HEAD LINES:

国内新闻，国外新闻;

政治，经济，文化。

-One of China’s top government departments published on Sunday a list of eight schools, which charged students a total of 22.7 million Yuan in the extra tuition

Fees last year.

-The Chinese government issued strict guidelines for the nation’s entertainment

Venues last week.

- Pakistan’s president Pervez Musharraf is now in China on a five-day state visit.

- Health officers in Hong Kong and Singapore warned this week the solution of contact lens may not be safe anymore.

- A mother from the UK lost her High Court battle last month for a parent’s right to be informed about girls under 16 seeking advice on abortion.

News

1. One of China’s top government departments published on Sunday a list of eight schools, which charged students a total of 22.7 million Yuan in the extra tuition fees last year.

This is the first time step in a campaign by China’s State Development and Reform Commission (SDRC) to crack down on this banned practice.

According to the commission, in the first seven months of 2005, 23.8 percent of all the pricing complaints it received were about schools’ arbitrary fee collection.

One typical case involved a student majoring in art and design at China Xi’an Academy of Fine Arts. The school’s standard fees were 9,000 Yuan last year, but the student paid 15,000 Yuan.

According to the Ministry of Education, universities can only charge tuition and accommodation fees.

Illegal extras:

Charging other fees, such as for transferring majors, using accommodations during vacations, admission registration and compulsory laundry fees, is all illegal.

One of the reasons that schools charge extra fees, according to some experts, is that some schools are underfounded.

Compared with many developed countries and even some developing countries, China’s expenditure on education is low. The world’s educational spending as a percentage of GDP is above 5 percent on average. China spends about 3.5 per cent in 2003.

The blacklist has triggered much online discussion. The BBS board has become a place for unhappy students to expose schools’ unreasonable fees.

The commission is encouraging people to report illegal fees through hotline “12358”.

2. The Chinese government issued strict guidelines for the nation’s entertainment venues last week. One of the rules says that businesses like disco and karaoke clubs will be closed between 2:00 am and 8:00 am. This news has spurred different opinions. Officials say that it’s a great harm to health if people stay up all night and will affect their working spirit. But many respondents say since many consumers are adults, it should be their own choice whether to stay late or not. And they also doubt whether many entertainment venues will follow the rules.

3. Pakistan’s president Pervez Musharraf is now in China on a five-day state visit.

During the visit, Musharraf is expected to strengthen the country’s close relationship with China.

The president voiced his regret on Monday over the murder of three Chinese engineers in his country. He said Pakistan was committed to strong relations with China. The two countries went on to sign several co-operative pacts.

The incident was not the first tough spot Musharraf has handled.

He has survived numerous assassination attempts. It is reported that he carries a gun all the time.

The key to understanding Musharraf is his background as a military man. He still bids farewell to civilians, and even foreign journalists, with a crisp salute.

He joined the military at the age of 18. He took over the government through a bloodless military coup in 1999. He was elected as president in a referendum in 2002. He didn’t take off the uniform until the end of 2004.

Although he announced he would leave the military staying president of the country only, he still holds considerable influence over the army.

On the other hand, Musharraf is a natural sportsman, who loves to spend most of his leisure time playing squash, badminton or golf.

4. Health officers in Hong Kong and Singapore warned this week the solution of contact lens may not be safe anymore.

 Think twice before using Bausch and Lomb’s ReNu multi-purpose contact lens solution.

Health officers in Hong Kong and Singapore warned this week the solution may be unsafe.

Over the past two months, the number of fungal eye infections related to contact lens use has jumped in both areas.

In Singapore alone, seven cases were reported last month and three more in the past week. Most of those affected sued the ReNu product.

Current batches of ReNu in Singapore are being tested, and so far have passed. Hong Kong is carrying out similar tests.

Bausch and Lomb’s Bain Levy said ReNu was subject to stringent cheeks in the US, and that the solution worked better against the particular fungus than other brands.

