What is an individual life worth? Do our lives have equal value? Struggling with these questions led me to my belief.
After Sept. 11, I confronted the challenge of placing a value on human life by calculating different amounts of compensation for each and every victim. The law required that I give more money to the stockbroker, the bond trader and the banker than to the waiter, the policeman, the fireman and the soldier at the Pentagon. This is what happens every day in courtrooms throughout our nation. Our system of justice has always been based upon this idea — that compensation for death should be directly related to the financial circumstances of each victim.
But as I met with the 9/11 families and wrestled with issues surrounding the valuation of lives lost, I began to question this basic premise of our legal system. Trained in the law, I had always accepted that no two lives were worth the same in financial terms. But now I found the law in conflict with my growing belief in the equality of all life. "Mr. Feinberg, my husband was a fireman and died a hero at the World Trade Center. Why are you giving me less money than the banker who represented Enron? Why are you demeaning the memory of my husband?"
My response was defensive and unconvincing. At first I gave the standard legal argument — that I was not evaluating the intrinsic moral worth of any individual. I was basing my decision on the law, just as juries did every day. But this explanation fell on deaf ears. Grieving families couldn't hear it. And I didn't believe it myself.
I was engaged in a personal struggle. I felt it would make more sense for Congress to provide the same amount of public compensation to each and every victim — to declare, in effect, that all lives are equal. But in this case, the law prevailed.
Last year, however, in the wake of the Virginia Tech shootings and the deaths of 32 victims, I was again asked to design and administer a compensation system, this one privately funded. And I realized that Feinberg the citizen should trump Feinberg the lawyer. My legal training would no longer stand in the way. This time all victims — students and faculty alike — would receive the same compensation.
In the case of Sept. 11, if there is a next time, and Congress again decides to award public compensation, I hope the law will declare that all life should be treated the same. Courtrooms, judges, lawyers and juries are not the answer when it comes to public compensation. I have resolved my personal conflict and have learned a valuable lesson at the same time. I believe that public compensation should avoid financial distinctions which only fuel the hurt and grief of the survivors. I believe all lives should be treated the same.
- -by Kenneth Feinberg
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Summary:
He believes that public compensation should avoid financial distinctions which only fuel the hurt and grief of the survivors.
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Vocabulary:
1.compensation
2.wrestled
3.represented
4.intrinsic
5.engaged
6.resolved
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Useful Words:
1.circumstances
2.demeaning
3.evaluating
4.grieving
5.declare
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2008年5月26日 星期一
2008年5月16日 星期五
I Am Not My Body
I believe I am not my body.
Every day, we see images of perfect bodies we can never have, and we become convinced our bodies are who we are. Passing through puberty, into adulthood and now into middle age, I've wasted a lot of time lamenting the size of my hips, the gray in my hair, and the lines in my face. Finally, as I approach my 50s, I believe my parents were right all along: I am not my body.
I was born in 1959, at the tail end of the baby boom. Unfortunately I arrived without all my body parts fully intact. My left arm is a short stub with a small hand and three fingers, reminiscent of a thalidomide defect. To my good fortune, I had superb parents. They were fighters who struck "I can't" from my vocabulary, and replaced it with "I will find a way." They believed the development of the mind, heart and soul determine who you are and who you will become. My body was not to be used as an excuse; instead it was a catalyst.
My body was not neglected, though. It endured surgery; it was dragged to physical therapy, then to swimming, and finally to yoga. But it was not the focus of my life. I was taught to respect my body, but to remember that it was only a vehicle that carried the important things: my brain and soul. Moreover, I was taught that bodies come in all shapes, colors and sizes, and that everyone was struggling in some way with their physical inadequacies. Infomercials have convinced me this must be true, although through adolescence I found it difficult to believe the cheerleading squad had any self-doubts.
In my alternately formed body, I have learned lessons about patience, determination, frustration and success. This body can't play the piano or climb rock walls, but it taught all the neighborhood kids to eat with their feet, a skill it learned in the children's hospital. Eventually it learned to tie shoes, crossed a stage to pick up a college diploma, backpacked through Europe and changed my baby's diapers.
Some people think I am my body and treat me with prejudice or pity. Some are just curious. It took years, but I have learned to ignore the stares and just smile back. My body has taught me to respect my fellow humans — even the thin, able-bodied, beautiful ones.
