Welcome to
The Point
The First All English Newspaper in Kumamoto City, Japan
Exchange emails with a native speaker of English
If you really want to improve your English skills, you should practice exchanging emails with a native speaker. Answer the questions below and send your answers to one of our staff members. You can also practice your speaking by skype or meeting in person.
1. Have you ever been to Disneyworld?
2. Have you ever been to a funeral?
3. Have you ever been to a wedding?
4. Have you ever met a famous person?
5. Have you ever been to a professional sports game?
6. Have you ever talked back to your parents?
Send your answers to someone on our staff. We will correct your English and answer you. Write the staff’s name in the subject. Email: bluehillesl@yahoo.com
Male Female
David (USA) Sharon (Canada)
Randall (USA) Lisa (Canada)
Grammar 1
in the meantime = while you are waiting
Ex. You can board the plane soon. In the meantime, you can go shopping.
1. You can see the dentist soon. In the meantime, read some magazines.
2. Dinner will be ready soon. In the meantime, watch some TV.
3. A table will be ready in a few minutes. In the meantime, look at the menu.
Grammar 2
as you know = something you already know
Ex. Airplanes travel north because as you know Earth is round.
1. Kenny can't drink alcohol because as you know he is not 21.
2. Brenda cannot go to the late movie because as you know her curfew is at 9pm.
3. You can't ride your bicycle to school because as you know it is against the rules.
4. Diane doesn't want to get on the roller coaster because as you know she is afraid of heights.
English Idioms
Idiom 1 - scare the pants off someone = to frighten someone a lot
Example:
Sam: Dennis painted his face for Halloween.
Ben: Yea he scared the pants off of me.
Idiom 2 - in cold blood = to act without passion
Example:
Jill: Did the killer get caught?
Ray: Yes, it is good because he killed someone in cold blood.
Idiom 3 - a witch hunt = to look for something that is not there
Example:
Charles: Did you find a left-handed wrench?
Rachel: No, I think Matt sent me on a witch hunt.
Idiom 4 - a wild goose chase - to look for something that is not there
Example:
Peg: Did you find a pink and blue dress?
Donna: No, Sally sent me on a wild goose chase.
February 2023
Ted the bear: Shit. I could never get a signal in your apartment. Hey, can I use your laptop?
John: Yea, go ahead.
Ted the bear: Thanks. What the fuck!
John: Holy shit. Dude what's the matter? What happened? What's going on?
Ted the bear: There's so much porn.
John: What the hell are you doing looking at my private shit?
Ted the bear: What are you talking about private shit Johnny? There are literally thousands of files here.
Johhny: I've been meaning to clear some of that out.
Ted the bear: Jesus! Look at the organization here. Clockwise rim job, counterclockwise rim job.
John: Well, sometimes you like seeing the tongue go the other way.
Ted the bear. You sick bastard. Look at this! Chicks with dicks.
John: Oh my God. I have a disease. I need help.
Ted the bear: There are no chicks with dicks Johnny. There are only guys with tits.
John: What a relief. I wanted to get caught.
Ted the bear: Now, you listen to me. This is a wake up call. You gotta get back out there and meet somebody. You are spiraling out of control here.
John: Alright, alright. I will just stop looking at that shit.
Ted the bear: I mean it. The next chick you meet, you are getting back in the game.
John: Fine! I got it. Done!
Ted the bear: Let's get rid of this.
John: What do you mean? We can just delete the files.
Ted the bear: No, no, that shit can always be recovered.
We have to smash your laptop with a hammer.
John: Alright there you happy?
Ted the bear: No. The circuits can still be reconstructed if somebody worked at it. We have to bury it in the harbor.
Ted the bear: Ok, we'll come back every three months and check on it.
Tuesday, January 31, 2023 — After nearly three years, the United States imposed a sweeping pandemic measure to control the spread of COVID-19; the administration of President Joe Biden confirmed that it would end the virus’s emergency declaration on May 11.
