Thursday, June 23, 2011
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Text for Qatar Wins World Cup feature, April 5th program
Gaston: Ah, my dear friend Axel, did you see that FIFA has awarded the 2022 World Cup to Qatar? Axel: Yes, yes, I read the news this morning on my favorite website, Bundeslige Blog. Gaston: It is quite a surprise, oui, that zee soccer showpiece will be held in the Middle East—it will feel like a sauna, yes? Axel: I believe that football’s governing body wants to test the waters, and see what is possible. Look at some of FIFA’s choices in recent years. Gaston: Ah, you are right, masseur, -- we French hosted zee World Cup in 1998. Axel: Und Deutschland had the most wunderbar World Cup just four years ago. Gaston: That is your perception, Axel—that Germany was the best. We French think that our tournament was magnifique! Axel: Well, notwithstanding your opinion, FIFA has ventured into uncharted territory for very special reasons. Consider that Brazil will host the next World Cup, then Russia . . Gaston: And then Qatar! Plus, South Africa just hosted last year’s event! Aha! FIFA has chosen these locations for a reason, yes? Axel: Ja! The locations have been decided upon irrespective of their football history. FIFA’s goal is to take the game to places it’s never been. Gaston: Zee governing board of FIFA pledged to reach out globally, and expand their market and influence. Axel: Und they have done this. Qatar will be the fourth straight World Cup not staged in Europe. This has never happened before. I am not pleased. Gaston: Ah, Axel, what will we do? Europe is zee center of the universe for soccer. Axel: I think we will be doing much traveling in the next twelve years to see our teams play in the World Cup. Gaston: Merci, my friend; that may be your choice. But I prefer to sit in a café, here in Paris, and watch zee games on television. Viva, la France! Axel: You can stay here and eat your croissant, Gaston. I will be a real man, and support my team wherever they go! Onward, Deutschland!
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Monday, November 22, 2010
Cellphones on Campus
The third piece in NEWSWORTHY CLIPS this month is titled “Cell phones on campus make cutting the umbilical cord difficult”. Now, that’s a mouthful of a title, but it says a lot about the current situation with university students and their cell phones. Today’s students need to grow up, and not rely on their parents so much. Being away at college is the beginning of growing into an adult, and that means making tough decisions on your own sometimes, and dealing with challenging situations with your own mental and emotional resources. Calling mom and dad every time something doesn’t go your way just shows that you're not ready, and it slows down the growth process—in other words, it delays finding out who you really are. Cell phones, or the overuse of cell phones is probably the number one pet peeve for me. I think they should all be thrown into the river. We’ve become slaves to cell phones, and the cell phone companies are quite happy about that. Don’t be a slave to your cell phone, be something special, and interact with those people around you. Look at people around you, talk to people around you, on the bus, while you walk to work, waiting for the subway. Look at people, actually say hello, speak to them, offer to help them. Don’t ignore the angels that are around you everyday. Don’t just spend you life constantly distracted and dominated by this little hand machine. Don’t just spend your life typing meaningless text messages, and making unnecessary phone calls. When it comes to cell phones, we all need to grow up, and give it up.
Friday, April 16, 2010
Angkor Wat 1 text
Okay, here I am in Cambodia at Angkor Wat, and it’s great to see the temple here. There’s many temples here in this part of Cambodia, around Siem Rap.
It’s also important that we study the history of these places before we come here—just to understand things, to understand recent history of Cambodia, as far as some of the political issues that they’ve had, some of the fighting. Also the ancient history.
This was built 1137 to 1150 (*Correction: It was built 1113 to 1150, a total of 37 years. Sorry for the mistake!), and a lot of the western world thinks that this was quote “discovered” maybe by some Europeans, by the French a few centuries ago or something. It really wasn’t “discovered”—the locals knew it was here the whole time—they just didn’t share it with everybody.
So, it’s very important to study the history of these countries before we go visit them. Also understand the rich history of this part of the world. This, uh, the kingdoms here in Cambodia were very powerful for many centuries about a thousand years ago.
So, enjoy—she’s enjoying.
See you next time!
It’s also important that we study the history of these places before we come here—just to understand things, to understand recent history of Cambodia, as far as some of the political issues that they’ve had, some of the fighting. Also the ancient history.
This was built 1137 to 1150 (*Correction: It was built 1113 to 1150, a total of 37 years. Sorry for the mistake!), and a lot of the western world thinks that this was quote “discovered” maybe by some Europeans, by the French a few centuries ago or something. It really wasn’t “discovered”—the locals knew it was here the whole time—they just didn’t share it with everybody.
So, it’s very important to study the history of these countries before we go visit them. Also understand the rich history of this part of the world. This, uh, the kingdoms here in Cambodia were very powerful for many centuries about a thousand years ago.
