Seeing an Eclipse Is Good! Being Eclipsed Is Not

(Download MP3, Mirror) Hello and welcome to Words and Their Stories from VOA Learning English.

On this program we explore the origin and usage of common expressions in American English. We always give examples or dialogues using the expressions. Sometimes we even use the words in a short story. All of these can, hopefully, teach you how to best use the expressions.

For today's word we turn our eyes toward the sky!

There is one natural event that many people want to experience during their lifetime -- an eclipse!

Whether solar or lunar, partial or total, these astronomical events bring the movement of our solar system a little more to life.

Solar, as we know, means “relating to the sun." So a solar eclipse happens when the moon passes between the sun and Earth. A dark circle either completely or partly covers the sun as a result.

Lunar means “related to the moon." So, a lunar eclipse is when the moon looks as if it is completely or partially covered with a dark circle.

Some ancient cultures considered an eclipse a sign that the world was ending. Other cultures viewed it as a battle between different animals in the sky as they try to eat up the moon or sun. Another cultural belief was that an eclipse was a time for deep thought and thinking about the past.

The word eclipse comes from a Greek word meaning "to leave," "to abandon," "to forsake a usual place" or fail to appear." Ancient Greeks thought of an eclipse as a time when the sun abandoned the earth.

In simple terms, an eclipse happens when a planet or satellite blocks the light of the sun. So, it is not surprising that we also use "eclipse" in the same way when talking about other things besides the sun, the moon and the earth.

In conversation, when one thing eclipses another it makes it less important or popular. For example, television eclipsed radio in the 1950s as the most popular form of home entertainment. When one person eclipses another, they do something better. For example, a younger child might hate it when her older sister's school and sports success eclipses her own. The older sister outshines the younger one.

This usage of eclipse is not only used when talking about people. Things can also eclipse other things, as in this sentence: The popularity of the company’s new product quickly eclipsed all its earlier products.

Many synonyms of eclipse deal with light and casting shadows, like in the example of the older sister outshining the younger. If a person or a thing outshines another, the light they give off is so bright that no one notices anything else. You could also say the older daughter cast a shadow on her younger sister. Or you could say the younger sister was living in the shadow of her older sister.

Now, let's hear how we use eclipse this way in everyday conversation. Let's listen as two people talk as they wait in line to audition for a Broadway musical.

Are you ready for your singing audition today?

As ready as I’ll ever be. The song I’m singing is my favorite and I know it really well.

I'm sure you'll do great. By the way, I'm Corrine. Corrine Mayfield.

I'm Steve Stravinski.

Stravinski? Wait. Are you any relation to Doug Stravinski?!

Yeah. He's my older brother.

Get out! His performance in Les Miserables was amazing. Critics are still talking about it! Wow! Doug Stravinski. What is he working on these days?

An album. His fourth album.

That is just awesome! It will probably be another number one seller! So, what's it like being his brother?

Great. Just great.

It must be tough living in the shadow of Doug Stravinski!

I don't think about it ... you know, until someone brings it up.

Oh, I'm so sorry. But it's just that ... well, he's so amazing and famous. He casts a really big shadow!

Yes. Look, do you mind if we don't talk? I really need to prepare for my audition.

Of course. Of course. It's so typical, isn't it -- an older brother or sister eclipsing a younger one. They get to try everything first and do it longer. So, they're usually better -- usually the shining star in the family!

Hm-hmm.

Listen to me! I'm doing it again, aren't I? I am sure at this audition you are going to outshine everything your brother Doug has done on stage.

Yep. Thanks.

Next person!

Hello I'm next.

Name?

Steve Stravinski.

Stravinski? Wait, are you related to Doug Stravinski?! THE Doug Stravinski?! Oh man, he's amazing! I saw him in this show ...

And that's the end of this Words and Their Stories!

Do you use the word "eclipse" like this in your language? Let us know in the Comments Section.

I'm Anna Matteo.

Anna Matteo wrote this story for VOA Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor. The song at the end is Bonnie Tyler singing "Total Eclipse of the Heart."

---

Words in This Story

astronomical – adj. of or relating to astronomy

shadow – n. a dark shape that appears on a surface when someone or something moves between the surface and a source of light

abandon – v. to leave and never return to (something)

forsake – v. to give up or leave (someone or something) entirely

conversation – n. an informal talk involving two people or a small group of people : the act of talking in an informal way

entertainment – n. amusement or pleasure that comes from watching a performer, playing a game, etc.

synonym – n. a word that has the same meaning as another word in the same language

casting – v. to send (something) out or forward : The fire casts [=gives off] a warm glow. The tree cast a long shadow on the lawn.

audition – n. a short performance to show the talents of someone (such as an actor or a musician) who is being considered for a role in a play, a position in an orchestra, etc. — often + for

get out - informal exclamation : used to express disbelief.

tough – adj. difficult to accomplish, resolve, endure, or deal with

typical – adj. normal for a person, thing, or group : average or usual

shining star – n. the best

When Do We 'Eat Crow?'

(Download MP3, Mirror) Now, the VOA Learning English program Words and Their Stories. On this show, we explore the origins and usage of expressions we use in every day American English.

Okay, nobody likes to be wrong. But when it turns out that we are, in fact, wrong, the best thing to do is admit it.

For some reason, in American English when we need to admit that we are wrong, we usually eat something. For example, admitting a mistake often requires that we swallow our pride. The expression means that we must forget ourselves in order to repair the damage our mistake has done.

That's right. Or, let’s say you are bragging about something you can do. But it turns out you can't. If you claim that something is true when it isn't, you may have to eat your own words.

Now, normally eating is a good thing and eating pie is even better. Blackberry, apple and pumpkin pie are all quite delicious. However, one pie that tastes awful is humble pie. When you eat humble pie you have to admit you are wrong. You, in a way, have to eat humility, which according to this expression does not taste very good.

Sometimes when we offer a challenge, we make a bet. We may use the phrase, "If I'm wrong, I'll eat my hat." This is a way of saying, "There's no way I'm wrong." In many old American films and television shows, this phrase is used as a joke. And the joke is always the same: someone, proven wrong, shakes salt on his hat as he pretends to eat it.

Okay, so swallowing pride, eating words and humble pie, or even eating one’s hat are all fairly easy to understand -- kind of.

But what about eating crow? Why is eating crow a way of admitting you're wrong?

Some language experts say this expression comes from English writer Rudyard Kipling. Kipling uses an image of eating crow in his 1885 short story "The Strange Ride of Morrowbie Jukes."

Morrowbie Jukes was a European colonist in India. While traveling one day, he falls into a sand pit and cannot escape. Another man, a native Indian, is also trapped in the same sand pit. The Indian man stays alive by catching wild crows and eating them. Morrowbie is full of pride as he yells, "I shall never eat crow!"

However, days pass and he has eaten nothing. Hungry and facing certain death, he finally does what he swore loudly he wouldn't do -- eat crow.

Often people have to eat crow when they make very bold, repeated public statements that turn out to be false. Not just individuals – the media sometimes has to do it, too.

That's right. In 1948, then-president Harry Truman was campaigning against Thomas Dewey. The Washington Post newspaper predicted over and over that Dewey would win. The newspaper was wrong.

After the election, they sent this telegram to the winner, President Truman:

"You Are Hereby Invited To A ‘Crow Banquet’ To Which This Newspaper Proposes To Invite Newspaper Editorial Writers, Political Reporters And Editors, Including Our Own, Along With Pollsters, Radio Commentators And Columnists ... Main Course Will Consist Of Breast Of Tough Old Crow En Glace. (You Will Eat Turkey.)"

