turn 3 : The interest in the U.S. elections is primarily due to Barack Obama's participation.

turn 3 : People are uncertain about their vote in this election, and are hesitant to support either the Republican or Democratic candidate.

turn 3 : implies a contrast between the two parties and the different ways that they conduct their caucuses.


Oh yeah.

You know, it's - just, you know, it's that thing, good and evil.

Oh, I've got you. I got you. Now, you just sang the title song from the new CD. One reviewer says about that, the lyrics are inconsequential, what matters is the soul and funk. I don't know if I agree with that. You agree with that?

You know what, I feel like I may have been taken out of context because I said that about one song on this record, called "Emotions. "I said on that song, you know, I mean, you don't really need the lyrics. But for - to put that on a whole album, no, I don't agree with that. I put a lot of time into it (laughing).

Now, you actually - you played with a lot of different folks. You were with Fishbone. You were a member of Miles Davis's band. When was that?

turn 2 : The speaker is emotionally moved by the lyrics of the song.

turn 2 : The person singing the song is rebellious and the listener can relate to it

turn 2 : The speaker is mentioning a song that reflects their current emotions.

turn 2 : Having it to compared music as poetry and music has the heartstrings of everyone listening to the melodies of the instrument and words.

turn 2 : What matters is how the song makes a person feels and how it sounds.


I am getting reports on Twitter. And I'm sure other people are seeing them. People are sending reports directly to me about things that they allege were said in the synagogue, official descriptions of the man. That's nothing we have that's verifiable or has been verified yet.

We have not confirmed those reports. And Twitter, I mean, it's a good source of information, but we can't report it until we confirm it.

It's sometimes a good source of misinformation too, isn't it?Shannon, you're going to be following this story. We have people from our local stations in Pittsburgh who are on the scene. Obviously, there's a great deal of chaos. They will be reporting the story. Thanks for being with us, Shannon Van Sant.

Thank you.

turn 1 : BuzzFeed is unreliable and their story cannot be trusted.

turn 1 : We cannot trust Twitter as a reliable source of information.

turn 1 : The National Enquirer is not a credible source of news and is often joked about.

turn 1 : It is a bad idea either way for the social media companies.

turn 1 : "get off this Twitter stuff" - figurative meaning, implies that the president should stop using social media as a means of communication and focus on more important issues.


But I neither have a pornographic nor a photographic memory. You know, and I don't have a memory that's particularly better than anybody else's. It's just that I've been able to do it so much over the years. And, you know, in the beginning it was not easy - memorizing the silks and coming up with the names. But now its pretty much second nature.

You've spoken openly about having performance anxiety. Can I get you to talk about that a little?

Sure. Sure. Right now, I've been doing hypnosis for the past couple of weeks. I don't always have to do hypnosis. But if there's kind of a big event coming up, such as this, and I start to feel a little queasy, I'll just go into hypnosis. Sometimes I even resort to the extremes of exercise. And hypnosis really does seem to work.

Can I ask you about a couple of calls for which you are famed?

turn 1 :  My experience with my level of confidence has been a bit of a roller coaster ride. I started out quite shy and timid, but over time I have been able to gain more and more confidence. I have found that the more I put myself out there and take risks, the more confident I become. I have been involved in activities such as public speaking, volunteering, and even starting my own business, which has all helped to boost my confidence.

turn 1 : Being good at something is not enough for success.

turn 1 : It's important to take risks and learn from failure.

turn 1 : Having the right connections, personality and know-how is essential for success.

turn 1 : I’ve also experienced times where I have been too confident. I have taken risks that have not paid off and I have overestimated my abilities or made decisions without thinking things through. This has been a hard lesson to learn, but it has taught me the importance of being humble and realistic about my capabilities.


On Tuesday, Panamanian officials announced they had intercepted a North Korean ship laden with a suspicious cargo of Cuban sugar. Drug enforcement agents, acting on a tip, boarded the ship in the Panama Canal last week and found hidden below the sugar not drugs but missile parts and disassembled fighter planes. When pressed, Cuban authorities said the ship was carrying obsolete defensive weapons to North Korea for repair. Joining us now to fill us in on the history of Cuba's relationship with North Korea is Dr.  Frank Mora. Until very recently, he was deputy assistant secretary of defense. He is now director of the Latin American and Caribbean Center at Florida International University. Thank you for joining us.

DR.  FRANK MORA: Great to be here, Linda.

Now, when did North Korea and Cuba first develop a relationship?

It was the 1960s, not long after Fidel Castro declared Cuba being a Marxist-Lenin state, which was in December. And not long after that, the Cuban revolution decided to side with the Soviet Union rather than the Chinese in the Russian-Sino split that had occurred in the '60s. And, of course, North Korea had become a client of the Soviet Union, particularly after the Korean War. And Cuba had gravitated toward the direction. So, there was an immediate connection but it was not much more than a diplomatic-political-ideological relations rather than economic relationship.

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

turn 1 : Implied meaning: Communication involves not only transmitting information but also interpreting and responding to the feedback and reactions of others, and adjusting the message accordingly.

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

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

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


What would be the best-case scenario for you if they find which ship it is?What would you like to know?

Well, I'll be a little silly here. I'd like to see giant claw marks and tooth marks on the hull so my novel is justified. I don't know how the ship got there. Since we know from the only - one of the only two notes left - that all of the survivors that abandoned ship and were sledging down toward Canada - so who was sailing the ship?And it didn't have any masts. They store the masts below decks in sails in the winter so that tons of ice don't fall on men working on the deck. How can a few men go back and put up those masts?It's impossible.

Dan Simmons is the author of "The Terror," a fictionalized account of the 1845 Franklin Arctic expedition. Thanks so much.

You're welcome.

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

turn 1 : The literal meaning of the turn is asking why they want to cause violence, but the implied meaning is asking why they find violence appealing or attractive.

turn 1 : Implied meaning: The speaker may be hinting at a deeper meaning or intention behind their words or actions, which requires further investigation or understanding to fully grasp.

turn 1 : (2) "I'd like to see giant claw marks and tooth marks on the hull so my novel is justified." - This turn's actual meaning is different from its literal meaning. The speaker is not actually hoping to see giant claw marks and tooth marks on the hull, but is rather making a lighthearted comment about how such evidence would support the storyline of their novel.

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


So Leslie, what about some splurge wines?

Well, I think in this economy, splurge is a relative term. So what I like to do is tell people to think about makeovers. For example, if they are thinking about spending $100 on a bottle of great champagne, that's wonderful. You can go out and buy Dom Perignon, certainly. Dom Perignon Rose, for example, would set you back a couple hundred dollars. But think about sort of switching that out with another wine. For example, Chandon in Napa Valley is part of the same company that produces Dom Perignon from (unintelligible) in France, and they do a gorgeous wine called Etoile, and it's about $40 for a sparkling wine. So now you've splurged and gotten one of California's best sparkling wines, and it's by the same company that ultimately makes Dom Perignon. So now you've splurged but saved yourself a little Christmas money as well.

Leslie, thank you.

Thank you very much.

turn 1 : The exclusivity of wine has decreased, and people are more open to trying it.

turn 1 : Splurging on expensive wines can be replaced by trying out other affordable, yet equally delicious options.

turn 1 : People feel intimidated by the specialized wine culture.

turn 1 : Starting a wine-making business is a significant achievement.


The FBI does criminal investigations better than anybody. But again, at some point in time, if you've got a stovepipe there, where the two agencies aren't talking to each other, either in Washington or on the ground you've got a real problem. And there's not an excuse for it, 13, well, 12 years now after 9/11. You know, this is - supposedly should not be rocket science but somehow it becomes that.

And to solve it, is this executive order or is this something Congress has to get involved with?

Well, this is where, you know, the interagency problem gets to be really challenging because, you know, if you look at the Constitution, every head of agency, you know, if the guy on the ground goes all the way up to his head of agency, they only report to the president. So obviously it's got to be something that the executive authority does, and he has got to delegate that authority if he is not willing to sit there and handle every crisis that comes down the pike. He has got to delegate it to somebody on the ground who can say do this thing. I don't care, you know, I don't want you talking to your agency back home. You're working for me, do it. And. . .

Gary Anderson?

turn 0 : None of the turns in this conversation have implied meanings different from their literal meanings.

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

turn 0 : This just means that the company is not progressing at all - it does not mean that it is actually 'dead in the water'

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 implied meaning of stovepipe is that there's a lack of communication between the departments.


Gary Anderson?

turn 0 : They are not going to a table and picking up pieces but are actually just resuming conversations and trying to fix problems between them.

turn 0 : The situation is uncertain and they need to take it one step at a time

turn 0 : If you've got something keeping two agencies from talking to one another.  This should not be hard to understand and solve.

turn 0 : The speaker may be hinting at a hidden agenda. They may be suggesting that the people they are talking to are not being completely honest and may be hiding something. This could be in a business situation, where the speaker suspects that the other party is not giving them all the information they need to make an informed decision. It could also be in a personal or romantic situation, where the speaker is suggesting that the other person is not being completely honest.

turn 0 : They found out the information in an indirect way from people not involved.


