In Japanese, Onigiri Means Love and Comfort

In Japan, onigiri rice balls are more common than sushi. And in Japanese culture, making onigiri is a way to show love. "You can make an onigiri by rolling rice in the palms of your hands,” said teacher – or sensei -- Takako Taniwaki at an onigiri-making class in Washington, D.C. Onigiri is a comfort food in Japan. People bring rice balls for lunch. They are good for a picnic, field trip and school event because they are easy to carry. And Taniwaki calls onigiri the soul food of the Japanese. Mothers and grandmothers make rice balls for their children or grandchildren with love. That kindness goes beyond Japan. Three organizations in Washington, D.C. hosted an onigiri-making class to raise funds.Their fund-raising goal is to tackle hunger. Hunger is a worldwide issue. More than 150 countries celebrated World Food Day on October 16 to increase awareness of food-related issues. Mayumi Uejima-Carr is co-president of Table for Two, one of the organizations raising funds and awareness. It is conducting its “One Million Itadakimasu" campaign until November 30. Itadakimasu is a Japanese word that expresses gratitude for food. It is a blessing said before eating. "We want to think about children who need help," said Uejima-Carr. Table for Two invites people to upload photos of making or eating onigiri to their website. The organization works with international companies to donate five meals for each photo uploaded. More than 2,300 photos have been uploaded so far from across the world. Table for Two also supports schools in low-income neighborhoods in the U.S. Uejima-Carr explained that food businesses donate 25 cents to upgrade a child’s school meal. That adds fresh vegetables to the meal.   Onigiri is also called omusubi. O is a Japanese word giving honor to someone or something. Nigiri comes from the verb nigiru, meaning to grasp and musubi comes from the verb musubu, meaning to tie or roll. The words express ideas of connection and closeness. What’s in onigiri? There are seasonings on the rice, pickled Japanese plums and baked salty salmon. The students at the onigiri-making class uploaded their photos to the fund-raising website. Then they ate onigiri together and said, “Itadakimasu!" I’m Jill Robbins. Now it’s your turn. Have you ever made a rice ball? Do you want to try a rice ball? What do you say when you start eating in your country? Please write to us in the comments section or on our Facebook page. Haruka Takeuchi wrote this story for VOA Learning English. Kathleen Struck was the editor. HOW TO MAKE ONIGIRI Ingredients: Rice Fillings of your choice (Tuna, Pickled plum, chicken, salmon and so on) Water Salt Dried seaweed Steps: Cook rice Put half a cup of steamed rice in a rice bowl. Wait for it to cool down. Wet your hand with water, or cut out about 10 inch sheet of plastic wrap. Put salt on your hands or on your plastic wrap. Place the rice onto your wet hand or onto the plastic wrap. Slightly spread the rice. Put the filling on the center of the rice then wrap it with the rice around it. Roll the rice in your hands and make it into a triangle, a ball or a cylinder. Wrap the rolled rice with seaweed. If you used plastic wrap, unwrap the rice and then put the seaweed on. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   grasp ­– v. to take and hold (something) with your fingers, hands, etc  

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Black Friday, Cyber Monday Start Holiday Shopping Season

