Thursday, January 31, 2008

Show 628 Thursday 31 January


Watch today’s show at YouTube or BlipTV.

Hi, I’m Sarah, welcome to The Daily English Show.

Today I recommend watching a video by Barack Obama.
If you don’t know already, Barack Obama is an American politician who wants to be the next president.
I still don’t quite understand how it works, but something like, first he has to win the race to be the Democratic candidate and then he has to win against the Republican candidate in the main election.

And he has a YouTube channel and I’ve watched quite a few of his videos. And I’m so impressed by the way he talks. He sounds really intelligent and genuine. Which shouldn’t be surprising I guess, you’d hope that leaders could speak well, but that’s not always the case.

There are a lot of interesting Obama videos – but I wanted to choose one that was quite short to study. So I found one that was quite short and funny, when he’s speaking to a high school.

One of his points, I think, is that he wants to change the style of politics of people just attacking each other and lying and it being too much about just playing the game of politics rather than focusing on the issues.

He says in the video: This is part of what we have to change. You know, folks just willing to say anything just to get elected. That’s how Washington works.

One interesting point is the way he says folks to mean people in general. His wife says that too. In New Zealand, the word folks isn’t usually used like that. I would say people in that sentence: You know, people just willing to say anything just to get elected.

I think that’s an American thing. It says in my dictionary: especially in American English.

Anyway, Obama tells an example of the political game, in a light hearted way. He tells the story of a debate a couple of days ago when the candidates were asked a question: What’s your biggest weakness?
And Obama answered: I don’t handle paper that well. My desk is a mess. I need someone to help me file stuff all the time.
Then the other candidates, one of them said: I’m just too passionate about helping poor people. And the other person said: I’m just too impatient to bring about change in America.
Then Obama says: If I had gone last, I would have known what the game was. And then I could have said: “Well, you know, I like to help old ladies across the street. But sometimes they don’t want to be helped, it’s terrible.”

So I’ve written a transcript for that video. Please check it out.



STICK NEWS

Kia Ora, this is Stick News. A Nova Scotia couple had a double set of twins last week, beating odds of one in 70 million.

Last week a woman in Nova Scotia, Canada, gave birth to four babies – a set of twin girls and a set of twin boys.
The quadruplets were delivered by caesarean section and each weighed about three pounds.
The chance of having a double set of twins born at the same time is one in 70 million.
After the birth, the father said: “It has been described as hitting a hole in one on a Par 5 in a thunderstorm while getting hit by lightning three times while the draw of your [Lotto] numbers are winning."


And that was Stick News for Thursday the 31st of January.
Kia Ora.




THE SNOW REPORT
at Annupuri

This is in Annupuri a few days ago. These are the machines they use to press the snow and make it flat and smooth.
I think this is a kind of snow groomer called a Pisten Bully.



conversations with sarah
#382 But don’t you want Hillary Clinton to win?

Step 1: Repeat Mari’s lines.
Step 2: Read Mari’s lines and talk to Sarah.

Mari But don’t you want Hillary Clinton to win?

Sarah No.

Mari
It would be good to have a female president don’t you think?

Sarah Yeah, maybe, but I like Obama much better. And Hilary seems kind of dodgy.

Mari How do you mean?

Sarah I don’t know ... she seems fake. And her husband is definitely dodgy. Did you see that clip of him talking about Jesse Jackson the other day?

Mari No. What happened?

Sarah
A reporter asked him a question and he didn’t even answer the question, he just started talking about Jesse Jackson.

Mari Why?

Sarah
Exactly, why? Maybe he’s trying to make people think that all Obama has going for him is that he’s African-American and he’s not competent enough to be president.



TRANSCRIPT FOR OBAMA VIDEO
Watch the video here.

You know when I was twenty points down, everybody loved me. Now, now, now that, now that, ah, we’re tied, suddenly there’s all kinds of stuff going on out here. But, but this is part of what we have to change. You know, folks just willing to say anything just to get elected. That’s how Washington works.
I was laughing when we had the debate a couple of days ago. You remember. Ah, and people were asked, what, ah, what’s your, what’s your biggest weakness? So I thought, you know, cause I’m like a ordinary person, I thought they meant what’s your biggest weakness.
So I said, well, you know, I don’t handle paper that well, you know, my desk is a mess, I need somebody to help me file the stuff all the time. So the other two, they say, ah, they say well my biggest weakness is, I’m just too passionate about helping poor people. I am, I am just too impatient to bring about change in America.
If I had gone last, you know, you see, if I had gone last, I would have known what the game was. And then I, I could have said well, you know, I like to help old ladies across the street. But sometimes they don’t want to be helped, it’s terrible.



links

today's news
today's STICK NEWS pictures

Bill Clinton, Jesse Jackson video
Obama responds to Jesse Jackson comment

Jesse Jackson at Wikipedia

music

show start
artist: BrunoXe
album: aprendiendo desde 2004
track: Mandrake
from: Jerez, Spain
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site

the snow report start
artist: Olga Scotland
album: Scotland Yard
track: Absolute
from: Moscow, Russia
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site

cws start
artist: San Sebastian
track: Happy Sad
artist site

qa start
artist: ioeo
album: Groovetracks
tracks: groovetracks ending
from: Saint Raphael, France
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site

qa bgm
artist: NarNaoud
album: Green Vision
track: Dubbing Rules
from: Gironde, France
artist at Jamendo
album at Jamendo
artist site

Did you notice a mistake in this script? Please leave us a comment and tell us! We really appreciate people pointing out our mistakes.Thank you.

Have you translated this script - or part of it - into your language for English practice and published it on your blog? Please leave a comment and a link so other people can read your translation. Thank you.

Wednesday, January 30, 2008

Show 627 Wednesday 30 January


Watch today’s show at YouTube or BlipTV.

Hi, I’m Sarah, welcome to The Daily English Show.

Today I’m going to talk about pool. Or maybe I should say cue sports. I looked it up in Wikipedia and I found it under cue sports.

It says: Historically, the umbrella term was billiards. But now, as it says: In the United Kingdom, "billiards" refers exclusively to English billiards, while in the US it is sometimes used to refer to a particular game or class of games, or to all cue games in general, depending upon dialect and context.

Which probably explains why in Japan the umbrella term is also billiards or ビリヤード.

In NZ, I think usually billiards refers to a specific game and pool is the general term – for normal people like me anyway. I don’t know about the experts.