Well, this is really interesting. They say they've found evidence that the Sacklers were trying to conceal their wealth in order to avoid paying an appropriate settlement. This is something we've heard even from sources who support the deal on the table, the idea that the Sacklers have worked strategically over the years to drain money out of Purdue Pharma and position those assets all over the world to make them harder to seize. In a statement, Letitia James accused the Sacklers of lowballing victims to skirt a responsible settlement while trying to shield their financial misconduct.

The Sacklers say James and other attorneys general are on a fishing expedition with these suits. They've countersued to squash the investigation. And they also say they're making a good-faith effort now to settle all these lawsuits.

Brian, you cover opioid litigation for NPR. More than 218,000 Americans have died from prescription opioid overdoses. What do you see as the likelihood of communities and families actually getting money or some kind of compensation?

Yeah. I think it's unlikely that it will happen anytime soon, Scott. The legal fight is happening on a lot of fronts right now, so that's going to slow things down. Ohio - just let me give you one example. They've already received tens of millions of dollars in compensation from other drug companies that sold opioid medications and settlements. But because of a legal fight there, none of that money can be spent helping people. It's just sitting in a bank account. And as the money amounts grow here, up into the billions now, the legal fight over who gets all of this cash will likely grow, too.

turn 0 : implies a request for a summary of the facts of the case

turn 0 : The prosecutors collaborated with the supervisor to manipulate the system.

turn 0 : There is a deal that has been offered to the Sacklers from the attorneys general.

turn 0 : The parents and coaches involved in the scheme are facing legal consequences.

turn 0 : The offer is a good deal and worth considering.


turn 1 : They say the attorneys general is looking for information and they want to put a stop to it.

turn 1 : Litigation could result in a huge delay in getting information.

turn 1 : It is being implied that it will be difficult to proceed to court.

turn 1 : The actual meaning of the third turn is that the speaker is implying that the current administration is trying to prevent important information from being released, and this is why they are pushing people to contact them with information.

turn 1 : A takes responsibility for their mistake and doesn't want it to reflect on the counsel


That is against the law.

This is a BuzzFeed story, not an NPR story. It hasn't been reflected in our reporting. We can't vouch for it. Is this an anecdote or a trend?

Right. Is this an anomaly?It's the real key. I believe this is potentially a trend. Are they the only ones who've done this?Are there other countries who try it?

Are there other Americans other than the ones that you've believed you've uncovered?

And are there other Americans - right.

turn 1 : The National Enquirer is not a credible source of news and is often joked about.

turn 1 : We cannot trust Twitter as a reliable source of information.

turn 1 : BuzzFeed is unreliable and their story cannot be trusted.

turn 1 : The National Enquirer may be bought for non-serious purposes or by someone who wants to shut it down.

turn 1 : A relies on multiple sources to ensure accuracy, unlike Watergate reporters who required two sources


Well, the regulations that I'm most concerned with are the ones that could be causing issues in getting approvals, new chemistries approved for crops that we grow. Cuts to different agencies could cause approval processes to take longer, which certainly in times where you have different pests and things that need taken care of, whether it's plant pests or, in our case, we have cattle as well, and if there's problems there and we don't have the ability to treat our plants or animals well or with the latest tools - you definitely want things to be safe. But it seems more like it's being pushed to the back burner for political reasons. It's very frustrating as a farmer sometimes when you see needs for things and you know there's fixes coming but regulatory issues are holding them up.

I have to ask, has your business been affected by climate in recent years?

(Laughter) Well, in the agricultural business, everybody's affected by climate. You know, I think anybody that says there's not changes happening is somewhat naive. On the other hand, it's the things that we can do to figure out what things we can do long term to make sure we're, you know, in good position to continue to grow the crops that we have here in the U. S.  and hopefully be profitable in the future and continue to be, you know, the largest producer of food in the world.

Kevin Ross, who grows corn and soybeans and raises cattle in Minden, Iowa, thanks so much for being with us.

turn 0 : This implies that the Farmers does want any aid from the government. They would rather prefer that the government remove harsh tariffs on the world's largest soybeans.

turn 0 : Political agendas are taking precedence over the need for agricultural regulations.

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

turn 0 : Economic policies like bio-fuel increase fuel cost and food prices, leading to global crisis.


turn 1 : The literal meaning of the turn is asking if Kevin Ross' business has been affected by climate in recent years. However, the implied meaning is to question if Kevin Ross has noticed any changes in the environment due to climate change.

turn 1 : (2) The literal meaning of this turn is a simple question, but the implied meaning is that the speaker wants to know what actions can be taken to address the issue being discussed and is seeking guidance or suggestions.

turn 1 :  (2) implies that B is wondering what the latest news or developments are in the situation,

turn 1 : Turn (2) implies that the speaker has no opinion on the subject but is interested in hearing the opinions of others and is marveling at the idea of how much can change in 40 years.

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

turn 3 : The Legislature wants to get the governor out of office before dealing with a huge budget deficit and the dysfunctional relationship between them.

turn 3 : The government’s lack of interest and prioritization of political issues is causing a delay in getting necessary approvals and treatments for crops and animals.

turn 3 : The president will propose something new later today

turn 3 : The speaker is suggesting that, similar to the evolution of laws and attitudes towards domestic violence, there needs to be a similar shift in the understanding and treatment of animal abuse. This implies that the speaker believes that animal abuse should be taken seriously and treated as a potential indicator of violent behavior, and that there needs to be a comprehensive effort involving legislators, law enforcement, prosecutors, and judges to address this issue.


We're learning more about the nine people who died Thursday in a shooting attack that shattered the peace in a small town in Oregon. Authorities have released the names of the victims who were murdered at Umpqua Community College in Roseburg. Nine other people were wounded. The shooter died as well. NPR's Tom Goldman has been in Roseburg since the day of the shooting and joins us. Tom, thanks for being with us.

Hi, Scott, my pleasure.

And of course, we usually talk about sports - not today. Oregon's your home.

Not today, indeed. I'm based in Portland, about three, three-and-a-half hours north of here, close enough for me to come here and report on this.

turn 3 : (4) Implied meaning: The speaker is not afraid of going out of their apartment; instead, they are motivated by their desire to bring positivity to their community and recognize the potential of the people in poverty-stricken neighborhoods.

turn 3 : "to the left" - the literal meaning is a spatial direction, but the intended meaning is a political position that is more progressive or liberal than the average voter in the district.

turn 3 : The literal meaning of (4) is that the speaker is physically located in Luliang, a city in China's coal country, and is observing the area's economy. However, the implied meaning is that the speaker is reporting on the current state of China's economy outside of Shanghai,

turn 3 : "based in Portland" - This is an idiom meaning that the person's primary residence or place of work is located in Portland, rather than a literal description of their location.

turn 3 : "drive some tech companies out of San Francisco" - Literal meaning: to force tech companies to leave San Francisco. Actual meaning: to cause some tech companies to consider moving out of San Francisco due to the proposed tax increase, which may negatively impact their financial situation.


And is there anywhere else, is there another ratcheting up of sanctions that's possible?

I think, you know, it's always possible to do more, but I think this next step will be the biggest change, the biggest increase in terms of what they'll really feel. The Central Bank piece is enormous, basically forces every financial institution in the world to choose between dealing with the American financial institutions and dealing with the Iran Central Bank. Not many people will choose to deal with Iran's Central Bank and that will really hamper their ability to have any kind of exchange in the international system.

Michele Flournoy, thank you very much for your time today. We appreciate it.

Thank you.

turn 1 : This implies that Iran has found ways to evade or circumvent the sanctions, despite their severity.

turn 1 : Unilateral sanctions might force Tehran to reconsider their decision to stay in the agreement

turn 1 : If the Trump administration offers to remove some of the sanctions on Iran, Iran would be willing to negotiate.

turn 1 : "Forces every financial institution in the world to choose": This is a hyperbole, which is an exaggerated statement used to emphasize a point. The sanctions on the Central Bank of Iran would not literally force every financial institution in the world to make a choice. However, it would significantly limit the options available to them when dealing with Iran, making it much more difficult for them to conduct business with the country.

turn 1 : Iran would be willing to negotiate if some of the sanctions were removed.


Thank you. I know that you've been recently honored with the Outstanding Contribution to Television and Film Award at this year's BAFTA Awards in Scotland. Congratulations.

Well, thank you very much. It took me by surprise.

Really?They took you by surprise and took you all the way there?

Yeah. (Unintelligible) I'm in a very strange position because I'm almost 70 and I - people are giving me sort of good attendance prizes. . .

