This was during the Gilded Age, and this - you know, the original 1-percenters in this country. They wanted - especially Western Pennsylvania - I mean, steel moved this country. Steel helped build this country in the industrial age. And that steel was in Western Pennsylvania and throughout Pennsylvania - and the titans of steel and of coal and railroads. And they wanted a club that their compatriots had out West. And so they created the South Fork Hunt and Fish Club. And they wanted to be able to go out boating and fishing. And so they're in the Conemaugh Valley. They dammed up a river, created an earthen dam. But it was not well prepared. And the people were concerned about it. And they said this dam could fail. And if this dam fails, it would be catastrophic.

There was a lot of rain, wasn't there?

I mean, we talk about rain of biblical proportions. I mean, it was more than a foot of rain. But the problem was in the engineering of the dam. There was no way to - on a methodical basis - to be able to release water. The water just kept coming over the spillway and eroding the face of the dam, which was holding in all the rock and stone. And that gave way. Within 40 minutes, 20 million tons of water was emptied and heading down the Conemaugh Valley at about 40 to 50 miles per hour.

And as the water threatened to burst through - of course, in those days, no radio, no TV, no Twitter.

turn 1 : Levees were not built to handle current floodwater levels

turn 1 : The levees are old and unable to handle the amount of water released from Keystone Dam, resulting in many evacuations.

turn 1 : The "finger in the dike strategy, keep the water out and eventually things will recover" is not actually talking about water leaking out of a dam, but rather a declining bank that needed a solution to a financial drain problem

turn 1 : Biblical proportions of rain were a contributing factor, but the failure of the dam was ultimately due to poor engineering.


There was a lot of rain, wasn't there?

turn 2 : Contrary to the prediction, many Americans did not cancel their summer road trips

turn 2 : The information does not boil down, but it gets to the most practical facts.

turn 2 : The flooding is so severe that familiar landmarks are unrecognizable.

turn 2 : We have to be careful on how we link tornadic activity and other weather instances together.

turn 2 : they mention detailed miles and tons of water


Most certainly, you know, because when it's so many deaths and injured, emotions tend to run really high. And we're certainly worried.

But so far, have you heard of any incidents of intimidation or violence?

There has been a few minor incidents - nothing major. Pelting stones at a few mosques. And on Sunday itself, two shops were burned down.

Two shops, I think.

turn 2 : that the people don't want any more violence and want it to stop

turn 2 : The speaker is suggesting that the situation might not be as serious or dangerous as it initially seemed.

turn 2 : 'Leaders are calling for an end to the violence, but there hasn't been much talk in terms of specifics.' implies that leaders are not taking specific actions to end the violence.

turn 2 : A is implying that there have been small reports of violence, such as stones being thrown at mosques and shops being burned down.

turn 2 : People are starting to follow suit in regards to the actions of others.


Good morning, Don.

So, we're talking about two senior officials here - the director of Navy intelligence and the Navy's top intelligence officer. Pretty amazing.

It really is amazing, Don. It's important to note it has nothing to do with their current jobs in Naval intelligence at the Pentagon. It was in their earlier jobs in the Pacific, the area where the investigation began. Yeah, we have Vice Admiral Ted Branch, who's a director of Naval intelligence. He was commanding an aircraft carrier strike group in the region; and also Vice Admiral Bruce Loveless, now serving as director of intelligence operations. He was serving in that area as well. And the allegations against him we're told involve personal misconduct. We don't have a sense of exactly what that is, but the other officer is charged, so far in the case, have been charged with kickbacks and bribes. It's important to note here, the admirals have not been relieved of command or had their security clearances pulled, but, again, they no longer have access to classified information and are now on leave.

So, remind us how this scandal has developed.

turn 1 : Implies that the situation is incredible and shocking, rather than simply saying that it is amazing.

turn 1 : The literal meaning of (2) is a simple expression of surprise, while the implied meaning is that the speaker is in awe of Steve Dalkowski's remarkable ability.

turn 1 : B is impressed or surprised by what A said.

turn 1 : as it is the only turn with an implied meaning different from its literal meaning.

turn 1 :  you imply that something is the case


Yeah,. It's really amazing, yeah. It turns out he was, you know, an avid, you know, layperson but had great interest in butterflies and how they evolve and so on. And he suggested that butterflies moved in certain ways from between Asia and Europe and so on. And just about a couple of years ago scientists discovered that, you know, what he suggested is actually correct.

And how did he come up with that idea?I mean, was it based on fact?

He was really following - yeah, yeah. He was following, you know, the butterflies and, you know, and where - what kinds of species you find where and so on. He was really very interested and very knowledgeable in butterflies.

Mm-hmm. OK.  Let's move on to another famous guy: Lord Kelvin. Tell us who Lord Kelvin was and what his big blunder was.

turn 0 : The man was highly involved in social events and had long-standing involvement with various organizations.

turn 0 : Some successful scientists adopt unconventional approaches after achieving something significant.

turn 0 : The person was surprised greatly by the information and it affected many of their thoughts and emotions. They were not struck but what they saw made them notice it and think about it more.

turn 0 : He was a person that was not a scientist but had an interest in butterflies.

turn 0 : He would be able to go home happily when the baby was born.


turn 0 : (3) - Describe for our listeners what the monarch butterflies look like, instead of asking the listeners to actually go and see them.

turn 0 : The person being discussed was not an expert on butterflies but had great interest in them

turn 0 : The author woke up with a vision of millions of butterflies covering the forest, which inspired the novel.


Diddley first began performing on street corners, and by 1951, he'd lined up a regular spot at the 708 Club. He also took on the name Bo Diddley, which some say is a play on the Southern slang for the term, nothing at all.

In 1955, Diddley found his way into a recording studio and recorded the song "Bo Diddley. "That song became a number one hit for Chess records. "Hey, Bo Diddley" and "Who Do You Love?"followed.

(Singing) I walked 47 miles of barbed wire. I Used a cobra snake for a neck tie. I got a brand new house on the roadside. Made from rattlesnake hide. I got a brand new chimney made on top. Made out of a human skull. Now come on, take a little walk with me Arlene and tell me, who do you love?

Who do you love?Who do you love?Who do you love?

turn 1 : B may not be a man and likely didn't just turn 21. B is singing a Bo Diddley song in honor of his death.

turn 1 : This implies the days of humble beginning of Bo Diddley in the music industry.

turn 1 : Turn: "didn't quite get the same glory" Actual meaning: Did not receive the same recognition or fame.

turn 1 : the scene in this context means genre of music


So, tell us about those. There's one called the U6, I understand.

Well, U4, U5, U6 and they are all subsets of - each one is the previous one plus another group of unemployed. So, to go from U3 to U4, we add a group of people called discouraged workers. These are people who have given up looking for jobs even though they want a job. Then there's a different group called the marginally-attached worker, and that's somebody who isn't looking for a job but wants one. And there's another group of people who are working part time, but want a full-time job, but can't find them. If you take the broadest measure, the U6 measure of unemployment, we're talking about 11. 8 percent, and those are numbers similar to what we saw in the 1970s. That's an ugly unemployment number.

Well, why doesn't the government count that number or use that number when reporting these numbers?

Do you really have to ask that question?

turn 3 : It's a well-known fact that the government doesn't report accurate numbers.

turn 3 : A thinks that the government is not functioning properly.

turn 3 : Their notion is to do as much as you can and don't think about the numbers too much.

turn 3 : The information was told to others when it was not supposed to be told.

turn 3 : This statement implies that the newspaper was taking extra precautions to ensure the accuracy of their reporting.


We're trying to create the largest long-term study of aging in dogs that anyone has ever done, with the goal of trying to understand how genes and environment determine healthy aging in dogs.

On average, that's true. One of the amazing things about dogs, though, is that there's tremendous variation. If you go to the dog park, you'll see large dogs and small dogs. They also vary tremendously in their lifespan. And we're trying to understand why they vary so much.

Big dogs, I'm told, live shorter lives than small dogs.

And that's unusual because if you compare different species of mammals, from elephants to mice, it's the large species that live longer. So dogs are doing things in reverse.

And no indication as to why that might be yet?

turn 1 : In turn (4), the speaker is not actually asking if the study is disproving the old rule of thumb that one dog year is equivalent to seven human years. Rather, they are asking if the study is more complex and nuanced than that oversimplified rule, and if it takes into account factors such as genetics and environment in determining a dog's age.

turn 1 : (4) - So it's not just that old rule of thumb that one year is seven years in a dog's life? - Implied Meaning: Is there more to aging in dogs than just a general estimate of one year to seven years?

turn 1 :  (2): This is a rhetorical question that implies that there may not just be a "rule of thumb" when it comes to aging in dogs.

turn 1 : No dogs is trained in marijuana because it is a illegal.


Investors are ecstatic about central bankers working there. Listen to this, the German DAX Index up about 10 percent, the French CAC 40, up more than nine percent. Now, they are both measures like the Dow 30, which on Wall Street jumped 500 points in the morning.

In Britain, Prime Minister Gordon Brown put $65 billion of government money into three British banks. NPR's Rod Gifford is in London. We're going to him. Rob, hello. I think that people are saying it is this British plan, the so-called British plan that seems to be may be spurring a little bit of a recovery around the world. What is the British government doing, and what does it want in return?

Well, as you say, Alex, Gordon Brown is getting a lot of kudos from this, because he was the one who put this plan forward last week. What they're doing, as you say, is to put a lot of government money that is taxpayer's money, $65 billion worth of it, into three British banks into order to - they hope - free up the bank to bank lending, and the whole crisis of confidence that has struck British banks as it has done elsewhere.

