뉴스&스피킹(영자신문)
하루 10분이면 영어에 대한 두려움을 극복하고 누구나 유창하게 영어를 구사하실 수 있습니다.
- Monday
06.03 - Tuesday
06.04 - Wednesday
06.05 - Thursday
06.06 - Friday
06.07 
-
Daily Marijuana Use Greater than Daily Alcohol Use in US For the first time, the number of Americans who use marijuana almost every day has grown greater than the number who drink alcohol almost every day.
This change, some 40 years in the making, comes as marijuana use has become more common and legal in nearly half of U.S. states.
In 2022, an estimated 17.7 million people reported using marijuana daily or near-daily. In comparison, 14.7 million people reported being daily or near-daily drinkers, an examination of national survey data shows.
In 1992, when daily pot use hit a low point, less than 1 million people said they used marijuana nearly every day.
Alcohol is still more widely used. But 2022 was the first time this high level of marijuana use overtook daily and near-daily drinking, said the study’s writer, Jonathan Caulkins of Carnegie Mellon University.
“A good 40 percent of current cannabis users are using it daily or near daily, a pattern that is more associated with tobacco use than typical alcohol use,” Caulkins said.
The research, based on data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, appeared recently in the publication Addiction.
The survey is a highly regarded source of self-reported estimates of tobacco, alcohol and drug use in the United States.
From 1992 to 2022, the per capita rate of those reporting daily or near-daily marijuana use increased by 15 times. Caulkins suggested in the study that people may be more willing to report marijuana use as public acceptance grows.
Most states now permit medical or recreational marijuana, though it remains illegal at the federal level. In November, Florida voters will decide on a constitutional change permitting recreational cannabis.
And the federal government is moving to reclassify marijuana as a less dangerous drug.
Research shows that high-frequency users are more likely to become addicted to marijuana, said Dr. David A. Gorelick of the University of Maryland School of Medicine. Gorelick was not involved in the study.
The number of daily users suggests that more people are at risk for developing problematic cannabis use or addiction, Gorelick said.
“High frequency use also increases the risk of developing cannabis-associated psychosis,” a severe condition where a person loses touch with reality, he said.
I’m John Russell.View -
Trump Found Guilty of 34 Felony Charges A New York City jury on Thursday found former U.S. president Donald Trump guilty of falsifying business records to influence the outcome of the 2016 election.
The jury found Trump guilty on all 34 felony charges. A felony is considered a serious crime that could result in stronger punishment. The trial marked the first time a former U.S. president has faced a criminal trial.
In the New York case, government lawyers presented evidence against Trump. In an audio recording made in September 2016, Trump can be heard saying, "So what do we got to pay for this?" as he and his lawyer discussed how to suppress stories about his reported affair.
Michael Cohen, Trump’s former lawyer, said that he made the payment to adult film performer Stormy Daniels to keep her from telling the public about a sexual relationship she said she had with Trump years earlier. Cohen also said Trump’s business, called the Trump Organization, repaid the money with Trump’s knowledge and claimed them as legal costs.
The jury also heard from former National Enquirer newspaper publisher David Pecker about a “catch and kill” plan to suppress a story from another adult magazine model, Karen McDougal. He said that payments were made to suppress stories that could hurt Trump’s 2016 campaign.
What’s next?
Trump now faces the possibility of being placed on probation or imprisoned for up to four years for the conviction.
Judge Juan Merchan, who presided over the legal case, has set a sentencing hearing for July 11. That is days before the opening of the Republican National Convention on July 15 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Trump is expected to be named the 2024 Republican presidential nominee for the November election against President Joe Biden.
Coming out of the courtroom, Trump called the verdict a “disgrace.” He added, “The real verdict is going to be November 5, by the people.” November 5 is Election Day in the United States this year.
Biden did not comment on Trump’s guilty verdict. But his presidential campaign said in a statement: “Today's verdict does not change the fact that the American people face a simple reality. There is still only one way to keep Donald Trump out of the Oval Office: at the ballot box…”
Trump is certain to appeal his conviction and can continue to run for the presidency. There is also no measure in the U.S. Constitution to prevent Trump from becoming president as a convicted felon.
As a president, if he wins the November election, Trump will have the power to pardon, or cancel, federal convictions. But he could not pardon himself in a state case like the New York trial in which he was convicted.
