Kevin Smith, who directed such cult classics as Clerks, Dogma and Chasing Amy was asked to get off a Southwest Airlines flight from Oakland to Burbank, California last week because, airline personnel said, he was too fat to fit into a single seat.
Smith commented on the incident on Twitter, saying “I’m way fat, but I’m not there just yet.”
Southwest Airlines has apologized, but insist* that their policy* is fair.
“Our pilots are responsible for the safety and comfort of all customers on the aircraft and therefore, made the determination* that Mr. Smith needed more than one seat to complete his flight.”
Smith often does purchase two seats for himself on flights, but he says that’s because he is anti-social and doesn’t want to talk to anybody.
He has issued* a challenge* to the airline. He suggested that they bring a row of seats onto a chat show so he could prove that he could fit into one.
“If I don’t fit,” he wrote “I’ll donate 10,000 to the charity of your choice. But when I do (and buckle the belt as well), 1) You admit you lied. 2) Change your policy, or at least re-train your staff to be a lot more human and a lot less corporate.”*
Smith is currently directing a Bruce Willis movie called “Cop Out.”
Vocabulary:
award winning
insist
policy
make the determination
issue
challenge
corporate
Question for discussion:
Have you seen any of Kevin Smith’s movies?

How Kevin Smith Views the World

Shen Xue and her husband Zhao Hongbo had just won a gold medal for China in pairs figure skating,* when she said “I think it’s hard to continue skating so maybe it’s time to have a baby.”
The couple have been skating together since 1992 and won bronze medals at the 2002 and 2006 Olympics.
China also got silver, and Germany bronze.This was the first year since 1964 that Russia did not win the event.
“This is a dream come true,” said Zhao, who has won 3 world championships with Shen.
Vocabulary:
figure skating
Question for discussion:
Will their baby be a great skater?

Shen Xue and Zhao Hongbo

The Chilean government has fired* the director of the mint* because thousands of 50 peso (about 0.10 CHF) coins were issued* with the country’s name misspelled* as Chiie!
Although the coins were in public circulation,* nobody noticed* the error for more than a year!
Many people have started collecting the coins, believing that they will be valuable* because of the mistake, but the government has no plans to remove* the coins from circulation.
Vocabulary:
fire
mint
be issued
misspelled
circulation
notice
valuable
remove
Question for discussion:
Why didn’t anybody notice the mistake?

Collector's Item?

Toronto, Canada, restaurant Mildred’s Temple kitchen had an incredible Valentine’s day special.
They encouraged* diners* to use the toilets for sex! “Have you given any thought to moving beyond the bedroom,” customers were asked in a promotional* e-mail.
A maid* in a sexy costume was there to make sure the bathrooms were kept clean. Couples were expected to provide* their own condoms.
Despite a great deal of advance* publicity, there were no long lines and the event passed without any big scandal.
“I really wouldn’t know because our bathrooms are unisex,” Donna Dooher, the restaurant’s manager, said. “I’m sure it did happen, though. We think a couple of people just went in and came back out, for a giggle.*”
Vocabulary:
encourage
diner
promotional
maid
provide
advance
giggle
Question for discussion:
Should more restaurants do this?

Mildred's Temple Kitchen

Bebe Bigazzi, 77, was fired from the Italian TV program “The Cook’s Challenge”* for explaining how to tenderize* cat meat by leaving it under running water.
“Anyone who goes on television to promote* the taste of cat meat is guilty* of instigating* viewers to commit* an act of cruelty* to animals, a crime* punishable* by up to 18 months in prison,” the Italian Animal Protection agency wrote.
Bugazzi said he was talking about cats being cooked during food shortages* in the 1930s and 40s. “I was just talking about an old tradition,” he said.
Vocabulary:
fired for
challenge
tenderize
promote
be guilty of
instigate
commit
cruelty
crime
punishable
shortage
Question for discussion:
Would you eat cat meat?

