NPR 2010-10-16

There will be no cost-of-living increase for retirees and other social security beneficiaries this year. NPR's Scott Horsley reports it’s because inflation has remained relatively¹ tame.

This is the second year in a row social security recipients² will not see an automatic increase. Although consumer prices have inched up in the last year, they still have not rebounded³ to the highs of 2008. Andrew Biggs, who’s a former deputy commissioner⁴ of Social Security, says even though seniors and others have not lost purchasing power, many will not be happy with the flat checks and they’re likely to let lawmakers know it.

“This is a very, very difficult process, particularly with this announcement coming two weeks before congressional election. If you’re a member of Congress, this is not the sort of news you want to be hearing.”

House lawmakers have promised to consider a one-time 250-dollar payment to seniors in lieu of a cost-of-living adjustment, but there’s no guarantee that will pass. Scott Horsley, NPR News, Washington.

Retail⁵ sales may be gathering⁶ ahead of steam. They were up for the third month in a row in September with solid gains at car lots, furniture and hardware stores. The 0.6 percent increase is the biggest advance since March.

The head of the failed mortgage company that helped trigger the financial sector⁷ meltdown will avoid trial on civil fraud and insider trading charges. Lawyers say Angelo Mozilo and two other defendants⁸ reached a settlement with federal regulators. Mozilo will pay more than $67 million.

Israel’s plan to build more than 200 new homes in East Jerusalem could further complicate⁹ the Mideast peace process. NPR’s Lourdes Garcia-Navarro reports Palestinians have threatened to boycott¹⁰ talks as long as settlements keep expanding.

Since a flap over settlements erupted between Israel and the United States last March, Israel has observed an unofficial building freeze in East Jerusalem. This announcement first publicized by Israeli media means that unofficial freeze is effectively over. The new plans call for 238 units in the Jewish settlement neighborhoods of Pisgat Zeev and Ramot, which are over the green line in East Jerusalem. Palestinians are in an uproar¹¹ over the decision. Chief negotiator for the Palestinians Saeb Erekat says the move proves Israel is not interested in reviving stalled peace talks. Settlements have emerged as one of the most contentious¹² issues in the negotiations¹³. Palestinians say that unless Israel freezes all settlement activity, they won't resume direct talks. Lourdes Garcia-Navarro, NPR News, Jerusalem.

Even though a federal judge struck down the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy, the Pentagon is warning gay troops that speaking-up could still get them in trouble. The Obama administration is appealing the judge’s ruling and military officials say troops who come out could suffer adverse¹⁴ consequences.

Near the close on Wall Street, the Dow was down 32 points; NASDAQ up 33; and the S&P 500 was up two.

This is NPR.

Parts of New York's Lincoln Center are undergoing treatment for bedbugs today. The pests were earlier discovered in a dressing¹⁵ room and a check found more in the complex's opera house. None turned up in any of the public areas though. The city has a bedbug problem. The insects have been found in clothing stores, housing projects and even posh apartments.

One of the world's stranger art exhibits has closed to the public. It’s a display of 100 million porcelain¹⁶ sunflower seeds at London’s Tate Gallery. NPR’s Philip Reeves says officials are worried it could pose a health threat.

There was great excitement in London’s cultural circle this week, when the Tate opened up its exhibit of porcelain sunflower seeds by the Chinese artist and activist¹⁷ Ai Weiwei. There’s 100 million of them, enough to carpet the gallery's Turbine Hall, a huge hall that used to be a power station. Visitors were invited to walk over the seeds, which were crafted by hand by thousands of artists in China. It seems people have been enjoying themselves a little too much. The gallery says their enthusiastic interaction with the seeds is releasing an unexpectedly high level of ceramic¹⁸ dust and this dust could be a health risk if it’s breathed in over a long period. Now, visitors will be asked to look from a walkway but not touch. Philip Reeves, NPR News, London.

If you’ve been neglecting your exercise lately, this story will really make you feel like a slacker. Army veteran Mike Ehredt just completed a cross-country run to honor service members killed in Iraq. He placed a US flag every mile along the more than 4,000-mile journey, averaging 29 miles a day on the trip from Astoria, Oregon to Rockland, Maine.
 