I am my words, my ideas and my actions. I am filled with love, humor, ambition and intelligence. This I believe: I am your fellow human being and, like you, I am so much more than a body.
- -By Lisa Sandin
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Summary:
Unfortunately she arrived without all her body parts fully intact.
Some people think she is her body and treat her with prejudice or pity... It took years, but she has learned to ignore the stares and just smile back.
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Vocaulary:
1.puberty
2.lamenting
3.stub
4.reminiscent
5.thalidomide
6.therapy
7.inadequacies
8.prejudice
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Useful Words:
1.intact
2.defect
3.fortune
4.development
5.neglected
6.endure
7.ambition
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The writer's body has alittle disabled, but she did't abase herself. Although she has something different from other people she did't shut herself in a small circle instead, she . She try her best to do everything.
Actually many people who was disable in the accident or inbred, they don't like people to have pity for them or to feel sorry for them. They don't like the feeling that they are different from others, instead, they are desirous that people can treat them as man in the street not to take exaggerative compassion on them. Although their body is imperfect, they don't think it is deplorable. Because it can't represent anything. The most imporant are their motive power to do everything, their emotion, their wisdom to deal with the problem, their honesty, and their goodness of human nature.
Every day, we see images of perfect bodies we can never have, and we become convinced our bodies are who we are. Passing through puberty, into adulthood and now into middle age, I've wasted a lot of time lamenting the size of my hips, the gray in my hair, and the lines in my face. Finally, as I approach my 50s, I believe my parents were right all along: I am not my body.
I was born in 1959, at the tail end of the baby boom. Unfortunately I arrived without all my body parts fully intact. My left arm is a short stub with a small hand and three fingers, reminiscent of a thalidomide defect. To my good fortune, I had superb parents. They were fighters who struck "I can't" from my vocabulary, and replaced it with "I will find a way." They believed the development of the mind, heart and soul determine who you are and who you will become. My body was not to be used as an excuse; instead it was a catalyst.
My body was not neglected, though. It endured surgery; it was dragged to physical therapy, then to swimming, and finally to yoga. But it was not the focus of my life. I was taught to respect my body, but to remember that it was only a vehicle that carried the important things: my brain and soul. Moreover, I was taught that bodies come in all shapes, colors and sizes, and that everyone was struggling in some way with their physical inadequacies. Infomercials have convinced me this must be true, although through adolescence I found it difficult to believe the cheerleading squad had any self-doubts.
In my alternately formed body, I have learned lessons about patience, determination, frustration and success. This body can't play the piano or climb rock walls, but it taught all the neighborhood kids to eat with their feet, a skill it learned in the children's hospital. Eventually it learned to tie shoes, crossed a stage to pick up a college diploma, backpacked through Europe and changed my baby's diapers.
Some people think I am my body and treat me with prejudice or pity. Some are just curious. It took years, but I have learned to ignore the stares and just smile back. My body has taught me to respect my fellow humans — even the thin, able-bodied, beautiful ones.
I am my words, my ideas and my actions. I am filled with love, humor, ambition and intelligence. This I believe: I am your fellow human being and, like you, I am so much more than a body.
- -By Lisa Sandin
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Summary:
Unfortunately she arrived without all her body parts fully intact.
Some people think she is her body and treat her with prejudice or pity... It took years, but she has learned to ignore the stares and just smile back.
－ － － － － － － － － － － －
Vocaulary:
1.puberty
2.lamenting
3.stub
4.reminiscent
5.thalidomide
6.therapy
7.inadequacies
8.prejudice
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Useful Words:
1.intact
2.defect
3.fortune
4.development
5.neglected
6.endure
7.ambition
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The writer's body has alittle disabled, but she did't abase herself. Although she has something different from other people she did't shut herself in a small circle instead, she . She try her best to do everything.
Actually many people who was disable in the accident or inbred, they don't like people to have pity for them or to feel sorry for them. They don't like the feeling that they are different from others, instead, they are desirous that people can treat them as man in the street not to take exaggerative compassion on them. Although their body is imperfect, they don't think it is deplorable. Because it can't represent anything. The most imporant are their motive power to do everything, their emotion, their wisdom to deal with the problem, their honesty, and their goodness of human nature.
