Well, for those of you who went out today, I don't have to tell you it was clear, but muggy for most of the state, with the high temperatures in the low to mid 90s. The city of Elkview had the high for the day of 97 degrees. And that's hot. I'm glad I'm working indoors today!
For those of you planning outdoor activities tomorrow, you can expect fair skies for most of Saturday with temperatures in the high 90's. However, things might change by Saturday evening with a storm front moving in. We can expect light scattered showers over the northern part of the state bringing slightly cooler temperatures in the , but this rain should taper off by mid Sunday morning. It will be partly cloudy for most of the morning, but these clouds should move out by mid-afternoon.
Skies should be clear Sunday night for those wanting to catch a glimpse of the partial lunar eclipse. It should start at 10:47 pm. And that's all for today's weather.
This article is a kind of weather report. We have to see it on the television, and to know how's the weather tommorrow , and to prepare the umberlla or sunglasses, after all, the weather report is important to our life.
words:muggy , skies , scattered , glimpse
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Tour of Kyoto, Japan
Well, good morning everyone. My name is Craig Stone, and I'll be your guide for today's tour of Kyoto. First, I want to go over the itinerary for the tour, so everyone can enjoy the trip without being worried about being left behind along the way. And no one has gotten lost so far.
First of all, we'll be leaving at 9:15 outside the main train station exit. That's in thirty minutes. Be sure to board the bus by 9:00 sharp.
We'll be visiting some of the most famous historical spots in Kyoto. Our first stop will be at the Golden Pavilion, a temple constructed in 1397. We'll be leaving there at 10:30. You'll have about forty-five minutes to stroll around the temple and its gardens.
Our next destination will be Ryoanji Temple. That's always a difficult one to pronounce. This temple is famous for its beautiful rock garden. We'll depart from the temple at 11:45.
Next, we'll have lunch from 12:00 to 12:45.
In the afternoon, we'll be making a brief stop at Heian Jingu Shrine, which was constructed in 1895 to commemorate the 1,100th anniversary of the founding of the city of Kyoto.
After that, we'll head downtown and stop in Gion. Many people asked me about different traditional shopping areas, and this is a place we don't want to miss. You'll have about an hour to look around, and I'm sure you'll enjoy the atmosphere of the entire area. The shops, the homes, and the restaurants. A very traditional flavor of Kyoto. We'll be leaving Gion at 2:30.
Finally, we'll visit Nijojo Castle, which was the residence of the first Tokugawa Shogun. You'll have about an hour to tour the castle, and we'll meet at the bus at 4:00.
Any questions?
This article is about when we have a trip to another country, the guide have to introduce you the country's character, so we must to practice to listen the guide's instroduce way. And we can have a nice trip in the country.
First of all, we'll be leaving at 9:15 outside the main train station exit. That's in thirty minutes. Be sure to board the bus by 9:00 sharp.
We'll be visiting some of the most famous historical spots in Kyoto. Our first stop will be at the Golden Pavilion, a temple constructed in 1397. We'll be leaving there at 10:30. You'll have about forty-five minutes to stroll around the temple and its gardens.
Our next destination will be Ryoanji Temple. That's always a difficult one to pronounce. This temple is famous for its beautiful rock garden. We'll depart from the temple at 11:45.
Next, we'll have lunch from 12:00 to 12:45.
In the afternoon, we'll be making a brief stop at Heian Jingu Shrine, which was constructed in 1895 to commemorate the 1,100th anniversary of the founding of the city of Kyoto.
After that, we'll head downtown and stop in Gion. Many people asked me about different traditional shopping areas, and this is a place we don't want to miss. You'll have about an hour to look around, and I'm sure you'll enjoy the atmosphere of the entire area. The shops, the homes, and the restaurants. A very traditional flavor of Kyoto. We'll be leaving Gion at 2:30.
Finally, we'll visit Nijojo Castle, which was the residence of the first Tokugawa Shogun. You'll have about an hour to tour the castle, and we'll meet at the bus at 4:00.
Any questions?
This article is about when we have a trip to another country, the guide have to introduce you the country's character, so we must to practice to listen the guide's instroduce way. And we can have a nice trip in the country.
Traffic Report
This is SkyCam from Channel 11 News, reporting to you live over the valley. For those of you heading south on I-15 on your commute home from work, expect some delays around the 215 Interchange. Road crews are making repairs on the left lane, so commuters should be prepared to shift over to the right around 7200 South. This bottleneck appears to clear up at around 9600 south. You should expect such delays at least until the end of the week.
Northbound I-15 looks good until you reach around 3300 south. A minor fender-bender, perhaps resulting from the poor visibility out there, has traffic backed up a mile or so. Also, some reports have come in on patches of black ice on roads in that area. Forecasters predict sporadic freezing rain later into the night and early morning hours. And one more note, the frigid temperatures and heavy snow in the mountains have forced a herd of elk down into Riverside Park, so extreme caution should be taken if you are travelling around that area.
And that's all from SkyCam 11, providing you with traffic updates on the hour.
This is an example for traffic report, and I have to try to listen and understand what it is talking about. When I go to aborad it can help me to avoid the traffic jam, so we need to practice to listen this kind of report.
