American Mosaic - Voice of America

Virginia Bookstore Finds the Secret to Success

Fri, 23 Sep 2016 21:00:48 +0000

A large bookstore in a small U.S. town has succeeded for many years by giving people a chance to buy a lot of books for a low price. The large and simple bookstore is in the small eastern town of Mount Crawford, Virginia. The Green Valley Book Fair is made up of two large storage buildings totaling 2,300 square meters. Some customers like Zoe Dellinger have been buying books at the store for many years. “I was coming here since I was in my early 20s. The thrill of finding a new book is very serendipitous here because you can’t come and say ‘I’m buying the new Nicholas Sparks book today.’ That’s not what this place is about -- this place is about finding wonderful treasures.” And those treasures are not costly. “I found a wonderful book that I wanted. It was very expensive at the time -- 25, 26 dollars was expensive for me to purchase a new book. I found the book here for five dollars. I was so excited, so that has kept me coming back just to see what treasures I'll find.” The Green Valley Book Fair has 500,000 new and old books about politics, religion, science, travel, cooking and many other subjects. Michele Branner is the manager of the store. “My parents actually started this bookstore about 46 years ago. My dad collected old books and then decided that he wanted to sell some of them. And it went so well it’s just kind of evolved to what it is today.” The bookstore is only open six times a year for three weeks. About 25,000 people visit during each period. The store sells about $2 million worth of books every year. “We buy our books at a fraction of retail and we can sell them for the prices that we do and keep our overhead low. That’s why we, we don’t have any fancy buildings or anything like that.” People have visited the store from many American states and from Kenya, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Russia. Tom Whitton is from the eastern city of Bristol, Connecticut. “We have our whole family with us this time. So we said ‘Oh you gotta see this book fair,’ and so we brought 'em all here today. It meets every family’s need that likes to read.” I’m Christopher Jones-Cruise. VOA Correspondent June Soh reported this story from Mount Crawford, Virginia. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted the report for Learning English. Mario Ritter was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section, or visit our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story thrill – n. a feeling of great excitement or happiness; a very exciting or enjoyable event or experience serendipitous – adj. luck that takes the form of finding valuable or pleasant things that are not looked for treasure – n. something that is very special, important or valuable expensive - adj. costing a lot of money evolve – v. to change or develop slowly often into a better, more complex or more advanced state; to develop by a process of evolution fraction – n. a small part or amount of something overhead - n. costs for rent, heat, electricity, etc., that a business must pay and that are not related to what the business sells fancy – adj. not plain or ordinary

First Look: African American Museum Opening on National Mall

Thu, 22 Sep 2016 21:32:30 +0000

The National Museum of African American History and Culture opens Saturday, September 24. What began years ago as legislation under then-President George W. Bush will soon be the newest addition to the Smithsonian Institution in Washington. VOA’s Arash Arabasadi was invited the new museum before it officially opened to the public. June Simms has his report. “What we want is a museum that uses the past to help you understand the world you’re living in.” That is Lonnie Bunch III. He serves as curator of the Smithsonian Museum of African American History and Culture. “This is your story, regardless of who you are. This is a story that tells you about your own family, your own family’s struggle of freedom or citizenship..." Civil rights activist Jesse Jackson, a former presidential candidate, describes the power of the new museum. “It reshuffles the deck of American history. It’s revolutionary.” The story starts with the slave trade that forcibly brought Africans on a long, difficult journey to North America. Jackson notes that African Americans have faced many struggles in the United States. “We built the country, and we were enslaved for 246 years, which means that we were enslaved longer than we have been free.” People visiting the new museum can see an early 1800s slave home. The Smithsonian’s Nancy Bercaw describes the living conditions. “It would have been pretty unbearable living within this cabin. If you’ve ever been down to the South Carolina low country, you’ll know that it’s very heavy with mosquitos and bugs. It’s very hot. When we collected the cabin, snakes came out of the cabin...” The museum also has reminders of the Jim Crow laws in the southern states. Those laws effectively enforced racial separation and remained in effect into the 1960s. Supporters described the legal policies as “separate but equal.” But, in truth, everything was better for whites. Richard Kurin, Undersecretary of the Smithsonian Institution, provides an example. “If you were white, you bought your ticket, you walked into this railcar, and you sat in the white section. The white section was a lot nicer than the black section.” The museum exhibits flow through time from slavery to Jim Crow to the civil rights movement and modern times. There are some areas dedicated to music and entertainment, as well as to sports. Jesse Jackson noted that equality ruled in sports when members of all races were finally permitted to compete. “Whenever the playing field is even and the rules are public, and the goals are clear, the referees are fair and the score is transparent, we can make it.” The struggle for civil rights for African Americans served as a model, says Smithsonian official John Whittington Franklin. “African Americans paved the way through their strategies to assist other groups seeking equality.” President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle are to take part in the opening ceremony at the African American History and Culture museum. I’m June Simms. Reporter Arash Arabasadi wrote this report for VOANews.com. Caty Weaver adapted it for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. Share your thoughts in the Comments Section or post a message on Facebook page. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story museum – n. a building in which interesting and valuable things are kept and shown to the public curator – n. someone responsible for organizing things in a museum regardless – adv. without being stopped by trouble or difficulty cabin – n. a small, simple house, usually made of wood dedicate – v. to officially make (something) a place for honoring or remembering a person, event, etc. referee – n. a person who makes sure that players obey the rules of a game or sport transparent – adj. honest and open: not secretive pave the way – expression begin a process that makes something possible strategy – n. a careful plan or method for achieving a particular goal usually over a long period of time