Bausch and Lomb China said that ReNu sold in Hong Kong and Singapore is imported from the US.

However, 98 per cent of the ReNu sold on the mainland is made in China. The company has not planned to suspend sales of the product here.

Medial experts suggest the eye infection could also be caused by poor hygiene on the part of contact lens users. Some also say the tropical climate might also be the cause of the infection.

5. A mother from the UK lost her High Court battle last month for a parent’s right to be informed about girls under 16 seeking advice on abortion.

The case has raised the issue of what parents are entitled to be told about their daughter’s sex lives.

The judge said that informing parents without their children’s consent “may lead (a girl) to make a decision that she later regrets or seek the assistance of an unofficial abortionist”.

But a Times newspaper survey of readers’ opinions last month found little agreement on the best approach.

Ian Allen from the UK said British society was “deeply confused about our attitude to the sexual behaviors of teenagers under 16”.

“Parents don’t have to be consulted by doctors when they give advice on contraception or abortion to girls aged 14 or 15. Is there any lower age limit where parents will be consulted?” he asked.

Briton Katie Majersk argued differently: “if to have an abortion under 16 requires parental consent, then that implies that consent could be denied. This would force a child to be pregnant, give birth and become a mother.

An anonymous teenage girl reader said: “I personally would inform my parents if I became pregnant and was considering an abortion. I hope I am in the majority there...”

However, “the decision to tell parents should remain the girl’s choice,” she continued. “If a girl does not want to tell her parents there may be a good reason for this.”

“It is a sad fact, especially in American culture that a girl under 16 having any kind of sexual experience is frowned upon. It is this prevalent social attitude that has driven every back-alley abortion ever performed.

“This attitude has never gone away. Until this attitude is completely eradicated, the need to obtain sexually related advice [from parents] will remain necessary.”

Culture

Evaluation on Overseas study

New friends. Fresh lifestyle. Better career opportunities… Those are the attractions of overseas study for young people. Like Zhangxiao.

Zhangxiao is only a sophomore student from Beijing Normal University, but he’s already considering studying abroad. “Start early, finish strong.” He says.

He said that last weekend’s international education exposition was a starting point.  More than 300 universities from 27 countries and regions were represented at the expo. Zhang explored and shared what he learned with us.

1.The US

The US has always been on the top destination list for Chinese students, with its high education standards and abundant scholarships.

Good news: It’s easier to get a US student visa nowadays. Last year, the refusal rate was only 20 to 30 per cent, much lower than a couple of years before, according to US embassy.

Concerns: They’re a lot to prepare. The TOEFL, GRE…its longer time to apply to US universities than schools in the UK or Australia.

2.The UK

Easier access to visas and international environment are the UK’s great attractions for Chinese students.

Good news: There are many new scholarships this year, both from the government and universities, such as the Scotland International Scholarship.

Concerns: Money. Money. Money. It’s expensive to study in the UK, with an average cost of 200,000 to 300,000 Yuan a year.

3. Canada

Canada’s multicultural environment is good for students’ study and careers.

Good news: Students are allowed to take off-campus part-time jobs during their studies from last year work permits after graduation.

Concerns: Only a limited number of scholarships are available. They rarely cover the full cost of a study program.

4. Australia

Good climate, high quality education, favorable immigration policy: these make Australia one of the most popular choices among Chinese students.

Good news: A new E-visa policy ensures a quicker application process (4weeks compared with 12 weeks before).
Concerns: Tuition fees have risen in past year. The total cost is about 200,000 Yuan to attend a university located in big cities like Sydney or Melbourne.

5. Singapore

You’ll feel at home if you study in Singapore. The bilingual (Chinese and English) environment will ease you from culture shock.

Good news: Government grant program helps to pay your tuition fees and allows you to work for a Singapean company after graduation. And a newly-established help centre for international students provides more aids.

Concerns: Singapore is too close to home. Maybe I’d prefer a more different life.

