Talk about Money and Time (Pattern A / P18)

1. How much do you usually pay for music CDs ?
---ans---
I usually pay approximately 2,000(two thousand) yen for music CDs.
But recently I don't buy CDs compared with past.
When I find good music, first I am going to download for free.
If I can not download that next I go to iTunes store on website and I will buy music what I only need.

2. How much do you think a five-day ski trip to Hokkaido would cost ?
---ans---
I think that trip would cost about 70,000(seventy thousand) yen per a person in winter.
That included air fare, hotel and several breakfast.
If you want to play ski or snowboard, I guess total cost will be over 100,000(one hundred thousand) yen.

3. How much do you think the least expensive Mercedes-Benz costs ?
---ans---
I think that costs about 3,000,000(three million) yen.
To tell the truth, I have a Mercedes-Benz that's class is A.
My mercedes is most cheap one among all mercedes class.
Therefore I know that cost.

4. How much do you usually spend at the barbershop or beauty salon ?
---ans---
I usually spent around 12,000(twelve thousand) yen.
I go to beauty shop every three months.
Everytime I get a perm therefore I spend little expensive cost.

5. What is the most expensive thing you have ever bought ?
---ans---
That is house.
That costed approximately 50,000,000(fifty million) yen on a loan.
I have to pay back housing loan for thirty five years continually.
Incidentally interest of that loan is 1.5%.

6. How long do you think it takes to fly from Tokyo to Sydney, Australia ?
---ans---
I think it takes about 8 hours.
Certainly it takes about 6 hours from Tokyo to Cairnes and I guess it takes about two hours from Cairnes to Sydney.

7. How long does it take you to get ready for school in the morning ?
---ans---
I need at least one hour to get ready for coming to work.
After I wake up, I usually wash face and eat breakfast that my wife make and brush my teeth and finally change clothes.

Population

---Population---

Canada : 32,225,000 ・・・ thirty-two million, two hundred twenty-five thousand
United Kingdom : 60,068,000 ・・・sixty million, sixty-eight thousand
Thailand : 65,002,000 ・・・ sixty-five million, two thousand
Germany : 82,490,000 ・・・ eighty-two million, four hundred ninety thousand
Russia : 143,025,000 ・・・ One hundred fourty-three million, twenty-five thousand
Indonesia : 221,932,000 ・・・ two hundred twenty-one million nine hundred thirty-two thousand


---Homework---

Japan : 127,333,000 ・・・ one hundred twenty-seven million, three hundred thirty-three thousand
USA : 293,027,000 ・・・ two hundred ninety-three million, twenty-seven thousand.
Brazil : 184,101,000 ・・・ one hundred eighty-four million, one hundred one thousand
Australia : 19,905,000 ・・・ nineteen million, nine hundred five thousand
China : 1,306,148,000 ・・・ one billion, three hundred six million, one hundred fourty-eight hundred
India : 1,065,070,000 ・・・ one billion, sixty-five million, seventy thousand
Egypt : 76,117,000 ・・・ seventy-six million, one hundred seventeen thousand
France : 62,944,000 ・・・ sixty-two million, nine hundred fouty-four hundred
Newzee Land : 4,018,000 ・・・ four million, eighteen thousand
South Korea : 48,598,000 ・・・ fouty-eight million, five hundred ninety-eight thousand
Earth's Population : 6,635,417,000 ・・・ six billion, six hundred thirty five million, four hundred seventeen thousand

Talk about Food (Pattern B-2 / P21)

1. Is there any kind of food you dislike ?
---ans---
Especially I dislike Thai food.
Because it is too spicy and hot for me.
For example, I like curry but I dislike thai curry for same reason.
About japanese food, I dislike sushi.
Because I can not eat wasabi and dislike vinegar.
So If I have to go to sushi restaurant in business dinner I always order sushi with out wasabi.
In sushi menu, I like Ikura, Natto and Tamago because those are needless to eat with wasabi.