Well, that's what I call them. Good contribution prizes or something they call them, I don't know, you know, for your outstanding achievement over the years. I think it really means you're getting old, go away.

turn 3 :  (4) - Implied meaning: I am very grateful for the opportunities I have been given at my age.

turn 3 : "So I guess if you want to - if you want to support education, buy a lottery ticket" - Implied meaning: A way to support education is to buy lottery tickets.

turn 3 : To bring recognition to several people in the field.

turn 3 : Receiving good attendance prizes means that you are getting old and should retire

turn 3 : thank you for joining us means thank you for being here


turn 4 : When making a donation, it's important to do research and give to organizations in a flexible way.

turn 4 : The 'good contribution prizes' are actually a polite way of telling you to retire

turn 4 :  (4) - Implied meaning: I am very grateful for the opportunities I have been given at my age.

turn 4 : The actual meaning of turn 4 is "You are welcome and appreciated for joining us and discussing the topic."


Five hundred pages, yeah.

Yeah, it doesn't seem so simple. Republicans seem pretty certain that the tax bill is going to pass. How big a victory would it be?

You know, it's a pretty big deal. All year, Republicans struggled to get anything done, even though they had full control of the federal government. Now they have this big accomplishment they can point to. And I think that was part of the reason here. You saw a lot of Republicans like Bob Corker of Tennessee saying, I have big concerns, but I'm going to vote yes. A lot of people in Congress just wanted to get a victory. But look at the polling. It's not a popular bill.

It's not.

And you can already hear the Democrats putting together their campaign message against this. I mean, they were going to argue Republicans haven't done anything in Congress. Now they can argue the only thing Republicans have done so far is big tax cuts for the wealthy. So you can hear the messages already.

Indeed, you can. Big deal for the Republicans, but it's not the only issue to come up this week. There's a government funding fight that we're looking at on the horizon and the ongoing Russia probe. And this weekend, we're seeing more pushback against the Mueller investigation.

turn 3 : Both A and B agree that the tax bill is not popular

turn 3 : Congressional Republicans won't pass the bill unless the President makes sure they will not be hurt politically.

turn 3 : (3) The actual meaning is that Republicans may see this tax bill as an opportunity to demonstrate their ability to govern, having control of the Senate, the House, and the presidency.

turn 3 : Being the first act on the bill is both a blessing and a curse.

turn 3 : This implies that there's a lot of deduction or loopholes in the tax code.


O. J. Simpson denied bail and a judge sentencing him to 15 years in prison for his armed robbery, kidnapping, and assault convictions. Is it just our imagination or are we seeing more black faces in the fashion magazines these days?Could we call it the Michelle Obama effect?And the Grammy nominations went primetime this year. Could the star-studded event lure viewers back to watch the awards?Here to get us up to speed on all of that and more is Allison Samuels, a national correspondent for Newsweek magazine. Allison, always a pleasure.

Thank you.

So, O. J. , O. J. , O. J. - 15 years. What do you say?

I say that I think this is a moment for history, because so many people felt that he got off the last time that I think a lot of people feel like this is just sort of the circle, you know, just sort of a coming back around.

You know- well. It's hard to come up with the right words isn't it.

Yeah, it is. And to see him earlier this morning crying, you know, pleading, sort of apologizing for everything that happened, it just really did take you back to, you know, 10 or 15 years ago or 13 years, I think, when he was actually acquitted. And you know, he seemed certainly sorrowful, but I just think, you know, America has just been listening and living with this guy for so long that they're sort of tired of him. I don't think he has that same type of sympathy that he got the last time, particularly from the African-American community.

turn 5 : He says it's incumbent on the press and on the media not to make it easy for celebrities to have these terribly serious transgressions alleged and be able to skate by on their charm, on their fame, on their accomplishments outside the arena of these allegations."  Implicated meaning: The speaker is emphasizing the responsibility of the press and media to hold celebrities accountable for their serious wrongdoings, rather than allowing them to escape scrutiny based on their charisma, reputation, or achievements unrelated to the allegations.

turn 5 : He is a guy that sees positive outcomes in times of trouble. He has the ability to not think about the impact some lawsuits have.

turn 5 : "Living with this guy" is not literal. The meaning is that he has been in the news - as an athlete, then a defendant - for a really long time.

turn 5 :  "In Pittsburgh?" The literal meaning of this turn is a simple inquiry about the location mentioned by the speaker. The implicated meaning, however, suggests surprise or disbelief on the part of the speaker, as if they find it unexpected or unusual for PNC Park to be chosen as a preferred location.


It means a lot. It gives you insight of how to be a man and take care of your business and have integrity, visionary goal-setting and respect for one another. It helps you be more aware of who you are and what you could do with your life.

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

I'm the youngest of six, which is hard to be sometimes, because you get bossed around by everybody in the house. Come from a single-parent home - my mom. Dad was never around. I have sickle cell anemia, so I persevered over that. We had good times and bad times, you know, just like any other family. But we're very close.

turn 0 : The students feel pressure to conform and not be different from their peers.

turn 0 : A picked students he knew were comfortable with computers to get the information he needed.

turn 0 : What's this program, Becoming a Man, meant to you and other students and your friends?

turn 0 : The education system is not working properly and is causing a lot of stress for students.

turn 0 : People want to work hard for things.


turn 1 : It gives you insight of how to be a man and take care of your business and have integrity, visionary goal-setting and respect for one another.

turn 1 : it represents the person is very enthusiastic and interested to be engaged in doing it

turn 1 : We appreciate the opportunities we get to perform

turn 1 : Having the right connections, personality and know-how is essential for success.

turn 1 : The person being referred to has accomplished many things and is currently engaged.


turn 2 : They would not do bad things were most people would find out about them.

turn 2 : It's important to live in the moment rather than for posterity.

turn 2 : you don't really know that much about this.

turn 2 : Life should be lived in the moment rather than for posterity.

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


turn 3 : It's best to be receptive to any thought that comes your way.

turn 3 :  I'm the youngest of six, which is hard to be sometimes, because you get bossed around by everybody in the house.

turn 3 : The details will be hard to work out and difficult to deal with.

turn 3 : This statement implies that the best time to hustle is at a younger age

turn 3 : kids and old people can be refreshingly honest because they are not always trying to please others or conform to social norms.


The oldest one, the one I've been studying the longest, is called cosmological natural selection and was in fact the subject of my first book in 1997, "Life of the Cosmos. "And in that hypothesis, under that hypothesis, universes reproduce by giving birth to new universes inside of black holes, which is an old idea in the field.

And each time that happens, I presume that the laws of nature or the numbers that characterize them change slightly. And then one has a scenario very akin, very analogous to natural selection. One can derive consequences from it.

So every time there is a black hole, and there are many, many of them in our universe, correct?

An impressively large number of them, at least a million times a million.

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

turn 0 : The universes don't give birth but they form other universes in some way.

turn 0 : The statement implies how stars are formed and the necessary conditions for their creation.

turn 0 : The country does not have children but it means the people that are born and raised there.

turn 0 : The universe is not always the same and new matter is needed for it to stay the same.


The body of Lucille sits in the body of Thelma. Her life circled there in the lap of her mother, who wore 12 fingers just as she wore 12, just as the baby inside of her as she sat in the body of Thelma wore 12.

Lucille there in the middle, lived her light-filled life, never losing her daughter seat, dying on the very day Miss Thelma died. All the daughters and sons, who long left the movies, all the poets black, who sought their lives only ordinary, recount their long calla lily fingers every day, wring their jewels into jewels hands, circling the unbroken light-filled two-headed body of the woman who keeps keeping us.

"The Ordinary Body of Lucille" by Nikky Finney, our guest. I have to ask you, jewels into jewels. That line is in italic.

Hmm. Yes. That's a line from Ms.  Clifton's poem. And it's - I just - I love it so much. It's one of - a thousand favorite phrases of hers.

turn 0 : The mom is not confined to doing things one way and staying in one place.

turn 0 : Her mother's arms are around her as she sits in her lap.

turn 0 : See how he treats his mom poorly or disrespectfully

turn 0 : She does not want to deal with her grandmother no longer speaking to her.

turn 0 : Despite the difficult situation, A's parents are okay


turn 1 : She wrote very close to what happened in her own life.

turn 1 : She was able to rise above her difficult circumstances and become a successful artist despite her hardships.

turn 1 : would be that a mother was still alive and living for a long time, while the actual meaning is that due to her long life, the family fortune had been depleted.

turn 1 : Lucille lived a happy and positive life.  She was never shunned by her mother.  All of the poets were there dressed in black. They think about their lives every day and look at their hands and the rings on their fingers as they do. These poets were standing around the casket of the dead woman.


Joining me now is Christoph Schott, who directed that report for Avaaz. He's on the line from Brussels. Hi, there.

Hi, there. Good to be here.

Good to have you with us. So give us some examples. What kind of things did you find?

We found a very, very large set of different type of content from actual disinformation. We saw, for example, a video of migrants destroying a police car, viewed 10 million times, when, actually, that was out of a movie - years old. And people kind of got a misrepresenting, like, picture of reality where they thought this type of content, both very hateful or, actually, outright lies, is very popular in the community. And that's what really concern us - that these disinformation networks out there share this content so far and wide so quickly that it reaches millions of millions of Europeans every single day.

