8. 자리를 옮기자

Anyway, it's getting too boring here in this club. Let's change the scenery! Hey, treat me to another round.

A : How about a change of scenery, you guys? The Atmosphere is getting a bit awkward here!

B : Just let me finish this one and we can go

Poverty and Inequality

Among the greatest issues that the world is still facing today are poverty and inequality. The division of the poor and the rich has always been present in any society. Some countries get poorer and poorer whereas some continue to gain wealth. Poverty and inequality are very much linked to how the wealthy people’sexpenditures and gains behave at a given time. Their salary and bonuses, their spending on consumptions and taxes, even the political policies that they support contribute to what it means to be poor. 

One might ask, why is inequality always intimately related to poverty? The answer is simple. When there is economic growth in a society, like the U.S., the larger share in the economy is seized by the affluent. However, when there is a slow decline in economic growth, the rich are unaffected while the middle class and the poor get hit harder. When workers work much harder, they create more value for their productivity but they do not get wealthy. It is the company owners and executives who do. 

Seeing how the wealthy influence poverty, many propose that the wealthy should do something for the poor to alleviate inequality. Foreign aid, according to some, should be offered to poorer countries. 

However, not all wealthy people and economists agree. Many economists are interested in ending poverty and inequality through other means. One of them is Angus Deaton who has written several books and conducted many researches to analyze poverty. His works in economic research earned him the award for this year’s Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences. 

In one of his books, The Great Escape, he talked about how the world changed over time since 250 years ago. He said that at a certain point, everyone progressed equally and slowly, progress has opened gaps and set the stage for today’s unequal world. He refers to human achievements as great escapes and examined how these great escapes have left a widening inequality between people and nations. 

For Deaton, offering foreign aid to poor countries is much more damaging because it stops poor countries from developing. Foreign aid, instead, should only be given when disaster strikes. Donation of money to poor countries weakens the countries’ own capacity for economic growth. Rather, Deaton turns to the power of the governments to impose change. There are many things that only the governments can do. He said that the governments should do their best to enforce the rule of law, defend their territories, and even promulgate education. When the governments of poor countries fail to do what they are expected to do, the poor countries will not achieve economic growth and the average people will remain poor.

7. 예, 말씀만 하십시오.

A : This steak you brought me isn't cooked enough. Will you have it cooked more?

B : As you say, sir. I'll have the chef cook it a bit more.

A : There is just one more thing I'd like you to do.

B : Your wish is my command.

Should Vaccines for Newborns be Mandatory?

Vaccinations go way back in the 19th century in China and India.Back then, the use of vaccines was able to save people from major illnesses that used to be great threats to humanity. For example,scabs from people who had smallpox were used to protect other people from the lethal disease. 

In the modern world, vaccination is one of the best methods toequip a person’s immunity against different diseases. The moment that newborns are brought into the world, they are immediately screened to check any birth defects. In addition to that, they also receive a number of vaccinations that are considered mandatory. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), vaccines prevent 2-3 million fatalities annually. However, many people are not convinced that vaccines are necessary especially for infants. 

Vaccine supporters say that vaccines save children’s lives and protect future generations. In fact, the American Academy of Pediatrics states that most childhood vaccines are 90-99 percent effective in preventing diseases. Not only do vaccines save children from death but also from having childhood diseases. 

They also add that institutions such as the World Health Organization (WHO), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) certify that vaccines are safe and necessary. Chemicals used in vaccines are provided in safe doses to ensure that children are not at risk of acquiring any serious side effects.

Lastly, they assert that vaccines save parents’ time and money. Through immunization, diseases are eliminated or prevented.Parents are safe from paying for pricey hospital and medical bills.Often times, diseases only cost families’ time and money because the diseases were not prevented. 

Opponents say that vaccines are unnatural. They also add that natural infections are the best way to boost infants’ immune systems. A child who has a natural infection promotes his or her immunity to that disease. However, with vaccines, immunity to certain diseases is only achieved after several doses. 

Furthermore, vaccines contain hazardous ingredients. Certain ingredients as well as traces of harmful chemicals found in vaccines are linked with conditions such as autism, cardiac impairment, migraine, irritable bowel syndrome, asthma, diabetes, and many more. 

Finally, they also emphasize that not all babies have the same reactions to vaccines. The intention to save babies’ lives could work in reverse because vaccines may have serious and deadly side effects. For example, one of the most serious side effects of vaccines is fatal allergic reactions.

6.(눈, 바람 등이) 들어오다/틈새로 들어오는 바람

Close the door. There's a draft.

It's a little drafty here. I want to move to another table.

Do you mind closing the window? I'm sitting in a draft

Muslim Hate Crimes and Islamophobia on the Rise

In the wake of the Paris attacks, the Muslim community around the world has faced much hatred and hate crimes. In Britain, more than 100 racial attacks were made in public places, including public transportation. Most of the victims were between 14 to 45 years old who are Muslim girls and women wearing hijab, the traditional Islamic dress. These attacks are believed to be underestimated due to many other victims who are too terrified to report to the authorities. In schools, Muslim children also experienced intensifiedbullying. 

In the U.S., Islamophobia and hate crimes continue to rise.Mosques have been threatened and vandalized by Muslim haters in many states. People fear getting on board on the same plane where there are people who look like Muslims. Students also suffer Islamophobia on the school grounds. Perhaps the largest crusade is the Congress’s move to cease the assistance and resettlement of Iraqi and Syrian refugees. On the other hand, Muslims have been unable to go to their mosques for fear of their lives. 

