English In The News: Patriots, Brady and Lady Gaga Impress at Super Bowl

This is What’s Trending Today.

The New England Patriots football team defeated the Atlanta Falcons in the 51st Super Bowl on Sunday. It was the Patriots’ fifth Super Bowl win.

It was also the first-ever Super Bowl game to go into overtime.

At one point, the Patriots were losing to the Falcons 28-3. The game seemed over. But the Patriots came back to win in overtime, 34-28. Running back James White dove over the goal line to score the winning touchdown.

Names from this year’s Super Bowl took over Twitter and Facebook in the United States from Sunday evening into Monday.

New England quarterback Tom Brady was named the game’s Most Valuable Player. He became the first quarterback in the National Football League to win five Super Bowls.

James White scores the winning touchdown for New England.

One writer said he played the best Super Bowl game ever.

 Follow

Adam Kilgore 

✔@AdamKilgoreWP

Tom Brady's competitive will is a marvel. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/sports/wp/2017/02/06/tom-brady-didnt-just-have-the-best-super-bowl-ever-he-played-the-greatest-football-game-ever/?utm_term=.d62f0f7e973f …

8:31 PM - 6 Feb 2017

Analysis | Tom Brady didn’t just have the best Super Bowl ever. He played the greatest football...

How good was Brady's Super Bowl Sunday? Let us count the ways.

washingtonpost.com

 
•  33 Retweets
 
•  77 likes

The Falcons looked so good in the first half of the game that many people turned away from the game itself.

That set the stage for the halftime show. Lady Gaga’s 13-minute show got better ratings than the game did.

Lady Gaga arrives for her performance at the Super Bowl.

Lady Gaga wore a beaded, silver costume, including high-heeled silver boots. She had sparkling makeup around her eyes. She was lowered onto the stage with wires from high above the stadium.

She performed seven of her popular songs, including “Poker Face,” “Bad Romance,” “Just Dance” and “Born This Way.”

She was joined on stage by many dancers but no guest performers.

After the game, Lady Gaga announced her plans for a series of performances around the world. The tour starts in Canada on August 1 and takes her to the United States, Brazil, Switzerland, England, Spain, Sweden and several other countries.

One expert said it was the fourth-straight year that more people watched the halftime show than the football game itself.

Television commercials also trended on social media. One of the most talked-about commercials came from the building supply company 84 Lumber.

That advertisement showed a mother and daughter walking through the desert towards the United States, only to be stopped at the border by a wall. They believe their trip is over, but find a door that lets them through.

The commercial ends with the words: “The will to succeed is always welcome here.”

And that’s What’s Trending Today.

I’m Dan Friedell.

_______________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

overtime – n. extra time added to a game when the score is tied at the end of the normal playing time

receiver – n. a player who catches passes thrown by the quarterback

quarterback – n. a player who leads a team's attempts to score usually by passing the ball to other players

costume – n. the clothes that are worn by someone (such as an actor) who is trying to look like a different person or thing

halftime – n. the period of rest between the end of the first half and the beginning of the second half in games like football and basketball

set the stage – expression. to make something likely or ready to happen

sparkling– adj. shining with or reflecting bright points of light

wire – n. a thin, flexible thread of metal

beaded - adj. decorated or covered with beads; bead: a small, usually round piece of glass, wood, stone, etc., that has a hole through its center and that is put on a string with other similar pieces and worn as jewelry or that is sewn onto clothing

tour – n. a series of related performances, appearances, competitions, etc., that occur at different places over a period of time

will – n. a strong desire or determination to do something

running back – n. a player who carries the football on running plays

Read More

English In The News: "Groundhog Day 2017" Punxsutawney Phil Predicts Six More Weeks of Winter

Here's What's Trending Today.

Pennsylvania’s world famous groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil, predicted six more weeks of winter on Thursday after seeing his shadow.

This event is part of an American tradition called “Groundhog Day.” It takes place every February 2 in the small Pennsylvanian town of Punxsutawney.

Since 1886, thousands of people have come together on this day on a hill called “Gobbler’s Knob.” They watch as a groundhog named Phil predicts the length of the winter season. Today was the 131^st official Groundhog Day.

A groundhog is a large rodent, and part of a family known as marmots.

On Groundhog Day, Phil the groundhog comes out of a hole in the earth just after sunrise. As the tradition goes, Phil will then look for his shadow on the ground. If he sees his shadow, there will be six more weeks of cold weather during winter. If Phil does not see his shadow, warmer weather will arrive soon.

