From VOA Learning English, this is the Health & Lifestyle report.
Being able to find high quality health care at an affordable price is an issue in many countries.
In the United States, Walmart, a large chain store, is trying to help. It is offering something new to its employees: cutting the cost of a doctor’s appointment to only $4.
The Associated Press (AP) news agency notes that Walmart once required its employees to pay $40 for the same service.
Why is the price so low, you might ask? What’s the catch?
The catch is that the patient and doctor must meet electronically -- over the internet. This online service is called “telemedicine.”
Walmart is the latest major business in the United States to push its workers toward a high-tech way to be examined and treated by doctors. Thanks to telemedicine, people can talk with medical experts from the privacy of their own homes, often using a secure video connection.
Many in the U.S. healthcare industry see this as a good time to teach people how telemedicine services can help them. The AP reports that widespread use of smartphone technology, an easing of rules and employer interest are all fueling the expansion of telemedicine.
Supporters say online visits make it easier for patients to see an expert or quickly find help for problems considered non-emergencies. But many people continue to go to the doctor’s office when they are sick.
Some healthcare needs are well-suited for telemedicine
Some areas of healthcare seem like a good choice for telemedicine. It can help people seeking treatment for insect bites or skin conditions. Patients who have had medical treatments and cannot move around easily can use telemedicine for their follow-up visits. Also, people seeking help for mental health issues can benefit from the privacy that telemedicine gives.
Still, many people do not use telemedicine
But generally, Americans have been slow to try virtual health care.
The AP reports that 80 percent of middle-size and large U.S. companies offered telemedicine services to their workers in 2018. That is up from only 18 percent in 2014. However, the AP found that only 8 percent of eligible employees used telemedicine at least once in 2017.
This seems to support what many health care experts say -- people are often not willing to change their way of thinking about health care.
Who uses telemedicine? And who doesn’t?
Compared with seeing a real doctor in person, some people may think the quality of telemedicine is not as good. Parents, for example, may feel they are not giving their child the best care if they use a virtual doctor appointment.
Older adults may also not want to see a doctor online. Experts say that one reason may be that older people may look forward to their in-person doctor appointments.
The company InSight Telepsychiatry provides virtual mental health services. Geoffrey Boyce, the head of the company, spoke with the AP about the people who use telemedicine.
Boyce explained that, “going to the doctor’s office is a big event” in the lives of many older people. He said it is something they look forward to.
Another reason some adults may not use telemedicine services is trust.
Tom Hill, age 66, lives in the state of Indiana. Hill told the AP he has no plans to ever use telemedicine. He does not buy anything online, let alone do something as personal as seeing a doctor. He says, for him, it is important to look his doctor in the eye and shake hands.
However, for some people -- such as young people and busy students -- telemedicine might be a good choice. It can cut down on the time away from work. It can also cut down on the cost of doctor visits.
And that's the Health & Lifestyle report.
I’m Anna Matteo.
 
Tom Murphy reported this story for the Associated Press. Anna Matteo adapted his report for VOA Learning English. George Grow was the editor.
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Words in This Story
 
affordable – adj. having a cost that is not too high
chain store – n. one of numerous usually retail stores having the same ownership and selling the same lines of goods
What’s the catch? – slang phrase : “What is the drawback?” This means something sounds too good to be true. So, a person asks if there any hidden problems.
virtual – adj. being on or simulated on a computer or computer network
high-tech – adj. technology involving the production or use of advanced or sophisticated devices
benefit – n. a good or helpful result or effect
eligible – adj. qualified to participate or be chosen(2019/02/19 08:02)

