18. 피곤하여 빨리 잠들다/기절하다.

As soon as his head touched the pillow, he went out like a light.

Right after dinner he went out like a light.

The champ hit him with right hook and he was out like a light.

Concerns over the Rio Olympics

The first ever Olympic Games in South America will be held this year. The Rio Olympics will gain much worldwide attention, with Brazilians getting excited about the big international sports event to be held on their soil.

However, less than half a year left before the start, the Summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro also face some people voicing out their concern about the successful hosting of the event. 

First of all, the infrastructure of this major city in Brazil is not ready yet for the Olympics. Improvement of public transportation toalleviate the notorious traffic jam is still ongoing, according to reports. The plan is to finish the project in early July, but if things don’t go well according to schedule, visitors and tourists might have to worry about being stuck in heavy traffic.

The area is also known to have problems with power. Ensuring that there is sufficient power is another issue that the government has to be concerned about.

Fundamentally, a sound economic structure is necessary for a successful hosting of a big event like the Olympics. However, currently, it is known to all that the economic situation of Brazil is not as stable as it used to be several years ago, when Rio de Janeiro was competing with other cities to do the honors of hosting the Olympics. The fall of the oil prices worldwide is another negative factor for the government to consider.

Above all, the most serious concern for the Rio Olympics should be the threat of diseases known to be transmitted by mosquitoes. The Zika virus that is spreading in Brazil and other countries has already become an alarming global health issue.

The Brazilian government is currently at a state of “war” against mosquitoes to stop the spread of the virus suspected to be the cause of brain defect in newborns. To make things worse, there are still many Brazilians living in areas without clean and hygienicenvironment, making the fight against mosquitoes a time-consuming and difficult task. It is already recommended for pregnant women to avoid visiting Brazil for the Olympics while others are advised to wear long-sleeved shirts and pants, instead of shorts to avoid mosquito attacks.

With the short remaining time left before the opening ceremony, a lot of efforts seem to be necessary for the Rio Olympics to push through smoothly and finish successfully.

17. 잠자리에 들다.

He didn't mind crashing out in his friend's living room during his visit.

Well, it's time to sack out.

President Obama Addresses Gun Control

Gun violence and senseless shootings have plagued the United States in recent years. The Second Amendment to the United States Constitution gives all Americans the right to keep and bear arms. It is this right that allows people to defend themselves. It is also this same right that allows gun violence to take lives. The burden and the pressure to finally end gun violence once and for all have rested heavily on U.S. President Barrack Obama’s shoulders. 

According to him, gun violence is his biggest frustration. Having failed to pass effective gun laws in 2015, he finally came up with executive actions this 2016. The plan, if it succeeds, would mandate sellers online and at gun shops to do background checks. Moreover, states would need to provide information on people who are disqualified from owning a gun due to mental illness or domestic violence. Mental health care facilities would receive investments from the U.S. Congress so that they would be more accessible. The FBI would also hire more examiners to do more exhaustive background checks. 

Executive actions are informal proposals and must not be confused with executive orders. Executive actions are not legally binding and even those that carry legal weight could be undone by the U.S. Congress. Nevertheless, President Obama promised that his executive actions are within the bounds of the Second Amendment and gave assurance that they will not break the people’s rights to bear arms.

Many people in the U.S. Congress were not happy about the president’s executive actions. Some people think that his announcement was an overreach of power. The speaker of the House of Representatives, Paul Ryan, said not one of Obama’s executive actions would have stopped the shootings. He added that the root cause of the recent shootings is mental illness.Furthermore, several republicans promised to eliminate all of the president’s measures once they take over the White House. Rand Paul, a republican presidential aspirant, also vowed to do everything he could to fight Obama’s executive actions.

The president became tearful as he expressed the urgency on gun control. He understands that his executive actions will not abolish gun violence. He knows that he wouldn’t be able to put an end to all evil deeds but he believes that his measures would help prevent at least one act of evil. He hopes that it would save and protect lives and spare families from losing their loved ones.

16. 멍하니 넋을 잃은

He looked spaced-out, face flushed, hair in disarray.

A lot of accidents are caused by spaced-out kids.

World Government: The Way to a Better Future?

Gone are the days of war and domination. Global cooperation is now necessary for nations to succeed in many aspects. However, despite globalization and modernization, the world still faces many unsolved global problems. For this reason, some people feel that a world government is the best solution.

This proposition has a lot of promising points that are worth considering.

First, a world government could help strengthen the platforms for addressing global environmental problems. For instance,conservation efforts to help stop the depletion of resources could be addressed on an international level. In addition, the responsibility to decrease global temperature would no longer rest on selected countries.

Second, there would be a lesser probability of disastrous nuclear world war. The catastrophic effects of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombing have served as a lesson to the survivors of the World War II. As a result, people have feared nuclear war. Although global cooperation seems to be at its strongest, the threat of another nuclear war will not be eliminated unless a world government is established.

Third, nations would enjoy a high degree of prosperity and security through supranational law. The European Union, which comprises nations that waged wars against each other for centuries, is a good example. Presently, European Union nations live harmoniously and thrive in economic prosperity despite their history of destructive wars and conflicting ideologies.

The idea of having a world government has also invited a lot of skepticism.