Northbound I-15 looks good until you reach around 3300 south. A minor fender-bender, perhaps resulting from the poor visibility out there, has traffic backed up a mile or so. Also, some reports have come in on patches of black ice on roads in that area. Forecasters predict sporadic freezing rain later into the night and early morning hours. And one more note, the frigid temperatures and heavy snow in the mountains have forced a herd of elk down into Riverside Park, so extreme caution should be taken if you are travelling around that area.
And that's all from SkyCam 11, providing you with traffic updates on the hour.
This is an example for traffic report, and I have to try to listen and understand what it is talking about. When I go to aborad it can help me to avoid the traffic jam, so we need to practice to listen this kind of report.
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Obama's speech
My fellow citizens:
I stand here today humbled by the task before us, grateful for the trust you have bestowed, mindful of the sacrifices borne by our ancestors. I thank President Bush for his service to our nation, as well as the generosity and cooperation he has shown throughout this transition.
Forty-four Americans have now taken the presidential oath. The words have been spoken during rising tides of prosperity and the still waters of peace. Yet, every so often the oath is taken amidst gathering clouds and raging storms. At these moments, America has carried on not simply because of the skill or vision of those in high office, but because We the People have remained faithful to the ideals of our forbearers, and true to our founding documents.
So it has been. So it must be with this generation of Americans.
That we are in the midst of crisis is now well understood. Our nation is at war, against a far-reaching network of violence and hatred. Our economy is badly weakened, a consequence of greed and irresponsibility on the part of some, but also our collective failure to make hard choices and prepare the nation for a new age. Homes have been lost; jobs shed; businesses shuttered. Our health care is too costly; our schools fail too many; and each day brings further evidence that the ways we use energy strengthen our adversaries and threaten our planet.
These are the indicators of crisis, subject to data and statistics. Less measurable but no less profound is a sapping of confidence across our land - a nagging fear that America's decline is inevitable, and that the next generation must lower its sights.
Today I say to you that the challenges we face are real. They are serious and they are many. They will not be met easily or in a short span of time. But know this, America - they will be met.
On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord.
On this day, we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn out dogmas, that for far too long have strangled our politics.
We remain a young nation, but in the words of Scripture, the time has come to set aside childish things. The time has come to reaffirm our enduring spirit; to choose our better history; to carry forward that precious gift, that noble idea, passed on from generation to generation: the God-given promise that all are equal, all are free, and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness.
In reaffirming the greatness of our nation, we understand that greatness is never a given. It must be earned. Our journey has never been one of short-cuts or settling for less. It has not been the path for the faint-hearted - for those who prefer leisure over work, or seek only the pleasures of riches and fame. Rather, it has been the risk-takers, the doers, the makers of things - some celebrated but more often men and women obscure in their labor, who have carried us up the long, rugged path towards prosperity and freedom.
For us, they packed up their few worldly possessions and traveled across oceans in search of a new life.
For us, they toiled in sweatshops and settled the West; endured the lash of the whip and plowed the hard earth.
For us, they fought and died, in places like Concord and Gettysburg; Normandy and Khe Sahn.
Time and again these men and women struggled and sacrificed and worked till their hands were raw so that we might live a better life. They saw America as bigger than the sum of our individual ambitions; greater than all the differences of birth or wealth or faction.
This is the journey we continue today. We remain the most prosperous, powerful nation on Earth. Our workers are no less productive than when this crisis began. Our minds are no less inventive, our goods and services no less needed than they were last week or last month or last year. Our capacity remains undiminished. But our time of standing pat, of protecting narrow interests and putting off unpleasant decisions - that time has surely passed. Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin again the work of remaking America.
For everywhere we look, there is work to be done. The state of the economy calls for action, bold and swift, and we will act - not only to create new jobs, but to lay a new foundation for growth. We will build the roads and bridges, the electric grids and digital lines that feed our commerce and bind us together. We will restore science to its rightful place, and wield technology's wonders to raise health care's quality and lower its cost. We will harness the sun and the winds and the soil to fuel our cars and run our factories. And we will transform our schools and colleges and universities to meet the demands of a new age. All this we can do. And all this we will do.
Now, there are some who question the scale of our ambitions - who suggest that our system cannot tolerate too many big plans. Their memories are short. For they have forgotten what this country has already done; what free men and women can achieve when imagination is joined to common purpose, and necessity to courage.
What the cynics fail to understand is that the ground has shifted beneath them - that the stale political arguments that have consumed us for so long no longer apply. The question we ask today is not whether our government is too big or too small, but whether it works - whether it helps families find jobs at a decent wage, care they can afford, a retirement that is dignified. Where the answer is yes, we intend to move forward. Where the answer is no, programs will end. And those of us who manage the public's dollars will be held to account - to spend wisely, reform bad habits, and do our business in the light of day - because only then can we restore the vital trust between a people and their government.
Nor is the question before us whether the market is a force for good or ill. Its power to generate wealth and expand freedom is unmatched, but this crisis has reminded us that without a watchful eye, the market can spin out of control - and that a nation cannot prosper long when it favors only the prosperous. The success of our economy has always depended not just on the size of our Gross Domestic Product, but on the reach of our prosperity; on our ability to extend opportunity to every willing heart - not out of charity, but because it is the surest route to our common good.
As for our common defense, we reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals. Our Founding Fathers, faced with perils we can scarcely imagine, drafted a charter to assure the rule of law and the rights of man, a charter expanded by the blood of generations. Those ideals still light the world, and we will not give them up for expedience's sake. And so to all other peoples and governments who are watching today, from the grandest capitals to the small village where my father was born: know that America is a friend of each nation and every man, woman, and child who seeks a future of peace and dignity, and that we are ready to lead once more.
