Orcas
These stylish black and white mammals are probably the most easily identifiable whales in the sea. Also called "Killer whales" because of their aggressive predatory style, orcas prey on seals, sharks and even other whales. Orcas often travel, live and hunt in groups called "pods," which are somewhat similar to a pack of wolves. Killer whales can be found in every ocean around the world and have no natural predator except humans.
Whale-watching locations
Here are some of the best places to catch sight of these giant mammals.
Canada
Some of the world's best whale-watching can be done in British Columbia. Quebec, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick, Canada. Orcas, gray whales, blue whales, sperm whales and others can all be spotted from May through October.
Hawaii
Another great location is Hawaii, where more than 6,000 humpback whales migrate to the islands' warm waters to mate and give birth. Whale-watching season runs from November through early May.
Alaska
With a season that begins in April and almost never ends, you'll spot orcas, minke and gray whales.
Other places like Mexico, Iceland, Britain, Norway and the Arctic will also afford you once-in-a-lifetime views of these astonishing creatures of the sea.
Info Cloud
Since our lesson today is about whales, why don't we take a look at some idioms that use the word whale.
Good idea Ken. Here is an example. You know, "I had a whale of time at Scarlett's birthday party yesterday."
So you had an exciting and fun time at the party. To have a whale of a time means "having a really good time".
Well Steve, "I think you did a whale of a job playing the guitar at the rally last week."
Thanks, Ken. I'm glad you liked it. Friends, a whale of a job means "a very good job".
Okay, we know the whale is a very large animal. So the word whale can also be used to refer to something very big.
That's another meaning of whales. Something huge, we might talk about "a whale of a problem" or "a whale of a difference".
You know, "There is a whale of a difference between learning English from Studio Classroom and learning English from a cheap cram school."
Well, that's pretty obvious. If you learn English from the wrong person, you might have "a whale of a problem".
One final idiom, "like a beached whale".
Oh, I wish I'd never seen a beached whale as that animal is in a pretty bad situation.
Once the whale is on a beach, it cannot move and get back into the ocean easily.
As if you are completely stuck somewhere and can't get away, you are stranded "like a beached whale".
Not a good situation to be in.
beached (beach v.)
- a beached whale
一隻在沙灘上擱淺的鯨魚
- I feel like a beached whale.
我在一個進退不得的困境
whale 巨大
- There's a big differnece.
= There's a whale of a difference.
a whale of a something:
- You did a whale of a job. 你表現的非常棒
- I had a whale of a time. 我玩得超開心
stranded adj.
a person or vehicle that is stranded is unable to move from the place where they are [= stuck]
Language Lab
predatory adj. -hunt fro prey. 以捕食其他動物為生的, 食肉的
/ˈprɛdəˌtori/
living by killing and eating other animals
- Many predatory mammals have sharp teeth and strong jaws.
許多肉食性哺乳動物都有尖牙和強壯的下顎
predator 食肉動物; 掠奪者
/ˈprɛdətɚ/
an animal that lives by killing and eating other animals : an animal that preys on other animals
- Antelopes run extremely fast so they can escape from their predators.
羚羊跑得這麼快, 才可以逃離掠奪者的捕捉
wolf n. 狼 plural wolves
a wild animal that looks like a large dog and lives and hunts in groups
- You can hear wolves crying during the night.
夜晚的時候, 你可以聽到狼的叫聲
wolf v. 狼吞虎咽
to eat something very quickly, swallowing it in big pieces
- My son's soccer-team friends wolfed down eight large pizzas after the game.
球賽之後, 我兒子足球隊的朋友狼吞虎咽吞了八個大pizza
migrate v. 遷移; 移居 [migra字根 -漂泊之意]
/ˈmaɪˌgreɪt/
if birds or animals migrate, they travel regularly from one part of the world to another;
if people migrate, they go to live in another area or country, especially in order to find work
- Canadian Geese migrate between Canada and United States.
加拿大雁在美國和加拿大之間按季節遷徙
migration n. 遷移; (候鳥等的)遷徙
- The massive migration of farmers to cities has caused a lot of social problems.
農夫大量遷徙到都巿中, 造成許多社會問題
astonishing adj. 令人驚訝的; 驚人的
/əˈstɑ:nɪʃɪŋ/
so surprising that it is difficult to believe
- The circus performance is astonishing. ( astonishing performance)
馬戲團的表演令人目瞪口呆
astonish v.使人驚訝的
/əˈstɑ:nɪʃ/
to cause a feeling of great wonder or surprise in (someone)
- The couple's sudden breakup astonished many of their friends.
這對情侶突然分手讓他們的朋友都很驚訝
mms://webvod.goodtv.tv/SC/20130731_c8743.wmv
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20130731baa541b370aecd02b61e92bbd667cea13a7ce43e125530bf87967d509fecf9fe07e.wma
Tuesday, July 30, 2013
[Advanced] Ariel Hsing—Table Tennis’ Rising Star (3)
By 2009, her record included finals appearances at several big junior events. By 2011, facing older players, she had won a Pan American Games bronze and a U.S. women's championship.
A figure skater or tennis player of similar talent might have attracted lucrative sponsorships; the most a young American table tennis player could hope for was free clothing and equipment.
Hsing figures he has spent $40,000 a year on coaches and travel. He quit his job at IBM to work from home, making time to ferry his daughter through her busy schedule.
"Every three months," he says, "we beg her to stop so we can get back to normal."
The family made a deal at the very start: Ariel could pursue table tennis only if she maintained high grades.
"Education comes first," her father says. "If she gets a B, she has to stop playing until she raises it to an A." So far, she has earned those A's.
Making sacrifices
Ariel does not see anything extraordinary about this balancing act; she describes it in the most practical terms.
"I can't make a living from table tennis," she says. "If I don't go to college, what's my career going to be?"
But this double life comes at a cost. She has no time to hang out with friends on weekends and concedes, "There are a lot of things I've missed out on."
After Ariel's last training session ends around 7 p.m., she returns home with no rest in sight.
"Dinner and studying," she says. "If I have a lot to do, I stay up late."
Her bedroom is decorated with posters of her icon, Zhang Yining, a table tennis legend. Zhang attended the Beijing Shichahai Sports School, where she could focus mainly on the game.
Life is very different for Ariel as she hunkers down to review English composition.
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20130731ada56317d9091357661b4090dc80eac2940cee4ca782a3818689a38d4a41f0bfc79.wma
A figure skater or tennis player of similar talent might have attracted lucrative sponsorships; the most a young American table tennis player could hope for was free clothing and equipment.
Hsing figures he has spent $40,000 a year on coaches and travel. He quit his job at IBM to work from home, making time to ferry his daughter through her busy schedule.
"Every three months," he says, "we beg her to stop so we can get back to normal."
The family made a deal at the very start: Ariel could pursue table tennis only if she maintained high grades.
"Education comes first," her father says. "If she gets a B, she has to stop playing until she raises it to an A." So far, she has earned those A's.
Making sacrifices
Ariel does not see anything extraordinary about this balancing act; she describes it in the most practical terms.
"I can't make a living from table tennis," she says. "If I don't go to college, what's my career going to be?"
But this double life comes at a cost. She has no time to hang out with friends on weekends and concedes, "There are a lot of things I've missed out on."
After Ariel's last training session ends around 7 p.m., she returns home with no rest in sight.
"Dinner and studying," she says. "If I have a lot to do, I stay up late."
Her bedroom is decorated with posters of her icon, Zhang Yining, a table tennis legend. Zhang attended the Beijing Shichahai Sports School, where she could focus mainly on the game.
Life is very different for Ariel as she hunkers down to review English composition.
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20130731ada56317d9091357661b4090dc80eac2940cee4ca782a3818689a38d4a41f0bfc79.wma
Whales: The Giants of the Sea (2)
Blue whales
Blue whales are the largest animal in the world, many weighing up to 180,000 kilograms and reaching lengths of over 30 meters. They are long and slender with a bluish-gray color and a heart that wights as much as a small car.
These sea giants are baleen whales, meaning they have a comb-like ridge on the top and bottom of their mouths where teeth are normally found. These whales take in water as they swim, and the baleen, equipped with bristles, filters the water and catches small ocean creatures called krill. These whales eat around 40 million krill per day, totaling over 3,600 kilograms.
Blue whales once numbered in the hundreds of thousands, but overhunting has nearly driven them to extinction; today it is believed that only a few thousand remain.
Gray whales
Gray whales are another kind of baleen whale. They typically swim along the ocean bottom, using their mouths to suck up mud and their baleen to filter their prey.
With heads usually covered in barnacles, gray whales are easy to recognize and not shy, often swimming alongside boats and watching the people aboard.
Info Cloud
The baleen whales use bristles to filter the water and catch krill.
This process reminds me of the expression "going over something with a fine-tooth comb."
Well, it's easy to make that assoication as our lesson mentions, "a comb like ridge in the whale's mouth that works pretty much like a comb".
Right! But in this case, the comb is not used to comb hair; rather, it works like a filter.
Which is interesting because for centuries, people use combs for the unglamarous purpose of removing lice eggs from their hair.
And, a fine-tooth comb, or one that has small narrow teeth that are set closely together, is especially effective in this endeavor.
Now, the expression "going over things with a fine-tooth comb", was first used in detective or police work.
Just as a person would use a fine-tooth comb, to find and remove the smallest of filth from one's hair, investgators would carefully go over the details of a crime scene, looking for the smallest of clues to solve the case.
Today, the expression can apply to a very detailed apporach to anything.
An editor might go over a book or article with a fine-tooth comb, checking for small mistakes.
If your teacher uses a fine-tooth comb when he or she is examining your work, you'd better make sure everything is in order before you hand it in.
baleen whales
go over something with a fine-tooth comb
fine-tooth comb
Language Lab
ridge n. 隆起部位; 山脊
/ˈrɪʤ/
1 a long area of high land, especially at the top of a mountain;
2 a) something long and thin that is raised above the things around it
2 b) the part at the top of a roof, where the two sides meet
- Trying to fix the antenna, Dad sat on the ridge of the roof.
爸爸坐在屋脊, 為了要試著修理天線
- The mountaineers finally reached the mountain ridge at 4 p.m.
這些登山客最後終於在下午四點的時候達到山脊
filter v. 過濾, 濾除
to remove unwanted substances from water, air etc by passing it through a special substance or piece of equipment
- The water in the pool was filtered before it was recycled.
游泳池的水在回收水之前, 都有先被過濾
- All the boss' emails are filtered by his secretary.
老闆所有的電子郵件都是他的秘書先過濾
filter n. 濾器; 多孔過濾材料
a device that is used to remove something unwanted from a liquid or gas that passes through it
- The AC filter needs to be cleaned periodically.
空調的濾網需要定期的清洗
prey n.[U]被捕食的動物
an animal, bird etc that is hunted and eaten by another animal
- Spiders catch their prey with their elaborate webs.
蜘蛛用它們精巧的蜘蛛網來抓取臘物
- An eagle is hovering above looking for its prey.
一隻老鷹在盤懸尋找臘物
prey n. 欺負傷害愚弄的對象
- Many burglars or robbers see old people as easy prey.
許多小偷和強盜都視老人為容易欺負的對象
alongside prep. 在...旁邊; 沿著...的邊; 與...並排靠攏著
next to (someone or something) ; along the side of (something)
- I rode my bike alongside my brother's.
我和哥哥並排騎著腳踏車
- Many tourists strolled alongside the River Seine.
許多觀光客 沿著賽娜河邊散步
alongside prep. 和某個對象一起
at the same time as (something) : together with (something)
- Jessie has been working alongside Jeff for ten years.
Jessie 和 Jeff 一起並肩工作十年了
slender adj.
/ˈslɛndɚ/
thin especially in an attractive or graceful way
very narrow : not wide
mms://webvod.goodtv.tv/SC/20130730_fa186.wmv
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20130730baa9847ee1df3da84a3a53ad120d2284e769a5edecce68c4898506baf67cd9bc7ff.wma
Blue whales are the largest animal in the world, many weighing up to 180,000 kilograms and reaching lengths of over 30 meters. They are long and slender with a bluish-gray color and a heart that wights as much as a small car.
These sea giants are baleen whales, meaning they have a comb-like ridge on the top and bottom of their mouths where teeth are normally found. These whales take in water as they swim, and the baleen, equipped with bristles, filters the water and catches small ocean creatures called krill. These whales eat around 40 million krill per day, totaling over 3,600 kilograms.
Blue whales once numbered in the hundreds of thousands, but overhunting has nearly driven them to extinction; today it is believed that only a few thousand remain.
Gray whales
Gray whales are another kind of baleen whale. They typically swim along the ocean bottom, using their mouths to suck up mud and their baleen to filter their prey.
With heads usually covered in barnacles, gray whales are easy to recognize and not shy, often swimming alongside boats and watching the people aboard.
Info Cloud
The baleen whales use bristles to filter the water and catch krill.
This process reminds me of the expression "going over something with a fine-tooth comb."
Well, it's easy to make that assoication as our lesson mentions, "a comb like ridge in the whale's mouth that works pretty much like a comb".
Right! But in this case, the comb is not used to comb hair; rather, it works like a filter.
Which is interesting because for centuries, people use combs for the unglamarous purpose of removing lice eggs from their hair.
And, a fine-tooth comb, or one that has small narrow teeth that are set closely together, is especially effective in this endeavor.
Now, the expression "going over things with a fine-tooth comb", was first used in detective or police work.
Just as a person would use a fine-tooth comb, to find and remove the smallest of filth from one's hair, investgators would carefully go over the details of a crime scene, looking for the smallest of clues to solve the case.
Today, the expression can apply to a very detailed apporach to anything.
An editor might go over a book or article with a fine-tooth comb, checking for small mistakes.
If your teacher uses a fine-tooth comb when he or she is examining your work, you'd better make sure everything is in order before you hand it in.
baleen whales
go over something with a fine-tooth comb
fine-tooth comb
Language Lab
ridge n. 隆起部位; 山脊
/ˈrɪʤ/
1 a long area of high land, especially at the top of a mountain;
2 a) something long and thin that is raised above the things around it
2 b) the part at the top of a roof, where the two sides meet
- Trying to fix the antenna, Dad sat on the ridge of the roof.
爸爸坐在屋脊, 為了要試著修理天線
- The mountaineers finally reached the mountain ridge at 4 p.m.
這些登山客最後終於在下午四點的時候達到山脊
filter v. 過濾, 濾除
to remove unwanted substances from water, air etc by passing it through a special substance or piece of equipment
- The water in the pool was filtered before it was recycled.
游泳池的水在回收水之前, 都有先被過濾
- All the boss' emails are filtered by his secretary.
老闆所有的電子郵件都是他的秘書先過濾
filter n. 濾器; 多孔過濾材料
a device that is used to remove something unwanted from a liquid or gas that passes through it
- The AC filter needs to be cleaned periodically.
空調的濾網需要定期的清洗
prey n.[U]被捕食的動物
an animal, bird etc that is hunted and eaten by another animal
- Spiders catch their prey with their elaborate webs.
蜘蛛用它們精巧的蜘蛛網來抓取臘物
- An eagle is hovering above looking for its prey.
一隻老鷹在盤懸尋找臘物
prey n. 欺負傷害愚弄的對象
- Many burglars or robbers see old people as easy prey.
許多小偷和強盜都視老人為容易欺負的對象
alongside prep. 在...旁邊; 沿著...的邊; 與...並排靠攏著
next to (someone or something) ; along the side of (something)
- I rode my bike alongside my brother's.
我和哥哥並排騎著腳踏車
- Many tourists strolled alongside the River Seine.
許多觀光客 沿著賽娜河邊散步
alongside prep. 和某個對象一起
at the same time as (something) : together with (something)
- Jessie has been working alongside Jeff for ten years.