In return - some very important conditions they want in return. Right upfront, leaders of these banks that have got into trouble must step down. Bonuses are being frozen for other executives who stay on and crucially, the demand that these banks maintain mortgage lending and small-business lending at 2007 levels, levels of last year.

turn 0 : There is a sense of panic in the financial system and central banks are the only ones willing to finance the banking sector.

turn 0 : The lack of bonuses affected stock market sales.

turn 0 : The policies would make drastic changes for the better to the economy.

turn 0 : Central bankers' actions have positively affected the market.

turn 0 : The government has not handled the financial crisis effectively.


turn 2 : Using government money to prop up the banking system is better than letting it implode.

turn 2 : Pouring money is a metaphor, not literal. It just means the government gave a lot of money to the bank, who spent a lot on bonuses and dividends.

turn 2 : The bailout could have potential negative consequences for the average taxpayer

turn 2 : Gordon Brown's plan is earning him praise, but it involves using taxpayer money to bailout three British banks and impose conditions on the banks in exchange for the money.


turn 2 : The British government is being praised for its plan to save the banks.

turn 2 : The rating agencies play an important role in the banks' ability to borrow money.

turn 2 : The economy is doing very poorly, and consumers are struggling to pay their debts and bills.


turn 3 : The bailout is not punishment enough for the people responsible for the financial crisis.

turn 3 : The bailout bill is necessary to help homeowners avoid foreclosure and help small businesses stay afloat.

turn 3 : The oversight of the bailout money may not be as strong as it is intended to be.

turn 3 : The government is demanding that the banks that received the bailout maintain mortgage lending and small-business lending at the levels of last year while also requiring leaders of these banks to step down and freezing bonuses for executives who stay.

turn 3 : Companies are misusing bailout money and need to be held accountable and punished for doing so.


turn 3 : The British government has set important conditions in exchange for bank bailouts.

turn 3 : The bailout could have potential negative consequences for the average taxpayer


Is President Trump right to blame the Fed. . .

Perhaps. . .

. . . For increasing interest rates?

Yeah. Perhaps a little bit on the margin. He's not wrong about that. So interest rates are still fairly low. The Fed raised its rate, its benchmark rate, to 2. 25 to 2. 5 percent, which is not - it's not, you know, like a hugely high rate. But they are starting to kind of cool the economy off a little bit. And, you know, for years and years and years, that rate has functionally been very, very close to zero. And they've been raising it slowly but surely. They've forecast that they are going to continue raising interest rates unless they see something in the numbers that really upsets them. So, yeah, you know, the Fed is not providing more help to the economy. It's looking at the economy and saying, hey, GDP growth is still 2. 8 percent per year this late in the recovery. We're going to keep on raising rates. And if there's a recession. . .

turn 1 : B wants A to explain what makes the agreement better

turn 1 : B disagrees with the premise of the question but is willing to discuss it further.

turn 1 : A is not fully agreeing with B's statement

turn 1 : B is impressed or surprised by what A said.


Yes. At the top of the mountains, we have cloud forests. These are forests composed of trees of low stature. They have the ability to withstand the strong wind conditions at the top of the mountain. They are very important in regulating the water cycling of the mountain and actually supplying the 20 percent of the water for Puerto Rico. These trees are completely covered by mosses and plants that sit on the tree trunks and collect water. And they can then kind of filter cloud water down the mountain. So many of these mosses and epiphytes were stripped from the tree trunks on the face where those winds were more intense.

I wonder, Dr.  Gonzalez, as you were walking through El Yunque looking at the destruction of this place that you've known so well for so long, what was going through your mind seeing it totally transformed?

Well, it's an amazing experience, but I think it's one of learning and regeneration. We already have seen the greening of the forest in some areas. We're already seeing that some species are lifting up. We know that some other species will come up and kind of make their way to more native or mature species of the forest to take over. So yes, it is a catastrophic event. But we know that there's going to be a recovery phase.

Dr.  Gonzalez, what about you and your family?How did you do?Do you have power?Do you have water?

turn 0 : The maple and birch have yellow leaves due to the fall season. The river has turns in it as it flows through the mountainside. The person is paddling through a very narrow part of the river. The person passes a home of a beaver and birds fly quickly overhead.

turn 0 : The strong winds of the mountain top can strip the mosses and epiphytes from the tree trunks, making it difficult for these forests to survive.

turn 0 : The overflow will not cause harm to the ecosystem.

turn 0 : They are under control of the plant's internal system that is regulated by light and seasons.


turn 3 : There was a failure to provide appropriate medical care for Carlos Hernandez Vasquez.

turn 3 : Baby William and his sister are adjusting well to their new family dynamic

turn 3 : It made the person feel sadness and it was hard for them to see.

turn 3 : DR GONZALEZ AND HIS FAMILYWAIKED THROUGH AFORESTAND FACES MORE INTENSED THINGS

turn 3 : He felt like he was watching a contestant on a game show.


You know, unfortunately, it's been demonstrated that there have been times when you have been personally dishonest during your time in office. So if voters highly value personal honesty, why would you be the right choice for them?

Well, I think that it's important to separate a mistake in life, which we all make. And, you know, I've come to believe that we all have feet of clay. We all wish we could rewind, play in a chapter of our life. The question is, is it a trend of continual misleading folks?Or is it an anomaly?And if you'd look at the whole of my life, what you'd see is the big standout is in 2009.

I think the question is, did I learn from it?Contrast it with the president has suggested in saying that there's nothing that he regrets. There's deep regret from my end, and I think what's equally telling is the people who knew me best, in the wake of that event, those very folks sent me to the United States Congress to represent them in Washington.

So you've made the debt and deficit your top reasons for challenging the president. So if it happens that either through your efforts or those of others, the president is not re-elected but let's say a Democrat who supports more expansive spending, for example, does win, will that have been worth it?

turn 1 : The literal meaning: The speaker mentions that they discuss this as a significant starting point or origin for the book. The implied meaning: The speaker suggests that this event plays a crucial role in shaping the themes or direction of the book.

turn 1 : The dangers of the ground is something the person remembers and thinks about a lot.

turn 1 : The pieces mean memories of the person's childhood that they were able to make sense of.

turn 1 : The story is emotional and difficult to hear.

turn 1 : Feet of clay means a character weakness, and wishing one could rewind and play a chapter in your life means you wish you could re-live an event.


Mm-hmm. Some of the stories seem to have sort of a moral to them, like the one - mysterious one I'm going to call the rectum in a jar.

Yeah, this is the case of the rectum of the Bishop of Durham. If you go to London and you visit the Hunterian Museum, it's a wonderful, wonderful - one - in fact, one of the world's few remaining big medical museums. It's part of The Royal College of Surgeons of England. If you go and visit it, on display on the main floor inside a jar is something they call object RCSHC/P192. The label identifies it as being the preserved rectum of the Bishop of Durham, and we're talking about Thomas Thurlow, who was born in 1737, died in 1791. Would you like to hear the story of why it's in a jar in London on display?

With that kind of teaser, how could I not?

OK. The - that particular Bishop of Durham was a rich and powerful man. And he came down with some ailments and called in one of the celebrated doctors of the day, John Hunter, a man who, years later, went on to found this museum. Dr.  Hunter examined him and told him he had an incurable disease and that it was bad news. The bishop did not want to accept this news, so he was very insulting to this doctor and instead went and insult - and consulted a cattle doctor who gave him some kind of nostrum.

turn 0 : A strange story is going to be told about a preserved rectum.

turn 0 : The story titled 'rectum in a jar' has a moral to it

turn 0 : A is willing to share the story of why the rectum of the Bishop of Durham is displayed in a jar.

turn 0 : The story was told to people and many became aware of it.


turn 1 : The bishop is rectum became a museum exhibit.

turn 1 : The preserved rectum of the Bishop of Durham is on display at the Hunterian Museum

turn 1 : A is willing to share the story of why the rectum of the Bishop of Durham is displayed in a jar.

turn 1 : The drops did not help the bishop's condition which eventually led to his death. Dr. Hunter collected and preserved the bishop's rectum, which became a prominent exhibit in his museum.


turn 3 : The drops did not help the bishop's condition which eventually led to his death. Dr. Hunter collected and preserved the bishop's rectum, which became a prominent exhibit in his museum.

turn 3 : The Bishop insulted the doctor who diagnosed his incurable disease

turn 3 : The speaker's faith in the Catholic Church has been damaged by the abuse scandal, but their personal faith remains intact.

turn 3 : The speaker is expressing a high level of respect for the doctor's abilities.


Oh, thanks. We're professional seguers here at NPR.

You took my breath away there.

Well, speaking of age, though, you're - you play a geezer in this picture.

Yeah, but I'm the youngest in the cast.

Really, I'm the baby.

turn 0 : B is asking A if he/she thought carefully before doing something.

turn 0 : B is making a pun on the word "segue" which implies that they are being professional in making smooth transitions during interviews without interruption.

turn 0 : B is surprised or impressed by what A just said

turn 0 : B implies that being a comedienne is not the same as being a businesswoman, and she wants to know how A manages the business side of her career.

turn 0 : A is starting a conversation and B is interrupting with a short response.


You took my breath away there.

Yeah, but I'm the youngest in the cast.

Really, I'm the baby.

turn 1 : Implied meaning: The speaker may be expressing a subtle hint or suggestion, rather than stating something directly.

turn 1 : Implied meaning: The speaker's tone and word choice suggest that they may be withholding information or expressing something indirectly, potentially due to fear of judgement or repercussions.

turn 1 : Implied meaning: The speaker may be hinting at something indirectly and expects the listener to understand the intended message.

turn 1 : The speaker is suggesting that there may be a hidden agenda or underlying motive behind their words.

turn 1 : A statement implies that they were caught off guard or surprised by the previous speaker's comment.


