English @ the Movies: 'Clean Record'

Our English @ the Movies saying today is "clean record." The movie is "Imperium," a serious movie based on a true story about white extremists. What do you think "clean record" means? Watch our story to learn about it.

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Presidential Election Is a Question of Character

Americans will elect a new president next Tuesday, November 8. While issues like the economy and foreign policy are important, polls show that many voters will make their decision based on how they feel about the character of the two major candidates, Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Donald Trump.

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What Are the FBI and Department of Justice?

The reopening of an FBI investigation into Hillary Clinton’s email has raised questions about whether the action could influence the U.S. presidential election. Last week, FBI Director James Comey announced the agency was reviewing a new set of emails recently discovered. The emails could be important to an investigation into Clinton’s email practices that was closed earlier this year. Hillary Clinton is the Democratic candidate for president. The FBI director reportedly acted on his own to announce the reopened investigation, after being warned by officials at the U.S. Department of Justice not to. The officials reportedly told Comey that informing Congress about the new material was not in line with department policy. The incident raises questions about the relationship between the Justice Department and FBI, and how the two agencies cooperate. The FBI generally conducts investigations for the Justice Department, which is responsible for enforcing the laws and administering justice. Beginnings in 1908  The FBI is an agency based in Washington D.C. It was started in 1908 by the head of the U.S. Department of Justice at the time, Attorney General Charles J. Bonaparte. The bureau began as a special investigative force of the Justice Department with fewer than 35 employees. Today, it remains one of many agencies coming under the Department of Justice. It is also a member of the U.S. Intelligence Community, a grouping of 16 agencies. These agencies work separately and together on intelligence activities related to U.S. foreign relations and national security.   The FBI investigates specific crimes assigned to its agents. It also provides other law enforcement agencies with fingerprint identification services, laboratory examinations, and training. The U.S. president appoints a director for the agency. Barack Obama appointed James Comey in 2013. The appointment takes effect if the U.S. Senate confirms it. FBI directors can serve as long as ten years, but no longer. The FBI website describes the bureau as “an intelligence-driven and threat-focused national security organization with both intelligence and law enforcement responsibilities.” Its mission is to “protect the American people and uphold the United States Constitution.” The FBI has 56 locations in major U.S. cities, as well as more than 60 offices around the world. It employs nearly 35,000 people. This includes special agents, intelligence experts, language specialists, scientists and information technology specialists. DOJ launched in 1870 An act of Congress created the Department of Justice in 1870. The Attorney General heads the agency. At the time, the government faced increasing legal cases brought against the United States. The Department of Justice website says the main goal of the agency is to “enforce the law and defend the interest of the United States according to the law.” Loretta Lynch currently leads the Justice Department. She took office in 2015 after President Obama nominated her and the Senate confirmed the nomination. FBI Director Comey reports to Lynch. Comey also has experience at the Department of Justice, where he served as deputy attorney general from 2003-2005.  I’m Caty Weaver. Bryan Lynn wrote this story for VOA Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   conduct – n. the way someone behaves specific – adj. clearly and exactly stated mission – n. a task or job given a person or organization to do according to – prep. as stated, reported or recorded  

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FBI Director Accused of Interfering in US Election

