15 Tech Gift Ideas for 2015

  Not sure what gift to get your loved one? Think technology! Consider these fun and useful tech gift ideas. You do not have to be a high-tech expert to get excited about these gifts. You may even find something special for yourself! Note that all of the websites mentioned below offer international shipping. There may be additional shipping costs.   Mini Laptop Riser If your loved one uses a laptop, you can make their computer time more enjoyable with a Mini Laptop Riser. Lift the base of the laptop off the desk at an angle to make typing easier. You can bend the riser to the shape and height that works best for you. The riser is lightweight, so you can bring it with you when your away from your work station. The Mini Laptop Riser is available from Etsy for $10.95. The device comes in a number of colors. You can give one away and keep one for yourself! Cablox Cable Organizer If you have a problem with wires getting twisted or tied together, consider the Cablox Cable Organizer. These squares have a sticky side so you can connect them to almost any surface.   Put your cables through the pieces of plastic to prevent tangles.           Cablox Cable Organizers come in a set of 4 for $20 from Ippinka in black or white. Google Cardboard You can spend a lot of money getting a virtual reality viewer, and see life-like images. Or you can spend just a little money and get Google Cardboard. This viewer works with larger cell phones, letting you see the world in three dimensions with 360 degree views in all directions. Many apps work with Google Cardboard and many of these programs are free. You can watch videos, play games and see the world in an amazing virtual reality. Google Cardboard is available in many designs, beginning at $20, on the Google Cardboard page. You can also get one for under $2 on eBay. If you like homemade gifts, you can even make one yourself using the directions given by Google on its Cardboard page.   Levitating Construction Blocks Build a castle in the air with the Hoverkraft Levitating Construction Challenge. Part game, part toy, part educational tool, the challenge helps you understand the idea of balance while having fun. Organize your building blocks on a floating platform while keeping it balanced. The platform floats over a magnetic base. If the blocks become unbalanced, the surface will tilt to one side and the blocks fall.   This video shows how the Hoverkraft Levitating Construction Challenge works. This game is designed for one to eight players, ages 8 and up. The Hoverkraft Levitating Construction Challenge is available for $29.99 from ThinkGeek.   Mini Quadcopter Would you like to have a flying toy, but lack space to fly one? Consider a Mini Quadcopter that is small enough to fit inside your hand. This Mini Quadcopter can be controlled to fly in any direction with its remote control. You can set the controls for your skill level. This video shows the Mini Quadcopter in action: The Mini Quadcopter is available from Hammacher Schlemmer for $39.95.   Battery Cell Phone Charger The Easy ACC 20000mAh battery lets you add electricity to four different devices at once. This battery has four ports for charging and is powerful enough to charge tablet computers as well as telephones. You can charge this battery two times as fast with two cords for charging. You can fully charge the battery in six hours, according to the seller. You can also use this power supply to light a room with its flashlight. The Easy ACC battery is available from Amazon for $35.99.   Easy Twist Outlet Adapter The Easy-Twist Outlet Adapter can make the most of any outlet around the world. This adapter lets you plug in up to four USB devices.     It also has different plugs that twist into place so you can use it in 150 countries around the world. This video shows you how Easy-Twist Outlet Adapter works: The Easy-Twist Outlet Adapter is available from Ippinka for $45.   Tablet Paintbrush Using a finger on a tablet may not be good enough to make a true work of art. Be creative by using the Tablet Paintbrush. This paintbrush has actual bristles just like a real paintbrush. So you can create artwork in different styles using apps on your tablet. The other end of the paintbrush has a rubber tip that lets you write or draw. The Tablet Paintbrush works on mobile devices, such as an iPad, iPhone, Samsung tablets, Kindle Fire, Nexus, and more. Watch artists of all ages create using the iPad Paintbrush: The Tablet Paintbrush is available from Hammacher Schlemmer for $49.95.   Indoor Snowfall Light Get into the spirit of the holiday season in your home with the Indoor Snowfall Light.  The light shows snowflake shapes in your room to give you the feeling of a winter snowfall. You can control the speed of the snowfall, unlike the real weather. The Indoor Snowfall Light is available from Sharper Image for $59.99.   