The Wierd and the Wonderful

Paris Syndrome strikes Japanese

From: http://news.bbc.co.uk

A dozen or so Japanese tourists a year have to be repatriated from the French capital, after falling prey to what's become known as "Paris syndrome".

That is what some polite Japanese tourists suffer when they discover that Parisians can be rude or the city does not meet their expectations.

The experience can apparently be too stressful for some and they suffer a psychiatric breakdown.
Around a million Japanese travel to France every year.

Shocking reality
Many of the visitors come with a deeply romantic vision of Paris - the cobbled streets, as seen in the film Amelie, the beauty of French women or the high culture and art at the Louvre.
The reality can come as a shock.

An encounter with a rude taxi driver, or a Parisian waiter who shouts at customers who cannot speak fluent French, might be laughed off by those from other Western cultures.

But for the Japanese - used to a more polite and helpful society in which voices are rarely raised in anger - the experience of their dream city turning into a nightmare can simply be too much.

This year alone, the Japanese embassy in Paris has had to repatriate four people with a doctor or nurse on board the plane to help them get over the shock.

They were suffering from "Paris syndrome".

It was a Japanese psychiatrist working in France, Professor Hiroaki Ota, who first identified the syndrome some 20 years ago.

On average, up to 12 Japanese tourists a year fall victim to it, mainly women in their 30s with high expectations of what may be their first trip abroad.

The Japanese embassy has a 24-hour hotline for those suffering from severe culture shock, and can help find hospital treatment for anyone in need.

However, the only permanent cure is to go back to Japan - never to return to Paris.

Word of the Day

Repatriate
re·pa·tri·ate:  \(ˌ)rē-ˈpā-trē-ˌāt, -ˈpa-\
Origin: Late Latin repatriatus, past participle of repatriare to go home again — more at repair
First Known Use: 1611
Verb
1: to restore or return to the country of origin, allegiance, or citizenship <repatriate prisoners of war>

More Vocabulary

Cobble: n. cobblestone; naturally rounded stone larger than a pebble and smaller than a boulder
Cure: n. recovery or relief from a disease
Encounter: v. to come upon or experience especially unexpectedly
Prey: n. one that is helpless or unable to resist attack: victim
Rude: adj. offensive in manner or action

Love those Phrasal Verbs

Laugh off: to dismiss as ridiculous, trivial, or hollow
He had received threats but laughed them off as the work of a crank.

Monday's News

Verse 1:

Moment of honesty

Someone's ______take the lead tonight

Whose it gonna be?

I'm ______ sit right here

And tell you all that comes to me

If you have something to say

You should say it right now

(Drake: You should say it right now)

You ready?

Bridge:

You give me a feeling that I never felt before

And I deserve it, I think I _____ it

(Drake: I deserve it, I think it deserve it..Let it go)

It's becoming something that's impossible to ignore

And I can't take it

(Drake: I can't take it)

Chorus-Alicia & Drake:

I was ______maybe

Could I make you my baby

If we do the _______ would it make us look crazy

If you ask me I'm ready

(Echo: I'm ready, I'm ready)

If you ask me I'm ready

(Echo: I'm ready, I'm ready)

Verse 2:

I know you once said to me

"This is exactly how it should feel when it's meant to be"

Time is only ______so why wait for________?

If we ______ do something 'bout it

We should do it right now

(Drake: We should do it right now)

Bay, uh

Bridge:

You give me a feeling that I never felt before

And I deserve it, I know I deserve it

(Drake: I deserve it, I know I deserve it. Let it go)

It’s becoming something that's________ to ignore

It's what we make it

(Drake: It's what we make it)

Chorus-Alicia & Drake:

I was wondering maybe

Could I make you my baby

If we do the ________ would it make us look crazy

Or would it be so beautiful either way I'm ______

If you ask me I'm ready

(Echo: I'm ready I'm ready)

If you ask me I'm ready

(Echo: I'm ready)

Yeah, sing...

Hook:

Why give up _______we try

Feel the lows before the highs

Clip our ______before we fly away

I can't say I came prepared

I'm _______in the air

Won't you come be in the sky with me

Chorus-Alicia & Drake:

I was wondering maybe

Could I make you my baby

If we do the_________ would it make us look crazy

Or would it be so beautiful either way I'm sayin'

If you ask me I'm ready

(Echo: I'm ready, I'm ready)

If you ask me I'm ready

(Echo: I'm ready, I'm ready)

If you ask me I'm ready

(Echo: I'm ready, I'm ready)

If you ask me I'm ready

(Echo: I'm ready, I'm ready)

Thursday Tidbits - Over and Beyond...

