ball (1): a fun time.
e.g.
Thanks for the party, I really had a ball!
ball [offensive] (2): a testicle.
She kicked him in his balls.
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Phrasal Verb for today
Ask in
- To invite somebody into your house
e.g.
The new neighbor asks in the local people in the area for a tea party tonight.
- To invite somebody into your house
e.g.
The new neighbor asks in the local people in the area for a tea party tonight.
Friday, October 24, 2008
american slang for the day
baby boomer: a person born from the end of the Second World War until the early 1960s.
e.g.
My mother is a baby boomer!
e.g.
My mother is a baby boomer!
Phrasal Verb for today
Ask around
- Ask a number of people for information of help
e.g.
The tourists asked around the locals on how to get to the old Cathedral.
- Invite someone
e.g.
The newly heart-broken celebrity asked around for a date this weekend.
- Ask a number of people for information of help
e.g.
The tourists asked around the locals on how to get to the old Cathedral.
- Invite someone
e.g.
The newly heart-broken celebrity asked around for a date this weekend.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
american slang for the day
ass [offensive] (1): backside.
My ass hurts when I fell on the stairs.
(2): an unworthy and hated person.
Her ex-boyfriend was such an ass.
My ass hurts when I fell on the stairs.
(2): an unworthy and hated person.
Her ex-boyfriend was such an ass.
Phrasal Verb for today
Ask for
- To provoke a negative reaction
e.g.
The rude boy was asking for trouble when he shouted at the police.
- Request to have or be given
e.g.
The employees asked for more office supplies immediately.
- To provoke a negative reaction
e.g.
The rude boy was asking for trouble when he shouted at the police.
- Request to have or be given
e.g.
The employees asked for more office supplies immediately.
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Phrasal Verb for today
Ask after
- Enquire about someone's health, how life is going
e.g.
The professor asks after his ex-wife through his son.
- Enquire about someone's health, how life is going
e.g.
The professor asks after his ex-wife through his son.
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Phrasal Verb for today
Argue out
- Argue about a problem to find a solution
e.g.
The team manager and supervisor argued about the consistent absences of their members.
- Argue about a problem to find a solution
e.g.
The team manager and supervisor argued about the consistent absences of their members.
Today's Tongue Twister
Once upon a barren moor
There dwelt a bear, also a boar,
The bear could not bear the boar,
The bear thought the boar was a bore.
At last the bear could bear no more
That boar that bored him on the moor.
And so one morn he bored the boar-
That boar will bore no more!
There dwelt a bear, also a boar,
The bear could not bear the boar,
The bear thought the boar was a bore.
At last the bear could bear no more
That boar that bored him on the moor.
And so one morn he bored the boar-
That boar will bore no more!
Monday, October 20, 2008
american slang for the day
ammunition: toilet paper.
e.g.
This office is worse, there's no available ammunition in the toilet!
e.g.
This office is worse, there's no available ammunition in the toilet!
Phrasal Verb for today
Answer for
- Be held responsible for a problem
- Speak on behalf of someone or from knowing them
e.g.
The security guard answered for the stolen goods during his shift at the store.
- Be held responsible for a problem
- Speak on behalf of someone or from knowing them
e.g.
The security guard answered for the stolen goods during his shift at the store.
Word of the Day
alfresco \al-FRES-koh\, adverb:
1. In the open air; outdoors.
adjective:
1. Taking place or located in the open air; outdoor.
Turner escaped from the entangled politics of London's art world, where the Royal Academy was marooned in petty disputes, to paint alfresco on the riverbanks.-- Siri Huntoon, "Down by the Riverside", New York Times, November 7, 1993
Outdoor sitting areas all have LAN connections, so that employees can work alfresco.-- Scott Kirsner, "Digital Competition - Laurie A. Tucker", Fast Company, December 1999
I sailed past alfresco cafes filled with young people reading the paper, past restaurants doing a thriving brunch business, and ended up dropping down a fairly steep hill to the water yet again, on an obscure street that ended near a big factory.-- Gary Kamiya, "An ode to Sydney", Salon, September 27, 2000
Alfresco is from the Italian al fresco, "in the fresh (air)," from al, "in the" (a, "to, in" + il, "the") + fresco, "fresh."
from: word of the day
1. In the open air; outdoors.
adjective:
1. Taking place or located in the open air; outdoor.
Turner escaped from the entangled politics of London's art world, where the Royal Academy was marooned in petty disputes, to paint alfresco on the riverbanks.-- Siri Huntoon, "Down by the Riverside", New York Times, November 7, 1993
Outdoor sitting areas all have LAN connections, so that employees can work alfresco.-- Scott Kirsner, "Digital Competition - Laurie A. Tucker", Fast Company, December 1999
I sailed past alfresco cafes filled with young people reading the paper, past restaurants doing a thriving brunch business, and ended up dropping down a fairly steep hill to the water yet again, on an obscure street that ended near a big factory.-- Gary Kamiya, "An ode to Sydney", Salon, September 27, 2000
Alfresco is from the Italian al fresco, "in the fresh (air)," from al, "in the" (a, "to, in" + il, "the") + fresco, "fresh."
from: word of the day
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Idiom for today
a household name/word
When the name of someone or something
becomes very familiar because it is so often used,
it is called a household name or word.
►The product was so successful that
its name became a household word in no time.
When the name of someone or something
becomes very familiar because it is so often used,
it is called a household name or word.
►The product was so successful that
its name became a household word in no time.
Phrasal Verb for today
Answer back
- To reply rudely to someone in authority
e.g.
The student answered back to his English teacher when he was reprimanded for his behavior.
- To reply rudely to someone in authority
e.g.
The student answered back to his English teacher when he was reprimanded for his behavior.
Word of the Day
bailiwick \BAY-luh-wik\, noun:
1. A person's specific area of knowledge, authority, interest, skill, or work.
2. The office or district of a bailiff.
I'll give it a try, but this is not my bailiwick.-- Sue Grafton, 'L' Is for Lawless
He "professed ignorance, as of something outside my bailiwick."-- Marc Aronson, "Wharton and the House of Scribner: The Novelist as a Pain in the Neck", New York Times, January 2, 1994
Fund-raising was Cliff's bailiwick, anyway, and he seemed to have it in hand.-- Curt Sampson, The Masters
Bailiwick comes from Middle English baillifwik, from baillif, "bailiff" (ultimately from Latin bajulus, "porter, carrier") + wik, "town," from Old English wic, from Latin vicus, "village."
from: word of the day
1. A person's specific area of knowledge, authority, interest, skill, or work.
2. The office or district of a bailiff.
I'll give it a try, but this is not my bailiwick.-- Sue Grafton, 'L' Is for Lawless
He "professed ignorance, as of something outside my bailiwick."-- Marc Aronson, "Wharton and the House of Scribner: The Novelist as a Pain in the Neck", New York Times, January 2, 1994
Fund-raising was Cliff's bailiwick, anyway, and he seemed to have it in hand.-- Curt Sampson, The Masters
Bailiwick comes from Middle English baillifwik, from baillif, "bailiff" (ultimately from Latin bajulus, "porter, carrier") + wik, "town," from Old English wic, from Latin vicus, "village."
from: word of the day
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Today's Tongue Twister
If I assist a sister-assistant, will the sister's sister-assistant assist me?
Phrasal Verbs for today
Angle for
- Try to get something indirectly, by hinting or suggesting
e.g. The police is angling for clues of the crime from the suspect.
- Try to get something indirectly, by hinting or suggesting
e.g. The police is angling for clues of the crime from the suspect.
Today's Idiom
hammer (something) home
If you hammer home a point or an argument, you repeat it often to make sure that it is fully understood.
►The policeman hammered home the dangers of drinking and driving.
If you hammer home a point or an argument, you repeat it often to make sure that it is fully understood.
►The policeman hammered home the dangers of drinking and driving.
Word of the Day
otiose \OH-shee-ohs; OH-tee-\, adjective:
1. Ineffective; futile.
2. Being at leisure; lazy; indolent; idle.
3. Of no use.
Mr. Federspiel's surreal flourishes and commentaries straddle the line between interesting and otiose. Most of the surrealism is pretty but pointless.-- D. F. Wallace, "The Million-Dollar Tattoo", New York Times, May 5, 1991
Although the wild outer movements and the angular Minuet can take such clockwork precision, the Andante, with its obsessive, claustrophobic dialogues between strings and bassoons, seemed sluggish and otiose.-- Tim Ashley, "VPO/Maazel", The Guardian, April 16, 2002
The umlaut he affected, which made no difference to the pronunciation of his name, was as otiose as a pair of strategically positioned beauty spots.-- Peter Conrad, "Hidden shallows", New Statesman, October 14, 2002
One hazard for religions in which all professional intermediaries are dispensed with, and in which the individual is enjoined to 'work out your own salvation' and is regarded as fully capable of doing so, is that belief and practice become independent of formal organized structures which may in such a context come to be perceived as otiose.-- Lorne L. Dawson, "The Cultural Significance of New Religious Movements: The Case of Soka Gakkai", Sociology of Religion, Fall 2001
Otiose is from Latin otiosus, "idle, at leisure," from otium, "leisure."
Dictionary.com Entry and Pronunciation for otiose
from: word of the day
1. Ineffective; futile.
2. Being at leisure; lazy; indolent; idle.
3. Of no use.
Mr. Federspiel's surreal flourishes and commentaries straddle the line between interesting and otiose. Most of the surrealism is pretty but pointless.-- D. F. Wallace, "The Million-Dollar Tattoo", New York Times, May 5, 1991
Although the wild outer movements and the angular Minuet can take such clockwork precision, the Andante, with its obsessive, claustrophobic dialogues between strings and bassoons, seemed sluggish and otiose.-- Tim Ashley, "VPO/Maazel", The Guardian, April 16, 2002
The umlaut he affected, which made no difference to the pronunciation of his name, was as otiose as a pair of strategically positioned beauty spots.-- Peter Conrad, "Hidden shallows", New Statesman, October 14, 2002
One hazard for religions in which all professional intermediaries are dispensed with, and in which the individual is enjoined to 'work out your own salvation' and is regarded as fully capable of doing so, is that belief and practice become independent of formal organized structures which may in such a context come to be perceived as otiose.-- Lorne L. Dawson, "The Cultural Significance of New Religious Movements: The Case of Soka Gakkai", Sociology of Religion, Fall 2001
Otiose is from Latin otiosus, "idle, at leisure," from otium, "leisure."
Dictionary.com Entry and Pronunciation for otiose
from: word of the day
Sunday, October 5, 2008
Today's Idiom
learning curve
This expression refers to the length of time needed to learn something new.
►The new system has a long learning curve so we'll have to give the staff time to get used to it.
This expression refers to the length of time needed to learn something new.
►The new system has a long learning curve so we'll have to give the staff time to get used to it.
Word of the Day
rubicund \ROO-bih-kund\, adjective:Inclining to redness; ruddy; red.
