W5: Comparison between 4 and 4s

                It was a little bit disappointed for those Apple fans, who were waiting for an iPhone 5. However, iPhone 4s still impresses public with its new features and huge improvements from the predecessor. 

                To compare with older version of iPhone 4, iPhone 4s came with two built-in antennas to avoid call drops when you move from one place to another, and A5 dual-core processor for faster internal processing speed. In addition, Apple has expanded the storage options. 64GB model is now available along with original 16GB and 32GB models. One of the main features of iPhone 4s is Siri, a voice recognition system, sound-controlled assistant. You will be amazed how Siri can do many things for you. You can not only able to send text messages and emails hands-free but also find the restaurants you want and get the directions as well through Siri. Another big improvements from previous iPhone was the camera that the iPhone 4s employs a new 8-megapixel camera to compare with iPhone 4’s 5-megapixel camera. It also supports up to 1080p HD video recording that almost beat off other competitors. Furthermore, iPhone 4s is faster to launch camera and to shoot photos than the previous, and photos are captured with more accurate color because of the 8-megapixel. 

                In conclusion, iPhone 4s are doing far better than the previous version compared to its improvements from 5-megapixel to 8-megapixel, added features of voice assistant Siri, and the extended storage of 64GB options from 16GB and 32GB.

1) Antenna (Aerial): Noun. A rod, wire, or other device used to transmit or receive radio or television signals.

    Ex. Wind had blown away my antenna!

2) Predecessor (Precursor): Noun. A thing that has been followed or replaced by another.

    Ex. This model is the predecessor of that one.

3) Dual (Double):Adj. Consisting of two parts, elements, or aspects.

    Ex. Most of the computers nowadays are built with dual-core Intel for faster performance.

4) Processor (Computer): Noun. A machine that processes something.

    Ex. Processor is the hardware that process commands user gave to a computer.

5) Megapixel: Noun. One million pixels, used as a measure of the resolution in digital cameras.

    Ex. I wish I had a 10-megapixel camera.

W5: introduction of Moulin Rouge

I read a review of Moulin Rouge (2001)http://skymovies.sky.com/moulin-rouge/review
  

It's one of my favorite movies, and I have saw this movie for over 5 times. It's a tragicomic musical movie. The story background set in 1900's Paris. The cabaret's star courtesan, Satine (Nicole Kidman), mistakenly fell in love with the poor writer, Cristian(Ewan McGregor) because she thought Cristian was the wealthy duke who was going to sponsor the new show in Moulin Rouge.

The real duke wanted Satine to be his woman so that he would go on his investment on Moulin Rouge. Therefore, Satine and Cristian could only love secretly. Their relationship was finally found by duke. He was very angry and hired a killer to kill Cristian. As Satine knew his plan, she wanted to save Cristian's life anyway. In fact, Satine was dying because of consumption, so she pretended that she didn't love Cristian at all and ask him to go away from her. Cristian couldn't believe this, so he decided to talk with Satine with his last hope. Even though he found out Satine's real mind, it's still nothing he could do. Satine died in his arms in the end.

It's like another version of Romeo and Juliet, and I was so surprised about Nicole Kidmam and Ewan McGregor's talents of singing. I enjoy this movie and their voices a lot.

1)      Tragicomedy: Noun.  A play that is both funny and sad.

Ex. This movie is a tragicomedy that combined funny and sad in the story .

2)      cabaret: Noun. Entertainment with singing and dancing that is performed in restaurants or clubs in the evenings.

Ex. Many people go to cabaret for having fun.

3)      courtesan: Noun. In the past a prostitute, especially one with rich customers.

Ex. The beautiful courtesan falls in love with a poor writer.

4)      duke: Noun. A nobleman of the highest rank.

Ex. The wealthy duke pays money to buy love.

5)      consumption(tuberculosis): Noun. A serious infectious disease of the lungs.

Ex. Consumption is a kind of lung diseases that is hard to be cured.

