English

A compilation of newsTicker articles and exercises

May, 2009

CONTENTS

SHOWDOWN IN HOLLYWOOD........................................... 3 PANIC ON WALL STREET.................................................. 5 COLLEGES ARE TWITTERING, TOO.................................... 7 DON’T CALL ME WEALTHY!............................................... 9 MAKING MUSIC, NOT WAR............................................. 11 PROFESSOR STIRS DEBATE ........................................... 13 TEEN JOBS NO MORE .................................................... 15 ECONOMIC HOMELESS .................................................. 17 PRESIDENTIAL HOOKY .................................................. 19 HOMELESS ATTACKS RISE ............................................. 21 GM FETES FLEET BUYERS .............................................. 23 HELPING KIDS WHO STUTTER........................................ 25 FASHION TIP FOR THE QUEEN........................................ 27 SIMPSONS STAMPS ...................................................... 29

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03/05/2009

SHOWDOWN IN HOLLYWOOD Technology threatens movie industry Hollywood calls it "rent, rip and return" and contends it's one of the biggest technological threats to the movie industry's annual $20 billion DVD market —software that allows you to copy a film without paying for it. Industry lawyers have urged a federal judge to bar RealNetworks from selling software that allows consumers to copy their DVDs to computer hard drives, saying consumers will quickly lose interest in paying retail for movies on DVD that can be rented cheaply, copied and returned. RealNetworks says its product legally fills consumer demand to convert their DVDs to digital form for convenient storage and viewing. "RealNetworks saw there was an unmet consumer need," said company lawyer Leo Cunningham. Some predict that Hollywood control over digital copies will continue to wane because of illegal software online. "If Hollywood wins, I don't think much changes in the real world," said Fred von Lohmann, an attorney at the Electronic Frontier Foundation. "Anybody who wants DVDs copied can download software for free in 10 minutes."

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EXERCISE

Answer the following questions about the new battle in Hollywood over DVD piracy using your own words and complete sentences. 1. What do RealNetwork lawyers say their product is designed to do? 2. What do movie industry executives fear might be the actual use? 3. What does the term 'rip' mean in the context of the article? 4. Why do many feel that the judges decision will have little real-world impact? 5. What is your opinion about this growing piracy debate? Do you think intellectual property should be protected by law? Explain your answer.

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PANIC ON WALL STREET

04/05/2009

Low-flying planes over ground zero A Boeing 747 escorted by two fighter jets flying over lower Manhattan late last week caused panic among workers near ground zero of the September 11 attacks, but it turned out to be a photo-op to create an iconic shot of Air Force One. John Leitner, a trader at the New York Mercantile Exchange Building, said workers panicked when they saw the low-flying planes and ran out of the building, mere blocks from the former World Trade Center site. About 1,000 workers gathered along the Hudson River until a security officer told them it was a planned exercise. When President Obama learned of the episode, he was furious, and senior administration officials conveyed the president's anger in a meeting with Louis Caldera, director of the White House Military Office. "Last week, I approved a mission over New York. I take responsibility for that decision. While federal authorities took the proper steps to notify state and local authorities in New York and New Jersey, it's clear that the mission created confusion and disruption. I apologize for any distress that flight caused," Caldera said.

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EXERCISE

Define the following words and phrases AS USED IN THE ARTICLE about the recent scare in downtown Manhattan. Use a dictionary if you need help, but use your own words to explain the meaning. 1. ground zero 2. turned out 3. photo-op 4. mere blocks 5. conveyed

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05/05/2009

COLLEGES ARE TWITTERING, TOO Recruiters also rely on the Web College admissions officials, aware that their target audience grows more tech-savvy with every passing year, appear to be getting the hang of social media such as Twitter and Facebook. Surveys by the Center for Marketing Research at the University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth have found that the number of colleges using social networking sites and video blogs more than doubled from 2007 to 2008, and 41% reported using blogs in admissions. The study also suggested students think twice about posting damaging material online, as schools are checking up on applicants for scholarships or entry into programs with limited spaces. "No school wants to give out a prestigious scholarship and then find a picture with a recipient with a lamp on the head," center director Nora Ganim Barnes says. The effectiveness of social media tools in recruiting students is not clear, but the National Association for College Admission Counseling says the topic deserves attention. "Social media tools, like Facebook, Twitter and blogs, are key to communicating with this generation of students," says Joyce Smith, the group's CEO.

