1006G[REBORN FROM THE ASHES组]备考日记 by Fancy——no pain no gain

fancywwUID: 2583671

[01.03][REBORN FROM THE ASHES][comment]  


Words and expressions:
one might meet hypocrites who used righteousness as a fig leaf for their cupidity (1 : inordinate desire for wealth  : AVARICE, GREED; 2 : strong desire  : LUST)
nosedive:1 : a downward nose-first plunge of a flying object (as an airplane)
2 : a sudden extreme drop  *stock prices took a nosedive*    (很形象的一个词)
they all joined in the scramble for gains.
a new interpretation of righteousness and gain looms large
It is in fact of little help if you try to redeem the world or salvage the corrupt minds through preaching various brands of righteousness.
Both righteousness and gain are yoked by calculating minds.
The difference between creating and possessing is more than crystal clear.
when most people are busy hunting for wealth and being hunted by it,
enshrine：to preserve or cherish as sacred
Shaw’s standpoint is no other than "possessing", which keeps us stranded （搁浅） in a double dosage tragedy （双重的悲剧） of life:
premium ：a reward or recompense for a particular act
this belief will help me sail through the unpredictable waters of my future life.


Commet:

Although the article expresses some really profound and significant idea, it is quite easy to understand. Maybe it is written by a Chinese, and though in English, the writer and readers are all thinking in the same mode. And back to the content of the article, I think the author tells us a very important viewpoint on what is the most appropriate attitude toward life in a current corruptive world.

First of all, I sides with the author's understanding and explanation of the famous sayings by Confucius. I think when the society begins to set examples to its people with righteous man or deeds, it is just the time when the society begin to corrupt. For instance, back to the Confucius time, the country Lu had a regulation that when merchants were doing business in other countries and saw the people of Lu became slaves, the could buy them, brought them back to Lu, and set them free. Later they could go to the government for money the spent on saving such people. Then once one of Confucius's students, Zilu, a famous merchant, saved a man of Lu from other country, but he did not go to the government for money. When Confucius knew this, he praised Zilu as a righteous man who cared little about gain. So gradually, this "great deed" of Zilu was widely spread, and the government of Lu set Zilu as an example. However, from then on, the people saved from other countries became fewer and fewer. The reason was that not all merchants were rich enough to save the slaveries of Lu for free. However, if they continued to saved them and then went back to the government for money, other people would think that they were not righteous. So most of the merchants would just pretend that they did not notice the suffered people of Lu in other countries. This is how a righteous action actually starts the corrupt of the society.

So as the author says, neither the pursuit of righteousness nor gain is a recommendable and beneficial way of life. The author advocates an aesthetic approach toward life, that is "disposition". And everyone should keep his true self. I cannot agree with the idea more. But here goes my question, how can we find true self? And for those who have already find their true self, how can they protect it from being corrupted buy this material worlds? Here is an example of my respected high school teacher. He once told us that his motivation of life came from the achievement of his students. Seeing the growth of his students under his guidance gave him the feeling of accomplishment, which brought him the purest and simplest happiness in the world. So he insisted standing on the rostrum while his collogue worked and calculated for promotion, quitted teaching to do business for money, and so on. He was not a man engaging in giving, like the former type. He obviously lived according to his true self and led a graceful life before his wife was diagnosed with cancer and his son caught in an serious accident, requiring huge amount of money, which he certainly could not afford. And then his faith started to falter. Maybe this example is a little bit extreme. All I want to say is that since living in a corrupt world, you cannot simply perfect yourself.

The author gives us a clear example of writing to illustrate the difference between creating and possessing. Yet the author puts a quite vague description on giving and creation:"Different from giving, which is the performance of an external responsibility, creating is the realization of one’s true self." And like the author concludes, it is a non-material attitudes toward life. From what I understand, this non-material attitude is kind of giving.

