This week's video news #4 (complete assignment online by Thursday April 10)

Lee Pilsu wrote:Summary: Federal Reserve Chairman, Bernanke, made a short announcement about the (U.S.) economy before the Congress panel. He said that the economy will be bad and could even contract in the first half of this year, but it will change for the better in the second half of the year due to interest rate cuts, financial and housing market woes disappears and some other reasons. It is reported that if it had not been for the emergency funds, the financial market could have turned into a chatic situation.

Opinion: To be honest, I don't have any personal opinion on this news article because I don't know much about economy. But one thing that I noticed was that his presence and his remarks should carry a significant and powerful meaning because he was surrounded by scores of cameramen and U.S. Congress panels.

Prediction: My prediction is that Korean economy will suffer in the first half of this year and will pick up in the second half because I heard Korean economy is influenced a lot by the United States'.

Kim Eun-jung wrote:

Kang Eunmi wrote:Summary
It's time to go to the annual cherry blossom festival in Washington D.C. Almost a million visitors will take part in this festival.
Some people are the fist time to see the beauty of the cherry blossom and some are not. But they like the smell of the cherry trees.
One interviwee says that even it's not fully open but it's still pretty.
The peak bloom will reach through April 3rd also it means officail sign; spring has sprung.
In 1912, about 3,000 cherry trees are given to U.S from Japan to mark a growing friendship between two countries.

Opinion
I'm of the opinion that the cherry trees in the screen are not pretty enough. What I try to say is Cherry trees in Korea, especially in Jinhae are
much better than those in U.S.
Actually my hometown is Jinhae.
Have you ever walked under the cherry blossoms? In fact, Jinhae is famous for the biggest and most beautiful cherry trees in Korea. Not only the Mts, but also the entire area is painted pink and white colors. Many people who have seen the cherry blossom in Jinhae can not help thinking this city is just like the work of an artist.


prediction
My classmates who read my reply or information about the cherry blossom in Jinhae will visit there in
April. Once people who see the fantastic cherry blossoms in Jinhae, they will fall in love with the beauty of Jinhae.
If they haven't visitied Jinhae yet, they should hurry up visiting there. Surely, they will!!
Thank you for reading my information!!

Hi~ You must have enjoyed the beauty of cherry blossoms in its fullness because your hometown is Jinhae. You are very lucky. I also think the cherry blossoms in Korea are much prettier than the one shown in the news^^

Kim Jin-Young wrote:(summary)
The Washington D.C, the capital of U.S ,has the cherry blossom festival which is annually held. Organizers say that nearly millions of visitors come to the Tidal Basin while cherry blossoms reach their peak through April 4th. The presence of 3000 pink blossom trees originates from Japan's gift to make friendly relation between two nations, Japan and U.S.

(opinion)
I'm of the opinion that those pink trees play an essential role in attracting quite a few people, even from overseas. Actually, a variety of cherry blossom festivals are annually held in Korea as well. However I sometimes wonder if these events in Korea is righteous, because our ancestors suffered from Japanese's atrocious violences and undeserved suppressions during about half of one century. I also think that Japan once appointed the U.S as a target during the World War Ⅱ. It's somewhat irony that two nations, Korea and the U.S, give a welcome to cherry blossoms, known as the Japan's national flower. I want to emphasize the point, the Japanese flower.
Also, we should know its background, so to speak, the reason why the gift was given to the U.S. What for? The Washington Post introduces the unknown history of cherry blossoms with the headline 'Behind the Beauty'. In 1905 Japan made a gift of cherry trees as a token of grabbing sovereignty over Korea from the U.S. This absurd agreement is known as The Katsura-Taft Agreement.


(prediction)
My prediction is that this event just like a kind of admiration of cherry blossom's beauty will be booming. In other ways, enjoying cherry blossom's beauty such as sweet smell and all white color is a good way to get rid of much stress. However, while enjoying many beautiful scenes, we should be aware that the U.S gave the permission for Japan to legally colonize Korea.
It is also likely that favorable relationship between the U.S and Japan will last thanks to cherry blossom trees which are not main factor to keep up the relationship, but a kind of flattery. For example, in 1988 Japan finally made it as to visa waiver. In contrast, we have failed to deal with it until now.

billy wrote:Summary: FRB chairman Ben Bernanke expects the US economy will stay at its current level or even may contract a little, but it will pick up in the 2nd half of the year as a result of aggressive interest rate cuts and stabilization of financial conditions and housing market.