White House Celebration Honors Student Poets

Fri, 16 Sep 2016 21:00:34 +0000

The American poet Carl Sandburg once said, “Poetry is an echo, asking a shadow to dance.” Recently five young people were named to lead that dance for the next year. They are the National Student Poets. They recently enjoyed a ceremony in their honor at the White House. President Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle, created the program to honor student poets from five areas of the country. The first lady said that they felt the program was necessary to prevent the arts from becoming lost in schools. “What we knew is that loss was pretty devastating because we all know what the evidence shows is that when kids are involved in arts, they do better in school and in life. They have higher grades. They have fewer behavioral problems. We talk about this at almost every event. They are more likely to go to college, to graduate, and go on and do wonderful things.” About 70,000 young people apply to the program each year. A team of poets and artists choose the winners. This year’s student poets include 17-year-olds Stella Binion of Illinois, Maya Eashwaran of Georgia, Gopal Raman of Texas, and Joey Reisberg of Maryland. Sixteen-year-old Maya Slameh is from California. The Lebanese American read her poem “Sacrilege Incorporated” at the event held at the White House. Maya said she wanted to write to express her feelings about being Arab-American. She wanted to show how that identity was not always a comfortable one. Maya Eashwaran is Indian American. Her poem “Linguistics” is about losing some of her Indian identity to American culture. Maya says the poem was written at a time when she began to realize that she was losing some of her culture, some of her history. "I was writing the poem after I had realized that I was speaking more English than my mother tongue." Each National Student Poet spends a year attending poetry classes. They also go to art festivals and do a community service project. Some of the past winners have taught poetry to women prisoners, worked with veterans, and helped people with Alzheimer’s. Stella Binion is from Chicago. She says that her dream is to work with and inspire other students, especially African American girls. "My dream would be to work with young girls of color, specifically black girls, to, like, empower their voices and (make them) feel like their voices are important and heard through the lines of poetry because that's what poetry has been for me, in terms of, like, my experience as a young black woman." Joey Reisberg of Towson, Maryland, says he hopes to help develop poetry workshops in Baltimore. Rioting broke out in that city last year, in connection with the arrest and death of an unarmed black man named Freddy Gray. Reisberg says he wants to show that there is much more to Baltimore than the recent unrest. "I'm thinking less in terms of my own work, and more in terms of, like, leading workshops for Baltimore poets to show that the city isn't as divided as it seems. We're all still people." At the ceremony, Michelle Obama said she could not have been prouder of all the student poets – from 2016 and earlier years. I’m Caty Weaver. VOA’s David Byrd reported this story. Caty Weaver adapted it for Learning English. Mario Ritter was the editor. Do you read or write poetry? What does it mean to you? Let us know by posting in the Comments Section, or visit our Facebook page. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story echo – n. the repeated sound that is heard when sound waves bounce off of distant object shadow – n. a dark area of blocked light that appears when something blocks a light source devastating – adj. causing great damage or harm comfortable – adj. not painful inspire – v. to make (someone) want to do something