You took my breath away there.

Yeah, but I'm the youngest in the cast.

Really, I'm the baby.

turn 1 : a breath of fresh air implies a great relief and freedom

turn 1 : you took my breath away implies being very amazing, surprising and beautiful in view and performance. Not taking someone's breath or air by trying to suffocate them

turn 1 : "blowing away" in line 2 - The phrase "blowing away" is being used metaphorically here to refer to the Tampa Bay Lightning's dominant performance against their opponents, rather than literal blowing.

turn 1 : Implies that the situation is incredible and shocking, rather than simply saying that it is amazing.

turn 1 : (1) In turn (1), the speaker uses the phrase "taken to go and see" to mean that they were brought to see the movie "Gone With The Wind" in the cinema. The phrase "taken to go" does not have a literal meaning that makes sense, but it is a common idiom that means to be brought or escorted somewhere.


You took my breath away there.

Yeah, but I'm the youngest in the cast.

Really, I'm the baby.

turn 2 : The implied meaning is that A is inquiring about the details surrounding B's special person.

turn 2 : A confirms B's statement without acknowledging the age of the car.

turn 2 :  B implies that the character A is old or elderly.

turn 2 : The implied meaning is that B has a unique and special person in their life that they want to share with the world.

turn 2 : A is not fully agreeing with B's statement


Well, that's definitely, you know, kind of a hip-hop beat, you know, club beat. What's the music like?

Man, the music, this thing, the box set that I ended up receiving, the music is unbelievable. And that's been part of also this hype that you talked about, too, Farai. Like, how come this game is so popular?Well, you know, they have some of the best musicians, some great independent artists that are on air. So the music soundtrack that you play, you are driving a lot throughout the game, so you can change stations. You can change genres, and so you're discovering new artists and you're listening to some of your favorite artists. And the music soundtrack of this thing is scored like a movie.

I mean, this development cost about a 100 million dollars to develop this game. So this is really showing a monumental shift in the amount of money being allocated to even develop a game. We really haven't heard of numbers this high before. But we're talking about a video-game industry that rakes in about 18 billion dollars a year. So it's not a small industry.

Wow, well, speaking of billions of dollars, they came. They asked. They got a no. We are talking about Microsoft's 44. 6-billion-dollar offer to buy Yahoo!, and Yahoo!said nener nener (ph), and cut an ad deal with Google instead. So, should Yahoo!have taken the offer?

turn 1 : Everybody isn't struggling, but enough people are to make it notable that Person A is making money.

turn 1 : Video games can have negative effects on real life.

turn 1 : The video game industry is worth a lot of money.

turn 1 : People are ashamed to admit they're addicted to computer games.

turn 1 : Life is going to be a struggle due to limited resources


It does.

It worked out.

So, first of all, just - as you said, you're just coming back from this conference. Could you just give me - just overall, what are you hearing from your colleagues, particularly your former colleagues in the courts, about how this system is functioning now?How do they experience this backlog?Is it this unending flow of cases that they can't do anything with?Or - how are they experiencing this?

Yeah. You know, the American Bar Association just put out a report on the immigration courts recently in which they said it's a dysfunctional system on the verge of collapse. And that was, basically, agreed to by everybody at the conference, including sitting immigration judges. What the judges have said is that the new judges being hired are pretty much being told in their training that they're not really judges, that instead, they should view themselves as loyal employees of the attorney general and of the executive branch of government. They are basically being trained to deny cases not to fairly consider them.

turn 3 : A thinks that the government is not functioning properly.

turn 3 : This statement implies that that judiciary is not independent of the executive branch of government,

turn 3 : The implied meaning of this turn is that other members of the White House may seek legal counsel in light of President Trump's actions.

turn 3 : A implies that Sovereign act in its acceptable sense does not exist when a decree has been made which makes such claim vague.

turn 3 : There is evidence that would support the Presidents statement.


You know, there were a handful of people who did voice displeasure with some of the proposals mainly because of what they felt like was ambiguity in the language. But generally I think that there was a sense of relief a little bit within the room but also an acknowledgment that what they put forward today and what they're working on is by no means a final solution to this problem.

I mean, the leaders acknowledged that. They also briefly kind of acknowledged the fears and skepticism of this group of survivors and activists who have been calling for more drastic action for more than a decade now. So while there was relief and, I think, a little bit of a feeling of accomplishment, I think there are many people in the room who know that this issue is far from over, and they're going to have to do more.

And what about outside the convention center?I gather there have been demonstrations going on. Have you been able to get out and speak to anybody outside?

Yeah, so there's a group of survivors, activists, and they're really - they've been - they're kind of the core group of people who for decades now have been asking for reforms and really warning about this issue. And so while they kind of acknowledge that this is a good step in the direction, there really are some - they - you know, they view it as a systemic and institutional issue that isn't going to be fixed with a few pronouncements and resolutions and new committees.

turn 1 : People are starting to notice and take action on the issue.

turn 1 : They are worried about any negative consequences of their actions and will fix them quickly.

turn 1 : The administration should be planning for the future and not just focusing on immediate reactions

turn 1 : Although leaders acknowledged activists' fears, more drastic actions are still needed to solve the issue.

turn 1 : The people should obey their leaders or lose their jobs.


Well, yes, of course, I have. I had to. When I realized that I wanted to write this novel and this is the way I wanted to do it, I wanted to use the monarchs - OK, we'll say it - the monarchs as a device. I, of course, had to be able to describe this phenomenon infinitely, in many different ways, and to express in language how amazing and how beautiful it is.

So I had to go and see that, and I did go to Mexico and spend time on the mountaintops in Michoacan, where these - the whole species or the whole population of eastern monarchs congregates in the winter. And so I had to be able to recreate that. So, yes, I have seen them. And it's - it is a wonder of the world.

Hmm. You're listening to SCIENCE FRIDAY, on NPR. I'm Flora Lichtman, talking with Barbara Kingsolver about her new novel, "Flight Behavior. "

It comes through as a real phenomenon in the book, too. I mean, it just seems - you can see why people would look at it and think it's a miracle.

turn 3 : The author included difficult experiences in the book for a reason.

turn 3 : has a figurative meaning, as it is implying a joke about the idea of Dame Stella turning her experiences into a novel.

turn 3 :  "Well, as we often say in cosmology or theoretical physics, that idea might be crazy enough to be true."  The actual meaning of this turn is different from its literal meaning. It implies that sometimes ideas that seem crazy or impossible might turn out to be true in the field of cosmology or theoretical physics.

turn 3 : the phenomenon described in the book is extraordinary and could be perceived as a miracle by some readers, even though the literal meaning is simply acknowledging that the phenomenon is portrayed realistically in the book.

turn 3 : Implied meaning: Amused disbelief at the sudden change in the status quo.


Here's a small piece of the big picture. We ask you our listeners to write in with stories about how you're doing these days financially. We call the series The Real Economy. We've heard from more than a 150 people, among them Jon Diebold in Cincinnati. Jon, what station do you hear our show on there?

91. 7 WVXU.

Well, thanks for listening. And you lead a pretty busy life there at work and at home. You own a small restaurant. How are things?

Well, it's been rough. The economy, I think, is affecting everyone and certainly those with discretionary disposable income.

Yeah. Do you do a lunch business there?

turn 3 : The restaurant is experiencing a decline in business due to the current economic situation

turn 3 : The restaurant industry is struggling due to economic hardships.

turn 3 : The economic situation is causing a significant decrease in hiring, sales, and investment.

turn 3 : A has a new vision for a type of restaurant he would open.


Martin Evans covers the case for the Telegraph. Thanks so much for being with us.

You're welcome.

Now, I think a lot of us in the United States remember this robbery because allegedly the alleged burglars used an industrial power drill to break through the vault. How did they conceal that?

They did indeed. Well, this robbery took place over Easter weekend in April, which is a long bank holiday weekend - a five-day holiday in the U. K.  All the businesses would've closed for four or five days. And around 8:30 p. m. , the alleged gang arrived in a van and started loading equipment in the street. Now, to any passerby, they would have perhaps looked like workmen carrying out some sort of repair work.

turn 1 : The literal meaning of "You're welcome" is to thank someone for what they have done, but the implied meaning is that the speaker is accepting the gratitude.

turn 1 : "You're welcome." This turn is an example of conventionalized language, where the speaker uses a set phrase to respond to the expression of gratitude. The literal meaning of "you're welcome" is an invitation for the other person to come in, but in this context, it's used to acknowledge and accept thanks.

turn 1 : The turn whose actual meaning is different from its literal meaning is (4): "A: Thank you."  The literal meaning of "Thank you" is an expression of gratitude or appreciation. However, in this context, it is likely used as a polite way to end the conversation or acknowledge the host's farewell. In other words, it implies that the speaker is ready to end the conversation and move on.

turn 1 : (2) The literal meaning of turn (2) is the speaker thanking the person who introduced him, but the implied meaning is just a polite expression to acknowledge the introduction. (3) The literal meaning of turn (3) is the speaker thanking the other person, but the implied meaning is just a polite expression to end the conversation.


They're using bank loans at a 15-year low. That is a response to tightening lender standards and so small business owners are increasingly turning to credit cards to finance their businesses which are obviously have much more high and volatile interest rates. It's one of the reason we've been advocating for credit card reform. Because of the acesss and restrictions to credit card capital, they're not expanding their businesses, hiring new employees, cutting back on business travel. You know, it runs the whole gamut.

So if these aren't expanding and they are having trouble getting loans to expand, what does that mean for their employees?

I'm not sure that it's come to the point yet that many are cutting back on employees, although some percentage is. But you know, I think a lot of small businesses are not hiring new employees at the moment, just sort of bunkering down and hoping to weather through this economic storm.