Most of my experience with pool is playing in bars and pubs in New Zealand when I was at university taking, ah, short breaks from studying.

In New Zealand you can play pool at a pool hall or at a bar or pub. And at a pool hall you pay by the hour whereas at a pub you normally put coins in the table.

If you’re playing at a bar the first thing you have to find out, is what the system is for knowing whose turn it is. There are usually two systems, one is writing your name on a chalk board. And the other one is a line up of coins on the table. I think the coin thing is more common. So you’ll see a line of coins on the table and you put your coin at the end of the line – it’s kind of hard to figure out where the end is sometimes, but somehow figure that out – and then you wait for your turn. And then when it’s your turn you play the winner of the last game and you can keep playing until you lose.

One tricky thing is that different people play different rules – so it can be good to find out what the rules are before you start. For example, some people play that after a foul the next person gets two shots. I don’t usually play like that. But if the person I’m playing suddenly does that, I don’t really care because I usually just want to have fun and don’t really care too much about the rules. But some people care.

One interesting thing I found out when I was in Canada is that they have different names for the balls. In New Zealand, as far as I know, they’re usually called overs and unders or bigs and smalls. Bigs and smalls is referring to the white part – so bigs have more white and smalls have a small amount of white.
Overs and unders ... these are overs, these are unders. I don’t know why.

I heard two different names in Canada, which I promptly forgot.

But I looked it up in Wikipedia and I found out they can be called solids and stripes. So: solids, stripes. I guess it means this is a stripe.

There’s a page in Wikipedia called: glossary of cue sports terms.

And under solids it says: Also solid, solid ones, solid balls. The non-striped ball suit of a fifteen ball set that are numbered 1 to 7 and have a solid colour scheme (i.e., not including the 8 ball). As in, "I'm solid", or "you've got the solids". Compare low, small, little, reds, spots, dots, unders; contrast stripes.

I’m not quite sure about saying “I’m solid” or “You’ve got the solids” – but maybe they say that in America.

But you need to know some words like this if you play pool because people often play while they’re drinking or talking to friends, so they easily forget what they’re on. And they’ll ask you, or you’ll need to ask them: What am I on? What am I on again? Sorry, I forgot what I’m on again.
And you can answer: “You’re on bigs”, or “We’re on unders”, or something like that.



STICK NEWS

Kia Ora, in Stick News today, John Edwards has announced he has dropped out of the race to become the president of the United States of America.

John Edwards was born in South Carolina in 1953.
At university he met a girl called Elizabeth. They got married and had 4 children.
Before getting into politics, John was a lawyer. The biggest case of his legal career was in 1997.
The case involved a three-year-old girl who was disemboweled by the
suction power of the pool drain pump when she sat on an open pool drain whose protective cover other children at the pool had removed, after the swim club had failed to install the cover properly.
From 1999 to 2005 he was a senator from North Carolina.
In the 2004 presidential election he was the Democratic candidate for
Vice President
.
John Edwards and John Kerry lost the election to
George W. Bush and Dick Cheney
,
This time he thought he’d have another go.
He officially announced his candidacy on
December 28th, 2006
.
He has said his main goals are eliminating poverty, fighting
global warming, providing universal health care
, and withdrawing troops from Iraq.
Today he announced he was dropping out of the race. He didn’t immediately endorse either Hillary Clinton or Barak Obama.

And that was Stick News for Wednesday the 30th of January.
Kia Ora.




THE SNOW REPORT
in Hirafu

Today we were driving through Hirafu and we saw a big group of people in a field, so we stopped to check out what they were doing. It was a school doing some kind of sports activity I think.



conversations with sarah
#381 Did you get the heater to work?

Step 1: Repeat Toru’s lines.
Step 2: Read Toru’s lines and talk to Sarah.

Sarah Did you get the heater to work?

Toru Nah, it’s not working.

Sarah Maybe we should go and ask at reception.

Toru You can go.

Sarah Mmm I can’t be bothered.

Toru Neither can I.

Sarah I know, let’s call. There’s a phone in here eh.

Toru Yeah, it’s over there.

Sarah What’s the number?

Toru It’s probably written on the phone.

Sarah Oh yeah. Hi, it’s Sarah from room B3.

Receptionist Hi. What can I do for you?

Sarah Um, we can’t get our heater to work. When we turn it on it makes this funny sound and it doesn’t start.

Receptionist Oh really? OK, would you like me to come over and have a look at it?

Sarah Yes, thank you.

Receptionist OK, I’ll be there soon.



links
today's STICK NEWS pictures

music

show start
artist: BrunoXe
album: aprendiendo desde 2004
track: Mandrake
from: Jerez, Spain
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site

the snow report start
artist: Olga Scotland
album: Scotland Yard
track: Absolute
from: Moscow, Russia
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site

cws start
artist: San Sebastian
track: Happy Sad
artist site

qa start
artist: ioeo
album: Groovetracks
tracks: groovetracks ending
from: Saint Raphael, France
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site

qa bgm
artist: NarNaoud
album: Green Vision
track: Dubbing Rules
from: Gironde, France
artist at Jamendo
album at Jamendo
artist site

Did you notice a mistake in this script? Please leave us a comment and tell us! We really appreciate people pointing out our mistakes.Thank you.

Have you translated this script - or part of it - into your language for English practice and published it on your blog? Please leave a comment and a link so other people can read your translation. Thank you.

Tuesday, January 29, 2008

Show 626 Tuesday 29 January


Watch today’s show at YouTube or BlipTV.

Hi, I’m Sarah, welcome to The Daily English Show.

Today I’m going to talk about a movie called Pulp Fiction.

It came out in 1994 and was directed by Quentin Tarantino.

I really like Pulp Fiction. But it’s not for everyone. It’s quite violent and contains swearing – so I wouldn’t recommend it to people who find that offensive. And, if you’re a teacher, don’t go showing it to your junior high school class.

I’d definitely recommend watching it in your native language first. Because the plot is non-linear so it’s kind of tricky to follow. And then, if you want to study it, pick out a few scenes that you like and study the language.

The script for this movie is great. As it says in Wikipedia: the film is known for its rich, eclectic dialogue. So you can have a lot of fun studying it I think.

I’m going to talk about a couple of scenes today. Firstly, a scene near the start of the movie when two guys are visiting these other guys to punish them for doing something wrong. A guy called Jules is talking to a guy called Brett. And he’s just shot Brett’s friend, so Brett’s really shocked and he keeps saying what. And this is the dialogue, it’s pretty funny.

