Poverty in the USA

Here is an article that discusses how many people in the USA are suffering because of the bad economy. There are many good vocabulary words in this article.

The article:

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/exclusive-4-5-us-face-175906005.html

Vocabulary to help you understand the article:

gloomy - pessimistic, depressed, not looking forward to any positive change (not optimistic)

4 in 5 or 4 out of 5 - this is 80%. ---> 4/5

poverty - a term for being poor, or for not having much money

a shift - a change

reliance - if you rely on something, you need this thing for your survival. 

welfare - money from the government

deteriorating - if something is deteriorating, it is getting worse.

elusive - hard to find, hard to catch.  An elusive American dream means it is hard for people in the USA, at this time, to be able to reach their goals.

survey data - a survey is when a number of people are questioned about a topic.

exclusive to - that means only The Associated Press was able to get this data.

a trend - the way things are going or developing.

renew - start again

a ladder -

to reverse - to make something the opposite of what it is

affirmative action - this is a policy the government uses to make sure that people of color (blacks and Latinos) receive extra help.  For instance, if the government has a contract with a company, the government may say: "You will lose this contract if you do not hire x number of blacks and Latinos." Affirmative means 'positive.'

a barrier - something that divides one area from another, or in this case one group of people from another.

an impediment - an obstacle, something that stops a person from moving forward.

hardship - difficulty, adversity

declining coal region - work and profits are dropping in this coal region.

a stand - this is a little structure from which people can sell things.

disability checks - if the government feels that a person has a physical or psychological problem that stops him/her from working, the government will give this person 'disability' payments. A check is a piece of paper that can be exchanged for money.

poverty - being extremely poor.

disparities - differences

pervasive - all over the place.  If something is pervasive, you can find it easily.

economic insecurity - fear due to the economy

engulfing - this is a poor/bad word choice for this article. To engulf something is to, basically, eat something.

a gauge - a measurement tool.

periodic - occasional

in decline - dropping, decreasing

life expectancy - how long a person expects to live.

alienation - the feeling that you are all alone and that nobody will help you

lingering - continuing...if something lingers, it won't disappear.

the recession - the slowed-down economy

predominant - the most occurring.  Basically he is saying that because there are more white people than Latino or black people, there are more poor whites than blacks or Latinos.

destitute - extremely poor

plentiful - a lot

to speculate on - to think about

a produce stand - a place where fruits and vegetables can be sold (produce = fruits and vegetables)

$10 to our name - this is slang. To have $10 to your name means that you just have $10.  That's all the money you have.

insecure - the feeling that you are not safe

mainstream /fringe - if something is mainstream, it is happening to average people. If something is fringe, it is happening to a few people who are not part of the majority.

surpassed - went beyond

biannual - every two years

working class - when sociologists talk about social class in America, they usually refer to the upper class, middle class, lower class, working class and under class.  Working class people are very poor.  They are working but not making much.

plight - problems

to urge - to encourage

infrastructure - everything a society needs to survive: roads, highways, electricity, water systems, bridges etc.

Vocabulary Exercise Based On: Some NY School Children Were Forced To Do An Exercise Based on A Slave-Owner's Perspective

The posting from which these vocabulary words were taken is here (you can find the definitions of the words here): http://convostartersenglish.blogspot.com/2013/02/some-new-york-school-children-were.html


Words to be used (answers are below the exercise):

to be based on something, a curriculum, common sense
to be appalled by something, inappropriate, nonchalant
to be ticked off by something, a whistleblower, to haggle over

{By the way: to be ticked off by something means you are a little upset. To be appalled by something means you are shocked.}

Exercise:

In some foreign countries there are no price tags on products sold in markets.  People are expected to ________________ the price of the item.  In America, most people dislike this type of negotiation - they want to see a price tag and will either accept or reject that final offer.

In the 1800s a man named Horace Mann worked hard to create a public school system in the United States.  He thought this would help ensure equality of opportunity for everyone.  A central aspect of his public school system idea was to have a uniform _____________, or, in other words, to make sure that every child in the system studied the same educational materials. (uniform means 'the same')

By the expression on Bob's face I could see that he had been _______________ by someone of something.  It turned out that a clerk at a Starbucks had been rude to him and he was a little upset.

Although it is _______________ that a person should carry an umbrella when it rains, Bob just hated carrying an umbrella. Therefore, the last time it rained he got soaked and caught a cold.

Many visitors to New York City are _________________ how dirty and disgusting the subway system is.  It is a very old and ugly system that often runs unpredictably.

The current economic policies that the Obama administration is using seem to be ___________________ the suggestions made by John Maynard Keynes to president Roosevelt in the 1930s.

