US Cancer Rates Drop

VOAVideo: US Cancer Rates Drop

Despite advances in prevention, diagnosis and treatment, cancer remains the second-leading cause of death in the United States. The disease - in all its forms - struck 1.5 million Americans last year, killing 560,000. The trends are reported in an issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association entirely devoted to cancer research. VOA's Rosanne Skirble has details.

What Doctors Are Doing About Headaches, and What You Can Do

VOANews: What Doctors Are Doing About Headaches, and What You Can Do

There are different kinds, from the mildly unpleasant to the extremely painful, but almost all can now be treated SCIENCE IN THE NEWS Listen

Loneliness Leads to High Blood Pressure

NewsEnglishLessons.com: Loneliness Leads to High Blood Pressure

Researchers from the USA found that people who feel lonely and do not connect with others may suffer from higher levels of blood pressure.

• The 11-page classroom handout
• Listen to the MP3
• Play the online quiz
• Online gap fill
• The giant gap fill
• Definition activity
• Online crossword
• Play hangman
• Vocab. flash cards
• Word matching

Obama signs Healcare Bill

VOA Learning English: Obama Signs Historic Health Care Bill

"Everybody should have some basic security when it comes to their health care," the president said. The measure will require Americans to have insurance.

• Listen: HEALTH REPORT MP3


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ESL Podcast 563 – Reducing Household Expenses

ESL Podcast 563 – Reducing Household Expenses

Financial planning can be painful but necessary. Learn more in this episode. Download Podcast

Songs About Spring Can Be Happy or Sad

VOANews: Songs About Spring Can Be Happy or Sad

Most of these songs have been around a long time but are still popular today.

• Listen: THIS IS AMERICAMP3

HEALTHCARE PASSES!

The House passes the healthcare reform bill, 219-212, and sends it to President Obama to sign into law!



VOAVideo: Health Care Reform Clears US Congress

Health care reform has cleared the U.S. Congress after roughly a year of legislative drama on Capitol Hill. VOA's Paula Wolfson reports the necessary legislation passed the House of Representatives on a tight, party-line vote - handing President Barack Obama a crucial victory.

VOANews: Obama to Soon Sign Major Health Care Reform

Health care reform has cleared the U.S. Congress after roughly a year of legislative drama on Capitol Hill. The House of Representatives passed the necessary legislation, on a tight, party-line vote, handing President Barack Obama a crucial victory. Mr. Obama is to soon sign the bill into law.

• Watch: Congress Health Care Windows Media
• Listen: Wolfson report MP3
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Treating an Abnormal Heartbeat

VOAVideo: Treating an Abnormal Heartbeat

This is the VOA Special English Health Report, from http://voaspecialenglish.com/

A condition called atrial fibrillation produces an abnormal heartbeat. People feel their heart race and they lose their breath. It may last a few seconds, but it can get worse and worse with age, leading to a heart attack or stroke. Doctors generally treat atrial fibrillation with drugs. But a new study shows that another treatment may have better results for patients who were not helped by drug therapy.

The treatment is called catheter ablation. Doctors place a long, thin tube called a catheter into the heart. Then they use radio frequency energy to heat the tissue around the catheter. The heat burns off a small amount of heart muscle. The goal is to block abnormal electrical activity in the heart. (read more...)

Lesson 8a - STRESS PATTERNS - English Pronunciation

JenniferESL: Lesson 8a - STRESS PATTERNS - English Pronunciation

PART ONE of a lesson in THREE parts. Topic: Stress in phrases and sentences. Develop your awareness of rhythm in English speech. Learn to stress words correctly and naturally. Levels: intermediate to advanced.

Colorful Dinosaur Discovered in China

VOANews: Colorful Dinosaur Discovered in China

Also, a new drug treatment for rheumatoid arthritis, a painful condition that affects one in every 100 people.

• Listen: SCIENCE IN THE NEWS MP3

Study Shows Doctors Less Likely to Give Chemotherapy after Surgery to Older Colon Cancer Patients

VOAVideo: Study Shows Doctors Less Likely to Give Chemotherapy after Surgery to Older Colon Cancer Patients

The World Health Organization lists colon cancer among the deadliest diseases. In 2004, some 639-thousand people around the world died from colon cancer. If caught in time, surgery and chemotherapy are effective treatments. But a new randomized trial finds that older cancer patients aren't always offered another treatment option that might extend their lives. VOA's Melinda Smith explains.

Lesson 7b - THOUGHT GROUPS - English Pronunciation

JenniferESL: Lesson 7b - THOUGHT GROUPS - English Pronunciation

PART TWO of a lesson in TWO parts. Topic: Thought Groups. Develop your awareness of the natural rhythm in English. Learn to pause naturally by grouping your words into thoughts. Levels: intermediate to advanced.

It's Easy!

US Census Bureau: It's Easy (English)

The 2010 Census is easy, important and safe. This English-language video shows you how to fill out and mail back your census form. When you take 10 minutes to answer 10questions, you help your community get what it needs for the next 10 years.