Opinion: Bernanke told before congress that the US ecoonomy will improve in the 2nd half of the year 2008 even though it may retract a little from its already troubled state. However, I am of the opinion that the US economic president Bernanke's prediction is a little dangerous and biased. When the economic concerns resulting from the so-called subprime mortagage loan started to arise last year, many financial newspapers and investment companies reported that no one would be able to predict the impact it might have on the world economy, let alone the USA. Some financial experts expected that its economic loss might be more than the staggerting 500 billion dollars and the US government is reported to have put in 150 billion dollars as only an emergency measure. That is, as no one expected the strongest country would ever experience this economic fallout, any quick-tempered prediction may play havoc with the sign of recovery.

Prediction and 'Why': My prediction is that even though there is a little bit of good sign that the economy will get back on its right track such as seemingly stabilized gold and oil price and stock market, we must not come to any hasty conclusion that the US economy will pick up sooner or later. You may have heard about the so-called Butterfly Effect, which means a little flapping of one butterfly in Beijing could end up with a devastating tornado in the US. It looks like the direction may turn backward this time from the US to the rest of the world. As the NYSE market tumbled down, the world stock market indexes were shaking as well. The world economy is already too connected to underestimate the financial impact of the giant market. For now, we have to wait and see.

Joo Un-jin wrote:summary: This report is composed of six ones. The first is about James Bond's villain. But it's too sorry that I can't understand it. The second is about George Clooney's gradual change from an actor to a movie director. The third one is about Madonna's trip to Malawi, the southern African country. Maybe she will do something there for adopting a local baby, who has been lived with her since 2006. The fourth one is about Celine Dion's adjusting schedules. The last one is about Beyonce and her fiance, between whom a wedding plan is made including filling out a marriage license.




opinion: I hope that George Clooney will be successful as a director. His much experience as an actor will be helpful a lot. Also there are many actors who succeeded as directors. But I want to see him on the screen often. I don't want to lose chances to see the most attractive man in the world. And my opinion about Madonna's adopting an African baby is that it's very good. People in Western countries think optimistic about adoption. They don't stick to 'the same blood.' I think it's so logical that we should learn something about that. In Korea, prejudice about adoption has changed a little. I hope this continues. But I think adoption by stars can be misused. They can do that to advertise or promote themselves. Sometimes they are trying to appeal themselves to people by showing their good behavior.




prediction: My prediction is that people will pay much attention to Beyonce's wedding. She is a super star enough to catch the eyes of people all over the world. All the medias and even paparazzi will follow her. They will go wherever she goes and pay too much attention to her life including her wedding. We can know well in my house about her wedding, pregnance, babies and all her private life.

Jung Yoojin wrote:I tried to understand the third video talking about Holly Wood stars. I am not sure whether I got the right idea or not. But I will do my best as much as I can

Summary :
There are several different stories talking about Hollywood stars.( At first, I thought it was related with each other, but they weren't!) Gerge Cloony has filmed the third one as he was a director. The person connected film says Gerge Cloony has excessive president of film.(is it right?) ANd Madonna visited Malai with her husband and she is rulling the regulation about whether she can adopt or abandon the childeren since 2006. Celin Dion was going to have a concert in Beijin , but it was canceled. And Beyounce is going to get marry.

Opinion :
This news talks about popular stars on United States , even all over the world. These stories can be news but I think these are sort of gossips with stars. Broadcast tend to announce their private life , because general people want to know it. Stars are always exposed to audience whenever they are, or wherever they are. I think if those people do some good things on contrbuting world peace, it is good to hear and know about their commitment. However, I don't think it is useful information for our career or studyings. They are just gossips. (actually I do not have much background knowledge about them) I dont like gossips .


Prediction :
Gerge Cloony made the third film as he was the director. That movie could not get much popularity from audience. And he decided not to make a film again. And Madonna adopted many children from Malai, and she devotes her life to save and help those undeveloped countries, especailly adopting babies .Beyounce get married with her spouse and they have a happy life and she continues to sing songs on broadcats.