Jessie 和 Jeff 一起並肩工作十年了
slender adj.
/ˈslɛndɚ/
thin especially in an attractive or graceful way
very narrow : not wide
mms://webvod.goodtv.tv/SC/20130730_fa186.wmv
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20130730baa9847ee1df3da84a3a53ad120d2284e769a5edecce68c4898506baf67cd9bc7ff.wma
[Advanced] Ariel Hsing—Table Tennis’ Rising Star (2)
Ariel's first stop is a club with nine tables and more than a dozen badminton courts.
One of her numerous personal coaches is waiting to begin the workout.
Their shots zip back and forth with blurry speed. Ariel never stops moving, bouncing, trying to stay in position so that, even on wide balls, she can maintain a compact, powerful swing.
The coach exhorts her in Chinese, insisting that she transition quickly from offense to defense, adapting to the nuances of each point.
"Good players are trickier," Ariel says. "They can change their tactics fast."
The drills continue for two hours -- she banks as many as 25 to 30 hours of training each week -- before it comes time for another session with a different coach at a club down the road. Along the way, she stops to wolf down a turkey sub.
"Two of my many talents," she says with a grin. "Eating and sleeping."
An early prediction
Ariel's mother- Xin Jiang, grew up in the Henan province of China.
Later, she had immigrated to the U.S. and married a fellow computer engineer from Taiwan named Michael Hsing. They frequented a table tennis club near their home.
One night they could not find a baby-sitter and brought along their 7-year-old daughter. Ariel showed immediate potential, catching the eye of the club's coach and prompting a brash prediction from her mother.
On the drive home, Jiang told her husband: "When Ariel makes the Olympics, we will pay for the grandparents to go but what about the other relatives?"
Michael Hsing recalls: "I thought she was a little crazy."
But within a few years, Ariel began rising through the junior ranks, developing a "two-wing attack" -- hitting hard from both the forehand and backhand sides -- as she traveled the nation and then the world to compete.
Ariel enrolled at the private Valley Christian High last year. A counselor watches her shift focus the instant she steps on campus.
"Usually you see people go one way or the other, all sports or all academics," Erik Ellefsen says. "I've never seen a student like this before."
The change is so complete that classmates were startled when a documentary crew recently followed her around. Many had no idea she was an elite athlete. They just thought of her as a smart kid who misses a lot of school.
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20130730ada445db76a44df426e1456de7c4adaebb1e4f2031a57513b8cb4d92db24ec862da.wma
One of her numerous personal coaches is waiting to begin the workout.
Their shots zip back and forth with blurry speed. Ariel never stops moving, bouncing, trying to stay in position so that, even on wide balls, she can maintain a compact, powerful swing.
The coach exhorts her in Chinese, insisting that she transition quickly from offense to defense, adapting to the nuances of each point.
"Good players are trickier," Ariel says. "They can change their tactics fast."
The drills continue for two hours -- she banks as many as 25 to 30 hours of training each week -- before it comes time for another session with a different coach at a club down the road. Along the way, she stops to wolf down a turkey sub.
"Two of my many talents," she says with a grin. "Eating and sleeping."
An early prediction
Ariel's mother- Xin Jiang, grew up in the Henan province of China.
Later, she had immigrated to the U.S. and married a fellow computer engineer from Taiwan named Michael Hsing. They frequented a table tennis club near their home.
One night they could not find a baby-sitter and brought along their 7-year-old daughter. Ariel showed immediate potential, catching the eye of the club's coach and prompting a brash prediction from her mother.
On the drive home, Jiang told her husband: "When Ariel makes the Olympics, we will pay for the grandparents to go but what about the other relatives?"
Michael Hsing recalls: "I thought she was a little crazy."
But within a few years, Ariel began rising through the junior ranks, developing a "two-wing attack" -- hitting hard from both the forehand and backhand sides -- as she traveled the nation and then the world to compete.
Ariel enrolled at the private Valley Christian High last year. A counselor watches her shift focus the instant she steps on campus.
"Usually you see people go one way or the other, all sports or all academics," Erik Ellefsen says. "I've never seen a student like this before."
The change is so complete that classmates were startled when a documentary crew recently followed her around. Many had no idea she was an elite athlete. They just thought of her as a smart kid who misses a lot of school.
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20130730ada445db76a44df426e1456de7c4adaebb1e4f2031a57513b8cb4d92db24ec862da.wma
Sunday, July 28, 2013
Whales: The Giants of the Sea (1)
Discover more about the world’s biggest mammals
"There she blows!"
That famous line from Herman Melville's famous 1851 novel, Moby Dick, evokes images of Captain Ahab and his sailors on their search for the great white whale. Today people still go in search of the great whales, hoping for a glimpse of them in their natural habitat.
A mystery
These giant marine mammals have always fascinated humans because of their enormous size as well as their mysterious ways.
The sperm whale, for example, is an elusive creature that lives in remote waters and has rarely been tagged with long-distance tracking devices by researchers. For that reason, not much is known about these whales.
Researchers have discovered that sperm whales are the largest toothed animal, reaching 18 meters, and that they have the largest brain of any animal. It is believed that while foraging they can dive to a depth of 3200 meters and stay under water for at least 90 minutes.
Squid is their favorite food, and sperm whales have been known to fight fierce battles with giant squid. Battle scars in the form of permanent squid sucker marks provide evidence of deep-sea battles.
Info Cloud
rules 是當做 guidelines 原則, 大方向
語言是可以活用的
Grammar Gym
... while foraging they can dive to a depth of 3200 meters...
while + verb 1-ing, subject + verb 2.
- While shopping for grocery, Betsy looks for discounts.
- While cleaning the house, Sam keeps his TV on.
Language Lab
evoke v. 喚起, 引起, 使人想起
to bring (a memory, feeling, image, etc.) into the mind;
to cause (a particular reaction or response) to happen
- The music and decorations of the cafe evoke a feeling of the 70s.
這間咖啡廳的音樂和裝演使人想起七零年代
- The smell of apple pie evokes fond memories of time spent with my grandparents.
這塊小的蘋果派 喚起了我和爺爺奶奶相處的回憶
elusive adj. 逃避的, 躲避的; 難以理解的, 難以記起的
/iˈlu:sɪv/
hard to find or capture;
hard to understand, define, or remember
- This rare and elusive species of bird is sold at a very high price.
這隻稀有絕種的鳥被很高的價錢賣掉
- The novelist is elusive and can only be contacted by email.
這小說家
forage v. 搜索糧秣; 搜尋
/ˈforɪʤ/
1 of an animal : to eat growing grass or other plants
2 to search for something (such as food or supplies)
- A brown bear was discovered foraging in the backyard of a residence.
- The homeless children foraged for scraps of food on the streets.
scar n.
a mark that is left on your skin after a wound heals
- The car accident left him with a large scar on his forehead.
scar v. scarred
- Michael's face was scarred by a piece of glass.
mms://webvod.goodtv.tv/SC/20130729_09df7.wmv
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20130729baa9e2913c411ec69acb35eaefc661d115d723ed38e36d3a10d0d75ecd051d0e732.wma
"There she blows!"
That famous line from Herman Melville's famous 1851 novel, Moby Dick, evokes images of Captain Ahab and his sailors on their search for the great white whale. Today people still go in search of the great whales, hoping for a glimpse of them in their natural habitat.
A mystery
These giant marine mammals have always fascinated humans because of their enormous size as well as their mysterious ways.
The sperm whale, for example, is an elusive creature that lives in remote waters and has rarely been tagged with long-distance tracking devices by researchers. For that reason, not much is known about these whales.
Researchers have discovered that sperm whales are the largest toothed animal, reaching 18 meters, and that they have the largest brain of any animal. It is believed that while foraging they can dive to a depth of 3200 meters and stay under water for at least 90 minutes.
Squid is their favorite food, and sperm whales have been known to fight fierce battles with giant squid. Battle scars in the form of permanent squid sucker marks provide evidence of deep-sea battles.
Info Cloud
rules 是當做 guidelines 原則, 大方向
語言是可以活用的
Grammar Gym
... while foraging they can dive to a depth of 3200 meters...
while + verb 1-ing, subject + verb 2.
- While shopping for grocery, Betsy looks for discounts.
- While cleaning the house, Sam keeps his TV on.
Language Lab
evoke v. 喚起, 引起, 使人想起
to bring (a memory, feeling, image, etc.) into the mind;
to cause (a particular reaction or response) to happen
- The music and decorations of the cafe evoke a feeling of the 70s.
這間咖啡廳的音樂和裝演使人想起七零年代
- The smell of apple pie evokes fond memories of time spent with my grandparents.
這塊小的蘋果派 喚起了我和爺爺奶奶相處的回憶
elusive adj. 逃避的, 躲避的; 難以理解的, 難以記起的
/iˈlu:sɪv/
hard to find or capture;
hard to understand, define, or remember
- This rare and elusive species of bird is sold at a very high price.
這隻稀有絕種的鳥被很高的價錢賣掉
- The novelist is elusive and can only be contacted by email.
這小說家
forage v. 搜索糧秣; 搜尋
/ˈforɪʤ/
1 of an animal : to eat growing grass or other plants
2 to search for something (such as food or supplies)
- A brown bear was discovered foraging in the backyard of a residence.
- The homeless children foraged for scraps of food on the streets.
scar n.
a mark that is left on your skin after a wound heals
- The car accident left him with a large scar on his forehead.
scar v. scarred
- Michael's face was scarred by a piece of glass.
mms://webvod.goodtv.tv/SC/20130729_09df7.wmv
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20130729baa9e2913c411ec69acb35eaefc661d115d723ed38e36d3a10d0d75ecd051d0e732.wma
[Advanced] Ariel Hsing—Table Tennis’ Rising Star (1)
This young woman is an elite athlete in a low-profile sport
David Wharton | Olympic dream is a DIY effort
The day begins around 7 a.m., at the back of the house, in a room outfitted with rows of fluorescent lights, a ping-pong table and little else.
This is where Ariel Hsing comes to practice alone. She starts by crouching silently at one end of the table, then springs up and, with a flick of her paddle, sends a serve whizzing across the net.
The 16-year-old repeats this motion hundreds of times, the balls collecting against a far wall. She must concentrate on hitting with maximum spin, but other thoughts occasionally creep in.
Thoughts of precalculus and English composition.
"That's when I step back from the table," she says. "I try to calm down."
Life can get complicated for a girl who falls in love with -- and becomes very good at -- a sport not many people care about in this country.
If she lived in Europe or Asia, she might be enrolled in a sports academy, training full-time and looking forward to a pro career.
But the U.S. has no such academies for table tennis. "The options in North America are not so good," a national coach says . Ariel must think about a future beyond the game.
Leading a double life
So this cheerful teenager -- with colorful barrettes in her straight, black hair -- divides her time between training and high school. Grades are important because she hopes to get into Stanford or Harvard.
That means waking up early, staying up late and constantly shifting her attention from twisting serves to stacks of homework due for honors math class.
"It can be tough," she says. "You have to lead a double life."
When their only child began playing seriously, the Hsings set aside a spare bedroom for live-in coaches -- talented players they brought over from China -- and added the practice space in back.
After morning drills, Ariel attends school until 1 p.m. -- she took extra classes in advance of this Olympic year -- then heads for afternoon training sessions.
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20130729ada44f89452884a8e752b0910921539aadc2cf804c1ca8fe66267c17b66d0557fe0.wma
David Wharton | Olympic dream is a DIY effort
The day begins around 7 a.m., at the back of the house, in a room outfitted with rows of fluorescent lights, a ping-pong table and little else.
This is where Ariel Hsing comes to practice alone. She starts by crouching silently at one end of the table, then springs up and, with a flick of her paddle, sends a serve whizzing across the net.
The 16-year-old repeats this motion hundreds of times, the balls collecting against a far wall. She must concentrate on hitting with maximum spin, but other thoughts occasionally creep in.
Thoughts of precalculus and English composition.
"That's when I step back from the table," she says. "I try to calm down."
Life can get complicated for a girl who falls in love with -- and becomes very good at -- a sport not many people care about in this country.
If she lived in Europe or Asia, she might be enrolled in a sports academy, training full-time and looking forward to a pro career.
But the U.S. has no such academies for table tennis. "The options in North America are not so good," a national coach says . Ariel must think about a future beyond the game.
Leading a double life
So this cheerful teenager -- with colorful barrettes in her straight, black hair -- divides her time between training and high school. Grades are important because she hopes to get into Stanford or Harvard.
That means waking up early, staying up late and constantly shifting her attention from twisting serves to stacks of homework due for honors math class.
"It can be tough," she says. "You have to lead a double life."
When their only child began playing seriously, the Hsings set aside a spare bedroom for live-in coaches -- talented players they brought over from China -- and added the practice space in back.
After morning drills, Ariel attends school until 1 p.m. -- she took extra classes in advance of this Olympic year -- then heads for afternoon training sessions.
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20130729ada44f89452884a8e752b0910921539aadc2cf804c1ca8fe66267c17b66d0557fe0.wma
Saturday, July 27, 2013
Healthy Eating on a Budget (2)
When cooking
Be prepared
Healthy, inexpensive meals require a little planning. Set a budget to determine how much you can afford to spend on food. Then make a list of what you can buy within that budget.
Once you've made your list, stick to it! To avoid impulse purchases, don't shop when you're hungry. If you can't resist certain treats, stay out of the aisles where they're located.
Go natural
Artificial flavors, colors and chemicals added to processed food may contribute to various health problems.
So, instead of processed food, eat foods you prepare yourself from simple ingredients like fruit, vegetables, whole grains and meat without fat. These foods often cost less, too. Eat fruit and vegetables that are in season. They're cheaper, and they taste better because they're fresh and ripe.
Have fruit for dessert
Healthy eating doesn't mean you can't indulge in something sweet. Fresh fruit can be sweet and delicious - but without the processed sugar and fat of cookies or ice cream.
Following these tips will lead you to healthier - and cheaper - eating habits.
Info Cloud
Double negatives are when two forms of negation are used in the same sentence, like in the first sentence of the last paragraph.
Grammarians say we should avoid double negatives - that they're bad English. Well, don't believe them. When used properly, double negatives can be a very effective tool in your language tool box.
Interestingly, not all languages have double negatives. And the ones that do, the double negatives may function in different ways.
In French and Spanish for example, two negatives in the same sentence intensive each other, making the object in the discussion very very negative.
But in other languages like German, Chinese and English, two negatives cancel each other out, and so create an affirmative sense.
For example, saying something is "not bad", means "it's good". Or, at the very least, okay.
Saying, "I'm not opposed to going" means, "I'm willing to go".
On rare occasions, you might encounter a sentence with triple or quadruple negatives, but try to avoid using these as they'll do nothing but puzzle people.
So, in English, two negatives equal a positive. But Steve, did you know there is an instance were the opposite is also true.
You mean two positives equal a negative? Yeah, right!
Exactly!
Language Lab
inexpensive adj. 便宜的, 價格低廉的 (沒有指不好或沒水準的意思)
- There are many good but inexpensive restaurants in this area.
expensive adj.
- Justin loves to stay at expensive, fancy hotels.
aisle n. 走道, 通道 (s不發音)
- You can find sugar and spices in aisle five.
你可以在通道第五號找到香料
- Raymond went directly to the frozen food aisle.
aisle 飛機上的走道
- I prefer an aisle seat.
我比較喜歡走道的位置
ingredient n.
one of the things that are used to make a food, product, etc.;
- The ingredients in this dish are pretty rare.
- The restaurant only uses organic ingredients.
a quality or characteristic that makes something possible
- The most essential ingredient of a good marriage is mutual trust.
indulge v.
