NPR 2009-01-13

President Bush in a somewhat reflective final news conference at the White House today indicated he has wondered whether there are some things he could have done better. However, on the matter of his administration's handling of the current economic crisis, the president made no apologies. Mr. Bush said he is "very aggressive" in his decision making to keep the financial system from, in his words, "cratering¹". President said he will also continue to defend his position in tax cuts on the right course of action to help bolster² the economy. Meanwhile, the White House confirmed today the president would deliver a televised farewell address to the nation on Thursday night.

President Bush has agreed to ask Congress to release the second half of the financial sector's 700-billion-dollar bailout fund. NPR's Yuki Noguchi has more.

Mr. Bush acted after President-elect Barack Obama asked him to make the request of funds. The President-elect has said repeatedly that immediate³ relief is necessary to stabilize⁴ job loss and economic conditions. But many have criticized how the first half of the money was spent, mostly on investment designed to shore up ailing⁵ banks. Despite those actions, critics say consumer lending remains⁶ tight. Also many politicians and homeowners say that some of the money should have been spent on measures to help homeowners avoid foreclosures. Senate Banking⁷ Committee Chairman Christopher Dodd said the Senate would not authorize⁸ the second half of the money without conditions that will help direct more of the money to homeowners. He also called for stricter executive compensation rules. Yuki Noguchi, NPR News, Washington.

Roland Burris will be permitted to take President-elect Barack Obama's vacant Senate seat later this week. Senate Democratic leaders including Majority Leader Harry⁹ Reid and Dick Durbin said that it has now been determined¹⁰ that Burris has the proper credentials¹¹ because he's been officially designated as the junior senator from Illinois. Senate Democrats¹² say barring any major objections Burris could be sworn in this week. Burris was appointed by Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich who's been charged by federal officials with seeking to sell Mr. Obama's vacant seat to the highest bidder,  however, Senate officials have determined there was nothing out of order in terms of the Burris's appointment.

U.S. Senator George Voinovich says he will not run for reelection. Ohio Public Radio's Jo Ingles has more.

He's been a US senator, a former Ohio governor and a former mayor of Cleveland. Now George Voinovich will take on another title, “retiree”. Voinovich's longtime aide Mike Dawson says Voinovich will be remembered as the mayor who saved Cleveland from bankruptcy¹³, saved money for the state as a governor and as a watchdog for the US Senate. “He will be remembered as watching out for federal tax dollars, caring about how money is being spent and its effect on the next generation.” Voinovich's term ends in 2010. Recent polls show him slipping in popularity in Ohio. Political insiders believe  Republican Rob Portman, a former congressman¹⁴ and federal budget director is a front runner. For NPR News, I'm Jo Ingles, Columbus, Ohio.

On Wall Street, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 125 points today.

This is NPR.

As many as 5,000 Israeli reservists reportedly to be moving into the Gaza Strip today, as Israeli defense¹⁵ officials confirmed that warplanes carried out more than two dozen additional strikes against Hamas. Meanwhile, there were more missiles fired from Gaza into Israel. It’s believed Palestinian forces fired at least 15 rockets. There were no reports of Israeli casualties, though one rocket did reportedly hit a house in the southern city of Ashkelon. Prime Minister Ehud Olmert visited the city, vowing¹⁶ to end the fighting in Gaza only when rocket attacks are halted and Hamas is unable to rearm. More than two weeks into the offensive, international efforts aimed at reaching a ceasefire are continuing.

Clint Eastwood has topped the North American box office with his latest effort and scored a personal best as well. NPR’s Trena Williams has that story.

“Gran Torino” with an estimated 29 million dollars in ticket sells is the biggest opening for Eastwood. The 78-year-old veteran actor stars as a disgruntled war veteran who reluctantly comes to the aid of his immigrant neighbors. “Ever notice how you come across somebody once in a while that you shouldn't have messed with? That's me.”  Eastwood also directs the movie “Gran Torino” which debuted¹⁷ in limited release a month ago before opening widely over the weekend topped the debut¹⁸ of “Bride Wars”, the comedy opened in second place. It was closely followed by the “Unborn”. “Marley and Me” fell to fourth after leading the chart for two consecutive¹⁹ weekends, in the fifth spot “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”. Trena Williams, NPR News.

Northern plain states are getting hammered due winter weathers that bring in snow and frigid²⁰ Arctic air to the region. In West North Dakota today, authorities closed schools because of drifting snow and temperatures in some spots fell to as low as 30 degrees below zero.