Now, let's hear some of these expressions in a short story.

Four friends live in a small town. Their favorite thing to do together is to play basketball together. One of them, Lane, is new to town. He's really good at basketball and lets everyone know. His friends warn him that if he keeps bragging, he will soon have to eat his words. But he doesn't listen.

"If anyone in this small town beats me on the court, I'll eat my hat!"

Lane was always betting like that. He really thought no one could beat him at basketball.

One night after shooting hoops all day, the four friends find themselves in a mom-and-pop restaurant for dinner. As Lane brags about how great he had played that day, the owner of the restaurant comes over with their food. He's very tall, but walks slowly and his back is stooped. His strong hands are spotted with age.

Hearing their conversation, the old man smiles. "I used to shoot a lot when I was younger,” he remembers fondly. “It's quite a game!"

The friends agree with him. They have a great conversation with the old man about how basketball has changed over the years.

Lane, however, is upset. No one is talking about his victory on the court that day.

But then he lets his pride get the better of him.

"Well, old man, it's nice that you played once. But basketball is a game for young people like me!"

"That's the truth," the old man laughs. "My tired old legs could never go up and down the court the way they used to."

"Yeah, restaurant work is more suited to an older person."

Lane says "older person" as if it were a bad word. Lane's friends sink down in their seats, embarrassed at his behavior. The old man just smiles. He stands up straighter and clears his throat loudly to get everyone's attention.

"Well, there is one thing that I can still do quite well. I can shoot a mean free-throw!"

He points at Lane and adds, "In fact, I might even beat you, young man."

Lane laughs at this. His friends, who know the old man better than Lane, say nothing. They simply sit there, smiling, as Lane invites the old man to a friendly free-throw competition the next day.

"If you beat me at free throws, I'll ..." Lane pauses, not knowing what to bet.

The owner thinks of it for him.

"If you lose, you must wait tables in my restaurant for a week."

Lane agrees to the bet and they shake on it. They arrange to meet at the basketball court the next day at noon. Word about the challenge gets around quickly. The town is that small. At the appointed time, spectators fill the seats around the basketball court.

The rules of the competition are simple. The one to make the most free-throw shots in a row wins. Lane goes first. He makes 24 excellent free-throw shots. But he misses his 25th throw.

"Beat that!" he yells, throwing the basketball at the old man.

The old man picks up the ball and walks slowly over to the free throw line. The restaurant owner sinks shot after shot, all of them perfect.

The old man is still shooting to the roar of the crowd when Lane leaves the court with his tail between his legs. In the end, the old man made a total of 63 perfect free-throws – a new court record!

At first Lane is too embarrassed to go into the restaurant. But finally, he swallows his pride and apologizes to the old man. The old man graciously gives Lane an apron, then watches as the young man waits on his first customer.

As most of the people eating at the restaurant knew about the bet, Lane has to eat crow every time he takes an order. And then he eats massive crow when his friends come into the restaurant. They give him a really hard time!

Soon, though, Lane is having fun talking about basketball with the old man. When Lane tells his friends how much the old man knows about basketball, they aren't surprised at all.

"Yeah, we tried to tell you that. But you wouldn't listen. That old man was a college basketball star and even played for a professional team."

"Well, you could've told me that before I challenged him!" Lane throws a towel at his friends.

"You needed to eat some humble pie. Your bragging was really getting on our nerves! Speaking of pie, waiter," one friend says, "I'll take the peach pie for dessert."

After the third day, Lane and the old man decide to meet every evening after work to shoot hoops together.

"On one condition," says the old man.

"You name it," answers Lane.

"Please stop waiting tables in my restaurant. You're really bad and I'm losing customers."

And that's the end of this Words and Their Stories. How do you admit you're wrong in your language?

Do you eat crow? Or just your hat? Let us know or simply practice these expressions in the Comments Section!

I'm Bryan Lynn and I'm Anna Matteo.

Anna Matteo wrote this story for VOA Learning English. Kelly Jean Kelly was the editor.

---

Words in This Story

admit – v. to say usually in an unwilling way that you accept or do not deny the truth or existence of (something)

brag – v. to talk about yourself, your achievements, your family, etc., in a way that shows too much pride

colonist – n. a person who helps to create a colony

shoot hoops - slang : playing basketball

mom-and-pop – adj. owned and run by a married couple or by a small number of people

stooped – adj. (of a person) having the head and shoulders habitually bent forward.

fondly – adv. in a loving way

mean – adj. chiefly US, informal : excellent or impressive

spectator – n. a person who watches an event, show, game, activity, etc., often as part of an audience

roar – n. a loud continuous confused sound

graciously – adv. to do something with kindness and courtesy

massive – adj. large in amount or degree

to get on someone's nerves - slang : to annoy someone a lot

with his tail between his legs – informal phrase : with a feeling of being embarrassed or ashamed especially because one has been defeated

Your 'Dirty Laundry' Has Nothing to Do With Clothes

(Download MP3, Mirror) Now, from VOA Learning English, it's time for Words and Their Stories.

On this program you can learn English expressions that Americans use in conversation.

Today we are going to talk about the fabric we wear on our bodies. In other words, our clothes, right?

Well, yes and no. The word “clothes” is only part of a much larger story. American English has many more specific – and more colorful – terms related to these everyday items.

For example, let’s say you carefully select the clothes you plan on wearing to work or a party. Sure, those are your clothes. But it would be better to call it an outfit. The word outfit means there was some planning involved. In fact, when we compliment people on what they are wearing, we usually say, "Hey, I really like your outfit." We probably would not say, "Hey, I really like your clothes!" It just sounds a little odd.

Our wardrobe also has a sense of planning. A wardrobe is a collection of clothing. It is all the clothing a person owns. If I know a man or woman who always looks sharp, I could say, “That person has an amazing wardrobe! Every item of clothing is gorgeous and fits perfectly!”

Now, even the nicest outfit in the nicest wardrobe collects dirt and wrinkles. Then that outfit becomes dirty clothes. But why use that ordinary term when you can call it laundry! Laundry, very simply, is any fabric -- clothes, linens, towels, sheets and blankets -- that we need to wash.

Some people have a laundry room, an area in their house or apartment with a washer and dryer. People who don't have a washer and dryer in their homes can go to the laundromat.

Now, if you’re like me, doing your laundry can be one item on your laundry list of things to do on the weekend. Often, my Saturday morning begins with a couple loads of laundry. And I don't mind. It relaxes me to do laundry.

Now, a “laundry list” is not a list of the things you need to wash. It is very long list of related things. For example, if you have many small tasks to finish at work, you can say you have a laundry list of projects.

Here's another example: "At the parent-teacher meeting, the principal gave a terrible speech. It was just a laundry list of what the school staff had not done right."

Whether you do your laundry at home, at a laundromat or have a professional do it for you, we all have dirty laundry -- in more ways than one!

In conversation, dirty laundry is much more than soiled shirts and jeans. The expression “dirty laundry” means all those embarrassing things we don't want others to know about us or our families.

We often use this expression as a warning. For example, if your mother catches telling your friend about your family, she may say, “Don't air our dirty laundry! Nobody needs to know every sordid detail about our family!"

Now, let's hear these expressions used in a conversation. These two friends are roommates in a medium-sized apartment building. It’s Sunday morning and they are doing their laundry.

Kendra, that is such a cute outfit you’re wearing!

Thanks, Karen! I just updated my wardrobe and got rid of everything that didn’t fit or just didn’t look good on me.

I need to do that. Most of my clothes are too small. Oh, Kendra, I forgot to tell you something that happened yesterday.