Thailand Is 'Hot' Over American Sriracha Sauce

Wed, 14 Sep 2016 21:00:26 +0000

An Asian chili sauce is winning over taste buds all over the United States. Sriracha sauce now flavors many American-made products -- from popcorn to candy to beer. There are cookbooks explaining how to use the popular hot sauce. You can buy clothing decorated with the famous Sriracha rooster. Songs have been written about the hot sauce. There is even a 2013 documentary film, Sriracha, about the history of the spicy condiment. Trailer of the film Sriracha. Sales of Sriracha are greater than $80 million each year. This success has made Sriracha, named after a city on Thailand’s coast, a household name in America. The popularity of Sriracha sauce is even more amazing considering the company that makes the sauce has never advertised. The man who created Sriracha sauce is David Tran. He is an ethnic Chinese from Vietnam who immigrated to California. His sauce is made with red jalapeño peppers grown only on a farm in Southern California. Tran's Sriracha sauce is hot on the tail of, meaning right behind, America's traditional best-selling spicy sauce, Tabasco. Tabasco has been sold for nearly 150 years. It is a Cajun-style pepper sauce that has more vinegar and is spicier than Tran's Sriracha sauce. The hotness or spiciness of a sauce can be measured with something called the Scoville scale. The American Chemical Society tests and rates hot peppers. Tabasco is not only hotter but also five times more expensive than Tran’s Sriracha sauce. The Louisiana-based company that makes Tabasco, is now making its own "Premium Sriracha Sauce." In fact, large and small companies in the U.S. are using the “Sriracha” name on their own sauces. When David Tran made the sauce, he did not copyright the Sriracha name. David Tran was a major in the South Vietnamese army. He created his first hot sauce in 1975. That year his country fell to the Communist North. Five years later, he began hand-bottling his new sauce for restaurants in the Chinatown area of Los Angeles, California. “Sriracha” is a variation of the spelling of the Thai town of Si Racha. It is a seaside community on the east coast of the Gulf of Thailand and it is famous for its sauce. Thai people can be confused and dissatisfied when they learn that a sauce with the name "Sriracha" is made 13,000 kilometers away in the United States. When he saw the American sauce in the red bottle with a white rooster on it, one government officer in the city of Si Racha said, “What do you mean it's from America? Its name is Sriracha.” A Thai food writer in Thailand agreed. She said, "because of the name it's obvious that it should be from Thailand.” A VOA correspondent brought the American Sriracha sauce to a food market in Si Racha. Buyers and sellers there tasted the condiment, compared it to their local sauce and shared their opinions. One woman who sells hot sauces said the American sauce is much “saltier and spicier” than the Thai sauce which is more “sweet and sour.” She adds, however, that Si Racha sauce has to be produced in Si Racha. Her adult daughter compared the Californian sauce to ketchup, a popular American condiment made from tomatoes, vinegar and spices. She adds that the Californian sauce is a better match for the meat dishes preferred by foreigners, such as steaks. Thais, she explained, prefer a thinner sauce to eat with their dry noodle dishes. "Both are good," she adds, but the American kind is "too hot." But there is one thing food-loving people in the Thai city of Si Racha agree on -- the foreign sauce widely known among Americans as "the rooster sauce" is making its own way in the food world. I’m Anna Matteo. The official Sriracha song "Oh yeah, Huy Fong Sriracha, oh yes siree. It's made in America, land of the free. Though it might look peculiar, don't let the bottle fool ya (you). It's Huy Fong the American garlic chili pepper sauce." Is Sriracha sauce a popular condiment where you live? What is the most popular condiment? Let us know in the Comments Section. Steve Herman reported this story for VOA Learning English. Anna Matteo adapted it for VOA Learning English. Mario Ritter was the editor. _______________________________________________________________ Words and Their Stories taste bud – n. one of many small spots on your tongue that give you the ability to taste things flavor –v. to give or add taste to a food condiment – n. something (such as salt, mustard, or ketchup) that is added to food to give it more flavor documentary – n. a movie or television program that tells the facts about actual people and events household name – n. a person or thing whose name is very well-known vinegar – n. a sour liquid that is used to flavor or preserve foods or to clean things spicy (spicier) – adj. of food : flavored with or containing strong spices and especially ones that cause a burning feeling in your mouth variation – n. something that is similar to something else but different in some way confused – adj. being perplexed or disconcerted dissatisfied – adj. not happy or pleased sour – adj. of food : having an acid taste that is like the taste of a lemon