1 cratering   

n.缩孔（露底），陷穴（漆病），磨顶槽v.火山口( crater的现在分词 )；弹坑等

参考例句：

• In addition, cratering and ground shock phenomena are observed, as will be described in Chapter VI. 此外，还可以观察到巨坑或地面冲击波的现象，这些现象将在第六章中加以叙述。 来自辞典例句
• Check the page without pinhole, bubble cratering and fix it. 查抄版背有无针孔、气泡等弊病，并举动补缀。 来自互联网

2 bolster   

n.枕垫；v.支持，鼓励

参考例句：

• The high interest rates helped to bolster up the economy.高利率使经济更稳健。
• He tried to bolster up their morale.他尽力鼓舞他们的士气。

3 immediate   

adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的

参考例句：

• His immediate neighbours felt it their duty to call.他的近邻认为他们有责任去拜访。
• We declared ourselves for the immediate convocation of the meeting.我们主张立即召开这个会议。

4 stabilize   

vt.（使）稳定，使稳固，使稳定平衡；vi.稳定

参考例句：

• They are eager to stabilize currencies.他们急于稳定货币。
• His blood pressure tended to stabilize.他的血压趋向稳定。

5 ailing   

v.生病

参考例句：

• They discussed the problems ailing the steel industry. 他们讨论了困扰钢铁工业的问题。
• She looked after her ailing father. 她照顾有病的父亲。

6 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

7 banking   

n.银行业，银行学，金融业

参考例句：

• John is launching his son on a career in banking.约翰打算让儿子在银行界谋一个新职位。
• He possesses an extensive knowledge of banking.他具有广博的银行业务知识。

8 authorize   

v.授权，委任；批准，认可

参考例句：

• He said that he needed to get his supervisor to authorize my refund.他说必须让主管人员批准我的退款。
• Only the President could authorize the use of the atomic bomb.只有总统才能授权使用原子弹。

9 harry   

vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼

参考例句：

• Today,people feel more hurried and harried.今天，人们感到更加忙碌和苦恼。
• Obama harried business by Healthcare Reform plan.奥巴马用医改掠夺了商界。

10 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。

11 credentials   

n.证明，资格，证明书，证件

参考例句：

• He has long credentials of diplomatic service.他的外交工作资历很深。
• Both candidates for the job have excellent credentials.此项工作的两个求职者都非常符合资格。

12 democrats   

n.民主主义者，民主人士( democrat的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The Democrats held a pep rally on Capitol Hill yesterday. 民主党昨天在国会山召开了竞选誓师大会。
• The democrats organize a filibuster in the senate. 民主党党员组织了阻挠议事。 来自《简明英汉词典》

13 bankruptcy   

n.破产；无偿付能力

参考例句：

• You will have to pull in if you want to escape bankruptcy.如果你想避免破产，就必须节省开支。
• His firm is just on thin ice of bankruptcy.他的商号正面临破产的危险。

14 Congressman   

n.（美）国会议员

参考例句：

• He related several anecdotes about his first years as a congressman.他讲述自己初任议员那几年的几则轶事。
• The congressman is meditating a reply to his critics.这位国会议员正在考虑给他的批评者一个答复。

15 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

16 vowing   

起誓，发誓（vow的现在分词形式）

参考例句：

• President Bush is vowing to help Minneapolis rebuild its collapsed bridge. 布什总统承诺将帮助明尼阿波利斯重建坍塌的大桥。
• President Bush is vowing to help Minneapolis rebuild this collapse bridge. 布什总统发誓要帮助明尼阿波利斯重建起这座坍塌的桥梁。

17 debuted   

初次表演，初次登台（debut的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• In late 2003 a full-size SUV, the Pathfinder Armada, debuted. 2003年末，全尺寸SUV的探路者无敌舰队，推出。
• The album debuted at number two and quickly went platinum. 专辑一亮相就荣登排行榜第二名，很快就取得了白金销量。

18 debut   

n.首次演出，初次露面

参考例句：

• That same year he made his Broadway debut, playing a suave radio journalist.在那同一年里，他初次在百老汇登台，扮演一个温文而雅的电台记者。
• The actress made her debut in the new comedy.这位演员在那出新喜剧中首次登台演出。

19 consecutive   

adj.连续的，联贯的，始终一贯的

参考例句：

• It has rained for four consecutive days.已连续下了四天雨。
• The policy of our Party is consecutive.我党的政策始终如一。

20 frigid   

adj.寒冷的，凛冽的；冷淡的；拘禁的

参考例句：

• The water was too frigid to allow him to remain submerged for long.水冰冷彻骨，他在下面呆不了太长时间。
• She returned his smile with a frigid glance.对他的微笑她报以冷冷的一瞥。