Yeah, of course. I think it's right for the employer to know. But let the person go all the way through the process until the point where they're being offered a job. It creates more momentum towards hiring and more of a chance that that person's actually get a job.

Why do you include in this legislation a provision that would allow felons to vote in every state in the country?

You know, these felony disenfranchise laws - if you go back to some of the state legislative debates that were happening after Reconstruction, they were designed to stop African-Americans from voting. These have racist roots to these laws. And it gets to a point now where you can see the fruit of that poison tree - is that you have some counties in America where 1 out of 4 African-Americans can't vote. And remember; the overwhelming number of charges are for nonviolent drug offenses.

So here, you've served your time, and now you're going to have 10, 20, 40, 50, 60 years more as an adult. And you're told that your citizen rights have been stripped from you?This is a way, I think, that poor people especially - low-income people are being stripped of their democratic power.

turn 0 : None of the turns in this conversation have a figurative or non-literal meaning. They are all meant to be taken at face value as a straightforward question and answer about the speaker's job and experience with criminal investigations.

turn 0 : The figurative meaning here is that allowing the person to go through the entire hiring process without disclosing their criminal record increases their chances of getting a job. It suggests that withholding information about their criminal record can help them overcome potential biases.

turn 0 : has a literal meaning of "Yes, the numbers aren't looking good for the person," but its actual meaning is "It looks like the person isn't likely to succeed."

turn 0 : (1) The actual meaning of turn (1) is different from its literal meaning, as it implies that the speaker is ready to defend their state against any legal challenges from the Trump administration and has a track record of success in litigation against them, indicating a confident and confrontational approach.

turn 0 : Turn (1) has a non-literal meaning. The speaker is suggesting that the cost of the program may be justified by its deterrent effect, even though it may not be cost-effective in terms of the number of arrests made.


turn 2 : "And it gets to a point now where you can see the fruit of that poison tree." The figurative meaning here is that the negative consequences of the racially motivated felony disenfranchisement laws are becoming evident or visible. The phrase "fruit of that poison tree" implies that the current situation is a result of something harmful or unjust in the past.

turn 2 : "the investigation is going to focus on money laundering." - The actual meaning of this turn is literal, as it refers to the literal focus of the investigation on the illegal practice of disguising the proceeds of crime as legitimate funds.

turn 2 : Turn (3) describes the discovery of clues that led to the unraveling of the scandal, which is consistent with its literal meaning.

turn 2 : "the consequences that they are unleashing in Mexican public life in every level" - the literal meaning is the results or outcomes that are being released or let loose, but the actual meaning is the negative effects that are impacting Mexican society at all levels.

turn 2 : By contributiing to Trump's campaign they are seen as contributing to the mistreatment of Hispanics because Trump speads this kind of rhetoric. They are giving Trump the means to continue his divisive rhetoric.


People are still there, and people are still very defiant. I think that's really the only word you can use for people who've spent the last month fasting during Ramadan in extremes of heat. And they now say that we will not step down; we will not stand back until this military council has been deposed.

Well, now the military is saying we're going to stall these negotiations. Any agreement that we had settled is off, but we're going to hold elections within nine months. Is that good news for the protesters?

It is - they take it as good news, but the reality is it's not because the only infrastructure that remains intact is the infrastructure of the former regime and the former ruling party. It's difficult to see how, in a situation where people are fearing for their lives, you can put together a cohesive electoral campaign. Even though the military council says that they will allow observers in, this is a military council that is blocking journalists - that has suspended Al Jazeera, that has suspended other journalists from doing their work. So there's a lot of disbelief that they will allow observers to carry out their job.

Meanwhile, they will just continue to sit-in, to protest, to demand democratic reforms even if they are unlikely.

turn 0 : People in India are usually not the type to protest

turn 0 : People have endured extreme conditions during Ramadan, but they are still protesting and refusing to back down

turn 0 : The protests are still significant despite not being widespread

turn 0 : The protest has been peaceful despite potential for violence.

turn 0 : The protest turned violent, despite initially being peaceful.


turn 0 : There will be a lot of formal events but street protests will be the highlight.

turn 0 : People who fasted during Ramadan in extreme heat are showing defiance by continuing to protest until the military council is deposed.


Vladimir Putin says the U. S.  airstrikes on Syria were an act of aggression. And yet, despite defiant words and claims that U. S.  missiles were intercepted and did little damage, Russia has not retaliated. To help us understand why, we're joined by Angela Stent of Georgetown University. She's also a State Department veteran from the Clinton and Bush administrations. Good morning.

Good morning. Good to be here.

So can you remind us why Russia has interests in Syria at all?And briefly - I know it's a complicated story.

(Laughter) Well, the short version of this. So the Soviet Union and Syria were allies during the Cold War, at the end of the Cold War. So, you know, Russia lost many of its positions in the Middle East, but that relationship with Syria has always been important. Then Putin was horrified by what happened in the Arab Spring, particularly what happened in Libya, and he was determined to shore up, you know, his ally, his partner in Syria. And he went into Syria in September 2015 in a big way - bombing - really to show the United States and the rest of the world that we were trying to isolate Russia after what happened in Ukraine, but Russia was definitely back. Russia also has its own - only warm-water port in Syria and a significant airbase. And it's really used this intervention now in Syria to increase its influence in the Middle East as the U. S.  has withdrawn.

turn 2 : well refers to good and not a hole dug in the ground

turn 2 : The actual meaning was differ from the original meaning that is the right answer

turn 2 : NOTHING IS NOT GOOD.SO IT WAS A VERY MEANING FULL

turn 2 : The phrase, "on the ground" implies being in a place or situation where something important is happening, rather than somewhere else.

turn 2 : The speaker is hinting that the situation is difficult or complex.


I think it is.
Oh my gosh!
I think it is.
This is a huge day.

turn 3 : The actual meaning of turn 3 is "Thank you for joining us and providing information on the topic."

turn 3 : This is a day where a something very important has happened or is happening.

turn 3 : not a literal meaning but rather a rhetorical question.

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


turn 3 : Implied meaning: The speaker is subtly trying to convey a sense of urgency or importance in the matter being discussed, without explicitly stating it.

turn 3 : A is expressing that this is an important or significant day.

turn 3 : Implied meaning: The speaker may be using a euphemism or understatement to convey a more significant or sensitive message.

turn 3 : The literal meaning of this turn is that the person being addressed has kept a lot of people warm and safe throughout the year and is being thanked for it. The figurative meaning, however, is that the person being addressed has done something good or helpful for others and is being appreciated for it, but not necessarily in a literal sense of keeping them warm and safe.


You know, it may explain why you're such a good writer. I mean, you are one of the best science explainers. I mean, I've been doing this for a few years, and your book, "Letters to a Young Scientist", I think is the best book you've ever written because it is so much of you, and it is written in such an easy language, and we get you passion, we see your background.

Maybe it's because you talk to yourself that it's easier to write.

Yeah, and lots of students. And I've trained myself in clear explanation in order - when I went in to lecture to - sometimes I had a class of 150 because I taught basic biology, I had to have a device to keep the Harvard students in front of me from starting to read the Crimson.

So you had to come prepared to tell a good yarn, tell a good story or something.

turn 2 : There were some personal problems, and he is trying to understand the reason behind them without being too direct.

turn 2 : He had to find a way to keep the students from becoming bored and distracted.

turn 2 : The kids were smarter than the other kids in their class.

turn 2 : It affected the young people's emotions when they saw what happened.

turn 2 : He was having a hard time thinking of an idea and then saw something.


. . . Hitler, basically.

Absolutely. Yes, yes. But they were given - at one point, they were given little medals - the sort of civilian Iron Cross, which they would wear beneath their lapel. And they wore it to conceal beneath their lapel so that when the Germans invaded, they could just turn the lapel and quietly show the invading German army that they were actually sympathizers.

But there was a great, though, deal of ugliness revealed. I mean, what's really nice in the book - these transcriptions that Juliet does - they're printed in 1940s typeface. You can see them as you might have really read them. And though the conversations are sometimes quite boring and sometimes illuminates what they're trying to do - but they're shot through with this virulent hatred of Jews.

It's side by side with this really kind of tedium of their conversations. And then you suddenly - you're almost lulled into not hearing what they're saying. And then you suddenly realize that this hatred is simmering away beneath in their breasts. And they're not - they really could be your neighbor. And I think that's a frightening thing.

turn 2 : There are no idiomatic expressions or figurative language in this turn.

turn 2 :  (3) is not a meaningful statement, so its actual meaning is different from its literal meaning.

turn 2 : None of the turns have implied meanings that are different from their literal meanings. They all convey their literal meanings without any hidden or implied messages.

turn 2 : I do not think that the ugliness mentioned is meant to be literal but metaphorical.

turn 2 : Implied meaning: The speaker's use of a certain metaphor or analogy suggests they are drawing a comparison to another concept in order to illustrate their point or express a deeper meaning.


From the studios of NPR West, this is Day to Day. I'm Alex Cohen. Scrapping the car czar. President Obama has chosen not to appoint one person to oversee the restructuring of the troubled auto industry. For more on why the president is switching gears we're joined now by Justin Hyde of the Detroit Free Press. And Justin, why did President Obama decide to get rid of this car czar position?