6. Italy

Italy is getting a lot of attention this year in China, with the China-Italy year. Its art, culture and fashion appeal too many.

Good news: China and Italy will recognize each other’s educational certificates soon. Its government-funded universities are tuition-free to international students.

Concerns: The language is a problem. Most classes are taught in Italy.

Entertainment

English brands and their Songs:

(Back street boy and West life)

Nearly 5 years after their last studio album, the Backstreet Boys mark a resolute return with their 5th disc June 14 on Jive Records. The 12-song "Never Gone" reflects the adult ideals of a quintet that broke music and concert sales records the world over, moving more than 73 million albums (30 million in America) since their introduction in 1997.

Certainly, pop culture remains on a first-name basis with the five singers that comprise BSB: Nick Carter, Howie Dorough, Brian Littrell, AJ McLean and Kevin Richardson. When they scored in the U.S. with the debut platinum single "Quit Playing Games (With My Heart)"-followed by such radio staples as "Everybody (Backstreet's Back)," "All I Have To Give" and the No. 1 (in 18 nations) "I Want It That Way"- the Backstreet Boys grew to personify an unprecedented and celebrated youth-driven era in popular music.

As teen idols, they sold more than 13 million copies each of their first two U.S. albums, "Backstreet Boys" (1997) and the No. 1 (in 25 nations) "Millennium" (1999). "Black and Blue" followed (2000), moving 8 million copies, and then "Hits: Chapter One" (2001), another platinum triumph. Along the way, the group logged12 top 40 hits, 8 of those reaching the top 10.

Today, nearly a decade since their initial success-and following a healthy 3-year breather-each group member admits that they needed time to catch up, grow up and gain some perspective on the whirlwind of fame.

"We had been touring pretty much non-stop for 7 or 8 years and we were almost living in a bubble; we had lost perspective on a lot of things," Kevin says. "You need to take care of yourself and rest and be able to reflect. This time off gave us a chance to recharge our batteries and step away and see what has happened in our lives, what we have accomplished and to be thankful for the opportunities that we have had and thankful for each other."

Brian became the first Backstreet Father during the break, Kevin took on Broadway and London抯 West End with a starring role in "Chicago," Nick put out a solo project and Howie continued his efforts with the Dorough Lupus Foundation after the loss of his oldest sister Caroline in 1998. AJ McLean worked through personal demons with a well-publicized stint in rehab.

"I've been sober for 2 ?years," AJ says. "I appreciate my family more, these guys more and myself more. Life is great. It's worth living again."

"Never Gone," which BSB spent more than a year recording, accomplishes the formidable task of moving beyond pop idol notoriety to reflect what is happening in the group's lives and in the world. The project features intensely personal, upfront vocals, coupled with production that spares drum loops and synthesizers for a mature, live, more rootsy vibe. Don't worry-the pandemic hooks and velvet harmonies are still there, behind lyrics that tell universal stories of hope, loss, redemption and love.

First single "Incomplete," released in April, proves Backstreet Boys' enduring relevance; in its first week out, the ballad was most-added at radio. By the end of May, the song was climbing the top 10 on Billboard's mainstream top 40 chart as well as the top 5 of Top Digital Downloads. The accompanying video clip reached No. 1 on AOL and garnered rotation on MTV, VH1 and MuchMusic.

Title track, "Never Gone," is among the most moving songs on the album. Written by BSB's Kevin Richardson with Gary Baker and Steve Diamond, the harmony-drenched ballad pays tribute to the death of Kevin's father. It is produced by Mark Taylor.

"That song has really been important to each one of us," AJ says. "In addition to the loss of Kevin抯 father, I lost both of my grandparents, Nick his grandmother and Howie his sister. We've all experienced great losses, so this song really touches us personally."

