R&W

Top US Military Officer: Let Gays Serve Openly

2010-02-09T20:50:00.003+09:00

According to the article,last week President Obama again called for ending a ban against people in the military who are openly homosexual. That was one of his campaign promises. Mike Mullen says "It is my personal belief that allowing gays and lesbians to serve openly would be the right thing to do. No matter how I look at this issue, I cannot escape being troubled by the fact that we have in place a policy which forces young men and women to lie about who they are in order to defend their fellow citizens."

A survey last April by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life found that fifty-four percent of Americans opposed gay marriage and thirty-five percent said they supported it.Thirty of the fifty states have changed their constitutions to ban same-sex marriage and five states permit it: Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Vermont. And same-sex marriage could soon become legal in the city of Washington.

I have a friend who is gay thus I hope the United States and Japan permit gay marriage. It is because they have a right to marry and they have numerous troubles. I felt President Obama is good president when he called for ending a ban against people in the military who are openly homosexual.

http://www.voanews.com/specialenglish/2010-02-05-voa1.cfm

Two Efforts Seek to Increase Food Security in Africa

2010-02-09T20:31:00.002+09:00

According to the article, for the past year, the World Food Program has operated a project to prevent hunger in twenty-one countries in Africa. In the project, the United Nations agency works with small farmers to grow more and better produce and the project works mainly with women. In this program, when farmers produce more food, they can sell more and when they produce high-quality food, they can get higher prices. They can also store food for themselves, and have enough money to buy food if they need to during the lean season. Sheila Sisulu says the farmers are now starting to earn profits through the project.African governments have to increase their investment in agriculture in order to fight problems related to climate change. The groups want the governments to develop programs in seeds, soil health, policy and markets.

In my opinion, this program is effective for preventing hunger in Africa and it makes good impact on the country. I feel that there is discrimination in the world because we purchase cheap and delicious food although African farmers can not get enough profits. We need to pay more money for African people, and African people should receive fair treatment.

http://www.voanews.com/specialenglish/archive/2009-11/2009-11-16-voa2.cfm

Where Every Day Is Christmas

2010-02-09T20:15:00.002+09:00

According to the article, there is a place where Christmas lives all year long and it is called Bronner's CHRISTmas Wonderland in Frankenmuth, Michigan. The family-owned business calls itself the world's largest Christmas store, and the late Wally Bronner started the business in nineteen forty-five. Michigan has the nation's highest unemployment rate and Bronner's has been affected by the recession, too. However, Wayne Bronner says "Even though people are spending less, we're having more people visit here. And as a result we've actually had a sales increase." Bavarian cultural themes and Bronner's huge store bring three million visitors a year and the town is the most popular place for tourists in the state.

I want to go to Bronner's CHRISTmas Wonderland! I love Christmas trees, ornaments and lights thus this store is a paradise for me. I feel this store is effective to reconstruct the country's economy because customers can feel happy and purchase the Christmas products in this store.

http://www.voanews.com/specialenglish/2009-12-24-voa5.cfm

So Where Are the Jobs?

2010-02-09T19:52:00.002+09:00

According to the article, eight million jobs have disappeared since the recession began in December of two thousand seven and recent recoveries have been slow to create jobs. Jack Strauss says "Historically, during our last two recessions in ninety-one and two thousand one it's taken twenty-three months in ninety-one and about thirty-six months, three years, in our last recession in two thousand one for the United States to regain the jobs lost in the recession."

The Obama administration is putting money into transportation to speed recovery and the administration is giving a tax credit for first-time home buyers to help the housing market. These two programs fueled a lot of the recent economic growth.

In my opinion, recovering economy is difficult and deflation makes a vicious circle in Japan. People should try to purchase some expensive products and company should not sell 900 yen jeans even though it is selling well.

http://www.voanews.com/specialenglish/archive/2009-11/2009-11-06-voa2.cfm

Foreign Student Series: Getting a US Visa

2010-02-09T19:34:00.004+09:00

According to the article, if you are requesting a visa for the first time, you will probably have to go to an American embassy or consulate. You will need to bring a government form sent to you by your American school that shows you have been accepted. Moreover, you will also need banking and tax records that show you have enough money to pay for your education. And be prepared to provide evidence that you will return to your home country after your studies end.

All of this is important in satisfying the requirements to get a visa. A consular official will also take your picture and your fingerprints. Once you come to the United States, you can stay for the length of your period of study and your school is required to provide the Department of Homeland Security with reports on your status as a student.

