Vocabulary In the News : Yahoo! News (Online Article From 31 December 2010)

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20101231/wl_nm/us_france_newyear

Well, it’s that time of year in France when friends get together with a glass of champagne around a blazing fire. However, that blazing fire could be your car! Once again, French authorities brace for these annual New Year torchings. In other words, they are preparing for an unpleasant night. Have you ever watched a movie where a boat, ship or space ship are about to be hit by a large object? Usually in this situation, the captain will cry out, “Brace for impact!” This tells the crew to prepare themselves for the impact or blow that will hit the vessel. In France, the authorities are bracing for the impact of the car torchings.

Disaffected youths in France’s suburbs compete with other suburbs to see who can cause the most damage. To be disaffected means to longer feel any loyalty. Many of France’s youth in the suburbs feel that they are discriminated against and thus have become hostile and rebellious toward authority.

Bracing for this night and in an attempt to fight against this competition between suburbs, the police will keep the vandalism statistics under wraps. If you are good at not telling anyone a secret, you can keep it under wraps. You could also say that the French police will keep a lid on the vandalism statistics.

To read the full article, click on the link or image above.

Cartoon : Financial Crisis For French Ministers

By Frederick Deligne of Nice-Matin in Nice, France published 01 July 2010

If you can afford something, this means that you have enough money to pay for it. However, the meaning is not limited to money. Take a look at these examples:

I’m so busy, I can rarely afford the luxury of a restful weekend.

Politicians today can’t afford to ignore the power of the internet in our modern society.

As you can see, if you can afford something, you can do it without causing you problems or worry.

As an adjective, fine also has the meaning of being of very good quality. Like most people, I like to eat in fine food in fine restaurants while wearing very fine clothes. It’s even better served with fine wine while listening to someone with a fine singing voice. As you can see, I like restaurants with only the finest service. Ok,  I think you get the picture now…LOL!

La Marseillaise

Here’s a link in English dedicated to the history of France’s national anthem, La Marseillaise: http://www.lamarseillaise.com

Vocabulary in the News: France to Increase Drinking Age

Taken from: http://www.lost-in-france.com/french-news/1064-france-to-increase-drinking-age

The national assembly have voted to raise the legal age limit for alcohol and tobacco sales in France from 16 to 18 which if passed would bring France in line with most of the EU

The new law is partly designed as part of a crackdown on teenage binge drinking in France which has been rising steadily over recent years, with alcohol related hospital admissions for minors up by 50 percent between 2004 and 2007.

Also under the new legislation petrol stations will no longer be able to sell alcohol and the increasingly popular 'open bars' where customers can drink as much as they like for a set price will also be banned.

Wine tasting was excluded from the ban after mounting pressure from winegrowers who saw the legislation as a threat to their already suffering industry.

According to government figures France ranks 11th place in the world with regards to alcohol consumption with each person drinking on average 9 litres per year which works out a whopping 121,828,845 gallons for the whole country.

The law still has to be approved by the French Senate but this is expected to be just a formality and is scheduled for next month.

legal age limit	-	the minimum age required to do any particular action EX. The legal age limit to buy cigarettes in the United States is 18.
to bring in line	-	to bring into conformity EX. They had to make some adjustments to the aircraft to bring it in line with European codes.
a crackdown	-	a resorting to strict or stricter measures of discipline or punishment EX. Police are set to launch a major crackdown on bicyclists not respecting traffic regulations.
binge drinking	-	the practice of drinking excessive amounts of alcohol regularly EX. Binge drinking can be dangerous and result in vomiting, loss of sensory perception and blackouts.
steadily (adv.)	-	in a regular and uniform manner without changing EX. Many Americans believe that the right to protect oneself is steadily being eroded by politicians.
over (prep.)	-	during; through EX. Over the past year, the number of demonstrations against the government have slowly increased.
alcohol-related	-	connected to or associated with alcohol use EX. According to the news, last night’s fatal car crash was alcohol-related.
a set price	-	a fixed price EX. This internet provider has a set price for internet, television and telephone access.
banned (adj.)	-	forbidden by law EX. The book Satanic Verses by Salman Rushdie is banned in Iran for blasphemy.
a ban	-	a prohibition imposed by law or official decree EX. The Obama administration will seek to reinstate the assault weapons ban that expired in 2004 during the Bush administration.
mounting (adj.)	-	increasing, growing EX. China is resisting mounting pressure to cut CO2 emissions
to rank	-	to hold a position EX. The Unites States ranks 7th among most competitive countries in travel and tourism sector.
to work out	-	to have a specified result EX. The ration works out to an odd number.
whopping	-	exceptionally or unusually large EX. The price of gasoline fell by a whopping 40 percent.
to be scheduled	-	to be planned for a certain time or date EX. My job interview with the human resources director is scheduled for next Monday.