Selfie Toaster Does your sweetie like taking selfies and eating toast? Well, why not combine the two with the Selfie Toaster? The Selfie Toaster creates an image on the piece of toast so you can smile at yourself every morning. The Selfie Toaster is available from Hammacher Schlemmer for $69.95.   Sidewinding Circular Skates Who said you have to skate forward? Sidewinding Circular Skates let you move sideways, like a skateboard but with skates.             This video shows you how you can roll to the side using these skates: The Sidewinding Circular Skates are available from Hammacher Schlemmer for $99.95.   Amazon Echo Give the knowledge of the world with the Amazon Echo. The device can answer questions, tell you about weather conditions, tell jokes, play music and more. The Echo also acts as a Bluetooth speaker so you can connect your phone and listen to your favorite songs. The Echo is available from Amazon for $179.   Apple Watch If your loved one has an iPhone, consider the Apple Watch as a gift. This watch lets you send and receive phone calls and texts. You can also use apps to see the latest weather conditions, control your music, get directions on a map and much more. The Apple Watch is available from Apple for prices beginning at $349.   Arcade Mini Roadster Simulator Get a jump-start on teaching your children to drive with the Arcade Mini Roadster Simulator. A 48 cm video screen shows games while the car moves up and down, and side-to-side while the games are played. The car even moves as the game hits bumps. Your child can use the steering wheel and pedals just like a real car. There's even a jump button to avoid things in the road, unlike most real cars. On second thought, this may not be the best teacher for actual driving! The Arcade Mini Roadster is for children ages 4 through 12 and is available from Hammacher Schlemmer for $6,900. Solar Velomobile Finally, make your travels even more fun with the Solar Velomobile. This is powered both by the sun and your pedaling. You can travel at speeds up to 32 kmh on solar battery power and up to 48 kmh if you add pedal power. Leave it parked in the sun or plug it into a wall outlet to charge it. You can travel up to 72 km on a charge or 177 km if you pedal. You can carry up to 159 kg in the back of the vehicle. This video shows you the Solar Velomobile around town: The Solar Velomobile is available from Hammacher Schlemmer in white, green or orange for $9,900.   I’m Peter Musto.   Carolyn Nicander Mohr wrote this story for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. Which of these tech gifts would you like to give? Which ones would you like for yourself? Share your thoughts in the Comments section below or on our Facebook page! ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   tech – n. informal : technology— often used before another noun mini – adj. a very small version of something laptop – n. a small computer that is designed to be easily carried cable – n. a group of wires, glass fibers, etc., covered in plastic or rubber and used to carry electricity or electrical signals tangle – v. to become or cause (something) to become twisted together sticky – adj. having a substance (such as glue or honey) on it that things easily attach to : covered in a substance that things stick to viewer - n. a device that is used to look at photographs cardboard - n. a stiff and thick kind of paper that is used especially for making boxes virtual reality - n. an artificial world that consists of images and sounds created by a computer and that is affected by the actions of a person who is experiencing it levitate - v. to rise or make (something) rise into the air in a way that appears to be magical construction - n. the act or process of building something platform - n. a usually raised structure that has a flat surface where people or machines do work quadcopter - n. an unmanned helicopter having four rotors remote control -n. a small device that is used to operate electronic equipment (such as a television) from a distance by using electronic signals battery - n. a device that is placed inside a machine (such as a clock, toy, or car) to supply it with electricity outlet - n. a device in a wall into which an electric cord can be plugged in order to provide electricity for a lamp, television, etc. adapter - n. a device that is used to connect two pieces of equipment that were not designed to be connected bristle - n. a short, stiff hair, fiber, etc. indoor - adj. done, living, located, or used inside a building selfie - n. a photograph that one has taken of oneself, typically one taken with a smartphone or webcam and shared via social media toaster - n. an electrical device used for toasting bread skate – n. a kind of shoe with blades or wheels on the bottom that allow you to glide or roll on a surface solar- adj. of or relating to the sun pedal – n. a flat piece of metal, rubber, etc., that you push with your foot to make a machine move, work, or stop    