Although women have gained a great deal of equality to men in America, they are still sometimes subjected to ________________ comments about their beauty or sexiness by male workers.  This is sometimes called 'sexual harassment' in America.

Often when an honest person sees something wrong and complains about it, the wrongdoer will try to get revenge against the ___________________.  There are now laws in America that attempt to protect these concerned and honest people from the reprisals (revenge) of those who are guilty.

Bob was an easy-going guy who smiled a lot and who was quite friendly.  Yet, despite his apparently _______________ attitude, he was a hard worker who never missed a deadline.


Answers are below:







Answers:

1. haggle over
2. curriculum
3. ticked off
4. common sense
5. appalled by
6. based on
7. inappropriate
8. whistleblower
9. nonchalant

New Pope, Same Old Baloney

As someone who was born into the Catholic religion, I felt I needed to make a few comments on the election of this new Pope.  "Baloney", by the way, is a term Americans use for 'nonsense'.  For example, if someone tells you a lie, you might say, "You just told me a bunch of baloney!"  Or: "What baloney!"  "Bullshit!" is the dirtier term for "baloney."  Baloney is literally a cheap type of sausage that nobody wants to eat.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

In an interview Cardinal Dolan of New York City gave today, he states that Catholic Church doctrine will not be changed by the new Pope.  Indeed, he asserts that the most this Pope can do is to "oil" the machine so that the machine runs more smoothly. The "machine" is his term for the Catholic Church. It's funny because the term "machine" politics often refers to corrupt political systems in American cities like Chicago or New York.

Is the Catholic Church as corrupt as a corrupt political system? It surely looks that way.

Unfortunately, many Catholics in America and Europe are not going to be satisfied with mere "oiling." People should expect real reform.

For instance, there was a report in the early 2000s, which was called the John Jay Report on Catholic Priests, which indicated that about 4% of US Catholic priests in the USA had engaged in illegal sexual activities with children. That is one out of twenty-five priests.  That is shocking. That is outrageous.

Here is the John Jay Study (you can also google 'John Jay Study on Priests'): http://www.jjay.cuny.edu/churchstudy/main.asp

Furthermore, there is NO REASON that women should not be Catholic priests.  Indeed, in the early church women WERE priests.  The Catholic Church stopped allowing women to be priests for various social and political reasons - there is NOTHING in the Bible which mentions a "priesthood" or which mentions that only men may be priests.

Women priests in the early church:

Furthermore, there is nothing in the Bible which says that gay people are "contrary to God's plan." The current Pope stated that gay-marriage is contrary to God's plan.   In fact, it might be time for the Pope to be nicer to gay folks because it is estimated that between 23% and 58% of all Catholic priests are gay.  That's a lot of gay priests.
http://americamagazine.org/node/146081

Furthermore, the Catholic Church often functions like a criminal organization.  It often takes immediate action to cover up abuses that are presented to it. The previous Pope apparently had to resign because of the outrageous number of scandals, including an apparent gay prostitution ring that was being run out of the Vatican.

Furthermore, there is nothing in the Bible that states abortion is a "sin." Nor is there anything in the Bible which states that people who use birth-control are in violation of God's law or plan.  Hello, are over-population, starvation and global warming a part of God's plan? All three potentially stem from a lack of rational birth control.

The Catholic Church has just made a lot of stuff up. I'm tempted to say: Who cares who the new Pope is?

----------------------

By the way, few news sources are explaining why a person from Argentina was chosen Pope or why he chose the name Francis I.  Let me please tell you.

There is a high correlation between poverty and Catholicism.  South America is both poor and Catholic. In Europe people became wealthier and less Catholic. The same is happening in America.  The most popular saint in South America is Saint Francis of Assisi.  Poor people continually pray to Saint Francis for help.

"Saint" Francis was a person who was born into a wealthy family and who rejected wealth to embrace poverty.  But he didn't embrace 'real' poverty.  He embraced the type of easy poverty religious figures around the world often embrace.  It's the type of institutionalized poverty that ensures that the church will make sure you are always safe and always well-fed every day.  Francis never went hungry a day in his life.

So this Argentinean guy was selected because 1) he's basically an Italian guy from Argentina (his father was an Italian immigrant to Argentina) and  2) Europe and America have begun to REJECT the Catholic Church because it has had too many scandals and poverty has been decreasing in both areas.  The Church's future lies in poor countries.

So we have an Italian guy from Argentina who has selected the name of a "Saint" whom poor people love, but who will not make significant changes to a church that desperately needs humanizing.  The old, conservative guys simply will not let go of power.  Now they are looking to the poor of South America to help keep them in business.

