Amber Wang
Ladies and gentlemen, when talking about vulnerability, what ideas come to your mind: weakness, loser, shame or fear? I believe most people will associate the word “vulnerability” with negative meanings. We’re always shaped to be strong, especially in traditional Chinese culture. But in fact, the driving force to become truly strong lies in admitting and accepting your vulnerabilities. Are you surprised? Yet we too often lose sight of the fact that vulnerability is also the starting point of joy, belonging, creativity and love. Only when we are brave enough to face the challenges of our lives will we discover the infinite power of hope. Next, I would like to illustrate my points by telling a moved life story of Joshua Hsu.
Before Joshua was thirty-three, his life looked so perfect. He was energetic, talented in many fields, and had gotten countless first winner places since his childhood. He had graduated from National Taiwan University, College of Medicine and married his beautiful wife, Susan. Wow! It’s just like a fairy tale where the prince and the princess will be happy forever! However, in 2007, his idyllic world was dramatically turned upside down by a skiing accident which seriously damaged his spine. This rendered him physically disabled and paralyzed from his waist down. Owing to the spinal cord injury, he is even unable to control the passing of his urine and feces. The medical term for this condition is “incontinence.” It is like a walking time-bomb which bothers him so much. Besides, the nonstop nervous pain tortures him every second.
What would you do if you were him? Cry? Blame others or the circumstances for such a misfortune? Of course, he did that! But moreover, he chose another positive way to find inner peace and the strength to overcome his tragedy.
By taking off his mask, he had more opportunities to know love, compassion and blessing from others than before. From this accident, he learned to reflect on his life path, have more gratitude for his family, and strive for unity in it.
By feeling the depths of his lows, he fully appreciated the depths of his highs.
Though Joshua lost some abilities, he chose to never give up. He strengthened his upper body through weight-lifting. He trained very hard to drive by himself, be a psychiatrist and do something as possible as he can. Because of his life experience, he had more empathy to comfort and inspire his patients. Furthermore, he cooperated with the Industrial Technology Research Institute to invent devices that help the disabled to walk.
By totally accepting his vulnerability and negative emotions, he realized more about the true meaning of courage. He shared his experiences by writing a blog, being interviewed on TV and on radio programs to positively encourage more people. He enthusiastically served as the CEO of the Spinal Cord Injury Foundation to help people with the same injury go through the suffering and integrate into society more.
The accident hurt his central nervous system, but gave him chances to weave a web of more connection with this world.
Joshua’s story has greatly enlightened me; furthermore, he is a good example of being “whole-hearted” which is a term created by Brené Brown. She is a research professor of social work and a renowned speaker as well. Her 2010 talk on the power of vulnerability and 2012 talk on listening to shame are two of the most watched talks on TED.com. During her decades of research and interviews, she has found something confusing and meaningful.
When she asks people about love, belonging and connection, they often tell her about heartbreak, being excluded and disconnection instead. On the contrary, “whole-hearted” people are a special group that has a deep sense of self-worth and of course, feels very happy and satisfied. They all have something in common.
Courage – These folks have a strong sense of courage to admit they are not perfect and tell the story of who they are. They are just real and honest. No matter whether they’re scared, have made a mistake, or feel hurt, they just admit it.
Compassion – They have the compassion to be kind to themselves first. They are willing to let go of something bad but has happened and believe they are worthy of love and belonging.
Change & Connection –The hardest and most important part. Whole-hearted people learn from the greatest lessons of sorrow and vulnerability, then modify their values of life and share their experience with others.
So ladies and gentlemen, as a science teacher, here is an equation I would like to teach you when facing the challenges. P=M*V Taking motions and efforts to make changes is no doubt necessary. But the multiple effect of vulnerability is even more. The dark does not destroy the light, but defines it instead. Embracing vulnerability fully brings a purpose and meaning to life. Vulnerability isn’t a curse but a gift for us to have more capacity for empathy and awareness of being worthy.
May 22, 2014
Mar 8, 2014
The Discovery Files: Babble On
Research from the University of Washington and the University of Connecticut shows that what spurs early language development isn't so much the quantity of words a baby hears as the style of speech and social context in which speech occurs.