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How the U.S. Gives Thanks: Food, Football and Parades

  Here are some things Americans do on Thanksgiving: Eat a large meal. For 88 percent of Americans, the meal features turkey, according to a poll by the American Turkey Federation. Eat large amounts of bread seasoned with spices, called “stuffing.” It is often put into, or stuffed inside the turkey while it is cooking. Eat large amounts of mashed potatoes, green beans mixed with canned, or tinned soup, and pumpkin pie. Some will volunteer at soup kitchens. Some will offer up prayers. But for most Americans, it is all about the food. Thanksgiving is America’s second-favorite holiday, according to a 2015 Harris Poll. It is a quiet day of rest, relaxation, family, friends and, of course, food. Many Americans will watch football games and parades on television. A famous parade in New York City is broadcast across the nation. It features giant helium balloons that look like popular characters from movies and television shows. Meanwhile, many people will stay indoors and watch football, even while they eat. Many Americans are sedentary, meaning they are more still than active. But others are on the move. Many towns and running clubs have 5- or 10-kilometer races, called Turkey Trots. They run in the morning to offset the calories taken in later in the day. Many people will travel long distances on crowded highways, airplanes and trains. The American Automobile Association predicts that 46.9 million people will travel 50 or more miles, or 80 kilometers, this Thanksgiving. Chris Lewis is a professor who teaches American culture at the University of Colorado. He says travel “will be far from pleasant” on America’s biggest travel holiday. In the American West, snow/or heavy rain may slow air travel to Seattle, San Francisco and Salt Lake City. Lewis says once they arrive at their destination, holiday makers are likely to see at least one relative they dislike. The combination of difficult travel and difficult people can be very stressful, he said. Still, Lewis says, most Americans cannot imagine a year without Thanksgiving. One Thanksgiving, he could not get home. So, Lewis invited a friend to join him at a local buffet restaurant. Lewis says: “Even though we didn’t know the other people at the restaurant, it was nice to be together with people observing the same traditions.” Jerry Zolten is an American culture professor at Penn State University in Pennsylvania. He said this year’s Thanksgiving has extra meaning because of terrorism across the world. Zolten says: “Today in America, Thanksgiving has taken on a truly uplifting meaning. It has become a kind of good time spiritual event with a relaxed feel that celebrates what is best in people -- sharing, peace, harmony, friendship. Not taking for granted that there is food on the table, family, and relative prosperity.” Alicia Shephard has lived two years in Afghanistan working with news reporters. Thanksgiving is important to her, she said. And last year she was determined to find a turkey. She says:  “It’s not a holiday they (Afghans) celebrate, obviously. Somehow we found the sorriest turkeys I’ve ever seen. But we had fun. Thanksgiving is about being together and sharing what we are grateful for.” But some question the meaning of Thanksgiving. They see the holiday as being too commercial. The day after the holiday is called "Black Friday." Some stores open as early as 4 a.m. and offer big discounts for Christmas shopping. There is a debate about whether stores should open so early and if that is fair to employees. Besides being commercial, some question the origin of the holiday. Most Americans learn in school that Thanksgiving started in 1621. Immigrants and settlers from Britain -- called Pilgrims -- shared a meal with Native Americans, say many history books. But others suggest the story is hypocritical. They point to the thousands of Native Americans who were killed by the European settlers as they moved into the continent. Many Thanksgiving traditions are hard to understand for non-Americans. Zolten pointed to a Spanish man who said he learned about Thanksgiving by watching the television show, “Friends.”  All he knew was that Americans tend to stuff themselves with turkey, Zolten said. One of the stranger parts of the holiday is the annual White House ceremony when the president pardons two turkeys from becoming dinner. Last year, President Barack Obama said: "It is a little puzzling that I do this every year, but I will say that I enjoy it because with all the tough stuff that swirls around in this office it's nice once in a while just to say, 'Happy Thanksgiving.’” British author Toni Hargis wrote about her experience with Thanksgiving for the BBC: “You’ll probably encounter the famous green bean casserole, which is a questionable combination of green beans, canned mushroom soup and canned crispy fried onion rings. (I know).” The average American will consume 4,500 calories on Thanksgiving, according to the Calorie Control Council. That does not include leftovers, the food that is eaten later. The suggested daily amount for a man weighing 160 pounds is 2,300 calories, according to the Mayo Clinic. Among Americans, 35 percent are obese, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Diabetes affects 9.3 percent of Americans, while heart disease impacts 11.3 percent, according to the center. Other nations celebrate Thanksgiving, too. Among them: Japan, Canada, Liberia and the Netherlands city of Leiden. The holiday is usually tied to the end of the harvest season, when people can enjoy a good meal and rest. I'm Anne Ball.   Bruce Alpert reported on this story for VOANews.com. Kathleen Struck was the editor. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   seasoned – adj.  having a lot of spices, herbs, salt, pepper, etc., added soup kitchen – n. a place that gives food (such as soup and bread) to poor people helium – adj. a chemical element that is a colorless gas and is often used to fill balloons characters – n.  a person who appears in a story, book, play, movie, or television show sedentary – adj. doing or involving a lot of sitting calories – n. a unit of heat used to indicate the amount of energy that foods will produce in the human body crowded – adj.  filled with too many people or things destination – n. a place to which a person is going stressful – adj.  making you feel worried or anxious buffet – n. a meal for which different foods are placed on a table so that people can serve themselves uplifting – adj. causing happy and hopeful feelings relaxed – adj. not worried or tense commercial – adj. related to or used in the buying and selling of goods and services. harmony – n. a pleasing combination or arrangement of different things relative prosperity – n.  making a fairly decent amount of money grateful – adj.  feeling or showing thanks hypocritical – adj. acting in a way that is different than the believes you claim to have continent – n. one of the great divisions of land (such as North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, or Antarctica) of the Earth pardons – n. to officially say that someone who is guilty of a crime will be allowed to go free and will not be punished puzzling – adj. causing or likely to cause confusion : difficult to solve or understand encounter – v.  to have or experience obese – adj. very fat crispy – adj. pleasantly thin, dry, and easily broken We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or share your views on our Facebook page.