Well, even though some of us may still do not know what we should do and believe, at least we now know what we should not follow, thanks to this wise article.

fancywwUID: 2583671

[01.04][REBORN FROM THE ASHES][comment]

Comment：

This article reminds the movie the Final Destination. It tells a simple idea that no one can escape the punishment of the Death, in this case, the will of God. What a thrilling idea that God, just as the article says, runs ahead of everything and the result has be doomed to happen. And there seems to be a Chinese traditional version of this idea, that is the saying that:"Man proposes, God disposes." The God's complete knowledge does not need to change according to man's change, having already foreseen the change man made at the last moment. This agrees with the theme of ancient Greek tragedy. The ancient Greek believed that man cannot fight against destiny. Everything is predestined no matter what you do to change it, like in the famous tragedy "Oedipus the King".   

Even if I concede this thought on destiny and predestination, I still cannot understand why God can thereby assign rewards to the good and punishments to the wicked. Does God knows some people are born to be good and some are bad? Why cannot there be "the return of the prodigal son"? If someone turns over a new leaf and becomes a virtuous person, will God insist his original knowledge about this man? If God will not change his original intention as discussed above, so what is the meaning for all the praying and hoping since everything has already been decided?

fancywwUID: 2583671

[01.05][REBORN FROM THE ASHES][comment]

留着。

fancywwUID: 2583671

[01.06][REBORN FROM THE ASHES][comment]

words and expressions:
Putative:1 : commonly accepted or supposed;2 : assumed to exist or to have existed.
For that, more numbers will have to be crunched, and planetary atmospheres analysed for signs of oxygen.（1 : to chew or press with a crushing noise；2 : to make one's way with a crushing noise）
flicker： to burn or shine fitfully or with a fluctuating light


Comment:
Frankly, I have not much to comment on this article. I just think that the Kepler Mission, a search for habitable planet, seems to be an interesting but also a difficult one. Besides, how can we tell whether the planets are habitable or not just from their size? Do scientists deem that only the planets in the same size of the earth is qualified? Well, I am even not a student in such realms, so I'd better not hunch here. That's all.

fancywwUID: 2583671

累积了三天的comments。。。哎。。。。

fancywwUID: 2583671

[REBORN FROM THE ASHES][comment][01.12]

Words and expressions:
oft-told: often-told 老生常谈
Paedophile：恋童癖者
In their grief
Molester：someone who subjects others to unwanted or improper sexual activities
Which makes it all the more important to ask whether America’s approach is the right one.
self-defeating:弄巧成拙的
ratchet effect: an effect that occurs when a price or wage increases as a result of temporary pressure but fails to fall back when the pressure is removed
Wyoming:怀俄明州
Ensnare： to take in or as if in a snare
Consensual:existing or made by mutual consent without an act of writing  *a consensual contract*; involving or based on mutual consent
Mugshot：照片
a staggering number: 巨大的，多的令人吃惊的
This is unwise, but hardly a reason for the law to ruin their lives.
Lump: to group indiscriminately
Tabloid:compressed or condensed into small scope  
Vengeful: revengeful

Americans are good at so many things, especially the anti-terrorism. So it surprises me that they are so simple minded on the sex laws.  Surely it is unwise to make no exception of all the previous sex offenders and their offences; surely it is inadvisable to share the information of all the sex offenders to everyone; and it is unjust to implicate the children of such offenders. The author's suggestions at the end of the article seem quite natural and of course. So why did America legislate such laws initially? The answer seems to be taken advantages by politicians. And of course people's emotional anxiety and sensibility drive the laws broadened to an unreasonable and revengiful latitude. Such overprotection laws are sometimes helpless to find out the potential but real risk. At last, the author mentions the difficulties it must overcome to reform the laws. The parents' fear is a huge one. Public opinions are awful and powerful. How to lead them is very important.

fancywwUID: 2583671

[REBORN FROM THE ASHES][comments][01.15]

Words and expressions:
Getty imagines AT A time when the world is short of causes for celebration    什么意思？
....is arguably the biggest social change of our times.
be largely confined to...
be routinely subject to...
Societies that try to resist this trend—most notably the Arab countries, but also Japan and some southern European countries—will pay a heavy price in the form of wasted talent and frustrated citizens.
a modicum of friction 一点点摩擦
by and large  总的来说
This particular advance comes with two stings.  （补充/让步论证）
juggling work and child-rearing is difficult         很好的表达：“玩转...和...”
bunk：床位 铺位
mancession：男性衰退


Comment：

Although women's participation in the workforce takes place with only a little friction, most women has and are now still experiencing a difficult spiritual pressure posed by the society and traditional values. On one hand, just as the author mentions, the revolution is not a completely satisfactory. Women are still quite rare in the largest companies and government leaders. And the children tend to get less attendance if both parents participate in the work force.

It is a permanent dilemma for women to choose between children and career. A balance or a win-win state between the two is a fantasy most of the time. As far as I am concerned, a woman can be either a good mother or success in her career. Hardly someone can achieve the both, because in our values a good mother means much more than a good father. And to be a successful parent or a employee, women need to devote more than men in either field.

Fortunately, society has gradually noted their inherent specialty and contribution, and this makes women more superior and advantageous in some professions. Also own to there innate hardworking and self-disciplined characteristics, women tend to do better than men in academic field. While women who seek for independence are still struggling against the traditional in some places, government are on the way to help create a better environment for women in work places.

fancywwUID: 2583671

[REBORN FROM THE ASHES][comments][01.16-17]
Words and expressions:
Senior Fellow 高级研究员
international standoff (僵局)
Untenable: not able to be defended  *an untenable position*
commendable efforts
yielded no progress
compunction: 内疚
using violence to quell protests
intransigence：不妥协，不让步
galvanise：1. 用锌镀(铁)2. 激起某人行动起来
proxy：n. 1. 代表权;代理权(尤指投票);代理人,代表2. （测算用的）代替物，指标 3. (英国国教教区献给主教等的)巡游费4. (对代理人的)委托书；adj. 1. 代理(人)的；代表的；代替的retaliation：报复，反击
unilateral：单方面的
it would alter the region's strategic landscape dramatically.
nipping in the bud strategy
pre-emptive：先发制人的

Comment:
The defending side, General Wald 's main point is that military action is not preferable but necessary. His three arguments are: the urgency of the problems, the positive role the military option can play. I really doubt that whether war can achieve peace, like the General mentions:"military action is an option of last resort is the best hope we have for international security and peace"? General himself has admitted the possible risk of military action.

On the contrary, I am quite persuaded by Doctor Landau, the opposite side, that military strike can play a positive role only in an early stage. At the current stage, Iran already has nuclear facilities spread throughout the country, so the military strike will pay high price and sacrifice. And I am even convinced by the point that to eliminate proliferation is to change the motivation of Iran. It can hardly be achieved by military action. If the action successfully destroyed the nuclear facilities in Iran, it might contrarily strengthen Iranian's will to reconstruction them in an even larger size.

Finally, Dr. Landau analyses the reasons why military action be considered an option presently. And she sharply points out that the diplomatic option needs a serious makeover. The international negotiation team--US, Russia, France, UK and China, plus Germany--are not on the same page, just like the General describes: Russian reluctance, Chinese indifference and EU apprehension.

fancywwUID: 2583671

[REBORN FROM THE ASHES][comment][01.19]

words and expressions:
Conceptual art: an art form in which the artist's intent is to convey a concept rather than to create an art object
Paltry: 1 : INFERIOR, TRASHY;2 : MEAN, DESPICABLE  *a paltry trick*;3 : TRIVIAL  *a paltry excuse*;4 : MEAGER, MEASLY  *made a paltry donation*
to wangle from the massive $787 billion stimulus package (wangle: to make or get by devious means  : FINAGLE  *wangle an invitation*)(非常形象幽默的表达)
Commission:to appoint or assign to a task or function

Sequel：CONSEQUENCE, RESULT
Axe：1 a : to shape, dress, or trim with an ax  b : to chop, split, or sever with an ax；2 : to remove abruptly (as from employment or from a budget)
Snooty:1 : looking down the nose  : showing disdain  *snooty people who won't speak to their neighbors* 2 : characterized by snobbery  *a snooty store*
Evangelize:1 : to preach the gospel to; 2 : to convert to Christianity
highbrow entities
Cervix:1 : NECK;  especially   : the back part of the neck; 2 : a constricted portion of an organ or part;  especially : the narrow outer end of the uterus
Behead:to cut off the head of  : DECAPITATE
Puppetry:1 : the production or creation of puppets or puppet shows; 2 : the art of manipulating puppets (人偶)
Glut:1 : an excessive quantity  : OVERSUPPLY
Pluralism:a state of society in which members of diverse ethnic, racial, religious, or social groups maintain an autonomous participation in and development of their traditional culture or special interest within the confines of a common civilization
Meek:deficient in spirit and courage  : SUBMISSIVE


Comment：
Originally, the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) was created out of pure intention to make possible individual artist's creativity as well as exhibitions that would bring art to large numbers of viewers across the country. The US Congress chartered the National Endowments in 1965 for the conviction that the arts were crucial to the preservation of a lively, thoughtful society. At that time, there was little talk of ancillary economic activity or job creation as the author mentions. It simply aimed at enlarge cultural and artistic opportunities for all citizens. And the current facts say the organization did a fantastic job.

The author points out that the lack of funding is not really the reason why nowadays some "highbrow entities" are not thriving. Since the technology has changed tremendously last decades, so has the American society and Americans' tastes about arts. A large number of people choose cables and the Internet over the theatres and the galleries. There is no right or wrong of the form of arts. People's various choice just shows the pluralism and democracy of the American society. It is universally known that the American artistic value cherish for individualism, independence, and freedom. It will not be restricted by political ideology. So the bailout the NEA "wangle from" the government undoubtedly would have an impact and certain guidance on the development of arts by deciding which forms to aid and which do not. It just remind me of a traditional proverb that"Gifts blind the eyes".

So the author's point is to let the different artistic forms develop as themselves and according to their own rules. NEA wrongly connect the development of arts with the economy and job creation. I agree with the article on this point that arts' primary role is not to generate financial income. However, personally speaking the author a little overreacted. Sometimes the unpopular does not means the unimportant. Although nowadays fewer people go to theatres, ballet, as a distinguished form of art, still needs to be preserved. I think the heart of Endowments and bailout was the conviction that the market forces in our society would not by themselves sustain a challenging artistic culture. On the one hand, the establishment of the NEA attempts to guarantee American audiences that viewing or consuming would not be controlled by the marketplace. One the other hand, it also protects some presently underachieving, unpopular but important art forms such as ballet and opera.

fancywwUID: 2583671

[REBORN FROM THE ASHES][comment][01.20]

High on his wish list was...
The advent of...
...has captured popular attention...
Pester：to harass with petty irritations  : ANNOY
Dystopia：an imaginary place where people lead dehumanized and often fearful lives； ANTI-UTOPIA
Opsin：视蛋白
Limbic system： a group of subcortical structures (as the hypothalamus, the hippocampus, and the amygdala) of the brain that are concerned especially with emotion and motivation
CortexL:皮层
diodes：二极管


Comment:
About the content of the article itself, I do not have much to say. It is more like a passage for reading training. But it does not reach the difficulty of a GRE reading articles, and it is not likes the styles of typical TOEFL articles.

fancywwUID: 2583671

[REBORN FROM THE ASHES][comment][01.22]

