extent, it's a matter of time. And that time is precious because it gives everyone a chance to prepare.
SWEENEY: The SHOC Room will be in operation for some time. Fionnuala Sweeney, CNN, Geneva.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
Promo
AZUZ: You might have missed something we said in today's show, but our transcript didn't! It's a written version of everything in the program, even the words I'm saying right now! And I just checked and in yesterday's show there were more than 1,600 words spoken. You can use our transcript to catch something you missed or maybe study up on some words you don't know. And you can always find it at CNNStudentNews.com!
Before We Go
AZUZ: Before we go today, some mornings can feel like a real cattle drive. And these ladies know what I'm talking about. Actually, these cows are on the lam. It's a bovine breakout! Although by the looks of it, not a very well planned one. They escaped from a nearby dairy farm and made it a little ways down the road, before police showed up to steer them back in the right direction.
Goodbye
AZUZ: At least they got to enjoy a mooo-ving experience. You knew that was coming. We're gonna hoof it on out of here. For CNN Student News, I'm Carl Azuz. We'll see you right back here tomorrow.
Read more!
Winning Smile
Cristiane, the winner of the first iPod contest writes:
I received the prize last Friday, thank you very very much... I really loved it!
Keep checking back. Question #2 of the new contest is coming soon. If you still haven't answered question #1, click here to read it.
This is the end of the post. Don't click "read more".
Read more!
News: May 19th, 2009
Double click on any word to see the meaning.
Possibilities for a Middle East peace plan, an outbreak update, and a delayed diploma ceremony. A lot to cover today, so let's get right to it.
First Up: Obama, Netanyahu Meet
AZUZ: First up, President Obama meets with Israel's prime minister for the first time since both men have taken office. You might remember that Israel's president, Shimon Peres, met with Obama at the White House a couple weeks ago and discussed possibilities for a Middle East peace plan. But Peres isn't in charge of his country's government. The man who is, Benjamin Netanyahu, visited the White House yesterday. He and Obama discussed some of the issues facing both their countries, like Iran's nuclear program. The U.S. and Israel believe Iran is developing nuclear weapons, although Iran denies it.
But the biggest subject that came up during yesterday's meeting was the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the possibility of a two-state solution. At the center of this conflict: Gaza and the West Bank. Israelis and Palestinians both have claims to these regions. A first round of major fighting lasted from 1987 to 1993. A second round erupted in 2000. U.S. presidents and other world leaders have tried to move the peace process forward for decades. One idea that's picking up support: the two-state solution. It would establish a Palestinian state alongside the nation of Israel. President Obama supports it; so did former President Bush. But Prime Minister Netanyahu has not endorsed the plan.
Word to the Wise
ERIK NIVISON, CNN STUDENT NEWS: A Word to the Wise...
virus (noun) a microorganism that can cause disease in plants, animals or bacteria
Worldwide Update
AZUZ: Like the H1N1 virus. You might know it by its more common name: swine flu. This virus dominated headlines following an outbreak that began last month in Mexico, but you haven't heard too much about it in the past couple weeks. So, it must be gone, right? No! And as Elizabeth Cohen explains, that attitude has health experts worried.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN SENIOR MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: In Mexico City, actors urge people to return to the theater after weeks of being closed because of swine flu. In New York City, students at St. Francis Preparatory School return to class after an H1N1 outbreak there sickened at least a thousand people. It seems like life is back to normal, swine flu no longer on the radar the way it used to be.
ANDREW PEKOSZ, JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY: The public and media attention has really dropped off over the past week to ten days or so.
COHEN: And that worries public health experts. H1N1 cases are still on the rise in the United States, with more than 5,000 cases and six deaths, the latest one Sunday in New York City. In Japan, there was a surge of swine flu over the weekend, with 117 cases reported.
PEKOSZ: So, where this virus can gain a foothold, it seems to then become entrenched and spread in the population rather easily.
COHEN: Why, then, has public interest decreased? Some experts think it has something to do with, well, the drama of it all. On April 29th, World Health Organization Director-General Dr. Margaret Chan declared that "all humanity was under threat" from H1N1. And when, in the proceeding weeks all humanity didn't crumble, many lost interest. But experts warn you should still be diligent about washing your hands, still be diligent about staying at home if you're sick.
PEKOSZ: I think we should be as vigilant as ever.
COHEN: Elizabeth Cohen, CNN, Atlanta.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
Ear Bud Users Beware
AZUZ: Sticking with health, and some new research that you'll want to hear. Experts say MP3 players could be threatening our hearing. This study focused on teens, sorry y'all. Doctors say tend to listen to music at a much louder level. Sensors in our ears can only take so much before they suffer potentially irreversible damage. Some ways to avoid that: listen at lower levels, and consider wearing ear plugs when you attend loud concerts.
Shoutout
TOMEKA JONES, CNN STUDENT NEWS: Time for the Shoutout! Most people know that Neil Armstrong was the first man on the moon. Who was the second? Was it: A) Edwin Aldrin, B) James Lovell, C) Gordon Cooper or D) John Glenn? You've got three seconds -- GO! Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin was the second man to set foot on the moon. That's your answer and that's your Shoutout!
Space Age Exhibit
AZUZ: Today, space exploration might not seem like that big a deal. We've sent probes across the solar system, there's a permanent space station, and astronauts just upgraded an orbiting telescope. But 40 years ago, when Aldrin and Armstrong walked on the moon, it was called "a giant leap for mankind." A new exhibit celebrates the historic milestone and the president whose vision helped make it possible.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
FORMER U.S. PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY: Man, in his quest for knowledge and progress, is determined and cannot be deterred. The exploration of space will go ahead, whether we join in it or not. And it is one of the greatest adventures of all time.