  America’s holiday shopping season started on Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving. It is the busiest shopping day of the year. Retailers make the most money this time of year, about 20 percent to 30 percent of all revenue all year. The National Retail Federation (NRF) says about 136 million people will shop during the Thanksgiving Holiday weekend.     More and more will shop online. In an era of instant information, shoppers can use their mobile phones to find deals. Nearly 80 percent of this year’s holiday shoppers, or about 183.8 million people, will shop on Cyber Monday, says the NRF. More than half of all holiday purchases will be made online, they say. One-in-five Americans will use a tablet or smartphone.    Pam Goodfellow is an analyst at Prosper Funding LLC. It is an online lender. “Given how shoppers today overall gravitate towards all things digital, there’s a high likelihood online shopping will be bigger than ever over the holiday weekend and on Cyber Monday,” she told the NRF. Online spending on Black Friday will rise 15 percent to hit $2.7 billion this year. Cyber Monday spending will increase 12 percent to $3 billion, says Adobe Systems Inc.   NBC News reported that for many, shopping online was “a more comfortable alternative” than crowded malls.  The shift to online shopping has had a big impact on “brick and mortar” shopping malls. Since 2010, more than 24 shopping malls have closed and an additional 60 are struggling, according to Green Street Advisors. It tracks the mall industry. However, Fortune says the weakest of the malls have closed. The sector is thriving again, it says. The International Council of Shopping Centers said 94.2 percent of malls were full, or occupied, with shops by the end of 2014. That is the highest level in 27 years. Economist Gus Faucher said lower unemployment and rising wages could give Americans more money to spend. According to the NRF, the average American consumer will spend about $805 on gifts. That’s about $630.5 billion between November and December – an increase of 3.7 percent from last year. Nonetheless, Cyber Monday is not the biggest online shopping day in the world. That distinction goes to China’s Singles’ Day, celebrated November 11, which posted record sales of $14.3 billion this year. I’m Mary Gotschall.     Mary Gotschall compiled this story for Learning English with reports from VOA News and other sources. Kathleen Struck was the editor. Do you have an opinion about this topic? Let us know what you think in the Comments section below, or on our Facebook page.  ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   retailer – n. a person or business that sells things directly to customers for their own use instant – adj.  happening or done without delay  mobile – adj. able to be moved gravitate – v. to be attracted to or toward something or someone digital – adj.  using or characterized by computer technology likelihood – n. the chance that something will happen destination – n. a place to which a person is going or something is being sent alternative – n. something that can be chosen instead of something else : a choice or option brick and mortar – adjectival phrase  used to describe a traditional store or business that is in a building instead of on the Internet mall – n. a large building or group of buildings containing stores of many different kinds and sizes occupy – v.  to fill or be in (a place or space) distinction – n. a special honor, recognition, or award    

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Americans Distrust Their Government, Poll Says

  Most Americans don’t have much trust in their government, says a new poll. Only 19 percent of Americans trust the government “always or most of the time,” the survey by the Pew Research Center finds. Pew says trust levels are among the lowest in surveys of the past 50 years. The trust level today is a big change from 15 years ago, right after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. At that time, 60 percent of Americans said they trusted the government, Pew said. Since then, trust in government has taken a major drop after the unpopular Iraq War and a dull economy. However, most Americans have a long list of things they want their government to do. That includes dealing with threats of terrorism, response to disasters and improving education. Air and water quality were also concerns. But Americans say they have little faith in government’s ability to respond. Only 20 percent of people polled by Pew say they would describe government programs as well run. The influence of money on politics may add to the distrust of government, says Pew. More than three-quarters of those polled say money “has a greater influence on politics and elected officials today than in the past.” Sixty-four percent say the large sums of money needed to run for president “discourages many good candidates from running.” The poll confirms divisions between Democrats and Republicans. Eighty percent of Republicans say they want smaller government.  Only 31 percent of Democrats say they want smaller government. About one-third of Republicans say government should help people gain health care coverage. More than three-quarters of Democrats say they want government to improve health care. Eighty-five percent of Republicans and 80 percent of Democrats tell Pew they believe the government should manage immigration. But Democrats and Republicans in Congress disagree on key immigration issues, such as what to do about Syrian refugees seeking admission to the United States. Pew says it surveyed 6,000 Americans in the trust survey. I’m Christopher Jones-Cruise. VOA News reported this story. Bruce Alpert adapted it into VOA Learning English. Kathleen Struck was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or share your views on our Facebook Page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   poll – n. an activity in which several or many people are asked a question or a series of questions in order to get information about what most people think about something response - n. reaction discourage - v. to show disapproval; to make someone feel disheartened faith – n. strong belief or trust in someone or something manage - v. to direct or supervise  

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Russian News Media Fakes Stories About US