I worked at the American Consulate in Okinawa as an internship student in last summer, and watched how the consular staff take picture and fingerprints. In addition to that, you need to have an interview with a vice consul and provide an X-ray photograph when you are requesting a visa. I realized getting a visa is severe, but I want to live in the United States in the future.

http://www.voanews.com/specialenglish/archive/2008-11/2008-11-05-voa2.cfm?CFID=367077901&CFTOKEN=95995666&jsessionid=003026de1f599c939a60f355e32a4596b602

Educational Technology: Not Just Computers

2010-02-09T19:12:00.003+09:00

According to the article, most schools are connected to the Internet and some teachers are trying creative new ways to teach with devices like iPods and mobile phones. However, educators say the most important thing is the content.

Cosmobot, a therapy robot, helps six-year-old Kevin Fitzgerald who has difficulty moving his mouth and tongue. Kevin's mother thinks the robot has had a calming influence, helping her son get along better with his friends.Cosmobot was developed to work with children with cerebral palsy, Down's syndrome, autism and other developmental disabilities and children become friends with the robot. That can have a big effect on their behavior, helping them work harder and longer in therapy sessions.

When I watched the movie "I Robot", I felt robot is sometimes scary and weird. However, Cosmobot is good for children with cerebral palsy, Down's syndrome, autism and other developmental disabilities and I realized robot can be a friend or doctor. I hope all children feel happy through communicating with robot.

http://www.voanews.com/specialenglish/archive/2009-12/2009-12-16-voa3.cfm

Want to Stay Warm in Winter? Think COLD

2010-02-09T19:01:00.002+09:00

According to the article, here is a simple way to remember four basic steps to staying warm to avoid cold-related injuries. Think of COLD -- C.O.L.D.

The C stands for cover. Wear a hat and scarf to keep heat from escaping through the head, neck and ears. And wear mittens instead of gloves because the fingers are separated, so the hands may not stay as warm in gloves.

The O stands for overexertion. Avoid activities that will make you sweaty because wet clothes and cold weather are a bad mix.

L is for layers. Wearing loose, lightweight clothes, one layer on top of another, is better than wearing a single heavy layer of clothing.

D is for dry. Pay attention to the places where snow can enter, like the tops of boots, the necks of coats and the wrist areas of mittens.

I have never seen snow thus I do not know how people feel cold in the United States, Canada, and other cold places. I want to see snow and travel these countries in the future, so I will keep in mind cover, overexertion. layers, and dry are essential in cold winter.

http://www.voanews.com/specialenglish/archive/2009-12/2009-12-22-voa4.cfm

Study Adds to Understanding of Language and the Brain

2010-02-09T18:44:00.002+09:00

According to the article, one such belief is that there is a separation of language tasks between two very different parts of the brain; one is Broca's area at the front and the other is Wernicke's area farther back in the brain. The belief is that Broca's area is responsible for speaking and that Wernicke's area is responsible for comprehending. However, the new study shows that Broca's area is involved in both speaking and comprehension. Neil Sahin says "this shows how parts of the brain perform more than one task. Because here's an example of one relatively small part of the brain that's doing three very different things at three different times, but all within the space of a quarter of a second."

I have studied linguistics for three years, but it is difficult to explain why all children can speak mother tongue and how Broca's area and Wernicke's area affect to language acquisition. I learned from this article that Broca's area is not only responsible for speaking, but also responsible for comprehending. Learning linguistics is like a mystery tour.

http://www.voanews.com/specialenglish/2010-01-19-voa4.cfm

Less Salt Can Mean More Life

2010-02-09T18:26:00.002+09:00

According to the article, the government says the average American man eats ten grams of salt a day although the American Heart Association advises no more than three grams for healthy people. It says salt in the American diet has increased fifty percent since the nineteen seventies, while blood pressures have also risen. Less salt can mean a lower blood pressure.New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg is leading an effort called the National Salt Reduction Initiative. The idea is to put pressure on food companies and restaurants. Critics call it government interference.