Well, it's becoming clear that the auto industry is probably going to have too many problems for just one person to handle. GM and Chrysler are going to be submitting plans to the administration tomorrow to explain how they deserve the 17. 4 billion that the government has lent them and whether they might be able to receive even more aid in the future.

The Obama administration has several very tough questions to answer about the future of this industry and hundreds of thousands of jobs that are tied into it. It's just going to take more work than one person can give.

So in lieu of a car czar, there will be this Presidential Task Force on Autos. Who will be heading up that group?

turn 0 : The president is trying to prioritize the needs of those who have been forgotten by society.

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 : Getting rid of the person that was chosen to lead a committee regarding the automobile industry. The president is changing is mind on this and Justin Hyde can tell us why.

turn 0 : A implies that the process of political maneuvering can be absurd and comical to an outside observer.

turn 0 : People who usually would vote for the Republican candidate are considering voting for Hillary Clinton instead.


turn 3 : "Who will be heading up that group" means who is going to be the leader of that group.

turn 3 : It is being implied that if everyone resigns he will be the new leader.

turn 3 : The actual meaning of turn 3 is "Thank you for joining us and providing information on the topic."

turn 3 : Implied meaning: Is there any indication of what will happen next in the conflict?

turn 3 : BELIVE THAT MOST THEM WILL AGREE EVERY SURE


That's right. And my experience has taught me that, first of all, the role of the diaspora is very important and what was also called sometimes the reversal of the brain drain, in the case of India, for example. I wish that many Somalis come back to Somalia to contribute to the rebuilding of the country. So I thought I should pitch my message to the community, in this case in Minnesota, and to appeal to their involvement so that we can sustain the progress that was made.

You gave this speech in Minnesota, where I understand your son has just graduated from high school. Congratulations. So what does he think of your advice to come home?

Of course I have made the appeal to him as well.

(Laughter).

turn 0 : The brain does not reverse but  the person's opinions do change.

turn 0 : The person refuses to change their mind on what they think about the situation.

turn 0 : "It makes you consider your own brain, I suppose." - This turn is a figurative expression that means the speaker is reflecting on their own life and experiences in comparison to the circumstances of the individuals whose brains were taken.

turn 0 : "could change its mind" - actual meaning: might change their opinion or decision

turn 0 : You do not actually enter the person's heart or mind, it means that you start to understand their perspective


President GEORGE W.  BUSH: The question facing the president is not when the problem started, but what did you do about it when you recognized the problem?And I readily concede, I chunked aside some of my free market principles when I was told by chief economic advisers that the situation we were facing could be worse than the Great Depression.

That's George W.  Bush, speaking at his last press conference as the president earlier today. Joining us now to talk about that conference and the week ahead in politics is NPR senior Washington editor Ron Elving. Hi, Ron.

Hello, Alex. Good to be with you.

Good to be with you. And as we just heard, Mr.  Bush spoke of his legacy related to the current economic crisis. He also talked about terrorism, the war in Iraq and Hurricane Katrina. What's your take on the overall tone of today's press conference?

turn 0 : Bush admits he compromised his beliefs to address economic crisis

turn 0 : The president may be lying about not being informed

turn 0 : The first major foreign crisis for the U.S. after the end of the Cold War occurred during his presidency.

turn 0 : What people think of him has lessened due to the situation.

turn 0 : Blaming George Bush for everything is a common theme among Democrats.


More so than Russia, which we seem to hear. . .

It's not even close.

. . . More about.

Not even close. Now, Russia is more tactical. They will spend their time and effort on onesie-twosie to see recruitments of humans in less. . .

Onesie-twosie recruitments.

turn 3 : They mean that this is not a small way of being associated with Russia.

turn 3 : implies asking for an opinion on Russia's ambitions.

turn 3 : We need to give it our best attempt and relations with Russia could use some help to get better.

turn 3 : Russia will try to get more people to join the military together.

turn 3 : 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.


That's still not always easy, but that's a message that can succeed. If, however, you have a muddled message, if it seems like you're planning on having some retrenchment of a program for no good reason, you're not articulating a good and compelling reason to do it. That tends to be much, much worse.

There is a paradox. The Affordable Care Act has become popular, as we mentioned, but in the same polls when you ask people about Obamacare, they say that they don't like it. Now that Obama is out of office, are people paying more attention to the actual policy and its effect on their lives?

Well, what I'd say is that earlier on, I pointed out to the fact that if you look at surveys, you find that people say that the federal government should insure universal coverage. Now, of course, there are lots of ways to go about doing that. As for Obamacare in particular, it certainly has created some constituencies. But are there ways to change the law that would be broadly popular?I think the answer is yes.

But to do that, you'd really need to have a coherent, unified critique of Obamacare. And that's the big problem for Republicans because if you're looking at Republican objections to Obamacare, they've come from pretty much every direction. People have criticized it for all kinds of reasons that are oftentimes somewhat contradictory. And that means that you don't have a kind of common narrative about, what's the problem here that we're trying to solve?

turn 1 : This turn has a literal meaning of cancelling and substituting a law or policy with a new one. However, in this context, it refers to the highly anticipated vote in the House of Representatives on a bill that would repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare).

turn 1 : The implied meaning of the speaker's response to the question of overturning the Affordable Care Act is that they don't only want to do away with it, but also to replace it with something better.

turn 1 : "Obamacare" The actual meaning of this turn is not different from its literal meaning. It refers to the Affordable Care Act, which was signed into law by President Barack Obama in 2010.

turn 1 : The implied meaning of this turn is that the implementation of the ACA has not achieved its goals as intended, as evidenced by the fact that many states have opted out of Medicaid, leaving many people uninsured and leading to an increasing number of rural hospital closures.


(Singing) When the night comes. And you lay your weary had to rest. No more trials, no test. When the night comes. . .

That kind of thing.

Dan Auerbach, thank you for putting up with my really (Soundbite of laughter) miserable drumming. My rhythm section was lousy, but you sounded great.

I just felt like I was on "American Idol. "

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

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

turn 3 : He was happy to attend the talk show

turn 3 :  (4) - Implied meaning: What thoughts or feelings were you experiencing in that moment?

turn 3 : She looked at him like he was very strange and unknown to her.


I can imagine someone being stunned for a moment by being struck by an object, especially at a high speed like that. But I don't understand that because if there was over a minute when the throttle was advanced farther than it should've been and - you know, things happen when you're an engineer. You should be used to them. So I - it doesn't really seem to me like that's a probable cause, but we'll have to wait and see.

I don't have to tell you, Mr.  Hughes, that the crash and the deaths of eight people have set off a debate - those who say the derailment says Amtrak needs more money, others who say Amtrak isn't - is wasting a lot of the money that it gets. Recognizing there are no guarantees, would greater government funding have perhaps meant this derailment wouldn't happen?

It might have. The thing that is important here is Amtrak doesn't have any discretionary money. Every penny they get goes into something that's really important, especially capital money like this. And so I would think that money played some part in it in that when Amtrak has to do large projects, they have to space them out in smaller parts over multiple years. And I don't know the facts in this case, but I do know that that is true with a number of large capital projects. You just can't do them quickly 'cause the funding isn't there.

When you were in charge, Mr.  Hughes, did you find it hard to get funding for Amtrak, a lot of skepticism and doubt?

turn 1 : The issue of pollution caused by automobiles is a serious problem that needs to be addressed by investing in private sector and government; it is not just an economic issue but a national security issue as well.

turn 1 : Implied meaning: The main issue preventing aid from getting to the most affected areas is the blocked roads, caused by fallen trees and power lines.

turn 1 : The government could acquire loans and make changes more easily.

turn 1 : Is increased government funding the solution to preventing this kind of accident from happening in the future?


turn 1 : The implied meaning of this turn is that the speaker is asking if the Alderman has any reservations about the safety of the St. Louis area, given the protests and violence that have been occurring.

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'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 : The implied meaning of the turn is that the speaker is asking whether the derailment could have been prevented if Amtrak had received more government funding.

turn 1 : Implied meaning: The speaker's tone or choice of words may suggest that they have reservations or doubts about a particular topic or decision.


turn 3 : The federal government is hesitant to provide financial assistance to the struggling auto industry.

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.

turn 3 : The emergency declaration was made just to access funding.

turn 3 : There is a serious need for public transportation in the region.


And tomorrow is going to be my female day.

Right.

We are all of that and it's intertwined and I want us to celebrate our intertwining.

Do you think that economists need to dig in deeper into how these intersections of race and gender play out in the workplace?I mean do you think this is something, obviously there are plenty of people who work on it including you. But does it get enough attention and is there enough impetus to really put into place some of the learning that's happened?

turn 2 : The only thing that women wants is money and status in society.

turn 2 :  Tell us a bit about your life, could you, and your family.

turn 2 : A wants to celebrate their shared experiences as women and people of color.

turn 2 : B is asking A to distinguish between teens who experiment with gender identities and those who genuinely feel comfortable identifying outside of traditional gender roles.

turn 2 : She was a remarkable and iconic figure who would still be celebrated today.


From each other?

Yeah, male and female professionals of color?Do they face different challenges?

I think they do face different challenges. And particularly, I look at women and they can tend to be branded things like too emotional, or not competitive, or not dedicated. Because there are some unique skill sets that women bring that I think really ad value. So for example I find that women are more intuitive, which means for me they can be better forecasters of future trends. They're more nurturing, which means they're better attuned to the needs of their people and really better at developing people, and they actually are better communicators to me. I know that's a surprise to a lot of listeners, but I find that they are more responsive to giving and receiving feedback.

