Tom shelby is flying from taipei to los Angelss. He will have an important business meeting there as soom as he arrives. During the filght,he needs to prepare for the meeting.He also wants to start reading a new bestseller he picked up at the airport. Unfortunately, he's stuck in the middle of a row next to a very talkative man named George. george has hardly colsed his mouth since takeoff. One hour into the flight,
Tom is getting concerned about that meeting.He doesn't want to go in unprepared.
Wat would you do? Would you do this....
Decision １
George:....but wait till i tell you about my cousins! They live in England, you nonw. In fact...
Tom:George, can I interrupt you for a second?
George: of coures you can. Oh, just listen to me!
I'm not letting you get a word in edgewise. I'm just like my mother that way. You know,she was the worst...
Tom:Geroge,excuse me! Plesse.just listen for a moment.
George:Sure,Sorry.
Tom:I have an improtant meeting right after this flight. Ineed to prepare.So please...
George:Be quite? OK,I can take a hint. Sorry.
Or would you do this......
Decision 2
george...but wait till you about my coudins !They live in England,you know.In fact,my parents moved to America from England afters moved to America from England after the war.Imagine! if they hadn't done that,then I'd be British,not American.I'd be talking to you with a British accent. wouldn't that be funny?
Tom(thinks):Answering will just encourage him to keep talking.I'll pretend I'm asleep.(begins to make snoring noises)
George:You've gone to sleep! Oh,well,no problem.I'll tell you about my cousins when you wake up.
Tom(thinks):In that case,I'm not"waking up"until we reach L.A.Meeting or no meeting!
Or would you do this...
Decision 3
George:... but wait till i tell you about my cousins!
They (thinks):I have to get out of here!(begins putting his things into his carry-on bag)
George:Uh,what are you doing?
Tom:I'm not feeling very well,George.It's because I'msitting to close to the TV set,and unoccupied seat on the aisle, four rows up.So I'm going tomove up there.Excuse e.(stands up)
George:Wait! Let's just trade seats.Then we can continue our conversation.
Tom:I wouldn't think of asking you move,George. Thanks anyway. Nice talking to you.Bye!
TOO MUCH TALK
Living Online
How do you meet new people, make new
, or find out about the latest bands? Here in the UK young people have traditionally done their socialising in bars, pubs and clubs.
However, there is a new generation growing up that finds it easier to manage their social lives on the net, using free websites like MySpace, Bebo or MSN Spaces.
Welcome to the social networking website – a place where you can present yourself to the digital community and meet other like-minded people .
The most successful social networking website in the UK is MySpace.com. As of July 2006, MySpace is the world’s fourth most popular English-language website, attracting almost 3 million visitors per month. MySpace claims to have 95 million members with 500,000 new members joining the community each week.
So how has it become so successful? Perhaps its secret is in its simplicity. Each new member can build their own page simply – uploading photos, videos and MP3 files. Then they describe themselves, listing their likes, dislikes, favourite bands, relationship status, etc. It’s an easy way to hook up with people who share your interests.
Briana Dougherty, a 25-year-old MySpace devotee, told us, “It’s a casual way to stay in contact without appearing weird.” It seems that many people do not feel comfortable giving out their phone number or personal e-mail address to new acquaintances but are perfectly happy to trade MySpace profiles.
While socialising is the key to MySpace’s success, love of music is at the heart of the community. Indeed, most aspiring musicians in the UK upload their songs to the site, and with good reason: unsigned artists, Arctic Monkeys and Lilly Allen created such a buzz on the site that they were offered recording contracts and scored number one hits .
Here at Learning English we feel that social network sites could be a great place to practise your English. Why not give it a try? You can tell us about your experience by filling in the new comments form at the top of the screen.
Time to Learn
A young but earnest Zen student approached his teacher, and asked the Zen Master:
“If I work very hard and diligent how long will it take for me to find Zen.”
The Master thought about this, then replied, “Ten years.”
The student then said, “But what if I work very, very hard and really apply myself to learn fast — How long then?”
Replied the Master, "Well, twenty years."
“But, if I really, really work at it. How long then?” asked the student.
“Thirty years,” replied the Master.
“But, I do not understand,” said the disappointed student. “At each time that I say I will work harder, you say it will take me longer. Why do you say that?”
Replied the Master, “When you have one eye on the goal, you only have one eye on the path.”
My Thoughts on Music
Music...There is truly nothing else like it in this world. It is one of the greatest gifts God has given us. Growing up, I was very poor and I remember how I always felt so blessed that God gave us music...that it was this beautiful gift that was completely free. My family sometimes went without electricity or water and I remember thinking that it was no big deal because I still had my music...and it couldn’t be taken away from me. I remember climbing to the top of my treehouse as a boy and turning on my radio and just listening for hours...doing nothing but lying on my back and staring at the stars. I remember that Triumph sang the first song that really touched me. I would listen to the words over and over again. “I’m young, I’m wild and I’m free... got the magic power of the music in me....”
