NPR 2010-07-03

The unemployment rate drops to 9.5% as more unemployed¹ Americans are left out of the count because they've stopped looking for jobs. As jittery² public digest the government's jobs report for June, President Obama warns of more tough times ahead.

"We continue to fight headwinds from volatile³ global markets, so we still have a great deal of work to do to repair the economy and get the American people back to work. That's why we're continuing a relentless⁴ effort across multiple fronts to keep this recovery moving."

Last month, payrolls⁵ shrunk by 125,000 jobs after temporary census⁶ work went away. But John Silvia, chief economist⁷ at Wellsfargo Security, says the jobs picture is better than some might think.

"I want you to take up the census; now I'm sure you have job gains in the private sector⁸. The nice things to see is that the private sector job gains are pretty broad-based, especially you saw manufacturing jobs up."

While we're seeing an effect on US stocks from this broad jobs report. Last check on Wall Street, Dow was down nearly 50 points at 9,684.

This holiday weekend's peak season on the Gulf⁹ Coast when tourists typically flock to the beach. But as NPR's Debbie Elliot tells us, the oil spill has all but destroyed that picture along the Gulf Coast.

Hotels and condos lining¹⁰ the Northern Gulf Coast would normally be packed to near-capacity this weekend, but property managers are reporting they're more than half-empty now. Gulf Shores, Alabama Mayor Robert Craft says it's a stark¹¹ contrast to the typical summer bustle¹².

"Be usually by now, the city is full and every business is full and excited because the cash register is ringing. And you were now receiving that promise that you've spent all winter spending money to get ready for (painting and cleaning and restocking the shelves with inventory¹³ in anticipation¹⁴ of the people showing up)."

Most businesses depend on what they make from Memorial Day to Labor¹⁵ Day to carry them through the year. Now, Craft says they're dependent on BP to cover their losses. Debbie Elliot, NPR News.

"Take Me Home, Country Roads", a tune¹⁶ suited for a somber¹⁷ farewell to political giant Robert Byrd. A memorial service was held in Charleston today for the senator from West Virginia who passed away early Monday at the age of 92. President Obama delivered the eulogy¹⁸ as other White House and congressional leaders paid final respects today to the longest-serving member of Congress.

Republican Senators Orrin Hatch of Utah and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska say they will not vote to confirm Elena Kagan to the US Supreme¹⁹ Court, citing concerns about her judicial²⁰ philosophy and experience. Last year, Hatch pored Kagan's confirmation²¹ to her current post as solicitor²² general. But despite GOP opposition²³, Kagan is widely expected to be confirmed to the nation's high court.

You're listening to NPR News.

An unmanned Russian cargo²⁴ ship unexpectedly failed to dock with the International Space Station today. Details from NPR's Joe Palca.

The Progress 38 cargo carrier lifted off from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan this past Wednesday. It's carrying propellant, oxygen and water for the station, as well as spare parts and experiment hardware. It was supposed to dock with the station at shortly before 1PM Eastern Time today. But about 28 minutes before the scheduled docking, the space station lost its data link to the cargo ship. Instead of docking, the Progress sailed past the station at a distance of approximately two miles. Why the data link was lost is not clear at this point. It's also not clear when a second docking procedure can be attempted. Joe Palka, NPR News, Washington.

Greece is expected to be in the throes of another general strike next week, raising fears of fresh violence. Today, a union representing public servants announced it would join other unions on July 8th to protest Greece's austerity measures affecting broad labor rules. The union accuses the government of using Greece's debt crisis as an excuse to do away with the public welfare programs.

The Obama administration's trying to persuade Ukraine to keep NATO membership in an option, but Secretary of State Hillary Clinton tried to reassure²⁵ her Ukrainian hosts that the US would not pressure the former Soviet²⁶ republic.

("A dream is a wish, your heart...")

Generations know this voice is Cinderella behind a Disney Legend, Ilene Woods. She died yesterday at the age of 81. She later married Ed Shaughnessy, a Jazz drummer who performed for many years with the Doc Severinsen's band on "The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson".

1 unemployed   

adj.失业的，没有工作的；未动用的，闲置的

参考例句：

• There are now over four million unemployed workers in this country.这个国家现有四百万失业人员。
• The unemployed hunger for jobs.失业者渴望得到工作。

2 jittery   

adj. 神经过敏的, 战战兢兢的

参考例句：

• However, nothing happened though he continued to feel jittery. 可是，自从拉上这辆车，并没有出什么错儿，虽然他心中嘀嘀咕咕的不安。 来自汉英文学 - 骆驼祥子
• The thirty-six Enterprise divebombers were being squandered in a jittery shot from the hip. 这三十六架“企业号”上的俯冲轰炸机正被孤注一掷。

3 volatile   

adj.反复无常的，挥发性的，稍纵即逝的，脾气火爆的；n.挥发性物质

参考例句：

• With the markets being so volatile,investments are at great risk.由于市场那么变化不定，投资冒着很大的风险。
• His character was weak and volatile.他这个人意志薄弱，喜怒无常。

4 relentless   

adj.残酷的，不留情的，无怜悯心的

参考例句：

• The traffic noise is relentless.交通车辆的噪音一刻也不停止。
• Their training has to be relentless.他们的训练必须是无情的。

