You Can't Go Home Again. And Other 'Home' Expressions.

  Now, the VOA Learning English program Words and Their Stories. On this program we explore the origins and uses of common words and expressions in American English. Today we talk about a word that is a feeling as well as a place. That word is “home.” Long ago in the 1700s, “home” was used as a verb, meaning “to be guided to a destination.” So, when you home in on something you get closer to your target. For example, you could say, “Police are homing in on the suspects." That is also where we get homing pigeons -- pigeons that can find their way home after being released. But today, “home” is more often used as a noun. And it has a very emotional connection for American English speakers. You can remember the meaning of the word by the expression “home is where the heart is.” That expression means home is anywhere you feel love and comfort. It is a place where you belong, and often a place you consider your origin. You can also simply the carry of feeling of home with you -- that is, a feeling of love and loyalty to your family and places that are dear to you. In other words, “home” is not simply a building where you live -- that’s a house. There is a big difference between a house and a home. Writer Lord Byron expressed this thought in his long poem Don Juan. He enter'd in the house - his home no more, For without hearts there is no home; and felt The solitude of passing his own door Without a welcome Simply said, a house is not a home. Another writer, Thomas Wolfe, had a different idea about home. In 1940, his book “You Can’t Go Home Again” was published. This title has worked its way into the English language. We use it to mean that the ideas and feelings you had as a child often change when you are an adult. So, even if you return to the place where you grew up, time and distance have changed your perspective. You may not be able to re-create even your closest relationships. Rock-n-roll singer Jon Bon Jovi does not agree with this expression. In this song he and Jennifer Nettles sing “Who Says You Can’t Go Home.” What they mean is yes, they can go back to a childhood home and be perfectly happy. This is especially true if you've become successful and have made a lot of money. Some people find that returning to a childhood place brings only joy and delight. When these people return to their childhood homes, they may say "Home Sweet Home!" Of course, you can say this anywhere. A single woman living alone in her first apartment may come home after a tough day at work and sigh, “Ah, home sweet home!” If she loves her apartment she might also say: “There’s no place like home.” There’s no place like home is a famous line repeated over and over by the character of Dorothy in the classic American film “The Wizard of Oz.” She learns that she did not need to leave her home in order to find what she was seeking. Dorothy’s adventures ended right back in Kansas, where she was from. But what about those people who must stay away from their homes for a long time? They still want to feel connected to a place they can depend on. Hotels know this about travelers. Many advertise that they will be a home away from home. This expression describes a place where everything is familiar and comfortable. Friends can also give you a home away from home. When you visit them, they may say to you: “Make yourself at home!” This common expression means someone wants you to feel relaxed and welcome. However, let’s say you make yourself too at home. You eat everything in the refrigerator! Your friend then may say, “I’m happy to have you stay, but please don’t eat me out of house and home!”  Sometimes, when we travel for a long time -- especially if we are in a strange place -- we can begin to feel sad. We miss our friends, family and usual environment so much that we become homesick. Some people become so unsettled when they are away from home that they quit leaving the house altogether. They become homebodies. A homebody usually prefers to do things quietly around the house -- such as cook or knit or sit by the fire reading a book. For a homebody, going out night after night or visiting a busy city for a long period of time would be a nightmare. But you don’t have to be a homebody to relax and enjoy a peaceful moment -- no matter where you are. For example, let’s say you have been working on a stressful assignment for a year. Now, the work is almost done. You can say you are in the home stretch. This expression comes from horse racing. Horses in the home stretch are near the finish line. So, if you are in the home stretch of a very long project, you are almost finished. In fact, we are in the home stretch of this episode of Words and Their Stories. We are at the last paragraph. So, we bring us on home with another song about home. That is something musicians say when they are finishing a performance. I’m Anna Matteo.     Anna Matteo wrote this Words and Their Stories. Kelly Jean Kelly was the editor. The song at the end is Sheryl Crow singing “Home.” _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   comfort – n. contented well-being origin – n. the place, social situation or type of family that a person comes from solitude – n. a state or situation in which you are alone usually because you want to be perspective – n. a mental view or prospect; point of view delight – n. a high degree of gratification familiar – adj. being free and easy; marked by informality comfortable – adj. free from stress or tension relaxed – adj. being at rest or at ease; easy of manner; informal nightmare – n. something (as an experience, situation or object) having the monstrous character of a nightmare or producing a feeling of anxiety or terror