Habemus papem!  Yes, we have a new Pope.  Same as the old Pope. Arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!





Yes, I'm the person who created this amazing scandal :) http://nwww.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20100511000742

A Young Woman Shows Her Middle Finger to A Judge

This entry is a good opportunity to introduce legal terms to you. Most of the vocabulary words below are not used in the article I am posting, but these are good words to know. Many news stories deal with issues of crime, justice and punishment, so you should know what the following terms mean.  After these common legal terms, I also define the interesting terms in the article.

a court - this is the place where a trial happens.  If you click on the link below, you'll see a photo taken in a court room.  People who are arrested or who are being sued appear in a court room along with the alleged (possible) victim and/or the plaintiff (the person suing).

a judge - this is the person in charge of the court room.  He presides over the trials (he administrates the trials).

a jury - This is a group of 12 people who can also determine whether a person is guilty or innocent.  In America a person on trial may choose whether he wants the judge or the jury to decide whether he/she is guilty or innocent.

alleged - you see this word a lot in newspapers.  If a person is arrested, he is not automatically guilty. So the newspapers will say he is the alleged criminal.  Alleged means possible criminal.  He is the person the police think may have committed the crime.  There are also alleged victims.

a criminal court -  the American system has criminal courts and civil courts.  In a criminal court the punishment can be prison time, in a civil court people are always trying to get money.

to sue someone - to take a person to court to try to gain money which is owed to you or money you feel you deserve because you were hurt by another person. To sue a person you file a law suit.  To file means to present papers to the court officially.

a civil court - this is a court where you can try to sue someone.

a felony - a major crime.

a misdemeanor - a minor crime.

to be arrested - this is when the police take you into custody.  Nobody goes to criminal court until he has been arrested.  During the process of being  arrested police will try to ask questions, but Americans who have been arrested have the right to remain silent.  If you are ever arrested in the USA, remain silent.  Don't say anything.  If they ask you why you are silent, say, "I am exercising my right to remain silent. Please stop harassing me." Keep asking them for a lawyer.  "I want to talk to a lawyer. Please stop harassing me."

to be on trial - to go through the process in which a judge or jury determines whether you are guilty or innocent.

bail or bond - after a person is arrested, he/she will have to wait several weeks for the trial.  The judge will often "set bail" or "set a bond."  This means that if a person pays this money to the court, he/she can go home until the trial.  If the person does not appear at the trial, he/she loses all that money. if the person appears, he/she gets most of it back.  If the person does not appear for the trial, this is a serious offense which will lead to jail time.

a prosecutor - this is the lawyer who works for the state.  He/she tries to prove a person is guilty in a criminal case.

a DA - A District Attorney.  Same thing as a prosecutor.

a defense attorney - this lawyer defends a person accused of a crime or a person being sued.  The plaintiff's attorney is the lawyer who tries to successfully sue someone.

to be "not amused" - if someone acts as if he is not amused, he does not think that something is funny.  Indeed, he/she is probably angry.  i.e.  After I got into an accident and destroyed my husband's car, I joked with him that it was an old car anyway.  He was not amused.

to mess with - to mess with someone is to bother or upset someone.  In this article, the girl should not have messed with this intolerant judge.

miserable - to feel miserable is to feel terrible.  You can also feel rotten or lousy.

The DMV - The Department of Motor Vehicles.  The journalist is making a joke.  He is saying don't be nasty to people at the DMV or they will make you wait longer.

to face charges - to have to answer to charges or to have to defend yourself against charges. Charges are accusations.

to flip someone off - to show someone your middle finger.  This means "Fuck you" in America.

a gavel - the wooden hammer the judge bangs on his desk sometimes.

"File this case under ill-advised" - the journalist is joking and saying the girl was ill-advised (made a mistake) by doing what she did.

a prescription drug - a drug you can only take if a doctor writes a prescription for you.  A prescription is the little note you take from your doctor to the pharmacy.

"That was strike one" - this is baseball terminology for making your first mistake.  In baseball if you get three strikes you are "out" and have to sit back down.

wealthy - having a lot of money.

"Like Rick Ross..." - I didn't understand this either.  I guess Rick Ross wrote a song about having a lot of money.

"to which she answer" - an example of a typo. Yahoo wrote: "to which she answer" but it should have been "to which she answered." A typo is a typing mistake.  I hvae no money ---> an example of a typo. It should be: I have no money.

to chuckle/to giggle - to laugh softly or to laugh in a silly way

Adios - goodbye in Spanish.  I am not sure why he was angry at the word Adios.  I am guessing the judge thought it was disrespectful.

to elicit - to draw out.  To cause.

a gasp - this is the sound a shocked person makes.  Usually the person opens his/her mouth and sucks in air.

to flip the bird - to show one's middle finger.

the big house - a term for jail.

contempt of court - if a person openly shows disrespect for a judge, the judge can throw the person in jail.  Yes, we use the verb "throw" with prison.  The judge threw this poor teenager into prison.