5 payrolls   

n.（公司员工的）工资名单( payroll的名词复数 )；（公司的）工资总支出，工薪总额

参考例句：

• Indices of employment, payrolls, and production steadied in February 1931931年2月，就业、工资额和生产指数稳定。 来自辞典例句
• Wall Street responded to the payrolls figures with gusto. 华尔街对就业数据作出了积极的反应。 来自互联网

6 census   

n.(官方的)人口调查，人口普查

参考例句：

• A census of population is taken every ten years.人口普查每10年进行一次。
• The census is taken one time every four years in our country.我国每四年一次人口普查。

7 economist   

n.经济学家，经济专家，节俭的人

参考例句：

• He cast a professional economist's eyes on the problem.他以经济学行家的眼光审视这个问题。
• He's an economist who thinks he knows all the answers.他是个经济学家，自以为什么都懂。

8 sector   

n.部门，部分；防御地段，防区；扇形

参考例句：

• The export sector will aid the economic recovery. 出口产业将促进经济复苏。
• The enemy have attacked the British sector.敌人已进攻英国防区。

9 gulf   

n.海湾；深渊，鸿沟；分歧，隔阂

参考例句：

• The gulf between the two leaders cannot be bridged.两位领导人之间的鸿沟难以跨越。
• There is a gulf between the two cities.这两座城市间有个海湾。

10 lining   

n.衬里，衬料

参考例句：

• The lining of my coat is torn.我的外套衬里破了。
• Moss makes an attractive lining to wire baskets.用苔藓垫在铁丝篮里很漂亮。

11 stark   

adj.荒凉的；严酷的；完全的；adv.完全地

参考例句：

• The young man is faced with a stark choice.这位年轻人面临严峻的抉择。
• He gave a stark denial to the rumor.他对谣言加以完全的否认。

12 bustle   

v.喧扰地忙乱，匆忙，奔忙；n.忙碌；喧闹

参考例句：

• The bustle and din gradually faded to silence as night advanced.随着夜越来越深，喧闹声逐渐沉寂。
• There is a lot of hustle and bustle in the railway station.火车站里非常拥挤。

13 inventory   

n.详细目录，存货清单

参考例句：

• Some stores inventory their stock once a week.有些商店每周清点存货一次。
• We will need to call on our supplier to get more inventory.我们必须请供应商送来更多存货。

14 anticipation   

n.预期，预料，期望

参考例句：

• We waited at the station in anticipation of her arrival.我们在车站等着，期待她的到来。
• The animals grew restless as if in anticipation of an earthquake.各种动物都变得焦躁不安，像是感到了地震即将发生。

15 labor   

n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦

参考例句：

• We are never late in satisfying him for his labor.我们从不延误付给他劳动报酬。
• He was completely spent after two weeks of hard labor.艰苦劳动两周后，他已经疲惫不堪了。

16 tune   

n.调子；和谐，协调；v.调音，调节，调整

参考例句：

• He'd written a tune,and played it to us on the piano.他写了一段曲子，并在钢琴上弹给我们听。
• The boy beat out a tune on a tin can.那男孩在易拉罐上敲出一首曲子。

17 somber   

adj.昏暗的，阴天的，阴森的，忧郁的

参考例句：

• He had a somber expression on his face.他面容忧郁。
• His coat was a somber brown.他的衣服是暗棕色的。

18 eulogy   

n.颂词；颂扬

参考例句：

• He needs no eulogy from me or from any other man. 他不需要我或者任何一个人来称颂。
• Mr.Garth gave a long eulogy about their achievements in the research.加思先生对他们的研究成果大大地颂扬了一番。

19 supreme   

adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的

参考例句：

• It was the supreme moment in his life.那是他一生中最重要的时刻。
• He handed up the indictment to the supreme court.他把起诉书送交最高法院。

20 judicial   

adj.司法的，法庭的，审判的，明断的，公正的

参考例句：

• He is a man with a judicial mind.他是个公正的人。
• Tom takes judicial proceedings against his father.汤姆对他的父亲正式提出诉讼。

21 confirmation   

n.证实，确认，批准

参考例句：

• We are waiting for confirmation of the news.我们正在等待证实那个消息。
• We need confirmation in writing before we can send your order out.给你们发送订购的货物之前，我们需要书面确认。

22 solicitor   

n.初级律师，事务律师

参考例句：

• The solicitor's advice gave me food for thought.律师的指点值得我深思。
• The solicitor moved for an adjournment of the case.律师请求将这个案件的诉讼延期。

23 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

24 cargo   

n.(一只船或一架飞机运载的)货物

参考例句：

• The ship has a cargo of about 200 ton.这条船大约有200吨的货物。
• A lot of people discharged the cargo from a ship.许多人从船上卸下货物。

25 reassure   

v.使放心，使消除疑虑

参考例句：

• This seemed to reassure him and he continued more confidently.这似乎使他放心一点，于是他更有信心地继续说了下去。
• The airline tried to reassure the customers that the planes were safe.航空公司尽力让乘客相信飞机是安全的。

26 Soviet   

adj.苏联的，苏维埃的；n.苏维埃

参考例句：

• Zhukov was a marshal of the former Soviet Union.朱可夫是前苏联的一位元帅。
• Germany began to attack the Soviet Union in 1941.德国在1941年开始进攻苏联。