Pre-Teens Enter Universities in Canada, US

Fri, 09 Sep 2016 21:03:06 +0000

Jeremy Shuler and Cendikiawan Suryaatmadja, also known as Diki, are starting a new year in school. Both boys are 12 years old. But unlike other children, Diki is studying physics at the University of Waterloo in Canada. He also is taking classes in mathematics, chemistry and economics. Jeremy is now taking classes at Cornell University in the American state of New York. He is the youngest student to ever enroll at Cornell. He is already skilled at calculus – high-level math that often deals with rates of change. The two boys are among a growing number of children enrolling in universities. Diki is from West Java, Indonesia. He moved to the Canadian province of Ontario for his schooling. He will live with his father near the university while he completes his studies. The boy taught himself English in about six months by living in Singapore. While there, he read English language reports and watched English motion pictures with subtitles. Jeremy Shuler is the son of two aerospace engineers from Texas. "The classes are kind of easy, so far. I know they'll be harder pretty soon," he told the the Associated Press. American Michael Kearney, born in 1984, remains the youngest ever person to have completed a study program at a college or university. He was eight years old when he graduated from college. He went on to teach college students while still a teenager. I’m Dorothy Gundy. This report was based on a story from VOANews.com. Jim Dresbach adapted it for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or visit our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story enroll – v. to enter someone as a member of something motion picture – n. movie; film subtitle – n. words that appear on a video screen during a movie, video or television show and that show what the actors are saying aerospace – adj. of or related to travel in and above the Earth’s atmosphere and the vehicles used in such travel

NFL Season Opens Without Quarterbacks Brady, Manning

Wed, 07 Sep 2016 20:04:59 +0000

Fans of American-style football are looking forward to the opening of the National Football League season on September 8. The sports league includes 32 professional teams from around the U.S. They will play against each other for the next four months. All are seeking the chance to play in the championship, known as the Super Bowl, in February. The NFL championship is the most-watched sporting event on television in the U.S. It is also popular in other countries. The 2016-2017 season begins with a night game between the Denver Broncos and Carolina Panthers. It will be the first time the season has started without quarterback Peyton Manning since 1998. Manning retired after winning the Super Bowl in February. The 40-year-old former player for the Denver Broncos and Indianapolis Colts now jokes about all his free time in television commercials. The last time a season started without Tom Brady as the quarterback of the New England Patriots was in 2001. He became the team’s quarterback in the third game of that year. This year the 39-year-old athlete is suspended from play. The NFL says he can return in the fifth week of the season. For 15 years, Manning and Brady have been the highest profile quarterbacks in the NFL. In football, the quarterback is responsible for starting each play with the ball and throwing it, running it or handing it off to a teammate. The quarterback is a player on offense. Its goal is to move the ball down the field. Teams score by moving the ball into the opponent’s end zone. That is called a touchdown. The defense is responsible for pushing against the offense and stopping the offense from moving the ball down the field. The defense can win control of the ball for their team if the other team does not make enough progress. Football fans and sports industry experts are discussing the future for the Broncos and the Patriots now that their stars are gone. Of course, Brady will be back. The NFL ordered his suspension as punishment for his actions in an important game two seasons ago. He was found to be playing with footballs that were underinflated. Such balls can be easier to throw and catch in cold weather. New England is replacing Brady in the first four games with Jimmy Garoppolo. He does not have much experience in the NFL. In two seasons, he played in only 11 games for the Patriots. Denver’s new quarterback is Trevor Siemian. He has even less playing time than Garoppolo. Siemian has played in just one NFL game. Siemian says he hopes he can put to use some things he learned from Manning last year. Devin McCourty is an experienced New England player. He says Brady cannot be replaced by just one man. “I think it's going to be a true team effort to try to replace what he's built here and what he's been able to do, week in and week out," McCourty told the Associated Press. Both Denver and New England were two of the league’s best teams last year. Denver defeated New England one game before the Super Bowl. Two weeks later, Denver defeated the Carolina Panthers to win the Super Bowl. The league is divided into two groups, the American Football Conference and the National Football Conference. After practicing and playing warm-up games all summer, teams and players are ready for the new season. The season opener is a Super Bowl rematch between Denver and Carolina. The season includes 16 games and lasts 17 weeks. The last game before the playoffs is January 1, 2017. Each team’s goal is to play well enough to qualify for the playoffs. The playoffs are a small tournament. One team from the American Football Conference and one team from the National Football Conference will play in the Super Bowl on February 5. Reporters who cover football for the magazine Sports Illustrated picked the teams they thought would be the best this year. Denver, Carolina and New England are expected to be good. Also, the writers say teams from Arizona, Seattle, Green Bay and Pittsburgh should be strong. Ricky Jean-Francois is a defensive player for the Washington Redskins. He is a six-year veteran and played in the Super Bowl once, as a member of the San Francisco 49ers. His team’s season starts Monday night. Washington plays the Pittsburgh Steelers, one of the NFL’s most famous teams. “I’m overly excited. I’ve been waiting on the season to come about. It’s going to be an amazing season. I just want everybody to make sure they’re there to enjoy it like we are. It’s great to play a team like that [Pittsburgh] a team that’s a playoff team each and every year and a team that’s a Super Bowl contender each and every year. So it’s good to start the season off against a team like that.” I’m Dan Friedell. Dan Friedell wrote this story for Learning English with material from the Associated Press. Caty Weaver was the editor. Are you excited for the start of the new NFL season? We want to know. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. ____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story inflate – v. to add air or gas to (something, such as a tire or a balloon) and make it larger challenge – n. an action, statement, etc., that is against something: a refusal to accept something as true, correct, or legal rematch – n. a match or game that is played by the same people or teams after an earlier match or game — usually singular veteran - n. someone who has a lot of experience in a particular activity, job, etc. contender – n. a person or team who has a good chance of winning high-profile – adj. attracting a lot of attention in newspapers, on television, etc. tournament – n. a sports competition or series of contests that involves many players or teams and and usually continues for at least several days