Over and beyond  

Two prepositions that are often confused are over and beyond. They are similar in meaning, however  they are not interchangeable and can sound a bit strange if one is used instead of the other. Lets’ look at how they are used.

Over

An easy way to remember when to use over is to replace it with more than. If the sentence still sounds correct, over is the correct preposition to use. Here are some examples:

You are not allowed to drive over (more than) the speed limit.

Those that are over (more than) 25 years old are not allowed to participate.

The company doesn’t permit employees to work over (more than) 40 hours a week.

Beyond

Beyond seems similar to over, however it is used when you mean to say after or past (in this case, we are not referring topast like present or future, but rather after or beyond). Here are some examples:

Most people don’t work beyond (after/past) 65 years of age.

The park doesn’t allow people to go beyond (after/past) the indicated border.

He continued to run beyond (after/past) what he was capable of.

Check yourself

Circle the appropriate word to complete the sentence. Then read the sentence again with the optional prepositions to see if it sounds right.

1. I’m pretty sure that I will have to work (beyond / over) midnight because I have so much work.

2. He received (over / beyond) 50 “get well” cards while he was in the hospital.

3. You have to go (over / beyond) expectations if you want to get a promotion.

4. Cheetahs can run (beyond / over) 50 mph.

5. His blood/alcohol level was (over /beyond) the legal limit.

6. He was surprised that (beyond / over) 100 people came to his party.

7. He couldn’t see (beyond / over) the mountain.

8. The human body has (beyond / over) 200 bones.

9. Many people wonder what will happen (beyond / over) this life when we die.

10. The ship sank because it was (over / beyond) its capacity for passengers.

Answers to last week’s Check Yourself

Underline the correct word or phrase to complete the sentence.

1. My family (has / is) as many children as your family.

2. A lion isn’t as (fast / faster) as a cheetah.

3. Palí doesn’t have as (many / much) selection as Walmart.

4. This test isn’t as (more difficult / difficult) as the last test.

5. We (don’t have / haven’t) as much time as we used to.

6. His stereo (is / has) as loud as our stereo.

7. Quepos doesn’t have as (many / much) people as San José.

8. Do you think a human (is / has) as intelligent as a computer?

9. She doesn’t have as (much / many) work as I do.

10. My manager (hasn’t / doesn’t have) as much responsibility as the other managers.

The Wierd and the Wonderful

Hungry man tweets about steak, gets surprise delivery

From: www.msnbc.msn.com

You've been traveling all day, are hungry, and want nothing more than a delicious steak to be waiting for you when you land at your next destination. So you tweet about this craving. What would you think if your wish came true and a stranger met you at the airport — steak and sides in hand?

Well, this whole series of events did happen to one man — and he shared his exact thoughts in a blog post.

Peter Shankman, an angel investor who appears to spend a great deal of time jetting from city to city, had a rough day on Wednesday. His alarm went off at 3:30 a.m., he had to catch a 7 a.m. flight from Newark, New Jersey to Tampa, Florida, have a lunch meeting in Clearwater, Florida, and then catch a 5 p.m. flight back to Newark.

By the time he was ready to board his return flight, he was starving — the "healthy piece of grouper" he had at lunch just wasn't enough to hold him for the rest of the day. His stomach growled as he took his seat and visions of steak started floating through his head. He decided to cope with the hunger the same way any other social media-obsessed individual would: He jokingly tweeted that Morton's Steakhouse, one of his favorite restaurants, should have a steak waiting for him when he lands in Newark.

Two and a half hours later his flight landed, he grabbed his things, and started walking towards the area where a car would be waiting for him.

Then something strange and wonderful happened:

Looking for my driver, I saw my name, waved to him, and started walking to the door of [the airport], like 

I’d done hundreds of times before.

“Um, Mr. Shankman,” he said.

I turned around.

“There’s a surprise for you here.”

I turned to see that the driver was standing next to someone else, who I just assumed was another driver he was talking to. Then I noticed the “someone else” was in a tuxedo.

And he was carrying a Morton’s bag.