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/sideshow/giggling-woman-flips-judge-bird-judge-not-amused-210739814.html

To me this just seemed to be a very young woman who was embarrassed and nervous. It seems as if the judge was a bit excessive in his punishment to me (excessive = doing something too much).  Also, she didn't seem to be charged with the most terrible crime in the world. She had been arrested for having sleeping pills.

Some of my students are interested in how people become judges in America and they are often shocked to learn the truth.

Basically judges are elected by the people.  A person has to be a lawyer to run for the position of judge, but, basically, most judges are elected to their positions.  Only higher-ranking judges are appointed by Governors or the President.

What do I mean that judges are elected?  Here's where it gets strange/weird. To be completely honest, nobody really knows who these judges are when they run for election.  People look at a sheet of paper with a bunch of names to vote for, but they really don't know who is who. They just see a bunch of names of lawyers who want to be judges in their city.

Basically, in New York City, political parties determine who should be on the ballot (the ballot is the sheet from which people are chosen).  Political parties also recommend which lawyers people should vote for.  On election day the Democratic and Republican parties will hand out fliers (pieces of paper) listing the names of the judges they support.  People then usually vote for these candidates.

What does this mean?  Well, in all honesty, it means that if you want to be a judge in an American city, you have to do favors for a political party, and then they will help you become a judge.  So, again, in all honesty, most judges are probably not the most honest people in the world.  This is why many Americans who are arrested will pick a jury instead.

Also, it seems that many judges become judges because they failed at being lawyers.  Really good lawyers get a lot of business and can make a lot of money.  Judges make a modest salary.  So good lawyers stay as good lawyers and bad lawyers go to the political parties so that they can run for a position as a judge.

So if you are arrested in America some day, you will be taken before a guy or woman who wasn't good enough to be a good lawyer, and your freedom and life will be in this person's hands.  Good luck.

1) What do you think of the American system of picking judges?

2)  Do you think this teenage girl deserved to go to jail for 30 days?

3)  Do you think this judge is a fair person or do you think he is too extreme and lacking in compassion?

4) If you had been the judge, what would you have done?  Perhaps giving the girl a warning or yelling at her might have been enough.  30 days in jail for saying "Fuck you." seems harsh to me.

5)  The girl was very upset when the judge raised her bond.  Can you understand why she said what she said?

------------------------
Yes, I'm the guy who created the scandal in Asia two years ago :P

http://nwww.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20100511000742

http://nwww.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20100512000682

http://www.shoutcastblog.com/2010/05/11/wondergirls-were-mistreated-by-jyp-entertainment/

Yes, I'm also the guy who wrote the very funny ESL book: New York City Sucks, But You'll Wanna Live Here Anyway
http://www.amazon.com/Sucks-Youll-Wanna-Anyway-ebook/dp/B004TSPAQS

New York Police Handcuff and Interrogate 7 Year Old Boy

A few days ago I posted a story of how the NY Police Department arrested an Italian tourist because he had forgotten to bring his wallet to a restaurant.  A couple days before that I posted a story about how the New York Police Department arrested a couple (in their 50s) for dancing on a subway platform.  Today, here's an incredible story of how the NY Police Department arrested a 7 year old child.

http://gma.yahoo.com/blogs/abc-blogs/7-old-handcuffed-over-5-says-suit-232812597--abc-news-topstories.html

http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/story?section=news/national_world&id=8974043

To be honest with you, most of my private students seem to realize that the NY Police Department has a terrible reputation and wonder why, every few days, there seems to be another scandal.  Just today I was discussing an incident that happened last year, in Times Square, where the police shot a man who was carrying a knife.  The police shot numerous times at this man even though there were many hundreds of people standing by the area. My student assured me this would never have happened in her home country. She was shocked that this occurred.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/12/nyregion/police-fatally-shoot-man-brandishing-knife-in-times-square.html?_r=0

Why does the NYPD act the way it does?

This could be a legacy of the Giuliani years.  Giuliani was a NY Mayor who seemed to encourage the NY Police Department to be super aggressive.   Giuliani wanted to demonstrate that he was tough on crime, but seemed to encourage the police to overstep professional standards in his quest to fight crime.  This kind of "cowboy" mentality still seems to pervade the department.