2. Can you cook ? What is your best dish ?
---ans---
People tell me my French-Toast is good.
I think that is easy-to-make.
How do you use ?
First, prepare material that is a bread, a egg, milk and vanilla ice cream.
Before starting, heat oven to ease cooking.
First melt down vanilla ice cream to liguid and mix that with milk and egg.
Next a bread is mixed with previous maked liquid.
Finally, burn that for eight minutes on 220 degree in oven.
That's all.

3. If you could go anywhere in japan for dinner , where would you go and what would you eat ?
---ans---
If possible I would go to sendai for eating GYUTAN.
Gyutan is a kind of meat dish that use beef.
Sendai is famous about Gyutan cuisine.
I have a lot of likes and dislikes but alomost of meat is eatable for me.
But in meat cuisine I can not eat Liver.



---Vocabulary---
Spicy : ピリッとした、香料のきいた
Hot : 辛い
Easy-to-make : 作りやすい
Prepare : 準備する
Material : 材料
Vanilla : バニラ
Heat : 暖める
Ease : -をしやすくする
Melt down : 溶かす
Liquid : 液体
Mix : 混ぜる
Burn : 焼く
Degree : 度
Oven : オーブン
A kind of : -の一種
Beef : 牛の肉
Likes and dislikes : 好き嫌い
Almost of : -のほとんど
Eatable : 食べられる
Liver : レバー

Current Status of Last Competition

---original---

This is great news. If the local team are recognizing us, Head office will approve.

Jeff


---later---

This was acceptable so they will now propose us to Atlanta.
We will know Friday if this is agreed.

Karl


---Forward---

Dear all

Last Friday, Karl met Frank of client's president and shared their evaluation for our presentation.
They said we are a bit better than opponent in planning and , especially costs.

But they also pointed out that our fee proposal is far bigger than opponent, so we agreed to resubmit our revised one and did it yesterday.
Then they accepted it and will make it to be their proposal to their Atlanta head office.
We will know their answer within a week.

Best regards,


---FYI---

Sorry, but please let me remind you that it should be kept confidential internally , externally, until we get their final decision and official letter to venders.



---Vocabulary---

Recognize : わかる、評価する、賞賛する
Approve : 承認する、強化する、賛成する
Acceptable : 喜ばれる、満足のゆく
Bit : 少し
Resubmit : 再提起する
Make it : うまくいく、何とかする、調整する、都合をつける

Talk about Food (Pattern B-1 / P21)

1. Describe about potluck party.
---ans---
At podluck party everybody brings a different dish and we share the food.


2. What your best dish ?
---ans---
Are you kidding ?
I can't cook anything.
But people tell me my potato's cuisine is very good.


3. Do you prefer a japanese-style breakfast or a western-style breakfast ?
---ans---
I like a western-style breakfast better.
Why?
I think that is easy-to-make.
In the morning, I have a little time everyday therefore I can't use much time for eating.
For example, bread neet to be only burned for a few minutes. Egg need to only boiled for a few minutes too. But, when it comes to japanese-style breakfast, rice have to be cooked for at least 30 minutes. Miso soup have to be included some ingredients. I think japanese-style breakfast have to use so many time than western-style breakfast.


4. What is your favorite snack or junk food ?
---ans---
About snack I like potato chips.
When I purchase lunch at CVS, I usually add potato chips that I eat after lunch.
And about junk food simply I like hamburger.
I sometimes go to McDonald's with my family by car that is drive through order system. I usually order "happy set" that is children's menu attaching small toy. I have to order that menu to let myson get some toy.


5. What kind of non-japanese food do you like ?
---ans---
I like italian food.
For example, pasta, risotto and pizza.
Almost all menu of italian food is burned or boiled or flied.
That is very important factor for me.
Because I dislike raw food such as sushi, sashimi and more.
Of course taste of italian food suit me.
And more they have some good sweet after main dish such as tiramisu or gelati.


6. What is your favorite restaurant ?
---ans---
I like italian restaurant named ALTOMONDO.
That restaurant is located in Aoyama, Tokyo.
There is a lot of normal italian menu and good wines.
Frankly speaking food cost is not reasonable but taste and atmosphere is very good.
Especially this restaurant is on the top of building so you can see the beautiful night view while eating.
I recommend there when you are going on date with someone.


