Welcome to
The Point
The First All English Newspaper in Kumamoto City, Japan
On the afternoon of the worst day of Terry Badger II's life he sent a text message to his dad telling him that he will be home soon and that he was going to do his homework. Terry was home from school. His mom had dropped him off around 3pm. Then she went to the gas station. There were no signs so there was no problem leaving Terry home alone. On the car ride home, Terry acted normal by smiling and laughing and thinking about his plans after he had finished his homework. Terry, however, wasn't thinking about those things on the ride home. His parents found out when they watched the video Terry had recorded just after 3pm. Their son was in a dark place. Terry believed in those moments that his life wasn't worth living. There were kids at school who bullied him asking him if he shopped at Goodwill, called him "fatass", making fun of his clothes and his haircut. Terry listed his bully's names on the video. When Terry's parents got home, they found that their son had committed suicide just five months shy of his 14th birthday. Terry's father got the phone call and ran out of work and went home. There was a police officer standing on the porch with tears in his eyes. Terry was 5 foot 3 inches and weighed 150 pounds. Everyday at school the kids would pick on Terry and bully him about something. They would always find something to pick about.
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: Food
1. Have you ever tried some strange food?
2. What food or foods do you dislike?
3. Can you cook?
4. Do you prefer meat or seafood?
5. Do you like spicy food?
6. How do you like your eggs prepared?
7. How do you like your steak prepared?
8. Do you prefer ice cream or cake for dessert?
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
Ex. You should make some time to play with your children.
1. I need to make some time to clean the yard.
2. Did you make some time to wash your car?
3. I made some time to clean the house.
Grammar 2
Ex. Did you step on my foot by mistake?
Yes, I stepped on your foot by mistake.
1. I spelled your name wrong by mistake.
2. I called you the wrong name by mistake.
3. I took a left turn by mistake.
Foreigner's Voice
I have been living in Japan for 20 years and what surprises me the most is that Japanese don't know much about Japan which is their country. I went to Kobe for a weekend and one night I decided to go to a bar for some drinks. I was surprised when I opened the door and the Japanese door man said, "The customers and staff do not speak English." At first I thought this was strange because after 6 years of learning English in school, no one could speak English. Then, when I said, "No problem. I speak Japanese." The doorman went away and shortly came back and said, "No foreigners." I thought this was very racist but it is a shame that Japanese citizens don't know about this. Japanese seem to think that all Japanese people are nice but that is not the truth. I was told the same thing happened to a friend of mine in Kumamoto city. Japanese citizens are living in a land of total ignorance of how Japanese people act towards foreigners. It is true that some Japanese accept foreigners but not all Japanese are so welcoming to foreigners. Japanese will never know about this because their life is not the same as a foreigner's life in Japan. If I was with a Japanese person, the doorman probably would have let me in.
English Idioms
Idiom 1 - in the dark = to be completely unaware
Example:
1. Sam is in the dark about his wife cheating.
2. Kim is in the dark about her child at school.
Idiom 2 - Blue moon = rarely
Example:
1. Cindy calls me once in a blue moon.
2. I get an email from Tim once in a blue moon.
Idiom 3 - Cut someone some slack = don't be so strict
Example:
1. I don't have a swimming cap. Can you cut me some slack?
2. I don't have enough money. Can you cut me some slack?
Idiom 4 - under the table - keep no records
Example:
1. We pay our waitresses under the table.
2. Do you want to be paid under the table?
September 2022
William Henry Cosby Jr. was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on July 12, 1937. He once said, “The thing I remember most about being a kid was being poor.” He remembers living in a house with no bathtub and one Christmas without a Christmas tree. When Bill Cosby was 9 years old, he started shining shoes to help out his family with money. In fifth grade, Cosby performed his first comedy routine for his teacher and classmates.
Cosby played on the track and football teams. After graduating from high school, Bill joined the United States Navy in 1956 and later attended the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. People of all ages enjoy his humor, and millions buy his record albums.