 
In the months before the 2016 presidential election in the United States, American psychologist Laurie Helgoe grew increasingly concerned. She worried a little about the campaigns. She worried more about the public’s reaction to them.
Americans’ comments on social media seemed to be filled with either extreme praise or extreme criticism, Helgoe told VOA in a telephone interview. Many of the comments focused especially on the personality of then-candidate Donald Trump. Helgoe observed that few people could let go of their strong feelings.
Helgoe was so worried that she wrote a book to help people deal with what she calls a “dangerous” situation in the U.S. today. The book is titled “Fragile Bully: Understanding Our Destructive Affair with Narcissism in the Age of Trump.” Helgoe is a professor at the Ross University School of Medicine in the Bahamas.
Are Americans more narcissistic than people from other countries?
A simple definition of the word “narcissism” is “self-interest” – doing and saying what is good for you.
Some self-interest is important, Helgoe notes. But someone who carries the idea too far may not be able to understand other people’s ideas or feelings. And someone who is very extreme may insist on keeping the attention on himself or herself at all times, then become hurt when criticized.
A simple definition of the word “narcissism” is “self-interest” – doing and saying what is good for you.
Helgoe notes that narcissism as a true mental disorder is rare. Instead, she says, levels of narcissism differ among people.
Levels may also differ from culture to culture. For example, she reports that in one study, American researchers joined with scientists from China, Turkey, Spain and the United Kingdom. They found that people in those countries believed Americans as a group were more narcissistic than people from their own countries.
Helgoe says the finding could suggest that parts of American culture urge people to be narcissistic. For example, the U.S. is a center for movies and television, so people who can pull attention to themselves are often seen as successful. And in general, Americans also believe standing out as an individual is good.
In brief, “narcissism sells, and it creates a following,” says Helgoe. Even if people dislike what he or she says, someone who can hold others’ attention has power.
How to deal with a narcissistic person
But narcissism can also be damaging, Helgoe warns, especially if it is extreme. She points to the origins of the word “narcissism.”
It comes from an ancient Greek story. In the story, a beautiful young man named Narcissus refuses the attention of a female spirit called Echo. Instead, Narcissus falls in love with an image of himself he sees in some water.
The two become trapped. Echo cannot speak her own words – instead, she can only repeat what Narcissus says. And Narcissus cannot move, even to eat or drink, because he does not want to stop looking at himself. In time, they both die.
The word 'narcissism' comes from an ancient Greek story. In the story, a beautiful young man named Narcissus refuses the attention of a female spirit called Echo. Instead, Narcissus falls in love with an image of himself he sees in some water.
This kind of damaging interaction can describe being in a relationship with an extreme narcissist, says Helgoe.
“It can feel like a dance… It sometimes feels like no matter how you respond, you are trapped,” she says.
She says people who are around extreme narcissists often feel deep anger, or rage, because they are dismissed. But when they fight the narcissist, the person claims she or he is the real victim.
Even those who accept an extreme narcissist are in a difficult position. They may enjoy the feelings of energy and power he or she brings. But they always risk being sent away.
In time, both those who resist and those who support an extreme narcissist may “become small,” Helgoe says. They may become extremely negative; they may feel helpless and pull away in sadness; or they may connect so strongly with the narcissist that they lose the ability to think for themselves. In all cases, they come to copy the narcissist, like Echo in the Greek story.
Public beware
Helgoe says she sees some of these problems in the U.S. today. Even though the title of her book includes the word “Trump,” she does not make any judgments about the U.S. president. Instead, she notes that ties are increasing among social media, politics and entertainment. As a result,
“The world is a more benign place than what it looks like in a narcissistic narrative,” Helgoe says. In other words, the world is gentler and safer than narcissists want you to believe. Do not fall for their stories.
people who can make others follow them, push for causes and create strong feelings are gaining power in American society. Their power can be a problem if they care more about their self-interest or self-image than about the needs of the community.
Helgoe warns that, in these situations, the public must be careful. She says people in a relationship with a narcissist can come to enjoy the strong feelings he or she creates. The feelings can act like a drug. Protecting your group can be fun. Deep anger can also be fun, Helgoe notes – and seeing someone with whom you are angry be punished can be really fun.
But the strong feelings hurt us, Helgoe says. They hurt our relationships with other people, and they hurt our own mental health. They also demand we spend a lot of time thinking about what Helgoe calls poisonous ideas.
She advises people who are around narcissists to soften their feelings a little bit. Do not give attention so easily to someone who wants only to “stir you up,” to affect you intensely.      
“The world is a more benign place than what it looks like in a narcissistic narrative,” Helgoe says. In other words, the world is gentler and safer than narcissists want you to believe. Do not fall for their stories.
I’m Kelly Jean Kelly.
 
Kelly Jean Kelly wrote this story for Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor.
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Words in This Story
 
stand out - v. to be easily seen or noticed
entertainment - n. amusement or pleasure that comes from watching a performer, playing a game, etc.
benign - adj. gentle and kind
narrative - n. a story that is told or written(2019/02/19 08:00)

 
What do you do with the mountain of waste that a major city produces? It is a continuing question. And, Copenhagen – the capital of Denmark – has come up with an answer. Ski on it!
The waste is inside Copenhill, a waste treatment factory 10 minutes from the center of the city. The main building is a futuristic-looking structure 85 meters high. It includes a long hill from the top of the building to the ground. The hill is covered in a material called “neveplast” creating a snowless ski slope.
“I think everybody is surprised to start with when they look at it and it’s not snow,” said Christian Ingels, the director at Copenhill.
He said that, after one or two tries on the neveplast hill, “you feel exactly like skiing.”
Danish designer Bjarke Ingels designed the place – an important step in Copenhagen’s aim of becoming the world’s first carbon-neutral capital. He wanted to build a waste treatment factory that local people are happy to see in their neighborhood. It seems to be working.
Visiting skier Pelle Hansen said being able to ski in the middle of a city is a wonderful experience.
Instead of “having to go six, seven, eight or ten hours” to a ski area, “you can be here in ten minutes,” he said.
The factory will also burn waste from about 600,000 homes and 68,000 businesses to produce electricity. Some of the other waste will be recycled.
The company began in 2017 and the sports area will open permanently this spring. The ski slopes will stay open throughout the year.
“It’s fantastic that one can ski without snow,” said visitor Tommy Christensen. “It’s a…different experience than skiing in real snow, but it’s my second run and I’ll try it again. It looks promising.”
I’m Alice Bryant.
 