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English in a Minute: Dog Eat Dog

Dogs are popular pets in many countries. But, this expression sounds terrible! Find out what a "dog eat dog" world is like in this week's English in a Minute.

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Leaders, Activists Launch Campaigns to End Sexual Violence in South Sudan

  Many cases of rape are reported in the world’s newest country, South Sudan. Government forces, unidentified armed groups, and rebel fighters are suspected of these crimes. Yet not one individual has been arrested or sentenced to prison for rape this year. That information comes from the Voice of America (VOA) program South Sudan in Focus. South Sudan in Focus is a joint effort of VOA and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). On Wednesday, a top African Union (AU) official made an appeal to South Sudan’s government. Bineta Diop called on government officials to arrest and punish soldiers who sexually abused women during the three years of conflict in the country. She said punishing those responsible for sexual abuse against women will guarantee security and self-respect for South Sudanese women. Diop is the AU’s Special Envoy for Women, Peace and Security. She met this week with South Sudan’s Minister of Gender, Child and Social Welfare, women activists and others in the city of Juba. They talked about how women’s rights can be protected in South Sudan, despite ongoing fighting. Diop said the AU has launched a campaign aimed at reestablishing the dignity of women in South Sudan. The chairperson of the AU Commission, Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, is directing the campaign. She is a former wife of Jacob Zuma, South Africa's president. “It’s time for us to silence the guns in South Sudan,” Dlamini Zuma said. “It’s time for us to restore peace in this country,” but especially to bring back “the dignity of women in South Sudan.” 16-day campaign against sexual violence Bineta Diop called on national, state, and local officials across South Sudan to enforce the law and arrest and punish criminals who violate women’s rights.She said that the African Union stands firmly with South Sudanese women who launched 16 days of activism against sexual violence. She said the AU wants women to have a say in finding solutions to the country’s widespread problem of sexual abuse. In Imatong state, women’s rights activists have been using the 16-day program to talk directly to men about sexual violence. They are also campaigning for more women to be appointed to local and state government positions. They say women serving in these positions can influence decisions and policies. The activists say the reason rapists are not punished is because men control decision-making positions. And, the men do not arrest other men for crimes like rape.   High-ranking women seen as key Imatong state lawmaker and activist Angela Achiro said women must hold office at all levels of government. “For instance, at the county level, we would like to see a female commissioner. In Imotong state, we have 12 counties, but no woman is appointed county commissioner," she said.  Achiro said women employed in the military or police are only offered jobs as office cleaners, tea makers and messengers, while uneducated men are given higher positions. Achiro also said if a woman headed the army, she would enforce the law and prevent government soldiers and rebel forces from raping women. Davidika Ikai heads an organization called Itwak. She said having women in high local and state positions will help ensure that girls are registered in school and stay there. She believes that educating girls is the only thing that will end sexual violence in South Sudan. ‘A lot more needs to be done’ Mary Cummins heads the office of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan, or UNMISS. She said dealing with the problem of sexual violence will be a long and difficult process. "A lot more needs to be done,” Cummins said. It is very hard work for women to succeed in a male-controlled society, she added. There have been an average of 30 rape cases per month this year, and those are only the ones that are reported. Many South Sudanese women do not report a sex attack because they do not want to be rejected by their communities. Jacob Atari, Imatong state Education, Gender and Social Welfare Minister, said there is a need to get many organized forces involved, “especially soldiers and some men, so that we can talk about these things…to the people who are violating it.” I’m Bryan Lynn. And Alice Bryant.   Titio Justin, Carol van Dam and Dimo Silva reported on this story for VOANews.com. Alice Bryant adapted their reports for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   gender - n. the state of being male or female welfare - n. the state of being happy, healthy, or successful dignity - n. the quality of being worthy of honor or respect