Right. I mean, you found it was reaching people in Germany and Spain and France, Italy, the United Kingdom - all over Europe.

turn 4 : Disinformation networks are spreading false and hateful content rapidly

turn 4 : Far-right parties were the main spreaders of disinformation.

turn 4 : troll accounts implies that the user intentionally spreads misinformation to others

turn 4 : Individuals in Spain coordinated network of pages to spread their message


Next week, hundreds of thousands of students, armed with number two pencils. . .

. . . will sit down to take the SAT. An important section of the college entrance test is the essay portion. And students have just 25 minutes to write it. Anne Ruggles Gere, who oversees the writing program at the University of Michigan, is not a fan of the essay section. She says that high schools now teach to the test and as a result encourage a generation of bad writers. We spoke with Professor Gere, who was in the studios of WUOM in Ann Arbor, and we asked her how the SAT encourages sloppy prose.

I think that it does it in several ways. Because when you're writing in only 25 minutes, you don't have time to develop a clear, complex idea. You don't have time to think about an audience. It makes students think of writing in the most simplistic, reductive ways. It emphasizes length of writing. It emphasizes use big words and be sure to follow a very simple formula.

So, the students will use it as an opportunity to use the word sesquipedalian over and over or show off their vocabulary and stuff?

turn 0 : Pencils are not an actual weapon, unless they are used to write things against the system.

turn 0 : to get your hands on something is to buy something, or to touch something, in this case the person was getting a gun

turn 0 : Not arms that are funneled but weapons that are provided to them.

turn 0 : The systems are capable of being penetrated by someone.

turn 0 : means that powerful weapons with lots of capacity on our streets should not be allowed because they are meant to be used in an offensive manner;


That's correct.

. . . Epstein's lawyers. OK, because I was asking about Epstein's lawyers.

Oh. Well, he - they aren't saying anything right now. They haven't seen the charges. So until they see the charges, I don't know how much they really want to say. They want to understand what they're up against to start with.

And so what are the lawyers for the victims saying?

Well, like I said, they were shocked, stunned. I don't think - I think that they suspected that something was happening with the Southern District of New York, which was investigating this and brought the charges. But I don't think they thought that it would happen this fast. I thought they thought it would be a very long process to try to get him. That's what makes me suspect that maybe they have a very good witness on their side.

turn 0 : when something is made clear in this context it means that it is explained so people understand

turn 0 : "understand what they're up against" implies understand what they're confronted with.

turn 0 : "not knowing what to do" - the literal meaning is that they are unsure of what actions to take, but the actual meaning could be that they are struggling to reconcile their religious beliefs with their political choices.

turn 0 : a sense means that there is an understanding

turn 0 : to give an idea means to tell them their opinion, or what is happening


That's correct.

turn 3 : Stunned and shocked means that they were surprised greatly by the information.

turn 3 :  In this context, "shocked myself" is not meant literally, but figuratively. It is meant to imply that the speaker was pleasantly surprised by their own work.

turn 3 : "they were shocked, stunned" implies they were surprised in a negative way.

turn 3 : "shocked - really shocked" is a figurative way of expressing the speaker's strong emotional reaction.


Well, generally speaking, you're going to have 100,000 dollars insurance in most financial institutions. There are a very a few uninsured institutions. I believe there are credit unions that are privately insured, but they're rare as hen's teeth. By and large, it doesn't matter. As long as you stay under the 100,000 dollar limit, I think you'll be fine.

I'd be curious to see what Goldman's teller window looks like and whether they give away toasters, but I somehow think it will be a little different from the corner bank.

When the government says, for example, that it has moved to secure mutual funds and people need not worry about their money, how can the average person have confidence in that right now?

Well, to be specific, they're really only backing money market mutual funds. And even more specifically, I believe that some of those have to - the ones that do have to pay into the fund that insures it.

turn 1 : The person being referred to has accomplished many things and is currently engaged.

turn 1 : It gives you insight of how to be a man and take care of your business and have integrity, visionary goal-setting and respect for one another.

turn 1 : to look forward to something means they are excited for an event.

turn 1 : implies that A is happy to be on the show;

turn 1 : it represents the person is very enthusiastic and interested to be engaged in doing it


But second, I said you have to step up, Mr.  President. The moment you jump into this issue, you learn how complicated it is, how many decades in the making it is. But this is on our watch. This is our time, and these are your constituents, Mr.  President, just as they are mine.

And so to me, this is an opportunity to educate, an opportunity to pressure. And whether it is out of his heart or out of the movement that we build or just out of some people's disgust - because disgust for all of us should be in our hearts right now that we let Americans live on our streets and in shelters in the richest country on the face of the earth. So we will push, push, push this president and this administration to join this fight until the last day we're around.

That is the mayor of Los Angeles, Eric Garcetti.

Mr.  Mayor, thanks so much for talking to us.

Great to be with you, Michel. Thank you so much.

turn 0 : "taking these protests one step further" - This phrase means that the protestors are escalating their actions beyond just protesting.

turn 0 : "engaged in the process" - this means actively participating in the political process, not just being present or observing it.

turn 0 : "Step up," "jump" and "our watch" are all figurative, not literal. They mean that the President needs to take action on the issue and, in the last case, that the political party is in control now and has to take responsibility for governing.

turn 0 : The actual meaning different from the literal meaning is:  "...the president's budget director had to walk that back and say we shouldn't take that word for word."  The literal meaning of this sentence is that the president's budget director had to retract or clarify the statement made by the president. However, the implied meaning is that the president's initial statement was not accurate or well-thought-out, and it needed to be corrected or softened to avoid negative consequences.

turn 0 : The president's words are exaggerated and they are not meant to be taken literally.


You really take us through every single phase of a relationship.

I went through every single phase in the writing of this thing, so. . .

Yeah.

Yeah. Yeah. I went through a breakup with a longtime, like, best friend. And it was, for the first time in my adult years, really in a place where I didn't have anyone to text after the show to be like, it went great or, like, I tripped. But, like, it was a strange sort of loneliness. And I wanted the songs to show that because I felt like I was going to feel less lonely by sharing in a way.

turn 3 : The singer is not actually asking someone to show them the way home but rather expressing their loneliness and desperation due to feeling lost and without direction.

turn 3 : A is reflecting on the nature of relationships between people close to each other.

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

turn 3 : The author wrote songs to show that sharing can help with loneliness.


So, there's a whole big huge chasm which some of us live in part of the time at least, where where's this music?Where is the new soul music?Where are the people that are writing the classics that are going to be around in 20 years, and 30 years, and 40 years?

Well, in addition to your own songs, you have sung other folks' work. And in 2004, you sang on a tribute album for Luther Vandross. Here's a little bit of "Forever, For Always, For Love. "

(Singing) Do you remember The love that we once had?Well, if I had the chance to love you again, I'd make your heart forget I was ever thereÉ

I still miss him.

turn 1 : The speaker is mentioning a song that reflects their current emotions.

turn 1 : You sang tribute songs instead of creating new ones.

turn 1 : The songs that I sing have a message that can inspire change in the world.

turn 1 : Artists need to make mistakes to create something great.

turn 1 : The music in the beginning sounded like rap to me, which is a form of music that has a strong focus on rhythm and poetic lyrics.


(Laughter) Well, punctuation cooking may be a bit different, but I call it a great deal of those dishes where people have little bottle and they do little dots and the little comma and question mark all around.

(Laughter).

And basically, there (laughter) is no sauce to dip your bread in. You don't really know what those things have to do with the food. When I cook, I like people to be able to identify the food. I like people to feel comfortable. I want people to look at my food and start salivating and starting thinking of a marriage of that food with a certain type of wine and so forth. But in molecular cuisine, this is fine. I mean, up to a certain extent - a meal or two this way, but after a while, I just want to go out and have a taco and a beer (laughter).

(Laughter) As I was reading your book, you know, Julia Child - your friend and co-conspirator of many years - was famous for telling us, remember, nobody sees you in the kitchen.

turn 0 : The speaker is saying that money is important, but not as important as the enjoyment of cooking.

turn 0 : roast you means to make fun of you, not literally cooking someone

turn 0 : (1) In turn (1), the speaker is talking about a type of cooking where punctuation marks are used to decorate dishes. The implied meaning is that this type of cooking is different from traditional cooking methods, and it may not be appealing to everyone.

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

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


(Laughter).

turn 2 : 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.

turn 2 : (3) In turn (3), the speaker is talking about molecular cuisine, which is a type of cooking that uses scientific techniques to create new and unusual dishes. The implied meaning is that while molecular cuisine can be interesting and exciting to try, it may not be satisfying or enjoyable in the long run. The speaker prefers traditional cooking methods that are familiar and comforting

turn 2 :  (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 2 : The speaker is emphasizing the importance of developing a skillful touch when baking, which can only be achieved through consistent practice.

turn 2 : The book contains more than just recipes - it is also a way to gain insight into and appreciate the culture and history of the cuisine.