Just quickly, what about men?

turn 2 : Women have an implicit gender career stereotype associating them with family which contributes to their difficulties in the workplace.

turn 2 : Women need to be tough to be taken seriously in male-dominated professions.

turn 2 : There is a strong gender stereotype associating males with science and females with arts that affects performance on standardized tests.

turn 2 : Women professionals face unique challenges due to gender stereotypes


What is the biggest need right now?I mean, where are these people going and, specifically, children who may have lost family members?

Yeah. Well, the biggest need in general is everything. They need food, shelter, jerrycans for clean water. You need water trucks with clean water to go there. Imagine that a flooding contaminates everything. That is why diseases are bound to break out. And it's already happening. There is cases of cholera mentioned or reported in Beira.

There is a system where children - where parents can fill in the name of their children that they are missing. And then, you know, that is accessible for aid organizations. And the aid organizations in the field will look for those children and try to get parents and children back together again. If that doesn't happen, children will go into the governmental care while the aid organizations keep looking for relatives where they can live with.

And I understand that even though the floodwaters are now receding, there is a chance for secondary floods. How is the community preparing for that?

turn 1 : Diseases are not breaking out but might begin to happen due to the situation.

turn 1 : The mortality rate of the disease is high and it has caused outbreaks in the past.

turn 1 : The situation worsened after trying to treat it

turn 1 : Health care workers are at risk of getting infected.

turn 1 : Delays in treating people with the virus could lead to it spreading rapidly.


So, John, if Lehman's problems spread to other banks, who's next?

Well, a first concern would be Washington Mutual. It's a big mortgage lender. It's under some severe stress right now. Its stock is down today. You have to look at other banks and investment houses with problem loans on their books, like Merrill Lynch, Morgan Stanley, Citibank won't be immune. You know, all these banks are interconnected now, with lots of shared debts and investments that are losing value. This crisis has pretty much changed the business model for big banks, who used to earn profits by investing in loans and mortgages that had been repackaged to essentially spread the risk to everybody.

Many of those investments have now gone south, and the banks are going to have to come up with a new system for raising the capital to lend to borrowers. The thing to watch for now is how the rating agencies, like Standard & Poor's and Fitch, put a value on these banks' futures. As the ratings on banks go down, it becomes more expensive for the banks to borrow the money that they need to cover the bad loans because investors lose confidence, and they want a higher return to fork over their money. And it's that lack of confidence that the government and the industry are fighting in this credit crunch.

Thanks, John. That's John Dimsdale of public radio's daily business show, Marketplace.

turn 2 : If mortgage companies agree to modify loans according to government standards, the government will help shoulder future losses.

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

turn 2 : People tend to trust larger banks more than smaller banks and leave more money uninsured in larger banks.

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

turn 2 : The current financial situation has disrupted people's sense of security.


Great to be here.

Could you take us back to that moment - 1947, I guess; the Hotel Pennsylvania in Manhattan; and Edwin Land wheels in this mahogany-clad contraption.

That's right. At the very first demonstration, it was at a meeting of a big optical society; and he brought in one of those big-view cameras - the kind you see in pictures from the 19th century; you know, the big wooden thing with a cloth over the head. And they had installed a special back on it, to take prototype instant film. And as the story goes, he pulls a sheet of film out of his camera; and he puts it through a little pair of rollers, to develop it; and 50 seconds later, he peels it off and reveals his own face. And in fact, because they. . .

I feel like I should go (gasps).

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

turn 0 : None , I do not believe there is any here


You had to actually take the thing apart to change games.

Take out the battery and everything to change games.

That would be a drawback.

That's a drawback. And number two - they didn't have any games. There was, like, two games that were worth playing.

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

turn 2 : Turn (3): The speaker is suggesting that the proposal at the ballpark is likely to be a rejected one.

turn 2 : "That would be a drawback" - The speaker is not referring to the act of physically removing the battery and taking the thing apart to change games as a drawback. Instead, they are referring to the fact that this process is inconvenient as a drawback.

turn 2 : (3) has an actual meaning different from its literal meaning. The speaker is discussing how video games can impose consequences for harming civilians in-game, and how this is similar to the rules set by the Geneva Conventions in real-life conflicts. The implied meaning is that video game developers have a responsibility to consider the consequences of their game mechanics and the messages they send to players.

turn 2 : the speaker is implying that they personally realized the potential consequences of the decision when it was made, even though they are not part of the decision-making process.


That would be a drawback.

turn 2 :  (3) is not a meaningful statement, so its actual meaning is different from its literal meaning.

turn 2 : The actual meaning was differ from the original meaning that is the right answer

turn 2 : : (3) and (4). The implied meaning of (3) is that it would be a disadvantage to have to take the thing apart to change games. The implied meaning of (4) is that there were only a few games available which were worth playing.


That would be a drawback.

turn 3 :  "That's a drawback" - The speaker is not referring to the fact that there were only two games worth playing as a drawback. Instead, they are adding to their previous statement by stating another drawback of the thing they are discussing.

turn 3 : the speaker is implying that they personally realized the potential consequences of the decision when it was made, even though they are not part of the decision-making process.

turn 3 : implies to not being in support and feeling unfavorable about the result.

turn 3 : how it play out implies the final result of a thing or series of things that happened

turn 3 : Implied meaning: The speaker may be suggesting that there are some hidden or unknown factors that could influence the situation being discussed.


Business casual, if you will.

Yes - something that would be your business suit. And then the casual part of it would be you can take the jacket off, and there's a short-sleeve, button-up shirt underneath.

There have been prototypes developed of these new uniforms. And they've made some adaptations from what the originals look like. Tell me about that.

So they started out with sort of just a straight jacket that kind of hit at the hip. And the feedback was that soldiers really wanted a slightly longer jacket, like, almost, you know, like, a little bit of a skirt coming out from the hip and then a belt. The belt was really important. So the latest update of that has the belt added.

turn 1 : The business suit has a casual element to it with a short-sleeved shirt.

turn 1 : suits refers to make proper or fit in and not a set of clothes to be worn

turn 1 : Choosing the appropriate outfit is important for job interviews.

turn 1 : B is not really interested in what A is wearing and is just making small talk.


We've seen the symbolism internationally too, haven't we?

We have. And perhaps the best-known example - in a small town in Thailand last month we saw three students who were arrested after protesting last spring's military coup by flashing the three-fingered salute - that's a symbol of District 12, Katniss' district in "The Hunger Games. "And you see things like that all over the world now. You see protesters in various parts of the world who not only wear T-shirts with "Hunger Games" slogans, but also have begun to use that three-finger salute as a symbol of protest not only in Thailand, but I'm told in Ukraine and other places as well.

What are we to make of the fact - I've wondered about this Stephen, the dystopian theme seems so popular as opposed to ethereal ones these days.

Dystopian novels always tend to feature a disaster followed by the good guys versus the bad guys in a very basic Manichaean sense. There's good and there's evil and there's no question about who the good and evil are. And we live in a political era of - where people on the left think everyone on the right is evil, everyone on the right thinks everyone on the left is evil. There's a tendency to paint our enemies as larger-than-life. And that fits perfectly with the general design of the dystopian story.

turn 3 : A thinks that the world prefers simple or sad narratives over other themes.

turn 3 : Why does the dystopian genre fit the current political climate?

turn 3 : The topic of climate change and the Fridays for Future movement mobilized a wider demographic.

turn 3 : It tells about developed our nation and innovoted lot of things

turn 3 : A is advocating for social and political change.


Well (laughter), I was on Capitol Hill. I was actually at the White House. And President Trump didn't meet with us. He was out of the country. But, you know, honestly, I think it was campaign rhetoric. I'm not asking for a handout. I'm just asking for a helping hand - not only Pennsylvania, but West Virginia, Kentucky, Alabama. There's a lot of mines prior to this mine closing that have closed, and you just don't bring coal back. So we need to look outside of the coal industry in the future.

Your region supported Trump this past election. Am I right?

That's correct. You know what?He said the right things. He said, I'm bringing back coal and talked about the Second Amendment, not taking away guns. And that's the big part of West Virginia, Pennsylvania, this corner. And he said the right stuff.

What are people thinking about the president these days?

turn 2 : It's getting harder to make people believe that the Supreme Court is not political.

turn 2 : A believes that Trump's appeal to the Second Amendment and support for coal resonated with voters.

turn 2 : suggests that the Democratic Party must put forth a more persuasive and powerful economic message to win more elections

turn 2 : A believes that George Bush would want to avoid political discussions and focus on a more positive conversation.

turn 2 : The Obama administration has made efforts to combat climate change


. . . Exactly correct. And when it comes to hostages, there is a clear U. S.  policy. We do not pay ransom. We do not make concessions. When it comes to political prisoners, it's much more murky.

To your knowledge, was any money given to North Korea in association with the release of Otto Warmbier, however it's characterized?