The men are second cousins, around forty, resembling each other not very much, one taller and leaner, less rubicund than the other, who has just returned from California.-- John Lukacs, A Thread of Years
Rubicund from his cocktail, big, broad, lustrous with power, he exuded what Walter Pater called the "charm of an exquisite character, felt in some way to be inseparable from his person."-- Edmund Morris, Dutch: A Memoir of Ronald Reagan
Rubicund comes from Latin rubicundus, "red, ruddy," from rubere, "to be red."
Dictionary.com Entry and Pronunciation for rubicund
from: dictionary- word of the day
The men are second cousins, around forty, resembling each other not very much, one taller and leaner, less rubicund than the other, who has just returned from California.-- John Lukacs, A Thread of Years
Rubicund from his cocktail, big, broad, lustrous with power, he exuded what Walter Pater called the "charm of an exquisite character, felt in some way to be inseparable from his person."-- Edmund Morris, Dutch: A Memoir of Ronald Reagan
Rubicund comes from Latin rubicundus, "red, ruddy," from rubere, "to be red."
Dictionary.com Entry and Pronunciation for rubicund
from: dictionary- word of the day
Phrasal Verbs for today
Account For - To explain
e.g. The mamager is accounted for the missing files.
Ache for -- Want something or someone a lot
e.g. The kid ached for the new robot.
Act on- - To take action because of something like information received
e.g. The mayor of the city acted on the sewage problem.
Act out- - Perform something with actions and gestures.
- Express an emotion in your behaviour
e.g. The witness acted out how the accident happened.
Act up- - Behave badly or strangely
e.g. The girls act up when they saw the rockstars.
Add on- - Include in a calculation
e.g. Please add on the paper clips and pens on the office supplies request.
Add up- - To make a mathematical total
- Be a satisfactory explanation for something
e.g. All of the expenses adds up to one thousand euros.
Add up to- Have a certain result
e.g. Your not being serious to your job adds up to your termination.
Aim at- - To target
e.g. The vigilant aims at the drug pushers of the city.
Allow for- - Include something in a plan or calculation
e.g. The children are allowed for picnic by themselves this weekend.
e.g. The mamager is accounted for the missing files.
Ache for -- Want something or someone a lot
e.g. The kid ached for the new robot.
Act on- - To take action because of something like information received
e.g. The mayor of the city acted on the sewage problem.
Act out- - Perform something with actions and gestures.
- Express an emotion in your behaviour
e.g. The witness acted out how the accident happened.
Act up- - Behave badly or strangely
e.g. The girls act up when they saw the rockstars.
Add on- - Include in a calculation
e.g. Please add on the paper clips and pens on the office supplies request.
Add up- - To make a mathematical total
- Be a satisfactory explanation for something
e.g. All of the expenses adds up to one thousand euros.
Add up to- Have a certain result
e.g. Your not being serious to your job adds up to your termination.
Aim at- - To target
e.g. The vigilant aims at the drug pushers of the city.
Allow for- - Include something in a plan or calculation
e.g. The children are allowed for picnic by themselves this weekend.
Thursday, October 2, 2008
SENTENCE ERRORS
1. Fragments
A sentence fragment is an incomplete sentence; it lacks either a subject, a verb, or both. The type of sentence fragment produced by ESL students is often a subordinate clause detached from the main clause.
Even with disguises and intricate systems of personal security.
When people eat and drink to excess.
Since the cost of living is so high in Hawaii.
Having suffered all day from a migraine headache.
The doctor, who is a prominent member of society.
2. Run-Together Sentences
When two sentences are written as one with no punctuation between (nor an appropriate conjunction), you have a run together sentence.
My back hurts it is weak.
This is my last course / graduate next month.
To correct:
a) Use an appropriate conjunction.
b) Separate the two sentences with a period.
c) Separate the two sentences with a semicolon.
3. Comma-Splice
When two sentences are separated by only a comma, the result is a comma splice.
He ate chicken that was not cooked properly, it made him sick.
/ read many books when / was a child, my favourite books were about animals.
To correct:
a) Use an appropriate conjunction.
b) Separate the two sentences with a period.
c) Change the comma to semicolon.
Source: ESL Lessons for you
A sentence fragment is an incomplete sentence; it lacks either a subject, a verb, or both. The type of sentence fragment produced by ESL students is often a subordinate clause detached from the main clause.
Even with disguises and intricate systems of personal security.
When people eat and drink to excess.
Since the cost of living is so high in Hawaii.
Having suffered all day from a migraine headache.
The doctor, who is a prominent member of society.
2. Run-Together Sentences
When two sentences are written as one with no punctuation between (nor an appropriate conjunction), you have a run together sentence.
My back hurts it is weak.
This is my last course / graduate next month.
To correct:
a) Use an appropriate conjunction.
b) Separate the two sentences with a period.
c) Separate the two sentences with a semicolon.
3. Comma-Splice
When two sentences are separated by only a comma, the result is a comma splice.
He ate chicken that was not cooked properly, it made him sick.
/ read many books when / was a child, my favourite books were about animals.
To correct:
a) Use an appropriate conjunction.
b) Separate the two sentences with a period.
c) Change the comma to semicolon.
Source: ESL Lessons for you
Word for the day
from: Dictionary
donnybrook \DON-ee-brook\, noun:1. A brawl; a free-for-all.2. A heated quarrel or dispute.
But this was the beginning of Tommy's years of fighting back, a period that ended in a donnybrook conducted all over the O'Connor house.-- Tracy Kidder, Home Town
Wine and talk flow freely, so much so that the meal ends with a Rooney family donnybrook over, typically enough, religion and politics.-- Howard Frank Mosher, "24 Hours in Due East, S.C.", New York Times, April 7, 1991
The author finds few villains in "West Virginia's Battle of the Books," which describes a donnybrook over the content of public school textbooks during the mid-70's in the "seemingly placid community" of Charleston, W.Va.-- Kaye Northcott, "Round Up the Usual Enigmas", New York Times, February 23, 1992
A donnybrook is so called after Donnybrook, Ireland, a suburb of Dublin that once held an annual fair known for its brawls.
donnybrook \DON-ee-brook\, noun:1. A brawl; a free-for-all.2. A heated quarrel or dispute.
But this was the beginning of Tommy's years of fighting back, a period that ended in a donnybrook conducted all over the O'Connor house.-- Tracy Kidder, Home Town
Wine and talk flow freely, so much so that the meal ends with a Rooney family donnybrook over, typically enough, religion and politics.-- Howard Frank Mosher, "24 Hours in Due East, S.C.", New York Times, April 7, 1991
The author finds few villains in "West Virginia's Battle of the Books," which describes a donnybrook over the content of public school textbooks during the mid-70's in the "seemingly placid community" of Charleston, W.Va.-- Kaye Northcott, "Round Up the Usual Enigmas", New York Times, February 23, 1992
A donnybrook is so called after Donnybrook, Ireland, a suburb of Dublin that once held an annual fair known for its brawls.
Idiom for today
on ice
To say that a plan or project is put on ice means that all further action has been postponed for an indefinite period of time.
►Plans for a nuclear power station have been put on ice.
To say that a plan or project is put on ice means that all further action has been postponed for an indefinite period of time.
►Plans for a nuclear power station have been put on ice.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Word for the day
fettle \FET-l\, noun:A state or condition of fitness or order; state of mind; spirits --
often used in the phrase "in fine fettle."
Aside from the problems with her voice . . . Miss Garland was in fine fettle last night.-- Vincent Canby, "Judy Garland Sets the Palace Alight", New York Times, August 1, 1967
Back in 1987, the Conservatives won a thumping majority in a June general election, primarily because the economy was seen by grateful voters to be in fine fettle.-- Larry Elliott, "Danger of a recurring nightmare", The Guardian, June 18, 2001
Many of the nuns were in fine fettle, even into their 80s and 90s.-- John McCrone, "Sisters of mercy", The Guardian, August 18, 2001
He seems in fine fettle when we meet, and happy to discuss the film that gave him his break.-- Charlotte O'Sullivan, "Naked ambition", The Guardian, February 7, 1999
Fettle is from Middle English fetlen, "to set in order," originally "to gird up," from Old English fetel, "a girdle."
from: word for the day
often used in the phrase "in fine fettle."
Aside from the problems with her voice . . . Miss Garland was in fine fettle last night.-- Vincent Canby, "Judy Garland Sets the Palace Alight", New York Times, August 1, 1967
Back in 1987, the Conservatives won a thumping majority in a June general election, primarily because the economy was seen by grateful voters to be in fine fettle.-- Larry Elliott, "Danger of a recurring nightmare", The Guardian, June 18, 2001
Many of the nuns were in fine fettle, even into their 80s and 90s.-- John McCrone, "Sisters of mercy", The Guardian, August 18, 2001
He seems in fine fettle when we meet, and happy to discuss the film that gave him his break.-- Charlotte O'Sullivan, "Naked ambition", The Guardian, February 7, 1999
Fettle is from Middle English fetlen, "to set in order," originally "to gird up," from Old English fetel, "a girdle."
from: word for the day
English abbreviations
@ - at
a/c - account
AGM - annual general meeting
a.m. - ante meridiem (before noon)
a/o - account of (on behalf of)
AOB - any other business
ASAP - as soon as possible
ATM - automated teller machine (cash dispenser)
attn - for the attention of
approx. - approximately
cc - copy to
CEO - chief executive officer
c/o - care of (on letters : at the address of)
Co - company
cm - centimetre
COD - cash on delivery
dept - department
e.g. - exempli gratia (for example)
EGM - extraordinary general meeting
ETA - estimated time of arrival
etc - et caetera (and so on)
GDP - gross domestic product
GNP - gross national product
GMT - Greenwich mean time (time in London)
i.e. - id est (meaning : 'that is')
Inc - incorporated
IOU - I owe you
IPO - initial public offer
Jr - junior
K - thousand
lb - pound (weight)
£ - pound (money)
Ltd - limited company
mo. - month
N/A - not applicable
NB - Nota Bene (it is important to note)
no. - number
PA - personal assistant
p.a. - per annum (per year)
Plc - public limited company
pls - please
p.m. - post meridiem (after noon)
p.p. - per pro (used before signing in a person's absence)
PR - public relations
p.s. - post scriptum
pto - please turn over
p.w. - per week
qty - quantity
R & D - research and development
re - with reference to
ROI - return on investment
RSVP - repondez s'il vous plait (please reply)
s.a.e. - stamped addressed envelope
VAT - value added tax
VIP - very important person
a/c - account
AGM - annual general meeting
a.m. - ante meridiem (before noon)
a/o - account of (on behalf of)
AOB - any other business
ASAP - as soon as possible
ATM - automated teller machine (cash dispenser)
attn - for the attention of
approx. - approximately
cc - copy to
CEO - chief executive officer
c/o - care of (on letters : at the address of)
Co - company
cm - centimetre
COD - cash on delivery
dept - department
e.g. - exempli gratia (for example)
EGM - extraordinary general meeting
ETA - estimated time of arrival
etc - et caetera (and so on)
GDP - gross domestic product
GNP - gross national product
GMT - Greenwich mean time (time in London)
i.e. - id est (meaning : 'that is')
Inc - incorporated
IOU - I owe you
IPO - initial public offer
Jr - junior
K - thousand
lb - pound (weight)
£ - pound (money)
Ltd - limited company
mo. - month
N/A - not applicable
NB - Nota Bene (it is important to note)
no. - number
PA - personal assistant
p.a. - per annum (per year)
Plc - public limited company
pls - please
p.m. - post meridiem (after noon)
p.p. - per pro (used before signing in a person's absence)
PR - public relations
p.s. - post scriptum
pto - please turn over
p.w. - per week
qty - quantity
R & D - research and development
re - with reference to
ROI - return on investment
RSVP - repondez s'il vous plait (please reply)
s.a.e. - stamped addressed envelope
VAT - value added tax
VIP - very important person
Idiom for today
a free ride
Someone who gets a free ride benefits from a collective activity without participating in it.
e.g. ►Only those who share the work can share the benefits - nobody gets a free ride!
