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Words and Their Stories: All About Eyes By Jill Moss 22 September, 2012 Now, the VOA Special English program WORDS AND THEIR STORIES. Today's program is all about eyes. When it comes to relationships, people's eyes can be a window into their hearts. This means that their eyes can tell a lot about how they feel. We will tell a story about a man and woman who are teachers at the same school. The woman is interested in the man. She uses many methods to catch his eye, or get him to notice her. Once he sets eyes on her, or sees her, she might try to get him interested in her by acting playful. In other words, she might try to make eyes at him or give him the eye. Let us suppose that this man gets hit between the eyes. In other words, the woman has a strong affect on him. He wants to spend time with her to get to know her better. He asks her out on a date. She is so happy that she may walk around for days with stars in her eyes. She is extremely happy because this man is the apple of her eye, a very special person. She might tell him that he is the only person she wants, or "I only have eyes for you." On their date, the couple might eat a meal together at a restaurant. If the man is really hungry, his eyes might be bigger than his stomach. He might order more food than he can eat. When his food arrives at the table, his eyes might pop out. He might be very surprised by the amount of food provided. He might not even believe his own eyes. If fact, all eyes would be watching him if he ate all the food. This might even cause raised eyebrows. People might look at the man with disapproval. During their dinner, the couple might discuss many things. They might discover that they see eye to eye, or agree on many issues. They share the same beliefs and opinions. For example, they might agree that every crime or injury should be punished. That is, they firmly believe in the idea of an eye for an eye. They might also agree that it is wrong to pull the wool over a person's eyes. This means to try to trick a person by making him believe something that is false. But the man and woman do not believe in the evil eye, that a person can harm you by looking at you. The next day, at their school, the woman asks the man to keep an eye on, or watch the young students in her class while she is out of the classroom. This might be hard to do when the teacher is writing on a board at the front of the classroom. To do so, a teacher would need to have eyes in the back of his head. In other words, he would know what the children are doing even when he is not watching them. Video Shows Romney Dismissing Obama Supporters By VOA 21 September, 2012 This is IN THE NEWS in VOA Special English. Surveys of likely American voters show President Obama with a small lead over former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney. The president also has pulled in front of the Republican Party candidate in political campaign donations. Mr. Obama now has almost eighty nine million dollars, compared with the fifty million dollars for his opponent. Less than fifty days remain until the November sixth elections. This week, Mr. Romney's campaign received widespread criticism when comments he made last May were made public. In a secretly recorded video, he dismissed supporters of Mr. Obama as Americans who depend on the government, and see themselves as "victims." The video appeared on the website of "Mother Jones" magazine. It shows Mr. Romney speaking to possible campaign donors at a private gathering in Florida. Mitt Romney responds to secret video MITT ROMNEY:"There are forty seven percent of the people who will vote for the president no matter what. All right, there are 47 percent who are with him, who are dependent upon government, who believe that they are victims..." The Republican candidate said these Americans believe the government has a responsibility to care for them. He said they think they have a right to health care, food and housing. Mr. Romney said he will never get such people to vote for him. After the video was released on Monday, Mr. Romney defended his comments. He said he was attempting to show the differences between himself and Mr. Obama. MITT ROMNEY: "This is really a discussion about the political process of winning the election and, of course, I want to help all Americans. All Americans have a bright and prosperous future, and I'm convinced that the president's approach has not does that and will not do that." The president reacted to the comments on a television talk show. He noted that in two thousand eight, forty seven percent of voters did not choose him. But in Mr. Obama's words, "One of the things I've learned as president is you represent the entire country." After the video's release, budget experts hurried to identify the forty seven percent of Americans who depend on government support. The Tax Policy Center, an independent group, said just a little