In my opinion, McDonald's and other fast food restaurants should show how many calories and how much salts are in each food. It is because we have a right to know what we eat and the average American man need to reduce seven grams of salt each day.

http://www.voanews.com/specialenglish/2010-01-27-voa1.cfm

A Rough Road for Toyota

2010-02-09T18:08:00.002+09:00

Toyota became the world's largest automaker in two thousand eight, but after years
Toyota is recalling millions of cars and trucks around the world because of cases where vehicles have sped up unexpectedly. Last August, a driver in California was unable to stop and the crash killed him and three of his family members. The Japanese company may have put its quality brand name at risk, at least temporarily although Toyota says the problem is rare and caused by accelerator pedals becoming stuck open. General Motors and Ford both reported increased sales in January, but Toyota sales in the United States have fallen.

I feel Toyota is a representative of Japan and recalling millions of cars left a stain on Japan and its quality brand name. I hope Toyota makes safe, environmental, and bewitching cars to restore honor and increase sales again.

http://www.voanews.com/specialenglish/2010-02-04-voa4.cfm

Foreign Student Series: TOEFL or IELTS?

2010-02-08T20:54:00.002+09:00

Most American colleges and universities accept one or both of the two major tests. One is the Test of English as a Foreign Language, known as the TOEFL. The other is the International English Language Testing System, or IELTS. The TOEFL iBT and the IELTS both measure all four language skills such as listening, reading, writing and speaking. However with the IELTS, the speaking test is done separately as a live interview. You speak with an examiner who is certified in ESOL, English for speakers of other languages. Moreover, the IELTS is a paper test although TOEFL iBT is a computer test.

Personally, I feel TOEFL is better than IELTS because students use computer when they write an essay at home. Recently, most students do not use handwriting so paper test is difficult for some students. Moreover, speaking with one examiner is sometimes unfair because some examiners are kind and some examiners are severe.

http://www.voanews.com/specialenglish/archive/2008-12/2008-12-17-voa7.cfm

Studying in the US: Helping Foreign Students Feel at Home

2010-02-08T20:39:00.003+09:00

According to the article, U.S.C.'s Office of International Services helps explain student life at the university, because being a new student in school can be a little scary and being a new student in a new country can be scarier. The office offers trips to explore the Los Angeles area to help foreign students feel more at ease in their new surroundings. In addition to that, the Office of International Services also organizes other activities such as a State of the World Seminar. In this seminar, a group of international students and a professor discuss current social and political issues and take questions from the audience.

In my opinion, U.S.C.'s Office of International Services is good for new students because I felt scary when I entered high school or university. The activities such as trips and world seminar would improve students' motivation, and the number of foreign students would also increase.

http://www.voanews.com/specialenglish/archive/2009-03/2009-03-18-voa2.cfm

Write or Wrong: The Death of Handwriting?

2010-02-08T20:17:00.002+09:00

According to the article, in this age of the keyboard, some people seem to think handwriting lessons are on the way out. Professor Graham says handwriting involves two skills; legibility and fluency. However, not everyone masters these skills and teachers commonly report that about one-fourth of their kids have poor handwriting. Some people might think handwriting is not important anymore because of computers and voice recognition programs.

American children traditionally first learn to print, then to write in cursive, which connects the letters. However, more than seventy-five percent of students choose to print their essay on the test rather than write in cursive when they take SAT.

In my point of view, students should use handwriting sometimes and handwriting is an essential skill although computer is useful to write an essay. The students should not depend on computer all the time because people can not use computer when the electric current is cut off. Moreover, handwriting, especially cursive, is a part of European and American history so they should not forget handwriting.

http://www.voanews.com/specialenglish/archive/2009-10/2009-10-29-voa2.cfm

The Life of a School Nurse? Busy

2010-02-08T20:02:00.003+09:00

According to the article, the recession may have reduced a national nursing shortage and not all schools employ registered nurses. In addition to that, another problem for schools is limited budgets.

Right now, as schools prepare to begin a new year, one concern is the H1N1 virus, often called swine flu. These urge local officials to balance the risk of flu in their communities with the problems that school dismissals could cause. The hope is to keep schools open. But if any schools do have to close, then the hope is to keep children learning through phone calls or over the Internet.

In my opinion, the government should not reduce the number of school nurse and budget for H1N1 virus because health makes the students intelligent. Learning through phone calls or over the Internet is not good way to learn, so the government should increase budget and the number of school nurse to improve education.

http://www.voanews.com/specialenglish/archive/2009-08/2009-08-12-voa2.cfm

Going Digital: California's Textbook Project

2010-02-08T19:45:00.002+09:00

According to the article, California has a new program called the Digital Textbook Initiative because Digital Textbooks can offer the latest information and lighten the load of school bags. Moreover, they save paper and trees, and it is effective to make severe cuts in school spending. On the other hand, there are problems because not everyone has a computer or electronic reader. In addition to that, schools could print out copies although that would not help the environment.California cannot require schools to use the digital textbooks thus individual school districts will have to decide for themselves.

