NPR 2010-10-20

The Dow's off more than 200 points, more than 1.75 percent, sliding below the 11,000 mark for the first time in a week. Several factors are apparently¹ rattling² investors³. China hiked its rates in an attempt to head off rising inflation. The close on the market, NPR's Jim Zarroli reports from New York that corporate⁴ earnings⁵ reports out today are also rattling investors.

We've already had some disappointments. Apple said that its profit forecast would miss expectations. We also had IBM come out and say that service contracts are down somewhat. Those kinds of things are just kind of adding to fears that the economy is, is just continuing to slow down and that's spooking the markets.

NPR's Jim Zarroli in New York.

US and Pakistani officials begin three days of talks in Washington tomorrow and are trying to smooth over the latest tensions in their relations. NPR's Michele Kelemen has details.

This is the third round of a US-Pakistan strategic dialog and it comes shortly after Pakistan temporarily closed a NATO supply route into Afghanistan to protest a cross-border US helicopter strike that left two Pakistani frontier guards dead. Deputy Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan Frank Ruggiero says the US is now hoping to move on and persuade Pakistan to do more to fight insurgents⁶.

"They have taken on various extremist groups. We would call for them to do the same thing in North Waziristan on organizations like the Haqqani network, and we'll continue that discussion with them."

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and her Pakistani counterpart are leading the talks, which also include Pakistan's army chief. Michele Kelemen, NPR News, the State Department.

The NFL will immediately begin suspending players for dangerous hits that violate rules already on the books, especially those involving helmets. NPR's Tom Goldman describes what the NFL announcement means for football players.

You will probably see referees⁷ throwing more penalty flags. The NFL also said today that NFL officials have the right to eject them from a game if they see fit. And the NFL wants to remind officials that they have that power and they want to see that happen. What the NFL would like to see is a defensive⁸ player adjusting his target area when tackling not aiming for the head or neck, but as they say wrapping up a player more like they used to do in the old days. NPR's Tom Goldman.

Today, funs are remembering the man voted one of the "50 Greatest TV Dads of All-time", Tom Bosley of "Happy Days". He passed away this morning from heart failure at the age of 83. Bosley's television career continued long after "Happy Days" celebrated⁹ 11 seasons with Bros. on "Murder,She Wrote" and "The Father Dowling Mysteries".

This is NPR.

Federal mine safety inspectors¹⁰ issued more than 300 safety citations¹¹ and orders during a September blitz targeting 15 coal mines in eight states. NPR's Howard Berkes reports that four of the mines are owned by Massey Energy, which also operates the Upper Big Branch mine in West Virginia.

And it was the deadly explosion at Upper Big Branch in April that prompted these surprise inspections¹³ at coal mines, considered habitual¹⁴ violators of safety laws or experiencing dangerous rockfalls, infusions¹⁵ of explosive gases or problems with ventilation. Federal mine inspectors seized the phone systems in some mines so that workers on the surface could not warn miners underground. Massey Energy's four coal mines on the list include its Freedom No.1 mine in Kentucky, which has had six rockfalls since August, but three Kentucky mines owned by other companies received more citations in the blitz. Shortly after the inspection¹² results were announced, Massey said it would briefly¹⁶ shut down production in all its underground coal mines next week to focus on violations¹⁷ in safety. Howard Berkes, NPR News.

Protests have been heating up in France and French President Nicolas Sarkozy was clearly filming. At a news conference today, Sarkozy threatened to take action against anyone who attacked police during demonstrations¹⁸ against his administration's pension reform plans. This after students today pelted¹⁹ rocks at police in return, fired tear gas. Workers across France have protested against Sarkozy's plan to raise France's retirement²⁰ age from 60 to 62. Snarled²¹ traffic shut down businesses and most recently put a big debt in gas supplies.
 

1 apparently   

adv.显然地；表面上，似乎

参考例句：

• An apparently blind alley leads suddenly into an open space.山穷水尽，豁然开朗。
• He was apparently much surprised at the news.他对那个消息显然感到十分惊异。

2 rattling   

adj. 格格作响的, 活泼的, 很好的 adv. 极其, 很, 非常 动词rattle的现在分词

参考例句：

• This book is a rattling good read. 这是一本非常好的读物。
• At that same instant,a deafening explosion set the windows rattling. 正在这时，一声震耳欲聋的爆炸突然袭来，把窗玻璃震得当当地响。

3 investors   

n.投资者，出资者( investor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• a con man who bilked investors out of millions of dollars 诈取投资者几百万元的骗子
• a cash bonanza for investors 投资者的赚钱机会

4 corporate   

adj.共同的，全体的；公司的，企业的

参考例句：

• This is our corporate responsibility.这是我们共同的责任。
• His corporate's life will be as short as a rabbit's tail.他的公司的寿命是兔子尾巴长不了。

5 earnings   

n.工资收人；利润，利益，所得

参考例句：

• That old man lives on the earnings of his daughter.那个老人靠他女儿的收入维持生活。
• Last year there was a 20% decrease in his earnings.去年他的收入减少了20%。