more than forty six percent pay no federal individual income taxes. But twenty eight percent of those not paying federal income taxes make payroll tax payments. This money is taken from a worker's wages. Payroll taxes provide for Medicare, the health plan for the aged, and Social Security, the government assistance program for retired workers. About seventeen percent of homes or families pay no income or payroll taxes. Almost all of those households are identified either as older adults or very needy people. Almost no one in the United States pays no taxes at all. There are taxes on companies, on imports and on inheritance, money or other property passed down by people who have died. There are also state and local taxes, and taxes on property, sales and gifts. The criticism of Mr. Romney left him at first defending his position, then taking to the offense. For example, he criticized comments that President Obama made on Thursday. Mr. Obama stated that, you cannot change Washington from the inside, and can only change it from the outside. The former governor said he can and will change Washington and will get the job done from the inside. In his words, "Republicans and Democrats will come together." And that's IN THE NEWS. I'm Steve Ember. Vietnam Opens its Securities Companies to Foreign Investors By VOA 20 September, 2012 This is the VOA Special English Economics Report. Vietnam is planning to open its markets to more foreign-owned securities companies. The plan is part of a larger effort to reduce government control of businesses and increase foreign investment. But a number of corruption cases are a concern for many Vietnamese. And rising prices could be a threat to economic growth. The Vietnamese economy has slowed after about ten years of fast growth. And debt is a problem for the country's banks. Small businesses are struggling to get loans, and some people have lost jobs. Vietnam's economy has slowed in recent months. In July, the government announced plans to restructure some of the biggest state-owned groups. They include the country's biggest oil producer, PetroVietnam. But the recent arrest of banker Nguyen Duc Kien for financial crimes shocked investors. Stock prices dropped sharply immediately after his arrest. In September, officials announced a change in rules for foreign ownership of Vietnamese securities companies. Under the new rules, foreign banks, investment and insurance companies can buy up to one hundred percent of the shares in an existing securities company. Economists say the move provides support for privatization. Vuong Quan Hoang is an economist with the University of Brussels. He says the move is an important step for Vietnam. VUONG QUAN HOANG: "For foreign securities companies, I think this is going to be a good thing." But Vuong Quan Hoang says the changes will likely not be felt for another twelve months, when the economy is stronger. He says there is a lot of work to be done now. And, he adds, there could be trouble in the Vietnamese real estate market. VUONG QUAN HOANG: "Right now there are issues with the real estate market, which is something big, and the interconnection between the real estate market, the securities market and the banking system." There are already growing signs of public dissatisfaction with the economy. Recently, a group of students protested near the offices of PetroVietnam and the gas company Petrolimex. One student says rising fuel prices hit poor people hardest. And there is growing anger over corruption. (SOUND) This student says people are expected to pay bribes, providing money or gifts to officials to get the most basic services, like hospital care. Observers have welcomed the actions Vietnam has taken. But politics and the economy are linked in the country. And how well reforms will work remains unclear. And that's the VOA Special English Economics Report. I'm Barbara Klein. ____________ Adapted from a report by Marianne Brown After Long Fight, DC Wins Right to a Statue in the Capitol Building 20 September, 2012 JUNE SIMMS: Welcome to AMERICAN MOSAIC in VOA Special English. (MUSIC) I'm June Simms. On our show this week, we play some songs from a new album by Dwight Yoakam. Statue of Frederick Douglass by sculptor Steven Weitzman And, we tell about a small but meaningful victory for the people of Washington D.C. who seek more representation in the United States Capitol building. (MUSIC) Frederick Douglass Statue for the Capitol Building JUNE SIMMS: The people of Washington DC won a long fought battle earlier this month. No, not statehood or a vote in the United States Congress. But, a little more representation than before. Lawmakers approved a measure permitting a statue of a former Washingtonian to be placed in the Capitol building. The statue of writer, scholar and anti-slavery leader Frederick Douglass will be set up near or in Statuary Hall. Each state is permitted two statues in the Capitol. Each statue represents someone