Then Clark Carrington(ph) chimed in from Dar Salam, Tanzania. He wrote, I'm an African-American living in Tanzania and totally rely on Farai and crew through podcast to keep me informed about what is going on in the U. S.  and the world, for that matter. However, Farai's much more than a female African-American voice. She is an informed progressive and an insightful mind.

And finally, we go to a fan in Saudi Arabia. Ibrahim Sadik(ph) heard a re-broadcast of a conversation we had on Latin jazz and sent us this. I wish to thank News & Notes for the excellent program on Latin jazz as well as the month-long treatment on jazz. I currently live in Saudi Arabia and enjoy News & Notes, which is rebroadcast during my morning commute. It provides a refreshing entry for the morning. I hope that the coming months will bring about a turnaround in the U. S.  economy that will allow kaleidoscopic programs such as News & Notes to remain on air.

And that's it for letters. So wherever you are, please keep your thoughts coming over the next few months.

To write us, just log on to npr. org and click on contact us. When you get there, you'll see lots of shows to choose from. Make sure you pick News & Notes when you write to us.

turn 3 : NONE
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So why do you think people should care about this?And. . .

(Laughter).

. . . Apologies for being trite about it. But. . .

Yeah, I know.

turn 1 : B finds something amusing or funny, but it's not clear what

turn 1 : (1) "B: (Laughter)." This turn implies that B found something funny or amusing, but it does not provide any literal information or statement.

turn 1 : the literal meaning is that the other person laughs in response to something that was said.

turn 1 : A finds something amusing but doesn't want to explain why.

turn 1 : It's like watching something awful approach people and not be able to stop it.


And this email from Daryl: I used to be a student of Vernor Vinge, a wonderful professor. I'm legally blind. He writes, I'm wondering, how would this work with those individuals?We do have iPhone apps that can give turn-by-turn navigation, but all those other features of Google glasses would not be present.

Sort of two possibilities there: One, is the sort of thing that I was talking about, learning to use the devices that you have and that you are wearing. That depends on the plasticity of the human brain. We're quite capable of learning new tricks and cooperating with the devices that we have to get results that we may be barred from getting in other ways. The other approach to this sort of thing is to actually look at where the blindness happens. If the blindness happens within the eyes, then you want to just go a little bit upstream from that and see whether the neurons behind that are still capable of responding to stimulus and then figuring out how to stimulate them directly without the light.

If that's gone, then you're talking about something, perhaps, much harder, which is to go upstream from that and look at the beginning of neuron interpretation of sight that's happening within the brain and actually making your input at that level.

Have you signed up for Google glasses yet?

turn 1 : none
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You know, it can be a little dangerous at times. A lot of times you're setting your ladder in the ice and you're looking for a dry spot to put the ladder. And sometimes you use a van and you try to back the van up or at least get the tire up against the ladder so that you don't have any chance of that ladder skipping out on you. And, you know, in the elements, you get a little hasty sometimes 'cause you're in a hurry. And that's where, you know, you've still got to take your time. At its coldest is when you're at your busiest. I've been out 12, 13, 14-hour days before. You learn to dress for it.

How do you dress for a 14-hour day in let's say 25-degree temperatures?

Well, it can be tricky because there's times you're coming into a warm building, and you're way overdressed, and you begin to sweat. And if you start to sweat, it can be really bad when you go back out in the elements 'cause now you're really cold so you need to bring some dry socks. Usually, I'll wear some thermals. I'll wear multiple layers, and I'll take layers off, put layers back on.

What about this method for keeping your hands warm?(Blows on hands).

turn 1 : (2) The literal meaning of this turn is a simple question, but the implied meaning is that the speaker wants to know what actions can be taken to address the issue being discussed and is seeking guidance or suggestions.

turn 1 : Literal meaning: B is asking A to describe a summer day at the house A loved. Actual meaning: The actual meaning is the same as the literal meaning.

turn 1 : The word 'Cold' does not literally mean they are cold and chill, it has the implied meaning that they are not in good terms

turn 1 : The literal meaning of (2) is asking for advice on what to wear in cold temperatures. The implied meaning is to show a genuine interest in understanding the best way to dress for such weather.

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.


And the cable operators, the cable television news operations, CNN, Fox, MSNBC are going to in a tremendous competition to see which one of them can call it first, and that's going to pull the broadcasters over. So I don't think people in California can expect that the East Coast will not be talking about a winner, if there is a clear winner, before the polls close in California. Now, that isn't necessarily a good thing, I'm not trying to put a. . .

Right.

Put a happy face on it, it does make people in California feel angry to hear the race declared over hours before the polls close in that state. But because it's going to be on the Internet just about every where, and I suspect we'll start seeing it on cable television, it's going to be hard for the networks to resist the temptation to do the same.

Ron just quickly, there's been some last minute news. Senator Obama's grandmother passed away after a long battle with cancer yesterday. And a state personnel board in Alaska issue a report saying that Governor Sarah Palin didn't abuse her power, did not abuse her power, in the firing of a public safety commissioner. Do things like this, last minute developments like this, affect the race at all?

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

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

turn 2 : implies that A is happy to be on the show;

turn 2 : "Put a happy face on it" isn't literal, it means that 'A' isn't (going back to comment 1) trying to make it sound like it's not a problem.

turn 2 :  (2) A is implying that they also share a shared sadness about the same thing.


Yes, I do. And one of the ways it could be would be to have more women in the House and in the Senate. We saw back in the early 1990s after the Justice Clarence Thomas controversy, Anita Hill's allegations - led a lot of women to say, why weren't there more women on that committee passing judgment on Anita Hill's accusations?- because there was not a single one. They were all men. And why can't we have more representation for our gender when we are, after all, half the population?

That led to the so-called Year of the Woman - 1992 - in which a record number of senators who were women were elected and a large new number in the House. And that we have seen somewhat rise and continue to rise. And the number of women who are in the Senate today is the highest it's ever been, but it's still a minor fraction. And it's still a minor fraction in the House. And as women become more politically active, they become more politically attuned - they are seeing these things, and they are realizing that they need to be represented in Congress to have full power and full equality in this society.

NPR's Ron Elving, thanks so much.

Thank you, Scott.

turn 1 : The listener asks whether women played a crucial role in the election.

turn 1 : The women are not running but they are trying to get elected.

turn 1 : And as women become more politically active, they become more politically attuned - they are seeing these things, and they are realizing that they need to be represented in Congress to have full power and full equality in this society."  In these turns, the speakers are implying that there is a need for increased representation of women in Congress in order to achieve gender equality and address the underrepresentation of women in positions of power. The literal meanings of the statements may focus on the numbers or demographics, but the implied meaning goes beyond that to highlight the importance of equal representation and the pursuit of gender equality.

turn 1 :  implies that the Democrats should not become complacent with their current demographics and should focus on further outreach

turn 1 : The speaker is expressing frustration with the limitations imposed on them by their identity.


NPR's Ron Elving, thanks so much.

Thank you, Scott.

turn 1 : (2). The literal meaning of (2) is that a record number of women were elected to the Senate and House in 1992, and there has been a gradual increase since then. However, the implied meaning is that there is still a significant underrepresentation of women in Congress, and more needs to be done to achieve full equality and representation.

turn 1 : (2) Implied meaning: Get enough votes to pass the legislation, no matter the number of votes required.


I thought, how can I thank them?So I just jumped off the curb and popped up a salute. And I saw tears rolling by on their faces. And that's what kept me driving throughout that salute until the last bike rolled around me. And then both sides of the street just rushed me and said thank you, Marine.

So tell me about yesterday. Did you pick a certain place where you're going to be?

Yeah, it's become my memorial post. It's at 23rd and Constitution, right behind the Lincoln Monument.

And you're full uniform.

turn 2 : Not being able to honor the fallen soldiers on Memorial Day is painful.

turn 2 : The speaker is expressing sympathy for the victims and their families.

turn 2 : The speaker has a permanent memorial post where people can pay their respects.

turn 2 : The speaker is singing about a dead person at a funeral

turn 2 : to pay tribute means to do something respectfully to someone else


One thing in the filing that might undercut that is a detail where she had booked a hotel room with the company card in Washington, D. C. , for an event. She changed her travel plans so that she was no longer coming for the entire time. And one of the nights in the hotel room that she had booked, Duncan Hunter went and had a tryst with one of the individuals that he was having an affair with in the hotel room that she had booked. So her knowledge about all the spending that was being done doesn't necessarily add up with what his theory is for the defense.

What's next in this trial?And in the meantime, is there any sign that Duncan Hunter would consider resigning?