The first point to consider is that a world government may sound very promising. However, it could be fruitless in practice.Intergovernmental organizations such as the United Nations already exist to promote international cooperation among its member nations. There are other ways to address global problems. There is no reason to resort to a radical change in governance.

Secondly, every nation, regardless of its international status, celebrates nationalism. It would be impossible for nations to turn their backs on their sovereignty, heritage, and identity as a nation. Embracing world government may mean that certain policies could be a disadvantage to people who come from nations that value ethnic homogeneity. 

The last point to consider is that a world government will add just another layer of bureaucracy that already exists at local, regional, and national levels. It could be too overwhelming for the governed people to have too much restrictions and requirements. Instead of promoting unity, it could trigger many other conflicts that could threaten the peace and security of nations.

15. 간지럼타다/간질이다/간질거리다.

He's very ticklish. So I love to tickle him when he doesn't expect it.

I've got a tickle in my throat that won't go away.

66 Years of Silence Broken

The world stood still, waiting for what would be next in the relationship of Taiwan and China after their split in 1949 in the wake of the China’s civil war. China took on a communist type of government while Taiwan embraced democracy. Since then, China and Taiwan shared an air of animosity towards each other. After 66 years of silence, the current presidents of each country met in a summit in Singapore, bringing both leaders’ gestures into a spotlight of scrutiny. The current leader of China is President Xi Jinping while Taiwan’s leader is President Ma Ying-jeou. The press conference’s goal was to demonstrate how the two nations are alike given their shared history, language, and economic interests. 

Since Taiwan’s separation from China, China has threatened to bring in military intervention if Taiwan formally makes a declaration of independence. President Xi considers this meet-up as a new chapter in their relationship. He expressed sympathy towards the families who got bitterly separated because of the separation of the two countries. On the other hand, President Ma added that he calls for reduction of hostility, and for the resolution of disputes with peaceful measures. He also calls for enhancement of exchanges that would be beneficial for both countries. 

Back in Taiwan, the meeting has been met with different reactions. Protestors rallied in Taipei, Taiwan’s capital, to express their disappointment with the meeting. Ma’s political opposition in Taiwan was also displeased. Ma is considered a key player in re-establishing ties with Beijing since he got elected in 2008. Others say, this meeting will surely have an impact since the presidential election in Taiwan is on the horizon. Ma’s meeting with the Chinese President may boost the polls in his political party’s favor. 

Taiwan is not considered by China as a separate territory but arogue province, something that enrages the Taiwanese locals. Although the tension between the two countries has been present for decades, Taiwan’s economy remains linked with China. In fact, China is its biggest trade partner. Many factories in China are owned by Taiwanese companies. 

This meeting maybe a historic turning point considering the period of time China and Taiwan remains separated but it is a small step towards the achievement of long-term peace between the two nations. Both presidents have not signed any agreements but their desire to achieve peace is unwavering. The world may need to standby a little longer to see the meeting’s effect on both nations.

14. 눈이 충혈되다/눈곱이 끼다.

A : What did you do to your eye? It's all bloodshot.

B : I got hit by a tennis ball.

You have matter in the corner of your eyes. wipe your eyes.

Direct-to-Consumer Advertising Should Remain Banned

Direct-to-consumer advertising or DTC advertising is a process of marketing pharmaceutical products to consumers. Information is directly given to patients instead of healthcare professionals. Many regulating bodies in different countries exist to limit the advertising of pharmaceuticals. As of 2008, only two countries allow DTC advertising: the United States and New Zealand.

Many people are concerned about the extent to which pharmaceutical advertisements could influence consumers’ decisions to buy products that may not be medically necessary. They feel that DTC advertising should remain prohibited. Despite the campaigns against DTC advertising, pharmaceutical companies assert that there is nothing unethical in advertising pharmaceutical products.

Supporters of DTC advertising say that countries could adopt ethical sales and marketing standards for pharmaceutical companies to abide by. People need not worry about being undulyinfluenced by advertisements. The decision to purchase a drugultimately lies in the hands of the patient after being evaluated by his or her physician. 

Moreover, many supporters say DTC advertising promotes awareness among consumers. Banning it does not make sense. Through advertising, consumers are provided with a range of available medical treatments that they may have not been aware of.

Lastly, DTC helps improve public health. By gaining awareness about drugs that are available, patients get motivated to communicate with their physicians. Patient and physician communication empowers consumers. Many diseases become very expensive to treat because they are not diagnosed correctly. With the help of DTC, many diseases that are undertreated and underdiagnosed are brought to light.

The opponents of DTC advertising say that many pharmaceutical companies are in the business of making money, where the goal to cure illnesses is only secondary. Many consumers fall prey to the advertising campaigns utilized to market synthetic drugs. Just like any advertisement that promotes a product, only the positive effects are highlighted.

Moreover, home remedies and medicinal plants that are just as effective as medicines sold over-the-counter (OTC) are overshadowed by advertised pharmaceuticals. People are becoming less and less aware of the many effective natural treatments used thousands of years ago to cure common illnesses like colds, cough, and fever. 

Lastly, advertising encourages the mentality that for every illness, a pill is its best cure. Consumers that are in need of fast relief get exploited by many pharmaceutical companies. Many consumers do not realize that the long-term side effects of these OTC drugs outweigh the short-term relief that they offer.