Podcast 20

 

All Roads Lead To Rome

 

The figurative expression, All roads lead to Rome, means that all choices, methods, or actions eventually lead to the same result. In ancient Roman times, this statement had a more literal meaning. The Roman Empire had an advanced system of roads, and all major roads led directly to the capital. New roads were often built shortly after the Empire captured a new city. Stone mile markers told travellers how far they were from the next major city, and a Golden Milestone was placed in the capital. Roman roads made it possible to transport military units, goods, and knowledge efficiently, helping the Empire expand and achieve great power.

 

International Pilots Require English Proficiency

 

The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) is a UN organization that regulates global aviation standards and practices. The ICAO requires that all pilots and air traffic controllers working on international routes are proficient in English pronunciation, structure, vocabulary, fluency, comprehension and interaction. After reaching the Operational level, pilots and air traffic controllers may operate internationally, but must retake the test every few years until they reach Expert level. The ICAO also recommends that pilots and air traffic controllers use a standard English script. They should avoid using idioms and slang, and should use standard pronunciation and aviation codes for numbers and letters (e.g. Alpha means A and Echo means E).

 

An American Football Game Has 11 Minutes of Action

 

A regulation game of American football in the National Football League (NFL) has four 15-minute quarters. If you are watching a game from start to finish, it will take approximately three hours. According to recent studies, the ball is in play on the field for just eleven minutes in an average football game. A single play lasts for about four seconds, though the clock continues to run even when a play is over. In a football broadcast, fans spend most of the time watching replays, commentary, pre-recorded video footage, and commercials.