STACEY BREDHOFF, MUSEUM CURATOR: We're here getting ready for the opening of a special exhibit, "Moon Shot - JFK and Space Exploration."
PERSON ON THE STREET #1: We always connected JFK with the space program.
BREDHOFF: Well, we couldn't have any rockets in here, but we're hoping people will get, at least, a flavor.
PERSON ON THE STREET #1: JFK was an inspiration, really.
PERSON ON THE STREET #2: That time in history changed our whole country.
PERSON ON THE STREET #1: It was an exciting time to see these young men go up and just hope that they succeeded.
BREDHOFF: We're hoping for people to re-visit those memories in some cases, and we're hoping for younger people to, to hear the message, to hear what President Kennedy was saying.
KENNEDY: We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard.
BREDHOFF: President Kennedy set this challenge in 1961. It seemed impossible.
KENNEDY: And its opportunity for peaceful cooperation may never come again.
BREDHOFF: By the time he finishes speaking, you just want to get on board with this project. There's a certain nobility in reaching for something that is so difficult. It speaks to something in the human spirit that we want to reach that high.
KENNEDY: As we set sail, we ask God's blessing on the most hazardous and dangerous and greatest adventure on which man has ever embarked.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
Diploma Decades Later
AZUZ: Okay, from exploration to education and an event taking place at schools across the country: graduation! It might feel like it takes forever to get that diploma, but some students at the University of Puget Sound really have been waiting a while: 67 years! Matt Markovich of affiliate KOMO in Washington state explains the reason for the delay.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MATT MARKOVICH , KOMO REPORTER: It's graduation day for 84-year-old Michiko Kiyokawa.
MICHIKO KIYOKAWA, RECEIVED DEGREE AFTER 67 YEARS: Just call me "Mitch."
MARKOVICH: Mitch should have donned her cap and gown more than a half century ago. But on Dec. 7, 1941, her life changed. She was 19, a freshman at the University of Puget Sound, when the U.S. decided to round up all the Japanese on the West Coast and put them into internment camps. Even then, First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt made a special trip to UPS, voiced her disagreement. It didn't help. Michiko was pulled from school, never to return again.
KIYOKAWA: We figured what the president says has to be, and we have to follow orders. I think this is our Japanese trait.
MARKOVICH: It's now 67 years later, and Michiko has returned. Cherry trees were planted in their honor right after the students were taken. This is the first time Michiko has visited her tree, now fully grown.
KIYOKAWA: I've never had anything named after me.
MARKOVICH: The school has decided to give Michiko and the 35 other Japanese students that were attending UPS in 1941 honorary degrees.
RON THOMAS, PRESIDENT, UNIVERSITY OF PUGET SOUND: We felt this year was a good time for us to actually complete the circle and provide them with the degrees they should have earned in the 1940s.
MARKOVICH: And while the class of 2009 filed into the stadium, Michiko, class of 1944, took the VIP route and sat with the only other living member of the now famous group of 36 that chose to attend. Michiko got her honorary degree, with no bitter feelings, just gratitude the university didn't forget.
KIYOKAWA: I think you can never right a wrong, because that has happened. But this is a big effort and the college being broadminded to recognize and honor us.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
Promo
AZUZ: Just a couple weeks left this school year, but you can keep up with us all summer long on Facebook! We will be updating the official CNN Student News fan page while we're off the air. Right now, we're asking about your summer plans. Vacation, staycation or paycation? Check it out and keep checking back throughout the summer.
Before We Go
AZUZ: Before we go, what does it sound like when you set off a hundred pounds of explosives? Like that. After that big a bang, you know you're gonna see something awesome. Wait for it... patience is a virtue. It took more than 20 seconds for this domino to fall, when a Pennsylvania company took down a 600-foot tall, coal-fired chimney!
Goodbye
AZUZ: Oh what a crash. Chimney crickets! You can blame our producer for that winner and our audio operator for the sound effects. We will see you tommorow.
Read more!
News: May 18th, 2009
Double click on any word to see the meaning
CARL AZUZ, CNN STUDENT NEWS ANCHOR: One swimmer's secret to setting world records? We're gonna dive into the details in this edition of CNN Student News. I'm Carl Azuz, welcome to the show.
First Up: Commencement Controversy
AZUZ: We begin in South Bend, where President Obama gave the commencement address at Notre Dame's graduation ceremony yesterday. As we reported last week, this has raised some controversy. You see, Notre Dame is a Catholic university, and some people are upset that the school invited President Obama to speak and gave him an honorary degree, because of the president's pro-choice position on abortion; that position goes against traditional Catholic teachings.
Police officials say 27 people were arrested during protests before yesterday's ceremony. Some graduates chose to boycott the event to demonstrate their anger over the situation. Others expressed disapproval by painting protest symbols on their graduation caps. A few hecklers even interrupted the beginning of the president's speech, although they were booed by others in the audience. For his part, President Obama acknowledged the controversy, but urged people on both sides of the abortion issue to search for common ground.
U.S. PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA: When we open up our hearts and our minds to those who may not think precisely like we do or believe precisely what we believe, that's when we discover at least the possibility of common ground.
Is This Legit?
GEORGE RAMSAY, CNN STUDENT NEWS: Is this legit? The U.S. Constitution sets the number of Supreme Court justices. Nope. The Constitution established the Supreme Court, but Congress sets the number of justices.