Additional name-brand collaborators that assisted in launching the Backstreet Boys' Chapter 2 include Billy Mann on "Poster Girl", and Switchfoot's John Fields on "Lose It All". Five for Fighting's John Ondrasik contributes "Weird World," a song that examines in life in post 9/11 society.

The guys also worked with John Shanks, the 2005 Grammy Award Producer of the Year ("Safest Place To Hide"); and the venerable Max Martin, who helped catapult to fame Ace of Base, Britney Spears-and BSB, with "Quit Playing Games (With My Heart)," "As Long As You Love Me" and "Everybody (Backstreet's Back)."

Martin collaborated on 4 of the 12 songs on "Never Gone," including "Climbing the Walls," a tour de force of conflicting emotion, coupled with a melody so immediately gratifying, you'll be singing along by the second chorus; and the melancholy love song "I Still," which features skyscraping vocals and a magical mesh of harmonies that should be a patented trademark for the Backstreet Boys. Martin also worked with BSB on "Just Want You To Know" and "Siberia."

Being in the studio together for the first time in years, it took the group some time to integrate their different musical influences. But according to AJ, "Once we got with Max, everything shifted and we started going more toward contemporary, alternative pop with a little R&B. We found exactly what we are supposed to be doing for this album. It's more organic, with more live instruments, and a nice departure for us. If we kept on doing what we used to do-with the way music sounds today-people wouldn't care anymore. We had to step ahead of ourselves."

Brian adds, "It was essential for us to grow. If we're not getting better and challenging ourselves, what are we here for?"

Certainly, the average life span of most acts in popular culture is far less than a decade, but the Backstreet Boys are proving that growing with your audience-while staying true to a track record of timeless melodies-cultivates the rare gift of endurance. Indeed, Backstreet's back... again.

"We're excited and we hope our fans are, too," Kevin says. "We're looking forward to a happy, prosperous 2005."

HOME NEWS:

1. Debutante wins China's first gold

At the end of the fifth day of the 2006 Turin Winter Olympic Games, China, a summer sports powerhouse, finally ended its gold medal drought.

     Calm and under no pressure before the Olympics, the 20-year-old said she felt all the tension in the run-up to her gold.

     "I felt very tense from the very beginning and even after the race, I could net calm down.

     "This is my first Olympics and I have to admit the Olympics is really a special competition.

     "I never thought about the specialty of the Olympics but when I stood on the track, I felt it was totally different. Even now I ask myself, Am I an Olympic champion?"

     It was the third winter Olympics gold medal for China after Yang Yang (A) clinched two at the 2002 Salt Lake City Games.

     Following a perfect World Cup season in the women's 500m, where she finished first in all four competitions, Wang was China's biggest gold medal hopeful.

     "I feel no pressure at all but the responsibility, “Wang said before leaving for the Olympics. " The whole country is supporting me and I should be responsible for making some contribution for my motherland."

     At the Turin Games, the burden of winning the first gold for the country fell on Wang Meng.

     On Tuesday, Wang Manli a favorite in the women's speed skating 500m crumbled under pressure, winning only the silver.

     A day earlier, Zhang Dan crashed spectacularly in the free skating of the figure skating pair’s competition, effectively ending hopes of winning gold with her partner, Zhang Hao, giving China yet another silver.

    "After the 500m heats on Monday, I began to feel nervous...But I told myself to do the best I could and in the end I did it.: Wang said.

    She led all the way from the heats to the final.

    The joy of victory made the young skater so exited that she jumped onto the podium even before her name was announced at the awards ceremony.

   Wang's victory continued China's dominance in this event and earned her high praise from team mate Yang, who did not participate in the 500m competition this time. "Wang did very well today since she shouldered heavy pressure."

2. Ancient city plans massive relocation

XI'AN: Chinese cities are often accused of ignoring their cultural and architectural heritage in the blind pursuit of modernization-but Xi'an is taking a radical step to protect its historic relics.

The capital of Northwest China's Shanxi Province.-plan to relocate its administrative centre from the downtown area to the northern suburbs.