W4: The story of Thanksgiving

About four hundred years ago, the people from England, the Pilgrims, were forced to leave their country by some religious reasons. At first, they moved to Holland, and hired two vessels called Mayflower and Speedwell to take them to a place where they dream of.
However, Speedwell was not strong enough and go back Holland soon after sailing, so Mayflower went along to America. This journey was pretty long and difficult. The sea was not quiet and the foods on the boat actually were not enough. After they landed on America, they were too weak to passed the winter. Only half of them survived after the first winter. Then, the Indians who were the native residents there came and helped them. They taught the Pilgrims how to grow plants that could help them pass next winter comfortably with enough food. While the Pilgrims  harvest the plans, they invited their Indian friends to join the celebration, the first thanksgiving day, which they thanked God for the great harvest.


reference:
http://www.apples4theteacher.com/holidays/thanksgiving/short-stories/the-first-thanksgiving.html



1) Pilgrims: Noun. A member of the group of English people who sailed to America on the ship The Mayflower.
Ex. Pilgrims came to America around 1620.

2) Naughty (bad): Adj. Behaving badly; not willing to obey.
Ex. Naughty child always give parents a headache.

3) Vessel (ship): Noun. A large ship or boat.
Ex. A blue vessel had arrived the harbor.

4) Pitched (sway): Verb. The movement of ship up and down in the water.
Ex. Rough sea caused the ship pitched all day.

5) Tiresome (wearisome): Adj. Making you feel annoyed and tire.
Ex. Stuck in the traffic can be very tiresome.

W4: Thanksgiving sale info.

            As you may know, Thanksgiving is one of the biggest holidays for shopping in U.S. There are numerous discounts offered by department stores, shopping mall, and even outlet. According to outlet’s information, they have extended their shopping hours for this Thanksgiving holidays:

·         Friday              November 25:             Midnight-10pm

·         Saturday          November 26:             8am-10pm

·         Sunday            November 27:             9am-8pm

While many stores extend their opening hours on Friday midnight, there are some selected stores open early at 9pm, 10pm, and 11pm Thursday November 24, so be sure to be there early because there will be traffic!

            In addition, I had found outlet website that provides information about discount from many popular stores that they would offer during the Thanksgiving holidays. I think this is a good chance for shopping,and you should not miss it before you go back to your country!

For more information, please visit outlet’s website at

http://www.premiumoutlets.com/special-sales-events/special-sales/waikele.asp

If you need to take bus or need information regarding the location of Waikele outlet

http://www.premiumoutlets.com/outlets/directions.asp?id=29

1) Polo: Noun. A game of Eastern origin resembling field hockey, played on horseback with a long- handled mallet.

     Ex. It would be hard to actual see a polo game nowadays.

2) Brook (river): Noun. A small stream

     Ex. There is a brook between the tribe.

3) Converse (talk): Verb. Engage in conversation.

     Ex. Customer support converse to customers on phone each day.

4) Madness (insanity): Noun. A state of frenzied or chaotic activity.

     Ex. Students at bars turn into madness after finals.

5) Maternity (motherhood): Noun. Clothes dressed during the period of pregnancy.

     Ex. There is a pregnant woman with fashion maternity dress.

W3: Parental Discipline & Child Abuse

I read an editorial news that the issues is about “parental discipline”. A 23 year-old woman posted a video that she captured with hidden camera seven years ago.  Her father, a Texas judge, was hitting on her with powerful belt lashes for illegally downloading music. Some people who have watched this video said “That’s not discipline, it’s a beating!”

Expects also tell readers that if you are going to punish your children, never spank them while you are in the moment of anger. The anger will make you mad. The line between parental discipline and child abuse is always hard to be distinct, but in this case, the father whipped his daughter with belt, this is absolutely a mind-losing lashing. He has been forced to leave temporally from his position until this event is cleaned up.

Most of us might become parent someday, and has you ever think about what kind of parent you want to be? It will be a big difficulty for us in the future.

1) ferocious (fierce): Adj. Very aggressive or violent; very strong

Ex. Some contents in the movie are ferocious.

2) spank (slap): Verb. To hit sb, especially a child, several times on their bottom as a punishment

Ex. There is an issue and debate over spanking a child.