Did you know the U.S. Ambassador to Russia, John Tefft, once gave a press conference on the moon? And at center-ice of a hockey game? ​And with General Douglas MacArthur when the general landed in the Philippines during World War II? Well, of course, he was not in any of those places. Tefft was born in 1949, well after World War II ended. But the U.S. Embassy in Russia tweeted out those fake photos with the help of a computer program. It did that in response to the Russians using the same tricks. The first fake news came in September. A local Russian news channel said Teftt attended a demonstration of anti-Russian government activists. It layered a photo of Teftt over an image of the anti-government demonstration. So the U.S. Embassy responded in good humor. The Embassy took a photo of Teftt at a press conference and layered it on top of several backgrounds. Then the Embassy posted it on Twitter. There’s one of Teftt giving a press conference during the moon landing.     Another has him at a Russian hockey game.     And a third places him at the airport with MacArthur, the famous World War II general. This kind of photo “mash-up” can be Internet fun. Remember when McKayla Maroney, the American gymnast, missed out on a gold medal at the London Olympics? After she received her silver medal, she made a face showing her dissatisfaction with the result. That photo gained a life of its own, and was mashed-up with Maroney looking unhappy with works of art, at the Great Wall of China and at meetings with celebrities. All were funny because the same photo of Maroney was used over and over in different settings. When she met President Obama a few weeks after the Olympics, the duo posed for a photo while making the unhappy face. Photo mash-ups are used all over the Internet. But, US officials say, in Russia, such mash-ups are used to create propaganda. Benjamin Ziff is the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State. He told a Senate foreign relations subcommittee that Russian propaganda reaches 600 million people. And it costs $1.4 billion per year to produce. Ziff said that helping local communities develop a rich, uncensored media environment would be a good tool against the mash-ups. Ziff said there is no reason to try to combat every instance of Russian propaganda. But, he said, in the case of Ambassador Tefft, it made a point. The social media activity was noted by reputable news outlets in the United States and Russia. The website Buzzfeed wrote a story headlined “This Is The Best Photoshop The U.S. Government Has Ever Produced.” I’m Caty Weaver.   Molly McKitterick reported this story for VOANews.com. Dan Friedell adapted this story for Learning English. Kathleen Struck was the editor. Is there a propaganda machine in your country? Do you believe everything you read? We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section or on our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   fake – adj. not true or real​ celebrity - n. a person who is famous uncensored - adj. of or relating to freedom of the press; removal of restrictions combat – v. to try to stop (something) from happening or getting worse instance - n. example reputable - adj. respected or trusted outlet - n. a television, radio or publishing company  

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'A Princess of Mars,' by Edgar Rice Burroughs, Part Four

