When I moved to Los Angeles from Minnesota, I thought I was saying good-bye to snow for good (forever) because it never snows in L.A., right?

Well, not quite. Although it’s true that it hasn’t snowed since I moved here in the early 1990s, it has snowed several times in L.A. in recorded history (since records have been kept).

The city of Los Angeles is huge (very big), covering over 465 square miles (1204 square kilometers). It’s topography (hills and valleys; high and low places) varies (differs) from sea level all the way up to mountains at over 5,000 feet (1524 meters).

But if we’re talking about the downtown Los Angeles area, and the places where most Angelenos (people in Los Angeles) live, then the last time it snowed here was 1962. That’s before I was born!

But that snowfall was nothing compared to the biggest snowstorm in L.A. history. That happened on January 10-11, 1949. Over a two-day period, one-third (1/3) of an inch of snow fell on the city.

Yes, a whole 1/3 of an inch!

You may laugh if you’re in a place like Minnesota, that gets lots of snow, but for Angelenos, that was a big deal (important event).

One Los Angeles Times columnist (writer of opinion or human interest articles), Lee Shippey, wrote: “When they (his neighbors) awoke Thursday, and saw all the world turned white it seemed like a miracle.”

A miracle is a very surprising and extraordinary event.

Palm trees were covered in snow and people didn’t know what to do about the ice on their cars!

Fortunately for me, this isn’t a common occurrence (doesn’t happen often). But if it does snow again in L.A., I’ll ready for the one thing I think snow is good for: sledding!

~Jeff

Image credit: Los Angeles Public Library

WAIT!
Before You Go . . .
Get our FREE, 9-Page Special Report
“5 Things You MUST Know to Improve Your English”

Learn how to improve your English faster than ever with the latest, research-proven methods. Download it to find out more!

Just fill out your first name and email address below to get it:

We had a lot of deadly (killing someone) forest fires in California in the past few months, so it’s a good time to talk about Smokey the Bear.

“Smokey Bear,” often called “Smokey the Bear,” is a mascot (a cartoon animal or other character that represents a team or organization) for the United States Forest Service, the federal agency that protects America’s forests (areas with many trees).

Smokey the Bear first appeared in an advertising campaign in 1944 with the slogan (a saying used in marketing and advertising) of “Smokey says care will prevent nine out of 10 forest fires.”

Today, most people associate Smokey the Bear with a different slogan: “Only you can prevent forest fires.”

Smokey the Bear was created to encourage people to be more cautious (careful) in order to prevent forest fires, especially by selecting appropriate sites (places) for campfires (fires burned for cooking, heat, and entertainment while outdoors) away from tree branches.

People were also encouraged to douse (pour water over) campfires before leaving them unattended (without someone nearby and watching something).

Smokey the Bear is depicted (shown) as a drawing of a brown bear wearing jeans and a large hat with his name in red letters, holding a shovel (tool with a long handle used for digging and moving dirt) (see photo).

Smokey can be found in television ads, promotional materials distributed at national parks and in schools, and even as a walking mascot at national parks.

A large advertising organization reports that 95% of adults and 77% of American children recognize Smokey the Bear and his message.

But some people argue that the campaign has been too successful in vilifying (making something seem bad or evil) wildfires. People have been taught that all forest fires are bad.

In reality, some forest fires are necessary to maintain forest health.

In the photo, you can see me standing next to Smokey the Bear at a local museum here in Los Angeles. I’m holding an imaginary shovel to help him, but he doesn’t look too happy to see me.

~Jeff

WAIT!
Before You Go . . .
Get our FREE, 9-Page Special Report
“5 Things You MUST Know to Improve Your English”

Learn how to improve your English faster than ever with the latest, research-proven methods. Download it to find out more!

Just fill out your first name and email address below to get it:

Nothing brings Los Angeles to a standstill like rain.

A standstill is a situation where all movement or action has stopped. You can bring a basketball game to a standstill by losing the ball.

Or you can bring conversation to a standstill if you drink a little too much and tell a bad joke about your boss in the middle of a work party.

In the past few weeks, we had three or four days of major (large) rainstorms (lots of rain), at least they were major by Los Angeles standards (way of measuring).

The freeways were backed up (with little movement) even more than usual because Angelenos (people who live in L.A.) just don’t know how to drive in the rain.

We have so little experience with roads that are slippery (hard to stay in one place) and with cars skidding. When you try to stop quickly, your car skids (continues to move, usually sideways or in ways you don’t want it to).

The city is also ill-equipped (poorly prepared) for a lot of rain. That’s why, during a rainstorm, the news is full of stories about streets that are flooded (with too much water) and collisions or car accidents.

Notice that we use the verbs “bring + to” and “come + to” with “standstill.” We bring things TO a standstill, or things may come TO a standstill.

To bring something to a standstill means that you (or someone/something else) cause it. I bring traffic to a standstill if I have an accident.

To come to a standstill means that it just happens, perhaps for reasons we don’t understand. Traffic came to a standstill, perhaps because of bad weather or the police.

