Listening log- Friends

Nowadays I just want to change my style of studying English because sometimes I feel kind of bored and tired. So I want to find for fun with English. Finally I just try to watch American famous shows, dramas and movies instead of party and haning out haha. The first I chose thing is Friends because it is short and funny and speedy. And there are a lot of useful words. So far I finished nine episode of season one. But on today I watched episode one again for listening log. And I want to watch same things over and over in order to memorize useful expression.

Anyway the episode one starts with talking about Monica’s date at central perk coffee shop where main characters always gather and talk together. In this episode the main stories are Ross’s divorce and his lesbian ex-wife, Rachel’s wedding broken off and Monica’s wine guy who is player and good speak to lines haha.

So far I like Friends because each character has a unique, individual trait. Until now Chandler and Phoebe are funniest character for me, and sometimes I can’t understand their conversation, but I feel getting better as time goes. So I will keep trying to memorize script and watch Friends over again.

Hillary clinton.

Bill Clinton introduces and supports Hillary Clinton in a campaign he says her life, accomplishments and policies. According to her campaign, when she studied at the Yale she was interested in public service for poor people. And she spent one more year studying children care and law. After study, first she worked for poor children, and then, she taught law with Bill Clinton. Then she made a medical clinic for poor people. When she was 29years old, she was a chair of a association for poor people and woman.
As first lady, she helped Bill Clinton and worked for health care. Even though they didn’t succeed, she didn’t give up. She kept working for poor children and people who have cancers, also about immunizing. She has been 82 countries as the representative of the U.S and they all respected her. This is important because the U.S can be a good friend with other countries. And also she can positively affect Indo and Africa.
As Senator, she immediately went to work on solutions well about American problems with Republican Party; for example, decreasing crime, better health care, children health and creating jobs. She usually tried to solve problems with new solutions.
Bill says when he saw her, 35 years ago, Hillary has best combination of mind and heart than anybody. She has a leadership, pursues clean independent energy for future, can create millions job and can make health care for all Americans. She spent whole time caring about and working for poor people. Also she can healthy, economic America. Bill is sure Hillary will make Americans proud every day.

I really impressed she studied and worked for poor people. I thought she is from a kind of royal family and she doesn’t do anything for poor people. But she was very interested in caring poor people when she was in school. It is very important because she really want to help people, so she spent extra year caring people and then she has practiced good things for poor people. As I feel within America, the biggest problem is health care. It’s horrible compared to my country, Korea. So about health insurance, she will do well. And her good reputation from other countries is also important because now, Bush made a lot of enemy. If she is elected president America could be a friend to the world.


Rudy Giuliani

Rudy Giuliani think America need president can exercise fiscal discipline and keep on offense on the war and terror and keep us safe. As he mayor of the New York he made it very large of priority to reduce crimes. He made our school safe and reduced taxes dramatically for very short period time and collect more money from lower taxes. According to campaign he has optimistic leadership and he has proven his ability through results.

I’d like to focus on him when he was mayor of New York. He reduced lots of crimes and made New York safer. So he can prove his ability by showing his accomplishments. And now most American think safeness is very important, so I think especially about making safe America may be he will do well. But I doubt his opinion about supporting Iraq war.



Barack Obama

He was born between Kenyan father and American mother. When he was 2 years old, they divorced. His mother remarried and his family moved to Indonesia. Obama lived for four years as a child in Indonesia. Then he returned to the U.S to live with his grandparents he got scholarships when he studied. After graduated Columbia University he went to work at a community organizer and then he studied more at Harvard law school. He lives with his wife and two daughters.
In campaign he always insists “we are one people, there is not liberal American and not a conservative America there is the United States of America. Not a Black America, not a White America, not a Latino America, not an Asian America, there is the United States of America. He insists welfare reform, health care for uninsured children, tougher ethics laws, death penalty reform, and tax relief for low income workers. In 2004, he was alone to oppose the war in Iraq among the major candidates of 2004 the U.S senator. He won a landslide victory.
He’s promoted greater use of alternative energy and higher fuel efficiency standards. And Obama has continued work in issues that touch our lives. He championed a law to help prevent weapons from falling into the hands of terrorists and bring a new pace of American leadership around the world, and a law to open p the budget process to greater public scrutiny. In all these effects, he’s brought Democrats and Republicans together for the common good.

When I interviewed for people about 2008 the U.S presidential election most people supported Obama but they don’t have any specific reason about his policies and accomplishments. They said they feel just Obama’s image is very good and familiar with them. So do I. If I were American, so far, I would support him because his accomplishments are good and above of all, he can change America more peaceful and harmonious if he is elected president. And only his campaign show his family and how important his family for him. That kind of strategy is good because as I mentioned it can make Obama be familiar with the people. Of course his plans to invent, promote new energy and Iraq war are also good. And for me, now, the U.S election is somewhat interesting because of Obama and Hilary because America use to be so conservative, so always they support the White America. What are Americans going to choose next leader?



Bill Richardson.

In his campaign he says “we have to undo the damage. The world is waiting.” He’s nominated four times Nobel Peace of Prize. According to his campaign, he is one of America’s best governors and more international experience than just about anyone else in the 2008 field. He insists he can heal America and restore our place in the world. His life works has been bring in people together to patient to determined diplomacy and governing with humor and high expectations. In New Mexico, he reduced taxes and crated 80000 new job green energy and fight global warming. He has an optimism that can lead America to a good faith and great things.

He looks like merciful neighborhood to me. He has also good personality, many accomplishments and he has a lot of international experiences but I don’t know exactly why. I think it is better he works for good thing, like peace and harmony, for America and the world with his lots of international experiences in a kind of international association. Also, When I interviewed most Americans they want a next president who cares and is good at solving domestic problems.


John Edwards.

He always says about two America; for example, “there are extremely wealthy people and everybody else. There are two public education system one for wealthy community and the other for everybody else. There are two health care systems. So as we go down on the line there are two kinds of America.” He want to make one America where every person has the same opportunities he’s had. And his plan is that cut tax on low income workers, and expand earned income tax credit for single works reduce the marriage penalty, and create one million stepping stone job, and expand affordable housing near good jobs, and enact employee free choice act, and enforce labor lows, and ban the use of permanent replacements for striking workers, and college for everyone, and universal health care plan, and help families save by cracking down on abusive credit card companies.

First, my feeling about him is look young and clean. By the way, In Korea, people often say for fun about young candidate he has another chance so we are not going to choose him. His thinking and insight about American problems are good and effect but his strategy is little bit dangerous. That means he always says about two America and contrast between wealthy people and anybody else. That way can cause anti-feeling naturally from wealthy people. Compared to Obama’s way of speech, even though both have almost same idea to make one America Obama seems to emphasize just make one America, but Edward seems to criticize two America. I think it is very important point when we say something.


Ron Paul.

Even he is republican he voted against Iraq war. And he has won several online polls so he has become one of the most famous personalities of the Internet. The term ‘Ran Paul’ has been measured as the top internet search term by Technorati.com since 05, 09, 2007. However, some people think Paul can’t be elected president because he doesn’t get support from the mass media. And some think that he only gets support by the Internet but not by people on the streets. This campaign insists we can see people who believe that are wrong. Paul does get much support from the every people.

Before I saw this campaign I heard about him from my one interviewee he supported Paul because his policies good even he is republican he wants to bring American troops home from Iraq. And an interviewee said the reason why he chose republican is strategy because most American still prefer Republican Party. It was very interesting for me. And this is one of reasons why I interested in 2008 election. I felt his campaign is much stronger and powerful about voice, music and entire composition than the other things. First a little bit strange for me, But after watch whole thing, it make me think he has strong leadership like charisma. And another interesting thing was support from internet because in Korea, we can see one of successful example our current president who supported a lot from the Internet and young people.


Learning American election and candidates was good experience and useful for me. And I feel I am familiar with America more than before. And I am excited who will president be?

Listening log

Listening log.

I saw Super Size Me at TIEP on 10, 05, 07 . It is a documentary film, directed by and starring Morgan Spurlock. It warns and shows how much eating fast foods affect our bodies badly by experiment on Morgan Spurlock’s body. He ate only McDonald's foods for 30days. Before he experimented, he checked his body in medical way. In period of experiment, he kept track of what’s going on his body and shows it. Originally his body was good conditions. I can’t remember exactly the result of his experiment and how much his body change after experiment. After experiment his body was too bad: gaining weight, high blood pressure, high rate of bad cholesterol and increasing many causes of diseases.

I heard his film made McDonald's get rid of supersize in their menu and gave big damage to McDonald's. And this movie let people change their food in a healthy way. It’s so interesting that a one person’s thinking and an experiment can affect big societies a lot and it works a lot.

Originally I don’t like any kind of fast food because of unhealthy and lack of taste. But sometimes I use fast food because of fast and comfortable to eat. This movie was good because I could easily understand fast food’s harm through his experiment and it gave significant and specific infromation to me. And I saw his another documentary, about minimum wage. It also recorded in a same way as Supersize me. I respect his passion to make him experiment with his body.
And I want to say about eating food. We can avoid some bad foods and bad things of foods with our effort. But it is impossible to eliminate every single harmful thing in our foods. Some of my friends are very picky when they eat something. It is ok for their health, but if they do too much or they can’t care their eating, it makes them tired, uncomfortable and gives a lot of stress. The best way is that don’t too much care about our eating. Just think positively whenever we eat something. We should thanks for foods and think that these foods are good for us. And another we have to be required is regular exercise. Let’s do eat with happiness and exercise regularly.

Interview

We, me and Karen, interviewed random people about 2008 presidential election at UT on October, 05, 2007, between 9am and 10am. At that time people in UT looked very busy because midterm is coming. We interviewed five people at UT. In addition, I interviewed two persons at my conversation club and a person at my dormitory. Everybody said they will vote 2008 presidential election and they are all registered. Most people want to next president is different from Bush and has good international reputation and should listen and notice people’ needs and different opinions. And specifically interviewees want next president to take care domestic problems, like health care and education. One of unique answer was that I hope next president won’t crazy person because Bush is crazy.
Every people have voted at least one time. They said “it was easy and quick but the line was very long.” A person said “it was fun because I did civic duty.”
Most people consider candidates’ policies and their own thinking when they vote except two people. One said I used to follow my family’s opinion but now, I try to follow my own opinion and another said I follow both, family and me.
Most people have a particular candidate who they support except three people. Three people support Obama and other two people also support Obama or Hillary or Democratic Party and the other said now is too early so I don’t know who they are exactly.
Most people answered “No” about what if women or African American were president, America would make a difference in the way policies? And people said if next president is women or African American, it would change America a little bit or nothing. But one guy said it would make a lot of differences from now.
Personally I love interview because it is very good way to approach American. And it works a lot. I mean I interviewed a lot of people so far for homework or making friends, so I made two good friends and I still keep in touch with them. This time also was good and precious but the topic was somewhat heavy. Next time I want an easy and fun topic.
I just felt the older people are, the more interested people are in politics like Korea. One of my interviewee he wanted to say a lot even history of America so his interview took about one and half hour. Hahaha But it was good because I learned a lot of expressions and listened to deep opinion about politics.

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Summary

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* . Rachel - journalism (Age about 22~26 )

1. Yes
2. Yes
3. a person who is honest and is aware of most Americans need especially about domestic problems.
4. Yes. At that time, I was in military service, so I voted by mail.
5. Political platforms are more important to me.
6. Obama I think he understands mental requisitions of people, and he know what Americans want, and he open to listen the other people’ opinions.
7. I don’t necessary think about where he is from and gender, whatever.
Candidates’ policies, thinking and mental capcity is more important than physical feature.


*. Rebecca - Business ? (22-26)
1. Yes
2. Yes
3. someone who has good international reputation
4. Yes, Whoever she voted for won elections.
5. candidate
6. Obama Usually people in her hometown support Republican patry, but mysteriously, this time, People in her hometown like him so she also like him.
7. if Hilary win, nothing change or a little bit change
but if Obama win something different.

*. Robert (22-26)
1. Yes
2. Yes
3. he has no idea yet
4. Yes, one time. It was eszy
5. He used to follow his family but now he is getting changed
6. He has no idea yet.
7. not really.

*. Richard (22-26)
1. Yes
2. Yes
3. Some are different from now and someone who is willing to listen other people’ opinions.
4. Yes. It was fun and great because he thought he was doing civic duty
5. Candidate
6. He is not sure because now is too early but he supports democratic party.
7. not really because a lot of people are involved in president’s missions and they advice president. It’s up to president’s assistants.

*. Kent – engineering (23)
1. Yes
2. Yes
3. Someone focuses on domestic problems, like health care, security, and
education and so on.
4. Before he went to vote, there are a lot of processes. But the day of election was very quick
5. Both
6. He supports Chuck Hagel, but he doesn’t run in 2008 presidential election yet because Republican party doesn’t want he run in election. So may be he will run in by himself. He showed good leadership and proper decision he was governor.
7. some parts will change a little bit, but in general it will be same.

*. Blake-physics (40)
1. Yes
2. Yes
3. someone who has dignity and authority
4. Yes, long line, easy
5. personal belief that means he wants know candidate’s personality and truth so he really care about candidates’ past accomplishes and endorsements when they were governor or senator or congressman.
6. now is too early. This time is too political process.
7. Yes. Make difference especially foreign policies

*. Hugh - biology (50-55)
1. Yes
2. Yes
3. Someone who isn’t crazy because Bush is crazy and can socialize medicine and make retirement benefit of portability and has a different world view from Bush and has opposite foreign policy of Bush’s one.
4. Yes easy, no problem whoever he voted for always lost elections
5. Not family’s belief because his family are very conservatives. He focuses candidates’ policies and degree which I believe that they will do what they say
6. Obama, Hillary, Kucinich (congressman of Ohio). They are totally different from Bush. They consider universal healthcare and campaign finance reform which is a way to try to get corruptions out. And they are against Iraq war.
7. Not hillary but Obama, At minimum, he would make a cosmetic difference and If American get really lucky he would make a lot of change of policies.