Editor's note: This is the fourth in our series of programs called “A Princess of Mars.” The story is from a series of books by Edgar Rice Burroughs.  Last week, we told how John Carter observed a fierce battle between the green Martians and a race of red, human-like creatures. He also saw the beautiful Princess Dejah Thoris being captured after the battle. A short time later, John Carter, the Princess and their friend, the green Martian woman Sola, attempt to escape rather than face death. The Princess and Sola must flee while John Carter tries to slow the green warriors who are chasing them.  John Carter continues to tell what happens in Edgar Rice Burroughs’ story, “A Princess of Mars.” JOHN CARTER: The huge green warrior Tars Tarkas came slowly toward me with his thin sword. I backed away. I did not want to fight him. I did not wish his death. He had been as kind to me as a green Martian can be. As I stood watching him, a rifle fired in the distance, then another and another. Tars Tarkas and his warriors were under attack from another tribe of green warriors.  Within seconds, a terrible battle raged. As I watched, three of the attackers fell on Tars Tarkas. He killed one and was fighting with the other two when he slipped and fell. I ran to his aid, swinging my sword. He was on his feet. Shoulder-to-shoulder, we fought against the attackers. They finally withdrew after an hour of fierce fighting. TARS TARKAS: John Carter, I think I understand the meaning of the word “friend.” You saved my life when I was about to take yours. From this day, you are no longer a captive among our people, but a leader and great warrior among us. JOHN CARTER: There was a smile on his face. Once again, he took off a metal band from his arm and gave it to me.  TARS TARKAS: I have a question for you John Carter. I understand why you took the red woman with you. But why did Sola leave her people and go with you? JOHN CARTER: She did not want to see me or the Princess harmed. She does not like the great games held by your people where captives are led to die. She knows if she is caught, she too will die in the games. She told me she hates the games because her mother died there. TARS TARKAS: What? How could she know her mother?  JOHN CARTER: She told me her mother was killed in the games because she had hidden the egg that produced her.  Her mother hid Sola among other children before she was captured. Sola said she was a kind woman, not like others of your tribe.  Tars Tarkas grew angry as I was speaking.  But I could see past his anger. I could see pain in his eyes. I immediately knew Sola’s great secret. I have a question for you, Tars Tarkas. Did you know Sola’s mother? TARS TARKAS: Yes… and if I could have, I would have prevented her death. I know this story to be true. I have always known the woman who died in those games had a child. I never knew the child. I do now. Sola is also my child. JOHN CARTER: For three days, we followed the trail left by the Princess Dejah Thoris, Sola and poor ugly Woola. At last, we could see them in the distance. Their animal could no longer be ridden. They were talking. When we came near, Woola turned to fight us. I slowly walked to him with my hand out.  Sola was standing nearby. She was armed and prepared to fight. The princess was lying next to her feet.  Sola, what is wrong with the princess? SOLA: She has been crying much these past few days, John Carter. We believed you died so we could escape. The thought of your death was very heavy on this woman…my friend Dejah Thoris. Come and tell her you are among the living. Perhaps that will stop her crying. JOHN CARTER: I walked to where the Princess Dejah Thoris was lying on the ground. She looked at me with eyes that were red from crying. Princess, you are no longer in danger. Tars Tarkas has come with me as a friend. He and his warriors will help to see you safely home.  And ... Sola! I would have you greet your father -- Tars Tarkas -- a great leader among your people. Your secret no longer means death to anyone. He already knows you are his daughter. The two of you have nothing to fear. Sola turned and looked at Tars Tarkas. She held out her hand. He took it. It was a new beginning for them. DEJAH THORIS: I know our world has never before seen anyone like you, John Carter. Can it be that all Earthmen are like you? I was alone, a stranger, hunted, threatened. Yet you would freely give your life to save me.  You come to me now with a tribe of green warriors who offer their friendship. You are no longer a captive but wear the metal of great rank among their people. No man has ever done this.  JOHN CARTER: Princess, I have done many strange things in my life, many things much smarter men would not have done. And now, before my courage fails, I would ask you, to be mine in marriage. She smiled at me for a moment and then her dark eyes flashed in the evening light. DEJAH THORIS: You have no need of your courage, John Carter, because you already knew the answer before you asked the question.  JOHN CARTER: And so Dejah Thoris, Princess of Helium, a daughter of the Red Planet Mars, promised herself in marriage to John Carter, a gentleman of Virginia.  JOHN CARTER: Several days later, we reached the city of Helium. At first, the red men of Helium thought we were an attacking army. But they soon saw their Princess. We were greeted with great joy.  Tars Tarkas and his green warriors caused the greatest excitement. This huge group of green warriors entered the city as friends and allies.  I soon met Tardos Mors, the grandfather of Dejah Thoris. He tried several times to thank me for saving the life of the Princess. But tears filled his eyes and he could not speak.  JOHN CARTER: For nine years, I served in the government and fought in the armies of Helium as a Prince of the royal family. It was a happy time. The Princess Dejah Thoris and I were expecting a child.  Then, one day, a soldier returned from a long flight. When he landed he hurried to the great meeting room.  Tardos Mors met with the soldier and reported that every creature on the planet had but three days to live. He said the great machines that produced the atmosphere on the planet had stopped producing oxygen. He said no one knew why this had happened, but there was nothing that could be done.  The air grew thin within a day. Many people could do nothing but sleep.  I watched as my Princess was slowly dying. I had to try something. I could still move with great difficulty. I went to our airport and chose a fast aircraft. I flew as fast as I could to the building that produced the atmosphere of the planet. Workers were trying to enter. I tried to help. With a great effort I opened a hole. I grew very weak. I asked one of the workers if he could start the engines. He said he would try. I fell asleep on the ground. It was dark when I opened my eyes again. My clothing felt stiff and strange. I sat up. I could see light from an opening.  I walked outside. The land looked strange to me. I looked up to the sky and saw the Red Planet Mars. I was once again on Earth in the desert of Arizona. I cried out with deep emotion.  Did the worker reach the machines to renew the atmosphere? Did the air reach the people of that planet in time to save them? Was my Princess Dejah Thoris alive or did she lie cold in death?  For ten years now, I have watched the night sky, looking for an answer. I believe she and our child are waiting there for me. Something tells me that I shall soon know. Shep O’Neal was the voice of John Carter. Steve Ember was Tars Tarkas. Barbara Klein was Sola. And Gwen Outen was Princess Dejah Thoris. Paul Thompson wrote this story for VOA Learning English. Paul Thompson and Mario Ritter produced it. Did you enjoy our story? Please leave a comment or post on our Facebook page, thanks! ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   aid - n. the act of helping someone : help or assistance given to someone fierce - adj. very violent stiff - adj. difficult to bend or move atmosphere - n. a mass of gases that surround a planet or star