Jules: What does Marsellus Wallace look like?
Brett: What?
Jules: What country are you from?
Brett: What?
Jules: What ain't no country I ever heard of. They speak English in What?
Brett: What?
Jules: English, motherfucker, do you speak it?
Brett: Yes.
Jules: Then you know what I'm saying.
Brett: Yes.
Jules: Describe what Marsellus Wallace looks like!
Brett: What?
Jules: Say what again. Say what again, (I dare you, I double dare you) motherfucker, say what one more goddamn time!

The conversation we’re going to practice today is from the part when a guy called Vincent takes his bosses wife out. And she starred in a pilot once. If you don’t know what a pilot is, here’s the explanation from one of the characters.

Jules: Well, the way they pick the shows on TV is they make one show, and that show's called a pilot. And they show that one show to the people who pick the shows, and on the strength of that one show, they decide if they want to make more shows. Some get accepted and become TV programs, and some don't, and become nothing. She starred in one of the ones that became nothing.



STICK NEWS

Kia Ora, in Stick News today, the son of the governor of Kansas in the United States of America is selling a board game with a prison theme called 'Don't Drop the Soap'.

This boy is the son of the governor of Kansas.
He’s created a board game with a prison theme.
The game is available online for $34.99.
"Fight your way through six different exciting locations in hopes of being granted parole," his site says.
The game’s tokens include a bag of cocaine and a handgun.
John says the game is intended for mature audiences - not children - and is simply intended for entertainment.
The governor says she and her husband are very proud of their son’s creativity and talent.


And that was Stick News for Tuesday the 29th of January.
Kia Ora.




THE SNOW REPORT
in the Hirafu gondola


with Mark from Sydney

Where are you from?
I’m from Sydney, Australia.

How long have you been in Niskeo?
Um, I’ve been in Niseko for three days now and I think I have, I have five more left.

Which mountain do you usually go to in Australia?
Um, I usually ski at, ah, Perisher Blue or, ah, sometimes Mount Hotham.

Are you a skier or a snowboarder?
No, definitely skier.

What do you do in Australia?
Um, I work for a shipping company. So we do, ah, transport.

Is this your first time in Niseko?
No, this is my third time here in Niseko.

How would you describe the snow in Niseko?
Niseko snow is awesome. It’s bloody fantastic. I mean it’s, ah, it never stops snowing here. And it’s so nice and light, it’s the best snow I’ve skied anywhere.



conversations with sarah
#379 Do you remember any of the jokes?

Step 1: Repeat Vincent’s lines.
Step 2: Read Vincent’s lines and talk to Mia.

Vincent Do you remember any of the jokes?

Mia Well I only got the chance to say one, 'cause we only did one show.

Vincent Tell me.

Mia No. It's really corny.

Vincent C'mon, don't be that way.

Mia No. You won't like it and I'll be embarrassed.

Vincent You told it in front of fifty million people and you can't tell it to me? I promise I won't laugh.

Mia That's what I'm afraid of.

Vincent That's not what I meant and you know it.



links

Pulp Fiction: what? scene (from 4:41)
Pulp Fiction: what? scene - with words
Pulp Fiction: explanation of pilot

music

show start
artist: BrunoXe
album: aprendiendo desde 2004
track: Mandrake
from: Jerez, Spain
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site

the snow report start
artist: Olga Scotland
album: Scotland Yard
track: Absolute
from: Moscow, Russia
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site

cws start
artist: San Sebastian
track: Happy Sad
artist site

qa start
artist: ioeo
album: Groovetracks
tracks: groovetracks ending
from: Saint Raphael, France
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site

qa bgm
artist: NarNaoud
album: Green Vision
track: Dubbing Rules
from: Gironde, France
artist at Jamendo
album at Jamendo
artist site

Did you notice a mistake in this script? Please leave us a comment and tell us! We really appreciate people pointing out our mistakes.Thank you.

Have you translated this script - or part of it - into your language for English practice and published it on your blog? Please leave a comment and a link so other people can read your translation. Thank you.

Monday, January 28, 2008

Show 625 Monday 28 January


Watch today’s show at YouTube or BlipTV.

Hi, I’m Sarah, welcome to The Daily English Show.

I have a quick question for you today. In the country you’re in now, do people make toilet paper into little triangle shapes, like this:



Before I came to Japan, I don’t remember ever seeing it. But in Japan, it’s everywhere: hotels, convenience stores, department stores ... just about any toilet that’s in a business. I’ve never seen anyone do it at home. But I’m sure some people probably do.

And at first I thought it was kind of ridiculous, like, come on what a waste of time!
But now I’m so used to it that if I went to, like, a hotel and they there was no toilet paper triangle I’d probably be like ... something’s missing!

So, what’s with the triangle? Why? What’s the point?

According to toiletpaperworld.com:

This points out to the user that someone cleaned the bathroom and paid attention to the finer details.

And I don’t think this is just a Japanese thing, because I found some information online about a book which had lots of photos of folded toilet paper – including triangles and other shapes. And this is what it says about the book.

The photographs in this book feature folded toilet paper sourced between 2004 and 2007. They were collected at hotels and B&B’s from different parts of the world including – The UK, France, Spain, Italy, Romania, Netherlands, Germany, Russia, United States, Canada and Japan.

So tell me: toilet paper triangles, do people do that in the country you’re in?



STICK NEWS

Kia Ora, in Stick News today, an American politician is now campaigning with an image of his head on another man’s body.

This man used to be the mayor of a city called Sugar Land.
Last year he decided to he wanted to become a member of congress.
Recently, his campaign became embroiled in a controversy after his campaign manager admitted that a photo of him was doctored.
The photo was Dean’s head on a thinner man’s body.
His manager said Dean had been so busy that he had no time to pose for a full-length photo
He said he thought the voters were “more concerned with the issues as opposed to pretty photo shoots."
The Associated Press quoted a political consultant saying there was no law against the practice "other than the laws of gravity - the negative effect on your polling numbers and popularity when you do such things."


And that was Stick News for Monday the 28th of January.
Kia Ora.




THE SNOW REPORT
in the Hirafu Gondola

with Simon

Where are you from?
Ah, Sydney, Australia.

How long have you been here?
Ah, this is my third day on the mountain, and I’m here for another nine days.