/ɪnˈdʌlʤ/
to let yourself do or have something that you enjoy, especially something that is considered bad for you
to let someone have or do whatever they want, even if it is bad for them;
indulge in
- After a long day, Renee indulged in a nice long hot bath.
- Mark indulges his wife and kids.
mms://webvod.goodtv.tv/SC/20130727_13464.wmv
Be prepared
Healthy, inexpensive meals require a little planning. Set a budget to determine how much you can afford to spend on food. Then make a list of what you can buy within that budget.
Once you've made your list, stick to it! To avoid impulse purchases, don't shop when you're hungry. If you can't resist certain treats, stay out of the aisles where they're located.
Go natural
Artificial flavors, colors and chemicals added to processed food may contribute to various health problems.
So, instead of processed food, eat foods you prepare yourself from simple ingredients like fruit, vegetables, whole grains and meat without fat. These foods often cost less, too. Eat fruit and vegetables that are in season. They're cheaper, and they taste better because they're fresh and ripe.
Have fruit for dessert
Healthy eating doesn't mean you can't indulge in something sweet. Fresh fruit can be sweet and delicious - but without the processed sugar and fat of cookies or ice cream.
Following these tips will lead you to healthier - and cheaper - eating habits.
Info Cloud
Double negatives are when two forms of negation are used in the same sentence, like in the first sentence of the last paragraph.
Grammarians say we should avoid double negatives - that they're bad English. Well, don't believe them. When used properly, double negatives can be a very effective tool in your language tool box.
Interestingly, not all languages have double negatives. And the ones that do, the double negatives may function in different ways.
In French and Spanish for example, two negatives in the same sentence intensive each other, making the object in the discussion very very negative.
But in other languages like German, Chinese and English, two negatives cancel each other out, and so create an affirmative sense.
For example, saying something is "not bad", means "it's good". Or, at the very least, okay.
Saying, "I'm not opposed to going" means, "I'm willing to go".
On rare occasions, you might encounter a sentence with triple or quadruple negatives, but try to avoid using these as they'll do nothing but puzzle people.
So, in English, two negatives equal a positive. But Steve, did you know there is an instance were the opposite is also true.
You mean two positives equal a negative? Yeah, right!
Exactly!
Language Lab
inexpensive adj. 便宜的, 價格低廉的 (沒有指不好或沒水準的意思)
- There are many good but inexpensive restaurants in this area.
expensive adj.
- Justin loves to stay at expensive, fancy hotels.
aisle n. 走道, 通道 (s不發音)
- You can find sugar and spices in aisle five.
你可以在通道第五號找到香料
- Raymond went directly to the frozen food aisle.
aisle 飛機上的走道
- I prefer an aisle seat.
我比較喜歡走道的位置
ingredient n.
one of the things that are used to make a food, product, etc.;
- The ingredients in this dish are pretty rare.
- The restaurant only uses organic ingredients.
a quality or characteristic that makes something possible
- The most essential ingredient of a good marriage is mutual trust.
indulge v.
/ɪnˈdʌlʤ/
to let yourself do or have something that you enjoy, especially something that is considered bad for you
to let someone have or do whatever they want, even if it is bad for them;
indulge in
- After a long day, Renee indulged in a nice long hot bath.
- Mark indulges his wife and kids.
mms://webvod.goodtv.tv/SC/20130727_13464.wmv
Friday, July 26, 2013
Healthy Eating on a Budget (1)
You can care for your body and your bank account at the same time
What can you do if you can't afford healthy food? If you want to save money, are you stuck eating instant noodles and fried rice? Actually there are several ways to get food that will preserve your health - and your savings.
When eating out
Order wisely
In general, choose grilled, baked or steamed dishes instead of fried ones. And choose vegetables as side dishes in order to fill up on healthy foods rather than fattening ones.
Know your limit
When you're full, stop eating - even if some food remains on your late. Take the rest to go, and eat t later instead of purchasing an additional snack or meal.
Drink to your health
Fortunately, the least expensive drink is also the healthiest-water. Sodas and even fruit juices are filled with sugar and may contain dangerous chemicals. So instead of paying for a drink, enjoy free water at most restaurants.
Avoid desserts
At the end of your meal, skip the sweets. By not ordering dessert, you save and cut down on calories and sugar.
Grammar Gym
If you want to save money, are you stuck eating instant noodles and fried rice?
stuck eating instant noodles and fried rice
stuck + verb-ing
- It rained every day, and we were stuck watching TV in our hotel room the whole time.
- Both brothers got the same kind of education, but one became a businessman while the other was stuck earning minimum wage.
Info Cloud
Last month we looked at a small punctuation mark called the hyphen. This month let's discuss the hyphen's big brother - the dash.
The hyphen and the dash often get mixed up, and it's easy to see why. Not only did they look similar, the dash being a little longer than the hyphen.
One of their functions is similar, too. You remember one of the hyphen's main responsibilities is to separate and connect individual words. Well, the dash separates and connects things, too. Not words, but phrases and sentences, like a comma does but stronger.
Let's look at an example sentence first using a comma: Jack will go skiing in Switzerland this winter, if he gets a raise.
Here we get the feeling Jack won't be bothered so much if he gets his raise or not. Now let's read the same sentence but replace the comma with a dash. Ken?
Jack will go skiing in Switzerland this winter - if he gets a raise.
Well done. I know it's subtle, but I wonder if you notice the difference. With the dash, we feel like Jack has his heart set on going to Switzerland. So getting that raise is very important.
dash 破折號 (比較長)
hyphen 連字號 (比較短)
dash
a punctuation mark — that is used especially to show a break in thought or in the structure of a sentence (as in “We don't know where—or how—the problem began.”)
hyphen
a punctuation mark - that is used to connect words or parts of words
punc·tu·a·tion
/ˌpʌŋktʃəˈweɪʃən/
Language Lab
preserve v. 維護, 保存 [pre提前/ serve保留]
- Both countries are willing to do their best to preserve peace.
- The chapel was perfectly preserved even though it had been through many wars.
fatten v. 使肥胖
- These cattle were fattened up so they could be sold at a good price.
fattening 現在分詞, 當做形容詞, 意思是使人肥胖的
- Esther tries to avoid fattening food such as soda and sweets.
purchase v. 購買
to buy (property, goods, etc.) : to get (something) by paying money for it
- We purchased our house without any loans.
- Stella purchased this ring at an auction.
purchase n.
an act of buying something;
something that is bought
- The purchase was paid for by credit card.
fortunately adv. 幸運地(常放在句首)
used to say that something good or lucky has happened
- Fortunately, nobody was injured in the car accident.
unfortunately adv.很不幸運地
used to say that something bad or unlucky has happened
- Unfortunately, we missed the bus and didn't get to watch the game.
mms://webvod.goodtv.tv/SC/20130726_1bd8f.wmv
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20130726baa140cee70016c090b08552eea5e87c21ff2bbc0c1ab382b6fad9347ea26d387e3.wma
What can you do if you can't afford healthy food? If you want to save money, are you stuck eating instant noodles and fried rice? Actually there are several ways to get food that will preserve your health - and your savings.
When eating out
Order wisely
In general, choose grilled, baked or steamed dishes instead of fried ones. And choose vegetables as side dishes in order to fill up on healthy foods rather than fattening ones.
Know your limit
When you're full, stop eating - even if some food remains on your late. Take the rest to go, and eat t later instead of purchasing an additional snack or meal.
Drink to your health
Fortunately, the least expensive drink is also the healthiest-water. Sodas and even fruit juices are filled with sugar and may contain dangerous chemicals. So instead of paying for a drink, enjoy free water at most restaurants.
Avoid desserts
At the end of your meal, skip the sweets. By not ordering dessert, you save and cut down on calories and sugar.
Grammar Gym
If you want to save money, are you stuck eating instant noodles and fried rice?
stuck eating instant noodles and fried rice
stuck + verb-ing
- It rained every day, and we were stuck watching TV in our hotel room the whole time.
- Both brothers got the same kind of education, but one became a businessman while the other was stuck earning minimum wage.
Info Cloud
Last month we looked at a small punctuation mark called the hyphen. This month let's discuss the hyphen's big brother - the dash.
The hyphen and the dash often get mixed up, and it's easy to see why. Not only did they look similar, the dash being a little longer than the hyphen.
One of their functions is similar, too. You remember one of the hyphen's main responsibilities is to separate and connect individual words. Well, the dash separates and connects things, too. Not words, but phrases and sentences, like a comma does but stronger.
Let's look at an example sentence first using a comma: Jack will go skiing in Switzerland this winter, if he gets a raise.
Here we get the feeling Jack won't be bothered so much if he gets his raise or not. Now let's read the same sentence but replace the comma with a dash. Ken?
Jack will go skiing in Switzerland this winter - if he gets a raise.
Well done. I know it's subtle, but I wonder if you notice the difference. With the dash, we feel like Jack has his heart set on going to Switzerland. So getting that raise is very important.
dash 破折號 (比較長)
hyphen 連字號 (比較短)
dash
a punctuation mark — that is used especially to show a break in thought or in the structure of a sentence (as in “We don't know where—or how—the problem began.”)
hyphen
a punctuation mark - that is used to connect words or parts of words
punc·tu·a·tion
/ˌpʌŋktʃəˈweɪʃən/
Language Lab
preserve v. 維護, 保存 [pre提前/ serve保留]
- Both countries are willing to do their best to preserve peace.
- The chapel was perfectly preserved even though it had been through many wars.
fatten v. 使肥胖
- These cattle were fattened up so they could be sold at a good price.
fattening 現在分詞, 當做形容詞, 意思是使人肥胖的
- Esther tries to avoid fattening food such as soda and sweets.
purchase v. 購買
to buy (property, goods, etc.) : to get (something) by paying money for it
- We purchased our house without any loans.
- Stella purchased this ring at an auction.
purchase n.
an act of buying something;
something that is bought
- The purchase was paid for by credit card.
fortunately adv. 幸運地(常放在句首)
used to say that something good or lucky has happened
- Fortunately, nobody was injured in the car accident.
unfortunately adv.很不幸運地
used to say that something bad or unlucky has happened
- Unfortunately, we missed the bus and didn't get to watch the game.
mms://webvod.goodtv.tv/SC/20130726_1bd8f.wmv
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20130726baa140cee70016c090b08552eea5e87c21ff2bbc0c1ab382b6fad9347ea26d387e3.wma
Thursday, July 25, 2013
New Employees? (2)
New Employees?
OK, so there will be some hidden costs, but those won't change the company that much.
They will mean huge changes to your job, though.
Yeah, I hope they'll make my job a lot easier!
They might. But remember, employees need to be managed.
That's true. The time you'll spend doing the things you're used to doing will also diminish.Instead you'll spend time overseeing employees.
I guess that will be a big change.
Ultimately, hiring employees is about growth. And good growth is done in a balanced and controlled way.
How do I do that?
For starters, you need to realize that growth can make some things easier.
But, it also generates problems in other areas.
I see. You mean hiring employees might make production easier, but it might make things like accounting and human resources harder. Maybe I should put some more thought into this.
That's a good idea. But, I'm not saying you can't do it. And, hiring employees is a good thing.
Because, it means the company is growing?
Exactly. Let's go celebrate your growing company with some coffee.
You're on.
Info Cloud
Let's take a look at two words today that can be confusing: oversee and overlook.
Do they have the same meaning?
Oh, you may think they do as both "see" and "look" have similar meanings. But these two words are actually quite different.
OK. For "oversee," we can think of a boss or supervisor in a factory who is seated at a high place watching over the workers.
And maybe even giving out commands. When someone oversees you at work, they're making sure you're doing your job right. "Supervise" is another word for oversee.
"Overlook," on the other hand, can have two different meanings. It can mean to look at something from a higher place. For example, the house overlooks the beach. So from the house, you could see the beach below.
Right. But "overlook" can also mean to miss or fail to see, as in: The detective overlooked an important clue, and the suspect was released.
Now the question is: What does the noun "oversight" mean? It can mean either supervision or an unintentional omission.
Yes, but the more common definition is an unintentional omission. So we can say: Due to the detective's oversight, the suspect was released.
Two different words with different meanings. Don't overlook them.
Language Lab
diminish v.減少, 減小
/dəˈmɪnɪʃ/
to become or make something become smaller or less [= reduce]
- The threat of war diminished due to the peace talks.
- Gloria's enthusiasm for singing diminished after her defeat at the contest.
ultimately adv. 基本上, 總而言之 (通常都放在句首)
/ˈʌltəmətli/
finally, after everything else has been done or considered
- Ultimately, we'll adapt any means to promote ourselves.
ultimate adj. 終極的, 最重要的
/ˈʌltəmət/
someone's ultimate aim is their main and most important aim, that they hope to achieve in the future [= final] ultimate goal/aim/objective etc
- The ultimate goal of the protest is to fight for higher wages.
generate v. 產生, 引起[gener-字根 生產]
human resources n. 人力資源部
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20130725baa8ecf2b68e8e5a993ac60aec74491d41f3c19178215b621b412d9ded17af02b26.wma
mms://webvod.goodtv.tv/SC/20130725_49908.wmv
OK, so there will be some hidden costs, but those won't change the company that much.
They will mean huge changes to your job, though.
Yeah, I hope they'll make my job a lot easier!
They might. But remember, employees need to be managed.
That's true. The time you'll spend doing the things you're used to doing will also diminish.Instead you'll spend time overseeing employees.
I guess that will be a big change.
Ultimately, hiring employees is about growth. And good growth is done in a balanced and controlled way.
How do I do that?
For starters, you need to realize that growth can make some things easier.
But, it also generates problems in other areas.
I see. You mean hiring employees might make production easier, but it might make things like accounting and human resources harder. Maybe I should put some more thought into this.
That's a good idea. But, I'm not saying you can't do it. And, hiring employees is a good thing.
Because, it means the company is growing?
Exactly. Let's go celebrate your growing company with some coffee.
You're on.
Info Cloud
Let's take a look at two words today that can be confusing: oversee and overlook.
Do they have the same meaning?
Oh, you may think they do as both "see" and "look" have similar meanings. But these two words are actually quite different.
OK. For "oversee," we can think of a boss or supervisor in a factory who is seated at a high place watching over the workers.
And maybe even giving out commands. When someone oversees you at work, they're making sure you're doing your job right. "Supervise" is another word for oversee.
"Overlook," on the other hand, can have two different meanings. It can mean to look at something from a higher place. For example, the house overlooks the beach. So from the house, you could see the beach below.
Right. But "overlook" can also mean to miss or fail to see, as in: The detective overlooked an important clue, and the suspect was released.
Now the question is: What does the noun "oversight" mean? It can mean either supervision or an unintentional omission.
Yes, but the more common definition is an unintentional omission. So we can say: Due to the detective's oversight, the suspect was released.
Two different words with different meanings. Don't overlook them.
Language Lab
diminish v.減少, 減小
/dəˈmɪnɪʃ/
to become or make something become smaller or less [= reduce]
- The threat of war diminished due to the peace talks.
- Gloria's enthusiasm for singing diminished after her defeat at the contest.
ultimately adv. 基本上, 總而言之 (通常都放在句首)
/ˈʌltəmətli/
finally, after everything else has been done or considered
- Ultimately, we'll adapt any means to promote ourselves.
ultimate adj. 終極的, 最重要的
/ˈʌltəmət/
someone's ultimate aim is their main and most important aim, that they hope to achieve in the future [= final] ultimate goal/aim/objective etc
- The ultimate goal of the protest is to fight for higher wages.
generate v. 產生, 引起[gener-字根 生產]
human resources n. 人力資源部
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20130725baa8ecf2b68e8e5a993ac60aec74491d41f3c19178215b621b412d9ded17af02b26.wma
mms://webvod.goodtv.tv/SC/20130725_49908.wmv
[Advanced] The Netherlands: Out of Amsterdam (1)
To get a taste of Dutch culture, travel beyond the big city.