Supreme Court Vacancy
AZUZ: Right now, that number is nine: one Chief Justice and eight Associate Justices. But one of them, Justice David Souter, is retiring, which means President Obama needs to pick a replacement who will then have to be confirmed by the Senate. Kate Bolduan tells us who's on the final list of candidates and explains why the search process is raising some controversy.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KATE BOLDUAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT, WASHINGTON, D.C.: President Obama calls it among his most serious responsibilities.
OBAMA: I will seek somebody with a sharp and independent mind and a record of excellence and integrity.
BOLDUAN: Sources close to the selection process tell CNN the list of top candidates for Mr. Obama's Supreme Court nominee is down to about half a dozen, a majority of which are woman. They include Federal Appeals Court Judges Sonia Sotomayor and Diane Wood, Solicitor General Elena Kagan, and at least two candidates with political experience: Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm. On his search, the president says he's looking beyond judicial record.
OBAMA: I view that quality of empathy, of understanding and identifying with people's hopes and struggles, as an essential ingredient for arriving at just decisions and outcomes
BOLDUAN: That worries many conservatives, who translate what Mr. Obama calls "empathy" to mean "judicial activism." Conservative groups are gearing up for a fight.
GARY MARX, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, JUDICIAL CONFIRMATION NETWORK: We want to see the law equally applied. And the empathy talk, really, personal feelings getting in the mix, that is very troublesome.
BOLDUAN: The president is likely to announce his nominee by month's end, a life-time appointment viewed as a key element of any presidential legacy.
THOMAS GOLDSTEIN, SUPREME COURT LEGAL ANALYST: It's impossible to overstate the importance of a Supreme Court appointment because of the justices' power. They decided things like abortion, affirmative action, gay rights, the meaning of all the laws involving the detainees at Guantanamo Bay, and presidential powers, wire tapping, the list goes on and on and on.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
Is This Legit - Extra Credit!
RAMSAY: Is this legit Extra Credit! Fidel Castro is the current president of Cuba. Not legit! His brother Raul Castro became president more than a year ago.
Cuba Trademarks
AZUZ: With that shift in power, the island nation is undergoing some changes in terms of its relationship with the U.S. Under Fidel Castro's control, which lasted nearly 50 years, Cuba clashed with the U.S., and America established an embargo, or restriction, on trade with the communist country. But as Shasta Darlington reports, U.S. companies are preparing for the possibility of a change in Cuba.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SHASTA DARLINGTON, CNN CORRESPONDENT, HAVANA: Fidel Castro's revolution tore down capitalism and all of its symbols, leaving an ad-free oasis in Cuba. Instead of commercials, state-run TV urges Cubans to attend political rallies and fight disease-ridden mosquitoes. This iconic face looms from billboards, peddling revolution instead of retail. And visitors notice.
PERSON ON STREET #1: It's really quiet. It makes your mind very clear.
DARLINGTON: More than 90% of business is state-owned in Cuba, and the U.S. embargo keeps most American companies out anyway. But that hasn't kept them from preparing, in case one day they can break into this market just ninety miles off U.S. shores. Experts say thousands of American brands are trademarked here for just that reason.
JAKE COLVIN, NATIONAL FOREIGN TRADE COUNCIL: Kraft foods, Starbucks coffee, Batman.
DARLINGTON: Rusty Fords and Chevrolets still ply Havana's highways, but Detroit hasn't unveiled any new models here since 1959. Some big names like Coca Cola are still sold in Cuba today, thanks to exceptions in the embargo for food products. Other names, like this one, can only be found in antique shops. Still, pressure for change is growing in Washington. U.S. President Barack Obama has lifted some restrictions on travel to Cuba. Now, many lawmakers want trade restrictions eased, and companies are taking note.
COLVIN: Cuba's been forbidden for so long that it hasn't been worthwhile for U.S. companies to pay much attention to it. Now that it looks like policy is changing and may change further, it's certainly in a U.S. company's interest to go ahead and look towards registering their trademark
DARLINGTON: While change may not happen overnight, even companies ousted by Fidel Castro are getting positioned for any opening on Havana's horizon. Shasta Darlington, CNN, Havana.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
100 Meters at 100 Years
AZUZ: Out next story today: an athlete who's been making some waves in competitive swimming. This guy holds three world records, and this past weekend, he went gunning for his fourth at an event in Canada. So, what's the big deal? He happens to be 100 years old! CBC reporter Marisa Dragani caught up with the swimming centenarian before this weekend's race.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARISA DRAGANI, CBC REPORTER: He's not your average senior citizen who swims a few laps to stay in shape. Jaring Timmerman is a world class athlete. He has won countless titles, hundreds of medals, and shattered world records. You would think at 100 years old he'd slow down, but he's hungry for more.
JARING TIMMERMAN, WORLD RECORD HOLDER: I got three world records there, and now I still have one to get.
DRAGANI: Which one is that?
TIMMERMAN: That's the 100 [meter] backstroke.
DRAGANI: That's what you're after now?
TIMMERMAN: That's what I'm after now.
DRAGANI: Timmerman is going to go for it at the Canadian National Masters Competition in Toronto. He's the only one in his age category,100-104, so he'll be swimming against the clock, trying to beat the last record. Timmerman didn't start competing until he was 80, at the urging of his wife. Here at home, this centenarian has become a local celebrity. He's agile, lucid, strong. No health problems, he says. Everyone wants to know his secret.