What happened?

You know Raphael and Maya, right?

You’re kidding, right? Of course, I know them. They're the loud couple who live upstairs from us and fight all the time.

That’s them. Well, yesterday they had a huge fight in the basement laundry room!

Right here in the basement laundry room?

Oh yeah! And it was Saturday morning. So, half the apartment building was down here doing their laundry.

What did they fight about?

Well, Maya found a woman’s shirt in their laundry that was not hers. So, she accused Raphael of cheating on her! He, of course, denied it. But then she gave him a laundry list of women he's been secretly seeing .

Well, not so secretly, if Maya knew about them.

Good point.

That sounds so embarrassing! It's not good to air your dirty laundry in public like that. They should have had their fight in the privacy of their own apartment.

I totally agree. That way, only you and I would have heard it.

Exactly. Can you hand me the laundry powder?

And that's it for Words and Their Stories, a show where we teach common expressions in American English and where we don't air any dirty laundry!

I'm Anna Matteo.

“Dirty little secrets, dirty little lies. We got our dirty little fingers in everybody’s pie. Love to cut you down to size, we love dirty laundry …”

Anna Matteo wrote this story for VOA Learning English. Kelly Jean Kelly was the editor. The song at the end is Don Henley singing "Dirty Laundry."

---

Words in This Story

specific – adj. relating to a particular person, situation, etc.

outfit – n. a set of clothes that are worn together

wardrobe – n. a collection of wearing apparel (as of one person or for one activity) a summer wardrobe

sharp – adj. stylish a sharp outfit

laundry – n. a room for doing the family wash : clothes or linens that have been or are to be laundered

laundromat – n. a self-service laundry —formerly a U.S. registered trademark

soil – v. to make or become dirty to make unclean especially superficially : dirty : soiled – adj.

embarrassing – adj. causing a feeling of self-conscious confusion and distress

sordid – adj. very bad or dishonest

deny – v. to say that something is not true

Learn How 'To Keep Something at Bay'

(Download MP3, Mirror) Now, it's time for Words and Their Stories from VOA Learning English.

On this program, we explore everyday expressions that we use in conversation. Americans often use the first saying we will talk about today. But many people likely do not know where it comes from.

To keep something at bay means being unable to move closer while attacking or moving toward someone or something. If you keep something at bay, you appear to be in control of the situation. English speakers say either "keep at bay" or "hold at bay."

For example, when protecting their village, the villagers kept the armed attackers at bay through the night. The villagers did not let them come closer.

However, bad people can also hold something at bay. The armed robber held police at bay for about 9 hours before they caught him. So, the robber did not let police get anywhere near him. They didn't catch him until 9 hours later.

In these examples, the things being kept at bay -- the attackers and the police -- are real. You can physically touch them. But you can also use this expression about more intangible things -- ones you can't see or touch.

For example, if you move to a new city you can keep loneliness at bay by joining a club, playing a group sport or taking a class. You can also invite your old friends to come and explore your new city with you. All these things will keep loneliness away from you, or at bay.

You can keep illness at bay by eating healthy food and getting enough sleep and exercise. And I can hold my desire for chocolate at bay by not buying it and keeping it in my house!

English learners and native speakers alike may think the term “at bay” has to do with water, perhaps involving a ship unable to reach the shore. After all, one of the many definitions of "bay" is a large area of water that is partly surrounded by land.

But language experts will stop them right there. To find out the origin of this expression, let's talk about another definition of "bay." It also means to bark with long, drawn-out sounds, as when a dog cries out at the moon.

Those hounds are baying.

In the 14th century, barking hounds were said to be "at bay." When dogs are kept at bay, they are kept from attacking. The Phrase Finder website says the first recorded usage of "at bay" is in an English story from the year 1330.

Back to modern times, “at bay” is a common expression. You can use it with friends and strangers.

Now, let's hear this expression used at work. Let's say you are the head of a small company that makes toys. Part of your job is to keep open lines of communication between the owner and company employees. Well, when the owner suddenly makes changes to work rules, the employees get angry. And you hear about it. The owner's solution is to throw a party for the employees. You tell her that a party will not keep their anger at bay. They only thing that will improve the situation is fair treatment.

Now, there are other ways to keep something from getting worse. You can also ward off something or stave off something.

To ward off a danger or illness means to prevent it from affecting you or harming you. We often use "ward off" when talking about mental health, disease or, strangely enough, evil spirits.

For example, she knew that, for her, the best way to ward off a bad mood was to see a happy movie. You eat chicken soup to ward off the common cold. And some people say that you can use garlic to ward off vampires and keep them from sucking your blood.

Staving off something sounds much more official. We use "stave off" in fairly serious situations, such as ship-wrecked survivors who staved off starvation by eating coconuts for eight months. Here's another example, “The single mother staved off poverty by working three jobs.”

Now, what if you simply want to keep your distance from a person. You don't want to be near them. In this case, you wouldn’t use “ward off” or “stave off” or even “at bay.” What can you use? Well, we have a great expression for keeping distance.

To keep someone at arm's length means you don’t want to be close to that person. Imagine that you are holding your arm straight out in front of you. A person can’t get close. And that’s the point.

Let's say, you meet someone. You don't know her very well, but she seems nice -- seems is the important word here. Slowly over time, you learn more about the woman. And you don't like what you see. She is strange and not in a good way. You catch her in some lies. And she appears to be a trouble-maker. So, you decide to keep her at arm's length. When you don't answer her calls and ignore her emails, she will know you are keeping her at arm’s length.

In this case, you could say you kept her friendship at bay. But you were never friends in the first place. So it sounds more natural to say that you kept her at arm's length.

We here at Learning English have no desire to keep you at bay or at arm’s length. And we certainly don’t want to ward or stave you off! You’re our audience Without you, well, we wouldn’t be here!

I'm Bryan Lynn.

And I'm Anna Matteo.

Anna Matteo wrote this story for VOA Learning English. George Grow was the editor.

---

Words in This Story

intangible – adj. not made of physical substance : not able to be touched : not tangible

origin – n. the point or place where something begins or is created : the source or cause of something

boredom – n. the state of being bored

mood – n. an emotional state of mind or feeling

vampire – n. a dead person who leaves the grave at night to bite and suck the blood of living people

coconut – n. a large fruit that has a thick shell with white flesh and liquid inside it and that grows on a palm tree

Why Is 'Colonel' Pronounced 'Ker'nel?'

(Download MP3, Mirror) Welcome to Words and Their Stories, from VOA Learning English.

On this program we explore the origin and history of American expressions and teach you how to use them.

Today we focus more on history than usage. We are going to answer an age-old question that may have been keeping you awake at night. Well, perhaps not. But it’s still an interesting word story!

The pronunciation of some words can cause trouble for people learning English. For example, words such as “circle,” “sir,” “certainly” and “surprise” all sound as if they begin with the same letters. But they don’t.

Knowing language of origin for an unknown or new word – its roots – can help you pronounce the word the right way. Just ask any student who has ever competed in a spelling bee. One question that spelling bee contestants can ask the judges during the event is, “What is the language of origin?”

Nyctinasty

Nyctinasty. Will you please give me the language of origin?

It’s made up of Greek elements that were probably first combined in German.

N-y-c-t-i-n-a-s-t-y. Nyctinasty.

Correct.

The development or evolution of a word over time can also play a part in how we say it. In fact, both origin and evolution are involved in the pronunciation of the word “colonel.”

First, what does “colonel” mean?

A colonel is a military official. In the United States, it can mean an officer in the Army, Air Force or Marine Corps.