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What's Trending: Laquan McDonald, #OptOutside, and #OrangetheWorld

#LaquanMcDonald and #FreeMalcomLondon American Laquan McDonald was 17 years old when a police officer shot him to death. It happened last year in Chicago, Illinois. On Tuesday, the police officer, Jason Van Dyke, was charged with murder. Police released video of the incident just after the charges were announced. A reporter had requested the video be made public under the Freedom of Information Act. The video has no sound. It shows McDonald walking down the middle of the street. Van Dyke fires his gun. McDonald falls and the officer continues to fire. McDonald was shot 16 times. On YouTube, the video has more than 400,000 views. #LaquanMcDonald trended on Facebook and Twitter. Demonstrators gathered Tuesday in Chicago to protest the shooting. Five people were arrested during the protests. The video’s release also led to protests on social media. Malcom London, a 22-year-old poet and activist, was among those arrested in Tuesday night’s protests. A police report says London hit an officer. Protesters say the report is false. They started the hashtag #FreeMalcomLondon on Twitter. It trended most of Wednesday in the United States. Prosecutors dropped charges against London on Wednesday afternoon. Instead of #BlackFriday, many Americans are choosing to #OptOutside The U.S.-based outdoor gear store REI announced earlier this month it would be closed on the Friday after Thanksgiving. The day is the biggest shopping day of the year in America. It is known as “Black Friday.” REI urged its customers to go outside and enjoy nature, and not wait in long lines indoors to buy things. The announcement came as part of its hashtag #optoutside campaign on social media. ​#Optoutside caught on quickly. And many state and national parks joined REI’s efforts to urge Americans to explore the outdoors instead of stores. Many parks are even offering free admission on Black Friday. #OrangeTheWorld November 25 is International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. On Twitter, people marked the day with the hashgtag #orangetheworld. The hashtag comes from the United Nations’ Orange the World campaign. The color orange is meant to symbolize a bright future free from violence against women. From politicians to Hollywood actors, people joined the #orangetheworld conversation on Twitter. Over the next two weeks, cities around the world plan to turn major monuments orange. On Wednesday, people began tweeting pictures of orange monuments in their cities: I’m Ashley Thompson.   Ashley Thompson wrote this story for VOA Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor. What is trending in your country today? Let us know in the comments section or find us on Facebook. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story gear - n. supplies, tools, or clothes needed for a special purpose elimination - n. the act or process of removing something or someone

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November 25, 2015

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

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Land Shares Help Farmers in Central Africa Plant Peace