Credit: NSF/Karson Productions
Audio Transcript:
Whooo's my little baaaybeeee?
(Sound effect: baby talk)
Whooo's my little baaaybeeee?
(Sound effect: baby coo)
I'm Bob Karson with the discovery files--new advances in science and engineering from the National Science Foundation.
(Sound effect: sound under: parent interacting with child)
If you're not around kids a lot, the strange way of speaking to infants known as 'parentese' may sound funny, or overly cute. But researchers at the University of Washington and the University of Connecticut say, "hold on, baby" that speech pattern might well be beneficial for baby's current and future language skills.
(Sound effect: baby sounds)
The team outfitted one-year olds with tiny vests that contained audio recorders to collect the sounds around them, including interactions with family members. The team analyzed over 4,000 intervals of recorded speech, noting among other things, whether or not the adult used parentese, or baby talk.
A year later, parents filled out a questionnaire measuring how many words their children knew. On average, infants who heard the most baby talk knew 433 words, those who heard the least, 169.
The findings reveal that what spurs early language development isn't so much the quantity of words parents use, as the style of speech. The study also showed parentese works best one-on-one. Speak slowly and emphasize important words. Your goal is to get the baby to babble back.
(Sound effect: baby babble sound)
This would probably work on your husband too.
"The Discovery Files" covers projects funded by the government's National Science Foundation. Federally sponsored research -- brought to you, by you! Learn more at nsf.gov or on our podcast.
Credit: NSF/Karson Productions
Audio Transcript:
Whooo's my little baaaybeeee?
(Sound effect: baby talk)
Whooo's my little baaaybeeee?
(Sound effect: baby coo)
I'm Bob Karson with the discovery files--new advances in science and engineering from the National Science Foundation.
(Sound effect: sound under: parent interacting with child)
If you're not around kids a lot, the strange way of speaking to infants known as 'parentese' may sound funny, or overly cute. But researchers at the University of Washington and the University of Connecticut say, "hold on, baby" that speech pattern might well be beneficial for baby's current and future language skills.
(Sound effect: baby sounds)
The team outfitted one-year olds with tiny vests that contained audio recorders to collect the sounds around them, including interactions with family members. The team analyzed over 4,000 intervals of recorded speech, noting among other things, whether or not the adult used parentese, or baby talk.
A year later, parents filled out a questionnaire measuring how many words their children knew. On average, infants who heard the most baby talk knew 433 words, those who heard the least, 169.
The findings reveal that what spurs early language development isn't so much the quantity of words parents use, as the style of speech. The study also showed parentese works best one-on-one. Speak slowly and emphasize important words. Your goal is to get the baby to babble back.
(Sound effect: baby babble sound)
This would probably work on your husband too.
"The Discovery Files" covers projects funded by the government's National Science Foundation. Federally sponsored research -- brought to you, by you! Learn more at nsf.gov or on our podcast.
Jan 25, 2014
The Discovery Files：Tomato Tweak
Researchers at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory have found a way to allow commercial tomato growers to coax their plants into producing more fruit without sacrificing the unique and necessary bushy shape of the plants.
Credit: NSF/Karson Productions
Audio Transcript:
Yield--for tomatoes.
I'm Bob Karson with the discovery files--new advances in science and engineering from the National Science Foundation.
1908: New York State's Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory. Botanist George Shull (shool), discovers that cross-breeding genetically distinct plants produces offspring more robust than either inbred parent. A phenomenon called 'hybrid vigor,' that's been used to improve agricultural productivity for over a century--even though scientists couldn't agree on exactly how or why it worked.
Fast-forward to Cold Spring Harbor today, where researchers have found a way to coax tomato plants into producing more fruit, while still keeping a compact, bushy plant shape that allows mechanical harvesters to reap the crop.
Previously, the team had ID'ed a rare example of hybrid vigor involving a change in the gene that makes florigen, a hormone in charge of flowering and flower production. Now, they've found that the genetic change lowers the amount of florigen in tomato plants causing the plants to postpone the moment when they stop producing flowers. Result: Super-productive plants!
The researchers predict it may be possible to tweak florigen levels to get even higher yields--not just in tomatoes, but in other flowering plants as well.