Some Muslims feel that when the French President Francois Hollande declared war on terrorism, he placed Muslims at the frontline of the victims of terror. Many people also fear that the people’s retaliating attacks and hatred on Muslims is playing exactly to the terms of ISIS that wishes to split society and turn the people against each other. Many Muslim leaders remain hopeful and tell Muslims to continue reporting assaults, practicing their faith without fear, and inviting non-Muslims to enlighten them more about Islam. 

To combat Islamophobia, a Muslim student named Yusf Pirot from Nottingham took his campaign against discrimination with open arms to the streets. He stood on the street blindfolded and offered free hugs. A sign that reads “I trust you, do you trust me? Give me a hug” hung around his neck. He wished to send a message to everyone that there are 1.7 billion Muslims in the world but it does not mean that every single one of them is a terrorist. He was surprised by the people’s response as many people came close to give him a hug. The footage of his social experiment went viral and was viewed on YouTube over two million times and has touched many people around the world. 

Many say that at this time of chaos, people need to be reminded that violence and hatred are not the way to be free from the deadly grips of terrorism.

5. 아첨은 내 생리에 안 맞아

What he does to her is really nauseating. Flattery is foreign to my nature.

Intelligence Quotient versus Emotional Quotient: Which is More Important?

A person’s Intelligence Quotient (IQ) is an assessment of human intelligence based on the results of a standardized test and the Emotional Quotient (EQ), is the measure of a person’s emotional intelligence. The debate as to which one of these two should be given more importance has been going on for decades. Even psychologists, experts in the field of the human mind and its functions, have divided views about this issue. 

Some specialists suggest that a person’s IQ should remaindominant over the EQ for the simple reason that a person’s intellect is genetically predisposed and it cannot be altered by any kind of training. This is unlike emotional capabilities and skills that can be learned through practice and even therapy. They add that intelligence is very fundamental and basic. For a person to be able to do a certain action correctly, he or she must first learn and fully understand what should be done. Without intellect, it will be difficult for a person to learn, comprehend and act accordingly. 

There are also those who believe that IQ levels are primary determinants of success. For them, it is more likely for people with higher IQ levels to succeed in overcoming difficult tasks and problems. 

On the other hand, those who believe that one’s EQ should be given more importance emphasize that the EQ can give a person the competitive edge. People may be intelligent but if they do not possess the correct attitude and behavior then their mental power will just go down the drain. They add that in this time and age, solely relying on intellect won’t guarantee survival especially that people are highly dependent on social networking andinterrelationships. 

Some employers and businessmen now give more importance to one’s EQ than IQ. This is because research shows that higher EQ levels may mean better leadership skills and collaboration abilities, traits that are essential for employees, managers and business leaders to have. 

All in all, there is still no definitive answer as to which is more important. Some even believe that it is the good combination of IQ and EQ skills that can make a person successful. Experts advise people not to give too much focus on these two different quotients as they are just measurements of a small portion of a person’s whole being. They say there are far more factors that contribute to one’s success aside from one’s IQ and EQ.

4. (공개적으로) 찬사를 보내다.

Sampras paid tribute to Agassi. "He had an incredible year and deserves to be No.1," he said.

‘Mata Hari’ and Musical Star Ock Joo-hyun

Ock Joo-hyun, 35, stepped into the entertainment scene as member of a Korean girl group FIN.K.L in 1998. The four-member girl band was one of the most popular idol groups in the early 2000s, leading the Korean pop music market. 

After the girls stopped working as a group and started pursuing their own careers, Ock was able to widen her scope of activities by entering the musical scene. The former lead vocal of FIN.K.L has established herself as one of the most-wanted musical actresses in Korea. The singer-turned-musical actress played the lead role in several pieces including “Elizabeth,“ “Cats,” “Aida,” and “Wicked.”She has become one of the big names in Korea’s musical world.

This year, Ock adds one more musical production in her career through the musical titled “Mata Hari at the Moulin Rouge.” The musical is about the mysterious life of a historical figure Margaretha Geertruida Zelle, who was widely known as Mata Hari. She was a very beautiful and enchanting Dutch dancer of the 1900s. In 1917, she was executed in the outskirt of Paris, accused of being a double spy that provided intelligence to Germany. At that time, France and Germany were involved in World War I and they fought as adversaries. The French judicial authorities claimed that Mata Hari put the lives of so many French soldiers at risk, thus sentenced execution. However, whether she really did work as a spy has not been cleared and still remains a mystery.

Ock plays Mata Hari in the musical. She alternates the lead role with musical actress Kim So-hyang, also known as Sophie Kim, who actively performs in musical pieces in Korea and New York. 

The musical is produced by a Korean theater company that used to introduce Korean versions of several popular musicals from Austria. It took several years for the 25 billion won project to be ready to be staged for its world premiere in Seoul. The show also eyes to hit theaters abroad after the premier. Jeff Calhoun, who made Disney’s “Newsies” that was nominated for eight Tony Award categories, took the director’s job. One of Korea’s favored composers for theater Frank Wildhorn, made the music together with lyrics by Jack Murphy, making local musical fans anticipate the production.

The show will run from March 29 to June 12 at the Blue Square Samsung Electronics Hall located in downtown Seoul.