The new year is fast approaching (arriving soon). We use the expression to ring in the new year to mean to welcome or to celebrate the new year. We usually use this expression like this:
- “We’re ringing in the new year with a party at our house.”
- “Let’s ring in the new year with a bottle of champagne (a type of wine with bubbles)!”

Traditionally, people go to parties on new year’s eve (December 31st) to be with friends and other people to ring in the new year. They go to parties at people’s houses or go to one of the many restaurants and bars that have special new year celebrations. Many people dress up, especially women, wearing formal party and evening dresses. When 12:00 a.m. approaches, there is a countdown (10…9…8…7…etc.) to midnight. When the clock strikes 12:00, people drink champagne and kiss their spouse, boyfriend/girlfriend, or date, or maybe even a stranger (someone they don’t know). And the party continues…

How will you ring in the new year?

To all of our listeners, happy new year to you, and we hope that you’ll have a fantastic 2009!

~ Lucy

ESL Podcast wishes you a very happy holiday season from beautiful Los Angeles, California – the “City of Angels.”  In the Christian tradition, the angels greeted (said hello to) the shepherds (those who take care of sheep in the fields) near Bethlehem (the small town where Jesus was born), beginning with the words, “Peace on earth.”

This is our wish for the world, and for you and your families: That we may all have peace in our hearts and homes.

~Jeff

This is the time of year when many people are thinking of giving and receiving gifts. A popular short story about gift-giving is “The Gift of the Magi” published in 1906, written by American writer O. Henry (whose real name was William Sydney Porter). It’s a classic story that most Americans know from childhood, and there are many versions of this story today. Here’s a summary of the story:
….

There once was a young married couple named Jim and Della Dellingham. They were very much in love and they were very poor. For Christmas, Della wanted to buy her husband a chain (a long, flexible piece made of many small metal parts connected at one end, one to the next, like a necklace) for this pocket watch (an old-fashioned watch worn in a pocket, not on the arm), a watch that his father had given him and that he cherished (loved very much). The trouble was, Della didn’t have enough money. The only thing she had that was valuable was her beautiful long hair. She decided to cut it off and sell it to a wig-maker (maker of fake hair) to get the money for the watch chain.

Jim Dellingham loved his young wife very much and wanted to give her something special for Christmas. He, too, had little money and certainly not enough money to buy a set of beautiful combs for Della’s long hair, hair that everyone admired. In the end, Jim decided to sell his much-loved pocket watch to buy Della the combs.

As you can imagine, when Christmas day arrived and the gifts were exchanged, Jim and Della were surprised and also disappointed that the gift that each had bought the other was now useless. However, they each realized the self-sacrifice (giving of oneself so another person could benefit) of the other and loved each other all the more.
…

Why is this story called “The Gift of the Magi”? Here is O. Henry’s explanation from the last paragraph of his story.

“The magi, as you know, were wise men—wonderfully wise men—who brought gifts to the Babe (Jesus Christ in the Christian religion) in the manger (the open box that was the baby’s bed). They invented the art of giving Christmas presents. Being wise, their gifts were no doubt wise ones… And here I have lamely (poorly) related to you the uneventful chronicle (story from beginning to end) of two foolish children in a flat (apartment) who most unwisely sacrificed for each other the greatest treasures of their house. But in a last word to the wise of these days let it be said that of all who give gifts these two were the wisest (showing the best judgment). Of all who give and receive gifts, such as they (like they do) are wisest. Everywhere they are wisest. They are the magi.”

You can read O. Henry’s entire story here. I hope that your gift-giving experiences this holiday season are full of joy, for you and the ones you love.

~ Lucy

With the holidays (Christmas, Hanukkah) fast approaching (coming very soon), this is a good time to talk about gifts and generosity (giving things to others). This year especially with the economy being in such poor shape (poor condition), many people may be looking for some extra money to get them through (to help them survive) their financial difficulties. If you are looking for someone to give you some financial help, or simply are interested in getting a nice gift, whom should you talk to?

