Show 26 Friday 28 April

Watch today's show at grouper or YouTube.

STICK NEWS

Kia Ora. In Stick News today it’s spring in Japan, and the perfect time for a party. About 2000 people rocked on at a party yesterday with the emperor.

This is Akihito. He is the emperor of Japan and the world's only reigning emperor.
He is an amateur specialist of ichthyology and has published many books about fish.
He’s 72 years old. But he still likes to party. And yesterday he invited about 2000 friends over for his annual spring garden bash at the Akasaka imperial garden.
Emperor Akihito spent 90 minutes walking along a line of guests chatting.

Staff at the Daily English Show were expecting to be invited to the party. But despite checking the letter box daily, the invitation… never arrived.

conversations with sarah
# 20 What do you want to know?

Sarah’s co-worker Taka asks her about New Zealand.
Step 1: Repeat Taka’s lines.
Step 2: Read Taka’s lines on the screen and talk to Sarah!

Taka You’re from New Zealand aren’t you?

Sarah Yes, I am.

Taka I’m thinking of going there this year.

Sarah Oh, really?

Taka Could you tell me a bit about New Zealand?

Sarah Sure. What do you want to know?

Taka Sorry?

Sarah What would you like to know?

Taka Oh, um, well, what are the most popular sports?

Sarah Sports? Um, well, I guess rugby is the most popular.

Taka Oh yes, rugby. I’ve heard of the All Blacks. They’re a good team aren’t they?

Sarah Yeah, apparently.

Taka Do you like rugby?

Sarah Mmm. Not really.

Links:

Read today's news here.

Read about ichthyology here.

Show 25 Thursday 27 April

Watch today's show at grouper or YouTube.

STICK NEWS

Kia Ora. Today two Maori smokefree representatives are meeting a tobacco company in New York to talk about the way cigarettes are killing maori people. Stick News brings you this report about smoking.

This is a cigarette vending machine in Japan. You may be surprised at some of the names of the cigarettes. Lark, peace. You wouldn’t think smoking these things could be so dangerous.

In Japan smoking is on the decline, and some steps have been taken to discourage the habit. There are non-smoking areas in many restaurants and cafes. Smoking in the street is banned in the Chiyoda ward in Tokyo. And in other areas smoking while walking is also discouraged. Advertising smoking is still permitted although the advertisements on trains now come with health warnings.

In some other countries the warnings are much stronger. Such as on this vending machine in Melbourne, Australia.

In New Zealand on December 10th 2004 all bars and restaurants became smokefree. There’s been an aggressive anti-smoking campaign for many years. And smokefree warnings are bilingual. Last year it was discovered that in Isreal, cigarettes called Maori Mix werebeing sold. Maori people were not impressed.

When Tobacco company Philip Morris was contacted about the issue last year there was an immediate retraction and apology. But Maori still have more to say and are meeting Philip Morris’s parent company in New York today.
And that was Stick News for Thursday the 27th of April.
Kia Ora.

conversations with sarah
# 19 Have you been to Hawaii before?

Sarah is on the plane from Tokyo to Hawaii. She starts talking to the woman next to her.
Step 1: Repeat woman X’s lines.
Step 2: Read woman X’s lines on the screen and talk to Sarah!

Sarah 　　　Have you been to Hawaii before?

Woman X Yes, about ten times.

Sarah 　　　Wow! You must really like it.

Woman X Yes, I do. It’s a beautiful place.

Sarah 　　　How long are you going for this time?

Woman X 10 days. How about you?

Sarah 　　　Ah, I’m staying for a week. I’ve never been to Hawaii before.

Woman X Really?

Sarah 　　　Yeah. Actually, I’ve never been to America before.

Woman X I hope you have a good time.

Sarah 　　　Thanks. I’m sure I will. I’m really excited.