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Time and Place Prepositions: In, On, and At

  When English speakers talk about time and place, there are three little words that often come up: in, on, and at. These common words are prepositions that show a relationship between two words in a sentence. Some prepositions are rather easy for English learners to understand: behind, over, under, next to, etc… But these little two-letter prepositions seem to create confusion. Here are a few rules to help you understand when to use in, on, and at in a sentence. For describing time and place, the prepositions in, on, and at go from general to specific.  Prepositions and Time Let’s start by looking at how we talk about time. English speakers use in to refer to a general, longer period of time, such as months, years, decades, or centuries. For example, we say “in April,” “in 2015” or “in the 21st century.” Moving to shorter, more specific periods of time, we use on to talk about particular days, dates, and holidays . You may hear, “I went to work on Monday,” or “Let’s have a picnic on Memorial Day.” For the most specific times, and for holidays without the word “day,” we use at. That means you will hear, “Meet me at midnight,” or “The flowers are in bloom at Easter time.” Prepositions and Place When English speakers refer to a place, we use in for the largest or most general places. You can say that “VOA is located in Washington, D.C.” And “for the best food, try the restaurants in Chinatown.” For more specific places, like certain streets, we use the preposition on. You may know that President Obama lives on Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, D.C. Finally, we get to the most specific places. For exact addresses or intersections, we use the preposition at.  If I invited you to visit us here at VOA, I would say, “Come to my office at 330 Independence Avenue.” To be exact, it’s at the corner of Independence and 3rd Street.” In English, though, there is always an ‘exception to the rule.’ When talking about transportation, things get a little hard to understand. We use on for public vehicles like buses or trains, but also for smaller ones like a bicycle. “I rode there on my bicycle.” However, you ride in a car. Still, it helps to know that English prepositions do have some rules. Following the “general to specific” rule should help you most of the time. I’m Jill Robbins. And, I’m Ashley Thompson. Dr. Jill Robbins wrote this story for Learning English. Ashley Thompson was the editor. ​Now it’s your turn. What helps you to remember the prepositions in English? Do  you have any grammar tips you’d like to share? Write to us in the Comments section or on our Facebook page. ​______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   general - adj. relating to the main or major parts of something rather than the details specific - adj. clearly and exactly presented or stated : precise or exact intersection - n. the place where two or more streets meet or cross each other    