In 1977, Bill earned a doctoral degree in education. Since then he has appeared on the “Electric Company” and “Sesame Street” and has produced “Fat Albert” and the Cosby Kids. Bill uses his skill as an entertainer to teach children how to get along with others and ways of dealing with problems.
In 1986, “The Cosby Show” brought him more fame. In the show, Cosby played a doctor who is surrounded by his very funny family. This show tried to let everyone know that we all have the same kinds of problems.
Bill Cosby has been married since 1964. His wife’s name is Camille and they had four daughters and one son.
American Culture
So many Japanese have the wrong image of an American apartment even though they can see one on the internet. There are different apartments in America depending on the city and how much the rent is. Some apartments have carpet on the floor while others have hard wood floors. It depends on the city and how much the rent is for how spacious it is inside. The living room is usually quite large and you can put a sectional couch inside. The bedrooms are also usually quite large where you can put a queen size bed inside and have plenty of room inside. Some bedrooms have a walk-in closet. All kitchens have a dishwasher, refrigerator, plenty of counter space and cabinets.
My rent for my apartment in Atlanta, Georgia was $400 ( about 40,000 yen.) There was 24- hour security with a front gate. If a visitor wanted to get in, they had to punch in the apartment number on the keypad at the front entrance. The person's phone in the apartment would ring and the person would have to punch the # on the phone to open the gate. Then someone could enter the apartment complex. The apartment complex also had 4 tennis courts, 2 swimming pools (one for children and one for adults), a gym and a room for yoga or aerobics. All this was included in the rent and tenants could use it for free. There was also a small store inside the apartment complex. My apartment had carpet on the floors.
Apartments come in all different sizes. It doesn't matter how expensive it is, it is still called an apartment. Mansions are for wealthy people like Tiger Woods or Tom Cruise.
Gang member 1: What you doing mister?
Man: Nothing
Gang member 1: See you're trespassing on private property.
Man: Trespassing?
Gang member 1: Loitering too
Gang member 2: That's right. You're loitering too.
Man: I didn't see any signs.
Gang member 1: What do you call that? {pointing to graffiti}
Man: Graffiti
Gang member 2: That's not fucking graffiti. That's a sign.
Gang member 1: He can't read it man. I'll read it for you. It says this is private property. No fucking trespassing. This means fucking you.
Man: It says all that?
Gang member 1: Yea,
Man: Maybe if you wrote it in fucking English, I could fucking understand it.
Gang member 1: He thinks he is being funny. I'm not laughing.
Gang member 2: I'm not either.
Man: Hold it. Hold it fellas. We're getting off on the wrong foot here. This is a gangland thing isn't it? We're having a territorial dispute. I mean I wandered into your pissing ground or whatever the damn thing is and you've taken offense of my presence and I can understand that. I wouldn't want you people in my backyard either. This is your home and your home is your home and I respect that. So if you would just back up a step or two, I'll take my problems elsewhere. Ok fair enough.
Gang member 1: What do you think?
Gang member 2: I think he should pay a toll.
Gang member 1: Good idea.
Gang member 2: You should pay a toll.
Man: Fellas, I had a really rare morning. but I'm not in the mood.
Gang member 1: What should he pay?
Gang member 2: How about that briefcase?
Gang member 1: Good idea. Give us your briefcase man.
Man: I'm not giving you my goddamn briefcase.
Gang member 1: Motherfucker. Give us your motherfucking briefcase.
Man: OK. I was willing to mind my own business. I was willing to respect your territory and treat you like a man but you couldn't leave it alone could you? You couldn't let a man sit here for 5 minutes and take a rest of your precious piece of shit hill? Ok.You want my briefcase? I'll get it for you. You can have it. Here is my briefcase {man starts attacking and hitting the 2 men with his briefcase.} I'm going home. Clear a path. I'm going home you motherfucker.
From the movie Falling Down
Youtube: Falling Down "Gang Land Thing"
Genre: Drama