Rock superstar Elton John, who is famous not only for such hits as “Candle in the Wind” “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” and “Crocodile Rock” but also for his flamboyant* costumes and outspoken* views, recently said that he thinks Jesus Christ was gay.
In an interview with Parade magazine, John (who is openly homosexual) said “I think Jesus was a compassionate,* super-intelligent gay man who understood human problems. On the cross, he forgave* the people who crucified* him. Jesus wanted us to be loving and forgiving. I don’t know what makes people so cruel.* Try being a gay woman in the Middle East - you’re as good as dead.”
Since the 1980s, John has been extremely active in the fight against AIDS and the struggle for* gay rights.
In the interview, John also talked about the high price of fame.
“Princess Diana, Gianni Versace, John Lennon, Michael Jackson, all dead. Two of them shot outside their houses. None of this would have happened* if they hadn’t been famous. Fame attracts* lunatics,*” he said.
Vocabulary:
flamboyant
outspoken
compassionate
forgave - past tense of forgive
crucify
cruel
struggle for
happen
attract
lunatic
Question for discussion:
Was Jesus gay?

Elton John Speaks Out

An experiment in education has had an unexpected result, and at least some people are very pleased about it.
A school district near Tucson, Arizona, USA, has installed wi-fi connections in its school busses and provided* the students with laptop computers.
“It’s made a big difference,” said J.J. Johnson, the bus driver. “Boys aren’t hitting* each other, girls are busy and there’s not so much jumping around.”
The students seem to like the idea, too. After a recent bus trip to a football game, 10th grader Mariah Nunez said “I used my laptop for pretty much the whole ride.* That was the quietest trip I have ever had with high schoolers.”
The district, which includes 18 schools and 10,000 students, is in a desert region.
Vocabulary:
please
provide
hit
ride
desert
Question for discussion:
Is this a good idea?

Wi-Fi on Wheels

When the Viradouro Samba School announced* that seven year old Julia Lira would lead* their floats* and dancers in a Carnival parade, it caused a scandal around the world.
Child welfare* groups said that it was exploiting* a small child for sexual purposes,* because the leader, or Queen, of a parade group is usually a role for well developed* young women in extremely sexy costumes.
Her parents, however, said that they were proud to have their daughter be in a starring role in a performance* with such long roots* in Brazilian history. Julia’s father, who is also the leader of the dance troupe, said “Anyone who looks at a seven year old girl and thinks of her sexually is just sick.”
A Brazilian family court ruled* that she should be allowed to dance.
Julia started off well, and the crowd* loved her. However, as reporters and photographers came close, she suddenly felt the pressure of fame, and burst into tears.*
She was immediately picked up by her trainer and, after having a couple of minutes to calm down, continued her performance.
Vocabulary:
announce
lead
float
child welfare
exploit
purpose
developed
performance
root
rule
crowd
burst into tears
Question for discussion:
Should they have let her dance?

Julia Is a Star

In 1972, when singer Carly Simon released* her biggest hit, “You’re So Vain,” there was no MTV. Although the song remains* popular today, there is still no video.
“People were so busy asking me who the song was about that nobody thought to make a video of it,” she said. Until now.
Simon has announced* a contest* to see which of her fans can make the best video for the song. The winning* video will be shown at the TriBeCa film festival in New York in April.
The song is about a very vain* man and most people think Simon wrote it about a former* boyfriend - perhaps Kris Kristofferson or Warren Beatty.
Vocabulary:
release
remain
announce
contest
winning
vain
former
Question for discussion:
Have you heard the song?

Carly Simon

Millions of fundamentalist Christians believe “The Rapture” is coming. On the day of the rapture, Jesus will return to Earth to bring all of his true followers* into heaven, and leave everybody else behind.
However, they won’t be able to take their pets.* “Pets don’t have souls,* so they’ll remain on Earth,” rapture believer* Todd Strandberg said. “I don’t see how they can be taken with you.”
Bart Centre, 61, who is an atheist, sees this as a business opportunity.* He has started an organization called Earth-Bound* Pet which will find, adopt and take care of pets left behind when their owners are taken away, at approximately 100 Euros per pet. (paid in advance)
So far, more than 100 people have signed up for* the service.
“We commit* to reaching* a person’s pet within 18 to 24 hours after the rapture,” Centre said.
Vocabulary:
feed
follower
pet
soul
believer
opportunity
earth-bound
sign up for
commit
reach
Question for discussion:
Is this ethical?