The next time you enjoy a B.L.T.[1], think of the researchers at Cold Spring Harbor Lab, a group of 'budding geniuses.'
"The Discovery Files" covers projects funded by the government's National Science Foundation. Federally sponsored research -- brought to you, by you! Learn more at nsf.gov or on our podcast.
-----------------
Note:
[1]B.L.T.
Bacon, Lettuce, and Tomato the name of a sandwich that contains these foods.
Credit: NSF/Karson Productions
Audio Transcript:
Yield--for tomatoes.
I'm Bob Karson with the discovery files--new advances in science and engineering from the National Science Foundation.
1908: New York State's Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory. Botanist George Shull (shool), discovers that cross-breeding genetically distinct plants produces offspring more robust than either inbred parent. A phenomenon called 'hybrid vigor,' that's been used to improve agricultural productivity for over a century--even though scientists couldn't agree on exactly how or why it worked.
Fast-forward to Cold Spring Harbor today, where researchers have found a way to coax tomato plants into producing more fruit, while still keeping a compact, bushy plant shape that allows mechanical harvesters to reap the crop.
Previously, the team had ID'ed a rare example of hybrid vigor involving a change in the gene that makes florigen, a hormone in charge of flowering and flower production. Now, they've found that the genetic change lowers the amount of florigen in tomato plants causing the plants to postpone the moment when they stop producing flowers. Result: Super-productive plants!
The researchers predict it may be possible to tweak florigen levels to get even higher yields--not just in tomatoes, but in other flowering plants as well.
The next time you enjoy a B.L.T.[1], think of the researchers at Cold Spring Harbor Lab, a group of 'budding geniuses.'
"The Discovery Files" covers projects funded by the government's National Science Foundation. Federally sponsored research -- brought to you, by you! Learn more at nsf.gov or on our podcast.
-----------------
Note:
[1]B.L.T.
Bacon, Lettuce, and Tomato the name of a sandwich that contains these foods.
Dec 8, 2013
How to be an evaluator for a speech?
An evaluation workshop in HOPAX by Caroline.
You not only improve your English speaking ability but also your evaluation skill when you join Tsoying Toastmasters!
You not only improve your English speaking ability but also your evaluation skill when you join Tsoying Toastmasters!
How to get better at speaking English?
How to get better at speaking English?
Join Tsoying Toastmasters and practice the three easy ways taught in the video below!
Join Tsoying Toastmasters and practice the three easy ways taught in the video below!
Nov 2, 2013
"Say it with a Song" and "DO You Hear the People Sing?"-- October Reading, 2013
From http://magazines.toastmasters.org/publication/?i=171821, Page 20-21.
Say It with a Song
A different way to grab your audience’s attention.
As Toastmasters, we a constantly on the lookout for new speech ideas. Songs can be an excellent source of material for speeches because of their storytelling nature, short duration and infectious melodies. Because of these properties, almost any song can be used to create or enhance a speech in interesting ways.
The short duration of a song cries out for a speech to convey the details of the song’s story. I once wrote a speech based on the song “Saint John” by Cold War Kids. The song tells the story of a man on death row hoping for a pardon from the governor. He ended up on death row after throwing a brick at a drunk college kid who was part of a group that was harassing his sister. The framework for a speech was already in place in the song.
The song has a tragic element to it, which is amplified by its mournful chorus. I only needed to add some additional details to the story to transform the song into a speech. I also took the opportunity to try and emulate the singer who sang with a drawl, which added to the entertainment value of the speech. But, perhaps the most powerful aspect of the speech was the chorus line I sang to my audience as a break between the different parts of the story.
A Chorus Line
Choruses are meant to be catchy, with interesting rhythms and melodies. In fact, when most people think of a song, it’s typically a chorus line that first comes to mind. For good or bad, depending on your taste and the length of time you are forced to listen to it, the chorus line may be the only part of the song you actually remember.
Try using a chorus line to your advantage by singing it as part of your speech. In addition to the rhythm and melody, just the fact that you’re singing it will grab your audience’s attention. By doing so, you will also inject into the speech whatever emotional tone or attitude the chorus projects. In my speech, a chorus line provided smooth transitions between each part of the story. Singing adds emotional impact in a way that simply telling a story cannot do.