When people discover that my parents were born in the Netherlands, many of them mention that they've been there.
"Which part", I'll ask.
"Amsterdam. What an interesting city."
Yes, it is quite a city and certainly worth a visit. It offers plenty of historic buildings, charming restaurants, museums, and parks. But on my visit there last summer, after scrambling through the busy streets for a few hours, I was ready to relax.
Small town life.
Just 15 minutes east of this world famous city lies the town of Weesp, home of Van Houten chocolate and my father's family. On my cousin's old "oma fiets" (literally, grandmother bicycle), I had the freedom to explore the cobblestone streets in local style.
A weekly open-air market outside the historic town hall brings everyone to the city center to purchase fish, flowers, and more. The smells of fresh bread and "amandelkoekjes" (almond cookies) wafted out of bakeries, beckoning buyers to come in.
At dusk, families eat together in their neat ground-level kitchens. Curiously, most homes don't have curtains. But the lack of privacy doesn't seem to worry anyone. Rather, it lends a familiar, comfortable sense of community to the whole town.
Surrounded by history.
Despite the steady pace of life, even the small towns of the Netherlands are bursting with reminders of the country's rich history.
In ways, the ??? river is part of the defense line of Amsterdam, a Unesco world heritage site featuring a ring of fortifications constructed 100 years ago. Standing near the old fortress, I gazed across the river at two 17th century windmills, their sails swooping from the sky, to the ground, and back again.
Just 4 kilometers away in Muiden, you can visit the medieval castle of Muiderslot. Once home to Count Floris V, this moat-surrounded fortress is now a museum. It offers a breath-taking armory, vast gardens, and daily falconry demonstrations.
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20130725ada19cba6d7d3930e1440f8733a08cff49883b7a11ab5b65c08bcbaaf3af74e2391.wma
When people discover that my parents were born in the Netherlands, many of them mention that they've been there.
"Which part", I'll ask.
"Amsterdam. What an interesting city."
Yes, it is quite a city and certainly worth a visit. It offers plenty of historic buildings, charming restaurants, museums, and parks. But on my visit there last summer, after scrambling through the busy streets for a few hours, I was ready to relax.
Small town life.
Just 15 minutes east of this world famous city lies the town of Weesp, home of Van Houten chocolate and my father's family. On my cousin's old "oma fiets" (literally, grandmother bicycle), I had the freedom to explore the cobblestone streets in local style.
A weekly open-air market outside the historic town hall brings everyone to the city center to purchase fish, flowers, and more. The smells of fresh bread and "amandelkoekjes" (almond cookies) wafted out of bakeries, beckoning buyers to come in.
At dusk, families eat together in their neat ground-level kitchens. Curiously, most homes don't have curtains. But the lack of privacy doesn't seem to worry anyone. Rather, it lends a familiar, comfortable sense of community to the whole town.
Surrounded by history.
Despite the steady pace of life, even the small towns of the Netherlands are bursting with reminders of the country's rich history.
In ways, the ??? river is part of the defense line of Amsterdam, a Unesco world heritage site featuring a ring of fortifications constructed 100 years ago. Standing near the old fortress, I gazed across the river at two 17th century windmills, their sails swooping from the sky, to the ground, and back again.
Just 4 kilometers away in Muiden, you can visit the medieval castle of Muiderslot. Once home to Count Floris V, this moat-surrounded fortress is now a museum. It offers a breath-taking armory, vast gardens, and daily falconry demonstrations.
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20130725ada19cba6d7d3930e1440f8733a08cff49883b7a11ab5b65c08bcbaaf3af74e2391.wma
Wednesday, July 24, 2013
New Employees? (1)
Hiring new employees isn’t as easy as it seems
by Simon Stopps
With his company growing, Ben thinks it might be time to hire some employees. But hiring employees is a big step, and Uncle Bob has some important words of warning for him.
Hi, Ben! How are you today?
I'm great! Thanks for asking.
How's the business coming along?
Well, it's growing by leaps and bounds. In fact, I'm having a hard time getting all the work done, and I need help.
I thought you had some help. Don't you have a few people working for you.
Yes and no. We have a few freelancers we use on projects, but I need some full time help.
Wow. Hiring full-time employees is a big step for a young company. Are you ready for it?
Sure. How hard can it be to hire a couple of employees?
I'm not saying it's hard. But employees can induce big changes in the way your company works.
How?
Well, there are lots of ways. Take costs for example. The cost of an employee goes far beyond pay.
I guess that's true. I'll need to pay for things like benefits and payroll taxes.
That's right. And there are other indirect costs, too.
You'll need to buy office furniture, computers and a lot more stationery for your employees to use.
And parking. I'll need to get more parking spots.
Exactly.
Info Cloud
pay for benefits
benefits= employee benefits 員工福利
perks= perquisites 工資以為的津貼或外快; 一份工作給予的特權或待遇
fringe benefit 附加的福利
Language Lab
by leaps and bounds 非常迅速地 [leap越過/bound跳躍; 跳起]
very quickly and greatly
- After Jake moved to the States, his English improved by leaps and bounds.
- Rita's computer skills grew by leaps and bounds.
freelancer n.兼職者, 自由工作者
working independently for different companies rather than being employed by one particular company;
earning money by being hired to work on different jobs for short periods of time rather than by having a permanent job with one employer
- Nathan used to work in a big advertising company, but now he's a freelancer.
freelance adj. 自由職業的, 獨立工作的
- Alice decided to go freelance after she got married.
induce v. 引誘; 勸 [duce字根-引導]
to persuade someone to do something, especially something that does not seem wise
- I could not induce her to go mountain climbing with me.
- The treatment might induce side effects such as loss of appetite and hair.
stationery n. 文具; 信紙
/ˈsteɪʃəˌneri/
materials (such as paper, pens, and ink) that are used for writing or typing
- Many parents bought their kids new stationery before school started.
stationery 文具
可比較:
stationary 固定的
[ˋsteʃən͵ɛrɪ]
mms://webvod.goodtv.tv/SC/20130724_00c0a.wmv
by Simon Stopps
With his company growing, Ben thinks it might be time to hire some employees. But hiring employees is a big step, and Uncle Bob has some important words of warning for him.
Hi, Ben! How are you today?
I'm great! Thanks for asking.
How's the business coming along?
Well, it's growing by leaps and bounds. In fact, I'm having a hard time getting all the work done, and I need help.
I thought you had some help. Don't you have a few people working for you.
Yes and no. We have a few freelancers we use on projects, but I need some full time help.
Wow. Hiring full-time employees is a big step for a young company. Are you ready for it?
Sure. How hard can it be to hire a couple of employees?
I'm not saying it's hard. But employees can induce big changes in the way your company works.
How?
Well, there are lots of ways. Take costs for example. The cost of an employee goes far beyond pay.
I guess that's true. I'll need to pay for things like benefits and payroll taxes.
That's right. And there are other indirect costs, too.
You'll need to buy office furniture, computers and a lot more stationery for your employees to use.
And parking. I'll need to get more parking spots.
Exactly.
Info Cloud
pay for benefits
benefits= employee benefits 員工福利
perks= perquisites 工資以為的津貼或外快; 一份工作給予的特權或待遇
fringe benefit 附加的福利
Language Lab
by leaps and bounds 非常迅速地 [leap越過/bound跳躍; 跳起]
very quickly and greatly
- After Jake moved to the States, his English improved by leaps and bounds.
- Rita's computer skills grew by leaps and bounds.
freelancer n.兼職者, 自由工作者
working independently for different companies rather than being employed by one particular company;
earning money by being hired to work on different jobs for short periods of time rather than by having a permanent job with one employer
- Nathan used to work in a big advertising company, but now he's a freelancer.
freelance adj. 自由職業的, 獨立工作的
- Alice decided to go freelance after she got married.
induce v. 引誘; 勸 [duce字根-引導]
to persuade someone to do something, especially something that does not seem wise
- I could not induce her to go mountain climbing with me.
- The treatment might induce side effects such as loss of appetite and hair.
stationery n. 文具; 信紙
/ˈsteɪʃəˌneri/
materials (such as paper, pens, and ink) that are used for writing or typing
- Many parents bought their kids new stationery before school started.
stationery 文具
可比較:
stationary 固定的
[ˋsteʃən͵ɛrɪ]
mms://webvod.goodtv.tv/SC/20130724_00c0a.wmv
[Advanced] NEWSworthy Clips (3)
Dutch Queen Beatrix abdicates; eldest son to succeed
Queen Beatrix, who has ruled the Netherlands for nearly 33 years, said [January 28th] she was abdicating to make way for her eldest son, Willem-Alexander.
Her last day as head of state [was] April 30, when 45-year-old Willem-Alexander [was] crowned Willem IV - the first time the Netherlands has a male monarch in more than 120 years.
It was time "to place the responsibility of the country in the hands of a new generation," Beatrix said in a television address.
Willem-Alexander is married to Argentine-born Maxima Zorreguieta Cerruti and has three daughters - Amalia, 9, Alexia, 7, and Ariane, 5.
Nevertheless, Beatrix has remained active in her role as head of state, having made visits to Singapore and Brunei.
Speculation about Beatrix's future on the throne grew after Prince Friso, her second child, was left in a coma after a skiing accident nearly a year ago. He remains unresponsive in a London hospital.
Beatrix remains popular among a vast majority of citizens, according to recent polls, which also suggest that most Dutch believe Willem-Alexander to be well-prepared for his new role.
Beatrix assumed the throne on April 30, 1980, after her mother Juliana abdicated. Even though it is not Beatrix's birthday, April 30 has been celebrated as Queen's Day because the weather is more suitable for a festival than her actual birthday, January 31.
The holiday will change to Willem-Alexander's birthday April 27 starting in 2014 and become King's Day.
In addition to princes Willem-Alexander and Friso, she has a 43-year-old son, Constantijn. Beatrix's husband, German-born Prince Claus, died in 2002.
As a student, Willem-Alexander main emphasis was water management - a fitting subject in a low-lying, coastal kingdom that for centuries has had to defend itself against the North Sea, accentuated in an era of climate change.
abdicate v.
/ˈæbdɪˌkeɪt/
to leave the position of being a king or queen [no obj]
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20130724ada2d0cfd2a522cc6f0061b3dd01e8a1368ceaff4521e71e439924e46efdc5b8e93.wma
Queen Beatrix, who has ruled the Netherlands for nearly 33 years, said [January 28th] she was abdicating to make way for her eldest son, Willem-Alexander.
Her last day as head of state [was] April 30, when 45-year-old Willem-Alexander [was] crowned Willem IV - the first time the Netherlands has a male monarch in more than 120 years.
It was time "to place the responsibility of the country in the hands of a new generation," Beatrix said in a television address.
Willem-Alexander is married to Argentine-born Maxima Zorreguieta Cerruti and has three daughters - Amalia, 9, Alexia, 7, and Ariane, 5.
Nevertheless, Beatrix has remained active in her role as head of state, having made visits to Singapore and Brunei.
Speculation about Beatrix's future on the throne grew after Prince Friso, her second child, was left in a coma after a skiing accident nearly a year ago. He remains unresponsive in a London hospital.
Beatrix remains popular among a vast majority of citizens, according to recent polls, which also suggest that most Dutch believe Willem-Alexander to be well-prepared for his new role.
Beatrix assumed the throne on April 30, 1980, after her mother Juliana abdicated. Even though it is not Beatrix's birthday, April 30 has been celebrated as Queen's Day because the weather is more suitable for a festival than her actual birthday, January 31.
The holiday will change to Willem-Alexander's birthday April 27 starting in 2014 and become King's Day.
In addition to princes Willem-Alexander and Friso, she has a 43-year-old son, Constantijn. Beatrix's husband, German-born Prince Claus, died in 2002.
As a student, Willem-Alexander main emphasis was water management - a fitting subject in a low-lying, coastal kingdom that for centuries has had to defend itself against the North Sea, accentuated in an era of climate change.
abdicate v.
/ˈæbdɪˌkeɪt/
to leave the position of being a king or queen [no obj]
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20130724ada2d0cfd2a522cc6f0061b3dd01e8a1368ceaff4521e71e439924e46efdc5b8e93.wma
Tuesday, July 23, 2013
Why Community College? (2)
There are several advantages to attending a community college. First, the tuition is lower than a four-year university, especially if you're a resident. Residents pay the in-county or in-state tuition rate. Second, the credits are mostly transferrable to a four-year university. You transfer in as a sophomore or junior. Last, smaller class sizes mean students have more chances to talk with their professors.
After admission, Michelle, along with most other international students , took tests in English, reading and math.
The advising department then reviewed the test results. They then put the students in an English language program to prepare them for an American college. The courses include writing/grammar, reading, speaking/listening and note-taking.
Registration is completed, the tuition is paid, and an official student ID card is in hand. What's next? Attending new student orientation!
A good community college is Michelle's choice for her first-year experience in American higher education. We support her and wish her a successful college life!
Info Cloud
next 下一個/要來的那一個
這是容易搞不清楚的字,
例如: 今天是2013/7/23 星期二,
如果你說 next Friday,
有人會認為是要來的這個星期五, 也就是7/26
但是也會有人認為是下個星期五 8/2
next right 前面右手邊的第一條路, 或是過了那條路的下一條呢
不同的人會有不同的理解, 因此要用到next這個字的時候,
要加入更詳細的解釋, 像是日期或路名等等, 以避免誤會
Language Lab
advantage n.優點,好處 — opposite disadvantage
something that helps you to be more successful than others, or the state of having this
a good or useful quality or condition that something has
- One of the many advantages to car-pooling is that you can lower your expenses.
disadvantage n. 不利條件
something that causes problems, or that makes someone or something less likely to be successful or effective
- Postponing the election will be to the party's disadvantage.
admission n.入取, 準許入學
(說明入取那間學校用to 介細系)
the process of allowing people to enter a university, institution etc, or the number of people who can enter
- Many people applied for admission to this art school, but only a few were accepted.
admission n. 進入
permission given to someone to enter a building or place, or to become a member of a school, club etc
- The admission fee to the park is $10.
advising department n.資詢部門
advising (動名詞)/ advise v.給予建議
to tell someone what you think they should do, especially when you know more than they do about something
- The staff in the advising department will give you some suggestions about what courses to take.
higher education n.高等教育(包含大專, 大學, 研究所)
college or university education as opposed to school or high school
- The higher education budget was increased last year.
- Higher education is still not easily available for disadvantaged families.
mms://webvod.goodtv.tv/SC/20130723_18d50.wmv
After admission, Michelle, along with most other international students , took tests in English, reading and math.
The advising department then reviewed the test results. They then put the students in an English language program to prepare them for an American college. The courses include writing/grammar, reading, speaking/listening and note-taking.
Registration is completed, the tuition is paid, and an official student ID card is in hand. What's next? Attending new student orientation!
A good community college is Michelle's choice for her first-year experience in American higher education. We support her and wish her a successful college life!
Info Cloud
next 下一個/要來的那一個
這是容易搞不清楚的字,
例如: 今天是2013/7/23 星期二,
如果你說 next Friday,
有人會認為是要來的這個星期五, 也就是7/26
但是也會有人認為是下個星期五 8/2
next right 前面右手邊的第一條路, 或是過了那條路的下一條呢
不同的人會有不同的理解, 因此要用到next這個字的時候,
要加入更詳細的解釋, 像是日期或路名等等, 以避免誤會
Language Lab
advantage n.優點,好處 — opposite disadvantage
something that helps you to be more successful than others, or the state of having this
a good or useful quality or condition that something has
- One of the many advantages to car-pooling is that you can lower your expenses.
disadvantage n. 不利條件
something that causes problems, or that makes someone or something less likely to be successful or effective
- Postponing the election will be to the party's disadvantage.
admission n.入取, 準許入學
(說明入取那間學校用to 介細系)
the process of allowing people to enter a university, institution etc, or the number of people who can enter
- Many people applied for admission to this art school, but only a few were accepted.
admission n. 進入
permission given to someone to enter a building or place, or to become a member of a school, club etc
- The admission fee to the park is $10.
advising department n.資詢部門
advising (動名詞)/ advise v.給予建議
to tell someone what you think they should do, especially when you know more than they do about something
- The staff in the advising department will give you some suggestions about what courses to take.
higher education n.高等教育(包含大專, 大學, 研究所)
college or university education as opposed to school or high school
- The higher education budget was increased last year.