Until New York City finds a Mayor and a Police Chief who are interested in justice and interested in ending these police abuses, these abuses are going to continue.
-------
Postscript:  Again today there is ANOTHER bizarre story of NYPD abuse.  A police officer killed himself because he apparently was being sexually harassed by a superior officer. The NYPD really seems to be like an unregulated zoo.

http://start.toshiba.com/news/read.php?rip_id=%3CDA457HM81%40news.ap.org%3E&ps=931

1)  Compared to the NYPD, what is your home city's police department like?

2)  What do you think the Mayor or Police Commissioner should do about all of these obvious police abuses?

3)  Last year 2,004 law suits were filed against the NYPD.  That means 5 law suits were filed each day.  Does this seem to indicate that there is a problem with the NYPD that the Mayor and Police Chief are ignoring?

-----------------------------------------------------------------
Yes, I'm the guy who created the scandal in Asia two years ago :P

http://nwww.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20100511000742

http://nwww.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20100512000682

NY Restaurant Throws Italian Guy in Jail for Forgetting His Wallet

I really don't understand how nasty people can be to each other.  I also still don't understand why police officers in New York City can't develop their problem solving skills. 

In this story, an Italian tourist forgot his wallet at his hotel after eating at a steak restaurant in New York City.

The restaurant called the police and had the man arrested, even though he offered to leave his iPhone behind and offered to take an employee with him to his hotel room.

The restaurant is called Smith and Wollensky.

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/01/25/italian-tourist-spends-night-in-jail-after-failing-to-pay-bill-at-nyc/

http://screen.yahoo.com/tourist-jailed-forgetting-wallet-011016035.html

1)  Do you think this restaurant had to have the man arrested?

2)  Some of my private students have felt that perhaps this Italian man WAS trying to steal a free meal from the restaurant.  Apparently he was alone and ate over $200 worth of food.  Does his story sound strange to you?  If he didn't have his wallet, how did he get to the restaurant?

3)  Couldn't the police, perhaps, have driven this man to his hotel to get his wallet?  Wouldn't that have been the SMART thing to do?  Is it too difficult to expect NYC restaurants and police to do the SMART thing?

4)  Would you ever eat at Smith and Wollensky after hearing about how they treat people who make simple mistakes?

5)  Do you think this restaurant should now apologize?

6)  Do you think the Italian man should sue the restaurant and the New York Police Department?

------------


Yes, I'm the guy who caused the "scandal" in Asia two years ago :P
http://www.shoutcastblog.com/2010/05/11/wondergirls-were-mistreated-by-jyp-entertainment/

Yes, I'm also the guy who wrote the very funny ESL book: New York City Sucks, But You'll Wanna Live Here Anyway
http://www.amazon.com/Sucks-Youll-Wanna-Anyway-ebook/dp/B004TSPAQS

The Republican Party Wants Advice, So I Gave It to Them

In America there are two political parties: The Democrats and The Republicans.  The Democrats are considered liberal and the Republicans are considered conservative. (The Republican Party is also referred to as the Grand Old Party or GOP).

To be honest with you, I think that, basically, the Democratic Party is corrupt and the Republican Party is evil.  So America will continue to lose as long as the Democratic Party condones the corruption that has seen many of its politicians go to jail and the Republican Party continues to be the party of "whiteness" and rich people.

The Republican Party is now asking "average" people for advice. (Or pretending to ask people for advice..)

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/ticket/republican-party-seeks-learn-mistakes-wants-help-193757378--election.html

My favorite Republican President (Eisenhower):

Here's what I wrote to them (I have no doubt they ignored my e-mail):

I am happy to see that the GOP is soliciting feedback from non-politicians who care about the future of the country.  I would like to please offer some advice.

I am a MA graduate of Columbia University and have become disgruntled with the Democratic Party after voting Democratic in many elections (I was born and raised in Chicago).

It really bothers me that the Republican Party, basically, has no room, nor wants to make room, for diversity.  The GOP was and should be the party of economic development and equal opportunity

for advancement for everyone.  

Yet, the GOP has never, to my knowledge, launched an anti-poverty program. Approximately 15% of Americans live beneath the poverty line and need help rising above it.  The Democratic Party has no plans to do anything about poverty.  The Democratic Party offers services, but no solutions.  Why can't the Republican Party challenge business to address this issue?  Why can't the GOP come up with creative plans to eliminate poverty and help create greater wealth for America?

During the era of slavery, Hamilton (a proto-Republican) pointed out that slavery was not only wrong but an ineffective economic system. Human potential was being wasted.  More wealth and a healthier society could be developed by eliminating slavery and assisting everyone to enter the economic system.

