You can read the Bangkok Post : Mainly for fun

Arrest me please

Some robbers make it extremely easy for the police to find and arrest them. Here is a good example.

Robber leaves ID

WARREN, MICHIGAN: A would-be bank robber came away empty-handed, but left behind something useful for police — her photo identification.

Police Commissioner William Dwyer says the woman was arrested on Thursday on an attempted armed robbery charge less than an hour later.

The woman filled out an account application on Thursday morning, then pulled a handgun and demanded cash. But she panicked and fled without getting any money and police found an address on the account application, along with her photo ID. AP

would-be – of someone who wanted to be or do something
empty-handed – without getting anything
photo identification – an official card with the name of person and other information, plus a photo
armed – carrying a weapon
charge – an official accusation to a court of law that someone committed a crime
account – an arrangement in which a bank looks after your money
panicked – became very frightened
fled – ran quickly away from a place of possible danger

Posted by Terry Fredrickson at 06:02 AM

Unwelcome passenger

How do you think you would have behaved if you were a passenger on this bus?

Snake hitches a ride

MANILA: Commuters in the Philippine capital Manila got a shock when they found an unwelcome passenger on their minibus — a 2.1m-long py-thon.

The discovery on Thursday sent passengers running and snarled traffic in the suburb of Quezon City. The py thon had wrapped itself around the steel suspension bars under a ‘‘jeepney’’, a minibus unique to the Philippines (see photo), that had travelled into the capital from a nearby province.

A snake handler from the government’s Wildlife Rescue Centre said the py thon appeared tame and, despite being handled many times, lunged at him only once, indicating it was familiar with people and could have been a pet that escaped. AP

hitch a ride – to travel by asking other people to take you in their car by standing at the side of the road and holding out your thumb or a sign (the writer is having a bit of fun here since a snake obviously doesn’t really hitch a ride)
commuters – people who travel regularly to and from work
suspension bars – long narrow pieces of metal that hold the equipment that makes a vehicle move smoothly over a road
unique – only existing or happening in one place
tame – (of an animal) to be used to being with people
lunge – to move suddenly with a lot of force

Posted by Terry Fredrickson at 06:23 AM

Coming soon?

Police having started using cameras to catch traffic violators here in Thailand. I wonder if the Chinese devices described below will be imported here.

violaters – people who break a law or rule
devices – pieces of equipment used for a particular purpose

Sneaky drivers

BEIJING: Speeding drivers in south China are getting clear away thanks to machines which switch the numbers on their licence plates in seconds, state media said yesterday.

‘‘More than 50% of cars caught on camera for speeding and other offences either cover up their plates or use a fake licence plate,’’ a traffic policeman in the Guangdong city of Yangjiang was quoted by the Beijing Youth Daily as saying.

‘‘Our chances of capturing them is next to nil.’’

The price of the remote-control device starts at around 800 yuan (3,650 baht), while a more advanced apparatus with the ability to flip over the numbers in less than three seconds costs more than double. REUTERS

sneaky – doing or saying things secretly, often in a dishonest or unfair way
getting clear away – breaking the law and not getting caught
license plates – an official sign on the front and back of a motor vehicle, with numbers and letters on it that show who it belongs to
offences – crimes or illegal activities
state media – newspapers, television, radio, etc. owned or controlled by the government
fake – made to look like something in order to trick people
next to nil – next to nothing; almost zero
apparatus – a piece of equipment needed for doing something flip over – to quickly turn over

Posted by Terry Fredrickson at 06:08 AM

TV in the bedroom

Here is a bit of research that should be interesting to both parents and teenagers alike. If you are a parent, should you take that TV out of your teenager's room? If you are a teenager, what should you do to make sure you are not one of those young people with the problems mentioned in the story?

TVs ‘bad for teens’

WASHINGTON: Teenagers with a bedroom television tend to have poorer diet and exercise habits and lower grades in school than those without one, US researchers said yesterday.

While many studies have examined TV viewing habits of young people, researchers at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health said little had been known about the consequences for older adolescents of having a bedroom TV.

‘‘It really clearly points out that there’s some merit to not allowing your child to have a TV in the bedroom,’’ said Daheia Barr-Anderson, one of the researchers. REUTERS

tend – to usually do a particular thing or have a particular quality
adolescents – boys or girls who are changing into young men or women
merit – good qualities

Posted by Terry Fredrickson at 06:14 AM

Shocked traveller

It doesn't always take something big and scary to shock someone. All it needs to be is unexpected.

Catnapping traveller gets a case of jitters

AFP

Miami, Florida — Just when he realised he had grabbed the wrong suitcase at Dallas Airport’s baggage claim, Ron Carter got a bigger shock as a cat jumped out of the bag.

Mr Carter only realised his mistake when he opened the suitcase at home. He was about to close it again when a 10-month-old kitten popped its head out of the suitcase and quickly scurried under his bed.