- Higher education is still not easily available for disadvantaged families.
mms://webvod.goodtv.tv/SC/20130723_18d50.wmv
[Advanced] NEWSworthy Clips (2)
Want to improve your preschoolers' behavior? Be choosy when it comes to the television shows they watch — even if you don't reduce the amount of time they spend watching them, a study finds.
In one of the largest studies yet to examine how modifying television content affects the development of young children ages 3 to 5, researchers report that six months after families reduced their kids' exposure to aggressive and violence-filled programming and increased exposure to enriching and educational programming — even without changing the number of viewing hours — kids demonstrated statistically significant improved behavior compared to children whose media diet went unchanged.
And the improvements — declines in aggression and being difficult and increases in healthy social behaviors such as empathy, helpfulness and concern for others — persisted at 12 months, says the study involving 565 families in today's Pediatrics.
Overall, the amount of television viewed did not decrease, but all kids' behavior improved, and low-income boys, who tend to watch the most TV, benefited the most, says study author Dimitri Christakis, director of the Center for Child Health, Behavior and Development at Seattle Children's Hospital.
Young children "learn by imitating what they see," and for preschoolers, "a lot of what they see is on TV."
The American Academy of Pediatrics discourages TV and other media use by children under age 2 and says it should be limited to less than 2 hours a day for older children.
"Although this innovative study shows changing content without changing viewing time helps lower aggression, other health issues may need to be approached in different ways," says Jennifer Manganello, an associate professor at the University of Albany School of Public Health. She was not involved in the new study.
"For instance, studies have shown that reducing screen time can be helpful when trying to reduce the risk for obesity," says Manganello, who recommends that parents "consider both screen time and content when they can."
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20130723adae5a7041a95d7871242aff86374d3b905bde590448cc2c3c3a7693cbb23585581.wma
In one of the largest studies yet to examine how modifying television content affects the development of young children ages 3 to 5, researchers report that six months after families reduced their kids' exposure to aggressive and violence-filled programming and increased exposure to enriching and educational programming — even without changing the number of viewing hours — kids demonstrated statistically significant improved behavior compared to children whose media diet went unchanged.
And the improvements — declines in aggression and being difficult and increases in healthy social behaviors such as empathy, helpfulness and concern for others — persisted at 12 months, says the study involving 565 families in today's Pediatrics.
Overall, the amount of television viewed did not decrease, but all kids' behavior improved, and low-income boys, who tend to watch the most TV, benefited the most, says study author Dimitri Christakis, director of the Center for Child Health, Behavior and Development at Seattle Children's Hospital.
Young children "learn by imitating what they see," and for preschoolers, "a lot of what they see is on TV."
The American Academy of Pediatrics discourages TV and other media use by children under age 2 and says it should be limited to less than 2 hours a day for older children.
"Although this innovative study shows changing content without changing viewing time helps lower aggression, other health issues may need to be approached in different ways," says Jennifer Manganello, an associate professor at the University of Albany School of Public Health. She was not involved in the new study.
"For instance, studies have shown that reducing screen time can be helpful when trying to reduce the risk for obesity," says Manganello, who recommends that parents "consider both screen time and content when they can."
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20130723adae5a7041a95d7871242aff86374d3b905bde590448cc2c3c3a7693cbb23585581.wma
Monday, July 22, 2013
Why Community College? (1)
Do you have to start at a four-year university?
Before we moved to the U.S., we did some research regarding the children's future studies. My elder daughter, Michelle, had just graduated from high school. What would be her best choice for a college education? After much discussion, we decided on community college.
Why did we make this choice? Many think community colleges are only for senior citizens after retirement. Well, yes and no. Most community colleges provide lifelong learning opportunities for people from all walks of life. They offer some non-credit course like art and computer skills for those interested in personal enrichment.
But in America, a community college is also a perfect place to earn an associate's degree. You can also get a certificate for a career or improve your job skills. And you can transfer credits to a four-year university.
My daughter's goal is to pursue a bachelor's degree. She plans to take the necessary general education courses in community college in two years. Then she will transfer to a four-year university.
Info Cloud
yes and no 是, 但是不盡然
當我們問一個問題時, 通常回答是Yes/No,
但如果對方回答yes and no 那又是什麼意思呢
今天課文說到, 許多社區大學, 只收退休後的人,
作者接著說 Well, yes and no. ( 是, 但是不盡然)
意思就是你所說的只有部份正確, 但也有不正確的地方,
因此當你聽到回答是yes and no 的時候, 後面就會接著更詳盡的回答
Grammar Gym
all walks of life:
people from all social, economic, or ethnic groups
- Most community colleges provide lifelong learning opportunities for people from all walks of life.
- At any major international airport, you can see people from all walks of life.
- Going to the public park is a great place to see people from all walks of life.
Language Lab
credit n. 學校的學分
a unit that measures a student's progress towards earning a degree in a school, college, etc.
- English Literature counts as four credits toward your degree.
就學位來看, 英國文學這堂課算四個學分
- The aerobic course is a non-credit course.
有氧舞課是沒有學分的課
- Roy already has two credits in art history.
Roy 已經修了藝術歷史的二個學分的課
enrichment n. 豐富, 充實 [noncount]
/ɪnˈrɪtʃmənt/
- Thomas sees traveling as an enrichment of life.
Thomas 視旅遊為人生充實的方式
enrich v. 使...豐富, 使...充實
to make (someone) rich or richer
to improve the quality of (something) : to make (something) better
- Painting really enriched my life. It opened up a new world to me.
繪畫使我的人生更豐富, 它為我開啟了一個新的世界
degree 學位
associate's degree 大專學位, 二年制
bachelor's degree 四年制學士學位
- One of the job requirements is an associate's degree in accounting.
這個工作的基本要求就是要有會計的大專學位
certificate n.職照, 職業證明
/sɚˈtɪfɪkət/ (注意a的發音)
a document that is official proof that something has happened
birth certificate 出生證明
marriage certificate 結婚證書
certification n. 認證
/ˌsɚtəfəˈkeɪʃən/
- The certification of the applicants' qualifications takes about a week.
申請者的資格認證需要大約一個星期的時間
mms://webvod.goodtv.tv/SC/20130722_aa59f.wmv
mms://webvod.goodtv.tv/SC/20130723_18d50.wmv
Before we moved to the U.S., we did some research regarding the children's future studies. My elder daughter, Michelle, had just graduated from high school. What would be her best choice for a college education? After much discussion, we decided on community college.
Why did we make this choice? Many think community colleges are only for senior citizens after retirement. Well, yes and no. Most community colleges provide lifelong learning opportunities for people from all walks of life. They offer some non-credit course like art and computer skills for those interested in personal enrichment.
But in America, a community college is also a perfect place to earn an associate's degree. You can also get a certificate for a career or improve your job skills. And you can transfer credits to a four-year university.
My daughter's goal is to pursue a bachelor's degree. She plans to take the necessary general education courses in community college in two years. Then she will transfer to a four-year university.
Info Cloud
yes and no 是, 但是不盡然
當我們問一個問題時, 通常回答是Yes/No,
但如果對方回答yes and no 那又是什麼意思呢
今天課文說到, 許多社區大學, 只收退休後的人,
作者接著說 Well, yes and no. ( 是, 但是不盡然)
意思就是你所說的只有部份正確, 但也有不正確的地方,
因此當你聽到回答是yes and no 的時候, 後面就會接著更詳盡的回答
Grammar Gym
all walks of life:
people from all social, economic, or ethnic groups
- Most community colleges provide lifelong learning opportunities for people from all walks of life.
- At any major international airport, you can see people from all walks of life.
- Going to the public park is a great place to see people from all walks of life.
Language Lab
credit n. 學校的學分
a unit that measures a student's progress towards earning a degree in a school, college, etc.
- English Literature counts as four credits toward your degree.
就學位來看, 英國文學這堂課算四個學分
- The aerobic course is a non-credit course.
有氧舞課是沒有學分的課
- Roy already has two credits in art history.
Roy 已經修了藝術歷史的二個學分的課
enrichment n. 豐富, 充實 [noncount]
/ɪnˈrɪtʃmənt/
- Thomas sees traveling as an enrichment of life.
Thomas 視旅遊為人生充實的方式
enrich v. 使...豐富, 使...充實
to make (someone) rich or richer
to improve the quality of (something) : to make (something) better
- Painting really enriched my life. It opened up a new world to me.
繪畫使我的人生更豐富, 它為我開啟了一個新的世界
degree 學位
associate's degree 大專學位, 二年制
bachelor's degree 四年制學士學位
- One of the job requirements is an associate's degree in accounting.
這個工作的基本要求就是要有會計的大專學位
certificate n.職照, 職業證明
/sɚˈtɪfɪkət/ (注意a的發音)
a document that is official proof that something has happened
birth certificate 出生證明
marriage certificate 結婚證書
certification n. 認證
/ˌsɚtəfəˈkeɪʃən/
- The certification of the applicants' qualifications takes about a week.
申請者的資格認證需要大約一個星期的時間
mms://webvod.goodtv.tv/SC/20130722_aa59f.wmv
mms://webvod.goodtv.tv/SC/20130723_18d50.wmv
[Advanced] NEWSworthy Clips (1)
Blink if your brain needs a rest
Why do we spend roughly 10 percent of our waking hours with our eyes closed - blinking far more often than is actually necessary to keep our eyeballs lubricated? Scientists have pried open the answer to this mystery, finding that the human brain uses that tiny moment of shut-eye to power down.
The mental break can last anywhere from a split second to a few seconds before attention is fully restored, researchers from Japan's Osaka University found. During that time, scans that track the ebb and flow of blood within the brain revealed that regions associated with paying close attention momentarily go offline. And in the brief break in attention, brain regions collectively identified as the "Default Mode Network" power up.
The default mode network is the brain's "idle" setting. In times when our attention is not required, this far-flung cluster of brain regions comes alive, and our thoughts wander freely. In idle mode, however, our thoughts seldom stray far from home.
Most of us take between 15 and 20 such moments of downtime per minute, and scientists have observed that most blinking takes place near or at the point of an "implicit stop": While reading or listening to another person, that generally comes at the end of a sentence; while watching a movie, for instance, we're most likely to blink when an actor turns to leave the scene or when the camera shifts to follow the dialogue.
The study, published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academies of Science, studied 20 healthy young subjects in a brain scanner as they watched "best bits" snippets from the British comedy "Mr. Bean."
Sure enough, when subjects blinked, the researchers detected a momentary stand-down within the brain's visual cortex and somatosensory cortex - both involved with processing visual stimuli - and in areas that govern attention.
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20130722adab0c0852d1937df9b7031bd01624ed1e1b24bc2e45a97e4c9f1e637cfa3c68e13.wma
Why do we spend roughly 10 percent of our waking hours with our eyes closed - blinking far more often than is actually necessary to keep our eyeballs lubricated? Scientists have pried open the answer to this mystery, finding that the human brain uses that tiny moment of shut-eye to power down.
The mental break can last anywhere from a split second to a few seconds before attention is fully restored, researchers from Japan's Osaka University found. During that time, scans that track the ebb and flow of blood within the brain revealed that regions associated with paying close attention momentarily go offline. And in the brief break in attention, brain regions collectively identified as the "Default Mode Network" power up.
The default mode network is the brain's "idle" setting. In times when our attention is not required, this far-flung cluster of brain regions comes alive, and our thoughts wander freely. In idle mode, however, our thoughts seldom stray far from home.
Most of us take between 15 and 20 such moments of downtime per minute, and scientists have observed that most blinking takes place near or at the point of an "implicit stop": While reading or listening to another person, that generally comes at the end of a sentence; while watching a movie, for instance, we're most likely to blink when an actor turns to leave the scene or when the camera shifts to follow the dialogue.
The study, published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academies of Science, studied 20 healthy young subjects in a brain scanner as they watched "best bits" snippets from the British comedy "Mr. Bean."
Sure enough, when subjects blinked, the researchers detected a momentary stand-down within the brain's visual cortex and somatosensory cortex - both involved with processing visual stimuli - and in areas that govern attention.
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20130722adab0c0852d1937df9b7031bd01624ed1e1b24bc2e45a97e4c9f1e637cfa3c68e13.wma
Saturday, July 20, 2013
Beetle Bottles
One little bug might be the start of a big change
In a bleak, lonely desert on Africa's southwestern coast, black insects push up their shells toward the sun. But these Namib Desert beetles aren't just trying to relax - this action gives them much needed water in one of Earth's driest areas.
On their raised backs, the beetles collect moisture from the morning fog, which beads and rolls directly into their mouths. While these remarkable creatures are built for survival, some young scientists think that the beetles inspire a solution to human water stress today.
NBD (Namib Beetle Design) Nanotechnologies is the name of this ambitious group, giving credit where it is due.
Though the little Namibian creatures were the stimulus for the development of several water-collection materials or devices, NBD Nano is putting their own stamp on the idea. They want to create a portable bottle that will collect water from the air as the beetles do. To achieve this, they have created a nano-designed surface imitating the beetle's wings, made up of both water-attracting and water-resisting parts.
Once they have a working prototype, it will likely first be sold to green consumers, military groups and greenhouses. However, ND Nano really hopes these sales will allow "beetle bottles" to be donated to Third-World countries - a very honorable goal.
Grammar Gym
to put one's stamp
stamp: a way to show that something belongs to you or has your unique quality
- NBD Nano is putting their own stamp on the idea.
- The band put their stamp on a popular children's song, and the song became a hit overnight.
- The restaurant put its stamp on a traditional Chinese dish by adding western ingredients to it.
Info Cloud
Third-World countries
二次世界大戰後, 冷戰時期的觀點:
First World 第一世界, 以美國為主的西方資本主義國家
Second World 第二世界, 被蘇聯支配的共產國家
Third World 第三世界, 其他國家都被歸類為此
在蘇聯瓦解之後, First World/ Second World 就成為歷史名詞,
而此後, Third World 泛指亞洲, 非洲, 等比較落後的國家 developing countries 開發中國家
Language Lab
bleak adj.荒涼的; 無遮蔽的, 遭受風吹雨打的
/ˈbli:k/
cold and without any pleasant or comfortable features
- You can see homeless people wandering around on the bleak inner-city streets.
你可以看到無家可歸的人在荒涼的巿中心流浪
bleak adj. 陰暗的, 無希望的
not warm, friendly, cheerful, etc. ; not hopeful or encouraging
without anything to make you feel happy or hopeful
- The outlook of the country's economy remains bleak.
這個國家的經濟前景仍然一片暗淡
nanotechnology n.奈米科技 [nano奈米/technology科技]
/ˌnænoʊtɛkˈnɑ:ləʤi/
the science of working with atoms and molecules to build devices (such as robots) that are extremely small;
a science which involves developing and making extremely small but very powerful machines
- The bioengineers used the most recent nanotechnology to create this device.
這些生物工程師運用了最新的奈米科技發明了這個儀器
stimulus n. 刺激; 刺激品; 興奮劑 (字尾有S但是卻是單數形)
/ˈstɪmjələs/
stimuli n. plural
/ˈstɪmjəˌlaɪ/
something that helps a process to develop more quickly or more strongly
- Low interest rates were one of the stimuli for the past few years' economic growth.