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Worries of Famine After Drought in Ethiopia

The people of Ethiopia were nearly wiped out by famine in the early 1980s when 400,000 died. The country’s government is seeking aid to make sure that doesn’t happen again. In a country where 85 percent of the people are farmers, millions are in need of aid. Ethiopia needs $250-million in assistance so that 8 million people do not go hungry. One million metric tons of wheat for the next four months will cost almost $300 million. Getachew Redda is a government spokesman. He says the Ethiopian government will be able to manage the drought with the financial aid. But Ethiopia must help farmers by developing more wells and irrigation projects so they are not so dependent on rain. Weather experts say the drought is caused by El Niño, an extreme weather pattern. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in the United States, El Niño results in warmer-than-normal water in the Pacific Ocean that affects climates to the East.  Historically, droughts should be expected every 10 to 12 years. But as climate changes, rain will be less reliable and less predictable. Government officials say projects that create long-term solutions are more important than temporary wheat distribution. Wagayehu Bekele is the director of the agricultural transformation agency in Ethiopia. He says farmers must adapt their schedules and work when the weather is good, instead of during traditional planting seasons. “Traditional wisdom is not working anymore. If the rain starts early, they don’t start sowing or planting.” Agriculture makes up about half of Ethiopia’s economy. The lack of rain is also affecting the health of livestock. Technology plays an important role in making the country more modern and its agriculture industry more sustainable, says one environment advocate. Araya Asfaw is the director of the Horn of Africa Regional Environment Center and Network. He says more investment is needed in weather tracking and prediction. “We need to have more meteorological stations all over the place.” The crisis is building. Right now 8 million people are in danger of going hungry. But if the aid does not arrive soon, the United Nations estimates that number could soon double. I’m Dan Friedell. Marthe van Der Wolf wrote this story for VOA News. Dan Friedell adapted it for Learning English. ­­­­­­Kathleen Struck was the editor. What do you think about the drought and famine in Ethiopia? We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section or on our Facebook page. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   drought – n. a long time of little or no rain famine – n. when many people have little to eat irrigation – n. watering land so crops can grow meteorological – adj. the science of weather sustainable – adj. a practice that does not use up all resources transformation – n. a complete change in appearance, form, etc.

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Burned Firefighter Gets Historic Face Transplant

From VOA Learning English, this is the Health & Lifestyle report. A hospital in the United States says a volunteer firefighter has received the most extensive face transplant on record. Forty-one-year-old Patrick Hardison received a new face in what is being called an “historic” surgery. The surgery took place at New York University’s Langone Medical Center. Plastic surgeon Dr. Eduardo Rodriguez led the team of 150 medical personnel that performed the 26-hour transplant surgery. Rodriguez told reporters that the operation is critically important for two reasons. "The procedure that was performed on Patrick is critically important in that number-one, we transplanted functional eye lids, which is important for the preservation of Patrick's vision. Secondly, the amount of tissue that was transplanted had not been transplanted before." The Washington Post reported that a grant from the NYU medical center paid for operation. The hospital estimates the surgery cost between $850,000 and $1 million. Hardison waited a year for the perfect donor. The perfect donor would have not only a matching blood type, but fair skin and hair. The donor’s face is from a 26-year old New York bicycle mechanic and cyclist. David P. Rodebaugh was pronounced brain dead after a biking accident in late July. Doctor’s declared him dead on August 14. Two hours after the donor’s death, a team of doctors operated on the recipient, carefully removing Hardison’s face. Another team worked on the donor. A nonprofit organization called LiveOnNY seeks transplant organs and tissue in the New York City area. This organization identified Rodenbaugh as a possible donor. He had signed up to donate his organs. A spokesperson for LiveOnNY said Rodenbaugh’s mother gave permission to use his face. She noted that her son had always wanted to be a firefighter.   The accident In 2001, Patrick Hardison was a 27-year old firefighter in Mississippi and father of three children. He entered a burning house to save a woman when the roof fell on him. He suffered third-degree burns on his head, neck and upper torso. Hardison lost his ears, lips, most of his nose and nearly all of his eyelids. To protect them, doctors covered his eyes with pieces of skin. This left only a small hole for him to see out of. He was almost totally blind. His face was one big scar. When he went out into public, he told Fox News, people would stare. He tried to stay positive. But, he said, life was hard. He has had a total of 71 surgeries. Now, Hardison has working eyelids, ears, a full head of hair, as well as eyebrows and facial stubble, said his surgeon. Hardison said his new face has already made a huge difference when he goes outside. He told Fox News that he used to get stared at all the time. Now, he said, he is just an average guy. Hardison is still recovering from the surgery. He will have to take drugs his entire life to fight infections from the transplant. But he plans to be home in time for Thanksgiving. The former firefighter now has five children, two of whom have not seen their father’s face until now. I’m Anna Matteo.   Anna Matteo adapt this story for Learning English from several online sources including Fox News report by Malcolm Ritter and a BBC report by Michelle Roberts. Share you thoughts on this story in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page.​ ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   extensive – adj. large in size or amount : very full or complete transplant – medical : to perform a medical operation in which an organ or other part that has been removed from the body of one person is put it into the body of another person recipient – n. a person who receives something plastic surgery – n. surgery that improves or repairs the form or appearance of body parts critical – adj. extremely important third-degree – adj. causing severe injury positive – adj. thinking that a good result will happen : hopeful or optimistic