Someone who gets a free ride benefits from a collective activity without participating in it.
e.g. ►Only those who share the work can share the benefits - nobody gets a free ride!
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Conversation Question: Silly Questions
from: conversation questions
A Part of Conversation Questions for the ESL Classroom.
1. What is your favorite way to eat a cockroach?
2. Who fell out of the apple tree?
3. Why did the ghost cry on Halloween Day?
4. Do you enjoy swimming when it is snowing?
5. Why don't you want Christmas presents this year?
6. How did you escape from the alien space ship?
7. How did you feel after watching television for 24 hours?
8. Would you ever wear your mother's dress to your all boys high school?
9. What is a typical day in the life of your dictionary (pet frog, walking shoes, classroom)?
10. Did your parents ever have children?
11. Would you rather kiss a crocodile or a bear?
12. What is on your mouse pad?
13. If you were a color, what would you be? Why?
A Part of Conversation Questions for the ESL Classroom.
1. What is your favorite way to eat a cockroach?
2. Who fell out of the apple tree?
3. Why did the ghost cry on Halloween Day?
4. Do you enjoy swimming when it is snowing?
5. Why don't you want Christmas presents this year?
6. How did you escape from the alien space ship?
7. How did you feel after watching television for 24 hours?
8. Would you ever wear your mother's dress to your all boys high school?
9. What is a typical day in the life of your dictionary (pet frog, walking shoes, classroom)?
10. Did your parents ever have children?
11. Would you rather kiss a crocodile or a bear?
12. What is on your mouse pad?
13. If you were a color, what would you be? Why?
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Conversation Questions: Supernatural, Ghosts and Superstitions
from: conversation questions
A Part of Conversation Questions for the ESL Classroom.
Ghosts
1. Do you believe in ghosts?
2. Do you believe that dead people come back to life as ghosts?
3. Would you talk to a ghost?
4. Do you know anyone who has said that they have seen a ghost?
5. Have you ever come in contact with a ghost? (Have you ever seen a ghost?)
6. If one of your friends told you they had seen a ghost, would you believe him/her? Why/Why
not?
7. What is the scariest ghost story you know?
8. Is there an area where you live (park, house, etc.) that is known to be haunted? If so, what is the story or legend that makes people believe this area is haunted? Have you ever visited this place?
9. Do you believe that houses can be haunted? Have you ever been to one?
10. Do you believe that houses have ghosts in them sometimes?
11. Were you ever touched or physically harmed by a ghost or "spirit"? If so, how?
12. If you were a ghost who and where would you haunt?
13. How do you know if a ghost is near you?
14. If you don't believe in ghosts, then what have you heard other people say?
15. If you don't believe in ghost, tell why?
16. If you don't believe in ghost, and you actually have seen one, what were your reactions?
17. Have you ever felt that you knew a ghost that you saw?
18. If you were a ghost, who or what would you haunt?
19. Why do people say they see ghosts even though they sometimes do not?
20. Do you put any faith in the modern day ghost hunters?
21. Can you recall any strange or unexplained events in your life?
22. Do you believe your ancestors are watching you?
23. What do you about the image movies give us about aliens?
Superstitions
24. Do you think that there is truth behind superstitions?
25. Do you walk under ladders?
26. What are some superstitions in your country?
27. What are some things that are considered unlucky?
28. What are some things that are considered lucky?
29. What numbers are considered to be lucky and unlucky in your country?
30. A four-leaf clover is often considered lucky. What are some other things which are considered lucky.
31. Do you have a lucky number?
Psychics, Fortunetellers and Knowing the Future
32. Have you ever gone to a psychic?
33. If so, what were you told?
34. Did you believe it?
35. Why do some people consult psychics before doing important things?
36. Do you know anyone that has ever been to a psychic?
37. Why do some people need fortunetellers?
38. How do people predict the future in your country?
39. Do you believe in horoscopes?
40. Do you read your horoscope? If so, do you believe it?
41. Do you think that dreams come true?
42. Do you think that dreams can help us solve our problems?
43. Have you ever had a dream come true? / Have you ever had a dream that later came true?
44. Do you think that some people can predict the future?
45. What is your blood type?
46. Do you believe that you can tell a lot about a person from his/her blood type?
47. Do you believe that blood types can tell what a person's personality is?
48. Is the belief in UFOs, aliens, physic powers, etc, growing because belief in religion is dying?
49. What is your star sign?
50. Do you believe the predictions contained within your horoscope?
51. Are horoscopes important?
52. Do you read your horoscope often? Does it come true?
53. Does your star sign describe your personality traits well?
The Unexplained
54. Has anything ever happened to you that you cannot explain?
55. Do you believe that there are many things in our universe that cannot be explained? Give examples.
56. Do you believe that you are from another planet?
57. Do you believe you have supernatural powers there?
58. Have you ever tried to contact another planet?
59.Did you succeed?
Unsorted
60. Do you believe in reincarnation?
61. Have you ever felt that you knew someone the first time you met them?
62. Have you ever visited a foreign country or city for the first time and found that you knew exactly where things were?
63. Have you ever looked in the mirror and 'seen' a different face?
64. What do you think a spirit would look like?
65. Is the belief in UFOs, aliens, physic powers, etc, growing because the belief in religion is dying?
ESP
66. Do you believe in ESP?
67. How can a person know what kind of ESP abilities he/she has?
68. What do you think are some ways of developing these abilities?
UFOs
69. Do you believe that UFOs exist? / Do you believe in UFOs?
70. Do you know anyone who has said that they have seen a UFO?
71. Have you ever seen a UFO?
72. Do you know anyone who says that they have?
73. If you saw a UFO but were alone and had no proof would you tell anyone? Who?
74. Do you think that UFOs from other planets visit Earth?
75. What would you do if you were taken aboard a UFO?
76. Do you believe there is life on other planets?
77. Have you ever seen an E.T.?
78. Do you know anyone who says that they have?
Aliens
(Perhaps you should also explain that alien sometimes means a person from another country.)
79. Do you believe in aliens?
80. Do you think that you are an alien?
81. Do you think aliens are monsters?
82. If you saw an alien what do you would do?
83. Have you ever seen an alien?
84. Has anyone ever told you that he or she has seen an alien?
Other Questions
85. Are you afraid of spirits?
86. Do you believe in angels?
87. Do you believe in witches why or why not.
88. Do you believe in astrology? What is your astrological sign?
89. Do you believe in coincidences? Why or why not?
90. Do you believe in God? Why or why not?
91. Do you believe in life after death?
92. Do you believe in vampires? / Do you believe that vampires exist?
93. In many countries people believe in ghosts, spirits and dragons. Is this true in your country, and
why do you think these beliefs are so common?
94. What is the most frightening things that has ever happened to you?
QUESTIONS IN ALL CAPITAL LETTER (This is how they were submitted.)
95. WHAT IS THE MOST FRIGHTENING EXPERIENCE YOU HAVE HAD?
96. HAVE YOU EVER BEEN IN A CEMENTERY AT NIGHT? WHY? OR WHY NOT? WOULD YOU GO?
97. WHERE DO YOU THINK DEAD PEOPLE GO?
98. DO YOU BELIEVE THAT PEOPLE WHO WERE BAD ALIVE PAY THEIR BAD BEHAVIOR BY
STAYING HERE?
99. DO YOU THINK HEAVEN EXIST?
100. DO YOU THINK HELL EXIST?
101. HAVE YOU PLAYED QUIJA? WHY OR WHY NO? WOULD YOU PLAY?
102. DO YOU THINK THAT SPIRITS WHO APPEAR TO PEOPLE ARE GOOD OR BAD?
103. DO YOU BELIEVE IN ANGELS?
104. HAVE YOU EVER BEEN CONTACTED AN ANGEL? WHAT DID IT TELL YOU?
105. HAVE YOU BEEN INVOLVED IN A MIRACLE? WHAT WAS IT ABOUT?
106. DO YOU GET SCARED BY HORROR STORIES?
107. DO YOU THINK YOU CAN CALL DEAD'S PEOPLE SPIRIT BY MAKINS A SESSION WITH A WITCH?
Ghosts
108. WOULD YOU STAY THE NIGHT IN A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE SAY THAT THERE ARE GHOSTS? LIKE IN A VERY OLD UNINHABITED HOUSE, A CHURCH OR A SCHOOL?
109. HAVE YOU SEEN A GHOST? WHAT KIND OF GHOST? DID YOU GET TO TALK WITH IT?
110. HAVE YOU THOUGH ABOUT BECOMING A GHOSTBUSTER?
111. WOULD YOU BE SCARED IF A GHOST TALKED TO YOU?
113. DO YOU THINK WE CAN FEEL IF A GHOST IS NEAR OF US BY THE CHANGES IN THE WEATHER? LIKE IN THE MOVIE, THE SIXTH SENSE
114. WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF YOU SAW A GHOST?
A Part of Conversation Questions for the ESL Classroom.
Ghosts
1. Do you believe in ghosts?
2. Do you believe that dead people come back to life as ghosts?
3. Would you talk to a ghost?
4. Do you know anyone who has said that they have seen a ghost?
5. Have you ever come in contact with a ghost? (Have you ever seen a ghost?)
6. If one of your friends told you they had seen a ghost, would you believe him/her? Why/Why
not?
7. What is the scariest ghost story you know?
8. Is there an area where you live (park, house, etc.) that is known to be haunted? If so, what is the story or legend that makes people believe this area is haunted? Have you ever visited this place?