  Some Americans are criticizing the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for possibly influencing the U.S. presidential election. The criticism started last Friday after the bureau’s director, James Comey, sent a letter to Congress. The letter said the FBI was reopening an investigation of former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s emails. The emails were written before she became the Democratic Party’s candidate for president. Comey told Congress that the FBI was studying a new group of emails. He said they were found in a separate investigation involving former Congressman Anthony Weiner, the husband of top Clinton advisor Huma Abedin. Investigators looking at emails Comey said his agency was examining the emails to learn if they had information important to the earlier investigation of Clinton. In 2015, the FBI began investigating her use of a private email server while she worked as America’s top diplomat. The investigation was launched to discover whether Clinton had sent secret government information through the private email server. Comey told Congress earlier that the FBI had completed its investigation into Clinton’s emails. In July, he announced the agency had not found enough evidence to charge her with any crime. But he did say the investigation found that she had been “extremely careless” in her email practices. Historically, federal government agencies have attempted not to get involved in politics during election campaigns. A law called the Hatch Act sets limits on the political activities of federal employees. Some members of the Democratic Party - and at least one Republican - accused Comey of possibly violating the Hatch Act by making his announcement. The FBI director has said he felt that informing Congress was the right thing to do because he had earlier said the investigation was over. Hillary’s Clinton campaign criticized Comey for making the announcement without providing any information about what was in the emails. The candidate called the action “unprecedented” and “deeply troubling.” She predicted that FBI officials this time would come to the same decision as before, saying “there is no case.” Obama weighs in On Wednesday, President Barack Obama seemed to question Comey’s judgement. While not talking about the FBI director by name, Obama answered a question from the website NowThis about Comey’s action. The president told the site he has been careful not to look like he is “meddling” in Comey’s decision. But he added that there are rules that need to be followed. “I do think that there is a norm that when there are investigations we don’t operate on innuendo, we don’t operate on incomplete information, we don’t operate on leaks.” Richard Painter once worked as a lawyer in the administration of former President George W. Bush. Painter, now a law professor at the University of Minnesota, says it was wrong for Comey to release the information so close to the election, without providing further explanation. Hatch Act violation? “This is an extraordinary violation [of the Hatch Act], and I think particularly serious. We're talking about trying to use the FBI to go after political opponents. And the FBI should never have allowed itself to be used this way.” But George Washington University law professor Jonathan Turley disagrees. He told VOA that Comey was correct in informing Congress that more investigation would take place into the emails. “Someone can certainly question the timing - or even the means of this disclosure - but it is not a violation of federal law.” Turley added that Comey really faced a no-win situation. “He could (have been) accused either of a violation of omission or commission. If he had withheld this information and it turned out to be significant, many people would have blamed him after the election.” Businessman Donald Trump, the Republican Party’s presidential candidate, used Comey’s announcement to support earlier suggestions that Clinton should face criminal charges. He said if Clinton is elected, it would create a “constitutional crisis” because she would be under investigation while in the White House.  FBI info comes as race for president narrows Comey’s decision came as opinion surveys showed the presidential race tightening up just days before the election.   There was more criticism of the FBI this week. On Monday, the bureau released documents from a 15-year-old closed investigation. The case involved a pardon given in 2001 by then President Bill Clinton, the candidate’s husband. More than 120 pages relating to the pardon of businessman Marc Rich were published on the FBI’s Freedom of Information Act website. Bill Clinton pardoned Rich on his final day in office. Rich had been charged with federal crimes, including tax evasion. He fled to Switzerland to avoid trial and lived there in hiding for several years. Rich died in 2013. According to the FBI documents, the investigation focused on whether there was a link between the pardon and a large donation given to the William J. Clinton Foundation. The documents suggest that the donor of $450,000 was Rich’s former wife Denise, although she was not named. FBI agents sought to talk with her as part of the investigation into her ex-husband’s pardon, according to the documents. Comey was asked to take on the investigation into Rich’s pardon in 2003 while serving as the U.S. attorney in New York City. The documents suggest that not all rules were followed during the pardon review process. But the documents did not seem to show any new information about the case, which was closed in 2005 with no charges brought. Hillary Clinton’s campaign questioned the FBI decision to make public the information just days before the election. “Absent a (Freedom of Information Act) deadline, this is odd,” a campaign spokesman tweeted. In a statement to the Associated Press, the FBI denied there was anything unusual about making the Marc Rich documents public. It said the documents were put automatically on the FBI website after several Freedom of Information Act requests were made. Also posted to the same site in early October were documents relating to Donald Trump’s father, Fred. One of them was dated 1966, and others were from 1988. The documents mainly listed information about Fred Trump’s many investment properties in New York. I’m Bryan Lynn. Bryan Lynn wrote this story for VOA Learning English. Additional material came from the Associated Press, Reuters and reports by VOA reporters Michael Bowman, Wayne Lee, Marissa Melton and Ken Bredemeier. George Grow was the editor. We want to hear from you. Do you think the FBI director was correct in making the information about the investigation public? Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   practice – n. a custom, tradition or activity unprecedented – adj. ​ never having happened before meddle – v. get involved in something that is not wanted to others innuendo – n. statement suggesting someone did something immoral or improper disclosure – n. the act of making something known omission – n. something that was not included, but should have been commission – n. the act of committing a crime significant – adj. very important or noticeable evasion – n. the act of avoiding something odd – adj. strange or unusual  

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Chicago Cubs Win World Series

