Show 573 Friday 7 December

Watch today’s show at YouTube or BlipTV.


Hi, I’m Sarah, welcome to The Daily English Show.

The survey isn’t over yet, but I’ve already read some of them and I thought I’d start doing something that somebody suggested. They wanted me to talk about songs more and recommend songs to study.
So, I’ve decided Friday is song day. I’m going to talk about a song every Friday. So feel free to suggest a song that you want me to talk about.

Today’s song is: All I Want For Christmas is You by Mariah Carey
Because it’s December and it’s one of my favorite Christmas songs. I love the tune and the lyrics ... so romantic.

Wikipedia says it was recorded for Carey's fifth album Merry Christmas which was released in 1994.

Its protagonist declares that she doesn't care about Christmas presents or lights; all she wants for Christmas is to be with her lover.

Do you know what protagonist means?

protagonist noun (formal)
The main character in a play, film/movie or book

Or song, I guess ...

Anyway, it also says:
It is one of the most commercially successful Christmas singles of the modern era.

It’s good for studying. Most of the vocabulary is pretty straightforward ...

I don't care about the presents
Underneath the Christmas tree
I don't need to hang my stocking
There upon the fireplace

Upon means on – it’s just a more formal version

I won't ask for much this Christmas
I don't even wish for snow
I'm just gonna keep on waiting
Underneath the mistletoe

Mistletoe is a plant that people use as a Christmas decoration and if two people meet under it they’re supposed to kiss. Well that’s what happens in the movies anyway. I don’t think I’ve seen mistletoe in real life ... but maybe we don’t have it in New Zealand.

I also quite like how this song is not consumeristic ...
Not that I’m really anti-shopping ... but it’s just nice that this song’s not about spending money.

Santa Claus won't make me happy
With a toy on Christmas day
I just want you for my own
More than you could ever know
Make my wish come true
All I want for Christmas is you

STICK NEWS

Kia Ora, in Stick News today a town in Nova Scotia is considering a by-law that would ban smoking on all town property including streets and footpaths.

The town of Bridgewater, NS has proposed banning smoking in all public places in the town, except for two bridges – because they are owned by the Province of Nova Scotia.
CBC News reports the town is fuming – and opponents of the by-law plan to take a stand on Saturday by smoking on one of the bridges.
The proposed by-law is expected to be voted on in a few weeks.

And that was Stick News for Friday the 7th of December.
Kia Ora.

conversations with sarah
#349 Are there many bars in Kutchan?

Step 1: Repeat Tim’s lines.
Step 2: Read Tim’s lines and talk to Sarah.

Tim Are there many bars in Kutchan?

Sarah Mmm, yeah there are a lot actually, for the population size.

Tim About how many?

Sarah There are like only about 15 thousand people living here and about 50 bars.

Tim 50? Really? That’s a lot.

Sarah Yeah, but most of them are just small snacks.

Tim Snacks? What does that mean?

Sarah It’s a kind of bar for men.

Tim Like a strip bar?

Sarah Mmm, yeah, but um they don’t usually strip. The women just talk to the guys and, like, pour their drinks and stuff.

Tim And female customers aren’t allowed?

Sarah No, you can go there. Like I’ve been to snack bars with a group of people. And it’s OK. But, there are like women sitting there fake smiling and clapping while you’re singing. So, it’s kind of annoying. I’d rather go to a normal bar or izakaya.

Tim Are they beautiful young women?

Sarah Ah, well ... maybe if you go to an expensive place. But, I wouldn’t get your hopes up.

notes

won't - I accidentally said don't

consumeristic - this is actually a word (I looked it up), but I don't think it's very common

a kind of bar - I talked about snack bars in Show 192 and shot bars in Show 202.

links

today's news
today's STICK NEWS pictures

Powder Company
Takaku Tomoki's blog
GENTEM

All I Want For Christmas lyrics

music

show start
artist: Anawin
album: A glimpse inside the bubble
track: Little jazzy
from: Arles, France
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo

the snow report start
artist: Olga Scotland
album: Scotland Yard
track: Absolute
from: Moscow, Russia
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site

the snow report bgm
artist: OPRACHINA
album: The jazz farm
track: Torti
from: Roma, Italy
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site
YouTube channel

cws start
artist: San Sebastian
track: Happy Sad
artist site

qa start
artist: ioeo
album: Groovetracks
tracks: groovetracks ending
from: Saint Raphael, France
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site

qa bgm
artist: Wikoo
album: Neologism
track: Neologism part.4
from: Paris, France
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site
MySpace
YouTube channel

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Show 572 Thursday 6 December

Watch today’s show at YouTube or BlipTV.

Hi, I’m Sarah, welcome to The Daily English Show.

YouTube had a short film competition recently and I really like the film that came third.

And I think it’s an excellent one for studying English – both for self study and for discussing in class.

So try watching it. The dialogue isn’t too difficult so I think you can easily understand it.

One word you might not know is: shenanigans.

As part of the competition, the films had to include this line: I demand an explanation for these shenanigans. What do you have to say?

shenanigans n. pl. (informal)
secret or dishonest activities that people find interesting or amusing

It’s kind of like the word mischief – it’s quite a light word. So, you can use it for something that’s kind of bad – but not very bad. And you wouldn’t use it for a serious crime, like murder.

STICK NEWS

Kia Ora, in Stick News today a café in Wellington, New Zealand has been fined six hundred dollars for allowing people to smoke.