Poverty is also wrong.  And, it is wasteful.  If the Republican Party wants to reclaim its heritage and demonstrate a more human side, it has to show that business development is not just meant to make fat cats fatter, but to advance the entire society.  Basically Romney lost because Obama was able to frame him as a fat cat out to protect other fat cats, instead of a person interested in more idealistic issues involving the full integration of all members of our society into the economic system.

Four years from now, I am convinced, the economic situation will look nearly exactly as it does now (but with a greater amount of debt to pay).  The Republican Party has to reclaim what made it a dynamic force for good in the history of the USA.  The greatest republican presidents were the presidents who favored equality of opportunity: Lincoln, T.R. and Eisenhower.  I think you folks have to step back to the icons and take a lesson from them.

Thank you for allowing me to provide this feedback -

Daniel Gauss

----

Yes, I'm the guy who caused the "scandal" in Asia two years ago by pointing out that Korean pop stars were not being treated as well as they should have been in NY City. This was the 6th biggest story in Korea for the year 2010.

http://nwww.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20100511000742

http://nwww.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20100512000682

Yes, I'm also the guy who wrote the very funny ESL book: New York City Sucks, But You'll Wanna Live Here Anyway 
http://www.amazon.com/Sucks-Youll-Wanna-Anyway-ebook/dp/B004TSPAQS

Does America Need To Ban Handguns?

The whole truth as to why a 20 year old man shot so many children has not yet come out.  Nobody is quite sure what his motives were, although some are suggesting that he suffered from some form of mental illness.

Nevertheless, many are hoping this shooting will finally persuade most Americans that allowing guns to be bought easily is a huge mistake.

http://news.msn.com/us/analysis-could-shooting-be-a-gun-control-tipping-point

1)  The right to own guns is in the US Constitution, and this right cannot be eliminated easily (many individual states would have to vote to change the Constitution).   The 2nd Amendment allows the ownership of guns as a means for individuals to protect themselves in their own homes.  Do you believe that this is a necessary right?

2)  Many parents are now worried about school safety and security.  If you were the principal of a school, what would you do to ensure the safety of your students?

3)  There are 325 million Americans and guns are easy to obtain.  Do you think that as long as guns are legal we are going to see such horrible massacres?

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Yes, I'm the guy who caused the "scandal" in Asia two years ago :P http://www.shoutcastblog.com/2010/05/11/wondergirls-were-mistreated-by-jyp-entertainment/

Yes, I'm also the guy who wrote the very funny ESL book: New York City Sucks, But You'll Wanna Live Here Anyway http://www.amazon.com/Sucks-Youll-Wanna-Anyway-ebook/dp/B004TSPAQS

Argentine Mother Crusades Against Sexual Slavery

I am posting this story primarily because it affected me so deeply.  This Argentine mother has been looking for her own daughter, was was kidnapped and forced into sexual slavery, and, in the process, has been rescuing other young women from a terrible life of forced prostitution.

http://news.yahoo.com/argentine-mom-rescues-sex-slaves-not-daughter-201941336.html

1)  Do you feel this woman deserves the Nobel Peace Prize?

2)  What do you think of the Argentine government after reading this story?

3)  In Argentina prostitution is legal.  Do you think this allows for such kidnappings to occur?
Is the problem of forced sexual slavery a possibility in any country that has legalized prostitution?

----------------------------------


Yes, I'm the guy who caused the "scandal" in Asia two years ago :P http://www.shoutcastblog.com/2010/05/11/wondergirls-were-mistreated-by-jyp-entertainment/

Yes, I'm also the guy who wrote the very funny ESL book: New York City Sucks, But You'll Wanna Live Here Anyway http://www.amazon.com/Sucks-Youll-Wanna-Anyway-ebook/dp/B004TSPAQS

Virgin Mobile U.S. Ad (Stupidly) Seems to Joke About Rape

Even in the 21st century, in America, where women have made huge achievements and are approaching full equality of opportunity, rights, power and income with men, we still see absolutely STUPID instances of sexism and the hatred of women in advertising.

Virgin Mobile USA was running an ad which seemed to joke about the issue of rape.  Virgin Mobile is owned by Sprint/Nextel.   

Basically, in the ad, a man is considering whether he should buy "chloroform" (a chemical that causes a person to lose his/her consciousness) to use on a woman he knows.  The implication is clearly that by chloroforming this woman, he will be able to rape her easily.

http://now.msn.com/virgin-mobile-us-kills-ad-that-seems-to-condone-rape

1)  Virgin Mobile claims they did not know about this ad.  Do you believe them?

2)  Does seeing an ad like this make you angry?  How angry? 

