Jon Stewart is an American comedian who has a political satire television show called The Daily Show. On his programe, Stewart shows news clips and makes hilariously insightful comments. Often, he has authors or politicians on his show to discuss world news. He also has correspondents travelling to various places around the world to chronicle news events.
Even though his show is supposed to be all in jest, the “real” news networks say that most 18-29 year-olds get their daily dose of news from The Daily Show.
Here is a clip with Jon Stewart speaking to journalist Matt Lauer about the influence his show has on the elections on the young people’s vote.
As you can imagine, America has a national holiday for a different food everyday of the year. Today’s celebrated delight is the doughnut. Doughnuts are lovely pastries that have a whole in the middle, but they can also be cream-filled. They taste best with coffee or milk. Americans generally eat them for breakfast.
So, grab a newspaper, a coffee and a delicious doughnut. Maybe if you tell the shop that it is National Doughnut Day in America, they will give you one for free!
Happy Doughnut Day!
Also, in a non-related note, Senator Barack Hussein Obama is now President Obama. “Yes we can.” is now “Yes, we did!”
Indecision 2008. The Day for Change. The Anyone-but-Bush Day. Call it whatever you like, but today is November 4th. That’s right, it’s US Election Day. People are feeling patriotic and informed on the issues, and then next week, they will likely go back to their celebrity gossip wheels. So, let’s enjoy the red, white and blue spirit while it’s here. There will be plenty of social events going on this evening to celebrate (or mourn) the elections. But what I want to know is why TODAY? Why 4th November? Why a Tuesday, the worst day of the week for a party? Well, here’s why!
November?
Most Americans made their living from agriculture in 1845, and Congress felt that November was the most convenient month for farmers and citizens in rural areas to get to the polls. Preparing fields and planting crops consumed lots of the public’s time in the spring and summer months. But by early November, the harvest was over in most areas, and the weather was still mild and dry enough to travel over the dirt and the rocky roads.
Tuesday?
In 1845, and for many years after that, only the county seats had places to vote. For many voters, this meant at least an overnight trip on horseback or buggy. If the election were held on Monday, people would have to leave on Sunday. In 1845, Sunday was reserved for church.
Why the first Tuesday after the first Monday?
Congress wanted to make sure the election never fell on the first of November. 1st November is a Holy Day of Obligation in the Roman Catholic Church (All Saints Day). Also, many businesses tallied their sales and expenses and did their books for the previous month on the first of each month. Congress feared that an unusually good or bad economic month might influence the vote if it were held on the 1st.
But, that was then and this is now. True, most of us are no longer farmers, and while some citizens still ride a horse to vote, making it to the polls is far simpler than in 1845. But is there, even now, a single “better” day to hold a national election than the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November?
School is back in session and most summer vacations are over. The closest national holiday — Thanksgiving — is still almost a month away, and you don’t have to buy anybody a gift. But the runaway best all-time reason for holding the election in early November is one Congress never even considered in 1845. It’s far enough from April 15 that we have forgotten about the last tax-day and haven’t started worrying about the next one.
So what’s my point? Any day is a good day to vote. And if you don’t vote, then you aren’t allowed to complain about politics for four years!
Are you suffering from a case of the Mondays? If so, Hot English has a cure for you with the latest US election shenanigans. “Shenanigans” is a word that means something silly and can also imply immoral or dishonest behaviour. It is an informal word.
Anyway, these two comedians who have a radio show in Montreal decided to play a prank on Sarah Palin. They somehow found her phone number and called her. But here is the trick: one of them pretended to be France’s president, Nicholas Sarkozy.
The call lasted six minutes, but that is not the most disturbing point. In fact, there are so many things about this situation that leave me curious. Firstly, why would Sarkozy want to talk to Sarah Palin? Is he planning a vacation to Alaska? Secondly, the man on the phone tells Palin that his wife Carla is “good in bed”. He also says that he thinks it is fun to hunt and “take away life, hahaha”. Would the French president really say that? And again, would he say that to Sarah Palin? I doubt it. Thirdly, he makes various references to the US election as well as Canadian politicians. Palin’s response? She just laughs and says, “Yeah”. Does she even know the events and people to which he refers?