from that state. For example, Virginia provided statues of President George Washington and General Robert E. Lee. Hawaii chose native chief Kamehameha the First as one of its statues. Alabama has a statue of Helen Keller. And so on. But for years the District of Columbia was denied a statue because it is not a state. And that has angered DC's congressional representative, Eleanor Holmes Norton. She serves on House of Representatives committees, but her powers are limited. For example, she is not permitted to vote on legislation. But Ms. Norton attempts to have her say on all issues that affect the citizens of Washington, including statuary representation in the Capitol building. She has been working to pass a measure in Congress for years. Ms. Norton expressed great pleasure about the final passage by both houses last week. "D.C. residents pay more than their share of federal taxes, and are entitled to have two statues in the Capitol, like every state," she said. Frederick Douglass was not a native son of Washington, D.C. But he was born in the neighboring state of Maryland sometime around eighteen eighteen. Douglass was born a slave. But he escaped to freedom as a teenager. Douglass had learned to read and write as a boy. He continued to educate himself his whole life. As a leader of the movement to end slavery, Douglass spoke to crowds in many American cities. He is still considered one of the most powerful speakers in American history. He also was a writer and served as an advisor to President Abraham Lincoln. The District of Columbia asked artist Steven Weitzman to create the bronze statue of Frederick Douglass. It was completed in two thousand seven. The statue shows Douglass standing at a lectern, giving a speech. He is holding a pen and paper to represent his work as a writer. Mr. Weitzman has also spent years pushing for the statue's move to the Capitol. Now, he has to wait only a little longer for President Obama to sign the measure into law. But Delegate Norton's battle will continue. She says she will keep fighting to get a second statue representing D.C. in the Capitol. (MUSIC) Dwight Yoakam "3 Pears" JUNE SIMMS: Country music lovers have been waiting five years for Dwight Yoakam to make a new album. That wait ended this week when Warner Brothers Records released "3 Pears." The singer and songwriter told a reporter the album is, in his words, "a return to the seventeen year old version of me." Christopher Cruise has more. CHRISTOPHER CRUISE: Dwight Yoakam covers a lot of musical territory. He had always honored country music traditions, but added the sharper edge of rock and roll. The songs he writes explore the human condition more deeply than most country pop. His audience is large and mixed as a result. He can count punk, country, pop and blues music lovers among his fans. "3 Pears" is a perfect example of Dwight Yoakam's inclusive style. He co-wrote one song with rapper Kid Rock. "Take Hold of My Hand" is about learning to trust love. Dwight Yoakam performing at a music awards ceremony in June ?? Yoakam spoke about that idea with a reporter from the Chicago Tribune. He said he believes in "that universal sense that somewhere in existence is the agape version of love. We share something in common with the fabric of the whole universe that connects us," he said. In "Take Hold of My Hand," Yoakam sings: Take hold of my hand / And I'll do what I can / To make everything right / At least for tonight. (MUSIC) Dwight Yoakam also shares production credits on "3 Pears" with indie musician Beck. Yoakam told Billboard magazine that the two of them had crossed paths several times over the years. Yoakam decided to ask Beck to come listen to a few songs. Dwight Yoakam says none of the songs he played for the indie musician became the songs he produced. But he says Beck was helpful giving him direction for making "3 Pears." Beck produced "Missing Heart" on the album and this song, "A Heart Like Mine." You can hear a Beatles influence in the guitar work and percussion. (MUSIC) Dwight Yoakam wrote most of the songs on "Three Pears." However, he does cover a few songs made famous by others. There is a version of the celebrated Johnny and June Carter Cash song, "Ring of Fire." It is available only on the "3 Pears" CDs sold at Target stores. This is also true of Yoakam's surprising cover of the Bee Gees hit, "To Love Somebody." But the artist also does a modern version of Joe Maphis' old country hit, "Dim Lights, Thick Smoke." (MUSIC) Dwight Yoakam has sold more than twenty-five million records since his first release in nineteen eighty six. "3 Pears" is his thirteenth studio album. Yoakam also has a successful career as an actor, film writer and producer in Hollywood. We leave you with Dwight Yoakam performing "Trying" from his new album "3 Pears." (MUSIC) JUNE SIMMS: I'm June Simms. This program was written and produced by Caty Weaver. Go to 51voa.com to find transcripts and MP3s of our programs