englishvideo.ru

Many men and women helped to shape popular images of the American West. Some of these people can be seen in a show at the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C. FRANK GOODYEAR: The individuals who you see pictured along this wall are all important players in that development. Frank Goodyear chose the pictures of more than one hundred individuals for the show. He says people from many different places and occupations influenced the development of the American West. For example, Joseph Glidden invented barbed wire. His invention helped separate land for farming. Theodore Roosevelt became... 

People in Europe and Asia have enjoyed high-speed trains for years. This Japanese train set a speed record of 581 kilometers an hour. Yet the fastest American train reaches less than half that speed. It operates only between Washington and Boston. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood says changes are coming to American trains. RAY LAHOOD: The day will come when you can see travel from Los Angeles to San Francisco in under three hours going 220 miles per hour. Work on a high-speed train could start in California in two years. Conditions might be right for such a train. President Obama has announced... 

For most people, the name Walt Disney is linked to images of Mickey Mouse, Snow White and theme parks. Last year, the Walt Disney Family Museum opened in California. Richard Benefield is head of the museum. RICHARD BENEFIELD: Well, this Museum is really about the man, Walt Disney. Walt Disney, during his lifetime, received 932 awards for his public service to mankind as well as for his professional achievements. And in this lobby area, we have 248. Disney received 32 awards from Americas motion picture industry. Benefield says they include a special award for the film Snow White and the Seven... 

Many adults continue working long after other people have retired. One example is 99 year old Antonio Mancinelli of New York State. The Guinness Book of World Records calls him the worlds oldest barber. ANTONIO MANCINELLI: You see all these people. You cut their hair for years, and you want to keep going. I have no way of thinking that I am going to retire. I am not retiring. Im just, keep on going until the end. Mancinelli has been cutting hair since he was 12 years old. In the 1920s, some barbers did more than cut hair. They offered other services and treatments. ANTONIO MANCINELLI: I used to... 

STEVE EMBER: Many people first saw Jay Mattioli when he performed on an American television program. The 28-year old Virginia man has been working as a professional magician for six and one-half years. JAY MATTIOLI: «I think uh, the big inspiration for me as a kid doing magic was that dream, that small possibility, that I can become a professional magician and that would be my life.» STEVE EMBER: Mattiolis performances combine humor, fast dancing and magic. His youthful image has an effect on those watching. JAY MATTIOLI: I wanted to be a magician that amazes people, but again that... 

The United States National Arboretum is famous for its flowers, trees and plants. The Arboretum is just a short drive from the center of Washington, D.C. Yet visitors often feel like they are far from the busy city. Sam Augusta brought his one-year-old son to play by the water. SAM AUGUSTA: We like to come and take a look at the fish, and the lotus flowers and a lot of the plants. Hes never seen the fish up close like this before. Joan Love often visits the Arboretum. She says she knows about almost every plant here. JOAN LOVE: I mean theres so much to see here and so much to do here. But one...