He proceeds to tell me that he’d heard I was hungry, and inside is a 24 oz. Porterhouse steak, an order of Colossal Shrimp, a side of potatoes, one of Morton’s famous round things of bread, two napkins, and silverware.

Shankman was shocked. Not only had he merely been joking when he wrote his original Twitter message, but he also knew that the nearest Morton's was over 20 miles away from the airport. Someone at Morton's corporate offices had seen his tweet, ordered the meal, and had someone drive over 20 miles to deliver it.

Yes, it may have been a publicity stunt — someone may have noticed that Shankman has more than 100,000 Twitter followers who'd hear about the whole thing, after all. And yes, Shankman may have gotten lucky because he is known to be a frequent Morton's customer.

But this is still one fantastic story and a display of what great customer service looks like.

Now if you'll excuse me, I need to tweet about my travel plans and food cravings ...

Word of the Day

Side:\ˈsīd\
Origin: Middle English, from Old English sīde; akin to Old High German sīta side, Old English sīd ample, wide
First Known Use: before 12th century
Noun
1a : the right or left part of the wall or trunk of the body <a pain in the side>; b (1) : one of the halves of the animal body on either side of the median plane (2) : a cut of meat including that about the ribs of one half of the body —used chiefly of smoked pork products; c : one longitudinal half of a hide
2: a place, space, or direction with respect to a center or to a line of division (as of an aisle, river, or street)
3a : one of the longer bounding surfaces or lines of an object especially contrasted with the ends <the side of a barn>; b : a line or surface forming a border or face of an object <a die has six sides> <the back side of the moon>; c : either surface of a thin object <one side of a record> <right side of the cloth>; d : a bounding line of a geometric figure <side of a triangle>
4a : the space beside one <stood by my side>; b : an area next to something —usually used in combination <a poolside interview>
5: a slope (as of a hill) considered as opposed to another slope <the far side of the hill>
6 a : the attitude or activity of one person or group with respect to another : part <there was no malice on my side>b : a position that is opposite to or contrasted with another <two sides to every question> <came down on the side of law and order>; c : a body of partisans or contestants <victory for neither side>; d : team 4a <11 players on each side>; also : the players on a baseball team batting in an inning <struck out the side>
7: a line of descent traced through one's parent <grandfather on his mother's side>
8: an aspect or part of something contrasted with some other real or implied aspect or part <the better side of his nature> <the sales side of the business> <the seasoning is a bit on the heavy side>
9 British : sideways spin imparted to a billiard or snooker ball
10: a sheet containing the lines and cues for a single theatrical role
11: a recording of music
12: a side order or dish <a side of fries>
— on the side
1: in addition to the main portion
2: in addition to a principal occupation
3: secretly outside of one's marriage or romantic relationship <seeing another woman on the side>
— this side of
: short of : almost <an attitude just this side of scandalous>

More Vocabulary

Angel investor: n. an investor in a business venture, esp one in its early stages
Craving: n. an intense, urgent, or abnormal desire or longing
Grouper: n. any of numerous fishes (family Serranidae and especially genera Epinephelus and Mycteroperca) that are typically large solitary bottom-dwelling fishes of warm seas and include important food fishes
Jet: v. to travel by jet airplane
Tuxedo: n. a semiformal evening suit for men

Tuesday´s News

Costa Ricans Invent Method to Grow New Blood Vessels

From: www.costaricanewssite.com

The lack of blood in the tissues of the body deprives cells of oxygen and can damage the heart or lead to amputation of a limb.

However, a group of U.S. researchers, led by chemist Samuel Stupp of Costa Rican origin, invented a way to regeneratenew blood vessels necessary for blood to circulate in the body.

Stupp and his team of researchers at Northwestern University, based in Chicago (USA), created a structure 

that serves as a kind of scaffolding for the body to build their own blood vessels.

This structure was created using nanotechnology, the science that works in the extremely small. A nanometer is a millionth part of a meter.

Scientists were able to build a nanostructure that mimics one of the proteins responsible for creating natural blood vessels, called vascular endothelial growth factor, known as VEGF.

Stupp hopes to begin in two or three years the testing of this technology on humans. Such treatment could have applications that benefit people with various circulation problems, including diabetics, who can lose limbs because of problems with blood supply.