3)  After seeing an ad like this, how influenced are you to change your judgment of a company?  Would you consider not buying a Virgin Mobile product because of such a terrible ad?  Honestly, why WOULD a woman ever buy a Virgin Mobile product again?  It seems that Sprint/Nextel owns Virgin Mobile.  If you are a woman, would you be inclined to buy a Sprint/Nextel product when they joke about an issue like rape?

4)  Many people immediately went online to protest this ad.  Does this seem to indicate to you that normal people, in general, are fed up with sexism and will not tolerate this type of joke?  Should we be proud of ourselves, so to speak, that ordinary people forced this company to take down this disgusting ad?

5)  Should executives at Virgin Mobile be held accountable (punished) for this attack against women?


------------------------------------------------------------------

Yes, I'm the guy who caused the "scandal" in Asia two years ago :P http://www.shoutcastblog.com/2010/05/11/wondergirls-were-mistreated-by-jyp-entertainment/

Yes, I'm also the guy who wrote the very funny ESL book: New York City Sucks, But You'll Wanna Live Here Anyway http://www.amazon.com/Sucks-Youll-Wanna-Anyway-ebook/dp/B004TSPAQS

US Supreme Court Examines "Gay Marriage Ban"

More than half of the states in the US have banned gay marriage.  Other states, including New York, have made gay marriage legal.  Interestingly, California, which is known as a liberal state, has banned gay marriage.

Even in states where gay marriage is legal, however, same-sex couples do not receive the types of benefits from the US government which heterosexual couples receive.  Therefore the US Supreme Court will determine whether states can ban same-sex marriages and whether or not homosexual couples should receive the same types of benefits as heterosexual couples.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/12/09/us-usa-court-gaymarriage-idUSBRE8B617420121209

1)  How do you feel about the issue of gay marriage?

2)  If a state has banned gay marriage, do you think the Supreme Court should have a right to overturn their laws?

3)  How are gay people generally treated in your country?

4)  If gay people are hesitant to 'come out' in your home country, do you think that laws are necessary to protect their rights?

Obama To Be In Psy's Audience Despite "Anti-American" Performance

It has been revealed that the Korean performer "Psy" once participated in anti-American performances in which he advocated that American military personnel, as well as their families, be killed.

Many Americans are, therefore, quite upset that Psy has been invited to perform at a concert which the president of the United States will attend.

http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/entertainment/2012/12/psy-forever-sorry-for-anti-american-song/

1)  At the time of the anti-American performance, two Korean teenagers had been accidentally killed by US military personnel and there were reports of American soldiers torturing prisoners in Iraq.  Do you feel he was justified in singing the lyrics he sang at that time?

2)  Do you feel that Psy was hypocritical in that he came to make money in a country he had previously attacked? (In the past he seems to have protested the presence of American soldiers in South Korea.)

3)  Do you think that Psy is a hypocrite for apologizing to Americans for the song?  Why didn't he just say, "Yes, I said what I said and I meant it at the time.  There is no need for an apology."

4)  Why do you think he apologized?

5)  Does it seem to you, as it seems to me, that Psy will sing or say anything to benefit himself at any time?

6)  Does this situation change your attitude or feelings toward this performer? 

7) Psy is a so-called "K-pop" performer.  Although his production company (YG) does not have a bad reputation, K-pop entertainment companies generally have a terrible reputation around Asia.  (You can google:  K-pop slave contracts,  K-pop plagiarism, K-pop sexualization of teens etc.)

Indeed, I used to teach English to K-pop performers based in New York and I quit because I became disgusted with their entertainment company on so many levels.

http://view.koreaherald.com/kh/view.php?ud=20100511000742&cpv=0

http://view.koreaherald.com/kh/view.php?ud=20100512000682&cpv=0

http://nwww.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20121017000844

Do you think this latest revelation about Psy is going to hurt other K-pop performers as they try to make money in America?

Illegal Immigrant Numbers Drop in The USA

There are currently 11 million illegal immigrants in the USA.  About 80% of the illegal immigrants are from Mexico and other Latin American countries.  Yet, for various reasons, it looks as if illegal immigration is dropping and may continue to drop.  Indeed, Asians supplanted Latinos as the number one immigrant group (legal immigrants) for this past year.

http://news.yahoo.com/illegal-immigration-drops-decade-long-rise-050220584.html

1)  What do you believe should be done in regard to the 11 million illegal immigrants who are currently in the USA?  Should they be offered citizenship?  Under which terms?

2)  Illegal immigrants who are very young and who wish to attend US colleges and universities have been allowed to stay in the USA.  What do you think of this "Dream Act"?

