Beloved teen Sam Berns dies at 17 after suffering from rare disease

(CNN) -- Saturday night could have been a moment for Sam Berns to celebrate -- standing in the middle of Gillette Stadium, flanked by some of his beloved New England Patriots, and no doubt cheered heartily by the nearly 70,000 fans surrounding him.

But it wasn't to be.

Instead of having Berns as an honorary captain in their NFL playoff with the Indianapolis Colts, the Patriots held a moment of silence for the young man who inspired them and many others as he lived with progeria, which causes premature, accelerated aging.

"Do it for Sammy!" one man yelled, piercing the quiet, in video of the ceremony on Boston.com.

Berns died Friday evening due to complications from the rare genetic disease, according to the Progeria Research Foundation.

He was 17.

"I loved Sam Berns and am richer for having known him," Patriots owner Robert Kraft said. "He was a special young man whose inspirational story and positive outlook on life touched my heart."

Advances in kids' early aging disease

Kraft, one of the most well-respected owners in his sport, wasn't Berns' only fan. Far from it.

Part of it had to do with his part in the HBO documentary, "Life According to Sam," which documented his living with what is formally called Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome. He spoke at a TEDx conference in October 2013 about his disease.

More than anything, Sam lived.

A student at Foxborough High School -- in his and the Patriots' hometown -- he joined the marching band, playing a specially designed snare drum. He didn't let the fact that he weighed all of 50 pounds or that the average life span of someone with progeria is 13 years discourage him. He attended his school's homecoming dance. And above all, he kept his head up.

"Even though I have many obstacles in my life, I don't want people to feel bad for me," Berns said in that TedX talk.

Progeria affects approximately one in every 4 million to 8 million infants; there are only about 200 children living with it worldwide. The genetic mutation tied to it causes those with the disease to produce the protein progerin, which blocks normal cell function.

As they age rapidly, these children suffer from a loss of body fat and hair and an inability to gain weight.

They are prone to developing osteoporosis, a disease where bones become weak and are more likely to break.

"All in all, I don't waste energy feeling bad for myself," Berns said. "I surround myself with people that I want to be with. And I keep moving forward."

That attitude influenced many, regular folks and celebrities. Those tweeting their condolences included Katie Couric, ESPN columnist Rick Reilly and many Boston-area athletes.

"The warrior, Sam Berns passed away today," tweeted the Boston Bruins' Brad Marchand. "He was an inspiration to everyone. You will be missed greatly.

"Fly High."

Vocabulary 

1.Flank-to be at the side of someone or something
2.Patriot- a person who loves their country and, if necessary, will fight for it
3.Heartily-enthusiastically, energetically, and often loudly
4.Progeria-a rare congenital abnormality characterized by premature and rapid aging
5.Piercing-loud or shrill, as the quality of a voice
6.Prone- likely to suffer from an illness 

Health Conversation Questions 

• How much interest do you take in the issue of health? Do you buy health-related magazines?
• Do you think that men and women have different ideas about health?
• What kind of exercise - if any - do you do, and how often do you do it? What effects does it have on you?
• How many hours do you sleep at night? Do you think that you sleep too much or not enough?
• What is the best way to deal with stress?
• Do you think that going down to the pub is a good way to deal with stress?
• What would you recommend to treat a hangover?
• Do you think that pets have a positive or negative influence on people’s health? Why?
• Do you think that computers might be bad for people’s health? In what way?
• Many people in western societies are worried about their weight. Do you feel they are right to worry for health reasons or are they just obsessed about their appearance?
• Do you consider yourself a hypochondriac? Do you know anybody who might be considered one?
• How often do you catch a cold?
• Many people say that if you become cold you can catch a cold. Do you agree - or do you think that you can only catch a cold if you are infected with a virus?
• What treatment would you recommend to a person who has a cold?
• If someone has a cold should they struggle in to work and infect everybody or should they be lazy and stay at home?
• Are you allergic to anything? What effect do your allergies have on you?
• How do you feel about needles?
• How often do you visit the dentist?
• What do you think of cosmetic surgery? Do you know anyone who has had cosmetic surgery? Would you ever consider having cosmetic surgery?

China is the biggest source of tourists

Report

Whatever measure you choose, Chinese tourists now top the global rankings. Last year just shy of 100 million Chinese made foreign trips. And collectively they spent well over $100bn overseas outstripping any other nationality. 

Little more than a generation ago few Chinese ventured abroad. But the restrictions have gone, most are now free to travel, although some minorities like Tibetans still complain of hurdles getting passports. 

And as China's economy has expanded, so have people's horizons. China's new middle classes want to see the world. The most popular destinations are in Asia and Europe, Thailand for beaches, France for history and culture. 

Britain, which requires a separate visa to the rest of Europe, has lagged behind. It received just 200,000 Chinese visitors two years ago, and is now trying to simplify the process so it doesn't miss out on China's new spenders.