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Petrified Forest National Park: Ancient and Spectacular

This week on our national parks journey, we travel to the southwestern state of Arizona. There, we find a strange and colorful landscape. Yellow, red, and even purple rocks and sand cover the hilly earth. Huge pieces of ancient trees twist in unusual ways. The area is the only national park that includes a part of the historic U.S. Route 66. Welcome to the Petrified Forest National Park! The word “forest” may mislead visitors. The park is in a desert.  And the word “petrified” -- which can mean “afraid”-- may scare visitors away! But fear not. “Petrified Forest” gets its name from the trees that have, over millions of years, turned to stone. That natural process is called fossilization. Much of the Petrified Forest formed from tall trees called conifers. They grew over 200 million years ago near waterways. During floods, water forced the trees to be pulled up from the ground. Over time, the wood from the trees became petrified.   The Petrified Forest National Park is one of the wonders of Arizona. It sits within the Painted Desert. A Spanish explorer in the 1500s gave the place its name. It is easy to see why.   The desert looks like an artist’s canvas. Brilliantly colored mudstones and clays cover the land as far as the eye can see. They contain bentonite, a clay that is the product of changed volcanic ash. The oldest geological formations in the park are about 227 million years old. Differently colored formations show different time periods. The Blue Mesa formations, for example, have thick bands of grey, purple, blue and green mudstones. They are about 220 million years old. Ancient history Evidence of humans in the Petrified Forest dates back 13,000 years. People first came here after the last Ice Age. Early Paleoindian groups used the petrified wood to create different kinds of stone tools. They used them to hunt large animals. The climate warmed over several thousand years. Humans began building villages here and growing food, such as corn, squash and beans. In the 900s, people in the area began building above-ground houses, called pueblos. They also made pottery for cooking and other uses. Scientists today find evidence of early pottery and pueblo homes all over Petrified Forest National Park. A long and severe drought in the early 1400s forced most of the people living here to move. But new groups soon arrived.  European explorers came in the 1500s. By the 1800s, American pioneers began settling in the area. And, by the 1920s, American motorists were traveling on U.S. Route 66. The road winds through the heart of the Painted Desert.  Long before humans entered the area, though, dinosaurs dominated. Petrified Forest National Park is a world-class area for fossil research. The fossil record at the park preserves some of the earliest dinosaurs. The dinosaur fossils are from the Late Triassic period, called the “dawn of the dinosaurs.”  They help scientists reconstruct ancient environments. Creating a National Park The land here was set aside as a national monument in 1906. Congress moved to protect it because of its unique ecosystem, record of human history and dramatic southwestern scenery. It became a national park in 1962. More than 800,000 people visit the Petrified Forest National Park each year. The best way to explore the park is by foot. The National Park Service maintains many kilometers of walking trails. The Crystal Forest trail is a one-kilometer path. It is named for the crystals that can be seen on the pieces of petrified wood. ​ The trail is one of the best chances to see this fossilized wood up close. The Petrified Forest includes many shapes and sizes of wood, from large logs to stumps to the smallest remains of plants. Most of the petrified wood found in the park is made up of quartz. Quartz is a hard, colorless mineral. The wood sometimes shines in the sunlight as if covered by glitter. The Painted Desert Rim trail offers visitors a good chance to see the park's wildlife. Lizards and rabbits are common. So are snakes and foxes. Early morning or evening are the best times to see animals. These are also the times when the sun makes the Painted Desert the most colorful and spectacular. But whenever you choose to visit, the Petrified Forest and Painted Desert will awaken your senses and your curiosity about this ancient place.  I'm Caty Weaver.  And I'm Ashley Thompson.    Ashley Thompson wrote this report with materials from the National Park Service. Caty Weaver was the editor.  ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   fossil - n. something (such as a leaf, skeleton, or footprint) that is from a plant or animal which lived in ancient times and that you can see in some rocks fossilization - n. the process of becoming a fossil  petrified - adj. used to describe something (such as wood) that has slowly changed into stone or a substance like stone over a very long period of time​ geological - adj. related to the rocks, land, processes of land formation, etc., of a particular area​  dominate - v. to be most common​ dramatic - adj. attracting attention : causing people to carefully listen, look, etc. scenery - n. a view of natural features (such as mountains, hills, valleys, etc.) that is pleasing to look at​ glitter - n. light that shines in small, bright points​