Imagine a humorous speech in which the speaker describes a situation that made him want to appear to be cool, but things didn’t work out as intended. Now imagine the speaker singing a chorus line from the song “Bad to the Bone” by George Thorogood and the Destroyers during certain parts of his or her speech. The singing catches the audience’s attention and also injects some humor into the speech.
Using Soundtracks
Soundtracks are another source for speech ideas. [A soundtrack can be recorded music synchronized to the images of a motion picture, book, television program or video game. Soundtracks are sometimes released commercially as soundtrack albums.] Soundtrack speeches use songs that remind the speaker of a specific time in his life. Typically these memories focus on childhood, a particular person or a romantic relationship. Soundtracks may be the most common types of songs that speakers incorporate into speeches.
If you have been a Toastmaster for a long time, you have probably heard someone give a soundtrack speech, or you may have given one yourself. This type of speech can work to your advantage because it will hold your audience’s attention. Additionally, hearing a song’s chorus may trigger feelings of nostalgia in audience members who recognize them.
Creative Use of Song Titles
Those looking for a challenge might consider a list of song titles by their favorite artist and write a speech that incorporates those titles directly into the speech narrative. In these cases the speaker doesn’t sing. The titles are simply used as phrases in the sentences of the speech. For example, a speech about an old car might incorporate titles of some Beatles songs:
My wife keeps threatening to have my ’67 Camaro towed out to the junkyard because she is tired of it taking up space in the garage. She affectionately refers to it as the “yellow submarine” because she feels in her words that “it should be rusting on the bottom of the ocean.” I told her I wasn’t getting rid of it because I know that “with a little help from my friends” I will get that car up and running as good as new.
Once the audience picks up on what the speaker is doing, they will appreciate the difficulty of the speaker’s challenge.
Tunes for Table Topics
Another use for a song is creating Table Topics questions. This is especially useful when you learn just before a meeting that the scheduled Table Topicsmaster can’t make the meeting and someone else needs to fill that role. People have songs they enjoy listening to, so it’s easy to recall a favorite. Try using it to craft part of a spur-of- the moment question. Here are some examples:
• Huey Lewis and the News sang about the heart of rock ‘n’ roll. What is the heart of rock ‘n’ roll, and is it still beating?
• Ozzy Osbourne went off the rails on a crazy train. When do you board your crazy train, and what makes it go off the rails?
• Steppen-wolf was born to be wild. What were you born to be?
These examples don’t require the responder to actually know the song, and you can use them to spur ideas for a vast amount of topics in a short time.
The next time you’re seeking inspiration for a speech topic, think about some of your favorite songs. It’s likely that you can transform one of them into an entertaining speech, or use a chorus to spice up a speech you’re working on.
The Song-Title Technique
To inject humor into a speech— especially one about a dry topic— I sometimes use a technique that involves grouping song titles into themes. It can work with any well-known musician or group that has recorded a large number of songs.
Let’s say you’re going to make a training presentation. You have to teach a group of people something really complicated—a computer program, details of complex new legislation, medical procedures, whatever. You might begin by saying:
It may sound strange, but I feel the Beatles are here with us today— because they recorded some songs on how you may feel about learning [the topic of your talk]. The top three titles are:
• "The Long And Winding Road"
• "It's All Too Much"
• "Help!
Fortunately, they also recorded some songs about how I feel. The top three are:
• "I Want To Hold Your Hand"
• "Ask Me Why"
• "We Can Work It Out"
This is a condensed version of Malcolm Kushner’s article “Want To Be Funny? You Can’t Go Wrong If You Name That Song,” which was published in the March 2007 Toastmaster magazine.
--------------
Do You Hear the People Sing
Do you hear the people sing?
Singing a song of angry men?
It is the music of a people
Who will not be slaves again!
When the beating of your heart
Echoes the beating of the drums
There is a life about to start
When tomorrow comes!
Will you join in our crusade?
Who will be strong and stand with me?
Beyond the barricade
Is there a world you long to see?
Then join in the fight
That will give you the right to be free!
Do you hear the people sing?
Singing a song of angry men?
It is the music of a people
Who will not be slaves again!
