English Recordings

article by Sarah Hughes for The Observer:

" When Ryan Murphy, the creator of American Horror Story, announced that the third season of the American TV series would focus on witches, he was riding the crest of a wave. Not since the 1990s [...] have witches been so much in demand.[...]
So why witches – and why now? "The idea of being able to manipulate supernatural forces still resonates," says Owen Davies, professor of social history at the University of Hertfordshire and author of America Bewitched: The Story of Witchcraft after Salem. "Witches and ghosts speak to something fundamental and innate in our psyche. It's an emotional connection."[...]
The last time witches were so in fashion, in the 1990s, the response from young girls was intense. "When Buffy and Charmed were at their peak, I would get letters from teenage girls, mainly from America, asking for help about where to look for spells," says Davies. "Those shows gave teenage girls a feeling of empowerment; there's something very appealing about magic and witchcraft. There have also been studies of girls who were interested in witch shows in the 1990s, following how many went on to become practising wiccans.It's not a huge number, but it's interesting that some of them watched the shows and thought, 'I want to know more'."
"Often the traditional way of looking at relationships in young-adult fiction is that the guy has all the power and the interesting life and the girl goes along for the ride, but that's not the whole story," says Warburton. "Increasingly, we're trying to bring our daughters up to believe they can be the leader; they can have the adventure; they can do the cool stuff and one thing about witches is that they allow you to explore that moment when girls become teenagers and realise the power they have as women and how exhilarating that can be."

It is also arguable that these new shows reflect a changing attitude in television. [...]
Thus Witches of East End is as interested in the bonds between mothers and daughters as in potions and curses, while American Horror Story: Coven conducts a serious examination of outsiderdom, exclusion and the nature of power. "The witches are a great allegory for any minority group that's been persecuted and had to go underground and finally is like: 'You know what? Dammit no, we're fighting back,'" the show's creator Murphy said.
[...]Yet Davies argues that the key to witch-related success remains image. "The image of the witch has transformed from someone extremely dangerous, through the sexy domesticated witches of Bewitched to the new wave of young, sexy witches in Charmed and Buffy to now," he says.

Armadillos come from South America. In the United States, they are mainly found in Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Alabama, and Florida. The Nine-banded armadillo is the most common in the USA.

Armadillos are mammals. They are about the size of a cat. They have shells that cover their backs. Armadillos are not blind but they can't see very well. They use their ears and nose to find food or predators.

Armadillos are built to dig. They have got short, strong legs and they dig quicky, very quickly, either for food or for shelter. They eat ants, beetles and plants, sometimes flesh from dead animals. Theylike to swim and they are pretty good at it.

The Nine-banded armadillo appears to be increasing in number but many species are endangered. Farming, hunting, and deaths due to domestic dogs are the main reasons of the problem. Cold weather will eventually stop the spread of the armadillo too, they cannot tolerate periods of cold. They are also often killed on the roads. As they are nocturnal, It is hard to see them at night. They jump up in the air when they feel threatened but this doesn't work against cars.

Are armadillos dangerous? Not really. They are wild animals but it is usually not dangerous. They can harm people with their teeth but in most cases they will run away when they feel they are in danger.

650 I found a great deal at a year-end bargain sale. / 　It was at the hot deal price.
651 Are you going back home for New Year's?
652 Everybody'll be home for the holidays.
653 Going anywhere for winter break? / Are you going anywhere during the winter break?
654 What are you doing for the new year?
655 My family is going to a hot spring.
656 Have a nice winter break! / Have a nice Christmas break!
657 Relax and enjoy the holiday season.
658 This year is almost over.
659 Time flies, doesn't it?
660 You did a good job this year./ You did very good work this year.

A．So did I miss anything?
B．No. You didn't miss anything at all.
A．That's good.

A．How was the tour?
B．It was kind of boring. You didn't miss anything.
A．I see.

A．I'm gonna go say hi to Chris.
B．Sure. We'll be upstairs.
A．I'll join you guys later.

A．Are you coming with me now?
B．No. I have to finish this first. I'll join you later.
A．OK.

A．What's the best before date for this cake?
B．It's written on the bottom of the box.　　　　　
A．I see. Thank you.

A．Can you pass me the dressing, please?　　　　　　
B．Here you go. What's the best before date?　
A．Uh...May 15th.

A．We have to finish this report by noon.
B．By noon? What time is it?
A．It's almost 11. Let's get it over with.