So, enjoy—she’s enjoying.
See you next time!
Friday, March 19, 2010
Should I Have Children?
Here I am at Casa Della Pasta, which um, Gabriel—Super Sentence Man, told me is Casa Della Pasta. I have been mispronouncing this place for about four years.
Anyways, it’s my third time this week, which is kind of low. Normally I’m about four or five times during a week. Same, same dish everyday.
But I didn’t know what I was going to say on today’s blog. Actually, when you don’t know what to say, sometimes the best thing to do is just shut up and ask questions, which, um, I decided to do today.
I’ve got two wonderful people I’m having lunch with. Lois Fisk over here, and um, just asking Lois questions about having children. Whether I should have children.
So, I don’t have any children—I’m wondering if I should have children. So, but Lois has been very helpful. Helping me understand where having children fits in with life. So, and in fact the other person I’ve been lucky enough to ask for his input is my number one eagle, Steve.
Okay, Steve, what about having kids?
Steve: Oh wow, that’s a big topic. If you’re married, then you think about it. And you talk about it with your husband or your wife.
Bill: What about money?
Steve: Don’t worry about money. Yeah, the children are important.
Bill: Yeah, because everybody thinks “Oh, I can’t afford kids, they’re too expensive.”
Steve: Yeah, that bothers me when I hear that.
Bill: Okay. It kinda gets in the way. Yeah, okay. What about you, Lois? Money ever an issue?
Lois: Um, I don’t think we ever thought about how much money we needed to have before we start having children, no, no. ‘Cause then you’ll never have enough.
Bill: Alright, see—I really don’t have to think of anything great to say. My friends can come up with good topics to talk about.
Sometimes the best thing for me to do is just shut up and listen.
See you next time.
Anyways, it’s my third time this week, which is kind of low. Normally I’m about four or five times during a week. Same, same dish everyday.
But I didn’t know what I was going to say on today’s blog. Actually, when you don’t know what to say, sometimes the best thing to do is just shut up and ask questions, which, um, I decided to do today.
I’ve got two wonderful people I’m having lunch with. Lois Fisk over here, and um, just asking Lois questions about having children. Whether I should have children.
So, I don’t have any children—I’m wondering if I should have children. So, but Lois has been very helpful. Helping me understand where having children fits in with life. So, and in fact the other person I’ve been lucky enough to ask for his input is my number one eagle, Steve.
Okay, Steve, what about having kids?
Steve: Oh wow, that’s a big topic. If you’re married, then you think about it. And you talk about it with your husband or your wife.
Bill: What about money?
Steve: Don’t worry about money. Yeah, the children are important.
Bill: Yeah, because everybody thinks “Oh, I can’t afford kids, they’re too expensive.”
Steve: Yeah, that bothers me when I hear that.
Bill: Okay. It kinda gets in the way. Yeah, okay. What about you, Lois? Money ever an issue?
Lois: Um, I don’t think we ever thought about how much money we needed to have before we start having children, no, no. ‘Cause then you’ll never have enough.
Bill: Alright, see—I really don’t have to think of anything great to say. My friends can come up with good topics to talk about.
Sometimes the best thing for me to do is just shut up and listen.
See you next time.
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Chinese New Year 2010 (text)
Bill: Okay, here at Casa Della Pasta, my favorite pace, for about the fifth time this week.
It is Chinese New Year, pre-CNY time, and, I’ve got my wonderful friends here joining me. My eagles and my turkeys joining me.
What are you going to do for Chinese New Year? Make sure you don’t waste your time. Too many people at the end of Chinese New Year, I ask them “What did you do?”
“Uh, I slept”
“I watched TV”
“Um, I don’t know”,
Right?
Have a plan, make sure you do something. Don’t squander eight or nine days. So, make sure you get something done—at least go out and get some exercise. So, have some kind of a plan.
I’ve got a plan. What about you number one eagle, Steve?
Steve: I’m gonna make a lot of noise—Woohoo! Yeah!
Bill: Uh, Simon?
Simon: I’m going to India to rebuild an orphanage.
Bill: Okay, Brandon?
Brandon: Hi guys, I’m going to the Philippines to just lay out on the beach and enjoy myself.
Bill: Well hey, that’s a plan—that is a plan, man! You know, at least you’re gonna go somewhere, you’re gonna go to The Philippines, so, um . . .
Campbell: This Chinese New Year I’m going to visit my grandma, and my sister-in-law, and just spend time with my wife. And rest.
Daniel: Um, Chinese New Year, I’m going to Malaysia, and I’m going to save the orangutans. So,
Bill: Okay!
Daniel: Yeah, Borneo.
Bill: Sounds like a great idea.
Daniel: Looking forward to it.
Bill: Go somewhere, get in the car, take a drive, at least get out and get some exercise, on a day like today—it’s a beautiful day.