Australian model Miranda Kerr, who is engaged to* Orlando Bloom (Lord of the Rings, Pirates of the Caribbean) has come forward* to say that a banker who was caught looking at nearly naked photos of her at work should not be fired.*
What happened was that a TV crew* was filming at the Macquarie Bank in Australia, but Dave Kiely was unaware of it.* He was sitting at his desk answering e-mails. One was from a friend, with the photos attached. When Kiely turned around to see the film crew, there were the photos on the screen.
The bank announced that it was investigating* the incident. Almost immediately, an internet group was set up* to support Kiely. As soon as she heard about the incident, Kerr said “I am told there is a petition to save his job and of course I would sign it.”
Vocabulary:
be engaged to
come forward
be fired
crew
be unaware of
investigate
be set up
Question for discussion:
What are you looking at on your computer when you
are supposed to be working?

Miranda Kerr

A Philadelphia (USA) school district has been charged with* spying on* students and their families at home with remotely* activated webcams.
Allegedly,* school officials can activate the webcams remotely and they watched students and their families as they undressed and in other private moments.
According to the lawsuit,* Blake J. Robbins v. Lower Merion School District, “The issue* came to light when the Robbins’s child was disciplined for “improper* behavior* in his home” and the Vice Principal used a photo taken by the webcam as evidence.”
Vocabulary:
be charged with
spy on
remotely
allegedly
lawsuit
issue
improper
behavior
Question for discussion:
Do you use a webcam?

Designer Andy Kourovets has created a new model of mouse that is likely* to make many men even more addicted to* computers than they already are.
Its design was inspired, very directly, by the vagina. It may appeal to* computer people because it’s a nice looking mouse or it may appeal to men, or lesbian women, who would like their computer mouse to also be a sex toy.
The G-Point mouse has a button in the middle which, at a touch, will take you to your favorite destination.* Directly
in front of that is a scroll wheel.*
Vocabulary:
likely
addicted to
appeal to
destination
scroll wheel
Question for discussion:
Will this be a commercial success?

Astronauts have finished attaching a new room to the International Space Station. The Tranquility room which was built in Italy will eventually* provide* living space for four astronauts and be comfortable enough for them to live there for 6 months at a time. It will include its own oxygen generator and water recycling system, toilet and fitness center.
But there is one special feature that has everyone at Nasa excited. Seven very big windows.
There are 6 trapezoidal* windows surrounding* a large circular one in the center, offering a panoramic view of the earth.
“I don’t think the space station’s ever going to be the same after this,” Mission control said in a congratulatory call to the station.
Vocabulary:
eventually
provide
trapezoidal
surrounding
Question for discussion:
Does this have any scientific importance?

On February 12th, the Winter Olympic Games will begin in Vancouver, Canada. More than 5,000 athletes from more than 80 countries will compete.*
The Czech team has strong chances in several events.* They would like to do better than in the Turin Winter Olympics in 2006 where they won 4 medals, including a gold for Katerina Neumannová in cross-country skiing.
Perhaps the Czech Republic’s strongest contender for* a gold medal in Vancouver is Martina Sábliková, 22, from Nové Mesto na Morave. She is the current* world champion, and world record holder,* in the 5,000 meter speed skating event.
Of course, ice hockey will be a closely watched event. With the exceptions* of goalie Jakub Štepánek, who plays for Vítkovice, and Roman Cervenka of Slavia Praha, everyone on the Czech team either plays in the NHL or the Russian KHL.
Tomáš Kraus, 36, is the world champion at the sport of ski-cross, which will be a new event at this Olympics, so he is certainly hoping for a gold.
Other Czechs with a good chance at medals include Šárka Záhrobská in slalom skiing, Ivo Danilevic on the bobsled, Lukáš Bauer in cross country skiing and Tomáš Verner in figure skating.*
Vocabulary:
compete
event
contender for
current
holder
exception
figure skating
Question for discussion:
What is your favorite winter Olympic sport?