Useful expressions&examples&quotations:
The key to a successful life is always one of balance.
Although we were all born equal, we were all born different.
Absence makes the heart grow fonder.
Out of sight, out of mind.
For life is complex. It can never be reduced to a simple statement. It cannot be described in black and white terms.
You have your way. I have my way. As for the right way, the correct way, and the only way, it does not exist." So, dare to be yourself!
Failure to question unscrupulous business accounting practices led to many people in the U.S. losing their retirement plans.
Failure to question the government led to the loss of 58,000 American lives and perhaps 1,750,000 Vietnamese in the Vietnam War.
A quote attributed by Robert Green Ingersoll to Ferdinand Magellan (1480 ~ 1521) is a example, which writes, "The church says the earth is flat; but I have seen its shadow on the moon, and I have more confidence even in a shadow than in the Church."
Comment:
First, I find that American like to use three adjectives together to modify something. There are many examples in the article: contradictions, inconsistencies, and paradoxes; peace, harmony, and cooperation; fears, feelings, and fancies; progress, discoveries, and breakthroughs. Usually in writing, we tend to use two adjectives together,like A and B. Actually, using three words together seems more .

It article sheds light on the relationship between individuality and conformity. The author concedes its complexity, but in those intricate details the article clearly illustrates the relationship--they are two sides of a coin. There is no coin with only one side, and there's no absolute conformity or individuality. To achieve one we have to sacrifice another more or less. Just in the degree of either of the two lies the difference of eastern and western cultures. The divide between the societies with an individualist mentality and the ones with a collectivist mentality was a very striking one.

I once read an experiment that if you show an American an image of a fish tank, the American will usually describe the biggest fish in the tank and what it is doing. If you ask a Chinese person to describe a fish tank, the Chinese will usually describe the context in which the fish swim. These sorts of experiments have been done over and over again, and the results reveal the same underlying pattern. Americans usually see individuals; Chinese and other Asians see contexts. And I think here contexts mean conformity.

Between individuality and conformity, the author puts more emphasis on individuality.  Just like the first saying the author quotes:"Follow the crowd and you will never be followed by a crowd". In this constantly changing world, being creative and independent is very important. People who  who conforms to the prevailing ways and opinions of one's time or condition for personal advantage; an opportunist. who conforms to the prevailing ways and opinions will finally end up with nothing. Born and raised in a culture that cherishes conformity more than individuality, we Chinese seem seldom the challenge the traditions. People who dare to be different are all brave ones, I believe. And now here we dare to try to challenge and improve ourselves by preparing to study abroad. Sometimes we may be labeled misfit as the article suggests, but the author gives us reasons to do so: their differences made all the difference to the world. Our responsibility is no less than to follow their example. So one again, dare to be yourself.

fancywwUID: 2583671

终于回家了  从明天开始一定每天好好学！！！

fancywwUID: 2583671

[REBORN FROM THE ASHES][comment][02.04] niche player：a company holding a specialized and profitable part of a commercial market Groundhog Day:土拨鼠日。比喻：指糟糕的事情循环发生的情况。 My comment: I'd rather regard Steven Jobs as an admirable perfectionist than a control-freak. His creativeness and pursuit of perfection is always an inspiring story. After leaving Apple, Jobs tried his hand in the movie industry. He produced Toy Story, wildly successful movie and the world's first computer-animated film. After returning to Apple, he designed and marketed wildly successful products, for example, i-mac, i-pod, and i-phone, which saved the Apple from bankruptcy. Now, as then, Apple has never been a dominant play in the personal computer and mobile phone industry. The article says that "Apple may ultimately become a niche player once again", however, I agree that Apple has always been a niche player. It's their concept or ideology to run the company, which makes Apple refuse to let other companies license its software. And it is the terrific experience of the hardware combined with the software that make Apple and its products such a special position in customers minds.

fancywwUID: 2583671

0204
回家和同学玩了两天，要收住心开始学习了，从今天的comment开始。看到组里好多同学都开始计时练习了。加油加油！！！