Word of the Day

Amputate
am·pu·tate: \ˈam-pyə-ˌtāt\
Origin: Latin amputatus, past participle of amputare, from am-, amb- around + putare to cut, prune — more at ambi-
First Known Use: 1612
Verb
1 : to remove by or as if by cutting; especially : to cut (as a limb) from the body
— am·pu·ta·tion: noun

More Vocabulary

Deprive: v. to take something away from
Limb: n. a leg or arm of a human being
Mimic: adj. imitate; mock
Regenerate: v. to replace (a body part) by a new growth of tissue
Scaffolds:  n. a supporting framework

Monday's News

Listen to the video and try to match up vocabulary words.

Plaque                          a small fish that has a salty flavor

Eyeball                         fearless

Puppy dog                     lacking in sheen, brilliance, or vitality: dull, mediocre

Anchovy                        a domestic dog; especially: one having the lovable attributes of a puppy

Dauntless                      to cause harm or damage to (the reputation of someone or something)

Lackluster                     the entire round part of the eye

Besmirch                      to associate familiarly

Hobnob                         a flat thin piece (as of metal) used for decoration

Catch Phrases: a phrase in wide or popular use, especially one serving as a slogan for a group or movement

Break the ice: to break down social formality and stiffness

Dead as a doornail: dead - devoid of life (when applied to people, plants or animals).

Flesh and blood: offspring or relatives

Get your money’s worth: to receive good value for the amount you have paid

Good riddance: an expression of pleasure on being rid of some annoyance - usually an individual

Green eyed monster: envy

Hoist with your own petard: Injured by the device that you intended to use to injure others.

Short shift: careless treatment; scant attention

Thursday Tidbits - Comparisons: as...as / as much...as / as many...as

Comparisons: as…as / as much…as / as many…as  

English speakers often make comparisons between things using as…as / as much…as / as many…as. However, sometimes it is a little confusing, grammatically, deciding when to use which structure. Here is a brief explanation.

As…as

This structure is used with and adjective between as…as and with the verb “be.” When it is positive, it means the two things being compared are the same. When “be” is negative, the two things being compared are unequal. Also note that the adjective doesn’t change using this structure like in other comparatives (shorter, higher, more difficult, etc.)Here are some examples:

His hair is as long as hers. (the same)

The traffic in New York is as bad as the traffic in Chicago. (the same)

A soccer player isn’t as tall as a basketball player. (different)

The English language isn’t as difficult as the Chinese language. (different)

As much …as

In this structure, a noun is used between as much…as, specifically, a non-count noun. Another difference is the use of “have” with this structure. Similar, however, is when the structure is positive, the two things being compared are the same. When it is negative, there is a difference between the two. Here are some examples:

She has as much money as he does. (the same)

My neighborhood has as much noise as your neighborhood. (the same)

Liberia doesn’t have as much pollution as San José. (different)

I don’t have as much free time as you do. (different)

As many…as

This structure is the same as the one described beforehand with as much...as. The only difference with as many…as is that the noun must be a count noun. Here are some examples:

I have as many emails as she does. (the same)

My neighbor has as many televisions as we do in our house. (the same)

He doesn’t have as many pets as she does. (different)

MegaSuper doesn’t have as many vegetables as Automercado. (different)

Check yourself

Underline the correct word or phrase to complete the sentence.

1. My family (has / is) as many children as your family.

2. A lion isn’t as (fast / faster) as a cheetah.

3. Palí doesn’t have as (many / much) selection as Walmart.

4. This test isn’t as (more difficult / difficult) as the last test.

5. We (don’t have / haven’t) as much time as we used to.

6. His stereo (is / has) as loud as our stereo.

7. Quepos doesn’t have as (many / much) people as San José.

8. Do you think a human (is / has) as intelligent as a computer?

9. She doesn’t have as (much / many) work as I do.

10. My manager (hasn’t / doesn’t have) as much responsibility as the other managers.

Answers to last week’s Check Yourself:

1. He’s putting more effort into the job than he needs to. He is outdoing / overdoing it.

2. The city was outrun / overrun with protesters.

3. There are competitions to see who can overeat / outeat everyone else.

4. Tomorrow’s meeting is very important. Don’t oversleep / outsleep!

5. Who do you think outspends / overspends the other in a month: Donald Trump or Paris Hilton?

6. I’ve gained a lot of weight since college. I’ve overgrown / outgrown most of my clothes.

7. Don’t outthink / overthink I the problem. It’s actually quite simple.

8. I was always the fastest kid in high school. I could overrun / outrun everyone.

9. Who do you think outsells / oversells the other: Pepsi or Coca-Cola?

10. The weeds in my garden are outgrown / overgrown. I need to cut them.

The Wierd and the Wonderful

Lyle Monroe Bensley, Self-Described Vampire, Accused Of Biting Woman, Telling Cops 'He Needed To Feed'

From: www.huffingtonpost.com

A self-described vampire broke into a woman's home and bit her, according to law enforcement officials in Texas.

