07+April+7

**Introduction of The Big Bang Theory**


Leonard and Sheldon are brilliant physicists, the kind of "beautiful minds" that understand how the universe works. But none of that genius helps them interact with people, especially women. All this begins to change when a free-spirited beauty named Penny moves in next door. Sheldon, Leonard's roommate, is quite content spending his nights playing Klingon Boggle with their socially dysfunctional friends, fellow Caltech scientists Wolowitz and Koothrappali. However, Leonard sees in Penny a whole new universe of possibilities... including love.

__Main characters in the episode:__
Sheldon is //the // uber geek, he possesses a Master's degree and 2 PhDs, and conducts string theory research at Caltech. He shares an apartment with Leonard.Sheldon started college at the age of 11, receiving his first PhD at 16.
 * Sheldon Cooper(Jim Parsons) **

More information about Sheldon Cooper []



Leonard Hofstadter (Johnny Galecki)
Leonard is an experimental physicist at Caltech. He shares an apartment with Sheldon Cooper.While Leonard, along with the other geeks, is somewhat socially inept, Leonard would like to be better accepted outside of his geeky social group.

More information about Leonard Hofstadter []

 **Howard Wolowitz(Simon Helberg )**

Howard Wolowitz is a 27 year old engineer. He is the only one who doesn't have a PhD. Howard is a multi-lingual speaker whose many tongues he uses to impress the ladies, sadly to little avail.

More inormation about Howard Wolowitz []

**Rajesh Koothrappali(Kunal Nayyar )**

<span style="color: #202020; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">Rajesh Koothrappali is an Astrophysicist from India. He now lives in California. His social anxiety is suppressed only by alcohol. He rarely talks to women when not intoxicated. <span style="color: #202020; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">More information about Rajesh Koothrappali []

<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;">**Barry Kripke(John Ross Bowie)** <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">Another scientist at Caltech, a co-worker of Leonard and Sheldon. He speaks with a lisp.He has been described by [|Howard] as a "jerk" and a "ginormous knob" by Rajesh. Sheldon notes (to his face) that he is "generally considered unlikeable".

Search for more characters on IMDB:[]

__Synopsis of today's episode:__



<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 18pt; margin: 18pt 0cm 6pt;">Socially awkward Sheldon develops a scientific procedure for making friends. He needs to use an open science grid computer that is in Barry Kripke's office, but Leonard tells Sheldon that only Barry's friends can use it ... ergo, Sheldon decides he must become friends with him. After repeated rebuffs from Kripke, Sheldon finds a children's book in the bookstore (where he is hurried out by Leonard who finds him innocently chatting to a little girl in view of a security camera) about how to make friends. He designs a flowchart for accomplishing this task. He goes rock climbing with Kripke but faints halfway up when he sees how far he has come. Sheldon invites him over to his apartment, much to the disgust of everyone else. Raj is informed he is being replaced by Kripke as five friends would be too many to handle. Barry then tells Sheldon there is a sign-up sheet for the computer and Barry has no control over it. Sheldon then dismisses Barry as his friend and goes back to his other four friends: Leonard, Howard, Raj, and Penny.

__**<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">Listening activities **__
Today we will watch part of the episode and will have several questions.

Part 1: Sheldon went to the bookstore and met a little girl. <9:10~11:37> See the video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0h0qZCjR_k

Part 2: Sheldon made a "friendship algorithm" and tried to make friend with Kripke by using it. <11:49~14:18> See the video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0xgjUhEG3U

<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">**Part 2 Listening activity**
 * 1) ====<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; line-height: 21px;">Which book helps Sheldon come up with the friendship algorithm? ====
 * 2) ====<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; line-height: 21px;"> What are the three activities that Kripke proposed when Sheldon tried to find a “common interest”? ====
 * 3) ====<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; line-height: 21px;"> Who solved the infinite loop? How? ====
 * 4) ====<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; line-height: 21px;"> What activity does Sheldon agree to as a compromise? ====

Part 3: Sheldon and Kripke went rock climbing. <14:21~16:08> See the video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?gl=US&v=8uvAwb5Unic See the links below for videos that explain the monolith reference.

<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">**Part 3 Listening activity**

<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; margin-left: 18pt; text-indent: -18pt;">1. How did Sheldon mock the staff at the rock climbing venue? 2. <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">What kind of swimming does Sheldon think he is doing when climbing the wall? <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; margin-left: 18pt; text-indent: -18pt;">3. How does Sheldon end his first rock climbing experience?