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Watch the White House Come to Life in New App

  Most people will never get a chance to go inside the White House, the famous home of the president of the United States. But new application software can bring the White House to life for anyone with a telephone equipped for computer programs. To experience this famous building, you just need your smartphone and an American one dollar bill.  The new app is called 1600, which makes one think of the real street address of the White House, 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, in Washington, D.C. The 1600 app uses augmented reality in the same way as the virtual reality game Pokemon Go. The app creates a small version of the White House on your smartphone. After downloading it, just point the camera on the phone at a dollar bill to start the experience. The dollar then transforms into a three dimensional (3D) model of the White House before your eyes. It creates images having length, width and height. When the smartphone is moved around, the images of the building also change. U.S. President Barack Obama’s Press Secretary, Josh Earnest, provides commentary as part of the app. He provides historical information about the White House, talks about how the building is used today and describes some events held there. The app shows some of the changes on the White House grounds throughout the year. You can watch the Easter Egg Roll in springtime and see a state arrival ceremony for a foreign leader. There is even a hidden surprise to catch if you touch on the president’s Oval Office. “We hope you enjoy and share this new way of taking a peek inside the White House,” Earnest said on WhiteHouse.gov. The new app is the latest way the Obama administration has used technology as an educational tool. This time it gives people all over the world the chance to virtually visit the “People’s House.” First Lady Michelle Obama has said the White House is also called the “People’s House” because it is a place where all people should feel welcome. I’m Bryan Lynn.   Bryan Lynn wrote this story for VOA Learning English. George Grow was the editor. Try this app out and let us know what you think! Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   application – n. a computer program that performs a special action, especially on a smartphone virtual – adj. very close to being something without actually being it augmented reality – n. technology that projects virtual objects in a real world environment that can be viewed through a device transform – n. to change completely from one thing into another peek – n. a brief look address – n. a place where a person or organization may be communicated with; directions for how to find someone or something  

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December 9, 2016

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

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Will Robots Replace Humans in Food Industry?