Recall that earlier generations faced down fascism and communism not just with missiles and tanks, but with sturdy alliances and enduring convictions. They understood that our power alone cannot protect us, nor does it entitle us to do as we please. Instead, they knew that our power grows through its prudent use; our security emanates from the justness of our cause, the force of our example, the tempering qualities of humility and restraint.
We are the keepers of this legacy. Guided by these principles once more, we can meet those new threats that demand even greater effort - even greater cooperation and understanding between nations. We will begin to responsibly leave Iraq to its people, and forge a hard-earned peace in Afghanistan. With old friends and former foes, we will work tirelessly to lessen the nuclear threat, and roll back the specter of a warming planet. We will not apologize for our way of life, nor will we waver in its defense, and for those who seek to advance their aims by inducing terror and slaughtering innocents, we say to you now that our spirit is stronger and cannot be broken; you cannot outlast us, and we will defeat you.
For we know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness. We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus - and non-believers. We are shaped by every language and culture, drawn from every end of this Earth; and because we have tasted the bitter swill of civil war and segregation, and emerged from that dark chapter stronger and more united, we cannot help but believe that the old hatreds shall someday pass; that the lines of tribe shall soon dissolve; that as the world grows smaller, our common humanity shall reveal itself; and that America must play its role in ushering in a new era of peace.
To the Muslim world, we seek a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect. To those leaders around the globe who seek to sow conflict, or blame their society's ills on the West - know that your people will judge you on what you can build, not what you destroy. To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history; but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist.
To the people of poor nations, we pledge to work alongside you to make your farms flourish and let clean waters flow; to nourish starved bodies and feed hungry minds. And to those nations like ours that enjoy relative plenty, we say we can no longer afford indifference to suffering outside our borders; nor can we consume the world's resources without regard to effect. For the world has changed, and we must change with it.
As we consider the road that unfolds before us, we remember with humble gratitude those brave Americans who, at this very hour, patrol far-off deserts and distant mountains. They have something to tell us today, just as the fallen heroes who lie in Arlington whisper through the ages. We honor them not only because they are guardians of our liberty, but because they embody the spirit of service; a willingness to find meaning in something greater than themselves. And yet, at this moment - a moment that will define a generation - it is precisely this spirit that must inhabit us all.
For as much as government can do and must do, it is ultimately the faith and determination of the American people upon which this nation relies. It is the kindness to take in a stranger when the levees break, the selflessness of workers who would rather cut their hours than see a friend lose their job which sees us through our darkest hours. It is the firefighter's courage to storm a stairway filled with smoke, but also a parent's willingness to nurture a child, that finally decides our fate.
Our challenges may be new. The instruments with which we meet them may be new. But those values upon which our success depends - hard work and honesty, courage and fair play, tolerance and curiosity, loyalty and patriotism - these things are old. These things are true. They have been the quiet force of progress throughout our history. What is demanded then is a return to these truths. What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility - a recognition, on the part of every American, that we have duties to ourselves, our nation, and the world, duties that we do not grudgingly accept but rather seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character, than giving our all to a difficult task.
This is the price and the promise of citizenship.
This is the source of our confidence - the knowledge that God calls on us to shape an uncertain destiny.
This is the meaning of our liberty and our creed - why men and women and children of every race and every faith can join in celebration across this magnificent mall, and why a man whose father less than sixty years ago might not have been served at a local restaurant can now stand before you to take a most sacred oath.
So let us mark this day with remembrance, of who we are and how far we have traveled. In the year of America's birth, in the coldest of months, a small band of patriots huddled by dying campfires on the shores of an icy river. The capital was abandoned. The enemy was advancing. The snow was stained with blood. At a moment when the outcome of our revolution was most in doubt, the father of our nation ordered these words be read to the people:
"Let it be told to the future world...that in the depth of winter, when nothing but hope and virtue could survive...that the city and the country, alarmed at one common danger, came forth to meet [it]."
America. In the face of our common dangers, in this winter of our hardship, let us remember these timeless words. With hope and virtue, let us brave once more the icy currents, and endure what storms may come. Let it be said by our children's children that when we were tested we refused to let this journey end, that we did not turn back nor did we falter; and with eyes fixed on the horizon and God's grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations.
My opinion:
I think Obama is a smart person. He not only get the peoples heart also deeply give them courage. This speech is a good simple of everyone who wants to touch your listener. For example, in this article ' For us, they packed up their few worldly possessions and traveled across oceans in search of a new life.For us, they toiled in sweatshops and settled the West; endured the lash of the whip and plowed the hard earth.For us, they fought and died, in places like Concord and Gettysburg; Normandy and Khe Sahn.' He emphasis on the people so he use for us three times. Everybody wants emphsis by others, so he use it. After listen Obama's speech, I deeply feel his thinking, and I favorite his speech.
I stand here today humbled by the task before us, grateful for the trust you have bestowed, mindful of the sacrifices borne by our ancestors. I thank President Bush for his service to our nation, as well as the generosity and cooperation he has shown throughout this transition.