These are the two most common verbs used with “standstill.” Note that you canNOT “make” a standstill or “do” a standstill.

I have to confess that I’m just like all Angelenos: I stayed home on these rainy days to avoid any problems.

Yes, I’m from Minnesota where it snows a lot in the winter, and yes, I let (allowed) a little rain keep me indoors (inside).

After nearly 30 years of living here, I guess I’ve become a true Angeleno!

~Jeff

WAIT!
Before You Go . . .
Get our FREE, 9-Page Special Report
“5 Things You MUST Know to Improve Your English”

Learn how to improve your English faster than ever with the latest, research-proven methods. Download it to find out more!

Just fill out your first name and email address below to get it:

Lucy, the ESLPod Team, and I want to wish all of you happy holidays!

If you celebrate Christmas, Merry Christmas!

If you celebrated Hanukah, Happy Hanukah!

If you celebrate nothing this time of year . . . um, well, Happy End of December!

Happy New Year, too.

See you next year!

~Jeff

Do you want a new ball? Write to Santa.

A new doll? Drop Santa a line (write him a message).

Before Christmas each year, there’s a tradition here in the U.S., where young children to write to Santa asking for gifts they want for Christmas. (I did it when I was a kid, too!)

But writing letters to Santa Clause wasn’t always a thing (popular with many people).

Santa was traditionally (usually) depicted (shown) as a disciplinarian, someone who made sure rules are followed and who punished those who didn’t.

Adults, such as teachers and parents, would sometimes tell children they received letters FROM Santa giving them lessons on how little girls and boys should behave (act).

It wasn’t until the late 1800s that this changed. Thomas Nast, who published the popular magazine, Harper’s Weekly, included illustrations or drawings of Santa Clause reading letters he received from children in the magazine.

This gave people the idea to write letters TO Santa. Nast also gave Santa an address in the North Pole, the northern most point on the Earth, by including this address in illustrations: “Santaclauseville, N.P.” (Santa + Clause + ville (city); N.P. = North Pole).

Soon newspapers encouraged parents and their children to send in (submit) letters to Santa, with the best being printed in the newspaper.

For some newspapers, this became a popular feature (characteristic) during the Christmas season (period of the year).

You might wonder: What can I do if my children want to mail a letter to Santa? After all, they will be expecting Santa to respond (write back; reply)!

The United States Postal Service actually has a way for them to get a response—written by you.

All you have to do is send the child’s letter addressed to “Santa Clause, North Pole” along with your response letter with a self-addressed (address to yourself) stamped envelope. Your letter, supposedly (believed to be) from Santa, will then be sent to the child.

No presents (gifts), though, just letters.

Kids today might ask for iPhones or video games. But fortunately, using this program, “Santa” can be the one to say no!

~Jeff

P.S. The word naughty in the photo means “bad,” the opposite of “nice.” The terms come from a popular Christmas song, “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town.”

WAIT!
Before You Go . . .
Get our FREE, 9-Page Special Report
“5 Things You MUST Know to Improve Your English”

Learn how to improve your English faster than ever with the latest, research-proven methods. Download it to find out more!

Just fill out your first name and email address below to get it:

Most Americans get a vacation over the holidays (Christmas and Hanukah), anywhere from a few days to two weeks. So with extra time on their hands (extra time with nothing to do), many of us go to the movie theaters to watch the latest releases (the most recent movies).

Sometimes the behavior (the way that one acts) of other people can ruin (make something not as good) the experience of going to see a movie in a movie theater.

In the United States, most people expect certain etiquette (polite ways of behaving and interacting with other people) to be followed in a movie theater. Of course, many of these “rules” are the same in other countries.

In general, it is rude (not polite or nice) to talk loudly while a movie is playing, because this might distract other people or make it difficult for them to concentrate on the movie.

It is also rude to crinkle (move something in one’s hands so that it makes a loud noise) food wrappers (the paper and plastic that food is packaged in) so that other people can’t hear the movie.

Cell phones should be turned off for the same reason.

It is also rude to block (not let something be seen) other people’s view. For example, movie watchers generally avoid wearing tall hats!

If the theater isn’t full and there are many empty seats, it would be rude to sit directly in front of another person. It is always better to sit slightly to the side in the next row (a group of seats in one straight line).

Movie theater etiquette requires that people do not stand up and move around the theater more than necessary.

If a moviegoer (someone in a theater to watch a movie) has to get up to go to the bathroom, they should stand up, hunch over (slightly bend one’s knees, back, and neck so that one is not as tall as usual) and quietly say “Excuse me!” while waiting for other people in the row to stand up.

When that person returns to the row, it’s best to wait for a dull (unexciting) moment in the movie before going back to his or her seat. Otherwise (if you don’t), everyone could miss the exciting action!

~Jeff

WAIT!
Before You Go . . .
Get our FREE, 9-Page Special Report
“5 Things You MUST Know to Improve Your English”

Learn how to improve your English faster than ever with the latest, research-proven methods. Download it to find out more!

Just fill out your first name and email address below to get it: