Video for June 30, 2009

The following is a transcript of the above with my notes. This is used for education purposes.

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POLITAN: Say what you will about Michael Jackson, but one thing is certain. He was larger than life. His music changed the entire industry and his moonwalk revolutionized dance.

No matter how much controversy surrounded his life and now his death, we`ll always have the indisputable numbers: four decades, 13 number one hits, 13 Grammies, the highest-selling album of all time. Michael Jackson was a legend.

Let`s take a minute to remember his legacy.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

(VIDEO TRIBUTE TO MICHAEL JACKSON`S LEGACY)



MICHAEL JACKSON, POP STAR: I love you. I really do. You have to know that. I love you so much. Really. From the bottom of my heart.



(END VIDEO CLIP)

POLITAN: I want to thank all my guests for joining me tonight. I`m Vinnie Politan, filling in for Jane Velez-Mitchell. She will be back Monday. Thanks for watching ISSUES on HLN.

END

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Vocabulary:

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1. say what you will: expression, you can say many things but you must admit the following.

Ex: Say what you will about me, but don't talk bad about Maggie!

2. one thing is certain: expression, at least the following is true and you must accept it as fact

(This expression is used to stress a fact or even an opinion.)

Ex: I don't know where I'm going for vacation, but one thing is certain. I'm not staying here!

3. larger than life: this expression is used to describe anyone who is very impressive, imposing or intimidating in some way. It can also be used with someone who has a very big personality or glamorous lifestyle. You'll often see this expression used with people who are famous. You can also use it about people who have big personalities or are eccentric in some way.

Ex: My grandfather was a kind of Godfather character in his town. Everyone in town knew him and respected him. He was larger than life.

4. to revolutionize st: verb, to change something completely, to bring about radical change.

Ex: The internet completely revolutionized the way we communicate with one another.

5. controversy: noun, anything that people have very strong and often opposing opinions about. Example of controversial (形容詞) subjects in the USA are: abortion, the death penalty, and gun control.

6. indisputable: adjective, used to describe something that cannot be disagreed or contested or argued with...

Ex: Elvis is the indisputable King of Rock 'n Roll!

Similar words:

unarguable
inarguably
undoubtedly

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Talking about Michael Jackson....

Michael’s nickname was Wacko Jacko.

a wacko=a crazy person (negative, could be dangerous)

wacky=harmless adjective for crazy, nuance is “funny”
That guys is so wacky! I love him! He has a pretty wacky sense of humor.

wacked=adjective, weird/crazy, off the wall, not normal
He has a wacked sense of humor.

to wack sb:
a) this is MAFIA LINGO for “to kill”
Ex: He was wacked by the mob.

b) to hit/slap
Ex: I wacked him upside the head with the rolled up magazine.

NEW LINGO/SLANG:
wack: adjective/crazy/good
Ex: That new song is wack!

to take a dose of st = to take a certain amount of medicine
to overdose=to take too much of st, usually medicine

Ex: He overdosed on pills. / He o.d.’d on drugs.

prescription medicine, prescription painkillers