The ESL Free Press

"Emergency" Gifts

The U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency has some gift suggestions for this Christmas: Things that help people in emergencies.

For example:

• Disaster kits for homes, offices and autos (first aid kits; food, water and prescription medications for 72 hours, extra clothing, blankets, and flashlights)

• Smoke detectors

• CPR classes

Read more.

Printable:Download _emergency_ gifts.pdf (19.0K)

Medal Wearer Admits He Didn't Earn It

A California man has pleaded guilty to wearing a military medal he was never given. This is a crime under a law passed in 2006.

Kenneth Nelson had claimed he won the Silver Star for bravery in Vietnam. He also said he had been given three Purple Hearts for being wounded. But Nelson never really served in combat.

He did take care of the California Vietnam Veterans Memorial. He was in news stories that repeated what he said.

U.S. Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner says, "He received years of praise and admiration from the public that he did not deserve."

The penalty can be up to a year in prison and a fine of $100,000. However, in other cases like this, people have been sentenced to community service (helping with work that needs to be done in their towns, like cleaning the streets). One man had to pay a fine of $500.

Nelson will be sentenced in March. He also has to give up his medals.

Source

Printable:Download Medal Wearer Admits He Didn't Earn It.pdf (21.6K)

A Soldier Wears His Purple Heart on His Digital Camouflage Minutes after Being Awarded the Medal Photographic Print
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Don't Text and Drive

As of October 1st, U.S. government workers are not allowed to send or read text messages while driving on government business.

President Obama said this in an executive order.

The order says "texting" includes any kind of communicating, or getting information, with electronic devices. "Driving" means the motor of the car is running -- even if the car is stopped at a red light or in traffic.

The U.S. government says it hopes its contractors, and all citizens, will do the same.

Source

Printable: Download don't text.pdf (18.7K)

Education Secretary vs. Comedian

The U.S. Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan, appeared on Stephen Colbert’s comedy show Monday night. Before the show, they played basketball. You can see a video of it here.

(If you’re in Canada, you’ll have to go to the Comedy Network.

Find Clip 3 from October 5^th.)

Duncan says, “ Next time Stephen is in DC, I challenge him to another game.”

Source

Printable:

Download education vs comedian.pdf (20.8K)

Update on Mystery Plane

On Wednesday, we told you that U.S. warplanes intercepted a plane that had broken off communications.

 

North American Aerospace Defense Command now says the pilot of the plane was unconscious. The warplanes, two F-16s, followed the plane until it crashed in the countryside in Indiana.

 

No one on the ground was hurt. There is no word yet on what happened to the pilot.

Source

PrintableDownload update mystery plane.pdf (19.2K)

The “Déja Vu Gunman”

Déja vu is a French phrase meaning “already seen”. It’s used to describe the feeling people sometimes get that what is happening has happened the same way before.

 

The FBI is using it to describe a man who has robbed two banks in Houston, Texas. The banks are on the same street and belong to the same company. Also, the man wore the same clothes to both robberies.

 

To read about the crimes and see photos of the “déja vu gunman”, click here.

Printable:Download deja vu gunman.pdf (18.2K)

Man Says He Lied to FBI to Hurt Local Official

A man in Phoenix, Arizona, USA, was sentenced on Monday for lying to the FBI. He will not have to go to prison, but will have to do 75 hours of community service. He will also be on probation for five years (he could go to jail if he gets into trouble).

 

The man, Jarrett Maupin II, was a member of the local school board. He also ran for mayor of the city. Last September, he told the FBI that a local elected official had committed a crime. Maupin has admitted that this was a lie, and he said it “to hurt the official politically”.

 

He pleaded guilty and agreed to resign from the school board.

 

Source

Printable:Download Phoenix man lied to FBI.pdf (20.8K)

President on TV – Again

President Obama appeared on The Late Show With David Letterman Monday night. Letterman asked him if people protested his health plan because of racism (prejudice against him because he is black).

Obama said, “I was black before the election.”

Coast Guard Practice Mistaken for Real Battle

On Friday, some news media reported that the U.S. Coast Guard had fired at someone on the Potomac River in Washington, DC.

 

But this was just an exercise (a practice). No real shots were fired. Someone heard a Coast Guard member on the radio talking about it.

 

Friday was September 11^th, Patriot Day, when Americans honor people killed in the terrorist attacks on September 11^th, 2001. The Coast Guard says the best way for it to remember September 11^th is to be ready all the time, and for this it has to practice.

 

It also says, “How and when this exercise was conducted will be reviewed.”

 

Source

Printable PDF:Download cg practice _battle_.pdf (23.1K)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Congressman Calls Obama a Liar, Then Says Sorry

On Wednesday night, President Obama spoke to the U.S. Congress about health care. He said he had a plan that would:

·        Improve health insurance

·        Give it to those who don’t have it

·        Keep medical costs from rising

 

He said there were false rumors about his plan – for example, that it would insure illegal immigrants. Obama said that was not true.

At that point, Representative Joe Wilson of South Carolina shouted, “You lie!”

Later, he apologized to the President.

Obama says, “I'm a big believer that we all make mistakes.” He accepted Wilson’s apology.

Printable PDF:Download congressman calls president liar.pdf (20.1K)(Note: Sources will be added after tech problems clear up.)