9. Do you believe that houses can be haunted? Have you ever been to one?
10. Do you believe that houses have ghosts in them sometimes?
11. Were you ever touched or physically harmed by a ghost or "spirit"? If so, how?
12. If you were a ghost who and where would you haunt?
13. How do you know if a ghost is near you?
14. If you don't believe in ghosts, then what have you heard other people say?
15. If you don't believe in ghost, tell why?
16. If you don't believe in ghost, and you actually have seen one, what were your reactions?
17. Have you ever felt that you knew a ghost that you saw?
18. If you were a ghost, who or what would you haunt?
19. Why do people say they see ghosts even though they sometimes do not?
20. Do you put any faith in the modern day ghost hunters?
21. Can you recall any strange or unexplained events in your life?
22. Do you believe your ancestors are watching you?
23. What do you about the image movies give us about aliens?
Superstitions
24. Do you think that there is truth behind superstitions?
25. Do you walk under ladders?
26. What are some superstitions in your country?
27. What are some things that are considered unlucky?
28. What are some things that are considered lucky?
29. What numbers are considered to be lucky and unlucky in your country?
30. A four-leaf clover is often considered lucky. What are some other things which are considered lucky.
31. Do you have a lucky number?
Psychics, Fortunetellers and Knowing the Future
32. Have you ever gone to a psychic?
33. If so, what were you told?
34. Did you believe it?
35. Why do some people consult psychics before doing important things?
36. Do you know anyone that has ever been to a psychic?
37. Why do some people need fortunetellers?
38. How do people predict the future in your country?
39. Do you believe in horoscopes?
40. Do you read your horoscope? If so, do you believe it?
41. Do you think that dreams come true?
42. Do you think that dreams can help us solve our problems?
43. Have you ever had a dream come true? / Have you ever had a dream that later came true?
44. Do you think that some people can predict the future?
45. What is your blood type?
46. Do you believe that you can tell a lot about a person from his/her blood type?
47. Do you believe that blood types can tell what a person's personality is?
48. Is the belief in UFOs, aliens, physic powers, etc, growing because belief in religion is dying?
49. What is your star sign?
50. Do you believe the predictions contained within your horoscope?
51. Are horoscopes important?
52. Do you read your horoscope often? Does it come true?
53. Does your star sign describe your personality traits well?
The Unexplained
54. Has anything ever happened to you that you cannot explain?
55. Do you believe that there are many things in our universe that cannot be explained? Give examples.
56. Do you believe that you are from another planet?
57. Do you believe you have supernatural powers there?
58. Have you ever tried to contact another planet?
59.Did you succeed?
Unsorted
60. Do you believe in reincarnation?
61. Have you ever felt that you knew someone the first time you met them?
62. Have you ever visited a foreign country or city for the first time and found that you knew exactly where things were?
63. Have you ever looked in the mirror and 'seen' a different face?
64. What do you think a spirit would look like?
65. Is the belief in UFOs, aliens, physic powers, etc, growing because the belief in religion is dying?
ESP
66. Do you believe in ESP?
67. How can a person know what kind of ESP abilities he/she has?
68. What do you think are some ways of developing these abilities?
UFOs
69. Do you believe that UFOs exist? / Do you believe in UFOs?
70. Do you know anyone who has said that they have seen a UFO?
71. Have you ever seen a UFO?
72. Do you know anyone who says that they have?
73. If you saw a UFO but were alone and had no proof would you tell anyone? Who?
74. Do you think that UFOs from other planets visit Earth?
75. What would you do if you were taken aboard a UFO?
76. Do you believe there is life on other planets?
77. Have you ever seen an E.T.?
78. Do you know anyone who says that they have?
Aliens
(Perhaps you should also explain that alien sometimes means a person from another country.)
79. Do you believe in aliens?
80. Do you think that you are an alien?
81. Do you think aliens are monsters?
82. If you saw an alien what do you would do?
83. Have you ever seen an alien?
84. Has anyone ever told you that he or she has seen an alien?
Other Questions
85. Are you afraid of spirits?
86. Do you believe in angels?
87. Do you believe in witches why or why not.
88. Do you believe in astrology? What is your astrological sign?
89. Do you believe in coincidences? Why or why not?
90. Do you believe in God? Why or why not?
91. Do you believe in life after death?
92. Do you believe in vampires? / Do you believe that vampires exist?
93. In many countries people believe in ghosts, spirits and dragons. Is this true in your country, and
why do you think these beliefs are so common?
94. What is the most frightening things that has ever happened to you?
QUESTIONS IN ALL CAPITAL LETTER (This is how they were submitted.)
95. WHAT IS THE MOST FRIGHTENING EXPERIENCE YOU HAVE HAD?
96. HAVE YOU EVER BEEN IN A CEMENTERY AT NIGHT? WHY? OR WHY NOT? WOULD YOU GO?
97. WHERE DO YOU THINK DEAD PEOPLE GO?
98. DO YOU BELIEVE THAT PEOPLE WHO WERE BAD ALIVE PAY THEIR BAD BEHAVIOR BY
STAYING HERE?
99. DO YOU THINK HEAVEN EXIST?
100. DO YOU THINK HELL EXIST?
101. HAVE YOU PLAYED QUIJA? WHY OR WHY NO? WOULD YOU PLAY?
102. DO YOU THINK THAT SPIRITS WHO APPEAR TO PEOPLE ARE GOOD OR BAD?
103. DO YOU BELIEVE IN ANGELS?
104. HAVE YOU EVER BEEN CONTACTED AN ANGEL? WHAT DID IT TELL YOU?
105. HAVE YOU BEEN INVOLVED IN A MIRACLE? WHAT WAS IT ABOUT?
106. DO YOU GET SCARED BY HORROR STORIES?
107. DO YOU THINK YOU CAN CALL DEAD'S PEOPLE SPIRIT BY MAKINS A SESSION WITH A WITCH?
Ghosts
108. WOULD YOU STAY THE NIGHT IN A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE SAY THAT THERE ARE GHOSTS? LIKE IN A VERY OLD UNINHABITED HOUSE, A CHURCH OR A SCHOOL?
109. HAVE YOU SEEN A GHOST? WHAT KIND OF GHOST? DID YOU GET TO TALK WITH IT?
110. HAVE YOU THOUGH ABOUT BECOMING A GHOSTBUSTER?
111. WOULD YOU BE SCARED IF A GHOST TALKED TO YOU?
113. DO YOU THINK WE CAN FEEL IF A GHOST IS NEAR OF US BY THE CHANGES IN THE WEATHER? LIKE IN THE MOVIE, THE SIXTH SENSE
114. WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF YOU SAW A GHOST?
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
15 worst celebrities plastic surgery
from: the-15-worst-celebrity-plastic-surgery-disasters-you-will-ever-see/
15: Tara Reid
Surgery botched: Boob Job and Stomach Lipo
Photographic Evidence:
13: Lil KimS
urgery botched: Boobs, face work, skin lightened
Photographic Evidence:
before:
After:
12: Janet Jackson 
11: Jessica Simpson
15: Tara Reid
Surgery botched: Boob Job and Stomach Lipo
Photographic Evidence:
14: Gary Busey
Surgery botched: Veneers
Photographic Evidence:
13: Lil KimS
urgery botched: Boobs, face work, skin lightened
Photographic Evidence:
before:
After:
12: Janet Jackson
Surgery botched: Breast Implants
Photographic Evidence:
11: Jessica Simpson
Surgery botched: LipsPhotographic Evidence:
saying “I had that Restylane stuff … It looked fake to me. I didn’t like that. But… it went away in, like, four months. My lips are back to what they were. Thank God!”
Rogers is someone else who’s not thrilled about his surgery, telling People:
Last year I had so many lines coming in at the side of my eyes up here. So I went in and got my eyes done, and I’m not happy about it. (The surgeon) is going to go in and fix that for me. They’re too tight around the eyelids for me. It drives me crazy.
8: Hilary Duff 
7: Victoria Beckham 
6: Donatella Versace 
5: Vivica Fox 
4: Melanie Griffith 
This definitely deserves a before shot, just in case you are forgetting how normal Melanie Griffith used to be:
3: Pete Burns 
2: Jocelyn Wildenstein 
After:
This woman has spent $4 million on plastic surgery.
1: Michael JacksonSurgery botched: Skin lightening, nose jobs, face lifts, etc. etc. etc.Photographic Evidence:
saying “I had that Restylane stuff … It looked fake to me. I didn’t like that. But… it went away in, like, four months. My lips are back to what they were. Thank God!”10: Kenny Rogers
Surgery botched: Facelift
Photographic Evidence:
Rogers is someone else who’s not thrilled about his surgery, telling People:
Last year I had so many lines coming in at the side of my eyes up here. So I went in and got my eyes done, and I’m not happy about it. (The surgeon) is going to go in and fix that for me. They’re too tight around the eyelids for me. It drives me crazy.
9: Tori Spelling
Surgery botched: Breast Implants
Photographic Evidence:
8: Hilary Duff
Surgery botched: Veneers
Photographic Evidence:
7: Victoria Beckham
Surgery botched: Breast Implants
Photographic Evidence:
6: Donatella Versace
Surgery botched: Lips, facelift
Photographic Evidence:
5: Vivica Fox
Surgery botched: Breast Implants
Photographic Evidence:
4: Melanie Griffith
Surgery botched: Face lift and god only knows what else
Photographic Evidence:
This definitely deserves a before shot, just in case you are forgetting how normal Melanie Griffith used to be:
3: Pete Burns
Surgery botched: Lips
Photographic Evidence:
2: Jocelyn Wildenstein
Surgery botched: Everything she has attempted has apparently turned out terribly
Photographic Evidence:
Before:
Before:
After:
This woman has spent $4 million on plastic surgery.
1: Michael JacksonSurgery botched: Skin lightening, nose jobs, face lifts, etc. etc. etc.Photographic Evidence:
Conversation Questions: Tell me about
from: conversation questions
A Part of Conversation Questions for the ESL Classroom.
1. Tell me about something you love.
2. Tell me about something you hate.
3. Tell me about something you really care about.
4. Tell me about someone you dislike.
5. Tell me about a dream you've had.
6. Tell me about a goal you have.
7. Tell me about yourself.
8. Tell me about your childhood.
9. Tell me about something you believe in.
10. Tell me about a place you've visited.
11. Tell me about an accident you've seen.
12. Tell me about a time when you were happy.
13. Tell me about a time when you were sad.
14. Tell me about a time when you were excited.
15. Tell me about a time when you were frightened.
16. Tell me about your favorite pastime.
17. Tell me about chocolate.
18. Tell me about rainy days.
19. Tell me about something beautiful.
20. Tell me about something ugly.
21. Tell me about something delicious.
22. Tell me about something pleasant.
23. Tell me about something boring.
24. Tell me about something with four legs.
25. Tell me about something with a tail.
26. Tell me about something spicy.
27. Tell me about your education.
28. Tell me about your work.
29.Tell me about a teacher you had.
30. Tell me about a boss you had.
31. Tell me about the hardest thing you ever had to do.
32. Tell me about a time you lied.
33. Tell me about something you regret.
34. Tell me about a mistake you made.
35. Tell me about someone in your family.
36. Tell me about your favorite book.
37. Tell me about someone you envy?
38. Tell me about something you've achieved?
A Part of Conversation Questions for the ESL Classroom.
1. Tell me about something you love.
2. Tell me about something you hate.
3. Tell me about something you really care about.
4. Tell me about someone you dislike.
5. Tell me about a dream you've had.
6. Tell me about a goal you have.
7. Tell me about yourself.
8. Tell me about your childhood.
9. Tell me about something you believe in.
10. Tell me about a place you've visited.
11. Tell me about an accident you've seen.
12. Tell me about a time when you were happy.
13. Tell me about a time when you were sad.
14. Tell me about a time when you were excited.
15. Tell me about a time when you were frightened.
16. Tell me about your favorite pastime.
17. Tell me about chocolate.
18. Tell me about rainy days.
19. Tell me about something beautiful.
20. Tell me about something ugly.
21. Tell me about something delicious.
22. Tell me about something pleasant.
23. Tell me about something boring.
24. Tell me about something with four legs.
25. Tell me about something with a tail.
26. Tell me about something spicy.
27. Tell me about your education.
28. Tell me about your work.
29.Tell me about a teacher you had.
