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. What do you have in common with your mother?
2. What do you have in common with your father?
3. What do you have in common with your grandfather?
4. What do you have in common with your grandmother?
5. What do you have in common with your wife?
6. What do you have in common with your husband?
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
have in common = like to do something or don't like to do something
Ex. What do you have in common with your mother?
1. We both like chocolate.
2. We both don't like talking about politics.
3. We both like water sports.
Grammar 2
How much ~ do you have?
Ex. How much money do you have? I have $200.
1. How much milk do you have? I have a little bit of milk.
2. How much rice do you have? I have a lot of rice.
3. How much corn do you have? I have a little bit of corn.
English Idioms
Idiom 1 - piece of cake = something that is easy to do
Example:
Sam: Can you do the breaststroke?
Ben: Yea, it's a piece of cake.
Idiom 2 - zip your lip = stop talking
Example:
Jill: You should not do that.
Ray: I don't want to hear another word. Just zip your lip.
Idiom 3 - dog and pony show = a big fake show
Example:
Charles: Did you go watch the teacher teach the class?
Rachel: Yes, but I think it was a dog and pony show.
Idiom 4 - beating a dead horse - spend time talking about something that can't be changed
Example:
Peg: Did you hear Carol and Tony split up?
Donna: Yes, Tony keeps thinking she will come back. I think he is beating a dead horse.
May 2023
Detective: Excuse me. Police Department. Taking your ass in Jimmy.
Jimmy: I got a license for that motherfucker.
Detective: You got a license for this? Excuse me alright. Shit. Alright. Yeah. Now you know what. I got to arrest you for that shit.
That shit too good to be on the street.
Jimmy: You ain't got to arrest nobody.
Detective: Are you bribing me now? I'll tell you what. I'll arrest everybody. Back it up baby.
Jimmy: What was that?
Detective: What's the matter with you man?
Jimmy: I said what the hell was that?
Detective: What's your fucking problem? Goddamn!
Jimmy: He's alright. I just shot him in the leg.
Detective: Damn Jimmy!
Frank: Alright. Everybody get out. Get out!
Brother 1: Come on Frank. It was an accident.
Frank: It wasn't no goddamn accident. He don't feel shit 'cause he coked up all the motherfucking time. He's your driver. Get rid of him.
Brother 1: Come on man. That's your cousin.
Frank: He don't mean shit to me.
Brother 1: What's he gonna do. Go back home.
Frank: I don't give a damn what he does. Send his ass home. Hey, don't rub on that. You blot that. That's alpaca. That's $25,000 alpaca. You blot that shit. Put the club soda on it. Simple simon ass motherfuckers. Listen, from now on don't nobody talk to me directly. You got business with me, you talk to Huey. Huey you talk to me. You got it?
Huey: Alright.
Frank: Never on the phone. You got it?
Huey: I got it.
Frank: Take them goddamn sunglasses off.
Huey: Damnit man!
Frank: Simple simon ass motherfuckers.
From the movie "American Gangster"
Outlaws of the Wild West
The Crimes
In the early days of western settlement, towns had small populations and law enforcement was almost non-existent. In most communities, this was not a problem. However, there were exceptions: it was not unusual for a small mining camp to turn into an unruly settlement and an unruly settlement to become a lawless town.
It was an era known for stagecoach and bank robberies, gunfights and cattle rustling. With the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad in 1869, a new type of crime arose: train robberies. Due to the isolated location of the trains, this type of holdup became an appealing option for outlaws. Some outlaws were known for shooting their guns at the slightest provocation. Many robberies turned deadly when outlaws shot and killed innocent bystanders.
The Outlaws
Historically, an outlaw was a man or woman who operated outside the law. An outlaw might be someone who has been convicted of a crime or who just had a reputation for doing unlawful activities.
Many outlaws were former confederate soldiers, others were gamblers, and some were cowboys. Of course, this is the same description one could give to those who became lawmen. In fact, some lawmen became outlaws, and some outlaws became lawmen.
If an outlaw came to your house and told you that they were hiding from the law, would you help them?
Hurricanes
Hurricanes are severe tropical storms that form in the southern Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico, and in the eastern Pacific Ocean. Hurricanes gather heat and energy through contact with warm ocean waters. Evaporation from the seawater increases their power.
Hurricanes rotate in a counter-clockwise direction around an “eye.” Hurricanes have winds at least 74 miles per hour. When they come onto land, the heavy rain, strong winds, and heavy waves can damage buildings, trees and cars. The heavy waves are called a storm surge. Storm surges are very dangerous and a major reason why people MUST stay away from the ocean during a hurricane warning or hurricane.
The weather in the eye is usually calm but the waters are usually very violent. The eye is normally round in shape and can be as large as 3 - 370 kilometers wide. The sides of the eye are where the strongest winds and thunderstorms occur.
Hurricane Classification
Hurricanes are classified into five categories, based on their wind speeds and potential to cause damage.
Category One—Winds 74-95 miles per hour
Category Two—Winds 96-110 miles per hour
Category Three—Winds 111-130 miles per hour
Category Four—Winds 131-155 miles per hour
Category Five—Winds greater than 155 miles per hour
In the U.S., the official hurricane season is from June 1 to November 30, but hurricanes can happen any time of the year. Hurricanes are named by the National Weather Service. Some recent hurricanes have been named Opal, Andrew, Marilyn, Hugo and Fran.
Terms to Know
Hurricane Watch - A hurricane is possible within 36 hours. Stay tuned to the radio and television for more information. The Hurricane Center is tracking the storm and trying to predict where it may come ashore.
Hurricane Warning - A hurricane is expected within 24 hours. You may be told to evacuate. You and your family should begin making preparations to evacuate.
Royal Coronation Ceremony: On Saturday, May 6, 2023, King Charles III and Queen Camilla were crowned at Westminster Abbey, signaling the start of a new royal period in the United Kingdom. In a complex process not seen in Britain since 1953, the King was anointed with holy oil and swore the oath of kings. Following the swearing, Justin Welby placed Edward's crown on his head, and the congregation chanted, "God save the King!"
Some American families are so excited to have a child that they decorate the child's room with many things. They first choose a color or two colors. Then they choose what they want in the room. American families do not like to copy another room they may have seen in a magazine or in a friend's house. Instead, they want their child's room to be unique and different. Most of the time, parents will choose a bed or bunk beds like in the picture if there are 2 children. Then they may choose a bookshelf. The parents want the room to look special like their child. Over time as the child grows up, things can be changed in the room to reflect the child's age, likes and dislikes.