and to post comments on our relationship advice blog. If you want to ask our audience for advice, write to mosaic@voanews.com. Type "relationship" in the subject line. We won't publish your name but please include your age, gender and country. Join us again next week for music and more on AMERICAN MOSAIC in VOA Special English. American History: English Settlers Establish Colonies In the New World HYPERLINK "http://www.51voa.com/intro/help.html" \t "_blank" By VOA 19 September, 2012 STEVE EMBER: Welcome to THE MAKING OF A NATION – American history in VOA Special English. I'm Steve Ember. Last week in our series, we talked about the voyages to the New World by Christoper Columbus and other explorers sailing for Spain and Portugal. Today, we tell the story of the first permanent English settlements in North America. (MUSIC) England was the first country to compete with Spain for claims in the New World. Queen Elizabeth the First supported explorations as early as the fifteen seventies. This painting portrays the story of Pocahontas saving the life of Captain John Smith Sir Humphrey Gilbert led the first English settlement efforts, but he did not establish any lasting settlement. He died as he was returning to England. Gilbert's half-brother, Sir Walter Raleigh, continued the work. Raleigh sent a number of ships to explore the east coast of North America. He named the land Virginia in honor of Queen Elizabeth, who never married and was known as "the Virgin Queen." (MUSIC) In fifteen eighty-five, about one hundred men settled on Roanoke Island, off the coast of the present-day state of North Carolina. These settlers returned to England a year later. Another group went to Roanoke the next year. This group included a number of women and children. But the supply ships that Raleigh sent to the colony failed to arrive. When help got there in fifteen-ninety, none of the settlers could be found. At least some of the settlers may have become part of the Indian tribe that lived in the area. (MUSIC) One reason for the delay in getting supplies to Roanoke was the attack of the Spanish Navy against England in fifteen eighty-eight. King Phillip of Spain had decided to invade England. But the small English ships combined with a fierce storm defeated the huge Spanish fleet. As a result, Spain was no longer able to block English exploration. England discovered that supporting colonies so far away cost a lot of money. So Queen Elizabeth took no more action to do it. Not until after her death in sixteen three did England begin serious efforts to start colonies in America. (MUSIC) In sixteen six, the new English King, James the First, gave two business groups permission to establish colonies in Virginia, the area claimed by England. Companies were organized to carry out the move. The London Company sent one hundred settlers to Virginia in sixteen six. The group landed there in May, sixteen seven and founded Jamestown. It was the first permanent English colony in the new world. The colony seemed about to fail from the start. The settlers did not plant their crops in time so they soon had no food. Their leaders lacked the farming and building skills needed to survive on the land. More than half the settlers died during the first winter. (MUSIC) The businessmen controlling the colony from London knew nothing about living in such a wild place. They wanted the settlers to search for gold, and explore local rivers in hopes of finding a way to the East. One settler knew this was wrong. His name was Captain John Smith. He helped the colonists build houses and grow food by learning from the local Indians. Still, the Jamestown settlers continued to die each year from disease, starvation and Indian attacks. The London Company sent six thousand settlers to Virginia between sixteen six and sixteen twenty-two. More than four thousand died during that time. Historians say that all the settlers surely would have died without the help of the local Powhatan Indians. The Indians gave the settlers food. They taught them how to live in the forest. And the Powhatan Indians showed the settlers how to plant new crops and how to clear the land for building. The settlers accepted the Indians' help. Then, however, the settlers took whatever else they wanted by force. In sixteen twenty-two, the local Indians attacked the settlers for interfering with Indian land. Three hundred forty settlers died. The colonists answered the attack by destroying the native tribes living along Virginia's coast. (MUSIC) The settlers recognized that they would have to grow their own food and survive on their own without help from England or anyone else. The Jamestown colony was clearly established by sixteen twenty-four. It was even beginning to earn money by growing and selling a new crop: tobacco. The other early English settlements in North America were much to the north, in what is today the state of Massachusetts. The people who settled there left England for