Not that I'm aware. I would personally be surprised if the Trump administration actually paid that invoice. However, again, when we were negotiating and trying to put the framework together for the release of Otto Warmbier, we were coupling it with a bigger package of bringing back remains of U. S.  servicemen, of helping a little bit with flood-related areas in north North Korea, which was back then hit really hard - not to the North Korean government, but through humanitarian organizations. And that compiles this package of humanitarian interest, mutual humanitarian interest that - it's a bunch of gestures of goodwill that ends up getting with what you want.

What does this week's news tell us about how the Trump administration deals with these types of situations?Because the president likes to suggest that his techniques are very different from that of his predecessors.

turn 1 : The U.S. government has a policy of not paying ransom for hostages or making concessions for political prisoners.

turn 1 : Political prisoners are not the same as hostages and should be distinguished.

turn 1 : The President is taking credit for returning hostages, despite it not being solely his doing.

turn 1 : The states are considering new strategies to reduce prison population and save money for other budget priorities.


turn 2 : Although it's not new, it's still outrageous that there's an invoice for collecting Otto Warmbier.

turn 2 : Invoice for collecting Otto Warmbier is not unique to negotiations with North Korea.

turn 2 : The U.S. government used a package of humanitarian gestures to negotiate the release of Otto Warmbier.

turn 2 : Bringing one in from the cold doesn't refer to temperature or housing in this statement, the implied meaning is that they're being welcomed again. To diplomatic meetings in this case.


Kevin, I imagine doing what you do, you can't have much of an appetite for leftovers on a day like today.

No, I probably will be eating a hamburger or something today.

Well, I wish you a very good day, and thanks for taking the time to speak with us.

Absolutely. Have a great time.

turn 0 : B uses the phrase "appetite for leftovers" to ask whether Kevin, who presumably works in the food industry, would want to eat any leftover food on that day. However, the actual meaning of the phrase is more general and refers to a lack of desire to eat food that has already been cooked or served before.

turn 0 : not literally served, as someone placing prepared food on a table for someone to eat, but working in a job or position

turn 0 : food for thought implies deep reasoning or a concern. Not really a meal to be eaten

turn 0 : "There's something magical about that part of a meal" - The speaker is expressing their emotional response to a particular part of a meal and not actually talking about any magic that might be involved.

turn 0 : (5) Refers to asking if the new food is good or too strong in terms of alcoholic content.


Absolutely. Have a great time.

turn 1 : "a sandwich there would probably be more of a, you know, a piece of flatbread with a layer of butter and a layer of cheese on it" - This turn means that the sandwiches in the region where the speaker grew up are simple and easy to eat on the go, not that they are literally only made with flatbread, butter, and cheese.

turn 1 : The literal meaning of (2) is that customers have to consume the food quickly, but the implied meaning is that customers should be aware that the food has a limited shelf life and should be consumed soon.

turn 1 : A uses the phrase "eating a hamburger or something" to refer to what he will eat on that day. The actual meaning of the phrase is that he will likely have a meal that is quick and easy to obtain, rather than specifically referring to a hamburger.

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 : The turn whose actual meaning is different from its literal meaning is turn (3).  In turn (3), the speaker says "food just doesn't seem to taste right on an airplane." The literal meaning of this statement is that the food does not taste good when eaten on an airplane.


This is WEEKEND EDITION from NPR News. I'm Scott Simon. Pope Francis issued what's called an apostolic exhortation this week called The Joy of Gospel. And in his exhortation, he upheld church teachings while signaling a new openness to conversation about change. Maybe most notably the pope criticized the way much of the world, including the United States, does business. He warned against what he called an economy of exclusion, arguing that the very structural causes of poverty must be addressed. We turn now to Father James Martin, a noted Jesuit and culture editor of the Jesuit magazine America. He joins us from Philadelphia today. Father Jim, thanks for being with us.

THE REV. JAMES MARTIN: My pleasure.

What's the pope exhorting his church to do?

Well, I would say in this document he's asking us to do three things. Number one, remember the importance of joy. When we preach the Gospel, he inveighs against sourpusses - that's the English translation.

turn 0 : The speaker does not agree with the Catholic views of the pope but acknowledges his power.

turn 0 : The actual meaning, however, is that the speaker is expressing agreement with the pope's approach and support for creating an inclusive and accepting environment for gay individuals within the Catholic Church.

turn 0 : The Vatican is beginning to take action to change the church

turn 0 : "he upheld church teachings while signaling a new openness to conversation about change" - figurative language, implying that the Pope is willing to consider new ideas and perspectives, even if they challenge traditional church teachings.

turn 0 : The turn that has an implied meaning different from its literal meaning is (2) when B asks, "Can you explain what part of Donald Trump's message is working with religious voters so that they would overlook maybe even some of their basic Christian beliefs to support him?" The literal meaning of the question is straightforward,


THE REV. JAMES MARTIN: My pleasure.

turn 2 : POPE ISSUED THE JOY OF GOSPEL AND HIS EXHORTION,AND TO REMEMBER THE IMPORTANCE OF JOY

turn 2 :  expressing appreciation for Father James Martin's efforts to promote understanding and dialogue between the Catholic Church and the LGBT community, as reflected in his book.

turn 2 : advocating for the recognition of these individuals within the church and emphasizing that their sexual orientation should not diminish their inherent value and contributions as beloved children of God.

turn 2 : The Vatican is beginning to take action to change the church


THE REV. JAMES MARTIN: My pleasure.

turn 3 : The criticism is by some that are offended by the langauge.

turn 3 : "he inveighs against sourpusses - that's the English translation." - figurative language, meaning that the Pope is criticizing people who are gloomy or negative, rather than using the literal meaning of "sourpusses."

turn 3 : The passage is written in a dialect of English, and the words used have a literal meaning that may be different from standard English. The actual meaning of the passage is a prayer asking for God's blessings, forgiveness of sins, and protection from evil, expressed in a language that is culturally and regionally specific.

turn 3 : The speaker does not agree with the Catholic views of the pope but acknowledges his power.


But you say there is a glimmer of hope in that if we do collectively work together, some of these problems can be fixed. What are some of the most important changes you would like to see in terms of public policy?

We have to stop the rollback of EPA policies. Under the Obama administration and earlier administrations, we were starting to make real progress. When the current administration took office, there were only four chlor-alkali plants left. The others had been closed. These spew a great deal of mercury into the atmosphere. They were slated to close. But the EPA under Trump decided not to close these plants. A few days ago, the EPA under Trump decided to stop surprise inspections, which is going to, of course, diminish their effectiveness. So we're rolling back the progress that we had made.

Then we have to re-evaluate the way we test chemicals. In the European Union, you have to test a chemical that's going to be used in or near humans for its effect on human health before you can market it. In this country, we market the chemicals and only began testing after complaints that people have been harmed. And one of the things corporations tend to say is that it's so expensive to do these tests. There are things more important than money. Right now, 23 million IQ points are lost every year in children from exposure to lead. And how do you put a price on that?

That's Harriet Washington, author of the new book "A Terrible Thing To Waste: Environmental Racism And Its Assault On The American Mind. "

turn 0 : a lot of stuff means there is a massive amount

turn 0 : Preparing for something anticipated, but uncertain of where and when it would happen.

turn 0 : at the end of the day means something is likely going to happen or what happens after everything else.

turn 0 : a glimmer of hope means that there is a small amount of hope left

turn 0 : The fear is intensified by the enormous amount of uncertainty.


The section on that 1,700 mile track is relatively short, but it's absolutely searing. And it begins in a bullock cart.

That's right.

Well, tell us about it if you could.

At that time in the 1930s, that - you had the development of this tension between the Indians who had migrated there and the Burmese who were already there. And in the midst of all of that, we had other tensions that were simmering at a global level, and which eventuated in the second world war. My grandfather was living in 1941 in a town called Okpo, 108 kilometers north of Rangoon. He was running a small grocery shop, essentially.

turn 3 : Implied meaning: The speaker perceives that the turn may have an underlying or implied meaning that could be interpreted in various ways depending on the listener's perspective and context, and while not everyone may agree, most people are likely to recognize some level of subtext or hidden message.

turn 3 : Implied meaning: The speaker thinks that there is a level of ambiguity or hidden message in the turn that may not be immediately apparent, but which can be inferred or interpreted through context or other clues.

turn 3 : Implied meaning: The speaker's tone or body language suggests that they may be withholding information or not fully expressing their thoughts and feelings on the topic at hand.

turn 3 : Implied meaning: The speaker may be expressing a hidden emotion or attitude, such as resentment or envy, that is not directly stated in their words, but is conveyed through their tone, facial expressions, or choice of language.

turn 3 : Implied Meaning: Based on the speaker's tone and choice of words, there may be an underlying message or intention behind this turn that suggests they have a particular opinion or feeling about the subject being discussed. However, the meaning is not entirely clear and may be open to interpretation, leading to some level of uncertainty about whether everyone will agree on its implied meaning.


Well, this was not a deliberate decision of the administration. Just - there were two laws that still exist adopted in the '90s by Congress, which say that if a person becomes a member of any organization international the - it's an automatic suspension of the confidential contribution. So these two laws were triggered by the decision of our general confidence.

Well, I bring up the matter of the debt though because it seems to me any country that was paying its bills would say the United States should be thrown out of UNESCO for owing half a billion dollars.

Well, I will say that to this situation with the suspension, of course, was very unfortunate. And I have raised dozens of times this issue with the U. S.  because, of course, it is not normal that a member of a club does not pay dues. We need this financing very strongly because we implement work and projects in the world. But at the same time, we need also the political commitment of our member states. So at least we had the political commitment. So now, of course, we are losing votes. And this is really deplorable.