7. What is the strangest food you have ever eaten ?
---ans---
Sorry I don't remember about strangest food.
Because I have a lot of like and dislike for food.
So if someone recommend me to eat starange food, perhaps I will reject eating that.


8. Have you ever had whale meat ?
---ans---
Yes, I have.
When I was child, I sometimes eat that.
But for any regulation of whale captrure, I couldn't eat whale meat when I had become high school student.
I think that is derisious for me.


---Vocabulary---
potluck : eating session
cuisine : dish
ingredient : 具
raw : 生の
reasonable : not expensive
atmosphere : 雰囲気
night view : 夜景
strange : not normal
like and dislike : 好き嫌い
reject : not agree
regulation : 条約
capture : 捕獲

Talk about Food (Pattern A / P21)

1. Do you usually eat breakfast before coming to school ?
(if yes) What do you usually have ?
---ans---
Yes, I do.
I eat usually eat breakfast every morning.
The menu is always same.
For example, Hot milk, bread with butter, apple, banana, orange and yogurt.
And after finishing to eat those, I usually drink japanese tea.


2. What's your favorite vegetable ?
---ans---
I like lettuce with dressing the best.
I usually eat lettuce with a lot of tomatoes and japanese inspired dressing.


3. What's your favorite fruit ?
---ans---
I totally like fruit but especially I like Kiwi and Mango.
I think those are healty for me.
Incidentlly, I have a dislikable fruit that is Melon.
Simply I dislike that taste and seed.


4. What do you usually drink with your dinner ?
---ans---
I usually drink japanese tea with my dinner.
In youth, I usually drink carbonated beverage such as Coke but now I can't drink them.
And after finished dinner, I sometimes drink english tea with milk.


5. Which do you prefer, chinese food or italian food ?
---ans---
I prefer Italian food better such as Pizza, Pasta and Rizotte.
I don't have any reason for preferring Italian but I think they are easy-to eat.
I like chinese food too, but I have a few dislikable menu in them such as Peking duck, Peatan and Ebi-Chiri.


6. If you were going on a date, what kind of restaurant would you go to ?
---ans---
Perhaps I choice italian restaurant.
Because, I think there is few women who dislike them.
And In italian restaurant we can separate some foods so wa can enjoy a lot of menu.
And more in italian restaurant they have many good wine.
In fact, I can not drink beer, so I want to avoid japanese style pub.


7. Have you ever tried frog legs ?
---ans---
No! I never eat that.
And I don't want to that forever.
I dislike that appearance and I can't understand anyone who can eat them.
I think taste of that is not good.


8. Have you ever had Thai food ?
---ans---
Yes, I have.
That was so-so.
But there is a few spicy food and I can not eat enormous spicy menu.
So, I dislike Tomuyankun.
In this food menu, I like Coconuts within Tapioca.


9. What kind of japanese food do you dislike ?
---ans---
I dislike Sushi.
Because, I dislike vinegar and Wasabi so if I have to eat sushi I eat that without Wasabi.
Therefore I can not eat Sashimi that is sliced raw fish for same reason.
In sushi menu, eatable menu is Natto-Maki, Tamago(egg) and salmon caviar in japanese Ikura.
Ikura is delicious.
The reason that I dislike sushi is only prejudice.
But I think I can not eat Wasabi forever.


10. Do you plan to eat out tonight ?
---ans---
No, I don't.
I am going to eat dinner in my house with my family.
I think my wife is making ready my dinner.
I usually eat dinner at my house to save food cost.

Naturally ecological Silver Group

We often say, “grandma knows best.” Their wisdom ranges from ‘putting a garlic wrapped in a muslin and put it in a rice pale to keep the bugs away,’ ‘a glass can be cleaned using potato peels,’ ‘use unused wraps to make bags,’ etc. These silver age women have ample tricks of the trade that requires no money.

They are obviously not something you have to know or else and there are products you can buy to get the same results. However, if you do know, you can rid of all ‘unnecessities’ in life, tricks for a smart way of living. It’s not something they were taught in school or read in a book but a naturally acquired knowledge and technique as the generation who lived through a time of not having much materially.