The Bible teaches that the soul is always wanting to be released from the body. I believe that music is as close as the soul can come to being set free without the body actually dying. That may seem like a strange statement but there is something so unexplainable that happens inside when you sing or play a phrase or song and you put your whole heart into it and block everything else out. It’s the most spiritual feeling I have ever felt and I feel like God is standing right by me when it happens. It’s a complete release. Sometimes I’ll write a lyric and sing it for the first time and I’ll get chills when I sing it... or I’ll even tear up if it’s personal and emotional to me. I’ve never been able to publicly perform with this feeling and that’s somewhat tragic. Unfortunately, that’s true of most people. This is why we are awed by people who have this gift. I went and seen Russ Taff sing earlier this year (2000), and as he was singing, he began weeping and crying out to God. I stood in awe and marveled at his ability to pour his emotion out into his song. Sometimes, I’ll go see a singer that I’ve never heard of...not at all knowing what to expect...and I’m humbled and numbed by the power of the music and the passion of the singer. This is actually a rarity...as most people just sing and do an adequate job...but a special few singers can move me beyond words.
I believe that everyone has a song in their heart. Some people just refuse to listen. Others acknowledge it but they don’t allow themselves to feel its power. They feel like it makes them weak when it actually makes a person stronger. What can possibly be bad about any feeling created by a song that moves a person to tears...or laughter...or joy? Life is too short to be so cautious. My favorite basketball coach of all times, Jimmy Valvano was stricken with cancer and before his death, he gave several speeches about what he felt were the most important things in life. He said, “a good day is when you have laughed, cried and loved.” This being true, one good song can make for a great day.
As for my own musical talent, I am thankful. I may never get the chance to stand on a stage and sing to hundreds or thousands but I have been able to sing to many audiences. I’m thankful that I can sit and play guitar/piano and sing to myself and to God. I still have hopes and dreams of recording my own cd and/or being part of something much bigger than anything I could ever do on my own. Longfellow once wrote, “We judge ourselves by what we feel capable of doing, while others judge us by what we have already done.” All musicians have felt this way. We know that at any time, we are capable of producing that one song that we have wanted to create our entire lives. Part of me wants to “make it” to show those people who never believed in me...who only see my for what I’ve already done and believe that this is as far as I will ever go. Maybe it’s wrong to feel this way, but I do. I know the truth. I know what I’m capable of.
So these are my thoughts on music tonight. Ask me tomorrow and I’m sure I would come up with something completely different.
To laugh is to risk appearing a fool.
To weep is to risk appearing sentimental.
To reach out for another is to risk involvement.
To expose feelings is to risk rejection.
To place your dreams before the crowd is to risk ridicule.
To love is to risk not being loved in return.
To go forward in the face of overwhelming odds is to risk ridicule.
But risks must be taken because the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing.
The person who risks nothing, does nothing, has nothing, is nothing.
He may avoid suffering and sorrow.
Chained by his certitudes, he’s a slave.
He has forfeited his freedom.
Only a person who takes risks is free.
The Difference a Teacher Can Make
Steve, a twelve-year-old boy with alcoholic parents, was about to be lost forever, by the U.S. education system. Remarkably, he could read, yet, in spite of his reading skills, Steve was failing. He had been failing since first grade, as he was passed on from grade to grade. Steve was a big boy, looking more like a teenager than a twelve year old, yet, Steve went unnoticed... until Miss White.
Miss White was a smiling, young, beautiful redhead, and Steve was in love! For the first time in his young life, he couldn’t take his eyes off his teacher; yet, still he failed. He never did his homework, and he was always in trouble with Miss White. His heart would break under her sharp words, and when he was punished for failing to turn in his homework, he felt just miserable! Still, he did not study.
In the middle of the first semester of school, the entire seventh grade was tested for basic skills. Steve hurried through his tests, and continued to dream of other things, as the day wore on. His heart was not in school, but in the woods, where he often escaped alone, trying to shut out the sights, sounds and smells of his alcoholic home. No one checked on him to see if he was safe. No one knew he was gone, because no one was sober enough to care. Oddly, Steve never missed a day of school.
One day, Miss White’s impatient voice broke into his daydreams.
“Steve!!” Startled, he turned to look at her.
“Pay attention!”
Steve locked his gaze on Miss White with adolescent adoration, as she began to go over the test results for the seventh grade.