TIMMERMAN: I formed an acronym. And that acronym is G.E.D.S. G-E-D-S: Genes, Exercise, Diet, Spirit.
DRAGANI: Timmerman says it's quite simple. He says you can't do much about what you inherit, but he believes you can change through diet and exercise and having a good spirit. He lifts weights every day and does calistenics, something he began doing training in the Air Force back before the second World War.
DRAGANI: So, you want to know how you did for 100 meters? The current world record is 4 minutes and 42 seconds. You swam a time of 3:54.
TIMMERMAN: Well, I think I'm going to beat it then!
(END VIDEO CLIP)
AZUZ: And he did! When Mr. Timmerman hit the water this weekend, his 100 meter backstroke clocked in at 3 minutes and just under 52 seconds, two seconds faster than that practice time. It's also the exact time he predicted for himself before the race. He got his fourth world record and our congratulations.
Before We Go
AZUZ: Before we go today, speaking of unique world records, this actually qualifies as one: the biggest gathering of people doing the dance from Michael Jackson's "Thriller" video. No, it doesn't look like much of a dance, but we swear, like 25 years ago I'm told, everyone thought these moves were awesome! Anyway, last month, a senior at William and Mary University got 242 people together to break the record, which was one of his lifelong goals.
Goodbye
AZUZ: So, we're sure that the official announcement from Guinness really gave him a thrill...er. Well, I hope your day's better than that pun. For CNN Student News, I'm Carl Azuz.
Read more!
The NEW Contest: Question #1
Here we go...
The Prize: iPod Touch
The Game: Answer 5 sets of questions correctly (you can find all of the answers on elllo.org)
The Deadline: Friday, May 26, Midnight (24:00 New York Time)
QUESTION #1:
Last week, in the STeP section of elllo, there was a story about the Chinese NBA basketball player Yao Ming.
This question has three parts...
1a. What do the letters "STeP" stand for?
1b. STeP was designed to help you practice for what?
1c. How did Yao Ming use to feel about talking to reporters?
This is just question number one. DON'T send your answers until you have completed ALL FIVE QUESTIONS. Check back very soon for question number two.
If you don't understand how to play, please click on the link below that says QUESTIONS...
Good luck!
This is the end of the post. Don't click "read more".
Read more!
TOEFLtv: How to Learn a Language (in 2 Minutes)
Learn a language in two minutes? You can't! What do you think this is? The Matrix??? I can't just upload it into your brain!
But in the next two minutes, I can upload into your brain the four applications you'll need to upload the rest when you are practicing.
Hi this is Joel from elllo.org and I'm going to talk to you about complete language training. When I talk about lesson plans there are four aspects I keep in mind. The first is input, the second is output, third is language focus, and the fourth is fluency.
INPUT
A couple of them are pretty obvious. Input is just reading and listening. You need to get tons of reading practice, tons of listening practice and you need to understand everything that you are reading and listening so you need to use a dictionary or be working online so you can look things up.
OUTPUT
The second one is output. So as much as you listen and read you need to be talking with people. You also need to be writing, giving presentations--so, output.
LANGUAGE FOCUS
The third one is language focus. So this is basically your grammar skills; so you are studying specific grammar points. Also, pronunciation points. And even, social aspects: how to get into a conversation, how to get out of a conversation...
FLUENCY
The fourth one --that a lot of people miss-- is fluency. This is basically taking what you already know, so you are not doing anything new, and just making it faster. This might be in some sort of a presentation situation. The first time you do it, it takes you 5 minutes. Then you speed it up a little bit to where you can get it down to 4 minutes...maybe down to 3 minutes. So the things you already know and just making them faster.
I should also mention that this model comes from Paul Nation. I think that he's at the University of Wellington in New Zealand. This is a model that he came up with based on all the latest research.
So input, output, language focus, and fluency. If you do about 25% of each of them, you'll have a very balanced training, and you'll be able to do everything you need to do in English.
Read more!
Wednesday's News
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CARL AZUZ, CNN STUDENT NEWS ANCHOR: Just 16 shows left before we break for the summer, so you better enjoy 'em while you can. Here with today's edition, I'm Carl Azuz.
First Up: Detainee Photos
AZUZ: First up, President Obama reverses his decision about releasing photographs that show alleged prisoner abuse. These pictures are from prison facilities in Iraq and Afghanistan. The American Civil Liberties Union says the president's decision not to release them "makes a mockery" of his promise for transparency and accountability.
Here's a little history for you: Back in 2006, images of detainees being abused and humiliated at the Abu Ghraib military prison in Iraq sparked widespread outrage. Several prison guards were convicted, the prison commander was fired and the facility was shut down. It re-opened this year under Iraqi control.
The pictures showing military personnel allegedly abusing detainees were scheduled to be released later this month. These photos are from investigations between 2001 and 2006. The Pentagon says it is taking these allegations very seriously. At first, it wanted to keep these pictures from the public, but it agreed to release them after losing two court cases. Last month, the White House said it had no problem releasing the photos, but last week, President Obama met with his legal team because he "didn't feel comfortable" with the idea. Yesterday, he announced his decision to stop the release and offered his explanation.
U.S. PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA: The publication of these photos would not add any additional benefit to our understanding of what was carried out in the past by a small number of individuals. In fact, the most direct consequence of releasing them, I believe, would be to further inflame anti-American opinion and to put our troops in greater danger.