- The plant is very sensitive to external stimulus.
prototype n.原型; 標準; 模範 [proto 第一個/ type 類型]
1 the first form that a new design of a car, machine etc has, or a model of it used to test the design before it is produced
2 someone or something that is one of the first and most typical examples of a group or situation
- The prototype of the aircraft is still under construction.
- William is the prototype of old fashioned scholars.
William 是傳統學者的典範
mms://webvod.goodtv.tv/SC/20130720_aa789.wmv
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20130720baa39eb141be4344ac9100d388e88702d27444795293bbc6fdba64a8caa6d90333b.wma
In a bleak, lonely desert on Africa's southwestern coast, black insects push up their shells toward the sun. But these Namib Desert beetles aren't just trying to relax - this action gives them much needed water in one of Earth's driest areas.
On their raised backs, the beetles collect moisture from the morning fog, which beads and rolls directly into their mouths. While these remarkable creatures are built for survival, some young scientists think that the beetles inspire a solution to human water stress today.
NBD (Namib Beetle Design) Nanotechnologies is the name of this ambitious group, giving credit where it is due.
Though the little Namibian creatures were the stimulus for the development of several water-collection materials or devices, NBD Nano is putting their own stamp on the idea. They want to create a portable bottle that will collect water from the air as the beetles do. To achieve this, they have created a nano-designed surface imitating the beetle's wings, made up of both water-attracting and water-resisting parts.
Once they have a working prototype, it will likely first be sold to green consumers, military groups and greenhouses. However, ND Nano really hopes these sales will allow "beetle bottles" to be donated to Third-World countries - a very honorable goal.
Grammar Gym
to put one's stamp
stamp: a way to show that something belongs to you or has your unique quality
- NBD Nano is putting their own stamp on the idea.
- The band put their stamp on a popular children's song, and the song became a hit overnight.
- The restaurant put its stamp on a traditional Chinese dish by adding western ingredients to it.
Info Cloud
Third-World countries
二次世界大戰後, 冷戰時期的觀點:
First World 第一世界, 以美國為主的西方資本主義國家
Second World 第二世界, 被蘇聯支配的共產國家
Third World 第三世界, 其他國家都被歸類為此
在蘇聯瓦解之後, First World/ Second World 就成為歷史名詞,
而此後, Third World 泛指亞洲, 非洲, 等比較落後的國家 developing countries 開發中國家
Language Lab
bleak adj.荒涼的; 無遮蔽的, 遭受風吹雨打的
/ˈbli:k/
cold and without any pleasant or comfortable features
- You can see homeless people wandering around on the bleak inner-city streets.
你可以看到無家可歸的人在荒涼的巿中心流浪
bleak adj. 陰暗的, 無希望的
not warm, friendly, cheerful, etc. ; not hopeful or encouraging
without anything to make you feel happy or hopeful
- The outlook of the country's economy remains bleak.
這個國家的經濟前景仍然一片暗淡
nanotechnology n.奈米科技 [nano奈米/technology科技]
/ˌnænoʊtɛkˈnɑ:ləʤi/
the science of working with atoms and molecules to build devices (such as robots) that are extremely small;
a science which involves developing and making extremely small but very powerful machines
- The bioengineers used the most recent nanotechnology to create this device.
這些生物工程師運用了最新的奈米科技發明了這個儀器
stimulus n. 刺激; 刺激品; 興奮劑 (字尾有S但是卻是單數形)
/ˈstɪmjələs/
stimuli n. plural
/ˈstɪmjəˌlaɪ/
something that helps a process to develop more quickly or more strongly
- Low interest rates were one of the stimuli for the past few years' economic growth.
- The plant is very sensitive to external stimulus.
prototype n.原型; 標準; 模範 [proto 第一個/ type 類型]
1 the first form that a new design of a car, machine etc has, or a model of it used to test the design before it is produced
2 someone or something that is one of the first and most typical examples of a group or situation
- The prototype of the aircraft is still under construction.
- William is the prototype of old fashioned scholars.
William 是傳統學者的典範
mms://webvod.goodtv.tv/SC/20130720_aa789.wmv
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20130720baa39eb141be4344ac9100d388e88702d27444795293bbc6fdba64a8caa6d90333b.wma
[Advanced] Young Adults + Energy Drinks = A Bad Mix? (2)
At issue is a dizzying array of products with widely varying levels of caffeine, sugars, carbohydrates and other additives, including herbal supplements.
Most best-selling energy drinks contain about 80 milligrams of caffeine per 8 ounces, though they are often sold in containers as large as 20 to 24 ounces. Other more extreme products abound, some of them in mix-your-own powders or concentrates, in strengths researchers say range from about 50 to 500 milligrams per serving. At their maximum strength, energy drinks contain about 300 milligrams more than the 2-ounce shots of 5-hour Energy frequently seen near checkout counters.
Beverage industry officials contend their products are not dangerous when used in moderation by healthy people.
"For a healthy person, probably one is not going to kill you. But we don't know," John P. Higgins, a sports cardiologist at the University of Texas said. "I think it's the combination of things in these energy beverages," he added, cautioning about interactions.
Marketing to the young
Yet another issue raised by doctors and researchers is the marketing of energy drinks to young people, particularly through sponsorships of athletes and extreme sports.
"Unfortunately, kids in college, high school and even younger see these athletes promoting it," said Cindy J. Chang, president of the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine and chief medical officer for the 2012 U.S. Olympic team. "It's like thinking, 'Wow, I need that shoe,' or whatever. It's a brand associated with a personality, and they think, 'He's cool. She's a superstar. They're drinking it.' "
A parent of two teenagers, Chang was at her daughter's club soccer last spring when she saw energy drink samples being distributed.
"All the girls took one, and here I am embarrassing my daughter by telling them, 'You can achieve just as much if you drink a glass of milk.' "
[Advanced] Young Adults + Energy Drinks = A Bad Mix?
Think twice before you jolt your system with popular energy drinks loaded with caffeine
年輕人+能量飲料=糟糕的
讓充滿咖啡因的流行能量飲料撼動自己的身體前，請三思而後行
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20130720adaaa1196e4d51c84e4e54164987551121de3815f65b8a494e2799ccc68edecfe0c.wma
Most best-selling energy drinks contain about 80 milligrams of caffeine per 8 ounces, though they are often sold in containers as large as 20 to 24 ounces. Other more extreme products abound, some of them in mix-your-own powders or concentrates, in strengths researchers say range from about 50 to 500 milligrams per serving. At their maximum strength, energy drinks contain about 300 milligrams more than the 2-ounce shots of 5-hour Energy frequently seen near checkout counters.
Beverage industry officials contend their products are not dangerous when used in moderation by healthy people.
"For a healthy person, probably one is not going to kill you. But we don't know," John P. Higgins, a sports cardiologist at the University of Texas said. "I think it's the combination of things in these energy beverages," he added, cautioning about interactions.
Marketing to the young
Yet another issue raised by doctors and researchers is the marketing of energy drinks to young people, particularly through sponsorships of athletes and extreme sports.
"Unfortunately, kids in college, high school and even younger see these athletes promoting it," said Cindy J. Chang, president of the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine and chief medical officer for the 2012 U.S. Olympic team. "It's like thinking, 'Wow, I need that shoe,' or whatever. It's a brand associated with a personality, and they think, 'He's cool. She's a superstar. They're drinking it.' "
A parent of two teenagers, Chang was at her daughter's club soccer last spring when she saw energy drink samples being distributed.
"All the girls took one, and here I am embarrassing my daughter by telling them, 'You can achieve just as much if you drink a glass of milk.' "
[Advanced] Young Adults + Energy Drinks = A Bad Mix?
Think twice before you jolt your system with popular energy drinks loaded with caffeine
年輕人+能量飲料=糟糕的
讓充滿咖啡因的流行能量飲料撼動自己的身體前，請三思而後行
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20130720adaaa1196e4d51c84e4e54164987551121de3815f65b8a494e2799ccc68edecfe0c.wma
Thursday, July 18, 2013
Swing Into Golf Idioms (2)
Tee off and tee somebody off
When a golfer begins a game, he places a golf ball atop a tee before hitting it. So teeing off refers to beginning a golf game, but it can also refer to starting other kinds of activities. For example, your boss might tee off a meeting by telling a joke.
While teeing off refers to making a start both in golf and in life, teeing somebody off is quite different. When you tee somebody off, you make them angry. Causing a friend to miss a golf shot would undoubtedly tee her off.
Hole in one
Making a hole in one requires hitting the ball into the hole - 365 neters or so away - in a single stroke. Talk about accuracy!
A hole in one can also descreibe something that is successful the first time. Someone who acquires a great job on their first interview just got a hole in one!
Who know? One of the golfers competing in the Open over the next few days might hit a hole in one, too!
Info Cloud
Janus words 含有二個意思完全相反的詞
Janus 原指古羅馬神化中看門的二面神
例如:
1. off 關掉; 啟動
- turn off the light 關燈
- a bomb goes off 炸彈被啟動爆炸了
2. clip 修剪, 剪斷, 剪下來; 夾住夾緊
- clip the coupon from the newspaper 把折價卷從報紙上剪下來
- clip the music sheets together 把樂譜夾起來
Grammar Gym
talk about: something is a clear expamle
- Talk about accuracy.
- Let's talk about our weeend plans.
- I was shocked when I heard the awful news; talk about tragedy!
- The restaurant messed up our order and then blamed us for their mistake; talk about ridiculous!
Language Lab
atop 介系詞preposition 在某個地點, 或某個物品之上
on top of something
- The boy sat atop the school fence.
這個男孩坐在學校的攔杆上
- Tom put his resignation letter atop a pile of papers on his boss' desk.
Tom 把辭職信放在老闆桌子的一堆文件上
- A parrot perched atop the tree branch.
一隻鸚鵡停妥在樹枝上
undoubtedly adverb 豪無疑問的, 肯定的[un字首-否定之意/doubt懷疑 ]
definitely true or known to exist
- Our products are undoubtedly the best in the market.
我們的產品肯定是巿場上最好的
- Mandy is undoubtedly the company's most faithful employee.
Many 豪無疑問的一定是公司最值得信賴的員工
accuracy n. 正確, 準確
the ability to do something in an exact way without making a mistake
- I can guarantee the accuracy of the figures.
我可以保正這些數字的準確性
accurate adj. 準確的, 正確無誤的
correct and true in every detail
- Accurate calculations are required from pilots and astronauts.
做為機師和太空人, 精確的計算能力是必要的
acquire v. 獲得, 取得
/əˈkwajɚ
/to get (something) : to come to own (something)- The couple took thier newly acquired RV on a road trip.
- The couple took thier newly acquired RV on a road trip.
這對夫妻開著新買的休旅車去公路旅行了
- Children nowadays acquire most information from the Internet, not from books.
現在的小孩得到資訊都是從網路, 不是從書本
mms://webvod.goodtv.tv/SC/20130719_a45f3.wmv
http://203.69.69.81/studio/20130719baac2e49171040542ef108d6753c2c240a66a88f31206f82b926d7be094d4d8ae85.wma?MSWMExt=.asf
When a golfer begins a game, he places a golf ball atop a tee before hitting it. So teeing off refers to beginning a golf game, but it can also refer to starting other kinds of activities. For example, your boss might tee off a meeting by telling a joke.
While teeing off refers to making a start both in golf and in life, teeing somebody off is quite different. When you tee somebody off, you make them angry. Causing a friend to miss a golf shot would undoubtedly tee her off.
Hole in one
Making a hole in one requires hitting the ball into the hole - 365 neters or so away - in a single stroke. Talk about accuracy!
A hole in one can also descreibe something that is successful the first time. Someone who acquires a great job on their first interview just got a hole in one!
Who know? One of the golfers competing in the Open over the next few days might hit a hole in one, too!
Info Cloud
Janus words 含有二個意思完全相反的詞
Janus 原指古羅馬神化中看門的二面神
例如:
1. off 關掉; 啟動
- turn off the light 關燈
- a bomb goes off 炸彈被啟動爆炸了
2. clip 修剪, 剪斷, 剪下來; 夾住夾緊
- clip the coupon from the newspaper 把折價卷從報紙上剪下來
- clip the music sheets together 把樂譜夾起來
Grammar Gym
talk about: something is a clear expamle
- Talk about accuracy.
- Let's talk about our weeend plans.
- I was shocked when I heard the awful news; talk about tragedy!
- The restaurant messed up our order and then blamed us for their mistake; talk about ridiculous!
Language Lab
atop 介系詞preposition 在某個地點, 或某個物品之上
on top of something
- The boy sat atop the school fence.
這個男孩坐在學校的攔杆上
- Tom put his resignation letter atop a pile of papers on his boss' desk.
Tom 把辭職信放在老闆桌子的一堆文件上
- A parrot perched atop the tree branch.
一隻鸚鵡停妥在樹枝上
undoubtedly adverb 豪無疑問的, 肯定的[un字首-否定之意/doubt懷疑 ]
definitely true or known to exist
- Our products are undoubtedly the best in the market.
我們的產品肯定是巿場上最好的
- Mandy is undoubtedly the company's most faithful employee.
Many 豪無疑問的一定是公司最值得信賴的員工
accuracy n. 正確, 準確
the ability to do something in an exact way without making a mistake
- I can guarantee the accuracy of the figures.
我可以保正這些數字的準確性
accurate adj. 準確的, 正確無誤的
correct and true in every detail
- Accurate calculations are required from pilots and astronauts.
做為機師和太空人, 精確的計算能力是必要的
acquire v. 獲得, 取得
/əˈkwajɚ
/to get (something) : to come to own (something)- The couple took thier newly acquired RV on a road trip.
- The couple took thier newly acquired RV on a road trip.
這對夫妻開著新買的休旅車去公路旅行了
- Children nowadays acquire most information from the Internet, not from books.
現在的小孩得到資訊都是從網路, 不是從書本
mms://webvod.goodtv.tv/SC/20130719_a45f3.wmv
http://203.69.69.81/studio/20130719baac2e49171040542ef108d6753c2c240a66a88f31206f82b926d7be094d4d8ae85.wma?MSWMExt=.asf
[Advanced] Young Adults + Energy Drinks = A Bad Mix? (1)
Experts worry that highly caffeinated energy drinks may put young people at risk
By Robyn Norwood, Special for USA TODAY
The Gatorade cooler and the coffee pot in the locker room have competition.
From youth playing fields to major league clubhouses, caffeinated energy drinks such as Red Bull and its scores of cousins have become a familiar presence in sports.
"The bottom line is, it's a long season. Said Texas Rangers pitcher C.J. Wilson, a World Series starter who says he has never used alcohol or drugs but consumes energy drinks socially and to prepare himself to pitch. "I see nothing wrong with drinking Red Bull."
Some athletes and industry officials compare the beverages to a cup of coffee.
But doctors and other experts increasingly warn of misunderstandings about energy drinks' contents, lax labeling requirements and the risks of high doses of caffeine — particularly to young athletes.
In June, a clinical report in Pediatrics, the journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics, warned that "stimulant-containing energy drinks have no place in the diets of children or adolescents."
In October, the National Federation of State High School Associations cautioned that caffeinated energy drinks — often confused with such products as Gatorade, a fluid replacement drink — should not be consumed before, during or after physical activity because they could raise the risk of dehydration and increase the chance of potentially fatal heat illnesses. The organization also warned of possible interactions with prescription medications — including stimulants used to treat ADHD.
In Orange County, Calif., at least four high school football players were taken to the emergency room last season with persistent tachycardia, or rapid heartbeats, said Michael F. Shepard, a team physician and member of the California Interscholastic Federation's state medical advisory board.