Trump is facing three other indictments, including two accusing him of illegally trying to overturn his 2020 election loss. The third says he illegally took hundreds of highly secret national security documents to his Florida home when his presidential term ended, and then refused to return them.
But all three cases are being delayed.
I’m Mario Ritter, Jr.View -
How to Protect Your Car from Being Stolen Most recent cars have an electronic key that lets the owner get into and start the car.
The electronic key is called a “fob” to those who know about the technology. The fob sends a short-range signal to the car. As the owner gets close, the fob unlocks the door.
But the new technology also makes it easier for criminals to open the car without the key.
When you lock your car and take the key with you inside your home, the fob does not stop sending its signal.
Thieves, who have special equipment known as scanners, will pass by streets with a lot of cars. If the scanner shows that a fob is sending a signal, the thieves use a device that clones the signal and opens the car doors.
Government officials around the world have asked carmakers to warn car buyers of the risks of the new technology. They also have asked them to make the fobs more secure.
Until then, what can you do to prevent your car from being stolen?
Steve Launchbury has some suggestions he shared with the Associated Press. He is the head engineer of automotive security company Thatcham Research based in Britain.
Place your key in a protective bag
“It’s relatively easy for drivers to protect themselves,” he said.
The first tip is to put your key into a protective container or bag when you get home. One kind is called a Faraday bag. They are not very costly. The bag is made from a special metal material called mesh that blocks the signal from the fob. Just do not forget to put any extra keys you have into that bag, too.
Some advice that is easy to find online says people should put their keys into the microwave or freezer to prevent their signal from being stolen. Launchbury said that does not work and it could harm your key.
Get a steering wheel lock
You may have seen large locks that go across the steering wheel in television advertisements many years ago. It turns out they are still useful. They may be considered “old school,” but the presence of big locks that are easy to see makes car thieves turn away. The only problem is that you must take extra time to unlock the device and put it away before you can drive away.
Change the settings
Some car makers permit owners to deactivate the signal sent out by the fob. For Ford, Honda and Audi, owners can use their car’s touchscreen system to find the correct way to turn off the signal. For Toyota, you can turn off the signal by pressing a combination of buttons on the fob.
Read your car’s owner’s manual to be sure how to do this.
Some car makers include motion sensors on their key fobs. If the fob has not been moved in a while, the fob turns off.
If you buy a used car, some experts suggest that you get your keys reprogrammed in case the earlier owner still has a key.
New theft techniques
Launchbury said some cars have a new system called a controller area network, or CAN. The network permits different parts, or components, of the car to communicate with each other. He said some thieves are trying to join the CAN through some physical electronic connection to unlock the car. They can do this by removing a headlight and plugging in a device that lets them in the car’s network.
The device can send a signal, such as “unlock” or “start” to the central system.
Launchbury said this is where the physical lock can cause thieves to change their mind and force them to move on. Owners can also consider electronic immobilizers. These devices prevent a car from moving even if a thief gets into the internal system. However, immobilizers can be costly.
I’m Dan Friedell.View -
The Story of a Hong Kong Democracy Activist A court in Hong Kong found 14 pro-democracy activists guilty of crimes linked to an unofficial vote in 2020. Some could face life in prison.
Hong Kong officials said the action was part of a plot to hurt the government and “subvert state power.” The main crime was termed conspiracy to commit subversion. The ruling ends a four-year legal case that has gained international attention.
A democracy activist
Among those convicted was 27-year-old Owen Chow, a democracy activist who has spent most of the last four years in prison.
Chow told the court that he considered withdrawing from the election after studying the security laws put in place by the government in Beijing in 2020. But he said he “could not leave the masses.”
In their judgment Thursday, the judges said they had “no doubt” that Chow’s purpose for taking part in the election was to “undermine, destroy or overthrow the existing political system.”
A former nursing student, Chow started his activism during mass protests over a disputed piece of legislation in 2019. In a separate trial, a court sentenced Chow to five years in prison for temporarily occupying Hong Kong’s legislature during the protests.
Chow told Reuters that all he had done was to fight for democratic freedoms legally guaranteed under Hong Kong’s law since 1997. That year Britain handed over the territory to China.