So, if I'm a small business and I need a loan.

turn 0 : None . There's nothing in this that implies anything.

turn 0 : It would be a mistake for me to do that.

turn 0 : to make a switch mean they go do something else.

turn 0 : Runs the whole gamut means that it covers all the options.

turn 0 : top pick usually means the number one choice


. . . To be biased against the LGBTQ community. What's your response to that?

Well, first of all, my response is - I'll take this from one of the independent people who responded to me saying, that's all I need to know about Beto O'Rourke. And this guy's out shopping for a candidate that he can support. But he said, if Beto doesn't want to come and speak to a group like yours, he goes, I don't need to listen to anything more. When Mayor Pete Buttigieg comes out and says, you know, we're definitely going to consider the invitation, I think that opens up people's minds.

But the other thing I would say - and it's one of the reasons we're doing this forum and inviting Democrats - is instead of casting out rhetoric about, well, these guys believe in one man, one-woman marriage, these guys believe God has a design for sexuality, let's go to what the reality of it is. Even on deep disagreements, I think America needs to see that we can fundamentally disagree without being disagreeable or without being hateful and divisive.

How do you respond to the fact that many people who adhere to other religious traditions - progressive religious traditions or even religious traditions outside of Christianity - consider the current administration demeaning, abusive to people outside of a group of core supporters?And they are troubled and hurt by the fact that white evangelicals are such a strong base of support for this president when he engages in conduct that they consider so hurtful. How should they think about that?

turn 0 : They are implying what is your opinion

turn 0 : Implied meaning: The speaker is indirectly suggesting that they may have information or opinions that they are hesitant to share openly.

turn 0 : you imply that something is the case

turn 0 : The actual meaning was differ from the original meaning that is the right answer


Finally, Mike, the Super Bowl is usually one huge party. But given the current economy, do you think it'll be as big of a celebration?

Officially, they give figures that are absolutely impossible to check about how much the Super Bowl adds to the economy. $300 million is one of the official totals. But I've read different economists saying the impact on a local economy is very small. And I have informally talked to some limo drivers and talked to some people who work in hotels. And they said, you know, a year ago, if you told them the Super Bowl was going to be here, they would've thought they'd all be booked up by now. But you can still get a limo maybe on Friday and Saturday, maybe not Sunday going to the game.

So it does - and another indication is that there used to be two huge parties sponsored by Playboy and Maxim, and Playboy is not having its party. So that's the economic indicator of this Super Bowl, that Playboy is not having its party.

NPR's Mike Pesca in Tampa, Florida for this weekend's Super Bowl. Thanks Mike.

turn 0 : Professional football's viewership has declined and the game is controversial, despite its ongoing popularity in America.

turn 0 : Professional football is still popular, but it has declined in viewership and raised concerns over players' safety and political protests.

turn 0 : Jim Kelly can't remember the most important football game despite being a great quarterback

turn 0 : the super bowl is the nfl finals, not a huge dish or bowl; economy is not liteally hit by the super bowl, but affected by it

turn 0 : "state of the economy" - This turn has a figurative meaning, as it refers to the overall condition of the economy rather than a specific physical location.


turn 1 : People aren't spending money due to the recession.

turn 1 : None found - the turn "the economy" appears to have its literal meaning as the main issue of concern.

turn 1 : The tech sector has had a negative impact on the economy

turn 1 : The situation in the eurozone is improving, but it is still not out of the woods yet.

turn 1 :  economy is not literally hit by the super bowl, but affected by it; booked up does not mean surrounded by books, but there are no hotel rooms available


turn 2 : A is trying to add some humor to the conversation

turn 2 : A is telling a joke instead of discussing the topic

turn 2 : A: Oh, that's another fine magazine.  This turn is an example of sarcasm. The speaker, A, uses the phrase "another fine magazine" to indicate that they do not believe that National Review is a fine magazine, despite what the previous speaker, B, has implied. The literal meaning of the phrase is positive, but the actual meaning, conveyed through the speaker's tone and context, is negative.

turn 2 : Playboy's lack of party isn't the key economic indicator, but just one indicator among many. 'A' is jokingly exaggerating its importance because he thinks it is amusing.

turn 2 : Advertising that promises dominance and masculinity appeals to certain people


Well, it's a heck of a lot more. So the total incentive package, when you include some training grants and other things like that, is $7 million over 10 years that they're being offered now. What critics are complaining about is that it appears from a certain perspective that the state is essentially rewarding Carrier, even as it ships some of the jobs to Mexico anyway. From another perspective, they're retaining, you know, a thousand jobs at least. And those jobs do produce revenue for the state through state income taxes and sales tax, and the state would argue that it - and Mike Pence would argue - that they come out ahead still on that.

I'm wondering if that doesn't make sense to you, given the fact that if those employers just left the state, there'd be no tax revenue for the state of Indiana to tap, and even more people losing jobs.

This is the gray area of economic development. You know, how many of these workers would find other jobs in this state?And in terms of these incentives, you know, these don't even appear to be the primary factor in Carrier's decision to keep these jobs here.

Is it felt that the most persuasive argument was the fact that United Technologies, which is the parent company of Carrier is a federal contractor and needs to have good relations with the federal government, which Mr.  Trump's about to head?

turn 1 : Mexico is facing a very serious and dangerous situation.

turn 1 : The administration does not move forward physically but initiates plans to deal with immigration.

turn 1 : suggests that other states will start to take legal action against Countrywide and other similar companies

turn 1 : Blocking access to the border between Guatemala and Mexico would be an effective way to stop migrants from coming through.

turn 1 : The state is trying to make the best out of a bad situation by providing incentives to Carrier, even though it will still be shipping jobs to Mexico.


turn 2 : The Mexican government is constantly communicating things about the army in all ways that they can.

turn 2 : suggests that other states will start to take legal action against Countrywide and other similar companies

turn 2 : Mexico is facing a very serious and dangerous situation.

turn 2 : The state is willing to provide a financial incentive to Carrier despite knowing that some jobs will still be leaving for Mexico.

turn 2 : We are being deprived of the media that tells the stories of illegal activity in Mexico.


turn 3 : It's important to prioritize the country's future over personal gain.

turn 3 : One should prioritize the country's future over personal gain.

turn 3 : The economic situation is causing a significant decrease in hiring, sales, and investment.

turn 3 : Did you find it difficult to convince people to give Amtrak the necessary funding it needed?

turn 3 :   The incentives offered may not be the primary factor in Carrier's decision, indicating that other factors, such as good relations with the federal government, may be more influential.


Hi - so glad to have you with us. And let me start here. Just to recap this war of words, Iran says the U. S.  is lying about where the drone was shot down. The U. S.  says Iran is lying. How are we likely to know?How will this be resolved beyond a take one person's word over the other situation?How do they figure that out?

Well, first, there is, obviously, the release of the actual location data for where the BAMS or Broad Area Maritime Surveillance aircraft was flying. That - hopefully, it will be released shortly by Central Command. But part of it, too, Mary Louise, is the fact that there's absolutely no reason for this aircraft to have to fly over Iran to gather the data that the U. S.  military was interested in gathering.

You're saying there's circumstantial evidence that just - why would it have been there?- which tends to support the U. S.  position.

Well, right. And no U. S.  commander - speaking from experience - would put the aircraft in that kind of a situation. And for your audience, that reason is that, unlike aircraft - surveillance aircraft in the past, the kind of sensor systems that are onboard this drone are such that they can see dozens and dozens and dozens of miles away from the aircraft. So, you know, it's flying up above 50,000 feet over the Strait of Hormuz. It can monitor the entire strait plus see inside Iran without having to fly over it.

turn 1 : There is a risk of military conflict due to misunderstandings.

turn 1 : There is evidence that would support the Presidents statement.

turn 1 : North Korea's nuclear capabilities pose a direct threat to the United States.

turn 1 : Military interventions often escalate beyond their original scope.

turn 1 : The US military has evidence to support their claim.


turn 2 : Iran shot down a U.S. plane and now the U.S. will respond.

turn 2 : Assuming that Iran is responsible for the attack.

turn 2 : The drone has powerful sensors and can see far distances

turn 2 : The BAMS drone was not in Iranian airspace.


turn 3 : The US is blocking Iran's access to international markets.

turn 3 : Assuming that Iran is responsible for the attack.

turn 3 : The drone could monitor inside Iran without entering Iranian airspace.

turn 3 : The drone has powerful sensors and can see far distances

turn 3 : Iran shot down a U.S. plane and now the U.S. will respond.


turn 3 : something that was hinted at or suggested, but not directly stated. When a person looks at his watch

turn 3 : to keep an eye on means to watch something closely

turn 3 : They are asking if the person watches over other's actions and controls them.

turn 3 : "on your radar screen" - This is also a figurative expression meaning something that is being monitored or tracked, rather than a literal radar screen.

turn 3 : monitor implies to watch and detect presence of something, it's not the computer television-like device


So are there other criticisms of her leadership that are not related to Brexit?

Oh, absolutely. There are vast criticisms of her leadership. Austerity is the single biggest criticism. It doesn't have popularity in many quarters anymore. But in terms of whether the criticism is balanced or gendered or, you know, this - a lot of people will say this has nothing to do with gender. Well, you have to remember 2017, the Daily Mail front page - Theresa May and Nicola Sturgeon, who is the first minister for Scotland, and the front page of The Daily Mail said never mind Brexit, what about Legs-it. And it had a picture of the two women and comparing who had the better legs. So there is no way in which that is an ungendered criticism.

Have criticisms of Prime Minister May evolved over the course of Brexit?