When the beating of your heart
Echoes the beating of the drums
There is a life about to start
When tomorrow comes!
Will you give all you can give
So that our banner may advance
Some will fall and some will live
Will you stand up and take your
chance?
The blood of the martyrs
Will water the meadows of France!
Do you hear the people sing?
Singing a song of angry men?
It is the music of a people
Who will not be slaves again!
When the beating of your heart
Echoes the beating of the drums
There is a life about to start
When tomorrow comes!
Translation Comparison
Mandarin Version
Taiwanese Version
--------------
Notes:
• infectious / ɪnˈfekʃəs; ɪnˋfɛkʃəs/ adj
quickly influencing others; likely to spread to others
• harass / ˈhrəs; US həˈras; həˋras/ v
trouble and annoy (sb) continually
• mournful /ˈmɔːnfəl US ˈmɔːrn-/ adj
very sad
• emulate / ˈemjuleɪt; ˋɛmjəˏlet/ v ~ sb (at sth)
try to do as well as or better than sb
• drawl [drɔːl] n.
a slow speech pattern with prolonged vowels
• synchronize / ˈsɪŋkrənaɪz; ˋsɪŋkrəˏnaɪz/ v ~ (sth) (with sth)
(cause sth to) operate, move, turn, etc at the same time, speed, etc
• incorporate / ɪnˈkɔːpəreɪt; ɪnˋkɔrpəret/ v ~ sth (in/into sth)
make sth part of a whole; include
• nostalgia / nɔˈstaldʒə; nɑˋstaldʒə/ n
a feeling that a time in the past was good
• tow / təu; to/ v
pull (sth) along with a rope, chain, etc
• rust v /rʌst/
to become covered with reddish-brown substance that forms on iron or steel when it gets wet
• get rid of
remove, extinguish, eliminate
• spur-of-the-moment adj. spur / spɜː(r); spə/ n
on a sudden impulse, without previous planning
• legislation /ˌledʒɪˈsleɪʃən/ n
a law or set of laws
• crusade / kruːˈseɪd; kruˋsed/ n
any struggle or campaign for sth believed to be good, or against sth believed to be bad
• barricade /ˈbærɪkeɪd, ˌbærɪˈkeɪd/ n
a temporary wall or fence across a road, door etc that prevents people from going through
• martyr /ˈmɑːtə US ˈmɑːrtər/ n
someone who dies for their religious or political beliefs and is admired by people for this
Say It with a Song
A different way to grab your audience’s attention.
As Toastmasters, we a constantly on the lookout for new speech ideas. Songs can be an excellent source of material for speeches because of their storytelling nature, short duration and infectious melodies. Because of these properties, almost any song can be used to create or enhance a speech in interesting ways.
The short duration of a song cries out for a speech to convey the details of the song’s story. I once wrote a speech based on the song “Saint John” by Cold War Kids. The song tells the story of a man on death row hoping for a pardon from the governor. He ended up on death row after throwing a brick at a drunk college kid who was part of a group that was harassing his sister. The framework for a speech was already in place in the song.
The song has a tragic element to it, which is amplified by its mournful chorus. I only needed to add some additional details to the story to transform the song into a speech. I also took the opportunity to try and emulate the singer who sang with a drawl, which added to the entertainment value of the speech. But, perhaps the most powerful aspect of the speech was the chorus line I sang to my audience as a break between the different parts of the story.
A Chorus Line
Choruses are meant to be catchy, with interesting rhythms and melodies. In fact, when most people think of a song, it’s typically a chorus line that first comes to mind. For good or bad, depending on your taste and the length of time you are forced to listen to it, the chorus line may be the only part of the song you actually remember.
Try using a chorus line to your advantage by singing it as part of your speech. In addition to the rhythm and melody, just the fact that you’re singing it will grab your audience’s attention. By doing so, you will also inject into the speech whatever emotional tone or attitude the chorus projects. In my speech, a chorus line provided smooth transitions between each part of the story. Singing adds emotional impact in a way that simply telling a story cannot do.
Imagine a humorous speech in which the speaker describes a situation that made him want to appear to be cool, but things didn’t work out as intended. Now imagine the speaker singing a chorus line from the song “Bad to the Bone” by George Thorogood and the Destroyers during certain parts of his or her speech. The singing catches the audience’s attention and also injects some humor into the speech.