Which mountain do you usually go to in Australia?
Ah, Thredbo, usually ski Thredbo. Not much anymore though.

Are you a skier or a snowboarder?
Snowboarder, like yourself.

What do you do in Australia?
Ah, I’m an accountant. So, yeah, count the benjamins.

How many times have you been here?
First time, first time, loving it, loving it, sugoi.

How would you describe the snow in Niseko?
It’s ... first it’s tricky, because it’s pretty deep, it’s deeper than anything you’d ever get in Australia. But it’s just beautiful, it’s so beautiful, it’s so light and fluffy.



conversations with sarah
#379 Which way do you like it?

Step 1: Repeat Jimmy’s lines.
Step 2: Read Jimmy’s lines and talk to Sarah.

Sarah What do you think is the right way to put a toilet roll?

Jimmy What are you talking about?

Sarah Well, it can either go so that the paper is coming out over the top, or the opposite way, so it’s coming out underneath. Which way do you prefer?

Jimmy I don’t really care. Does anyone care?

Sarah Yeah. I was just looking up about toilet paper online to find out about the triangle thing, and some people were having full-on arguments about which way is the right way.

Jimmy Which way do you like it?

Sarah I prefer having the paper come out over the top.



notes

count the benjamins
benjamins = money
benjamins in The Online Slang Dictionary

In the US, "Benjamins" is one of the slang terms for $100 notes, they have a picture of Benjamin Franklin on them.
Benjamins can also be used to mean "money". (I've never heard this before though ... maybe it's used in Australia, or maybe just Simon randomly used some American slang).

sugoi

sugoi = 凄い、すごい = superb, fantastic, marvelous, wonderful, terrific, amazing, great

links

today's news
today's STICK NEWS pictures

toilet paper at Wikipedia

music

show start
artist: BrunoXe
album: aprendiendo desde 2004
track: Mandrake
from: Jerez, Spain
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site

the snow report start
artist: Olga Scotland
album: Scotland Yard
track: Absolute
from: Moscow, Russia
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site

cws start
artist: San Sebastian
track: Happy Sad
artist site

qa start
artist: ioeo
album: Groovetracks
tracks: groovetracks ending
from: Saint Raphael, France
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site

qa bgm
artist: NarNaoud
album: Green Vision
track: Dubbing Rules
from: Gironde, France
artist at Jamendo
album at Jamendo
artist site

Did you notice a mistake in this script? Please leave us a comment and tell us! We really appreciate people pointing out our mistakes.Thank you.

Have you translated this script - or part of it - into your language for English practice and published it on your blog? Please leave a comment and a link so other people can read your translation. Thank you.

Sunday, January 27, 2008

Show 624 Sunday 27 January


Watch today's show at YouTube or BlipTV.

Sunday Kitchen #79 Toast

Spinach
Mushrooms
Mashed Potatoes
Carrots
Natto
Vegemite
Peanut Butter
Jam
Marmalade
Chocolate



music

show start
artist: BrunoXe
album: aprendiendo desde 2004
track: Mandrake
from: Jerez, Spain
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site

other music
artist: NarNaoud
album: Green Vision
track: Dubbing Rules
from: Gironde, France
artist at Jamendo
album at Jamendo
artist site

Did you notice a mistake in this script? Please leave us a comment and tell us! We really appreciate people pointing out our mistakes.Thank you.

Have you translated this script - or part of it - into your language for English practice and published it on your blog? Please leave a comment and a link so other people can read your translation. Thank you.

Saturday, January 26, 2008

Show 623 Saturday 26 January


Watch today's show at YouTube or BlipTV.

Comparatives + Superlatives

A red bike.
A blue bike.
A green bike.

Compare.
Comparative.

bigger than
smaller than
faster than

The red bike is bigger than the blue bike.
The green bike is faster than the red bike.
The blue bike is smaller than the green bike.

Superlatives.

the biggest
the smallest
the fastest

The red bike is the biggest.
He blue bike is the smallest.
The green bike is the fastest.



links

comparatives
superlatives

music

show start
artist: BrunoXe
album: aprendiendo desde 2004
track: Mandrake
from: Jerez, Spain
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site

other music
artist: NarNaoud
album: Green Vision
track: Dubbing Rules
from: Gironde, France
artist at Jamendo
album at Jamendo
artist site

Did you notice a mistake in this script? Please leave us a comment and tell us! We really appreciate people pointing out our mistakes.Thank you.

Have you translated this script - or part of it - into your language for English practice and published it on your blog? Please leave a comment and a link so other people can read your translation. Thank you.

Friday, January 25, 2008

#622 Song To Study Superlatives, Shanghai Subway Kiss


* A musician's lawyers had this script deleted on 29 October 2008, presumably because the post mentioned his name and the name of his song. I copied this from the Japanese script (and replaced the musician's name with X's):

Show 622 Friday 25 January
Watch today's show at YouTube or BlipTV.


Hi, I’m Sarah, welcome to The Daily English Show.
The song I recommend to study today is called XXX by XXX.
It’s very romantic. I’m going to read you the first verse.

I think this song is good for studying superlatives.
What’s a superlative?
superlative adj. (grammar) (of an adjective or adverb) expressing the highest or a very high degree of a quality
How do you make a superlative?

Very easy: just take an adjective or an adverb and add -est to the end or most before the word.
Often long words take most and short words take -est.

Let’s try.

You are nice.
You are the nicest girl in the world.
Could you be the nicest girl in the world?

You are beautiful.
You are the most beautiful girl in the world.
Could you be the most beautiful girl in the world?



STICK NEWS

Kia Ora, in Stick News today, a couple in China is planning to sue a subway operator after a video of them hugging and kissing was uploaded to the internet.

Last week a video of a couple kissing and hugging in the Shanghai subway was uploaded to the internet and attracted thousands of hits.
The video was filmed in September by subway security cameras.
The couple has now hired a lawyer and says they plan to sue the subway operator in the interests "of all passengers travelling on metro trains in Shanghai".

And that was Stick News for Friday the 25th of January. Kia Ora.



THE SNOW REPORT

at loaf lounge

There’s a cool heater at Loaf Lounge. It uses waste oil. The oil goes in here and this is the flame. The smoke goes out here. And you can turn up the temperature by adjusting how much oil flows in.



friday joke


Teacher: Now class, I’m going to ask you a question and I want you to all answer at once. How much is six plus four?