3)  In general, do you have any opinion about the current US immigration policy?  How might it be changed for the better of people in general and the country?

Fake Homeless Man "Scams" NY Police Officer for Free Boots

There was a story that was in many newspapers around the world last week, concerning a NY City police officer who saw a man lying on a sidewalk with no shoes on his feet.  When this happened it was freezing cold outside and the officer went into a shoe store and bought shoes for the homeless man.

Yet, there seemed to be something strange about the story to me.  The apparently homeless man was deliberately lying in front of a shoe store in Times Square with no shoes.  To me, it seemed as if he was trying to make tourists feel sorry enough for him so that they might actually go in the store and buy him a pair of shoes or at least give him some money.  The fact that this "homeless" guy was deliberately sitting on the ground without shoes seemed a deliberate ploy (scheme, plan) to make people feel sorry enough for him that they might give him something.

This is what the cop did.

Now, there is a new story that the "homeless" man has been seen around the city without shoes again!  Therefore, it seems that the "homeless" man really does not need shoes, but merely takes his shoes off to trick or fool cops and tourists into giving him money and shoes.

This is called a "scam."  This is when someone tricks another person into giving him/her money.  On the subways there are lots of these scams.  Women will sometimes even bring children onto the subway and claim they are homeless and hungry to get people to give them money.

What is shocking to me is that the City of New York actively warns people NOT to give any money to any beggars.  There are about 100 free food programs in New York City and many free clothing programs.  There are also homeless shelters where the homeless may go.  The City of New York points out that if a beggar is asking for money, he/she probably wants it for drugs or alcohol.  Help is available in New York to anyone who wants it.

So basically, the cop wanted to be a good samaritan, but became a scam victim instead.  He did not follow the advice his own government bosses give to people about giving things to beggars.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/50052716/ns/us_news-the_new_york_times

New Story!!!!  The "homeless" guy is not even homeless.  Basically, and I am sorry to say this, this news makes the NY police officer really seem ridiculous.  He totally got scammed. Even though the city warns people not to give money to beggars, he did so.

http://news.msn.com/us/shoeless-nyc-man-isnt-homeless-after-all

1)  Do you agree with my theory?

2)  Does this make the cop look foolish to you, or is he still a hero?

3)  Do you provide money to beggars on the subway?  Why or why not?

4)  Do you provide money to street musicians on the streets?

-------------------------------------------------------


Yes, I'm also the guy who wrote the very funny ESL book: New York City Sucks, But You'll Wanna Live Here Anyway http://www.amazon.com/Sucks-Youll-Wanna-Anyway-ebook/dp/B004TSPAQS

"Pink" Taxis in Mexico, Just for Women

Many women around the world complain about their treatment by taxi drivers.  Even in NY City many women claim that the drivers flirt with them or hit on them (try to pick them up or take them out on dates).  Many women simply do not feel safe hailing (trying to stop) a taxi cab.

In Mexico, therefore, a couple years ago, they addressed this situation by establishing taxis purely for women.  These taxis are called "Pink" taxis and are driven by women for women.  This is similar to a system in some countries where there are separate subway cars for women.  Here is an article about this phenomenon:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33385984/ns/world_news-americas/t/mexicos-pink-taxis-cater-fed-up-females/

1)  Critics of this policy say it is discriminatory.  Do you think the taxis discriminate against men?

2)  Critics also say that pink taxis do not solve the serious "social problem" of sexual harassment.  How would you respond to this criticism?

3)  Do you think pink taxis are a good idea?

4)  In general, taxi drivers in NY City have acquired a terrible reputation.  They often cheat passengers and are rude.  Do you have any taxi driver "horror stories?"

5)  Do you think separate subway cars should also be established in major cities for women?

Obese Woman Dies, Unable To Board Plane Home

A 400 lbs (182 kg) woman was able to fly via a Dutch airline to Hungary, from America, but several problems prevented 3 airlines from helping her fly back home.  Unable to fly home, she then died, and her husband is blaming the airlines for her death.  He seems to be arguing that had the airlines found a way home for her, her American doctors would have saved her.

http://abcnews.go.com/International/husband-obese-woman-blames-airlines-death-european-vacation/story?id=17812883

1)  Do you think the Dutch airline is to blame for this situation?  After all, they got her to Europe and were supposed to get her back home again.

2)  To what extent do you feel she is to blame for her excessive weight?

3)  Two other airlines attempted to help her get back home, but were unable to.  The husband wants to sue them as well.  Do you feel they are to blame?

4)  If you were on a jury for this case, would you find the airlines guilty or not guilty?

5)  Do you think that airlines should even accomodate passengers who are in such poor health and dangerously overweight?