Forty-four Americans have now taken the presidential oath. The words have been spoken during rising tides of prosperity and the still waters of peace. Yet, every so often the oath is taken amidst gathering clouds and raging storms. At these moments, America has carried on not simply because of the skill or vision of those in high office, but because We the People have remained faithful to the ideals of our forbearers, and true to our founding documents.
So it has been. So it must be with this generation of Americans.
That we are in the midst of crisis is now well understood. Our nation is at war, against a far-reaching network of violence and hatred. Our economy is badly weakened, a consequence of greed and irresponsibility on the part of some, but also our collective failure to make hard choices and prepare the nation for a new age. Homes have been lost; jobs shed; businesses shuttered. Our health care is too costly; our schools fail too many; and each day brings further evidence that the ways we use energy strengthen our adversaries and threaten our planet.
These are the indicators of crisis, subject to data and statistics. Less measurable but no less profound is a sapping of confidence across our land - a nagging fear that America's decline is inevitable, and that the next generation must lower its sights.
Today I say to you that the challenges we face are real. They are serious and they are many. They will not be met easily or in a short span of time. But know this, America - they will be met.
On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord.
On this day, we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn out dogmas, that for far too long have strangled our politics.
We remain a young nation, but in the words of Scripture, the time has come to set aside childish things. The time has come to reaffirm our enduring spirit; to choose our better history; to carry forward that precious gift, that noble idea, passed on from generation to generation: the God-given promise that all are equal, all are free, and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness.
In reaffirming the greatness of our nation, we understand that greatness is never a given. It must be earned. Our journey has never been one of short-cuts or settling for less. It has not been the path for the faint-hearted - for those who prefer leisure over work, or seek only the pleasures of riches and fame. Rather, it has been the risk-takers, the doers, the makers of things - some celebrated but more often men and women obscure in their labor, who have carried us up the long, rugged path towards prosperity and freedom.
For us, they packed up their few worldly possessions and traveled across oceans in search of a new life.
For us, they toiled in sweatshops and settled the West; endured the lash of the whip and plowed the hard earth.
For us, they fought and died, in places like Concord and Gettysburg; Normandy and Khe Sahn.
Time and again these men and women struggled and sacrificed and worked till their hands were raw so that we might live a better life. They saw America as bigger than the sum of our individual ambitions; greater than all the differences of birth or wealth or faction.
This is the journey we continue today. We remain the most prosperous, powerful nation on Earth. Our workers are no less productive than when this crisis began. Our minds are no less inventive, our goods and services no less needed than they were last week or last month or last year. Our capacity remains undiminished. But our time of standing pat, of protecting narrow interests and putting off unpleasant decisions - that time has surely passed. Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin again the work of remaking America.
For everywhere we look, there is work to be done. The state of the economy calls for action, bold and swift, and we will act - not only to create new jobs, but to lay a new foundation for growth. We will build the roads and bridges, the electric grids and digital lines that feed our commerce and bind us together. We will restore science to its rightful place, and wield technology's wonders to raise health care's quality and lower its cost. We will harness the sun and the winds and the soil to fuel our cars and run our factories. And we will transform our schools and colleges and universities to meet the demands of a new age. All this we can do. And all this we will do.
Now, there are some who question the scale of our ambitions - who suggest that our system cannot tolerate too many big plans. Their memories are short. For they have forgotten what this country has already done; what free men and women can achieve when imagination is joined to common purpose, and necessity to courage.
What the cynics fail to understand is that the ground has shifted beneath them - that the stale political arguments that have consumed us for so long no longer apply. The question we ask today is not whether our government is too big or too small, but whether it works - whether it helps families find jobs at a decent wage, care they can afford, a retirement that is dignified. Where the answer is yes, we intend to move forward. Where the answer is no, programs will end. And those of us who manage the public's dollars will be held to account - to spend wisely, reform bad habits, and do our business in the light of day - because only then can we restore the vital trust between a people and their government.
Nor is the question before us whether the market is a force for good or ill. Its power to generate wealth and expand freedom is unmatched, but this crisis has reminded us that without a watchful eye, the market can spin out of control - and that a nation cannot prosper long when it favors only the prosperous. The success of our economy has always depended not just on the size of our Gross Domestic Product, but on the reach of our prosperity; on our ability to extend opportunity to every willing heart - not out of charity, but because it is the surest route to our common good.
As for our common defense, we reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals. Our Founding Fathers, faced with perils we can scarcely imagine, drafted a charter to assure the rule of law and the rights of man, a charter expanded by the blood of generations. Those ideals still light the world, and we will not give them up for expedience's sake. And so to all other peoples and governments who are watching today, from the grandest capitals to the small village where my father was born: know that America is a friend of each nation and every man, woman, and child who seeks a future of peace and dignity, and that we are ready to lead once more.
Recall that earlier generations faced down fascism and communism not just with missiles and tanks, but with sturdy alliances and enduring convictions. They understood that our power alone cannot protect us, nor does it entitle us to do as we please. Instead, they knew that our power grows through its prudent use; our security emanates from the justness of our cause, the force of our example, the tempering qualities of humility and restraint.
We are the keepers of this legacy. Guided by these principles once more, we can meet those new threats that demand even greater effort - even greater cooperation and understanding between nations. We will begin to responsibly leave Iraq to its people, and forge a hard-earned peace in Afghanistan. With old friends and former foes, we will work tirelessly to lessen the nuclear threat, and roll back the specter of a warming planet. We will not apologize for our way of life, nor will we waver in its defense, and for those who seek to advance their aims by inducing terror and slaughtering innocents, we say to you now that our spirit is stronger and cannot be broken; you cannot outlast us, and we will defeat you.