Shoutout
GEORGE RAMSAY, CNN STUDENT NEWS: Time for the Shoutout! What country is considered the world's largest democracy? If you think you know it, shout it out! Is it: A) China, B) United States, C) Russia or D) India? You've got three seconds -- GO! With more than a billion people, India is considered the world's largest democracy. That's your answer and that's your Shoutout!
AZUZ: That's why India's general election lasts for a month! The country has more than 700 million voters; that is more than double the entire population of the United States. When the votes are tallied up this weekend, they won't include anyone from the village of Niwari, because everyone there refused to take part. Sara Sidner explains the reason behind the town's political protest.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SARA SIDNER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: At the end of this dusty crumbling road, there's a political firestorm brewing. "What is the reason you hate politicians so much," village leader Munni Devi asks the group of women gathered. It's a loaded question with a simple answer. Everyone here agrees: Not one politician -- local, state or national -- has done a thing to fix the only road that connects this village with the rest of civilization. The road is so bad it doesn't matter if you're in a bullock cart or in a car, you're almost forced to go the same speed. The villagers here are so upset about the condition of the road they've formed a committee. The women have taken the lead, with Munni Devi as their leader.
MUNNI DEVI, VILLAGE LEADER (HINDI TRANSLATION): No politician has ever done anything for our village. This is why we made our committee here, and have decided that nobody will vote.
SIDNER: So, instead of the colorful political flags touting their favorite parties this election year, this village is flying black flags, signifying the will to vote is dead here.
BEGWATI TYAGI (TRANSLATION): I won't go to vote because of the road. The children travel on it; they are getting hurt by the vehicles. Everyone's worried. We will vote when the road is fixed.
SIDNER: This road has stirred up a political dust storm. Two months after its construction, it failed, and it's been deteriorating for five years now, even deterring students from attending this college. And more importantly, ambulances and some buses refuse to take this 7-kilometer stretch. Residents say it's also a killer, as vehicles try to navigate the pits and potholes.
ARUN TYAGI, VILLAGER (TRANSLATION): At least 6 young people have died here. Our pregnant women have had babies midway while being taken to the hospital. We face all these problems.
SIDNER: Political leaders have promised to fix the road. But until something's done, village life will have to continue as is. Munni Devi is just hoping she can create enough heat to get the politicians to smooth things over, literally. Sara Sidner, CNN, Niwari, India.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
Shoutout Extra Credit
RAMSAY: Time for a Shoutout Extra Credit! When did NASA launch the first space shuttle? If you think you know it, shout it out! Was it in: A) 1979, B) 1981, C) 1983 or D) 1985? Countdown at 3..2..1.. GO! The first space shuttle reached orbit in 1981; the program's final flight is scheduled for next year. That's your answer and that's your Shoutout Extra Credit!
Repair Mission
AZUZ: Before that final flight, the space shuttle program still has some work to do, starting with its current mission to upgrade the Hubble Telescope. Atlantis caught up to the Hubble in orbit yesterday about 350 miles above your head, and used its robotic arm to bring the device into the shuttle's cargo bay. Astronauts are scheduled to make five space walks during this final repair mission to the telescope. All-told, the trip, which launched on Monday, is scheduled to last 11 days. A post-launch survey showed some dings in four of the shuttle's tiles, but NASA's flight director said they looked to be minor.
Summer Job Squeeze
AZUZ: Back on the ground, some of you who are searching for summer jobs might not be having much a lot of luck. The unemployment rate among teens is around 22 percent; that's the worst it's been in decades! Part of the reason: You're not the only age group applying for these positions. Sandra Endo examines the competition for seasonal employment.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SANDRA ENDO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: When Virginia's Merritt Academy announced it was looking for summer camp counselors, camp director Amanda Sperling says she never expected what happened the next day.
AMANDA SPERLING, CAMP DIRECTOR, MERRITT ACADEMY: 55 emails and a full voicemail box.
ENDO: Another surprise? The ages of job seekers and their qualifications, some of them engineers or teachers like Hallie Rasmussen. Out of about 150 candidates, she's one of 25 that made the cut.
HALLIE RASMUSSEN, TEACHER, MERRITT ACADEMY: I had no idea how many people had applied, but that's very exciting that I did get it.
ENDO: In these economic tough times, the traditional summer jobs typically sought after by teens are also coveted by more experienced adults, many of them out of work or looking to change careers. Officials at Six Flags amusement parks say they've seen a lot of that lately.
MARK SHAPIRO, PRES./CEO, SIX FLAGS: We have almost American Idol lines at our job fairs. It's moms looking for jobs, teachers in the off season looking for jobs. It's grandparents looking to do something in the summer. It's fathers that are potentially looking for a second job.
ENDO: Good news for companies looking for workers with experience. Bad news for teens hoping to get some.
JACK KOSAKOWSKI, EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT & COO, JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT: Our research shows that it's going to be very difficult for teens to actually get jobs. It's the toughest job market for teens since World War II.
ENDO: Experts say teens can increase their chances by applying for jobs in person, showing off their skills and keeping in mind experience isn't always everything.
SPERLING: Even though you're really well qualified, we want to make sure you still know how to have fun.
ENDO: Sandra Endo, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
Blog Report
AZUZ: Some of you say texting is so much fun, it's impossible to stop, even while driving. On our blog, Mr. K's civics class asked if I text while I drive. No. No texts, no e-mail. I just tell people later I was driving. But that wouldn't work for Aimee, Scott and Jordan. They all noted that people get mad at you if you don't text them back. Frannie says, "I think people are just so used to texting that it's hard for them to stop, even just to get somewhere." A lot of you agree with Jack: "I don't think anyone really thinks they will crash or be pulled over for texting, so they just keep doing it." From Jen: "When I ride a bike, I send text messages and make a call with only one hand gripping the handle. I almost got hit by a car once by doing that, but I still do it." And from Marshall: "We can't disconnect because some people are just obsessed and don't care what happens. The benefit-to-risk factor is definitely not worth it."