6 insurgents   

n.起义，暴动，造反( insurgent的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The regular troops of Baden joined the insurgents. 巴登的正规军参加到起义军方面来了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Against the Taliban and Iraqi insurgents, these problems are manageable. 要对付塔利班与伊拉克叛乱分子，这些问题还是可以把握住的。 来自互联网

7 referees   

n.裁判员( referee的名词复数 )；证明人；公断人；（专业性强的文章的）审阅人

参考例句：

• The fiery player has had numerous run-ins with referees. 这位脾气暴躁的队员曾和裁判员发生过无数次争吵。
• If you want to appeal, the Court of Referees will decide. 如果你要上诉，可以由仲裁法庭去判决。 来自辞典例句

8 defensive   

adj.防御的；防卫的；防守的

参考例句：

• Their questions about the money put her on the defensive.他们问到钱的问题，使她警觉起来。
• The Government hastily organized defensive measures against the raids.政府急忙布置了防卫措施抵御空袭。

9 celebrated   

adj.有名的，声誉卓著的

参考例句：

• He was soon one of the most celebrated young painters in England.不久他就成了英格兰最负盛名的年轻画家之一。
• The celebrated violinist was mobbed by the audience.观众团团围住了这位著名的小提琴演奏家。

10 inspectors   

n.检查员( inspector的名词复数 )；（英国公共汽车或火车上的）查票员；（警察）巡官；检阅官

参考例句：

• They got into the school in the guise of inspectors. 他们假装成视察员进了学校。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Inspectors checked that there was adequate ventilation. 检查员已检查过，通风良好。 来自《简明英汉词典》

11 citations   

n.引用( citation的名词复数 )；引证；引文；表扬

参考例句：

• The apt citations and poetic gems have adorned his speeches. 贴切的引语和珠玑般的诗句为他的演说词增添文采。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• Some dictionary writers use citations to show what words mean. 有些辞典的编纂者用引文作例证以解释词义。 来自辞典例句

12 inspection   

n.检查，审查，检阅

参考例句：

• On random inspection the meat was found to be bad.经抽查，发现肉变质了。
• The soldiers lined up for their daily inspection by their officers.士兵们列队接受军官的日常检阅。

13 inspections   

n.检查( inspection的名词复数 )；检验；视察；检阅

参考例句：

• Regular inspections are carried out at the prison. 经常有人来视察这座监狱。
• Government inspections ensure a high degree of uniformity in the standard of service. 政府检查确保了在服务标准方面的高度一致。 来自《简明英汉词典》

14 habitual   

adj.习惯性的；通常的，惯常的

参考例句：

• He is a habitual criminal.他是一个惯犯。
• They are habitual visitors to our house.他们是我家的常客。

15 infusions   

n.沏或泡成的浸液（如茶等）( infusion的名词复数 )；注入，注入物

参考例句：

• Intravenous infusions are also used to administer medications. 静脉输液也可作为一种给药方法。 来自辞典例句
• INTERPRETATION: GKI infusions significantly reduced plasma glucose concentrations and blood pressure. 结论：静脉滴注GKI显著降低血压和血糖浓度。 来自互联网

16 briefly   

adv.简单地，简短地

参考例句：

• I want to touch briefly on another aspect of the problem.我想简单地谈一下这个问题的另一方面。
• He was kidnapped and briefly detained by a terrorist group.他被一个恐怖组织绑架并短暂拘禁。

17 violations   

违反( violation的名词复数 )； 冒犯； 违反（行为、事例）； 强奸

参考例句：

• This is one of the commonest traffic violations. 这是常见的违反交通规则之例。
• These violations of the code must cease forthwith. 这些违犯法规的行为必须立即停止。

18 demonstrations   

证明( demonstration的名词复数 )； 表明； 表达； 游行示威

参考例句：

• Lectures will be interspersed with practical demonstrations. 讲课中将不时插入实际示范。
• The new military government has banned strikes and demonstrations. 新的军人政府禁止罢工和示威活动。

19 pelted   

（连续地）投掷( pelt的过去式和过去分词 )； 连续抨击； 攻击； 剥去…的皮

参考例句：

• The children pelted him with snowballs. 孩子们向他投掷雪球。
• The rain pelted down. 天下着大雨。

20 retirement   

n.退休，退职

参考例句：

• She wanted to enjoy her retirement without being beset by financial worries.她想享受退休生活而不必为金钱担忧。
• I have to put everything away for my retirement.我必须把一切都积蓄起来以便退休后用。

21 snarled   

v.（指狗）吠，嗥叫， （人）咆哮( snarl的过去式和过去分词 )；咆哮着说，厉声地说

参考例句：

• The dog snarled at us. 狗朝我们低声吼叫。
• As I advanced towards the dog, It'snarled and struck at me. 我朝那条狗走去时，它狂吠着向我扑来。 来自《简明英汉词典》