Remembering Actor Gene Wilder

Wed, 31 Aug 2016 21:07:08 +0000

This week, the United States lost a beloved actor and funnyman. Gene Wilder, the wild-haired star of unforgettable comedy films, died Monday at the age of 83. A family member said Wilder was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease three years ago. He said the actor kept the condition private so he would not disappoint fans. "He simply couldn't bear the idea of one less smile in the world,'' his nephew Jordan Walker-Pearlman said. Gene Wilder started his acting career on the stage. However, millions of people knew him from his work in film. His movies with director Mel Brooks were especially famous. They included "The Producers,'' "Blazing Saddles'' and "Young Frankenstein.'' 'Truly great talent of our time' In a statement Monday, Brooks wrote, "Gene Wilder, one of the truly great talents of our time, is gone. He blessed every film we did together with his special magic and he blessed my life with his friendship. He will be so missed.'' Wilder was a master at playing nervous characters trapped in impossible, but funny, situations. In 1974’s "Young Frankenstein,'' Wilder’s character sought to build a living person from the dead. Wilder played Leo Bloom in the 1968 film "The Producers,'' about a man who tries to produce a costly failure on Broadway. The play, “Springtime for Hitler,” becomes a surprising hit instead. Wilder could play cool-headed characters like the gunslinger in "Blazing Saddles.'' He also made millions of child fans with his portrayal as the main character in "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.'' 'But I don't think I'm that funny' Many have posted messages on social media about the loss of Gene Wilder. "The greatest comedic mind of my childhood is now gone,'' tweeted actor Josh Gad. Comedian and actor Jim Carrey posted, "Gene Wilder was one of the funniest and sweetest energies ever to take a human form.'' Wilder was close friends with Richard Pryor. Their opposite personas - Wilder the worrier and the easy-going Pryor - were perfect for making comedy. They starred in four films together: "Silver Streak,'' "Stir Crazy,'' "See No Evil, Hear No Evil'' and "Another You.'' They created several memorable scenes, such as when Pryor provided Wilder with directions on how to "act black'' as they tried to avoid police in "Silver Streak.'' However, Wilder said in a 2013 interview that he was no comedian. He told interviewer Robert Osborne it was the biggest misunderstanding of him. “But I don't think I'm that funny. I think I can be in the movies.'' An early performer Wilder was born Jerome Silberman on June 11, 1933. His father was a Russian emigre. His mother was of Polish descent. When he was six, Wilder's mother suffered a heart attack that left her disabled. He soon began performing comedy at home to entertain her. He started taking acting classes at age 12. In 1961, he made his Broadway debut. That is when he took on the professional name of Gene Wilder. Wilder was married three times. His second marriage, to Saturday Night Live performer Gilda Radner, ended when she died of ovarian cancer in 1989. Wilder spent much of his time after her death speaking in support of cancer research. He also opened a support center for cancer patients. In 1991, he spoke before Congress about the need for increased testing for cancer. Wilder is survived by his wife, Karen, whom he married in 1991, and his daughter Katherine from an earlier marriage. I’m Jonathan Evans. The Associated Press news agency reported this story. Caty Weaver adapted it for VOA Learning English. was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section, or visit our Facebook page. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story comedy – n. a play, movie, television program, novel, etc., that is meant to make people laugh disappoint – v. to make (someone) unhappy by not being as good as expected or by not doing something that was hoped for or expected persona – n. the way you behave, talk, etc., with other people that causes them to see you as a particular kind of person: the image or personality that a person presents to other people entertain – v. to perform for (an audience): to provide amusement for (someone) by singing, acting, etc. debut – n. the first time an actor, musician, athlete, etc., does something in public or for the public