Police in Galveston arrested 19-year-old Lyle Monroe Bensley early on Saturday on charges of burglary with intent to commit assault, The Galveston County Daily News reports.

Bensley -- clad only in boxer shorts -- forced his way into the victim's apartment, entered her bedroom and began to make growling and hissing sounds, investigators told The Houston Chronicle.

The suspect allegedly attacked the woman in bed, biting and hitting her.

Police believe Bensley then tried to force the victim to leave the apartment, but the woman was able to break free and seek protection in a car driven by neighbors. The suspect allegedly struck the car's windows as it drove away, The Daily News notes.

After receiving a call at around 6:50 a.m., officers arrived at the victim's apartment. While searching the crime scene, they heard yells and growls coming from the parking lot, where they say they spotted Bensley.

Police reportedly took him into custody after a brief pursuit.

"He was begging us to restrain him because he didn't want to kill us," Galveston Officer Daniel Erickson told The Houston Chronicle. "He said he needed to feed."

The suspect also allegedly stated: "I'm a vampire, and I've been alive for over 500 years."

This isn't the first time a man claiming to be a vampire who has lived for more than a century has threatened police.

Last year, police in Ohio arrested an allegedly intoxicated 21-year-old who said he was immortal and claimed he wanted to drink the blood and eat the kidneys of law enforcement officials.

Word of the Day

Century
cen·tu·ry: \ˈsen(t)-sh(ə-)rē\
Origin: Latin centuria, irregular from centum hundred
First Known Use: 1533

Noun
1: a subdivision of the Roman legion
2: a group, sequence, or series of 100 like things
3: a period of 100 years especially of the Christian era or of the preceding period of human history
4: a race over a hundred units (as yards or miles)

More Vocabulary

Allege: v. to assert without proof or before proving
Burglary: n. the act of breaking and entering a dwelling at night to commit a felony
Clothe: v. to cover with or as if with cloth or clothing: dress
Custody: n. immediate charge and control (as over a ward or a suspect) exercised by a person or an authority
Growl: v. to utter a growl <the dog growled at the stranger>
Hiss: v. to make a sharp sibilant sound

The Weird and the Wonderful

Drunk Man Blames 'Colorblind' Horse For Running Red Light: Cops

From: www. http://www.huffingtonpost.com

 

A drunken man accused of running a red light in a horse and carriage tried to pin the blame on his pony, according to police.

John Mulvenna, of England's South Yorkshire, allegedly told officers that he only went through the stoplight because hissteed, Fred, is colorblind, The Star reports.

Officials weren't swayed by the 56-year-old's defense, and Mulvenna later pleaded guilty to being drunk while driving a horse and carriage.

Mulvenna was fined about $82 and issued a 12-month conditional discharge.

"I had a few pints and thought it was fine, then whoops-a-daisy there was a policewoman," he said after his hearing, according to The Star. “I wasn’t stupefied drunk.”

Mulvenna's lawyer, John Dobbin, told UPI that his client drank four pints of beer before taking the reins.

"He thought he was in a proper state to control the horse and trap," Dobbin said. "It is clear that he was not."

Heeding traffic signals is the driver's responsibility -- not the horse's.

But Mulvenna might have been right when he claimed that Fred was colorblind.

Researchers studying equine vision determined that "[i]t is most likely that horses see the world in a similar way to humans with red-green colour deficiencies," according to HorseTalk.co.uk. "Red, orange, yellow and green probably all appear the same."