He has not shown any interest in resigning. We haven't seen that. Right now it's on pace to go to trial in September. It's possible there will be a plea deal before then. It's not looking great for Hunter. But that being said, there's very little chance that any plea deal would not involve any jail time, so of course he would have to resign. He won reelection last year and seems very much focused on getting past this, so we will find out.

That's KPBS reporter Max Rivlin-Nadler reporting from San Diego. Thank you.

turn 0 : They found out the information in an indirect way from people not involved.

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

turn 0 : The woman who booked a hotel room with the company card did not know about the affair, which contradicts Hunter's defense theory.

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

turn 0 : She was not abruptly forced to return with no reason given.


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

It will be headed by Treasury Secretary Timothy Geitner and National Economic Council Director Lawrence Summers, the two top economic people in the Obama administration. It'll also pool staffers from several different departments throughout the government, including Transportation, Labor, and the EPA.

You mentioned Tim Geithner, Larry Summers. Both gentlemen already have quite a bit on their plates. Isn't there some concern about taking on the auto industry in addition to everything else?

There may be some concern, but I don't know if they have any choice. Just Friday, the supplier industry came to Treasury and put forth a proposal where it would receive up to $25 billion in aid. It did so because it was warning that given the production cuts the automakers have been forced to make this year, there may be a wave of bankruptcies in the supplier industry. They may need aid before the end of February.

turn 1 : Larry didn't just show up as a predator and hurt as many people as he did.

turn 1 : The Knicks come in and let people do better than they do at basketball.

turn 1 : thank god for the Knicks impling the Knicks made it possible to happen...

turn 1 : Tim Geithner and Larry Summers have a lot of responsibilities

turn 1 : Shorter schedules in the past distorted career milestones and accomplishments.


So the parents as well as one coach have agreed to plead guilty in connection with this scheme. And according to one of the plea agreements at least, they may serve a few months in jail as well as paying fines and restitution. And Felicity Huffman, the actress, as you heard, is one of the more high-profile people accused. But others, including Lori Loughlin, another actress from the TV show "Full House," is among those originally accused who is continuing to fight the charges.

What are we hearing from the parents?

Well, two of those who plead - pled guilty today issued very contrite statements. Huffman's statement reportedly said, I am in full acceptance of my guilt - deep regret and shame. And she also reiterated that her daughter had no idea.

This story has gotten so much attention, and it seems to have really resonated with students and parents. Why do you think it has had such a big impact?

turn 0 : The implication of this turn is that the scandal has a far-reaching effect on the university and its stakeholders, beyond just the legal repercussions.

turn 0 : Despite the difficult situation, A's parents are okay

turn 0 : The behavior was unacceptable to what the people would accept.

turn 0 : The parents and coaches involved in the scheme are facing legal consequences.

turn 0 : (1) Implied meaning: Is this plan risky?


What are we hearing from the parents?

turn 2 : She is not being put in a box. She means the roles people apply to her and her life.

turn 2 : Felicity Huffman has accepted her guilt in the scheme.

turn 2 : Coming out of the shadows and revealing her status as a DACA recipient has allowed the speaker to pursue her dreams and be proud of her identity.

turn 2 : The speaker keeps the happy memories of her past with her loved ones locked up inside her to deal with her grief.


What are we hearing from the parents?

turn 2 : The Trump administration wants drug companies to lower their prices.

turn 2 : The drug epidemic is pervasive and affects people from all walks of life.

turn 2 : The development could have a significant impact on drug storage.

turn 2 : Big drug companies are not interested in developing therapies for addiction because they don't see drug addicts as a profitable investment.

turn 2 : Oklahoma wants funding to help opioid treatment due to lack of support and high addiction crisis


And a very talented sister who I think is quite equal to the task of containing Schwarzenegger.

Well, here is my question to you. You talked about the state controller, who - you are very correct - said that he would defy the governor's order and not roll back those salaries. But can he do that?Can he get away with defying the governor in this way?

Well, he has his own constitutional authority, and I think that this may be a case that goes to the California Supreme Court. I mean, if he chooses - now, the challenge will be this. If he chooses not to issue checks on Schwarzenegger's executive order, can checks be issued at all?And that's a constitutional question. I don't know the answer to it. But you have these two key state officials clashing, both of them elected by the people of California. And I fully expect that there will be a compromise before the 1st of September, Tony. Again, I think that the governor is posturing. The governor has always been a fiscal conservative. He is not pleased with the way the budget negotiations are going. So he is making a point.

And he is making it, apparently, on the backs of some of the state workers, it appears.

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

turn 0 : This implies that Senator Clinton does not really want to become the Vice President, she just wanted to be honored for trying.

turn 0 : This implies that the female candidate is capable of competing with Schwarzenegger in some sort of political race or contest.

turn 0 : The women are not running but they are trying to get elected.

turn 0 : The speaker is expressing their opinion about the actress's ability to get roles in Hollywood as an African-American woman, and how they didn't think she was a good fit for the particular movie. The literal meaning of the words used in the turn may not convey the speaker's actual opinion or intended message.


turn 3 : The Legislature wants to get the governor out of office before dealing with a huge budget deficit and the dysfunctional relationship between them.

turn 3 : This statement implies that the governor's actions are negatively impacting some state workers.

turn 3 : A government shutdown affects the government and its citizens negatively.

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

turn 3 : (2) Implied meaning: Are there any potential risks of job losses in the state due to minimum wage increase?


Well, I think anyone of any political stripe would say that the U. S.  just has too many mass shootings, it being noted one is too many. But there's one every few days. The Republican Party controls the House, the Senate, the White House. Shouldn't the party that controls government see reducing mass shootings as a matter of national security?

I believe we should take a look at - yeah, absolutely. This is a problem of certainly domestic security, national security. And I'm concerned about firearm deaths. I'm also concerned what I've been witnessing, too, in Europe and elsewhere, where people take vehicles and they drive them into crowds and kill many people. I mean, we have, sadly, you know, very evil people in this world who will do terrible things. Sometimes they're motivated politically. Sometimes they're mentally ill. Sometimes, in the case of Las Vegas, we simply don't know what motivated this guy.

Well, they - actually, you know, like I said, they're not allowed to. This person who has been involuntarily committed to a mental health institution is prohibited. . .

turn 2 : (3) "Well - but why give people who have mental problems the legal capacity to get dangerous weapons?" implies a different meaning from its literal meaning. The speaker is not simply asking a question about why people with mental health problems are allowed to buy weapons legally, but is rather suggesting that this should not be allowed and expressing frustration or disbelief that it is currently legal.

turn 2 : (2) Implied meaning: While individuals should have the right to own firearms, it is not practical to suggest the mass confiscation of all firearms in the country.

turn 2 : (3) - The actual meaning is that the speaker disagrees with the verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity and thinks that the legal definition of insanity is too narrow. This turn implies that the speaker believes that the legal system should hold people who commit crimes like Hinckley's to a higher standard of responsibility, even if they are mentally ill.

turn 2 : means that powerful weapons with lots of capacity on our streets should not be allowed because they are meant to be used in an offensive manner;


One, make sure you fill out all the federal forms correctly and thoroughly. Two, report all your income to the government. Those will be the two big headlines. Three. . .

That's the law, right?

Yeah, that's - follow the law is clear. Three, it really hasn't affected the lobbying business, per se, even with President Trump. There's so much uncertainty out there that businesses and individuals want people representing them in Washington who are just kind of aware of what's going on and looking after their interests.

Well, that raises this question. During your lobbying career, you lobbied, I gather, for broadcasters and beer wholesalers. As we noted, Mr.  Manafort specialized in lobbying for foreign strongman, including Mobutu Sese Seko of Zaire and Viktor Yanukovych of Ukraine, Moscow's man - Moscow's plant in Kiev. Question might sound naive - I thought ambassadors were supposed to represent the interests of foreign powers in Washington, D. C.  How did lobbyists become part of it?

turn 1 : They say the attorneys general is looking for information and they want to put a stop to it.

turn 1 : Asking what financial benefits are being provided to certain individuals through the tax bill.

turn 1 : (2) Implied meaning: Get enough votes to pass the legislation, no matter the number of votes required.

turn 1 : It is a legal requirement to fill out federal forms correctly and report income to the government.

turn 1 : This implies that there's a lot of deduction or loopholes in the tax code.


And yeah. Like I said, the video can be used for good. And that's why I think the premise of body camera footage is good. But where problems emerge is when government officials and police officials push back against making that footage public because that's the whole reason. The reason is to bring transparency to police interactions. And if government officials push against that, it goes against the entire premise.

One of the very interesting points that you make in your book is that the federal government has investigated alternatives to lethal force and improving police-community relations for decades. I mean, you highlight a report that was commissioned by President Johnson, President Lyndon Johnson in 1967 in response to the Watts riots. And you said that it proposes really not so much an emphasis on technology but an emphasis on relationships, on communication and teaching police officers how to communicate better with the public, how to - it's more of like a - I don't know what word to use. Would you say humanistic approach?And. . .

Absolutely. That's a great word for it.