Class: At once.

I got the joke from here.



conversations with sarah
Where’s XXX from?


Brad Where’s XXX from?

Sarah America.

Brad What are some of his famous songs?

Sarah Um, he’s done hundreds of songs. I like XXX. Have you heard that?

Brad I don’t think so.

Sarah He released his first album before I was born.

Brad Really?

Sarah Yeah, in April 1978.

Show 621 Thursday 24 January


Watch today’s show at YouTube or BlipTV.

Hi, I’m Sarah, welcome to The Daily English Show.

The video I recommend to study today is a video that has been popular on the internet recently, the Tom Cruise Scientology video.

This is a video of Tom Cruise talking about Scientology which was intended to be for members of that group, but was somehow leaked.

So I’m going to talk about some language related to that video.

First of all, what is Scientology?

Wikipedia says it’s: a body of beliefs and related practices.

And it says the guy who started it, called it an applied religious philosophy.

And some people call it a cult.

Journalists, courts and the governing bodies of several countries have stated that the Church of Scientology is a cult.

I think it’s interesting that different people call the same group different things.

So what is a cult?

Cult typically refers to a cohesive social group devoted to beliefs or practices that the surrounding culture considers outside the mainstream, with a notably positive or negative popular perception. In common or populist usage, "cult" has a positive connotation for groups of art, music, writing, fiction, and fashion devotees, but a negative connotation for new religious, extreme political, questionable therapeutic, and pyramidal business groups.

It’s interesting how words have such strong connotations. If you’d never heard of Scientology before and I said it was a religion you might think, "oh yeah", but if I said it was a cult you might think, "ahh, scary".
But whatever label you give it, it is what it is, whatever that is, I’m not too sure, except that I read some of LRH’s theories on education and I thought they were nonsense.

Anyway, about this video, one interesting point is that Tom Cruise uses a lot of jargon – which is understandable because it was supposed to be an internal video.

I wasn’t sure how much – because sometimes I just think oh maybe it’s American English – or maybe I just don’t understand that word.

But then I saw one video which had subtitles explaining the jargon, which was helpful. For example, SP stands for suppressive person.

I looked at a site called whatisscientology.org and they have a glossary which explains a lot of scientology words, and suppressive person means:

a person who possesses a distinct set of characteristics and mental attitudes that cause him to suppress other people in his vicinity. This is the person whose behavior is calculated to be disastrous. Also called antisocial personality.

I think this video is popular because it makes Tom cruise sound kind of crazy, if you’re not into Scientology that is.

As for me I think this is one of the strangest lines.

Being a Scientologist, when you drive past an accident, it’s not like anyone else. As you drive past, you know you have to do something about it, because you know you’re the only one that can really help.



STICK NEWS

Kia Ora, in Stick News today, a British bus company has apologized to a human pet after one of its drivers threw her off a bus.

This 19-year-old woman says she is the pet of her 25-year-old fiancé.
Recently a bus driver told her to get off the bus. He said: "We don't let freaks and dogs like you on."
The company has now apologized. A spokesperson said they were worried about safety and she was welcome to use the buses but not when she is on her lead.
"Should she be attached to a chain and something happens on the bus, that could be dangerous,” they said.
The woman said her choice of lifestyle might seem unusual but was harmless.
"I am a pet," she said. "I generally act animal-like and I lead a really easy life. I don't cook or clean and I don't go anywhere without Dani. It might seem strange but it makes us both happy. It's my culture and my choice. It isn't hurting anyone."


And that was Stick News for Thursday 24 of January.
Kia Ora.




THE SNOW REPORT
on the road


It was really windy when we were driving back from Saison Club. Snow had blown over the road into mountain shapes, like sand dunes. It was really pretty. And scary too cause the wind was quite strong.



conversations with sarah
#377 Can cult have a positive meaning?

Step 1: Repeat Takako’s lines.
Step 2: Read Takako’s lines and talk to Sarah.

Takako Can cult have a positive meaning?

Sarah Yeah.

Takako In what way?

Sarah Um, when it’s used as an adjective before a noun, for example, a cult movie or cult book. Or a cult figure or cult status.

Takako What’s a cult movie? A movie about a cult?

Sarah No. Cult as an adjective means popular with a particular group. So a cult movie is very popular with a particular group of fans – as opposed to, say, a blockbuster which is a movie that has made a lot of money, so it’s more popular with a bigger group of people.



Tom Cruise Scientology Video
Transcript

I think it's a privilege to call yourself a Scientologist and it's something you have to earn. And because a Scientologist does, he or she has the ability to create new and better realities, and improve conditions. Ah ... being a Scientologist you look at someone and you know absolutely that you can help them.

So for me it really is KSW and it's just, like, it's, it's something that, ah ... I don't mince words with that, you know with anything that LRH does. But that policy with me has really gone, 'Boy'. And, and, I ... there was a time I went through it, I said, you know what, when I read it, I, you know, I just went "poo, this is it, this exactly it."

Being a Scientologist, when you drive past an accident, it's not like anyone else, it's, you drive past, you know you have to do something about it. Because you know you are the only one that can really help. But that's, that's what drives me. It's that I know that we have an opportunity and, ah, to really, to help for the first time and effectively change people's lives, and ah, I'm dedicated to that. I'm gonna, I'm absolutely, uncomprimisingly dedicated to that.

The orgs are there to help, OK. But we as, you know, as, also as the public, it's like, we have a responsibility. It's not just the orgs. It's not just Dave Miscavige. You know, it's not just, it's not just me. It's you. It's everyone out there. Kind of, re-reading KSW, and looking to see what needs to be done, saying OK, am I going to do it, or am I not going to do it? Period. And am I going to look at that guy, or am I too afraid because I have my own out ethics to put in someone else's ethics, and that is all it comes down to.

Because I won't hesitate to putting ethics in on someone else, you know, because I put it ruthlessly in on myself. And I think that, ah, I respect that in, in others, and, ah, you know, I am there to help. And we're here to help. And my opinion is, is that, look, you're either on board or you're not on board, OK? Which is it? If you're on board, you're on board, just like the rest of us. Period.

We are the authorities on getting people off drugs. We are the authorities on the mind. We are the authorities on improving conditions. Criminon. We can rehabilitate criminals. Way to happiness. We can bring peace, ah, and unite cultures. Ah, that once you know these tools and you know that they work, it's, it's not good enough that I'm just doing OK.