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Hackers Try to Steal Your Shopping Passwords

  As the holiday shopping season begins, hackers are trying to trick users into revealing their private account information. Last week, hackers tried to trick Amazon.com users into handing over their passwords and user names. Last holiday season, eBay and other online shopping websites were attacked. The attempt to steal individual Amazon user names and passwords was a “phishing” attack. Phishing tries to trick users into thinking the request comes from the company. In this case, hackers sent email to Amazon account holders. The email lied and claimed that 2,592 Amazon account records were stolen. Customers were asked to verify account information in the phishing email. The email’s signature was signed as "Amazon Customer Support." Electronics and computer experts say deleting the email is an easy solution. Amazon says thieves use hoax email that look like they are from Amazon company accounts. Amazon says many phishing emails contain misspelled words and bad grammar. The company says it never asks for personal information, passwords or bank account numbers. I'm Christopher Jones-Cruise. Jim Dresbach wrote this story for Learning English. Kathleen Struck was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or visit our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   phishing – n. the activity of defrauding an online account holder of financial information by posing as a legitimate company hackers – n. people who secretly get access to a computer system in order to get information or cause damage password – n. a secret series of numbers or letters that allows you to use a computer system email – n. messages that are sent electronically from one computer to another verify – v. to prove, show, find out, or state that something is true or correct scam – n. a dishonest way to make money by deceiving people fake – adj. not true or real misspell – v. to spell a word incorrectly  

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Native Rights Bill in Taiwan Loses Support

