Vocabulary: week 2

1) equivocate (verb)

to be unclear in order to mislead

"the president equivocated by changing the topic"

2) eradicate (verb)

to remove or destroy completely

3) erode (verb)

to eat into or away; destory by slow consumption

4) erratic (adjective)

unpredictable; lacking consistency

5) escalate (verb)

to increase in intensity or in level, like an escalator

6) esoteric (adjective)

secret, private, or confidential; obscure; only known by few understood by or meant only for a few who have the knowledge or interest

7) espouse (verb)

to make something or someone your own; marriage

8) eulogy (noun)

a speech or writing in praise of a person or thing; tribute

9) euphoria (noun)

a feeling of great happiness; commonly exaggerated

10) euthanasia (noun)

"mercy killing" the act of putting to death painlessly due to suffering of some sort or an incurable condition

11) epitome

a standard or typical example; a model

"he is the epitome of a good father"

Current Event: 01/20/08

There has been a recent study showing drinking a couple cups of coffee during any stage of pregnancy can lead to higher risks of miscarriage or even miscarriage itself. It has always been thought safe to consume as much caffeine as women want, but these recent studies prove other wise. Though doctors are still divided on these new findings, some believe you can consume some caffeine and be fine, others say you should just put aside those craving during your pregnancy. The article didn't explain though how exactly caffeine causes miscarriage.

For more information, click here

Current Event: 1/24/08

Father in 'honor killing' found guilty of murder

A father who ordered his daughter brutally slain for falling in love with the wrong man in a supposed "honor killing" was found guilty of murder on monday. Banaz mahmod, only at the age of 20, was strangled with a boot lace, stuffed into a suitcase and buired in a back garden. Lately there has been an increasing trend of so-called honor trends not only in britain but the US as well. Britain is home to around 1.8 million Muslims and more than a hundred homicides are under vestigation right now due to the possibility of being potential "honor killings." The men who commited the crime in this particular case accused the young woman of shaming her family by ending an abusive arranged marriage, becoming too westernized, and falling in love with a man who didn't come from their Iraqi village. During the prosecution, Mahmod's father admitted to beating his daughter for using hairspray and adopting other western ways. Britain has seen more than 25 women killed by their muslim relatives in the past decade for offenses they believed brought shame on the family. More than 100 other homicides are under investigation as potential honor killings.
This is very significant because obviously there has been a dramatic increase in these so-called honor killings. Honestly it upsets me how inhuman they are treating there own family! Honor killing or not, it is still murder and I think it shows more disrespect towards the family if you kill eachother rather than adapt to the new changes of the now quite popular westernized world. If they don't want there sibilings, relatives, daughters or sons becoming more westernized, then why expose them to a westernized country?

link to article

Vocabulary: week 1

1. intrepid - adj. fearless, Brave, courageous, bold

"an intrepid explorer"

2. trepidation - n. trembling, in fright, fear, a feeling of alarm or dread

"The surfer felt trepidation as he finally stood up on his board"

3. despondent - adj. feeling or showing profound hopelessness, discouragement, or gloom

"despondent about failing health"

4. decorum - n. politeness, manners, dignity appropriateness of behavior or conduct, speech, dress etc.

5. aspire - v. to long ambitiously, or desire for something of high value

"She aspires to become a doctor"

6. vacillate - v. hesitate, to sway unsteadily; to fluctuate

"His tendency to vacillate makes him a poor leader"

7. desultory - adj. having no set plan; random; moving or jumping from one thing to another

"a desultory speech"

8. fallacy - n. misleading, false notion/belief; misconception, delusion, misapprehension

"that the world is flat was one time a popular fallacy"

9. formidable - adj. dreadful threatening, frightful, fearful basically causing fear

"a formidable opponent"

10. heritage - n. anything that is or can be inherited or passed down from previous generations; traditions, property etc.

"a heritage of knowledge and techniques was passed on to the anxious listeners"

11. guru - n. mentor, a teacher and guide in spiritual and philosophical matters; leader

"In a culture that worships slimness, he was the Guru of Lean"

Current event: 01/09/08

There were nine soldiers killed in Iraq in two days the other day. Six U.S. soldier were killed in an explosion. Reporters weren't sure though if it was a booby-trap or if it was remotely detonated. Since January 1st of this year, 15 U.S. Service members have been killed by hostile action in Iraq. So is all the efforts that have been put into Iraq, causing Iraq to become more safer place? Or is there not much improvement to when we first started off? People wonder if Iraq should just work out their own country's problems instead of having our involvement along side the original fighting as well.

Oppression

In my eyes, the way women are looked apon shows Oppression.