Election day is tomorrow. We’ll see. Is anyone else nervous?
Halloween Mythbusters
Today is 31st October, also known as Halloween. Many people think that Halloween costumes must be scary. That is not totally true. Although of course a Halloween costume may be scary, you can also dress up as a celebrity, a politician, a character in a film or an animal.
Another Halloween tradition many people participate in is trick-or-treating. It is mostly for little children, but all ages can participate. Children dress up in costumes and go from house to house asking for sweets. They have a bag (my family used pillowcases) to carry the sweets. The children must dress up, and are only supposed to go to the houses that have the lights on. When the kids ring the doorbell, someone comes to the door (often that person is an adult who is dressed up as well). The children say “Trick-or-treat!” or the extended version “Trick-or-treat, smell my feet, give me something good to eat!”. The person at the house has a bowl of sweets ready for trick-or-treaters and gives each child a couple pieces. It is important for the parents to check their children’s sweets at the end of the night because there are some scary people out there who put dangerous things in sweets. So, it is best to only go to houses of people you know and only eat the sweets that are wrapped. (Also, stay away from any homemade treats.)
So that is Hot English’s treat without any tricks.
Have a happy Halloween filled with Snickers and Twix!
So, tomorrow is the big day. But that means tonight is the Big Night. Halloween Eve.
Halloween Eve is considered “Mischief Night” in the United States. “Mischief” means causing trouble. Halloween Eve is generally when people play pranks, such as egging cars or the typical toilet-papering of trees in people’s houses. Although Hot English doesn’t want to encourage anyone to destroy public property, we wanted to let you know that tonight is Mischief Night. So watch out, because you might get your house toilet-papered like the poor soul in the picture.
Today is Wednesday. It is the middle of the work week, also known as Hump Day. Only two more days until the weekend!
Every Wednesday, to help us get through the Hump Day, I have started a little something I like to call Hump Day Holiday. Because, by the time Wednesday rolls around, we all need a little something extra to keep us going until the weekend.
Did you know that Hermit Day is today? A “hermit” is a person who lives alone, away from people and society. So, it makes sense that Hermit Day is a quiet day to spend in seclusion, all by yourself.
For some people, being a hermit is a way of life. Some people choose to spend everyday alone in peaceful seclusion. For whatever reason, Hermits prefer living away from the crowds. For many of us who lead busy lifestyles, the idea of being a “Hermit for a Day” sounds quite fun. The thought of putting your life on hold and spending time alone could be just the change you are looking for.
So, if you are a hermit, celebrate your lifestyle today. Or, if you’re one of the many people who yearn for a break from your hectic lifestyle, be a hermit today. Chill out by yourself and hide from the rest of the world.
Spend this day in a secluded area or environment. May we suggest you do so with a good reading book, or better still, the October issue of Hot English Magazine! We hope that no one interrupts you today.
Have a happy, secluded, tranquil, and quiet Hermit Day.
This is a song about conjunctions: and, but, and or. The song tells you how to use them in a fun way. This is from a collection of educational grammar songs called Schoolhouse Rock.
Here are the lyrics so you can sing along!
Conjunction Junction, what’s your function?
Hooking up words and phrases and clauses.
Conjunction Junction, how’s that function?
I got three favorite cars
That get most of my job done.
Conjunction Junction, what’s their function?
I got “and”, “but”, and “or”,
They’ll get you pretty far.
[spoken] “And”:
That’s an additive, like “this and that”.
“But”:
That’s sort of the opposite,
“Not this but that”.
And then there’s “or”:
O-R, when you have a choice like
“This or that”.
“And”, “but”, and “or”,
Get you pretty far.
[sung] Conjunction Junction, what’s your function?
Hooking up two boxcars and making ‘em run right.
Milk and honey, bread and butter, peas and rice.
Hey that’s nice!
Dirty but happy, digging and scratching,
Losing your shoe and a button or two.
He’s poor but honest, sad but true,
Boo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo!
Conjunction Junction, what’s your function?
Hooking up two cars to one
When you say something like this choice:
“Either now or later”
Or no choice:
“Neither now nor ever”
Hey that’s clever!
