Trends shaping the job market

Read an article by Thomas Friedman in the New York Times about the biggest trends shaping the job market of the 21st century here.

New "access of influence" emerges in Washington

Piracy of intellectual property on the internet is a serious problem. But a bill that was proposed in Congress to try to stop it didn't sit well with Internet giants such as Wikipeida, Google, Firefox and Facebook. Wielding their influence with millions of viewers, their on-line protests forced legislator after legislator to withdraw support from the bill, threatening its passage, and leaving Washington and Hollywood in awe of this new "access of influence" on the political playing field. Click HERE to watch an interview and read an article in the New York Times about this subject.

Vocabulary and expressions from the interview:
SOPA (name of the bill: Stop Online Piracy Act)
collective flex of muscle
huge constituencies
Hollywood has lots of "juice" in Washington
intimate relationship with user-base
disparate
the "take-away" on this

Stop Coddling the Super-Rich!

Warren Buffet has been rated by Forbes magazine as the third wealthiest man in the world. In an editorial to the New York Times in August, 2011, the American business magnate, investor and philanthropist pleas for the U.S. government to increase taxes for the super rich. Read what he says by clicking here.

Interview with Peter Löscher about Teams

Read an interview with Peter Löscher from the New York Times, July 30,2011 about what makes a team click here.

British and American English

Funny way of learning some British and American slang :-)

Solutions to Grammar Homework

For the extra grammar group: Here is a quick direct link to the solutions for the homework from May 17, 2011 on the simple present. For solutions to the Simple Present Test 1 click here. For solutions to the Simple Present Test 2 click here. Online exercises and explanations for all grammar subjects can be found by clicking here.

Barack Obama's Address to Press Announcing Release of Birth Certificate

Barack Obama is considered one of the best U.S. presidential speakers ever. Listen to one of his recent informal addresses to the press. Note his use of the pause: for emphasis, for thinking time, for a shift to a new idea and for heightened anticipation. This address was made on April 27, 2011 in response to persistent allegations from right-wing republicans that Obama was not born in the United States. Click here to watch this short clip.