NPR 2009-11-05

From NPR News in Washington, I'm Carol Van Dam.

President Obama appeared at a middle school in Madison, Wisconsin this past hour to challenge states to get their education priorities in line with his administrations’ educational goals, if they want a part of the federal government's 4.3 billion dollars in grants.

"There's always excuses for why these schools can't perform. But part of what we want is an environment in which everybody agrees. From the governor to the school superintendent¹, to teachers, principals, and most importantly parents and students, that there's no excuse for mediocrity."

The president says his administration’s first obligation is to strengthen the economy, but he said long-term economic success can only be achieved by investing in education.

The White House says victories by Republicans in gubernatorial races in New Jersey² and Virginia are not a rebuke³ of President Obama, even though he campaigned for losing Democrats⁴ in each state. NPR’s Don Gonyea reports from the White House.

The White House says results in Virginia and New Jersey were driven by local issues and by individual candidates and that it was not a referendum on the president. In both places, governors’ mansions⁵ will go from Democratic to Republican, but President Obama’s spokesman Robert Gibbs says this is not predictive of anything in the future, including next year’s mid-term elections. Gibbs did argue that the Democratic win in New York’s 23rd congressional district speaks to internal problems that Republicans must deal with. In that race, a moderate Republican dropped out over the weekend as many national Republican figures, among them, Sarah Palin, backed a conservative third party candidate. The conservative lost. Gibbs said it shows that anger only gets you 45% of the vote. Don Gonyea, NPR News, the White House.

There is a new sick leave bill on Capitol Hill. It’s directed at the new H1N1 swine flu pandemic. NPR’s Joanne Silberner has more.

There are already two bills in the House and Senate that would require employers to grant seven days of sick leave for any illness or to take care of a sick relative. The new bill, sponsored by Democratic Representatives George Miller⁶ and Lynn Woolsey, both of California, would require that if an employer with 15 or more workers sends a worker home because the worker has a contagious⁷ disease, the employer has to provide up to five days of paid sick leave. The employer could call the worker back if he or she thinks the worker has gotten better. The legislation was sparked by the new H1N1 swine flu pandemic, the idea being that if sick workers stay home, it could help stop the spread of the virus. The legislation would sunset after two years. Miller plans to hold a hearing on the bill November 16th. Joanne Silberner, NPR News.

On Wall Street, just before the close, the Dow Industrials are up 31 points to 9,802. The NASDAQ is down a point to 2,055.

This is NPR.

Thousands of anti-government demonstrators marched in the streets of Teheran today. The marches occurred at several avenues and squares in downtown Teheran. Many protestors were shouting "Death to the dictator" which appeared to be aimed at President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Iran’s Supreme⁸ Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Today is the 30th anniversary of the seizure⁹ of the US embassy in Tehran.

It’s been a while since there’s been a sixth game in the World Series and tonight's game at Yankee stadium has a stellar pitching matchup -- Andy Pettitte for the New York Yankees against Pedro Martinez for the Philadelphia Phillies. The Yankees lead the series 3 games to 2. NPR’s Margot Adler has details.

Pettitte and Martinez have faced each other six times, but never have the stakes been so high, as the New York Yankees seek their 27th championship. Pettitte has had only three days’ rest. Martinez described the matchup as two old goats going out there doing the best they can and having fun with it. Pettitte is 37 and Martinez is 38. The Phillies are hoping Chase Utley's homers will help them become the first team to rally from a 3 to 1 World Series deficit¹⁰ since the 1985 Kansas City Royals. Utley has had five home runs, matching the mark of Yankee Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson in 1977. The weather will be cool with temperatures in the 40s and no rain predicted. Margot Adler, NPR News, New York.

A bipartisan group of Senators is launching a rescue operation for a climate change legislation that’s run into trouble. Democratic Senator John Kerry, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham and Independent Senator Joe Lieberman announced they’d work together to come up with a compromised bill that the full Senate could approve. Kerry’s bill, which would impose caps on heat-trapping gases, is stalled in committee.

I’m Carol Van Dam, NPR News in Washington.

1 superintendent   

n.监督人，主管，总监；(英国)警务长

参考例句：

• He was soon promoted to the post of superintendent of Foreign Trade.他很快就被擢升为对外贸易总监。
• He decided to call the superintendent of the building.他决定给楼房管理员打电话。

2 jersey   

n.运动衫

参考例句：

• He wears a cotton jersey when he plays football.他穿运动衫踢足球。
• They were dressed alike in blue jersey and knickers.他们穿着一致，都是蓝色的运动衫和灯笼短裤。

3 rebuke   

v.指责，非难，斥责 [反]praise

参考例句：

• He had to put up with a smart rebuke from the teacher.他不得不忍受老师的严厉指责。
• Even one minute's lateness would earn a stern rebuke.哪怕迟到一分钟也将受到严厉的斥责。

4 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》

5 mansions   

n.宅第，公馆，大厦( mansion的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Fifth Avenue was boarded up where the rich had deserted their mansions. 第五大道上的富翁们已经出去避暑，空出的宅第都已锁好了门窗，钉上了木板。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹
• Oh, the mansions, the lights, the perfume, the loaded boudoirs and tables! 啊，那些高楼大厦、华灯、香水、藏金收银的闺房还有摆满山珍海味的餐桌！ 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹

6 miller   

n.磨坊主

参考例句：

• Every miller draws water to his own mill.磨坊主都往自己磨里注水。
• The skilful miller killed millions of lions with his ski.技术娴熟的磨坊主用雪橇杀死了上百万头狮子。

7 contagious   

adj.传染性的，有感染力的

参考例句：

• It's a highly contagious infection.这种病极易传染。
• He's got a contagious laugh.他的笑富有感染力。

8 supreme   

adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的

参考例句：

• It was the supreme moment in his life.那是他一生中最重要的时刻。
• He handed up the indictment to the supreme court.他把起诉书送交最高法院。

9 seizure   

n.没收；占有；抵押

参考例句：

• The seizure of contraband is made by customs.那些走私品是被海关没收的。
• The courts ordered the seizure of all her property.法院下令查封她所有的财产。

10 deficit   

n.亏空，亏损；赤字，逆差

参考例句：

• The directors have reported a deficit of 2.5 million dollars.董事们报告赤字为250万美元。
• We have a great deficit this year.我们今年有很大亏损。