"All four had had supercaffeinated drinks," Shepard said. "If you add dehydration or flu or muscle-building supplements like creatine to that, there can be an increased risk of fatal cardiac arrhythmia.'
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20130719adaa016d17a86df758a4d624db11af0acff28acf59ae5358d104f52ea9993dd7790.wma
By Robyn Norwood, Special for USA TODAY
The Gatorade cooler and the coffee pot in the locker room have competition.
From youth playing fields to major league clubhouses, caffeinated energy drinks such as Red Bull and its scores of cousins have become a familiar presence in sports.
"The bottom line is, it's a long season. Said Texas Rangers pitcher C.J. Wilson, a World Series starter who says he has never used alcohol or drugs but consumes energy drinks socially and to prepare himself to pitch. "I see nothing wrong with drinking Red Bull."
Some athletes and industry officials compare the beverages to a cup of coffee.
But doctors and other experts increasingly warn of misunderstandings about energy drinks' contents, lax labeling requirements and the risks of high doses of caffeine — particularly to young athletes.
In June, a clinical report in Pediatrics, the journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics, warned that "stimulant-containing energy drinks have no place in the diets of children or adolescents."
In October, the National Federation of State High School Associations cautioned that caffeinated energy drinks — often confused with such products as Gatorade, a fluid replacement drink — should not be consumed before, during or after physical activity because they could raise the risk of dehydration and increase the chance of potentially fatal heat illnesses. The organization also warned of possible interactions with prescription medications — including stimulants used to treat ADHD.
In Orange County, Calif., at least four high school football players were taken to the emergency room last season with persistent tachycardia, or rapid heartbeats, said Michael F. Shepard, a team physician and member of the California Interscholastic Federation's state medical advisory board.
"All four had had supercaffeinated drinks," Shepard said. "If you add dehydration or flu or muscle-building supplements like creatine to that, there can be an increased risk of fatal cardiac arrhythmia.'
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20130719adaa016d17a86df758a4d624db11af0acff28acf59ae5358d104f52ea9993dd7790.wma
Swing Into Golf Idioms (1)
Golf has introduced some interesting phrases into English
Today top golfers will compete in the sport's oldest major tournament, the British Open. Also called The Open, this year's tournament will take place over the next four days. Golf fan or not, you can still thank the sport for adding some colorful phrases to the English language.
Par for the course
Golf courses set the number of strokes required to put the ball in each hole and to finish the entire course. To make par for the course, a player must finish the course within the set number of strokes.
Likewise, in daily life, par for the course refers to things or people meeting expectations. For example, one could say, "Jane usually gets good grades. Her high score today is par for the course."
Above and below/under par
Let's assume par for an 18-hole course is 72. Using only 70 strokes would be tow strokes under par while finishing in 74 would be two strokes over par. Finishing under par is good; above par is bad - in golf. In daily life, however, something that's below par has failed to meet expectations. So avoid restaurants with service that's below par, and pick ones with above par food.
Info Cloud
As I talk with students, I sometimes make a mental note of words they mispronounce. If I hear them often enough, I'll write them down. Let's look at a few. The first is the adverb "usually", which I sometimes hear pronounced "urally".
It's a tough word to say correctly, even for some native English speakers. "Usually" actually has two pronunciations.
Right! You could say it with three syllables u‧sual‧ly or four syllables u‧su‧al‧ly, but the important thing is to enunciate that /ʒə/ sound.
Right, okay! While we're on the topic, let's mention another frequently mispronounced word, "ask". To often I hear people say "aks".
Now, we know it takes extra effort with the tongue to generate that "k" sound right after the "s".
We also know there are more and more people who are defending the "aks" pronunciation saying it's acceptable.
But, as English teachers, we must insist on its standard pronunciation, "ask".
Okay, finally, the word "practice". I sometimes hear it said "practiks".
You know, my guess is people mix up the two c's.
You're probably right, Ken. The first "c" has a hard /ˈk/ sound, while the second a /ˈs/ sound. Practice.
要注意發音的字:
usually /ˈju:ʒəwəli/
ask /ˈæsk, Brit ˈɑ:sk/
practice /ˋpræktis/
enunciate v.
/ɪˈnʌnsiˌeɪt/
to pronounce words or parts of words clearly [+ obj]
Language Lab
tournament n. 比賽, 錦標賽
a competition in which players compete against each other in a series of games until there is one winner
- The boxing tournament attracted a large audience.
這場拳擊 賽吸引了大量的觀眾
- The team was defeated in the first round of the tournament.
這隻隊伍在錦標賽的第一輪就被打敗了
stroke n. 高爾夫球的揮杆
the action of hitting the ball in games such as tennis, golf, and cricket
- The player's lucky stroke put him back in the lead.
這隻幸運的揮杆讓這選手回到排名第一
- Victor was several strokes over par on the eighth hole.
Victor 在第八浻用了超過標準杆好幾杆數才完成
stroke n.中風
if someone has a stroke, an artery (=tube carrying blood) in their brain suddenly bursts or becomes blocked, so that they may die or be unable to use some muscles
- George had a stroke last year, so he's undergoing physical therapy now.
George 去年中風了, 所以他現在做復健中
refer v. 提及 [to+受詞]
refer to somebody/something phrasal verb
- The term "NEET" refers to young people who are not in employment, education or training.
- The speaker referred to his childhood memories in his speech.
assume v. 假設, 假定, 以為
to think that something is true, although you do not have definite proof
- If the package is of good quality, people tend to assume the content is of good quality, too.
- I'm assuming everyone here is ready for this intensive training.
mms://webvod.goodtv.tv/SC/20130718_d5b9a.wmv
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20130718baaa9c51d480cdbe0c496e5bf1fbbb63f7a53e8e18a5af616f34aa29cc3af20c62c.wma
Today top golfers will compete in the sport's oldest major tournament, the British Open. Also called The Open, this year's tournament will take place over the next four days. Golf fan or not, you can still thank the sport for adding some colorful phrases to the English language.
Par for the course
Golf courses set the number of strokes required to put the ball in each hole and to finish the entire course. To make par for the course, a player must finish the course within the set number of strokes.
Likewise, in daily life, par for the course refers to things or people meeting expectations. For example, one could say, "Jane usually gets good grades. Her high score today is par for the course."
Above and below/under par
Let's assume par for an 18-hole course is 72. Using only 70 strokes would be tow strokes under par while finishing in 74 would be two strokes over par. Finishing under par is good; above par is bad - in golf. In daily life, however, something that's below par has failed to meet expectations. So avoid restaurants with service that's below par, and pick ones with above par food.
Info Cloud
As I talk with students, I sometimes make a mental note of words they mispronounce. If I hear them often enough, I'll write them down. Let's look at a few. The first is the adverb "usually", which I sometimes hear pronounced "urally".
It's a tough word to say correctly, even for some native English speakers. "Usually" actually has two pronunciations.
Right! You could say it with three syllables u‧sual‧ly or four syllables u‧su‧al‧ly, but the important thing is to enunciate that /ʒə/ sound.
Right, okay! While we're on the topic, let's mention another frequently mispronounced word, "ask". To often I hear people say "aks".
Now, we know it takes extra effort with the tongue to generate that "k" sound right after the "s".
We also know there are more and more people who are defending the "aks" pronunciation saying it's acceptable.
But, as English teachers, we must insist on its standard pronunciation, "ask".
Okay, finally, the word "practice". I sometimes hear it said "practiks".
You know, my guess is people mix up the two c's.
You're probably right, Ken. The first "c" has a hard /ˈk/ sound, while the second a /ˈs/ sound. Practice.
要注意發音的字:
usually /ˈju:ʒəwəli/
ask /ˈæsk, Brit ˈɑ:sk/
practice /ˋpræktis/
enunciate v.
/ɪˈnʌnsiˌeɪt/
to pronounce words or parts of words clearly [+ obj]
Language Lab
tournament n. 比賽, 錦標賽
- The boxing tournament attracted a large audience.
這場拳擊 賽吸引了大量的觀眾
- The team was defeated in the first round of the tournament.
這隻隊伍在錦標賽的第一輪就被打敗了
stroke n. 高爾夫球的揮杆
the action of hitting the ball in games such as tennis, golf, and cricket
- The player's lucky stroke put him back in the lead.
這隻幸運的揮杆讓這選手回到排名第一
- Victor was several strokes over par on the eighth hole.
Victor 在第八浻用了超過標準杆好幾杆數才完成
stroke n.中風
- George had a stroke last year, so he's undergoing physical therapy now.
George 去年中風了, 所以他現在做復健中
refer v. 提及 [to+受詞]
refer to somebody/something phrasal verb
- The term "NEET" refers to young people who are not in employment, education or training.
- The speaker referred to his childhood memories in his speech.
assume v. 假設, 假定, 以為
- If the package is of good quality, people tend to assume the content is of good quality, too.
- I'm assuming everyone here is ready for this intensive training.
mms://webvod.goodtv.tv/SC/20130718_d5b9a.wmv
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20130718baaa9c51d480cdbe0c496e5bf1fbbb63f7a53e8e18a5af616f34aa29cc3af20c62c.wma
Wednesday, July 17, 2013
[Advanced] Movies Taking Their Sweet Time (2)
6:45
Ted Mundorff, chief executive of the 229-screen Landmark Theatres, said that when movies exceed a little more than two hours, exhibitors lose a showtime a day — at a cost of about $3,600 per theater per night. With an average-length movie, Mundorff can book about five showings a day, with two in the sweet spot between 7 and 9:30 p.m., when theaters generate about 80% of their business. But movies like "The Hobbit" can be shown only four times a day, with one prime-time screening.
14:00 Going digital
Traditionally Hollywood's longest movies were historical epics such as "Gone With the Wind" and "Lawrence of Arabia," and running time was synonymous with prestige. But now even genre films have grown longer, according to Jan-Christopher Horak, director of UCLA's Film & Television Archive.
When filmmakers used real film, directors shot roughly 40 minutes of footage for one minute of screen time, Horak said. Now shooting ratios are closer to 200 to 400 minutes shot for every one minute on screen, because crews are no longer concerned about wasting costly film stock.
"There's a kind of overkill at work here," Horak said. "Film directors have this mistaken notion that digital is free, so they shoot a lot more footage. And they're in love with what they shoot."
Many of this year's longer movies come from filmmakers who have racked up enough clout with their studios to win the running-time fight, like "This Is 40" director-producer Judd Apatow, whose comedies "Bridesmaids," "Knocked Up" and "The 40-Year-Old Virgin" were box-office hits for Universal Pictures.But, at almost an hour longer than most comedies, "This Is 40" has inspired some in Hollywood to refer to the movie as "This Is 40 Minutes Too Long."
"It's hard to get out of the house to go the movies," Apatow said of his movie's long running time. "Movies are expensive, parking is expensive — why is everyone in a rush to go home? An extra 15 minutes won't kill you. Everyone thinks everything is like a two-minute YouTube video. And I refuse to adjust for them."
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20130718ada0ac6283c7c4f63b7ed54ffc4cb38131fa34b6fcc16ac3363ecf40a915ae7d37b.wma
Ted Mundorff, chief executive of the 229-screen Landmark Theatres, said that when movies exceed a little more than two hours, exhibitors lose a showtime a day — at a cost of about $3,600 per theater per night. With an average-length movie, Mundorff can book about five showings a day, with two in the sweet spot between 7 and 9:30 p.m., when theaters generate about 80% of their business. But movies like "The Hobbit" can be shown only four times a day, with one prime-time screening.
14:00 Going digital
Traditionally Hollywood's longest movies were historical epics such as "Gone With the Wind" and "Lawrence of Arabia," and running time was synonymous with prestige. But now even genre films have grown longer, according to Jan-Christopher Horak, director of UCLA's Film & Television Archive.
When filmmakers used real film, directors shot roughly 40 minutes of footage for one minute of screen time, Horak said. Now shooting ratios are closer to 200 to 400 minutes shot for every one minute on screen, because crews are no longer concerned about wasting costly film stock.
"There's a kind of overkill at work here," Horak said. "Film directors have this mistaken notion that digital is free, so they shoot a lot more footage. And they're in love with what they shoot."
Many of this year's longer movies come from filmmakers who have racked up enough clout with their studios to win the running-time fight, like "This Is 40" director-producer Judd Apatow, whose comedies "Bridesmaids," "Knocked Up" and "The 40-Year-Old Virgin" were box-office hits for Universal Pictures.But, at almost an hour longer than most comedies, "This Is 40" has inspired some in Hollywood to refer to the movie as "This Is 40 Minutes Too Long."
"It's hard to get out of the house to go the movies," Apatow said of his movie's long running time. "Movies are expensive, parking is expensive — why is everyone in a rush to go home? An extra 15 minutes won't kill you. Everyone thinks everything is like a two-minute YouTube video. And I refuse to adjust for them."
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20130718ada0ac6283c7c4f63b7ed54ffc4cb38131fa34b6fcc16ac3363ecf40a915ae7d37b.wma
Tuesday, July 16, 2013
Enjoy the Netherlands (3)
Low land
Marken used to be an island but is now a peninsula. For 2,000 years, the Dutch have been taking back land from the sea. Using a system of dikes and pumps, they have actually made the country bigger. In Marken, stand on top of a dike to see how much lower the land is than the sea.
Time for lunch!
Being surrounded by the sea means that fish is on the menu. Try the most famous local delicacy if you dare: pickled herring. The Dutch way to eat these small fish? Tip your head back, dip the entire fish into your mouth, and eat it directly off the bone.
Don't forget those wheels of cheese! You can see how they are made in Marken and perhaps buy a sample to take home. Treat yourself to some rich Dutch chocolate or a mouthwatering stroopwafel (a caramel wafer cookie) for dessert. Then continue on over bridges and through tiny alleys in this traditional town.
Info Cloud
saliva 口水
/səˈlaɪvə/
the liquid produced in your mouth that keeps your mouth moist and makes it easier to swallow food
mouth water 流口水
- My mouth is watering. 我開始流口水了 (water當動詞用)
- a mouthwatering stroopwafel 另人垂涎慾滴的餅乾
一樣東西讓你想流口水, 可以說:
- It makes my mouth water.
mouthwatering adj. 另人流口水的
- The cookies look mouthwatering.
這些餅乾看起來令人垂涎三尺
Grammar Gym
if you dare: if you're not afraid to try
Try the most famous local delicacy if you dare: pickled herring.
- Sample the snack foods at the open market if you dare; it's were locals like to eat but the place is not clean at all.
- Catch the night train if you dare; it is often crowded but the ticket is inexpensive.
Language Lab
system n. 系統
- Tokyo's subway system is quite complicated.
東京的地下鐵系統非常複雜
- Our computer system shut down last night due to a sudden power cut.
昨天晚上由於突如其來的停電, 我們的電腦系統關閉了
- The British school system is very different from ours.
英國的學製我們的相差很多
dike n. 堤; 壩 another spelling of dyke
/ˈdaɪk/
a wall or bank built to keep back water and prevent flooding
- The entire village gathered together to fix the river dike to prevent flooding.
村民都聚集在一起修理河堤, 以防止淹水的發生
dike n. 排水溝
a narrow passage to carry water away
- The farmer dug a kike in his field.
這個農夫在農田地上挖了一個排水溝
delicacy n. 美味, 佳餚
/ˈdɛlɪkəsi/
something good to eat that is expensive or rare
- The appetizer is escargot, a French delicacy.
前菜是螖牛是法國的一種美食
- Caviar is considered an expensive delicacy, but I really don't like the smell of it.
魚子醬是一種帛貴的美食, 但我實在不喜歡他的味道
dip v. [dip into 伸進去]
to read short parts of a book, magazine etc, but not the whole thing;
to put your hand into a bag or box in order to take out one of the things inside
- Nick dipped his hands into the jar to get some coins.