And that you say that there's - these kinds of - these techniques have never really been implemented because they were deemed to be too expensive. But you also point out that technology is expensive. The police departments spend a huge amount on these technologies that you say don't work. So what - my question to you is, why do you think these techniques have not gotten more traction?

turn 0 : The premise of body camera footage is good, but government officials and police officials push against making it public, which goes against the transparency of police interactions.

turn 0 : The use of facial recognition technology can lead to bias, false identifications, and wrongful arrests, which is a serious concern.

turn 0 : Mr. Morial believes that body cameras and dash cameras should be mandatory for all law enforcement, as well as other measures such as police officer hiring and training, in order to build trust between the community and police officers.

turn 0 : They want to know if the seriousness of the situation makes the government appear to be bad to the public.

turn 0 : Officers are not following NOPD policy, which requires them to always record the entire encounter until any police action has ceased, and instead are turning off their cameras during what they consider to be "sensitive matters" without defining what this means.


Absolutely. That's a great word for it.

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

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

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

turn 1 : Mr. Morial wants to know what ideas would help bridge the gap between black citizens and police officers.

turn 1 : Advocating for alternative community resources instead of calling the police


Absolutely. That's a great word for it.

turn 2 : Implied meaning: Although there may be variations in how people interpret it, the speaker is fairly confident that a significant number of individuals will understand that there is an underlying or implicit message conveyed through this turn. The meaning might not be immediately apparent and could require additional context, but the speaker believes that most people will recognize that there is a subtext or insinuation.

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 : 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 : Implied meaning: The speaker might be implying a hidden agenda or ulterior motive behind their words, actions, or decisions, without making it explicit.


Absolutely. That's a great word for it.

turn 2 : Turn (4) is implying that even though research has been conducted in this area, law enforcement has not been paying attention to it and is only now beginning to do so.

turn 2 : These techniques have not been implemented due to cost concerns, despite the expensive investment in technologies that don't work for police departments.

turn 2 : Advocating for abolishing the police department and starting over

turn 2 : The speaker believes that the current policing system is irreparable.


Absolutely. That's a great word for it.

turn 3 : A case of police brutality is being investigated and all involved are subject to that investigation

turn 3 : Turn (4) is implying that even though research has been conducted in this area, law enforcement has not been paying attention to it and is only now beginning to do so.

turn 3 : The federal government has investigated alternatives to lethal force and improving police-community relations for decades, but these techniques have not gained enough traction.

turn 3 : The implementation of a residential law for policemen and an independent civilian complaint review board would decrease police brutality.

turn 3 : Advocating for abolishing the police department and starting over


Right. So this is a very powerful story, also. And I think that this story is about the way that women devour their own, in some ways, and - particularly in small towns and in towns where sex is seen as a detriment.

Yeah. There were a few stories in here that I did not love, and there was a moment where I was starting to question your judgment in pulling them all together, I will confess. And then I got to one titled "To The North," and it just knocked me out. I mean, it's about a boy and his summers on the beach and how he grows into a man. And his character is forming. It's fantastic if I - in my view. And I gather it's one of your favorites, as well.

It is my very favorite in the book. But you know, also - so part of what our arguments were - were about showing sort of the larger artistic growth of a writer. And so I have to admit there are some stories in this that aren't my favorite, either, but they seemed important in terms of Nancy Hale as a round person and showing her work through time. "To The North" is exquisite. I just found it full of repressed longing.

Yeah. I mean, I wonder to you, as someone who writes very well-received short stories, is it inspiring, or is it daunting to come across somebody else who could write a short story that was pretty darn near perfect?

turn 2 : Nancy Hale is a person that has a great many different capabilities and interests.

turn 2 : Nancy Hale became a person that people did not think of any longer.

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

turn 2 : She hopes people find a way to read the book that she has written.


Well, no, I don't think so, but it's really not just about resignations. What people really want to see is a change of the system, not just a personnel change. But what we know is that even if we magically fixed Ferguson overnight, it would be an island of justice in a sea of injustice.

At the same time, Mr.  French, how do you keep the public safe?How do you get anyone to become a good police officer if they're getting - if they feel they might be shot by the citizens?

You're absolutely right. I mean, the tragic thing here - and this is the crisis that we find ourselves in in St.  Louis - is that communities need police; especially communities with high crime, like many of our communities do have it in St.  Louis. We need police. And an order for police to be effective they need the trust of the community. And so what I feel like is we have not acted quick enough. That in fact we had an opportunity over this fall and winter to do a lot of this hard work before we get into what is traditionally the high crime times of spring and summer. And it's been warm here for a couple of days and we've already seen a very high spike in crime, including the tragic death of a 5-year-old boy. So we've got a lot of work to do and we need to get to the business of doing it very quickly.

How has the protest movement changed - maybe in terms of what its objectives are - and are there different factions now?

turn 2 : We are taking strict actions against irresponsible prescribers.

turn 2 : The people want visible and effective action against corruption and terrorism.

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

turn 2 : Authenticity is crucial for A and lack of it hurts them

turn 2 : The community needs to act quickly to restore trust and safety in the community.


turn 3 : The protests are still significant despite not being widespread

turn 3 : the protests got worse and worse until there was no way to control them any longer.

turn 3 : They didn't get into position in the same way as some places were protests and riots occurred.

turn 3 : Has the protest movement changed it's goals and are there different groups involved now?


Mr.  Zandi, you served as an adviser for Senator John McCain's presidential campaign, and now you've been working with the Democrats in leadership. I'm wondering, what sort of advice are you giving them for how to get out of this situation?

Well, I think the most important thing is that government policy needs to be very aggressive. We need a concerted, comprehensive, and consistent response to our economic problems. The crisis is very severe and significant. And without such a response, we're going to be in the economic soup, so to speak, for a long time to come.

And specifically - I'm sure there's many things you've suggested - could you give us a couple of highlights of concrete plans?

Well, the thing that's on the drawing board right now is the economic stimulus plan, and I think we do need a very large plan that would include increases in government spending and tax cuts.

To add to this troubled economy, we now have the latest unemployment figures out this morning from major metropolitan areas. Here's how they look. In November 2007, 18 areas reported jobless rates of at least seven percent. In November 2008, that number jumped to 121. Which areas have seen the highest unemployment rate?

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

turn 0 : The speaker is saying that money is important, but not as important as the enjoyment of cooking.

turn 0 : eating machines implies to eat too much and hardly get satisfied or filled

turn 0 : (1) In turn (1), the speaker is talking about a type of cooking where punctuation marks are used to decorate dishes. The implied meaning is that this type of cooking is different from traditional cooking methods, and it may not be appealing to everyone.


turn 3 : not a physical drawing board or easel, but the most important thing on an agenda or plan; not a physically big-in-size plan, but a plan with many elements or parts to it

turn 3 : Plan A" - The literal meaning of Plan A is the primary plan or strategy for achieving a particular goal. However, in this context, it implies the shared strategy of both campaigns to win the first four states and avoid personnel shortages, indicating the high stakes of the early primary elections.

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

turn 3 : something that was hinted at or suggested, but not directly stated.


It was for people who are sort of touched by this. And when you saw what goes into it, you will understand. I mean, it's a week of sanding and scrapping and chiseling. It really - it was kind of an amazing process.

Yeah. And it's a beautiful video you made. It's up there on our website at sciencefriday. com. You can watch how they build the bikes. They talk about the bamboo where they - they're bringing in from Vietnam and choose it, right?

That's right. Their cream of the crop, they say.

You imagine going bamboo shopping?

turn 2 : The jungle was transformed by early civilizations through farming, terracing, irrigation, and building.

turn 2 : I would like to be unique by having a bike made of bamboo but I realise it's not fully made of bamboo

turn 2 : Humans began changing the way plants spread and grew.

turn 2 : The best of the crop of bamboo was brought from Vietnam.


That's true. Actually, the crime rate in Norway isn't really that high, so the police helicopter is actually more of a surveillance helicopter. It doesn't really carry people. But there is, as you found out, afterwards, there is a kind of - or should be a kind of co-working between the police and the air force, which didn't. . .

Didn't work, yeah.

. . . as it should (unintelligible). And there are also, on different areas, a lot of other routines that really didn't work as they were set up to be, so there had been a lot of criticism. And I think very much on the political side has changed and will change in the months and years to come because of what happened.

One, final question. In his manifesto, Breivik claimed to be the commander of a group of extremists in Europe. He called them the Knights Templar. Any evidence of that?

turn 3 : (4) is a straightforward denial of B's implied meaning, and does not carry any additional implied meanings beyond that.

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

turn 3 : (4) - B is implying that Breivik's claims may not be true, even though it is not explicitly stated.

turn 3 : Breivik hopes that being found insane will invalidate his political arguments and be a way for him to avoid punishment.

turn 3 : B is suggesting that A should provide evidence other than the letter to prove its authenticity.