For we know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness. We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus - and non-believers. We are shaped by every language and culture, drawn from every end of this Earth; and because we have tasted the bitter swill of civil war and segregation, and emerged from that dark chapter stronger and more united, we cannot help but believe that the old hatreds shall someday pass; that the lines of tribe shall soon dissolve; that as the world grows smaller, our common humanity shall reveal itself; and that America must play its role in ushering in a new era of peace.
To the Muslim world, we seek a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect. To those leaders around the globe who seek to sow conflict, or blame their society's ills on the West - know that your people will judge you on what you can build, not what you destroy. To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history; but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist.
To the people of poor nations, we pledge to work alongside you to make your farms flourish and let clean waters flow; to nourish starved bodies and feed hungry minds. And to those nations like ours that enjoy relative plenty, we say we can no longer afford indifference to suffering outside our borders; nor can we consume the world's resources without regard to effect. For the world has changed, and we must change with it.
As we consider the road that unfolds before us, we remember with humble gratitude those brave Americans who, at this very hour, patrol far-off deserts and distant mountains. They have something to tell us today, just as the fallen heroes who lie in Arlington whisper through the ages. We honor them not only because they are guardians of our liberty, but because they embody the spirit of service; a willingness to find meaning in something greater than themselves. And yet, at this moment - a moment that will define a generation - it is precisely this spirit that must inhabit us all.
For as much as government can do and must do, it is ultimately the faith and determination of the American people upon which this nation relies. It is the kindness to take in a stranger when the levees break, the selflessness of workers who would rather cut their hours than see a friend lose their job which sees us through our darkest hours. It is the firefighter's courage to storm a stairway filled with smoke, but also a parent's willingness to nurture a child, that finally decides our fate.
Our challenges may be new. The instruments with which we meet them may be new. But those values upon which our success depends - hard work and honesty, courage and fair play, tolerance and curiosity, loyalty and patriotism - these things are old. These things are true. They have been the quiet force of progress throughout our history. What is demanded then is a return to these truths. What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility - a recognition, on the part of every American, that we have duties to ourselves, our nation, and the world, duties that we do not grudgingly accept but rather seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character, than giving our all to a difficult task.
This is the price and the promise of citizenship.
This is the source of our confidence - the knowledge that God calls on us to shape an uncertain destiny.
This is the meaning of our liberty and our creed - why men and women and children of every race and every faith can join in celebration across this magnificent mall, and why a man whose father less than sixty years ago might not have been served at a local restaurant can now stand before you to take a most sacred oath.
So let us mark this day with remembrance, of who we are and how far we have traveled. In the year of America's birth, in the coldest of months, a small band of patriots huddled by dying campfires on the shores of an icy river. The capital was abandoned. The enemy was advancing. The snow was stained with blood. At a moment when the outcome of our revolution was most in doubt, the father of our nation ordered these words be read to the people:
"Let it be told to the future world...that in the depth of winter, when nothing but hope and virtue could survive...that the city and the country, alarmed at one common danger, came forth to meet [it]."
America. In the face of our common dangers, in this winter of our hardship, let us remember these timeless words. With hope and virtue, let us brave once more the icy currents, and endure what storms may come. Let it be said by our children's children that when we were tested we refused to let this journey end, that we did not turn back nor did we falter; and with eyes fixed on the horizon and God's grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations.
My opinion:
I think Obama is a smart person. He not only get the peoples heart also deeply give them courage. This speech is a good simple of everyone who wants to touch your listener. For example, in this article ' For us, they packed up their few worldly possessions and traveled across oceans in search of a new life.For us, they toiled in sweatshops and settled the West; endured the lash of the whip and plowed the hard earth.For us, they fought and died, in places like Concord and Gettysburg; Normandy and Khe Sahn.' He emphasis on the people so he use for us three times. Everybody wants emphsis by others, so he use it. After listen Obama's speech, I deeply feel his thinking, and I favorite his speech.
Benjamin franklin and Mrs. curie I talk to my friends
Hi,willy,i just read the book about marie curie,it really moved me,i think she is the greatest woman in the world,and she is very important for people
Ask(W): why do you think she is very important for people?
Ans(N): cos her research of radioactive rays really help alot for people who have cancer
W: What a amazing research , it can help many people who have cancer in the world. By the way , I think Benjamin Franklin is one of the important people in the world
N: What did he do?
W: He is the initiators of the sport that U.S.A. taught beginnerses in the 18th century, one of the leaders of industrialist,scientist,writer,polotician,diplomat,U.S.A.'s independent revolution.
N: Ｗow,he's so talented,he knows a lot!!and what's his contribution for the world?
W: The most important contribution for the world is he find how to use electricity.
N: hey,i totally agree with that,electricity is sooooooooooo important for people!!
W: yeah, can you think ours live without electricity? It must be very unconvenience. So, except ray , what things you think marie curie are important?
N: I think she make woman feel proud of her,she won the nobel prize twice~ and she doesn't feel very arrogant,she even gave the honor medal for her daughter as toys...now people will know,women also can be a great scientist and dedicate a lot for people~
W: i agree, we shouldn't have sexual discrimination. there are many things girls can do better then boys.