Travelling the world and meeting the people that I've met, you know, talking with these leaders in various fields ... they want help, and they are depending on people who know and who can be effective, and do it, and that's us. That is our responsibility to do that.

It is the time now. Now is the time. OK? It is being a Scientologist, people are turning to you, so you better know it, you better know it, and if you don't, you know, go and learn it. You know? But don't pretend you know it, and ... or for, you know, whatever. It's like, we're here to help.

If you're a Scientologist, you see life, you see things, the way they are, in all it's glory, you know, all of it's complexity, ah, and the more you know as a Scientologist, you don't become overwhelmed by it.
And ah ... when she, they said, "So, like, have you met an SP?" Hahahahahaha. And I looked at them, you know, and I thought, what a beautiful thing, because, maybe, one day, it will be like that. You know what I'm saying? Maybe one day it'll be that ... Wow. SPs, they'll just read about those in the history books, you know.

I just go through that tech, and it's, it, literally, it's not how to run from an SP. It's PTSSP - how to shatter oppression, confront, shatter oppression. You apply it, it's like 'boom'.

Because they don't come up to me and do that, ah, they don't do it to me, not to my face, you know, or anywhere in my vicinity where they feel they can be ... confronting. They just don't do it.

I wish the world was a different place, I'd like to go on vacation, and go and romp and play, and just do that. You know what I mean? I mean, that's what I want it to be. OK. That's how, you know, there's times I'd like to do that, but ... but I can't ... because ... I know, I know, so, you know, once you know, it's just ... I have to do something about it. It's not, you know, you can sit here and wish it was different, and then, you look at it. And you go, "OK, this is it, alright, OK". And at that moment where you go, you know, I have to do something, don't I? Yeah I really have to do it, because I cannot live with myself if I don't, and that really is it. I don't care if someone thinks it's hard or it's easy. Because you're either helping you're contributing everything you can, or you're not, OK? Ah, because I'm carrying my load, alright, and as much as you're carrying, I still feel like I got to do more. Alright. There's still a thing of 'let's go.'

You can see the look in their eyes. You know the ones who are doing it, you know, and you know the spectators, the ones who are going , 'Well, it's easy for you. What am I doing? And it's just, that thing is, ah, I've cancelled that in my area. It's like, man, you're either in or you're out. That's spectatorism, and it's something that, that is, we have no time for now.

So it's our responsibility to educate, create the new reality. You know, we have that responsibility to say, hey, this is the way it should be done. Because we do it this way and people are actually getting better.

Let's get it done. You know, let's really get it done. And have enough love, compassion and toughness, that you're going to do it, and, ah, do it right.

And I have to tell you something. I really, it is, you know, it's rough and tumble. And it's wild and woolly. And it's a blast ... it's a blast. It really is fun, because, damit, there's nothing better than the going out there and fighting the fight and suddenly you see, things are better.

I want to know that I've done everything I could, you know, every day when I think about those people out there who are depending on us. And, ah, I think about that. And it does make me feel, ah, like, man, you know, we got work, more help. Get those spectators, you're either in the playing field, or out of the arena. Really, that is how I feel about it.

I do what I can, and I do it the way I do everything ... hahahahahaha ... there's nothing part of the way for me. It's just wooo ...



notes

leak v. (of secret information) become known, intentionally disclose

connotation n. an idea or feeling which a word invokes in addition to its primary meaning

jargon n. words or expressions that are used by a particular profession or group of people, and are difficult for others to understand

links

Tom Cruise Scientology Remixes/Spoofs
You know/Pause/Stare REMIX
Laugh REMIX
Laugh spoof
The Late Late Show spoof

today's STICK NEWS pictures

music

show start
artist: BrunoXe
album: aprendiendo desde 2004
track: Mandrake
from: Jerez, Spain
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site

the snow report start
artist: Olga Scotland
album: Scotland Yard
track: Absolute
from: Moscow, Russia
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site

cws start
artist: San Sebastian
track: Happy Sad
artist site

qa start
artist: ioeo
album: Groovetracks
tracks: groovetracks ending
from: Saint Raphael, France
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site

qa bgm
artist: softspace
album: Room With A View
track: Eric Satie
from: gravesend, United Kingdom
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site

Did you notice a mistake in this script? Please leave us a comment and tell us! We really appreciate people pointing out our mistakes.Thank you.

Have you translated this script - or part of it - into your language for English practice and published it on your blog? Please leave a comment and a link so other people can read your translation. Thank you.

Wednesday, January 23, 2008

Show 620 Wednesday 23 January


Watch today’s show at YouTube or BlipTV.

Hi, I’m Sarah, welcome to The Daily English Show.

This is a cue or a pool cue. It’s spelt c-u-e.
And there is another kind of cue which has the same pronunciation, but a different meaning and a different spelling. Queue, q-u-e-u-e, means: a line of people, cars, etc. waiting for sth or to do sth.

In American English, they say line instead of queue. So if you say queue in North America, they might not know what you mean. In New Zealand I think we say both.

For example: How long were you in the queue?
Or: How long were you in the line?

Queue is also a verb. For example: We had to queue for almost two hours.
The equivalent in America, I think, would be: We had to stand in line for almost two hours.
Or: We had to line up for almost two hours.

You can’t just say line by itself, like: We had to line for almost two hours.
You have to say stand in line or line up.

Although line by itself is a verb, it just means something different. It means: cover the inner surface of sth with a layer of different material.

For example: I made a wooden box and I lined it with cotton.



THE SNOW REPORT
at SYNX


How have the conditions been recently?
Unfortunately, it’s been really, really nice which means the snow has gotten heavier and wetter because the sun’s out every day. And there’s no new powder to cover up the tracks. So, a few more snowfalls hopefully should clear things up.

What’s been the highlight of your season so far?
The highlight of the season so far has definitely been the back country. Hiking up and riding down. Just pure, deep, untracked powder. I mean, riding’s fun, but hiking up’s half the fun too.



STICK NEWS

Kia Ora, this is Stick News. The Canadian Health Ministry has officially said it doesn’t want sexually active gay men to become organ donors. A politician in Ontario says the directive is very insensitive.

In December, Health Canada issued a directive to exclude sexually active gay men from becoming organ donors.
The Ontario Health minister, who is openly gay, says the directive is offensive.
He says it was “very insensitive'' of federal officials to make blanket determinations about risk based solely on sexual orientation.
He said the Ontario government agency for organ and tissue donation will aggressively work with the gay community to encourage organ and tissue donations.


