Download: http://download.putclub.com/update/sest/200712/22/20071222apnews.mp3

Reference:

1. A federal judge seems reluctant to investigate the destruction of CIA interrogation videotapes, while the Justice Department is looking into the matter. The Administration wants the court to back off, while others say it may be the only place for an impartial inquiry.

2. Barry Bonds is fighting to keep his law team intact. He was in court today as prosecutors questioned whether his attorneys have a potential conflict of interest. The lawyers had earlier represented two potential witnesses in a perjury case that's linked to his alleged steroid use.

3. The Transportation Security Administration is getting very little love from travellers this holiday season. A new Associated Press-Ipsos poll shows that travellers have so many complaints about the airport screening process that they actually rate the IRS higher than the TSA.

4. Any Martians out there may want to be on the lookout. Astronomers say an asteroid hurtling through space may be on a collision course with the red planet and could strike late next month.

WORDS IN THE NEWS

1. perjury : n. [uncountable] law α֤×ï
the crime of telling a lie after promising to tell the truth in a court of law, or a lie told in this way

2. asteroid : n.
one of the many small planets that move around the sun, especially between Mars and Jupiter

3. intact : adj. [not before noun]
not broken, damaged, or spoiled

4. be on the lookout for sb./sth. :
to continuously watch a place or pay attention in order to find something you want or to be ready for problems or opportunities

African Dawn

Take in a breathtaking sunrise in Tanzania, where leopards doze in the tree branches and hyenas take an early morning swim.

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡[

Video download

MP3 download

thorn tree country is like a vast city on the plains. It is crowded with residents looking for food, acommodation, and social contact.

In the confront to the Canopy, there is a new in center to get up this morning. The tallest umbrellar thorn tree are burst in the flower. Its sweet smell draws many visitors, like vivid monkeys.

The virvid monkeys robbed some of the flowers. but most are left in wind sex. They move among the blossems such as director,they carry out the vital process of pollination--fertilizing the trees to make seeds.



[ ±¾Ìû×îºóÓÉ vanbryan ÓÚ 2007-12-22  20:43 ±à¼­ ]

ÇÀ¸öɳ·¢£¬ºÃºÃѧϰӢÓï

ר³ÌÀ´¶¥Íõ×Ó

:aaaa:   gooàÞàÞd

½ñÌìµÄGN²»´í£¬ºÜÏíÊܵÄÉùÒô

AP News 2--7-12-23



Download: http://download.putclub.com/update/sest/200712/23/20071223apnews.mp3

Reference:

This is AP News In A Minute.
The Holiday Shopping Rush is on for retailers try to attract last minute Chrismas shoppers.Savaging what have been so far a midiocre December.At Micies, price cuts are most merchandize to 50% percent.

A video plea from the parents of M M/. The British girl missing since May from a result in p/. Her parents released video of M openning gifts from last Chrismas.

Former British Preminister Tony Blair has left the church of England converting the Catharlathis. Now, sharing the fath with his wife and children. The A/ of Cath/,leader of the world C/ wishes Blair's best in his spiritual journey.

Just before Chrismas, this reindeer herd is grounded. Due to recent outbreaks of Foot&Mouth-Diseaze and Blue-Town-Virus. The herd is usually in the mind of holiday displays but not this year. Authorities want a barriers between the animals and everyone else.

Download mp3

THE PRESIDENT: Good morning.

Christmas is just a few days away. As Americans gather around the tree with family and friends, we remember the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, and Coast Guard men and women who will be spending this holiday far away from their homes and loved ones. America is blessed to have men and women willing to step forward to defend our freedoms and keep us safe from our enemies. We are thankful for their courage and their dedication to duty. We pray for their safety. And we wish them a Merry Christmas, wherever they serve.

America is also blessed to have military families willing to sacrifice for our country. The husbands and wives, mothers and fathers, sons and daughters of those in the military serve our country as well. For many of them, service means packing up their belongings and moving on short notice, or living in a different country for a time, or missing a family member as he or she serves overseas. And this Christmas, many will sit down for dinner thinking of their loved ones half a world away. These families deserve the thanks and the prayers of our whole Nation.

Some military families are helping loved ones recover from injuries sustained in combat. These families are a special source of hope and strength for our wounded warriors. Through their encouragement and devotion, they help heal the body and the spirit, and they remind our wounded warriors that our Nation stands behind them.


Other military families have felt the pain of losing a loved one in battle. This Christmas, we hold them in our hearts. We lift them up in our prayers. And we are inspired by the example that many of these families have set by turning their grief into extraordinary acts of compassion and love. One such inspiring example is the family of Army Specialist Michael Rodriguez of Knoxville, Tennessee. During his deployment in Iraq, Michael often wrote home to his family about the children he met on patrol. In April, Michael was killed by a suicide bomber. Now his family is honoring his memory by helping to collect school supplies for students at an Iraqi school for girls. We are also grateful for Kirsten Yuhl-Torres of San Diego, California. In 2006, Kirsten lost her son, Sergeant Joseph Perry, in Iraq.