The first Listening log

10, 01, 07 1:00am~2:30am

Ch 53 - The World Series of Poker

On Tuesday night, I skimmed the channel to find something fun, but there is nothing fun, such as football games, movie and soft dram that I like. Finally I started to watch The World Series of Poker because two weeks ago I played poker in my dorm. That was my first time to play poker at my dorm, but it was fun even though I lost 50＄. What I played was exactly not a standard porker but Texas Holdem, one kind of porker.

Anyway I don’t want to lose anymore hahaha I just watched the professional play for my victory in the future. As I knew they play in Lasvegas, and at first, a lot of players participate in the Championship of Porker, and then as game going, players are out of the game when their money runs out. So a person who survives at the end of the game is the champion. Actually I don’t know exactly how do they proceed this championship because I watched this for one and half hour when I focused on how did professional players play poker and what kind of words do they use in poker. It was useful time because I learned how to play poker and that a lot of sentences and words that are used in paying porker: “I’m fold”, shuffle, flip, deck, same suite, bluff, stumble and so on.

Every week, I am going to try to choose different programs or sources for listening logs because it is a very good way to learn a lot of vocabularies and expressions and also that kind of way to learn is very useful and appropriate in real situations.

Listening log 2 - 10,05

Is a Weak Dollar Really So Terrible?
Eric Weiner NPR News
10, 03, 07 11:00 ~12:21

A couple days ago I heard the exchange rate of the Korean currency against the U.S dollar was the lowest point after the lapse of a decade. Before I came to Austin I was really concerned about the won-dollar exchange rate because I already decided to study English in the U.S and I really interested in investing stocks; Korean stocks are very related to dollar’s value. And also my major is Business so I am supposed to study and know that kinds of things.

Anyway this week, i listen to weakness of American dollar. What effects does weak dollar cause?

Nowadays, dollar is very weak compared to other currencies. For example, In 2002, you could buy a euro for 86 cents. Today, it will cost you $1.40. Likewise, it is unassailable fact recently and it seems to go on continuously. Basically weak dollar has pros and cons. It sounds ominous, but in American case, there are a lot of advantages. For example, the weak dollar makes American exports cheaper and many Americans don’t want to travel to abroad, but other nation have a opposite view of American. Therefore, helps close the trade deficit. But over the long term, the value of a country's currency is seen as a verdict on the overall health of its economy.

On the other hand, some economist says weak dollar makes a lot of problems more than advantages. And it also creates a lot of ripples all over the world. It affects strongly other countries economy. And most investors are going to be reluctant to invest stocks in the U.S because they want to compensate for the weak dollar, and the U.S should really care about inflation; however, so far, it is ok, under 2%. As European manufactures give the U.S a break because American market is very attractive and big and very close connected to China market and currency. Eventually dollar’s value is going to up and the U.S

As one of expert’s remark, "America is on sale", it' seems same as discount at a department store. So the U.S and the other nation should use this big chance economically.

Listen log 2nd

My American girl
09, 21, 07

Summary
This is documentary that is about a family in New York from Dominican Republic.
It showed typical immigration’s family life and one of common American family lives which is composed of father, mother, three daughters. They live a three-story house with a lot of their relatives.
Sandra and her husband have a two job to live in New York and to bring up their children and to come true their dream and to help poor people in their country.
However, they don’t have time to take care their children, because every day they go to work at 5:30 and arrive at home about 9:00. So they have one problem of their third daughter which is contrast with the other good older daughters. She doesn’t like to study so her test score is too low; therefore, Sandra is very concerned about her daughter’s future. She does effort to guide her daughter to right way, such as scolding, giving a penalty, consulting daughter’s teacher.
And they have a dream that go back to their country. In there, they will build dream house and they want to help poor people. That is, for them, their country is a sort of heaven and New York means just method to make their dream come true.

After a long time, I saw a good documentary. It was so good because I didn’t expect that movie. Anyway it reminded me of my life and my dream and it made me reflect current life. Nowadays I often grumble about studying English; Studying English is too boring and I am doubt advance in my English as time passed. So sometimes I don’t want to do anything except sleeping. But compared with Sandra’s life, my life is too easy and I have a lot of time to do everything. I just whined.
Anyway this documentary encouraged me to move on achieving my dream and to focusing on English. For her, New York means a method to realize her dream. From now, for me, Austin means a opportunities and a fundamental to came true my dream. Let’s go 21. !!!