  Xi'an, with a 3,000-year history of urban construction, was the capital of 13 dynasties. The downtown area, inside the 13.7-kilometre-perimetre city will build some 600 years ago, used to house the imperial palace and the commercial centre in the Tang Dynasty (AD 618-907).

“The relocation will start later this year, together with a project to rebuild ancient palace and commercial areas,” Major Sun Qingyun said yesterday at the ongoing session of the local legislature.

The restoration plan will better preserve ancient buildings, ruins and relics-considered non-renewable cultural heritage- and improve urban planning, Sun said.

The relocation, costing about 50billion yuan (US$6.17 billion), will be completed in 30 years.

Currently almost all official organs including the municipal government, the municipal Party committee and the local people’s congress are located downtown, which also has commercial centre and residential buildings, said Guo Zhifeng of the municipal urban planning bureau.

“The present layout of the downtown area is suitable neither for the development of the city nor the preservation of ancient relics. Also, there are traffic jams every inside the city walls,” the urban planning official told China Daily.

According to Zhang Baotong, an expert on socio-economic development who took part in Xi’an’s revival plan, cars will be banned in the downtown area inside the city walls, and the population will decrease to less than 250,000 from 450,000.

The local government will build a satellite town in the eastern suburbs for residents to be located from the downtown area, said Wang Jun, director of the new town’s construction committee.

“Wu Deyuan, a downtown resident, told China Daily after hearing the relocation plan: “I have been living inside the city walls for 71 years and I’m really reluctant to say goodbye to the place. But I understand it is necessary for Xi’an’s development.

World News:

1. American Idol’s steals gold in ratings

US television viewer proved they prefer amateur singers to champion skiers and figure skates as the hit talent contest “American Idol” stomped NBC’s coverage of the Winter Olympics in the rating.

“American Idol” on the Fox network averaged 26.3million viewers on Tuesday night, compared with just 16million who tuned in during the same hour for NBC’s taped-developed broadcast of the Winter Games, according to early figures from Nielsen Media Research on Wednesday.

Among viewers aged 18 to 49, the audience group most prized by advertisers, “American Idol” had more than double NBC’s ratings in head-to-head competition against the Olympics.

Fox, a unit of News Corp. Ltd., even gave NBC a run for its money in the next hour of prime time, as the medical drama “House” ran nearly even with the Winter Games in total viwers-20 million for “House” vs. 20.8 million for the Olympics-and trounced NBC in ratings among 18 to 49-year-olds.

For the night as a whole, Fox surpassed NBC’s prime-time Olympics coverage, including America’s first gold-medal victory in men’s alpine skiing in decade-23.1 million viewers to 18.5million overall- and soundly beat NBC in the 18-49 category.

The pop star wannabes of “American Idol” likewise outshone the likes of Madonna, U2 and Cold play in last Tuesday’s match up against the Grammy Awards on CBS, averaging 28 million viewers compared with 15 million for the Grammys.

Predictably, this year’s Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy, have so far failed to attract the viewers of the 2002 gems in Salt Lake City, Utah, which enjoyed a stateside advantage allowing live telecasts of many of the marquee events.

The Turin game’s biggest stars when skating champion Michelle Kwan withdrew from competition on Sunday due to a groin injury, ending her unsuccessful quest for Olympic gold.

Despite being bested by fox and “American Idol,” the Turin games gave NBC it’s most watched on Wednesday night in total viewers since the Summer Games in Athens in 2004.

Last Tuesday’ broadcast of the talent show drew 30 million viewers, nearly 4 million more than during  Olympics week.

2. Real world’s richest club

Real Madrid has over taken Manchester United to become the richest club in world soccer, ending the English club’s eight-year reign at the top.

The Football Money League report published by consultants Deloitte yesterday also shows that combined revenues from the game’s top 20 earning teams broke through the 3 billion euros barrier for the first time.