UNESCO must have known in July when they declared the old city in Hebron a Palestinian world heritage site that Israel would object because they say that Judaism has a lot of links to Hebron and that this would create problems in the United States.

turn 2 : The implied meaning of this turn is that the speaker believes that the U.S. will suffer from the consequences of withdrawing from UNESCO, both on a global and a national level.

turn 2 : The implied meaning of this turn is that the speaker is asking the listener to provide their opinion on the potential consequences of the U.S. withdrawing from UNESCO.

turn 2 : The statement mean that There is possibility for Iranian government to face difficulty for survival if there is not support.

turn 2 : that UNESCO needs political commitment from member states, but the actual meaning is that UNESCO needs both financial and political commitment from member states.


Well, yeah. As you said, there's 150,000 British travelers, some 350,000 European and international travelers - all need to get home now. This is a huge job for the government. They're chartering planes. Right now there are planes landing, which they've had to charter. Big logistical nightmare, really expensive - cost of 100 million pounds-plus for the government here.

Wow.

So yeah, it's going to be one of those really interesting (laughter) but really complicated things to work out.

Daniel Thomas of the Financial Times. Thanks so much.

turn 0 : 100 million plus means that it cost more than that.

turn 0 : a million dollar question implies that the question is very important or difficult and requires a very good answer not referring the cost of the question is 1 million dollars

turn 0 : Numbers tossed around implies that they did some calculations for the cost

turn 0 : Turn (1) has a non-literal meaning. The speaker is suggesting that the cost of the program may be justified by its deterrent effect, even though it may not be cost-effective in terms of the number of arrests made.


There are. It's been a very dry summer. We had the wettest May on record, but then we had the driest June on record. So since June 1, we've only had 0. 06 inches of rain in Anchorage. So everything is turning pretty crispy. And we've got a pretty big fire down on the Kenai, which is blowing smoke into the Anchorage area. And then we've got a fire north in the Matanuska-Susitna Valley. And then we've got fires dotted across the state.

Well, northern Alaska has seen dramatic effects of climate change - thawing permafrost, we've seen that decreasing arctic ice. Is this heat wave part of that bigger trend?

I think it is. We're definitely seeing warmer-than-normal conditions. Like, the 90-degree temperature is 25 degrees above our average. Our average for this time of year is 65 degrees. And just in the last 10 days, we had six record-high temperatures. So not just this year, but overall, the trend for Anchorage and all of Alaska is a steady increase and a steady warming.

What is the forecast then for the next, say, few days?

turn 2 : There has been a long-term warming trend resulting in the Arctic ice melt.

turn 2 : The temperature has been steadily increasing in Anchorage and all of Alaska.

turn 2 : The Arctic ice is melting faster than ever before due to global warming, which causes a thinning of the ice.

turn 2 : Fans are in high demand and difficult to find in Anchorage


Just market access, kind of where the Chinese government was trying to protect the early start-up of industries in China. And I think now the economy's grown enough that this - many of these things could be opened up again and access could increase for American businesses. It's also information technology, being able to make sure you can move information across boundaries, things like that.

OK. I'm hearing you - I'm hearing a wish list on what you want China to do. But is there anything you want to see from this administration that would help things out for Cummins?

Most importantly for me, I want to see engagement. I think that U. S.  businesses do very well whenever there is any access to foreign markets. We can succeed in markets when we have a chance to compete. And that's really what we want to see with every economy around the world. We'd like to see that with the USMCA, too - the Mexico-Canada agreement, too. We'd like to see that signed and completed. We'd like to see more free trade agreements with other countries.

Have you raised any of these concerns directly with the White House?I know that you sit on the Business Roundtable, which is this pretty powerful organization made up of prominent CEOs like yourself.

turn 0 : Chinese citizens have limited investment options due to government regulations

turn 0 : Market access in China was protected by the government for start-ups, but now it's time to open up and increase access for American businesses

turn 0 : The US does not have enough low-skilled labor to bring production back and imposing tariffs will make it difficult to manufacture products in China.

turn 0 : The Chinese economy is not balanced and requires serious changes


turn 2 : Tariffs put us out of the market and make us uncompetitive

turn 2 : The U.S. is making a small commitment to security cooperation and infrastructure projects in Southeast Asia, compared to China's investments and the Trans-Pacific Partnership deal that the Trump administration pulled out of. Asian governments were encouraged to continue enforcing sanctions against North Korea.

turn 2 : The United States uses its power in international trade to exert influence over other countries

turn 2 : U.S. businesses perform well when there's access to foreign markets and a chance to compete. More free trade agreements with other countries are wanted.


Yes. In Los Angeles, we made a commitment a number of years ago to only purchase any new buses into our fleet that would operate on alternative fuels. And what we have today is the largest compressed natural gas bus fleet in the country. And that's doing a lot to help improve our air quality here.

What's the difference between compressed natural gas and regular gasoline in terms of, you know, how it affects the environment?

Well compressed natural gas is a much cleaner fuel.

You know, let's just take a look at Los Angeles' demographics. You have people from incredibly wealthy to incredibly poor. You have immigrants, native-born people who've come here from other parts of the U. S. , people, of course, who were born here. How do you think L. A. 's demographics affect the need for public transportation?

turn 0 : The issue of pollution caused by automobiles is a serious problem that needs to be addressed by investing in private sector and government; it is not just an economic issue but a national security issue as well.

turn 0 : Los Angeles is a diverse city with people from all backgrounds.

turn 0 : The city of Los Angeles has made a conscious effort to reduce air pollution by implementing alternative fuel sources for public transportation.

turn 0 : The White House and California are in a disagreement about auto emissions.

turn 0 : They  are implying cities need better public transit


turn 1 : Fueling hate does not mean to give it gas but to make more people hate each other.

turn 1 : Compressed natural gas is a cleaner fuel option compared to regular gasoline.

turn 1 : Leaning into your gas grill meaning simply use the grill.

turn 1 : The size of the flame doesn't justify the high gas bill

turn 1 : The amount of CO2 that already existing things add to the atmosphere is significant.


turn 2 : There is a serious need for public transportation in the region.

turn 2 : The demographics of Los Angeles may affect the demand for public transportation.

turn 2 : They  are implying cities need better public transit

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


Well I think this is what the Southern African Development Community is all about now, is trying to push forward, to say we can not continue with business as usual in Zimbabwe. There has to be a different way, and a better way, for the people of Zimbabwe.

So clearly there are economic measures that can be put forward by that Southern African Development Community. There are political pressures that can be brought to bear, not only by the Southern African region, but also, you know, by the African Union overall. And it is time to kind of push forward, beyond the quiet diplomacy here, to put pressure to make sure that we don't end up in endless discussions without a resolution to this crisis.

South Africa has also often been a leader in social issues, and now Archbishop Desmond Tutu has said that homophobia is, quote, "A crime against humanity, and every bit as unjust as apartheid. "

First of all, how's that playing on the home front?And secondly, you know, does it clash with some more traditional views that many people have?

turn 2 : You quote with approval the words of an Australian bishop who says quote, "we cannot talk about the integrity of creation, the universal and inclusive love of God, while at the same time colluding with the forces of oppression and the ill-treatment of racial minorities, women, and homosexual persons."

turn 2 :  Archbishop Desmond Tutu's statement that "homophobia is a crime against humanity, and every bit as unjust as apartheid" is not meant to be taken literally but rather it implies the severity of discrimination against LGBTQ+ individuals.

turn 2 : (2) The speaker is not only referring to a specific incident but also highlighting the larger issue of racism in the country and how it affects individuals on a personal level.

turn 2 : The speaker is contrasting the peaceful transition to democracy in South Africa with the ongoing struggles of black people in America to achieve equality. Implicated meaning: The speaker is highlighting the unique historical context of South Africa's transition to democracy and the significance of the peaceful transition.

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


Tequila.

Hey, before we go - I go pouring it in, give it a smell, though.

OK.

It's very vegetal.

turn 2 : the literal meaning of "OK" is simply an acknowledgement or agreement. However, in this context, the actual meaning might be something like "I understand" or "I accept."

turn 2 : In context, "Yeah" is used as a way to show agreement and understanding. Its implied meaning is that the speaker is in agreement with the idea being presented by the other person.

turn 2 : The speaker is acknowledging and agreeing with the previous speaker's statement, but does not provide any additional information or opinion. The meaning of this turn depends on the context of the conversation.

turn 2 : The actual implicit meaning of the turn "absolutely" is agreement and affirmation.

turn 2 : the literal and actual meanings are the same. The speakers are simply exchanging pleasantries and expressing gratitude for the conversation


Tequila.

OK.

