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.

Tiger Mother challenges western upbringing

In January, Amy Chua, 49-year-old Chinese-American law professor at Yale University, came out with a book that immediately became a best-seller in the US, as well as all over the world. In "The Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother," Amy Chua recounts and reflects on how she raised her two daughters in an extremely strict, traditional success-oriented "Chinese" way. The book is a very tongue in cheek, blow by blow account of the successes as well as failures of her attempt to bring her children up with traditional "Chinese" values of hard work in the middle of mainstream America. The book is written with much humor, self irony and wide-reaching reflections. It has caused heated debates on all sides and has caused western and Chinese thinkers all over the world to re-consider their own parenting approaches and values on both a personal as well as global level.

Click here to watch a short interview with Amy Chua.

Aftermath of U.S. elections: "Build a Damn Fence!"

After the euphoria following Obama's victory two years ago, the sweeping Republican victories in the mid-term elections in the U.S. have given the Democrats a significant setback. In this spoof on the emigration of Mexicans across the border to the U.S., this author describes how hordes of American liberals are fleeing across the border to Canada.

From The Manitoba Herald
by Clive Runnels

The flood of American liberals sneaking across the border into Canada has intensified in the past week, sparking calls for increased patrols to stop the illegal immigration. The recent actions of the Tea Party are prompting an exodus among left-leaning citizens who fear they'll soon be required to hunt, pray, and to agree with Bill O'Reilly and Glenn Beck.

Canadian border farmers say it's not uncommon to see dozens of sociology professors, animal-rights activists and Unitarians crossing their fields at night. "I went out to milk the cows the other day, and there was a Hollywood producer huddled in the barn," said Manitoba farmer Red Greenfield, whose acreage
borders North Dakota. The producer was cold, exhausted and hungry. He asked me if I could spare a latte and some free-range chicken. When I said I didn't have any, he left before I even got a chance to show him my screenplay, eh?”

In an effort to stop the illegal aliens, Greenfield erected higher fences, but the liberals scaled them. He then installed loudspeakers that blared Rush Limbaugh across the fields. "Not real effective," he said. "The liberals still got through and Rush annoyed the cows so much that they wouldn't give any milk.”

Officials are particularly concerned about smugglers who meet liberals near the Canadian border, pack them into Volvo station wagons and drive them across the border where they are simply left to fend for themselves." A lot of these people are not prepared for our rugged conditions," an Ontario border
patrolman said. "I found one carload without a single bottle of imported drinking water. They did have a nice little Napa Valley Cabernet, though." When liberals are caught, they're sent back across the border, often wailing loudly that they fear retribution from conservatives. Rumors have been circulating about plans being made to build re-education camps where
liberals will be forced to drink domestic beer and watch NASCAR races.

In recent days, liberals have turned to ingenious ways of crossing the border. Some have been disguised as senior citizens taking a bus trip to buy cheap Canadian prescription drugs. After catching a half-dozen young vegans in powdered wig disguises, Canadian immigration authorities began stopping buses and quizzing the supposed senior citizens about Perry Como and Rosemary Clooney to prove that they were alive in the '50s. "If they can't identify the accordion player on The Lawrence Welk Show, we become very
suspicious about their age" an official said. Canadian citizens have complained that the illegal immigrants are creating
an organic-broccoli shortage and are renting all the Michael Moore movies. "I really feel sorry for American liberals, but the Canadian economy just can't support them." an Ottawa resident said.

"How many art-history majors does one country need?"
***************************************************************************

sneaking: moving secretly, stealthily
sparking: setting off in a burst of activity
prompting: moving to action, inciting
Bill O'Reilly: Conservative American television host, political commentary program "The O'Reilly Factor" on Fox News
Glenn Beck: conservative radio and television talk show and news host
Unitarians: members of a denomination that stresses individual freedom of belief, the free use of reason in religion, a united world community, and liberal social action
huddled: gathered in a close-packed group
acreage: area in acres
free-range chicken: chickens that are allowed to range and forage relatively freely (not caged)
screenplay: script of a film or movie
scaled: ascended to the top
blared: sounded loudly
Rush Limbaugh: conservative radio talk show host
station wagons: large carswith passenger compartment
to fend for themselves: provide for themselves
retribution: reward or punishment
wailing: crying, complaining
NASCAR: National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing
Perry Como: Musical television show host
The Lawrence Welk Show: Popular musical television show host
Rosemary Clooney: Popular singer in the 1950s

Political forms of discussion in the U.S.

Political discussion in the U.S. has become increasingly polarized and aggressive as news media, particularly some cable news networks, publish and broadcast their own opinionated versions of the news. Just last August, Glenn Beck from the conservative Fox News Network called fellow conservatives and Tea Party members to a Washington D.C. rally "Restoring Honor" where such prominent figures as former vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin spoke. Fed up with heated discussions and agitating rallies, popular political comedian Jon Stewart, who holds a mock television news show ("The Daily Show"), has now called for an alternative "Rally to Restore Sanity" to be held in Washington D.C. on October 30. Read the blog about this upcoming half-humorous, half serious event "John Stewart to Rally for Sanity: Good Luck with That!" on Time.com. And take a look at the offical flyer announcing the rally.

Homework 27 July - Starbucks vs. McCafé

Please, read the following article.
Starbucks vs. McCafé

Pronunciation: Starbucks

Europe's Thirst for Young African Footballers

While the football world's attention has focused on Africa for the first time this year, Europe's top clubs have had their eyes on young African players already for many years. In fact, young African players have long been a sought-after commodity, groomed and trained for success by European trainers on European teams. While some of these players make it to the top, many are not so fortunate, often ending up on the streets. Read about "Europe's Thirst for Young African Footballers" and what becomes of them in this article.

Football fever

"We wanted to fan the World Cup enthusiasm further", said Martin Schäfer from the Germany Embassy in Pretoria.
The Embassy also launched "Fan Embassies" vehicles decorated in the colours of the German flag, which follow the German fans around as they support their country. The "Fan Embassies" provide fans with information and help.
Are you also into the "Football Fever"? Do you think the German team will win the World Cup? Would you like to have a conversation about football but in English? Why don't you check your football vocabulary by doing this quiz? You can check the answers on the following vocabulary list.