‘‘I must have jumped six feet into the air and screamed like a girl,’’ Mr Carter, 37, said. He eventually coaxed the furry pet from its hiding place and the cat was reunited with her owners in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.

catnap – short sleep
jitters – feeling of being anxious and nervous, especially before an important event or before having to do something difficult
grabbed – took something with your hand suddenly, firmly or roughly
scurried – ran with quick short steps
coaxed – gently persuaded

Posted by Terry Fredrickson at 05:53 AM

	Mainly for fun
Words in the News General News Business, Economics, and Technology News Business Words in the News Teaching with the Bangkok Post Feature Focus From the Weeklies Mainly for Fun Hey kids! Weekend Practice Lessons on H.M.the King 60 years ago World Cup English About Site General suggestions for teachers Building your vocabulary Suggestions for learners Suggestions for parents Who is Acharn Terry? Who is Acharn Jon?	May 12, 2008 Arrest me please Some robbers make it extremely easy for the police to find and arrest them. Here is a good example. Robber leaves ID WARREN, MICHIGAN: A would-be bank robber came away empty-handed, but left behind something useful for police — her photo identification. Police Commissioner William Dwyer says the woman was arrested on Thursday on an attempted armed robbery charge less than an hour later. The woman filled out an account application on Thursday morning, then pulled a handgun and demanded cash. But she panicked and fled without getting any money and police found an address on the account application, along with her photo ID. AP would-be – of someone who wanted to be or do something empty-handed – without getting anything photo identification – an official card with the name of person and other information, plus a photo armed – carrying a weapon charge – an official accusation to a court of law that someone committed a crime account – an arrangement in which a bank looks after your money panicked – became very frightened fled – ran quickly away from a place of possible danger Posted by Terry Fredrickson at 06:02 AM May 10, 2008 Unwelcome passenger How do you think you would have behaved if you were a passenger on this bus? Snake hitches a ride MANILA: Commuters in the Philippine capital Manila got a shock when they found an unwelcome passenger on their minibus — a 2.1m-long py-thon. The discovery on Thursday sent passengers running and snarled traffic in the suburb of Quezon City. The py thon had wrapped itself around the steel suspension bars under a ‘‘jeepney’’, a minibus unique to the Philippines (see photo), that had travelled into the capital from a nearby province. A snake handler from the government’s Wildlife Rescue Centre said the py thon appeared tame and, despite being handled many times, lunged at him only once, indicating it was familiar with people and could have been a pet that escaped. AP hitch a ride – to travel by asking other people to take you in their car by standing at the side of the road and holding out your thumb or a sign (the writer is having a bit of fun here since a snake obviously doesn’t really hitch a ride) commuters – people who travel regularly to and from work suspension bars – long narrow pieces of metal that hold the equipment that makes a vehicle move smoothly over a road unique – only existing or happening in one place tame – (of an animal) to be used to being with people lunge – to move suddenly with a lot of force Posted by Terry Fredrickson at 06:23 AM May 09, 2008 Coming soon? Police having started using cameras to catch traffic violators here in Thailand. I wonder if the Chinese devices described below will be imported here. violaters – people who break a law or rule devices – pieces of equipment used for a particular purpose Sneaky drivers BEIJING: Speeding drivers in south China are getting clear away thanks to machines which switch the numbers on their licence plates in seconds, state media said yesterday. ‘‘More than 50% of cars caught on camera for speeding and other offences either cover up their plates or use a fake licence plate,’’ a traffic policeman in the Guangdong city of Yangjiang was quoted by the Beijing Youth Daily as saying. ‘‘Our chances of capturing them is next to nil.’’ The price of the remote-control device starts at around 800 yuan (3,650 baht), while a more advanced apparatus with the ability to flip over the numbers in less than three seconds costs more than double. REUTERS sneaky – doing or saying things secretly, often in a dishonest or unfair way getting clear away – breaking the law and not getting caught license plates – an official sign on the front and back of a motor vehicle, with numbers and letters on it that show who it belongs to offences – crimes or illegal activities state media – newspapers, television, radio, etc. owned or controlled by the government fake – made to look like something in order to trick people next to nil – next to nothing; almost zero apparatus – a piece of equipment needed for doing something flip over – to quickly turn over Posted by Terry Fredrickson at 06:08 AM May 08, 2008 TV in the bedroom Here is a bit of research that should be interesting to both parents and teenagers alike. If you are a parent, should you take that TV out of your teenager's room? If you are a teenager, what should you do to make sure you are not one of those young people with the problems mentioned in the story? TVs ‘bad for teens’ WASHINGTON: Teenagers with a bedroom television tend to have poorer diet and exercise habits and lower grades in school than those without one, US researchers said yesterday. While many studies have examined TV viewing habits of young people, researchers at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health said little had been known about the consequences for older adolescents of having a bedroom TV. ‘‘It really clearly points out that there’s some merit to not allowing your child to have a TV in the bedroom,’’ said Daheia Barr-Anderson, one of the researchers. REUTERS tend – to usually do a particular thing or have a particular quality adolescents – boys or girls who are changing into young men or women merit – good qualities Posted by Terry Fredrickson at 06:14 AM May 07, 2008 Shocked traveller It doesn't always take something big and scary to shock someone. All it needs to be is unexpected. Catnapping traveller gets a case of jitters AFP Miami, Florida — Just when he realised he had grabbed the wrong suitcase at Dallas Airport’s baggage claim, Ron Carter got a bigger shock as a cat jumped out of the bag. Mr Carter only realised his mistake when he opened the suitcase at home. He was about to close it again when a 10-month-old kitten popped its head out of the suitcase and quickly scurried under his bed. ‘‘I must have jumped six feet into the air and screamed like a girl,’’ Mr Carter, 37, said. He eventually coaxed the furry pet from its hiding place and the cat was reunited with her owners in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. catnap – short sleep jitters – feeling of being anxious and nervous, especially before an important event or before having to do something difficult grabbed – took something with your hand suddenly, firmly or roughly scurried – ran with quick short steps coaxed – gently persuaded Posted by Terry Fredrickson at 05:53 AM
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May 12, 2008