Support for a bill to give Taiwan’s native people the right to govern themselves is slowly fading, one minister says. Lin Chiang-yi, also known as Mayaw Dongi, is the minister of native, or indigenous, people in Taiwan. He has worked on the bill to give indigenous people the power to govern themselves. The bill made its way to parliament after many years of hard work, Mayaw says. The bill also would give the island’s indigenous people a large swath of Taiwan’s already limited land. The bill proposes awarding 45 percent of Taiwan’s land to the 2 percent of Taiwanese who are indigenous. They have lived on the island for at least 6,000 years. The Han Chinese arrived in the 1940s after the Chinese civil war. There are 16 indigenous groups. Mayaw says he fears that the bill will not get attention between elections in January and the seating of a new government in May. Also, the proposed land exchange has little support. Taiwan is an island of only 36,000 square kilometers and is controlled mostly by Han Chinese. After years of forced assimilation, native people regained some rights in the 1980s. Advocates like Mayaw say the native people need their own land and the ability to make their own laws. Native people fighting for their rights in countries like New Zealand and the Philippines see Taiwan as a model. But those in Taiwan are looking for more and see autonomy as a next step. In other election news, the main opposition candidate in January’s election named her running mate. Tsai Ing-wen asked Chen Chien-jen, Taiwan’s health minister during the SARS outbreak in 2003, to be her vice presidential candidate. Chen said he is obliged to serve because Taiwan is facing a “critical moment.” Tsai and Chen will make up the Democratic Progressive Party ticket. They are the main challengers to Eric Chu, the candidate of the ruling Kuomintang. Chu named former labor minister Wang Ju-hsuan as his running mate on Wednesday. The major issue in the upcoming election centers upon Taiwan’s relationship with China. The Kuomintang is seen as friendly toward Beijing, while the DPP provides an alternative option. I’m Mario Ritter.   This story was written by VOA News. Dan Friedell adapted it for Learning English. Kathleen Struck was the editor. What are your thoughts about the struggles of the native people in Taiwan? We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section or on our Facebook page. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   indigenous – adj. lived in a region before others assimilation – n. a person or group becoming like their new country or place obliged – v. to do something because it is necessary

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Movie Recalls ‘The 33’ Trapped in a Chilean Gold Mine

A new movie, “The 33,” tells about the famous 2010 mining accident in Chile. The 100-year-old San Jose copper and gold mine collapsed over the heads of 33 mine workers. The collapse left the miners 700 meters underground. The film’s director, Patricia Riggen, attempts to revisit 69 days of agony for the men below and their families above. "Is that the only way in?" "The only way in, the only way out." Five years ago, lack of safety was an accepted fact of life at the San Jose mine. In the film, the 33 men start their long and difficult descent through a tunnel into their work area. But before too long, disaster struck. After the tunnel collapse, the miners’ crowd into a five-meter wide space built to hold 30 men. The miners called it, the “Refuge.” "One, two...33. We're all here..." They have only three days' worth of food.   "We have to ration it carefully if we plan to survive down here until we are rescued. Rescued?" Antonio Banderas plays miner Mario Sepulveda. "Mainly for the people to know (he) is the guy that  put some order down there and tried to stretch life as much as possible with the possibilities that they have and the resources that they have were minimal." The film is divided into two separate worlds. One is the miners’ large cave, where feelings of hunger and hopelessness give way to prayer. The other is Camp Hope, a temporary encampment of families outside the mine's collapsed entrance. "We want answers! It's been two days and no one has told us anything!" Maria Segovia is the sister of one of the men. She is as central to the miners’ rescue as Mario Sepulveda is inside the mine. Actress Juliette Binoche plays Maria. "She was called the mayor of Camp Hope. She was the force to start with. I had to show in very short time, a few scenes, that the force of those women, you know, really took...made the plan to take off and save them." With family, friends and the world watching, the Chilean government ordered rescue crews to keep working day and night. After 17 days, crews reach the miners. The film then shows the technically difficult and hazardous operation of bringing the men to the surface, one by one. "My readings indicate that a massive rock has placed itself here. We're talking about 700,000 tons of diorite, or twice the mass of the Empire State Building." “The 33” runs like a disaster movie. Its special effects and the human interactions inside and outside the mine add to the tension. It is the memory of the actual mine disaster and rescue operation that adds seriousness to the production. The movie is short on character development. Aside from Sepulveda and Segovia, we learn very little about the rest of the players. The film also does not explain why the miners received no compensation nor what Chilean officials have done to improve mine safety. I’m Marsha James. "See you all men out there."   VOA’s Penelope Poulou reported on this story from Washington. Marsha James adapted her report for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   agony – n. extreme mental or physical pain descent – n. a way of going down something tunnel – n. a passageway ration – v. to control the amount of something hazardous – adj. involving risk or danger compensation – n. payment; something that is done or given to make up for damage, trouble

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