And that was Stick News for Wednesday 23rd of January.
Kia Ora.




conversations with sarah
#376 We should go soon

Step 1: Repeat Mari's lines.
Step 2: Read Mari’s lines and talk to Sarah.

Mari We should go soon, it’s almost dinner time.

Sarah Mmmm ... I don’t want to move, these chairs are so comfy.

Mari Yeah, they are, aren’t they?

Sarah I want some chairs like this at home.

Mari Don’t you have chairs like that at your place?

Sarah No, we only have cushions.

Mari How about in NZ?

Sarah Yeah, I’ve never seen this kind of chair in New Zealand. In New Zealand people usually have those big ones with legs and sofas.

Mari Houses are big over there aren’t they?

Sarah Yeah, they’re generally bigger than in Japan. But there are small houses too. Like the house I grew up in only had 2 bedrooms.


music

show start
artist: BrunoXe
album: aprendiendo desde 2004
track: Mandrake
from: Jerez, Spain
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site

the snow report start
artist: Olga Scotland
album: Scotland Yard
track: Absolute
from: Moscow, Russia
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site

cws start
artist: San Sebastian
track: Happy Sad
artist site

qa start
artist: ioeo
album: Groovetracks
tracks: groovetracks ending
from: Saint Raphael, France
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site

qa bgm
artist: TimeVibes
album: ChocolateChip Vanilla Ice Cream Dream

track: The Rain got bounced
from: Amsterdam, Noord-Holland Netherlands
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
MySpace

Did you notice a mistake in this script? Please leave us a comment and tell us! We really appreciate people pointing out our mistakes.Thank you.

Have you translated this script - or part of it - into your language for English practice and published it on your blog? Please leave a comment and a link so other people can read your translation. Thank you.

Tuesday, January 22, 2008

Show 619 Tuesday 22 January


Watch today’s show at YouTube or BlipTV.

Hi, I’m Sarah, welcome to The Daily English Show.

The movie I’m going to talk about today is called The Client. I like this movie and I think it’s a good one to study. It’s one of the few movies that I’ve watched about five times.
I think it’s a good story and I like the actors, I like the kid and I like Susan Sarandon and Tommy Lee Jones.

And I’ve been thinking about it because the other the day the guy who played the kid or the client, died, which is really sad. He was only like 25.

The movie is about a boy who happens to learn some information about a crime – and then the FBI and the mafia start chasing him ... and he finds a lawyer. Susan Sarandon is his lawyer. And at first he doesn’t really trust her – but gradually their relationship develops.

The boy, Mark, has had some problems in the past, especially with his alcoholic father and his lawyer, Reggie, she’s also an alcoholic too – so he’s angry when he finds that out, even though she's sober now.

This is the dialogue after he finds out that Reggie’s an alcoholic.

Reggie: I have been sober for three years.

Mark: Yeah right, that's what all the drunks say, how they're going to get sober and all. They even say they love you but they don't. And then they come home wasted and beat on you and your mother so bad that you got to hit 'em in the face with a baseball bat!

Reggie: You're talking about your daddy aren't you?

Mark: Yeah, well, I got rid of him. When me and my mom went into court to buy our divorce our lawyer sucked as usual, so I went up there and told the judge myself about all the beatings, about how he made us sleep in the street. And that's when my father became my ex-father, and now I got you, and you're a drunk and a bad lawyer too! So now I'm getting rid of you, you're fired, okay?

Get rid of is a useful idiom to learn.

Mark says: well, I got rid of him
And later on: now I'm getting rid of you

Get rid of means eliminate, discard, or free oneself from.

For example, you could say: I need to get rid of some of my clothes, I’ve got too many.

In that sense, get rid of could mean: sell or give away or throw away.



STICK NEWS

Kia Ora, in Stick News today two people died in Sydney Australia after they decided to spray paint graffiti inside a drain.

On Sunday night in Sydney two men and a woman went inside a storm water drain with spray paint to graffiti the walls.
While they were inside there was a flash flood. Locals said heavy rain lashed the area for around 15 minutes.
One of the men managed to escape. The other man and the woman died.
police said the survivor was intoxicated and was in shock.

And that was Stick News for Tuesday 22nd of January.
Kia Ora.




THE SNOW REPORT
by King #2


This shot was taken yesterday standing next to the King #2 lift looking back down the mountain.



conversations with sarah
#375 You like Led Zeppelin?

Step 1: Repeat Reggie’s lines.
Step 2: Read Reggie’s lines and talk to Mark.

Reggie You like Led Zeppelin?

Mark Yeah. Do you like Led Zeppelin?

Reggie Oh, sure. They were a great band.

Mark I bet you've never even heard of Led Zeppelin. I bet you're just one of them grown ups who just pretends to like really cool bands just to get close to little punks like me.

Reggie Well, I think we've covered just about everything ...

Mark Ok, what's you're favorite Led Zeppelin song?

Reggie Um ... Moby Dick, live version. Bitchin' drum solo.



notes

intoxicated = drunk

links

today's news
today's STICK NEWS pictures

music

show start
artist: BrunoXe
album: aprendiendo desde 2004
track: Mandrake
from: Jerez, Spain
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site

the snow report start
artist: Olga Scotland
album: Scotland Yard
track: Absolute
from: Moscow, Russia
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site

cws start
artist: San Sebastian
track: Happy Sad
artist site

qa start
artist: ioeo
album: Groovetracks
tracks: groovetracks ending
from: Saint Raphael, France
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site

qa bgm
artist: TimeVibes
album: GO ELECTRIC
track: Gettin' Down to it
from: Amsterdam, Noord-Holland Netherlands
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
MySpace

Did you notice a mistake in this script? Please leave us a comment and tell us! We really appreciate people pointing out our mistakes.Thank you.

Have you translated this script - or part of it - into your language for English practice and published it on your blog? Please leave a comment and a link so other people can read your translation. Thank you.

Monday, January 21, 2008

Show 618 Monday 21 January


Watch today’s show at YouTube or BlipTV.


Hi, I’m Sarah, welcome to The Daily English Show.

Today’s guest is Alistair. He’s from England and he now lives here in Kutchan. This is his third stint in Japan. The first time was on a school trip, the second time he lived here for a year and he’s now a teacher on the JET program.
I asked him what made him decide to come to Japan.