Absolutely. So though she was not considered to be doing a brilliant job from the outset, there was a kind of national feeling that gosh, she was doing probably as well as most people could do. And then of course, the men who stepped back to give her power started circling again to take back power at the moment that it starts to seem like we might be moving towards Brexit, the outcome they want, or not moving towards it. And at that point, the language really, really shifted. And it stepped up. And you had people briefing against her.

turn 3 : In (4), when A says "the men who stepped back to give her power started circling again to take back power," the actual meaning is that male politicians who initially supported May as Prime Minister began to undermine her leadership when it appeared that Brexit was moving in a direction they did not want. The language used against her became harsher and more aggressive.

turn 3 : In turn (4), the statement suggests that despite the appearance of a positive sign, the comments from the British Foreign Secretary indicate that the situation is more challenging and difficult to resolve than it may seem. The literal meaning of the words may convey a positive outlook, but the implied meaning highlights the potential obstacles and complexities involved.

turn 3 : The comment made by 'she' had a significant impact on A

turn 3 : The implied meaning behind this question is that A was initially willing to support Donald Trump and even offered to be his running mate at one point, but has since changed his mind and is now opposed to him.

turn 3 : The literal meaning of the turn is that Kelly Rowland expressed interest in the part. However, the actual meaning may be that Kelly Rowland was not mentioned before this turn, and the speaker may be changing the subject or trying to steer the conversation in a different direction.


Well, Shadow, my producer, who up until then had been noted for producing the Shangri-las, he didn't really try to get me too so much as he gave me a choice. He said if you will change black as night, because the opening line is face is clean and shining black as night. He said if you change that word black to anything - anything else I can guarantee you a number one record. And he said, but it's your choice. And a friend of ours was standing there and he said, quote, unquote, "you whore now, you'll whore forever," and that's a pretty strong words. I was 15 at that time. That was pretty strong. But from my point of view, hey, I was getting to make a record. How cool is that, you know?

Yeah.

When it was a hit or not was secondary.

Let me ask you, is that a scar, or is it just a lesson learned from then that carries with you today?

turn 3 : They are worried about any negative consequences of their actions and will fix them quickly.

turn 3 :  implies that you should be mindful of the information you hear and stay informed.

turn 3 : The information was told to others when it was not supposed to be told.

turn 3 : They want to know if that is something that still affects them today or is it a lesson learned.


Immigration proponents hope that if we care as much about poor people outside the United States as we do about poor people inside the United States, we'll raise the level of care for both. We've seen, instead, as we have become more cosmopolitan in our sympathies, we've ended up caring as little for fellow Americans as for people everywhere.

It is precisely because we are not honoring our commitments and our promises and our obligations to our fellow Americans that I'm urging people to have a stronger sense of social solidarity. And the way you get that stronger sense of social solidarity is by making the meaning of Americanism stronger, and that means making it more of a national community. And communities have boundaries between themselves and the rest of the world.

You ground a lot of your argument, though, in white Americans' fears, really, about a country that's getting less white. So is limiting immigration the answer?I mean, doesn't that just play into those fears and then legitimize them?

I don't ground very much of my argument on that at all. What I ground my argument upon is a tendency of the human mind, perceived by psychologists in people of all backgrounds, to be stressed by rapid change.

turn 1 : Implied meaning: The speaker may be hinting at something indirectly and expects the listener to understand the intended message.

turn 1 : Implied meaning: The speaker may be conveying a hidden message or agenda that requires further exploration or analysis to fully understand.

turn 1 : Although the literal meaning of this turn is simply an acknowledgement or agreement, the implied meaning behind it is that the speaker may not be fully engaged or interested in the conversation. It could be interpreted as a way of signaling disinterest or a desire to move on to a different topic.

turn 1 : Implied meaning: The speaker's use of a particular tone or emphasis suggests that they may be implying something indirectly, without stating it explicitly.

turn 1 : Implied meaning: The speaker is trying to indirectly communicate a message or request to the listener.


turn 2 : none
turn 2 : none
turn 2 : none
turn 2 : none
turn 2 : none


If you can find these kinds of primitive organisms, could you find things like evidence of, like, ancient viruses that might have been around?

Well, that's an interesting question, and people have tried to look. The difference between what we've been finding and the virus is that the virus doesn't have a rigid cell wall to protect it. It just invades other things that have cell walls. So it makes it much harder to see and much harder to fossilize. It's often the cell wall or the protective material around it which goes into the fossil record.

But some of my colleagues have thought they have found viral-like structures, sort of polygonal-shaped structures a bit like modern viruses - very, very tiny, but have been unable to convince themselves and other people that no other explanation can be brought forward for these things. So that's still very much an open question.

But it would be nice if we could, but a little bit hard to really confirm it.

turn 1 : Finding them was very similar to finding a dinosaur- a major surprise.

turn 1 : RNA viruses are a high risk for disease scientists.

turn 1 : Scientists have been studying Ebola for decades, but they still haven't identified its reservoir host.

turn 1 : It's hard to find fossil evidence of ancient viruses.


How do you bring to life the world three centuries ago?

I did a lot of research for this novel. I like to say that my research was wide, but shallow. I read a little bit of a lot of books, and a book that really helped me was "The Door Of No Return" by William St.  Clair. He took a bunch of archival research about the Cape Coast Castle, so it's a book that really just talks about what life might have been like in the castle in and around the 18th century. And it really helped me wrap my head around what it might have been like for my characters. And then the rest, I think, is just a wild and vivid imagination.

Yeah. And it must be said you don't - you don't spare African slave traders from villany, do you?

I don't. I think, you know, I grew up here in Alabama. And the conversation around slavery is much different here than it is in Ghana. So I think I was a little bit more aware of it or aware, I suppose, of the result of it than the people living on the coast of West Africa who didn't get to see, you know, what the results of the slave trade was. And yet they have this huge monument in Ghana to slavery - this Cape Coast Castle that still stands, that you can still take tours in. I wanted to talk about the Ghanaen role in it - the complicity on our side of things.

turn 2 : (3) Implied meaning: Were South African mobs and looters targeting African migrants?

turn 2 : The implied meaning in turn (2) is that the author created the book out of a desire to educate young black people about their cultural history, which they may not have learned from mainstream media sources such as hip-hop videos.

turn 2 : No privacy. In some cases, they actually look like slave cabins. - The literal meaning of this turn is that the living conditions for farmworkers are so poor that they resemble the living conditions of slaves in the past. The actual meaning is that the living conditions are dehumanizing and lack basic amenities, which puts the workers, especially women, in vulnerable situations.

turn 2 :  "Well, for so long nobody really knew where they were from." - The literal meaning of this turn is a response to the previous statement, but the actual meaning is an acknowledgment of the historical difficulties African Americans have faced in tracing their ancestry due to the legacy of slavery and displacement.

turn 2 : (3) "Do you don't - you don't spare African slave traders from villany, do you?" - This turn means: Do you not show mercy or kindness to African slave traders in your novel?


I don't know what a - difference between an executive order and a proclamation is.

Well, proclamations seem to be more rare. They do kind of echo of something royal, but it has basically the same effect as an executive order.

And how would this change what somebody who wants to apply for asylum must do?

Well, it's trying to bar asylum for people who enter the U. S.  in between ports of entry.

turn 1 : The books were released on inauguration day may have been significant

turn 1 : The president was satisfied with how he was perceived.

turn 1 : A implies that Sovereign act in its acceptable sense does not exist when a decree has been made which makes such claim vague.

turn 1 : Proclamations are rare and have a royal tone but have the same effect as an executive order

turn 1 : congress is uncertain, often because other matters have to be decided


turn 1 : Congress is not doing its job and is passing their responsibilities to the president who then abuses his power

turn 1 : The rules of subpoenas work in favor of the executive.

turn 1 : Proclamations have the same effect as executive orders

turn 1 : The administration does not move forward physically but initiates plans to deal with immigration.


turn 3 : There is no bar but it does mean that the requirements in Mexico are lower.

turn 3 :  (4) Implies an acknowledgement of the dangerous risks taken when crossing the border illegally.

turn 3 : Bar asylum for people who enter between ports of entry

turn 3 : the narrator mention of non Mexican asylum-seekers so it is odd to see non Mexican asylum seekers setting place in Mexico.

turn 3 : The situation in Port-au-Prince has improved, but it was very tense and dangerous before.


Seems like air conditioners break down when they're needed most - when it's hottest - and furnaces give out when it's coldest - when they have to pump out the most heat. What has this fearsome winter been like for a heating repair technician?We turn now to Doug Braford, who works all shifts in Cleveland, where temperatures hit record lows in February. Mr.  Braford joins us from the studios of the idea stream, WCPN in Cleveland. Thanks so much for being with us.

You're welcome. It's good to be here.

So tough few weeks?

Yeah, it's been a tough season this year. You know, it's definitely been a winter that's held on and really hasn't given us too many breaks.

turn 0 : (1) is the same as its literal meaning, which is explaining the decision-making process behind cutting rations in a situation where there is a shortage of aid.

turn 0 : 1) is a statement about air conditioners and furnaces breaking down in extreme weather conditions.

turn 0 : (1) has an implied meaning that is different from its literal meaning. The literal meaning is that the speaker is asking if there is any sign of improvement in the situation being discussed, but the implied meaning is that the situation is bad and the speaker is hoping for some positive news or indication that things will get better.

turn 0 : There is a dangerous situation happening that requires people to seek shelter and take precautions.

turn 0 : The implied meaning of the first turn is that people have become apathetic to the problems facing the city and are not taking action.


In fact, he gets a little envious - doesn't he?- of seeing the closeness between the man and the wife as he's giving them the news.