This is What’s Trending Today. The Chicago Cubs have won baseball’s World Series. It was the Cubs’ first World Series win since 1908. On Thursday, the hashtag #CubsWin trended across the United States. For more than 100 years, the Cubs have been known as “lovable losers.” The team has many fans all across the country. But, it never seems to be able to win big games. That all changed early Thursday morning in Cleveland, Ohio. The Cubs defeated the Cleveland Indians 8-7 just after midnight to win the World Series. The Cubs came from behind to win the series. They were losing to the Indians 3 games to 1. Then, they won three games in a row to win the World Series. The series is “best-of-seven.” The team that wins four out of seven games wins. The results left many Cleveland fans disappointed. The Indians last won a World Series in 1948. The Cubs were one of baseball’s best teams this year. But, many fans did not think they could win the series after falling behind. One expert said the team had just a 15 percent chance of winning the series earlier in the week. The year 2016 is turning out to be a year of unexpected winners in sports. When the Leicester City soccer team won England’s championship earlier this year, some people explained its significance to American fans by comparing it to the Cubs winning the World Series. In other words, it was not expected to happen at all.   Now, a few months later, the Cubs have won. People all over America are celebrating the victory on social media. One of the top posts on Twitter is a photo of the sign-in sheet at a Chicago-area elementary school.  It shows that many parents told the school their child was late because they stayed up to watch the Cubs win. Many people also liked a video showing the message board outside of Wrigley Field. That is where the Cubs play their home games in Chicago. When the game ended, the board changed to “CUBS WIN!” and thousands of people celebrated.  ​ Another popular Twitter post included a photo from 1993, and a prediction. It was a man’s high school yearbook photo. In the text under the photo, he wrote “Chicago Cubs. 2016 World Champions. You heard it here first.”  Many people cannot believe the man, who is now over 40 years old, got the prediction right. One man in Chicago celebrated by drinking a very old beer. He had put the drink in his refrigerator in 1984. He promised not to drink it until the Cubs won a championship. Finally, 32 years later, he was able to open the beer and drink it. And that’s What’s Trending Today. I’m Dan Friedell. Dan Friedell wrote this story for Learning English. Ashley Thompson was the editor. What do you think of the Cubs finally winning the World Series? We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story significance – n. the quality of being important : the quality of having notable worth or influence

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Grammar and US Presidential Elections: Part Two

When politicians give speeches, they talk about any number of things, such as their beliefs, personal history, or opinions on major issues. Politicians have to be careful about how they present their ideas. They want to direct the attention of individual listeners or larger audiences toward important ideas and words. But they also try to limit or avoid unnecessary information. How do they do this? One way is to put together sentences in a reasonable way. In an earlier Everyday Grammar program, we explored how politicians sometimes use deliberate sentence fragments for a rhetorical effect. Today, we explore another strategy politicians often use to present ideas: sentence cohesion. What is cohesion? The word cohesion suggests the action of making something whole. In writing, this means presenting sentences that are related to each other in a reasonable, or logical, way. When sentences are cohesive, they slowly build on an idea until it reaches a clear point. Consider this example. Imagine you are reading the following sentences. "I go to work early every day. Classic films are my favorite. English is a fun, if difficult, language to learn." This short paragraph is not cohesive. How do you know? The ideas are not connected to each other. The first sentence talks about a custom – something the writer or speaker is doing every day. The second is about a personal preference. The third expressed an opinion about the English language. The example is difficult to read because there is no logical continuation between ideas; instead, a different idea is raised in each sentence. Lack of cohesion can cause the reader or listener to stop paying attention. Politicians have to avoid this mistake at all costs. They may have to deal with different issues, but they cannot spend too much time on any subject because they might lose their audience. So, what does cohesion look like? We can look to the American election campaign for examples of sentence cohesion. The main candidates for president – Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton – have used cohesion to develop and present ideas. Consider these examples Here is Trump accepting the presidential nomination of the Republican Party. "Then there’s my mother, Mary. She was strong, but also warm and fair-minded. She was a truly great mother. She was also one of the most honest and charitable people that I have ever known, and a great, great judge of character. " And here is Hillary Clinton accepting the Democratic Party's nomination: "My mother, Dorothy, was abandoned by her parents as a young girl. She ended up on her own at 14, working as a house maid. She was saved by the kindness of others." Both candidates use cohesion to make their points. Consider Trump's statement. He speaks about his mother, Mary, and then uses the pronoun "she" when talking about her in later sentences. This is one example of cohesion: writing a topic sentence and then repeating the subject in every sentence of the paragraph. This makes it clear that you are receiving more information about the same subject. Clinton uses a similar idea in her statement. She said: “My mother, Dorothy, was abandoned by her parents as a young girl. She ended up on her own at 14, working as a house maid. She was saved by the kindness of others.” Here, Clinton uses a similar idea to begin her sentences. She introduces her mother, Dorothy, in the first sentence and then provides more information about her in the following sentences. The final sentence, "She was saved by the kindness of others." is especially important. Hillary Clinton could have said "The kindness of others saved my mother." Why did she say it the way she did? Using the passive voice enabled Clinton to use the pronoun "she" at the beginning of the sentence. This means that the sentences look and sound the same; they begin with "she." Both Clinton and Trump used a similar grammatical structure. The beginning of each sentence presents "known" information – the pronoun "she"   - and the end of each sentence presents new information. Grammar expert Martha Kolln had a name for this structure. She called it the "known-new" contract. In other words, English speakers generally present known information in the beginning of a sentence and new information at the end of a sentence. What is the rhetorical effect of this grammatical structure? Here is one possible answer: Both presidential candidates are able to show voters that they are more than just politicians. They are normal people, too. By giving personal information about their families, they hope to show that they can relate to voters. In other words, the candidates want to show that they share values – a great respect for family – that many voters like to see in political candidates. What can you do? So, how can you develop sentence cohesion? You can start by examining the structures from the speeches of Clinton and Trump. Try to describe your mother in your own words. But be sure to use the same structure that they did! My mother, ________, was ____________.  She ___________ . She ___________. I'm John Russell. And I'm Ashley Thompson.  John Russell wrote this story for VOA Learning English. George Grow was the editor. Write to us in the Comments section or on our Facebook page. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story concise – n. not including extra or unnecessary information deliberate sentence fragment – n. grammar an incomplete sentence usually consisting of a verb or noun phrase rhetorical – adj. of, relating to, or concerned with the art of speaking or writing formally and effectively especially as a way to persuade or influence people cohesion – n. a condition in which people or things are closely united audience – n. a group of people who gather together to listen to something (such as a concert) or watch something preference – n. a feeling of liking or wanting one person or thing more than another person or thing charitable – adj. showing kindness in talking about or judging other people character – n. the way someone thinks, feels, and behaves :someone's personality  abandon – v. to leave and never return to (someone who needs protection or help) maid – n.  a female servant topic – n. someone or something that people talk or write about  introduce – v. to make (someone) known to someone else by name passive – adj. grammar showing that the subject of a sentence is acted on or affected by the verb grammatical – adj. of or relating to grammar