N: so..what else did franklin do for people?he seems knows a lot,he must do lots of things for the world
W: besides electricity, he also have contribution to botany, mathematics, chemistry too. Do you know who invent lightning rod?
N:NO
W: yeah , that was one of franklin's invent. do you know what is Franklin stove?
N: no,what's that??
W: this kind of stove improves the efficiency that the stove burns, saves a large number of faggots, bring very great facility for people of North America area.
N: that's awesome~he invent lots of stuff
W: yeah, not only those things,in order to uncerstand the route and distance ,in order to calculate the postage he has invent the odometer.
N: what is odometer??
W: odometer is something we use on the car, it can accumulate how far we drive one place to another place
N: wow~ it's a really useful invention!! does franklin give u any inspiration?do u want to be a inventor like him?
W: i don't want to be a inventor but i like his attitude for learning , does Mrs. Curie give you any inspiration?
N: yes,i read books about her many times,i also admire her attitude,she is so hard working,and kind for poor student...she has a warm heart,but...it's a shame that i hate science...so im not going to be a scientist like her
W: what did she do for poor student , teach them? or help them to have a good enviroment to study?
N: cos there are lots of people who doesnt have money to go to school,so she spent money to buy table,chair and books for the children,teach them for ftee she is the glory of women,i wish i could do someting for poor people
W: wow that's great, after all , at this time , there are many people need others help.
N: yes,i agree,i can't do any research...at least i can do something else to help people
W: ok. do you know how Mrs. Curie find radium?
N: they did lots of research to look for new elment...they found it in asphalt after they found polonium (Po) ..they found another radioactive element,it's much stronger,they did lots of research on mineral,and analyze them again and again..finally ,they found radium
After discovery po and radium, they have faced the major problem, how is to refine the pure radium and pure po, proved that knows these two kind of new elements to the common people the existence? They must have the large amount fund purchase massive pitchblende and many other minerals and the appliance, can refine the radium and po. They ask the human in various countries to help
finally obtains the Austrian Government and the Vienna academy of science's assistance, by bought inexpensive had been considered at that time that will refine the uranium later not to have the useful pitchblende residual, in 1898 to 1902 these four years, Maria was not only the scholar, was also the technician she fought bravely with every single kilogram pitchblend
w: there's a saying that mrs,curie has many disease when she was young , did it have relation to her research?
N:of course,she stays in her laboratory all day,and she has to touch the radioactive elements for long time,it did hurt her health a lot (she research the element without any protection)
W: so, she sacrifice her health to do the research. she is really a great women int the world.
N: yes,totally agree!!
W: so franklin and mrs. curie are two important people to find or invent something to let our live more convenience, we should proud of them. hows your weekend?
N: i went to my nephew's birthday party,had lots of fun with my cousins,and u?
w: i have a activity this weekend and i need to prepare a perform whith my friend , see you.
N: ok,see you
Valentino Rossi
If Valentino Rossi started the 2008 MotoGP World Championship as one of the best riders the sport has know then with 9 wins, 16 podiums (both breaking records) and his eighth crown, his sixth in the category with a new conquering YZR-M1, he established himself as the greatest ever MotoGP racer.
The Fiat Yamaha team and the charismatic Italian burst back to prominence after two dry seasons, and with epic performances such as his frantic duel with Casey Stoner at Laguna Seca and a masterful outing in the rain and hurricane condition at Indianapolis Rossi surged back to the very forefront of public consciousness.
The 2008 riders, team and manufacturer’s titles – the triple crown – was won with a string of results that saw the 29 year old only drop off the podium twice in eighteen Grand Prix and a hot spell of 6 victories from 7 races. His career stats are now unparalleled with 97 total triumphs (71 in the premier class) and 151 rostrum trophies and he hasn’t missed a Grand Prix since his debut in 1996.
Born in Urbino, Italy on 16th February 1979, Rossi was riding bikes from an early age thanks to the influence of his father Graziano, himself a former Grand Prix winner. Following an early start in go-karts, Rossi junior progressed to minimotos and quickly showed a talent for two-wheels, becoming regional champion in 1992. The next few years saw him quickly rise up through ranks of junior road racing, claiming the Italian Sport Production Championship in 1994 and the Italian 125cc Championship in 1995. The latter, twinned with an impressive 3rd place in the 125cc European championship, was enough to secure him a ride in the World Championship the following year.
Rossi`s World Championship debut came at the Malaysian Grand Prix in 1996 and he finished his first international season in 9th place with one race win. The following year he became the youngest ever rider at that time to take the 125cc World Championship, winning eleven races along the way with Aprilia. The pattern continued when he moved into the 250cc class, taking second place in his first year before becoming World Champion in 1999, once again with Aprilia.
In 2000 he entered a new phase of his career when he joined forces with Honda in the 500cc class. He proved his worth once again by finishing second, before becoming the last ever 500cc World Champion in 2001. Rossi subsequently took the MotoGP World title in 2002 and 2003, before moving to Yamaha and winning it again in 2004 and 2005. Rossi made history by moving to Yamaha in 2004 and winning the season-opening Grand Prix in South Africa, becoming the first rider in the history of the sport to win back-to-back premier class races for different manufacturers. He went on to win nine out of 16 races, finally clinching the World Championship, Yamaha’s first for 12 years, with victory at the penultimate Grand Prix in Phillip Island. The squad also wrapped up the Team title.