He watches the man cry over her bed. And all he could think is that he, Toby, never wanted a spectacular marriage. He just wanted a regular one, and he feels that he's been deprived of that by the fact that his plan for his life, which - when he got married in his 20s - it just didn't work out.

You wrote an essay, recently. You had a revelation that your parents' divorce might have been the creative spark in writing this novel. How did that happen?

Well, you know, I thought that I was being a good cultural reporter by noticing the friends of mine who were coming to me and telling me that they were getting divorced, had this whole new way of dating, that they - you know, when my mother got divorced in her early 40s, you know, she felt so old. And here they were showing me how much life they had in them left. And I thought I was doing the kind of responsible journalist thing, which is writing about the cultural moment. And, along the way, people would ask me questions. They would say, why are you writing a divorce book?And I thought, well, no. I'm writing a book about marriage. . .

turn 2 : The story is a happy one that is also distracting and the people have been feeling sad so they need the story to make them happy again.

turn 2 : The parents' divorce might have been what gave the author the inspiration to create a story.

turn 2 : She wrote very close to what happened in her own life.

turn 2 : The kids will begin to think of ideas as they explore on their own.

turn 2 : She writes a wide variety of stories and the lessons that she learns as a writer can be seen in her stories.


You actually provided some recommendations. Give me an example of one or two of them.

Well, one of the important things is that the stops go well. That the police are professional, that they're there and it's clear that they are trying to serve the public. Mistakes will happen, they'll pick the wrong person up, someone will happen to fit a crime suspect description, but the way the police conduct themselves needs to be extremely professional. Very polite. And one of the recommendations I made was that they hand the person a receipt when they make a mistake that says I've made a mistake, here's my name, here's the name of my supervisor, here's his phone number, give him a call. Here's how you file a complaint, this is why I stopped you. You're wearing a white T-shirt, black jeans, that's the same description that I just received over the radio. And that can go a long way to improving things.

Give me one more.

Well, the other thing was that they need to find out who these 15 officers are and take some action to resolve those issues.

turn 1 : Advocating for abolishing the police department and starting over

turn 1 : Police should conduct themselves in a professional and polite manner to improve public perception and relations

turn 1 : The report commissioned by President Johnson in 1967 proposes a humanistic approach to improving police-community relations through better communication and relationships.

turn 1 : The speaker believes that the current policing system is irreparable.


Well, what they didn't admit is if they wanted all this capital, why have they spent $7 trillion - these companies in stock buybacks since 2005 - which is double the federal government's current entire budget if they needed capital for productive investment?Stock buybacks do not create any jobs. They don't create any productive investment. And they're a signal to corporate observers that, while people like Tim Cook know how to make a lot of money for the company, they don't know really what to do with it other than to enhance their own executive compensation package.

Still, it's a remarkable turnaround for Apple, isn't it?I mean, just a couple of decades ago, I think they were on the brink of extinction.

There's no doubt. It was a great turnaround. But under Steve Jobs, stock buybacks were prohibited. He paid himself very little. When Tim Cook came over, everything changed. And while they know how to make enormous money with their overpriced iPhones, they don't know how to productively use it. And Marxists of many decades ago would never have dreamed that corporations would pile up all this capital and not know how to use it productively.

Mr.  Nader, do you own an iPhone?

turn 2 : Dominance of a few large companies is discouraging people from starting their own businesses.

turn 2 : Corporations have piled up capital but do not know how to use it productively.

turn 2 : Companies pay their CEOs huge profits, while the workers get a small share.

turn 2 : Many people are losing their jobs and companies are going bankrupt.

turn 2 : The stock market is not reliable to determine whether companies will create more jobs or not.


And I took it a few steps further and then did research and found that it wasn't that uncommon for people who were related to, you know, Russian immigrants or children of Muslims or practicing Muslims to experience racism in high school afterwards. It tends to be that people are looking for someone to blame.

Let me ask about Rez's relationship with Fatima - sort of begins as a crush. He tutors her in chemistry. And then the chemistry takes over, if you catch my (laughter) - my drift. They're equally brilliant, too. What are they seeing each other?

I think Rez is at the point where he's realize that the American idea of himself is not going to pan out. And he looks to Fatima, and he sees her. And she has never had an American idea of herself. She's had an idea of herself as belonging to her family and belonging to sort of a Middle Eastern subculture in Southern California and staying within the clan.

And he looks to her and sees the ways in which this brings her strength. She doesn't try to have American friends or be an American teenage girl. And this makes her endlessly fascinating to him.

turn 3 : The literal meaning is that the speaker wants to examine the motives behind the actions of the people involved in the events. The implied meaning is that the speaker is questioning whether their mother's version of events was accurate and whether the motives behind the actions were as terrible as their mother portrayed them to be.

turn 3 : This turn does not have an implied meaning different from its literal meaning. It is a straightforward expression of gratitude towards Laura Sydell, the NPR correspondent.

turn 3 : Implied meaning: The speaker is implying that her character's story line on the show mirrored her own life experience.

turn 3 :  (4) is an expression of surprise. The implied meaning is an expression of admiration.

turn 3 :  (4) implies that Rez is drawn to the strength that comes from Fatima's cultural identity and her refusal to conform to American teenage norms.


How fair or accurate is the idea that Joan Kroc gave away Ray Kroc's money to a lot of places and causes of which he would not have approved?

A lot of old-guard McDonald's people I've talked to are angry that Joan made gifts that, in their estimation, were more liberal-leaning than Ray, perhaps, would've liked, including her million-dollar gift to the Democrats - now - and her active work in the peace movement and building these peace institutes at both Notre Dame and the University of San Diego.

I don't think she did it to spite Ray or to get back at him at all, although I do know that during the course of their marriage, she said she suppressed her politics and her interests in some ways because she didn't want to seem untoward. And yet, that doesn't square up with the fact that she started this alcoholism education charity while Ray was clearly afflicted. So the dichotomy or the juxtaposition of all these odd facts with Joan is what makes her so interesting to me. She was a very complicated person.

Lisa Napoli, her book, "Ray And Joan: The Man Who Made The Mcdonald's Fortune And The Woman Who Gave It All Away. "

turn 0 : (1) Implied meaning: Are you suggesting that despite the good things Franklin Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln did, they were still wrong for certain actions?

turn 0 : In this turn, the implied meaning goes beyond the literal meaning of "never took no for an answer." The speaker is highlighting the person's resilience and determination in the face of obstacles. It implies that despite facing rejection or setbacks, the person persisted and fought back, even using physical force if necessary.

turn 0 : The actual meanings of (1) and (3) are different from their literal meanings. In (1), the speaker is implying that he would be prejudiced against a Green Bay Packers fan, rather than simply picking on them

turn 0 : The actual meaning was differ from the original meaning that is the right answer

turn 0 : The implied meaning here is not about the fairness or accuracy of the idea, but rather about whether Joan Kroc's donations were in line with Ray Kroc's beliefs and whether Joan acted out of spite or not.


turn 2 : Joan felt a sense of responsibility with the money she had and was determined to use it for good causes. She was not averse to living lavishly.

turn 2 : (2) "What she said in interviews a number of times was very circumspect - what is love?" - Implied meaning: Joan was not able to directly answer the question of whether she loved Ray or not, as her answers were often evasive and indirect.

turn 2 : She wrote very close to what happened in her own life.

turn 2 : This statement implies the complexity of Joan's personality and the interesting contradictions in her life and actions.

turn 2 : What she writes makes people feel comfortable in a way that reminds them of the past.


turn 3 : has a figurative meaning, as it is implying a joke about the idea of Dame Stella turning her experiences into a novel.

turn 3 : After Ray's death, Joan Kroc became one of the main donors in America and she took her responsibility seriously.

turn 3 : The author included difficult experiences in the book for a reason.

turn 3 : Lisa Napoli wrote a book about Ray and Joan Kroc, but its actual meaning is that Lisa Napoli wrote a book about Ray and Joan Kroc and their relationship.


Hi.

So you're about to get underway with your lunch rush. What are the workers telling you?What are the conversations you're hearing there at the bar?

Well, they're like counting down the days and saying what are they going to do. You know, some people have no plans. They don't know what they're going to do. Then other people say they're going to move away because this is a dying town, and it's really frightening.

And what does that mean for you?

Well, I just hope that we can make it through. I don't know. We don't know what is in store - you know, the future has for us because we've already - when they cut the shifts back, we've already lost a lot of our business from over there. Now, there's going to be nobody, and we just don't know where it's going to go from there.

turn 1 : The mall opens early and people walk around for hours before stores open.

turn 1 :  (2) The implied meaning of this turn is that the speaker is curious to know what kind of help the two people provided each other with during their lunch time.

turn 1 : lunch rush is a time when places are very busy, like restaurants, and usually during lunch, hence the name lunch rush

turn 1 : "fast" - The word "fast" is being used in a religious context to mean abstaining from food and drink during daylight hours as an act of devotion. It is not being used to describe moving quickly.


Hi.

And what does that mean for you?

turn 2 : The future of the town is uncertain and it is causing anxiety

turn 2 : The situation is concerning enough that it could make someone anxious, despite the monitoring systems in place.

turn 2 : People don't want to know about what is happening in Crown Heights.

turn 2 : A is confident about the success of the mission and reassures B

turn 2 : The authorities are trying to stop the panic and the meeting is a test to see if they can do more than just plan for the long term.


They are of course big spenders, but at the same time there are so many different kinds of collections as there are collections. Some collectors are happy, some are tormented. Some buy very little, while others can't help themselves. Why do people collect?Well, I once interviewed the great art historian Kenneth Clark and he once said that it's like asking why we fall in love. The reasons are quite so different. And it's very true.