It's very vegetal.

turn 3 :  All right. Now, I want you to make my taste buds jump. I am not in front of any of your food, but I want you to describe this dish that sounds so intriguing, barbequed spaghetti. What does that taste like?  The phrase "make my taste buds jump" is an idiomatic expression that means to describe something in a way that sounds so delicious that it creates a physical reaction in the listener.

turn 3 : The phrase "the most vegetal thing" in turn (1) is a metaphorical expression that means the smell is very fresh and green, like a vegetable, rather than literally smelling like a vegetable.

turn 3 : (4) A: "It's very vegetal."  The literal meaning of this statement is that the tequila has a strong vegetable scent. However, the implied meaning is that the tequila has a unique and high-quality taste, which is a common characteristic of premium tequilas. This implies that the speaker has a good taste in tequila and is sharing their knowledge with the listener.

turn 3 : The actual meaning: The food/drink is delicious. Implied meaning: The speaker is indicating that they are uncertain about the accuracy of their statement. However, the use of the phrase "I'm just making stuff up" implies that the speaker may be exaggerating or not entirely serious about their comment. Despite that, they still express that the food/drink is very tasty by saying "it's really yum."

turn 3 : Implicated meaning: The descriptions used in the wine tasting group were incredibly imaginative and evocative, to the point where they seemed like mystical incantations or enchantments found in a Wiccan book of love spells. It implies that the language used to describe the flavors and aromas of wine can be poetic, enchanting, and highly creative, going beyond literal descriptions.


Tequila.

OK.

It's very vegetal.

turn 3 : the literal meaning of "It's very vegetal" would suggest that the tequila has a strong vegetable-like aroma or taste. However, in this context, the actual meaning might be that the tequila has a unique or distinctive flavor profile, possibly referring to the earthy or agave-like characteristics of the tequila.


Well, absolutely. That would be a sin for me. . .

. . . to put inaccurate science into my work. So you're right. And it's true. Even though this transposition or this abrupt shift of the monarch migratory pattern is an invention, I wanted to frame it in a plausible way. And the fact is, one of the manifestations that we're already seeing that's really very straightforward to document is migratory shift in - especially birds. Almost - the great majority of North American bird species have already shifted their migratory patterns and their breeding ranges.

And so I thought this is a sensible beginning place, so that if I could ground this fictional event in real science, that would be - it wouldn't be a sin. It would be both good fiction and good science, if you see what I mean.

I do. Did you have to do a lot of reporting?

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 : None , I do not believe there is any here


Oh, I absolutely see having access to care that you can rely upon to get the care you need is something we need to have across America. But how do you do that?Can you do that with a legislative pen?That was what the Affordable Care Act was trying to mandate. And it just doesn't work. And so what you've got to do is create a marketplace, both health insurance and in health care, that allows for people to access that care in an affordable, reasonable manner.

Are you convinced that high-risk pools are going to be able to cover people who are at risk with continuing and debilitating health conditions?I might add, both you and I have one of those.

Absolutely. I would agree that high-risk pools are going to address the issue in a new way, in a little different way, than what has been done previously in high-risk pools. But also it's going to give the flexibility and innovative opportunity to states to create new products, new ways to treat these issues. And to me, that's something we should be looking forward to rather than, you know, the status quo, no-we-can't-type mindset.

A new way but a reliable way. I mean, can you - there's lot of skepticism that these high-risk pools will do anything but make it unaffordable (ph) for people.

turn 3 :  Implies that the high-risk pools are often not sufficiently funded and/or have limits on coverage

turn 3 : The Affordable Care Act provides an incentive for young people to obtain health coverage, as those who do not enroll will incur a financial penalty.

turn 3 : The implied meaning is that B's special person is being given the utmost care and protection.

turn 3 : B is questioning the reliability of high-risk pools, implying that they may not be effective in providing affordable care.


No, he's not. He's a career CBP official. He was already in place when the Trump administration came in. He's not known as an immigration hardliner. As a matter of fact, he's told the Senate that he thought the United States should support governments in Central America to improve economic opportunities there - in other words, to take away the motivation for people to flee. He's also talked about asylum-seekers as vulnerable families, not as scam artists. Sometimes the president describes them that way. But he's not going to have a lot of say in policy. That comes from Trump and his inner-circle of advisers at the White House, particularly Stephen Miller, who has the loudest voice on immigration. . .

Yeah.

. . . Inside the White House.

Now, a lot of people are noticing that McAleenan will be the third acting secretary running a major cabinet department. Interior and Defense are also being run by acting secretaries. And I'm not even including the scores of lower-level acting officials in this administration. Is this as unusual as it seems?

turn 1 : The speaker is asking the other person to continue the conversation.

turn 1 : This is an expression of agreement, but it also implies that the speaker is willing to continue the discussion.

turn 1 :  (2) - This is used as a response to show agreement with the speaker.

turn 1 :  while turn (3) implies agreement and understanding of the speaker's request.

turn 1 : (3) implies that the speaker wants to know what the speaker observed,


You also call this the start of a new era in America's modern history - in what way?

Well, the Clean Air Act really changed, in many ways, the conception of government's role and gave to the federal government both the power and the responsibility to protect Americans' health. One of the most revolutionary pieces of this very innovatively designed law was a provision which elevated public health as a priority above all others in the setting of air quality standards for the entire country. It put public health over and above corporate profit and cost in determining what amounts of pollution would be allowed in Americans' air.

But that hasn't stopped it from being challenged, right?How has it weathered those challenges?

Well, it's been up and down over the years. And I think what we're seeing right now is a really sort of unprecedented assault on the Clean Air Act and the enforcement of the Clean Air Act by the Trump administration. Obviously, I think, we've all become familiar over the last few years with the idea of climate change denial. But I think what we're now seeing in the Trump years is actually air pollution denial.

turn 1 : The implied meaning of the speaker's response to the question of overturning the Affordable Care Act is that they don't only want to do away with it, but also to replace it with something better.

turn 1 : The speaker clarifies that 'high-level' means more intensive and secure facilities.

turn 1 : "it's a recognition that they have to treat this as much as a political problem as a health problem" - The actual meaning is different from the literal meaning. The intended meaning is that the situation is not just a health issue, but also a political issue that requires attention and action, rather than literally recognizing something.

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

turn 1 :  "elevated public health as a priority above all others" - This turn has a figurative meaning, as it means that the Clean Air Act made the protection of public health the most important consideration in setting air quality standards, rather than just one of many factors to consider.


turn 3 : This turn has a literal meaning of cancelling and substituting a law or policy with a new one. However, in this context, it refers to the highly anticipated vote in the House of Representatives on a bill that would repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare).

turn 3 : "unprecedented assault on the Clean Air Act" - This turn has a figurative meaning, as it refers to the Trump administration's efforts to weaken or dismantle the Clean Air Act, which is seen as an attack on the law itself and its purpose.

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 : The implied meaning of this turn is that A is implying that the way media is consumed has changed drastically, and this could lead to the failure of the American experiment.

turn 3 : And Lamar Smith, the congressman and head of the Judiciary Committee, has a statement basically saying this is why we need a new, stronger Congress to pass tougher immigration laws here in Washington, thanks to - these kind of decisions show we need stronger laws out of Washington.  The turn does not have a figurative meaning different from its literal meaning.


In - yes, all of those things. There were royal guards lining a red carpet that extended from Air Force One all the way to the terminal, children with flowers, trumpets, jets flying over with red-white-and-blue smoke trails decorating the sky. And then that was actually only the first arrival ceremony. There was a second arrival ceremony at the royal court, where a band played "The Star-Spangled Banner. "There were bagpipes. The president was awarded a medal, one of the top honors in the country for for people who are not from Saudi Arabia. Now, President Obama. . .

I've seen that on the television images. It looks like the kind of thing a sommelier wears in a classy restaurant.

(Laughter) I don't think I go to those kind of restaurants, Scott.

(Laughter).

turn 3 : The literal meaning of (3) and (4) is that A and B are laughing, but their actual meaning is that A and B are joking with each other.

turn 3 : (4) implies that the speaker is being sarcastic or making a joke in response to the other person's comment.

turn 3 : (3) is a sign of amusement, indicating the speaker was laughing at the metaphor.

turn 3 : Implied meaning: The speaker may be using humor or sarcasm to make a point or convey a message in a lighthearted way.

turn 3 : B's laughter does not have a literal meaning but is likely a response to something humorous or lighthearted in the conversation.


I really feel disappointed that a member of the House took the time to attack the people that are contributing to the campaign of President Trump, an attack that we are fueling or helping to fuel hate among Hispanics. In my office, half my personnel is Hispanic. I love Hispanic people. They're family-oriented. My wife - all of us got scared. I said people are going to come to attack us.

But you do know that this is public information.

Yes. But we are not contributing to fuel any hate. We are contributing because we want President Trump to be reelected. I like the job he's doing as president. I love the way he loves America, the same way that I love America. I named my company Great America Companies in 1972 when I first immigrated to America because I felt this was a great place.