Using Soundtracks
Soundtracks are another source for speech ideas. [A soundtrack can be recorded music synchronized to the images of a motion picture, book, television program or video game. Soundtracks are sometimes released commercially as soundtrack albums.] Soundtrack speeches use songs that remind the speaker of a specific time in his life. Typically these memories focus on childhood, a particular person or a romantic relationship. Soundtracks may be the most common types of songs that speakers incorporate into speeches.
If you have been a Toastmaster for a long time, you have probably heard someone give a soundtrack speech, or you may have given one yourself. This type of speech can work to your advantage because it will hold your audience’s attention. Additionally, hearing a song’s chorus may trigger feelings of nostalgia in audience members who recognize them.
Creative Use of Song Titles
Those looking for a challenge might consider a list of song titles by their favorite artist and write a speech that incorporates those titles directly into the speech narrative. In these cases the speaker doesn’t sing. The titles are simply used as phrases in the sentences of the speech. For example, a speech about an old car might incorporate titles of some Beatles songs:
My wife keeps threatening to have my ’67 Camaro towed out to the junkyard because she is tired of it taking up space in the garage. She affectionately refers to it as the “yellow submarine” because she feels in her words that “it should be rusting on the bottom of the ocean.” I told her I wasn’t getting rid of it because I know that “with a little help from my friends” I will get that car up and running as good as new.
Once the audience picks up on what the speaker is doing, they will appreciate the difficulty of the speaker’s challenge.
Tunes for Table Topics
Another use for a song is creating Table Topics questions. This is especially useful when you learn just before a meeting that the scheduled Table Topicsmaster can’t make the meeting and someone else needs to fill that role. People have songs they enjoy listening to, so it’s easy to recall a favorite. Try using it to craft part of a spur-of- the moment question. Here are some examples:
• Huey Lewis and the News sang about the heart of rock ‘n’ roll. What is the heart of rock ‘n’ roll, and is it still beating?
• Ozzy Osbourne went off the rails on a crazy train. When do you board your crazy train, and what makes it go off the rails?
• Steppen-wolf was born to be wild. What were you born to be?
These examples don’t require the responder to actually know the song, and you can use them to spur ideas for a vast amount of topics in a short time.
The next time you’re seeking inspiration for a speech topic, think about some of your favorite songs. It’s likely that you can transform one of them into an entertaining speech, or use a chorus to spice up a speech you’re working on.
The Song-Title Technique
To inject humor into a speech— especially one about a dry topic— I sometimes use a technique that involves grouping song titles into themes. It can work with any well-known musician or group that has recorded a large number of songs.
Let’s say you’re going to make a training presentation. You have to teach a group of people something really complicated—a computer program, details of complex new legislation, medical procedures, whatever. You might begin by saying:
It may sound strange, but I feel the Beatles are here with us today— because they recorded some songs on how you may feel about learning [the topic of your talk]. The top three titles are:
• "The Long And Winding Road"
• "It's All Too Much"
• "Help!
Fortunately, they also recorded some songs about how I feel. The top three are:
• "I Want To Hold Your Hand"
• "Ask Me Why"
• "We Can Work It Out"
This is a condensed version of Malcolm Kushner’s article “Want To Be Funny? You Can’t Go Wrong If You Name That Song,” which was published in the March 2007 Toastmaster magazine.
--------------
Do You Hear the People Sing
Do you hear the people sing?
Singing a song of angry men?
It is the music of a people
Who will not be slaves again!
When the beating of your heart
Echoes the beating of the drums
There is a life about to start
When tomorrow comes!
Will you join in our crusade?
Who will be strong and stand with me?
Beyond the barricade
Is there a world you long to see?
Then join in the fight
That will give you the right to be free!
Do you hear the people sing?
Singing a song of angry men?
It is the music of a people
Who will not be slaves again!
When the beating of your heart
Echoes the beating of the drums
There is a life about to start
When tomorrow comes!
Will you give all you can give
So that our banner may advance
Some will fall and some will live
Will you stand up and take your
chance?
The blood of the martyrs
Will water the meadows of France!