2008年5月15日 星期四
Movie - - Iron Man
He speeds into battle in a fiery flash, laying waste to all challengers. That's not just "Iron Man" but the film's likely box-office outcome too.From a surprise sneak peek at July's Comic-Con convention through its teaser trailer launch in October and TV spots during February's Super Bowl and "Lost" premiere, "Iron Man" has been assembling a towering wave of momentum. But is it a tsunami? When the first meaningful audience tracking surveys rolled in early last week, Paramount and Marvel Studios had to say "Iron Man" sure was looking like one.
Movie studios and exhibitors are desperate for a hit, with 2008 attendance down more than 6% compared with a year ago and last weekend's total grosses down almost 20% versus the same weekend in 2007, according to the research firm Media by Numbers. Several of the year's higher-profile releases, including films from George Clooney ("Leatherheads"), Will Ferrell ("Semi-Pro") and Jodie Foster ("Nim's Island"), all faltered. Relief from some of the summer's biggest guns -- "The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian" and " Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" -- won't come until mid- and late May.
But when "Iron Man" hits theaters on May 2, it may single-handedly launch what is Hollywood's most important (and profitable) season and help lift the business out of its doldrums.
As is the industry habit, both Paramount and Marvel are trying to manage expectations downward. They note (accurately, as it turns out) that Iron Man is hardly as popular a comic book character as Spider-Man or Hulk, that almost all school-age kids will still be in classes when the film opens and that this weekend's "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" and May 2's "Made of Honor" will grab some of "Iron Man's" harder-to-get female patrons.
Movie studios and exhibitors are desperate for a hit, with 2008 attendance down more than 6% compared with a year ago and last weekend's total grosses down almost 20% versus the same weekend in 2007, according to the research firm Media by Numbers. Several of the year's higher-profile releases, including films from George Clooney ("Leatherheads"), Will Ferrell ("Semi-Pro") and Jodie Foster ("Nim's Island"), all faltered. Relief from some of the summer's biggest guns -- "The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian" and " Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" -- won't come until mid- and late May.
But when "Iron Man" hits theaters on May 2, it may single-handedly launch what is Hollywood's most important (and profitable) season and help lift the business out of its doldrums.
As is the industry habit, both Paramount and Marvel are trying to manage expectations downward. They note (accurately, as it turns out) that Iron Man is hardly as popular a comic book character as Spider-Man or Hulk, that almost all school-age kids will still be in classes when the film opens and that this weekend's "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" and May 2's "Made of Honor" will grab some of "Iron Man's" harder-to-get female patrons.
That said, some rival studio executives and producers -- having looked at "Iron Man's" strong tracking numbers ¡X are now saying the film could be one of the summer's top hits, especially since Paramount and Marvel have spent only 30% of their advertising dollars so far.
Directed by "Elf's" Jon Favreau, "Iron Man" stars Robert Downey Jr. as arms manufacturer Tony Stark. Captured by Middle Eastern guerrillas who force him to build a missile, a wounded Stark instead constructs a protective iron suit that allows him to escape. Once free and back in Malibu, Stark secretly refines his design, turning himself into a more peace-minded crusader. His about-face might worry longtime assistant Pepper Potts ( Gwyneth Paltrow), but it really ticks off business partner Obadiah Stane ( Jeff Bridges). Before long, Stark's Iron Man faces a very bad boardroom revolt.
Because the character resides in the middle rungs of Marvel's superhero ladder, below not only Spider-Man and Hulk but also X-Men and the Fantastic Four, equivalent movie comparisons are problematic. "X-Men," which helped launch the modern comic-book revival, premiered with US$54.5 million in 2000. Two years later, the first "Spider-Man" opened to US$114.8 million, followed a year later with "Hulk" at US$62.1 million. In 2005, "The Fantastic Four" opened with receipts of US$56.1 million.
Directed by "Elf's" Jon Favreau, "Iron Man" stars Robert Downey Jr. as arms manufacturer Tony Stark. Captured by Middle Eastern guerrillas who force him to build a missile, a wounded Stark instead constructs a protective iron suit that allows him to escape. Once free and back in Malibu, Stark secretly refines his design, turning himself into a more peace-minded crusader. His about-face might worry longtime assistant Pepper Potts ( Gwyneth Paltrow), but it really ticks off business partner Obadiah Stane ( Jeff Bridges). Before long, Stark's Iron Man faces a very bad boardroom revolt.
Because the character resides in the middle rungs of Marvel's superhero ladder, below not only Spider-Man and Hulk but also X-Men and the Fantastic Four, equivalent movie comparisons are problematic. "X-Men," which helped launch the modern comic-book revival, premiered with US$54.5 million in 2000. Two years later, the first "Spider-Man" opened to US$114.8 million, followed a year later with "Hulk" at US$62.1 million. In 2005, "The Fantastic Four" opened with receipts of US$56.1 million.