President Trump has used the words invasion and killer, according to new statistics, over 500 times when speaking about immigration and immigrants since 2017. That is as president. People see his rhetoric as divisive and specifically when speaking about Latino immigrants. Does that not concern you?

turn 0 : Turn (1) has an implicated meaning that is different from its literal meaning. Although the speaker denies that the remarks were racially motivated, the implication is that the speaker believes they were in fact racially motivated, and is trying to downplay or avoid addressing that implication.

turn 0 : It implies that media and the McCain campaign were biased as they have used coded language to criticize Obama, and that this language is racially charged.

turn 0 : The speaker believes that the protests need to be more extreme for America to acknowledge the issue, but not necessarily violent.

turn 0 : They are contributing to and/or worsening hate among Hispanics because they are contributing to Trump's campaign, allowing him to continue doing so. Trump wouldn't be able to continue his devisive rhetoric if people didn't contribute to his campaign, so they are being blamed and attacked because of them.

turn 0 : Republicans in Congress are not doing enough to hold Donald Trump accountable for his actions and words


turn 2 : The irony is that even though congressional Republican leadership may be opposed to Donald Trump's immigration policy, they still ultimately want to pass some kind of immigration reform.

turn 2 : President Trump's remarks contribute to tensions and exacerbate racism

turn 2 : Latino citizens can disassociate comments from the president and focus on solid policy

turn 2 : By contributiing to Trump's campaign they are seen as contributing to the mistreatment of Hispanics because Trump speads this kind of rhetoric. They are giving Trump the means to continue his divisive rhetoric.

turn 2 : Actual meaning: A is pointing out the lack of discussion and attention given to a potential solution to a problem due to the dominance of the Trump-related discourse. Literal meaning: A is discussing a method of repealing Obamacare that involves tax credits and encourages consumer choice.


Well, earlier this morning it seemed by Israeli military numbers that rocket fire from Gaza had slowed down a bit, to just half a dozen rockets over a 10 hour period or so. That's compared to nearly 700 since early Tuesday morning. But the steady pace has picked back up again. Israeli strikes on Gaza from planes and from ships off-shore in the Mediterranean are also continuing. In residential areas, and also last night, a Mosque was destroyed as well as a bank used by Hamas - that's the militant Islamic group that Israel blames for the current escalation.

Israeli press reports say there is a cease fire being drafted by a couple of Arab States. Those Israeli reports also say that Israel is open to discuss a cease fire, but claim that Hamas needs some kind of victory in this conflict. But publically, both sides say they're pressing forward with fighting. A Hamas spokesman yesterday mentioned an attack on an Israeli jeep, saying that if a ground war happens, Gaza will be a cemetery for Israeli soldiers.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said he's exploring all options to end this conflict, but he also says that military strikes will continue until Israel can be certain that there's no more rocket fire from Gaza. Whether this will escalate into a ground conflict is still the main question people here are watching.

And what is it like in Gaza right now?

turn 1 : The literal meaning of turn (1) is a request for information about the options available to the United States at present. The implied meaning, however, is that the speaker is concerned about the situation in Syria and is looking for possible courses of action that the United States could take to address the root cause of the humanitarian crisis there. The speaker believes that the Assad regime's practice of shelling populated areas not under its control is the main driver behind the crisis and that this should be the focus of the United States' response.

turn 1 : (2) - The literal meaning of the turn is that Israeli press reports mention a ceasefire being drafted and both sides are still fighting. However, the implied meaning is that there is a possibility of a ceasefire and that both sides may be willing to negotiate, despite the ongoing fighting.

turn 1 : Although the literal meaning of this turn is simply asking for a description of the current situation, the implied meaning behind it is that the speaker is expressing frustration or confusion about the conflicting messages they have heard from President Trump regarding the removal or retention of U.S. forces in Syria. It could be interpreted as a way of questioning the credibility of the information that has been provided so far and seeking clarification or a more definitive answer.

turn 1 : (3) The implied meaning is that there is a great sense of uncertainty and concern about what will happen next, and it's not clear whether the situation is still a political game or has escalated to military brinksmanship. The literal meaning is consistent with this implied meaning.


Hey, Geoff.

What's up, Farai?

Well, as you can tell, things are starting to crystallize and solidify in terms of this race. So you've got this endorsement of Barack Obama by Senator Ted Kennedy and his niece, Caroline Kennedy. How's that reverberating online?

Well, it's interesting. After Caroline Kennedy's op-ed appeared in The New York Times, searches of her name rose 179 percent, mainly by people over the age of 35 and across the two-thirds of the nation geographically. Now this is according to Yahoo Buzz Index. Now, for Ted Kennedy, his searches went up 248 percent. People were also searching for more about JFK, Maria Shriver and Jacqueline Kennedy.

turn 3 : This phrase means that the endorsement is having an impact or causing reactions online. It is not referring to actual sound reverberation.

turn 3 : The literal meaning is that the listener doubts that they would tire of hearing from the speaker. The actual meaning is that the listener is being polite and respectful towards the speaker.

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 : Implied meaning: The speaker may be using a euphemism or understatement to convey a more significant or sensitive message.

turn 3 : Implied meaning: The speaker may be hinting at a desire or need for help or support from the listener.


Well, because there are a number of reasons that a security clearance can be denied. Among them would be foreign contacts, foreign business interests, criminal activity, financial instability, drug and alcohol use. And some of these are very serious. If employees who had the history of these issues - and they weren't properly mitigated, they could be a risk to national security if they received security clearances.

You're saying hypothetically those could be reasons security clearances would be denied. Were they in these cases reasons that they were denied?

Some of them were applicable in different cases, yes.

Is overriding 25 security clearance denials a large number?I have no idea what's normal in this situation.

turn 0 : The military council is not trustworthy and will not allow observers to carry out their job

turn 0 : The reasons for security clearance denial listed by A are hypothetical but serious.

turn 0 : Jared Kushner should not have top-secret security clearance due to errors, financial vulnerabilities, and concealing facts

turn 0 :  (2) Implies that the speaker is asking if the client has any knowledge of President Trump's personal involvement in granting security clearances, rather than a literal reading of the question which could be interpreted as asking if the client has any awareness of the reporting itself.

turn 0 : The figurative meaning here is that allowing the person to go through the entire hiring process without disclosing their criminal record increases their chances of getting a job. It suggests that withholding information about their criminal record can help them overcome potential biases.


turn 1 :  (2) Implies that the speaker is asking if the client has any knowledge of President Trump's personal involvement in granting security clearances, rather than a literal reading of the question which could be interpreted as asking if the client has any awareness of the reporting itself.

turn 1 :  implies that the questioner is asking if the effort to repeal the Affordable Care Act is completely over, while (4) implies that the questioner is suggesting that there are more important issues that the conversation could have started with than North Korea or Russia.

turn 1 : "You're saying hypothetically those could be reasons security clearances would be denied." - The actual meaning is that A mentioned several reasons that could result in the denial of a security clearance and B is asking if those reasons were actually used to deny security clearances in specific cases.

turn 1 : B is asking for clarification about what "border security" means, specifically if it means building a physical structure along the entire border.

turn 1 : the speaker is not actually making a statement about a specific rejected wedding proposal, but rather anticipating that the example provided by the other speaker will involve a public wedding proposal that is rejected.


turn 2 : "Some of them were applicable in different cases, yes." - The actual meaning is that some of the reasons that A mentioned earlier (foreign contacts, foreign business interests, criminal activity, financial instability, drug and alcohol use) were used to deny security clearances in different cases.

turn 2 :  (2) Implies that the speaker is asking if the client has any knowledge of President Trump's personal involvement in granting security clearances, rather than a literal reading of the question which could be interpreted as asking if the client has any awareness of the reporting itself.

turn 2 : 1. B implies that they know more than what they have revealed about the investigation so far. 2. A implies that there was a delay in Mirandizing the suspect in the Abdulmutallab case because they wanted to gather more information.  B implies that there were other bombs on other planes.

turn 2 : It is being implied that the criminals are having a difficult time.


turn 3 : B is asking for more information about the suspects

turn 3 : "Is overriding 25 security clearance denials a large number?I have no idea what's normal in this situation." - The actual meaning is that B is unsure if overriding 25 security clearance denials is a large number compared to what is considered normal in this situation.

turn 3 : . The implied meaning of (4) is that the General is downplaying the possibility of a technical problem, despite the fact that a stealth fighter did crash in the past.

turn 3 : implies that this sensitive information could be used by malicious individuals to blackmail federal employees.


The economy is the number one issue. And one of the things that makes it very difficult for a candidate to campaign in Ohio is that when they come to Ohio to talk about the economy, they can't just talk about a single aspect. When you talk to folks in the northern part of the state, northeast Ohio which includes Cleveland, and northwest Ohio which includes Toledo, when you're talking about the economy there, oftentimes the discussion is about trade.

When you talk about the economy in southwest Ohio, which is the Cincinnati area, there's much less talk about trade, and more discussion about wages and the salaries that people are making. The southeast area of the state, which is also known in part because of the Appalachian history of that part of the state, has high unemployment. A number of counties in southeast Ohio have double-digit unemployment. Many people in that region are talking about and focused on unemployment, solely as their economic concern.

And what about social issues?We heard in Celeste's piece a woman who is concerned about abortion. We know at least in southern Ohio that there are big concerns about social issues. How do those play out?

When we were looking at this race last fall and in the early spring, we were seeing a lot of issues, economic, social, foreign policy issues. However, once we've gotten into the fall election period here, the economy is overwhelming everything else.

Eric Rademacher, co-director of the University of Cincinnati's Ohio poll. Thank you very much.

turn 2 : "Play out your scenario" does not mean that someone is going to act out a script or a play. It means that someone is going to explain or describe a possible scenario or situation.

turn 2 : playing refers to as and implies engaged with or undertake

turn 2 : "Where do you turn" implies that you need someone to talk to about an issue.

turn 2 : "that's part of the game that's being played." meaning that the function of how politics work.

turn 2 : "How do those play out" implies that there is a lot to discuss about social issues, not actually physically playing.