So, don’t sit inside—do not squander this opportunity. So, make the most of you Chinese New Year vacation, and, um, send me an email, let me know what you did.
We’ll see you next time.
Key word/phrase
Squander (verb) - to waste something, to not take advantage of a good thing. "Don't squander your opportunity"
It is Chinese New Year, pre-CNY time, and, I’ve got my wonderful friends here joining me. My eagles and my turkeys joining me.
What are you going to do for Chinese New Year? Make sure you don’t waste your time. Too many people at the end of Chinese New Year, I ask them “What did you do?”
“Uh, I slept”
“I watched TV”
“Um, I don’t know”,
Right?
Have a plan, make sure you do something. Don’t squander eight or nine days. So, make sure you get something done—at least go out and get some exercise. So, have some kind of a plan.
I’ve got a plan. What about you number one eagle, Steve?
Steve: I’m gonna make a lot of noise—Woohoo! Yeah!
Bill: Uh, Simon?
Simon: I’m going to India to rebuild an orphanage.
Bill: Okay, Brandon?
Brandon: Hi guys, I’m going to the Philippines to just lay out on the beach and enjoy myself.
Bill: Well hey, that’s a plan—that is a plan, man! You know, at least you’re gonna go somewhere, you’re gonna go to The Philippines, so, um . . .
Campbell: This Chinese New Year I’m going to visit my grandma, and my sister-in-law, and just spend time with my wife. And rest.
Daniel: Um, Chinese New Year, I’m going to Malaysia, and I’m going to save the orangutans. So,
Bill: Okay!
Daniel: Yeah, Borneo.
Bill: Sounds like a great idea.
Daniel: Looking forward to it.
Bill: Go somewhere, get in the car, take a drive, at least get out and get some exercise, on a day like today—it’s a beautiful day.
So, don’t sit inside—do not squander this opportunity. So, make the most of you Chinese New Year vacation, and, um, send me an email, let me know what you did.
We’ll see you next time.
Key word/phrase
Squander (verb) - to waste something, to not take advantage of a good thing. "Don't squander your opportunity"
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Turkeys and Eagles
Okay, it’s really important who you hang out with. Do you “scratch with the turkeys”? Or do you “soar with the eagles”?
They look like turkeys.
Here, let me show you an eagle over here—there’s an eagle.
(Steve): You are so lucky that you have logged on to Bill’s blog. You’re a smart person.
See, that’s an eagle.
Now, you have to decide if you wanna scratch with the turkeys, or soar with the eagles, so.
I think back to my high school and university days, and I hung with some turkeys back then. So, these guys had some problems, they were a bad influence on me. And today, they’re gone—I don’t even talk to them any more, I don’t even know where they are. I don’t know if they’re dead or alive!
(Simon): We’re still here, Bill (gobble, gobble, gobble).
So, but I had some really good friends, some high quality people, that I have known for thirty-five years; some really good influences.
So, you know who the turkeys are, you know who the eagles are. You have to make a decision of who you want to hang with.
Remember, these people influence your life. So be wise about who you spend your time with—the most valuable resource you have.
See you next time!
Key Words and phrases
Scratch with the turkeys (cliché)—when kept in a pen for breeding and production, turkeys scratch the ground looking for food, often fighting with each other over small pieces of grain to eat.
Soar with the eagles (cliché)—to perform at a very high level, achieve success, and be part of a winning team or group.
Influence (noun)—someone or something that affects your thoughts and actions.
Influence (verb)—to affect someone or something.
They look like turkeys.
Here, let me show you an eagle over here—there’s an eagle.
(Steve): You are so lucky that you have logged on to Bill’s blog. You’re a smart person.
See, that’s an eagle.
Now, you have to decide if you wanna scratch with the turkeys, or soar with the eagles, so.
I think back to my high school and university days, and I hung with some turkeys back then. So, these guys had some problems, they were a bad influence on me. And today, they’re gone—I don’t even talk to them any more, I don’t even know where they are. I don’t know if they’re dead or alive!
(Simon): We’re still here, Bill (gobble, gobble, gobble).
So, but I had some really good friends, some high quality people, that I have known for thirty-five years; some really good influences.
So, you know who the turkeys are, you know who the eagles are. You have to make a decision of who you want to hang with.
Remember, these people influence your life. So be wise about who you spend your time with—the most valuable resource you have.
See you next time!
Key Words and phrases
Scratch with the turkeys (cliché)—when kept in a pen for breeding and production, turkeys scratch the ground looking for food, often fighting with each other over small pieces of grain to eat.
Soar with the eagles (cliché)—to perform at a very high level, achieve success, and be part of a winning team or group.
Influence (noun)—someone or something that affects your thoughts and actions.
Influence (verb)—to affect someone or something.
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