Colonel is spelled c-o-l-o-n-e-l. So, why do Americans say colonel as if it is spelled k-e-r-n-e-l? Adding to the confusion is that "kernel" is a word of its own and one that has several meanings.

But, let’s get back to “colonel” … the c-o-l-o-n-e-l one.

We know that many languages borrow and even steal words from other languages. The English language is probably the biggest thief of them all! It stole "colonel" from at least two countries – maybe even three.

First, let's talk about Italy.

By the 15th century, Italian forces were known for being good at war. So, many Italian war terms spread across Europe, including the word "colonel." It comes from the Italian word ‘colonnello.’ This is the position given to the officer responsible for a small force or column of soldiers.

Then there's the influence of France on “colonel.”

The French also took this word from the Italians. But when they added it to their language, they changed the word "colonnelo" to "coronel." Language experts say this is because the French wanted to have the "r" sound in the word, instead of the two "l" sounds.

Finally, let's not forget Spain.

At the same time, the Spanish were also pronouncing c-o-l-o-n-e-l as k-e-r-n-e-l. It is possible that both the French and the Spanish pronunciation affected the English version of the word.

In addition to country of origin, there is something else at play in the word history of "colonel": written versus spoken language.

From the very beginning, when this word came into English in the 1500s, there were two versions of spelling and two pronunciations.

By around the 17th century, the word began appearing in military treaties across Europe. So, the written form of the word (colonel) and the spoken ("kernel") were both being used.

In English, a combination won out. Colonel was spelled c-o-l-o-n-e-l but pronounced "kernel."

Please let me apologize from the bottom of my heart for our crazy and sometimes confusing English pronunciations!

That's all for this Words and Their Stories. Join us again next week when we talk about more words and expressions in American English.

I'm Anna Matteo.

Anna Matteo wrote this story for VOA Learning English. George Grow was the editor.

---

Words in This Story

age-old – adj. very old : having existed for a very long time

pronounce – v. to make the sound of (a word or letter) with your voice : pronunciation – n. the way in which a word or name is pronounced

contestant – n. a person who takes part in a contest

confusing – adj. difficult to understand

column – n. a long row of people or things — often + of : a column of troops/cars

versus – prep. used to indicate two different things, choices, etc., that are being compared or considered

bottom of my heart – informal expression with sincere, deep feelings

crazy – adj. very strange or unusual

US City Bans Texting while Walking

(Download MP3, Mirror) Parents usually teach their children how to cross the street safely, by looking both ways for cars. But do they also teach them to put away their cell phones?

The city of Honolulu, Hawaii wants everyone to learn that lesson.

Texting while crossing the street will soon be banned in the city. Beginning on October 24, you could be fined from $15 to $99 if you step into a Honolulu street while looking at your phone. Honolulu is the first major U.S. city to ban what is called "distracted walking." It recently passed a law in a seven to two vote. The law says: "No pedestrian shall cross a street or highway while viewing a mobile electronic device." In other words, do not look at a screen when you cross the street or you could be fined.

The law’s creators hope it will lower the number of people hit and killed by cars in the city. Mayor Kirk Caldwell told Reuters news agency, "We hold the unfortunate distinction of being a major city with more pedestrians being hit in crosswalks, particularly our seniors, than almost any other city in the country."

The law includes all electronic devices with screens: cell phones, tablets, gaming devices, digital cameras and laptop computers. The law does permit an exception. Pedestrians may use such devices in the street to call emergency services and rescue workers, such as firefighters and police officers.

Pedestrian deaths have been increasing as the use of cell phones rises. The Governors Highway Safety Association, or GHSA, says pedestrian deaths in the United States increased 25 percent between 2010 and 2015. That trend continued in 2016 with the number of pedestrian deaths rising to almost 6000, 11% higher than in 2015.

Other U.S. cities may follow Honolulu. The state of Washington was the first to outlaw distracted driving back in 2007. Now, 46 other states as well as D.C., Puerto Rico, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands, have laws against texting while driving reports the GHSA.

If you still want to text while walking, you could avoid being fined in Honolulu (and be safer, in general) by using a voice-controlled digital assistant such as Siri or Google Assistant. Or you could just wait until you are again, safely, off the street.

I'm Caty Weaver.

---

Words in This Story

distracted - adj. unable to think about or pay attention to something : unable to concentrate

pedestrian - n. a person who is walking in a city, along a road, etc.

distinction - n. the quality that makes a person or thing special or different

senior - n. a person who is older than another person

trend - n. a general direction of change

digital assistant - n. an application program that can understand natural language and complete electronic tasks for the user

Google Fires Engineer Who Wrote Anti-Diversity Memo

(Download MP3, Mirror) Google has dismissed a male engineer who suggested that biological differences prevent women from progressing the same as men in the technology industry.

The engineer, James Damore, wrote his opinion in a memo he sent last week. The document – which also criticized Google’s diversity efforts – was later published online.

Damore confirmed his dismissal in an email to news organizations. He said the company acted against him because he was “perpetuating gender stereotypes.”

Google Chief Executive Officer Sundar Pichai sent a note to all company employees about the memo. He said reaction within the company had resulted in “a very difficult time.”

He said the company strongly supports the right of all employees to express their opinions. But he noted that parts of Damore’s memo had violated company policy by “advancing harmful gender stereotypes in our workplace.”

“To suggest a group of our colleagues have traits that make them less biologically suited to that work is offensive and not OK,” Pichai wrote in his message.

He added that the memo had affected many Google employees, “some of whom are hurting and feel judged based on their gender.”

Damore accused Google of having a bias on the political left. He said this had created “a politically correct” culture that prevented honest discussion of diversity.

He also attacked the idea that gender diversity should be a company goal. "The distribution of preferences and abilities of men and women differ in part due to biological causes,” he wrote in the memo. “These differences may explain why we don't see equal representation of women in tech and leadership."

Damore said he filed a case with the U.S. National Labor Relations Board accusing Google of trying to shame him into silence. He said he was also exploring possible legal action.

On Tuesday, Damore received support and a job offer from Julian Assange of WikiLeaks.

"Censorship is for losers," Assange wrote on Twitter. "Women & men deserve respect. That includes not firing them for politely expressing ideas but rather arguing back."

Publicity over the memo comes as the American technology industry has battled accusations of sexism and discrimination.

The U.S. Department of Labor is currently investigating whether Google pays women less than men. The head of Uber recently lost his job after the ride-sharing company was accused of widespread sexual harassment and discrimination.

I’m Bryan Lynn.

---

Words in This Story

memo – n. brief message written within a company

diversity – n. having people who are different sexes or races in a group or organization

perpetuate – v. cause something to be continued

stereotype – n. fixed idea people have about a particular type of person or group

trait – n. quality making one person or thing different from others

distribution – n. way something is divided up

preference – n. liking of one thing over another

shame – v. cause someone to feel ashamed

harassment – n. the act of annoying, bothering or attacking someone

The World's Highest Village is Running Out of Water

(Download MP3, Mirror) The highest village in the world is running out of water.

Komik sits at 4,587 meters high in the Spiti Valley of India. It can only be reached during the summer by small roads winding around the Himalaya mountains.

During the winter, temperatures can drop to 30 degrees Celsius below zero. The village is also cut off from the rest of India for six months of the year when snowfall blocks mountain passes. There is almost no phone and internet connectivity.

"We are used to being in a remote place. We have our traditional ways of living," said 32-year-old farmer Nawang Phunchok. "But these days the water is not coming like it used to. We see there is less water than before."