Three times a week, a group of smallholder farmers work together in a community field in Kirolirwe, a village in North Kivu province in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Recently, the group prepared the soil before planting potatoes. “Let’s go!” shouted the team leader. They encouraged each another to work harder. Nearly 200,000 displaced persons fled to camps in the Democratic Republic of the Congo because of violence in the east. Most people there say land disputes are one of the root causes of the area’s conflicts. So recently, large landowners have been asked to free up more of their land to individual farmers interested in cultivating crops. Is this a solution to the land problem? An organization called FOPAC is teaching this group better farming methods like sowing improved seeds in straight line furrows. It is also showing the farmers how to remove grass instead of burying it, and to use animal waste as fertilizer. Mumbere Makuke works for FOPAC as a farming adviser. He says the surrounding hills are owned by Olive Lembe, the wife of Joseph Kabila. Kabila is the president of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Much of the land once was cultivated. Mumbere Makuke says, the person Olive Lembe bought the property from last year stopped planting crops. Now, the land is mainly grassland. Lembe is now urging smallholders to grow crops on some of her land, which she has renamed Hope Farm. Many local people have trouble gaining use of the land. Ranchers bought much land in the area, often on dubious terms. Hope Farm requires farmers to make payments for use of the land, and payments have risen sharply in recent years. Mumbere Makuke says the usual rental payment in this area for one hectare is $200 for a season of four months. Many people rent smaller fields of about 400 square meters for $10 a season. FOPAC tries to avoid conflict with ranchers whose animals often eat farmers’ crops. He says “We decided to dig ditches around the fields to stop cattle from getting across.” Reporter Nick Long says the farmers he spoke with seemed happy with the new farming techniques. But there is little manure available for their own fields. Also, improved potato seeds cost $1,600 for the two tons needed to plant one hectare. That is a lot of money for many farmers. Josaphat Musansa is an agricultural researcher. He says many farmers are not wealthy enough to pay rent, let alone buy tons of improved seeds. He says those farmers can use land if they give a share of their harvest, often 20 percent, to the landowner or manager. But as improved techniques take hold, some landowners may not be satisfied with a 20 percent share of what is likely to be a poor harvest. Unless the government introduces policies to help smallholder farmers, they will have less and less land to use in this area. Smallholders risk becoming landless laborers as people with more money outbid them for access to land. I’m Mario Ritter. Nick Long reported this story from Goma in the DRC. Mario Ritter adapted it for VOA Learning English. George Grow was the editor. Now it is your turn. Please leave a comment or post on our Facebook page.  ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   trend – n. a direction of change; something that is popular concessions – n. rights to do business on property that belongs to the government or another company or person cultivate – v. to prepare and use for growing plants furrows – n. long narrow cuts in the ground for planting crops dubious – adj. questionable, unclear, suspicious manure – n. animal waste used as fertilizer rental – adj. of or relating to rent, payments given in exchange for being able to use something outbid –v. to offer to pay a higher price than another person for an object at an auction

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Who Eats the Most on Thanksgiving? These Americans

  Many Americans spend Thanksgiving with family and friends around a table of roast turkey, sweet potatoes and cranberry sauce. But for others, it's a competition. Across the United States, there are contests to see who can eat the most pumpkin pie. These events start in October and continue through Thanksgiving.   Elk Grove, California hosts the Giant Pumpkin Festival World Pumpkin Pie Eating Championship. Matthew Stonie won last year by eating 20 pounds, 13 ounces of pumpkin pie in 8 minutes. In other words, about 9 and a half kilograms. That was a “world record,” reported the International Federation of Competitive Eating in New York City (IFOCE). Stonie won $5,000. The IFOCE website praised Stonie’s “effortless speed” at the table: “Like a silent automobile in top gear careening past you on the highway. Like the boxer with lightning jabs. Like a speed skater in a very tight bodysuit, long limbs stretching further than the clock can tick. The great ones make it look easy.” Some of the pumpkin-pie eating contests dissolve into gluttony. An example is the IFOCE’s YouTube video: “Thanksgiving Invitational – Pumpkin Pie” eating contest:   ​ Others have a more light-hearted approach to pumpkin pie-eating contests. Students at the Duthie Center for Engineering in Louisville, Kentucky posted their pumpkin pie-eating contest on Facebook. It was a friendly social affair: http://ift.tt/1NPAzXA In Broomfield, Colorado, their Turkey Day celebration takes a more health-conscious approach. They hold a pumpkin pie-eating contest, but contestants just have to eat one piece of pie (or about one-sixth of a pie) as fast as possible. There’s a 5 kilometer and 10 kilometer “Turkey Day” race afterwards, for those who want to run off excess weight. And at Pumpkin Palooza -- a pumpkin pie-eating contest in Sparks, Nevada -- the organizers note on their website: “The winners are chosen by audience applause, so style, flair and humor count as much as anything.”    I’m Mary Gotschall.          Mary Gotschall wrote this story for Learning English. 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   turkey – n. a large American bird that is related to the chicken and that is hunted or raised by people for its meat  potatoes – n. a round root of a plant that has brown, yellow, or red skin and white or yellow flesh and that is eaten as a vegetable cranberry – adj. a small, dark red berry or the plant that produces it contests – n. an event in which people try to win by doing something better than others pounds – n. a unit of weight that is equal to 16 ounces or 0.4536 kilograms ounces – n.  a unit of weight equal to ¹/₁₆ pound (about 28 grams) careening – v.  to go forward quickly without control highway – n. a main road that connects cities, towns, etc. boxer – n. someone who participates in the sport of boxing skater – n. a person who skates on ice limb – n. a leg or arm dissolve – v. to end or disappear or cause (something) to end or disappear gluttony – n. the act or habit of eating or drinking too much kilometer – n.  a unit of length equal to 1,000 meters applause – n. a show of approval or appreciation at a play, speech, sporting event, etc., in which people strike their hands together over and over flair – n.  an unusual and appealing quality or style  