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Democratic VP Candidate Was Lawyer, Mayor and Governor

Tim Kaine is the Democratic Party’s vice-presidential nominee. He represents the eastern state of Virginia in the United States Senate. Kaine is 58 years old. He is married and has three children. One is a U.S. Marine. When he was a young man, Kaine served as a Catholic religious worker in Honduras. He learned to speak the Spanish language there. He decided to enter public service after seeing poverty in Central America. Kaine graduated from Harvard Law School. He has served on local, state and national levels of government as a city councilman, mayor, lieutenant governor, governor and U.S. senator. He worked as a civil rights lawyer for 17 years. During that time, for six years, he also taught at a law school. Kaine has called himself “boring.” Experts say he was a safe choice to be Hillary Clinton’s running mate. He is well-liked and considered free of scandal. Many people think he is a centrist -- supporting political positions that are neither very liberal nor very conservative. However, his congressional voting record represents a mostly liberal thinking. Kaine says he has learned from difficult experiences. “These are tough times for many in our country, but we’re tough people, and that’s something else I learned from my folks -- tough times don’t last, but tough people do.” Kaine says one of his most difficult times as a public official was in 2007, when he was governor. A mass shooting took place at a university in Virginia. A mentally ill student killed 32 people and himself in the attack. Following the tragedy, Kaine worked to reform the state’s mental health system. He led the Democratic National Committee in 2008 and was considered as a possible vice president for Barack Obama. Kaine’s wife, Anne Holton, was a city judge and recently served as Virginia’s secretary of education. Her father is a former Republican governor of Virginia. Kaine and Holton attend religious services at a church in a low-income area of Richmond, the city he once led as mayor. The couple were married there and he has been a member for more than 30 years. Most of the people who attend are black. Kaine is one of the few white members. He sang in the church’s choir for 14 years. He also plays the piano and the harmonica. He carries harmonicas with him when he travels. I’m Alice Bryant. VOA Correspondent Arash Arabasadi reported this story from Washington. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted her report into VOA Special English. Caty Weaver 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 boring - adj. dull and uninteresting : causing boredom scandal - n. an occurrence in which people are shocked and upset because of behavior that is morally or legally wrong tough - adj. strong and not easily broken or damaged my folks - an espression meaning “my parents” choir - n. a group of singers especially in a church piano - n. a large musical instrument with a keyboard that you play by pressing black and white keys and that produces sound when small hammers inside the piano hit steel wires harmonica - n. a small musical instrument that is played with your mouth    

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November 3, 2016

A look at the best news photos from around the world.