I am doing great, but consumer confidence, not so much. It's at its lowest level since the early 1990s. What exactly does that mean?

The Conference Board surveys consumers about what they think is going to happen, about how confident they are. It's important because consumer confidence determines lots of discretionary spending. In other words, if you can buy a car this year or next year and you think the economy is going to turn down or you're worried about your job, you're going to postpone that car purchase. Well, that's a great decision for the Chideya residence, but it might not be for the economy if it's multiplied by thousands or tens of thousands. So people predicate their spending on what they think is going to happened into the economy. It doesn't affect our spending on things like food or things we can't, we have no discretion over - gasoline, perhaps, if you have to commute with your car, other kinds of things.

But there are some things that you'll make decisions - I'm not going to do this now. Some people are holding back from the housing market, although this is a particularly good time to get in, because interest rates are low and because the market is troubled. But some younger people are holding back because they're not so sure what their jobs are going to be like. So when consumer confidence is down, you can expect that spenders are withholding some of their spending.

There's also signs that the cost of imported goods are rising. Is that because of gasoline prices?Or what's driving that?

turn 2 : : The speaker is expressing frustration or disappointment about a situation, and may be looking for empathy or support from the listener.

turn 2 : Implied meaning: The speaker is making a subtle suggestion or insinuation that others may pick up on, but without being too direct or forceful.

turn 2 : Implied meaning: The speaker is hinting at something they want or need, but they don't want to ask for it directly.

turn 2 : The speaker may be hinting at a desire for something or someone, but is hesitant to express it directly, possibly due to fear of rejection or embarrassment.

turn 2 : Implied meaning: The speaker is expressing a sense of frustration or dissatisfaction with a situation or person, without explicitly stating it.


I think that's a - sometimes an oversimplification. But, you know, there's a bit of a creep factor now, to put it in the plainest terms. You click agree and maybe, you know, ads follow you around the net or - that's sort of the mildest form of these things. But in the sort of worst-case scenario, as you said, you know, your data might be sold in sort of an unethical way. We're all a little bit more wary, at least over here, about that kind of thing.

Over here in contrast to where?

Well, in contrast to other parts of the world. I would say what I saw at CES, which tends to favor big companies like Samsung, like LG, Sony - you know, obviously, are based mostly in Asia - the conversation around privacy there - it hasn't quite penetrated in the same way, at least by my reckoning from what I saw at CES because - I'll give you one example.

LG - they talked very highly about its smart home sort of platform, that all these devices have a connection to the Internet and they're using their sensors to kind of learn your preferences and better tailor what they can do for you. That all sounds good until you kind of realize, well, by definition, what they're doing is profiling you.

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

turn 3 : that people don’t do their homework means that they don’t research information.

turn 3 : The drug epidemic is pervasive and affects everyone regardless of background or social status.

turn 3 : a little foggy implies that the people do not have exact information

turn 3 : People in other parts of the world are not as aware of the risks associated with data profiling.


So, you've got a lot of expenses. How are you coping with those expenses right now?

Well, the thing is, I'm, you know, it's almost paycheck to paycheck. I don't have much savings. In fact, I have very little savings. We eat in. We don't go out anymore. And as far as buying clothing, forget about that. I haven't bought a decent pair of shoes in months.

Your daughter is getting ready to go to college in a few years. Has she thought about where she wants to go, and have you thought about how you're going to pay for it?

Well, we talk about it every day now. And she just, you know, I don't know how we're going to pay for it, but we are trying to find ways. In fact, I told her that she will have to probably do something, to do work-study, because I will not be able to afford sending her on my type of income in my lifestyle, OK?And I won't ever be able to retire.

turn 1 : I'm thankful that I'm not in financial trouble.

turn 1 : paycheck to paycheck implies that the amount a person makes can only cover necessities

turn 1 :  I'm, you know, it's almost paycheck to paycheck meaning they don't have much money

turn 1 : Most people don't have enough money to pay for school.

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


Oh, God.

We figured there was a problem.

Long time ago. Listen, if functioning addicts are operating below the radar, I assume that they generally don't want people to know about their addiction. How much of a problem is it for them to maintain their anonymity?

It's frightening. I think that, you know, when you live in quiet desperation and there's always the person that's hiding their alcohol or around the corner drinking what they do, others, with their medications or their pills. They don't want other folks to find out. I mean, it's a quiet illness until finally people do notice. But there's fear around it. I mean, fear of being caught of fear of being tested or ultimately, when the body gives out, secondary complications where physicians will say what are you using, what are you doing for your organs to be giving out like this. So there's ultimately not only denial that's going on, but obviously, a lot of pain that goes with it.

turn 1 : A and the others are aware of the problem.

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

turn 1 : The problem is extremely hard and difficult to understand as well as constantly changing.

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

turn 1 : People don't actually stand ready to help but they are alert and ready to help when needed.


We got hit pretty hard with the recession. And when people aren't making money, they're not spending money.

And they're certainly not eating ice cream.

And they're not eating ice cream. So the more people make, the more they come down here and vacation from all over the world - general improving in the economy. I think there's a lot of confidence in the new administration that's in there. It seems like it's pro-small business, you know?There's a window manufacturer right next to where we're at, and they are swamped right now. And they say the same thing. It's, you know, people are confident. They're not holding onto their money. They're investing it in the economy.

May I ask you, did you vote for President Trump?

I didn't vote Democrat or Republican because I just - I'd had enough of the spatting back and forth. I'm prior military, so I support our president no matter who it is. But I didn't like the personalities of it, so I didn't vote for either one of those two.

Some of the owners that were surveyed were saying that there were some concerns - cost of health insurance, lack of qualified workers. Well, what are the things that you're concerned about right now that may hold back your business?

turn 1 : The recession will not have a quick recovery

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

turn 1 : While the macroeconomic numbers don't indicate a recession, many people are experiencing economic hardship.

turn 1 : The financial crisis is recurring and becoming more severe each time it comes back.


turn 2 : (3) To be in a recession means the economy is declining.

turn 2 : The restaurant industry is struggling due to economic hardships.

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

turn 2 : Eating ice cream is a luxury item that people can't afford during a recession.

turn 2 : Personal consumption is the key driver of the American economy, and if people stop consuming, the economy will suffer.


Let me switch subjects. We are walking on the way to the studio here this morning and two big tour buses came down the street. You're - one of the reason this all worked is you're performing right next door.

Right across the parking lot.

And I wonder, I was talking to Priska Neely, our producer, and said, I wonder if that's Mary Chapin Carpenter. Two big buses touring, pulling equipment trailers behind. Where were you coming in from at 8 o'clock in the morning?

We spent the last two days driving from Arizona.

turn 0 : B wants A to explain what makes the agreement better

turn 0 : A is acknowledging B's contribution to the success of their plan.

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

turn 0 : A is not fully agreeing with B's statement

turn 0 : This statement implies that B wants to know how A's family are dealing with the downturn economy and what the also think about America's economy.


As we know, the president has been very big on tariffs, right?I mean, he recently tweeted, tariffs are the greatest - one of many tweets like that. What has - what changed here?

This was an amazing turnaround. It was a real victory for the free traders in the White House and for those who argued that it's not good for the president to be in a circular firing squad with our European allies. Instead, he should work with them to pressure China at the WTO about intellectual property theft and forced technology transfers. The other thing that caused this turnaround was the president really needed a win. He was facing a wall of opposition from his own constituents, from Republican members of Congress, from farmers, from people who work in small manufacturing plants.

The other thing that made a big difference, according to a senior White, House official that I talked to, was that the European Commission president, Jean-Claude Juncker, came in with a specific deal. He said we're going to buy this many more soybeans, this much more liquefied natural gas. This is a very transactional president. And, apparently, Canada, Mexico, China - none of them have come in with specific deals the way the EU did last week. So the president went from saying privately, I don't need Europe to making a deal.

And how, Mara, will this deal announcement affect his all-important base?

turn 1 : The president thinks that the media is out to ruin him and makes them out to be evil.

turn 1 : The firing squad means that the president should not be surrounded by people that hate him.

turn 1 : The president is trying to divert attention away from negative news about him and his administration

turn 1 : Trump said the person is bad at their job and causes trouble to others.

turn 1 : He would be fulfilling a government role and Trump makes it look like he does all of the work.


. . . You are from this area - born in D. C. , raised in Maryland and Virginia - the DMV, as we like to say. So what's it like to be back home now that you're blowing up like this?Can you go to, like, the CVS if you want to without being recognized?

Yeah. I definitely can go to the CVS. You know, sometimes people recognize me, sometimes they don't. But it's a beautiful feeling, and I just can't wait to move back eventually.

How did you start singing or how did you realize you could sing?

I don't know. I just was always singing. I didn't know if it was good or not, but my grandma, she told me that I sounded like an angel. And that maybe - perhaps that kept me going. I mean, I always wanted a solo at the church, and they didn't ever give it to me. But eventually they did, and I froze. But then I killed it. And I just feel like that kind of just followed me all throughout my life.

turn 0 : "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 0 : "shocked - really shocked" is a figurative way of expressing the speaker's strong emotional reaction.

turn 0 : The phrase "blowing up like this" does not literally mean that the speaker is exploding, but rather that they are becoming popular and gaining fame

turn 0 : The speaker is expressing amusement at the topic being discussed.