From Europe to America

The story of Groundhog Day comes from an early Christian European tradition, says John Griffiths. He helps take care of Phil the groundhog.

“It stems from the tradition of ‘Candlemass.’ February 2 actually is the halfway point of winter. In Europe, they would melt their candles down and make new candles … and it was basically a day for communities and folks to get together.”

Griffiths said that when European settlers came to Pennsylvania from Germany, they held on to that tradition. They decided that the groundhog was the best animal to continue the tradition.

The town of Punxsutawney held its first Groundhog Day in 1886, but the first official Groundhog Day at Gobbler’s Knob happened the next year, in 1887.

The legend of Phil

Phil is taken care of by a local group known as Phil’s “Inner Circle.” Griffiths is a member of the Inner Circle. He says the group helps pull Phil out of the hole on Groundhog Day. The members also take care of the day-to-day activities of the Groundhog Club. The Groundhog Club organizes the annual celebration.

Punxsutawney Phil's Inner Circle of Caregivers

Phil has become very important for the town of Punxsutawney. This year, between 15,000 to 20,000 people came to town for the celebration. The event helps support the local economy.

Many people say that Punxsutawney Phil is always correct with his weather predictions. Elaine Owen traveled to Punxsutawney from Greenwich, Pennsylvania. It was her first time coming to the event.

“It’s just been a tradition that everybody says that the groundhog is very accurate. And whatever he predicts is what happens.”

As the story goes, the groundhog that appeared in this year’s event is the same groundhog that saw its shadow in 1886. Phil is able to live so long because he drinks “groundhog punch,” made from a secret recipe. One sip is given to Phil every summer. It is enough to give him many more years of life.

More than just the weather

The Stormfax website looked back at Punxsutawney Phil’s predictions over the years. It found Phil has been correct 39 percent of the time. He usually predicts six more weeks of winter weather.

Griffiths says Groundhog Day means more to people than just predicting the weather.

“It’s not religious, it’s not political, it’s all about having fun. It’s a time of the year… it gives everybody a chance to get out and for one day, cast all their cares off and have a good time.”

Visitors agree. One visitor who went by the nickname of “Winter” says the event helps bring the community together.

“I think it brings a community together, and people get really excited… generally speaking Groundhog Day is something that, for a very long time, has brought communities together."

Whether it is for the community, the weather prediction, or just the tradition itself, Groundhog Day is one of America’s most unusual celebrations.

And that's What's Trending Today.

I’m Jill Robbins.

_____________________________________________________

Words in This Story

accurate - adj. able to produce results that are correct

candle - n. wax that has been formed into a stick or another shape and has a string in the middle that can be burned

cast - v. to throw or move (something) in a forceful way

celebration - n. a party or other special event that you have for an important occasion or holiday

groundhog - n. a small, furry North American animal that lives in the ground

marmot - n. a small animal of America and Europe that has short legs and that lives in holes that it digs in the ground

rodent - n. a small animal (such as a mouse, rat, squirrel, or beaver) that has sharp front teeth

Read More

English In The News: Trump Fires Official Who Refused to Defend Travel Ban

U.S. President Donald Trump has removed Acting Attorney General Sally Yates for refusing to enforce or defend an executive order he signed last week limiting immigration.

The president appointed Dana Boente to replace Yates as the acting head of the Justice Department. Boente immediately cancelled Yates’ order and vowed to “defend the lawful orders of our president.”

The order stops all refugees from entering the United States for 120 days, and bans Syrian refugees indefinitely. It also blocks people from Iraq, Iran, Libya, Syria, Sudan, Yemen and Somalia.

The Associated Press noted that Yates’ removal was “a warning to other administration officials that Trump is prepared to terminate those who refuse to carry out his orders.” The news agency called the firing “an extraordinary public showdown.”

Yates was named to the second-highest position in the Justice Department by then-President Barack Obama. On Monday, she ordered the department’s lawyers not to defend the immigration order.

In a memo, she wrote, “At present, I am not convinced that the defense of the Executive Order is consistent with these responsibilities nor am I convinced that the Executive Order is lawful.”

The career prosecutor added: “For as long as I am the Acting Attorney General, the Department of Justice will not present arguments in defense of the Executive Order, unless and until I become convinced that it is appropriate to do so.”

A few hours later, Yates was fired. The White House press secretary released a statement saying Yates “betrayed the Department of Justice by refusing to enforce a legal order designed to protect the citizens of the United States.” It said the department’s Office of Legal Counsel approved the order.

