CNN 2009-02-08

Hi everyone, I'm Asien Namdar at the CNN.com newsroom in Atlanta, here is a look at what's happening NOW IN THE NEWS.

Senators are in the middle of more debate on the big economic recovery plan. They are back on the Senator Floor after working late into the night on a compromise. The recovery bill has been whittled¹ down to 780 billion dollars. At one point, there was more than 900 billion dollars worth of spending in the Senate's version.

RNC Chairman Michael Steele says a lot of the money outlined in the massive plan is going to the wrong place. “The fastest way to help those families is by letting them keep more of the money they earn. Individual empowerment, that's how you stimulate² the economy. But the democrats³ have a different philosophy. Instead of leaving money in the family checkbook, they want to send it to Washington, run it through a slow and inefficient⁴ government and hope that does some good." Steele made those comments during his first address as the chairman of the Republican National Committee.

One of baseball's best players is now in the middle of his own steroids scandal. Sports Illustrated⁵.com is reporting that Alex Rodriguez tested positive for steroids in 2003. Sources tell Sports Illustrated more than 100 players tested positive that year. Rodriguez was the American League's most valuable player that year. He is now with the New York Yankees and the highest-paid player in the game.

Longtime television, film and stage actor James Whitmore has died. Whitmore earned numerous awards throughout his career, including a golden globe in 1949 for his performance in the" Battleground "and an Emmy in 2000 for his appearance in the 3 part episode of ABC's legal drama "The Practice". Among his more recent roles, Whitmore played prison inmate⁶ Brooks⁷ in the "Shawshank Redemption". James Whitmore was 87.

And those are the headlines this hour, for more on these stories and other news of the day, CNN is your source, online, on TV, or when you are on the go.

1 whittled   

v.切，削（木头），使逐渐变小( whittle的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He whittled a simple toy from the piece of wood. 他把那块木头削成了一个简易的玩具。
• The government's majority has been whittled down to eight. 政府多数票减少到了八票。

2 stimulate   

vt.刺激，使兴奋；激励，使…振奋

参考例句：

• Your encouragement will stimulate me to further efforts.你的鼓励会激发我进一步努力。
• Success will stimulate the people for fresh efforts.成功能鼓舞人们去作新的努力。

3 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》

4 inefficient   

adj.效率低的，无效的

参考例句：

• The inefficient operation cost the firm a lot of money.低效率的运作使该公司损失了许多钱。
• Their communication systems are inefficient in the extreme.他们的通讯系统效率非常差。

5 illustrated   

adj. 有插图的，列举的 动词illustrate的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• His lecture was illustrated with slides taken during the expedition. 他在讲演中使用了探险时拍摄到的幻灯片。
• The manufacturing Methods: Will be illustrated in the next chapter. 制作方法将在下一章说明。

6 inmate   

n.被收容者；(房屋等的)居住人；住院人

参考例句：

• I am an inmate of that hospital.我住在那家医院。
• The prisoner is his inmate.那个囚犯和他同住一起。

7 brooks   

n.小溪( brook的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Brooks gave the business when Haas caught him with his watch. 哈斯抓到偷他的手表的布鲁克斯时，狠狠地揍了他一顿。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Ade and Brooks exchanged blows yesterday and they were severely punished today. 艾德和布鲁克斯昨天打起来了，今天他们受到严厉的惩罚。 来自《简明英汉词典》