Forgive a couple of stereotypes but are there a lot of Saudi princes or Russian billionaires on this list?

I haven't counted them all. One of my favorites is not Saudi and not a Russian prince. Let's call him Mr.  D.  He collects impressionist paintings and a good friend of mine was at his mansion not too long ago and the collector said before you look at them I just have to switch something on. And when he was exactly about five feet away from the Monet the sound system was activated and the room was abruptly flooded with Debussy.

Debussy?

turn 0 : A: "Why do people collect? Well, I once interviewed the great art historian Kenneth Clark and he once said that it's like asking why we fall in love." - The speaker is suggesting that the reasons why people collect things are complex and varied, and cannot be easily explained or generalized.

turn 0 : The implied meaning is that the person hopes for interaction and engagement between individuals interested in building their family tree or learning about family research, and that they will come across unexpected articles and ideas, leading to interesting discussions and experiences on the site.

turn 0 : In this turn, the speaker says "I love the word no" and goes on to explain how the word "no" was actually a motivating force for them, rather than a discouraging one. This is different from the literal meaning of the word "no," which is generally used to signify a negative response or refusal. The speaker's implication is that they have learned to reframe the word "no" in a positive way and use it as a tool for success.

turn 0 : meaning is turn (1), where B asks if Teddy Roosevelt comes to life when it gets dark at the museum. The actual meaning implied by B's question is whether the museum has interactive exhibits or displays that bring historical figures to life, rather than asking about a specific event where Teddy Roosevelt might come to life in the museum.

turn 0 : The implied meaning is that the more A learns about the people they are close to, the more they appreciate them and form a stronger bond.


Debussy?

turn 2 : The literal meaning is that the speaker would have appeared on a media outlet many times. The actual meaning is that the speaker would have been very vocal and persistent on the issue, possibly annoying the media host.

turn 2 : (3) implies that the speaker wants to know what the speaker observed,

turn 2 : The turn suggests that the speaker is feeling frustrated and overwhelmed.

turn 2 :  A's turn does not contain any figurative language. The speaker is expressing their genuine reaction to the artist's work.

turn 2 :  A: "And when he was exactly about five feet away from the Monet the sound system was activated and the room was abruptly flooded with Debussy." - The speaker is describing an experience where the collector used music to enhance the viewing of the artwork, suggesting that the collector has a deep appreciation for the arts and values different sensory experiences.


There's definite bright spots. If you're Wal-Mart, you're doing fine. If you're Costco, you're doing fine. If you're Family Dollar, you're doing fine. If you're Dollar Tree, you're doing fine.

The consumer is trading down. Starbucks closes 600 stores, but McDonalds is doing fine. Bennigans closes all their stores. Steak and Ale closes all their stores, but Burger King is booming. There is a story out there. The consumer is in major trade-down mode. If you're in position to take advantage of that, you win.

What about hiring?Stores hire a lot of temporary workers around this time for the holiday season. What's going on there?

Well, we've got 82 clients. All of them, across the board, are planning to hire fewer people and for fewer hours. Hiring is going to be way down, inventory is down, sales is down; it's all down. You know, we've lost an average of 85,000 jobs a month so far this year. Unemployment is going to skyrocket, in our view, to 7 and a half, 8 percent. All the stores have canceled expansion plans, cutting back on investments. They're not opening new stores. They're closing stores, and they're slashing hiring budgets.

turn 1 : Personal consumption is the key driver of the American economy, and if people stop consuming, the economy will suffer.

turn 1 : There is a shift in consumer behavior towards cheaper options, benefiting certain businesses.

turn 1 : The situation is much worse than ever before and people are starting to think about alternative options if their current job is not secured.

turn 1 : The days of capitalism defined by constantly increasing prices and reaching new highs are disappearing quickly.

turn 1 : Dominance of a few large companies is discouraging people from starting their own businesses.


turn 3 : The economic situation is causing a significant decrease in hiring, sales, and investment.

turn 3 : The economic situation will get worse, and it's uncertain how bad it will be.

turn 3 : Many people are losing their jobs and companies are going bankrupt.

turn 3 : While the macroeconomic numbers don't indicate a recession, many people are experiencing economic hardship.

turn 3 : THERE IS A BIG CHANGE THE PEOPLE HAVE ALREADY LOST THEIR MONEY


I'm Tony Cox, and this is News & Notes. Ending a relationship is never easy. The person breaking up often tries to use words to soften the blow. I'm not ready to be in a committed relationship or it's not you, it's me. And the person being dumped is left trying to figure out just where things went wrong. A year ago, author Rachel Skerritt decided that she wanted to get to the bottom of all of her ex-boyfriends' vague explanations for ending their relationships. So, she called the men in her past and asked them to tell her exactly why they stopped wanting to be with her. Rachel joins me now. Welcome to News & Notes, Rachel.

Thanks, Tony.

Rachel, why in the world would you want to know this?

Well, I'm a tough cookie. I should say that first off, but I'm also a writer and the idea came to me after that whole "He's Just Not That Into You" phenomenon, the book not the movie. And a lot of my friends were reading it as if they had found, you know, the answers to everything. Oh, he's just not that into me, that explains it. But there was this whole missing why piece, why not. And as you said, guys seem trained to give these stock answers so as not to hurt feelings, but I really wanted the real deal. . .

turn 3 : The comment made by 'she' had a significant impact on A

turn 3 : Responding to say that A is a tough cookie is implying that she is strong enough to handle the truth of why B or past boyfriends were not that into her.

turn 3 : B implies that A is not actively looking for something more stable.

turn 3 : B is trying to express that love still exists despite some setbacks

turn 3 : (4) Seriously? could mean that B is surprised, does not believe, or is challenging A's statement.


Thanks, Tony.

turn 3 : He is implying that she helps a lot of people.

turn 3 : Implied meaning: The speaker is expressing disapproval or criticism towards the listener or a third party, but doing so indirectly or politely.

turn 3 : She is not being put in a box. She means the roles people apply to her and her life.

turn 3 : Tough cookie is not literal. She is not a cookie. She is suggesting that she is strong enough to take criticism from others.


What was fascinating was that, although most of them, in their 90s, don't want to have German citizenship back, they were saying that their children and grandchildren are also applying.

I try to be careful with questions that are premised on what someone who is gone would think. But I'm going to chance one in your case. If your parents were here, what do you think they'd make of your decision?

I've been thinking about that a great deal. And my mother only went back to Germany once, and she only went back when my father said - my father was born in Britain - when my father said to her, Liesel, if you don't go to Germany now, I won't be alive, and I won't be able to come with you. And she went back. And she had an amazing time, and she saw her all old school friends. And what would she have felt?I think she'd have felt ambivalent, to be honest. My father would have just been completely relaxed about it, I think.

But it's been very interesting because my son feels very strongly that he wants German citizenship. My daughter's not at all sure. She can't see it, and she just says, you know, why would you want it, given the history?

turn 3 :  implies that the speaker's daughter has a negative view of Germany and its history, and thus does not understand why anyone would want German citizenship.

turn 3 : The administration is unsure of how to defend their stance on the citizenship question.

turn 3 : Implies that the speaker would like to see further reforms beyond what is suggested by Speaker Ryan.

turn 3 : This turn is literal in meaning, as it is a straightforward question asking about the speaker's children.

turn 3 : This turn does not have an implied meaning different from its literal meaning. It is a straightforward expression of gratitude towards Laura Sydell, the NPR correspondent.


Well, she's made her mission here to expand or improve transparency and ethical reform in the state government. As you likely know, Alaska has been just shaken by corruption scandals for the past couple of years. The FBI has been investigating state legislators, three of them are in jail for bribery now, more maybe coming.

So she sort of arrived on the scene in the middle of all of that, and push for new ethics rule in the legislature and her - one of her biggest goals in office is to get a big new natural gas pipeline. Something along the lines of the old Alaska oil pipeline, built so that Alaska can ship out it's natural gas.

But she wants that done in a more transparent fashion. She says she wants more outside energy companies coming and bidding on that. As oppose to sort of, deals struck among the elite, as she would say, you know, the old governor was accused by her of cutting a deal with the oil companies that just wasn't too favorable to Alaska, or so she said at the time, in terms of oil production taxes. So, she wants all of that to have a lot of more sunlight.

Well, speaking of sunlight, she's facing an ethics investigation of her own, is she not?

turn 3 : the literal meaning is that the interviewer asks if recent events and debates make a scene in a book more significant.

turn 3 : The interview or conversation is coming to an end and the speaker needs to conclude.

turn 3 : implies that A has endorsed Hillary Clinton and believes she effectively addresses the issues.

turn 3 : The speaker is not literally talking about honesty and being real but rather expressing their discomfort with situations that feel inauthentic.

turn 3 : The conversation has shifted from talking about Sarah Palin to talking about her ethics investigation.


It's very interesting. I find it funny, though, because I found in America, you - mixed-race people are categorized as black until you achieve success. You know, like they wait for you to achieve success before they give you the black standard. That's the upgrade. Before then they say you're mixed. You achieve success and you get upgraded to black. And all the famous mixed people do it. Before they all were mixed. You know, like, you know, all those singers - Alicia Keys, Mariah Carey - they go, oh, you know, mixed, and then they become famous, they go black singers. Tiger Woods is a black golfer although he's mixed. He doesn't even refer to himself as black, you know?

And the most famous person is Barack Obama, mixed half and half, but you say America's first black president. But when he was running, they called him the mixed candidate, you know, which is very interesting for me. You see how the dynamic goes. And then now you get people going, oh well, he's not black enough. I go, what is black enough?What is, you know, it's a very interesting thing. And as a mixed-race child, I know, growing up in a world where people always say that to me, oh, you're not black enough. And they'll never say you're not white enough though. White is never an option.