Still, there's telling strength hiding inside "Iron Man's" audience surveys, box-office experts say. While some "Iron Man" doubters worry that the film's female appeal is too far behind its male interest to yield a true, all-demographic blockbuster (men are almost twice as interested in "Iron Man" as are women), a close look at the numbers tells a different tale.
The film's female interest is roughly comparable to where it was for "Hulk," "Transformers" (which opened to US$70.5 million last July) and the R-rated "300" (which grossed US$70.9 million in its premiere in March) two weeks before those films hit theaters.
And with the acclaimed Downey and the Oscar-winning Paltrow in leading roles and mostly favorable reviews expected, "Iron Man" should also draw strongly among more discriminating ¡X older, put less diplomatically -- moviegoers. There's little, in other words, to hold it back.
Paramount, which is marketing and distributing the movie that Marvel paid for as its first self-financed production, notes that only two non-sequels ("Spider-Man" and "The Passion of the Christ") have ever grossed more than US$80 million in their first three-day weekends. Even if "Iron Man" (which cost US$135 million to make) grosses US$50 million in its first weekend, it will be headed toward profitability and have everybody at Paramount and Marvel beaming.
Ads for "Iron Man" say "Heroes aren't born. They're built." And Paramount and Marvel have constructed their own box-office behemoth. Don't be surprised if it takes in as much as US$70 million on opening weekend.
The film's female interest is roughly comparable to where it was for "Hulk," "Transformers" (which opened to US$70.5 million last July) and the R-rated "300" (which grossed US$70.9 million in its premiere in March) two weeks before those films hit theaters.
And with the acclaimed Downey and the Oscar-winning Paltrow in leading roles and mostly favorable reviews expected, "Iron Man" should also draw strongly among more discriminating ¡X older, put less diplomatically -- moviegoers. There's little, in other words, to hold it back.
Paramount, which is marketing and distributing the movie that Marvel paid for as its first self-financed production, notes that only two non-sequels ("Spider-Man" and "The Passion of the Christ") have ever grossed more than US$80 million in their first three-day weekends. Even if "Iron Man" (which cost US$135 million to make) grosses US$50 million in its first weekend, it will be headed toward profitability and have everybody at Paramount and Marvel beaming.
Ads for "Iron Man" say "Heroes aren't born. They're built." And Paramount and Marvel have constructed their own box-office behemoth. Don't be surprised if it takes in as much as US$70 million on opening weekend.
- -By John Horn, Los Angeles Times
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Summary:
The team which make the film - Iron Man - spent time, effort, and money to accomplish a popular movie. A rate of ticketing is higher than many movies. Compared with other movies, Iron Man gain much more profit, because it is top-grossing in the America even in the whole world. Iron Man is a box-office big movie.－ － － － － － － － － － － － －
Voabulary:
1.sneak2.towering
3.momentum
4.versus
5.patrons
6.rival
7.guerrillas
8.boardroom
9.premiere
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Useful Words:
1.desperate
2.captured
3.expectation .
4.protective
5.assembling
6.executive
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Few weeks ago, My friends and I went to see the movie - Iron Man - in Miramar cinemas. It has a special attraction for me. The story of a play is tautness.
The story is talk about there is a person who has a hundred million personal wealth. He is an enterpriser and inventor. his company has a high prestige in the world. One day he grasped on both sides by the arms and he have no choice but to make a destructive weapon. He make a weapon and make an iron covering simultaneously, he is not only make a living to hisself but also assist many people who need help. Above-mentioned is a little plot of story.
I learned something from this movie is that maybe our brst friend or our partner for the sake of fame and wealth and sacrifice friend. And Iron Man is really great man he always try his best to help people, I think I should help people as possible I can.
2008年5月14日 星期三
A Musician of Many Cultures
I believe in the infinite variety of human expression.
I grew up in three cultures: I was born in Paris, my parents were from China and I was brought up mostly in America. When I was young, this was very confusing: everyone said that their culture was best, but I knew they couldn't all be right.
I felt that there was an expectation that I would choose to be Chinese or French or American. For many years I bounced among the three, trying on each but never being wholly comfortable. I hoped I wouldn't have to choose, but I didn't know what that meant and how exactly to "not choose."
