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知らなかったあ～。　走行距離では測れないタイヤの安全性

６年前製造の未使用タイヤと今年製造で１万キロ走ったタイヤ、どっちが安全でしょう？　

この記事を読むまでは、私は前者だと思っていました・・・（汗）

たとえ未使用でも製造から６年以上経っているタイヤは要注意、激安ものを買う際は製造年をチェックしましょう。

方法はカンタン！　左写真の白線で囲んだ４けた数字を見ればいいのです。

最初の２ケタは製造週、後ろの２ケタが製造年を表します。　したがって２６１０ならば２０１０年の第２６週目につくられたもの、となるわけです。　　動画は下記をクリック。

 

 

We are going to turn tonight the world news investigation involving something most of us take for granted. The safety of the tires of cars. It was two years ago our Brian Ross first reported that the tires being sold as new were not and then could put your families at risk. So we wanted to know if anything changed.　Here’s Becky Worley.

 

Imagine driving down the highway having your tire disintegrate. In these test videos , even skilled drivers couldn’t keep control. “I think I’m OK. I think I’m OK”

Many experts agree that tires have a short life, even when they are not driven a single mile, air separates the treads. Robert Moore bought  what he thought were new tires for his son’s car. And just five years later, “***** called me to say that Policeman just came to the house and told me Andy had a car accident  And it was so cracked and he told me he died.”

I got my vehicle made ***** together, and I discovered that the tires that I got were new but actually three years old when I bought them.”

 

Crash investigators said the tread had peeled right off one of the then nine -year-old tires.

I would not drive on tires older than six years. And the problem is tires degrade over time.

Tires have a date code, the DOT stamp followed by a four digit number. The first two letters indicate the week it was made, the second two the year. So our goal: Check the date stamp on tires being sold as new.

 

We took our cameras to tire shops outside New York and San Francisco. Of the five New York tire shops, two had old tires – a couple from 2006 and another with a tire dated 1995.  In California, we went to four tire shops and the last one had a entire set made in 2005 and one tire from 2000. Just days ago, a major rubber supplier urged the US government to beef up labeling standards. And five major car companies recommended replacing six year old tires.

 

But the rubber manufacturers association disagrees. “There’s no scientific information that can point to when a tire should be removed because of age” After ABC news investigation in 2008, The National Highway Traffic Safety Association issued a consumer advisory about tire age. But since then, “Unfortunately there have been actually no changes in legislation, and no changes by the tire manufacturers.”  Becky Worley, ABC News, San Francisco.

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第3回クッキングセミナー開催

テレビ番組「笑点大喜利」のベンベン流に言えば、「和食のようで和食でない。洋食のようで洋食でない。それはなにかとたずねたら」ってな具合になるのでしょうか。　

今回取り上げた料理は「カリフォルニアロール」、海外の日本料理屋ならどこでも定番の手巻き寿司です。

日本と共通してるのは酢飯と海苔だけ、といっていいでしょう。

だって具材がハンパじゃない。　アボカドにエビ天、ゴボウにキュウリ、スモークサーモンにクリームチーズ、オニオンスライスにカイワレ大根などなど・・・

正直な話、美味しくないだろうと思っていました。　こんな材料でつくる手巻き寿司、日本人の口に合わないだろうと思っていました。

ところがところが、食べてみたら意外にうまい。　「そんなばかな」、と思わせるようなふくよかな味わいを堪能させてくれました。

巻くときに海苔を上側にして、ご飯が外側に来るようになっているのも面白い。　むかし誰かが洋風にアレンジしようとして考え出したのでしょうね、きっと。

いやあ、食べた食べた。　メタボおじさんは食事制限をわすれ、ひたすら食べまくってベルトの穴が一つ分ずれました。（反省）

　

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英作文チャレンジコーナー（はいはい道新） Hokkaido Newspaper “Readers’ voice column”

雪が遅いせいか、今年はやけに枯れ葉が目立ちます。　風の吹き具合によるのでしょうか。　わが家にはそこかしこから枯れ葉が集まってくるのです。先日の強風のときは大変でした。塀や玄関は言うに及ばす、奥まった所にある車庫の前には、多くの枯れ葉に交じって発泡スチロールや空のペットボトルが吹き寄せられていました。枯れ葉は数袋に分け、ゴミ収集にだしましたが、これも有料です。風が相手じゃ、文句も言えませんもんね。
 
  
There are an awful lot of dead leaves seen this winter,  probably because we have less snowfall than usual.
 Many of them , blown from here and there, gather  around my house.  I wonder if this is done by wind-related factos.
 The recent heavy storm was so terrible that it left me drifts of such leaves, styrene foam particles, and empty PET bottles  –  in front of my garage far from the road, as well as my fence and my entrance.
I had to put those leaves in a several bags and place them out for collection service.
Of course it costs me money. But there’s no point in blaming the wind.
 