When I was a high school student, my high school lent a personal computer to each student so we took notes by using the computer and we used the computer even at home. Therefore, I agree with Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and I think Digital Textbooks are useful to offer the latest information and lighten the load of school bags.

http://www.voanews.com/specialenglish/archive/2009-08/2009-08-26-voa4.cfm

Some Advice on Choosing a College

2010-02-08T19:34:00.002+09:00

According to the article, more than six hundred seventy-one thousand foreign students attended an American college or university during the last school year. Douglas Bennett, the president of Earlham College, says "We're a small college, just twelve hundred students. But about fifteen percent of our undergraduates come from homes outside the United States, which is astronomically high for an American college or university." Moreover, he says "The most important choice you make in going to college is who you choose to be yourself. If you're prepared to bring your best self to college, then it hardly matters where you go to college. On the other hand, if you choose not to be very motivated, not to be very responsible, not to be prepared to work very hard, it doesn't matter where you go; you probably won't get a good education."

I accede to Douglas Bennett's opinion because I also realize that students should choose what they want to be and which school they want to go, not their parents. Besides financial problem, getting good education depends on the students' efforts.

http://www.voanews.com/specialenglish/archive/2009-12/2009-12-02-voa3.cfm

Mapping the Way to a Better Soybean

2010-02-08T19:22:00.003+09:00

According to the article, soybeans were first grown in Asia thousands of years ago and now scientists have a full genetic map of the soybean. This is the first genome completed for a member of the legume family. The genome could help genetic engineers develop soybeans that are processed better by farm animals. Furthermore, the genome could also help farmers avoid Asian soybean rust disease, a highly destructive fungus spread by the wind. The researchers say they found a gene for resistance to this disease. Now they have to find a way to use it.

In my opinion, genetic recombination is unreliable and dangerous although the scientists say the genome can help farmers avoid Asian soybean disease. The scientists need to do more experiences and prove us it is safe.

http://www.voanews.com/specialenglish/2010-02-01-voa1.cfm

Some US Students Learn Mandarin With China's Help

2010-02-08T19:15:00.003+09:00

According to the article, some schools in the United States and other countries offer Chinese language classes with government support from China. A recent report said more schools in the United States are teaching Chinese and Arabic, although the numbers are still low. However, it said foreign language teaching in public elementary and middle schools dropped sharply in recent years and fewer schools teach French, German, Russian or Japanese.

I learned Chinese when I was a high school student thus I realize that Chinese language class is effective to know both Chinese language and Chinese culture. Recently, China has become the world's top exporter, so learning Chinese is useful to communicate with Chinese people in business.

http://www.voanews.com/specialenglish/2010-02-04-voa2.cfm

How to Avoid Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

2010-02-08T18:54:00.002+09:00

According to the article, a family was enjoying a holiday in California, near the Pacific Ocean several years ago. The family was spending the weekend in a camper. A camper is a small shelter carried in the back of a truck and people can sleep in it for a few days. However, the weather turned cold and someone decided to heat the area by placing a charcoal grill inside the camper.The next day, the parents and their five children had died in their sleep. They died because they did not know that burning wood products creates carbon monoxide.

In numerous countries, it is possible to purchase and use a special device that will warn when harmful levels of carbon monoxide are in the area. These devices can be linked to a home's electric system. In addition to that, the most important weapon against carbon monoxide poisoning is the safe use of materials to heat any enclosed area.

I realized that burning charcoal and wood products is dangerous, and we should not use the products when we sleep. Moreover, a special device is useful to avoid carbon monozide and prevent accident.

http://www.voanews.com/specialenglish/2010-02-01-voa2.cfm

Half of US Jobs Now Held by Women

2010-01-20T03:15:00.002+09:00

According to the article, women are on their way to holding more than half of all American jobs because they have entered the labour market over the years and recession has been harder on men. The unemployment rate for men was almost eleven percent, and manufacturing and building lost more jobs last month. On the other hand, health care and temporary employment services have had job growth and the unemployment rate for women was eight percent. Women feel pressure because of cultural expectations that working women will still take care of the children. In addition to that, men who are not the main earners may feel threatened.