According to a recent study by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), the agency of the US government that collects taxes, women are much more likely to give away money to people, including friends and family, than men are. In fact, women gave nearly (almost) 30% more than men did in the year that the IRS studied this issue (2005). The study found that “women have more of a tendency (are more likely) to give without ulterior motives (secret reasons or reasons other than what they tell you).”

So if you need a little extra cash (money) this holiday season, you might want to talk to your wife or mother or sister before hitting up (borrowing money from) your husband, father, or brother.

~Jeff

QUESTION:
Yuzo from Japan asks, “What does “zero tolerance” mean?

ANSWER:
Zero tolerance is a type of policy (rules) where unwanted or bad behavior is punished very severely (harshly; very much). This idea is usually used in criminal matters where someone has broken the law, or in policy matters where someone has violated (not followed; gone against) a company or organization’s rule or regulation. It usually means that even if this is a person’s first offense (first time breaking the law or the rule), he or she will be punished severely.

In the U.S., in many states, there are zero tolerance laws for drug offenses, such as dealing (selling) drugs, and for prostitution (selling sex). There are also zero tolerance laws in some states against domestic abuse (causing injury to a family member or someone else who lives in one’s home). Some businesses and organizations have zero tolerance rules against sexual harassment, when men or women are subjected to (have no choice but to see/hear/experience) unwanted sexual behavior or obscene (offensive; disgusting) language. Some schools also have zero tolerance policies for their students. If a student brings a weapon (such as a knife or gun) to schools, for example, that student may be expelled (made to leave the school and never allowed to return).

Are there zero tolerance laws or policies in countries where you’ve lived or places where you’ve worked?

~ Lucy

The United States is known for its many low-cost (inexpensive, cheap) restaurants called fast food restaurants.  The idea is that you can get your food within a few minutes after you order it.  The most common food is hamburgers at restaurants such as McDonald’s and Burger King, although tacos are now becoming popular at restaurants such as Taco Bell and others.  Unfortunately, much of this food is unhealthy and is probably one reason why so many Americans are obese (seriously overweight).

Does the average American eat at restaurants more often than people in any other country?   The answer is no.  In the U.S., according to one study that was discussed in the New York Times Magazine recently, the average person living in the U.S. eats at a restaurant about 120 times a year.  That means that one out of every three days the average American eats a meal outside of their home.  This doesn’t necessarily mean they are eating fast food, although that is probably the most popular type of restaurant here.  But the number one country for eating meals at restaurants is Japan, where the typical person eats almost 200 meals every year in a restaurant.  The U.S. is second, followed by Spain, where the average person eats just over a hundred meals per year in a restaurant; Italy, Germany and Great Britain, where the number is around 80 meals per year; followed by France, the Netherlands, and Belgium.  (I’m not sure how many countries the study looked at, however.)

With the declining economy, my guess is that some of these numbers will go down in the United States as people look for less expensive ways of eating.  I would say that I am probably about the same as the average American, perhaps eating out (eating at a restaurant) a little bit more than the average.  I have a good reason, however: I am a terrible cook.

~Jeff

A spouse is a husband or wife. A work spouse is a co-worker, usually of the opposite sex (a man if you are a woman; a woman if you are a man), with whom you have a close, but platonic (not romantic or sexual) relationship. The relationship can be much like that of a married couple. In a U.S. survey, 23 percent of workers said that they had a work spouse.

Do you have a work spouse? (excerpted from CNN)
Here are seven clear signs (indications) you might have a work spouse:

1. You depend on a particular co-worker for office supplies, snacks and aspirin (common medicine for headaches and pain).

2. There are inside jokes that you and a specific co-worker share (jokes that other people would not understand).

3. You can be bluntly (directly; frankly) honest with this person about his or her appearance, hygiene (cleanliness) or hair. You’re comfortable enough to point out that the other’s hair is sticking up (standing up in the air) — or that someone’s fly (pant zipper) is down.

4. When something eventful (important or interesting) happens at work, this co-worker is the first person you seek out (try to find) for a de-briefing (discussion; asking questions to get information).