He dominated the 2005 season, winning eleven races in total, taking five pole positions and only finishing off the podium once. In doing he became one of only five riders in the history of the sport to win the premier-class title on five occasions. He also helped Yamaha to win the Manufacturers’ and Team titles, ensuring Yamaha celebrated its 50th Anniversary with one of its best ever years in Grand Prix.
2006 saw him finish World Champion runner-up for only the second time in his premier-class career, having lost the title to Honda’s Nicky Hayden by just five points following a final-race showdown in Valencia. Despite this, Rossi still took five race wins and five pole positions in 2006, more than any other rider, and stood on the podium ten times.
2008 marked a significant improvement over 2007 in which Rossi took four race wins and several podiums, but his prodigious talents were limited by technical and tyre issues as well as plain bad luck.
A renewed effort by rider, team and manufacturer as well as a switch to Bridgestone tyres for 2008 saw Rossi turn around his fortunes. The latest version of the M1 was a cutting-edge tool for a rider of Rossi’s talents to again rule the roost.
Taroko National Park
According to the National Park Act of the Republic of China (passed in l972), parks are established to protect the natural scenery, historic relics and wildlife; to conserve natural resources; and to facilitate scientific research and promote environmental education.
Taiwan is a mountainous island situated in a subtropical zone. The Tropic of Cancer cuts through the middle of the island, dividing the temperate and tropical climates zones. In addition, southwest airflows and typhoons during summer and the northeast seasonal winds during winter bring an abundance of rain. Together with its diversified topographic features, the island boasts an environment that is special and interesting both in terms of ecology and evolution sense
. Taroko National Park's boundaries include the mouth of Liwu River close to sea level, and also the highest point, Mount Nanhu , which stands at 3,742 meters. This huge difference of altitude within the park provides the visitor with the pleasure of experiencing obvious climate changes along the Central Cross-Island Highway . Subtropical to high altitude vegetation can be observed during a single trip. The visitor is rewarded with captivating experiences brought about by seasonal changes and altitude difference.
The vegetation of Taroko National Park includes broadleaved forests, mixed broadleaved and coniferous forests; subalpine coniferous forests cover areas above 3000 meters in elevation. Plant communities found in areas with underlying limestone and areas of high elevations are composed of distinctive species. The rich topographic features and diversified vegetation of the park bring about a variety of habitats in which many life forms thrive. Research indicates that one-third of the vascular plants-found in Taiwan can be found within the park. Half the species of mammals found in Taiwan are also present here. In addition, ninety percent of the resident species of birds in Taiwan , and over half of the butterfly species can also be encountered in the park. Taroko National Park is ideal for visitors keen on discovering the joys of nature.
SHEI-PA NATION PARK
When we are trying to gain some understanding of any national park, it is useful to consider in what country and what area the park lies. Shei-Pa National Park is in Taiwan, so a quick review of Taiwan may be helpful here.
Taiwan, or Formosa as it used to be called, is an island about 160 kilometers off the southeast coast of Mainland China, between Japan and Philippines on a line running north-southwest. It is approximately 36,000 square kilometers in size, about the same size as Holland, and a little larger than Massachusetts and Connecticut States combined. Three quarters of the land area is mountainous, much of it too steep to be cultivated easily. There are more than 200 peaks over 3,000 meters in altitude. The highest of them, Jade Mountain reaches 3,952 meters.
The climate is subtropical, and rainfall is heavy: average annual rainfall in the north is 100 inches(2,540 mm).
The population now numbers 23 million, mainly ethnic Chinese, but including also more than
300, 000 aborigines of south Pacific ancestry, languages, and culture. The people live mostly on the level plains, where the population density is very high. The population has increased very fast recently, moreover in one generation Taiwan has changed from an agricultural to a predominantly industrial society. Taiwan, with its warm climate, abundant rainfall, steep mountains and valleys, is rich in natural resources co-existing in a delicate equilibrium. This equilibrium is particularly threatened in two ways: firstly, owing to the steepness of the slopes and the force of the rainfalls, the forest cover is essential to prevent erosion, with loss both of soil and of water. Secondly, the rapid development of human life causes many kinds of disturbance to the ecology, with the danger that today's advantages might be at the expense of man's future This situation gives a particular urgency to the work of the national parks: to prevent certain chosen parts of the country from being overwhelmed by industrial growth; to provide areas where people can get recreation and exercise in contact with nature; and, especially important in a rapidly developing country, teach visitors in the park how to enjoy, understand and protect the wild life around them.
Taiwan, or Formosa as it used to be called, is an island about 160 kilometers off the southeast coast of Mainland China, between Japan and Philippines on a line running north-southwest. It is approximately 36,000 square kilometers in size, about the same size as Holland, and a little larger than Massachusetts and Connecticut States combined. Three quarters of the land area is mountainous, much of it too steep to be cultivated easily. There are more than 200 peaks over 3,000 meters in altitude. The highest of them, Jade Mountain reaches 3,952 meters.
The climate is subtropical, and rainfall is heavy: average annual rainfall in the north is 100 inches(2,540 mm).