Do you hear the people sing?
Singing a song of angry men?
It is the music of a people
Who will not be slaves again!
When the beating of your heart
Echoes the beating of the drums
There is a life about to start
When tomorrow comes!
Translation Comparison
Mandarin Version
Taiwanese Version
--------------
Notes:
• infectious / ɪnˈfekʃəs; ɪnˋfɛkʃəs/ adj
quickly influencing others; likely to spread to others
• harass / ˈhrəs; US həˈras; həˋras/ v
trouble and annoy (sb) continually
• mournful /ˈmɔːnfəl US ˈmɔːrn-/ adj
very sad
• emulate / ˈemjuleɪt; ˋɛmjəˏlet/ v ~ sb (at sth)
try to do as well as or better than sb
• drawl [drɔːl] n.
a slow speech pattern with prolonged vowels
• synchronize / ˈsɪŋkrənaɪz; ˋsɪŋkrəˏnaɪz/ v ~ (sth) (with sth)
(cause sth to) operate, move, turn, etc at the same time, speed, etc
• incorporate / ɪnˈkɔːpəreɪt; ɪnˋkɔrpəret/ v ~ sth (in/into sth)
make sth part of a whole; include
• nostalgia / nɔˈstaldʒə; nɑˋstaldʒə/ n
a feeling that a time in the past was good
• tow / təu; to/ v
pull (sth) along with a rope, chain, etc
• rust v /rʌst/
to become covered with reddish-brown substance that forms on iron or steel when it gets wet
• get rid of
remove, extinguish, eliminate
• spur-of-the-moment adj. spur / spɜː(r); spə/ n
on a sudden impulse, without previous planning
• legislation /ˌledʒɪˈsleɪʃən/ n
a law or set of laws
• crusade / kruːˈseɪd; kruˋsed/ n
any struggle or campaign for sth believed to be good, or against sth believed to be bad
• barricade /ˈbærɪkeɪd, ˌbærɪˈkeɪd/ n
a temporary wall or fence across a road, door etc that prevents people from going through
• martyr /ˈmɑːtə US ˈmɑːrtər/ n
someone who dies for their religious or political beliefs and is admired by people for this
Nov 10, 2012
Mount St. Helens: Rising From the Ashes
Life erupts once again from the once lifeless mountain
When Mount St. Helens blew its top in 1980, it wasn't a surprise that it happened, but even today the extent of the damage is hard to fathom. The eruption knocked down 100-foot trees like matchsticks and killed just about everything in its path. There have been several smaller eruptions since then, but nothing like what happened in 1980.
Evolutionary biologist and ecologist John Bishop knows Mount St. Helens well; he has been working on the mountain for 20 years. "It began with the largest landslide in recorded history that uncorked an explosion that was directed horizontally and leveled the forest 13 miles out," recalls Bishop. "It was just a barren landscape, gray-and-pumice-colored, covered with rocks."
Today, dead tree trunks still litter the landscape. But, if you take a closer look, you'll see another kind of eruption; an eruption of life on the mountainside. For Bishop, it's a blessing. "It's a rare opportunity for scientists to get to study a devastated area and how it comes back from scratch in such detail," he says.
With help from the National Science Foundation (NSF), Bishop is documenting the return of living things to the once lifeless mountain. "Up until the last 10 years, the landscape has been completely dominated by lupins," says Bishop. He says these flowering lupin plants are able to create new soil from volcanic ash. That new soil has created a habitat for the Sitka willow. But, Bishop says there is a problem. "One of the things we've realized about these willows is that they're not getting big. And that's important because they create habitat for birds and mammals."
The culprits are small invasive weevils that are on the attack. They've taken up residence inside the willows' stems, stunting the plants' growth or killing them. Bishop says there is a lesson in all of this. "Seemingly insignificant organisms, like insects that consume plants, play an extraordinarily important role in the sorting out process of deciding, essentially, which plants are going to stay in the landscape and which ones are going to disappear."
Bishop points out that the imbalance between plants and insects on Mount St. Helens should be expected in rudimentary systems and will cause instability until a more complex community of plant and animal species is sustainable, or until the day Mount St. Helens itself changes the equation once again.
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