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海老蔵関連ニュースを英語で！

いま一番ホットな話題と言えばこれですね。　ヒアリングの練習に使っちゃいましょう。
動画は下記をクリックしてください。
本文
Japan’s Kabuki prince apologized Tuesday for embarrassing the country’s most viewed theater. Ebizo Ichikawa faced the
swarm of reporters.
His eyes still blood shot  from a drunken brawl a few weeks ago. Ichikawa said “I thought I was going to die.” when the man was beating me. The incident in  Tokyo rich neighborhood came on the same day Ichikawa skipped his media events, citing health reasons. The actor admits  drinking heavily that night but maintains that he was a victim. That sounded a little to quite the media frenzy.
Ichikawa comes from one of the Japan’s most famous Kabuki families. He’s considered the future of the traditional all male theater.
This woman says it’s an embarrassment for a actor considered a face of Kabuki.  Theater operator, Shochiku has already suspended
Ichikawa and cancelled the New Year’s program starring the actor. At least three major companies have halt TV ads featuring the actor. The cancelled shows could cost organizers up to two million dollars .
Akiko Fujita, ABC news Tokyo.
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英作文チャレンジコーナー（はいはい道新） Hokkaido Newspaper “Readers’ voice column”

昼食のために会社近くの地下飲食街に行きました。どの店も混んでいましたが、たまたますいている店が目につき飛びこみました。見渡すと店内が煙草の煙で煙っています。店前に「全面禁煙」の掲示があったはず、と思って再度見たらなんと「全席喫煙」。　煙草は好きではないのですが、他の店を探す時間もなかったので食事しました。　禁煙の店は年々増えていますが、逆に全面的に喫煙を打ち出した店を見るのは初めてです。驚きました。（１２月７日）
 
 
 
I was looking for somewhere to take a lunch in the underground food court  near my office.
Every restaurant I walked by seemed crowded, but I happened to find one that was less crowded so I dashed  in there.
 
Looking around, I saw a lot of cigarette smoke wafting throughout the room.
 
I took a second look at the signboard at the entrance, thinking to myself that it said “ALL NON SMOKING SEATS”.
 
Actually it was opposite – “ALL SMOKING SEATS”!  My jaw almost dropped,
 
 
 I didn’t want to inhale  smoke while eating my lunch,  but I  took the table because I didn’t have enough time to find another restaurant.
 
Non smoking places are on the increase year by year.  And it was my first time to see a restaurant where smoking is totally allowed.
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宿題出します！

熱心な生徒さんの中から、英作文に自分でチャレンジしてみたいので宿題を出してほしいというリクエストがありました。（感心！）

それでは遠慮なくいきますよー。　

先日遠出をして、人気の飲食店に出かけました。日曜の昼過ぎで超満員でした。4歳ぐらいのお子さんを連れた若いご夫婦にあぜんとしました。子どもが店内で騒いでもまったく注意しようとしないのです。（北海道新聞　2010/11/11）

がんばってみてください。

 

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英作文チャレンジコーナー（はいはい道新） Hokkaido Newspaper “Readers’ voice column”

 

 
朝の通勤電車での出来事です。優先席の前で、つり革につかまっていたら、そこにいたおばあさんが「だんなさん、すわればいいしょ」と言って席を詰めてくれるのです。　優先席にはすでに３人いて余裕は無し。無理をして２０センチほど空けてくれたのですが、大柄な私にはとても座れるスペースではありません。「ご厚意は感謝します」と丁重にお断りしました。　よほどくたびれた顔をしていたのでしょうね。お年寄りに気を使わせてしまって、反省です。（１２月３日）
 
 
 
This is what happened one morning when I was on my  way to work by train.
I was clutching my strap in front of the seats marked for the elderly and/or disabled.
A senior lady sitting there spoke to me “Sir, why not sit down with us?” and tried to make extra room for me.
 