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EXERCISE

Define the following words and expressions AS USED IN THE ARTICLE about the increasing use of social networking by colleges and universities. Use a dictionary if you need help, but use your own words to explain the meaning. 1. tech-savvy 2. getting the hang of 3. admissions 4. checking up on 5. think twice

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06/05/2009

DON’T CALL ME WEALTHY! The rich feeling guilty in bad economy More than half of affluent consumers say they feel "guilty" making luxury purchases in this economy, a survey of the most-moneyed Americans finds, and fewer now like to be labeled as "wealthy." The consulting firm Harrison Group and American Express Publishing surveyed 1,500 people with an annual discretionary household income, what's left after the mortgage and taxes are paid, of more than $100,000, and found that 54% agreed they "feel guilty purchasing luxury goods in the current economic climate," and just 29% said they like to be recognized as being "wealthy," down from 35% last year. Jim Taylor, vice chairman of the Harrison Group, says high-end retailers and brands must convince wealthy consumers there's an added value in their products. With consumption now often "equated to shallowness," retail branding expert Ken Nisch says products must "marry function and fashion," such as Apple's iPhone. Andrew Sacks, who specializes in advertising and marketing to the affluent, says marketers need to give luxury shoppers the words "they can use at a dinner party to justify their purchase."

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EXERCISE

Answer the following questions about the recent attitude change among America's most wealthy concerning their socio-economic status. 1. What has changed in how the richest U.S. citizens view their status? 2. According to the article, why has this change occurred? 3. Define 'discretionary household income' using your own words. 4. What does Mr. Nisch say is essential to get people to buy luxury goods? 5. How would you describe Mr. Sacks' attitude toward his rich clients?

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07/05/2009

MAKING MUSIC, NOT WAR U.S. makes cultural overtures in war zones When pianist Jonathan Lefcoski walked into rehearsal at a Baghdad music club, he didn't know whether the Iraqi musicians would welcome him or know how to play the same music he did. But within minutes, Lefcoski and an Iraqi bass player were working their way through Caravan, a classic by the American jazz great Duke Ellington, realizing, as Lefcoski said, that "music was universal." The State Department wants to expand on that universal feeling with its new Musical Overtures program, which has taken American bands to Afghanistan, Armenia, Iraq and Lebanon as part of the Obama administration's emphasis on "smart power," or non-military means as a way to expand American influence. Though the challenges for traveling ambassadors are difficult after 9/11 and the invasion of Iraq, Alvin Atkinson, the lead singer and drummer of Lefcoski's band, says foreign attitudes toward the U.S. seem to be improving since President Obama took office. "With our new president, there's a possibility to talk about things and not just assume things," Atkinson says. "We now have the possibility of at least having an intellectual conversation."

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EXERCISE

What do you think about the State Department's new Musical Overtures program? Do you think such a program will make a difference, and if so, how? Use your own ideas to write your opinion of the effort, supporting your ideas with a logical and well-organized argument.

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08/05/2009

PROFESSOR STIRS DEBATE Campus furor over Holocaust-Gaza comparison A Jewish university professor has been accused of anti-Semitism for comparing Israel's treatment of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip to the Holocaust, and has received hundreds of messages of support, but also hate mail. William I. Robinson, a sociology professor at the University of California, set off a furor when he sent an e-mail to students in his "Sociology of Globalization" class entitled: "parallel images of Nazis and Israelis," which described Gaza as "Israel's Warsaw" and included photos from the Nazi era and the Gaza offensive. Two Jewish students complained, and prominent Jewish groups demanded he apologize. The university is reviewing if Robinson violated university policy by using resources for personal or political reasons unrelated to their classes. Robinson has called the investigation a "violation of academic freedom," and says his criticism of Israeli policies has been confused with anti-Semitism. "That's like saying if I condemn the U.S. government for the invasion of Iraq, I'm anti-American," he said. "It's the most absurd, baseless argument."