• Fill Out Your Form (multiple languages including Spanish Mandarin, Cantonese, & Vietnamese)

The 2010 US census in 4 minutes

LISTEN to a 4-min. exerpt of the Census Questions from the Full Census Podcast (25 min)

• Direct download: 2010census-qs.mp3 (4 min)
• Direct download: 2010census.mp3 (25min)

We're growing! The Census 2000 population for Milpitas was 62,840.

2010 US Census questions:

1. How many people were living or staying in this house, apartment, or mobile home on April 1, 2010?


2. Were there any additional people staying here April 1, 2010 that you did not include in Question 1?


3. Is this house, apartment, or mobile home: owned with mortgage, owned without mortgage, rented, occupied without rent?


4. What is your telephone number?


5. Please provide information for each person living here. Start with a person here who owns or rents this house, apartment, or mobile home. If the owner or renter lives somewhere else, start with any adult living here. This will be Person 1. What is Person 1's name?


6. What is Person 1's sex?


7. What is Person 1's age and Date of Birth?


8. Is Person 1 of Hispanic, Latino or Spanish origin?


9. What is Person 1's race?


10. Does Person 1 sometimes live or stay somewhere else?

(source: http://2010.census.gov/2010census/text/text-form.php)

Long-Term Use of Osteoporosis Drug May Cause Bone Fractures

VOAVideo: Long-Term Use of Osteoporosis Drug May Cause Bone Fractures

Around the world, millions of older women and a smaller number of older men have been taking a drug to prevent hip fractures and fight osteoporosis, a disease caused by low bone mass and bone deterioration. Now some doctors are concerned that patients who have taken the drug, Fosamax, and similar medications for four to five years may be at risk for sudden fractures of the femur, the main thigh bone. VOA's Melinda Smith has details about possible side effects of the drugs, and what the U.S. government's health agency is doing about it.

I need help!

I need help!

My Mom fell recently, so I went to Walgreens (McKee Rd, SJ) to shop for health-aids for people who have bad backs. You can download the photos from Flickr.

Lesson 7a - THOUGHT GROUPS - English Pronunciation

JenniferESL: Lesson 7a - THOUGHT GROUPS - English Pronunciation

PART ONE of a lesson in TWO parts. Topic: Thought Groups. Develop your awareness of the natural rhythm in English. Learn to pause naturally by grouping your words into thoughts. Levels: intermediate to advanced.

ESL Podcast 561 – Being Forgetful

ESL Podcast 561 – Being Forgetful

I would tell you what this episode is about, but I forgot. Learn more about being forgetful in this episode. Download Podcast

US FDA Examining Failures of LASIK Eye Surgery

VOAVideo: US FDA Examining Failures of LASIK Eye Surgery

LASIK eye surgery is used to correct people's vision and end their need for glasses or contact lenses. The US Food and Drug Administration approved the procedure 15 years ago. But now, a former government regulator is publicly expressing concerns about the procedure's safety. VOA's Vidushi Sinha has a report, narrated by Carol Pearson.

Lesson 6d - WORD STRESS - English Pronunciation

JenniferESL: Lesson 6d - WORD STRESS - English Pronunciation

This is PART FOUR of a lesson in four parts. Topic: Word Stress. In this segment we finish going through the pronunciation of the 50 states and capitals of the USA. Some patterns based on syllable count are shown, and a final interview with a native speaker is presented. Level: All levels, though the interviews with native speakers will challenge beginners. They increase in difficulty from Lesson 6b to 6c to 6d.

Also checkout Jennifer's new webite:

WWW.ENGLISHWITHJENNIFER.COM

Drug Maker Accused of False Advertising

VOAVideo: Drug Maker Accused of False Advertising

A county in the U.S. state of California is suing GlaxoSmithKline, the maker of Avandia, a controversial diabetes drug. The lawsuit was spurred by a report on the drug released by the U.S. Senate last week (March 22). That report accused the drug company of withholding information about side effects of serious heart problems, including death. At issue now is whether Avandia should be taken off the market. VOA's Carol Pearson has more.

Museum of Chinese in America Explores the Immigrant Life

VOANews: Museum of Chinese in America Explores the Immigrant Life

Exhibits in New York show history and culture of Chinese-American communities EXPLORATIONS

• Watch: Traditional New Year's Activities in Chinatown Windows Media
• Listen: EXPLORATIONS MP3
• Website: Museum of Chinese In America

Lesson 6c - WORD STRESS - English Pronunciation

JenniferESL: Lesson 6c - WORD STRESS - English Pronunciation

This is PART THREE of four parts. Topic: Word Stress. In this segment we continue the main exercise of this lesson: How to pronounce the 50 states and capitals of the USA. Level: All levels, though the vocabulary and rate of speech in the interviews with native speakers will challenge beginners.

Keeping Older Adults Physically Fit = Healthy

VOAVideo: Keeping Older Adults Physically Fit = Healthy

Studies show that people are living longer and the population in much of the world is growing older. Other research shows physical activity reduces the risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes and some cancers. It also delays the onset of Alzheimer's. VOA's Carol Pearson reports on efforts by one university to help older adults reap the benefits of exercise.

The Danger of Counterfeit Drugs (Second of Two Parts)

The Danger of Counterfeit Drugs (Second of Two Parts)

A look at some of what is being done to fight fake medicines DEVELOPMENT REPORT

• Watch: Captioned Videos on YouTube Windows Media
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