Word of the Day

Steed: \ˈstēd\
Origin: Middle English stede, from Old English stēda stallion; akin to Old English stōd stud — more at stud
First Known Use: before 12th century
Noun
horse; especially : a spirited horse (as for war)

More Vocabulary

Colorblind: adj. affected with partial or total inability to distinguish one or more chromatic colors
Equine: adj. of, relating to, or resembling a horse or the horse family
Pint: n. a drink of beer (British)
Stupefy: v. astonish, astound
Sway: v. to exert a guiding or controlling influence on
Whoops-a-daisy: interj. used to express apology or mild surprise

Tuesday's News

Costa Rica's Rail System Continues To Move Full Steam Ahead

From: www.insidecostarica.com

Following the inauguration of the commuter train service between San José and Heredia two years ago, today this service exceeds expectations that the Instituto Costarricense de Ferrocarriles (INCOFER) set out and is moving full speed ahead with its plans to bring train service to more communities.

It all started more than five years ago when the tracks between San Pedro and Pavas were put back into service, taking commuters daily from the east side to the west side and back.

After several stalled years, the Heredia train began on August 10, 2009 and since makes daily trips during rush hours on weekdays, on average every 30 minutes carrying more than 100.000 people a month.

Although it was no surprise to the INCOFER, Costa Ricans have embraced this form of commuting, seeing the train as a fast, reliable, comfortable and affordable means of transport.

And for that the INCOFER expects to see within a few years the train gathering even wider acceptance.

If plans are not derailed the INCOFER expects to inaugurate train service to Cartago by the end of next year. The cost of restoring the service is estimated at US$6 million dollars which is being spent on cleaning and repair of the existing track, with the coordination of the municipalities of Curridabat, La Union and Cartago.

The reason for the choice of first Cartago ahead of Alajuela is to keep a promise made by President Laura Chinchilla in April of this year when the San José - Belen service was inaugurated.

Today, commuters from places like downtown Heredia, Belén, Pavas, Curridabat can commute to San José and points in between.

The INCOFER says that it was natural to bring the locomotive to the city of Cartago.

Word of the Day

Derail
de·rail: \di-ˈrāl, dē-\
Origin: French dérailler to throw off the track, from dé- de- + rail, from English First Known Use: 1850
Verb
1: to cause to run off the rails
2 a: to obstruct the progress of: frustrate <security problems derailed the tour>; b: to upset the stability or composure of <divorce … can seriously derail an employee — Joanne Gordon>

More Vocabulary

Acceptance: n. an agreeing either expressly or by conduct to the act or offer of another so that a contract is concluded and the parties become legally bound
Inaugurate: v. to dedicate ceremoniously
Locomotive: n. a self-propelled vehicle that runs on rails and is used for moving railroad cars
Stall: v. to bring to a standstill

Idioms & Phrases

Full steam ahead: with all possible energy and enthusiasm

• The real estate market has heated up, and building is going full steam ahead.

Thursday's Tidbits - Do you know your modals?

Do you know your modals?

Modals are an important part of English grammar. They allow you to express many different meanings in many different contexts. For example:

You swim.

You can swim. (ability)

You should swim. (recommendation)

You would swim. (hypothetical)

You must swim. (obligation)

You may swim. (possibility)

You might swim. (possibility)

Modal verbs never change in the third person. Also, the main verb following the modal verb is always in the base form and never changes for third person, talking about the past, etc.

Check Yourself

Complete the following sentence with the correct modal depending on the context of the sentence. Then write the correct context next to the sentence in the space provided.

Example: She _________ go to the doctor immediately. It is very important.

               She _must__ go to the doctor immediately. It is very important. _obligation__

1. If I go to the beach, I _________ surf a little, but I’m not sure. ________________

2. You are in pretty good shape, but you _____________ try to exercise regularly. That’s my  opinion at least. ________________

3. If I won the lottery, I _____________ buy a huge house. ___________________

4. I don’t need glasses. I ___________ see perfectly. ________________

5. The presentation is at 5pm today. I _______________ finish preparing it before then. _____________

6. I _______________ take a vacation at the end of the year if I have enough money. ______________

7. She ______________ lose weight if she exercised more. ___________________

8. A cheetah ______________ run very fast. __________________

9. I feel a little dizzy. I _____________ rest for a little while. __________________

10. Long hair is not permitted in the military. You _____________ cut your hair. _____________

Answers to last week’s Check Yourself

1. The police officer __almost___ arrested the thief, but he got away.

2. __Most__ people think there is an afterlife.

3. I __mostly_ run in the park on weekends.

4. We have to go! It is __almost__ 10am!

5. The shirt is ___mostly_ made of cotton.

6. The repairman said he is _almost__ finished. Just a couple more things remain.

7. __Most___ countries in the world have a McDonalds.