Nick把手伸進罐子裡去拿一些零錢
dip v. 沾醬
to put (something) into a liquid and pull it out again quickly
- Dave dipped his chips into the salsa.
Dave 把他的薯片沾了沙沙醬
dip v.浸泡; 蘸濕
to put something into a liquid and lift it out again
- The girl dipped her toe into the lake to feel how cold the water was.
wafer n. 薄酥餅; 威化餅
/ˈweɪfɚ/
a very thin biscuit
mms://webvod.goodtv.tv/SC/20130717_46927.wmv
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20130717baa9f16093678ff7f5d2ac4f1962efc83a158a658b4ae0cde10fa5aef80180590d7.wma
Marken used to be an island but is now a peninsula. For 2,000 years, the Dutch have been taking back land from the sea. Using a system of dikes and pumps, they have actually made the country bigger. In Marken, stand on top of a dike to see how much lower the land is than the sea.
Time for lunch!
Being surrounded by the sea means that fish is on the menu. Try the most famous local delicacy if you dare: pickled herring. The Dutch way to eat these small fish? Tip your head back, dip the entire fish into your mouth, and eat it directly off the bone.
Don't forget those wheels of cheese! You can see how they are made in Marken and perhaps buy a sample to take home. Treat yourself to some rich Dutch chocolate or a mouthwatering stroopwafel (a caramel wafer cookie) for dessert. Then continue on over bridges and through tiny alleys in this traditional town.
Info Cloud
saliva 口水
/səˈlaɪvə/
the liquid produced in your mouth that keeps your mouth moist and makes it easier to swallow food
mouth water 流口水
- My mouth is watering. 我開始流口水了 (water當動詞用)
- a mouthwatering stroopwafel 另人垂涎慾滴的餅乾
一樣東西讓你想流口水, 可以說:
- It makes my mouth water.
mouthwatering adj. 另人流口水的
- The cookies look mouthwatering.
這些餅乾看起來令人垂涎三尺
Grammar Gym
if you dare: if you're not afraid to try
Try the most famous local delicacy if you dare: pickled herring.
- Sample the snack foods at the open market if you dare; it's were locals like to eat but the place is not clean at all.
- Catch the night train if you dare; it is often crowded but the ticket is inexpensive.
Language Lab
system n. 系統
- Tokyo's subway system is quite complicated.
東京的地下鐵系統非常複雜
- Our computer system shut down last night due to a sudden power cut.
昨天晚上由於突如其來的停電, 我們的電腦系統關閉了
- The British school system is very different from ours.
英國的學製我們的相差很多
dike n. 堤; 壩 another spelling of dyke
/ˈdaɪk/
a wall or bank built to keep back water and prevent flooding
- The entire village gathered together to fix the river dike to prevent flooding.
村民都聚集在一起修理河堤, 以防止淹水的發生
dike n. 排水溝
- The farmer dug a kike in his field.
這個農夫在農田地上挖了一個排水溝
delicacy n. 美味, 佳餚
/ˈdɛlɪkəsi/
- The appetizer is escargot, a French delicacy.
前菜是螖牛是法國的一種美食
- Caviar is considered an expensive delicacy, but I really don't like the smell of it.
魚子醬是一種帛貴的美食, 但我實在不喜歡他的味道
dip v. [dip into 伸進去]
- Nick dipped his hands into the jar to get some coins.
Nick把手伸進罐子裡去拿一些零錢
dip v. 沾醬
to put (something) into a liquid and pull it out again quickly
- Dave dipped his chips into the salsa.
Dave 把他的薯片沾了沙沙醬
dip v.浸泡; 蘸濕
to put something into a liquid and lift it out again
- The girl dipped her toe into the lake to feel how cold the water was.
wafer n. 薄酥餅; 威化餅
/ˈweɪfɚ/
a very thin biscuit
mms://webvod.goodtv.tv/SC/20130717_46927.wmv
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20130717baa9f16093678ff7f5d2ac4f1962efc83a158a658b4ae0cde10fa5aef80180590d7.wma
[Advanced] Movies Taking Their Sweet Time (1)
In today’s fast-paced world, more major films are running longer
By Rebecca Keegan and John Horn, Los Angeles Times
You can fly from Los Angeles to Seattle in less time than it takes to watch "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey." Elite runners can finish a marathon faster than the total time of "Django Unchained."
Daily life may be swinging toward two-minute YouTube videos and brutally succinct tweets, but there's still one place where time practically stands still: the multiplex. Extra-long films have proliferated this season, a consequence of directors who wield near unilateral control over their films' running times and digital filmmaking tools that allow for longer and repeated takes.
15:25
Some movie theater owners say the current crop of long-winded movies are costing them at the box office, as films approaching three hours in length can be shown only once an evening.
Exhibitors and more than a few movie critics have bemoaned this spate of prolonged productions. Yet some members of the most important constituency in the film business say the long films don't really feel that time-consuming.
"It never lagged," said 12-year-old Jesse Serrato, who joined his family for the 169-minute "Hobbit" movie this week in downtown Los Angeles and clearly has more fortitude than many adults.
22:00
The year's maximalist movies include not only typically longer prestige titles such as "Lincoln" (149 minutes), "Les Miserables" (158) and "Zero Dark Thirty" (157) but also a comic-book movie ("The Dark Knight Rises," 164), a James Bond sequel ("Skyfall," 143) and a comedy ("This Is 40," 134).
The running times haven't hurt some of these long movies at the box office. "Skyfall" has garnered domestic ticket sales of $272.6 million, "Dark Knight Rises" took in $448.1 million and "Lincoln" has grossed $108.5 million.
But those outsized revenues have largely come from megaplexes, where theater owners can utilize more screens for a hit film. The operators of smaller complexes say they don't have that latitude, and are consequently suffering.
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20130717ada0f6608ba065c7beab7218eaccd0e219d0ac2d04f5aa24e651b6d02ae925f4855.wma
By Rebecca Keegan and John Horn, Los Angeles Times
You can fly from Los Angeles to Seattle in less time than it takes to watch "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey." Elite runners can finish a marathon faster than the total time of "Django Unchained."
Daily life may be swinging toward two-minute YouTube videos and brutally succinct tweets, but there's still one place where time practically stands still: the multiplex. Extra-long films have proliferated this season, a consequence of directors who wield near unilateral control over their films' running times and digital filmmaking tools that allow for longer and repeated takes.
15:25
Some movie theater owners say the current crop of long-winded movies are costing them at the box office, as films approaching three hours in length can be shown only once an evening.
Exhibitors and more than a few movie critics have bemoaned this spate of prolonged productions. Yet some members of the most important constituency in the film business say the long films don't really feel that time-consuming.
"It never lagged," said 12-year-old Jesse Serrato, who joined his family for the 169-minute "Hobbit" movie this week in downtown Los Angeles and clearly has more fortitude than many adults.
22:00
The year's maximalist movies include not only typically longer prestige titles such as "Lincoln" (149 minutes), "Les Miserables" (158) and "Zero Dark Thirty" (157) but also a comic-book movie ("The Dark Knight Rises," 164), a James Bond sequel ("Skyfall," 143) and a comedy ("This Is 40," 134).
The running times haven't hurt some of these long movies at the box office. "Skyfall" has garnered domestic ticket sales of $272.6 million, "Dark Knight Rises" took in $448.1 million and "Lincoln" has grossed $108.5 million.
But those outsized revenues have largely come from megaplexes, where theater owners can utilize more screens for a hit film. The operators of smaller complexes say they don't have that latitude, and are consequently suffering.
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20130717ada0f6608ba065c7beab7218eaccd0e219d0ac2d04f5aa24e651b6d02ae925f4855.wma
Enjoy the Netherlands (2)
Local culture
If you love art, visit the newly renovated Rijksmuseum with its collection of famous Dutch paintings. Look for Rembrandt's impressive Night Watch, which fills a whole wall. And check out the Vincent Van Gogh Gallery to view some of the world's best-loved paintings.
For some history, wander through the Oude Kerk, a church that dates from 1306. Then, around the corner, visit the home of Anne Frank. This young Jewish girl penned a diary during World War II. Her family's hiding place is now a museum.
Get out of the city
What about the wooden shoes and windmills? If you want to really see the Netherlands, take a bus. About 25 kilometers north of Amsterdam is the town of Marken. Even today, some of the residents can be seen sporting the Dutch costume. Look for ladies in long black skirts, striped aprons, lace caps and, yes, even wooden shoes! In fact, you can learn how the old-fashioned footwear is carved and buy a pair for yourself.
Info Cloud
the Netherlands
很多人把荷蘭的英文用 Holland, 其實是不正確的,
荷蘭的英文是 the Netherlands 注意要在加定冠詞, 後面要加s
Holland 是荷蘭當中十二個省當中的二個省的名稱,
這二個省是荷蘭三大城巿的所在,
包含首都 Amsterdam (阿姆斯特丹), Rotterdam 鹿特丹港市, The Hague 海牙(荷蘭的行政中心)
去過荷蘭的人應該都去過這二個省,
久而久之, Holland就成為了荷蘭的代名詞,
但是要記注, 中文我們說荷蘭, 但英文要用 the Netherlands 來稱呼這個國家
Language Lab
renovate v. 整修, 翻新 [re字首-再一次/ nov字根-新]
/ˈrɛnəˌveɪt/
to make changes and repairs to (an old house, building, room, etc.) so that it is back in good condition
- The couple spent a great deal of money to renovate their house.
renovation n.
- The renovation of the church took years to accomplish.
collection n.一系列的收藏品
a set of similar things that are kept or brought together because they are attractive or interesting
- The museum showed a collection of Monet last month.
collection n.一系列的服裝
- The designer's new collection attracted a lot of attention.
sport v. 穿著, 非常引人著目的穿著 sport n. 運動
to be wearing something or have something on your body and show it to people in a proud way
- The boy sported a T-shirt and baseball cap, just like most teenage boys.
- Sporting her new dress, Fanny went to work.
Fanny 很醒目的穿著新買的洋裝去上班
carve v. 雕刻
pattern by cutting a piece of wood or stone
- Daddy took several months to carve this beautiful chess set.
- This statue was carved out of a tree trunk.
carving n. 雕刻品
an object or pattern made by cutting a shape in wood or stone for decoration
mms://webvod.goodtv.tv/SC/20130716_cd4ff.wmv
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20130716baa19edacc94c26287cc9cc74f5e06d752c0fa4e4c8fa7028dfa25bb6366c826d5e.wma
If you love art, visit the newly renovated Rijksmuseum with its collection of famous Dutch paintings. Look for Rembrandt's impressive Night Watch, which fills a whole wall. And check out the Vincent Van Gogh Gallery to view some of the world's best-loved paintings.
For some history, wander through the Oude Kerk, a church that dates from 1306. Then, around the corner, visit the home of Anne Frank. This young Jewish girl penned a diary during World War II. Her family's hiding place is now a museum.
Get out of the city
What about the wooden shoes and windmills? If you want to really see the Netherlands, take a bus. About 25 kilometers north of Amsterdam is the town of Marken. Even today, some of the residents can be seen sporting the Dutch costume. Look for ladies in long black skirts, striped aprons, lace caps and, yes, even wooden shoes! In fact, you can learn how the old-fashioned footwear is carved and buy a pair for yourself.
Info Cloud
the Netherlands
很多人把荷蘭的英文用 Holland, 其實是不正確的,
荷蘭的英文是 the Netherlands 注意要在加定冠詞, 後面要加s
這二個省是荷蘭三大城巿的所在,
包含首都 Amsterdam (阿姆斯特丹), Rotterdam 鹿特丹港市, The Hague 海牙(荷蘭的行政中心)
去過荷蘭的人應該都去過這二個省,
久而久之, Holland就成為了荷蘭的代名詞,
但是要記注, 中文我們說荷蘭, 但英文要用 the Netherlands 來稱呼這個國家
Language Lab
renovate v. 整修, 翻新 [re字首-再一次/ nov字根-新]
/ˈrɛnəˌveɪt/
to make changes and repairs to (an old house, building, room, etc.) so that it is back in good condition
- The couple spent a great deal of money to renovate their house.
renovation n.
- The renovation of the church took years to accomplish.
collection n.一系列的收藏品
- The museum showed a collection of Monet last month.
collection n.一系列的服裝
- The designer's new collection attracted a lot of attention.
sport v. 穿著, 非常引人著目的穿著 sport n. 運動
- The boy sported a T-shirt and baseball cap, just like most teenage boys.
- Sporting her new dress, Fanny went to work.
Fanny 很醒目的穿著新買的洋裝去上班
carve v. 雕刻
- Daddy took several months to carve this beautiful chess set.
- This statue was carved out of a tree trunk.
carving n. 雕刻品
an object or pattern made by cutting a shape in wood or stone for decoration
mms://webvod.goodtv.tv/SC/20130716_cd4ff.wmv
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20130716baa19edacc94c26287cc9cc74f5e06d752c0fa4e4c8fa7028dfa25bb6366c826d5e.wma
[Advanced] Inside the World’s Best Business Decisions (2)
For example, Geoff Colvin, the Fortune senior editor-at-large who writes the 3M chapter, debunks the idea that the Post-it note came entirely from the company’s free-time endeavor. It was 3M’s culture that was truly responsible for one of its most famous products.
Beating the Giants
Some of the most inspirational examples are in the book’s less-familiar stories. How the company that invented liquid soap was able to fend off the behemoths of the industry is a noteworthy anecdote. The brainchild of Robert Taylor, the CEO of a small Minnesota company called Minnetonka Corp., liquid soap was the kind of small-enterprise innovation that is usually immediately copied by the corporate giants on the block. And, indeed, when Taylor’s liquid soap started flying off the shelves, Unilever, Colgate and Procter & Gamble started testing their own versions.
Taylor, however, devised a little-known strategy to keep control of the market: He found a way to block his giant competitors from accessing the plastic pumps used in the liquid soap bottles. At the time, only one company made the pumps. Taylor met with the CEO of the company and took the financial risk of ordering 100 million pumps, effectively ensuring a monopoly of the pumps for a full year. The strategy, which had never been attempted by such a small company, worked. By the time his competitors had access to the pumps, Taylor’s Softsoap brand was well established. The 18 great management decisions in this book are not ranked in any particular order. They stand as inspirational examples of the power of bucking conventional wisdom and making bold and innovative decisions.
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20130716ada3055241ec7d3b988d83c41103f94373121a6cf4aa849fe29d8e6e534e058dd3c.wma
Beating the Giants
Some of the most inspirational examples are in the book’s less-familiar stories. How the company that invented liquid soap was able to fend off the behemoths of the industry is a noteworthy anecdote. The brainchild of Robert Taylor, the CEO of a small Minnesota company called Minnetonka Corp., liquid soap was the kind of small-enterprise innovation that is usually immediately copied by the corporate giants on the block. And, indeed, when Taylor’s liquid soap started flying off the shelves, Unilever, Colgate and Procter & Gamble started testing their own versions.
Taylor, however, devised a little-known strategy to keep control of the market: He found a way to block his giant competitors from accessing the plastic pumps used in the liquid soap bottles. At the time, only one company made the pumps. Taylor met with the CEO of the company and took the financial risk of ordering 100 million pumps, effectively ensuring a monopoly of the pumps for a full year. The strategy, which had never been attempted by such a small company, worked. By the time his competitors had access to the pumps, Taylor’s Softsoap brand was well established. The 18 great management decisions in this book are not ranked in any particular order. They stand as inspirational examples of the power of bucking conventional wisdom and making bold and innovative decisions.
mms://203.69.69.81/studio/20130716ada3055241ec7d3b988d83c41103f94373121a6cf4aa849fe29d8e6e534e058dd3c.wma
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