There were already three people sitting there including her, so apparently no seat was available for me to sit in.
She managed to squeeze me in by positioning herself on the seat. But the space thus made was only twenty centimeters wide – not enough for my big body to get in. So I declined politely.  I must have looked very tired.
I regret that I let her worry about me so much.
 
札幌の娘宅を訪ねた帰途、地下鉄駅のホームで手袋をはめるためベンチに置いたショルダーバッグを忘れたまま電車に乗ってしまいました。財布や保険証など貴重品が入っており、車内で気づいた時は頭の中が真っ白。慌てて次の駅で降り、事務室で乗車駅に問い合わせてもらうと、届いているとのこと。　引き返して無事受け取った時は、安ど感から座り込むほどでした。どなたかわかりませんが届けていただきありがとうございました。(12月６日）
 
 
 I was on my way home after visiting my daughter’s in Sapporo.
While in the subway station, I put on my gloves with my shoulder bag on the bench.
It was not until I got on the train that I realized I left the bag behind.
I was stupefied because it contained some precious items such as my wallet, my health insurance card, and so on.
I soon got off at the next station, dashed to the office and asked for their lost and found service.
The staff  contacted my starting station and told me that the bag had been recovered!
When I had it back in my hands, I felt so relieved that I nearly fell on the floor.
Whoever it was that found it, I want to say thank you.
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Hokkaido Newspaper’s “Reader’s Voice column”

欧米に住む旧友から「英訳した新聞記事が面白い」とのメールをいただきました。　

いままで主に訳してきたのは北海道新聞の「はいはい道新」、身近なネタの宝庫です。これからも調子に乗って翻訳し、掲載していきたいと思います。　

それでは今日は11月25日の記事をご紹介します。

やや離れたスーパーまで自転車で出かけ、漬物用野菜などをどっさり買いました。荷物で自転車が重くなったので帰りは近道をしようと通りなれない道に入ったところで迷ってしまいました。ジョギング中の男性に道を尋ねたら、親切にも道案内に付いてきてくれ、上り坂では自転車を押してくれました。見覚えのある道まで来たのでお礼を言うと、男性は走り去りました。お名前は聞けませんでしたが、たすかりました。 

 

I went to a grocery store with my bicycle.  The store was a little far away from home.  There I bought a lot of vegetables to make pickles. On my way back home, I found my bike harder to pedal due to the heavy purchases in the basket.

So I took a shortcut but lost my way unfortunately.

Then I asked a guy jogging by to help me find my way home.

He was kind enough to guide me along and push my bike uphill.

When we finally reached my familiar street, I thanked  him.

He soon ran away and I couldn’t even ask his name.

I want to tell him once again that I appreciate his help.

 

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悪徳業者と手を組んでいたバンクオブアメリカ

 

被害者の一人、アレンジョーンズさん。BANK　OF　AMERICA系列のクレジットカードで８１ドル（６５００円前後）の返済が遅れ、自宅に催促の電話が来るようになった。留守電に残されたメッセージは、おもわず耳をふさぎたくなるような、差別・侮辱そして卑猥用語だらけ。とても由緒ある銀行とは思えないものだった。返済を迫る電話は早朝から深夜に及び、完済後も続いた。

もう一人の被害者、バージニア州のジェフバーグさんは、まったくお金を借りていないのに返済催促の電話に悩まされ続けた。またしてもBANK　OF　AMERICAの系列だった。相手の勘違いが判明するまで約一か月もの間、いやがらせが続いた。

ずさんな顧客管理と不快な電話応対。BANK　OF　AMERICAともあろうものがなんという醜態！　銀行の生命線であるクリーンなイメージが侵されてもかまわないのか？　TV局はさらに極秘調査を続けた。

その結果BANK　OF　AMERICAは、取り立て専門の会社と契約を結び回収に当たらせていたことが判明。　またその会社は、出所直後の前科者を中心に採用し、いやがらせ電話をさせていたこともわかった。

TV局はすぐに銀行側に対し釈明を求めたがノーコメント。そこで次に頭取を街頭で待ち伏せ、直接話しかける手段をとる。　頭取は、問題になっている留守電メッセージについて、素直に非を認め善処を約束。

それからわずか二日後、同行は取り立て会社との契約を解除した。

しかしこれで問題がすべて解決したわけでない。BANK OF　AMERICAはなぜこのような低俗な回収屋と手を組んでいたのか？　銀行としてのイメージ低下リスクを危惧しなかったのか？　

最後にTV局はこう結んでいる。　「今回の事件は、債権回収の即効性を最優先させたが故の結末である。」

「お客様、ご返済が滞っております。お早めにお支払いくださいませ」と上品にやるよりも、「おいっ、てめえ、早く払えこの野郎」とやった方が能率よく回収できるのだ。　

動画は下記をクリックしてください。

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QOxJMsqVTRs

英文は下記の通りです。

The phone calls were ugly and harrowing. They came early in the morning late at night over and over again.
 
