NEW YORK, USA – Alan Nelson first came to visit Nagano Prefecture in 1999. Since then, every year he visits high schools and other venues within the prefecture to delivering a lecture. His lecture is about the foolishness of war, the value of peace, and the importance of the Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution.

At the beginning of this year, Alan Nelson's wife Annette reported, through the Alan Nelson Network based in Hyougo Prefecture, that Mr. Nelson had suddenly become very ill. While Mr. Nelson was in the Vietnam War he was exposed to chemical defoliants which are suspected of being the cause of his bone marrow cancer.

Alan Nelson sometimes talked about his condition and his campaign to cover the doctor's fees through the Alan Nelson Network and such. Mr. Nelson said that he was very impressed that even during this economic recession that the Japanese people continue to contribute money.

However, neither vigorous radiation therapies nor prayers from may people could conquer the illness. On March the 25th at 10:15 in the morning, Alan Nelson drew his last breath as he held the hand of his wife Annette.

Recently, about 40,000 high school students and citizens had a chance to think about Mr. Nelson's lecture about peace.

We are thankful to Mr. Nelson because he pushed his sick body to continue giving lectures in Japan and we pray for his happiness.

From: Atom
Date: Thursday 26th of November 2009 01:38:44 PM

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• words = 244
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Total out of bound words: 74
66% series match words: 16 (21%)
33% series match words: 14 (18%)
0% series match words: 44 (59%)

66% series match words: 16 (21%)

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33% series match words: 14 (18%)

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0% series match words: 44 (59%)

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"Barack Obama was sworn in as the 44th president of the United States and the nation's first African-American president Tuesday. This is a transcript of his prepared speech." -- CNN

“Today we gather because we have chosen hope over fear...”

(begin transcript)

REMARKS OF PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA
Inaugural Address
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Washington, D.C.

Read more »

Link: http://ksnn.larc.nasa.gov/k2/s_waterMars.html

Scientists know that having available water is absolutely necessary when planning for space exploration. Any thoughts about finding some type of life in space, at least life as earthbound scientists define life, require water.

Mars seems to be the only other planet within our solar system that we can most easily explore and on which we can possibly live. NASA and the Russian Space Agency have sent more space probes to Mars than to any other planet. We study Mars with telescopes that show it really is the Red Planet! However, the entire planet is not red. There are areas of white at both poles. Hmmmm - are they ice caps? ... made of frozen water? ... or something else?

In April 2001, NASA launched a special spacecraft to Mars. This craft was the 2001 Mars Odyssey and the trip took 6.5 months.

Mars Odyssey's main job was to take measurements that could help scientists know what kinds of elements and minerals make up the surface of Mars. Odyssey looked for hydrogen, one of the two elements found in water.

The 2001 Mars Odyssey spacecraft found water on Mars! As expected, the low temperatures there have turned the water into ice, but we can be excited to know that water was truly discovered on Mars! The white at the poles turns out to be water ice. Actually, this ice is mixed with the soil on Mars just below the surface. Scientists estimate there may even be enough water ice mixed in the soil to fill up two water bodies the size of Lake Michigan.

But we want to know more. Another special spacecraft, the Phoenix Lander, will travel to Mars in 2007 to sift through Martian arctic soil. If all goes as planned, by June 2008, the Phoenix will land on a section of Mars believed to hold nearly 80% water-ice by volume in the top 50 cm of the surface. Gathering and testing Martian soils, it will hunt for clues to the origin of the ice. Digging with a robotic arm, it will carve out and analyze a trench in some places as deep as one meter.

Why should we worry about whether there is water or even water ice on Mars? If we ever expect to successfully land people on the Martian surface - and even live on it - we will need either to make or find materials there to help us survive and return to Earth. We can never take enough water to last for the return trip. Why not use the water we now know is on Mars?

Just imagine - you could be the first person to step on Mars - live on Mars - and yes, even the first person to drink water formed on another planet.

Barkley was correct! It is really “cool” to know that water has been found on Mars!

From: Atom
Date: Thursday 26th of November 2009 01:38:52 PM

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Total out of bound words: 108
66% series match words: 20 (18%)
33% series match words: 29 (26%)
0% series match words: 59 (54%)

66% series match words: 20 (18%)

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33% series match words: 29 (26%)

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8. easily
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0% series match words: 59 (54%)

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Dear Stuart,

How are you and your mother doing? You saved Chatty (the cat) in Shiojiri. I always wanted to write you a letter. Today two people who often come to my coffee shop are helping me write the letter. They are David, an AET, and his friend Mr. Miura, a Japanese Language Teacher.

Thanks to you, Chatty has become healthy. Chatty still lives with us today. Now, I will introduce to you Chatty's life.

First, before the accident Chatty was a very pampered cat – he was like a king: pampered and spoiled. After the accident Chatty became even more spoiled. :-D When we return home, no matter where in the home we go to sit, Chatty would always follow us. Not only the kitchen and the clothes drying line, but even the bathroom and the toilet, too. When he is alone, he becomes sad.

Just like a spoiled child, he likes to ride on other people's backs. When I am trying to carry the laundry upstairs or downstairs, Chatty comes up to me and pesters me for a ride. He does this by lightly stroking his paw with his claws open on me. So, I kneel down and let him climb on my back and continue on the stairs.

Next, I always leave a PET bottle of water near my pillow. Any time when Chatty wants to have a drink of water, he scratches his claws loudly on the bottle. But, if I continue to sleep and not notice it, Chatty then uses his claws and softly strokes my cheeks. When that happens, I wake up, sit in Japanese “seiza” style, and say to Chatty “Yes, sir!” as I bow, before serving his water.

Chatty has been doing some other interesting things after the accident. Other cats who have been hurt like Chatty – cats that cannot use their mouths well – Chatty brings them to the “tokonoma” and places them there, as if saying “please, help them”.

An even more interesting thing is, that he has caught and brought to us about 100 pigeons and wasp nests. I guess, maybe, he does this as a way of saying “thank you for saving my life”?

Really, while being a cat he is like a human, but to me he seems more than human. I am very thankful that when Chatty met with that terrible accident, Stuart helped to saves his life.

It is now Autumn here in Shiojiri City and the vines are full of grapes. If you to come back to Shiojiri, definitely, please come and visit our shop!

Scotland must be very cold now, so take care of yourself! Work hard! Do your best in your job! And also, please tell your mother “hello” for me.

Osamu Ozawa
Kazue Ozawa
Chatty the cat

Word List

1. healthy
2. accident -
3. pampered -
4. spoiled -
5. toilet -
6. king -
7. clothes drying line -
8. pester -
9. lightly -
10. stroking / stroke -
11. paw -
12. claw -
13. kneel -
14. seiza -

From: Atom
Date: Thursday 26th of November 2009 01:39:06 PM

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• words = 587
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Total out of bound words: 89
66% series match words: 23 (25%)
33% series match words: 18 (20%)
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66% series match words: 23 (25%)

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33% series match words: 18 (20%)

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0% series match words: 48 (53%)

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