5. At breakfast, lunch, and coffee breaks, your closest co-worker knows what to order for you and how you like your coffee (and vice versa (the other way around; true for the other person, too)).

6. You and your co-worker can finish each other’s sentences.

7. Someone in your office knows almost as much about your personal life as your best friend or real-life spouse does.

Do you have a work spouse? Does your work spouse know things about you that your real-life spouse doesn’t know?

~ Lucy

On Cafe #163, I said that the area known as the Florida Keys (which includes the city of Key West) was the “southernmost” point in the United States (that is, the place that is farthest to the south).  Wolfgang, a listener from Germany, pointed out to me that this is not completely correct.  The Florida Keys are southernmost in the continental United States.  The continental US includes only those states that are on the continent of North America (excluding Alaska and Hawai’i – see below).  If we include Hawai’i, then the point that is furthest south is actually Ka Lae, Hawai’i.

But the story is even more complicated than that.  We have a couple of different terms we use to describe the United States, and each means something slightly different.  Here are some of them:

• Continental US:  There are actually two definitions of the “continental United States.” One is literal (actual, strictly), based upon geography, and includes all the states on the North American continent, which would logically include Alaska as well.  However, this use is not common.  Instead, when someone says the continental US, they mean all of the states on the North American continent except Alaska.  Why this strange exclusion of our 49th state?  Because the term “continental US” became popular before Alaska became a state in 1959, and so we have kept the old, non-geographically correct meaning to include just the 48 states on the continent but south of Canada (confusing, I know!).
• Contiguous US:   These are the states that “touch” or share a border with another state (which is what continguous means).  There are 48 states that share borders with other states, meaning that this means the same as continental US.
• The Lower 48:  This is the same as the contiguous 48 and the traditional definition of continental US.  Up until 1959, this included all the states of the union.  Alaska became the 49th state and Hawai’i the 50th in 1959, and were the last two states to enter the union.
• Territorial US:  This would include the United States territories, which are areas that belong to the United States but are not actually part of any state.  This includes the islands of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.  It also includes a small group of islands in the South Pacific  called the Minor Outlying Islands.  (Minor means less important compared to something else, which we would call major.  Something is outlying when it is far from the rest of the population or area.)  The Minor Outlying Islands include Midway and Wake Islands, both sites of famous World War II battles.

Now, if we include the territorial US, then Ka Lae, Hawai’i is not the southernmost point, either.  It is actually the Rose Atoll in American Samoa.

So when someone refers to the “United States,” you may want to ask them if they mean the continental, contiguous/lower 48, territorial, or all of these combined!  If you are interested in more trivia (interesting but not really very important facts) on geography in the US, take a look at this page.

~Jeff

QUESTION:
Mauro from Italy wants to know how to get the attention of a person or a group of people whom he doesn’t know, in both formal and informal situations.

ANSWER:
The simplest phrase to use is “excuse me” and this can be used with an individual or group and in most situations.

For example, if you want to ask directions from a stranger, you can say, “Excuse me, could you tell me where the university is?” If you are speaking to a group, whether you know them or not, you can say, “excuse me” or “excuse me, everyone.” If you are going to make an announcement to a group, you can say, “Excuse me, may I have your attention, please?” For instance, at the beginning of a play, you may say, “Excuse me, everyone. / Excuse me, may I have your attention, please? Would you all take your seats (sit down)?”

If you want to be very formal or you are speaking to a customer, you can use the terms “sir” for a man and “ma’am” (pronounced “mam”) for a woman; “miss” can be used for a girl or young woman. You can use “gentlemen” for a group of all men or “ladies” for a group of all women.

For example, if you’re waiting for a table in a restaurant, the hostess may say, “Ma’am, your table is ready now” or “Gentlemen, ladies, (or ladies and gentlemen) your table is ready now.” However, she is just as likely to say, “Excuse me, your table is ready now.” This would be perfectly acceptable.

So, using “excuse me” is a safe choice and considered polite in all of the situations I can think of.

I hope this is helpful.

~ Lucy