In my opinion, both men and women should earn their living and both of them need to take care of their children. It is fair and men do not have to feel threatened, because they work inside and outside of their home.

http://www.voanews.com/specialenglish/archive/2009-11/2009-11-19-voa3.cfm

How Loneliness Can Infect Social Networks

2010-01-20T02:45:00.002+09:00

According to the article, loneliness has been linked to depression and health problems. For instance, loneliness can affect relationships between next-door neighbors and the loneliness spreads more easily among women than men.The average person is said to experience feelings of loneliness about forty-eight days a year, but having a lonely friend can add about seventeen days.

I expect that the number of people who feel lonesome has risen in recent years because children play computer games all the time and most grownups live in their own apartment alone. I recommend children and grownups to participate in a volunteer activity and communicate with each other. Finally, the happiness will spread readily.

http://www.voanews.com/specialenglish/2010-01-06-voa1.cfm

Banks Recover, but the Economy Struggles in 2009

2010-01-19T20:41:00.002+09:00

In the United States, two thousand nine is the year the world avoided an economic depression and stock prices sank to their lowest levels in March. However, stocks recovered strongly for the year although the housing market continued to suffer its worst downturn in generations. According to the article, Mortgage financer Fannie Mae explains "Payments on five percent of its single-family home loans are late. The ten percent unemployment rate has meant that many people are struggling with their house payments."

I hope housing market recovers as soon as possible and all people can pay home loans . The companies both in the United States and Japan should not go into bankruptcy and aggravate the economic depression.

http://www.voanews.com/specialenglish/2009-12-31-voa4.cfm

Google May Leave Fast-Growing China

2010-01-19T20:11:00.003+09:00

China has become the world's top exporter and it is the world's largest Internet market, but Google says it may leave. Google is estimated to have around a thirty percent share of the search market in China, and it is only about half the share of the Chinese search engine Baidu. In addition to that, there are censorship laws in China and the government tries to limit access to many sites. According to the article, Fariborz Ghadar says "Google has to make a decision whether they want to basically deviate from their vision mission statement that they 'do no harm' and stay in China. Or whether they have just had enough and they don't like the restrictions, and they don't like the cyber attacks, and they're going to move out so as to preserve their name and brand."

Personally, I feel that censorship laws are not effective because China has become the world's top exporter and most Chinese people can access on the Internet without censorship laws in foreign countries. Google should stay in China, the world's largest Internet market, and persuade the government.

http://www.voanews.com/specialenglish/2010-01-14-voa3.cfm

JAL wins approval to cut pensions by 30 percent

2010-01-17T14:49:00.006+09:00

Japan Airlines said that 67 per cent of its existing retirees had now agreed to the requested 30 per cent cut in pension pay-outs and cleared one of the roadblocks to its restructuring plan.Earlier this month, 91 per cent of the carrier's employees agreed to the cut.Prime minister Yukio Hatoyama told reporters earlier on Tuesday that "in general" shareholders did bear some responsibility.

In my opinion, the reason why Japan Airlines have to rebuild the company is that retirees, employees, and shareholders did not do anything although they knew about the financial deficit. Therefore, I accede to prime minister Yukio Hatoyama's statement, and all retirees and employees should agree with cutting their pension.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/BUSINESS/01/12/jal.ft/index.html

Obama, Faced With Two Wars, Wins Peace Prize

2009-10-20T19:18:00.004+09:00

Barack Obama, President of the United States, won the Nobel Peace Prize for two thousand nine and he spoke about the prize on Friday. In the United States and around the world, there was criticism since the Nobel committee acted too soon, and President Obama himself said that he does not feel that he deserves to win the prize. Today, the war in Afghanistan, which began on October seventh, two thousand one, is the second longest war in American history, and there is still the war in Iraq. According to public opinion surveys, forty-eight percent of people in the United States today said the president should send more troops to Afghanistan. However, President Obama’s goal is to withdraw all combat troops by next September and the Nobel Peace Prize will be awarded in Oslo in December. He needs to make more efforts to make peace between the United States, Afghanistan, and Iraq as much as possible.

http://www.manythings.org/voa/scripts/2009-10/VOA_Special_English_2009-10-09_-_Obama,_Faced_With_Two_Wars,_Wins_Peace_Prize.html