Much of Real’s success was down to the Spanish club capitalizing on the global appeal of player such as David Beckham, Zinedine Zidane, and Ronaldo, the report said.

The report points to a possible shift away from the dominance of English and Italian clubs, with a rise in the status of French and German teams predicted.

“During the next few seasons, we expect to see a stronger financial showing from German and French clubs. In each country there are new broadcast deals that will significantly enhance clubs’ revenue,” it say.

Stadia devlopent of miore than a billion euros ahead of the 2006 world Cup in Germany will also provide seect Bundesliga club’s with the opportunity to increase both matchday revenue, as many UK clubs have over the past decade.”

Real mdrid, though, remain the success sstory with a business model other clubs should be looking to emulate.

“Real have ‘broke the mould’ in terms of revenue growth for football… it is the clubs’s ability to grow commercial revenues that has guided it to the top of the Money Leage,” said Doloitte.

Dan jones, from Deloitte’s Sports business group, said: “ Real Madrid’s top spot…respresents a remarkable transformation in the club’s revenue generating capacity.

Jones said the total revenue of the top 20 clubs –all of them European- broke the 3 billion euro barrier for the first time in 2005-05, demonstrating it is still a growth sport at the highest level.

English side occupy 8 of the top 20 positions, Italian sides account for 5, followed by Spain (3), Germany(2), and one each from France and Scotland. Fourteen of the clubs reached the UEFA Champions League group stages.

Deloitte predicted that German and French clubs would make a stronger showing over him next few seasons through new broadcasting deals. Germany was also likely to benefit from hosting the World Cup later this year.

Culture Talking:

In today’s culture talking we will have a conversation about the two words-Come and go.

A: Wange, you suggested we talk about COME and GO in this dialogue, which made me immediately recall a song I remember, “Love, love you Darling’ COME and GO with me…” It comes from a song titled COME GO with me sung in 1957 by a group called Dell-Vilings.

B: I read about a drama titled COME and GO written by Beckett in 1965. The whole piece has only 121 words. Three women meet in a softly lit pace. Seated on a bench facing the audience, they reminisce about old school days. Each woman leaves the stage briefly, and during her absence an appalling secret is whispered about her, which the audience doesn’t hear. At the end the three hold hands saying, “I can feel the rings.”

A: I think this shows that people and events COME and GO, and we, as human beings, have the capacity to value what is most important, making connections with each other despite all the Comings and Goings.

B: Beckett was very philosophical. So many things COME and GO, but only a few GO down in history.

A: I agree. IN the case of the expressions COME on; let’s go, which are commonly said together, the meaning suggests we will be moving in the same direction at the same time and right now. I guess that could be confusing as by definition come and go are considered opposites.

B: Most of the time, it seems to me, come and go are used in the sense of come on here, and go over there and are frequently used in commands or as imperatives like your examples. I guess that’s why they come up in sports songs. Do you know that popular song for soccer games, “GO GO GO, aller, aller, aller…”?

A: well, that go means get busy, make some points, and win. No, I have heard it. Maybe that’s because soccer is only beginning to come into popularity in the US. The “Aller, aller, aller” portion is very European-French to be exact. Can you imagine a group of American sports enthusiasts singing “Aller, aller, aller”? I would go just to hear that.

B: This was the song sung in the World Cup Soccer game held in France in 1998 if I remember correctly. That’s how “Aller, aller, aller” comes in. Not many Americans go for soccer. However, they would certainly shout go for their favorite football team as is demonstrated by the Ohio State University Buckeye song Let’s Bucks! “Go Bucks” means “go all out”, I guess.

A: Well, to go all in a gem means get busy, make some points, and win. People always want their favorite teams to go all out. Shouting go team is common in the US, but “aller” never. I like the idea of the European flavor with go and “aller” combined. By the way, I haven’t heard from you in a while. What’s been going on in your life?