However, the process of trying on each culture taught me something. As I struggled to belong, I came to understand what made each one unique. At that point, I realized that I didn't need to choose one culture to the exclusion of another, but instead I could choose from all three.
The values I selected would become part of who I was, but no one culture needed to win. I could honor the cultural depth and longevity of my Chinese heritage, while feeling just as passionate about the deep artistic traditions of the French and the American commitment to opportunity and the future.
So, rather than settling on any one of the cultures in which I grew up, I now choose to explore many more cultures and find elements to love in each. Every day I make an effort to go toward what I don't understand. This wandering leads to the accidental learning that continually shapes my life.
As I work in music today, I try to implement this idea — that the music I play, like me, doesn't belong to only one culture. In recent years, I have explored many musical traditions.
Along the way, I have met musicians who share a belief in the creative power that exists at the intersection of cultures. These musicians have generously become my guides to their traditions. Thanks to them and their music I have found new meaning in my own music making.
It is extraordinary the way people, music and cultures develop. The paths and experiences that guide them are unpredictable. Shaped by our families, neighborhoods, cultures and countries, each of us ultimately goes through this process of incorporating what we learn with who we are and who we seek to become. As we struggle to find our individual voices, I believe we must look beyond the voice we've been assigned, and find our place among the tones and timbre of human expression.
I grew up in three cultures: I was born in Paris, my parents were from China and I was brought up mostly in America. When I was young, this was very confusing: everyone said that their culture was best, but I knew they couldn't all be right.
I felt that there was an expectation that I would choose to be Chinese or French or American. For many years I bounced among the three, trying on each but never being wholly comfortable. I hoped I wouldn't have to choose, but I didn't know what that meant and how exactly to "not choose."
However, the process of trying on each culture taught me something. As I struggled to belong, I came to understand what made each one unique. At that point, I realized that I didn't need to choose one culture to the exclusion of another, but instead I could choose from all three.
The values I selected would become part of who I was, but no one culture needed to win. I could honor the cultural depth and longevity of my Chinese heritage, while feeling just as passionate about the deep artistic traditions of the French and the American commitment to opportunity and the future.
So, rather than settling on any one of the cultures in which I grew up, I now choose to explore many more cultures and find elements to love in each. Every day I make an effort to go toward what I don't understand. This wandering leads to the accidental learning that continually shapes my life.
As I work in music today, I try to implement this idea — that the music I play, like me, doesn't belong to only one culture. In recent years, I have explored many musical traditions.
Along the way, I have met musicians who share a belief in the creative power that exists at the intersection of cultures. These musicians have generously become my guides to their traditions. Thanks to them and their music I have found new meaning in my own music making.
It is extraordinary the way people, music and cultures develop. The paths and experiences that guide them are unpredictable. Shaped by our families, neighborhoods, cultures and countries, each of us ultimately goes through this process of incorporating what we learn with who we are and who we seek to become. As we struggle to find our individual voices, I believe we must look beyond the voice we've been assigned, and find our place among the tones and timbre of human expression.
By Yo-Yo Ma
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Summary:
He grew up in three cultures, everyone said that their culture was best, but he knew they couldn't all be right.Rather than settling on any one of the cultures in which he grew up, he choose to explore many more cultures and find elements to love in each.
He work in music today, In recent years, he have explored many musical traditions.
He believes we must look beyond the voice we've been assigned, and find our place among the tones and timbre of human expression.
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Voabulary:
1.infinite
2.longevity
3.commitment
4.implement
5.extraordinary
6.incorporating
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Useful Words:
1.struggled
2.unique
3.realized
4.passionate
5.heritage
6.generously
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I like to linten the music very much. Such as, Piano, violin, flute, trumpet, guitar, and so on. My parents buy some CDs many years ago, the CD contents are many music from Yo-Yo Ma. When I listen that CD, I feel comfortable and it can clam me down.
This article's main idea is CULTURE. I think different cultures have different feature and prerogatives, they have no definite "the best" or "the worst". Different cultures should communicate with each other instead of having antagonism.
I like to get in touch with the different cultures in many ways that I can widen my knowledge, enrich my experience, and broaden my horizons.
I love the culture in many country, city, and state. If oneday I had ability to touch in many cultures, I hope the way I get touch with is that I could travel around the world and to experience different cultures.