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EXERCISE

Answer the following questions about the recent charges of anti-Semitism against a Jewish professor at the University of California. Make sure to use your own words and answer in complete sentences. 1. Why has Professor Robinson been accused of anti-Semitism? 2. How does he defend himself from the accusation? 3. Do you think the topic is appropriate for discussion in a sociology class? 4. Do you think Robinson's academic freedom is being denied? 5. Do you support or disagree with Robinson's actions? Explain your answer.

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11/05/2009

TEEN JOBS NO MORE Laid-off adults competing for summer work Teens across the U.S. are facing the worst employment market in six decades, as laid-off older workers are moving into teen-friendly jobs such as lifeguard, babysitter and amusement park worker. Renée Ward, founder of the job-focused website Teens4Hire.org., says most employers "will go with the more mature person, because they feel there is less that they have to do to train them." Would-be teen lifeguards for Volusia County, Fla., recently faced strong adult competition for a seasonal job that comes with a $500 bonus and a $9.37 hourly wage. "For the last couple of years, our average age was about 17 years old" for the tryouts, says Beach Patrol Captain Scott Petersohn, but this year, some contenders were decades older, and about a quarter are older than 21. "This is going to be one of the first real generations where many teens haven't worked," says Teens4Hire's Ward, who adds that this is a cause for concern because those who have a hard time finding a job when they're young, often have a hard time finding a job when they're older.

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EXERCISE

Find words from the article which match the definitions listed below. Then use the words you found in the article to write original sentences of your own. 1. confronting 2. out-of-work 3. prospective, possible 4. selection contests 5. competitors

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12/05/2009

ECONOMIC HOMELESS American ideal being challenged Jim Marshall, 39, an unemployed Detroit autoworker, is among a growing number of the economic homeless, a term for those newly displaced by layoffs, foreclosures or other financial troubles caused by the recession. For the economic homeless, the American ideal that education and hard work lead to a comfortable middle-class life has slipped out of reach. They're packing into motels, parking lots and tent cities, searching for work and praying their fortunes will change. "My parents always taught me to work hard in school, go to college, get a degree and you'll do fine," Marshall says. "I did all those things. But nowadays that's not the reality," he said. "Now I'm thinking, 'Where am I going to sleep tonight? Where do I eat? Where do I shower?' " Marshall has a degree in electronic engineering and remembers a comfortable life in Michigan, where he owned a brick ranch-style home and made up to $50,000 a year. Now, he has lowered his expectations, wanting "just enough to survive, have my own place, buy my own food, my own clothes," he says. "What every American would expect."

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EXERCISE

Answer the following questions about the article on the economic homeless. Make sure to use your own words and answer in complete sentences. 1. How are the 'economic homeless' different than other homeless people? 2. According to the article, what is the American ideal? 3. What has happened to that ideal? 4. What does Mr. Marshal say is now his primary concern? 5. What signs of the global financial crisis have you seen in your country?

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13/05/2009

PRESIDENTIAL HOOKY Obama sneaks out of work for a burger Less than two weeks after first lady Michelle Obama told a group of schoolchildren that she once snuck out to the burger chain Five Guys with some staff members, her husband scrapped his official schedule and went in search of his own burger, and took Vice President Joe Biden with him. President Obama's motorcade slipped out of the White House complex to stop at Ray's Hell-Burger, a burger joint where you order at the counter, sit at wooden tables and pay $6.95 for a burger. As the stunned lunch crowd looked on, Obama and Biden waited their turn in line. The guy ahead of them offered to let them cut, but Obama declined. Obama ordered a basic cheeseburger, according to Ray's owner, Michael Landrum. He asked for "spicy mustard if you have it," said Landrum, who called Obama's visit "the most exciting day of my career. It was a tremendous honor." Obama, after finishing his burger, was back at the White House 45 minutes after he left, with the Vice President, and his Secret Service agents, in tow.