While giving their statement, the Office of Management and Budget of the White House said the declaration, which was set to expire in the coming months, has been extended until May 11, after which it would be terminated. The government will no longer be responsible for COVID-19 vaccines, tests, and certain treatments after the declaration expires, as they will be transferred to private insurance and government plans.
The expiration of Public Health Emergency (PHE) will also end Title 42 directives, which expels migrants from Nicaragua, Cuba, and Haiti that are caught crossing the U.S.-Mexico border back to Mexico.
Extravert and Introvert
Some people like to spend their time with others. They enjoy going to parties and talking with strangers. Others prefer to be alone. They enjoy reading and thinking rather than meeting with others. The former are called extroverts, and the latter are called introverts. Most people think extroverts are sociable and introverts are shy. However, their differences are not superficial. They are different in what they are interested in and how they get their energy.
Extroverts are interested in the world outside of themselves. They like to know what is going on in the world and enjoy talking with others. Fundamentally, being with others will energize extroverts, so when they are alone, they feel bored.
On the other hand, introverts tend to be interested in the internal world of their minds. They like to explore ideas by themselves. This does not mean that introverts dislike people, for they enjoy being with others if they are with a small group of close friends, but when they have to be with a crowd of strangers, they feel tired and need time for themselves later. Basically, they get energized by staying alone.
None of us are 100 percent extroverts and none of us are 100 percent introverts. We all have both tendencies. It is just a matter of which is more dominant in our characters. Of course, neither one is better than the other. Both extroverts and introverts can be successful. Famous extroverts include Barack Obama and Michael Jordan, while famous introverts include Isaac Newton and Bill Gates. Steve Jobs was an extrovert, and his Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak is an introvert. You can find out whether you are in introvert or an extrovert by taking a personality test and understand better how your mind works.
Saturday, February 4, 2023 - Memphis Police have fired another officer linked with the murder of Tyre Nichols. The officer was identified by Memphis Police as Preston Hemphill, saying that he violated several department policies on personal conduct, like truthfulness and compliance, as regards the use of Taser.
Memphis Police had previously sacked Five officers, who were all black. They were also charged with second-degree murder over the death of Nichols.
An attorney representing Hemphill, Lee Gerald, said, “while they disagree with his termination, Hemphill will continue to cooperate with all authorities in investigating the death of Mr. Nichols.
A seventh officer had previously been relieved of duty, and Hemphill, who is white. Three members of the fire service department have also been sacked after failing to provide proper emergency medical treatment after the police handcuffed Nichols.
In American schools, students eat in a cafeteria for lunch. All students go through the line to get their lunch. Every school has different ways to pay for their lunch. Some schools accept cash. Some schools, the students carry a lunch card and their lunches are charged to the card like a credit card. At the end of the month, the parents pay the balance. Students can choose what they want to eat. Each school has a different school lunch. The schools give the students choices of what they want to eat for lunch such as hamburgers, fish, hot dogs, pizza. Also, all students can sit wherever they want. This way they can make friends with other students in the school. If one of their older brothers or sisters go to the same school, this is their chance to see and sit with their older sibling.
Sunday, February 6, 2023 - A large Chinese balloon that the United States claim has been spying on key military sites across the country has been shot down by the U.S. The foreign ministry of China condemned the action of the U.S. in using force to attack civilian unmanned aircraft.
An official in the defense ministry said an F-22 jet fighter brought the balloon down with one missile, an AIM-9X Sidewinder, and it went down about six nautical miles off the United State coast at 14:39 EST (19:39 GMT).
A diplomatic crisis arose between the United States and China after the discovery of the balloon. This caused the Secretary of State of the United States, Antony Blinken, to cancel this weekend’s trip to China.
United State President Joe Biden had approved that the balloon is brought down earlier, but Pentagon said it was better to bring it down when it was over water for the public's safety.