To honor Joseph's memory, she started sending care packages and writing letters of support to other soldiers serving there. Kirsten says, "Joe was our only son, but now we have hundreds." Our Nation is also inspired by Bob Lehmiller, whose son Sergeant Mike Lehmiller, was killed in 2005 while serving in Afghanistan. To honor his son, Bob created Mike's Guardian Eagle Foundation. The Foundation gives financial assistance to military families who need extra help when their loved ones deploy or if they're wounded or killed on the field of battle.

All these families have already given so much to America, and yet they have found a way to give even more. We thank each of them. And we thank every one of our citizens who supports our troops with letters, and donations, or prayers. At this time of year, we acknowledge that love and sacrifice can transform our world. The miracle of Christmas reminds us that God's grace is revealed in the humblest places. Two thousand years ago, the fullness of that grace was found in a tiny manger, and the life born that day changed our world forever. As Christmas approaches, Laura and I extend to all Americans our best wishes, and we hope every family is brought closer together during this season of reflection and rejoicing.

Thank you for listening, and Merry Christmas.

END



[ ±¾Ìû×îºóÓÉ vanbryan ÓÚ 2007-12-23  20:41 ±à¼­ ]

AP NEWS 2007-12-24



Download:  http://download.putclub.com/update/sest/200712/24/20071224apnews.mp3

Reference:

1. Ice and snow are making for treacherous travel this holiday weekend. Power is out to thousands of homes in the Midwest. At least five people have died from pileups in several states.

2. In an early morning tragedy, fire destroyed a Baptist church in Jacksonville, Florida. No one was injured.The flames lit up the sky. The sanctuary burned to the ground, but the gymnasium was spared. Church officials say that is where they will hold Christmas services. An investigation is underway.

3. Roger Clemens is again denying he ever used steroids or injected anything into his body. The all-star pitcher posted a video on his website and Youtube. His name was prominent in the Mitchell Report that detailed baseball players' steroid use. Clemens says he plans to answer questions about allegations in the future.

4. Santa Claus is getting an early start to Christmas. He is greeting boys and girls at his home in Finland. The North Pole is too busy for guests at this time of year. Tomorrow night, Saint Nicolas will be off on his sleigh, delivering toys to children worldwide.


WORDS IN THE NEWS

1. treacherous : adj.
ground, roads, weather conditions etc that are treacherous are particularly dangerous because you cannot see the dangers very easily

2. sanctuary : noun.
the part of a religious building that is considered to be the most holy:

3. spare: verb.
[usually passive] ~ sb/sth (from sth) (literary) to allow sb/sth to escape harm, damage or death, especially when others do not escape it:

4. Saint Nicolas : noun.
Bishop of Myra in Asia Minor who is often associated with Santa Claus and the custom of gift-giving at Christmas.

Download:  http://download.putclub.com/update/sest/200712/23/20071223REPORT.mp3

Reference:

This is Steve Ember with the VOA Special English holiday program.

Music fills the air, colorful lights shine brightly in windows. Children and adults open gifts from loved ones and friends. These are all Christmas traditions.

Another tradition is snow. Christmas in the northern part of the world comes a few days after the start of winter. In many places a blanket of clean white snow covers the ground on Christmas Day. This is what is met by a white Christmas. Of course, many places do not get snow in Christmas. In fact, they may be very warm this time of the year. People who like snow but live where it is warm can only dream of having a white Christmas. American song writer E G captures these feelings in his song White Christmas. It is one of the most popular Christmas songs of all the time. The opening words explain why the singer is dreaming of a white Christmas. Most people never hear these words, so they never really understand the true meaning of the song.

Here is how it starts:

The sun is shining. The grass is green, the arms of palm tree is swaying.
I've never seen such a day in B. Hill
But it's December 24th
And I am longing to be up north
Up north where it is cold and snowy
Not south where it is the warm and sunny

Over the years, hundreds of singers and musicians have recorded White Christmas. But the version most people still know best was sang by B.C.

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas
Just like the ones I used to know
Where the treetops glisten
And children listen
To hear sleigh bells in the snow

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas
With every Christmas card I write
May your days be merry and bright
And may all your Christmas be white

Song writer E.B was born in Russia in 1888. He did not celebrate Christmas as a religious holiday. He was Jewish. But his song celebrates an idea of peace and happiness that anyone, anywhere snowy or not can enjoy.

To all of you, best wishes this holiday season from all of us in VOA Special English. This is Steve Ember.

[ ±¾Ìû×îºóÓÉ vanbryan ÓÚ 2007-12-24  18:42 ±à¼­ ]