30. Tell me about a boss you had.
31. Tell me about the hardest thing you ever had to do.
32. Tell me about a time you lied.
33. Tell me about something you regret.
34. Tell me about a mistake you made.
35. Tell me about someone in your family.
36. Tell me about your favorite book.
37. Tell me about someone you envy?
38. Tell me about something you've achieved?
Monday, September 22, 2008
Conversation Questions: What if?
from: conversation questions
A Part of Conversation Questions for the ESL Classroom.
1. If you had only 24 hours to live, what would you do?
2. If a classmate asked you for the answer to a question during an exam while the teacher was not looking, what would you do?
3. If someone's underwear was showing, would you tell them?
4. If the whole world were listening, what would you say?
5. If one song were to describe your life, what song would it be?
6. If you bumped your car into another car, but nobody saw you do it, would you leave your name and address?
7. If you could ask God any one question, what would it be?
8. If you could be a bird, what would you choose to be?
9. If you could be a plant, what would you choose to be?
10. If you could be a super-hero, which one would you be?
11. If you could be an animal, any animal, what animal would you be and why?
12. If you could be an animal, what would you be?
13. If you could be an animal, what would you choose to be?
14.If you could be another man or woman for a day, who would you choose?
15. If you could be another person for a day, who would you be?
16. If you could be invisible for a day what would you do and why?
17. If you could change one thing about your spouse or significant other, what would it be?
18. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
19. If you could change one thing in the world, what would it be?
20. If you could choose how you were going to die, what would you choose your death to be?
21. If you could choose to live on a different planet, which one would you choose?
22. If you could commit any crime and get away with it, what would you do?
23. If you could date a celebrity, who would you choose?
24. If you could have only one food for the rest of your life (assuming that this strange situation would not affect your health), which food would you choose?
25. If you could hear what someone is thinking for a day, who would you choose?
26. If you could live anywhere, where would you live?
27. If you could meet any famous person, dead or alive, who would it be and why?
28. If you could speak any other language (besides English) which language would you like to speak?
29. If you could spend a day with any celebrity, who would it be and what questions would you ask that person?
30. If you could take a vacation anywhere in the world for any length of time, where would you go?
31. if you could go anywhere in the world for a holiday, where would you go?
32. If you could travel back in time, where would you go?
33. If you didn't have enough money to get the bus home what would you do?
34. If you discovered a new island, what would you name it and why?
35. If you got arrested for murder, whom would you call with your telephone call from prison? And why?
36. If you had an accident and you had to be at home to recover for a long time, what would you do to relieve the boredom?
37. What would you do if you were at home at night, alone, and you heard a noise in your flat/house that seemed to be footsteps? Would you stay calm or would you panic?
38. What would you do if you found the wallet of your next-door neighbor who you hated?
39. If you could have any car you wanted, which car would you choose? Would it be practical or flashy?
40. If your car broke down on the motorway, what would you do? Would you try to fix it yourself?
41.If you could solve the problem of hunger in the third world or repair the ozone, which would you do?
42. If you could stop a bad habit that you have, what would you stop?
43. If you could go back to any moment in history, where would you go?
44. If you could be famous (a household name), what would you like to be famous for?
45. If you were on holiday and you lost your passport, would you know what to do?
46. If you were offered a job in another part of the country, would you be willing to take the job, assuming that the pay is very good?
47. If your partner were offered a job in another part of the country, which was well paid, would you be willing to change places?
48. If you were in the bank and somebody started to hold up the bank, what would you do? How would you react?If you had one wish, what would you wish for?
49. If you could only listen to one song for the rest of your life, which song would you choose?
50. If only one book existed, which book would you like it to be?
51. If you could do any job, what would you like to do?
52. If you could move anywhere, where would you like to live?
53. If you found a suitcase full of $1,000,000, what would you do?
54. If you found a wallet with £1,000 in it, what would you do?
55. If you had 25-hour days (while everyone else continued to have 24-hour days), what would you do with the extra time?
56. If you had one wish, what would it be?
57. If you had the opportunity to be different, what would you change?
58. If you had time machine, where would you go and why?
59. If you had to choose between a wonderful romantic relationship that would end after only a year, or a so-so relationship that would last your entire life, which one would you choose?
60. If you had to choose between love and no money or money and no love for the rest of your life, which would you choose?
61. If you had to choose, would you give up your sight or your hearing?
62. If you received lottery tickets as a gift at the office party, and you won $30,000.00, would you share the winnings with the person that gave you the gift?
63. If you saw a robbery, would you report it?
64. If you saw your zipper was down and people had noticed, what would you do?
65. If you speak two languages and your spouse (husband or wife) speaks only one, will you raise your children to be bilingual?
66. If you were a candy, what candy would you be?
67. If you were a monster, what monster would you be?
68. If you were a toy, what toy would you be?
69. If you were abducted by aliens, would you tell anybody? Why or why not?
70.If you were American/Chinese/Mexican, how would your life be different?
71. If you were asked to choose which time you would like to live in, which century would you choose?
72. If you were asked to speak to a graduating class, what would you say?
73. If you were given a chance to go to the moon, would you go? Why or why not?
74. If you were given a choice between being given great wisdom or great wealth, which would you choose?
75. If you were given an opportunity to be born again, in which country would you like to be born?
76. If you were given an opportunity to be born again, what kind of person would you choose to be?
77. If you were given one million dollars, what would you buy?
78. If you were given the opportunity to be born again, how would you change how you lived?
79. If you were given the opportunity to mold your partner the way you wanted, how would you mold your partner?
80. If you were given three wishes, what would you wish for?
81. If you were God, how would you transmit or let people know your message?
82. If you were going to a deserted island and could only take three things with you, what would you take? Why?
83. If you were invited to have tea with the Queen of England, what would say?
if you were the leader of your country, what would you change?
84. If you were the President, what problem or concern would you work on first?
85. If you were to be stranded on an island, which 3 things would you bring with you?
86. If you were told that you were going to die tomorrow, what would you do today?
87. If you were walking through the forest and you suddenly saw a tiger, what would you do?
88. If you woke up suddenly because your house was on fire, which three things would you save as you ran outside?
89. If you worked for a store and you saw another employee steal something, would you tell the manager?
90. If your friend could not have a child, would you carry her child for her?
91. If you saw someone in public with toilet paper stuck to their shoe, would you tell them?
92. If you could change one thing that you did that was bad,perhaps a crime or some wrong you did to another person,what would it be?
93. What kinds of problems would you have if you had to always tell the truth?
94. You were told you had a terminal illness and had six months to live. What three things would be most important for you to do?
95. Your doctor has just told you that you have a month to live, what would you do in that stretch of time?
96. If your doctor told you that you had only one month to live, how would you use the time left?
97. What if you have to sacrifice yourself for the sake of saving your mother? What would you do?
98. If you could live perfectly well without sleeping, if you had no need to sleep at all, how would you spend all your nights?
99. If you could be married with a foreign (man/woman), how do you think your life would change?
100. If you had a chance to choose a poor (man/woman) as a (husband/wife) from your culture or a rich (man/woman) from another culture, which would you choose?
101. If you got into traffic accident, what would you do at first?
102. If you could be God, what would you do for humanity?
103. If you could receive praise from a person, what person would it be?
104. What kind of praise would you like to receive?
105. If you were a color, what color would you be and why?
106. If you could be a crayon, What color and Why?
107. If you were a fruit, what fruit would you be and why?
108. If you had time machine and you could be transported to any time, the past or the future. What time would you choose?
109. If you could ask an All-Knowing Being one question about life, what would it be?
110. If you could have dinner with anyone (dead OR alive), who would you choose, and why?
111. If you could live forever on earth as it is now, would you? Why or why not?
112. If you could have a free chip put in your brain so that you would automatically be able to speak and understand another language besides English, which language would it be and why?
113. If you were the Queen or King of Britain for a day, what would you do?
114. If you were the President of the USA for a day, what would you do?
115. If you had to spend 100 days on a desert island, what five things would you take with you and why?
116. If you were down on your luck, would you seek the advice of a palm reader?
117. What would you do if you lost your bathing suit while you were swimming?
118. Imagine you woke up one morning to find you had switched bodies with someone you know. What would you do?
119. If you could have any one supernatural power (flying, being invisible), which would you choose and why?
120. What if your cell phone fell in the toilet, what would you do?
Same-sex marriage
Same-sex marriage (also referred to as gay marriage), is a term for a governmentally, or socially, recognized marriage between two people of the same sex. Same-sex marriage and gay marriage are the most common terms used in news media and politics. Other terms used are included below.