Before We Go
AZUZ: Before we go, prepare for one of nature's most terrifying tales. Aahh! Okay, maybe this doesn't look that scary, but just wait for the description: headless, zombie ants. They're not coming to take over the Earth; they're already here! Attacked by vicious parasites that take over their bodies and turn them into walking zombies. Actually, scientists say this kind of thing happens more often than we know. How about that headless part? Well, the parasite larvae hatch inside the ants, eat their brains, and then their heads fall off. You know, the usual.
Goodbye
AZUZ: That's the kind of thing that'll really make you lose your head. I mean, it's zombie-lievable! We'll be back tomorrow to close out the week. We'll see you then.
Read more!
CNN Student News (with transcript)
Double click on any word to see the meaning...
CARL AZUZ, CNN STUDENT NEWS ANCHOR: Space Shuttle Atlantis, taking off on its mission to the Hubble telescope. CNN Student News is also ready to take flight. This is your captain, Carl Azuz.
First Up: Easier Said than Done?
AZUZ: President Obama says the medical industry is on board with his plan to overhaul the country's health care system. He needs that support, because they're the ones who will have to make the changes. Some Republicans say the president hasn't explained how he'll pay for this new plan Obama says without it, the country's budget could end up on a "disastrous path."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
AZUZ: The Obama administration says health care costs are out of control, and they're only going to get higher if nothing is done. So, the president's trying to slow those cost increases by proposing a new health care system, and that's why he met with some leaders of the health care industry on Monday. They say they're committed to reducing the growth in national health care spending. For example, if everything goes as planned, a family of four could save $2,500 five years from now. The president liked what he heard.
U.S. PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA: We are on an unsustainable course that threatens the financial stability of families, businesses and government itself.
AZUZ: But medical organizations have another reason to work with the president: They don't want Congress to make any laws determining medical prices. So, they're hoping that by promising to cut costs themselves, they'll keep the government from doing it. And the Obama administration says it doesn't have a way to enforce the companies' cost-cutting commitment other than saying who's kept their promise and who hasn't. So, the road to reform is anything but paved smoothly.
AZUZ: Checking out a couple other headlines now, starting in Iran. Roxana Saberi, whom you see in this file video, is free. The Iranian-American journalist was being held in prison in Iran after being sentenced to eight years on charges of espionage, or spying. Saberi denied the charges. Her release came one day after the country's court of appeals heard her case and changed the sentence. White House officials say President Obama, who had called for Saberi's release, was "relieved" at the news.
Staying in the Middle East, but moving to Israel. Pope Benedict the XVI visited the nation yesterday, the first time any Pope has been there in nine years. During his visit, Pope Benedict urged Israelis and Palestinians to end their long-running conflict, and he called for understanding and cooperation between all religions. The pope also visited Yad Vashem, Israel's Holocaust memorial, where he paid tribute to the millions of Jewish victims of Nazi Germany and prayed that "humanity will never again witness a crime of such magnitude."
Word to the Wise
ERIK NIVISON, CNN STUDENT NEWS: A Word to the Wise...
epicenter (noun) the location on the earth's surface directly above where an earthquake begins
source: U.S. Geological Survey
Rebuilding Yaojin
AZUZ: In China's Sichuan Province, many residents are still rebuilding after a deadly earthquake that hit one year ago today. The 7.9-magnitude tremor claimed nearly 70,000 lives, with almost 18,000 more people still missing. But in a city just 17 miles from the quake's epicenter, residents are leading a relatively normal life. John Vause explains how volunteers from half a world away helped this town recover from the devastation.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOHN VAUSE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: What happened here in the small village of Yaojin is about more than bricks and mortar, of houses and buildings now standing where once there was rubble. This is where a community has been rebuilt, where confidence and hope, shattered as easily as concrete turned to powder, have been reborn.
"From the bathrooms to the kitchen, it's just like living in the city," the village leader told me. We're just 17 miles from the epicenter of the earthquake, and life has returned to Yaojin. It's ordinary, everyday life, and in this place, that seems extraordinary.
DAVID DARG, OPERATION BLESSING: We were able to go in and erase the fact that an earthquake wiped out their hope, wiped away their lives and their houses. And now they're living in a new village.
VAUSE: David Darg and a small team from Operation Blessing, a U.S.-based charity, arrived in Sichuan three days after the earth shook, bringing destruction across an area about the size of Spain. More than 69,000 dead, hundreds of thousands hurt, and millions were left homeless. Everywhere they looked, there was overwhelming need. So, they made a difficult choice.
DARG: We wanted to focus our efforts and make an impact on one location, rather than spread ourselves thin and try and help as many people as possible.
VAUSE: They chose Yaojin because here, they say, the villagers had shown a gritty determination to help themselves. And over the next year, men and women, old and young, more than two hundred people worked together to rebuild their homes .
DARG: They don't really care how tiring it is, they're just going to do it.
VAUSE: David and his wife Naomi spent the first eight months of marriage in Yaojin.
WOMAN: Merry Christmas!
VAUSE: Her father, an engineer, visited from Australia and designed the buildings with extra steel, enough to survive another quake.