Water shortage across India

According to the World Resources Institute, India is facing a water crisis. More than half of the country's water wells have recorded a drop in water levels in the last 10 years. Up to 80 percent of rivers, lakes, ponds and streams are polluted with human waste and sewage.

Climate change is only making the problems worse.

Overall rainfall in the last century has not been stable, and the annual average temperature has risen by 0.5 degrees Celsius, says India's meteorological department.

"There exists a huge knowledge gap regarding the connection between water scarcity and climate change. There is an immediate need to fill this gap and make people aware about the importance of water conservation," said WaterAid India's Puneet Srivastava.

Srivastava also said the government needs better methods to regulate and monitor how groundwater resources are used.

These issues create risks to food security, which affects around 200 million farm workers in the region.

Thousands of farmers have committed suicide over the last 10 years, as drought combined with lower global food prices have hurt farm incomes.

Recently, authorities have tried to better support farmers. Some measures include providing insurance for crop failures, providing farmers with drought-resistant seeds, and a $3 billion project to clean up the Ganges, India's largest and most sacred river.

Environmental experts say, however, that more focus is put on supporting India's plains, which have higher concentration of farms and people, than on remote regions like the Himalayas.

Less water from melting glaciers

A 2014 study by Jawaharlal Nehru University said that annual temperatures in the Indian Himalayas rose by up to 2 degrees Celsius over 20 years. The study also said the glaciers have reduced by 13 percent over the past 50 years.

Arun Sharma, a senior government official in Spiti, said, "There is no doubt there is a big water crisis here. We've put in place a lot of projects such as providing water tanks and constructing water catchment areas, but we are limited by the weather. For six months of the year, life stops as we are snowbound and we cannot do any major work."

Experts say that changes in weather affect not only the food, water and energy security of the people living in Himalayan villages. It also affects over one billion other people living across Asia who depend on rivers such as the Yangtze, Ganges and Mekong.

The melting snow and ice from the Himalayas feed these rivers and the streams and springs around Spiti Valley.

Unlike other parts of India, where there are two farming seasons to plant and harvest crops, Spiti only has one farming season. This creates problems for farmers if their plants die during the one season.

Ishita Khanna leads Ecosphere, an ecotourism company in Spiti Valley. She said there was not enough snowfall in the last two years and the springs all dried out in the valley.

"With the climate changing, this could be disastrous for people living here if this keeps happening. There should be more support for people and a deeper understanding of their way of life here. It's a very hard life."

I’m Phil Dierking.

Nita Bhalla reported this story for Reuters. Phil Dierking adapted the report for VOA Learning English. Hai Do was the editor.

We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page.

---

Words in This Story

winding - adj. curving

challenge - n. to test the ability, skill, or strength of (someone or something)

drought - n. a long period of time during which there is very little or no rain

glacier - n. a very large area of ice that moves slowly down a slope or valley or over a wide area of land

irrigation - n. to supply (something, such as land) with water by using artificial means (such as pipes)

remote - n. far away from other people, houses, cities, etc.

scarcity - n. a very small supply

More US High Schools Adopt Later Start Times

(Download MP3, Mirror) Like many American high school students, Josh Leong used to eat breakfast while it was still dark outside.

But that changed when his high school, McLean, in the American state of Virginia, changed to a later start time two years ago.

Proponents of late start times

The issue of school start times has become increasingly important in recent years. A growing number of sleep research studies have pointed to high schoolers' need for more sleep.

The American Psychological Association, or APA, says that more than half of teens between ages 15 and 17 sleep for 7 or fewer hours per night.

Teens like to stay up at night. They tend to go to bed late and wake up late in the morning. These habits are a result of biology, according to the APA.

Changing the sleep schedule of teens may not work. "Simply going to bed earlier does not necessarily make someone less tired in the early morning hours," says a statement on the organization's website.

The American Medical Association, or AMA, has also advocated for later start times.

At last year's annual AMA meeting, Board Member William E. Kobler said, "Sleep deprivation is a growing public health issue affecting our nation's adolescents, putting them at risk for mental, physical and emotional distress and disorders."

In 2016, the group issued a new policy proposal that "encourages middle schools and high schools to start no earlier than 8:30 a.m."

Concerns about changing sleep times

While the medical community has largely supported later start times, Americans do not always agree on the issue.

American schools are separated into districts. According to the U.S. Census bureau, there are over 14,000 school districts in the country. Each district has its own governing body, which sets school start and end times, and other important school policies.

Some have opposed the adoption of later times on the grounds that after-school sports will suffer. The Atlantic reports on strong opposition to later start times in the American state of New Jersey.

“It seems like there’s a disconnect here between the people who are making the decisions and the kids who actually want to play sports,” said Rich Perello, a parent and opponent of later start times.

Others have opposed the adoption of later start times because they believe schools are adopting later start times without enough planning.

Gregg Lindner is a school board director in the Unionville-Chadds Ford school district in the state of Pennsylvania. He voted against the adoption of later start times.

Lindner says he believes the scientific evidence about the benefits of later start times. But, he said, it would have been better for the district to adopt the later start time after careful consideration. He felt there was "a rush to implementation."

Lindner's main concern was logistics. Logistics refers to the things that must be done to plan and organize a complicated activity or event that involves many people.

Lindner's school district, Unionville-Chadds Ford, is very large, about 77 square miles, or about 200 square kilometers. School buses must travel far to pick up students.

Many teachers live outside the district. Later start times mean they might have to travel during peak traffic times. In addition, many of the teachers have children themselves. Their children might study in different school districts that have different start times.

"It [the adoption of a later start time] is impactful," Lindner noted.

Lindner said he would have preferred adopting later start times in the 2018-2019 school year, instead of the upcoming 2017-2018 school year.

Phyliss Payne is the implementation director for Start School Later, an advocacy group. She agrees that school districts can, and should, plan for these logistical problems.

Payne notes that Americans already expect change in school schedules when their children move from elementary to middle and high schools. American districts often have different start times for each of these types of schools.

“The biggest challenge is that people do not like change... we like to protect ourselves from change. So, when we hear that something new is coming, our immediate gut reaction is to say ‘I don't want this, this is going to be bad’ and we speculate about what's going to be different and how it is going to be hard for us.”

Perspectives on school start times

Payne adds that culture plays a role in how different people think about later start times. What might seem reasonable in one place might not seem reasonable in another place.

“The definition of 'later' varies from culture to culture. When I talk to friends who have lived in England, for example, who then come back here after having the high school experience in England, they are very shocked at how early we [Americans] start, how short of a time we give the kids for lunch. There are interesting cultural differences.”

Sleep experts – notably in the UK – have called for school start times as late as 10 or 11am, according to the Guardian.

Josh Leong, the student at McLean High School, likes his school's new start time of 8:05 am.

“I think I appreciate the fact that I get to wake up a little bit more with the light. I get to wake up with the sunrise. I'm not trying to make my breakfast in the darkness.”

He said, "If you get a good night's sleep, your next day at school is significantly better.”

I'm Jill Robbins.

And I'm John Russell.

John Russell wrote this story for Learning English. Hai Do was the editor.

We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section.

---

Words in This Story

district – n. US: an area or region containing the schools that a school board is in charge of

disconnect – n. a separation of (something) from something else; breaking of a connection between two or more things

benefit – n. a good or helpful result or effect

rush – n. a situation in which someone is doing something very quickly or hurrying

logistics – n. plural the things that must be done to plan and organize a complicated activity or event that involves many people (ie transporting many students to school)

impactful – adj. having a major impact or effect.

Getting to Know the Verb 'Get'

(Download MP3, Mirror) From VOA Learning English, this is Everyday Grammar.