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Beware of Exploding Turkeys, Say Health Officials

  Ask the majority of Americans about the highlight of a traditional Thanksgiving dinner, and they think of oven-roasted turkey. But with the increased popularity in outdoor cooking, many Americans have moved out of the kitchen. And they are diving into huge pots of nearly boiling oil. Well, not the cooks, but their Thanksgiving turkeys. In recent years, some Thanksgiving dinners feature a turkey immersed in a fryer filled with hot cooking oil. Also called Cajun fried turkey, this type of cooking originated in the American south. Outdoor turkey frying started in Louisiana and Kentucky in the 1930s, according to Esquire magazine. Fried turkey at Thanksgiving started to become popular in the 1980s. This Cajun cooking rage spread into the north United States quickly. Newspapers in New York and Ohio printed Cajun fried turkey recipes. Celebrities like Martha Stewart and Emeril Lagasse made bird frying wildly popular. But, there is a problem. Each year, fire departments respond to more than 1,000 fires related to deep fryers on Thanksgiving Day. These fires cause more than $15 million in property damage, according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). For the past seven years, the state of Texas led the United States with the most grease- and cooking-related injuries during the Thanksgiving holiday. The insurance company State Farm says 38 Texans have been burned by turkey roasters. The state of Illinois reported 27 injured. Pennsylvania and Ohio tied for third with 23 injuries each. But it’s no joke. The most common injuries from turkey frying are severe burns caused by spilled or splattered oil. The NFPA suggests holiday chefs to set up the fryer far away from any building. Make sure the turkey is completely thawed before frying, they say. A partially-thawed turkey will cause the oil to splatter. Frozen turkeys are full of water, and as the saying goes, oil and water do not mix.   Safety officials also warned about moving the fried turkey to the serving table. Hot oil can splash or spill easily.    Two years ago, a turkey fryer fire brought 23 fireman to a Charlotte, North Carolina home to control a blaze. The same year, a home in Minnesota was damaged by a turkey cookout. I'm Anna Matteo. Jim Dresbach wrote this story for Learning English. Kathleen Struck was the editor. How do you prepare your holiday meals? We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or visit our Facebook page.  ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   oven – n. a piece of cooking equipment that is used for baking or roasting food turkey – n. a large American bird that is related to the chicken and that is hunted or raised by people for its meat  splatter – v. to cause a liquid to move or fall in large drops thaw – v. to stop being frozen or to cause something to stop being frozen   ​

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Prepositions of Time and Place

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Americans Warned of Travel Dangers