PAUL KEVIN, CONSTRUCTION ENGINEER: So, if a building is being shaken, the walls won't crack in a horizontal line.
VAUSE: So, 11 months after they began...
DARG: We're finally moving them out of their temporary shelters.
VAUSE: ...And into their new homes. Never had a bathroom before, indoor plumbing. Mr. Chen proudly showed me around his 2-story, 5-bedroom home.
"We didn't have anything after the earthquake," he says. "How can we think this could happen?" 253 people live here in Yaojin. The village, they say, is bigger and better built than before the earthquake. But across the quake zone, they're the fortunate ones. Many are still living in temporary housing, unsure when they, too, will have a real home of their own. John Vause, CNN, Yaojin, China.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
Shoutout
TOMEKA JONES, CNN STUDENT NEWS: Time for the Shoutout! What is the name of this song? Is it: A) Pomp and Circumstance, B) Rhapsody in Blue, C) Canon in D Major or D) Fanfare for the Common Man? You've got three seconds -- GO! Pomp and Circumstance has been played at graduations for around a century. That's your answer and that's your Shoutout!
Katrina Class
AZUZ: In the next few weeks, many of you seniors will be walking to that traditional tune. Wrapping up an education and getting your diploma is always a major milestone. But for some college students in New Orleans, this spring's ceremonies carry special meaning because of how their college lives began. Maya Rodriguez of affiliate WWL explains why.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MAYA RODRIGUEZ, WWL REPORTER: The pomp and circumstance may seem typical of any graduation, yet these graduates are anything but.
ALCINA WALTERS, DILLARD UNIVERSITY GRADUATE: We came back, and we did what we had to do.
KRISTIN GONZALES, XAVIER UNIVERSITY GRADUATE: It was definitely trying times.
RODRIGUEZ: The times were the days surrounding Hurricane Katrina. This marks some of the first graduation ceremonies of the so-called "Katrina Class," the students who started college in New Orleans just days before Hurricane Katrina slammed ashore.
GOV. BOBBY JINDAL, (R) LOUISIANA: I certainly would be remiss if I didn't note that this is a class of students who are nothing if not determined.
RODRIGUEZ: Determined because the storm temporarily shut down all of their campuses and severely damaged others. At Dillard University, floodwaters swamped their Gentilly campus.
WALTERS: Two weeks we had here at Dillard before Hurricane Katrina.
RODRIGUEZ: Alcina Walters evacuated to Shreveport, then Austin, Texas, and eventually San Antonio. She temporarily enrolled at the University of Texas in San Antonio before returning to Dillard months later. During the storm, her dorm room flooded and then burned down in a fire. She lost everything. Despite that, she emerged as the top graduate of Dillard's class of 2009. But she says she shares her success with her fellow graduates.
WALTERS: We all did an amazing job together.
RODRIGUEZ: It's a story repeated across town at Xavier University's ceremony, where students reflected on how the storm damaged their campus and disrupted their education.
GONZALES: It's definitely hard to live in a hotel room for quite a long time, so it's definitely not the most ideal living situation, for sure.
KAYLAN DENNIS, XAVIER UNIVERSITY GRADUATE: It affected it very much. Out of school for six months, didn't know where some of our family members were, either. So, that was very hard, but we got through it.
RODRIGUEZ: And now, they share a connection across campuses here, bound together by a natural disaster at the start, and ending with a new beginning.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
Before We Go
AZUZ: Before we go, all those times your mom told you to make the bed, maybe it was secret training for this! Actually, these guys have a lot better motivation than avoiding punishment: they're getting cash! It's Gainesville, Florida's annual bed-making contest, where winners can take home a couple hundred bucks. They're judged on neatness, speed and making crisp corners. If you're into cleanliness and competition, a bed-making contest is probably right up your alley.
Read more!
Responsible Relationships and You: Facebook Manners
For an elllo lesson on Social Networks like Facebook, click here.
Facebook Manners And You - The most popular videos are here
Meet Alice, she has just arrived home from a hard day at work. She switches on her computing machine and looks to see what her friends have been up to on Facebook, the electric friendship generator.Sent to me by Catwoman. Thanks!
First, she checks in to see what Timmy has been up to. Alice and Timmy have been going steady for six months and she thinks he's a real swell guy. Alice hasn't spoken to Timmy since last evening and can't wait to see what his day was like. That's funny, at 2:05 this morning, Timmy changed his relationship status from "in a relationship" to "single". Even more curious, he became friends with Donna Whitehouse at 2:07 am.
Timmy just bungled rule number one of Facebook relationship etiquette: don't change your relationship status without consulting the other person. What a dope!
Alice decides there must be some sort of mistake. The Timmy she knows would never disregard her feelings this way. She sends him a note to see if it was a mistake. Alice waits, and waits...and waits.
Alice is tired of waiting. So she decides to stick it to Timmy. She uploads and tags a few embarrassing photographs of Timmy. Timmy may have a hard time making new friends when they see that he likes to dress up in Alice's undergarments. Those photographs sure are funny. But Alice just broke Facebook relationship etiquette rule number two: don't post embarrassing photographs of other people. Shame on you Alice!
It's ok Alice, we all make mistakes. It looks like Timmy has posted some messages on Alice's wall. "I can't believe you posted those photos of me." "Sorry for being such a square." "Baby, are you there?" "By the way, it was just a regular rash." TMI Timmy! You've just broken Facebook Relationship etiquette rule number three: be discreet when posting messages on another person's wall.