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EXERCISE

Define the following words and phrases AS USED IN THE ARTICLE about President Obama's burger break. Use a dictionary if you need help, but use your own words to explain the meaning. 1. scrapped 2. slipped out 3. joint 4. cut 5. in tow

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14/05/2009

HOMELESS ATTACKS RISE Md. to apply hate crime law Maryland has become the first state in the U.S. to cover homeless people in its hate crimes law, allowing for harsher penalties if evidence shows an attacker acted because the victim was homeless The new law, signed by Democratic Gov. Martin O'Malley, also covers race, religious belief, national origin, disability, gender and sexual orientation. "This is a very symbolic and practical step in addressing violence against homeless people," says Michael Stoops of the National Coalition for the Homeless, who added that similar bills are now being considered in Washington, D.C., and California. Stoops' group began tracking crimes against the homeless a decade ago, using police interviews and news reports. It has documented an increasingly rising trend, from 60 attacks in 1999 to 160 in 2007; 217 of the 774 total incidents were fatal. Maryland Sen. Alex Mooney, the bill's sponsor, says he became convinced that the homeless should be covered after seeing a video of "punk kids" attacking homeless people in Florida, apparently for no reason. "They are vulnerable. They're easy targets," Mooney said.

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EXERCISE

Answer the following questions about Maryland's new attempt to protect the homeless using your own words and complete sentences. 1. What is becoming an increasing problem for the homeless in the United States? 2. What are some states beginning to do to combat the problem? 3. What are hate crimes laws? 4. What does Sen. Mooney mean by the term "punk kids"? 5. Why do you think homeless people are increasingly becoming victims of attack? What other ways can you think of to address this growing problem?

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15/05/2009

GM FETES FLEET BUYERS 'Scaled back' event still angers critics Just weeks before a deadline that could send it into bankruptcy, General Motors is entertaining 500 of its biggest customers at a luxury spa and golf course in Arizona. GM, which has borrowed $15.4 billion from the U.S. government, held the event at the Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort and Spa in Chandler, Ariz., and paid for airfare and hotel lodging for 90% of the guests. But GM spokesman Terry Rhadigan said the affair is scaled back from previous years, and noted that guests have to pay for their own golf outings. The guests are GM's corporate and fleet customers, those who buy dozens of vehicles at a time, and accounted for 27.6% of GM's business in 2008, Rhadigan said. But Leslie Paige of Citizens Against Government Waste says "GM has a tin ear" to how the public perceives these events. "There shouldn't be any wining and dining right now. They took taxpayer money. If you're going to do that, you need to make some very public displays that you get that the taxpayers are part owners of the company now."

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EXERCISE

Define the following words AS USED IN THE ARTICLE about GM's recent event to lure big-spending clients. Use a dictionary if you need help, but use your own words to explain the meaning. 1. fetes 2. scaled back 3. tin ear 4. wining and dining 5. get

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18/05/2009

HELPING KIDS WHO STUTTER 'Listen' unites singing stars A variety of pop and musical-theater artists have joined with Our Time Theatre Company, a non-profit group devoted to helping young people who stutter, on Listen, an album due out on June 23 that hopes to raise money and support for kids suffering from this problem. Recorded at Jon Bon Jovi's studio, the album features 15 songs written by teens and pre-teens who stutter, and their lyrics give insight into how difficult t he condition can be, especially at an age when one tends to be socially vulnerable and the pressures to fit in are enormous. Performers include Carly Simon, Duncan Sheik and Daryl Hall and John Oates, alongside Mandy Patinkin and other Broadway stars such as Kelli O'Hara, Adam Pascal, Michael Cerveris and Sherie Rene Scott. Simon admitted to having "a debilitating stammer for most of my life," and said she was inspired to contribute to the Listen project by group founder Taro Alexander. He "has contributed his gifts (so that) having a stammer or a stutter has grace and originality, and does not have to be hidden in the dark chambers of shame," Simon said.

