CNN 2011-12-09

 Thai Monarch¹ is Bhumibol Adulyadej, he was formally crowned king of Thailand in 1950,that was 2 years before Queen Elizabeth began her reign² in Britain. Adulyadej is now celebrating his 84th birthday. Thailand is going to be celebrating this all week. So it is a chance for many people there to have a break from recovering from the floods and be part of the events that also includes Father's Day and a pardon of tens of thousands of prisoners. Like Britain ,Thailand has a constitutional monarchy³ which means the monarch's power is limited and the country's parliament has the decision making power. Unlike Britain, Thailand's constitution puts the king in the place of worship. People are not allowed to criticism him.

Mail delivery could slow down in the new year. US post service is losing billions of dollars. some blame email for that, others blame bad planning in the organization bottom line it needs money. USPS is proposing the cut cost by slowing down the service, a first class letter currently⁴ takes 1-3 days to delivery. it would take 2-5 days with more post offices in mail processing place closed. 28,000 post workers will lose their job by the end of next year, the services said the plan will save more than 2 billion dollars the congress would have to approve it. 

The US war continues in Afghanistan but thousands of American troops are returning home from Iraq as the war there quickly wines down, another country they are leaving behind has an uncertain future, the one they are coming home to has their arm outstretched. We are going to see ... reports by Chris Lauds⁵. At the first glimpse of her father in nearly a year, showed us how fast a 14 year old could moved. She studied at high school when her dad was gone, her Mum had to do everything alone. Whatever it has very long ten lines while it's over. Is there any way to describe how it feels to have your dad back after so long? Oh, it,s good what's your expect about it He is my best friend Now you got your best friend back. I have one for him...,but anything ,so yeah... Go enjoy you time The last few hours of waiting was the toughest. Yeah, the planes for the soldiers finally landed, and the troops get welcome home fit for rock stars. Christmas wishes were answered, the fight in Iraq finished.... I guess one sense i feel happy that is over with... we are getting all of our soldiers out. Look back to the sacrifice that our soldiers have made, our families have made. All the blood and money. And one point the U.S. was spending 5000$ per second in Iraq. The war took nearly 4500 American lives and 32000 troops came home wounded. But these were some of the last Americans to leave Iraq and they won't be going back. This is my third appointment. First one to order these guys and it's a lot harder but it just makes that much sweeter coming home

1 monarch   

n.帝王，君主，最高统治者

参考例句：

• The monarch's role is purely ceremonial.君主纯粹是个礼仪职位。
• I think myself happier now than the greatest monarch upon earth.我觉得这个时候比世界上什么帝王都快乐。

2 reign   

n.统治时期，统治，支配，盛行；v.占优势

参考例句：

• The reign of Queen Elizabeth lapped over into the seventeenth century.伊丽莎白王朝延至17世纪。
• The reign of Zhu Yuanzhang lasted about 31 years.朱元璋统治了大约三十一年。

3 monarchy   

n.君主，最高统治者；君主政体，君主国

参考例句：

• The monarchy in England plays an important role in British culture.英格兰的君主政体在英国文化中起重要作用。
• The power of the monarchy in Britain today is more symbolical than real.今日英国君主的权力多为象徵性的，无甚实际意义。

4 currently   

adv.通常地，普遍地，当前

参考例句：

• Currently it is not possible to reconcile this conflicting evidence.当前还未有可能去解释这一矛盾的例证。
• Our contracts are currently under review.我们的合同正在复查。

5 lauds   

v.称赞，赞美( laud的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• The work lauds the victor, Liu Bang. 该曲歌颂了胜利者刘邦。 来自互联网
• The modern world lauds them for their vigor and intensity of purpose, and for their accomplishment. 诸君之祖先曾以大无畏之精神，冒不可思议之困难，筚路褴褛以开发新大陆。 来自互联网