“Democracy is the future of Hong Kong. This won’t change regardless of those in power,” Chow said in a room at a high-security prison.
Chow spoke to Reuters in 2021 before he was arrested. He said he decided to become a health care worker after his father died.
“Since then, I wanted to take care of others,” he said. But he suspended his studies to run in the primary election named in the court case.
Chow became interested in activism when huge pro-democracy protests started in Hong Kong. He voiced opposition to quieter plans from older democracy supporters. Chow was one of nearly 3000 people who faced charges for offenses related to the 2019 protests. More than 290 people faced national security charges.
Chow and others were denied a jury trial although Hong Kong common law permits them. Thirty-two people have spent over 1,000 days in jail without bail. Bail is a process that secures a person’s release from prison while they await trial.
In March, Hong Kong’s government said in a statement that all defendants have the right to a fair trial by an independent judiciary. It rejected U.S. criticism of Hong Kong’s additional national security measures.
Taking things in stride
Chow said he has tried to remain healthy and strong in prison through exercise, meditation and study. He reads six books each month including works on politics, philosophy and Buddhism.
Chow said prison life is difficult, but he tried to take the difficulties in a balanced way or “in stride.”
“If we accept that adversity is inevitable and treat adversity as a rare chance to train ourselves, to improve ourselves, we can all take things in our stride,” he said.
In 2021, Chow met a reporter named Amanda. She told Reuters that the two have a relationship. She is now based in Britain.
Chow is now mainly in a one-man prison cell in Stanley Prison. He likely faces another long prison sentence. But he said he is considering what is best over the long term.
“It’s a sacrifice for Hong Kong. It’s as if I’m sitting in jail for everyone else and suffering on behalf of others.”
But he added, “What I’ve gained is more than I’ve lost.”
I’m Mario Ritter, Jr.View -
Pigs in Yoga Class Put People at Ease In the northeastern American state of Massachusetts, people are combining a form of exercise for the body and spirit with pigs.
The yoga classes in Massachusetts are selling out within hours. People come from far away to exercise with Wilbur, Charlotte and Bluey, who are piglets, or young pigs.
The pigs come from a nearby farm to play among people in the yoga class at Ashley Bousquet’s business Beyond Yoga & Wellness in the town of Spencer. Bousquet tells people not to worry if piglets climb on top of them or want to cuddle.
Goat yoga
Yoga classes with animals are not new. Goats might have been the first. Lainey Morse started yoga classes with goats in the state of Oregon in 2016. She found she felt happier and more at ease around goats. She talked with a friend who was a yoga teacher. They decided to offer classes with the goats. Their business was successful, and the idea soon spread to other places.
In Ashley Bousquet’s class, the little pigs walk around humans who are moving into exercise positions called downward dog, crow and cobra. Among the other animals in the outdoor class are two rabbits and a goat named Munchie.
Stacey Delbridge and her daughter drove almost two hours to attend a class with the pigs. She said it was worth the drive.
“The best thing about the piglet yoga was, of course, the piglets and how cute they are,” Delbridge said with a smile. “They were funny, you know. Just when you were getting to a point where you needed a break, you had a great visitor come see you, and you could quit without looking like a quitter. Yeah. They’re adorable.”
Bousquet said there is such demand that online registrations are usually full within hours.
The classes begin with Bousquet inviting her students not to worry about stopping their exercises to spend time with the piglets.
“During the class you have piglets causing mischief and running on you, on top of you or cuddling with you,” Bousquet said. “It’s super cute.”
Amy Finkel brought her two daughters with her, smiling while taking photos of piglets as the girls held a rabbit.
"The highlight of the class, in my opinion, was just having them run around, and seeing them so joyful and happy," she said.
The only problem was that the time passed too quickly.
Good results for humans and animals
Doing yoga with animals produces good results.
Rebecca Purchase is a Volunteer Coordinator of the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals-Angell. If animal yoga includes shelter, or unwanted, animals, it may even encourage people to give them a home, she said.
“Is yoga stressful to animals that join? It can be if it’s not the right animal,” Purchase said. "For animals that really thrive, being around people, and getting to socialize with them, it absolutely can be a benefit.”
Finkel enjoys animal yoga — she said it helped keep her mind from moving on to other things.
“I just wanted to sit with them,” Delbridge said.
I’m Jill Robbins.View