Would your pizza have a different taste if it were prepared by a robot? That is the question people are asking as some American businesses test food-preparation robots. A start-up company in California, called Zume, is testing machines that make pizza. The robot takes and shapes dough to create the base of the pizza. It then adds tomato sauce, cheese, meat or other toppings. Next, the robot places the uncooked pizza into a hot oven. A few minutes later, the pizza is ready. The pizza comes out the same each time. Zume says the robots work quickly and do not get sick. The robots do not get paid either. Julia Collins is the company’s founder and chief executive officer (CEO). Her business can spend money on better food products because it does not have to pay the robots. “We spend less money on repetitive labor,” she says. The important question for the company’s success is: How does the pizza taste? Charity Suzuki has bought the robot-made pizza. She likes its taste. “It's delicious. It's always hot and fresh when it comes. I mean it's great that they're making it, but I can't tell the difference that it's made by a robot versus a human." Zume said it is also testing another idea: a truck equipped with over 50 ovens. The truck will arrive at your home just as the pizza comes out of the hot oven. That makes for a fresher, hotter pizza than usual. Other food preparation businesses are experimenting with robots. A company called Bistrobot uses robots to make sandwiches. Its first machine is in a small store just south of San Francisco. Right now, the machine only makes sandwiches with ingredients like peanut butter, jelly, Nutella and a spicy chili sauce. Each sandwich costs just $2. Bistrobot’s founder and CEO, Jay Repperts said the robot works faster and costs less than restaurant workers. It is also fun to watch. “It's just this really fun experience to share with people," he said. The companies say they are developing robots so people can get higher quality food faster. But what about the jobs the robots are taking from humans? Ken Goldberg is a professor at the University of California in Berkeley. He also directs the school’s automation laboratory. Goldberg said researchers have been working with robots for 50 years. He said that, while there has been progress, the jobs are not going to disappear right away. “I want to reassure restaurant workers that the skills that they have are still going to be of value," Goldberg said. Alex Garden is the chairman of Zume. He thinks there will be more interesting work for humans to do when the robots start performing some of the smaller jobs. “We're going to eliminate boring, repetitive, dangerous jobs and we're going to free up people to do things that are higher value. There's going to be amazing new ways of working that don't exist yet that are going to be created." I’m Dan Friedell. Faiza Elmasry wrote this story for VOANews.com Dan Friedell adapted her report for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. Will you order pizza from a robot someday soon? We want to know. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   start-up – n. a new business ingredient – n. something that is part of any combination or mixture automation – n. the practice of using machines, computers, etc., instead of people to do work boring – adj. dull and uninteresting

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'A White Heron,' by Sarah Orne Jewett