2008年4月25日 星期五
Time to get serious about the drug problem
Substance abuse has become a serious problem in Taiwan, but the issue has received far less attention than it deserves from people at high levels.
The gravity of the drug problem is evidenced by the prevalence of substance abuse in Taiwan's entertainment circles. Last year, several of Taiwan's best-known entertainers were arrested on drug charges and sentenced to forced rehabilitation. News reports of those events have aroused concerns, but rumors of drug use among performers persist.
For instance, Yao Tsai-ying, a well-known model, was questioned by the police last month after she was found to have had cellphone communication with a drug trafficker. Yao denied taking drugs and asked the police to investigate further to prove her innocence.
Anti-drug legislation in Taiwan is rather severe. Those who abuse or possess even soft drugs such as marijuana, LSD and MDMA are breaking the law. Penalties include jail terms involving forced rehabilitation.
Nevertheless, even the convictions last year of well-known personalities do not seem to have taught other entertainers to stay away from drugs. Entertainers found to be involved with drugs are often the idols of teenagers and children. Their misbehavior may easily be copied by adolescents. It is therefore important that efforts be made to curtail drug use and abuse among performers.
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Summary:
Drug abuse has become a serious problem in Taiwan.The drug problem is evidenced in Taiwan's entertainment circles.
Anti-drug legislation in Taiwan is rather severe.Entertainers found to be involved with drugs are often the idols of teenagers and children. Their misbehavior may easily be copied by adolescents. Therefore, it is important that efforts be made to curtail drug use and abuse among performers.
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Vocabulary:
1.gravity - seriousness
2.prevalence - widespread, circulation
3.marijuana - a kind of narcotics
4.conviction - proof of guilt
5.curtail - reduce, shorten
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Useful Words:
1.entertainer - a player, an actor.
2.arouse - awaken, inspire.
3.trafficker - a seller who bargain something illegal.
4.prove - confirm, verify.
5.innocence - clear mind and honesty.
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After I read this article I have some thoughts:
I don't know why these days have more and more people like to drug abuse to erase the things they feel unhappy or evading the things bother them.
Drug abuse is a really bad things. It can harm people's health even make people die. Maybe drug abuse can evade the trouble for a short while. Maybe drug abuse can make people feel happy temporary. But I think it is not a real happy. After it, an affair is still exist. So I think if people had something tormented or unhappy people can complain to their friends or someone they trust. If people had some difficulties, people can find some people to help or try their best to overcome the difficulties. We can try many ways to solve the problems instead of drug abusing.
2008年4月24日 星期四
The Chance to Move Forward
I believe in chance.
Strings of unexpected encounters mark my life. I believe that chance has guided me — jolted me sometimes — onto paths I wouldn't have chosen but needed to follow, whether I knew it or not. Chance encounters have led me across continents and into unanticipated worlds.
At 21, I first visited Italy. As I struggled with a mouthful of college Italian to find the word for "towel" in a hostel one morning, an older woman laughed, straightened out my garbled attempts and invited me to her home. Chance gently pushed me and led me to a lifelong connection to her family, their small town of Castelfranco Veneto and, several years later, the opportunity to live there.
But chance is not always kind. When I was 25 years old, chance led an intruder to break into my home in the middle of a quiet spring night. The violence of that night and months of rehabilitation left me questioning how I could ever find meaning in such a vicious stroke of fortune. But in the years that followed, I drew even closer to my family and became a more empathetic friend. I relished the ability to walk, or even run, on my own. I did all the things I had always wanted to do: I pierced my nose, flew to Israel and hauled a rented grand piano up to my eighth-floor apartment. I lived a life in vivid moments. I followed the questions raised by the attack into graduate school, where today I continue to study and work for justice for victims of violence. I kept going, and meaning took hold in unexpected places.
As a student of religion, I read and write about people and texts that desperately seek cosmic order in a world of chaos. Coincidence threatens the divine order of creation and must be explained. For myself, I believe that chance creates order in the world. We can't choreograph life events, but we can clasp the hands of those who appear in our paths and see where they lead us. So many chance encounters have moved me forward, offering me direction and a sense of purpose — if I was willing to follow.
My belief in chance lets me see life as brimming with possibility: the person next to me in line at the airport who becomes a lifelong friend, the professor in the elevator who asks a provocative question or the soldier I meet at an outdoor café in Jerusalem who takes me on a romantic tour of the city, leaving me with an indelible memory.