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News Words: Constuction

Construction is an important industry. Learn what it is with Anne and Jonathan.

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New Computers from Microsoft and Apple

Last week the future of computers came more clearly into view. Microsoft and Apple announced new machines that demonstrate where computer technology is headed. Both big companies are trying to innovate with these computers, offering new features. These features may become usual in future machines. Or they may prove unpopular and soon be forgotten. The new Microsoft and Apple computers are very different from each other. But they appear to be on the same path. Both computers use touch technology in unique ways, both have new log-in methods, and both are very thin. They are also similar in that they are priced high. Microsoft Surface Studio Surface Studio is Microsoft’s first desktop computer. It combines elements of the Microsoft Surface tablet line with the features of a traditional computer. What Is Unique About The Surface Studio The Studio comes with a 28" touch screen monitor that moves on hinges from vertical to nearly horizontal. You can type using the included Bluetooth keyboard. Or, move the screen to horizontal Studio mode and use it as you would a piece of paper.​ The Studio comes with a stylus called the Surface Pen, so you can draw on the screen, take handwritten notes, and sign documents.   Logging into the Studio is easier with Windows Hello, that uses the camera to identify you.   The Studio is designed to work especially well for those in the creative fields. They can use its flat, horizontal surface to design, draw, and write. The screen can also turn to be used as a traditional monitor for those who want to type and use a mouse. Surface Studio pricing begins at just under $3,000. Dial Microsoft also announced last week an accessory called Dial. Rest the silver disc on the Studio Surface screen and turn it to choose colors, menu options and more.     Dial also works to rotate images on the screen and as a back button to return to an earlier version of a document. You can use Dial to control volume, to scroll, to zoom and to adjust the brightness of the screen.   MacBook Pro Apple introduced a new MacBook Pro last week. It is the first major update to this line of laptops in many years.   What Is Unique About the MacBook Pro Touch Bar The biggest innovation of the new MacBook Pro is the Touch Bar that replaces the keyboard’s function keys. The Touch Bar is a thin touch screen with function changes depending on what you are doing on the computer.   Software can be programmed to make the Touch Bar have menu options, slider controls, emoji icons and more. In Safari, you can use Touch Bar to access open tabs or to quickly visit Favorite bookmarks.   Touch Bar also brings Touch ID to the MacBook Pro. It lets users use their fingerprints to log into the computer, like the Touch ID on iPhones and iPads. Touch ID can also be used with Apple Pay on the computer to pay for items on websites. The app 1Password uses Touch Bar with Touch ID to let you use your fingerprint as a password for websites. Ports Port changes are major in the MacBook Pro. It has 4 USB-C Thunderbolt 3 ports that connect both device and power cords. This permits speedier data and power transfer, as fast as 40GB per second. But USB-C, a newer model, could require an adaptor to connect your devices. For example, the lightning cord that comes with iPhones and iPads needs an adaptor to plug into the new MacBook Pro. Gone is the MagSafe connector, a magnetic port that let the power cord disconnect easily from the computer. Instead, the power cord connects to any one of the four USB-C ports. The traditional headphone jack is the only other port on the MacBook Pro. This port is not found on iPhone 7 and 7 Plus. This means that Apple’s Apple lightning earbuds that come with those phones are incompatible with the new MacBook Pro. The MacBook Pro is available in two sizes, beginning at just under $1,500. The Touch Bar runs about $200 more.   I’m Bryan Lynn. And I’m Caty Weaver.   Carolyn Nicander Mohr wrote this report for VOA Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor.   Which new features of the Studio Surface and MacBook Pro do you like best? Are there any features that you wish they would have? Do you think these computers hold the keys to our computing future?   Share your thoughts in the Comments Section below or on our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   innovate - v. to do something in a new way : to have new ideas about how something can be done feature - n. an interesting or important part, quality, ability, etc. unique - adj. very special or unusual vertical - adj. positioned up and down rather than from side to side horizontal - adj. positioned from side to side rather than up and down :parallel to the ground stylus - n. a small tool that is used to write or touch buttons on a computer rotate - v. to move or turn in a circle version - n. a form of something (such as a product) that is different in some way from other forms function key - n. any one of a set of keys on a computer keyboard that have special uses port - n. a place where you can connect a piece of equipment (such as a printer or mouse) to a computer transfer - v.  to move (data, money, etc.) from one place to another electronically adaptor - n. a device that is used to connect two pieces of equipment that were not designed to be connected earbud - n. a small earphone that you insert into your ear incompatible - adj. not able to be used together​

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November 2, 2016

A look at the best news photos from around the world.

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