So, Alice, what did you do last night?

Well, I was at home, getting ready to go to the movies. I was getting my shoes on when I got a feeling that something strange was going to happen.

I've gotten those feelings, too.

Then, I left the house, and got a cab, and got to the movies as fast as I could.

Did you get there on time?

Yes! But as soon as I got into the theater, I got a phone call from someone whose voice I didn’t recognize. That’s when things started to get weird…

Did you notice anything unusual in this story? The verb get is used 10 times -- and with several different meanings.

Get is one of the most commonly used, most tricky, and sometimes most hated words for English learners. When learning this verb, it is best to keep a sense of humor.

That is because the verb has more than 50 uses, such as when it appears as part of at least 12 phrasal verbs or other expressions.

Today on Everyday Grammar, we explore this simple three-letter word with many meanings. But don’t worry. By the time you come to the end of the program, we hope you will begin to enjoy this captivating and changeable verb.

We will consider a few of the most common meanings of get and offer some ideas on how to use the verb.

Let’s start with a very common meaning of get, which is to receive, obtain, or buy. The structure is:

get + direct object

Listening or reading for clues and then recognizing the meaning from those clues is the best way of explaining this meaning.

For example, take the following sentence:

I got an email from my friend Penelope.

In this sentence, does ‘got’ mean received, obtained, or bought?

Here, the word got means received. We know that the person did not buy the email. We also know that they did not obtain it, since obtain means to acquire by effort.

Let’s try another sentence:

I just got a new sofa!

In this example, does got mean received, obtained, or bought? It probably means bought, since the speaker does not provide any evidence that it was received.

But, in this statement, whether the speaker bought the sofa or obtained it in some other way is not very important. The most important thing to know here is that the speaker did not receive the sofa – they obtained it in some way.

Now, let’s turn to a different meaning of get. This one means to bring or fetch. The structure is:

get + direct object

Listen to this example:

I’m going outside to get the mail.

Sometimes, however, the structure can be:

get + indirect object + direct object

Listen to the example:

Could you get me my phone? It’s in the bedroom upstairs.

In this sentence, the direct object is my phone and the indirect object is me. This is a structure you can use to ask someone to bring something to you. You would probably not use it unless the thing were fairly close. For example, if you left your mobile phone at a friend’s house, and you will see the friend tomorrow, you would not say:

Could you get me my phone tomorrow?

Instead, you would say:

Could you bring me my phone tomorrow?

Now, you try it. Ask someone to bring something nearby to you.

Our next meaning of get is to arrive somewhere. There are two structures here. The first is:

get + location adverb

The second is:

get + to + location

Listen to a few examples:

What time will you get here?

I got to Tokyo at 6 a.m.

I got to the concert late.

In these examples, the clue to the meaning of get is the name of a place right after the verb, such as “Tokyo,” “the movies,” “here” or “there.”

Our last meaning of get on today’s program is to become. The structure is:

get + adjective

Listen to a few examples:

The food is getting cold.

I get nervous when I have to speak in public.

In this use, the verb get simply replaces the verb become. You will recognize this easily when you hear or see an adjective immediately after get.

Here are three suggestions to help you better understand and use the meanings of get:

Tip #1: Guess the meaning from clues

Guessing can be your best friend when trying to understand and use the meanings of get. Use context clues to help you know how get is used. Context means words that are used with or next to a specific word or expression that helps explain its meaning.

Look for a direct object or a location adverb or an adjective before or after the verb get. These will help you to know its intended meaning.

Tip #2: Practice, practice, practice

Read and listen to as much as you can in English. The more you do this, the more easily you will be able to use clues as a tool to quickly understand meaning. Americans, the British, and other native English speakers can recognize these clues very quickly. You can learn to do this, too! Try to immerse yourself in English by listening to Learning English podcasts, watching movies and YouTube videos, and listening to music.

Tip #3: Use other verbs

If you are not sure how to use some of the meanings of get, you can instead use verbs with similar meanings. Sometimes the other verbs sound natural, and other times they sound formal. For example, you can say, “I just bought a new sofa!” and it sounds perfectly natural. By comparison, saying, “I arrived home at 10 pm” sounds very official. Yet, both are correct and can be used.

Orin Hargraves is a lexicographer. He writes and studies dictionaries. Hargraves recently told Everyday Grammar that, “Many of the jobs that we currently give to get…can also be expressed by other verbs.” Hargraves’ advice is good advice.

The Everyday Grammar team hopes you enjoyed learning a few of the many meanings of the verb get. So, get going and enjoy this wonderful verb. We've got to go now. But keep listening in the coming weeks for more words with many meanings.

I’m Phil Dierking.

I'm Jill Robbins.

And I'm Alice Bryant.

Alice Bryant wrote this story for Everyday Grammar. George Grow was the editor.

---

Words in This Story

verb - n. a word that is usually one of the main parts of a sentence and that expresses an action, an occurrence, or a state of being

phrasal verb - n. a group of words that functions as a verb and is made up of a verb and a preposition, an adverb, or both

obtain - v. to gain or get, usually by effort

acquire - v. to come to own something

fetch - v. to go after and bring back someone or something

clue - n. something that helps a person find something, understand something, or solve a mystery or puzzle

intend - v. to have something in your mind as a purpose or goal

guess - v. to form an opinion or give an answer about something when you do not know much or anything about it

sofa - n. a long and comfortable piece of furniture on which a person can sit or lie down

immerse - v. to put (something) in a liquid so that all parts are completely covered

Hijab Gets More Acceptance from Business

(Download MP3, Mirror) The hijab is one of the most recognized symbols of Islamic culture.

The hijab is a head covering for women to wear in public.

Advertisers, technology companies and fashion designers are gaining interest in the hijab. It is becoming more popular among athletes as well.

Recently, Apple announced 12-new emoji characters it plans to make available later this year. One of the characters is of a young woman wearing a hijab.

Reuters reports that major fashion and sporting equipment companies are creating hijabs. Nike said it plans a spring 2018 release of a breathable hijab that women can use while exercising or playing sports.

And hijabs are becoming more common in Western advertising by companies such as H&M and Gap.

Muslims are a big market for business. In 2010, the Pew Research Center estimated a Muslim population of 1.6 billion people.

But the hijab’s growing acceptance has limited meaning.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations is a civil rights group for Muslims.

It says Muslim-Americans still face discrimination.

A woman in hijab

Women wearing hijabs can be at particular risk for abuse and other mistreatment because the head covering identifies them as Muslim.

But the increasing acceptance of the hijab might help change behavior.

Amani al-Khatahbeh is the founder of the online publication MuslimGirl.com.

She told Reuters that popular brands of clothing are in a good position to produce social good. She said popular brands can help increase understanding of Islam and improve its public image.

But al-Khatahbeh said including Muslims in advertising and product development should not be all about profits.

She said businesses have a responsibility to support more acceptance of Muslims.

“It can easily become exploitative by profiting off the communities that are being targeted right now,” she told Reuters.

Other signs of more acceptance include a Vogue Arabia magazine cover. In June, for the first time, the magazine’s cover was a photograph of a model in a hijab.

Somali-American Halima Aden received international attention last year when she wore a hijab and burkini during an American beauty competition. A burkini is swim clothing that covers the entire body, except for the face and hands.

Aden posted a video on her Instagram account.

In the video, she said, “Every little girl deserves to see a role model that’s dressed like her, resembles her, or even has the same characteristics as her.”

Bruce Alpert adapted this story for VOA Learning English based on a report by Reuters and other sources. Caty Weaver was the editor.