I started learning Japanese at school when I was about 11, very, very, sort of, casually. We had Japanese class. And I really enjoyed it. And there was a school trip to Japan, in, ah ... when I was about 14 I think, 14 or 15. And so we went to Japan, went to a place called Urawa. And I really enjoyed it. And that was when I first came to re-, to understand about Japan.



STICK NEWS

Kia Ora, in Stick News today, an 81-year-old man shocked his family by waking up at his own wake.

Recently, in a small Chilean village the relatives of an 81-year-old man discovered his body limp and cold. They thought he was dead. So they called a funeral home rather than a doctor.
The man was dressed in his finest suit, placed in a coffin and his relatives gathered to bid him a final farewell.
Then suddenly, he woke up.
The man said he wasn’t in any pain and only asked for a glass of water.

And that was Stick News for Monday the 21st of January.
Kia Ora.





THE SNOW REPORT
from the Hirafu gondola


This footage was taken from the Hirafu gondola last week. These people are waiting to get on the gondola. And that lift over there is called Holiday Pair Lift #1. It’s a new lift.
As you can see there’s a mixture of skiers and snowboarders. Maybe half and half.




conversations with sarah
#374 How long have you been doing JET?

Step 1: Repeat Sarah’s lines.
Step 2: Read Sarah’s lines and talk to Alistair.

Sarah The first time you lived in Japan was for a year. What were you doing then?

Alistair I was an exchange student. A university exchange student. Um, at a university in Sapporo. Hokusei. Hokusei Gakuen.

Sarah What kind of classes were you taking?

Alistair Yeah, it was a specially designed cl-, ah, course, for exchange students. So, there would have been a core group of us. I was the only one from England. But there were obviously Americans, Canadians ... And there were Chinese as well as Koreans. I had a very good, made a very good Korean friend. And, ah, we, to start with, we all had to take a test, basically saying ... testing our ability in Japanese. And depending on that, you could get put into a set ... a class, you know, depending on your ability. And so you’d study the year, like that. But it was, we didn’t ... we had a few classes where we’d be joined by Japanese students, but the class would be in English. It wasn’t so much we were joining the Japanese classes.

Sarah You’re on the JET program now. What does that involve?

Alistair My job in Kutchan is to teach junior high school students and elementary school students, um, about England. Ah, well, I’m basically just in the classroom helping out teaching the English. And, ah, within that capacity, obviously cultural things come through. And the students gain an understanding of life in Japan, of, ah, in England.

Sarah Would you recommend the JET program to others?

Alistair I would, I would recommend the JET program. Simply because, ah, it allows you to take part in the community because you’re sponsored by ... you’re, you’re employed by the local government and it’s um, it’s in their best interest for you to be as fully involved in, ah, local goings on, ah, as possible. So from that you can gain huge amount of, ah, experience ... of life in Japan. And you can make many friends. And ... you also have a great opportunity to travel around Japan, as well.

Sarah How long have you been doing JET?

Alistair Ah, I’m in my second year now. So I’ve been ... I’m half way through my second year, so, 18 months, about.

Sarah Are you going to do it for much longer?

Alistair I’m not sure. I’m going to stay for a third year. This is for definite. I’m not sure if I’ll get the, the nod for a fourth and fifth year.

Sarah Do you enjoy teaching?

Alistair I do enjoy teaching. When I have the whole classroom to myself and I’ve designed the lesson plan and I’ve thought long and hard about the lesson and how I’m going to um, teach the material. I really do enjoy putting it into practice in the classroom in front of the kids. And getting a response and seeing the kids pick it up or the students pick it up.

Sarah You can’t choose where you get placed on the JET program, can you? So were you happy to be placed here in Kutchan?

Alistair I actually, on the form you do get a chance to nominate where you want to go. You have a, you have a field where it says um, big city, small town, ah, big city, town, small town or rural.
And, ah, I actually ... well, when I lived in Sapporo I came down this area, in the summer, to do some mountain, ah, mountain, well mountaineering, rock climbing, um, hiking, that sort of thing. And I really liked the atmosphere here, I was only here for a day I think, and um, I knew about Niseko and I knew about the, the tourism here and I selected Kutchan actually on the, I wrote Kutchan down as one of my, as my nominated city, and like, fortunately, the guy who was here before me, he was coming to the end of his tenure, and I got the spot.

Sarah What advice do you have for people who are learning English?

Alistair Find out what makes you tick when you’re studying and just keep doing it and keep doing it over and over again and ... I mean, yes, um, everyone’s different, everyone learns differently. Some people have brains like sponges, some people have brains like bricks. You know? So, I had a brain like a brick when I was a kid studying and I found it really difficult. Um, but, if you work out what you’re good at ... and as long as you’re enjoying it, that will keep you motivated to study.




notes

program

This is spelt programme in British English and program in American English. In NZ English, I think it is programme. TDES follows NZ English grammar and spelling, except in cases when I happen to like the other spelling better for some reason ... :)

My philosophy about spelling/grammar is this: choose whichever one you like, unless you have a reason to follow a particular style, such as if you are going to an American University, you should probably use American spelling.

pick sth up (idiom) to learn
Note: The way he is using it here, it means "to learn", but the idiom pick up also has many other meanings

field - he's talking about a section of the application form or a question ... I'm not sure if field is usually used in this way

tenure noun the right to stay permanently in your job, especially as a teacher

what makes you tick
what makes sb tick (idiom) = what makes sb behave in the way that they do

links

today's news

today's STICK NEWS pictures

music

show start
artist: BrunoXe
album: aprendiendo desde 2004
track: Mandrake
from: Jerez, Spain
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site

the snow report start
artist: Olga Scotland
album: Scotland Yard
track: Absolute
from: Moscow, Russia
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site

cws start
artist: San Sebastian
track: Happy Sad
artist site

qa start
artist: ioeo
album: Groovetracks
tracks: groovetracks ending
from: Saint Raphael, France
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site

qa bgm
artist: TimeVibes
album: GO ELECTRIC
track: Gettin' Down to it
from: Amsterdam, Noord-Holland Netherlands
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
MySpace

Did you notice a mistake in this script? Please leave us a comment and tell us! We really appreciate people pointing out our mistakes.Thank you.

Have you translated this script - or part of it - into your language for English practice and published it on your blog? Please leave a comment and a link so other people can read your translation. Thank you.