The forest was full of shadows as a little girl hurried through it one summer evening in June. It was already 8 o'clock and Sylvie wondered if her grandmother would be angry with her for being so late. Every evening Sylvie left her grandmother's house at 5:30 to bring their cow home. The old animal spent her days out in the open country eating sweet grass. It was Sylvie's job to bring her home to be milked. When the cow heard Sylvie's voice calling her, she would hide among the bushes. This evening it had taken Sylvie longer than usual to find her cow. The child hurried the cow through the dark forest, following a narrow path that led to her grandmother's home. The cow stopped at a small stream to drink. As Sylvie waited, she put her bare feet in the cold, fresh water of the stream. She had never before been alone in the forest as late as this. The air was soft and sweet. Sylvie felt as if she were a part of the gray shadows and the silver leaves that moved in the evening breeze. She began thinking how it was only a year ago that she came to her grandmother's farm. Before that, she had lived with her mother and father in a dirty, crowded factory town. One day, Sylvie's grandmother had visited them and had chosen Sylvie from all her brothers and sisters to be the one to help her on her farm in Vermont. The cow finished drinking, and as the 9-year-old child hurried through the forest to the home she loved, she thought again about the noisy town where her parents still lived. Suddenly the air was cut by a sharp whistle not far away. Sylvie knew it wasn't a friendly bird's whistle. It was the determined whistle of a person. She forgot the cow and hid in some bushes. But she was too late. "Hello, little girl," a young man called out cheerfully. "How far is it to the main road?"  Sylvie was trembling as she whispered "two miles." She came out of the bushes and looked up into the face of a tall young man carrying a gun. The stranger began walking with Sylvie as she followed her cow through the forest. "I've been hunting for birds," he explained, "but I've lost my way. Do you think I can spend the night at your house?" Sylvie didn't answer. She was glad they were almost home. She could see her grandmother standing near the door of the farm house. When they reached her, the stranger put down his gun and explained his problem to Sylvie's smiling grandmother. "Of course you can stay with us," she said. "We don't have much, but you're welcome to share what we have. Now Sylvie, get a plate for the gentleman!" After eating, they all sat outside. The young man explained he was a scientist, who collected birds. "Do you put them in a cage?" Sylvie asked. "No," he answered slowly,  "I shoot them and stuff them with special chemicals to preserve them. I have over 100 different kinds of birds from all over the United States in my study at home." "Sylvie knows a lot about birds, too," her grandmother said proudly. "She knows the forest so well, the wild animals come and eat bread right out of her hands." "So Sylvie knows all about birds. Maybe she can help me then," the young man said. "I saw a white heron not far from here two days ago. I've been looking for it ever since. It's a very rare bird, the little white heron. Have you seen it, too?" he asked Sylvie.  But Sylvie was silent. "You would know it if you saw it," he added. "It's a tall, strange bird with soft white feathers and long thin legs. It probably has its nest at the top of a tall tree." Sylvie's heart began to beat fast. She knew that strange white bird! She had seen it on the other side of the forest. The young man was staring at Sylvie. "I would give $10 to the person who showed me where the white heron is." That night Sylvie's dreams were full of all the wonderful things she and her grandmother could buy for ten dollars. Sylvie spent the next day in the forest with the young man. He told her a lot about the birds they saw. Sylvie would have had a much better time if the young man had left his gun at home. She could not understand why he killed the birds he seemed to like so much. She felt her heart tremble every time he shot an unsuspecting bird as it was singing in the trees. But Sylvie watched the young man with eyes full of admiration. She had never seen anyone so handsome and charming. A strange excitement filled her heart, a new feeling the little girl did not recognize … love. At last evening came. They drove the cow home together. Long after the moon came out and the young man had fallen asleep Sylvie was still awake. She had a plan that would get the $10 for her grandmother and make the young man happy. When it was almost time for the sun to rise, she quietly left her house and hurried through the forest. She finally reached a huge pine tree, so tall it could be seen for many miles around. Her plan was to climb to the top of the pine tree. She could see the whole forest from there. She was sure she would be able to see where the white heron had hidden its nest. Sylvie's bare feet and tiny fingers grabbed the tree's rough trunk. Sharp dry branches scratched at her like cat's claws. The pine tree's sticky sap made her fingers feel stiff and clumsy as she climbed higher and higher. The pine tree seemed to grow taller, the higher that Sylvie climbed. The sky began to brighten in the east. Sylvie's face was like a pale star when, at last, she reached the tree's highest branch. The golden sun's rays hit the green forest. Two hawks flew together in slow-moving circles far below Sylvie. Sylvie felt as if she could go flying among the clouds, too. To the west she could see other farms and forests. Suddenly Sylvie's dark gray eyes caught a flash of white that grew larger and larger. A bird with broad white wings and a long slender neck flew past Sylvie and landed on a pine branch below her. The white heron smoothed its feathers and called to its mate, sitting on their nest in a nearby tree. Then it lifted its wings and flew away. Sylvie gave a long sigh. She knew the wild bird's secret now. Slowly she began her dangerous trip down the ancient pine tree. She did not dare to look down and tried to forget that her fingers hurt and her feet were bleeding. All she wanted to think about was what the stranger would say to her when she told him where to find the heron's nest. As Sylvie climbed slowly down the pine tree, the stranger was waking up back at the farm. He was smiling because he was sure from the way the shy little girl had looked at him that she had seen the white heron. About an hour later Sylvie appeared. Both her grandmother and the young man stood up as she came into the kitchen. The splendid moment to speak about her secret had come. But Sylvie was silent. Her grandmother was angry with her. Where had she been? The young man's kind eyes looked deeply into Sylvie's own dark gray ones. He could give Sylvie and her grandmother $10 dollars. He had promised to do this, and they needed the money. Besides, Sylvie wanted to make him happy. But Sylvie was silent. She remembered how the white heron came flying through the golden air and how they watched the sun rise together from the top of the world. Sylvie could not speak. She could not tell the heron's secret and give its life away. The young man went away disappointed later that day. Sylvie was sad. She wanted to be his friend. He never returned. But many nights Sylvie heard the sound of his whistle as she came home with her grandmother's cow. Were the birds better friends than their hunter might have been? Who can know? You have been listening to the story called "A White Heron" by Sarah Orne Jewett. Dona de Sanctis wrote this version for VOA Learning English. Your narrator was Kay Gallant.   Now it’s your turn. Imagine you are Sylvie​. Would you do the same thing she did - keep silent about the heron? If not, what could you say to the young man to make him stop killing birds?​ Let us know in the Comments section or on our Facebook page. _________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   whistle - n. a high and loud sound made by forcing air through your lips or teeth preserve - v. to keep (something) in its original state or in good condition heron -  n. a large bird that has long legs and a long neck and bill nest - n. the place where a bird lays its eggs and takes care of its young handsome - having a pleasing appearance that causes romantic feelings in someone