Main article: History of same-sex unions
There is evidence that same sex unions have occurred since the beginning of recorded history in Egypt, China, Greece, Rome and Japan. [11] Famous lovers include the Egyptian couple Khnumhotep and Niankhkhnum and the Greek couple Harmodius and Aristogiton. The first recorded use of the word "marriage" for same-sex couples occurs during the Roman Empire. A number of marriages are recorded to have taken place during this period. [12] The rise of Christianity changed attitudes to same-sex unions and led to the persecution of gays. In the year 342, the Christian emperors Constantius and Constans declared same-sex marriage to be illegal.[13] In the year 390, the Christian emperors Valentinian II, Theodosius I and Arcadius declared homosexual sex to be illegal and those who were guilty of it were condemned to be publicly burned alive. [14]
Debates over terminology
Some proponents of same-sex marriage use the term "equal marriage" to stress that they seek equality as opposed to special rights.[1] Opponents argue that equating same-sex and opposite-sex marriage changes the meaning of marriage and its traditions.[2] Furthermore they frequently use the term "homosexual marriage," and some surveys have suggested that the word "homosexual" is more stigmatizing than the word "gay."[3]
Some have suggested reserving the word "marriage" for religious contexts, and in civil and legal contexts using a uniform concept of civil unions. Harvard Law professor Alan Dershowitz, for instance, writes that such an arrangement would "strengthen the wall of separation between church and state by placing a sacred institution entirely in the hands of the church while placing a secular institution under state control."[4] Some proponents and opponents of same-sex marriage on both sides find such a suggestion impractical. "Why do we suddenly have to throw out the entire system, invent some whole new thing, just because gay people want to get married?," asks Evan Wolfson of Freedom to Marry and a contributor to the landmark cases in Vermont and Massachusetts that led to the legalization of same-sex civil unions and marriages, respectively. "I don’t actually see Alan Dershowitz doing anything about this, other than writing an article, because he probably rightly understands it would be an immense project to go around the country and convince 200 million plus people to trade in their marriage for something new and explain why we are doing this when we actually have a legal system that already clearly distinguishes between civil and religious marriage."[5] Conservative critics in the US like National Review's Jennifer Morse contend that the conflation of marriage with contractual agreements is itself a threat to marriage that "has undermined more heterosexual marriages than anything, with the possible exception of adultery," but has not cited specific evidence to support the claim.[6] However, in the case of one US state in which same-sex marriages are recognized, Massachusetts, there is a long history of marriage being regarded as purely a civil institution, as illustrated in Governor William Bradford's history Of Plymouth Plantation:
May 12 was the first marriage in this place [i.e., Plymouth] which, according to the laudable custom of the Low Countries, in which they had lived, was thought most requisite to be performed by the magistrate, as being a civil thing, upon which many questions about inheritances do depend, with other things most proper to their cognizance and most consonant to the Scriptures (Ruth iv) and nowhere found in the Gospel to be laid on the ministers as a part of their office. [7]
Some have suggested reserving the word "marriage" for religious contexts, and in civil and legal contexts using a uniform concept of civil unions. Harvard Law professor Alan Dershowitz, for instance, writes that such an arrangement would "strengthen the wall of separation between church and state by placing a sacred institution entirely in the hands of the church while placing a secular institution under state control."[4] Some proponents and opponents of same-sex marriage on both sides find such a suggestion impractical. "Why do we suddenly have to throw out the entire system, invent some whole new thing, just because gay people want to get married?," asks Evan Wolfson of Freedom to Marry and a contributor to the landmark cases in Vermont and Massachusetts that led to the legalization of same-sex civil unions and marriages, respectively. "I don’t actually see Alan Dershowitz doing anything about this, other than writing an article, because he probably rightly understands it would be an immense project to go around the country and convince 200 million plus people to trade in their marriage for something new and explain why we are doing this when we actually have a legal system that already clearly distinguishes between civil and religious marriage."[5] Conservative critics in the US like National Review's Jennifer Morse contend that the conflation of marriage with contractual agreements is itself a threat to marriage that "has undermined more heterosexual marriages than anything, with the possible exception of adultery," but has not cited specific evidence to support the claim.[6] However, in the case of one US state in which same-sex marriages are recognized, Massachusetts, there is a long history of marriage being regarded as purely a civil institution, as illustrated in Governor William Bradford's history Of Plymouth Plantation:
May 12 was the first marriage in this place [i.e., Plymouth] which, according to the laudable custom of the Low Countries, in which they had lived, was thought most requisite to be performed by the magistrate, as being a civil thing, upon which many questions about inheritances do depend, with other things most proper to their cognizance and most consonant to the Scriptures (Ruth iv) and nowhere found in the Gospel to be laid on the ministers as a part of their office. [7]
Some publications that oppose same-sex marriage adopt an editorial style policy of placing the word marriage in scare quotes ("marriage") when it is used in reference to same-sex couples. In the United States, the mainstream press has largely abandoned this practice. The last major U.S. print daily to employ this editorial style was The Washington Times, which abandoned the policy in February 2008 at the behest of newly appointed editor John Solomon[8].
Some online publications such as WorldNetDaily and Baptist Press still follow the practice. Cliff Kincaid, editor of the conservative American media-watchdog group Accuracy in Media and president of an anti-U.N. group called America's Survival, agrees with this method, arguing that "marriage" is a legal status denied same-sex couples by most state governments.[9] Same-sex marriage supporters argue that the use of scare quotes is an editorialization that implies inferiority, and point out that the quotes are even used when referring to same-sex marriages in states where such unions are legal.[10]
Associated Press style, which professional journalists in the United States generally adopt, recommends the usages gay marriage and gay marriage amendment with no hyphen and no scare quotes.
Some online publications such as WorldNetDaily and Baptist Press still follow the practice. Cliff Kincaid, editor of the conservative American media-watchdog group Accuracy in Media and president of an anti-U.N. group called America's Survival, agrees with this method, arguing that "marriage" is a legal status denied same-sex couples by most state governments.[9] Same-sex marriage supporters argue that the use of scare quotes is an editorialization that implies inferiority, and point out that the quotes are even used when referring to same-sex marriages in states where such unions are legal.[10]
Associated Press style, which professional journalists in the United States generally adopt, recommends the usages gay marriage and gay marriage amendment with no hyphen and no scare quotes.
History
Main article: History of same-sex unions
There is evidence that same sex unions have occurred since the beginning of recorded history in Egypt, China, Greece, Rome and Japan. [11] Famous lovers include the Egyptian couple Khnumhotep and Niankhkhnum and the Greek couple Harmodius and Aristogiton. The first recorded use of the word "marriage" for same-sex couples occurs during the Roman Empire. A number of marriages are recorded to have taken place during this period. [12] The rise of Christianity changed attitudes to same-sex unions and led to the persecution of gays. In the year 342, the Christian emperors Constantius and Constans declared same-sex marriage to be illegal.[13] In the year 390, the Christian emperors Valentinian II, Theodosius I and Arcadius declared homosexual sex to be illegal and those who were guilty of it were condemned to be publicly burned alive. [14]
Current status
Marriage, as defined by the civil law, is currently available to same-sex couples in six countries. The Netherlands was the first country to allow same-sex marriage in 2001. Same-sex marriages are also legal in Belgium, Canada, Norway, South Africa and Spain, along with two states in the United States, Massachusetts and recently California (for status in California see California Proposition 8 (2008)). In 2005, Spain became the first country in the world to recognize same-sex marriage (including adoption rights) on equal terms and under the same law.
In 1996, the United States Congress passed the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) defining marriage as a union between a man and a woman amongst other stipulations.[15] As of May 2007, twenty-six states have passed constitutional amendments explicitly barring the recognition of same-sex marriage.[16], eighteen of which prohibit the legal recognition of any same-sex union. Nineteen additional states have legal statutes that define "marriage" as a union of two persons of the opposite-sex.[17] The territory of Puerto Rico ratified a similar statute in 1998. Nonetheless, some states are beginning to offer legal recognition to same-sex couples, whether in the form of marriage or as civil unions or domestic partnerships.
As of July 8, 2008, Massachusetts and California permit same-sex couples to marry. The states of Vermont, Connecticut, New Jersey and New Hampshire offer civil unions. Also, California and Oregon have domestic partnership laws that grant all of the rights and responsibilities of marriage. Maine, Washington, and the District of Columbia grant certain limited benefits through domestic partnerships, and Hawaii has reciprocal beneficiary laws.
At the federal level, Australia bans recognition of same-sex marriage, but the current federal Australian Labor Party government favours synchronised state and territory registered partnership legislation (as in Tasmania) although the Australian Capital Territory favours the introduction of civil unions with official ceremonies. By stark contrast, same-sex marriage in Canada was preserved when a proposed repeal bill failed at its first reading in 2006, while New Zealand's Parliament similarly heavily defeated a private members bill that would have prohibited same-sex marriage in New Zealand in December 2005. However, as far as current jurisprudence goes, New Zealand's Marriage Act 1955 still recognises only opposite-sex couples as marriageable (although it has also included transsexuals who have undergone reassignment surgery as the 'opposite sex' for these purposes, since Family Court and High Court of New Zealand decisions in 1995.
Israel's High Court of Justice ruled to recognize same-sex marriages performed in other countries, although it is still illegal to perform them within the country. A bill was raised in Knesset to rescind the Israeli High Court's ruling, but the Knesset has not advanced the bill since December 2006. (This makes the practice of same-sex marriage, as far as Israel is concerned, like the performance of a Reform or Conservative Jewish wedding.)
Canada, Spain and Norway are the only countries where the legal status of same-sex marriage is exactly the same as that of opposite-sex marriage, though South Africa is due to fully harmonize its marriage laws. Other nations all have requirements or restrictions that apply to same-sex marriage that do not apply to opposite-sex marriage.
In 1996, the United States Congress passed the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) defining marriage as a union between a man and a woman amongst other stipulations.[15] As of May 2007, twenty-six states have passed constitutional amendments explicitly barring the recognition of same-sex marriage.[16], eighteen of which prohibit the legal recognition of any same-sex union. Nineteen additional states have legal statutes that define "marriage" as a union of two persons of the opposite-sex.[17] The territory of Puerto Rico ratified a similar statute in 1998. Nonetheless, some states are beginning to offer legal recognition to same-sex couples, whether in the form of marriage or as civil unions or domestic partnerships.
As of July 8, 2008, Massachusetts and California permit same-sex couples to marry. The states of Vermont, Connecticut, New Jersey and New Hampshire offer civil unions. Also, California and Oregon have domestic partnership laws that grant all of the rights and responsibilities of marriage. Maine, Washington, and the District of Columbia grant certain limited benefits through domestic partnerships, and Hawaii has reciprocal beneficiary laws.
At the federal level, Australia bans recognition of same-sex marriage, but the current federal Australian Labor Party government favours synchronised state and territory registered partnership legislation (as in Tasmania) although the Australian Capital Territory favours the introduction of civil unions with official ceremonies. By stark contrast, same-sex marriage in Canada was preserved when a proposed repeal bill failed at its first reading in 2006, while New Zealand's Parliament similarly heavily defeated a private members bill that would have prohibited same-sex marriage in New Zealand in December 2005. However, as far as current jurisprudence goes, New Zealand's Marriage Act 1955 still recognises only opposite-sex couples as marriageable (although it has also included transsexuals who have undergone reassignment surgery as the 'opposite sex' for these purposes, since Family Court and High Court of New Zealand decisions in 1995.
Israel's High Court of Justice ruled to recognize same-sex marriages performed in other countries, although it is still illegal to perform them within the country. A bill was raised in Knesset to rescind the Israeli High Court's ruling, but the Knesset has not advanced the bill since December 2006. (This makes the practice of same-sex marriage, as far as Israel is concerned, like the performance of a Reform or Conservative Jewish wedding.)
Canada, Spain and Norway are the only countries where the legal status of same-sex marriage is exactly the same as that of opposite-sex marriage, though South Africa is due to fully harmonize its marriage laws. Other nations all have requirements or restrictions that apply to same-sex marriage that do not apply to opposite-sex marriage.
from: Same-sex_marriage
----------------------------------
Comprehension Questions:
1. Personally, what is your stand on this issue?
2. What suggestion or advice can you give to someone close like a family member. relative or friend who is planning for a same-sex marriage?
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Conversation Question part 1
from: conversation questions
A Part of Conversation Questions for the ESL Classroom.
Note: You can follow up most of these questions with a why or why not or with the question "In what situation(s) would you consider doing so?"
1. Would you ever adopt a child?
2. Would you ever give your child up for adoption?
3. Would you ever cheat on your husband/wife?
4. Would you ever consider being a criminal?
5. Would you ever consider being a farmer?
6. Would you ever consider getting plastic surgery?
7. Would you ever consider going bungee jumping? Would you ever consider going skydiving?
8. Would you ever defy your boss if he/she asked you to do something you didn't agree with?
9. Would you ever donate a kidney or another vital organ?
10. Would you ever donate blood?
11. Would you ever drive a car if you had forgotten your license at home?
12. Would you ever drive at night with only one headlight?
13. Would you ever drive your car with a flat tire?
14. Would you ever eat rat meat?
15. Would you ever eat rice with sugar?
16. Would you ever feed the animals at the zoo?
17. Would you ever get hair implants?
18. Would you ever give money to a charity?
19. Would you ever give money to a panhandler? (a beggar)
20. Would you ever go skinny dipping? (swim naked)
21. Would you ever lie to your children?
... to your husband/wife?