This is WEEKEND EDITION from NPR News. I'm Linda Wertheimer sitting in for Scott Simon.

The Silk Road, the centuries-old trade route that the West traditionally associates with Marco Polo, is believed to have brought silk and pasta from China all the way to Italy. Of course, it didn't happen quite like that. History always depends upon the teller of the story. And we have a new version from Jen Lin-Liu. She's an American food writer who lives and works in China.

She's written a book called "On the Noodle Road," and she joins us now from our bureau in Beijing. Welcome to the program.

Thank you, Linda.

turn 1 : none
turn 1 : none
turn 1 : none
turn 1 : none
turn 1 : none


Well, the number one thing I see in crime scenes is there are people just trampling all over the place. Everybody is touching something and there's just lots of discussions and stomping around right inside of a crime scene that we would never allow.

Anything else occur to you?

It's surprising to me how many people believe that most suspects will invoke their right and remain silent when in fact they don't.

Gee, what's the psychology behind that, do you think?

turn 2 : The actual meaning of (3) is that many people wrongly assume that suspects will remain silent when questioned, when in fact they rarely do.

turn 2 : In (4), the speaker asks if the other person can recall a scene that accurately portrays suspects' behavior when questioned by the police. The implied meaning is that the speaker is interested in finding examples of suspects speaking to the police despite having the right to remain silent, possibly to better understand the phenomenon.

turn 2 : Implied meaning: The speaker has some reservations or doubts about the situation being discussed.

turn 2 : The actual meaning of the turn in (3) is that if the Senate only performs a ritual of asking hard questions without any intention to actually vet the judges, then declining to do that ritual is an important signal.


And what did Ben Bernanke say to you in terms of admitting that perhaps that was a mistake, or anything else?Did he say to you that he made any mistakes along the way?

Well, I think he did, you know - as I say, the sort of news in the article was that he did concede that the Fed and he had been slow to understand really what was going on with this subprime crisis. I mean, it's easy to be critical. A lot of people on Wall Street didn't understand it, either, a lot of people in the Treasury Department. In fact, it's very hard to find anybody at all who really understood the full scale of this, you know, going back six, twelve months.

There were people saying that there was going to be a housing, you know, a housing collapse. I'd even said that myself. But nobody really realized how intertwined the financial system was with the financial markets. And nobody realized that a drop in house prices would basically render much of the American financial system insolvent, which is what has happened.

John Cassidy is a staff writer at the New Yorker Magazine. His article on Ben Bernanke is in this week's issue. Thank you very much.

turn 0 : to move in direction in this context means to change something

turn 0 : along the way means in this context throughout a period of time

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

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

turn 0 : to move around in this context means to move from place to place, like moving from one house to another


And what do you serve?I said $5 bowls of cereal, but expand on that menu if you could.

We sell 120 different cereals from all over the world. So we import cereals from America, from New Zealand, from Australia, from France, from Israel. We import cereals from all over the world, so it's a real experience coming in here because the walls are just littered with cereal memorabilia, toys that you used to get in the boxes. It's a real experience.

Now, I don't for a moment expect you to identify with the people who attacked your store. But can you - can you see where fancy bowls of cereal would kind of fit into their agenda about the world, their neighborhood changing right before their eyes?

I can see their point, but there's also a Versace shop that has just opened up around the corner. They're complaining that people in the area can't afford to come here and afford four pounds for a meal. But there's a Versace shop open around the corner and I think it's - very, very few percent of people in this neighborhood would even be able to walk in there and buy anything. I know I couldn't.

turn 1 : The speaker is suggesting that the popularity of the bagel is a great mystery.

turn 1 : (3) A: "This is classically bad. This is, you know, across the board for everyone at The New Yorker. We're supposed to turn in 10 gag ideas, you know, at a sketch level, and on a really good week they'll buy one, so 90 percent rejection is doing great."

turn 1 : The speaker is implying that there is no definite answer to the origin of the bagel, and they have accepted that.

turn 1 :  "We import cereals from all over the world, so it's a real experience coming in here because the walls are just littered with cereal memorabilia, toys that you used to get in the boxes.It's a real experience."


turn 2 :  "Although lots of the things the racist rulers said were very funny.I don't think they intended it that way."

turn 2 : "Now, I don't for a moment expect you to identify with the people who attacked your store. But can you - can you see where fancy bowls of cereal would kind of fit into their agenda about the world, their neighborhood changing right before their eyes?"

turn 2 : (3) A: "This is classically bad. This is, you know, across the board for everyone at The New Yorker. We're supposed to turn in 10 gag ideas, you know, at a sketch level, and on a really good week they'll buy one, so 90 percent rejection is doing great."

turn 2 : (3) "What is it, do you think, in the human psyche that we - so many of us - I mean, look at the human history that's shown here in this exhibit - need to look at ourselves, at least for a time, to begin the day?"


turn 3 :  (4) implies that retailers want customers to pick up their items in-store so that they can be enticed to purchase other items while they are there.

turn 3 : The cost of the store's offerings is out of reach for most of the people in the neighborhood, while the Versace shop does not offer any affordable items.

turn 3 : The person found a lot of people not shopping and instead watching how much they spend on things in order to save money.

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

turn 3 : People may be selling their belongings to cope with the financial crisis.


So where'd that song come from?

That song - Frank Rogers is my producer, and we got together - it was the first time we had met each other, we were talking about what kind of record I wanted to make. And I told him I really wanted to make a country record, and that was the first song we wrote together.

You know, we're both really happily married guys, and you listen to that song and it's a big divorce song. And people think the theme of country music, you know, my baby left me, my dog left me, and all that stuff, and so we just wanted to write a real basic country shuffle, and we came with "All I Want" and I love that tune. I love playing it live, you know, and having Brad Paisley play it on the record was an amazing thing. And I'm a big fan of that tune.

You, I understand, got a phone call from Maya Angelou?I don't know anything about it, but I was told to ask about it by my producer, Devon. So there must be something there. What's the story?

turn 2 : The speaker is emotionally moved by the lyrics of the song.

turn 2 : The speaker is mentioning a song that reflects their current emotions.

turn 2 : The speaker is implying that the song was inspired by wanting to write a stereotypical country song about heartbreak and the wife leaving

turn 2 : The singer is not actually asking someone to show them the way home but rather expressing their loneliness and desperation due to feeling lost and without direction.

turn 2 : What matters is how the song makes a person feels and how it sounds.


Well, myelin is a very complex membrane made by a cell called an oligodendrocyte, and the oligodendrocyte puts out processes that wrap around nerve axons. And the real thing that myelin does is it facilitates the electrical conduction down those nerve axons. And being a complex membrane, there are multiple lipid and protein components within that membrane that end up being attacked by our immune system in this disease.

Mm-hmm. So what you have done, at least in these early tests of nine people, seeing that it doesn't really hurt the people, is that you trick the body in a way into saying all those antigens that we normally attack, those are part of us. Let's not attack them.

That's correct. Yeah. This study (unintelligible) many years of work at our laboratory trying to develop efficient ways to induce what immunologists call tolerance, which would be only inactivating the immune cells that are carrying out the autoimmune disease - in this case multiple sclerosis - without down-regulating responses to bacterial antigens, viral antigens, et cetera, that we really depend upon to keep us healthy.

Most of the current therapies that are used in multiple sclerosis are in one way or another collectively called immunosuppressive therapies that act in one way or another to try to suppress the immune response to dampen the autoimmune disease, but in the consequence of use over a long term make people more susceptible to everyday infections and to higher rates of cancer.

turn 1 :  In (3), the implied meaning is that some parents have chosen not to vaccinate their children, which may be contributing to the measles problem.

turn 1 : one-two punch implies that the vaccine works through a series of actions to produce a result

turn 1 : Arguments that were made by some of the people who attacked him - attacked does not mean physically attacked. It means hurt with words.

turn 1 : "Let's not attack them" isn't literal. It just means the body won't attack the antigens. The body doesn't literally say "let's not."


The opposition and outrage over families seeking asylum being separated from their children at the border of the United States broke open this week. Laura Bush said, our government should not be in the business of warehousing children in converted box stores. President Trump did what he said he couldn't - sign an executive order to stop separations. But how long will that hold, and what will happen with those families who've already been separated?

Erika Pinheiro is an immigration lawyer with a group called Al Otro Lado, the other side. She joins us from Tijuana. Thanks for being with us.

Thanks for having me.

Have you seen a case where parents have been reunited in the United States?

turn 0 : Is this situation just overshadowed by other refugee and humanitarian crises in the world?  Implicated meaning: Is this situation being overlooked or given less attention compared to other refugee and humanitarian crises in the world?

turn 0 : The government of the United States is treating families seeking asylum inhumanely.

turn 0 : The situation of sick children at the border is worse than immigration officials claim

turn 0 : The situation is more dire than what is being reported, as the resources available are not able to meet the needs of the refugees.

turn 0 : Migrants are suffering from inhumane conditions in detention centers.