---

Words in This Story

symbol - n. an action, object, event, etc., that expresses or represents a particular idea or quality

advertiser - n. a company or person who makes the public aware of something, such as a product, that is being sold, usually for a fee

fashion designer - n. a person who creates clothes in new styles

emoji - n. a small image used to express an idea or emo a small digital image or icon used to express an idea, emotion, mostly in electronic communicate

exploitative - adj. to use someone or something in a way that helps you unfairly

deserve - v. used to say that someone or something should or should not have or be given something

resemble - v. looks like somebody or something else

As Diabetes Increases, a Vegetable Could Help

(Download MP3, Mirror) From VOA Learning English, this is the Health & Lifestyle report.

Diabetes is a serious, chronic disease on the rise around the world. And, not everyone can take the medication that treats it. However, researchers have discovered that a compound found in a common vegetable might help treat diabetes.

In 2016 the World Health Organization published its Global Report on Diabetes. It says the number of diabetic adults rose from 108 million in 1980 to 422 million in 2014.

Diabetes happens in two ways. If the body does not produce enough of a hormone called insulin it is called Type 1. Type 2 diabetes is when the body cannot effectively use the insulin it produces.

Insulin controls levels of sugar in the blood.

Over time, diabetes can damage the heart, blood vessels, eyes, kidneys and nerves. Diabetes is a major cause of blindness, kidney failure, heart attacks, stroke and lower limb amputation. It can lead to an early death.

India is one of the countries that could be facing a public health crisis as cases of diabetes increase. Amit Jain is a children's doctor in that country. He says obesity is one of the main reasons people get Type 2 diabetes.

However, children who are not obese can also get diabetes.

Rohin Sarin is a regular 15-year old kid. He goes to school. He likes sports. But unlike most children, four times a day he has to take a shot of insulin.

Rohin has type 2 diabetes.

"Sometimes it affects me negatively like if I just play a lot and I don't eat my food properly; then my sugar goes down. So, then I feel dizzy and I am not able to play the sport properly."

About 300 million people around the world have type-2 diabetics. A large percentage of these people cannot take a drug used to treat this disease.

The drug metformin is a first-line therapy. This means it is often the first drug doctors give their patients. However, the drug has side effects. It can damage the kidneys and upset the stomach.

Enter broccoli.

Purple broccoli

This vegetable has a chemical compound called sulforaphane. And in testing, this compound appears to work as well as the drug metformin at reducing blood sugar levels in diabetics.

Anders Rosengren, a doctor at the University of Gothenburg in Sweden, led the study.

"We think this is very exciting because there have been so many claims over the years of different food, dietary components having different health effects. But here, we have really scientifically-based proof that it has an effect on type-2 diabetes."

Dr. Rosengren and his team experimented with 97 type-2 diabetes patients. All were treated with metformin. But one group of the patients were also given sulforaphane every day for three months. The other patients were given a placebo.

On average, the participants who were given the broccoli medicine saw their blood glucose drop by 10% more than those who took the placebo. The broccoli pill was most effective in the patients who were obese. They started with higher glucose levels than the others.

Dr. Rosengren says that next he wants to study the effects sulforaphane has on pre-diabetic patients. These are people who have not yet taken the drug metformin.

"If you were to have people without metformin at all, it might be that the sulforaphane effect might be even stronger."

The researchers published their finding in the journal Science Translational Medicine.

But do not think that just eating broccoli is enough to prevent or treat diabetes. You would have to eat about five kilograms every day to get enough sulforaphane.

The study patients got a pill containing a concentrated form of the broccoli compound. It is about 100 times stronger than the amount found in broccoli.

But, for diabetics who hate broccoli, that could be welcome news.

And that's the Health & Lifestyle report. I'm Anna Matteo.

Reports from VOA’s Kevin Enochs and Jessica Berman contributed to this story adapted by Anna Matteo for Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor.

---

Words in This Story

insulin – n. a substance that your body makes and uses to turn sugar into energy

pancreas – n. a large gland of the body that is near the stomach and that produces insulin and other substances that help the body digest food

negatively – adv. harmful or bad : not wanted

sugar – medical noun the amount of sugar present in a person's blood at a particular time

dizzy – adj. having a whirling sensation in the head with a tendency to fall : mentally confused

dietary – adj. of or relating to a diet

component – n. one of the parts of something (such as a system or mixture) : an important piece of something

concentrated – adj. made stronger or more pure by removing water

placebo – medical noun a pill or substance that is given to a patient like a drug but that has no physical effect on the patient

First American Woman Climbs K2

(Download MP3, Mirror) Vanessa O’Brien has become the first American woman to reach the top of the world’s second highest mountain known as K2. The mountain reaches 8,611 meters above sea level.

O’Brien is a 52-year-old former banker from New York. She led a 12-member team of international climbers. She placed the United States flag on K2’s top - or summit - on July 28.

K2 is on Pakistan’s border with China. It is one of the world’s most dangerous mountains to climb.

“A proud day for #woman everywhere at the top of #K2, the world's second highest mountain,” O’Brien announced on Twitter shortly after reaching the top on Friday.

This was the third time O’Brien had tried to climb K2.

K2 in Pakistan, second highest mountain in the world

In 2015, bad weather stopped her. In 2016, an avalanche, buried all the climbing team’s equipment at its high operational base.

This year O’Brien’s team made it to the top. It took them a long time, 16 hours, from their CAMP-4 at 7681 meters.

The American climber spoke to VOA Monday, after she had made it back down the mountain to the K2 base camp.

She said she was very tired, but also very grateful for her team’s success.

“This was by far the hardest undertaking I have ever come across,” she said. “Not just the 50 kilometer winds and snow pushing against you, but the pure blue ice underneath your feet that threatened to pull you off balance at any second.”

O’Brien has already climbed the world’s highest mountain - Mt. Everest - which is 8,850 meters high. But speaking before her climb, she said K2 is more difficult and interesting for mountaineers.

“K2 is the perfect triangle. Mountains are not shaped that way.” She said most mountains have many places to rest, and then go higher and stop. But not K2. “It is asking for 110 percent effort day one.”

While snow avalanches are risky, she said, climate change has brought a new risk. Rocks on K2 that used to be fixed to earth and frozen are now just broken and they come down in rock avalanches.

So, she said, there is much danger, “and that is probably why for every four that climb, one dies.”

O’Brien holds both American and British nationality. She said she was thinking about the 84 people who came before her but lost their lives climbing K2.

The first American men’s team made it to the summit 39 years ago.

Nazir Sabir is the chief organizer of O’Brien’s climbing team. He said heavy snowfall and bad weather were problems on the mountain. O’Brien’s team was the only one to reach the top.

Sabir praised O'Brien for her bravery, saying that even the best climbers from the area give up after a second try. He said “her determination paid off,” but there was smart planning too.

O’Brien is the 19th woman to have survived the climb to the top. And even before this climb, she was the fastest woman to climb the seven summits. Those are the highest mountains on each of the seven continents.

I’m Anne Ball.

---

Words in This Story

avalanche –n. a large amount of snow and ice or of dirt and rocks that slides suddenly down the side of a mountain

grateful –adj. feeling or showing thanks

triangle –n. a shape that is made up of three lines and three angles

determination –n. a quality that makes you continue trying to do or achieve something that is difficult

Barbecue: An American Food Tradition

(Download MP3, Mirror) For some Americans, summertime means visiting the beaches or national parks. For others, it means attending baseball games.

And for many, it means cooking, eating, and generally enjoying American barbecue. Barbecue, or BBQ for short, is a style of cooking meat at a low temperature for a long time.