At least tough times, there may be no surprise that debt collector calls are at the country’s top consumer complaints,   but these ones crossed all boundaries of decency – racist, pornographic, even targeting someone who owed nothing.  Tonight our exclusive  investigation has  found that the callers behind these vile shakedowns were hired by a company working for one of the America’s banking giants.
 
Chief investigators correspondent, Brian Ross is here to break the story. And Brian this evidence  is truly stunning.  It really is George.  The tactics of American debt collectors have reached an all time low – including racist and obscene phone calls used in some cases on behalf of major American corporations.
RECEIVED AUGUST 7th AT 0810 p.m.  An overdue payment of 81 dollars on a Bank of America credit card led to the following messages from a debt collector.
 
Go mother xxxxx back to mother xxxxx Africa.
 The recipient Allen Jones of Dallas says the calls came even after he told  them  his bank of America  account had been paid.
 
The representative acted like we could call you as many times as we want.  And the racist obscene calls  continued late at night and early in the morning.
This is your mother xxxx  wake up call, man.
In Lynchburg Virginia, in the case of mistaken identity, another Bank of America customer Jeff Burg was hounded with a similar rough phone tactics.
 
Yeah I have you scared you don’t want to pick up the phone now?  Is it because you are now in bed with your sister, or with your mom or with your cousin? Huh or what? Little punk.
Burg said he received call like that for  months till they finally realized they had the wrong Bank of America customer. “I had no way to put an end to the phone call.
 
The calls to the Bank of America’s customer all came from a debt collection agency  ACT in Harlingen Texas.
“That sounds like to me a whole lot.” one of the debt collectors who made the offensive calls, Calros Oliva , a company supervisor,  testify in a lawsuit that he was hired there just seven months after leaving prison.
 
“They have a prison mentality. These are the people ACT chose to hire to collect debt from Bank of America.” The company says the callers were rogue operators and that it has since improved oversight.
  
What happened  did not represent the policies and the work that our employees do.
 
But jury held both the callers and ACT responsible in a verdict of more than 1.5 million dollars. Yet bank of  America continued to use the same debt collecting agency. Even after we sent them tapes for the phone calls,
Get your mother ******, **** :*** up and go pick some mother ****
cotton fields.
 
The bank refused to provide anyone to talk to us on camera. So we went looking for its CEO Brian Moynahan.
“can a story for ABC” to ask him why his bank  still use the agency and gave him a copy of the phone call. 
 
 
That kind of language , is that acceptable in your effort.?
No that would not be acceptable. I’ll find out.
You let me know? Yep. Thank you very much.
 
Two days later, Bank of America  essentially fired the collection agency as a result of what we raised in our investigation according to the debt collection agency chairman. Bank of America says the decision has nothing to do with our story.
 
They say that there’s one action I got to believe regulators will take a look at this.
Absolutely  the Federal Trade Commission says their jurisdiction is preparing a major crackdown.
And one official there said the problem is the abusive phone calls work, and the bottom line has too often trumped  common decency and the law. 
 
 

 

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さっぱり聴き取れねえ・・・オレはまだまだだな～

ウィリアム王子の婚約発表の冒頭部分、リスニングに挑戦してみたところ、さっぱりできなかった。（悲）

かろうじて聞き取れたのは、friends, for a while, surpriseのみ。　今までオレはなにをやってきたのだろう？　と自責の念に駆られてしまう。

Kenya　の部分など　Canyon に聞こえてしまった。

米語ばかりやっていると、イギリスの英語はまったく異なものに聴こえてくるから不思議です。　英語学習者のみなさん、気をつけましょう。

参考までに、動画と文章を記しておきます。　

 
It was about three weeks ago on holiday in Kenya.
We had a little private time away together with some friends and I just decided that it was the right time really.
We had been talking about marriage for a while so it wasn’t a massively big surprise.
 I took her up somewhere nice in Kenya and I proposed.