Eat this or that, grow thin or fat,
Never mind, I wouldn’t do that,
I’m fat enough now!
Conjunction Junction, what’s your function?
Hooking up phrases and clauses that balance, like:
Out of the frying pan and into the fire.
He cut loose the sandbags,
But the balloon wouldn’t go any higher.
Let’s go up to the mountains,
Or down to the seas.
You should always say “thank you”,
Or at least say “please”.
Conjunction Junction, what’s your function?
Hooking up words and phrases and clauses
In complex sentences like:
[spoken] In the mornings, when I’m usually wide awake, I love to take a walk through the gardens and down by the lake, where I often see a duck and a drake, and I wonder, as I walk by, just what they’d say if they could speak, although I know that’s an absurd thought.
Conjunction Junction, what’s your function?
Hooking up cars and making ‘em function.
Conjunction Junction, how’s that function?
I like tying up words and phrases and clauses.
Conjunction Junction, watch that function.
I’m going to get you there if you’re very careful.
Conjunction Junction, what’s your function?
I’m going to get you there if you’re very careful.
Conjunction Junction, what’s your function?
I’m going to get you there if you’re very careful.
Adverb Special
Learn all about adverbs with this special adverb song. And use the lyrics below to sing along. Sing & learn!
Hmmmmm… hmmmmm… hmmmmm!!!
Ready pop? Yep. Ready son? Uh-huh.
Let’s go! Let’s go!
One! two! Lolly, Lolly, Lolly, get your adverbs here,
Lolly, Lolly, Lolly, got some adverbs here,
Come on down to Lolly’s, get the adverbs here!
You’re going to need, if you write or read, or even think about it.
Lolly Lolly Lolly, get your adverbs here, got a lot of lolly, jolly adverbs here.
Anything you need and we can make it absolutely clear…
An adverb is a word, (That’s all it is! and there’s a lot of them.)
That modifies a verb, (sometimes a verb and sometimes)
It modifies an adjective, or else another adverb,
And so you see that it’s positively, very, very, necessary.
Lolly, Lolly, Lolly, get your adverbs here,
Father, son, and Lolly selling adverbs here,
Got a lot of adverbs, and we make it clear,
So come to Lolly! (Lolly, Lolly, Lolly).
Hello, folks, this is Lolly, Sr, saying we have every adverb in the book,
So come on down and look.
Hello folks, Lolly, Jr here.
Suppose your house needs painting, how are you going to paint it?
That’s where the adverb comes in.
We can also give you a special intensifier, so you can paint it very neatly or rather sloppily.
Hi! Suppose you’re going nut-gathering;
your buddy wants to know where and when. Use an adverb and tell him!
Get your adverbs! Use it with an adjective, it says much more,
Anything described can be described some more,
Anything you’d ever need is in the store,
And so you choose very carefully every word you use.
Use it with a verb, it tells us how you did,
Where it happened, where you’re going, where you’ve been.
Use it with another adverb – that’s the end.
And even more…
How, where, or when, condition or reason,
These questions are answered, when you use an adverb.
Come and get it!
Lolly, Lolly, Lolly, get your adverbs here,
Quickly, quickly, quickly, get those adverbs here.
Slowly, surely, really learn your adverbs here.
You’re going need ‘em if you read ‘em,
If you write or talk or think about ‘em … Lolly! (Lolly, Lolly, Lolly)
Announcer: If it’s an adverb, we have it at Lolly’s!
Bring along your old adjectives, too, like slow, soft, and sure.
We’ll fit ‘em out with our “L-Y” attachment,
And make perfectly good adverbs out of them!
(Get your adverbs here!) Lots of good tricks at Lolly’s so come on down.
(Lolly, Lolly, Lolly!) Adverbs deal with manner, place, time,
(Lolly, Lolly, Lolly!) Condition, reason,
(Father, son, and Lolly) Comparison, contrast
(Lolly, Lolly, Lolly) Enrich your language with adverbs!
(Lolly, Lolly, Lolly) Besides, they’re absolutely free!
(Lolly, Lolly, Lolly) At your service! Indubitably!