This is why these ladies have a serious doubt towards this consumeristic way of life. “That extra plastic inside cracker packages aren’t necessary,” “too much over-wrapping,” “people replace something with new ones even if it’s still useable,” are some of their criticism about products out there. And they are not shy about sharing their piece of mind about the younger generation. The ‘MOTTAINAI’ spirit that advocates ‘using something until it becomes unusable’ and ‘think of ways to recycle before chucking it in a bin’ in this day and age when ecological issues are high on many people’s minds is actually their way of life as naturally eco-conscious individuals. For the silver ladies, the so-called new trends such as “3R (reuse/reduce/recycle)”, “slow life,” and “LOHAS” are mere extension of the lives they have always lived.

Let’s think about this for a moment. Do we ourselves have the knowledge that will win the comment, “Grandma knows best” when we age to be grandparents? With global warming becoming an increasing concern, isn’t it vital for us to incorporate these wisdoms of the generation before and pass it on to the generation after?



---Vocabulary---
naturally : 生まれつき
ecological : 環境保護の
grandma : おばあちゃん
wisdom : 知恵
range : 及ぶ、広がる、範囲（名）
garlic : にんにく
muslin : 布
wrap : 包む、布、包装紙
pale : 棚、範囲
keep away : 隔離する
bug : 虫
peel : 皮
ample : 豊富な
trick : 裏技、こつ
trade : 取引、仕事、職
obviously : 明らかに
rid of : 免れる、脱する
unnecesity : 不必要
generation : 世代、世代の人々
materially : 物質的に
serious : まじめな、重大な、深刻な
doubt : 疑い
consumeristic : 大量消費の
cracker : お菓子のクラッカー
necesarry : 必要な
usable ： 使用可能な（=useable）
criticism : 批評、非難、批判
shy : 内気な、照れ屋の
piece of : 一切れの、断片の
piece of mind : 小言、説教
advocate : 主張する、推奨する、擁護する
chuck : 投げる、捨てる
bin : ゴミ箱、容器
conscious : 意識、意識した
individual : 個人
so-called : いわゆる
such as : 例えば-など
reduce : 減らす
extention : 延長、拡張、内線（cf）
mere : 単なる

28.October.2007

Yesterday was Sunday.
After typhoon, it was sunny day.

I would wake up at 9:00 in order to watch MLB in what Daisuke Matsuzaka had been scheduled for startar.
Actually, I waked up at 10:30 when the game already started.
Yesterday, his condition was good compared with last two appearance.
And more, He drove in two runs that was the first incident in history of Japanese about MLB.
Eventually Boston Red Sox won the game and moved close to world champion.

On the other hand, Kazuo Matsui made three hits.
I think he contributed to Rockys extremely.

When the game finished, I made ready to pick up my family for wife's family home.
Through the highway, I need about 2 hours to arrive at there.
And more there was Tokyo Motor Show in Makuhari that was worldwide car event.
I had to go through Makuhari.
Therefore I thought to need more time than usual.
But I arrived at there on time that I had supposed.

My son slept when I arrived.
So I waited his wake-up while having tea and cake with my wife's family.

At 18 O'clock he waked up and we left there for our home.
On our way to home there were a lot of traffic jam especially capital highway.
Therefore we took a circuitous route that use Tokyo-Aqua-Line.
That is dramatic shortcut from Chiba to Kanagawa that run through under Tokyo Bay.
We only need about 10 minutes from Kisarazu in Chiba prefecture to Kawasaki in Kanagawa prefecture.

Thanks to this shortcut we arrived at home for 2 hours.
I was little tired.
Arter I took a bath with my son, he was going to be sleepy soon.
I watched comedy show and news on TV and went to bed.