We wish you success enough to be called black.

Thank you very much. Thank you.

turn 2 : (3) Turn A: The implied meaning is that being a black police officer in America can be difficult because of the historical and ongoing use of excessive force against people of color, which can make it hard to reconcile one's identity as a black person with one's role as a police officer

turn 2 : The implied meaning in turn (2) is that the author created the book out of a desire to educate young black people about their cultural history, which they may not have learned from mainstream media sources such as hip-hop videos.

turn 2 : The literal meaning of this turn is to state that the speaker is of mixed racial and/or ethnic heritage. However, the actual meaning is to downplay the significance of the speaker's racial and ethnic identity.

turn 2 : (3) has an actual meaning that is different from its literal meaning. The literal meaning of "We wish you success enough to be called black" is simply wishing someone success, but the implicated meaning may suggest that the speaker believes being "black" is a higher status, and that success is only achieved when one is considered "black" by society. It implies a commentary on the social construct of race and how success is tied to it.

turn 2 : (1) Turn A: The implied meaning is that being an African-American police officer is particularly challenging because of the negative perceptions and biases that exist towards young black men, and that this can create tension and difficulties in relationships between police officers and the communities they serve.


So how much should they save?

I kind of break up savings into two major funds - the emergency fund, and that's the one you've always heard about, three to six months of living expenses. Start with just a little. Listen, just start with a month, and that means that you have enough saved up that if you lost your job, you could at least live on your savings for one month.

Then I suggest you have what I call the life happens fund. So that would be a fund that you put money in for like major car repairs or if something happens to your roof because otherwise, you're going to dip into that emergency fund, and when a true emergency comes, like a job loss - and millions of people know exactly what that means right now - that money isn't there.

All right. Let's say you want to do that, but you are living paycheck to paycheck. How do you look through your expenses and figure out what you can trim and what you can save?

turn 3 :  I'm, you know, it's almost paycheck to paycheck meaning they don't have much money

turn 3 : The amount set aside for wages is insufficient.

turn 3 : paycheck to paycheck implies that the amount a person makes can only cover necessities

turn 3 : (4) Implied meaning: Could the government do something to prevent this from happening, such as introducing a minimum wage?


Well, I think there's a growing consensus towards some form of certiship(ph), nationalization. I was very interested that Alan Greenspan, you know, noted as a conservative, has said that it looks like we will have no alternative for some of the banks but to nationalize them. And, this is what Sweden, Norway did, and it worked very well.

Why?What's the strength behind nationalizing banks?

First, you solve the problem of the misalignment between ownership and control. We provided to the banks now most of their capital, but we have no control, and they're going to be exercising using our money for their interest. And that's why we saw what we've seen in the last few months. We gave them a huge amount of money. We poured money into the banks, and they poured money out in the form of bonuses and in the form of dividends.

Now, if they were maximizing our interest, if they were maximizing the reason that the society gave them this money, they would have been using this money for lending or, the very least, for re-capitalizing the banks. That's why we gave them the money. But they were maximizing their own interest, and it was in their interest to pay this money out in bonuses and pay it out in dividends. That just illustrates the nature of the risk when there's a separation of ownership and control.

turn 2 : Using "a quarter" to mean money is a non-literal meaning.

turn 2 : their own pockets implies that they were collecting money for themselves

turn 2 : Gordon Brown's plan is earning him praise, but it involves using taxpayer money to bailout three British banks and impose conditions on the banks in exchange for the money.

turn 2 : Pouring money is a metaphor, not literal. It just means the government gave a lot of money to the bank, who spent a lot on bonuses and dividends.

turn 2 : There is no literal bucket - it just means that there is a collection of cash in a bank or something.


It's the most remarkable story of evil coming out of Russia that I've seen in a long time. And what it shows is that they're not just messing with the election in the United States or doping in the Olympics. But they've got their tentacles into just about everything everywhere. This is one story that shows that.

I have to ask you, Mr.  Browder, there are plenty of people - and we hear from them - who are skeptical about Russia being seen at the center of so many allegations. And they say the U. S.  and the West are just crawling back into a destructive Cold War mentality. How do you answer that?

Well, I mean, Russia was responsible for shooting down MH17. Russia was responsible for invading Ukraine. Russia is responsible for taking away the chemical weapons in Syria that they didn't take away. Russia was responsible for having honest athletes in the Olympics when they did the whole doping program. I mean, Russia is the one who is making the trouble. Russia is really a sort of a nonentity when it comes to - the economy is the size of the state of New York. Their military budget is 5 percent of the U. S.  military budget. We shouldn't even be thinking about Russia other than the fact that they're sort of putting their nose into every bit of terrible activity all over the world.

Quick question - but it's important to get along, isn't it?

turn 0 : Despite potential lack of interest, the Olympics are still a significant event.

turn 0 : Russia is involved in various malicious activities worldwide beyond just the U.S. elections and doping in the Olympics.

turn 0 : The Russian government does not get many chances for people to see them all over the world.

turn 0 : Russians have interfered in the elections and are doing it again.

turn 0 : There is always people that are suspicious of those that are associated with Russia in any way, even the smallest way.


turn 0 : got their tentacles implies that Russia is involved and manipulative in many different aspects of foreign affairs

turn 0 : that Russia views itself as a victim of a Western conspiracy and is retaliating with its own tactics.

turn 0 : (2) implies that Russia's goal is to promote a worldview that everything is corrupt and that its tactics are meant to psychologically influence others;

turn 0 : Russian operatives used deceptive tactics to create far-right groups.


turn 1 : that Russia views itself as a victim of a Western conspiracy and is retaliating with its own tactics.

turn 1 : There is always people that are suspicious of those that are associated with Russia in any way, even the smallest way.

turn 1 : There are skeptics who believe that Russia is not at the center of allegations and the U.S. and the West are overreacting with a Cold War mentality.

turn 1 : (2) implies that Russia's goal is to promote a worldview that everything is corrupt and that its tactics are meant to psychologically influence others;

turn 1 : The Russian goverment doesn't get many chances to do the right thing where people all over the world will see and know about it.


turn 2 : The Russian goverment doesn't get many chances to do the right thing where people all over the world will see and know about it.

turn 2 : that Russia views itself as a victim of a Western conspiracy and is retaliating with its own tactics.

turn 2 : Russia's actions in shooting down MH17, invading Ukraine, not complying with chemical weapons removal in Syria, and doping in the Olympics show their troublesome behavior globally.

turn 2 : The identity of the person involved in the Russia investigation is less important than the fact that Russia is attacking the body politics and needs to be fought against.

turn 2 : There is always people that are suspicious of those that are associated with Russia in any way, even the smallest way.


Well, one of the species that - or one of the challenges that's called out in this report are declines in the populations of pollinators around the world - so birds and bats and bees, quite literally. In the United States and Europe, they're declining by about 40%. In most of the rest of the world, we don't have good data to know how much they're declining. But about a half a trillion dollars a year - trillion with a T - in agricultural products depend on those pollinators. So you can do things in your own backyard to make them pollinator friendly, to plant the right kind of plants and grasses and flowers that those species of bees and birds depend on and not use pesticides that harm them.

Obviously there's a clock running, though. I mean, time is short.

Everything - well, the challenge is we need to do it. We need to do it now. And we need to do sort of everything at once. One of the cheapest, most readily available and cost-effective things that we can do to both solve the biodiversity crisis and the climate crisis is, first, stop deforestation and, second, restore forests and then, third, change our agricultural practices to increase soil carbon and soil health. And the interesting thing is that can actually increase productivity to feed a hungry world and make our agriculture more resilient to climate change. So the point is there are a bunch of things where nature is actually the best solution provider to the climate crisis if we manage it right.

Andrew Deutz is the international director of government relations at The Nature Conservancy.

turn 0 : It changes the way you think about the situation. Russia wants to capitalize on everyone's problems in the region.

turn 0 : The dominance of the dollar gives the US considerable power in international trade.

turn 0 : Capitalizing the T in trillion just makes it important.

turn 0 : Sectors that grown when the economy is failing do better when the economy begins to improve.  The techology sector as a whole is trying hard to make money.

turn 0 : "writ large" - This phrase means "on a large scale" or "as a general principle," rather than referring to something that is physically written in large letters.


The letters A-A-P-L no longer stand for the most valuable publicly-traded company in the world. The price for a share of Apple, Inc.  declined throughout the week, until Exxon reclaimed the top spot on the NASDAQ. Now, this news comes after Apple posted revenues that were lower than expected. And meanwhile, that other tech giant, Samsung, has been growing even larger. Samsung had a record-breaking report of its quarterly profits this week. Joe Nocera joins us - an op-ed columnist for the New York Times and financial expert. He joins us from Sag Harbor, New York. Joe, thanks for being with us.

Thanks for having me, Scott. And how the mighty have fallen.

Well, all right. First, let's take a measure of that. Exactly how huge was Apple last year?

Apple was by far the most valuable company in the world, far exceeding Exxon and everybody else. Its stock has tumbled not quite in half but it's basically gone from the low-700s to the mid-400s, and in the blink of an eyelash. It's really been very, very quick - the last maybe three months this has taken place.

Now, all of this, you know, being said, the reported profits this week are on the scale that a lot of companies would envy.

turn 1 : trying to place myself in his mind implies a persons way of thinking and/or their point of view

turn 1 : "Where do you turn" implies that you need someone to talk to about an issue.

turn 1 : Implied meaning: The speaker is indirectly suggesting that they may have information or opinions that they are hesitant to share openly.

turn 1 : "I don't think it's my place to say" could imply that the speaker wants to avoid offending someone or getting involved in a situation they don't want to be part of.