But, not all American barbecue is the same.

Mike Sargent recently drove almost 2,500 kilometers from Texas to Washington, D.C., to compete in the National Capital Barbecue Battle.

As a Texan, Sargent says his home state makes the best barbecue. But he adds, “The style of barbecue going across the nation is just totally different. And it’s interesting to see, you know, because it’s the culture on what people were raised on.”

Barbecue Belt

Texas is part of America’s so-called “Barbecue Belt.”

The area stretches from Texas to the East Coast. Many people divide it into four main styles of American barbecue: Carolina-style, Memphis-style, Kansas City-style and Texas-style. Each is named after the state or city where the style was formed.

But American barbecue is not actually that straightforward.

Robert F. Moss is a barbecue expert and historian. He wrote the book Barbecue: The History of an American Institution.

Moss says American barbecue is much more than just the four main styles. He says many areas within the Barbecue Belt have their own styles and flavors.

The state of Alabama, for example, has its own special white-colored barbecue sauce. And California, a state far from the Barbecue Belt, has its own barbecue style called Santa Maria.

“Some people sort of point to like four main regions but it’s really much more.”

“Regional pride”

David Robbins is with Old Town Smokers, a restaurant in Alexandria, Virginia. He is their pitmaster -- the person who operates the barbecue cooking “pit.”

He says that, for people who come from places where barbecue is popular, there is a lot of “regional pride.”

“Usually not because it’s the favorite flavor, it’s because it’s the thing they grew up with.”

Even Moss, the barbecue historian, says South Carolina’s style of barbecue is still special to him. He grew up in Greenville, in the western part of the state.

“These days it’s hard for me to say I have one particular favorite barbecue style, because having traveled around to eat so many, I’ve sort of come to appreciate them all. I still am a little bit partial to the South Carolina style, just because it is my home state.”

A brief history of barbecue

Moss says American barbecue developed from several cultures in the Caribbean.

Early European explorers observed Taino Indians in the Caribbean cooking whole animals over fire and smoke. They called it “barabicu,” or “sacred pit” in the Taino language.

Spanish explorers called this cooking method “barbacoa.” As they traveled north, they spread barbacoa into the present-day southern American states, like Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina.

There, “barabacoa” became “barbecue.”

In the 1920s, the restaurant industry grew quickly in the United States. It was this rise in restaurants, Moss says, that helped lead to the creation of regional barbecue styles.

Carolina-style

Carolina-style barbecue is named after the states of North Carolina and South Carolina. Carolina barbecue today is the closest to the early, colonial-style of barbecue of the 1700s, Moss says.

All across the Carolinas, pork is the main barbecue meat. They cook the whole hog over a pit. The pork meat is then shredded or chopped or “pulled.” Pulled pork is meat that is tender - or soft - enough to be pulled from the bone with little effort.

Sauce is a key part of American barbecue. Most sauces in North Carolina have a vinegar base. In South Carolina, the sauces are made with mustard. They are yellow in color. The mustard-based sauce is known as “Carolina Gold.”

From the Carolinas, barbecue traditions moved west, all the way to Texas.

Texas-style

While Carolina-style barbecue is all about pork, Texas-style barbecue is all about beef. Texas is especially known for its smoked brisket. Brisket is a cut of meat from the lower chest of a cow, as pitmaster Mike Sargent explains.

“It’s the chest and shoulder muscle. It’s a very thick, tough piece of meat. It has to be cooked for long periods of time at lower temperatures.”

Most Texas barbecue cooks do not use much barbecue sauce. Instead, they flavor their meat with a mix of herbs and spices called a “rub.”

“We don’t put a lot of sauce on anything down here. We’d rather you taste the meat and the seasonings and the woods that we use.”

Texas-style barbecue is often cooked over pecan wood. Pecan trees are found across much of Texas.

Memphis-style

The city of Memphis, Tennessee, is home to another well-known style of American barbecue. Memphis-style BBQ may be best known for its pork ribs. The ribs can be served dry, without sauce, or wet, with sauce.

Memphis-style sauce is sometimes very sweet, thanks to molasses – a thick, dark syrup made from raw sugar. Because the city sits along the Mississippi River, it was easy for locals to get molasses from steamboats that regularly carried goods up and down the river.

Memphis-style barbecue led to the creation of Kansas City-style barbecue, because of one man, Henry Perry. The Memphis local worked as a steamboat cook. In the early 1900s, he moved north to Kansas City.

Perry soon began cooking and serving barbecue for people in his new city. He went on to build a very successful Kansas City barbecue business.

Kansas City-style

Kansas City is where Carolina and Memphis pork barbecue meet Texas beef barbecue.

It is, as some food experts say, the best of both worlds.

While it is best known for its pork ribs, Kansas City also does beef brisket. It is known for its thick, tomato-based sauce that is both sweet and spicy.

Barbecue has become serious business in Kansas City. It holds the so-called “World Series” of barbecue every fall. The huge contest is called the American Royal.

The fun of barbecue

But barbecue is not about the competition. It is about eating.

If cooked right, barbecued meat falls off the bone. You do not need to use a fork or knife to eat it. Usually, you can eat with your hands.

Rebecca Sansale is from Pennsylvania. At the National Capital Barbecue Battle in Washington, D.C., she said barbecue is one of her favorite kinds of food.

“It’s one of the foods that you can eat that’s really messy and it’s okay to kind of get it all over your face and it’s just really fun to eat.”

A traditional American barbecue usually includes side dishes like potato salad, cole slaw, baked beans or macaroni and cheese.

Chuck Smith is a cook at Smoke Shack, a barbecue restaurant in Columbus, Ohio.

“I got potato salad, cole slaw, greens, beans, macaroni and cheese. The macaroni and cheese is off the hook. It’s off the hook. It’s so cheesy and it's good.”

“Off the hook” means really, really good.

In summer months, people in the United States often invite friends and family members over for a barbecue. They cook meat outside on a grill and prepare side dishes similar to Chuck Smith’s.

Pitmasters like Sargent and Robbins did not learn their trade at cooking schools. Instead, they learned through family barbecues in their own backyards.

Sargent says, in Texas, everybody has a grill in the backyard.

“That's where I learned my passion [from] it. My dad taught me from an early age how to cook on the grill...and that’s where I found my passion for it.”

I’m Ashley Thompson.

And I’m Dan Friedell.

Do you have a special kind of barbecue in your country or city? Tell us about it in the comments section.

Ashley Thompson and Olivia Liu reported and wrote this story. Hai Do was the editor. Dorothy Gundy produced the video.

---

Words in This Story

barbecue - n. an outdoor meal or party at which food is cooked on a barbecue; food that has been cooked on a barbecue grill

straightforward - adj. easy to do or understand : not complicated

pit ​- n. ​ an outdoor area where food is cooked

regional - adj. relating to a part of the country that is different or separate from other parts in some way

appreciate ​- v. to understand the worth or importance of (something or someone) : to admire and value (something or someone)

sacred - adj. ​highly valued and important : deserving great respect

hog ​- n. ​a pig

tender - adj. ​easy to chew or bite : not tough

brisket ​- n. ​ beef from the chest of a cow

shred ​- v.​ to cut or tear (something) into long, thin pieces

chop ​ ​- v.​ to cut (something) into pieces by hitting it with the sharp edge of an ax, knife, etc.

flavor ​- v. ​to give or add taste to something

best of both worlds - expression.​ a situation in which you can enjoy two very different things at the same time

passion ​- n. ​a strong feeling of enthusiasm or excitement for something or about doing something