Alice doesn't take the bait. She removes Timmy's post, and tries to move on with her life.
That's interesting. Timmy has been very busy on Facebook, making friends with all of Alice's friends. Who would want to be pals with a Grody Jody like Timmy. He has violated Facebook relationship etiquette rule number four: don't steal other people's friends. Cool it Alice! No one is going to date you if you get frown lines.
Alice is fed up. So she creates a group called "Timmy Gordon is a real wet blanket." According to the group's description: "Timmy cries over spilled milk;" "Timmy buys things not made in the USA;" "Timmy wets the bed" and "Timmy is a communist." Be careful Alice! This is clearly in violation of Facebook relationship rule number five: don't start hate groups. Nothing good can come of this.
What did I tell you Alice? Timmy is in the slammer and Alice is ashamed. All of this could have been avoided by following the simple rules of Facebook etiquette. Don't be bungle-heads like Alice and Timmy. Have good Facebook manners and the electric friendship generator will be more fun for everyone.
Read more!
Tired of soccer?
This week is all about Switzerland on elllo. And for all the ladies, here's a few reasons why you might like to spend a vacation here.
Dear Girls,
Why not escape during this summer's world cup to a country where men spend less time on football and more time on you?
This is the end of the post.
Read more!
Susan Boyle? How about "Ken Lee"?
"Ken Lee" (I can't leave)
Maria's Reaction
There is hope for her! Here's she is again after just 1 month of listening to ELLLO :-)
The real words to the song:
No, I cant forget this evening
Or your face as you were leaving
But I guess thats just the way this story goes,
You always smile....
But in you eyes your sorrow shows
Yes it shows
No I cant forget tomorrow
When I think of all my sorrows
When I had you there but then I let you go
And now its only fair that I should let you know
What you should know
I cant live
If living is without you
I cant live
I cant give anymore
Cant live
If living is without you
cant give,
I cant give anymore
Well, I cant forget this evening
Or your face as you were leaving
But I guess thats just the way this story goes,
You always smile
But in you eyes your sorrow shows
Yes it shows
cant live
If living is without you
I cant live
I cant give anymore
Cant live
If living is without you
I cant live,
I cant give anymore
Ohhhhhh(No cant live)
No no no (No I cant live)
I cant live (No cant live)
If living is without (No I cant live)
I cant live (No cant live)
I cant give anymore (No I cant live)
Read more!
Win a new iPod Shuffle!!!
The contest ended May 1, but I'll be starting a new one very soon...
It's true!!! I will personally send a brand new 4GB iPod Shuffle to the first person to correctly identify the NAME and COUNTRY of each speaker in this series of 20 audio clips.
Hint: All of the audio samples can be found on the main elllo website anywhere between the first interview that Todd ever uploaded all the way up to the most recent ones (#1-#964).
Start listening NOW before someone else finds them before you and wins the new iPod Shuffle that could be YOURS!
Send your answers to joel@elllo.org in this format:
1. Name, Country
2. Name, Country
3. Name, Country
4. Name, Country
5. Name, Country
6. Name, Country
7. Name, Country
8. Name, Country
9. Name, Country
10. Name, Country
11. Name, Country
12. Name, Country
13. Name, Country
14. Name, Country
15. Name, Country
16. Name, Country
17. Name, Country
18. Name, Country
19. Name, Country
20. Name, Country
I will announce the winner on this blog at the beginning of next month (May 3rd). If no one has found all of them by then I will give you some hints, but we have thousands of regular elllo users, so I expect the competition to be fierce! HURRY!!!
If you have any questions, please click on the link below that says, "Questions".
GOOD LUCK!!!
This is the end of the post
Read more!
How to Train Your Man to Do Housework
Interviews #957 and #958 about housework are here.
Welcome to Love U. This is like no other university you have been to. You'll actually like the homework. Today's lesson is How to Train Your Man.
Ok so, I know we are supposed to accept people for who they are, but what if you are just trying to turn your man into the best person he can be. Well, that a winning situation and if that just happens to mean turning him into the best person he can be for you, well then my friend that is a win-win situation.
The first step to creating your perfect man: Positive Reinforcement. Everyone likes a pat on the back, so just like you would give your dog a treat, when your man does something good, stroke his ego and watch that behavior replicate.
"Honey, did you just put a sock in the laundry? Way to go!"
"Baby? I'm doing the other one right now. Honey?"
The next step to molding your perfect mate: Manipulate His Environment
Make sure that your man is hanging out with married men. Husbands are pre-trained and they should serve as positive role models.
"Dude, I love the color you guys painted the bathroom."
"Thanks. Carol chose it. It's got a real flair. Hey, you did put the seat down when you were in there, right?"
"Uh, I don't know. Maybe?"
"Ohhh!"
"Oh good God!"
"Must put seat down! Must put seat down!"
STEP #3:
Now what if you simply don't have the patience to train your man over time? Try setting up an Incentive Program. Every time your man does something that you ask, give him a reward. The only difficult thing is figuring out which reward works best.
"Honey, do you think you can clean out the garage today?"
"I don't think I'll have time today babe."
"I'm on it."
"Honey, do you think you can fix the garbage disposal?"
"Can't babe, the game is about to start."
"I'm on it."
"Honey..."
"Whatever it is...yes!"
Well that's it for this edition of Love U. Hopefully we've outlined a behavior modification program that you can use in your everyday life. Soon your man will be perfectly trained and my mission will have been accomplished. I'm Tiffany Smith and thank your for enrolling in Love U.
This is the end of the post.
Read more!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