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English @ the Movies: 'I am Dead Meat'

Today's English at the Movies saying is "I am dead meat." Do you know what it means? It is from a funny movie called “Storks.” This story is about a girl and a stork delivering a baby. Watch our video and test your knowledge. Did you get it right?!

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John Glenn, First American to Orbit Earth, Dies at 95

Astronaut John Glenn, the first American to orbit the earth, has died. Glenn was 95. He was admitted to the James Cancer Hospital at Ohio State University more than a week ago. John Glenn was the last surviving member of a group known as "the Mercury Seven," test pilots who, in 1959, were chosen to become America’s first astronauts. President Barack Obama released a statement about Glenn's death. "Our nation has lost an icon and Michelle and I have lost a friend," he said.​  He praised Glenn for a lifetime of breaking barriers, including setting a transcontinental speed record and becoming the oldest man ever to go into space.​ Pilot and Astronaut He served as a military pilot in World War II and the Korean conflict. Then, he served as a test pilot on military airplanes. On February 20, 1962, Glenn became the first American to orbit the Earth. He flew a spacecraft named the Friendship 7. He orbited three times during the almost five-hour flight. Much later, in 1998, he also became the oldest man to fly in space. He served as a crew member on the space shuttle Discovery. The United States space agency, NASA, wanted to study the possible effects of space travel on old people. NASA said that Glenn was perfect for the job because they already had so much information about him. U.S. Senator Glenn was not only an astronaut. He was a politician, too. Glenn was a member of the Democratic Party. He first sought political office in 1964, to represent Ohio in the U.S. Senate. He withdrew from the race after an injury, however. He ran again six years later but did not win the party’s nomination. Finally, in 1974, on his third attempt, Ohio elected John Glenn to the U.S. Senate. During the race, Glenn famously defended attacks by his political opponent, Howard Metzenbaum. Metzenbaum, a wealthy businessman, suggested that Glenn’s service in the military and NASA meant he had never had a job.   Glenn's answer became one of the most famous retorts in American political history. It is called the “Gold Star Mothers” speech. A gold star mother is a mother whose child has died in active U.S. military service. Glenn told Metzenbaum, "You go with me to any gold star mother and you look her in the eye and tell her that her son did not hold a job." Many experts say that speech helped Glenn win the election. The astronaut remained a member of the U.S. Senate until 1999. Public Service and Awards After leaving the Senate, Glenn helped to create a public service school at Ohio State University. Later, this school became the John Glenn College of Public Affairs. Glenn won many awards, including honorary degrees at several universities, the Woodrow Wilson Award for Public Service, a U.S. senate public service award, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom. I’m Caty Weaver. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section. Marissa Melton wrote this story for VOA News. John Russell adapted it for Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor. ___________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story icon – n. a person who is very successful and admired transcontinental – adj. going across a continent retort – n. a quick and often angry reply  

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Trump Tower: White House North

Donald Trump's presidential transition team's headquarters are at Trump Tower in New York City. It is having an effect on 5th Avenue.

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