... your boyfriend/girlfriend?
22. Would you ever lie to help a friend?
23. Would you ever marry someone your parents didn't approve of?
24. Would you ever paint your living room black?
25. Would you ever pick up a hitchhiker?
26. Would you ever slap someone for something they said?
27. Would you ever smoke in a no smoking area?
28. Would you ever spank your child?
29. Would you ever steal from your family or friends?
30. Would you ever "take a bullet" for someone else?
31. Would you ever walk downtown without any shoes on your feet?
32. Would you ever walk home alone at night?
... in this country?
... in your own country?
33. Would you eat a live cricket for $500? If not, how much would it take?
34. Would you ever consider killing yourself?
35. Would you ever eat human flesh?
36. Would you ever resort to cannibalism if it were the only option left to stay alive?
37. Would you divorce your husband/wife if your favorite celebrity wanted to marry you?
38. Would you name your children after favorite characters in movies or books? Would you do so if the names were strange, as in science fiction movies or books?
39. Would you ever pull over and help someone on the side of the road?
40. Do you think this could be dangerous to do?
41. Would you ever say yes to someone even if you meant no?
42. Would you ever donate an organ in order to save other person's life?
43. Would you ever consider plastic surgery if a friend suggested it to you?
44. Would you ever consider writing your own book?
45. Would you ever try staying in the jungle for a month?
46. Would you ever consider surrogacy?
47. Would you ever consider being a surrogate mother yourself?
48. Would you ever consider egg or sperm donation?
49. Would you ever pretend to be someone (like a policeman, or a teacher, or a survey taker) just to get something that you wanted?
A Part of Conversation Questions for the ESL Classroom.
Note: You can follow up most of these questions with a why or why not or with the question "In what situation(s) would you consider doing so?"
1. Would you ever adopt a child?
2. Would you ever give your child up for adoption?
3. Would you ever cheat on your husband/wife?
4. Would you ever consider being a criminal?
5. Would you ever consider being a farmer?
6. Would you ever consider getting plastic surgery?
7. Would you ever consider going bungee jumping? Would you ever consider going skydiving?
8. Would you ever defy your boss if he/she asked you to do something you didn't agree with?
9. Would you ever donate a kidney or another vital organ?
10. Would you ever donate blood?
11. Would you ever drive a car if you had forgotten your license at home?
12. Would you ever drive at night with only one headlight?
13. Would you ever drive your car with a flat tire?
14. Would you ever eat rat meat?
15. Would you ever eat rice with sugar?
16. Would you ever feed the animals at the zoo?
17. Would you ever get hair implants?
18. Would you ever give money to a charity?
19. Would you ever give money to a panhandler? (a beggar)
20. Would you ever go skinny dipping? (swim naked)
21. Would you ever lie to your children?
... to your husband/wife?
... your boyfriend/girlfriend?
22. Would you ever lie to help a friend?
23. Would you ever marry someone your parents didn't approve of?
24. Would you ever paint your living room black?
25. Would you ever pick up a hitchhiker?
26. Would you ever slap someone for something they said?
27. Would you ever smoke in a no smoking area?
28. Would you ever spank your child?
29. Would you ever steal from your family or friends?
30. Would you ever "take a bullet" for someone else?
31. Would you ever walk downtown without any shoes on your feet?
32. Would you ever walk home alone at night?
... in this country?
... in your own country?
33. Would you eat a live cricket for $500? If not, how much would it take?
34. Would you ever consider killing yourself?
35. Would you ever eat human flesh?
36. Would you ever resort to cannibalism if it were the only option left to stay alive?
37. Would you divorce your husband/wife if your favorite celebrity wanted to marry you?
38. Would you name your children after favorite characters in movies or books? Would you do so if the names were strange, as in science fiction movies or books?
39. Would you ever pull over and help someone on the side of the road?
40. Do you think this could be dangerous to do?
41. Would you ever say yes to someone even if you meant no?
42. Would you ever donate an organ in order to save other person's life?
43. Would you ever consider plastic surgery if a friend suggested it to you?
44. Would you ever consider writing your own book?
45. Would you ever try staying in the jungle for a month?
46. Would you ever consider surrogacy?
47. Would you ever consider being a surrogate mother yourself?
48. Would you ever consider egg or sperm donation?
49. Would you ever pretend to be someone (like a policeman, or a teacher, or a survey taker) just to get something that you wanted?
France is open for Business with Foreign Investors
November 2007
Today, attracting international investors is a top priority for the French government, with foreign direct investment
(FDI) targeted to boost growth and generate jobs. France already offers many attractive benefits, and President
Sarkozy is making the business environment more friendly than ever with new economic reforms. These changes
give France a stronger competitive edge, and are driving closer ties with its principal global investors.
Foreign investment is welcomed freely in France.
Intterrnattiional investors who do business in France benefit from the same advantages as French or European companies, including tax credits and R&D funding.
France openly welcomes foreign investment, with only one exception to this general rule: the French government oversees the authorization of investments linked to 11 sensitive sectors (including 4 defense related and 7 public order and safety activities) defined in the decree of December 2005, which is a clarification of a previous regulation. No refusals have been recorded related to this decree. France’s regulations follow the same type of rules in other OECD countries. In the US, investments that might have national security implications are known to
be carefully scrutinized, and foreign companies looking to acquire an American business must get authorization from the Committee on Foreign Investments. The UK, too, has rules that allow intervention in investment activities deemed to be in conflict with public interest.
International investment is an important growth factor for the French economy.
The French economy is driven by FDI.
France currently ranks 3rd in the world behind the US and the UK, with FDI inflow of $81 billion1. America is the leading foreign investor in France, supporting 550,000 French jobs. Almost $1 billion worth of commercial transactions occur between the US and France every business day.
Foreign investment generates close tto 2 million jobs in France.
Almost 20,000 international investors from all over the world are helping the French economy boom, supplying double the amount of jobs compared to 10 years ago. Some 40,000 new jobs were created in 2006 (+33% over 2005) as a result of foreign projects in France, marking the highest level ever reported by the Invest in France Agency.
Foreign companies are key research partners in France’’s inovative clusters.
Innovative research initiatives being driven in France’s 71 officially labeled clusters are open to foreign companies, who are free to take part in projects that are already underway or initiate new projects. Funding benefits that are available to French or European companies are also available to foreign companies.
French companies are becoming more and more global.
Major foreign acquisitions of French firms are on the rrise.
In 2006, there were 460 deals involving mergers and acquisitions of French companies by foreign firms, totaling over $54 billion2, compared with $45 billion in 2005. Notable deals include:
· Mittal (India) bought the French-Luxembourg steel group Arcelor.
· Retail group AS Watson (Hong Kong) bought the French perfume and cosmetics company Marionnaud.
· Transport and infrastructure firm Abertis (Spain) bought the French highway network Sanef.
1 Source: World Investment Report 2007, UNCTAD
2 Source: Thomson Financial
FRANCE IS OPEN FOR BUSINESS WITH FOREIGN INVESTORS
· Fast Retailing (Japan) bought the French clothing brands Princess Tam Tam and Comptoir des Cotonniers.
· Print company Paragon (UK) acquired Lithotech France, making it the largest print provider in France.
International investment funds are buying companies in France.
International investment funds are putting money into France, including:
· Wealth management giant Merrill Lynch (US) bought the French electrical supplies distributor Rexel (ex-PPR).
· Real-estate investment group Starwood Capital (US) purchased the French hotel and luxury retail company Societe du Louvre.
· Private equity firm 3i (UK) bought the French transport operator Keolis.
· Private equity firm BC Partners (UK) bought the French frozen food retailer Picard Surgeles.
The Frrench sttock exchange iis morre iintterrnattiionall tthan any Eurropean marrkett..
Nearly 47% of the capital on the CAC 40, the benchmark index for the French stock exchange, is owned by foreign investors. In April 2007, Euronext (which includes the Paris bourse) joined forces with NYSE to give birth to the world’s largest and most liquid stock-market platform, with average daily trading value totaling some $120 billion and capitalization of listed companies totaling $28,500 billion.
France is a top world business destination of choice.
International companies recognize France as a frriendly business partner.
Paris ranks 2nd after Tokyo among the world’s leading cities for the location of Global 500 company headquarters 3.
Thousands of talented international professionals are working in France.
France is a key country of choice among highly skilled professionals. The French government promotes a new selective immigration process that opens doors to over 300,000 jobs for foreigners in France in a variety of dynamic sectors. Research presents other opportunities, and France greeted 20,000 scientists from around the world in 2006. New regulations are being launched to make it easier than ever for foreign talent to work in France.
To find out more about France’s welcoming business environment for foreign investment,
please visit www.investinfrance.org.
3 Source: Fortune magazine, Global 500 List (2007)
from: Invest in France
Surrogate Mother
Vocabulary
contracted- An agreement between two or more parties, especially one that is written and enforceable by law.
relinquish- to give up; to let go; release
conceived- to become pregnant with
gestational- The period of development in the uterus from conception until birth; pregnancy.
carrier- a person or thing that carries
Surrogacy is a method of reproduction whereby a woman agrees to become pregnant and deliver a child for a contracted party. She may be the child's genetic mother (the more traditional form of surrogacy), or she may, as a gestational carrier, carry the pregnancy to delivery after having been implanted with an embryo. Surrogacy is a controversial, and in some jurisdictions, illegal, medical procedure.
Terminology
A surrogate mother is the woman who is pregnant with the child and intends to relinquish it after birth.[1] The word surrogate, from Latin subrŏgare (to substitute), means appointed to act in the place of.[citation needed] The intended parent(s) is the individual or couple who intends to rear the child after its birth.[1]
In traditional surrogacy (aka the Straight method) the surrogate is pregnant with her own biological child, but this child was conceived with the intention of relinquishing the child to be raised by others; by the biological father and possibly his spouse or partner, either male or female. The child may be conceived via home artificial insemination using fresh or frozen sperm or impregnated via IUI (intrauterine insemination), or ICI (intra cervical insemination) which is performed at a fertility clinic.
In gestational surrogacy (aka the Host method) the surrogate becomes pregnant via embryo transfer with a child of which she is not the biological mother. She may have made an arrangement to relinquish it to the biological mother or father to raise, or to a parent who is themselves unrelated to the child (e. g. because the child was conceived using egg donation, sperm donation or is the result of a donated embryo). The surrogate mother may be called the gestational carrier.
Altruistic surrogacy is a situation where the surrogate receives no financial reward for her pregnancy or the relinquishment of the child (although usually all expenses related to the pregnancy and birth are paid by the intended parents such as medical expenses, maternity clothing, and other related expenses).[1]
Commercial surrogacy is a form of surrogacy in which a gestational carrier is paid to carry a child to maturity in her womb and is usually resorted to by well off infertile couples who can afford the cost involved or people who save and borrow in order to complete their dream of being parents. This procedure is legal in several countries including in India where due to excellent medical infrastructure, high international demand and ready availability of poor surrogates it is reaching industry proportions. Commercial surrogacy is sometimes referred to by the emotionally charged and potentially offensive terms "wombs for rent", "outsourced pregnancies" or "baby farms".