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EXERCISE

Answer the following questions about the soon-to-be released album 'Listen'. Make sure to use your own words and answer in complete sentences. 1. What makes this album special? 2. What does 'stutter' mean? 3. Who wrote the words for the songs on the album? 4. Why is stuttering particularly embarrassing for young people? 5. Why do you think the album is called 'Listen'?

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19/05/2009

FASHION TIP FOR THE QUEEN 109-year-old has message for Prince William Catherine Masters, 109 years old, had always wanted to meet a member of Britain's royal family, and when Prince William made a surprise visit to Masters' nursing home near the upper crust city of Ox ford, she couldn't resist offering a little advice; a fashion tip for his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II. Like all British centenarians, Masters received a royal birthday card from the queen when she turned 100, 105 and every year thereafter, but she told the Oxford Mail newspaper that each card pictured her royal highness in the same yellow dress. Masters said she told William that the queen should be pictured in a new dress. "I think either a blue one or white one would be nice," she was quoted as saying. It wasn't clear whether the prince would pass the fashion tip on to his 82-year-old grandmother, but Ian Mead, who manages the Grange Nursing Home where Masters lives, said all the residents would "wait with bated breath" for her 110th birthday in December "to see if the queen will still be wearing the yellow dress."

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EXERCISE

If you could give some advice to a member of Britain's Royal Family, what would it be? Write a letter to the family member of your choice and offer your ideas to help them in their very public role. Make sure to use language and a writing style appropriate to a formal letter.

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20/05/2009

SIMPSONS STAMPS U.S. Postal Service to immortalize Bart and Co. When TV's Simpsons family first entered American homes nearly 20 years ago, few thought that Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie could surpass pop icons like Mickey Mouse and Bugs Bunny in their ability to mine gold from global sales of T-shirts and licensed merchandise, including video games, DVDs, books, fast-food promotions and theme park rides. But consumers worldwide spent more than $750 million on Simpsons licensed merchandise last year, and Fox executives say the key is looking for creative ways to keep the family in the public eye. Now, The Simpsons have became the first TV characters to be represented on U.S. postage stamps while their show is still in production, with the U.S. Postal Service printing about 1 billion first-class 44-cent Simpsons stamps. "It's the biggest deal ever," said Simpsons creator Matt Groening. "But it's a little odd. I feel like, wait a minute: I'm not Dr. Seuss, " he said, referring to the creator of the Cat in the Hat and The Grinch, whose characters were featured on U.S. stamps, but only after he had died. "I'm still alive," Groening helpfully pointed out.

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EXERCISE

Find words from the article which match the definitions listed below. Then use the words you found in the article to write original sentences of your own. 1. overtake, outreach 2. symbols, images 3. earn money, make a profit 4. trademarked, official 5. explained, noted

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21/05/2009

BACK OFF! State sovereignty movements grow Legislatures in Alaska, Idaho, North Dakota, Oklahoma and South Dakota this year have a pproved resolutions asserting sovereignty under the 10th Amendment of the Constitution and suggesting that Uncle Sam "cease and desist" from interfering in their business. The largely Republican movement says the federal government is violating the Constitution by meddling in local matters ranging from education to driving. "It's telling the federal government, 'Guys, you really need to back off,' " said Judy Burges, who is sponsoring a sovereignty resolution in Arizona. Gov. Rick Perry, up for re-election soon in Texas, has made headlines by suggesting the issue could lead to some states seceding. The last time that happened, in 1860, South Carolina led 12 other Southern states in declaring their independence and leading to the American Civil War. This effort seems to have its biggest impetus in states that President Obama lost in last year's election, but supporters insist this isn't a red state rebellion and that they are trying to take a stand against federal encroachment on state authority that has been going on for decades.

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EXERCISE

Define the following words and phrases AS USED IN THE ARTICLE about the sovereignty movement in some U.S. states. Use a dictionary if you need help, but use your own words to explain the meaning. 1. back off 2. sovereignty 3. meddling 4. made headlines 5. seceding

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