And as much as I have resisted saying this for many years, even the unwelcome and cruel strikes of chance must somehow find their place in the order of our lives. Believing this — believing in chance — I can always pick up my body and move forward.
---by Maria Mayo Robbins
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Summary:
The writer believe in chance. Chance encounters have led she across continents and into unanticipated worlds.
Chance pushed her and led her to a lifelong connection to people, closer to her family and became a more empathetic friend. Althogth chance is not always kind, it can always pick up one's body and move forward.
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Vocabulary:
1.string - connect, thread.
2.continent - island and ocean.
3. unanticipated - unexpected.
4.garbled - someone be confound and confuse.
5.intruder - people who invade or interfere.
6.rehabilitation - reformation, renewal, and improvement.
7.indelible - unforgettable
8.brimming - full
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Useful words:
1.encounter - meet, confront.
2.guide - lead, direct.
3.struggled - attempt, to try something hard.
4.opportunity - chance.
5.empathetic - having a bleeding heart.
6.desperately - to do something very hard. hopelessness.
7.coincidence - harmony
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I have some thought after I raed the article
There are many chance in our life. In spite of the chance is not always kind, it always can make people move forward. To me, I think I grasp some of chance but also lose some chance to make me to grow to maturity.
Everyone should cherish the chance we have, and use it well. Therefore, we can make progress to ourself and have advances.
Strings of unexpected encounters mark my life. I believe that chance has guided me — jolted me sometimes — onto paths I wouldn't have chosen but needed to follow, whether I knew it or not. Chance encounters have led me across continents and into unanticipated worlds.
At 21, I first visited Italy. As I struggled with a mouthful of college Italian to find the word for "towel" in a hostel one morning, an older woman laughed, straightened out my garbled attempts and invited me to her home. Chance gently pushed me and led me to a lifelong connection to her family, their small town of Castelfranco Veneto and, several years later, the opportunity to live there.
But chance is not always kind. When I was 25 years old, chance led an intruder to break into my home in the middle of a quiet spring night. The violence of that night and months of rehabilitation left me questioning how I could ever find meaning in such a vicious stroke of fortune. But in the years that followed, I drew even closer to my family and became a more empathetic friend. I relished the ability to walk, or even run, on my own. I did all the things I had always wanted to do: I pierced my nose, flew to Israel and hauled a rented grand piano up to my eighth-floor apartment. I lived a life in vivid moments. I followed the questions raised by the attack into graduate school, where today I continue to study and work for justice for victims of violence. I kept going, and meaning took hold in unexpected places.
As a student of religion, I read and write about people and texts that desperately seek cosmic order in a world of chaos. Coincidence threatens the divine order of creation and must be explained. For myself, I believe that chance creates order in the world. We can't choreograph life events, but we can clasp the hands of those who appear in our paths and see where they lead us. So many chance encounters have moved me forward, offering me direction and a sense of purpose — if I was willing to follow.
My belief in chance lets me see life as brimming with possibility: the person next to me in line at the airport who becomes a lifelong friend, the professor in the elevator who asks a provocative question or the soldier I meet at an outdoor café in Jerusalem who takes me on a romantic tour of the city, leaving me with an indelible memory.
And as much as I have resisted saying this for many years, even the unwelcome and cruel strikes of chance must somehow find their place in the order of our lives. Believing this — believing in chance — I can always pick up my body and move forward.
---by Maria Mayo Robbins
－ － － － － － － － － － － －
Summary:
The writer believe in chance. Chance encounters have led she across continents and into unanticipated worlds.
Chance pushed her and led her to a lifelong connection to people, closer to her family and became a more empathetic friend. Althogth chance is not always kind, it can always pick up one's body and move forward.
－ － － － － － － － － － － －
Vocabulary:
1.string - connect, thread.
2.continent - island and ocean.
3. unanticipated - unexpected.
4.garbled - someone be confound and confuse.
5.intruder - people who invade or interfere.
6.rehabilitation - reformation, renewal, and improvement.
7.indelible - unforgettable
8.brimming - full
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Useful words:
1.encounter - meet, confront.
2.guide - lead, direct.
3.struggled - attempt, to try something hard.
4.opportunity - chance.
5.empathetic - having a bleeding heart.
6.desperately - to do something very hard. hopelessness.
7.coincidence - harmony
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I have some thought after I raed the article
There are many chance in our life. In spite of the chance is not always kind, it always can make people move forward. To me, I think I grasp some of chance but also lose some chance to make me to grow to maturity.