Rationale
Intended parents may arrange a surrogate pregnancy because of female infertility, or other medical issues which may make the the pregnancy or the delivery risky. A female intending parent may also be fertile and healthy, but unwilling to undergo pregnancy.
Alternatively, the intended parent may be a single male.[2], or a male homosexual couple.
Surrogates
Surrogates may be relatives, friends, or previous strangers. Many surrogate arrangements are made through agencies that help match up intended parents with women who want to be surrogates for a fee. The agencies often help manage the complex medical and legal aspects involved. Surrogacy arrangements can also be made independently. In compensated surrogacies the amount a surrogate receives varies widely from almost nothing above expenses to over $30,000.[citation needed] Careful screening is needed to assure their health as the gestational carrier incurs potential obstetrical risks.
History
Having another woman bear a child for a couple to raise, usually with the male half of the couple as the genetic father, is referred to in antiquity. For example, chapter 16 of the book of Genesis relates the story of Sarah's servant Hagar bearing a child to Abraham for Sarah and Abraham to raise.
Attorney Noel Keane is generally recognized as the creator of the legal idea of surrogate motherhood. However, it was not until he developed an association with physician Warren J. Ringold in the city of Dearborn, Michigan that the idea became feasible. Dr. Ringold agreed to perform all of the artificial inseminations, and the clinic grew rapidly in the early part of 1981. Though Keane and Ringold were widely criticized by some members of the press and politicians, they continued and eventually advocated for the passage of laws that protected the idea of surrogate motherhood. Bill Handel, who is a partner in a Los Angeles, Surrogacy firms, also attempted to have such laws passed in California, but his attempts were struck down in the State Congress. Presently, the idea of surrogate motherhood has gained some societal acceptance and laws protecting the contractual arrangements exist in eight states.[3]
In the United States, the issue of surrogacy was widely publicised in the case of Baby M, in which the surrogate and biological mother of Melissa Stern ("Baby M"), born in 1986, refused to cede custody of Melissa to the couple with whom she had made the surrogacy agreement. The courts of New Jersey eventually awarded custody to Melissa's biological father William Stern and his wife Elizabeth Stern, rather than to the surrogate Mary Beth Whitehead.
Legality
There is a default legal assumption in most countries that the woman giving birth to a child is that child's legal mother. In some jurisdictions the possibility of surrogacy has been allowed and the intended parents may be recognized as the legal parents from birth. Many states now issue pre-birth orders through the courts placing the name(s) of the intended parent(s) on the birth certificate from the start. In others the possibility of surrogacy is either not recognized (all contracts specifying different legal parents are void), or is prohibited.
Ethical issues
Mother Child Relationship
A study by the Family and Child Psychology Research Centre at City University, London, UK in 2002 concluded that surrogate mothers rarely had difficulty relinquishing rights to a surrogate child and that the intended mothers showed greater warmth to the child than mothers conceiving naturally.[15] Anthropological studies of surrogates have shown that surrogates engage in various distancing techniques throughout the surrogate pregnancy so as to ensure that they do not become emotionally attached to the baby. [16] Many surrogates intentionally try to foster the development of emotional attachment between the intended mother and the surrogate child. [17] Instead of the popular expectation that surrogates feel traumatized after relinquishment, an overwhelming majority describe feeling empowered by their surrogacy experience.[18]. However, this has been widely criticised by feminists who claim that surrogate motherhood is a form of commodifying and dismemebering the female body and thus a patriarchal form of violence, not unlike prostitution.
Compensated surrogacy
Bioethicists are concerned that Indian surrogates are being badly paid for their surrogacy and that they are working as surrogates in a country with a comparatively high maternal death rate. [19] However, high maternal death rates are found in the poorest sections of the population in India. They may not get access to proper medical facilities in time, or there are those who opt not to access them because of superstition. Surrogate mothers in India enrolled in commercial surrogacy programs are usually cared for with advanced medical, nutritional and overall care.[citation needed]
from:
Surrogacy
Comprehension Questions:
1. Is surrogacy legal in your country?
2. What do you think is the stand of religion to this issue?
3. If a sister, friend or close relative plan for surrogacy as a gestational carrier or intended parent, what suggestions can you give her? Would you recommend surrogacy?
4. What possible problems might pose in the future for both parties (surrogate mother and intended parent/s)?
contracted- An agreement between two or more parties, especially one that is written and enforceable by law.
relinquish- to give up; to let go; release
conceived- to become pregnant with
gestational- The period of development in the uterus from conception until birth; pregnancy.
carrier- a person or thing that carries
Surrogacy is a method of reproduction whereby a woman agrees to become pregnant and deliver a child for a contracted party. She may be the child's genetic mother (the more traditional form of surrogacy), or she may, as a gestational carrier, carry the pregnancy to delivery after having been implanted with an embryo. Surrogacy is a controversial, and in some jurisdictions, illegal, medical procedure.
Terminology
A surrogate mother is the woman who is pregnant with the child and intends to relinquish it after birth.[1] The word surrogate, from Latin subrŏgare (to substitute), means appointed to act in the place of.[citation needed] The intended parent(s) is the individual or couple who intends to rear the child after its birth.[1]
In traditional surrogacy (aka the Straight method) the surrogate is pregnant with her own biological child, but this child was conceived with the intention of relinquishing the child to be raised by others; by the biological father and possibly his spouse or partner, either male or female. The child may be conceived via home artificial insemination using fresh or frozen sperm or impregnated via IUI (intrauterine insemination), or ICI (intra cervical insemination) which is performed at a fertility clinic.
In gestational surrogacy (aka the Host method) the surrogate becomes pregnant via embryo transfer with a child of which she is not the biological mother. She may have made an arrangement to relinquish it to the biological mother or father to raise, or to a parent who is themselves unrelated to the child (e. g. because the child was conceived using egg donation, sperm donation or is the result of a donated embryo). The surrogate mother may be called the gestational carrier.
Altruistic surrogacy is a situation where the surrogate receives no financial reward for her pregnancy or the relinquishment of the child (although usually all expenses related to the pregnancy and birth are paid by the intended parents such as medical expenses, maternity clothing, and other related expenses).[1]
Commercial surrogacy is a form of surrogacy in which a gestational carrier is paid to carry a child to maturity in her womb and is usually resorted to by well off infertile couples who can afford the cost involved or people who save and borrow in order to complete their dream of being parents. This procedure is legal in several countries including in India where due to excellent medical infrastructure, high international demand and ready availability of poor surrogates it is reaching industry proportions. Commercial surrogacy is sometimes referred to by the emotionally charged and potentially offensive terms "wombs for rent", "outsourced pregnancies" or "baby farms".
Rationale
Intended parents may arrange a surrogate pregnancy because of female infertility, or other medical issues which may make the the pregnancy or the delivery risky. A female intending parent may also be fertile and healthy, but unwilling to undergo pregnancy.
Alternatively, the intended parent may be a single male.[2], or a male homosexual couple.
Surrogates
Surrogates may be relatives, friends, or previous strangers. Many surrogate arrangements are made through agencies that help match up intended parents with women who want to be surrogates for a fee. The agencies often help manage the complex medical and legal aspects involved. Surrogacy arrangements can also be made independently. In compensated surrogacies the amount a surrogate receives varies widely from almost nothing above expenses to over $30,000.[citation needed] Careful screening is needed to assure their health as the gestational carrier incurs potential obstetrical risks.
History
Having another woman bear a child for a couple to raise, usually with the male half of the couple as the genetic father, is referred to in antiquity. For example, chapter 16 of the book of Genesis relates the story of Sarah's servant Hagar bearing a child to Abraham for Sarah and Abraham to raise.
Attorney Noel Keane is generally recognized as the creator of the legal idea of surrogate motherhood. However, it was not until he developed an association with physician Warren J. Ringold in the city of Dearborn, Michigan that the idea became feasible. Dr. Ringold agreed to perform all of the artificial inseminations, and the clinic grew rapidly in the early part of 1981. Though Keane and Ringold were widely criticized by some members of the press and politicians, they continued and eventually advocated for the passage of laws that protected the idea of surrogate motherhood. Bill Handel, who is a partner in a Los Angeles, Surrogacy firms, also attempted to have such laws passed in California, but his attempts were struck down in the State Congress. Presently, the idea of surrogate motherhood has gained some societal acceptance and laws protecting the contractual arrangements exist in eight states.[3]
In the United States, the issue of surrogacy was widely publicised in the case of Baby M, in which the surrogate and biological mother of Melissa Stern ("Baby M"), born in 1986, refused to cede custody of Melissa to the couple with whom she had made the surrogacy agreement. The courts of New Jersey eventually awarded custody to Melissa's biological father William Stern and his wife Elizabeth Stern, rather than to the surrogate Mary Beth Whitehead.
Legality
There is a default legal assumption in most countries that the woman giving birth to a child is that child's legal mother. In some jurisdictions the possibility of surrogacy has been allowed and the intended parents may be recognized as the legal parents from birth. Many states now issue pre-birth orders through the courts placing the name(s) of the intended parent(s) on the birth certificate from the start. In others the possibility of surrogacy is either not recognized (all contracts specifying different legal parents are void), or is prohibited.
Ethical issues
Mother Child Relationship
A study by the Family and Child Psychology Research Centre at City University, London, UK in 2002 concluded that surrogate mothers rarely had difficulty relinquishing rights to a surrogate child and that the intended mothers showed greater warmth to the child than mothers conceiving naturally.[15] Anthropological studies of surrogates have shown that surrogates engage in various distancing techniques throughout the surrogate pregnancy so as to ensure that they do not become emotionally attached to the baby. [16] Many surrogates intentionally try to foster the development of emotional attachment between the intended mother and the surrogate child. [17] Instead of the popular expectation that surrogates feel traumatized after relinquishment, an overwhelming majority describe feeling empowered by their surrogacy experience.[18]. However, this has been widely criticised by feminists who claim that surrogate motherhood is a form of commodifying and dismemebering the female body and thus a patriarchal form of violence, not unlike prostitution.
Compensated surrogacy
Bioethicists are concerned that Indian surrogates are being badly paid for their surrogacy and that they are working as surrogates in a country with a comparatively high maternal death rate. [19] However, high maternal death rates are found in the poorest sections of the population in India. They may not get access to proper medical facilities in time, or there are those who opt not to access them because of superstition. Surrogate mothers in India enrolled in commercial surrogacy programs are usually cared for with advanced medical, nutritional and overall care.[citation needed]
from:
Surrogacy
Comprehension Questions:
1. Is surrogacy legal in your country?
2. What do you think is the stand of religion to this issue?
3. If a sister, friend or close relative plan for surrogacy as a gestational carrier or intended parent, what suggestions can you give her? Would you recommend surrogacy?
4. What possible problems might pose in the future for both parties (surrogate mother and intended parent/s)?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)