__** Vocabularies **__
<span style="font-size: 10.5pt; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 21pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-indent: -21pt;">**condolences**-an expression of a sympathy that you feel for somebody when a person in their family or that they know well has died. <span style="font-size: 10.5pt; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 21pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-indent: -21pt;">**void**- a large empty space. <span style="font-size: 10.5pt; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 21pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-indent: -21pt;">**moth**-a flying insect with a long thin body and four large wings, like a butterfly, but less brightly colored, fly mainly at night and are attracted to bright lights. <span style="font-size: 10.5pt; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 21pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-indent: -21pt;">**moth ball**- a small white ball made of a chemical with a strong smell, used for keeping moths away clothes. <span style="font-size: 10.5pt; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 21pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-indent: -21pt;">**pretzel**- a crisp salty biscuit in the shape of a knot or stick, often served with drinks at a party. <span style="font-size: 10.5pt; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 21pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-indent: -21pt;">**extrapolate**- to estimate something or form an opinion about something, using the facts having now and that are valid for one situation and supposing that they will be valid for the new one. <span style="font-size: 10.5pt; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 21pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-indent: -21pt;">**anthropomorphize**- treat gods, animals or objects as if they had human qualities. <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 6pt 21pt; text-indent: -21pt;">**algorithm**- a process or set of rules to be followed in calculations or other problem-solving operations, especially by a computer. <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 6pt 21pt; text-indent: -21pt;">**booth**- a small temporary tent or structure at a market, fair, or exhibition, used for selling goods, providing information, or staging shows. <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 6pt 21pt; text-indent: -21pt;">**distilled**- extract the essential meaning or most important aspects. <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 6pt 21pt; text-indent: -21pt;">**flowchart**-a graphic that shows the connections between the different stages of process or parts of a system. <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 6pt 21pt; text-indent: -21pt;">**crate**- slatted wooden case used for transporting goods. <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 6pt 21pt; text-indent: -21pt;">**beverage**- any type of drinks except water. <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 6pt 21pt; text-indent: -21pt;">**recreational**- activity done for enjoyment when one is not working. <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 6pt 21pt; text-indent: -21pt;">**loop**-a set of instructions that is repeated again and again until a particular condition is satisfied. <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 6pt 21pt; text-indent: -21pt;">**ventriloquism**- the art of speaking without moving lips and of making it look as if your voice is coming from another person. <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 6pt 21pt; text-indent: -21pt;">**loop counter**- change with each part of a loop, providing a unique value for each individual part. The loop counter is used to decide when the loop should terminate and for program flow to continue to the next instruction after the loop. <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 6pt 21pt; text-indent: -21pt;">**objectionable**-unpleasant, offensive. <span style="color: #0d0d0d; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 6pt 21pt; text-indent: -21pt;">**dummy**- a model or replica of a human being. <span style="color: #0d0d0d; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 6pt 21pt; text-indent: -21pt;">**monolithic**- formed of a single large block of stone, very large and characterless. <span style="color: #0d0d0d; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 6pt 21pt; text-indent: -21pt;">**Hominids**-human, or creatures that lived in the past which humans developed from. <span style="color: #0d0d0d; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 6pt 21pt; text-indent: -21pt;">**prudent**- sensible and careful when you make judgments or decisions; avoiding unnecessary risks. <span style="color: #0d0d0d; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 6pt 21pt; text-indent: -21pt;">**evolutionary**- connected with gradual development and change. <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 6pt 21pt; text-indent: -21pt;">**altitude**- the height above sea level. <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 6pt 21pt; text-indent: -21pt;">**cement**- to make a relationship, an agreement stronger.

<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 6pt 21pt; text-indent: -21pt;">**harness**- a set of strips of leather for fastening something to a person’s body or to keep them from moving off or falling. <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 6pt 21pt; text-indent: -21pt;">**incontinence**- the lack of ability to control the bladder and bowels. <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 6pt 21pt; text-indent: -21pt;">**tangent**- a straight line or plane that touches a curve or curved surface at a point, but if extended does not cross it at that point.

<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 6pt 21pt; text-indent: -21pt;">**asymptote**- a straight line that continually approaches a given curve but does not meet it at any finite distance.

__ Phrases __
<span style="font-size: 10.5pt; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 21pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-indent: -21pt;">**cope with**- deal with, handle some situation <span style="font-size: 10.5pt; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 21pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-indent: -21pt;">**hit it off (with somebody)**-have good friendly relationship with somebody. <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 6pt 21pt; text-indent: -21pt;">**Hear sb. out-** to listen until someone finished saying what they want to say. <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 6pt 21pt; text-indent: -21pt;">**pass out**- faint, becoming unconscious.

__Links__
Whole episode is here: http://www.vxv.com/video/AQtbKlfqpc9D/the-big-bang-theory-online-s02e13-sub-esp.html

Clips from the movie 2001: A Space Odyssey: Just watch the first 4 minutes of this clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ML1OZCHixR0 Watch the first 5:25 seconds of this clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVMPlIQAz5E&feature=related

__About 2001: A Space Odyssey:__

 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">2001: A Space Odyssey ** <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">is a 1968 epic science fiction film produced and directed by Stanley Kubrick, and co-written by Kubrick and Arthur C. Clarke. The film deals with thematic elements of human evolution, technology, artificial intelligent, and extraterrestrial life. It is notable for its scientific realism, pioneering special effects, ambiguous imagery that is open-ended to a point approaching surrealism, sound in place of traditional narrative techniques, and minimal use of dialogue.

<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">Check it out on wiki: []

__Cultural refrences__


 * Cockatoo **


 * <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 0px; overflow: hidden;">﻿ **



Cockatoo is one kind of Parrot which can be found in Australia, Papua New Guinea, Indonesia & south Philippine. The name cockatoo originated from the Malay name for these birds, kaka(k)tua ( means “old brother or old sister”)

<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">//<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">CURIOUS GEORGE // <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">i s an animated series based on the popular books by Margret and H.A. Rey and airs daily on PBS KIDS. <span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 20px;">[]
 * Curious George**

<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 0px; margin: 0cm; overflow: hidden;">


 * Comic-con**

<span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: medium;">

<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">It is traditionally a four-day event (Thursday through Sunday — though a three-hour preview night on Wednesday is open to professionals, exhibitors, and some guests pre-registered for all four days) held during the summer in San Diego, California, United States, at the San Diego Convention Center. <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"> -- [|Wikipedia]

<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">**<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">Some geeky T-shirts: **

<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">**<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 0px; overflow: hidden;">﻿ **



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The Friendship Algorithm

<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">__Discussion__

<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; margin-left: 18pt; text-indent: -18pt;">1. Do you have any classmate or friend who can’t make friend easily? What kind of characteristic does he/she have that results in this kind of difficulty? <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; margin-left: 18pt; text-indent: -18pt;">2. Which common interest do you usually share with your new friends? <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; margin-left: 18pt; text-indent: -18pt;">3. What is the most embarrassing/unforgettable experience you have had when you were hanging out with your friends?