The population now numbers 23 million, mainly ethnic Chinese, but including also more than
300, 000 aborigines of south Pacific ancestry, languages, and culture. The people live mostly on the level plains, where the population density is very high. The population has increased very fast recently, moreover in one generation Taiwan has changed from an agricultural to a predominantly industrial society. Taiwan, with its warm climate, abundant rainfall, steep mountains and valleys, is rich in natural resources co-existing in a delicate equilibrium. This equilibrium is particularly threatened in two ways: firstly, owing to the steepness of the slopes and the force of the rainfalls, the forest cover is essential to prevent erosion, with loss both of soil and of water. Secondly, the rapid development of human life causes many kinds of disturbance to the ecology, with the danger that today's advantages might be at the expense of man's future This situation gives a particular urgency to the work of the national parks: to prevent certain chosen parts of the country from being overwhelmed by industrial growth; to provide areas where people can get recreation and exercise in contact with nature; and, especially important in a rapidly developing country, teach visitors in the park how to enjoy, understand and protect the wild life around them.
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| Shei-Pa National Park covers an area of 76,850 hectares on the central Taiwan range, slightly to the north of central Taiwan. This is a region of magnificent mountains: within the park are 51 peaks over 3,000 meters high. It is a mostly wild and undeveloped area with a range of wildlife that includes many rare and endemic species. The park was founded to protect and study this splendid wilderness, maintaining the natural environment and all forms of life it includes. Conservation is therefore the first priority for Shei-Pa National Park, and a large proportion of its land is protected as Conservation Area, or Special Scenic Area, with limited access for ordinary visitors. |
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| Under the National Parks Law, the parks are required actively to promote resource conservation, research, recreation and sustainability of use. To further the attainment of these ends, Shei-Pa National Park is divided into four types of management zone, with different levels of restriction and control over land use: |  |
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 |  Conservation AreaNatural biotic communities and their habitats, which are strictly protected for ecological research. The unauthorized collection of specimens, the use of pesticides, and construction of any kind are forbidden. Special Scenic AreaAreas of special natural features which could not be recreated, and in which development must be strictly controlled. General protected AreaAreas of land and water not within other zone types, including existing small villages. Continuation of existing land use modes is permitted. Recreation AreaAreas suitable for various outdoor leisure activities. The construction of recreational facilities and limited exploitation are permitted. The areas of this type are the Wuling, Guanwu, and Syuejian Recreation Areas. |  |
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| The Tropic of Cancer crosses Taiwan almost 100 km south of Shei-Pa National Park, which therefore lies entirely in the subtropics. Temperatures, however, vary a great deal according to the altitude. The range of altitudes in the park is from 760 meters above sea level in the Da-an River Valley to 3,886 meters at the top of Syue Mountain; average temperatures to be expected during the year are as follows: |  |
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| Shei-Pa National Park's complex terrain is home to a wide range of plant species. Surveys have shown that 1,135 species of vascular plant grow within the park, including broad-leaved, mixed broad-leaved and coniferous, coniferous forests, and tundra. Moreover, 61 of them are rare or very rare; some of which are severely endangered and in need of further protection and study, like Taiwan Sassafras (Sassafras randaiense), Devol's Balsamine (Impatiens devolii), Dumasia miaoliensis, and Epilobium nankotaizanens. |
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Because of the diversity of vegetation within Shei-Pa National Park and the different climates and forest types produced by the range of elevations, from under 1,000 to over 3,000 meters above sea level, and because most of the park's area has not suffered from much human disturbance or destruction, the park provides animals with an abundant food supply, protection and suitable habitats. Thus, the area is rich in animal life and is home to many different species. Surveys have shown that there are at least: Moreover, Taiwan has been separated from the Eurasian Plat for so long that many of the species and subspecies inhabiting the island are endemic, unique to Taiwan. 26 of these endemic species live in Shei-Pa National Park, some of them very rare, for instance Formosan Black Bear (Selenarctos tibetanus formosanus), Formosan Macaque (Macaca cyclopsis Swinhoe), Formosan Land-locked Salmon (Oncorhynchus masou formosanus), Mikado Pheasant (Syrmaticus mikado),and Swinhoe's Blue Pheasant (Lophura swinhoii). |
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Yangmingshan National Park
This is the oldmap to the Yangmingshan Nation Park.It's located at the northern edge of the Taipei basin.Yangmingshan National Park extends east to Huangtsui and Mt. Wuchih, west to Mt. Hsiangtien and Mt. Mientien, north to Mt. Chutzu and Tutikung Ridge, and south to Mt. Shamao.
This picture is a beautiful sunset of Danshuei River where you can see it on the Yangmingshan Nation Park.Planner Trip:
1.One day trip:
Trail:
Visitor Center(Yangjin Highway Parallel Trails for Walking and Driving)→Yangmingshuwu→Jhongsing Road→Yangming Park→Visitor Center
2.One day trip A :
(Source: Yangmingshan National Park Headquarters)
Spot：Chutzuhu(20 mins)>Tatun Natural Park(20 mins)>>Hsiaoyukeng(20 mins)>>Chingtienkang(20 mins)>>
Lengshuikeng(10 mins) Traffic：by car
(Source: Yangmingshan National Park Headquarters)
Spot：Chutzhu(20 mins)>>Tatun Natural Park(10 mins)
Butterfly Corridor(30 mins)>>Bird Watching Trail (30 mins)>>Hot Springs Taffic：By car
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I think this is the most beautiful photo with sunset to Yangmingshan. The grass is shake with the blind. And you can see the cloud's color is smooth. So when you see this scenery, you will be happy all day.
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