Jacob Gronholt-Pedersen reported this story for Reuters news agency. Alice Bryant adapted it for Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor.
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Words in This Story
 
ski – v. to move or glide on skis over snow or water
slope – n. an area of land on a mountain that is used for skiing
carbon-neutral – adj. making no net release of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere
recycle – v. to send used newspapers, bottles, cans, etc. to a place where they are made into something new
fantastic – adj. extremely good(2019/02/19 07:57)

 
A study by the apartment search website RentCafe finds that more wealthy Americans are choosing to rent living spaces instead of buying them.
The study’s writer, Alexandra Ciuntu, collected information from the U.S. Census Bureau. She found that the number of U.S. households earning at least $150,000 a year that chose to rent increased 175 percent between 2007 and 2017.
This new kind of renter goes against the idea that Americans rent mostly because they do not have enough money to buy a home.
Ciuntu told VOA by email, "Lifestyle plays an important part in their decision to rent."
Business and technology centers like San Francisco, California, and Seattle, Washington, have the highest numbers of wealthy renters.
In San Francisco, the number of renters grew from 21,000 in 2007 to 71,400 in 2017. That is an increase of 240 percent. The number of wealthy buyers increased by 56 percent -- from 40,100 in 2007 to 62,400 in 2017.
Ciuntu says that, with the rise in housing prices, it seems like a better decision to rent than to buy.
She added, “In San Francisco, for example, $200,000 buys you just 260 square feet [24 square meters]. It's understandable why top earners give renting a serious try before deciding whether to invest in a property or not."
In San Francisco and New York City, wealthy renters outnumber wealthy buyers. There are more high-earning renters — about 250,000 — in New York City than anywhere else in the country.
But Ciuntu notes that the interest in renting does not mean wealthy Americans are rejecting homeownership. Between 2007 and 2017, Seattle gained 13,400 more wealthy home owners than it did high-income renters. Cities like Chicago and Denver also saw thousands more wealthy homeowners move in than wealthy renters during that 10-year period.
I’m Jonathan Evans.
 
Dora Mekouar reported this story for VOA News. Jonathan Evans adapted it for Learning English with additional content from the RentCafe blog.  Ashley Thompson was the editor.
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Words in This Story
 
lifestyle – n. a particular way of living; the way a person lives or a group of people live
household – n. the people in a family or other group that are living together in one house(2019/02/19 07:55)

 
Native American flute players perform at music festivals around the world. But few belong to any Native tribe or nation. That concerns award-winning flutist Darren Thompson. He is a member of the Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa in northern Wisconsin.
Thompson told VOA, "The Native American flute is the name of the instrument, so anybody who picks one up and plays it can call himself a Native American flute player." 
This week, Thompson is performing at the National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI) in New York. He will share music and stories connected to the history and struggles of the Ojibwe people. 
Playing an inauthentic flute violates the U.S. Indian Arts and Crafts Act. The law, passed in 1990, bans the sale of goods falsely identified as "Native American."  But there is nothing to stop non-Native performers from falsely claiming Native American heritage.
Thompson said, "It's not so much the fact that they are playing the flute that bothers me. It's the fact that a lot of them are non-Native and try to play the part of a Native, wearing what they think is Indian attire...”
Thompson grew up hearing traditional Ojibwe music. But it was not an important part of his life until he left the reservation.
He said, "I went to Marquette University, where there weren't any other Native kids. I was still in Wisconsin, but it was a foreign environment."
His longing for home led Thompson to the music of Navajo/Ute flutist Raymond Carlos Nakai. Nakai’s music brought back childhood memories.
"One of the first stories I ever heard came from the elders, who talked about trees," Thompson said. "I remember them saying trees sing to us and give us guidance.  I think I was four, and that story came to mind 15 years later when I first heard Nakai playing."
Thompson bought his first flute from a non-Native seller at a cultural event.  He taught himself to play. As he learned, he says he felt moved to connect to the music of his ancestors.
He added, "I went out to museums to research actual instruments that were seized 200 years ago and taken into collections."  
Traditionally, players made their own instruments from a single piece of wood. No two instruments would have been exactly alike.
Thompson said, "The length of the instrument would be the distance from that person's armpit to his first knuckle. The width would be the same as the width of his thumb.”
The number of open holes carved into the flute also differs. Thompson owns several flutes. He made a few of them himself. Some have only four holes, while others have five or six.  
The result is a sound unique to each player — a deep and clear sound that Thompson says "touches a lot of people."
He has wanted to perform at NMAI for at least 10 years. 
Thompson said, "NMAI has a program called ‘The Art of Storytelling.’ My performance is unique, in that I try to reintroduce stories and music from history.  Songs I've learned that were recorded in the early 1900s, before our culture got erased."
I’m Jonathan Evans.
 
Cecily Hilleary reported this story for VOA News. Jonathan Evans adapted it for Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor.
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Words in This Story
 
inauthentic – adj. not real, accurate, or sincere; not authentic
elders – n. people who have authority because of age and experience
heritage – n. the traditions, achievements, beliefs, etc., that are part of the history of a group or nation
attire – n. clothing
erase(d) – v. to remove any thought or memory of something
reintroduce – v. to begin using something again
unique – adj. very special or unusual
actual – adj. real and not merely possible or imagined : existing in fact(2019/02/19 07:55)