Katerina Neumannová, 2006 Gold Medalist

Love him or hate him, Barack Obama is one of the most important people of our time.
Now a musical play about him has opened in Germany. “Hope: The Obama Musical Story” is a bi-lingual production and features* a gospel choir* singing “Yes, We Can” and Sarah Palin with sexily dressed dancers.
“I had the idea right at the start of Obama’s electoral* campaign,” writer Randall Hutchins, who is American, said. “I found the atmosphere exciting and that was my inspiration...it was a very beautiful, very social time.”
He hopes the show will eventually* be presented in the U.S.
Vocabulary:
feature
choir
electoral
eventually
Question for discussion:
Are you a fan of Obama?

Political Drama

Melt Bar and Grill in Ohio, USA, specializes in grilled cheese sandwiches.
They love grilled cheese sandwiches so much that they are offering a lifetime* 25% discount to anyone who has a tattoo of a grilled cheese sandwich.
John Fergus of Voodoo Monkey Tattoo, who is working on the special in partnership with the restaurant, says that customers* can be creative with the designs if they like.
“I gave one guy a tattoo of Popeye, but instead of a can* of spinach, he was holding a grilled cheese sandwich,” he said.
Vocabulary:
lifetime
discount
customer
can
Question for discussion:
Would you get a tattoo for 25% off on grilled cheese sandwiches?

Some women might have been offended,* but Carole Kleis, an Iowa farmer’s wife, was pleased when her husband, Dick, used his manure spreader* to spell out “HAP B DAY LUV U” in a field* visible from the living room of their home.
It took him about 3 hours and more than 50 tons of manure to do it.
“I was going to put a heart out there after the happy birthday, but I ran out of* manure,” he said.
Carole, who is 67, said “He’s done weird* things for birthdays, but maybe not this weird.”
Although he was reasonably* certain his birthday gift would be well received, Dick Kleis, being an experienced husband, did have a back-up* plan. He also took his wife out for dinner and a movie.
Vocabulary:
be offended
manure spreader
field
run out of
weird
reasonable
back-up
Question for discussion:
Was this a romantic gift?

A Very Romantic Couple

An exhibition* entitled* “Antiquities Thefts* in Israel” has been on display* at a museum in the historic Israeli city of Ashdod for the last 4 years.
Archeology is very popular in Israel and settlements* which are thousands of years old are found regularly.
Theft of archeological treasures* is common.
Some of the items* at the exhibit were so tempting* to thieves that they were stolen again, from the exhibit.
Among the items was a silver ring which belonged* to Alexander the Great.
Vocabulary:
exhibition
entitled
theft
on display
settlement
treasure
item
be tempting to
thief
belong
Question for discussion:
Do you like visiting museums?

Alexander

Dennis Hopper, 73, who starred* in “Easy Rider” and “Blue Velvet” is dying. In January it was announced* that he has terminal* prostate cancer and is not expected to live more than another month.
So, it came as a surprise when, on January 14th, Hopper filed for* a divorce from his wife, Victoria. They have been married 14 years and have a daughter, Galen, who is six.
A long time friend of the family said “It’s truly a tragedy, and sadly it’s all about the money and who inherits* what. This is about getting Victoria out of the will,* nothing more, nothing less.”
Hopper has been married four times before, including an 8 day marriage to Michelle Phillips, who accused* him of drug addiction* and spousal abuse.* He has one child by each of his spouses except for Phillips.
Some people who know the family well have suggested* that the oldest daughter, Marin, does not like Victoria and may be manipulating her father.
Vocabulary:
stun
dying wish
star
be announced
terminal
file for
inherit
will
accuse
addiction
spousal abuse
suggest
Question for discussion:
Should his wishes be honored?

Hopper with Victoria (left) and Marin