3) bruises (injure): Noun. A blue, brown or purple mark that appears on the skin after sb has fallen, been hit, etc.

Ex. After a trip to ski, I had some bruises on my leg.

4) corporal punishment (penalty): Adj. The physical punishment of people, especially by hitting them.

Ex. Corporal punishment should be banned and disallowed.

5) outrageous (shocking): Adj. Unacceptable and very unusual.

Ex. Crucial corporal punishment is outrageous!

W3: J. K. Rowling

You might not know who J.K. Rowling is, but you must know about “Harry Potter”!  Yes, she is the author of the seven-book fantasy series about a boy wizard which has  broken publishing record, the most best-Selling book ever.

Rowling said that she did not expect that this story will bring her fame and money, and she just wrote it as a bed time story for children. The idea of Harry Potter came out to her while she was riding a train in England from Manchester to London. She becomes extraordinary because of this story, but she deeply hopes that she could be treated as a regular person.

She has finished the whole story of Harry Potter and she also stated that she won’t write anything as popular as this one. This piece is considered to be her representative work in her writing career and a miracle in the publishing industry.

 1) illusion (delusion): Noun. A false idea or belief, especially about sb or about a situation

Ex. In the dream, everything is illusion.

2) phenomenal (extraordinary): Adj. Very great or impressive

Ex. The research result has gotten a phenomenal success.

3)devastated (overwhelmed): Adj. extremely upset and shocked

Ex. This boy is devastated with his father’s death.

4) stroller (buggy): Noun. A type of light folding chair on wheels in which a baby or small child is pushed along.

Ex. Mothers nowadays are more preferred with stroller than carry on their backs.

5) enrapture (captivate): Verb. To give sb great pleasure or joy.

Ex. People can easily be enraptured by the TV dramas.

W2: A couple was arrested for $5 sandwich

I read a news about “a couple was arrested for $5 sandwich.” This couple was arrested after paying for $50 in groceries but not paying for the sandwich they ate while shopping.  They said that they are not intent to steal the sandwich, but just forgot to pay for it. The woman who is 30-weeks pregnant felt dizzy because of hungry during shopping, so she decided to eat the sandwich. The store manager insist to call the police. When the police arrived, the couple were arrested, and their 3-yeay-old daughter was taken away right from the grocery store. They even did not know where their daughter was, and worried about her very much. She was returned to her parents 18 hours later. The couple was angry about the way the deal with this case. This could have been handled differently. The store admitted that they handled the situation in the moment inappropriately. 

reference:

http://www.khon2.com/mostpopular/story/Makiki-couple-arrested-over-5-sandwich/h-yUAH_SuEOvm_PZfXUcZA.cspx

W2: My strategies for memorizing words

To memorize vocabulary it is never enough if you just read the definition of the word.

One of the most important skills of my strategy for memorizing vocabulary is to analyze the word’s pronunciation. First, you should know how to pronounce the word, such as, check the word’s IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet), so that you can find out all the syllables in the word.

For example:

“entrepreneurial” -> entre-pre-neu-rial

This step would be helpful for you to memorize even long and difficult words easily. And that also helps you to recognize the word next time when you hear it from other place.

Another important thing is to make sure that you really know the word’s part of speech. This is a necessary process, because it makes you know how to apply the word in your sentence with a correct grammar.

I hope these methods would be helpful for you guys!

W2: Drinkinf coffee lower the risk of skin cancer

I read a news article from yahoo, that is about "drinking coffee" can reduce the risk of skin cancer. We all know there are many people has the habit to drink coffee everyday. It has been proofed that coffee has many benefits for our health, to prevent  from several particular disease. Such as, breast cancer and Alzheimer's disease that both of them are now has no medicine to cure.
Recently, there is another good news for coffee lovers. Coffee is found to lower the risk of having basal cell carcinoma (BBC), basic of skin cancer,especially for the women who drank more than three cups of coffee a day. It might reduce about 20% of BBC for them.
Coffee consumption now is not just a habit, but also a way to keep you away from some diseases.


 reference:
 http://news.yahoo.com/health-buzz-coffee-may-cut-skin-cancer-risk-161116476.html