B: Well, we just finished celebrating the most important Chinese festival- the Spring Festival.  After the Chinese New Year, comes the Lantern Festival. Now that the Spring Festival is over, people have to go back to work. So time for me to come back to our conversation.

A: How did the festival go? Did everything come off as planned? Ah, there’s another use of come that doesn’t mean movement. Come off is idiomatic for happen. Well, did everything happen as planned?

B: As far as Spring Festival go, this one came off pretty well. My eldest sister came down to Shenzhen to spend the New year with us. We saw some kids being strapped into harnesses and then bouncing up and down in the air. Qiqi, who is always on the go and very curious about new things, decided to go for the game. I went for the par

nachutes. At first, I was rather scared, but my wife encouraged me, so I gathered up my courage and decided to have a go at it. It was a thrilling experience, and I landed safe and sound.

A: How high in the air did you go? Did you come down from an airplane or from an amusement park tower? Wow!! I am impressed. How did if feel to come down as if you were floating? At a brief moment in my life I wanted to try hang gliding just to feel a sense of floating on air, but that never came to be. I couldn’t go through with it. Too chicken, I guess.

B: I didn’t go up very high. The parachute was pulled by a boat that was circling in the water. I went up as the boat circled, and I instantly panicked as I was lifted into the air. But I soon calmed down. “Keep cool,” I kept saying to myself. I was in the air for about twenty minutes. It wasn’t as scary as I had thought after all.

A: I’m sorry. That sounds too scary for me, but I guess it must be fairly safe or no one would go on the ride. It sounds like the holiday did come off well.

B: Yes, very well indeed. If the parachutes sound too scary for you, the dice game Easy come and easy go might be easier and safer.

B: looks like we should just keep the conversation going on and on. But all things must come to an end. So, that’s all we talking about today, and say goodbye to our audience. See you next time.

A: see you.

Entertainment

Classical Movie:

1.The Lion King

The Lion King is an animation which depicts adventures and legends that happened in the animal world. It is the Disney film makers who with their intelligence and creativity, worked wonder within four years of hard work. Lion King was presented to the audience in June, 1994, touching a lot of people with the vivid cartoon images and magnificent view. It is not only a great success in box office, but also redefined animations. It won the Academy Award in 1995. Here is the main plot of the movie.

The first half of the film focuses on Simba's youth, with a couple of scary scenes — the first in an elephant graveyard and the second a wildebeest stampede — both engineered by his evil Uncle Scar (Jeremy Irons).

      After the death of Simba's father, Mufasa, Scar convinces Simba that he's to blame. So, Simba banishes himself from the land of his forefathers, while Scar and the hyenas take over.

      Meanwhile, Simba makes friends with Pumbaa and Timon, as he grows to adulthood. Pumbaa and Timon introduce Simba to the joys of leisure and a steady diet of bugs, until one day the lioness Nala shows up. She tells Simba of Scar's treachery and asks him to return and take his rightful place on the throne.

     Simba then gets a piece of advice from the ghost of his father, ultimately returning home to set his house in order and face the truth about his past.

Next we will listen to a conversation between Simba and his father about the circle of life.

2. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Between sci-fi and fantasy, fantasy won out this year. With its adjusted score of 81.77 and an 89% on the Tomatometer, "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" takes the Golden Tomato Award for the best-reviewed sci-fi/fantasy movie for 2005, beating out "Serenity" and the final installment of "Star Wars." In his fourth year at Hogwarts, our young wizard-in-training Harry Potter is set to compete in the granddaddy of all tournaments -- the Triwizard Cup, where competing schools gather in a not-so-friendly competition for bragging rights. But danger lurks behind the scenes. Eleanor Ringel Gillespie of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution called "Goblet" "indisputably the best movie in the franchise thus far," while Carrie Rickey of the Philadelphia Inquirer proclaimed it to be "the most fun and the most fraught with conflict." Where will the next one in the series land in 2007? Stay tuned.