  The U.S. State Department issued a travel alert for Americans during the busiest travel week of the year. The State Department cautioned Americans about travel to foreign countries. This alert follows terrorist activities this month in France and Belgium. The Belgians warn of a possible terrorist attack at any time. The country is under high alert. The State Department warning comes after a month of deadly attacks in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. In the past year, multiple attacks have occurred in France, Nigeria, Denmark, Turkey and Mali. This alert was the first in nearly a year. The State Department said that “current information suggests that (Islamic State), al-Qaida, Boko Haram and other terrorist groups continue to plan terrorist attacks in multiple regions." It asked U.S. travelers to avoid crowded places. Those places include sporting events, theatres and open-air markets. U.S. citizens can also expect increased security and screening when leaving or re-entering the United States. Law enforcement is on high alert during this Thanksgiving holiday and shopping weekend. The Transportation Security Administration, or TSA, normally processes 2 million people a day. However, over this Thanksgiving weekend, the TSA will see a 40-percent increase in travelers. About 47 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more from home this Thanksgiving holiday. The majority of those travelers will be driving. I’m Kathleen Struck.   Jim Dresbach wrote this story for Learning English. Anne Ball was the editor. Are you traveling and worried about it? Leave a comment and post on our Facebook page.  ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   alert – n. the state of being ready for something you have been warned about  embassy – n. a group of people who work under an ambassador and represent their country in a foreign country website – n. a place on the World Wide Web that contains information about a person or organization

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VOA English Newscast: 1800 UTC November 24, 2015

  From Washington, this is VOA News.      I’m Frances Alonzo reporting. President Barack Obama says the U.S. and France stand "united to deliver justice to terrorists" after the recent Paris attacks claimed by the Islamic State. Speaking after talks with his French counterpart, Francois Hollande, at the White House, President Obama said IS "cannot be tolerated, must be destroyed and we must do it together". “Building on our recent intelligence agreement, the United States will continue to quickly share threat information with France. And in the wake of Paris and with the threats in Belgium, there’s also a growing recognition among European nations that they need to ramp up additional efforts to prevent the flow of foreign terrorist fighters.” President Hollande was at the White House Tuesday, a day after meeting with British Prime Minister David Cameron, who pledged France new assistance for its airstrikes against the Islamic State militants in Syria. An explosion hit a bus carrying members of Tunisia's presidential guard in the country's capital Tuesday, killing at least 11 people, according to the Interior Ministry. The blast occurred on the tree-lined avenue in the center of the capital of Tunis. The explosion came 10 days after authorities increased the security level in the capital and deployed security forces in unusually high numbers. The Islamic State's Egyptian branch claimed responsibility for a bombing that killed 7 people in a hotel in the North Sinai capital al-Arish on Tuesday, where judges overseeing a parliamentary election were staying. The statement by the Sinai Province group was circulated by its supporters on Twitter and the encrypted messaging system Telegram. A militant tried to drive a car bomb into the hotel before security forces opened fire on him, causing the car to explode, according to the military.   This is VOA News. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Newscast   deliver – v. to take something to a person or place counterpart – n. a person who has the same job as another person tolerated – v. to permit; to accept something wake – expression. as a result of; close behind ramp up – v. to increase or intensify pledged – v. promised according – adv. as stated by or in; depending on whether blast – n. explosion occurred – v. happened; took place avenue – n. a road or street authorities – n. officials branch – n. a local office of a company or organization; a major part of a government encrypted – adj. changing information from one form to another to hide its meaning   We want to hear from you. Write to us in the comments section. 

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#WWIII, New York Subway, and Turkey

#WWIII After news reports said Tuesday morning that Turkey had shot down a Russian war plane, Twitter users declared World War III was near. The hashtag #WWIII and #worldwar3 trended on the social media site. Russia said the plane was shot down by weapons on the ground. But Turkey said its jets shot down the Russian plane when it entered Turkish airspace. Turkish officials said the Russian plane ignored many warnings to leave. Ad Angers Subway Riders People riding New York City’s Subway near Times Square have been seeing large advertisements displaying Nazi symbols. ​They advertise the Amazon television show “Man in the High Castle.” The show tells an alternative history of World War II, in which the Nazis and the Japanese Empire win the war and occupy the United States. Its second season begins next week. On social media, some people expressed anger - and shock - that the city’s transportation officials would permit the ad campaign. ​By Tuesday afternoon, Amazon asked New York subway officials to remove the ads from the train and subway stations. Turkey … and turkey Another trending topic on Twitter in the United States was “Turkey.” Some tweets included discussion of the downed Russian plane, but many others simply included tips for making the perfect Thanksgiving turkey. I’m Ashley Thompson. What do you think about these social media trends? Please leave a comment or a post on our Facebook page.  _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   declare - v. to say or state (something) in an official or public way alternative - adj. different; offering a choice or option

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