Mixed reaction to the firing

Many Democrats criticized the decision to fire Yates. Steny Hoyer, a senior Democratic congressman, called the decision “alarming.” He said “the American people need to consider whether President Trump simply plans to dismiss anyone with whom he disagrees, and I hope my Republican colleagues stand up and express concern over this as well.”

Chuck Schumer is the Senate minority leader. He wrote on Twitter that the attorney general “should pledge fidelity to the law and the Constitution, not the White House. The fact that this [administration] doesn’t understand that is chilling.”

 Follow

Chuck Schumer 

✔@SenSchumer

The AG should pledge fidelity to the law & the Constitution not the WhiteHouse. The fact that this admin doesnt understand that is chilling.

10:15 AM - 31 Jan 2017

 
•  12,31012,310 Retweets
 
•  25,18925,189 likes

​But Republican Senator Ted Cruz strongly defended the decision to fire Yates. He said Yates’ refusal to support the executive order is a “fitting and sad” last act of Obama’s Department of Justice.

“President Trump was exactly right to fire an acting attorney general who refused to carry out her constitutional duty to enforce and defend the law,” Cruz said.

This week, the Senate Judiciary Committee is expected to approve the nomination of Senator Jeff Sessions for attorney general. He is expected to defend and enforce Trump’s immigration order.

Senator Sessions was a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee in 2015 when Yates was confirmed to be the deputy attorney general.

During a hearing on her confirmation, Sessions asked Yates: “If the views the president wants to execute are unlawful, should the attorney general or the deputy attorney general say no?”

Yates said she believed that “the attorney general or the deputy attorney general has an obligation to follow the law and the Constitution, and to give their independent legal advice to the president.”

I’m Anna Matteo.

Words in This Story

executive order – n. an order that comes from the U.S. President or a government agency and must be obeyed like a law

terminate – v. to take a job away from (someone)

betray – v. to do something that does not agree with (your beliefs, principles, etc.)

pledge – v. to formally promise to give or do (something)

fidelity – n. the quality of being faithful or loyal to a country, organization, etc. (usually + to)

chilling – adj. very disturbing or frightening

act – n. something that is done

Read More

English In The News: 'Stranger Things' Wins Actors' Group Award

This is What’s Trending Today.

People on social media are talking about the 2017 Screen Actors Guild (SAG) awards show. The event took place Sunday night in Los Angeles, California.

Five young actors were as surprised as the crowd when they heard their show, "Stranger Things," had won the award for best drama series.

The young actors are from 12 to 15 years old. They jumped for joy as they got out of their seats to accept the award.

The show "Stranger Things" is set in 1983. It tells about the disappearance of a young boy in a small Indiana town. His friends try to find him with the help of the boy's mother, played by Winona Ryder, and the local police chief, played by David Harbour.

Accepting the award for the cast, Harbour said that actors can "change the world … and through our art … battle against fear, self-centeredness and exclusivity ... to cultivate a more empathetic and understanding society."

During his speech, many people saw Ryder giving a number of facial expressions.

Another group of less-known actors won the award for best cast in a motion picture. The movie "Hidden Figures" tells the story of three African-American women who were mathematicians. They helped the American space agency send a man to the moon. The film’s cast includes Mahershala Ali, who also won an award for outstanding performance by a male actor in a supporting role for "Moonlight."

​Denzel Washington won the award for outstanding performance by a male actor in a leading role for "Fences." The well-known actor had never before received a SAG award.

The online service Netflix had a big night at the awards ceremony. Netflix won four awards. Among them was “Orange Is the New Black,” which won for best group of actors in a comedy series for the third time in three years. The series' lead actor, Taylor Schilling, spoke about the diversity of the cast.

“We stand up here representing a diverse group of people, representing generations of families who have sought a better life here from places like Nigeria, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Colombia, Ireland ... and we know that it's going to be up to us and all of you, probably, to keep telling stories that show what unites us is stronger than the forces that seek to divide us.”

The next award ceremony for the movie industry will be the Academy Awards, which takes place on February 27.

One nominee is Iranian director Asghar Farhadi, whose film "The Salesman" is nominated for best foreign language film. Farhadi says he will not attend the ceremony. He is protesting the new U.S. travel ban on Iran and six other countries.

I’m Jill Robbins.

Words in This Story

guild - n. an organized group of people who have joined together because they share the same job or interest

cast - n. the actors in a play, film, or television show

exclusive - adj. not shared; available to only one person or group

empathize - v. to have the same feelings as another person

diversity - n. the state of having a variety of types of people

drama – n. a movie or television production with a story about a serious subject, such as conflict

role – n. a part played by an actor

comedy – n. a show with a happy ending; ahumorous production

Read More