Summary

10 January 2014

New figures from China show that the country has consolidated its position as the world's biggest source of tourists. A total of 97 million Chinese tourists travelled abroad in 2013, according to China's National Tourism Administration.

Reporter:

Damian Grammaticas

Vocabulary

rankings

(here) lists displaying countries according to numbers taking holidays

shy of

almost; a little less than

outstripping

overtaking

ventured

went on a risky journey

hurdles

obstacles; (here) many requirements to be fulfilled

miss out

fail to take part in

Discussion Topic

1)What images spring to your mind when you hear the word ‘tourism’?

2)Problems: What problems do tourists commonly have? What problems have you had when  traveling?

3) Airlines: Which do you prefer and which do you avoid?

4) Nationalities: Who are the best and worst tourists?

5) What is the stereotype of people from your country?

6) UNESCO: What UNESCO sites does your country have?

7) “When in Rome do as the Romans do” do you believe in this saying?

8) Cuisine: What unusual things have you eaten abroad?

9) How important is tourism to your country?

10)Do you think tourism helps people in the world understand each other?

 

 

Phrase for the day

   

 When in Rome, do as the Romans do 

 

Meaning

>It is polite, and possibly also advantageous, to abide by the customs of a society when one is a visitor.It is often shorten to "When in Rome".

>When you are visiting a place or culture, you should try to follow their customs and practices.

Origin

As the story goes, when St. Augustine arrived in Milan to assume his role as Professor of Rhetoric for the Imperial Court, he observed that the Church did not fast on Saturdays as it did in Rome.

Confused, Agostino consulted with the wiser and older Ambrogio (Ambrose), then the Bishop of Milan, who replied: “When I am at Rome, I fast on Saturday; when I am at Milan I do not. Follow the custom of the Church where you are.”

In 1621, British author Robert Burton, in his classic writing Anatomy of Melancholy, edited St. Ambrose’s remark to read: “When they are at Rome, they do there as they see done.”
Down through the years, Burton’s turn of the St. Ambrose quote was further edited, anonymously, into what is widely repeated today on a daily basis by some traveler, somewhere, trying to adjust to his/her new or temporary surroundings.

when you are visiting a different place or culture, you should try to follow their customs and practices.
Read more at http://www.usingenglish.com/reference/idioms/when+in+rome,+do+as+the+romans+do.html#WmCeFlvICuA0D4PD.99

when you are visiting a different place or culture, you should try to follow their customs and practices.
Read more at http://www.usingenglish.com/reference/idioms/when+in+rome,+do+as+the+romans+do.html#WmCeFlvICuA0D4PD.99

when you are visiting a different place or culture, you should try to follow their customs and practices.
Read more at http://www.usingenglish.com/reference/idioms/when+in+rome,+do+as+the+romans+do.html#WmCeFlvICuA0D4PD.99

when you are visiting a different place or culture, you should try to follow their customs and practices.
Read more at http://www.usingenglish.com/reference/idioms/when+in+rome,+do+as+the+romans+do.html#WmCeFlvICuA0D4PD.99

when you are visiting a different place or culture, you should try to follow their customs and practices.
Read more at http://www.usingenglish.com/reference/idioms/when+in+rome,+do+as+the+romans+do.html#WmCeFlvICuA0D4PD.99

Huge increase in obesity

Report

Globally, one in three adults is now considered overweight or obese. In 1980 it was one in five. 

The Future Diets report analysed existing data and found thesteepest rise has been in developing nations like Mexico and Egypt, where people are spending their increasing disposable incomes on fatty, sugary foods. Numbers almost quadrupled from 250 million to 904 million. 

The report also said that western countries which have been dealing with the obesity problem for longer have so far failed to tackle it effectively.

It highlighted a more successful mass campaign in South Korea to train women how to prepare traditional low-fat meals. 

The report suggests following the example of some American states in taxing things like fizzy drinks and sugary sweets. It also warns if current global trends continue, there will be a huge increase in heart attacks, strokes and diabetes.

Summary

There are new calls for governments around the world to create laws which prevent people eating too much unhealthy food. Researchers at Britain's Overseas Development Institute, say the number of overweight and obese adults in developing countries went up almost four times between 1980 and 2008.

Vocabulary

steepest

(here) biggest

disposable incomes

money left after spending on essential things like food and accommodation

quadrupled

became four times larger

taxing

(here) legally making something more expensive so it is less affordable

fizzy drinks

drinks with high amounts of sugar and gas added to make them bubbly

trends

patterns

strokes

medical condition in which brain cells suddenly die due to lack of blood supply

Conversation Questions

1)	What comes to mind when you hear the word ‘obesity’?
2)	What do you know about obesity?
3)	How much of a problem is obesity in your country?
4)	Which people in your country are obese?
5)	Why is obesity bad for your health?
6)	Why is obesity increasing?
7)	What should governments do to combat obesity?
8)	Do you think obese people should pay higher medical charges?
9)	Why don’t parents do enough to stop their children from becoming obese?
10)	Is obesity immoral when so many people in the world are starving?