同性婚姻合法化same sex marriage legalized

Obama ‘Could Not Be Prouder’ Of His Administration’s LGBTQ Legacy

At his final press conference, POTUS seemed faintly optimistic about the future.

Following an administration that delivered on marriage equality and other inclusive strides, the LGBTQ community will face an uncertain future Friday when President-elect Donald Trump is sworn into office.

Speaking at his final press conference at the White House on Wednesday, however, President Barack Obama appeared optimistic about the future of LGBTQ rights moving forward, noting that he didn’t think milestones like same-sex marriage would be “reversible” during Trump’s presidency, or beyond.

“American society has changed ― the attitudes of young people in particular have changed,” he said. Pointing to the ongoing struggle for transgender rights in particular, he added, “There’s still going to be some battles that need to take place [but] if you talk to young people ― even if they’re Republicans, even if they’re conservative ― many of them would tell you, ‘I don’t understand how you would discriminate against somebody because of sexual orientation.’ That’s just sort of burned into them in pretty powerful ways.”


While Obama said he “couldn’t be prouder” of the work he’s done on the LGBTQ community’s behalf, he wouldn’t accept full responsibility for it. “The primary heroes in this stage of our growth as a democracy and as a society are all the individual activists and sons and daughters and couples who courageously said, ‘This is who I am, and I’m proud of it,” he said.


It was a final, profound moment from Obama, who leaves behind a monumental legacy as far as LGBTQ rights is concerned, and could very well be the last time a sitting U.S. president speaks so directly to the queer community for a while.



http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/obama-lgbtq-rights-legacy_us_587fcb08e4b02c1837e94bde?utm_hp_ref=gay-marriage



Who-Barack Obama
What-said he “couldn’t be prouder” of the work he’s done on the LGBTQ community’s behalf.
When-01/18/2017 04:31 pm ET
Where-America
Why-American society has changed
How-the attitudes of young people in particular have changed.

key words(5-10):

strides (v.)進步
sworn (v.)宣誓
milestones (n.)里程碑
reversible (a.)可逆
Republicans (n.)共和黨人
conservative (n.)保守黨人
orientation (n.)方向
monumental (a.)紀念性的
legacy (n.)遺產
queer (a.)奇怪

勝棋王Alpha Go

Defeated Go champion Lee Sedol wants a rematch against AlphaGo

Lee said: 'If AlphaGo wants a rematch, I'd like to face it again'


Lee Sedol, the South Korean Go champion who lost to a computer earlier this month, has said he would like a rematch.Lee, a top-ranking Go player who has 18 international titles under his belt, lost a five-game match to AlphaGo, a computer program developed by British artificial intelligence company DeepMind.However, Lee is ready to take on the machine once again. Speaking to Yonhap News, he said: "I will have to consider it carefully, but if AlphaGo wants a rematch, I'd like to face it again, on the condition it will take place in the near future."

He also hinted that he may have discovered the program's secrets, saying: "I figured out AlphaGo to some degree during our last meeting."AlphaGo had previously beat human players, but the recent match was notable due to Lee's world-leading ranking.Most AI experts expected Lee to win, believing a program capable of beating players in the true top echelon of the game was at least a decade away from development.


http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/news/lee-sedol-alphago-google-deepmind-go-rematch-a6945831.html

Who-Lee Sedol
What-He lost to a computer
When-11 month ago
Where-not given
Why-not given
How-not given

key words(5-10):

rematch (v.)重新匹配
previously (adv.)先前
notable (a.)值得注意
echelon (n.)梯隊
world-leading (a.)領先全球的

英國脫歐Brexit

Brexit: Was a shock British by-election a sign of UK EU referendum backlash?

ANALYSIS
By Europe correspondent James Glenday
Posted 3 Dec 2016, 3:54am

In a year of global political earthquakes, the Richmond Park by-election is barely more than a blip.
But was it, as some campaigners and commentators claim, the first sign of a significant Brexit backlash?
By any measure the leafy London constituency has stunned the country's political pundits.
Zac Goldsmith — a former Conservative MP and London mayoral candidate — triggered the poll by resigning from his party.
He stood as an independent so he could protest plans to expand the country's biggest airport, Heathrow.
The Conservatives did not run and most pundits predicted Mr Goldsmith, who won last year by 23,000 votes, would hold on.
But what was meant as a referendum on a new runway quickly became framed as a Brexit by-election.
Mr Goldsmith, who wants the UK to leave the EU, found himself pitted against Liberal Democrat candidate Sarah Olney, who does not want to leave.