“You all did pretty well,” she told the class, “except for one boy, and it breaks my heart to tell you this, but...” She hesitated, pinning Steve to his seat with a sharp stare, her eyes searching his face.
“...The smartest boy in the seventh grade is failing my class!”
She just stared at Steve, as the class spun around for a good look. Steve dropped his eyes and carefully examined his fingertips.
After that, it was war!! Steve still wouldn’t do his homework. Even as the punishments became more severe, he remained stubborn.
“Just try it! ONE WEEK!” He was unmoved.
“You’re smart enough! You’ll see a change!” Nothing fazed him.
“Give yourself a chance! Don’t give up on your life!” Nothing.
“Steve! Please! I care about you!”
Wow! Suddenly, Steve got it!! Someone cared about him? Someone, totally unattainable and perfect, CARED ABOUT HIM??!!
Steve went home from school, thoughtful, that afternoon. Walking into the house, he took one look around. Both parents were passed out, in various stages of undress, and the stench was overpowering! He, quickly, gathered up his camping gear, a jar of peanut butter, a loaf of bread, a bottle of water, and this time...his schoolbooks. Grim faced and determined, he headed for the woods.
The following Monday he arrived at school on time, and he waited for Miss White to enter the classroom. She walked in, all sparkle and smiles! God, she was beautiful! He yearned for her smile to turn on him. It did not.
Miss White, immediately, gave a quiz on the weekend homework. Steve hurried through the test, and was the first to hand in his paper. With a look of surprise, Miss White took his paper. Obviously puzzled, she began to look it over. Steve walked back to his desk, his heart pounding within his chest. As he sat down, he couldn’t resist another look at the lovely woman.
Miss White’s face was in total shock! She glanced up at Steve, then down, then up. Suddenly, her face broke into a radiant smile. The smartest boy in the seventh grade had just passed his first test!
From that moment nothing was the same for Steve. Life at home remained the same, but life still changed. He discovered that not only could he learn, but he was good at it! He discovered that he could understand and retain knowledge, and that he could translate the things he learned into his own life. Steve began to excel! And he continued this course throughout his school life.
After high-school Steve enlisted in the Navy, and he had a successful military career. During that time, he met the love of his life, he raised a family, and he graduated from college Magna Cum Laude. During his Naval career, he inspired many young people, who without him, might not have believed in themselves. Steve began a second career after the Navy, and he continues to inspire others, as an adjunct professor in a nearby college
Miss White left a great legacy. She saved one boy who has changed many lives. I know, because I am the love of his life.
You see, it’s simple, really. A change took place within the heart of one boy, all because of one teacher, who cared.
of study
STUDIES serve for delight, for ornament, and for ability. Their chief use for delight, is in privateness and retiring; for ornament, is in discourse; and for ability, is in the judgment, and disposition of business. For expert men can exe-cute, and perhaps judge of particulars, one by one; but the general counsels, and the plots and marshalling of affairs, come best, from those that are learned. To spend too much time in studies is sloth; to use them too much for ornament, is affectation; to make judgment wholly by their rules, is the humor of a scholar. They perfect nature, and are perfected by experience: for natural abilities are like natural plants, that need proyning, by study; and studies themselves, do give forth directions too much at large, except they be bounded in by experience. Crafty men contemn studies, simple men admire them, and wise men use them; for they teach not their own use; but that is a wisdom without them, and above them, won by observation. Read not to contradict and confute; nor to believe and take for granted; nor to find talk and discourse; but to weigh and consider. Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested; that is, some books are to be read only in parts; others to be read, but not curiously; and some few to be read wholly, and with diligence and attention. Some books also may be read by deputy, and extracts made of them bothers; but that would be only in the less important arguments, and the meaner sort of books, else distilled books are like common distilled waters, flashy things.
Reading make a full man; conference a ready man; and writing an exact man. And therefore, if a man write little, he had need have a great memory; if he confer little, he had need have a present wit: and if he read little, he had need have much cunning, to seem to know, that he doth not. Histories make men wise; poets witty; the mathematics subtitle; natural philosophy deep; moral grave; logic and rhetoric able to contend. Abeunt studia in mores. Nay, there is no stand or impediment in the wit, but may be wrought out by fit studies; like as diseases of the body, may have appropriate exercises. Bowling is good for the stone and reins; shooting for the lungs and breast; gentle walking for the stomach; riding for the head; and the like. So if a man's wit be wandering, let him study the mathematics; for in demonstrations, if his wit be called away never so little, he must begin again. If his wit be not apt to distinguish or find differences, let him study the Schoolmen; for they are cymini sectors. If he be not apt to beat over matters, and to call up one thing to prove and illustrate another, let him study the lawyers' cases. So every defect of the mind, may have a special receipt