1 relatively   

adv.比较...地，相对地

参考例句：

• The rabbit is a relatively recent introduction in Australia.兔子是相对较新引入澳大利亚的物种。
• The operation was relatively painless.手术相对来说不痛。

2 recipients   

adj.接受的；受领的；容纳的；愿意接受的n.收件人；接受者；受领者；接受器

参考例句：

• The recipients of the prizes had their names printed in the paper. 获奖者的姓名登在报上。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The recipients of prizes had their names printed in the paper. 获奖者名单登在报上。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

3 rebounded   

弹回( rebound的过去式和过去分词 )； 反弹； 产生反作用； 未能奏效

参考例句：

• The ball rebounded from the goalpost and Owen headed it in. 球从门柱弹回，欧文头球将球攻进。
• The ball rebounded from his racket into the net. 球从他的球拍上弹回网中。

4 commissioner   

n.（政府厅、局、处等部门）专员，长官，委员

参考例句：

• The commissioner has issued a warrant for her arrest.专员发出了对她的逮捕令。
• He was tapped for police commissioner.他被任命为警务处长。

5 retail   

v./n.零售；adv.以零售价格

参考例句：

• In this shop they retail tobacco and sweets.这家铺子零售香烟和糖果。
• These shoes retail at 10 yuan a pair.这些鞋子零卖10元一双。

6 gathering   

n.集会，聚会，聚集

参考例句：

• He called on Mr. White to speak at the gathering.他请怀特先生在集会上讲话。
• He is on the wing gathering material for his novels.他正忙于为他的小说收集资料。

7 sector   

n.部门，部分；防御地段，防区；扇形

参考例句：

• The export sector will aid the economic recovery. 出口产业将促进经济复苏。
• The enemy have attacked the British sector.敌人已进攻英国防区。

8 defendants   

被告( defendant的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The courts heard that the six defendants had been coerced into making a confession. 法官审判时发现6位被告人曾被迫承认罪行。
• As in courts, the defendants are represented by legal counsel. 与法院相同，被告有辩护律师作为代表。 来自英汉非文学 - 政府文件

9 complicate   

vt.使复杂化，使混乱，使难懂

参考例句：

• There is no need to complicate matters.没有必要使问题复杂化。
• These events will greatly complicate the situation.这些事件将使局势变得极其复杂。

10 boycott   

n./v.(联合)抵制，拒绝参与

参考例句：

• We put the production under a boycott.我们联合抵制该商品。
• The boycott lasts a year until the Victoria board permitsreturn.这个抗争持续了一年直到维多利亚教育局妥协为止。

11 uproar   

n.骚动，喧嚣，鼎沸

参考例句：

• She could hear the uproar in the room.她能听见房间里的吵闹声。
• His remarks threw the audience into an uproar.他的讲话使听众沸腾起来。

12 contentious   

adj.好辩的，善争吵的

参考例句：

• She was really not of the contentious fighting sort.她委实不是好吵好闹的人。
• Since then they have tended to steer clear of contentious issues.从那时起，他们总想方设法避开有争议的问题。

13 negotiations   

协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过

参考例句：

• negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
• Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。

14 adverse   

adj.不利的；有害的；敌对的，不友好的

参考例句：

• He is adverse to going abroad.他反对出国。
• The improper use of medicine could lead to severe adverse reactions.用药不当会产生严重的不良反应。

15 dressing   

n.(食物)调料；包扎伤口的用品，敷料

参考例句：

• Don't spend such a lot of time in dressing yourself.别花那么多时间来打扮自己。
• The children enjoy dressing up in mother's old clothes.孩子们喜欢穿上妈妈旧时的衣服玩。

16 porcelain   

n.瓷；adj.瓷的，瓷制的

参考例句：

• These porcelain plates have rather original designs on them.这些瓷盘的花纹很别致。
• The porcelain vase is enveloped in cotton.瓷花瓶用棉花裹着。

17 activist   

n.活动分子，积极分子

参考例句：

• He's been a trade union activist for many years.多年来他一直是工会的积极分子。
• He is a social activist in our factory.他是我厂的社会活动积极分子。

18 ceramic   

n.制陶业，陶器，陶瓷工艺

参考例句：

• The order for ceramic tiles has been booked in.瓷砖的订单已登记下来了。
• Some ceramic works of art are shown in this exhibition.这次展览会上展出了一些陶瓷艺术品。