Since the 10th of December 2004, it has been illegal to smoke in bars and restaurants in New Zealand thanks to the Smokefree Environments Amendment Act which was passed in 2003.
It’s still legal to smoke in outdoor areas of bars.
But yesterday a café in Wellington was fined because their smoking area did not comply with the law.
A co-owner of the café said the rules were difficult to interpret.
"We're living in a police state,” he said. “You can't do anything any more."

And that was Stick News for Thursday the 6th of December.
Kia Ora.

THE SNOW REPORT
Miyako Dori

At five o’clock this evening, I went for a walk.
The road next to our place is called Miyakodori.
See, this sign says “thanks, miyakodori, thanks”.
Miyako music plaza. I’ve never actually been inside here.
I like the line the snow makes on this building.
I think there’s something wrong with this light.
I saw that cat again. It’s always hanging outside the sushi shop hoping to get some fish.
This is a majang club – I’ve never been in here either.
And this is my favorite shop in kutchan. They sell the best soymilk I’ve ever tasted. And the staff are really nice.

conversations with sarah
#348 You already made me lunch.

Step 1: Repeat Mum’s lines.
Step 2: Read Mum’s lines and talk to Lisa.

Lisa Hi, my name is Lisa and I’ve been inspired by my mum to tell everyone to walk away from their computers and read more books, like ...

Mum So, you’re using the computer to tell them to stop using the computer?

Lisa Now, I have to start over.

Mum Now is your lunch break.

Lisa Ah, you already made me lunch.

Mum Oh my god.

Lisa I had a sandwich five minutes ago. I only need one lunch.

my name is lisa
by Shelton Films

watch the film here

Lisa: Hi, my name is Lisa and I’ve been inspired by my mum to tell everyone to walk away from their computers and read more books, like ...
Mum: So, you’re using the computer to tell them to stop using the computer? That’s my Lisa use the ???
L: Now, I have to start over.
M: Now is your lunch break.
L: Ah, you already made me lunch.
M: Oh my god.
L: I had a sandwich five minutes ago. I only need one lunch.

L: What’s up mum?
M: Hi Lisa.
L: Are you going somewhere?
M: I guess not.
L: I’m going inside.
M: Me too, I’m going inside.

L: And why is it that when I say I’m reading J. R. R.Tolkien that you other kids correct me and saying it’s J. K. Rowling. Ah, no, I’m talking about Middle Earth not stupid Hogwarts.
Seriously, I demand an explanation of these shenanigans. What do you have to say?
M: That a girl. Go for it. Tell them to read ? books. Steinbeck, Salinger, Doll (?), Twain, screw the New York Times bestseller list.

L: Mum! This is my thing, OK?

L: But most kids read Tom Sawyer, instead of Huck Finn. And they don’t get it. They think life is just a colouring book. But it’s not. It’s an ugly, unpredictable, very difficult book.
It’s hard, really, really, really ...

M: Lisa don’t forget about your, ah, I made you your um ...
L: Lunch, mum, it’s called a lunch, and you already made me one. Why do you keep making me lunches? You wanna make me fat? I’m doing my video blog.
M: Tell them about ? books. Steinbeck, Salinger, Doll (?), Twain.

Pizza guy: Oh we only accept cash, cheque or major credit card. Sorry.
M: Oh, OK.
L: Their money, mum, pay them their money.
M: I know that. I know they need their money. I can do it.
L: No you can’t. You can’t do the laundry, you can’t do the dishes, you can’t do anything.
I’ll be right back with the money.

L: Because 99 percent of the time the book is better than the move. It’s more ... imaginative. It gives you the chance to understand the whole story, rather than just one point of ... Mum, I’m working right now, can you please go back upstairs.

L: Did you read a book today?
M: What book?
L: I’m asking you a question. Did you read a book today?
M: Tell me what book. I can’t think of one book. Which book? I can’t read your mind.

L: It’s OK mum. Let’s eat lunch.

L: How are you doing?
M: I can’t find my car keys.
L: You’re not going anywhere.
M: Have you seen my car keys?
L: Let’s go inside.
M: You’re not coming inside.
L: Let’s just go inside and rest.
M: Don’t come any closer.
L: It’s OK.
M: Who are you? What’s your name?
L: My name is Lisa.

L: It’s lovely to live on a raft. We had the sky up there, all speckled with starts. And we used to lay on our backs and look up at them. And discuss about whether it was made or it only just happened.
Good story, huh?

notes

for - the correct line uses "for", I said "of" by mistake (because that's what Lisa says in the film, so I assumed that's what it was)

anymore - this can be spelt as one or two words, both any more and anymore are OK.

links

today's news

today's STICK NEWS pictures

music

show start
artist: Anawin
album: A glimpse inside the bubble
track: Little jazzy
from: Arles, France
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo

the snow report start
artist: Olga Scotland
album: Scotland Yard
track: Absolute
from: Moscow, Russia
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site

the snow report bgm
artist: OPRACHINA
album: The jazz farm
track: Torti
from: Roma, Italy
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site
YouTube channel

cws start
artist: San Sebastian
track: Happy Sad
artist site

qa start
artist: ioeo
album: Groovetracks
tracks: groovetracks ending
from: Saint Raphael, France
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site

qa bgm
artist: OPRACHINA
album: The jazz farm
track: Attimi
from: Roma, Italy
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site
YouTube channel

Did you notice a mistake in this script? Please leave us a comment and tell us! We really appreciate people pointing out our mistakes.Thank you.

Have you translated this script - or part of it - into your language for English practice and published it on your blog? Please leave a comment and a link so other people can read your translation. Thank you.