The result?

He lost — 18,638 votes to 20,510.

The Lib Dems, who shed 49 of their 57 seats at the 2015 general election, claimed the result showed they "are back" — reinvigorated as spokespeople for the "48 per cent" of Brits "unhappy" with Brexit.
European bureaucrats even took the unusual step of welcoming the result.
Guy Verhofstadt, the lead EU negotiator on Brexit, congratulated the party declaring "Europe is watching and we are proud".
But Richmond Park is a strongly pro-EU constituency, where around 70 per cent of people voted to remain in this year's referendum.
The Conservatives and several prominent "Brexiteers" claim the result means nothing.
They argue it has already been over interpreted and ignores the fact most British constituencies voted Leave last year.
So what does it mean?
On its own this by-election is probably just a speed bump for the Government on the long winding road to Brexit.
But it will not want any more similar surprises as it moves towards starting the process of leaving the EU in March next year.
These highly publicised campaigns, which come with rolling media coverage and pages of opinion pieces, can ultimately alter the political mood.



http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-12-03/was-a-shock-british-by-election-a-sign-of-a-brexit-backlash/8089468


Who-Zac Goldsmith — a former Conservative MP and London mayoral candidate
What-He lost — 18,638 votes to 20,510.
When-not given
Where-Britain
Why-He stood as an independent so he could protest plans to expand the country's biggest airport, Heathrow.
How-not given

key words(5-10):
referendum (n.)全民投票
backlash (v.)反彈
constituency (n.)選區
triggered (v.)觸發
Heathrow 希思羅機場
reinvigorated (v.)恢復活力
bureaucrats (n.)官僚
coverage (v.)覆蓋
ultimately (a.)最終
Pundits (n.)專家

白頭盔White Helmets

WHAT IT TAKES TO SAVE A LIFE

A STORY OF HOPE SHINING FROM ONE OF THE DARKEST CORNERS OF HUMANITY

In the deadliest conflict of our era an unlikely group of heroes has emerged. Former tailors, bakers, teachers and other ordinary Syrians have banded together to save lives from the rubble of bombardment and the violence of war in Syria. Forming the Syria Civil Defence, their distinctive uniform of a white helmet now symbolises hope for millions.

When the bombs rain down, the White Helmets rush in. In a place where public services no longer function these unarmed volunteers risk their lives to help anyone in need, regardless of their religion or politics. These volunteer rescue workers have saved over 73,530 lives.

The White Helmets motto is taken from the Quran: 'to save a life is to save all of humanity'. In a conflict where too many have chosen violence, the White Helmets wake up everyday to save the lives others are trying so hard to take.

Their bravery has inspired people across the planet -- from the children in Syria who play at being rescue workers, to the students in Norway who awarded them their town’s peace prize, and to their nomination now for the Nobel Peace Prize.

https://nobelpeaceprize.whitehelmets.org/en

Who-White Helmets
What-was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.
When-not given
Where-Syria
Why-save lives from the rubble of bombardment and the violence of war
How-risk their lives to help anyone in need

key words(5-10):
deadliest (a.)致命的
tailors (n.)裁縫
band (v.)帶
bombardment (n.)轟擊
motto (n.)座右銘
Quran (n.)古蘭經
nomination (n.)提名

火箭回收SpaceX

Christmas Delivery at Space Station, Courtesy of Japan

By MARCIA DUNN, AP AEROSPACE WRITERCAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — Dec 13, 2016, 6:55 AM ET

Christmas gifts arrived at the International Space Station on Tuesday, courtesy of Japan.
A Japanese cargo ship pulled up at the orbiting lab four days after launching. The capsule — called Kounotori, or white stork — contains nearly 5 tons of food, water, batteries and other supplies. NASA said there also are Christmas presents for the two Americans, three Russians and one Frenchman on board.

Commander Shane Kimbrough, an American, and France's Thomas Pesquet used the robot arm to grab the capsule 250 miles above Chile. Flight controllers in Japan and Houston applauded — and some of the Japanese even bowed.

Kimbrough said the crew was "really excited" to accept delivery and radioed thanks to all.
"The vehicle is beautiful, and it performed flawlessly," he said.

Barely two weeks ago, a Russian supply ship was destroyed shortly after liftoff. At the same time, one of NASA's main suppliers, SpaceX, is grounded. So the Japanese delivery is especially welcome.

