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.
Topic: Crime
1. Do you trust the police?
2. Do you believe in the death penalty?
3. Have you ever downloaded music illegally from the internet?
4. Should adultery be a crime?
5. Do you know where the prisons are in your city?
6. Do you watch the news about crime?
7. Have you ever seen someone get arrested?
8. Tell me about a crime in your city?
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
according to = someone else said it
Ex. According to the website, Charles was born in 1647.
1. According to my mom, my room is not clean.
2. According to Yahoo, it will rain tomorrow.
3. According to my friend, you are cute.
4. According to the ticket, you were driving at 104mph.
Grammar 2
for all I know = I really don't know
Ex. For all I know, a new car will cost $50,000.
1. For all I know, dad is playing golf.
2. For all I know, mom is sleeping.
3. For all I know, we will have fish.
4. For all I know, the store is closed.
Foreigner's Voice
I was sitting in my apartment one afternoon and I was getting hungry. I decided to go to Hotto Motto which was close to my apartment. It was such a beautiful and sunny day, I decided to walk to get my food. On my way, I saw a police car pass me. I just kept walking and to my surprise, the same police car had made a u-turn. The two police officers in the car turned the red and blue lights on and pulled in front of me. I wasn't nervous because I had not done anything illegal. The first police officer got out of the car and walked up to me. He asked me for my passport of foreigner card. I asked the police officer, "What did I do wrong?" I had only been in Japan for a few months so I could not speak much Japanese. The second police officer got out of the car and told me that I had not done anything wrong. The officers were just stopping me to check my papers to make sure I was in Japan legally. I thought this was not a good way to welcome foreigners into Japan. While I was standing there with the police car lights on, the Japanese in their cars passed by and slowing down wondering what I had done wrong. I felt like a criminal even though I had not done anything wrong. It was so embarrassing so I wondered how many Japanese citizens know that Japanese police stop foreigners at random to check their papers. I didn't feel good so I never walked anywhere again. I hate when Japanese people ask me if I like living in Japan because this bad memory always comes to mind.
English Idioms
Idiom 1 - forty winks = take a nap
Example:
Sam: You look tired.
Ben: I just need forty winks and I will be ok.
Idiom 2 - be in the doghouse = someone is unhappy with you
Example:
Jill: I had an argument with my wife this morning.
Ray: You are in the doghouse with your wife now.
Idiom 3 - up for grabs = available for anyone
Example:
Charles: The manager is going to quit next week.
Rachel: Her job is up for grabs.
Idiom 4 - ball is in your court - it's up to you to make the next decision
Example:
Student: I asked Lisa out on a date yesterday but she hasn't answered me.
Teacher: The ball is in her court now. All you can do is wait.
July 2022
American Culture
There are so many prisons throughout America. Some are low level security, medium security and for the really dangerous criminals there is maximum security. America believes that citizens have the right to see the criminals in prison. Also, citizens have the right to know what the criminals are doing every day in prison. Some of the prisoners are in prison for life and will die in prison. However, some prisoners are serving a few years or decades and will get out of prison one day and rejoin society. If one of these prisoners move into your neighborhood, the neighbors should know and they should also know why that person was in prison. If they went to prison for hurting a child and there are a lot of children in the neighborhood, parents want to protect their children. Some prisons the inmates wear striped uniforms like in the picture. In other prisons, the inmates wear their regular clothes and sneakers.
Madame C. J. Walker
Madame C. J. Walker was one of the most famous African American women in the cosmetics industry. She was born in 1869 in Louisiana to poor ex-slaves. When she was young her parents died.
Madame Walker was a beautiful and ambitious woman. In 1905, she invented a hair softener and a special hot iron comb. Madame Walker began to manufacture a complete line of cosmetics for women. She traveled to the south and Midwest selling her products and eventually set up schools to teach women how to sell her products.
Madame Walker went on to become the world’s first African American person in modern times to build a large manufacturing business. She was the first American woman to become a millionaire through her own efforts.
Guard: Sire, I have news.
King: What sort of news do you have? It's not bad news is it? You know I can't take bad news. The day started out so good. I had a good nights sleep. I had a good BM. I don't want to hear any bad news. Now, what type of news is it?
Guard: Well, to be perfectly frank, it's bad.
King: I knew it. I knew it was bad news. Wait a minute. I have an idea. Maybe if you told me the bad news in a good way, it won't sound so bad.
Guard: The bad news in a good way. Yes, Yes, I can do that. Bad news in a good way. Here it goes. {laughing} Wait til you hear this. I just bumped into Robin of Loxlee. He's back from the crusades. You know he just beat the crap out of me and my men. He hates you and he loves your brother Richard. He wants to see you hanged. We're in an awful lot of trouble.
King: What are you crazy? Why are you laughing? This is terrible news.
Guard: What What? I was just trying to soften the blow
King: Well, you blew it.
From the movie Robin Hood Men in Tights
Youtube: Robin Hood Men in Tights - Bad news in a good way
Genre: Comedy
A second man will go to prison for the murder of Wichitan Jason Baum. Dimonique McKinney pleaded guilty to murder in 78th District Court Friday. Judge Meredith Kennedy sentenced him to 50 years in prison. McKenney was one of four men originally charged in connection with the shooting Baum in an alley in the 4600 block of Meadow Lake Drive on July 11, 2020. The police alleged that the four men went to the location to rob Baum under the pretense of buying marijuana. McKinney was the triggerman. He was originally charged with capital murder but it was reduced to regular murder. McKinney will be eligible for parole during his sentence.
Andria Held, Baum's mother, made a tearful statement after McKinney was sentenced.
"Words cannot convey the pain and anguish you have caused me and my family," she said.
She said Baum's children had their father taken cruelly from them and their lives are now spent at his grave yelling "I love you to the clouds."
"I hope you enjoy your time in prison." she said.