---Vocabulary---
typhoon : 台風
sunny : 天気が良い
in order to : -するために
schedule : 予定する
starter : 先発
actually : 実際には
compared with : -と比較して
appearance : 登場、登板
and more : さらに
drive in : 打点を挙げる
indicent : 出来事
eventually : 結果
on the other hand : 他方
contribute to : 貢献する
extremely : すごく
make ready : 準備する
pick up : 迎えに行く
family home : 実家
go thorough : 通り抜ける
usual : いつも
on time : 時間通り
suppose : 予想する
traffic jam : 交通渋滞
capital highway : 首都高速
take a curcuitous : 遠回り
dramatic : 劇的な
shortcut : 近道
thanks to : -のおかげで
take a bath : お風呂に入る
sleepy : 眠い

Dragons even Japan Series one game apiece

Starter Kenichi Nakata gave up one run over eight innings Sunday as the Chunichi Dragons downed the Nippon Ham Fighters 8-1 to even the best-of-seven Japan Series one game apiece.

Nakata gave up three hits and walked only one batter while striking out five in a 106-pitch effort at Sapporo Dome.

The series now moves to Nagoya Dome for three games beginning on Tuesday.

Norihiro Nakamura doubled in a pair of runs in the top of the fourth inning when the Dragons took a 4-0 lead.

Fernando Seguignol, who hit a three-run homer in Saturday's 3-1 win for the Fighters, responded with a solo shot in the bottom of the fourth, but that was all the scoring for Trey Hillman's team.

South Korean outfielder Lee Byung-kyu hit a two-run homer in the sixth and Masahiko Morino added another two-run blast in the seventh to put the game out of reach.

Hillman was hired by the Kansas City Royals to be their manager a week ago and is in his last year in Japan after a successful five-year stint as manager of the Fighters.

The best-of-seven series is a rematch of last year's championship, which the Pacific League's Fighters won in five games.

Nippon Ham starter Ryan Glynn took the loss after giving up four runs on three hits over 3-1/3 innings.

It is the first time in 14 years that the same teams are playing each other in the Japan Series in two consecutive years. The Seibu Lions and Yakult Swallows were the last teams to do so in 1992-1993.



---Vocabulary---
Solid : 固体、すばらしい（形）
Even : 等しい、同等の
Apiece : 個々に、おのおのにつき
Give up : （野球で）得点を許す、ヒットなどを許す
Run : （野球で）得点
Best-of-seven : 7試合中4試合に勝てばよい
Effort : 取り組み、努力
Double : （野球で）2ベースを打つ
Take a lead : （野球で）リードする
Respond : 対応する、（ここでは）反抗する
Hire : 雇う（他）、雇われる（自）
Stint : 期間
1/3 : one third、3分の1
Consecutive : 連続した
blast : 一振り、突風
our of reach : 手の届かないところへ

27.October.2007

We had typhoon yesterday.
It was so stormy weather during the day that I couldn't go out anywhere.

I waked up 11 O'clock that was late too.
First, I had breakfast and started to watch DVD.
I watched american drama "24" that is season 6 in english.
Because I think watching movie or foreign drama in english is effective to enhance english vocabulary and listening ability.

Violent wind was sharpen litlle by little at 17 O'clock.
I made ready to let my flower pots evacuate to safty place.
At last hurricane, strong wind crushed a few flower pots and we had to buy new one.
At 21 O'clock weather recovered.

Recently I was lazy about studying German.
I checked educational program that I usually recorded on Hard Disk Recorder.

By the way, I brought a few articles under internet auction.
If I got some money from this trading, I want to buy new iPod that is very light more then previous ones.
I wish they were obtained a high price.

Eventually I went to bed at 4 O'clock ante meridiem.
I have to change life rhythm.



---Vocabulary---
typhoon : 台風
stormy : 激しい
during the day : 日中
go out : 外出する
effective : 効果的
enhance : 強化する
violent : 暴力的な、激しい
sharpen : 強くなる、激しくなる
little by little : 少しずつ
make ready : 準備する
flower pot : 植木鉢
evacuate : 避難する
hurricane : 台風（=typhoon）
recover : 回復する
lazy : 怠けている
educational program : 教育番組
record : 録画する
bring - under auction : オークションに出品する
trading : 取引
light : 軽い
previous : 前の、これまでの
obtain a high price : 高値がつく
eventually : 最終的に
ante meridiem : 午前
rhythm : リズム