8. Today I exercised for ___almost__ an hour! But not quite.

9. We __mostly_ do our homework at night.

10. They ___almost__ passed the course, but they had too many absences.

Tuesday's News

Tram Is Proposed Alternative Solution To Transportation In The GAM

From: www.insidecostarica.com

The integration of transport networks of buses and intercity railways, as well as a new urban development model that promotes the mobility of people in the greater metropolitan area of San José (GAM), are some of the proposals currently being discussed in the country.

Experts at Incofer and PRUGAM exposed some of the initiatives during the II Forum “Movilidad Urbana GAM: Planificación y avances concretos” (GAM Urban Mobility: Planning and concrete progress) organized by the Comisión de Construcción Sostenible el Colegio de Ingenieros Civiles (Commission on Sustainable Construction College of Civil Engineers) which was held on July 20^th , in the Auditorium of LANAMME at the University of Costa Rica UCR.

For architect and researcher Oliver Schütte urban models must be developed to meet the needs of people and enable mobility in the city. To this end, the PRUGAM conducted a study of cultural mapping, to characterize today's urban culture and identify ways in which people perceive and use of GAM space.

The study included the districts of Tacares, Alajuela, Pozos, Asuncion, San Felipe and the four central districts of San José.

Satellite images show highly fragmented developments of new urban areas in relation to the nuclei or old villages; while there are opinions of people providing information on security issues, odors, noise and other factors that affect them.

Schutte explained that from this information, you can define the main points of congestion at the entrances to downtown San José and insecure areas. To solve this problem, the PRUGAM proposes the creation of compact, multifunctional centers and different models of urban densification that could be used in San José, generating means of connections to urban centers.

Meanwhile, Eduardo Mata Brenes former director of PRUGAM explained that the Metropolitan Area has been coveted with a model of irrational and unsustainable urban development, as it contains less than 4% of national territory, with a population that represents 50% of the national population.

Faced with the problem of mobilization in the urban areas, the PRUGAM proposes a mass transit system under the concept of road connectivity. The idea is to integrate the public transport network of buses and intercity railways, in order to generate a type of a habitable and safer city.

This initiative will integrate 27 projects in transport and viability priority areas and would cost US$1.8 billion dollars and would be implemented gradually to achieve integration of the different routes and modes of transport. The proposal suggests moving from a fragmented operation and radial routes to cross paths.

To help solve the problem of congestion in the GAM, the train is one of the most attractive alternatives.

Miguel Carabaguiaz, CEO of Instituto Costarricense de Ferrocarriles (Incofer) presented the draft of a commuter train that would connect cities like Alajuela, Cartago, Heredia and San José, using the railroad right of way on a rail mass transit with bidirectional sections.

The train would pass through 51 districts, 13 counties and cover a route of 75 kilometers. With its implementation it would benefit about 767.000 inhabitants and 383.000 potential users that must pass through San José.

The route passes by hospitals, universities, stadiums, shopping centers, industrial areas and public institutions, which is ideal for users.

To carry out this plan, the Incofer suggests the use of the tram-train, a modern electric powered train, which can operate as a tram system or a rail system in rural areas or in the suburbs.

To start the operation of the commuter train requires an investment of US$250 million dollars.

Carabaguiaz announced that the project is supported by the Spanish Government and two Spanish public companies, which will begin with the confirmation of technical studies and use and demand studies that should be ready later this year.

The Costa Rican government now needs to decide how it will finance the project.

Word of the Day

Perceive
per·ceive: \pər-ˈsēv\
Origin: Middle English, from Anglo-French perceivre, from Latin percipere, from per- thoroughly + capere to take — more at heave
First Known Use: 14th century
Verb
1a : to attain awareness or understanding of; b : to regard as being such <perceived threats> <was perceived as a loser>
2 : to become aware of through the senses; especially: see, observe
— per·ceiv·able  adjective
— per·ceiv·ably  adverb
— per·ceiv·er noun

More Vocabulary

Congest: v. clog <traffic congested the highways>
Enable: v. to make possible, practical, or easy
Integrate: v. to incorporate into a larger unit
Habitable: adj. capable of being lived in: suitable for habitation
Tram: n. a vehicle on rails used primarily for transporting passengers and typically operating on city streets