Everyone should cherish the chance we have, and use it well. Therefore, we can make progress to ourself and have advances.
2008年4月23日 星期三
Eagles
Seen as symbols of strength, courage, determination and immortality since ancient times, Eagles are found throughout the world with the exceptions of Antarctica and Mew Zealand. Eagles are powerful birds renowned for their keen vision. All eagles have powerful sharp claws called talons as well as heavy hooked beaks or bills. This combination makes them feared predators as they swoop down from on high and attack small animal such as fish, rodents, birds, snakes, rabbits and even monkeys. The eagle uses its powerful talons and beak to tear apart prey that is too heavy to carry. Eagles also sometimes steal the catch of other predatory birds such as ospreys. Most of the 50 species of eagles are in the range of 2 to 3 feet long and have wingspans of approximately 6 feet.
Eagles lives in air or nests which they build high in trees or on rocky ledges inaccessible by other animals. The nest must be kept secure because young eagles are helpless for a long period after hatching and remain in the nest from 50 to 100 days depending on the species. Made of sticks and lined with leaves and grass, the same nest may be used by a pair of birds for a number of years. The female lays one to three brownish speckled eggs and these are incubated by both parents or just the female. Young eagles are covered in down and don’t develop adult coloration until they reach two years of age.
A particularly famous species of eagle is the Haliaeetus Leucocephalus or Bald Eagle which is the national emblem of the United States. The Bald Eagle is not fact bald and the moniker was applied because of the contrast between its while head and brown body. The Bald Eagle is extremely rare and for many years it was feared that this magnificent creature would become extinct, however, due to conservation efforts this tragedy has been averted. The Bald Eagle and eagles' natural enemies is human beings. Their natural habitats have all proved extremely dangerous to the survival of this majestic bird.
Eagles lives in air or nests which they build high in trees or on rocky ledges inaccessible by other animals. The nest must be kept secure because young eagles are helpless for a long period after hatching and remain in the nest from 50 to 100 days depending on the species. Made of sticks and lined with leaves and grass, the same nest may be used by a pair of birds for a number of years. The female lays one to three brownish speckled eggs and these are incubated by both parents or just the female. Young eagles are covered in down and don’t develop adult coloration until they reach two years of age.
A particularly famous species of eagle is the Haliaeetus Leucocephalus or Bald Eagle which is the national emblem of the United States. The Bald Eagle is not fact bald and the moniker was applied because of the contrast between its while head and brown body. The Bald Eagle is extremely rare and for many years it was feared that this magnificent creature would become extinct, however, due to conservation efforts this tragedy has been averted. The Bald Eagle and eagles' natural enemies is human beings. Their natural habitats have all proved extremely dangerous to the survival of this majestic bird.
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Summary:
Eagles are powerful birds renowned for their keen vision. All eagles have powerful sharp claws called talons as well as heavy hooked beaks or bills. This combination makes them feared predators as they swoop down from on high and attack small animal. Most of the eagles are in the range of 2 to 3 feet long and have wingspans about 6 feet.
Eagles lives in air or nests which they build high in trees or on rocky ledges inaccessible by other animals. The nest must be kept secure because young eagles for a long period after 50 to 100 days.
A particularly famous species of eagle is Bald Eagle.Bald Eagle and eagles in general have few natural enemies; it is human beings. Their natural habitats have all proved extremely dangerous to the survival of this majestic bird.
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Vocabulary:
1.talon - sharp nail.
2.speckled - something has spot
3.rodents - an animal which has big teeth. Like mouse
4.predatory - to catch the other animal and eat them to make a living.
5.incubate - hatch
6.moniker - nickname
7.habitats - natural home
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Useful Words:
1.immortality - deathless
2.majestic - grand
3.averted - prevent, prohibit, avoid, turn away.
4.magnificent - marvelous, impressive and wonderful.
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I feel eagles are very beautiful so I choose this article. Two years ago, I went to Kenting I saw a eagle fly in the air. I am very happy, because the eagle is close to me.
One day, I was in the dormitory, when I went to sink I saw three eagles stand on the skin. That is the second time the eagles near me. I am really happy that time and I feel exciting, because I think see an eagle nearly is an unusual occurrence.
This article make me understand eagle's quality. I feel eagel is very solemn and gorgeous.
I hope one day I can see many eagles fly in the air. It would be such a picturesque scenery.
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