The astronauts need the six new lithium-ion batteries for next month's spacewalks. They will replace the old nickel-hydrogen batteries that store energy generated by the station's big solar panels.
———
Online:
NASA: https://www.nasa.gov/mission—pages/station/main/index.html

http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory/christmas-gifts-arrive-space-station-courtesy-japan-44159571


Who-Space Station
What-accept delivery from Japan
When-Dec 13, 2016
Where-International Space Station
Why-not given
How-not given

key words(5-10):

courtesy禮貌
cargo貨物
orbiting軌道
capsule膠囊
stork鸛
Chile智利
flawlessly完美無缺
liftoff升空
lithium-ion鋰離子
nickel-hydrogen鎳氫

巴黎氣候高峰會Paris Climate Change Conference

COP21 talks: Climate deal agreed by 195 states

Agreement adopted more than 24 hours after official end of fortnight-long conference

Sat, Dec 12, 2015, 09:06 Updated: Sat, Dec 12, 2015, 19:28

A “historic” deal to tackle climate change has been agreed by 195 countries at United Nations talks in Paris.

The international agreement was adopted more than 24 hours after the official end of the fortnight-long conference in the French capital, following days and nights of shuttle diplomacy and wrangling between countries.

The decision was greeted with huge cheers, tears and hugging and a standing ovation in the hall, as well as cheers, clapping and shouts in the media room and among campaigners in the other halls.

The deal is the world’s first comprehensive climate agreement, and is intended to see all countries taking action to tackle the problem.

Eerlier, amid thunderous applause and an atmosphere charged with emotion, French president Francois Hollande and his foreign minister Laurent Fabius - the conference president - called on delegates at the COP21 climate summit to adopt a historic agreement to tackle climate change.

“You are the world,” Mr Hollande told ministers and negotiators representing 195 countries at the summit in Le Bourget, just north of Paris. “We are at a decisive moment in time,” he said. “There is only one relevant question: Do we want an agreement.”

http://www.irishtimes.com/news/environment/cop21-talks-climate-deal-agreed-by-195-states-1.2464661

Who-not given

What-A “historic” deal to tackle climate change has been agreed

When-Dec 12, 2015

Where-Paris

Why-not given

How-agreed by 195 countries at United Nations talks in Paris.

key words(5-10):

conference  (v.)委託

shuttle (v.)穿梭

diplomacy (n.)外交

wrangling (v.)吵架

campaigners (n.)運動員

comprehensive (a.)全面

intended (n.)意向

minister (n.)部長

summit (n.)首腦

delegates (n.)代表

李奧納多狄卡皮歐Leonardo DiCaprio

Leonardo dicaprio is the 2016 oscar winner for best actor

By. Derek wong

Leonardo dicaprio is the 2016 oscar winner for best actor. In his acceptance speech, dicaprio brought attention to global warming. He stated, "climate change is real. It is happening right now. It is the most urgent threat facing our entire species. We need to work collectively together and stop procrastinating."this is the first academy award for leonardo dicaprio. In the revenant, leonardo dicaprio plays hugh glass, who is badly mauled by a grizzly and abandoned by his fellow trappers. Barely surviving his wounds, glass is driven by thoughts of his family and a desire for revenge as he endures the frigid winter and pursues the men who left him for dead.Dicaprio was previously nominated for:the wolf of wall street (2013)nominee, actor in a leading rolethe wolf of wall street (2013)nominee, best pictureblood diamond (2006)nominee, actor in a leading rolethe aviator (2004)nominee, actor in a leading rolewhat's eating gilbert grape (1993)nominee, actor in a supporting rolesee the complete list of 2016 oscar winners!

leonardo dicaprio's fellow nominees in this category are: matt damon for the martian, bryan cranston for trumbo, michael fassbender for steve jobs and eddie redmayne for the danish girl.

http://oscar.go.com/news/winners/leonardo-dicaprio-wins-best-actor-oscars-2016

who-leonardo dicaprio
what-the 2016 oscar winner for best actor
when-2016
why-not given
how-not given

key words(5-10):
acceptance (v.)驗收
urgent (adj.)緊急
collectively (adv.)共同
procrastinating (v.)拖延
the revenant神鬼獵人
mauled (v.)圍毆
grizzly (n.)灰熊
frigid (adj.)寒冷
nominee (n.)提名人